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- You should air it out, you sicko... - Karlsson adopted an uncharacteristic role of an ascetic, trying to be content with little and not overdo it with breathing within the walls of this shack.
Irritably swatting away the annoying smoke with his palm, which was invading every orifice on his face, he slammed his fist against his palm.
- I'm always ready to bash in a couple of dozen heads. Where is this university of yours? - He paused for a few seconds. - And what did you need to take from that rabble? In general, tell me everything. And how much are you paying? Then I'll decide.
During the conversation, a stout man in rich clothes asks him: -- You tell it so smoothly. But tell me this: one person struggled with hunger and died. Another decided to fight the thirst for money, lost his business, his property, and his good name, and it all went to some scoundrel who doesn't even believe in gods. So, where is your good in that? If you live like that, half will go bankrupt, the other half will rest, and the one who wants money, food, and to sleep with a woman will win. And he wants it and gets it.
- You're not listening! The Almighty grants blessings, but in return, he demands moderation from us! Whoever falls into the extreme of gluttony or the extreme of self-destruction walks the path of evil and loses his soul! Author
A young man, about twenty years old, neatly groomed and dressed in simple clothes but with a dagger, asks: -- I think I didn't understand the most important thing from your speech. What is virtue: not having desires, or suppressing desires? If you don't have them, then there is no virtue in deeds – even stones don't have desires. And if there is a desire, then, according to you, the soul is already corrupted, and there is no salvation?
- You're wrong, young man! Suppressing desires is the path of cowards! Cowardice is not a virtue! A truly faithful person is capable of controlling all base desires and redirecting their power to good deeds! That is salvation! Author
-- Yes, there is enough in the hearts, but there is definitely not enough in the stomach... Sir, could you spare some bread? -- one of the beggars asked, and the other supported him. -- Yes, you save people, so what about us? Are we not people?
- He who does not work does not eat! Give your labor to the Almighty, and he will reward you with food!
Did they give me any small change there?
Небо – мольбы не ждёт Небо – угроз не слышит Небо – ведёт особый счёт Небо – тебя найдёт
-- Science is superior to ventilation, ahem! And the university... But, looking at the guest's displeased face and physique, the alchemist still opened the shutters, albeit covering them with a cloth. -- So, here's the deal. Tests, ahem. There's a potion of great vigor. Drink it, and you won't sleep for three days, according to my calculations; you'll immediately become flexible, agile, and sharp-eyed. It didn't work out very well last time, but I've adjusted the formula... There's also a potion of sweet dreams. The opposite – you'll immediately lose consciousness and dream of flying in a figure-eight and seducing fairies in the realm of Svidur or whoever you have there. The only condition is that I'll lock you in the basement until it wears off, and then you'll tell me about it, ahem. Ten silver coins for the first test, fifteen for the second. Aha, there's also one with a long-lasting effect – it will make you even stronger than you are now. Ten silver coins. I also have liquid fire. It comes in different forms – you can shoot it, throw it, or adapt it to something like a siphon – ask the blacksmiths about that. Test it on the plants outside the city, and on something, ahem, alive... I'd also test it on some shack in the slums or a village, heh-heh. No one will miss it, I swear by all the gods. I'd rather go with you on that one. Twenty coins for the complete test. Ahem. Regarding the book... oh, I'm afraid that even if you come in, ahem, presentable condition, you won't be able to negotiate with those highbrow simpletons. But maybe you'll get lucky and find it somewhere else. "On the Transformations of Liquids: Heat and Cold as Part of a Whole" – that's what I need. Or, ahem, the opposite... It's a work by Turanian alchemists. I'll pay thirty-five silver coins if you bring it. I won't cover expenses. As for the gang... the moneylender won't give me any more loans, and research requires money, ahem. So, I made a deal with the criminals, and they're getting more and more brazen. Not only did they lend me a third of the amount, but they're demanding that I make poisons for them, distill alcohol, and make a bomb. They sense that I have nothing to give them. I had to sell my old house just to pay off half of it. And soon I'll have to pay off the other half. Ahem-ahem. Last time, they beat me half to death and took almost everything I had here. At least they didn't take all the money – I lied and said that if I didn't buy sulfur and saltpeter, I wouldn't be able to make anything else, ahem. In short, get rid of them for me, and I'll pay you ten gold coins. Otherwise, I have a feeling that I'll have to conduct my research in a bandit's dungeon.
Noted: Merchant Quarter – moneylender University Quarter – university
Added 8 minutes ago Author
- Listen, but you don't hear! The Almighty grants blessings, but in return, He requires moderation from us! Whoever indulges in the extreme of gluttony or the extreme of self-destruction treads the path of evil and loses their soul!
-- But what are these blessings? I see money – and I see that it can be exchanged for any blessing. But what does your blessing exchange for?Author
- Wrong, young man! Suppressing desires is the path of cowards! Cowardice is not a blessing! A truly devout person is capable of controlling all base desires and redirecting their power to good deeds! That is salvation!
-- I don't understand you at all. Now you're saying that the main thing is good deeds. Is salvation in the soul or in the deed?Author
- He who does not work, neither shall he eat! Give your labor to the Almighty, and He will reward you with food!
-- But my arm is broken, and my legs are crooked. -- the first replies. -- How can I work now? -- He simply succumbed to greed, -- says the second and goes to beg in the street. Author
-- But what are the benefits? I see money, and I see that it can be exchanged for any benefit. Can your benefit be exchanged for anything?
- Your ability to earn money is a blessing from the Almighty! And if you continue to mismanage this blessing, you will inevitably follow the path of evil to the very end...Author
-- I don't understand you at all. Now you're saying that the most important thing is good deeds. Is salvation in the soul or in the deed?
- My son, your deeds are your soul, and your soul is your deeds!Author
-- But my arm is broken, and my legs are crooked, -- the first one replies. -- How can I work now? -- He simply succumbed to greed, -- says the second one and goes to beg in the street.
- You can hold a tool with one hand, - Unus said to the first, and then replied to the second. - We are all sinners to some extent. May the Almighty grant us the strength to fight sin and forgive our cowardice...
After these words, the paladin looked up at the sky and raised his hands to it.
Небо – мольбы не ждёт Небо – угроз не слышит Небо – ведёт особый счёт Небо – тебя найдёт
The Warrior listened to the scholar's chatter, deeply furrowing his brow and lost in thought, and stood there for some time after the conversation ended.
- Oh! - he finally said, snapping his fingers. - I've got it. We can do everything at once. Grab a drink, visit your friends, trash the place, and burn it down. How about that? But... there's some tournament coming up. I need to be there and in shape. If your stuff doesn't let me do that... - Krait frowned and fixed the alchemist with a heavy, intense gaze, his bushy eyebrows emphasizing his aggressive intent.
Slipping into the shadows, the invisible elf-human-goblin waits for the landscape outside the window to clear, opens the last one, and, securing himself on the roof, closes it with his foot. Well then, now it was time to look around and experience the nightlife of Tirren. > Stealth go random, priority on quarters that look disadvantaged. Interested in various criminal elements and what they're talking about, but if none are found, then just various "news" city chatter.
Duncaniel has to begin his nightly adventures in the Artisans' Quarter—the center and the merchants' quarter certainly won't suit him, the Eastern is swarming with guards, and others are still unknown to him. The Artisans' Quarter does not impress with the variety of its life during the day, and at night, when all honest citizens are asleep, it seems almost dead. No tavern or brothel can be found here, and the silence is broken only by the barking of dogs. Incidentally, the dogs scent Duncaniel and bark fiercely as soon as he approaches. The first notable encounter is three men, all drunk, but two are still on their feet, while the third has completely given out and is being dragged by the arms. Finally, the half-dead man is dunked face-first into a tub standing in the street, and his companions, tired of dragging the carcass, try to bring him to his senses: — Get up! Get up, Stefan! — Screw off! — Get up, damn it, if you fall asleep in the street, the dogs will gnaw your snout and the pigs will bite off your dick! — Well, screw them... and screw you. — Every f***ing time we drink at "The Dragon's Throat," Stefan drinks himself to death... — But it's more fun there than with the coppers at "The Drunken Boars." — F*** that kind of fun. All sorts of scum, worse than in the port. Come on, grab him by the legs and drag him.
The second time, Duncaniel catches two women around thirty in conversation—one apparently went to borrow something from a neighbor, but due to her nature, she couldn't limit herself to the errand and stopped to gossip. Besides badmouthing their husbands, they discussed some visiting fanatical fool, the execution of Bald Andreas tomorrow, and the upcoming holiday. And, of course, the increased taxes. Reaching the end of the quarter, Duncaniel faces a choice—to head to the Southern or the Port quarter.
Noted: Eastern Quarter — "The Drunken Boars" ??? — "The Dragon's Throat"
Added after 12 minutes Author
- Your ability to earn money is a blessing granted by the All-Holder! And if you continue to dispose of this blessing poorly, you will inevitably walk the path of evil to the very end...
— Yeah. Heavy. And how should I dispose of it correctly—build a Temple? You'd better find yourself a proper job, preacher, — the fat man leaves the square, as do almost all, except for that youth and a few of the idlest old women.Author
- My son, your deeds are your soul, and your soul is your deeds!
— Hmm... Yes, that seems consistent. An action directed at an object reflects upon the subject... Well, maybe I'll drop in to listen next time. Not too much stupider than how our professors at the university think, after all. Noted: University
Added after 9 minutes Author
The warrior listened to the scholar's chatter, frowning deeply and lost in thought, and stood that way for some time after the conversation ended. - Oh! - he finally uttered, snapping his fingers. - I've got it. I can do everything at once. Grab the drink, visit your friends, smash everything there and burn it down. Huh? Only this... there's some kind of Tournaments coming up soon. I must attend and be in shape. If your swill doesn't allow that... - Kreit scowled and drilled a heavy gaze, emphasized by his attacking heavy brow-ridges, into the alchemist.
— Uh, take it easy, — the alchemist took a step back. — Listen... *cough-cough*... if it were completely safe, I'd test it on myself, but my health isn't what it used to be. I don't pay this kind of money for nothing—the preparations are experimental. I can guarantee you won't die. Well, almost guarantee—there are... some slightly poisonous things mixed in, but the dose is very small, only a child would kick the bucket. And if the side effects hit—well, you can bleed yourself, or ask our healer for help. Cough-cough-anyway... I definitely wouldn't drink more than one at a time. And I definitely wouldn't charge into battle immediately after an untested potion, kheh. If the test is successful, I'll give you each a bottle. I haven't tested the fire one either. I only know that it ignites from the first spark, but as for in battle—we'll have to see.
Noted: City Center — healer's house
Added after 2 minutes I'll need to make a separate post with the notes before I start getting confused myself. But definitely not today.
Insider information and, in general, an element of randomness... But to avoid having to go back and forth a hundred times, I'll spoil what everyone will soon find out anyway – the tournament is not in this phase. Maybe not even in this act.
-- Ugh-ms, -- Ruven was offered some kind of paper with writing on it, but, faced with a wall of incomprehension, the innkeeper nodded understandingly and began to monotonously list: light beer -- three coppers, dark beer -- five coppers, strong ale also five, mead -- seven coppers, Fendarian red wine -- one silver and five coppers, Divef red or white wine -- two silvers, Turan elite red wine -- seven silvers. That's for drinking. Green soup -- three coppers, beef soup -- five coppers, roasted chicken -- five coppers, game -- one silver and five coppers, pies with offal and herbs -- four coppers each. If with friends -- you can slaughter a pig and do many other things. Accommodation is four silvers per day, if for a week -- only 20 silvers.
Having listened to the menu, Ruven noted that even foreign wine was served here. You won't find that in every tavern. It's a bit expensive, though, not for ordinary people... And the rich selection of food also pleased him; he wouldn't have to snack on moldy bread here.
Ordering a dark beer and roasted chicken for himself, he found a free place and began to eat leisurely, intending to stay here until noon.
After noon...
Gathering his thoughts, Ruven got up from the bench. The crowd was dispersing, and it was time for him to go too.
Passing by a small group of listeners to a preacher, who was loudly speaking about human vices and the blessings of the Almighty, he glanced at the speaker for a moment, as if considering whether to stop and listen.
But saving his soul could wait, and now was the time to learn more about the tournament and the citadel. So, without lingering any longer, he left the square and headed there.
/If I have to change my image again, I'll probably call myself Stefan./ Duncaniël, though he kept a close watch, was increasingly disgusted by the city. It's not that there weren't any drunkards in his village, but, as they say, habit is second nature. You eventually stop paying attention to them, and you might even say a few words to them... But here, it's all new. Well, at least he heard some rumors now. And that execution... A pathetic sight, truly fitting for the short-ears. Knud thought for a moment, and wondered if it would be interesting to save this man, despite everything... But no, he probably won't get involved in this mess; he has more important things to worry about. A visiting, fanatical fool? If it's about some Ardorian, he needs to be careful. For now, only dogs are his opponents in the shadows, but those... those are dangerous...Author
Having reached the end of the block, Duncaniël faces a choice: go to the Southern or the Port Quarter.
/If no one has been to the Southern Quarter, then go there. Otherwise, go to the Port Quarter./
- You're a shady character, - Krait clicked his tongue and waved his hand. - Fine, bring your concoction here. I've handled worse. But be careful! If you poison me, you'll still be in debt. And then I'll curse you! let's go for strength
Unus was pleased with how the sermon went. Peeking inside his helmet and seeing only a rotten tomato, the paladin shook it out and smiled slightly. He found it amusing that those hooligans managed to hit him with a vegetable. In the herald's speech, he heard some interesting information. Since he didn't receive any alms from the residents, he decided to go to the blacksmith's workshop and ask if he could work as an apprentice. He also decided to come to the execution tomorrow and pray for the salvation of the soul of someone named Andres. The paladin was also interested in the information about the monster and the tournament. But in the first case, it is unlikely that he can handle it alone, and he didn't know what kind of creature "Naker" is.
I'm going to the blacksmith's workshop to inquire about a job. Lok, maybe we can team up sometime and go to the monster together? I think it's better not to go alone. Maybe someone else will join us.
Небо – мольбы не ждёт Небо – угроз не слышит Небо – ведёт особый счёт Небо – тебя найдёт
Maybe we'll go, if I survive after drinking this potion. We can test out the napalm at the same time.
But it's not a given that the mob is that strong.
True, I'm a berserker, so we'll need to be careful.
If no one has been to the Southern Quarter, then go there. Otherwise, head to the Port Quarter.
In what is unofficially called the Southern Quarter, and officially should be the territory of the Craftsmen's Quarter and the Port Quarter, Dunkaniël finally finds the slums he has been looking for. The streets become even narrower, dirtier, and more winding, and the number of people on them increases, and they are quite diverse. Some, as expected, sleep at night on the ground, covered with cloaks, and sometimes argue over a good spot under the awnings. Others sit around small campfires, eating simple food. They throw everything into a large pot – from rotten vegetables to unlucky dogs and cats. Still others are quite lively, walking deeper into the district or towards the port. Almost immediately, Dunkaniël comes across a local attraction – an entertainment establishment, apparently the "Dragon's Maw." But considering that even if the door doesn't give it away, he will most likely encounter someone from the crowd of revelers – is it worth going in?
Happy Life
Граф Орлов
