The hunt for companionship (Calleigh)

[Anastasia]

"Really?" The mercane says, sounding intrigued. Tryll catches him thinking, if he's paying 5,000 gold for an emergency pickup, he could pay them 3,000 and still salvage 2,000, and if the carrying capacity's better, all the more worthwhile.

"Why, that would be kind of you. Are you able to take all my things?" The mercane asks, "Would this be a plane shift, a gate or different magic? Your price...I'd give you 1,500 gold for it, if that's reasonable to you."

[Yuthirin]

Telepathy to the group ensues, 'We could barter him higher, take the deal, or do it for free and curry a favor from a mercane. Thoughts?'

Meanwhile, Calleigh stalls, peering at the table, "Maybe. Where are you headed?"

[Anastasia]

'It's free money, take it,' Canderella sends back.

'Just help him,' Moonlight says, 'You don't need money to do the right thing.'

Vivantha says quiet for the moment.

"The Astral," The mercane replies, smiling all the while. "There's a Consortium outpost there I'm due at."

[Yuthirin]

I actually did this.

Calleigh pulls a coin out of her pouch. It is nearly as large as her tiny face. She tosses it into the air with all her little might, heaving it up nearly a foot and a half before it lands on the table. She eyes it for a moment, then shouts, "TAILS! YOU WIN! HURRAY!"

Illusory sparkles and confetti rain onto the group from above. A single squeaky horn blows comically.

[Anastasia]

"Who wins?" Moonlight says aloud at the presentation, "Did I win something?!"

The mercane simply watches it, "Curious, but I presume something good happened?"

[Yuthirin]

"This guy won! We're gonna do it for free! What's your name, mister winner?"

[Anastasia]

"Robard," The mercane answers, "You'll do it...for fr-fr...f-free?" He scowls as he finally gets the word out, "That's indecent!"

[Yuthirin]

Calleigh gives him a sly look. "You could always consider it a favor. It's a different kind of bartering!"

[Anastasia]

"That's more acceptable," The mercane says after some consideration, "As a matter of fact, I have something you can have as a favor." He rustles under the table, coming out with an old book. "Here."

"See, that's how it's supposed to work. Good things happen when you do good things." Moonlight says, "As long as evil isn't there to muck it up."

[Yuthirin]

"It's a book." Calleigh points out to Moonlight as the book plucks itself out of Robard's hands, turning itself over and over. "It's not like it's an ancient prison for a horrible eldritch demonspawn para-deity bent on corruption and destruction of all that lives. I mean, what are the odds of that happening?"

[Anastasia]

The book looks to be a series of mental exercises on a glance. "That book's said to strengthen the mind," The mercane replies, rubbings his hands together, "Now, you were going to get me home? Let me get everything together." He starts packing things up.

[Yuthirin]

"Well, first we're going to talk to Lathander. You can come if you want!"

[Anastasia]

"Oh no, I have to pack up," Robard says, doing just that, "I'll wait for you."

[Yuthirin]

"You sure? Might be a while before we swing back! Might be today, might be an hour! Might not be until tomorrow!"

[Anastasia]

"I can wait," The mercane says. "I'm not going anywhere anyway."