Combing the Beach

My day was never normal. I worked as an operative for hire. Currently, I found myself under the employ of a noble who specialized in relic research. I wasn't quite sure what he wanted with me since my talents fell more under the clandestine nature of things, but it was a job nonetheless so I was willing to take it if it meant goods for trade. The meeting with the noble was quite normal and standard to be honest. I arrived at a tavern of his choosing but arrive thru a side "entrance". His aide is seated across from him and I appear behind him knelt and out of sight. He fights back the urge to jump as I speak sftly, "I am told you have an assignment for me, my lord." The noble tells me, tho an onlooker would think that he is speaking with his aide, that he does not wish anyone harmed or anything like that. "So what is the job?" He tells me that there is a girl who has been seen searching the beaches for relics. I don't follow. He tells me that he wants me to keep her safe and bring her to meet with him this evening to discuss how they can work together. I have heard that line before. "How we can work together"... psh! All he really wants is control over the activities and discoveries of relic hunters. Still, it is not my concern what his motives are. He is providing payment & that is enough.

So that is how I come to stand on this beach in the near distance away from the female treasure hunter. It would be bad to alarm her if I am to convince her to have this meeting. Now, I had already made a pit stop to assist with the rouse. I had retrieved a relic that true granted isn't worth all that much really but hopefully if I can get it to her then I can proceed.

EXP: 338

My attention falls on switching into the facade that I needed to portray... a hapless adventurer noob who is overly excited about finding... well anything that he might think is a relic. This region had many treasures from a once great and powerful nation that were cultured and militarily sound as well. So there is truly no telling what one may find around here. I start making my way towards her with much enthusiasm. Not creepy enthusiasm but the unknown object might explain my mood before my image comes into full view. The silvery strands of hair fall into place hanging down behind me. I normally like to have it stayed, but if I am a low rate adventurer, I'd have no use for such display. I would start singing, or chanting is more accurate a description, as I traverse down the sandy beach. "I found something. I found something. I found something, hey hey hey hey." I really didn't people like this but it would be among the easiest ways to keep her calm and open to conversation.

EXP: 199

While walking along, she engages first. Ok now that that is out of the way, I can proceed with my business. I smile at her and approach holding it up. I would stop ahead of her with happiness written all over my face. "Look what I found! Do you know what this is?" Now this question is posed for two reasons. The first is to keep her in conversation. The second and probably the more genuine reason... I myself have no clue what this thing is. So if she did know then she would be very much worth protecting and befriending after this is over. In many of my travels, I have come across mundane relics which fascinate me in a lot of respects, but are also relatively useless since I don't know what they do or how to operate them. If she does then I can bring them to her to inspect first before turning them over to my usual depositories, namely the scholarly towers in whichever region I might be working in at that time. I didn't really mind turning things over tot he Village of the Sun, but some of the others... I wasn't a fan of at all, but until I can teleport across the realm, that is my only option so that I'm not lugging unusable cargo around all the time.

EXP: 236/773

A torture tool? Now that could be useful for certain... vigorous interrogations, but looking at it, I wonder how it would work exactly. Looking it over as she speaks about mundane uses, I wonder what hidden mechanisms could be contained within it and how many have martial or covert applications. When she asks to inspect it, I cautiously hand it over and tell her that any help she can give is greatly appreciated as I am at a loss and I'm trying to prove myself useful to my current patron so that he will give me more assignments. I have always believed that the best deceptions are filled with selective or vague truths. The less u have to think up & remember the better for the deception. Having given up "the find" I patiently await her results.

Watching her manipulate the tool, I cannot help but wonder what she is doing. When the final result is some black grain being released, I look in mild amazement. So this was used to ground up spices. Instantly, I wonder if it could be used to grind poisonous herbs as that would make this a very skillful tool for some operatives that I know to utilize. This will also give need for me to train my body to resist such things as well.

Now while I generally prefer to add as much truth as possible to my deceptions, this would could be tricky. I did not know if this woman had explored these ruins here and if she had, had she found anything like this. Also, since I myself had not explored these ruins, it would be difficult for me to navigate properly. The easiest way to answer a question like that in a situation like this... don't! Hiding once again behind the mask of feigned excitement, "Oooh, you think there is more stuff like this around here? My employer will be fascinated by things like this. It will help him complain less about his servants' performance in their domestic duties! Oooh, you're really smart so you should come, I'll help you explore!"

EXP: 235/1159

Nodding in agreement, "Anything I find, you can inspect to see if it's an item you've really been searching for. If it is, you can keep it. I don't really mind. You'd probably have better use for half of the things anyway. My employer likes battle trophies and tomes and the like. I found this one shiny shield, but it was like a mini-shield ornament (he is describing a badge). It was kinda cool to be honest and he really liked it. It matched an accessory that some of the uniformed soldiers of the Relic Era wore. It only seems like one army wore them from what I have seen in pictures and paintings." I smile at her and extend my hand towards the ruins to allow her to lead the way.

Looking around, I scan the area to be sure that there are no bandits or wild animals in the nearby area. My primary mission is always at the forefront of my mind, which is to keep this one safe, observe her exploration skills and secure her agreement to a meeting with my current employer. Besides, I was growing weary of this charade already. Had she met me as a boy then perhaps, this would have been more genuine, but at this point in my life, I would rather be hunting down targets. I suppose the consolation is that I have generally found enjoyment in going on this little explorations with other researchers and such. While battle, strategy, and intelligence gathering stand to be my forte, I am a student of learning as well. There is always an opportunity to learn about something when exploring ruins. Hell, I already learned about this nifty way to conceal and dispense poison herbs to an unsuspecting target whose residence has been infiltrated.

EXP: 332/1491

Nodding my head, I follow behind her and listen as she speaks. I don't quite understand what the noble wanted with this one but I wasn't about to question it as that is not my role. Looking over the woman I note that she is attractive sure, but she does not seem to be an expert explorer or savant on relics, so what exactly is the draw. Maybe she is like me when I was younger, being given a chance to prove herself based on the potential that others see inside of her. My attention perks up at the mention of blades. She describes this place as a residence, which I find to be interesting as it is decently sized. Giving her another opportunity to enlighten me, I inquire, "So what else have you learned about the people of the Relic Era? Can we figure out what they were like?"

EXP: 156/1647

She has an interesting & very optimistic view of the people of the Relic Era. There was a good amount of truth in her logic tho I had to admit. Much of our lifestyles seemed very similar to our own so there is a good possibility that she is correct in her assumptions. My natural calm and cold tone emerges briefly as I respond, "It is no rumor. The communities of Medius are built from such locations. The Core of Medius has very large buildings that approach the Realm of the Sky People." I fall silent for a moment while looking around. "Why are u searching here?" I ask in the happy go lucky tone. The faster I found a challenging location the quicker I would be "forced" to reveal my true self & I could move things along. "If you want real fun and you wanna find real treasure, you gotta go to real ruins. You've gotta know of a cool spot around here, right?" I put on the boyish smile while a quick breeze flutters thru my hair. Thankfully, the scent of blood & combat is absent from my follicles today. That would definitely make things more difficult.

212/1859

I look around and smile, "There is PLENTY of gold & gems and other baubles in this area. That is not where most of the real ruins are. There are two main locations that have taught me much, it is Medius' districts that are close to the Core and there are places north of here that show to me real ruins that may answer your questions. This place only shows u that they are not that different from us, the places I am talking about shows two VERY different people clashed together. There are things that even in not knowing exactly what they are, they do not fit together at all. I am more curious about things of that nature. Sure, gems and crafting materials are nice and they can allow to purchase better and more equipment and get u a team together, but u will grow bored of just that. So, u should not dismiss a treasure expedition as a childish pursuit. I tried operating without financial backing. You don't get very far." My explanation of the clashing culture ruins would be pretty animated. I would seem pretty nonchalant about the entire debate of knowledge vs treasure hunting. The attitude in her voice would not stir or offend in the least bit. It would seem that perhaps there was an unpleasant encounter with a fortune focused adventurer. Perhaps, I will inquire about that later.

259/2118