72nd Fall 516
Rositor was built like the mountains, with a cold heart and rough appearance. It suited him, for that was what he knew. He was master of the mountains too. Nothing happened there without his knowledge. A spy couldn't walk two steps on a trail without Rositor knowing. A traitor couldn't hide for a day. A strain of minerals couldn't go a bell without him noticing it.
Just like the one he had discovered, the reason why he had been waiting for one of the Ebonstryfe to actually come out and greet. He was meant to be a paladin; with his callous, private personality, few would actually be able to tell people that. Few would be able to tell people anything. That was one of the consequences of working in the Wildlands. No one knew him. He liked it that way.
Finally a soldier had come to greet him, and he had told them the details they needed to know. He had found a possible collection of iron, east of Ravok, about six bells of walking. He was setting out to gather it that day. Unsurprisingly, there had been no one to join him. Of course not. When was there ever.
The trader he spoke to didn't seem particularly interested in his problems. Rostitor didn't care, continuing his complaining. The trader had nothing better to do. He wasn't going to be let in, the paladin knew that much. So he may as well stand there and listen.
---
The ferry shifted to a stop by the docks of the Southern Trading Post, Alija stepping off briskly from the shifting platform. Syna had brushed the sky with her presence, but she was mostly obscured with the grey smudges of cloud that hid her face.
People moved in clumps around her, most shifting to the stone tower before them, with a select few fleeing from its place watching them. She followed them, setting up along the path with determination in her stride. Determination that she didn't understand. She had come here with a longing to flee the city, remove the clinging feeling of chaos, and to explore. No reasons, no important ones, anyway. Simply following her feelings, as she found herself having to do more and more recently. In fact, it was so much that she wasn't certain it was following any more - forced was a better fitting word.
The village of tents and wooden structures that met her took her in gratefully, letting her get lost in the wagons and crates of trade goods, from simple fruits to more exotic pottery and clothing. People were selling, people were buying, people were simple being and doing all around her, which let Alija lose herself in the commotion. The dirt felt nice, as did the lack of the lake. Truly, she longed for the sea, but this was good enough.
She brushed past a man with an over-large backpack, muttering a quick word of apology, before stopping. Did he just say something about mining? Yes, that was it. He was moaning. He was going to mine alone. Even with her limited experience with how the metal she worked with was mined, she had a feeling going alone wasn't a good idea. This man clearly didn't like it, didn't he?
Pausing for a moment, she debated it. It wouldn't hurt to try, would it? She longed to understand where the metal she got came from, and this man wouldn't mind some help, even if it was just company. "I'm sorry," she stuttered, tapping him lightly on his shoulder. He turned, cold face looking straight through her, "Sorry, I just happened to overhear you were going mining?"
"And what is it to you?" he spat out, twisting his head a little more.
"I just thought - I'm a smith you see, metal is my life - maybe I could come, learn a little mining? I'm a quick learner and work hard - I could help you, right? Sorry, this seems so..." she trailed off, wishing she commandeered the same confidence at all points in her life, rather than just in some.
He sized her up, and Alija hoped she made a good impression. She had muscles for mining, under her tunic, and her choice of clothing, leggings rather than a skirt or dress, was suited for the work, and the journey. And she was eager, definitely. Finally, he nodded, "You do what I say, you do all the work. Understand?"
Alija nodded gratefully, "Of course, more than happy to. I want to learn."
He gave a half laugh, turning back to the trader he had been talking with, "Wait there, I'll be with you in a moment," he directed at her quickly. She nodded, stepping back. Her mind was focused on the ore she hoped they would find.
oocIf you want to join, you can have your PC show interest after overhearing him moaning. And agree to be a temporary slave.
Rositor was built like the mountains, with a cold heart and rough appearance. It suited him, for that was what he knew. He was master of the mountains too. Nothing happened there without his knowledge. A spy couldn't walk two steps on a trail without Rositor knowing. A traitor couldn't hide for a day. A strain of minerals couldn't go a bell without him noticing it.
Just like the one he had discovered, the reason why he had been waiting for one of the Ebonstryfe to actually come out and greet. He was meant to be a paladin; with his callous, private personality, few would actually be able to tell people that. Few would be able to tell people anything. That was one of the consequences of working in the Wildlands. No one knew him. He liked it that way.
Finally a soldier had come to greet him, and he had told them the details they needed to know. He had found a possible collection of iron, east of Ravok, about six bells of walking. He was setting out to gather it that day. Unsurprisingly, there had been no one to join him. Of course not. When was there ever.
The trader he spoke to didn't seem particularly interested in his problems. Rostitor didn't care, continuing his complaining. The trader had nothing better to do. He wasn't going to be let in, the paladin knew that much. So he may as well stand there and listen.
---
The ferry shifted to a stop by the docks of the Southern Trading Post, Alija stepping off briskly from the shifting platform. Syna had brushed the sky with her presence, but she was mostly obscured with the grey smudges of cloud that hid her face.
People moved in clumps around her, most shifting to the stone tower before them, with a select few fleeing from its place watching them. She followed them, setting up along the path with determination in her stride. Determination that she didn't understand. She had come here with a longing to flee the city, remove the clinging feeling of chaos, and to explore. No reasons, no important ones, anyway. Simply following her feelings, as she found herself having to do more and more recently. In fact, it was so much that she wasn't certain it was following any more - forced was a better fitting word.
The village of tents and wooden structures that met her took her in gratefully, letting her get lost in the wagons and crates of trade goods, from simple fruits to more exotic pottery and clothing. People were selling, people were buying, people were simple being and doing all around her, which let Alija lose herself in the commotion. The dirt felt nice, as did the lack of the lake. Truly, she longed for the sea, but this was good enough.
She brushed past a man with an over-large backpack, muttering a quick word of apology, before stopping. Did he just say something about mining? Yes, that was it. He was moaning. He was going to mine alone. Even with her limited experience with how the metal she worked with was mined, she had a feeling going alone wasn't a good idea. This man clearly didn't like it, didn't he?
Pausing for a moment, she debated it. It wouldn't hurt to try, would it? She longed to understand where the metal she got came from, and this man wouldn't mind some help, even if it was just company. "I'm sorry," she stuttered, tapping him lightly on his shoulder. He turned, cold face looking straight through her, "Sorry, I just happened to overhear you were going mining?"
"And what is it to you?" he spat out, twisting his head a little more.
"I just thought - I'm a smith you see, metal is my life - maybe I could come, learn a little mining? I'm a quick learner and work hard - I could help you, right? Sorry, this seems so..." she trailed off, wishing she commandeered the same confidence at all points in her life, rather than just in some.
He sized her up, and Alija hoped she made a good impression. She had muscles for mining, under her tunic, and her choice of clothing, leggings rather than a skirt or dress, was suited for the work, and the journey. And she was eager, definitely. Finally, he nodded, "You do what I say, you do all the work. Understand?"
Alija nodded gratefully, "Of course, more than happy to. I want to learn."
He gave a half laugh, turning back to the trader he had been talking with, "Wait there, I'll be with you in a moment," he directed at her quickly. She nodded, stepping back. Her mind was focused on the ore she hoped they would find.
spoiler :
oocIf you want to join, you can have your PC show interest after overhearing him moaning. And agree to be a temporary slave.