The arrival of Alkor

Tolroze had offered to take him to the interview, but the aged alchemist had insisted that he could find his own way once he was within sight of the tower, ranting about young people these days and...yeah, Tolroze wasn't really sorry to let him go...and so, the elderly figure made his way to the tower; Alkor was thin and lean, not quite to the point of being emaciated but pretty close, and though he wasn't really all that short his hunched way of walking made him seem so...he was dark like most of the people from Kurast, his skin looking just a bit loose on his frame, enough to make for a great quantity of wrinkles, while the top of his head was completely bald, despite the profusion of stark white hair on the back and sides that could easily be taken for a bird's nest...his somewhat bleary eyes were about the color of mud, and from the way he stared ahead of himself, it seemed his vision might not be the best...he was clad in red and orange robes that looked about as old as himself, though they were in decent condition nevertheless, while the long, gnarled staff he leaned on as he walked was polished by use, as were most of the myriad of pouches and cases strung on his belt and on bandoliers around his thin form, with what appeared to be several bottles, a few gourds, and a couple chicken bones, with a shark tooth hanging around his neck to top it all off...foreign didn't begin to describe his appearance here::

He garnered stares with every step he took. Kids pointed and giggled. Adults were not entirely sure what to do or say. However once it was decided where this fellow was going, a runner was sent ahead to warn the Duchess. Warn the guards, warn someone. Meren was in the middle of removing a rather nasty splinter and couldn't be bothered, so there would be no forewarning her of what was headed her way.

::any kids that pointed or laughed within reach of his stick would find out that the crazy old guy was a lot quicker and more spry than he looked...those skinny arms of his were surprisingly strong too, and he had good aim...still, he had more important things than whacking kids upside the head to take care of, though he certainly didn't hesitate to do so when they got in his way...on actually reaching the Tower, he'd point with his stick at the first random person he laid eyes on:: you there! i hate to waste time on you, so i'll get straight to the point...i am here to meet with Duchess Meren Anwa! ::this said so imperiously that they might very well think he was here to represent some foreign king...or maybe just be crazy...funny how often those things go together::

The poor fellow was just a delivery man and he stared open mouthed. A fair impression of a fish with issues. Thankfully a rather sassy nurse stepped out to save his day or life as he felt it might be. "Here now! Who are you? What business do you have with her Grace?"

::the fellow doing the carp impression would be subsequently ignored as he turned to the nurse:: my name is Alkor, and i am here to offer my considerable expertise to the Duchess on behalf of the young knight who does his best to keep people from bothering me...i believe you call him Baron Tolroze around here.

The rather plump woman huffed at his attitude, "Well you can come in and take a seat. Her Grace is occupied just now." steps way back to avoid any possible contact with the fellow.

very well ::he'd shuffle on inside then, making a few creaking sounds as he sat down, then removed a clay mug from one of his bandoliers and proceeded mixing things together in it::

"Now you can't be doin' that in here. We keep things clean ..for the patients" pudgy fists resting on seriously ample hips, she glowered down at him.

bah, very well! ::muttering to himself, mostly about how younger people don't appreciate anything and everything was better back in his day, he started separating components and storing them away again::

He would be left to wait a good half hour before a friendlier voice came near "Did you are least offer him refreshment? What? Oh Hell.. go get a large tea tray now." well ..maybe not friendly but the words were not aimed at him. The very expectant woman came around the corner with that air of being in charge, but smiled seeing him. "Ah..and you would be the fellow Tolroze told me about?" a debate of whether to offer a handshake in greeting was going on behind the smile.

ah, you must be Duchess Meren ::there were some more creaking noises as he stood to offer a bow, fortunately it took him less than a full minute to do so:: greetings...i am Alkor, and i hope that my considerable expertise in the brewing of potions and the crafting of alchemical solutions may be of help to you.

Her times spent with the Governor of the Isle of Lions had her worrying this fellow might also need assistance to rise. Grateful he was still spry. "Alkor..yes Tolroze speaks highly of your medical skills." dodging the subject of his bedside manner though. "come into my office and we can talk more comfortably." they both seemed to need a well padded place to rest.

very well ::he nodded, following her to her office, his stick still thudding away as he walked, his assorted tools of his trade leaving a small clattering in his wake::

No one would ever lose him. He was like a belled cat. Once seated and a tray of food and drink to share was between them, she could relax. "I hate to be blunt. Well actually no I don't.. I am a very blunt person, let me say I do not want to be rude..but..what do you know?"

i am perfectly comfortable with being blunt...and as to that, i am capable of brewing useful concoctions of all sorts...burn salves, rodent poison, antidotes for every toxin i know how to create as well as for several others not easily fabricated by mortals, to name some of my most popular sellers... ::he seemed quite proud of all that, and extricated an ancient book bound with black leather, with tarnished bronze clasps on it from amidst his robes:: care to take a gander at my grimoire?

Blinks..grimoire? Nods. "yes please. What do you have in the way of antidotes for poisons used on Elves?" An even more important need with the recent increase in Elven population.

well, admittedly, my experience with non-human races is limited, mostly to providing the warriors of Kurast with toxins to fight demons with ::he shrugged slightly:: i do not know if my antidotes would work the same on elves as they do on humans...i would suppose that most would, but i would not stake someone's life on it without testing it first ::while he might be a crazy, arrogant old man, he was honest and serious when it came to business::

They discussed demons and plants and all manner of things over an impromptu meal. She liked him. "Tell me Alkor, what of this rumor I hear about you being surly and loud?" smiling, wanting to hear his side of that story.

::that got a laugh out of the old potion brewer:: a rumor that can doubtless be traced to people who envy my superior skill, intellect, and experience...and perhaps those young people who always make such a racket outside my home.

She had to laugh and would not apologize for it. "ah, a man confident in his talents. Um..what of your own health? Hearing..sight..?" No earthly clue how old he was but she needed to know how well he could hold up. Sit up..stand up.

i can hear just fine still, which is a curse as often as a blessing as many people often feel a need to come prattle inanely at me...as for my sight, well, squinting at tiny ingredients lists and potion labels for years may have left my eyes a bit weary, but i am still quite capable of doing the reading

Meren got up and went to stand before him. Holding out her seemingly small, dainty hands. "let me see how strong your hands are"

::he held out his own hands, which were long and bony, but the fingers still flexed and bent as he directed them, without more than an occasional pop or two:: i'm no warrior, but if you need some fool clouted upside the head, i will be more than happy to help.

She gripped his hands and felt the strength behind them. "excellent. How are you for taking orders from a woman?" patting the back of his hand before returning to her seat.

::he shrugs slightly:: man, woman, those strange lizardy fellows who work for Tolroze...it makes no difference to me, so long as they are not a fool.

Meren just nodded her head on that one. "Well I am more than happy to welcome you among us sir. May I have chambers prepared for you here in the Tower..or would you prefer something else?"

oh no, that will be perfectly fine ::he glanced around her office, which was much finer than the small hut he used to occupy down by the docks in Kurast:: i could get used to this.

She chuckled, wondering what he might think of her office and chambers upstairs then. "we have an extensive garden, a room for growing plants inside as well. A fine library and if you can think of anything else you need, let me know."

thank you very much...just let me know where to put my things, and i'll begin having them moved in...apart from my equipment, i have a fair stock of ingredients left over from the move from Kurast still...which is just as well, as i've had a devilish time trying to get shark oil in this land.

Blinked. "Well..I know we have plenty of those around here. Don't suppose you have a problem meeting Royals do you?" they might enjoy this fellow.

oh not at all, i would be happy to meet them ::his dark eyes practically gleamed. Fortunately, he knew from Tolroze that the monarchs of this kingdom were a lot friendlier than the cranky, stuffy sort one would find back in Kehjistan::

Nodded and summoned that fat and fiesty nurse he already knew. Informed her of their newest member and requested the apothocarys chambers be readied at once. "We have been terribly shorthanded here of late." offered in way of apology.

::he nodded:: but of course, all the more reason that i am happy to be of service ::he gave Meren a smile that produced another creak...he'd decided he rather liked her; why, she hadn't been the least bit foolish or inane to him this whole time, always a good sign::

He had yet to see her temper in action though. Lucky man. Within the hour his new home was clean, aired and warming with a nice fire in the big hearth. "I would escort you upstairs, but" pats her tummy. "Its a bit much these days. Say...how are you with pets?" She knew a certain white cat..nah.

oh i understand, i would not make you waste time by walking up and down stairs unnecessarily...hm, pets? well, i keep snakes sometimes for their venom...apart from being quite lethal itself, it can be surprisingly useful in developing antivenoms, you know.

She shivered. Not a creature she was overly fond of. "Well we wont worry about the annoying fuzzy kind then." the beast would likely end up eaten.

very well ::he nodded, yeah he probably gets along with snakes because they're cold-blooded and poisonous...plenty of kids from Kurast would certainly describe Alkor the same way::

Meren sat a moment looking over his grimoire, very, very impressed. She was letting him broach the subject of pay, needs.

and speaking of serpents, i'm hoping you won't find it unreasonable that your Tower cover the expenses for the solutions i brew for you? i believe it will be simpler and more cost-effective for everyone involved that way, rather than me walking down to buy ingredients, then turn around to sell things to you as if this were a market stall. Not to mention, you could have someone else go do all the walking and carrying that way while i could spend my time more usefully... ::what exactly any of that had to do with serpents was incomprehensible, but still...::

She was having a hard time keeping a straight face. Making a few notes. "give me a list and it will be gathered sir. No cost to you. However...there is a small matter of your...pay" ok she asked.

::he nodded, he'd been headed that direction with his talk of cost and expenses:: considering the value of my services, i don't believe five pieces of gold for a day's work would be unreasonable...of course, i would be happy to accept it in equal value in silver, copper, or whatever else you use for money in these lands as well, and making it weekly or monthly or whatever you run on would be fine.

Five gold a day? steep. She did some math, "hm.. chambers, meals..personal supplies." mentally thnking..baths. "with our current rate of exchange...I think for starters..ten silver a week?" wondering if he would dicker.

::but of course, that's how one gets things done when one lives along the docks of a major port city...the fact that he no longer lived there was completely irrelevant, of course:: well, that's still not terribly unreasonable...but i think twenty silver a week would be more reasonable still.

"And what other expenses do you have?" Leveling her gaze on his.

is it so wrong for an old man to want his comforts? i brew more than just potions and toxins, and i doubt you would be willing to write such things off as expenses for your healing program... ::yep, he's a realist, at least in matters that don't directly concern his ego::

Meren liked him more and more. Lucius would get a kick out of meeting him. "Comforts eh? Well..if it is of the female kind, I will let my chief assistant tell you where to find that. How about fifteen silver, room, board and we have this meeting again in a month, see how things are progressing?"

very well ::he chuckled over that whole female bit, not saying a word, let her go ahead and wonder:: i think that sounds like a fine arrangement.

Meren stands up again and hands him back his most important book. ""I will let Hannah show you to your chambers and if you need anything, let me know." this time she did offer a hand to seal the deal.

::he took her hand, giving a firm but not too hard shake:: oh don't worry, i shall...i believe it will be a pleasure working with you.

"I look forward to it" Not sure her staff will, but hey, it was either him, or her. Their choice.

::indeed, Alkor wasn't worried about conveniencing other people, as would doubtless show during the process of him moving in::