Delfus the dogkin wasn’t lying about his travel time estimates. In fact, it actually took about forty minutes to reach the first house. Which is what it was. Then again, that is to be expected when you're asking for things like a backyard.
Admittedly, such places are rare in the city as three-story buildings seems to be the default height. The bottom floor generally contains a business, then the second and third living space and worship space. Though as this house is for longer-term outsiders to live in, the business and worship spaces weren’t needed.
Now, that isn’t to say that the group would qualify it as a single-story building. While it doesn’t have walls and a roof, the roof was being used as a “room” of sorts.
Courtney points up at it, “So, is that the, quote unquote, backyard?”
Delfus nods, “And you’ll note that while it doesn’t have an actual wall, there is a stand of specialty bamboo circling the outside, working as a privacy screen. You’ll note that not only do they grow quite thick, they’re also tall enough to block even those in the surrounding buildings’ third-story view!”
Courtney gives a flat almost smile, “And the ground floor ‘walls’ are actually that same bamboo, but with a thicker, shorter variant filling in the gaps. I guess there is at least a proper door to the place.”
Delfus, “Well, I must admit to not having been in a place like this myself, so I can’t really say anything directly. We might as well go in and check things out!”
The group enters through the door, making note of the fact that what they thought might have been a proper bit of wood over said door, was actually a planter for even more bamboo. That way there wasn’t a gap in the privacy screen.
Rosha sighs, “Well I guess that is technically a floor? Or acts like it? Wait. Is that just more bamboo? Does this place need the floor mowed or some such?”
Delfus pulls out a pack of paper from the slim pack on his back and then flips through it. “Ah, no, you will not need to maintain it in such a way.”
Courtney pins him to the spot with a glare.
Delfus tries to step back, but his legs don’t move. “Er, well, um. You won’t. It, um, let’s see, yes, needs maintenance every half a year to a year depending on growing conditions.
“In fact, you’re specifically forbidden from doing such things. There are specialists who need to be brought in. Oh, but you don’t have to pay for it! If you don’t want to.”
Courtney, “If we don’t want to? Why would we want to? Or rather, why would not paying for it be undesirable?”
Delfus shrugs, “Well, the Guild gets the service for free because we allow a local organization that specializes in living homes to train their people on our properties like this.”
Courtney nods, “Ah yes, I see. If we want things done right the first time, if we want things done with a nice finish, we’ll want to pay that organization to have a fully trained professional handle it.”
Delfus, “That is one way to look at it. Though there’s every possibility that the trainee who handles things will do fine!”
Courtney raises an eyebrow, “Don’t make me last.”
Delfus frowns, “Uh, what do you mean? Like, look at the floor! You thought it was a normal floor at first. I think they did quite a fine job of it.”
Courtney sighs, “Ah, you’re just not used to this kind of thing. Admittedly, I’ve never lived in a living house before. However, setups like this go beyond this kind of thing.
“It looks fine right now because after they train the newbies on it, they have a pro clean up after them. That way when you show someone like me the place? It looks smooth and makes it seem like getting the free service won’t be a hassle.
“Then, once we move in? Well, those pros are the going to do the clean up anymore. More than that, I wouldn’t be surprised if they relegate their newest trainees to this ‘free’ service. That way we almost have to purchase their services to fix things up. It’s a classic trap you see with free services across not just NeoRealm, but our home as well. Free with paid upgrades tend to devolve into being barely good enough until you pay.”
Delfus, “Uh, well, do you want to see the rest of the house? We’ve only just walked into the vestibule.”
Courtney shakes her head, “No. We won’t be taking this place.”
Delfus shrugs, “Well, I guess onto the next place!” His attitude making a rebound after Courtney’s fiery attitude. Though part of the rebound has more to do with the fact that he figures this means he might get off early. After all, this showing took minutes compared to how much time it would normally take to show them the full house.
Then the trip to the next house takes half an hour. A house that is within the same section of the city. A place that, in theory was only a five-minute walk, if that. Shame about the millipedes.
They were giant bugs. No, not that small, Bigger! Think train size and they might be capable of going that fast. They weren’t though as this was inside the city limits and so their handlers limited their speed to a “walking” pace.
Which is fine when you're talking about a person. Even a centaur isn’t that bad. They cross your path and it takes a moment longer. When a train-sized millipede is going that fast? Well, you’re going to be waiting for a while.
On the way over and after waiting for the second millipede, Rosha turns to Delfus, “So I’ve never seen these before? What’s up with them.”
Delfus shakes his head with a bit more nervous energy than not. “I don’t rightly know? Let me check my notes, maybe it says something?”
He takes off his thin pack and starts to thumb through more papers than should rightly fit in there. It is clearly cheating space in some manner, but at least it means he does find an answer.
Delfus holds up a single sheet of what appears to be paper? Maybe? “Okay! You won’t see them on the surface all that often. Our city simply has a nearby dark well. Not a natural one, mind you, or the city would be more of a military outpost. Anyway, they’re a common bulk goods transport animal for the various kingdoms that live in the deep caverns.”