Campaign
Fortunately Alan had done some (a miniscule amount) of thinking after the sunscreen incident.
Grab the hand of the elf and shove it down my throat, hoping she gets the message to grab the obstruction thing.
If this proves unproductive, spew fireworks everywhere in an attempt to catch the others' attention.
You grab the Terrevieve's hand for and shove it down your throat. The elf seems surprised enough to allow you to do that.
Unfortunately, your uncoordinated flailing results in you ramming the hand down your throat extremely hard, shoving the tiny can down further into your oesophagus. You instinctively swallow due to the discomfort, causing the can to go down further and into your stomach.
Oh dear. That can't be healthy. You can already feel the blood inside your oesophagus from where the can tore it. And it will probably get worse unless you get it out.
After about half a second of surprise, the elf is now looking at you with curiosity.
"AreYou trying tweetMe? ThatIs a pecUliar way tweet someOne."
"Um... is... is there something in particular you would like?"
"Not particularly. I usually trade with traders and travellers passing through and those tend to have either coin or goods to give me in exchange for my food, my supplies and my magic. But you are unlike them, so it appears we will have to improvise something different."he led us to his painting room for a reason... i think.
"Is there something missing from your paintings?"
The man looks thoughtful. He begins speaking mostly to himself.
"Hmm... No, I don't think so. I suppose I could draw you and the others in your group that have characteristics similar to those of Beastmen. They are hard to find alive around here and even harder to have them pose for you. A couple of paintings for my personal collection and a few measurements I could sell could be something I could trade for... but I'm not sure who would buy those measurements now that the Tower is gone. And I don't know how I would feel with paintings of Beastmen in my home. I've done some work from memory, but those were... I guess it would depend on how the images turn out. If I don't like them being here, I suppose I would have to sell them. But finding someone interested in that sort of painting might be hard. I'm not sure if it would be worth it."He looks up at you and continues more loudly.
"Besides, I find myself more interested in light and time lately. On how the world changes as time passes. I try to work quickly, to capture that moment where the world is in a certain way, where the light 'plays' with my subject. And then do it again, with the same subject but in a different manner. I mean, here, take a look at this."He opens a chest with some grey seals on it and removes a few canvases in it from their protective covers. He arranges them resting on the wall below a window and then removes the rag covering the top of the small column near the window, revealing another painting there.
"That is my latest work."The paintings show a view framed by the window. Each is different, yet the same. Sun's rays painting the sky with uneven light and shadow as they emerge from behind the eastern mountains. A fire in the night, barely illuminating its surroundings, some objects visible as shadowy outlines. A feminine form standing close to the window, its features partially obscured by shadows while the shadowy forms of an adult and a child run outside. The gigantic clouds of an approaching sandstorm, painted red by the setting sun, the latest painting.
"This is what I was talking about. In this one I was mostly working with the surrounding nature and circumstances."Some features seem slightly exaggerated or distorted. The branches of a tree in one picture are intricate and weaving and full of green leaves, the glare of the flames in another seems brighter than it should be... Colours appear to have been blended with repeated strokes on the canvas, creating small areas where the colour is the same. It is hardly realistic, but it manages to capture that beauty of light and colour and abstract shape, the beauty you would find in a cloudy sunset or the ever-changing light of a fire.
"I used to visit the City when I wanted a scene of light with more man-made objects and a bit more planning, but I suppose that is not an option for me anymore. I could paint the scenes of destruction.That would be an interesting subject. But I do not think going there myself would be worth the risk of getting hurt. ... Or the risk of staying there."Campaign, Ike!
"Well, we're not all chaos sorcerers. At least as far as I know. We've also got a guy who's half-asleep all the time, he can make crystals or something. Are you into mineralogy, perhaps? Crystals are the most magicky thing that exists, no?"
"Although we could paint you a picture or something. Maybe show you how to build an electric circuit or something? I mean, shit, I know a little bit about wiring. Not a lot, sure, but a little bit. And electricity is certainly magic."
"Hm. Maybe I could use them for decorations or enchantments. I wouldn't say no to a sample. If it's good, then certainly. Wait, you don't mean elemental focus crystals? If he could produce those, that would be preposterous.""I suppose you could paint something for me. But it is a rather unsafe endeavour, don't you think? No offence to your artistic skills, but what if I end up not liking it, not because it's bad but because it does not fit to my tastes? If I can't sell it, then you would have wasted expensive colours and both our times.""Circuit? Like in chariot racing? And electricity...? Oh, you mean lightning? That's combined element magic, primarily Air. I'm afraid I don't have any use for that. I might be able to sell the notes to someone in the east, if they're interesting, but I wouldn't count on it."There is some yelling downstairs, although it stops a moment later. A few seconds after that, River arrives from the stairs with the rest, minus Alan.