(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 11)

[DracoOmega]

>"I just made landfall today from Braston. Name's Nazrin."
>Today? We packed a lot into this one. Feels like it's been months, almost.

>"Caitlin Vanderwald," the woman says with a steady nod. "And what can I do for you?"
>It does seem like you've been here for a very protracted length of time already. Funny how that works, isn't it?

[Oldmansour]

>"I need a place to bivouac for a day or two. Figured here'd be a better place than an inn or hotel that'd charge me half my tail to get in, and have a bit better security to it."

[DracoOmega]

>"I need a place to bivouac for a day or two. Figured here'd be a better place than an inn or hotel that'd charge me half my tail to get in, and have a bit better security to it."

>"I'm not certain your expectations," she says, reaching for a file at her left, "but I don't believe you'll find security lacking at any reputable establishment in the city; I could direct you towards several, if you'd like. But as it happens," she continues, running her finger down a ledger, "we do have a single room available at the moment. Board is 40 guilders a night for a maximum of 5 nights; no meals included, though there is a shared kitchen you can access. Also, there is a 100 guilder deposit, garnishable for any property damage, though I'm sure that won't be a problem." She looks up at you expectantly.

[Oldmansour]

>Is that disproportionate for this sort of thing?

[DracoOmega]

>Is that disproportionate for this sort of thing?

>That's a pretty sizable deposit on what you expect is a minimal room, and 40 guilders would cover most of the cost of lodgings at a decent inn back in Braston; certainly, the guild apartments there were rented for a fair bit less than this when last you handled them. But this is a different kind of place and you have a hunch that 40 guilders might struggle to buy you a room at a dive, let alone somewhere comfortable.

[Oldmansour]

>Twitch.
>"I'm a bit new here in town, how's that stack up against some other joints?"

[DracoOmega]

>Twitch.
>"I'm a bit new here in town, how's that stack up against some other joints?"

>Caitlin regards you demurely, though you can't help but see the tiniest hint of masked amusement at your own reaction.
>"Assuming you leave the room in the same state you found it," she says, "I think it would be difficult to find much cheaper. Of course, the accommodations are basic; this is a short-term convenience for fellow guild members, not a hotel, after all."

[Oldmansour]

>Sure wouldn't be convenient for new Seekers.... We're doing rather well for ourselves, all things considered, and that's still tying up almost half our money in one place, albeit with 30% or so of it to be returned, but it's still committed.
>From our experience, is the rate open to haggling?

[DracoOmega]

>Sure wouldn't be convenient for new Seekers.... We're doing rather well for ourselves, all things considered, and that's still tying up almost half our money in one place, albeit with 30% or so of it to be returned, but it's still committed.
>From our experience, is the rate open to haggling?

>To new Seekers, perhaps not, though the existence of the deposit implies to you that they've had trouble here in the past. And there was a reason that Val Razua was an eventual aspiration of yours rather than where you expected to be operating less than a week after getting your badge. Still, you're here for now, so you'll have to make the most of it.
>You suspect not, given that this is a guild service more than a commercial enterprise.

[Oldmansour]

>"Yeah, I know."
>Finger wallet.
>"Payment up front?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I know."
>Finger wallet.
>"Payment up front?"

>"That's correct," she replies.

[Oldmansour]

>"Then I guess I'd better find out how much the rest of my business here in town'll cost me first."
>"Where does a Seeker go to get an alchemy potion brewed around here?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Then I guess I'd better find out how much the rest of my business here in town'll cost me first."
>"Where does a Seeker go to get an alchemy potion brewed around here?"

>"Sensible," she says, though there is just the slightest trace of amusement on her face as she does so.
>She casts an appraising eye upon the planter you're holding. "I suppose that depends on what kind of potion you're looking to have brewed."

[Oldmansour]

>"It's in the nature of a healing potion."

[DracoOmega]

>"It's in the nature of a healing potion."

>She nods slowly. "Well, alchemy isn't really my field, but the nearest herbalist is on the corner of Greening and Whiteoak, near the old armoury. Do you know how to get there?"

[Oldmansour]

>Is that on our map, and/or have we passed by the place/area on your way around town so far?

[DracoOmega]

>Is that on our map, and/or have we passed by the place/area on your way around town so far?

>You're sure it was on the map somewhere, but those particular names did not catch your eye when you were last looking at it, nor do you recall passing them during your excursions.

[Oldmansour]

>Shake our head. "Haven't been around that way yet."

[DracoOmega]

>Shake our head. "Haven't been around that way yet."

>"Well, it shouldn't be too hard to find," she says. "Go left when you exit the guildhall, then take the second street on your right and then the first left after that. It's a small brick building with a mortar and pestle above the door, maybe five minutes or so down that street."

[Oldmansour]

>"And they do good work? It's for a client, so I'd rather not skimp on the quality."

[DracoOmega]

>"And they do good work? It's for a client, so I'd rather not skimp on the quality."

>"I'm sure they're competent enough," she replies smoothly. "Though I'm afraid I don't really have the expertise to gauge one alchemist's work from another. It's possible someone else here might have more experience; I've never actually shopped there, myself."

[Oldmansour]

>"Close enough to be worth checking out, at any rate."
>Hmmm. Well, as long as we're here...
>"Well, that taken care of. You wouldn't happen to know a place around here to trade in old airship parts, would you?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Close enough to be worth checking out, at any rate."
>Hmmm. Well, as long as we're here...
>"Well, that taken care of. You wouldn't happen to know a place around here to trade in old airship parts, would you?"

>The woman nods.
>You decide to ask another question of the clerk while you're at it.
>One of her eyebrows arch slightly and her gaze drifts to few degrees to your side. "For that, actually, you might be better off speaking with-"
>"-me."

[Oldmansour]

>Perk ears and listen for something behind us.

[DracoOmega]

>Perk ears and listen for something behind us.

>Your ears perk up at this new voice which indeed issued from behind you, in the general direction of the job board though closer to you than that. There had been footsteps moving about in that vicinity previously, though you had paid them little heed; one or two people had been perusing the job board, after all. No other sounds immediately follow that one word, though a vague smile flickers suggestively on Caitlin's face.

[Oldmansour]

>Hm. Kudos on this one sneaking up behind us.
>Let's see who it is.

[DracoOmega]

>Hm. Kudos on this one sneaking up behind us.
>Let's see who it is.

>You turn around to meet a cocksure grin looking up at you from beneath a mop of tousled blond hair - nearly a full head shorter than your own, though the ears do add a few inches. Standing about halfway between you and the job boards is a snappily-dressed rabbit in a two-tone vest and dark fingerless gloves. Her hands are resting casually on her hips and you would lay odds she's already puzzling out how much of a sucker you are.
>"What're ya tryin' to offload?" she asks.

[Oldmansour]

>Great. Another rabbit. We'll see how much a pirate THIS one is.
>"An old flow intake regulator. That's seen better days, I might add."

This might be more your department than mine, Purvis, if it comes down to haggling.

[DracoOmega]

>Great. Another rabbit. We'll see how much a pirate THIS one is.
>"An old flow intake regulator. That's seen better days, I might add."

>Well, this one is lacking the trademark bandana at the very least.
>The rabbit nods knowingly. "How much better?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I believe the term was 'rusted to crap'."