Wyssal is strolling along the street when she (figuratively) bumps into Dagny. Wyssal smiles and gives her a quick wave.
"Hi, what's up? I didn't expect to see anyone from last night up and about this early."
" Sorry, I was headinf back to get my gear. Apparently herb gathering is...more dangerous...than..wait Wyssal did you not get up to meet us for herb collexting?" The short blonde girl asked looking to the Halfling with a quozzical expression.
"My body is used to getting up early for prayer", Darius shared, holding his forehead for a moment. "Despite how hungover I might be."
The paladin made a small smile.
Larry glances at Darius and grins. "Hangover? Two options for that. The first is the called the hair of the dog. Really simple as it is just a mug of the ale that you were drinking the previous night. But, my favorite hangover remedy is a big mug of water and about an hour of hard exercise. You just ignore the pain and sweat it out of you! That's what I do every morning. I skipped my usual sword work this morning but did my usual workout. End it with a cold scrub to get the sweat and stink off. That's sure to have you ready for whatever the day has for you!"
Darius holds up his hand to the caydenite. "I am sure I will be fine. If the act of harvesting herbs does help, I am certain the walk will."
The paladin turns to the elf. "Which reminds me: Tomodai. I am not well versed in forest lore. Which plants will be looking for exactly?"
"Oh not just plants, reagents are of three types, animal, plant and mineral so I will be looking for all three unless someone else has knowledge of what they are and/or what to look for when searching. However, if interested I can explain what I am doing and what I found for future reference."
"Animal? So we're hunting too? Glad I brought my bow with me. Maybe we should have gotten a horse to carry any animal bodies if they're heavy? And what will we do with the meat if that's not part of what is needed? We could carry it back to Ameiko so she could add it to the menu...."
Wyssal cocks her head, now looking puzzled.
"What? Herb collecting? Why? When was this talked about? Did I agree to go looking for plants? I don't know anything about plants."
" I believe you did, you did drink alot so maybe you forgot? Tomo will tell us what we need. I left them with fresh bread, fruit, and spreads, also cheese and travel bacon." She says with a smile.
" I have to get foing though, my services with my weapons may be needed" she then as she begins to leave." They are at the bridge!"
A certain degree of mild annoyance creeps in to mix with the confusion on Wyssal's face.
"I dunno. Tomo is the elf, right? I don't remember really talking to him. Is this supposed to take long?"
Wyssal really hadn't planned on an outing, or any exertion of any kind, for the day ahead. Just some breakfast to start things off, then going to check in on her bees. But, she can't know conclusively that she didn't say she'd go. And if she did and didn't, she might feel bad for not keeping her word, although she can't think of a particular reason why she might potentially feel bad. Still... at least there's food.
"Ugh! Fine! There better not be mud or nettles. And we better be back by lunch. Who's stupid idea was it to do this so early?"
Wyssal falls in line after Dagny, following her.
" Early, I have been up since before dawn" She says getting to the brothel and getting into the basement to grab her gear.
Wyssal waits for Dagny outside. She's a bit put out, her arms crossed and muttering to herself.
"'Up since before dawn'. Well bully for you. Somebody hand you a trophy. It's not normal though. This should have been planned better..."
" Its Not?" She says honestly as she lokked arou d.
" I mean save those who have ro work at night I wasnt sure. I know the Lads chastised the members who didnt raise early, I just now for me I worship Sarenrae when the sun raises. So I bake or tinker before" She says as she finishes straping her scale mail togethwr and then having her weapons all about her.
" Next Time we could do a lunch activity" She says with a smile.
" That way you can help me with rhe whole couplinf thing? I know about friendships but other than that Im better at setting up a tent, making a great campsote and well.watching camp, mending clothes and armor.Sharpening blades and all the other things I did as an Apprentice" She admitted.
Tomo smiles a bit at Larry's statements and then says, "Well I highly doubt your bow will be needed for the animals I was planning on looking for. I mean an arrow would most likely completely obliterate one and as for the meat well that will completely fit within one of the containers I brought. Now, however, if you want to hunt for something larger to give to Ameiko when we get back I am sure we can do that as well." Tomo enjoys some of the sweets that Dagny had brought but does not eat overly much.
Dagny clothes herself in all her armor and gear. As she gets back up form the basement she smiles at Wyssal and hands the halfling a muffin."Here I baked this for the staff, but stole one to give to you to thank you for waiting. Its blueberry, and put fresh butter on it." She says with a smile to the halfling, now in her armor and carrying her shield and other weapons.
The paladin grew anxious, so Darius drew his rapier and began to have mock battles with himself as he past the time.
Tomo watches Darius for a bit and then asks, "So Darius may inquire have you studied dancing?"
"I have taken instruction from a few Shelynite clerics, but I haven't had much exposure thanks to Sandpoint's rural dance styles," Darius explains. "So I'm not in good practice."
"Well I have not focused on the art of sword play but many Elves feel that it is much more appropriate with a slashing blade due to the nature of how the chaos of battle lends more to circular curving movements rather than linear piercing movements. For they believe by focussing on the linear style you greatly limit your maneuverability which within the chaotic field of battle means you open yourself up to attacks that you would have otherwise not been present for had you moved laterally instead of linearly. Now I being someone whose focus is on the art of magic, simply know that Elven sword wielders learn the art of dance in order to help aid them in their ability to move more fluidily upon the field of battle. As the art of dance is very akin to the art of sword play and we even call it the dance of swords and someone that practices it a Sword Dancer."
Larry stands up and moves over by Darius and Tomo. "Dance? The only dance I know is with my sword." He draws his sword and takes a defensive stance. "But my fighting style isn't like Darius's." He takes a step forward switching to an attack, swinging through the imaginary enemy. "My sword slashes the enemy. His skewers the enemy. His style needs agility."
He swings a few more attacks then sheaths the sword again. "But I already did my exercise for the morning." He nods to Darius. "Your style is trained sword dancing." He grins at Tomo. " Mine is self taught brute fighting. But both work. If we find any more goblins I'll be happy to fight side by side with you."
"Ah well I would much prefer to let you do all that fighting as the art of magic is best done from a distance due to how that art plays out. Further while brute fighting is a style of fighting it is hardly efficient nor practical when one considers all the options available to oneself. Still I am not speaking upon a subject I know a lot about so I cannot address the various nuances and such that outline the faulty aspects of the various styles. Now while many Elves do focus on Sword Dancing, there are those that focus more on the more linear fencing style, however we, not being a race of brute force, rarely entertain a style that would lend benefits to that since we are not physically designed for that. However, we have learned to fight most effectively against it as that is the favored style of most Orks and Goblinoids."
"Makes sense", Darius agrees. "Among Shelynites, the focus on polearm proficiency is preferred. But I lack the right combination of Strength and Dexterity to be as effective as I should. So I use the lesser rapier as my perferred weapon."
"Whether you chop off a head or skewer through the abdomen into a heart.... The enemy dies, and that's what matters. There weren't any elven blade masters around to train with when I was growing up. Besides, humans don't live as long as elves, so I don't know if their styles could even be learned."
"Yes you humans have such short span of life so focussing on a specific art has been something few of you have focused upon. Still I am aware there are some that have adopted a version of what we Elves do and adapted it to their shorter life spans with incredible results, well... in human standards that is. Still it matters not per se as long as you focus on learning whatever art of combat you have chosen, just know that certain styles are much easier to counter than others. This of course is something we Elves understand as well and while we will focus upon a specific art fairly exclusively until we have perfected that art, we then do move onto another art based upon what interests us the most. Still most if not all Elves will rarely pursue a style that relies upon a high strength as most of us do not have that type of build and while we can have powerful muscles we rarely get the level of strength that other races do. Thus perhaps for you the brute force art is your best focus but the question is do you pursue learning how to raise it to its best pinnacle or do you even consider it an art where learning other arts might augment the specific art you are focused upon. Like I said dance magnifies ones ability to implement the most effective combat style associated with slashing weapons so the question then is begged is their any other art that would augment the style you have chosen. Just food for thought and totally up to you if you choose to pursue the ultimate goal of your art to be the best at what you do or if you simply get by until you get bested and can no longer pursue anything."
Darius blinks at Lawerence. "Goodness. I never realized elves could be so ..verbose."
-
Tomo smiles at the comment by Darius and replies, "Well I imagine you have not visited too many Elven establishments nor met many Elves as we can be quite congenial when speaking with others we know are not out to try and exploit us which for humans are not that many." He then gives Darius a conspiratorial wink, letting him know he had read his intent and was in turn playing in return.
Larry sprawls on the ground again. "And here we are again, waitin' on the women. There aught to be a song about that.... but I'm not a Bard!"
Darius smirks, trying not to smile too wide. "I'm sure there is somewhere."
Larry chuckles and rolls to his side so he can watch the road coming out of town. When he sees Dagny and Wyssal coming he 'sings' out,
Dagny looks to Wyssal." Let us go. I feel uneasy, though I am a bit hungry and I need something more than bread"
"Thanks!"
Wyssal dives right into eating the muffin as she and Dagny start walking. While Wyssal feels something maybe is a little off, she shrugs off the notion without mentioning it.
Dagny will lead Wyssal towards the others.
'This should be fun. I haven't been on an Adventure in a few years. Just...make sure it doesn't go dark ok" Dagny says softly.
He waves and smiles, "Hey cutey!"
The aasimar pinches the bridge of his nose in embarrassment over Larry's antics.
"Good morning, ladies", Darius said.
Wyssal's eyes widen at the final part of Dagny's remark.
"Go dark? What are you talking about? Aren't we looking for berries, or mushrooms, or grubs, or whatever?"
Wyssal waves back in greeting to Darius and Lawrence and immediately starts rooting around in the food basket. One muffin a breakfast does not make.
" True, Forget I said anything" she says looking down at her hands.
Dont think about. You are not alone and the Sun is out Sarenrae isn't gonna let the dark creep in.
Larry rolls to his feet and strolls over to the basket and Wyssal. "We've been discussing the fine art of swordsmanship. Darius and Tomo had some interesting views of dancing while fighting. I've never learned how to dance. Perhaps you might teach me some time?"
The smile on his face indicates that he might(?) be kidding....
" Oh like the pointy end goes in the other guy." she giggles as she then continues.
"From what my master taught me many styles of sword mimic the moments of dancers. The Scimitar and Raiper both do."
"Perhaps we can dance, or spar some time. Not now, obviously. After the regent-gathering." Darius smiled.
" My master did say swordplay is improved the more you test it against the willing" She says as she taps her chin.
" Okay, though we will need practice swords. And I am more adept with Shield and Scimitar. So if we go sans shield I will need a refresher" she says with a sincere smile.
Wyssal seems a bit thrown by by Larry's request.
"I suppose? I'm not really much of a dancer. I sing."
Larry shrugs at Wyssal's response. "Probably shouldn't then. I might step on your feet and hurt you. I thought that an entertainer might know how to teach someone like me...."
Wyssal launches into a a brief explainer for Larry, since she's never really talked about her professional life with anyone present.
"Well, here's the thing. There's a big difference between social dancing, which I can do a little, and dancing as a performer. Odette dances as a performer. She has certain advantages that make it a natural choice for her. She's human, and so are most of the people wherever we stop on our caravan routes. She's gorgeous, and she has this pair of shapely long legs, a tiny waist... You get the idea."
"I'm not exactly that." Wyssal thrusts out one of her quite short legs. "I might be curvier than Odette, but the size of the package is on the small side for moving it around in all the best ways, if you get what I mean."
"So I sing. I have an usually low and rich voice for a halfling. Also, I can belt, quite a lot of volume for my size. Anyway, I really should introduce you to Odette."
Larry listens carefully to Wyssal's reply. The expression on his face shows.... concern?
"Well.... Sure I guess. As long as you won't get embarrassed? I mean, I'm just a hick from this little town. I've never been anywhere except down the road guarding the caravan back and forth between Sandpoint and Magnamar. I'm not dumb or anything, just inexperienced...."
"As far as her being gorgeous? Well, I haven't seen her, but you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen, halfling, human, or elf for that matter!"
Darius smiles to himself, asking a silent prayer to The Eternal Rose for Lawrence.
Dagny laughs as she looks at lawrence and the others and it reminds her of her time with the Lads. Though the only girl she did know when the guys were flirting with other women.