“I’m leaving” you say and dodge around the actors and head backstage. You navigate the back ways and come out on the other side of the theater. As you are wandering down the street a flash of blue catches your eye.
Backtracking, you can see a blue lantern hanging above an unimpressive door. You’re heart lifts as you dash towards it, knocking quickly.
A bland looking guardian opens it and when you show him the tattoo, invites you inside. He serves you tea and seats you at a table just in time for another surge to overtake you.
Darkness takes over your vision and the pain builds up higher than ever before, crescendo-ing into agony. You come back to yourself, shaking and sweating. You're partway sprawled on the table.
"You really cut that close," Enzul murmurs. He's holding the bracer delicately in his claws. "It's rather interesting that you would be so compatible with a second age artifact. This isn't draconic magic, you know.
“No dragon should be compatible with this type of magic at all. The fact that you are..well, that suggests some interesting research must be on-going in those high-security labs. Though, by whom I couldn't possibly begin to guess."
Finally, he looks over at you, "This will be sufficient payment for my services." Enzul tucks the bracer away, and heads towards the back room. "Take as much time as you need to finish your tea."
Two weeks later you’re back home. Life has pretty much returned to normal except that you have one more story to tell. You hear your name called by a familiar voice.
You turn to see Andraste waving at you. “There you are! We’ve been looking all over for you haven’t we, Cat?” Andraste nudges a grumpy looking Cotriona who’s glaring at you silently. Guess she's not happy with the way you ditched her.
“Anyway,” Andraste continues, “We wanted to give you your cut of the profits from the mess back in the Emporium.” She holds out a burlap cloth and doesn’t wait for you to reach out, instead shoving it at you.
The metal of bracer digs deep into your skin, the now-familiar dizziness washing over you.
“Don’t be shy, you deserve it.” Andraste says pleasantly.
Backtracking, you can see a blue lantern hanging above an unimpressive door. You’re heart lifts as you dash towards it, knocking quickly.
A bland looking guardian opens it and when you show him the tattoo, invites you inside. He serves you tea and seats you at a table just in time for another surge to overtake you.
Darkness takes over your vision and the pain builds up higher than ever before, crescendo-ing into agony. You come back to yourself, shaking and sweating. You're partway sprawled on the table.
"You really cut that close," Enzul murmurs. He's holding the bracer delicately in his claws. "It's rather interesting that you would be so compatible with a second age artifact. This isn't draconic magic, you know.
“No dragon should be compatible with this type of magic at all. The fact that you are..well, that suggests some interesting research must be on-going in those high-security labs. Though, by whom I couldn't possibly begin to guess."
Finally, he looks over at you, "This will be sufficient payment for my services." Enzul tucks the bracer away, and heads towards the back room. "Take as much time as you need to finish your tea."
Two weeks later you’re back home. Life has pretty much returned to normal except that you have one more story to tell. You hear your name called by a familiar voice.
You turn to see Andraste waving at you. “There you are! We’ve been looking all over for you haven’t we, Cat?” Andraste nudges a grumpy looking Cotriona who’s glaring at you silently. Guess she's not happy with the way you ditched her.
“Anyway,” Andraste continues, “We wanted to give you your cut of the profits from the mess back in the Emporium.” She holds out a burlap cloth and doesn’t wait for you to reach out, instead shoving it at you.
The metal of bracer digs deep into your skin, the now-familiar dizziness washing over you.
“Don’t be shy, you deserve it.” Andraste says pleasantly.