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The Traveling Merchant Wagon (by Khahliana)

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:29 am
by Russ3Z
Courtesy of Khahliana. Originally posted at http://www.wotmud.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=53916.
Khahliana wrote: THE TRAVELING MERCHANT WAGON by Khahliana Sedai

Many times over the years I have often heard people asking about Jerais, Sarita, or the merchant wagon. A few times I even stumbled across them in my travels. However, after hearing rumors of rare goods being offered for sale and complaints about exhorbitant prices, I became very curious, so much so that I spent nearly a year traveling with them.

For those not yet acquainted with them, Sarita is an antiques dealer and Jerais is her disciple and wagon driver. Together they travel the world offering their wares for sale. Sarita employs three merchant guards and sells her wares between the hours of 7 am to 11 pm, taking a break for lunch between noon and 1 pm.

To enter the wagon, say enter wagon. There is a delay of about 10 seconds before Jerais will open the door for entry. Jerais does not appear to appreciate people attempting to use his wagon as an escape from battle and tends to ignore those engaged in battle requesting entry. Travelers should also be aware that horses are not allowed inside the wagon, nor are they tied to the wagon. If Sarita orders Jerais to pack up and move, any horses left outside will be left behind.

To exit, say exit. There is a delay of about 4-5 seconds before the guards will allow you to leave.

LOCATIONS:

Sarita will periodically call out through the open window to Jerais to pack up and move to a better spot. However, there is a delay of about 12 seconds before the guards will be satisfied that the wagon has come to a stop and listen to any requests to exit. Any requests to exit during this delay must be repeated once it is past. It should be noted that attempting to exit the wagon around 10-11 seconds after she calls for Jerais to move causes Sarita to say, 'Something is wrong, moving you to the Circle instead.' However, both times I encountered this I was not moved to the circle but instead remained in the wagon.

Sarita does not appear to keep any sort of schedule for when she orders Jerais to move and Jerais does not appear to keep to any specific route. Observed location change intervals varied from 2 hourly ticks to 10 days.

There were 8 occasions observed when Jerais apparently refused to move the wagon at Sarita's order. North Illian was the most frequently visited area with 8 visits. Taren Ferry and West Lugard were the next most frequently visited areas with 6 and 5 visits respectively. The number of observed locations visited per day widely ranged from 3 to 16. Not enough days were observed to accurately determine the average number of locations the team may visit on any given day.

Stopovers in the following commonly named areas were observed:


AD Ford
Berries
Caemlyn Inner City
Cut
Deven Ride
Dusty
East Amador
East Baerlon
East Maradon
Eastern Plains of Maredo
East Tear
East Tar Valon
Great Forest Gholam Zone-not in smob area
Haddon Mirk
Irinjivar
Kandor
Legion
Lockshear
Maerone
North Amador
North Falme
North Illian
North Lugard
North Mayene
South Caemlyn
Shady
Sward
Taren Ferry
Tear Fade
Touchan
Tar Valon-Caemlyn Road
Tar Valon-Fal Dara Road - BR Fade Zone
Watch Hill
West Lugard
West Whitebridge
Winding

Additionally, there were a number of uncommon places where Jerais chose to stop the wagon. On 6 occasions, he moved the wagon to rooms which require the use of a raft, canoe, or skill in swimming. However, it is unknown whether being able to swim would save those unlucky enough to exit the wagon in those rooms, as some water areas are too deep for swimming. On 4 occasions, Jerais apparently felt the need to offer their wares to criminals, stopping his wagon only a few spans away. Observed stops in areas with criminal activity were Hobrion, Ilsae, Aylia, and the Fal Dara darkfriend rent area.

INVENTORY:

Upon request, Sarita will provide a list of her current inventory and purchases may be made provided one has enough cash. However, Sarita was not interested in even looking at anything when asked to appraise the value of a variety of items.

Sarita keeps the following base inventory:


A package of iron rations for 7 gold crowns.
A cheap brass ring for 48 gold crowns.
A full wooden shield for 14 gold crowns and 8 coppers.
A pair of tooled leather sleeves for 64 gold crowns.
A pair of oiled chainmail sleeves for 32 gold crowns.
A set of oiled chainmail leggings for 38 gold crowns and 8 coppers.
A two-fisted flamberge for 64 gold crowns.

In addition to her base inventory, Sarita offers a random selection of four to six other items. There does not appear to be any pattern to the additional items she adds to her inventory. When she is ready to offer a different selection of items she puts away what was previously offered, adds a new selection and refreshes her base inventory. She does not refresh her inventory of any items between inventory changes and the only item she carries in bulk is the package of iron rations.

Observed inventory change intervals were anywhere from 1 day to 13 days. Intervals are expressed in days rather than hours because when she does change her inventory she does it just after 12pm only, at the time she closes up shop for her break. The average number of days she may offer any given group of items is about 4 days. The number of observed inventory changes per boot ranges from 5-9, with 6 being the most common.

The following list shows the items she offered and the prices she asked throughout my time spent traveling with her. Please note, this is not a comprehensive list as not enough time was spent traveling with them to develop a complete list of her inventory.


A bearskin tunic for 319 gold crowns and 13 coppers.
A bone-crushing mattock for 24 gold crowns.
A bright red robe for 640 gold crowns.
A bronze belt of odd design for 48 gold crowns.
A burnished metal breastplate for 64 gold crowns.
A crystal lightstick for 6 gold crowns and 8 coppers.
A cup of thready brown tea for 128 gold crowns.
A dark blue scarf for 64 gold crowns.
A dark blue tasseled spear for 570 gold crowns and 11 coppers.
A dull black shield for 320 gold crowns.
A full metal helmet and visor for 128 gold crowns.
A gator skin bracer for 256 gold crowns.
A gold ring for 320 gold crowns.
A jade signet ring for 112 gold crowns.
A jeweled dagger for 64 gold crowns.
A large melon for 6 coppers.
A large steel spear for 48 gold crowns.
A long halberd for 256 gold crowns.
A pair of animal-fur boots for 160 gold crowns.
A pair of dark gloves for 112 gold crowns.
A pair of ebony-steel plate greaves for 640 gold crowns.
A pair of ebony-steel plate vambraces for 640 gold crowns.
A pair of gray suede leggings for 192 gold crowns.
A pair of heavy metal gauntlets for 128 gold crowns.
A pair of thick metal boots for 96 gold crowns.
A pale steel longsword for 384 gold crowns.
A ring of silver for 192 gold crowns.
A set of cloth sleeves for 128 gold crowns.
A sharp, red stone dagger for 480 gold crowns.
A shining steel breastplate for 288 gold crowns.
A shoufa with a black veil for 160 gold crowns.
A spiked double handed warhammer for 192 gold crowns.
A s'redit prod for 320 gold crowns.
A startling amethyst necklace for 96 gold crowns.
A sungwood bracelet for 192 gold crowns.
A thin vial of yellow fluid for 192 gold crowns.
A thin, black chain for 224 gold crowns.
A war saddle with stirrups for 50 gold crowns and 4 coppers.
A white stable ticket for 34 gold crowns and 17 coppers.
A wide leather wristband for 64 gold crowns.
An amber hilted iron sword for 256 gold crowns.
An emerald ring for 112 gold crowns.
An enormous double-bladed battleaxe for 640 gold crowns.
An ivory necklace for 224 gold crowns.
An opal choker of fiery blue and pink beauty for 320 gold crowns.

OOC NOTE: When referring to time intervals in seconds, those are real-life seconds. All other time intervals are game-time.