[Location] The Aedile's Office

[Kalinda]

Minhiriath arched an eyebrow questioningly as the giant sat down on the floor in front of her, but then she nodded. It looked like she was facing a giant head without a body, but in the end it was better than a ruined chair. That chair had been expensive! “The free housing”, she stated and shook her head. “No, Sir, you have not said that before ...” She certainly would have heard it! She was not deaf! “In this case I have a few interesting properties for you in the Southern Quarter ...” While he spoke, she put the book back and returned with another one, a brown, leather bound book that had already suffered some wear and tear. She did not know what that new thane had been thinking. Of course the citizens were happy about the free housing thing, but how was she supposed to make any money?

“Meditation?” Somehow giants had not struck her as people who liked to think and meditate. She had always thought they ran around with clubs and hammers and killed and destroyed things. “My name is Minhiriath”, she said. She took his visa, looked at it and then returned it to him. “I have a warehouse near the Church of the Faith Compound for you. It is fairly big. It should have room enough for two of your kind and is in perfect condition. It would be an excellent choice – as long as you don’t mind the holy folk. Most people in Vortex have a problem with them, and thus nobody has chosen this house yet ...”

[Tror D'Vinian]

OOC: Nice post, thanks. I truely did speak of the free housing in my first post.

IC: Darn, Tror had really hoped to immerse himself in the darkness and filth that is Vortex. He's gonna be stuck right next to the Aetheriean Church. Well, he could probably continue praying to Carmelya for guidance and power there. Having his house right next to there might also keep away thieves, though he imagines an empty warehouse will have some beggars living in it. They'd better hope Tror can find a use for them, otherwise they'll need a change of address, or maybe state of being, if they're rebellious. This warehouse should also be able to contain his horse during his stay in Vortex. He considers himself to have lucked out here. This little elf woman might function good as a slave for his purposes.... but people would notice him taking her, as well as her dissappearance afterwards.

Tror will smile at the woman and take back his Visa. Small-folk are very nice, as Tror usually is, but in this city he feels he will do things that he would not do back home in Tirisfal. His window of possibilities is open, especially since he has a base of operations here. He plans to go down into Har'oloth, the city of dark elves, on the following brightening. He also plans to get a slave and sit in this city for a month or so. His plans involved staying here well into winter. Well, he can officially say Step 1:Get Home is complete.

"Minhiriath, a beautiful name, well suiting you. That warehouse sounds good, the extra space will be probably be used to hold my horse. I myself can sleep in my bedroll without be discomforted. Being next to this Church of the Faith will probably be good as well, as I can pray to verdant Carmelya, asking her to keep the corruption of the death mages I've heard of from reaching me. I will take this house, perhaps someday I will come back and actually give money for it. Do I need to sign anything?" Tror predicts he will need the little money he has for the slave he plans to purchase. Perhaps this will be easier than he had originally thought, but then again, he thought clearing that castle back in Tirisfal would have been easy, and it turned out to be a living hell.

[Srelin Mashahar]

Timestamp: The 47th brightening month of Kalendryas, Season of Autumn of Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XI Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening

Swish, swish went the omnicat Srelin's tail. He took lazy strides to the door of the Aedile's office, having been directed to it's location by a particularly ugly looking native. Srelin nodded to the two guards, it was these fine young gentlemen which prevented random people from walking in and murdering the good Aedile... Damn them.

Srelin gave an easy smile and a casual wave at the Aedile as she asked him what he needed. He placed himself in a seat and leaned forward. His whole demeanour was relaxed and confident, it's not like anything really bad could happen here, well, death maybe, slavery, becoming a zombie. Nothing he was worried about though.

"Serale, my name is Srelin Mashahar, I've come about the free housing being offered." He slid his visa across. "I do feel so bad about this, like I'm stealing from the city, and wasting your time too, I suppose. My apologizes, but I do require it." He seemed almost genuinely sorry, but of course, it was something for free, no remorse here.

[Kalinda]

Tror

„You have a horse?“ Minhiriath asked. “The house I’ve mentioned only has a single big room. Do you want to share it with an animal?” She shuddered. Apparently the elf had a problem with people sharing their house with horses – and with horses in general. Most elves were good riders, but Minhiriath thought horses were big, smelly and scary. “Anyway ...” She tried to push those thoughts about horses and all the things they did away. She had do to business with this giant! “You will find that our priests of Aetheria are a bit ... odd. They are not quite like those in Diana ...” She shrugged her shoulders, refusing to comment on the issue further.

“You have to sign this here ...” She opened a drawer of her desk, rummaged through it and put a piece of parchment in front of Tror. If he looked closer, he would notice that it was the house deed. Of course it was human sized rather than giant sized. “And here.” She produced a copy of the deed. “So that I know that this particular house is gone ...” She handed him a pen. “Do you ... do you think you can write with this? I’m afraid I don’t have any giant sized pens ...” Hopefully he could write. She had heard that giants were not particularly well educated.

[Kalinda]

Srelin

“The free housing offer?” Minhiriath smiled at the omnicat. Inwardly she was not smiling. Since the thane had that amazing idea to throw the people in the Southern Quarter out of their homes and offer those very homes for free, nobody bought anything anymore. Maybe she should tell her what she thought of it sometimes ... on the other hand though – this was Vortex, and it was not healthy to mess with the people who were in charge of the city. “Of course ...” She pulled out that large brown book that contained a list of all houses and put it on her desk.

“You are not stealing anything from the city. I’m sure the thane had something in mind when she decided to offer free housing. Could you tell me what kind of house you are looking for?” She paused for a moment and then said, “You are one of the first omnicats I’ve seen here. What brings you here, Sir?”

[Drogean]

Drogean began to sit down onto the leather seat, but stopped midway when he put his hand on the back of the chair. He felt the stuffed leather, and tentatively squeezed it. It was the feel of a dead animal carcass, dyed, tanned, and mutilated. The squeeze set off a quiet look of revulsion on his face which passed quickly. The part of him that was a Druid felt quite strongly about not settling down into the plush armchair made from skin scraped off animal bodies. That part, for the moment, held sway through the use of vivid imagery. He did not sit.

Druids, certainly, were a strange breed.

He spoke in Elven again, Minhiriath's accent gave her away and told him she had not always lived in Vortex. He preferred the language of his birth, and after all there were just better words for what he wanted to say in Elven.

"I am a Druid, if you can believe that of me, and... perhaps I take my vows too far, but I prefer not to sit." he explained weakly, while thinking, A master Druid wouldn't need to defend himself, and if he chose to, the reason would certainly not be as poor as that... but that's not important. How warm is it in here?

Drogean took off the red headband that hid the signature Elven points of his ears for the first time since he had entered the city, ostensibly to fix his hair. The "fix" involved putting his hand back through it and letting the shoulder-length brown fall where it may. His coat too he took off, laying it down over the back of the chair. It was too hot and moreover, impolite, to wear the coat indoors.

He was settling in, even though the offer seemed perfect.

"The land sounds beautiful, Minhiriath. I've always loved the look of swamps in Autumn, especially at first dawn and dusk. The mist that gathers, the light on the trees, and the sounds of the morning birds. And meadows... no doubt sheep, or even horses would love those lands too. The only problem is, I think, the house. How much of the cost is for the house? If it is worth over five thousand crowns, I fear it is too much. Now certainly, it does sound stately, but perhaps I used the word 'estate' in error. Perhaps I should have said 'cottage'. I am a bachelor, you see, and two stories far exceeds my needs. Could you 'split' the deed and sell the same land with a different house, or will I have to just live with it and rent out a part of the house... or convert it into an inn?"

[Tror D'Vinian]

Tror smiled. If this elf feared normal sized horses she would definately cower at his GIANT horse standing right outside. Neigher was a good horse for Tror, so he would not part with her for any reason besides the times that riding her will be a major invonvenience, such as riding her into this office or into the undercity he plans to go to tomorrow. "Ahh, you don't like animals? That's too bad, there are some cute animals out there. And I'm perfectly fine with staying in a room with my horse, I've been sleeping in camps with her for almost a cycle while I was on my way to this city." Tror smiled inwardly and outwardly at the second thing she said. Odd priests of Aeternia will most definately keep away the brigands and thieves. "That location will be perfect then."

Tror takes the small little pen in between his index and thumb and very carefully writes his name on both copies of the deed, his own and the aedile's office's copies. He puts a date as well, so as to be specific. "Thank you for your time lady Minhiriath, but if there's nothing else that I must do I'd like to go about my day. Perhaps you will see me again someday." If there's nothing else he must do Tror will rol his deed up and slip it into his pouch with his money and then rise into a crouching position and crouch-walk out of there. He will get on his horse and ride in the direction of the southern quarter, planning to put his horse there and sleep for the rest of the day. Tomorrow he will go down to Har'oloth.

[Kalinda]

Drogean

Minhiriath looked confused, almost beyond measure, as Drogean looked at the leather chair and squeezed it. She had met druids before – one could not grow up in Silrosia without having contact with that particular kind of mages – but she had never seen one take it to such an extreme. She did not know what to think of it. She understood why some people refused to eat meat or wear clothes that had been made of fur or leather … but refusing to sit on a leather chair? She did not let Drogean know her thoughts though. As she spoke, she only nodded. She did not completely understand it, but she accepted it nevertheless.

“Not especially warm. Why?” Minhiriath was wearing a long sleeved blouse and a skirt made of wool. There was a fireplace in her office, but she was not using it yet. It was a normal brightening in autumn, neither hot, nor particularly cold. “Are you hot, Sir? If you want to, I can open the window or get you a cold drink …” The young aedile looked concerned. She was definitely not hot. Did he have a fever?

As he said that the land sounded beautiful, she smiled and leaned back in her chair. The way he spoke was poetic. The vysstichi didn’t speak like that. They had no sense for beauty. “The house is worth between 8.000 and 10.000 crowns. You said you could spend about 50.000 crowns. That’s the price of the land including the house and everything that’s in it. I’m afraid I can’t split the deed or sell the land with a different house … but you could use some of the rooms for your employees or for guests. An inn wouldn’t be a bad idea either …”

[Drogean]

"Ah, then there's no help for it." he said in Elven, smiling. "And now that I think about it, perhaps I could find a use for the extra rooms." He counted quickly on his fingers, and did some subtraction as well. "I bought some slaves in Imperia this summer, and there should be enough room for those who decide to stay with me. I wonder if they will enjoy the countryside as much as I do."

Drogean pulled his note wallet from his inner jacket pocket, and his Imperial Visa from his pack. From the rather large collection of banknotes from the Imperial Bank of Centripax he counted out the correct number -- they were of unusually large denominations, many being worth over 500 crowns. Still, he counted his banknotes like an old peasant woman counting crowns at the butchers.

"Fifty thousand," he announced, giving his Visa and the notes at the same time to the Aedile. "When I bought my first house -- this was eras ago -- the Aedile in Primus Gaudeo nearly fleeced me for an extra 900 crowns -- for a five thousand crown house, no less. She cited "administrative fees." I'm glad to see some scrupulous public servants. I only wish we had more in Centripax." he said, nearly chuckling.

[Kanye K'tach]

First day of autumn

Kanye was feeling unusually happy with himself this particular day. He had set a order for weapons and purchased some good armor. He hoped that his luck would continue while he was in this city. But the one thing that Kanye still needed was a place to sleep. He had read in the Herald that they were offering free housing...how pleasent.

As he stepped through the door to the aedile, Kanye slowly lifted the hood of his cloak off his head. He then hastly stepped over to the counter and introduced himself. Serale, I am Kanye K'tach. I'm here about the free housing.He said as he dropped his visa on the recopsinist desk. He wanted to get in and out as quick as possible, no use in wasted time.

[Kalinda]

Drogean

Decide? Since when could slaves make a decision? Drogean’s statement that there “should be enough room for those to decide to stay with him” confused her a bit. She knew what slavery was like in Vortex. Slaves usually did not have the right to decide anything. They had to obey. What kind of slave owner was Drogean? Why did he have slaves anyway? He did not look like a man who did not have any problems with owning other people. She had thought he was a bit more honorable than that. She was confused … so very, very confused …

“You bought slaves”, she repepeated, still smiling, as if the fact did not bother her at all. “And you ask them whether they want to stay with you …” She did not continue, but watched him as he counted the banknotes. “There are no administrative fees here, I can assure you”, she said. “I am a honest person. I only hope that this person is not aedile in Primus Gaudeo any more …” She took his visa, checked it and returned it to him before she put the banknotes away.

From a drawer of her desk she removed the house deed and handed it to him. “You need to sign here.” She pointed at the bottom of the deed. “And here …” She handed him another paper. “With your signature you will confirm that you have received the house deed and paid the requested sum of 50.000 crowns …”

Kanye K’tach

This man is certainly fast, Minhiriath thought as Kanye walked over to her desk and dropped his visa on it. Unlike him she was in no hurry and would not be any faster just because he wanted to get out of the office again as soon as possible. “Serale, Kanye K’tach”, she said and took the visa. “I am Minhiriath, the aedile of Vortex …”

She looked over the visa, found that there was nothing wrong with it and handed it back to him. “Please sit down. It is easier to talk when I don’t have to look up at you.” She pointed at the chair that was standing in front of her desk. “We still offer free housing. There are a number of small houses available in the Southern Quarter. Do you have any preferences?”

[Kanye K'tach]

Who does this wretch think she is! Kanye thought as his temper hightened rapidly. But after he took a few good breaths, he accepted his visa back and took a seat. Even though he made no outward expression of his thoughts, he had to learn to control himself. It could very well get him in trouble one of these days.

Anything that will keep me warm for the time being. Kanye said as he felt himself calming down.What are my choices?

[Jiala'in Veldri]

Early in the Season of Winter of Era I of the Pax Imperialis
Era XII Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening.
Paradigm Shift: Alleria Prime opens and the new Empire is revealed as Audrey addresses the people.

This was the very last visit to an Aedile that Adreia would let herself suffer as long as she could help it. The frequency with which she was staining the government offices with her presence was completely insane, especially considering her lack of money and social standing. And this office didn't look at all more cheery than the others -- especially the part about the elf sitting behind the desk.

Adreia stopped inside the doorway, holding her tail away from the door with a taloned foot. This was bad. This was very bad. She ran her tongue over her sharp teeth and glanced this way and that, taking note of possible escape routes. Feth, why did she have to bet her daggers on that dice game? Memories tickled at her mind of another elven aedile back in Imperia -- the one who had called the guards on her simply because she was of a dark race, who she had thrown down the stairs in self-defense, whose guards had nearly killed her in her plea for escape. It was so that the draconess watched the elven aedile suspiciously as she stepped forward, wings rigid. Though, in the back of her mind, Adreia knew that the prejudices might be a bit slackened in Vortex, it was best to get this over and done with as soon as was possible, then be on her way before anyone could come after her for petty reasons.

"Serale. I'm interested in the free houses I've heard are being offered. If there's one a bit away from the busy parts of the city, I'd prefer it. If not, I really don't care. You need my information?"

Adreia whipped out her visa and placed it on the desk a bit too hastily. Her talon was clicking on the floorboards and her wings and ears kept twitching nervously. She was quite in a hurry to do what she needed to do and to get out of this Aeternia of an office.

[Eldrie Lennon]

Walking into the Aediles office was a pleasant relief for Eldrie, who was a terrible hater of the blasted cold that the empire had been having of late. Shaking some flakes of the dreadful white stuff called snow from his cloak, the Vysstichi approached the desk, and the figure that was behind it.

"Serale my dear lady, I was wondering, how would I go about procuring a loan, of say, 50,000 crowns?"

Smiling at the woman behind the desk, the Vysstichi lifted a delicate ebon hand, and wiped off a bit of slush that had gathered upon his brow. Flicking it on the floor, he sighed, and agreed to himself that it was indeed good to be inside and out of the snow.

[Drogean]

"Ah, thank you," he said before he took the paperwork and read over it. He picked up the feater quill pen and, after deciding the feather had been lost by a goose in flight, wrote down his full signature -- Drogean Miettiälakitäydellinen. Writing that name twice was a lengthy process, one that involved a lot of re-inking, especially with the stylish additions to the letters Drogean made as part of his signature. He spoke as he wrote -- he'd had enough practice with his signature recently to do it in the dark.

"Well, yes, I will have to ask them. I can't just force them to come with me. They outnumber me." Drogean laughed a little, then said more seriously, "And they're not really slaves, not anymore. They were when I bought them." It wasn't much in the way of an explanation, but he had already finished his second signature. He expertly placed a third mark over the umlat on the a's, like a pyramid.

He took his deed and looked at it, though he didn't look as happy as most new homebuyers did. "I could have bought many more for fifty thousand crowns..." he said quietly, more to himself than anyone. He took his eyes away from the deed and looked again to the Aedile. "Now, do you keep the receipt or shall I?"