What had started as a promising morning was beginning to rapidly deteriorate. Ixchel had departed the ship which had for several weeks been her home on the long voyage to Fiore. While much of the journey had been a time to engage in rest and relaxation there had been several highlights. The ocean was a mysterious and ancient abode and the creatures that dwelt there had seen eons no son or daughter of man could claim knowledge of. Ixchel had seen just enough of these creatures to know that she was both fascinated and terrified of them in equal measure.
After acclimatizing to a surface that did not rock and sway beneath her Ixchel had wasted no time in perusing the local attractions. Old sailors sang shanties of mermaids and buried treasure for clipped copper pennies. Dock side whores plied their trade, a madame even attempting to coax Ixchel into her establishment to see her stable of 'beautiful young lads'. Lastly and most interesting to the foreign priestess was the puppet shows that were being performed. Countless tiny dramas unfolded within the canvas walls of these microcosms. Knights killed princesses and married dragons, babies were fed to crocodiles and moon faced scoundrels hung judges in their own court.
Ixchel was enthralled. Even Tlatocan seemed interested turning his granite gaze towards these spectacles. Surprisingly neither Ixchel's dusky complexion nor the hulking form of Tlatocan gave the citizens of Lavanitir much pause. Clearly their town was highly cosmopolitan and all manner of exotic and downright strangers passed through. Mages Ixchel noted were also not a rarity. While they did not wear the feather finery that denoted rank among her people it wasn't hard to spot those with magical talent. Though their mannerisms and dress were frequently outlandish they carried a certain sense of magic - both tantalizingly familiar and yet subtly alien when compared to the sorcery of the deep jungle.
After taking in the sights Ixchel's stomach began to make protesting noises. Having skipped on the ships breakfast the priestess decided that it was time for a substantial lunch. Heading to one of the roadside carts Ixchel had ordered in passable fioran a number of pastries. Having been handed the first of these she took a bite finding the taste to her liking. Fishing in her pocket she produced five cacao beans to pay the man for the meal. Even though this price was more than generous for such a basic meal the vendor became angry proclaiming that she pay with real money. Ixchel attempted to explain that in her home the beans were currency and that she was sorry but she didn't have any other sources of funds. Becoming increasingly angry the vendor began to yell about calling the guard to arrest Ixchel & the local mages to dismantle her golem if she did not front up the money for her despoiled pastry.
Such a silly and minor thing but already it looked to be causing a huge upset in Ixchels plans unless she could figure out a way to diffuse the situation.
After acclimatizing to a surface that did not rock and sway beneath her Ixchel had wasted no time in perusing the local attractions. Old sailors sang shanties of mermaids and buried treasure for clipped copper pennies. Dock side whores plied their trade, a madame even attempting to coax Ixchel into her establishment to see her stable of 'beautiful young lads'. Lastly and most interesting to the foreign priestess was the puppet shows that were being performed. Countless tiny dramas unfolded within the canvas walls of these microcosms. Knights killed princesses and married dragons, babies were fed to crocodiles and moon faced scoundrels hung judges in their own court.
Ixchel was enthralled. Even Tlatocan seemed interested turning his granite gaze towards these spectacles. Surprisingly neither Ixchel's dusky complexion nor the hulking form of Tlatocan gave the citizens of Lavanitir much pause. Clearly their town was highly cosmopolitan and all manner of exotic and downright strangers passed through. Mages Ixchel noted were also not a rarity. While they did not wear the feather finery that denoted rank among her people it wasn't hard to spot those with magical talent. Though their mannerisms and dress were frequently outlandish they carried a certain sense of magic - both tantalizingly familiar and yet subtly alien when compared to the sorcery of the deep jungle.
After taking in the sights Ixchel's stomach began to make protesting noises. Having skipped on the ships breakfast the priestess decided that it was time for a substantial lunch. Heading to one of the roadside carts Ixchel had ordered in passable fioran a number of pastries. Having been handed the first of these she took a bite finding the taste to her liking. Fishing in her pocket she produced five cacao beans to pay the man for the meal. Even though this price was more than generous for such a basic meal the vendor became angry proclaiming that she pay with real money. Ixchel attempted to explain that in her home the beans were currency and that she was sorry but she didn't have any other sources of funds. Becoming increasingly angry the vendor began to yell about calling the guard to arrest Ixchel & the local mages to dismantle her golem if she did not front up the money for her despoiled pastry.
Such a silly and minor thing but already it looked to be causing a huge upset in Ixchels plans unless she could figure out a way to diffuse the situation.