The town of Sothia. A plentiful trade town whose commerse comes from the moat surrounding it, with many merchants sailing south from that deserted, old Isle of Graves' intersecting waters. Ports cover the entire perimeter of the island-town, and merchant shops litter the rest of it, having more shops than houses or apartments. Most owners and employees simply sleep in their store, having a second floor and/or basement with decent sleeping quarters. Others lucky enough were able to find a house or apartment to buy or rent while they work.

The two kindoms, the Kroven Dynasty and the Lorean Empire, have been in tension for the past moon cycle or so. Both wish to be in control of the abundant natural resources in the Driahn Peaks, though it's cold up there, both kindoms wish to expand their wealth. Nobody is saying this, but it's common knowledge that if either empire has a significant amount of wealth over the other, they'll attack. There have been a few skirmishes due to conflict of borders, but not the expected full out war that might come if one emperor gets the Driahn Peaks' resources to himself.

See, the Driahn Peaks have always been neutral ground. There have been stories of monks journeying to the Driahn Peaks to meditate for years at a time, but the last few times anyone other than monks went up there, during the Moon of Scouting, which is what the previous moon cycle was called when both emperors sent out men to the Driahn Peaks to scout its natural resources. The scouts found much gold, crafting resources, livestock, as well as a few cash crops that could be used to make quick money. It's a dangerous trek up the Driahn Peaks, but it's definitely worth it to these two rival empires.

So here you are. Sothia. A trade town caught in the middle. It's about a fifty-fifty split of support for either empire, between those who have chosen to support a side. There's about as many that are apathetic to this tension as there are those who have already picked their side. Sothia is technically a neutral town, due to its central location and since it's meant for trade and commerse. Everything to the east of the river belongs to the Kroven Dynasty and that to the west of it belongs to the Lorean Empire, which leaves the three neutral entities: Driahn Peaks, Isle of Graves, and Sothia. There's plenty to do out there, and many choices to make. Not all will be easy, and you might not like them all, but hey. It's life. Go live it.

Einin was bored. Just three words and yet they summarized the entirety of her existence. She. Was. Bored.

It was a rather slow day, truth be told, but that was hardly an excuse. She had set herself in front of her loom and was determined to do something productive until some poor soul would grace her shop with their presence. The hours she'd spent perusing colors, finding the perfect pattern, laying everything out perfectly and precisely... And there she stopped.

She'd been looking at the loom for two hours now, practically willing the thing to at start on its own. She had spent her energy perusing, her creativity imagining, and her patience on precision. Now that the crucial moment had come, she had nothing left. Yet another day wasted in the pursuit of nothing.

"Just like the rest of my life," said the dark, little voice in her head. The one who had become way too talkative as of late.

The rest was a blur of stomping, throwing open doors, and the need to get away from the cramped shop.

Another day, another injury. Barely opened up shop for an hour and a man comes in with a wounded wrist. Apparently mishandled his axe and dislocated it. Nanuni was a good sport about it however and gave him a quick treatment. Next came in the usual customers; those who required medication for their ills and ailments. Like clockwork Nanuni went from opening shop to measuring pharmaceuticals. An old lady who needed medicine for digestion, a little boy who needed medicine for his ear infection, a couple who had a... Social disease. Those were a bit tricky, but Nanuni had just what they needed.

The first few hours were hectic as usual, but business was business. Before long people began to clear out and Nanuni had an empty lobby once more. She did a quick count of today's earnings, deducing that she made enough today to pay off the rent of her shop. But she also needed to use some of this money to purchase more ingredients for more medicine, and while she has a solid stock right now, it was better to have too much than not enough. And with the current political climate around Sothia, Nanuni felt like her services was going to be used much more often.

She looked down at a news pamphlet from the market yesterday. The Kroven Dynasty and the Lorean Empire where in a cold war over the Driahn Peaks. Nanuni just didn't get it. Warring over that land wasn't something worth doing. Both nations were quite self-sufficient as they were, and short of finding some world-destroying super weapon in the Driahn Peaks there was nothing that either side would gain that would tip the scales that much. They would destroy each other for what amounts to a better breakfast and gaudier jewelry. At least that's how Nanuni saw it. She mostly hated the idea that there was going to be a war between the two nations and poor little Sothia is going to be caught in the crossfire. Nanuni herself claims to be neutral, though she can't help but to say that if the two nations were going to fight each other anyways, she'd like it if the Lorean Empire came out on top. Her family was there, and as much as she wanted to put distance between herself and them, she wasn't going to condemn them to a life in the Kroven Dynasty. Who knows what they'd do.

Shaking these thoughts off Nanuni went to the front of her store and flipped a sign over. "Out for lunch" it said. Even though Nanuni might not actually go and get a bite to eat, she'd like to get some fresh air for a few minutes.

---

The joys of sleeplessness was something to behold. Suddenly one could be productive at all hours of the day and night, with the only issue being the lack of others who would also participate during those hours. For Veira however she didn't care for the company; it distracted her from her work. She had many orders to fulfill and promised her buyer that by the end of the week, she'd have a hundred magical swords for him and his soldiers. And to acomplish that Veira worked day and night, sparing only two or three hours to eat, wash, and rest before getting back to the task of creating the swords. She was working with one of the city's more reputable inventors to help divide the task of sword smithing, though when it came to the enchanting she took over all operations.

By the time morning came Veira was half-way finished with her order, and still had five more days before her deadline. Fifty magical swords were made so far, enchanted for increased durability and to be able to maintain a constant honed edge. Of course that was a given; a skilled smith could accomplish something like that easily and without the price that Veira charged for. For that extra bit of flash, Veira also had these swords capable of producing a heated edge, to burn through the flesh and armor of the wielder's enemy. So long as that armor wasn't too tough anyways: It costed a lot of money to put a decent fire enchantment on an iron sword, so she weaved a weak enchantment into most of them. Against barbarians and peasants these blades would work wonders, but against plate armor? Well, if her client wanted a weapon against heavy armor, he should have asked for maces instead of swords. Didn't matter to Veira; she was already half-way through and wasn't going to back down now.

Though it was about time that she took an hour off to get some breakfast. A growling in her stomach signaled her of her hunger, and the smell of sulfur and fire told her that she should wash herself. Veira liked to think of herself as a socialite when off the job, and it wouldn't do well for her reputation if she strutted about town covered in grime, even if it was part of her occupation.

"Alright, break time! I'm going to go wash up and find myself something to eat. Be sure to have the swords ready for me when I come back. Shouldn't take more than an hour."

Hanging up her work apron and gloves Veira headed back to her home near by to wash up. As she left she wondered if she should cook her own breakfast or maybe look in the town for something to eat.

Malakaus Ralthavar Marchosias

"More ice!"

A deep bellow echoed out from the dark recesses of Malakaus's workshop. Careful listening could hear the splashing of water, shortly followed by an explosion that propelled Malakaus out from the basement and into the main floor. He was smoldering but also soaking wet. He coughed heavily for a few minutes before looking back down to his workshop. "Well that turned out well... How are you holding up down there!?"

And that's how Malakaus's typically morning went. Working through the night Malakaus was working on an experimental "Engine" of sorts. Evidently it did not work. And despite the fire that was consuming his tunic Malakaus seemed no worse for wear. Garoh was helping him, but shortly after the explosion he left Malakaus to clean up the mess while he visited the doctor to remove the shrapnel in his shoulder. Malakaus himself didn't really want to clean, but he supposed for his next commission he'll need to clear the space. So after spending the better part of the morning mopping up the water and putting out the oil fire in his basement, Malakaus emerged from his shop dirtier than he first entered and stark nude. Acid had eaten away his clothing.

"Eh... I was meaning to get some new clothes anyways." Malakaus walked out of his shop, locking the door behind him, wearing nothing but an apron he grabbed off the rack. He knew a seamstress of some sort who may have clothing his size, plus she makes nice clothes. He just hoped that she'd be willing to put it on his tab, as he didn't have any coins on him.

Garoh Umbranox

This, this is why Garoh works with the militia instead of back at home. He was just suppose to hold the light for Malakaus since he hasn't made a sconce for the basement. And the reason he says not to light the fireplace was because his little project shouldn't be exposed to an "Open flame". And yet Malakaus thought it was a good idea to use a torch to weld the metal together. One thing led to another, and there was a violent explosion that sent metal objects everywhere. Garoh got the worst of it when he was blasted against the wall and smashed by the table. But it was a double-edge sword; while he was hurt pretty badly, the table protected him from even worse. Not that he didn't come out completely unscathed, as he had a sucking chest wound. Luckily for Garon he's had worse, so he'd survive so long as he reaches the healer's shop first. "Malakaus, clean up this mess! I... I need to... Uh..."

Garoh stumbled his way towards Nanuni's building. He had a thick cloth to staunch some of the bleeding, but he really wanted to get this treated. Stumbling into her waiting room Garoh called for help. "Medic...."