"Step into my web said the spider to the fly..."

[Dante Asunder]

1st brightening of the First Cycle of Pontius. Winter, Era XV Post Fractum

Dante was in Demios on business, but he had been here a while and business was good. He didn't think his boss would become too upset if he engaged in some personal pursuits, so on this particular morning Dante was walking the streets of Demios looking for assitance. He wanted to tame one of the Giant Spiders in the forest, but for that he would need help. Someone with experience working with animals; so Dante headed for the pet shop "Spring and Summer Pet Paradise". He was in his dracon seeming as usual, wearing his robe with the only visible weapons being his crossbow slung over his back and a quiver of bolts at his waist. He always had daggers up his sleeves and he wore his leather armor underneath his robe.

Upon reaching the pet shop, Dante entered and was immediately impressed with all the interesting and exotic pets that the shop already had in stock. He walked about holding his chin between the index and thumb of his right hand. He would scratch it occasionally as if considering something as he checked out the animals in the store. He tried to keep his tail and wings tucked so as to not disturb any pens or cages. As he walked about he finally found one of the employees of this establishment. The person was a one armed male ( the left arm in point of fact), who appeared human with a cross of elf. Dante was taken back at first by the missing limb, but somehow he had the feeling that this person was exactly the kind of help he was looking for. "Serale, my name is Dante. I was wondering if you could assist me?" Dante intriduced himself and suddenly wondered if he could use Thaumaturgy to regenerate the half-elf's missing limb.

[Ariston]

The young half-elf had been in the back room rearranging some new pet supplies when he heard someone in the shop. Setting down a waterdish, he stepped through the door leading to the front room. And came to a sudden stop. It was rare to see a dracon. Or at least, it was rare to see a dracon in it's true form. And, as far as Ariston knew, he had never met a dracon, in either guise. And dracons didn't exactly have the most sterling of reputations.

He stood there, quietly studying the obsidian scaled dracon. He had heard more than enough bad things about dracons to give him pause, but, Ariston's general openess prevailed. Smiling, he moved forward to the counter. "Vedui, Dante. I'm Ariston. And, it's quite possible that I can assist you." He habitually hooked his thumb into his belt. "What is it you need?"

Honey eyes met red orbs as the half-elf waited to hear the dracon's desires. An interesting day it was, Ariston reasoned, when you learn something new. And, he was about to learn if all those horror stories about dracons were true.

[Dante Asunder]

Dante tried not to make a big deal of it, but his gaze couldn't help but occasionally glance at the halfelf's right arm, or lack there of.

"Vedui, Dante. I'm Ariston. And, it's quite possible that I can assist you. What is it you need?"

Dante conciously focused on Ariston's amber eyes. "Well sir, I have an interest in taming a certain denizen of this island. I don't see any in your shop, although you do have some amazing pets present; but I know that they exist on the island. I am interested in having a Giant Spider as a pet."

Dante gave Ariston a moment for the request to sink in. He didn't know how common his request was, perhaps everybody on the island wanted one. The difference is that Dante wanted a tame one. Something he could trust to keep his home secure, without dining on him in the process.

"It isn't for any specific purpose, just an exotic pet. Unfortunately for myself I have very little knowledge of animals and require the assistance of someone who has this experience to be able to capture and train such a beast. I was hoping to find that certain individual here. I practice thaumaturgy, so as long as I don't get subdued I can heal whatever magical poison the beasts may have and whatever inuries are inflicted; short of lethal wounds of course. We could work out some form of compensation as well."

[Ariston]

The one armed half-elf listened curiously as the dracon spoke. Giant spiders were interesting enough. And it was true that the Spring and Summer didn't keep them. He did, however, know of a place on the island that did train and sell the giant spiders native to the Weaver's Woods.

"Have you tried the Neigh Neigh Stables? They tame and sell the spiders there," he offered.

He leaned against the counter and thought about how boring it had been lately. All he did was work, either at the pet store or for Dr. Zupiof. He hadn't even spent that much time with his sister since her move to Demios. He had to admit, going on a foray into the Weaver's Wood to capture and tame one of the giant spiders did sound exciting.

Before the dracon could answer his first reply, he added. "If you do, however, still wish to capture your own, I would be more than happy to help you." He grinned, his eyes sparkling with the prospect of getting out of the shop and into some adventure.

[Dante Asunder]

Dante noticed Aristons enthusiasm and how it was visible in his eyes. Neigh Neigh Stables? he thought to himself, Maybe for tack and food or something. Dante was never the one to take the easy way out. Besides he wanted to test his mettle against the almost mythical giant spiders. Not only that, but he had been learning sailing with his crab fishing crew on the 'Hatorania' and he was afraid his other skills were getting rusty.

"My new friend, Mr. Ariston, I think we will make a great team. Besides it will help me practice my hunting skills and I assume help you with your animal training right?. Not to mention, Demios is such a sleepy little town one has to entertain themselves somehow."

Dante extended his claw to shake the halfelf's hand. He then questioned, "How long do you think it will take you to get your things together? I'm ready whenever you are." He folded his arms and gave the halfelf an excited smile.

[Ariston]

He grinned happily and accepted the dracon's claw in a hearty handshake."Pleasure to make your acquaintence, my scaly friend." He grabbed his long sword from behind the counter and stuck the scabbard into his belt. He started toward the door leading to the back and said over his shoulder. "Luckily, you caught me at the end of my shift. Let me go tell my boss I'm leaving and I'll grab a few things and I'll be ready."

In the back of the shop he found Lala and told her he was leaving. After goodbyes, he started to pick up some things when he realized that he really didn't know what sort of equipment to use on a giant spider. They had a much different body shape than any animal he was use to handling.

Returning to the front of the shop to the waiting Dante, he asked the dracon. "Perhaps we should stop by the Neigh Neigh for equipment? We really don't have anything here to handle one those spiders." He smile apologetically at Dante, waiting on his ebony partner's thoughts.

[Dante Asunder]

Dante waited patiently for his new friend. He was excited to see how the one armed halfelf would handle the long sword. After Ariston reappeared from the back room Dante noticed he looked like he had something on his mind.

"Perhaps we should stop by the Neigh Neigh for equipment? We really don't have anything here to handle one those spiders."

Dante thought about it for a minute. He had come to Ariston for his animal expertise, he wasn't about to disregard it on what may become the first of their many ventures together. "You're the expert. To Neigh Neigh stables it is." Dante happily accompanied his new friend to Neigh Neigh stables to see what the place was all about and to acquire the needed supplies.

[Xavim]

Neigh Neigh Stables in the Mercantile District Hard to anchor down an open stable in Demios, hence Demiosians were clever to build an underground stables, one where unfortunately the mounts would not see the light of day until they were bought by kind riders. A walk down to the stables, one would open a stone door and enter the stables, a nicely candlelight lit establishment stretching one good street beneath Demios. Stalls of horses neighed a hardly merry greeting to visitors. Behind gated cells, were armored giant spiders, for potential SPIDER RIDERS-yeah. Greeting visitors was a young lutran, a smelly little thing named Otta Caree-- whose breath smelled like bloody fish and body smelled like horse manure. "Serale visitor!" He would say with enough enthusiasm to smack one's face. "Want to buy a horse? How about an elven windstepper? Or do you want to ride spiders? We offer spider riding lessons too, as well as horse riding lessons!"

[Ariston]

The half-elf chuckled as the stepped out into the street and turned in the direction of Neigh Neigh Stables. As they walked, Ariston took the opportunity to talk to the dracon. "So, Dante. Are you in Demios soley to acquire one of her spiders?" He didn't specifically ask why the dracon was in Demios. As usual, the honey eyed half-elf didn't pry too far. He figured if Dante wanted him to know the reasons, then he would tell him.

He felt it nescessary to inform his new employer in his lack of experience. "You should know, I have no experience with capturing and taming the spiders. Wolves, birds, horses. No problem there. But, giant spiders? Saw some at a race once, but, that's about it." Sometimes Ariston was just too honest for his own good. He hoped the dracon wouldn't immediately dismiss him as inept and go find someone else. To be honest, that would probably be the most prudent action for Dante to take, but, Ariston was more than ready to try his hand at capturing one of the beasts. Besides, it sounded like it would be great fun. "So, I thought we could ask a question or two at the Neigh Neigh Stables when we get whatever gear we need."

It wasn't long until they found their way to the stables, and Ariston was a little impressed with himself for remembering the way, having only been near the place once. Inside, the little smelly lutran immediately offended his sense of smell. His mind raced back to the stench of the Medonian docks as he fought the urge to cover his nose and mouth. He forced a smile at the lutran and answered. "Vedui. No, no horses and no spider riding. We actually were looking for some gear for capturing a giant spider and some advice on how to tame one."

[Dante Asunder]

As they walked Ariston started conversing with Dante.

"So, Dante. Are you in Demios soley to acquire one of her spiders?"

Dante stopped to look at Ariston for a moment. He never did like to talk about himself much mostly due to the fact that his history wasn't a happy one, but also because secrecy was a large part of his career and you kind of get used to not saying much about what you've got going on. He liked the look of this halfelf however. There was something about him that made Dante feel he could trust him. Dante would never betray his master, but the dracon decided that a little familiarity would nuture some trust between the pair, which would be good for their spider hunting endeavor.

"Well, as Dante started walking again; "I actually wanted to do this as a side interest." He paused for a moment. Ariston didn't actually ask why he was here and Dante never was a chatterbox, so he decided to let it drop there. Although he was curious about a few things, "So why did you come to Demios?" Dante would give Ariston time to answer then continue, "May I ask how you lost your arm?"

"You should know, I have no experience with capturing and taming the spiders. Wolves, birds, horses. No problem there. But, giant spiders? Saw some at a race once, but, that's about it. So, I thought we could ask a question or two at the Neigh Neigh Stables when we get whatever gear we need."

Dante wasn't worried. He had almost no experience dealing with animals and therefore didn't know how tempermental they could be. He figured one animal was like another so if Ariston had the experience with one, that would translate to another. Dante just smiled, "Sounds like a plan then. I'll let you do the talking, because I'm not familiar with animals or spiders."


When the pair reached the Neigh Neigh Stables Dante did indeed let Ariston do the talking. Dante wasn't bothered at all by the aroma of the lutran, he worked with horses in Tyrsvale and their manure didn't smell much, plus he was the captain of a fishing vessel so the smell of fish didn't bother him anymore either. Being in a stable did bring back painful memories however so a look of anguish crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.

[Xavim]

"Lets see then, we have some food you could use, maybe take a sharp knife as blood lures them out and would attack it first before you. Maybe an large net and a whole lot of luck, we had a few people try doing that last season sadly I have yet to see or hear of them again. This is not the best season to try to catch one you know, really bad time unless you do it in the summer."

He said as he pulled out an large box of food, the food in question was body parts of different animals, hearts, livers, stomachs of rats. Along with an large white net.

"That will be 30 crowns, 10 for the food and 20 for the net. Would you like anything else, items or information?"

[Dante Asunder]

Dante listened intently to the stable hands words, but remained silent. This role was to be played by Ariston, and Dante wasn't going to butt his nose into it and screw something up.

When the issue of price came up Dante passed over the 30 crown to Ariston so he could pay for their needed equipment. He then waited patiently for Ariston to decide if they were ready or not.

[Ariston]

The one armed half-elf listend to the lutran, a little discouraged. He had hoped the furry little guy would have had more advice, but, obviously he wasn't the one who did the actualy capturing of the spiders. But, that was alright. He would manage.

He accepted the money from Dante and passed it along to the lutran, then gathered the net, slinging it over his shoulder. He smiled at Dante and jutted his chin toward the box containing the bait. "Could you grab that? As you can see, my hand is full." Waving to the lutran, he headed out the door.

They headed up the street, Ariston leading the dracon toward the Weaver's Woods. "I was thinking...we should find a younger one. Not sure how to tell the age other than size, but, a younger one would probably be easier to train. And capture." He glanced at his net, hoping it would prove useful.

[Dante Asunder]

Dante hoisted up the bag of bait at Aristons request. It smelled like a very raw stew mixed with excrement. This reminded him surprisingly of the food they used to lure in crabs while fishing.

He could tell that Ariston was disappointed in the Lutran's advice, but Dante kept silent about that. Instead he questioned Ariston about other things. "So what are your plans for the future? Gonna be a pet shop keeper your whole life?"

When Ariston recommended catching a young spider and why it made sense to Dante so he simply replied, "You're the expert."

[Ariston]

He smiled at Dante and readjusted the net on his shoulder. "No. Not a shop keeper the rest of my life. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy my job. I also work part time as an assistant to the islands only healer. I plan to open a clinic some brightening, to serve the people of Demios." Ariston never had any difficulties talking about himself or his plans if asked. He always felt himself to be an open book to any who was interested.

He chuckled. "Not much of an expert, but, I'm more than willing to give it a try. It's not every brightening someone asks me to help them capture and tame a giant spider. I don't really think the capturing part of it will be all that hard. It's the taming that I'm more worried about. Animals are one thing, but, spiders, that's a different story. But, really, I suppose, how different could they be?"