6.47 - Hazardous Working Conditions
Theo stood outside Throk’s workshop the next day, gawking at the array of alchemy equipment arrayed there. The marshling himself stood among the field, hands on his hips as he glared at the alchemist.
“You wanted some equipment? Here ya go.”
“Do you sleep?” Theo asked.
“No.”
The equipment ranged in function, but was all under the 50-unit requirement. Theo counted twenty pieces, each with a note describing what they did. He realized Throk didn’t make each item here. He had a small army of apprentices that helped him make things. While Thim had taken over the blacksmith, it freed the old marshling up for other tasks. Combined with those apprentices, he seemed more like an artifice designed to create artifices. Never-ending and as much of a genius as always.
Theo flicked Throk another gold coin.
“Your patronage is appreciated,” Throk said, biting the coin and pocketing it. “Now go away.”
Theo gathered each piece of equipment into his inventory, clearing some junk out of the Tara’hek shared inventory before moving off. There was too much equipment here to test in one day, so he would focus on working with the ones he was confident would work. The ones with the paddles would likely work best, but there were several variations on the ones he had requested.
Crossing through the town square, Theo winced as he saw the decorations going up. He had nothing against weddings or Xol’sa and Zarali’s relationship. He just hadn’t come up with anything to say. And he would be expected to say something. Instead of figuring it out now, he buried his head in his work and headed for the lab.