June catch-all | OPEN

[emet_sulk]

🧙 WHO: Emet-Selch and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: It's time to go a-questing again, alchemist continues to hone his craft
🕒 WHEN: Throughout June
🗺️ WHERE: See individual prompts
⚠️ WARNINGS: None (will update as necessary)

1. Do it for the Vine 🗡️

I seek assistance in exterminating an overgrowth of seedkin. I will be departing three days hence.

Even if one doesn't see the message he puts out, one can find him at the scene: on the outskirts of Camelot, Emet-Selch surveys the damage with pursed lips. Fire would be a sure way to exterminate the vines yet it runs the risk of torching everything else as well. Especially magical fire. He has flammable concoctions made especially for this task, but he's hesitant to use them. Perhaps when they locate the parent...

If you happen to be crossing paths with him at the scene, he doesn't immediately take notice. He seems preoccupied with his own thoughts, though he will very quickly look over if someone decides to leap in and start attacking things.

2. Thunderbird 🗡️

The pursuit of unusual alchemy reagents takes one to odd places sometimes. Emet-Selch is not someone who would ordinarily volunteer to go rock-climbing, yet here he is doing just that. Unfortunately, he isn't the fittest of men. Scaling the rocks to reach one of the birds' elusive nests is trying his endurance - and patience.

About halfway up to one, he manages to clamber on to a small ledge and slumps there tiredly, breathing hard. "This had better be worth it," he growls under his breath as he takes a swig of water from his canteen.

--Or perhaps, instead, you meet him at the nest itself, tiredly setting up one of the observation cameras. Whilst technology isn't...unknown to him, he seems to be struggling with this modern brand of it. It's far more compact and advanced than that which he's accustomed to.

"Confound it," he mutters, staring at the pieces in frustration. "Why must they make it so damned small?"

3. Wildcard

Got another idea? Feel free to PM this account. He has a top-level on the TDM as well.

Comments

[angel_of_death]

[Is he... really expecting him to go all cut-throat merchant on him?

He may come from a nation of merchants, but bloody hell, that would be a truly low form of profiteering.]

Not a thing. Just let me have the jars back when you're done with them so I can refill them.

[emet_sulk]

Well, far be it for me to refuse charity... However, you could easily make a small profit by providing this to others. 'Tis not easy to fell one of those birds.

Are you sure there is nothing I can provide you in return?

[angel_of_death]

If I provided it to anyone who wanted it, soon people would be marching into the Forest of the Fisher King in search of gold and treasure. You know how mortal men are.

[Short-sighted and greedy. And the Unseelie aren't much different, as far as he knows.]

But, if you really want to do something in return... do you have any ideas how I might teach a dragon how to fly?

[emet_sulk]

Ideally, on a flying mount yourself. Or you can follow the example of bird handlers, whilst the dragonet may yet be supported by your arm.

[angel_of_death]

I live in a world of hot air balloons, airships, and aeroplanes, and before I came here, I spent the last five years of my life living with a vampire, a creature which inspires terror in any natural animal it is not actively enthralling.

[He is so out of his depth here. For once, he's completely at a loss of how to go about this.]

He could transform into bats, and I have seen birds and the like in flight, but that is the limit of my experience with winged creatures.

[emet_sulk]

I see. I'm hardly an expert either but I can come by to see what I can do to help.

[angel_of_death]

You have my thanks.

Would you like me to deliver the jars to that shop of yours? I promise not to cover the whole table this time.

[emet_sulk]

Hah. I am still working through your stock of gemstone. I am almost of a mind to pay others to take the pieces off my hands.

[ He won't, though. He knows the value of patience and controlling supply. ]

But yes, come by to drop them off. You are always welcome here.

[angel_of_death]

[The words, gruff though they may be at the start, are actually rather touching to someone as socially-isolated as him.]

Does this mean we're friends?

[Always welcome is a pretty broad invitation.]

[emet_sulk]

[ A reserved man like him usually doesn't just go out and SAY that he considers someone a friend, so the sudden question takes him aback. It's a few minutes before he responds. ]

I suppose that would be the best word for it.

[angel_of_death]

[The few minutes don't mean much to Walter, the boy still very much from the time where instantaneous communication was far from granted.

Still, when he receives the response, he is quick to reply.]

In that case, you are always welcome here, too.

[emet_sulk]

Thank you. I shall expect you soon, yes?

[angel_of_death]

I'll head over now.

[Being the timely sort of fellow, he doesn't take long to get there.

Entering the shop, he announces his arrival in a cheery tone.]

Hello, special delivery~!

[emet_sulk]

[ He glances up from the counter where he had been engrossed in examining a jewel. ]

Ah, hello. Come in.

[ There is a small pile of uncut stone next to a smaller pile of cut ones. One of the uncut stones sits on a sheet of paper with an alchemy circle drawn upon it. ]

[angel_of_death]

[Ah. It seems the man is working.

Best make this brief, in that case. Sauntering over, Walter is careful not to disturb the work, nor draw so close that he risks casting a shadow over what Emet-Selch is doing.]

Where would you like me to put the jars?

[emet_sulk]

Leave them on the counter here.

[ He gestures distractedly, not taking his eyes off his work. There's a small flash of light and the gem he has been staring at is suddenly free of its rough exterior. A pile of dust surrounds it, which Emet-Selch gently sweeps away with a small brush. ]

[angel_of_death]

[Proceeding to the counter as directed, Walter takes out several of the jars he'd mentioned. He contemplates a moment as the small flash of light casts his shadow against the wall, pondering how many the man might need for his task, and settles on leaving five. That should be good enough for starters.

Once all five jars are set upon the counter, Walter lifts his gaze to observe Emet-Selch. Still busy.]

I'll leave you to your work. Let me know if you end up needing any more.

[And with that, he makes his way back to the door.]

[emet_sulk]

Ah, yes, thank you.

[ He finally looks up and raises a hand of acknowledgement. ]

Apologies. I need to finish this today. I shall see you around, yes?

[angel_of_death]

Of course!

[The boy smiles, giving a wave behind him.]

Cheerio.

[And out the door he goes. He'll drop by some other time.]