A long way to the gate

[Anastasia]

The goblin stirs and blinks, yawning. "Huh?" he says in a drifty, sleepy voice.

[Nephrite]

"Hello." Moore says, slightly more quietly. "My name is Moore, you're... uh, outside my fortress. What can I help you with?"

[Anastasia]

The goblin yawns and then straightens, "Moore?! Finally! Yes, yes, I'm Hamperie, at your service!"

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles gently. "Okay, nice to meet you, Hamperie. What can I do for you -- or perhaps I should just ask what brought you here?"

[Anastasia]

"I want to help you and learn from you," Hampiere says, a hand to his heart. "Can I serve you, Moore?"

[Nephrite]

Moore blinks. "I mean... Sure, but that doesn't answer the question." He smiles again. "How'd you even hear about me or find your way here?"

[Anastasia]

"You saved a friend of mine," he says, "That was enough."

[Nephrite]

Moore scratches his head. "All right, we'll leave it at that. What are your talents, Hamperie?"

[Anastasia]

"I'm a traveling merchant," Hampiere says, "I know how to buy and sell things, and make a sustainable profit even when many won't trade with you."

The irony of your desire about the trading hub is not lost on me, no.

[Nephrite]

Moore claps his hands together.

"Perfect." Moore says. "I'm just starting out, but I'd like to make this a good hub for trading. I want us to be able to ease the tensions between similarly-aligned places that have normally been a bit too... cold-shouldered, if that makes sense." He explains.

"Do you think you can help with that? If nothing else, I'm fine putting you in charge of handling the trade agreements for us."

[Anastasia]

"I'll do my best, I promise," Hampiere says, "The goods and the metals, the shops and the alchemical bombs, all of it! I'll work all of it out for you!"

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles. "Why don't you come inside the fortress and I'll introduce you? You don't have to sleep out in your tent all the time."

I know we were headed that way anyway, but this is a fine segue point into your vacation.

[Anastasia]

Sounds like a plan.

[Anastasia]

Okay, new topic time. Neph, make sure to update your list of NPCs for me, would you?