Belts and Resurrections
Log Info
- Title: Belts and Resurrections
- Place: A15: Mithralla Merchandise
- Summary: Rune seeks out an upgrade for her belt, and shares a bit about the dramatic events of the past few days.
Outside is hot, humid, and still. Inside the shop is still fairly humid, but a few minor cantrips keep a constant flow of air from deeper inside the mountain. It's not exactly cool, but it's far better than outside.
Mikilos lounges at the shop counter, trying to focus on a large book. Given how long he's been on the same page, it's not going well.
Days of gloomy, overcast clouds, heat and humidity have left many seeking whatever refuge they can find. For Rune, it seems to have been in a bucket of water, as her hair is plastered down against her scalp, still damp from the dousing. A towel is wrapped around her neck, offering some relief from the heat.
The rogue looks tired, though. Deep circles beneath her eyes as she stands, briefly, in the flow of the breeze that is coming from the shop.
"You know... I came to ask for another commission, but I might just stand here for a while." Her eyes half-lid as she seems to be enjoying the flow of air on wet skin.
Mikilos chuckles, giving up on the book for now as he moves to the end of the counter. "You're welcome to do so, but a little further can sit down away from the glare outside. There's also cookies and chilled berry punch. Or tea if you can stand something warm to drink."
The propspect of getting away from the glare is met with a nod as Rune steps further in, "You're going to spoil me. Chilled drinks and a breeze?" Her lip quirks. "The punch would be lovely."
Then, she steps a bit closer to the counter, digging into a bag slung over one shoulder to pull out a black leather belt inlaid with some runes and ending with silver clasps. "I was hoping you might be able to help me with this. Not of your craftsmanship, but I've heard that a skilled crafter can work on anything."
Her fingers toy with the belt buckle, "I was hoping you might be able to let it keep it's current enchantment, but maybe expand it to help me be a little quicker on my feet. I've heard such things are possible from Alaryn."
GAME: Mikilos rolls spellcraft: (8)+39: 47
Mikilos quirks a brow, but nods, looking over the belt. His eyes shift to a blue glow as he focuses. "Should be fine. Is currently... enchantment of fortitude and stanima, yes? And what to extend the enchantment to general speed and swiftness? There are enchantments specifically for walking faster, but I assume you mean the same sort of enhancement that's already present."
The wizard moves down the counter a little, grabbing a slate and chalk to jot a few quick notes. "I'm familiar with the technique the enchanter used, but not a style I've tried myself."
Seeing spellcasters and their strange abilities to see beyond the visual spectrum still amazes Rune, and she gives a small shake of her head in amusement, "Mmm. That's right. I nearly got my ass handed to me in a fight and picked it up to help me be a bit more... sturdy." She is a half-sil, but the young woman's lithe nature definitely leans more to her elven heritage.
"Same sort of enchantment makes sense to me." Rune follows his movement, setting the belt down within reach. "I, honestly, don't know much about all the enchantments possible. Alaryn used to give me a huge list of possible options but... I haven't seen her around in a while." There's just a hint of sadness there, but she brushes it off, shops come and go on the market street.
"I figure, one of the better ways of staying alive, is to make sure you're not in the place that the enemy wants to hit, right?"
Mikilos nods in agreement. "My own belt has the same sort of enchantment. I try very hard to not take a hit at all, but if it does happen, go to still be standing after. And yes, swiftness is a solid investment. Not only avoid blows comming at you, be helps land your own attacks."
"As for other enchantments, speed is usually invested into boots. There's ones to make your steps carry you further, or a Haste spell to double your speed for a brief while. Both handy, but not typically part of a belt."
"Any case, I can certainly add a swiftness enhancement to this belt. Will take about a week to layer in the magics and assure they stay stable, and materials and labor will cost... three thousand, six hundred gold. Or whatever equal currency happens to be handy; one of my steel suppliers insists on being paid in silver coins. I've no idea why."
"After having died once, I find that most of my investments go towards making sure that doesn't happen again." Rune explains, offering a soft laugh in response, "At least, as much as is possible, anyways." Her fingers tap on the counter. "The more dangerous the individual you're up against, the more ways they have to do so. I didn't even know it was possible to /wish/ a person dead until the other day."
Rune winces in response to that, "Thankfully, Telamon got better. And I owe a certain small dragon creature a load of fish." Well, not /just/ Rune, but she counts herself among those who may need to pay back Tanith.
Dragging out her coin pouch, Rune counts out a combination of larger and smaller coins onto the counter, eventually finding that what returns to her belt is significantly lighter. "That should be it. Nearly everything I've got, but worth the investment."
Mikilos winces but nods. "Wishes are powerful, but mightly costly, reshaping reality to suit your view. I've certainly heard of wishing someone dead, but don't think I've heard of anyone actually casting the spell to do it before. Anyway, glad Telamon ended up okay." The mage sorts the coinage with the casual ease of someone good at math, and with the mild obcession of a coin collecter. No two coins are REALLY the same, you know.
"Sorta hate to take all you coin, but understand wanting a real investment over the option to spend on something else."
"Yeah, I'm starting to understand that. I saw two different wishes cast in the scope of less than ten minutes." Rune explains, her sense of wonder an awe at it quite visible in her expression, "Both from scrolls, mind you. I have no idea how much those cost and I kind of don't want to know." Big magic comes at a big cost.
The rogue leans forward a little on the counter as Mikilos begins to count out the coins, "I only saw him for short bit afterwards, but he seemed okay. Mostly a bit dazed. Marsward targetted him because... well, Telamon sent Tanith after his familiar and the little dragon-thing chomped the shit out of it. Made him vulnerable to the rest of us."
Her lip quirks, "You can imagine that Lana was pissed. Never seen a person be poofed into ash before. You mage sorts are scary, you know that?" She waves a hand at the concern over taking her coin, obviously quite happy to make the exchange.
Mikilos whistles softly. "One Wish is rare, two in short order is once in a lifetime... regular lifetime, anyway. And yes, such scrolls are VERY costly." Says the guy with his own mansion. "One of the reasons I never got a familiar myself. They've very useful and tend to be good company, but can be a heck of a weak spot to those willing to target them. And diplomatic as I try to be, always going to have someone who wants me dead."
"Not surprised that Lana had one. She was determined to make sure that Zalgiman wouldn't suffer further under Marsward." Propping her arms beneath herself slightly, Rune taps her foot against the ground. The rogue is always in motion like that, rarely ever standing still, unless stealth or quiet calls for it.
"Well, I certainly hope nothing bad happens to you. Otherwise, who would I throw my worldly earnings at?" The rogue winks in his direction, obviously teasing. "In all seriousness, it all gave me a right scare. I'm still a bit too used to most people staying dead when they die. The fact that people come back still sometimes catches me off-guard."
Rune laughs, "Even if I count myself among them."
Mikilos nods in agreement. "I've contingencies in place, but have been killed far more times than I'm happy about. That foes have the power to return from the dead makes for interesting plans. As much as I like being alive, might be easier all around if resurection wasn't an option. But powerful as I might be, the gods have yet to listen to my suggestions."
"I'd like to stick to the once, but I know that might not be something I can fully control." Rune admits, her head tilting first one way and then the other. "I know, in my case, if the worst were to happen to me, my only contingency is to depend on the kindness of friends." She lifts a shoulder in a shrug.
"I'll take the risk of enemies coming back for the benefit of friends returning in exchange." Rune admits, then laughs softly. "My relationship with the gods is a bit complicated. Especially the Sky-Singer."
Mikilos sigh and nods. "I'm not sure how many friends wouldn't be around if they couldn't return, or how many might be if villians couldn't. Likely best isn't an option. And I've yet to hear of a divine relationship that wasn't at least a little complicated."
"Hopefully I'll find out more soon. I've got a lead on the Golden Fate in Am'shere. So I'm going to follow that down, see if I can sort out what this connection is I have to the Fey and to the Sky-singer." Rune explains, though there is a nervous tap of her fingers along the counter before she pushes herself up.
"I need to check in on Telamon and Cor'lana before we leave again for Am'shere, and there's a few things to wrap up in the Felwood, but I'll probably be heading back soon. I know Skielstregar and Harkashan are wanting to get on that Charn stuff sooner rather than later as well." She sighs with a soft laugh, "It would be nice to have a few days off from the world falling down around our ears, aye?"
Mikilos grins. "I've had a couple. Usually spend them fretting wondering what I'm not aware of. Anyway, best luck to you, will send word as soon as the belt's finished, we'll work out how best to get it to where ever you are at the time."
"Sounds good." Rune runs a hand through her still damp hair, though it has already started to dry slightly despite the humid air. "If nothing else, I'll stop in before we go." Tugging at the towel around her neck, the rogue seems to hesitate at going back out into the muggy weather, but eventually resigns herself to her fate. "I'll see you around, archmage. Take care of yourself."