[Location] The Aedile's Office

[Kalinda]

Urck

Minhiriath thought about Urck’s question for a moment – almost as if she thought that it was possible that he tried to pay with false money, but then she shook her head very gently. “No, Sir, you actually look rather intelligent …” She paused as if she wanted to add something like for an orc “… but there are people who actually try it. Besides, it’s part of the rules. My superiors want me to check each and every banknote. If I refused to do so, I would get into trouble. And you don’t want that, do you?” The elf smiled at him and put the money away.

She did not say anything as she looked at his visa, but merely opened a drawer, removed a house deed from it and handed the orc a pen. “Just sign your name on the bottom of this deed, and the house is yours,” she told him. At the mention of a weapon store she arched an eyebrow, obviously wondering why he wanted to know that. “There is Dubby. He runs the Elegant Blades Weapons Shop. He’s a hobbit, a rather friendly fellow who used to go on adventures when he was younger. Do you want to know anything specific about him? I assume you want to buy something from him?”

[Kalinda]

Amber

“Fantastic,” Minhiriath remarked as Amber said that she would take the house. “You won’t regret it …” She took the money and briefly looked over it – her superiors wanted her to check each and every banknote she received to make sure it wasn’t fake – and put it away. She trusted the fae – she did not look like a criminal, but rules were unfortunately rules. From a drawer of her desk she removed a house deed and placed it in front of the fae.

She suddenly realized that there was a problem. Her pen was much too big for the fae. But maybe if Amber held it with both hands … “You need to sign your name on the deed,” she said and then added, “And I have to see your visa …” How big was a fae’s visa? It was probably tiny. Would she even be able to read it? She wasn’t sure at all. Maybe she should get fae sized pens and a magnifying glass just in case more fae decided to visit her.

[Amber Brightwing]

She was sure she wouldn't regret it. A small place in the safe part of town, how could that be a bad thing? She frowned when she saw the elf checking the banknotes. It was something she hadn't expected, but strangely it didn't really surprise her either. If only half of the things she had heard about this city were truth, it would still be a place you rather avoided. Unless you needed something from it of course.

So she needed to sign her deed, but unfortunately there weren’t any fae sized things available. While she was thinking about how she would manage to use the big pen, she got out her visa. The person who made it must have known the possible trouble that a small visa could have. It was a much smaller version compared to normal visa, but the writings on it were still large enough to be readable by the larger races. That is, if their eyes were still in a good condition.

After she placed her visa on the table she walked over to the pen. With some effort she managed to lift its end from the floor. Standing on its point, it was nearly as big as she was. As there weren’t any smaller pens around, she would have to it with this one. With the end rested on her shoulder and using both her hands to move the tip around she started to draw her signature on the deed. It took her a while, but eventually she managed to finish something that resembled her signature. It looked a little crappy, because she had sometimes lifted the pen and walked a little further before she started writing again. But she believed it was close enough to be a believable signature. She was glad she could put the pen back down. The writing had been tiring, mainly for her legs as he didn’t use them that much.

[Urck]

Urck watched as the elven woman shook her thin head slightly in response to Urck's question. He brought a quick smile to his green face as he listened to the first sentence to come from the elf's lips. "Why thank you, you don't look that bad yourself Ms..." Urck replied, pausing for a moment to give the woman a chance to fill in her own name, but he allowed only a moment of silence to pass before asking for it himself. "I do not believe that you have told me your name. Might there be a chance that I could have it?" Urck asked simply, choosing to ignore the thought that she was most likely not sincere in your statement regarding Urck's appearance. He did not doubt that even now she was fighting hard to not stand up in call him ugly. After all what elf could ever get beyond that wall built from pure racism long enough to judge him based on who he was rather then what he was? Not that he wanted that, for he knew for sure that if any elf knew who he was they would dislike him even more then if they had simply decided on judging by his race. He wanted to press the point more, to call what he assumed to be a bluff simply to make it so this conversation did not turn into one of the horrible 'say what you want, pay crowns, leave' situations that seemed to happen every time Urck placed his light foot inside the doors of a typical business. For now though, he decided to simply play on with the flow of the conversation. Having the person who was selling you something worth a lot of crowns as an enemy probably would not be the best idea. And if he could somehow get this woman not dislike him then at least one person in this dangerous city would know of him. Having a potential ally that had access to a place that no doubt contained a very large sum of crowns would be something highly desirable, even if he had to do a bit of manipulation to get that.

"Of course I would not want someone as great as you to get into trouble, it would make the rest of my purchases here so much less pleasant. Besides, I dare imagine what time in a gaol would do to your beauty." Urck replied casually, playing along with whatever game that the elf played with him, pushing it one step further. To him, the words that were said to him were always negative. Friendliness was a foreign concept to an orc who spent his entire life thinking of himself and only himself. It was what got him where he was now and he had no plans on changing that way of thinking any time soon. He wanted power more then he wanted friends. He wanted wealth more then the fuzzy feeling of friendship.

Urck took the offered pen between two surprisingly long fingers. [b]"A hobbit?"[b] Urck asked, beginning to twirl the pen around his hand between his green-skinned digits. "No, that won't do" he said, acting as though it was the word 'hobbit' that had made him reconsider his question to the elf. It was the word 'adventurer' that had actually made him think over his choice of store. Adventurers often knew how to protect themselves, something that would not work well with Urck's plans. "My friend owns a store here in Vortex. He said it was a weapon store but I never really believed him. How about the owner of something different, probably a general store, would you happen to know anything of them?" Urck asked, his voice carrying that polite way of speaking that he had perfected years ago even though politeness was most definitely not one of the traits that the orc carried. He stopped twirling the pen as he finished speaking, the last twirl bringing it neatly between his thumb and forefinger. The orcs eyes grazed over the page, reading it over to make sure everything was as he specified before lowering the pen upon it, quickly scribbling his real name upon it.

[Kalinda]

Amber

Minhiriath breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that the fae’s visa was still big enough for her to read. It clearly had the name “Amber Brightwing” on it which of course meant that the tiny woman was exactly who she claimed to be and that she was allowed to sell the house to her. With a smile she handed it back to the fae.

“Your signature is fine,” the elven woman said as if she could read Amber’s mind. She knew that she would not be able to write with a pen that was almost as big as she – not that she would ever have the opportunity to try. The biggest creatures in the world – the biggest intelligent ones anyway – were giants, and they were only three times as big as a human or an elf.

“The deed is yours, Miss Brightwing,” she continued. “You will find the adress on it. I hope you’ll like your new apartment …”

[Kalinda]

Urck

Minhiriath almost smiled at Urck’s comment – but only almost. The corners of her mouth twitched a little. “Minhiriath, my name is Minhiriath,” she told him and struggled to look serious and professional again, just like before. He really wasn’t that bad – for an orc – although she shuddered a little when she thought of the things he did when he was not around civilized people. But why did he have to have this horribly green skin? If he looked like an elf, he would actually be somebody she would consider going to dinner with.

“Great?” The elf looked confused for a moment. What kind of orc was he? Orcs were brutes, they were little more than animals, but this orc … this orc would be able to go into the senate and hold his speeches there if the senate still existed and they would let orcs in. “I’m not great,” she stated curtly. “But you are right, I don’t think the gaol would be good for me …” Maybe he would be a little more comfortable there. The gaol did not look too different from an orcish dwelling as far as she was concerned.

“You don’t like hobbits?” she asked. “I should have known that your kind are most comfortable around vysstichi, trolls and orcs. The Vortex General Store is owned by an orc. A rather tiny and stupid orc if I might say so. Rumours say that smugglers were hiding their things in his basement for months without him being aware of it. His name is Urguag, but if he is your friend you already know that …”

[Urck]

With amusement the orcs eyes detected the slight twitch, a subtle movement that would have gone unknown to anybody save the most aware individuals. He nearly had his lips form into a genuine smile as well; making him wonder just what was going on here. He was not a man of lust. He was not a romantic nor was he any kind of lover so why was it that when he spoke flattery to this woman as he had to so many men his lips nearly came into a true smile, one thing that was most definitely rare on his thin face? The answer seemed quite simple, he was pleased with how well and smooth it was going. Having friends in high places was one of the most obvious and well-known rules of success and though he doubted this woman would be able to pull any strings to get him out of a bad situation or would ever knowingly commit a crime to aid him, the keyword being 'knowingly'. As long as he could stay on her good side then he just may be able to lower her guard enough to really do something large. This was a building that had thousands of crowns worth of deeds and banknotes within it's walls. If he could somehow get her to unknowingly sign over some deeds to him then it could mean quite a large profit. He kept reminding himself to keep coming up with schemes to benefit himself no matter how much he hurt anybody, but could it be that the best benefit he would get here would be that of a friend. Nope, or at least he seriously doubted it. He would have fun with her through plain conversation but would eventually get bored, that's what always happened.

"Fine, not great." Urck replied, adopting a mock thoughtful pose as if he was thinking things over for a moment before parting his lips once again. "Perhaps fair, or at least good. I assume you wouldn't accept something like amazing. If you want we could jump right down to horrible and ugly, though I admit I do not enjoy speaking lies." The intellectual orc said, the phrase 'I do not enjoy speaking lies' nearly making him laugh out loud. In truth he enjoyed weaving layer after layer in a web of lies more then anything, even fighting which was most definitely surprising for one of his particularly bloodthirsty race. The satisfaction that came with having somebody fall into that web and getting themselves tangled was more satisfaction then spilling blood ever could give him. Especially when those lies led to not only his personal amusement, but a large gain as well. "We can argue about it all you like, but I did expect a higher self-esteem." Urck said, silently adding you elves always did think too highly of yourselves.

"No no my dear, I do enjoy the company of hobbits. The little things are often the most entertaining of people." Urck replied, though he was quite sure that what he considered to be entertaining would differ very much from what an elf would think of entertaining. Cruelty to such a small person was the best way to describe how the orc found hobbits entertaining, though of course he was not stupid enough to tell that to the elf in front of him. "Trolls are smelly, vysstichi are sneaky, and frankly, orcs are idiots." He continued, for once actually being able to speak the truth. His words did indeed reflect how he felt about those races, not that he still did not like them. Though he did find the odour of trolls to be less then pleasant they were excellent fighters and he did hold a very small measure of respect for them. Vysstichis were sneaky but that was exactly what made them interesting. He had learned a lot from one such vysstichi who had once worked under him. A man who he now assumed, as well as hoped for it's own good, to be dead. And orcs, though they were his people, were one of the dumbest races around and he had no trouble admitting it to others or to himself. As far as Urck was concerned he was different then them all anyways. "It was merely that I was looking for somebody in particular and that somebody is not a hobbit. In fact, you seem to have the description of my friend Urguag down perfectly. That one never was one of the bright ones, then again few are. It amazes me to think that such a stupid individual could come across a business, he never was much of a fighter either."

"But enough about me and my friends. Tell me my dear Minhiriath," The orc began, having no trouble pronouncing the woman's name. One of the many positive effects that came with studying another more intelligent race rather then constantly building up strength. Of course it had made him much smaller then most orcs, but it was a sacrifice he was more then willing to accept. "Why is it that you have that strange plant in the corner when it seems as though it irritates you?" Urck said, misinterpreting that the sneeze she had given upon his entrance was due to an allergy to that particular plant rather then a cold.

[Amber Brightwing]

Thank you very much. I'm sure it will be perfect.

With that she took off, flying backwards for a second and then turning while in the air and flying out of the door. She gave a quick glance on her newly acquired deed, looking for the address. She would need it if she wanted to find her new home.

OOC: Do I need to make a house post? And if so, do I make it in the Shops, Taverns and Businesses forum?

[Kalinda]

Urck

„I’m not ugly!“ the elf protest – before she realized that he had said that he did not enjoy speaking lies. “And I do have high enough self esteem. I just don’t think I’m very special …” She shrugged her shoulders. She was not especially pretty for an elf. A lot of members of her race looked nearly perfect, she actually looked like a mortal – and was considered an idot because she spent her life in a city full of vysstichi. Maybe she was good, but she definitely wasn’t great! The lords and ladies that ruled Silrosia were great, she was a black sheep.

“You do enjoy the company of hobbits?” she asked. Maybe he enjoyed killing them and eating them. He certainly did not seem like somebody who enjoyed a friendly talk and a smoke with one of those short creatures. “But I agree that trolls smell. Not that I have ever seen a troll. But there is a man in town that makes troll skin armour – and his shop is the worst smelling I have ever come across. But calling your own race stupid? I don’t think I would dare to call mine arrogant …”

“You are one of Urguag’s friends?” she asked. “You do not look like it. You seem to be rather intelligent …” Alright, she was repeating herself – but he did not look like the orcs that Urguag usually spent his time with. She had no idea that Urck wasn’t completely honest. She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she was facing an orc who had good manners and spoke in more than just two word sentences. As he asked about her plant however, she frowned and glanced at the thing. “It was a gift from the last aedile. I just couldn’t throw it away …”


Amber

OOC: You don't have to make a house post. But if you want to, you can post in the main forum.

[Urck]

Urck felt the slight chuckle run from his mouth as he heard the woman's protest. He had not meant to actually call her ugly, and he was sure that she knew that just as well as he did, but it still amused the orc to hear an elf say that they were not ugly. After all, what were the chances of meeting an elf who would call themselves ugly? Probably as good as the chances of meeting an orc who could speak proper common. In truth this whole conversation was rather amusing him, far from what he had expected to happen by walking into the office of an Aedile, but it was the unexpected things that made his life great. So amused was he that as he listened to the words that the elf spoke, he found himself forgetting the reason he had come here in the first place. For a few moments Urck had forgotten the fact that he had just purchased yet another building. "My dear it is exactly that which makes you special." Urck replied without hesitation as Minhiriath said that she did not think of herself as special. "What is so special about a flawless beauty amongst hundreds of flawless beauty's? Why would someone perfect be considered special within the walls of a city whose population mostly consists of perfect individuals? The regular elf would have stayed in whatever city it was you came from and lived out her days in an average life by the standards in that city. You, if you don't mind me saying so, are not perfect and you know that which makes you different, therefore special. You had come to a city where few others of your kind live, making you different and therefore special. You see Minhiriath you are special, more special then any of the hundreds of elven lords." Urck said, his concentration focused completely on the elf as he allowed the words to come from his lips as he thought of them. He knew that he was playing a risky game the moment he said that she was not perfect, for from what he had seen from elves most of them considered themselves to be just that, but if she was anywhere close to the woman Urck judged her to be she would not take offence. And Urck's judgments were rarely wrong.

"I do not mind hobbits" Urck said, deciding to move on with the conversation, "As long as they're children are not jumping all around me I am fine with them. I do dislike the size of their homes though, mainly because I would never be able to fit in one." He said in response "Yes, I have heard of that place. I imagine it does smell, live trolls are bad enough but dead must be much worse." Urck recalled his visit to the White Night's Drink Tavern just a short while before coming here. The bartender there had spoken to him of the place that makes troll skin armor, and more importantly the good price they pay for hides. Someday he would have to visit that place, someday soon.

"Distant friends, from long ago." Urck said quickly, trying to get off of the subject before he let something slip out and have the Aedile begin to grow suspicious. "We haven't spoken in a long time, since childhood if I recall correctly." He explained quickly, very much hoping that this elf did not know the other orc too well and have his plans crumble upon him. Urck was very glad when the elf apparently turned her attention upon the plant, and he was even gladder when he saw the look and words that confirmed his suspicions that she did not like the plant. It was amazing how something as small as going to the Aedile's office and noticing a plant could form as a long and complicated idea in the orc's mind, one that would most likely end in a large profit or at least somebody's life being cut short. Everything was falling together so perfectly, much better then he had ever hoped it would. Now though, it was time to put those ideas into action.

"I really must be going Minhiriath, I've stayed too long already. I did rather enjoy this, perhaps I will return." the orc said, turning around to hear the sigh of one of his human companions when he realized that the orc was finally finished. "I almost forgot." He said, pausing at the doorway to turn around "My name is Urck." He said, walking out into the street. That certainly was another odd conversation in the life of Urck, one that was making him think. Urck the friendly orc? Why not give up this life and follow that one, it was so much fun. Urck silently asked himself as he walked down the street. Opening his purse to put the folded deed in and seeing the clusters of banknotes Urck smiled and pushed the ridicules notion away, turning to his Mystic friend. He suspected that the man who was so good at placing ideas in other people’s minds had something to do with that thought, but of course, he would never be sure.

[Drogean]

Two candlemarks past the Brightening of
The third brightening in the second cycle of
Kalendryas, in the Autumn of
Era XI Post-Fractum, The Reign of
Audrey De'lylles in Centripax.

Drogean had come by the road that led from Natura, if the word road could be applied to that barely cleared, and often narrow, strip of packed mud that wound up, down, and through the Ariumite mountains. That part of the road he had been glad to leave behind.

But when the land flattened out, when the mountains became steppes, and the steppes made way to the bogs and birch groves closer to Vortex, Drogean had felt something different. It had rained the whole time, and though that storm could be attributed to the changing of the cycle, it seemed to evoke in him a true appreciation of the land.

He still wondered how crowns could buy such a place. Gladly he would exchange what he had for what he did not.

The inside of the Aedile's amplified the same feeling Drogean had had since he came to Vortex. It wasn't that he was miserable, not exactly, but drained... soul-worn. If such a word existed, it described him - and the city, though the city had more to mourn than he did. He suspected the spirit of Vortex - how apt the name now seems - had replaced some of his own. He felt a kinship to the oil lamp, the lone source of illumination in a darkened room on an overcast day.

But he had spent too long drifting along his stream of thoughts, he had completely failed to make introductions to the Aedile - whom he now noticed was an elf, and a welcome sight.

"Vedui," he said, his Naturan accent heavy but not unpleasant, rather characterful in that provincial sort of way. He continued in Charismean; he couldn't be sure if an elf of Vortex would know much of her own language beyond the familiar phrases. "I am Drogean Miettiälakitäydellinen, an advisor to the Governor in Centripax."

He eyed a leather seat, but did not sit down, pausing only long enough to politely hint he would like to be offered one in the near future, before he continued, "I am looking to buy some rather large expanses of land well outside Vortex, to the south, closer to Evile than Vortex really.. If the land is bogs, woods, or fourth-rate farmland isn't so important. All I seek is an estate somewhat established, and capable of turning a profit of some kind. It would be best if the land was close to one small village." Here the romantic idea of being the largest and most respected landowner in an area, like the nobiles of old, came to him, "But it need not all be one plot. In fact, I would prefer some variety. So long as one plot has a house, and there is enough labour nearby that I can hire to work the land, I'd be willing to spend about fifty thousand crowns on this venture, if not more." It was probably stupid, but he added, "I'd even be willing to buy the land sight unseen."

[Tror D'Vinian]

39th day of Kalendras, Season of Autumn of Era II

Early Midday
Tror had arrived in Vortex just earlier this day. Not really knowing where the Aedile's office was, it had taken him a while to find it, relying on the different directions of many commoners. He fears he had disrupted traffic on his way here, him and his horse combining to be larger than most carts. He seems to remember being yelled at by some small folk, but he didn't really listen because he was deep in thought as to what he actually wanted to do now that he had arrived in Vortex. He knew he must find a place to stay for the time being.

After finally arriving at the Aedile's office he dismounted and tied the reins of his horse tightly to a large post. It's not like anyone would try to steal a giant's horse. They would probably fear his wrath, not be able to ride it, and it wouldn't follow them anyways. Tror had owned the horse for over an era. He called it Neigher, but was intent on speaking to it once he further advanced his druidic training and asking it what name it would like. He rubbed it's snout before turning to the door and crouching into the little two story building.

As usual, an elf was the clerk. For some reason places of business thought it best to have an elf greet you or run the face of the business. Guess it seemed proper or something. Tror didn't like the elves most of all the small folk. It was also hard to stand and/or walk in this small folk building. He liked it when they built the extra high ceilings. Those buildings he could stand to be in. Tror crouch-walked to the desk and put his hand on it. "Serale miss, I am here in search of housing. I saw an add somewhere saying something about free housing here in Vortex. I don't care what location it is in, it just needs to be big enough for me. Some small warehouse or something should suit me fine. I'm used to one room houses." He smiled as best as he could down at the little woman, despite being uncomfortable in this position.

[Kalinda]

Drogean

„Vedui“, the aedile replied in a clear, musical voice. She spoke with a very light Syl’rosyan accent. As he continued in Charismean, she switched to that language as well albeit it was with a frown. She had missed the talking to people in her native language. She had been glad when he had entered the office. To hear him speak the human language disappointed her, but she did not show it. She smiled. “I am Minhiriath, the aedile of Vortex ...” She gestured towards the chair – a sign that he could sit down if he wanted. It had been so long, so very, very long since she had seen a lightborn elf in this city. What did he think of her, the woman that worked among vysstichi? Did he disapprove? Would he stay for a bit after he was done with his business?

“Land – it doesn’t matter what kind of land, closer to Evile than to Vortex, near a village if possible”, she repeated. “Fifty thousand crowns.” Her eyes widened at that number. That was more money than she would ever have! Her own home had cost a mere five thousand crowns. As the aedile she made eighty crowns a cycle. It would take eras for her to earn that! He had to be very rich! “Let me check my book”, she told him and retrieved a thick leather bound book. She flipped through it and then turned back to Drogean.

“I may have something for you”, she said. “A property about ten miles outside of Evile. It has about eighty acres, mostly meadows and a swamp. There is a fairly big house on it. It has eight rooms, two stories and should contain some basic furniture. Would that be something that interests you? I think there is a small settlement nearby, and Evile isn’t very far ...”

[Kalinda]

Tror

Blue-grey skin, bald and almost impossibly tall (at least as far as Minhiriath was concerned) – the elven aedile certainly did not get a lot of customers like that. Most of the people that came to her office were either dark elves or humans. There was not a single giant in the city. The elf’s eyes were as big as saucers as she stared at Tror. He was too tall! She was glad that he had not tried to sit down in one of her chairs yet! Did giants ever have problems with anything in the normal world? Why did they come to cities where humans and elves lived? Were there any giant cities? Were giant babies big as well?

“Big. I have figured that”, she remarked. “There are more than enough small, empty warehouses, but I have to know how much money you are willing to spend first ...”

[Tror D'Vinian]

OOC:Thanks for the fast reply. I am in need of moderation in Har'oloth too, if you have time.

IC: Tror was used to this response. People are always surprised to see a giant walk into their shop or place of business. His people stayed out of towns and cities for the most part, besides their quaint little villages. Well, they weren't quaint, because fighting for rule happened in them all the time, and they weren't little because the huts were giant-sized, but Tror like to consider them 'quaint' and 'little'. Anyway, so as to get comfortable but not to break the Aedile's chairs, Tror will pull the chair out from in front of the desk and sit on the floor, his head coming a little above desk level. Now it may look to her that she is talking to a head, but hopefully that will make her less nervous than she was when she talked to him at his full height. Besides, he liked the floor, nice and smooth.

Tror will smile at the elf. Little-folk don't seem to hear you sometimes when you are big like Tror. He intimidates many by just standing near them. Now he can explain himself in comfort. "Well ma'am, as I said before, I have come to inquire about the free housing you offer right now so as to promote city growth or whatnot. I was wondering if this offer of freeness extended to me, even though my standard of 'hou