Zhara goes exploring

[Zhara]

A few rays of crimson escaped from the horizon signaling the beginning of the day. It's starting, Zhara thought to herself as she watches from the top of the West wall next the entrance gate of the town. Her eyes danced with excitement. This was her favorite part to watch the world waking up from its slumber. This was almost like a sacred ceremony every time Zhara entered a new town.

Zhara watched as life slowly emerged from the sleeping town. From the first creak of a door opening to the first few whispers, every single thing that unfolded made Zhara giddy. Then, people started appearing in the town and beginning their daily routines. The young mage could enjoy the mundaneness of daily life because routine was foreign to her vagabond life. Sometimes, only sometimes, she wished she could be one of them. Then, she remembered the reason for her wandering.

When the town was full of life, Zhara jumped off the wall and began walking into the town to explore.

[Alexander]

((Going to GM via this account to avoid double dipping on any acclaim/gp that may come at the end of this.))

::The world was coming alive around you as you walk further and further into town. Street vendors were out with small carts hocking food to those on their way to work. At the Gate, the Sentinels were changing shifts and a handsome blonde guard was taking his postition near the arch that allowed entry to the town.

As you head a bit more into town you pass by some housing districts where wives and monthers are already in the meager backyards scrubbing laundry as their children play in the dirt.

The docks lay to your right. You can tell by the salt in the air when the wind gusts in off the coast and the occasional cry of a gull the same wind carries.

Ahead of you the streets begin to widen as houses turn to shops and the more mobile vendors from earlier turn to small stands where the lesser merchants are setting out their wares.::

((Totally up to you which direction you would like to go.))

[Zhara]

Zhara's eyes lit up with excitement while slowly making her way into town. Her head was turning in so many direction that the girl was getting a little dizzy. The girl was determined to not miss anything. As she wandered, the smell of great foods beckoned Zhara and her empty stomach. Dinner was many hours ago. However, before she got too far, the golden rays of the morning sun danced off of something else golden passing by Zhara.

The young girl stood rooted on the spot her eyes following the guard as he take his post by the gate. I should've stayed where I was, Zhara thought to herself a little disappointed. She stared at the gate admiring him meanwhile hatching a plan. Those golden locks somehow always managed to make her forget everything.

"Maybe I could ask for direction," Zhara talked to herself, "I am new in town. Or maybe I could just invite him to dinner and con him into taking me out."

Zhara was pacing in place scheming when she heard something. The cry of a seagull broke whatever trance she was in and threw Zhara in another one. She sniffed the air. Instantly, she could feel her entire body tingle. There was only one thing that could trump a hot blonde boy. Still, she couldn't let this one slide.

Zhara tried to summon a little bit of earth from the ground forming it into a ball. The earth mage intended to fling it the guard to get his attention, and if she could time this perfectly, she would be able to flash him a seductive smiled, waved, and then disappeared towards the dock. Maybe, she'd even leave a trail of pebbles for him to follow later.

...."Here we go!" Zhara whispered.

[Serenity]

I'm going to flex some GM muscle for this post, but afterward Alex will reign supreme once again. Maybe.
_____________________________

As the rock ball came hurling toward the unsuspecting Sentinel, the projectile suddenly exploded into a cloud of irritable dust and dirt that brushed the guard's face, forcing him to cough whilst rubbing his eyes after he turned to see where the noise came from.

"W-what in blazes," he started before looking up to see the shine of gleaming metal and the flow of raven hair over Serenity's shoulder.

"Hello, Gavin," said the Howle noble with a smile, "Lovely morning isn't it?"

The Sentinel immediately stood straight up at attention, "Lady Howle, excuse me I don't know where that sudden cloud came from!"

"I'm not your commander, Gavin, you may relax. The wind must have picked up a bit, realized I was coming no doubt."

The guard indeed relaxed and chuckled a bit, "A lovely, if irritable omen then! Not that you're irritable, um, my lady, but.."

"Relax, I'm used to poor jokes as well," she said with a wink, "Have a good day, Gavin."

"Of course mi'lady, and to you the same," Gavin said returning to his post, wondering what the heck all that was about.

The Lady Howle walked past Gavin and made her way toward Zhara, the black cape of her uniform fluttering at her back. The young mage, Zhara, knew what she witnessed, it was this mysterious woman who exploded her projectile before the guard had a chance to notice.

"Good morning," Serenity said as she walked past the mage. As she did, Zhara could hear a rumbling coming from the ground beneath her. When she looked, she'd find writing indented into the ground, clearly the work of earth magic.

There are easier ways to get one's attention

It appeared as though the woman was heading toward the docks herself.

[Zhara]

Zhara pouted after witnessing her plan failing miserably. She gave a sulky nod to the woman as she passed by, "That's no fun," She told the woman's back. However, something about this new character intrigued her. A fellow earth mage, Zhara thought to herself.

There words on the ground irrated her. The young earth mage stomped at it like a young child caught misbehaving.

Well, I know something that'll always make me feel better, Zhara told herself and bolted for the docks. She followed the cry of the seagulls and the smell of the salt vapor.

[Alexander]

::As Serenity walks towards the docks she sees the young mage bolt past her, heading in the same direction. The dust of the streets kicking up behind her.

As Zhara nears the docks, she sees houses change over to storehouses and Inns. A few trading shops and those businesses associated with sea travel also line the streets as ahead the masts of ships both large and small fill the sky. The smell of the salt air is stronger here and she now close enough to hear the roll of small waves behind the cry of gulls and the noise of dock workers going about their business. Little girls are already out with barrels crying the morning catch in an attempt to get a jump on the later fishermen.

There is a stand to one side where it appears the merchant is selling totems and fetishes. His handmade signs declare they bring luck and good fortune to those that buy them. A few sailors stand there looking over his wares, along with a tall man clad head to foot in black and greys. As he turns his head to look over the items the merchant is peddling, you notice a patch over an eye surrounded by a strange tattoo.::

[Zhara]

There's something charming and inviting about a port town. Maybe it's the fact not too many people ever stays there for long. Everyone that comes will always leave. Maybe it's the buzzing and hustling environment. Whatever it may be. It's the one place that always make Zhara feels like she's belonged.

Zhara's first instinct was to find a pub. She loved listening to the sailor's outrageous seafaring stories. Maybe she'd make a sailor friend and get invited to one of the ships. However, as Zhara scanned around the dock, her eyes fell on a stand selling totems. The totems weren't what interested her. There was a man in black giving off a peculiar vibe. The young girl stared at the tattoo.

Then she shook her head. I need to stop the habit ogling at strange men, Zhara told herself. Then again, there's nothing wrong with checking out the merchandise before making a decision.

The young mage walked up the stand right next to the man and said,

"See anything worth buying?"

[Serenity]

Serenity fanned the dust away from herself as the young mage bolted right past her. The noble merely sighed as she watched the girl's back speed away from her, and began to think that perhaps it wasn't in her place to get in the way of what was likely harmless play.

In hindsight, Serenity probably hurt Gavin more with the dirt ball than that mage intended to.

Putting the woman away from her mind, Serenity continued onward to the Sellswords ship.

[Alexander]

::Serenity can see the young mage standing at the streetside vendor amid the sailors, dock workers and the man in black. She will pass close enough to hear whats said.

One sailor turns to Zhara, despite not being the one addressed...::

"Aye, missy. I been buyin' ole Verd's wares for years and I ain't died yet!"

::Another chimes in.::

"Puck says the one he bought lead him to great treasure."

"Didn' he get picked up by the Sentinels for thievery?"

"Aye, but he DID find it..."

::Finally the man in black can take no more and he tosses one of the totems he was holding back on the old wooden countertop in disgust as he addresses the merchant.::

"Charlatans. This town is full of them, and you are no different old man. There is not one scrap of True Magick in the lot, combined."

::He turns to look down at Zhara with an evaluating gaze.::

"You will find nothing of worth here, M'Lady. Your coin would be better spent thrown into the ocean than placed in the pocket of this pretender."

[Zhara]

Zhara chuckled at the sailors trying to vouch for the authenticity of the products. Sailors weren't really known for their ways with words, but there was something about the way they talk that just make the young girl smile every time .

The young mage picked the totem the man in black tossed, examined it for a little and then put it down.

"You can't blame a man for trying to make a living," Zhara told him. "You don't look like the type of guy that relies on cheap magic tricks. Why were you looking anyway?"

Zhara smiled up her best smile at the man.

[Serenity]

Serenity scoffed lightly as she passed the vendor. Swindling wasn't a new thing for her, or even Wistvale, but it was still a shame to bear witness. Especially given the items in question were supposedly magical. Serenity, however, was not an authority in Wistvale anymore and had to leave it to those who were. It was good that some people were smart enough to catch cheap bobbles.

The lady continued onward to the Sellsword ship, having a bone to pick with its captain about a relic.

[Alexander]

::Serenity is still within earshot as she makes her way to the Treasured Chest when the man in black makes his reply.

The corner of his mouth twitches a bit as a smirk appears.::

"For making a living, no. But for passing off garbage as enchanted items onto the ignorant masses and taking business away from real Practioners?

That I can, and will gladly, do."

::The robed man continues as the merchant's face turns various shades of red as his mouth gapes like a fish at the insults tossed his way.::

"As for why I bother wasting my time with this drivel. From my studies, it seems most Magic users here wish to lock themselves away behind walled cities to do their studies.

I find that more...direct contact is needed if one wishes to truely master the Art.

And occasionally gems can be found amongst the rubish..."

::At this point the Merchant had heard enough and draws a dagger as he rounds the corner of his booth to confront the robed man.::

"I've had about enough of you. I won't just stand by while you drive away my business!"

::The sailors around, being used to confrontations on the docks and the ships at sea, step back to see what will happen.::

[Zhara]

Glancing between the man in black and the merchant, Zhara replied,

"I think this man can harm business of those that practice the real art. Anyone with an ounce of sense would know that these are just mere decorations."

When the Merchant draws the dagger, Zhara raised an eye brow. The young girl turned to the old man,

"You should put that thing away," Zhara told him, "It won't do well for either you nor your business to be causing a scene like this."

The earth mage was pretty confident that this old merchant was just desperate and could be reasoned with. However, one of her hand was flexing..just in case.

[Serenity]

"Put that away, dear, before you hurt someone," Serenity said as she came up behind Zhara. The Lady cupped the young mage's flexing hand with hers to still it. There was no damage to property to be done this day, if she could help it.

"We're not the authority here." she said calmly to Zhara before turning toward the merchant.

"Sir, do you honestly believe a knife would harm either of these people? You should know not to force a mage to defend themselves. Collateral damage on a grand scale is almost.....unavoidable."

She was stern in her threat, and believed in it as much as the other man should. The Lady did not want to use her magic here, but she wouldn't be afraid to flex her power a little if she had to.

[Alexander]

::The merchant stammers as his hand holding the blade begins to shake. His eyes dart between the three gathered against him. How he was going to respond, we will never know, for the robed man extends his hand towards the old man as a tendril of solid darkness extends from the shadows within his clothes to wrap tightly about the offending wrist.::

"Collateral damage? You speak as one who wields Magic like a club. Meant to hammer away like a blunt instrument, in the hopes of hitting something."

::With a twist and pull of his hand, the robed man brings the man's arm up painfully before him. Tiny bits of shadow pull away to pry the fingers from about the hilt with motions copied by the Dark Mages real hand. One by one this is done until the blade drops, clattering, to the ground. The merchant stands horrified, unable to move due to the bond. The crowd around however has taken several steps back with most of them finding other things to do as they leave in a great rush.::

"Magic is a tool. A way of life. And with the proper outlook and training, can be used with much finese."

::He eyes the merchant as if undecided on wwhether to let him go or not.::