Location Soles for Sale

[Poppy]

Located on the elitist East Bank, sits Soles for Sale, the premier destination for quality leather footwear for men and women. The humble cobbler's shop is run by Sorenson Askara and, as one might expect, the establishment fairly drips with indulgent, lavish opulence. Approaching the main entry, visitors are met with a vision of carved wooden facing and stone cobbled walls. The deep ebony wood is marked with trailing filigree vines and intricate flowering buds - some say the commission of such workmanship is still being paid for, years after the fact. But Sorenson, when approached on the subject, demurs cheerfully, ushering you into the store with no answers. The interior is a match for the beautiful exterior. Soft gold covers the walls, a combination of paint and luxurious fabric that tempts even the most oblivious to walk closer, to experience texture along with color sensation. In fact, one may be so enraptured by the beauty abounding at eye level that they entirely miss looking down, to the decorative, thick, and expensive carpeting layering the floor. Plush sofas and heavy armchairs are scattered throughout the space, providing prospective customers the perfect spot to be fitted and catered to - most often by Sorenson himself. Esmena can, occasionally, be prevailed upon to assist during particularly busy hours, though dealing with her can have undesired effects. Sorenson is fiercely jealous of Esmena and can be unstable when he feels that she's being admired too freely - or not freely enough. But the footwear that can be obtained from Soles for Sale is of such quality and design that very few patrons are put off by the proprietor's quirks. Rows upon rows of low slung shoes, high boots and everything in between can be found on the shelves and in the cases of this most unusually operated shop. Regular customers have learned to carefully walk the tightrope that is Sorenson's sales floor and have come away with fantastical footwear and amusing stories to retell as a reward. To the rear of the shop, half-hidden by display cases and a door so ornately carved as to be almost an art piece on its own, is Sorenson's workshop. The scent of leather and oils hang in the air, permeating the entire floor with a not unpleasant aroma. People wandering into the shop while Sorenson is working have often heard him speaking and laughing to himself within the recesses of the space. Though his sanity is questioned nearly daily, none can argue the man's vision, or the results he achieves with nothing more than leather and ingenuity. He has been known to experiment with paints and bells and metals, in order to create the pinnacle of high society footwear. Kenashern society competes with bloodthirsty ferocity when he offers up an original, one-of-a-kind pair of shoes for sale.   NPCs Name: Sorenson Askara Race: Human DoB: 14th of Fall, 481AV PoB: Kenash Title: Proprietor of Soles for Sale Skills: Cobbling - 35 | Juggling - 10 | Escape Artist - 10 | Gadgeteering - 10 Gnosis: None Additional Info: Sorenson Askara loves three things in life: Esmena, shoes, and recreational drugs purchased from the Sitai family. Whether any of these passions is related, is anyone's guess. Despite the ambiguity, however, Sorenson does run quite a successful cobbler's shop, frequented by nearly all of Kenashern Dynasty - and some few wealthier freeborn. While he plays no favorites, and pays no attention to who may currently be on the outs with his family, one sure way to get on Sorenson's bad side is to pay too much attention, good or bad, to Esmena. Borderline obsessed with the slave, Sorenson will not hesitate to either kick you out of his shop or heavily price gouge if he feels that you are being in any way inappropriate with the woman. And, since he's an Askara, the definition of 'inappropriate' varies daily - sometimes hourly. ================================================================== Name: Esmena Race: Human DoB: 32nd of Fall, 491AV PoB: Kenash Title: Personal slave of Sorenson Askara Skills: Seduction - 15 | Acrobatics - 10 | Cobbling - 5 Gnosis: None Additional Info: Having attracted the attention of Sorenson Askara at the tender age of 14, Esmena has had years to build up his trust in her, and to use all the feminine wiles at her disposal to tie him to her. She has, in fact, managed to elevate herself to the dubious honor of personal slave, and spends much of her time accompanying him to his shop and about town as he sees fit. Patrons of Soles for Sale often will see her lounging about on the comfortable seating, generally providing eye candy to any who wander in. If the shop becomes overly busy, she will also deign to help customers with merchandise questions and advice. All in all, Esmena is more like a pampered companion than a slave. This irks no small number of Dynasty members, but most are willing to write off the anomaly as just another Askara quirk.   Goods Boots, low - 6sm Boots, high - 1gm Boots, riding - 2gm Shoes, standard - 6sm Shoes, dancing - 20gm Slippers - 2sm Gloves - 1gm Belt - 4sm *all merchandise made of leather *customization is offered (dye, bells, beads, buckles, chains, fur), and pricing for such follows the posted pricing guide and commissions will take not less than 7 days to complete   Apprenticeship Sorenson accepts only one apprentice at a time - more would detract from his time with Esmena. A typical apprenticeship will last the entirety of four seasons and provide the average student with competency in cobbling and and introduction to gadgeteering. While apprenticing at Soles for Sale, the individual is expected to act as a clerk in the store, and is compensated at a base rate of 2GM/day (actual pay based on price list and individual's current skill level; 1GM deducted from standard clerk's wages in exchange for knowledge gained through the apprenticeship). For more details, or to acquire an apprenticeship, contact a local ST. **Feel free to self-moderate, except in instances of acquiring apprenticeship. ** Written by Opal Draer