Post by Varis/G'Lorth/Sundilar on Mar 13, 2020 20:11:08 GMT
A strange sound fills the small workshop in the back of Balthazar’s jewellery shop. The diminutive proprietor pokes an oily head around the curtain, his annoyed frown morphing to an expression of pure bafflement.
Sundilar the Arcane, warmage to Arnok Manflayer, most powerful of the Ironskull Clan’s arcanists, is whistling while he works.
In a small vice before him, something of exceptional beauty is taking shape. The brooch resembles a lily in bloom, delicate white-gold petals opening to reveal a rose cut topaz at the centre.
“Calipers” he barks at the invisible force hovering beside him. Compared to his usual dyspeptic sneer, he sounds almost jovial. Tool floats through the air toward him and he snags it without looking up from his work. Balthazar clears his throat quietly.
“Ah...everything alright back here?”
The hairless, tattooed head snaps up, jet black eyes fixing on the gnome. An unpleasant smile spreads across his face, more a baring of pointed teeth than anything. He waves imperiously for the man to approach.
“Master Balthazar, just in time. It is almost done. A piece of extraordinary quality, wouldn’t you agree?”
The smaller man fits a jeweler’s loup into his left eye and inspects the work. Finally, he looks up at his some-time employee.
“Very fine work indeed” he admits, only a little grudgingly. Sundilar smirks.
“An understatement. It is exquisite. Your highborn ladies will be falling over each other trying to acquire it.”
The gnome nods, a distant, covetous glint entering his eye. Sundilar snaps a finger under his nose to bring him back to reality.
“I expect to be paid well for this work, gnome. You will not find better in this woe-begotten town.”
Balthazar’s smile turns sickly, fading as fast as it came.
“Perhaps. But you will have to finish it first, master mage.”
With that, he turns and walks back through the curtain into the front of the shop. With a derisive snort, Sundilar goes back to his work. The man would pay him, and pay him well. He was a coward at heart, and would not dare to try and cheat someone as powerful as Sundilar the Arcane. With a vicious smile, he redoubles his efforts.
In the front of the shop, Balthazar winces as a breathy, tuneless drone fills the small space.
“Bloody wizards” he mutters to himself, and goes back to polishing the display cases.
Sundilar the Arcane, warmage to Arnok Manflayer, most powerful of the Ironskull Clan’s arcanists, is whistling while he works.
In a small vice before him, something of exceptional beauty is taking shape. The brooch resembles a lily in bloom, delicate white-gold petals opening to reveal a rose cut topaz at the centre.
“Calipers” he barks at the invisible force hovering beside him. Compared to his usual dyspeptic sneer, he sounds almost jovial. Tool floats through the air toward him and he snags it without looking up from his work. Balthazar clears his throat quietly.
“Ah...everything alright back here?”
The hairless, tattooed head snaps up, jet black eyes fixing on the gnome. An unpleasant smile spreads across his face, more a baring of pointed teeth than anything. He waves imperiously for the man to approach.
“Master Balthazar, just in time. It is almost done. A piece of extraordinary quality, wouldn’t you agree?”
The smaller man fits a jeweler’s loup into his left eye and inspects the work. Finally, he looks up at his some-time employee.
“Very fine work indeed” he admits, only a little grudgingly. Sundilar smirks.
“An understatement. It is exquisite. Your highborn ladies will be falling over each other trying to acquire it.”
The gnome nods, a distant, covetous glint entering his eye. Sundilar snaps a finger under his nose to bring him back to reality.
“I expect to be paid well for this work, gnome. You will not find better in this woe-begotten town.”
Balthazar’s smile turns sickly, fading as fast as it came.
“Perhaps. But you will have to finish it first, master mage.”
With that, he turns and walks back through the curtain into the front of the shop. With a derisive snort, Sundilar goes back to his work. The man would pay him, and pay him well. He was a coward at heart, and would not dare to try and cheat someone as powerful as Sundilar the Arcane. With a vicious smile, he redoubles his efforts.
In the front of the shop, Balthazar winces as a breathy, tuneless drone fills the small space.
“Bloody wizards” he mutters to himself, and goes back to polishing the display cases.