She pays ten copper for something big enough to fit the basics, and then goes off to pick up a canteen and some rations. She notes the Fischer woman searching the crowd, but sees no reason to approach her. She'll keep an eye on her though, unusual things are worth noting.

Is she sure she doesn't want a maaaaagic canteen? One that refills from water vapor in the air is worth almost a gold, but there are nicely insulated and self-cleaning models for about two silver. Rations are less upsell-able. There's places that offer nicely magic-sealed meals that supposedly will keep well and be good to eat on the march, and the cost is comparable to restaurant food rather than bulk staples, but not any pricier than that. There are also healing and mana potions on offer, starting at a silver, and a few more expensive buff potions. And the Fine Pine seems to be advertising special steaks that increase strength and 'fighting spirit' for 24 hours, phrased and discussed by passers-by as if it's a perfectly legitimate temporary buff, for ten copper.

She can't afford two silver right now. She'll go for the el cheapo model for three copper four pennies. She'll buy one sealed restaurant meal, as a treat, and then add three days' trail rations atop it, for a total of three copper. She might check out the Fine Pine's steak later. For now: Tents!

Tents are not a popular object in a mostly maritime town. Selection is pretty limited, but what they do have benefits from surprisingly modern design and materials, flexible metal supports and nice rope and durable fabric. A sleeping bag and basic, tiny tent will run her nine copper. Versions with a waterproof coating and a bit more insulation are fifteen copper. Add an extremely basic alarm charm to the tent for 4c 8cp, or a 'Minor Crystal of Hysh - repels dhar!' for 12c.

She'll take a waterproofed one with an alarm charm for a silver and eight pennies. Then it's back to her room at the Fine Pine to get back her old clothes from the laundry service and pack them away in her bag.

After that, she'll go back down to Sharktooth's and see if there are any more cutters around than last time.

There are a few more now! Two women are arm wrestling on a table, someone is playing a lute, and one clique of cutters is sulking as if they just lost a fight, one man cradling his arm.

There is also a certain Fischer, morosely having some drinks and not paying too much attention to the crowd. Her big backpack is gone but she still has that mean looking harpoon and a gun.

She'll ask the clique of cutters and the Fischer woman if any of them are interested in going inland to Marondel. 

These fine boys and girls are all sailors and seafarers! Not gonna abandon the town. In fact, they're working up a plan for a big raid to take down the shark.

She blinks and stares a bit, startled, then thoughtful, then something unreadable.

"I'm, uh, not necessarily opposed, I guess. Since my boat is at the bottom of the ocean now. But why ask me?"

"For one thing you're a fellow gunwoman, which I appreciate. For a second thing you seem to be able to handle yourself. For a third thing it doesn't hurt that you're pretty. And lastly I figured it was likely you knew the area better than me."

"Oh." She blushes blue, apparently. Her eyes dart side-to-side, and she takes a hurried sip of beer to clear the embarrassment.

"Nothing quite like a bullet to stop your enemies. Unfortunately that last thing is not true. And I'd dispute the third as well. I am on a... Pilgrimage of sorts, I suppose I would call it."

"I agree. I'd ask to see your piece, but I don't think I know you that well yet. You came in from out of town too, then? I'm headed to sign up with the Adventurer's Guild."

"Yes. By boat. Without knowing about the Mutant Wave Ripper." Sigh. "'S a blessing that I was able to get to shore safely. I'm an E-rank adventurer. Mostly to dodge tolls. Is there a dungeon in Marondel, then? Oh-"

She reaches out for a handshake. "Abyssia, Fischer of the southern isles. Good to meet you."

She shakes her hand. "Thorn. Scout and soon-to-be adventurer, hoping to make something better than E. There's a dungeon in Marondel, I'm hoping to get together a delving party once I'm there."

"For the money or for levels?"

"Money first, levels second. I need to earn enough to afford a replacement piece, I was forced to abandon mine. Real shame too, it had accuracy and power enchantments."

Abyssia halfsmiles. "Real shame to waste a good gun. Mine are pretty basic - I've found having several guns with different characteristics serves me well, I can pull and fire fast without having to reload in an extended fight, hopefully. There are rapid-fire options I wish I could afford, but those cased cartridges for lever-actions and revolvers are expensive. Not to mention the guns themselves."

She nods along. "Mine was a repeater similar to a revolver - a bit different in design but got the job done. Honestly don't think I can afford a proper replacement anytime soon, but I'm working to change that."

"They say an adventurer's gear is their life. I think that's a bit shallow when we Fischers carve our life stories into ourselves and our tools, but there's something to that. I hear a B-ranker's armor costs several platinum."

"I can definitely believe that. There's really a long way to go between there and here, huh?" 

She runs a hand through her hair. "... I'm the kind of person where if you show them a rank system they want to be on top. Good dose of healthy caution atop that, but yeah. Levels second."

Sideways grin. "Me, I'm more practical. Levels first - even if levels aren't everything. Who cares about ranks and titles... Except for what resources or privileges they give you."

She laughs. "Oh, I like you. For me, the acknowledgement isn't really the thing - I just want to be able to take care of things like this overgrown fish without having to rely on a raid to do it, yeah? And that means I need to rank up."

"Oh, so you want the same thing I do, you're just using threat rank as an easy measure of it."

She takes a big draw on her beer, finishing it.

"...Do you drink? I'm honestly a little tipsy but I kind of neeeed this after spending all day salvaging what I could from saltwater. Powder's all bad. Guns all super clean. Took hours."

"I don't drink but I'll buy you a round to console you."