The city of Haven is brightening, as both the spring flowers and the city's decorations appear for the upcoming solstice holiday. Kainudy has gone on a quest for doughnuts, and has left WolfSinger to watch after Chimera, or maybe it's the other way around?
In his small shop with the door standing open invitingly, Michael sits back on his stool, working on a small, delicate piece of gilt jewelry.
Looking out of one of the embassy windows, Chimera watches the human from across the street.
Ashyle walks into town, whistling a little tune. The wandering traveler glances at the buildings and the people as he swishes his vulpine tail slowly. He stops for a moment to adjust his heavy backpack.
Michael puts the gold away for a moment to saw gently at a small dark circle.
Ashyle notices the glint of gold between Michael's fingers and turns his amber eyes towards them. He walks over towards the porch of Michael's shop.
WolfSinger tilts his head curiously at Chimera, then wanders off into the kitchen to get himself a snack.
Ashyle knocks on the door of Michael's shop. "Hello? Hello?"
Michael looks up from the small dark disc. "Yes? Can I help you?"
Ashyle says, "You're a jeweler, yes? I am new in town and was interested in selling a few pieces... would you be interested?"
WolfSinger walks back in carrying a rather large sandwich, filled with meats and cheeses. His tail wags happily as he munches on it.
Chimera hmms as he watches the strange fox visit Michael. It looks like somebody used to a cooler environment.
Michael nudges aside his handful of tools. "Perhaps...What do you have?"
Ashyle fishes in his cloak, feeling around for an inner pocket somewhere... and fishes out a coin just slightly smaller than a penny. As he pulls it out, it glints in the light like worn, tarnished gold. "I was wondering if you could give me something for this?"
"WolfSinger," the remote asks, "you've been to Turning Point. Does that fox across the street look like someone from there?"
The coin is completely blank, nothing written on either side.. just a flat disc.
Ashyle seems to be a stranger... a wanderer.. from somewhere else.
Michael hmms and brings a candle closer.
Ashyle says, "A bit of gold would be worth a little bit to you, hmmm?"
WolfSinger blinks at the remote, then peers out the window. "Well, was only there to help blow up a brain, but I'd definitely say he's not from here... he's got a winter coat of fur right now...
Chimera says, "Does his clothing look at all familiar?"
Michael looks for any marking at all, turning it over, rubbing the dirt off it.
Ashyle's clothing seems very much similar to that of a woodsman. Or a ranger. Someone who spends a great deal of time in the wild.
The gold coin shines quite a bit brighter as it is polished.
WolfSinger looks a little closer.
Michael looks up, "Did you want cur-rency in trade for it?"
Ashyle says, "Yes, that would be fine. How much will you give me for it?"
WolfSinger barks, "I donno.... looks like someone who doesn't stay put very long."
"Like a prospector, or a trapper?" Charon suggests.
Michael blinks, looking and thinking, mentally weighing the piece.
Ashyle notices peering eyes.. he looks over his shoulder at WolfSinger. His whiskers brush out as he smiles and waves in a neighborly sort of way.
Michael looks up, "How about 2 silver rods?"
Ashyle thinks to himself, "So.. there are humans here after all... and some tech... must remember this Michael person."
Ashyle says, "Can't you give me a little more? Not often that a woodsfox comes by a piece of gold, you know.."
Chimera says, "Maybe we should go across the street and ask."
Michael scratches his silk-clad forearm. "Well, I could perhaps throw in another silver pipe...but that is a lot of silver."
Ashyle smiles. "Thank you."
Michael rustles in a box under the counter, coming up with two bars and one pipe of silver after much jingling.
Ashyle opens his blackfurred hand to accept the silver rods. "Know where there might be an inn around here? Would be nice to have a sleep in a bed for a change." He peers at the rods closely, being curious about the local tender.
Michael leans over his counter to look out the side windows of his shop, up and down the street.
Ashyle puts the rods somewhere under his cloak in the folds of clothing. He looks at Michael and peers the same way the human does.
There is a flutter of wings and some gusts of wind as a pair of felitaurs land on the roof of the "embassy" and start doing things to the chimney, chatting and flirting with each other as they work.
Michael points up the street, more towards the center of town. "Up there a bit, you can get a cheap room at that building with the orange windows."
Ashyle stares at the pair of felitaurs on the roof, looking fascinated at the creatures.... He blinks and seems to notice Michael again. "Oh.. uhmm.. thanks. Thank you very much. Oh yes... I'd also be looking for a few odd jobs... things here and there I could use to earn my daily bread. Until I move on."
WolfSinger barks, "hmmmmm... I'd guess some kinda trader.... or a jack-of-all trades."
Michael's gaze flicks up to the roof across the street momentarily. "It was no problem for me...Feel free to return sometime."
Chimera says, "He might be an alien, we should investigate."
One of the felitaurs mutters something about "Annoying little dragons" as she reaches into the chimney to install something with her friends help.
WolfSinger blinks? "Last time Kainudy said something like that, we ended up nearly getting killed and blew up a mountain."
Ashyle peers closely at some of the gems and jewels in Michael's shop, sneaking little glances at the high-tech machinery on the upper shelf when he can. After a bit, he puts his hands in his pockets and walks back out into the street, swaying his tail as he strolls, no particular place to go and in no hurry to get there.
Chimera smiles, "Really? Let's go ask right now then!" He heads for the door.
WolfSinger yips!! "nononono.... I just wanna sit and relax for a change.... errrrr... ummm.... my fur is finally growing back! yeah! that's it!"
Ashyle seems to radiate a very faint magic if you are sensitive to that sort of thing, but only when you get within 2 or 3 paces of him.
Chimera pauses with the front door halfway open, and looks back at WolfSinger. "I didn't realize you were part feline."
Michael examines the golden piece closer. How odd that it has no markings on it.
This street is a bit darker than most due to being lined with old trees. With Michaels home and shop on one side, and Chastity's house and "embassy" on the other. It's slightly uphill, so the tops of ships' masts can just be seen in the distance.
WolfSinger barks, "I'm not.... but you're the one with the curiosity. :>"
Nodding in agreement, Chimera steps outside and walks after the fox.
WolfSinger sighs, and heads out after Chimera, closing the door behind him.
Ashyle walks over to the "embassy" building, looking it over. He tries the door... his ear lifts at the sound of footsteps and he looks over his shoulder towards the sound.
Michael watches the fox leave, and Chimera follow...He himself steps into his doorway to look at the gold piece in direct sunlight as well as watch any antics the mischievous Chimera might get into.
The two felitaurs who are fixing something in the chimney finish, and leap into the air, causing a small dust devil of wind before they disappear from sight.
Ashyle blinks at Chimera. ..ooOO ( Wow... haven't seen one of those before. I wonder what the heck it is. )
Chimera smiles to the fox, "Excuse me sir.. or madam. But are you from another world by any chance?"
Ashyle stands back as Chimera comes out of the door he was in front of, and pulls his hand back from the doorknob. "Oh.. hello there."
Ashyle blinkblinks? He looks at Chimera with wide eyes. "I might ask the same question of you. In all my travels, I've never seen anything like you. What are you?"
Chimera says, "I'm an artificial life form. My name is Chimera."
Ashyle says, "Artificial.. what? You look like a demon to me sir... or madam."
Michael laughs quietly to himself.
Ashyle says, "But if a demons wants to be polite to me, than I shall return the favor."
Ashyle bows and sweeps his tail.
Chimera blinks, "How could I look like a demon if you've never seen anything like me before?"
WolfSinger tilts his head, his own tail swishing.
Ashyle says, "Very few people have seen demons before, sir. And most that have do not return to tell the tale. And that is what you look like."
Chimera blinks again. "Have you seen a demon before?"
Ashyle says, "Perhaps Artificial Life form is the kingdom of hell that you do come from, for I have never heard of such a thing."
Ashyle says, "No, sir. I have not seen a demon... before..."
WolfSinger nudges Chimera. "Do you have any idea what he's talking about?"
Chimera tries to puzzle out the strange fox. "So, are you from this world?"
A few people walking along the street have started to gather around the trio, watching Chimera more than anything, though still nervous about wolf men, having heard the invaders looked wolfen.
Ashyle says, "Yes, I am. What other realm would I be from, then?"
Ashyle says, "Where are you from, Artie-Facial Lifeform?"
Ashyle looks over his shoulder, watching that none of the crowd try to raid his pack, though you imagine that it is tied up pretty tightly. He notes the species of the people in the crowd.
"I come from Lothrhyn," Chimera answers, then points up to the felitaurs on the roof. "They are aliens as well, the Chirr'T'Thar. You don't seem too surprised by their appearance though. Do you spend much time in the city?"
Michael smiles...In a crazy way glad that someone else is gathering the oggling crowds for once.
Ashyle says, "I'm no more surprised by the Chirr'T'Thar than any of the other good folk of this town."
WolfSinger barks, "everyone around here thinks I'm gonna pull out a gun and shoot them or something."
Chimera eyes WolfSinger. "Do you have a gun?"
WolfSinger barks, "no...."
Ashyle waves to the wolf. "Good day to you. I'm Ashyle. It's nice to meet you."
WolfSinger barks, "why don't we head inside before this crowd decided to lynch somebody?"
Chimera turns to the crowd and calls out, "Don't worry, the alien wolf here doesn't have a gun!"
WolfSinger waves back. "my name is WolfSinger.
Ashyle says, "That begs the question of whether someone here needs lynching.. but I will follow you."
Michael smiles, slipping the almost forgotten golden piece into one of the pouches hanging from his belt.
WolfSinger barks, "guess it has something to do with some lupine invaders.... happened long before I got here."
Ashyle says, "I love stories. Perhaps you can tell me about it sometime. :)"
The crowd reacts rather poorly to the words "alien wolf" and a few disperse, maybe to call the town guards?
Ashyle says, "Uhmm.. let's go inside... I don't like this crowd."
Michael eyes some of the departures warily.
WolfSinger sighs. "prolly gonna lynch me for sure now..."
Chimera says, "I'll join you in a moment, WolfSinger," and walks across the street to Michael's store.
Ashyle opens the door and goes inside the house.
WolfSinger goes inside, and closes the curtains.
Michael stops holding the door frame up and stands as Chimera approaches.
The remote waves! "Hello Michael! How have you been? Discover any more ancient laboratories in your backyard?"
WolfSinger barks, "sheesh... dragons...."
Ashyle pulls out a chair and sits down. "That's an odd friend you have there. Now, what's this story about lupine invaders?"
Michael says, "No, not lately. I've been busy fixing Anytekfelds apparently."
The inside of the embassy, to the untrained eye, looks like a normal colonists house, though the spongy floor covering is unusual. Normal chairs and couches, along with some pillows, tables. The normal mix. However, one of pictures in the next room shimmers and a light display comes on, indicating a charged weapon has been brought inside the house.
WolfSinger barks, "ummmm.. no ones really told me much.... I guess some lupine invaders from another world attacked this planet a while back... and unfortunately, I kinda look like one."
Chimera asks, "Who is Annie Tekfelds, and how did she get broken?"
Michael shrugs, "I haven't the slightest idea. Apparently it destroys extra arms and is endless fascination for Bobs.
Chimera blinks three times, and asks, "Bobs? Does this have anything to do with the fox that just visited you?"
Michael blinks, "I don't believe so. He wanted to exchange cur-rentsy."
Chimera asks, "Exchange it for what?"
Michael says, "No, no...He gave me some of his money for some of my money. I am not entirely sure how or why people around here do this thing."
WolfSinger barks, "so, yer not from around here, are you?"
Chimera doesn't know much about currency or capitalism, so doesn't pursue the topic. "Oh."
WolfSinger picks up the remainder of his sandwich from the table where he left it before heading outside. His tail swishes as he munches on it.
Ashyle says, "No. I'm mostly a wanderer. But from the looks of things, neither are you two. You stick out like a fox dyed purple in summer."
Michael says, "So have you learned anything of that fox? He seemed to be rather curious about the relics in my shop."
WolfSinger barks, "yeah, well... I kinda got dumped here thanks to a spatial anomaly... I have no idea where my real home is in relation to here."
Ashyle says, "Wow... whatever that is, it sounds painful. :)"
Chimera says, "Not much. He says he's a native, but he also thinks I'm a demon instead of a 'spacer', so I imagine he is not from the vicinity of Haven or any other large population centers."
Michael says, "Perhaps one of the waterback towns in the mountains?"
WolfSinger barks, "well, imagine running through a forest, and falling through a hole that wasn't there 2 seconds before, then waking up somewhere else."
Ashyle says, "I'd like to hear more of your stories. On a long trail, a good story is worth a supper in trade to some folks. :)"
Ashyle says, "It's very boring out there. But peaceful."
Chimera nods. "Possibly. He doesn't seem as stupid as some of the people I have met in remote areas however. Do you remember the dragon hunters?"
Michael smiles and chuckles deeply. "Yes...He seems rather more intelligent."
WolfSinger barks, "well, I've never been much of a story teller, but I've done my share of travels."
Chimera says, "Do you think I should be suspicious of him, Michael?"
Ashyle says, "Why don't you tell me some over dinner. I'm starved. I'm hoping to find a way to earn some money here in town.. enough for a warm bed at night and a hot meal."
Michael thinks.
Michael says, "He's got some kind of magic about him...Nothing I would be immediately worried about. Perhaps worry that he might do anything to survive. He does not seem like that type, but I could be wrong."
WolfSinger blinks? Walks right into someone's house? invites himself to dinner? what's with this guy? "well, ummm... there's usually a lot of work to be found at the docks."
Ashyle says, "I just have to find the inn. That's USUALLY the place to get supper and a bed... isn't it?"
"Magic?" Chimera asks. "Could you tell anything about it?"
Ashyle says, "Unless you think there is a crowd outside waiting for you? :/"
Michael says, "I didn't get a good chance to. I errored, in being too obvious about looking at Devereaux. I have gotten careless lately."
WolfSinger barks, "never been there... I tend not to wander out in town alone... everyone looks at me like I'm gonna jump them. There is some place called the Proud Falcon, though... I think they have rooms available."
WolfSinger barks, "they're prolly gone by now...."
WolfSinger peeks out the curtains to check.
Ashyle says, "Then I imagine I'll be headed there. You're quite welcome to come with me if you like. I won't let anyone jump you. :)"
Chimera blinks. "Being obvious about your interests is dangerous?"
The street is basically clear, with the exception of one old merchant leading a wagon pulled by the lizard like gambzars.
Michael says, "It can be."
WolfSinger chuckles. "I can take care of myself."
Ashyle yawns widely. "It's been a long day on the road. I think I will be on my way then. I'll check the docks for work tomorrow."
WolfSinger barks, "think you can find it on your own?"
Ashyle says, "Yes. I think so."
Ashyle stands up and bows. :)
Chimera says, "I wonder if it is safe to leave WolfSinger alone with the fox then."
Ashyle opens the door and steps out onto the street. And no, he doesn't have blood all over his hands and all the belongings of the house. :P
WolfSinger barks, "it's down the road about a quarter of a mile, and to the left. "
Michael looks across the street. "They look evenly matched. But that is of no difference now."
Chimera spots the fox leaving the Embassy. "Yes. I worry about WolfSinger sometimes though. He's only a wolf after all." He turns back to the human and smiles, "It was nice talking to you again Michael."
Ashyle walks into the inn.
Michael waves, "Of course!
Chimera walks back to the Embassy.
Ashyle waves g'night. :)
Ashyle finds a relatively clean room for the night at the "Proud Falcon" tavern, and attracts no unwanted attention with her pack. WolfSinger figures Kai owes him one for watching Chimera, and Chimera enjoys the evening quietly exploring the little things hidden in the house. The energy weapon warning finally resets itself, not that WolfSinger could have read the felitaur language anyhow. Seems they're new at making an "embassy".