crystal.

[runesmith]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Nadka
RECIPIENT: Everyone
NOTES: Nah

If I'm being hazed—

[ Then it's hilarious. Convincing someone to talk to a rock is a great prank. ]

—someone's gonna be sorry.

If I'm not, hello. I'm Nadka. [ Dwarfy name. Dwarfy accent, too, but with some Marcher influence distinguishing it from pure Orzammar. ] I'm here to smith your runes and... hopefully some other stuff, so there's a point to keeping me around even after everyone's swords are flaming.

Comments

[bouchonne]

Flaming swords!

[runesmith]

Ha! Neat.

[ That the crystal isn't a hazing technique. ]

And yeah, it's always flaming swords. Not that I'm judging anyone. If I had a sword, I would want it to be on fire, too.

[bouchonne]

Of course. It's so convenient. You can murder a fellow, and then cook dinner, all with the same tool.

[runesmith]

And no need to clean in between, because the blood and guts burn right off.

[bouchonne]

Disgusting point, but also quite clever. How many things can you set on fire?

[runesmith]

If you have the lyrium? All of them.

We generally don't recommend it for wood and everything, though.

[bouchonne]

And - how do you put the fire out?

[runesmith]

That'd vary. It's part of the process. How much fire, where, what starts it and what stops it. Most people only want their swords on fire when their hands on are on the grips.

[bouchonne]

Cowards. Say, could you do this with something small? Something to, say, light a cigarette with?

[runesmith]

Gross.

[ Obligatory. ]

But maybe. We squeeze them onto some pretty small daggers and everything. You could light it with a dagger.

[bouchonne]

I don't especially want a dagger. Just something I could put in my pocket.

[heirring]

At last!

How did you come to us, dear Nadka? I must have the name of the agent who has recruited you! I am honor bound to send them the most passionate series of letters I might pen.

[runesmith]

I recruited myself, but if you want to send a passionate letter to someone, my father paid for the carriage ride.

[heirring]

Then you must convey my most ardent thanks to your father and I will reserve my passions for yourself.

It is such a pleasure to receive you among our ranks! I am Miss Wysteria Poppell, of Research Division and assistant to the Seneschal. Allow me to treat you to a fine dinner this week so we might discuss your field of expertise. There are a great many projects on the table presently which I believe would benefit tremendously from your expertise. Have you made Mr. Stark's acquaintance yet?

[runesmith]

Ummm... No. To the Mr. Stark part. I just got here. Yes to dinner, and fingers crossed to the part about my expertise. What sort of projects?

[heirring]

Oh all manner of things. I have a few designs which I would like to submit to you for your thoughts once you have had a moment to settle in. I'm certain Mr. Stark is likely to as well. I will see that the two of you are introduced.

[runesmith]

Thanks. I'll be around, so... Shout at me through this rock thing whenever, I guess.

[heirring]

I most certainly will. [Shout. That much seems evident from her general enthusiasm.] And of course you are welcome to do the same, should you have any questions with respect to Riftwatch or require any assistance with your work.

[innerharbor]

Can you just, y'know... smith?

[runesmith]

In theory. I'm really good at spoons.

[innerharbor]

Huh.

Pretend I dunno what runesmithing is. Lay it out for me.

[runesmith]

All right. Well. You know what smithing is, right?

[innerharbor]

You make swords.

[runesmith]

Some of us. The only swords I've ever seen my aunt make are little ones—really little, like for toys. Swords for dolls. My dad mostly makes locks.

So we make things, and then we enchant them. That's the rune part.

[innerharbor]

Can you make 'em shoot?

[runesmith]

Shoot—what, arrow?

[innerharbor]

A sl-... [Hmm.] Little bit of metal.

[windyvoice]

Holy shit, consider me signed up for a flaming sword. That sounds badass.

[runesmith]

Maybe I'll put a waiting list on the door. And when I left, my friend Edwin—he was working on runes that would let you choose the color of the fire. That's badass.

[extortionate]

What — free?

[runesmith]

Not exactly. I'm on the payroll now. And someone has to pay for the lyrium.

[extortionate]

How much you need to do up something flashy?

[deceivingly]

I would like a flaming sword.