The mood in Halsearing was clear even as they pulled up to the gates an hour later.
It looked like the entire city was in the streets, and Karl’s sensitive ears could hear the dozens of species of monsters talking about a new anomaly outside of town. Word was that the town’s prophet has foreseen that the Nomadic Tribes would bring a war band to the location, which had put the whole city into a panic, thinking that the Nomadic Tribes were going to go to war against the region in order to claim the dungeon for themselves.
They might, but somehow, Karl couldn’t see the Orc tribes working well together, much less with other species of nomads. If he had to guess, what they had seen was most likely just Chieftain World Smasher and his clan meeting with him at the dungeon.
Karl pretended that the reins were actually for controlling, but actually used them to rub the Cerro’s back as they pulled to a stop in front of the gate guards.
“Welcome to Halsearing. What is your business?” The guard demanded.
“I have armour to trade, purchased from the nomads. Then I need to supplies to take to Oakhamping.” Karl replied, referring to a Troll controlled city about a day up the main road, headed northeast.
“Alright. Be careful not to run anyone over. There are many children in the street today with all the chaos.”
“What chaos? News of war, or famine?” Karl asked.
That was a relatively normal question for a merchant. It would change what they wanted to buy here, as the value of their trade goods would change based on where and when they sold them.
“Something is going on north of town in the wilderness. The Big Troll’s office says that there might be a fight.”
So, this city was also troll controlled. That explained the number of them headed out toward the dungeon.
They didn’t appear to be the majority of the population, though. There were humans, demons, dozens of smaller species of monsters, and even a few beastkin visible in the crowd.
Most of the misshapen bodies were impossible for Karl to identify, as there was no listing of them in the books he had read. But at least some of them were familiar.
The lizard species made up nearly half of the monsters in town. Naga, Lamia, Lizard folk, Crocolisks. Those were all species that were in his textbooks when he did his familiarization with monster and beast species.
There were some that preferred to be on two feet, some on four or more, and a few human headed chimeras that everyone was giving a wide berth.
Karl led Thor through the street at a slow walk, giving everyone time to get out of the way.
It wasn’t working well.
The kids kept running up to pat the Cerro before being grabbed by parents to avoid being trampled, and the Naga Warriors had been propositioned at least a dozen times in the first two minutes.
Karl was not an expert in Naga physiology, and he didn’t speak serpent, but apparently the warriors were considered the peak of their species.
In his mind, Remi was laughing hysterically. The bodyguards were intelligent, and could answer back, but they were mission-driven just as much as the Golems were. They wouldn’t even consider leaving their post, and it was breaking hearts left and right.
[The four armed Naga are the Royals and the most powerful of warriors. Having a child with one of them would strengthen the bloodline of lesser lineages for a dozen generations.] Remi explained after a few minutes of watching the locals hit on her guards.
Karl eventually found an armourer with a hot forge and mostly empty shelves. That seemed like a good spot to start trying to make a sale.
“Wait here, I will go talk with the armour smith.” He explained as he moved Thor to the side of the road.
Dana and Ophelia moved to stand on the front corners of the wagon with their weapons at the ready, hung from their hips. Only the occasional local gave them more than a single look. Guards protecting a merchant wagon was possibly the most normal thing that they had seen or heard today. It was a relief to everyone, and almost made them forget that this was a city full of monsters that were far from being on friendly terms with their home.
The armourer was a Lizardman, and Karl realized that he might have made a mistake. He didn’t know if that species could speak the common language.
“I have a number of armour items for sale, traded by the Yellow Tusk Orcs. Are you interested?” Karl asked.
The lizardman hissed in response.
[He says he doesn’t give a damn where you got them, it won’t improve the price.]
“Fine, do you want to buy armour? All awakened and Ascended Rank magic items.” Karl replied.
The armourer looked shocked that Karl had understood him and gestured for him to bring it in.
Karl stepped back out and grabbed the loot, which he dropped on the counter.
The lizardman’s eyes lit up with excitement, a faint glow of magic as excess power flowed to them as the monster focused.
He spoke and Remi translated. [He wants to know what you want for them.]
“I will take coins, or trade items that the Trolls of Oakhamping need. What do you have in stock?” The armourer nodded, then vanished into a back room.
He came back out with a bundle of tools and crystals that Rae was instantly interested in.
[He says they’re the favourites of the trolls. The crystals help them use magic, and the trolls aren’t good at tool making.]
“Three more of the earth type crystals, and we have a deal.” Karl offered.
The lizardman frowned and held up two fingers.
“Fine, two more.”
He brought out two more, and greedily scooped up the armour to take back to his forge to alter for use by other species.
Karl scooped the gems into his inventory, then picked up the bundle of tools.
“It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.” The tools took up most of the centre of the wagon, making them look like proper merchants again. Karl hopped up into the driver’s seat, and Ophelia returned to the wagon, taking a seat at the back, while Dana sat beside Karl in the morning sun.
“What do you think? With all this chaos, should we get lunch before we go, or should we grab something to eat outside the city limits?” Karl asked.
“There is a street market between us and the other exit from town. We should drive through there and pick up a few things. It might be a security risk to get out of the wagon, but it should be worth it to spend a bit of time shopping.” Dana suggested.
“Alright, let’s head over. I will wait with the wagon, you all take the security with you. Hawk and I should be plenty to guard the goods.”
Karl called Hawk out, so the sudden appearance of the bird didn’t startle people at the market. The addition of the Royal Rank Dragonhawk should be enough to discourage all but the boldest of thieves, even if they weren’t afraid of Karl and Thor.
The monsters should be able to sense general power level the way that Karl did, even if most of them discounted him as human and attributed the power they felt to one of the others.