[IC] Plague-Hunters

[LHG100]

The blade does nothing at all, while the Old Enchanter sees what you two have and the other two outside. "Lovely sword you have there. You probably shouldn't try commanding it, though. Sprites can be cranky if you're going to be so blunt, after all. Bring it here, I'll examine it for free.". He then asks, "Actually, I assume you're some rookie Hunters? Ah, I remember when I was your kids' age..."

[NanoFreakV2]

As Sapphire entered she gingerly placed her hands on the side of her hood and pulled it off, revealing her dark blue hair.
Sapphire put a fake yet charming smile on her face as she walked over to the old enchanter extending her hand.

“The pleasure is mine.” She then looked behind as if queueing Imgor to step forward and observed him as he commanded the sword to light itself on fire.

“He used a flick-like motion. He didn’t say anything so I doubtful it’s activated by voice.”

[M127]

"Thanks, although I just wanted to see whether there are some protective measures on it." Iṃgor informed while handing over the sword.
The enchanter notices Iṃgor's necklace in the process, seeing a runic pattern.
Seeing the tracking spell revealed no location the unknown runes were displayed, apart from the sword, he sighs, the only remaining realistic chance of getting info on them right now was this enchanter, so he decides to be blunt about it.
"I do not recognize these runes, do you know anything about them, or any place we could find out anything about them? The other ones are relatively clear to read." Iṃgor asks while pointing at the specific runes.
To Sapphire's remark he answers: "The runes I can read specify that the sword shall ignite when ordered to. The way to order it is not specified."

[LHG100]

The Old Enchanter returned the gesture and shook your hand, "So whats' its' story? Heirloom... just found it? Should I ask who this 'he' is?". He then put on a slight frown, "You didn't steal it or anything, did you?". You then notice he has a walking cane on the table, and was working on some sort of large trinket, almost like a dream-catcher. A hand-sized metal hoop with many threads inside, forming an interesting web like shape. Imgor would think it's mighty familiar, but couldn't put his finger on it. Whatever it reminded him of was just under his nose, dammit.

He'd take the sword and examine it on his table. "...Really now, where did you find this? This is somewhat alarming.", he'd elaborate; "I haven't seen anything like this in years. Last time I did, some... serious things were happening. Back when I was a young man, a big war between two kingdoms about something or other, waste of young peoples' lives really..."

"About protective measures, I'm not seeing anything in particular. Just a lot of rambling about... well, bloodshed. And plenty of fire too. Should be safe enough to use."

[M127]

"Which kingdoms exactly?" Iṃgor inquires while absently staring at the trinket, attempting to figure out where he had seen that pattern.
He was lost in thought, something that usually doesn't happen to him in the wild.
The word 'bloodshed' went right past his mind, unnoticed.

[LHG100]

"I'm pushing ninety and you expect me to remember everything? Hmm... Two big eastern ones I think, one of them just loved experimenting with blood if I remember. Invented... what was the word.... 'Blood transfoogin'? I honestly can't be sure. I mean, who'd want someone elses' blood coursing through their veins...?". He'd laugh a little at himself, "Oh, forgive an old man for rambling. Do you inquire anything else about this sword? I'll be honest, I sort of want it out of my shop, scares me just a little! Hehah, ..aah..".

[agentmanatee]

Schulze would enter then, his eyes fixed on the blade. He had been listening quietly to the enchanter talk about the blade... and it intrigued him. He had already been interested in it when Nawar had used it, and thought he had a certain claim to it as he killed the lion and drove Nawar away. He approached the enchanter

"I have a question, how is it activated? The last time I saw it used the warrior caused it to become surrounded by flames and I would like to know how."

He fixed him with a neutral, but urgent look as he wished to waste no time here

[LHG100]

"Oh, just flick your wrist decently hard. Pretty easy rune, really.", The Old Enchanter would reply. The Quartet could really get a feel of this enchanters' old little shop. Three rooms, really, it seems. The entrance and work room which you're in, and two other rooms, apparently a storage or book-keeping one behind the establishments owner and operator, and an additional one to his right (the quartets' left), most likely a restroom. It's full of plenty of cabinets, little trinkets and baubles in each lining the walls, small lanterns on the same walls lighting the interior. In your collective excitement, it all sort of blended in a little.

"...It truly is odd how the runes themselves are sort of rambling. I'm getting a little interested in this, would you kids mind if I keep this sword for a while to examine it more closely? It's been boring around here and I really do need something to do. Please, let an old man humor himself?", He'd request.

[M127]

"Excuse me, but what is this trinket for?" Iṃgor speaks out while pointing at it.
"The pattern reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it. And regarding the sword, I have no objections there, but I am not the deciding factor in my team."
While he spoke, his necklace, which had the same pattern, hung around his neck, but sadly outside his view.

[LHG100]

"Oh, this little thing? Just an old protection spell, realistically sort of useless. Supposed to ward off 'evil spirits', but I don't really believe it functions like that.", the old man would answer. He'd go to get his cane and get a book from the room behind him, and would plop it down on the table when he got back. The book is titled 'notes on runes; other", and is thus likely just his collection of notes on such. An interesting idea may pop in Imgor's head, to help teach him, he could ask to borrow some of this man's notes. He seemingly must have plenty, if he has a whole storeroom for them.

[NanoFreakV2]

Sapphire considered the man’s request to keep the sword. As soon as they’d get to their destination she speculated it wasn’t by chance that they should locate a blacksmith. But still, having a flaming blade. For a moment the thought intrigued her but she quickly reconsidered, deeming it as ‘not her style’.
She then began walking around the room eyeing the various trinkets and cabinets. She found it rather interesting that the enchanter didn’t have all that many books on display. Also, he initially wanted have the blade out of his shop on a moment’s notice. Why the change of opinion and the desire to investigate it further.

“I’m sure we could work out a deal. Would you happen to have anything on paralysis runes in particular?” She said while refocusing on more immediate objectives, though she still planned on questioning him further on his desire to study this weapon.

[LHG100]

"Oh? Paralysis runes? Ahh, brings back memories even mentioning those.. One of my old specialties! Let me get one of my own unique creations.", he'd say while going to the back-room to get something. A rolled up paper, just a little damp with a liquid, which seems to bind to it and doesn't fall off. "Here, a little invention of mine, I call it a Paralysis Paper. The rune itself is made of a special dust you can rub things with to imbue it with a copy of the rune, and the special liquid it's interlaced with effectively makes it rechargeable. One of the best things I've made, I only made three of these. I consider it a fair trade, wouldn't you? Just be careful handling it." He adds something, "If it's out of 'castings', just roll it up and put it into any sort of Vitae receptacle. You know, those little cups with that special essence absorbing solution?".

"Eh, in any case, just plop it down somewhere, and thank-you for the opportunity, I'll give it back to you soon enough."

[NanoFreakV2]

Sapphire took the blade from wherever Imgor left it and placed in front of the enchanter before taking the scroll and placing it inside her backpack.

“Thank you.” Sapphire said as she began to wander the shop once more. As she inspected other various items she felt the need to ask the question.

“If you don’t mind my asking, why the sudden interest in the blade? Moments earlier you were eager to be rid of it.”

[M127]

"Is it possible to buy or borrow some of your scriptures on exicus spells? Preferably borrow. I am especially looking for modifier-type runes, if you could call them that. Add them to another rune and they modify its behaviour. Something that increases the range of vitae spells would be nice too." Iṃgor inquires.

[LHG100]

"Well, I realized this would probably be the only opportunity I got to ever fully examine such an unusual thing. It's odd, I know, but I'm bored anyway and I do need something to do.", he'd seem to reminiscence about something, blankly staring into the air for a few seconds with a slight smile. "I suppose it's... nostalgic as well. Reminds me of better times, I used to do stuff like this constantly...".

"Oh, little things you can tack on to runes to modify them? Sure, it's only fair. I have a range and time delay sub-rune you may be interested in. Allow me to get them.", he'd tell to Imgor. He'd go to the back room and get two other parchments. One labelled 'Delay', and another labelled 'Range', with two runes on it. "The first one, just write how many half-seconds you wish to delay the actual activation of the spell with, the second one is how many inches you want reduced or added to the 'area of effect'."

He'd hand them to Imgor and go back to the table.

[M127]

"Thank you very much, this is just what I need. I suppose you don't mind if I test them?"
With that Iṃgor looked for a location where he could safely draw the range-increasing rune on the ground, large enough for him to stand within it. He specified the range increase by drawing 16 9s on the circumference of an invisible circle, he wanted to see how that would be interpreted. Once completed he stepped into the center of the rune and used up all his mana reserves to cast his tracking spell, looking for Joshua. Not because Iṃgor was interested in his location, but because he needed to specify a target, that wouldn't exist too often within a radius he didn't knew. He knew using up that much mana at once would also affect his physical condition.

[NanoFreakV2]

Sapphire placed one of the trinkets back where it belonged with a motion that implied finality. She then went to the door and placed a hand on the handle, turning towards the rest in the room.

“We should start heading towards Coalstrike.”

She then opened the door and as gingerly as she took off her hood when she entered, she pulled it back over head letting it cover half of her face as it usually did.
As she stepped out her familiar landed in front of her.

“Ready to go, Ruby?” Sapphire felt the urge to once more feel the feathers of her familiar. She walked from the front of Ruby to her back allowing her hand to glide over the entire length of her body. Sapphire then turned towards the inner of the town, observing the busy bystanders as she waited for the others, her right hand still resting on Ruby. Sapphire assumed it wasn't too often that Hunters past through this town as the duo got their fair share of odd stares. Or maybe it wasn't just that. As she thought that she absentmindedly placed her left hand on her abdomen roughly where her mark was located.

[LHG100]

The Duo would go outside to meet the rest of the Quartet, and Imgor would write a rune outside in the dirt. After expending all his energy, he gets no contacts as with his relatively small mana reserves he simply doesn't have enough power to 'brute force' it to be any higher, nor do any sprites in the area seem to be interested in the rune itself very much. After hitting rock bottom in terms of mana in such a short amount of time, he'd feel a large urge to cough and thus do so, a small amount of blood coming out. That's... bad. He probably shouldn't expend so much. Ever again, really. Imgor can tell he'll be basically fine, though, so he has that going for him.

Sapphire, after placing her hand on her mark, would feel a certain air of uneasiness, as if something was watching her from far away. It'd dissipate almost immediately, but she would've gotten goosebumps in that amount of time. However, Sapphire would note Ruby was ready to go regardless, and doesn't even notice the small amount of mild panic her Master mysteriously had for a second or two. Neither would her fellow Hunters. Alexander and Schulze waited outside, the entire time, and after having his question answered respectively. The Quartet would now all be outside, readying up to go to coalstrike, presumably.

[Eklispe]

"Well then if you're all finished then lets get moving." Alexander said as he patted Larion on the head and he began walking down the road, they had already lost a bit of time here and he would prefer they made it to Coalstrike before Joshua returned.

[M127]

While heading down the road Iṃgor wondered if there was a coalmine near coalstrike as the name suggests. A coal mine would be a very interesting place to train or fight, as it allows many uses of the environment.