War Talk
Tenebrae - Thursday, March 20, 2014, 3:26 AM
-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Local Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.
For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.
Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.
Late night market perusing? Well not so much..because late night.. more like finding some low burning oil lamp to rest under and enjoy a few scraps of food you bought from a shop as it closed..or maybe the Fernwood, whilst making sure your canine comrade is also being fed. I mean, that's what Vuk is doing!
Selia is a little more at home in the deep darkness. A little better with friends who prefer to avoid the light of day. And just the drunks stumbeling home after they've had their fill. Well, fewer 'home' and more 'to whatever part of the gutter they stumble into'. But unfamiliar faces attract attention, and faces hidden behind masks attract even more, so the little Lucht dancer is curious.
Vuk is in the low lamp light, but he isn't oblivious to the shadows! Actually, when ever he isn't actively being sociable, he's just as likely to be in them, to avoid big people, or things that scare him. Like well, most things, thats why he got the mask! He's a brave soldier now..or he's going to try! At least if he isn't, he can hide the mask and pretend he never went any where! "Go on you, eat the bone already." he says, poking the wolf gently with his hand. Unmistakably, despite it being muffled, it's Vuk!
Selia mms to herself, recoginizing the canine as much the voice and posture. The tiny dancer makes a point to remember carivores larger than herself. "Oy, wot ya up to then? Bit ov an odd look, even fer 'round 'ere."
Vuk moves to push the mask down, so it dangles around his neck, thats a voice you can't forget, the accent and pattern of speech are easy to remember! "Oh! Hello Miss Selia Dancer!" Vuk remembers her first name, and she dances. For Vuk, it's an accomplishment. "Didn't you hear? We are going to have to fight Heth and I'm trying to look like a soldier.." His voice is a tad hollow on that note.
Selia peers for a moment, then hops atop a beach seat, and up onto the back, percehd upon the few inches of wood as easily as another might sit upon the whole. "Keep tryin. Ya heard da old sayin, right? 'No parade ready squad is ever ready for combat. No combat ready squad is ever ready for a parade.' Ya look almost suited fer a parade."
Vuk knows -very- little about war, unless it involves him running away in sheet terror. "Oh..well I wasn't going to join the battle..I thought I could go along to make sure the Camps are properly provisioned and help make sure every one's armor is kept oiled and their blades sharpened!" He says as he offers what he's been eating, it's smoked meat. "I don't think my friends who are ever so brave like the Great Jibbom should have to subsist on Hardtack!"
Selia snorts softly, and smiles in that tight lipped way people do sometimes when something is both funny and very serious. "Nay a bad idea. Back in Sendor, got to where would kill for a good meal. Did, couple times."
Vuk hasn't -actually- had any one comment on any of this..not that he's been around in this new outfit either! "I figured with all the Veterans of the Wars and Delving into ruinous cults to dismantle them having to fight Heth I wouldn't -really- need to go to the front line either...and you shouldn't murder for proper food Selia! That's..that is very uncouth!"
Selia shrugs casually. "War ain't couth. And didn't kill anyone wot didn't deserve it. They weren't da ones starving. Was da ones holed up all da food ta keep da people workin for 'em. Were na quite slave labor, but were pretty close. Anyways, da front got a way of commin ta find ya, even iffen ya don't want it to."
Vuk has a very much so unhappy face, which is only made all the more upset when Selia mentions how war finds you. "I don't really like the sound of this war business. I was quite content with the occasional fight with a few animated bodies..or a few kobolds, but this war sounds like it's dreadful business! I do wish the city would simply fire the spell cannon a few times and we could just deal with the occasional elemental.."
Selia winces and frowns seriously. "Spell Cannon ain't a fix all. Is bad news from the start. Every shot invites disasted. But reckon sometimes things is worse without a shot."
Vuk hasn't -actually- seen any elementals, which likely is for the better with how easily frightened he is. "Well, if the entire kingdom Heth attacked is over run with undead..it couldn't hurt to simply destroy it..right?" He asks her.
Selia shrugs. "Lota folks still call da place home, even iffen don't live there just now. Reckon would care ta have it shot iffen don't need be. Anyways, ain't sure how far dat cannon shoots. Or what's 'tween here and there."
Vuk never gave much thought to these questions! "Oh! ...well, I heard it was fired at The Vast, so it must go pretty far? I've never seen The Vast.." he says and chews on another slip of meat. "I wonder how every one will get to the war... I wouldn't want to march."
Selia nods, and shrugs. "Vast is pretty big. Mostly empty. Reckon be some that march. Airships for many. Wagons, maybe some ov da way. Reckon won't all be one go. Move out to a supply camp, then off to a base camp, on to foreward camp, and then inta da thick ov it all. Meybe not. Geography ain't me strong suit."
Vuk shakes his head a bit, he can't really -grasp- what an army should look like. "I always get nervous trying to plan for feeding a dozen friends when they decide we should go explore the woods or some such! Oh..and that cruise business, dreadfully under stocked.."
Selia nods. "Hundreds of soldiers, needing fed three meals, days on end, all on day road. War ain't easy."
Vuk shifts a bit, well, jerks a bit when his muscles complain about not moving for so long! "That they do and Vuk Aleksy will be a loyal camp steward and Gentleman's Gentleman.... he also seems to need to walk through the dark to reach home..and I bet you had business out here and I don't wish to keep you from it nor do I wish to know you hurt any one Miss Selia!" He says, moving to try and find his way home with out you know, Elemental Demise.
Selia hehs, and heads back into the shadowy allyways to continues whatever it is she does there.