NPC: Sar Naggulii
Location: Miishakaal then Skien
System: Ashki
19:15 Imperial Time, 19:13 Vilani Time, 15:30 Local Time
After getting news from Gvarokh that he's been granted shore leave, Lakir gets himself ready to go. As he does so, Gvarokh contacts him again to let him know that the captain will be going ashore as well.
"Understood," Lakir replies.
Once he's ready, he heads down to the crew lounge and waits for the captain. After a few minutes, she arrives. She's wearing a long, flowing white skirt with a white on white fleur-de-lis pattern. A bolero jacket covers a white lace blouse. Her hair is in a whispy updo with tendrils escaping, but still secure enough not to fall down. To help hold them up she has ornamental combs. Her heels have a light blue tint to them which matches her bolero jacket. She has a scarf around her waist that ties the two in and she has a pin on it that designates her status as captain of the Miishakaal. As she gets closer, Lakir notices that her earrings match her necklace and that they're a lovely blue variance.
"Hello Lakir. Are you waiting for me?""Yes ma'am."
She smiles, "That's sweet of you Lakir. Thank you."
"Not at all."
The pair leave the ship and enter the starport.
"That's a pretty necklace," Lakir compliments.
"Thank you. It was a present from an old boyfriend. According to him, the designer said the name of the piece was called Caspia, meaning Essence of the Sea. It was fashioned after an original from Terra in the 1940's by a Hollywood starlet. Movies were just 2D back then. I liked it, as well as the man, at least enough not to check to see if it really meant that." She finishes off the sentence with a knowing smile.
Whites and beiges are the pre-dominant colors in the starport and, the duo soon discover, the city as well. Lakir notices that the captain fits right in with her outfit, while he doesn't. White is the pre-dominant color worn on clothing in the place, with faded pastels rounding out the color spectrum. Skirts, of various lengths, and blouses are most common among women. Women of means appear to have their hair up like the captain. Long hair dominates all around.
Men wear canvas pants and short sleeve shirts. Men of means wear jackets that make them look diplomatic. Short hair appears to be the rule, with crew cuts popular. Facial hair is non-existent.
The police stick out somewhat with their tan uniforms, but their appearance is otherwise non-descript.
Everyone appears friendly. The captain gets polite nods from the women of means, courteous bows from the older men, and enticing smiles from the younger men.
There are no billboards here. The white walls are unadorned save the occasional one foot square sign designating a place of business. The occasional wall mounted vid screen only comes to life when someone touches it looking for directions. There are no windows on the street level. Sunlight streams in from overhead, a transparent canopy high over the street keeps the warmth in and moderates the wind gusts down to gentle breezes.
"So, where are we headed?" the captain asks with a smile.
"There's a gun shop I want to check out. It goes by the name of Satirine Saamlar. According to the map," Lakir waves his super-PDA, "it should be just the road a meters." Saamlar is the Vilani word for "ammunition."
Sure enough, the duo come across a sign outside a non-descript door. The sign features a yellow sun with various types of ammo, silhouetted in black, radiating out from its center.
The inside of the store is in stark contrast to the exterior. While the people are dressed the same, the colors of the displays and walls are solid blues, blacks, and yellows. Weapons are everywhere. Video screens demonstrate how various guns are used and manufactured. Lakir tries not to drool.
A tall gentleman approaches you. He's dressed in white from head to toe and his clothing hides the extra weight that he's carrying around. He has a mustache and short gray hair topped with a hat shaped like pint glass. His skin displays olive tones.
"Good afternoon," he shakes Lakir's hand, "I am Sar Naggulii."
"Lakir."
Sar notices the captain's pin, "My apologies madam." He bows and kisses Shiraamer's hand. "It is not often that I come across a women of beauty who leads such a rugged life." He's obviously trying to cover his mistake in not greeting the captain first.
Shiraamer arches an eyebrow at the slight affront to her. She knows that if she were at home, that mistake would cost him dearly in his upcoming negotiations. She puts on a reserved but somewhat bored look and withdraws her hand. As her hand goes to her throat in a gesture of mock horror, she replies "Rugged? Do I look like I've led a rugged life? Oh dear." She steps away from him and turns her back to the men. She pulls a mirror out of her sash and pretends to examine her face for "signs of ruggedness" while in reality watching the two men.
"No-no-no. Not at all," Sar clasps his hands together while trying to placate her. "Just the opposite. Starship captains lead a rugged life and it tends to wear on them. You madam, show no signs of that life whatsoever. You are so beautiful I thought that you were of the local nobility."
Lakir turns slightly from Sar and addresses the Cap'n, "I fear that I may have made an error in thinking we could do business here Captain ... perhaps I should check for an alternate establishment..?" He takes out his PDA to initiate another search.
"No, please," Sar raises a finger to emphasize his point, "Your departure would not only deprive me of your business but it would deprive you of the best deals on the best equipment in all of Skien."
Shiraamer pauses in her primping and slowly slips her mirror where it came from. She holds up her hand to Lakir to stop him, "Perhaps Lakir we should give this entrepreneur first chance. We are here after all. If he doesn't have anything that catches your interest here, you may make other arrangements." Holding out her hand to Sar, she looks at him with a smile. "If you can impress both my companion and myself, then we shall indeed do business with you."
"Ahhhh thank you my lady," Sar takes her hand and kisses it again, "I do not disappoint." He holds onto her hand and intends to guide her through the store. "While the gentleman decides what merchandise he would like to inspect, perhaps I can get something for the lady. A glass of wine perhaps?"
"I am feeling a bit parched. That would be delightful."
"Splendid. Do you have any preferences? If not, I have a splendid chardonnay for you to savor."
Shiraamer gives a small arch to her eyebrow and smiles that secret smile, "I'm sure whatever you choose would be fine Sar. If I can not trust your taste in wine and refreshments, how could I feel like I could trust your taste in inventory?"
"Such wisdom!" He waves one of his assistants over, "Gamuu, a glass of the chardonnay for the lovely lady."
Gamuu disappears into the back.
To Shiraamer, Sar asks, "Are you shopping here as well madam?"
"I rely on Lakir's recommendations for my firearms. Of course I'm always on the look out for that 'extra special' piece also." Shiraamer waits for the glass of wine and casually looks around.
"I see," Sar turns his attention to Lakir, "Sir?"
"Indeed. My needs are specific, and I require little time. For the Captain first though. Perhaps you could show her some accessories for a Nashisha Mk VII 10mm Snub Revolver, perhaps some speed loaders, or a laser pointer....over that glass of wine, of course."
"Ahhhh, an excellent choice."
"For myself, I'd be interested in your line of automatic shotgun's, something in 18 mm by 70 mm. As well, I'd be interested in any accessories you may carry for a Strausse/Markham 4 mm Gauss Pistol. Perhaps one of your associates could assist me?"
"Oh yes, indeed. I'll have Gamuu help you as soon as he..."
Gamuu returns with the chardonnay and hands it to Shiraamer.
"Thank you Gamuu," Sar says, "Would you please assist the gentleman. I believe that the Instellarms AA12 shotgun will meet his needs."
Gamuu bows, "Yes, sir."
"Sir, if you'll follow me," Gamuu leads the way to a display case featuring several shotguns. He opens it up and hands the Instellarms 18/12 Auto-Assault Shotgun over to Lakir. He then begins to describe all of its features, manufacturing specialties, and capabilities. He adds that the store has a full line of accessories and ammunition to go along with it.
"Do you have any questions regarding this model?"
Lakir asks, "Would you have the price list handy?"
"Yes, I believe that this model goes for 1,200 credits. However, Sar keeps the most up to date price in his head, if you follow my meaning sir."
"Indeed. I shall take it up with him when he returns then..."
Lakir then adds, "Do you have any accessories for the Strausse/Markham 4mm Gauss Pistol?"
"Yes sir we do. Did you have anything specific in mind?"
"Yes. Do you carry the 75 round snail drums or the 8cm sniper barrel extension?"
"We have both."
"And the MSRP on the items, just so I have the starting point...?"
"Let me check." He pulls out a PDA-like device and types a buttons before tapping the screen with his fingers, "5 credits for the drum and 250 for the barrel extension."
"Excellent! If I may, I'll amuse myself with the 18/12 while I await the return of the Captain and Sar. Would you have the list price for your 18 mm x 70 mm ammo selection available?"
"Yes. If you'd like, you can try it out in the weapon simulator room."
"Off to the sim room then!"
"Right this way sir."
Meanwhile, Shiraamer tries her wine. It is good. The chardonnay is smooth and rich in texture. "The man knows his wine," she thinks to herself.
Once Lakir and Gamuu are out of ear shot, Shiraamer leans in close to Sar. Her hand absently follows the V of her bolero jacket before resting on his arm. He is rapt with attention.
In a hush voice she starts talking, "My dear sir, I was wondering if you could help me a bit. My companion has been most diligent in his duties aboard the ship and I see how much he appreciates your inventory. Do you perhaps have something in the line that he's looking for that is a little special? I'd love to treat him to something from here."
His reply is as conspiratorial as Shiraamer's as he places his hand on hers, "Yes madam. I had Gamuu show him one of the finest models produced for auto shotguns. The Instellarms AA 18 stroke 12 has been described as both impressive and excellent by the evaluators of Imperial Armed Forces Journal." He raises a finger, "Sar Naggulii will not sell anything that it isn't of the highest quality."
Shiraamer gives a delicate shimmy when he says that, "Forceful and intelligent. You sir are a true find. Perhaps I'll find a suitable accessory after all. I trust that your Gammu will keep track of what catches his eye."
"I certainly hope so."
Shiraamer sips her wine, "An excellent vintage sir. My compliments. It is so nice to do business in a civilized manner."
"But of course. I am pleased that the wine pleases you."
"Do you have anything interesting for my gun?"
"Which one? The Nashisha that your companion recommended or the one in your jacket?"
Noticing her surprise, which almost causes her to snarf her wine, he laughs to show her that being armed is trivial, "My lady, we may be lax in our gun laws but we are diligent in our awareness. The city's sensors detected your snub pistol and your companion's gauss pistol once you left your ship. That information was relayed to us once you entered my store. Fear not, I've had customers in here with much greater firepower."
Shiraamer files away the information about the city's sensors recording their weapons as soon as they left the ship and also the fact that they relay it to their business for updates later on the planet.
You reach the display case. He pulls out the Nashisha Mk VII 10 mm snub revolver and hands over to Shiraamer to examine. He extols the virtues of the weapon: low recoil, improved range, high quality craftsmanship. He also draws Shiraamer's eye to the grip, which is painted and carved wood. Sar explains that the wood is from the Minakhi tree from the Kuragan Jungle on Vland and that he has the paperwork from the craftsman to back up that claim. The carving on the left side appears to be of an ancient shugillii hard at work preparing food while the right side depicts an early bazaar scene from old Vland.
She runs her hand over the inlay and feels the grip in her hand, trying to hide the fact that it really does appeal to her. "Hmmm. It does appear to have nice workmanship. Comes with papers you say?"
"Yes madam."
She puts it back down and smiles, "I'm glad that you were informed about our weaponry. I was afraid at first that I had misjudged how well it went with my outfit and that it stuck out too much. I'm glad to see it was technology that gave it away and not the outfit."
"Oh no madam, it is completely concealed to the naked eye."
She draws it out to show him (proper etiquette being observed). "And what do you have to enhance this little piece?"
He holds out his hands, "May I?" He looks it over and notes the model. He frowns, "I'm afraid there isn't much that I can do. While the quality of the pistol is not in question, there is insufficient integrity to the weapon to mount a laser sight." He hands it back to her.
Shiraamer gives a delicate and sexy pout, "Oh darn. I've grown so fond of it."
"There's no reason not to keep it madam. You have two lovely hands after all."
Shiraamer gives Sar a brilliant smile, "Of course! I can have both."
She lets her eyes casually go back to the previous weapon, "How much did you say that piece was? Do you have something that would be an upgrade for it?" Shiraamer casually looks around to see how Lakir is doing. She notes that he seems to be done.
"Well I would normally sell it for a 1000 credits due to the fine craftsmanship of the weapon and the unique artwork in the grip, but for you I would sell it for 700."
"700? Hmmm." Shiraamer looks over the artwork again, having already made up her mind to buy it, she pretends to give in graciously. "I would be disappointed if I don't buy something. I think I shall take you up on your gracious offer and take that beautiful weapon."
"Splendid!"
She gestures towards Lakir, "It looks like Lakir is finished with his purchases." Shiraamer leans in closer, taking Sar's hand, and whispers low by his ear, "If you would please be so kind as to find out if there is something that I can buy Lakir from your wonderful shop." She leans back again and offers him her hand. "I thank you for your wonderful assistance kind sir."
"You are most welcome and I do believe he has made it plainly obvious what he would like to have."
Lakir and Gamuu walk towards Shiraamer and Sar as they make their way towards an alcove near their position. Lakir is holding a shotgun, the smile on his face hard to miss.
As they get near, Gamuu says, "I am taking the gentleman to the weapon sim."
"Very good," Sar replies.
Shiraamer arches her eyebrow a bit, "Weapons sim? Perhaps I should try out this new piece?" Looking at Sar, she asks, "Would you be giving me instructions on how to use it? Or someone else?" She then looks coyly away. "If you would permit me madam, I will be all too happy to instruct you."
They walk downstairs towards the weapon simulator room.
Shiraamer says, "I'm afraid after this our time to leave will soon be upon us."
Sar replies, "Alas all good things must come to an end."