Fantasy Cursed Island

[Fangs9090]

Emilia nodded. "Absolutely, otherwise my parents wouldn't go there repeatedly. Come on." Emilia turned and started heading back towards the city.

Roy put away the Dragonstone before following after her.

 

[Darkling0096]

Jalin sighed, but bottled Geralt. He and Katsuo lagged a bit behind as they salvaged some of the strange tools the thief used for potential use, or just knowledge of new magicks, before they caught up.

The city guards questioned the party as they approached the gates, demanding to search bags for contraband, especially the heirloom, but between Katsuo and Emilia's bags of holding, they couldn't find the stone, and they were let into the city.

 

[Fangs9090]

Once they were in, Emilia led them around to the market, stopping at a shop with a sign that read "The Psychic Seamstress." "Here, this place. The sign matches, so it must be the same branch."

Roy raised an eyebrow. "A psychic?"

Emilia shrugged. "I never visited the store myself."

 

[Darkling0096]

"This does not feel like psychic magic," Jalin rolled his eyestones under his blindfold as they entered the store. As long as they got what they needed, or what Emilia said they needed, then it didn't matter.

 

[Fangs9090]

The inside of the store looking like one would expect from a seamstress. There were fabrics and dyes on display, as well as some pre-made accessories. On the far side was a counter, and beyond that was a doorway to some back room. No one was manning the counter at the moment. As they stepped in, a voice called from the back. "Be with you in a moment!"

Roy looked around as they waited. "This place feels...mundane. I'm not picking up anything magical in here."

Emilia nodded. "Me neither... It can't be coincidence that the sign matches the other place though."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Components themselves are rarly magical," Jalin shrugged, "It is their combination that proves conductive to mana."


Pretty sure that Nidia had had ample time to put her clothes back on, Turac knocked on the door again to check on her.

 

[Fangs9090]

"Mm."

After a few minutes, a woman came from the back room, beastrace like nearly everyone else in town. She was a cat with mainly white fur and gray markings. Her hair was some shade of magenta. Whether it was dyed or not was hard to tell, considering what Fitzroy had told them. She stepped out and leaned on the counter. "Hello and welcome." She smiled as she looked the group over, pausing as she spotted Emilia before holding up a finger. "Wait, don't tell me.... Erina and Adran, right?"

 

[Darkling0096]

Well that gave Jalin pause. "How do you know her parents?", he asked the feline behind the counter. Were all the stores in this chain actively communicating? But Emilia said she had never been to the store.

 

[Fangs9090]

The girl giggled as she set her hand down. "'Cause they're regular customers of mine over in Wormwood Brook, and she looks like 'em."

Emilia blinked. "But that's across the ocean. How are you here?"

She winked. "Trade secret.~" She pointed to rest of the group. "So, by context, you must be... Roy. Katsuo. And that cane means you're Jalin."




It took some time, but Nidia finally answered the door, peeking out this time instead of opening it all the way. "Yes?"

 

[Darkling0096]

Well, this was strange, but Jalin supposed he should have expected Niudisa's contacts to be more than just local. But if he had to hazard a guess, portals were involved. Or at least teleportation. "I am Jalin, yes," Jalin nodded as his cane clicked. "We need a physical duplicate of an object made." Might as well get to the point, since he knew this woman was safe for shady business.



"Where are your clothes?", From how long it took Nidia to answer, Turac was pretty sure she'd shed them again.

 

[Fangs9090]

"Ooh, an actual copy or a forgery?"

Roy stepped up to the counter taking out the stone. "A forgery. It just needs to be convincing."

The woman looked the stone, raising her eyebrows. "Oohoo, high class. Can do. Can you pay?"



Nidia moved the door a little so he could see her shoulder, and that her clothes were on it. "I'm wearing them." She kept the door covering the rest of her.

 

[Darkling0096]

"We can," Jalin nodded, "Name your price. We can pay in cash, at present." Best not have a paper trail for this transaction, even if they did have the value in their accounts.



"Then why are you hiding?", Turac asked. "i doubt the others will take long to return, we need to be ready to leave." Their day would be up tonight, as it were.

 

[Fangs9090]

The woman picked up the stone and looked it over. “Hm... Won’t be easy to get a gem this big or to polish it down to this level of smoothness. Mmm..... 500 gold.”

Roy cringed. “Oh. Mm...”

“Or, we can make a deal.”



“I’m not hiding. You can see me right here.”

 

[Darkling0096]

That was a rather large sum. That was ten pounds of gold Sovereigns, let alone whatever the currency in this continent was. They could definitely swing it, but it would pull from everyone's parts of the treasure they took from the Bandits. "Let's discuss the deal, then," Jalin nodded, leaning somewhat over the counter. Nidia was... indisposed, at the moment, but so far experience said Jalin was a fair negotiator.



"Nidia, you are only sticking your head out of a door when there is nothing to hide," Turac sighed, "We can't hole up right now, when the rest of the party may need our aid."

 

[Fangs9090]

“Well, among other services, I deal in trading information. You are obviously on quite the journey, so I’m sure you’ll come across quite a bit of info. I’ve got shops set up all over, so if you agree to provide some information when you see my shops, your first order from me is free. And future orders are discounted. And those who provide me information can also get information from me.”



Nidia blinked. “Mm, you’re saying we gotta get moving now?”

 

[Darkling0096]

Jalin raised an eyebrow and looked at the others. They might not be coming to these shops often, or the information they brought probably wouldn't be worthwhile. But if it meant they would get this replica stone done, then that was a swindle worth swindling. "Sounds like a deal," Jalin nodded and extended his hand for a shake.



"I am saying we need to be prepared to move if called."

 

[Fangs9090]

“Alright then.” The woman shook his hand. “My name’s Silver, by the way.”



“Mm, alright.” Nidia closed the door.

 

[Darkling0096]

"Jalin," Jalin smiled and pulled his hand back once they let go of each other, "How long will it take to make a replica of the stone?"



Turac frowned, "Are you packing?" No, Siege had completely taken over the girls' room and not let anyone in, so Nidia had no access to her bag. The only thing in the boys' room was Sinach's box.

 

[Fangs9090]

Silver looked at the stone. “Hm... gimme a day and check back tomorrow. If all goes well I’ll have it ready. At worst I’ll have a progress report.”



“Aaahhhh, sure.”

 

[Darkling0096]

"Alright," Jalin nodded, though Geralt hopped out of his boot to hide, just in case he had reason to suspect Silver may pull fast one on them.



Turac sighed, this was really going to be like that, huh? He at least knew what Siege was probably doing. "I am coming in," he announced as he turned the doorknob.

 

[Fangs9090]

“Pleasure doing business with you, and I look forward to more.”



“Alright.” Nidia looked over as he walked in. Her skirt was only on as she was still in the process of pulling it up. She smiled and lifted her tail as Turac stepped in.

 

[Darkling0096]

"Indeed," Jalin nodded and stepped away from the counter, nodding to the others that they were ready to leave unless Emilia or Roy needed something.



turac sighed, he knew that gesture. "Shuffle, really?" He didn't even realize he'd called Nidia 'Shuffle', he was that used to that being Shuffle's default.

 

[Fangs9090]

Emilia had some dyed fabrics in her hand. "I'd also like to get some supplies while I'm here."

Silver nodded. "Sure thing." She put the stone away and quickly handled Emilia's transaction. After that they were done.



Nidia blinked and tilted her head, looking confused. "What?"

 

[Darkling0096]

Jalin tapped his cane as they made their way back to the castle, "We need to sort our story." They had found the thief, but they were not returning the stone.



Turac facepalmed, "Nidia, please remained clothed in this bedroom. Myself, Roy, and Jalin sleep in here."

 

[Fangs9090]

Roy replied. "Most convincing story is that we have a lead but need some time to prepare. That should cover for us staying in town for another day, possibly two."



Nidia blinked. "Yeah?" She still had not finished pulling up her skirt, nor had she lowered her tail.