"That seems like a tedious and ill-orchestrated business plan," commented Niko. "How am I supposed to gain skill in my trade at any reasonable rate if my progress is hindered by unnecessary red tape?"
The agent gave an emphatic nod to Bloodmoon whilst listening simultaneously to a linkpearl he had taken from underneathe the desk.
Niko turned around to leave the counter.
"Just a moment, Mr. Bloodmoon," the associate called to Niko. "It seems our affiliates in Thanalan may have something for you." Bloodmoon returned to the desk and the two spoke briefly.
So Niko boarded the ferry to Thanalan in search of some practice with his doming hammer. "It's a might worn-out," Niko commented. The hammer he so often used for the last few months had grown shabby and lackluster. "Perhaps I shall attempt to locate a new doming hammer when I arrive in Ul'dah."
After making the hike from the coast to the city of Ul'dah, Niko proceeded to the merchants' strip. There were many shops to be found, all showcasing some unique sort of finery or goods. Some were regional shops, while others specialized in the tools and materials of specific crafts.
Littered amongst the various permanent fixtures in the market ward were enumerous adventurers. Craftsman and tradespeople hocking their wares, hoping to make a name for themselves in their own professions. It was in the bazaar of an inconspicuous-looking hyur that Niko found a doming hammer of above-average quality.
"How much for this?" Niko motioned to the hammer of interest.
"Thirty thousand gil," the man answered.
"Thirty thousand? I couldn't pay more than seventeen for a simple doming hammer!" Niko loved to haggle. "Highway robbery, that'd be."
"Are you daft, Elf?" The hyur defended his craftsmanship. "This is quality work, here." The man put the hammer in Niko's hand. "Feel the balance, my friend? Look at the structure. Look, I'll give it to you for twenty-five thousand."
"Eighteen," rebutted Bloodmoon.
"Twenty!" the man bartered. "That be me final offer."
"Done," Niko handed the man twenty thousand gil and hung the hammer on his belt. They nodded to one another and Niko walked away. "Twenty's what I wanted to spend anyways," Niko spoke softly to himself. "...though free would have been preferable!"
Niko went to Ul'dah's adventurers' guild and inquired the man at the desk about some local armorers' leves.
"Watch it there, elf," A tiny but oddly deep voice came from behind him. "I was next in line!"
It was Gregorio Engelbritzon. "Oh! Sorry, friend, I didn't see you standing there."
"Aye, aye. The air up there makes ye a bit oblivious to your surroundings, no doubt." Gregorio prodded his young friend as he side-stepped him. "Now if you don't mind."
In due time, the two friends had both received local leves in the specialties of goldsmithing and armorsmithing, respectively. Niko eyed a few regional leves at the corresponding Camp Horizon, and pocketed them as well.
"I have a bit of work to do here in town, lad," Gregorio told Niko as they exited the inn. "But as soon as I am done, I'll make my way to Camp Horizon. See you there!"
"Not if I see you first," Niko bid farewell. He also had a bit of business to do in town. A Roegadyn on Merchant's Row was looking to commission a few bronze hoplons. Niko had never made a shield before, but with proper plans and the quality of his new implement, he was sure he could finish the job to his client's satisfaction.
Success! The black-robed Roegadyn was more than happy with the shields Niko constructed and paid him well for his effort. Bloodmoon was just tying a knot around the top of his coinpurse, when he saw something circling his feet frantically.
"What the?" Niko was taken aback. "A squirrel?" A small star marmot was running a figure-eight around his ankles. When the varment noticed he had successfully gained Niko's attention, he stood on his hind legs and squeeked insistantly at the adventurer.
"A note tied to your tail," Niko leaned over and tried several times to get his hand on a piece of rolled parchment which had been thonged to the squirrels caudal extremity. "Give it here, ya li'l bugger!"
Having finally been relieved of the apparent piece of correspondence, the squirrel scurried off down an alleyway. He was out of sight quite soon. More interested in the note in his hand than the varment's destination, Niko unfurled the parchment and began reading.
"Niko Bloodmoon," he began reciting. "I have heard many times of your adventures in La Noscea. So many of them sound exciting, but here there are important things to be done and so you should pay attention, okey? Many powerful enemies are roaming around Camp Horizon. I left my forest home to aid the people here, but I do not know much about Thanalan."
"This is tenth squirrel I try to send to meet you," Niko continued reading. "They must be getting killed before they get to you. Perhaps by fat ants around Thanalan. They are everywhere. Please, if you are willing, meet me at the Aetheryte in Ul'dah. I will be the pink-haired Miqo'te with nice new yellow tunic, which I just bought. Also, I have a new bow! See you soon!" The letter was signed, "Yuumi Timori."
"Her prose is a bit quirky," Niko noted. "...but endearing. I think I will help her."
Niko approached the square in which Ul'dah's aetheryte crystal could be found. As he neared the magical device he began scanning the crowd of travellers in and around the area.
"Yu, Niko!" the Elezen heard shouted from across the square. "Over here!" It was Yuumi Timori. She was an average-sized Miqo'te with a youthful appearance. She grinned widely. Her eyes squinted slightly, as if pleasantly pursed-shut by the intesity of such a bright smile. "Thank Gods tenth one found you! I was running out of squirrels!"
"Pleased to meet you, Yuumi." Niko bowed appropriately. "You and I both seem to have business that leads us to Camp Horizon. I shall happily assist you with your endeavors, provided you are willing to reciprocate and help me to complete a task there of my own."
"Assist *us*!" A small voice came from behind Niko, surprising him. "Did you forget about your old friend, Gregorio whilst planning this little adventure? Hmmm?"
"Hello, little man!" Timori waved happily at Gregorio. "I am Yuumi and you must be Gregorio Engelbritzon: 'Explorer Extraordinaire', Niko's sidekick!"
"'Sidekick'?" Gregorio was incensed. "I'll have ye know that this here city's been kept safe under me watch since before you or even this dhalmel-necked, spotlight-stealing, wildwoods-ing, pointy-eared bushwhacker ever stepped foot outdoors without the assurance o' yer security blanket!"
"He looks angry!" Yuumi pointed-out. Her ears perked acutely with curiosity. "You are not his sidekick?"
"Nay, lassie," Engelbritzon scowled harshly whilst he corrected the young lady. "We are partners, you hear? Equal work; equal share. We split everything right down the middle!"
"Oh," Timori seemed to understand that she had inadvertently insulted the Lalafell. She sauntered whimsically over to Gregorio and pressed her fingertip to his pursed brow. "Relax that angry face, okey?"
Gregorio conceded and offered a reconciling smile. He extended his hand to the Miqo'te, who gave her own.
"Right then, splendid." Niko interjected. "What say we talk more about it all whilst we make for Camp Horizon?" And with a nod of agreement from both Gregorio and Yuumi, the three were off.
They made their way north, then west through the rugged terrain of the region of Thanalan. "The coarse description offered by many wayfarers of this country," commented Niko "is superficially correct, at best. Majestic canyonsides line the spiraling trails carved into their crests. While sparse, the foliage here is very awe-inspiring in its simplicity. And the vibrant reds, greens and yellows of the low-lying flora are kin to an impressionist's painting. A natural work of art."
Arriving at Camp Horizon, the three adventurers undertook their respective leves. With a little effort spent in coordinating their tactics to accomodate for the differences in their unique methodologies, they managed to route a group of assassins whilst they made campfire on a cliffside near Horizon.
"Assassins, bah," Engelbritzon scoffed at their mention. "Didn't seem so stealthy once we laid 'em low! Try stabbin' me in the back from underneathe me boot heel!"
"Firestarter imps hiding amongst herds of the fat birds?" Timori seemed excited that their next bounty was rumored to be disguising himself as one of a flock of dodos. "Perhaps we will kill a fat bird for dinner too!"
"You're starting to remind me quite a bit of Alice," Niko remembered the first time he and his wife had encountered a dodo together. "All I saw was a dodo kicking up a dust cloud and my wife, Alice, close on its heel with nothing more than a knife and fork as her weapons!"
The evening was filled with adventure. Niko and Gregorio had made an unlikely ally in Yuumi Timori, but a welcome one regardless. At the end of the night, after having divvied-up the rewards and dined happily upon some plump roast dodo sprinkled with rosemary, pepper, and cracked salt, the three waved farewell to one another and made their ways home.
No comments:
Post a Comment