Willow’s manner of speaking left a lot to be desired in the manner of trying to understand what exactly she meant. Noble, initially, merely smiled, but eventually his understanding came around to what the Allomancer intended. The steely emotion in eyes faltered as a vulnerability cracked in the armor of his demeanor. It was the face of a person who felt, finally, that some wrong they’ve done could be righted; something Willow knew too well.
“To think I cannot fight alongside you,” started Noble, clasping his hands on Willow’s shoulders, “what a terrible shame to bear, but my trust will abate it. Willow Metaleater, find my battle-brother in the mountains, and give him life again; even if he hates me for the rest of his life, I can fade into eternity happy knowing that he still takes joy in his days. I know you will find a way. My coin will grant you passage through any barrier my canidaer guard, make use of it.”
When it seemed he had come to his limit, and his heart was about to pour out, the artisan flared out his wings. “When you find the path to Vengeance, the Lord will find you, and when he does, I shall too.”
Then, his dual-form erupted in the air with a violent gust, taking to the air and back to the center of the city..
Dead silent until this point, Bjorn finally made himself known again.
“Such casual terms, with such beings; humans are otherworldly,” commented the odinkine, keeping himself close to the nape of Willow’s neck, as if he were trying to avoid the updraft, “but this is the sort oft thing one’s word gets one into.”
Willow, with her coin, would find it easy to leave the city without having to go through the same process as the traders from earlier. Passage through the north gate appeared heavily guarded, even with people going north. It could have been the fact that Vegeance came from the north, or that Diligence was in the mountains ahead, but likely, it could have been more due to the volume of traffic. Unlike her journey from the south, she was not alone on the road through the floating isles. Carts and smallkin of varied kinds were going up and down the road, carrying material.
The sun was high and the four-legged guards of Noble were protecting the road, things were safe, for now.
“Hey,” hummed a voice aside WIllow, it belonged to a well-dressed golem; her faceless visage punctuated by a jewel on the top of her head. If the Allomancer looked past this smallkin, she’d see another cart drawn by another woody looking boar, with a few odinkine and spriggans atop it watching them. “I noticed the guards looked the other way when you walked out the gate a moment ago.”
The dome of the golems head turned one way and then the other, “You want to make some quick silver at the border?”
[The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
"It's my best skill," Willow stated matter-of-factly as she finished waving after the departing Noble. "I'm on casual terms with a lot of folk. Some who are fine with it, and some who deal with it... and some who teleport me across cities for fun."
Settling in once more for a long trek, the Brit smiled a lackadaisical smile at having a good pair of boots this time. Shoes really could make or break a mood, to say nothing of the comfortable socks that had hide away from her outfit reveal. This stretch was also far less lonesome, and in fact seemed rather bustling with the various smallfolk traveling the same road. She had been idly looking around when the golem beckoned for her attention. After turning her head, then craning her neck downward a bit, Willow cocked her head slightly. In part as she examined the golem, but also as she processed the proposition.
Willow almost laughed, but caught herself. When she'd occassionally play games as a kid she'd thought the number of side quests characters received had been ridiculous, but apparently it was based in facts. At the mention of the reward Willow almost disregarded the offer outright; after all, she couldn't eat silver.
"Willow, you dolt," Willow berated herself. Money was still money, and silver was a good precious metal to have back in the real world... human wor... other... uh... world.
"World One. Yes," Willow said softly to herself as she still looked to be thinking. She then turned to address the golem.
"Tell ya what, as long as it's not out of my way, I'll listen to what ya have to say. Might even consider it."
Settling in once more for a long trek, the Brit smiled a lackadaisical smile at having a good pair of boots this time. Shoes really could make or break a mood, to say nothing of the comfortable socks that had hide away from her outfit reveal. This stretch was also far less lonesome, and in fact seemed rather bustling with the various smallfolk traveling the same road. She had been idly looking around when the golem beckoned for her attention. After turning her head, then craning her neck downward a bit, Willow cocked her head slightly. In part as she examined the golem, but also as she processed the proposition.
Willow almost laughed, but caught herself. When she'd occassionally play games as a kid she'd thought the number of side quests characters received had been ridiculous, but apparently it was based in facts. At the mention of the reward Willow almost disregarded the offer outright; after all, she couldn't eat silver.
"Willow, you dolt," Willow berated herself. Money was still money, and silver was a good precious metal to have back in the real world... human wor... other... uh... world.
"World One. Yes," Willow said softly to herself as she still looked to be thinking. She then turned to address the golem.
"Tell ya what, as long as it's not out of my way, I'll listen to what ya have to say. Might even consider it."
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“You’re going north,” surmised the golem, pointing a stubby finger up the road, tracing a line back to Willow, “since last month, there’s only one reason to go north. You’re either dallying out here, or you’re going to the border to enter the Yormundyaws.”
The crystalline staccato of the golem’s rocky hands signaled the cart to begin moving. One of the spriggans helped her back up onto the driving bench. Once she was in place, the Spriggan that had helped her erupted into a warping mix of shapes, before emerging as an odinkine. The harpy perched up on the top of the covered cargo with the others.
With a practiced snap of the reins to keep the porcinpine in pace with Willow, the merchant continued her thought, “I’ve important business with the Quarrids and their master. I need to make sure my lumber cart is allowed through without the Canidaer inspecting it, otherwise they will interrupt my important business.”
The faceless visage of the golem turned, the gem on her head almost an ornament pinning in what looked like gold threads to simulate hair. “When an artisan needs something from you, you don’t question it. They are the reason we exist. You know my meaning, sister? I don’t know whose blood you come from, but it wouldn’t hurt to make some money doing something you ought to, no?”
The crystalline staccato of the golem’s rocky hands signaled the cart to begin moving. One of the spriggans helped her back up onto the driving bench. Once she was in place, the Spriggan that had helped her erupted into a warping mix of shapes, before emerging as an odinkine. The harpy perched up on the top of the covered cargo with the others.
With a practiced snap of the reins to keep the porcinpine in pace with Willow, the merchant continued her thought, “I’ve important business with the Quarrids and their master. I need to make sure my lumber cart is allowed through without the Canidaer inspecting it, otherwise they will interrupt my important business.”
The faceless visage of the golem turned, the gem on her head almost an ornament pinning in what looked like gold threads to simulate hair. “When an artisan needs something from you, you don’t question it. They are the reason we exist. You know my meaning, sister? I don’t know whose blood you come from, but it wouldn’t hurt to make some money doing something you ought to, no?”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
"So... all ya got in there is lumber? Or d'ya got some othe kind of goody hidin' away? No offense, but I'd take well to knowing what 'xactly I'm helping to move. Get me, sister?" Willow spoke casually as her hands found their way to her duster pockets. Her eyes shifted to look at the golem from the shaded brim of her hat as the Brit practiced her poker face. Money was rad, and while she had no clue how much silver translated to real people money she was sure it was a decent thing to be paid in. At the same time, Willow wasn't all that keen on gun running or drug muling.
"And how much silver are you offering?"
"And how much silver are you offering?"
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“Five pounds, love,” answered the golem, holding up five fingers on a rounded palm of ten digits, “enough for a fine dress and a few months of nice dinners wearing it. You’ll get one right now.”
A stamped silver tab was held up to Willow, “For keeping your mouth zipped for what you’re about to learn next.”
As they came to a less traveled stretch of road, the cart came to a slow, and then a stop. With a cracking clap of her hands, the golem signaled to the odinkine and spriggans on the back of the cart to pull back the tarpaulin covering what looked like a large haul of processed lumber. A couple of spars were spared however, to make room for a small bundle that glowed from within. It was enough for a glance, to see for sure what was being moved, before it was covered again.
“A piece of Elementialia; raw, unrefined,” explained the merchant golem, giving a swift look about for anyone else coming up and down the road, “Legend has it, in ancient times, the sisters of the Cairn Valley feuded. It’s said that when the Golemmaker, Clever, struck her sister, that her sister’s face fell from her body and shattered upon the floor. They tried to find every broken piece, but failed to find the last, leaving the Constructmaker, Smart, marred forever.”
Four more tabs of silver were drawn up, “The Master of the Yormundyaws demands it now; for what, is not my business. Only an artisan can touch the coalesced shard without becoming unmade.”
A stamped silver tab was held up to Willow, “For keeping your mouth zipped for what you’re about to learn next.”
As they came to a less traveled stretch of road, the cart came to a slow, and then a stop. With a cracking clap of her hands, the golem signaled to the odinkine and spriggans on the back of the cart to pull back the tarpaulin covering what looked like a large haul of processed lumber. A couple of spars were spared however, to make room for a small bundle that glowed from within. It was enough for a glance, to see for sure what was being moved, before it was covered again.
“A piece of Elementialia; raw, unrefined,” explained the merchant golem, giving a swift look about for anyone else coming up and down the road, “Legend has it, in ancient times, the sisters of the Cairn Valley feuded. It’s said that when the Golemmaker, Clever, struck her sister, that her sister’s face fell from her body and shattered upon the floor. They tried to find every broken piece, but failed to find the last, leaving the Constructmaker, Smart, marred forever.”
Four more tabs of silver were drawn up, “The Master of the Yormundyaws demands it now; for what, is not my business. Only an artisan can touch the coalesced shard without becoming unmade.”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Just as she had been about to make a conversion rate joke between pounds and pounds, Willow opted to hold her tongue as the construct alluded to some juicy details. Palming the silver, she made a quick inspection of it before tucking it into an interior pocket. Sure enough, the reveal was properly impressive and elicited an appreciative ooh from the teen.
"Oh cats, did they say that is a piece of Smart?" Willow considered the story. A raw shard of what was, ostensibly, creation itself; and Diligence wanted it? He was supposed to be a craftsman, so what in the world was he trying to create with the shard? Per her usual defiant urges, as soon as it was stated only an Artisan could touch the shard Willow immediately wanted to try herself. Humans were weird here, she'd probably be fine. Regardless, the golem was going the same direction she was, and offering to pay. What's more, if Willow were to help with the delivery she'd probably ingratiate herself somewhat with the Artisan.
"So, if the Mountain King wants it so bad, why are you dodging the law rather than getting escorted by them?"
"Oh cats, did they say that is a piece of Smart?" Willow considered the story. A raw shard of what was, ostensibly, creation itself; and Diligence wanted it? He was supposed to be a craftsman, so what in the world was he trying to create with the shard? Per her usual defiant urges, as soon as it was stated only an Artisan could touch the shard Willow immediately wanted to try herself. Humans were weird here, she'd probably be fine. Regardless, the golem was going the same direction she was, and offering to pay. What's more, if Willow were to help with the delivery she'd probably ingratiate herself somewhat with the Artisan.
"So, if the Mountain King wants it so bad, why are you dodging the law rather than getting escorted by them?"
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
“You’re not very bright, are you?” answered the golem, with a lingering gaze that spoke of her incredulity, “You fall on your head?”
Bjorn, silent to this point, puffed out his breast and fanned out his wings.
“Watch your circuit, smuggler,” growled the winged thane on Willow’s shoulder, “This is Willow Metal-eater, free-agent of the middle realm, tamer of wraiths; show some respect. She is on a mission of great import.”
“I’d not care if she were sweet Clever herself, stupid is stupid.”
The allomancer could see Bjorn moving a talon to the hilt of his small sword. His grim visage was darkened further by annoyance and irritation. Yet, despite this, he spoke aside to Willow in a voice he struggled only for her to hear, “We, the small people, bear ourselves in the image of our creators. Quarrids carry the hatred of Diligence, and the canidaer have the suspicion of Noble. Quarrids don’t leave the mountains, and when they do, it almost always comes to blows with the canidaer.”
“No, you idiot, the canidaer would seize the cart,” admonished the golem, now irritated, “they’d take the shard and put it away. Agents of the Forestblight would advance the end of the world with it, and the Canidaer, like the Law-bringer, would stow it away, or try to pass it to Smart to fix her broken face. Either way, they would assume their goals more noble, and take it.”
Bjorn, silent to this point, puffed out his breast and fanned out his wings.
“Watch your circuit, smuggler,” growled the winged thane on Willow’s shoulder, “This is Willow Metal-eater, free-agent of the middle realm, tamer of wraiths; show some respect. She is on a mission of great import.”
“I’d not care if she were sweet Clever herself, stupid is stupid.”
The allomancer could see Bjorn moving a talon to the hilt of his small sword. His grim visage was darkened further by annoyance and irritation. Yet, despite this, he spoke aside to Willow in a voice he struggled only for her to hear, “We, the small people, bear ourselves in the image of our creators. Quarrids carry the hatred of Diligence, and the canidaer have the suspicion of Noble. Quarrids don’t leave the mountains, and when they do, it almost always comes to blows with the canidaer.”
“No, you idiot, the canidaer would seize the cart,” admonished the golem, now irritated, “they’d take the shard and put it away. Agents of the Forestblight would advance the end of the world with it, and the Canidaer, like the Law-bringer, would stow it away, or try to pass it to Smart to fix her broken face. Either way, they would assume their goals more noble, and take it.”
Last edited by Kokuten on Tue Dec 26, 2023 10:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
The tension between Bjorn and the golem was split by cadenced laughter. It was a genuine laugh that saw Willow lean back and pat her chest as she raised her other hand in front of her companion. While true, she had been seeing a bit of red at the insults like Bjorn, the odinkine's explanation snapped into place like a puzzle piece.
"You heard 'em, Bjorn," Willow said as her laughing stilled. "This golem is the spitting image of the Golemmaker herself. The acerbic way they make their points... why, I thought I was back on that beach for a second, so much so we must remember that this here golem... is not clever."
Willow's words were sharp and pointed. Hooking her thumbs in her belt, the Brit planted her boot against the side of the driving bench with enough force to rattle the cart and leaned in menacingly.
"Y'ur the one askin' me for help, smallfolk. Talk that way to me or my partner again and Ah'll personally use you to see what really happens when one of yall touches that there shard. Ya get me?"
"You heard 'em, Bjorn," Willow said as her laughing stilled. "This golem is the spitting image of the Golemmaker herself. The acerbic way they make their points... why, I thought I was back on that beach for a second, so much so we must remember that this here golem... is not clever."
Willow's words were sharp and pointed. Hooking her thumbs in her belt, the Brit planted her boot against the side of the driving bench with enough force to rattle the cart and leaned in menacingly.
"Y'ur the one askin' me for help, smallfolk. Talk that way to me or my partner again and Ah'll personally use you to see what really happens when one of yall touches that there shard. Ya get me?"
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
The golem’s domed head retracted into its body, with her limbs following shortly afterwards. Her porcinepine shuddered to a stop as it felt the cart halt. All of the odinkine in the rear fluttered off the back, and the one remaining spriggan tumbled to the ground. The woody smallkin burst into a ball of shadowy tangles, before erupting into another odinkine, furiously flapping its wings to keep from hitting the dirt.
“There’s no need for that!” beeped the golem, from the safety of her torso, “This is just business. I’m doing business!”
“Helen, this isn’t worth it, let’s just go,” said one of the odinkine, perching on the edge of the bench.
“Keep it to yourself! Don’t you see? This is the kind of person the quarrids will respect.”
“When do you know anything about quarrids? You’ve only ever done business in the Hills!”
“I don’t pay you,” the golem’s head rose and split, revealing a more defined face, which got into the face of the odinkine, “to back talk me, Jurik.”
When Helen looked back at Willow, the Allomancer would find the golem’s facial features reminiscent of the homunculus Clever had used. Her eyes gave some sense of emotion, as well as her wringing hands, that she meant to win Willow over. Mouthlessly, she hummed eagerly, “Forgive me, Metal-eater, was it? I’m Helen. So rude. So silly. Ha ha. I must be malfunctioning. What I meant to say was, I think your services are worth seven pounds, to guide us into the Yormundyaws.”
Bjorn’s sword sheath rattled as he scoffed, and Helen’s domed head closed over her more presentable one, “Eight pounds? I’ll do eight and two ounces. Let’s call it five ounces and say we started from here.”
“There’s no need for that!” beeped the golem, from the safety of her torso, “This is just business. I’m doing business!”
“Helen, this isn’t worth it, let’s just go,” said one of the odinkine, perching on the edge of the bench.
“Keep it to yourself! Don’t you see? This is the kind of person the quarrids will respect.”
“When do you know anything about quarrids? You’ve only ever done business in the Hills!”
“I don’t pay you,” the golem’s head rose and split, revealing a more defined face, which got into the face of the odinkine, “to back talk me, Jurik.”
When Helen looked back at Willow, the Allomancer would find the golem’s facial features reminiscent of the homunculus Clever had used. Her eyes gave some sense of emotion, as well as her wringing hands, that she meant to win Willow over. Mouthlessly, she hummed eagerly, “Forgive me, Metal-eater, was it? I’m Helen. So rude. So silly. Ha ha. I must be malfunctioning. What I meant to say was, I think your services are worth seven pounds, to guide us into the Yormundyaws.”
Bjorn’s sword sheath rattled as he scoffed, and Helen’s domed head closed over her more presentable one, “Eight pounds? I’ll do eight and two ounces. Let’s call it five ounces and say we started from here.”
Re: [The Dorms] A Perilous Acquaintance
Willow leaned a bit closer and lowered her voice.
"Tell ya what, make it a solid nine and I'll do two things: I'll let this whole incident blow over like it never happened, plus next time me 'n' sweet Clever are hanging out I won't mention a certain malfunctioning golem. After all, no need to let something like this reflect poorly on her, am I right?"
Confident in the effectiveness of the intimidation and subsequent coercion, Willow leaned back and took a step back from the cart with her thumbs still hooked in her belt.
"Now, Helen," her tone was lighter now, but still held an edge. "Pay half up front, and we can get this show on the road. Lot's o' ground to cover, and don't want this cargo dallying out where something bad might happen to it."
"Tell ya what, make it a solid nine and I'll do two things: I'll let this whole incident blow over like it never happened, plus next time me 'n' sweet Clever are hanging out I won't mention a certain malfunctioning golem. After all, no need to let something like this reflect poorly on her, am I right?"
Confident in the effectiveness of the intimidation and subsequent coercion, Willow leaned back and took a step back from the cart with her thumbs still hooked in her belt.
"Now, Helen," her tone was lighter now, but still held an edge. "Pay half up front, and we can get this show on the road. Lot's o' ground to cover, and don't want this cargo dallying out where something bad might happen to it."