Создатели Судьбы / The Creators of Destiny: Глава 16

Chapter 16

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 19:27

Sadly, the gold I'd set aside yesterday had run out, and there was still so much to do before I could meet the guild crafter! I'll have to go to the Khramm's shop to see if they've sell my scrolls.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 19:46

A vaguely familiar (they all look so much alike!) dwarf in armor met me at the door of the Trading House and, without saying a word, escorted me to the counter.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 19:50

"Hello, Dear Sir. Yesterday, three lots were supposed to be auctioned on my behalf. May I ask..."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 19:53

A young dwarf in clerk's armbands and with a beard attached to his checkered vest with a huge gold clip, didn't hear the rest, but immediately opened the book.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 19:54

"Three scrolls: two of the fourth rank, one of the sixth rank. Sold. Would you like cash?"

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 19:55

Great.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 19:55

"Yes, please."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:19

"Your price is one gold for scrolls of the fourth rank and five gold for a sixth. Minus our interest, plus our auction trade, minus our share of the promotion." What's he talking about? "That's nine gold, seventeen silver, and thirty-two coppers. We got it right!"

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:20

The goods for seven, where did the other two gold pieces come from?

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:21

"Excuse me, esteemed..."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:21

"Drori, at your service."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:24

"Esteemed Drori. I am a simple warrior, could you explain how the price of the..."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:24

The clerk didn't listen to the rest of the speech again:

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:25

"The standard agreement of representation at an auction means that a client's lot may be overbid at a price that the House appraisers think is fairer. You understand that everyone must mind his own business, and believe me, our House has eaten more than one dragon in the difficult business of proper trade!" He stuck out his jaw proudly, and his beard popped out of a staple.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:27

"But still: how exactly is this representation expressed?"

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:28

The dwarf, who neatly tucked his beard back into place, looked at me in surprise, but, discounting the "mere warrior," replied:

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:29

"Your price was not in line with the current price situation. So we set a higher price. We got half of the difference, as we should have. And from your price, we got only the agreed ten percent."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:30

It makes more sense now.

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:31

"And if no one bought for the price you set?" The dwarf raised his head already belligerently, and his beard popped out of his staple again. "No, no, I'm in no way questioning the House's estimate. I'd just like to know the exact procedure, for a better understanding."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:35

DrorI shrugged and, beginning again to tuck his unruly beard, ventured to answer:

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:37

Then we would lower the price until it was equal to the one you set. But we are seldom wrong; the Khramm's Trading House is a respectable enterprise!

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:38

"I see. I would like to add two gold coins to the main account, and get the rest in cash: five gold coins and the rest in silver."

Camrad_RIP 31.08.22 в 20:48

The dwarf immediately clinked coins the trade menu blinked automatically, and the NPC transferred the money handed to me in the inventory. I was about to turn to leave, but then I decided to ask:

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:42

"Esteemed Drori, would you mind answering a personal question?"

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:42

"Of course, honorable paladin."

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:43

"And... why are you attaching the beard to the vest with a paper clip? It must be uncomfortable, right? I'm sorry if my question has hurt your feelings, I really don't understand. Maybe it's a House tradition."

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:44

Drori waved his hand:

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:47

"No, it's nothing like that. It's just a fashion."

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:47

Wow.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:47

"Fashion?"

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:47

"Yes, it's a fashion." The dwarf sighed sadly and fixed his beard again.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:53

I thought for a while.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:53

"How about not attaching it to the vest, but just leaving it like that, clamped with a paper clip?"

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:56

The dwarf sighed again.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:56

"Last year the beard was supposed to be held loosely by three massive rings. It was very beautiful! But alas, that is now obsolete. And who invented them, those paper clips!" Nervously adjusting his golden torture tool, the victim of fashion bowed to me.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 07:58

It was raining outside, so I stood under the awning. NPCs independently dispose of trusted property for the benefit of the player-client! Good idea to create an atmosphere, but now I understand why the auction was not mentioned in the articles about the ways of enrichment in CoD. The developers leveled the odds between newcomers and "gosu." Why? It's not clear yet, but I rather liked the result than not.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 08:02

The drops flying from the frowning sky were finally replaced by rays of light in the clear air after the rain, and the sun bounces bright on the wet rocks.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 08:10

I watched the townsfolk, the NPCs, and the players scurry by. I watched as the sidewalk slowly dried in the hot sun, as the eared and pony-tailed pie salesman threw back the burlap cloths that covered the goods, and carefully looked around to see if anything was wet.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 08:11

Finally, a loader with a big box over his shoulders bumped into me and, muttering something as an apology, continued on his way through the drying street.

Camrad_RIP 01.09.22 в 08:15

I stared. To hell with the graphics, but that salesman didn't make a single repetitive motion, as if he were being controlled by a living person. The street was alive. It wasn't just drawn - it was alive, changing. Natural. And I, standing under the canopy, the newcomer to the temple guard thinking about something, was in it, not out of it. Not an observer, but one of them.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:06

With a shake, I shook off my reverie.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:07

One of them? Do you see any lazybones here, Vova? Well, take your example from them! The Dwarves have earned you gold coins, so please get busy!

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:07

The familiar artisan vendor nodded affectionately and, without waiting for a question, unfolded a commercial menu. A hundred sheets of paper, a hundred units of ink. I wonder what "one ink" is? Does it count by the drop?

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:08

Confirmation of the transaction, minus six gold pieces, plus twelve silver pieces of change.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:11

Forty Phantom Companion scrolls. Forty Shield of Blood scrolls. Ten Blessing scrolls. I managed it in an hour, getting two "masterpiece" scrolls again: Blessing and Shield.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:12

I left some paper and ink in reserve, just in case. It takes not much space in my inventory, but it might come in handy. I had the last of the Companions on the boss yesterday, and what if I hadn't had enough? That's okay, I'll be smarter from now on.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:15

Boss! I forgot about it.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:16

The quest bone, obtained for the first walkthrough of the dungeon, was still lying in the closet, where I threw it along with the other trophies. I'll trade the trash when I have more but for now, I'll let it lie there. I have to go to the crypts for a long, long time, and then I'll do small wholesale trade. Or I'll give it to the noobs, and let them enjoy it. Bone... right. Map!

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:18

Calling out the map, I marveled at its detail. The full version was not a store-bought sketch of the main paths! There were two paths leading to Loeur's crypts besides the one I already knew, and the new ones were both a good deal shorter, though they ran through rough terrain. The crypts themselves were marked with a green badge, an acknowledgment that the information the player had gathered was as complete as possible. Things could change almost instantly in "CoD", but green on the map indicated locations where there had been no changes or additions for the past two weeks... which is logical for an entry-level instance designed to train newcomers.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.22 в 19:20