Encounter

The Rampart Culture festival, A nationwide celebration of the sand elemental and the story between her and the stone king Zeris.

The festival usually lasts 5 days to celebrate the five children they had together. 

The majority of Bahamik enjoy this festival with both friends and family. This festival, instated by the Rampart Adventurers Company, hosts a wide variety of acts, parades, and booths that sell unique and intriguing artifacts from all over Bahamik. 

It is a merchant's gold mine when it comes to profit. 

The union of all the different regions of Bahamik is truly a delightful feeling.

1 day before [Solans] descent -

[Excited chatter emanates throughout the town]

Sarah, excited, grabs the map she got from Liz out of her robe's pocket. 

Sarah: "Let's see here… Geez, this map is convoluted without her guiding me."

"But we're here." She started to herself, pointing towards the two shacks on the map west of the Denosins 

"But, wait!"

She stated remembering something important Liz gave her after accepting the quest

She fumbles further in her robe's pockets, rummaging through the random trinkets she found on her last quest.

Her robe has a certain magic imbued within it with the ability to hold more items, kinda like an inventory, without adding any external weight to the wearer. Its capacity is rather small, only around 20 pounds or so can be accommodated without any weight changes. It was the only thing that her parents left her with upon leaving her in Breskin Village.

It comes in handy.

"Aha!"

She pulls out a small folded slip from the pocket. 

"Liz gave me this right after, apparently it's some shop I should visit before the prices increase if I can spare the coin."

Vanitinova has one of the most expansive merchant networks in Bahamik. Considering it's home to the capital of both the Duchess's embassy and RAC headquarters, it's no surprise it's a hotspot for shops and merchants.

Sarah: "First, she wants me to visit a local smith who specializes in short swords, apparently the two have been acquainted since childhood," she whispers to herself

"Then visit a bakery near the center plaza… Wow, the amount of stuff on here is crazy! Liz is the best!"

"Alright… First stop, the smith. Let's go!!" She exclaimed with a fist raised high in anticipation 

[Bump]

Sarah's excitement clouded her vision and spatial awareness, so she wasn't paying attention to the people around her while she was walking. 

As she walked through the town to her smith, she bumped into a tall, hooded figure…

In a panic, she hurriedly apologized to the tall man.

"Oh! So sorry sir-"

[The surrounding air begins to freeze]

[A cold chill runs down your spine]

As she gazed up at the eyes of the man she bumped into, he gazed down upon her.

A towering man, tall and wide in stature. Two eyes pierced through the hood, obscuring his face. They were deep and blue, like an endless sea forever crashing against itself in a battle for dominance. His white beard flowed out from under his eyes, matted and full. His icy cold breath emanated from within the hood, like a frozen forest devoid of light.

As the man began to speak, the air around Sarah began to tighten.

It was getting harder to breathe.

"Hey… I-i'm sorry, I-"

He begins to reach towards her. His hands, cold and aged with time, as though they had seen an endless number of battles. A cold and calculating gaze still falling upon her.

She's frozen with fear as the hand continues toward her face.

"I-… I-… I'm very sorry to bump into you, sir!" She screams, bowing her head to dodge his hand's trajectory.

Onlookers and local passersby stare at Sarah for the sudden outburst.

The old man, startled by the sudden outburst, retracts his hand, if only a little. Yet he continues to reach, still not muttering a word.

Sarah: "Crap… was I not sincere enough!? Should I say it again?" She thinks her eyes closed tightly as she embraced the worst…

…: "T'is okay, little miss." He calmly whispers, patting his hand on the young mage's head, "I apologize for bumping into you, t'was an honest mistake." his hand rustles her soft hair in comfort

His voice was old and hazy, as though the many conversations it had spoken in were finally wearing it down. But past the demanding overtone, a soft, gentle voice can still be heard. One of kindness and compassion, as though he had lost many comrades throughout his journeys.

He begins to kneel to the same level as her. As though to further ease her discomfort. It seems he is well aware of how his mighty appearance may affect those around him

A kind soul

As their gazes meet, he pulls down his hood to reveal an old, scared face. One withered with age, but still kind and gentle. 

He smiles at Sarah as though to reassure he feels no ill will.

"You aren't hurt, are you?" He says, even more gently than before, noticing a small tear falling from her face as they look at each other.

Sarah: "No, I'm fine," still stuttering 

She begins to stand up, his hand no longer on her head. The old man now knelt below her. 

Sarah: "I'm truly sorry for bumping into you, Mr."

"It truly is fine…" He says, standing back up, "I must have not watched where I was going. Old age must have dulled the senses, I suppose."

Sarah: "Haha, no, not at all. I was just careless." She says reassuringly

Trying to get away from this uncomfortable situation, she begins to open her mouth to say goodbye.

"I hate to cut our meeting short." He says with an air of urgency, "I'm in a bit of a hurry, you see."

He pulls the gray hood over his face once again, obscuring his mysterious figure in full. 

"I hope we meet again, little mage," He says, looking in the eyes of a now confused Sarah Chatsworth.

"Yeah"

With a breath of relief and an air of urgency, she says, waving towards the old man

As Sarah turns to continue her shopping for the day and begins to walk away, she turns back to confront the man again.

"Wait! I didn't get your…name…" The mysterious man had vanished into thin air, as though that fateful encounter had never happened in the first place.

"Well, time for our first stop."

"The weapon smith!"