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Daireem - Micc
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Lao-tzu
Ancient Thinker
11/28/2008 5:26:46 AM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 56
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Now the assassin and the Kiefan... went shopping?  Amazing how fortunes are turned in a Micc spaceport!  Lao-tzu shrugged and dispelled the diversion field, allowing the energies to slowly seep back to him and his stand.  If the police were to come by now, all they would see was an ordinary crowd of shoppers and travelers.

Lao-tzu decided he would approach the men while they sat having tea.  That would give him plenty of time to sell a few things at his shop first, something he had been neglecting since the fight began.  Humming a musical tune, he enabled his subtle "advertising" spells. These were actually illegal, but almost everyone broke the rules.  Throughout the shopping center a subtle game of magic was played, competing for the attention of the shopper by illusion, psychic influence, gentle prodding, and a dozen more techniques, yet keeping the energy signatures low enough not to be overly noticeable to the police or the customer.  Lao-tzu was, of course, a master.

Decades, perhaps even centuries, of honing his skills had turned the management of these spells into second nature.  The rules of the game imposed a systemic limit on the effectiveness of the spells, a limit that could only be approached asymptotically by players with a deep understanding of the dynamics of the system.  Lao-tzu had long since stopped widespread experimentation and had settled on a small arsenal of synergistic spells that were effective 99% of the time.  His wasn't the most attractive stand, but it was close and he didn't need to work very hard to keep it that way.  Lagom, he thought to himself with a smile.

Time to decide what to sell.  To make up for lost time, Lao-tzu focused on his big-budget items for tourists.  Those consisted mainly of technological items that would work away from Micc's source of magical energy, but used magic to enhance their function in some way.  Magical power sources were popular again this season, small batteries with magical crystals that could run a power-tool for years and power-plants the size of a toaster that could drive a car for a hundred thousand kilometers.  By their nature, they could never be mass-produced and most people didn't even know they existed, but periodically it would become fashion among the elite of some planet to have these things and demand would skyrocket for a few months.

An instant later, a number of off-world individuals strolling through the area with a decent amount of tape in their wallet suddenly remembered hearing about a shop with magical batteries.  They even recognized its description, a small stand with orange and white streamers.  If they tried recalling where they heard about it, they'd remember nothing, of course.
Raelan
inventor/mage
11/28/2008 9:36:24 PM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 94
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Raelan watched the man walk off "I'll be around here browsing till you're done." and shook his head amazed at the strange man's back now where was I going before that fiasco started? Oh yeah. it was one of the first stalls that caught his eye, but he always saved the first attraction to later, just as if he were haggling, look around, then move to your original target.

as it happened the stall was currently gathering what appeared to be a number of richer looking folk in non native dress styles, this was mildly annoying, but since he'd already decided on a stall he made his way to one side to examine Lao-Tsu's wares, in between one Lao's conversations with another customer he got in "you have anything of a mechanical nature, components, or apparatuses?" he asked because he couldn't get a proper view of the merchandise with his angle.
Lao-tzu
Ancient Thinker
11/29/2008 7:50:44 AM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 56
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Lao-tzu gave a little laugh that rang.  "That is why you are here, yes?" He gestured at a couple of customers and they moved away, giving Raelan a spot at the curved table.

With a bell-like voice he said, "I have something special for you, but first I will demonstrate a device of my own construction, unique in both function and form. Observe!"  

In front of him on the table was the remains of a broken china cup, colored white and blue.  In his hand he held a Y-shaped wand made of inlaid wood and metal with a thick handle. With a push of the button on the base, the pile of shards swam out of focus and reformed into a delicate teacup. The crowd gasped as Lao-tzu continued his spiel, "No magical skill is required, just think about the whole cup and push the button and it will be whole again."  

Not quite whole, though.  Raelan noticed a faint tracery of cracks remained where the cup had been broken.  

Lao-tzu went on, "Ah! But what if a piece has gone missing?"  With a flourish he held the cup in one hand and smashed it with his other.  Picking up a piece and casually flinging it away, he said, "No problem.  Just take anything similar and substitute."  He took a piece of porcelein from a little box beside him and placed it in the broken pile.  The pile swam out of focus again and reformed once more into the cup.  This time, Raelan noticed that the cracks were gone but now the color was slightly off.

A short bout of buying and haggling ensued, and a minute later Lao-tzu had managed to drive off the last of the other customers.  "Now, I saw you intercede on behalf of a stranger earlier and prevent unjust violence.  Acts like these deserve a reward. You may select any item from my shop free of charge if you like."

On the table was arrayed a bewildering assortment of small artifacts that mixed magic and technology. They all appeared to be hand-made in small batches. Many had functions that were labeled or clear from the design, but others were a complete mystery. Each of them seemed to carry a story.

As Raelan looked, Lao-tzu said, "If none of these trinkets attract you, I might offer you tea at home and many more interesting things."
Dante
Eccentric Assasin
11/29/2008 10:28:58 PM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 42
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

  Dante held up the shirt and walked over to the counter "How much for this shirt?". The man glanced at it then at Dante's own clothing "150 tape kid". "That's a bit expensive isen't it?" Dante asked. The man eyed him than replied "You do know what that shirt does right?"
"Yes."
"Than it shouldn't surprise you..."
"But it does"
"..."
"75"
"Huh?"
"75 tape that's all I'll pay for this"
"that's half the price"
"very perceptive kind sir...well?" Dante looked   around a little bit
"...fine"

Dante pulled the money out of his pocket and set it on the table "Before I make this purchase I wish to make sure this is real...". Dante grabs a letter opener on his desk and in one swift movement slit the shirt from shoulder to wrist. The frayed threads twitched then promptly sewed (sp?) themselves back together. Dante smirked "This'll do quite nicely" he slipped the shirt over his torn one "thank you".

Aided by the "Mark" spell he casted on Raelan he soon found him. Dante reached them after Lao-tzu offered tea. He simply stood next to Raelan and quietly listened.

Anxiety is the essential condition of intellectual and artistic creation
Raelan
inventor/mage
11/30/2008 8:58:18 PM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 94
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Raelan looked over the items on the table amused at the effects, some were very tourist, and pointless, and some were amusingly practical, but in the terms of the offer, especially with the word trinket added in he decided on the latter. "I was promised tea by another, if you are willing to accommodate us both, I'd love to, I also have the feeling that trinkets, no matter how interesting, are not a fitting reward for such acts. I did it with no reward promised and do not need any reward."
Lao-tzu
Ancient Thinker
12/1/2008 11:06:11 AM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 56
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Lao-tzu looked over at Dante before turning back to Raelan.  "You are both welcome to my home.  I have done with my business here, shall we go forth?"

He bowed and said, "But first, it is customary to perform introductions.  My name is Lao-tzu.  May I ask yours?"
Raelan
inventor/mage
12/2/2008 8:59:37 PM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 94
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Raelan glances in Dante's direction after seeing Lao glance at him, and gives the 'well, you wanna?' smile, which the thoughts seemed to echo.

Always a fan of custom, Raelan returned the bow, "I am Raelan Wathuru, it is a pleasure to meet you." he could tell this man had good energy, and was good with it, he respeced all beings, but this man earned more than the usual. Where Raelan was the wild river this man seemed to be the cultivated farmland...
Dante
Eccentric Assasin
12/2/2008 11:52:58 PM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 42
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

  Dante grinned slightly and removed his hat and bowwed as well. "My name is Dante Agular, nice to meet you Lao-tzu." Dante replied in a rather normal tone. He straightened back up and affixed his hat back onto his head. "Well I'm ready anytime you guys are" he then was visibly shocked and muttered under his breath "Some people are perverts" . He snapped his finger and the mark spell fizzled away on Raelan and all of the others affected by the spell. Dante's grin then quickly returned.

Anxiety is the essential condition of intellectual and artistic creation
Lao-tzu
Ancient Thinker
12/3/2008 7:57:32 AM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 56
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Lao-tzu straightened and, being quite short, looked up at the two men. He said, "So pleased to meet you, Raelan Wathuru and Dante Agular. Yes, let's go."

Apparently disregarding the fact that his wares were openly displayed in his stand, unprotected, the old master headed out of the market with his two new acquaintances.  

In his quiet way, Lao-tzu said, "On foot, I live a month's journey away.  It is a rewarding walk, but young people like yourselves generally find themselves in more of a hurry and may prefer another mode of transportation."
Raelan
inventor/mage
12/3/2008 11:44:05 PM

Level: 1
Experience: 0

Total Posts: 94
RE: Of Spaceport Markets

Raelan chuckled at the offhandedness of passing a month away doing nothing, that was probably how he was supposed to behave being keifan, such was to be expected of properly cultivated farmland. "Do you have such transportation, or should we go back and get my transport? Such things can be nice, but as you said, I'm young, and don't yet understand the proper beauty of things."

He'd love to just pass a month away, but he had many things burning away at his mind, they wouldn't wait for the trip, especially both ways.
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