The Lead Feather

[Kaitan]

The Lead Feather is a good-sized two-story building that lies along one of Pygmalion's major streets. A red glow shines through the first-story windows and door. The windows of the top floor are almost always dark, though occasionally there is a hint of flickering light. The outside of the building is spotless, and a peek through the intricately crafted doorway shows that the inside is as well. A wooden sign hangs above the door. It reads:

The Lead Feather
Fine Weapons, Armor, and Metalwork

Hanging lengthwise below the sign is, in fact, a lead feather.

The Lead Feather armory is the primary supplier of weapons and armor to the Twilight Order. The owner is a human named Renard Halfhand.

[Kaitan]

Kaitan walks quickly across the bustling street. He stops at the doorway of the Lead Feather and speaks to the tangle of tools within.

"May I enter?"

A small man steps around a corner. There is a beautiful broadsword at his belt. He brushes dirt off his shirt with one hand, but doesn't look up.

"Who is it?"

"Kaitan, of the Order."

The man looks up. He seems a bit startled at Kaitan's appearance.

"The Order? Come on in."

Kaitan steps inside.

"Are you Renard Halfhand?"

The man nods and takes a seat in a wooden chair.

"Please, take a seat."

Kaitan takes a seat next to him. He doesn't remove his hood. Halfhand speaks first.

"What do you need of me?"

"I need a weapon made. A spiked chain. I will pay for it myself..."

He reaches into his cloak. Halfhand flinches at this movement. Kaitan smiles, handing him a simple black sack. It clinks softly when it exchanges hands.

"Those are platinum pieces. I expect the weapon to be worth its cost."

Halfhand tears his eyes away from the sack. He stands and motions for Kaitan to follow him. The two walk up the stairs and into Renard's bedchamber. Halfhand raps softly on the wall in a complex sequence. A rune flashes and a doorway appears. Halfhand leads Kaitan inside.

In this chamber, metal racks display amazing and exotic weapons. All bear a symbol of a feather on them. Halfhand walks up to a shelf and picks up a large black cylinder of metal. Gray shapes seem to dance over its surface. He hands it to Kaitan.

"Is this metal suitable for the weapon you speak of? I will need powerful tools and magic to shape it..."

Kaitan nods quickly.

"This is suitable. What is the name of this sort of metal?"

Halfhand seems flustered and a bit frightened. His words come out in a rush.

"I-I actually don't know..."

Kaitan nods again, cutting off whatever the smith was going to say. He reaches inside his cloak again and pulls out a scroll of paper. He hands it to Renard.

"This has all of the specifics. Notify me when it is finished."

Kaitan realizes how cold and formal he sounds and smiles. The smile's effect is the opposite of what he intended- Kaitan can hear the smith's heart speed up. Kaitan frowns at this.

"Thank you for your services, sai. I won't forget you."

Kaitan can hear the man's heart skip a beat as he turns to leave. He is upset that even harmless comment such as that, coming from him, would frighten grown men. He hadn't fully realized how disconcerting his appearance was until then.

He walks out of the chamber and leaves the front door moments later, disappearing from sight quickly.