"[color=f7941d]It's an impressive display.[/color]"

Andel tested the weight of a slightly curved sword.  If his memory served, this one was called a falchion -- a short blade reminiscent of a machete.  It was fairly short, so it lacked the reach Andel preferred.  He returned it to the rack and perused some of the other weapons.  The assortment of blades was impressive indeed.  Everything from varieties of the common broadsword to exotic blades such as scimitars and khopeshes.  There were a number of weapons that Andel could not identify, let alone comprehend the usage of.  In the end, he was drawn to a longsword.  Familiar and efficient.  He carried the blade to a clear area off to the side of the group and went through the few stances he'd picked up on over the years.  Longswords were a bit heavier than he was accustomed to -- he'd only ever gotten to hold broadswords before, after all -- but he appreciated the weight when it was behind his strikes.  With a little bit of training it would become no inconvenience at all.

After finalizing his choice with Xan, Andel turned his attention to the armor rack up on the wagon.  This was an area he had little knowledge in.  Armor was simultaneously an essential part of a warrior's equipment and also an inconvenience.  Striking a balance between protection and maneuverability was important.  While he had always been impressed by knights in full plate, Andel doubted it was for him; the weight of the armor alone would probably impair his movement beyond effectiveness.  Likewise, leather or chainmail gear seemed too exposed.  They might deflect a glancing blow from a blade or keep an arrow from piercing skin, but a good strike from a sword could cleave it right in two.  Perhaps there was a combination of the two?

He found his answer a few sets down the line in a chainmail tunic with interwoven metal plates on the breast, shoulders, cummerbund and neck.  Though not quite as sturdy as traditional plate armor, platemail afforded a good mixture of protection, maneuverability, and stealth.  Weighing the set in his hands, Andel estimated that he could wear it with minimal encumbrance.

After having made his selections, he made his way back to the rest of the group.