Zack/Intro1

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Diamond's Intro

>> Ah, the beautiful city of Gem. Truly a bastion of civilization in this world. Okay, maybe just in this region since no one else decided starting a town all the way out here was worth it. That's neither here or now though, as you head for Obsidian Majestic's shop.

Diamond fingers the sleeveless edge of his new shirt uncertainly. He never did like shirts, they always seemed so unnecessary--unfortunately, when one does not wish to advertise the fact they recently purchased a jade amulet, torso wear becomes a good idea. Also, when one does not wish to advertise there is a moderately powerful hearthstone in that amulet, it becomes an excellent idea.

>> As you walk, the general populance of Gem go about their daily business. The approved gem vendors hawk their wares under the watchful eye of the city's hired thugs. Mercenaries stroll with weapons openly displayed, as is their wont. And the average people just go about purchasing what they need, conversing, and all that.

Diamond frowns slightly, as he approaches the door to his new acquaintence's shop. When one does not wish to advertise they can now attune such a stone, it damned near well becomes a necessity. Still, he doesn't like shirts. Ah well, such is life. He puts on a happy expression, and enters.

>> Obsidian isn't at the counter at the moment, but you can hear the pounding of a hammer coming from the back room. The shop is empty at the moment, except for a few examples of his craftsmanship on the rear wall. Nothing shabby in the least, but the hooked swords at your waist remain the best work.

Diamond pauses for a moment, considering that--what if the best Obsidian would ever make truly hung at his very sash? Was this fortune a gift, by the grace of the Sun, or borne out of Obsidian's own generosity and skill? Hmm... Diamond puts such thoughts aside, and approaches the back, quietly, hoping to witness the smithy at work.

>> You are indeed in luck. Obsidian's muscled form is hard at work at the forge, currently hammering what appears to be a new blade into shape. He doesn't notice you over the clanging of his hammer against the heated steel, or perhaps because he is focused on his work. Nevertheless, he continues hammering away, giving the blade its shape with every strike.

Diamond looks over his work benevolently, thoughtfully, his mind wandering. What lessons can one learn from the smith? Patience, strength, insight, design... and the guiding hand of experience, all easily evident in his craft. Hmm. The girl running shop accross the street has simply spectacular legs.

Diamond's mind tends to wander strangely.

>> The clanging continues for a few moments more before Obsidian sets down his hammer, grabbing the blade with a set of tongs and placing it in the water, which quickly begins to steam as he does so. He glances up as the blade cools, finally noticing you. He raises an eyebrow slightly before shaking his head. "While I'm sure she'd be interested in you, she already has someone who would be a bit displeased." He grins, wiping his face off with a piece of cloth.

Diamond's eyebrows arch up for a moment, and he blinks, before settling into a wry grin. "A popular topic of discussion, is she? I can see why!" He surveys the room before him, briefly, just pausing to change topics, "I've got to say though, thank you for your advice. Your friends gave me good prices, and they seemed pretty fair--and, no offense, it feels like that's pretty rare around here."

>> The room is simple enough, the forge on one side alongside the bucket of water where the blade is cooling off. There are tools on the table in the corner, along with a few gems that must be works in progress. This is obviously where he keeps the bulk of his stock, if the various weapons hanging on the walls are any indication. He nods, still grinning. "None taken. You're probably right there, sad to say. Good to know I was able to help."

>> He heads over to the table, moving a few of the gems aside and generally cleaning up the mess left by his latest work.

Diamond turns to follow his movement, and continues, "Well, you wouldn't happen to know an honest place to stay, would you? After so long in the desert, I wouldn't mind a bed to sleep on." He pauses again, briefly, before quickly appending, "Oh, and if there's anything I can do to help you with that..?" Doesn't hurt to be polite, after all.

Diamond reconsiders that girl accross the street. Hmm... is she married? Surely not. Perhaps her boyfriend is just the strange, jealous type. There are supposedly quite a few of those outside the Varang regions. Eh, there are plenty of young women in a city so large, anyway, and no one should return to a bed after so long in the sand without a little company.

>> Obsidian shakes his head. "Nah, I've got it Diamond. And there's a few decent places along the road. Head for the Gem's Delight down the road on the left. Can't really miss it, with the huge sign and all." He grins. "Tell 'em I sent you and you'll be just fine."

Diamond smiles. "I'll head there tonight. Tell me--have you eaten dinner yet? I haven't repayed you for your kindness, after all, and you haven't shown me the best restaurant in Gem yet. Two very horrible needs that must be met!"

>> Obsidian blinks before grinning. "That is very true. After I finish up working here I can show you around a bit." He blinks, remembering something before he pulls out what appears to be a piece of paper from his pocket. "Oh, Diamond. Someone dropped this off here for you while you were out." He holds out the paper to you, looking a bit puzzled. "Were you expecting someone to meet you or anything?"

Diamond takes it, puzzled for a moment. As he unfolds it, though, his calm happiness returns and he responds, "Ah, not precisely, but I'm not surprised, either." Diamond thinks to himself, as he reads it quickly, . o O (This is hardly the least strange thing to happen to me)

>> Obsidian nods as he goes back to cleaning up. Meanwhile, the paper appears to be a letter, specifically addressed to you. Odd that, since you've been traveling. Anyways, the letter reads as follows:

Diamond in the Summer,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and before you are on the move again from Gem. While you may not know of me, I have heard a bit about you, and have something to request of you. I am in need of an individual that I can trust to help me in assisting the people of The Lap, and you seem to be quite fit for the role. If you require any sort of information, favor or money after this endeavour, I will be happy to assist you.

Furthermore, there will be others that are quite alike to you that should be coming to assist as well. If you accept, meet me in the Half Past Inn in The Lap. And try to keep a low profile. The Wyld Hunt is aware of your existance, and while they've grown lax, it wouldn't be good to provoke them.

Sincerely, Soran.

PS. Ask Obsidian for the gem if you indeed wish to assist. There will be need of it in the future.

Diamond blinks a couple of times, and reads it twice, hoping to memorize as much as possible. He's going to have to burn this.

Diamond frowns. No, he's going to need to shred, burn, and scatter the ashes. Hmmm...

Diamond, after a short while, decides to merely fold the note, two times, and hold it. "Ah, Obsidian, do you happen to know someone by the name of Soran?"

>> Obsidian blinks from his watching you, nodding. "I do. A friend of mine up north in The Lap. The letter's from him, I suppose?"

Diamond smiles, but only faintly. "Yes, he said that I should ask for 'the gem', and requested I come visit him."

>> Obsidian blinks again before nodding. "I see. Right then." He moves towards the wall, tapping it a bit before he pushes. Surprisingly, a part begins to turn, and inside you can see various other gems and such. "S'where I keep things I'm working on. Too easy for someone with wandering hands to snatch them even if I lock up shop." He rummages for a few moments before pulling out a gem that appears to be a bit smaller than a child's fist, and is a surprising array of colors. He holds it out to you, looking pretty serious now. "Whatever you do, don't lose it. Thing's practically a legend in some parts."

Diamond 's mind turns. 'assisting the people of The Lap'? This Soran obviously knows of his nature, so what is his true motivation? He is, apparently, gathering Solars... is this a trap, perhaps? And to leave Gem without making any sort of meaningful progress or contacts... hm.

Diamond takes, it cautiously, and says quietly, "I must admit I don't recognize it." Gracefully, he slips it within his sash, and into a concealed pocket in his pants that once held more normal gems.

>> He nods, closing up the secret vault. "No surprise." He grins. "I guess you'll find out soon enough, though." He finishes cleaning up, then glances at you. "Give me a hour or two and I'll meet you in front of the Gem's Delight. I have to close up then go clean up a bit."

Diamond frowns, now, for the first time in front of the man. "I've got to say... I'm a bit paranoid over this entire affair. I'd rather stay here, out of the way, for now, and I'm fairly sure I'll be leaving town tonight."

Diamond is sure of one thing--whether or not he should go to the Lap, someone has discovered him here. And that means it would be most wise to leave.

>> Obsidian nods. "Alright then. I wouldn't worry to much about Soran if I was you though. He's got a good heart. Gets him into trouble sometimes, but he's one of the good ones." He continues to clean up, taking out the cooled and finished blade and hanging it up on the wall. Definitetly a fine blade.

Diamond smiles, then, showing more reassurance than he genuinely feels. "Good to hear--please, tell me more about him."

>> Obsidian shrugs ever so slightly as he continues. "He used to live here, until he left about two, three years ago. We grew up here, not much more than a stone's throw away from here. He always protested some of Rankar's decisions a bit more than he should off. Of course, he finally got so sick of it and the fact nothing was done that he headed up north." He chuckles. "I suppose he's stlll causing a ruckus, even today."

Diamond blinks, a little stunned. He's oblivious, but not so much as to not wonder, "He survived that sort of thing? From the stories I've heard, anyone questioning authority too overtly is... dealt with in Gem, in one fashion or another." >> Obsidian chuckles. "He didn't cause any trouble for profits or anything. Like I said, no one listened or really cared. I suppose he left before they decided they got sick of hearing him as well though."

Diamond drops the subject, not really willing to risk a discussion in politics, "... I see. Well, perhaps you should tell me what he looks like, as he gives no description, simply a name."

>> Obsidian nods. "Fairly tall fellow. Blond hair, black eyes. Before he left I made him a sword so he could defend himself. He should still have it, since it was a good blade." He considers for a few moments, trying to rememebr what else. "That's about it, really."

Diamond nods, and engages in a longer discussion trying to ferret out details here and there, that might be relevent to the letter. The letter itself, he quietly tears to shreds while Obsidian busies himself, and deposits into the nearest convenient fires as they walk--avoiding Obsidian's forge fire, of course.

>> You don't find out much more than what Obsidian's already told you. He doesn't notice you tearing the letter, and once he's done cleaning up he leads you outside, locks up, and takes you out for a night on the town. You manage to easily dispose of the shreds along the way, and you go to what must be one of the finest resturants Obsidian can afford in Gem. Which actually isn't all that bad. In fact, it is delicious.

Diamond was going to pay, y'know.

>> Obsidian protests, but gives in if you push the issue.

Diamond settles on purchasing Obsidian's meal, allowing Obsidian to purchase his own--Diamond, however, takes care of the tip, giving the serving girl a wink.

>> Obsidian accepts this arrangement, and chuckles as he watches you. The girl, meanwhile, blushes fiercely before fleeing to talk with the other serving girls after bringing your meal, giggling with them and all that. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and you and Obsidian soon head out, as night falls. He nods to you, serious again. "Well, if you're deadset on going, I suppose I can understand." He grins, patting your back.

>> "Be careful out there. And keep up your form and take good care of those swords."

Diamond smiles rogueishly, allowing confidence to bleed into his words, "Of course--I wouldn't want to risk disappointing their maker, after all."

>> Obsidian laughs. "Or your grandmother. She'll have your hide in the next world if you wreck them." He nods, still grinning. "Till we meet again, Diamond. It was a pleasure."

Diamond meanwhile, mentally, dwells on lost opportunity--just a little though. Hmf, there were at least two or three of those waitresses he could have gone after. Maybe the Lap will make up for it? He hears farm girls are... athletic.

Diamond smiles, dismissing those thoughts. "The pleasure was mine. I'll see you again, old man, I'm sure of it. Take care of yourself."

Diamond considers the desert, the night, and his lack of mount... he's going to need some charms once he gets far enough.

>> He grins. "Always." He nods again, then turns and begins to walk back to his own home, leaving you alone in the nearly deserted street. Except for the tyke that looks about ten that bumps into you, apologizing.

Diamond checks his pockets.

>> He keeps on going. By the way, you're missing that gem.

>> The kid starts running.

Diamond begins to jog after him, and begins to marshall his spirit. Concentrating, he guides his essence from his heart, through his throat and into his voice, invisibly to the naked eye--and upon spotting a large box, sturdy looking and tall enough to place him far above any obstruction, he hops up and shouts. "CHILD!" he announces, the passion of indignation filling him, "STOP!"

>> The streetrat stops as you yell, turning to face you. Now that you look at him, he looks, quite frankly, dirt poor. And hungry. And dirty. And all that good stuff. He's holding the gem in his hands with a deathgrip, looking scared out of his little head.

>> The kid blinks a bit before beginning to walk towards you, looking reassured now as he holds onto the gem. "R-really? You're not angry, sir?"

Diamond crouches down, to look him in the eyes, and holds out his hand. "Of course I am a little angry, but that doesn't mean I don't forgive you. If you give the stone back, I'll make sure you get a good meal tonight--how does that sound?"

>> The kid blinks a few more times before grinning from ear to ear. "Seriously?!" He holds out the gem, looking /quite/ happy now.

Diamond takes it, and smiles. A hand gently taking the boy's shoulder, Diamond smiles and looks about for an honest-looking grocer. "Of course."

Diamond slips that gem away in a less accessible pocket, by the way.

>> There's one who hasn't closed up a bit down the road over there. The kid meanwhile nods, in awe of such a forgiving victim of pickpocketing.

Diamond takes the child with him, and buys him a meal of whatever the young boy wishes. While he eats, Diamond addresses the grocer, a kind expression framing his sad eyes. He slips a bag onto table, one holding a considerable amount of what's left of his money. Quietly, to the grocer, he says, "It would do me a great service, friend, if you would look after that child for a little while--just enough to make sure he has enough to eat, and feels no need to steal, for a little while?"

>> The kid looks like he thinks he is heaven. The grocer, meanwhile, nods to Diamond as he takes the bag. "Of course, sir. I'll watch him like he's one of my own. And so the kid is fed, and quite frankly adopted, and all is right for now. Eventually you depart, heading north to The Lap, leaving behind a kid whose life has improved, a few jittery serving girls, a friend of a family, and an intact city.

>> That's right, Gem is intact.

INTRO END

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