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Post by Amber on Nov 26, 2019 19:10:26 GMT -5
(I didn't even realize the mistake until I saw my friend's paper. That, among a few other small things, was annoying to find out.)
"Right," the prince answered simply. The warning rang in his head for a moment. Whoever Ga-Julei was, it was clear he didn't like being known about. He was secretive, so secretive, in fact, that it seemed many people didn't even know he was a man. Beyond that, the mysterious figure seemed to have contacts or knew people everywhere. It seemed many people certainly knew about him. The group would have to be extra vigilant with those around them. Oswald noticed the stranger look around the room for a moment. Was he searching for someone specific or checking to make sure no one was listening? The half-orc didn't have time to ponder on it as the elf gave an answer to his proposal.
Oswald nodded slowly for a moment. That seemed like a fair trade. Some magical ring the elf wanted for information he needed. He usually didn't support stealing things, however now wasn't the time to worry about that. He was one step closer to finding out intel about the mysterious man who was to blame for the massecure and he wasn't about to give it up. When the elf mentioned Cruva, the prince couldn't help eye his feline form for a moment. He could be useful in his current state. Small and unassuming he could sneak in and out with the object or even make a good distraction if they needed one. With the beginnings of a plan in mind, the half-orc held out his hand and offered a small smile.
"I believe we have a deal. I just need details about the location, the ring itself, and anything else you think would be important." The job likely wouldn't be too diffcult to complete. Not only did they have a demon who could teleport about and was currently in the form of a cat, they also had a theif in the party. Getting the ring would be an easy enough job. Perhaps, if it were for sale, they could also buy it if it proved to be easier. Oswald stared at the elf for a moment, hoping he was satisifed with the answer.
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Post by Myst on Nov 26, 2019 23:12:52 GMT -5
(oh that's even worse - I really hate realizing things I did wrong when I see other's assignments)
The elf raised an eyebrow as he watched the half-orc and the feline perched across the back of his shoulders. It would be interesting if he agreed - as far as he knew, this was a new face. And the cat was... interesting. As far as he was concerned, that was no cat, but he wouldn't say as much. It wasn't long before the other was holding out his hand to assumedly agree to what he wanted. His grin morphed to a smirk as he reached out, shaking the other's hand. "Wonderful. The shop has two floors, the second floor is all glass. She'd made a greenhouse of it, very beautiful." The last part of it was an off-hand comment, though it was still such a wonderful thing to see. "The ring itself is made of ebony and it's on a pedestal against the wall in a glass case. The shop closes in an hour and I want it tonight - I'm not a patient man. Sit at the counter once you have it."
He didn't so much as wait for a response, getting up and walking away. Cruva only watched him go, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "Arrogant bastard," he hissed, looking at Oswald. It didn't seem like a hard task, though he wanted it tonight. It was more time consuming more than anything, and to him, it seemed like a waste of time. Still, if it would get them answers then surely it was worth it. Otherwise, he'd make it worth it and at least get a heart out of it. "Well, let's go, I suppose." It would be better to get this done sooner rather than later.
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Post by Amber on Nov 27, 2019 0:40:39 GMT -5
(Yeah. On the bright side, I think I passed it at least.)
The stranger shook Oswald's hand and grinned back. Only his grin shifted into something more of a smirk. The elf didn't bother to hide it, which made Oswald uncomfortable. The prince briefly grimaced as he watched the man, wondering what he could be up to. Did he just make a mistake by agreeing to the man's deal? The half-orc didn't have much time to ponder on it as the agreement was made and the criminal began to talk about the shop. He nodded along as the elf spoke, keeping the layout of the building in mind. He took note of the ring, briefly wondering what magical properties it could hold. Almost as soon as he was finished with his descriptions, he left the bar.
"Alright. We'll have the ring for you tonight," the half-orc replied as the man left. He froze a moment after the words left his mouth. He said we. Oswald focused on the bar in front of him for a moment, letting out a deep sigh. He could only hope no one heard his words, though the mistake filled him with dread. How could he have been so reckless? He glanced towards Cruva as he spoke in the growly voice of the cat. For the time being he allowed himself to focus on that, lightly chuckling at the demon's comment. When the guard mentioned leaving, Oswald hummed in reply and slowly got up from his seat. He took a final glance around before walking out of the building. No one stopped him as he left, which he was grateful for. Now back in the alley, he felt almost safer. It was odd being in a room full of criminals one moment and then in the seemingly safe streets of the town the next. He was quiet for a few moments as they exited the alleyway.
"Do you think we'll be enough?" Oswald asked, worry rising in his chest. Now that he was out, he could feel the confidence drain away and a new unease arise. What did he just do? With another sigh, he continued on. "I mean I'm not exactly thief material and I'm not sure how much you can do in that form. Do you think we should get Tempest or Kiran to help us?"
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Post by Myst on Nov 27, 2019 0:58:00 GMT -5
(ahh that's good!)
Cruva didn't bother commenting on the way he spoke, having already decided that the elf was out of earshot. He didn't shift much as the prince stood and made his way out of the building. Nobody looked their way as they left, and he figured that they wouldn't. It wasn't long until they were back in the alley and the half-orc he was perched on was posing a question. "It would take quite some time to find either one of them" he answered. He already knew the other wouldn't want to steal it, though he personally felt that it would be easier than way. Still, he supposed if they found the shop within the hour then they could simply purchase the item depending on its price. Yet, he still thought that simply taking it would be easier than fretting over the price.
"If we find the shop within the hour then you can just buy it." Despite how he thought it to be a waste of time, it was important to keep in mind, he supposed. After all, the stupid elf wanted the thing tonight, right? So they needed to be fast, or at least act in a timely fashion. Then again, he supposed finding at least one of the others wouldn't hurt. "I don't really care, so long as we get answeres tonight. Do whatever you think is easier."
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Post by Amber on Nov 27, 2019 2:04:54 GMT -5
Oswald nodded as the demon spoke. Cruva had a few good points. "Right. We don't even know where to begin looking for them. And of course buying it would be easier." The prince headed out into the streets and began to look around at the buildings. Despite his attempts to search for the shop, the half-orc had no idea where to begin looking. Perhaps he could ask around about the ring. It sounded unique enough for someone to know where to find it, however it could also draw unwanted attention. After a moment, a different idea popped into his head. He approched one of the market vendors with a friendly smile.
"Hello, ma'am. I don't mean to be a bother, but do you know of any shops that sell enchanted items in town?" The woman returned his smile and nodded.
"Yeah we have a few around here." She began to rattle off a few shop names and their locations. Oswald carefully listened, trying to memorize a few. He had no idea if his idea would work, but he knew it was worth a shot. Perhaps one of the shopkeepers would know the location of the ring. It would certainly make his job easier. With a quick goodbye, he continued on his way towards one of the buildings mentioned. They had time to reach some of the stores. They would find what they needed and get the intel. Tonight wouldn't be a waste.
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Post by Myst on Nov 27, 2019 2:37:52 GMT -5
The demon only gave a slight nod at his statement. He had no idea where Kiran was unless she called for him, and he had no ties for the thief, nor did he care for her whereabouts. As the moved through the streets, he kept his eye out for a glass roof. Although, he didn’t see anything eye catching, so he eventually settled for drinking in his surroundings. It wasn’t long until he realized they were in the market place... interesting. And likely more logical considering they were looking for a shop. He was asking about shops... right. That was smart.
Listening as the woman rattled off some shop names, he glanced around. Before long they were headed off once more. “Didn’t think they’d have so many witch-own shops,” Cruva muttered. She’d listened at least seven shops and it seemed those were just in the relatively immediate area. Still, he supposed it was better than nothing. “I think we should keep in mind the damage in this area from the previous incident.” If the shop was in this area, then the glass shielding the greenhouse on the second floor was likely gone by now. Shattered to nothing and swept away from the streets to protect the people. “It likely no long has a glass second-floor.”
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Post by Amber on Nov 27, 2019 13:09:56 GMT -5
(Fell asleep last night, so that's why I disappeared.)
As soon as they were out of earshot, Cruva commented on the amount of shops in the area. The prince just gave a small shrug, careful not to knock the demon off balance. "Maybe more witches just congregate here or something." Oswald didn't know a lot about magic users, however he did know that they sometimes gathered in different areas for one reason or another. Sometimes, from what he did know, it was unintentional or even some strange pull towards a place. He couldn't even begin to explain it, in fact that was something his sister would likely have a better idea on. She had magical abilities, much like their mother, and few people knew about that fact. It wasn't something they told everyone. It was really just family and a few unrelated people at the castle.
A pang of longing hit the prince as he thought about his family. There was an unspoken fear that he would never see them again and that worried him. Cruva speaking up brought him back to the town and away from his thoughts. Oswald nodded, though the unease still lingered at the back of his head. "I didn't even think about that. It should be easy to spot with all the broken glass. Good suggestion." Oswald kept an eye towards the tops of the small buildings. Finding the unique building wouldn't be diffcult.
For the next while, the half-orc prince searched for the mentioned shops and eventually found one. "Obsidian Goods," he read aloud. It was a darkly painted building that stood out from the others around it. Oswald carefully entered in. Hopefully the shopekeep would know what they're looking for. A small bell rang to indicate their arrival and a dwarf greeted them with a warm smile.
"Welcome, sir. How may I help you?"
"I don't mean to be rude, but I'm looking for a particular shop. It's supposed to have a greenhouse on the second floor." The dwarf scratched their chin and slowly nodded.
"Give me a few minutes, I might know what you're looking for." The dwarf left the main area and headed to the back.
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Post by Myst on Nov 28, 2019 8:27:14 GMT -5
(Happy thanksgiving! Idk when I’ll be able to reply but I hope your day is super good!)
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Post by Myst on Nov 28, 2019 9:13:19 GMT -5
There was unease within the prince, he could feel it. As far as he was concerned, the emotion was unwarranted in this situation. There was nothing externally to have caused it. Still, he didn’t know the orc’s thoughts. Perhaps he was worrying over something. Still, he didn’t question it. Rather, he kept himself focused on the task at hand. They needed to find that shop before the end of the night, otherwise getting into that place would have been a waste of time. Besides, he didn’t really like to concern himself with emotional troubles.
After a bit, they’d entered a shop. The building was dark, though warmly lit on the inside and run by a dwarf as far as he could tell. It didn’t take long for them to be acknowledged, and the exchange that followed was rather short. “What’s in the back?” It was entirely possible that it was what they were looking for, however he hadn’t looked at the top of the building long enough to confirm or deny this.
(Oof this is short I’m sorry)
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Post by Amber on Nov 28, 2019 13:04:18 GMT -5
(Happy Thanksgiving to you too! And don't worry about replying, today will be busy for many people, myself included. I literally woke up this morning and started helping with food stuff. Anyway I'll get my reply up whenever I can. Hope you have a good day.)
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Post by Amber on Nov 28, 2019 20:44:59 GMT -5
(Don't worry about the length. I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but it's all good.)
Oswald shurgged lightly. "I don't know. Maybe he need to check on something or perhaps he's trying to find information for us." The prince still wasn't entierly sure, but it's what made sense to him. The pair continued to wait a few more minutes, Oswald wondering what was taking the storekeeper so long. The dwarf eventually came out carrying some ink, a pen, and a piece of rolled up paper. He signled for the half-orc to follow him to the counter where he set out the supplies. The prince quietly followed, curious what he had. Oswald scanned the paper and quickly realized it was a map of the town. It was labled with street names and a few buildings noted. The prince quickly realized the shops labled were other places like Obsidian Goods.
"The place you're looking for sounds like Claiborne's shop. She's a witch around the western district. Her shop's here." He pointed towards a building at the left side of the map called Enchanter's Garden. He supposed the name made sense considering the greenhouse described above. The dwarf began to draw a path with the ink from his store to the one they were looking for. "It'll be closed soon, so this will hopefully the quickest way for you." After a moment, the man scratched a bearded chin and glanced over the half-orc. "Say, what do you want to do with Claiborne anyway?" Oswald thought for a moment. He hadn't expected the man to be so curious.
"I heard she had some interesting items for sale, so I wanted to take a look," the prince quickly lied. The shopkeep simply nodded, seeming satisifed with the answer. After a moment, he marked a few more things on the map before handing it to the half-orc.
"Hope you find what you're looking for. Good luck."
"Thanks." The prince took the map and began to head out. They would reach the shop yet, hopefully before it closed.
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Post by Myst on Nov 29, 2019 14:07:09 GMT -5
Those were both very real options. It wouldn’t be surprising if the shop owner was looking for something to help them. It is was made sense, after all. When the dwarf cane back out, Cruva only looked at him as he motioned for Oswald to join him at the counter. In the counter was a map, and he was quickly explaining the fastest way for them to get there. Enchanter’s Garden... well, that sounded rather obvious. Though, he didn’t recall the name from the list another shop keeper had told them previously. Still later was better than never. Well, he figured it wouldn’t take them too long to get there - hopefully this was truly the fattest path.
He only listened to the tail end of the exchange after that. A rather smooth lie considering the prince was such a good person. As they left the shop, he glanced at the half-orc. “You’re getting much better at this,” the demon commented. It was rather nice if you asked him. It meant he was still a bad influence. “Not the best, but still a good lie.” He has definitely seen worse, ones that even a measly human to pick apart.
As the other walked, he simply took in their surroundings. The types of building changed some, became a little more residential though there were still shops here and there. It was maybe twenty minutes later when he could just make out the frame of what should’ve been a second floor. “Hey, over there.” It was a nice looking building - dark colored work with the name of the place written in vines that seemed like they were growing flowers that would bloom soon. “Let’s go before it closes.”
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Post by Amber on Nov 29, 2019 16:31:45 GMT -5
With Obsidian Goods behind them, the prince quickly headed to Enchanter's Garden by the path indicated on the map. They were making good time and would likely reach the shop before it closed, whenever that was. The crowds were, unsurprisingly, thinning out as darkness approched. People would be heading in for the night, going about one activity or another. His mind briefly drifted back to his and Kiran's adventures from the night before. It was a nice and needed break from their current mission. It seemed to do her some good at least. It made the streets easier to navigate as the pair tried to find their destination. As he walked on, Cruva spoke up and complimented him on his lie. The prince didn't think it was all that impressive considering how simple it was. He also didn't truly consider it a lie.
"Well it's not entierly untrue isn't it? I mean we heard about the ring from that elf and we are interested in buying it if we can. If anything it was more...giving details without revealing everything about the situation," the prince explained. Their goal was to find and purchase the ring if they could, otherwise they would have to resort to stealing the half-orc wasn't entierly sure if he was up to that. For the time being, he focused on getting to the shop before it closed. After some time, the demon drew his attention towards one of the buildings. Oswald didn't notice it at first. It wasn't until Cruva gestered towards it that he noticed the place. He simply nodded and quickly approched.
As if to confirm their suspicions, there were glass remnants scattered beside the building. The second floor had no glass left and it appeared it was some sort of sunroom or greenhouse. With a newfound determination, Oswald entered the shop. A bell rang to indicate their arrival. Some of the shelves of the shop were empty and he noticed a bit of debris on the floor. It was likely some of the items were knocked off the shelves during that sound from earlier. No one greeted the prince as he moved further into the store. After a moment, he called out.
"Hello? Is there anyone in?"
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Post by Myst on Dec 2, 2019 17:01:09 GMT -5
(Hey sorry that’s I literally died! Most of my projects are due this week and I’m trying to make sure they’re done properly)
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Post by Amber on Dec 2, 2019 17:13:00 GMT -5
(Ugh that sounds awful. I hope it eases up, but being the end of the semester, that'll probably be diffcult. Good luck and don't overwork yourself.)
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Post by Myst on Dec 2, 2019 17:47:21 GMT -5
“A lie of omission is still a lie,” the demon responded. He couldn’t really work his way around that. What he had said was a lie, it was just one of the easier types to accomplish. Still, it had seemed to come rather naturally to the prince. It had also been a bit unexpected, however, it had gone over well. Still, he didn’t comment further on it as they walked, finding soon enough there was no reason too. They had come upon the shop a little faster than he had expected, and broken glass still seemed to line the streets in this area. Well, at least they knew they had reached the shop.
As they entered the shop, he made a quick note of the inside. Plants were everywhere, and the shelves and counters all seemed very organized. His eyes landed on the pedestal at the back of the shop that had an object encased in glass. Ah, that had to be it then. After all, while not the other thing in a secure case, it was the only pedestal he could see. While he couldn’t tell from this distance, he had half a mind to say the case was enchanted. It was like a witch to keep such a prized item in an easily broken glass case. Still, if all went well, then they wouldn’t have to find out. They could simply purchase the ring with no problems and head back to their new contact and finally get some answers. Well, that would only happen if somebody came out to help them - a minute or so after the bell rang, it still seemed that nobody was in the shop.
After another couple minutes had passed, a woman no taller than 5’6” came downstairs. The thing about her was she was the child of a gumiho, and it left her features a bit altered. Fox ears peaked out from light brown curls, and she spotted fives tails rather than a her mother’s typical nine. Besides this, her eyes were burnt orange in color and were all most fox like. Though most notably, she had a snake lazing around her neck - a companion of hers. Eyes landing on the man in her shop, she huffed. “You’ve picked a poor time - I’ve got glass I’m trying to handle upstairs.”
The woman paused coming up to the main counter and sliding in behind it. She eyed the pair for a moment, placing her hands on the counter. “You’ve got a demon on your shoulder, boy.” The comment was off hand, though did catch Cruva’s attention. Very interesting - this far it seemed she was the only one to realize this. “I’m Thistle Claiborne - I’m assuming you’re looking to buy, yes?” She wasn’t always this unhappy, however to have her greenhouse shattered had completely ruined her mood. To top it off, she was closing in only a little more than half an hour and no somebody decided they needed something from her.
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Post by Amber on Dec 2, 2019 21:22:18 GMT -5
Oswald lightly shurgged but argued no further. Perhaps the demon had a point or perhaps he was biased because of who he was. The half-orc continued to focus on the task ahead of him instead, which was getting the ring. After they entered, slowly moved forward, giving Cruva a chance to look around. Oswald himself took a look around as well, noticing something in the back. Behind a glass case was a ring. In fact it was the exact ring they were looking for or at least it appeared to be. The half-orc grinned, glad they managed to find the shop they were looking for. As he observed the object, he barely noticed the woman enter to room.
She was a couple of inches shorter than the prince with curly, brown hair and a snake delicately hanging from her neck. Somehow, those weren't her most notable features. A set of fox ears were set atop her head while five tails were visible from behind her. It was traits that made her out to be a descent of a gumiho. Oswald knew little of the fox-like spirits. In fact, he was caught off guard seeing one in the shop. They weren't exactly common in Mithra and the prince hadn't interacted with them often. After recollecting himself, the prince offered a sheepish smile as she commented on the glass upstairs.
"I apologize, ma'am. I didn't mean to come at such a bad time." He paused as she settled herself behind the counter. Before he could bring up the reason why, the woman mentioned Cruva on his shoulders. Oswald froze. "How...Uh no...he's just a cat," the prince lied. Of course he was caught off guard and the lie was probably obvious. He glanced towards the disguised demon, curious to his reacrion. He turned his attention back towards the woman as she introduced herself as Thistle Claiborne.
"Yes, Miss Claiborne. I was curious about a ring you may have." Perhaps he was being too obvious with his request. He didn't care. They needed the ring to get information from the strange elf and the quicker it was in their possession, the quicker they would get what they wanted.
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Post by Myst on Dec 2, 2019 23:30:02 GMT -5
They weren’t common at all. Well, that, or they kept hidden rather well. The woman had seldom met full blooded gumiho aside from her mother. Half blooded fox spirits were rarer still, and most gumiho thought selves to be above the other races, and only drew them in for a meal. Thistle was originally from the unclaimed lands, though eventually found herself here in the city. As far as she knew, she was the only of her kind her, and she’d lived to see many familial generations and an interesting set of travelers who purchased things from her.
The man before her was no different.
Just a cat? Oh, the poor boy. Grinning slightly, she only shook her head gently. “Not your fault, you aren’t the one who broke all my glass. As for your cat, I can assure you that your sorely mistaken.” She knew a demon when she saw one. Or sensed one, that is.
Cruva simply stared at the woman. Stupid fox spirits - even the half bloods were sensitive to the different kind of presences, it seemed. Still, for her to call him out so blatantly was a little new to him. It wasn’t often many wanted to so obviously comment on the presence of his kind. Despite this, he didn’t speak, rather settled into a slight glare. It wasn’t as if she was entitled to his words, however, it would’ve been nice to say something. Still, if the prince insisted he was nothing more then a feline, then that was the end of it.
“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue, demon?” The words were snickered, a fox like grin on her face as sharpened canines glinted in the light.
“Shut it, half-blood.” The demon hissed.
This drew a warm laugh from the woman as she leaned forward on the counter. “Tough words for somebody who’s stuck as a cat. I could end you with a flick of the wrist,” she mused. Of course, she wasn’t going to. She didn’t care that the half orc had come in with a demonic entity perched on his shoulder. So, she focused on his words, nodding slightly. “A ring? Wouldn’t supposed you’re asking about my Ring of Faces, hm?” When people were curious about a ring, it was almost always the one in the glass case. The Ring of Faces has wrapped in a powerful illusion enchantment, one that she had placed herself. It allowed its wearing to take on the face of anybody they so desired. “Its the one on the pedestal - costs a pretty penny too.”
“How much?”
Thistle shook her head lightly. “It’s 1,700 gold - ebony isn’t cheap around here, and it’s a unique enchantment. So, if you want it, I’ll bring it out for you. Otherwise, forget about it.”
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Post by Amber on Dec 3, 2019 11:48:56 GMT -5
The jig was up. There was no point in denying that Cruva wasn't a simple cat anymore. Not only did she seem to see past his disguise somehow, but he had told her to shut up. Most normal cats didn't speak. Oswald glanced towards the guard. The demon seemed almost uneasy, but the prince couldn't be sure. He wasn't the best at reading people and it was only made more diffcult on the face of a cat. While not quite expressionless, cats didn't quite emote like people. Even if he was in human form however, Oswald doubted he could read the demon anyway. He wasn't the most expressive person out there, usually choosing to be stoic instead. At the woman's comment, the half-orc felt a sense of nervousness come over him. He cleared his throat and turned the attention to himself.
"Excuse my, uh, friend. He's not the most kind person out there." Oswald wanted to avoid a fight if he could. Snapping at the gumiho didn't seem like the best course of action for that in their current situation. The half-orc watched the woman for a moment as she finally talked about the ring. It was known as the ring of faces and the prince could only imagine how it earned the name. Did it steal the faces of others? Did it instead make disguises? He couldn't be sure. Before he could ask, she mentioned the price at Cruva's request. Seventeen hundred gold. That was more than the half-orc had on him, and he had already spent some on their journey. The prince paled slightly.
"Alright," he said after a moment with a small nod. "Can you give me a moment?" He still had his bag on him from the morning. Surely he would have something in there that was worth enough to the woman plus whatever coins he had. That was even assuming she would accept it in the first place. He had to search his bag for valuables. I have to have something in here, right? He glanced back up towards her for a moment.
"Do you only accept gold?" He asked. He hoped he didn't seem desperate by asking, though a part of him knew that would be the case. He could only hope she was willing to negotiate with him and that the price wasn't too concerning.
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Post by Myst on Dec 3, 2019 13:54:59 GMT -5
He didn’t like the spirits. Sure, demons had a vast amount of knowledge but that was through experience. Gumiho, and even the rare half-bloods specializes in knowledge. They just knew thing inherently by looking at them. Sure, they could not gather so much information, but they knew enough with a simple glance to see through just about any farce, especially if it was a physical lie. They’re powers were also something... they look look like anybody, change every aspect of their physical appearance and they had three forms. To top it off, they seemed to think they were better than anything else that ever walked the planet. He just didn’t mix well with them, and to have her to blatantly make these statements put him off a bit.
Mostly because she was right. A fatal blow to his current vessel and he’d die along with it. At least he knew it was a bluff - she had no such intentions.
The woman only watched the pair as he apologized on behalf of the creature. She only hummed in acknowledgment, waving off his apology. She didn’t care - there wasn’t much the demon could do to her in this state, the amount of fatigue he’d feel should he end the spell would overwhelm him. Rather, she focused on what followed. The man in front of her had paled slightly, indicated to her that he likely couldn’t afford her product. It wasn’t a surprise to her - nobody in who ever came in could. It was why it was still here.
When he asked for a moment, she only gave a slightly shrug as she stood up straight. “Mhmm,” came her hummed answered as she turned her attention to the reptile around her neck. Soon enough came another question and she glanced up, raising an eyebrow. He must really want the damn thing... Although a trade would be nice, especially depending on what he had to offer.
He’d piqued her curiosity. Should he present something worthwhile to her, she’d likely negate more than half of the price. Burnt orange eyes lighting up, she leaned forwards on the counter once more. “Depends on what you have to offer to me.”
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Post by Amber on Dec 3, 2019 15:19:09 GMT -5
Thistle watched the pair silently for a moment. Perhaps she was trying to read them or maybe she was interested in something else. Oswald could feel his nervousness grow as her burnt-orange eyes observed them. Could she sense his unease? Was she like Cruva and had the ability to make it grow? Due to his lack of knowledge on the spirits, anything seemed possible to him.
Oswald's mind was racing. He didn't know what he had to offer the fox-eared woman or what exactly would interest her. Information would likely be useless to her, she seemed to prefer something of monetary value instead. The prince scratched his chin. He didn't have much he could offer. Anything truly valuable was being back in Mithra or safe in his guest room in Zaestro. He had a few things that could be useful. A few potions, some high end inks, quills, and papers, and if it came to it, his clothing was rather nice even for traveling garments, but that was it. He had almost nothing to offer.
The prince was panicking slightly. What can we do? Will we end up without the information we need? How will we get this ring? The questions raced through his mind. Oswald took a deep breath. He needed to calm down and think it through. She was willing to make some sort of trade. That worked in his favor. He also had a few thing that would likely interest her on his person. That was good. Besides that, the half-orc also knew things. Although he concluded that information likely wouldn't be something Thistle wanted, it was worth a try. At worst, she would probably only reject his offer of knowledge.
"I have some high end writing supplies and some potions I can offer. However, I do also have some information that might interest you as well." It was a gamble. Either she would blow him off and they would have to find another way to get the ring or she would be interested enough to hear him out. It was worth asking, however. He glanced back towards Cruva for a moment, wondering what he would think. He then shifted his gaze towards the gumiho, watching her for some type of reaction.
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Post by Myst on Dec 3, 2019 16:25:47 GMT -5
Unlike demons, gumiho had no ties to emotions. They were incredible at reading people and convincing others to do as they wanted, but it was not something they could control. Cruva knew this rather well, though he could feel the unease rolling in waves off the prince. Rather, it was starting to turn to panic, which was something they could not have. Not here, not now. It'd be rather inconvenient if the man lost all sense of logic because he let his worries rule his thoughts. Before he could do anything about it, it seemed a deep breath had been enough to calm him down at least a bit... Good, less work he had to do.
He listened to his offer, wondering what sort of writing supplies he was referring to. Then again, he also wondered what sort of information he'd offer up to such an infamous collector of knowledge. When Oswald looked at him, he only gave a slight nod towards the half-blood. It was worth a shot - collecting information would be slightly harder for her, as half-bloods rarely got the beads that their full-blooded counter parts did. It meant she could only get it through word of mouth and by looking at things... At least she would be able to tell whether or not it was true.
The fox spirit grinned at the man's offer, tails waving lazily behind her. "A shot in the dark, yet with fantastic aim. What kind of information do you have for me?" Sure, the writing supplies would be nice as there were a few inks she was looking to get her hands on, but information was so much better. The more she knew, the more she could hold things over people's heads and continue to get exactly what she wanted. She wasn't inherently malicious, but she had a thing about getting her way. It was her way or no way.
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Post by Amber on Dec 3, 2019 18:34:55 GMT -5
Cruva gave his approval through a slight nod. A small boost of confidence rose through Oswald. He was doing something right, it seemed. He turned his attention back to Thistle who was now smiling. She leanded forward, interested in his offer. After a moment, she spoke up once more. So his initial thoughts were wrong. She found his offer of information impressive it seemed. It interested her and was probably more valuable than items judging by how she hadn't spoke about them. It was diffcult to hide the twinge of excitment that went through him. They could get the ring yet.
Oswald knew a few facts from his interaction with the half-spirit. For one, she was interested in information he had. For another, she had an uncanny sense for spotting demons. She likely could pick up on lies too if he weren't careful. It wasn't much, but it was a step in the right direction for the prince. It also worked in Oswald's favor to a degree. Now he just had to figure out what kind of intel would interest the shopekeep in trade for the ebony ring. He gave himself a few moments, figuring out what he could tell her.
"Truthfully," he began, "I'm not sure what you already know and what you don't know. So anything I give you will be things I just know that I think will interest you." Perhaps it was foolish to admit such things. Perhaps it made him seem weaker in her strange, orange eyes. Oswald didn't have time to dwell on those thoughts. He had a job to do.
"I think an interesting point to start with would be the explosion from earlier. I saw it earlier. Some figure was flying through the sky and quickly disappeared. I've also heard that whatever broke your windows- and part of the town -was done by a descendant of the Mithran storm goddess, Indra." He paused for a moment. It wasn't the most interesting or useful information. But it was something. After a moment, he spoke up again. He spoke of something that would hopefully be more interesting to the gumiho than the first thing he knew.
"I know a few things about Ga-Julei and the attack on the party from a week ago." It was another gamble on whether or not it would be something she was interested in. However he would probably get something more from it than the news on the demigod.
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Post by Myst on Dec 3, 2019 19:13:31 GMT -5
Thistle watched the pair, curiosity dancing in her eyes. Sure, she was only a half-blood, but the nature of a fox ran well within her. It was why her kind were collectors of knowledge. The more they knew, the happier they were. She also specialized in little trinkets - the ones that held history were the most intriguing to her, but she did have a few that just made her happy. When he finally spoke up, she only shrugged a bit. It was almost always like this. "I would take several lifetimes for you to learn all I know," she mused, watching him carefully. It was an interesting admission, one that she appreciated. Most assumed what she did and didn't know - it didn't end well for the ones who were insistent. They wound up with one less heart, and she had a lovely meal.
As he continued, she gave a slow nod. Very interesting... It made sense. A typical explosion wouldn't have caused such widespread damage. That, and it hadn't sounded correct, and now she knew why. It had been thunder. She'd known the deity had, at one point, had a lover, but she didn't know anything had come of it. "Intriguing," she murmured, pointing at a bookshelf without looking away. A small book bound in worn, dark leather pulled itself out from a tightly packed shelf and flew seamlessly into her hand. She set it down in front of her, though didn't open it just yet.
Rather, she let the other continue. Ga-Julei? Even better - it was a name she was hearing more of now. She wanted to know more, but without seeing him, she had to depend on word of mouth. Though, she'd heard quite a lot about him. "Tell me what you know, then."
"Ga-Julei sent a small group of mercenaries to Zaestro to have the young royals killed, and Otyx was ordered to burn. It also seems he was working with a wizard, promised him a spot on the royal court here," Cruva stated bluntly, watching the fox-spirit carefully. He was unsure what use she had for this information, though if it was what she wanted, then fine. She could have it - it wasn't as if they knew much about him anyways. He received a thoughtful nod, and another book was summoned from the shelf. With two now in front of her, he could only assume they were journals. At least, that's what they looked like.
The gumiho hummed a little in thought. Ga-Julei and Zaestro... Very interesting. From what she already knew of him, he was not a man of politics. In fact, it seemed all he cared for was coin. This meant he was hired... Or, at least she felt she could assume this. As for the wizard... Ah. "I knew your energy felt familiar," She murmured, eyes focusing on the demon. "You were summoned the house only a few streets away. I saw the bodies, you know. I will say I'm a little upset, the woman who's neck you broke was my next target." She'd gotten into consuming hearts more. While not necessary because she wasn't full-blooded, she still loved them. A nice little treat for herself. "As for Auri, you did a number on him. Not that I care - he wasn't the best man around. Very power-hungry."
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Post by Amber on Dec 3, 2019 21:36:06 GMT -5
Oswald nodded. A part of him was interested in the histories and stories the gumiho knew. Another part was unsure he wanted to know what she did. He didn't trust the half-blood and even felt a bit uneasy around her. He pushed the feelings away and explained what he knew about the mysterious demigod. She replied with a simple word. As he suspected, it wasn't something she was super interested in. It just helped clear some things up for her. Even still, Thistle reached a hand out towards a bookshelf. He watched as a book whizzed ahead, flying from the bookshelf and into the woman's hand. Oswald flinched slightly, startled by the sudden movement. Thistle was unfazed, clearly used to whatever magic brought the leather-bound volume to her. He blinked in surprise, but quickly managed to recollect himself.
Although the demigod lead didn't do much, he fortunately still had the Ga-Julei intel. Before he could give her what he knew, Cruva- surprisingly -spoke up. He explained what the party had already figured out. The fires in Otyx, the assassination attempts on his and Kiran's lives, and the attack on the party. The new information seem to interest Thistle. She summoned another book towards her. It was nearly identical to the first one she pulled towards her. Perhaps he had been wrong about his initial thoughts on her reaction to the demigod. She said nothing and simply gave a nod. To Oswald, it seemed they were heading into the right direction.
A silence settled over the shop. The snake around the half-blood's neck lazily curled around while the woman herself seemed to consider the demon's words. Finally she spoke up, a bit of recognition flashing into her unusual eyes. She then spoke about Cruva being summoned elsewhere, a woman he killed, and a wizard he apparently maimed or tortured. Oswald's brown eyes shifted between Cruva and Thistle. He knew the demon managed to get the note...but they never found out how. He wanted to find out more about the event the gumiho reffeted to. He wanted to ask the guard what happened and what the two already knew. Unfortunately it would be unwise in the presence of the knowledge collector. For the time being, Oswald kept his mouth shut, trying to figure out his next move.
The woman would likely want to know what the half-orc was doing with a demon. And not just any demon at that point, a demon she knew was summoned in a nearby building. She would likely want to figure out their connect and at that point it would be diffcult stepping around the topic. That is if she were actually interested in their connection. If they were lucky, that wouldn't be the case. Oswald pushed those thoughts from his mind. He shifted his gaze towards the ring. That's why they were there. They had to stay focus on that. Aganist his better judgement, he finally found his voice and spoke up.
"Is that enough information?" Do you want more? His tone seemed to suggest.
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Post by Myst on Dec 3, 2019 22:15:01 GMT -5
She knew better than to wear her emotions on her face. Her mother had taught her to mask overly emotional reactions, so she was a rather subtle person. In reality, she was very interested in the idea of a demigod, as it wasn’t often the deities interacted with those who populated their lands. But for Indra to have a descendent... how odd. Then again, she seemed to participate more than others in the world of mortals, what with the several sea-bound battles she assisted with. And then there was what she now knew of Ga-Julei... it seemed he was taking on larger jobs, but wasn’t doing well to keep his name out of people’s mouths. In fact, it seemed those he hired weren’t good at keeping their mouths shut. That was out of character considering what she already knew of him... perhaps it was too much for him to handle.
This thought amused her.
She was pulled back into the present as the half-orc spoke up. Regarding the two of them for a moment, Thistle thought. They had gifted her with valuable information, and it would fill quite a few of her needs later. “I suppose,” she murmured, stepping out from behind the counter. As she made her way over to the pedestal, she was casting a spell with elegant movements, removing the hex she’d placed on the case upon the rings creation. By the time she got there, it didn’t take much for her to lift the glass and remove the small object.
Turning sharply, she strode back over to the pair, holding out the ring between two clawed fingers. “I’ll also gift you with a suggestion - change your clothes. Some of us in Ereva are well versed in what clothes each kingdom wears.”
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Post by Amber on Dec 3, 2019 22:52:09 GMT -5
Relief washed over the prince as he regarded the woman with a small smile. She headed towards the case, removed the glass cover, and pulled out the ring. It seemed that the information they had given was enough. But then they hadn't really said much. A part of Oswald was curious to know why what they had given was enough. The smarter part knew it would be unwise to question it. She soon returned with the ebony ring between two clawed fingers. He blinked in surprise, not expecting such a sight. Once again it was due to his inexperience with gumiho. Before she gave over the ring, the woman commented on his outfit.
The half-orc reguarded his clothing for a moment. He was dressed in garments meant for desert travel and they were rather nice, even for common clothing. He shifted his gaze back towards Thistle and nodded. "Thank you. I'll keep that suggestion in mind." He had already planned to get something thicker for the mountain travel, though hadn't considered how he would've stood out before. She made a good point. It would be wise to try and blend in with the population of Ereva. He took another glance at Cruva, curious to know his thoughts. He probably didn't have much to say. He had been mostly quiet during their trip inside Enchanter's Garden.
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Post by Myst on Dec 4, 2019 0:42:14 GMT -5
“Mm, as you should,” Thistle responded. “Those are clothes from the palace. I’d suggest changing tonight.” As soon as the ring was taken from her hand, she resumed her place behind the counter. She opened the first book she’d summoned after hearing about the storm goddess. She began to idly read what she’d already written, quickly flipping to the page about her lover. Right - she’d left a blank space. Well, she at least knew that she had a descendent, and based on the previous time period, the one living now was likely a granddaughter. How interesting...
“The palace? And how would you know that?”
“I’ve lived as long as you have - I’m a collector of knowledge, demon,” she responded without looking up from her text as she did so. There was no reason to - they had both gotten what they wanted, and she no longer had reason to speak with them. The shop was officially closed for the night, and she had a few texts to amend. Summoning a quil and ink with a simple snap, the objects floated over and made their home on the counter before her. Though, she quickly realized the others were still in front of her. Glancing up, the half-blood raised an eyebrow. “Run along now, we both got what we wanted, yes?”
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Post by Amber on Dec 4, 2019 1:50:17 GMT -5
The prince took the ring and carefully slipped it into his bag. He turned his attention back to the half-blood and blinked in surprise as Thistle mentioned the palace. How did she know that? He glanced at Cruva as he questioned her. Unsurprisingly, she dodged the demon's inquiry. Oswald could hardly blame her. After today she probably just wanted to be left to deal with her broken shop. She summoned objects to write with before dismissing them. The half-orc didn't want to deal with the gumiho further. Without another word he exited the shop with Cruva still secure on his shoulders.
As soon as the door closed behind him and Enchanter's Garden was a few feet away, Oswald finally spoke up. "I think that went well all things considered. And we now also have the ring. We'll get it to the elf and then get the information we want." The prince couldn't help but smile. It was an interesting interaction with someone he had little knowledge on and they would find out something about Ga-Julei. As they headed through the streets, Oswald took another quick look at his clothes. He imagined any clothing shops would either be closed or closing soon due to the hour. Changing would have to wait until the morning.
As they headed back to alley, Thistle's words about Cruva rang in his head. I know your energy felt familiar. You were summoned the house only a few streets away.
"How did they know your name? The people who summoned you yesterday that is. How did they get it, just like Kiran did? Is it in various texts or something?" He knew the guard didn't like him to pry. However, he couldn't help but wondered how it all worked. Oswald didn't even know a demon could be summoned by a second party while in a contract. The fact that two people managed to summon Cruva in the past six years seemed odd, even u likely to the prince. Then again he still didn't know a lot about demons.
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Post by Myst on Dec 4, 2019 2:07:43 GMT -5
The demon didn't speak up as they left, rather finding himself silent as the door closed behind them. He had nothing to say, especially not to the vixen in the shop. She had the right idea - they no longer had a reason to communicate with each other, and he was sure she had better things to do than chat just like they did. Rather, he only listened as the prince spoke up on what had just happened. He was right - it could have been worse. "I don't like this elf. He seems a bit too confident for somebody who seems to know so much," he muttered, thinking back to their previous interaction. Even just his mannerisms were so... Confident. Overly confident, honestly.
Still, he supposed it was better than nothing.
When Oswald began to question him on the summoning, his ears perked. Right, the summons... The one that shouldn't have been as strong as it had been. "Typically in texts yes - unfortunately, mine is mentioned a bit frequently..." He'd done quite a bit of work since his birth. He was responsible for the start of several wars, though the most recent was not his doing - the people did that on their own. He was also well known for odd bouts of chaos that resulted in people of power vanishing. "Kiran found it in an old tale - I'd been summoned two hundred years ago by the king, and it seemed he had recorded the spell for later use. The spell from last night shouldn't have worked." Cruva paused, thinking back on it. The more people that participated in the spell, the stronger it became. Plus, it seemed Auri had been rather powerful, demon-proofing an entire room.
Instead of waiting for the half-orc to ask why, he simply continued. No use in waiting for something he already knew would happen. "When a demon is tethered, it negates any future summons until their task is complete. It seems, however, when it is strong enough they are pulled. They can't take on a secondary task, though, as they are physically incapable of doing so." Him being brought to that damn house had been worthless to those that summoned him. Only one woman got something out of it, though it was only important so long as he was within the kingdom.
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