[Color=gray][center][h1][Color=silver]M[/color][Color=lightblue]i[/color][Color=cornflowerblue]r[/color][color=green]i[/color][color=mediumpurple]s[/color][/h1]
[Img]https://i.imgur.com/BMVZGcF.jpeg[/Img][/center]
[Color=darkturquoise]Race: [/color]Changeling
[Color=green]Class:[/color] Part-Time Fighter
[Color=cornflowerblue]Location:[/color] Port Verge, Lhazaar Principalities
[b][color=white]Interactions:[/color][/b] Meiyu [@Tae], Corin [@Lava Alckon][b]
[color=white]Mentions:[/color][/b] Phia, Menzai, Bastion, Tommy, Arya

[Color=tan]Equipment:[/color]
[hider=Equipment]
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Lots of Clothes
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Arming sword
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Battle-axe
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Mace
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Daggers
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Bow & Arrows
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Shortsword
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Leather Armor
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Half-plate Armor
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Hide Armor
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Gliding Cloak (purchased)
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Toolkit
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Camping Equipment
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Locked chest filled with old trinkets that ARE NOT FOR SALE
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Magnifying glass
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Diary
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Sketchbook
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Pencils
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Dried and Cured Meats
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Nuts
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Second Locked Chest with self-care products
[Color=mediumpurple]⋆[/color] Bag of holding[/hider]
[Color=lightblue]Attire:[/color] dark brown trousers, sleeveless leather jerkin, leather bracers, red scarf, and sturdy leather boots
[color=Peru]Gold Balance:[/color] 61GP 
[Color=silver]Injuries:[/color] None.
[Color=white]Current Persona:[/color] [b][color=tan]Malikendor of the Shifting Sands[/color][/b]
[hr]

The eyes of the Valenar elf took in the environment of Port Verge as he walked with Meiyu and Corin through the notable hubs of the pirate island. He had his own prejudice against pirates, but being here only confirmed his opinion of these sorts. Smiles were not only used to disarm, but to exploit traits other places might reward. Trust and good faith were absent here, but Malik would not allow such a place to alter who he was in the slightest.

The stroll was quiet between the three, with few words exchanged amongst them. It may have been focus or a lack of wanting a needless confrontation, but the silence gave Malik time to digest the situation he found himself in. 

The airship. [color=tan][i]Crashed after a sudden attack by agents wearing Karrnathi colors. Mysterious on its own. The vessel requires repairs, and we have only a single route to address the issue.[/i][/color]

The shards. [color=tan][i]Slivers of what can naturally be assumed of a greater whole that have embedded in those I find myself with today. Wendel was the first to discover it, on the airship. It is likely connected to the attack. The only thing of note about these shards is their high visibility to magical detection methods.[/i][/color]

His new companions. [color=tan][i]Besides the sharing of these shards, I grow weary of them. I am as much of a stranger to them as they are to each other, yet they have grown quite close. Individually, they are likely capable in their own right, but as a group, their lack of experience together shows. I will do what I can to keep them focused on the best courses of action. As the Traveler guides me, I will guide them as well.[/i][/color] 

Prince Dane. [color=tan][i]He tests the constitution of others with his words alone, and he was quite effective towards the few I am most concerned for. His bargain is disgusting, but not unexpected from a ruler of pirates. What he desires on Cordain will need to be our insurance in the event our arrangement takes a turn.[/i][/color]

The Crew. [color=tan][i]The transition from Minerva did not go unnoticed. I notice the way they look at me. The way they question my existence among them.[/i][/color] Malik glanced at Meiyu, recalling her amused reaction to seeing him and how often she had been mentioned in the journal by both Wendel and Minerva. [color=tan][i]How much do they know? How much does she know? Time here threatens the others, so I must use every means while I remain to get us off this island and away from these strangers.[/i][/color]

When the three finally discovered a suitable exchange for lead, Malik spoke up to challenge it. The offer of 20 gold pieces for the amount of lead prescribed by Meiyu was knocked down to 16. He was no stranger to haggling since it was a matter of social custom within the Valenar bazaars. It just felt like a crude game rather than establishing a fair price as part of a casual interaction.

Malik looked at Corin first, then Meiyu, before internalizing how to go about this.

[color=tan]“We’ll get it all here and now. There is no guarantee another merchant carries this quantity or if this bargain will remain as it is by the time the others make it here.”[/color] Malik directed calmly as he began digging into his satchel. Corin claimed he would cover the cost of himself and Phia. Malik raised a questionable eyebrow, but what he might have asked did not leave his thoughts. The bigger concern was the Yuan Ti woman. He did not know how many gold pieces each person in the group held, but allowing them to be indebted to someone he knew cared little for the lives of others would be irresponsible. 

[color=tan]“Alright. I will cover the costs for Arya, Menzai, Tommy, and half of Bastion’s.”[/color] He nodded at Corin before his gaze landed on Meiyu. [color=tan]“Meiyu. I request you cover the cost of Bastion’s other half and my own. I will bear his debt and, naturally, my own,”[/color] Malik offered firmly while knowing he had accepted the serpent’s first coil around him.

[color=7DBC89]“How remarkably chivalrous of you, Malik,”[/color] Meiyu purred, her golden eyes gleaming with dark amusement as she flipped a heavy coin in her palm. [color=7DBC89]“I shall do it, but my gold comes with a very specific clause.”[/color]

She leaned in slightly, her smirk sharpening to a lethal edge. [color=7DBC89]“When you pull out that little journal later, you are going to write a very pretty entry directly to Minerva. Tell her that the little ‘debt’ she claims I owe you lot is officially settled... and that she is now indebted to [I]me[/I] instead. It will give her something delicious to lose her mind over while she wonders exactly when and how I intend to collect.”[/color]

Malik’s eyes had widened slightly at the mention of the journal and leaving a message specifically for Minerva. 

[color=tan]“Fine… It’s a deal,”[/color] Malik agreed through his teeth. She had already seen enough. Her request was invasive, certainly, but one worth conceding for the sake of the mission.
[/color]