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Abrasive as he’s been in the few minutes you’ve known him, you don’t really see much reason to lie to Volka’s ‘pops’, nor do you wanna get caned. Well, you begin, you’re-
Erm…
T, do you mind?
The Durher stops strumming her Striili with a pinch of annoyance in her big eyes. “Whaaat? I was gonna accompany you! Can’t tell a backstory without music!”
“Does this broad <span class="mu-i">have</span> to be here?” Asks the old man with growing irritation in his already annoyed voice! “She’s one word away from being turned into stone.”
She’s fine, you reply, just uh… T, cool off for a bit, yea?
“Tch… <span class="mu-i">fine…</span>”
With that settled, you retell the high points of your quest thus far, taking care to omit your involvement with the, ahem, ‘FBI’, as well as all of the parts that were derivative, contrived, and just generally infantile.
It doesn’t take you very long, but as you explain your situation the old Durher hangs on every word, even after Volka reappears with a tray of tea!
“Aaaaand there you go~” She chirps as she hands her father a cup with a pungent, herbal odor you can’t quite place, “And for the Rookie…”
Your cup smells a bit sweeter–the Skog shoots you a conspiratorial wink as you pick up on it. Taking a sip from the piping-hot mug, you feel something equivalent to a car battery being hooked up to your bloodstream as a flavor somewhere between minty and citrus trickles down your parched throat! You can definitely taste something sweet in there too!
“Hmm… well it’s not the most far-fetched story I’ve ever heard…” Mutters the shopkeep as you dodge Volka’s tail while she turns to give Tzah-Tzie her cup! “That <span class="mu-b">PARCHMENT</span> your summoners had… give it here.”
“Daaaad,” Chides Volka as she gives you an apologetic glance, “At least introduce yourself first! Anton’s new here, remember? Sheesh!”
“I was getting to it, I was getting to it!” He grunts in a dismissive tone as Tzah-Tzie loudly laps up her tea on the couch, “So impatient… well, Anton, my name is Volkir–I take care of the shop and Volka. Now gimme the parchment.”
An irritated sigh escapes Volka’s lips as she stoops down to Volkir’s level and pinches his cheek. “What pops <span class="mu-i">won’t</span> tell you is that he used to be a real powerful mage! And that he’s got one of the biggest libraries this side of Crossroads!”
“And what I won’t tell ya <span class="mu-i">she</span> will…” He grumbles, baring a fang but not slapping Volka’s claw away from his cheek, “I just got tired of the politics, is all. Being a mage is bad for your health in these parts–not that customers are any better...”
So what, he just hates everyone?
“Yep.”
Yea, retail will do that to ya, you reply with a sagely nod.
>CONTD.
