Legend of Ransera

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:45 pm**

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Due to being addressed by title the majority of the time, Æros was also prone to omitting the mention of his own name unless inquiring minds were to directly ask for it. Many, however, did not. Either it was out of concern that he didn't want to share it, lack of interest, or in an attempt to show respect, he could never tell but it didn't really matter to him either way.

"Oh– yes. I am known as Endymion Len’Sælyan Æros." His tone upon speaking his surname, a discerning listener might notice, dipped into something that tasted a bit bitter to him, apparently, though he did not appear to acknowledge this shift himself.

"I do hope what ill portents today's weather has dragged in disperse with the northern breeze, then. It would be nice if a reason were to be unearthed, though– would be nice to know if it was something we as a people did to cause this, thus enabling us to prevent a future bout of the same, or worse, for that matter." Much as he regarded his own fate with reckless abandon, he did lament any ill tidings regarding his nation and people as a whole.

When the botanist regarded his comments about the Umbrium and plant growth, it was clear enough that the methods by which plantlife survived down there in the dark were a bit lost on her. That did strike him as a little odd, mostly because even among the larger population and those of lower status, magic and the like were subjects one would still expect to find in their schooling. Granted, it wasn't as if he was an expert on the curriculum offered. A bit of a shame, he thought, given that the woman could stand to gain much from something like a little Elementalism here and there or perhaps Summoning to garner aid from wild spirits.

"As far as I understand, the process isn't that complicated, though I personally lack the runes required and have opted for Runeforged light sources. That's what most people do, actually– lamps and the like imbued with magic. I've magic of my own, but Mesmer and Masquerade wouldn't really benefit a plant much, I don't think," he offered a bit of an explanation from what he remembered.

And to her anecdote about using Ecithian soil, the Starborn Færie just laughed. Such a simple mistake and yet such immediate consequences, how fun.

"That so? Can't say I'm not intrigued to set eyes on the colossal thing, to be honest. Will it ever get smaller or is that the size it'll retain?" Æros was interested to know what impact swapping the soil to something else would ultimately have.

Æros only made vague mention of the Orks, but it would appear that even in doing so, merely breathing their name in this woman's presence was enough to set her blood aflame. Not that he blamed her, no; the Orkhan were a people often spoken of poorly in Solunarium and for good reason, so he thought. He found their way of living to be a bit on the uncivilized and uncultured side, looking down upon them as one would expect from somebody of his status.

To what she'd said, "...are they really that aggressive? Such a shame. I've always found them churlish and ill bred, myself. One would imagine that with all of the magic and such in the soil over there that they'd at least have moved beyond living in huts and the like," he spoke with very blatant disrespect regarding the Orkhan.

Moving on from such distasteful a subject, Hilana directed her attention to various powders and dried plants adorning the shelves around him. There was something for all manner of things, and yet still did she offer to find a more custom solution should he not find something suiting his precise tastes. That being the case, she must possess a rather commendable knowledge of both the shop's entire inventory and the applications thereof.

To her question, "I do, yes. I tend to sway towards black teas or things more floral in nature, personally. I assume you're a fan?"

Æros looked on with interest when she gestured towards a colorful assortment of flowers which she then dubbed as violets. Pretty enough on their own, they were apparently edible as well. He had to admit that they were, indeed, lovely to look at and upon leaning in, their scent was delicate and light, but he quite liked it.

"They're lovely. I might be tempted by the blues and purples," he added before she moved on to the next variety.

Regarding hibiscus, he was familiar with this flower. He'd become quite a fan of it in teas and aesthetically, their beauty was always eye-catching.

"I don't blame you– hibiscus is a gorgeous flower. The plant itself could complement most rooms, too."

As she spoke of the various applications thereof, she appeared to notice something that he, at least at first, didn't quite detect. Pointing it out, she said it was a spider, yet notice it he did not until the little thing opened its eyes and gazed up at the half-elf. While she had indicated it to be harmless, Æros was not one who spent much time in the presence of arachnids.

Thoroughly alarmed, the elf jumped back with a bit of a yelp, stifling his voice with a hand and eyes wide with concern. Though his fright was over in a moment, he was nonetheless mortified that such a thing had just been lurking there that entire time. At least it was harmless…right? Disconcerting as the little thing was.

He blinked a few times in quick succession, taking a deep breath to ground himself before he spoke. "I-...um…apologies, that was unexpected. I've…precious little experience with arachnids, especially ones that are capable of hiding like that–..." from the way he spoke, it was clear that he was embarrassed, his pride having taken a bit of a hit.

"You said it was harmless then, yes…??" Much as he tried to quash it, panic was still audible in his voice.

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:39 am**

Hilana did notice the slight change in his tone as he spoke his surname, but she knew better than to comment on it. Families were complicated things at the best of times, and disastrous otherwise. But still, many got along just fine. It seemed to her that the negative situations were the exception rather than the rule, but that was how things went. As it was, she nodded, and put that information away for later.

Her eyes got a bit wider as Æros explained to her about Runeforged light sources, and she nodded along. “And they can give the plants what they need that way? That is amazing,” Hilana seemed delighted to learn something herself. Those words might have seemed sarcastic had they come from someone else, but it was clear the girl appreciated the explanation. She knew there were magic lights down there, but she hadn’t imagined they could function the same as the sun.

“It went from having little fronds the size of my palm to being the length of my arm,” Hilana shook her head. “Perhaps one day I can take you to the Greenhouse and show you. It will not get any smaller; it will just keep growing at a more, well, normal, rate,” she just chalked it up to a lesson learned, apparently. “Vasilei theorizes that there might be a solution to be brewed to reduce it, but that will take some playing with. In the meantime, it will just be a very big, happy plant,” she chuckled.

She raised her palms up as he spoke of Orks moving past such behaviours, and she shook her head. "The Frost Festival is a very important gathering for my people. And they would not leave it and got aggressive when we demanded that they depart from our home,” she shrugged. “They know that their presence is forbidden by Her Imperial Radiance.”

He had gotten that correct about her, with the tea, it seemed. “I love tea. Hot, cold… there’s something very comforting about it, Dominus,” Hilana admitted. “But with such variety, and when you know what plants are capable of… you can get creative with the flavours and the results.”

Hilana, however, was hardly prepared for the elegant client’s reaction to the spider. But she reacted quickly when he yelped, tapping the wrap-around spider on its carapace to make it release from the branch so she could lift it, keeping one hand between it and the Elf, as if to shield both of them from each other. She hurriedly moved the offending creature into a clay pot, covering it with cloth and tucking the ends in to secure it in the far corner before hurrying back to him. “I am sorry, Dominus, truly,” she apologized, crossing her wrists in front of her and offering a bow. “It is my fault. I oftentimes forget that my love of such things is not normal. Come, come sit, please,” she didn’t dare actually touch him, but she was apparently going to try to herd… guide him over to a wooden chair by one of the large tables, well away from where she had put the brown beast. “They are harmless to people. We are too big for it, and they’re not venomous,” she sought to reassure him before grabbing an already prepared packet of tea from the aisle, along with a little container of lavender balm from the table with all of the aromatherapy products. She unscrewed the lid to open it and offered it to him to hold and smell. Lavender was soothing, after all, and Hilana knew it tended to help people relax. He would be able to see the brighter purple petals mixed in pastel purple balm.

The girl was capable of quite a bit of speed when she felt the need to, it seemed, as she moved from spot to spot. Her skirts rustled around as she darted over to a small table nearby to put the copper kettle over a Runeforged hot plate to start heating it for tea before coming back to him with a few dates on a small plate for him to eat, and then emptying the packet of herbal tea into the little teapot. The smell of lemon and hibiscus was released into the shop from the proximity, giving some indication of what concoction the girl had chosen for him, which was confirmed by a glance at the label on the table if he so chose: lemon balm, hibiscus, and dried apple.

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2022 11:38 am**

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In truth, Æros was somewhat surprised that Hilana didn't know much about the extent to which one could Runeforge various things, especially given how commonplace it was for many to do so. This was likely due to class disparity, however, given the fact that Runeforging could run extremely expensive depending on what one wanted. For the Fæ, cost for magical items was rarely something he or his family scoffed at…but he supposed those whose backgrounds didn't align would not be afforded such luxuries. A shame, that. Magic and Runeforging are both beautiful things that really ought to be available for everyone.

"As far as I can tell, yes– provided the plant in question doesn't need additional care like special soil, fertilizer or humidity. Granted, those problems can be solved on their own, just not by the lamps themselves. Though you live up here in the sun, I would recommend talking to a Runeforger about the varying applications magic can have to help your business and plants further flourish. Perhaps your boss can fund the endeavor?" Though he asked this question, he fully planned to offer his own money if the woman were to state that they couldn't afford such things.

Regarding the overgrown Ecithian plant, he listened along, face painted with his amusement at the tale. The Starborn Fæ had never laid eyes on something grown in Ecithian soil, so when he spoke of his interest in seeing the thing, he was entirely sincere. The concept was, to him, both new and fascinating.

"Probably better that way, maybe? At least, do take me to see it prior to applying anything that would cause the plant to shrink. I'd love to see something like that without having to travel to Ecith itself." For Æros had no real combat skills at the moment and braving the wilds, filled with both Ork and beast, did not interest him. At least, not until he was proper capable of defending himself.

On the subject of the Orkhan, Hilana offered to elucidate the incident she mentioned. He regarded this tale with an expression that reflected a mix of confusion and disgust.

"If they knew better, then why did they not leave? What argument did they even pose to justify their presence? Especially since, as you say, this was your home…" he spoke with a voice laced with scorn.

He was curious, really, but he imagined that the answer would only make his distaste for the Orkhan ever stronger. At the very least for Ecithian Orkhan– he hoped, at least, that those raised elsewhere would be a little less boorish?

Moving on to the subject of tea, his expression lightened quite a bit. "My, such expertise does sound useful. I have to rely on people's recommendations, generally, as my knowledge of botany is…painfully limited, for the moment. And as such, if you've any favorites, do let me know." Æros did nothing to hide his admiration for her skill, as he saw no real reason to put on a front in this scenario.

Unfortunately, the Patrician was…not used to arachnids, so upon seeing the little thing he did not respond well. However, he had zero interest in touching the creature, and thus was happy to jump back as opposed to attempting to harm it when Hilana moved to intercept the two. Really, this was a good gesture, as it helped him to feel better that the spider would then not get the chance to jump onto him, should it be of the kind capable of doing so. Not that he would know– his fear was due to unfamiliarity and ignorance in the first place, so really, the man had no idea what the little guy was capable of and considered it to be far more formidable a foe than it was.

He wasn't…at all angry at the shopkeeper. He was just shocked and a bit embarrassed that he'd reacted so strongly in the first place. Æros was a man used to keeping his emotions in check, so to respond like that? He wasn't the biggest fan, but it wasn't anyone's fault other than his own. Before he spoke, he listened to her reassurances as she shepherded him over to a chair and promptly sat down, grateful that he didn't knock anything over by his sudden movements.

Happy to receive the balm, "oh, I've always been a fan of lavender, thank you…and no need to apologize, honestly my reaction was, ah…a little extreme, too, given that the spider is harmless and all that…" trailing off, his voice held no hostility towards the woman, more or less just sounding bewildered.

Quickly did Hilana move in her bid to prepare tea, movements he watched with mild amusement at the rustle of fabric and simply how nimble the woman was at the drop of a pin.

"You are too kind, though– and such a good hostess, thank you."

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Mon Sep 26, 2022 4:44 pm**

Hilana’s eyes were wide at the idea of such things. Perhaps it was that she lived topside, and she was used to the more natural ways of doing things - most of her teachers had, in this regard, and while she had gotten used to more Runeforged items in the cities... they had taken time to get used to. But she could certainly see the practical uses of such wonders, and if they could help the plants, then why not? Especially down in the Umbrium. “I will have to talk to Vasilei about it. He may have something like that in the greenhouses already, now that I think about it,” she admitted. “I’m not usually in there once the sun goes down, but it’s worth exploring. Thank you, Dominus.”

She liked the idea of taking him to the greenhouses. She wondered what he might think of such a place, considering his interest overall in the plants within the shoppe... and there was just that much more to absorb in the big glass structures and the gardens. “One day when you have some time, and this wretched smoke goes away, please come back up here. I would be delighted to take you to the greenhouses to show you. Then you can see the other plants that are growing there too,” Hilana was pleased with the opportunity to show him something he might not have seen before, as simple as it sounded. But for a girl like her... there was a magic in nature, especially in the greenhouses, considering how different they were, even to the gardens.

“In the sands, we have a general belief amongst the nomadic tribes for hospitality when it comes to sharing fires,” Hilana explained. And in that sentence, that gave away a lot of information about why the girl had so little knowledge about Runeforging. One of the Vastian Nomads. “Namely, any of our people are welcome to the fire of another Vastii. But they are expected to be at peace and differences set aside. If there are quarrels, they can be discussed in the daylight. If you break with that belief, word always spreads. You will not be welcomed to the fires again. My elders told me that the Orks tried to invoke that to come to the Frost Festival. It was six years ago, so they didn’t give me much information beyond that,” she admitted. Hilana certainly didn’t look her age, what with her appearance and general attitude, so perhaps her elders had figured it was not suitable for a child’s ears. “But they were refused, as they are not Vastii, and we have never accepted Orks to our fires. Not in the day, not in the night. They were told to leave, and when they didn’t leave, it turned into a fight.”

She was relieved when he took the balm and seemed to like it, all the while thinking about teas he might like, too. “It was a perfectly acceptable reaction, truly. If you don’t know what it is, it is generally healthy to avoid such creatures.” Hilana could relax a little again, at least, knowing that he wasn’t too upset. She wasn’t about to tell him about just what kinds of spiders and insects could deliver a nasty bite; there was no need to distress him further about them. “But you are very welcome. This tea I think you will like. Lemon balm is always very calming, like a nice session of meditation,” she added. “Apple always complements hibiscus, and the citrus of the lemon enhances both of those flavours. If you like spicy teas that are very warming in your throat and the belly, then you might like a combination of peppercorns, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and cardamom with roasted tea leaves. Or if you were in the mood for something that’s more relaxing, blueberries and vanilla. That one can be dressed up with milk or cream and made so velvety and a wonderful accompaniment to a cake or biscuit. Or even lemon balm and lavender, along with orange flowers,” she nodded at the balm she had given him. “It can be sweetened up with a spoonful of honey to your tastes.”

Posted: **Mon Sep 26, 2022 11:26 pm**

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"Do let me know what Vasilei thinks. I don't mind helping him pay for some things, too, just pass along to him my name." And though his current standing with his family was suspect, in their bid to hide their internal conflict, Æros was still able to live and act as if everything was fine on the surface.

When she replied to him regarding the greenhouses, he smiled at the thought. It was rather rare for him to have a proper reason to travel up to Luxium, but he thought that going up just to see the greenhouse would be worth the effort. "I'd like that, yes. When the weather's clear and I've the time, I'll stop by again." The only unfortunate part is he had no idea when the smog would clear. Could be tomorrow, overmorrow, weeks…who knew?

As he listened to her tale regarding that particular incident with the Orkhan, he wore a puzzled expression. "Bizarre of them to ever think that they could make use of a tradition that had, historically, never involved their people at all. Were they drunk, particularly stupid…or…?" He sighed, "...maybe the brutes were looking for a fight. Wouldn't put it past them to be pointlessly violent, really."

While Æros' knowledge of arachnids and insects was limited, he was very aware of several different types that were exceptionally dangerous; the types to avoid if one were ever to come across them in the sands or Umbrium’s dark corners. His knowledge being mostly limited to the harmful actually had a downside, however, because that being the case, he found himself fearful of most things one could describe as creepy crawly. His mindset, however, did align with the sentiment she shared: if he didn't recognize it, he wanted nothing to do with it.

As Hilana talked of teas, the Færie listened quietly, finding the talk of various ingredients to be a welcome subject after he'd just embarrassed himself. "Adding apple was smart, then, didn't know it had that effect. That combination sounds lovely." He paused for a moment, thinking about what flavors he favored more specifically. "I find myself liking things that are calming or more floral and black teas that pair well with milk or cream– I'm partial to the texture thereof. I've enjoyed almost anything I've tried with lavender, too. A bit of honey has never hurt anything I've enjoyed, either."

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:28 pm**

“That is very kind of you, Dominus. I thank you, and I will let you know,” Hilana assured him. She knew that Vasilei would know far more about this than she did, and that was just going to be another aspect of her education. When in Solunarium, after all... It would not hurt to check around down below more often, especially if the crowds cleared out again from the smoke. Until that time, she was best situated right where she was.

“I am always here. Well, almost always,” she smiled at that. Hilana was there when it came time to open the shop, and would start taking on more of the closing, too, now that Vasilei was getting more comfortable with her and her ability to mind it for him. Sometimes she did get sent out on errands, but if she was, then Vasilei would be in, and chances were, could impart even more of his knowledge on this exotic-looking horned Elf that had been interested in the subjects so far. “If I’m not, then my mentor probably sent me out to fetch or deliver something,” she shrugged, not at all minding by the sound of it, “but I’ll be back, and I’m sure he can tell you even more about what we have here.”

She held her hands up about the Orks, as if to say that their ways and reasoning were beyond her. “I think they were probably hoping for a fight. That is what made the most sense to me, even though there were far more Vastii than there were Orks... but we will defend our own and our lands as we have to. Rite of Hospitality does not extend to Orks. It extends, obviously, to Elves, and oftentimes Peregrini that find themselves in the Sands, but Orks? Never.” She scoffed at the notion. It did not matter how many centuries passed, they would not be welcome where Vastii tread. The Nomads had long memories, and the stories were passed from generation to generation, keeping history alive. The Orks had pushed them out of one home. They would not have this one.

Hilana was an attentive listener as the Runeforged hotplate made the kettle whistle, and she used a thick pad to lift it and pour the boiling water into the teapot with a bit of a flourish. As the hot water hit the tea contained within, it activated the scents further, and Æros would be able to pick up the scents she had explained earlier: the citrus of the lemon balm, the sweetness of the apple, and the floral notes of hibiscus. Now to just let it steep. “Making tea is one of my favourite parts,” she admitted. “And all the better if they can help heal something somehow... even if it’s just an off day. Medicine always goes down better if it tastes good, right?” she smiled brightly at him. The wheels were clearly turning in those eyes of hers, though, as she thought about his preferences. “Black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, caramel. Rich, some spice, but when you add milk or cream to it, that will tone it all the way down to a good level, and caramel pieces will sweeten it.” And just like that, the girl was off again, this time with a little paper packet from where she had gotten the kettle. She was at least somewhat amusing to watch, as she made her way from jar to jar, adding things to the packet before coming back to him, folding it shut and tying the thread around it to keep it closed. “Here,” she offered it to him. “For you to take with you and try, and then when I see you next, you can tell me if you liked it.”

Posted: **Mon Oct 03, 2022 3:17 am**

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Æros knew little about the man who owned the shop, but if he was anything like his employee, he imagined that he would be an all around pleasant individual in the same vein. Maybe not as composed of sunshine as she is, perhaps, but the Fæ imagined he would at least share her passion for botany and so forth. In all likelihood, Runeforged implements would appeal to him just as much if not more.

To Hilana, he smiled, "it is of no burden to me. I'll…find a reason to make my way up here again soon enough, too." When exactly this would be he was unsure, but he nonetheless intended to stick to his word in this case.

To the next thing she said, "I wouldn't mind lingering 'round the storefront if I arrive and it's just him. I imagine we'd get along just as well, no? Unless he possesses a far harsher countenance or the like." Æros didn't take life too seriously and, as a consequence, didn't get along much with those who did.

Regarding the Orkhan, he thought for a moment on her reply. He knew they were brutish, churlish things but he didn't see the point in starting completely pointless bloodshed with the Vastii. Too much of that gets back to the Solunarium itself and they'll probably ruffle enough feathers to be hit back with a dose of magic they very likely won't enjoy. Which…was why doing so was an objectively poor idea. Were they simply that stupid?

"Well, I do hope they've checked their aggression since then, because I don't think it a very wise choice to agitate those living on Solunarium lands, to be frank." He sounded serious about this, but there was an odd tone to his voice as if he almost liked the idea of Solunarium's military breaking a few Orks as a demonstration of power.

Once the water was sufficiently heated, Æros watched as Hilana dropped the tea concentrate into it and in a matter of moments, a sweet, floral scent marked with citrus and apple began to suffuse into the air around them. It was a pleasant, uplifting fragrance, fond of hibiscus as he was.

"I am inclined to agree; the process of making tea is really rather relaxing. It's just as pleasant an aromatic experience as it is one for taste. And to your second point, that much is true. Bitter medicine may work for illness but for ailments more relating to one's mood? A pleasant taste and soothing scent can do a lot on their own," he said, punctuated with a short laugh.

After he'd listed what he personally enjoyed, Hilana almost immediately came up with something, speaking it aloud– it sounded really rather nice to the Fæ, too. He said nothing as he watched her flit around the shop, adding each of the things she listed to a little packet in her hands. A pretty thing with graceful movements, she was, and quick, too. Upon her return and offering the packet to him, Æros accepted it with a soft smile and delighted expression. If she hadn't noticed before, she would now– the Færie only had four fingers.

"Ooh, thank you, and it sounds so lovely, too. Mind if I take one of the purple violet plants with me, too? And what would I owe you?" His voice bore both pleasant and appreciative tones for her having put something together like that so quickly.

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'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Wed Oct 05, 2022 4:04 pm**

She rather hoped the fascinating horned elf did come back up into the Luxium once the smoke cleared. And hopefully that would be soon, too. Founders willing that nothing came of it, that it was just…smoke. Though with everyone trying to hide down below, maybe he would venture up here again for a break to get away from the mass of people. Unlikely, but it was something to think about.

“Vasilei is a Vastii like I am, but he is of good moods. He is from one of the villages about two days’ ride from here; he trained under my Great-Aunt for years,” Hilana offered by way of explanation. “He can be a bit dry with me, but I’ve usually earned it at that point,” the girl grinned. The city habit of never presenting yourself in a self-depreciating way was not something the nomad had been taught, apparently. “You and he will have a shared interest,” she held her hands out to indicate the shop. Plants. “He’s incredibly knowledgeable about plants and about everything to do with them, though, and he’s always happy to talk about them.”

She shook her head about the Orks and their aggression. "I think, from my travels with the convoys and the tribes... When I listen, the consensus is that the monsters will usually stay away from the villages that have a contingent of the military posted there. They know better, clearly, not to come after anywhere where there are soldiers posted. They know that our tribal pathways are our roads, not necessarily the ones that the Guards patrol... So they will try to harass those of us that travel on our own. They will get theirs... but hopefully sooner rather than later.” She looked a bit contemplative. Maybe... Maybe... Perhaps that was the beginning of a rather spectacular thought, but she knew she had a very long way to go to get ready for that sort of thing...

“It does. Aromas work wonders, you know. Our noses are surprisingly important at soothing emotions and the mind,” Hilana nodded, indicating the lavender balm that she had given him, open as it was. “People are finding them very useful now, what with the smoke and sulphur... But even without, you know, you can wake someone up, knock them out, drain their energy, or boost it... all with the nose,” the girl fetched a teacup from the little table, bringing it over for the horned Dominus. She poured the fragrant tea from the pot, the mesh strainer at its mouth catching the leaves and petals and fruity pieces, producing a clear, steaming cup of tea that was a rosy pink in its colour, the soothing scent of the lemon balm surrounding the table.

She did notice when he took the packet that he only had four fingers, and she was deeply curious about it - but the girl had sense enough not to ask. That would have been far too rude, especially since while he had been patient and affable, there were standards of propriety and she couldn’t just break them all willy-nilly here. “It is my pleasure, I’m just glad I can make something for you. Which of the violets do you like?” Hilana left him at the table to return with a pot of violets in each hand. Both had the same amount of flowers, though one had white centres, and the second one had yellow. The symphonies of both plants seemed equally healthy, but the girl had been honest and forthright so far - she didn’t seem the type to sell off an unhealthy plant, not with how much she clearly cared for them. “Either way, one of the pots is two silver pieces.”

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2022 3:23 pm**

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It was nice to hear that Vasilei simply liked to talk about plants, because while Æros had ample interest in the subject, he was not the most knowledgeable overall. As a consequence, the conversation would largely be Vasilei offering insight and information as opposed to two professionals or even hobbyists speaking to one another. He doubted the man would be fool enough to cross into the territory of condescending, but he didn’t want to exhaust an expert with how little he knew.

Æros did find her sense of humor funny, as much as it was frowned upon to be self deprecating. “Mmm, well as long as he’s patient with my ignorance on the subject I’m sure he and I will get along fine,” he said, a soft smile appearing on his face afterwards.

The Færie listened as she spoke regarding the habits of the Orks and shook his head. Underhanded, they were. “Dirty fighters, then? Can’t say I’m quite surprised they’d resort to harassing civilians simply trying to travel or trade between settlements. I’m not a combatant myself or perhaps I’d help– Orks would be worthy sacrifices to the founders, don’t you think?” Though he spoke musingly, the idea did genuinely have its appeal to him.

The thing about that was that it would involve him traveling out into the desert, something he wasn’t exactly super enthusiastic about doing. The other part was that while he did have his Mesmer he could use, if the Orks possessed anything that would block his magic, he would then be defenseless– and those brutes were…big. Even when compared to him, they were veritable giants. He really ought to pick something up to help him fight.

Regarding the effects of fragrance on one’s mood, “I believe that, yes– and certain scents can be tied to memories, associations, various things…so often overlooked for how well we tend to remember such things.” For him, lavender didn’t have any particular association beyond having used it to sleep or promote calm in the past. It was naturally good at that, though, he thought. “Even without the smoke, I like to have incense and the like in my home just for the sake of it. Can set a mood and is just pleasing in general, I think.”

And then to her comment about using one’s olfactory system for more physical manipulation, Æros quirked a brow. “And I suppose you’re familiar with these uses, hm? Did you learn through an academic method or perhaps one more practical?” The implication of the question was clear, but it would also be obvious it was asked out of curiosity and not any kind of judgment.

He watched as she walked off to go gather the flowers and then return. Each of the two had its appeal, but he liked the contrast between the yellow centers and the purple petals. Pointing at his choice, “I think I’d prefer that one, thank you.” As he spoke, he fished around his pockets for the coins she requested and placed them on the table before him.

- - -

'Thoughts'

"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"

"Vastien Tongue/Speech"

"Valasren Tongue/Speech"

"Common Tongue/Speech"

Posted: **Sat Oct 08, 2022 11:16 am**

“I have no doubt he will. You are very engaging and you have a genuine interest in the subject,” Hilana was cheerful. If he decided to check her Symphony, he would find it wasn’t obsequious flattery; the Vastiii believed it to be true. “That goes a long way, you know.” The girl could, and would, talk the ear off of anyone that wanted to listen, especially if there was a topic of mutual interest; but when it called for, she was able to listen. Her problem tended to be more of the reining herself and her enthusiasm in. There was a time and place for it; it was just learning to read the room in the meantime. Social mores could be challenging, but it was something she was learning and working on every day that she was in here.

“They really are, aren’t they?” The Vastii frowned. “There is no honour in picking on people for the sake of it, assaulting or harassing caravans and travelers and for what? It’s not our way, but it clearly is theirs. But yes, Orks make very good sacrifices to the Founders, the problem is finding them in the sands,” Hilana admitted. “I’m sure you remember the stories... probably more than I do, I wasn’t taught history formally in schools... but Orks fought against Deus and Domina in the final battles... so sacrificing them I think would have considerable potency.” Her finger tapped her skirt thoughtfully. “Just have to get them. They don’t dare come too close to the city; so we would need something like a Wyvern that can cover a lot of ground. My Hayima’el is fast, but he cannot travel the distance like Wyverns. Plus there are the Guards that patrol around the city from the sky, so I would think that they would probably spot them first...” But the girl very much agreed with him. Orks made great sacrifices, because the only good Ork was a dead Ork, and if they could throw that Ork into Mount Sorokyn in the name of Deus et Domina, then so much the better.

They smelled horrible when they burned, but at least when they were in the lava the smell wasn’t going to reach them.

“That is so,” Hilana agreed. “People really do tend to overlook it... but the scents of the sea, or a food made by your family, or spices, or any such things like that, they are far more powerful than people give them credit for. People may hate the smell of a camel, but for me, that’s home. That’s what I grew up on. The smell of a campfire, of foods cooking on it... Good memories,” she had a soft smile of her own. “It’s funny how unnoticed they are, and how that sense is in particular. It’s not realized until it is no longer there, which is a shame. But all the more for us that appreciate such things. I do like incense, but I don’t use it, I’m afraid... probably because my apartment is starting to resemble a greenhouse, and I have a pet python in there. Burning incense would harm his respiratory system after extended exposure, and I couldn’t have that.”

When he remarked about her knowledge on such things, Hilana looked a bit sheepish, if only for a moment, before she let it go. She was not at all embarrassed of her upbringing, though she had a feeling that to someone like Aeros, it was probably very strange indeed. “All practical, Dominus. None of my schooling was formal or academic, to use your word,” she admitted. “My father would send tutors out to tend to our... my friends and I... education on formal subjects, and the rest I learned from my guardians and elders, my mentors and friends,” she said by way of explanation. She was a graduate of the school of hard knocks, for better or for worse.

“That one it is,” Hilana smiled, setting the chosen plant down on the table for him, not so close as to risk spilling any of the soil on the dates on a plate, or near his teacup, before putting the second plant back where it belonged with the others. She retrieved a card from where she had gotten the tea packet, picking up a pen and writing a few notes down on it.

Violets
-Bright, but indirect light. Rotate by a quarter turn every watering.
-Water every 7-10 days unless the foliage looks dry.
-Water by putting water in the saucer, and letting it stand for half an hour, then drain off the excess.
-Pinch off spent blooms to encourage more growth.

She used her hand to make sure that the ink was dry, before offering it to the Fae. She would rather set him up for success than not... and if she could encourage him to come back for more plants when he was doing well with this one, so much the better. Being able to share her love of something was very freeing in a city that could be so restrictive for someone like her. “For you. Thank you very much, Dominus.”

Legend of Ransera

ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]

Re: ALIQVID IMPIVD ILLAM VIAM VENIT [Prompt]