Falling Souls

Game Master Me'mori

"We didn't, did we? Um, we should probably do that before leaving." Kichiro looks around, wondering where in the village they might be able to buy a map.

In your wandering of the town that you did before you decided to leave for a while, you saw a good amount of shops, but no sign of a professional mapmaker. There is the possibility that the trade goods shop might have one, though there was not one on explicit display that either of you can recall.

Another possibility might be the stables on the other end of the fledgling town, they might be able to point you in the right direction. If anyone would have a need to know about directions and locations, those that pass through the stables regularly— merchant caravans and mourning travelers, to say the least– they would likely have a need for a map.

A couple of possibilities exist, though the time it would take to make an accurate copy of an existing map if one is not on-hand would probably depend on the level of detail needed. It is a fair bet that something would be able to be found, though.

"Yes, that would probably be wise. Even if we can't purchase one it would be good to know the route to the next town at least." Satoshi thinks things over.

"Maybe try the stables? Even if they don't have one they probably know someone who does."

Kichiro nods. "We might as well start there."

It occurs to Kichiro as they're walking to the stable that the odd dream last night might have been thanks to Chieko's blessing.

The stables at the other end of the town are not that far a walk, a little over a handful of minutes at a leisurely pace through the town center. Many people are up and about, conducting business as usual. Satoshi would notice that the job postings have changed a little since they saw it, a few pages missing, a few pages added. There are a couple of vendors setting up, their works being put on display, small items of general use, containers and the like.

This side of town has many of the trades and crafts that would be disruptive to the relative peace of a residential area. There are the sounds of hammers from a couple of blacksmiths, and the smell of horses, as well as some sounds. Wagons can be seen, parked as they were being loaded, unloaded, or left alone, individuals attending to them as needed.

The both of you are still not hungry.

Well, if it was Chieko's blessing they had to thank, best get through dealing with people quickly. Kichiro confidently strode towards what he assumed was the 'business' part of the stables (as opposed to the horses part) and looked for someone to talk to.

After the appropriate introductions, Kichiro asks, "We actually have a bit of an ususual question. We're looking for somewhere we could purchase a map. I don't suppose you'd have any here? And if not, would you have an idea who in town would sell one?"

The first person that you came to that fit what you were looking for was a man that was directing a couple of hands in loading crates. There was a charcoal stick tucked behind his ear, and a ledger in the hand that was not pointing at the next crate that needed to be moved. A glance at Kichiro and Satoshi trailing behind preceded a cant of his head.

"You mourner?"

The smells are strong in this area. There's the dried smell of herbs and other dried plants, though tea is noticeable among them, the pounded dirt of the area, and the scents of the horses— all of that mingling with the smell of the nearby people working.

It is a lot.

The organization of the cargo seems to be sorted by load, at least in this area. The stables and warehouse take up a good section of this part of town, the warehouse large enough for two inns.

"Actually no, we're more or less headed in the opposite direction," Kichiro explains. "This is our first time in Minkai."

He's glad enough for the cacophony of smells in the stable, even though his hunger is quiescent for the moment. The other scents help drown out the smell of the people. Though... was it his imagination, or was he picking up all the scents more strongly now? He pushed the thought aside before it could reach his face.

The two of you have to wait a few seconds as he calls out something in shorthand to the laborers, pointing to several crates before tucking the ledger in the worn red vest that he had on. His hands seemed no stranger to work, and judging by the work condition of his clothes in certain places, neither were they.

"Hoof and Nail", then. Shop two doors down. Good one will cost." If the way that it was said was interpreted correctly, that was likely the end of the conversation.

As another laborer came over, he helped them lift the next crate with a slight grunt, making sure it was loaded on correctly. All of the laborers here seemed decently off.

Satoshi... stayed mostly quiet. Though he was interested in seeing what the maps looked like. Would a 'good one' be worth the extra cost? Could he trust any of them to very accurate in a small town like this? And just how far away was the nearest major town anyway, in concrete terms?

"Thank you," Kichiro says, giving the proprietor a slight bow before following his directions.

The "Hoof and Nail" could easily be mistaken for the shop of a farrier, especially given the carved hoof and shoe with a nail sticking out of one of the holes like it is being driven in. While there are no items on display in the smaller high windows, of the two-storey wooden building, a plaque of a filled sack is mounted next to the reinforced door.

Despite the seeming heaviness of the door, it swings open easily when pushed, the top of the door brushing a hanging chime that rings almost sweetly. A look around at the shelves shows numerous things available, the majority seeming to cater to the traveling type. There does seem to be a small section for those that come to mourn, but it only consists of a single shelf.

The shelves are artfully crafted, with graceful lines that do not detract from the area, and the windows allow ample light in thanks to hanging mirrors.

"Welcome to the 'Hoof and Nail'", a warm voice calls from the counter.

As you look over, you see a tall elf with bronze skin, closing a book and setting it aside to stand and welcome you in. Her skin is a light shade of bronze, with eyes the color of honey. Her hair is cut short, asymmetrically hanging just past her chin, one side kept up with a simple clip. Her clothes are decently made, looking more comfortable than tailored for appearance, a shirt over a dress of a dark red.

Kichiro approaches the counter and gives a small bow. "Good morning to you," he says.

He gives the shelves a quick glance, then looks back to the proprietor. "We're traveling east and south, and we'd been hoping to find a map before we went. Do you have any in stock?"

A tilt of her head accompanied a slight pause as she considered something, but the welcoming smile did not dim at all. "A map can be accomodated. How much detail are you needing, and how much durability?" Judging by her question, the amount may vary.

At the hesitation uncharacteristic of the merchants that frequented the establishment, confidence returned, and she explained further. "A simple paper map may be on the order of a gold piece, where a map of the area may be something akin to fifty gold pieces. I would think that the two of you are not merchants, so the general idea can be done for a pair of gold pieces. It will include major cities, as well as general landmarks, not to mention the paper would be more resistant to the rigors of travel."

One hand was held up to convey a salient point. "It would, however, take until midday for me to copy, less if exacting accuracy is not so necessary."

"Uhmm..." Kichiro hesitates a bit, trying to keep up with the information. "Um, just a general idea would be fine. I don't think we'll be leaving major roads or anything."

Satoshi thought for a second.

"Y-yes, just a general plan should work. We mostly just want to know how to get to towns and cities."

A light of interest is noticed in her "professional" demeanor. Kichiro notices a slight excitement shift in the air and the smile that she has seems a bit more genuine. "That can be done. How much do you intend to pay?"

There was definite interest in the request, though the reason seems unclear.

"Uh..." Kichiro thought over their funds and their needs compared to what she'd described. "How about four gold pieces?"

Her expression changed to a thoughtful one, before she smiled. "With payment, that can be done. I will make sure to have it available for just after midday." A breeze from somewhere sets the mirrors in the ceiling to moving, which sends points of light scattering all around the shop.

"Was there anything else you wished to purchase? This store's specialty is traveling goods."

Satoshi thinks briefly.

"We... probably need more waterskins. Food is easy enough to hunt or gather but water is important."

Satoshi didn't mention, at least directly, that potion brewing and alchemical tinkering tended to consume water.

Kichiro nods thoughtfully. "Umm... perhaps you would have recommendations? This is our first really long journey."

"Well...", she said with a note of consideration as she looked you both over with a critical eye. "Considering that you are interested in a map, we have something that may also interest you. Steelguard's Supply Standard has full-sized, pre-prepared and guaranteed packs to cover travelers from basic to expert."

Fishing under the counter briefly, she pulls out a sheet that has been written beautifully. The weight of the page is expensive, while silver filigree extends around the outside edge of the page. Written on the sheet in careful calligraphy appears to be a listing of supplies, their weights, and the total cost.

"Other options may be acquired as needed, but surveys and research indicate that these should cover your immediate needs."
___________________________

"Thank you," Kichiro says, reading carefully through the lists.

He looks over to Satoshi thoughtfully. "I don't know if we need the whole pack, since we do have a good number of the things in them, but it's a good list of ideas for things we're missing. We'll want a map case to go with our map... let's see... what else are we missing..."

Looks like Satoshi needs to get a couple extra waterskins, a whetstone, a winter blanket, a map case and possibly the fishhook with line (though he could probably substitute Gadgetry for that if he wanted). And it is indeterminate how much of some of those would be accounted for in Satoshis various toolkits.

As the two of you shore up your purchases against the list of contents offered in the equipment packs, the shopkeeper is cheerfully assisting each of you with any questions you may have. It appears that she is knowledgable to quite a few things regarding production value and benefit, and does share that information with you as needed to improve confidence on any purchases that you seem to waver on.

Once you conclude your immediate business, she does bid you come back around mid-afternoon to retrieve the map. Given her excitement about it, what you will receive is bound to be something– if at least just a map.

Kichiro was less than pleased about staying around for longer, but... better that than wander around lost because they had no clue where they were going.

"Back out of town until mid-afternoon?" he suggests to Satoshi. He didn't want to test the magic that was keeping his Hunger at bay by hanging around people for several more hours.

Satoshi nodded. "Okay. I can try to stock up a bit on the local herbs a bit more anyway."

Kichiro leads the way out into the area around town again. He notices that something is different. It takes him a moment to realize that it's his sense of smell. He's no longer just picking up on... the things he'd rather not think about. Now, away from town where he's not worrying about that so much, he realizes that he's picking up much more in the way of other scents than he ever has before.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

It's all a bit overwhelming, really, and he has no clue what most of the scents actually are, they're so much stronger than he's ever experienced before. So he meanders about in a bit of a daze, not quite following any one path.

Playing around with how he just picked up Scent when he leveled up

The time passes uneventfully, with Kichiro letting his nose lead him where it would, and a lot of cataloguing how things smell. The newly developed ability does allow for some hindsight of instances that are likely to never happen again, such as picking up the wrong container. He also learned that due to the mixtures that Satoshi often uses, his scent— while known and familiar– develops a complexity that says so much. It is like discovering layers that were not there before, and wondering how one could have been so blind to it.

For Satoshi, finding local herbs is not really difficult, especially with his brother leading. Thanks to the cultivation of the herbs in town, some of the wild versions seem to have scattered with the wind, and it is easy to deduce that the originating vector for a lot of these was the town itself.

Time passes, Hunger returns, and the two of you are not beset by anything.

As you are returning to the town, you are waved over by the guards. "Lawman wants to speak to you. Pay for the work done", they say.

"Oh... okay," Kichiro says, trying to think what the work done could be (and distract himself from the returning Hunger).

Maybe it was for fighting those bandits? Well... hopefully not, because that would mean they'd figured out he transformed into a horrible monster, which was... not the sort of thing he wanted known about himself. Maybe for retrieving the merchant's mount? Er... hadn't... wait! The merchant had said to come meet him, and Kichiro had completely forgotten! Perhaps that was what this was about.

A reason for the unexpected meeting found, Kichiro relaxes just a bit from his initial tension. Only the returning struggle against Hunger keeps him nervous about what is coming.

Realizing he's paused an uncomfortably long period, he adds aloud, "I'm assuming this is about us finding the merchant's... uh, Dara's mule?"

"Probably. Finder's fee for identifying threats, too." The guard seems unconcerned, likely his task was to relay the message if you were seen, but little else in the way of details. The other guard at the entrance gives a slight shrug, apparently only having heard the same message.

The guard on the left with his goatee and working scars on his hands had a fruit and some kind of stew, probably from Tiyun's inn. Sweaty, he is a bit tired. He has a wife and two children. Their scents linger on his equipment.

The guard that has spoken to you had something spicy, it still lingers. A couple of parts of his equipment were maintained recently, probably last night. The oil he used is still on his hands, and probably the same oil that he uses to groom his mustache. Whatever it was that was spicy was accompanying some sort of fermented vegetable.

Then the wind blows it away briefly, bringing the smell of grass, cool moisture in the shade, and distantly– the forest.

Kichiro is caught up for a moment in the cacaphony of scents from the guards, so much so that he almost misses their words.

"Uh, I see. So, where should we go?"

Satoshi... realizes they had forgotten about the promised reward. Though, whether anyone knew they were the ones who defeated the bandits... well, the local priestess had been nice, so maybe it wouldn't be terrible, but Kichiro certainly didn't seem to want to be known, so best to be quiet on that.

The directions that the spicy guard gives you is for a building that is not far from where you initially came in two nights ago. It is centrally situated behind one of the buildings near the seemingly sacred tree. If the location implies anything, it was that after a certain point, a more "official" location was needed just in case there were individuals that required detainment.

Even here, the scents blend together into something that could only be characterized as "Miumi". The peculiar smell of ink from the mourner offerings on display from various vendors, the sounds of the paper waving in the wind, the smell of what may be a common ground bird that everyone seemed to use as a staple meat in their diet, be it grilled, fried, or stewed. That common smell of people , with that underlying common thread, intermingled with the green smell of grasses in the wind, and ever so faintly, the cool smell of the air from the Forest.

The area around the tree is no less lively, with some vendors doing a brisk business in herbs or products, while others have more permanent items on display. Cookware and small tools are featured, while fingerfoods seem to be the typical fare of this area.

Including Dara.

The both of you can recognize the colors of the blankets that were used to wrap his goods, now hung up in a stall, which you realize was also part of what that mule was carrying. He seems to be in a discussion with a local— judging by their clothes– but his keen eye does spot the two of you, and pauses to wave at you and beckon you over.

Kichiro nears Dara, gives him a small, polite bow, then waits for him to be done with his present conversation. Once the merchant has a moment, he draws nearer.

"I hope business has been good for you?" he asks, not quite feeling like coming right out and asking for a reward was right.

Dara's smile is wide as the conversation ends, and he turns a little to face the both of you. "Without your finding Ruli, my fortunes would have been far worse!". He is genuinely happy to see you, and gestures his hand across what has been laid out on the blanket in front of the small stall. "Whatever you like will be at half price."

There are a fair amount of odds and ends, things that are not as common as you have seen here in Miumi. There are a couple jars of what look to be spices, a few stoppered bottles of what seem to be oil, and an array of lighter foods that look to be fresh. The fresh foods have been prepared with some of the spices, if the smell you are getting from them is accurate.

Kichiro is drawn immediately to the foods. With the way his sense of smell has developed, he can't help but feel pulled towards them, even though nothing smells as good here as Dara's liver does.

Pushing that thought aside, Kichiro selects a few of the tasty-smelling foods and purchases them. "Thank you, Dara. May fortune continue to smile on you," he says with a bow as he finishes the transaction.

Satoshi examines the bottles of spices and oil, thinking to himself that perhaps there might be some good ingredients here.

The food was made in conjunction with one of the local townsfolk, the oils and spices from a ways further out than the area around Miumi. Here and there in conversation, he has mentioned several places that take weeks to travel, and the longer-lasting items he has brought here. The bread has a sweet spice smell, while the oils are of a different texture than what is usually seen in cooking. Fragrant, the smell reminds you of winter and the hearth.

"Ah, yes! Do not let me forget!" Turning back to the stall, he produces a locked box, pulling a key from around his neck, and beckons you over. "These are special! Spells contained in a bottle!"

Within the box are two small-ish bottles and a disk, small enough to fit in a hand, but all of them decidedly different from the other. All of them are packed carefully, cushioned by fabrics.

"This one", he says as he indicates a corked and wax-sealed jar of fired clay, "Can heal some injuries upon application." The character for "health" is painted onto the bottle.

"That one contains a minor defensive enchantment." Undoubtedly the shield-shaped disk.

"The third is said to enhance one's mind." This vial is indeed glass, a smoky liquid contained within.

The delighted smile has not left Dara's face. "I am in your debt. If there is something that I can do, please do let me know."

Kichiro finds he rather enjoys applying his expanded sense of smell to the foods, even though the ever-present Hunger keeps trying to pull his mind towards the scent of living organs.

The reveal of the bottled spells draws a different kind of thought. The other two were a bit too vague for him, but the healing one seemed like they might need it.

"Umm... how much for the healing one?" he asks Dara, not quite comfortable with the man's generous thanks.

A moment of thought, and Dara replied, "A gift for twenty five gold."

Thanks to his sense of smell, there are various other scents that can be gotten off of Dara, the scent of iron under the smell of various spices that have clung to his skin, the tone of mule over all of that... One have to wonder whether or not those smells translate to tastes.

Kichiro tries to keep the thought of tastes aside as he pays the twenty-five gold. "My thanks, and good fortune to you, Dara," he says.

He looks over to his brother. "Do you think that map is done now? Let's go see so we can be on our way."

Satoshi pulled himself away from contemplations of herbs and oil. Though something about oil seemed significant... perhaps he'd find a use for it later.

"Y-yes, hopefully so. Fare well, Dara."

"Many thanks and good fortune to you both, good Masters!" Dara's enthusiasm is a bit infectious, as his goodwill is certainly honest.

A short while later, the both of you return to the "Hoof and Nail", hanging chime ringing sweetly as you enter. The smell of living wood and ink is in the air, along with the faint scent of ash and something that cannot quite be placed. Immediately obvious is the sheet of parchment that is weighted down on the back counter with polished stones, the quality of the material unmistakably resilient and able to weather travel well.

Seconds after entering, the elf emerges from the back, slight smudges of ink on her fingers and a dot on the bridge of her nose. Her sleeves bear some small evidence as well, though she smells of incense and the green of herbs and grasses. A hint of stone is there as well, with the rest being these surroundings. She smiles in welcome and indicates the parchment to the both of you as she approaches.

There have been a handful of visitors since, all smelling of horse and burlap except one. Laborers, probably. Maybe a merchant, too.

"Impeccable arrival, sirs. Your order is completed and should be..." A critical look was given to the map, "...dry!"

Removing the poished stones that were weighing the map down, she sets it on the counter, presenting it to you. "Durable material, without being difficult, notations can be made as needed, with focus given to the general directions and major known locations", she says with a voice that you figure is long-used in presenting items.

Indeed, it is obvious that care was taken with the rendition, fine lines indicating roads and larger cities. Names are given where expected for major landmarks, in a careful hand. Small flourishes border the edges, but nothing extravagant or exorbitant.

It will serve. To Satoshi's eye, it should serve well.

It is true that Satoshi actually has pretty decent Appraise.

Satoshi looked over the map before picking it up, already considering how best to store it with minimal risks of tearing. He really felt a need for better storage than just a backpack... "This looks well done. Thank you."

"Maybe we could purchase something to carry it in?" Kichiro half-stated, half-asked, apparently thinking something similar to his brother.

No sooner than the two exchanged those words, as the elf waved a hand towards a series of leather-and-wood cases as if revealing something, and raising an eyebrow as if to question their interest. "Standard cases, minimal tooling, and can hold several rolled pieces of paper or parchment as needed. Strap-secure design, and can withstand some water without leaking. Take your pick."

The cases that were indicated were well-made, with some variation between the several that she had on-hand. The differences seemed to be in the leather wrapping the case. Vines seemed to wrap around one near the edges and seams, another seemed to be simple lines burned along the edges, while the third looked like it had been intentionally scuffed repeatedly, leading to a pattern that almost looked like grass. Finally, the fourth had curlicues along the seams and edges. Haphazard, but a bit classy.

"I would not recommend leaving without one."

"Oh!" Kichrio looks between the options. He doesn't have a particular preference between the options, and they all seem to be the same except for decoration, so he points at the one with vine decorations. "How about this one?"

An approving smile was her response. "A fine choice, and it is yours for an additional gold." She lifts it from the display and sets it on the counter. "May it serve you well on your travels. If you are looking to depart, there are some carts and wagons that may welcome extra hands with pay. More, if you are skilled."

There seems to be a lull to the traffic at about this time. Compared to the noises that you had heard on your arrival, with the smells in the air, it seems like it is the generally agreed upon time for breaks, as the end of the day is near, and the sun is to set in a few hours. Pots over fire, a different smell from the heat of the forge, and that shift in warmth to a cooler wind that blows, drier from the heat of the day.

Kichiro pays the gold and then gives the elven proprietor a respectful bow. "My thanks, for everything," he says. He hands the case over to his brother then turns to leave.

He leads the way straight out of town, not stopping until they're out of scent of the people, before stopping and sighing. "Normally that would have been good advice, but... I don't want to have to smell other people the whole time."

He pauses, swallows, then quietly adds, "It's bad enough when it's just you."

More loudly Kichiro continues, "I guess you're navigating! Which way are we headed? I'd rather camp out a few miles away from town just now..."