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Aoren returns for an unexpected visit to the Dawnwhisper Pavilion

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Not found on any map, Endrykas is a large migrating tent city wherein the horseclans of Cyphrus gather to trade and exchange information. [Lore]

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Crossed Paths

Postby Naiya on November 21st, 2016, 3:22 am

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22nd day of Fall, 516 AV
11th Bell
Endrykas, Dawnwhisper Pavilion

Naiya was curled up in a tangle of furs and blankets a small carved figure in her hand, but mostly ignored by the wuepo in her lap. Shai was far more interested in the sounds that shook their home and the coo of her voice as she spoke to him.

A pot sat beside the fire, warm milk and a thimble full of strained nettle, it would be cheese eventually, but it perked along unsupervised for now. Hung from the wooden rafters above the fire were two rabbits, skinned and gutted, slowly cooking in the heat of the smoke. Salt preserved meat swam in a bath of water outside the circle of the fire, it would be their evening meal, cut with vegetables from their stores.

Outside, it rained with the vengeance of a wild stallion running in the sea. Large drops beating against the fabric of their pavilion with force to match a stampeding herd. The slick sound of the water rushing down the canvas was a familiar one, the last days having prevented much from happening in the city's benefit. The sudden shock of the water on their parched land was difficult in it's own right, slicking the dirt paths, washing away tracks. If the season had been more mild, the rain would have been a blessing. Instead rain flooded their land, causing mud and rot and danger. Hunters and foragers had to beware the risk of slopes and cliffs, mudslides a true risk of venturing out into the grasses. The city had to watch where they landed, making sure the land sloped away from their homes in case of flooding.

It was a time of danger, as the sea of grass often was, but in ways they had less strength to fight against this enemy. The icy downpour had sent the smaller animals to hiding, only Khal's quick feet keeping them close. She was never more glad for their working animals than now, her bosu keeping her busy in ways that drew her away from important tasks.

Sleep dragged heavily at her features, weighed down as she was with fur and blankets, it was a struggle for the new matrin to keep her eyes open. The pavilion was warm enough despite the chill of the outside, the fire heating the central space of their home, and the rhythmic sound of the rain lulled her in ways it had not since she was a small child.

She dragged a hand across her face, peering between her fingers at little Shai, his expectant gaze drawing a smile from her lips despite the weary set of her shoulders. "He's a tall man," her story continued, her voice soft and her hands signing slowly along, "...Wild, and strong. He fights the hardest for his family, never letting something come between him and the ones he loves." She danced the carved deer across her line of sight once more, letting the creature prance in the eyes of her bosu. "He is the best hunter you will ever meet. His javelin never misses, but he hunts no more than he should. The goddess Caihya looks upon him with favor." The figurine dropped from her hand to the blanket. Shai's eyes widened, following the decent but loosing track of the toy. "His eyes are brown like the rich soil of matrin Semele, and they dance with green like the leaves of a tree. Hidden magics light bright purple stars in his gaze, letting him see beyond the realm we live in."

A crash of thunder reminded the world that Zulrav was not done with his storm, but the silence that followed the crash was stark by comparison. The rain had stopped, at least for now.

"You'll meet him one day, little one, and you'll see." She smiled, a emotion laden look that did little to improve the skill with which she recounted the words.

"He is a good man, your diakh." She softened her voice, watching the lids droop low over Shai's eyes. She nestled down beside him in the furs, the fire dancing behind his crop of dark hair, his face falling into the peaceful stillness of sleep.

She didn't bother to wipe the glistening of tears from her eyes, her mind dancing with images of Shahar, no one would blame her for the sorrow that lingered in her heart.

Shai drifted to sleep, his breath falling into a familiar rhythm, and Naiya quickly followed suit, her dreams filled with images of diakh and bosu playing together in the grass.

~`~`~


It was not long later that her eyes reopened, still quiet but for the sounds of Shai's breath beside her. She felt refreshed, but not so much so that she thought to get up from her bed of furs.

Instead she let her eyes drift back closed, the sound of rain that had picked back up a promise of little change in the city.

She had only just begun to doze back off when the warming sound of Baluke broke through her sleep deprived mind. She barked her warning sound, and the deep baritone of Ashette joined in, the male surely seeking his sister in warning off the approach of some stranger.

Naiya shushed her wuepo back to sleep, so long as the person who had strayed too close strayed no further, they had nothing to fear from the dogs. If they had simply ventured too close, they could wander back to where they came without further incident. If they sought the pavilion, they would have to be content to wait for the crying of the wuepo to be soothed.

The dogs would be still unless the stranger came closer without invitation, they would watch, unaffected by kind words, although they might be tempted by treats.

When Shai was calm once more, Naiya crawled out from beneath the covers, throwing a cloak around her bare form and pressing the tent flap open to peer out into the rain.

"Hello?" She called into the storm, clutching the cloak tightly around her as her eyes searched for the source of the commotion. "Is anyone there?"

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Crossed Paths

Postby Aoren on December 1st, 2016, 3:02 am

Rain fell down from the heavens soaking the earth with much needed water and some measure of relief from the intense heat that had visited Endrykas this season. Heat wasn’t something Aoren was unfamiliar with. The depths of the fortress-city of Syliras often got very heated and stuffy with the dense amount of people who lived within its walls. That being said, even he had gotten uncomfortable at several points during the season thus far. The rain came as a relief to him much as it did to many others, at least at first. As it continued to pour down turning the dirt to mud and drenching the entirety of the tent-city and its people to the bone, he’d been forced to fortify his own small tent and campsite against erosion from the elements. Thus, when there came a pause in the downpour, Aoren took it as the opportunity it was so that he could get out and stretch his legs without getting soaked. At his side walked a large black furred dog. With ears perked and eyes attentive to the horizon, the Bozderon Zypherian mix that had accompanied Aoren for several years was ever a presence of constant comfort when dealing with unfamiliar places. He reached out a hand to ruffle some of the fur atop the dog’s head earning an affectionate nudge from the canine.

Where are we headed now, boy?” The dog, Isikai, gave him a curious look before lowering his head sniffing at the earth. It made Aoren smile. For the first time in a long time, Aoren didn’t know what direction his life was going in. It was a strange feeling after being committed to a specific goal and sense of direction for several years. He’d accomplished a great deal in a very short amount of time but he found himself a little displaced as of late. Life among his people was vastly different from anywhere else that he’d been in the world. Syliras was a fortified settlement where every aspect of life was guided by and controlled by the Knights of Sylir. Zeltiva was a city of a different mindset encouraging thinking, progress and was swamped with so much political intrigue it often made Aoren’s head spin in the time that he’d been there. Riverfall had been...well…it had been the events that transpired in Riverfall that lead him to taking up a life in Endrykas.

Aoren did not want a simple life, there was still much he wanted to see and do in the world but for the moment it seemed the Goddess of Visions and her sister the Goddess of Healing, moved him to live as such. He wouldn’t complain. He couldn’t, all things considered. Between the events that transpired in Zeltiva and the events in Riverfall, he welcomed the relative peace there was to be found in Endrykas. Certainly, life every day was somewhat harsher but Aoren had never really had what he’d call a cushioned life.

Walking through the mud, wearing his heavier travel cloak and carrying his trusted wooden quarterstaff, Aoren surveyed his surroundings. There weren’t many people out and about. Most were huddled in their pavilions speaking with family, enjoying warm meals, laughing with friends. The few that he did see out and about were either with others or seemed busy. Aoren felt a pang in his chest. He missed the laughter of friends and family. Such companionship had been absent in his life for some time. His musings were interrupted however by a crack of thunder that drew his attention skyward. Water droplets touched his face before the rains began to fall steadily once more. Another thunderclap made Isikai bark but before Aoren could reach out to steady his companion the dog began running.

Isikai!” Calling after his dog, Aoren sighed and began jogging after him. He didn’t break out into a sprint, not with the ground slick with mud and rain pouring down. The last thing he wanted was to fall face first in the muck. Holding a hand up to the side of his mouth so that he could project his voice a bit louder he called out to his dog once again.

Isikai!” The corresponding bark that he received drew him toward one of the pavilions a few yards away. By the time he approached the pavilion two other dogs had presented themselves barking loudly in what Aoren could only assume was either curiosity or warning. Out of the corner of his eye a dark spot caught his attention, Aoren turned to call out to his dog but lost his footing. Too slow he tried to use his quarterstaff to balance himself but it flew from his hand, the wood slick with rain water. With a hard thud, Aoren landed on his rear in the mud in front of the pavilion not but a few feet from the dogs standing watch. The wooden staff smacked him in the head on its way down to the ground drawing a pained shout from the Drykas man. He sighed reaching up to rub his head. As he sat there, getting soaked in rainwater, covered in mud, and smarting from his fall and whack to the head, Isikai came padding up and began pawing at his thigh, sniffing at his face. Aoren pushed the dog away, annoyed.

What? This is your fault, you know.” He glared at his dog before his attention was drawn by a woman calling out from within the pavilion. He could see her form, shadowed by the firelight at her back, at the entrance to the tent. With a groan, Aoren picked himself up brushing off as much mud from his pants and shirt as he could before picking up his staff. He gave the woman a wave.

Apologies. My dog ran off, spooked by the thunder. I tried to catch him and...well…” He gestured to the ground. Glancing up to the sky, Aoren pulled his drenched cloak a bit closer around himself before turning his gaze back to the woman. He squinted for a moment trying to see her features before they came into focus. There was something familiar about her.
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Crossed Paths

Postby Naiya on February 13th, 2017, 6:56 pm

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oocSo sorry for the delay, things were a bit patchy for a bit, but I should be back on track for replies now. I've assumed Aoren spoke in common, let me know if that was incorrect!

Her eyes were drawn first to Ashette and Baluke, ears perked, alert, but their barking settled to intense observation as her voice called out. Finding the source of their interest today was easy enough, unlike times when a wandering animal drew them to alerting. A man sat in the mud, clearly exasperated by the turn of events.

It took a moment to spot the dark haired dog that hovered nearby, unrepentant despite the man's clear displeasure. Thunder boomed once more, a rattling beat of hooves in Zulrav's domain, Naiya dropped the flap of the pavilion, turning quickly to survey the child, shocked once more into crying by the booming sound.

Torn, she lifted the flap open once more, a more critical eye taking in the standing form of the man, openly carrying a staff, and perhaps another weapon obscured by his cloak. It was hard to say, especially in the dark of the storm. His dog, however, seemed gentle enough, and he was in her home, a guest of circumstance if nothing else.

Perhaps he was not a danger.

Another cry from Shai had her head turned once more, the flash of the man's features as she moved bringing some image to mind, perhaps not entirely a stranger. Kabek moved closer to Shai, gentle, letting his tail dance in front of his face. Protection, surely.

"If your dog is gentle, you can both seek shelter here." She met his language with the pavi-lited tone of her own common, her hands gesturing lightly to the storm and the still darkening sky. "I have a little one," she searched for the word she needed, sleep addled and anxious she could not recall it, instead she used her arms, forming them into the cradle of carrying a baby. "I can't risk an animal who might bring him harm." She awaited his decision before stepping back and allowing him into the pavilion. If he followed her in, she would gesture to a seat beside the fire, consicious of Ashette already settling to keep an eye on the stranger while he dried his fur.

Naiya abandoned her cloak, choosing instead to slip into the simple garb of the black linen loincloth and breastband that was nearly as simple as nudity but much better suited for company. Shai continued his cries, and Naiya was glad to finally be able to soothe him. She gave a soft pat to Kabek's head in appreciation before scooping the wuepo into her arms. She bounced softly, rocking Shai into a sort of peace if not into sleep. The storm would continue to upset him, but he would be more comfortable in the warmth of her arms.

Finally settled, she turned back to see what the man had decided, if he was alone or if his companion followed. She prepared to offer tea and food should the man desire, knowing that such things were not far off and didn't require a venture out into the rain.

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