2017-06-22: A Superfluous Sponsorship

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A Superfluous Sponsorship
Summary:
While conducting business in Lacour, Jacqueline Barber spots one of her stranger associates - Ethius Hesiod - taking the needless step of securing a sponsor weapon shop for the Lacour Tournament of Arms. To what end is he exactly seeking participation?
Who:
Ethius Hesiod, Jacqueline Barber
Where:
Lacour - Market District
Date: 6-22-2017
=======================================<* Lacour - Market District *>=======================================

The Lacour Market District does not rival that of the major commercial powers of Filgaia in terms of volume or value of trade, but it the class of the world in traditional weapons and protective gear. More than a hundred individual shops line the streets of the district, each bearing its own name, specialties, and branding. Almost any kind of weapon or armour can be found in Lacour, and odds are good that anything innovative will be found here first...or make its way here in short order.

The merchants of the Market District are proud and competitive, and walking down the streets is an exercise in patience, as they bombard passersby with litanies in praise of their work and curses for the rust-ridden works of their neighbours. At no time is this competition more fierce than during the Lacour Tournament of Arms; this annual exhibition to name the World's Greatest Fighter includes considerable prestige for the merchants sponsoring their entries, and talented fighters will find their services heavily sought-after.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

There's a whoooooole lotta bustle going on in Lacour, as it begins to put together its Tournament of Arms. One could go on and on about the ailing arms merchants who were banking on making bank off of sponsorship, of a great wider variety of travelers coming to take advantage of this, and all sorts of caravans who stand to make a killing off of making new connections with Adlehyde's reconstruction. It's a far more colorful crowd than what normally walks the streets this time of year. To think that not far from here, a terrible tragedy of historic proportions happened before everyone's eyes.. life has changed forever for many.

The echoes will yet be felt far and wide from the epicenter of panic and ruin, and for now, that oncoming tournament is the most dominant talking point. Case in point, a certain white-haired man who doesn't like showing the lower half of his face (among other bizarre behaviors) appears to be in conversation with one of the many endless weapon stores that dot the markets - some older overweight balding fellow with a penchant for stuttering and coughing who seems kind of worn down by life in general.

It'd be an entirely ordinary conversation going on were it not for the fact one of the people involved in it in this fine early evening is someone who, until now, has been pretty big on minimizing contact and keeping a low profile.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

As a merchant, Jacqueline couldn't ignore the goings-on in Lacour. Anyone who considered themselves a merchant would be flocking there, and Jacqueline was no exception. In a way, Jacqueline felt that an event like this was what the people needed. Something to take everyone's mind off of the tragedy that had struck Adlehyde...at least for a short time. It would also benefit her greatly and, if all went well, give her and her friends some extra traveling money...though if confronted with this, she would deny that it was her main reason for all of this.

But, of course, before she can set anything up she needs to scope out the competition. She's strolling down the street now, looking at all the stores around her, when she spots a familiar face...well, a familiar half of a face, rather.

She doesn't address him just yet. Instead, she stands off to the side, waiting for him to finish whatever business arrangement was going on here before addressing him. She had to imagine it was business - she doubted Ethius would be seen out in public like this if it weren't.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"One day... said I'd... p-participate," says the aging man, "figured that'd be... um, a lot better than just... just, selling weapons to advertise."

"Yes. I suppose it might." Ethius speaks, hands behind his back. It's unclear how invested he really seems to be with the subject matter at hand - but he must be entertaining an aging man's broken dreams for a very good reason.

"Hurt my, my right hand during the... the invasion," the aging man continues, a sigh escaping his throat, "can't hold a weapon there like... like I used to."

"The people of Adlehyde owe much to your sacrifice." Ethius continues.

"Y-Yeah, when you put it that way, but..."

"It would be my honor to represent the store of 'Old Rusty' in the upcoming Lacour Tournament of Arms."

'Old Rusty' has a reputation of being a reasonably reliable dealer of older, second-hand equipment. The refurbishing efforts are top notch, but has fallen greatly to the wayside in recent years to some of the more recent establishments pushing for the newer advances in metallurgy and engineering. This store's days might be numbered.

Why does Ethius have business with this man, anyway? He doesn't appear to fit the profile of any person that would interest him.

"Ahhh... okay. Y'don't... don't have to, but, it'd... it'd do me a solid, yeah," the aging man coughs, waving his right hand in a vague gesture, "what're you in the market for? I've, uh... I've got some good swords... clubs..."

"This one." Ethius, with a smooth flourish, picks out an older bronze-bladed spear that belongs in a museum and nowhere near anyone's modern competitive armories. "I believe it represents the values of your trade most closely, does it not?"

"Uhhhhh," the older man doesn't look too convinced, "sure? I, uh, I mean, y'know, I'd go with--"

Jay doesn't even have to open the inventory screen to compare how it is with his currently equipped weapon. This thing is a straight downgrade!

"Yes. I rather like its heft." Ethius spins the spear a few times between his hands with a skill and confidence something like this does not deserve, lunging its end into an empty space just threaded between a few other items. He's capable of wielding it, that's not a problem...

But the guy across the way's in the process of trying to sell another would-be competitor on a brand spankin' new spear! There's no way the difference in quality could escape Ethius' eye... is there?

"...O-okay, um, if you're representing me, th-then... I'll... file the paperwork... you sure you don't want to, umm--"

"I appreciate your assistance in helping me find a perfect weapon for the tournament." Ethius bows deeply in respect.

"...R-Right, okay, it's all yours, Iii... I'll look forward to you doin' my dream p-proud," the man says as he re-adjusts a truly deplorable rag of fabric that would never fool anyone into thinking it was anyone's natural hair - or hair at all - ever, as he gets on the paperwork. Thanks to the injury to his main writing hand, it's... going to take some time.

At this time, Ethius turns back towards the main street of the markets, at which point eyes fall upon--

"Ah, Miss Jay." He doesn't seem too taken aback or disturbed by seeing her there, all of a sudden. "It is exactly as it appears. I will be entering the Lacour Tournament of Arms."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline watches quietly. It was a rare opportunity to see Ethius in a different sort of situation than she was used to seeing him. She wasn't quite sure why he was here, but the meaning of his words were clear - he would be entering the Lacour Tournament of Arms. He was also representing 'Old Rusty's' store, apparently, which was...also a surprise.

That weapon...there was probably a time when a spear like that would be considered top-of-the-line, but whatever techniques that were used in its construction had long since become obsolete.

Eventually the transaction is complete, and Jacqueline smiles and waves toward him when he addresses her.

"Ethius." She greets with a nod.

"I'll admit, I didn't think that was something you'd be interested in...do you know that man?" She asks, glancing in Ol' Rusty's direction.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Knowing all she does about this man (or maybe what she doesn't), it does appear that something may not quite add up as it appears... but it is what it is, so far, as Ethius doesn't give that old spear a second look as it goes to be stashed upon his very back.

"We only met roughly ten minutes ago, Miss Jay." So says Ethius, which should be suspicious - why would this man give the owner of Old Rusty the time of day? Heck, just down the street, at least four shops down, there's a guy who got in a fancy-looking furnace that's almost unlike anything else - one would think that'd catch the Technology Hunter's eye.

Instead, this never-been with achy joints got his business. One could hear his shoulder pop even out on the street with so many other people and sounds and other distracting sensations. He has it so bad. He's probably overdue to go buy more of whatever tincture relieves his pains!!

Ethius gives a shifty glance to either side, as he reaches within his poncho.

"Tell me, Miss Jay, if I may change the subject," his voice lowers in volume, "were you ever approached about the vial I gave you that day?"

Apparently... he feels confident talking about it in the open, surrounded by the buzz and distraction of travelers from the globe over gathering to participate in the most notable fighting competition of its kind?

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Roughly ten minutes ago? Jacqueline folds her arms in front of herself and studies Ethius with a slight frown. She didn't really suspect him of lying to her...but she did find it rather strange.

"I see...well, I hope it works out for you, Ethius. There seems to be some pretty stiff competition this year." She replies.

Her attention is grabbed by Ethius suddenly looking from side to side suspiciously with a hand reaches into his poncho. His voice lowers, too. This seemed like a strange place for it...but at the same time, there were so many conversations going on at once that it'd be difficult for anyone listening in to listen to them specifically.

"No, actually...if anyone noticed it, I imagine it must've been forgotten in the ensuing chaos." She replies, shaking her head.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"I see." He withdraws something out from under there, still obscured within his hand. "Then, it would appear, independent of my own initiatives, I had severely misjudged their nature from the very beginning." Vague as his language is, it's clear as day as to who or what he's talking about. He operated under the assumption that they were dealing with a secretive sorcery cabal, and not the advance scouts of a terrifying mythological race whom were preparing for a grand scale invasion.

It also means a certain someone present when they helped bring people to safety at the Starfall Saloon did not fall for his otherwise clever trap.

"In which case... I feel it is best if I leave this in your hands." There it is - the vial of stolen blood. It is not very well-preserved, given the circumstances - probably not long before any remaining usable properties it has are lost to oxidation.

"In truth, I had hoped to get this to you immediately after the demonstration in hopes of comparing it to the sample we received that day." The bugbear horde. The weird brownish blood-liquid-whatever that never dried out under any circumstance, retaining its viscosity for who knows how long!

"I suppose the point is now moot... but if it proves of any use, by all means."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"I think we were both mistaken." Jacqueline admits with a slight shrug. She could've made some inferences of her own, but she didn't. She went along with his ideas, and in the end they were both lead astray.

And then he produces the vial. She remembered that day, when he by stealing the blood from the display in front of so many people. He must've thought there'd be enough of a distraction to succeed...but apparently not.

She takes the vial and rolls it gently in her hand as she studies it.

"I...I'll admit. When I saw you go after that jar...I was certain you'd suspected the liquid I collected to be from a similar source. When I realized that... I thought that some of what happened was my fault, for not trying to warn anyone sooner, even though I didn't know for sure..." She admits, then shakes her head.

"I'm over that now, for the most part, but...it's a terrible feeling, to believe yourself responsible for something like that."

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

To think that the idea of multiple parties seeming intent on vandalizing priceless displays might've been seen as the worst possible thing that could have happened to the Exhibition - all instead a coincidental precursor to something far, far worse...!

"I will confess, it was a snap decision. Given what may have been at stake, it was a risk I felt necessary." That's right, ruining a thousand-year-old-or-so sample of supposedly extinct biological horror creature blood was... a hunch. Would he be so composed about it had he ruined that for nothing?!

Well, in a sense, it was 'for nothing,' but even so...

"You did nothing wrong. If anything, Miss Jay, I stood at risk of endangering you." It is an apology by word, but his tone of voice is the same as it always is. "I also recognize that, by electing to travel with you, I have a responsibility to not bring unto you and your confidants undue attention. Therefore..."

He turns his head back over to where the aging man with the 'hair' is still struggling to write whatever on the badges people usually wear in which to participate in the tournament. Poor guy. His right hand really took it badly, if it's an issue to write with it any more - but he toughs it out, braces for the worst, and applies the necessary resolve to do his part.

"That is why I have entered my name in the Lacour Tournament of Arms." The... name he doesn't seem keen on giving out in casual conversation...?

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

It was a hunch, not a pre-informed decision. That...certainly helps.

"I see..." Jacqueline murmurs, her gaze falling to the ground for a moment. It was a bit surprising. She supposed she had this image of Ethius in her head as someone who only acted after thought and deliberation. Perhaps it was the way he acted that led her to think that way.

Her attention is brought up to him again when he sort-of apologizes and then explains his reasoning behind entering the tournament.

"Are you...concerned people might still be after you? After...what happened." She asks. There were any number of things that could have 'happened', but he may or may not realize she was referring specifically to the events at the Fairground, when he greatly damaged Diablo.

She glances to the side at the old man working on Ethius's entry. She...had half a mind to go over and help him, but at the same time she didn't want to seem too condescending, either...

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"There is the possibility." More than a possibility - unbeknownst to him thus far, at least one has been observing him. Other parties have yet started to mobilize to try and get to the bottom of whoever or whatever is capable of damaging Diablo the way he did. The way he states the words, he doesn't sound troubled... but outside of select circumstances, he's proven to be good at keeping almost all emotion in his voice from coming to the surface, leaving only the spoken words themselves within the natural pitch of his voice.

"I am confident there will be no lingering ambiguities to what they will see in the Tournament of Arms," Ethius so proclaims, eyes closed. A vote of confidence in his fighting abilities? Why on Filgaia would he be willing to be so open about himself before a great crowd, when he's been all about covert movement and secrecy - to the point he would straight-up execute bandits on the spot at the Sacred Grounds? "This, along with a final possibility I would prefer to explore before we move out."

...And is he really going to do it with that antique of a spear as his weapon? The guy writing the badge-pass-whatever thing seems content enough, even with his injury, at this turn of events. He gets to sponsor someone! He will live his dreams vicariously through them! (Maybe.) He'll be fine. (A less certain maybe.)

"I appreciate your support and understanding thus far, Miss Jay. I will ensure they remain well-placed for the duration of our time together."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

So, he expected it. Jacqueline nods in understanding.

"Be careful, then. It's hard to tell...exactly how many parties out there might be looking into it." Jacqueline replies. She didn't want to see him get hurt or worse, especially not for her sake. Who knew who or what might be after him? It was entirely possible those 'Gebler' individuals or the Metal Demons might have eyes on him.

"I'm glad to help, Ethius. If you need my help with anything in regards to the tournament, just let me know. I'm going to be setting up a stall somewhere, so I'll probably be in town for a while." She explains.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"Of course. I will act with all due caution." He nods his head. Unless he spontaneously decides he has to destroy a priceless artifact again, of course, by whatever trains of logic dictates this man's path in life - whatever it may be, wherever it may be. For now, it has led him to sign up for an unneded sponsorship with someone who is better for restoring display artifacts rather than producing viable weapons for the modern day.

There might be a gambling racket going on in the realm of the Guardians about the odds that this is all a lead-up to some other terrible act of unchecked historical destruction on his part, even.

"Hey, uhhh... got your badge ready, r-right... right here." The older guy waves a hand. "Better, uh, register fast, they're gonna... gonna close by sundown." That's... not long from now.

"Yes. Thank you. If you'll excuse me, Miss Jay," Ethius abruptly disengages with the same abruptness he generally does, heading on over to collect the proof of his sponsorship - a needless step in this year's competition, but nonetheless, it's certainly brightened someone's day!

"Uhh... e-excuse me, are you... Ms. Barber?" The older guy asks. "I, I don't know if, er, if you recognize me, but... do you got the, the thing, for... my knees? Friend of mine, uh, really got me with some... some purple sorcery of some kind in the knee last month--"

Jay risks going entire hours between his droning statements if she lingers nearby for much longer.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Farewell, Ethius." Jacqueline says with a nod and a wave. It was a bit surprising, that he'd jump through this hoop. From her understanding, one didn't really need a sponsor, and yet here he was.

The sponsor in question, 'Old Rusty', then addresses her. She...could tell this would probably take a long time, but at the same time she couldn't exactly run off now that he'd addressed her.

"Ah, yes, actually. I believe this is what you're asking for..." She says, walking towards him while rummaging through her bags.

Well, it would be a lot of time lost, but she was doing a favor for an old man...though was a good trade-off, right?