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Sometimes, accidents happen. Your character has found themself in a situation where an honest accident has resulted in an item being broken. Possibly your own, or you may have broken someone else's. Was it an item at a shop, or a priceless artifact? How does your character react to the honest mistake?
Karothdra's boots crunched against the gravel as she made her way through the narrow streets of Edrao, her keen eyes scanning the bustling marketplace for any sign of the merchant she sought. She had been sent on a mission to retrieve a valuable artifact rumoured to be in the possession of a local trader. There was some doubt surrounding the mysterious object, but it had been deemed important enough to be retrieved quietly. Karo had made the arrangements and was travelling herself to pick it up.
As she navigated the maze of stalls and vendors, she thought about the rumours. The artifact she sought was said to hold great power, and she knew that securing it would not only bolster her own reputation if the rumours were to be found true.
Finally, she spotted the merchant she had been looking for, a stout Matori with a shrewd look in his eye. Without hesitation, Karo approached him, her gaze locked on the item he had displayed on his table. It was a small figurine carved from an unknown stone, its intricate details hinting at its ancient origins.
"I've come for the artifact," she announced quietly her voice firm and commanding. The merchant's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered, a sly smile crossing his lips.
"Ah, so you're the one I’ve been speaking with, eh?" he replied, his tone laced with amusement. "Well, you're in luck, my dear. It just so happens that I have it right here."
With a flourish, he reached behind the table and produced the artifact, holding it out for Karothdra to inspect. She took it in her hands, turning it over carefully as she examined every inch of its surface. It was even more beautiful up close, its ancient craftsmanship a testament to the skill of its long-forgotten creator.
Satisfied that it was indeed the artifact she had been sent to retrieve, Karothdra nodded in approval.
"It's authentic," she declared, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "I'll take it."
As she reached for her coin pouch to pay the merchant, however, disaster struck. With a sudden movement, her hand knocked into the table, sending the artifact tumbling to the ground with a sickening crash. Time seemed to slow as she watched it fall, her heart sinking as she realized what had happened.
The Matori merchant's eyes widened in horror, his face turning pale as he watched the priceless artifact shatter into a hundred pieces on the ground. For a moment, there was silence, even those around them had quieted to turn to see what had happened.
Then, all at once, chaos erupted. The merchant began to shout and curse, his words lost in the din of the crowd as he railed against Karothdra for her carelessness. The other vendors nearby turned to stare, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief at the destruction that had unfolded before them.
But Karothdra remained strangely calm amidst the chaos, her eyes fixed on the shattered remains of the artifact at her feet. She knew that she had made a mistake, a costly one at that, but she refused to let it shake her resolve. With a deep breath, she reached down and began to gather up the broken pieces, her hands steady despite the turmoil raging around her.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, her voice barely audible above the clamour of the marketplace. "Here’s your payment." And with that, she turned and walked away.
As she stepped away, she couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that gnawed at her insides. She had prided herself on her skills and precision, yet in a single moment of carelessness, she had shattered not just an artifact but also her own confidence. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that her mistake would likely tarnish her reputation. Now they would never be able to see if this thing really had any power.
Lost in her thoughts, she wandered aimlessly through the rain-soaked streets of Matori, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plan to rectify the situation. She knew that she would need to find a way to repair or replace the artifact, but with no leads and no resources at her disposal, the task seemed daunting. She would have to own up to the mistake, there was no way around it. Karo cursed, this had been a long fruitless journey with time wasted. She should have had the thing mailed directly to Oba instead. At least then if broken, she wouldn’t be on the hook. It was time to head home.
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