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RESPITE LIBRARY - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Narrator: Even with all the worry, and panic outside, there was an aura of calm inside the shelving of the library. Aurelius was among the fiction section, carefully adjusting the line-up, moving out some of the 'darker' stories, and replacing them with more lighthearted fare. He felt a responsibility to do his best to help the morale of the town in his own little way, and making sure that people's escapism properly escaped them was one of the little touch ups he was making to achieve that.
Yengrisk wanders into the library. They've been a regular fixture here, usually looking for any books that go into magic in any way.
Narrator: The familiar aura of the library is ever present, the magical aspect of it being one that stopped any magic (that wasn't from the Loremaster himself) from taking effect. Aurelius finishes his inventory-ing, and nods to Yengrisk "Good day. I hope that everything is fine. There's no new books I'm afraid. None of the book deliveries are coming through, with the dreadful affair outside the walls, but I'm sure there are plenty of books you've not worked through yet"
Narrator: The magic section of the library is small enough, but carries a variety of topics. More focused on theory, than practice (Though Teis requesting books previously had resulted in a few practical books making their way to shelves)
Yengrisk nods and smiles to Aurelius. "Yak has been careful, yes? Not to leave town? But as long as there are books to read and things to learn, yak is content."
Aurelius: "A good attitude. You will be safe here, regardless. Is there anything in particular you are looking for?"
Yengrisk scratches their head a bit, thinking. "Yak would like to know more about how magical energy is used to power things. Yak was around when the generator.. well.. poofed, yes?"
Aurelius: "I'm not terribly familiar with that incident, but if you want books on magical engineering, there are a few books. The generator in town created some interest, and the books are somewhat popular" He sits down at his desk, to go through his catalogue "A few of the books are taken out, but the 'Sarn's Civilian guide to Mana-generators' is available. It's basic enough, but keep in mind that the author. Sarn does like to think a lot of themselves"
Yengrisk nods a bit. "So yak has heard. Yak has a hard time sorting out the big world, though. So many places and names and none of them are yaks, yes? It is hard to keep track."
Aurelius: "The simple rule is everyone likes to think that they are important, and wise, and good at what is important to them. I am sure that there some things you say about Yaks that might be just a little bit of exaggeration, hmm?" His eyes twinkle a little bit "For example, and if I may be candid, this library may not actually be the finest one in the land, even if I am very fond of it myself"
Yengrisk giggles. "Perhaps! Yaks are proud, to be sure, yes."
Aurelius: "It's an important part of reading a book. Knowing the author is a key part of understanding a work" Aurelius has Opinions on the subject of 'Death of the Author'. He hmms "If you like, perhaps you could do me a favour" He ambles over the geography section, and pulls down a book on Yaks, written by a visiting researcher who had spent some time among them "How about you read this, and let me know what you think. It would be very helpful. We've had very little insights published from natives"
Yengrisk ohhs, and looks over the cover. "This would interest Yengrisk, yes! What do others think of yaks? Yaks do tend to keep to ourselves, yes."
Narrator: The cover is fairly plain, and the title is simple "Yaks, a Guide" "It's rather try and informational, but as far as I am aware, it is considered to be the definitive source for any information on Yaks, and their culture"
Yengrisk tucks the book under an arm. "Yak will give this a read, and tell bird friend what yak thinks, yes?"
Aurelius: "That would be excellent" He gives a nod "And, if you want to make any notes, I would eventually hope to write a paper on it, which would be placed into the Library if it were approved"
Yengrisk smiles. "Yak would like to help, yes! Yak still has trouble with common script, to be sure."
Aurelius: "Well, I wouldn't worry. I could edit the spelling and grammar. You wouldn't be showing yourself up in any way"
Yengrisk nods. "Yak hopes whoever wrote this was kind to yaks, yes. But we will see."
Aurelius: "So, is there anything else? I'm here to help after all"
Yengrisk shakes their head, causing their glasses to wobble a bit. "This should keep yak busy for now. But what does bird friend think of what has been happening? Yak is not sure what to think, yes? Frontier is always dangerous, to be sure, but this is.. yak does not know. Different?"
Aurelius: "Out here, there are light defences. It seems that some believe that the town can be taken by force. In truth, I do not know their endgame here. Eventually, Bairnell will send the guard out to clean them out, but it seems they're not informed about the matter yet"
Yengrisk nods a bit. "Yak is strong but not the strongest fighter, so hopes this can be resolved peacefully, yes? Yak does not want to have to hurt anyone."
Aurelius: "I do not believe it will, but I doubt the town will be called on to defend itself in general. There are professionals for that sort of thing"
Yengrisk nods again. "Yak wants to be professional mage, not professional warrior, yes?"
Aurelius: "Always a use for a Taskmage. You'll never be wanting for work, at least"
Yengrisk nodnods. "And if yak can bring magic back to the Herd, all the better, yes."
Aurelius would spend the rest of the time discussing matters relating to the Yak's particular brand of magic.
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OUTSKIRTS OF RESPITE - EVENING OF THE SAUR RAID
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Narrator: It has been a busy day or so for Victoria and Annika. Nearly without a break, the two have wandered around the farms outside Respite, rescuing who they can from the less-than-peaceful 'suggestions' of the Saur raiders, getting into enough fights to leave a mark or two - but saving a lot of innnocents in the process. They are currently on the porch of one such farm, taking a break after getting the last family of refugees safely behind the walls.
Victoria sits down on the railing, glancing around the surrounding farms that she can see but for the moment not seeing more 'lizards'. She turns to Annika: "...I don't know about you, but this wasn't what I had in mind when I agreed to go hunting with you." She smirks, though. It's been obvious that despite the mortal danger, the leopard has been having time of her life.
Annika is leaning up against the wall of the home, slowly pulling out a wrapped package, and carefully pulling back the paper, to reveal to slices of chocolate cake "I picked this up in town before we left" She smiles brightly to Victoria "Probably the last bit of cake for a while, with all the rationing that's gonna be coming in, but.." She passes a slice "Important, I think!" It's pretty much unsquished, which seems a bit unlikely, but with the pressure Annika has been under, the facade of being 'lucky' has cracked slightly, and even Annika herself is admitting she's 'cheating', just a little. Not her topic of conversation though! "I think there's some strawberries imbedded in there too, which is pretty good"
Victoria blinks, but happily takes a slice: "Well, I reckon we deserve that." She stiffens slightly as her arm doesn't really agree on bending that way, but ignores it in favour of devouring cake. All in all, Victoria is still mostly in one piece after all those ambushes and scuffles.
Annika was mostly keeping to coaxing scared/traumatized kids out of hiding, and keeping them quiet when they needed to not get spotted. She'd have liked to do it 'honestly', but..there's just too little time, and too much hurt. Annika herself has been handling most of the emotional backlash of managing them (especially those who went into hiding, and whose parents attempt to fight the raiders off...), and trying to spare Victoria. "I think we do" She curls her legs under her "Once we're finished here, I want to have a look at your arm. I think we're safe enough that I can stop pretending I haven't noticed"
Victoria stiffens for a second, then sighs: "...well, if you want to. It's nothing, though." Even she can't muster the energy to lie convincingly at this point.
Annika finishes off her own slice, and dusts her paws down "Now, I wish I could tell you I've got magical foxy spells to heal it all up, but..they don't seem part of the package deal" Which Annika is still working out "So, it'll have to be boring ol' mundane Annika for this"
Victoria chuckles as she noms on the slice: "Mm, I'm boring ol' Victoria all the time, if that's your issue."
Annika: "I've seen you fight. It's anything but boring. Perhaps too exciting at times" While Victoria finishes her snack, Annika just looks at the arm, and how its moving. She's got first aid training and...that's about it. The 'cheating' helps, but only in really getting a feel for where the arm is hurting, kitsune magic has sadly skipped med school.
Victoria shakes her head: "I just hunt. Usually smaller and less intellegent targets." She sighs, her expression darkening: "Not that we've had options. Most of those lizards attacked us soon as we came into view."
Annika: "They have been rather annoying about that" Her expression keeps a lot more chipper, never really seeming to take this perhaps as seriously as she could be "Now. Arm please" She puts out her paw expectantly. "If I can clean up little kids' booboos, I can clean up yours"
Victoria gives Annika a look, but offers her arm anyway. "Fine. Have a look." Victoria's arm does have one rather ugly gash going across it, and it's fairly obvious even without kitsune magic that it's painful as heck throughout. High pain threshold or inability to show weakness, one might never know.
Annika: "Well, that's not good" She hmms, and rummages in her pack to take out some water, and a few herbs "Okay. I've a few bandages, and some herbs that could numb the pain. I think I might be able to cheat..buuut, honestly, untested magic around dulling something like that? Seems like a bad idea, when we've got totally mundane options" She starts by washing the wound "I do need to know if this is hurting, or if you're just hiding it though" She gives a wry smile, that doesn't quite get to the level of believable. "Nothing wrong with pain. It's an important message from your body"
Victoria grunts, but nods: "Yeah. Pain means you're not dead yet. And I guess it's no harm showing you what hurts."
Annika: "Right. Well...that's good" She holds up some herbs "Because I need to make sure the wound doesn't get infected, and that's..gonna suck. A lot" Actually just a little, but you always big up the pain before you do the painful thing.