Completed A red haired stranger [Jez]

[Valo]

40th Summer 511AV
Edge of Endrykas
Evening, at sunset

Ever since Riverfall, Valo had somehow managed to earn his place in a little caravan of merchants that travelled to Endrykas. Of course he had to work his keep, feed the horses, occasionally cook a makeshift dinner Nothing in life is free. But after days and days of travelling, the group finally reached the forest of tents on a little island within the formidable Sea of Grass. And it was about time. It's not that he wasn't fond of his companions, au contraire, but the youth was tiered of riding just like he was sick of the sea. His mind did nothing but jump forward to the pleasant nights he would spend with beautiful Drykas girls and eat something else than stew of questionable edibility. He thought of all the new people he would meet and all the knowledge this city had to offer. And so there was a grin on Valo's face as the convoy approached the peripheral line of tents.

A friend of a friend of this man he had met in Riverfall - who's son had met his mother and experienced her devout kindness - was indebted to this woman who had a daughter who's friend of a friend was engaged someone within the Amethyst clan. Or perhaps he had already messed up the story. It was indeed very long and confusing. None the less he had a place to spend the night and in fact, as many nights as he wished before the next departure. Now the biggest problem was to find that Amethyst clan and the Firetongue Pavilion where he was to lodge. "Look for the purple tents." he told him self. Someone must be able to point him in the right direction.

Endrykas was truly a remarkable city, like none he had ever seen. There was no such thing as 'permanent' residence. Everything shifted before his eyes, much like the seasons did shift; as new tents were built up and old taken down. No wander they called this the city on the move. And everything was a deeply saturated in colour of such profound vibrancy. The red hue of the setting sun cast long shadows over the dirt, rendering the whole scenery magnificent in Valo's eyes. He could taste in the air the adventure in and bravery and intricate stories he was soon to hear. A city with a rich culture. Being a romantic soul and a boisterous youth, Valo's very mind was overwhelmed by all he saw. So much life all round him. Eyes wide open but a head to small to take in every detail, every scent and colour, every face of every man and woman he passed.

" 'Ere's where you're on your own laddy." said the burly man, halting his horse and letting the Inarta fledgeling slide off it. "Good luck." he smiled condescendingly and disappeared among the tents. The rest of the group had also somehow diffused. The merchants made for the market at the centre of the city, others fled to see their family once again. And Valo alone was left standing among some red tents, with the eyes of some strider upon him. The beast shook it's mane and returned to munching of grass. Nothing to see here.

Being the only Inarta, engulfed by Endrykas was a scary thought. As he walked in no direction apparent to him, no landmark that was instantly recognisable, the heads of men and women alike turned. He must have looked so strange to them. A tall boy who wasn't even 21 yet. A handsome face, not brushed by the fingers of age. And that very face was framed by long hair the colour of fire. Hair as red as some of the tents around him, or perhaps even more so. Whereas back home he would just be a head in a lava flow of red heads, here he stuck out like a sore thumb. This made him very self concious indeed and soon he found him self staring at his feet, partly from embarrassment and partly to prevent him self from tripping over something or other. "Purple tents eh? Easier said than done."

Beside him life flourished. Children would run around, playing games and fighting with wooden swords. Even those as young as five or six could be seen riding their striders proudly. Their little bodies adorned with elaborate tattoos they called Wind Marks. Yes, Valo had read up on Drykas culture, but seeing it with his own eyes was quite something. As he past a very large set of green tents, he smelled a delicious scent of something cooking and two men skinning some indistinguishable beast. A group of riders galloped past him with bows and traps, green sashes and ornaments adorning their clothes. Ah the Emerald clan was famous for their hunting ability, noted Valo as he spotted flashes of purple past the area of green tents. Alas he was on the right track.

The backpack on his shoulder weighed heavily and he didn't realise perhaps how tiered he was until he reached the very edge of the purple tents. Now where to go? Perhaps he should ask one of the clansmen? Yes that is what he should do. But somehow he found that the presence in an entirely foreign land, with not a friendly soul in sight had drained his charisma.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Ankal, Jez’s father, had informed the pavilion last night that they were to expect a guest this evening, a young man who’d be staying for an indefinite amount of time. The man hadn’t said the reason for the stranger’s staying or why it was that they would be sheltering him, but it wasn’t their place to question the Ankal on a decision. Thus, the nineteen year old Drykas was wandering the edge of the purple tents that indicated the Amethyst Clan. For once he was without Wind, the bold stallion with whom he spent the majority of time since their bonding. His mount had been put out at being told to remain by the pavilion, and by now was probably causing all sorts of chaos for Kaleb, whom he’d asked to watch over the fiery spirit. His poor younger brother was the quietest of the family; the only reason he’d asked him to watch Wind was because he had been bonded to his own mare for eight years now and had a fairly good trust from all of the pavilion’s horses. Jez found the idea of Wind causing chaos for the pavilion rather amusing, knowing they’d ask him to sort out the stallion and not leave him behind again. It had been his mother’s idea to leave the stallion at home, thinking a foreigner would be intimidated to see him approaching on such a wild looking horse. He supposed that was right, though after travelling through Cyphrus the Inarta would probably have seen plenty of striders and more than enough glass beaks to last a life time. Jez sighed as he looked to the sky, observing as darkness slowly overtook the evening sky, the last tips of light casting a partly red shine across Endrykas as stars peeked out. He hoped the other would find his way here soon, knowing all too well how difficult the moving tent city could be to navigate. It would be particularly difficult to find your way around not having grown up within, especially as night descended and cast a dark blue hue over everything. Plus, it was the start of Fall and the warmth of Summer was beginning to wear off. “Did you see his hair?” Jez heard one of the members stood outside a neighbouring Emerald Clan tent comment to his kinsman. “Bright as fire it was, glaring like a torch at midnight.” Jez’s attention was caught; hair bright as fire? That must be the man he was after. Inarta were renowned for their red hair, the only particular feature he had heard a lot about in his fairly cut off homelands. The few strangers that entered the city were rarely seen by Jez; his affairs were more towards his pavilion and occasionally his Clan, than to goings on outside of Endrykas. The teen moved forwards, raising his hand with a friendly smile directed to the other clan. “Greeting, kinsmen,” his voice boomed across the expanse between them as he approached, “In which direction was the stranger you speak of travelling?” Equally friendly to the fellow Drykas, they directed him and he soon spotted the back of the man he was seeking, long hair as bright as he’d heard. A breeze passed over them, flapping tents slightly and sending shivers through the shirtless man. He hadn’t seemed it cold enough to wrap a cloak over his shoulders, not fond of shirts, yet also hadn’t taken into account the temperature drop at the end of the day. “Yo, traveller,” he called out as he made his way to the other’s side, “It’s rather cold out tonight. Are you the stranger seeking shelter with the Firetonuge pavilion?” His smile was warm, eyes welcoming, as he looked the other over. Slightly older than himself, yes, but he seemed relatively kind. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years (19 in flashback)|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Valo]

Not too much time had passed before a boy approached him who was perhaps only a little younger than him self. A Drykas who wore no shirt as if the tongues of chill did not lick his skin. A generally friendly atmosphere accompanied him and he did mention the Firetongue pavilion which Valo had been searching for. Was the new of his arrival spreading that quickly? After all he had overheard some Drykas comment upon the vibrancy oh his hair. Or perhaps this was a member of the pavilion, in which case an embarrassment sunk into the young Inarta for he has to be fetched.

Upon this encounter, Valo has straightened his back and took on the manner of a man much older than him self. An educated and eloquent being, he prided him self on first impressions and made sure to burn his footprint into the memory of this boy before him. "The Firetongue pavilion." he spoke. A voice calm and smooth like midsummer honey. A distinct accent was present in his voice as he clearly articulated every word. "Indeed. Do you know where I may find them. My name is Valo of Wind Reach." There was an element of formality to him that no man his age would concern him self with. A hand outstretched in a friendly handshake. His dark green eyes watched the man before him. There was something strikingly pleasant about the Drykas, though Valo could not yet explain what that was.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jez contemplated the man before him with something akin to wonder. He had rarely spoken to anybody not of Drykas birth, not a difficult feat seeing as Endrykas was a difficult place to find and he left a lot of the trading to members of the pavilion who were better skilled at it. His place was with nature over dealing with people in business, the reason he hoped to go into horse breeding; a happy compromise for a teen who loved both the natural world and conversing with others. His eyes were not only fixated on the seemingly unnatural hair colour, though that certainly took up a good portion of his viewing, but also on the man’s posture. The stranger seemed to stand rigidly, as though concerned about how the Drykas would be judging him. It amused Jez, for he knew how pleasant most of his race was once foreigners earned their trust. As the man responded, the teen found himself glad to have chosen to speak in Common. Though his ability at the language was only basic, it not being his native language of Pavi, he was able to say enough to communicate with the man who obviously spoke Common fluently. His accent was buried but distinct, speaking of distant lands than Jez had only heard of through stories passed down. He looked forward to asking the other about his journey and the strange lands he came from. His Ankal had mentioned he may stay for some time, depending, and so the teen was sure there’d be opportunity to find out plenty. Mistaking the handshake for a traditional grasping of wrists between two Drykas upon meeting, Jez reached out and instead of shaking the man’s hand grabbed his wrist firmly with a nod before releasing it and lowering his arm. He addressed the other, whom he now knew as Valo, in the best Common he could manage, feeling abnormal not using the hand gestures that would accompany Pavi, known as Grassland sign. “My name is Jez, of the Amethyst Clan within Endrykas,” he gestured his arm backwards towards the purple tents behind him to accompany the words, “I am of the Firetongue Pavilion. It’s cold out; perhaps we should head to my family tents before we talk any further.” He felt slightly awkward, speaking too formally for his own liking, yet couldn’t form the exact words he wished to use in the language he had to communicate with. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years (19 in flashback)|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Valo]

Valo smiled his most charming smile. The friendly face before him indeed seemed welcoming, but he had yet to get used to his new surrounding. Never had he ever slept in a tent or been surrounded by so many horses. And truly did the Drykas culture interest him. Valo had so much to learn here, so many wonderful and mysterious things to discover. But first thing's first; a place to sleep. "Ah I am so glad you found me sir. Though I presume I wasn't hard to spot." he said with formal elegance. Jez Firetongue had grasped his wrist, which surprised Valo immensely coss no one had ever really touched his wrists before. It seemed such an odd convention, but a convention none the less, he figured. It was only logical that this wrist grabbing was a form of a greeting in all it's strangeness. Glad was Valo to fallow Jez deeper into the tents, allowing him self and his few belongings fully into the Hands of the young man. "I must thank you for your kindness towards me. Your family is truly noble and if there is any way I can pay back my debt, just let me know." he added.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jez laughed heartily at the man’s words. “Yes indeed,” he replied with a large grin, “It’s not often that a stranger with bright red hair wanders through Endrykas, especially unaccompanied. I suspect most people were suspicious of your intentions, though when they know you’re staying with us they’ll lighten up a bit. We’re a friendly race, honestly. Now, we should get back before it gets much later; my Strider’s probably causing some sort of chaos in my absence.” He smiled with a secretive look in his eye, one that showed that this Valo of Wind Reach would be in for a surprise if he wasn’t used to horses, especially ones like the Drykas kept with a free reign to wander as they pleased. The teen turned with a wave over his shoulder, nodding in the direction they were to head. His pavilion was luckily not too far away from where they stood, so soon enough they’d be out of the chilly air. Jez checked over his shoulder every so often, making sure the other man was still with him, though now that he was being led by a Drykas there was no hostility towards him. The teen also stopped every now and then to greet friends or nod in respect to a neighbouring Ankal, twice halting to pat two striders whose riders he knew well. They finally reached the Firetongue pavilion, the journey having taken three times as long as if they’d simply walked the distance, though within their community that would be deemed rude and disrespectful. Jez gestured to the collection of tents, purple like the rest of the Amethyst Clan, and spoke with a wide grin, “My home, and yours too for the duration of your stay.” He heard the snorting of a wild horse, felt the pull of their bond, before his Strider came into view, a mighty stallion with a crazed look in his eyes. To Valo he imagined the horse looked insane, as if he were going to trample them before, but as Wind’s rider he simply stepped in front of the animal’s path with confidence. “Calm yourself, Wind,” he soothed as the stallion came to a skidding halt in front of him, thrashing his tail and bumping their heads to show displeasure at being left behind. His ears threw back as he glared at the red haired man who dared to take the place of the stallion in following Jez. The teen, however, simply laughed and patted the stallion’s shoulder, shaking his head at the silly behaviour of his jealous horse. “Come on then Valo let’s go inside…Wind wait outside, I’ll get your feed later.” With that, Jez lifted the flap to the Ankal’s tent and walked in, waiting within to announce the foreigner’s arrival. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years (19 in flashback)|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Valo]

He had fallowed the man though the streets, keeping his head low for every acquaintance that crossed then, seemed to glare at his with surprise or amusement. "It's the hair! It's the hair." he told him self, though perhaps quite rightly. Suffice to say, once the long and dragged out journey was over, Valo had been glad to finally enter the blissful confinement of a pavilion. Or so he thought, for a creature with thunder in it's mad eyes had wished for it's greeting too. It held some kind of animalistic resentment against Valo, the reason for which was unknown; though it manifested so clearly in the animal's body language. A stallion of the storm. The name Wind seemed as good a name as any other, describing some powerful and maddening force. Seemed it was Jez'es strider for the bond between the two radiated with intimacy that only a man and animal could share. "Striders are family to the Drykas."thought Valo, minding not to voice his thoughts aloud. "A strider belongs to it's rider just as much as the rider belongs to a strider." He couldn't quite understand why the horse was so hostile towards him. The very nature of Valo was kind and charismatic and animals usually sensed this. then again perhaps it was not the fault of the artist but the the character of the horse. Truly he was glad to finally fallow Jez into the tent. Long days of travel were now behind him and the traveller was warn out to say the least.

[Jackalope]

Valo

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+1	The Beauty of Endrykas
Socialisation	+2	Jez is from the Firetongue Pavilion

Jez

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+1	Awating a Guest
Socialisation	+2	Being Hospitable

Witty Remark Here

Looking forward to more interactions! Not too much to award here, but keep it up! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.