Hall Pass

Howling wind,blowing snow and cold. One might be blocked some by the walls and buildings, but the cold persists. Some are accustomed to Alexandrian winters, others not so much. Here, though, it might be a bit warmer, with all the fires flaring in all the forges.

At one of the many tables of many little things, a blue-scaled makari is hunched over, and crouched to boot. The gobber merchant is gesturing rapidly at the wonderous wares on his gobber-sized table as makari pokes a claw through the many bits and pieces.

Out of one of the many workshops connected to the district at large came a shorter but heavily armored figure, quick to close the door behind them before heading off into the streets after pulling their cloak closer together. They continued on their way, but they stopped rather abruptly near one of the stalls, where Tlanexhuani was hunched over and investigating the wares seemingly. even behind the brown lenses of the helmet, there was no doubt that they were looking at the sith-makar.

Tlanexhuani does not immediately notice arrivals, nor staring, as he picks up a fine metal spring gingerly between claws to peer at it more closely. "Iss new? Look ... burned." He brings it towards his snout to sniff. "Smell burned." He then pokes at it experimentally with other claw.

"It was part of something brand new!" the merchant assures. "Just exploded yesterday! The rest of it did, not the springs! They are very good springs!"

"I guess there is some truth to be had there, if the springs are not deformed from heat or explosions." The artificer pipes up in a low, somewhat static-filled voice from behind the helmet, the mouthpiece behind a metal grille lighting up as they speak. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help but notice you working here, and I don't think I've ever met a sith-makari like you before. What are you looking for?"

"Ssa, is true..." The blue seems satisfied with the item, assurances, and maybe even the assessment from the side. "Will trade. Coin for springs." He sets the coin on the table for the merchant, then turns to the staticy voice. Eyes blink slowly as he takes in the bronze, leather and lenses. Then he looses an exuberant hiss. "Bronze good, ssa?" A few claws tick at the splints over his chest. "Strong, easy work than iron!" Then he recalls manners. "Peace on your nest! This one is Tlanexhuani, Crafter. Not here before, in thiss place." His Trade is heavily accented and not the most fluent.

"Yes, bronze is really useful, isn't it?" The bronze clad figure nods quicklly. "It's much easier to manipulate while cold while retaining strength and resistance to corrosion. I couldn't help but notice the armor you have on, and I was fascinated by the design. I don't know many sith-makari, so I don't know if it's common place in design."

The artificer tilts their head, then nods. "Ah, right! My name is Schara, pleased to meet yyou, mister or miss Tlanexhuani. Would speaking in draconic work better? I know it mostly in an academic sense, but I think I can hold a conversation in it."

Tlanexhuani's tail flicks affirmatively about bronze, and his ticking claws become smoothing ones at the compliment of his armor. "This one make! Type very old, but new to this one. The People not wear much armor in Am'shere. For ceremony. For war. When wear, more hide, less metal." His claws slide down to bar forearm to tick on the blue. "Scales protect enough for most." He then lifts the claws to wave away the offer. "Are kind, but iss softskin land. This one speak softskin. Respect. Practice!"

"Of course! I understand, if you want to get better, you need to practice or research, and research can only get you so far in many situations." Schara nods.

"It's some form of artifice, isn't it?" The artificer notes, taking another look at the armor. "Kulthian, right? To think that it could be adapted the way you did, that's really interesting! I don't think any of the ancient kulthians had tails, at least, not that I knew of. If leather and scales often work best, what led you to making this, instead?"

Tlanexhuani's tail abruptly stops. Eyes blink: twice, really, as nictating mebrane slides over horizontally after. He leans further in his crouch, supporting more with the spear-as-walking-stave. His voice lowers and his eyes shift about. "You know of The Ancient Ones? This one not know others know..."

The artificer seems to pause, and they nod, crouching back down near the sith-makar. "The ancient ones? If that's your term for them, then yes." Schara responds. "Yes, I know about them, their writings are how I managed to put this armor together, among other things. A fair number of people know about them here, but a lot don't talk about them."

"Sssa," Tlanexhuani is still lower in volume. "Ancient Ones called Kulthian. This one found ruins. Many markings. Learned markings. Learned secrets. Old knowledge new to this one. New to all of The People? This one not know."

He then remembers about the merchant and springs; mostly from very loud and repeated gobber throat-clearing. He already has his payment, but the makari, crouched or not, is still blocking most of the table. Tlanexhuani rises, with rustling of metal on scales and creaking of knees, retrieving the items and putting them in pouch before turning back to Schara, tail swaying pleasantly. "This one, Schara, not so different. Is good to know."

"Yes, they're an ancient civilization, with, well, they did a lot of bad, but they had some good ideas. The good ideas are what are used today as artifice." The artificer explains, stopping to step out of the way of the stall. "I guess they were in Am'shere, too? That's really cool! You might have learned some things others know nothing about, I'd love to compare notes some time!"

"I guess we aren't so different in that case, I guess. I mean, you're a giant sith-makari person and I'm an elf, but we've learned similar things, right?"

Tlanexhuani looses a series of hisses in amusement. "Ssa. This one welcome. Always more to learn. Claw of seasons past, not know Ancient Ones once were. Days past, not know softskin city was here." The claws not supporting himself via walking spear gesture around. "Minutes past, not know Schara." Now one claw points at her. "Tomorrow, this one not know what may learn..." Claws now gesture in a vague, uncertain motion.

Schara says, "Well, there's always something new to learn, that's a good way to look at it." The artificer nods. "But, you didn't know about the city here? I thought it was common knowledge in Am'shere. And, oh goodness!" They continue speaking, suddenly freezing up, and seeming to grow more excited. "You don't know for certain what you may learn, but you can have an idea, at what you might. If you only just learned others know of this, I should show you the artificer's hall! There are all sorts of people who know more there, and workshops for working on these things. I'm done work today, so I should be able to show you!""

"This one hear many tales of Softskins. See one, two. Now see many." The bluescale admits. Then there is the other's surge of excitement, which is returned with some confusion. "Hall? This one not know hall. Not know city..." His head turns to look about them as he recalls. "All... Allessandria?"

"Well, I never met a sith-makari before. But I've met a bunch here! And I heard there's a village north of here with even more, maybe I should visit sometime?" The artificer muses aloud. "Yes, the Artificer's hall! Artificers are people who learn about Kulthian history, and work on blueprints and designs from their knowledge. I don't know Alexandria that well, but I know enough to show you around if you wanted. Do you, have a place to sleep? If you don't know this place that well, I don't know if you've found a place or not."

Tlanexhuani's tail flicks with interest, eagerness as the words are parsed. "Ah! Ssa, this one found Mictlan. Before city. Rested there, near, then to city. Would know more of city. Hall. Ancient Ones." His head tilts at the later question. "This one sleep at fire. Is warmer!" The final words are given with a loud hiss of bemusement.

"Well, you'll have plenty of time to learn more about the city, I bet." The artificer nods. "I could show you where it is, if you wanted! It's a bit of a ways away, but if you aren't used to the city, it would take a while to find. Once you know where it is though, it's hard to miss."

The excited artificer pauses though, and tilts their head. "At a fire, outside? Did you sleep outside of the city? If not, the guards don't really like people setting up fires to sleep inside of here."

"Ssa. Outside," he confirms. "This one not of this tribe, this city. Not build hut in another's home. Is ... rude." That explained, he taps the butt of his spear lightly on the stoned ground. "This one would see hall, if you would show, Crafter Schara. Not mind move. Keeps warm." He takes a moment to straighten up and stretch in anticipation of that moving. More rustling of armor on scales, and creaking of joints.

"Well, to be honest, I don't know much about sith-makari customs, but you don't build a hut in another home, but you can spend gold for a room in one of the inns to sleep. They're quite warm, a lot of them have fireplaces for the winter, too." The elf begins explaining, looking and already ready to get moving. "Does the cold bother you, Tlanexhuani? I can show you a magical enchantment I discovered for keeping the cold and excessive heat away, if you want! I sell them to people sometimes, or give them to people in need."

Tlanexhuani thinks on that information, as he does not know any more of softskin custom than Schara does of makari custom. Probably less. "This one not hunter but can make fire, or find in Mictlan if need fire. Not cold in Am'shere. Scales not good with cold but-Ssa!" His tail flicks excitedly at talk of protections. "This one craft spark. Keep heat, cold away. For a time. This one not freeze."

He gestures ahead with his spear. "Come. Show. This one steal too much time from you already." That and he is eager, if his tail is any indicator.