Location The Velvet Ear

[Inari Lorak]

The Shop Located on Oath Island, The Velvet Ear is a pleasant little shop with a green door, clean windows, and a touch of quirky. It is well lit inside so that customers and students alike may see each and every detail of the wood carvings within. Finely crafted shelves line the walls, displaying various goods, artworks, and other sundries. The overall ambience of the store is one of warmth and cheer, as well as open-mindedness and creativity. Pina, the main clerk of the shop, is usually running about finishing errands and helping maintain the store. Sometimes she wears her sheep costume during the day, but she is almost always easy to spot due to her small stature. Although she may seem shy, feel free to ask her any questions! She is a dedicated employee and extremely knowledgeable in all things concerning the shop. The Workspace Near the back of the shop is a small space dedicated to various tables, tools, and supplies for people to work on their carvings. For a small fee, virtually anyone can come and try their hand at the art of wood carving, work on a personal project, or even take lessons from Inari Lorak herself. The multitude of shelves and displays hide most of this back portion from plain view, giving people enough privacy to work without fear of prying eyes, but also allowing other customers to, with permission, appreciate the process without actually participating. It is a little haven of sorts, but one of focus of dedication. Compliments are warmly accepted, but it's best not to disturb these hard working, aspiring artists! The Courtyard A door in the back of the shop opens to a picturesque little courtyard. Be it sunny, gloomy, rainy, or starry, the weather always seems a perfect backdrop to this lovely space. It is an ideal spot for a group of friends to catch some sun together on a bright afternoon, or business partners to engage in a casual yet private chat, or perhaps even strangers to find a safe haven to meet in. Need a place to take a lunch break between work sessions, lessons, or shopping with friends? Have to put your kid somewhere so she or he can vent some excess energy? Gotta take a breather or find some inspiration from mother nature herself? Worry not, this is the place to be. The courtyard is free to all who need it, so sharing is important, as well as courteousness and consideration. The Little Big Stage Why is it called The Little Big Stage? Well, because it may be physically small, but get the fireplace roaring and add a good dash of imagination and the space suddenly transforms into a realm of mystery and excitement! There is no actual stage as it is located in the spare storage room behind the shop. However, once seats are properly arranged and a clearing is made on the carpet, something magical takes place in the atmosphere. Once every fortnight when midnight strikes, Inari and Pina emerge in their whimsical disguises and open the performance with a riveting tale. The merry fire crackles in the background, partially illuminating their faces, and the audience is transported to somewhere far away.   NPCs Name: Pina Race: Human DoB: Fall 22, 502 AV PoB: Kanesh Title: Personal Slave/Clerk Skills: Observation 10, Wood Carving 10, Storytelling 5, Reading & Writing 5 Gnosis: none Additional Info: Born as a slave to the Lorak Dynasty, Pina was practically mute when she first became Inari's personal servant. She was rescued by her future master from a horrible situation and now idolizes Inari as if she were the moon and stars themselves. Under the fond and uninhibited care of her mistress, Pina has defied the odds of slavehood and is growing to become a bright young lady. She covets her master's tastes as the finest one could possibly possess and follows eagerly in the young Lorak's footsteps. She has even taken to Inari's rather whimsical and strange interests and dons a sheep costume to match her mistress's white-haired disguise. Together, they host their midnight performances, as well as embark on the occasional adventure in the less wealthy parts of town.   Goods Small decorative carvings - 5 gm Medium decorative carvings - 10 gm Large decorative carvings - 20 gm Woodcarving Toolkits - 50gm Children's Toys - 5 gm (small) or 10 gm (large) Embellished Combs - 6 gm Embellished Frames - 15 gm   Services Repair work for broken carvings - 5 gm + 2 gm/hour Custom orders - 30 gm+ Misc Art Dealership - varies Weekly Midnight Performance* - 5 gm *Note: Anyone is eligible to join this performance, so long as you inform Inari first and choose a time slot. Each midnight session is roughly 1.5 bells long and is meant to encourage people to share their work and express their thoughts/feelings. There is no audition required, but you must confirm a time, date, and general summary of your piece. Certain nights may be harder to enter, but it helps if Inari likes you. The first performance was on Fall 1, 513AV.   Instruction Carving Class Customers are welcome to use the wood shop workspace for a small fee, and such fees may be waivered upon the sole discretion of the store owner depending on one's circumstances. Private lessons are also available to any who are interested and may be scheduled personally with Inari. These lessons are for building a proper foundation and range from beginner to intermediate. -2 gm/hour fee to use workspace -10 gm/hour for personal instruction