"Lord Aerdwin is a typical arrogant highborn. Has made a load of money as a merchant. Thinks he's so damn important. If you want to appeal to him, you better look the part. Buy yourself a proper nobleman's outfit and spread a rumor that you're some important businessman. Vanan Talmaril often comes here, but he usually does so in the evenings. But if you want information on the kidnapping, I've heard Aerdwin hired that krimir detective Pindwiggan. His office is nearby." Alron proceeds to give you directions to Pindwiggan's office.
The priest gives you direction to Aemar's Adventurer's Shoppe.
Aemar, a brown-skinned human in his mid-thirties, greet you as you enter the shoppe. The shoppe is full of all kinds of adventurers' tools, weapons and armor.
"A bhakiri. That's a rare sight in Bhelskar. Name's Aemar. What can I do for you, sir?"
"Fifteen derims, a thalen and one drake."
"Thank you kindly. Now, may I ask what brings one of your kind so far away from the Chiathtalar?"
" So Kevroth, what are you looking for if we manage to find a gun smith in town?" Magnes asks with some curiosity "Know quite a lot about brewin' and some of that translates into explosions but I'll admit being mystified a bit on guns myself. "
Kevroth walks along with Magnes and thinks for a moment or two, "Well, I can make my own ammunition pretty well, I just need some sulphur, charcoal, some saltpeter, lead, and there is a type of paper that I can use to pre-pack the charges to make reloading faster. The trick will be finding a gunsmith willing to sell the materials instead of the finished product."
Finishing his prayers and walking back towards the entrance Bhalur notices that Sabrik is missing. Taking some meat rations from his backpack and offering to Shaer, who accepts it readily and gulps it down fast. Leaving donation to the temple Bhalur now thinks his next steps.
Bhalur theb decides to approach the priest once more Would you have happen to know someone, who have a map of the region where Blackrock Castle reside or maybe have a copy of it to borrow for a while? I can promise to bring it back if necessary. Bhalur finished but then remembers something the priest said You said the that the Dhampirs could see in darkness and communicate with bats and wolves. What about spells such us charms?
Magnes nods at the gunslinger and gets a thoughtful expression. "If ya can get an extra paper or two, I'd be interested in looking at 'em. the rest of that is easy to get from anyone."
"Huh, that sounds like it might even be on the way to yon'Musket Shoppe. Lets head that way aye?"
Magnes smirks looking to Kevroth. with that he slams the rest of his ale home in a single long draw. "Well you've been quite helpful, doubler's blessing on ya."
The Brewmaster smacks his lips twice, wincing slightly at the odd sour after taste he felt before ambling in the direction of Pindwiggan's office.
-----
On arriving Magnes knocks on the door and waits for the someone to make an appearance
[b]"Was hoping to talk to Pendwiggan. Had a question that he might be able to answer an'gold that might match." the dwarf states in a friendly manner.
A krimir with finely kempt dark hair, spectacles, white shirt, brown waistcoat, a red cravat and brown trousers opens the door. The krimir bows. "Phineas Pindwiggan at your service. Come in, come in."
He shows you inside his office, gestures for you to be seated, and takes a seat opposite his desk.
"Now how may I be of assistance?"
Magnes takes a seat opposite the krimir and glances about the room a bit before setting on the man across from him.
"I'm Magnes, me and a group of others just got hired by word of Alagaer Finch to rescue the Lady Calisia from some 'Dhamphir'. Alagaer said you got hired by Lord Aerdwin before us to investigate the situation behind it all and discover where Greven Blackrose might have gone into hiding. Now Alagaer already said that you thought he was in the ruins of Castle Blackrose but poor Alagaer was rather frazzled with worry over the young lady." The dwarf explains as he pulls a flask of mead and three small cups out of his pack offering the drink to whoever accepts before tossing a cup back himself.
"Now a frazzled noble is like to make mistakes, I'd been hoping you could tell me the details of your investigation and your impressions on it all. Want to make sure I'm going into this whole journey with eyes open and all."
Thank you for your understanding and help. I appreciate it a lot Bhalur thanks the priest and takes off[/b]
Seeing Sabrik still there Bhalur nods and then turns towards the owner Greetings owner. I would like to ask if you have any maps pertaining the area of Blackrock Castle and region where it reside?
Turning toward Sabrik and asking [b]Do you still have a little bit gold left? I would like to buy us a map for the region where we are heading
Besides the table and the green armchairs there is a large file cabinet, a drawer and two large maps on one wall. One of the maps is of Bhelskar and there are several pins and notes attached to the map. The other is of the whole of Arglondar. A globe stands on the table, next to an ink pen and inkwell, a stack of papers, and an ashtray with a cigar in it.
"Ifathir Ignix" Pindwiggan says and snaps his fingers and a flame appears on his finger. He lights the cigar and starts puffing, while he listens to Magnes' explanation.
"Ahh, the case of the missing daughter. The charming Lady Calisia has secretly been seeing this young and handsome white-haired fella, and the father doesn't like it. Hires me to dig up anything I can on the fella. I find out the fella is Greven Blackrose, the heir of Blackrose Castle. How did I find that out? The bloke told me his side of the story. Apparently he's been a traveling adventurer and has just recently returned to Arglondar, to reclaim his family estate, Castle Blackrose. He met Calisia one day at the market and the two took a stroll together, and one thing leads to another. You know how it goes..." Findwiggan empties the cup of mead offered to him, before he opens a drawer in his desk and pulls out a flask of brown liquor.
"Let's have something stronger." He fills their cups with the liquor, empties his cup and pours himself another.
"Father is totally against the fella. Forbids Lady Calisia from seeing him. You know how young lovebirds are. The two just fall more in love, in spite of the father being against it. Father thinks the fella has cast a spell on his daughter. The young couple decide to skip town together. Travel to Dalkalar and reclaim Castle Blackrose. Case closed."
"Another one." Aemar looks astonished at Bhalur as he enters the shop. "You two know each other I presume."
When asked about the map, he goes to the back of the shop and returns a few minutes later with a map.
"Here. The Kranath Mountains. Fifteen derims."
Nodding and giving him the money after receiving the required amount from Sabrik .
Thank you and may the Dragon Matron bless you and your shop
"Thank you. A pleasure doing business with you."
We should slowly head back and see if we can find others Bhalur mentions as he takes a look at the shop. If you still need to buy something, we can pop back later for fast purchase and be in our way then
That's a very fine map you have there. The Dwarf says after knocking back the liquor when offered. The dwarf sighing when he hears the detectives tale.
"When I heard the tale from the Senechal I knew this job was too good to be true. Looks like I might need to do some dancing if I want to get some coin outa'all this. Hell already in the hole by two hundred and fifty derims to buy supplies. Hrmm... Well we are committed and I'd hate to leave the job to someone less likely to question the motives of all this. Be a shame to kill two young folks because a noble wants his daughter as a bargaining chip. You know anything else about Lord Aerdwin or Alagaer? Looks like the Senechal is genuinely concerned for the Lady's saftey at least."
"Aerdwin Galtroban's a widower, and Lady Calisia is his only child. He's a very busy man, who often leaves for months at a time to conduct business in far-off places, so the Senechal's looking after Lady Calisia. Been that way since Calisia was a wee lass, and ol' Alagaer Finch been more like a father to her than Lord Aerdwin. They both want Calisia back, but for different reasons. Lord Aerdwin wants to control her and who she marries. Alagaer fears for her safety. Both of them thinks Greven Blackrose's bewitched Calisia. I tried to tell Alagaer how it is, but he refuses to listen."
Magnes nods wheels obviously turning over the events of the day. "Yeah, I know the feeling on not wanting others to use you as a pawn. Believe me that. Will need to keep Alagaer's feelings in mind, I think that I've learned all that I can here without talking to the lovebirds themselves. I appreciate your time Pindwiggan, next time I'm in town we will share a proper brew and perhaps even a happy story." The dwarf says in a melancholy tone obviously pleased at the information but somewhat concerned at the ordeals ahead of him.
"I'd like that," Pindwiggan says, showing his guests to the door. "Safe travels to you and yours. May Oghludar watch over you on your journey."
Magnes gives a frustrated sigh on exiting the investigators office "Well there go my small hopes that this would be simple. You ready to go find your Gunsmith Kevroth?" The dwarf says as he retreives his flask of mead pouring another cup of the sweet liquid before offering one to his companion. "Didn't talk much in there, something wrong or just unconformable with cities and cultures like Sabrik?" The Dhaovarr asks with a conversational concern.
Taking his time to approach the location of ferry Bhalur took a look at things around him. There was still a bit time until meeting but he could not afford anything at this moment so might as well now enjoy it.
Shaer waking up and stretching her wings before taking off and flying up in the air to take a look as she also were curious about this small city.
It was a nice change of settings, just to be alone for a moment until again being together with the group
Magnes gives a flat smile " Because to live anywhere else would be further from fortune. That or the belief that if packed in with others Misfortune is less likely to strike you. Doesn't seem to have worked that way for my people much as this city is quaint to the storied caverns we inhabit." The dwarf continues to walk amkign decent time to the gunshop. He holds the door open for Kevroth.
As you enter the gun smithy, Merrick's Muskets, on Fiddler's Lane, a smell of burned gunpowder and oil meets your nostrils. A dhouvarr in a leather apron and brown shirt and trousers with black hair and beard stands behind the counter carefully inspecting a musket.
"Welcome to Merrick's Muskets. How may I help you?" He says, without removing his eyes from the musket.
Bhalur you're walking down a slightly sloping cobble-stoned street with stone houses with painted doors and window-frames. Plants grow on some of the houses' walls, and laundry leashes are stretched across the street from one house to another. You walk by a stone fountain with a statue of a nymph holding a water jar. Small birds are chirping and flying from one rooftop to another and back again like they're playing a game.
Shaer flies high above the street, and sees how large the city of Bhelskar really is. In one direction it stretches almost as far as Shaer can see, before the glistening in the horizon that is Alamar's Deep. In another direction the mountain St. Tyrith, one of the Three Saints, and in a third direction the Ghelspur Mountains, and in a fourth the wide Baravos River that runs from the north to Bhelskar. Several tall buildings rise above the rest of the city. One is a castle. One is a keep. Some are temples. The closest tall building is the Temple of Girantir you visited earlier.
Enjoying the sight and finding beauty even in the human build cities, a huge difference between just sleeping and living from the land and Nature as his folks are doing.
It has always been with awe that Bhalur took the buildings and human ingenuity with buildings. There were hundreds different ways to represent what the building was or how it was even built. The multi-diverse cultures and traditions from all the over world would time to time mix together and create something new and unique.
Noticing the frolicking Shaer and her enjoying flying after a long time Bhalur could do nothing but smile. It has been already long time since they met each other.
Slowly turning to the direction of ferries, Bhalur whistles to Shaer to tell his intentions. Increasing his speed just a little bit to arrive few minutes before the ferry takes off
Magnes grins at the fellow of his race. Examining the room for things of interest.*
"A pleasure, was lookin' ta settle a bet with my friend over here about the viability of variants of saltpeter and sulpher interactin' with the paper of shot. Could use some supplies, chiefly a supply of paper but if you happen to have an excess of some of your other supplies fer' bullets and casing I'd be glad ta share the fruits of what we happen across for a fair deal." The dwarf rattles off, exuding a profession aura as he examines the various quality weapons in the mans shop.
"If ya don' have any available I understand and would ask if you might direct us to someone who might."
*
A variety of muskets, blunderbusses, arquebuses, and pistols hangs on the walls.
Merrick Blackstone places the musket he'd been examining on the counter.
"Paper for bullets. Aye. I got that. What else you be needing, you say?"
Koija looks at the old tome with quite some amazement. "I will be very careful, I assure you" He gives Maskil the sum of money he owes.
Before opening the tome, Koija makes a few small gestures 魔法を読む
His eyes although still golden get a white glaze over them.
He opens the tome and searches through it for the spell he was looking for taking a mental note of some of the other spells he comes across.
Koija takes his time carefully reading and inspecting what is written down about the spell. He performs some of the required gestures to see if he understands the premise of how to weave this spell. When he is content with his acquired knowledge he copies this information with his own notes to his own, much smaller, spellbook.
When he is done, he gives the tome back to Maskil. "A beautiful grimoir. I hope to one day have several of these myself. When I have acquired more funds I will return for some of the other spells."
"You're more than welcome. A pleasure doing business with you," Maskil says and takes the tome from the counter to put it back in its place.
"You must be a fellow gunsmith then. Let me find what you're looking for. Hold on." Merrick goes to the back of his workshop to find the requested materials, and returns a few minutes later with everything you asked for.
Magnus nods to his companion. "Yep, that. Any interesting goings on it town would be nice to hear. Oh and if you happen to know of a place carrying alchemical tools I've a need to stock up on some things."
Magnus asks as he waits for the shopkeeper to respond.
Koija had finished shopping and made his way to the river barge docks. He was relieved to see he wasn't the last to arrive.
Took longer than I had planned, but at least we can use the spell more than once if it is deemed necessary.
"I found the spell. How did your trip go?" he says to Sabrik and anyone else who might already be there.
"I usually keep to meself and me shop. If you want the local gossip, go to a tavern. As for alchemical tools, go to Alberius Lane. There's a shop there called Phera's Extraordinary Apothecary."