The Graveyard of Arx is a somber place. People come here to pay respects to the dead generally, and for little else. That means there have been far more visitors than usual in the wake of recent events. Near the entrance, off to the side and out of the foot traffic path, is a boy. Early teens from the look of him. Dirty in dirty clothes, with three damaged baskets. Inside of each basket are litters of puppies of different breeds. They're all rather young, but not so young as to worry for them. They yip at passer-bys and play with each other, a little ray of happiness in a sad area.

That isn't to say they're just for show. The boy quietly speaks to people who stop to play with the puppies. "They're nice, arn't they? They need homes, I can't take care of them. But times are tough, and I can't take of me none either. Five hundred silver for one. I know it sounds a lot, but it is for somethin' important. And... And if I got any left at the end of the day, I'm gettin' rid of them. So you should buy them. Please."

Word travels fast. And when Samantha gets news that a young man is extorting people for puppies, she can't resist the urge to investigate. The Marquessa is dressed quite modestly, easily mistaken for a well to-do servant. "What do you mean, exactly, by 'get rid of them'?"

Violet arrives to the graveyard to visit when she notices the boy. "Puppies? How did you end up with so many?" She takes the time to look at them.

The Graveyard is not a place for happy. That's not to say it's a bad place; happiness needs sadness to give it meaning. That said, Asher keeps an ear to the ground as it were, when trying to protect the Lowers. Juwt so happens that the Graveyard is here. So when he hears about the puppies and the kid, he has to check this out. When he arrives, he's in his full leather armor, though his armor is made of crappy quality leather. The only skin able to be seen is from his neck up. He has questions too, but Samantha and Violet are already there, and he's making his way up to examine the situation.

"What's it matter, miss? If'n I don't raise the money, you won't see me here again none either. So it is what it is." The boy looks resolute. He glances over to Violet, looking at her a bit before nodding to the baskets. "Some of the dogs what ran into the river left litters behind. They ain't got anyone ta go back to any more than me. So please take one, five hundred silver."

"It matters." Samantha replies placidly, hands folding neatly in front of her as she moved to inspect the puppies. "What are you going to do, abandon them? Put them in a bag and drop them over the bridge?" Not that she entitely suspects he'll tell the truth.

Violet looks to Samantha and the boy and nods. "And why do you need the money for? The puppies are cute, but it is quite a lot."

Asher raises an eyebrow. The kid needs money for something, does he? Or else he won't be around? "Oi," Asher calls out lowly, "don't you be trying to lie now. Them dogs what run and got themselves killed were family for someone, each dog. And doing this at the Graveyard?" He shakes his head. "So tell us true, aye? Mayhap we come to a better price for you. Or fix what problem you have. But this smells of mischief, it does. Answer the nice women, if you please."

The boy frowns at Samantha like she can't be trusted, watching close as she inspects the puppies. Like /he/ might have to protect them from /her/. "I'm gonna sell 'em to people with the coin to take care 'v'em." The question from Violet gets a pause from the boy as he looks over at the graveyard. His lower lip quivers a moment, then his expression tightens. He glares daggers right at Asher, expression twisting into one of hate for the man threatening him. "My folks. Buryin' my folks."

"I'm sorry to hear about your parents." Samantha says gently. "And I commend you for your enterprising spirit. But anyone who can afford these dogs will likely not be willing to pay that much for them. They'd pay that much for a purebreed from someone reputable, not dogs of questionable lineage off the street." The information is not imparted snobbishly, but with sympathy. "I'd be willing to take two for a hundred silver each, and your promise that you won't kill any left over. I know a place they can be taken, a sort of sanctuary."

Violet gives the boy a sad look. She sighs. "She's right. I'd like to help you out, but that really is too much." She looks down at the basket of puppies.

Asher looks at the child with a sad frown of apology. He's considering something for a few moments, then sighs. "Aye, that would do it, lad. You have my apologies." A look to Samantha. "Thinking the Menagerie?" But then back to the boy. "I can buy em all, I think." With that, he begins to take off his glove, revealing a ring beneath. Iridescite, with a black diamond set in it. "But the dogs go to this woman," a nod to Samantha, "if she thinks she can find a home for them." A glance to the women. "Price is too much but it's a good cause." The ring is taken off and offered to the child. "Keep it secret and sell it quickly. People hear about it and they'll want it."

The boy rubs something from his eye. He is still glaring right at Asher. "They said the bodies been sittin' for too long. If I can't get the money today they go in the pit." He says it matter of factly, like this is the last day that matters to him. He rubs at his other eye, must be dust surely. He grits his teeth at the three of you. "If you want to help, don't give me-" Then the word chokes in his throat. Did he just hear that from Asher. "You- you mean it? You really..." He looks at the ring, tears welling up in his eyes. "I..." He just suddenly bursts into sobs, leaping out and hugging Asher's waist tight as his little arms can.

"Indeed.l

"Indeed." Samantha offers Asher a smile, looking pleased that the little boy has a solution to his predicament. "That should be more than enough, but I imagine your parents left you very little, so I'll make you another offer as well. "One hundred silver each for two puppies in addition to this good man's gift of a ring...and I'm willing to arrange employment for you." Sam is a believer in helping those who help themselves.

Violet looks with surprise at Asher as he gives the boy the ring. "That's very kind of you. Both of you." She even manages a smile as she watches the two of them hug.

Asher pats the boy's back gently, and nods. "Aye, it's worth about forty thousand. Now don't you wear it, aye? People round the Lowers see it and you might lose a finger. Take it up to the Ward of the Compact, find you a merchant what buys jewelry, and tell him the Dirty Rat says he's watching him. He'll not try to cheat you." A gentle nudge for the kid to take the ring and go, Asher looks to the women here. "What do I need a ring like that for? Gaudy, expensive... Have to keep it hidden round here. Best sold for this boy's well-being. Needs more than just burying his parents, aye?" A smile at the child. "Has a life ahead of him. And he'll know it were the Grayhope family what helped him. Aye?"

The boy is too busy crying all over Asher's lovely cheap leathers to respond to Samantha's offer. Really, the sobbing is drawing stares from passer-bys. It isn't unheard of in the cemetary, though. People move along, maybe it is family business. Slowly he unpeels himself, still staring at the ring dumbly and not taking it. "That is a lot. More'n I needed, fer sure." He wipes at his eyes with the dirty cloth from his sleeve. "Grayhope, you said. The Dirty Rat of Grayhope." The boy looks over to Samantha and Violet. "You know 'im, yeah? The ring isn't stolen or nothin', is it? This is real?"

"He's a Grayhope of them are good, honest people." Samantha says, noting to Violet, "Of you care for a puppy or three, now's the time."

Violet shakes her head. "I don't know him, but he seems like a good person." She looks to Samantha. "Perhaps I could care for one, but three is a little much."

Asher chuckles softly. "Many a person would think the same, boy. Good, skeptical mind you got. But this time it's real. Don't you worry none about the where or why. Gild will look on me kindly, as will Death. Gloria and Sentinel... Mayhap not so much. But you get that coin, and live your life. Maybe take up the offer of employment. Money runs out someday." He beams a smile over towards Samantha and Violet. "Maybe the boy would make a good messenger, aye? So long as he stays away from the Graveyard. Best to not try to sell things in the hallowed places."

The lad is convinced. He looks at Samantha. He looks at her real hard, making she he won't forget her, before he finally reaches over and takes the ring from Asher. "I gotta tell 'em to hold my parent's bodies, that the money is comin'. From a member of house Grayson. Then I'm straight to the market." He looks between the three of you a moment longer, then runs off.

The puppies are now entirely in your care. You gain three friendly puppers, two playful mini puppers, and four yappy puppers. Pupper quest complete.