Taming of the Sandy
Tenebrae - Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 7:09 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A02: Lower Trades District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The Lower Trades District is the home of the working man of Alexandria. The Lower Trades is divided, unofficially, into two parts: that controlled by the gobbers, and that controlled by the khazad. The two areas stand in contrast, one with a strong, almost formal architecture and a predilection for blacksmiths, the other a mixture of propped-up rubble and gunpowder. The latter's started to grow however, and take form with the aid of the more structured Arvek Nar. Still, the two stand as uneasy neighbors, though the oruch more easily work both sides, often in the spirit of a friendly, if competitive, warriors' competition that's unique to Alexandria, itself.
Here, the "khazad section" boasts a number of blacksmiths, glass smiths, artifice shops, and basic taverns, as well as any number of trades shops and eateries. The sweet tinge of oil, iron, and spiced BBQ is everywhere. Shrines to Reos, or marks of the same, are found over most doorways, in homage to the khazad Mountain Father and World Smith.
Selia perches upon an awning, several feet above street level, tiny legs swinging idly. Below, a gaggle of rough dock workers types awkwardly sit at an outdoor cafe, talking. It seems the unions of the skydock workers, and the seas dock workers, are having a meeting to clear out any misunderstandings between the two. Last weeks meeting at the Ox Strength Tavern went well, but both sides got too drunk to recall exactly what was agreed upon, so they're trying again over coffee and fancy little sandwhiches.
She's wandering along the street, the tall (For an elf maybe) and rather extremely curvy Kae hopping lightly on occasion as she makes her way toward a street vendor. She stops next to them and begins to chat rather animatedly and all, her arms flailing and waving around, occasionally she even points at things...
The red-headed bundle of energy finally settles on something and ends up with a paper sack, which she carefully places into her backpack before reshouldering it and beginning to walk/skip again
Selia watches for a few moments more, but the meeting of dock workers seems to be going well enough, if a bit boring and awkward. Unneeded, the tiny lutch stands and stretches upon the awning before leaping out towards the street, catching herself upon the post to a manalamp, and sliding gracefully to the base, where she again perches for a moment, eyeing the activities at street level.
Kae is now heading generally in Selia's direction, the girl reaching into a new paper bag she aquired! This? well it has cookies, or something that closely resembles a cookie, well possibly an iced snoman sugar cookei! Of course, Kae bites the head off first, that's the best part!
Selia eyes the approaching cookies, squinting slightly. "Dem ain't undead spider cookies, is dey? Dat's been goin 'round, ya know." the little lutch inquires, her accent positively dripping with Low Charn.
Verna has arrived.
Selia percehs upon the base of a manalamp, inquireing as the the quality of the cookies Kae is eating. Behind the little lutch, a union of dockworkers awkwardly sit at an outdoor cafe, discussing the merits of skydock work verus seadock work.
Kae peers at the Lucht now and rubs at the back of her neck "Noo this is a cookie from a trusted source!" she says cheerfully.. "I was buying these before the golden cookie bakery made its dubious existance!"
Verna enters the district from the upper city to the east. Her stroll does not impede her study, as her current tome of interest hovers before her and her hooded gaze. While comparatively large in relation to its reader, the tome does not obscure all vision, proven when she steps around a merchant stall in her prior path.
Selia nods slowly. "Can't be too careful. Who'da thuck ya could na trust cookies? Crazy world I tells ya." Peering, the Dancer gives a shout to the approaching book. "Oy, Bookie! Which one is ya?" Hard to tell one wizard from another when there's a text in the way.
Verna continues travel and perusal for a moderate distance before a copper spheroid hovers into view from behind hood and/or tome to loiter near her left shoulder. It then appears to garner and redirect her attention: her hood swivels first towards it and then towards the calling perched one. "My apologies. Was your query directed to me? If so, to what manner of one do you refer?"
Kae umms and peers at Verna curiously "I believe she caled you a bookie and was curious as to what kinda bookie you were! So do you like take bets? Or do you set up gambling things? Ooh! maybe you set up vacations!!!" she says no hopping up and down. Yes, the redhead is an extremely energetic elf. And silly to boot, even if she might fall in the 'bookie' type thing considering she is an artificer.
Selia tsks mildly, but shrugs. "Nah, jus weren't sure which o da many wizardly sorts ya were. Many blokes wandering wit floating books, might 'ave ta make ya yer own lane fer safety travelin. Not dat ya'd stay in 'em."
Kerbasi has arrived.
"Well, that's one thing off th' list." Kerbasi reaches up, wiping at his nose even as he sniffs from the cold. The Mourner steps from the Tribune's offices, having spent most of the evening there.
The hovering tome lowers to fully expose Verna's hood and allow her sight- and speech-line to be unbroken. "Ah. In answer to your query, I am Sage Mourner Verna. My interests in the magic of Ea are varied."
"...ah! There you are, Mourner," Kerbasi says, with a smile. Once spotted, he ambles over Verna's way. He wears the robes of the temple, though there is mud at the edges, and the hint of boots may be seen.
Selia nods. "Da copepr ball gave it 'way." Peering a moment, the halfer waves. "Oy! 'basi! Over 'ere!"
Verna's hood, as well as the amber gem set in the spheroid, pan towards the arriving and greeting Kerbasi. "Greetings, Mourner. Yes, I am here."
Kae glances around, looking from person to person to person, then she notices Kerbasi. And in her normal energetic way, she waves, lots, it kinda looks like she's flailing!!!
"It's good to see you. I was afraid I'd miss you, with all of the ...heh, well. You've been pretty busy," he says. Kerbasi takes out a set of folded papers. He looks about to hand them over, when Selia speaks up. "Evenin. Gray Lady's grace to y'. May I be of service?" he asks.
Selia grins. "Likely. Yer da sort. But I got nuthin 'scific. Jus sayin 'ello. Wot ya up ta?"
Verna's hood dips from Kerbasi to the papers. "Yes, recent events have made for a great deal of activity. Is anything new amiss?" She reaches out a gloved hand, though also pauses to looks towards Selia. "All encounter My Mistress and Her Mourners at one point. There is no reason not to make inquiries."
"Acleese had some papers for you. He said they were related to your research," the Mourner says. Kerbasi hands the files--which have neat, precise labels along the side--to Verna. To Selia and Kaelyn, "Running errands, I'm afraid. I just dropped off the current list for the Tribune." Of dead people. He's talking about dead people. It is v. obvious.
Selia goes quiet for a few moments, eyeing Verna seriously. "Not all."
Kae continues watching Selia, verna and Kerbasi curiously.... "Sooo!" she then holds up another frosted sugar cookie "Anyone wanna cookie?" she asks, yup that's out of left field! She then grins at the person talking of running errands "Same here, I had to stop by and buy cookies from my favorite baker though!"
Verna accepts the files and stows them securely within her cloak. "Thank you. I will review these shortly." Her hood then dips in a nod to Kerbasi before panning to Selia. "All pass and all are judged, in their due time."
"I wouldn't mind, if yer offerin'," Kerbasi says, and holds out his hand. Pauses. "It's not the Golden Bakery is it, by chance? I've heard rumors, I'm afraid." He seems glad enough to be rid of the paperwork. He drops his other hand back to his pocket, comfortably.
Selia shakes her head. "Not all. Vast majority, no troubles. Few dodge the last meeting, put it off, centuries maybe. Few go inta da Dark Lands direct like. Reckon maybe der time will come. But couple gone inta da Final Void. Ain't no commin back from dat. Nay even fer da Lady." Turning to focus, she shakes her head to Kerbasi. "Nah, der okay. I asked already."
Kae peers "Nooo not the Golden Bakery... I was there when we kinda squished that place..." she adds and then umm and hands Kerbasi a frosted snowman cookie, then studies them, stares and whatnot while muttering "Jiiiii!" She wonders exactly which end they'll start nomming on!!!
Verna has disconnected.
"Well, that's a relief. I was afraid I'd have t'give up my bakery habit for a while, after news of that came out. Do you have a favorite?" Kerbasi asks Kaeyln. Favorite bakery, that is. Munch munch munch. The cookies vanish fairly quickly, with movements of long fingers. A healer's hands. Chew chew. He grins at Verna and Selia.
Selia says, "Sorta mess with dat. Cleared out fer now, but da na 'ow long till da next mess pops up."
Kae shrugs and motions to a specific street vendor... "There, and whatever bakery they're connected to!" She says cheerfully... "Decent prices, great quality, good customer service! I mean they put up with me! And accordng to Sandy, I'm insufferable!
"Oh...heh. Well, let's all pray for a quiet, dead winter then," the Mourner says with a smile around a cookie. Vardaman humor. Bad. Bad priest. It's ruined by the cookie crumbs!
Selia says, "Kinda 'olding out fer spring, meself."
Kerbasi has left.
Kae then hands a cookie over to Selia now too, the elf never to be one who doesn't try to share with everyone she can!!! She grins a bit "So from Charn orrignally?"
Selia accepts the offering, and nods. "Well, nay orginal orginally. 'member traveling da Vast when was real little, but settled in Charn when was still a kid. Weren't da best of choice, but ma n' da didn't 'xactly ask my input. Nay dat I knew better at da time."
Kae oooh's and nods slowly.... "Just curious! I zipped around the Vast and other places on an airship." he says cheerfully "Wasn an engineer then head engineer on board one for a decade or so! It was soo much fun!"
Selia nods. "Never cared too much fer airships. Or water ships, really. Too small. no place ta head ta iffen is trouble."
Kae shrugs slowly "But he freedom they give... Freedom of movement and such... Tell me a better way to cover more ground or travel a great distance and see lotsa stuff! There's a reason they don't use magic to teleport everywhere and all!" she says with a grin.
Selia shrugs. "Magic's 'spensive. So 'r ships, course, but ya can use 'em 'gain and 'gain. Anyway, only freedom iffen yer da pilot. Less if yer just baggage stuck fer da ride."
Kae grins "As I said I was an engineer on board... Anyhoo I found it quite liberating to be able to coast from port to port, occasionally taking the occasional skybound cargo and whatnot... Yah there was discipline involed but it was fun!"
Selia nods, and shrugs. "Each der own, I guess. Perfer to stay solid in a city, meself."
Kae grins "That's wholly understandable.. Anyhoo, Imma eventually build my own airship. Nothing very big, but something fun nonetheless!!"
Selia nods. "Seen private boat types, but nay many. Planning ta live in it?"
Kae umms "No clue yet. Wouldn't leave much room for a lab, but maybe make one an airship dock too, and a lab and take the ship out when I need it, that might be a better idea!?"
Selia shrugs. "No idea wot all da docks allow. Been thinkin 'bout gittin me own place, porper like, but nay seems ta suit me."
Kae oooh's and nod "Could allways buy a plot of land and build whatcha want! It's kinda what I have intentions to do!" she adds cheerfully... "Maybe one day when I have enough money to move out of the guild house or out of a tavern!
Sandy has arrived.
Selia shakes her head. "Nah, nutin sits on land. Mobile like. Pack up 'n go, moment's notice."
Currently, Kae and Selia are over near a number of temporary stands, both eating or having eaten frosted sugar cookies! Kae oooh's and nods to Selia "Get a Vardo and some nifty stuff to pull it!
Selia shakes her head. "Still too big. Pocket sized. Not on da inside, course. Make bags 'n stuff, but dey ain't built fer livin in."
Kae oooh's and nods slowly... "I dunno ho to make a pocket dimension home saddly..." She responds and rubs at the back of her neck "Dunno how to help you there!!!"
Selia nods. "Concept is soild, but da details... yeah. Don;t want something some bloke could walk up and close da flap, leave ya trapped inside."
Kae ooooh's and nods slowly.. "Mebbe a place linked to a solid area, with maybe a pocket accesss portal? Drop the portal where it is you wannit to be step through. Hang out in the comfort of home, hop back out of the portal and boom yer in yer adventure again!"
Stomping down the street, Sandy is grumping about /something/. She's on her way towards Goblintown from the look of things.
Selia nods. "Are options, but all have drawbacks." The halfer pauses, and glances across the street. "Speaking o' drawbacks.... OY! SANDY! WHERE YA OFF TA?!"
Kae blinks and notices Sandy... "Heeeey!" She greets cheerfully "How's things going!?!" she calls out again and oohs and holds up her bag of cookies "I haz frosted cookies!!!"
"...you have," says Sandy, "TRy to speak trade with the rest of us," rermaks the other elf to Kaelyn. She scowls at Sleia. "To Rosie's," she tells her.
Selia considers a few moments, and asks the obvious question. "Why?"
Kae peers at Sandy curiously now and umms "I am speaking trade just fine! I asked, How's things going? That's perfectly acceptable trade, specially for around here, and mentioned that I haz frosted cookies! See?!?!" she hops on her toes lightly and yes, shoves a frosted snoman cookie at Sandy....
".. to gamble. THere some other reasons to go to Rosie's?" asks Sandy, giving them both a quizzical look.
Selia shrugs. "Booze, meeting someone, spy on someone, take a nap, pick sumthin up, drop sumthin off. Lotta reasons, rilly."
"Yes, but the MAIN reason is to blow money gambling," says Sandy, giving her a flat look.
Selia considers a few moments. "....couldn't ya... NOT blow money gamblin? Iffen yer blowing money, sounds like ya ain't very good at it."
Kae oooh's and nods sloly as she looks at Sandy curiously for a bit "Ooooh oookay!" Kae then oohs and suddenly spouts out. "Sooo any luck on that clothes garment I left with you the other day?!?!" She says cheerfully.
"Yes," is what Sandy says to Kae. "Yes."
That's all for a moment. She eyes Selia. "Are you familiar with the term 'the house always wins'?"
Selia nods. "Well, yeah. But only iffen ya don't cheat. Dis is -Rosie's- we talkin 'bout."
Kae ooohs "ooh Ooh I can go! I can play pool, and dice, and umm the thing with the spinny wheel.... Oh and cards! I can even takes off my armor for that!! Yup! Just a corset and poet shirt for me and such! That ould be totally like comfortable!!!"
"Well, yes. I /could/ cheat," agrees Sandy. "I'm not going to. Takes the fun out of it. Much rather thrash the cheaters." Sandy pinches the bridge of her nose.
Selia blinks at Kae. "...yer taking yer armor off in poker? Didn't think dey still played dat sorta poker at Rosie's."
Kae blinks "Nooo was thinking afore I entered! Not that it matters much, I can hit a button and retract it completely!" she says cheerfully. Kae grins "Was just thinking comfort and stuff, do away with the corset, wear a good tie under poet shirt and my leather pants and stuffs while inside!! It'll be comfortable while I play!"
Sandy puts a hand over her face. Kaelyn is giving her a splitting heradache. This is obvious.
Serraphine has arrived.
Selia says, ".....armor or not, I still don't think dey allow dat sorta poker any more. Too many scrawy guys losing all der stuff. Don't nobody wanna see dat."
Kae peers at Selia curiously "Noo again, not strip poker! I just would rather play a game and be completely comfortable ya know? Also it's kinda too cold for the silks and stuff I brough tback with me from my adventures and stuff, I'm waiting for spring and summer when I gets to wear em!"
"Oh for all the Gods' sake," groans Sandy.
And then she's starting on her way towards Goblintown again. That's just enough for her.=
"Demon has taken the Gods' name in vain." Serraphine dictates as she writes in her book. If you wonder where she came from, you don't need to know. Maybe she was always just there. Either way, she's standing nearby with her Demon Log in hand.
"Demon seems to have taken an interest in chesty elf." A nod of her head and she looks up from the notebook to look at what Sandy might be up to.
Selia blinks, mildly put out that someone else snuck up on the group. That's her sthick. "...any demon in particular, of just general like?"
Kae tilts her head and begins following Sandy... Yup following Sandy sounds like a good idea. She's kinda skipping, sauntering and hopping kinda sorta all at the same time!!! She peers at Serraphine curiously, and then holds up a frosted sugar cookie to her....
"I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE CHESTY ELF," says Sandy, agitatedly, pointing at Serraphine. "I AM GOING TO TELEPORT YOU TO A MAZE AGAIN."
Serraphine didn't sneak up on the group! Serraphine was just always there, watching Sandy. Waiting. Doodling. Notating. She points with the back of her pencil toward Sandy, she doesn't look away from the purple haired elf as she says in her flat tone, "That demon."
Serraphine leans closer to inspect the cookie, while not taking her eyes off Sandy, and the bites it. Her hands are full after all! "Wheemon hretten'n ta tllpor ta maaaze." She write down, dictating it as well again though her mouth is full of cookie.
Selia nods. "Okay. Don't think Sandy's a demon though. I mean, I can totally understand da mistake, but Sandy is a whole different sorta evil. She's a grumpy elf."
Kae blinks and looks at Sandy curiously, she studies Sandy, then glances down at her self, and slowly her thumbs start to hook into her shoulder-straps....
Sandy is not paying attentyion to Kaelyn at the mnoment. She is advancing on Serraphine. MARCHING towards her.
SHE HAS MURDEROUS INTENT IN HER EYTE.
"Nope. Totally a demon." Serraphine says, having finished swallowing her mouthful of cookie. "She even said she was. I wrote it down. She said it -- four days ago. See?" She turns the book around to show where it says Oh yeah, sure, I'm a demon you damn Arvek.
"See? She's a demon." Serraphine nods again and turns the book back around. "Demon seems to be taking closer interest in chesty elf." Serraphine writes in her book... and says. She looks to Sandy, looks down really - Sandy is short.
Selia considers. "...would ya trust a demon ta honestly tell ya it's a demon?"
Kae looks down and blinks, then ummms.... She tugs at those shoulder straps... Bounce bounce bounce.... "Soo I'm classified as chesty? I guess so! I've never really bothered to truly compare my self to others!!!" she adds, then peers at Sandy curiously now as well...
"Hey, hey!" Sandy asks Serraphine, "Say, Serraphine. Do you have any holy water on your person?" She asks, smiling.
It is a very fake smile. A very angry, fake smile.]
Serraphine stares at Sandy, "I can just create holy water. But I've already determined that you are immune." She frowns, "But now that you're close! I'll unleash my next test!"
She closes the book and tries to bap Sandy on the head with it, on the back of the book is the symbol of Daeus. "THE POWER OF DAEUS COMPELS YOU DEMON!" She tries repeatedly hitting her on the head with the book.
Selia steps back. Funny as Sandy getting bapped is, not the sort of thing she wants to be too close to.
Kae blinks as Serraphine whaps Sandy with the book... She then flails her limbs! "Nooo don't do that! Sandy's designing a new and improved bustier for me!!! They gotta be special made, nobody has em on the racks and stuff!!!" As if whapping Sandy will 'exorcise' her or something...
"Ow," says Sandy whjen she's thwapped wioth the book. She flails at this, then tries to grab the book and wrestle it away from Serraphine!
Serraphine finds her book suddenly grabbed by the elf, "GO AFTER THE CHESTY ONE YOU STARE AT DEMON!!" She calls out at her, holding the book in both her hands and doing her best to not let Sandy pull it free from her grasp.
"Demon strength, see?!" She calls out to Selia, "She's a demon!!"
Selia blinks a few times, and turns her focus to Kaelyn. "What 'xactly is it yer needin? Ain't much o' a worry fer meself, but lotta gals in da trade need special costumes made."
"I didn't stare at her," says Sandy, acidly, to Serraphine. She hops futiley in an effort to get the book. it's not working. She's just not tall enough. It looks hilarious, though.
Kae peers at Sandy now, and blinks, starting to giggle. She then she peers at Selia curiously... "Ummm, well.." she points at Sandy "Sandy said I needed a better bustier..." she says and holds up one of her bra like contraptions, it amoutns to basically a leather and metal bikini top... "This is the spare I keep with me and stuff... Anyhow she said I needed more support so I flopped one of these to her so she could try an dmake me a better one!" she says happily...
"I didn't say you were staring at her right now!" Serraphine calls out, and she points her pencil in the direction of Kaelyn, "See?! She even admitted you were! Talk of demonic vestments!!" She nods her head, and starts trying to write in her notepad without Sandy gett-AH DAMN IT! The elf totally managed to get a hand on it.
"BECAUSE SHE WAS FLOPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE LIKE AN UNATTRACTIVE FISH!"
Sandy yells at Serraphine. She has a hand on the book. And she is now engaged in a vicious struggle of tug of war over it with Serraphine.
Selia nods sagely, and offers advice. "Go fer da hamstrings Sandy!" You don't spend you life as a lutch without picking up a few tips on defeating opponents taller than you. turning focus back to Kae, she nods. "But whadaya plan ta do wit it? Lounge around, sewer crawl, shop work, running errands? Ya need different support fer different activities."
Kae umms "Well general support to do a wide variety of activities works now... Now I just have these bustier thingies and my corsets and such... The corsets can be comfy , but well, I dun wear them when I'm like doing mechanical work, or artificing, or when in my armor, gets really really uncomfortable!" she adds and ummms, as she hears Sandy shout... "It's part of the territory of having been repeatedly visited in one's youth by the chest fairy!" She says cheerfully...
There's more struggling for the book until Kaelyn starts mentioning the chest fairy. "What?" Serraphine says, letting go of the book, probably right when Sandy yanks because... well Sandy might fall. Always better if the demon falls.
Of course.
SAndy hits the gorund with the book in her hand, scowling up at Serraphine. She is annoyed.
Selia nods, and hunts in her pockets for a moment or two for some paper and a quill. "I dan't na tailors meself, but na some dancers need solid support as dey dance. Reckon dey can 'ook ya up with some solid leads. Or could talk to some wizardly sorts, know a few make wotever ya care ta ask 'em about. View it as a chance ta expand der magical horizions, or wotever."
Kae blinks and oohs "Well maybe that way, honestly I like the stuff I have... It fits, it's fairly comfortable and does just fine... However Sandy thinks I needs more..." She adds cheerfully, she then oh's "Didja know she can almost turn as vivit a purple as her hair?!?"
Serraphine looks toward Selia again, scratching her chin with one hand, stenciling in a little mark with her pencil. She gives another frown, a tilt of her head and she looks at Kaelyn, "Who is this fairy and how do you catch it? Your knowledge will result in my hunting and vanquishing of the evil creature who's so selective."
Selia nods. "Oh yeah. Other way around, rilly. Used ta 'ave bright blonde 'air. But got rilly rilly mad 'bout sumthin or another, face turned bright purple, and kept going, spread ta 'er 'air. Went she calmed down, face went back ta normal, but 'air ain't never recovered."
"I never had blonde hair," says Sandy to Selia, disgusted with her. She reaches for her hip flask and drains iut. She needs it after this.
Kae peers at Serraphine "I imagine she's rather very flighty and basically undetectable.. And to be honest, her giftng different folks. Is that evil that she gives folks gifts? I mean she doesn't have to give everyone stuff, you or I don't... It's all good right?" she says cheerfully, she then glances around, she peers at Sandy now, who's now tryng to chug down a flask "Nooo you don't need to get wasted right on the spot, this is bad!" She tries to reach from behind Sandy to grab at the flask!
Serraphine stares at Kaelyn and gives more scratching till she has a small goatee going on in pencil. When she discovers it, she will obviously blame Sandy for it - but for now... "I see, hm. How very odd." She pulls out a book from her bag, the bag that looks like it might have a hard time even holding a book (Go-go bag of holding!).
"Demon complains about not having blonde hair." Serraphine writes in it, nodding her head and looking to Selia. "I never thought that would work for changing haircolors."
Selia nods sagely to Sandy, and glances sidelong to the others, whipsering conspitally. "Totally girly girl blonde. Doesn't like ta talk about it. Total denial. Its okay, one day she'll accept her tragic past. Den da 'ealin can begin."
"It didn't work. That's not... OH FOR GODS SAKE. I AM JUST LEAVING," and then Kaelyn has her flask and she just sighs.
And vanishes with a few words of magic.
Serraphine looks up into the sky, checking approximately how much time has passed and then nods her head, "Mmm, just about 10 minutes. A new record before the demon acts out." She writes this down too. Nod-nod.
Kae stares at Serraphine.. She then blinks curiously "You keep track of how quickly you drive her to running away?" She asks curiously... She then tilts her head and waves to Serra and Selia "I'll talk to the dancer girls, I'mma go buy a bunch of cookies and drop them off with the flask at Sandy's store..."
Selia quirks a brow. "Record? Rilly? Was quick, but I seen quicker. Ya oughta see Svarshan on a roll. Think was da one ta git 'er hair ta turn purple."
Serraphine nods her head a few times, "One of the longer times till the demon ran." nod-nod, then a look toward Selia. She tilts her head to the side, "I know Svarshan. He is a good lizard." And she starts moving off as well.