[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Talya encounters Fallon while rummaging through all of the books at the University's Library. A serious discussion ensues.

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Center of scholarly knowledge and shipwrighting, Zeltiva is a port city unlike any other in Mizahar. [Lore]

[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Talya on July 21st, 2015, 2:30 pm

Timestamp: Summer 68, 515 AV

Talya had finally figured it out; she was being stupid. Instead of going around to the few shrines and temples within the city, to ask the priests, acolytes, and other passerby what they may know about the god in question, she should have gone to the library all along, and researched whatever she could. Books had answers; people she supposed, had nothing more than interpretations. Books had everything- from views on good and evil, which she was increasingly interested in, to notations on the various gods and goddesses within the world, to treatises on magic, and descriptions and pictures of various plants and their uses, the definitions of words in various languages and their many uses, recipes for those of the world that needed some help in the culinary department, and many more things that she probably had not so much as thought of before. As such, a library seemed the perfect place for Talya to spend one of her days, looking for the answers to at least one of her many questions. (Which with any luck, would remain answered without opening up any more).

As such, Talya had crossed the lawns, and headed into the University Library. She had moved passed all the people who were milling about, sitting in chairs or at desks reading something or other, or standing in the aisles with a book propped open in their outstretched arms. To her, they were scarcely there. To her, all that could be seen were the endless rows of books and perhaps even a few scrolls lying on the bookshelves, waiting for someone to take them down, open them up, and read. But which ones were the books that she actually wanted to read? Which were the ones which would contain the answers to her questions and propel her forward on her quest to find out the true meaning of good and evil, and which god or goddess was truly the pure one? Rhysol, or Priskil?

Talya sighed, as she had no flipping idea where to begin, but she knew all the same that she had to begin somewhere, or the journey would never truly start, now would it? So, she walked up to the closest aisle, and took a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth as she scanned the leather spines of the books upon the shelf. Everything that was at her eye level was written in a rather small print, and she had to narrow her dark eyes into a squint. The black slits peering over everything, and soon discerning that this wasn't at all what she wanted, so she moved onto the next section on the right. Talya ran her right pointer finger over the words on the spines, guiding it across their lengths to the right, as though they all made up one large book for her to read. She mouthed the words to herself as she continued scanning; taking a moment to tuck a loose strand of black hair behind her ear as she continued working. But still, she found nothing, and continued ever onward, even though, it was more than likely that it would have been far easier for her to just find the person in charge and ask them where she could find books about what she wanted. Perhaps she'd grow tired, and figure out as much for herself, and ask later, but for now, she was in one of those determined states where she wanted to do everything on her own.

And perhaps, so she would.

OOCAlthough I didn't get into it, the thread takes place during the day, so Talya would be in her mortal seeming form of a Chaktawe.
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Fallon on July 22nd, 2015, 1:53 pm

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Books, hundreds if not thousands of them were accessible within Zeltiva's Library. A feat that in itself was grand, knowledge collected by scholars and traveller's from all fields of life - a wealth of wisdom ready to be delved into with the right mentality. And it was such a source that made her hungry to divulge herself among the books and tomes that existed just within reach. Possibilities, resources, answers, they all thumbed within and left the sensation of the Lykata prickling against her skin. Plus, it was noticeably cooler within the shade of the library, something that drew the Investigator in much like a moth to a flame. So Fallon had taken to lurking, her notebook and writing tools within her belt pouch, the mind working through what resources she would need to go through in order to get the answers she desired. Today she would research the city, its inhabitants and its people - what made them tick? Beliefs? Where could they be exploited? Trade? Resources? People of importance? What did they need? And so forth.

It was Economics in its simplest form.

In among the quiet shelves Fallon shifted, the gloved finger tip tracing over the spines of the books, lips twitching as she silently spoke the titles and names to herself. Her hand moved to pull one from off the shelf, a well thumbed one as she remembered the title - A Gentleman's Guide to Zeltiva - and quickly flicked to the contents page to read the parts. With a satisfied nod she turned to a page labelled up as religion, quickly scanning the major names that were aligned with the city - Laviku, Eyris, Qalaya and Priskil - before closing it. Tucking the book securely under one arm, the inspector moved onwards, continuing her tracing over the sections as she divulged herself to the contents. She paused again this time, hand hovering over what appeared to be a copy of An Account of the Circumnavigation of Mizahar, before she pulled it off the shelf and placed it with the other. The process continued, slowly moving along as she took to the next aisle. Books held close, she paused to study the names of the isles - Religion, History, Geography, Culture, the art of the more practical elements. She stopped at the mouth of it, head cocking to one side as she spied the names of various Deities and chose to take her hunt down there.

The close together shelves, the scent of muskiness brushing against her senses, she pushed herself past another as she inclined her head upwards towards the names. She did not pay too much attention to the stranger, and instead focused on the task at hand. She continued to breath the names under her breath as she reached to pull the necessary books from the shelves, "Laviku," she stretched and tugged upon it, slipping it beneath the arm. Her finger merely glossed over Eyris, moving downwards towards the 'Q' as she plucked the next book in question, "Qalaya... And..." She paused, blinked, and followed the line of letters back along in the direction of this stranger. She followed the letters along once more, brow furrowing as she followed the names along once more. P, where was it?

Green-blue orbs settled upon her target, the rest of her moving in as she came in closer. She gave a blink to the taller one, momentarily ticking through the manner in which she should approach the situation before simply brushing it aside. This was a public library, information and knowledge was before her - she would take it between both hands firmly.
"Excuse me," she whispered before stretching her arm out, across the shelving before the bronze coloured woman and tugging upon the book in question. She gave it a turn to look upon the cover, "And Priskil. Excellent." Fallon stretched the arm back round to herself then, stacking the book with the small collection she had mustered, "Sorry about that."

For a moment she counted through the books, readjusting her grip as she looked up and down the aisle once more. There was a pausing blink, orbs drinking in the creature that was before her. The brow raised only momentarily, a flicker up to those dark, black orbs, before away. Her mind raced for a name other than non-human while the lips twitched into a rolling, lilting voice, "You looking for something?"
FALLON
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Fallon is a Master of Intimidation, "At this level, a Master intimidator often unconsciously intimidates their target unless the intimidator monitors their stance, tone, and actions to prevent this. Master intimidators will nearly always have a reputation that precedes them unless they have taken special care to prevent it."
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Talya on July 22nd, 2015, 3:11 pm

Talya continued scanning the spines, but couldn't seem to find anything that would be of use to her, or alternatively, anything that she might be interested in reading at any given point in time. She sighed to herself, as she had severely misjudged how difficult it would to find a good book, (obviously), and was just about to give up looking and ask the librarian for help, when a shadow crawled across her visage. It was the outline of a hand, she could tell, (even though that would be just about the only thing that would make sense for it to be), that was reaching across her field of vision to grab a book on the shelf in front of her. The fingers of the hand seemed long and slender. Pale. Talya guessed that they belonged to a woman as she blinked a few times, clearing her field of vision, as the tiny black ink scrawled across the side of the binding flashed before her eyes. Transposing in upon itself so that at first, her vision doubled, before all the words began to mix together forming a whirlpool of indistinguishable black lettering. She raised her hand, and clutched at her head, digging her fingers beneath each layer of dark hair. She scratched her scalp lightly as her temple ached dully, and then shook her head out, ridding herself of the last of the visions before sighing, and returning her right hand to her side.

Talya must have been concentrating too long. Her eyes must have needed a little reprieve from their work. She had neglected giving it to them, but now that her work had been interrupted, they could get the break they would need to renew themselves. So, Talya turned to the woman who was speaking to her. She was a few inches shorter than Talya, so the Ethaefal had to tip her head down just a bit, so that they could lock eyes. She was far fairer in feature as well- her skin was milky, with a few freckles to dot it here and there. Her hair a mixture of light and dark highlights, although to Talya, it seemed to have brightened, and turned more flaxen, presumably with the season. It was bound haphazardly in a ponytail. Her eyes were lighter than Talya's too, although in this form, it was impossible for them not to be. She seemed to be lither too, although perhaps, not as muscular as she. She smiled sweetly down at the woman. "No worries," she commented, as she looked over the stack of books in Fallon's arms. "Although, that volume might have been what I was looking for," she admitted, as her eyes settled upon the woman's, and she did her best to concentrate, blocking out all other sources of potential stimuli, until Fallon's aura came into view.

It was a bright green in color, with flecks of yellow bleeding through. A sort of undertone, that wasn't quite an undertone. It moved oddly to Talya, as it flowed as would clouds across the sky, but sections of it appeared larger to her than others, as though they were being viewed through a magnifying glass, as opposed to the naked eye. She wasn't quite sure what this meant, as she had never seen it before. Nor had she ever heard her instructor back in Ravok describe such a finding when he read auras, or offered accounts of what others had seen with the aid of the magic. So, Talya passed over the minor detail and did her best to concentrate on the other aspects of the aura. She found that it didn't taste like anything, as her pupils dilated, but it did smell like something. Like freshly opened books. That smell you got when you rifled through the pages for the first time. It also smelled musty, kind of like an older book would, if you left it out in the rain for too long, and the pages had begun to disintegrate. It kind of sounded like someone where flipping through the pages too. But it sounded also, like a quill scratching on a piece of parchment, like someone were writing something.

As her heart began to beat a little faster, she realized that she had been silent for quite some time, and as the notion that this woman liked to read and to write, and also to learn came to her, she began to speak again. "I've been looking for a number of things," she explained, as she glossed over the color of the aura again, and decided that the woman must be friendly enough, and not particularly harmful, solely off the brightness of the color. "Books about the gods mainly; although also, a few things about the notion of good and evil and their contexts." She paused, as she guessed also that Fallon was rather focused in nature, and inquisitive, and right now, she was likely feeling rather curious before she let the aura fall, and disappear from sight. Her eyelids feeling far heavier then before, the instant that she did so, making it far harder for Talya to keep them open. "Maybe it would be best to backtrack a bit," she commented bashfully after awhile, not sure if she detected a confused expression upon Fallon's face, or if it were merely her imagination at work again.

"There wasn't much to be learned back at home; so travel became necessary," Talya explained. "So here we are now, in this library, I searching for books to answer, at the base of all things, one simple question: why?" she paused. "Of course, it is a bit more complex than that, but at the end of the day, that is what it all boils down to." She smiled weakly. "I want to know why things are the way they are- why the gods are viewed in different lights depending on where you were raised, despite whatever label and domain they might have been given. I want to know what makes one good, and another god evil, or mischievous. Cruel, or murderous. I want to know if what is viewed as good within one city, is truly pure, or if it is tainted. If all is but a lie." She fell silent a moment. "Does that make any sense to you?" Talya asked. "When given out of context, or should I explain myself a little further?"

Talya wasn't sure she wanted to do that though. Given her past conversations with those outside of Ravok about Rhysol and Priskil, she wasn't so sure this woman would be any more open, or any more receptive, to seeing things the way she had been taught to see them; in the fashion she had always perceived. Which meant, that they likely couldn't have a very good conversation at all, and Talya was not only wasting her time, but beginning to slide down a rather slippery slope.
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Fallon on July 23rd, 2015, 2:12 pm

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Fallon's jaw lifted, feeling the tilt and tensing of muscles as the black orbs seemed to focus upon her. Her hairs rose, skin prickling as she felt the sensation of scrutiny brush on past her. Her own head titled to one side as the woman seemed to maintain her own silence, almost as if thinking upon something. Perhaps she was a foreigner? Perhaps she was not used to the customs of humans within the city? Or perhaps it was the simple case that common was not her first language? It would not surprise her, it seemed a majority of non-humans that she knew of were not exactly fluent in her tongue. The stance, the way the hand seemed to momentary clutch at the forehead - pain, discomfort or simply focus? A brief chew upon her lip, the green-blue orbs flickering up and down for that social cue on how to respond. Wild, far out, not dressed as normal cultures would suggest - but then again this was probably foreign to her. It was the words that made her pause her own thinking and respond with a mumbled 'oh'.

"I see. This one?" she picked the tome up and showed her the cover, "The guide to the Lady of Hope and Light, Priskil?" It was without a second thought that Fallon simply offered the book over to the other woman, holding it there for her to take when necessary. The teeth gave only a flash of a smile, "Here, take it. I have more than enough to read through and keep me occupied for now."

Such a curious creature, Fallon mused as she shuffled the remainder of the books closer to herself. So foreign but looking to become learned in a city such as Zeltiva. How far had she travelled to achieve so? Somewhere southwards Fallon imagined as she felt the names of cities trickle on through her mind. But how far? Where from? She had no real clue in honesty, anything south of the Sylira border was mostly a mystery to her. More of a mystery however was the long amounts of silence, what was she focusing on if anything at all? Perhaps she was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to look beyond and open the eyes to what else there was in the world. Fallon promptly turned her head back up to the shelving then, eyes scanning the rest of the tomes with her own wonder - she should really spend more time familiarising herself with the pantheon, yet it was a task that was difficult to find enough time for. Another time perhaps.

"Books on the gods?" a digit pointed to the shelf beside them, "There is your resource. You may be spending some time going through them all though. Many names, many titles, many views and theories to read upon." Fallon drummed the fingers of her free hand upon her chin, "Well... from my understanding, do the gods not just pick domains in which to rule over? Perhaps they just picked them out of choice? Then again, asking why is the equivalent of why is the grass green? The sky blue? Why do we live and die? If you paint it in one light good and evil can be dressed to simply being white and black with no grey area. Another view may open up different thoughts. What is that saying... Black is my shield against evil." Fallon gave a pause and then promptly shrugged, "I think, before you can even decide upon things like that though you need to be able to define what is and is not evil. And each definition you will find varies from person to person and place to place."

"Conversely, you cannot force someone into belief nor into unbelief. Perhaps it is simply the way the city had been lead to believe, perhaps there is a reason behind it all, or perhaps there is some secret plan,"
She turned her gaze up to the other then, "Sometimes however, all we need to do is open our eyes and just take in the possibilities of what could be out there." Fallon caught her tongue then, pausing and stiffening as she silenced herself. She had spoken a lot she realised, spewing out in what was little more than gibbered philosophy built upon what she knew on the subject. In honesty she preferred herself in the moral grey area of neither good nor evil, the ability to make her own choices based upon what she thought to be right or wrong. Sheepishly, Fallon focused her gaze upon the cover of her books and thumbed back through the titles, "I suppose, really, you're better off looking for the meaning of what is right and what is wrong." She pulled a face, "Not sure if that helps."
FALLON
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Fallon is a Master of Intimidation, "At this level, a Master intimidator often unconsciously intimidates their target unless the intimidator monitors their stance, tone, and actions to prevent this. Master intimidators will nearly always have a reputation that precedes them unless they have taken special care to prevent it."
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Talya on July 29th, 2015, 9:51 pm

Talya nodded, "thank you," she said as she took the novel from Fallon, and set it comfortably into her enclosed arms, before falling silent. Her eyes searching the woman's features, watching how her lips flexed and flowed as it formed letters to build various words. How the edges quivered slightly as she spoke, as though it wanted to stretch farther into the creases that were known as dimples. She listened intently, trying not to chuckle at times as the woman spoke of some things, while more seriously, she took others. When she felt that Fallon had concluded her speech, she shook her head lightly, tousling her full head of dark hair. "That would be the easy part- defining the meaning of a word. Or even a few of them. All you have to do is search yourself, and you'll have an answer, unless of course, you want to look them up in a dictionary, for something more official. Although still, your own mind often knows best."

Talya fell silent a moment. "Some of the books here are likely to be the most useful- as you yourself have expressed. Books on the gods- books that describe them as they are. Although, one must admit that you have to watch for bias, or what is little more than opinion." She turned toward the spines and picked a few volumes off the shelf after a brief search- The Dark Father, Lady of Radiance, (which very well could have been about Syna she realized, and The Riots of Rhysol. She then set them carefully atop the book she had taken off Fallon, before addressing her again. "It seems unlikely that the gods would choose who they were- and what they wanted to be." She paused. "I don't suppose even people truly do, so why should they?" She supposed she would encounter a curious look from Fallon, and decided to pre-emptively explain herself further. "You see, we are all the products of where we live. Where we grow up. What we experience in our day to day lives- so, if that's the case, how much do we truly choose what we become, if we have no way of controlling the things around us?" She smiled sweetly. "Not our parents, our aunts and uncles, or siblings, (if you have any to speak of), not those in our respective cities and towns, not the weather, or the climate, or anything other than basic things. What we choose to buy or not buy. What we eat or don't eat. What we drink or don't drink, for example." She paused. "I think you get the idea."

Talya sighed. "You are right though. Perception is everything- if man perceives one as evil, he is evil. If he perceives one as good, he is good. There is often little to be done in the way of changing heir minds. Even if new information presents itself before someone, for their judgment." She paused. "Perhaps that is all this is- a game of perception, with no answer truly being right or wrong." Her eyes flashed as she nibbled on her lower lip, and adjusted the books in her arm, so that they would be easier for her to hold. "But I can't accept that, any more than I think I would ever be able to believe that," she went on. "It's just to simple an answer- at the end of the day, if we were to watch their every move in the same way that they must watch ours, we would be able to see the same things in their actions, right? And thus come to the same conclusion, more or less?" she sighed. Unless someone conveniently neglects to notice something important,, she thought.

"Anyway, thanks for your help- it was hard to find these things in such a big place," Tal added, as she moved to walk past her, and away to one of the tables to study what she had found. When she thought better of it. They seemed interested in some of the same things, which meant that they were likely reading a lot of similar material, which meant that it could be got through twice as swiftly if they helped one another out. So, mid stride, Talya turned to look over her shoulder. "On second thought," she began, "perhaps you would like to come along, we could study together, if you'd like. You don't have to though," she finished with a small shrug, that knocked a clump of black hair off her shoulder. She took a single breath, before turning back around, waiting for an answer, it would seem, before she moved off back toward the center of the library.
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Fallon on July 30th, 2015, 8:55 pm

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"So... you're suggesting the idea of nature over nurture? Or that we're merely puppets and pawns in a game, lead along by an invisible string to tell a tale?" Fallon hummed, "Or that there is some masterful writer up there in the sky, dipping the quill and writing out every word, action, feeling and event that will occur to us before we even know it. Making us, I suppose, little more than fictional characters in a story." The fingers and thumbs drummed along the spines of her books then, "If that's the case. Then the author in charge of I must be a complete and utter arsehole with a strong fondness for irony. But, I digress."

Fallon waved the thought away, "There's one key and major difference between the Gods and everyone else beneath them. A point that is vital," Her orbs blinked then, "Their lives, if it can even be called that, their way of thinking and what they are... mortals, things that can live, be stabbed and die with shorter life spans exist in mere blinks in their gaze. Instances of ticks, grains of sands upon the shore. The Gods are much more than that and it is with such in mind that I think they would work in a manner much higher and broader than our own, with all the power behind them to back them, or have such powers and are able to pick out their domains and ideas. Or maybe, they were just made that way." Fallon gave a shrug, "It's why there is probably much more than the simple black and white aspects of the Gods, or if they are good or evil. For example," her finger gave a tap upon the spines of the books, tracing along and tapping beneath one of the names, "Eyris. Goddess of wisdom. Is wisdom and knowledge good or evil? Or is it merely how one uses it?"

Words. This stranger liked to use words. But did she know the meaning of them? Or was she merely using them to explain her thoughts, the concerns and wonders that danced within. Fallon tilted her head to one side, and then withdrew her hand from the shelf. Perhaps she had gotten the answer she needed, or merely thought that by right she deserved the answers she was looking for. In the simple conclusions the inspector racked up in her mind however, came only one thing. This was a pointless endeavour, for the Gods worked in ways that was beyond their simple comprehension and existed with the domains they favoured.

She sighed, "What is right, and what is wrong? That is something only you can decide. If it hurts, makes you feel awful on the inside then it is wrong. If it makes you feel good, and you don't get the weight of guilt, then it is right. But, that may just be me with the simple line of thought and not seeing the need to over complicate things more than necessary," with a shrug she hitched up the books she did have in her arms, eyes scanning the titles as she spoke, "I think... maybe. That people just get to hung up on their beliefs of what is right and maybe, what's wrong. All different degrees of wrongness, fighting over it in words and blood. And because of that they lose sight of the important stuff, their... what's the word? Humanity. To be humane. Because being Human, or Akalak, or Konti, or all the other races that are under the sun, has to come first before right and wrong."

Having now run out of words, Fallon merely allowed herself to fall into a hum. The thoughts were still swirling around her mind, levelling out into her own belief and ideals of things. She was not sure how much further progress could be made on such a topic, more so with her own understanding of it being - what she felt at least- inadequate. So, as the foreign being moved away, the inspector did not stop her, merely turning her own thoughts inwards and choosing the silence to be her companion. Least, until the stranger spoke with the offer. Suspicion trickled somewhere in the back of her mind, a warning flaring up and the concern settling into place. Was she being tested in some form? Or was it merely an innocent offer, made on a whim? Did it matter if it was? Regardless, the other did not seem to wait for an answer, leaving Fallon to her flare of paranoia that burned within. It was only as she watched after the shoulders and the slow steps that she pushed the body into action to follow. Fallon cleared her throat, "So, does the study partner have a name?"
FALLON
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Fallon is a Master of Intimidation, "At this level, a Master intimidator often unconsciously intimidates their target unless the intimidator monitors their stance, tone, and actions to prevent this. Master intimidators will nearly always have a reputation that precedes them unless they have taken special care to prevent it."
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Talya on August 8th, 2015, 2:53 pm

Talya thought about it for a moment. "Guess so," she replied with a small shrug; glancing over her shoulder. She had never really thought about it that way before. She crossed the edge of the aisle, and moved into the library central. She paused to take a look around- surveying where all of the people were, where the seats were, what looked like it could be the most comfortable, and what was actually empty, before shrugging again. Having made a final decision at last, she continued on ahead toward a table which appeared to be rather promising. (As it was unoccupied, and no one save for herself seemed to be headed toward it as of yet).

The Ethaefal continued musing. Listening, as she adjusted the books in her arm again to make them easier and more comfortable to carry. "Perhaps," she finally conceded. "But who do you think created them? The first of them, I mean?" she paused. "Was it merely the power of the human mind, or was it something greater? A god or goddess we have forgotten perhaps. Left out of the stories of their lineage and their interconnectedness?" Talya fell silent again. "If I had to guess, I would claim it the realm of Kihala," she whispered, as she moved through a series of tables filled with people who were pouring over books. Some following the words with their fingers, others wildly turning pages or adjusting their spectacles.

The skirt of her dress swished. "As for Eyris, the lady of wisdom, I would suppose her realm to be neutral, for knowledge in itself is neither good nor evil, one would think." She paused, as she squeezed through a set of chairs that had been pulled rather far back. Sucking in her chest a little as she turned the side and slowly drew her leg through, before breathing out again with a sigh as she made her way past. "Although, one could likely argue that some knowledge is sweet and pure; innocent even, and some tidbits far more sinister." She paused. "I would fall into the category claiming that it matter of how one employs what they know that makes it good or evil."

The Ethaefal's steady step suddenly came to an end. She had stopped beside an empty table. A rectangular thing, about four feet long, by another two and a half feet maybe three. It was about three feet high, and had simple, unadorned legs, and chairs to match. They were crafted of a dark wood which looked as though it could have been mahogany, and sanded deftly, before being finished with some sort of paint that left a shiny, transparent sheen. She nibbled her lower lip as she transfered all of the books she held into her left arm, and then pulled the nearest chair, (on the east side of the table), back. She then set her books down, they slammed down, producing a loud thud that drew several eyes. But the Ethaefal didn't seem to notice; or if she did, she didn't care, as she let herself into her seat, and scooched herself in until she had gotten comfortable. If Fallon had yet to seat herself, Talya would indicate that the seat directly across from her was a welcome choice with a sweep of her arm. If that wasn't the case, Talya would smile at the human as she steepled her hands, and nodded at the rest of what the woman had said. It made enough sense to her anyway.

"Talya," she replied simply, as she folded her right leg over her left. "And whom might you be?" she asked, before waiting a moment for Fallon to answer her, before plowing onward. "Now that the matter of names is settled, where do you think we should begin?" Talya asked, before glancing at the book on the top of her pile. It was the one Fallon had coughed up. "With the gods and goddesses associated cleanly with good and evil, or those we may have to define more harshly, and work in?" she paused. "Assuming of course, that you're alright continuing our thread of conversation, and not yet moving onto something... else." She smiled, her eyes sparkled, she honestly wondered what Fallon would say.
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Talya
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Fallon on August 13th, 2015, 1:31 pm

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"I don't know. And I don't think we'll ever know, nor do I think it is our place to know unless one of those above decide to descend down and tell us. Which even then, why should they want to?" Fallon merely hovered at the back of the opposite chair, neither moving to sit nor to keep on going past to the shelves, "If mortal beings such as ourselves knew that they were created, then the same could be said for being destroyed. But, regardless, I fancy not tangling myself into such a philosophical web as this." Her eyes flickered to the gesture of the hand, watching the attempted invite to sit down and join in the research. But still she did not move, "Eyris is many things, she flitters and flutters and simply knows."

Fallon did not like the sparkle in this Talya's eyes, there was something about it that annoyed her. An almost sloth-like nature that she would rather others give up effort and fish for answers in others, or perhaps a reluctance to truly learn and merely have things be clearly spelt out to her. And finally there was presumptions that she would full heartily join in. Inhaling, Fallon fixed the mask of neutrality to the whimsical woman and silently wondered to herself on how soon she would be promptly dropped the moment she was no longer useful.

"To begin with, I would perhaps expand your knowledge on the pantheon as a whole. Know the gods and goddesses, their domains, based upon what the majority seem to say. That is something only you can learn and research in your own time," her own free hand lifted and gestured to the library, "From there, define in my own mind what is considered acts of good and acts of evil, along with definitions to match and compliment them. And finally I would apply what you have read about the pantheon and apply its cast to such definitions." Fallon's eyes levelled out then, her voice turning firm, "But you, and only you, can come to your own decisions on the subject. Not I, not everyone else, you. The knowledge, the words of ages and the experiences of others all kept as records may guide you, but in the end you are the one who must answer for yourself," the inspector leaned back then, back straightening out and her eyes at last pulling away, "Less you will forever be a wheel going round and round."

Lowering down her load of books onto the table surface, the woman quickly counted the spines before straightening out. What else did she need again? More information on the city if she remembered correctly, a history book certainly would not go amiss at a time like this. Looking to the shelves it was her head that turned to those around her, the brief steps around to the nearest book case and begun divulging in its contents. While she did not find a tome to help her, she instead found one on a more practical subject that had recently taken her interest - sailing. Taking it she made the slow return to the table and looked back to the foreigner, "Oh, and most just call me Fallon."

Easing herself down she picked one of the books - A Gentleman's Guide to Zeltiva - she had acquired and promptly flipped it open. It was with a fumbling within her belt pouch that she pulled out her notebook and writing equipment. Gloved fingers turned to a pair of blank pages, before the ink vial was uncorked and the date quietly noted in the corner. It was from there that she simply studied the contents and title, noting down what was within in her poor handwriting before turning through the pages to a brief analysis of the Zeltivan culture.
FALLON
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Fallon is a Master of Intimidation, "At this level, a Master intimidator often unconsciously intimidates their target unless the intimidator monitors their stance, tone, and actions to prevent this. Master intimidators will nearly always have a reputation that precedes them unless they have taken special care to prevent it."
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Talya on August 13th, 2015, 3:49 pm

Talya waved her hand dismissively. "Not necessary, if they were born into this world, or wherever it is they inhabit, just as the majority of the rest of us are, then we know nothing of how to destroy them if that is our wish," the Ethaefal argued. "For you can't, at least, as far as I know, shove a child, any more than you could a god or goddess back into the womb of the mother that birthed them." A thin smile curled her lips. She found this human amusing, so very amusing, and yet so grating at the same time. Strange, how you could have such an opposing contrast all at once. "Although your point could be a valid one, spending all that extra time researching gods and goddesses whom are not in question, whom are not important to this investigation, if you will, would not make a good use of time. Firstly, it would take so much longer to figure out what one would need to. Especially with all the books that are here." She paused. "Secondly, once you have finished answering all the little questions you have of them for yourself, you are always left with more, and of course, it leaves the initial questions you had still begging for an answer." She fell silent. She shook her head lightly, tousling her long mane of hair. "No Fallon, that would be a waste of time. Time that there isn't enough to be had."

Talya quieted down again. Her heart was beating faster, she was breathing less evenly, although not as raggedly as though she had just expended all of her energy working out, or practicing the few magical disciplines that she did know. "Maybe if there were more of me. More of any of us." She paused, contemplating. "But alas, there is not. And alas, although one could determine alone what they believe, it doesn't make them necessarily right. It doesn't make it true. For example, if I were to add two and two together, I would always get four. Most likely, so would you. But a child struggling with mathematical concepts may come up with the number three, or even the number five, but that wouldn't make them right. It would make them consistently wrong until they edited their answer. Just as if they had said two minus zero was zero. Because it's two." Her smile widened. "That makes sense, right?" she inquired, as she set her hands before her, in a steeple, the fingers weaving together. "Therein lies the problem- how could we possibly know, which is right and which is wrong with something so... esoteric? No, something as obscure as this? Sure it may seem simplistic, but it is not, for not many of our kind have met those of theirs."

Talya's eyes glimmered sadly. "It is not simply enough to believe you know, or even to know within the confines of your own heart. At least not for me." She fell silent as she looked upward, as though seeking the sky; the answers that it may hold for her in her quest. She looked distant now; her eyes even farther off, and perhaps she was for a moment, until she returned her gaze to Fallon. "Now Eyris," Talya began, "you seem to bring her up more than the others," she added, as she eyed the writing equipment that the woman had set down upon the table. "Now why would that be?" she paused. "Why does she seem to be of greater interest to you than the others? Is it simply, for prayer?"

Because Talya wondered, although she had found Fallon in a library, how much the woman truly thirsted for a deep sense of wisdom, for the power held within, as she seemed fine simply settling for second best. Guess work. Not true knowledge; not something greater than knowing what you thought and what you felt within yourself. And she had to wonder, how in all of the world that was knowing anything at all.
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[Wright Library] That Old Book Smell (Fallon)

Postby Fallon on August 15th, 2015, 5:28 pm

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Fallon did not understand why she continued to talk. Her words were little more than petty arguments now, points that looked for pointless answers when time should be focused on what was more important - learning. Was she attempting to rile her up? Was she merely toying with her and looking to waste her time? She would not be surprised if this was little more than a game to her now, and so taking up the quill she dipped it once more into the ink and returned to her reading and poor handwriting. Why listen to a woman who had ducked into using words without forethought or consideration? But still the woman continued to talk pressing the issue and attempting to force her into action. Fallon placed a finger beneath a line of text before flipping to that page. It was from there with the title 'Culture' written that Fallon began to get to work on her own notes with a calm and neutral expression.

Zeltivan Culture
The following things are considered key traits to the members of Zeltiva and should be considered for any gentleman as a foreigner to the city:
  • The people are full of pride - think it is where all wisdom comes from, very strong work ethic (do not condone laziness).
  • Has a strong marine power - has many trade routes making it a wealthy city.
  • Food shortages are common, therefore most produce is rationed.

Fallon paused once more, eyes lifting briefly to look at the names of the other books while the woman continued her talking. It was indeed little more than twittering now, what did mathematics have to do with the subject anyway? And was it not her that was looking for her own personal answer? Yet why was she trying to rope Fallon in once more to get an answer? Her fingers drummed on the surface, the quick note down of the supposed patron gods of the city upon the page of the notebook. She was twittering indeed.

"I mentioned Eyris only twice," Fallon stated, not looking up from her book, "The former was to bring the mind to gauge that there was a grey area of neutrality between what was right and wrong. The latter was to serve more as a confirmation of your seeming thoughts that she is indeed neutral. And now, I have mentioned her thrice - the final due to explaining on your behalf." She returned the hand to the gentle writing motions, the inside of her palm twitching and tightening with mild discomfort. With a click of the nib against the glass she continued to write as the prattling continued.

  • Patron Deities of Zeltiva: Laviku, Priskil, Qayala and Eyris - research the former.
  • Zeltivan diet consists of a majority of fish, other resources are more expensive and less available. Alcohol however is readily available - Alcoholism present?

The vicious circle, there was never a right answer nor was there always the wrong answer. It was merely deciding where to stop and direct oneself into another path and direction - and not pushing others onto it should they be unwilling. And was that a deliberate act to confuse her? Or lead her into a trap of some form?

"Tell me. What is it you're actually looking for?" Fallon fixed her gaze upon the woman then. Her tone had turned from the rolling lilt to a cold chill, devoid of warmth while the orbs merely sharpened upon the other - akin to predator seeking weakness in prey, "For all I hear is the words of one who does not even know what they are looking for, or are forcing their opinions and views unto another. Do you wish to categorise everything into their own little boxes? Their own shades and own colourations and own little numbers?" Her back straightened, "You said that what one believes is not necessarily right, does that mean that everyone else in the world is wrong simply because they do not agree with what you think? Just as one cannot be pushed into belief, they cannot be pushed into unbelief. And thus, it is down to the individual to not only make their own decisions but to accept the views of his or her peers in the world," It was there the gaze was held level, "We are all different, and it with that difference that while there is base rights and wrongs in the world they are blurred. And that is something, that deep down, people manage to accept."
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Fallon is a Master of Intimidation, "At this level, a Master intimidator often unconsciously intimidates their target unless the intimidator monitors their stance, tone, and actions to prevent this. Master intimidators will nearly always have a reputation that precedes them unless they have taken special care to prevent it."
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