Finwe Yrinsil
"Tomorrow be here at daybreak. From now on you wait and listen. Then if needed, you ask. Remember one mouth , two ears. Use them and learn."
The wood elf turns about and collects the arrows into his quiver, hoists the longbow, adjusts his short swords and moves off.
Taya at Sorda's
"It sounds perfect. I will work Master Sorda, I really will."
Taya smiles a little wryly.
"My mother is making marriage noises at me - she thinks I'm too like father and need to be settled before I lose my reputation. Believe me, if I could put an invisible hand over her mouth sometimes, I would. It upsets Nagy when she goes on about it. He's my brother."
Pausing for a second and looking cautiously at Sorda she goes on.
"I don't have the right to ask I know, but - why are you so willing to help me? Is it anything to do with my father? He said he'd known you for years."
Vladimir looks at the soldier's wound and tries to remeber the teachings of old Movvumn, seeing an actual wound like this frightens Vladimir a bit, he recalls the teaching but struggles with its application when he sees a living breathing patient in pain. Taking a deep breath he attempts to put his nerves aside and apply the techings of Old Movvumn. "Ok sir if I can get you to sit down I can help with that splinter" Vladimir stammers trying to hide his apprehension. As he starts to make a ring with one of the bandages, his hands tremble with nerves, taking a deep breath and saying a silent prayer he does his best to clam down.
Korgoth soaks in the training with Feisam, learning the ways to defend oneself with the Drak o'fury dagger. When he finishes his grooming chores and exercising the mounts around the stableyard, Korgoth likes to roam the wilder spots where village bullies like Jeridd Kinslorn can't easily find him. Korgoth feels free of cares when surrounded by the forest.
Finwe Yrinsil
"Tomorrow be here at daybreak. From now on you wait and listen. Then if needed, you ask. Remember one mouth , two ears. Use them and learn."
The wood elf turns about and collects the arrows into his quiver, hoists the longbow, adjusts his short swords and moves off.
Finwe retunrs sleepily to her makeshift camp in the bole of an aged oak. She climbs up into its nest-like branchings and takes from its wrapping the elvish shortbow she has had these many years. She tries to string it, but stops, then climbs back down and returns to the Cashel. on the way she eats her leftover food, and when she arrives, she meditates on the highest point in the area, uplifted face directed to the spot where the sun will first break at dawn.
Korgoth Darkhand
By the third month, the erratic lessons are progressing as best they can.
Sometimes interrupted by drink, sometimes by urgent stable work and lastly there is Asfer.
She is a pretty little waif that enjoys sitting in the hayloft, swinging her legs. She also likes to follow Korgoth around with her big eyes on him and her mouth filled with questions. Why is her favourite word.
After one lesson finishes she brings Korgoth a bucket of water and cloth to wipe himself down.
"Why are you doing all this?"
Vladimir Wilhelm
The soldier nearly jumps as the bandage tightens.
His howl bounces off the ceiling, "there is some blasted splinter left in!"
Taya Risper
"Yes, its so long ago I forget," answers the man and he looks away at the fireplace.
"Now you can start by cleaning everywhere. Don't break nothing, I'm going for a walk. Back in a jiffy."
---
When he leaves , he closes the door behind him, not paying much attention to whether the work is being done.
Finwe Yrinsil at the Cashel
Running Fox enters the clearing and puts the bow down.
"Fair weather on this day means a good start. I am glad to see you already here waiting."
He pulls out an old dagger from his small backpack. "Leave the stick and have this."
He paces out ten feet from a large tree and scores the ground, "let us begin."
Daetha Tain
The first true lesson is as different from all before as night is to day. No, it is like seeing things for the first time in colour.
The natural cycle of life and interconnection of every source of life is bewildering at first. By noon, the wood elf stops the flow of information.
He hnads over a little elven bread and goats cheese with some wild herbs. To wash the food down, Running Fox offers a pure silver flask.
"Metheglin? It is refreshing."
Without waiting for an answer, he lifts up and hands over the longbow. "You asked about this last time. The weapon of a wilderness runner, a ranger. What do you think? Now is the time for you to ask and I shall answer."
Taya at Sorda's
As Sorda leaves, Taya half-smiles. Clean up. Well, that makes sense. He didn't say throw anything away, he just said don't break anything. So, let me see what I can do.
Taya hunts for a bit of cloth and carefully moves every pot, jar and canister she can find onto the table, putting them down in the exact order she removed them. Then she cleans the shelves, dusting out the corners and dampening the cloth to scrub away years of stains.
Only when the shelves themselves are as clean as she can get them does she turn her attention to the various containers. She picks up each one and tests the stoppers, making sure none of them are sticking, but doesn't open anything fully. Some of them are labelled, some not and while the contents of most seem to be either dried or preserved in oil, there are some things she can't identify at all.
Absorbed in her task and more than half hypnotised by the contents of the jars, she takes no notice of passing time.
Bethsemane at Sorda's
"Hmphh!" faintly comes out of the room.
The door is now four inches wide, but no other sound can be heard. What little the half-orcess can see is of a wooden wall covered in shelves of bottles and jars that glint in the sunlight.
Overcome by curiosity, Bethsemane pushes the door open wider to get a better look at all the bottles and jars. There must be some amazing spell components in those! she thinks, and before she knows it she's inside, inspecting the labels on the jars, breathing in the spicy, herby aromas.
Almost as an afterthought she says, "Your door was open. Hope you don't mind if I come in. Wow, look at all these things! What are they used for?"
Bethsemane
Bethsemane hears another groan from behind his inspection of the wall of jars and bottles.
Sat at the table is an old man. His face is in a rictus, straining and teeth showing tight together. The neck muscles are spasming. Further down, the man is gripping the sides of a large book open before him on the table.
Beads of sweat roll down his forehead and round both his eyes, they are agonising over a distant point.
"Huuuh, drrrraaahhh---cuuuurr, mmmmehh, ooowww."
Bethsemane sees a wound slash open down his cheek, spilling blood down the straight neck.
Holding the dagger, Finwe's face creases into one of her rare but crookedly cute smiles. Holding the wicked blade, almost as long as her slender fore-arm, she feels what the catshie with extended claws must feel. So natural, so deadly.
Finwe steps up to the line with every intention of chopping the old oak in half.
Daetha Tain
"Metheglin? It is refreshing."
Without waiting for an answer, he lifts up and hands over the longbow. "You asked about this last time. The weapon of a wilderness runner, a ranger. What do you think? Now is the time for you to ask and I shall answer."
Daetha nods. “Yes,” meaning the Metheglin, but Running Fox is already asking about the bow. He gulps down the smooth liquid.
“Yes,” he repeats, looking up at the elf with eagerness shining in his eyes. “Sir, I would dearly like to learn how to use such a bow – would you teach me? Is it a weapon of war, or of hunting?”
"Oops sorry sir let me get that out" Vladimir loosens the bandage and attempts to remove the rest of the splinter "Sorry sir, Old Movvumn will be able to take a look at this very soon" Vladimir states sheepisishly
Korgoth Darkhand
By the third month, the erratic lessons are progressing as best they can.
Sometimes interrupted by drink, sometimes by urgent stable work and lastly there is Asfer.
She is a pretty little waif that enjoys sitting in the hayloft, swinging her legs. She also likes to follow Korgoth around with her big eyes on him and her mouth filled with questions. Why is her favourite word.
After one lesson finishes she brings Korgoth a bucket of water and cloth to wipe himself down.
"Why are you doing all this?"
Korgoth grins at the small waif. He is used to annoying questions from his sisters, and feels lonely since they had to be sent to the Refuge.
"'Cause I know there ain't no one out there going to tkae care of me but myself, Asfer. It's not fair, but it's true. If I don't learn the mean folks'll just keep treating me bad."
"Oh no!" Bethsemane rushes forward, trying to aid the old man in any way she can. A jumble of thoughts races through her head. Maybe some invisible monster is attacking him! Or a ghost! Is that Raggedy Sorda? His house must be haunted! Or he's ill. Having a seizure. Fairies could be attacking him! "What should I do?" she cries.
She flails about at the air to see if anything is there attacking him, ready to turn and run if a ghost suddenly shows itself from beyond the grave.
Finwe Yrinsil
Running Fox points again, "give it your best and try to learn for yourself from each throw. The dagger is made for throwing and should help. Think about the way you stand, the way you breathe and the way you throw."
Daetha Tain
"Yes, it is a weapon of war and, yes, it is a weapon for hunting. Yes, you may try it," adds the elf with a twinkle in his eye.
As Daetha attempts to pull the whitewood bow, the wood elf looks over to the woods and listens slightly.
Vladimir Wilhelm
The doors spring open behind Vladimir as the old woman appears. Just in time since the soldier looked ready to get angry with his inept nurse.
She ushers him in and gives Vladimir a very nasty look. Quickly she starts to repair the damage and explains, "he's new, shows promise but sometimes tries too hard. We had an emergency so I guess he just wanted to help."
Over in the far bed, the Rhennee woman is sleeping peacefully.
Korgoth Darkhand
"Then you can protect me!" her eyes are shining.
Bethsemane
As she thrashes around, Beth does not find anything, no ghost or worse is hiding in the air. But in her mad attacks, the old man is bumped. He keels over sideways until he hits the ground, the book still firmly gripped in his hands.
From where Bethsemane stands the large fiery skull embedded in the front of the book can be seen moving in silent laughter.
Sorda suddenly starts as if shocked.
Korgoth smiles at Asfer
"'Course I will. I'll make sure no one hurts you."
Korgoth returns to his practice, trying to get the wrist flick movement correct.
Korgoth Darkhand
He gets lots of hugs for that over the next few days. But the questions never cease.
In time she will grow up into a very pretty girl, but that is all in the future. Asfer also helps as a friend covering for Feisam and doing the odd job around the stables.
The girl also helps Korgoth with his letters and he with hers. The only thing left around are The Battles against the Evil Temple and Stories of the Animals in the Woods.
Orick Faust
It is market day, early in springtime and the last of the major rains have finished. The wagons began to roll in yesterday evening, bringing with them the many merchants and their wares. Some call this the first fair of the year.
The Lord Kuiper has already had each one inspected and his two Collectors will remain around throughout the day to ensure no business takes place with out the Lord's Tax being paid.
Hortin of Narwell trundled in with his garish red and green wagon, behind him followed the much smaller Tillispey on a mule pulling a clanking tinker's cart.
They are busy setting up alongside everyone else in the market square. A steady stream of travellers from Shelleton and the other outlying homesteads have arrived also, all with wares to barter. The Collectors make notes.
The ale tent opens early and with the crisp, clear day is soon busy.
Hortin is looking around hopelessly with a badly holed wooden bucket swinging in one hand.
Korgoth learns his letters more by helping Asfer than anything else. The thoughts of the heroes in the books inspire him, and the stories of the animals make him thoughtful. He helps Asfer as much as he can with her letters, figuring that the more she knows the better able she will be later to survive life's twists. Always in the back of his mind is the thought that bad times are coming, and he must prepare for the worst.
Taya Risper
Taya Risper
As she works, Taya looks for patterns in the way the bottles and jars are stored.
There must be some kind of sense in it, if only I could see it.
She concentrates on trying to work out why the items should be laid out in just this way and the exercise is quite hypnotic.
Finwe Yrinsil
Running Fox points again, "give it your best and try to learn for yourself from each throw. The dagger is made for throwing and should help. Think about the way you stand, the way you breathe and the way you throw."
Finwe pulls herself up to her full stature and lets the dagger fly! And again... and again... and again.
Daetha takes the bow in hand, examining it in wonder for a few moments, before testing the taut string. He grips it in the manner he has at times observed hunters in the wood do, closes his eyes, and attempts to bend the strong wood.
Orick always sort of liked Hortin, he had a smooth way of talking, and his gnome assistant seemed pretty neat as well. Orick can't help but notice the bucket and wonder why a man who employs a tinker would have a bucket with a hole in it. Perhaps it's a prop of some sort. Orick glances around and sees that no one at the moment is paying the merchant much interest so Orick creeps out of his hiding hole and approaches the man.
"G'afternoon Mr Hortin," Orick says, "nice weather we're having. Couldn't help noticing that your bucket has a hole or two in it. Not too lucky having a bucket with a hole in it you know. Plus it makes fetching water harder for sure."
Bethsemane gently prods the old man with her staff. "Master Sorda, are you all right?" she timidly asks. "Are you ill? What just happened?"
Bethsemane
His lips are blue and his fingers tight white on the book.
"Daarraaaa..guuuuumm...llluuuu....reeeeeeemee."
Raggedy Sorda's back arches again in a violent spasm long after Beth prods him.
Orick Faust
The man beams down at Orick. He hands over the useless bucket, "get me a full one of water. I need it now for the show. Be quick!"
Looking around the market, the posh Swanmay Inn and a couple of homes cover two sides and the main store, the third.
Further away is the Scabbard's Inn and that has a stables and a big water trough. But it would take the boy many minutes to drag back a full load.
Daetha Tain
The bow is almost solid but with great effort, Daetha starts to pull it. Before he can enjoy the moment, the previously distracted Running Fox springs into action. He grabs it out of his hands, "hochebi! hide!"
Not looking back, the elf leaps away across the camp clearing to the far bushes and trees. He is gone.
"Garkka!" comes a call out of the shadows. Not far away.
Finwe
The dagger flies true and deep into the wood twice. Twice it just drops out the bark and lands at the roots.
The other two times warrant a search as the dagger flips passed the trunk into the bushes.
"You have style, talent and pluck. A lesser person would have given up. I see a future with this weapon."
Then the day's lesson begins. The elf drives Finwe hard and uses her love of totem's to portray the use of a small dagger.
By the break, Finwe has been at it for hours, not her usual half-hearted attempts with the stick.
"I have a question for you which I would have an answer for. Why are you here, Finwe? What does all this skulking lead to in your mind?"
Taya Risper
There was some sense in the way that the small body parts and powders and herbs were separated. But they all lack labels. The beauty is the sheer choice, since most of the containers have something beyond her ken.
The door to the other room is slightly ajar and as Taya cleans she can see in a little. The far wall is covered in scraps of paper like the leaves on a tree.
Taya Listen check DC15 (due to distraction)
Nagy and/or Taya Risper
Mother Risper wants some special animal feed from the market. The Narwell animal merchant, Vulart, may have some.
"Nagy, do you and Taya wish to fetch some beech nuts from Vulart for me? He should be at the market today and there is no militia training until later, is there?"
She thinks on, "look I can go if you would rather fix the Long fences."
Taya Risper
There was some sense in the way that the small body parts and powders and herbs were separated. But they all lack labels. The beauty is the sheer choice, since most of the containers have something beyond her ken.
The door to the other room is slightly ajar and as Taya cleans she can see in a little. The far wall is covered in scraps of paper like the leaves on a tree.
Taya Listen check DC15 (due to distraction)
** spoiler omitted **
Taya Risper
Absorbed in this new and entrancing world, Taya hears nothing. Her attention is drawn to the open door however.
He just said "clean up". He never said where, and everything is probably a test. Well, when I've finished the bottles, I'll check on Epon and look at the other room.
Although there's no sense in what she sees, the contents of the bottles and their possibilities are as exciting and stimulating as breaking a yearling and seeing the potential unfold. Even with no idea of what she's looking at, the sheer possibilities are thrilling.
Finally reaching the point when there is really nothing more left to clean, she makes sure Epon has enough water, throws down a small bundle of hay and moves into the room she saw earlier.
If the bottles were entrancing, this is something beyond her dreams. The Risper household does not have many books and those are stud records for the most part. This is something completely alien, but somehow very familiar.
Nagy and/or Taya Risper
Mother Risper wants some special animal feed from the market. The Narwell animal merchant, Vulart, may have some.
"Nagy, do you and Taya wish to fetch some beech nuts from Vulart for me? He should be at the market today and there is no militia training until later, is there?"
She thinks on, "look I can go if you would rather fix the Long fences."
Taya/Nagy Risper
"Of course we'll go mother. It'll be good to visit the market. Nagy - will you to come on an errand with me?"
Vladmir is a bit embarassed, and a bit shamed at his inability to fix the man, he quickly becomes distracted and walks over to the Rhenne woman and wonders in amazement at how much better she is doing, he reaches out a hand as if to touch her, but pulls it back realising she needs her rest. Vladimir continues his chores.
[ooc]I'm sorry but I may be feeling a bit florid right now, I will try to tone it down a bit but... ((shrugs))
Finwe lies down on a rock at the mid-day break, her little leaf-like body fluttering in the mild spring (?) breezes. She processes all she has learned as her hands grope for sustenance, finally settling on a borrowed waterskin.
Weakened by the day's activities, Finwe listens to Running Fox and when he asks her a question, her starry-pupilled eyes come to focus, and she sits up, her elven energy giving her body all the sustenance it needs, but at what price? It mattered not. "All my seasons in this wood I have watched mothers bear their litters and then their litters litters. I can name for you the forefathers of the squirrel in yonder tree. They are a fruitful clan, the black-two-stripes are."
She pauses, and finds a rind from last night's feast to gnaw on. In elvish she continues. "I have watched the way of the night-breeds as well. They are efficient at keeping the forest in check, they mete out the justice that the balance provides, as described to me by the clerics of Corustaith. I want to leave the woods of my youth and bring the justice that I have learned to the world of man and elf. Of orc and giant, and all that are deserving."
He called them totems. She has never heard the word before, but as they eat their meal, she clasps the dagger tightly and looks upon its talon form. The curve of nature she sees in the twisted blade. She has found the means at last to mete out the justice that boils in her blood, like the fire of the elven aristocrats, so brightly do their eyes shine with the Eladrin days.
"Or, in other words, I want to be the best predator in these woods, and out of them as well." Never has she spoken thus, to anyone, including herself. SHe didnt even know she knew the words.
Daetha stands bewildered for a brief moment, wondering what is happening, and what Running Fox meant. Is this part of the lesson? Somehow he thinks not … and the elf said to hide.
Suddenly feeling scared, the boy looks about for a place to hide, then suddenly spies the silver flask on the ground in the middle of the clearing. If Running Fox wants him to hide, he should also hide any sign that they’ve been here.
He snatches up the flask, putting it within his shirt, then looks around for a hiding place, in the opposite direction to where Running Fox went – and away from where he hears the cry (does it sound like the elf, or someone else?)
"Nagy, do you and Taya wish to fetch some beech nuts from Vulart for me? He should be at the market today and there is no militia training until later, is there?"
She thinks on, "look I can go if you would rather fix the Long fences."
Taya/Nagy Risper
"Of course we'll go mother. It'll be good to visit the market. Nagy - will you to come on an errand with me?"
Nagy, who had been lost in thought, looks up, startled. "Oh, of course, mother. Yes, Taya, I'll come."
The man beams down at Orick. He hands over the useless bucket, "get me a full one of water. I need it now for the show. Be quick!"
"Sure thing sir," Orick says rolling the bucket over in his hands, "but you being an honest man must realize that buckets aren't free, and if I were to borrow one from one of my neighbors without asking they might not look too kindly on me. I don't want to get in trouble."
Orick Faust
The big merchant is already turning back to his water spring machine when - "you still here?"
The eyes momentarily redden then he grins and laughs out loud, "I see, payment up front. Right. Take this and keep what you don't spend. I want a good bucket, one, two, three, four, five silver, there you go. Now go! Ha Ha Ha."
He returns to his work laughing at the cheeky youth. In the background, a gnomish head pops up from the cart and grins at Orick.
Taya and Nagy Risper
The market is beginning to fill up when the reach the square. Next to them is the burnt All-Shrine and just in front of it, a small troupe of halflings are setting up a tent while cartwheeling and doing flips to entertain the crowd.
Further in towards Kuiper's Store, they can see that Vulart is already busy working the farmers showing off his latest wares. He is a tall, slim man with a drooping moustache and a ponytail in a silver collar ring.
The man always looked good.