How Many Words Are There (Taith, Serrif)

by **Kail D'Rea** on October 21st, 2011, 2:41 am

After responding to Taith, letting him know how she was and hearing about his day, Kail felt much more relaxed. She loved being near him and feeling him so close. The natural release of tension was almost instantaneous. Finally she pulled away and suggested “Taith, what if I go wait for Sheriff in the main library while you get started looking over the text? If you can get to know it, we won’t have to wait while you do the preliminary evaluation of the piece and script and we can move straight into the interpretation and copying?” Kail recognized that she was using a bit more jargon than usual, but really it was the clearest way to explain her thinking, so she dismissed that thought and instead, as she left the room thought about how nice it was to have a minute to wind down after work before moving on to, well, more work. Not that she minded; Kail loved what she did, but as she reached the main library doors to wait for Sherrif's return, she still hoped that the break had been worth it. Kail was worried that they had taken too long enjoying each other's company and Sherrif had already returned. If he was looking for them, they might waste more time. She decided to wait a while there and just assume that he was still coming.

Anyway, it really wouldn't be a complete waste of time: Taith had stayed in the study room to start reading the section. If he could familiarize himself with the text, the author's style and the handwriting, everything would go quicker. Kail trusted him to get the interpretation right. After all, how many people where there in the world who's native tongue was ancient Tukant? He would have the context for the words and be able to understand the meanings not just as they are now, but what they meant then. That was a major problem with direct translations of ancient texts. If the translator did not know how a word had changed in usage and subtext, the words might be right, but the meaning would be wrong. It was a subtle, but important difference and Kail was glad Taith would be able to take on the project. She would just have to help read the handwriting where required and make a written copy of the final translation.

Kail contemplated the subtleties of translation as she gazed toward the entrance, starting to hope that Sheriff came soon not just for the time factor, but also because food was suddenly sounding very appealing to her empty stomach.

by **Taithrosa Eldytia** on October 23rd, 2011, 4:35 am

Taithrosa smiled at Kail and nodded his head as he began to read over the book. The particular picture they were looking at was of a herb. Taithrosa began reading and then stopped and flipped to the front of the book and began to read the introduction. People rarelyd started books like this with out some type if introduction.

Taithrosa narrowed focused on the ancient text. To him if anything it was young, and he suspected it was writen after he had lived his first time in this form. His silver eyes quickly moved along the text. It was an introduction to some more dangerous herbs. They could be used for enhancing or posions, but they weren't nice herbs and had to be measure out specifically.

He didn't feel the need to translate this section, it was mostly for himself. He could quickly understand what was being said, but conving that meaning into another language wasn't so easy.

Once he finished he turned back to the page and traced and image. As he traced that image he felt a memory tugging at the back of his mind. He tilted his head back and looked out the window were he could see the light fading for the day. His eyes took on the look of a man who was lost in his own thoughts as his mind dug up a memory.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on November 1st, 2011, 5:54 pm

He found a vendor and paid them appropriately for two round loaves of bread and a few little blocks of random cheeses. One of them was supposedly a sharper aged cheese while the other two others were freshly prepared. One of them was a yellow and the other was a white. He wasn’t a cheese connoisseur but he knew that the cheeses smelt good, which was enough for him. He knew nothing about them. The vender could’ve sold him anything but he knew that the Konti in general were very trustworthy. He looked over the bread loaves one of them was light colored bread with the oats still in it then there was a much darker bread that smelt interesting. There wasn’t anything of interest in the bread but he knew the bread was likely a heavier one. He could feel that was true just by the weight of the bread, that meant it would be more filling…which was indeed a good thing.

He walked back to the library and when he entered he saw Kail waiting for him. He smiled holding the little treasures he had ventured out of the library to get. There was enough there for the three of them.

“So, I think this makes us ready for another long night of studying and such.” He handed her the darker heavier round loaf of bread and then waited to see if she remembered the way back to Taith…because he did not.

by **Kail D'Rea** on November 4th, 2011, 3:08 am

The heavy loaf of dark bread was one of Kail's favorites. The distinctive double cross pattern marked it as the specialty of one of the bakers in town. It mixed rye and wheat flours perfectly to make a delicious pumpernickel that didn't just taste good, but really stayed with you as well. Kail didn't know the exact recipe, but was suspected there was extra molasses in it that made it sweeter than the other baker’s offerings. It was perfect for two men, and Kail would enjoy a slice as well. She glanced over the other items Sheriff had brought and then smiled at him. Men always brought more food than she would have, but that was a good thing with work ahead of them and a long day behind them.

"This is perfect. You found one of my favorite shops, I see. Thank you for getting this for us." Kail smiled again, still wondering about the man, but strangely feeling better about him just based on the fact that he found her favorite bread. Maybe they had something in common. Maybe.

"Taith and I settled into one of the side study rooms, we should have plenty of light there with the extra lamp and be undisturbed for as long as we need to work. If you'll just follow me..." As they walked toward the study room, Kail felt a little awkward. She wanted to say something, but at the same time, didn't want to prattle on brainlessly. She decided to just lead the way and say no more, letting Taith explain his work when they returned to the room.

When they arrived, however, Kail was surprised to find that Taith wasn't working, just sort of staring with an intent look on his face. She stopped in the doorway and waited for Taith to move, but when he didn't right away, she looked back at Sherrif, then silently moved into the room, clearing the way for the dark-haired man.

by **Taithrosa Eldytia** on November 22nd, 2011, 4:31 am

The Ethaefel became lost as a memory overwhelmed him brought on by reading something from a tongue that he had previouslly spoken. AS his eyes began to cloud and gain that silver glow that Kail would reconize as a returning memeory. His breathing slowed as he kept a hand on the picture.

Another Akalak stood before him trimming the very plant that was in the pictures. Taithrosa walked into the room and paused to look at the plant and the fellow Akalak who was working on it. He felt as if his eyes narrowed and he walked around and waited until the plant had been finished trimmed and then looked at the young akalak.

That inner voice Syadai groweled at the young man before him. [i]Strike him.[/i] It said trying to strive for control. The inner struggle was brief as the two Akalaks made eye contact.

"I heard about your recent diagnosis." Taithrosa said in a calm voice. His anger was such that if he gave into it Syadai. The other just looked at him. "A little dangerous don't you think." He said in that same deseptively calm voice.

"We needed something strong." Was the calm reply. Taithrosa slammed his hands of the table then.

"Those plants are dangerous and need careful use."

"Put they are more potent."

"That sometimes means they are also more deadly." His said in a anger filled voice.

Taithrosa jerked back to reality as the memory glimps faded and he found himself looking at his love Kail. "I am sorry, just had a flash back. Did we find something to eat, and then we can get going with this translation." He wonder besides seeing the plant why had that memory come to him.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on December 17th, 2011, 6:35 pm

A smile crossed Serrif’s face. “I’m sure whatever information can be gleaned from the pages it will be well worth the translation time involved.” He need not press them anymore he knew that they would come up with the knowledge that he needed. It was ancient tongue to him because he only understood common. But it was good that he had the images of those plants burned into his mind…how could he ever forget them?

“Weather or not I become a healer is in the hands of Rak’keli. But my in intentions are indeed in line with those of the Order. I am sure Lym will enjoy trying to concoct ancient remedies from an old text. It will likely keep her and I busy for a long time.” He stated as he stretched a little and followed her to Taith.

Taith spoke as to ask if there was anything specific Serrif was looking for… Yes, a cure for years of poisoning and experimentation no he couldn’t say that… He tapped the hand drawn image of a plant on one of the pages. “This plant, is used to concoct a very deadly almost hallucinogenic poison. The effects include vivid hallucinations, vomiting, weakness of the limbs, blistering, and long term damage to the mind and physical brain. The poison also stays dormant in the system for years afterward causing vivid nightmares tremors and narrow vision at times. I would love to know if there is a counter agent for this, and how to prepare it. I am less interested in the poison itself. I NEED to know the counter agent.”

He didn’t seemed pressed to know the answer but he did seem rather anxious to know the sure for that particular plant….and his description of what the poison did seemed very first hand. “I don’t care about the creation of any of these poisons. Only the counter agents. But THIS plants counter agent is very important.”

by **Kail D'Rea** on January 3rd, 2012, 4:22 am

The little Konti glanced at Taith, wondering about his flashback and how quickly he had seemed to come back to the present, but knowing better than to ask now. He would tell her, if he wanted too. Interesting as Kail found Taith’s memories of another life, at the moment she was also intrigued by Sherrif interest in this plant. That was a pitfall of researching for others: she didn't get to see the final results of the work. She would probably never know if he found it, or what he would do with it. Still, it was interesting now, so Kail got to work. With a chunk of the dark bread in one hand, and a sheet of clean paper in the other, Kail sat down at the table and settled herself in to write quickly and keep up with the translation Taith would provide. She could start on her own, since the beginning was clear and easy enough even for her skills to interpret.

Across the top of the page Kail wrote the standard formula every scribe used, listing the origin of the work, the translator, the scribe, the date and place. Then she skipped the title line to wait for a good translation of what this thing really was. After that she wrote out the first words that she knew. The beginning explained that this was an opposite poison, or remedy, then said what it was for. Kail had to wait for the details of that one.

This was all completed quickly easily and Kail looked up at the two men. She smiled, feeling in her element with a paper and pen before her. “I certainly hope that it is as important and as helpful as you hope it will be. If you make it back into the library sometime, if you find it convenient, I would like to know if you found it to be useful and to, well, solve problems.” She smiled again. “I’m ready to go, and you can just start reading. I’ll let you know if I need more time to finish up.”

by **Taithrosa Eldytia** on January 3rd, 2012, 6:54 am

Taithrosa looked down at the image before him and then glanced over at Kail as she prepared the paper to begin the translation. His silver eyes turned to look at the young man before him. Something in the young mans voice spoke of desperation. Taithrosa could feel the knowledge of the plant hidden in his memory. He turned again to the first page of the book and looked at the title page. He looked at the name again and then looked out the window.

"The title of the book is An Akalaks Doctors Potent Herbal Remadies by Riathas Nosi."

He flipped to the page and looking at the text began to read. "The plant Baliman Tamilpra Kalass or the Minds Bane is a potent plant that affects the mind. It is used in a number of medicines and posions. Among the Akalaks of the city Valkalah it is used as a sedative and occaionally a drug for dealing with mental problems."

Taithrosa paused and closed his eyes as if he had a strange pain. He did for as he read memories of this drug came back to him. He remembered the fights over its use and other similiarly dangerous drugs. His eyes clouded over as he stared at the page.

"It is also a common element in various posions used among the weaker races such as humans. Espeically ones that require slow posionings. Even among Akalaks the usage of such plants is highly contriversial as it must be used in controled amounts to prevent perminant brain damage."

Taithrosa voice seemed to change subtle as he looked up and a memory swept over him. Speaking was no longer the Ethaefel Akalak looking over an old book, but the Akalak Healer Taithrosa whose five hundred years of life in the golden age of the world and his race had given him great wisdom.

"As a sedative it is really only useful for race such as the Akalaks or the Isur, races that are robust and when given the sedative will not be overwhelmed by the drug. Above all it is a posion plant that must never be used on other races. To do so will destroy and shatter their minds. In many cases it is used to gain control and force submission of others. Especially is it is given in small enough doses and used over long time."

Taithrosa stood his silver eyes lost in an inward though and he stepped in front of them and took the position of a professor teaching his students. "Used most often by slavers there are ways to counter this drug. First you must get them off of the drug, some might find that painful, but it will kill them. Someone can live for years with the effects, and the only way to conter it is with the Loliarasum Calimra Tapio drug. Mixed correctly it will create a slow acting counter drug."

Even though the memories are his and Ethaefels were designed around actually being aware of their past lives, this much memory at one time was almost to much. He was in his mentaly weaker Akalak state, in his Ethaefel state he might have been able to contiune living the memory, but he wasn't. Pausing, his eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he collapsed to the floor a large crashing sound as one of his arms smacked against a shelf and broke the wood. The large akalak lay there slowlly breathing his eyes rolled back and his body spread on the floor.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on February 1st, 2012, 1:50 am

He was stunned, the man obviously had a storehouse of knowledge that many many more before him have failed to procure. It almost seemed like this knowledge was ancient, forgotten. He wasn’t completely sure but the man seemed to be speaking from a place of great knowledge. Then collapse on the floor…Such behavior he had never witnessed before but nevertheless he was forced into action.

The man was a large one, especially in his Akalak form. Serrif wasn’t aware the man wasn’t what he appeared to be. No he only knew he was Akalak. A huge man. And well he was this man’s only hope for getting moved to where he could get help. Good thing they were only in the medical library. The clinic wasn’t that far away. Serrif bent down and moved to pick the man up. He knew he was strong enough to burden the man for a small distance…to the clinic seemed close enough.

“Get the doors for me. I’m going to take him to the clinic.” Serrif stated as he picked the man up in his arms and looked to Kail. If she didn’t protest he would carry the man there. First pushing through the doors and walking out to the clinic where he would lay the man down in a rather large clinic bed.

The only horrible part was that in the tussle of the chaos he had forgotten what the man had said…what was the name of that plant? Damn this man for causing such a commotion. That information was important to him! As he set the man down in the bed he sat in a chair frustrated with himself.

“Just tell me he’s going to be fine.” He said hoping that something about tonight wasn’t going to be a total loss.

Just when he had gotten so close too! If only he had been paying closer attention and taking notes he would have the answers to the disease that plagued him. HE was so close, if only he could remember. Gently he closed his eyes trying to visualize the scene. Trying to place the words in the man’s mouth before he collapsed. But he couldn’t…no…it was a loss.

by **Kail D'Rea** on February 24th, 2012, 3:47 pm

That Sherrif could carry Taith completely surprised Kail. Used to living with only her sister Konti and now with Taith, she'd sort of thought of him as the strong one. It was not reasonable and she knew that, but still it seemed misplaced to her that this man could lift the huge Akalak and carry him to the clinic. She was glad to be wrong.

It was clear to her that Taith had been remembering something from his previous life. She had seen him do it before, but never so clearly, or so long. Kail didn't know if that was normal or not for his kind, but based on his collapse, she guessed it was not and was concerned for his well-being, mostly his mental clarity. As she quickly and quietly followed Sherrif to the clinic she watched his blue face for any sign that he might be waking, or dreaming, or anything, but it was blank. She knelt by the bed Taith was placed on, took his hand and gently held on.

Sherrif's question disturbed her thoughts and she looked up with a jerk. He didn't sound concerned, really. It was more like annoyed. A quick flash of her own annoyance filled her, but faded quickly. He had helped more than another could have in getting Taith to a safe and comfortable place and she needed to be grateful and patient. Still, she was just upset enough to be rather abrupt. "I don't know. He's never done this before." Then she turned back to Taith and quietly spoke near his ear. "Taith, love, please come back I'm worried for you and a little scared. I don't know what to do for you, but I'm here for you."

As she reached her other hand up to hold on with both hands, she realized that she was still holding her sheets of paper from the library. Taith had been speaking so quickly that she had switched to Konti to be able to keep up, writing only the untranslatable words in common. This way, she had been able to get down every word of Taith's sort of lecture. Kail wondered if he would remember it when he awoke. She set them on the edge of the bed and placed her now-free hand over Taith's. With both of her pale little hands on one of his, she could just about cover it.

That is what she was thinking as the last rays of the sun set somewhere over the hidden western seascape. Kail continued to look at the three hands together and his changed from the strong blue, to the glowing skin of his night form.