----------------------------------------------
THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - TRAIL TO YZZAYT'S PROMINENCE - NOON
----------------------------------------------
Usid walks out of the camp alone, walking towards a watering hole, intent to refill his waterskin, and also to be alone with his thoughts. He had done his best to avoid the prisoners he had taken, who are now being sent back to their homes, and with them gone he is now questioning what degree of aid he should continue to provide. He only negotiated aiding these people in retrieving their abducted friends and family, but now they seek to confront the Whisperer too... he is uncertain he has the strength to do this, or let his people do this...
Sammi had had an excellent night, and in the morning decided to take a walk. Sammi used to be highly sensitive to other's opinions of her, and while these days she had a pretty good self image, she was still able to tell when someone had a very different view to the 'norm'. "Huh" She tilts her head, her form getting a flickering shadowy outline "Curious..." She could feel the detachment, that..wrathful impulse, but pushed it down, as she slowly approaches Usid, a shadowy replica of the sword she'd had in defence of the caravan on her shoulder "Well! Hello there!" She calls out, as she finally tracks Usid.
Usid turns rather deliberately, not exactly in surprise, but in preparation, hand moving towards a knife at his waist when he hears the unfamiliar voice, though he makes no motion to pull it, instead merely watching the approaching figure carefully. "Hmm? Usid does not recognize this one, hm?"
Sammi drifts up, and sits down, curling her legs under her "I don't know. You do, I think. I'm sort of key'd into what people think of me" She tilts her head gently "So, I'm somewhat familiar to you, or you know of me from somewhere" Another tilt. Sammi's neck doesn't have any actual bones, so it's able to tilt quite a bit "I think you may have had something to do with an attack, on a caravan. I was protecting the children there"
Usid dips his head in some shame, "I led those attacks yes... You come to seek retribution as well? Then we shall have t-wait... children?" He lifts his head back up, examining Sammi more carefully. "There were no children taken prisoner? The last caravan... yesssss. You were the shadow, wielding the blade of light? Usid did not see. Usid only heard of your power."
Sammi: "Retribution?" She seems to consider it, that shadowy part of her was down for it, but "Naaah. Not about that, and that was me?" She considers the question "In a way, yes, or no" She seems to be oddly detached, being two people at once will do that "I'm curious though. You wanted to hurt, and take from these people, now you work with them..you seem..genuine, but I don't think I know why you do it.." She gives a little smile "This is fun! There's lots of people that just see me as silly, and sort of vapid, but you remember me as a great warrior. It's very freeing"
Sammi was rambing, and she cuts off confusion with a flick of her hand "Don't worry about it. But tell me. Why join with Respite?"
Usid 's posture relaxes away from his knife, this one is not afraid, merely curious, it seems. He sighs, "Usid is... not certain. You ask a difficult question, very complicated. Usid was raised a hunter. Usid knew very little else. Learned to be stronger, hunt better, kill more. got recognized for his power. Given more. Gained trust, respect... or so Usid thought. But all lies. The Whisperer made it clear that Usid was expendable. Usid's clan was expendable. And those in Usid's clan that Usid... trusts greatly, they wish for peace. So Usid shall try to do what is best for his clan."
Sammi: "I know it's harder for others to change. You're changing because the way wasn't working out for you. And your clan" She adds the latter as an afterthought "Let me ask a different question then. Would you have changed, if your clan had won. If you had slain our guards, and taken our young. Would you have seen what you call the error of your ways?"
Usid blinks, taken aback by the rather brunt question. He is silent a moment as he reflects on those thoughts. "Defeat by the One-Eyed Wolf and the other warriors proved Respite was stronger than we thought, yes. Made Usid stop, speak to others. Listen to others. Without that defeat... Usid does not know. Usid would not have sought out Sister Louma for answers. Tizza might have been to afraid to speak to Usid. Usid would let blood and power blind him to truth." He sighs. "Usid is a monster. Usid has already made peace with this. Usid will ensure his clan is safe, happy... then will atone for what Usid has done."
Sammi: "Well, think of me as, well" She flicks some of the shadowy essence around herself "It's complicated, and I don't realllly understand it" She rubs her temples "I'm losing myself a bit, but for now! Clarity! Not the fun kind" She tilts her head again "Something's coming, and I can't stop it.....ANYWAY!" She smiles and claps her hands brightly "Not important! What's important is helping you! Talking about atoning, and a monster, and all that. It's very nice, very noble, but ultimately, not very useful. Better question! What sort of person do you want to be? What sort of Usid is one that isn't a monster?"
Usid tilts his head further at Sammi, trying to follow her but not fully understanding some of her talk. To the last question, he growls slightly, "You ask many hard questions... Things Usid has never thought about..." He puts a hand to his jaw and thinks. "Usid... was given trust. Trust came at great cost. Usid wishes to be worthy of that. To be the kind of leader they deserve. To bring them their 'peace'. Then maybe Usid find his peace as well."
Sammi smiles again "You thought of me as a fighter, but I hate fighting. It seems that I'm just bringing that into fighting with words, but annnnyway. I think you don't actually know who you want to be, other than wanting to be someone that succeeds. So, here's some advice. What sort of person is the Usid that is best for Respite?"
Usid frowns. "Strength is... all Usid has known for a long time. Strength, success... but now? The Usid that is best for Respite... Usid thinks one that is not so strong? Usid is trying to understand..." He genuinely is, but a lot of things have twisted him up, and he still doesn't really understand Respite. "Gareth has been open, willing to aid Usid. Usid could be more like Gareth, and help others like that?"
Sammi smiles, and nods "Gareth is a good role model! You should still find your own path, but if you're not sure, trying to think of what he'd do is a good starting point. Usually" Not in relation to Sammi herself. That would be weird. "Oh! I should also do a gift. It's a tradition I have, if you'd accept it" She seems to be settling a bit, the shadows drifting away. Thinking about Gareth anchored her a good bit
Usid hums, "Gareth is strong in ways Usid does not understand. Usid shall find his own path, yes. But it is muddy now. Time will bring clarity. Peace too, perhaps, once Respite has decided what to do with Usid." He blinks again, "Gift? This is Respite tradition? Usid is unsure of his worth, but, if it is tradition, Usid will accept?"
Sammi: "It's my own tradition! Not respite" She reaches into her bag, curious what it would be. She took out a compass! "Huh" She opens it, and checks "It's..uh.." Squint "I dunno. It's not pointing North" She passed it to Usid, with the compass needle swinging vaguely. Around the edges of the compass were numerous odd symbols "I'm sure it means something though, uh...well, maybe it becomes clear with time"
Usid takes the compass and watches the needle swing about, then focus on a direction. He looks in that direction, but finds it not pointing towards anywhere he knows in partciular. He turns it in his hands a few times, then returns his attention to Sammi and bows to her. "Gifts are precious to my people. Usid does not know the purpose of this, but Usid shall keep it with him." He lowers the compass down, and slips it into a pouch upon his waist, close to the bloodied knife he keeps with him.
Sammi: "And, I'd also suggest washing the knife"
Sammi: "It's bad for the metal"
Usid glances down at it and chuckles. "It... is a symbol, more than a knife, now. Usid cannot wash the blood away. Usid cannot forget what has been done with that blade."
Sammi: "If you're not going to be that person, why hold unto it?"
Usid pauses. "This... is a good question... Usid will need to think on this. On who he wants to be... and what that shall mean for his clan."
Sammi: "Ahuh!" She nods again "My best advice for you is to work on having you, and your clan be people that Respite want to forgive, and are worth forgiving" She hops to her feet "Anyway! I'm sure we'll see each other again! It's been fuuun"
Usid starts to give Sammi a salute, then stops, "Ah! So many questions, but Usid has asked nothing in return. What is your name, so that Usid might know it?"
Sammi: "Call me Sammi! Everyone else does"
Usid nods, "Sammi then. Thank you, for talking. Usid has much to consider."