The Mathemagician
02-12-09, 08:28 AM
Snow fell on the Bazaar. It did not fall heavily, drifting down softly and covering the ground with a thin layer of white. White, at least, where it was not a dirty shade of brown or yellow thanks to the various contaminations of the crowded streets. It was a thick, wet snow that stuck like small burrs to clothing and hair, clogging up the frequently walked pathways with brown slush, and attaching itself to everything. The slush was omnipresent and omnimalevolent, making walking even a few feet made walking through a plain, old fashioned mud puddle seem pleasant. Still, despite the weather, business went on nearly as usual. Life in the Bazaar never stops. Even nature's power pales in comparison to the force that money exerts over those who wish to obtain it, and try as she might the Bazaar was unlikely to close even for Armageddon itself.
That didn't make it any more pleasant. Alphred hated the snow. He noted to himself that some day he really would have to write up a heat spell, as he shivered within his thin tunic and pants. He really needed some sturdier clothing badly. Well, that was one of the reasons he was coming here today, wasn't it?
Alphred bumped clumsily into a strange hooded figure, who let out a menacing hiss and then hurried away. Alphred thought he glimpsed hints of a...was that a tail? Yes, a long reptilian tail was leaving trails in the snow behind the stranger. The Bazaar attracted all types, didn't it? Even some...scary types. The mild mannered Mathemagician gulped. Slightly nervous, he nonetheless was soon overcome by joy. It was a store! A real store, not one of those outdoor tents or stands that oftentimes littered the Bazaar grounds. Complete with a roof, doors, walls, all the necessities. Before even knowing what he was doing, Alphred was opening the door, brushing away the flecks of chipping paint that fell off it, and walking into the store.
The store was much smaller than it had appeared on the outside (in defiance of popular conventions, apparently.) Alphred wondered why this was. He also wondered, briefly, why stores never were exactly the same size they appeared to be on the outside. This thought was soon disrupted when he began to look at the contents of the small room he was in. Clothing, piles and piles of it, not folded on shelves or hung on racks, and not apparently in any real pattern or manner of organization. Heaps of socks rose out of the floor like massive anthills. Shirts, tunics, pants, everything you would expect. In some places the piles went all the way up to the ceiling, three or four feet above Alphred's head. It was one of the strangest things he had ever seen. The walls were completely obscured in all directions, and Alphred could not see more than a few feet in any way. The paths between the heaps were like tunnels through the vast labyrinth of a demented dry cleaner. Alphred realized that he had no idea the size of the actual store, and even though the clothes cramped him here there was no indication that this same pattern did not go on in every direction.
The inside of the store was very warm, even musky, and it smelled of mothballs and lemons. Alphred wondered what sort of eccentric store owner kept their place in such disarray, as he had to step over a pair of suspenders that lay haphazardly upon the ground. Was the place even open? He wasn't sure. It seemed unlikely that he would find anything of use in this mass of chaos. Still, one never knew. Alphred continued his path through the maze, searching for the owner of the store. He hurried past a pile of women's lingerie hastily, embarrassed, and paused for a moment to look at a selection of broad-brimmed hats. So far, nothing though.
Finally though, he found something that truly gave him pause. A stack of magician's robes! They were there, of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Alphred knew that he simply had to have one. He had gone for years looking like some sort of third-class traveling bard. It was time that he take upon the appearance of a member of his profession. Maybe one of these sets of clothing would be warmer than the poor tattered shreds he wore now too. That would simply be a bonus. Heedless of what might happen if he was discovered, Alphred began to dig through the pile excitedly. Who kept a stack of magician's robes in their shop? He didn't know, and he didn't particularly care.
Finally, Alphred found one that he thought suited him. It was a dull gray color, baggy and loose, and it seemed as though it would be about right for a man his height. The robe came with a gray belt to tie at the waist. Unfortunately no hat was attached, but he did not mind that much. Best of all about the ensemble though was the symbol on the front. While other robes had stars, moons, and such nonsense, this one was different. It only had one small emblem, an inch or two across, on the right breast. When Alphred saw it he nearly laughed in glee. It was an infinity symbol! Two circles, feeding into one another forever and ever, unto eternity. It was perfect.
Now though, how was he to buy it? There was no storekeeper in sight. He had no idea where the back of the store was, actually, he wasn't sure he could even find the door now if he tried. His initial impression of the store as being small was clearly incorrect. He decided to try and call the attention of the proprietor with a small shout.
"Hallo?" He shouted. "Errr, is anyone in here?" His voice sounded strange and muffled by the fabrics that were everywhere. Hopefully, however, someone would hear him.
Note: The robe is not the only thing I need to purchase in the Bazaar. I also would like a small metal (iron) wand type thing which he can use to write on the magic screen, because that would be way more convenient. I also might make the wand a focus of some of his spells. That, however, I think wouldn't be found in this store, so after he gets the robe can I have him go to another store or something? Or is another thread necessary?
That didn't make it any more pleasant. Alphred hated the snow. He noted to himself that some day he really would have to write up a heat spell, as he shivered within his thin tunic and pants. He really needed some sturdier clothing badly. Well, that was one of the reasons he was coming here today, wasn't it?
Alphred bumped clumsily into a strange hooded figure, who let out a menacing hiss and then hurried away. Alphred thought he glimpsed hints of a...was that a tail? Yes, a long reptilian tail was leaving trails in the snow behind the stranger. The Bazaar attracted all types, didn't it? Even some...scary types. The mild mannered Mathemagician gulped. Slightly nervous, he nonetheless was soon overcome by joy. It was a store! A real store, not one of those outdoor tents or stands that oftentimes littered the Bazaar grounds. Complete with a roof, doors, walls, all the necessities. Before even knowing what he was doing, Alphred was opening the door, brushing away the flecks of chipping paint that fell off it, and walking into the store.
The store was much smaller than it had appeared on the outside (in defiance of popular conventions, apparently.) Alphred wondered why this was. He also wondered, briefly, why stores never were exactly the same size they appeared to be on the outside. This thought was soon disrupted when he began to look at the contents of the small room he was in. Clothing, piles and piles of it, not folded on shelves or hung on racks, and not apparently in any real pattern or manner of organization. Heaps of socks rose out of the floor like massive anthills. Shirts, tunics, pants, everything you would expect. In some places the piles went all the way up to the ceiling, three or four feet above Alphred's head. It was one of the strangest things he had ever seen. The walls were completely obscured in all directions, and Alphred could not see more than a few feet in any way. The paths between the heaps were like tunnels through the vast labyrinth of a demented dry cleaner. Alphred realized that he had no idea the size of the actual store, and even though the clothes cramped him here there was no indication that this same pattern did not go on in every direction.
The inside of the store was very warm, even musky, and it smelled of mothballs and lemons. Alphred wondered what sort of eccentric store owner kept their place in such disarray, as he had to step over a pair of suspenders that lay haphazardly upon the ground. Was the place even open? He wasn't sure. It seemed unlikely that he would find anything of use in this mass of chaos. Still, one never knew. Alphred continued his path through the maze, searching for the owner of the store. He hurried past a pile of women's lingerie hastily, embarrassed, and paused for a moment to look at a selection of broad-brimmed hats. So far, nothing though.
Finally though, he found something that truly gave him pause. A stack of magician's robes! They were there, of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Alphred knew that he simply had to have one. He had gone for years looking like some sort of third-class traveling bard. It was time that he take upon the appearance of a member of his profession. Maybe one of these sets of clothing would be warmer than the poor tattered shreds he wore now too. That would simply be a bonus. Heedless of what might happen if he was discovered, Alphred began to dig through the pile excitedly. Who kept a stack of magician's robes in their shop? He didn't know, and he didn't particularly care.
Finally, Alphred found one that he thought suited him. It was a dull gray color, baggy and loose, and it seemed as though it would be about right for a man his height. The robe came with a gray belt to tie at the waist. Unfortunately no hat was attached, but he did not mind that much. Best of all about the ensemble though was the symbol on the front. While other robes had stars, moons, and such nonsense, this one was different. It only had one small emblem, an inch or two across, on the right breast. When Alphred saw it he nearly laughed in glee. It was an infinity symbol! Two circles, feeding into one another forever and ever, unto eternity. It was perfect.
Now though, how was he to buy it? There was no storekeeper in sight. He had no idea where the back of the store was, actually, he wasn't sure he could even find the door now if he tried. His initial impression of the store as being small was clearly incorrect. He decided to try and call the attention of the proprietor with a small shout.
"Hallo?" He shouted. "Errr, is anyone in here?" His voice sounded strange and muffled by the fabrics that were everywhere. Hopefully, however, someone would hear him.
Note: The robe is not the only thing I need to purchase in the Bazaar. I also would like a small metal (iron) wand type thing which he can use to write on the magic screen, because that would be way more convenient. I also might make the wand a focus of some of his spells. That, however, I think wouldn't be found in this store, so after he gets the robe can I have him go to another store or something? Or is another thread necessary?