Decima was everything that a city could be: most of all busy, noisy and showful. Here one could see, hear, buy, sell and even smoke anything. The Imperial Palace belonging to the Orator family stood in the center of this biggest city known to people. At the edges of the city there were more peaceful and thus even rather shady areas. Even then one had to stay away from the city entrances and slummish areas to avoid the endless business (or in the case of slums, thievery).

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Seen reclining aloofly against a tree near the edge of the marketplace, Toxir closed her eyes and indulged in a faint smile. Or, as much of a smile as could be achieved around a cigarette. This tobacco was, admittedly, better than what she grew around her little house and she would have to make sure to save a bit to plant when she returned. She kept her black eyes peeled for the rest of the group.
"Are you ruddy kidding me?" she thought to herself after having waited for what seemed like an eternity. Without much care as to where exactly she was going, Toxir walked down the streets in search for something, anything to do. It didn't make sense to her that she should be so bored in the crowded city when there was always something to be done at home.

At a quick glance, Toxir saw plenty of mundane things that she could use to entertain herself – performers playing music, kids playing games, hurried people just waiting to be tripped. There were also a few shops and inns around.

Music instantly caught Toxir's ear and she went over to the performers, observing casually, but with interest. Looking around for something to play or at least beat on, she began clapping to the beat.

The performers were at a street corner, playing right in front of an inn of sorts but not obstructing the way into the inn or anything. The entrance to the inn was on the main street and a couple of meters down the side street there was a Ravillan selling animal skins. There wasn't really anything Toxir could use as a drum except for walls, window frames and other wood structures on the buildings. She did see a few barrels, but they seemed to be in use by other people or more or less full of water.

Toxir was not deterred when her search for an instrument left her empty handed. She was creative enough to come up with an alternative and was about to join the circle with a pair of sticks when her eye caught the stand carrying animal skins. In an uncharacteristic bout of complete distraction, Toxir approached the Ravillan, who didn't look like someone she had sold her goods to before. "Eh, what else have we here?" she asked, hoping to find out if the smaller skins she saw were the extent of the merchandise. She knew she could provide bigger pelts and couldn't miss a lucrative opportunity.

The Ravillan, though curious about what a person like Toxir might want, said: "Hmm, something else... Well, what would you be interested in? We can get a lot of different kind of things, even rare furs, if that's what you're after."

"I hunt as well." Toxir stated candidly. "I have sold to many a merchant and wondered if you would ever need my services."

"Oh!" said the Ravillan merchant and looked more closely at Toxir. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to have help, but I doubt we would be able to pay you enough..."

For an instant, what looked to be the birth of a smile crossed Toxir's face. "I am more than willing to barter. I don't have a great need for money if I can trade for what I want." She leaned forward to look at more of the merchandise.

The merchant had skins of smaller animals, nothing extraordinary. The prices ranged from 5 to 20 gold. The merchant looked a bit contemplative and unsure and said then: "Ah, well... did you have something in mind? My father sells some bigger skins at a busier street today, if that interests you."

"How do I get to his stand?" asked Toxir.

"Two blocks that way, to the main street, and then three to the right. He should be around there. I doubt you'll miss him, he should be the only one selling big skins there."

With a nod of her head Toxir was off, following the course the merchant had dictated, passing the performers. A beat in her head kept her feet moving right along, eventually locating the father's stand. Curiously she observed his merchandise, wanting to run her fingers through the glistening fur. "You've got a nice collection," Toxir complimented, impressed for once. "Where do you hunt, may I ask?"

The father was a Ravillan as well, a middle-aged and rather well-built man. He had a similar stand, but was stocked with larger skins, mostly bear and big cat. When Toxir spoke to him, he replied casually: "Well thank you. Why do you want to know?"

"I hunt too." replied Toxir candidly, rifling in her pockets for her new tobacco. "I usually sell or trade my pelts and was wondering if you had any need for big game."

The Ravillan eyed Toxir for a while. "Hm. I don't specifically need help, but I can sell whatever you hunt if you like." He seemed a little doubting, though.

Toxir grinned at his reply. She had no desire to come to the city, set up shop, and sell her merchandise. "I am not good with people. If I sell them to you then I can almost avoid the city entirely." she explained further. "I live in the woods just beyond Decima limits. I can get big game and attract more people to your shop. With more merchandise, you can incite more business."

"Well, I can certainly do that!" said the Ravillan, lightheartedly now. "I'm not so much of a shopkeeper either, usually my daughter handles that part. So, how much do you want for the game?"

Toxir shrugged. "I'm sure we can come to an agreement of some sort." Noticing that her smoke was furling in circles, she paused to toy with the rings. Inhaling deeply, she blew smoky words out, "what kind of game are you most in need of? I can find all kinds out there."

"The rare ones are always nice, but one's gotta be careful not to hunt them extinct because then there won't be any of them anymore," went the Ravillan as if stating a great insight. "There's this one animal I've been wanting to catch but haven't succeeded yet. I've barely seen one, but dangit if it didn't have a great coat of fur. It was a keerce, you know what they're like? Kind of like deers but they have great shiny black fur and sharp teeth."

Upon mention of the keerce, a vivid memory galloped through Toxir's mind, her stern face waiting for the crisp breeze of that winter's night. A few woodchips crunched underfoot as the halfbreed shifted her weight, the cry putting an end to her daydream. "Aye, I've seen one, and damn close." she replied. "I'll bet I could manage to rope one up for you. Those coats are bloody impossible to penetrate with arrows though," she thought aloud, already problem solving on a way to catch one. If she caught it then Toxir also had the option of preserving more of the hide as well as selling the meat to another vender. "What say you, how much for a keerce?"

The Ravillan looked fairly interestedly at Toxir as she explained her experience. From her, he believed it. "Oh, I had a hunch you might've seen one. Payment depends how much of it you bring," he continued. "Maybe 170 gold or so for the whole thing as it comes. 100 for just the fur." He then looked a bit more closely at Toxir. "Say, what's your name?"

That much gold was enough to ensure that Toxir was well kept during the winter, a price that she couldn't refuse. She would have to buy some more supplies, rope and such, if she was to catch this beast properly but that would be investment enough for the payoff. "Toxir," responded the woman directly, sticking her hand out to shake, a gesture she'd learned cityfolk liked.

The ravillan took Toxir's hand, shook it and smiled widely. "Macarus, pleasure. So, got any estimate when you'll be bringing me the beast? Where do you want to meet?"

Toxir's lips pursed for a moment as she tried to estimate her timeline. "I'll need to pick up a few supplies before I get started but I can start tonight. How about this, we'll meet here next week and we can take it from there if I haven't gotten it." Another thought then struck Toxir. "And if I catch one before I can skin it and preserve the meat if you'd like."

"Whatever works for you!" said Macarus, still smiling. "I might be gone hunting too but my daughter can handle it well enough. She's usually on this spot here. Mark the place."

Toxir took careful notice of where the tent was without much outward appearance of doing so and nodded her head. "Pleasure," she stated firmly. Then, with a seemingly learned style of abruptness, Toxir was gone from the Ravillan in search of a tent for the equipment she'd need. Smoke clouded around her as she walked, keeping her hunter's eyes peeled for a sign of a smithy or some sort of other useful merchant. Spotting what looked like large coils of rope hanging from the wide-open flaps of a tent ready for business, Toxir walked with great intent towards her prize, hoping to spot someone inside.

Inside the shop-tent was an assortment of goods, mostly containers and cloth-products made of cloth, skin and straws. Next to a small table was a vaguely unfriendly-looking Rysallean who was, at the moment, counting money. She turned at Toxir when she entered, but did not say anything right away.

Spotting the woman through keen peripheral vision allowed for Toxir to browse unbothered. There were plenty of products but she finally selected a thin but tightly braided rope. She reached up to unhook it from the tentpost and carried it over to the woman. "How much?" She asked after the woman was through counting.

The storekeeper was secretly pleased that Toxir had let her finish counting. She took a look at the rope and replied: "Ten gold. That's twenty meters of rope. Need anything else?"

"I need rope that won't fray due to weather or rodents. Will this do?" Toxir inquired in her softest voice. For some reason Toxir took an instant liking to this woman - she seemed like a kindred spirit - one who was about her craft and granted others their space. "I also need direction to a smithy or anyone who could sell me a knife." she added as she rummaged in her purse for her money. A few cigarettes fell from her pockets and onto the floor, foreign curses tumbling from her lips as she stooped to retrieve them.

"As long as you don't specifically flavor it and leave it for rodents to eat or get to the bad side of giant rats," said the Rysallean a bit absent-mindedly and then added in a bit more annoyed tone: "The pests gnaw through anything, given enough time." She listened to Toxir's next question and replied: "There's some Xiadomian guy selling good knives, probably next to the tavern in that direction." She pointed to her left and continued: "But lots of people sell weapons. If you just need a simple utilitarian knife, I've got some." She then pointed at a shelf full of small items, and on one shelf there were about ten knives almost hidden among the other stuff.

Toxir stood up with her handful of smokes and replaced her goods in her pocket, listening but not acknowledging the woman. At least its better than the shit I'd braid. She thought to herself. Toxir palmed the money for the rope on the table in front of the clerk on her way to the shelf of knives. She squatted to better view them and then sat on the floor to touch all of them. Some looked better made than others but all of Toxir's knives were getting dull and if she had a sacrificial knife for sharpening then it would prove worth her while. A particular one caught her black eyes and she grabbed it to see how it felt in her hands. It was light, shiny, and as Toxir ran it over her arm and saw that it took every hair, she was sold. Standing and walking back to the clerk, she placed her other purchase on the table. "You're a good salesperson. How much?"

The Rysallean counted the money quickly and put it away. She almost (but not quite) smiled when Toxir called her good, and promptly replied: "Five gold. It's pretty good for throwing, too."

In an uncharacteristic display of courtesy, Toxir half-grinned at the woman as she paid her dues for the knife. "Thank you." she stated firmly and then with a quick nod of her head, was quickly out of the tent with her rope over her shoulder and the knife stuffed in her belt.
"So a keerce." Toxir thought to herself, casually strolling the way to the small trail that would lead her back to her country home. The sun was strong and she found it easier to ignore the masses of people in the market now that she had a mission. Bring back a keerce. It struck her that perhaps there was a library with some sort of information on the beast she sought - perhaps information that would prove helpful as she'd never been able to fully examine one. The swirl of thought paused as she ceased walking and began looking around for what direction might lead her to a library.

There were no books or libraries around, and Toxir hadn't really seen any books at the market either. However, she was sure that in a city as big as this, there ought to be a library somewhere, maybe even two, but a marketplace wouldn't be a likely place to find them.

"Back towards the inn most likely." thought Toxir after a moment's pause reaped no rewards. She headed off in the same direction she came from a few hours prior. For a moment she completely forgot about the team she was supposed to help and she smirked as she lit a cigarette. "Annoying little fucks." she grumped bemusedly to herself as she stalked towards the inn.

Toxir walked from the Commercial District to the Residential District, where the inn was, but the distance wasn't too long and she encountered no libraries or directions on the way.

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[Veltzeh] – GM
[Roma] – Toxir Necis Brutus