"Better." Asha knew the sexy attire was only appropriate in a role-playing game, but she was beginning to like it. She'd always chosen sexy characters to play. It certainly afforded her a lot of longing looks and double-takes in that virtual reality game. "Now to sell my loot and look for the others."
The Robes of Concealment was not listed in her Wardrobe, so she checked Magical, and found it listed under Staff of Dark Dominion. And that made her look at her Alignment of -1 Dark. She hadn't found at way to cache them, but knew a way existed. Rudolf called the staff up with a snap of the fingers.
Everything she'd won the previous day lay on the table. She tied the purse to her sword belt, after counting how much she had – 3 silver and 41 copper shekels after paying for her room and board and adding the contents of Rudolf's purse to hers. The sound of footsteps out in the hallway made her quickly pick up the rest of her stuff.
Out in the hallway, she noticed several men and women were heading for the stairs. All were dressed like they worked in shops, or performed some kind of manual labor.
Not sure why that surprises me, Asha thought as she headed down the steep stairs. They don't normally rent by the night, but by the week and month to locals. Actually, they shouldn't call this a pub, but an inn.
The common room was bustling. Residents were eating their morning meal, and a few locals had come over for breakfast as well. Tilly motioned her to an open spot at a long table, sitting her between a street sweeper and a clerk. The street sweeper had at least a little ork blood in him, and the clerk was regaling her fellows with tales of her previous night of debauchery with a pair of elven traders.
All of the patrons at the moment were mobs.
"Hello, beautiful," the street sweeper said, giving her an appreciative look over. "Where have you been all of my life?"
She wanted to reply with "Killing orks," but that might be too rude. Since she had to live in this world for the time being, it was probably best to get along with the denizens of the realm. Besides, the mobs couldn't read her name, race, and class, and Jarl had warned her about elfmaids having a promiscuous reputation.
"Out adventuring," she said.
"Looks like it," he said. He looked at her ebony staff, and then the sword riding her hip. "What are you? Some kind of battle-mage?"
Asha thought of Killum, wondering where he was at that moment. If anyone followed her into that realm, it would be him.
"Just a sorceress ready, willing, and more than capable of defending herself," Asha said, as she took her place on the long bench. "A girl can't be too careful out and about in the world."
"Rudolf tried to subjugate her last night," some guy down the table spoke up. "And she put an end to him real fast. It was great."
Everyone else looked at her with a lot more respect and speculation. From their expressions, she didn't think any of them really liked Rudolf.
Tilly placed a plate with cold cuts, cheese, and half of a baguette in front of her. A moment later Naws arrived with her mug of what they called "morning beer." Asha discovered she was a lot hungrier than she thought, devouring the cold cuts right away. The baguette, something she frequently ate in the real world, was still warm. It was also a lot crustier, and the insides rougher than she was used to. But, and it was a big but, that was the best bread she'd ever eaten. The goat cheese stank something awful, but was also delicious. Even the morning beer somehow seemed perfect.
"So, does anyone here work on Witchers Alley?"
A tall, skinny, middle-aged man at the end lifted his hand. She smiled at him, seeing him relax a little. Smiles were wonderful things.
"I'm Asha," she said. "I have a Dark Object of Power I'd like to sell." Everyone at the table looked at the Staff of Dark Dominion that leaned against the table between her and the street sweeper. "Who would you recommend I see first?"
"The only one buying Dark magic objects is Master Tyrlian," the man said. He pointed. "His shop is the one painted purple and green, about halfway down Witchers Alley in that direction."
After breakfast, Asha headed for the door with about a dozen others. She told Naws she might be back that night, but probably not, and thanked him for his hospitality. He seemed genuinely pleased. Maybe others didn't find the need to thank him often enough.
"Oh, Asha, I almost forgot," he said, waving her over to the side. "I heard some strangers stayed the night at Madam Elise's Inn down by the main gate. There was a dwarf, elf, and human woman with red hair. I don't know if they are the ones you seek."
"Thank you. I'll go check them out after I sell a few things," she said.
Asha headed down Witchers Alley. Most of the shops were already open, and the sun wasn't even up yet. She spotted the street sweeper from the pub hard at work, and at least two others from her table setting up outdoor displays. All of the shops appeared to be magically related, from magic bookshops, to clothiers specializing in enchanted garments, to shops selling talismans, etc.
One thing she noticed different than the night before. Everyone gave her a wide berth. It took a moment to realize it was the Staff of Dark Dominion. It radiated menace. And it was an outward sign that she was a spellcaster, and maybe dangerous.
"I'm still selling it," she muttered, giving it the side-eye as she stopped before a small shop, with a single floor above. The roof was wood shingles, which was so rare in town it stood out even to her. "Here it is."
The purple and green shop had a placard over the door with: Master Tyrlian's Magical Creations.
She looked in the lone window, seeing a display of small ceramic containers. Each held a swallow of potion. The potion it held was written upon each tiny jug-shaped container. She frowned, because in the previous realm the potions came in smaller, easier to carry glass vials. Those little jugs might be small, but they were a lot bulkier.
"Good morning, young sorceress," a tall, slim man in purple wizard's robes said from the doorway. He had arrow straight, long snow white hair and no facial hair. Despite the white hair, he looked to be about twenty years old. His outfit reminded Asha of that annoying, juvenile Admin. Not a good first impression, but she smiled at him. "I am Master Tyrlian. How may I serve you?"
Tyrlian. Half-elf human wizard (Lvl 56). +2 Light. PK: 4.
Questionable taste in clothes aside, Tyrlian was the most experienced, if not the most powerful, wizard Asha had met so far. That was good, since it meant his talismans and potions would be more potent, too.
"Good morning, Master Tyrlian. I am Asha," she said. She indicated the staff with her eyes. "I have something you might be interested in purchasing."
"Isn't that Rudolf's Staff of Dark Dominion?"
"It was until he attacked me," she said. "Now he's off being respawned while I'm back here selling it."
Master Tyrlian shook his head, but laughed. "That boy is too hot-headed for his own good." He winked at Asha. "This will be the third time I bought it from someone that killed him. So, he'll be back to buy it again."