[IC] The Narrow Path

[Skinner35]

"Well that's interesting... Would you be able to craft such armor, if given the scales?" He asks, looking at the book, pondering its capabilities.

[Gardevoiran]

"Me? Well... no. I'm a tink'rer 'n buyer o' less-than-legal goods." Grodlar admits as he closes the book down. "Though, t'was said that th'ancient dwarves o' th'mountains ran their forges usin' pure magma, easily enough t'melt th'scales o' th'now-deceased Fyneas, the Dragon God o' th'Sun."

Eve hugs your arm instinctively as she looks at Grodlar talk. "Must've been some magma."

"Aye. I got t'see it once, used inna forge by one o' th'paladin order. Gods, that forge." Grodlar closes the book before continuing. "Unfortunately, he's missin'. Ain't nobody been able t'find that forge. Some say it doesn't exist, but it does."

[Skinner35]

"Well. It seems that you're well versed in the knowledge of these forges... How would you feel about making your shop mobile?" He asked, putting a hand on Eve's. They needed all the help they could get. Grodlar was the best smith he's ever seen, and he needed Jen to be completely focused on one thing, not splitting her focus between the forge and combat.

[Gardevoiran]

"I appreciate yer offer, but I'm long outta th'fightin' 'n smithin' scene. I'm a purveyor o' rare items 'n goods." Grodlar says as he closes the book he showed you, placing it to the side. "Though. m'shop is mobile. I'm actually makin' a pilgrimm'ge t'th'mountains as a way t'reconnect t'm'dwarven side." Grodlar chuckles as he looks up at you. "I'm sure we'll b'seein' eachotha' on th'way, if yer headin' up there."

Eve tilts her head as she reminds you. "Speaking of smiths... we need metals for Jennifer, right?"

[Skinner35]

"Ah. Well, we do need metals. Anything you can spare would be appreciated." He said, looking around, wondering about how he could get to the mountains before them.

[Gardevoiran]

Grodlar walks over to a small box and takes a deep breath before lifting it up off the ground, carrying it to you and placing it on the table beside the book. "Bronze 'n Steel. Not much, but it's somethin'. I'll charge ya... 10 gold pieces fer it."

[Skinner35]

"Anything is okay." He says as he fishes out the money. He then picks up the metal.

[Gardevoiran]

You take the crate of metal. Surprisingly, it's not too heavy for you to hold, but it is pushing the weight you can easily carry. Grodlar pulls back the cash as he gives another hearty chuckle. "Haha! Enjoy th'metal friend! See ya on th'road ahead!" He waves to you as you walk off, still laughing or a good little bit more.

Eve walks beside you with her hands fiddling around against each other. She finally speaks out to you, since nobody is around to hear her. "... I think I know the Dragon Gods personally... o-or I did at some time..." She's clearly a bit confused and lost in thought. "I might've hit my head a bit too hard."

[Skinner35]

As they walk, he hears Eve. "You know the Dragons? How would that work?" He asked, interested. "Did you guys go to the same coffee shop?" He joked.

[Gardevoiran]

"... what's coffee?" Eve asks as she tilts her head at you, shaking it frantically as she returns to the subject. "I-I dunno, I just feel like I've met them before. They were... better times, I think. I'd hope."

[Skinner35]

"You don't know what coffee is... Okay." He said to himself as they walked. "In any case, we need to get back to the group."

[Gardevoiran]

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Eve hugs your arm as you walk back to the temporary base.

When you return, you see Jen's tent draped and attached to a wagon, seemingly a mobile source of movement for a constant base. Not too shabby. You also see Charlie and Jen's horse sitting at the front of the wagon, seemingly conversing (though they are definitely at odds with each other). Jen approaches you and takes the metals out of your hand, carrying them with abnormal ease. You'd question it, but then again... it's Jen.

"Bronze and steel? You chose strong metals," Jen says before she puts the box in the back of the wagon. "Say your goodbyes to Abigail Sinclair. We are not going to be here for much longer."

[Skinner35]

"Yea, we took what he gave." He says as he walks into the house one last time. "Abigail, I do thank you. The hospitality was appreciated." He then walked back out to the group, climbing into the wagon. He chose not to question how a plant and a horse conversed. It was never smart to question nature.

[Gardevoiran]

"Anytime. Any friend of Brock is welcome here, as long as you have him with you."

You step back outside to see Brock calmly sitting at the front of the wagon, a whip in his hand. Behind him is Jen, who's a bit unhappy to be next to the skeleton, but she'd have to put up with it for now. Eve is right beside you as you feel your metal arm warm up significantly more than it already had before. Looking beside you reveals a small draft of sooty smoke lighting up from your arm.

As soon as Eve realizes what happened, she lets go and backs up. Her face red with blush from embarrassment, she chirps. "S-Sorry! I got a bit careless!"

[Skinner35]

"It's okay, just let it cool down. All is well." He said while looking at his arm. "Nothing is damaged."

[Gardevoiran]

You could swear your entire arm was on the ground in a smoldering pile of ash about -12 seconds ago. Huh. Maybe your memory is off.

Eve stutters for a moment before simply speaking. "I-I'll be in the wagon..." As soon as she finishes speaking, she hastily moves into the tent. You can definitely tell that she's incredibly embarrassed, even if everything turned out okay.

Brock steps over to you, his signature sword sticking out of the sheath on his back. "Is... is she alright? I've met a fair number of harpies, but that shade of red seemed a bit peculiar for a phoenix."

[Skinner35]

"Yes. She is okay." He responds, looking to the skeleton. "We should be leaving." He says as sits, awaiting departure.

[Gardevoiran]

In the wagon, you only see the figures of all the party members around, save Jen and Brock (the two are likely commanding the helm). You see Eve over being kinda scared in the corner, Gobbo meditating in what's been claimed as his room, a cloudy green mist surrounding him as he meditates, and you see Stride and Magdalene at Stride's desk. Stride's working on a trinket that he liked, and Magdalene is observing him in his work. Hell, Magdalene is even talking to him occasionally, as if she's giving recommendations or questions to the man.

It's kind of cute, seeing her so invested in what's going on.

You've got time ahead of you, might be a few hours or days, but you have time. Whatever you desire to do is your choice.

[Skinner35]

He sits there, and takes his bag and puts it beside him. He then opens the back and pulls out an assortment of screwdrivers and hammers, as well as spare parts that he's acquired along the way, and contemplates if there are any possible upgrades that he could make.

[Gardevoiran]

Observing your arm, you feel a bit scared to mess with the intricacies of your mechanics. Your arm is a sweet piece of work, and messing with it might cause the entire arm to screw up and render itself useless. Of course, you can still try, but you may not be able to fix anything for a while if you mess it up.

Speaking of intricacies, you notice that you have no ammo for the shotgun on your arm. Maybe that should be restocked?