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Black smoke rose from the blacksmithing chamber, exiting into a small tunnel in the rock, which vented outside. None the less, the chamber was still coated in soot, covering everything, including the workers. Only a few coughed, the ones that had been working for years upon years. Most were smart enough to wear masks which covered their mouths, noses, and goggles for their eyes. Sparks flew like miniature fireworks all throughout the chamber, giving the workers guide points through the smog. One figure seemed to stand out against the rest, for the fact she was the largest one there. Through closer inspection through the smog, you could tell that she was much, much less burly than a dwarf. A human, in a dwarven world. Before her sat small devices, which she tinkered with, then placed gently in a box beside her. She was always the one to deal with the smaller mechanics, her fingers were smaller than a dwarf's, making it easier for her.

A bell rang throughout the chamber, causing her head to bolt upright, and to swivel towards the exit. The dwarves did the same, and then a few cheers and grumbles arose from the crowd. End of the day. Eoma's sigh was muffled by her mask as she stood, storing away her tools. End of the day was a relief, but also sometimes annoying. Like today for example, she had so much more to do, and that she wanted to do. But she knew she had to wait till tomorrow, the smith was closed off at night to allow the smoke to vent out and to prevent people over-working themselves, like she probably would do if it was open 24/7. Locking her drawer with a small key, she dropped it in her pocket and headed for the door. As soon as she emerged from the blacksmith chamber, she took off her mask and began making faces, flexing the muscles in her face to try and get them working again. The mask was somewhat restricting. Letting it hang around her neck, she dragged herself back to her home, where her 'Mother' was waiting for her. It was one of the few houses she didn't have to duck under the doorway to enter, one of the special alterations her parents had made for her. She blocked out her nagging mother, heading straight for the shower, knowing that was what she was nagging about anyways. After getting cleaned it was dinner, father talked about something about some fleets of ships coming in soon, delivering supplies, and how he had volenteered Eoma for the job of unloading supplies. Resisting a groan, Eoma agreed, finished her supper, and went to collapse on her bed, not looking forward to her new job.

(( Note: I changed my character's gender. ))

Eoma trugged along the ground below, a large crate of supploes held in her arms. Helping unload and load cargo, her favourite job. This was just going to pile up the work she had to do back at the smithy. Dropping the crate at it's destination she looked up at the arriving skycraft. She frowned as she saw the destroyed engine of the Red Dawn, how DARE anyone do that to a ship!
She stood staring for a little while longer, her eyes going over every little detail of the ship, before a dwarf barked at her to get back to work. Rolling her eyes, she dragged her feet over to grab another crate, while a dwarf passed by her with two. Why did her father even volunteer her for this job? She was practically useless. Picking up another crate, she hauled it back over to the dumb site, nearly bumping into Balthier along the way. "Sorry," she mumbled, obviously not in the most pleasent mood. The reason being that she almost bumped into him was that her eyes were still fixed upon the craft, trying to pick out every mechanical detail.

Zark smiled uncomfortably, "I am mindin' my manors like the captain told me. No need to scare off potential repair crews, or make the prices worse on us.... let us just hope we can afford it..." Zark walked off back into the ship to make sure everything else was ok.

Valen and Tira came out as Zark was leaving. Tira stretched and took a deep breath of air and then coughed, "how people live in a place like this is beyond me. The air is horrible."

"Best be keeping that to yourself," Balthier said as he came over, "we may be here awhile. I'm going to the repair crews to see what price estimates are like."

"I'll come with you," Valen said. "If you don't mind that is."

Balthier was kind of surprised, but didn't mind, "sure, come along."

***

Balthier met with an exceptionally fat Dwarf who was the foreman for the repair crews of this airfield. The Dwarf had seen Red Dawn come in, just like everyone had, and had seen the damages from a distance. Balthier relayed what other systems were not working as well. The Dwarf closed his eyes and calculated the price. The one thing that Dwarves were better at than forging was putting a price on something. And the price almost made Balthier fall over. "Thanks, I'll need to talk it over with my crew." Balthier and Valen walked back to the ship. "Um, well I hate to do this, since you are a passenger and all, but, since your interests lie with us and all-"

"I do not mind you asking me to help you pay for repairs," Valen replied aloofly.

"Oh, good."

"But I do not have that kind of money. I gave all of the money I had to the Order, and take out only what I need on my quests. I could make a request for more but that kind of price is something I would not like to ask for unless it is a last resort."

Balthier nodded, "I understand." He thought through what other contacts he had that could lend him some money. There was of course Raetherstria, she was more wealthy than most anyone he knew, but Balthier learned a long time ago to not ask a Dragon for a loan. When they finally got back to the rest of the crew Balthier explained his problem, "we need $350,000."

"There goes our retirement money...." Tira said sadly

Balthier shook his head, "no, I can't ask you to do that... I am sure we can find another way."

(Serene, since this is outside your character may overhear their problems and offer a discount? wink free room, board, adventure, and a possible chance for pay in the future

Also I have made an important update to the magics that your character may like, you can check the announcements/New World Profile Skeletons for further details)

" 350,000. Lot of money. That's almost as much as my Cello costs. " Looking fresh as a daisy and dressed in bright white suit that somehow remained unstained in the smokey air Benvolio lounged yet again in an odd spot. This time he was enjoying the view from the rooftop of the dwarf foreman's office. Seeing Lily come out of a near by building he dropped off the side of the office and called to the wind to slow him with a gentle tune hummed in a breath. " Hey Lily. How did it go?"


( What ever reward or discount let it be short by a bit. I want a good reason for Beni to stick around. Do you think Balthier would like a business partner? someone who knows people in high places that would be far more willing to talk to someone from their own circle.)

(Well a lot of that price is the fee for installation. The parts are less than half of the total cost, so I was figuring that if Balthier, Valen, Vhaidra, and Benvolio could split the cost of the parts, Eoma could install them for "free" in exchange for.... whatever reason she might want to leave, and possible real money someday, lol. A lack of monies is going to be a recurring theme for this crew if you hadn't noticed)

To say that Balthier was surprised was an understatement. "Um, sure, how much are parts you will need?"

(You can make up some price if you like)