Rise of Myth: Heir to Valor

"Ah! It has been some time, lass. Welcome back to to my humble Chimera's Den." A large burly dwarf nearly five feet tall stood behind a bar, grinning ear to ear, in a simple, loose linen shirt, his well kept, almost red beard lining his smile.

"It's good to see you in fine spirits, Boldir." Asha returned a smile to the proprietor of the tavern. Val noticed a variety of species enjoying food and drink, sitting at long communal tables, though a few smaller tables sat along the perimeter of the room. The first floor was well lit from a series of interesting lamps along the walls, housing what looked like incandescent crystals.

"Here on business again?" The dwarf barkeep asked.

"Yes, I need a room for two— separate beds, for a week, do you have any available?"

"Aye, in fact your usual lodging is available, I can have another bed moved in for you, same rate."

"That would be perfect." Asha placed a handful of crowns on the table, which Val just noticed had some denominations to them. Ten coins valued at ten crowns a piece and five coins at one a piece rested on the bar. The numbers were the usual numerical system he was familiar with, though regardless of denomination, they all seemed cast from some sort of bronze material, varying only slightly in size between each denomination.

Boldir motioned to a couple of the staff, giving them some instructions before they quickly headed up to the second floor.

"Here's the key, give the lads a moment to get your room sorted before you head up." The barkeep placed a heavy iron key on the bar, not even bothering to count Asha's coin.

"Sure." She replied, pocketing the key.

"So, who's the bird-boy in the odd getup?" Boldir was rummaging through some cabinets under the bar.

"I'm Val." He replied as he took a seat on a stool at the bar.

"Boldir, pleasure to meet anyone Alevriasha would take for company." The barkeep introduced himself as he placed a sizable mug filled with what looked and smelled of cider, and a small bowl of various nuts and what looked like cracked wheat.
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"This one's on the house, and some snacks for your feathery friends." Boldir added, seeming to regard the pair of ravens quite highly, though Val was not sure why since they had not revealed themselves.

"Thanks." Val and the ravens took to the refreshments, the cider was delicious, and even Huginn did not seem to mind the snacks despite his usual fare being meat and grains. Asha herself took a seat and asked for a glass of water.


"How's business?" Asha asked.

"Same as usual. I can guess what you're really asking, nothing has really changed so far since the transition, though the Aurulians are quite uppity about the presence of other human groups to the south. Supposedly they could not communicate with them and a fight broke out, inciting this skirmish that's been going on for a couple weeks now." Boldir explained, though in a surprisingly casual tone despite the contents.

"You're not worried about the war spreading here?" Val asked.

"Ha, even if it did, what's going to happen? You seem new, but you'd do well to know we've been neutral in all external conflicts for centuries. We'll even supply both sides provided the coin is right and it does not negatively affect our interests. I'd welcome these new humans, it'll be good business. No one with a brain will start a battle within fifty miles of Kar Lodihr." The dwarf scoffed at the idea, making his remarks with great confidence.

"Then everything has been peaceful of late?" Asha seemed to be hinting at something.

"Sigh. Yes and no. Businesses like mine are the same, if anything spending has increased lately, but there are a couple problems if you're interested in trifles."

"Such as?" The elf persisted.

"Well, there's the problem with ghouls, but they're being quickly exterminated, bigger problem is all of these ruins everywhere. Many of our roads disappeared, a lot of them have these wrecked roads cast from a kind of mortar and gravel in their place. Worse yet the roads are littered with all kinds of scrap heaps, we've been clearing the roads but it's blocked some trade from the East. The senate has been pressured endlessly to dispatch troops to clear the way, but it's become something of a nasty trade negotiation between us and the Aurulians about who should be the one to clear the way." Boldir explained the situation as if the whole thing was incredibly childish to him.

"The human empire is trying to save money by getting the dwarves to clear it for them?" Val was not sure whether to be concerned or amused by the pettiness.

Boldir shrugged. "It's not so unusual, it's business, on one side we need the trade, on the other the Aurulians need our goods. Petty trade negotiations like this happen all the time. The senate has tried to compromise and has been clearing the roads in the immediate vicinity, but it does not look like they will budge on the rest of the way to Aurulia. I'm sure the humans have a similar situation on their end, our senate has been suggesting that it is the problem of the private companies, that they want to stay hands-off on such problems like they do generally. Problem is this is more an infrastructure concern than a business concern but the two overlap in this case, in the end it's politics."

"How far is Aurulia from here?" Val asked.

"Maybe six hundred miles to the Northeast would be the first city under Aurulian rule, it's a large empire." Asha responded.

*Hmm, would be somewhere in northern Nevada or closer to Utah then?*

"There's a lot of scrap along the roads that can be claimed, I'm surprised there's not a fight to clear the roads and crap as much of it as they can." Val carefully worded his probing remark as he sipped his cider.

"We have more than enough raw minerals and ores to work with, some folk are trying to take apart and figure out these metal creations, it's assumed they were made by Barren Worlders but it has not been that long yet. They appear to be transport of some sort, but they do not run on magic and we have not figured out how to operate them." Boldir set about checking taps and stock behind the bar, preparing for the evening.

"Hold on, how much would such information be worth?" Val called to the dwarf. Asha seemed to pick up on his plan and gave him a sidelong glance, clearly thinking little of him at that moment.

"Hmm? Information about the human transports you mean? Depends what you have." The dwarf paused and raised an eyebrow to Val's question.

"Information on how to operate them." Val made his best attempt at a poker face.

"Oh? If you really had such information, and it was reliable, you could make a small fortune. Depends on the buyer, but if you wanted dwarven crowns, you could grow quite wealthy in a single night, buy a house here if you wanted to. If you had information about how they work and how to build them, you could live like a king for many years."

"From what I've gathered, this tavern is only a part of your business, correct?"

"Hmm, and what is it that you are insinuating?" The dwarf actually seemed amused by Val's question.

"You're a bit too lax and generous to live so comfortably off a pub. Asha would not prefer this place either, were that the case, you're an information broker, aren't you?"

"Ha, a human who pays attention! I think I like this new companion of yours, lass." The dwarf chuckled, though Asha simply rolled her eyes.

"So, would you be interested in a deal?" Val grinned.

"Aye, depends on your terms and whether or not the information is reliable." The dwarf lowered his voice and gave Val his full attention.

"It's reliable, but I'd rather sell the information to you. You and Asha seem on good terms, I don't know anyone else here. I sell the information to you, you can sell it to whomever you wish, I'm sure you would stand to make a sizable profit."

"Depends on how much this information will cost."

"I'll be honest, I'm not much of a businessman, and I have no idea what the value of a dwarven crown is beyond room and board, and storage space. I'll tell you what I want, information, even some of the most basic kind is going to be valuable for me, I also came here with the intent of purchasing high quality dwarven steel. These two knives I have, their form and function serve me well, their quality does not, I wish to replace them. So long as I can comfortably acquire food and lodging while I am here, and replace some of my equipment, the price will satisfy me, I'm not about to open a bank account and tie myself to this location."

"Hmm, indeed, you're a terrible businessman, but a perfect supplier. Fifteen thousand crowns, depending on the quality, you can replace your sword too if you'd like, but I need to know the information is good, how can you guarantee it?"

Val fished out the keys to the bike and set it on the bar.

"I'll simply give you the information now, I trust you would not renege your end of the deal, if you wish to verify it, we need only pay a visit to the storage warehouse where my bike is stored."

The dwarf's expression turned serious. "You own one of these transports? It is in working condition?"

"Yes, these vehicles may have slightly different modes of operation, but they're all very similar to each other, they're powered, wheeled transports, this key is used to turn the ignition and start the engine. Each vehicle has its own key made for it, and they do not require magic, instead burning fuel or running off stored power, often oil based."

The dwarf thought for a while, inspecting the key carefully, before a grin appeared on his face.

"Boy, I think there is much business we can do."

"Hmm?"

"You reek of magic, half my clientele have been stealing glances at you because of your wild, untamed magical aura, but you're not of our world, are you?"

"As long as you withhold that particular piece of information, yes I think there is much I can sell to you. But you are correct, I'm one of these Barren Worlders you speak of, how I have so much magic is a story for another time."

"Of course, no one who deals in information so readily betrays their sources."

"But you spare not a second thought to ripping off the boy." Asha remarked with a drawl.

"It's fine, the information comes at virtually no cost for me, and I'd sooner operate through someone else than let the entire city know who I am." Val knew he would not get full value for the information, but also did not care, enough money to acquire what he needed was a fine price.

"Ha! I do like this boy! You're welcome at the Chimera any time. Now, your room is likely ready, but the day is not yet over, what are your plans now?"

"We need to visit the market, get some new clothes for him, the city's a colorful place but he draws too much attention outside. Have any recommendations for us?" Asha replied, gesturing to Val's out of place blue jeans and t-shirt.

"Hmm, Joanne's shop would be my advice, a bit pricey but she does quality work, and she's used to fitting elves and humans alike."

"Joanne is in town? I thought she left to open a shop in Aurulia." Asha looked surprised, and slightly worried.

"Relax, there are no problems for her there, her shop is still there, but her apprentices are running it just fine, she has been here waiting for the roads to be fixed and secured."

"That would be perfect."

"Famous tailor?" Val asked.

"Not so much famous as much as a highly regarded professional. Much of my own gear is her handiwork, she makes some of the best gear for anyone out in the wilds. Light enough to not encumber travel, but sturdy enough to save you from most blades or arrows. The best hunters and scouts are almost exclusively her clients." Asha explained.

"Guess we should pay her a visit."

"Then you'll need your coin now. I'll hold onto the rest for you." Boldir placed a leather pouch a little bigger than a baseball on the bar, stuffed full of coins by the sound it made. Val was elated at the swift change in financial prospects as he hefted it in his hand.