Crafting Guildhall Logo [https://imgur.com/RUeKFjF.jpg]
“Looking for work, Sojourner?” A burly woman shouted to Alice as she walked into the guildhall with the hammer and anvil sign above the door. She nodded, though, in truth, she wasn’t really sure that she was looking for work. It was more that she was looking for purpose. Having eaten, as Captain Azeri had suggested, she now felt a bit aimless.
“You’ve come to the right place, then. This is the Crafting Guildhall.” Alice could have guessed as much, considering the area was filled with crafters’ stalls. People were weaving, others hammering away, and still others were sawing wood. “Feel free to ask around. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of folks are paying for materials and ingredients.”
Alice thanked the woman for the information and wandered through the stalls. There were jewelers, smiths, woodworkers, weavers, alchemists, chefs, bakers, leatherworkers, fletchers, and crafters of types that Alice couldn’t even place. Some workers were fellow Sojourners. Alice was getting good at distinguishing them by their necklaces or, if that failed, most of them also had guides like Sprink.
A Painting of the Crafting Guildhall [https://imgur.com/OYiz2I0.jpg]
As Alice looked over the booths and stalls, she had the uneasy feeling that she was being watched. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she rushed past the next stall and turned the corner, trying to get away just in case her feeling was correct. After making the turn, she peeked back around the corner to see if she spotted anyone.
“I knew it!” Alice said to herself. It was the same green cloaked, red-haired person from before. And they were walking toward her. “Hey, Sprink?” Alice whispered to her companion before dashing down and past a few more stalls and turning another corner.
“Yes?” Her guide bounced and bobbed as it kept pace.
“Is there any way that you could...” Alice broke off, unsure how to word what she wanted to say. She needed to be delicate, as she wasn’t sure of the proper etiquette with other species. “What I mean to say is, can you be less bright?”
“Oh, yes. Are you worried that the other Sojourner is tracking you by the light I’m giving off?” Alice nodded. “Very well then. I can be unsummoned and summoned at will by my charge. All you need to do is make one hand into a fist and the other into a flat plane — like you are playing rock, paper, scissors. That’s it. Now just cover the paper with the rock and—”
As Alice completed the motion, Sprink vanished. Now she just had to get some more distance to lose that creep. A few more twists and turns and she felt like she had lost them completely.
“Ho there, traveler!” A short and lean man with glasses waved Alice over to his stall. Alembics filled with various concoctions lined the shelves behind the crafter and he seemed to have stopped in the middle of grinding some colorful ingredient in a mortar and pestle in order to call out to Alice. As she walked over to the fellow, he smiled and said, “My name is Phineas. You wouldn’t happen to be looking for something to do, would you? I have an ingredient that I could use some help in obtaining.”
Alice tried to play it cool. “I’m listening.”
“I’m in need of a rare ingredient. There're dents to be had, of course. If you don’t mind a little danger, that is.”
Alice wasn’t sure she was equipped for danger. She didn’t even have a weapon. Still, the man’s request had piqued her interest. “What sort of danger?”
Phineas shrugged. “I’m not actually sure. I’ve sent my apprentice to the Isle of Wisps, but he didn’t return. So, I asked my guildmate to send his apprentice, and she, too, never returned. What could be keeping them is anyone’s guess.”
Alice nodded, wondering if she could make a deal that was beneficial for both of them. “It sounds like it could be quite dangerous. I might need some new gear if I’m going to do that. Any chance for an advance on the reward?”
The alchemist looked like he’d eaten something sour, his mouth twisting in distaste. But, to Alice’s surprise, he agreed. “Very well. My need is great. I’m nearly to the point that I will require wisp oil to continue my work. If I don’t get any soon, the whole thing is going to be wasted. I can give you four gold dents for your trouble. Two now and two more when you return. In fact, make it before sundown and I’ll double the second half!” Phineas looked thoughtful for a moment and then added, “That would be six altogether for a quick turnaround. I forget you brawny sorts aren’t always good with math.”
It was Alice’s turn to look affronted, but she held her tongue. “You’ve got a deal,” Alice said, putting her right hand out to shake on it.
Phineas looked at her hand quizzically for a moment before realization dawned on his face. “Ah... Yes... It’s a Sojourner custom. I’m to hold on to your hand while you try to escape my grasp, correct?” Without waiting for an answer, the man grabbed Alice’s hand in both of his. She tried to yank her hand out of his grasp, but he had quite a firm grip for such a small person. Eventually, after much wriggling and pulling, Alice managed to free her hand. As she did so, Phineas nodded matter-of-factly. “You folk really do have some strange customs. Anyway, don’t forget your coins!” He laughed to himself and handed Alice two gold dents.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“You wouldn’t happen to know a good blacksmith, would you?” Alice asked as she checked her inventory to see how much money she had.
> B5 C5 S8 G2 P0
“You should check with RuneKiss. She’s one of the best blacksmiths around and she’s a Sojourner, like you.” Phineas pointed down a few stalls to one that was nearly surrounded by people.
As Alice pushed her way through the crowd so she could get a look at RuneKiss’ wares, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d even be able to afford anything she had made. If a smith was this popular, her prices were probably far too high. Finally, she made it to the front of the crowd and saw why so many people had gathered. RuneKiss — or so Alice assumed — was working on a blade.
The Sojourner woman was wearing a black apron over clothing that looked very similar to Alice’s own. Her strawberry blonde hair was up in a ponytail, no doubt to keep it out of the way of her work, and a generous number of freckles sprinkled her face. She held a hammer in both hands as she worked, which was a technique Alice had never seen.
The scimitar on the woman’s anvil was nearly finished, it seemed, but as she struck it a final time with her hammer, Alice swore she could feel the heat from the sparks that flew off. Wiping sweat from her brow, RuneKiss set the hammer down and lifted the sword to inspect it. The blade was beautiful. As RuneKiss conjured water from thin air to cool the blade, Alice decided that the curve of the sword reminded her of a crescent moon and noticed swirling patterns taking shape within the metal. The blade seemed to continue to glow, even after it cooled, and Alice knew she had to have it.
Alice almost bumped into the person standing behind her when RuneKiss tested the blade, swiping it left and right in the air in front of her before handing it to her apprentice, who hung the weapon on the wall behind her with the other weapons she had for sale. The crowd burst into applause while RuneKiss surveyed the gathered mass. As her eyes moved over the group of people, they seemed to linger for a moment on Alice, though she couldn’t be sure if it was only her imagination.
RuneKiss turned and whispered something in her apprentice’s ear before pushing aside a cloth hanging near the back of the stall and disappearing inside. The apprentice stepped forward and addressed the crowd. “That’s it for today, folks! RuneKiss is retiring for the afternoon. Thanks for all your support, and remember, our shop is always open!”
At this, the crowd dispersed, so Alice took the opportunity to approach the counter, which a merchant moved forward to man. She was far from the only person to do so, however, and Alice hoped that the scimitar RuneKiss had just made would still be available when she reached the counter.
As she waited in line for her turn, however, the apprentice approached her. “Would you mind coming with me?” she asked, holding out her clenched fist to Alice.
“Um,” Alice said uncertainly, cupping her hands beneath the apprentice’s. A small paper fell into her palms from the other girl’s hand. Alice unfolded it and read what was written inside:
> I’d like to meet you. — RuneKiss
“Are you sure she meant me?” Alice asked the apprentice, who nodded in response. “But I’m no one. I just got here.”
“That,” the apprentice said matter-of-factly, “is exactly why she would like to see you.” With that, the apprentice started walking toward the entrance RuneKiss had disappeared through. Alice couldn’t think of any reason not to follow, so she did.
As she slipped past the curtain and into the back of the stall, Alice had to take a moment for her eyes to adjust.
“Sorry,” a voice said from the dim room, “I prefer the dark sometimes. It’s... comforting to me. Sort of feels like home.”
Alice wasn’t sure what to say, so the silenced dragged on for a bit while her eyes adjusted. Once she could finally see, she saw a small sitting room, and that RuneKiss was relaxing on a sofa situated against one wall.
“You know, you could have just summoned your guide to light up the area. But I appreciate you respecting my situation.” Alice had completely forgotten about Sprink, but it seemed that was for the best. “I can tell by your breathing that your eyes are adjusting. You seem a little less panicked. Would you care to sit down?” RuneKiss motioned to one of the other sofas and Alice took a seat. “What’s your name? You’re a newbie, right?”
“A what?” Alice hadn’t ever heard that word before. RuneKiss chuckled, but said nothing. Then Alice remembered the other half of her question. “Err... I’m Alice.”
“That’s funny. Sounds like a regular name, not a handle. I’m RuneKiss. It’s nice to meet you.” Alice was extremely confused at this point. A regular name? What did that mean? This girl was really strange. “Anyway... I wanted to offer you some free gear, since you’re new and all. Someone did the same for me when I started playing, so I when I saw you looking all doe-eyed at that shamshir I was making, I figured it’s only fair if I pass along the goodwill.”
“Playing? Playing what?” Alice asked.
“Oh... You’re one of those hardcore role players, right?” RuneKiss smiled.
“Role players? I’m not sure what you mean.”
RuneKiss winked at Alice. “Oh, I’m sure you don’t. Sorry about that.” Alice was beyond flummoxed now, but before she could ask for more clarification, RuneKiss continued, “Anyway, why don’t you open up your inventory? I sent you a trade request. You should be able to tell by the sound in your headset.”
Alice wasn’t sure what a headset was, and she had heard nothing unusual, but she opened up her inventory obediently. Sure enough, there was a dialogue box with a trade request from RuneKiss. Alice accepted the trade, still confused about what was going on. RuneKiss placed several items in the trade area and then her name turned yellow, indicating she had made the offer. Alice accepted and was taken back to the inventory screen. She closed it out for now. She’d have time to look at the gear later.
“All right newbie...” RuneKiss giggled. “Or should I say, ‘Good day to thee, I bid thee farewell, till next our paths do cross?’” At this, she burst out laughing in truth.
Alice didn’t really get the joke, but tried to fake a laugh, hoping it wasn’t too obvious that she was being disingenuous. RuneKiss had given her free gear, after all. She didn’t want to seem rude. Which reminded her...
“Thank you, RuneKiss.” Alice bowed slightly, unsure of the best way to show her appreciation. “I will use this equipment to the best of my ability.” Thinking of the scimitar, she added, “And I’ll be back to buy that shamshir! Hopefully soon!”
RuneKiss laughed again. “I’ll hold it for you, Alice. Go get ‘em, girl!”
At this, Alice felt a twinge of something. Longing? She couldn’t quite place it.
The apprentice must have remained within earshot, because as the conversation wound down, she reappeared to escort Alice back out into the guildhall proper. She took one last look at the scimitar before walking out of the Crafting Guildhall. The difference in Alice’s posture from when she entered to when she exited would have been obvious to any observer. Now she walked with purpose.