A New Set Of Twins

[SirArtemis]

Artemis was on his way back from The Citadel from a recent duel. His one remaining blade had just been stolen by the likes of a man named Ace after their out-of-this-world duel. Now, he needed something to hold him over. It wasn't safe to walk around unarmed, and he was not yet proficient with his bow. For now, he needed something to hold him over, so he came to the one place he thought he might be able to find something: The Bazaar.

He walked into a small district where blacksmiths were strewn about working on their metalwork. He was looking for something specific and hoped he could find something to suit him. In particular, he wanted a twin set of mythril daggers of above-average or excellent quality. He needed to adapt to the light-weight metal over his old steel daggers anyhow, since he planned to craft himself a twin pair of daggers of his own of masterwork quality once he had the skill.

Without any further wait, he began shopping. He walked over to a small forging area with a dwarf working some white metal that could be mythril. In between hammers, he found himself trying to talk to the dwarf.

"Excuse me... Is that.... Mythril?"

[Taskmienster]

"Indeed it be." The smith replied with a sly grin and a sideways glance. The new customer was interesting, and seemed to be interested in his work. Reluctantly he put the mythril weapon to the side and removed his gloves. It would be another three hours before he could get the metal back to the point he wanted it at to begin work again... but that was his own mistake for trying to work during business hours. "Never seen it, ay? It's the fav'rite o' mine. Watcha in the mark't fer today?"

[SirArtemis]

Artemis admired the man's work. Even though it was only a work in progress, it looked to be coming along very nicely. When he heard the dwarf's dialect, he couldn't help but smile, thinking back on Nalin Norlond, a good friend of his who was also a dwarf that spoke in such an accent.

"I'm looking to buy myself a pair of excellently crafted mythril daggers. Nothing too fancy. I'd need about an eight to ten inch blade, designed for piercing but able to do some slashing damage as well. A plain guard and hilt and something comfortable to the hand. I spend most of my time in Salvar, so covering the handle with something that might not chill as easily would help, such as leather."

As Artemis explained, he tried to think of what else he might need.

"Oh, I'll need sheaths as well to hold the blades of course. Other than that... I think that's it..."

Satisfied with his request, he hoped the dwarf had caught all of it. He wasn't sure he'd be able to repeat himself if he was asked again, given that it all just came out in one blurry thought.

"How much would that all cost me?" He asked, concerned that his pockets might not be deep enough.

[Taskmienster]

"560 a piece, tat's the best I could do. We're talkin' excellent quality work, with mythril. The leather handle and the sheath would be added in free o' course."

[SirArtemis]

'Hmm... that's quite a bit. I'll have to go scavenge all I have for this... I don't have enough with me...'

"You see, I barely have over 900 total, and I really need this. One of my daggers was broken and the other was stolen, leaving me with a bow as my only defense, which I don't even really know how to use. What do you say? Could you help me out and drop it down to 900 for the pair?"

Artemis couldn't afford to pay that price, but he also couldn't afford to continue his journey unarmed. He needed something to defend himself on the path back to Knife's Edge and he hoped the dwarf would sympathize. After all, he was being honest.

'I guess that's why we save money,' He thought to himself, letting out a single laugh.

[Taskmienster]

Humans. The dwarf huffed at the thought. They seemed to complain and make excuses for even the smallest of problems. Whatever trouble the man had in his life was no concern for the blacksmith, and certainly not an affair that made the man want to do much for his customer. Instead of being an unfriendly face, and an atypical dwarven hard-head, he shrugged and sighed.

"You wanna drop it more than 200 gold, because ya 'ave som' life troubles? If I spen' a week makin' these weapons, and go out o' my way ta get the materials, I couldn' drop it no more than to 1000 gold for the both. Save ya over 100 gol', but it's simply too much work to drop it more than tat."

[SirArtemis]

'Hmm... he's right... that was pretty selfish of me.'

"You're absolutely right. After all, this is your profession. It's not like you are at fault for my problems. I apologize. In fact, I don't want to burden you with such a thing. Instead of dropping it to five-hundred each, I'll pay you six-hundred each."

With a smile and a nod, Artemis felt like he had redeemed himself. He didn't want to burden others with his problems. That wasn't fair to them. He would rather pay them the price they owe, and extra, to ensure they are invested in the work. After all, if these were going to be the tools to protect his life, he didn't want them made half-hazard.

"I'll go gather my funds and return when I have them. I look forward to seeing the result of your work!"

Artemis smiled at the dwarf sincerely, awaiting the dwarf's response. Even a nod would be enough of an agreement for Artemis to take his leave and gather the money he needed to make up for his selfish attempt at lowering the price.

[Taskmienster]

"600 gol' is a good price, that's wha' my work is tru' worth. Ya gota goo' 'ead on tat should'r. Ya brin' me tha money, I'll ge' ya som' nice blades." The dwarf smiled and nodded, hoping that the mythril sword he was working on had retained enough head for him not to have to spent the rest of the afternoon reheating it.


((This is being put on hold till Artemis has the money. Once he does, he's welcome to post again in here to continue and finish the transaction.))

[SirArtemis]

Artemis went off to gather his coins, going to a local tavern where he was staying to count them out. He honestly hadn't counted his coins in a while and only then realized that he wasn't even sure if he had enough to pay for the daggers. The reality of it made it nervous.

'One thousand fifty.... One thousand sixty... One thousand sixty five.... Shit...'

Suddenly he realized he should have kept his mouth shut and taken the price of one thousand gold coins. Now he couldn't afford it. Not only that, but the dwarf had already begun working. Embarrassment washed over him as he rubbed his face with the palms of his hands.

"You've got to be kidding me..." He mumbled. packing up the coins and getting ready to go back to the dwarf. "I really should plan better..."

He walked back over to the dwarf, his head held low. As the dwarf saw him, he walked back over and greeted him.

With a sigh, Artemis began his confession.

"I've got some bad news..."

[Amber Eyes]

The sound of the bell announcing a new customer pulled Kyla from her slumber. She'd come in less than an hour before and asked if the shop keep minded her resting in the back of the store. The dwarf had been kind and agreed, and Kyla once again thanked the Thaynes that she looked like a child. Kyla had learned to read people very well during her years of wandering with the bandits, and this dwarf had a kind heart.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and began to gather her things to go when she overheard a piece of the conversation. Something in the customer's voice took Kyla by surprise, perhaps it was the familiar edge of disappointment or something else entirely, but whatever the reason Kyla was drawn to help him.

She pulled her coin purse out of her bag and held the weighty pouch in her hand. It wasn't her life savings, but it was all she had with her. She could hear Jensen telling her she was an idiot for this inside her head, and she smiled at the thought. If Jensen would not like it, then she pretty much had to do it.

Thieves were everywhere on these roads, she used to be one of them. She was hated enough in this part of the world, did she really need another threat? No, better to travel to Salvar with nothing than to risk her life over 150 gold.A pretty girl brought one plenty of unwanted attention, but if someone were to see that coin purse she might now leave the situation alive. Kyla straightened her clothes and approached the counter.

"Thanks for the rest sir! I really appreciate it." She smiled at the nice man, then looked towards the other person in the room.

"I hope you get where you’re going...and I hope this will help." With that Kyla sat her coin purse on the counter and walked out the door. The bell made a satisfying jingle as she stepped into the street, "I won't need it where I'm going anyway."

[SirArtemis]

As the woman walked past him and out the door, the shock of what had just happened didn't allow him a chance to say a word. He looked down at the bag of coins, up to the dwarf, back to the bag of coins.

'I have enough? ... Wait...'

Then he realized what had just happened. Brushing off the shock he ran outside, hoping to catch the woman and tell her that he couldn't take her money. Yet as he opened the door to the street, he realized she was already lost in the crowd. He did the only thing that made any sense given the situation. He yelled.

"I'LL PAY YOU BACK! I PROMISE! THANK YOU!"

With a sigh, Artemis went back into the shop and to the counter. He looked up at the dwarf with a satisfied smile on his face.

"I guess that solves the bad news."

[Taskmienster]

"A stran' thin' indeed..." the puzzled dwarf chuckled at the generosity of humans. So fickle, some killed others for coins, some just dropped off their money for others to use. "Well, with that added to your money, I guess we 'ave a deal, eh?"

((Artemis loses 1200 gold, gains 100 exp. Amber eyes gets 25 exp [generosity doesn't go so far with only one post, but it does count] and loses 150 gold.))


Exp added. Gold deducted. Transaction COMPLETED!