#chapter 1-2

After putting her magical map away, Marri walks out of the alley and back into the market proper. She walks around, taking a look at the stalls and shops until one catches her eye. It’s a stall run by a gnome, selling handmade trinkets and charms. There are even a few holy symbols made from wood that look hand carved. He notices her interested look and waves her over.

“Ah, yes! Come have a look lass! Everything I have for sale I make myself!” She walks over and takes a look at his wares, seeming quite interested in the wooden holy symbols. “Are these real? Are they genuine blessed holy symbols?”

“Those? Why, they’re no more than simple trinkets. I never saw much point in having them blessed since they’re all made of wood. Now if I knew how to carve them from stone, then maybe I’d have it done. But I was never very good at stone carving”, he says with a chuckle. “Each wooden holy symbol is a mere thirty copper.”

Marri frowns and looks up from the gnomes wares to look at him. “I thought it was against the law to own a holy symbol that wasn’t blessed? Or at the very least, blasphemous”, she says with a concerned look. He looks at her for a moment before laughing. “Blasphemous and against the law? I don’t know how it is in other parts of the world, but here in Arlona that isn’t an issue! Have no worries young half-elf, you won’t get in any trouble should you have an unblessed holy symbol on your person. If that were the case, I would certainly be in jail for trying to sell them!” As Marri picks up one of the wooden symbols to inspect it, the gnome notices an amulet around her neck.

“Ah, the symbol of Avandra! Mind if I take a closer look lass?” She hesitates for a moment before taking it in hand and holding it out to him without taking it off her neck. “Just be careful with it please, this is the real thing.”

“Don’t worry lass, I would never disrespect a holy symbol.” He examines it closely. “Hmmm….yes, excellent craftmenship! Such fine detail. But…hmm…what material is this? It looks like stone of some kind, but the texture is unlike any I’ve ever come across.”

“Well, the material it’s made from is called onyx. But I don’t really know much about it to be honest. It was gifted to me by a cleric of Avandra when I was a girl.” The gnome looks intrigued by this. “Onyx you say? Hmm, I’ll have to look into this. See if I can get ahold of some myself maybe….anyway, back to business! Will you be purchasing any of my wares this fine day?” Marri smiles and nods as he lets go of her Avandra symbol. After a few more minutes of browsing, she decides to buy two handcarved figures. One of an elf holding a bow with an arrow notched, and the other is a dwarf holding a shield up before it. “Two statues? That will be fourty copper please!” She smiles and pays him, then decides to look around some more. “Thank you kindly. Have a pleasant day lass!” The gnome says as Marri walks away.

As Marri walks around the market, occasionally making a small purchase here and there, such as a loaf of bread from a baker or a nice looking headband adorned with fake gemstones, three figures by the wall a few dozen feet away are watching her. A male dwarf with a bushy black beard, a dark green bald male half-orc with multiple piercings and tattoos, and a purple-red skinned female tiefling with long flowing green hair. They’ve been watching her for a while now, and she has yet to notice them.

FINALLY page 2 is now out, aaand we get PEOPLE this time x’D it’s awful... but... it’s something, hope you guys enjoy! 

DING-DONG! BING-BONG!

“Good morning, everyone! It’s now 7 am and officially daytime! Be sure to have a beeeeea-utiful day~!”

The announcement was enough to stir me from my sleep mode. My screen flickered to life and I felt ready for the day...as ready as I could be after yesterday, anyway.

‘I guess I am still here...”

Not the best of thoughts, but I needed to stay positive!

“I should be going! Brenda would want me at breakfast today!”

I made my way into the cafeteria for the day as Brenda had wanted us to go there for breakfast, after all. I didn’t really need to charge right now so I wouldn’t eat. But I could always talk to others.

“Good morning, everyone!” Some heads turn to look at me. I could see a few people weren't in the area at all. But there was well over half of us right now! But who should I go visit?

[Yoshiko, Genji, Yamada, and Gary at their own table] [Joyce, Brenda, and Trisha in the kitchen]

[Mei, Machiko, and Guardian picking out food]

[PREVIOUS]

I could see these four had gotten here early enough to get their food already. They all sat at the table nearest the door, talking amongst themselves as I approach. They all look at me as I approach.

“Ah, good morning, friend Kasperov. I see you are joining us for breakfast despite having none of your own.”

“Don’t be insensitive! Robots don't eat!”

Brenda was busy cooking away at the oven. She was making several different things at once with some amazing speed and skill. Trisha and Joyce seemed very mesmerized by her work.

“Seeing the SHSL Nanny work is certainly a sight to see.”

“She works with such speed and efficiency...remarkable...”

“...” Brenda was focused on her cooking, seemingly not hearing the other two girls comment on her work. She must be in the zone...I think that was the phrase for it.