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It was a peaceful summer day in the Dwendalian city of Zadash. The sun was out, and the morning breeze carried hints of the oncoming heat of the sun. Birds were chirping on the rooftops of the houses and shops. Hawkers were selling their wares on the streets leading into the center of town. The brick and mortar houses stood, casting shadows onto the sides of the street, where people and animals stood in the cool shade.
In the Pentamarket, the main source of income and trade in Zadash, the stalls and carts of the salespeople were bursting with goods. A few of the traders were chatting in the early morning light, gossiping about the various people who had come and traded the day before.
“Did you see that giant of a woman yesterday?”
“Why yes, I did. Lovely woman came and nearly bought out my flour stock.”
“Did she really? She asked me for bugs of all things. I wonder about her.”
“I do as well. Look alive, we got business.”
And the plaza where the Pentamarket stood began to fill with the population of Zadash. Peasants and farmers coming in for their morning fix before heading out to the fields. Barmaids and tavern owners gathering supplies for the coming business day. Many varied clientele were gathered under the morning sun.
And coming shortly after the first of the morning bells, an hour or so after the first gathering of shoppers, came a giant of a woman. Standing heads above almost all of the other people who were shopping, she wandered among the stalls and carts. As she approached a farmers stall, who was currently selling some of the vegetables that they had gathered the day before, the farmer began to shiver gently. The other sellers looked over, concerned. They, having not had much experience with this newer woman, were afraid for the health of their fellow.
As she approached the farmer, she spoke up. “Hello!” She smiled brightly and gave a small wave. The farmer was immediately shocked and a startled laugh came out. The woman’s intimidating facade fell away to reveal a saccharine smile and hunched shoulders. “Do you have any, uh, green beans?” she muttered, much softer than her greeting. “Caleb has run out and I needed a few more for my new stew.” The farmer, after recovering from his brief shock, looked around his cart.
“Ah, I do indeed!” He said. “I have enough for many a meal.”
“Oh, thank you.” The woman began. “Here is five gold, I’ll take them.”
The farmer’s jaw dropped almost instantly. Five gold was far and above what he would expect to earn in a half day’s worth of hawking, and on green beans alone no less. “That would be excellent! Let me bag them up for you.”
The woman dug around in a small pouch and brought out five gold pieces and gently placed them on the ledge of the cart. After a few moments of gathering a small sack for the beans, the farmer began handing them over to the woman.
Out of nowhere, a new voice rang out. “Well hey there! Fancy seeing you here.” A large pale firbolg, fairly familiar to the gathered merchants, began to stride over. The goggles perched on their brow were caked with some mysterious fluids and powders. “Prime actually wanted to see you, if you have the time.”
The woman looked up and smiled once more. “Pumat! I would love to. What does he need?” She began to walk off with Enchanter Pumat Sol, or so the various merchants believed. As they were leaving, the surrounding merchants were able to overhear something about an enchanted greatsword of some power. “Were you able to find anything out about that sword Kima gave me?”
The firbolg replied, “Of course. It appears to be called the Scaldsaber. Fancy name, though it does fit I suppose.” He gestured to her arms as he continued, “Probably pretty useful for you I’d imagine, what with your strength and all.”
“Oh, thank you.” began the woman. “Oh! I just remembered that Martina asked me to get something for her. I’ll be right-”
And just as she was turning to head back towards the stalls, a figure in dark clothing appeared almost out of nowhere. A dagger in both hands, the figure sprinted up to the woman, slashing back and forth across her torso. The woman appeared to be unhurt, but when she turned to face the dark figure, the merchants could see the blood pouring from her body. Instead of the expected fear on her face, for even though she was large she had been nothing but gentle, the merchants saw a blinding rage. Sparks began to leap from her eyes, as she strode towards the dark figure. The dark figure now seemed to be regretting their life choices at this point.
The woman let out a scream, and grabbed the dark figure in one hand and began to pummel them with the other. Blood began to escape the dark figure’s body at high velocity as she continued to beat her assailant within an inch of their life. After the figure was limp and motionless on the ground, she turned around once more and picked up her bags.
“Sorry about the mess Pumat.” she began. The merchants then looked away for the first time in about a minute, picking up their slack jaws as they went, to the firbolg who was currently covered in gore.
“Ah well. No problem,” said Pumat. “It’s what Prestidigitation was made for after all.”
And so the two resumed their walk to another stall, and then out of the center of the Pentamarket. As they left the merchants began to whisper to one another.
“You know, I guess our first impressions were correct?”
“Well, as long as we don’t try to kill her we’re bound to be alright.”
“Very true, very true. Might want to relax on the upcharging though.”
“Hmm, maybe. She did pay five gold pieces for a bag of beans.”
“I don’t think I want to poke the bear, probably not good for my health.”
The merchants looked over to the now twitching body of the dark figure. Blood was pooling around them as they slowly stopped even twitching. They nodded to each other and went back to their stalls.