Erik Soong's Call of the Netherdeep

OOC: Armor at double price..ouch =)

With his unbroken hand, he sweeps the hair back that had fallen into his face during his tirade and smiles at Sky. "Yes, all the armorers and smiths of value are commissioned to outfitting the Aurora Watch. However, I can issue orders to have anything you want made started immediately, or you can buy something already prepared. It will have to be modified slightly to be clear that this is not Aurora Watch armor, but that can be done in a few hours, I imagine. Unless you wish to swear oaths to the Queen? Either way, take this." He scribbles some orders on a piece of parchment, then seals it with wax and his mark: a lance divided by a portal. He then gives it to Sky. 

"Stop by the central market. Look for a gnome woman named Galza Rimblenimble. She made my very own armor. She will be displeased that I misplaced it. Perhaps you can break the news to her for me. She can be a tad... volcanic, but she is all bark."

"I'll deliver the message for you, once we find time to visit the central market." Sky nods appreciatively.  "Thank you."

He quickly exits to find the others standing there.  "Hey everyone ... I uh, need to go to the Central Market for some new armor.  And to deliver bad news to a shopkeeper on Verin's behalf."

Randa sucks on her cheek for a moment then nods, " Lets get a move on then."

Nivi slips away briefly from the others on the way to the central market, grinning sardonically as she watches one hundred more of her unexpectedly received gold go towards double price for a Poisoner's Kit at a disreputable-looking alley-side fence operation for illicit gear.

She returns to the others at the central market, as she and Shiv keep an eye out for possibly-recognizable (from last night in the sewers?) Clasp operatives.

Nivi's Perception:  28

Sky finds the vendor Galza Rimblenimble and asks for a moment of her time.  When she's able to join him, he hands her the sealed note to read.  "This is from Taskmaster Verin," he says probably unnecessarily.  "I'm in the market to upgrade to new splint mail.  I've joined a group of individuals who are working to better the city, and we've been busy.  Better armor would be of great use in our campaign against the forces of evil.  Can you assist?"

Maybe that's how he got his name. He's so big! When you look at his face you see the sky....

Galza Rimblenimble is fairly easy to find. She has two guards stationed at her armory, perhaps an indication of the quality of items she sells. She has purple hair angled downward in stiff, straight spikes, with bangs hastily cut in to expose her small face. She seemingly ignores Sky and snaps the seal, unrolling the parchment and looking it over. 

"Well, you won't be needing any new armor. Says here I am to kill you for possessing state secrets." She looks up at the towering Sky and her hand drifts to a jeweled crest hanging from her neck.

The bunny girl gasps in shock and surprise, eyes wide in fear!

Then Ylis bursts out in laughter "Bahhahahha! hahahhaha!"

"Hoo, that's a good one!" she wipes laugh tears from her eyes and has after-chuckles.

Sky chuckles weakly.  "N- - no, I'm pretty sure you're only supposed to kill me once I tell you what happened to Taskmaster Verin's custom armor that you made him.  But I haven't yet, so ..."  He looks at Ylis and smiles.

"Who's killing who?"  Nivi chirps brightly.  She grins at the gnome armorer, finding she likes Galza's style.

"You been holding out on us?"  She pokes Sky in the ribs playfully.  "I mean, what's a few state secrets between pals who already almost died together?"

 Galza stands, a mischievous grin barely suppressed as she menacingly reaches for the crest hanging from her neck, but the smile relaxes somewhat into feigned frustration when it is clear that her prey aren’t falling for the gag. She blows a raspberry and shrugs her shoulders. “Alright, you guys don’t scare as easy as some of these Aurora Watch fellows. Real jumpy sort. You’d think their lives were in constant danger for how tight they’re wound. Can’t take a joke to save their lives.” She playfully punches the armored thigh of one of the guards, who flinches rather nervously for being punched by a small gnome, but otherwise does not move. Galza throws the requisition order aside as casually as if it were an old newspaper.

“You guys seem better conversationalists too, heh. Anyway, the letter says to give you whatever you want on Verin’s tab, so you must have impressed him since he’s never issued a blank check for anyone before… and he’s had his own son roll through my humble place once to get outfitted if you can believe that. I mean it-uh, wait, what is this about his custom armor?” She turns to the party with her hammer in both hands, wringing it so tightly that the wooden handle creaks in distress!

Quote from Tybard >>

"Who's killing who?"  Nivi chirps brightly.  She grins at the gnome armorer, finding she likes Galza's style.

"You been holding out on us?"  She pokes Sky in the ribs playfully.  "I mean, what's a few state secrets between pals who already almost died together?"

 
"Uhm -- uhh, I don't generally -- I mean I have killed before but they're usually undead creatures or extremely evil and attacking innocent -- what?" 

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

 “You guys seem better conversationalists too, heh. Anyway, the letter says to give you whatever you want on Verin’s tab, so you must have impressed him since he’s never issued a blank check for anyone before… and he’s had his own son roll through my humble place once to get outfitted if you can believe that. I mean it-uh, wait, what is this about his custom armor?” She turns to the party with her hammer in both hands, wringing it so tightly that the wooden handle creaks in distress!

 
"I'm very sorry to report that due to the Taskhand being captured and very cruelly attacked by a vile creature named Desu, his armor is no more.  Perhaps it was dragged down to the hell realm from whence she came and to where she was exiled once more.  Mr. Verin regrets it terribly, and asked me to pass on his regards."  Sky pauses in his retelling.  "I'm certain he'll need a new suit, but he did not specifically ask me to initiate those proceedings.  Perhaps, as a courtesy, you can speak with him on that matter."

"As for me, the Taskmasker is very kind, but I could not possibly ask for something as elaborate as full plate.  Perhaps splint mail and a new shield, forged through your expertise, will suffice?"  Sky looks proud at the idea of new armor, especially when crafted by someone like Galza.  "What do you have in stock currently?"

Galza stares up at Sky as he shares the information Verin placed in his care. Her face is frozen in a wide-eyed, vacant smile. After he finishes his tale and request, Galza says nothing. In fact, she responds in no visible way at all for several uncomfortable moments.

Then her eye twitches. “Mmmmmm,” she acknowledges. “That is, mmmmmmmm! Will you… I'm afraid you’ll have to excuse me just one moment.”

She places her hammer on a stack of books and proceeds to the back end of her armory. Then a curse to the heavens literally shakes the walls of her shop. The Aurora Watch guard break and retreat to the entrance. She pulls a breastplate off a stand and with her bare hands, pries it apart in a groan of ripping metal. “Of all the… do you have any idea how hard it is to make armor that beautiful AND functional!? You... preening peacock! You dour doofus! You. YOU!!!” She mashes the two halves of hammered steel breastplate together and twists them like taffy in her hands until it just resembles a single piece of twisted metal.

The guards are pouring sweat as they level spears that appear flaccid in their hands.

The tiny gnome walks back the the party, a ball of crumpled steel in her hands the size of a softball. “Whew!” She says tapping her brow with the metal. “I apologize for my unladylike outburst. I make art and some people just don’t appreciate true beauty. UGH!” She gives one final twist and pull of the ball, which flattens and lengthens it in a shrill shriek of metal. She then discards it in a pile of scrap metal.

“Well, what was it you were saying? Armor? Sure, go grab any one that suits you. I’ll make adjustments where needed. Are you the only one here for an upgrade?” She eyes the others with a scrutinizing eye.

Ylis shyly raises her hand, "Could you uh, add some bits to this to make it tougher?" she pokes her armor. "If that's not your thing, it's ok." 

Galza glowers, a forge raging behind her eyes. She rubs her chin with what now are obviously very powerful hands. Then she walks over to a bin of metal studs, fills up a sack and then starts pressing them easily into Ylis' leather armor as one might press a tack through a piece of paper. With her thumb, she flattens the rough metal that punches through on the inside and with her fingernail, carves the rough edges away. They are fastened in a way that gives the sense that they will not give. Almost supernaturally sturdy. 

DM: Ylis has studded leather now. 

Nivi stares at Galza with her jaw uncharacteristically wide open as the gnome manipulates and twists hard metal like it is putty.

"I heard Pretty Boy here was in the market for a good, firm massage."  She grins at Morgan.

She turns back to Galza, more serious.  "Mine's already got the metal studs like you gave Dawnrabbit."  Nivi points to her own, plain, dark studded leather.

"You think you can improve on it without it standing out in a crowd, won't say no.  Either way, think I could spend the day just watching you work."

Ylis smiles brightly and runs her hands over her "new" armor. She twirls and giggles in delight.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" she then holds out a tiny sack of coin.

"Verin is picking up the tab and I will be strung up by my toes before I let him get away with losing my beautiful armor." Galza says, refusing the bag of coin.