Did you say magic? (Kechaiya)

[Adrien Strade]

70 Fall 514AV, Did you say magic? The seaside market was the same disorganized mess of stalls and people. It never ceased to surprise Adrien just how many merchants came to set up shop in this place since everything here was always so unpredictable. Anyone who decided to sell their wares in this particular town faces the challenges of nature itself. But, then again, that was what made this city so interesting. It was filled with people who defied the very norms, people who wouldn’t easily bend to challenges. This place was a statement of that and Adrien saw it as one of the most interesting places in this city. The recent rumor he heard just confirmed that fact. It was earlier in the day when he had heard about the rumor of some ‘special’ items for sale. Knowing Sunberth, the items were all probably a fraud of some kind and you were more likely to be ripped off rather than find an authentic item. Still, Adrien couldn't resist the temptation of at least investigating about these rumors. That was where he found himself right now—browsing the merchant’s wares of ‘magical’ artifacts for anything that might be interesting enough. Most of the things he saw were old items covered with seaweed looking like it had been lost at sea for a long time. There were some that were in better Adrien checked his pockets to make sure the few coins he had brought hadn't been stolen as he stopped at a stall where various items were for sale. There were different kinds of things here: weapons, jewelry, trinkets, and other things that people may be interested in. “Good day, sir. As you can see, we have all sorts of items for sale. A lot of magical artifacts, too, if you’re interested.” The jovial merchant said, gesturing to the various things he had on display. Adrien raised an eyebrow at the man before smiling, “Are they really magic, though?” “Why, yes, they are,” the man was acting offended and Adrien wanted to laugh. He bet that not even half of the man’s wares were ‘magical’ as he claimed. Oh well, he had come to investigate the rumors anyway so he might as well waste some money on one of these so-called magical artifacts. Spying a couple of rings on a twine, he reached for it only for his hand to bump into someone’s hand who was reaching for the same thing. “Oh,” Adrien said, dropping his hand. Well, this might get complicated.

[Kechaiya]

Grader's NoteThe clothing came to a total of 6 GM, 4 SM, but I rounded up

The air was beginning to turn cold, grey clouds in the sky, as fall began its descent into winter. And Kechaiya absolutely hated it. Being from Eyktol, she was not appreciative of the cold, certainly not of snow. It often put her in a foul mood, but it did teach her one thing. Buy warm clothes before the season hit. Which is why she was now carrying a sack of clothing over her shoulder on her way back from the Castle Commons. Inside were three fur lined dresses, one brown, one green, and one grey, three pairs of socks, a spiffy fur lined cloak that was black, a pair of fur lined gloves, and something the locals called a scarf. She'd paid a fair price for it all, seven golds, though her haggling had left much to be desired. She hadn't immediately recognized the furs used in the clothing, but wasn't going to complain, warmth was warmth.

She decided to stop by the Seaside Market before making her way home in the Sunset Quarter. Since she as in a shopping mood, she figured that she might as well tickle her fancy and see if there was anything else she might need. She was always on the lookout on anything that was from Eyktol, little mementos or tokens, things brought by thieves and runaway slaves and the rare honest merchant. She was in front of a stall now, the man claiming to sell beaded and feathered necklaces from the Chaktawe peoples of the desert. Her people. He'd watched her approach, and immediately began looking all about, likely looking for a way out should he need to run.

She gave him a warm smile, as he began his sales pitch, "Ah miss, you uh... might be interested in my wares, straight from your homeland. Quality and authenticity were guaranteed by my partner, Cap'n Braham. The necklaces on the left are from the Sulu tribe, known for eating those who trespass on their land. The ones in the center are from the Kanalulu tribes, known for riding giant goats like horses. On the right are those from Tatsuuwater tribes that paint themselves in blood. Make me an offer and they can be yours."

Kech had been giving him the oddest of looks the whole time he spoke. He hadn't gotten a single one of the tribal names correct. The rumors were wholly false, but that was the nature of rumors. He was looking around at the other shoppers that were interested, who all appeared to be looking at her now, awaiting her expert opinion. Her eyes cast downward, studying the jewelry. Those from the Suli tribes were made of really dark clay beads and had blue designs on them. The feathers looked to be from crows. None of which was correct. The necklaces from the Kalanue tribes were shells and desert woods mostly, painted green. And those from the Tatsuwat tribes, the tribe of her father, the most poorly crafted and pale in color like bleached bone. It was all wrong.

But this was a possible opportunity, so she attempted to feign surprise, first looking up at him, mouth a bit open, then back down. When she spoke, she tried to fake nervousness, not an easy task when the language is already tough enough to speak. "You... these... these real. You no lie..." That endorsement was enough for the strangers to begin bidding and purchasing the accessories. Kechaiya stepped back and waited, catching a surprised and grateful glance from the merchant. When they all left, she stepped forward, and the first words out of his mouth were, "Thank you so much miss, I would never have sold this much without your kind words."

Kechaiya cocked an eyebrow, "My words lie. Like yours. But I no care. I help you. You help me." He nodded nervously, not speaking, now aware he'd been caught. She pointed at the Suli jewelry, "No paint blue. Paint white. No use crow feather. Use vulture feather." She then pointed to the Kalinue jewelry, "No use green. Use black. Use crow feather, no shells. Red clay good too." Finally she pointed at the Tatsuwat "All no good. Tatsuwat best craft makers. Use red. Leaves, root, goat fur, goat horn."

He nodded, suspicious but making sure to remember all of this, "So... you helped me, what do you want?"

She smiled, "No want much. If find any real things from deserts, hold for me. I buy fair price."

He looked shocked, "What you're saying, if I come across anything from Eyktol, that is genuine, I keep it until you come and buy it?"

She nodded.

"We have a deal."

He stuck out his hand and she grasped it gently, and they shook on it. With a nod, Kechaiya left for another stall, disappointed at the forgeries, but comforted that she might get some later. She heard some man mention "magic" and it immediately piqued her interest, more out of skepticism than anything. Everyone knew of magic as a whole, but very little of the details, herself included. He had a wide variety of rings, one of which caught Kech's eye. It actually did look as if it were from Eyktol. It was a band of red clay with a small stone of purple quartz set into it. She reached toward it, hoping to get a better look at it, when she bumped into another's hand. She immediately retracted hers. "Sorry, you here first."

Looking up at him she found him to be rather young looking. He was only a little taller than her, and appeared... weak, at least compared to some of the other people she'd met. The blonde hair didn't help his cause. It just made him look strange. She turned away, mind focusing back on the goods the man was offering.

[Adrien Strade]

Adrien stopped and looked at the woman whose hand he bumped into. She looked pretty was what he thought. Her eyes were unusual though and it piqued his interest. He wondered what race she belonged to and tried to remember any information on a race which had those kinds of eyes. It seemed a bit rude to just ask though. Well, Adrien often didn’t really care if he was rude but he didn’t want any trouble at the moment and she even said that he should go first. “Oh no, it’s perfectly fine. You can look at it first, if you wish. Ladies first,” Adrien said, gesturing to the rings. He ran a hand through his hair. He gave the woman in front of him a smile. “I can wait. I’m only interested in whether it’s really magic, anyway. So, if you want it…maybe, you can just tell me if it is magic. Um, do you know how to tell if it's magic? I, myself, have no idea”

[Kechaiya]

She smiled politely as the man allowed her first pickings at the rings. His loss, though she had no real intention of buying any of them. "No know if magic. Just think pretty, remind of home." She reached for the clay ring again, when the stall keeper startled her, "No steal my jewels demon eyes! I don't want you ruining the magics with your unnatural soul!"

Normally comments about her eyes didn't bother her, but this was impeding on her getting a piece of home. And she really hated being called soulless or a demon. "Where get this ring?" The older woman behind the stall eyed her warily, "It was brought from some petching desert, came on a slave ship. They say that it allowed it the user, another black eyed demon like yourself, could make the skies rain by using this ring."

Kechaiya doubted the magical claim, knowing that more than likely the wearer was a Raindancer. There were several raindancers among the Chaktawe tribes. And Chaktawes, like her family, were occasionally imprisoned, and stripped of their belongings. She figured that it was a genuine ring, just not magical. But if she called the woman out, she would probably just get shooed away for disrupting business. So she played along with the woman's charade. "Can show us make rain?"

The woman guffawed, "If you think I'm going to use the magic myself, then you really are a stupid petching foreigner."

[Adrien Strade]

Adrien hated the way the stall keeper talked to the woman. Sure, this was Sunberth but the words really were more than just rude. It was downright insulting and it might have sent another person in a fit of rage already. It was quite surprising that the woman hasn’t done that yet. The young man listened intently as the stall keeper explained where the rings had come from and the sort of magic it apparently performed. He perked up when he heard that it supposedly made rain. He loved rain and storms. Of course, there was no proof that the rings could actually do what the merchant had claimed it could. That’s why Adrien nodded excitedly when the woman asked for a demonstration. The shop keeper’s rejection was harsh though not that unwarranted seeing that it was Sunberth and no one really liked magic all that well. Still, the answer pissed Adrien off since if she really was so adamant about the dislike of magic here in Sunberth then she wouldn’t be selling this supposedly magical things anyway. Besides, there were far better ways of saying no especially to someone who could potentially purchase your wares. “I can’t help but notice but you’ve been quite rude from the start, miss. Especially to this lady right here,” Adrien said, gesturing to the woman beside him. “You should really learn to treat your customers better. All she wanted was a demonstration. If not from you then I’m sure you can ask someone to perform the magic. I’m sure if the item is as authentic as you say it is then you’ve got nothing to worry about, right?” “As if anyone would willingly perform magic here in Sunberth, boy,” the shop keeper replied with a sneer. Gods, she really was grating on his nerves for some reason. “If you can’t prove it’s really magic then I see no reason why I should buy.” Adrien then turned to give the woman beside him his attention. “If you still want to purchase the ring, you can have it. I really am just interested if it’s magic.” He told her with a smile. “It’s probably not magic but I think it looks like pretty little things. It seems like it’s pretty exotic too, coming from the desert and all if she was telling the truth about that. Though, I’m no expert, really.”