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BAIRNELL'S FOOTHOLD - LATE MORNING
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Sammi was a happy little squid. She'd found a place that was making iced-cream! Currently, she was back on the docks, savouring her chilly treat in both hands, slowly working her way through it. It was in a pot, and she was using a spoon, because that was the polite way to do it. There were some rather..worried looks being tossed her way from the sailors on the docks, but it was hard to justify getting pitchforky when the Eldritch Horror was cooing to herself because she found a frozen strawberry.
Aelia has been a bit lost in Bairnell, knowing where and when she's supposed to meet up with the wagon train to 'Respite Falls', but now left to her own devices, she's found herself wandering a little aimlessly along the docks, gazing listlessly across the sea back to where she imagines Sarn is. She does spot Sammi, however, and recognizes her from Gareth's crew, walking slowly towards her, a little too shy to just raise her voice and call attention to herself, though.
Sammi has many flaws. Shyness is not one of them. "Hey!" She waves brightly over "You're on the ship we were on, right? Come over! Have some ice-cream..uh.." She pauses "Oh! I'm Sammi! What are your names? I never caught them on the boat, which..um..I think is rude? I dunno. The ettiquette books are a bit flakey on that stuff"
Aelia eeps, stepping back cautiously from Sammi as she waves. Not out of fear of Sammi, exactly, just fear of unknown social interaction, which is a monster in its own right. After a moment, her own Sarn-born upper class manners take over, and she gives a proper curtsey, "Ah, uh, n-not rude, no. I am Aelia Brightleaf. A pleasure to meet you, Sammi. I uh, didn't much leave my room on the boat, which is probably rude too."
Sammi: "Oh! That's fine. Back in Respite, I spend loads of time under a waterfall, and before that, I spent most of my time chained to the rocks in the deepest parts of the ocean. Totally fine to be a bit indoorsy" She holds out some ice-cream, and a spoon. (Always carry spares!) "You should have some! It's really good!. Aelia..but..um.." She squints, almost like she's staring at a point three inches behind Aelia's eyes "Who's the other one?"
Aelia takes a moment to settle herself down on the dock, her hand shaking just slight as she reaches out to take a spoon, only to almost fumble it when she hears Sammi's question. "Ahh! Wh-what? You can see them?" She blanches, clutching the spoon to her breast as if it'll protect her. "I uh... I mean... what do you mean?"
Sammi: "Uh..well" She ponders the question "It's not really like I can see them with eyes, uh..though, really, I just have these things and see out of them because everyone sorta thinks people should see out of eyes..but..uh.." She squints again "Yup. There's two of you..or.." She tilts her head "Well, there's certainly not just you" She rambles on, before stopping "Why..um..is it something other people don't notice? It's..kinda obvious when there's two people in one spot. Isn't it like..cramped?"
Aelia takes a few deep breaths as she steadies herself. "I uh, I really don't know... I mean, no one else has noticed. A-and I haven't even seen... whatever it is. It certainly feels cramped, and scary. I mean, whoever they are, they know way more about me than I know about them."
Sammi: "Uh..it's um..well, they're there, but..it's..well, have you ever looked at something behind really thick glass? Like that, I can kiinda see them, and..it's like..I can. kiiiinda hear them, but I can't make anything out. So..ice-cream?" She holds it up "It's got little bits of little frozen fruit in it! It's really great" Her voice gets a lot more animated when she gets back to her real topic of passion.
Aelia slowly lowers her hand, still clutching the spoon, and carefully reaches out for the ice cream, taking a small, very proper, portion upon her spoon and lifting it back to her mouth. She smiles at the taste, nodding. "It's... very good, thank you." She pauses a moment to think. "I don't know who they are... they always sign their notes Phoebe... but I'm scared to tell folks. She says I shouldn't. She says... she just wants to protect me."
Sammi: "Well, Phoebe sounds like a nice person. She should get some ice-cream too" She rummages in her bag, and pulls out..."Hmm" She squints at the small metal box "Oh! This does fix everything!" She opens it, and spoons some ice-cream into it "Yes! Perfect! This will keep the ice-cream cool and tasty until your friend can eat it!"
Aelia blinks, taking the offered metal box. "I... hope they'll like it. I don't know if we're friends, but... I don't know anything." She closes her eyes, then perks back up, apparently eager to switch topics, "You said you live in Respite? Under the... water fall?"
Sammi: "Yup! I used to live all deep underwater, and the waterfall makes it feel like the water is deeper than it really is. It's really cosy" Sammi was happy to change the subject. It was just two people in one body. It wasn't that interesting really.
Aelia smiles at Sammi's excitement. She cautiously moves her spoon for another small bite of ice cream. "It does sound cozy. I... do hope I can find somewhere that's cozy for me. Do people like dancing in Respite?"
Sammi: "Dancing? What's..Dancing?"
Aelia blinks, "Y-you don't know Dancing?" Now it's Aelia's turn to talk passionately. "Dancing is... oh, it's just the best. It's like, taking all your emotions, all your happiness and sadness and fear and surprise and pulling it up out of you and expressing it through movement! It's like another language, but a pure one, with no words, just... expressing emotion. The better the dancer, the more the audience understands them."
Sammi: "Oh..a language without words, like.um..let me try!" Sammi opens her mouth ਓਔਕਖਗਘ "Is that Dancing?" The words were not heard, but felt, in the back of the eyeballs
Aelia shudders at the sensation that washes over her at whatever Sammi just did. She shakes her head, trying to get the feeling to come loose. "Err, well, maybe?" She pushes back up from the dock's edge. "This dress isn't the best for it... but it's more like... this..." She does a very simple excercise routine, one primarily focused upon stretching her arms through several flowing motions. She takes a few steps along the dock as she does so, her movements graceful and precise, conveying a sense of serenity and calm which Aelia herself does not feel, like the placid surface of a lake, concealing unknown depths beneath.
Sammi: "ooooh" Sammi is entranced, following the movements "It's so pretttttty, I see why you like it so much! Much better than what I do! People usually just..um..well, my emotions getting expressed seem to..well, shudder in revlusion!" She doesn't seem terribly bothered by it "I don't think I should try. I like it when people just have their thing, that they're good at. I don't feel like I need to try to be good at other people's thing"
Aelia ends the routine, a little bubbly at the chance to dance, and the appreciation. "Oh? You can't be that bad! But I'm glad you enjoyed it anyways. I haven't gotten to dance for an audience in... awhile." She pauses, growing sad for a moment before she perks up, "It doesn't always have to be for an audience either. Dancing is all about understanding yourself and connecting to others. I just hope people in Respite will enjoy it too... it's really all I know how to do."
Sammi: "Oh! I'm sure they will! Lots of nice people there. And an ice-cream shop" She sighs happily "But..um..wait..connecting to others?" She raises a finger "I ..thought that sort of thing shouldn't be done in public?"
Sammi: "Like..I know you can do it with yourself..but in public? I thought that wasn't allowed"
Aelia blushes bright, and shakes her head rapidly, "Oh! N-no no no! I don't mean ph-physically! That would definitely be improper! I mean more uh... just... w-well, I mean, in private, if you and someone you love want to dance like that, that's perfectly fine. I'm just talking more about... understanding folks? Like, my dance just now. How did it make you feel watching me?"
Sammi: "Oh! It made me feel all calm and relaxed!" She nodnods "Oh! So it's like that?..um..." She thinks about it "I'm sure this makes sense! Don't worry, I don't get stuff like this very easily"
Aelia giggles, very carefully lowering herself back down to sit next to Sammi again. "That's alright, you get the general idea. It just makes me happy to share it."
Sammi: "It was good to see!" She nods "Oh, I need to get you a gift now! I do it for all friends. Phoebe got hers, but..lets seee" She rummages in her bag "Hmmm..ooh!" She takes out a wrapped package "Here we go!" She passes it over
Aelia blinks. "Gift...? You really don't have to get me anything." She takes the package in her hand and glances down at it... "Already wrapped and everything? And... addressed?" She blinks. "Addressed... to me?"
Sammi: "Huh.." She peers "So it is..well, it's got an address, but its not here..." She shrugs "The bag does what it does. I just wanted a nice gift, maybe it knows you really like unwrapping things?"
Aelia blinks at the address... "Sarn... but... not my address...?" She looks up at Sammi, then carefully begins to unwrap the package. It's not a large box, a small black velvet box with a note folded atop it. She clicks open the box to reveal a small pearl broach. "M-my broach... but... that's impossible."
Sammi: "Ooh?" She peers over Aelia's shoulder "It's very pretty..um..maybe the note explains it?" She points it out "..and..um..I wouldn't worry. People say I'm impossible all the time. It makes perfect sense. Probably"
Aelia unfolds the note and reads it carefully, eyes slowly tearing up. "It's from Coryn... she's sending it back after I loaned it to her before..." She blinks. "She just... wanted to return it, and say..." She carefully folds up the letter and sighs, looking back over the ocean. "Say I'm sorry. Oh gosh..."
Sammi: "Um..." She's not sure how to deal with this, and...just sort of..wiggles a head tentacle in her general direction in what is hopefully a comfort, or something to rub her face on? Screaming in terror she can deal with, but this sort of..happysad is...much trickier.
Aelia takes a moment, then closes the box. She flips over the letter to look at the address again... "Wrong address... w-would it have gotten to me in time? Or... all of this..." She sighs. "Thank you, Sammi. I... I have nothing to give you anywhere near as valuable as this is to me."
Sammi: Ah, familiar territory "The value of gifts is in the giving! You give something to someone because you want them to have it! If I was buying something, I'd have asked for something first" She nods. That's a familiar topic, and off that..happysad..worry...So many emotions at once! "The fact that you like it what I was hoping for!"
Aelia nods slowly, the deer smiling sadly. "It was kindly given and gladly received, Sammi. The ice cream as well."
Sammi: "I know right? I hope Phoebe likes it..." She pines at the bottom of her pot of ice-cream "Ahh, of course she will. Who doesn't love ice-cream? That reminds me..I need to stock up for the trip back..."
Aelia chuckles, hefting the metal box. "I hope they do too. I'm sure Phoebe will write me a note. I hope you get along with them too, whoever they are..."
Sammi: "I'm sure I will. I get along with most people...." She looks at the sailors around
Sammi: "..Most..People"
Aelia glances at the sailors, whom are giving her weird looks too now, having just seen the strange deer dance and share ice cream with an old one. "W-well..." She leans in to whisper to Sammi, a little nervous, "You can't be friends with everyone... j-just keep close to the ones who matter." She tightens her grip on Coryn's box.
Sammi hmphs "I can try! But, I do at least work on being good friends with nice people. I feel so much better when people believe in me!"
Aelia smiles, "W-well, then I believe in you, Sammi. You're a good friend, and I'm glad I met you on the way to Respite."
Sammi: "Same here!" She replies brightly "Now! Want to go and explore a bit more?"
Aelia nods, "Sure! It's... a nice little town, just completely new. You can show me where you got that ice cream, though."
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BAIRNELL'S FOOTHOLD - LATE MORNING
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Gareth paces around the wagons as they all slowly move into position to form up the caravan just before departure from the port city, having managed to secure a one-shot guard job. He helps the merchants here and there with packing the last bits of stuff into their wagons, but otherwise tries to get a sense of the preparedness of the other guards.
Maximillian is busying himself with final checks of his cart. The stocky but small owlbear is triple-checking the ropes and tarp covering the single large crate that fills the cart and weighs it down to the point that the reinforced wheels and axels make sense. Standing around the cart in similar non-descript garb is a wiry hound who looks like she's a bit on edge, a large bull as wide as he is tall (presumeably the hauler), as well as a guard skunk, armed with a wicked looking blade and solid crossbow.
Gareth makes his way down the line of wagons, continuing to help double and triple-check the caravaneers and ensuring passengers are settled in comfy. He raises a hand in greeting as he approaches the owlbear and his companions. "Everythin' all squared away, sir? Need any help securin' anythin' else?"
Maximillian gives the roguish wolf a surly glance and shakes his head. "We're fine, thanks. Can handle ourselves." After finishing up the triple check, he moves to the smaller wagon next to it, where basic supplies and gear are stored. The other three each eye up Gareth in their own time, not necessarily giving him their attention, but certainly not ignoring him. Max fishes out an apple from the smaller cart and crunches into it with his beak as he looks Gareth over more thoroughly when the wolf doesn't move on. "You one of the merc guards?"
Gareth likewise eyes up the skunk guard in turn, not really moving despite the attempt at sly scrutiny since he'd already checked with most of the other carts. He nods at the question. "Just hired on fer the trip, but otherwise headin' the same way anyway. Figure I might as well put me skills to good use and get paid fer it."
Maximillian gives a little nod to Gareth. "Fair enough." The hound comes over and leans against the main wagon. "Least this one looks like he can fight, Max. Better than some 'guards' they hire on sometimes," she says.
Gareth chuckles and grins slyly as he gives the hound a nod. "20-somethin' years o' combat experience. Active, mind, not like how some folks call just holdin' a weapon "active"."
Narrator: The hounds laughs. "Oh I know. Folks think they're guards just because they can mop up a bar brawl..."
Narrator: The big bull gives a rumbling chuckle in assent from where he's seated on the ground.
Gareth nods again, still grinning. "Exactly. They stomp around lookin' all grim, but match 'em in a fight and they go down in a couple o' hits. Some o' them don't even get that far."
Maximillian peeks over the large cart from the other side. "That's why you gotta find the good ones and hold onto them." He nods to the skunk, who nods back and straightens up her stance a little. "But like I said, we're fine. Go help folks who would hire the type we're talking about."
Gareth chuckles and nods as he waves at the group and sets off to continue helping with last checks before the caravan is ready to head out. "Fair enough. Let me know if ye need anythin' while we're out on the trail, though."
Maximillian gives a dismissive but friendly wave to the wolf as the owlbear and his comrades return to their own preparations.
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ON THE ROAD TO RESPITE - JUST BEFORE BEDTIME
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Narrator: The campfire was lit, as the caravan had paused to rest for the night. Sammi had gathered a small gaggle of the various children (with a few on the periphery who were trying to be 'too cool' for stories). The parents had warned the kids about her, but really, that just assured she'd get a crowd. She'd fetched a picture book from her bag. It didn't have any actual writing in it , just pictures that were just creepy enough to count as scary..without actually scaring any kids.
Sammi opened the book up to a page with a scratchy portrait of a kingdom, with a dark shadow looming over it "Long ago, there was an evil king who ruled all the land. He made everyone feel really bad about their lives, and made them do things they didn't want to do, like extra chores, or going to school on a weekday. Now, to stop them, a hero came up, brave, and clever, and pretty" One of the younger kids piped up "What were they?" "Well~ That's the wonderful thing about stories. You can fill the blanks in yourself, maybe they were a brave wolf, or a clever squirrel" The page she turned to showed the hero, with a sword, facing down the shadow "See? The hero is exactly what you thought it was" She winks "Just, don't say it out loud now, you don't want to spoil it for those that seem something else~ Annnnyway! The evil king tried to stop our brave hero, by sending monsters" She emphasised the point, with dramatic waves of her tentacles, the fire flickering, and casting little shadows to add to the spectacle. "Big, hulking things, that could crush them in a moment? So what did they do?"
Sammi: "They hid of course! Bravery isn't about facing down every scary thing directly! Sometimes, if you're smaller, you hide..then.." She mimes a little pounce "You jump out at them, and get them in a surprise attack! So~ That's what our hero did! The evil king didn't like that, so he sent more, faster, and smarter monsters! These couldn't be hidden from...so, instead, our hero got their friends to help. They couldn't win on their own, but with friends?" The fire flared up, all the shadows vanishing in a moment "Sure, they don't stand a chance! That meant the hero could reach the evil king. Now, this is usually where we say there's a big scary fight, and evil was beaten forever...but, this story isn't one of those. Because the hero couldn't destroy the evil king. They had to save the kingdom, they put the king away in a dungeon, and instead made sure that the lands were going to be good again. That school was -only- on weekdays, and that chores only got done if they needed to be done, which..um" She catches a very dirty look from one of the parents "Of course, you know that your Momma and Poppa are the ones that know if a chore needs to be done, so listen to them, okay?" She ruffles a nearby head "If everything is good, then evil can never come up...but" She leans in "The real secret? It's reallllly easy. If everyone just wants the person next to them to be happy, and always just..tries to make that person happy? Evil can never win. Remember there was no big fight? That's because when evil is alone, it's really, really weak. It's only ever strong if it can trick people like you or me into helping it..but..don't worry, if there are any evil people..well..I'll beat them up!" She grins with rather sharp teeth, and the shadows flare up dramatically "Remember all the monsters that were hiding under your bed? I'm the monster that eats them!" She gives a playfully little rawr, and jumps up, leaving all the children to scatter, giggling away from her "Now! All of ya! Go to bed! And if you see any monsters there, tell them that I'm gonna eat 'em if I catch 'em!"
Narrator: Once they had all left, Sammi flops back down by the fire, flicking through the book idly "But, of course, the hero always had to guard the evil king, to make sure he didn't escape. The king gave gifts, and power, asking if maybe he could be let out? 'Look at the world. It's already mine. I'm going to be free soon enough anyway', but the hero stays strong. 'If there is one person to protect in this world, I will protect them from you' she said 'If there's one person in the world you want to protect, I will take them myself'.