On the dawn of the morning, a young waif scampers out from blind duck alley. He scans the streets of the Bazaar searching for his next meal.Walking through the Bazaar, a young boy spies the waif, and 'drops' a coin , and continues walking. As he walks past it, he spies something shiny in the razed house.
Tristan sees the coin fall onto the street and quickly approaches it. His eyes brigten in good fortune. He scoops the coin with his fingers and scampers off towards the closest tavern. This coin would make for a day's breakfast. Maybe he can sleep in a real bed or loft tonight at the Ranger and the Dryad.
Arielle skipped out of the shop, her great-great-grandfather clutching her hand tightly to keep her from getting away from him again. She hummed to herself happily, an eerily familiar tune. She was glad to have more pieces of mommy. If things kept going this well she'd have her mommy back very, very soon. She could feel one last piece here in this place and led her grandpa towards the edge of the bazaar where she could hear another star singing.
Muulsh calls merrily to the small girl and her grandfather as they leave his shop
A pleasure meeting you both! Please come again!
And it most certainly was.. He thought with barely-hid glee
He ducks back inside and closes and locks his door. A muttered word causes arcane runes in the lintel to glow momentarily
He approaches his counter, almost shivering with anticipation. On the black velvet drape that had once held the interesting trinket stones there now gleamed a pile of precious stones.
Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and a halfdozen other types of stones lie in a heap, twinkling. Muulsh's eyes open wide as he screws a jeweler's loupe into his left eye and squints at his new treasures.
Flawless ... flawless He mutters
His mind is ablaze at the fortune the elder elemental had carelessly dropped on his counter.
A king's ransom ... two king's ransoms ... It's amazing .. He mutters as he feverishly inspects the pile of finely-cut gems.
The figure hesitates.
"Sorry, I can't tell you. Suffice to say, I'm no enemy of yours. I'm keeping an eye on that girl over there."
*Lk looks at the stranger suspiciously, then thanks him again and dashes after Arielle to give her the shiny he found.*
"Excuse me, I think this is yours." He holds up the shiny.
The figure hesitates.
"Sorry, I can't tell you. Suffice to say, I'm no enemy of yours. I'm keeping an eye on that girl over there."*Lk looks at the stranger suspiciously, then thanks him again and dashes after Arielle to give her the shiny he found.*
"Excuse me, I think this is yours." He holds up the shiny.
Arielle's face lights up with joy as she takes the star from him. "Oh, thank you so much for bringing me the shiny!" she exclaims, holding it close to her and humming a strange tune. The shiny seems to sing along with her. After a minute she puts it into her pouch and turns to the elder air elemental.
"That was the last one here, Grandpa."
"Um, would you mind if I helped you look for more shinies?""
"Um, would you mind if I helped you look for more shinies?""
"I wouldn't mind," she said cheerily. "Would it be alright, Grandpa?"
"Hmmmm. Perhaps. Do your parents know where you are, child? I would not wish to cause them worry."
"Hmmmm. Perhaps. Do your parents know where you are, child? I would not wish to cause them worry."
"I'm sorta what you'd call a 'lone wolf'. I don't know who my mom is and I don't really know my dad."
"Hmmmm. Perhaps. Do your parents know where you are, child? I would not wish to cause them worry.""I'm sorta what you'd call a 'lone wolf'. I don't know who my mom is and I don't really know my dad."
"Very well, then. You may accompany us. Which way next, Arielle?"
Arielle stands and looks around for a while a frown of concentration on her face. At last the frown clears.
"That way," she says pointing across the sand in the direction of the Sanctum of the Sun. "There are more pieces in that direction."
"Cool! Um, how are we going to get there?"
Lk begins to look between Arielle and Azuri'ith.
"Cool! Um, how are we going to get there?"
Lk begins to look between Arielle and Azuri'ith.
"Cool! Um, how are we going to get there?"
Lk begins to look between Arielle and Azuri'ith.
Azuri'ith chuckles. "Why, I will carry you. I am quite capable of lifting a couple of children without straining myself. Here," he reaches out an arm for the boy. Arielle has already climbed on to one of Azuri'ith's shoulders.
Azuri'ith chuckles. "Why, I will carry you. I am quite capable of lifting a couple of children without straining myself. Here," he reaches out an arm for the boy. Arielle has already climbed on to one of Azuri'ith's shoulders."Cool! Um, how are we going to get there?"
Lk begins to look between Arielle and Azuri'ith.
"It's been so long since I last flew...."
Lk quickly scambles up Azuri'ith' arm and holds of firmly.
"Okay, I'm ready!"
"It's been so long since I last flew...."
Lk quickly scambles up Azuri'ith' arm and holds of firmly.
"Okay, I'm ready!"
Arielle giggles. "You've flown before? Don't you just love it? I only flew for the first time two days ago. Of course, I was only born three days ago."
I fly all the time....especially after I've had some shrooms.
Azuri'ith chuckles. "Why, I will carry you. I am quite capable of lifting a couple of children without straining myself. Here," he reaches out an arm for the boy. Arielle has already climbed on to one of Azuri'ith's shoulders."Cool! Um, how are we going to get there?"
Lk begins to look between Arielle and Azuri'ith."It's been so long since I last flew...."
Lk quickly scambles up Azuri'ith' arm and holds of firmly.
"Okay, I'm ready!"
From out of nowhere, a hunting spear comes and whirls. Five of the cultists die within an instant. The last is pinned against a wall, badly injured.
At last, the elven woman smiles, her teeth pale in the gathering dark. It seems like I've been waiting for ages for someone like you to turn up to hopefully answer me some questions. Let's go home, shall we, and you can talk to me about some interesting things...
In a swirl of deeper darkness, woman, spear, and man are gone, leaving only five corpses and the spreading pools of blood in the ruins of the house.
Word soon spreads to the inn where Prince Azran is keeping watch over Aritha, regarding the appearance of the traders from Leng in the streets. He calls in some favours from a local merchant, and sends him along to investigate.
Prince Azran's contact returns from the visit to the denizens, a bewildered expression on his face, and a strange brooch/talisman fashioned in the shape of a holy symbol of the mother of monsters with a star set in it as the 'third eye' with him. He recounts his news, hands over the brooch, and departs.
The Denizens of Leng sell one star to a grim-faced man who hosts gladiatoral contests, and who thinks that it will make a suitable prize for the winner(s) in his next series of arena clashes.
"Hmmm..."
Edit:
And someone might like to convince the traders from Leng to stop selling these things at the Bazaar for now otherwise they will be back with more...
Bad news, dear, the Prince addresses Aritha. *She* hasn't been making so much of an effort to find me these past few days since she's been trying to figure out what the latest plot by the horrors beyond are. A few hours ago she captured one of their servants, who knew the name and location of another, and by the time that she was finished with extracting information she had a pretty good idea of what they're upto. And it's not a direct threat against her Realm or sovereignty.
A sellsword exits the Ranger and the Dryad with no due haste. A harsh man of many adventures and campaigns, judging by armor, gear, and face, but his demeanor is bright, good humored, and inquisitive. He makes his way down the Bazaar's throughway, looking and eyeing the goods and services merchants provide. Curious, he retrieves a token off the ground, near an abandoned stall. A star token, curious, he has never seen anything like it.
Her eyes are dark with foreboding. That means she more attention free now to hunt for you, darling?
I'm afraid that it looks that way, dear. I wish I had more information on what her current priorities are; but I could hardly risk going to see the traders to ask myself, since some of them are likely reporting to *her*.
A couple of the other traders who serve your goddess got together, obtained one of these stars which there seems to be fuss about, and acting on instructions made this which they send to you. Apparently you'll know what to do with it.
He passes her the holy symbol of Lamashtu brooch/talisman.
She examines the items and makes a face. Yes, I believe I do darling. It's an awful responsibility though. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with you if you're on the move though.
Well we'll head out of this place to perhaps somewhere slightly safer for you, and discuss this further.
He helps her, still somewhat weary as she is from her glutting of herself at the Carnival, from the bed, and downstairs. He settles the bill, and presently they leave the Bazaar.
The party from the Eyrie arrive at the Bazaar.
"Lead on, little lady."