It was 3 days later that the group came upon a small town. As Johan crested a walked into the large clearing following Markus, who had stopped at the tree line, he saw the walls. They stood at around 15 feet, and were made from wood. It wasn't particularly impressive for Johan or Anne, having seen skyscrapers, but Pat and Jen found it amazing, given that they hadn't ever seen such tall structures. Markus seemed indifferent, but said something.
"Be careful while we are here. We will trade some skins and pelts for things like extra clothes and armors, as well as see if they have maps here. You can tell them we come from Basin. I've come here before, but haven't been here for several years now, so they know of Basin, but probably wouldn't have expected people to show up from there."
"Alright. I wonder if they'll accept water for trade..." Johan said before beginning to mumble.
"Can we look around a bit?" Anne asked.
"Yes, but try to stay out of trouble. These people aren't as kind as those in Basin, they don't have a powerful mage here who can stop anything bad from happening. If they suspect you to be doing anything bad, they won't ask questions until after they beat you."
"Cool! Jen, Pat, you two get to come with me!" Anne said happily.
"Guess I'll go with you then Markus." Johan looked at the older man.
"That works for me." He said.
The group then approached the walls. Only once they got closer did Johan notice the men wearing brown leather armors, they blended in well with the walls behind them.
"Halt. State where you come from, and what business you have here." One of the 4 guards said.
"We come from the Basin up north. It is roughly a week and a half by foot. We come to trade some goods, primarily pelts and hides. The rest of this group are the youth from our community." Markus answered.
"Basin? Wait, is that you? Markus?" another of the men asked, seemingly amazed.
"It is I."
"Wow, I didn't think you guys still lived up there." The man said with an incredulous tone about his voice. "Let them pass, I can vouch for Markus. He used to come here on a semi regular basis."
"Alright. I'll trust your judgement Klein." The first guard said with a nod.
"Thanks Captain. Markus, make sure to stop by my dads shop, he'll definitely give you a good deal so long as you tell him a good story or two about where you've been."
"Hmm... Klein... Ah, you're David's son? Last I saw you you were only 12! Now you're a guard eh? We'll have to have a drink before I leave again!" Markus said, patting the young man on his shoulder.
"Sounds good, I'll be at my dads after my shift tonight, so just come by then we can head over to Ricks to get some drinks and food, my treat." Klein said. "But for now, you all have a good day, and to you kids, stay out of trouble, people here aren't afraid of beating someone half to death if they feel like you're up to no good. Ah, before I forget. Welcome to Northwind!"
"Will do." Johan replied a slight smile on his face. He was nervous, but simultaneously excited
"Sure." Anne added, Pat and Jen simply nodding at the man as their response.
After entering the town, the group split into two, agreeing to meet back in the place they split, Anne and the girls went one way, and Markus and Johan went another. Markus and Johan walked down the streets while Markus talked about various changes the city made.
"Wow, they cobbled the main road. I didn't think they would be doing that for a while, well, I guess it has been nearly a decade. Oh. The old brewery is gone, though there is a restaurant there now. They replaced the well with a pump? I wish we had one of these back in Basin. I hear they can access water that is deep underground. Northwind is so lucky."
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"So... Where are we headed anyhow?" Johan asked while Markus was looking around.
"Wha- oh, yeah. We are going to David's. He drives a hard bargain, but he is fair. That and I also know him pretty well, saved him and his family from bandits a long time back. Klein, that guardsman was only 6 or so back then." Markus said.
"I forget how old you actually are sometimes. You look young for your age after all." Johan remarked.
"Well, it's to be expected."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, it isn't important. Anyways, here we are!" Markus stopped, and gestured to a medium sized building. It wasn't on main street, but it was a decently sized building for a business.
"Seems like they expanded a bit." Markus said as he walked in.
Johan walked in after him, and found himself in almost a warehouse. It was slightly cluttered, and there were a great variety of things. Waterskins, knifes of various sorts, backpacks, flint and tinder, tents, sleeping bags, thick blankets... It seemed like it was stuff meant for survival. The only exceptions were some potions. They claimed to be healing draughts, made by official alchemists.
"Wow, they *really* expanded since I was last here. To think they would be able to afford an alchemist. business must be rather good indeed." Markus remarked as he looked at a collapsible shovel that had a sharpened edge, seemingly to help chop small trees and branches for firewood and the like.
"Hello! What can I do for you folks today?" A strong voice came from the desk towards the end away from the door.
"How about a reunion with an old friend?" Markus asked in a somewhat sarcastic manner, getting the mans attention fully, as opposed to whatever he was doing before, likely paperwork with the size of his business.
"What do you..." The mans eyes widened as he recognized Markus, "Oh, well, I'll be a goats father! Markus, where in the hells have you been for the last 8, no 9, years!?"
"Good to see you too David! And if Klein is anywhere as hairy as you were, I'd say you might be a goats father. As for me... I've been out a few times, but I've kind of retired for the most part. Been living in Basin, helping Nath out here and there. Nothing too much, truth be told. I see business is well though."
"It's gone tremendously well. I've been able to expand, and lately I've even had trouble keeping up with demand. We even got an alchemist now. Anyhow, what are you up to, why are you here if you're so retired?"
"Helping out Nath a bit. This kid here, as well as some others who are looking around town, are headed to Karshlan. I'm hoping the borders are still peaceful."
"Karshlan? That far huh. I suppose you've brought some things to trade then?"
"Right you are David. Johan, could you place them on the table?"
"Yep." Johan replied pulling the pelts one by one out of the bag.
"A magic bag? Nath must really like this kid." David remarked
"Yeah. Johan would've been his apprentice if Ambevelance hadn't come knocking recently."
"Apprentice? So he's *gifted* then?" David looked at Markus.
"That he is. Quite so in fact. He managed to reach mana heart in merely half a year. And that was in Basin."
"Wow, that kid'll be a menace when he gets older."
Markus laughed a bit at this.
"Yeah, he sure will."
Johan finished with setting the Pelts and hides onto the counter, and then decided to go and look at the supplies available, letting Markus handle the sale.
He quickly found a few things he wanted. He found a charcoal pencil, and a whetstone which greatly interested him for wildly different reasons. The pencil he wanted to write notes down in the books he got, and the whetstone he wanted for weapon maintenance. He was also of course interested in the potions, but that was more so because of the magical quality they seemed to have. He could feel a small ping on the mana space around them.
When Markus and David finished bartering, he walked up and asked a question.
"Hey, this alchemist, are they perhaps a mage? If they are, do you think I could met them?"
"Huh? Why do you think they are a mage?" Markus asked.
"The potions ping in mana space, so I know that they are magical in nature, probably some lingering healing water effect along with other things, such as minerals that were enchanted or maybe imbued, not too sure which since I've only just started reading up on imbuement. But I want to meet them so I can maybe learn a thing or two from them."
"I tell you what kid, I'll see if they'll be willing to meet you, but I make no promises. Markus says you all will stay here for a week, but I don't know if they'll be wanting to meet you in that time or not." David answered this time.
"Thank you." Johan nodded slightly at the man.
"No problem, you're with Markus, I don't think there is much I wouldn't at least help Markus with."
"Alright then, now that, that, is settled, I'll gather up the supplies we'll get for the trade, and meet you back at the door, for now just go and wait Johan." Markus said to Johan.
"Alright, I'll work a bit more on the light spell while I wait." Johan went and waited as he was told to.