Bank Chatter
Tenebrae - Tuesday, September 30, 2014, 7:00 AM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A08: Banks of the Tornmawr *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
In the shadow of the great Highbridge, and beneath the guardhouses, a stretch of river has been laid out as a public park and fishing area. Here, the descending landscape of Alexandria folds into the river and crafts a comfortable view. On a typical day, a number of small boats and picnic blankets dot the landscape. To the side, a small shrine to Rada the River Serpent, as well as a dual shrine Althea and Daeus, in their guise as Mother and Father of the world.
Autumn shakes her head "I am what is normally refered to as a Wizard, she is a Sorceress."
GAME: Autumn rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (18)+19: 37
Cressida nods to Autumn's comment, then brings her fingers to her collarbone, running them over her golden scales. "Indeed, what she said. The scales, and thing of that sort, are generally the tip off."
Mikilos wanders idly along the edge of the water, which really isn't all that unusual. The large mass of water keeping pace with him is a little less normal. The burbeling conversation between the two is downright odd. "Naturally a long term draw would cause havoc across both our worlds. But a moderate passage with eventual return shouldn't cause any real problems." <aquan>
Arlean has arrived.
Autumn looks over to see what Mikilos is doing, why he's doing it, checking to see if he's doing it to be annoying, and if there might be cheesecake in her near future.
Cressida rolls her eyes at the bubbling sort of words Mikilos makes. "I swear, everyone is usually trade. One more weird language and I'm going to need to use some magic to keep up."
Mikilos -is- rather good looking, if you're into tall elves; and there's always a chance of his shirt comming off, so there is a chance for... oh, wait, that's -beefcake-... sorry.
Parting ways with the elemental, the magus makes his way towards those gathered, nodding greeting to each in turn. "A simple enough spell, all things considered. But Aquan really isn't that difficult a language to learn. Though some of the enuciations can be difficult with a soild throat."
Autumn starts gesturing in complex signs "Languages are fun and can be quite useful." <handspeech>
Arlean is far too chipper for this hour of the day, Arlean saunters down the bank of the river, humming a wistful but simple tune under his breath. There's a hand drum slung over his back, but he walks with no particular purpose, as if he's got all the time in the world.
As he walks, though, he switches to a simple scale that shifts keys, and switches from humming to singing -- a warmup sequence?
Cressida glares at Autumn as she starts making hand signs. "That doesn't count. That's just hand signs and such." She looks over to Mikilos. "And, I suppose, theoretically, it's not that difficult, but I'm not really that big into study. And, if I was going to learn an elemental tongue, it would be the tongue of fire. It's more my thing." She turns her head as she hears te beginning of another song. "My, this area has gotten quite musical."
Suddenly, people. And suddenly, handspeak.
Godwyn grins as she puts both hands up, then makes several rapid-fire motions. It doesn't seem to make any sense to anyone but those who know how to do it. "Don't I know it. Especially if the language doesn't require you to say anything at all." <handspeech>
Autumn nods to Godwyn, signing back at her "I learned it just in case I was in situations where talking out loud would be dangerous. Also to talk to my friend discretely." <handspeech>
Mikilos nods in agreement to Autumn, but keeps to the common tongue, if only to be polite. "Can be quite practical, though my own intrest is mostly academic. Far easier to find a text in a language you know if you happen to know them all." He nods seriously to Cressida. "A facinating language, but quite difficult to get the accent right without personal luminesence."
"Arlean!" She turned toward him and repeated his warmup sequence, then cleared her throat. "Seems this is the place to be right now. Granted it's not so quiet anymore, but that's life for you." Godwyn mad her way toward the sailor. "So what's going on today?"
The baritone voice stops as the conversation becomes clearer -- and then breaks off entirely; Arlean grins as Godwyn spots and approaches him. "Aye, naught yet," he answers the Sentinel. "Jes' gettin' in a bit of practice." Tradespeak -- and a sailor's Tradespeak at that. "Who're yer friends, if I might ask?" Dark eyes rove the other faces, none of whom he seems to know.
Cressida groans. "Oh, by Daeus. Seriously? Is everyone going to talk with hands now?" She shakes her head and turns her attention back to Mikilos. "That is true, about texts, but I am fortunate enough to possess the magic to translate any tome I might come across. I could probably manage the illumination, as well, if need be." A few quite arcane words and a set of four glowing spheres form over her right hand, while she takes a final bite of the apple and cheese breakfast she was holding in her left hand.
Godwyn gestured around. "Cressida, who I've worked with before. Sorceress, as I'm told. Autumn, who I've just now met. Wizard. And then there's..." She glanced toward the other person. "...someone whose name I do not know, but I will soon."
Mikilos grins mildly. "Magus of the fifth, Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Builder Arcane. But just 'Mikilos' is perfectly acceptable. A pleasure to make your aquantices."
Godwyn blinked. "I'm going to settle with Mikilos." She nodded with finality. "So then, Cressie!" Yes, nickname is sticking. "When can I expect the trinket to be done?" Calling a belt a trinket. She's still not entirely an adult yet.
Grinning, Arlean nods to Godwyn, then looks around the faces as she gestures to them in turn. "Aye, an' 'tis a pleasure. I be Arlean, singer o' songs an' chaser o' trouble." His eyes twinkle with good humor that expands as Godwyn addresses Cressida, but he settles down to listen for the moment.
Cressida is probably barely an adult herself, but she doesn't seem to be perturbed by the apparent new nickname. She pats the belt slung over her shoulder with a grin. "Oh, probably about four days, give or take. I should be able to get it to you by the end of the week, I imagine. I'm not busy with anything else at the moment, so it has my full attention." She gives a nod to Arlean. "And it is a pleasure, Arlean." She looks to Mikilos. "And a pleasure to meet you as well, Mikilos."
Autumn chuckles softly and says to Cressida "Hey, I've literally spent weeks upon weeks learning all these languages. It's nice to actually converse in them. The languages fascinate me plus it is interesting to try and think in them." She turns towards Mikilos and says "I haven't learned any of the planar languages, but as my knowledge of the Planes grow, I think I will turn me attention towards those as well."
Mikilos is likely the eldest by near a century, but is still fairly young by the standards of his race. He eys the belt in question with idle intrest, but turns his focus to Autumn. "The Society Library of course has a number of text to learn the basics of the languages. But when you care to advance to practical use and slag, I've a number of extra-planar journals which may be of intrest."
Autumn nods to Mikilos and smiles "I'll have to check those out. There is so much of the world to learn, so many worlds filled with knowledge as well."
Well Godwyn could keep up with that last part. "Hear, hear! And on that note..." She whistled to the bank.
For those that did not see him yet, they would see Argent Fire trot up to her, silver mane and tail shining in the morning sunlight, his white coat brushed the night before to a similar sheen.
Godwyn smiled. "You good?" The horse seemed to nod. "Good."
GAME: Autumn rolls Knowledge/The Planes: (1)+14: 15
GAME: Mikilos rolls knowledge/the planes: (12)+12: 24
While young, Arlean doesn't carry himself like a child -- more in the way of one who matured young, and quickly. At the talk of languages, his smile fades a little. "S'pose I ought t'learn more m'self," he mutters, but before he can say more, Godwyn's whistle to the bank cuts him off, and he turns to look as the equine trots up to her, letting out a low whistle. "She yers, Sentinel?" Use of name? Not now.
Godwyn nodded. "That... he is." She chuckled. "Take a bow."
Argent lifted one of his forelegs and dipped until said foreleg touched the ground. Standard bow. He held it for two seconds, then rose up on his own. "This is Argent Fire, a gift from Althea for my service to her."
Mikilos blinks mildly at Arlean. "The language of music is no small thing, and while not perhaps truely universal, it does transcend a great many linquistic barriers." As Arget arrives, the elf eyes the equine thoughfully, nodding as Godwyns words confirm his suspicion. The magus returns the polite bow; not reason to be rude.
"Sure, sure," Cressida says to Autumn. "Like I said, I just use my own natural draconic talents to understand all languages, then talk to people in whatever language I want. Rawr." She smirks slightly. "But, I won't begrudge you your incredible interest in study, learning, and reading. It's just not my thing. I'll pick up things by talking to you."
Argent... turns his head and stares back at Mikilos.
That was strange, it seemed as if he knew he was being examined.
A slight nod of the head and he turned back to Godwyn.
"Oh, aye. Fer the rest ...." Arlean nods to Cressida. "Tradespeak'll get ye most places, an' magic'll help a bit fer the rest." A saucy wink for the sorceress is added to that. You're not the only one here who knows that trick, missy. "But I learn more the more I watch."
As the horse bows, he ... bows in return, a lot more awkwardly, the hand drum over his back falling sideways. "Don't think I've ever bowed to a horse afore."
"He appreciates it, I'm sure." Godwyn placed a hand on his neck, a simple gesture. The result was a bit more interesting as he lay down, and she got into the saddle. "Up you get!" He stood, and Godwyn took the reins, then wheeled him around toward Cressida. "So then, meet here when you're done?"
Mikilos blinks at Cressida. "An inheriteded talent, I would assume? Do you happen to know the orgin of your arcane lineage?" Wizards talk magic, this is almost a given. Though with sorcerers involved, the translations can get interesting.
Cressida nods to Godwyn. "Here will do fine. I'll be here in four days. I should be done, so long as nothing unusual happens. I've done a couple of these, so there shouldn't be a problem." She looks to Mikilos as she pulls the collar of her shirt open a bit more, showing the golden scales along her collarbone more clearly. "Draconic. I suspect Daeus, or a draconic minion thereof, but that requires more investigation yet."
Arlean looks up as Godwyn mounts. "Be ye off, then? Fair winds t'ye, Sentinel." As he speaks, he shifts the drum back over his back where it's not going to hit him in the head, and waits for a response before turning back to the others.
GAME: Godwyn rolls Sing: (9)+8: 17
Mikilos ponders a moment, and nods to Cressida. "The Mithralla may not be one of the better known families, but we can trace our history back to the First age. I've wondered on occasion how life might have gone had I chosen to develop personal magics over academic ones."
"Fair winds!" Godwyn wheeled Argent around toward the bridge again and set him at a trot. Those who could listen would hear her sing again, and it was no less than when she'd come... in that same C-major.
Oh, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em drink
People always listen, but they need time to think
You can always have your say, but you'll never have your way
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em drink.
Cressida turns and waves to Godwyn as she trots off, then gives Mikilos a slight nod. "I'm afraid I'm not terribly familiar with who's who amoung the noble families. There weren't a lot of them around where I was growing up, so I never really saw the need to learn who they were. No offense, if you are of the Mithrallas."
Arlean watches the Sentinel go before turning back to the others. "Singin' on horseback ain't the best, lass," he murmurs to himself before turning to listen to the arcane chatter. Having little to add, he's largely listening, but no harm in that!
Autumn smiles as she listens to the various songs and conversations going on around her.
Mikilos waves farewell as Godwyn departs, and grins to Cressida. "Elven nobility, so no particular reason to expect you to know, even if knew of say, Myrrish nobles. For the abridged version, we never were a large house, but over the generations have faded to almost nothing. Heroic warriors have a bad habit of dying heroically rather than maintaining family lineage."
GAME: Autumn takes ten on Knowledge/Nobility: (10)+10: 20
Cressida grins slightly, giving a nod. "Your lifespan far exceeds my ability to study such things. Although, I'd rather be a part of a family that's willing to go and do what needs to be done, than part of a family too concerned about if they're going to survive to do heroics."
All this talk of family ... Arlean just shakes his head, the good-natured grin from earlier entirely gone. Instead, he looks over at the silent Autumn, considering her soberly.
Autumn nods and smiles to Arlean "How are you? Are you just a singer of songs or are you trained in the Bardic traditions?"
Mikilos ponders a moment and nods in agreement. "True enough, though is something to be said that heroic intentions don't always end well. The Witch Altima ended more than one family line without even trying." At Autumn's query, he turns focus towards Arlean as well, curious.
"Th'latter, lass, though I be late-come to th' craft." Arlean's smile returns at that, and he appears to relax some. "A bit higher calling than th'sea, aye? Sylaen sure thought so."
Autumn asks Arlean "What brings you onto land and not sailing the oceans blue?"
"Nobody's perfect," Cressida notes. "People make mistakes. It's the intent that is what one judges on." She turns to look to Arlean as well, smiling as they start to talk about muscial training.
Arlean's smile fades. "All th' stories ye hear of romance, adventure, and th'life of a sailor?" He shakes his head quickly. "Most of it be rubbish, in truth." Something in his inflection says that that isn't the word he /wanted/ to use. "It's a life of hard work, and all most sailors see o' these grand cities be the inside o' ... the alehouse door." Again ... edited. Very edited. "Wanted more'n that ... an' was able to get out when I found me true craft. Not goin' back."
Autumn laughs softly "Sorry to hear that, but yeah... I've found out that adventuring is the same. It's camping in the rain, sore feet, terror and injury."
Mikilos nods, and shrugs. "Life takes many forms, and not all of them suit everyone equally. Or at all, in some cases. Adventureing has it's high points, but the low tend to be quite unplesant."
"Aye, but at least there be a reward at the end, is there no?" Arlean nods to Mikilos, with a snort of laughter. "Aye, I be findin' that out. Don't mind it though ... least there be good with th'bad, an' th'pay's lots better. In the end, alehouses be pretty much all the same. Adventurin' ... at least I see new and different horrors every week." A baritone chuckle accompanies that.
Autumn nods "It can be, but it's still not as glamorous as people tend to make it sound. People forget all the miseries involved when telling the tales."
Mikilos mmmms. "Not always forget. But such details seldom make for good stories. The typical audience prefers them left out, or at elast glossed over."
"He's got th' right of it, lass. Most folk don't want t'hear about nights sleepin' in th'rain." Arlean's grin returns. "Fergive me, I'd be pleased t'tell ye tales another time, but I've business t'be about." He touches roughened fingers to forehead. "If ye come here often, I'll be lookin' fer ye. Twas a pleasure."
With that, he takes a step backward.
Cressida puts her hand on the belt over her shoulder and takes a halfstep back, looking up to the bridge nearby. "I think I ought to get going for now. Got to get this bel tstarted if I'm going to finish it, after all. But, it was nice to meet people, or see them again in your case, Autumn."
Mikilos nods, and glances to the sky. "Suppose I really should best be off myself. Was indeed a pleasure to meet each of you."
Autumn offers Cressida a warm hug "Take care."
Arlean has disconnected.
Cressida smiles and gives Autumn a warm hug in return. "Thanks. You have a good day. I'll see you soon, I'm sure." She waves to the others as she heads out.
Cressida has left.
Mikilos murmurs a soft but complex phrase, and suddenly, the magus is just... gone.