View source for Framework for Success

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==Log Info==

*Title: Framework for Success

*Emitter: Schara

*Characters: [[Geir]], [[Harkashan]], [[Huian]], [[Schara]]

*Place: Akochilistli Kuauhtla, Am'shere

*Summary: Short teaser, maybe 1-3 sentences, describing the scene. (This is optional; you can delete this line if you don't want it.)</div>

		 Akochilistli Kuauhtla, late afternoon. 

With things having wound down from preparations made to ingratiate themselves with the hunter caste, one member of the group was rather conspicuous in their absence for some time. The artificer in question had borrowed one of the workshops from the crafting caste, paid for and prepared after the work was done for the day. One of the furnaces was still roaring with heat, while various work benches were strewn with parts and pieces, including several warped and bent piece of bronze, and many more new pieces. 

In front of one of these benches was a rather haggard looking elf,hair unkempt, eyes sunken, wearing the majority of their chest armor. Much of their right side was covered in a light red of freshly healing skin, and the right arm was replaces by a wooden one that was haphazardly attached to the armor, which was holding down a few large metal beams as they fastened them together using the screwdriver in their mouth.

Artificers are a breed unto their own for sure. Every one of them seems to have their own unique approach to how their art works. Some build whizbang gear and clockwork powered oversized toys, while others seem to streamline things as well as they can. It never ceases to amaze the import from the Jade Isles.

I mean sure, they had artificers there too, but that's different. Huian was pretty much a kid stuck at school most days, so she didn't get out and explore the world until she went into exile. Basically, until she had no other option.

But today, she has taken advantage of the furnaces, and the local herbs and herbalists to gather the right leaves, to dry them out and actually make tea of a local flavor. A bit more pungent and spicy than most, but it's still tea.

Such a cup is held out towards the elf. "You should take a break and have a cup of tea." She suggests when he seems to have a moment where his hands aren't fully occupied. "When you have a chance that is." she adds.

Harkashan had heard word - though he'd not been there - of the damage that had been incurred by Schara trying to protect the Hatchling as well as during the Hunters Trial. He would have checked up on her earlier, but he's had his own things to deal with as of recent.

However, he's finally found some time to check up on her. 

Stepping into the furnaced place where metal is bent and struck into obedience, Harkashan doesn't have to lower his head. Still, he now instintively does so, touching a hand to the top of the doorway. 

"Lady Schara." He rumbles, noticing the haggard and sunken-eyed elf."Do you still require healing?" He asks. Knowing all too well that crafting metal is well outside of his wheelhouse.

Noticing Huian is also here not moments later, he bows his head to her. "Lady Huian." He rumbles.

The jingle-clank of armor is heard several steps before Geir arrives, the Sith limping along at a robust pace. He slows to a stop, and backs up a step to peer around Harkashan to view Schara and Huian. He moves to lean against the doorway behind Harkashan, still peering around the lava-scale Sith.

"Peace on your nessts. How are you all faring?", the copper=scale intones.

The artificer looks up, and over to Huian, blinks, and nods once. "Oh, you didn't have to bring me any tea, I think I'm eating and drinking enough today probably, but thank you." They respond quietly. "Just, set it down somewhere that's open, I'll remember where it is when I have a chance to drink it." 

More enter, and the elf blinks again before shaking their head. "No, I'm okay, Geir took care of the injuries he could, I should be alright." They answer. "And speaking of mister Geir, there he is now apparently. Hello again, I am not doing well, but I will be alright most likely."

"It is not about eating or drinking. It is about taking a moment to just not be working at all times." suggests Huian as she shakes her head. She sets down the locally made cup on a nearby surface and adds, "Try to get to it before it cools." she suggests.

Looking to Hark as he approaches, she offers a slow nod as she presses right fist to left palm, "I am no noblewoman. Merely a humble student of the sword. Please do not ascribe titles to me that I have not earned. But thank you for the respect all the same."

And then her attention turns towards Geir and she offers a bit of a smirk, "It is odd to feel so outnumbered in a crowd." she admits with a shrug. "But I am finding that people everywhere are good and decent if you give them a chance to be."

There's a deep accepting rumble from Harkashan as Schara mentions that she is alright, stepping aside a bit so that Geir can come through and enter the Crafters' house. "Peace on your nest, Shaman." Harkashan answers him with a deep sound, then looks back to what Schara is working on.

"I heard your gear took a lot of damage. Are you finding adequate resources here to repair it?" He inquires with her - before nodding to Huian. "Very well." 

"Indeed, my people are welcoming - as long as their ears have not been poisoned by the words of the Teacher." He rumbles. It's not that he can blame his people on that part.

The copper-scale nods to Schara, "If it is lingering ilsls from your recent wounds, this one could take a look. If it is something else, this one is happy to assist. You need only assk, yess? As an aside, hopefully you shall find enough to repair your armor properly." His eyes find Huian and he snorts, his expression becoming mirthful. "This one understandss fully, being surrounded as he is in Alexandria. Alsso, Huian, if this one may suggest? You would match the warrior caste excellently. If any inquire, simply state you are Warrior Huian. It satisfies our penchant for honorifics, while also being truthful, and a title you no doubt have earned."

The copper's tail arches up, and lightly thump Harkashan on the side. "There are other thingss that poison our earss, Shaman. Just as the softskins find some of our traditions... odd, our People do object to some of the softskin's traditions and doings."

"I do need to keep working though, I have to be finished as much as I can, while still leaving time to clean up and return things to how they were for the makari who let me use this tomorrow since I would not want to interrupt their work and I don't want to be useless if any other people show up intent on harming those living here." They answer, stopping as their mouth is occupied fastening a joint together. I looked vaguely the length of an arm, but not particularly any equivalent of a flesh and blood appendage, various parts that would eventually be able to support all the necessary parts. "Your crafters have a lot of good quality supplies, there was never a concern with that to be honest." They answer to Harkashan and Geir. "Although some parts are a bit too specific to find that I can not make easily, I make sure to carry spares on me. Although the gauge of your needles are much too large, I need to track some down some time, but that's likely to account for needing to sometimes pierce through or under scales and the general large size of most of you sith-makari. I am alright physically for the most part, exhausted and most of my skin is itchy, but It's okay and not a concern. Is the child, the hatchling alright? I didn't stop to check in when we got back and I didn't want to make anything worse."

Looking back to the Elf, Huian lifts a brow, "Taking a little downtime is a way to improve long term progress. One must work efficiently, not merely endlessly." she suggests. "Or at least that is what Sifu Cai taught me."

But that said, she turns and regards Geir. "I shall take your advice in that. If I must have a title, Warrior seems suitable." And then to Hark she nods, "I see. I came to assist in whatever capacity I may. And that has not changed. So I will do what need be done."

"Of course." Harkashan answers Geir. "But there is importance to calling out an active movement such as that amongst our people." He doesn't expect softskins to even be aware of that part of their society. Especially here within Am'shere.

He then watches Schara, with some measure of curiousity and interest, as she uses every part of her body to forge and fashion and repair what she has.

He takes note of the concept of itchy skin though. "Are you alergic to something in the air?" Harkashan asks curiously. After all, she always wears her armor. And it is tightly wrapped around her so often.

There's a hrrm that follows. "The Hatchling is okay. A bit in shock. They'll never forget what happened..." Sith-makar rarely do. "But they will recover." He then adds.

"And thank you, Warrior, for your aid." He takes on upon Geir's cue and runs with it. Sith-Makar have a comfort with caste titles, even if Huian just asked him not to 'assign' her titles she had not earned. She's earned that one.

"It will not be long before we move to the Great Plains. How many of you are comfortable on the backs of a Swiftclaw?"

"If the itch persissts, please inform Harkashan or this one. This one hopes it will pass quickly. As this one said, all you need is ask?" Geir nods to Schara, before looking to Huian. "This one has seen you fight, you are well suited for Warrior caste, they would appreciate your skills and tenacity with the blade."

To Harkashan, the copper-scale shrugs. "This one supposes. However, it feels more like Charn is whom we should be concerning ourselves with, after Vabon."

"I should take a break, when I can." the brown haired elf nods once, finally releasing the metal panels she was working on, and picking it up with the hook on their left arm to inspect it. "I don't think they were referring you as a noblewoman, just as a lady, I think that's alright." 

"Allergies? No, I'm not allergic to anything I'm aware of, and I haven't had any allergic reactions since ending up here in spite of all the new plants and animals around." They answer. Further elaboration on what happened gives, pause, and the elf hangs her head. "I see, I guess I shouldn't expect that, even if I would hope. Something like that isn't something you ever really forget." They add with a small sigh. "At least they'll be more alright than what might have happened, and they weren't seriously injured. I wouldn't want something like that to happen." 

"Great plains?" She asks after another moment of introspection. And then, they frown, before hiding their face behind the metallic arm. "I, I don't know if I feel comfortable on one of those swiftclaws, not after what I saw they were capable of. I don't think I can account for everything they can do and I don't want to get injured further by any of them." They give in a muffled answer.

Nodding to Schara, Huian begins to go back into her quiet mode. She steps back and hooks her thumbs in the crimson silk sash about her waist. Itchy reactions? Noted.

But at the question of Swiftclaws, she lifts both brows, "Were we not fighting them recently? I am a capable rider, but I will admit that I am hesitant to ride a creature such as that."

Another pause before she adds, "If you tell me it is necessary, then I will believe you. Other than that..." she shrugs.

Harkashan picked up on Geir talking about an itch. And though fresh wounds certainly can itch afterwards, this is also a new environment for Schara. So there's multiple things Harkashan is keeping in mind, just in case.

"I agree on the matters of being concerned with the Charn. Though they are active in many places. Including supplying the Werewolves in The Vast right now." He notes.

There's a little 'hrrm' from him after that. Thinking, pausing for a moment. Unfortunately, the Jungle gives the Sith-makar many a thing to remember. Not just the Charnites.

"Great Plains." He repeats. "Swiftclaws - the ones that can be ridden. Unlike the small Quickclaws." He heard that she'd gotten injured from a Quickclaw after all. Though it is perhaps a bemusing thought, a Sith-makar riding a tiny little Quickclaw. Like an adult on a child's trike. "I do not believe you need worry you will be injured. But if we must travel on foot, then so be it. The Great Plains is a large stretch without trees to the north of here. It's a place of meetings and market for our people. And it must be crossed to get to the Northern parts of Am'shere." Harkashan explains.

"Riding? This one is no expert, but will manage." Geir looks to Schara then, nodding slowly. "The ones we ride are trained and gentle. They will not attack you. However, this one understands your worries. Perhaps we can have a cart pulled?"

The copper-scale looks to Harkashan then, an eyebrow raised. His tail rises up, and pokes Huian between the shoulder blades.

He inhales, then sniffs at the air, before turning, peering into the darkness. "This one must leave you for the moment. Peace on your nests."

Geir turns and stalks off into the darkness.

"Yes, we were fighting them recently, at least, the small, quick claws. I don't actually know if they are a separate species or just young swiftclaws, but they seemed similar enough, I'm not certain and could not give a concrete answer." She considers, dropping the screwdriver gently on the work bench before reaching for a few more parts. "There is a lot going on here, it's all overwhelming but I didn't realize you all have so many troubles to deal with, that's why I need to be ready to help again. But, I'm sorry, even supposedly gentle, trained creatures can behave in unexpected ways." 

The artificer braces the frame again against the table, but before she can continue, the elf shakes her head and sighs. "I don't want to be a liability and cause trouble by forcing you all to walk though, if it would be possible to take a carriage, that would be better, but if I really have to, I could probably force myself to try and ride one." They answer to Harkashan. "Oh, Geir is leaving, well, it was good to see him too, I wasn't expecting so many people to drop by." She notes while they depart. "I'm sorry, I want to help, but I don't want to cause any trouble but it's just that the hatchling from the other day was just reminding me of everything that happened to myself."

"I will ride. As I said, I am a trained rider. However you all see fit." offers Huian with a shrug. But then she turns her gaze on Schar and steps forward. "If you need an extra pair of hands rather than a cup of tea, you have but to ask. I am no trained craftsperson, but I would be happy to assist in any way that I can."

"They are similar, but they are a different species." Harkashan answers Schara, nodding his head a little. He can't blame her for having that consideration. "But you are right. And unlike horses, which can only trample you and maybe bite you a bit - these are carnivorous. So I can understand the discomfort." He notes, leaning to the wall for the time being. Laying one hand to the pommel of his blade, just to have somewhere to rest it.

"A carriage is viable on the Great Plains. But not within the jungles. We do not have your kind of road infrastructure." He points out. "We usually use Swiftclaws with bags on them if we need to move goods." He explains to Schara. He watches Geir wander off, then looks back. 

"Do you wish to... talk about what happened?" He then asks of her - acknowledging Huian's words with a nod - but picking up on something important. Wondering if Schara is looking to share some of her past.

The artificer stops to consider the offer, but just as quickly she shakes her head. "Your offer to help is appreciated, but, I think I will be alright. I need to make some changes and I'm not certain on a few parts at the moment, so I wouldn't be able to properly articulate what help I would need for this project, and I would not want you waiting around for me to make decisions on what to do, which would also cause me to be more uncertain and potentially make errors." She responds to Huian in the rambling manner of the elf's. 

But Harkashan's further words make her freeze up on the spot for a moment. "You should not underestimate what a horse can do to you, so if that is the case with a swiftclaw it could be even worse, I guess." They answer quietly. "That's why I was so worried about that child, I didn't want them getting seriously harmed by that swiftclaw since I had both of my arms crushed by a horse when I was young and-" They continue, before hiding their face again.

Nodding her head, Huian shrugs. If she can't be of help here, and all that, then she may as well go perform her own meditations and get some practice in.

"I will retire then. I have work to do myself. You may count on me when the time comes to ride." And that said, she turns to withdraw.

Harkashan quiets a bit when he sees that bodylanguage. That freezing motion of touching that comes from touching on something. There's this long rumble as she mentions not to underestimate a horse. He nods his head. Sith-makar tend to be a bit more durable than softskins. But even their scales won't stop the full stomping force of equine force at a younger age.

"I see. I wasn't there to witness it. But... you and Rune saved that Hatchling's life. The Charn are not known for being kind to those they capture. If you wish to know more of such matters, one need but ask Skielstregar and Geir." He rumbles. After all, both of them had been taken by them in the past. 

"Even had it just been a Swiftclaw, the child would definitely have been in danger. Wild Swiftclaws are a risk. Even ones that are tamed still bear some risk to them. They are tamed, after all. Not domesticated." He lets out this long rumbling note that he holds for a while. This of course explains the matter of her arms. He doesn't feel the need to point out this discovery. 

Instead; "You have adapted rather well. How long did it take?"

"I'm sorry, miss Huian. I appreciate the tea and the offer to help, but I don't know how to ask for help with this, I'm not good at talking to people when things are good, so when things aren't good, it's even more difficult and a struggle to do so." The artificer apologizes, bowing her head to the swordsman as they depart. The elf exhales. "It was the right thing to do. There was a moment I wasn't sure since they immediately turned into a person but that just led to me getting badly burned because of that hesitation and putting Rune and the hatchling at risk." She admits. "If Rune hadn't put them down when they did, I would have done the same and part of me is selfish and glad she did that since I would have felt horrible even in spite of their actions. I knew Skielstregar had some history, but I didn't know about Geir, and that only further makes it seem like it was the right thing to do." 

She considers the question, tilting her head once to one side, then to the other. "I guess I've adapted as well as I can, for the most part." They nod. "It took eight months and four days to recover, but there were so many different things taken for granted that all needed to be relearned and accounted for I could not give a specific answer." She answers finally. "But, it was a long time to get to a point where I could say I adapted. At least a decade, but that is also related to many other factors still."

"The Charn, on the average, worship evil gods. I do not wish to say that their lives are without value. But you likely will not come across a situation within Am'shere where slaying a Charnite is going to be a bad idea." Harkashan expresses to Schara with some measure of hesitation to his voice. It's never good to say 'murdering a guy is just fine', especially for a Deathsinger. But there's a certain realism to the situation at hand within Am'shere. The Charnites that are there, are not there because they want to be friendly.

"Still, I do not believe it is selfish or bad to feel glad you did not have to take a life. The moment you feel nothing when you do slay a living being like that, is the moment one should reconsider their career." He remarks with a bit more firmness.

There's a tilt of his head, trying to get a better look on what she's doing. But he's really out of his depths there. "Our people do not recover from such things easily. There are... some that take a most ashamed path to regain a sense of power in their lives." He's not speaking of taking their lives. Something else that is unique amongst Sith-makar. 

"I can think of only a few who have recovered and taken back hold of their life like you have. It's commendable. I think too many would look at you now, functional as you are, and too easily forget the strength of mind this kind of life takes."

"I do feel bad, at least, well, I feel bad because in not doing so, Rune was the one who had to deal with it, and it seems like she was struggling a lot coming here, and that is something further adding on to everything. There are a lot of different ways of feeling bad or selfish, and it is not a singular thing, I guess." 

"I would never want to do this work with the intent of causing harm to people, though. I just want to do what I can with what I'm capable of to help where I can, which sometimes means that I will need to fight against creatures, or people. That is how the work goes." The artificer muses, before stopping to consider what Harkashan was saying. "I understand that, mister Harkashan. Part of why it took so long to recover was a sense of frustration sadness with myself, and a worry of being a burden on the rest of my family, and I can only imagine how that may be amplified by the way the sith-makari live with their caste system of people joining an area where they are able to help to the best of their abilities and talents." 

"And for many years after, I was mostly living out of spite. But people like Skielstregar helped me to realize that." She sighs, stopping to thread a few copper wires trough a hole in part of the framework. "It's not the same life as before, it never would be and it comes with it's own problems, but it's still a life, and it's worth pursuing, I guess."

"I honestly think it may have been good for her." Harkashan admits, knowing just why Rune has been struggling so much here. Again, he wasn't there. But he has an inkling that Rune isn't above a bit of revenge. 

Then, a nod. Indeed, Schara understands exactly how the Caste system may make things rather difficult for those who cannot easily contribute to the society of the Sith-makar. No doubt, it is not a perfect kind of society. "You need but look at Zeke to see how some foolishness can occur as a result of that." He rumbles with a bit of anger in his tone as he mentions the poor Sith-makar. Originally named for being... less than whole.

"It is worth pursuing. And I am glad you pursued it, Schara. If it were not for you doing so, you would not have been here today to protect that Hatchling. And I am certain that many other good things would not have - and will not have - come from your presence and keen eye." He proposes.

Harkashan then pushes himself off of the wall and lifts his hand a bit. "Speaking of Rune though, I am going to check up on her. I think she wanted to talk about... some other things. It's been good seeing you. I will see you again soon."