Walking across the plaza Micky realized that this wasn’t so much a series of workshops as a series of classrooms. Many of the workstations sat empty but those that were occupied had an experienced craftsman working on a project while a number students watched closely and took notes. Over one of the anvils a thin, wiry man was engraving thin spiraling patterns into a shovel of all things. As each line was carved into the surface of the metal it filled with a light green glow. Behind him three earnest young men copied the pattern line by line onto wax styluses.

Approaching the open kitchen belonging to the Provisioners guild Micky scanned for Tanya in the small crowd. Not seeing her he followed his nose to examine what was going on. On a small range a frying pan smoked gently, a mixture of seeds and woody herbs toasting away as a heavily muscled Duine Daimh woman broke down a creature nearly Micky’s size that resembled nothing so much as a giant ant. With each sure swing of her hammer the chisel cracked the creatures carapace into smaller sections, revealing the dark flesh within. Activating ‘Examine’ Micky looked at the now dismembered ant.

Species

Dinoponera (deceeased)

Level

?

Description

Dinoponera live in hives of up to 10,000 individuals and are known to threaten smaller settlements during expansion phases. Their flesh is prized for its tender texture.

BLEEP me dead, thought Micky, 10,000 of those things would be an absolute nightmare. Micky knew that he’d be having nightmares involving hordes of giant ants in his near future. Turing back to the demonstration Micky focused on the Duine woman as she continued her lecture, gesturing animatedly with the hammer and chisel to emphasize her points.

“Once the outer carapace has been segmented to reveal the muscle simply slice the connective tendons”, she paused here to retrieve a wickedly sharp flensing knife, “then remove the muscle in sections. It is of course best cooked fresh.” As she finished speaking she laid the glistening red black fillets into the pan, where they sizzled and began to brown.

Before Micky could become further engrossed in the demonstration he felt a hand on the small of this back. Turning in alarm at the feeling he spun to look behind him, the alarm fading as he saw Tanya, a stoneware mug in each hand.

She handed one of the mugs to Micky, who took it with a curious glance. “How did it go at the scholars guild?” She asked before taking a sip.

“Actually really well, Alisher was incredible. I gained a skill and got three abilities. Uh what is this by the way? Micky replied.

“It’s Sho-ja tea, I figured you could use a pick me up after studying for so long. Good job on the abilities. You remember what the Induction Pack said about Abilities?”

“Yeah, I can have up to twice as many Abilities as my Wisdom Stat right? My Wisdom is 9 at the moment so I can have a maximum of 18 Abilities.” Micky paused to take a sip of the tea.

“That’s right, although as you increase in levels your Wisdom will increase, which will in turn allow you to take more Abilities.”

“So what’s next Tanya?” Micky asked, going for another sip of tea only to find he had drained the mug dry.

“Enjoy that did you?” Tanya smiled happily. “I’ve found you a place to perform tonight so we can finish unlocking your Class, Copper Shot in the Business district. It’s a Watchmen’s bar so I hope you know a few dirty songs.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a couple which might just do the job” laughed Micky.

“Are there any more Skills or Abilities you want to look at while we’re here? We could swing past some of the resource gathering associations” Asked Tanya.

“I think I want to save a few of my Ability slots for my Class stuff, besides watching that Duine lady cutting up that ant thing was more than enough for me to abandon any ideas of cooking here. I’d still love to head to that Tailors on the way back to Ma Duke’s though”

“We can definitely do that next, then I’ll get back to the TRC and file some of my report.”

The tailors workshop next to Ma Dukes reminded Micky of Farrys in Wellington. Many of the published professors had shopped there and he had had to take notes for a number of research papers while one particular professor was being measured. Standing behind a workbench slicing through a panel of fabric was a young man dressed in a sharp grey suit cut tight to his shoulders.

Micky walked into the shop alone having waved goodbye to Tanya at the door. Replacing the scissors on a rack behind the bench the you man retrieved a tape measure and strode over to Micky.

“Hmmm, narrow shoulders and a slender waist, not too tall. Perhaps something double-breasted. We can definitely work with this.”

Without waiting for Micky to introduce himself or explain what he wanted the young man started measuring, running the tape across Micky’s shoulders and then down his arm. It took Micky several seconds to realize that the second tape was being held by a second set of arms set behind the first in the mans torso.

“Uh, hi. Im here to get some clothes made” stammered Micky.

“Well of course, otherwise you wouldn’t have come into a tailors, unless of course you were looking for the brothel. In which case you’re on the wrong block entirely.”

“Nope, clothes please. Definitely clothes.”

“Very good sir” said the young man stepping away from Micky and pulling a notebook from the his pocket. “What in particular are you looking for?”

“There are a couple of things I’d like made”.

After a little over an hour of throughly confusing the tailor Micky left the workshop with a promise that he could pick up the first items tomorrow morning, although the jacket would take a week longer. It hadn’t come up in the conversation, the young man hadn’t even offered his name, but Micky was pretty sure he had been a bexhobile. Apparently the four arms made them fierce combatants, there hadn’t been any of that in the workshop but he had definitely been a demon with the scissors and pins. Walking next door to Ma Dukes with a spring in his step Micky found himself looking forward to this evenings performance.

Ma Duke was sat in one of the comfortable chairs at her kitchen table when Micky walked in. She looked up with a smile as she heard him enter. “Welcome back boy, did Tanya take care of you properly this time?”

“I’m not sure what you said to her Ma, but she was like a different person. We actually got a ton done this morning."

“Tanya is a good young girl, she just gets carried away on occasion. I’m glad you were able to work together. Did you find somewhere to perform tonight?”

“Yeah, we’re going to the Cooper Shot later this evening. Tanya is going to come back around five but I’m not on stage till” Micky replied.

“Fantastic, I’ll let Opal know where to go. She finishes work around six” Ma Duke said with a wry grin.

Not knowing how to respond Micky ran a hand through his hair. “Uh thanks, I guess. I’m glad there will be at least one friendly face in the crowd.”

“Just you mind what I said about the funny business boy”

Walking up the stairs to practice for a while before the performance Micky wondered what Ma Duke and Tanya had seen that he hadn’t. She had been perfectly friendly at breakfast and he was glad she was coming along tonight, but the way those two went on made it seem like they were planning the wedding already. I may have fallen through space into a whole new world, thought Micky, but I still have exactly zero ability to read people.

Micky pulled out the Vaixell and strummed a few cautious notes before adjusting the tuning pegs slightly. Starting again he felt the calm that playing always brought him settle like a coat over his shoulders. The chords of Black Velvet Band sang out from the Vaixell as he started to sing.

Her eyes they shone like diamonds

I thought her the queen of the land

And her hair hung over her shoulders

Tied up with a black velvet band

Before the judge and the jury

Next morning I had to appear

And the judge he said to me "Young man

Your case is proven clear"

We'll give you seven years penal servitude

To be spent far away from the land

Far away from your friends and companions

Betrayed by the black velvet band