Merchants, selling everything from candles to trinkets, gems to groceries, hawk their wares and haggle with customers, while entertainers ply their trade, dazzling listeners and onlookers with their skills.
Here too are stealthy thieves, eyes sharp and nerves like steel, waiting for the chance to snatch a purse or relieve a trader of something valuable.
City Guards patrol the square, keeping an eye out for trouble.
This is the place to buy mundane and everyday items... it's safe to assume that one of the merchants here will serve you.
*Passing by the stalls in the market, he spots a vender selling chocolate. The grin on his face widens.*
.o0(I bet she didn't gets no choclate on her adventures likes I did. I'd better get her some.... I thinks she'll be very happy tro see me. And evens happier ta see me with sweets.)
*Hermy purchases a few small bits of various types of choca;lote candy from the merchant, and has them wrapped up in bright red paper.*
*Tucking the candy underneath his arm, he starts to head towards the guild but something else catches his eye.*
*Flowers.*
*He approaches the cart packed full of spring flowers and begins to sniff them, and tries to find the perfect flowers for his Snugglekitten.*
"Nah, to red,... Not red enough.... Smells pretty but it don't look right.... Looks right but doesn't smell pretty... Do ya gots anything that aint these?... Cin ya grabs them ones at the top, Ise a little to short ta see if they stinks right or not... Yup, theys smells likes what I want but these ones is wilting, da ya gots more?... "
*Hermy makes his way through every flower on the cart and finds nothing perfect for Alissa.*
*But before the frown has a chance to form, Hermy blinks, smiles and thanks the merchant for her time. He leaves a few copper coins in her hand and then takes off running.*
.o0(Daffydiles! Thems what I need! I know Alissa loves them! She savded the ones I gaves her when she was at the church fer a long time!)
*Hermy heads towards the Church of Agathalos.*
.oO(What pretty flowers...)
*purchases a bundle of assorted flowers from the harassed-looking vendor*
"Nice to have a customer who knows her mind, if ye don't mind me sayin' so."
Ah, right, yes... Thank you.
[to Elsewhere]
Moving with steady paces down street, Kywyn heads toward the market square with NaShae. He holds her hand gently and eyes the various open shops.
Kywyn says to her sedately, as if not to draw attention to them yet, "You're right, we should check out the merchants while there is still daylight."
*quietly*
Do you know where we might sell these?? Natala's maybe for the potions. It's the spyglass I'm worried about. Did you find any marks on it??
"I would think maybe travelers would have use for the item? It seems like a useful and expensive trinket. They told me to be careful with it when they gave it me."
Kywyn glances around as they amble into the square.
"Natala's would work for the potions, if she has the funds on hand. Though you wouldn't be able to charm her so easily as another trader."
Maybe not. However, I don't think we'll have to, she would be fair.
Reflects her blush as a small smile.
"I'm just wondering if fair is enough this time."
"Do you think we should shop around first to get a feel of the different merchants?" Kywyn asks as he looks at one merchant stand touting odd foreign 'treasures.'
We can't hope to come up with all the money on our own. I'm only hoping for a part.
*follows his eye and nods*
We could try the one over there.
*nods to the shop he's looking at*
If they don't want to give enough, we could look around.
Through their bond, he communicates, "They always watch the shiny things... like you."
Kywyn conveys a loving stare though his exterior remains calm.
.oO(They usually do, but I don't think I'm any more shiny than you. It just depends on who is the one looking.)
*walks into the shop and looks around*
*seeing the shopkeeper, she squeezes Kywyn's hand and leads him over*
Excuse me. We have an item we wish to sell. It is a spyglass. And quite a nice one. Would you be interested??
.oO(Many things to buy here, but I am seeking information not wares)
She walks by a shop and spots another elf inside waiting.
.oO(Perhaps she can help me....)
Silmarwen enters the shop and walks to talk to her and the young gentleman next to her.
Pardon me, Ms? Could I ask you for some directions to the palace?
Greetings. My name is NaShae.
*nods*
Of course. The palace is to the west, then follow the road north. You'll pass a Temple of Ordemet. It's directly to the north of that.
Thank you NaShae, perhaps now I can track down that Jackal. I am Silmarwen and I look forward to meeting you again.
She nods at the woman and turns to leave
Good luck. I believe most of the Jackals there now. You should have no trouble finding who you are looking for.
oO. (The heat makes the people sleepy, fools. They leave their purses open to anybody with a deft hand and the grit to do it.)
He momentarily considers lifting some coin of a merchant passing by.
oO. (Hardly worth the space it'd take. There isn't much in it. Merchants are bad pickings anyways. They tend to take things personally....)
With a slowly and relaxed stride he makes his way to a bench and watches for any good targets.
*So he wanders around until he found a place that sells traveling gear. So he goes up to the stand and is greeted by the owner.
Owner: Hello how may I help you?
Aramil: Well I was just getting a set of Traveling clothes. My other ones are in pretty bad shape.
Owner: Ah well yes we can make you some. Come here so we can make it to fit you.
*Aramil follows the man and when he is done he exits the shop and bows to the man and says:
Aramil: Thank ye.
Owner: No thank you, and you can come and pick up your clothes in a week.
*Aramil bows to the man again then walks around the Market square looking for some other stuff he might want to buy.
oO. (Perfect.)
He pushes himself of the bench and falls into step behind the dwarf. His walking stick clunking in time with his step. oO. ( He doesn't have a purse in the market?He must be hiding it. The cheek, honestly, why do people make things so much more difficult?)
"Warm day to be wearing armor, it seems."
"You never know when someone will try and attack you and, I am fine."
*He turns and heads off to the SSAG but then he notices something about this person. So he turns around to talk to the person again.
"Your new to this town aren't you?"
"Hardly, I'm just busy with work alot."
Lucian leans forward onto his walking stick.
"I haven't seen you around before though. Do you work nearby?"
"Well as a matter of fact I do. I am the Armorsmith and one of the Weaponsmiths at the Silver Sword Adventures Guild. My name is Aramil Dunskar. And you would be?"
*Holds out a hand for a greeting.
"My name's Lucian, actor by profession. Unemployed by chance."
Lucian smiles.
"What sort of weapons do you sell?"
"Well I don't have an in stock right now since we are pretty new, but I can make you a weapon if you'd like."
*Aramil smiles.
.oO(Great now I can test my skills at makeing weapons and earn some money in return :D)
oO. (This'll give me a chance to look at the inside of the guild... My emplyers may be interested in something inside...)
"I always could use another dagger. Nothin fancy mind you, but how much would a decent dagger cost?"
"Well I can sell you one for 6 silver pieces and 7 copper pieces. It will take me about a week or so for me to make it so come to the SSAG in about a week. Is that alright with you?"
"Sounds good. I'd be interested in seeing this guild of yours. Sounds like quite the complex."
"Well... I guess it is. Theres nothing fancy about it though."
"Where is the building anyways?"
"Until then!"
The half-elf waves and walks out of the market, his walking stick hiting the ground in time with his step.
To Elsewhere
*Aramil bows before he leaves then exits the Market square and heads to the SSAG.
[To SSAG]
Originally posted by NaShae
*smiles softly at him*
.oO(They usually do, but I don't think I'm any more shiny than you. It just depends on who is the one looking.)
*walks into the shop and looks around*
*seeing the shopkeeper, she squeezes Kywyn's hand and leads him over*
Excuse me. We have an item we wish to sell. It is a spyglass. And quite a nice one. Would you be interested??
The shopkeeper looks at the spyglass and sighs.
"It's a fine thing, but too costly for me, I'm afraid. Perhaps a noble, or a guild, might buy it."
I understand. It's not something most could afford. Thank you.
*quietly to Kywyn as they walk out*
Let's try a few more places. If nobody can buy it, maybe we can try to trade it for many small sellable things. Or just the diamonds needed.
"Should have known it would be difficult to find a merchant with enough coin on hand."
He walks with NaShae to glance at the other vendors nearby.
"What types of guild's would be interested, do you think? Maybe there are some in the industrial district."
I know where the mercenary guild is, but I would rather not go there. And I do know a noble in town. But it's best to stay away from him, at least for now.
*frowns*
Why don't we try a gem shop first?? If all else fails, we can try the others.
Kywyn spots a few children playing in the market skittering about and it occurs to him he hasn't drawn in the market for a long time. Since winter closed its icy grasp around the city. Though it seems out of place to do so now.
He brushes away the stray thoughts, "If we cannot find a way to sell the glass, maybe the temple would accept the item itself as part of the payment?"
That would be nice, but I don't know what they would need it for.
*looks around and finds a shop the sells gems*
Shall we try here??
*offhand, she mentions*
If you want to draw in the market again, it's alright. We may need the extra money at some time. And it would keep the threat from thinking that we're constantly after it.
*walks into the shop, looking around*
*finding the shopkeep, she walks over*
Greetings. I was wondering if you would be interested in a trade. We have a spyglass we need to sell, but not many in the town can afford it. Is there any way we could trade for a number of diamonds??
Even if you can't sell the glass, even with the customers of means you must get in here, it could be used to help anyone you need to send out of town. If they can see from far off something that will want to steal the shipment, they can prepare.
"I'm sorry, miss, I've no use for it. Why don't you try the caravaners guild? I'd guess it was more their sort of thing."
Thank you.
*frowns slightly*
Could you please tell us where we might find that guild??
Kywyn stands and nods to the shopkeeper.
.oO(It wasn't your fault, beloved. You didn't tell the child to do that. But if you prefer to have a studio in the house, that is fine with me.)
*blinks suddenly, remembering the desk that was supposed to be delivered and that she was out of town when it was supposed to be ready*
The shopkeeper turns away to help a customer.
Thank you.
*walks out of the shop, blushing slightly*
.oO(It would seem so.)
*starts walking toward the guild*
I'm not sure the type there. Do you still want me to speak to those at the guild?? Or would you rather this time??
He walks with her out of the market and toward the west gate of the city.
[To Elsewhere]
*walks to the shopkeep, biting her lip a blush in her cheeks*
Greetings. I hired you to make a desk for me a while back and asked to have it delivered. I had a...family emergency and had to travel to my childhood home. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to recieve it, would it be possible for it to be delivered in the morning. We will be there this time.
*takes out a couple gold coins*
I'm very sorry for the trouble.
"Ah, yes, I remember. Tomorrow morning would be fine. I hope everything is all right now?"
NaShae and Kywyn can see the desk from where they stand, as it is being prominently displayed.
Unfortunately not, my mother is sick. However, we have hopes that she will get better with time.
*smiles*
Thank you for your concern.
*nods toward the desk*
May I show him, while we're here?? And you can show us exactly how it works, if you have time, that is.
Surely, right over here, sir, ma'am."
The craftsman proudly shows off the desk, including the little details. It is a magnificent piece of work, and he makes sure the other customers notice it.
*she checks to make sure that it was made as she wanted it, then nods to the clerk*
It's perfect. Thank you very much. I'll be sure to pass along your name if any friends need anything made.
*squeezes Kywyn's hand gently and smiles at him again before turning back to the shopkeeper*
Thank you for your work. It's a beautiful desk. We look forward to the delivery tomorrow. Good day, sir.
*they leave the shop and head toward the Temple*
*quietly to Kywyn on the way*
Let's drop off this money, that way there is a start and we don't have to carry it around with us.
[to Temple of Ordemet]
*He cautiously moves around to the front of the bakery and enters.*
"Hey there Mrs. Golden, I think I needs another pie."
*The baker smiles and heads into the kitchen and soon returns wit a warm apple pie.*
*Hermy thanks her and pays for the pie.*
*He takes a big sniff and heads out of the shop, and sneaks around the back. Again looking around for any spies he lifts the latch and sneaks into the bakeries storeroom.*
.o0(It sure is better thinkin here now that I can affords to eats the pies, an not just smells them.)
*Scooping up a handful of pie, Hermy makes himself comfy on a bag of flour and sets about to think of how he should proceed.*[
.o0(I needs ta finds away ta gets some moneys quick sose that I cin finds away to see ifen I cin finds a way to finds out what Alissa wants.)
*He takes another messy slice of pie and nibbles on it.*
.o0(Wheres cin I get money? There is those dragons. Ise slayded one before so it aint like I can't do it again..... I suppose I coulds go looking fer another giant too.)
*He stops nibbling and devours the pie.*
"mmmmmm"
.o0(That sure was good pie. Not as good as that pie that Mister Moonshine the ghost gaves me though... or the kind that Alissa isa learnin to cook now.)
*A smile creeps across his face as he thinks of his beloved baking a big pumkin pie, and then it stops...*
.o0(The pie I never ate!)
*Hermy stands up, and heads for the door.*
.o0(That whole broken castle where he lived coulds be full of golds! We never really checked since we was too busy savin the city! We coulds go back on looks!... Or go to another broken castle that aint got so many undead guys!)
*Hemy slips out the door and heads towards the guild.*
Kywyn looks around and spots a vendor selling portions of roasted meat as well as some fresh fruit on the side. He indicates the direction to NaShae and approaches to purchase some food for them.
Lunch in hand, they start to make their way towards the other couple.
*looking at the food the vendor is selling, picks out an apple*
*tilts her head*
Would you like one, too?? Or should we just get some of the meat to share??
Kywyn turns and notices a familiar figure in the crowd a ways down, noting the gleam of chainmail and scabbard hanging at his side.
"Looks like they had the same idea," he says quietly to NaShae as he gives a small wave toward Gamis.
*smiles and waves when she sees Miri and Gamis*
Greetings. We were just looking for you at the Silver Sword.
"We wanted to see if you or Hermy had any new ideas for the situation," Kywyn adds.
"The only conclusion we've come to is that venturing out is probably the fastest way to find the money needed... But I wouldn't know where to start for something like that."
"The dragons are a bad idea... But there may be caves out in the woods with something easier to handle. Finding one could be time-consuming unless we have a lead on one." He takes a bite out of his pastie as he thinks. "We cleaned out the cave that umber hulk had months ago... Something may have moved in since then, though." He shrugs.
"Yes, dragons are a bad idea. And you're right, we have to make sure the spells for Alissa are kept in place whatever we decide to do."
Kywyn looks skyward at the passing wispy clouds.
"Treasure hunting is one thing, but something about going out and murdering things for their gold doesn't sit right with me. One reason I never considered myself an adventurer, I suppose."
"It'd be nice to get Aria to work with us, and find out what she has procured from Malifaeyr, but that may be difficult," he glances at NaShae and hands her the portion of meat on a wooden skewer.
"Could be difficult indeed... We'll just have to stick with her and not let her take on anything she can't handle by herself. I haven't seen her since we were at the Temple, either. Wonder what Malifaeyr had to say."
"Don't confuse me for one of the Mother's pacifists. There are too many points of view for me to say what's right. What I meant was that if a treasure is protected, it raises the factor of risk in retrieving it, right?"
Kywyn lowers his gaze back to Gamis, "Finding her might be a good idea. Unless you feel comfortable enough at the palace that we could seek the Lord's words directly."
"It probably would be a good idea, yes... I do feel comfortable going to the palace, but getting an audience with him could be difficult regardless. He expects an answer back from me about something, so it would be good if I had it to give him when I went to speak with him."
He turns to NaShae and helps finish the food they bought, picking the skewer clean. From his pack, Kywyn draws forth a waterskin and offers it to NaShae first.
He questions Gamis, "Were you planning on returning an answer to Malifaeyr soon? Is it a related matter?"
"Would be interesting... advantages and disadvantages like anything else."
"Are you willing to devote your blade to that operation?"
NaShae, I've at least part of the answer you're seeking... Though I don't have all the answer, one aspect is certainly a mummy. I'm sorry...
"I'm willing to devote it temporarily. But it's going to be left up to each member if they want to do the same; I can't make that decision for everyone. I expect most of us to go with it for a little while at least, though."
Kywyn steps up from the wall toward the paladin.
"Since we can't seem to have any plans finialized at the moment, could we arrange a time and place to meet again, then? Hopefully one of us will run into Hermy and let him know as well. And if we can meet with Natala, she could possibly tell us more about how much time we do have."
Kywyn patiently waits for NaShae to finish talking with Miri before heading off anywhere.
I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that part of the spell is a mummy?? Or she was researching mummies?? Or that she needs a mummy to get better??
*tilts her head looking confused*
I'm not sure what the final form of the cure will be, but I am quite certain I will need at least part of a mummy.
I thought you should know immediately...
Where would you get a mummy??
*shakes her head*
Thank you, Miri. I appreciate your help with this.
You're welcome... I wish I had better news. But I thought you should know right away, in case you want to pursue curing your mother.
I'll understand, though, if you want to give it up...
Why would I want to give up?? I promised that I would help her if I could. I now know I need a mummy.
*tilts her head*
Does it have to be... animated??
I don't think so... not so long as it was prepared with the full rites.
I mean, it can't be just any old desiccated corpse. The ritual imbues a mummy with a profound necromantic potency.
*looks hopefully at NaShae*
You wouldn't know of any abandoned tombs, would you?
No.
*blushes a bit*
I had hoped with being in the guild, you would know more about things like this than I do.
I research magic, not places. But...
Gamis? The guild could help her, couldn't it? For a share of whatever treasure might be found?
I'll see what I can find out about tombs in the area. But I would greatly appreciate any help with that.
I can't... I'm just too busy with the research on the notes.
*looks up at Gamis*
Yes, all right... I'll keep you posted on what else I learn, NaShae, from the notes...
*looks up at Gamis, sliding her hand around his elbow*
We should get busy with that.
After his first lesson and subsequent purchase at the Mystic Shop, Ran wanders over to the market to add a serviceable knife to his worldly possessions.
And some candles too... But perhaps I can ask Mrs Weatherby for some old, nearly spent ones. New ones will probably break in two anyway in this bag, sturdy as it is. I could use a small notebook though. That might be expensive, but it'd be worth it.
The elf soon finds the hawker Natala mentioned and looks over the knives on display, searching for one that fits the healer's description.
A short blade, thin and sharp... I'll ask Aria or Aramil to make me one if I don't find something really good here. It's not something a weaponsmith would have in stock, so I might as well get me something suitable for general use now and get something more special custom-made once I'm ready for it.
The vendor, detecting a likely customer with the uncanny sense of the true businessman, starts firing a barrage of comments, advice, questions and general superlatives concerning his wares in Ran's direction. Despite his experience at negotiations, the monk can't help but admire the man's enthusiastic sales technique.
He secretly enjoys the drawn-out game that ensues, the vendor's claims of usurpassable craftsmanship countered with feigned boredom and a raised eyebrow conveying a subtle hint of doubt, the inevitable horror of the shopkeep faced with a customer who apparently couldn't discern true quality if Agathalos himself would put forth a golden ray of light to illuminate it, the exchange of outrageous comments of one's indubitably exceedingly upscale choice of goods versus the other's stonehearted lack of compassion with a man only trying to scrape enough coin from his long days of hard labour to feed and shoe a family sizeable enough to form a small duchy. Two sarcastic comments about sharpened spoons and three beseeching pleas for compassion with a starving grandmother - a different one each time, interestingly enough - later the two shake hands, only a hint of a smile in both pairs of eyes belying grudgingly admitted interest, if only to have at least something to show for a day spent in the market and wails of dry crusts of a three-day old half loaf of mouldy bread to feed more children than any god - bless their infinite wisdom anyway - should have seen fit to bestow upon one man cursed with the absolute inability to refuse a customer anything.
Maybe I could have haggled a bit longer and gotten another penny or three off of the price, but the sheath is nice and I could not help but like that claim of the knife being an exact replica of the one used to cut the umbilical cords of the Mother's two children. The entertainment value far exceeded that small extra dip in my purse.
Shaking his head and smiling, Ran turns his steps home to drop of his new possessions and go to the Last Lich for his shift.
"We'll see you two tomorrow at the Lich."
They start out of the market, as Gamis tells her, "But you will take a break tonight... And you really shouldn't be sleeping at your desk anymore."
*walks easily alongside Gamis, staff in her free hand*
.oO(I ought to enchant this staff...)
"Would you like to head back to the apartment, or maybe take this new information to the others? Maybe they would have some information to add."
Let's just head back to the apartment. Hopefully we can tell the others more tomorrow.
---
[To Elsewhere]
"Hello, are my clothes ready?"
Merchant: "Good Day to you, and yes they are ready to for you."
"Good, and how much will it cost."
Merchant: "One gold piece will be fine."
*Aramil gets his money pouch out gets out a gold coin and gives it to the merchant. The merchant in return gives him the travelers outfit.
"Thank ye."
*Aramil bows to the merchant then puts the clothes in his backpack, and his money pouch back inside his armor. Then he walks around the Market square for a while, before heading back to the SSAG.
.oO(Therre's got teh be soomething morre tasty than that last batch Ah bought.)
.oO(Noo way this brracelet is only that much! Not if its genuine!)
*As she looks at it, one of the 'gems' pops out of its setting and tinkles to the ground with a glass-like sound. She looks at the bit of colored glass, then at the proprietess with a glare, who returns the glare.*
Proprietess:
"You'll have to pay for that since you broke it!"
*Brodda's eyebrows twitch.*
"Brroke it?!? It's a cheap fake! Ah'm not payin' ferr any such thing!"
*Brodda turns to walk away but the woman grabs her arm.*
Proprietess:
"You broke a very expensive bracelet and now you have to pay for it!"
*Brodda turns to the woman, eyes afire.*
"Ah'm ashamed teh admit teh even toouchin' such a piece of trrash! Let goo of meh arrm orr Ah'll have yeh investigated ferr cheatin' all these fine folks with yeh'rre garrbage!"
Proprietess:
"So you admit to handling the goods!"
*Brodda growls at the woman, who takes a surprised step back, letting go of the dwarfess' arm. Brodda turns again and walks away, hurling dwarven curses at the woman.*
He turns around to see her red faced and he grins.
"M'lady"
He bows low
"Burrleg!"
*She steps over to him and grins.*
"Ah see yeh'rre back! How is the cave divin'?"
"Turn around boyo"
He turns back to Brodda and takes her in his arms and plants a long, strong, but gentle kiss squarely on her lips. He steps make and smiles a little, fear is in his eyes though.
"That was nice, Burrleg."
*The twinkle in her eye gets brighter.*
"Though Ah might be able teh make a few rrecommendations." ;)
*She turns to the turned-around Tensek, who turns back around.*
"Helloo again."
*She sees the tobacco cart behind Burleg.*
"Ahhh! Just what Ah was lookin' ferr!"
*She starts inspecting the options available.*
*Despite her casual attitude, Brodda is quite pleased and almost giddy about the kiss.*
Burleg turns back to the tobacco smelling the various kinds. He looks over the different kinds at Brodda, smiling from time to time.
.oO(That was rreally nice! Differrent frrom Minto's kisses but equally as pleasing!)
*She finds a variety that smells good and points it out to Burleg.*
"What do yeh think o' this one?"
Hands he one with a little bit sweeter smell, ans so sticky that after feeling it, it sticks to her finger tips.
"I don't like the sweetness as much, but for you I think it suits."
He purchases a bitter smelling, dark variety.
"Ah'll take it."
*She digs a few coins from her pouch and hands them to the man running the stand and takes her pouch of tobacco.*
*She turns to Burleg, looking at both he and Tensek.*
"What arre yeh'rre plans t'day, gentlemen?"
Burleg begins to talk but turns and slowly walks down the street
"I'll have to settle for a cheap replacement I suppose"
"Family heirrloom destrroyed? That's terrible! How?"
*She turns to walk with him*
"We battled a monster, bah! a Bug! that when it touched it, it turned it to rust. Hundreds of years gone in an instant, and the owner of the mine, who WE did a favor disregarded this little detail."
He harrumphs and continues to walk
"She didn't underrstand the value of such a trreasurre? She needs it explained teh herr. Wherre kin Ah find herr?"
He lights his pipe and puffs thought fully
*She continues walking alongside him, noticing how closely they are walking together. She nearly blushes but she squashes that urge.*
"These humans doon't seem teh underrstand some of the things that arre basic in dwarrven communities. They'rre so concerrned with theirr own issues that they can't see anythin' else."
*She growls as they pass the jewelry cart that tried to sell her garbage trinkets.*
He stops
"You can go, but I doubt it will do you much good, she thought it over generous I suppose."
*She smiles*
"Rright now yeh need teh rre-arrm yeh'rreself."
He frowns, but manages a smile at her comment.
"Alright! Lead the way"
With a look and a shrug to Tensek he places her arm on his own and walks along
"Well what are you off to now?"
"Ooohhh, Ah thought Ah'd go harrrass the local bad guys."
*She grins at the thought.*
"Ah shoould go visit the magical supply shop too. Ah need soome things ferr soome o' meh spells."
*She leans in close.*
"And what will the twoo of yeh be gettin' inteh noow?"
Burleg blushes at this comment, and starts as if he realised what he just said.
"Other than that I suppose we'll go hunting for some loot, help get that new axe.. Want to go?"
"Ah coould use a boosterr to meh own funds, cerrtainly. Ah woould love teh join yeh. When arre yeh plannin' on gooin'? Ah need a cooupla days teh prreparre at the verry least."
*She spies the dress shop and makes a mental note to visit there later.*
"I do not know. I have no real ideal what is around, other than the nearer areas.. I need a treasure map!! Harhar!! Where are you staying? I will stop by once I find something out. Maybe Tensek and I can scrounge up a lead er two.."
*She glances in the direction the Nobody's lies in.*
.oO(Ah hoope Marrroc dooesn't mind. Ah'll speak with him as soon as Ah kin.)
"The best way teh git ahold o' meh is teh leave worrd at Nobody's with the barrtenderr. Ah shoould be off now, darrrlin'. Ah've got stuff teh do."
*Almost as an afterthought, she pulls him close by the arm and kisses him sweetly, smiles, and walks away, leaving him looking dazed. She waves to Tensek as she goes.*
.oO(Heh heh.)
[to Elsewhere]
Burleg and Tensek first check all posted requests in the market square for men of the wild, rescue requests, caravan gaurding jobs, and any news they can find of hidden treasure or rumors of the like.
"I know some men, spell casters, that paid me right well for a task not to long ago.. We'll try them folks next, but keep sharp, spell weavers can be and often are deceitful.."
Burleg looks around as if they are being watched
[To Hightower]
.oO(I hope I get a good price for it..I'd hate to get ripped off...)
*she sees a decent shop and walks in, a little bell rings as she does and a middle aged man walks up to the counter*
Jewel Merchant: Hello miss..How can I help you today?
*she smiles at his greeting and lowers her hood so she doesn't looks so mysterious and pulls out the pearl wrapped in the linen*
Yes..I was wondering how much you can offer me for this..
*she places the wrapped pearl on the counter*
The merchant picks up the wrapped pearl and removes the soft linen
Jewel Merchant: Oh my...How exactly did you aquire such a gem as this?
I aquired it from a very nasty gnome..
*he nods..not really paying attention to her, more on studying the pearl. He gets out his little eyepiece and checks the polish and the work done on it, test the weight and makes some measurements*
Jewel Merchant: Well I can give you 100 gold for it.
*she raises an eyebrow*
100 gold? That's it? I'm sorry sir but that is a very rare gem...
*he takes another look at the pearl*
Jewel Merchant: Alright 200.
*she shakes her head*
I'm sorry but that won't do either...I may just have to go to someone else...
*she picks up the pearl wraps it and begins to head towards the door*
Jewel Merchant: Wait!...I'll give you 350..
*she turns and looks at the man..who seems to be sweating a bit*
How about I make you a deal...You see I need the money in diamonds...so mere gold won't work.
*he looks at her quizically*
Jewel Merchant: Diamonds you say? Well I'm sure I can do that...I'll give you 500 gold in diamonds and 25 gold...that is my last offer.
*he stares at the linen covering the pearl and she smiles a wide grin*
Deal
*she walk back up to the counter and sets down the pearl*
Jewel Merchant: I can give you the 25 gold now..but you'll have to come by tomorrow to pick up the diamonds.
*she smiles and nods*
Alright.
*he hands her a pouch filled with 25 gold which she places in her bag*
Thankyou for your service sir.
Jewel Merchant: You have a good day mam and I'll see you tomorrow.
*he waves as she leaves the the store, the bell ringing again as she leaves. He quickly picks up the pearl and heads into the back room*
*she looks arounf the market as she walks out of the store*
.oO(Hmm...I got some extra gold to spend...maybe a couple sets of clothes are in order)
*she smiles and walks through the market, checking out some of the clothing they have for sale*
*she comes up to an old woman selling exotic dresses, among other things and then remembers the dress she bought before she had died*
.oO( I wonder if Shae ever picked the dress up..or even if she stills has it. I'll have to bring it up to her when I visit her)
*she smiles at the merchant and heads to find something more suited for travel and every day clothing*
*after a while she stopped and several clothing vendors picking out various clothing..a couple of shirts, some leather slacks, and another dress that seemed to have caught her eye*
*she gets the measurements done and takes a ticket from each, a reminder to pick them up in a week*
.oO(Hmm..While I'm at it I might at well get my self another set of armor...)
*she heads towards the Iron Wolf*
To Iron Wolf Armory
*she walks through the market... the smells of freshly baked sweet breads fills the air*
.oO(I'll have to get me some..I haven't had sweetbread in quite some time..)
*the jeweler's shop comes into view and she smiles as the the thought of helping Alissa comes into mind*
.oO(500 gold in Diamonds...this will definately help out alot..)
*she smiles and enters the shop, the bell ringing as she does*
*she sees the man from yesterday and she smiles*
Hello sir..I'm here to pick up the diamonds..
Jewel Merchant: Ahh yes..my very special customer...
*she raises his hand for her to wait and he goes into the back room..a few clicking sounds and the sound of a safe being opened is heard as well as the shutting of one, and he quickly walks out, carrying a black velvet bag*
*to prove it is all ther her pours some of the diamonds out onto the counter. The sparkle and the rainbows they leave on the wall of the shop is quite the beautiful sight*
Oh...they are beautiful.
*she picks up one and examines it in the light coming in from outside*
.oO(Such a gorgeous piece of earth...)
*she smiles and nods in satisfaction*
*He gathers all of the diamonds back up and places them back into the velvet bag*
Jewel Merchant: Now you be careful lass...there are alot of thieves roaming about, and i would keep them well hidden and close to you so they don't get stolen..;)
*she nods and smiles as she takes the bag*
I will and I'll make sure they get to their proper location completely safe.
*he smiles and she waves back at him as she leaves the shop. She keeps the bag well hidden in her cloak, then raises her hood and heads towards the temple*
To the Templ of Ordometrex
Tagg rode through the bustling Market Square, looking for some goods he might be able to decorate his new room with. He comes across a knitted goods merchant. He spots a nice warm blanket that would be nice for his bed. He approached the merchant and asks about it
"So, how much for that winter blanket in the corner there?"
Merchant"Hmmm... for you, I do 6 sp."
"Hmmm... 5 sp."
*the merchant, wanting to squeeze as much money as he could out of the customer, made a final offer*
Merchant "5 sp, 5 cp."
"Uh... fine."
*Tagg hands the merchant 5 silver coins and 5 copper pieces from atop his trusty ass*
"Thank you, if you need anything else, come back!"
*he hands Tagg his blanket*
Tagg rolls the blanket up and mounts it in front of him on Brie, then continues searching the Market Square. he comes across a letter shoppe, and he stops by, looking to get some parchment and ink.
"Hello. I'd like 2 pieces of parchment and a 1 oz. vial of ink. I'll give you 5 sp for them."
*The merchant thinks hard, then comes to a verdict*
"Okay, here are your goods."
*He hands over the parchment and paper to Tagg*
*Tagg gives the merchant 5 sp*
.oO {hmm... that was kind of odd. That merchant didnt even attempt getting more money out of me... oh well.}
Tagg, satisfied with his purchases, headed back to the boarding house with Brie
[to Weatherby Boarding House]
*Brodda saunters into the market, singing half to herself a song, in Common, about a gardener doing his beloved gardening.*
*At the outer edge of the Square, Brodda finds many of the things she needs for her anticipated trip with the halflings.*
.oO(Pitons, yes, shoould have two of those. Who knoows what walls we'll have teh climb in an oold castle.)
*She pays for the items and goes a bit further.*
.oO(Caltrrops. Nasty things, but useful in an escape.)
*She buys a bag of caltrops and continues on. Coming across a candlemaker, she purchases a lump of wax, wrapping it in a bit of cloth, and puts it in her spell pouch.*
*Continuing on, she moves a bit deeper into the Square and visits the tobacco cart, purchasing an additional pouch of the tobacco that Burleg had picked out for her. She lingers a bit to chat with the owner of the cart before moving on.*
*She approaches the dressmaker, Ms. Cuwen's, shop and enters.*
"Helloo Miss Cuwen! How is business?"
"Hello Miss Brodda! Things are well, thank you for asking. Do you need a new dress today?"
*Brodda chuckles*
"Not t'day. Actually Ah need an extrra set of clothes ferr trravellin'."
*Miss Cuwen chuckles now.*
"That would explain why you're in those clothes today! What would you like?"
*Brodda cheerfully goes over with the dressmaker a list of the items she'd like and asks if there's any way they can be ready in the next day or so.*
*Miss Cuwen nods.*
"I believe so. I'll take them from the items on the shelves and modify them for height. Unless you've done some growing since you were last in, I have your measurements already. Check back with me tomorrow.
*Brodda grins and offers her thanks, then heads back out.*
.oO(He coould almost rrival Burrleg in insult-thrrowin'!) :D
*She continues on her way. She comes to a tent under which a gnomish woman is sitting at a spinning wheel, making fleece into a wool yarn. Brodda approaches the woman with a smile, watching the process intently. It doesn't hold her attention for very long however, and soon Brodda asks to purchase a bit of the un-spun fleece. The haggling begins (without any yelling or name-calling) and soon they come to an agreement. Shelling out more coins, Brodda takes away a fistfull of fleece, stuffing it into one of the outer pockets of her spell pouch. On she goes.*
.oO(Ah'm gooin teh have teh stop soon. Can't be spendin' all that Ah have. Ah need at least enough teh pay ferr meh rroom until Herrmy's grroup leaves.)
*Brodda makes final stops at a bakery and a butcher to purchase some hunks of bread, hard cheese, and pieces of dried meat for the road. Finally, she heads back to Nobody's*
Tagg slowed down his pace some when he entered the Market Square. He looked for stands that might buy furs off of him. He came across a tent that had a fur coat on display, and stopped in front of it to talk with the owner.
Hi, Im looking for somewhere that will buy furs from me. If I hunt the animal and remove the skin and fur, would you pay for it?
It depends... bring me a fur and we will talk. i'll take minks, yes, thats quite a growing demand... or any rodent that bears enough fur, or something more exotic... Im thinking of bear or leopard... Id pay good if you could get me one of those...
.oO(Hmm... I could do minks on my own, but bears or leopards could be quite dangerous... I'd need someone with me. But the way he talks, it might be worth it, even if I had to split the money.)
"I'll be back."
And with that Tagg and Brie rode away from the Market, going to his place of residence to contemplate.
[to Weatherby Boarding House]
The sign that Kywyn spots has its lettering peeled and worn but he could make out "Artiste's Spot" somewhere in the middle.
He walks up the creeky steps, holding NaShae's hand just to be safe and enters the door to the sound of a chime hanging above the frame.
The scents of different and strange chemicals fill the air like some alien priest's temple. Kywyn surveys the place, before choosing a path to walk among its shelves and tables lined with trinkets and brushes and paints and inks and other things Kywyn had never seen.
After picking out what he thinks he needs and paying for it, Kywyn looks to NaShae, wondering what she wanted to do next.
---
[OoC: looks for 50 gp worth of ink for illusory script]
We need to send this. Maybe a caravan is going to Ennorath and we can send it that way?? I'm not sure how much it will cost for that. But I'm sure it will be more expensive any other way.
*squeezes his hand*
We could try the Caravaner's Guild. It's possible that something is being sent there.
[to Elsewhere]
*squeezes his hand gently as they look for a place that would sell clothes like they need*
*seeing one place, they walk in and look around for clothes that they could wear with little or no alteration*
He stands near NaShae and asks quietly, "Those little effects you can do, like when you warmed the ice on the way to the wizard's hideaway, can you change the color of our clothes? I wonder if it would keep the heat off, even if it was an illusion."
Yes, I could do it. But it's not an illusion. The color actually changes. But it doesn't last long. And the spells could be needed for something else. It would be better just to get the other clothes.
*shrugs and looks at a robe that looks about her size*
Besides, if for some reason we need to go back, we'll be prepared.
He places his fingers on some faded-beige colored clothes to test their thickness.
*Brodda enters the market square, walking with Minto and his steed. Chatting gaily they head for the food section of the market where they might find some breakfast.*
*On the way there, Brodda spots the same jewelry vendor that she argued with the other day. She glares at the vendor, offended that such cheating practices (in her humble opinion) are allowed in the market. However the vendor is too busy to notice Brodda or her dirty look, so Brodda turns away, pushing the rude vendor out of her mind and focusing on the task at hand.*
*She smiles and points to a group of carts.*
"Ooh! Lookie therre! Therre's soome good grrubbin's teh be had therre!"
*Brodda squeezes Minto's hand and runs forward to peruse the choices.*
"Yes, that is some 'goog grubbin' it's one of Hermy's favorites."
"The hot cakes are to die for."
He follows after Brodda and begins to chatr up the vender as Brodda browses the goods.
Once she makes her choice, he picks a heavily buttered hot cake for himself and pays the vender.
He takes a bite of his food and wipes some excess butter off his face with his handkerchief.
He smiles and takes another bite.
"Second sweetest thing I've had today."
"How is your food?"
"Ah've neverr seen any kind o' cake crrrumble as easily as this one does."
*However, she manages to get most of it into her mouth, at which point her face brightens.*
"Mmmm! This is rrreally good!"
*When she finishes, she is embarassed by the mess she's made with all the crumbs .oO(Must be a Crrrumb Cake! :D) and quickly brushes them away. Then she takes the peach that she picked up with the cake and bites into it.*
"Therre is noothin' betterr than a frresh peach!"
*She thinks about that for a moment.*
"Well, almoost noothin'."
*She grins at Minto.*
He produces a second clean handkerchief from his pocket and offers it to Brodda.
"You hae something on your chin. I could clean it off for you if you'd like, but this is a publc place."
Minto winks.
"If you've had enough to eat, Madam Bertrice doesn't live to far from here."
"We should probably talk to her as soon as possible in case she sends us to talk to someone else."
"Have you ever had dealings with the Travellars before?"
"No, Ah've neverr even hearrd o' The Trrravellarrrs until yeh mentioned 'em last night. Is therre anythin' Ah shoould knoow beforre headin' in?"
*She wipes her chin with a wink and a grin, refolds it, and tucks it into her pocket with the promise of returning it clean.*
"And yes, now is a betterr time than most."
*She pulls the hankie out again, wraps the peach pit and tucks it again into her pocket. When Minto looks inquiringly at her, she shrugs.*
"Yeh neverr knoow when it might coome in handy."
"Well generally when you want something from the Travellars you hae to strike a bargin with them."
"I think in our case it will an easy one to make."
"As a matter of fact, they will probably end up owing us when all is said and done."
"Since we will be asking for a song from them, I'm betting they will take a song from us in exchange."
"And I know how talented you are."
"And I'm no slouch either."
"Ah'm surre between the two of us soomethin' can be arranged. Lead on, m'dearr!"
*She scratches Minto's mount behind the ears as they head off.*
"I imagine it would be best if I did the singing. You can't really play the recorder and sing at the same time."
"And I just love the way your mouth looks when you play."
He grins.
"I can play my lute and sing at the sametime."
"Do you think you can improvise something to match what I play?"
"Ah think that's an excellent arrrangement. Besides, Ah like the way yeh'rre mouth moves when yeh sing." ;)
*When he asks about her improvisational skills, she chuckles, thinking back to her evening walk with Lucian not long ago.*
"Therre's noothin' teh worry aboout on that frront. Yeh just play, Ah'll join yeh, and no one will everr knoow we didn'a rrehearrse it."
*As they walk, they pass the tobacco cart and Burleg's image passes through her mind, looking at her with a hurt expression.*
*She lags behind slightly, frowning.*
.oO(What? Noo... not now!)
*She shakes her head, clearing it of his image and pushing her budding feelings for him aside. She smiles her usual smile and catches up to Minto before he realizes anything is amiss.*
"Let's hurry."
"It's not far."
He leads Brodda out of the market.
[to Elsewhere]
These should do for me.
*she looks around for pants for herself*
Have you found anything? I think we have time for a few more shops before the meeting.
*checking the size of the clothes against her form, she decides that the sleeves need to be shortened, but the rest could be gotten by with, since loose clothes were suggested*
*taking the shirt and robe the shopkeep, she askes that the alterations be made and that the clothes be kept loose, once she agrees to slight alterations to the body of the garment*
[To SSAG]
As soon as she steps outside the inn, she finds a market instead.
"What the--How'd I miss a--It was dark outside!" she finishes lamely. She squints up at the sky, noting the sun's position.
.oO(Hmmmmmm. Hiiigh. The sun is high in the sky. That must mean it's high time to leave! That means, Feets, that we ought to go--)
She glances both ways before crossing the street.
.oO(--um, um, LEFT, not straight, so we can go home. Market is not home! No, market is NOTooooooooooh, what's thiiis button do??)
Being fully one hundred percent female, Sensandela finds herself unable to resist the sultry siren call of the fat, burly, and unshaven market vendors and their nifty doodads.
With the food stuffed securely in her pack, she walks on. .oO(Oooh. Lookit those toys. I should learn to use a crossbow or--ooooh, a whip! Hehe. I could have fun with a whip
- provided I ever find someone to have fun with it withoooooh, shiny!)A stand of children's toys distracts Sensandela. She stands there for nearly an hour, drooling over a blond, blue-eyed elf archer doll - not that the myopic vendor notices.
(
I think I'll call it... Orly Bloompkin or Landis Blumford, and I'll hug it and squeeze it and pet it and treat it real good! But first, I must free it from the evil clutches of this withered hag! Lookit her, hiding behind all these innocent plushes...)Oo.Sensandela glowers at the tiny, shriveled woman, who still takes no notice of her. Sensandela coughs. The old woman lifts her arm and scratches her armpit absently.
"Excuse me!"
The old woman turns her head, squinting, and smiles toothlessly. "Ye be wantin' somefin', sonny?"
Sensandela recoils. "S-Sonny? My name is not Sonny! I am the sensational singer Sensandela!" she sniffs.
The old woman cups a trembling hand to her ear. "Wha's 'at about f-frogs, darlin'?"
The half-orc's brows furrow in confusion, then she leans in close to enunciate, "I don't want a frog. I would like this elf doll!" She wiggles the plush in front of her face until the old woman's cloudy eyes uncross and slowly focus.
A gleeful smile spreads over her face. "Oh, thaaat. In't it a piece of work? Me granddaughter made 'at of 'er own two 'ands! I cam'ph let 'at go fer no less than seven silver pieces."
There is much clinking of coins as Sensandela checks her belt pouch. What she finds seems to leave her crestfallen.
"Oh, dear. I only have five silver pieces and six coppers!" she sighs. "Can I--Would you take these eleven coins in return for that one doll?" She rubs at her eyes and begins to sniffle. "My baby sister Dela is dying, an-and I want for her to be happy and cuddling this cutie before she... leaves this place forever!" she wails pathetically into her forearm. With the other hand, she offers the coins.
The old woman snatches the money to her nose and counts them, and counts them again, to make sure they are, indeed, eleven coins total. When she is satisfied, she turns a toothless grin to the sniffling half-orc. She climbs up on a stool to pat the girl on the back and murmur, "There, there. There, there. Ih's cuttin' me own t'roat to be givin' it to ye, but ye take ih t' yer blister, eh?"
Sensandela whimpers, nods, and trudges away with the doll clutched tight in her arms. As soon as she is out of sight, however, she lets loose a cry of victory. Its tone is echoed from some distance away by the gleeful squeak of "Eleven!"
[To Elsewhere]
...
*Shaking his head Tensek continues to do this until he stops at a small trinket stand causing a man to walk into him and send the pair tumbling to the ground. As the pair detangle themselves Tensek sits on the ground as the infuriated man begins to yell at Tensek.*
Man: Hey why don't you watch where you're going!
I was...you bumped-
Man: I wouldn't have if you hadn't stoppd like that!
No you wouldn't have but I wouldn't have beenable to see the items on that table.
Man: What's wrong with you?!
Nothing... Do I seem ill?
*The man glares at Tensek balling his fists he walks off. In a huff. Leaving Tensek sittign in the street watching the man walk away.*
Why must people be so odd?
*she walks through the market, eyeing wares here and there as she passes the shops and stands*
.oO(It's quite crowded here today...)
*she hears some yelling off to her right and a man with his fists tightened in a ball stomps pass her*
.oO(I wonder what all that is about)
*she heads over to where the man came from and soon sees a man sitting on the ground, various things lay scattered around him*
Are you alright?
*she offers to help him up*
What? Oh.... um well yes I'm fine...
*Looking about Tensek looks about and sees his arrows scattered about.*
Oh no!
*Quickly Tensek crawls around gathering up his arrows.*
You need to be more careful when you are walking around here...
*she picks up the last 2 arrows and hands them to him*
I was I stopped and he walked into me...
*Standing up Tensek tucks his arrows into his quiver and takes the arrows Anaya handed to him. Looking up at the druid as he does.*
Thank you... Um.. Hello.
*she smiles*
You still need to be more careful. The market is hectic this time of day.
I'm Anaya by the way.
*she offers her hand to shake*
*A small smile spreads on Tensek's mouth as he rubs his hand off and takes Anaya's hand.*
I'm... Tensek.
Hello Tensek. You're new to the city aren't you?
*she stiffles a giggle*
It's ok. City people are odd, believe me. I've been here for a while now and I still don't quite understand them.
*she smiles*
I've been in and out of the city for a few... weeks.
*Tensek blushes at the giggle.*
I-i'd rather be, be out in the woods hunting...
So you are a wildsman..very interesting. The woods are my home as well..
*she pauses*
Come..let me buuy you a drink. You look like you need one and we can talk alot better. Plus we won't get into the way of the people walking around here.
*she smiles*
A drink sounds like a good idea.
Alright. I was heading to Nobody's inn to gather some things anyway, we can get a drink there.
*she begins to head towards Nobody's with Tensek*
To Nobody's
"Do you know of any specific stores we could try?"
For dried fruit and some grains, I know of a place. I'm not sure about meats, though.
*frowns*
Do we want to take already made travelling bread or should we just take the grain? Either way, it's not going to be very good. All those parts in bread don't travel well.
"But we can start with the dried goods," Kywyn offers NaShae a small private smile before moving on.
*stops, gently coaxing him to her*
*gazes at him adoringly and presses her lips to his, ignoring the fact that they are in the market or that anyone is even anywhere around*
*stays close to him and smiles softly*
I know I've said it before, but I know I'm not saying it enough. Thank you, beloved.
*squeezing his hand gently, she starts walking again toward the shop they were headed for*
*once they go in, she looks around, seeing what dried fruits and grains they have*
Should we get some of all the fruits? Or just a few kinds?
"A variety would be good I think. Maybe we should have asked if anyone had preferences."
He goes to help pick out enough dried fruits and pay for them.
*brings those up with the fruit*
*puts some of them in her pack to make them easier to carry*
*she turns ot the shopkeep*
Do you know where we could get dried meat? Something that would keep for a long travel?
*the shopkeep suggests a place near the other side of the market*
*Shae nods her thanks*
*waits for Kywyn to be ready, then heads off to the other shop*
.oO( They must know i'm back by now...so when will they make their move?)
Tareh glances at Kai for a second before turning her eyes foward.
*looks down towards Tareh*
How can you be full of energy today?
*in a soft tone* That boy...is he one of you?
He gets the feeling she's telling him these are not things to be discussed in a crowded marketplace.
"Ooh, look at that!" she squeals, taking his hand and pulling him to a merchant's cart that is laid out with gaudy trinkets. "Aren't they interesting?"
She looks them over for a few minutes, finally picking up an oddly-shaped bit of metal and holding it up for Kai to see.
"I've never seen something like this, have you? It's funny how many things you can see in the marketplace, that no one ever notices because they're not paying attention!"
Kai again gets the feeling she's saying more than it appears -- that it's not the gadgets she's talking about.
.....
*turns his head to the left*
Yeah...
*she walks into the bustle of the market place and looks at the different wares as she passes the venders*
.oO(Let's see..I need sand paper, polish and some wax...)
*she continues walking, looking for a vender that has wares for working with wood*
.oO(Now to find Donn...I wonder if he is at the SSAG....)
*she heads to the warehouse district*
To SSAG
*not having much of a selection in dried meats, she buys enough for them all for the trip*
*putting half the load in her pack, she feels the weight of the supplies*
*once Kywyn's ready, they leave the shop*
We could see if the inns would sell us their used barrels.
"That sounds like it would work," Kywyn says with a nod.
He starts walking toward their next destination. He feels the tide of coming adventure pull him under into a different state of mind... the mindset of an agent with a purpose. He knew the feeling now. They would start focusing on staying safe while achieving their objectives, while realizing the simple things they normally took for granted.
*feeling her half of the load lessened, she checks to see that he's alright with the extra, not that she ever doubted he would be*
*walking toward the LLI once he's ready, she takes his hand and smiles softly at him*
*worried about the trip they are planning, but also excited at the thought of a trip with Kywyn...even as dangerous as she knows it will be, there's no one else she would rather have with her*
[to LLI]
Stay focused on getting the errands done. If you're lucky you'll be able to ponder more on what just happened with Natala. Right now it's too big, and you're in a hurry.
*He heads out of the bustling market.*
[To Iron Wolf]
He looks over to see the man whom Perrin helped earlier, who is now red-faced and staring back into the crowd, trying to find the man that helped him. But of course, he won't.
*Once he sees a merchant selling some rope he picks up a hemp and tests to see how strong it is. When he is done testing it he pays the merchant a gold piece then heads off to the Iron Wolf.
[To Iron Wolf Armory]
.oO( So this is what they are...)
I would like that blade please.
*Tensek speaks as he points out a shining curved blade accompanied by a sheath and a pair of cleaning materials. The shopkeep nods.*
A fine choice. Do you hunt often?
*Tensek nods silently.*
Yes as often as possible.
That will be 50 gold for the whole thing.
*Tensek nods and hands the shop keep the coins before taking his blade and heading out the door.*
Tap - - Tap - - Tap - - Tap
He leans against his stick.
oO.(I wonder what's going down...)
What who was that?
"Owf. My name's Risk... you seem to have been running towards somewhere and not payed attention to where you were going. Than, ran over me like a carrige."
Lucian quickly rises to his feet and grabs his walking stick, held at an angle behind his legs. Prepared to defend himself, but looking annoyed and casual.
You have my apologies.
*Tensek blinks and looks around checking to see if anything was sent flying across the ground.*
"You have mine as well. On a better day, you would not have caught me unaware. I was off my best."
I'm not very good around so many people. Or in cities for that matter...
"Not a problem. Live out of town?"
I live wherever I please. Usually in the wild.
"A free life is a good one. I take it you have no small skill in surviving... It is odd because just the other day I ran into a warden of the wild."
I was trained to hunt and survive outside the stone walls of cities. It is my lot in life.
*Tensek raises an eyebrow.*
A druid you say?
"And a good lot that of a hunter is indeed."
oO. (What brings so many wilder-folk to the city? I mean... the only real good thing about this dump is the dumb rich people and the cheese bread.)
"Yes, She went by the name of Anaya."
She is...
oO. (That Anaya is a busy lady.)
"What brings you to the city?"
"Oh."
oO. (...gah.)
"Surprised. It's not often a life-debt is incured."
"It's a good policy. One that more people should follow."
It's the law of the wild.
"Laws are immaterial. The way on lives are his own laws."
I must go.
"Farewell."
Up to your usual business Burleg?
"Aye, if yee can call it that.. You?"
Burleg nods and goes about his trading
I prefer more quiet surroundings, places more suited to contemplation than this ants' nest, but I must admit that it's nice to visit every now and then.
*Minto and Brodda enter the market and head straight for the section that offers the supplies they need. As they shop, the bards playfully test each others song knowledge. They find that their experience has taught them vastly different songs.*
*Stocked up with what they think will be needed, and with their arms very full, the pair head back to the adventuring guild as Minto tries to teach Brodda a song about a puppy of a brownish color.*
"Yeh've got teh be kiddin'..."
[OoC: This catches Minto and Brodda up to the start of the Butte adventure.]
*she goes back and gets more food for the last person*
*roughly handing the coins to the person, she stomps back to the guild*
[to SSAG]
My purse is getting empty. I really need to look out for a lucrative venture to participate in.
Tahlin threads his way through the crowded market square and returns to his shop. After a few minutes, he emerges and visits one of the several outfitters located in the square. Fifteen minutes later, he retires to his shop again, arms full of supplies*
(Purchased - rations sufficient for eight days, three torches, and another waterskin)
.oO(I never did investigate that map... maybe that's something to do after this hunt's over)
*He thinks back a moment to the time he acquired the map*
"Didn't hear from Sycorax again either..."
"...wonder why that was"
*Continuing to unpack, he sets aside the potion bottle and the three small black stones, noting their identification as something else he should have done a while ago and will have to do when he gets back. He loads the new supplies in alongside the old, and lifts the full pack experimentally*
"Not too bad..."
*she heads down the market place and stops by the different vendors that she had before when she bought her new clothes, Screech flies well above her head to keep a lookout of the marketplace*
*after getting her packages with the clothes and her new boots, she stops by a vender and gets some trail mix then stops by a butcher to get some jerky for the road, enough for her and a little for Screech for a treat*
.oO(That should work for a while..)
*she pays the clerk and heads out of the shop, placing the food in her bag and then meanders through the marketplace, eventually ending up in a part she hasn't been before.*
*she notices a shop of wood construction, sloped roof, and a sign saying "Carver's Corner"*
.oO(That must be Tahlin's shop...hmm I don't think I ever took a look )
*she looks up to where Screech is and whistles, raising her arm for him to land. He flies down and lands on her arm, then perches himself on her shoulder. She opens the door and walks in*
*strewn on shelves and larger ones on the floor are statues, wooden toys and various assorted wooden carvings.*
*she picks up a small statuette and looks at the design, noticing the elven work in the leaves of a vine*
*she smiles as she sets in back where she got it and continues to look at the other pieces strewn about and then notices a familiar piece*
*she walks over to it and picks it up, running her fingers over the soft finished surface of the wood*
.oO(It's absolutely gorgeous...what do you think Screech?)
*she looks at the bird that sits on her shoulder. He turns his head to the side at the sight of the bird and hoots*
*she laughs softly, then looks back at the stauette*
(e)"Welcome to the Carver's Corner... My shop..." :D
*He sketches a mock grandiose bow*
(e)Greetings Tahlin. You have done some very fine work with the place.
*she smiles and walks over to him, Screech steadies him self as she walks*
*He glances at the statuette she holds*
(e)"Something you'd like?"
(e) Actually this looks like the one you were working on when we met..
*she looks at him and smiles*
(e)It came out very nice...you do very fine work.
*she thinks for a moment*
(e) Yeah I think I will buy it..since it has some sentimental value.
*she smiles and gets out her money pouch*
(e)How much do I owe you?
(e) You sure?
*He glances at the carving*
.oO(Truth be told, that's what I was saving it for...)
(e)Thankyou...
*she puts her money pouch pack in her bag and wraps the eagle in a piece of cloth and places it in her bag as well for safe keeping*
*she looks at him and smiles*
(e) So are you all ready for the trip?
*He nods*
"I was just finishing packing..."
(e) Well that's good. We are all meeting in the morning. I was just in the market to pick up some things, and to get some trail rations for the trip.
*she pauses and then smiles*
(e)Say, while we are still in town..would you like to get a bite to eat? I haven't eaten all morning, and would like the company.
(e) Alright..let's go.
*she begins to walk to the front door and out of the shop*
To Elsewhere
(e)"Where to?"
Her purchases made, she tucks a cloth over the goods in the basket, and sets out for 16 Wildrose.
[to Elsewhere]
(Both purchased a weeks worth of trail rations.)
The monk mentally braces himself, sets his moral obligations aside for a moment and moves in on one of the stalls. He introduces himself as looking for a variety of spices and herbs - but they are to be used for medicinal purposes, and consequently utmost freshness and highest quality are all-important. The merchant nods sagely to show he understands the needs of a discerning customer and proceeds to lay out samples of his best products for Ran to take a look at. The elf makes a bit of a show of comparing fragrance, colour and in some cases taste, commenting vaguely but positively on everything presented to him. Scribbling notes on a small piece of paper, Ran seems to be categorizing the wares in yes, no and maybe categories, muttering about the good and less good aspects of using specific herbs compared to others. Half and hour later, watching the merchant inwardly already counting a stack of golds, he decides he shouldn't push things too far, makes a remark on how he'll be back soon and abruptly leaves, turning his back on the surprised merchant, breaking off the sales pitch he'd only been following with half an ear anyway, pacing away before the man recovers his poise.
Only when he's halfway to Natala's does Ran come up with the notion of finding his teacher's regular supplier and simply explaining the whole exercise.
Dang.
Originally posted by Kai Heishall
Kai's stare shifts from Perrin to Tareh, his eyes giving no hint of emotion.
.oO( So this is what they are...)
Seeing the direction of Kai's gaze, Tareh discreetly moves him along to another part of the marketplace.
"You've seen, then," she says when they are at the northern edge of the square, and in no one's earshot. "That's good. He helps the young ones learn the trade; it requires quite a lot of skill. Another task you won't be suited for, though; you're much too easy to pick out of a crowd."
She begins to lead him out of the marketplace, heading by a roundabout path to the Blue Pumpkin.
"There's a place, a mystic shop, two blocks north of here that provides free healing. Magical, if you need it, and no questions asked. We don't charge protection money there -- why mess with a good thing?"
This question is rhetorical, but her next is not.
"Now tell me -- you've had time enough to think about it, I think. What do you have to offer us? There are a lot of jobs you can't do, because you haven't the face for it; and you're strong, but I'm not sure you're intimidating-looking enough to be an enforcer. The Shadow's seen something in you, though. What do you think it is?"
[OoC: Kai, if I ever leave you trebled like this again, let me know directly, please. :embarrass ]
A second waterskin doesn't seem like a luxury, so he picks up one of those as well.
At the end of the day, he's down 5 golds in total, leaving him only that same amount for future needs.
Good thing I just paid my rent. And if this trip doesn't earn me anything, I'll still have a bit of explaining to do to Mrs Weatherby...
Luckily he still has his job at the Lich - although starting tomorrow, one of the regular Silver Sword guests will be filling in for him - which will at least net him a bowl of soup tonight.
I don't know...maybe its my skills with the sword.
Looks into Tareh's eyes with a cold and lonely stare usually brought on when the thought of death and revenge enters Kai's mind.
Or maybe because he knows I'll kill anybody he wants me too...
*shrugs his shoulders*
What good is intimidation when the person you want to kill runs away? I like it better when people underestimate me...it'll just make there death more enjoyable.
Kai blinks after realizing what he had just said to the girl. He slightly turns his face away from Tareh and lightly pats Tareh on her head.
I apologize...thats not something a girl should hear.
Kai removes his hand from her head and begins to walk down the street, his dark and quiet demeanor returning.
So what now...?
Tagg approaches the market and sees he is not the only one looking for some early morning shopping. He weaves through the crowds, stopping to look at a few makeshift stands peddlers had set up earlier displaying their goods. He continues this process until a tent with wood products catches his eyes. He approaches the merchant and looks closely at his wares. Tagg can notice by the merchant's callousy hands the products were personally made.
"Hello, sir. Are you interested in buying any of my goods? Premium quality, hand made, good prices. Cant get much better than that, eh?"
"Yes, very nice..."
*Tagg examines the products and notices a medium sized wooden chest sitting on display next to a sort of instrument. He undoes the little clasp and opens it up, running his fingers over the smooth wood and through the ornamental grooves across the front; a rose by the looks of it.*
"You like this chest? Very fine craftsmanship, no? A piece like this usually runs for about 4 gold... but for you, I'll cut the price in half, just because you look so good with it."
*Tagg doubts the chest was actually once worth 4 gold, but shrugs and removes a pair of gold coins from a pocket.*
"Yes, I would like to purchase this. Here's your two gold, that should compensate for it well enough."
*He places the two coins in front of the merchant, who picks them up and places them in a pouch behind him. He nudges the chest slightly forward, signalling Tagg was safe to pick it up.*
"Thank you, good sir. Mayhaps I will see you again sometime. New products each week... good prices, good quality...." the merchant says in a final attempt at advertising.
"Maybe I will. Farewell for now."
Tagg picks up the chest, and being empty it was pretty light but the awkward shape made it uncomfortable to carry. He decides it best to drop it off back at the boarding house before he does anything else.
[to weatherby boarding house]
"That you'll kill anyone he wants you to? Good enough.
"You'll need to learn when, though. For the most part, it's better to leave people alive; dead people aren't as profitable. But the knowledge that we're willing to kill does make live ones... more malleable."
You seem very wise for one so young. I would have to say that you have a better head on your shoulder than I did when I was twice you age...maybe even now.
*raises his stare back to the crowd*
She shrugs.
"There's at least one place I need to show you before we go back, but I need to eat first. We'll go to a nice place nearby; I'll fit in better there, dressed like this, and you can keep your hood up until we get to a booth.
"Just be a man taking a little girl for a nice day out, and no one will notice us."
To the Last Lich Inn.
[swm]Didn't come home. Why? I waited at the apartment.[/swm]
*looks at her familiar, apologetically*
[swf]I'm sorry. Kywyn had somethings he needed to do there. And was too tired to leave. I'm getting some food, then going back.
There's someone there you should meet. He's not food, so don't even think it. [/swf]
*the bird hops up to her pack and they start out to the market*
*walking through the streets, she picks up some food for herself and Kywyn*
*reaching back to her familiar, she smoothes the bird's feathers*
[swf]Are you coming back with me? Or would you rather stay up?[/swf]
*she feels an affirmative from the bird, oddly to both questions, as they head back to the graveyard*
*walking back into the older sections, she watches for anyone around*
*stepping up to a monument, she acts as though she is paying her respects, in case anyone is watching*
[to Avowed][/FONT]
"Excuse me, sir. May I interest you in some of the finest meats in the City? They are fit for a meal to the Gods themselves."
Maelut looks at the meats with an intense fascination
"Can you tell me who cooked these?"
"That would be none other than myself"
They spend a while excitedly discussing recipies, and Maelut adds some local dishes to his cookbook.
During their conversation, Maelut asks about using magic in cooking.
"Oh, I don't know anything about that. There's more than a few spark-fingers around the city...good-for-nothing tricksters if you ask me. The wizards in the Hightower might be able to help you, or you could ask around Natala's shop, she's the local soothsayer."
After a spending few more minutes talking with the merchant, and trading some spare herbs from his pouch for some local varieties, Maelut heads away from the market in the direction of the Nobody's Inn
[to Nobody's Inn]
He is unable to contain the excitement of continuing with his training with his Master, and starts assisting the traders set up their stands as they need it, just for something to do.
Gamis himself walks into the marketsquare perhaps half an hour after sunrise, his fullplate bundled together and slung over one shoulder, his shield over the other, and his old shield and longsword tied on with the armor. He watches his squire work
for a minute before approaching finally.
"Da'Vane!" he hails, raising his free hand to wave.
Da' Vane stops his work, and turns around to face Gamis. "Master Gamis."
"Good morning," the senior paladin says, nodding to the shopkeeper Da'Vane had been helping. "My appoligies for being here a little late; someone dropped by the house unexpectedly. Ready to go?"
"Sure, Master Gamis. The time allowed me to do a bit of work for the community while I waited for you."
"Yes, that's good to see..." He smiles. "Alright, then, let's be gone." Unshipping the mundane shield and longsword from his bundle, he hands them to Da'Vane. "Here. I want you to have these as a back-up to that greatsword. Even favored weapons can be dropped, and there may be times you'll be thankful for a shield."
Da' Vane takes the weapon and shield from Gamis. "Thank you Master Gamis, that is very kind."
"You're welcome, Da'Vane. This way..." He leads on towards the Jackals HQ.
Da' Vane follows Gamis to the Jackals HQ. "Master Gamis, is it safe to ask about your visitor this morning?"
"It is, but it's a bit a story..." he replies, his mouth tensing slightly. "The short of it is that NaShae wanted to check on something. Hermy's wife was killed, and we've been collecting the gold to have her raised... She wanted to know what progress we'd made."
"Oh right. How much gold do we still need for that, Master Gamis?"
"It seems we have it all covered. Just waiting on the Mother's temple, I think; they may want to perform the ritual at a certain time..."
"That's good to hear, Master Gamis."
"Hermy especially will think so... This way."
[To The Jackals]
"My friend! Wake up, I need your services!"
"Yes, what can Dorian do for you?"
"I am pleased to say that I am in need of some of your goods. 3 pounds of your best lamb, unseasoned. I plan to put those new herbs to good use to impress the owner of the Nobody's Inn. And I need to know where I can get some potatoes."
"Certainly you can have the lamb, it was slaughtered this morning. I meant to take it home to my wife, but she seems to have taken ill, and can't eat anything. Good luck to you if you're cooking for the halfling. Just a suggestion: make the meat tender as you can, so he can eat it easier. As for the potatoes, you can get them in the stall across the square"
Maelut pays the stall owner 18 sp for the lamb, and then goes and buys 1 sp worth of potatoes from the other stall.
He packs all of his goods into his arms, and hurries back to the Inn.
[to Nobody's Inn]
*He stops to browse in a few stalls, looking over various trinkets.*
.o0(Alissa don't have one of these necklaces, and they would looks very pretty on her. Once shes back frum the dead, I'll bring her here an lets her pick on outs.)
*He moves on, slowly making his way to Miss Cuwens shop.*
"Miss Cuwen? Is you here?"
*She looks up from her stiching and smiles.*
"Sir Hermy! How are you?" She quickily switches to a more somber tone."I'm sorry about what happened. With your wife."
"She was a very sweet girl."
*Hermy takes a few seconds to respond.*"She still is."
"Wese bringing her back to life soon."
"An that's kinda why I is here."
"I need some new clothes so I cin look respectable and stuff for her."
"Volos an Minto seem to think two sets of clothes aint enough."
*Miss Cuwen tries to hide a giggle.*"I'd have to agree with them."
"If everyone was as sensible as you, I'd be out of buisness."
*She stands up and takes Hermy to a rack of clothes.*
"Though I don't think people need to go as far as your friend Minto."
*Looking at the clothes, Hermy can see they are all sized for a small boy, or a halfling.*
"Minto is quite the clothes horse."
"Oh, no."
"Most of them, but not all."
"I seem to have become the seamstress of choice for a lot of the halfling community."
"I think I can thank you for that."
"Well them is some great red pants you made me. Theys lasted several big adventures. And only needed a couple of dozen patches."
*She smiles.*
"Well a pair of well made pants is the least I can do."
"You have saved my life several times."
*Hermy flashes a quick smile.*
"So coulds you fix me up with another pair or two?"
"Certainly. It will take me a few days of course. Especially if you want them in red."
"I've had a hard time keeping red material in stock."
*Hermy frowns.*
"Of, I was hoping you coulds do it faster. I'm hoping Alissa gets raised a lot sooner then a couple of days."
*Miss Cuwen smiles.*
"I'm sure we can work something out."
"I doubt you're friend Minto would mind if I altered some of the clothes he commishioned."
"You'll certainly look respectable too."
"Minto has great fashion sense."
*Hermy gives her a quick raise of the eyebrows, and a twisted smile.*
"Ok. If you say so."
"Why don't we try some on until we find something that suits you?
"Hey! Looking good there."
Minto smiles as he sees Hermy standing on a chair as Miss Cuwen pins up the hem on the pair of bright green britches.
"Is that one of mine?"
Miss Cuwen nods and mumbles, making sure not to spit out any of the pins held between her lips.
Hermy grimices.
"I feel like a fool."
He motions to the bright yellow vest, and forest green shirt.
"But a good looking one."
Minto smiles a bit more, and then remembers what he came looking for Hermy about.
"I've just got back from the Temple. Father Canr..."
Hermy jumps down from the chair, nearly bowling Miss Cuwen over.
"What are we waiting for! Let's go!"
Hermy dashes out the door leaving a trail of pins behind him.
Minto looks at Miss Cuwen and shrugs. "I guess making him look respectable will have to wait."
Miss Cuwen sighs back and begins gathering her supplies.
"I guess it will."
"And it'sa real shame. Green really brings out his eyes."
Minto nods and then excuses himself to chase after Hermy.
Finally, Minto gives up and slows to a walking pace.
He even stops to apologize to a few of the people that fell trying to get out of the speeding heroes way.
[color=royalblue]"Terribily sorry about that. Sir Hermy's got a very important task ahead of him."
"No, the city is not in danger at the moment. At least not that I know of."
"It's his wife ... yes the one who died. She's being brought back to life. And of course he doesn't want to be late for it."
"No, really. It was Hermy. ... No, those are my pants. His needed a good cleaning. "[/color]
*The people dodging out of his way don't register in his mind, nor do the insults or questions hurled by them at him.*
*Minto falling further and further behind is also not noticed.*
*The only thoughts in his head are of Alissa, and reaching her.*
.o0(Ise gots so much ta tell her. How much I missed her, an how much Ise thinkded about her, and how much I loves her.)
*Hermy begins to struggle for breath, but refuses to let his body, or his emotions slow him down.*
.o0(Ise almost there, an almost backs to my Alissa. I can't slows down now. She's been dead longs enough, she don't needs ta wait no more just cause I need air.)
.*Hermy begins to pant*
.o0(She's been without air fer weeks, I cin go fer a few more minutes.)
"They'll need to be resoled, but I've kept them well oiled," she explains. "Still, there's at least one place... here, see?... that I think will need to be patched on the uppers as well."
She listens as he makes suggestions.
"Yes, a new lining might be in order as well. That sounds lovely."
They agree on a price and a time when she should come to pick them up, and the elf and halfling walk on to the Last Lich Inn.
*After he has been looking around for a long time Aramil finally spots a stand that is selling what he needs. So he heads up to the stand making sure he has all of his money, once he sees that he does he goes to the stand.
*The clerk tilts his head up as Aramil comes over and says.
Clerk:"Ah, what can I do for you today?"
"Well I would like to buy some stronger tools fer me trade. Do ye sell anything like that?"
Clerk:"Well what is your trade?"
"Makin' weapons and armor."
Clerk:"Ah, well if you look over here, we might have something that you are looking for."
*So Aramil heads over there looks for a while and sees what he is looking for. He picks up too sets of them and once he picks them up both of the tools seem to vibrate slightly as if they were magical.
*The clerk smiles and says:
"I knew you might be interested in those. They'll cost you 110 gp though."
*Aramil doesn't care as long as he gets these items. He fishes out the exact amout using silver pieces and gold pieces and gives them to the clerk. The clerk nods his head and Aramil gives him a slight bow. Then Aramil races back to the SSAG eager to test them out.
(ooc: In case you were wondering I bougth 2 sets of Masterworked Artisans Tools)
*After locating the shop he is looking for, a sudden idea strikes the boy mage.*
.oO(How in the world am I gonna get this stuff to her shop?)
*It takes him an hour, but finaly Tynk locates a large old-man with a small empty cart pulled by an equally-old mule.*
*Next, with the eagerness of a child about to get a piece of chocolate, he goes in the shop and purchases the lab. Hauling this out to the cart, Tynk walks along-side of it the whole way to Natala's trying politely to pay attention to the old-one's ramblings.*
"Slayed a dragon he did! And a halfling non-theless. Now what was his name...Hemly...no, Hermit. Naw, maybe it was Hemmington. Whatever his name was, Bards all over sing of his heroic deeds. Why, in my day..."
To Natala's
*After looking over a few items he decides on a pair of trousers and a vest that are dark brown, two shirts, one light green and one light brown, a new leather belt (not quite as thick as his curent one) and a dark green cloak.*
*He dons his cloak and puts his guild pin on it, in plain view. After paying for his new clothes he also hires a runner to return them to Mrs. Weatherby's Boarding House. Two silver pieces in the young runner's hands and he is off and on his way.*
*With a smile, Thosar heads to the temple.*
Merchants scurry about preparing yet again for another busy day of selling their wares. There is a small incident as two men both carrying large loads blocking their views run into each other. Fruits and breads spill onto the cobblestone pavement. They curse at themselves more than each other both knowing better than to carry such big loads.
They gather what is salvagable and hurry back to their business. Darkar laughs silently to himself not really taking the time to enjoy the small pleasures of life lately by just observing people or taking a simple ride through the woods.
Walking about he looks fresh baked pasteries and pies. Soon his nose leads him to a delightful little stand selling fresh mincemeat pies still cooling from the oven. Taking one Darkar pays the merchant 5 sp for the pie.
Then he heads for the Silver Sword.
Entering the area of merchant stands and shops he tilts his head toward NaShae.
"How do you think we will be traveling?" he asks.
Hopefully on horse. You can ride, can't you? It'll take a long time to get there otherwise.
He nods, "But I wouldn't think walking to be a good way to go anyway."
I'm sure you'll do fine.
"More rope never hurts," he indicates with the slightest smirk to NaShae, that might be mistaken for a look of dismay.
"Will our clothing be appropriate?"
He leaves it ambiguous whether he means fitting to the climate or the nobility, but NaShae might sense some thoughts about meeting her family.
He winces as he looks at his gaudy appearance reflected in a water barrel.
oO. (Note to Lucian. By some ink to make your hair darker after this. The current shade sticks out as much as the pants. I wonder why the seamstress didn't look surprised when I asked for red pants. I can't imagine anyone wanting to wear these.)
It's usually warm there, but this is no longer summer. So they should be alright.
*drops her head, looking at the ground*
Beloved, they aren't going to accept you no matter the clothes. I'm sorry, but I know them. They think you're a phase.
*sighs*
It'd be best to go in something you're comfortable in.
"If it's like that, then it's like that sometimes. It can be hard to change someone's mind."
He looks around at the displays of clothing in the market.
"I'm pretty comfortable with what I have. I'll come as I am."
Kywyn's thoughts runs toward more practical equipment.
"No climbing like in the desert, I hope."
*blinks*
No, there's no climbing. We had to cross some water, but that wasn't too much trouble.
Rope wouldn't be a bad idea though.
"Do we have enough bolts for the crossbows?" he turns to gaze at her.
Strange as it might seem so close to coming back, Kywyn feels it would be good to venture out again with NaShae, especially to get to Dakarai.
Nothing is for certain, he has come to accept. Nothing. Everything is factors and there are no absolutes, except the paradoxes that answer without answering. If he can walk with her and tread through this world, it is all he would rely on. It's a place to start and finish each step.
I believe we do.
*bites her lip*
I didn't check before we left so I don't know how many we have.
He lets his hand play across NaShae's back as he touches her shoulder.
"Anything else you can think of we might want?"
Another question comes to mind.
"What would be a good way to deal with transportation?"
We could.
*leans into Kywyn, turning to gaze softly at him*
I'm not sure. There's too much to think about right now.
*thinks*
We'll need food. But other than that....
*shrugs*
Kywyn browses through a few stands visually, thinking of which places they could find trail rations.
"Do you like bringing food from the Last Lich? Something to break up the normal rations?"
He senses some building stress but is not sure if it belongs to himself or NaShae.
"We could stop by the inn anyway for a break... maybe get some lunch."
It's easier to carry the rations. And they don't go bad. There's an inn on the way to Ennorath. So we can stop there to get something different to eat.
*wraps her arms around his arm, to calm herself again*
We could. I'd like that.
[OOC: I don't remember if it was jut a tavern or an inn on the way. :embarrass ]
He starts walking with her to the Last Lich.
How hard is it to find a female dwarf in this city?
oO. (Ahhhhh... there goes my fostered appearence with him. I HATE this outfit! Wait... he is a tracker right? He could be useful..)
Lucian approaches Tensek.
"Good to see you again, Mr. Tensek."
Ah good day mister... Risk wasn't it?
*Tensek pauses.*
What brings you to the market today?
oO. (Added assurance Kai wont kill me while I'm not looking...)
"You are a tracker correct?"
I am.
Do you wish to go hunting?
"In a manner of speaking... Can you hunt in city streets? I'm interested in following a fellow."
It would be considerable harder to do so but it can be done.
"My Thanks. I'm working with a slightly less than subtle individual as well, but he's learning. He's looking for a way to the roofs."
Lucian starts to walk.
"Our target is the baker. We want to know where he lives."
Why not ask him?
"Because we want it to be a surprise."
Makes me wonder if I'm the only sane one in this city. Or perhaps the only insane one...
"Sanity is relative. What may seem insane may actually more lucid than you think."
Perhaps...
Quickly after putting on the first glove, Darkar realizes that these gloves will never do. As well made as they look on the outside, the inside is just as coarse and rough on the inside. Removing the glove he sets the pair back where he found them and continues looking.
Not finding a pair that meets his tastes or quality needed he moves onward to the next place that sells clothing. In this shop is an over zealous merchant selling his wares. The man sees Darkar enter and waves at him letting him know he will be right with him.
Merchant: Milady, that hat makes you look absolutely stunning, will you be adding that to you purchases today?
Lady: I am not certain, are you sure that this hat does not make my head look to small the hat is rather large.
Merchant: No, not at all and if you prefer we can ask this gentlemen over here his opinion.
Darkar looking at the gloves does not notice the merchant waving his hand in his direction as he speaks. It is only when the woman speaks to him does he turn to pay attention.
Lady: Sir elf, what do you think of this hat honestly?
Looking carefully at the hat Darkar can see that is it indeed a beautiful hat with a large brim, decorated with lace flowers, and a satin band around top with a tail that hangs off the back.
It is a lovely hat miss. It compliments your beauty nicely.
The woman takes the compliment well and decides to buy the hat along with the other things she is buying. After she leaves the merchant turns his attention to Darkar.
Merchant: Now how can I help you sir?
I am looking for an excellent pair of gloves to purchase.
Merchant: Ah, would you be looking for silk, satin, or perhaps lace? I hear that elves do enjoy the finer things.
Perhaps I did not make myself clear enough. I need a fine pair of leather gloves, not the thick coarse gloves that people use when workring, but the thin leather gloves that one might wear to protect the hands and still wield a sword.
Merchant: Gloves like that sir, unfortunately I do not carry. I only carry fine garments that one would wear to a party or a social function.
Do you have an idea where I might find a pair like I seek?
Merchant: Not really I have not had a request for gloves like that before. Perhaps if you ask a tanner who makes leather you might find a lead.
Thank you for your help sir.
Nods and turns to leave the shop.
Elsewhere?
In one part of the building he sees animal hides soaking in water which seems to be fairly fresh though Darkar does not take a drink to find out.
Nearby is a large vat with a plunger sticking out of the top, as Darkar walks by he can tell that this is where the smell of lime is coming from.
Darkar then spots a man in the back of the building from where the pungent smell eminates. As Darkar approaches he sees more hides in what appears to be dirty water to his eyes.
Man: Cin aye elp yew?
Are you the tanner?
Man: Aye am.
I am looking for someone who purchases leather from you for making gloves.
Man: Didja try the market? Dey sell gloves dere.
I saw those gloves, but unfortunately I need a finely crafted pair of gloves and not everyday work gloves.
Man: Aye donnae ask wot dey wont de leadher for, aye just sell it. Most com from de market, but dis wun woman comes from nort of de market. Dat bout all aye no.
Thank you I will try and look for the woman there.
Maelut walks down the rows of stalls, not looking for anything in particular. As he walks, he smells the aroma of cooked meats, and recognizes his friend Dorian. The cook quickly walks over to the stall to say hello.
"Dorian, my friend, it is good to see you again."
He tells the shopkeeper of his adventure, and of his success at the Inn. They spend a half hour talking, and Maelut gets some more herbs for his spice pouch.
"Well, I must be on my way. Good health to you."
"And to you."
Maelut wanders off, picking up some supplies to replace what he used on his adventure. After he buys what he needs, he spends some time just enjoying being in the city, making his way around and looking at what the stalls have to offer.
OoC: Buys 2x trail rations
Maelut sees a vendor selling some small bottles that contain liquids of various colors. Upon discovering that they are healing potions, he purchases the only one that he can afford; determined to accelerate the healing process next time he needs medical attention.
Once the bottle is safely stowed away in his backpack, he continues on his way.
"Hmm...I wonder what this stall is selling?"
OoC: Bought one potion of cure light wounds
[to Iron Wolf]
.oO( Hm.. surprising activity for this early. )
Tagg looks at the sky and notes the sun's position and realizes it is not quite as early as he had thought
.oO( Ok maybe not so early.. Must've overslept. )
After being pushed along in the crowds he gets the gist of what each stand has to offer. Eventually he comes across a cloth vendor, just what he had needed. He stops moving his legs to take a closer look, and sees the crowds filter around him. The merchant hastily greets him, who Tagg responds to with a brief hello before basically phasing out whatever he says after that.
.oO( Hm.. something light and basic.. but enough to keep warm. )
Scanning over the various sets of clothes he picks out a basic set somewhat similar to what he is wearing except a light brown and lighter without as much on it.
.oO( Looks good for a spare if nothing else. )
Tuning back into the merchant he pionts to the suit of clothes.
"A set of those please."
"Ah, yes. That will be one gold."
Tagg removes ten silver pieces from his pocket and holds them out in his hand.
"I hope you take change?"
"Yes of course sir."
The merchant gives a small smile and takes the silver where he deposits it somewhere invisible to the public. He then takes the specified set of clothing and hands it to Tagg, who bows his head slightly in acknowledgment and takes them. Continuing through the streets he looks to see if there is anything else he might want to get..
buy Traveller's Outfit
*the case of bolts at his hip is too light for his comfort, so he begins to look for a weapons vendor*
*not finding one, he suddenly remembers the Iron Wolf*
*shaking his head, he changes direction*
*the caravan creaks to a stop and the elves pile out, knowing exactly where each cask of wine is going, after all the quicker the work is done, the quicker they get to play
*the female dismounts nervously, having never been in a city of mixed races, and looks around
*she nods her thanks to the driver and they exchange pleasantries in elven
*she shoulders her backpack and surveys the marketplace, looking for perhaps one of her race that might offer some advice as to where to go
. o 0 (Busy city, I wonder how well I will be recieved?)
*she wanders around the market looking at the shops, and also looking for a seamstress or tailor
Excuse me Ma'am, I was wondering if I could purchase some scraps of cloth, of any sort.
*the seamstress laughs goodnaturedly
Scraps of cloth dearie? What would you need that for?
I'd like to make a few puppets, for a show. It's something I love to do!
*she laughs again but humours the slight elf
*after negotiating a fair price, Angeliqué walks away with enough scraps to make several puppets
*she stops the nearest person and asks for directions to an inn with good food for a hungry traveller
*after getting directions to Nobody's Inn, she sets of resolutely in that direction
[to Nobody's Inn]
.oO( Reasonable price, and my swords could benefit from a resharpening after that venture, don't want to see them with a blunt edge when I need them. )
Tagg leaves his thoughts and hears the merchant already in the middle of a sentence.
"...to buy something?"
Is what the elf picks out of the conversation. He figures whatever was said prior was either a welcoming or advertising.
"Hello, yes I would like to get this here."
He points to the object he had been ogling at.
"How much?"
"This piece... only a couple copper..."
The merchant looks slightly disappointed at first upon hearing the meager request but quickly realizes what he is doing and gives a small smile
"Two copper in fact mister."
Tagg reaches around in his pocket and remembers he had brought only silver. he withdraws a piece from his cloak and presents it to the merchant.
"Would you take this and give me some change?"
The merchant nods, bends down and when he resurfaces into sight is holding eight copper pieces. The two exchange currencies, the merchant thanks him for the purchase and Tagg begins to walk back to the boarding house, wishing to deposit his new purchases before continuing to walk around.
to Weatherby Boarding House
*she enters the square and walks through the crowd that has gathered and stops by a vendor and picks up some sweet bread, paying for it and then breaking off a piece for herself, wrapping the leftover and placing it in her bag*
*she breaks of a small piece and places it in her mouth as she wanders through the market, looking at the various vendors, paying more attention to the different styles and designs of clothing and accessories*
*she stops by a clothing merchant and looks at some of the dresses, but finds nothing particularly interesting and moves on*
"We'll be early, but we can look around... maybe find some food," he voices quietly.
He finds a spot on the corner of the square for them to sit.
"I met the shopkeeper on my first trip into the market; he sold me the ingredients for the first meal I cooked at Nobodys. His meats and herbs are the finest I've found here, almost on par with what we had in my village."
As they walk, Maelut sees a strange couple sitting in a quiet corner of the market. They seem to be waiting for something, and they radiate a feeling of power. He indicates the couple with a subtle gesture to Angelique.
"Those two seem out of place, no?"
"The cook... from Nobody's..."
He crosses his arms over the front of his grey poncho-cloak.
"And a child."
He looks away to not draw attention.
"No, wait..."
"An elf," Kywyn decides.
.oO(She is probably still upset with me...)
*she lowers her head a bit as she recalls*
*she walks past a cart which blocks her from view for a moment as she heads towards the other side of the market square*
.o0(My dad always said, leave the door open but don't drag people through it. If they want good food, they know where to go.)
*stares wide-eyed at the busy city, dodging pedestrains, carts and almost losing Maelut several times, catching up to hear him speak of his arrival at the City
*she uses his larger frame as shelter once they arrive at the market, so as to not be run over or knocked down. When he points out the couple, she has to wait a moment for enough space to view them, and looks on curiously
Out of place? Why would they be out of place? Is it not right for an elf and a human to sit together out in public here? He looks a bit stern with his arms crossed, maybe he needs entertainment.
*she stops staring, remembering it's not always polite and looks around at other people presently. She then decides it's a nice morning to sing, and proceeds to sing in elven, a fiesty party song
He chances eye contact with Maelut, that was his name, and this new girl. Tilting his head, he watches the reaction of those around who do not seem to mind the fun, energetic melody.
*she flashes a smile at him, and waves good morning politely
He shakes off the feeling and heads down one of the rows of stalls. As he walks up, he sees a young boy loitering around one of the stalls. Suddenly, the youth grabs a piece of meat off the table and dashes away from the shopkeeper, and right into Maelut's arms.
"Young sir, you appear to have been in such a hurry that you have forgotten to pay for your food. Perhaps you would like to fix that mistake? Or perhaps the town guards could help you sort out the confusion."
The boy's eyes go wide as Maelut half-carries him back to the booth. As the cook turns to speak with the shopkeeper, it is none other than his friend Dorian.
"You're lucky, my friend. People are desperate for your cooking."
Maelut gives a stern warning to the boy, but sees that he has no money for the food. Maelut pays for the piece of meat, and lets him go on his way.
"You're a soft-hearted fool. That boy'll be back."
"Yes, but at least he won't be starved. The state of some of these children is dreadful."
"Anyway, I want to thank you for the use of your recipie book, I found some rather unusual sauces in there that I've never seen before. And I made a list of some herbs I think you might want to try in your desserts. They add a punch that Marroc's orc would appreciate."
"Ah, indeed? I shall have a look at your notes. But who is this delightfully musical little girl? A niece of yours, perhaps."
For some reason he caught ahold of the sight.
Graphite hatching finishes his picture as he smudges a few intuitive spots with his glover finger.
Seeing the girl wave, Kywyn motions her over with a gentle gesture of his hand just above his knee.
*sighs in relief as Maelut pays for the meat, and decides she can convert this man to pacifism without too much trouble, as long as she can keep him away from goblins. She then smiles brightly at the storekeeper and says hello
*listens halfheartedly to the rest of the comnversation, as spices and sauces aren't really her cup of tea, until she sees the cloaked man motion at her
*taps Maelut on the arm and indicates she is going over to the couple he had pointed out earlier, then sets off towards them. Once she stands in front of Kywyn she curtsies and speaks
Good Morning sir, I hope you do not mind that I sang back there, I just felt that it was a good opportunity to sing, and well, good opportunities aren't always easy to find, especially ones like that. I'm new here so I don't know the laws, and I hope it was ok...
*trails off as she realises she is babbling on nervously, and waits for his reaction
. o 0 (I hope he isn't mad at me, he looks too nice to be mad, I wonder what he has in his lap?)
"You attract attention to yourself," he relays sotto voce, his voice not deep but still somehow strong enough.
Kywyn glances about her form.
"A voice without a weapon visible."
Her smile barely reminds him of NaShae's when he saw her first, before the burdens he sought were taken on as her own.
Indicating the drawn image with his eyes, "It is for you."
"You seem happy, and I hope it's a help to keep that... save that look."
Kywyn runs his thumb across his chin under his hood.
"How quick the sun can drop away... when you aren't looking."
Adjusting his gauntlets, he sits back with NaShae.
"Personally, I can't imagine being unwilling to fight. It's not that I enjoy combat, but my village would have fallen if we hadn't defended it from those kobolds...pacifism isn't always the solution."
Hearing a melodious humming, Maelut knows without turning that Angelique has returned from wherever she disappeared to.
*smiles at the elf, a pleasant, but tight smile*
Greetings. You are new here? As far as I know there is no law against playing in the market. The guards would be a lot busier if there was.
I don't mean to attract attention, just make people happy. And I don't believe in weapons, life is much to nice to be carrying cold steel around, weighing both heart and body down. You can't sing when you wear armour, and you might trip over a sword while dancing. People of all races love music, and they appreciate it, so I do not need a weapon. I just want to make people happy and peaceful, and a weapon won't do that for me.
*looks at the paper again and then at Kywyn's eyes
You have such skill, you should be very happy and proud! I love it, and will cherish it. It is a very nice thing to do for someone that you have never seen before.
*bows to NaShae and speaks
Thank you! And good morning also. I am Angeliqué Noel of the Ranielina, and I arrived here yesterday. I'm glad there is no law against singing, it would be dreadful if there were.
*she turns and looks at the sky when he mentions the sun, and appears to be slightly puzzled. Turning back to Kywyn she senses that the conversation is over and bows again
Thank you again kind sir! I won't forget you. And have a good day, both of you!
*she then turns and heads back towards the stand that Maelut is at, humming to herself and brandishing a drawing
Maelut, look what that nice man over there gave me! I think I made him happy, although his companion looks a little sad. I hate seeing sad elves, maybe she needs some mead? Where can I...nevermind, he wasn't overly friendly, maybe they have important business in town.
*she puts the picture in her backpack once everyone nearby has seen it and stands patiently beside Maelut
Maelut nods a goodbye to Dorian, and heads off into the marketplace with the elf.
"Is there any shopping you need to do while you're here? I doubt you'd want a weapon of any sort, given your nature. But the area outside of the city isn't the safest. Could I possibly convince you to at least purchase a staff? It's not even really a weapon, just a long walking stick. And you never know when you might run into hungry goblins in the woods."
*shrugs and links her arm with Kywyn's*
*turning to him a small smile crosses her face*
That was a lovely picture, beloved.
No, I don't need one. Not even a staff, it's completely against what I believe. And if you are untrue to yourself, then how can you be happy?
*realising the ferocity of her outburst, she looks a little embarrassed, and hangs her head in shame
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound angry, it's my fault. And I don't need anything at this time, so feel free to go where ever you want now.
The two walk in silence for several minutes.
"Perhaps you're right. Maybe there are other, more important things to be concerned about. It's hard for me to relax at the moment, my encounter with the goblins still give me a few nightmares."
"I've been told that some performers also learn a small amount of magic. Do you have that skill?"
*walks beside Maelut, pondering why that elf and the man would be so tense. Half hears his comment about the goblins, but her ears perk up at the mention of magic
Yes, I do know some magic, but I think that it is too easily used for battle, and not enough is used for humanitarian purposes. There are spells to aid people that no one learns, because there is more glory in killing creatures.
*she reflects in this for a moment and the speaks again
Getting back to your question, yes. And I have used it to aid in my performances, so I can justify it's use.
*she then continues to walk beside Maelut, pondering her earlier words about glory in killing, and how to go about reversing that
"Thank you."
Sensing... almost a twinge of sadness in her, he communiactes, "Don't follow my words down. It was just a reminder to her. We've followed our own path."
I know beloved. And I wouldn't choose any path other than the one we travel.[/FONT]
He thinks for a moment, and then continues on.
"I seem to recall Marroc telling me that all spellcasters in the city are required to purchase licenses at the Hightower. That's where all the wizards spend their time. I think that it's against the law to cast spells without a license inside the city. I could take you there, so that we can make sure you don't get in any trouble. You wouldn't want to get a bad reputation."
With this, he winks at the elf and heads off in the direction of the wizards guild.
[Exit stage left to Hightower, pursued by a bear]
OoC: Sorry...too much Shakepeare.
*she watches as she sees a small elf no more than a teen compared to herself, sing with a boast of energy that she can only remember and she slowly walks back to where people have gathered.*
*from a spot not to far from where the event takes, place yet in the shadow of a cart she watches the goings on, Screech rests on her shoulder and hoots softly*
(e)Yes I know...she does have a very nice and light voice...
*she continues to watch and notices Kywyn bring out his pencils and parchment and begin to sketch, almost melodicly to the young one's song*
(e)I'm sure that one of Kywyn's drawings is suitable gift for such a lovely song..
*she pauses for a moment and watches and notices Kywyn's darkened demeanour*
(e)So much has happened since the wizard's....he seems to have lost but yet there is something he also obtained...I just can't figure what...he seems more quiet..more shadowy than usual...
*she turns her head as the song comes to a close and watches as the elf says her thanks to Kywyn and then run off to the other side of the market, to a row of stalls where and oddly dressed human stands talking to a vendor*
(e)I have not seen him here before either...but I guess that can be expected as it comes to the middle of spring...alot of adventurers seeking work from the cities....
*she smiles at the white owl and brushes his chest and they both leave the market*
to Elsewhere
Do all spellcasters need this permit? It seems odd to have a lisence, but I can see the need for a law like that if you have a mage's guild.
[To High Tower]
.oO(There he is... And Na'Shae, too.)
"Here we are," he says to Da'Vane, and makes his way towards the couple.
*seeing Gamis and the rude paladin she remembers from the inn, her eyes grow hard and she stands behind Kywyn, holding herself stiffly*
*waits to see what they want, watching them carefully*
"Information," Kywyn opens, "That is what you're looking for?"
"Good morning, Miss NaShae. You look radiant this morning. And good morning to you, Mister Kwywn."
*turning back to Gamis, her again turn wary and weary, waiting to see what her old 'friend' could possibly want from Kywyn*
"Mister Kwywn, I'm the one that seeks information."
Da' vane looks around, before speaking again.
"Is it safe to speak here, or is there somewhere more secluded we may ajourn to?"
He indicates the direction of the Last Lich.
"It depends what kind of questions you want to ask."
"I have something for you," he breaks in evenly, taking the vial from his pocket and holding it out to the elf. "Your mother's elixir."
"Often just lead to more questions."
He is about to start towards the inn, when Gamis speaks up.
Thank you.
*takes the vial and pockets it in her component pouch*
Kywyn looks to Gamis and then squire.
"I'm sorry, your name seems to have escaped me just now."
"Do you want to do this yourself?" he asks Da'Vane, "or have me there to see if my memory's jogged?"
"You can call me Da' Vane, Mister Kwywn."
The young squire muses for a second, before continuing.
"Gamis, I'd appreciate your wisdom in this matter, if you could spare the time. As I would yours, Miss Nashae, if you care to join us."
He begins walking down the street, staying near NaShae, behind the two knights.
---
[To LLI]
*skips happily into the Market and surveys the scene unfolding ahead, loving as always the hustle and bustle of life going about it's business
*visits several merchants picking up the needed materials for Dak's puppet, and also a little breakfast consisting of some fresh bread and a cup of water. As she walks along wathcing everyone she then spots a booth with cold weather gear, something she has been on the lookout for
Morning Ma'am, how are you today? I was wondering, seeing as Winter will soon be nipping on Autumn's heels, about your cold weather gear, and it's price?
Merchant: Good morning to you! Come, examine our fine selection of gear for every season! Anything you want, we have it. Cold, hot, desert, jungle, mountains it doesn't matter, we have it all. Come come, look at the fine craftsmanship of these cloaks, and these sturdy boots. Look at the tight knit of these wool vests and shirts, are these not the finest you have seen?
*pointing out a smaller sized outfit, with a blue cloak, she gets the merchants full attention
How much for this exact outfit? It looks just my size, don't you think?
*the merchant beams and gets down the selected item
Merchant: Isn't it beautiful? Just perfect for you, as a matter of fact, this hasn't sold yet because it was waiting for you! Imagine that, it knew it was just for you, and I have a special deal on it right now. Only 8 gold pieces, for this fine outfit, all of it. Isn't that a bargain now?
It seems a fair price, and I need a good cloak and boots, so I will take it.
*she hands over the correct coinage, and stows away her newest purchase, the leaves the market, hurrying back to Nobody's to get started on the puppet
[to Nobody's]
.oO(Its kinda funny, I've lived here almost a mounth and never been to the market)
He chuckles to himself, and notices as a women deliberate keeps here child on the other side of her from him
He smiles at them and aproaches her and puts on his biggest smile
"I have just relized that I have never been to the market before do you know a place where I could buy a good set of clothes?"
The woman looks slightly stunned and then says
Woman "Over there mister I don't want any trouble."
She hurries away and is soon lost in the crowd
.oO(Well that was certainly strange)
Boirin looks about his person to see what might have scared the woman away, and notices the holes in his tunic and the visible scabs beneath
.oO(Oops)
Boirin heads over in the direction the woman pointed and does in fact see the clothing merchant he is soon in the stall and looking around the booth
The shop keeper says "May I help you."
"Yes I am looking to acquire ah' couple new tunics and you seem to have some nice ones here.[/i]
Boirin picks out two sets of tunics and pants, one dark purple and blue the other hunter green and tan.
Shopkeepr "That'll be 2 gold"
Boirin hands over the gold and nods to the shopkeep and heads off wandering around
[ooc purchases 2 travelers outfits]
[To Nobody's Inn]
Still struming on his mandolin to Angeliqué's voice. Joseph looks around for any sort of weapon vender.
Good morning sir! How are you this fine morning? I was wondering if you could direct me to the store that sells weapons?
*gesturing hastily to Joseph she adds
They aren't for me, just for him.
Vendor: Well, I don't deal in that really, just clothes and textiles. Maybe you should ask the blacksmith? Or maybe the guards?
*the vendor scratches his head and calls over to the next stall, repeating Angeliqué's question. Recieving a similar reply, he nods to himself confident in his advice, and repeats his earlier instruction of going to the guards. Thanking him politely, Angeliqué returns to Joseph and sighs
I don't know who to ask, but it would make sense to ask a guard, don't you think? I have no idea really, look at me, I asked a textile vendor!
*laughing at herself, she sets off towards a different part of the Market, trying to catch a glimpse of a guard somewhere along the way
[Sense Motive +4]
Jeweler:
"Afternoon, sir!" He lowers his voice a notch. "Come to pick up that pretty ring for yer lady?"
"That's right," Gamis says with a nod.
Jeweler:
"If ye don't mind my saying so, clever move, letting her personally pick her engagement ring--if I don't miss my guess." He winks.
"You definitely know your business; I commend you," the paladin replies as the jeweler produces the pink-toned pearl from its box and places it in a tiny velvet pouch.
Jeweler:
"We'll call it at 150 gold, sir. Does that sound fair?"
"I guess I guessed right," Gamis says, handing him three 1-pound gold bars.
Jeweler:
"Yeah; good eye, sir. Maybe ye'd have made a good jeweler yourself if you hadn't become a knight?" he nods at Gamis's armor as he trades the pouch for the bars.
The paladin chuckles. "In all likelihood, I'd have been a blacksmith if not a knight. Thank you, Sir Jeweler, and have a good day."
Jeweler:
"You, too, Sir... Faybin!" he replies, glancing at the scrap of paper with the reserve.
Gamis turns and clanks away from the stand, heading south out of the market and home.
Originally posted by JosephKell
Joseph continues to look around... Come on, there has to be at least one person that I can relieve of the burden of coins.
Joseph finally notices a tradesman with a pouch hanging from his belt, readily accessible. The man very nearly sees Joseph removing the pouch, and the bard is left with the distinct impression that he escaped by a gnat's whisker.
Inside the pouch, when Joseph has time to check, he finds 7 gp, 32sp, 14cp, and, wrapped in a square of milky parchment, a single gold piece.
Done feeling guilty.
Joseph transfers all the coins--except the one wrapped in the parchment--in his own money purse. He places the special coin back in the parchment and then in his boot. No reason to make it easy to mix a special and potentially incriminating piece with the normal stuff.
Joseph reverses his cloak just incase the tradesman remembers his pouch disappeared when he was nearby. He abandons the pouch in a pile of trash and goes off to find Angeliqué.
Walking among the hawkers and salespeople, Tycho realises that he missed the crowds, the pulse and the feel of living in a city. He spots a fruit merchant and heads over to him, but before he reaches the stand a young boy, dressed in normal homespun with a gritty face bumps into him. The young boy appears to be chased by three of his peers. Picking himself up, the young boy quickly runs of again, laughing. Tycho fights down the urge to pat his purse and see if it is still there.
.oO(Probably just a game of chase, but one can never be certain. I can feel its weight, its not gone. I forgot about that particular side of life in the city, I suppose.)
.oO(I wonder if I could get my weapons blackened...}
"Hmmm."
Boirin steps out of the way of a passing cart and hops up onto the curb, looking around. Suddenly several children rush around him and he looks around, making sure his pouch is still there. Reasured Boirin walks down the curb lost in his oun thoughts.
"You look new here, is there anything I could do to help? Perhaps your looking for something in particular?"
*extends his hand to the man*
"My name is Tycho Eharb."
"Boirin, son of Naerin. Pleased to meet you. I'm reasonably new here also. So have you seen the Hightower yet, its pretty impressive I hear. Do you have a place to stay, cause I know of a couple places that would be pretty good stay. Couple of Inns and so forth."
*pauses for a second*
"Making cold camp, even in summer, isn't all that fun. And, of course, there aren't that many girls on the road."
"Well, you interested in grabbing a pint? I now a couple of places that have a nice jar."
"Sure follow me."
Boirin strides off in the direction of the Last Lich Inn, looking back to see if he has lost Tycho in the crowd.
[To Last Lich Inn]
follow[To Last Lich Inn]
"Angeliqué, perhaps we should come back tomorrow, it is late... or rather early and it isn't as safe at night as during the day."
[to Nobody's]
.oO(Now there is someone I could talk with about my concerns regarding the pass and Undeath Keep.)
*The elf hastens his pace and meets the paladin toward the end of the market. He calls out as he extends his hand.*
"Hail, follower of the light."
"Hail--Thosar, is that one of the Mother's symbols I see on you?"
"That it is, Gamis. How does this day find you? A little weary you seem."
He gives a clanking shrug to Thosar's observation. "No more than usual lately, I suppose. I've been spending my days training the Jackal recruits Lord Malifaeyr's acquired. Just getting started on teaching them how to lance. What about you?"
"Indeed, the crucible at the Pass was a sign to me and my path before the Mother. Since then I've been a follower."
*His brow creases at the mention of the Jackals.*
"How are the new recruits doing anyway? Perhaps only a shadow of the former, but I hope a force to be reckoned with before too long. The city could use them."
"As for me, I've spent most of my time since the return from Undeath Keep pondering some large questions. They weigh heavy on me."
The paladin looks around, and Valor shakes his mane a little.
"Should we sit down and talk somewhere? The Lich is right here, and if you were at the keep... I'd like to hear anything you know about those Eternal Flame members that were captured."
*Thosar nods.*
"Certainly. Lead the way."
Joseph walks into the market playing his mandolin. He walks over to a vendor.
"Hello, I was wondering if you could help me out." Joseph slips the man a silver piece. "I was wondering if you had any idea of a person looking to hire an alchemist?"
Joseph groans. "I already gave you a piece of silver... Fine, forget it, I don't want to argue." Joseph hands him two more pieces of silver.
"An herbalist might be interested in an alchemist, or there is Natala might be looking for one. Now, how about buying some onions."
"After you ripped me off?"
Joseph walks off to explore the market some more.
[to Last Lich Inn]
Joseph walks into the Market and sets about finding a hat vender. It isn't long before he comes upon a tent with a bunch of hats on it.
The man tending the tent notices Joseph's attention. "Hello young man, are you interested in buying a hat?"
"Yes I am," Joseph says as he walks closer.
"Well, what I have with me today is what you see. Just take a look."
Joseph sees a wide brimmed black hat and picks it up.
"Oh that is a nice hat, great for wearing in just about any weather. It'll keep the rain off your face and the sun out of your eyes. It looks good on you," the man says.
"Do you have a mirror, I'ld like to see what I look like wearing it."
The man produces a scratched steel mirror from under the table and holds it up before Joseph. The young bard gazes into it and grins.
"I'll take it, how much do I owe you?" Joseph reaches under his cape for his money purse.
"Eight silver pieces and the hat is your's," the man says with a smile.
Joseph draws eight silver coins from his purse and hands them to the vendor. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, have a nice day."
Satisified with his new hat, Joseph heads back to the inn.
[to Last Lich Inn]
After almost losing her way a couple of times, despite the guard's precise directions, Julia walks into the marketsquare. She stands at the edge at first, slightly intimidated by the amount of people, before joining them as she goes looking for some clothes-merchants.
Merchant: Goodday miss. How may I help you today?
Julia: I'm looking for a good, sturdy cloak, one that'll keep the cold away too.
Merchant: That can be arranged, miss. What colour do you want?
Julia: I don't know, what colours do you have?
Smiling, the merchant shows her the cloaks he has. There's a choice in blues, reds and greens, all in the dark hues. She looks them over, feeling the weave of some and finally settles on a very dark-blue cloak.
Julia: What do I owe you for this one? holding up the darkblue cloak.
Merchant: Very good choice miss, even if I do say so myself. Good quality, it'll last you a long time. 8 silver.
Julia: Very well. I'll take it. She counts out the money as the merchant starts to wrap her purchase. She takes the package, and starts to walk away. Turning around, she asks:
Could you direct me to the church of Thalos?
Merchant: Certainly miss. It's not easy to miss though. You go straight ahead, and then take a left...
Julia listens to the directions, nods in understanding and walks off to the church.
Tagg gets to the market and files through the vendors present for the specific purpose of a couple extra packages of trail rations (.oO [Not that I doubt Maelut's ability to provide our meals, still better to have them just in case]) and some gear for Brie. He picks out a stand that holds several packagges of meats and cheeses for use in cooking. Tagg shrugs and decides it might be the closest he'll get to finding somewhere that sells rations.
"Hello, sir. Here to buy some beef perhaps? Pork? Or maybe you're not in the mood for meat.. what about our cheeses? We have a wide selection as you see here.."
"Good morning. Actually I'm in the market for a couple packages of trail rations. Have you anything of the sort?"
"Oh.. rations, eh? Sure.. I think I have some.."
The merchant turns and looks through a couple shelves and calls to Tag without turning.
"How many packs do you need?"
"Three will do, thank you."
The merchant pulls out sthree packages of rations and places them in fron of Tagg.
That'll be one and a half golds,
Tagg nods and pulls out a gold coin and a few silver ones and presents them to the merchant. He takes his goods and puts them in his backpack as the vendor files the money away. He continues on searching until he finds somewhere that contains various equipment for mounts. He approaches it and looks around, cutting straight to business before the merchant can advertise of himself.
"Well, I'm mainly looking for some feed for my donkey. Although.."
He looks over some of the accessories.
"...I do plan on having him carry some gear, and I think he might have a little trouble if he has to carry it on his bare back. Do you reccomend anything that I could put on him that is meant to carry loads?"
Feed, yes, we have that. As for your accessory, it depends whether you want to use your donkey for just carrying things or as a ride as well. If you plan on it supporting a person as well, I suggest these saddlebags. However if you want ut to exclusively carry gear, this saddle would be much more effective for it can support much more."
Tagg nods as the merchant points out two pieces.
"Thank you. I think I'll go for the saddle.. So for a bag of feed and this, how much do I owe you?"
"Five golds and five coppers, sir."
The merchant prepares the merchandise while Tagg pulls out the according coins. He slides the coins across the counter which the merchant scoops up and puts the saddle and package of feed in front of him. He stacks it and carefully lifts it up. With a little trouble wobbling down the streets he manages to get to Nobody's nonetheless.
Purchase: 3 days of trail rations, 1 day of feed, and a pack saddle for 6 gp, 5 sp, and 5 cp
to Nobody's Inn
.oO(I might as well take a look at that. It surely won't do me any harm.)
Tyros enters the building.
[to Iron Wolf Armory]
.oO(I'll definetly stick around. When I get bored I'll leave town... Hum... I might do that just that. I could use some hunting rush.)
Tyros hastly moves towards the big gate, wich leads to the countryside outside the city, still looking amazed at the myriad of people in the square.
[ To Beyond the City Walls]
Gosh! What happened to you? Wait, don't speak! I'll help you get up.
No. No need for that.
The man seemed absent-minded from his current state.
My mule just got angry at me, that's all. She kicked me and I flew to where I am. I was going to the market to try and sell it.
Seeing as the man seemed ok, he only had some bruises, he took the opportunity for a beast of burden.
What a pleasant surprise, then. I was loking for such an animal. How much would you want for it?
Oh, I'll settle for 8 gold pieces. You can take her saddle for more 5 gp. It's meant to carry loads.
Very well. I'll take both things. You wouldn't happen to have any feed, would you?
There's three days worth of feed in her saddle. I can sell it to you for 1 silver piece and 5 cp. Just put the money in my shoe.
Tyros becomes intrigued with the strange request of the man. He didn't seem very well in his head. But he dared not say ill of the poor man. He took the coins from his pocket [13 gp, 1 sp, 5 cp] and put them on the man's shoe.
Are you sure you do not want me to help you or to call someone to help you get up?
No. I'll just stay here, laid on the floor, and think about life's meaning and other matters such as that. Have a good day.
Tyros got up and moved towards the mule. He gently stroke the large animal in its forefront and looked straight in its eyes.
Come, Hunter.
He grabbed the animal by the saddle and directed it to the gates.
[to Beyond the Walls (again) ]
Hellow there! What may I help you with, sir?
I belive i can help you. I was told by Jareld, the guard, that you were having some trouble with the ones that bring the meat to you.
Ah! That Jareld! Yes, i'm in a difficult time, right now. They set their prices too high and I can't buy enough meat to take any profit, seen as I need to raise my prices, also.
Well, I belive i can help you with that. I'm a hunter and I can supply you with fresh meat every day.
You can, eih? Well, I reckon that if you'll acept 7 and a half gold pieces a week, I can buy you what you catch. But you must deliver it to me every day of the week, otherwise I will only pay you 15 sp for each day you work. Is that a deal, my friend?
Sounds a very nice deal to me. I'll strive to get you meat every day. And to show my enourmous gratitude for your offer, I bring a wild bor to you right now. It's outside with my mule.
You caught a wild boar?? I will like these deal indeed. Well put him right there front of my door. I'll pick it up in a moment. Just have to give these news to me wife.
Tyros nods at the butcher and goes outside to unload his game. It was heavy for an elf like him. He then takes his mule and leaves to the Weatherby's boarding house.
[To the WBH]
.oO(Why don't they hunt? A rabit or a deer makes a perfect meal... maybe people don't have the stomach for a grown deer. Oh well, I'll never understand these city persons.)
Tyros continues to the small butcher shop. As he reaches it, he can see a short and fat person waiting in the door entrance. Mr Humpsted wasn't looking very happy with Tyros.
For blinky's sake, man! Why weren't you here earlier?!
Tyros looks stunned at the little man and then looks behind himself to see if there wasn't anyone to whom Mr Humpsted could be talking to. And then he ponders for a while, before answering.
Blinky's sake? What is a blinky? I don't remember my father teaching me that word... And I couldn't be here sooner because I was hunting. For you. I brought you these.
Mr Humpsted rolls his eyes while Tyros talks about his expression and his father teachings, transforming his facial expression into a spring of happiness and joy as Tyros hands him the rabbits. He thanks him and goes into his little shop to make the necessary arrangements to ready them to be sold. Tyros takes Hunter's reins and leads him in the direction of the Weatherbys Boarding House.
.oO( What is a blinky? I might try to hunt one of those... )
[to WBH]
(dwarven)"Greetings. Might I ask if you are a merchant of unworked stone? I am in need of purchasing some for building purposes."
*The dwarf strokes his beard for a moment before letting out a laugh.*
"Ye really had me going there friend. The accent is even convincin'. But an elf needing stone for building, now that's something I wasn't expecting to hear today."
*Accustomed to this behavior by now, Thosar merely smiles. After a moment, he responds.*
(dwarven)"I can understand, if I were a dwarf I'd think the same thing. However, I am still in need of some stone, preferably granite or limestone. I have the specifications here, if you'd like to see them."
*Thosar produces a sheet of parchment which contains the dimensions of the out building and the estimated stone needed. The dwarf examines the paper and soon the smirk is missing from his face. He looks up at the elf, then back to the paper before responding.*
"Well, whoever wrote this seems to knows his business. By my calculations though, he's off on the estimated amount of stone, if he wants to keep the thickness equal all around."
*Abandoning the dwarven for common, Thosar continues.*
"He doesn't though. The floor will not be as thick as the walls. Just thick enough to hold a decent weight and to keep rodents from burrowing in."
*The dwarf strokes his beard for a moment before nodding.*
"'Course, if ye do it that way, you'll be seperating the floor and the walls, so ye may create holes that little critters could get in."
"True. I was hoping some lime mortar would correct that problem, which is something I was also going to ask about purchasing."
"Aye, that would do the trick, as long as ye apply it correctly and don't put too much water in it. And make sure ye match the stone surfaces in the first place, the less mortar the better."
*Thosar smiles, glad to remember the different terminology and methods of his old trade.*
"Agreed. So, would you be someone that could secure the stone for me?"
*The dwarf smiles this time and nods.*
"Aye, I am. For the amount of stone ye have listed here I wouldn't be able to have the stone until tomorrow. Would ye still like to make the order? If so, I'd like half the payment down."
*Thosar digs into a seperate coin pouch Mrs. Weatherby gave him and pays the dwarf half the price specified.*
"By the way, the name is Sten Bristlebeard, of Bristlebeard Stone."
*With a nod, the elf responds.*
(dwarven)"Well met, Sten Bristlebeard. I am Thosar Lueque."
"No offense, but it's a little strange to hear an elf speak in such true sounding dwarven. Could you stick to the common tongue?"
*Now it is Thosar's turn to laugh.*
"I certainly could. I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Bristlebeard."
*With a bow, the elf is off through the market, toward the Iron Wolf.*
"Looks very good, as usual. This won't fade any time soon."
He thanks the merchant and moves on, thinking about what kind of tea mrs Weatherby would appreciate most.
Herbal, fruit or pure green? Elderberries are good for colds. Maybe with some extra cinnamon...
In the end, the elf decides on a mixture of elderberry and rosehip tea, with a light touch of vanilla. Not the cheapest selection, but very nice especially in this season. His purchases wrapped securely, Ran returns home to sample the tea straight away.
.o0(Hmm, well not much to do around here, this is some pretty good salted pork... aww man...)
Quickly puttin the meat away
.o0(not supposed to eat that now!...hmm whats this?)
Brand takes a look at a building with a sign out that catches his eye, as he was on his way back to Nobodys Inn
.o0(Last Lich Inn, well thats a name to remember... wonder what this place is like.)
Brand goes into The Last Lich
Fishing out 4 golds from his purse, Ran asks for 10 sheets of medium weight paper and has the hawker slice them neatly in half. The smaller format is easier for personal use, although more paper is taken up by margins and such a size won't do for more formal paperwork. The pages tucked safely away, the elf walks towards Natala's store.
.oO(Have I not been paying attention lately? There seem to be more people in the city these days. I wonder if the force up in the pass is causing problems with settlements up that way. Has the crime rate gone up at all?)
*The elf dodges a few kids that coming running past him. On a second glance he notices they aren't kids at all but dirty halflings. He watches them run on then shakes his head and continues on his way.*
.oO(What was that dwarf's name that used to be in the guard? Gerug? Yes, that was it. I'll have to ask him if the crime rate has gone up. If he's still a guard, that is. And still alive, also. I should probably check with Natala though, to see when we're planning to head to Clerihew. What have I been doing with all of my time lately?)
*Navigating around the last cart and it's hollering merchant, Thosar continues on to Mrs. Weatherby's.*
Joseph walked into the market square and looked around.
Tycho and Joseph wander the marketplace looking for the items they will need. Starting with the food, Tycho finds a likely stall at the edge of the market.
"A friend and I will be going on a trip soon. We need provisions for ten days for two people. "
Merchant: "I have all that. Will that be the usual hardtack, jerky and cheese?"
"Not that I enjoy hardtack very much, it is good travelling food."
"Merchant: "No one like trail rations. "The merchant says and smiles"Ten days for two people will be 10 gold pieces.
"This is my least favourite part of buyng things."Tycho says and hands over 5 gp. Joseph sees that Tycho only handed 5 gp over, and digs out 5 gp of his own and hands it to the merchant. The merchant weighs out the trail rations, mainly hardtack and jerky with minimal amounts of unappetizing cheese."You brought a pack, Joseph, take the food."
Slightly pooerer and slightly heavier, Tycho and Joseph looks for a metalware stall. Finding one with what looks like suitable pots and pans, they easily get the merchant's attention.
Merchant: "What can I do for you, gentlemen?"
"We need a pot, fairly large. Mainly for melting snow for drinking water, but we will probably want to eat a few hot or at least warm meals on our trip."
The merchant takes a pot down from the wall of the stall. It looks identical to just about every other pot he has.
Merchant: "I understand. Just the two of you? Yes? I have the perfect pot. Three litre capacity, easy to transport. 7 silver pieces."Tycho lifts his right eyebrow and stares at the merchant. "I mean 5. Five silver pieces."
"Thank you."
Tycho pays the man and takes the pot the merchant had waved at them. Joseph points to a tailor-shop in a large tent with what appears to be winter clothes, and they make their way over. A middle aged human woman approach them in the tent.
Woman: "Yes? How can I help you, gentlemen?"
"Me and my friend here are going on a trip, and find ourselves without suitable clothes. You have cold weather outfits?"
Woman: "Of course. Of course. Heavy undertunics, heavy cloaks, woollen scarves, thick leggings and boots. We have the lot."
"That sounds about right. We really don't want to get frostbite. How much will all that cost?"
Woman: "Ten gold peices for the lot. Each, of course."
On hearing the price, Tycho blanches."Ten? That cannot be right. I want to purchase clothes, not establish an annuity for your grandchildren. You can have five."
The woman shakes her head.Woman: "I am sorry sir. Winter gear is expensive. Eight gold pieces, I really cannot go lower than that.
"Then we will have to take our business elsewhere. Eight gold pieces! You can have six."
Woman: "Six? Sir, you seek to beggar me. Clothes cost money. Seven gold pieces, each.
Tycho begins to say something, but stops. "Oh, very well. Seven gold pieces."
On finding a set of clothes which fits reasonably well, Tycho pays the woman 7 gold pieces. Fitting Joseph out takes a while longer, but eventually they succeed in attiring him as well. They thank the woman, and leave the tent.
[OOC: lost a total of 12 gp 5 sp, Joseph paid 12 gp and I expect him to pay for half the pot in the near future :]
"If you don't mind, I'm going to buy some gloves to keep my dexterous digits from dying..." Joseph said as he walked over to a merchant with gloves.
Joseph sees a beautiful pair of black leather gloves.
"Excuse me sir," Joseph announced to the glove merchant. "How much for those black ones, there?"
"Umm... a gold piece."
"What?! They're leather! Not silk! I'll give you half that."
"Deal."
Joseph deposited five silver pieces in the merchants hands and took the leather gloves.
"Hermy, I was wondering when you would be back."
"Last time you were here, you had to leave before I finished making youre new clothes."
"I'm very sorry to hear about your lovely wife."
*Hermy nods.* "Thanks. Ise very sorry ta hear about it too."
"An Ise very sorry I didn't comes back ta get the clothes. Ise sure you worked very hard on them."
*Miss Cuwen laughs.* "You don't ever need to aplogixe to me for not picking up your order."
"I think saving my life so many times more then cancels that out."
"Besides, I still have the clothes."
"I knew you'd be back for them once things in your life settled down a bit."
"They aint settled down. And I aint back for those clothes."
"Ise here fer warmer clothes. Fer going out in the snow an stuff likes that."
"Ise got to take some scouts out on a mission."
*Miss Cuwen nods.*
"I can alter them. Add in a quilted layer to make them warmer."
"It won't take me too long."
*Hermy smiles for a second and then his face takes on a more serious expression.*
"Can you change the color too? Minto may know a lot about singin' an stuff like that, but he dont know much about clothes."
"Heroes should never wear yellow."
"Bresides, the whole city knows that red is your color."
"Yup."
"Ise not sure how good red will be fer hiding in snow though."
*Miss Cuwen thinks for a second.*
"Perhaps I could dye them into grey shades? It won't stand out against white snow as much as red would, but won't stand out in the darkness like white would either."
*Hermy frowns and then sighs.*
"I suppose that might be best."
"I'll just make sure to change back into red once the mission is over."
"How long will it takes ta dye them?"
"An make them warmer?"
*Miss Cuwen adds some calculations up in her head.*
"I can get the quilting in tonight."
"An then dye it tomorrow."
"I'll need to wash and then dry them afterwards."
"So that will be at least another day."
*Hermy nods.*
"That shoulds give Eric a chance ta finish his note."
"I'll be back ta get them in two days then."
"An ta pay ya fer all yer trouble."
"Does 8 gold sounds likes it will be enough?"
"For you it's too much. You have saved my life."
"But yer clothes mights saves mine."
"I'll makes it 8 gold an nuthin less."
*Miss Cuwen shrugs.*
"If it makes you happy."
"No, but it makes it fair."
"I'lls be back in two days."
*Hermy waves and then exits the shop.*
[to Elsewhere]
Hermy smiles.
.o0(At least she finally got a lock. That’ll cut back on my heroing work a bit.)
Hermy finds a nice dry spot to sit and waits.*
After about half an hour Hermy hears someone moving around in the shop and he gets up and moves to the door.*
“Miss Cuwen? Is that you? It’s me Hermy.”
“If that aint you let me know an I’ll come in an rescue you!”
Hermy hears the door unlocking, and Miss Cuwen pops her head out.
”Hermy? Oh, it is you.”
“I’m fine. I wasn’t expecting you so early.”
“I’ma sorry. I just wanted ta get my new clothes in time ta change inta them before we go.”
“One of the scouts isa girl, so I need ta change before I go ta leads them on the mission.”
Miss Cuwen ushers Hermy inside.
”It’s not a problem. You look cold. Have you been waiting out there long?”
“Not really. Ise waited longer fer things before. Once before I was a hero, I waited three days fer someone ta throw out there trash, they had baked a pie a few wee…. No, not very long.”
Miss Cuwen smiles as she heads into the back to get Hermy’s new clothes.
”Next time knock.”
“I’m always glad to see you.”
“Ok, I’ll knock next time.”
Miss Cuwen shows Hermy a pair of grey pants, and a slightly paler shade of grey shirt.
”I put a layer of quilting inside of them. And added some pockets into the inner lining.”
“They should keep you very warm.”
“And if they aren’t enough, I also made you a coat and gloves to go with it.”
She goes back to her backroom and then returns with a long grey coat. She hands it to Hermy to try on.
”I hope its not too long. I altered a coat I was making for someone else. I don’t think they are in as big of a hurry as you are..”
Hermy tries it on and it hangs down to his ankles. He rolls up the sleeves until he can see his hands,
“It’s not to long. Its just right fer hidden stuff in.”
“I coulds probably hide Minto in here ifen I had too.”
“Wouldn’t that be a surprise? Someones tries to fights me an I opens up my coat an theres my bard.”
“I bets that would shock them.”
Hermy smiles as Miss Cuwen giggles.
“Well Ise sorry ta dress an run an stuff but Ise gots ta train some people ta save the city.”
“You know how it is.”
Hermy hands her 10 gold coins and then waves as he heads out the door.
.o0(What was I supposed to try to buy? Its been a week and I can't remember... gah.)
Brand aimless browses for a few more minutes.
.o0(Hmm, well now im just bored I've been stopping here often enough to have jogged my memory. Now to find something else to do. I wonder what the palace looks like. I think its over that way if I remeber correctly.)
Brand heads over in the direction of the palace
to else where
wow it's getting colder, I wonder if I should move on to catch warmer weather
Finally after wandering around for a while, Halandar finds a halfling selling clothes.
[halfling]hello, I need some winter clothing, and probably some gloves. Are there any other people of our kind around?
The Vendor looks up from the ground and has an expression of delight.
Vendor [halfling] yes the warmer clothing will cost you 8 gold, yeah there's a place called the halfling quarter, it's south of here.
let's see do I even have 8gp to pay?
Digging through his purse, Halandar fishes for 8 gold and hands it over.
[halfling]yes here's 8 gold, really? just south, hmm thank you very much
The merchant starts taking measurements, and picks up and browses throught his clothing, saying [halfling] ahh, here's your size. well good day
Halandar thanks the merchant again and stuffs the extra clothes in his backpack, and walks back to the inn.
I think we can find you a decent coat here. Joseph says.
Brand looks over to the owner, Excuse me, I'm looking to buy a coat, nothing fancy, preferably cheap but will still help keep out soem of the cold.
Cheap but decent eh? Lemme go take a look, see if I can find ya one, may be a bit tough big as you are, but I think I may have oen that would fit ya. The vendor replies as he goes off in search of a coat.
Heh just watch its going to be yellow with green spots. Brand says with a lauch to Joseph.
The vendor returns a few moments later with a bundle of dark cloth in his hands.
I think this one would fit ya just bout right. Here, try it on, see if ya like it.
brand takes the bundle and unbundles it, it rolls out to be a dark green wool coat about his size, and he tries it on. He swings his arms around, buttons it shut and swings his arms a bit. then removes the coat.
It fits well, and the color isnt half bad. So how much would it cost me?
The vendor thinks about it a moment.
That'll run ya a gold.
Brand fishes out the coins and pays the man and thne proceeds to wander the market with Joseph some more.
Joseph gave me permission to NPC him for this via AIM.
Think this covers enough of me up to be effective?
Heh, yeah lets go get us a mugger.
[to Elsewhere]
to elsewhere
[halfling]how much would I get for this dagger?[halfling]
vendor says [halfling]one gold sir[/halfling]
Halandar
[halfling] what???!! all right, nevermind then[halfling]
better go find a place to make myself presentable first, and see if I can hire myself out somewhere
That chap Coll I talked to after the dragon adventure told me what to try and have covered: food, shelter, clothes and good shoes, light, basic tools in case the going gets rough, basic things to treat wounds and illnesses and a bit of cash to pay locals for help. And something to defend myself with, although that shouldn't ever be a problem.
Most of those are seen to. If we need to climb mountains or cross dangerous waters, I can't afford to get climbing tools or a boat - and we couldn't take something like that with us anyway. Besides, Codrian told me about that trip, I shouldn't expect anything like that. A coil of good rope on the other hand never goes amiss. That's one thing.
We've got firewood and I have everything I need to build a fire, but we might still need torches. That's two.
I'd love to have a complete healing bag to take, but judging by what those disinfectants cost me, that's out of the question. What I have will have to do.
Maybe something to cook food and water in? A simple pot can't cost all that much. That's three.
And the guild provided extra winter clothes, but I'll definitely want some gloves of my own. That's four.
Ran counts the coins in his purse and makes a swift tour of the market, picking up items as he goes along. He makes a point of going to see his inks and papers supplier, but doesn't buy anything there. He does get half a dozen torches, a 50 ft. coil of good, strong, hemp rope and a small metal pot. The woman selling him that last object is so taken in with the bow the monk makes to thank her that she throws in a simple wooden spoon for free.
I almost forgot - my bow isn't going to be of much use if I don't bring any arrows. I'd better go past the Iron Wolf on my way to Natala's.
.o0(Har har, no faith in mother.)
Therokke wanders up to a butcher shop.
"Therokke needs new pig snout. Old one got eaten."
The buthcher stares at the large half orc and at the loin cloth he is wearing. Therokke nods his head and poses. "You like? You can thank Mother."
[i]"Well, I... er.."[/i]
"It all right to be speechless... Not all right not to get pig snout."
The butcher holds out his hands. [i]"I'm all out. I have a hunter who might be able to get you a boar."[/i]
"Don't need whole boar. Just snout. It good part."
"I'd be willing to take the rest off your hands."
Therokke flexes. "How much I have to pay for you to do that?"
The butcher, slightly intimidated takes a step back. [i]"You'd have to ask my hunter how much he'd charge you for the boar."[/i]
Therokke nods. "Good I no pay twice for same pig snout."
"Where this hunter?"
[i]"I'm not sure. He stays att the Weatherby boarding house, but he could be out hunting now."[/i]
"How I find him?"
"His wolf skin pants are hard to miss, he stands out almost as much as you..as Sir Hermy does."
"Wolf pants."
"HAR HAR"
"I will find this panted one an buy snout. Have him bring rest to you."
Therokke stalks away looking over the crowd. .o0(Wolf skin pants! Har!)
As he passes by a grain stall he notices a small elf in fuzzy pants, he approaches Tyros and grabsa him by the shoulders and lifts him off the ground. "Where you get those pants!"
.oO(
)Er... wha... I... Do I know you?
Tyros looks slightly at his pants.
I made them from a wolf. Why?
"Therokke found him."
The big half orc drops the elf to the ground.
"You get me pig snout?"
I still have to go hunting today... Tyros begins to look closely at his interloper, at his traits.
.oO(I've seen something like you...)
"Pig snout not for pants. Pig snout for soup. "
"Therokke need no pants."
"Mother has blessed him."
Whoe's mother? Your mother? Tyros brain almost freezes. Mother... orcs... death...
.oO(Could it be? no... it can't... they are smaller...)
Tyros gains a strange look in his eyes, almost as if a sword was trespassing his heart.
The look quickily fades replaced by one of anger. "This no good."
"You will come with me."
"Therokke will fix this."
Therokke flexes his arm muscles to let Tyros know what a bad idea it would be to disagree with him.
Tyros follows Theroke out of pure curiosity.
"Therokke assigned to bring all orc to Mother."
"But Therokke go extra mile and bring everyone."
"Therokke good that way."
"That why Mother bless Therokke with stunning physique."
Therokke stops , raises an eyebrow, and looks down at Tyros.
"I Therokke."
"You got problem with that?"
Tyros says as he stops cold in his tracks.
I have no problem with you being whoever you are. As long as you...
"Mother is the god."
"Not even Therokke could kill her. An Therokke her greatest child."
The big half orc looms over the elf. "You think Mother would tell Therokke to do something wrong, then you sorely mistaken."
"Mother tells Therokke to convert his people, Therokke does it."
"Therokke tells you to convert, then you do it."
"Understand little fuzzy pants wearer."
Are you an orc? "And Therokke not orc. Therokke half orc."
"Half orc, an half guy who will kick your butt if you doubt me."
"Any more questions little man?"
"Therokke got plenty of answers."
Therokke curls his biceps and poses.
Do I sense some hostility? I'd hate to fight you after all you've done for me. But I still hate orcs for what they did to my family. But I don't want to talk about it. What is that mother you talk about?
"Mother loves everyone. Not as much as Mother love Therokke, but she still love everyone."
"Therokke just bringing you to Temple where you can feel the love."
"If Therokke wanted to fight you, Therokke would not bother being polite and would just pull off your head."
"But since Therokke found Mother, Therokke not so violent."
"Now Therokke just break legs to make dragging easier."
Therokke changes poses.
"Which sound better to you? Loving Mother? Or loving Mother with broken legs?"
"Therokke reasonable man."
Tyros follows Therokke to the temple.
"Mother protects everyone. Just protect Therokke more since he so good looking. Not that Therokke needs help. Therokke can protect self just fine."
Therokke looks Tyros over and slaps Tyros on the rear.
" Har! Har! You want to eat more. One of Therokkes farts could break you in half. After you convert and find pig snout, Therokke will fatten you up."
"Maybe then Mother won't have to work so hard."
"Har! Har!"
Therokke leads Tyros to the Temple and then stops in front of the doors.
"Therokke thinks little man make right choice. You go in there and ask about Mother. Priests will set you straight. Tell them Therokke sent you."
"You can thank Therokke later. When Therokke comes for pig snout."
Therokke shakes his head approvingly as he looks over Tyros one last time.
"Therokke must go. Therokke has many more people to bring to the light. And soup to cook. Must still find right spices. Garlic not just grow on trees you know."
"Har! Har!"
With a final slap to the posterier, Therokke sets off back towards the market.
:heehee ]I'm not sure what a fart is but... I'll take it's not safe to withstand one... I'll ask the priests and thank you. You've been most kind and i shall provide you with a pig snout. Be well, my friend.
Tyros eyes the big lump of muscle stroll down the street and eyes the big building. He enter it to find some answers.
[To Temple of ordemetrex]
.oO(Ah shooulda foound out how long the trrip shoould take. Ah'm surre the mines must be at least severral days walk frrom herre.)
She thinks about such a trip with Daron as a travelling companion. She snorts.
.oO(Yeah. Betterr take meh rrecorrderr (not that Ah woouldn't anyway). And meh jourrnal. And... tobacco! Ah've got teh get morre tobacco beforre gooin'! Ah'm oout!)
She rushes ahead into the market square and sees the vendors closing things up for the night.
.oO(Oh no! Betterr hurry! Wherre was it Burrleg foound the carrt? Overr therre Ah think!)
She runs in the direction she thinks the vendor might be in. However she's unable to find the cart -- whether its because she hasn't remembered where it is correctly or if the vendor has already closed up and taken his cart home, she doesn't know.
She stands in an empty stall in the square, arms crossed and a foul look on her face.
.oO(Well, that'll neverr do. Ah've got no tobacco, Ah can't buy morre noow, and we'rre leavin' at dawn t'morreh.)
She grumbles as she starts thinking about the other, less important things she will need for the trip.
.oO(And teh let Missus Weatherrby knoow Ah'm headin' oout o' toown again.)
[to Mrs. Weatherby's]
Tagg comes across the bustling town center, quite active at this time of day. He scans around the various vendors, choosing one and approaching it.
"Greetings."
"Hello, sir. What can I do for you?"
Tagg removes a bag of salt and a couple bars of metal out of his backpack and places them in front of the merchant
"I'm wondering if you can exchange this for coin."
The merchant examines the materials slowly before responding.
"Ehh... sure. Just a moment."
He collects the bag and bars of metal, weighing the spice and stowing he bars beneath the counter. He comes back up holding a small bag of coins.
"Here ya are.. 50-and-some-odd gold there.. Anything else?"
"Ah.. no thanks, don't really need anything today."
"Are you sure? We've got some fine - "
"I'm all set."
"Right, right. Well, good day."
"Likewise."
Tagg takes the bag of coins and heads back down the street towards the boarding house.
[claimed 59gp for loot from adventure]
[to weatherby boarding house]
The paladin nods. "Yes, I'd like to have a cloak made as a surprise to my fiancé. She's about so tall, and her shoulders are about..."
"One second," the tailor cuts in, hefting a blank, adjustable mannaquin and bringing it over to Gamis. "Estimates in the air can be rough at best," he says as he laboriously prepares it for setting. "Now, her height again?"
Gamis lays his hands on its shoulders, then nods and calls the height good. "Narrower here, though," he says of the shoulders, and the tailor cranks it accordingly until his customer says, "Yes, that's right."
"Mm-hmm..." the craftsman says as he briskly pulls his tape measure out and stretches it. "I'm assuming hooded as well, correct?"
"Correct," Gamis says.
"Alright, no problem. Now long should it hang? Ankle-length? Excellent choice. Next step's the material. Did you have anything in particular in mind? Velvet?"
"Perhaps for the lining. Something... durable, practical, but still very nice, for the outside."
"Hmm, let's see what we have..."
Although he likes some of the colors of the bolts he's shown, none of the textures of the pre-woven fabrics seem either not fine enough or not durable enough. The tailor suggests a custom brocade, and Gamis is interested. A thick silk, dark tan in color, should make the base quite strong and fine. Strands of silk thread, light rose and silver, will go in along the length of the cloak it to give it a subtle accent fitting to Miri and a slight shimmer when the cloth moves.
A silver clasp, simple in design and durable, is picked. Gamis asks that the lining, quilted and with two spacious pockets, be the same pink, and after a thought, that an "M" be embroidered inside on the left, in a darker pink to stand out more. The tailor nods, then suggests a trim be put on the edges for a little more ornamentation. The paladin settles on a trim simple in cut, an inch and a half wide. For embroidery along it the tailor suggests, in the same pink mixed in to the brocade, a pattern that resembles fine calligraphy though it forms no letters. Gamis favors it, asking that small seven-pointed suns fit into the pattern as well. The tailor takes the idea to the elderly woman in the shop who does the needlework, and her hands, still strong and limber at her age, make a quick sketch of what it will look like. The paladin pronounces it 'perfect' with a smile.
All told, the proprietor quotes the garment at a cost of 50 gp when it's finished in three days, and he'll take a deposit now. "Done," Gamis says, giving him the 20 gp he carries this morning. Thank-yous and wishes for a good day are exchanged and the paladin clanks back out of the tailor's shop, imagining the finished cloak and Miri's expression when he presents her with it as he continues on to the palace and his class.
[to Nobody's Inn]
"It's perfect," he says to the tailor, who preens.
The paladin has the cloak folded and wrapped, then pays the craftsman the 30 gp due him from his wages just obtained from the Jackals. With a final thank-you, he leaves the shop with it tucked under his arm.
*Tensek steps into the market place and walks up to a merchant.*
Have you seen an elfin girl about this high, with black hair, and green eyes?
"No sir I haven’t."
Thank you.
*Tensek turns off as suddenly as he approached and makes his way through the crowd towards another vendor asking the same question and receiving the same answer he growls and stalks off towards the Last Lich Inn.*
[To the LLI]
*Two people enter the marketplace looking for completely different things. One a half-elf, looking for a present for a small girl, the other human, combing the market place for a certain elven druid. It seem that the fates conspired for the two to meet or well at least one could make that assumption as the half-elf and Tensek, neither paying much attention to anything but their self-appointed tasks, collide. Tensek growls as the force is sudden and the ranger spins speaking in a harsh tone.*
What?
*Upon seeing the half-elf he collided with the tail of his long coat fluttering as he begins stumbling backwards into a vendor’s wares. Tensek’s arm darts out and grabs the hem of the half-elf’s coat.*
"Thanks."
You're welcome...
What happened?
"Sir, I apologize the incident, my attention was elsewhere."
*The half-elf replies as a small bird lands on his shoulder. Tensek relieved he was not to blame for this incident looks from the bird than back to the bird’s owner.*
I thought I walked into someone again.
Good to know I'm not the only one who does that...
"So, we both were preoccupied by something else. Not probably too rare incident in this place."
Agreed...
What were you preoccupied with?
"I was looking for something to buy for a birthday present for a young child. And, may I inquire your object of interest?"
Just browsing.
*The half-elf looks over Tensek’s shoulder and smiles as he makes what to him is an insightful remark.*
"Or where you looking at that young beautiful lady over there?"
Well now I am...
*Tensek turns his head to look before shaking his head and turning back to the Half-Elf.*
But no I wasn't.
"Just a guess, nothing else."
Perhaps. You're shopping for your child?
"Ah, not exactly. She is not my child, but I am taking care of her."
Ah... So a foster child
"Yes, that can be said."
This city needs more people like you.
"Thanks. I do what I can, and not doing would be failing to fill my duty to my god."
Which God is that?
"The Divine Spirit of Thalos."
Interesting
"And, you sir, what do you see as your task in life?"
I'm a hunter and tracker.
"Now I can say 'interesting'. Have to remember that, as on some past ventures help from a man such as yourself would have been great. Can I ask your name, as to find you, sir, if I have need for services of a tracker?"
Tensek Vicar.
And may I be as blunt to ask yours?
"Codrian Enelevin. And if you need to find me, I work at Natala's Mystic Shop."
Interesting. A mystic shop you say?
"Yes."
What sorts of things do you sell?
"Spell components, objects of some magical relevance, ingredients of all kinds of ointments, herbal drinks and remedies. And, hopefully, in near future, also certain selection of potions by comission."
Very interesting.
"If you have need for something of such nature, please pay a visit."
I think I will.
"If you excuse me, Mr Vicar, I'll get on with looking for the present for my care. Nice meeting you.
Farewell Sir Enelevin. It was a pleasure.
*Codrian parts ways with Tensek disappearing into the crowd leaving the ranger to his devices.*
.oO(Come out come out wherever you are…)
*Tensek steps away from the market making his way to the slums and Nobodys.*
[To Nobodys Inn.]
*Tensek jogs into teh market place where he stops quickly at a vendors and purchases 4 days of extra trail rations for his journey.*
.oO(These shoudl supplement anythign I manage to find in the wild nicely.)
*After his business is done with the Vendor Tensek leave steh market place quietly.*
[let's move along to Beyond teh Walls !_! ]
oO. (To risky, to poor, beh, just isn't worth it today.)
Lucian pats his grey slacks straight and begins to circulate within the market examining the wares, leaning on his walking stick if he stops at any stall. oO. (Alot of these goods are really... junky.)
The half-elf examines a charm-necklace both. A glint of silver catches his eye and he picks up the medalion. He turns to the vendor, an attractive young elf dressed in robes of pleasant blue.
"Excuse me... What do these charms mean?"
"Good afternoon, sir. It depends on which one, although I'm surprised you don't know."
Lucian is taken slightly aback.
"Why would I know that?"
"You are one of the people, are you not?"
"Elven?" Lucian goes bright red. "Only partly."
The elf looks closely, before shrugging. "My condolences."
Lucian closes his eyes. "What does it mean?"
"It is old. It is the symbol for Ishinta - deception for a greater good." She handles the charm gently, it is a flame contained within a diamond.
"Will 10 gold be sufficient?"
"Yes.
The charm and the gold change hands, and both are left feeling quite put off by the experience. Lucian tucks his ears behind his hair self-contiously. Before heading to the Fox.
Tap-Tap-Tap
The cook slowly makes his way between the various stalls, stopping at a few stands to get some basic goods for the Inn. However, as he makes his way around one particular corner, he hears a voice from the other side of a curtain.
“Now listen here, my meats are of the highest quality. Nobody gets sick because of something I make, and you’d better not be accusing me of it again.”
“I’ll accuse you of whatever I like, and what’s more, it was your meats she ate before she took ill. How else do you explain it?”
“Coincidence. Now get out of my shop before I call the guards.”
“The guards, what interest would they have in a worthless vendor like you?”
As the voices rise, Maelut steps into the tent to see his friend Dorian engaged in a heated argument with a short rotund man wearing a somewhat ludicrously shined bowler hat.
Maelut: “Excuse me, but is there something wrong here?”
Man: “Yeah, I gave my wife some meat I bought from this guy, and now she’s taken ill in a bad way. This guy owes me my money back, and lots besides. And I intend to take it one way or another.”
As he digests the man’s not so subtle thread, Maelut prepares for a small confrontation. Sizing the man up, he is sure that he could deal with him in a fight unless others were involved.
.o0(Angelique wouldn’t like me starting a fight. But what else can I do?)
When he turns to face the man fully, Maelut catches the slight odour of cooking oil coming from the man’s hat.
.o0(Of course! That would explain it)
Maelut: “I notice you wear a very fine hat. You must polish it quite a bit”
The man straightens up somewhat and adjusts the hat.
Man: “It was a present from my mum for my birthday. I keep it good and shiny, she told me it needed looking after on a regular basis.”
Maelut: “You didn’t, happen to shine it with cooking oil by any chance?”
Man: “Well, yeah I did. What’s it to you?”
Maelut: “If you used the kitchen rags to do it with, and some of the leather preservatives got on to your wife’s plate, that would explain her getting sick. The preservatives would have gone from her plate to her food, and she might have eaten some with the spicy meats without noticing. It’s not your fault, of course, it’s an easy thing to happen.”
The man stops abruptly and his face turns white.
Man: “Gods, I’ve poisoned my wife…I didn’t mean to, I swear! What should I do?”
Maelut: “The temple clerics might be able to help you, although they might charge a fee. I don’t have much experience with getting healing from them. There’s also a woman named Angelique, she makes puppets to entertain children of many ages, and also sings a good deal. If you ask around the market, someone is likely to have seen her. She’d be more than happy to help you, and she knows about healing, both magical and mundane. Recently she’s had some experience with poisoning as well, so she ought to be able to help you.”
Incoherently babbling something about thank you and apologies, the man rushes out of the tent.
Maelut shakes his head amusedly at the man as he bounces and rolls down the side streets. Turning to Dorian, he smiles to see his friend in good spirits.
“Dorian, my friend, how are you? It’s been a long time since I last filled my spice pouch, and it is beginning to look rather sad. Although, I do have a few treats for you.”
As he speaks, Maelut removes his precious spice bag from his belt. Opening it up, he reveals several bunches of dried herbs, each one of them carefully prepared by his mother to bring back to the city.
“I’ve got my own set back at the Inn, so you can have all of these. But let me caution you against selling them, you ought to keep most of them for yourself. There’s one special herb here, this one that looks like dried ivy. It’s a bit like a cross between mint and horseradish, it’s got a real kick to it if you grind it up and dry rub it into meat.”
The two talk about the various herbs that Maelut brought back, and their assorted uses in culinary delights. Dorian has all the usual supplies to fill up Maelut’s spice pouch, as well as some more unusual ones for Maelut to add to his collection. After an hour has passed, Maelut excuses himself to return to the Inn.
“Marroc will probably be around, and if I’m going to have some bread ready for dinner I’ll need to get it into the oven soon. Maybe I’ll throw in some of that goldflower you gave me, give the bread some more flavour. Stay well, my friend, I’ll see you next time I’m in the market.”
Reshouldering his backpack, Maelut passes out of the fabric canopy and back into the bustle of the city. He slowly winds his way through the crowd and makes his way back to the Inn.
[Exit to Nobody’s]
"Oim not it!"
"Oim not it either!"
"The goiy with the mask is it!"
"Oo was that masked man anyways?"
""E's it!"
"Wot is it?"
"'e is!"
Several merchants curse as the Horde pass by. (And through, over and under.)
Would some one tell me what "IT" means?... He says under his breath.
"If you don't want to play, it might be best for you to tagg me. Otherwise they'll just keep bugging you. They're boys. It's what they do."
Brand says as he walks closer to the gnome girl. He reaches out and taps her on the shoulder lightly.
I guess that means you're it now. Well have fun...
.oO(Did I leave Tyros back at the Inn? May as well go get him)
Brand turns around and heads back to the Blue Pumpkin.
Several of the boys shriek and run away as fast as they can.
"Rilia is it!"
"Shes goit cooties! That's even worse then being it!"
"She'll never catch me aloive!"
The girl gives chase, and leaving a wake of disgruntled merchants behind, the Horde dissapears into the market.
Most of them at least. One seems to have stayed behind and starts following Brand as he returns to the Blue Pumpkin. The one that pointed out Brands mask and proclaimed him it.
Yes? What can I do for you? He says to the little guy as he turns around.
"Oi wanna be scarry too."
"Or a puppy."
"A scarry puppy."
So, I'm scary? Why would you want to be scary? Being scary isnt a good thing, most of the time.
Brand takes a knee to get as close to eye level as he can and so he doesnt have to constantly be looking down.
"Everyones scared o'scary people."
"An no one pokes them on the nose."
So you want people to be afraid of you so they wont poke you in the nose? I can't teach you to be scary or anything since I'm not trying to be scary.
Brand says as he adjusts his mask a little.
Brand says as he runs a finger alogn the egde of his mask.
"Oi wanna mask just loike yers, so we cin be twins loike Phil an Will."
.oO( Ok... so now I'm going to have a mini me running around trying to be scary... what have i gotten myself into...)
Brand stands up and walks into the market and checks a few stalls and stands to see if anyone can point him in the direction of some one who sells masks or who could make one.
Eventually Brand makes his way to a stall where there are various leather items hung about for sale. As Brand approaches the stall the woman working it greets him with a smile.
Good day sir, can I interest you in a belt, or perhaps a back pack for your gear? She says as she waves a hand over her merchandise.
Actually. I was wondering if it was at all possible for you to make a mask, just like this one I have on. Except it would be for him. Brand says as he gestures to the halfling with him.
"Well little man, I think I can find sooom..." The woman notices the red pants and green shirt of the halfling. She backs away slowly.
"That's not your son. That's one of those.."
She takes several deep breaths and the points towards the street."I'm afraid I can't help you. Please take him away."
.oO(Uh oh....)Um, did I miss something ma'am? Whats wrong with my little friend here?
Brand asks the woman clearly confused.
"They're trouble."
"The only reason they aren't in jail or exiled is out of respect for Sir Woodhome. It's a shame he's tarnished his reputation by taking those hooligans in."
"I don't want any of them in my shop."
"They break things, and scare away the customers with their antics."
Brand turns to his little friend.
It seems you and your friends have caused so muh trouble you can't get that mask you wanted. We had better go and not bother this lady any longer.
Brand turns back to the woman and smiles a bit.
Well I'm sorry if I caused any trouble bringing him here, but I shall leave as you requested, now getting him to leave may be harder. Brand says the last part a bit off handedly as he turns and leaves the shop.
"Oi guess Oi'll 'ave ta get poked then."
The halfling follows right behind Brand.
"Where or we goin now? Oi know a place where they let ya feed ducks."
.oO(where are you going Brand my boy?)
I... have no idea where I'm going, I was trying to find thig 'alftuck that has been hurting people around town lately, but I haven't been able to find anything about him.
Brand looks over to Tyros following next to him.
Not even with Tyros's help. Brand says as he nods his head towards the elf.
I'm begining to think I'll never figure out how to catch this guy, but I cannot give up, I gave my word that I would catch him. Brand says resolutely as he stands in the street just outside of the market trying to figure out where to go.
The halfling follows after Brand. "Oi cin 'elp ya foind 'im. Oim gunna be a 'ero soon Unless Oi decoide ta be a puppy instead."
"Oi'm gunna be a scary one either way.."
You can help me? How is that? Brand asks the little guy.
By the way, my name is Brand, whats your name?
"An Oi cin 'elp ya foight 'im. Oi 'ave a sword back at 'ome."
"Volos won't let me carry it unless Oim goin' out on a mission."
His smile grows bigger.
"But if Oi 'elp ya then Oim on a mission."
.oO(Do I really want him to be carrying a sword around town? I'd be responsible for anything he damages or hurts, most likely. Then again I don't want to risk him not being armed when/if we meet up with this mugger fellow.)
Well Nige, here's what we'll do, lets go see Mr. Volos and talk with him about you helping me. If he thinks you should have your sword good, if he doesn't deem this as a "mission" I'll let ya use one of my daggers till we are done, sound like a plan?
"Oi think it's a groit plin!"
"Come on! I'll show ya were Oi live! An moi puppies!"
Nige grabs Brands hand and starts dragging him down the street towards the Silver Sword Adventurers Guild
When they arrive at the guildhouse, Nige leads Brand in through the stable doors..
with loving kindness.
May you be well.
May you be peaceful
and at ease.
May you be happy. "
Ely parts ways with Kai and looks for her wool dealer.
"Simon!"
"Eli! Back from the abby?"
"yeah I have a little wool to sell"
"Tulip and..."
"Eudora."
"Yeah, go around back and shear'um down."
She goes around back as the man said and takes the shears and goes to work on Eudora the squirmer. Ely holds her down and begins cutting. Several nics and curses later she is done. next is Tulip who is much more calm.
"There, all done."
"Finest mesan wool from the shores of Lake Mediaras."
Simon inspects and weighs the wool.
"mmm...one gold piece for the both of them"
"Are you mad! These are worth five gold a piece! why the yarn made out of these will be of adamantine strength and yet softer than goose down!"
"Ok five gold an five silvers for the lot and thats my final offer."
"You are a theif simon."
*takes the money*
"You are prety good with those shears. I know of some farms that could use some help just now."
"Realy? ok."
"Go out to Granoche's farm in the morning. Tell him I sent you."
"Thanks Simon, but you are still a thief"
Leaves to find an apt.
.oO( I have a feeling we will meet again...in that case, maybe I should have killed you in the forest and saved myself the trouble...)
Kai lowers his head and begins his walk through the city.
[Elsewhere]
Kywyn observes them from a seat on the edge of a stony retaining wall at the base of a sloping hill near some of the kiosks and vendors. NaShae and Dakarai had gone home earlier so Dak could lie down for a nap after exhausting himself running around this place. Kywyn lingers on with his sketchbook to earn a few more silvers by doing sketches for passersby. He is dressed in his loose outfit of faded beige, grey boots with their greaves, and gauntlets by his side.
He finishes some animal portraits for a pair of children he may have seen before when he used to spend more time in the role of the drifting artist. But they do not recognize him now without his black suit and grey cloak; he is not playing the part of the “Grey Ghost” today. The kids do not seem to mind.
Come here girl.
"Cute dog," he nods as he folds a sheet of parchment away.
Good girl.
*Tensek pats the dogs head as she lays down silently eating the rations he placed before her.*
Thank you. I was worried she'd be alittle more uppity in public. I apologise for the disturbance.
Where have I seen you from...
Turning to his side he backs up against a wall and leans up against it. Kai starts to think back on the familiar person as he tries to remember where he has seen the man.
Ive seen you...but where and with who...
"What would you be?" he asks Tensek.
*The ranger says offhandedly as he offers Kiara another piece of the rations.*
What of you?
He points to the girl running away with her new picture.
"Her? That little girl said she would be a falcon if she could be an animal."
He turns his gaze skyward.
"Do you think she knows what its like to be a falcon? To fly with the clouds. The clouds seem like this magical place where you can bounce and sleep in unbelieveably soft cushions. But I'm pretty sure if you get close enough, the clouds aren't that different from fog. You pass right through them, you don't even see them when you're within them. You only see the white at the perimeter where your eyes stop working right. It's an illusion," he muses quietly.
"But the clouds look like a great place when you can't touch them."
"I'm rambling," Kywyn scratches his chin, "To a stranger."
"A hunter, I mean."
The Last Lich...you were there with him.
Kai looks back to the two and narrows his eyes.
You were with Gamis...So does that make you my enemy as well?
I never really thought about it...
*He looks up at teh sky for a moment than back at Kywyn as he speaks.*
Rambling is good. It clears the mind. I suppose clouds do look nice from far away. But than they can look very angry as well. No a cloud wouldn't be a good place to stay...
*Tensek pauses as he considers Kywyn's words abit deeper.*
I think I'd be a lion if anything...
What about you what kind of animal woudl you be?
"Good choice."
"I don't think I could decide something like that... as if we have complete control over what we are, what we will be."
Kywyn considers, "A frog, I suppose."
"Is there much hunting in the city?"
Unless someone comes to me asking to find a missing person than most of my time is spent in the wild...
We can't control what we look like no. But who's to say we can't control the direction our lives take. There's always a choice though I'm guessing that's not what you meant.
"The 'why?' and the 'why?' are different, if you get that."
But than if you just sit and ask questions and never do anythign it all just runs rigth past you...
"What's your name? I don't usually ramble on to strangers, must be something in the weather. Clouds make me think."
*The ranger offers his hand to shake.*
Tensek Vicar.
"Kywyn," he says evenly.
"I should be going on my way for now. I am not unhappy our paths crossed. Maybe they will cross again."
Kywyn slings on his pack and starts walking away from the market. He suddenly gets the feeling he's being watched but lets it pass.
*Tensek looks down at Kiara and feeds her another piece of the ration before taking some himself.*
That was interesting eh Kiara?
*The dog looks up at him for a moment before laying back down at Tensek's feet.*
.oO( It seems like you've sparked my interests...)
Kai stays close to the shadows as he follows Kywyn from behind.
[Hide=10 Move Silently=11]
He keeps walking as if he hasn't noticed for a few more feet, until he is sure that whatever is walking with him is not just some coincidence.
"Right."
"Are we playing hide and go seek now?" Kywyn says just loud enough for someone nearby to hear.
Perceptive aren't you...He says with a muffled voice that cuts through the quietness.
His augmented eyes pierce the shadows to unveil the masked man.
"What's your deal?"
Kai steps foward and examines Kywyn's face.
You look different from everyone else...*shrugs* You look dangerous...Fighting you would be very exciting.
The elf looks up into the darkening sky, the scarf loosening from his face revealing the metallic mask.
Things may become difficult if my enemy has a dangerous friend like you...
Kywyn crosses his arms.
"Sometimes."
"If you know something about fighting, you know it often ends badly, no matter what."
"My friends and enemies are no so clear cut as yours, I'm afraid. Who would you be talking about?"
Looking back down to Kywyn, he narrows his eyes.
The only thing clear cut for me are my enemies...I have no use for friends. Friends will only betray...it only takes time. Now I don't suppose it would hurt to tell you whom I speak of but...I think I will keep it a secret for now.
"Ah, I never said there wasn't thrill... I just said things end badly."
Seeing the glint off Kai's mask, Kywyn begins to understand.
"Revenge. You feel you were betrayed and you think vegeance is all you have left, right?"
"Is this the product of an equation? This will set things right somehow, or have you truly nothing left in you?" Kywyn leans against the nearby wall.
.oO( Too bad I may have to kill you someday.)
Very perceptive...But will my vengence set things right? No it won't, nothing will. What you see before you is all that is left. I've already sold my soul, ofcourse nothing is left.
The elf tugs at and end of his scarf pulling it free from around his neck.
You are an interesting person even if you may become my enemy.
He runs a gauntleted hand through his black hair.
"How do you know I wouldn't join your cause if the price is right? How do you know you wouldn't change your mind if whatever was taken from you could be returned?"
Are you truly that trusting of a person? If so, than you are a foolish man.
Kai raises a hand to his masked face and begins to tap the metallic mask.
I would'nt mind getting back what belongs to me but its not necessary. Detroying my enemies is all that I need. Now I must ask...you know what I live for...what is it you live for?
"Trust would be letting a stranger know your reason for being."
Kywyn starts to wonder what lies beneath the mask.
Kai turns around and looks down the quiet street.
This conversation has lasted longer than expected.
The elf starts down the street but stops in mid stride. He slightly turns his head and watches Kywyn from the corner of his eyes.
I have a good idea...Lets have ourselves a friendly one on one fight, what do you think? You can even designate the time a place if you like. Maybe I'll tell you who it is I plan to ruin afterwards.
Kywyn pushes off the wall with his rear foot and steps closer to Kai from behind.
"I'm not sure what you mean by 'friendly fight," but you seem to want to share something."
A break in the clouds intensifies the contrast between Kywyn's light clothing and dark hair.
"Tonight," Kywyn says nonchalantly, "The graveyard, a ways in, away from random eyes. Sound acceptable?"
Kai looks ahead and starts down the street.
I have no plans on killing you, not tonight atleast.
The elf starts to tap on the longsword on his hip making a high clanking sound as he slowly walks down the street.
Oh yea...as soon as we enter the graveyard the fights begun. So be ready...I know I'll be, and if you feel you have had enough than call the fight. We will rely on honor rather than trust.
He turns down an alleyway and dissapears into the shadows.
"You psycho..."
He rounds a corner and leaves the market square.
Well girl... What say we start on getting you trained up abit?
*Kiara noiselessly puts her head in Tensek's lap. The ranger continues to talk as he absentmindedly pets the dogs head.*
Well it's getting dark we best head somewhere where we can sleep. Come along now girl.
*Tensek rises and begins walking to Nobody's. With Liara hard on his heels.*
Tomorrow we'll start.
(to Nobody's)
The big half orc laughs at the elven male clutching at his guts, fighting back the urge to retch.
Therokke slaps him on the behind as a sign of friendship, and the elf loses control, and empties the contents of his stomache across the stall.
Therokke breaks into laughter again.
"Har! Har! Therokke no charge you this time for soup."
Therokke flexes and picks the elf up, and carries him out into the street and dumps him in the road. Therokke looks around for more prospective clients.
No one approaches, Therokke poses for several minutes, and then strides back into his stall, and then sniffs the pot of soup.
"Hmmm, Therokke put in too much garlic, Covers up the smell of lard."
Therokke moves to a bucket at the back of his shop and plunges his hands into it.
"Therokke better add more."
After a while os looking he finds a merchant with torches for sale.
S'cuse me sir, I'd like to pruchase five torches please.
He says to the gentleman running the stall.
The man looks at Brand for a moment then goes to get the torches and places them on the counter.
That'll be five copper. He says dryly.
Alright then. Brand says as he fishes out one of his last few silvers and places it on the counter and takes the torches and leaves after recieving his change back from the merchant.
Well now, we have more torches, shall we go see where that last tunnel takes us?
He says to Tyros and Nige as he makes his way back to the slums.
"After we capture 'im, we should oll go out an get soime candy."
Nige leads them back to the house, chatting the whole way about sweets.
Maelut walks across the city, lightly tracing his fingernail over the rough stitching on his spice pouch. The supple leather has a a fine residue of the cooking oil he rubs into it to keep the bag flexible and strong. Stopping for a moment, he raises his fingernail to the sky, looking at the way sunlight filters through the white waxy film. He rubs his fingers together, gets the film into a ball, and flicks it down into a gutter before rubbing his hands together to get rid of the greasy remnants.
.o0(I hope Dorian is around, I can't wait to find out about this new bread-making herb.)
He walks down between the stalls, pausing briefly to examine a fresh leg of lamb being unloaded from a cart. After looking it over and noticing some subtle bruising, he decides against buying it for dinner.
.o0(I know we're on a budget...but there are limits.)
Just as he looks up, Maelut spies a colored cloth covering a wooden stall. Recognizing Dorian's shop, he cuts a straight line through several clumps of people to make it to the door.
"Dorian, it's Maelut. Are you in? I have a favour to ask of you. M boss, Marroc, was telling me about this amazing herb. Says you can use it in bread and it'll stay good for days. I've never seen anything like it, and he couldn't remember what it was called. Please tell me you've heard of it, it would be invaluable to get some more business at the Inn. And think of all the other uses for the herb than just the bread, it could be a gold mine for any recipe."
As he speaks, Maelut gets more and more excited, letting his eagerness run away with him. At the end of his speech he is quite breathless, and has to pause for a few moments to regain his composure.
He finishes putting a few herbs in a small sack and then ties it shut.
"A spice that perserves food eh? And you say Marroc told you about it?"
Dorian scratches at his head and looks over part of his inventory."It sounds like it could be Mother's Soul Grass."
"A lot of Brannon's Runners swear by it."
""Claim it will keep anything fresh for days."
Dorian picks up a pouch and opens it.
"There might be something to there claim too. That healer, Natala, she buys a lot of it. To sell as spell companants."
"I don't stock it here. I tried for awhile, but it wasn't worth the effort of paying someone to gather it. The only ones who knew where to find it, got there own supply while they were out."
Dorian sniffs the pouch and sets it down.
"Like I said, Natala sometimes stocks it."
Maelut's face falls as he hears that Dorian no longer stocks the herb, his hopes of creating new recipes temporarily dashed. But, when he hears that Natala might stock it he perks back up again.
.o0(If she was buying a lot of it, then chances are she also had more than one source. So even though Dorian isn't selling it to her, there's a good probability it'll still be in stock.)
"Dorian my friend, thank you for your help. If I find out who her supplier is, would you like me to let you know? Maybe they could provide some for you to use with your meats too."
.o0(What if Natala doesn't have the herb...I can't go back empty handed.)
"Do you remember how often Natala used to buy from you? I wouldn't want to go bother her for no good reason...I've heard she can have a bad temper."
He picks up another pouch and sniffs it.
"Natala doesn't buy from me. She's got her own supplier. I'm not sure who though. It might be one of the temples, or she might just go do it herself.. So I couldn't tell you how much she buys, or if she'll have any on hand."
"And as for her temper, we'll its true, she doesn't suffer fools lightly. But you aren't a fool then, are you Maelut?"
Dorian stops checking his spice bags, and looks up at the cook.
"Well I certainly hope she doesn't think so. After all, this is a noble and worthy cause; I'm looking for new cooking ingredients."
Thanking the shopkeeper for his help, Maelut excuses himself and makes his way over to Natala's Shop, remembering the way easily.
[Exit to Natala's Shop]
He then sits on a small stone bench and enjoys listening to all the people for awhile and trys to see if he can spot anyone he knows...
Finally the halfling finds a vender selling biscuits, and purchases two.
He finds a seat in the market center, brushes it off carefully and then sits down. He takes out his handkerchief, places it across his lap, and then takes a bite of the biscuit.
.o0(Kind of quiet here in the market this time of day. I guess Volos was wrong when he said most people get up before noon.)
He smiles and puts the sword portion back into the lutes neck and brings it over to the merchant and asks him the price.When he hears that its 6gp his face grows red and he fumbles around in his pockets to see if how much he has but brings his hands out with only some silvers.He puts down the lute slowly.
Umm...excuse me but I dont have enough to buy it...ill look around some more though...
Gebetto looks through some more of the instruments and picks up a small harmonica....he looks curiously at the instrument and starts to try to play it.All he can manage to play are some simple little rythyms and a few songs once he figures out which notes are which.
{I decided i just couldnt have Gebetto argue...its just not his personality}
Minto holds the second biscuit up carefully in his handkerchief and then puts it in his pocket. He starts towards the shop and the gnome.
.o0(Hermy can save the city his way, I'll save it mine.)
Minto scoots up behind the gnome, and then points at the instrument he is looking at.
"A work of art isn't it? Exquisite craftmanship on that one. It probably took years to cure the wood properly."
"Probably very expensive as well."
He smiles and listens to the man talk.When he is done talking he puts his hand out to shake
Hmm...yes...it probably is very expensive....heh...perhaps after i save for awhile i might be able to afford it...my names Gebetto....may I ask yours?
He stands back straight and puts his hat back on.
"Personal minstrel to the great Sir Hermy Woodhome."
"Perhaps you've heard of us?"
He looks around as he talks and spots the small bakers vendor and gets some silver out...
Ill be right back...just gonna go buy a little food...
He quickly walks to the vendor and buys a biscuit and a buttered roll then walks back to Minto as he munches on the food happily.
Have you been to any of the other inns...im lookin for one thats a little more musician friendly if ya know what i mean...heh...
As Dravenous enters the Market a variety of scents bombard him. Some pleasant, others ... not. This place seems to burst with life and, unlike the chapterhouse, there only a few guardsmen among the crowd.
The corporal's voice brings him back to attention. "Keep your senses wary or you might be lacking a few coins at the end of this day. In this area we have to watch out for thieves."
"Oh, yes corporal," answers Dravenous. He then quickly checks to make sure he belt pouch is still with him. He is relieved that it is still by his side
.oO(I'd better not lose this, it would be embarassing if I got robbed my first day as a guard.)
"Oh, I know what you mean."
"Marroc hasn't been a music fan for several years."
"You'd never think he'd get so defensive about a little song. It's not like anyone believed he was a bed wetter."
Minto lets out a few chuckles before regaining his composure.
"If you are looking to watch a few good performances, the Last Lich Inn is the place to go."
"Several of the city's finest muscians play there semi-regularly."
"In fact, Brodda and I may even go there later tonight."
Without stopping moving forward Tirsori replies, "Yes, there are a lot of people that will try to get your coins, some walking around," she glances back at Dravenous for a moment, "others in the booths." She stops and turns around to face Dravenous to say, "Well we can't spend all day here walking around, I have much more to show you. You have said that you know where the Temple of Ordemetrex is so I will show you to the Church of Agathalos next."
"Yes Corporal. Just lead the way."
[To the Church of Agathalos]
umm....Could you tell me how to get there....I have no idea....I really found this place by mistake..heh....
His face reddens slightly as he says that. He then he takes another bite of the biscuit and waits for an answer.
"Down this street and then to the right. You can't miss it."
"There's a big sign on the front of it that says Last Lich Inn."
Minto stops, thinks, and the continues. "You can read can't you?"
"Never mind, you still can't mis it. Big three story building."
He smiles and finishes the last bit of his biscuit.
Well it was nice meeting you..thanks for the directions....I hope we meet later...
He waves as he walks away in the direction that he was given....
[To Last Lich Inn]
He moves to catch up with him.
"Can you play that thing?"
He points to the lute.
This old thing...heh
He points at it in a suprised manner
umm...ya....im not exactly an expert but I can play pretty well for a beginner I guess...
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Play something."
Minto waits.
He makes a few tunings then goes down on one knee and supports the lute on his other knee.He takes a deep breath then starts to pluck the strings in a slow rythym.The rythym continues slowly going high and low and gets faster and faster.He starts jumping his hands from the beginning of the neck to the end and adding various slides into his song.A few minuteslater as he plays louder and louder he finishes with a deep long note that slowly drowns away.
He shoulders the lute and smiles...
phew..im tired now...playin always drains me a bit....
He waits for a reaction as he wipes a little sweat off his hands.
(Perform check is 14)
He shrugs and watches some of the applauding people and smiles...
He also watches the reaction of the crowd listening.
Once Gepetto is done playing, Minto gives him a polite clap.
"Well I don't know if I'd call that pretty good, but it was adequate."
"I saw a few smiles on the crowd, and you kept a pretty steady rhythm."
"But you hit the wrong note twice, and the song would have been slightly better if you had played it in a different key."
"C is a bit more happy then Gmajor, in my opinion."
"And a happier song, generally means a happier crowd."
"And a happier crowd of course means a happier performer."
"And a richer one."
Well thank you for your input....I just started playing but im not that great with public performances...thats not a very good thing considering that its my profession...heh...hopefully I will get better....
"I hope so as well."
"If you practise more, your bound to improve."
"And you'll really want to work on your showmanship as well if you want to make a living plying your craft."
"Talent will only get you so far, the rest is knowing how to work a crowd."
Minto takes his lute off his back, and starts tuning it.
"I'll show you how it's done."
"Pay attention."
Minto strums a few chords, and smiles at the crowd.
"Who here wants to hear about Sir Hermy?"
Minto begins playing a few introductionary chord progressions.
"How about I sing you a song about his wife instead? The world needs to be reminded about what was lost when she passed away don't you think?"
Minto waits for a few seconds to let the crowd answer and then starts playing. He starts with a few simple notes, backed by a moderatle backing rhythm.
He adds a few more notes in, and speeds up the rhythm.
There she is,
The lovliest girl in the world
Hermy was smitten,
The first time she twiredl.
With her fingers ringing,
And her skirts a swinging
Shes the reason that
Bards keep singing.
Watch her move,
And watch her prance.
Give her money
If you like the Dance.
Look at the way
Her dress spins round
Give her some coin
Or it’ll go down.
And look at the smooth
Graceful dancers legs
Just like her sisters
Except Alissa shaves
But don’t look too hard
If you value your life
This lovely girl’s
Became Sir Hermy’s wife.
He plays faster and faster as the song progresses, the music spinning out into the air as his fingers dance across the strings.
Finally he brings it all to an abrupt halt, and sings the last verse quietly and without accompaniment.
She was taken to soon
Lost to ill fated chance.
At the Mothers side now
She will forever dance."
Minto immediately burst back into action playing a dizzying string of notes and chords, before fading it out.
He bows to the crowd, and then turns to Gepetto.
"See what I mean."
Soon the two bards are completely encircled by dancing and clapping townsfolk.
When Minto pauses the song, the crowd goes silent,, and when he starts it back up, the majority of the crowd finds themselves dancing.
Once the song ends they applaud wildlly, and yell out for more.
(Perform check 33)
"That's it for now I'm afraid folks!"
"I've got important buisness to attend to!"
He bows and waves more, winking at a few of the more attractive members of the audience.
"I'll be at the Last Lich later tonight if you'd like to show your appreciation with a few drinks!"
He hesitantly puts his lute away, and then smiles at the crowd.
"Oh, by the way, I'm working on a new song."
"And I could use some help with it, so if you know anyone who can remember a certain guard captain from twenty years ago, Captain Kerris, I'd appreciate a chance to talk to them so I can sort out a few details."
Minto bows a few more times, and then hustles away, motioning for Gepetto to follow after him.
Once away from the adoration of the masses he stops.
"So how did you like the song?"
Claps along with some of the people and dances a few times then once he sees Mointo wave towards him he follows.He hears Mintos question and quickly replies.
It was great!!...Hehe.....wish I could be that good...hehehe...ill be sure to try to make it to the inn tonight...
"But you've got some talent. You'll do all right."
Minto smiles. "Please do show up. I'll introduce you to Brodda, the cities second greatest bard."
He smiles and waves then turns his back and walks away pondering the performence...
.o0(Where's he going? The Last Lich is the otherway?)
Minto shrugs, and then heads back towards the Mystic Store.
"Time to get back to work."
[Purchase an explorers outfit, -10 gp]
"So you do know this man that I met?"
Kywyn picks out a bundle of sweetened lemon peel candy for Dakarai and places it in his bag after purchasing.
"My younger brother who came to the City in my footsteps accompanied us, and he passed on at the claws of the devils," Kywyn allows evenly.
He nods a thanks for the drink while locating a bench for them to sit.
"But it's done," Kywyn preemptively shakes off the expected condolences.
He sits and looks into his cup while he gives it a swirl. "Kai, though... Kai was sent to me by one of my old masters and teachers to watch over and take care of. He'd caught him thieving. But he rebelled, and ran off with a Demmionite priestess named Marina the first time I took him out. I spent that summer trying to track them through the wilderness, but I lost the trail and returned here unsuccessful. They came to the city in their own time. Kai resurfaced and showed himself to me last year... Anaya, a druid, was with him. He accused me of abandoning him and stormed off. Anaya agreed to follow him and try to bring him 'round. That was the last I heard of him, until I found your note under my door."
Kywyn sips from his cup and crosses one ankle over his knee.
"Before we start, I'm not trying to get involved in his business or yours, it seems something personal between you two."
"But for whatever reason Kai followed me when I was leaving the market one day. We started exchanging words, felt almost like we were prodding each other, trying to get something said that neither of us knew."
"Then Kai suggest we have a 'friendly fight' where he might share some information and how it concerned me. So I met him and we sort of sparred, though with live weapons. At the end of it, he said there were people he had on his list of enemies. One was the person in control of the Demmionites in the city, whoever that is, and the other... was you."
"Marina was using him. He facilitated her escape after she killed her husband. That's all anything and anyone is to her kind, a tool. If he outlived his usefulness, what else would she do but discard him?
"Kai's a fool, but he's good at not being found, and he can be dangerous.
"I guess that's myself and Anaya failed to help him make more of himself..." The paladin stares solemnly into his cup again.
Kywyn shakes his head, "Kai hides behind a death's head now. He says he is nothing but hatred and revenge. He does not seem to want to be helped, but I think part of him just doesn't know how to ask, so you have not failed him yet."
"But he was weighed, and he knows he is not ready to face you. So if he does make a move, it will probably be with more than just a sword. Then again, he doesn't seem too concerned with coming out of all this alive."
He takes a drink and turns his face to the sorcerer. "Thank you for telling me about this, Kywyn."
He tips his cup again.
"But I wouldn't... it's not my decision... but Kai's falling, and I don't think you'll be able to catch him with anything you might say."
"Maybe I can't help him... But I have to try before I consign him to darkness and madness. Everyone deserves that chance."
The knight finds his eye settling on the candy for the boy. "With Dakarai back... Maybe he'd like to take up lessons with Miri again. She has a new apprentice--8-year-old boy named Perry, she's supposed to be teaching him the basics for entering the Hightower--but I don't think she'd mind teaching him again. Ariel'd probably be happy to see him, too."
Kywyn pauses before bringing his thoughts to light.
"And Gamis?... NaShae didn't mean the things that she said when you two fought.... Well, she did at the time but it's not out of something personal against any of you who helped us when we needed it. I think you know how things can become when you're pulled in so many directions at once."
He tilts his head slightly, feeling the cool breeze against his face.
"Every step, we recreate ourselves by the choices we make, and sometimes it distorts from who you saw the step before. And sometimes people change, but more often just become more of what they were, I think. But we're all just walking, you know? One step in the desert isn't the whole path."
"I didn't really mean it, either... I guess we both knew how to slice the soft spots."
Gamis tosses back the rest of his cordial. "Well, I guess I should probably let you get back to your son. It was nice talking to you, Kywyn."
"Good talking to you as well," he says to Gamis.
"Next time, perhaps it won't be to deliver death threats."
Kywyn stands and pulls the strap of his satchel over his head.
"See you later, Gamis."
He starts off back toward his apartment and soon fades from sight.
- Incense
- Censer adorned with icons of Thalos
- Blue Ink
- Oil
- Dice
- Bodark wood
Hideous, some might say, yet there sits a figure who lingers to stare and even draw the dying tree in his sketchbook before turning away.
In the market, the pale-dressed man hands over a newly finished sketch in exchange for a few coins. The artist nods to his client, a thin man who is a potter by trade, and picks up his satchel and pack to roam to another spot. He straps on his gauntlets as he goes. Kywyn pushes his black hair back with a gloved hand and nods to his customer before leaving.
His loose off-white shirt is matched with dark pants today as Kywyn stops to watch a street performer, a knife juggler who seems quite proficient.
"Dak would like to see this," Kywyn's thoughts turn to his significant other and son with whom he had parted ways with less than an hour ago. They would be at home when he got back.
Flexing a hand, Kywyn begins to take one more stroll around to gauge the opportunity to sell another sketch.
"Should think about setting up more commissions so I could work out of the apartment," he reflects.
---
Not too far away sits a half-orc. She watches humans, elves, and half-elves stream past her in a sporadic flow. Some stride by with too much purpose for the girl to catch their form on paper, but occasionally a person pauses nearby. As they haggle with the vendors, the artist quickly practices body structure:
A hasty oval head, connected by a tube neck to sloped shoulders that swing down into graceful arms, and a curved back, followed by gentle swells of hips that lead into legs with one foot... crossed behind the other.
Her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth, Sensandela regards her sketch thoughtfully. Her brows furrow.
"It's all well and good to draw girls," she murmurs. "But I can do girls! I'm a girl!"
She glances around, and her eyes happen to light on a sober young man with black hair, slowly ambering down the market streets.
(Heehee! Pretty one, him! Hope he doesn't move too fast...)Oo. thinks the half-orc as her hand begins to flit across a clean sheet of paper.
---
After pausing to regard the shifting cloud cover above, Kywyn gets the feeling he is being watched. When he turns a small circle, he is more surprised to find it seems he is being drawn.
The first thing he notices about the half-orc girl is the brightness in her eyes, which makes her seem younger than she probably is. Despite her orchish features, or perhaps because of them, the girl has a soft aura of mercy to her, Kywyn decides, pale hair and light eyes. He suddenly starts to wonder about her story. Wearing your differences on your skin is no easier than bearing them in your blood.
Curious as to what is being put to paper, Kywyn wanders closer. He doesn't say anything, but just watches until he is noticed.
---
Sensandela squints briefly at her rendition of the man's hair, then glances up to check for accuracy... and snaps her eyes right back down. Her cheeks feel slightly toasty.
(Oh, gawd, I've been caught! He's looking at me! Why is he looking at me? Do I have something on my face? Look away, look away...)Oo. she thinks.
Instead she focuses on a little boy behind him. Her stare bores holes in the child's front until he tugs on the skirt of his mother's dress and points plaintively at the scary half-orc stalker sitting in the corner.
Her distress temporarily forgotten, Sensandela's brows furrow.
"Hey, I'm not a stalker!" she yells helpfully.
---
Kywyn winces slightly at the increased volume.
Looking from side to side to see whom she might be addressing, the dark-haired man then steps closer. He glances at the boy behind him as he moves.
Kywyn tucks his pencil into his satchel and waves a tiny 'hello.' His face is an even mask, with perhaps an amiable tilt at finding another person with an interest in drawing. His frog familiar Hex watches from the shadow of Kywyn's shoulder bag, just two tiny, gold dots in the black.
"Would you mind if I took a look?" Kywyn says softly while indicating the half-orc's paper with an armored hand.
---
As the man approaches, Sensandela almost imperceptibly flinches away. She seems to try to hide behind her sheet of paper, wide eyes peering up over the edge at the stranger. Startled, she hiccups a "Hi" in reply, but if his wave surprised her, imagine her feelings when he asks to see the crude scribble on her paper! It's horrible! Not for living eyes! He'd have to walk over her dead, rotting, and utterly smelly body to see it! She should have stuck to painting.
Sensandela shrinks further, shaking her head.
"It sucks. It looks nothing like you," she says, absent-mindedly lowering the paper for her own study. "See, your head looks like a fishbowl, and your shoulders are too small and sloped--you look like a
hunchback," she murmurs. She begins to giggle. "And your legs are short 'n' stumpy! Like widdle sausages!"
---
"I can't make you show me..." Kywyn conveys thoughtfully as he sits down some distance away on a short stone wall.
"But maybe a trade could be arranged."
He sets his drawing tablet on his lap and takes out a pencil and inkpen to begin sketching the girl he sees.
"I didn't catch your name," he says, not lifting his eyes quite yet.
His strokes outline and hatch a rough yet attractive depiction of the dusky-skinned half-orc.
--
Having decided the man is not an immediate threat, the half-orc says, grinning, "That's 'cause I haven't exactly thrown it around for you to catch."
She straightens in her seat--whether to look more presentable for the artist's pencil or to attempt a peek at his sketch cannot be said for sure.
"Sorry. I'm Sensandela, formerly of sensational fame or infamy. One or the other. I don't really pay attention, anymore. And you are?"
---
"Formerly, eh?" Kywyn keeps his drawing tool moving.
Pausing briefly, he pulls back the woven, off-white sleeve from his right hand and takes off his gauntlet to hold the pencil with pale fingers.
"Kywyn," he answers simply.
He tilts his tablet up while he finishes to hide the picture from view. He then looks to Sensandela as if to test her willingness to trade pages.
---
An appraising squint is her reply.
"I should warn you," she says coolly. "I drive a hard bargain."
She leaps to her feet, suddenly wearing a very sincere, earnest grin.
"KYWIE! That's what I'll call you!" she squeals and begins to bounce from foot to foot around the pale man, only to suddenly stop with her hands on her hips. "BWA HA HA HA! I'm so evil! Aren't you mortified!" she bellows more deeply, then again a squeal:
"Kywie! Like a kiwi. Soo much cuter, heehee!"
She pauses, slowly releasing a breath as perhaps her audience stares in disbelief.
"Here. It's not much. I told you I'm more a painter than a drawer," she says finally, offering Kywie her paper with an expectant smile.
---
Eyes widening slightly, the man just sits still while Sensandela bounces around. His pupils then shift from side to side as if searching for a possible trap or a way to distract a wild animal he has wandered too close to.
"Ah, a bit of a crazy person," Kywyn tries to reason.
Not commenting on the half-orc’s unexpected exuberance, he looks at the picture and nods, "There are some nice lines there. Can I keep this?"
He hands her his sheet without looking. The sketch is of Sensandela, back dropped with just a scribbled hint of natural scenery at her feet. Her clothing is embellished into something of a formal dress, and her face carries a sweet smile.
"Very pretty," she murmurs quietly.
Clearing her throat, she looks up at Kywyn. "This is very lovely, but, um, how shall I put this? I--Do you think you might suffer from the average artist's tendency to glorify things, make things seem more than they are?
"This lady is too nice and pretty to be me. If you'd wanted to draw me, see..."
She turns the paper over and quickly scribbles something on its back. This she presents unceremoniously to the pale man.
"See, if you'd wanted to draw me, you would've drawn a half-orc squinting or crossing her eyes at the viewer. And then there's my tongue kinda sticking out, you see?" she says, tapping with her pencil on the paper. "And we mustn't forget my monsterly fffangs!" she says with relish.
To him, she opens her mouth, tongue gliding around what are actually average-sized canine teeth.
All in all, the picture she shows Kywyn is comically grotesque.
---
Kywyn nods, "Perhaps... yes and no... I've heard it's an artist's job to embellish and see the truth at the same time."
He raises his eyebrows ever so slightly as Sensandela shows him her teeth.
"I think I do have a habit of making things seem more than they are, but I also think sometimes you see more clearly by closing your eyes."
"I didn't look at you when I was drawing this time, but I saw you."
He moves so that they are both facing the sun now breaking free of the clouds.
"What I'm wondering is what do you think you see?" he remarks quietly.
Moving so they can both see, Kywyn holds up the paper bearing the twin drawings of the half-orc. He raises it to the sun so that both images are superimposed into one. The sketch of the elegant Sensandela is melded with the depiction of the malformed likeness in the light.
---
"What do I think I see?" Sensandela echoes thoughtfully.
"I've always thought myself very pretty, though I couldn't ever say I was so ladylike as your interpretation of me... Can I be a lovely little monster rather than a lovely little lady? That role suits me better, I think.
"And it fits that picture you're holding," she says brightly, pointing at the drawings he holds against the sun.
---
Kywyn lowers the sheet and hands it to her again.
"A lovely little monster sounds alright to me. It's all in our heads anyways."
He packs away this drawing tablet and pencil while looking up to the sky.
"Have you been in the city long, Sensandela?"
---
"How long is long?" asks the lovely little monster, packing away Kywyn's drawing.
"I think I've been here... maybe a year. Probably a little bit longer. People don't usually pay attention to me, though once there was this sweet little halfling named Herman or something and his bard--they were pretty nice to me. And a half-elfy dude was nice to me, too. For a while...
"Anyway, sooner or later, once I get off my lazy butt, I plan to go home to my daddykins. I bet he misses me more than anyone here will!" she declares.
"What about you, Kywie? How long have you been here?"
---
Kywyn nods at the description of the halflings he knows as well, "I think I know who you're talking about."
The man opens his mouth to correct the strange, bestowed nickname but lets it pass instead.
"Must be over two years now... Time is an odd thing," he says thoughtfully.
The mention of family gets him thinking.
"Yeah, you should go visit if there is nothing holding you back. Family is a good thing if treated with respect."
Kywyn stands to start returning to his own little family.
"I should get going, Sensadela. It was nice meeting you. Good luck with your plans."
---
"Time is an odd thing?" Sensandela echoes, tilting her head.
.oO(Yeah, I guess. More like lack of it for me, though. A year's gone by, and I haven't changed. Have I? Maybe a change of scenery will give Time a dropkick in the pants.)
"It's Sensandela," corrects the half-orc. "And it was nice to meet you too, Kywie. Maybe I'll see you again someday!" she says, flashing him a grin.
"Um, and have fun once in a while," she suggests more softly. "Not just the quiety-quiet drawing sort. More of the laughy-laugh with your loved ones sort.
"Now... I'll SEE yas!" she says and promptly scampers off elsewhere.
---
“Sensandela,” Kywyn corrects himself.
He watches the half-orc disappear, wondering where she will be off to now.
“Yeah… fun...” he permits with a little, unseen smile inside.
Adjusting his metallic gloves and his satchel, Kywyn ambles away from the market.
.o0(Theys found my dad. Or at least founds where he is. I really shoulds be more happy abouts that. Mom said he was just likes me, sose I don'ts has ta worry about him beings likes Kirby. But...)
*Hermy stops out in front of Miss Cuwens shop.*
.o0(What ifen he is just likes me? Unlucky. I'd haftas say spendin twenty years in the mines fer a crime ya didn't commit is pretty unlucky.)
*Hermy sighs.*
.o0(Mintos a halfling, sose hes got the halfling luck that Durin always talkded about, but will it be enoughs to counters two Hermy Woodhomes? It mights be best ifen he don'ts comes with me ta gets him. Brodda neither. In facts it's probably best ifen I does it all by myself.)
*Hermy starts walking again.*
.o0(I aint evens gunna be able ta affords ta brings Major back. I can't risk anyone else either.)
Looking down and seeing dice and Bodark wood remaining causes Jalen to pause. These are the items he thought would be more difficult to find. The wood he might be able to track down eventually, but the dice he has no clue.
"I have seen people use dice for gambling, but I have never seen anybody purchase them. They already seem to have them, and ready to roll. I know Marroc has a game room at Nobody's perhaps if I ask him he will know where I can get some dice."
Turning around Jalen heads south to Nobody's Inn.
.o0(I'll go finds out what Father Cannedrum knows. An which judge I has ta takes Kirby too ifen they don't think Father Cannedrums word is good enough.)
*He pauses outside of the Temple and looks up to the sky.*
.o0(Ise really surprised Minto didn't do this. He musts not be thinkin to straight these days. I guess Volos was rights about him needing more sleep.)
*He walks into the Temple.*
Is about to head back to the boardinghouse when spots something in a bin of a vendor selling all kinds of miscellaneous junk and stuff. Rummages the bin and pulls out disk made of copper.
"Eh. D'ye like 't? Fine work, car'ful etz'ins an' e'cuisite craf'manship. Eh. Only 5 silvers."
Twirls the disk in his hands and reflects a ray of sunlight off it to vendor's face. The disk is almost round, about foot in diameter, and in the middle of it is a etching of a tree which foliage forms a sun.
"3 silvers. An' I'm cuttin' my own throat. Eh?"
Three silvers? I'll take it.
"Good. Eh. Good de'ision, sir."
Pays for the disk and then heads to the boardinghouse.
.oO(Quite a coincidence. Thank you Thalos. I will hang this disk to the wall of my room. The etching is just perfect.)
One vendor says he used to carry it until the craftsman who used it died this winter. On the positive side he tell the young man a place not far from the city where the trees are, and it should not be hard to obtain.
With the sun starting to set Jalen takes the items that he has obtained and heads back to the Jackal compound.
"This is the market. Anything you need or want you can probably find here."
.oO(It could, I suppose.)
"Well... is there any rhyme or reason to the layout here, or do I just have to wander until I find the right vendor? I need some tools, you see.
"Though I think they can wait until after we visit the armory. Ooh, that smells good..."
Esmet wanders in the direction of the smell: chicken skewers. She purchases two, still barely sizzling, from the grinning man and hands one to Lucian as he leads her on to the armory.
Lucian takes the skewer with a smile. Taking a big mouthful, he mumbles out.
"Thanks."
Slightly embarassed, he covers his mouth with his hand an finishes his bite.
"Excuse me"
The half-elf leads Esmet to the Armoury.
Eventually she finds a toolmaker. For a moment, she looks wistfully at the higher-quality bowmaking tools, but in the end, she exchanges gold for the more-affordable set.
(I don't even know that I will be using these anytime in the future,)Oo. she thinks as she finds her way back to the armory. .oO(What kind of impression have I made, asking for a job without the right tools? I should have bought these earlier.)
oO. (Mmm.. crepes)
"I'll take two of your ham and cheese crepes please." Lucian hands one of the crepes to Esmet and makes his way to the park.
"So what're your plans for the next while?"
She nibbles thoughtfully as they amble through the street.
"Mm... I'm not sure," she says, surprised. "What is there to do, other than eat, sleep, and work here?
"At home, I chased after nieces and nephews...
"Until they got older, of course...
"The church taught me to use several weapons," she murmurs, resting a hand on her scabbard. "They also sent me on small errands around town, which was fine, but... I liked its little library best."
She wrinkles her nose in memory.
Some twenty years ago, Rhaine tried to teach the youngest sister, Esmet, about womanhood. It involved babies and cooking.
Oh, and most assuredly, no swords.
"I suppose," Esmet manages at last, "I could try to learn to... cook..."
She turns to him helplessly. "What do you do in your spare time?"
"Spare time? What do I do it my spare time.... Well, I enjoy long walks and candle-lit dinners. Occasionaly I'll walk around and meet new people and try random things that look intresting. Now I've sounds something that I believe in.. I'm going to learn a bit more first. I just know the basics and I need to talk with another preist to get the full story instead of the little blurb of dogma that I know now."
He leans on his club.
"Why would you want to learn to cook anyways? There are plenty of good places to eat in the city. Cooking is really not nice in the summer with open fires in your kitchen."
oO. (Especially in a bakery, I wonder whatever happened to the Baker...)
"She always got so mad when I burned or blew up her lemon chicken."
She kicks a pebble and watches it skip ahead of their feet, then squints perplexed at the gooey remnants in her hand.
"See? I've blown up another foodstuff.
"And I wasn't even trying, this time."
Shaking off her hand, she attempts a smile for Lucian.
"At any rate, I'm glad your interest in the Mother has grown. I hope you learn much, and that you will be able to apply the new knowledge to your life. Find balance."
Lucian's smile mellows slightly.
"Thank you. You're the only one I know that I've told about my recent devotion."
"I'm honored to be privy to your little secret, Lucian. Your prayer last night--I'm sorry I listened, but it was beautiful. Simple, but heartfelt.
"Mm. I should probably continue my studies more fervently as well. I guess I'll pay the church another visit later today."
To the park in elsewhere, dear Lucy?
With Zap in his pack and his staff in-hand, he walks the marketplace looking from building and stall to another. Finaly, comming to a wide and lot very long building he stops. The sign says Edger's Pet's.
Within he notes various common and exotic avians and other popular household pets to his left. Right he finds what he needs, supplies and adornments. There is no apparent shop-keep he notices as he walks and takes in the selection, but he des note a door at the wall about ten feet back from where he comes to stand. The contents of the centered box-shelf holds many inexpensive collars of various sizes.
Zap communicates from his backpack a single snap, which Tynks own returns two, and the two continue to chit quietly.
"I take one, or more?"
"One, Zap. If you'd like to choose that's fine. We can't take though, first we offer the woman or man who posses these something in exchange."
He can feel her moving around in his bag as he starts to move on.
"There! I want that one."
The hairs on the back of his neck raise as her enthusiasm causes a mild and slow charge. They settle as he turns one way then the other to find what she saw, seeing toward the back-corner near the door are a dozen hooks hanging various-sized collars, all beautiful and well crafted of various metals and minerals.
Sensing his appreciation for the work, Zap waits patiently.
"None are the right size, Zap."
Shopkeep:"Can I help you, sir?"
Tynk starts, spinning around to see a middle-aged half-elf with short, graying blonde hair closing the nearby door lightly.
"Yes, actually...excuse me."
"I have an exotic pet I need a nice collar for. It would have to be about yay big..." makes a circle with his two hands to about the size of Zap's neck, "...and will be used to hold a license tag from the city and at times a leash, perferably to match both the animal and pet."
The shopkeeper mulls the matter over with interest.
"Exotic, you say? I hope it's not dangerous?
"She has a non-lethal defense, and uses it only when threatened."
"You don't say...I must admit you have my interest?"
Still, the collars you where looking at where crafted by a gnome who lives in this town, and she charges fairly but heavily for their craftsmenship. If none of these suite your pet than I can point you to the gnome who crafts them. Just mention I refered you."
Gaining directions from him Tynk purchases a more temporary collar, assuring Zap he will try to get her one even better eventualy. Then he is out the door.
. o O (I hope it's not too expensive...)
To Palace.
Silmarwen asks for the merchant to recommend high quality gems for use in a religous ceremony. After a brief explination of what she needs Silmarwen ends up with seven opals and one ruby. Paying the merchant the 500gp for gems, Silmarwen heads back to the compound to meet back up with Jalen.
Maelut walks through the Market, looking for some hardwoods and a few small ingots of metal. He finds a stand selling steel, and walks over to talk with the shopkeeper.
"Sir, I need some ingots, around two pounds of good steel would be perfect. Preferably something with a decent level of purity, since I'll be making saucepans that need to conduct heat evenly."
"Waill, ah've gots sahm gud stuff here, it'll set ya back thrai gahld paises farr toe pahnds. Ahr, thars sahm tahp-nahtch paises fahr aight gahlds eich. Have yahrself a lahk, ahnd tahll mah waht yah want."
The cook looks over the two samples, both seem to be quite well forged although the more expensive is clearly a better quality. It shines evenly, while the cheaper sample has a few inconsistencies in its surface.
.o0(Well, I'd love to work with the nicer steel...but I just don't think that I can justify the expense. It's probably best just to do a basic refit of the kitchen, I can work with the rest another time.)
Maelut fishes three gold pieces out of his pocket and a copper piece along with them. He hands all four coins to the shopkeeper.
"Here sir, I'll take two of the cheaper steel. I can you carry very high quality merchandise, and I appreciate your help."
"Wahll thanks mah fraihnd. That's mighty nais of yah. Hahrs yah stail."
Maelut puts the two ingots into his backpack, and continues to wander through the marketplace.
[Exit to Nobodys]
"Excuse me, could I purchase two days worth of provisions?"
"Oh, Iron rations"
Lucian turns slightly green.
"Yes."
Concluding the transaction, Lucian shoves the grotesque creations into his backpack and makes for the Westgate.
Tap-ta-Tap.
After thanking the man, continues traipsing around the market place until finds a leatherworker's stall. Stops by to query on availability of certain item but heads soon off to smaller streets surrounding the marketplace, after hears that what he is looking might be found from there better.
What's your favorite candy shop? I never been to one. My father said they were sweet and sugary food. Is that right?
Davvo nods. "An the best place ta gets that is Mister Ke'Blars. Is candy an cookies are the best in town. 'Ey, maybe 'e'll give you a discount since yer both elves."
Davvo leads the group through the market to a stall where a short elf and a display of confectionary goodness awaits.
The horde drools over the display, Nige pointing out certain types to Tyros. "'ats cotten candy. Ifen ya ever wants ta eat yer clothes makes sure theys made o'that stuff. It's yummy."
"An thems jawbreakers. They don't really break yer jaw, but Mick did chip o'tooth troin ta bite through one."
"An thems just powdered sugar thats blue. Its moi favorite. Non of that non sugar stuff ta get in the way. Just sugar an, um. the color blue."
Making his way through the stalls, Maelut wastes little time in conversation. He purchases some dried cheese and meats for the journey, along with some travelling biscuits.
Realizing that the journey will be likely very long, Maelut decides to go to one of the stalls nearby to purchase a mount.
"Hello, I wanted to enquire about your mounts."
"Yes, of course. Please come here and have a look through our mounts. We have several breeds to choose from. There's everything from mules and donkeys, if that's your taste, to some beautifully bred stallions that would be at home in any noble's army."
"I'm going to be going on a long journey. I'd like something that would be strong and resiliant, and alright in a hot climate."
"Well, I'd try to talk you into some of the desert horses my cousin uses. Unfortunately, we sold the only one in the city a few days ago. If you could wait for a few days, I might be able to enquire about getting another one for you.
"I leave tomorrow. I'll take whatever you have here."
"Ah, I see. Well, we have three you might be interested in. This is Saul, he's a good horse, if a little skittish. He'll carry you without any trouble, plus whatever other basics you might be carrying.
As he speaks, the horseseller lovingly strokes the nose of a chestnut horse who pushes his long nose back up against his owner's hand. After a few moments, he moves over to a black charger who rears up whinnies at the horseseller as he approaches.
"Er...that's Demobarsy. He's...a little feisty. But a great horse if you're worried about any trouble of a violent nature. He fights better than most of the guards. On the other end of the spectrum is Big Kitty. He's our resident sweetheart, a total darling who couldn't fight if his life depended on it."
Handing Maelut a carrot, he gestures the cook over to a large mule standing in his own stall. Walking over, Maelut feeds the animal the carrot, who then gratefully flicks his ears. A grin comes over the cook's face as he strokes the animal's silky silver fur.
"I'll take Big Kitty. He's not as flashy as the others, but I get the feeling that we're going to get along fabulously."
The cook buys a pack saddle for the mule, and some feed and water. With thanks to the tradesman, Maelut turns and heads back to the Inn.
[Exit to Nobody's]
.oO(Why would I want to eat my clothes?
)The ranger raises an eyebrow at the halflings after looking at all of the candies and his face breaks up in an almost malicious grin.
Well, if they're as good as you tell me then let's buy some. You choose. :D
Tyros enters the shop and greets the elven shopkeep.
Seven voices all rise up and start talking at once. Tyros has a hard time figuring out who is saying what, or even what is being said. The only thing he can make out for sure is that he is paying for it.
The shopkeeper nods at Tyros. "Are you sure about that. They are asking for a lot of candy."
One of the boys pipes in. "An cookies!"
Ke'Blar nods. "And cookies. A few golds worth at least."
You are honest, right?
Looking at the bag of coins, Ke'Blar nods and starts to pass out the candy (and cookiies) to the eager awaiting hands.
Two small bags of blue sugar in his hands, Nige moves next to Tyros and hands it to him. "Ye'll loike this the best."
Once the goodies are distributed, the shop keeper adds up the total in his head. "It comes to 3 gold. Are you sure you want to pay for that all? I know these boys have some money of their own."
Nige nods. "Oi do. Oi'll boi yers Tyros, since yer boin fer everyone else. 'ere ya go."
Nige hands over a few silver coins to Ke'Blar. The other members of the horde notice as well.
"Oi'll boi Tyros too!"
"No. Oim gunna!"
"Me too!"
"Not ifen Oi pay fer is first!"
Several sticky hands and even stickier coins are shoved at the shop keeper. After taking them all, he looks at Tyros and smiles. "It would seem that your candy has been paid for with the exception of a small bags worth of colored sugar. That will cost you 2 silver."
Too... sweet.. Tyros finishes the candy up, though and starts making popping noises with his tongue. He looks at the halflings and takes another one, putting it into his mouth right away.
I like it! :D
"Its magic candy. When ya eats enough ya gets faster. Minto 'as a spell that will do that too, exceptin ya don't shakes near as much with tha spell. An it don't taste as good."
Nige grabs Tyros hand and starts dragging him out of the shop. "Let's 'urry an get ta the middens before the other gois get all the best rats!"
The rest of the horde surges ahead of them heading towards the slums.
(To Elsewhere)
Tagg roams across the market square, browsing through the many merchants' wares. After racking his mind for what he might need, some simple provisions sufficed.
He makes a few uneventful stops at various stands, stocking up on food for both himself and his mule. After being tempted by a set of new cooking spoons (why was he stopped by that... confounded merchants with their big words and circular logic :p) and passing them up despite a compelling argument by their vendor, he makes his way back home. He considers going to pay Brie a visit at the inn, but those mules sure do eat a lot... and it shows in the volume of their rations.
{to Boarding House}
[ooc: Gather Info +2 untrained take 20]
*As he stands in front of a vending stall tryign to negotiate a deal on a sleeping bag Tensek overhears one of Boirin's inquiries.*
Fine fine. You're a highway robber Kratos do you know that a highway robber.
I'm not an' you know it besides I'm giving you a good deal, jst for being such a loyal customer ta me.
True enough. Here's your gold.
*The ranger says as he hands Kratos over the money and takes his sleeping bag.*
I'll see yah on your next shopping trip Tensek.
Of course, now it seems there's someone lookign for me.
*Hoisting his newly purchased bag onto his left shoulder, Tensek gives a sharp whistle and Kiara chases after him, as he walks up behind Boirin and claps a heavy hand onto the man's shoulder.*
Sometimes lookign for people can lead you to a world of trouble. What do you want of me?
"Hello I'm assuming your Tensek Vicar? Can we speak somewhere more private. I halfling sent me to find you."
Than walk with me.
"Marroc sends his compliments."
As Tensek clasps Boirin's hand he feels the weight of something pressing into it. It is the small bag of coins Boirin was given by Marroc.
"Good day Mr. Vicar I hopefully you will do business with Marroc again sometime."
This said Boirin turns on heel and heads back towards Nobody's.
Hmph. Some people are in such a hurry.
*Turnign and disappearing into the alley and taking a rather round about route towards Nobody's.*
He steps back outside, thinking back to the when was the last time he was here. Must have been when that strange, masked elf tailed him.
"Wonder what happened to hiim."
Kywyn sits down on a low stone wall in one of the grassy area near the row of shops.
A young halfling kid approaches Kywyn a few moments later. The boy must be less than two feet tall, Kywyn judges.
"Hai, could you draw me something?" the halfling asks meekly as he removes a green cap to reveal tousled, dark locks.
He turns the cap over in his hands as he looks up to Kywyn.
"I think I could," Kywyn replies, "A fast portrait maybe?"
"Oh, could you make me in armor with a sword? Or have you heard of that halfling hero, Hermy Redpants?"
"I think I have."
"Like him, then?" the boy requests.
Kywyn's hand starts moving over the paper.
"I've heard he has a magic sword technique that can kill a giant at ten paces," the kid jabbers.
Kywyn counters, "Maybe something more interesting. Sometimes it's better not to think too much. Let the things come and see what you can do. What's your name?"
"Lon."
He hands over a sketch of the youngster, looking much as he is, but standing straight and arms crossed over his chest. "Lon" is written in the corner. The piece of paper is small, but the lines give the illusion of space.
"All this pressure to make something of yourself, you don't realize that you already are," Kywyn says softly.
The halfling looks confused, but eventually warms to the concept.
"Thanks," remarks Lon.
The pale-appareled man stands and begins to walk on through the market.
He brings the items to the counter to pay for them.
"Is that everything?" the petite lady asks from behind the table.
"Yes, thank you," Kywyn nods quietly.
“How have you been doing?” Kywyn’s voice is an even skate, speaking to and past the robed wizard.
“I believe we were to talk again sometime.”
“Yes, we have not spoken for some time now. Last we met you were veiled in colors more suitable to me.. Have you become a man of Thalos, or the Mother God perhaps?”
He steps forward and places the money for his purchase on the counter. Then turns back towards the rest of the shop once the transaction is complete.
"Oh, no."
"Just a change of skin for now," Kywyn looks down at himself.
Glancing over at Ulerian's purchase, Kywyn asks, "Busy writing?"
He pauses as after then walk into the street and then begins again..
”Hmm..” He says rather to himself before speaking again to Kywyn.
”Perhaps it is chance that we met today, but perhaps not. I have something that may interest you.. even if it doesn’t I may need to employ your help on the matter. Do you have time for a talk?”
"I can spare a few mintues," Kywyn nods.
"I think there's a bench over here," he indicates a grassy area.
"What do you have in mind?"
“Though there may very well be great danger..”
Kywyn has been in the sewers once before, and the memories creep into his mind.
”What do you know of me Kywyn?”
“What is down there is not of this world anymore..or maybe it is, and I am poorly informed..”
”Before I continue you must give me your word that you will not speak of this to anyone, lest I agree that they should know..”
“And danger lies in the extremes.”
Kywyn stares back to Ulerian.
“If it’s that important to you, the words won’t leave my mouth. It’s your project afterall. I'm not here to interfere.”
“I’m not so convinced myself, but the things you speak of are interesting.”
“Your information is from some source you trust?”
He pause and surveys the small park they are in.
”There is likely great evil beneath the city… Putting an end to it, would suit many people for cause for action. I hope to appeal to them in such a way. We must talk specifics.. but not here. It is too bright and voices may travel far on the chill air.”
“All you need is to promise gold, and you’ll have a good hook for adventurers,” he adds with a slight tinge of sarcasm.
“I wouldn’t be so quick to risk on an expedition like this, I’ve found some things worth staying around for,” Kywyn understates his true thoughts.
“But if you can assemble a team and outline what is involved, I will look at it seriously. Sounds like there is a lot more down there than most realize.”
”The Avowed craves that sort of knowledge...” thinks Kywyn of the likely directive to follow up on the lead.
"It is bright," he glances around.
Ulerian stands and turns to Kywyn.
"I will require your assitance in assembling the group. Priest, a warrior or two, and perhaps a sneaky fellow, the rogue type.. that will be the minimum for our safetly and defense of what lies beneath.. Can we meet in a less open envirment, say over a glass of wine or meal, this evening or the earliest one of your choice..???"
He gazes toward the sewer grate and wonders.
“This evening should be fine. Maybe at the Last Lich?”
"An hour after sunset... "
He draws his robes around him once more.
"See you then"
---
[To Elsewhere]
.oO(I wish there was someplace that I could get a drink in this mess without going to Nobody's...)
[Elsewhere]
oO. (Here pigeon...)
Leaning heavily on his cane, the theif looks out for any ripe targets of whom a purse could be liberated.
oO. (Those halftucks are dangerous.. M told me to avoid them if possible.)
Leaving a hat stand behind, Lucian falls in step a couple paces behind a mark.
"Cakes. We'll need more cakes. Musn't forget the pies either. I know his son is very fond of those...."
"...Certainly we'll need more then one muscian. He's good, but he can't be everywhere at once. And everyone whose anyone will be there..."
"I've organized games for the children. And some for the adults as well. I'm sure he hasn't had anyone decent to throw with in years..."
While most the halflings seem oblivious to there surroundings, they don't appear to be the easiest mark. That would be the drunken man staggering away from a wine seller.
.oO (Do not pray on those in need, he has enough problems as is with his purse.)
The half-elf makes his way closer to the halflings, looking at some nearby stand while hoping to listen in further.
An older halfling woman speaks out."I'm surprised he's still alive after all these years. He always seemed to timid to me. I thought the stress alone would have done him in."
A younger man shrugs. "He's made of stronger stuff then he seems. His son had to get it from somewhere."
A few others nod in agreement. Another querries. "Do you think we should mention... his other son? I know he'll find out eventually, but should it be so soon?"
"No. No. No need to bring him up. I'm sure he's having a hard enough time adjusting as is."
"Oi cin only imagin 'ow 'e must feel. If Oi were ta foind out that moi wife 'ad died alone years ago, Oi dunna know 'ow Oi would 'andle it."
The older woman gives him a look and then tugs on the shopkeepers sleeve. "You would handle it in typical halfling style. With lot's of food to fill up the empty place in you... Gaston, double that order of tarts please."
Lucian moves to a closer stall, perusing their wares.
"Do you think Minto will sing that funny song about Hermy an that Lady Amberhawk? I've heard other people sing it but not him."
"I doubt it. I think it has too many bad memories associated with it."
"Yeah, I don't suspect singing about dead wives will go well."
"But it's not about his wife..."
They continue gossiping. Lucien picks up a few more details.
"The entire quarter is going to show up for this. It's been awhile since we had something to celebrate."
"Not just the whole quarter. Probably every halfling in the city will show up. This is something we can approve of. Not like that wedding."
"Will it just be halflings? Doesn't Mrs. Proudfoot have some elves living with her?"
"I think it's a human and an elf. And their child. I'm sure they'll be welcome. The human helped when Noel's nephew was sick with the fever. He's a friend to the community."
"I imagine it will have to be more then just halflings. Most of Hermy's friends aren't halflings."
"Will Davvo Sandoven be there? He's dreamy. Or those friends of his."
"I don't think you could keep them away from a party like this."
.oO(THE Hermy? Hermy the hero? The dragonslayer? The giant slayer? The legend!? If the whole district shows up. Think of all the unattended houses! Of the pockets that will be free and flowing! Feild Day! Boss will be intrested to know about this.)
Composeing himself, Lucian stands himself up.
"Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice that you mentioned a party where the bard Minto will be playing. I'm a tremedous fan of his works and was wondering when it will be."
"They'll be a party for Sir Hermy's father finally coming back to the city. He was sent to the mines twenty years ago for a crime he didn't commit."
"We're planning it for two days from now. An all day affair of course."
"It will all depend on wether he's up for it of course. He might need more time to readjust."
"We've got plans in place just in case that happens of course."
"Where do you think it'll be if the weather holds?"
"Well hold it in the street near where he used to live and the main road."
"And the streets next to them too. We'll need the room."
oO. (I intend to be there with bells on.)
"Is there anything I could do to help out?"
"Food."
"Entertainment."
"Games."
"Unless you can think of anything else?"
"Alright! I hope to see you then!
Nice to meet you all."
oO. (Mundavi probably already knows, but it can't hurt.)
The theif makes his way back to the Boarding House.
.oO(There's no future in this...)
"does that really matter?"
She turn and leaves the market, heading past the Lich towards one of the parks.
[Elsewhere]
They approach the store named Caitlynn's Crafts and enter, ringing the door chimes as they do.
Dakarai holds up the chalk, a pastel aquamarine, as if it were found treasure.
"Can I use it now?" Dak asks Kywyn.
"I think so, kid," Kywyn opens his hand for the chalk.
Dak places it gingerly into Kywyn's palm, and the pale-clad father moves to pay for it.
The same short, brown-haired girl Kywyn saw last time is manning the counter. He greets her in a half-whisper and hands over a few coppers for the item.
"Thanks. By the way, are you Caitlynn?" Kywyn asks softly.
"Oh, nah. There actually isn't ah Caitlynn. My uncle owns this place, he's the master painter. And ah'm helping here while ah stay with him in town. He just thought the name sounded good, or that's my understanding anywho," the girl explains, "Ah'm Saranna."
"Neat name," Kywyn turns to hand the chalk to Dakarai.
"Parents couldn't decide between Sarah and Anna, so when they heard the option, it seemed like the perfect solution," the girl shrugs.
"My name is Kywyn. Would you mind if we sat over there to draw for a while?" Kywyn points to a small, high table by the entrance window, matched with a trio of equally tall chairs.
"Sure, don't see why not," Saranna states.
Kywyn leads Dak over to the table and lifts him up to sit. The boy's feet still dangle over the edge, but he is content to play with his new chalk. From his satchel, Kywyn lays out a sheet of paper for Dakarai. Next from a small case, Kywyn unsheathes two pencils.
"I wonder if they have a studio here. Maybe it's time I learned how to paint better. Too messy to do to much of it at home."
Another customer on his way out happens to glance over at the table and compliments Kywyn on his sketch of the scene outside the window. Kywyn thanks the stranger quietly as the door chimes ring again.
---
[To Elsewhere]
Hermy scans the crowd looking for scones.
He meets with more success.
Hermy approaches the shopkeeper selling the scones. "Hey. Hi. How much fer three scones?"
The baker looks at him and his companians. "For you? Two copper.. And I'll throw in some honey for free."
Hermy reaches into his pocket and frowns. "How abouts just fer two?"
"One copper."
Hermy digs a copper out of his pocket and hands it over. He hands the two scones to his followers.
Mick bites into his. Vivvo looks at Hermy. "Why didn'na ya get one?"
"Ise not as hungry as I thoughts I was."
Vivvo shakes his head and starts eating his scone. Hermy starts walking away.
"Comes on. Let's get ta the Temple."
Mick snorts. "Can we get soime milk ta worsh these down with?"
Hermy shrugs. "Not rights now. They'll be milks back at the guild."
"But Oim thirsty now."
Hermy sighs. "I didn'ts brings enough money ta buys milk."
Vivvo blinks. "Whoi not?"
Hermy stares down the road. "I don'ts has more. That's copper was what was left from what Minto lents me at Walnut Valley."
"Whoi don't ya 'ave money? Yert a big 'ero an stuff."
"Heroing don't really pay as much as ya'd think."
"But ya gets treasure from things ya kills don't ya?"
"Sometimes."
Hermy shrugs. "Ise should be getting somethin' from the treasure we gots from the spidercrabs, but wese gots ta finds out how it was worth before we cin split it."
"An then I needs ta gives part of my share ta Minto an Run an Kywyn ta makes up fer the part we spent payin off my dads contract. An pays back Minto fer what he leant me. An pays back who evers bought the donkey fer my dad."
"An I probably owes the Temple... again."
"Minto tolds them ta keeps Major from... um... ta keeps him fresh."
"An that was weeks ago."
"Wow. Oi didnna think ya 'ad ta pay fer anythin." Vivvo says. "Ya've 'elped so many people ya think ya'd get everythin fer free."
"I probably coulds get free milk. An probablies scones too. But that aint why Ise a hero."
"It aint about gettin stuff."
Mick nods. "It's about killing things, roight?"
"Nope. It's about keepin things from gettin killed."
"Or hurts, or just keepin people from being sad."
Both bodyguards blink.
Vivvo speaks first. "Sose we aint gunna get rich boi bein heroes?"
"Nope. That don't mean ya won't get rich doin heroic stuff. It just means it wasn't the heroing that gots ya rich."
Mick shrugs. "'ow da we get rich then?"
"Adventurin. Ya don'ts have ta save the city everytime ya goes out. Sometimes ya just goes out ta slay a few monsters an takes there stuff."
"Gettin rid of monsters is a good thing ta do. Ifen theys the dangerous kind. But unless theysa actually threatinin people it aint heroing."
"It's adventuring."
"I gots my sword adventurin. We killeds a troll. It probably woulda killed someones sooner or later. An already dids most likely."
"But whens we founds it, it was just guardin it's lair. An I can'ts really blames it fer that."
"Whoi did ya kill it then?"
"It attacked us."
"Because ya were 'untin it?"
"No, because that's what trolls do."
"Cin ya get rich 'untin trolls?"
"Probably. Richer then ya can protectin old ladies. But it aint as satisfyin'"
"Oi dunna know. Ya aint suppose ta 'it old ladies. An Oi foind 'ittin things very satisfoiyin."
"Then ya'll make a swell adventurer."
"Will Oi make a swell 'ero too?"
Hermy shrugs. "It's hard ta say. Most people wouldn't have thought I'ds make a good hero either."
Hermy points ahead. "Theres the Temple. Do you guys want to come in and listen ta me talk. Or da ya want to go find some old ladies ta help or sumethin like that?"
The two halflings grin.
"Oi think Oi'll go see if 'elpin old ladies is as much fun as smackin things." Vivvo grins. "O'course if there's soime smackin ta do whoile we do that. well..."
Hermy smiles and nods. "Be careful."
Mick nods. "Ya too. Yer gunna 'ave to walk 'ome without your bodyguards."
"Hopefully, that will work out ok."
Hermy gives them a wave and enters the Temple.
He reaches the block where Caitlynn's Crafts is located and soon finds the front of the shop. Inside, there is quiet. Kywyn spots the girl at the counter reading some thin book. She is dressed in a simple tan tunic.
"Hello, Saranna. Would your uncle be around?"
"Hi, actually, he is," she turns to call into the next room, "Uncle! There's someone here to see you."
"Alright," comes a reply.
An older gentleman comes out dressed in a well-used artist's smock. He saunters with a forced natural gait, as if he does not want his age to show in his step. Specks of blue and white paint dot his short grey hair and matching beard, and a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles rest on his sharp nose. Kywyn notices once ear is slightly cauliflowered, perhaps the man was a pugilist in his youth.
"Greets, young man, what can I do for you?" he speaks with an accent Kywyn cannot place.
"My name is Kywyn. I came by the store a few times before and noticed the painting you have displayed along the walls. I was wondering if you had studio space here and if it's open for use or lessons. Saranna mentioned you were a painter."
"Well, Kywyn is it? I am Japtheth. Come sit down."
The two men sit at a back table and Saranna brings a pitcher of water and a pair of ceramic mugs over.
They are mostly line sketches, ink and pencil, but there are a few colored works included.
"Thanks," Kywyn sips his water, "'Japtheth' is a name I haven't heard before."
"Oh, my family is originally from a land quite far to the east," he explains, "Now you probably know line art and drawn media are slightly different from painting. Not that the skills aren't transferable, drawing is the basis of it all, but the approach is different."
Kywyn nods, "Portraying the absence and presence of light with pure tone rather than defining it with a line."
Japtheth stops and looks up, "That's about spot on. Forgive me if I assumed you never painted before."
"Not at all. I've only dabbled."
"Saranna's mother was a great limner with ink and charcoal, but she had to put it aside when Saranna was born," the elder man says wistfully, "She always meant to pick it up again. She passed on with Saranna's father when their hamlet was attacked by some horde of bandits."
"Sorry to hear that," Kywyn is unsure what else to say.
Japtheth gestures to wave it off, "It was a long time ago. Saranna, poor child, lived with her parent's friends until she decided to move here with me. Time has a way of making you forget. It made me horribly sad, and I dreaded the day I would get used to my sister being gone, as if she had never been with us."
"But," Japtheth sighs, "Every day turned to every month. And then every year. And every year I thought about her less until one day I didn't think about her at all for the whole day. And when I realized it, it made me very sad."
"I can't pretend to know how you feel. I don't know how I would handle it," Kywyn finds himself caught up in the grey-haired man's narrative.
Kywyn thinks about the younger brother he lost not so long ago. They were not close near the end, but there are memories still.
"Like I said, life and time helps you move on, even if you don't want to."
"That doesn't seem right to me," Kywyn shakes his head, "But... sounds about right for the way things go. The one you care about goes somewhere you cannot follow, and all you can do is say 'goodbye.' It's a sad and powerful word. Sorrow is not our natural state though, and neither is happiness, I believe."
Kywyn continues in a sedate voice, "Suffering can deepen us, bliss can inspire us. But we deal with what we are given, and fight with every fiber for what we truly desire... and we can make good art. The rest is a strange realm where religions and insanities vie for your mind."
There is some silence as Japtheth finishes looking through Kywyn's drawings and hands them back.
"You're good to talk to, Kywyn. Good listener. But you're a stranger, and I get the sense there's a lot you keep underneath the surface. My studio is a private sanctum for me and those I invite up for classes and workshops."
The man tarries, and Kywyn almost gets up to leave.
"Come on, I'll show you what I've got set up," Japtheth stands and leads Kywyn into the back room where there are a set of well-trodden stairs.
"The universe began with a word. The name of the Mother called her into existence. It hasn't been pronounced since, the next time will probably be when the great work of the world is finished. But the name is so powerful that even our pale imitations have great power."
"You are speaking of religion, of Ordemet."
"That is what we call the idea of Her, but the true word is lost to us. Do you visit the temples ever?"
"I like hearing the stories, I like learning about the ideas. I don't believe in a particular path though. I don't get how something we cannot grasp can be put in terms we can and then be taken as truth. I visit the temple when there is business there," Kywyn finds himself opening up to the kind old man.
"Ha," Japtheth smirks, "It's been a long while since I've set foot in Her home myself. Sometimes feels more like a prison we've built for Her to keep her near for comfort."
Kywyn nods in understanding and agreement.
"But the search for Her is far from meaningless. How do you think the world began then?"
Kywyn does not use the handrail because it looks rather grimy. He keeps his faded beige sleeves folded behind his back.
"I... I don't know. I've thought about the different notions, but I'm really not sure. How can anyone be sure?"
"Faith, boy. Don't you want to be certain of something?"
"There are a few things I know," Kywyn muses, "I've found the rarest rose. And I'm trying to find myself worthy of it."
Japtheth smiles like he comprehends. He opens a door at the top of the stairs.
The old studio is much smaller than Kywyn imagined, being only half the floor space of the downstairs shop. It is an attic loft space with the roof rafters and beams overheard and unfinished walls to either side. A window straight ahead opens to view the street below. The space is amazingly well laid out, however. Tables form right angle along and perpendicular to the walls and are covered in painter's tools: various brushes, palettes, containers of paint, cups of water, objects for creating textures, and pages upon pages of sketches and reference drawings. Though dried paint covers a lot of it, everything looks clean and well kept. Four separate easels stands at various places, with a couple more covered up and leaning against the wall like strange, sleeping birds in the half-light.
The light is supplied by a lamp at the door and another two that hang along the wall. There is also a bulls-eye lantern on the floor, which Kywyn assumes is for forced lighting on models. The floor is layered with canvas in some areas and bare wood in others.
Half-finished painting, some portraits, some landscapes, some even rather abstract and surreal, rest on the table, on the easels, and along and against the wall. Some are framed and hanging, perhaps to test out the light. Still other canvases are covered by sheets in corner.
Kywyn is stunned by the sight, the tangible expression of a creative process all around him, but subdues the amazement under an even gaze.
"For starters, you can come here and paint or draw when the shop is open and I'm around to supervise. You pay for your own supplies, and if you can help out around the shop from time to time, it'd be good of you. You might pick up a thing or two."
"Thank you," Kywyn remarks.
Pushing out the door, Kywyn leaves the store and exits the market square to head back home.
---
[To Elsewhere]
.oO(Perhaps I ought to take what I have to Marroc, it's something anyway...)
. o O (Alot of this stuff looks really, funny.)
Walks over towards the spice cart.
. o O (Ooh, my nose is tingling. That stuff smells powerful. Oh my gosh! I haven't eaten!)
Searchs amongst the vendors, unable to find anything. Walks up to a man about as tall as him.
"Excuse me, where can I find food?"
The man points over across the market.
"Food vendors."
Squishes and squeezes through the crowd.
"Ooh, that smells nice."
Steps up to a stand. "I'd like one of those please."
The vendor looks down "Four coppers."
Treetrip: fishes out four coppers and hands them to the greasy man.
Vendor: "Ere's your funnel cake."
Treetrip: Accepts the big, sugary mass.
. o O (Its getting dark... everyones leaving.)
Walks over to sit down on a bench.
. o O (This is really really good.)
Suddenly coughs and a cloud of white powder billows from the cake.
Giggles a little bit.
. o O (I like this place. Its so nice and active here. Even with a few less desirable parts.)
A lady sits down and starts to play the harp.
. o O (Thats really nice. Oh, I bet I should tip her.)
Wiggles a gold piece out of his pocket and...
. o O (How do I tip her without stopping her from playing...?)
After much thinking and wondering, decides just to toss it at her.
. o O (She'll figure a way out. :D)
Tosses the coin into the air and walks off with his half eat funnel cake.
"Basic paints... three brushes... some cheap paper... Probably around five gold coins. See how much I can scrounge up here, and I can cover the rest," he tabulates
He lightly produces his drawing tablet from his pack and checks through his satchel for what else he needs.
After much thinking and wondering, decides just to toss it at her.
. o O (She'll figure a way out. :D)
Tosses the coin into the air and walks off with his half eat funnel cake.
Fern blinks in surprise as the gnome walks off, but manages to continue playing without much pause.
"Vanya sulie..."
She shakes her head and finishes the song before picking up the coin and continuing playing. As it gets on towards midnight she stands, stretches, and leaves the market.
.oO(mmm this sounds intresing)
*Curiously Jace walks up to Kywyn and bows.*
"Good day Sir. I couldn't help but hear you muttering about art suplies. I know not why but it roused my curosity. What type of works do you produce."
*Kywyn can't help but notice the ash on Jaces person.*
Lead and gold are both substantial in their own way. It is a matter of peception that creates a contrast. Gold was bought by the merchants and kings, becoming the symbol of trade and wealth. Now even when one comes across a beautifully carved statue of gold, for many people, the first thing in mind is not "How beautiful a creation," it is "I wonder how much that is worth." Of course, that is a generalization, but the way the world is, it's not that far off, Kywyn thinks.
Hearing footsteps and then a voice, Kywyn looks up at the dark-skinned stranger before him.
"Oh, just some sketches and things like that. Pencil, ink, and paper mostly. I was just thinking about some other supplies, didn't realize I was talking to myself."
"If you are really curious, I could sketch something for you for a few coins. A portrait perhaps?"
Appraising the ash on Jace's clothing, Kywyn is also curious.
"Could I ask what sort of work you do?" Kywyn asks, not hazarding a guess.
He also produces a folder with several pages of work.
"My name is Kywyn."
"I am Jace, very few people forget who I am, I am a....shall we say an odd color. :D, It is nice to meet you Kywyn, how much would this sketch cost me? I portrait would be very nice."
He waits for a reply.
"Could you stand over here for me then? Anyway you'd like is fine. It'll just take a moment to get the basics, then you can sit while I finish."
*Jace pulls out his pouch and hands kywyn a gold coin.*
"Don't have any silver, right now."
.oO(Very ironic.....)
*Jace smiles at his own thoughts and shakes his head.*
"This is just for a basic, small sketch on a half-page. Something bigger or with more detail would be a bit more costly of course," Kywyn comments while he sketches, "But most people here just want a small one."
Looking up at Jace, Kywyn starts with a pencil to outline the basic form and sketch some details. Switching to an inkpen, he gets to work with the final rendering.
"You can sit now."
"No. a small one will sufice."
Kywyn uses some water from his waterskin to dilute a drop of black ink to varying degrees to emulate Jace's skin color.
When he is finished, he hands over the picture to Jace. It is a portrait of the man standing as he was.
"It is the life I was made for, don't get me wrong, I don't want to be old and gray hunting the nasties but for now it is what i love. This reminds me, would you know a Miss Amberhalk, and where I could find her. I have some information that might intrest her. The werewolves that she fought and killed came back in small numbers. Me, a halforc Giliga, and a companion that we met along the way killed six of these wolves. We belive that that is the rest of them. Thank you four the picture, It looks very good."
*Jace gives the artist a polite bow.*
"I know that name," Kywyn allows, "But you will have a hard time finding her now. The Silver Sword Guild might be the best place to leave something for her."
The name of Gilgiga sparks a memory as well. Kywyn stands, brushing his light-colored sleeves and gathering his things. He runs gloved fingers through his shortish black hair.
"You're welcome, thanks for the interest."
.oO(He seems a friednly fellow...a little reserved but friendly)
*Jace goes off in the direction of the Temple of Tholos*
.oO(I owe an apology)
The picture is of a man she is looking for. She collaborated with Kywyn to get a working description and likeness that she thinks is recognizable. It was a struggle to get a specific image out of a narrative, especially since the woman seems attached to the subject as is no doubt biased more than usual. Kywyn wonders how many flaws were glossed over or projected on that did not reflect the real person. But then again, it’s her perspective, and Kywyn wishes her luck in finding the man.
With some extra money in his pouch, Kywyn heads down the lane to Caitlynn’s Crafts. Entering with the jingle of the door chimes, Kywyn spots Japtheth’s niece and assistant Saranna at the counter. Kywyn waves a hello and walks to the shelves to find some supplies.
He picks up three different sized brushes, with hairs suitable to paint or ink. The smallest is just about thinner than an inkpen. Kywyn also locates some basic paint colors. Nothing too extravagant to start, as he knows painting supplies could get very expensive compared to his normal blacklead and ink. He collects small vials of the primaries of red, blue, and yellow, as well as black and white.
“Should be good enough for now,” he thinks.
Finally, Kywyn grabs a few sheets of cheap, draft paper. The whiteness is not exceptional, but they would do for now. Kywyn still has a stock of smaller sheets that could be used.
Bringing it up to the counter, Kywyn pays Saranna for the items.
“Is your uncle in today?”
“Yah, upstairs actually,” she replies, “Ah’ll let you up. Do ya want these wrapped?”
“The paper, please. The rest I can fit in my pack,” Kywyn answers.
With that done, Kywyn steps through the door in the back of the shop and climbs the confined stairs.
"Not really, actually," Kywyn replies from across the room.
Each artist works on his own easel while talking. Kywyn has a page of austere ink paintings using water and black ink and his new brush. Mostly one or two strokes formed into the likeness of something or another. Now he has moved on to a new sheet, painting a line of each of his new colors, as well as a few mixtures, to see how the hue looks like when it is dry (as he found it could be radically different in some pigments). Kywyn wears a borrowed smock to cover his grey short-sleeved shirt and light pants. His off-white overshirt hangs in the corner.
"Hmm, that's a shame, remind me to get you to help next time we need any," the older man jokes while adjusting his glasses.
"I get what you mean though," Kywyn adds.
It is right here, wherever that might be, that one has the chance to find the beauty within and around oneself, what Japtheth calls the "Great Work." Kywyn figures it must be a religious reference he is not aware of. Life could be a generous giver, but we always see the covering of the gifts. It's too hard, too heavy, too ugly, and we don't bother to look into the moment to find the core woven with love and awareness. Kywyn knows he is guilty of the same, and would be again, but the idea that there is meaning to be found gives him some comfort for now.
He would brood, he has no doubt that is his natural tendency, but he resolves to not throw away the gifts thoughtlessly. The things he loves are the same things that could cause him despair and destroy him. But even if that was a certainty... Even if everything was ending...
Kywyn's thought sinks into his brushstroke.
"I've shoveled a lot of snow," Kywyn informs Japtheth.
"I'll see you again next time hopefully."
"Alright, farewell, Kywyn," Japtheth spares an appraising glance up from his painting.
Kywyn picks up his shirt from the hook on the wall and pulls it on as he walks down the stairs. Passing by the counter, he waves to Saranna before exiting the shop. A cool draft follows him out.
---
[To Elsewhere]
A half-hour later, Kywyn makes it up to the studio. He starts a free form color test, which evolves into a more stable composition. Through the abstract strokes that seem placed chaotically, a black and misted backdrop and a bone throne emerge. The eggshell-colored skulls are hinted at rather than defined in certainty.
Japtheth wanders by on his way to get a clean bucket of water. The older man stops and adjusts his glasses while looking over Kywyn's interpretational work.
"Do you know why artists and madmen are the ones who are visited most readily by visions, Kywyn?"
“Why is that?” Kywyn is curious of Japtheth’s reasoning.
"It is because we are most willing to see. We are receivers for the great beams that come from the Mother's light. The muse fires images into our heads until they might burst. Those that learn to express it becomes artists; those that cannot are condemned to be lunatics."
That theory does not seem quite fair to younger artisan.
"What if it's not 'the Mother's light' we are seeing?" Kywyn looks up from his easel.
"What else could it be?"
"That, I don't know."
“Could I ask for some help? I wanted to try to make a gift for someone. He recently learned his father is still alive and they have been reunited. I thought to make a sketch, but something in color would seem more finished.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“A portrait probably. I have sketches of the friend, and even have a rough of his father from when I traveled with him. But I'm afraid my pure brushwork isn't practiced enough yet.”
“I have some watercolors you can borrow. If you want to work off some line work, it might make it easier for you.”
“Sounds like a good idea. Thanks…” Kywyn trails.
“Something else?”
“Just thinking. A family portrait would be nice. But I have no idea of what the mother looks like... and there are issues with the other brother.”
“Ah, family life. That’s the way it always will be,” Japtheth laughs to hide an old sadness, “Saranna’s mother and I used to fight all the time when we were young. It’s healthy relations.”
“Not this one,” Kywyn states.
“But if I can sketch up something... if there is a way to figure it out. I don’t know.”
“Not at all. This craft isn’t for people who can’t take a little criticism,” Kywyn makes an adjustment.
The water based pigments worked nicely, though the intensity is more muted. He might add touches of other media in spots where it seems appropriate. It came quickly to him, the idea, like the beam of light Japtheth described. And when inspiration strikes, it’s best to see it through.
Kywyn goes with heavier paints over his line work and rough colors, and in a fevered flurry, he is done. Because of slight abstractions in strokes, the painting of a halfling could be either a younger Hermy Senior or older Hermy Junior (or perhaps in the darkest imaginations, a benevolent Kirby). The face is sort of a hybrid, with qualities of both halflings. The figure holds a sword in one hand and a quill in the other, reminiscent of some sort of warrior-poet. He is in a green shirt and signature red pants and standing in a hearth-like setting.
Finally finished, Kywyn realizes he has spent most of the day in the studio. He ads a final touch, signing his initials with an arcane mark that flows freely from his touch.
“I need to get home,” Kywyn starts cleaning up.
Japtheth inspects Kywyn’s handiwork and nods in slow approval, “You did well for being unused to these paints. How about a frame if it is to be a gift?”
“Ah, good idea,” Kywyn agrees softly.
Downstairs, Kywyn finds an austere, dark wooden frame he thinks should compliment the colors. Japtheth gives him a small discount and Kywyn thanks the elder painter while wrapping the present.
---
[portait]
[To Elsewhere]
Ink seeks out paper and thoughts are given shape, little by little. Kywyn's black frog crawls out of his satchel to get some fresh air. The man can't help but glance around every so often, nonchalantly checking for onlookers.
Kywyn lowers his gaze back to his page. It is hard to start sometimes, to make that first leap. But he reminds himself that one measures a circle beginning at any point. All he has to do is pick one and start drawing.
Conversing and learning from Japtheth in his studio has taught Kywyn much about art and reminded him of much he had forgotten. When he is trying, really trying, to create something from its shadow, he is seeking a spark, a light to guide his hand and illuminate the source image to which the shadows were tethered. It is the first flash of sunlight on the horizon, the sparkle in his son's eyes that remind Kywyn so much of NaShae.
It is the gleam on the spiked gauntlets he keeps in a box in his secret room, the last remnants of his brother's memory.
It is memory and shining a thought toward the archive of things you take for granted or simply have forgotten.
"Do you think back to before you were here?" Kywyn communicates to his familiar.
"No more than you think back to before your first memory." is the frog's reply.
"You came from the shadows, from my memory, it almost felt like I remembered you into existence."
"Guo-guo. What difference does it really make?"
"Not much I suppose. But if I remembered you, I wonder what it is that you remember when you tell me things. I used to have visions more frequently, I wonder if they were just hallucinations sometimes, but your voice brings backs memories of them."
"I just share what comes. You think too much."
Kywyn shrugs and looks up to greet a rotund fellow in plain clothes. He hails Kywyn and asks if it would be possible to sketch the front of the man's shop so he can send it in a letter home.
"I can do that," Kywyn agrees.
---
[To Temple of Ordemet]
Following the steps up, Kywyn thinks on how best to finish the logo for his gnomish patron.
Kywyn reaches for the black ink to fill in his outlines with pen and brush.
"Thanks, Japtheth," he expresses tranquilly.
Assembling his gear, Kywyn leaves the studio for the shop below. He walks down the cramped stairs and out to the counter where Japtheth's niece is doing paperwork.
"I have a design here for someone, a gnome named Jack Dapplestarskin. He'll be by at some point to collect it and leave off some things for me. Can I leave the papers here at the desk?"
"Ya, we can do that, Kywyn," Saranna nods.
"Thanks, Jack should be giving us some baked goods. I asked for some for the hop as well."
After seeing if there's anything he can help with around the floor, Kywyn bids Saranna farewell and heads back out to the street. The door chimes jingle as the man sets foot out into the fresh air.
---
[To Elsewhere]
Culex walks down the street much the same way he walks down any path... planned movements, each footstep measured precisly and carefully placed, with the clink of the metallic scythe's shaft accompanying the sound of his high boots. Step click step step click step step click. The order only changes if something interrupts it, but Culex always falls back to that order, that planned path. He does so without a thought and without really noticing.
He walks on, heading towards Caitlynn's Crafts. Following the directions given to him by Billa, and wondering exactly what he may find.
After a bit of wandering around, Culex spots a small two story building with a wooden sign reads, "Caitlynn's Crafts," in green embossed letters, hanging above it's door.
Aha! There it was!
Culex heads towards that building, stopping just in front of the door and thinking, wondering what he might find within. After a moment, he shrugs and opens the door. Well, if it isn't locked that is. If it was locked he wouldn't be sure what exactly to do, no he wouldn't.
Culex spots a girl in a simple tan tunic at the counter reading some thin book. "Can I help you with anything sir?"
"Actually... I don't know, no I don't. I was just told about this place, yes I was, and I was curious."
"And what were you told that made you curious?"
"I had heard that this was a place of art. I see that it is, yes I do. I was referred here after mentioning art, yes I was."
Culex pauses, trying to figure out exactly why he was here. He was told something after mentioning something, and then he came. It seemed like a weak chain to him, yes it did. He sometimes questioned why he was so ready to act instead of sitting back and just enjoying life.
"I don't really know why I'm here, no I don't. I'm just here..."
His tone was slightly sad. Confused and lost.
"Perhaps you came here to paint. I find it helps ease the mind if you paint out what ever it is troubling you."
"You can say that, yes you can."
He thinks on her words for a moment... and smiles. She was right, yes she was. He could lose himself in the art, and just enjoy himself.
"You're right, yes you are. I think I will try, just to see."
"Upstairs in the loft, my uncle has room for you to set up."
"We have a few artists that work from there. My Uncle also teaches lessons if you are interested in that."
"No, no I don't. You can? That would be nice, yes it would be.
Ok, that sounds good, yes it does. Do you need payment for these services?"
He thinks on the last part, almost shaking his head immediatly. He knew his craft well... but then, there are others who know it better.
"I'll have to think about that, yes I will, but I'm leaning towards yes, yes I am. Actually, that sounds good to, yes it does. I think I might be interested in that, yes I would be."
She points to the door to the stairs.
"Head up there and my uncle will get you started."
"Who knows. Maybe you might end up giving lessons to him if you are good enough."
"Everyone can always learn something new."
"Thank you for your kindness. Yes, you're right. We learn something new everyday, yes we do."
Culex turns and walks up the staircase.
"Hiya! Yes, yes you can! I came here to try my hand at some art, and to maybe, possibly, perhaps get lessons?"
The older man leads Culex past a table covered with half finished paintings, and shows him an easel with a blank canvas on it.
"My names Japtheth."
"Just let me know what you need."
"Thank you! I will, yes I will. Nice to meet you, Japtheth. I'm Culex."
The cloaked man takes a seat and looks everything over. He stares at the canvas for a moment, as if divining something from it's blank state... then he picks up the necessary tools and goes at it. He doesn't know what he is drawing. He never does. He has yet to think about these things. He calls it "Losing himself in the art", and he has done it a number of times for a number of things. He simply ceases to notice his surroundings, and focuses solely on the canvas. He paints whatever comes to him, with no idea what the end result will be.
His usually friendly eyes seem much more focused. Yet... they seemed to have lost that friendly quality when he paints. Now, they only seem cold.
"Everything going all right?"
"Hm? I'm sorry, I didn't catch what you said, no I didn't."
Culex smiles a little nervously, running his hand through his hair once more. Many people had their nervous traits and twitches. That was his.
"Hehehe... sorry about that, yes I am. Just kinda... well, it just sort of happens, yes it does."
Only then does Culex glance at what he had started, what he was working on. He was unsure of what he would find. Thinking on it, he didn't even know how much time has passed since he picked the brush up and started. It could have been mere minutes or many hours for all he knew, yes it could have been.
"I've got to ask though."
"What does it mean?"
Culex shakes his head.
"To be honest... I don't know, no I don't. Thank you for your comments."
The man with golden eyes stares at the partially finished painting for awhile and shakes his head.
"Well... I guess we'll see when it's finished, yes we will."
He wanders back to his project, leaving Culex to work on his painting.
When finished, he doesn't even look at the painting. He will look some other time... when he has the will to see what was the result of something that already, to him, seemed slightly... frightening.
Right now, he needed a break from this, yes he did. He thanks Japtheth as he walks out of the room and down the stairs. When he thinks about it, he stops and gives the girl three silver, both for services rendered and for her kindness.
He doesn't give her much time to comment, as he walks out and into the market. He didn't have a specific destination as of yet, no he didn't... he just went where his feet took him.
[To Public Graveyard.]
"Enough for a week please."
After completing his purchases, he sits on a bench and watches the flow of traffic.
She soon comes upon a stand selling dried fruit and she asks if he has rations, he nods and she asks for a weeks worth. She hands the man the money and places the bag of rations in one of the saddle bags along with the apples she had purchased earlier.
She pats Maya on the neck and continues through the crowd.
.oO(Ok..Volos is supplying the feed and the arrows, I got more rations and some fruit for the trip... I'll get a mace from the armory..what else do I need?)
She sits at a bench and contimplates as Maya nudges the bag with the apples.
Anaya looks up and smiles, reaching into the saddle bag and pullig out another apple. SHe takes her dagger and slices the fruit and shares the apple with Maya
"Hey there, long time no see."
Hello Lucian. Yes, it has been a long time. What have you been up to?
She pats the area next to her on the bench for him to sit
"Not too much, the acting scene has beeen rather weak lately, how about yourself?"
She cuts another slice of apple
I just got recruited for a trip and I am here to get supplies.
She looks at Lucian
So tell me...How do you know Kai?
Lucian leans back.
"Well, Kai and I both stay at the same boarding house, we work together sometimes when I can't find any other jobs. So I guess you know Kai too, huh?"
Yes. Darkar informed me of what has been happening and I offered to go along. He needed a tracker and I'm probably his best bet at the moment.
She raises and eyebrow
How long have you been working together?
She nods
Yes we know eachother.. very well in fact, at least I thought so..it was a long time ago. Before you came to Garic's... it was a different time back then it seems.
She looks at her dagger as it shimmers in the sun, slicing another piece of the apple
"I sincerely doubt you've know Kai longer than I've been in the city, I've been here my whole life. I know what you mean though, proabably before he started wearing the mask.
He hunkers forward.
"I've probably know him for a couple of months though. I'd trust him to watch my back."
Oh I am sorry... I didn't know that you had been here that long. There's so many people coming in and out of this city, you don't who's lived here or who is just passing by.
She nods
I just don't get it..the whole mask thing. I mean he used to hide himself behind a scarf, but I had thought he had stopped the nonsense of hiding like that.
All this talk about the skull mask and how he gives Jace the creeps, makes me wonder what happened to him, it's just not like Kai to be that way....it worries me
She looks at the half elf deep in the eyes with a sad, yet strong expression, like she is trying not to let her emotions take ahold of her
"No need to appologise for it.... Look, Kai isn't nice anymore. His mask would be enough to give Jace the creeps probably... But he's honest and'll hold to his word."
He was always honest with me. I mean there were things he would leave out to try to keep me safe. I'm not sure of what he has told you about his past, if he has said anything...
"That's his past. Unless it affects me, that's his buisness until he wants to brings it up."
He pauses.
"Sorry, it's just something that he and I have in common, I guess. The past isn't always like the market, busy and prosperous, sometimes it's like the back of Nobody's, it smells and you'd rather not know who's lurking there."
The elfling looks pensive.
But sometimes one's present state and one's future is being affected by their past. Even as much as you would not like to go there, you'll have to in order to find any peace.
Alright, but only one more, we need to save some for the trip.
She reaches into her bag and pulls out another apple, slicing it in half and giving it to Maya
She looks at Lucian than at Maya, and back to Lucian
Maya this is Lucian, Lucian this is Maya.
The young mare jolts her head up and down with a soft snort
"Nice to meet you Maya. I don't suppose you know any friends who'd be willing to cart me along on their backs eh?"
He winks at Anaya
If you want I can lend her to you. I don't really need a horse to travel at the pace we will be going. She's already paid for...and to me it seems she already likes you.
Hands Lucian the other half of the apple
What do you think? Which should we take?
"Are you sure? I'd be honored and willing to pay you back as soon as I can raise the money."
Yes I'm sure and don't worry about the money, money's not that important, all that I ask is if should anything happen, you take care of her.
"Thank you very much. I appreciate it greatly."
Well I have a few more errands to run, gotta stop by the iron wolf to get a mace, take her out for a run to loosen up and then back to the SSAG in the morning to gather the rest of the supplies.
Can you meet me in the morning at the SSAG?
"Good to see you again, Anaya. I'll see youi in the morning."
He leaves for the Fox, walking stick leading the way.
He was already drooling over the candies when he entered the shop. He bit his lower lip, trying to decide which would be best to take away.
What do you think? Which should we take?
"All of it!"
The three halflings all pull out handfulls of coins and set them on the counter. And minutes later they are walking out of the shop with handfuls of candy.
"Oi donna know about ya Tyros, but Oi think that candy musta been invented by wizards. It's magically delicious."
"Ya gotta loike wizards just fer that."
[Hemp rope, 20x arrows, weeks worth of rations, 5 flasks of oil (1pint)]
Item Costs: 2gp,40sp
After paying for the items, he turns down a street and moves toward Iron Wolf.
When the door is answered by a sleepy eyed halfling, Minto smiles. "Sorry to show up so late Mister Perrywinkle."
"I wouldn't have done so under normal circumstances, but as you've probably heard, those don't often happen when dealing with a hero like Sir Hermy."
Perrywonkle mumbles a greeting as he waves Minto inside. "No. No. I suppose not Mister Newberry. What can I do for you?"
Minto looks towards the pens the dogs are kept in. "Is Ashiner ready enough to be taken out yet? Hermys got a mission, and a mount would make it easier to accomplish."
Perrywinkle shrugs and moves towards one of the pens. The dogs cease their barking as he passes by them. Minto follows after.
"I've gotten her use to a saddle. But I wouldn't say she's trained yet. Ridable probably, but I wouldn't count on her for doing much else."
He smiles as he opens the door. "Unless you need someone licked."
Ashiner bounds out and pounces on Minto, slobbering all over his shirt. His face turns to a grimace.
"Certainly is a friendly dog. Might even be too friendly. I don't think she'll be much of a battler. Certainly not as good as old Major. But I doubt I'll ever see a dog like him again."
Minto pushes the dog off him and tries to wipe away the slobber. "No, I doubt anyone will."
"But I don't think Hermy will be wanting her to get anywhere near a fight. He's.. You heard about the boys dogs right?"
Perrywinkle nods. "Tiv mentioned it last time I saw him. A shame."
"Very."
"Hermy will only need her as a mount. Do you think she's up for it?"
Perrywinkle shrugs. "Hard to say. But I'll wager Sir Hermy will be able too if any on can. I never saw anyone more in tune with a dog then he was with Major."
"If he ever gave up heroing and went into training, I might as well close up shop."
Minto gives a polite laugh. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that."
Minto takes out a few coins and shrugs. "I really shouldn't charge anything for this. But I do have bills to pay."
"Even with all the extra buisness I've gotten from being known as the place where Sir Hermy gets his dogs, food still don't come cheap. Especially for a dog as big as Ashiner."
"She eats like a horse. And you are probably going to need one of those to bring enough food to keep her fed. Like I said, shes trained enough to ride, but she can't hunt to save her life."
Minto sighs and hands over some more coins. "Can you have a few weeks worth sent to the Silver Sword first thing in the morning? I'll let Tiv know we'll need a pack horse as well."
Perrywinkle nods as he puts a leash on Ashiner. "Shall I send a saddle over as well or will Hermy be using Majors?"
"I don't know."
"If he doesn't use Majors, we did bring back DoggieLan and Cog the Dogs tack. So I don't think we'll need a saddle."
Perrywinkle nods again and hands the leash to Minto. "Good luck."
"Thanks."
.o0(She's a lot bigger then I remember. Definetly going to need a ack horse to carry her food. And spare clothes. I don't think I have enough spells to counter that mouth of hers.)
Minto is escorted to the door, and then dragged out of it when Ashiner takes off running.
“Hey,” the girl Saranna calls, “Ah gnome came by and dropped off these cookies for you.”
Kywyn is handed a paper-wrapped package.
“And some for the shop,” she adds.
“Thanks,” Kywyn says as he points to the door behind the counter.
”Yap, he’s up there.”
Kywyn nods his thanks and proceeds up the old stairs.
Entering the studio loft, the elder painter Japtheth calls to him right away.
“Kywyn, come look at this,” Japtheth directs while cleaning his spectacles.
Kywyn moves over to see the painting Japtheth is viewing. It is a cacophony of dark colors and angry strokes that somehow form a whole that is not displeasing.
“Interesting,” Kywyn utters.
“Yes, not too bad. A new fellow worked on it.”
”Messed up,” is what Kywyn thinks but doesn’t say.
He himself has a darkness pall in him and over him, a shadow, but it wasn’t this shade. This seems almost... malicious.
Kywyn turns to Japtheth, “I was hoping I could run some ideas by you.”
“Of course.”
Japtheth considers while stroking his chin, “I can’t give you an answer right now, but I can look into it, lad.”
“Thank you,” Kywyn says calmly, “My other thought was if I could help out around here, not just in the store, but also in the studio. My painting skills aren’t to your level, but I think my drawn media aren’t too bad.”
Japtheth acknowledges, “’Aren’t too bad?’ You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
Kywyn shrugs, “Anyway, I was wondering if you would consider if I could help teach or supervise some simple drawing classes. I know studio space is precious on your schedule, so it’d be up to you. But I was thinking if we just had drop in classes where I would be here working anyways.”
“Go on.”
“Say we hold a class every Dvala and Chteyan evening. We’d have a schedule written up on a board downstairs or in the window. A student could drop in to whichever subject interests them. An option we could provide is a card with the student’s name on it, which they purchase here. Let’s say with six squares on the card, and every time they drop in for a class, we punch a hole into a square. They can leave their cards at the counter so they won’t get lost.”
“So a person could pay when they drop in to take a course, maybe three to five silver, I’m really not sure about prices. But if they purchase a card ahead of time, it might work out to discount of a silver or two per class.”
“Nice concept. Different from the scheduled classes I normally arrange. Do you really think it would work?”
“I’m not a business man,” Kywyn admits, “I just wanted to present you with the idea. If you think it could be worth a try, just let me know, and we can work on it.”
At this, Japtheth nods, “I will certainly.”
“Anyway…” Kywyn sits and spreads a sheet of paper to draw for a while with the older artiste.
After a good session, Kywyn heads back home, keen on trying his gnomish cookies with Dakarai and NaShae.
---
[To Elsewhere]
. o O (Now, I need a good place.)
Scans the market and spots a small section for the finer ladies, with jewelers and a 'magical potion' shop.
. o O (Yes, that will do well.)
Still smiling approaches the section of the market and taps on the elbow of a lovely elven woman.
"Excuse me ma'am. My name is Treetrip Dangleroot. I'm the sheriff of Gullyban. Its some fifty miles east of here."
The lady curtsies.
Woman: "How can I help you sheriff?"
Treetrip: "I simply wanted to ask you a question. Are you aware of the terrible condition of the area to the south of here? The slums of the city?"
Woman: "Oh I never go down that way. The furthest south I need to go is the market." The woman's brow creases. What has this go to do with her?"
Treetrip: "Oh I see. Well then let me tell you what I'm doing. As I said I am the Sheriff of Gullyban, and I am speaking to you today as the head of an organization who is reducing the crime in Garic's City caused by the activities of those in the slums who must rob and pilfer to survive. As such we are taking up donations, small ones, so as to create a sustainable living enviroment in the Slums. To help those poor people who haven't a thing, and ensure that all people have at least livable circumstances. Unlike they do now.
A few more of the women are covertly looking at the lady and the gnome. Treetrip speaks up.
[Perform: Oratory +6, roll 2 (8)]
Woman: The woman looks rather cross. "I don't see a reason to give you my money, when I can simply hand it to a begger when I see one. I've heard about you gnomes before too! There was one, a- a wizard or something. And he got his shop burned down. Or destroyed. Or something. And nobody knows what happened! I bet you're just like him."
The three or four ladies evesdropping let out a slight huff of agreement and return to their business.
Treetrip: "I'm sorry ma'am. I'm not sure you understand, as I said, I am the sheriff of Gully-"
Woman: "I heard you the first time. And I don't believe a word of it. I've never heard of a single member of this organization you're talking about."
Treetrip: Casts his eyes at the ground. "Its just getting started ma'am. I'm the only-"
Woman: "I don't want to hear another word. I bet there isn't even really a Gullyban. If you just begged like any other begger people would like you a whole lot more."
Treetrip: sheepishly "haven't you ever had Gullyvine... its a wine from Gullyba-"The woman spins, almost knocking Treetrip down with here large dress, and walks back north.
Disheartened, Treetrip slides out of the marketplace, shoulders slumped over. A begger reaches a consoling hand up, he was probably a father at one time or another.
Begger: "Don't let the first few days get you down lad. Thems the breaks of beggen'. 'f I were you I'd get some real shoddy rags and a cup, and pretend to be blind er something. Bein' blind is good for business."
The begger sits down again and holds a beaten tin cup up at a passing man. A copper jingles into it.
Treetrip walks the path back to Nobody's, feeling it is quite appropriate.
Thirty or more steps later looks down and notices his shaking knees.
. o O (Oh... what am I doing.)
Sits on a nearby stone, tries to calm his legs down, and nervously looks around for anyone that he might have to approach.
. o O (I'm not getting anywhere at all. I should just go home.... of course home is about 50 miles away, and thats a long walk.)
Scratches his double pronged beard.
. o O (Besides, I couldn't go home like this. What would everyone think if I was back within a year of setting out.)
Absentmindedly rubs one of the wooden charms on his necklace. The wood is comforting.
. o O (Yeah, yeah! I can't just quit. Monkeyhind adventured for twenty some years and he never quit!)
Jumps to his feet, immediately feeling better.
. o O (Yeah)
"Lets get going."
Walks with impunity through the marketplace.
. o O (But who am I going to talk to? I don't think the rich ladies would be good, not after last time. But who has money?)
. o O (Well, bright colors are more expensive, so someone in red. Yes, I'll approach the next person I see wearing red.)
Closes his eyes tight, turns around and opens his eyes again. Immediately an elderly man in a good woolen tunic, picking through the vegitables with a demanding eye. The food merchant appears nervous.
Man: "Hmm, I'll take these five."
Merchant: "But you have to feed all those men!"
Man: "Yes, I am responsible for their nutrition, and as such I refuse to purchase any half rotted and damaged goods. I will require these five, and that is all."
Merchant: Appears ready to protest more, but the man's emotionless old face gives no sway. "Alright. A silver and a half."
. o O (If he's that good with money he's sure to be able to donate.)
Treetrip: Watches the red tuniced man intently as he dolls out the silver and copper pieces, and crosses the crowd as the man turns from the stand, vegitables in hand.
"Excuse me sir, I couldn't help but notice the skill with which you handled the merchant over there. Does he usually sell less than quality goods."
Man: Turns and places Treetrip under his scouring gaze. Apparently he finds the gnome satisfactory. "Yes, you can normally count on half of his potatoes to be good, but vegitables that spoil faster are usually unreliable."
Treetrip: "Where would I find a more reliable dealer of faster spoiling vegitables, like tomatoes?"
Man: "Two streets over is a butcher's shop, next door to that is a man with better storage, but you will pay the price for his goods. Generally triple what semi-decent foodstuffs cost here."
Treetrip: "Thank you very much, I'm sure I'll be able to keep my personal health much better now. By the way, my name is Treetrip, Treetrip Dangleroot."
Man: "My name is Volos." He thinks for a second. "You're not one of Hermy's hoarde, are you?"
Treetrip: "Not that I know of. Who is Hermy?"
Volos: "Hermy Woodhome, you may have heard of his-"
Treetrip: "That Hermy? The dragonslayer, and love of Lady Aria of Amberhawk!"
Volos: Eyes the strange gnome, "Where in the world did you hear that?"
Treetrip: "A minstrel passed through our town, Gullyban some fifty miles west. Apparently Hermy is a hero. A halfling twice as tall as an orc, and wears only flaming red pants, and rides a dog the size of a boar..."
Volos: "Yes, well some minstrels are, prone, to exaggeration. But yes, that Hermy."
Treetrip: "Thats incredible, how do you know a hero like him?"
Volos: "I manage the financial and nutritional needs of the Silver Swords Adventurer's Guild." Shifts his shoulder forward to display the small, silver sword pin.
Eager for a discussion of something other than the troublesome halfling. "And what do you do here in Garic's City."
Treetrip: "Actually I run a small organization in the slums. Its designed to improve the quality of life in the area, which in turn helps provide them skills to maintain a sustainable lifestyle."
Volos: "Thats very interesting, what is the organization called?"
Treetrip: "Honestly, I don't know. I've only just started it. Right now I'm collecting donations to help set up the operation."
Volos casts a supcious eye on the gnome.
Volos: "Really."
Treetrip: "Yes." quite simply.
Volos: "Thats going to take a rather large investment. How do you expect to raise such funds when the slums are of little interest to people with financial strength?"
Treetrip: "Actually, I think they should be of much more interest than that. After all, a large majority of criminals are created in enviroments such as the slums. Improving the inhabitants skills makes them viable for more legal sources of income, rather than theivery. I believe crime would decrease, as well as creating a powerful workforce that would be a great benefit to this city."
Volos: Watches the gnome the entire time, quite intently. "Thats a very good arguement Mr. Dangleroot." Volos says probing.
Treetrip: "I know. Thats not the whole of it though. I also think helping people and providing them a positive influence that they see within reach will speed up the process monumentally. I know it will be a slow start, but once I manage to effect a minor change it should build on itself. Eventually we'll be able to support ourselves by enlisting the aid of newly trained people from the slums to sell products for a portion of the profit."
Volos: Apparently satisfied with the little gnomes plan and honesty reaches into his money pouch. "I believe your idea has merit. But let me inform you, running any form of guild requires extremely efficient organization and leadership. Perhaps you should stop by the guild sometime. It seems you have the best interests of the city at heart, and you may find like-minded people there."
Fifteen silver coins clink from the hands of Volos into the hands of Treetrip.
Treetrip: "That sounds like a good idea. I've only heard that Hermy is a Silver Sword." [i]A look of childlike curiosity crosses Treetrip's face. "Could you tell me a little more about Hermy the hero? He's become something of a legend in my town after the minstrel passed through."
Volos: sighs. "I believe I can indulge your curiosity for a moment or two.
Volos explains some of the more realistic adventures of Hermy, leaving out his exploits with Kirby or Alissa, focusing rather on the Invasion of Kahn and the dragon slaying.
The two part after fifteen or so minutes.
. o O (Thats amazing! How come he was so giving? I guess he's just a nicer person than that lady. Is he?)
Pulls out another small sack and drops the silver coins into it, tieing it carefully closed and keeping his hand tight around it all the way back to Nobody's.
. o O (Wow, I feel invincible.)
Walks up to a small fountain and coughs lightly twice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen."
One or two people turn. Addresses them.
"My name is Treetrip Danglefoot, deputy sheriff of Gullyban. I represent the Slums Improvement Project."
Gives a head tilted smile.
"My job is to bring to your awareness the currently terrible nature of the slums, and the advantages of investing in the SIP."
A couple more people turn to listen.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, for those who are unaware, the slums are an area to the south of town, which is denoted by excess poverty, dangerous criminals, and starving people. A large portion of these people turn to crime. Why? Because they have no other method of providing for themselves."
A few people begin crossing their arms.
"Don't misunderstand me. That doesn't make it okay. As the deputy-sheriff of Gullyban I am strongly opposed to criminal activities. However, there are better ways to combat criminal activity than brute force. I will explain later."
"However, who here has suffered the unfortunate incident of being victim of criminals?"
Raises his own hand, pleased to see one or two people indicating they have as well.
"I personally was mugged by a pair of men, after an attempting pickpocketing? Is this a common occurance here?"
Grumbles begin to ripple through the crowd.
"And it would be great if this happened less often, wouldn't it."
A few yes's actually rise over the hum of the small crowd.
. o O (They're responding! Great!)
A few people look thoughtful, a general murmer of agreement begins to spread through the small audience.
"What SIP needs is donations to start. We need to begin training the first inhabitants in crafts skills as soon as possible. The sooner we get going, the sooner crime slows down."
Three or four people slowly back away at the mention of money.
. o O (Its alright, just keep going.)
"SIP runs on the donations of people who will be directly affected by the results, those who can donate only a copper or two are appreciated greatly."
"After all, you'll save more than a copper or two when less expensive goods are available to our merchants..."
. o O (That should keep me in the Market place)
"...who can lower their prices accordingly. And the increased safety of the streets is a benefit that can't really be calculated in coin."
The people wander off, leaving small coins in Treetrip's hand.
"Thank you ma'am. Sir." shakes another hand. "We appreciate your contribution." "Yes, thats another silver piece towards safety." "I understand completely, its not what you can donate, but that you do donate." smiles warmly. "Its good to see so many people interested in improving the city. Yes, it is a reminder that there are far sighted people. Excellent."
Does a mental tally.
. o O (One, two, three silver, no, another two, five silver. Is that a silver or a copper? Oh good, a silver, and then theres the two in my hand. Eight silver aaaand... ten copper. Excellent. I should be able to start training someone soon. This should pan out excelently.)
Hops off the tiny ledge and starts walking away from the market when he sees the old begger man from his first voyage to the marketplace.
Begger: "Ya done good that time lad. They're eatin that right outa your hand. But what are they gonna do when you don't come through with 'em promises?"
Treetrip: "I will come through with those promises." Stands defiantly taller in defense of his honor.
Begger: "C'mon champ, no need to take line by me. I'm not about to be tellin'. But when the city finds out that you're just scammin', well, them guards 'll come down on you. They're mighty rough on con men, its time in the mines. And I don't need to say the mines are worse than death, because they feed you, but its not real nice."
Treetrip: "No, really. I am coming through. Tomorrow I'm finding trainers that can teach skills to the slum inhabitants, the next day I'll start looking for possible trainees. I'm going to have to work with people that have moderate skills first, but I after we're up and running I can train people in things they've never been taught before."
Begger: "Yer serious about that mate?"
Treetrip starts heading off.
Treetrip: "Serious as a goblin horde mister. Serious as a goblin horde."
Begger: Watches the gnome walk off down the street. "Blimey. Maybe he is serious..."
.oO(Wow, is this place brimful of people...I must be extra-careful, I would hate to have my purse stolen...)
And so, keeping a cautious eye on his belongings, Pacone strolls into the market, looking for the flower merchants.
Why does this human ask Nanashi such an odd question? Nanashi will find out!
"It was not Nanashi! How was this other gnome going to help the unfortunate?"
"He was gathering donations to hire people to train them in necessary skills and-"
"Oh ho ho! Very good! Then you can pay all of them less! This gnome is very clever! More workers means all will struggle harder to keep their jobs and no one has to hire shoddy workers again! Very smart!"
"What? No, he's trying to give people the skills they need to get out of the slums and-"
"Oh ho ho! And force them to fight it out with people living in better houses, with the loser going back to the slums! In this too is strength! I must meet this gnome and shake his hand! Thank you for telling Nanashi of this!"
The human looks very surprised! Nanashi cannot understand why, but he has no time to find out! He must find this other gnome! No, Nanashi should find a job first. It will be easier to defend it than to take it away from someone else who already has it! Oh ho ho! This other gnome is clever, but Nanashi is always one step ahead of the game!
"Hey, wool seller! Nanashi has a question for you!"
"Is it about wool?"
"No, it is about magic."
"Go ask the wizards."
"Oh ho ho! Who else could I ask?"
"You mean the temples?"
Nanashi must think about this.
"Maybe. Does the Mother live far from here?"
"Not far at all. You just head that way and you can't miss it."
"Good! Nanashi the Great thanks you, wool seller! May all your sheep be fluffy! Oh ho ho!"
Pacone enters the crowded market, looking here and there at the numerous merchants and busy people passing by.
.oO(Wow, is this place brimful of people...I must be extra-careful, I would hate to have my purse stolen...)
And so, keeping a cautious eye on his belongings, Pacone strolls into the market, looking for the flower merchants.
Pacone finds several, but only one is selling roses. The proprietor, a halfling woman, smiles at Pacone. "CinIhelp you with anything?"
"A bouquet of daffodils for your lady perhaps?"
Child Rybel walked the Market Square, one eye spying the merchandise for sale, but the other watching those that watch others.
Pacone finds several, but only one is selling roses. The proprietor, a halfling woman, smiles at Pacone. "CinIhelp you with anything?"
"A bouquet of daffodils for your lady perhaps?"
For a second, Pacone thinks about praising the beauty of the flowers with a common Thalos blessing, but he realizes it might not be a good idea, after all. He then makes sure his Holy symbol is hidden under his clothes as usual and with his sweetest smile, he replies
Wonderful flowers you have, indeed!! I have plenty of time for my duties, so I might as well take a look, thank you.
Pacone strolls to the stand, taking an overall look.
There are several types of flowers on display.
You told me to buy daffodils for my lady a while ago, are these flowers related to loved ones in some way?
"Not to say it's thaony choice though."
"Roses are tradotionally for lovers. I've a few of those in stock. And can get more."
And those are the most beautiful ones I've seen in a long while.
If you don't mind, were did you get them?
Pacone then looks at the woman to check her reaction, while both his eyes and lips smile, composing a casual and innocent look
"He knows where they grow wild outside the city."
"I suppose it's better for my buisness if I'm the only one with fresh roses, but it would be better for the city if there were more flowers for everyone."
.oO(Among other things)
"He just got back from a foraging trip and has a few extra coins to spend."
Milady, you've been too nice to me, I've enjoyed our conversation. Now if you excuse me...
Pacone slightly bows before the kind woman, and then turns towards one of the market's side streets, heading for the Last Lich Inn
.oO(I wonder if that lady is actually unaware of his son's business...)
Oh, just one more thing good lady, how could I identify him?
"It shouldn't be too hard to find Jolly. He's one of the most handsome boys you'll ever meet. I should know, I'm his mother after all."
"And he's big too." She raises a hand up to indicate his heigth. Around three and a half feet. "At least for one of our folk."
"Oh, and he always wears a flower tucked into one of the button holes of his jacket.What it is depends on his mood."
"I think today it was an iris."
"Look, it's that gnome who collects for charity!"
How do people keep making this mistake? This other gnome must've copied Nanashi's good looks! Nanashi is flattered and appreciates the deception but it has to stop!
"That gnome is not Nanashi! Nanashi would never rob you in this way!"
They look confused. Nanashi is not surprised. If this other gnome can deceive them into giving up their money so easily, they must be simple-minded.
"Who's Nanashi?"
VERY simple-minded!
"You've asked the right person at least! Oh ho ho! Nanashi the Magnificent won't even charge for answering your question!"
"You're Nanashi?"
"Right again!"
Maybe they aren't too simple-minded after all. Oh ho ho!
"Why do you call yourself magnificent?"
"Nanashi does not call himself this! It is what Nanashi is called!"
"Who by?"
"Those who have seen how magnificent he is!"
"What makes you so magnificent then?"
"Oh ho ho! Nanashi will show you!"
"Endless larder,
Endless hunger,
Spare a morsel,
Send it here."
A spider as big as Nanashi grows from the ground like a bush, only faster. He gives it directions in his strange tongue.
"Wave your front legs above your head! Just two legs now!"
More people are watching Nanashi and his spider now. They look uneasy, though. Nanashi better give the spider another trick to do and maybe give it in two languages this time, one for the crowd to understand and one for the spider.
"Bounce! Circle me and keep bouncing!"
Now it doesn't seem so scary to them. Some even laugh. Nanashi knows they wouldn't laugh if he ordered it to attack them but it doesn't matter. These ones wouldn't make much of a meal for the Dragon anyway. A handful of them even applaud when the spider disappears.
"It wasn't THAT impressive."
Someone does not appreciate Nanashi's efforts! What will he do now?
"You'd rather I set you or the market on fire? Nanashi can do this too!"
NOW he is impressed! Oh ho ho! And Nanashi didn't even has to wave his hands yet!
"No! I'm sorry!"
"Nanashi accepts your apology. It wouldn't be a very good trick anyway. Oh ho ho!"
"You're not like that other gnome."
"Nanashi is not like many other gnomes! Oh ho ho!"
"No, I mean, he talks about getting the poor out of the slums and teaching them skills."
"Yes, Nanashi has heard of him. Nanashi doesn't know who he's planning to move into the slums after he's moved everyone out of them but he will be sure to ask when he sees him. Maybe the hardest workers get to keep their jobs and the rest go to the slums. Maybe everyone gets paid less when there is less work for each of them to do. It is a very cunning idea. You must be paying him a lot for it."
She smiles again when she starts describing her son.
"It shouldn't be too hard to find Jolly. He's one of the most handsome boys you'll ever meet. I should know, I'm his mother after all."
"And he's big too." She raises a hand up to indicate his heigth. Around three and a half feet. "At least for one of our folk."
"Oh, and he always wears a flower tucked into one of the button holes of his jacket.What it is depends on his mood."
"I think today it was an iris."
.oO(Hmmm, Iris has several meanings, but all of them are positive, so I might find that boy more receptive than I thought...)
Thank you very much good lady!
I'm off to the Last Lich now, thanks again!
"But it's only right!"
Why does the human with the orange hair say this? Of course it's only right!
"Nanashi agrees! With no struggle, everyone becomes weak! This way, you need to be strong!"
"That's not what he meant!"
"What else could he have meant?"
"He meant if we look after one another, no one goes hungry or homeless."
"Is there enough food and homes for all of you?"
"Maybe not right now but we can always make more if we need to."
"You would have to be very strong to make enough houses and enough food but strength is strength. What do you do to make money?"
"I'm a cooper."
"Could you teach other people how to raise chickens?"
"What?"
"Turkeys?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Whatever it is you keep in your coops."
"No, I'm a cooper! I make barrels!
"Why didn't you just say so?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you just say you were a barrelmaker?"
"I DID! That's what a cooper is!"
"Could you teach other people how to make barrels too?"
"Sure! I've had apprentices before. Learned them proper too."
"Could you teach a hundred people how to do your job?"
"Sure but not all at once."
"Nanashi would be impressed by anyone who could teach a hundred people a trade all at once. How many barrels would you say you sold every day?"
"Maybe fifteen or so."
"And if there were a hundred new barrelmakers-"
"Coopers!"
"-coopers in the city, how many barrels would you sell then?"
Oh ho ho! The barrrelmaker wasn't expecting that! Look at him struggle for an answer!
"That's not how it would work! They wouldn't all be coopers! There'd be other people teaching skills too."
"Yes, Nanashi remembers but more workers still means less work for each of you or only work for the best of you. It's a good thing you know what they and they don't. If you teach them the wrong way, they can't steal your work."
"But that would be wrong!"
"Is it wrong to keep to keep your job if you have children to feed?"
The crowd is talking among themselves now. Good! That means they're thinking! In that too is strength!
"You're just twisting things!"
"It doesn't matter to Nanashi whether you believe him or not. He knows he must find his own way to earn meals before everything is eaten. Even the rats that live in the slums know this and there is even less for them than the people living there. Maybe it is time to teach the rats how to make barrels as well!"
The barrelmaker is turning red! Now he is making fists. Will someone save him from making a mistake? Nanashi will have to feed the Dragon otherwise.
"Don't. He's a sorcerer."
Oh ho ho! How lucky the barrelmaker is to have friends!
"Nanashi is indeed a very powerful sorcerer but he has no interest in causing you or anyone else harm. It's all the same to him whether or not you teach people to work against you. Nanashi can take care of himself. He advises you do the same. It is not for Nanashi to decide, though."
Nanashi walks away now. He pays no attention to the words of the crowd, neither the jeers nor the arguments. He pays no attention to the guards watching him either. Let them watch! If his name gets around, he'll find work that much sooner. Oh ho ho! Let this other gnome cause rioting in the streets! He is still not even half as smart as Nanashi!
Perhaps the drapings of Agathalos have scared would-be thieves away?
Neb's shoulders sank with failure.
[to Church of Agathalos (1)]
"Fire haired human! Nanashi seeks paper and ink! Where might he find them?"
The human does not answer right away. Good! That means he is thinking! Nanashi thinks humans should do that more often! Oh ho ho! Okay he is speaking now. Let us listen with Nanashi.
"Look for Vanna two aisles over that way. She sells paper. Probably know where you can get ink."
"Nanashi thanks you for your help!"
Lesser gnomes would be trampled by this crowd but not Nanashi! This is no challenge for him at all! Oh ho ho! But further talk of his greatness will have to wait. He has business to attend to first.
"Nanashi seeks Vanna who sells paper!"
"Tell Nanashi you've found the right place then. I'm Vanna."
"Good! Now Nanashi seeks paper. And ink!"
"I don't sell ink. You'll have to go to Ephram for that, down to your right, just past the orange tent. Now how much paper do you need?"
Nanashi thinks about the question. You see? He thinks too! Oh ho ho! He only needs one sheet for his message but maybe he should be prepared in case he has to write more messages.
"Three sheets."
"That'll come to twelve silver."
Nanashi carefully gives her the coins. He will have to find work soon! After he thanks Vanna and takes the roll of paper he goes to find Ephram.
"Oh ho ho! If you are Ephram then Nanashi wishes to buy ink from you."
"Ephram I am and ink I shall sell you if you can pay."
"Of course Nanashi can pay! See? Here is his coin pouch!"
"Be careful with that sir. Cutpurses sometimes wander the booths, looking for an easy target."
"They will not find Nanashi so easy! Oh ho ho!"
"No doubt. Yes, I see you've got enough for a vial there. Eight gold please sir."
Eight? Nanashi must find work very very soon! He will have to sleep on the street until then! At least the Dragon's secrets will keep him fed in this place.
"Here is your gold. Do you sell pens too?"
"Yes I would and for only a silver more."
Nanashi pays the silver too.
"A pleasure doing business with you sir."
"Nanashi thanks you too."
Nanashi has ink and paper! All he needs now is a place to sit and write his notice! It is a good thing he needs to go back to the Last Lich Inn anyway! Oh ho ho!
Kywyn scans the different containers marked with labels. Red ochre, natural cinnabar, vermillion, madder root, there were many different ways of obtaining a red color. Knowing the vermillion to be poisonous, made by collecting and grinding the remnants of mercury and sulphur heated together, he avoids that jar.
“Dragon’s blood…” Kywyn reads the label on a small, expensive vial, “Created from the mingling of blood from a elephant and a dragon that have fought each other…”
Kywyn looks at the descriptor with skepticism. That is a tale to sell inventory, he decides. As far as he has seen, Dragon’s Blood red is usually made form the sap of a certain shrub.
He moves onto the next color, the second most common for manuscript illuminators: blue. Most is made from azurite stone, but some are from tumsole or other plant seeds.
Kywyn stops when he sees the rare true ultramarine pigment, crushed from precious lazurite stones, in stock. He has only found this pure color a few times, and it was always imported from overseas. The gracile man cannot resist picking up a very small vial of it, just to have the color like a liquid gem.
A browsing of the other colors available today yields verdigris green and saffron yellow. A carbon black is a staple for Kywyn, and he picks up a larger vial of that color. Specially prepared egg glair and yolk to mix the pigments into gluey paint is found at the end of the aisle. Kywyn reflects on how much knowledge he has gleaned from Japtheth just by speaking with him while working on art projects.
Coming to the shelf displaying brushes and pens, Kywyn picks out a nice set to add to his inventory. He goes for the conventional-looking inkpens that he knows will function well, and picks up a few thin-haired brushes.
Down another aisle, Kywyn picks up some sheets of paper for different media, mostly white or beige in color but of varying weights. He grabs more scrap paper, grayed and thin, for multiple purposes.
Kywyn brings his supplies up to the counter to be counted and wrapped by the girl Saranna.
“There ya go,” she says with a smile.
“Your uncle around?” Kywyn asks softly.
“Up in the studio, I think a class is starting soon.”
“Thanks,” Kywyn nods as he picks up his package and moves toward the door in the back.
---
[Purchase masterwork artisan’s tools]
Arriving in the loft studio, Kywyn places his pack away and takes a smock from the rack. There is a decent group of six today. Japtheth waves Kywyn in as he speaks to them about color theory and how to dull one’s hue by mixing in its complementary color.
Kywyn walks around the back of the room and sits at a table at the side next to Japtheth. The old painter demonstrates on some poor quality paper for the class.
“This is Kywyn, he’ll be assisting me if you have any questions so feel free to ask him if you need,” Japtheth ad-libs with a wink.
Kywyn is a little shocked but shows no outward signs. Instead he sits still at the table as Japtheth continues. Kywyn knew they had talked about helping him with some classes, but he did mean so soon. He is not sure he is ready.
The class starts off with a period of lecture as Japtheth describes the way different types of paints work together and some different styles that have been popular in the past. The master painter’s knowledge of art history still amazes Kywyn, who was mostly self-taught himself. He never placed much importance in what others artists had done besides what he could learn and adapt immediately. However, the more he listened to Japtheth, the more it made him feel connected to something larger than his own body of work. They were creating and adding to the collective of human vision in their own way. The “search for the true word,” Japtheth sometimes says.
When the students start fixing their palettes, Kywyn walks around to help them if they cannot figure out how to make brown or a darker shade of yellow. Japtheth only gives them the three primary paint colors to work with tonight. They have to make all their own hues, which is more difficult that it sounds.
They finish with some simple paintings; still lifes of fruit on the stool in cool or warm color themes. Kywyn stays to help clean up after with Japtheth.
“Thanks, my boy,” Japtheth dries his hands, “I think that went well.”
Kywyn nods, “I’m glad.”
Inside, he is still shaky in his approach. Public speech was never one of his strong points.
But there is time to think about that as they go. The young man heads home before it gets too late.
---
[To Elsewhere]
A few coins are dropped into Kywyn's hands. The dark-haired man dusts off his gloved hands and puts aside his tablet.
Now Kywyn sits at a corner in the market, taking a break from his drawings. The man wears his black-colored outfit and stays in the shade of the brick building nearby. He scans the market pathway from one side to the other, breathing in the winter chill.
Hello there! Searching for inspiration?
*She coquettishly sneaks up behind him, sitting down a few feet away and them smiles, pleased that she is finally getting to know a few people in the big city.
"How are you doing?"
He turns to sit facing Angeliqué on the stone ledge.
"Looking for something in the market?"
*She looks around quickly, then scoots just a little closer to Kywyn.*
I'm looking for a good story to make a puppet show out of!
"You still seem to have a lot of breath in you. It's nice to see."
Kywyn crosses his arms.
"What do you want to make? A comedy? A tragedy?"
*She smiles and nods her head slightly towards the fishmongers stall.
Not quite as bad as the lady haggling with the fishmonger over spoilt fish, but almost along those lines. Something like don't waste your breath over a small matter!
"Ah, yeah, using a common situation to convey the message," he speaks in a distant tone.
"You must like telling stories."
Kywyn pulls up his grey hood against the cold breeze.
*She somberly examines the ground underneath her feet beforre speaking again.
Perhaps one day you should tell me your story. A person does not get to be so withdrawn without a very good story behind it. Until then however, I have some shopping to do, and a meal to taste when I get back!
*She stands and waves as she dissapears off into the market, whistling a tune to herself.
"Take care," Kywyn bids the elf farewell.
The lithe man picks up his pack and heads elsewhere in the market. He listens to Angeliqué's tune until it fades on the wind.
.oO(Hermy's men? The Silver Sword? Since when is the guild 'his'?)
Thank you, no, that will be all.
She pays the baker, and walks towards home, her visage icy.
.oO(I'd lay odds this is that Minto's doing...)
Whoa, there. Calm down Leo.
The ranger steps into a quiet alley for a moment to catch his breath and regain his focus.
Need to find a place to stay.
He fumbles around in his pack for a moment, then pulls out a wrinkled piece of parchment. The few members of the vilage who had travelled to Garic's had recommended an inn to him. Not too small, not too big, and people will keep out of your business.
Leo takes a final breath and steps back into the rabble, gripping the sheet of parchment with the words "Blue Pumpkin" scrawled on it.
Happy to be back with her family, she wanders the market looking at vegetables that are on sale now that the weather's warm enough again. She stops to buy a basket and spends most of the morning picking out things to make when she gets home.
Shae examines some fruit at a small stand when suddenly a wash of fear comes over her. She looks around quickly, but can't understand the sudden pain to her chest that knocks the air from her lungs and drops her to her knees. Her eyes flutter as she is caught in a seeing--a shape looms in the fog...figure covered with wrappings and threadbare robes of dark color...a bitter stench...the sound of water...dark, cramped tunnels...a human, taller than Kywyn with green eyes shooting at the thing...a dwarf with black hair jumping on it......fear.....pain....
Before Shae wakes she feels one last thing, love...Kywyn's last thoughts...of her and Dak and love. She 'wakes' to a feeling of emptiness like nothing she's ever felt. An aching expanse in her mind and heart, the feeling of being ripped in half. She doesn't even notice the blood dripping from the scratches on her arms, or her fingers...her nails broken and bloody. Curled into herself, the pain taking over her as tears stream down her face, she manages a whisper, "No."
The sound of her own voice breaks her out of the shock and a scream rips from her throat, as fast as she can take a breath another comes after the first. Unable to stop, she smashes her fists into the basket, crushing vegetables and fruits. She barely notices when her hand hits the basket wrong and the last two fingers of her left hand crack and sit at an odd angle. And she never notices the crowd. Or the blood running down her face and the clumps of hair ripped from her head.
Her voice finally cracks and she gets up slowly. Making her way to the graveyard, she yells at nothing, screaming to give him back and how dare she take him. Getting no answer from where only she knows someone would be listening, she runs toward Natala's. She needs help and Natala's his friend. She'd help. She'd help find him and everything would be alright. It has to be alright. This can't be it.
[To Natala's p30]
The black threads of the wizard's costume cut a stark outline in against the buildings. The breeze picks up just enough to counter some of the summer heat.
Treading along the market walk, a light-clad figure spies the pale-haired wizard in his high-collared, black coat.
"Him again," Kywyn thinks of Ulerian.
After considering walking in a different direction, Kywyn continues his pace casually.
On the street corner ahead, Ulerian adjusts a black leather glove while holding his pipe in his mouth. He checks his purse and pulls the cord tight once inspected.
"... Another day perhaps." he says to himself.
He turns to see a very clean looking man among the common folk, one dressed unusually in all white.
"The ever-wise Kywyn..." he reflects.
Waving his hand at his side with wrist action only, Ulerian signals his reserved acquaintance.
"Soft day, is it not?"
Kywyn walks up to Ulerian and pauses, looking him in his blackened eyes as the wind blows the wizard's long, wispy blonde strands across his face.
"Yeah," the Kywyn replies quietly as the air current wavers his own short dark bangs, "It's always a mix."
He looks around while crossing his arms, his gauntlets clinking slightly under his loose sleeves.
"What are you doing in the market today?"
"The usual.." replies the other young man as he looks lazily at the passing people.
"I have a few needs for my arcane studies, and research, and this is place with the best variety, although the quality is poor more oft than not. Can you believe how hard it is to fine ground dragon claws? Between lack of that and dried green ooze, my research may very well be wasted."
Ulerian gives a quick, cold look at Kywyn.
"Yourself?"
"Sounds like... interesting research," Kywyn remarks.
This gets him thinking.
"I've never actually given too much thought to the materials used in the craft myself. Seems more of whatever spoke to me or felt like a strong symbol," he explains to the wizard.
Kywyn adjusts the strap of his shoulder bag.
"I was just out to do some drawing... but now that you mention it, I've seen a shop that caught my eye somewhere around here."
He walks down the street a bit and scans the boulevard, looking along the overhangs and shop signs. The background clamor and moving bodies do not distract him. There, between a pawn shop and a cobbler's place, Kywyn spots the store he remembered.
He directs Ulerian to the antique store, "That place seems like it might have more exotic things. I was meaning to check it out."
The store front looks too small to be a proper lot, more of an in filled alleyway. Its stained brown exterior made it easy to pass by as some storage shack. A small sign sits above the single door that displays a title in worn black.
[smallcaps]Clementia[/smallcaps]
Ulerian enters the store, and holds the door for Kywyn, releasing it once the slim sorcerer has it. He surveys the area, looking casually and uninterested at the old dusty furniture. He does find interesting in a bookshelf full of jars. The jars contents vary in size, shape, color, and texture. Some have large chunks, dry substances, and some even look like pond scum, or organs from different parts of different beasts.
Entering the shop as well, Kywyn lets the door close behind him, casting the room back into gloominess. The only light is provided by a few meager lamps on some of the tables. Kywyn lets his eyes adjust so he can see through the shadows.
Following Ulerian, Kywyn looks to a table that displays various trinkets: totems, amulets, talismans, and even small dolls. Kywyn catches sight of a larger doll with a human-like face emulating a little girl. The doll is dressed in a faded red dress and is rather disconcerting in Kywyn’s eyes.
The light-clad man turns to a more pleasant section of stock, walking over to a bookshelf with many bound volumes and manuscripts. Kywyn’s frog familiar crawls out of his spot in Kywyn’s satchel to view the unconventional store.
"Anything?" Kywyn asks Ulerian.
Ulerian half turns to Kywyn as he speaks:
"Half are labeled, and less than half of those are legible.. Still curiosity has gripped me..."
"Huh."
Kywyn looks back to the books.
"Yeah, looks like this is your store if you’re looking for rarer things," Kywyn says evenly.
As the man flips through a few books on arcane philosophy and esoteric histories, he catches a glimpse of motion out of the corner of his eye.
Turning just his head, Kywyn sees an old man, walking with a limp and a bent back. He is dressed in a collared red shirt with a black vest. A matching black cap tops his long white hair, which is complimented with a long grey moustache and beard.
The man steps behind his counter and hangs what appear to be shrunken heads up on a ledge. He glances at his sole two customers.
"Ehhhhh?... " his voice creaks like an old rocking chair.
To this, Ulerian responds, "Good day.. Your collection of rarities is impressive.."
Ulerian looks to Kywyn and then back to the old man.
"Do you have powdered oozes of any kind?"
The old man shopkeep raises an eyebrow incredibly high, "Eh? Power ooze? No, none of that, I once knew a man that could make powerful potions.. but I never tried them.. I didn't trust him.."
Ulerian begins to correct the man, but instead sighs and goes about browsing.
Kywyn simply nods to the shopkeeper before continuing to run his finger across the spins of some tomes.
[i]"Liber Ivonis... Black Prayers... Sign of Chaos... The Revelations of Garneau... A lot of text here."[/i] Kywyn ponders.
"Those books are cursed," a rasping voice from behind says behind.
Kywyn turns to see the old man hobbling closer.
"Are they?" Kywyn asks neutrally.
"Most everything in this place is cursed," is the reply.
Ulerian laughs quietly to himself
"Are you cursed? Are we?"
His gaze moves to a glass topped box filled with various pouches labeled with types powders
"Who cursed all this, old man?"
"These are forbidden relics from places men fear to tread," the man 'hmphs' indignantly.
Kywyn flips through a few books before walking to where Ulerian is examining pouches.
"Quite a collection," Kywyn offers.
"Would you carry any inks or pigments?"
"No, none of that really," comes the response.
"Ah," Kywyn says, thinking of what other components might be useful to obtain from a shop like this.
Almost at the same time, the wizard confronts the shopkeeper.
"Cursed. Yet you sell them willingly.. the show needs work old man.. I'll take one of these," Ulerian indicates a pouch by tapping the glass above it.
The old man narrows his eyes and walks behind the counter to open the case. He pulls the pouch indicated and slaps it on the top of the case.
"Dried mustard jelly.. not much use for that.. one gold piece."
"Quite expensive for a useless item-" says the mage as he replaces the pouch with a gold piece.
"One gold!" the elder shopkeep exclaims again, cutting off the mage.
He scoops up Ulerian's coin once it is set down.
Kywyn watches the transaction before speaking to Ulerian, "I don't need much of the exotic stuff."
The raven-haired man moves past a wooden crate marked "grave earth." Kywyn pauses to look inside. Certain earth is one thing he could make pigment out of by roasting or mixing. And grave earth is one type in particular that resonates with his dark touch to permutate the power.
Kywyn sees the box is empty.
"Afraid of a shovel?" Ulerian asks as he walks to the box Kywyn is standing at.
"Where is the cursed grave dirt, old man?"
The elder coughs, "Fresh out, obviously.."
"Will you be getting anymore soon?" Kywyn asks quietly.
"Not soon," the man strokes his beard, "But I might know where you can find some special dirt... Earth shipped from far away... A box where something powerful lay."
"You must be some new apprentice. Of course you can, but the earth is different in different places. It feeds off the ley lines and dragon stones and strong sources of power," the old man explains.
"Now if you want some information, that will also be a fee."
Uncertain about the vendor, Kywyn shrugs, "Not that important perhaps."
"Or reliable either.. Speak up old man, if your knowledge is worth it, you will be compensated." inserts Ulerian.
Kywyn starts heading for the door.
The shop owner levels his gaze on Ulerian, "Like I said, special earth, powerful stuff. Said to be from the secret Black Field in the Maw of Hardaja, where a hundred men and demons were buried. Their blood mingled with the earth and nothing grows there but cursed spirits. But if you want more details... fifty gold for starters!"
Ulerian rolls his eyes, and turns to follow Kywyn.
"Hold the door, Kywyn, this one is loony."
With a nod to the old man, Kywyn steps outside of the shop.
Ulerian follows him out.
"I think we have the location we need should we wish to search for this magic cursed dirt," the young mage states.
Kywyn turns back to the mage.
"What do you mean? Did you pay him for the lead?"
"No.. he told us where the dirt was, although I doubt there is anything truly special about it. I refused to give him money, I knew enough as is.."
"Ok..." Kywyn scratches the back of his head.
The man scans the market street under the afternoon sun.
"I'm curious about this if you want to investigate it more. Where did he say to go?"
"The Black Field in the Maw of Hardaja is what he said, although I must admit I do not know the geography of that place at all.. I have only heard tales.."
The young mage tightens his gloves and clasps his hand around one another.
"Have you heard of such a place?"
"Not really, though the name sounds vaguely familiar, and it doesn't sound like a pleasant place... but he said that a box was being shipped in from there," Kywyn states while touching a thumb to his chin.
"I'm not too interested in some long trek to a far away land to get a look at this dirt."
Kywyn looks to the sky at a passing cloud.
"I'd rather find out where in the city this box is located."
"Yes.. I question its value and usefulness as well. I am not one to be conned by a charlatan.. who else would know of such a thing?"
Ulerian thinks for a moment, and then huffs.
"Why would this be the place to get such prized dirt? Would not the Hightower, or another such organization buy him out, or perhaps having some on hand..."
"No idea."
"There's the chance the Hightower just doesn't know about it."
Kywyn looks back to the door.
"Trying to figure out a puzzle. It's a chain, follow link by link and find the end. If any of this is for real, I think this first link is where to start rather than try to guess at another one in the chain."
"Think we can convince him?" the young man in faded beige looks to Ulerian.
"He seemed a bit out of his mind... we can use that."
Thinking back to his short jaunt as an assistant investigator with the dwarfess Brodda, Kywyn ventures, "Ever try to con a conman?"
"I am not a stranger to deception and would prefer that to paying. However, what method to use is the question. He is motivated by money, that is about all we know. Perhaps that is the way to get him to give all he knows. Offer him a way to make more money, with our help, in exchange for knowledge only.."
Ulerian gnaws his lower lip in thought.
"...It could work, thoughts?"
"There are some powers I could use... but... I don't know..." he says quietly.
Kywyn looks to Ulerian with a contemplative gaze.
Ulerian half-grins with the left side of his face.
Ulerian walks back into the shop.
The door squeaks shut behind the mage, leaving Kywyn standing outside.
"What did he mean by that?" he thinks as he waits.
A minute passes by, and Kywyn starts wondering if he should go back in Clementia as well.
Ulerian comes out a moment latter, adjusting a pouch. He looks up from it and to Kywyn.
"He was easy to convince.. We are to see a Mrs. Erkyle. She lives in the well off part of town. It seems she's his partner in the magic dirt business..."
Ulerian stretches a bit and looks both ways down the street.
"Shall we?"
Kywyn looks between Ulerian and the shop door.
"How did you get the information? Did you pay him?" a hint of suspicion rests in his voice.
Pulling the door open a crack, Kywyn sees the old man going about his business normally. Kywyn releases the door gently and follows after Ulerian.
"You have little faith in me, Kywyn, I believe I've earned a touch of your trust, haven't I?"
Ulerian gives Kywyn a look as if to say 'I told you so..' after the white clad man finds things in order inside the shop.
"Coins are not the only form silver is useful in. Now, let's get this over with. I have an experiment I wish to begin.."
Kywyn shrugs, "Lead on, then."
They exit the market and continue down the road.
The two men continue their walk down the street through a trader’s quarter and toward the edge of one of the upper class districts in town.
"Here somewhere? Did you get an address?" the figure in off-white asks the other in black.
Ulerian looks up the two streets that meet at the corner. He has a look of thought, and then shrugs.
"Somewhere near this street, he said she had a large garden that met the road. Iron bar fencing as well.. I guess we search a little."
While hiking, Kywyn sticks his hand into his satchel and lets his black frog familiar climb up to his shoulder to provide a third pair of eyes.
After a few more minutes of walking, Kywyn points to a house.
"There maybe?"
"My old master had one of those.." Ulerian says pointing to the frog.
"I personally never felt any want to dilute my resources on.."
Ulerian looks to the house Kywyn indicated and nods.
"We can try it."
He begins walking that way and speaks, keeping his eyes forward.
"It was a feline, a large, evil creature, that despised me.. the feeling was reflected back I can assure you."
The sun casts their shadows down the cobbled road as heralds of their approach. Kywyn watches for a sign of the garden.
Hex studies Ulerian a while.
"He has a long shadow. Guo-guo," the frog chirps.
Kywyn places Hex back on his satchel in the shade of his body.
"Where did you study your craft?" Kywyn asks the wizard.
"NO, NO, no! IF you mixed those two together you would likely melt your hands when you cast the spell. If you are only going to do half of your studying then we might as well quit now!" the imposing, aged figure shouts, his face turning red and his voice becoming haggard with anger, so much so that he begins to cough violently.
His sickness had been more frequently affecting his day to day life in the last couple of years, and it looks as though his condition has worsened again. Throwing his short black staff on the table, he sits down. The young apprentice, age fourteen, sits nearby quietly, almost shaking with fear and disgrace as he begins to talk.
"I'm, I'm sorry master, I thought you said.."
"Do not think!" he replies after a gasp for air, "You are not ready to think yet, only remember and do! Honestly, how can I pass to you what I know if you do not first listen?"
"Of course sir. I will try again if you wish," the young man says pleadingly, eager to learn and get it right.
"No, that won’t be needed today. I am weary of this. Clean the slops and study your notes on manifesting and conjuring. We will start after breakfast in the morning."
"Yes master, of course," the apprentice bows and hesitates, but soon leaves.
[color=seagreen]"One day I will be the master, and he will be dead. Then we will see... No, he was right, I should pay more attention," [/color] thinks the young one as he goes off to do his chores.
Ulerian stops and looks back halfway, then stares at nothing, remembering.
"It was an informal school. I was the only pupil. There was only four of us.. Me, Master, his animal and the retainer. They are all dead now."
He keeps walking down the street, and seems to tighten up his poster and tone, growing cold.
"I was not fortunate enough to have a gift, or perhaps I was not to.. Point of view and all.."
"Fortune," Kywyn nods slowly, "Depends on how you look at it."
They arrive at the house with a garden. Kywyn steps forward carefully, checking to see if anyone is around. He looks at the white-painted wooden fence and seems to almost blend in while standing in front of it.
“What happened at the school, if you don’t mind me asking?"
There is some soft sound coming from the around the house, in the backyard.
"I become who I am, and then sought knowledge elsewhere.. Is that what you mean?"
Ulerian peers in a window, and then walks toward the front door.
"Yeah, something like that."
Kywyn takes a few steps and glances around casually. He waits as Ulerian knocks at the door.
A long pause and no answer.
"There's someone in the back, I think. Should we go check?" Kywyn questions.
"Certainly.. " the mage answers.
Ulerian follows Kywyn around to the back, speaking softly along the way.
"After they were all dead, I decided to seek further advancement... I loathed my home.. However, this place is hardly better. Ah, over there, on that patio, looks like that is her."
Ulerian points to a lady sitting in a chair, enjoying the shade of a flowering tree.
The lady turns toward the two strange men.
"Hello," Kywyn begins, "We tried knocking but no one answered."
The lady seems slightly dazed, only nodding to Kywyn. Dressed in simple yet fine clothing in shades of green and yellow, she doesn't move much. There is a large garden that has been well-tended to along the side.
"Well, then, why are you boys in my yard?"
"Hello madam, I am Ulerian, and this is Kywyn. We seek your rumored knowledge on an earthly matter. If you be so kind as to tell us a thing or two we would be very much obliged."
Ulerian blows low, and awaits her gesture or word for entrance beyond the fence. She stares at them for a few moments, almost to the point of awkwardness, then waves them in. They come in through a small gate, half way down the alley. She doesn't move, smile or watch them really. She simply sits there, hands folded on her lap. When they reach the patio, they notice she is made up, with powder on her face, but the wrinkles in her hands and fingernails are blackened with soil.
"I've just been doing some gardening. I do quite a bit of it these days," the grey-haired woman says.
"How exactly can I help you?"
"There's a shipment coming into town we heard," Kywyn replies, "And were wondering if you had any information. It's-"
"Black dirt," she interrupts as if knowing the next words, "Ah, the black dirt. Yes, I've heard that it's coming in. I have no interest in it myself, can't grow much with that evil earth, but there's a shop that was interested in trading some for some rare seeds."
She speaks as if she has not had an opportunity in a while, letting out her thoughts aloud and opening her plans to the two men. She looks upon Ulerian and Kywyn kindly, in a grandmother-like fashion almost.
"But I don't know where the black dirt is, I just know that I can get some from some gnomes."
"Gnomes?" Kywyn asks.
"Yes, they recently opened a bakery I visit from time to time. They said they could get some and would trade for an old recipe my dear mother left me."
"I think I might know who she's talking about," says Kywyn to Ulerian while looking over the garden.
He waits to see if the dark-dressed wizard has anything else to ask.
The lady picks up on this and sighs rolling her eyes.
"Well, excuse me, gentlemen, time for tea. I would ask you in, but it seems you have what you need from me. Good day."
With that, she stands and walks inside.
"Well, Master Kywyn, lead to the bakers..."
Kywyn starts walking back toward the market square, searching for the store between there and here.
"That seemed easy enough..." Kywyn's paranoia makes it difficult for him to take good fortune at face value.
"I did some artwork for a gnome starting a bakery a while back. I'm guessing there aren't too many new gnomish ones here, so there's a good chance it's the same guy."
"Long name... called him Jack for short."
The two amble back along the road, passing the larger houses until the are back in the heart of the city. Kywyn starts to lose himself in his thoughts quietly while they walk. He's sure there are things he could talk to Ulerian about, but silence seems to suit them just fine for now.
A black horse-drawn carriage passes near Kywyn, breaking him back to the reality.
"This way, I think it's around here," Kywyn points down a street lined with shops.
Though the sun shines overhead, Kywyn gets the feeling that there should be more light than there is on this road. It is as if the shadows around the two men could not all be accounted for by the buildings or sparse clouds above. The overall effect is a sort of gloom trailing their path, but gauntleted man shakes off the perception.
"How do you look at it, Kywyn?"
Ulerian walks along, but doesn't turn to his companion. His tone is as usual without much emotion, but a hint of curiosity is given off with the question. Not simply small talk to pass the time. He shades the sunlight from his eyes with a gloved hand as he follows along down the street.
They ask him what's wrong.
And he tells them, "Nothing."
But they don't believe him.
Is it because he doesn't believe himself?
The spring weather had begun to warm the air, but the river stayed frozen over mostly. The smell of thaw and decay breaks through here and there. A teenage boy with black hair and brown eyes sets foot onto the ice.
At age thirteen, the human boy has already been labeled as 'gifted,' a little too sensible for his age. And so, he often played alone in the ravine.
The ice might be melting, but it is still solid enough to walk across, isn't it? He wants to stop being so diplomatic, so prudent in his choices for once.
The boy runs.
He does not weigh much and his feet are fast. He can hear the frozen ground giving in behind him. If he does fall, there would be no one to save him in time, and so he does not look back.
No one could reach him.
"One day, I will not need to fit in place here," his thoughts run with him.
The last few feet are covered in a leap. His boots get wet, but he does not fall. The exertion has left him flushed with the adrenaline.
His hands are very cold though...
Kywyn blinks away the thoughts drifting to the surface.
"I think..." he starts, "That in the dark, you can only follow the chain link by link."
They keep moving until Kywyn spots the logo he designed displayed on a woven shop banner.
"Here," Kywyn opens the door and lets the wizard pass first.
Such a gesture always carries a double meaning: either you are being polite, or you don't trust the person to be behind you. Kywyn would like to think it is the former today.
"I suppose, or you could simply reach as far as you can, since it is the only thing to guide you.."
Ulerian says this in passing, he does not offer any gesture for the door, nor does he hesitate leaving Kywyn behind.
The warm smell of fresh baked bread hits the two men. The bakery has a half a dozen other customers currently, an even mix of humans, halflings, and gnomes.
The counters display numerous variations on breads and pastries to view. Behind the counters, a wide, raised bench runs the length to provide the gnomish bakers the ability to deal with the big folk patrons.
Kywyn starts to browse, realizing his hunger being pulled out by the sights and smells.
The black-haired man in white walks to one of the counters displaying pies and turnovers.
"Whatisyourfavorite?Wehavelotstochoosefromandofcoursecanmakemore," says a small blonde headed figure in a white apron approaching Kywyn.
Ulerian does not look for sustenance here, and actually stays near the door as the gnome walks around the counter. Many clinks and clanks can be here from what should be a small, quiet bakery.
Kywyn follows the little baker to the counter and picks up a pastry, meat rolled in a flaky dough. Paying for the snack, Kywyn asks about the gnome named Jack.
"OhyahJack? Thataway," the blonde figure points Kywyn toward the far corner of the little store.
At a miniature table, the gnome Kywyn met before scribbles some paperwork out. Kywyn thanks the first gnome and walks over, indicating to Ulerian who they should speak to.
"Aah, how there, Kywyn. Canny te see yee. Leik the bakery? What can Ah dee fre yee?" Jackorjontal Dapplestarskin taps all his fingers against his desk.
"Hello, Jack. The place looks great," Kywyn finishes his pastry, "And good food too."
"This is Ulerian," Kywyn calmly introduces the mage.
"We thought you might me able to help us with some information."
The mage steps forward.
"We seek information concerning dirt, it is said to hold a power, and we were sent to you to find that out."
The little baker replies, "I divvent knaa what it does, just get it frem caravan, an trade te the aad lady. Want te try hor recipe?"
"No.." says the mage looking to Kywyn.
"Now what?"
"We've walked around this far, might as well check it out," Kywyn answers quietly.
"Jack... Could you tell us where the caravan is right now?"
"Sure thing, yee can try the near the warehouse district, past the Wild Things Shoppe, just on the otherside o the wall. End o the block sooth o the lumber avenue," Jack cracks his knuckles and folds his hands behind his head.
"Unless you grow hungry for bread, let us go."
Ulerian waits by the door after giving a half wave to the gnome for the info.
"Thanks, Jack. I'll be sure to stop in again sometime," Kywyn tells him with an amiable tone.
Kywyn leaves Jack to his paperwork and exits the bakery with Ulerian. Their steps lead them west toward the warehouse district.
"Could spend all your time unraveling the threads connecting person to person," Kywyn mentions as they stroll.
Packing his pipe once they are outside, Ulerian walks along with Kywyn smoking rather cheerfully.
"Aye," the mage replies out of the corner of his mouth, "Although speaking directly should get you where you want to go, it oft does not. I grow impatient when words float around motives.."
They walk among the smells and sounds coming from the warehouse district: clangs and squeaks as things are moved around, accompanied by a thick smoky stench in the air. Many merchants and tradesman crowd the streets moving back and forth like soldier ants near the gate in the wall separating the market and the warehouses.
"Sometimes the floating words are the only things you can hang on to," Kywyn says evenly to his wizard companion.
The light clad man points to an intersection he guesses marks the start of the lumber avenue.
"Sometimes those threads you spoke of are better off being cut, even if it is by fate.."
Ulerian stares blankly in front, as if remembering, but mostly just following along behind Kywyn.
"Come quickly, the master wishes to see you!"
With a sigh the pale-haired apprentice rises from his book. Giving a bit of seed to a raven he has befriended, he gathers his things.
"No time for that, he worsens!"
Letting the items fall, the young mage follows his master's retainer to his chambers. There, he finds the bed-ridden old man staring blankly out of his window.
"Master.." the student says, kneeling at the foot of the bed.
He can hear the coarse, grinding breaths his master strains to take as he turns to face the young man.
"You will go on with your studies..." the sick wizard states, pausing for a haggard cough that produces blood and waters the old man’s glossy eyes, "My fate is to leave you now.. use your knowledge to wisely benefit you."
The coughing begins again, much worse this time. The young man turns away, closing his eyes, fearing to look at one he imagined so powerful reduced to a sick wretch fighting for breath after breath.
”I will not let you down, master."
"You will become powerful indeed one day..” the old man smiles after saying this, but whether it is because he is proud or because his burden is lifted, the young man is unaware.
His master is gone.
"I’ll tend to him now, son, back to your books as he would have wanted," the retainer says as he helps the apprentice to his feet.
The adolescent goes back to his study with a very calm face, but this is soon changed. He walks in and finds his master’s cat cleaning itself. The raven on the floor dead with scattered feathers, leaving him no doubt as to what has transpired.
"He dies, and you do this? Your fate is with him!" the door to the small chamber slams shut.
A few brief flashes of light flicker in the gap beneath it, and then all is quiet.
"When the time is right, a path is shown to us all.."
Not knowing what to add to a declaration of fate, Kywyn remains quiet until they reach the building at the end of the block.
"Should be it," he studies the locale.
"See if we can find someone to talk to," he says softly, "Wonder if the caravan is still here."
Seeing the laborers in the warehouse district makes Kywyn wonder about how one chooses such an occupation, or if the choice is made for them.
"It’s in the blood."
He thinks as he looks at the crimson on his fingertips.
The life is in the blood. If someone or something wanted to kill you, it is a simple matter. We are all so fragile. Not much you can do.
He hates paper cuts. The numb, queasy feeling they give him.
Kywyn looks out the window of his room. All these inns are starting to look the same.
"Was it pain that makes you real? Is that what defines the contours of our lives?"
Kywyn finds a cloth to wrap his finger in for the time being. He looks at the drying red spots on his paper.
"It's what seems to bring the 'magic' on... I'm starting to hate that word... the pain and emotional reply."
He has left home because it. Maybe that is unfair. We all have choices; he chose to leave. But if this magic that people gawk at, whisper about, preach against, and hide away is built on pain and causes pain, why would anyone chose it?
Maybe he could give it up. Just choose to stop using it. It is a choice, after all, isn't it?
All he has to do is keep control of his emotions, push them down where they can do no harm. It seems better that way anyways.
He looks over to the unadorned bed in the corner of the room. The dark-haired girl lies there, atop the covers in her traveling clothes.
"What do you want?" Kywyn whispers into the mirror, though he could be talking to either his own reflection or that of the girl.
He met her last night - it had been too long since he heard a gentle voice. Wanting some place quiet to talk, she came up to the room, and they sat down to discuss their separate travel plans. He felt so desperate, so apathetic, that he just wanted to be somewhere, to exist in someone's eyes.
She made the mistake of touching his gauntleted hand in a friendly gesture. The sudden warmth, even through the metal, the feeling of a pulse, of someone caring, set off Kywyn's chilling powers. A dark surge passed from him to her through the touch as her warmth seeped away. He knelt by the chair in shock, thinking he had killed her. What was worse was this wasn't the first time something like this had happened. It was the worst kind of deja vu.
It was many minutes he stared at the window from the floor. The moon was out and appeared so beautiful, so distant.
When he gathered up the courage, Kywyn was relieved to hear a continued breath from the unconscious form. He moved her gently to the bed, where she has continued to sleep off the damage he caused. Kywyn watched her all night in case there was a break in her breath or a faltering of her heartbeat. He didn't know what he would do... but morning has finally come.
He gathers his gear, pulling on his torn grey poncho-cloak.
"Do you love me?"
He knows the answer to the question, even if she could answer, must be no. He needed to say the words, part of him wanted the rejection.
"Do you love me?" he asks again, but the mute girl is merciless in her silence.
Kywyn makes it to the door. He would tell the innkeeper to come check on her. He couldn't risk more questions, more trouble.
He whispers as he leave.
"Do you love me?"
Kywyn meanders with Ulerian around the side of the building until they see an opening where several wagons are idling. There are only two men in near the vehicles. One tends to a horse while the other walks around checking the wheels. They are dressed similarly in dusty traveling clothes and red-sleeved puffy shirts.
"Do either of you know of any wains from the desert? We seek a possible shipment."
He looks to Kywyn to press them further if need be.
The gruff-looking man pauses and scrutinizes the two newcomers.
"You magici-ans or something?" he asks with a thick accent.
Kywyn shrugs, "Or something."
The man looks to his bearded partners for a moment before rubbing his chin.
He allows, "We do have some cargo. You buyers as well?"
"Possibly, if you have what we desire. Have you any dirt from the Maw of Hardaja?" he asks trying to find the name of the place in his mind.
The man nods as he makes some marks on a few crates with a straight brush carrying dark red paint.
"How much der yee want?"
The two spellcasters glance at each other, not coming up with a reply.
"Thees way," the tall fellow with the beard directs Ulerian into the storage area behind them.
One of the building's large double gates is open. It seems to be a loading area for wagons. The floor is dusty but smooth and there are crates littered around the open space, which is large enough to accommodate four carriages.
Kywyn speaks sideways to Ulerian as they follow the trader, "Is this what proper wizards do? Spend their time hunting down newt eyes and blood dust?"
"My power is from formulas, knowledge, and manipulation of them. I was not blessed with innate ability like yourself. When the need calls for things that increase or allow me to use these powers, I seek out the ingredients yes... and I seek things that are unconventional. They sometimes aid in increasing the known power of spells, and thus I gain power from it. More oft than not it does not work..."
"Then why?"
Kywyn stops.
"I mean, I never really understood why you do it: search for it, sacrifice for it, kill and die for it if you don't have to," he turns toward Ulerian now, observing the man who is looking very much like a wizard.
"I use forms and tools to control it, restrain it..." Kywyn voices carefully.
"It just seems like a fish trying to learn to fly rather than swim better. It's dangerous and makes you a target and probably leaves you dying somewhere you're not supposed to be."
"And in the mean time, you cling to others like you to try to catalogue and control the rest of us from your tower in the sky."
Kywyn sees the crate set apart from the rest, lying like a coffin on the dusty floor. A shaft of dim sunlight coming at an angle from above adds to the effect.
The hills are green. The tower is set in a truly majestic location. The salty breeze that blows in from the sea mixes with wildflowers that grow throughout the hillsides. Giant white clouds float overhead, causing the hills to be blotted with darker green spots here and there. The sun burns hot, but the cool breeze and clouds keep the temperature quite comfortable. The silhouette in the doorway is of a smaller, thinner man than most. His dark blue robes cause him to look almost like the very stuff of shadow. He turns from the natural beauty and slams the door behind him.
"The sooner I get off this wretched rock, the sooner I can forget it exists," he murmurs to himself as he stomps along down the corridor.
The heels of his boots clack loudly on the stone floor and echo in the silent halls. He opens another door, and shades his eyes from the sunlight. He steps lightly out the door and into the once lush garden, now a weedy unkempt mess. Paying it no notice, he stamps through and down the hillside past. There lie two graves, one with a large headstone, and the other a pile of smaller stones. There the man remains for a few moments standing silently. He spins on his heel and marches back up the hillside.
Soon the darkly cloaked figure can be seen riding a pony out the path and into the countryside.
"Shall I return?"
He stops the pony and half-turns looking back and the tower.
"Bah!"
He kicks the pony and off they go.
"I wish to control no one!" says the mage bitterly
"You deny yourself power that you could use for great things. I accept my abilities to gain my powers... I am ambitious, yes, some may say too ambitious. They have that right, though I disagree. I seek to be the best, the one others wish to become more like. Not my moods or method, but my skill and knowledge. Why settle for swimming only if there is a possibility for both? Sacrifices must be made in order to make proper steps towards my goals. If someone dies along the way, then so be it, it is fate, which I believe in. I myself have fallen from life before, and yet, I return. I am fortunate, but I work for my powers. If I need someone to help me achieve my goals then I will ask for their assistance, never force or control them. Pardon me if I seek things that you fear. You say you wish to restrain yourself, but I do not think it is so. You are afraid to let your powers ripen. You think they will control you. By denying them you allow them to control you."
The young man narrows is eyes and draws his hood.
"Do not attempt to lump me in with those that think you unnatural. I serve those in the tower because they serve me!"
He pauses again, looking to the crate.
"I see potential in you, Kywyn, but your restraint keeps you from becoming mighty. I do not think you take every step you should to suppress your power..." he grins to himself, and moves only his eyes to focus on the man before him.
"I could have you figured all wrong, but I think not, at least, not entirely.."
He brings forth a dagger from the folds in his robes.
"Whatever," Kywyn either ignores the threatening gesture or pretends to ignore it.
The man in off-white continues walking closer to the spotlighted crate.
"One link at a time, remember?" the voice echoes slightly in the warehouse.
"Power... control... sacrifice... servitude... who benefits and who loses. And you lose where this chain began."
Ulerian looks confused at the comment made by Kywyn and gives him a puzzled look. The fair-haired mage shrugs and walks to the crate as well. Once there, he uses the dagger to begin prying it open, and sheathes once the task is complete.
"From your point of view.. always keep that in mind. If power is such a bad thing, then I suggest stopping all attempts to gain it. From knowing you the little I have, I know you do not idly sit and farm, bake, or cook. You have other roads you travel, and they all lead to power."
"No... I suppose... Suppose it's hard to work in absolutes. Power is the power to change, and that's not a bad thing," Kywyn concedes.
He peers forward at the opening crate.
At the door, the bearded merchant's steps reverberate in the room.
"Find eet?" he asks.
"Uh.. yes.." Kywyn replies.
"Perhaps a bit more organic than usual, but I sense nothing special. Let me check for magical attributes."
He steps back and chants words in Draconic. He holds his hands with palms toward the crate for a few moments then relaxes. Turning to Kywyn, he shakes his head.
Kywyn raises a hand to his nose and mouth when the crate is opened and the fumes sluggishly start to rise.
"Smells like... manure," he says.
The merchant nods and smiles, "Yah, best fertilizer thees side of country."
Ulerian gives his sly grin and sighs.
"Well, my friend, it seems like we have wasted a day for gardening dirt and learned a bit about each other. Likely a bit about ourselves as well."
He turns to leave.
"In the coming days I may need your assistance for something, not a major effort, but it will be touchy. I'll contact you with the information. Until then, fare thee well."
This leaves Kywyn staring into the casket-like crate.
"He took that well..."
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
He hears the priestess sing the prayer and cannot turn away from the sound.
He has done murder. Not this poor soul being laid to rest, but another just last night.
It wasn't his fault... Kywyn keeps telling himself. It wasn't his first since leaving his home to travel the dangerous countryside to the south.
Would he lose track of the number, of their faces, in this harsh land? Would the shaking grow less with each kill? In killing, he felt like he was dying, but at the same time, there was something else, something curious and miraculous in the siphoning of another’s warmth. In that moment, half in love with death and half with life, the shadows all become white and the blinding lights turn black; there is a terrible harmony.
O divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive-
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
It was only a second... he only lost control for a second and the next thing he knew, the bandit lay on the ground shivering in his death throes. The would-be attacker was carried off by his fellows as Kywyn knelt in the field alone again. There are people everywhere. Kywyn just is not used to it. Back north, there was enough space that you could walk a good distance without seeing another face. If you strayed too far, it was still mostly wild animals you had to content with.
It is different here.
Kywyn tried to stay away from strangers, but he was no woodsman, he needed the shelter of the villages. But there have already been two towns he has been shunned away from for being a witchbreed since coming on this trek, for letting his dark touch slip and infuse his hands with the peculiar blue aura. He had no intention of making this the third.
The storm clouds overhead bathe the dusk ceremony in a grey-blue light. The smell of coming rain settles in the air.
The graveyard is soothing to the thin man. He watches the funeral, not even knowing who is being honored, but it doesn't matter. People are different in places like this, they are more solemn, more drawn inward. It feels like a haven for the melancholy Kywyn.
There is a place with a real cemetery, perhaps big enough to wander and get lost among its stones. It is just another few days away. Garic's City will have answers or it will have silence. The promise of either is enough to keep him going.
Kywyn gazes off as Ulerian leaves.
"Bye."
Wandering back past the merchant, Kywyn says diplomatically, "We'll let you know."
He exits the warehouse on his own.
Uh, excuse me, sir, I'm sorry to catch you just as you close shop to go to lunch, but would you mind selling me a couple of your waterskins?
The old man stands back up, wipes his forehead with his sleeve, and squints at the elf. Then the man speaks in a scratchy voice.
How many ye be wantin'?
I'll take two, if you don't mind.
Basil reaches under his armor and pulls out his money pouch, extracting a couple golds and silvers.
Here ye go, lad. Say, ye don't look like most male elves. Ye look more...wild...I'd say.
Yea, I'm not like most male elves. I'm a druid. My name's Basil. Here you go, sir, and thanks for your time.
After paying the man for the waterskins and adding in a little extra for the incovenience he caused, Basil and his wolf, Drudwyn, went looking for a good tavern or bar to get lunch themselves.
[to adventure thread]
Kywyn talks to some imaginary watcher, as if to calm his thoughts by keeping them busy.
The thing is, I’m not the most accustomed to public speaking. I’m the one in the off-white clothing, by the way.
Then, he finds himself not replying quickly enough and breaks off his inner monologue.
Kywyn explains the exercise they will be doing this evening: practicing drawing with black ink using only a stick of wood. The sticks were thick as dagger handles, with a squarish cross section. One end is flat while the other is cut at an acute angle. The tool seems primitive, but it forces the artist to use different parts and slants of the instrument to achieve a variety of lines.
“The human figure is difficult to proportion right. We see it everyday, so our minds assume they know what it should look like. You end up drawing what you remember rather than what you… what you see,” Kywyn tries to speak loudly enough for everyone to hear.
When they partner up to attempt to draw each other, Kywyn fades to the back, thankful to be in the cooler shaded part of the room. He is still nervous inside, which becomes a sort of quietness when focused through his introverted personality. Similarly, self-consciousness shows up as coldness.
When asked a question by one of the students, Kywyn freezes for a second while trying to think. Japtheth puts his hand upon Kywyn’s shoulder to reassure him and steps in with a word or two. Kywyn follows up on the master painter’s explanation with a few words of his own.
Kywyn exhales subtly and nods to Japtheth, who returns a wink. The younger, light-clad artisan is not sure he’ll ever get the hang of this, but this environment, ink and paper, makes it easier. It’s a space Kywyn knows, he just has to relax a little - something that runs counter to all the paranoid instincts built up through time.
Absently, Kywyn stacks the cards neatly and turns over the top image, one after another. Three of cups, The Hanged Man, The Devil, Seven of Swords, Three of Swords, The World, The Hermit, The Defender…
Who knows? That could be his whole life laid out of the table, and he is just unable to read it.
The light grows dim, one of the lamps runs out of oil.
In the half-light, the lithe man reshuffles and draws a card.
Defender... analogous to the Emperor of the common deck. He looks at the picture. It is a dwarf who looks similar to Aramil, who was invited by Ulerian to the Last Lich Inn earlier to discuss their next exploration plans.
After a moment, Kywyn notes a couple of imperfections in the drawing by candle light that he did not see before. It is an artist’s curse to see the flaws in his own work so readily. The lines are too thick here and there so that the character doesn’t quite look like a dwarf, and somehow the picture has become smudged with a thumbprint so the face is like a black mask now.
The raven-haired man draws another… Defender. Here he pauses. He knows for a fact there is only one Defender card in this deck. Kywyn doesn’t show any reaction, however, as if it is the most normal thing in the world for drawn images to change by themselves.
Another and another. Defender twice more. Looking at the images, they all seem to mirror each other, and don’t really resemble Aramil anymore, but all look like the black masked shadow.
The stones around the drawn figure seem to be a black throne.
The Emperor. That was the card which Natala drew for him way back when that caused so much vision and trepidation.
“Upon a black throne no one sees.”
Now, Kywyn drops the cards when the voice comes from nowhere and everywhere. He spins, not seeing anyone.
He looks to the edge of the candlelight to see his frog familiar there.
“Hear that?”
The frog blinks in a gesture Kywyn reads as equivalent to shrugging one’s shoulders.
“Natala… Should get these to her anyway,” Kywyn grabs his satchel.
He looks to the table to pick up the scattered cards. They have all returned to normal, and Kywyn wraps them with a ribbon.
The pallid beige of his loose shirt and pants echoes the candle light to make it more than it should be. Kywyn blows out the candle and leaves the studio for downstairs to say a quick farewell to Japtheth while exiting.
He stops, “It’s too late... I’ll make a stop off back at the compound, and get to Natala’s another day soon. Got to meet the others tomorrow, better get some sleep.”
The door chimes only jingle softly.
"So you'll be able to wake the Dunskar's now?" Artin asks her.
"No, not yet" Anaya says with a slow shake of her head. "I'll need a night to prepare first. And we still need the bodies."
"Right," says Auben. "Weeell, if there's nothin' t'be done fer now, me'n Artin're gonna pay our respects t'the Church. Er... nae disrespect, milady."
"No offense taken," Anaya assures him with a grin. "We'll see you both in the morning, then?"
"Aye," the dwarves tell her and make their way to the Church of Agathalos, even as Anaya and her entourage make their way back to the Silver Sword Guild.
"Here, what's all this, then?"
Looking up into the face of a pair of the city guards, neither looking particularly interested in making a purchase, Burleg gets the impression that it might just be about to get a whole lot worse.
"Help yeh boys? Just tryin to earn a few coin for my labors."
"Where'd you find it, anyway?" the other, a younger man with a long nose, asks.
His partner merely harrumphs at that question.
"I didn't figure a special one license was needed. Other folk here are selling such goods."
Burleg spits through his teeth and leans his head to the side a bit.
"Now fellow, I believe you should be a bit clearer in yer words."He says like someone who knows a secret to the ruddy chap.
"Perhaps you've got another craft in mind?"
He points to a fellow in a grubby brown robe, his wares spread out around him on a blanket some twenty yards distant.
"He's a pretty well-known muckraker 'round these parts and even he had to get a license for the odds and ends he sells, none of them quite so... fancy as this lot. You go round to the public offices at the palace and they'll get you set up."
He leans in really close, standing face to face with the dwarf.
"But first you tell me where you really got the ring and that headband. They look look a bit too valuable to be hawked as street wares."
"I don't remember having to tell guardsmen what my business is, but in this case, since I was doing yer job, I'll humor you I suppose. I was, on a tip from said halforc, snooping around the sewer for some matierial to work with. There I ran into a group of do-gooders on some kind of rescue mission."
He stops and leans in closer.
" So there I found him, old death walking and talking. He threw spells and curses and his eyes carried a red light. He was an undead conjurer of sorts and was wearing them all. I cut'em all off him, with my axe."he points to the very large double bladed weapon laying against his pack.
He then leans back and smiles confidently adding a touch of mockery to his tone. "That's the short version. You really ought to hire someone to keep the sewers a bit safer.. I think that one's boss is still looming around down there looking for blood to suck or souls to eat.. the usual evil undead checklist.."
He gets stern next, useing his finger to direct with whom he is speaking to and no mistake, jingling the man's mail as he's prodded.
"Now you listen here. If you think I've come by any of this in less than honest terms, then speak it plainly and we'll deal with that. I must admit, I don't have a license, but I'll wrap all this up and get one as soon as I'm done with you. I've been through a stream of dung and a whole heap of death, and to have my honor questioned makes my blood boil. " the dwarf's face is the third shade of red at this point, but he restrains himself and continues
"These items are likely too nice to find a buyer here, aye, but I'm not sure their total value yet, and was hoping to get some more information. There, I've come clean."
An old man in a white apron comes out and smiles at Boirin.[i]
"In need of my services today sir?"
[color=darkblue]"Indeed, its been awhile since I've had a trim. I've seen what people try to do with daggers in this city, it bothers me. If I'm going to cut my hair I want it done propperly."[/color
"Of course, come this way sir. Whats our name? How short do you want your hair, do you want a shave or just a trim for your beard?"
The barber bustles Boirin into a chair near the window. Boirin tries to answer all the questions.
"My name is Boirin, son of Naerin. I want my hair cropped nice and short, but not in an ugly manner. Do not shave the beard. I want it trimmed."
"Wait on second thought, take the razor and a single width of the blade from where my sideburns thicken to my beard shall be all the shave I need."
The barber hurries about him, prepairing for the haircut. He brings out scissors, a comb of bone, a razor, and a thick bowl of lathor. Pulling a robe around Boirin and his clothes he sets to work.
It seems to Boirin that the man makes a thousand tiny clips, but in about twenty minutes he is done Boirin cocks his head at his reflexion. He smiles at the man indicating it is good. The comes the trimming of the beard. The barber lets it be as long as it can before it looks shaggy. Finally the two swipes of the razor, and the hair cut is complete.
"How much do I owe you?"
"Two silver pieces, Mister Boirin."
Boirin nods and sets three shining bits of metal in the man's hand.
"Buy yourself a round on me."
The barber inclines his head and Boirin leaves.
"It's our business to inquire into anything irregular..." the man says, carefully adding, "...sir."
Pointedly, he adds, "Moreso than it's your business to tell us ours. Now your story is unusual..."
"But we'll report it," the other hastens to add, earning another glare from his compatriot.
"Yes," the older man says testily. "We'll do that. I'm sure they'll pass the information onto the palace and they'll report it to Captain Haldar's group."
"Maybe you could mention it to them yourself, sir," the younger guard says to Burleg. "Fellow like yourself might find the adventuring life right up his alley."
"Got to perform a service to the city to join," the other adds smugly.
"Shouldn't be a problem," the younger one counters, "once they've confirmed his story, anyway. And if I understand right, they might have a better chance of providing a buyer for these goods you've got here."
"I guess," his partner admits grudgingly, then returns his attention to the dwarf. "So do you want directions to the palace or the Silver Sword Guild."
"That's the adventurers' group I was telling you about," the other interrupts helpfully.
"Yeah," the older guard agrees, rolling his eyes, "I'm sure our friend could figure that out. So which do you want to see first?"
.oO(Maybe they'll be able to see if some magic's are on these..)
"Well then.. I'll have a word with them at the guild. As for reporting the story to the palace, I believe that's yer job. I would, but since there is likely no reward, it'd be a waste of my time."
He pauses and ignores the two for a few seconds.
"Do you know any of these adventurers? The group I was with seemed to be of that sort. They didn't have uniforms that I noticed...but they could handle themselves readily"
"Well, there's Captain Haldar, of course..."
"'Cept no one's seen him in months..." the other mutters darkly, but his companion continues.
"And there's that halfling -- he's getting to be quite the legend by now..."
"That's nearly all his minstrel's doin', though."
"Well... maybe..."
"Maybe, nothin'. It doesn't matter what he's done if no one's heard about it, and that Newberry fella' is good at making sure people hear the right sort o' thing."
"All right. Then there's Sir Gamis, who's been working with the Jackals a lot lately... and there's... well, there's that wizard he's supposed to be marrying and, um... there's the shopkeeper elf-woman... and... uh..."
"Look, maybe you ought to answer the question of how to identify the lot."
"Oh. Oh, yeah! Yeah, they don't have a uniform, exactly, but the all wear this silver pin in the shape of a sword."
"Hence the name, the Silver Sword Adventurers' Guild."
"Well... yeah."
The older one turns back to Burleg.
"We'll pass your story along to our officers and they'll attend to it. But if you're looking for the guild, you just go..."
Directions come about with a few corrections from the junior partner until both agree on the most effective path for reaching the Silver Sword's headquarters.
"No halfing either.."he notes.
"AH! Gamis, that's their captian, and his sweetheart. They were with me. They were with a couple elves and a young man... I ran into them and they said come along. That's where I found the loot."
Burleg narrows his eye a bit and sucks his teeth.
"She didn't offer any kind of help figuring out what these could be, just complained about me taking them. Hmmmf! Well I found them! I'll have a talk with them now."
Burleg turns away from the two and begins to pack up.
"I would rather not deal with them though.. They seem pretty self-righteous. Good of the community, regaurdless of the individual.." he continues to bicker over his should as he packs things away.
"But if they are the only ones that can tell me what I need.."
The dwarf grins a bit and tips his helm, holding it in his palm, he gives his farewell and trots off. He notes an elf, that's the one, NaShey, Nayshee something like that..
To Elsewhere
She greets the merchant, chatting about the wares, describing her own, and finally showing him a sampling of her colorful fishing lures. After some discussion, a section of his table displays the lures, and she settles on a spare stool, out of the way, crafting a fishing rod from one of the long canes she has been toting about.
"It's nice to be able to step 'up-deck' now and again, y'know."
She grins, Yes. Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, then. I'd better see about a place to live -- I'd meant to do that before now, but I got a bit distracted with that cloth merchant's description of the trout stream.
"Oh, I know a place! My second cousin on the wife's side was seeing a fellow that lived at a boarding house. He went off on some sort of hunting trip, didn't make it back, more's the pity. Or not -- Molly's mum 'n dad didn't like the fellow. Dad thought he was a ... erm, little too likely to sow the oats, if you get my drift. Mum didn't like his table manners, said she'd never be able to stomach her dinner if she had to sit across from 'im. Oh! The boarding house, sorry. Run by a widow... Ah, Mrs. Weatherly. No... Weatherby! That's it."
Directions are given, repeated back, and Steffi hurries off, hoping to find the boarding house before dark. And where will I go if I don't find it? Best hope I do, and she has a room available, or directions to an inn.
She settles the whip more comfortably on her hip, and walks faster.
I dream I am crawling through a gateway trying to seal itself shut. It is made of shadow and skin. I crawl into the wound and now I’m somewhere I really should not be, and I can see things I really should not see.
The road ahead is lined with shattered things. I tread carefully, one step at a time. The darkness holds me up and speaks to me. I can trust it.
Tell me it wasn’t all for nothing; it can’t all be a waste.
You watched me die.
“Whox,” Kywyn says to his frog who crawls under his grey cloak at the shoulder.
Kywyn takes a winding path toward the general direction of his home, not the trail of someone who knows where he’s going. He detours noticeably in the market square, keeping to the alleys as much as he can.
When he comes into the side street, there does not seem to be anyone else there. Kywyn walks calmly toward one shop. The sign above says “Caitlynn’s Crafts.” Though he is able to see in the dark, the letters appear to cause him some confusion.
He stoops down and reaches the cobbles with a hand, stopping to look around. He claws at the door once, then again more noticeably.
In the dimness of the night, Kywyn’s black outfit melds him with the areas of shade, while his ragged charcoal grey cloak waves in the air like a ghost. The light of the nearest lantern gleams off the metal over his hands and feet.
A grey-haired man fends off the sleep in his eyes, opening the door a crack while placing spectacle upon his nose. He adjusts a coarse red night robe over his bedclothes. A candle in a holder in hand light his way.
The crouched cloaked shadow shrinks back slightly from the new light. A subdued jingle of the bell above the door accompanies the further opening.
Not having known him for that long, the older man has never seen Kywyn in his particular black outfit. It takes Japtheth a moment to recognize the torn cloak and place the pale, shaded face.
“Kywyn?” Japtheth scratches his silvery beard.
“What’s going on, my boy?”
Kywyn pulls himself up to stand and silently moves toward the door. Japtheth shifts aside to let his intermittent student inside. It has been a few days since the younger artisan has been here, but the master painter struggles visibly with the reasoning of this night visit.
From outside, the building seems modestly crammed between the other shops on the street. It is about two stories tall with a high slanted roof. On the front face, the door rests to one side of the windows; the second floor only has a small porthole-like window beneath the peak of the eaves.
Hermy shuffles a bit in the shadows across the street from the man.
.o0(I appreciates a good... craft?.. as the next guy, but ifen I just gots broughts back ta life I'd be more interested in my wife an kid then I woulds be fingerpaintin things. An I likes fingerpaintin.)
Hermy sighs.
.o0(I just don'ts get it.)
“Come on now, Kywyn, you have to give me something to go on.”
Instead Kywyn grabs a largish sheet of paper and some brushes. He pulls out his inkpen and starts going to work on the blank space. Yes, he recalls something now, about creation and the things it could call up out of oneself; sometimes things that you don’t even know are there.
Japtheth can only ask a few more times before he accepts there will be no response tonight. After a time, Kywyn draws his legs up to the stool, perching like a hawk.
Japtheth looks over the work.
His eyes scrutinize as he nods, “Quite something you’ve put together so quickly, must admit...”
The strong use of black ink creates a high contrast piece where figures in battle compete over a field of black sliced by white lines of rain. Certain areas are hatched for volume, while others are inky pools.
“Where did this come from?” he asks.
Silence.
“I wanted to ask you the other day if you wished me to display some of your work downstairs? I have some space opening up, and we could use some fresher images?” Japtheth holds up the ink drawings.
Kywyn tilts his cloaked head. He nods slowly.
“Alright then,” Japtheth continues the conversation, “You’ll get consignment fees of course if they are sold.”
Kywyn hops to the recently swept wood floor and rises to his feet.
“You don’t look so well. Do you need help...?”
The shadow-clad man pats Japtheth on the shoulder and walks out the doorway and back down the stairs.
“... getting home? Oh, well. Nice work, can’t take that away” the painter considers before following Kywyn down.
In the front room, Japtheth puts a hand on Kywyn’s shoulder and says quietly “Kywyn? Whatever it is... Take care of yourself, you hear? I’ll see you again.”
Kywyn doesn’t turn around, but he stops for a second in his tracks.
With a slight flourish of his cloak, Kywyn steps outside and heads back down the street toward the direction of his apartment. Under the moon, he exhales deeply. He decides to rest a moment, crouching atop a barrel in the next alley.
Hermy looks down at the dagger on his belt.
.o0(He'll be fine.)
He eventually makes his way back to the apartment, returning to those closest to him before the morning sun begins to alter the color of the sky.
He sighs and opens his eyes completely.
"Hey! Hi there! What's going on?"
The biggest of the children grins. Yer 'ermy Wood'ome aint ya? 'ero of Garics City."
Hermy nods. "Yup. And of Brannons Run."
The boy smiles. Hermy smiles back. "Can I help you?"
"Well, could ya do soimethin 'eroic? Oi wanna tell moi friends Oi seen ya do soimethin."
"I'm doing something heroic right now. I'm standing guard duty."
"We thought ya were sleepin."
"That's what I wanted you to think. That way you could sneak up on me close enough so I could..." Hermy lunges forward. "..do this!!!"
The halfling tumbles into the middle of the group and then does a handstand.
"Now I'm standing guard duty upside down. Is that more heroic?"
The group laughs. Hermy joins in with them and rolls back into a standing position. He glances up at the apartment Kywyn and NaShae share.
"Ok, Ise gunna test you guys to see hows heroic you guys cin be. Dids any of you see any one in that apartment up there come out this morning?"
He gets a chorus of "nos". Hermy shakes his head in apparant approval.
"Good job. Ise didn'ts either. Youse guys is well on yer way."
He sighs. "I should think about getting me some breakfast..."
He gets interupted. "It's lunchtime now."
Hermy smiles. "Ok, I'lls has both then. Would you guys watch that apartment for me until I get back?"
After setting up a good watch position Hermy strolls off to find food.
A short series of croaks tells Kywyn to turn his head slowly and gaze in the direction of some crates next to a set of stairs coming off the sidewalk. A second later, the raven-haired human turns forward again and keeps walking.
[color=olive]I dream I am standing in a hall of mirrors. I see through a glass, darkly.
I am walking on a path with my dead brother; he was a creature of dreams near the end. I help him up over a tall step, a long forgotten bond between kin.
So, he asks me, are you really dead?
I don’t how to answer.
We walk toward a small cottage with smoke rising gently from the chimney. This was never our house, but I guess here it can be. Inside, a meal is cooking over the stove, and the room is a lot bigger than it should be. It’s filled with family, my family: aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, grandparents.
Silis and I sneak in among the mob. My mother finds me and sets me aside.
You told us you wouldn’t forget, she sighs and combs my hair to the side (I hate that), now I think it’s the only way we’re going to get you back.
I don’t know what she means, but I stand and walk to the window as if I do. When I look out, it’s night time all of a sudden. I’m back staring into the dark mirror.
Turning for the door, everyone fades as I walk by. Their outlines vanish in mid-motion, oblivious to their desertion. Silis is by the door, the last to go.
Ky, he nods, you’ll need a light. And then he’s gone too.
No, I mutter, I won’t.
I’m out the door on the shadowy path again. This refuge becomes a faint sparkle in the backdrop.
Once alone, I’m crying silently, and I don’t know why.
[/color]
At a vendor, Kywyn tilts his head at the assortment of fruits and rounded loaves of bread. He points to a few and has them wrapped up. It is almost as if the process of purchasing food is a new task for the man. He places a coin down in the stout grocer's palm, then another, until he accepts by closing his hand. Kywyn remains silent, relearning things he should know.
I'd forgotten how crowded a city can be. How long ago was that? Nevermind...
She smiles sheepishly as she reaches the booth where she works.
Hello, I hope I'm not late. I found that boarding house last night, but this morning I had to help the landlady chase out a bat.
"A bat?"
Yes, one of the other boarders, a dwarf I haven't met, had it in her room. I can't imagine keeping a bat in your room, but there it was. It got into the sitting room and was breaking things.
She perches on a stool behind the table.
"A bat. Well, dwarves and bats both live in caves, I guess. Here, you help the customers, I've got to go see about buying wire for hooks."
She nods and checks over the table, then lets her gaze scan the crowd.
Huh, look at that guy, he acts like he's afraid of the crowd. Well, as nervous as that donkey by him is, I'm glad I'm not in kicking distance, myself.
He stops short of the counter, just looking back and forth across the wares, eventually glancing up to meet the gaze of the woman. His dark eyes seem deep and glazed over all at once, like a pond rimed with ice.
Good day, sir,she says politely. Will you be needing fishing supplies today?
At length he raises a gauntleted hand to point to a wooden lure with teased, colored threads and tilts his head questioningly.
Is there something on his shoulder? I must be seeing things...
A little shadow on his shoulder opens its eyes. The black frog pokes his head out from the shade of a fold on the man's cloak.
What could I possibly say to this man? Wha-at? It's... a frog. Too small to eat, a pet, maybe? City people are so strange!
She clears her throat, So... You already have a pole?
Gee, I'm so witty.
Kywyn pulls out a scrap of paper from his belt pouch. In his right hand, a blacklead pencil appears.
He places the scrap on the counter and draws two curving lines which intersect to form the body of a fish. The frog croaks something else and Kywyn shades in some detail to the sketch. The man nods as if taking in information.
Some bubbles and ripples to indicate water, and Kywyn pulls his pencil away.
The frog looks down at the paper and chirps, "Guo-guo."
Kywyn slides the paper over to the girl. With his other hand, he pulls out some copper coins, placing a few on the counter. He slides a coin over to Steffi, watching her face for a reaction. It is a look of restraint on Kywyn's face, as if he is trying hard at this simple exchange.
You... want me to fish for you? Or you want a lure that resembles this fish?
Or maybe, lessons on how to fish?
Perhaps he is a mute?
She looks up at him, trying hard to understand.
He points to the coins then to the lure.
Some time later, a man in black and grey steps out of the Toadfoot Apartment and treads down the road to the edge of the market. A small dark-skinned frog on his shoulder watches the few people they pass from a hiding spot on the pale man's grey cloak.
A short series of croaks tells Kywyn to turn his head slowly and gaze in the direction of some crates next to a set of stairs coming off the sidewalk. A second later, the raven-haired human turns forward again and keeps walking.
Hermy freezes in his hiding spot behind the crates, a dribble of milk falling from his lips.
.o0(How'd he spots me? Kywyn aint got the good a eyes. It must be his toad. It was chirpin. Must has seen the flies circlin my pie tin. Maybe Minto has apoint about bein cleaner.)
Once Kywyn has moved on, Hermy breathes again, and then slinks after him.
At a vendor, Kywyn tilts his head at the assortment of fruits and rounded loaves of bread. He points to a few and has them wrapped up. It is almost as if the process of purchasing food is a new task for the man. He places a coin down in the stout grocer's palm, then another, until he accepts by closing his hand. Kywyn remains silent, relearning things he should know.
Hermy lingers a short distance away, trying to act like he is interested in buying cloth from a dealer while keeping an eye on he newly raised sorceror. A familiar voice interupts him. The voice of his tailor, Miss Cuwen.
By the time Hermy can get his order in for a new cape in the stunning crimson silk he was looking at, Kywyn has moved on.
.o0(Greats! He coulds be anywheres by now.)
Hermy starts searching.
Kywyn stares at the girl, then pushes another coin to her. Hex drops the lure into Kywyn's hand and he puts it on the counter next to the money.
He points to the coins then to the lure.
Oh, ah, that one is one silver, five coppers.
She scoops up the coins. At least he's only a mute, not deaf as well, I don't know how I'd cope!
She looks again at the drawing, You draw very well. I haven't seen anything like that in... many years.
He puts his index finger to the small piece of paper in Steffi’s hand. Bringing it back down to the counter, he draws in another fish so it looks like they are chasing each others’ tails.
The hooded man turns his head as if listening to something.
As he scans the view, he sees a small blur of red in the crowd somewhere. Probably his imagination.
She looks up, to see her mute customer staring into the crowd, and wonders if he heard her. She tries to guess what he is seeing, but all she sees is the market.
The man looks at other shadows in the market, under overhangs and in alleys between buildings. He turns to scan the edges of the fishing supplies booth as his hands clench and unclench.
.o0(What's he doing there? Kywyn aint really the outdoors type.)
Hermy moves closer, noticing that Kywyn seems to be looking for something. The halfling shrugs.
.o0(I aint really sure why Ise following him like this anyhow. It woulds be a lots easier to keep an eye on him ifen I cin stay in eyerange.)
Hermy moves into the open and waves as he approaches the booth.
"Hey! Hi Kywyn! Thinkin about goin fishin? I know where ya cin get some worms."
He crouches down on his haunches. He gently touches the ground with his fingers as his torn cloak sways behind and in front of him.
"Whol’mupp lodpaxanks..." Kywyn murmurs quietly.
Ah, fellows, let's not have any trouble, alright?
What in the world is going on here?
Hermy looks around at the items in the booth. " Don't worry, Kywyns my friend. We aint gunna fights. I suppose we coulds gets a pole here though. Though it woulds help ifen we knew what we was fishin' fer."
"Last tme I went fishin with you..." Hermy pauses to look at the man. "Ya remember last time we went fishin, dontcha? The only time?"
His gaze turns towards the elf manning the booth. "Ya got any poles big enough ta catch spidercrabs?"
"I doubts thats what we'll be fishin fer, but I likes to be prepared. Ya never knows what might happen. Right Kywyn?"
Kywyn points to Hermy's sheathed sidearm.
"Wen'z gour ug blem zo..."
The guarded human's voice is a sickle scratching flesh.
"Daxalk."
Kywyn slouches into a seated position against the front panel of the booth.
Hermy shrugs. "I don'ts speak orcy. But I knows a little goblin. Theys similiar. They both sound like youse gots to spit."
"An they hurt my throat."
Hermy puts his hand on his sword hilt.
"I think he's thanking me fer protectin his family while he was dead."
"either that or he wants to cut something up."
"Ise gunna go with the first choice. Its probably safer."
He looks at Kywyn and nods. "Yer welcome."
He looks around the market again and moves on hands and feet a few steps before standing. The grey-cloaked man finds a shaded area next to the fishing booth and hops up to a low ledge in the stone wall of the building.
Kywyn scratches his hair, causing his hood to fall back.
Then he notices some of the shadows in the area moving without being attached to their makers. In his mind, he sees hints of claws and horns. Kywyn hunches down, cat-like, as his eyes narrow and dart from one corner to the next. He lets his satchel slide off his shoulder to rest beside him on the long ledge.
"Sounds likes he's speakin orcy donts it?"
Hermy shrugs. "I don'ts speak orcy. But I knows a little goblin. Theys similiar. They both sound like youse gots to spit."
"An they hurt my throat."
Well, no. I speak orcish, and that isn't orcish.
She shivers, nervously, watching the cloaked man. He was dead? Well, this confirms my opinion of raising the dead -- some things just shouldn't be done.
He moves towards Kywyn. "His family needs him."
"It just takes a bits of getting used to I'd imagine. Ise talked to dead people before. Being dead is very different from being alive. It's gotta bea shock."
He stands next to Kywyn and stares in the direction the sorceror is.
"Ifen theres anythngs there, ya don'ts need ta worry about it. I cin takes care of it."
A little boy’s shadow looks like a wolf, an elderly lady’s shade appears to have tentacles, and the overcast area under the line of hanging signs wavers like a monstrous centipede.
Kywyn slowly brings his hands in close to his chest and pushes outward with palms against an invisible wall of air, testing the space in front of him.
Perhaps his family needed him, but like this? No, the halfling may have brought back the body but I'm not so sure who, or what, is inhabiting it.
Turning, Kywyn thinks he sees Hermy's shadow bigger than it should be and bearing wings. The grey-cloaked figure walks over to test the halfling's cast shape with his toes. Looking behind himself, Kywyn perceives a slight delay in his motions and those of his shadow.
It is like a taunting stalker somewhere.
He smiles. "But no one is in mine rights now. So yer safe."
"Almost as safe as you woulds be backs at home."
Kywyn begins tracing lines over himself with his gloved index and middle fingers. He speaks cutting syllables to himself as streaks of darkness start trailing his gestures. The matrix of translucent black lines arrange into a pattern over his body, girding over his cloak and hood like bandaged armor.
Kywyn moves forward toward a man carrying a large sack, stopping short of running into him. Kywyn puts a foot onto the courier’s shadow forcefully, causing the man to flinch back.
"'Ey, watch it!"
Kywyn seems to ignore the words as he turns and presses a palm toward the air behind him. He spins and kicks in a hooking fashion at a hanging shadow he sees. Kywyn keeps his movements going, becoming a sort of swashing, solid black dancer wielding gleaming gauntlets and greaves. His form is contrasted in motion and stillness, pausing at moments only to break forward as a torrent of flowing waves.
The martial art displays he practiced in private for so long, he now shows off in public for the first time in a long while; but in his mind, it is not practice.
At first, his motions alarm the merchants and passersby, but then most conclude it must be some clever street performance, and many go on with their business. After a series of leaping leg attacks at some invisible targets, a few people clap, and one man even tosses a copper coin Kywyn’s way.
---
[cast shadow conjuration (mage armor)]
Hrmy moves closer to Kywyn, ducking and weaving to avoid his attacks as he tries to talk to him.
"Hey Kywyn.." The halfling slides under a rapidily approaching foot, and starts to try and spar with the martial artist. " hey, ifen we aint going fishing, maybe we should..."
He tumbles away from a punch, striking out with a fist of his own. "Maybe we should had home. NaShes probably worried about you"
Action!
Using expertise and fighting defensively to boost his AC to 33. Doing an unarmed attack.
When the man enwrapped in shadow spins again, his waist flickers first, lending momentum when he steps out with a deceivingly sudden palm push which Hermy bypasses. The small rogue’s counter punch strikes shadow substance that feels cool to the touch. It does get Kywyn to look down and then around as he catches his breath.
His voice is faded behind the shadow mask, muttering something that sounds like a warning to Hermy.
.o0(He shouldn'ts be so cold. It's gots to be some kinda his magic, nots...)
The halfling tries to get Kywyn's attention again.
"Hey! Kywyn! Hey! It's time ta goes! NaShae and Doctari are waitin fer ya! Memeber them? Yer wife an son? They's waitin fer ya at home."
.o(Hopefully's he won'ts try an kill me. But he don't sound rights.)
Walking some paces back away from Hermy, Kywyn steps into the shade behind the fishing supply booth. As he leans against one of the supports, the shadow lattice around him relinquishes its hold. His freed, tattered cloak wavers again as the pale man casts his gaze downward. His breathing calms down, his face remains indifferent. Kywyn reaches over to grab his black colored satchel.
The circle of onlookers starts to disappate, though a few of the younger folk watch Hermy still.
Hermy gives them a wave and takes a few hesitant steps towards Kywyn.
"Ya ready to go?"
The dichotomy of his fear of and longing for the shadow gives him a more chaotic cast, but he grows calm again as he walks.
Kywyn stops down the street toward home, sitting on a bench next to a thin-trunked tree that wears a spherical mantle of leaves. The foliage bears a tinge of yellow, the first sign that summer may not last forever.
"Ya seem to be lookin better. Are ya?" The halfling scratches his head. "I aint sure whats wrong with you. Natala an Durin didn't forget how ta talk when they cames back to life, an we know Durin was in one of them hells. What happened ta you while you was dead?"
He sighs. "I aint gunna get an answer ta that I cin understand, is I?"
Kywyn slides his hand back into his glove and straps it in.
"I gets it now." hermy swallows whats in his mouth. "Ya can't's eat when yer dead. An well... I know abouts NaShaes cooking. The whole halfling quarter complains abouts the smell.. Youse needs a goods meal."
"I know backs before I used to eats regularily I gots confused an frightened too."
"I wouldn'ts ferget how to talks. I'ds just thinks Arnor was a werewolf."
Hermy stands and starts to move. "Comes on. Volos shoulds have some pie cooking. If that don't fix ya, I don'ts know what wills."
He pulls up his hood again to shade his eyes.
"Maybe a few sammiches too. You cin takes them back ta yer family. Theys been through a lots too. They coulds use some reliefs from theys suffering as well."
directions
To the SSAG we go.
I have'nt used *hic*..one of these in years...
His attempts to rub the drink from his eyes fails, forcing the young man to close one eye while he inspects the lures.
.oO( I can't even remember the last time I went fishing...Oh man everything spinning so fast..I'll need more drink pretty soon...Oh yea....I havent gone fishing since that day...)
The young man falls into deep thought while staring at the lures, oblivious to those around him.
Huh, he won't even remember this conversation tomorrow.
I'm so sorry...Umm..could I gets that one? He says while biting down his hiccups. I think I'm gonna go fishin...Ya would'nt know of a good fishing spot outside of town would you?
.oO(Keep it together man...now don't forget to give her the money for the lure...Thank goodness I kept that bottle of wine...I wonder if I look drunk....I hope not.)
Ere you go...Well I'm off to find a fishing spot.
With an awkward spin, Driden moves down the street toward a city gate. Once again, he manages to bump into a few people before disappearing into a crowd.
[Beyond the Walls]
Now what do I do...?
She goes through the rest of her time at the booth in a bemused state, heading back towards the boarding house with great relief.
I could use a drink, actually. A city this size is sure to have a decent watering hole...
To the Last Lich
"There..."
*Feeling restless, Jace turns to stoll towards the Silver Sword.*