Post by Fernleaf on Jun 8, 2024 17:34:04 GMT
(A discussion between Fern and Safire, taking place directly after Unexpected Guests)
Following the day's events, the party spent time dividing the gold and coming up with a complex way of allocating the various whiskies.
Safire finishes her drink, slamming the tankard on the table and standing up with a bow. "As always, it's been a pleasure. Next time you're in Port Ffirst, look me up. Till the next crisis!"
With a flourish she leaves, winking at the bouncer at the door and making her way down the paths that will eventually lead her to Port Ffirst.
Her share of the gold left on the table.
---
"Safire forgot the gold" Fern mumbles to no one in particular and starts towards the door.
Halfway there they stop, remembering previous conversations about gold disappearing if left unattended, pivot and go back to the table. Breathing a sigh of relief that the large pile of glinting coin hasn't vanished, they look around the table once more and carefully scoops Safire's share off the table and into a separate pouch on their bandolier, then rushes out the door. They don't speak or make eye contact with anyone on the way outside. Reaching the street they look around for Safire, glad to be outside again.
The sky at least looked the same as it had back home, even if nothing else did. The breeze felt odd, twisting around the straight sides of buildings, without the rustle of forest leaves. The cobbles and flowers trapped in neat rectangles still made Fern think they were in a dream with the strangeness of it all. Remembering why they were outside, Fern started frantically scanning the streets and building nooks, realizing they didn't even know which direction to look first. Spotting movement, Fern is glad to see Safire up ahead, their fast walk turning to a jog while shouting, "SAFIRE!"
Safire pauses mid step and slightly tenses. Someone screaming her name in the street has never usually been a good thing in her experience. But as she turns and sees Fern approaching, she visibly relaxes and smiles. Holding out her arms as she speaks "Fern! You heading my way?"
Fern halts next to Safire, "You left your share on the table. I brought it for you." they reach into their bandolier and begin carefully extracting the coins, "And I don't know where I'm heading. I'm still not even sure where I am!"
Safire raises an eyebrow out of curiosity before a smirk crosses her face. When she speaks she's obviously being deceptive, but not unkind. "Oh? Did I? How careless of me. Nevermind, you keep it. Call it a finders fee."
"Finder's fee?" Fern says in confusion. "But we all found the goblins. This is your part of that fee."
"Indeed. I was paid the fee, then neglected to pick it up. You found it therefore... finders keepers."
Fern's eyes narrow and mouth thins from their previous expression of concern. "That's what children say when they've stolen someone's prized possession. I never want to be that sort of 'finder'." They hold the pile of coins out to Safire. "This is your portion of what we got paid for with the goblins. It is yours." Fern tilts their head to one side with a slight smile. "Besides, you seem to like to drink, so you need this for alcohol. You could probably even get something that is better quality."
Safire sighs with a smile. "OK! OK, I see how it is. But I still insist you take it. I don't need it, I have enough money to get me through comfortably. You said you woke up here in a cart? See, it wasn't that long ago I was like you. I washed up on these shores after my ship was attacked with nothing but the clothes on my back and magic at my fingertips. I had to slum it for a while, and other adventurers showed me a similar kindness." She shrugs. "Figured I'd pay it forward. Besides," her tone switches to slightly defensive, "I like the cheap stuff!"
"Are you sure?" Fern looks at the coins and back to Safire, "I'm used to managing on my own, and trading skills and goods for what I need. I'll manage fine. I already have more coin than I've ever had!"
Safire smiles and taps her own coin purse at her side. "So have I."
Fern slowly retracts their hands with Safire's share of the coin. "Thank you for your generosity. I will be sure to pay it forward when I have the opportunity."
Safire smiles, happy that the matter seems to be resolved. She crosses her arms and tilts her head slightly to the side. "So, fell asleep in a cart, huh?"
"The merchant offered me a ride. We were on a big road quite a ways from home, and it was late. I don't know what happened. I woke up here. I don't know where this is in relation to where I was."
"Interesting... well..." Safire holds her arms out wide gesturing to the city around them. "Daring Heights seems like a good enough place to start finding out, right? I wish I could help you further but I'm still learning about this place myself. Either way, welcome to Kantas."
"There is certainly a lot to find out here! Thank you for your welcome, and the extra gold!"
---
As Fern walked back to the three headed dragon they took their time. It was nice to be outside, not in a building with so many people and so much noise. They turned the polished quartz over and over in their pocket. To earn more money in a single day than the cost of a component pouch…and then to have Safire’s share as well…This was a strange place.
As the night drew in around Fern they pulled the smooth rock from their pouch and cast light on it, as they always did on the trail, the light casting the cobbled street into sharp relief. Perhaps, Fern thought, with this much gold I could buy my own set of carpenter’s tools. It would be nice to not have to borrow.
Following the day's events, the party spent time dividing the gold and coming up with a complex way of allocating the various whiskies.
Safire finishes her drink, slamming the tankard on the table and standing up with a bow. "As always, it's been a pleasure. Next time you're in Port Ffirst, look me up. Till the next crisis!"
With a flourish she leaves, winking at the bouncer at the door and making her way down the paths that will eventually lead her to Port Ffirst.
Her share of the gold left on the table.
---
"Safire forgot the gold" Fern mumbles to no one in particular and starts towards the door.
Halfway there they stop, remembering previous conversations about gold disappearing if left unattended, pivot and go back to the table. Breathing a sigh of relief that the large pile of glinting coin hasn't vanished, they look around the table once more and carefully scoops Safire's share off the table and into a separate pouch on their bandolier, then rushes out the door. They don't speak or make eye contact with anyone on the way outside. Reaching the street they look around for Safire, glad to be outside again.
The sky at least looked the same as it had back home, even if nothing else did. The breeze felt odd, twisting around the straight sides of buildings, without the rustle of forest leaves. The cobbles and flowers trapped in neat rectangles still made Fern think they were in a dream with the strangeness of it all. Remembering why they were outside, Fern started frantically scanning the streets and building nooks, realizing they didn't even know which direction to look first. Spotting movement, Fern is glad to see Safire up ahead, their fast walk turning to a jog while shouting, "SAFIRE!"
Safire pauses mid step and slightly tenses. Someone screaming her name in the street has never usually been a good thing in her experience. But as she turns and sees Fern approaching, she visibly relaxes and smiles. Holding out her arms as she speaks "Fern! You heading my way?"
Fern halts next to Safire, "You left your share on the table. I brought it for you." they reach into their bandolier and begin carefully extracting the coins, "And I don't know where I'm heading. I'm still not even sure where I am!"
Safire raises an eyebrow out of curiosity before a smirk crosses her face. When she speaks she's obviously being deceptive, but not unkind. "Oh? Did I? How careless of me. Nevermind, you keep it. Call it a finders fee."
"Finder's fee?" Fern says in confusion. "But we all found the goblins. This is your part of that fee."
"Indeed. I was paid the fee, then neglected to pick it up. You found it therefore... finders keepers."
Fern's eyes narrow and mouth thins from their previous expression of concern. "That's what children say when they've stolen someone's prized possession. I never want to be that sort of 'finder'." They hold the pile of coins out to Safire. "This is your portion of what we got paid for with the goblins. It is yours." Fern tilts their head to one side with a slight smile. "Besides, you seem to like to drink, so you need this for alcohol. You could probably even get something that is better quality."
Safire sighs with a smile. "OK! OK, I see how it is. But I still insist you take it. I don't need it, I have enough money to get me through comfortably. You said you woke up here in a cart? See, it wasn't that long ago I was like you. I washed up on these shores after my ship was attacked with nothing but the clothes on my back and magic at my fingertips. I had to slum it for a while, and other adventurers showed me a similar kindness." She shrugs. "Figured I'd pay it forward. Besides," her tone switches to slightly defensive, "I like the cheap stuff!"
"Are you sure?" Fern looks at the coins and back to Safire, "I'm used to managing on my own, and trading skills and goods for what I need. I'll manage fine. I already have more coin than I've ever had!"
Safire smiles and taps her own coin purse at her side. "So have I."
Fern slowly retracts their hands with Safire's share of the coin. "Thank you for your generosity. I will be sure to pay it forward when I have the opportunity."
Safire smiles, happy that the matter seems to be resolved. She crosses her arms and tilts her head slightly to the side. "So, fell asleep in a cart, huh?"
"The merchant offered me a ride. We were on a big road quite a ways from home, and it was late. I don't know what happened. I woke up here. I don't know where this is in relation to where I was."
"Interesting... well..." Safire holds her arms out wide gesturing to the city around them. "Daring Heights seems like a good enough place to start finding out, right? I wish I could help you further but I'm still learning about this place myself. Either way, welcome to Kantas."
"There is certainly a lot to find out here! Thank you for your welcome, and the extra gold!"
---
As Fern walked back to the three headed dragon they took their time. It was nice to be outside, not in a building with so many people and so much noise. They turned the polished quartz over and over in their pocket. To earn more money in a single day than the cost of a component pouch…and then to have Safire’s share as well…This was a strange place.
As the night drew in around Fern they pulled the smooth rock from their pouch and cast light on it, as they always did on the trail, the light casting the cobbled street into sharp relief. Perhaps, Fern thought, with this much gold I could buy my own set of carpenter’s tools. It would be nice to not have to borrow.