Toy Fishing

Tenebrae - Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 8:50 PM

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-=--=--=--=--=--<* A08: Northern Bridge Over Tornmawr River *>--=--=--=--=--=-

The Northern Highbridge is immense, a marvel of modern-day artifice and engineering. Carefully cut granite blocks form four evenly spaced arches across the placid waters below, with cantilevered wooden bridge sections set into the stonework. On each side of the moving bridge sections are two crane-like contraptions made of iron attached to thick chain extending down to the bridge's surface. These contraptions appear to raise and lower the center of the bridge, to allow for greater and larger ships to move through Alexandria. These levers are controlled from tiny structures set into the stone, off the main causeway.

The Northern Highbridge is not the only way to cross the river. There are other bridges further south and there are ferries, but it is certainly the most impressive way. A sister bridge, identical, lies to the south.

On the eastern and western sides of the great 200 foot span of the bridge are two low, squat, well-constructed guardhouses. These structures obviously serve a defensive purpose, allowing access to be controlled by the troops stationed there.

In a city as big as Alexandria, life can get pretty overwhelming- as as such, people can get fairly closed off. Still, there's the odd person keeping an eye and ear out- as suggested by the current scene. When a child's small toy fell off the bridge by mistake, it was assumed more or less lost! At least, until a small passing fishing boat managed to snag it out of the water- and a tall Aesir woman passing by happened to have rope on hand to get the thing brought back up! Said woman happens to also be the one leaning way out over the rails, perhaps dangerously, to pull the rope back up to get the little dolly back for the young lad- who had been crying, but is now being held in place by his parents, given he wants to watch it return, and that's sorta dangerous, as mentioned!

Valadhiel walks nimbly on the rail of the bridge, not fazed at all by keeping her balance. She smiles as she sees the toy rescue effort, and looks at Katja, "You might want to be careful, you could fall in pretty easily there." Elves would /have/ to be that graceful, wouldn't they???

Mikilos can be graceful, but it's not really his forte. Magic is. But at this time the tall magus is focused on his other craft, which is to say building stuff. Or at least, having built something. A part for the mechanical aspect of the bridge, promptly delivered to the mechanics who deal with such things. Departing the workshed, Mikilos peers at the small gathering, and wanders that way in idly curiousity.

Katja straightens up at the voice- continuing to reel the rope absently. She's spooling it as she goes, and in spite of the thick rope no doubt being heavy at such lengths, it seems to pose no issue. Clearly she's not one of those sorts of humans known for similar -grace-... Still. She offers a grin, and a chuckle. "I like to think I have at least -that- much wit about me. Guessing you do too, wandering along like -that-. Not exactly intended purpose of that part," she remarks.

Valadhiel laughs softly and hops down, "Here, let me help brace you." She offers a hand, then glances over her shoulder, catching sight of Mikilos. Her smile grows, and she blows the other elf a kiss, winking over in his direction

Mikilos grins and waves, miming a catch, and walks closer. "Now, I'm no expert, but I'm fairly sure that's not how you're supposed to go fishing."

Katja can't help but chuckle a little. "Not exactly secretive, huh?" she notes to Val in a teasing tone, then nods a little. "Well, I'm more or less fine- and I kind of need two hands to get this rope back in proper carrying state," she adds, shaking her head. At Mikilos's comment though; "Well, most people don't fish for stuffed bears, hm?"

Valadhiel laughs, "I'm sure there are some gnomes that do." She grins wryly at Katja, "Life is too short to be secretive, even for elves." She smiles, "Just some things I've been thinking about lately."

Mikilos mmms, and nods seriously, hopping up to seat himself upon the bridge rail, close enough to easily chat, but far enough to not be in the way. "Stuff bear fishing, eh? Might be the wrong gauge of rope for that. But as I mentioned, I'm not the expert."

Katja smirks, and shakes her head. "Well, like they say. When all you have is a hammer..." She finishes pulling, finally, and unties the little woodchip-stuffed bear to hand it to the young boy. Joy! She nods to the elves, though. "Every problem just looks like... well, a raider or something, in my case," she finishes, continuing the chuckles.

Valadhiel grins and stops bracing Katja, going over and giving Mikilos a rather warm kiss on the cheek, "I did not think you'd be done just yet. How did everything go?" She chuckles, "In this town, I think bear fishing is the least unusual thing I've seen..."

Mikilos grins, returns the kiss to Val's cheek, and shrugs. "I think they'll install the part in the morning, so will know for sure then. I'm confidant I made it to the specs they gave me, but if they gave me the right specs..." He shrugs again. "Any case, what are you two ladies up to?"

Katja ruffles the little boy's hair- he (and bear) is currently clinging to her leg. "Being big heroes, apparently," she says with a laugh, before gently pushing the boy off towards Val or his parents- whomever he'd prefer, really. "Honestly I had only just seen her a moment ago," she admits, shrugging. "Thank you for the concern though," she notes to Val.

Valadhiel smiles, "Yes, I was just walking when I noticed that she was starting to teeter a bit too far to the edge while pulling in the bear." She nods over at Katja, "You may call me Valadhiel, or Val if you prefer. Most find the full name a bit cumbersome." She gives Mikilos a wry look, "But not everyone."

Mikilos sniffs and straightens up, haughty. "Names and titles are a tale, holding the honor and history not only of the individual, but the family from which they have come." He grins, and deflates. "At least for people who pay attention to that sort of thing."

Katja shakes her head, offering a little more of a wry smile. "Just Katja," she says in return, looking at Mikilos with brow raised a moment. "Sorry if it isn't much- but it's a story I'd rather not tell," she says, shrugging for the moment. "Bridge business take you both here today, then?"

Valadhiel ahs, "Mostly yes, I was a touch curious what all the gathering was about, but it's a nice change of pace to see that it isn't some horror from beyond time and space, but rather just a stuffed bear rescue." She leans a bit against Mikilos, hmming a bit as she turns towards him, "Would be nice if more adventures were like that don't you think?"

Mikilos nods. "They happen. I've been on a few. But honestly such... tame... adventures are best left to amatures. There's enough dangersou stuff out there to keep those qualified busy. That said, is nice to have the occasional job where nothing goes wrong."

Katja waves the matter off for the moment. "Wasn't really an adventure. Just happened to have the right thing on hand at the right moment." She smiles wryly again, scratching at her head a moment. "And what can I say, I hate seeing the little ones cry. And I'm sure he'll be more careful from here on." She tilts her head a moment. "So, do more than make bridge parts, huh?"

Valadhiel blinks at the bridge parts, "Well, I don't make bridge parts... enchanting isn't my thing. I'm a wizard, but I focus more on causing things to explode in particularly violent fashion." She smiles a bit, and lightly elbows Mikilos, "He's the enchanting one."

Mikilos nods. "I make all sorts of things. Magical weapons, mostly, but I've tried my hand at a wide range of crafts, both magical and mundane." The elf blinks, and ponders a moment. "Actually, now that I think on it, what I make most is mistakes. But I try to make a habit of learning from them."

Valadhiel has disconnected.

Katja grins for a moment. "Well, we all do, don't we? Nothing wrong with it, really." She shoulders her spool of rope for comfort's sake, then can't help but shake her head slightly. "Though- now that I think about it. You never did tell me your name-story, hm?"

Mikilos ponders a few moments, and shrugs. "Well, Mithralla dates back to the Gods War, when 'shining elves clad in holy metal' aided the Gods of Light. Those Mithril Elves are my ancient ancestors. Abrioudelanarchie is in honor of my father's father's father, who had the same name. And Mikilostravia was just the name my mother prefered. Estranillia is the land of my holding, a gift given by my mother's sister upon my first birthday. My studies have allowed me to pass the tests to qualify as a Magus of the Fifth Circle. And as someone who builds a range of things useing arcane abilities, I came up with my own title of Builder Arcane. Put it all together, and I am Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Magus of the Fifth, Builder Arcane."

Katja nods a few times, then can't help but chuckle. "I hope you'll pardon me if I stick to just Katja," she says, head shaking. "Convenience aside, I like letting the moment at hand decide how people see me. Keep me from resting on laurels from past things."

Mikilos grins, and nods. "A lesson more than a few need to learn. Part of why I tend to just go by 'Mikilos'. enough to identify, which is what's really important. Though I do sort of hope for a 'Mikilos Junior' some day."

Katja nods a little. "Be a good thing to have in life. Looks like you're on your way anyways there," she notes, winking now that Valadhiel's sauntered off. "So, you said a range of crafts. What sorts?" she questions curiously. "I've been long overdue for a proper weapon since some spellcaster shattered my favourite sword."

Mikilos mmms, perking up slightly. "If you've the pieces, it could be reforged. I specialize in swordsmithing, though I craft all manner of weapon. I've also made several magic armors, enchanted rings, and a wide range of magical items, from packs larger on the inside to protective cloaks. I also get the occasional call for specific mechanical parts. Back in the Sendor War they needed replacements for the damaged airships. The manacrystals are a bit beyond me, but other parts of the system i understand well enough. And even if I don't understand exactly what soemthing does, I can still make a part to fit the specs I've been given. Being a wizard can help quite a bit in that. Any smith can hammer metal into the right shape, but geting the arua flux just right is a bit mroe tricky."

Katja grins, and nods a little. "Tell you what. Let's hold off on magic for now until I've sorted out what might be ideal a little more- but I'm actually not looking for a sword anymore. Looking something more in the 'hammer' regions. On the heavier side, if you take what I mean," she notes, spreading her hands apart and miming holding a haft- and she's most certainly talking about getting the heaviest sort one can get.

Mikilos nods. "Utterly possible. I've made a couple warhammers, but isn't something with a lot of call. Not everyone can even lift such weapons, let alone properly weild them. Have you considered the base material? Enchantments are nice and all, but changing it to mithril after the fact is more than a bit difficult."

Katja shakes her head. "Trust me- I can lift it- and then some. These arms are not for nothing," notes the Aesir woman, shrugging a shoulder absently. "Though, I may get back to you on that if I ever want a set of heavier armour- not easy to move around in that heavy nonsense, after all. But, for the weapon, I doubt mithral's going to be needed."

Mikilos nods. "Nice when devils show up, or lycanthropes. But is always cold iron, or adamantine. Have made weapons out of ironwood for a druid once. But steel remains a soild, popular choice."

Katja nods a few times. "Well. Nice as adamantine would be, I don't think I can throw in the extra few hundred platinum to worry about it just this moment. But, who knows, maybe I'll have more to spend next time someone turns my weapon into shrapnel in my hands." She pauses, looking down a moment. "Then again, didn't really help the last guy..." The fingers of one hand roll reflexively in and out of a fist.

Mikilos nods. "For every solution, there's a counter. And for every counter there's another solution. It's impossible to be ready for them all. We do the best we can, and that's really all we can do."

Katja shrugs a little. "Anyways. Glad to hear you're willing to help me out- let me know when it might be possible to get it done, yeah?"

Mikilos nods. "Well, I just finished the work on the bridge part, and don't have anything else lined up. So I can start right now, really."

Katja blinks. "Oh! Well then. What would I owe you, hm?" she questions, patting at her sides before locating a jangling purse tied to her belt and tucked under her vest for good measure.

Mikilos grins. "Well, that depends on what exactly you want. A basic enchantment tends to run around 120 platnium. But first you still need the weapon to enchant, correct?"

Katja laughs. "Let's just worry about weapon, for now, hm? All this replacing equipment has me a little strapped," she says, shrugging. "I'll make sure to keep you in mind for enchanting it up later, how about?" she suggests.

Mikilos nods. "Alright. The weapon itself then. Let's find what exactly you have in mind." The wizard murmurs quietly, and gestures, a pink, faintly glowing mass appearing in the air before him. A few swipes of his hand, and the mass is molded like clay into the shape of a basic warhammer. "If this is built specifically for you, may as well get exactly what you want. Wider haft, special shape to the head, a design on the crosspiece. Whatever you prefer."

Katja shakes her head, grinning. "I think you might have underestimated what I mean. I mean an Earthbreaker. Something that takes both hands. If I wanted to use a shield, well... I'd probably be a smarter woman. But I digress. It's what I'm most accustomed to using, at this point."

Mikilos nods, and snaps his fingers, the warhammer effectively doubeling in size. Which still isn't quite a proper EarthBreaker, but it's a lot closer. "Any sort of design or motiff you favor?"

Katja shrugs, shaking her head. "I'm easy to please. Heavier the better, but I understand that's not what might be expected from most customers." Then again, she doubts 'most' customers even look for this weapon- let alone have a habit of using it in a frothing fury.

Mikilos nods, and snaps again, the pink mass shifting from gaint hammer to testsubo. Aka a metal baseball bat on steriods. With spikey bits. "Something of Angoron? Or Kor? Flames, lightning, fuzzy bunny rabbits?"

Katja laughs. "Well, if we're insisting, I do keep ties with the Angorite church- it wouldn't be a -bad- idea. Helped one of their temples with a storybook problem a while ago with that very sort of weapon." Well if that isn't a weird statement...

Mikilos nods, the spikey bits shifting towards a lighting shape. "Weight towards the end, I assume. Wider grip? Longer haft? One day i may work out some method of mind reading that isn't too invasive, but not today."

Katja shrugs. "I admit I'm fond of a full head, but if that design works better for you, not a problem. Grip and haft are just fine- you've got my height and armspan down pretty well there," she says with an approving nod. "At the end of the day, it's something really heavy on the end of a stick- it'll get the job done just fine so long as the balance is there."

Mikilos nods again, leaving the half alone, but swelling up the end to a larger mass. The result vaugely like an ice cream cone. "Weight will range mostly off size, but acn work with some assorted alloys to get just how you want it. But this is good for the shape and size?"

Katja tilts her head a little. "It's... unusual. But I could make it work." She pulls out the coinpurse finally, and tilts her head. "I don't think you noted the price proper, though?"

Mikilos quotes a rather standard price. Competitive, but not quite the cheapest. But, for a fully custom job, that's quite reasonable. Murmuring a few moments, the wizard gestures... and with a solid thum, a soild metal EarthBreaker falls to the stones. "...summoned materials. Won;t last but an hour or so, but should give you a realisitc measure of the weight, heft, and all of that."

Katja nods, and leans down to give the thing a lift. "Hrm. Really heavy- I like it," says she, grinning a moment. "PRobably not the best place to try, though. Let me know where your shop is and I'll stop by once ready to settle things and get sorted?"

Mikilos nods. "Up on the mountain road, south of the airstation. Sort of halfway between there and the Vardama Temple. It's a little easy to overlook, but I've got a sign out front. Keep meaning to make something fancy and eye catching, but havn't taken the time just yet."