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Post by Ælfric on Mar 14, 2016 19:57:34 GMT
Ælfric counted his gold pieces, 200... Not a measly amount, but would it be enough to get him what he needed? He slipped the coin purse back into the inside of his trousers and stood up from the wall on which he had been sat. Ælfric was massive, even by the standards of a well fed nobility. He stood head and shoulders about the tallest men in the crowd of people thronging through the muddy streets of Harborough. Not only was Ælfric excessively tall, he was also built like a warhorse. His arms and legs were like tree trunks and his hands were as big as plates. Most people gave him a wide berth and some stopped to stare as he made his way slowly towards the local stables. He pulled his crimson cloak around his body and shielded his face from the view of others by covering it over with a hood.
Some minutes later he stooped under the roof beams in the entrance to the town stables, he still bumped his head. The resulting shock shook the dust from the rest of the barns beams. In rubbing his now bright red forehead Ælfric knocked his hood back revealing a face with plain features and a badly mauled left eye. The eye was milky and the face around it bore old scars which were horrendously ugly. Ælfric was a young man, so the scars must have been made when he was a child...
Ælfric found the man who looked to be the proprietor "Are you the master of horse here? If you are then I would like to enquire about the price of a mount large enough to bear me and my equipment, it should also be able to travel well over long distances."
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2016 10:03:18 GMT
"Master of Horse? Oh yes, I'm master here, yup. That's me, Master of Horses"...
On closer inspection, the lad couldn't have more than 18 winters, wiry, pockmarked, and greasy.
"Got just the beast, come over here sir", Aelfric is led to large mare, large at least compared to the garrons typical of the horses ridden by the Saxeish.
She was clearly a heavy horse, more suited to pulling a wain than running a race.
"And she's a bargain sir, if I may be so bold. Never seen the like o' her. Only 50 crowns, and I can throw in the furniture for another 10"
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Post by Ælfric on Mar 15, 2016 13:41:43 GMT
Ælfric raises an eyebrow at the greasy stable hand "Lucky for you that torches are not allowed in these barns! Now show me to you master or I shall take my trade elsewhere!"
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2016 14:20:54 GMT
"Now, sir, if you please. I is the master, in a manner of speaking", he says, clearly alarmed at the large man's attitude, "the master has gone away, and I being his apprentice, am by rights acting, as it were, as master. You see?"
He takes a moment, looking anxiously at his mounts.
"She is the best for ye, she'll be the only one as not to tire to quickly. What with sir's weight an' all... mayhaps the Earl'll have a better one, but that's the Earl, ye know? He keeps his stables outta town. Got a few horses, that I knows, likes his horses, faster than the Saxeish ones we's brought over, or so's I told... But none bigger than Bertha here"...
He pauses for a minute, and with a pained expression, "what if I gavevye the furniture, no charge, by ways of apology for not telling the good sir I's only acting-master?"
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Post by Ælfric on Mar 15, 2016 14:32:18 GMT
Ælfric grins "You have yourself a bargain young apprentice. I'll take the horse and furniture that you offer, fifty crowns will do nicely. I shall return before the sun is at its highest point and pick her up, then I will also pay."
Ælfric patted the lad on the back and left, he moved a little quicker now, the warmth of the stables and loosened the stiffness of morning. His next port of call was the fletcher where he purchased a quiver of arrows slightly longer than usual and made of heavy wood, he had them tipped with armour piercing heads. He then went to the towns bowyer and requested a longbow with a heavy draw weight, one that would make good use of his natural strength.
His final ports of call were the market where he purchased enough provisions for a week and some simple furs for the cold weather, whilst there he inquired as to where he might find a ranger with good knowledge of the land up north.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2016 15:08:28 GMT
The bowyer and a fletcher shared premises just off the fishmarket, along a row with the smiths and others. The fletcher looks a little annoyed at the request for "long armour piercing arrows", "what are you ploughing on? How long ye want? Get yer damned bow first", before shouting, needlessly belligerently, "Oy! Kettle, get yer ploughing arse over here. Fella wants a bow don't he!?"
The Bowyer, Kettilmund, hobbles over. His face has on long scar from his right temple to his left cheek. He chuckles at the sight of Aelfric... "I used to be an adventurer like you. But then I took an arrow in the knee..." he eases himself into a stool, his left leg horribly stiff, "a bow for the feller then? You'll want a big one, I'm sure. The young ones are all the same, the biggest, the shiniest. Never a thought. Anyway, let's not fart about. What are you hunting?"
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Post by Ælfric on Mar 15, 2016 15:25:30 GMT
Ælfric laughs and then in his awfully thick accent proceeds to explain almost nothing of value "Well, what I'm hunting might be wearing armour. I don't need shine, I just need strong. Oh, and not too expensive, can't blow my money before the whores come out now can I?!"
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2016 15:39:34 GMT
"Well, wood around here ain't ideal for bow making. We got Ash bows, pack a punch, but can crack under the strain. Oak'll do you, dense, you see. But price is right high at the moment. Got a little yew leftover from a Bord ship came in last year, but I don't know if you can afford it...
Most of my bows are beech, nowt special, but they're cheap and reliable. I've got a few four footers that'll do you nicely. Give or take. How much is sir willing to spend?"
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Post by Ælfric on Mar 15, 2016 15:49:40 GMT
"What will you want for a five foot oak?"
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2016 17:23:49 GMT
"Big bow, properly treated. I haven't got a piece of wood that big treated already. It'll be about a week, to let the polish sink in, and to whittle it out. We call it 5 crowns, and a crown for extra strings and a quick show o' how to string her?"
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Post by Ælfric on Mar 15, 2016 18:22:38 GMT
"You have yourself a deal my friend. I will see you in a week!" Ælfric dealt with the payment and ducked out of the building. He made his way first to purchase his furs and then to the tavern, hoping to inquire about rangers in both places.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2016 19:45:32 GMT
Aelfric cannot find a ranger familiar with the Wild Lands, he is advised go to Anglia, where the folk often enter the wood. The furs cost him another 5 crowns, but are heavy and warm.
Most of the talk in the tavern is idle. The King of Godenland is burning traditional worshippers by the score; the Friedlanders are preparing for another war with Bernicia; rumours of a Saxeish warlord raising men in Friedland; and the Earl of Wainbridge marching off into the mountains in search of who knows what.
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Post by Ælfric on Mar 15, 2016 20:19:34 GMT
Ælfric is intrigued by the talk of Wainbridge and his expedition, it may not be the north, but it is a chance at fame, loot and the possibility of acquiring companions. He makes preparations for an overland journey via Offenburg whilst he waits for his bow to be finished, he purchases the necessary foodstuffs and looks to buy a chainmail shirt and a new sword.
He approached the blacksmith asking for a hand and a half sword (for Ælfric finds his current sword somewhat small in his hands) offering to pay 10 crowns for something of simple but sturdy design, he offers to pay an extra 2 crowns for the following words to be etched along the blade:
"Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women."
He also offers to pay 15 Crowns for a chainmail shirt and a hardened leather helmet with reinforcing metal bands and two large horns.
Whilst his various items are prepared he looks for a trade caravan or group of travellers heading for Offenburg or Wainbridge, offering his services as an escort for 1/2 a crown a day.
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2016 20:33:01 GMT
The smith has never heard of a "hand and a half" sword... he also scoffs at the offer of 10 crowns for a such a piece of steel.
The armourer states that 15 crowns is simply not enough for a new hauberk, he can make a decent one for 40 crowns, a little less if Aelfric trades in his old one. The helmet will cost 10 crowns, but Aelfric will need to find the horns himself.
OoC: Might I suggest a two handed axe, swords of that kind did not exist in this period
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Post by Ælfric on Mar 15, 2016 20:36:14 GMT
OOC: My mistake.
IC:
"40 crowns?! What, are you making it from gold? I'll give you 13 for a two handed axe, 30 for the shirt if I give you my leather hauberk and 8 for the helm. That's 41 crowns, and I'm being generous here."
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