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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Jul 14, 2023 12:38:00 GMT -5
Zarius and Snow manage to make their escape well enough, though the shouts from the ship do make it clear they are searching the hull as well as looking for the now missing catfolk.
Both take to the roofs as Fish did, though they take a slightly different path to avoid being tracked from leaving footprints in the snow in the streets below.[1,2] They get into the warehouse and approach Fish.
Snow just looks relieved to not be keeping up the ruse any longer and they plop down on a nearby crate.
The fellblood glances down at the piles and shakes his head.
"No need to divide it, I am only interested in the rock shards, you can have all the rest. Good work."
While the whole point of this mission was to secure some resources and redistribute them to the Ash Lands instead of Frost Gale, the discovery that some of the valuable things being moved were Sol Stone shards changed that. This was more about keeping these things out the hands of whoever they were originally destined for. They were too dangerous, and there was a good chance whoever wants them would misuse them.
Zarius wasn't even thinking about how he could use them. There wasn't enough research into what exactly these shards were capable of or if there would be any ramifications of using them in the long run. These were fragments of a powerful artifact created by long lost magic powerful enough to isolate Charon for centuries after all.
If Fish was willing to part with all the fragments, he would be more than fine with Fish claiming all the other valuables they found.
[1] Surface Scaling (Snow) [2] Spider Silk Boots (Zarius)
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Jul 14, 2023 12:41:02 GMT -5
Normally the shards would be of little interest to the bird, broken gems hardly sell well. But this wasn't a gem and Zarius was willing to forgo actually pay for them, so they had some sort of worth.
They narrow their eyes up at the fellblood. "Why?" They clench their hand around the bag as they cautiously eye Zarius for his answer.
Fish isn't looking to escape or readying a weapon, just curious about the motivations here.....and if they would be making a mistake by giving up something so valuable.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Jul 14, 2023 12:58:58 GMT -5
He should have seen that reaction coming. Fish was not some dumb kid. Fish had grown up knowing the value of things far too well, which made them an excellent thief at the end of the day. The small avianfolk also wouldn't likely take any bullshit answer. They were used to dealing with Morrigan after all.
Zarius sighs and crouches down while reaching back into one of his belt pouches. He pulls out his own shard of the Sol Stone and shows it to Fish.
"I was there when what this was from broke. While I do not believe they hold as much power as they used to, they could still be very dangerous in the wrong hands. I am not saying you are the wrong hands, it is just there may be dangerous people after these. People who would be willing to kill to just get their hands on one piece. I do not think anyone who cares about your wellbeing would be happy to know I let you keep something that put you in danger."
He runs this thumb across the surface of the piece he has.
"I have not even tried to use this piece because I do not really know if it is safe to do so."
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Jul 14, 2023 16:26:28 GMT -5
The glint in Fish’s eyes shifts from suspicion to curiosity. If the full extent of these shards was not yet known, then that was an Avenue of scientific exploration. The shard seemed to hold enough power to make even someone like Zarius worried about it, so that meant it must be powerful.
Was this a piece of the Sol Stone that Fish had heard so many others talk about? Everyone seemed nervous or traumatized by it, but from the looks it’s nothing more than a rock. It seems like without any magic actively put into it then it’s just an inert rock. They eye the rock in Zarius hands for a long moment.
”Fish would like to keep some. Fish can make significant scientific advancements for Charon in studying it….The gods hold no power of Fish, so Fish would be immune to whatever effect has most people afraid of it.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Jul 15, 2023 10:43:53 GMT -5
Zarius can't help but chuckle at that. "I do not think the gods actually hold any power over anyone, but I think your immunity statement may be a bit naive."
He considers his options for a moment. He could allow Fish to take a few shards to experiment with, but then he'd likely get accosted by Cyran or Kvasir should they find out. However, denying the sticky fingered avianfolk was not a good option either given Fish had more than proven they're willing to break and enter on multiple occasions.
"Tell you what, I will hold on to these for safe keeping, but I will allow you to research them with my sister providing you support."
Really what he meant was with his sister's supervision, but he knew phrasing it that way would not go over well with the clever aviankin. Fish was fiercely independent and did not take being treated like a child lightly. Still, the fellblood had to at least be somewhat responsible in this situation, not only for Fish's sake.
Besides, Eameia and Fish were both pains in his neck at times. They should get along perfectly fine, even if that means he has to deal with Fish being around even more often than before. Maybe it was time to invest in some metal chair legs.
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Jul 15, 2023 10:58:39 GMT -5
Fish narrows their eyes at being called naive. "Gods draw their power from belief, if Fish chooses not to believe in them, then Fish does not provide them a chance to influence Fish."
Probably decent enough, if not misguided slightly, reasoning if the gods were still alive. What is obvious is that Fish has taken little time to investigate the fallout from the Sol Stone or its wider implications. The aviankin had already wrote off the gods, so why would they care if they died or testing the veracity of the claim? Fish knew they still had a god to kill in Kasra.
Fish does loosen their gaze and posture at the offer, geniunely surprised that Zarius would make such an offer. It was rare the adults around Fish treated them like an adult, there were some, but rarely was Fish put on equal ground. There was usually some caveat about their age or size, but this seemed to be at least as far an offer the fellblood could offer.
"That would be acceptable." Fish offers over the bag, attempting to hold a few shards in their taloned hands during the trade off. They wait a moment as Zarius stares before mimicking a grumble and handing over the shards they tried to palm.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Jul 15, 2023 11:55:53 GMT -5
"I suppose."
Zarius wasn't the most religious person himself, so he couldn't say how much truth there was to Fish's claims. Either way, the main pantheon was considered gone for the most part. Perhaps one day someone would figure out how to revive them, or perhaps Ziev would return to cause trouble once again. He doubts they actually put an end to him in the Arid Mesa all those months ago.
"Thank you, Fish."
The fellblood takes the bag and the shards the aviankin reluctantly hands over. He's relieve that Fish agreed to his offer. It would have been awkward and a pain to try an wrestle the shards from the little aviankin if they had decided to be stubborn. Zarius puts the loose shards in the bag and then fastens the bag to his belt for the time being before standing back up.
"Best if we make a quick and silent retreat from the Pale City. Who know how long it will take those adventurers to figure out they have been duped."
Snow nods in agreement and gets up from the crate they were sitting on. "I'd rather not have to explain to them that I was a fake."
"I doubt they would even give you the chance to explain. They probably would just turn you into a rug," Zarius teases.
The catfolk gives an awkward laugh. "Yeah, let's avoid that, please."
The group leaves the way they entered the building and disappear into the cold city streets of the Pale City. Their task was not exactly completed as planned, but at least for now they put a stop to anyone using the Sol Stone shards for their own gain.
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