Solo Finding a Gift

[Lacerta]

49th, Summer, 513AV, Noon As Mathias had instructed, Lacerta had set off to find her sacrifice to Laviku. Though for short trips she sometimes gave music, she always tried to put some effort into finding something for longer journeys. She hadn’t really needed the reminder, having done this for many years on end, she realized that many of the others were non-sailors, and so had no experience of the kind. They might have set off to sea without a second thought, and ended up causing a disaster… Today she wandered through the markets, gazing at the various wares. She was looking for something appropriate… something that looked nice, and was hopefully practical. And if possible, music-themed. She loved music and songs, and always tried to put something of that into her gifts. So, what she hoped to find now, was maybe some kind of instrument. She wanted something… pretty, and slightly exotic, but not too bulky or incredibly expensive. For example, a harp wouldn’t do. Maybe a well done, and decorated flute, or a violin. She hadn’t quite decided yet, but was first looking for a vendor who supplied such things. At the moment… there was nothing. She paused at a stall that sold embroidered silk scarves, run by a young Konti. Well… since all Konti always looked young, it really didn’t say anything about her age. Lacerta ran her fingers through a few of the wares, feeling the soft texture and embroidery, but not really taking it to her liking. She was also didn’t like some of the prices… As amazing as they were, the scarves were slightly overpriced. One did catch her eye, a light blue one, with notes embroidered in black all over. She was tempted to buy it, maybe for herself… but she didn’t really need a scarf. Especially where they were going… it would probably get ruined in days. The Eth simply shook her head and turned away, eyes returning to their constant scan of the stalls. She spotted an Akalak selling wooden carvings, and saw a wooden flute among his wares. Glad that she had finally found an instrument, she moved over to investigate. Most of the items on display were shapes of animals, or more practical items, like decorated bowls. She ignored them, focusing on the flute at hand. She lifted it, carefully inspecting the item. It was slightly rough, and though the Akalak maker was a skilled carver, shown by his other wares, it didn’t seem the best. It seemed to her more like an attempt at an instrument, as if it was something he’d never tried before. She didn’t blame him for this, but though he could have put a little bit more effort into it. Even the parts that were easily reflected in other shapes were not as well done, with the round shape slightly bumpy at parts, whereas a wooden spoon with an even thinner handle was perfectly smooth. She frowned at this, and wondered what to do about it. ”May I try it?” she asked, and when given a slightly confused look, ”To test the sound.” The blue man nodded once, and watched intently, as if curious to see how well he’d done at the job. Lacerta positioned her mouth at the edge and blew once, a long note that should have been steady. Since the interior was apparently even worse than the exterior, it wasn’t and the sound warbled up and down. It could have been her playing skills, but since she could do this easily on her own instrument… The Ethaefal shook her head, setting down the flute, before turning away. Behind her, the shopkeeper looked slightly disappointed, but brightened up when another potential shopper arrived. It took nearly half a bell of searching, but finally she found it: an instrument seller. She beelined straight for the stall, dodging a few afternoon shoppers as she moved. Within moments she was standing before the deep purple Akalak, inspecting his wares. This one was obviously a skilled instrument maker, as he carried a large variety of things. A harp sat discretely in the back, tall and pale, with nearly fifty strings, from what she could see. A group of fiddles hung on a rack, each one different, with great attention put in. A collection of metal and wood flutes sat in one corner, all five times better than that of the woodcarvers. Several drums were grouped together, but one kind of instrument caught her eye. Near the middle was a basket of ocarinas, something she didn’t see so often, but what the man obviously had quite a few of. Inside the instruments were made of a large variety of materials, in a huge number of shapes. She spotted a long, bulbous one, carved out of what seemed to be… a squash. Another was made out of a shiny metal, with an identical companion made out of something dull. Most of them were made out of wood, from simple ovals to one magnificently decorated sphere. While she searched through the basket, one ocarina in particular caught her eye. It was the only one of its kind: a slightly triangular one, made out of glass. The glass itself was a milky white, basic, but was covered with strips and swirls of other colors, mostly blue and green. It had several holes scattered around, with a single, large, mouthpiece at the top. She carefully lifted it out of the container and gave it a better look. As she did so, the shopkeeper said with a smile ”You can try it if you like, just be careful.” The Eth nodded absently in reply, before putting her lips to the indicated spot. She’d never tried one of these before, but was curious, and interested. It probably wasn’t so different from a flute, right? She checked her fingers covered none of the holes, before blowing in. It took her a few moments to adjust her breath, but finally she got a note out. It was pure and crisp, poking through the general noise of the market like a needle. She raised her eyebrows and lowered it, letting the sound stop. ”It’s beautiful” she stated simple, giving the shopkeeper an appreciative look. It was perfect as a gift for Laviku… as long as it wasn’t too expensive. Even the colors fitted those of the ocean, and somehow the sound reminded her of the sea. ”How much?” she asked the Akalak, watching him, and hoping for the best. ”Ten gold mizas” was the reply, and she relaxed, though not visibly. The Eth nodded simply, before handing him the money. As a courtesy, the man wrapped it in cloth, explaining that, because of the glass, it was fragile, and prone to breaking. Lacerta accepted this easily, since it was quite logical, before setting off on the next part of her journey. Common Fravata Arumenic Someone else

[Magpie]

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Lacerta :

XP:
Observation +1
Musical Instrument: Flute +1
Musical Instrument: Ocarina +1

Lores:
Finding a Journey-Appropriate Tribute for Laviku
Silk Not a Good Option for the Jungle
Identifying a Poorly Carved Instrument
Test Before you Buy
Getting the Right Note from an Ocarina

Ledger:
-10gm
+1 Glass Ocarina

Notes :

A cute little post, though there wasn't much I could award since there was only one post. I'm sure Laviku will be pleased!

If you have any questions or concerns about what was awarded, please don't hesitate to PM me.
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