<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/87/Arawn-Cropped.jpg)</div><strong>Name</strong>Arawn (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=292821.msg14372985#msg14372985)<br/><strong>Time/ day</strong>Grand Magic Games - rest period, day one<br/><strong>Tagging</strong>Rune, Dagen, Melisa, Open<br/><strong>Location</strong>Guild Rented House -> Marketplace<br/><hr/><br/>"Maybe we should go to the Crocus Marketplace?" Arawn said. "I've heard that there's some magic shops there that might have some cool stuff for us. I think there's a bunch of salons down there too," he added, turning to Dagen. He ran his fingers through his hair, which he could indeed feel was getting a bit on the long side. "Guess I really could use a haircut too."<br/><br/>The two faeries flew around Arawn as he walked from the guild house to the Market District. This was not the first time he had been there, as he had on several previous occasions been to Crocus for various reasons, but he had never before seen the district so full of people. The Grand Magic Games had brought merchants and traders from all over hawking their wares. They reached the salon which Dagen seemed keen to go to, which was on a building at the edge of the Market Square. "I'll be right back, everyone. There's a merchant out there that I've been meaning to see."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Traversing the maze of stalls and shops that filled the square he entered a rather inauspicious-looking tent in a secluded area. Dismissing Primo and Dominante, he lifted the flap and went inside. The interior had the strong scent of incense, and was lit only by a small charcoal brazier next to its occupant, a man in a hooded robe. "I watched you yesterday at the Magic Games. You and your new Guild seem to be doing well."<br/><br/>"What do you have for me, Lubock? Your messenger told me you had something good."<br/><br/>"Never one for small talk, are you Arawn?" The man snorted. "Here." Lubock pulled out a key from a pouch at his belt. Even in the dim light of the brazier it shone golden, and he could see the symbol ♏ carved on its bow. A Zodiac, one of the rarest of celestial keys.<br/><br/>"How much do you want for it?" Arawn asked, though he knew that it was probably far more than he could afford.<br/><br/>"I think a million and a half jewels is not a bad price for the Scorpio Key."<br/><br/>"You know I don't have that kind of money."<br/><br/>"But I think you should be able to get it. The underground bookmakers are paying out good odds on the new upstart guild Peryton. Maybe if you bet properly your winning tomorrow's one on one tournament you should be able to make enough and then some. However I hear that your opponent is going to be someone<em>very</em>ill-matched to you, which is why the underground bookmakers are placing very long odds on your victory."<br/><br/>"What do you know about that?" Arawn asked, trying not to let his apprehension show in his voice.<br/><br/>Lubock snorted. "Nothing for nothing, Arawn. But Scorpio may be able to tip the odds in your favour... If you can tame her in time."<br/><br/>"Let's make a deal then. I can give you a down payment of fifty thousand now. If I can't pay you the remaining 1,450,000 Jewels by the day after tomorrow, I'll break my contract so I can return the key. You can keep my money."<br/><br/>"Hah, never one to pull any punches. You know what the consequences of such contract-breaking are, of course." Arawn nodded. "It's a deal then." Arawn counted out 50,000 jewels and Lubock handed the key. "Good luck then. To be honest I'd rather have a million and a half jewels than get that key back with your blood on it, so I will be rooting for you tomorrow, though I don't think it's likely you will win, even with Scorpio. Oh, and be careful with her. Not many people have been able to tame her."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Before returning to the salon, Arawn made his way to the stall of an underground bookmaker that Lubock recommended, and bet 100,000 jewels on his victory tomorrow. They were paying 20 to 1 odds on his victory, which made him even more apprehensive, but at least it would give him more than enough money to pay Lubock for the key if he did win.<br/><br/>He passed a small stall selling simple jewellery, and saw a pair of silver earrings that he thought would look very good on Rune. On a whim he bought them, but didn't know if he would even be able to give them to her.<br/><br/>When he finally got back to the salon, he asked Dagen what kind of haircut might suit him.