Scene #397:

Owner	Pose
Aren Cordelaine	A few years ago, if you told Aren that he would be travelling the world and saving Empires, he'd have laughed at you, called it a mere joyman's fantasy. A couple years later, and what was mere fantasy had become a reality, and how. And yet, having seen so much had ironically set him on exactly the mentality that he had back in the farming village of Briala. But then again, who can blame him? Here he was, looking completely lost, like a fish out of water, dressed in his farmer's clothes even as he carried an obviously magical firey staff in his hands. It was easy to spot the newbie, in this case. It was the one standing with his eyes open and his jaws agape, like the lights are on, but nobody's home...
Marrik	Marrik wasn't much better in that respect. Nevermind the nosey motercycle he had parked when he came herr. He very plainly looked the part of a country boy lost in a big city. Were it not for the doll sized pixie leadimg the way he wouldmt no where anythimg was, but this is why he had Sparks with him: she was far better at finding things than him. Yet when he saw Aren he stopped and tapped him on the shoulder. "Lost, friend?"
Aren Cordelaine	Aren took a second before he noticed that he was being tapped for someone to get his attention, and turned around, looking over towards Marrik helplessly for a second. A blink, then a quick shake of his head as he came back to his senses. "Huh...?" Then snapped out of it. "Oh... Oh, I don't even know where to go, to be honest." He responded, awkwardly. "I was referred to this place, and... Just, you know. Where do you even start?"
Marrik	A shrug was Marrik's first response. "Truth be told I'm lost too. Just little girl over there," The pixie in motercycle leathers waved cheerfully, "Said I should go see some of the place."
Aren Cordelaine	He blinked a little, and peered towards the pixie. "Oh, huh..." He looked towards Marrik, "You just got here too then? Maybe I should find someone of the Union ..." He muttered sheepishly. "They'd know what to do."
Marrik	"Uh... technicaly I'm in the union," Marrik admitted as he looked about in a very obvious lost manner. "Just sigh with a recruiter, interview, wait for processing. I mean my case was probably a little hectic but magic is weird." He shrugged. "I'll see if I can flag someone down though." With that he motioned for Sparks to come to him, which she lamded on his shoulder amd stood by his ear.
Aren Cordelaine	Aren chuckles awkwardly.. "Oh, magic is a problem, is it...?" He asked, quietly, rubbing his back. "That's not good.. I'm a bit of a mage myself." He explains.
Marrik	"Well I... uh." Marrik mirrored the neck rub gesture of embarassment. "I sorta kinda am a bit of a special case because I got trained by a bad sort then had to sort myself out of the mess. Sorta makes folks worry about a relapse." Then a helpless shrug, "Can't really blame them. It's not somethi I'm comfortable giving details on since it could start a bit of a row with folk."
Aren Cordelaine	"... Oh. I see.." He said, giving Marrik an awkward look. "Well, uh. Perhaps you can point me to where you found a recruiter, then?" He asked, trying not to come off as rude...
Marrik	"Well I was in the goblin market when recruiters found me." He shrugged and offered a hand. "Marrik Broom," he had firm calloused hands. "Farmer, shop owner, occasional speaker to and for the dead, and currently some guy touring the multiverse. Pleased to meecha."
Aren Cordelaine	"Goblin... market?" He asked, shaking his head. "Uh... I'm Aren Cordelaine. It's a pleasure to meet you, I guess.." The idea of a necromancer creeped him out, it was hardly a common magic in his land. Most people didn't know it existed, which was probably for the best. "So they just... go around and pick people from markets?"
Marrik	"Well," Marrik let his hand fall away. "I'd made a local cult go byebye and fixed where they ttied blighting the local fields." He gave a bitter laugh, "They thought they were going after Power. Deluded fools. There is no real power in destroying things."
Aren Cordelaine	"I'd definitely agree with that.." He said, giving a deep breath and nod. "Only wish more people thought that way. So you impressed them and they decided to recruit you? That's nice!"
Marrik	"Well it was also a practical matter." Marrik still seemed a bit embarassed. "It was either that or the local garrison get.... snippy with me and I'm frankly tired of running after trying to fix things."
Aren Cordelaine	"I... see. So your magic lands you in trouble?" He asks, curiously with a tilt of his head. "But the Union accepted you, right? So I guess it all works out in the end."
Marrik	"It works out ys." Marrik chuckled, "Plus if you join you get a flat discount in my store. I mean none of it's special outside of a few one off's I get... but hey guves people stuff to work with."
Aren Cordelaine	Aren nodded a little bit. "I'll keep that in mind... I'm not sure that you take burlas, though.." Burlas, of course, were the currency of the Antaran Empire, named after the Golden City, Burlen, whose economy and currency took over the Antaran Empire despite the latter being conquered by the former. "So you don't know where I can find a recruiter here? I never expected it to be THIS big... This must be as big as the entire Empire itself!"
Marrik	At that question Sparks flew off Marrik's shoulder and made a beconing gesture. Marrik grinned, "My little friend here was talking to a construct that gave her a map to follow. She's very good at finding things out."
Aren Cordelaine	"Oh! Really? That would be very kind of you... her... Both of you." He said, with a little bow of his head. "... How long is the trip?"
Marrik	"About a mile" The little pixie chimed in. "Not far at all."
Aren Cordelaine	"Oh... That shouldn't be too bad then!" He responded, cheerfully. "I'd like to know more about the Multiverse. But I'm sure I will have time to learn quite a lot more!"