Rhea trotted out into the sunshine, happy to be back outside, even if it was crammed with people rushing around, bartering and arguing and advertising. Not quite her thing. A man behind a stall at the end of the street was also yelling about his wares, and this caught Rhea's attention. She wasn't sure why, but she made her way through the crowd towards him. He leapt on her interest immediately.
"Ah, a proud and fine centaur warrioress! A keen archer I see too - would some of these most excellent bowstrings catch your eye, perhaps? Why, I assure you, this one is pure plaited mermaid hair, all the way from the South coast! Imbued with magics to help your arrow fly true, that's why the added price, but it's truly worth it I assure you! Very reasonable indeed when you consider it's ability! Perhaps a new whetstone to help sharpen that fine blade of yours? Or a strong breast plate - dwarven-made I tell you - to protect that proud heart? Or... hmm, you look like an intelligent young lady, how about a scroll or two? I have the histories of all the land here, or runic spells to help you on your quest, perhaps it is a clue or two you're after, hey?" Rhea had been leisurely browsing the items on the stall, only half listening to the man's inane chatter, but that caught her attention.
"What are you suggesting?" she asked suspiciously, interested but concerned that this man was having her on. What could he know of their quest, unless Narxus had been open with it in the marketplace, which Rhea found hard to believe.
"Oh don't narrow your eyes that way my girl, it is nothing as secret as you think. Merely a painting I have had for a long time.... Of the-" he lowered his voice, and Rhea saw the quickly-hidden fear in his eyes. "-the vampire lord, Meridor." He moved a few items about, revealing a small square painting in an ornate golden frame, only a hands breadth across. Meridor's soulless eyes bored into Rhea's own, though she was seized with the certainty it was not just a painting.
"I'll take it." she said softly, and the man looked at her, disbelief and fear showing in his eyes before finally relief. Rhea figured he had been trying to get rid of the thing for a long time, and wondered where he had procured it from. She also wondered if it was even worth her time as she handed over the gold for it. As soon as she touched it, however, she felt a rush of coldness come over her. Cursed. She quickly purchased a small velvet pouch to put it in so her skin didn't touch it and a pair of thick gloves. She would inspect the thing later - perhaps it would have clues to help her group defeat Meridor for good this time. Looking over the stall again, Rhea bought another spare bowstring - though not one supposedly made of mermaid hair, for she had heard of the mischeviousness of the race and felt it was better to rely on her own skill, as well as a enchanted parchment bordered with runes that the man promised would allow her to communicate with one she wished for a short amount of time just once, a history scroll of the land that she thought might hold some further clues or information and a small set of engraved panpipes, simply for nostalgia's sake.
Walking back over to her ragtag group and stowing away her new purchases - being careful to store the small painting as safety as possible - she spoke.
"Is anyone else interested in browsing the market or shall we make a start on our long jouney?" she smiled at her fellow heroes to be, awaiting their individual decisions.