20th of Fall, 518 A.V.
Seaside Market, 13th Bell----------------
The walk back north to the city was longer than the one taken to the Aquillar Hot Springs. It was not due to the weather. Nor was it caused by fatigue. The spy was taking his time to formulate a strategy in order to accomplish the task that had been bestowed upon him. There was minimal hope in finding the missing Guardian Dragoon alive after he had disappeared eleven days ago. If the man where alive then he was likely on a ship on its way to anywhere else in the world. But in the city of anarchy, such a long disappearance usually meant that the first place he should look was the Dust Beds.
Kynier did not expect to find anything that could provide closure there. Bodies were buried or burned in masses. More than likely, he was going to have to begin his investigation in the one place that was going to be a real challenge. In the Sun’s Refuge district. Recent tensions would not allow him the ability to freely roam inside. Yet that was where any trails would begin. Skirting the perimeter and asking Dragoons questions at random was a tactic that had proven to fail far more than it succeeded. And such a method could take him days to perform before getting lucky enough to find someone with relevant knowledge.
So, a disguise was going to be needed. But what did he need in order to impersonate a Dragoon? The wealthier members of the gang tended to wear more opulent clothing and armor. For several chimes Kynier thought on that as he made his way through the Slaver’s Row district. Purposefully, he avoided the main market of the place, not wanting to do something rash, Kynier avoided the temptation all together. The newer members did not look too different from the general populace. It would be easier to impersonate being a newer initiate. Except… all members had the back of their hand branded with the gang’s insignia. How was he going to deal with that?
He still had the longsword with the Sun’s Birth sunburst engraved in the pommel. That would probably assist in selling the outfit he managed to come up with. What he was going to need that he did not have currently was armor. The militant organization was almost always wearing armor. So, Kynier wove his way through the despicable district of slaver markets to the Seaside Market district. There, he asked around about armor and where the best armors were for sale. From multiple people he heard the same establishment’s name. The Knight’s Armory. But that it had a reputation for selling well used materials as new. But if someone were able to place a custom order, their work was very good.
To scrap together that information had taken him a few bells. Kynier contemplated his options. There were a few stalls with armor pieces he could utilize. If the Knight’s Armory was known for selling questionable goods as new, it may not be worthwhile. Still, it would not do any harm to at least go and look. But before Kynier did, he stopped by one of the stalls in the market with a small assortment of armor. The woman running the stall was well toned with muscle and had a few scars visible across her arms and face. Someone that looked like they would know and appreciate some good armor.
“Watcha lookin’ fer?” she asked when her attention finally fell on him. She spoke with a lilt and had skin that made her look Myrian.
“Supplemental protection.” The woman’s gaze ran up and down his body. Noting the weapons and the lack of any sort of armor. She stepped around the stall and grabbed the rim of his cloak to open it up and look at him more. Kynier tensed but did not make any sort of movements. The woman looked up at him curiously.
“How much protectin’ are ye wantin’? Some wanna armor up like a turtle, but I’d a guess ye wanna be light.” Kynier nodded.
“I don’t want to feel weighed down and lose my agility.” The woman took a measuring rope and started setting it along his body. First, she took note of his forearms, followed by his upper arms and shins. She was quiet as she walked around him and worked around his cloak. While the rain did not seem to bother her, she seemed considerate about keeping her clients dry.
“Leathers are light, but they are ‘one an’ done’. Can’t stop too many blades before deir useless. Steel’s a bit heavier an’ would last much longer.” When she was done, she returned to her stall and began sorting through several of her wares. She pulled out several pairs of things. Some were leather and others were steel with leather padding. “These are vambraces,” she said indicating a leather pair, “Dey cover ye forearms while these,” she pointed at a steel pair that looked similar but larger, “are rerebraces and cover yer upper arms. Try ‘em. See if ye like.”
Kynier took a leather vambrace and strapped it to his right arm. Lacing the straps through the buckles so that it fit snuggly and did not wiggle and slide. It was really light, but Kynier did not feel as though he were better protected. Subconsciously, he fingered the scar on his left forearm he had gotten from last spring. Could the leather be strong enough to prevent another? He didn’t feel so sure that it could. “Do you have a pair that are steel?” The woman seemed to smile as she went back to her wares in search of what he wanted. Kynier undid the vambrace and set it down as she held out the next pair.
The steel was heavier, though not by much. When he strapped it on it felt like a better fit than the leathers. Kynier took the second vambrace and strapped in on as well. He held out both his arms to sense the additional weight. While it was there it seemed negligible. Kynier gave a small nod of approval. “The steel vambraces feel much better.” The vendor smiled.
“Most men say that,” she mused. Without word, she took the steel rerebraces and started strapping them on to his upper arms. The steel plating covered the inside and outside of the arm just like the vambraces but felt tighter. When she was done, Kynier looked down the length of his arms. Wet steel covered his arms and gave him a bulkier appearance. Again, he nodded his approval.
“This works very well. Do you have anything similar for the legs?”
NaNo Post: 1,109
Kynier did not expect to find anything that could provide closure there. Bodies were buried or burned in masses. More than likely, he was going to have to begin his investigation in the one place that was going to be a real challenge. In the Sun’s Refuge district. Recent tensions would not allow him the ability to freely roam inside. Yet that was where any trails would begin. Skirting the perimeter and asking Dragoons questions at random was a tactic that had proven to fail far more than it succeeded. And such a method could take him days to perform before getting lucky enough to find someone with relevant knowledge.
So, a disguise was going to be needed. But what did he need in order to impersonate a Dragoon? The wealthier members of the gang tended to wear more opulent clothing and armor. For several chimes Kynier thought on that as he made his way through the Slaver’s Row district. Purposefully, he avoided the main market of the place, not wanting to do something rash, Kynier avoided the temptation all together. The newer members did not look too different from the general populace. It would be easier to impersonate being a newer initiate. Except… all members had the back of their hand branded with the gang’s insignia. How was he going to deal with that?
He still had the longsword with the Sun’s Birth sunburst engraved in the pommel. That would probably assist in selling the outfit he managed to come up with. What he was going to need that he did not have currently was armor. The militant organization was almost always wearing armor. So, Kynier wove his way through the despicable district of slaver markets to the Seaside Market district. There, he asked around about armor and where the best armors were for sale. From multiple people he heard the same establishment’s name. The Knight’s Armory. But that it had a reputation for selling well used materials as new. But if someone were able to place a custom order, their work was very good.
To scrap together that information had taken him a few bells. Kynier contemplated his options. There were a few stalls with armor pieces he could utilize. If the Knight’s Armory was known for selling questionable goods as new, it may not be worthwhile. Still, it would not do any harm to at least go and look. But before Kynier did, he stopped by one of the stalls in the market with a small assortment of armor. The woman running the stall was well toned with muscle and had a few scars visible across her arms and face. Someone that looked like they would know and appreciate some good armor.
“Watcha lookin’ fer?” she asked when her attention finally fell on him. She spoke with a lilt and had skin that made her look Myrian.
“Supplemental protection.” The woman’s gaze ran up and down his body. Noting the weapons and the lack of any sort of armor. She stepped around the stall and grabbed the rim of his cloak to open it up and look at him more. Kynier tensed but did not make any sort of movements. The woman looked up at him curiously.
“How much protectin’ are ye wantin’? Some wanna armor up like a turtle, but I’d a guess ye wanna be light.” Kynier nodded.
“I don’t want to feel weighed down and lose my agility.” The woman took a measuring rope and started setting it along his body. First, she took note of his forearms, followed by his upper arms and shins. She was quiet as she walked around him and worked around his cloak. While the rain did not seem to bother her, she seemed considerate about keeping her clients dry.
“Leathers are light, but they are ‘one an’ done’. Can’t stop too many blades before deir useless. Steel’s a bit heavier an’ would last much longer.” When she was done, she returned to her stall and began sorting through several of her wares. She pulled out several pairs of things. Some were leather and others were steel with leather padding. “These are vambraces,” she said indicating a leather pair, “Dey cover ye forearms while these,” she pointed at a steel pair that looked similar but larger, “are rerebraces and cover yer upper arms. Try ‘em. See if ye like.”
Kynier took a leather vambrace and strapped it to his right arm. Lacing the straps through the buckles so that it fit snuggly and did not wiggle and slide. It was really light, but Kynier did not feel as though he were better protected. Subconsciously, he fingered the scar on his left forearm he had gotten from last spring. Could the leather be strong enough to prevent another? He didn’t feel so sure that it could. “Do you have a pair that are steel?” The woman seemed to smile as she went back to her wares in search of what he wanted. Kynier undid the vambrace and set it down as she held out the next pair.
The steel was heavier, though not by much. When he strapped it on it felt like a better fit than the leathers. Kynier took the second vambrace and strapped in on as well. He held out both his arms to sense the additional weight. While it was there it seemed negligible. Kynier gave a small nod of approval. “The steel vambraces feel much better.” The vendor smiled.
“Most men say that,” she mused. Without word, she took the steel rerebraces and started strapping them on to his upper arms. The steel plating covered the inside and outside of the arm just like the vambraces but felt tighter. When she was done, Kynier looked down the length of his arms. Wet steel covered his arms and gave him a bulkier appearance. Again, he nodded his approval.
“This works very well. Do you have anything similar for the legs?”
NaNo Post: 1,109
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