At first Mórrígan was shocked by were Arthur's mind went. She had just thought of getting someone from this world, she didn't think of providing that rider. "Arthur, that... Uha... Well I didn't mean..." She began, her cheeks turning a soft pink. Was she even able to have children? This world had been a video game before this... Would it even allow for it?
"I don't know if this works will even allow us to have children... I... Well nothing is for sure."
"Unless it's more like your rider than mine." Windrider teased as she let Mórrígan climb into place on her back. "However we will have one to focus upon ourselves. Or have you forgotten the egg so soon?"
The night had hidden the land below from Mórrígan when she first had flown with Windrider to find this city, and what she saw now made her nervous. She didn't remember this area from the game.
"Nor am I." She agreed as they flew on to the place she had found the night before. "I landed a bit further away from the gates and walked in. However that was because it was night and I didn't want to spook anyone. We could land right at the gates now."
"I know we have a little one on the way, but I can't wait for the heir!!!" He says oozing just thinking about it.
"Then we land!" He shouted in response as the flapping and cries of those running make a din.
Within moments he makes his choice and drops to the ground before Sly fully lands. Then looking up he nods and Sly flies back up into the sky.
With the quick movement of his hand he pulls a slip of paper from his belt. Then with the snap of his fingers it ignites. A Glaive-Guisarme] appears out of thin air and he grabs it with ease. Now in two hands he menaces those nearby but they too are running now too.
Then he waits for Windrider to land, then follow Morrigan's lead.
The guards at the gate don't open the slit to look through very quickly but it does slide to the side. One of the guards weakly states, "Authorization please."
Mórrígan was quiet as the walked, she had nothing to say to Sly's words. Though she seemed slightly uncomfortable.
"Huh?" Mórrígan began when the guard asked then went "Right, they want to see you guild token." She explained before she got hers out to show the guard.
Following Morrigan to the gate he let her talk. Upon her saying it, he pulled his guild token off and offered it through the slit as well.
With both guild tokens passed, the door opens up and the two are let to enter. With the door closed and the tokens returned the guard asks, "Not the safest way to enter, well you are guild members and those dragons should be fine against any mutants out there. Which guild are you apart of, not many guilds I know have dragon riders in them... if any?"
With or without an answer the guards don't hold you up. You can tell he is just curious not suspicious. If you hesitate another guard would offer, "Anything we can do to help? Directions, or maybe a guide?"
With the awkward silence he steps up and offers with much bravado, "Dragon's Glory! It is a fine guild though we have not had much dealings with your city yet. If I wanted to buy property is there a government building I would go to or stop at the land itself?"
Morrigan likely would notice Arthur's dislike of the man but he puts it off and lets the man say his praises.
---
"Perhaps a guide would be welcome. I am Arthur Stonefire and what is your name?"
With answers he takes back their tokens and walks forward likely with Morrigan in his wake. He hands back her guild token and continues walking with the guard guiding them.
'A tool for a reason, also a tool that I could break if needed.' He thinks to himself.
---
As they walk he moves forward and asks many questions as if he was a tourist almost playing the role of a fool. Playing it off perfectly he can see the man's mind thinking with possibilities. Arthur plays his cards with a diplomatic tone to make him more of a friend.
After the several minute walk the guard let loose far more than he likely would tell anyone else that he just met but he likely was thinking: 'this Arthur was a fool!'
"Oh wow such a grand name! Ah that makes sense. Buying property would be at the Gathering Hall. It is in the center of town. Once you find Sapphire Square with all the fountains, it is the building with the large marble staircase before it. Most of the other buildings are temples there." The guard offers and then also adds, "You sure you don't want a guide?"
---
"I am Otterman Pentergranst. Most just call me Otto. Come along I will guide you to the Sapphire Square and should you want to stop or gander at something just let me know." The guard offers and moves his spear to his shield hand so it can be free for a handshake. This man seems to be on the lean side, in his early thirties and seems to be the domineering presence at the guard post.
---
Arthur and Morrigan learn that Otto thinks himself as one of the better guards who knows how to play the system. He takes bribes and thinks himself as a great go between for the undermarket and his noble friends. He is bragging a lot now with Arthur goading him on to let more information leak through his teeth. Otto is more than welcome to set up a meeting with the undermarket or even his noble friends for a dozen gold pieces.
Mórrígan sighed when this guard invited himself along, but as Arthur hadn't said anything against it she followed after them. Letting Arhtur speak with this Otterman for a bit before she cut in. "Interesting I'm sure." She states in a cooler demeanor.
"Though before we do anything else, I was hoping to return to the store I visited last night. I wanted to speak with the merchant to secure a reoccurring trade." Mórrígan explained. "I am sure Arthur would love to continue the talk while I do buisness."
"Oh sure," Otto began to say and then added, "Do you remember the name of the store or..." He waits for you to give the name before possibly incurring your wrath with what he was going to say.
With a few key details even without the name of the magic shop owned by a gnome, he quickly steers Arthur in that direction with you in tow. Arthur keeps him busy as you enter the magic shop.
This time the door is open and once you enter the gnome with the amazingly tall orange hair comes up to you with a pleased look upon his face. In his whiney voice he practically gushes, "Oh dear you have made it hear! How lovely! How can I be of service to you again!?"
"I came to thank you." Mórrígan said with a smile as she moved further into the store. "Because of you the egg will very likely hatch. It will still be some time but it will live. I've come to see about making an exclusive contract with you, for the dust we'll need of course." She explained. "Is that something you'd be interested in?"
"Oh Goodie goodie gum drops! That is good to hear. Of course that would be easily produced. Shall we have a seat and talk particulars?" He says as he points to some chairs around a table.
Mórrígan chuckled a bit and smiled at the merchant's joy. "Yes, give me but a moment so that I can tell my guild leader. He came with me you see."
Taking a moment, Mórrígan moved back to the door and leaned out. "Arthur, the merchant and I are going to talk particulars on a contract. Do you wish to be a part of it?"
Arthur excuses himself from the conversation with Otto, patting him on the back and Otto quickly walks away. Arthur acts like he enters the shop with you but stops just in the shop closing the door and leans in whispering an arcane word. Then he whispers to himself and it seems like he is talking to you normally.
"I may have played the fool well enough to meet one of the shady bosses as you are looking for work. It is a lie of course but I am going to use that man as a tool, and after where he takes us he will need to be silenced. What role do you want me to play, the leader, fool, or the brute with this merchant?"
"I have already informed him that you are the leader." Mórrígan explained as she whispered in return. "He seems a nice man, after all who would awaken so late in the night and let me have the sand I sought at the normal price?" She asked with a slightly raised brow.
He whispered back, "maybe he was bedazzled by your beauty? I know I was, am, yup."
Following Morrigan into the room with the gnome with orange fluffy hair nearly as tall as he was Arthur checked himself. He waited for the gnome or Morrigan to act first...
The gnome quickly walked up to Arthur and offered his hand with a pleasant smile on his face, "I am Abroshtor Nator Bigman Thrushmill, it is a pleasure to meet you sir. Leader of her guild I assume. Such a stately and strong man you are... please come have a seat."
As the three of you have a seat, he has a seat where the three of you can see eye to eye. He is placed into his seat by one of his attendants.
Then he quickly states, "an exclusive contract you said, for the dust, the firepowder. You would need three bricks for each day if I am correct. So 21 bricks prepared for pickup every Monday. Today is Friday if you didn't know. I could have them delievered to your guild house. Do you have one in our fair city of Athens? I was going to go look for it but had to sleep in due to a disturbance last night." At that he winks at Morrigan though his smile does not faulter. "Well the production of it would not be a problem, your coin is different than ours and is interesting but still acceptable. A coin of gold is a coin of gold to most. 250 gold to be delivered here and the package will be ready at that time."
---
"Yes indeedy, you said it like a proper gnome. I am impressed."
"Though I don't know if I could do such an undercut even for you. Though how about 190 gold?"
---
"Okay sweetie you have a deal!" He states happily and claps his hands. Another attendant brings forth paper, ink, and a fancy feather pen. He writes it up, offers it to Arthur. Then as it was agreed on Monday 180 gold will be provided and 21 firepowder 1/2 pound bricks will be in a package ready for pickup. Their is a clause that if either party fails with their end of the deal, that a fee of 500 gold will need to be paid before any other services are furnished.
"Yes there is a merchant guild that is in Athens, quite a few of them actually. One for magical shops, Elviger's Magical Emporium is where they hold sway at the moment, though even I have had the privilege to be the constable more than once. The general stores that sell basic equipment and such are watched by the city guild. There is a bank in Ruby Square that might be of your quality. Sure there are others but adventurers and guild owners even moreso would have the proper income to have the best quality of banks. In fact the square got its name from the woman who owns the bank. Ruby is a sorcerer and specializes in abjuration, protection for the bank and most of the buildings in the square."
"It is nice to meet you Abro-sh-tor, I am Arthur Stonefire. Did I pronounce it correctly?" You can tell that Arthur is doing his best to make the gnome feel at ease. "Why yes indeed I am the guild master of Dragon's Glory."
Then listening and leaning in to the gnome while he speaks Arthur waits. Once he is done he offers, "With a repeat business contract I am sure we could get a better deal. They are sold for 10 gold each, I am sure you could let us have the contract for 150 gold?"
---
"How about 180 and as always if we need anything magical especially jewelry, we will come to you first!"
---
He looks over the contract and nods, handing it to Morrigan so she can look at it. Then he would sign it.
He would also ask, "Is there a merchant guild that polices the prices of items from store to store? Also is there a bank in your fine town?"
Mórrígan let Arthur and Abroshtor speak. She didn't have many questions, and she was mainly letting Arthur handle this as he was the leader of their guild.
When he handed her the contract Mórrígan read it over very thoroughly, it almost reminded her of her actual job back in the real world... Or was this their real world now? She couldn't tell. When nothing stuck out to her she placed it back onto the table before Arthur and gave him a nod.
Then while he signed she looked to Abroshtor "Tell me, is there a tavern or inn you would recommend?" Mórrígan asked him. "In case we have to lengthen our stay?"
"Honestly my dear there is a far difference from a tavern or an inn. If you want a room or two, I would suggest the Golden Goose. It is just four buildings North, you can't miss it, and tell them you have my regards. If you want a treat and wet your whistle then Gormando's Fizzy Fixes, it is half alchemy shop and half tavern. It is at the end of main street to the North before the noble section. If you are staying in town, let me give you some of our local coin I will pay 2 gold for each of yours up to a hundred gold. Just trying to help smooth over any problems you might get." The gnome states.
-----
The gnome is nearly flabbergasted with joy at the charm and quickly gets out his purse and states, "Here um... I... yes... just take the purse!"
With the contract signed he gives it to the gnome and asks, "Will you get it notarized and a copy with our first shipment?"
Then he puts on the charm, "Why thank you good sir. Oh we won't need that much cash, how about 10 gold. I am sure that partial amount will not bother you. Especially with so much gold of ours that you will soon have? Hmmm?"
----
"Excellent, our partnership has started off on a grand foot. May we both have wealth rain down upon us and health be bright in the future! The first round once our business is concluded will be on you, and I hope you will make it." With his sly seductive smile and alluding words spoken he stands and shakes the gnomes hand lightly.
Within moments the two are out of the shop and hearing the sounds of a bustling market.
"So without our escort, what shall we do?" He says aloud and looking at Morrigan mischievously.
Stepping out of the shop, Mórrígan listened to the bustle of the city. Though it was far less advanced then the one she had left it wasn't all too different from the world she had left behind... except for one thing.
Arthur's words broke her out of her thoughts and she looked to him offering a slight smile. "Lets grab a drink," Mórrígan began. "I uha... well there is something I want to tell you."
With that she tried to find this Gormando's Fizzy that the gnome spoke of. Maybe booze still worked like it did in the real world? Would it make this any easier?
The two of you head down the street walking beside each other. The hustle and bustle continues and the two of you join the flow of traffic. The faster traffic sticks to the center of the road as you two walk along the side at a slower pace.
Down four buildings and almost to a gate you see a large three or four story building with strange looking towers coming out of the top of it. There is an animated image of a gnome with a purple and green wizards hat and in his two hands are bubbling drinks. Literally bubbles are falling down to the street. Past that looking up you see Gormando's Fizzy Fixes not on a sign but the words just glow and stay in the air. Magical of course, likely another image created by magic.
Entering in you see there is quite a collection of clientele. All sorts of races and from commoners to nobles, knights to adventurers, wizards and witches. An obvious place that all from any walk of life are welcome. Many of them have food and interesting drinks that have all sorts of color and magical effects happening to them and the drinkers as well. Likely the effect of a simple prestigiation spell but still it is a room full of wonders.
Walking up to the bar one of the barkeeps turns and asks, "Welcome do you know what you want to order or would you like a menu?" Behind the gnome on stilts is a board of many things you could order.
He pulls out a few silver coins and puts them on the bar. He then asks, "surprise us, something strong with alcohol."
Mórrígan looked around and found a small table closer to the corner. "We'll be over there." She told the barkeep before she motioned for Arthur to follow her.
Once they were seated she looked at him for a moment then sighed. "So... There is a lot to talk about I'm not sure were to start..." Mórrígan said as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I guess... Arthur how much do you believe came with us?"
"I don't know just be out with it I guess. What came with us from our world? Our minds I suppose. New body, but you must mean something more..." He says his thoughts out loud and then waits for what is on her mind.
"Not so much." Mórrígan answered. "I was married in our world Arthur... for a time. We had been together for two years when we decided to start trying for children..." She began, pausing for a moment to chew on a thought.
"After a year with no sign of a child we went to a doctor." Mórrígan told him, pausing when the drinks came. "We found, that I was infertile. I'd never have children." She took a long drink from the one she had been brought. "After that my marriage fell apart... he wanted kids and I couldn't give that to him..."
He waited patiently, "I am sorry to hear that. He should have kept what was good. You." With that he would go to hold her hand.
"If this world is like any I know. There will be plenty of kids that need a good home. Even if that passed along with you into this life or if we can't have kids for any reason, you will come first. You are the something I know. My only normalcy. The only one that will likely understand." He then would take a long draw from his glass then look at her again.
-----
Later he would tell her about his life. Patiently telling her the ups and downs of his life as he thought it was, "So my life... was not so... let's say intense. I worked in computer games, most of the gamers would call me a 'Cracker'. I had hacking skills but used them for actual work, I would break games and help the programmers make the games better. My social life was lacking, sure I had girl friends but nothing lasted. I was always more focused on my games and work."
Mórrígan gave him a thankful smile at his words and gently squeezed his hand before letting go. While she didn't know if they would be lived up to only time could tell. Yet she did think he seemed the sort to live up to them.
When he spoke of his life she nodded slight. "Seems like neither of our lives were going as we planned." She commented with a slight shrug. "Maybe it's for the best we're here?"
He shrugged in response. Took a large gulp finishing his drink with a sour look. Then simply asked, "What shall we do now?"
If she asked what he had in mind, he would relay, "We could go open an account at a bank. Buy a place for the guild. Find Otto and deal with the undesirables. Eat. Maybe look for a bounty or a quest. Find an adventuring guild."
"Do we really need an account at the bank to just change our money out?" Mórrígan asked. "Well I guess that would be something to ask them honestly... Wait you want to buy a place here for the guild? Like a recruitment hall or something?"
"I wonder if our gold is worth more than the gnome was inferring to. It might be a nice chance to get an influx of cash without having to farm! Yes, precisely what I was thinking, a recruitment hall. A place we can organize and explore from. I know that it is only a dragon's ride away but I don't feel like drawing attention to our home yet." He states as you can tell he is thinking of the future.
"Well then lets finish our drinks and head to the bank. If we're going to buy property then we need to know just how much more our coin is worth. It will give us bargaining room when we get there." Mórrígan said before she finished her drink.
"Let get headed to the bank." She told him once he had finished his drink as well. With that Mórrígan headed out, of course likely with Arthur right behind her, to find the bank. Making their way to Ruby Square as Abroshtor had told them, sure that it wouldn't be too hard to pick out among the buildings that would be around it.
"Do you want me to handle the talking?" Mórrígan asked.
He nods and smiles at her. His drink already finished he gets up behind her and follows. "Go right ahead I will be here to back you up."
He does stop some one with a trick of prestidigitation and asks, "Which direction is the ruby square?"
The woman commoner stops amazed and then looks at Arthur with adoring eyes, 'That such a strong and handsome man would talk to me...'
With another prompt from Arthur she says, "It is through the two streets back. I mean go back two streets and take a left. Stay on that street until you see the black fence with red points ontop."
With the directions you easily backtrack and then head down the street until you find the black metal fence with the red points. Two guards in better equipment and heavy armor stand at the gate. No one is going through the gate, yet.
Mórrígan stood there amused at Arthur's interaction with the woman, and as they walked she moved closer and elbowed his side. "I've a feeling you'll get more of that." She told him.
When they came to the bank and Mórrígan got a good look at it a slight look of confusion came over her face. "Could they not be open yet? Or maybe they closed early?"
With a prideful look he smiles at her, "Honestly that is expected... I do have the charisma of a dragon. There was many reasons I was the guild leader after all!"
"Let us go speak with the guards, perhaps they could enlighten us." He says with flair and smooth as silk, letting his Diplomacy seep out.
As the two of you approach the guard closest to you states, "Entry into the Ruby Square is restricted right now. Only royalty and nobility are allowed in right now."
---
After Arthur's bluff both of the guards stand a little stiffer and the one speaking states, "Ah! Right you may enter."
---
Entering the Ruby Square you can tell why it is called that name. The tallest building has many windows and they are tinted a hue of red. The black stones that make up the building seem to make it that more daunting. On each point of that building and most of the others are red crystals that glow. A shimmer of ruby dust like a curtain goes from one glowing crystal to the next, even connecting the buildings. As it turns darker and darker the crystals seem to glow more and the shimmering dust does as well. They illuminate the massive courtyard and the buildings well.
You can see about two dozen parties of noblemen and ladies walking around in bedazzling fashion.
One of the nearer groups walks up to the two of you and ask, "The guards let you through? I suppose a minor noble only has so few clothes to choose to wear." The others in their group laugh as they look upon the two of you and begin to mock you as well in hushed tones, that you both easily hear with your keen hearing.
He steps forward with confidence and states, "No worries my good man! You likely don't recognize me but I am of the Stonefire family, indeed the Scion of the family. You may not recognize my coat of arms as I am not a noble of these lands. If you would we would like to be let within..." All the while he keeps his chin tilted up and keeps the air of a nobleman about him.
---
Offering his arm to Morrigan he leads her through the gate.
---
At the noble's jeers and mocking words he puts on a smile and whispers, "How would you like to deal with this? Fool, Leader, Brute, or Lord?" You realize that Arthur gave you another option this time... and you can tell he is ready to engage this fop with his silvered tongue should you choose that option.
Mórrígan smiled as she took Arthur's offered arm and entered the Ruby Square. She was slightly taken back but not enough to keep her from not noticing the group of fools that had chosen to pick a fight.
Her hand tightened over Arthur's arm before she pulled out her badge of the Dragon's Glory and held it up for the group to see. "Do you fool happen to know what this is?"
"It looks like he let this woman talk for you?! How outrageous, oh look they aren't even nobility just some guild members!" At that he and the others scoff though only the one talking laughs over the top. As Arthur is about to talk the arrogant noble cuts him off, "What?! Is there something you are going to say?"
---
The nobleman's son pisses himself then and there. He then flees from the courtyard passes the guards.
---
They quickly say, "A'Vernta... Jason A'Vernta..." Then they disperse too.
She can feel his muscles go taunt as strong as steel, see the buldging veins on his forehead, and he steps up to the arrogant piss ant. Whispering with deathly intent, "You fool! You think your title of nobility gives you the right to degrade anyone?! Now I have a reason to expunge you from existence. Though death is too good for you, I will destroy your family, your assets, title, and take them all from you. Then I will disarm you, they will wail at the hideous form that walks. You will hear and see but not speak. You will survive by the generosity of others. Then I will restore you once you are at death's door and see if you have learned..."
---
He looks at his entourage and politely asks, "And what was that fool's name?!"
---
"Why thank you, now may this be a lesson in humility for you never know who will rise in power and take what is yours." He quickly says to them and takes Morrigan with him toward the black stone structure.
You can see the other nobles A'Vernta was with going to other nobles and obviously whisping about 'that man' as Arthur did not give his name.
You get to the bank and two guards stand outside like the ones at the front gate, they move aside. Entering into the building you see rubies and arcane tapestries decorating the large foyer.
A servant in a nice looking suit comes up and asks, "If you would tell me your business, I can guide you to the right representative"
"You would think they'd look closely and notice it's a dragon guild. Even with how things have happened I don't think people who have dragons are a common sight in this world. The guards at the gate did look rather, nervous." Mórrígan said with a slight laugh as she watched the noble slink off.
When the worker for the bank came out to greet them Mórrígan was rather polite. "We're here to meet with a money changer. We seem to have a different coin that we know is worth more, but we are unsure how much more." She explained.
"Ah yes, if you would please follow me!" the young servant leads with a chipper attitude. Into the south hallway and into a musty room with no windows. "Master Velderman, you have guests. They have different coin and would like to know how much more it is worth." The servant explained on your behalf. Then the servant bowed and walked to the side of the room.
An elderly man states, "Oh yes! Cahhh! Come please put some coin on the table so I may investigate it. Cahhh!" He coughs and moves a magnifying glass comtraption that has multple lenses. Half of the large table is covered in piles of books and papers. As the other side has the mechanism and Master Velderman reaches his pocked aged hands over the table to collect the coins.
Once you offer a few coins he hmmms and haws over he coins and weighs them too. Eventually he states, "These coins are old, from the Empire. To the correct buyer you might even get 10 gold per coin. Though in comparison to our new gold they hold more gold. I would have the bank pay 2 standard gold pieces for each of yours should you be willing to make that exchange. Your silver and copper pieces are not worth any more than what we use today but like I said before they would be worth more to a historian or a collector. Now in the Empire they used electrum and platinum. Your platinum pieces by weight would be worth 15 gp each and your electrum 175 or maybe even 200 gp. We haven't seen much electrum in our markets since the Empire's collapse some 200 years ago. Now would you like me to write up the contracts or will you be taking it elsewhere? I would like to purchase one of the electrum coins for 200 gp for my own collection if you don't mind."
"I would be willing to give you the electrum coin for 100 gp if you give us three names of collectors or historians that would be interested in the coins!" Arthur offers.
The old man nods and scratches his beard covered chin. The beard was surprisingly salt and pepper as the wisps of hair on top of his head were stark white with his busy eyebrows. He pulled out a card and began to write down some words. He then passed it over and began to do another.
To introduce an interesting acquaintance:
Emerald Square, 21 Emerald Street.
Saul Hinterman,
May they bring you priceless value to your collection.
Best Regards,
Master Velderman
To introduce an interesting acquaintance:
Mithril Row, Crescent Emporium.
Mattias Smith,
May they bring you priceless value to your collection.
Best Regards,
Master Velderman
To the Shadow,
You shall find them before long. May they bring you knowledge and become strong allies.
Sincerely,
V.
With the third one given he winks at them and slowly says, "I once was an adventurer too. I can still tell when someone has enough power to shift the balances. Go to the bath houses in Iron District and you will find more friends than you would care to have but strong allies."
---
The old man snatches his hand out to catch the precious coin. Then gives you both a wry smile. Revealing that he is not as old as he plays at.