Ring of Quick Armor Change

Anse turned to look. The room was clean and tidy, and the furniture had been rearranged; it had clearly been carefully cleaned.

By the long table, a halfling sat drinking in a chair that was obviously far too large for him. Several dishes of food sat on the table, though the meal was not particularly lavish.

"Osborne, have you been waiting here for me all this time?" Anse asked in surprise.

"Not really. I only came over after dark." Osborne laughed heartily and gestured for him to sit.

A flame sprang up from Anse's fingertip, lighting the oil lamp on the table. Then he rummaged through his Dragonhide Pouch, took out several bottles of wine, and set them on the table.

"Try a specialty from Faerun's West Coast." He opened a bottle and poured Osborne a glass.

Osborne lifted it and sniffed it. His eyes lit up. He brought it to his lips and took a sip, smacking his lips as his expression relaxed. "Fine wine, fine wine—"

"Isn't Brarr Rock City considered a trade capital? Don't you have good wine here?" Anse asked curiously.

These bottles had all come from the "Alchemy Jug." Their quality was excellent, though they were not quite top-tier.

"You don't know the half of it. The Rock City Royal Family is greedy. If you want to trade here, you have to obtain a Commodity Trade License. At most, they issue three to five licenses for each category, and they aren't allowed to be bought or sold.

"Different categories of goods are taxed differently—the lowest is ten percent, the highest forty percent—and the rates change often. Not just goods; even mercenaries and workers have to pay taxes—" Osborne complained, sounding somewhat dissatisfied.

Anse nodded slightly. This Commodity Trade License was essentially an import permit, while