RP:Amber Assignment for the Assassin
Part of the Chasing Lightning Arc
The Dragon Scale
This rather well built shop contains some of the most glorious and finest armor you have ever seen. The gleam and strange colors of metals that sparkle allow you to know that a force of magic is at work here, combined with the smiths knowledge of metals, his work is uncanny. The smith greets you quietly with a nod as he rests his heavy, armored body against the wall. The sixteen foot frost giant awaits to see if you are interested in purchasing any of his items, and as he waits you notice a rather large anvil near the wall, much like that of the weapon shop, if you had visited it already. You also notice all or most of the armor sets purchased here are created for the close combat soldier, such as knights, warriors, paladins, deathknight, and so forth. Perhaps another shop would have something better suitable for those who wish to be light on their feet or for those who enjoy casting spells.
Gikal, The Master Smith is here.
Satoshi stands unobtrusively beside the Frost Giant smith, hands clasped behind her back as furtive glances are frequently sent toward the--much--taller fellow, almost like a school child waiting to be scolded for poor grades. The blacksmith pays Satoshi no mind, not seeming to even notice she's there, his attention wholly devoted to examining a pile of material upon his workbench. Slabs of mithril rest among chunks of what appear to be stone, cut and shaped into odd, uniform curves in such a way that suggest they slip together near seamlessly. Similarly shaped silver-colored metal is scattered among them, of the same shade as the mithril. Beside these items rests what at first glances appears to be another stone, or perhaps the petrified trunk of a tree considering the girth... but closer inspection reveals it to be a bone. An exceedingly large bone, too thick to be of a non-magical creature. A dragon, perhaps? Such would explain the strangely shaped stones and metal as being dragon scale, likely from a Gray and a Mithril respectively. Each of these Gikal examines with the thorough eye of a master, handling the immensely sturdy pieces as if they were glass, and occasionally grunting, the sound impossible to decipher as approval or displeasure but making Satoshi twitch all the same whenever it's voiced. After a time, Gikal places the final scale upon the bench with another grunt, followed by, "They'll do." Satoshi's ear perk forward, not quite believing the words. "They'll do nicely." The ghost of a smile is creeping across the kit's face then. "Just need ghround'm, titan'm, an' t'at kirin horn ye promised. Oh, an' the amber." Smile gone. So close, yet so far...
Jerica is a woman of extremes it seems. First she spent a bit of time in the desert, possibly making herself ill for the experience, and now here she is in Frostmaw and ducking into the armor shop to escape the bite of chill wind. A sable cloak covers her from shoulders to feet and is quite enough to keep her warm but Jerica was still feeling a tad shaky. She had turned her back the instant she stepped through the door in order to push it closed firmly and take a moment to compose herself; and figure out a reason for even being in a place that she knew was too expensive for her anyway. Her very human ears caught the murmur of voice and she turns to blink in surprise. Of course. The Queen. Gulping Jerica pulled the cloak tighter around herself hoping to hide the telltale lump of a very small crossbow hanging from her hip. Maybe, if she stayed really quiet, she wouldn't be noticed right away.
Satoshi's whiskers give a quiver at the snow allowed in during that brief time the door's been opened, but aside from that initial, and slight, response, she doesn't show any outward signs of having noticed Jerica's arrival. Her attention is on the blacksmith still, him being given an unhappy expression as she draws the cloak of frosted mists closer about herself, in a seemingly unconscious gesture. "I'm having no fortune finding any who will brave Gamorg's mines for ghroundium. Must it be pure and straight from the earth?" Gikal doesn't reply, simply staring at the little queen with an unwavering expression. With each second passed in silence, Satoshi's face darkens further until, with an almost audible grinding of her teeth, she growls out, "-Fine-. I'll find a way to get you the pure ghroundium. The titanium won't be difficult nor the amber, I think, and the horn is only a matter of tracking down our elusive ex-captain." Foxkin and giant both roll their eyes at the idea of easily tracking down Ayras. "Es there anything more you'll require?" This time Gikal doesn't remain silent, speaking almost as soon as Satoshi stops, and she nodding along wearily, "What sorta blade does 'e want? Need 'is measurements, too. An' if you can get a bit of 'is type o' magic, so's we can attune it to the stone." The look on Satoshi's face when he's done suggests she's not overly thrilled at these additions to her already lengthy list, but she's committed to this project, Gikal knows, and won't give up no matter how impossible a task he sets her. Still, to avoid him thinking up further work for her, Satoshi grins suddenly and twitches an ear in the direction of the door. "You've a customer, Gikal~."
Jerica wishes she could have sunk into the floor. At least. That's the impression she gives when the giant turns his eyes on her. "Oh. Me? N-no. I just. Needed to get warm." Sliding along the wall, Jerica couldn't have helped but over hear the conversation and the needs of the queen for the project clearly laid out on the work table. She kept one ear tuned for further information because that was just a habit by now as she peruses the wares laid out either for sale or as an example. Once in a while the little assassin lingers over one piece or another before moving on. Usually the pieces were small and easily hidden or weapons that could be used at long range rather than close up. While she worked at projecting a facade of outward timidity, the way she walked and moved belied a confidence and ease that wasn't so easily hidden.
Satoshi seems to devote her attention to picking over the materials once Jerica has blurted her excuse and begun shuffling about the store. 'Seems to' being the keywords, as the kit is not as oblivious about the world as most like to think. While she's no mindreader, Satoshi can hazard a few guesses about this woman based on method of movement, and the sorts of weapons that catch her eye most. A rogue of somesort. Too often Satoshi has seen that veiled confidence among the assassin's of Vailkrin she used to rule over, that earnesty to have attention diverted elsewhere, and, "You've an eye for useful weapons, m'lady." The voice is little more than a wintry purr from Jerica's left, spoken from across the display case of daggers where the fog-cloaked Satoshi stands opposite the assassin, grinning impishly. Impossible. The kit had been at the workbench less than a second ago, she should not have been able to make it nearly across the shop in so small a time, without making a single sound. Perhaps the puddle of half-melted snow she stands upon, left there by Jerica's passing, is connected to the queen's apparent rapid-travel. Satoshi doesn't give the woman much time to mull it over, however, continuing on her earlier remark quickly enough, "Every lady should carry something small and dangerous, tucked away where none will notice until it's too late, non~?" The question comes with a slight tip of the foxkin's head and a widening of that fang-filled smile.
Jerica knows when a game is to be played and when it is to be set aside. She tried not to show her surprise at how quickly Satoshi moved but she couldn't help the wondering or slight widening of her eyes before a sweep of lashes shields the unassuming brown irises. "And some carry more than just one something, Your Highness," Jerica demurs and joins the vampiric kit at the display of daggers. There are a few she wouldn't have minded having but again, they were out of her price range. "Every lady has her secrets," she murmurs again and absently a hand moves beneath the cloak of worked sable to finger the pendant that dangles from her neck. Jerica didn't make a show of hiding it. Few would know what the insignia meant anyway.
Satoshi, as expected, doesn't recognize the insignia, only making mental note of the gesture. Was it unconscious? A gesture borne of fond thought, or one made seeking protection? Or perhaps she was supposed to know the symbol, and thus feel threatened or forewarned? Too many possibilities for Satoshi to make a safe guess. Instead, she flashes another grin at Jerica and nods, both at her words and down toward the display case. "A lady does not live long if she lacks secrets and weapons, I find." Leaning down, Satoshi's whiskers hover just above the glass as she eyes a particularly lovely dagger. Blade is crafted from black ice, gleaming as it curves in the shape of a serpent's fang, while its hilt is blue iron, handle wrapped in threads of mithril and a strange black metal that coil about each other in a dizzying pattern until they reach the crystal clear pommel stone. No fog of breath from Satoshi appears on the glass to obscure the weapon from view, an obvious sign the kit is not of the living. Glancing up at Jerica, she lofts a brow. "What brings you to Frostmaw, stranger? All our outsiders have a different tale to tell, usually interesting, thus I can't quite help being curious what one you tell."
Jerica isn't exactly a stranger to Satoshi though if the kit thought so then Jerica would be more than happy to perpetuate the misunderstanding. The fact that no breath fogged the glass came as no surprise either. Jerica did her homework and was aware that the Queen and her King weren't quite as alive as she with a beating heart. "Mine isn't nearly so interesting, Majesty. I like the cold and I found Frostmaw to be a beautiful and dangerous place to be on occasion." She told the truth. Jerica had no reason not to. Her story, if pressed, would be sadly dull compared to what Satoshi must have heard before. Fearlessly, Jerica stretches out an uncovered hand to hover over the very same dagger that Satoshi had shown interest in, "It is lovely but I don't think I'd be able to wield it effectively. Daggers are just too personal."
Jerica 's pendant, the insignia, might just have swung forward and hit a shaft of light. Only it didn't glint as most would have. The shadow entwined with it simply absorbs the light.
Satoshi is not as quick as she likes to think herself, clearly. The urge is a powerful one to smack her face into the glass as punishment for a failed observation, once she gets a proper look at Jerica's pendant. This is what Satoshi gets for trying to be sharp-eyed -and- introspective at the same time. Her mind has been far too withdrawn from the real world since her battle with the Ice Devil King. Missteps like this are how one gets themselves killed. Privately cursing herself, Satoshi straightens up, expression fixed in such a way as to mask her inner-frustration at not one, but two blunders, invisible. "I know you~. It took me a moment, but I remember your face now. You're the one who helped my husband fend off that Gray dragon." C'mon, Sato, be smooth. It's not the end of the world that you've forgotten poor Jerica's name. ...Or had she even given it back then? Blast you, memory! "Forgive me, my mind has been in a thousand places at once, what with the threat of war looming again, that I did not recognize you immediately. How have you been since the dragon attack? No petrification lingered, I hope?"
Jerica smiled a little at Satoshi, straightening away from the case and facing the vampire fully. She raises her hand and twists it about, flexing the fingers. "Not a single bit. How is your husband?" It had been quite a while since she had been up this way or spoken to Kasyr, though she has since stopped wishing to be changed into a vampire. Except for those times she finds herself at a disadvantage. "Forgive me, m'lady. I don't recall if I gave you my name previously. I'm Jerica." As one is want to do in the presence of royalty, Jerica executed a rather graceful curtsey, using the hem of the cloak like the required skirt before rising once more. The mention of war caught the assassin's notice, "War you say? Who would dare attack Frostmaw?"
Satoshi returns Jerica's curtsey with a deep nod, nearly a short bow, that's used to mask the triumphant smile. Name acquired! And without having to ask. One small victory versus the two failures. "Kasyr's been well. Cooped up in Vailkrin dealing with the city's problems there. As for who would dare attack Frostmaw? None, just yet. The Leech of Time is a creature of mostly empty threats. But that doesn't mean we won't prepare ourselves. Frostmaw is not to be caught flatfooted, nor will its allies against his kind. ...I only wish others weren't so foolish as to buy into his promises of power. All who serve him are no more than toys and puppets to him, he'll readily cut their strings should they ever become useless. They find nothing but treachery and death, siding with that foul being." The venomous tones of Satoshi's normally dulcet voice suggest she's learned this cruel truth firsthand, and it's bred in her a seething hatred of the Time Lord. Said hatred, despite the kit's wishes, manifests itself as flickers of bright blue flame falling away in wisps from her mist-woven cloak, tied as it is to her state of mind.
Jerica instinctively takes a step back from Satoshi. She is not a confrontational woman as a rule and some might call her cowardly but even Satoshi can't say she doesn't step up when it's needed. "I see." she says to encompass all the information she had been given. "I am glad that I haven't run into this Leech of Time. from what you say." She certainly hoped Eboric wouldn't be swayed to that beings side judging by the Queen's reaction. For some reason, she trusted the ice magus judgement about others. "I couldn't help but over hear that you were in need of a few things to finish--something." At least a little relaxed now, Jerica brings the conversation around to what she had heard, "Could I, perhaps, be of assistance in some way? I do owe you for my hand."
Satoshi, easily distracted as she is, is... well, easily distracted by Jerica's change in subject. Or perhaps she just really wants to change the subject. Talking of the Leech often seems to bring the bastard down on her head, which is a nuisance to deal with when all is said and done. Thus, the magus willing follows Jerica's steering of the conversation and gives a nod in response. "Oui, I am in need of a few materials that, while I -can- obtain them myself, would be easier to hire others for. It saves me a great deal of effort when I'm needed on more important matters, and allows those interested to make additional coin." Win-win, especially if you're a queen that just wants to laze about for a day. "I'm in search of ghroundium freshly removed from the land, and amber, specifically the purified substance I've heard can be found in some of the petrified trees of Venturil. If you're interested, I'm paying."
Jerica didn't have to chew on that offer for long. She cast a glance towards the case of daggers. As much as she said she didn't like them, Jerica did appreciate a pretty blade and had a few on her person anyway. "I am interested," she says bringing her brown eyes back around to Satoshi. "Which do you want first?" The better question would be which did the kit need first.
Satoshi debates the question, not over which she needs first--as both are vital to the project--but which is least likely to prove fatal for the human. "The amber, if you please." While Venturil's wilds are indeed filled with dangerous beasts and plantlife, the mines where Ghroundium is obtained are even moreso for the living--she'd heard tales that the air below that ground has a tendency to cause insane bloodlust when breathed in, something an undead can avoid but likely not the little assassin. Satoshi has more confidence in Jerica's getting through hungry forests than navigating a mine filled with berserking orcs, ogres, and goblins. "As large a piece as you can manage, but at least the size of your hand. Bring me that much and you'll have yourself five thousand pieces of gold. The more you bring, the more I shall pay, as it is a useful stone for magic work."
Jerica didn't know a thing about magic, except for the slight of hand she had watched and learned a bit through study and bothering the crap out of the magicians. Satoshi's type of magic completely eluded Jerica. But, if the magi said it was good for magic work, then it must. "Alright. I will bring as much as I can carry and each the size of my hand." This, might take a while.
Satoshi shakes her head with a laugh. "Non, I only require one piece, just ensure it is as large as your hand or bigger. We," her gaze flicks to Gikal, picking away at one of the stoney scales, "need room for error in crafting the pommel for a sword. If you can carry larger, all the better, although I don't ask that you carry too much. I'd rather a smaller portion and it making it here, over a massive portion that never makes it back, if you take my meaning." The road from Venturil to Frostmaw is dangerous, the only safe span being where the road cuts through Craughmoyle, but even then there's the risk some entrepreneurial dwarves might waylay the assassin. "You can of course take assistance with you if you desire, just know it will cut into your own profits a bit. ..However, when," no 'if', if is tempting Fate, "you return, you can pick any weapon from this shop as part of your prize." Gikal shoots Satoshi a withering look at this.
Jerica nodded her understanding all the while doing a mental inventory. She had much of what she would need and what she didn't she could get. The suggestion she take someone earned Satoshi a soft laugh, "I work alone, when I work," she assured and sketched a bit of a bow. "When I return," she murmurs softly and eyes the giant smith, "I think your smith would prefer I spend your money here myself. If it please you, I'll just take the money." She didn't really need a dagger and there was that superstition about blades as a gift, or prize. Money should always cross palms when a blade is given as either and Jerica is rather superstitious. .
Jerica did not wait for an answer but swept out of the armory nearly as quietly as she had entered.
Satoshi bows, consenting to Jerica's refusal of the additional gift. "As you wish. Happy hunting then, Lady Dagger." While Jerica had mentioned daggers being too personal for her liking, the comment has stuck out in Satoshi's mind, and thus tied the two images together to prevent another bout of forgetfulness from the kit.
Jerica might have caught that last bit and the new monicker drew a laugh of amusement.
{{PC|Jerica|Arc:Chasing Lightning, 06))