Solo A Coin Earned

[Moritz Craven]

1 Fall 520

Out of breath after training, Moritz stared up at the ceiling from his place lying on the floor. His combat instructor Kyra stood across the room, re stacking some wooden weapons in their proper places. She seemed none the worse for wear for their training, but then she did not spend the entire time getting smacked by fists and chunks of wood.

"So Moritz, did you bring your backpack like I said?"

Moritz responded with a heavy nod, working slowly to return his breathing to normal.

"Good. So the reason I asked you to do so is because I applied you for a scholarship. Not for our lessons, your mother pays for those. But for other things to enhance your training, or whatever else you think you would like to spend it on. Though I don't think your the irresponsible type who will go and spend it all on sweets."

A smile on her lips, Moritz slowly sat up, puzzling on his teachers expression and her words as he glanced over at her? Why was she smiling?

"A... Whats a... Scholarship?"

"Ah, a scholarship... Well its money you can be given due to need or because you met some requirement. In this case its for the promise I've seen in you. Certain people think you'll be good for the city some day, and so want to help fund that growth. They don't expect anything back directly, and don't even want it known who gave it. Otherwise you'd feel you owed them money. No, they know you will spend it wisely, to learn and grow and expand who you are, and hope that some day that will return to the city by your merits and actions. Its... Kind of like finding a sapling, long before it grows and sprouts and starts to bear fruit, and investing in it by adding fertilizer or such. Do you understand?"

Moritz sat quietly for a few moments, pondering over her words. He had met people before who had said some similar things. Who expected things of him. Who said they saw potential... And now these people wanted to help fund that potential. Her analogy also helped, giving him a more physical frame of reference to compare to.

"Ah so... How much is it? And thanks for submitting me."

A smile still on her lips, a bit unnerving coming from the intimidating woman, Kyra met Moritz eyes.

"Four hundred Kina. A... Moritz have you had money before?"

Moritz shook his head, finally having caught his breath and regaining his feet in a slow but steady motion upward.

"No. Which is a Kina?"

Letting out a sigh Kyra went over to a small box by the door. With some fumbling it opened and out came several... Things. As she spoke she held up each in turn to show to Moritz.

"These are Kina. The coinage of Lhavit. There are three kinds. A Jade Kina, which is worth roughly the same as a copper Miza. A Topaz Kina, worth roughly the same as a silver Miza. And a Kina, just a regular Kina, worth roughly the same as a Gold Miza. They increase in value by ten times as they increase. So a ten Jade Kina equals the worth of one Topaz Kina. And ten Topaz Kina are worth the same as one regular Kina. Same with copper, silver, and gold Miza. Do you understand?"

Moritz nodded, doing some simple math in his head. So if ten Jade made one topaz, and ten topaz made a Kina, then...

"So one hundred Jade makes one Kina. Ten. And ten. Yeah, I think I get it."

WC: 606

OOC Note: Money is a reward from a challenge, see link here.

[Moritz Craven]

Heading into another room Kyra came back shortly with a bag.

"Here is a hundred Kina, I'll hold onto the rest for now. Don't want you carrying too much money at once. The rest you can take home later, or I guess just leave here for now until you need it. Either way, its yours to spend. Any ideas what you will buy?"

Moritz pondered for a few moments, thinking it over. What did he need? What did he want? What could improve his skills or improve his capabilities?

He supposed he could buy lessons... But most of that was covered by the school due to his age. Tools? He did not really have any specific things he needed. Once he was decently skilled with some weapons he planned to buy some, but was not there yet...

"I... Maybe could get a pet? To be with. And... Do things? We have cat but... That's mother's. And pets can do things, right? Is there a place you know in Lhavit to buy a pet?"

Kyra smiled at Moritz, perhaps finding it a bit funny that Moritz had picked something for his first purchase that was at once semi-practical while also being... Not practical. Buying a pet was certainly not what she had been expecting though.

"Well, people buy horses to travel. Though you wouldn't really need that. I've heard of pigs that sniff out truffles. Dogs for hunting, or tracking. I don't know about a goat, besides their milk. But you being an Okomo, not so sure on that... Then there are guard dogs or other animals. Those are the most common ones I can think of that have uses. As for where to go, I know of a decent sized pet shop on Zintia, which would not be too far from your home. Same peak even. You could look there."

Moritz nodded, taking the offered coins and depositing them in his pack he had brought. He was unsure what a pet shop would look like exactly, but he had a feeling he would know it when he saw it. Or smelled it. After all, a bunch of animals packed into a building inside the city... Well it was bound to have a distinctness to it that he would see and know.

"Thanks you teacher, for the lesson and for this... I will do my best to make you proud of your effort."

As Moritz waved and went to leave Kyra smiled again, shaking her head.

"Of that I have no doubt, young Moritz, no doubt at all."

WC: 427

[Moritz Craven]

Once he left Kyra's place Mortiz headed straight for his home peak, Zintia. He had taken that route enough times that he had no trouble finding it.

After that though things got a bit more complicated, as Zintia was a decently sized place and finding one place within it was tricky. This left Moritz with the next step in his plan, asking for directions from a random person who looked like they knew where they were going.

"Excuse me. Do you know where the pet shop is? Excuse me... The pet shop... Shop for pets..." After about the fourth person he asked, Moritz finally found someone who could give him directions. A man, somewhat on the short side though still a bit taller than the youth seemed to know where it was.

"Yeah, just take that road there, turn left at the shop, then go straight for a bit. You will see it on the right."

Moritz nodded, and gave the man his thanks before heading off as directed. He found following directions was much more effective than wandering around at random.

Following the given directions Moritz trailed along while keeping his eyes open for the noted landmarks. Following the road along... Ah, there was the shop on the corner, turn left.... Follow along again and watch for the pet shop on the right... And on, and on and... And as he had thought before, Moritz smelled the place before he saw it. A strong odor of animals and things compressed into one spot. After the immediate response of wrinkling up his nose Moritz dove through the smell and continued on to find the shop itself.

It was a two level structure, otherwise in his experience typical of Lhavit. Of course he did not know much of buildings, and so in truth he supposed it could have been quite different from others. Entering he heard a bell go off, and soon was approached by a red haired woman.

"Welcome, I'm Fai Piramba, and this is Piramba's pet shop. How can I help you?"

Looking around at the various tools and things related to animals, and the sight and smells of animals, Moritz paused for a few moments before responding.

"I... I am looking for a dog."

With a small smile Fai motioned for Moritz to follow and headed towards the back of the building.

"This way, you can see the dogs back here and pick one out. Are you looking for anything in particular? And whats your name?"

This last bit was said with a soft tone, more said as a reminder of courtesy than calling him out on his rudeness. In truth Moritz simply had not considered until asked he should give his name as she had.

Meeting the woman's eyes Moritz kept his same placid expression, pondering her expression as he did with so many people.

"My name is Moritz. And... I guess I'm looking for something comfortable among a mountain. Not just a city dog."

"Ah, well I can..." Fai began to speak, only to stop as she noticed Moritz eyes. They did not sell goats but she had seen quite a few, and had even taken care of some. And so she had been surprised to find not the normal human irises, but more like... The square eyes of a goat. Squared flat spots across the eye with white around it, rather than the round iris of a human.

"... Uh... Right... I'm sure I can find what your looking for. Sounds like you want an active dog, not just a lapdog, and something good for running and climbing and going about the mountain. That narrows it down. Why don't we look this way."

It never occurred to Moritz to mention his nature, and the woman did not think to ask. Or perhaps she was thinking she would come across as rude if she did.

WC: 648

[Moritz Craven]

Following the woman into the back room, the smell rose in intensity the further in they went.

Then they were in the other room, and the volume of smell and sounds rose to a crescendo. Barks and woofs of dogs, hisses and mows of cats, and all manner of sounds from birds. Shrieks, caws, hoots. He took a deep breath through his mouth in hopes of calming himself, not wanting to use his nose for fear of another surge of smell. Then another, holding it and then slowly letting it out, then taking in another. Holding, then repeating. After a few more breaths he felt a bit calmer, and realized the sound was not quite so loud as he had first thought. Plus after a bit some of the animals calmed down, and he realized the main peak had been an immediate reaction to someone new entering and not their normal volume level.

"Lets see, what dog... A mountain dog. So you said not a city dog. What would it be doing?"

"Uh... I'm not sure. I've not had a dog before. My instructor said... Something about hunting, tracking, maybe? So that would be out in the mountain. "

Clearly thinking Fai looked around, thinking as she inspected one dog and then another.

"No, not that one. Definitely not... Maybe... Or perhaps... Well, I think there are a few that might suit your purposes. There is this one here, an Iganu dog. They are more of a tracker type, retrieving, the like. Nice calm dogs. There is also a mountain dog, they are good in the mountains but honestly they aren't hunters. Or... There is the Spicecoats, Those are good at hunting and tracking, and other things, they are really meant for colder weather. Normally that would be here but with the way seasons have been... But yeah, they are good in the mountains. Good dogs as well, good at listening to directions."

Moritz looked at each dog in turn, considering them. There was the Iganu dog. For some reason it just felt... Not weak but... Not a fighter. And even how she had described it, tracking, retrieving... The mountain dog was not what he was looking for, not even a hunting dog. On the other hand the Spicecoat. That seemed his best bet. Just looking at them they looked tough, but smart. Much like himself.

There were two of those Fai had motioned at, one that was deep red and one more of a brown hue.

"Spicecoat? Which are these ones?"

Turning to the two dogs Fai looked closer at the cage, inspecting the two.

"Ah, these are both mature dogs, ones a male and ones a female. The male is the red, the female is the cinnamon. Here, why don't you look at them closer."

With a few motions Fai opened the cage, letting the two dogs out. Both moved out as the door opened, but they did not run off and instead sat in front of the woman. Handing Moritz two small things, she motioned at the dogs who followed the objects in Moritz hand.

"Here, some treats. They love meat, that's a bit of dried meat. Why don't you ask them to sit, and then give them each one. Then you can get a closer look at them."

At the word meat Moritz froze, realizing with a bit of horror and revulsion that he was holding a bit of dead animal. The two dogs however looked up expectantly, clearly waiting for their treat.

"What... What meat is this?"

Already preoccupied with something else Fai with checking on another dog who seemed a bit off.

"What, oh the meat? I believe smoked pork. Probably a pig or boar or something similar."

WC: 623

[Moritz Craven]

Spending a few moments realizing what he was holding, Moritz looked at the dogs. They both sat patiently, waiting for their food.

And for them it was food. For him he could survive on plants, grass, things. But for a dog... Dogs ate meat. It was what they did. It was what they needed and craved. For them there was no malice, they simply did what they did. Bit quite the same as if he chose to eat meat, though it still felt weird holding what had once been a living creature.

But then, if he got a dog, he would be around more death. More dead butchered animals. More meat. That's what they ate. He supposed it did not mean he would have to eat it, but it did mean being around it. Though... If he learned to do it, make it, prepare it, himself, he could ensure it was done right. Humanely. The animals not made to suffer. Like... A single strong blow, and the animal was dead.

Letting out a sigh Moritz turned to the first dog, the red male, and said firmly "Sit". The dog sat, looking up expectantly at Moritz. Holding his palm out with one of the treats he waited, and the dog quickly moved forward and snapped up the treat. The next one was the brown cinnamon female. Like with the first he firmly said "Sit" and once the dog did he held out his hand. This dog half lapped and half snapped up the treat, quickly devouring it though the same as the first.

The first was already watching off to the side, looking at Fai. The cinnamon one though was still watching Moritz, waiting, inspecting him. Moritz held out a hand and the female dog licked it, perhaps getting up the last remnants of treat. Getting down low Moritz inspected the dog, whose head kept moving around to track him. He moved a hand to her fur, feeling the softness of the thick coat. It was a mountain dog, with a thick fur, and so like an Okomo was well versed in mountain survival by nature of her build.

He tried scratching at her head a bit, as he had seen some people do to Okomo, and the dog let its tongue fall out. When he began to move his hand away the dog moved again, brushing up against his hand. Wanting more attention.

Done with her work Fai returned, smiling as she looked down at Moritz and the dogs. "I think she likes you. She doesn't have a name, so you could give her one. But if you want a Spicecoat you could pick either."

Looking down at the dog Moritz smiled a bit.

"She will do fine. I'll take her."

Getting the other dog back into the cage Fai led Moritz and the dog out front, grabbing a few things off the shelves as she did.

"You will need some other things as well. A Kalean Spicecoat, thats thirty kina. Plus you will need a collar, that's another five kina. And a decent sized leash, another kina. Ah, and a grooming kit, thats ten kina. So a total of... forty six kina for the dog, the grooming kit, the leash, and the collar. Do you have that?"

Moritz nodded, going into his bag and counting out the new Kina he had received. Finally there was a small pile and he had counted to forty six.

"You should give her a name, if your to take her home. Any ideas?"

Moritz considered, looking at the dog. She had said the female dog was cinnamon. He supposed that was a shade of brown. Cinnamon. Cinna. Cin. Na. Mon. Namon. Naymon.

"Naymon. Her name is Naymon."

With a smile Fai headed over, showing Moritz how to put on the leash and collar for the first time. The collas was leather with some metal parts, and holes to fit a metal needle like appendage through.

"Not too tight, or you will choke her. But not too loose, or she will get off her leash. If you train her well she won't need it as much, but for now I'd say keep her on it."

With the collar on and tightened just right, checking by using a finger slipped beneath the edge, the fastened the end of the leash to the collar by a bit of metal meant for fastening on it.

Handing Moritz the grooming kit, who added to his pack and returned it to his back, Fai then handed Moritz the end of the leash.

"Congratulations! Now if you need anything else, just let me know. Supplies, grooming, healthcare, you can get it all here."

With a nod Moritz headed out, Naymon somewhat excitedly leaving the building. Moritz followed along behind, taking the dog home to show to the house and other people.

WC: 811

Purchase :

Kalean Spicecoat 30 kina
Animal grooming kit 10 kina
Leash (Medium) 1 kina
Leather collar (Large): 5 kina

total- 46 kina

[Oralie]

grade award!

...

Moritz

Skills

• Observation: 4
• Socialisation: 2
• Animal Husbandry: 1

Lores

• Kina: Appearance of each Kina denomination
• Location: Piramba’s Pet Shop
• Fai Piramba: Appearance & mannerisms
• Moritz: The horror of meat
• Kalean Spicecoat: Appearance
• Naymon: Moritz’s Kalean Spicecoat dog

Extra
-46 Kina
+ Kalean Spicecoat + dog items

Notes
Notes here.
...

Please PM me if you have any questions or concerns and don't forget to edit your grade request!