In Search of a Forge

Lower Trades District, midday

Even the grasp of winter can't stop the inevitable march of commerce and trade. Everything one could need for a few coppers or silvers is here: food, drink, gear, decorations. While it's after the Yule season, there's still a brisk business in trading and exchanges.

One shop radiates welcome heat, the smithy here pounding out some new blades for guards and bravos to take the field when the snows finally recede. Stoically standing outside is a lean, muscled half-orc, bundled up in a heavy leather and wool cloak from the chill, a scarf wrapped around his face as he stamps his feet to try and banish the cold. "Ten more minutes," Harshad mutters to himself. "Then I'm done for the morning."

She had taken to exploring the city. Wandering with no real desitnation, just going where her fancy took her. She had only recently arrived and the large city was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was a world of new races, cultures and foods. She was having a hard time wrapping her head around it all. Today's walk found her in the Lower Trade's District, wandering aimlessly.

There was one sight and sound she unmistakenly knew, that of a blacksmith shop. The ding of the hammers and the soft glow of a flame was like a beacon calling to the Stormgarde woman of Steinholar.

The cold did not seem to bother her all that much, nothing covering her head with her blond hair blowing in the cool air as she approached the shop. Her eyes fell to the Oruch standing outside it, his full appearance masked by the scarf. SHe paused at the entry besides the security, looking him over before asking. "Are they open?"

Harshad immediately snaps out of his reverie, green eyes flicking to meet Kadlin's. "Hnnh. Yeah," the half-oruch growls. "Lemme make sure he's not in the middle of something though, if you got business." He pushes the heavy leather curtain aside to peer in, the bell-like tone of a smith's hammer continuing. After a moment, he beckons to Kadlin. "C'mon in. Might as well get warm while you wait for him."

Inside, it's a fairly straightforward journeyman's smithy. A strapping young human boy is helping pump the bellows, while a heavily-muscled arvek, his orange skin painted in sharper tones by the forge-fire, is shaping an axe-blade. From its design, this is a wood-chopping tool, not a war-blade, but the smith shows the same care. His eyes flick at Harshad momentarily, but he doesn't stop his work.

"Bargley'll be done in a little bit," Harshad explains. "What're you looking for? Or just window-gazing?" There's a variety of iron and steel tools and weapons hung on the walls, some tagged with names -- commissions -- others simply for sale.

She was a bit wary. She did not trust many people and certainly not anyone in the city. As the curtain is pulled back, she steps into the warmth of the forge, rubbing her hands together as she gazed upon the setup. Her eyes fell upon the human boy and the arvek, then to the forge arrangment itself, then finally to the weapons upom the walls. She steps over to check one of the axes on the wall, turning around to kook upo the Oruch once more. "Impressive work."

She takes a step closer to the security so that she may converse a little easier amidst the sound of the forge, a hand brough to her face to tuck a strand of hair away from her face and behind her ear. "Does he do engraving? He brow raise with her inquiry. "If not is there a forge in the city I cuold have access to?"

Harshad pushes his hood back and pulls his scarf down, now that he's out of the cold. Rubbing his nose, he squints a little at Kadlin. "Engraving? Not really. You might need to find a good khazadi for that. As far as public forges..." He waits for Bargley to finish his hammering, then growls something in the harsh tones of yrch-speak. Bargley peers at Harshad, then at Kadlin, then says something in reply before getting back to work.

"There's one around the corner in Goblintown, if you're brave enough," Harshad says finally. "Bargley says they haven't blown it up or set it on fire like the last three." He reaches up to tug on one of his braids and adds, "Yet."

She did not expect her request to be able to be met, but she figured she would ask anyways. Truth be told, the forge was one of the few things she had seen whil ein the city that really made her feel at ease. She had no real reason to be there, except she needed a momnent of familiarity. As Harshad and the blacksmith begin to converse in the language she clearly does not understand, she watches them with a raised brow as her eyes shift back and forth between them. "Goblintown? Like within the city?" She truly is slightly taken aback that the there is such a place, considering she had only seen her first goblin n her life a day before. "Well maybe I will check it out then...later. Always up for a good risky visit to something that can explode at any moment."

Tlanexhuani enters the trades district from one of the cluttered streets linking it with a certain mentioned goblinoid neighborhood. The bluescale Makari is hunched forward, leaning on a spear that serves as a walking stave more than a weapon. He, of one of his kind, might appear somewhat out of place between the scraps of one area and the many forges of another; maybe less so in light of the banded bronze armor he bears over his scales and the large hammer hanging at his hip.

Harshad squints a little at Kadlin. "...Ah, you're fresh off the boat. So to speak. Yeah. Alexandria. Coin to be had wherever you look, but you'll see something new around every corner, so stay on your toes." He looks at Bargley after glancing outside, and growls something in that same tongue again. "My relief's here. Finally. At least this one doesn't insist on staying on till all hours."

The curtain is pulled back to admit what looks like a walking suit of armor, broad in the chest and shoulders, with writing across several of the plates. "Barrel reporting," comes a hollow, metallic voice from the helm.

Harshad shakes his head, and gestures to Kadlin. "Come on. I'll show you where that forge is in Goblintown." He pulls his hood back up. "I wish the damn wind would let up, though."

"I wish I had taken a boat. Was a lot of walking with no real desitnation in mind. Starting to think this city may be somewhere worth staying in for a while." She shifts her weight onto her other foot and give the Oruch a nod. "Okay. I mean maybe worth looking at. Not saying I am going to take my chances at all, but always willing to see another part of the city." She moves to follow, stepping out of the way as the new security arrives. Was his name Barrel? He was certainly shaped like like. Why did such a place like this need so much security. Should she even be in thie neighborhood?

As she exits the forge she spies Tlan, the Makari caught her by surprise. She had seen something like it wandering the city, but she had never been in such proximity to the race in her entire life and for the first time she was able to get a good look. Did she stare too long? Perhaps. Was this the reason security was needed?

Her brow raised and she look to Harshad, and then back to Tlan. Was it a lizard? A dragon? Could it speak? Would it try and bite her. All these question raced through her head as she asked of Harshad. "And that would be....?"

This particular lizard-dragon would be... coming right for them. Tlanexhuani's gait is casual and unhurried, the butt of his spear tapping along the wet ground as he approaches. The heat of forge-fires is always welcome against the chill, though the rain is less of a worry; it sluices easily off of scale and banding alike. With them going and he coming, he spies the pair and offers a greeting. "Ah. Peace on your nests!"

The rangy half-orc chuckles deep in his chest. "Fair enough. I took a boat, myself. There was some... trouble and I decided a change of scenery was in order." Harshad tugs his cloak a little closer around himself again. "Didn't realize the damn weather would follow me here."

At Kadlin's question, he turns to look at Tlanexhuani. "Hnnh. Sith-makar. You really are from a ways out, huh?" When they are greeted, he holds up an opened hand. "Same to you. Bargley's a little busy, so if you've got business with him you may have to wait -- unless you're picking up a commission, in which case he'll happily take your coin."

Her eyes have not left the Sith-Makar. It was a most interesting species and it spoke. Seems everything around her could speak in a language she understood, no matter what they looked like. She was from way out there. Secluded for along time in an outlying area of Stormgarde. Was she sheltered? One would certainly say so. "Sith-Makar. I have heard of them. Just never...seen one before."

She follows the lwad of Harshad and raises her hand up in greeting. Seemed easy enough, yet she chose to reply on how she saw fit. "Um...peace on your nest." Words spoken with a raised brow and slight murmur to herself. "What's my nest?"

She seems to not let the weather bother her, almost embracing the cold.

"Ah..." The azure Makari looks to the fore-shop at the oruch's mention, then back. "This one no urgent business. Only..." he pauses to consider the word empty claws clasping lightly at the air as if to find it. ".. browse." He does speak and can be understood, though perhaps doesn't speak the language well.

His eyes then shift to Kadlin and he looses a soft hissy breath. "Now have see..." His free arm extends out to his side, in a pose. "This one as strong and mighty as tales of The People?" The arm then lowers with more staccato hisses and he leans more upon his spear. "Stories better. This one is old. Tired. Not one of great stories."

Still amused, even if just at himself, he explains. "Nest is home. Family. Most important thing. Always best to have peace there. Words also like..." another pause, though these words come without needing to be plucked, "... have good day?"

It's not the first time Harshad's had to deal with someone who couldn't quite manage the language. "Window-gazing's free. Though honestly, most of Bargley's stuff isn't pretty, it just works well."

He nods to Kadlin. "Yeah. Common makari greeting. Kind of like..." He pauses, screwing his face up. "Quiet night and good sleep, in yrch-speak. Means 'may the evening be quiet for you and your sleep not be interrupted'. Some days that's all a man can want."

Harshad grunts, suddenly realizing something. "You got something I can call you?" he asks Kadlin. "Pretty sure I don't want my ass kicked for calling you 'goldenhair' or something."

"I've been called worse. But I shut them up each name was typically did not last long or stick." She looks ot Tlan and Harshad, inroducing herself to the pair. "Kadlin Bjornsdottir of Steinholard. And I hardly think I would easily kick your ass. And the two of you would be? I would hate to refer to the two of you as Green and Blue." She tries ot hide the slightest of smiles, quickly checking her comment as not wanting to start anything.

"Oh I undersatand now. We have saying such as that in Stormgarde. For instace: Wake early if you want another man's life or land. No lamb for the lazy wolf. No battle's won in bed." She shrugs. "I mean that is just one of them."

She looks over to Tlan and bites her lower lip a moment before speaking. "I left the nest. Well I sort of sold the nest, so I have no nest. Or family, but peace nevertheless." A hand raises to run across the back of her neck. "I needed to get away, so no my nest is at the Fern something now."

"This one is Tlanexhuani, crafter caste," he introduces himself to both. "Is good to meet, share words, Kadlin Bjonsdottir of Steinholard." He repeats the name as best he can pronounce after a single recounting. He then looks to the oruch, though he somewhat interrupts his own polite wait for the last introduction with a sideways glance back to Kadlin. "Nest is where are, where those important are. One always has nest."

"Maybe," Harshad says a bit doubtfully at Tlanexhuani's remarks. He rubs his cheek. "Call me Harshad. It's the only name I've got, so..." The half-orc shrugs, as if dismissing the issue. "Maybe I'll have something to add to it but for now it's enough."

At the comment about 'nesting' at the Fern, he snorts. "Don't worry. If you're willing to do some dirty work -- and I don't mean 'bad things', I mean -literally- dirty work -- you can get enough coin to avoid worrying about a roof and a bed." Harshad shudders. "I saw some people coming back from a foray into the sewer system. Gods, I hope they got paid in hot baths as well as gold."

"Well right now my nest is wherever I can afford. Still got some, should last a bit, but I am going to need to find a long term solution. I have a job waiting for me back in Stormgarde. My Jarl desires me in his personal guard, but I need time away and am not going back until I feel ready."

Her icy blue eyes dart between the pair before speaking once more. "I am willing to do just about anything. Protection. Hunting. I also heard there as a Colosseum here in the city. Is that something anyone can sign up for?"

Tlanexhuani's nostrils closed a moment at mention of the sewers. "This one learned of sewers, and places worse. Iss very good bathing pools nearby." He shifts to the related, "Ssa. Adventure Guild. Need many people, to do many things. Iss good." A pause before he adds, "Less good when thing is go into sewers."

Harshad nods with a grin, despite the cold. "Guild work pays well. It may take you to strange places, but it'll at least keep coin in your pocket -- if you stay alive to spend it." He hmphs. "Colosseum's not bad to meet some folks either, though it tends towards the sword-swinging or wrestling types."

He pulls out a short, roughly-crafted pipe, and starts to fill it with tobacco. "As you head eastward in the city, it gets more... hm. Guess the best word is 'moneyed'. Don't start trouble in the university or noble districts. The guards in the latter have no sense of humor, and the university district's crawling with finger-wagglers."

"If I can avoid going into the sewers that would be good. Like to keep some dignity and this pretty face at least somewhat clean." A smile comes to her face. For a Barbarian young woman, she looks like one that could clean up nice if given the reason to do so. "I may have to look into this adventurer's guild. I know where my skill set lies and don't really want to step outside it."

She looks back to Tlan and comments on something she heaerd him say. "You said bathing pools? Are they warm? It has been quite sometimes that I think I actually...well, even us of Stormgarde like to feel clean every once in a while."

Tlanexhuani's tail thumps the ground lightly. "Ssa. Warm. Sheltered. Large." He looks to the north, snout bobbing. "Also is place for meals, cleaning armor and skins. Is near Colosseum. Is..." He pauses and lowers his snout somewhat. "This one not remember what place called."

He slips from embarassment to curiosity at something Harsha said and looks to the oruch. "Finger wagglers? What is that?"

Harshad grunts. "I know the TarRaCe has them, but that place is a little pricey for me. Some of the better inns usually have some kind of bathing option." Lighting his pipe with a tindertwig, he extinguishes the bit of wood in some snow before puffing on his pipe. "Probably a good idea. A little sweat is one thing, but coming back spattered in who the hells knows what is just no fun."

His brows come together at Tlanexhuani's question. "What, you've never heard that? Finger-wagglers. Magicians. Sorcerers and wizards and such-like. Practical stuff like sharper swords and stronger shields are all well and good but most spell-slingers are nuttier than squirrel shit."

Kadlin listens to both of their replies, making sure they have her full attention. Once more her hand is raised, but his time to run thorugh her free flowing hair. "I would very much appreciate it if if the two of you would show me these places. Can't say I will remember where they are, but there is always a chance. I'll even buy you two something to eat for your services. WOuld love to see the Colosseum, this bath you speak of and that forge that very well may blow me up in Goblintown was it?"

She folds her hand stogether in front of her face just below her chin and states. "Shall we then? It's only getting colder out here and I am gettin hungry."

She starts to walk in a direction bu pauses, turning around and sheepishly giving a smile. "Right. I have no idea where I am going."

Harshad watches Kadlin start to walk away, and chuckles. "Yeah. You need to get a feel for the city, Kadlin. You in, Tlan?" Evidently using Tlanexhuani's full name doesn't occur to the half-orc, as he falls into step next to Kadlin.

"So, let's start with finding some food. We'll head up into the upper trades proper, there's some places there that're less expensive and they do some amazing stuff Dranei style. From there we'll head to the Colosseum..."

And so a newcomer gets her guided tour of the city, to help her stay out of trouble.