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Post by Omni on Dec 31, 2014 19:02:54 GMT -5
Index: That one night, after Sieg had his nightmare again, Orrin had held the half-elf, hoping to give him some measure of comfort while letting him release some of his pains and frustrations. Eventually, tiredness took over, and they drifted off to sleep. The next morning, the knights found themselves waking up, still wrapped in their hug. Sieg, who generally slept pretty lightly after one of his nightmares, was the first to rouse, and was somewhat bemused to find that the two of them had fallen asleep in that position. It was funny, in a mildly embarrassing sort of way, but he was grateful the half-dwarf had actually stuck by him all that time; it wasn’t something people usually did, often opting to leave him to his own devices and go back to sleep. He pulled gently away, giving the half-dwarf a prod on the shoulder to rouse him. The half-dwarf woke with a slight start, though he soon realized what had happened. He too was somewhat embarrassed to have found himself waking up holding Sieg, but above all, he was amused at the whole thing. With a yawn, he suggested that the two of them return to their separate bedrolls and get some more shut-eye before the sun came out. Not at all averse to this plan, Sieg agreed. After some more rest and a day’s more travel, the knights found themselves back at Haflinger. One of the first things Orrin did once they arrived was check on the boy that he had fixed the ankle of. Thankfully, the boy and his ankle seemed to be coming along well, and Orrin told him about the adventure with the kelpie soon after meeting. Shortly after, the knights went to retrieve, and read, their mail. They soon discovered that their mothers had in fact met, as they had suggested. They also each found in their letter a scolding for not describing the person they had been suggested to meet. Sieg also found that Morgaine had gotten from Orrin’s mother the answer to a mystery that had been plaguing both of them since the previous summer- an answer he had not in the least expected. “I don’t believe it…” he muttered, his expression somewhere between hilarity and incredulity. “Orrin, did I ever tell you why I came to Medieville during the events of the coronation? Like in detail?” The half-dwarf paused, trying to recall what the half-elf had told him. “No, I don’t think ya did.” “Mother asked me to come up because something happened that spooked her- not surprising given the rumors about the Shadows that were going around at the time. But what happened was that she was up late the night of Starmey’s funeral working on some crafting, when she happened to look out the window and saw a group of armed men lurking just outside the shop. She never found out who it was or why. Until she met your mother.” Orrin paused, a puzzled expression on his face as he thought about what Sieg said. His mama helped Morgaine figure something out about shadowy figures… outside the shop… on the night of the funeral… Once the clues came together, a smile broke out on Orrin’s face, and he bust out laughing. “That was me!” he said once he managed to squeeze out the words. “I met her when I first came and I thought I’d lend her some help after she was so nice. The Stallions found me that night and asked me to join ‘em!” The half-dwarf laughed once again, and Sieg snorted, swatting the half-dwarf lightly with Morgaine’s letter. “You might have said something, dummy. You scared her out of her wits lurking around in the dark like that.” Orrin waved a hand. “Sorry, but I still needed to keep my knighthood a secret up until then, and I didn’t expect her to be up. And actually, I’m kinda glad I didn’t - otherwise I might not’ve met you!” he said gladly. “The Lord Woo works in strange ways,” Sieg agreed. “I am grateful you decided to look out for her, even if you went about it sort of… cockeyed, shall we say? So did she tell you to meet up with me before or after you scared her out of her mind?” Once finished with their letters, the knights also checked on the Reids before leaving. Understandably, they were still somewhat shaken up about it, but overall, they seemed to be doing well, thanks both to Sieg’s song and support from the community. Sieg had another nightmare along the way to Destrier. This time, Orrin allowed him to cry for some time, waiting for him to calm just somewhat before asking if he wanted help getting back to sleep. And so he found himself stroking the half-elf’s back again, this time, making sure he had permission - and more prepared for the sudden relaxation. When the two arrived back in Destrier, one of the first things they did was drop by the market - Orrin to get a new pouchful of salt and some garlic, Sieg to the blacksmith so that hecould buy a new sword to replace the one that had been damaged in the battle with the kelpie. None of the pre made swords were of the exact same type as the one he’d been wielding, and he admitted to Orrin he’d have to practice with it to get used to the new length and weight. It also didn’t quite fit the old buckler he’d fashioned to hang Rosalie’s key from, and he had to adjust the strap so that the tiny metal ornament could keep it’s pride of place at Sieg’s hip. Once their shopping was done, they kept their promise to visit the monks and tell them about their doings up until that point. They’d been received warmly, and once they were finished with their narratives both knights had found themselves quizzed intently about arcane and esoteric subjects that they couldn’t even guess at- such as exactly why Sieg’s singing had done what it had, or how the kelpie was able to control the lake water. After asking that the monks please stop asking things they couldn’t answer and returning the potions that they hadn’t used, the knights rested and soon set off for Tarpan. Summary post along the way to Tarpan. While in Haflinger, they find out about the whole ‘shadowed figures’ thing, and check in on people they know. Orrin starts helping Sieg back to sleep after a nightmare, after letting him cry a little. Sieg gets a new sword, the monks ask the knights questions they can’t answer, and they head off to Tarpan.
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Post by Celestial on Dec 31, 2014 21:07:43 GMT -5
The division between old Bern and the Bernian territory that had once belonged to Lange could not have been starker than if it had been marked with a signpost. As soon as you had cleared the former fortress of Tersk, the land immediately became wilder. Mixed forests replaced fields, only intersected by uneven dirt trails that cut through the vast swathes of trees and the occasional village that sat upon the poor soils that its people eked out a meagre living on. The only thing that could have been charitably called a road was the way that stretched from Tersk all the way to the major town of the region: Tarpan. For as long as anybody could remember, Tarpan had always been the trading point between Lange and Kyth but it was only in the last fifteen years that it had become a Kythian trading town. The Langean wars had seen a flurry of military activity centred around this point, the only point on the border between Kyth and Lange with a population of significance. Needless to say, it had made it a vital strategic target. It had witnessed the last major battle of the second Langean war just outside its walls, the same battle that had once and for all made it a part of Bern. The military camps that had once held northmen mercenaries and serf conscripts alike had all but faded into the earth, scoured by the harsh winter and the mud that so plagued this part of the world. Tarpan had once again became the domain of merchants and the scant few travellers who dared wander from the Langean lands into Kyth. However, as with the rest of the territory, it was Kythian in name only. Even though the serfs had once farmed the land had been emancipated and had returned to the land as free peasants, that had been the only thing that had noticeably changed in the fifteen years since this land had come under the dominion of House Stallion. Its dense forests had only shrunk slightly and its farmlands had not been enriched at all. The villages still stood in their small clusters of wooden houses as if huddling for warmth. Even the fact that the land was now united under one minor House, House Sable, they had mostly focused on keeping the land stable than on enacting any major changes. Indeed, that was a task in of itself. The former Langeans had endured more change in their lifetimes than they could have ever wished for; they hardly wanted any more, especially that which would have been forced on them by foreigners. Thus, Tarpan stood in the Langean-now-Kythian countryside, though even at a glance, it was easy to tell it was once foreign. Whereas most towns in Bern had at least a few, if not the majority of buildings built out of stone, Tarpan was almost exclusively wooden. Even its high defensive walls were sharpened wooden stakes raised together in a row together. This of course, had its disadvantages, as the ashen gaps in the town, some left there since the days of the war, showed far too well. Indeed, the only change the town went through was in its inhabitants, the merchants who came and went. Its residents still kept their old customs, religion and language. Which is why, that summer day, the town of Tarpan was alive with a flurry of activity. The bells hoisted high in the ramshackle wooden temple dedicated to Ranumgen rang out in a merry tune, accompanied by hundreds of voices either singing or shouting or haggling. Indeed, the town was swollen with merchants from Lange hawking their wares to festival goers, some of which were already slightly inebriated. Greetings and well wishes were being yelled to friends and strangers alike. In the squares, local musicians were joined by passing troubadours in entertaining the populace, who (depending on age) either sang or danced along. The town was very much alive. Infodump about Tarpan's terrain, history and what the boys are about to walk into, yay!
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Post by Shinko on Jan 1, 2015 16:15:50 GMT -5
When Sieg and Orrin rode into Tarpan, they were rather surprised to find it in the midst of what was unmistakably some sort of celebration. "Well they're in high spirits for a town that's the epicenter of rumors about a monster," Sieg remarked to Orrin in as low a voice as could still be heard over the riotous noise. "At least whatever's happening here hasn't gotten so bad yet that it's dampening their moods. Though if there's a major event going on the local inn might be pretty full. Suppose we should figure out where it is before we do anything else." As per the usual, Orrin and Sieg drew a lot of odd looks from the local people. But it wasn't just curiosity, bafflement, or unease like they'd gotten in Destrier and Haflinger. Several of the people in Tarpan were looking at them with suspicion, if not outright hostility. When Sieg attempted to smile and occasionally wave to people who's eyes he caught, they only turned away and returned to their festivities. The half-elf wasn't sure how he should feel about this brusqueness. And that wasn't all. While it certainly wasn't uncommon for individual words of individual conversations to get lost in the general chatter of a large crowd, when he tried to focus in on the people's words- particularly those who were looking their way and muttering darkly amongst themselves- he found that he couldn't make heads or tails of anything they were saying. And it wasn't just like when they'd spoken to the shepherds in the mountains, who'd obviously just been using a very odd dialect of Kythian. Nothing any of these people were saying made the least bit of sense to Sieg. That was going to make asking for directions problematic. Maybe they did speak Kythian too- just they preferred their local language. With a slight cough to catch someone's attention, he asked, "Excuse me? I'm looking for-" The woman he'd addressed interrupted with a slightly agitated barrage of that strange language. Sieg coughed. "Erm, Kythian? Do you know anyone who speaks Kythian?" She only looked at him with annoyance and confusion, then shrugged and pointedly turned to walk away. "Well then," the half-elf said, turning back to Orrin. "That reaction was totally necessary, wouldn't you say?" He sighed. "I don't know about you, but I speak two different languages and these folks aren't using either one- We didn't cross the border accidentally did we?" Seems the people in Tarpan don't like strangers- and they don't speak Kythian! Well this is going to be fun for our boys, isn't it? = D
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Post by Omni on Jan 2, 2015 16:25:07 GMT -5
Orrin found himself very tense as they traveled through the festival crowds, and though he tried his best not to, he was sure he was showing it. It seemed that everywhere they turned, there were threatening eyes on him. "Accordin' to the map, this should be the place." He leaned in closer to the half-elf. "Between you and me, I'm startin' to hope it's wrong," he said as another villager turned away with a glare. "I guess I could try Dwarven, but I get the feelin' it won't help much." The half-dwarf looked around the nearby crowd. "I'm startin' to wonder if even the inn will take us. Looks like this is gonna be a tough mission." Orrin senses much hostility. He doesn't understand them either.
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Post by Celestial on Jan 2, 2015 21:50:09 GMT -5
The two knights were hard to miss as they continued their wanderings through the town. The Tarpanites had mostly reacted with scorn and contempt, especially once they saw the emblem of Stallion attached to Orrin. For the most part, they had turned away and muttered to themselves, ignoring the knights. The few who yelled curses or unkind words were mostly lost in the din of the crowd. The occasional individual who had spotted Orrin murmured a prayer to Ranumgen asking what the poor boy had done to deserve such a prank played on him. Whispers and judging rumours spread like wildfire amongst the townspeople, drifting on the wind as speculation about what two strange knights were here for, or what such creatures were going to bring to Tarpan next. All the while, as they walked, the crowd parted in front of them, not sure what to think of them except to stay away. It was none of their business. Eventually, however, one person bucked the trend and, instead of moving away from the knights, approached them. Her short, slender frame easily slipped through the cracks in the crowd until she had caught up with both Sieg and Orrin, a sweet smile on her face. "Oh, I found you!" she cried, and while her voice carried a soft accent, her words were unmistakably Kythian. They broke through the background chatter of Langean all around her like light through the clouds. Her dark brown eyes glanced back and forth between both knights before coming to rest on Sieg. "At last, I thought I would have to keep looking. You had to choose today of all days to come to our town." The young woman who had approached Sieg and Orrin could not have been older than her early twenties. Her silky chestnut hair was woven into two twin plaits that hung down across her shoulders, each fixed with red ribbons. The red matched the floral patterns that accented her high-collared green dress, which stood out from the crowd with its high quality stitching and unusual ornateness. The gold earrings adorned with large pearls hanging in her ears reinforced that impression. They framed a round face, which, with its flushed cheeks and small smile, gave her the appearance of a coquettish teenager. "His Grace sent a message ahead to me and thought you might need a translator. I'm afraid, even though it's been fifteen years since the war ended, Tarpan is still very much a Langean town," she extended one hand out to them. "It's still very nice to meet you, my good sirs. My name is Zoya, of House Sable." Zoya introduces herself. Seems like the boys have found just the person they need to help then navigate Tarpan.
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Post by Omni on Jan 2, 2015 23:02:08 GMT -5
At long last! Someone approached them and spoke Kythian! She was apparently a noble, which he figured was probably why she could speak to them: all that diplomacy meant other languages came in handy. She seemed to focus more on Sieg, which the Stallion knight found kind of odd, but he decided to just leave it. "Sir Orrin Ironbeard, knight of House Stallion," said the half-dwarf, extending a hand in an invitation to shake - thankfully his best hand had healed enough that he could take it out of the sling. "Say, can ya tell us what's goin' on here? I mean, people seem to be partyin'. And we've got some, ah, less-than-friendly looks." Orrin introduces himself and asks both what the festival is about, and why the people have been so unfriendly.
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Post by Shinko on Jan 2, 2015 23:42:43 GMT -5
Sieg allowed Orrin to introduce himself first, since as the Stallion knight he was technically the one Zoya would have been assigned to. He had to suppress a frown as the half-dwarf bluntly commented to the noblewoman about the hostility of the crowd. That... wasn't exactly a diplomatic way to put that. Certainly it was accurate, but if these people were already inclined to be rude and distrustful Sieg might have phrased the inquiry a little more tactfully. The half-elf turned his attention back to the woman with a bow and a polite smile. "I am Sir Sieg Braham, knight of Nid'aigle. Forgive me though- his grace sent you? How did his grace know we were coming to Tarpan now..." Then it hit him, and the half-elf laughed suddenly. "Oh, of course, Orrin you've been sending reports in haven't you? I'd forgotten. Still, that is unusually helpful of his grace. I hadn't expected him to give us any direct help in this venture, since we're undertaking it on our own initiative." Turning back to Zoya he said, "Still, well met, Lady Sable. I don't suppose you know where we might be able to lodge ourselves and our horses? We'd hoped to ask someone where the inn in town is, but... as I'm sure you've surmised, we had no luck." More introductions! Sieg says hi to their translator, and asks some questions of his own.
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Post by Celestial on Jan 3, 2015 7:40:59 GMT -5
Zoya allowed Orrin to shake her hand, though he seemed a little surprised at the gesture. She smiled and giggled a little at Sieg's introduction of himself, covering her mouth with her hand "You're so polite, it's so sweet. But you both can just call me by name if you wish," she looked around at the revelry around her before turning back to Orrin. "It's a festival decided to our god Ranumgen, one of the many held during the year. It's to celeberate the luck we currently have and perhaps divert some of the Trickster's more malicious pranks away from us for the rest of the year. Mostly though, it's an excuse for the townspeople to have some fun and lighten up their bleak lives." "As for why you are being met with such looks," the woman's eyes acquired a very amused glint. "I'm afraid the Langean character is such that we are distrustful of outsiders. Here it is not so bad, we are after all a trading town, but it is clear you are not merchants. Knights, especially ones of Stallion," here she gave Orrin a pointed look, "Are not welcome here. They are bad signs, especially for a town which still remembers the war, I hope you understand. It's nothing against you, I promise though I will be honest, your...appearances are also very unusual. People are on edge." Zoya then shook her head, clicking her fingers as if in a ritual gesture. "But don't you worry about that, I'll make sure nobody mistreats you and you get to complete your task. It's after all what I have been assigned to do," she tilted her head at Sieg's words and then shrugged. "I did not have the chance to send a message to His Grace asking why, even if I had wanted to. It is considered very poor manners to question those in authority here. Perhaps he just likes you? Or he has an interest in your venture? Either way, it is none of my business, as long as I do as he asked of me." She looked around once again at the people milling all around. "I'm afraid with this festival, the inns will be packed with merchants and people from surrounding villages so I don't know if you will be able to get rooms. But," she turned back to them, smiling once again and giving them a small bow, "I can extend my hospitality out to you. There will be room for your horses and yourselves in my home. After all, if I have been ordered to translate for you and help you in your task, I should do my best to be a good hostess too." In which the questions the boys asked are answered.
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Post by Shinko on Jan 3, 2015 9:45:31 GMT -5
Sieg's face went crimson when Zoya commented on his being polite, and he slapped his hand to his face. "Ah, curse it, I did it again, didn't I? Forgive me ah... Zoya? It is the usual way among the folk I grew up with to speak with extreme politeness and elaborate vocabulary. Just now was actually casual by their standards, but I sometimes slip into that mode of speech out of habit when faced with someone who I feel should be shown respect. I did it to a monk back in Destrier, and he commented on it as well, so I've been trying to break the habit." He glanced at Orrin and coughed, trying to dispel his embarrassment. "Back to the matter at hand- If the people here have a grudge against Stallion for the war, I suppose that makes sense. I know a lot of the older elves resent humankind for driving them out of their former homes and remain suspicious of humans all these generations later- or part-humans as the case may be," he added with a wry twist of his mouth. "With any luck we can remedy the mistrust of Kyth in these folk, if only a little. I mean we're here to help them after all." He rubbed his ear self-consciously. "There's nothing we can do about how we look, though- biology is what it is. But thank you for your help nonetheless, I know we must not have been what you expected." He coughed. "And I didn't mean to question his grace's motives. I just... was surprised is all." He glanced at Orrin again when Zoya offered to let them stay in her home. His expression was somewhere between grateful and amused. "That is quite generous of you, m'lady. I'm starting to wonder if they'd take our Kythian currency at the inn even supposing we could find a room." Sieg replies to Zoya's remarks, and tells her a bit about himself and why the boys are in town.
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Post by Omni on Jan 3, 2015 23:54:19 GMT -5
Orrin was certainly one who understood that people could hold grudges over things that had happened years ago. He even had a bit of an idea what they went through: having had one's home taken over by the lord of a house. He also had an idea of how people could distrust those they don't know, and he was certainly one of the stranger strangers. He had no idea why they would worship a trickster, though. That aside, he was noticing an difference between how Zoya treated each of the two knights: a giggle for Sieg, and a pointed look for Orrin. She definitely seemed friendlier toward the half-elf knight. He wondered if it was a combination of their looks, allegiances, and all that stuff Zoya explained: knights normally weren't welcome, but she had orders, and at least Sieg looked kinda normal and wasn't with Stallion. He decided to let it slide for now. Whatever the case was, they really did need someone to translate, and somewhere to stay. He gave the noblewoman a smile. "Thanks, Ms. Zoya - we'll take it." Orrin thinks a bit on what Zoya told them, and accepts her offer.
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Post by Celestial on Jan 4, 2015 10:31:01 GMT -5
Zoya laughed a little, coyly covering her mouth with her hand again, and kept listening to Sieg as he spoke. She gave the impression of clinging to every word that he said, judging by the way her eyes seemed fixed on him at points. "It's quite alright, I understand the need to be defferent. It's part of our culture too, though without such politeness," she said, nodding. However, when both he and Orrin agreed to stay with her, she smiled widely and clapped her hands together, looking back and forth between the two knights. "Oh, wonderful! I am so glad I could be of help to you on your enterprise. I promise you my home is so much more comfortable than any inn, and cheaper too," she turnd her attention back to Sieg. "Though you do not have to worry about your money not being acceptable here. Tarpan is a merchant town first and foremost, and we are still under Kythian control. If you want to buy something, you can use whatever money you have and they will accept it." She lifted up a finger as if she just had a thought. "But I feel like I should warn you, even if they accept your money, the people here might not be so accepting of the help. What Kythians believe is helping is not necessary how the Langeans might see it. Even if you're not here on official business for his Grace, they don't know that," however, as soon as she said that, Zoya shook her head and smiled again. "But that's what I'm here for, isn't it? If there is anything I can do to help you or any questions you want to ask of others or of me, please, don't hesitate. I'll do what I can." The woman then went up to them and took each of their hands in her own. "But I expect that offer to go both ways. I want to know all about the two of you, Sir Ironbeard, Sir Braham," she cast her dark eyes across the knights. "Where do you come from, what do you like doing, what your favourite foods are, anything! I love meeting new people and I've never met anybody like you both! You're not what I expected but that just makes it more interesting." Here, she fixed her gaze on Sieg, making enthusiastic eye contact. "You in particular have have hinted at so many fascinating things, Sir Braham. You keep mentioning elves, are you an elf yourself?" she tilted her head. "I always thought elves would be a little taller, they are in the old stories." Zoya exposits some more and then enthusiastically asks the knights to tell them a bit more about themselves, Sieg in particular since he's being so chatty.
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Post by Shinko on Jan 4, 2015 11:20:36 GMT -5
The half-elf found himself completely flustered by Zoya's demeanor. She was certainly friendly enough, but so forward."I, erm... I'm certain we can, ah... tell you a bit about ourselves." He cleared his throat, giving the rather unusually quiet Orrin a pointed look. " Both of us have had some quite interesting escapades that would not hurt to retell." So please don't leave me to carry the entire conversation, he pleaded silently, trying to convey it in his eyes. I've told you before how awkward I am in situations like this!He turned his attention back to Zoya, smiling as politely as he could, "If I had a runestone for every time that question has come up I'd be a very rich man- to answer your question, yes, generally elves are very tall. I'm not because I'm a half-elf. My mother is human, and she is extremely short. I am fortunate to have even the height I do." He gave his ear a tug. "True elves usually have much longer ears as well, and at least those of my settlement never have black hair. I've heard the moonlight elves in Lyell do, but not those of Nid'aigle." Sieg gently pulled his hand back, and tried to steer the topic back to less discomfiting waters. "As to the people here not appreciating us, I suppose what they think doesn't really matter- we're here to do our jobs, not to garner glory or gratitude. Still, the hostility isn't exactly going to make it easy since we need information from the local people if we're to piece together exactly what's going on here so we can deal with it." He shrugged, turning to Orrin. "I suppose for the time being getting ourselves and our horses situated would be the priority. We can work out a game plan once we're somewhere a little quieter." And to exactly no one's surprise, Sieg is extremely flustered by Zoya's exuberance. He silently begs Orrin to engage the conversation so Mr. Dork Knight doesn't have to do so all by himself, and answers Zoya's questions as best he can.
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Post by Omni on Jan 4, 2015 22:56:17 GMT -5
Orrin watched as Zoya seemed to focus on Sieg, then turn to both the knights, then back to Sieg. It was like she couldn't decide where to put her focus or something. And with the way she seemed to drink in everything Sieg said- Ah, maybe that was it. Orrin figured he should have expected something like this to happen sooner or later. After all, Sieg seemed pretty close to normal - maybe even a little nice-looking by human standards - and a lot of humans seemed to regard the elves with awe. On the other hand, Orrin was... Well, he was what he was. Speaking of which, he found it odd that that the noblewoman asked Sieg about his heritage, but didn't ask the same type question to the half-dwarf. Normally, the getting asked what he was would be one of the first things that would happen when Orrin met someone new. It was actually to the point that he started to expect it, was was actually surprised when Zoya didn't do it. Granted, maybe she was just being polite. That or she just wanted to talk to Sieg instead. He supposed she sort of asked them to tell her anything, but he wasn't sure he wanted to volunteer that information right at the moment: that conversation tended to be hard enough as it was. The half-elf then cleared his throat, calling Orrin's attention. "Both of us have had some quite interesting escapades that would not hurt to retell."Oh right. Sieg had trouble talking to people sometimes. "Well, there was, um..." The half-dwarf paused. "Ya know, Sieg's got a point," he said, pointing a thumb at his fellow knight while looking at Zoya. "Maybe we should talk more back at yer place, where it's quieter. Or maybe along the way. We really should get goin', though." The difference between the attention Zoya's giving the knights and the attention they usually get distracts Orrin. He thinks he might have it figured out, though. Orrin starts to speak, but then suggests they actually head to Zoya's place, first.
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Post by Celestial on Jan 5, 2015 19:56:03 GMT -5
Zoya skept smiling as she listened to Sieg explain about the elves, continuing to gaze at him as he spoke. Finally, when he had finished explaining, she gave a polite nod. "I see. Thank you for telling me, that is fascinating. I had no idea elves and humans could interbreed at all and it is such an honour to meet somebody with such a unique heritage. But the only elves seen in these parts were a cohort of knights during the war and even that is mostly heresay. I was certainly far too young to remember," she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Though if you ask me, there's nothing wrong with being short. Look at me, or most people around here. And I think your ears and your hair are just fine." Her face grew even more flushed and she withdrew her hands, her boundless enthusiasm suddenly draining out as though out of a leaky bucket. "I'm sorry, I've been far too forward," she fiddled with the embroidery of her dress, "You can tell me everything later, you have jobs to do and I'm supposed to help you out, after all." Despite the awkwardness that seemed to descend over Zoya, a smile still managed to reform on her face. "Follow me then. My house is on the edge of town but it is not far too walk. And," she gestured with her hand, "Perhaps later we can come back and enjoy the festival? After all, it is not every day you can experience real Langean culture," here she gave a little laugh, "I promise it is not as barbaric as most Kythians believe. And you can gather information there too. People will be a little more willing to talk to you with some drink and dance in their systems." With that, she turned on her heel and began to lead the way through the crowd, walking just a little bit ahead of the knights and their horses. The people around them still kept looking but as soon as their eyes landed on her, they turned away, resuming their activities. However, one man who was better dressed than the majority of the peasantry around them broke away from the crowd and approached her. Though he smiled at the noblewoman, he did not look up at the two knights. "Сударыня Зоя, приветствую вас и дай великий чут вам удачи," he exclaimed, clicking his fingers and then finally turning his attention to Sieg and Orrin. "Но кто ети незнакомци с вами?" "Я их знаю, Аркадий. Они тут не на долго," Zoya smiled and shook her head. "Ты иди, не мороч себе голову. Чем меньше знаешь, чем крепче спишь." "Ладно, как скажите. Не пуху, не пера," the man put his hands to his chest and then spread them before moving away. "Не соблазнай его," Zoya remarked, returning the gesture, before she turned back to the knights. "I apologise, that was an acquaintance of mine. He asked about you and what you were doing here. I told him, though not everything. I did not know whether you want your mission kept secret or not." Zoya realises she crossed a line with Sieg and stops being as forward. She offers to take the knights back to her house and then suggests they walk around the festival to ask questions. As she leads them away, she encounters somebody she knows and there's some talk.
Translation available on request if you're really curious, but it's more fun if you experience what Sieg and Orrin do. ^_^
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Post by Shinko on Jan 5, 2015 20:35:47 GMT -5
Sieg was tremendously relieved when Zoya seemed to notice how awkward the situation was getting. He wasn't sure if it was Orrin's comment or just the fact that the half-elf was probably not hiding his anxiety well, but the withdrawal was not at all disappointing. "It's alright, your kindness is not unappreciated. But our mission does need to take priority." He glanced around, "I'm not sure to what degree we can really enjoy the festivities when it seems most are uninterested in us and the shadow of unfinished business looms, but far be it for me to deny you your celebration." He turned to Orrin, who was still being oddly quiet. He wished his friend would say something. It was beginning to worry the half-elf how reticent Orrin was behaving, but Sieg didn't know what to say or do to draw the Stallion knight out. Turning back to Zoya he went on, "I have to admit I'm not so certain the festival will help our investigation much though- I doubt anyone would want to discuss unpleasant doings when they're trying to have fun." At that point a man approached the noblewoman, speaking to her in Langian. Sieg waited politely for them to finish whatever exchange they were having, and tilted his head at Zoya's not-quite-inquiry. "I don't know for certain," he admitted. "On the one hand, normally I'd not be averse to locals knowing we're here to help, but on the other if they don't really want our help... They'll find out sooner or later since we need to question them for more information, but for now... Gah, I don't know, Orrin?" Sieg's not used to having to play diplomat in a culture so unlike any of the ones he's used to, but does his best regardless.
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