Well, the tricky part of that is that he is the apprentice of a competing smith. Arthur may have been the target of light pranking from Basher in his younger, wilder days or a cold shoulder now. Basher has a lot of loyalty to his family and might see the presence of native blacksmith as less than conducive to his family's success. If Arthur wants something translated, he'd need to make it worthwhile for Basher.
Although, a thought occurs. If anyone could wrangle Basher into help Arthur with translation, it would be his mother. If Arthur went to his mother first, Basher would begrudgingly agree to help.
Arthur probably wouldn't try to shoe horn him into it, but perhaps he asks Basher's mother if she can translate and she introduces him to her son?
I'm not sure how old you're portraying Basher though. I'm having Arthur turn 16 now, and having his training under the militia thing be a passage into adult hood kind of thing. Granted he's going to be trying to show of his invention but still... Anyway, back to the point! Arthur would have been 11 or 12 when he first started looking for answers to make his shoddily refined black powder more useful, so it's probably around that time that he would have gone looking for help translating some Northspake scrolls his parents had describing different uses for plants found near the fissures.
As for how he might have been and reacted back then Arthur himself would have been rail thin back then, and rather short too. If he spoke at all, it was normally with a reserved air to him, as if he weren't sure how to interact. It wasn't a matter of race either. He seemed like that with everyone. That is, until the translations and the science began. As they progressed through the scrolls he would become more animate, more passionate, and wouldn't know when to shut up then.
What do you think? Would Basher's mother direct Arthur to her son? How would Basher, however old he was, react to such a curious youth as Arthur?
I was going to have Basher be a bit older than the others so probably 18. He'd have been around 15 or 16 at the time. He was raised to be bilingual and his mother could have seen the translations as a chance to practice his High Nortspake. Basher probably would not be all that friendly at first, until he saw the end result of his assistance.
Let's face it, adolescents and explosions get along like a house on fire.
So Basher's interest in the project would likely grow and Arthur would get to benefit from his sundry skills and the fact that he was the closest thing to a juvenile delinquent Danel has. Other kids picking on the reedy little bookworm? Not when his scary Northerner buddy shows up. Need someone to calm down old man Jenkins after an explosion sent delicate testing apparatus through his window? Basher is a good talker.
That is hilarious. And Arthur might have taught a few things to Basher too if he wanted. Arthur's family had a library. Probably more then just a few scrolls on Northern Culture and Arthur would be more then happy to share what he had. Plus, you know, explosives.
If the two became friends, Baxter would probably know about Arthur's invention too. Though he might not realize Arthur intends to unveil it during the training they're set to go too. XD
So Basher is hanging with Arthur for the pyrotechnics? If you needed another or earlier incentive for Basher, 'Ata' is in good with a local innkeep and his daughter. :)
It's too presumptuous to guess at that exact three making the cut, so here's license to run with it if Asa doesn't make it.
@ Arthur
That would work out well. I'd been thinking of characterizing his future magical abilities as somehow being able to implement Urlander forging techniques to produces magical weapons. He'd need a place to find these techniques.
@Asa
Basher is also not above exploiting friends for free meals.
Also, it would be vaguely hilarious if Basher, usually the talker of the two, had no idea how to talk to Asa.
@Basher (well, Arthur, too)
It's not a 'free' meal, it's a tavern, they make a living at it. I suppose if Arthur's paying, it's free for Basher. :)
And yeah, fumbling teen speechlessness is good comedy. I see the scene as Basher sitting with Arthur, not being able to talk to Asa, because "those eyes..." (maybe he says to Arthur after she leaves). Then I see him standing up later, and Asa's right there, so the height thing is so apparent, and she is speechless. And an oblivious Arthur is comedy gold, and the father's voice from off camera, "ASA!", possibly as her scarf falls back because she's looking practically straight up...
I think that's good stuff.
Arthur would probably pay for a meal here or there if asked. Especially if he's not paying attention.
Alrighty, folks. Sorry to have kept you waiting longer than anticipated, but the Presidential election kinda swept me up in a storm of stress. Now that's over, I can breathe again, and let's do this thing.
Drum roll please...without further ado:
The final cut.
Asa bint Aangul, who will be wielding the weapons of her ancestors in a fight for the future of her world.
Arthur Grayson, who knows that the destiny of many can only be changed by the vision of a few.
Baxter 'Basher' Ames, the son of a dying nation that still remembers hope.
Caderyn, you had some great ideas coming down the pipe, and I'm real sorry to see you go, but I think Caderyn's a guy I'd rather see pop up later in the story - these three are a bit more integrated with Danel. If you like, I can keep you in mind for a little further on when options have expanded and I feel like I can manage more than three people. Also, would you mind if I used Logyr? It's your idea, so if you'd rather I didn't include it, that's totally cool, but I have uses for it if that's okay.
And now, we're moving to a discussion thread, 'cause...well, it's time do discuss. Onward ho!
Feel free to use Lloegyr; I didn't actually invent it so much as plagiarize Bernard Cornwell wholesale.
(I have a setting of my own where I have made rather more substantial changes to the same basic culture, but with less of a theme of invasion.)
You'll probably have to PM me to make sure I notice if you feel you can support another player, but that works for me.
And so I shall. Thanks for all your time.