They arrive at the market.

The clamor of commerce filled the air as people threaded their way through the market. It was a study in contrasts. Street performers twisted themselves into precarious balancing acts alongside dwarf miners hauling in wagonloads of raw ore from the strip mines. A lumbering, tusked beast ambled through the brimming crowd, its passengers hidden inside a flowing silk tent. A trio of halflings hawked herbal cacti from the back of a creaking wagon alongside a stooped preacher promising cheap indulgences.

Cin'aed stops and stares at it all. "wow" she says in quiet awe. The locals all smile at her. For them this is normal, but she is foreign and they know this is strange to her.

There are several mages and illusionist about, some hawking wares, others working entertainments and some just shopping. A few using floating disc or spelled bubbles of force to carry their goods. There are men and women in assorted armors and skins and even tattoo's from foreign lands about, creatures not normally seen on the surface world bumping shoulders with common humans and elves. More than one elephant or other monstrous mount moves carefully through the crowd, even a couple of young looking dragons bartering with a cattle merchant over the price of beef. Tents show magical do dads and get-gaws and other wonders for the tourist trade and children. Book sellers next to wonder makers, next to food stalls next to even stranger places.

Hel nudges Cin'aed, "This is the advantage of places that have Adventurer Guilds, we attract merchants and others from all over the world. Brings business and money to towns we are in and that is good for the kingdoms that have us." Cin'aed nods, awed by the sight. "I have been to fairs smaller than this, but never seen anything like this before. Wow."

Even the twins are amused by her reaction. Formidable, incredible powerful, and over awed by the merchant distract. They do understand though, they had much the same response when they first came to this city. The rest of the city is quiet and normal compared to this area.

Cin'aed looks up at the boys, then at the crowds and without a word hands them each a gold piece. They smile and nod. They have done that sort of work before to. Opening ways for employers, one in front one in back.

Da'Rune pulls her outfit straight and nods, "Ok people guard your purse and your wits. Between the pick pockets and the shifty merchants this area is more dangerous than your average dungeon crawl."

Da'Rune proves herself very well here. Sure in the field she is impulsive and thick but in a market she is a shark and smells blood. Her skills at bartering and deal finding are impressive and scary to the merchants that know her. The only problem she has is directing Cin'aed toward the types of conservative clothing she thinks would work well for her. The woman is stubborn and turns out Likes to dress sexy (not as sexy as Brani, but still more skin showing than Melisanda or Hel are comfortable with showing). Though she does in truth have the legs for it. 5 full outfits later the group loses sight of her. She turned at a different point than they did and for a few minutes they fear she went and got lost. The twins find her by noticing the crowd of young men who have been following the group of women from a distance almost all turned in one direction. When they get to them, there is a semi-circle of watchers. Cin'aed is at an exotic weapons merchants and looking over and testing the assorted weapons for balance and weight, and doing impressive displays of weapons handling while doing so. The Twins are suitably impressed with the skill she is showing. The young men are more impressed with her beauty but none are brave enough to approach the formidable beauty.

One overly rich brat however approaches the giant twins, "Pardon me. But how much would you charge to bring that creature to my place for my personal entertainment ?" he ask haughtily.

Twin 1 looks down at him, "We are not for hire at the moment."

Glaring imperiously, "Why ever not ?" he demands.

Twin 2, "We work for her as body guards, she even paid in advance. Besides if we tried she would kick our butts." Twin 1 adds, "again. She is a Master Warrior and mage. Only thing you would get from her using the tactics you are suggesting is a quick end."

Hel comes up behind the pompous child, "And if she did not end you we would. She is very dear friend of ours." He looks at her, "Do you know who I am ?"

Da'Rune nods, "Carlos Del, your father works for MY father." she smiles at him, "I am Angelica Da'Rune. The woman on your other side is Zena Hel, maybe you have heard of her ?" The spoiled brat shakes his head. Brani (who just relieved him of his purse), "She is an assassin of some renown. We work for the Adventurers guild. That lady there she is out of your league boy."

He humphs and stomps off. Most of the young men nearby have over heard the conversation and some are intimidated and more than a few impressed. Quite a few actually know who the women are to. While in the guild they are close to the bottom in the social pecking order, among many of the towns youths these women are idolized. They are strong, beautiful and dangerous and they tend to get followed by their fan clubs. The addition of the new beauty just adds to their reputation among these people. The Twins know allot about them as these boys (all too shy to talk to an actual girl) seek them or other approachable guild members out and ask all kinds of silly questions about them. Ones like the self-important brat are fortunately rare.

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Oblivious to the drama, Cin'aed is happily talking shop with the weapons merchant, learning what he charges for the assorted weapons and where he gets his goods. He is a little evasive but tells enough to impress most people. The problem they find with Cin'aed is she knows what she is talking about. She does not buy anything at this point but promises she will recommend them to people in need of their kind of wares.

She returns to the group and once well out of ear shot of the merchants Hel ask, "So what did you think of their wares ?"

"Pretty, nice wall hangings, would not want to rely on any of those in actual combat though. Mostly very fancy apprentice or journey man works really. If you want something to Look impressive then their stuff works. You want something to actually fight with, I suggest looking else-where. Thing is there is a good market for their type of wares. Collectors like them for the looks over function. I know, I used to collect for a time." Hel nods, laughing softly to herself. Aysun sighs, "I wish I could find someone who knows how to make descent weapons. My spear is ok but not really suited for my kind of combat."

Cin'aed nods, "You describe one to me I may be able to help or make one once I get to a good smithy." Aysun nods, "I would like to see the quality of work you can do actually." Cin'aed nods and then hears music and heads toward it. The others have to turn quick to keep the impulsive woman in sight.

She comes to a group of musicians playing flutes and strange string instruments. People toss them coins as they play. Lots of copper around them. Da'Rune softly suggest ignoring them and moving on. Cin'aed frowns at her. Then listens, dancing in place to the tunes they are playing. At the end of their song she tosses them a silver and a smile. Then dance steps away as she moves on. Brani and Melisanda also toss them some coins as well. Brani tells Da'Rune "They use music to make a living and they play well so it is polite to pay them for the beauty they bring." Cin'aed nods to what Brani is saying.

A little further along Cin'aed spots someone selling musical instruments and heads right for them. Da'Rune, who has a tin ear it turns out, does not see the point to all this music stuff.

Cin'aed looks over the wares and finds an interesting guitar, sort of a magical electric bass. She strums it then sings Queen's Princes of the Universe. Everyone in ear shot (even Da'Rune) stands transfixed by the strange music (she changes the lyrics to Born to be Princesses and Queens). She smiles at everyone at the end of the song, "Always liked that song." she states then moves on to a different instrument and style.

Exotic stringed instrument, wings it and sings Shania Twains 'Don't be Stupid, Ya Know'. Dancing to her own singing around Brani. Who smiles and dances with her. The shop owner shakes his head but smiles. The wide variety of different music Is actually pulling people in to the shop.

Next song is 'It's the End of the world as we know it' changing parts to fit more with this world. She explains that the song is about political strife and war and how such things can make it seem like the world is coming to an end but really it's just business as normal.

She switches to something sad next, a variation of Mary Jane's Last Dance.

She picks out 2 guitars and the electric one and works out a good price for the set. Then sees a gorgeous mandolin and picks it up. With that one she sings Over the Rainbow, which draws a huge crowd and makes some money for the store as people drop coins around her for the beauty of the song (Cin'aed used the coins to buy the instrument.)

Pulling out a alto guitar she starts playing music from James Bond movies as she walks. (Nobody does it Better, Live and Let Die, You only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever and more). She proves her range and maintains a high quality of musical ability. The Twins end up earning their money cause people keep trying to crowd in close to hear and see her. She has to float up to keep from getting mobbed. But she does not stop singing. She 'floats' all the way back to the Guild hall, where she perches on a balcony and serenades the crowd of enthralled listeners.

When she is done she bows to the crowd and then fades in to invisibility, like an illusion that's time has run out. There was some cheering, clapping and The boys took the opportunity to collect money for the show from those who wished to donate.