HOME | DD

Description
Charlotte and Veritas left All That Remains, Veritas glancing back over her shoulder every so often as though afraid the place may burst into flames since they had left Firnis, a stranger by her standards, alone and in charge while they where out, even though he would probably just wander off after an hour of work she still worried, more for Charlotte's sake than anything else.

However Charlotte herself walked on seemingly lost in thought, not even noticing Veritas' doubt, she was too focused on her own troubles, trying to remember just when the "deal" bringing that man to this realm took place and how.

They walked in silence for a while before Veritas began to take note of Charlotte's less than enthusiastic demeanor. The moment she did her concerns for the inn where forgotten as she began instead to be concerned for her friend. "Is something amiss?" She inquired, concern clear in her voice and her expression.

Charlotte took a moment to respond, gathering her thoughts before replying honestly. "I don't know. I just cant seem to remember making any deals in my life, I mean I even get you to arrange the stock in the inn, I just follow the prices you set out so I don't get cheated, so how could I honestly ever make a deal for someones soul?"

Veritas laid a hand on Charlotte's shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sure it will come to you in time." She thoughts for a moment. "Though I could probably try and find out for you, it may take some time however."

With that Charlotte nodded, seemingly satisfied. "If its no trouble please do, I would hate to have brought someone entirely innocent to the wrong place unfairly."

Veritas nodded in agreement, however she was withholding some of her own doubts, like those blank sheets for example, for there to be blank sheets there had to have been sins that where wiped out, and she wanted to know what they where and why.

After that brief exchange they walked mostly in silence, enjoying just being in each others company as they walked along the road, occasionally greeting a friend or stranger on the same road they walked, demons mostly however there was the occasional human too. They did pass quite a few regular patrons heading to All That Remains, and despite Veritas saying they should head back, Charlotte insisted her patrons would be fine, after all most of them had worked part time for her at one point or another to help her out.

It took them just over an hour to reach the town, All That Remains was ideally situated on a crossroad between several key points in this ring, however being where it was it also happened to be situated a fair distance from the nearest town. The town in question was reasonably large, and old.

An old dilapidated wall encircled the town, it stood as if in remembrance of the time it had stood great and tall. The rest of the town was in excellent condition, but the wall itself had fallen into disuse once this ring was no longer the seat of power.

Once they had passed through what remained of the gate, they where swept up into the busy streets of, even at night the town was a hub of activity. The markets where still open at times they would be closed in the mortal realm, for the nocturnal denizens of hell.

Charlotte clung tight to Veritas as they forded their way through the throng of demons and humans, normally it was in fact quieter of the day amongst towns like this. The busier a town was at day, the less Nosferatu and such would be able to sleep. Meanwhile the same rule applied to beings of the day and the nights business.

Veritas pushed and swerved her way through the crowd, leading Charlotte along, some may have been less than pleased about being pushed aside, but someone of her standing and reputation was not someone whom even the hardiest of demons would risk offending without good reason.

After a good few minutes they stumbled into a store, a small oasis free from the hustle and bustle of the nightlife outside, revelers of the nights entertainment, and the typical customers wouldn't be heading to a store where you would buy wholesale, so they where surprised to see there was one customer before them.

It was someone Charlotte recognized well, but she held her tongue knowing the trouble she would cause with Veritas if she told her about the dealings with the large burly beast before them, who was currently quietly dealing with the proprietor while Veritas looked over products available.

The minotaur was like as portrayed in most mythology, head of a bull, torso of a man and legs again of a bull, his tail swished angrily as he turned and headed out of the door, having to duck his head slightly to slip through the door that was already eight feet in height to accommodate the larger customers who may come by, his horns leaving two marks in the wooden frame, two more amongst many.

Charlotte let out a breath of relief, the beast having not seemed to have seen her, she looked towards the gaunt face of the shopkeeper, well if a spider could look gaunt that is, all eight of his eyes seemed to be facing downwards as he sighed wearily clearly displeased.

He was one of the smaller of the proprietors of this chain of shops, still being large enough to match a human in height if he stood up on his rear legs. But his smaller size was no doubt why the minotaur had come here instead of another of the stores. He had no real distinct coloration, being just what seemed to be a large black spider, with his only really noticeable feature (aside from his size) being a brown silk scarf wrapped loosely around his neck.

She walked up to the counter and left Veritas to browse, Veritas wouldn't come over to barter, after all it was her who ensured all these traders treated Charlotte fairly. She laid a robed hand on one of his legs that was resting on the counter and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

To that he seemed to realize just how he looked, and more so he seemed to finally notice his two customers, the gaunt face being replaced by a cheerful one. "Why if it isn't my two favorite customers!" He said in a loud cheery voice, deeper than you would expect from a spider.

Veritas chuckled at that, she knew he wasn't lying completely, Charlotte was always nice to him , so she was probably his favorite customer. Veritas however was the one who bartered him down to give Charlotte a cheap price on just about anything if she wanted, so she probably wasn't. Though something that surprised most was that Charlotte rarely used the reduced rates she had been given, which gave her a good standing amongst the merchants in town.

Charlotte moved her hand away, answering in an equally cheery voice. "Of course, who else would I go to for the food I serve my patrons? Your products are the best around Vance!"

They both knew it was a little overacted on Charlotte's part, but that just cheered up the shopkeeper more. However after that little show they both knew it was down to talking business, and even though Vance was grateful for earlier, he wouldn't allow it to affect his business, he had to make money after all.

After Charlotte had listed the items she intended to purchase, Vance quickly got to work scurrying about and collecting all the things she had asked for. It didn't take him long to do so, his small size did nothing to slow him down when he had customers of course.

As soon as the items where compiled he named his price. "Here you go, wine, salt, vinegar, bread cheese, meat, with all the usual stock you buy, and I'll even throw in a few molfruit." He began to add up in his head, taking only a moment to do so. "That will be five obsidian obols please."

To this Charlotte rested her chin on one of her hands as she thought. "Wasn't all of this four and three quarters last month?" She asked honestly vexed.

Vance had to restrain himself from sighing, for someone who ran a business like him he sometimes didn't understand how little she knew about market values, having explained it all to her a few times already.

"Well I don't suppose I can talk you down?" She said in a tone that showed how well she thought that would play out.

"No, I do need to make at least some profit or I will have to deal with my sister's wrath again." He said with a nervous chuckle, almost everyone in this town knew his sis, after all she was gargantuan compared to him, standing at seven feet tall, without standing on her back legs.

Charlotte nodded,handing over the money once he said that, Vance couldn't be sure if she remembered what he had told her about fluctuating values, or if it was just to keep hom out of trouble with his sister, either way a customer he didn't have to haggle with for hours was one he liked.

"Thanks a lot for your patronage, would you like this all delivered tomorrow?" He asked, he would wave off the delivery cost for her as he normally did at least, it was a pittance anyway and he had to go along that route every morning to get new stock himself anyway.

Charlotte nodded in answer. "Thanks, We will carry the food and fruit home now though." As she said that Vance quickly set about tying it in a surprisingly sturdy silken cloth for her to make it easy to carry, this he also wouldn't charge for, since he had a ridiculous surplus of it due to his families extensive organization of weavers.

As Charlotte reached to pick up the bag, Veritas reached past her and picked up the goods, making both Charlotte and Vance jump having almost forgot she was there. "We had best hurry back, hopefully that Firnis will not have left too much of a mess.

Vance didn't inquire into any of that, after all Veritas had just said they where going to need to hurry, so he said his goodbyes and waved them out of the door. Once they where gone however and he had begun to arrange her order he couldn't seem to shake the feeling he had heard the name Firnis before.

Description
Charlotte and Veritas left All That Remains, Veritas glancing back over her shoulder every so often as though afraid the place may burst into flames since they had left Firnis, a stranger by her standards, alone and in charge while they where out, even though he would probably just wander off after an hour of work she still worried, more for Charlotte's sake than anything else.

However Charlotte herself walked on seemingly lost in thought, not even noticing Veritas' doubt, she was too focused on her own troubles, trying to remember just when the "deal" bringing that man to this realm took place and how.

They walked in silence for a while before Veritas began to take note of Charlotte's less than enthusiastic demeanor. The moment she did her concerns for the inn where forgotten as she began instead to be concerned for her friend. "Is something amiss?" She inquired, concern clear in her voice and her expression.

Charlotte took a moment to respond, gathering her thoughts before replying honestly. "I don't know. I just cant seem to remember making any deals in my life, I mean I even get you to arrange the stock in the inn, I just follow the prices you set out so I don't get cheated, so how could I honestly ever make a deal for someones soul?"

Veritas laid a hand on Charlotte's shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sure it will come to you in time." She thoughts for a moment. "Though I could probably try and find out for you, it may take some time however."

With that Charlotte nodded, seemingly satisfied. "If its no trouble please do, I would hate to have brought someone entirely innocent to the wrong place unfairly."

Veritas nodded in agreement, however she was withholding some of her own doubts, like those blank sheets for example, for there to be blank sheets there had to have been sins that where wiped out, and she wanted to know what they where and why.

After that brief exchange they walked mostly in silence, enjoying just being in each others company as they walked along the road, occasionally greeting a friend or stranger on the same road they walked, demons mostly however there was the occasional human too. They did pass quite a few regular patrons heading to All That Remains, and despite Veritas saying they should head back, Charlotte insisted her patrons would be fine, after all most of them had worked part time for her at one point or another to help her out.

It took them just over an hour to reach the town, All That Remains was ideally situated on a crossroad between several key points in this ring, however being where it was it also happened to be situated a fair distance from the nearest town. The town in question was reasonably large, and old.

An old dilapidated wall encircled the town, it stood as if in remembrance of the time it had stood great and tall. The rest of the town was in excellent condition, but the wall itself had fallen into disuse once this ring was no longer the seat of power.

Once they had passed through what remained of the gate, they where swept up into the busy streets of, even at night the town was a hub of activity. The markets where still open at times they would be closed in the mortal realm, for the nocturnal denizens of hell.

Charlotte clung tight to Veritas as they forded their way through the throng of demons and humans, normally it was in fact quieter of the day amongst towns like this. The busier a town was at day, the less Nosferatu and such would be able to sleep. Meanwhile the same rule applied to beings of the day and the nights business.

Veritas pushed and swerved her way through the crowd, leading Charlotte along, some may have been less than pleased about being pushed aside, but someone of her standing and reputation was not someone whom even the hardiest of demons would risk offending without good reason.

After a good few minutes they stumbled into a store, a small oasis free from the hustle and bustle of the nightlife outside, revelers of the nights entertainment, and the typical customers wouldn't be heading to a store where you would buy wholesale, so they where surprised to see there was one customer before them.

It was someone Charlotte recognized well, but she held her tongue knowing the trouble she would cause with Veritas if she told her about the dealings with the large burly beast before them, who was currently quietly dealing with the proprietor while Veritas looked over products available.

The minotaur was like as portrayed in most mythology, head of a bull, torso of a man and legs again of a bull, his tail swished angrily as he turned and headed out of the door, having to duck his head slightly to slip through the door that was already eight feet in height to accommodate the larger customers who may come by, his horns leaving two marks in the wooden frame, two more amongst many.

Charlotte let out a breath of relief, the beast having not seemed to have seen her, she looked towards the gaunt face of the shopkeeper, well if a spider could look gaunt that is, all eight of his eyes seemed to be facing downwards as he sighed wearily clearly displeased.

He was one of the smaller of the proprietors of this chain of shops, still being large enough to match a human in height if he stood up on his rear legs. But his smaller size was no doubt why the minotaur had come here instead of another of the stores. He had no real distinct coloration, being just what seemed to be a large black spider, with his only really noticeable feature (aside from his size) being a brown silk scarf wrapped loosely around his neck.

She walked up to the counter and left Veritas to browse, Veritas wouldn't come over to barter, after all it was her who ensured all these traders treated Charlotte fairly. She laid a robed hand on one of his legs that was resting on the counter and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

To that he seemed to realize just how he looked, and more so he seemed to finally notice his two customers, the gaunt face being replaced by a cheerful one. "Why if it isn't my two favorite customers!" He said in a loud cheery voice, deeper than you would expect from a spider.

Veritas chuckled at that, she knew he wasn't lying completely, Charlotte was always nice to him , so she was probably his favorite customer. Veritas however was the one who bartered him down to give Charlotte a cheap price on just about anything if she wanted, so she probably wasn't. Though something that surprised most was that Charlotte rarely used the reduced rates she had been given, which gave her a good standing amongst the merchants in town.

Charlotte moved her hand away, answering in an equally cheery voice. "Of course, who else would I go to for the food I serve my patrons? Your products are the best around Vance!"

They both knew it was a little overacted on Charlotte's part, but that just cheered up the shopkeeper more. However after that little show they both knew it was down to talking business, and even though Vance was grateful for earlier, he wouldn't allow it to affect his business, he had to make money after all.

After Charlotte had listed the items she intended to purchase, Vance quickly got to work scurrying about and collecting all the things she had asked for. It didn't take him long to do so, his small size did nothing to slow him down when he had customers of course.

As soon as the items where compiled he named his price. "Here you go, wine, salt, vinegar, bread cheese, meat, with all the usual stock you buy, and I'll even throw in a few molfruit." He began to add up in his head, taking only a moment to do so. "That will be five obsidian obols please."

To this Charlotte rested her chin on one of her hands as she thought. "Wasn't all of this four and three quarters last month?" She asked honestly vexed.

Vance had to restrain himself from sighing, for someone who ran a business like him he sometimes didn't understand how little she knew about market values, having explained it all to her a few times already.

"Well I don't suppose I can talk you down?" She said in a tone that showed how well she thought that would play out.

"No, I do need to make at least some profit or I will have to deal with my sister's wrath again." He said with a nervous chuckle, almost everyone in this town knew his sis, after all she was gargantuan compared to him, standing at seven feet tall, without standing on her back legs.

Charlotte nodded,handing over the money once he said that, Vance couldn't be sure if she remembered what he had told her about fluctuating values, or if it was just to keep hom out of trouble with his sister, either way a customer he didn't have to haggle with for hours was one he liked.

"Thanks a lot for your patronage, would you like this all delivered tomorrow?" He asked, he would wave off the delivery cost for her as he normally did at least, it was a pittance anyway and he had to go along that route every morning to get new stock himself anyway.

Charlotte nodded in answer. "Thanks, We will carry the food and fruit home now though." As she said that Vance quickly set about tying it in a surprisingly sturdy silken cloth for her to make it easy to carry, this he also wouldn't charge for, since he had a ridiculous surplus of it due to his families extensive organization of weavers.

As Charlotte reached to pick up the bag, Veritas reached past her and picked up the goods, making both Charlotte and Vance jump having almost forgot she was there. "We had best hurry back, hopefully that Firnis will not have left too much of a mess.

Vance didn't inquire into any of that, after all Veritas had just said they where going to need to hurry, so he said his goodbyes and waved them out of the door. Once they where gone however and he had begun to arrange her order he couldn't seem to shake the feeling he had heard the name Firnis before.