Messy Market
Tenebrae - Monday, January 27, 2020, 7:58 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Lower Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=- Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.
For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.
Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.
Kae tilts her head "Noooo.." Then she stands up, Waist down she's a drake, like wingless dragon, the size of a small draft horse, some 5 feet to the join of the giant scaly drake body and her torso... She then sits on her haunches and traps her tail, under a forepaw...
"I think I was the first changed and all?" She says and rubs at the back of her neck again and sighs "Anyhoos I had just started research on the item, and got tired, went to bed, I was turned into this, and the ancient artifice along with some other of my things had all been stolen.. Then folks had well started turning into different things.'
Kae rubs at the back of her neck again and sighs "Aaanyhoo these are folks affectd by this so I made an artifice network that deploys into this tent with the heat and the light and the kitchen and stuff, so folks who are changed can make good, extra money... All the proceeds go to them." She says, and motions to all the folk working...
Kae then grins a bit.. See, (For Garret's sake and all) There seems to be a BIIIIG cluster of tents, with folk going in and out, there's some dancing, music, and food being served inside. All of it is lit, heated, and run with artifice....(re)
Garrett was wearing his leather armor, painted black. The hood covers his head and a piece of black cloth cover his nose and face, revealing his eyes only. He had been in the noble's district and was putting a coin purse in his satchel. He then makes his way into the tents to hide from the watch. He begins to look around and nods to Kaelyn. "Still a monster?" He asks curiously.
Mikilos wanders absently, looking around at the various tents and stalls, but not really paying attention to them. A small orb of purple light hovers behind the wizard, bobbing along as he travels.
Stirling looks up at Kae, taking a moment to pull a cigar out and clenches it in his teeth before he lights it with a small flame that erupts from the tip of his thumb. His expression goes from a grimace to something more pensive. "Hrm, well thats no good then, must be potent artifice..." he says in a contemplative mood. "Well if your looking for a hand I can offer." he says holding out his large titanfist for Kae to shake "Stirling Ironheal, artificer of some skill if I am allowed to say and I can't abide rogue artifice being on the loose."
Never a dull day in the market, Ezil navigates the crowd that seems so intent on seeing what's in those tents. His thoughts were to go elsewhere, but curiosity has bitten him, and he finds himself heading that way, though leisurely. His cloak is pulled tight, his purple armor hidden under that cloak of grey.
Kae blinks and peers at Garret, looks down, then shrugs "Well Monster is a matter of attitude really." She says with a smirk..
Kae then looks to Stirling "ooh yeah, sooo here's the connundrum! The thingie puts one or more thorn like items into you, that then fuses with ya and kind of well shifts out of phase so getting it out is well tough... " She then rubs the back of her neck "Soooo annyhoo, it rewrites you.... so you see me now, remove curse, dispell magic, none of that restores my form... I have tried getting shapeshifty type spells on me and that turns me back to being an elf, until the spell wears off and this again..." She says and rubs the back of her neck. "So yus, it's rediculously potent artifice, probably pre kulthose taint and stuff." She adds.
Kae sighs and takes a bite of soup fromw hat must be something the size of a punchbowl..
She then ohs and offers a hand to Stirling "I'm Kaelyn by the way.." She says cheerfully... "But yeaaah, this artifice changes folks, well rewrites them and all, and as far as thorns, I've figure dout how to find that someone has them in them, and kind of where they went in, but I need the artifice to be able to figure out how to remove the thorns from these folks." She says and then adds "And whoever got me, really had fun, I've got 7 of the things in me." she says and huffs... "Also when I fiddle with them too much, things get a lil worse, lower body gets bigger, stronger, adn there's more drift heading into my torso... There used to be like a hard deliniation between elf and drake, but now." She says and pulls her lower eyelid down,r eally showing off her eyes are slit and motions to the horns and the scales and stuff.. "it's like I'm mixing up here too... upside is, that I'm not a strict carnivore, so there's some mix down below too maybe?"
Garrett lowers the cloth hiding his face and he smirks. "Beyond my abilities. I am just a thief after all, I know how to break artifice, not undo it." He says as he looks to Stirling. "Great multiple mad scientists...Dont get me wrong, you guys have the most interesting toys, but you guys dont have the wealth worth stealing."
Mikilos perks up at the half heard conversation, and drifts closer, raising a hand in greeting to Kae, Stirling, Garrett and company, the purpople light behind his head offering something of a siister glow until it drifts towards his shoulder. "Any magic stolen tends to be a bad idea. Far too many jobs for the Guild started with something taking something they didn't know how to use, and it running amuck."
Ezil finds a fruit stall away from the tents, watching the crowd and those who gather near Kaelyn as he rests against it. He keeps his distance, watching with a soft smile as he recognizes a few of the faces she talks with while she eats. He picks out something from the winter selection, a grapefruit, paying for it and keeping his distance while he begins to peel his selection.
Stirling looks at Garrett "Careful who you steal from around here, this eye does not blink." he says tapping his right eye, a large red lense where his eye should be. "Mikilos, good to see you and your right." he says before turning to Kae. "No offence to you and yours but stopping this from getting worse should be priority number 1 and then we can worry about cures."
Kae blinks and flails her arms in the air "Well duuuh, It's what I'm doiing, problem is, finding it! I've made a tracker that can tell you exactly when the item is used, but whoerver's using it never hits in the same area twice in a row, and I've not found a regular pattern. It's like they come across somebody, and go 'they look like fun!' shoot em, and a few hours later, the magic kicks in and they're changed!" kae says and shrugs "Sooo thins I've foun dout, when it's used, there's a decidedly trackeable oscilation and energy signature that I can go to, buuut, the item its self doesnt' give off anything except when its used... Which really is kind of a hallmark of really good artifice, theyr'e efficient!" She says and rubs the back of her neck..
Kae then siighs and takes another drink, before looking to Garret. "Sooo umm, yeah going around and saying 'Imma thief' isn't a good way of carrying on yer chosen occupation, okie?" She says and adds "Might be better off saying yer a tradesman or something." She then looks back to Stirling and Miki and others, and pulls out what looks to be a large locket from one of her saddlebags, opens it and well it displays a wireframe map of the town and nearby region, complete with altitudeds, etc, it's fully three dimensional, on it appear about 30 or so red dots... Some are quite far from this current location..
"Anyhoos, I needs to figure out a way to possibly track the item its self... Now there's these little thorns in those of us who are changed, and if I could mebbe isolate their energy source I mebbe could track the item, but what they give off is tiiiny, nearly insignificant, specially after they've done their job, oh and they're like bonded and difused through the person and slightly out of shift!" Kae says and flails her arms some more and tries to rub her head, then makes an annoyed look at encountering horns... She even looks upward and huffs, before looking back down to Stirling and Miki "Soo you guys might have a better idea?"
Garrett has disconnected.
Mikilos considers. "Are you sure it's being willingly activated? Someone pointing the device and using it? Or is it sitting on someone's pile of junk, and every 47 minutes the targeting system is charged, looks around for a fresh target, and if there isn't one shuts itself down again, all without anyone noticing? I admit I know next to nothing about all this. As much chaos as it's caused, no one has died, so it's kind of a low priority."
Stirling ponders the words himself, a bit lost in thought as he considers things. "Hrm... probably not with the distance between events." he says gesturing to the map Kae provides. "Maybe its on purpose maybe not... a good scanner might do the trick if you have an accurate enough idea of what it looks like. Much like..." he snaps his chrome fingers a couple times. "... a locate object spell." he offers as a solution. "Otherwise find out if we can set a trap of some kind."
Ezil listens from his spot, a piece of the tart fruit popped in to his mouth, chewing. It takes a while for him to decide to head towards Kaelyn, still breaking up the pamplemousse into it's slices, his casual and methodical approach made. He doesn't speak at first, continuing to eat his piece of fruit slice by slice until he's resting with half of it left in his hand, and now near the others. "Hello." he greets all at once, raising his free hand in the Faring way, having swallowed before he spoke.
Kae blinks, then cheerfully wavies at Ezil now! She then looks to the others "Anyhoos... Umm yeah!" She then pulls up a buunchh of notes "Here's my notes on what I studied about the item..." She says and also has a drawing, it appears to be a woman, but really, it's a tube in the shape of a goddess figurine, probably one dealing with change and whatnot... "Anyhoo, this is the thingie.. It's kind of like a tubular statue." she says and rubs at the back of her neck again...
Kae then looks between Stirling and Miki "And yus, what with the big plague and stuff, I've really been one of the fiew looking into this whole thing.... Mostly because it's not proved to be life threatenining in the least, just really inconvenient..." She then motions to the cow-taur lady.. "I mean she has it really bad." Kae leaves it at, after getting a slightly cross look from the lady currently cooking....
Kae then whistles innocently and looks between Stirling, Mikilos, and Ezil.... "Imma prolly in trouble again..." The cow-lady then nods slowly, a kind of 'evil grin' that would work really good in any anime as she looks at Kae and slaps a large wooden spoon in her hand...
Mikilos glances over the notes and nods. "Know what the device is made out of? Might be able to try and track it that way. As for traps, if someone is doing this on purpose, might let slip that a second, more powerful device was found, see if that lures them close. Otherwise just seems to be random people."
Stirling nods to Mikilos "Yeah I need to study this further before I could develop a proper trap." he shuffles through some of the notes and nods to Ezil "Hello." is all he really says as he goes through the notes. "You know anything about this?" he says asking Ezil.
Ezil nods to Stirling, but takes a moment to pop another piece of fruit in to his mouth, wiggling his fingers in a continued greeting to Kaelyn after. After he swallows, he moves to speak. "I knew of about what Kaelyn told you, but I have not found out anything else. I... have been occupied with devils and ancient artifacts." that last part coming with a half shrug. "It's been a long week." he notes, looking then back to Kae. "Is it too much trouble to have these notes copied?"
Kae tilts her head to the right, and shrugs, she then pulls out a small tubular thing with purple crystals on each end, and there's a line that kind of goes down the center of the tube.. Everywhere else there's runes and such... Kae then pulls it a little open, and slides it down one of the sheets.... It emits a little glow as it does and Kae looks to the others... "Soo yeah, just slide this down the sheets and stuff, and we can go from there." She says cheerfully... SHe then holds up an auto-inking quill and sets it on a blank paper, hits one of the crystals and the quill starts writing, in rapid fassion what was just viewed by the object....
Kae grins and continues to do this from one sheet to the next, the quill just goes till it gets a page coppied and is moved to another empty page and so on..
Kae then glances to the others "I can get the reading done quick, but can never make it write the stuff down fast again... It only goes about twice as fast as I could normally scribe these..." She then glances to Stirling "Any ideas on that too?" She asks and looks to Miki "Anyhooos, so long as I can get those that wanna be fixed fixed, I'll be happy, it's why I'm also trying to devise a cure, if I can devise a cure without having to have the object, that nullifies it right there... Buuut if I mess it up, it seems to 'progress' the change some... Hence why I've got more sharp teeth, the funky eyes and I'm growing horns." She says and sighs... "Kinda nervous about continuing to experiment with the cure on my self.. and I don't wanna sk for volunteers.."
Kae then ooohs... "Umm if y'all are hungry or thirsty, feel free to ask, I'll treat ya..."
Mikilos nods. "A sort of amplified rebound, comming back stronger each time. Interesting." He considers a moment. "...have you tried transforming into a drake, and see what happens when that wears off? Anyway, thank you, no, I ate yesterday."
Stirling watches the device copy the notes "Probably boost the power output to improve speed but you probably then need to reinforce it to handle the extra energy." he offers a suggestion. "As for the people changes, if they are minor I have become something of an expert in replacing body parts with artifice. Though I don't generally I do it when a part still exists. There are some permanent polymorph effects aren't there?" he asks of Mikilos.
Ezil raises a brow at the conversation, still snacking as he finishes the fruit and stuffs the peel into a pouch on his belt. "So, not to change the subject. Can an artifice device replace teeth?" he asks to Stirling, but looking back to Kae, at least wishing to contribute to something about this conversation. "Do you have a device for everything? It's so very convenient, but having an image of what that artifice looks like will save us time in our search."
Kae umms "That's just it, Permanent polymorph/shapeshifting is expensive. Like frightfully expensive.. and I tried getting that once, I ended up getting horns... You also fiddle with the thingies actually holding the transformation in place, and they kind of 'explode' back into being and stuff. It's how I went from about 750 pounds to over 1000...." She says and shrugs slowly... "Anyhow for those of us who've been taured, replacing parts with artifice really isn't a good thing we'd loose all our internal organs as they're.." She motions to her lower body 'Pretty much all there.... there's secondaries, but really what keeps us alive is in our lower part, save our brains..." She then umms and smiles cheerfully
"I do have biological scans on those who've been made taurs, if you guy swan to put those in the guild study stuffs.. I doubt y'all get much chance to study the wierder taurs than say centaurs and such..."
Stirling looks up at Ezil "What would I need artifice for with teeth? Just bolt a steel set into your jaw, gold or mithril if you got coin. But I have done arms, legs and eyes. All on myself too except my hand, a friend did that." Stirling has a friend? "You want a better look at my leg go to the museum, there is a display on it. But something as big as this." he says looks back at Kae's taur body. "I wouldn't dare and try to replace all that, too much of the original gone and changed. I can do a limb but I don't want to do more than that."
Mikilos nods to Stirling. "Most wear off, but a few last until dispelled. Turning people into frogs, for example. There are more powerful versions that can last, but those are beyond my abilities." He glances to Ezil and shrugs. "I know at least two golems who eat, so they have some sort of functioning artifice teeth. Not sure how well they'd work in a flesh mouth." He nods at talk of cost, and waves vaugely. "Depends on how you go about it. Regular scolls or hireing a College wizad can be pricy. Calling a few favors from a fellow Guild member can be more reasonable."
Ezil nods to Sterling, glancing to Mikilos. "I met what I thought was a golem, but he is mostly plant... and It was an odd thought." dismissing his own question, waving a hand before himself. "I don't know much of artificing. Like I told Kaelyn, the Faring Tales warned my people off them, and all I have seen until a week ago were toys, and maps." he admits, shrugging. "I know who to call too if something terrible happens to me now, but I find I am ignorant of many things this city sees every day." looking then to Kaelyn with a smirk. "Like I said, I will miss the taur-you. It's the only you I have known."
Kae blinks and ummmms..... "Well when I'm notta taur, I'm a very very curvy 5 foot 4 red head she-elf... so yeah... I has a more umm pleasant figure?" She says and shrugs "That also bugs me that I lost that,a nd another reason I don't really try and experiment on this that's changed me is that rebound, what if I loose my hands? I dun think I could deal with that..." She says "Getting an animal body? Well I can adapt to that, but I soo have to have my hands." She adds and rubs at her neck... "Buut if'n you think turning me the other way might help we could try that... might need like that dragon-form spell I've read about..."
Mikilos considers, and shakes his head. "I'm familiar with the Dragon Form spells, but they aren't ones I know. I tend towards making things and blowing them up, not altering them."
Stirling shakes his head "Best we understand this stolen piece and reverse things properly then experiment too much if it makes things worse." he notes gathering up a copy of notes. "I will need analyze these and think on it. Maybe I can come up with an idea yet, I am usually at the artificers guild if you want to look me up." he says looking through the notes. "All a bit odd, never been a fan of artifice that gets weird like this. You don't like someone you give them a good ol' fashion hiding." he says wearing enormous gauntlets clearly meant for delivering punishing punches.
Ezil moves to gather a copy of the notes himself, looking to Kaelyn with a shrug. "It's not as if you don't have your own beauty now." he counters, though Mikilos and Stirling get his glance after. "So, what is your advice if we come across the artifact?" then to Kae. "How do I avoid activating it. You said it some of these devices require little to no training, like in the pub, yes?"
Kae umms and blinks... she then nods "Yup pretty much, and honestly the really old stuff can be used by anyone.." She then umms "If you see someone using that device, don't let them shoot you with it? Y'could end up like me or worse." She says and rubs at the back of her neck... "But then again, if you can get it from the person who has it, even if you get affected by it, we can cure it once we have it." She says and smiles cheerfully...
Kae then looks at Mikilos "Almost kinda wished we had more of those kinda spells in the artificing strain... not just beast form, but dragon form and polymorphs all theway through the line and all... That would be really nice, I like that kinda study."
Kae then looks at Stirling and grins "The wierd stuff's kind of my specialty, if'n youve' not noticed." She says and gives a nervous chuckle.
Mikilos nods. "Still better than necromancy, I think. Well, the steriotype. There are spells used for good that are of the necromatic sub-school." He frowns mildly, looking to Stirling. "Where you here when I mentioned the Fae Queen of the Shard Tower? I don't recall who all I've spoken to."
Stirling frowns and looks at Kae "I have noticed though I can't fault your craftsmanship at the very least." then he turns to Ezil "If you find it, try not to push any buttons and if possible don't touch it or say anything in ancient Kulthian, use something like a bag. If even that is not possible I have scanners in my eye that can do an exam if you don't want to move the device." he says matter of fact. "Get a runner to find me but with that I must take my leave. Clearly I have a new project." he offers a short bow to all three before making his way out of the tent.
Stirling has left.
Ezil raises a brow to Mikilos, but nods after a short moment. "I have spread word here and there of the offenders. Did a bit of research about vampires and devils.... some demons too." he says with a huff. "I still wonder if this little gold dragon I've come across is mixed up in all of it." he tosses out, looking back to Kae. "Well the weird stuff suits you." his words sounding like a compliment, letting Stirling's advice sink in after he's left.
Kae waggles her arms as Stirling leaves and she beams cheerfully... "But yus, the items, you gotta just be careful around... and yeaah, so like the artificers guild and the mage's guild gimme the wierd stuffs to look over... Oooh ooh! If you find the item and can get me word and stuffs, I can probably go grab it too... " She says and shrugs again, then ummms... "Sooo yeaaaaah, ummmm anyhoos, I'm just happy whoever stole this one didn't find the storage chests I has!" She says cheerfully.
Mikilos mmms, and nods to Ezil. "I think the little gold dragon is unrelated, but it's hard to tell with such things. I've been trying to find a way to kill an Immortal Fae. As the name implies, they don't exactly die easily."
Ezil nods to Kae. "I will keep that in mind, and let you know if I find it." he assures, looking to Mikilos. "It is possible. It might of only witnessed the child and devils that took the Ancient Spark. I am glad it was returned, but we would not of found the boy had it not been for the little gold, and bartering with it in fish." he muses, waving a hand. "I still have to see if I can find this flayed-ghost once more. Too many mysteries, not enough time."
Kae blinks and tilts her head "Soo who's this Fae yer after anyhoos/" SHe asks and looks at MIkilos.. "And aren't most pure fae pretty much immortal save like one lil weakness or something?" she says as she rubs her neck again 'I know nothing abouts Fey, got a more in depth understanding draconic critters though!"
Mikilos nods to Kae. "The whole Black Plague of ooze that's been going around, spread by the vampire Kol Demontry? It all gto started by the Mistress of the Shard Tower, who is an Immortal Fae. There's enough stories to make it clear they -can- be killed. But details are pretty sketchy on HOW." He sighs. :Though think I might had found an unplesant lead. While back a group in Charn starting publishing a field guide, How To Kill Everything, with an emphasis on presrving the body to be animated later. Apparently they put out several editions, trying to cover literally -everything-, from rabbits and fish to dragons and unicorns. Naturally, not a book kept in any local library, but if I can track down a copy, might have something on fae."
Ezil pauses and stares at Mikilos, and speaks in a low tome. "I have an idea where we might find a copy of that book, or at least many like it. I... can ask a few questions, but I don't know what will come of it. I was about to seek the people in mind myself over the Kol and Yukia matters." he admits. "I don't know what they might be willing to share, but I got the lead from Merek."
From afar, Ezil is searching out 'The Iron Book'.
Ezil pages: It's a demonslaying group that collects odd knowledge and tomes. Research oriented.
Kae tilts her head now and ummms "Soooo You said she's a dark fey and makes this sludge that makes folk sick? Soooo, what would kinda be the opposite of that? Maybe light? HOly or otherwise might do it? Mebbe you need to get an immortal light fey on your side/" She says and rubs at the back of her neck....
Mikilos shrugs. "She seems to like ice, snowflakes in particular, but while I'm sure I've met her at least twice, my memory was erased. I don't know if a particular fae needs a particular material to destory them. Cold iron weapons are apparently good for hurting them, but true dead needs a little more power behind it."
Ezil nods as he listens to Mikilos and Kae, waving a hand after a moment, and stepping back. "Well, I have my leads to chase. I'll let you know if I find anything, Mikilos." he assures, offering a smile then to the Drago-Taur. "I wish you luck with your research, and will keep an eye out for this artifice object. Good eve, and you both be safe." turning to be on his way.
Ezil has left.
[[Category:|Messy Market]]