Miscellaneous Buildings

[EloHim]

After organising his temporary dwelling in the walls of the Tavern, Elorit decided to further examine the carcass of the patient he's going to work with in the unknown quantity of coming days and nights.
After a short rest, he picked up one of his satchels containing the heavy Tome - which he always brought with him, as if it was a part of his body, - and strooled out of the warm walls of Tavern into the gloom and mist of the Hamlet. It was some sort of the middle ground between stone-walled city and a village, and as he looked on, he inadvertently saw the similarities between this place and the one he visited years ago... The sickness of the place was showing itself not in the clouds of sand-dust walking through the streets but... in faces of people and buildings.
The Hamlet seemed to live side to side with some sort of pestilence that was slowly trying to chew its way through the village, like a lonely rat, slowly consuming a giant bag of oats. He seen something like that already, on a different scale but seen nonetheless. He remembered... Gorkhon.
Elorit put those thoughts and memories away for he didn't have time nor desire to remember the pain and loss he felt through those days long passed.

The Abbey looked welcoming... and at the same time - didn't. Strange notion, but Elorit did not paid much attention to it. He knew that not all priests were as welcoming to his kind as they were to the usual flock and for now he was not willing to test out the waters.The Guild seemed like the place of order and, sensing the military presence, Elorit made a note in his mind to probe the place on the point of selling his tonics and drugs, should they require any.
He also noted the presence of Blacksmiths shop, which wasn't really surprising - any village had at least one person dealing with farm equipment and horseshoes. But the size, scale of the building...told him that whatever was made there was so much more than scythes and horseshoes… He remembered the words of Ponytail about demons and had to acknowledge that there was at least some truth to his words.

There was one structure among those present that took his attention. A brightly colored wagon, with smells of incense and distant lands emanating from it. He walked up to it and saw many things inside...glistening, dim, sharp and dull. Trinkets, tools, scrolls, stones, jewelry, dust and liquid… everything was there, capturing the sight, calling, whispering promises of usefullness yet to be understood…
As Elorit looked upon the splendor inside that wagon he knew that this was the place he would visit more than once in coming days.For know Elorit decided to look upon it all with consideration. The dark-skinned woman, the owner of the wagon, turned out to be from the lands he already visited not so long ago so between observations of goods he shared a few bits and pieces of news that he gathered on the road providing insights to some things about which the owner of the wagon heard only in very crude and censored form. This was his way of earning trust with certain people with whom he had a perspective of business relationship.

[Vanitypirate]

There was no subject untouched by tragedy, it seemed.

Tilly frowned in that moment as she considered this new bit of unsurprising information. She knew more than... a not unsignificant amount of people-- though no doubt there were countless others affected by the Estate's forces-- the impact of malign magic.
At any rate, it wasn't amazing bath-time conversation, and she was inspired to find at least one positive subject between the two of them.

"Ah... Stars above. That's horrific." She rubbed her jaw, and her eyes glanced down at herself: a sight that moved her to seek clothing.
With a sigh, she slicked back her wet hair and turned half-wise to the shore and the log, where she'd shed her clothes.

"Well... you'd look lovely with long hair-- 'specially with that color. You could pin it all up out on trips." Was her rather unceremonious suggestion as she stepped back.
Twirling her finger, she was motioning for Courcy to avert her eyes.

"Water's a tad cold... mind turning around?" She smiled and shrugged sheepishly. "I'd like to get dressed, I think."

[The Carrying Blade]

Nasuada got out of her bath, it was long, warm until the water turned almost numbing cold, just the way she liked it. Though now leaving Ibrahim to his own devices, and the two other woman she had no interest in at the moment, she left after changing into her clothes with not much talk or thought. Now was the time to act, and to get payment for what she has done so far, reaching into her pack and popping the pills that were prescribed to make sure she didn’t have another accident.

She went over to the heirs place, gathering her 300 gold reward, letting lib and the others take it when needed. After all she had a much bigger plan, she still had that gem, and she needed cash, so now was the time to cash it in. She made her way all the way to the nomad wagon, such a glorious owner that she wanted to have a nice real long talk to later, she liked people like her who held knowledge like one holds their body up. Though there was a man there already talking to her, nothing too special but now she had to wait for them to finish. Waiting a few feet away as she looked towards the owner to give her a small wave of acknowledgement which she returns kindly as she speak.

[EloHim]

Elorit was conversing with the trader when he noticed that wave. Stopping and glancing back at the person at whom that wave was directed, he saw a fair white-haired woman waiting. Quickly deducing the nature of the situation, Elorit noded to the trader and stepped aside from the vagon's window, resting his back on the vagon's wall.
"- Come, we're almost done anyway."- He said to a woman as he procured a scroll of paper and a small stick of some pitch-black material from his satchel and started using that stick to write a list of his special necessities on the scroll.
He was looking forward to getting more ingredients before he could proceed with his little plan, but reciting them to the Trader would be... inefficient. Plus...the next client looked interesting, to say the least. Elorit was looking forward to observing her from close distance.

[The Carrying Blade]

Nasuada let out one of her rare smiles, liking when things went her way, especially when it came to this. She approached the wagon, digging into her bag as she went to procure the gem she wanted to sell. Her long white hair lovely, fresh and clean out of the bath it still held a bit of moisture as it was hard to dry out easily. Though her ruby red eyes with their precarious dim glow, along with chocolate brown skin made her seem more exotic than anyone could dream of being. Suited her well, made people whose interest in her outweighed any caution take priority, or the severely dim witted who thought she could grant them wishes.

“Hm, thank you. Remember when I came here before and showed you that special item? We’ve come to turn it in and collect what you’ve said is it’s price, around 1,000 gold coins at least if we remember right.” She spoke nicely, the duality of two voices accompanied by her use of words to insinuate there was more than one person talking would be of immediate notice. However the nomad took no fear, but instead nodded enthusiastically at the prospect of acquiring the special gem.

Nasuada pulled it out, a large, crimson red ruby pulsing with a deep energy only those trained would be able to see nicely. It was finely made and held a secret power Nasuada could not experiment with for if it was energy there was no saying how terrifyingly overpowering it would be. No, it was a tool for selling, less she find herself in a much less wanted predicament of foolish wandering where one should not try to go to.

[EloHim]

As the woman approached, Elorit instantly excluded local origin. She was beautiful but that beauty was foreign...and dangerous. The gut feeling told the alchemist that to trifle with such a person would be undesirable.
Her voice...reminded him about a memory he was trying to forget. The level of strange in this woman grew every second. He kept his cool though, knowing better than pester a person with questions. Elorit's eye casualty went for the thing that woman was trying to sell, while his hand was finishing the list...and his heart stopped for a second.

No...it couldn't be. Impossible. Why? How? Not again. Please, not again.- millions of thoughts flashed in his head as he looked upon the surface of the bloody stone. Elorit seen his twins before.

1000 gold. A definition of an underpricing if ever there was one. To miss such an opportunity was a foolishness beyond any measurement. His funds would suffer and he would need to find a more stable source of income, but...that stone was worth much more than that.
Elorit rolled the scroll, took a deep breath and spoke with utmost curtesy.
"Forgive me for such a rude intrusion into your transaction... but if this gem is what I think it is, I dare say that even that sum of money would be too low. And while i doubt that there is anyone in the Hamlet would be willing to pay it’s real value in gold, perhaps, if you're willing to halt before finally selling this unique bauble...you and I could try and figure out how to better compensate you for It. How’s that sounds to you?”

[black379]

"I do like to wear it long." Courcy expressed with a sigh as she combed her fingers through her hair again. She drew it out as if to measure it's length, but it only barely fell past her shoulders. Her copper locks weren't nearly straight like Tilly's either, but she imagined having long and flowing hair down to the middle of her back. She did twirl about, less because Tilly asked her to, and more that she was pleased with free time and close company.

"I'll grow it out just for you." The ginger chuckled and washed her face another time for good measure. She was turned away for her friend's privacy, but she did wonder what Tilly had to be shy about. Courcy herself was unabashedly scant with her dignity, though that was something Tilly suggested she work on. Still the hellion could hardly imagine herself a prude. Just as the blonde would escape the river, Courcy would steal a quick glance.

[The Carrying Blade]

Nasuada halt her hand from moving any further, the look of despair and a little bit of fear appearing on the nomads face as she realized she most likely wouldn’t be getting this gem, and the price she put on it would greatly affect her customer views on her. A loss of buisiness if she ever saw one, very good buisiness at that. The occultist raised an eyebrow at Elorit, retreating the gem back inside her pack faster than either him or the nomad could see.

“Both of you...have a lot of explaining to do. Before we even consider giving either of you this gem. Nomad, we will talk later, you however...” She turned her hard eye on Elorit, the glare harsher than any she had given before which would bore into his soul.

“You will talk, and explain to us what’s so important about this gem that even 1,000 gold pieces is not worth it, then we will see if we’ll give it to you, understand? If you would, follow us.” Nasuada finished, her voice curt and filled with an annoyed authority.

She walked off, towards the blacksmith, more so the back of it, knowing the sound of metal and steel clanging would hide heir talk better than even the Tavern with all its gambling, loving, and drinking. This had piqued her curiosity, and she would get to the bottom of it, after all she did know this gem was priceless and would’ve taken the 1,000 pretty well. But with someone upstaging the nomad in price she knew this would bring a greater reward than she could’ve realized.

[EloHim]

The "we" and the duality of the voice combined set of a number of warnings in Elorit's head, but the potential danger was low enough for the alchemist to not delve into reconsiderations.
"- As you wish.One second."
He switched to the Nomad again and passed her the scroll.
"- In this - the set of wares i require and instruction on how to get them. Most probable place to find them is in the Capital. Contact Alister Crow of Royal Academy. The old man is still alive and teaching, and if you explain to him who send for those things - i have no doubt you will be compensated quite substantially. "
He finished, getting a short nod from the Nomad and hurried after the woman.

He was not bitter about calling in a favor from one of the debtors/friends of the family. His grandfather allowed the professor the examination of the book...and that thing led to a series of events during which a certain number of favors was owed by the historian. The deal and compensation would not cover the real price of the gem but it wasn't supposed to.

One thousand gold. Ha. What a cheap grab for the priceless thing!
If he was going to let the opportunity slip through his fingers he would consider retirement for he would not be smart enough in his own eyes to even touch the Book.

As they stopped behind the blacksmiths workshop, Elorit could see the logic in picking this place. Noisy enough to conceal the talk, and at the same time there was no one around so an accidental eavesdropper would be spotted easily. All that in theory of course, street smarts was not the thing Elorit was good at. His eye-patch though was having a certain effect on unsavory folks, considering his scars, so in the end the skill was not a super-neccessary requirement.

“- Again, forgive me for breaking the quick deal,”- he apologised to the woman first, knowing full well that she had every right to tell him to sod off.
“- It was very rude on my part but I considered it necessary. My name is Elorit Himarius. I'm an alchemist by profession. And what you hold in your pack is a Blood Ruby. Rare gem, never appearing out of thin air, never without reason. Worth a lot more than 1000 gold, that's for damn sure. Mostly because of its properties, which are connected in some extent to its supposed unusual nature.”
Those last words gave him the unpleasant gut feeling. These gems were on the early pages of the Book, but the language of them was a cipher made from a mixture of languages that are now considered dead. The information concealed in the pages and the information from some trustworthy outside sources made him less in denial about the fact that Blood Rubies were not naturally growing gems concealed within rock and stone.

[Vanitypirate]

Tilly emerged somewhat awkwardly onto the bank of the river, arms encircled around her as she made to spend as little time uncovered as possible. She slipped her legs into her drawers, and then her trousers, but left them unfastened.
Evidently, she had a hint of a gut which made the waist of the pants rather uncomfortable.

"Just for me...?" Tilly echoed with a mild, albeit whimsical surprise, fitting her arms inyo the sleeves of her stained, white shirt. "Aren't I lucky!"
She buttoned her shirt, but left it loose. There was liberatingly not much left to hide from Courcy.

She slicked back her wet hair away from her face.
"You could braid it before expeditions..." Nodding, with a squint, it was as though Tilly was already envisioning her friend with flowing, red locks.
"...and you'd have beautiful curls by the time you'd come home."

[The Carrying Blade]

Nasuada seemed calm now, as if her entire nature before hand was just an act, and as the man drones on she seemed a touch bored. Though it was to be expected for the woman to find those with skills that her magic could only dangerously try to perform in their own manner, an alchemist was easily the worst of them all, science not one of her strongest suits. The tiniest bit of jealousy seeping into her veins whenever she met one of them.

“Is that all? With your concern of trying to win it, you made it seem this Blood Ruby was something truly important. Yes it has power, but we dare not tamper with things that even a demon would be wary of. So why is it so important to you?” She asked, resting herself against the building, raising an eyebrow at the man as she tried to decipher his inner workings. It was curious at the very least, but she hoped this would transform into a wonderful partnership.

[EloHim]

"-The Demon? Hmm...the similarities continue to pile on."- Elorit mumbled to himself. Denial was starting to feel less and less useful. Soon things will get clearer. He needed to get the gem now, before everything goes downhill, like it usualy does.
"-The Gem is a rare ingredient to those that know how to treat it. The potions that contain it can save many lives from the things that are considered non-treatable by the modern medicine. Causes like... Death, for example. Or at least what people percive as such. Last time I encountered those gems, i had to relinquish them in order to create a cure from quite a deadly case of epidemic. Long story. You acuired that Ruby somewhere near the Estate, correct?"

[black379]

Courcy closed her eyes and rolled her head around her shoulders. She enjoyed another moment of the river's freedom, but she had been in the water long enough for her fingertips to wrinkle. She had adjusted to the temperature, and was more concerned of the nipping air when she left the stream. Not long after Tilly had dressed herself, Courcy paddled to the shore to follow suit. Her arms huddled about her chest, more to keep from shivering than anything. She moved to pull on her pants and top, that seemed to fit snugly as she was still damp.

A small smile pulled at her lips as she noticed Tilly's slight bump. She was curiously delighted for her friend, and for Lekalis too. Courcy was jealous of them, but at the same time, she would panic to have a child of her own. In earnest she was still a child herself. Living alongside Blood and Tilly may be the closest she could get to a family she wished for.

"Thank you. For sharing your home. I don't want to be a whore, y'know?" She scoffed and shook her head.

[The Carrying Blade]

“A demon, not the demon, you seem to be smart enough that we’ll let you know we have dealt with less than favorable beings, and not even they would try to tamper with this item. Holds too much power. However, yes, we found it over a lake blacker than death in a bag in a boat we were riding in, had to use it to get away from forest monsters to a demon like man we have never seen before. Whatever bandits had gotten the gem they paid a heavy tole as literally all of them are dead now.” Nasuada explained, sounding more interesting than before as she took the gem out and inspected it once more, before handing it out to the alchemist. He wasn’t trustworthy in her eyes but he held a potential she couldn’t deny.

“Here. Take it before we come to our senses.” She said curtly, staring at him with daring eyes, in secret she liked him, enough to give him the ruby at least.

[EloHim]

"-As I thought. The Hamlet is in more peril than it seems."- Elorit said, more to himself. First he would need to find out if that gem is one of the old one’s he encountered a year ago. That might’ve happened, who knows?
"-Thank you..."- he said accepting the gem with reverence. He felt it. The tug of the power concealed within. Soon he will know if it could be harnessed by his knowledge. Soon he will know what he's going to deal with.
"-No, "thank you" is not enough. I owe you. Rare books, potions, any other service im able to provide - yours, you just need to ask."
Elorit put the gem away, within the inner pockets of his coat. He was now willing to go any possible distance to get the woman what she would want from him. Even if it means that he would have to call in more favors than he would usualy allowing himself.
“Oh...by the way… i never learned your name, my lady.”