Closed A Bigger Stick Isn't Better (Lavira)

[Marrin]

“Thank you,” Marrin nodded respectfully. “It was…only mostly an accident. You’re quite good with the staff yourself. You killed me three of our four matches, might I remind you.” Despite his words, he was oddly proud of himself. Three to one, in his mind, was a good ratio when fighting an Endal. She was already so much more than he was. When she decided the time was right to try to stand again, he rose and offered her a hand. It was the right thing to do, as he’d knocked her down in the first place, and the fight was only for practice. As soon as the match was called, they were no longer enemies. Marrin rather liked this as a method of making friends, he found. The camaraderie that came along with a friendly fight, and having people you knew cheer you on from the sidelines, felt good. At least it did in his mind. He knew few of the people here, and he wanted to make an effort to make some friends here, maybe even come back and continue training to make some long term partnerships. Thankfully, the Endal girl seemed more than happy to comply with his silent wishes. He took her hand, though awkwardly, more accustomed to shaking with the right. He could understand why she chose the left, however. That scar over the poor girls eye must have been completely debilitating. ”Avora Marrin,” he replied in kind, a smile stretching across his face. ”It seems you can read me like a book.” He couldn’t help but chuckle at how easily she’d been able to pick him out, describing him in detail just by looking into his eyes. He looked back, trying to discern just what kind of person she was. Her good eye was gorgeous, a beautiful green on gold that shone with kindness and determination. Her other, the one marred by the long scar, was white capped and hard. He couldn’t help but wonder what that quiet milky white hid from him. He’d never met an Endal so kind to him before, most had been more than willing to take advantage of their position above him and he held nothing against them for it. It was their right as Endal to be above the rest of them. They had earned it. But this girl seemed to hold no such interests, choosing for herself to be kind to those below her. The absence of fear in her presence, the hole left by it, was quickly filled with respect. If she had chosen to be kind, then that was her true nature. No Inarta could manage to be so wormlike as to hide their true feelings. ”As to what I’m doing here…well, I must admit I was unaware it was a training day. I’ve come to meet with Jhinapar, the Chaktawe that has taken his place here. I was hoping to speak with him about his people and his gods. I heard they worship the god of birds in the southern deserts, and I’m curious about him,” he admitted honestly. He had nothing to hide, and even if he did he felt like it would be wrong to pull wool over this kind girls good eye. It simply seemed wrong to him. ”What brings an Endal to staff fighting? Surely you cannot hunt with a staff.”

[Lavira]

It really wasn't in her to be unkind. Unpleasant sometimes, maybe, but unkind? No. Her nature led her against the haughty attitude of her other caste members because she understood what it was like to be at the very bottom and how those felt in the first place. To be Chiet only in title was a difficult prospect.

"Well, maybe not like a book. I do a lot of tracking so I can read the signs pretty easily. Your signs said you were a hunter." She replied kindly, setting the staff back where it belonged and then grabbing her gear. It had been stashed in against the wall to be out of the way and consisted of a sashel that went over her head and hung against her waist, containing a few pieces of parchment and a pen, her sontav, and hunting knife (which she was slowly getting used to carrying with her).

Vira pulled the sontav out, a black leather thing with laces instead of straps that she slipped her hand through and began to cinch close with a combination of her left hand and her teeth. Once it was, the teen turned her head away from him, searching for something for a moment while she tightened the scarf around her head. Once she found what she appeared to be looking for, her arm extended and she gave a sharp whistle through her teeth.

From across the ring, a bird came flying, a pure white form with pink eyes that swept over the heads of the trainees and extended its pale legs to grasp the sontav when it landed. It was a harrier, owl-like face bending to pick at the lacings in an unfriendly way, before looking up and giving a hiss to the stranger the endal was interacting with. She reached forth and stroked his chest feathers, smiling kindly at the bird but mostly addressing the other.

"You know, you are the second person I've met who's overly interested in that." She said. "I couldn't imagine going to a god for Tulaj or Mohya or any of the birds around here. It doesn't feel right worshipping them; I mean, they live with us afterall, not above us. Of course, I'm sure there's a few birds around that would rather be above us, huh boy?" She stroked the harriers breast again. "You'd be happy to be a god, no doubt. Spoilt and mean."

She looked around to the other and laughed. "Hunt with a staff? I'm sure you can, but it's not why I'm training with Greco for it. I dunno, last market I just had this funny interest in it. Thought I'd sate my curiosity. It's helping, to be honest; he's helping me to turn my natural focus into an instinctive thing so that I can better anticipate. He says it might help in my archery, but that's not something he teaches."

[Marrin]

”Really? Are my signs that obvious?” he chuckled. He knew a thing or two about tracking and he’d never heard of it being used in this way. ”Perhaps you could teach me about tracking sometime. I’m not quite as good at it as I’d like, and you seem to be excellent at it.” If he could gain the tutelage of an Endal…oh, all the things that would mean for him! He’d lost his only other Endal friend in a nasty scrap between them, and he’d felt generally disconnected from the Eagle caste since then. However, if he could make friends with Lavira, he’d be taught by one of them! The thought itself made him giddy, wondering what it must be like to be as revered as the Endal were for their prowess with the Wind Eagles. He watched as she prepared herself for the landing of her bird, a harrier of pure white with pale pink eyes. He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself as the bird hissed at him, smirking a bit. ”He’s certainly a spirited bird…quite handsome.” None the less he kept his hands to himself. He respected the harrier as an individual and as Lavira’s pet, and he wasn’t about to go breaking down the boundaries unless Lavira invited him to it. He nodded at Lavira’s confusion in understanding. ”I can see what you mean, but I don’t think worshiping the birds is the point. As you said, they’re such a part of our lives that they’re among us rather than above us. I think we need to know who to properly thank and respect for such lovely feathered gifts. We couldn’t live here without them, the Inarta would have died out long ago if not for their love of birds and the sky. What I want to do is pay my proper respects to those that make life in this beautiful place possible and give us such fabulous creatures to live with.” He hoped that explained his thinking well enough, but he enjoyed philosophy and was more than happy to continue the conversation should she want to pose further inquiry. When the girl mentioned archery, his ears perked up. ”I’m rather good at archery, if you don’t mind me blowing my own horn. I could help you improve your shot if you’d like. It would be an honor if you’d accept me as your teacher.” Now things were getting interesting, a give and take of knowledge and expertise being established. She’d teach him to track and in turn he’d teach her to shoot. It seemed fair in his mind, and he was more than pleased to comply. If they could held each other, that may lead to a stronger foundation for a solid friendship in the future.

[Lavira]

"I'm not excellent at it, Marrin, but I wouldn't mind giving you some lessons. Having good tracking doesn't hurt, afterall." The teen chirruped something at the harrier before sending him into the sky once again, turning to leave the fighting pits and nodding Marrin to follow after her.

His comment on the harrier made her bark a laugh, turning her head towards him with one eyebrow raised. "Tulaj? It's not spirit; it's crazy. That bird is absolutely nuts. Watch your ears and eyes when you're not paying attention because he will try and take them out for you. Don't get me wrong, though, he's super smart. But something's not right in his head." She'd turned her eyes back to the albino as he rose out of sight of the fighting pits and disappeared on whatever errand she'd sent him on.

As the subject picked up on the matter of Eywaat, Vira shrugged her shoulders a bit. "I would disagree. If it weren't for the Wind Eagles, we would not be here. And we all know they didn't start as giant feathered guardians. They were born from us before we were us. I don't remember the name of that race that came before them, but they're from those people. A bunch of gods mutated them into the Wind Eagles we know them as now."

"So it really isn't Eywaat's doing. Maybe he has something to do with the rest of the birds that migrate around Wind Reach, but not the wind eagles. Besides, our homage is paid in respect and honor to them by helping provide them with nests as their population grows and changes. We share the food the non-riders obtain and we bring them beauty to their aeries that they might otherwise be unable to adorn. We are symbiotes, Marrin; without one, the other could not exist." There was also the whole Ivak incident, a shameful thing of the people of Mt. Skyinarta that didn't need to be elaborated on.

"If you really wanted to give a god praise for what we have, why not Priskil? She has given us more than Eywaat, afterall." Vira really wasn't that religious so this kind of debate felt odd to her; she tried to direct the conversation away from it. "Oh, and that's okay about the archery. I'm actually taking extended lessons with Kovac when our schedules lined up." Which was a half truth. Their times were stretched, at best, and more often than not the Endal found herself working alone on the ranges than with her lover.

"But if you're really adamant, why don't you come on a few hunts with me? I'm always on the lookout for a good hunting partner. It's uh..safer for me that way." She hoped she didn't have to explain why.

OOCI do need another hunting job thread <..<

[Marrin]

Marrin chuckled at Lavira and her modesty. ”Well if you can take one look at me and tell all that about me as accurately as you did, you’re certainly far better than me. I’m fairly new to it, just coming out of apprenticeship last season.” He trotted after her as she left the arena, watching as the albino bird soared away with a squawk. His smile was small, but it was there. Many times he didn’t understand the Inarta obsession with birds. In truth, he sought out Eywaat in hopes that he might understand it and begin to fit in. He chuckled as she went on about how insane her bird was. ”I’ll do my best to keep all my parts attached. Do you know why he’s that way? Was his egg dropped from the nest before he hatched?” He was slowly becoming more comfortable with the Endal, perhaps because her scar made him feel as if the gap between them wasn’t so enormous. She was still worth more than he was in the eyes of their people…but he somehow felt more equal to her. Her manner helped with that, treating him like a human being instead of a sack of meat to be kicked and ordered about. A few Endal he’d met treated everyone like Dek. Marrin’s brow furrowed in concentration as he listened to her rebuttal. It annoyed him, mostly because it made sense and the fact that it made sense meaning he’d been barking up the wrong tree for nearly a tenday now. He’d been thinking of how wonderful his life would be after he understood how vital birds were to his people and have the ability to properly thank their creator…but what she said about Priskil made far more sense than simply seeking out a gods help to fit in. Perhaps he could find meaning in Priskil. ”Where…where do you think I could find more information on Priskil?” His heart skipped a beat when she offered to go hunting with him, a stupid grin stretched upon his face. Since his argument with Wynrie a while back he’d lost his favorite ride out on the hunt, and he hadn’t hunted with anyone since being released from his apprenticeship. She was offering him more than just a hunt, she was offering him companionship, something he wasn’t used to. She was offering to be his ward, someone to protect and take care of. She was offering him purpose like he hadn’t had before in his life, something more than just bringing home food to his city. ”I’d love to go hunting with you, Lavira. It sounds like great fun. I could give you some archery tips in the field.”

[Lavira]

"Well congratulations then, Marrin the hunter." The teen said, grinning amiably. "Welcome to the ranks of the ones most likely to die a horrible prolonged death." She gave a wry laugh.

Vira wasn't much like other Endal at all. Most were cocky know-it-alls who believed the only way was the Endal way (no matter how often you proved them wrong). Hers, however, was the way of one who had been virtually at the bottom and earned her place through hard work and perseverance (and a healthy dose of hope). Cruelty just wasn't in her nature and it may have been for that reason that she'd begun having more and more seek her out for falconry lessons. She sometimes even wondered of Meera was doing that on purpose; did the Master have some ulterior motive?

"I know how I found him and what I can postulate by what I found." She explained, stepping aside when a cart with some coal for the forges came by. "It was at the Edge. He didn't look injured by all the squawking and fuss he made had me concerned that he might've had more than a possibly broken wing or leg. When I had the accident that cost me my eye, Tulaj got worse. We kept training, though, and he's one of the best birds I've ever flown even if he's a bit more crazy than I could properly enjoy."

She went relatively slowly through the corridors, just chatting. "Glav Navik would be your best source of information on her, I should think. He's very wise and knows quite a lot about different things. If not him, then maybe the Enclave, but that might not be as useful." They came to an outer-warren, the wind gusty at this part and making the woman favor the wall-side if only because she couldn't see the edge (the path went north from the eastern-side of the mountain, putting the drop on her blinded right side).

When he suddenly erupted in delight, Vira paused to look 'round at him, one brow raised. He looked far too excited for her liking and Vira cleared her throat. "I said I'd let you come hunt with me, I didn't say we were going on a date. Drop your quills, Avora." She continued along the path, arms swishing at her sides. "Besides, I'm spoken for. As for the tips, I wouldn't turn them down."

[Marrin]

Marrin laughed with her, knowing what she said was true. Hunting was one of the most dangerous professions Wind Reach had to offer, and it was no simple task. Above all, it was necessary. ”Thank you,” he said with a smile. ”Life just wasn’t cutting it for me, so I thought I’d try my hand at hunting. The Valintar smiled at me, slapped the Avora’s title on me and gave me a pay raise for a death wish. Now tell me our society isn’t petched to all shyke.” Marrin simply nodded, becoming more serious as she told the story of finding her bird. It warmed his heart but made him sad at the same time, her casually mentioning the “incident” that cost her her eye. It felt like, now that she’d spoken of it, some of the taboo around the subject was wiped away. She wasn’t in denial about it, and he was glad. He didn’t want to associate with one who’s issues stared them in the face, or rather prevented them from staring anything at all in the face, for very long. Still, he didn’t want to interrupt and change the subject. Perhaps that story was for a different day. ”Well, you did the right thing, taking him in like you did. I respect that.” He nodded, leaving it at that, hoping the words would speak for themselves. He left the rest hanging in the air, the unspoken and I respect you not far behind. Marrin couldn’t help but be relieved when she mentioned a person by name rather than simply directing him to the Enclave. Anyone could read a book, and he despised book learning. If left to his own devices, he’d likely be illiterate, much preferring to rely on first hand reports, oration and experiential learning. He made a note to himself to find Glav Navik and speak with him, hoping to find some more information. For the longest time Marrin had felt without purpose, without direction and it left him weak. He hoped to find some meaning of some sort through religion, to find something beyond himself and his people to live for. He needed something to focus on. ”Thank you, I’ll get on that,” he promised her, though he doubted she cared much. She seemed generally uncomfortable with the topic of religion as a whole, and he didn’t want to push the subject too far. When she interrupted his small personal celebration, he couldn’t help but be confused. Date? Did it seem like he was celebrating being asked out? He wasn’t sure, he’d never really been asked ut before, and hadn’t had the courage to do so for anyone else. He wasn’t sure what it looked like, but if it was this the feeling must have been exhilarating. With a chuckle, he worked to calm down. ”Of course you’re spoken for. I wouldn’t think a girl like you would be able to keep us boys at bay for too long.” Not with the way you treat people, anyway he finished to himself. She was far too good, too kind to be without companionship for very long. She deserved someone as good as her, and Marrin wasn’t about to but in on any relationship that made the Endal exclaim so proudly that she was taken. Not to mention she wasn’t his type. She’d already been far too kind to him for that.

[Lavira]

"Haha, what's that supposed to mean? Am I supposed to have a bunch of drooling hounds baying at my heels like I'm some vixen?" She laughed, rolling her eyes at him. "No, Kovac is plenty enough hound for me." She kept her thoughts clear from her face that she'd never really been pursued before, except by the aforementioned, and then, it had been a relationship built from trauma first, acceptance and endearment second. They continued walking thereafter, the walls of the warrens sweeping past them until eventually she reached the point where he had to turn and go.

With the agreement of a hunting trip made and the Endal quarters now around them, Vira turned to face the blonde, that same kind smile clear on her face. "Well, Marrin, this is where we separate. Keep an ear out and I'll let you know what date we can go. I have Lookout duty on the 60th through 70th and a busy block between now and then, but I should be able to finagle you into one of my trips out. Look around the Ranges, too, by the by. On my down time, I'll be in there practicing sometimes. I wouldn't turn down advice unless it was really, really bad." She laughed, extending her hand in farewell to him.

"Have a good one, and thanks for the spar." She'd shake in parting, and turn to leave, working her way through the corridors to her home. The morning had been hectic and Vira was glad that she'd met Marrin; he seemed sincere enough, she figured, though wondered at some of his remarks. Had he been flirting or was just acting like any Avora did around the Endal? Smother them with praise and maybe get a good word in from them to the Valintar or their works Master. Vira couldn't have guessed either way, reaching home, opening the door, and sliding inside to get changed and head back out for the remainder of the day.

[Marrin]

Marrin simply shrugged, chuckling to himself. ”I meant what I said and nothing more than that,” he said. In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by it, but instead hoped his enigmatic reply would either confuse the girl or satisfy her, putting the topic to rest. He hadn’t had any luck in the romantic arena, not throughout his entire career, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to start now, especially if it involved stealing away a girl who was already so obviously content. He wasn’t sure he could do it, be the question of skill or morals. It just wasn’t the kind of man he was. He nodded, returning her smile as she turned to confirm ideas about the hunting date and further archery practice. ”I’ll keep an eye out for you, worry not. I’m sure our busy schedules will align sometime this season. Perhaps you’ll be my lucky charm and I’ll actually get the first decent catch anyone has had all season.” He took her hand, gripping it firmly but not to crush her, and gave it a good solid shake. ”I promise, you’ll be able to tell if my advice is bad fairly quickly. Arrows tend to appreciate god technique.” He chuckled again, giving her a nod and letting go of her hand, turning to go his own way. ”Good day to you as well! Thanks for beating the shyke out of me!” he called after her as they departed, heading their own ways. Marrin decided he liked Lavira. Not romantically, but he respected her as a human being and enjoyed her company. Perhaps we could be friends, he mused to himself, smile playing at the corners of his lips. He hoped they could, ever defying the stereotype that men and women could only be interested in copulating. For one reason or another, that wasn’t something Marrin wanted. What he wanted was friends.

[Skerry]

Grades

Lavira

Skill	XP
Intimidation	1XP
Observation	2XP
Socialization	5XP
Weapon: Straight Staff	3XP

LORES :

• Marrin(basic)
• Straight Staff: Yin yan stance
• Swearing colourfully
• Marrin: Avora
• Marrin: Interested in Eywaat

Notes:
A simple little thread but interesting. PM me when you get back Marrin and I’ll add your grade.

Remember if you have any questions or problems with your grade then feel free to PM me.