Glade 2 4622¤
It was a strange trip to Arlain. At some point Joop pointed out a scar on Moop's forehead which neither of them had noticed before. On top of her pony while riding Moop was picking up and throwing rocks using impel idly, minding her own business when the observation was made. Curious, she ran her mechanical fingers across the spot on her face Joop pointed to, low and behold there was the mark. Moop blinked but shrugged explaining in Kaedic,
"It should go away eventually, right?"
During her time in the Wastelands she had also been using her mentalism abilities much more. Essentially body building for the mind, Moop practiced in secret lifting objects and tossing them as her mother had instructed her not that long ago. Without the guidance and instruction of her mother, however, Moop had no idea that a mutation was forming. She tossed another rock and laughed, a quiet strange giggle. She wasn't sure where the giggle came from and cleared her throat afterwards, Joop looking at her with a raised eyebrow wondering aloud,
"What was that?"
Moop played it off telling her sister,
"Just looking in your direction for too long."
Causing Joop to crack the reigns and send the pony and wagon further forward. Moop threw another rock, then snapped the reigns and tried to catch up too.
~~~
Now they found themselves on the boat in Arlain down the river headed towards Boghadar. It would seem Joop was deadset on heading back to Dagrun to get better copies of the maps, Moop felt like she was being a slave driver. She tried to explain in vain that it would take some time to map it all but they would eventually find a welcoming city or some decent scholars who would be interested in their quest. Joop wasn't so sure, the Badland people were kind enough to them when they wanted something, Joop said, but what about when the girls had acclimated to their party? She pointed out they were rough with each other and looked so dirty all the time, telling them stories about the Entente of Daravin and how they were worse than any Badlander Moop or Joop could find. They described them as untrustworthy and dishonorable people. Moop shrugged, saying all underclass people look up towards their betters with fear and pointed out that is why they did away with classes in Dagrun.
In truth, Moop was shameful and angry that she had to make the trek back to her homeland with nothing useful. It was like coming home with her tail between her legs. How long had it been? A year? Less? Time bled together but she was sure of one thing, no matter what she would NOT be going back to Dagrun without something to show for. She had a plan.
~~~
Gulls raced around the port as the sun came over the horizon, it was early morning. Arriving on off the boat into Boghadar was like coming into another world and they were severely underdressed. Everyone here was beautiful and lavish, Moop was terribly jealous. She wanted to rush up to the first person and ask what fine fabrics they were wearing, but that would be tactless and immature. No, these people seemed esteemed and cultured, it would not do to talk to someone uninvited. But what should this mean for her plan? They wandered the streets heading inward, hoping to stumble upon a market to find a cartographer. The duo and their ponies garnered a lot of attention traversing the streets, the obvious eyes settled on their forms made Moop uncomfortable, but she kept her head held high.
It was when she was ready to finally say something that the market opened up to her. This was her moment, they led the ponies to the station and left them there tied up with the wagon, hoping this area was civilized enough that their goods would be safe. She threw on her gloves to hide her mechanical hands but other than that none of her body save for neck and head was exposed to the air. The same could be said of Joop, both women wore tiny adventuring suits consisting of a long pants, a waist coat, and a jacket of the same make. Moop was wearing browns and creams while Joop was in grey and black. They found their way to the shop, its sign was in a Gentrevese, a language neither understood, but the scrolls and maps in the display in the window made it obvious they were where they needed to be. Joop spoke in common to the teller first, her accent thick.
"And do you happen to have a map to Dagrun."
The time was now! Moop interjected her twin sister,
"We are on a mission to find other gnome settlements in Daravin, any maps you would have regarding Daravin's country would also be a great boon to me."
Joop studied her sister for a moment before agreeing,
"Yes, that too please. My sister is a cartographer as well and has all the supplies she needs to copy the maps, if you will abide us that time, we can pay..."
