"Weird, seems like both the healers run on the same schedule. Who should we take him to first?"
Let's bring the poisoned man to Brother Folyó
. We pay a carriage (or a mage able to cast floating disk) and we bring the poisoned man to Folyó.
"Hold a second friends. I ran into an issue earlier and to make use of many services in town we should go get registered as citizens."
"After all, we have some time before they're available."
The gozreh guy us available at the moment, and to be honest he is somewhat crazy, I don't want him to forget his promise to help us
"I would like to be a proper citizen myself. Do you have any idea what the registry process is like?"
"I imagine it's a bit like other towns. You pay a small fee, declare who you are and what you do."
There was a town crier on the docks the day you arrived in Blue Shell. You vaguely remember him mentioning something about new citizens having to register at the city's notary office.
"To the notary office!" Leng exclaims, for no reason, and walks off that way.
Well, as you want - to the notary office.
Cyrus follows aside his friends.
You ask for directions and soon find your way to one of the municipal notary offices, the one closest by the docks. You a see a couple (rather long) lines of people entering the place. It's obvious this place is quite crowded and busy. The town folk moving and out of the door under the "Notary & Registry" sign seem to come from all walks of life... There are also many individuals with scholarly-looking individuals with tailor-made robes and sashes moving about, they all have a variety of documents and envelopes in their hands and under their arms.
As you approach the door, a city guard with a slightly different, more formal uniform than most shouts.
"Oi! No cutting the line!"
"My apologies, We're associates of the Wavebraver family..." Cyrus tries to get by on the name of the only organization he's familiar with.
The guard widens his eyes. A few people around you do the same.
"Oh... My apologies. Please, forgive my petulance. You may join the qeue for city officers."
He points you towards a line where only two people (a older woman in obviously expensive and definitely tailor-made black robes, adorned with golden, navy blue and dark grey sashes; and a man in his thirties wearing the simple clothes of a blacksmith... Except for the very expensive-looking golden cloak on his shoulder).
The older woman talks to the attendant while the man waits his turn, sitting in a very comfortable chair.
"My thanks." Cyrus thanks the guard before stepping in line with his arms folded behind his back.
Leng likewise steps into the line, already slipping into a meditative trance. His homeland had prepared him for many long hours of standing in lines just like this.
On the other hand, Eitylen is bored as hell and can't avoid walking around, taking coins in his hand and playing with it, juggle with some apples, etc...
The woman talks to the attendant for quite a while, producing more and more documents to be checked, signed, stamped and/or sealed.
Meanwhile, the man in the golden cloak sits lazily on his chair... Occasionally producing a small metal vial from which he takes big gulps. You can't see the vial's contents, a strong smell of brandy reveals its nature. A few times he looks at you all with curiosity, but just shrugs his shoulders and goes back to his thoughts...
After the better part of an hour the woman is finally done with her business. She takes her papers and carefully tidy them up in her large (and fancy) shoulder bag. After doing so, she straightens her three stoles, taking special care of the grey one, while still being very attentive to the golden and blue ones.
As she leaves, she looks at your group with a mix of curiosity and disapproval, but doesn't say anything.
"Finally!" shouts the man in the golden cloaks, then he quickly turns to you "Frekking judges should have their own place!" he doesn't seem to really expect an answer, nor does he wait for one. Instead, he goes talk to the attendant.
Whatever busisness he had here, he finishes it quickly. And barely 10 minutes later, he's out.
"That's how it's done!" he exclaims to you all, before leaving the registry entirely.
You approach the young dwarf woman fiddling with stamps behind the balcony. She talks to you with an welcoming voice.
"How may I help you?"
"Hi, my associates and I are here to register as citizens."
The dwarf looks at you with a confused look...
"Uh... Are you sure you are in the right place?" she says, trying to be as polite as possible.
"This is where we were directed."
Eitylen just stay quiet but anxious. The soul nature in him hates bureaucratic processes.
"The guard outside directed us here after I mentioned we were associates of the Wavebraver family."
The dwarf find your answer surprising... But decides to move on.
"Well... If that's the case..." she says with professional-sounding voice. "There's a 10 gp fee, unless your parents or wife/husband are registered citizens or Blue Shell. If so, the fee is reduced to 1 gp, but I'll need their papers as well. You must also pay a 3 gp annuity every year. I need your name, race, sex and local qnd year of birth, as well as two witness willing to sign a paper stating you are who you say you are. You can be witnesses to one another if you like." the dwarfs words are all enunciated very clearly and politely. "This gives you the right to own land, start a busisness venture, have a formal job, join the military, bear arms, move freely in Blue Shell territory, work in a public office and a few other things. You must however keep your taxes and legal information up to date and swear an oath of loyalty to Blue Shell and her people."
"What precisely does the oath entail?"
"Cyrus Vance, Human, Male and I believe I'm about 24 seasons old."
"Who were those folks from before? That dwarven gentleman was quite lively."
Eitylen Valtheldolien, Elf, Male, 99 years old...
"What precisely does the oath entail?"
"Well... Nothing too compromising. Basically, you swear to follow the Blue Shell's law, help defend the city, should it be attacked and, of course, not to intentionally attack, sabotage or conspire against blue shell by action or inaction (like failing to report a crime against the city). The oath itself is pretty straight-forward. It does include a bit to follow its spirit, rather than its words, so as to avoid some Asmodean lawyer getting away with murder."
Who were those folks from before? That dwarven gentleman was quite lively."
"Well... I'm not supposed to talk about other customers. But just by their clothes, you should be able to tell that she's a city judge and the guy is someone important and related to the Goldensmith family."
"Anyway... I still need y'all's place and date of birth. As well as your current address. Current occupation would be good as well, but isn't required."
Leng nods his head.
"All things I would do in any case. Fair."
"Name, Tai Pao Leng. Age 25, born [Insert Golarion Month, Year, and Dating System Here] in Xiwu, capital of Lingshen."
"Deepwater, a small coastal town near Magnimar. Born [Insert Golarion Month, Year, and Dating System Here]. Current address would be the Mad Shark. We haven't exactly solidified jobs yet, but I'm going to be doing some work as a dock-hand when I can."
[Ooc]I'll assume y'all agree with the terms and conditions and sign your papers. I'll possibly post the Oath later, then you retcon refuse the deal if you wish. Just subtract 10gp from your wallets.[ooc]
"Well. That'd be all, then... Here are your temporary citizen papers. Your official identifications should be ready in a week. You can pick them up here... Or we can deliver them to an address of your choice for the small fee of 5 silver pieces."
After the registration is done. You are free to do as you wish.
Eitylen gives the 10 gp and wait impatientely all the proccess.
To his partners let's do something more heroic, please, please.
"More heroic? Many stories of my people are told about those with the patience and wisdom of those who obey and endure the necessary evils of bureaucracy."
Those stories don't sound cool...like at all
"Religious tales oft have a theme of great mental fortitude. Impatience often personified as a demon itself. Great heroes are ones who have prevailed over these demons." Cyrus winks at Leng whenever Eitylen isn't looking.
After slaying the bureaucratic dragon Eitylen insist on seeing Brother Folyó. And we go if nobody say otherwise
After becoming proper citizens, you go to Sir Dayne's house. He lends you an old horse cart for you to transport the wounded man, who is indeed even thinner and weaker than before.
"He regained consciousness for a few seconds a couple times, but he was too weak and confused to say anything coherent..." says the alchemist. "I kept him fed and warm, but he's still lost a lot weight and color... Hopefully, whoever promised to help you is up to the task."
After this, he says farewell and tells you to go.
About half an hour of travel later, you find the man who talked to Eitylen earlier. He's probably in his late 30, has long and wildly messy light brown hair and beard, both adorned with animal bones carved in the shape of different animals. The man wears ragged robes that show only small vestiges of its original blue color, and his pants are shorter than usual, like short, like high-water britches.
Despite his ragged old clothes, he has a very fancy, very well-kept captain's hat on his head... A black and white avocet rests on the man's shoulder.
He sits on a rock by the river... Throwing stones and making them skip on the water. He's pretty good at it, and the little pebbles he throws often bounce on the surface of the water over 6 times, despite the river's strong current.
The bird chirps and flaps his wings as you approach. The man turns around and sees you... Then a smile appears on his face.
"Ah, if isn't Orult Folyó's visitor! Did you bring your stupid friend?"
Indeed...here he is - Eitylen brings the man near Folyó.
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"That is quite rude, Eitylen. I don't believe Brother Cyrus is necessarily DUMB, just not as gifted as others."
Cyrus frowns and assumes the strange man is referring to the patient.
"I dont think he is referring to me..."