Re: Are the stars right?(Helena/Courage Wolf)
As Helena wakes up in the darkness, she finds herself sandwiched between Willow and Aqua's barrel, with Fenrir's weight heavy on her legs. Though the dawn is near, she can't see the lighter horizon from her position.
CourageWolf Helena, coming awake slowly, but feeling a good deal better then she did last evening, yawn, and tried to stretch. Finding she couldn't really move all that much, she remembered she had passed out with her friends, one of which who had shamelessly ABANDONED Her! Trying her best to wriggle loose without waking anyone up, Helena went about breakfast.
DarkPowers As Helena gets up, Fenrir's yellow eyes open and the large wolf pokes Helena with his nose before curling up with Willow. No-one else is up in the camp yet, though Helena can sense Strike hunting in the darkness. The large spider seems to be in foul mood, no doubt from lack of suitable hunting grounds and prey. There is a selection of foodstuffs Helena could make into breakfast, though the...
DarkPowers ...selection is heavily biased towards meat in favor of grains.
[2013-07-13 22:38:58] <CourageWolf> Helena, noting Strike's position before anything else, and her temper, tried to console the large spider as best she could, that they were almost done here and then they could go find a better place for her to hunt. Digging around the food though, Helena found meat, meat, some onions, and more meat. Seemed the meal of the day was going to be some kind of meat
[2013-07-13 22:39:49] <CourageWolf> based affair. Seeing what she had to work with, Helena dug out some pans and set about frying up some pork, before putting a pot of water to boil on the fire, and stewing up something that Looked like beef, offering the stew, and the bacon as breakfast to anyone who woke early
[2013-07-13 22:42:19] <DarkPowers> The spider soon scuttles back towards the camp and as Helena gets the water boiling, the first light of dawn breaks over the horizon and some of the younger lamias appear from the wagons to help making breakfast for the rest of the camp. Willow gets up soonish as well, walking over to Helena with Fenrir at her heels. "Good morning sunshine."
[2013-07-13 22:44:35] <CourageWolf> Helena, serving up the younger Lamias who always helped her out with chores... or was it the other way around, who knew, set about making sure they got something in their stomachs first as a reward for being early risers while they set about something more appropriate for everyone else. Seeing Willow awake with Fenrir padding behind her, Helena smiled...
[2013-07-13 22:46:30] <CourageWolf> widely, before standing and squeezing Willow into a hug. "Morning sweetheart, not a bad way to wake up, smashed up against your friends." She said softly, before kissing Willow on the cheek and setting Fenrir up with a meal of his own. "I think... Just maybe... we'll need to stuff Cindy into one of our new toys later" Helena whispered, before laughing at ...
[2013-07-13 22:47:08] <CourageWolf> the idea and keeping the actual secrets to herself. "Would you mind going to wake her and Jasmine up? We should get started early today, what with all the jewelry to sell, and other things to puzzle out."
[2013-07-13 22:51:30] <DarkPowers> Willow raises an eyebrow as she hugs Helena, and Helena feels the rope on Willow's back. "NEW toys? What have you two been up to? Oh, where is Jasmine sleeping? I was thinking of serving Aqua some breakfast." Fenrir hungrily gobbles up the meat before fetching a worn piece of leather from under one of the wagons and starting to play with it, soon getting one of the lamias to play tug-of-war...
[2013-07-13 22:51:31] <DarkPowers> ...with himself.
[2013-07-13 22:53:53] <CourageWolf> "I have no idea where Jasmine's sleeping" Helena said slyly, before brushing the rope and urging it into a harness. "Looking is half the fun, and o yes, we've met some very interesting new friends who may build us a thing or two..." Helena added, shooing Willow away to find Jasmine while she watched Fenrir play.
[2013-07-13 22:58:12] <DarkPowers> The rope doesn't respond to Helena's urgings, likely sensing what Willow has in mind as the witch goes to look into different wagons while the sun lazily climbs over the horizon and more lamias wake up and come get breakfast, leaving Helena and the young lamias rather busy for the moment. Willow finally disappears into one of the wagons, only to emerge from it a few minutes later with Cindy,...
[2013-07-13 22:58:12] <DarkPowers> ...the pair carrying a well-secured and wriggling package between them and heading towards the wagon where Helena slept.
[2013-07-13 23:00:03] <CourageWolf> Helena, raising her eyebrows at the rope's resistance, giggled before watching her move off to find Jasmine the old fashioned way. Busy with breakfast, it takes Helena a moment or two to see Cindy, Willow, and... Something. Sliding away from Chores, Helena followed the pair towards Aqua's wagon, curious...
[2013-07-13 23:00:19] <CourageWolf> as hell and feeling like that bundle was Jasmine.
[2013-07-13 23:02:50] <DarkPowers> The package, covered in both ropes and wraps, is definitely human-shaped and as the pair reaches Aqua's wagon, they open the barrel and dump the package inside before closing it again. Cindy seems to be giggling silently and Willow winks at Helena as the pair comes out of the wagon, heading to get themselves breakfast.
[2013-07-13 23:05:07] <CourageWolf> *How ya doing Sis!?* Helena sent over to Jasmine in a very snarky manner, having put 2 and 2 together as she just raised a pair of thumbs in congratulations to Willow and Cindy. "Well Cindy, we have a ton of stuff to sell, and buy, which may make no sense right away, but that I'm sure you'll appreciate later." Helena laughed out, as the vicious cycle of ...
[2013-07-13 23:05:33] <CourageWolf> rape and be raped continued in their little party of 4. "So... should we head out to handle the bartering sooner? or later..."
[2013-07-13 23:08:01] <DarkPowers> Jasmine responds with a very detailed description of what she's going to do with Willow and Cindy once she gets herself free, involving some things that may well be physically impossible. Meanwhile, Cindy shrugs at the congratulations. "It's probably best to head out right away. Easier to swindle people who aren't quite awake yet."
[2013-07-13 23:09:30] <CourageWolf> All Jasmine gets in return is a promise to help, and a great deal of amusement as she nods at Cindy and just heads over to her horse. Changing out into something a little more decent, Helena quickly mounted up and waited for Cindy, before steering towards town.
[2013-07-13 23:12:50] <DarkPowers> Willow and Cindy get themselves mounted after grabbing some food, and soon the trio heads into the town. There is already a good deal of traffic in the wide streets, and three foreigners riding on fine horses gather plenty of attention from the locals, though few find time to give them more than a long look. The outer parts of the town don't seem particularly wealthy, and there is no jeweler...
[2013-07-13 23:12:50] <DarkPowers> ...in sight.
[2013-07-13 23:14:32] <CourageWolf> Helena, enjoying the attention, but not seeing what she was after, kept on heading further into town, looking for the more wealthy areas which were probably nearer the center and the temple. "Well, all else fails, can we just barter the jewelry as is? I'd rather not, but still." Helena asked Cindy as they rode
[2013-07-13 23:18:26] <DarkPowers> "Probably. Depends on what we need to buy, I suppose. Mind giving a hint?" As they head into the middletown, the streets grow fuller and the houses more varied. After some searching they find a street with shops, and one of them seems to be a jeweler's shop, if a rather small and cramped one.
[2013-07-13 23:20:11] <CourageWolf> "Sure, we need large amounts of Rubber, Sack cloth, and other things that are quite difficult to find above the surface, wood would be great as well" Helena answered as they spied the jeweler, Helena dismounting and shouldering the pack full of hidden wealth.
[2013-07-13 23:25:00] <DarkPowers> Cindy whistles quietly. "That's going to be expensive here. Not things you can easily get in desert, except the cloth." Cindy and Willow dismount as well and head inside. For jeweler's shop, the place looks rather poor, with most jewelry made from silver or polished copper, and with only a few gold pieces visible. "Welcome, great and honored visitors. What brings you to Ahmed's humble abode?"
[2013-07-13 23:26:52] <CourageWolf> "well, well get a lot of what we can, the folks who want them wouldn't ask if they didn't need them" Helena said, before they entered the shop, and Helena was not impressed, although not surprised. Looking at Ahmed, apparently, Helena fished out one of the pieces, before handing it to Cindy. "Lets see if he can even afford what we have" Helena whispered.
[2013-07-13 23:31:19] <DarkPowers> Cindy shows the trader the silver necklace and starts to spin a story about how they came upon it when the trader hisses suddenly. "Graverobbers, the lot of you. Many outsiders seem to think they can go into the pyramids and sell the treasures for lots of gold. No-one makes necklaces like this anymore. And no honest trader would take them from your hands. Ahmed is a generous man, though....
[2013-07-13 23:31:19] <DarkPowers> ...Give me the lot of them and I'll give you their weight in coin, and we shall say no more of it."
[2013-07-13 23:33:22] <CourageWolf> Helena scoffed, raising her eyebrows before looking at Ahmed. "Trust me, if we're graverobbers, then we're dishonest folks, and trying to bully us is a rather bad idea, isn't it" Helena hisses quietly. "Now as a jeweler, you and I both know you can melt this down into its value in raw metal, as well as the gemstone, so here's what we'll do. You can have ...
[2013-07-13 23:34:10] <CourageWolf> them all for their weight, except any stones set into the metal, which I can rip out myself, and that I will consider CLOSE to Fair, unless my companion here has a better idea" Helena finishes, glancing at Cindy.
[2013-07-13 23:41:48] <DarkPowers> Cindy shrugs. "We can probably sell them for more once we leave this place. We don't need the coin right now, and it would be shame to have such pretty works destroyed for scrap metal." The man seems rather annoyed, and his eyes flicker from Cindy to Helena, before he lets out a resigned sigh. "Perhaps Ahmed spoke too quickly. There are some who would buy the jewels from you for good price....
[2013-07-13 23:41:48] <DarkPowers> ...You want coin soon, yes? It's a long way out of the desert."
[2013-07-13 23:43:36] <CourageWolf> "Then we can do business can't we" Helena said, immediately moving out of Cindy's way and watching her back as she sorted out everything, trusting her as she didn't trust herself to see this done right, Helena watching the door, and Ahmed carefully.
[2013-07-13 23:47:44] <DarkPowers> Cindy raises an eyebrow at Helena. "Do we need the money quickly? I don't trust him." Ahmed waves his hand. "Ahmed not try to cheat people too much. Ahmed knows someone. He'll give you a fair price for your stolen goods - not the best, but the best you'll find here - and will likely sell whatever you need the coin for. But you need to spend money to get money. Interested?"
[2013-07-13 23:50:16] <CourageWolf> Helena just chuckles, before gesturing with her hand at Cindy. "We're leaving" Helena said. *We don't. we have a fair bit of coin to buy what we need, especially sack cloth, what we're gonna do now? Wait for this nice man here to take what he wants through ill gotten means. He can't go to the church, he'll lose the profit, which leaves us with his friend...
[2013-07-13 23:51:36] <CourageWolf> while me and Jasmine don't need to sleep.* Helena sent over to Cindy, just chuckling. She'd get the fence on her own time, or sell the jewelry in another region for an insane profit. Or maybe something else would come along. Either way, they won. "Time to find us some construction material!" Helena cried, starting the search for sack cloth.
[2013-07-13 23:59:03] <DarkPowers> As the trio leaves the shop, Ahmed looks like a man trying to make a difficult decision, not bothering to watch them leave. After some wandering about, the trio happens upon an area with warehouses that would likely house at least some of the required materials in large quantities.
[2013-07-14 00:00:59] <CourageWolf> Warehouses! Good sign! Smiling widely, Helena started looking around for the owners, tying off the horses, and keeping the wealth with her. Although her own coin pouch was not that impressive, Jasmine would be soon eventually and it took time to gather large amounts of materials. "Hello~!" Helena called out, looking around.
[2013-07-14 00:04:43] <DarkPowers> There are some people in the streets, but apart from a trader just going into one of the warehouses, none look wealthy enough to own one. A street urchin comes over to Helena. "Lady want help? Omar can help!"
[2013-07-14 00:05:44] <CourageWolf> Helena kneels down, tired of looking at no one that OWNS the warehouses, looking at the urchin. "I'm looking to buy a great deal of sack cloth, like, hundreds of pounds of cloth. Where would I go for that Omar?"
[2013-07-14 00:08:27] <DarkPowers> Omar surreptitiously offers an open palm to Helena's direction, giving her a warm smile that's somewhat spoiled by his nose that must have been broken in the past and is now pointing too much to the right. "Fourth warehouse. Sackcloth, silk, leather, whatever you want, you find it there."
[2013-07-14 00:09:20] <DarkPowers> *Fourth warehouse in the left. Sackcloth, silk, leather, whatever you want, you find it there."
[2013-07-14 00:10:07] <CourageWolf> Helena chuckles, before taking out a coin, the gold gleaming in the light, before she holds up another. "Now how about the truth Omar" Helena whispers, adding a 3rd coin to the set sitting between her fingers, raising her eyebrow, checking on the boys emotions.
[2013-07-14 00:10:23] <CourageWolf> (brb, letting the dog out)
[2013-07-14 00:13:12] <DarkPowers> Omar looks offended, and his emotions match his face, though there's a good bit of surprise and greed as well. "Omar tell the truth, lady. Telsir sells all kinds of cloth and leather and more.
[2013-07-14 00:25:28] <CourageWolf> Helena smiles genuinely. "Thank you then Omar, Remember the nice, but shrewd lady then." Helena said counting out 4 coins and placing them in his palm "Run along then, and be safe Omar" Helena said, before standing and heading towards the fourth warehouse.
[2013-07-14 00:27:43] <DarkPowers> Omar quickly pockets the coins before slipping away. In the fourth warehouse, Helena finds a bored looking clerk doing some papyruswork in a desk that's located across from the door. Behind the desk are shelves filled with large amounts of cloth, as well as many other things, just like Omar said.
[2013-07-14 00:29:06] <CourageWolf> Helena chuckles as she wanders in, glad for the boys help in finding what she was after as she shouldered what she had and wandered in. "Hello! I have a bit of an odd request. What's the running rate on sack cloth, I need a great deal of it, as well as rubber, and wood." Helena asked, smiling at the clerk
[2013-07-14 00:35:11] <DarkPowers> The clerk looks up from his work and stands up, offering a hand. "Telsir at your service, miss. Sack cloth is 90 silver per hundred yards going to 85 silver if you buy 1200 yards or more. Rubber is one gold per pound, but we only have 50 pounds of the stuff. What kind of wood do you need?"
[2013-07-14 00:38:15] <CourageWolf> Helena chuckled, before looking at the man, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. "Well, I'll need all 50 pounds of the rubber, for certain, as well as 6000 yards of the sackcloth, maybe more, I'm not certain how much well need. As for the wood? Something sturdy that you would use for excavation, pine or the like." Helena answered, smiling brightly.
[2013-07-14 00:40:03] <DarkPowers> The man eagerly scribes the numbers down. "I see. That means exported wood, which is rather expensive, I'm afraid. Would birch be suitable? I can sell a large quantity of it at 1 gold per cubic feet."
[2013-07-14 00:42:05] <CourageWolf> "That would do nicely, though I don't know the amounts, and will need to actually speak to someone else to get an accurate numbers for that. We'll settle with the cloth and the rubber for now, which, if my math is still good, is holding at around... 54 gold and 25 silver" Helena said, reaching into her own pouch to get the payment.
[2013-07-14 00:44:07] <DarkPowers> (at 8.5 gold per 100 yards it's a lot more than that)
[2013-07-14 00:46:04] <CourageWolf> (Hahaha, I misread that so badly XD) 610 Gold*
[2013-07-14 00:46:34] <DarkPowers> "Five hundred and sixty gold for the cloth and the rubber, miss. No need to pay until the delivery. Speaking of which, where would you like me to send the carts?"
[2013-07-14 00:47:00] <DarkPowers> The man waves his hand dismissively as Helena reaches into her purse
[2013-07-14 00:47:57] <CourageWolf> Helena smiles sweetly. "There's a caravan on the outskirts of town populated mainly by Lamia, I also think it's the only caravan here. Please have it delivered there and simply ask for Helena or Jasmine, I should be there." Helena says, leaving the man with his numbers.
[2013-07-14 00:48:30] <CourageWolf> (My math skills are apparently not what they used to be hahaha)
[2013-07-14 00:48:59] <DarkPowers> The man gives Helena a small bow. "Very well. They'll be there by the evening."
[2013-07-14 00:49:50] <DarkPowers> *Sack cloth? Rubber? Woof for excavation? This seems like a large scheme just to get some toys*
[2013-07-14 00:49:59] <DarkPowers> *wood
[2013-07-14 00:50:15] <DarkPowers> Willow says in Helena's mind
[2013-07-14 00:50:48] <CourageWolf> saddling back up, Helena glances at Cindy. "Now, lets go pay our jeweler friend a visit." Helena says, heading back towards Ahmed's place *O yes, but you see, they're very special toys. I promise you* Helena answers Willow as they ride "Now we offer Ahmed a flat rate, which he'll be happy with, to take all the jewelry off our hands, to sell to his fence ...
[2013-07-14 00:51:13] <CourageWolf> for a hefty profit, and to simply forget we exist after this transaction until we wander back into his life' Helena says conversationally as they make they're way back
[2013-07-14 00:52:34] <DarkPowers> "You think he'll take it?" Cindy asks sceptically as the trio heads back to the jeweller's shop. "And wouldn't it be better to buy directions to this fence of his?"
[2013-07-14 00:54:21] <CourageWolf> "Absolutely, except for one problem. Ahmed knows we have wealth, that he's seen before, the winnings from the surrounding area, and there are plenty of ways to get us killed for it. Better we offer him what we have, for the price we need, say, 600 gold, and take the hit, there's more wealth to be had." Helena said, explaining herself. She KNEW the jewelry...
[2013-07-14 00:54:51] <CourageWolf> was valuable, especially sold out of the region, and she knew that Ahmed had a man who'd take it off his hands. Better they stay on as many peoples good side as they could, and take the slight hit.
[2013-07-14 00:57:26] <DarkPowers> Cindy shrugs. "That's a lot of money for a slight hit. Especially since you've already spent most of what we'll get." As they get back into the jeweller's shop, he's examining a gem with a magnifying glass. There's also a crossbow laying on the table. "Changed your mind, did you? What can Ahmed do for you?"
[2013-07-14 00:59:05] <CourageWolf> Helena smiles. "As you know, things change, though habits never do. So here's the offer. You take everything we have, to use, or sell any way you wish, for 800 gold. No questions, no tricks, and better for you, repeat business. However, this first sale which profits you greatly, is the only one at this discount. I'd rather have a contact, then an enemy...
[2013-07-14 00:59:32] <CourageWolf> Are we agreed?" Helena said, speaking more and more quietly as she moved towards the counter, prepared for treachery, but not expecting it outright.
[2013-07-14 01:01:04] <DarkPowers> The man calmly puts down the gem and the magnifying glass and puts a hand on the crossbow's stock. "Let's see how much you have, first."
[2013-07-14 01:04:07] <CourageWolf> Helena, noting the movement, immediately casts her mind about for anyone else in the immediate area, looking for any emotion that would simply give away a position, as she moved to grab the saddlebag containing everything but the pouches, the coins, and the magical jewelry, and bringing it forward. She was perfectly prepared to kill anyone here if she had to.
[2013-07-14 01:06:20] <DarkPowers> There doesn't seem to be anyone else in the shop that Helena can notice, though the general emotions flowing through the town might conceal someone. The man takes a quick look at what's being offered and without further argument, counts 8 heavy bags of coins to the counter.
[2013-07-14 01:08:03] <CourageWolf> Helena smiles, and checks each bag, as quickly as the man had gone over the jewelry. "I know I'm a little hard to get along with, I'm very used to getting my way you see. But I meant what I said, be prepared for my visits, and I assure we'll both profit" Helena said, happy with the coin and scooping it into the bags. *Not the value, but what we need...
[2013-07-14 01:09:00] <CourageWolf> with a slight excess, and trust me, more wealth to be had in the tombs. And now we have our contact.* Helena sent to Cindy. *Any advice to next time? I'm sorely tempted to simply put you in charge of any future dealings with him at full price Cindy, you're better at this* Helena continues as she makes a hasty retreat back to the caravan.
[2013-07-14 01:11:43] <DarkPowers> "A pleasure" the man says with a deeply sarcastic bow as the three of them turn to leave. *Don't sell more than we have to. Like he said, we'll get better price once we're out of this hellhole.* Cindy answers quickly. The trio soon arrives back at the caravan, and it seems that Jasmine has disappeared from the barrel.
[2013-07-14 01:13:27] <CourageWolf> *Noted, and agreed. And yea, you're in charge of the treasure now, please don't go alone though* Helena continued with Cindy, winking at Willow as they headed back. Getting back, Helena was shocked to find Jasmine free of the barrel. *How was your morning sis? We took a hit, but we have what we need.* Helena sent over, relaxing against her new favourite spot.
[2013-07-14 01:13:28] <CourageWolf> The barrel.