Solo We Belong To The Thunder

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A lawless town of anarchists, built on the ruins of an ancient mining city. [Lore]

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We Belong To The Thunder

Postby Kelski on August 30th, 2018, 3:58 am

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Timestamp: 45th of Summer, 518 A.V.


The Kelvic glanced at the shadow that was speaking to her. She was on her knees, a pile of bricks around her, and a hole excavated in the basement wall of The Midnight Gem. Loose hair fell over a sweaty bare back. She refused to braid it unless she was working and ran the risk of burning it off on the forge. And definitely in the deep darkness of the basement where the shadows had snuffed all but the faintest of lights, Kelski ran no such risks.

"Go on. Trust me." Zavanth whispered, his voice throaty and aged as if he'd drank a million years before he'd turned to what he was now.

Pale white hands that ended in ebony nails that resembled talons more than manicured nails reached forward once more. This time she did not pull forth another loose brick. She did not scoop out loose earth or sweep back cob webs. This time she touched burlap and heard the clink of coins snuggled in the cloth.

It wasn't a small bag either. It was huge. She had to pull it out bit by bit, spilling some of the coins on the dark hard earth of the floor. Kelski's eyes widened in the near darkness and the shadows gathered closer. And still she pulled, and finally after more heartbeats than she could count it pulled free.

It was more money than she'd seen her whole life. Zavath had let her live peacefully in The Midnight Gem for not even a half a season before he'd lead her to the wall and the loose bricks in it. She'd humored him, expecting to find a skeleton walled up behind the brick or perhaps a book with human scribbling in it. She'd heard fireside stories of ghosts and treasure, but there had never been stories like this. Silver eyes took in the sight... and then she lifted her gaze to the shadow.

"It's not mine. If its anyone's coin it belongs to you." She said softly.

The Sea Eagle was after all practical. She had no human capacities for greed or selfishness. Her kind served and did so gladly, the need to do so built into their blood.

"What need to I have for coin?" The shadow rumbled, amused, as it swept around the room, moving quite more than normal shadows did. "True it was a secret I liked having and keeping, but now the secret can grow." He said softly, sweeping around the Favored and enshrouding her like a cloak for a moment.

"What shall I do with it? Pay part of my loan maybe?" Kelski asked, scooping the loose coins back into the burlap and then struggling to lift the entire bag. She carried it over to a workbench and set it down on the hard wooden surface. Upending the bag, the coin spilled out and .... kept spilling out. They were all gold rimmed Mizas. The Eagle blinked again, as if clearing her gaze.

"I want you to spend it." The shadow said as the Kelvic began to count. "I didn't think I would enjoy the company but I do. You want more people here but the walls are confining even you even now. I wanted you to have this coin so that everyone here could have their own rooms, Nightstalker. I want you to have a kitchen so you will be able to patter about it happily and cook like you need too for all those people you want to serve. I have searched. I have asked. We found someone fair that will help you. All the shadows looked. We knew you would trust the first person you could find... and that is not safe in this city." Zavath said, swooping down, and completely shrouding one end of the work bench as if he'd just sat down there to brood.

Kelski started to argue, but arguing and counting wasn't easy and perhaps, just perhaps the shadow was correct. Now that Kynier had moved in, he had taken her bed and she would have liked to have offered him his own room... no matter how nice it had been that he shared with her. Things were different now. Some of it she could pinpoint, like how when she left she always rushed home or how no matter how long he was gone she still listened or him to come in to make sure he was safe.

But this.... she was well past a thousand now.... this was life changing. "So you want me to add onto The Gem? That's a very good idea. This place was lovely for me, and the shop space was amazing. But now... with more people here, it would be nice to have more room." She said softly, thankfully, realizing how fortunate she was that Zavath was being so generous.

"Yesssss.... there is a pair of men that look like each other. Davyd Rodgers & Ergus Rodgers. They build. They are over in the gated community. They will treat you fairly and give you a good built. Not everyone here will. I want you to spend the coin there... for here. Bring others in. We are happy when you are happy, Nightstalker. And you are very happy surrounded by people like this.. people like you. Bring in other Nighstalkers if you can... if you will." He said with a deep rumble.

Kelski nodded and felt the wave of approval roll through the other shadows present. When she had first moved in, there had only been Zavath. Now there were so many more. Some had come with Kynier but others had wandered in from parts unknown and stayed. Kelski wasn't sure why, but they were welcome.

After spending years alone, she didn't particularly like being alone. She truthfully felt like half of a whole when she was alone... and sometimes even in a crowd. It wasn't something she could explain... but starting with Ren and then Aer'wyn and finally Kynier... it had gotten better and better. Broken alone, but with a hand to hold or a lap to curl up in or even a mouth to feed she was better... and the shadows knew it.

"I'll go see them first thing..." She said finally when the twenty five hundred coins were counted out. She wondered how much of a home that would buy her. A lot, she suspected, because what she had in her hands here was a fortune... an absolutely fortune.
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They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
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Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
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Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
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We Belong To The Thunder

Postby Kelski on August 30th, 2018, 6:14 pm

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Davyd Rodgers & Ergus Rodgers… the name stuck with her. And even as she curled up to sleep that night, her mind was on the morning’s endeavor. Kelski had plans and now that Zavath had given her the means, she meant to execute them. It was a marvel that Kelski had such good resources. She still marveled at the simple changes between this season and last. The Kelvic slept poorly, restlessly tossing and turning until she crawled out of bed early as to not disturb Kynier and skipped breakfast, heading out at first light when most businesses were beginning to open. She never seemed to mind that she walked alone. Her daggers were handy, she was comforted by them, and it was a fitting legacy to all of Darvin’s abuse.

The Kelvic rather thought she was better at the weapon than Darvin had ever been. Plus she wore her crossbow on her backpack, which made her look even more intimidating as she crossed the streets. Once she would have liked to have looked small, vulnerable, useless and just someone’s errand girl, but those times had passed. Now things were different. She represented a product and was always part of that business… it gave her a pride to lift her head and walk the streets boldly. She carried very little coin. She wasn’t that stupid to be weighed down by the riches Zavath had provided. Besides, the shadows had urged her to only pay part of the plan before – so the builders could buy materials – and then pay the rest later. It made her happy to think she was able to do this, something that a human normally would do.

She reached Rodgers and Rodgers faster than she thought possible. It wasn’t that the trip was any closer than she’d anticipated, it was just that her head was full of plans and hopes, making the actual physical distance pass faster. She rapped upon the door, found it open, and slipped in to be greeted by a secretary. Kelski was polite, stated that she wanted to meet with builders, and was told to wait.

The wait wasn’t long… five to ten chimes at the most… and the secretary offered her tea to sip while she was waiting. Kelski had never had tea before and agreed, trying the warm delicious liquid and deciding she was going to get some of this for The Midnight Gem immediately. It was far better than the dark bitter brew most humans drank, and superior to ale in almost every way the Kelvic could think of.

She was soon enough escorted into a lavish office that was far nicer than Sunberth deserved and greeted by the identical men the Shadows had warned her about. Davyd Rodgers & Ergus Rodgers introduced themselves and she did likewise. She smiled at them, looked between them a moment, deciding there was indeed differences, and explained her purpose for the visit.

“I am the new owner of The Midnight Gem, Kelski. It’s a jewelry store, workshop and residence at the edge of town in Baroque Bay out on the fringe of the beach. We are finding the living quarters cramped and want to dedicate a few thousand mizas, maybe more, to expanding it. Kelski took out a blank book and carefully laid it open. Then she began to sketch. “These are the living quarters now. We have six people in residence. I am hoping to expand in this fashion….” She said, turning the page, then ever faintly making a copy of the original layout and then with the dark charcoal stick sketching a deeper darker outline of more rooms, more space, an added kitchen, more bedrooms, and the stairs reconfigured. “Is there a way to make this happen? You come highly recommended. This would also mean installing more hearths and a study here to link it all together.” Kelski said as both men listened.

Davyd Rodgers looked thoughtful, pulled the sketch forward, and looked it over while Ergus Rodgers smiled at her and explained a few things. “We need to come take a look at the place, take some measurements, see it first hand, and price materials. It looks like that project might cost more towards the two and a half thousand, instead of two. But it looks doable for sure. What sort of timeline are you looking at?” He asked politely while Davyd made some notes on the sketches and wrote down some figures, calculating things in his head and on paper.

“I’d like it done by the end of the Season, first of next season…” Kelski said confidently. Ergus glanced at a calendar that also doubled as a schedule on his wall and nodded. “That’s doable.” He said easily enough. “I have to warn you though. We work odd hours, don’t keep a set schedule and while we will get things done by date we promised, we need round the clock access.” It was just the way his business ran. Some of his workers worked days, some worked nights. The construction would continue around the clock until they got it done. Dayvd liked maximizing his return for his time, and that was one of the ways he found he could do it.

“That’s fine. It has an access from the outside. I won’t give you access to the jewelry store unless you need to put in some bracing or support or whatever that entails, and that will have to be during the day because we lock up everything tight at night due to the nature of the store.” Kelski said.

Both men nodded. They reached forward, shook her hand, and promised to come by later to take measurements and give her a final diagram and cost. “We need half down to start and expect half in full at the end of the project when you are satisfied.” Ergus said firmly of to which Kelski nodded.

“That’s more than fair. I couldn’t expect less. Plus you’ll need to collect the coin at The Midnight Gem. I am not comfortable transporting that much across town without a small army.” She said softly.

The men nodded, and at that Kelski was shown to the door with a time set for them to drop by in the afternoon to take measurements and listen to her list of needs. She was so happy with that and nodded her thanks, seeing herself to the door and heading home. She hoped the residence of The Midnight Gem wouldn’t mind some construction the second half of the season. Hopefully the men would be fast, thorough and fair. The shadows seemed to think they would be.
Image
They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
User avatar
Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
Words: 2015452
Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 11
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Mizahar Grader (1) Trailblazer (1)
Overlored (1) Donor (1)
One Thousand Posts! (1) One Million Words! (1)
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We Belong To The Thunder

Postby Kelski on December 28th, 2018, 3:06 am

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The next day Davyd Rodgers & Ergus Rodgers indeed came out and took measurements. They looked the structure over, made recommendations for the changes that would make the building more ‘sound’ and took careful notes as Kelski walked around with them.

While they were there, she took them to a location slightly to the side of the Midnight Gem and asked them to include in the whole process plans for a standard stable that would house several mounts for the residents if indeed they decided to get a cart pony and perhaps some goats or a milk cow in the future. Her only specific request for the stable was that it have space on the end for a future forge if she wanted to expand her metalsmithing skills and get into truly forging things.

The team agreed, and after spending more than a bell walking around, discussing things, and finally going over materials with Kelski, they asked her to return the next day to their business and everything would be finalized and signed. Before they left, Kelski gave them half of the remodel down with the rest to be collected after the work was done.

The stable she would not be able to afford before the Fall season, and that was incorporated into the plan as well. So when the men left, satisfied she was serious, Kelski sat down with the denizens and discussed their wants and needs for last minute changes.

When she had everything hashed out, Kelski made meticulous notes and prepared to visit the men the next day. She made her way through town at the appropriate time, knocked on their office and met with them one more time to finalize everything and sign the paperwork. They had blueprints all drawn out and even a sketch of the future barn which she also approved. Then she signed the paperwork, shook their hands, and both men seemed happy to have another rehabilitation project in Sunberth. Baroque Bay was growing and the new jewelry store thriving enough to expand and remodel was proof of that.

It was good for business. It was good for the city. And most importantly it was good for Kelski’s future.
Image
They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
User avatar
Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
Words: 2015452
Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 11
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Mizahar Grader (1) Trailblazer (1)
Overlored (1) Donor (1)
One Thousand Posts! (1) One Million Words! (1)
Sunberth Seasonal Challenge (1) Power Fork (1)

We Belong To The Thunder

Postby Kelski on December 28th, 2018, 3:09 am

G R A D E S
Kelski


Business +4, Leadership +3, Negotiation +1

Davyd Rodgers & Ergus Rodgers: Location, Appearance, Mannerisms, Business: Planning A Remodel, Davyd Rodgers & Ergus Rodgers: Scheduling Work Being Done, Business: Expanding A Business




PM me with questions or concerns.
Image
They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
User avatar
Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
Words: 2015452
Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 11
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Mizahar Grader (1) Trailblazer (1)
Overlored (1) Donor (1)
One Thousand Posts! (1) One Million Words! (1)
Sunberth Seasonal Challenge (1) Power Fork (1)


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