[Westgate District] The King and Crown Pawn Shop

[Dignitas]

The King and Crown Pawn Shop

Located on the outskirts of the Westgate Arena, the King and Crown Pawn Shop is a recent addition to the historic district. A small unassuming building houses this business, carefully tucked between two other larger structures. Thick stone and heavy timber forms the exterior sights of the King and Crown with large windows that allow the light to escape inside the building. A large reinforced wooden door with an installed peephole and door braces, this entrance lets all who think about it know the property and crowns hidden inside are safe from those who would try to take them. A large wooden sign pained white adorned with a kings crown over the aleyrian currency is all the business uses to designate itself as a pawn shop.

Inside the area is meticulously cleaned and dusted. Items of every size and purpose are displayed inside. Anything from common pruning shears all the way to complex inventions like golem parts are for sell here. Six rows from the front of the buildings entrance go all the way to the back of the building. Which is far deeper then the building would have let one think. After one passes through the merchandise for sell you can see a desk at the other side of the building then the front doors. Here is seated the owner of the place, a small dwarf whose seated at the desk wearing a eye magnifying monocle inspecting some odd castaway someone sold him. The owner is small and stocky as most his kind is. Red hair covers the whole of his face with the exception of his eyes, nose, mouth, and forehead. Looking up in both hurry and impatience he asks very bluntly "Yes yes, what is it?". Known for his sharp eye and keen sense of value, its rumored he sells anything and everything he can get a hold of. Even items of questionable legality.

Behind his desk and through the door that is painted the same color as the wall lies his private chambers. The dwarf (who never offers his name) spends much of his time here at his business and is able to purchase items people bring him. The more obscure and important the item the more he would offer for it. Rumor had it that many items simply rotated through here, although it was unconfirmed. Every once and while the dwarf would also have jobs for some to do; whether it be retrieving items from far off lands or searching for lost merchandise. The pay wasn't good but the regulars that the dwarf employed found out long ago there were perks in it. However, the dwarf didn't trust most and it would take some convincing to let him hand you some work.

OOC: Location cannot be moderated.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

Imperos 49

Since his return to glorious Imperia he had found himself discontent with the monotony of his life. Wake, dress, work, eat, work, sleep. Repeat. In truth it might not of been so unbearable as he would elude to, after all a petty human lifetime was a paltry sum of time in retrospect to the opinions of elven kind, but he nonetheless found himself wandering around and letting his mind roam free more than once. Certainly more often than he had before too.

Of late his mood had grown darker and and his temperament more bitter. He was apathetic towards his clients. He snapped at the staff when they were not at fault, and he had felt a sense of satisfaction in denying someone a document that was not noteworthy on a technicality. His mother's death had struck him initially with shock and disbelief, and than had progressed to anguish, and then a sorrow that had lasted cycles overwhelmed him. A pain still festered in his heart like a grievous infection but it had gradually began to fade over the countless cycles as he occupied himself with other things, yet his perspective and approach to his life had been permanently shifted and he was definitely not the elf he had once been. As if he had been wearing a blindfold and it had been ripped off he felt as if he had suddenly become aware of the world around him. He was captivated by trivialities and folly that had always surrounded him but he had never paid any heed to, material wealth and objects had grown to be worthy of his desire in particular, and more than once he had been gripped with an unnatural lust for something that he could not have.

The autumn suns were high in the clouds when the cadaverous form of the city Aedile moved through the streets with absent purpose, guard trailing quietly behind him long forgotten. His light breaths were short and many as he walked, his pallid anatomy clearly strained under even scant activity. His ill health was worsening. Sleep had become more fierce a foe than it had ever been, the few candlemarks he had been able to accomplish even more petty than any time in his life. The astray desire to sleep did not translate into the fact he had energy though. Instead each brightening he felt weaker and more tired, his frail physique was beginning to make easy tasks a chore. Food was another thing. It was something he hardly consumed, he felt less a desire to eat than he could sleep. He managed to down a meager portion of sustenance once every brightening but it was just enough to get by on.

Eraisuithon's wary eyes darted around from sign to sign in each of the shop fronts searching for an answer to his wandering interest. Most were unappealing, but that of the pawnshop provoked action.

Inside the shop the elf's senses were overwhelmed with the piles of oddities filling the interior from the moment of his entrance. Hardly could he focus on one thing before his gaze was wrangled towards another. For a few minutes he contented himself with idly looking around, overlooking many of the wares and simply occupying himself with examining anything that he found of outward interest. He worked his way towards the back until he eventually came towards the desk and the dwarf busying himself with an appraisal. After the diminutive creature spoke an unusual glint took to the elf's eyes. The bluntness of the dwarf was almost an insubordinate action in the opinion of the Aedile. "I am the senior aedile of this city, friend, Eraisuithon Nan'tathren". He felt the compulsion to say it, but he did not know why. He paused to let the statement stick.

"I seek something. I know not what it is, but surely you have something original to offer me. Something interesting, something ornate, something unusual that will capture my attention."

[Dignitas]

The dwarf cast an appraising eye toward the Imperian official. The small beady green specs contrasted greatly to the red thick beard that took up much of his facial real estate. He shrugged rather apathetically at Eraisuithons mention of himself being Senior Aedile; it was obvious this was a dwarf who didn't care nor keep up with government issues or people. All the same he stood up (or waddled up, for his stocky frame didn't posses the same grace that an elf would) and put his hands on his hips looking around his store.

"Aye, imagine I have something her for you." He walked between the shelfs without checking to see if Eraisuithon followed. On the shelfs were marvelous and mundane items of all shapes and sizes. A dragons tooth for sell here and a gadget kit there. A mage's enchanted personality ball changed to a vibrant green with black specs as the Dwarf passed by, then back to white the same as it had been. On the other side lay a thieves drop purse, a clever invention for a coin purse that used a series of strings to hid itself in a coat and upon pulling a side of the knot away would drop the item to the ground easily. "Well lad, how's about this picture frame here. Belonged once to Jorgund the great sailor. Can use it to put pics of your father and mother inside" the dwarf offered as he continued to peruse his wares for something suitable.

Scratching his shaggy hair he turned back to Eraisuithon. "Afriad you might have to be more specific. Gots lots of items here, depends on what you want." And that was true, the shelfs were stocked with all manner of odds and ends and rare treasures.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

The elf's eyes darted from object to object as he followed the shop's proprietor through the aisles and past the teetering piles of relics and oddities. Each object seemed interesting, unique, and each certainly carried with it a marvelous history. He wanted something that would not be able to be found anywhere else. Something old that radiated an aura of old world charm, grandeur, grandiose. Extravagance. You could not find those things in regular stores where the freshly crafted things were peddled. You had to go out of your way and stumble upon them. That is what he hoped to do here.

Come to it, if he could, he would find a gift here as well if he there was a suitable one to be found.

The elf did not smile at the offer of the picture frame. "Certainly not.." he turned around in position taking in the entirety of the the store and it's wares. "I like maps. Old maps, faded and worn. And books, the leather bound kind that you can smell the age on. Oh- and trifles of the old nobility. Costumes and masques, the exquisite things they bought to amuse themselves." And what for Larien? What would he buy her to reciprocate the generosity she had shown so willingly?

"Have you any jewelery- a necklace, perchance? Nothing cheap- but nothing two thousand crowns either. Something suitable to buy for a sister?" Strange how he could think her that, call her that, so easily now.

[Dignitas]

The dwarf nodded towards the Aedile. "Aye, a man of exquiste taste yeah?" Wether this was sarcastic or not was very hard to tell but all the same the dwarf waddled behind another stacked aisle of goods and then came back into view urging the Aedile to follow him. His footsteps became faster, and, as a result his stout body waddled more then it had previously. He came beside a small chest on the floor about the size of a kettle pot. (Of which coincidentally a black kettle pot lay not only two feet away). Stroking his chin very quickly in anticipation of showing whatever he had suddenly thought of he looked around in the shop quickly as if to check if anyone else was around.

Despite his short statue whereas he could not possibly see over the teetering mounds of goods, he continued anways. "Think I might have just the thing. Traded into here two brightenings ago it was. Marvelous piece of engineering. And wonderus to boot! Its of an...antique origin, but entertaining as well." Bending down over the chest he took out a key and opened the box. Inside was an odd contraption, and likely the only of its kind in the city perhaps the province. Inside was a miniature astronomy orrey. The whole thing was made out of copper and had a very rustic fell to it. There was a golden sphere in the middle which represented Telath. On mechanical sticks that would circle the golden ball slowly were representation of the gods themselves. Most were wooden balls with very intricate abstract symbols masterful carved into them. The whole machine ticked the metal limbs on their courses while a soft melody played.

The dwarf stood there inspecting the thing before he cranked the minuscule handle and let it go. When activated a soft glowing light came from the base of the structure and illuminated the shadows of the golden ball and its satilleties onto the wall of the pawn shop. Nodding in determined satisfaction the dwarf carefully tucked the mysterious item back in the chest.

"Got some other stuff too." he said as he waddled past the aisles once more. They passed a old worn wooden bucket that now served as a place to stuff maps into. There were several here and the dwarf allowed Erai to sort through them at his leisure. All were drawn by various minor cartographer and the oldest map happened to be no more then few hundred eras before the elfin kinslayer wars. As far as masques there were plenty of all different colors and occasions. Some were more formal while others were very casual used for small parties and such.

On the necklace front though there wasn't much choice. A simple garnet stone adorned on a silver chain was the first option. The second option was a charming black obsidian stone framed with six small diamonds. (although real or the product of arcane it was hard to tell.) This hung on a very thick chocker style strap that hugged the wearers neck. The third was very trashy, or so many would say. Suffice to say it was something to do with a unicorn horn and an orc. The dwarf offered a muffled laugh at that, nodding in appreciation of the original craftsmen sense of humor. "Might not be so good for your sister...." he offered with a second though and a frown.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

The elf pointedly ignored the dwarf's questionable comment and instead occupied himself with examining the first item that the diminutive creature presented to him. Child-like wonderment swept across the Aedile's face as the orrery entered under his eyes, the expression followed by slight puzzlement after he had spent a few moments taking the odd contraption in. It looked like something that could not possibly serve any apparent purpose. A bemused smile spread across his lips and he turned towards the rival creature. "A strange little thing isn't it? I don't think I can perceive any use at all for it though.." Eraisuithon wanted it. And the dwarf probably knew he did to. He ran a finger across the intricate instrument. He wouldn't be able to reasonably afford the thing he was sure if the Dwarf thought him attached. He decided not to show interest, the elf would return to look at later. He eyed the thing once more and gestured for the dwarf to continue on with showing his wares.

The Syl'rosyan turned towards the maps, which he began to sift through immediately. Nimble elven fingers withdrew several of them, one after another, showing preference to the older ones. He unfurled the parchments revealing their faded and aging surfaces to sapphire eyes and inspected each one of them neatly. One caught his interest more so than the others, particularly aged and worn it charted the known continents of the world. The Aelyrian Empire sat centered and to all other directions realms beyond the nation's boarders lay sketched on the browned parchment, all directions save for to the east, where there 'great sea' buffered the empire for hundreds of miles and to the edges of the drawing. The dwarf began to usher him over towards a rack of masks, and he returned the map to it's prior condition as a scroll and waved it around to catch the proprietor's attention before moving on. "How much?"

To the masks and costumes he went. The vibrant colors and intricate designs of many of them held the elf in reverence for a few moments as he surveyed them all, but as with the maps he found one in particular that caught his interest. He slipped a mask from a hock to admire it more closely. It also was also an aging aging specimen, a mask made of quality lace with a crackled finish and accented by what looked to be silver leaf. A exquisite piece of finery. "And how much for this, master Dwarf?"

He simply shook his head at all the jewelery. This was clearly not the place to buy that.

[Dignitas]

The dwarf had a keen eye, as much trained by appraising wares and reading his contacts as anything else. Yes, he did notice Eraisuithons opinion of the orrey and just as the thought the elf seemed to like it. The short creature was older then one might think; perhaps not as old as the elf before him but still aged in years in terms of his people. During these years he had plenty of practice reading people and although he knew secretly that Eraisuithon thought well of the orrey he made no attempts to either show he knew or leverage the information. His beady eyes darted from the contraption toward Eraisuithon, then back again.

Letting the elf plunder into the maps the dwarf felt content to stand near and just watch, answering the Elfs questions whenever they arose. "Only 80 Crowns for that" he replied at the price of the map. The Dwarf also found it rather amusing that the Senior Aedile should pick that particular map, considering it had once belonged to another Senior Aedile of the city era's and era's ago. Shrugging he accompanied his customer over to the masks. Ball masks of every shape and size were here. Purple feathered ones with black lace, ornate masks carved of gold and jewels, and even one made completely of grasses and real leaves. But having seen the elf settle on a mask of silver, the dward nodded his head in satisfaction. "That mask I'll give to you for only 60 crowns." The dwarf covertly took a view back to the chest that held the orrey, and then looked back to the elf before him.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

The Senior Aedile doubted in all sincerity whether his little ploy would harbor any favorable results. Probably in all actuality it wouldn't-- after all this merchant probably had been in business for eras and could read faces like he could read books.

"I'll take the map then" he said, putting it under his arm with the intention to pay for it when he had finished his shopping. "And this one too!" he decided, presenting a map of Imperia. It was hardly as old as the other, but it was fairly detailed and he thought it would look nice on his wall. The price the shopkeeper stated for the mask was agreeable as well, and he only nodded his consent that he would accept.

"..Out of curiosity.. How much would that orrey cost?"

[Dignitas]

The shopkeeper nodded and grunted in affirmation of Eraisuithons choices. A little dismayed that the elf didn't pick up the questionable necklace he shrugged. Some people just didn't have a good sense of humor he decided. Truthfully however, the shopkeep didn't really know if the elf would buy the orrey. Nor did he care really, it was one of those items that would be moved fast at any rate. If nothing else he would just do as he did with a lot of items. Melt the metals down, chip up the wood, and sell it as bulk goods at the end of the month. This dwarf was not one to let anything go to waste that didn't have to.

Looking back again to the chest that contained the orrey he paused his sight on it for a moment. "Hmm.." was all that he replied to the question of cost. Tugging at his beard in thought he looked to Eraisuithon. "'Bout you make an offer?" It was obvious the businessman was up to something, but exactly what remained unknown.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

The elf was not overly versed in the methods of vendors to squeeze patrons out of money but he could still tell that the dwarf was scheming something with the question. It was probably a loop of some sort to make him feel as if the thing was worth much more than it was, or some trick to press him into believing the thing was one of a kind or some great relic (and perhaps it was...) but the game of an Aedile sometimes was not that much different than the game of a shop keeper.

He arched his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders lightly as if to spell out he didn't have an idea. He really didn't either, in truth he wasn't even sure what the thing did or what it was for, but he wanted it. "I don't know. The thing looks relatively useless, it will make a nice paper weight.. One hundred and twenty crowns? And what about this second map?"

[Dignitas]

The shop keeps eyes watched Eraisuithon acutely, trying to find even the subtlest of movements and nuances that might tell what price the raven hair Aedile would go for. Items like the orrey (which was not totally uncommon, for some of the like did come in once in a while) had the potential to make quite a bit of crowns. It was something that was made with exceptional craftmanship and mechanical acumen. When the silorosian before the dwarf simply shrugged at the offer to make the first pitch the shopkeep knew he was either dealing with someone who had not a lot of experience in bargaining, or someone that had far more then they were letting on and was being sly about it.

Since the elf mentioned he was Senior Aedile; the dwarf only could assume the latter.

Moving over to the chest which kept the orrey housed the dwarf gently looked over the case and tugged his ragged red beard, thinking over the deal. Cocking his head different ways as he though he also kicked the chest gently in thought. And then, he looked over the rest of the merchandise here, before coming back to rest his green eyes on the chest. Finally turning back to Eraisuithon, the dwarf crossed his arms and turned his beady eyes towards the elf. "Tell you what..'Bout 140 crowns for the orrey and I toss in the map for free."

Having only adjusted the price of the orrey by twenty crowns, and throwing in a map for free, he looked expectantly at the Elf. As he held his arms crossed he tapped his fingers against his stocky forearm and turned to take a quick glance at the orrey while he waited for the agreement or counteroffer.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

Two hundred and eighty crowns. More than some people made in a month, spent mostly on pointless trifles that he would put away and probably ignore. Perfect. The Aedile swiveled around, scanning the store, and his keen eyes were attracted to the figure of his personal attendant who had seemingly managed to follow him. His arms would thank him for bringing Alwyn along, but when did they not?

He picked several notes from his pocket and jammed them towards the dwarf. "That will be fine" he said, forking the few light artifacts under his arm and pointing the young human towards the chest that housed the orrey.

"Good brightening, master Dwarf."

And he was in the street once more, mind wandering as he pondered his new found 'treasures'.

[Lirael Galanodel]

Hour 15 of the First Thera of Kalendryas

Lirael made her way slowly inside the small establishment; small, at least, in comparison to those around it. In her own home land ...

Approaching the desk, she clasped her hands before her stomach, giving a slight bow; the slightest bending of her upper torso and head. "Serale, Sir. I 'eard tale that ye might be hirin' for the retrieval of various items?"

Work was hard to come by these days; in her own village, it had never occurred to her that she might need to seek out work, that there would be so many ways to earn one's place. And she was paying for that lack of knowledge.

[Dignitas]

Lirael

The red head of the elf was all that was immediately visible. Eyes covered by thick black goggles, the shopkeep appeared to be examining what appeared to be a simple wooden box with intricate carvings. Gloves as white as snow were worn on his thick hands as he handled the oject. So startled was he when interrupted that he dropped the small miniature box on the table, its wooden sides hitting the wood of the table he was seated at. "What?" he asked, his voice more angry then inquisitive. Turning to see the lady a confused look hit his eyes. "Are you the one picking up the...you know?" As Lirael answered the changed subjects, turning to the question the woman had poised to him a moment ago, as if the words were just now hitting his ears.

Scatterbrained, thats what they called it.

Getting up and pulling off the gigantic goggles he looked the girl over a bit. "Well well. Work you want do you? Haven't got anything that needs retrieving with a womans hand. Sorry miss; but my jobs pay well. And there's a reason. They're too dangerous for a creature such as yourself." Thinking the conversation done; the dwarf pulled the black goggles back on and once again fixated his gaze on the small wooden box.

Obviously, Lirael would have to try something else, ask again, or do anything to prove she could handle it if she wanted the job enough. It was true, work was hard to come by. If she wanted to continue to buy food and supplies for herself the woman from another land would have to find a way to let the dwarf give her a job.

[Lirael Galanodel]

Lirael frowned, watching the small man for a moment longer. "Ye'd be surprised, where a woman can gain access, when a man would be turned away with nary a second thought."

She turned away from the dwarf, a small smile gracing her lips. "After all, ye barely even spared me a second glance, let alone the first." She let her fingers graze along a random item on one of the many items that decorated the numerous shelves of the small establishment.

Just the slightest touch, as she made her way toward the door and out into the street beyond. She stopped at the door, however, turning to glance back at the small dwarf once again. "If'n ye find yerself wantin' a more stealthy approach, I am called Lirael Baenre. I'm sure ye can find me." She gave a quick wink as she finished speaking, making her way out and into the street beyond.

Even if she had not succeeded in her primary goal, she had, perhaps, made a contact, and that alone had made the trip worthwhile.