Cassandra Adama's Metallurgic Emporium

[Goob he/him]

As the door opens yet again, a tall man in a bowler hat and fine suit causally strolls into the shop, carrying a fine wooden cane and a small revolver on his belt. He nearly bumps into Cassandra, who had not moved from the door, before stopping.
"Excuse me, m'lady-" He pauses for a moment, glancing around the shop- "But do you happen to be Cassandra Adama, the owner of this establishment?"

[Ashbringer he/him]

"I was off doing a little... project," she said, mouth curling. "A Soulcasting of various metals. For Lord-son-son-Silberfarben."

"As for caesium... I can sell it. But it's hard to contain. I can seal it in glass or a salt, but depending on the size it will take time. And time is money," she finished meaningfully.

She continued. "I can sell a few caesium capsules. An ounce one will be about 20 chrysts, a pound one will be about 100, a 10-pounder will be about 1000. But either way they'll take a few days to make. Does that work for you?"

Quote

Sodium's a metal. It's just a really weird one. Like mercury. 

The "salt sealant" will let the sealant dissolve in water and expose the caesium(and then blow up)

[Gears]

2 minutes ago, Ashbringer said:

Sodium's a metal. It's just a really weird one. Like mercury.

Quote

I was thinking of sodium chlorine [salt]. *facepalm*

"Visiting Lord, eh? Any secrets? An ounce of caesium should do." The Anarchist put the money on the counter.

[Ashbringer he/him]

Cassie hesitated. Technically speaking, Lord hadn't told her not to tell anyone about the spikes. But generally such things were considered... trade secrets.

Then again, maybe she could right this.

"I'd... rather not speak about it," she said, letting the unsaid "here" ring as she looked at Poller and the other customer. "Let me see if I can get some diagrams for the caesium. Show you what it looks like."

She looked at the others. "Can I help you with anything?" she said to the customer, noticing a slightly panicked look on Poller's face.

Edit: @Sorana

Edited August 4, 2020 by Ashbringer

[Gears]

1 hour ago, Ashbringer said:

"I'd... rather not speak about it," she said, letting the unsaid "here" ring as she looked at Poller and the other customer. "Let me see if I can get some diagrams for the caesium. Show you what it looks like."

The Anarchist nodded and winked to show comprehension. "I would love to see some diagrams. After all, I wouldn't want to have the stuff explode accidentally." Perhaps Cassandra Adama was making an excuse to speak of great secrets. Perhaps she genuinely wanted to show off some diagrams. Either way, best to play along.

[+Sorana she/her]

8 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

Poller counted. One jar each of iron, pewter, brass, gold and electrum. "That's 290 chrysts total for the metals. I'd have to work on the vial. Our store doesn't do glass specifically, but we could find someone to make it from glass specifically. Have a specific metal in mind?"

With a smile Alrik opened his pouch and then pushed the according amount over the counter to Poller. "Here you are. Just send me a note once the vial is done. As for a metal, I think silver would be nice for the leaves. I like it's gleam and the way in reflects the sunlight. And it should go well with whatever she chooses to place inside."

He rested his ellbows on the counter when another customer appeared, asking after some explosives. Interessting. He made sure to remember that face as well as whatever it was the man was buying and continued to smile. Cassandra was back in the store, dealing with the customer first before turning to him.

"Of course you can help me." he repeated. "Although I have a distinct feeling you are very busy at the moment. But if you could spare a minute, I would love to talk about a larger offer that was delivered to me today, make sure it arrived at the right place."

Quote

Thanks a lot for the tag.

 

[Goob he/him]

@Ashbringer Seeing as Cassandra was busy with another customer and- judging from their conversation- wouldn't be done anytime soon, Calarian decides to go to the other staff member in the store. He seemed practically done with his customer.

"Excuse me, my good sir, but could I get a steel metalmind? A bracelet, perhaps?"

He pauses for a moment, before saying "Oh, and I am new in this city and do not know the exchange rate of boxings to chrysts."

Edited August 4, 2020 by AmazingGoob

[Ashbringer he/him]

Quote

I don't think anyone knows exchange rates. We just say that we have money and buy things.

"Of course," Cassie said to the customer. "Were you looking for a decorative vial? I can probably make that for you as well."

 

Meanwhile Poller perked up at the sound of another customer entering the shop. He decided to skip the monologue - he was rather tired. "Sure thing!" he said, speedwalking to the steel rack. "One steel bracelet, that's 15 chrysts, to boxings thats..."

Poller hesitated. "5 boxings? About? I'll round it to 5," he said, after seeing Cassie nodding at him.

@AmazingGoob

[Goob he/him]

11 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

Meanwhile Poller perked up at the sound of another customer entering the shop. He decided to skip the monologue - he was rather tired. "Sure thing!" he said, speedwalking to the steel rack. "One steel bracelet, that's 15 chrysts, to boxings thats..."

Poller hesitated. "5 boxings? About? I'll round it to 5," he said, after seeing Cassie nodding at him.

 

Seeming almost surprised at the cost, he adds "In that case, I'll get two." Slipping the required amount of boxings onto the counter, he then glances over at where Poller keeps his sweets, and says "Oh, and finally, how much would a... ah... 'Braize Bar' be?

Edited August 5, 2020 by AmazingGoob

[Ashbringer he/him]

“Ten chrysts apiece, so...” he stopped, counting mentally. “About 2 boxings? I can do 3 for 4 boxings if you want,” he said, grabbing some Braize Bars from a jar on his counter.

He smiled. “I make them myself.”

[+Sorana she/her]

1 hour ago, Ashbringer said:

"Of course," Cassie said to the customer. "Were you looking for a decorative vial? I can probably make that for you as well."

"Perfect." He smiled at her. "It's for a girl, you know." he added as some kind of explanation. "So a little decoration, nicely crafted, I thought some leaves could be nice. And empty please, so that she can fill it up with whatever she prefers."

He gestured towards the metals Poller had already weighed. "And them, but that part is settled."

With another smile he straightened, finally stopped leaning against the counter. "What do you think about talking about these details in private? Then I could try another sketch of what I have in mind?"

========

1 hour ago, Ashbringer said:

I don't think anyone knows exchange rates. We just say that we have money and buy things.

Quote

That is a pretty good summary.

There used to be guild and character accounts, but we lost track something like two years ago and ever since just state that we have money and that's it...

 

[Ashbringer he/him]

11 hours ago, Sorana said:

With another smile he straightened, finally stopped leaning against the counter. "What do you think about talking about these details in private? Then I could try another sketch of what I have in mind?"

“Sure,” Cassie replied with a grin. This is why she loved her job. Although she did have a few other... appointments to make. The Anarchist, the Ghostbloods... well, he’d been waiting longer than the Anarchist in any case. Business first.

“I have a room upstairs we can use if you’d like. Right now I just use it as a break room, but it would work well for a meeting-”

A thought struck her.

She recovered and continued. “-if you’d rather keep it private. Does that work for you?”

She half-turned toward the back door toward the upstairs rooms. 

But not before she got one, sharp look at this customer’s wrists.

Edited August 5, 2020 by Ashbringer

[Goob he/him]

10 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

He smiled. “I make them myself.”

"Excellent." He fishes through his pockets and digs out the extra boxings needed for the three Braize Bars, then picks everything up off the counter. He slips the netalminds onto his wrist, stuffs the Braize Bars into his pocket, and tips his hat to Poller. "Thank you. I would give a tip for your excellent service, but I am unfortunately out of money." Before Poller can respond, he turns around- is that a spike in his back?- and strolls out of the shop.

[+Sorana she/her]

11 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

“Sure,” Cassie replied with a grin. This is why she loved her job. Although she did have a few other... appointments to make. The Anarchist, the Ghostbloods... well, he’d been waiting longer than the Anarchist in any case. Business first.

“I have a room upstairs we can use if you’d like. Right now I just use it as a break room, but it would work well for a meeting-”

A thought struck her.

She recovered and continued. “-if you’d rather keep it private. Does that work for you?”

She half-turned toward the back door toward the upstairs rooms. 

But not before she got one, sharp look at this customer’s wrists.

The corner's of his mouth twitched when he saw her gaze and he lifted his right eyebrow.

"That room would work fabulous." he agreed and walked over to the door, opened it for her. With a gesture, that hinted at a bow he asked her to step through before him and lead the way. "I look forward to see what we can come up together."

[Ashbringer he/him]

15 hours ago, Sorana said:

The corner's of his mouth twitched when he saw her gaze and he lifted his right eyebrow.

"That room would work fabulous." he agreed and walked over to the door, opened it for her. With a gesture, that hinted at a bow he asked her to step through before him and lead the way. "I look forward to see what we can come up together."

"Good," Cassie replied. She walked over toward the storage room door. Then she hesitated. "Poller, weren't you going to that newsletter meeting?"

The boy jumped awake. "Right!" he said, jumping toward the door before sheepishly stopping, looking at the Anarchist. "I can go, right?"

"Go ahead," Cassandra laughed. "I can take care of it from here."

She watched as Poller ran out the door, then turned to the Anarchist. "I'll be just a moment," she said, then walked through the storage room door and took a left up the stairs.

The upstairs of Cassie's shop consisted of several rooms. Her bedroom, along with Poller's and... a guest room, lined one side. Her Soulcasting station and break room lined the other, along with one empty room she wasn't sure what to do with.

She moved into the break room, then started clearing off some of the scrap metals from the top of the central table. "This spot should be private. Now, what was it you wanted to show me?"

@Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

7 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

She moved into the break room, then started clearing off some of the scrap metals from the top of the central table. "This spot should be private. Now, what was it you wanted to show me?"

Alrik followed her upstairs, eyes moving along the closed doors while he tried to commit the layout to his memory. The shop would do quite well. It offered resupplies for a part of their members, and with the rooms in the back they might be able to hold a few meetings here as well. Maybe. A spot with a backdoor usually was to be prefered, but her data about her clients alone, along with the careful notes that were kept made this place a treasure.

He sat down in one of the chairs, this time obviously looking around the room. "I've come to speak about your proposal." He leaned back, rested one foot on top of his knee. "You can consider us interested. Your place looks good, as do your wares, from the fleeting glance I was able to get at them, and your staff is motivated, the record keeping superb."

When his gaze rested on her he looked her up and down, took in her posture, the way she held herself. "I hope you'll forgive my blutness, but you've got another customer waiting outside so I figure we should talk about the critical things, instead of dancing around each other. What in detail, did you have in mind? And what do you expect from our side as -" he made a vague gesture with his right hand. "compensation?"

[Ashbringer he/him]

Cassie's eyes widened, but only slightly. So. This man was a Ghostblood. She hoped that Poller hadn't told him anything rash. She'd had a few... encounters with the Ghostbloods' Roshar chapter. Most of them didn't involve any knives, but you never could tell what orders, what contingencies a Ghostblood had been given.

"I like a man who gets to the point," she said, then biting her cheek. Point? Really?

She continued, sitting across from the man. "My original offer still stands. I can give the names and abilities of every metalborn who enters my shop, in return for having your members spread the word about my shop. It's a feedback loop: the more people who use my store to supply metals, the more money I get and the more information you get. It should be mutually beneficial.

"If I do become a full member, with the tattoo, I'd be happy to offer a few of these rooms for Ghostblood use. The only people who come up here are Poller and I, and I can keep him out of a room if needed."

She leaned forward. "Although there is one piece of information I may as well give now. You know of Lord-son-son-Silberfarben's shop? I made a deal with him, where he could supply me with amethysts and I would do Soulcastings for him. Well, he just had me do his first batch. 192 Hemalurgic spikes."

Cassie leaned back. "So if you knew where a large deposit of spikes were, and had a man downstairs who likes to blow things up, what would you do?"

@Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

10 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

Cassie leaned back. "So if you knew where a large deposit of spikes were, and had a man downstairs who likes to blow things up, what would you do?"

"I would send someone in, an agent." he replied calmly. Hemalurgic spikes. This whole conversation just got a lot more interesting. He reached into his poket, placed a device on the table between them and pushed it into the space between them.

"There would be two objectives. To gather any information about the Trader, his associates, his enemies, anything worth of notice or appearing random. Two to steal a few spikes, so that we can take a closer look. While I know that you are able to provide us with the information regarding their material and their size, it's easier to judge their purpose, when you hold them in your hand."

He simled tapped a finger against the device.

"Theoretically, I would ask said agent to get a decent cover, maybe a group to work with? Or a guy who likes to blow things up. Find a way to keep our name out of it if possible. I would ask them to send all information over, and of course to request backup should they need it."

Lifting his hand away from the device he looked at her seriously.

"We would like to accept your offer and will spread word of your shop. Regarding your initiation," he made a gesture towards the device, " proove yourself and we'll see. It allows you to contact us, be it to hand over results, or be it to request back up."

Edited August 9, 2020 by Sorana

[Ashbringer he/him]

"Understood," Cassie replied, smiling. "I'll make sure the Anarchist leaves something from the wreckage for you to see. I think I can supply him with my own resources."

And she grabbed the device, examining it's functions. A few buttons. She'd figure it out what it would do later.

A simple operation. Recover a few spikes for the Ghostbloods to analyze, and cause Lord some chaos while doing so. The Anarchist would do this well.

She pocketed the device, and moved to a corner of the room and strapped a knife to her left arm. Normally people would be looking for a stiff limb for knives, but Cassie had a stiff limb anyways.

"Anything else before I set the Anarchist on the scent?" she asked.

@Sorana @Gears

Quote

Sorry for being behind on these, but I've been really busy IRL. I'll try and catch up with my other characters today.

If "Alrik" has nothing else, Cassie will go tell the Anarchist about Lord's guild and spike stockpile, then timeskip a bit while she starts making caesium bombs and other things. That will hopefully cover the Anarchist being in two places at once.

[+Sorana she/her]

"No, nothing." he smiled again and got to his feet. Organized and to the point. If she managed to complete this assignment Cassie would make a fine addition to their ranks. And if not - well with her gone they could set someone in place to buy the shop. The idea to be able to track the ressources of a part of the metalborn within this city was an amazing one.

"Like I said, if you need support, just give us a call, we'll send someone over." he repeated, meaning every word. They weren't TUBAists who seemed to do nothing but cuddle each other every day, but they did look out for each other. Within some borders. But they would try.

"And here." he pushed the remaining pouch to her, containing nothing but some chrysts of different values. "Should you need to spend some money. If you need more, that can be organized as well."

Walking over to the door he opened it, before continuing to speak.

"I look forward to the design, once you have been able to craft it." he touched a hand to the rim of a non-existing hat. "Have a good day and hopefully see you soon."

Quote

It's perfectly fine. I don't always reply immediatly as well.

 

[Ashbringer he/him]

"I'll see you when I'm done," Cassie replied. "And I'll see if I can make that vial for you," she said as the Ghosblood left the meeting room. 

She waited a reasonable time, then hurried out after. The Anarchist was still waiting in the lobby; Alrik was nowhere to be seen. She quickly told the explosives enthusiast about Lord and his Hemalurgy stockpiling, and asked if he would be able to... take care of the situation. And Cassie had a feeling she'd know what the Anarchist's answer was.

@Gears

Quote

I'll edit this post to be a bit more flushed out (and hopefully RP some Soulcasting) tomorrow, but I'd rather just make sure the plot isn't waiting on me all night.

 

[Gears]

7 hours ago, Ashbringer said:

She waited a reasonable time, then hurried out after. The Anarchist was still waiting in the lobby; Alrik was nowhere to be seen. She quickly told the explosives enthusiast about Lord and his Hemalurgy stockpiling, and asked if he would be able to... take care of the situation. And Cassie had a feeling she'd know what the Anarchist's answer was.

So, Lord-son-son-Silberfarben was engaging in Hemalurgic activities. What a violation of social expectations! To be honest, the Anarchist didn't really care about the Hemalurgy, but this was the perfect excuse to bring down a guild! "Sure. I'll get to test out those caesium bombs! I'd better start advertising a destruction of a guild. Stop by later when you're done with the bombs, yeah?"

Edited August 13, 2020 by Gears

[Ashbringer he/him]

Quote

Erm... okay then. 

It'd probably be best to wait. Cassie's going to talk with the Anarchist then go to Anarchy Incorporated, meaning no one's actually in the shop for a bit. 

18 hours ago, Gears said:

So, Lord-son-son-Silberfarben was engaging in Hemalurgic activities. What a violation of social expectations! To be honest, the Anarchist didn't really care about the Hemalurgy, but this was the perfect excuse to bring down a guild! "Sure. I'll get to test out those caesium bombs! I'd better start advertising a destruction of a guild. Stop by later when you're done with the bombs, yeah?"

"Sure. I'll add a few extra - we need to do this quickly if we're going to do it at all," Cassie responded. The Anarchist was certainly... enthusiastic about all of this.

"I'll catch up," she said, then turned to go upstairs. It was time for a little soulcasting.

[Ashbringer he/him]

Quote

I think three months later is fine to double post... Sorry this is late. School and SE got a little crazy.

So the plan was almost ready.

Cassie bustled about the shop, tidying up. Poller had been gone for a while longer than she'd thought. He'd probably gotten sidetracked again. His... condition had a habit of having that happen.

She checked the cart she'd made. It was a bit sturdier than the previous one, and had better wheels - it was meant to be Pulled with iron, not muscle. And it was loaded with the caesium bombs that the Anarchist had taken a liking to, along with some daggers and some... special surprises if she needed to get involved herself.

It's been too long, a part of her thought. No aid from the Ghostbloods, no word from the Anarchist... what if it all falls apart?

Simple. Move on. It's worked before.

Cassandra tried to relax. There wasn't much more to add to her list of metalborn, just a Coinshot or two. So she moved to the forge, covering the cart, and got to work forging some aluminum into an axe. She liked forging metal the old-fashioned way.

@kenod 

[kenod]

Shade knocked on the door, forcing herself to lower how much she was hiding her presence. She wasn't sure why she was the one sent to pick up the goods, but it was something to do, she figured. She was looking forwards to the coming chaos though, if everything went according to plan.

@Ookla Fell From The Sky