Finally making it to where the brawler Noro was, he waves. "Hey, lass! You don't look like you're about to meet the Maker anymore!"
He extends a hand to her. "Name's Thirzin, by the by."
Only a sliver of morning is left when thunder echoes through the square. Father Zantus waits form the murmur of conversation to die down before speaking. After a short introduction, Mayor Deverin gives a warm welcome to those in attendance. After her brief speech, Sheriff Hemlock calls for a moment of silence for those lost to the Chopper, and the last priest and his daughter who perished in the fire that claimed the previous church. Cyrdak Drokkus livens things up with a few jokes and well-wishes before Father Zantus once again takes the stage.
"Long ago, Desna fell to Golarion and was nursed back to health by a blind girl. In return for the great service she did the Starsong, she was turned into an immortal butterfly and made one of her heralds. It is on this day we celebrate that event, and so, as Desna freed the blind girl from her bonds, so do we too free these."
A covered wagon that had been rolled into the square earlier is uncovered, releasing a riot of color and fluttering wings as thousands of swallowtail butterflies mill about in a complex dance. Children watched in awe before chasing them in hopes of getting just on to light on their fingers and hands. The smell of food and the rumble of bellies signals the noon hour and many people line up for the meals that the local taverns provide. The longest by far is the one in front of Ameiko's stall, as her curried salmon seems to be a town favorite.
Thirzin? yeah, your the one that jumped into the ring to help me aren't you. Well thanksh. I guess I made shome tactical mishtakes in there. shilly me to think Jubryl would actually honor any bargain. oh well, at leasht I ain't got to deal with him or that brute anytime shoon.
Saroune snapped the spell book shop and handed it back to Olivius with a frown. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem like it will be much help to you. There are a few minor cantrips, sure. But beyond that... it's mostly gibberish."
Saroune kept some of the harsher criticisms to herself. She was fairly certain somebody had written 'He's buying it. He's buying it. I can't believe he's buying it.' in Varisian. She didn't think Olivius was a stupid man to pay for this junk, on the contrary, he spoke and carried himself quite well. He just seemed... desperate.
When she looked back up at him, he was clearly on edge. He must have been hoping for something more positive. "What is it that you do?"
Aye, that'd be right, lass. You did pretty damn good there as well. You fight like an angry dwarf, and that's sayin' somethin'." He chuckles.
"I'm surprised that oaf was still standing at the end. If it was a drinking contest, you'd have taken it to the mat in a couple of rounds. That'd be a fair bet, for sure."
He smirks. "They sure love their Desna in this town, don't they? Makes me wonder if they have a beer festival, too."
Aye, that'd be right, lass. You did pretty damn good there as well. You fight like an angry dwarf, and that's sayin' somethin'." He chuckles.
"I'm surprised that oaf was still standing at the end. If it was a drinking contest, you'd have taken it to the mat in a couple of rounds. That'd be a fair bet, for sure."
He smirks. "They sure love their Desna in this town, don't they? Makes me wonder if they have a beer festival, too."
Yeah, they do. shtill it aint that bad a plashe. eshpecially shince that whole unpleasantnessh ish behind us now.
Noro looks a bit embarrassed right now her lisp seeming very pronounced. she almost sound comical right now stumbling through her sentences.
anyway, thish ish the firsht feshtival I ain't behind bars for at leasht in a long time. indicating prison bars.
"It definitely is one I could see how any of us could've ended up behind bars. I think this is the first festival I've ever been to. And I tend to imbibe a bunch."
He grins widely, ignoring the lisp. "How about we get us some brews to celebrate kicking some serious ass yesterday AND staying out of jail despite all the fun, aye lass?"
Noro smiles at that suggestion. great idea! she says giving the dwarf a solid shot to the arm.
an I got jusht the plashe she leads him to the rusty Dragon's stall.
Lou seems to have a few customers lined up for a charcoal sketch.
Noro grabs some ales oh that guy over there drawin the picturesh..thatsh lou, hesh my brother and alsho a cook for Amieko
Thirzin seems to balance several tankards on top of each other as he walks along, the way he carries them much more successful than double fisting.
"Plenty of booze for a good festival. So he's a cook, huh? And not too bad of an sketch either... He peeks around as Lou works. Obviously, Thirzin doesn't know a good deal about personal space, when he drinks heavily.
But, on the bright side, he still is walking straight!
Olivius's jaw clenches and his gut drops. He had traded hard for some of those. Thankfully, he knew the at least one other one was good. He had paid for the Mending spell with gold hewn from the family emblem that used to be on his shield. Not that he could get it to work either.
I am just a soldier, apparently. Trained at the Asmodean Academy of Military Science until I make a break for Varisia a while back. Just a soldier. Those works, just a soldier, rang in his head. First his father, then his commanders, then everyone else at the academy, now this book. But that was unfair to the book. There was more to this. A couple of the spells were real. So why didn't they work?
I'm curious. About how magic works. If you follow the forms, say the words right, it should work regardless of who you are, right? Because they won't work for me. Regardless of how many hours I spend trying.
Standing before Horatio as he falls to pieces, Pavanna makes a soft sound of sympathy, her free hand squeezing his shoulder in silent comfort. It takes her a moment to find words... but when she does, she leads into them by firmly grasping his chin and lifting his face to her gaze, her voice soft but filled with fierce, unwavering conviction. “Listen to me, Horatio. Whatever happened, however you were hurt, I know that healing from that pain will be a long road for you, and walking it will not be easy. It’s almost certain that along the way you will stumble, and falter, and probably sit down to cry. Almost everyone does, at some point. But once you do, you will get up and keep trying, because whatever else we may become after this moment, here and now you are one of ‘my’ people, and I do not give up on my people. I do not let them give up on themselves.
“Putting on that mask will be a hard habit for you to break; I understand that. But the more you cling to them, the tighter those ‘webbings’ will wrap you. Whatever happens, whenever the habit manifests, whoever else you find yourself donning that mask for, know that you will never need the mask with me. However hurt and damaged the real Horatio may be, I will always prefer knowing the truth of you than meeting a comforting lie. And I know that one day soon, you will learn how to smile yourself, instead of letting the mask do it.”
She holds his gaze for a moment longer, then cups his cheek. “Now, come on,” she adds gently. “This whole town is having a party, and we’re missing it. Let’s go and see if we can find your smile.”
In keeping with her status as ‘ecumenical gesture’, Pavanna has found a place close to the front of the audience, the emblems of Iomedae proudly displayed on her armour and shield. The Inheritor may have no official shrine in Sandpoint’s cathedral, but that doesn’t mean that her church doesn’t approve of its construction and consecration. (Or quietly hope to have an accommodating expansion built in the near future.)
Olivius is in the midst of the crowd about half way back from the front rows. He really has no purpose here other than to watch and laugh at the jokes. He admires Pavanna's uniform and the handsome new cathedral while the dignitaries talk.
Because he's about half way back in the crowd, he manages to get within the front third of the line for grub from Ameiko. His stomach growls as he gets nearer. It's been too long since he had some good curried salmon.
Though Horatio agrees to follow Pavanna around the festival, he spends the next couple of hours in near-silence, thoughts spinning around his head. Things he can't make sense of. Part of him wants to excuse himself, find a quiet spot somewhere to clear his head, but he can't bring himself to do it. So he follows, giving half-smiles as appropriate, answering questions asked of him, and feeling his fingertips itch annoyingly, as they always did when he was distracted.
He watches the speeches, clapping politely at the right times, paying the right amount of attention. Just as he's finding himself wanting to just escape, though, the wagon is uncovered, and thousands of brilliantly-coloured butterflies whirl around the square. He can't help a smile first, then a laugh, as they streak and dance across the sky. He holds up a hand, slowly bringing it down as one of the tiny creatures perches on his finger, slowly flexing its wings. He turns to Pavanna, the smile seemingly stuck in place, still staring at the butterfly.
"I don't know if you've ever been to Old Korvosa, but it's pretty colourless. Everything's grey, and what isn't grey, is brown, or rust. What I'm trying to say, is there's not a lot of colour anywhere. Especially not as brilliant as this." He flicks his finger upward and the swallowtail takes to the sky, joining the thousands of others slowly making their way around. "I miss Korvosa, but I don't miss its achromatic nature. It had its own beauty, but not like this. Culture, yes, and history, and the best damn fried clams you'd ever taste. But not sunsets and butterflies."
He looks around the square, feeling much better, and out of the corner of his eye, catches Olivius looking at Pavanna. It bothers him perhaps more than it should. No need to let it ruin a good mood, though. He turns back to the tiefling, nodding his head in the soldier's direction. "You seem to have an admirer," he mentions, eyebrows raised slightly. "So, is there... anything going on there? Between the two of you? You seem pretty close." He starts heading towards the lunch lines, not paying much attention - still a lot on his mind, after all.
After his preoccupation of the last couple of hours, Horatio’s laughter and bright-eyed wonderment are as unexpected as they are infectious and welcome. And heart-warming. Pavanna finds herself beaming as she looks after the swallowtail that lightened his heart. “I can’t say that surprises me,” she says, almost absently. “From what I’m told, Korvosa is guided by Cheliax, and these days Cheliax is ruled by Hell: ‘The Rules’ are everything, and there’s no room in ‘The Rules’ for colour and life like this. Varisia may be a wild place, with all the attendant dangers, but it gives you the room to breathe and be yourself.”
His comment about Olivius startles a chuckle out of her; her first impulse is to tease him about ‘the competition’, but she squashes it firmly. You asked him for honesty and sincerity, Pavanna. You can give him no less in return. “Olivius? No. We became friends and sparring partners during the trip from Magnimar, but no more than that — at least not on my part,” she returns easily. “Besides, he has an overriding passion for magic, and that gives him more common ground with Saroune than with me. Why do you think I introduced them?”
"Not for a while now. I think Cheliax has been trying to keep its own head above water for most of the current Age. The king's a bit... eccentric, I suppose. Can't say I thought too highly of the queen, either. Though the Hellknights of the Nail used to scare me senseless as a kid. Still do, at times." He shudders visibly, but seems to brush it off, remembering all too well the sound of heavy boots on the cobblestones. "I never thought I'd find myself in a small town like this, though. Always thought I was destined for bigger and better things. But... it's really not that bad. Not great, but not bad. I will miss the colour when I leave, though."
He nods when she speaks of Olivius' passion for magic. "I suppose that makes sense, then. If it hasn't developed naturally by now, his only chance is likely study, and Saroune seems the studious sort. Speaking of passions, what's yours? What is it that drives you to get up in the mornings, that floats at the corners of your mind all day, that lulls you to sleep every night?" He taps the underside of her chin with his bow, raising her face slightly, one eyebrow quirked. "Just what is it that makes you tick?"
Thirzin seems to balance several tankards on top of each other as he walks along, the way he carries them much more successful than double fisting.
"Plenty of booze for a good festival. So he's a cook, huh? And not too bad of an sketch either... He peeks around as Lou works. Obviously, Thirzin doesn't know a good deal about personal space, when he drinks heavily.
But, on the bright side, he still is walking straight!
Lou looks over his shoulder as the dwarf pokes around the line is over there if you want a sketch you can also see some samples right here if you like lou motions to a small table displaying some of the sketches.
one display catches your eye as it resembles Noro
there is also a couple of Amieko as well.
Just mentioning the word ‘Hellknights’ makes Pavanna shiver herself. The Order of the Nail haven’t impressed her with their affability since she came to Varisia, but they’re sweethearts compared to the memories she has of the Order of the Rack.
“I’ve been trained as a soldier for much of my life, but my true passion? History,” she says, her face downright lighting up. “Especially the history of Varisia itself, and Thassilon, the empire that this land used to be some ten eons ago. When you look around Varisia, Thassilon has left so many relics and reminders of its existence — like the Sunken Queen in the Mushfens, or the Irespan in Magnimar, or the Old Light just over there.” She nods to the remnants of the tower at the seaward end of town, getting more and more animated by the moment. “I want to explore them all, piece together the stories behind every one, so the whole world knows what they are, why they were built, what the people who built them were like... if we can unlock the knowledge of those civilisations long gone, we can teach it to the folk of today and they can use it to build a better, brighter world for the generations to come!”
"So you want to piece together the past, to better the future. The thing is, people are always going to have their own ideas of what they want for the present. You can set people on the right path all you want, but if my own small knowledge of history has taught me anything, it's that any and all plans can fall apart in the blink of an eye." He seems to realize that he sounds like a jerk, and quickly adds, "Not that it should stop anyone from trying. And I doubt you're the kind who'd pay attention to my less-educated observations, anyway." He follows her gaze to the Old Light, briefly wondering himself whether it holds any mysteries of its own.
"Well," he says eventually, "I wish you the best of luck on your quest, wherever it may take you. You seem to have it all figured out for yourself, mmm?"
“‘Less-educated’? Perhaps — but you’ve seen and done things I haven’t, so you know things I could never have learned in a classroom,” she returns, resisting the impulse to pinch him for talking himself down again. “And you make a good point: I mean, the Mendevian Crusades were started with high-minded intentions, and too many of those involved used them as an excuse for all manner of abuses and selfishness. One of my teachers was a Tian-born elf who could quote me a pithy saying for any occasion, and one of his favourites was ‘“Life” is what happens while you’re making other plans’.”
“Thank you for the good-wishes. There’s so much to learn, and I suspect I don’t know nearly as much as I think I do — and at the moment, one of the things I don’t know is how we’re supposed to get to the food through all these people!” she quips, eyeing the crowd between them and the lunch-tables. It’s no real surprise that Ameiko’s offerings are so popular, but really, this is almost absurd!
"I did most of my learning on the streets. My parents did what they could, and I was bright enough, but there wasn't a lot of opportunity for formal education, all things considered. I doubt I've done much you haven't. What I have has probably been behind closed doors between two or more consenting adults - and if you've done all that, too, then I suppose I need to step up my game. The most valuable thing I guess I learned in my younger days was how to be likable - charm and wit are good things to have, and Korvosa tends to value confidence. Of course, once I took to music, that was the only thing I cared about." He chuckles, eyeing the line in front of Ameiko. Ah! There was the soldier fellow! Perfect!
"Life's for learning, though. If we stop learning, what's the point? I myself could use a project. Perhaps a new Chelaxian masterpiece to play, or a new language. I'd love to learn Skald. This way, if you don't mind." He leads her closer to the front of the line, feigning surprise when he sees Olivius. He claps the man warmly on the shoulder, a wide grin on his face.
"Well look who we have here! What a lovely surprise! We were just talking about you, weren't we?" He gives Pavanna a conspiratorial wink, smoothly moving into the line behind Olivius as it moves forward, gripping her wrist and nudging her to do the same. he doesn't stop talking for an instant. "How are you enjoying this fine day, good sir?"
A sad smile crossed Saroune's face. "It's not as easy as you make it out to be. Yes, most spells have verbal and somatic components, but there's more to it than that. Being a wizard takes rigorous study and intense mental discipline. Only sorcerers can waggle their arms around and let their dragon's blood do the rest."
She tapped a slender finger against her chin, thinking. "I'll tell you what. I've never had a understudy before. I'm barely more than an apprentice myself. But I'm sure I can help you out. I'd need something in return from you though. You say that 'you're just a soldier' but I'd be willing to bet you have more martial skill than anybody from my caravan. If I help you out with some magic, you could give me some pointers on a fighting style I've been developing. After the festival of course. How does that sound?"
Saroune accompanied Olivius to the dedication, sitting with him during the speech and then following him to the line where the owner of the Rusty Dragon was serving her famous salmon dish. Her nose wrinkled at the smell. It was much spicier than anything that was served among Varisian caravans, but it was good.
Her mind was racing. In the past few days, she had met a number of people that were like her: outcasts, misfits, people without a true sense of place. With her own people, she had always felt like she didn't belong. It was why she chose to devote herself so strongly to her studies, only rarely staying with the caravan. She has always looked for a group of like-minded, adventurous people. Maybe she could find a place among them.
Olivius spots Horatio and Pavanna approaching, and instantly recognizes that smile. If this were the Academy you'd be challenged and pulverized half a dozen times for this, Limp-Wrist. But he doesn't stop them and even puts on his winningest smile as they slide into line. He makes a point of ignoring the sour looks from the next several people in line behind them and makes a show of focusing on his "long lost" friends.
Its been spectacular. I nailed a black kite a while back, ran into some people you may know, Victoria and that Tian fellow of hers, Akisame. I also had a run-in with Thirzin, the dwarf that did the Giant hunting recently, though I suspect he's trying his best to get under a table at the moment.
Olivius positively lights up at the suggestion. Fighting was something he knew, even if it wasn't his choice to learn it. Maybe his was finally the break he needed.
Y-yes! Of course! Any time. His mood was rapidly approaching bouncy. He does a little dance before he catches himself and clears his throat. It would be my honor. So, what do I call you? Master?
Olivius's mood is in a state of controlled bubbliness. His eyes shine and his winningest smile practically shines. He stands taller and talks louder than before, like he just won something.
Saroune beamed, infected by Olivius's enthusiasm. "How about Saroune?
Saroune approached the catering table cautiously, uncertain about the curried salmon. She noticed the Tien woman, the pit fighter from the night earlier. "Noro, is it?" Saroune asked.
Saroune beamed, infected by Olivius's enthusiasm. "How about Saroune?
Saroune approached the catering table cautiously, uncertain about the curried salmon. She noticed the Tien woman, the pit fighter from the night earlier. "Noro, is it?" Saroune asked.
Noro was sitting and enjoying a few ales with the dwarf Thirzin when Saroune approached.
she looks up whosh ashking? Noro responds a little wary at first hoping it isn't somebody wanting revenge or some such nonsense.
Olivius steps up behind Saroune, nods to Thirzin in greeting, then says You probably don't remember us, we were ambushed at your fixed fight. I personally gave that ring master, that guy with the J name, a good smack from my shield for it too.
You were pretty banged up so I'm not surprised if you never noticed, but I'm one of the ones who carried you back to the sheriff's house. It's good to see you up and about already. I was afraid you would be asleep for at least another day.
“Well.... Skald isn’t one of my tongues, but if you want a challenge, I could try my hand at teaching you some Thassilonian.” Then a detail occurs to her, and her face falls. “Uh... but, I don’t know how much call you’ll have to use a language that died almost ten millennia ago. Even if I do achieve my own goals, I doubt it will be used in too many conversations outside of scholarly circles.”
Seeing Olivius in such good cheer delights the tiefling. “‘Thirzin’? So that’s his name! Somehow I kept missing it,” she chuckles. She nods to where the wizard is contemplating the food and adds teasingly, “I’m glad to see you and Saroune have hit it off. Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”
"Well, I've actually been trying to teach myself. I picked up a book of Skald poetry back in Korvosa - cost me a pretty pinch, too, due its rarity. Strong oral traditions and all that. Haven't made a lot of progress yet, but I've picked up a few words. Thassilonian, you say?" He raises his eyebrows in interest. "That... would actually be rather lovely, if you're offering. In my line of work, impressing people is important, and speaking a dead tongue is rather impressive."
To Olivius he says, "That Tian fellow? The one from the fight, who doesn't seem to recognize an enchantment when he sees it?" Damned fool. "Well, it's good to be able to put names to faces. I would have asked them myself, but I've been a little distracted lately. Say, Pavanna and myself were planning on seeing the Sheriff later today, to see what last night was all about. Perhaps we should gather the rest of us together before doing so? After all, as has been pointed out already, we were all targeted for some reason."
He nods to Noro, not finding he has anything to say to her right now. I still need some answers from her... but now's not the time. There are more important things afoot.
Olivius steps up behind Saroune, nods to Thirzin in greeting, then says You probably don't remember us, we were ambushed at your fixed fight. I personally gave that ring master, that guy with the J name, a good smack from my shield for it too.
You were pretty banged up so I'm not surprised if you never noticed, but I'm one of the ones who carried you back to the sheriff's house. It's good to see you up and about already. I was afraid you would be asleep for at least another day.
Noro apparently does not like to be reminded about last night.
yeah, I got pretty banged up. I should of won that fight, anyway, thanksh for sheeing to my well being. mosht would have left me there on the floor.Noro takes a swig of her ale.
[]b anyway I would be ashleep now were it not for a generous gift from shome fellow named Cade or shomething like that[/b]
Olivius's eyes lock on her at the mention of Cade.
Did you see this Cade? I had a note from him this morning as well. got into my room and put it on my equipment without a sound. Or not a sound that woke me in any case.
"Am I missing something? Who is Cade?"
Olivius pauses for a moment before saying, Cade is a mystery. Yesterday I got so fed up with my practice that I nearly threw my book in the ocean. I was really, really frustrated and upset and just not good. Cade stepped in and calmed me down. Then I get a note from him this morning on my gear and apparently, he motions to Noro, So did she.
“And there’s always the fact that it lets you pull some really good pranks on people, too,” she adds impishly.
Pavanna waits for her Academy-trained friend to answer her question, trying to quash a sly smile.
When Horatio adds his pinch of copper about speaking to the Sheriff again, she nods along, having little to add on that score.
The Tian woman’s comment about being left laying makes Pavanna wince. She wants to introduce herself to Noro properly, and to apologise for not doing more to help her last night (and for nursing that teensy grudge over Noro’s now-explicable attack on Horatio)... but she doesn’t get the chance before the fuss over this ‘Cade’ erupts. Her interest piqued, she cocks her head, frowning as she listens intently, but doesn’t break in just yet.
"Cade?" Horatio raises an eyebrow, first to Olivius, then to Noro. "Whoever he is, he sounds a benevolent sort... for now, at least."
Noro finishes her ale then on to her food
never shaw the guy jusht a couple of giftsh, like theshe new clothesh and the elixir.
Seeing Olivius in such good cheer delights the tiefling. “‘Thirzin’? So that’s his name! Somehow I kept missing it,” she chuckles. She nods to where the wizard is contemplating the food and adds teasingly, “I’m glad to see you and Saroune have hit it off. Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”
Olivius can barely control his grin. She's going to help me. Teach me magic! Just simple stuff, but still. And I don't have to pay her gold. I'm going to advise her on some kind of mysterious new style of fighting. He shrugs, Maybe I'll finally get started on this road to magehood. With all she knows about magical theory, she might be able to spot what I'm missing.
He eyes her, returning the teasing undertone, And you seem to have attached yourself to Horatio rather firmly. What about you too?
It makes no sence. Why would someone be doing this. There is no connection between Noro and myself besides that fight.
A mystery indeed. Mind if we join you two?