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Hanar noticed the watchmen before he noticed the dwarf. The rest of Ankh Morpork had slowly begun learning the difference but he'd learned it fast. That kind of thing was important in his profession. It didn't matter if they had a razor sharp beard and an axe and were only a few feet tall, if they had a badge and a breastplate they were trouble.
"I haven't dun nuffin." He said slowly and gruffly before the watchman got a chance to speak. His hands raced about below the counter concealing concealed weaponry. Technically he didn't sell anything illegal but the law was blurry at best and was easily bent in the hands of a copper.

"Hanar, old pal! I have a couple of questions for you." Ddar made at least a small attempt to put Hanar at ease with something that could be generously called a smile. "I didn't say you did anything wrong, but I do have a few questions for you. Why don't you take your hands out from under the counter while we chat." Hanar became noticably more nervous. Nothing was worse than a policeman saying "I have a few questions for you."

"Now, Hanar, I know you don't sell things that are illegal, so you don't have anything to worry about, right?" Hanar grumbled and shook his head as Ddar talked. "There was a crime commited recently, and I think the person who commited the crime may have purchased the weapon from this store. I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to allow me to go through your receipts."

Hanar laughed as Ddar finished. He looked up at the ceiling, "You think one of my wares was used in the commission of a crime? And you want to go through receipts? What makes you think I'd keep receipts if I sold to that sort of person?"

Ddar stared at Hanar. He remembered listening to some other watchmen earlier about asking questions. What was it? Something about how people reacted. Slam the fist and raise the voice, that was it. Ddar slammed his fist on the counter, and raised his voice, "Hanar! I know that you sell weapons, and you aren't particular who you sell them to. I also know that Dwarves keep records. You know what they say about a Dwarf who doesn't keep all his receipts, right? The Trolls come and take him*." Wolf walked in through the back way when he heard Ddar slam his fist on the counter.

Hanar was so caught up in wiping his face off after Ddar took an aggressive line of questioning that he didn't notice Wolf come in. Hanar stared, unsure of what to do now that he had two Watchmen in his store, and the thought of Trolls coming to take him away. No doubt, the Trolls would belong to the Watch, but it would still be Trolls coming to take him away. "You want them? Fine, I doubt whomever you're looking for used his real name anyway."

"Thanks for your help on that. Oh, and could you describe the people who have recently purchased serrated knives from you?" Ddar smiled. Maybe this Copper thing would be easier than he thought. Ddar took out his pad to write down anything important Hanar might say.




*The Trolls are commonly used by Dwarves of the Uberwald as a way to encourage thier children to always fill out reciepts and keep bills of sales, with the parents always reminding the children of the nasty trolls that wait quietly in the dark corners of rooms hoping that a Dwarf doesn't make out a reciept.

(ooc: sorry about the delay, summer school kicked in high gear, and I got caught up in homework and tests.)

Hanar eyed the pad nervously. If he didn't tell the Watch, well, who knew what would happen. If he did tell the Watch and the customer found out before they cought him Hanar knew exactly what would happen. And it would be done by the kind of person who buys a grade five Uberwaldian steel serated knife with black leather wrapped hilt and a blackened blade. He knew exactly who they were looking for. He'd only sold one of those knives in two years and it had been made to very specific specifications. If the Watch found out what else he'd made for this customer, well, prison bars wouldn't keep him safe.
But then, if they found out who this customer was through other means, and he found out they'd visited Hanar's shop...And the Watch were getting good these days.
"Look, right, you won't find a receipt for the knife, alright? There's stuff out there scarier than trolls, stuff that don't fall down after an axe to the knee. I might be law abiding but I'm not stupid.
Look, if I tell you, can you, you know, protect me? Cause I'm probably already dead jus' for sayin this much."
The dwarf Watchman looked at the human Watchmen, who nodded.
"Alright. He told me his name was Jack, but I don't reckon it was, right? Cos I aint stupid. He came from Uberwald, judgin' from the accent. He wasn't normal. Not even by Ankh Morpork standards. Not even by Uberwald standards. He was all dressed in black, didn't see very much of him, but he was tall, even hunched over, he practically had to walk on his knees to fit in here. And his skin looked like old parchment, all yellow and crackly. Urbkatze!" There weren't any words in Morporkian to describe the kind of fear Jack had inspired. "That's all I know, I wasn't gonna ask him anything else. Except he payed me. And I would have worked for free. He payed me too much. In gold. Old gold. Like the stuff they find in old tombs in Klatch. And I'd be careful if you find him, he's got stuff there aren't even laws against, cos the people who make the laws don't know about them."
Well, that was it, he couldn't go back now. "About that protection, I want trolls and golems and werewolves and everything! I'm serious!"

OOC: I have to make this whole thing ooc, both because there has been no progress and because I have no time. Over the summer I will only be able to casually check in, so don't be surprised... I have yet to read all the new messeges, so if this doesnt apply, ignore.

(ooc) Sorry, I just got back from Thailand this morning, but until a few more people post I don't have anything to contribute to the story anyway. Incidentally everyone put up your hand if you've patted any uncaged tigers in the last three days *puts up hand*
Thailand rules, everyone go there. (ooc)

(ooc)Only if you're half a continent away patting tigers.
Where'd everyone go by the way? I've never seen this thread so dead. Maybe I should start up a Dr Sues thread, that last sentence was awesome.
(ooc)

(ooc) Okay, I think I overcomplicated things and scared everyone off. My humblest of apologies, I've never done this before and it would seem I attempted too much. So I shall reset things as much as I can without resetting the story.(ooc)

Edward had been quiet and reclusive, just like half the woman's other guests, she didn't know anything else about him. Thusly thwarted Archi and his companions headed back to the watch house where they met up with the others.
"Any ideas as to what we do now?" Archi asked nervously.

(ooc) There, it is now up to you, as it should be. Now everyone please come back! We have to set an example for the rest of the guild! And anyone who wants to join in, please do! (ooc)