Just pinging!  

Apart from June 25th - 30th, I should be able to check the forums fairly often.

"Since your companion commands you to make haste, I suggest this,' the merchant replies. He picks up a long leather skirt, which is soft, supple and made from black leather. It is decorated with small garnets and split high at one side to allow easy movement. The outfit is completed by a trim, smart jacket also made from soft black leather.

'My price is 2,500 gold pieces.'

The merchant wears gloves but has the hood of his cloak down. He has very pale skin, and white hair. His cloak is made of fine white cloth but his clothes are made of black leather. He wears a high-collared shirt with small gemstone buttons, which falls to mid-thigh and is belted. His legs are covered in tight leather. The slight illumination from several subtly placed lanterns allow the colours to be seen. The only other colour about the merchant is his grey eyes.

Although he speaks fluent drow, with the accent of The Deep Wastes, his voice is difficult to hear. It seems his voice can not be raised above that of a hoarse whisper.

'Gracious lady, allow - if you will - this humble merchant a moment to recall one of his mother's first instructions. She said to me that the goddess of our race did set drow against drow because our own kind is our only worthy opponent. We improve only by besting our equals. The challenge must be equal to our skills and therefore improve us.

'It is a principle I apply to my trade. As drow we are the mistresses of the known world and we must wear garments that are made of a material that is worthy to lie next to our skin. I have seen barbarians who wear goblin leather and other such low-grade leathers. Yet that is not for the noble and the mighty.

'My clothes, which I have for sale today, are made of drow leather. All are fashionable, all are comfortable and most are reasonably priced. A precious few command higher prices since subtle enchantments are laid upon them.

'If it please you, I will answer any question you care to ask me.'

Paval Thune was busy setting out the clothes and other wares that he was hoping to sell that day. The garments were leather-like in nature, most were made from a skin that looked black under any strong illumination. However, since they were rarely seen in strong illumination the clothes were best described as being imbued with a pleasing quality that looked like liquid, as if the wearer were suddenly turned into a living statue of obsidian.

With a typical merchant's sigh of regret he patted the part of his robe where he concealed his main purse and looked around the Enclave. He had never been here before and he could only hope that there might be some amongst the small crowd who found his goods worthy of purchase.