|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:40 pm
Shri wanted very much to do a little dance on the spot. Someone else to deal with these frustrating merchants! That was like a gift from the Goddess. She hadn't realized Lloth's reach extended so far north. Maybe Shri was just lucky. She was covering too much skin for there to be any chance her feminine wiles had prompted the offer to accompany her on her search for gloves. Nonetheless, she did reward him with one of her more brilliant smiles, one Val had once mentioned made her look like a just-rescued damsel in distress.
"That's exceedingly kind of you," Shri said as she moved closer, "and I may just take you up on your offer, but you must understand that my own, personal funds are somewhat more limited than the reimbursement I'm offering you in exchange for your assistance in the other matter. So I am forced to ask if you expect recompense for your aid. If so, I'll have to refuse your generous offer."
Well. She didn't have to. Her personal funds were limited, but only because she had chosen to be thrifty for this shopping expedition and bring only a small coin purse, secreted very close to her person, and protected more carefully than the larger pouch she'd offered her assistant. Still. The fact that Shri had no difficulty being generous with other people's money didn't mean she wanted to waste her own coin.
"Also, this conversation would go more easily if I had some name to call you by. I answer to Shrisin." She'd never seen the point in giving someone a false name, except the intrigue made things interesting. There was hardly anything intriguing, however, about buying livestock and gloves.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:04 pm
Well...she did not give him the look. If anything she seemed delighted. Her smile was unsettling in compare to the looks he was so used to recieving normally. Still, he did not let it deter him. His own lips curled into a smaller smile then the one Shri had for him and he began to turn down the street a bit.
She was smart too, or maybe just a bit more keen then most drow. Compensation was something he had been hoping for, but it was only a minor hope. He supposed if he brushed away her comments with some foolish garbage about just being nice or helpful or whatever...that would make her wonder certainly?
"I'll take you to one of the general suppliers on one of the lower ends of the Merchant street. Since he doesn't get the same string of traffic the rest do, he should be easier to talk down into a more reasonable price for something simple like gloves. Unless your concerned about the appearance Lady?" Divintra's head tilted slightly so he could continue to peer at her while he came to a pause in his steps.
"In all honesty Lady, my kindness is more of a attempt to root out a potential job for myself that will be more then just a single run. You said you and your companions are here for a full month." Divintra gestured out towards the crowd "So I'm thinking that, given your current troubles, your bound to need someone from the area to do other jobs maybe. Coin's aren't the only thing I'm interested in, I take food or cloths in trade for my services. I'm good for running errends if you need it, or fetching things. I could suggest you ask around if you like. I have a solid reputation for doing a honest job. I've never run out on anyone or cheated them so long as they don't cheat me."
Wow, he had never stopped to think about exactly what he would say in a situation like this...but it seemed his tongue knew exactly what it was doing. Hopefully it would lead him right where he wanted to be?
"Folks down here call me Divintra, Lady Shrisin."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:35 pm
Shri followed him as he moved, keeping some distance between them. Ordinarily she was a fairly tactile person, and the cold made her want desperately to have someone to use as a living source of heat, but she was also a very prideful person, and there was no way she was going to cozy up to a denizen of Menzoberranzan for something as simple as warmth. Other reasons, maybe, but not to keep warm. Not unless the only other option involved a sudden, steep decline in her well-being.
"In any other situation, I would care about appearances, but I'm actually cold enough that I don't give a damn as long as the gloves end up being warm. It's warmer where I come from. Significantly so." A gust of wind made her shiver, punctuating her statement as she closed her eyes in momentary misery and took a shuddering breath.
When he continued, explaining his true purpose, she was somewhat less than surprised. She seemed to have a gift for coming across people who were willing to enter into long-term contracts. Not that a month was particularly long, but in this desolate spot a month seemed like an eternity or longer, especially if one was inappropriately garbed for the weather. She had been told to pack warm, not to pack for the depths of hell.
Shri forced her thoughts away from her predicament with the cold to focus on Divintra's proposal. It seemed sound enough to her. Straightforward. That he was willing to work for things besides coin was interesting, but she supposed that was practical of him. Her expression grew serious as she considered. It would be useful to have someone like him around. He would certainly make things easier here.
"I'm inclined to hire you as you've suggested, and I'm willing to take your word about your stellar suitability, but there are some things you should know before you enter into this agreement." She wasn't sure why she always felt the need to warn people what they were getting into. No one else she knew explained themselves thus. Of course, other people got double-crossed more frequently than she did, too.
"First, I am, as you may have surmised, a priestess of Lloth. Well, a priestess-in-training, to be perfectly honest, and my companions are the same. Most of them are less tolerant than I of...differences. So if your beliefs are different, I suggest you at least keep them to yourself in my companions' presence. Second, I can offer you lodging and food in payment, if you wish it, or coin if you prefer."
She tucked her fingers into the sleeves of her robe, trying to keep them warm, before continuing. "If I hired you, I would expect you to do my bidding before the others'. Could you agree to that?"
She felt certain someone would try to bribe him away from her, someone with more cash to burn, like Belar. Not that there was any way to stop such a thing from occurring, except to hope that Divintra might have some sense of loyalty. She knew mostly she'd been lucky so far that no one she employed had betrayed her, since she gave them so much trust and autonomy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:44 pm
It was a method that had worked exceptionally well for him. Though Divintra was far from the most innocent soul in Menzoberazzan, he still had enough common sense to know that a well respected reputation had more power in it then a single moment of accomplished betrayls glory. He was not known for doing anything too big or complicated, but his sincerity was known in the slums. Of course, this meant that Divintra was keen enough to pick up on a set up when it was being laid out. He had the perfect reputation to be a scapegoat too. He had to remain alert so he did not end up being used in such a foul manner.
Now though he did not suspect or detect any hints of setting up. Despite the females warnings of her profession and that of the others in her group. In all honesty, Divintra was wondering all the more if this had not been a purposeful manipulation of his Gods whim to test him. His guile? His loyalty? Maybe it was just something to pass the time. Let's throw Divintra into the midst of ten females that would rip his heart out if they knew who he sent his prayers to nightly!
"Then if it is function over aestetics I think I should be able to find you something you will approve of Lady Shrisin." Yes, that would make it far easier. Divintra's mind wandered slightly as he led Shri through the streets. If she had disliked the area they were in now..well... He doubted she'd be anymore pleased with the lower end of the merchant street. At least where they had been was filled with bodies. Bodies that broke the wind and generated some heat to combat the chill that she felt so keenly. The path Divintra took led them to a sparely visited section. His head lifted to view each of the signs as they passed.
He wondered a bit behind the purpose of such warnings. Some part of him assumed that all he really needed to do right now was accept and then set himself to the task of rounding up the livestock she wished him to purchase. however, he did have to give this a bit more thought. The fact she addressed his own personal beliefs directly gave him reason to pause. Both in his thinking and in his steps. Divintra turned to look at Shri. He needed to answer her carefully, so he did not lose this job or leave himself open and vulnerable....
"I'd be more comfortable keeping with my own lodgings Lady Shrisin. There is no need to provide for me what I already have. If it is you that hires me, it will be only you that I am willing to take orders from. If any of the others want services performed by me then they will have to pay as well. Reguardless of the pay though, I'll be the one to decide what I do. If I do not feel comfortable with a job requested or even if I do not feel I can accomplish it then I'll turn you down. I prefer to be paid per job completed. This way there is no confusion about exactly what can be expected of me or how long I will be." His hand lifted in a small gesture back towards Shri. "If it is you are comfortable with my own terms then I will accept your terms. I have little interest in your purpose here, so long as you or the others do not expect anything from me other then what I've been hired for."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:38 pm
Shri followed closely at Divintra's heels, not interested in losing him accidentally. Not here. She had no illusions about her chances on unfamiliar streets in an unfriendly, unfamiliar city. So she might make him a little uncomfortable with her proximity, but, really, that didn't particularly bother her. He could deal with it.
"That's good," she said, chafing at her hands and wrists. "It's as well you call me Lady, though I don't find it necessary, personally. It would look odd to my companions if you addressed us otherwise."
She noticed the thinning of the crowd and tried not to feel apprehensive, though she did pray silently to the Goddess that Divintra wouldn't kill her. She doubted anyone would stop him. She wasn't skilled enough to stop him without divine intervention, she knew for a fact. She felt a brief pang of longing for the company of her brother, who would've made this whole ordeal more bearable. Not that she would have wanted to share him with her companions, as she would have been forced to do, or else admit her attachment to him. Which wouldn't be a good idea.
When he turned to speak to her, Shri's guess that he was not a worshipper of Lloth was confirmed. She didn't care. She wasn't out to convert anyone. She was training to be the head of her House, all of whom were already converted. The thing was, to head her House, she had to be an ordained priestess of Lloth.
"I understand, Divintra," she said. "Let me know what you need or want, and I will do my best to see that you receive it in payment for services rendered. I also will not attempt to stop you from taking commissions from my...sisters. What you do with your life is your affair, and not mine. Just be wary of my companions, I beg you."
She would hate to see him wasted. There was something about him which was rather intriguing, like there was more to him than met the eye. Not that what met the eye wasn't already enough to throw most people. How often did a person meet a white-skinned, white-haired drow with purple eyes, after all?
She smiled again. "So. Gloves and then livestock?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:10 pm
So then it was decided. Divintra could not complain in the least bit either. Good fortune indeed! So long as he kept a hold on his tongue and remained unsuspected by the other female companions of Shrisin, Divintra was certain that he would learn more about the temple they were living in and the true purpose of their vist...but more importantly he'd have a steady source of food and coins. He would not have to break his back lugging cheap ale from the wagons all for a measly fish and couple coppers. Odd how just minutes ago that had seemed like a wonderful deal to him. It had to be the promise of such good dealings now that had changed his perspective. He would certainly pray in thanks to his God tonight!
The other females in her group did concern him however. Just because he seemed to get along well with Shrisin did not mean the others would be the same. They would be, quite assuredly, very dangerouse to be around. He'd have to be careful how he spoke to them. Ugh, maybe even how he looked at them even. Now that he considered it, he was grateful he had declined her offer for him to stay with them.
Divintra nodded his head a little as Shrisin would encourage his use of the title he had been addressing her with thus far. "My mother taught me to show proper respect where it is due Lady Shrisin, and even to those it is not due. It does not invite those others to teach you this respect. It tends to be very unpleasent lessons."
There, they had arrived. The small stone building boasted a single large pane glass window. Within various articals of rothe leather clothing had been neatly laid. Divintra opened the door and entered first, yet turned to hold the door open for Shrisin to follow him inside. The merchant he had spoken of, was in fact a leather worker. Hide pants and chestplates were draped over stone pillars. Tough leather boots hung from metal hooks nailed to the walls. There was even a supply of strong leather whips coiled in a barrel. Divintra inhaled the musky scent of raw leather, and turned to the drow that seemed busy stitching together a backpack for some creature. Most likely a lizard in Divintra's mind.
"Taindlis. Hey... Taindlis." Divintra called out to the drow, causing him to turn and eye Divintra then Shrisin speculatively.
"Divin. Been a while since you've been down this end." He remarked rather sourly. "I see you've no goods to deliver. What do you want?"
Divintra thanked his God the other drow was speaking clearly. Even on some of his good days Taindlis stank of fresh spirits. The damn lush. This would make his job so much easier now!
"Taindlis. The goods I carry today is more along the line of words then raw materials. There is a new merchant down by the gates. He has a shipment of Dark Creeper pelts he wants tanned and worked with. Something about creating magic resisting leather I think." Divintra watched the light flicker within Tain's eyes as he spoke. "The thing is, he's already got Beandel and Tryde trying to convince him to partner up with them. I know your a better tanner then either of them." Here Divintra paused as Tain cut in.
"Damn strait I am! Those two shitheads can barely strip a hide properly!" Tain replied scatheingly.
"I know your busy and you can't leave the shop. So I thought, maybe I could take him a pair of your gloves to show him how good you are. In return...perhaps I could keep them?"
Divintra waited for the next few moments, his head tilted at a guiless angle as Tain seemed to chew over the proposal, then with a wave of his hand gestured to the stacks of gloves piled upon a table.
"One pair though. And none of the embroidered ones. It's just to show the quality of my work after all. Hurry up now and get before those Gaunds convince him to sell to them!"
Divintra turned, a very faint smile on his face as he gave Shrisin a little nod of his head back towards the door while he went to collect a pair of the gloves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:39 pm
Shri didn't even try to suppress the amusement at his description of his mother's training. She didn't know what sort of mother would train her son to worship anyone other than Lloth, knowing what sort of penalties existed for discovery, especially for males, but she approved of his mother's advice wholeheartedly. The lessons involved for correcting deviant behavior could be extremely unpleasant. She'd had a few experiences with them, herself, and hers had been nothing like the ones she knew her brother had received. And they had both survived. Many did not.
She glanced dubiously at the building Divintra stopped before and reminded herself that it had to be a building of some repute: it had an unbroken glass window. She knew what those cost. They made glass in Llurth Dreir. Transporting the stuff this far north would have had prohibitive costs, she'd've thought. As she stepped in, taking it for granted that Divintra would hold the door for, she couldn't help making a direct line for the whips. It was an area of great personal interest to her.
So as she eavesdropped on Divintra's conversation with Taindlis she also appraised the whips in the barrel. They were fairly crude for her purposes, but well enough for driving beasts, she supposed, or encouraging worthless slaves to perform up to par, though she'd still prefer more delicate tools for the latter task. She could work with that sort of whip if necessary. Fortunately it would not be. She'd brought some of her own.
Shri enjoyed listening to Divintra manipulate the tanner and wondered if there really was a merchant. Certainly the gloves were hers. Likely there was no merchant, and he would just tell Taindlis at a later time that the merchant had chosen to go with another tanner's services. That was how things worked in Gallidurth and Llurth Dreir, anyway. On the other hand, he had claimed to be relatively honest in his dealings when he spoke to her. This would not be a good example of his honesty if so. Not that she particularly cared. She was more interested in the gloves he was procuring.
She moved quietly to the door at Divintra's gesture, making almost as little sound as a trained sneak. It was mostly luck that allowed her to move so silently, but she couldn't help feeling a little pleased with herself, and at the same time a little wistful that she couldn't reproduce that stealth on cue. She slipped out the door and waited for Divintra to join her while pretending to ignore the stares she was receiving from one of the males across the way and actually calculating how quickly she could open the door and go back in should flight prove prudent. She wasn't a coward, but she was nervous and out of her element. In any other situation she might've struck up a flirtation to pass the time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:14 am
Divintra did not exit the building immediatly. He took a few moments to look over the gloves. He had to pick a pair that were about the size he assumed Shrisin's hands were. He was feeling terribly pleased with himself over the fact he had obtained the gloves without the need to spend any coins. Luck just really seemed to be on his side lately. Again and again he continued to think this. He would just see how long his luck intended on holding out for him.
When he did exit the store, Divintra did not immediatly hand the gloves to Shrisin. She seemed to be standing rather stiffly though. He did wonder a bit as to whether or not females of Lloth held themselves in such a reserved manner all the time. His head tilted a second time, down the street as he moved towards Shrisin. He considered how closely she had walked to him as they had made their way through the crowd before. Would she linger that close again?
"I think this is all you wanted, right Lady Shrisin? Should I escort you back to your temple now or were you intending on accompanying me while I made the livestock purchasing?" She had mentioned being cold, and she did not seem to care at all for the crowd. However, she couldn't be certain he would not run off with her money. Added to that would be the reaction of her sisters should she return empty handed with only a explanation that someone else would bring to them what she had been sent for.
"I could suggest a nice resturaunt in the better section of the city where you could rest and relax a bit. I've delivered there a few times so I know it is not a common bawdy house or ale pit."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:27 am
When Divintra emerged Shri looked up immediately, all her attention focusing on him. Or at least seeming to. She still had a care for her surroundings, but he was the most pertinent part of them at the moment, and so it was to him that the majority of her attention went. As he moved closer he felt no urge to back up, thereby maintaining her personal space. For one thing, she had very little concept of personal space, and for another, that would press her flat against the wall of the building, which would look perfectly ridiculous.
"That's everything, yes. And an impressive display, as well. Very canny."
When he mentioned a restaurant she could wait in, she bit her lower lip to keep from actually giggling. She'd planned to come with him as he purchased the livestock, simply so that she would get an idea what she ought to look for in the future. It was, admittedly, unlikely she would ever have to know anything about purchasing animals as a Matron, but it never hurt to know things outside of one's designated profession. Things changed. Luck changed. Also, Shri had an interest in practically everything.
What amused her, though, really was his suggestion that she might befre a nice restaurant in the better section of the city. There was no way he could know about her activities at home and in Gallidurth, so the suggestion could be called thoughtful, but the truth of the matter was...
"I enjoy common bawdy houses and ale pits," she said with a slightly mischievious grin. "One meets the most interesting people there. However, I will forego my chances to meet more interesting people today and just follow you around as you make your purchases. I'd like to understand the selection process."
She knew he wouldn't believe her, and would think she was merely safeguarding her investment. He would probably even think that her widened eyes were feigned, an act to give credence to her very un-drowlike interest in things to which she oughtn't devote any thought. She couldn't really care less about the money. If worse came to worse, she could survive on gruel. She had before, and it might be good for her sisters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:02 am
Once they were further down the street and most likely out of eyesight of Tain's shop Divintra handed over the gloves to Shrisin. Her comment on his canniness gained her a small smile that lacked any form of twisted pride in it. "I seem to be having a run of very good fortune today. I happened to find a delivery with the very first wagon I stopped at. The delivery was pretty simple and I got paid more then I normally would for just a one item transfer." Divintra cast his eyes down the street as he continued to talk. "While I was waiting to be paid I overheard Tryde at the bar bragging about a hunter coming in late tonight with some Dark Creeper pelts and what he was going to be doing with them. I hadn't considered going to Tain with the information until after I met you and you mentioned wanting gloves. Seems things just are falling into place for me right now."
He felt more pride in the fact he had managed to turn a random bit of information to his own benefit. In this way he hoped he had impressed upon Shrisin his intelligence reguardless of his station and coloration. Which, it seemed he had if she had complimented him already.
"I'll go wait by the gate tonight for the hunter and direct him to Tain's shop by telling him Tain more then likely will pay more then Tryde per pelt. Most traders are only looking for a good deal after all. I'll let the two of them finish the bartering."
Divintra paused and looked up at one building. His purple eyes flickered over it's front carefully, then to the individuals hanging atound the doorway. With a nearly un-noticeable shake of his head he continued walking on. His gaze turned more and more to the people about the buildings as the stench of raw material wastes began to build.
What he was looking for was the Live market. Which wasn't too hard to find given the scent. Since Shrisin had turned down his offer of a stopping point, and her obviously unrealistic explanation of interest, Divintra would not offer again. As they walked, Divintra lifted a hand and flicked a finger towards one building. A scrawling establishment where a few scrawny Rothe were tethered outside and currently in the process of being washed down by a equally scrawn goblin slave.
"I can possibly barter for a Rothe here. You said only one month correct? Do you have any intention of bringing the livestock with you or keeping it around? The older the rothe the cheaper I believe I can get it for."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:21 am
Shrisin pulled on the gloves with what might be considered unseemly haste and exhaled gratefully as her fingers began to tingle with feeling once more. Of course, they'd hurt later on, but she was perfectly fine with that. She'd enjoy it, in fact. She flexed her tingling fingers to check the gloves' fit, which wasn't perfect, but wasn't bad considering Divintra had been forced to guess. She was very small for a drow. These were probably gloves meant for a male wearer. She didn't care. She was warmer.
"It seems your fortunes have been good lately. I hope no one on your end decides to be spiteful and change, since you're aiding one of Lloth's servants. However, I suspect most of your good fortune has come from your G-good sense." That had almost been Goddess-given sense. She hadn't realized the frequency with which Llothites referred to their goddess in casual conversation until she started keeping track while with Divintra.
She had learned about other deities in her lessons. It was required for a preistess of Lloth to be familiar with the enemy's lures and snares. Shri was trying very hard not to think about which god - or goddess, she supposed - Divintra might worship. Not that she held any sway with deities beyond Lloth, but she'd feel more guilty than amused if his divinity decided to smite him for helping her. It struck a little too close to Val, though there were really very few similiarities there. She was young enough to be vain enough to believe such a thing could be entirely her fault.
Her musings were interrupted by the unmistakable scent of waste. She wrinkled her nose instinctively, but then schooled her expression. She had smelled worse, if she chose to think about it, and this time it was not her duty to clean it up, which made this situation infinitely better. Her gaze lingered on the group of tethered rothe. They hardly resembled the fat creatures bred on the other side of the Glimmersea, but she could recognize them for what they were.
"One month, yes. After that, I don't know what will become of the beasts. I doubt my sisters will think of trying to resell them, and will probably just abandon them and the temple in their haste to get out of this place. Not that I'd blame them. Some reward." The last bit was muttered, and almost covered up as a thought occurred to her and she voiced it:
"I don't suppose you'd want them when we leave?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:54 pm
Divintra allowed his shoulders to rise and fall in a slight shrug as he replied to Shrisin's comments. "I do not understand what you mean about someone on my end. Life itself is a test Lady Shrisin. If I can not survive each day then my failure is my death. If I did serve another god why would they bother to punish me now while I lived? Wouldn't the time for punishment come after I die and stand before their judges in death?"
Here Divintra turned, a single finger pointing upwards as he allowed his smile to reclaim his lips. "I suspect my test today will be seeing how well I manage with your sisters. I do not think it was as much an accident I met someone like you today. If it had been any of your other sisters would any of them been so inclined as to ignore the fact I do not bend my knee's to your Goddess? I do not think so. But... I have a sense about you, that so long as I do not turn on you while you are here, you will not hurt me."
Divintra turned back to eye the building with the Rothe within. Honesty, could sometimes be the more potent weapon when dealing with someone who could truely hurt you. "This could all change later, or tomorrow. If that happens then I will make another descion and see if that was the right one.... Now then..."
Now it was time to see what sort of bartering he could do! "If they are there I'll find something to do with them, and anything else left behind." He wasn't positive if he had heard her correctly. Reward?
With his mind distracted Divintra knew he would not be able to focus on getting a good deal, so he pressed the thought to the back of his mind for later consideration. Once again he approched and opened the door of the building. Again he held the door open for Shrisin, then closed it after she was within.
This building was more of a corral with a barn and sing enclosed room attached. Divintra could hear the lowing of the beasts from the barn, smell them...God! he could almost taste them from the stink of the place! There were a pair of coarse wooden stools for seating, and a equally rough looking desk behind which a burly drow sat. Divintra gazed at him with a inspective sweep of his eyes.
He looked...shifty. But workable he supposed... If Divintra was careful. The man definatly would try omething if he could get away with it. Divintra allowed Shrisin to choose if she would sit or stand while he approched the male.
"I'm here on busniess. I need nine head and I'm looking to purchase something quick."
The conversation that followed Divintra was what he had been prepared for. The other drow was quite skilled with the game of bartering, and Divintra had only his feelings to guide him over whether or not the other drow was attempting to mislead him. First was the discussion of whether or not the merchant had nine head to sell. In all honesty Divintra had only wanted four. By stating he wanted nine it allowed him to first excite the merchant by making him feel that Divintra would be purchasing a large amount.
Over the course of the discussion Divintra 'changed his mind' and lowered the amount of head he would purchase. Thus making the merchant worry Divintra would leave without purchasing any at all. When they finally got down to four head, Divintra refused to commit to a purchase until he could personally inspect the rothe himself. This really was a taxing job!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:32 am
Shri shrugged philosophically. She wasn't going to pry into Divintra's affairs any more than she already had. Maybe his gods reserved retribution for the eternal hereafter, but Lloth was not known for withholding punishments She found just and necessary.
"I wouldn't hurt you even if you did turn on me," she said. "That's not really my style." In her mind she finished her statement: My style is more like prolonged torment. Tal would probably enjoy having a new target, anyway.
"That's probably wisest," she commented, referring to his remark about making use of anything left behind.
After that she fell silent and settled back against the wall of the corral-like enclosure, gazing at the creature they would be dealing with in acquiring the beasts she required. She was content to watch Divintra work without her interference. Besides, she was well aware that he involvement would probably not prove an advantage. Beauty could only take a person so far, and Shri was sensible enough to recognize that her looks would do her no good as long as she wore obvious displays of her religious affiliation. In the future she would have to remember to downplay her alliegances.
When it came to the point where Divintra would be able to inspect the animals, she bestirred herself and followed the bartering pair to where the rothe were held, keeping silent the entire time. She noticed that she was attracting attention from the workers scurrying around cleaning up dung and carrying sacks of what she presumed to be some sort of feed,but once more she tried to ignore it. Ths was hardly the place or time to encouage any onlookers to do anything more than look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:35 pm
With the bartering and discussion that followed, Divintra forgot about the veiled threat that had been delivered. Or perhaps he did not catch it as it had been quite subtle in a way. His mind was focused elsewhere, on his current task. As well as focused on attempting to impress his current employeer as much as possible. When a drow lacked the ruthless and cunning edge of his peers, it was his determined usefulness that often ensured his logevity. Divintra really really liked the idea of continued longevity....
He hardly noticed when it was that Shri came to join him when it came time to impsect the cattle he was going to purchase. Divintra had no idea what made a rothe better then another, but he banked on the first one or two that was brought to him to be ones that were not the 'best' of the herd. These ones he inspected throughly. Not because he knew what he was doing, but so that he could determin what differences exsisted between them and the rest. Divintra checked their hooves, looking over and under them for signs of some sort of rot or splitting of the nail. he checked their teeth of course, to see if they were black or rotten, as well as the tongue too. Just in case. He ran his fingers under the bellies, looking for tell tale bumps of insect infestations or soars. As well as in the joint areas. He looked into their eyes for signs of blindness or illness. Over all he thought he did a good job pretending to know what he was doing. The rothe he looked at after the first two definatly seemed in better condition then the first one. So perhaps he had fooled the owner into thinking he could not take advantage of him?
In the end Divintra choose four females and had them marked for later pick up. Through it all he did not speak to Shri, so that her accented voice would not give her away as a visitor. Though he suspected, as he led her to other shops, that there were drow that knew what she was. it was weird really. Getting those feelings of his about different places. He seemed extraordinarily lucky, as for each place of busniess he stepped at was more concerned with how much gold they could get, over whom they were dealing with.
ver the course of hours, Divintra successfully managed to arrange for a variety of livestock to be picked up later. He obtained six Naf toads and a dozen Grenli lizards to provide eggs for the priestesses. As an added bonus he had managed to convince a mushroom farmer to provide him with a small pouch of spores that would produce edible mushrooms within a week of dusting a nice manure pile that could be scooped up from the rothe...though he was certain the priestesses would want nothing to do with tending to the mushrooms themselves.
Holding the spore bag in his hand, he gauged the weight of the pouch that Shri had initially given him. It was greatly depleated. He judged there to be three or four gold worth still within it. Even with Shri not speaking, he knew he had been over charged by pretty much all of the merchants...but...he had managed to get them to sell to him. Divintra turned, and handed the spore pouch to Shri.
"I believe this is all Lady. I will go and collect the rothe if you like and deliver them to your temple, if you would like to go ahead and have the area's prepared for the rest of the livestock?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:17 pm
Sometimes it was difficult for Shri to remain silent as merchants obviously overcharged, but she bit her tongue almost hard enough to draw blood. She didn't actually draw blood because that would be inconvenient, but the duality of pain and the pleasure she took in the pain kept her mouth shut when she would have protested the merchants' ridiculously high prices. On one occasion her hands practically itched to grab the merchant by the wrist and capture one of the veins on the underside of his wrist between her fingernails until his hand began to shake. It wasn't permanently damaging, but it would have been satisfying to see the color drain from his face and hear him change his tune.
But she restrained herself and held herself silent and usually still while Divintra did all the bartering. For the life of her she couldn't figure out what made one animal superior to another, and she didn't really care. Her thoughts were darting longingly back to the dingy little temple they were staying in and thinking of burrowing into a bed with a thick, spidersilk quilt with feathered insides. The idea was appealing, almost on the same level as sex at the moment. It was too cold to be unclothed.
Shri was truly impressed with Divintra, and regretted that he would not be getting as much of a bonus as she felt he deserved, but she knew that her necessities had to come first. She was not so soft-hearted that she would put a total stranger's welfare before her own. Besides, Divintra would not come off badly despite this. She was observant enough to see that he was not, perhaps, in the best of circumstances at the moment, fiscally speaking.
"Thank yo, Divintra. You have been most helpful. I will take care of that."
She wasn't entirely sure of the way back, but she would find it. She wasn't as helpless as she usually allowed people to believe, and could manage quite well on her own under all but the most extraordinary of circumstances. This may or may not have been one of those. Shri was going to go with the idea that it was not a most extraordinary circumstance and attempt to do for herself.
She took her leave of Divintra with a cordial smile and a wave which could almost be described as playful, and then began to retrace their steps as best she coul remember.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
