Arielle looks up at JH. "Daddy, who is the jokester? And why are you and Grandpa so upset about him?"
'He is a mean man that hides behind laughter. We don't find him funny at all. And he has stolen from us, and needs to be punished.'
'Nothing for you to worry about, honey.'
JH tries to open himself to the Green, but the wall is still there. But he feels cracks within it. At the same time he can 'feel' the stone blocking him, until that moment he was unsure of what made up the barrier.
If you know that we have been trading such items, then you should know that we have been trading them for rare services, and for unique items, at a rate of one-for-one.
We have many such items as you claim that you seek in the coffers of our treasure-houses back home in Leng.
Can you afford seventy or eighty special services, that would tax an archon to carry out or make a demigod weep?
All that mere wealth will buy you is a period for your consortium to discuss whether you can afford such a price for each item.
"The beauty of being involved with a group is that there are many to carry the burden. Even if you were telling the truth about how many of these stars you have, we would be able to meet your price."
Arielle looks up at JH. "Daddy, who is the jokester? And why are you and Grandpa so upset about him?"'He is a mean man that hides behind laughter. We don't find him funny at all. And he has stolen from us, and needs to be punished.'
'Nothing for you to worry about, honey.'
JH tries to open himself to the Green, but the wall is still there. But he feels cracks within it.
In spite of this reassurance, Arielle looks worried. She clutches her bag with the stars in it close and hums the song along with them for a little bit. It seems to calm her. She looks up at JH again.
"We should go and get the next shiny soon, Daddy. There are still three of them here at the bazaar."
'Certainly, dear. Which way?'
JH absentmindedly traces his hand on his hammer.
"The beauty of being involved with a group is that there are many to carry the burden. Even if you were telling the truth about how many of these stars you have, we would be able to meet your price."Able, perhaps, but willing?
"Obviously we reserve the right to negotiate the individual price of each item, but yes, we are willing to pay your price."
'Certainly, dear. Which way?'
JH absentmindedly traces his hand on his hammer.
"There is one about three streets that way," she says pointing west toward the arena, "and another two streets that way," she says pointing towards Millilani's shop, "and another one over there," she says, pointing towards the outskirts of the bazaar where there are several wagons and tents set up.
"There is one about three streets that way," she says pointing west toward the arena, "and another two streets that way," she says pointing towards Millilani's shop, "and another one over there," she says, pointing towards the outskirts of the bazaar where there are several wagons and tents set up.'Certainly, dear. Which way?'
JH absentmindedly traces his hand on his hammer.
'Shall we start with the closest then?'
In his mind JH begins examining the breaches in the stone wall and the rubble from the cracks.
'Shall we start with the closest then?'
In his mind JH begins examining the breaches in the stone wall and the rubble from the cracks.
"Okay, Daddy," she says and taking his hand, starts to walk towards the shop that was only two streets away.
Within his mind JH rolls a pebble from the stone wall btwn his fingers. As they walk he discovers he holds a real pebble. He discards it and reaches for another within his thoughts.
Unbeknownst to him, a gray fleck appears in one of his green eyes.
We will see that your proposal is discussed at home.
Until it has been discussed and a conclusion reached, we will go so far as to guarantee that no more stars will be sold from our coffers.
We will find you and let you know of any decision or developments with regard to this offer.
"Thank you for your consideration," she says politely. "You can leave a message for me with the proprietor of the tackle shop if needed to set up a meeting."
Her meeting with the traders concluded, Allura leaves the slave market, ducking into a dark corner shortly after she does so to change her appearance back to the form she normally wears. She walks through the bazaar to the tackle shop and asks Pete to do her a favor and take any messages that might be left for her.
At this point she uses the communication crystal to contact JH and Azuri'ith.
"Hello? This is Allura. Look, I managed to track down the traders that were selling the stars thanks to some info from the politician. I got them to agree to consider selling them directly to us rather than bringing the rest of what they have to the bazaar and selling it to anyone. That was about the best I could do. It's gonna be pricey since they want favors or unique items in exchange for each and every one, but I figured that was still better than risking having them fall into the wrong hands. I'm headed back to the Sanctum now. I'll check back later."
That conversation finished, she heads to the omniportal and back to the Sanctum.
"Okay, Daddy," she says and taking his hand, starts to walk towards the shop that was only two streets away.
'Shall we start with the closest then?'
In his mind JH begins examining the breaches in the stone wall and the rubble from the cracks.
"Okay, Daddy," she says and taking his hand, starts to walk towards the shop that was only two streets away.
'Shall we start with the closest then?'
In his mind JH begins examining the breaches in the stone wall and the rubble from the cracks.
"Okay, Daddy," she says and taking his hand, starts to walk towards the shop that was only two streets away.
'Shall we start with the closest then?'
In his mind JH begins examining the breaches in the stone wall and the rubble from the cracks.
Arielle munches on a candy apple as she walks, a bag of caramels in her pocket for later.
Arielle munches on a candy apple as she walks, a bag of caramels in her pocket for later.
Arielle munches on a candy apple as she walks, a bag of caramels in her pocket for later.
Arielle leads the way to Millilani's shop, but has to wait for someone else to open the door because her hands are sticky again, and Grandpa is trying frantically to clean her hands before she touches something. She looks very annoyed about being cleaned.
Whoa dude, that's like soooooo cool. Anybody got some shrooms?
Arielle leads the way to Millilani's shop, but has to wait for someone else to open the door because her hands are sticky again, and Grandpa is trying frantically to clean her hands before she touches something. She looks very annoyed about being cleaned.
JH waits until Arielle is cleaned up, smiling patiently. Then he opens the door and holds it for her.
"Remember, every bit of candy you leave on your face or hands is one less you get to taste. Musn't be wasteful."
"Plus your mommy is sweet enough without us getting her parts sticky too."
"Plus your mommy is sweet enough without us getting her parts sticky too."
"Plus your mommy is sweet enough without us getting her parts sticky too."
JH waits until Arielle is cleaned up, smiling patiently. Then he opens the door and holds it for her.
"Remember, every bit of candy you leave on your face or hands is one less you get to taste. Musn't be wasteful."
"Plus your mommy is sweet enough without us getting her parts sticky too."
"I never thought of it like that before. Okay, Daddy, I'll try to eat more carefully from now on."
She walks into the shop and up to the counter. On top of the counter there is a case with a star inside.
"I'd like that, please," she says pointing at the star.
JH waits until Arielle is cleaned up, smiling patiently. Then he opens the door and holds it for her.
"Remember, every bit of candy you leave on your face or hands is one less you get to taste. Musn't be wasteful."
"Plus your mommy is sweet enough without us getting her parts sticky too."
"I never thought of it like that before. Okay, Daddy, I'll try to eat more carefully from now on."
She walks into the shop and up to the counter. On top of the counter there is a case with a star inside.
"I'd like that, please," she says pointing at the star.
JH waits until Arielle is cleaned up, smiling patiently. Then he opens the door and holds it for her.
"Remember, every bit of candy you leave on your face or hands is one less you get to taste. Musn't be wasteful."
"Plus your mommy is sweet enough without us getting her parts sticky too."
"I never thought of it like that before. Okay, Daddy, I'll try to eat more carefully from now on."
She walks into the shop and up to the counter. On top of the counter there is a case with a star inside.
"I'd like that, please," she says pointing at the star.
JH looks for the shopowner, ready to pay whatever sum is named
"Hello," chimes the sapphire-eyed half-elf. "Welcome to my shop. How can I help you?"
"Hello," chimes the sapphire-eyed half-elf. "Welcome to my shop. How can I help you?"
"We'd like that, please," the little air genasi girl says, politely but insistently, still pointing at the star in the case.
"There is one about three streets that way," she says pointing west toward the arena, "and another two streets that way," she says pointing towards Millilani's shop, "and another one over there," she says, pointing towards the outskirts of the bazaar where there are several wagons and tents set up.
Lk begins to linger behind, staying qi=uiet so nobody will notice. He quickly makes his way to the arena, pulling on gloves, boots, and a hooded cloak a size to big, before he reaches his destination. By the time he gets there though, the clothing fits perfectly, hiding any means to identify him. He begins his search to find the shiny, hoping to 'sniff' it out before it changes hands.
"We'd like that, please," the little air genasi girl says, politely but insistently, still pointing at the star in the case.
"Hello," chimes the sapphire-eyed half-elf. "Welcome to my shop. How can I help you?"
"That's a special star," she says, "rare and unique, perhaps your parents and grandsire can barter something in its place?"
"That's a special star," she says, "rare and unique, perhaps your parents and grandsire can barter something in its place?""We'd like that, please," the little air genasi girl says, politely but insistently, still pointing at the star in the case.
"Hello," chimes the sapphire-eyed half-elf. "Welcome to my shop. How can I help you?"
"What would be of comparable value to this...'star' you say?"
Arielle watches the bargaining carefully, trying not to fidget too much.
Allura and Jack Hammer hear Devlyn's voice as their communication crystals come to life:
"Guys - I need someone to come to the Carnival of Shadows right now and help Oroth. He's been badly hurt by some kind of shadow creature who can either look like a big black cat, or a dark imitation of me (his eyes are very different from mine). I'm trying to keep this thing occupied and I need someone to get Oroth out of here and healed."
Allura and Jack Hammer hear Devlyn's voice as their communication crystals come to life:
"Guys - I need someone to come to the Carnival of Shadows right now and help Oroth. He's been badly hurt by some kind of shadow creature who can either look like a big black cat, or a dark imitation of me (his eyes are very different from mine). I'm trying to keep this thing occupied and I need someone to get Oroth out of here and healed."
Allura responds that she is on her way and will be there in a matter of seconds.
Lk begins to linger behind, staying qi=uiet so nobody will notice. He quickly makes his way to the arena, pulling on gloves, boots, and a hooded cloak a size to big, before he reaches his destination. By the time he gets there though, the clothing fits perfectly, hiding any means to identify him. He begins his search to find the shiny, hoping to 'sniff' it out before it changes hands.
After a few minutes, Lk catches the scent of something that reminds him of pure air, soft breezes, and storms. He follows the scent trail quickly, locating the person who has it easily. His voice deeper and more wolfish, "Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to a star-like gem would you? It belongs to somebody I... like very much. If I can't have it freely, perhaps we can settle this in the arena? Surly some one of your stature wouldn't refuse a challenge from one of my size."
"What would be of comparable value to this...'star' you say?""That's a special star," she says, "rare and unique, perhaps your parents and grandsire can barter something in its place?""We'd like that, please," the little air genasi girl says, politely but insistently, still pointing at the star in the case.
"Hello," chimes the sapphire-eyed half-elf. "Welcome to my shop. How can I help you?"
"I need the essense of an air elemental, 2 vials, both bottled and sealed. I have a client who is interested in acquiring rare spell components."
"I need the essense of an air elemental, 2 vials, both bottled and sealed. I have a client who is interested in acquiring rare spell components."
"Er, when you say essence to what exactly are you referring?" the elder air elemental rumbles uncomfortably.
"Er, when you say essence to what exactly are you referring?" the elder air elemental rumbles uncomfortably.
"I need the essense of an air elemental, 2 vials, both bottled and sealed. I have a client who is interested in acquiring rare spell components."
Mililani chuckles and her eyes shine. "Please great sire, judge me not by my words. I mean you no ill will or harm. I need the essense of an air elemtnal, or the air moved on the wind by an air elemental. No more, no less."
Mililani chuckles and her eyes shine. "Please great sire, judge me not by my words. I mean you no ill will or harm. I need the essense of an air elemtnal, or the air moved on the wind by an air elemental. No more, no less.""Er, when you say essence to what exactly are you referring?" the elder air elemental rumbles uncomfortably.
"I need the essense of an air elemental, 2 vials, both bottled and sealed. I have a client who is interested in acquiring rare spell components."
"Ah, well, that is easy enough to accomplish then, miss. If you would be so kind as to provide the vials? Two, you say?"
"Ah, well, that is easy enough to accomplish then, miss. If you would be so kind as to provide the vials? Two, you say?"
Mililani rings forth a semi-unseen servant with a small bell. It brings with it two vials in a velvet case, both corked and sealed with bee's wax. It also carries a set of wind chimes. They make no sound or clang together as the servant sets them upon a sturdy stand.
"The chimes are enchanted to collect wind and air circulation, albeit in small portions. Blow upon the chimes and it will magically transfer the air into the vials for you."
Mililani rings forth a semi-unseen servant with a small bell. It brings with it two vials in a velvet case, both corked and sealed with bee's wax. It also carries a set of wind chimes. They make no sound or clang together as the servant sets them upon a sturdy stand.
"The chimes are enchanted to collect wind and air circulation, albeit in small portions. Blow upon the chimes and it will magically transfer the air into the vials for you."
Azuri'ith picks up the chimes and blows on them until both vials are full, setting the chimes gently down when he is finished.
"There you are, miss. Now if you would be so kind as to give the young lady the star, we would be most grateful. I would ask that if any more of these come into your possession that you hold them for us. I promise you that we will reward you handsomely."