Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 13, 2017 18:55:58 GMT -6
It had been a nice day for Aea thus far. She'd gotten the chance to take a stroll in the unkempt grasslands just outside Bulgar before she needed to return to perform at a tavern that evening, and she'd even found a few herbs that are fairly uncommon along the way. The weather had been just right, not too hot or cold, with a gentle breeze blowing across the land. It was almost like the wind could speak to her; that was how deep her connection was to the element of air at times. As the sun was starting to set, she figured it best to start heading back, as she was still a good three or four miles from town, so she could make it by nightfall, just in time for her performance. Humming a simple, yet elegant tune to herself, she started to walk north towards Bulgar, until she heard growling a short ways to the left. Turning towards the disturbance, she saw a wolf of around average size staring straight at her, eyeing her down, likely seeing an easy catch due to her small and somewhat frail appearance.
"U-um.. n-nice wolfy, good boy.. Please don't try and eat me. Please.." Aea knew it was pointless to try and say anything to the savage animal, but it was more for her own mental benefit than anything. She backed up slowly, never taking her eyes off the wolf, other than to glance around and see if anyone else was around to help her. If anyone was around, she couldn't see them in her peripherals or straight ahead, though she hoped maybe someone near enough and behind her could see what was going on. She didn't want to have to fight the wolf, and she knew she couldn't outrun it. Starting to breathe deeply inwards while backing up, she prepared for the wolf to bound toward her.
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Tadhg
Nomad
Posts: 14
Profession: Hunter/Butcher
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Tadhg
OoC Alias: Moogle
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Post by Tadhg on Jun 13, 2017 20:06:37 GMT -6
Tracks. Fresh, at that.
Tadhg's grip slackened on Namaste's reins as he rounded the familiar strand of gentle hills that marked the last several miles of the path back to Bulgar. Though no literal path existed, the grass in these parts was so often trampled by fellow hunters, nomads, and merchants that a makeshift one was all but carved out by the furrowed green blades.
If normal foliage was a sword, or small hordes of them, then this was a band of tiny scimitars, or so thought Tadhg as he nonchalantly hummed an old folk tune. The days of his modest, bygones tribe had vanished like a breath on the wind, and this song, first sung to him by his grandfather, was one of the few keepsakes that remained.
The sun was setting, but he had no particular place to be at the moment and instead resorted to following the paw-shaped tracks left in the wet, short grass. He also tried to immerse himself in the tranquil sights and sounds around him... for all of twelve or so seconds.
The tracks suddenly deviated to the left, suggesting that the beast who had left these pawprints had likely found prey, or had become the prey itself. It soon became apparent to Tadhg that the latter was not the case, for the average-sized wolf, glinting silver in the low daylight, was visible several yards to his left, apparently in pursuit of a distant purple speck, which Tadhg grimly deduced was a person, definitely female. Squinting, he tried to make out her most distinguishable features, gently guiding Namaste to a canter as he did so in an effort to attract as little attention to the wolf as possible. Even at this distance, the girl looked quite thin and was slight of build.
For a moment, Tadhg even wondered if the wolf was poised to lunge at all. Humans were not a good source of nutrition for the vast majority of wildlife around here, especially not skinny ones that would yield scant meat.
As Tadhg approached on Namaste as furtively as a young hunting horse could muster, he unbound his iron bow from his back and drew a single arrow from the quiver. It would be a clean shot if the wind remained calm, but a misfire could mean wounding the girl, or worse. By now, the distance was rapidly closing, yard by yard. The wolf's haunches rose, and Tadhg wasn't sure which snack looked tastier to it: the svelte girl or the medium-build man on a medium-sized horse.
Sighing, he nocked the arrow and aimed it directly at the indecisive wolf. A meal was a meal, after all. "No sense in wasting meat," he murmured as he drew the string back. Just as the wolf turned to snarl at Tadhg's arrival, he let the arrow fly.
The shot went too wide. A cross-breeze, perhaps. The arrow failed to lodge itself anywhere within the wolf's ample flesh, though the tip grazed one of its hind legs. A short distance away, Tadhg noticed its shaft protruding upright from the ground. The wolf, now sufficiently distracted, reared itself towards Tadhg and Namaste, snarling.
Tadhg's heart began to hammer in its chest. He'd been in instances like this before. The wolf would charge, ordinarily, at any second. But for some reason, it seemed like it labored to move. Then he realized that his first shot had grazed its hind leg enough to prevent it from moving at its full speed, but soon the beast would acclimate to the handicap. Not wasting another instance, Tadhg quickly fumbled for another arrow, trying not to shake in the process. Breathing heavily, he nocked the arrow, pulled back the string, and let it fly.
This time, his aim was true, and the wolf promptly crumpled in response to a shot to the neck. Blood oozed out of the wound site in earnest, though the beast seemed far from dead. The shot could have been cleaner, less clumsy, but at least it felled the beast into unconsciousness.
Scarcely a heartbeat had passed before Tadhg trotted over to the girl's location, the wolf's breathing becoming heavy and labored.
"Are you alright?" Tadhg asked somewhat breathlessly.
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Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 13, 2017 20:51:42 GMT -6
I'm dead. I am soooo dead! I- Aea's train of panicked thoughts was stopped immediately as she noticed the wolf turn it's head a bit just when an arrow whizzed by, grazing the leg of the wolf, causing it to let out a quick yelp of pain. W-wha.. Someone really was nearby! Well then, I should take this opening to- Yet again, her train of thought was halted as a second arrow flew straight and true from the horseman's bow, killing the wolf on contact. Not wasting his time, he rode up to her on horseback, and asked whether she was alright or not.
Aea felt her heart drop into her stomach, and she was immediately intimidated by the posture of her own rescuer, riding on hoeseback, and even then, likely standing taller than herself. Breathing in and out deeply, she attempted to start speaking to him. "Y-y-yes.. I-I'm okay.. I'm A-Aea.. y-you?" She was visibly shaking now from nervousness, and her yellow eyes were pointed straight at the ground as she fiddled with the ends of her dark purple hair, which fell past her shoulder blades and concealed her ears.
You're ruining this, Aea! Just like every other stranger you meet! Just once, can't you talk right to another person? If this guy hadn't arrived to save you, you'd be that wolf's dinner, so the least you could do is speak up and thank him!
After a fairly awkward pause, Aea finally spoke up again. "T-thank you so much for saving me. I don't know what I would've done had you not arrived! Um.. I hate to trouble you again, b-but, do you think you could give me a ride the rest of the way back to town? I have a performance at the Drunken Swordsman after nightfall, and I'd hate to be late... P-plus, I don't know if there's any more of those wolves out there.."
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Tadhg
Nomad
Posts: 14
Profession: Hunter/Butcher
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Tadhg
OoC Alias: Moogle
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Post by Tadhg on Jun 14, 2017 12:56:37 GMT -6
Tadhg did not respond right away. He trotted to the girl, not meeting her gaze directly. Instead he focused on the felled wolf, whose breathing was heaving and labored. Its minutes were numbered. The act had been regrettable, of course, but one of the unsung laws of Sacae was to help those in need. Without a word, Tadhg dismounted Namaste, who let out a soft, curious whinny. As he knelt down to assess the gravely wounded wolf, he kept his left hand steady on Namaste's reins. The horse was not the bravest of his kind, and he was liable to start running.
After assuring himself that the wolf would pass on naturally, Tadhg straightened his posture and finally faced the young girl. She was slight of build, perhaps even tiny. Tadhg knew for a fact that he was roughly the same build as an average commoner - not exceeding six feet in height, not exceeding the weight of a moderately successful hunter - yet this girl was still quite diminutive compared to this modest measure. She was shaking. Her voice quavered as she spoke, oscillating between different modal ranges as though she were trying to sing, but spontaneously contracted stage fright in front of an audience of one.
Tadhg waved his hand as he addressed her, not meeting her gaze, for she had now directed hers toward the ground. "Calm yourself," he instructed, trying to sound pleasant and approachable. No sense in being his usual stern self in front of a scared little girl. "There is no danger now. But others will smell the blood. We must hurry."
He forgot to acknowledge her thanks. Egads. He wasn't one for formalities, not necessarily by his own choice.
He beckoned her to approach, lightly arcing four of his fingers back over his palm repeatedly. "I know the Drunken Swordsman. In fact, you might say I work for them. I bring them meat for their stews and such... although, this wolf is too skinny. I suspect he was malnourished. Anyway, I would be willing to take you back to town. Though, we must move now, before the sun drops too low. There will be more-"
Tadhg was cut off by a somewhat distant howl, wider in timbre, louder in volume.
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Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 14, 2017 14:10:36 GMT -6
When she noticed the stranger motioning for her to come along, Aea moved closer, starting to get on the back of the horse. Luckily, she was small enough that the two would be able to hopefully both fit on its back, even if slightly awkwardly. She was eager to get out of there after having such a close encounter with an apparently malnourished wolf. She wasn't the greatest fighter, and even during times she didn't think anyone was around, she was still somewhat hesitant to use her natural abilities, even if things like her breath attack were more subtle than outright transformation.
"I'm completely in agreement, and thank you again. W-we need to get going quickly. I-is your horse here able to outrun wolves and other such beasts if necessary?" She assumed it could, but she also hadn't exactly encountered that many wolves before, so she couldn't easily compare the two animals. As the horse started to move a bit, she muttered to herself, "Maybe I should get a horse of my own sometime. They do seem-" Her speech was cut off by the sound of an almost painfully loud howl that was somewhat far away, but still appeared to be closer than Aea would have preferred.
Noting that the howl even gave the man with her pause, she asked, "W-what was that? A-another wolf? W-we should get going, right now!" Aea was getting visibly nervous as she was imagining what could have made a howl so loud, whether it was just a bigger wolf, or something... else. She had heard many rumors of horrors and monsters growing more common in recent years, especially flooding out of Ostia, and some showing up around the City of Heroes. She hoped and prayed that this was not one of those creatures.
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Tadhg
Nomad
Posts: 14
Profession: Hunter/Butcher
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Tadhg
OoC Alias: Moogle
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Post by Tadhg on Jun 15, 2017 13:24:38 GMT -6
Much to Tadhg's chagrin, the young girl seemed to have a nervous habit of running her mouth. Contrasting Tadhg's cool-headed demeanor (a necessity when it came to the discipline of hunting and tracking), Aea was on the verge of quaking in her shoes. While it bothered him now, it would make for an interesting dialectic in the future to be certain.
Without another second to waste, Tadhg held out his hand and urged the girl to take it. He aimed to hoist her behind him onto Namaste. If the emerging crisis truly became drastic, he'd slap Namaste on the rear and send the steed charging back towards town without him while keeping Aea safe and unharmed. It would be a close stretch, of course, but Namaste would have the edge of distance over speed. If the horse ran a race with a fully-grown wolf, the wolf would win.
"My name is Tadhg, if you're curious," Tadhg mentioned casually as he tried to guide Aea onto the back of Namaste. The howls were becoming more numerous in both volume and quantity with each squandered moment. After securing Aea, Tadhg quickly mounted the saddle directly in front of her. "Like the first syllable of 'tiger'. Now, we must be off. Hold on tight. Hyah!"
As the horse sped away as fast as a medium-sized hunting stallion could, Tadhg felt his heart skip a couple crucial beats. They were indeed being pursued, and something was gaining on them fast. A markedly different howl, however - this one with a grimmer prognosis.
A mauthe doog. Damn. Damndamndamn.
Doogs were extremely quick and agile and built for short chases. Tadhg had run from one before - seriously, what was it with him and saving young lost girls in distress on the back of his horse - and they had narrowly escaped. A half-starved wolf was one thing, but a spry, alert mauthe doog, feral as you please, was another entirely.
"Faster, Namaste," urged Tadhg, attempting to hasten his steed's speed. He didn't want to guide the doog towards town, and he doubted that the wiry hound could sustain the sprint for so long, but it was either the plains or certain death at this point.
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Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 15, 2017 15:40:22 GMT -6
Aea's heart sank as she turned around and saw the large, dark furred mauthe doog bounding towards them. Of course it would be one of those horrible monsters... She turned to face forward again before speaking up. "So, um, Tadhg... What's your plan exactly? You can't actually expect us to outrun that... thing, right?" As she said this, she noticed that Tadhg was beginning to steer the horse way from the direction of Bulgar, and instead facing out into the open plains. Oh gods, he actually is going to try and outrun it. Well, I guess he has guts, I'll give him that. Um.. umm.. How can I help..? Think, think! Aea turned her upper body back around swiftly, and upon seeing that the mauthe doog was gaining on them, she began to breathe inward, somewhat slowly at first, taking in all the air her lungs would allow, and even then a bit extra.
Aea waited until the mauthe doog was a bit closer, but before it was in range to strike at Namaste, or even herself. Once she had breathed in as much as she could, she prepared herself to exhale all of it at once. Since she couldn't speak with her lungs full of air, she thought what she would have loved to say out loud just before attacking. Have a taste of this, ugly!
When the doog was within ten to fifteen feet or so of Namaste, Aea decided it was good to release the air. Opening her mouth as wide as possible, a gust of wind blasted towards the ground right in front of the demonic wolf, causing it to flinch from the sheer force of the air current, along with the clumps of dirt that sprayed up from the impact, causing it to become somewhat disoriented for a moment. While it didn't stop moving entirely, it did slow down a lot as it recovered, and approached with an extra level of caution now, likely wondering if the prey was as easy as it had previously assumed. Meanwhile, Aea just sat there looking forward again, catching her breath and hoping desperately that what she'd done would do the trick and help them lose the beast.
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Tadhg
Nomad
Posts: 14
Profession: Hunter/Butcher
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Tadhg
OoC Alias: Moogle
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Post by Tadhg on Jun 16, 2017 13:24:55 GMT -6
It seemed like Aea was providing more fuel for their fears at this point. It was the bane of frightful predisposition, and it was even more unfortunate how contagious it was, for now Tadhg was beginning to feel the first pangs of worry as well. Worry would soon blossom into fear, and fear would breed a whole 'nother slew of problems. Tadhg had to laud Namaste for his attempt at evasive maneuvering, however inferior his speed was to a fully-grown mauthe doog.
Namaste let out another frightful whinny, this time with a tone suggestive of full-blown fright. This meant that the doog's breath was hot on the horse's haunches. While maintaining speed, Tadhg absentmindedly stuck out his left elbow to brace for impact, follow by certain, carnage-romping death with a toll consisting of himself, his horse, and his new companion...
...But the moment never came. The seconds spaced themselves out, seemingly, instead, with a prolonged puff of air issued behind him. Tadhg was too busy with maintaining control that he failed to notice the ensuing debacle behind him. He felt the light weight of Aea behind him on the saddle still, which was a fortunate sign to be sure, but vibrations were rampant along the saddle and down Namaste's body. Perhaps the horse was too occupied with trying to evade the doog to care. Seizing the opportunity, Tadhg steered Namaste sharply to the right, nearly at a ninety agree angle, as the doog yipped in disoriented protest.
They veered down a hill, though it would be perhaps miles before the doog would lose their scents. Namaste did a remarkable job of remaining stable throughout the somewhat steep descent, and his speed did not waver. He turned Namaste to the left for a spell, then to the right once more, tapping into what fundamental equestrian skills he had when yhe predators suddenly became the prey. Another question seemed to squat over them, however: Tadhg had only heard a pronounced puff of air complemented by momentary vibrations, as if somebody had been squeezing bellows over an open fire in an effort to fan them.
"You singers must have amazing lung capacity," was all the flummoxed nomad could manage as they sped away in a long zig-zag pattern.
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Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 17, 2017 0:25:45 GMT -6
Aea leaned her forehead on Tadhg's back and breathed out a heavy sigh as she realized they were likely going to escape with their lives now, and at least partially due to her own action, no less. She was a bit flustered when Tadhg made his comment about singers, and she sat straight up again, trying to explain what happened. "W-well, you see, I'm not really much of a singer... I m-mainly just play my instrument, and that's it. W-what I did was more like a type of.. well, magic, but a little different than how mages usually cast it. I understand you didn't see it though, I just felt I should e-explain..." Now Aea felt like she was rambling, and just hoped the ride would be over soon.
As she held onto Tadhg to ensure she wouldn't fall off of Namaste, she spoke up again to make conversation, a bit softer this time, "So, um.. until we get back to Bulgar... A-Are you from around here at all? I've been around Sacae a bit, but I've never seen you before. I know I've probably said already, multiple times perhaps, but thank you so much for helping me. I-I realize it was mostly being in the right place at the right time, but still.." Aea shuddered to think what might've become of her had the wolf gotten to her, or worse, the mauthe doog that had only been shortly behind, and which had been left in the dust by the duo. Aea looked to the horizon, seeing the sun getting very low, and hoped she'd be able to make it in time. I'm sure they'll understand if I'm just a bit late anyway... I hope...
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Tadhg
Nomad
Posts: 14
Profession: Hunter/Butcher
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Tadhg
OoC Alias: Moogle
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Post by Tadhg on Jun 17, 2017 14:57:02 GMT -6
The sun was beginning to slink back below the sparse treeline, which was just as well. Tadhg had twiddled with the reins a few more times before settling on the proper course back towards Bulgar, which was still a few miles away. He listened for the growls of the mauthe doog or more wolves, but he could hear neither that nor the distant howls of either. It seemed that Aea had driven them off, or they had gathered enough distance between them. Or both.
He felt the small weight of the girl against his back, but this did not detract him from maintaining a careful course of direction. Nor did it detract him from engaging in conversation with her. He responded coolly and casually to the girl's tone. She still stuttered in association with the all-too-telltale signs of nervousness, but her coherence now seemed to suggest that she didn't feel quite as freaked out as she had been moments before.
"Magic?" inquired Tadhg somewhat quizzically. It was not that he was completely foreign to the idea of magic - he received quite an earful of folktales in his childhood apropos to the topic - but mages were less common in Sacae. Mages in these parts often took the form of mystics or tribal healers connected with the outrealm. "What was it, then?" he followed with much intrigue.
He did not let Aea respond right away, as he did not want to appear rude in only inquiring about her abilities. He technically owed her nothing, yet it was his selflessness that had rescued her this day. "It's no issue. I have to return to town anyway," Tadhg repeated warmly. "Besides, we Sacaeans are duty-bound to help those in need, even if we don't feel it necessary. That is the law of Sacae. Where are you from?"
He probably sounded like a pamphlet devoid of compassion, and that was also untrue. In reality, Tadhg was not the type to show such compassion, instead favoring a "keep calm and carry on" approach to these instances. Now it was Aea's turn to speak, and Tadhg secretly hoped that this discussion would warrant more information about her and her abilities.
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Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 17, 2017 15:35:24 GMT -6
Aea paused for a few moments, deciding how she would address the topic of her abilities. She didn't want to not talk about it, lest she be viewed with some degree of suspicion, but she also didn't want to reveal her more.. undesirable aspects. After some thinking, she finally spoke up. "W-well, I suppose it's really just a variation of some basic wind magics. It isn't really that big if a deal! I've just figured out a way to sort of control the wind through a different means than most mages might. So, um, yeah! That's that!" Aea really hoped she didn't sound too awkward saying all of that. She didn't want to draw attention to it, but most people had never specifically gone out of their way to address her magical abilities, and she was caught a bit off guard, not your mention she wasn't really the best liar Elibe had ever seen.
"As for where I'm from? W-well, I was born around the border mountains separating Sacae and Ilia, but I, uh... Well, I d-don't really like bringing up my childhood to complete strangers, but eventually, my parents died when I was still somewhat young. I wasn't a child really, but I wasn't totally an adult either I guess? A-anyways, I ended up living with a Sacaean tribe at the foot of the mountains for a good few years, so I'd say I'm decently familiar with a lot of common aspects of your culture. Aside from that, I've more or less been wandering around since I left that village, just seeing the sights Elibe has to offer, and sharing my music with its people. I've been to Ilia and Bern briefly before, but mostly I've just stuck to Sacae for the time being." Aea hoped that this more "normal" topic would get Tadhg's mind off of the magic, if he indeed was suspicious to any degree. Either way, she was glad they were fast approaching Bulgar, finally.
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Tadhg
Nomad
Posts: 14
Profession: Hunter/Butcher
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Tadhg
OoC Alias: Moogle
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Post by Tadhg on Jun 18, 2017 16:18:13 GMT -6
Aea's summation of whatever power she had demonstrated did not make a lick of sense to Tadhg, but he nodded as if able to comprehend her words regardless. He was grateful for the fact that she had explained it plainly, unlike some mages who felt as if they were holier-than-thou using technical arcane jargon. Conversely, he wasn't thrilled with the vagueness of her account either, but he knew nothing about magic or its properties, so he was hardly qualified to critically evaluate it. In any event, he was grateful that she began to prattle on about her upbringing, for he understood what she was talking about for the most part.
Tadhg had not expected Aea to divulge her entire life story, but he was grateful that she spoke honestly. She certainly didn't look the part of an adult, but many adults still resembled their younger selves. "One of the northern tribes, then?" Tadhg asked. "We only trade with them. I've never met them, never been exposed to their customs."
The duo were alike in that they had never, or seldom, ventured outside of Sacae. In Tadhg's case, the former was true. He was about to say something on that topic when he soon realized that Bulgar's impressive walls were well within visual acuity, which meant that their short trip would end soon.
"How much time do you have before your performance? If you're hungry, I can cook you something in the fire pit nearby," Tadhg proposed tentatively. It would be unwise to perform on an empty stomach, after all. "I wouldn't call myself a chef, but I have a talent for cooking stews and roasts." He was referring to an open amphitheater just within the fringes of Bulgar's walls that permitted a lovely view of the sunset and a perpetually-crackling fire pit.
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Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 19, 2017 2:51:12 GMT -6
Aea was surprised by Tadhg's willingness to cook a meal once they got back into Bulgar. "O-oh.. well, I think I still have some time, yes. I am quite hungry, now that I think about it..." As if on cue, Aea's stomach began growling very loudly, causing her to become a bit flustered. "U-um, anyways, it is very kind of you to want to do this. Even if I'm a bit late for my performance, I don't really care. I do those all the time, but it isn't every day that I get invited to a dinner by someone else, so I'll gladly accept your offer! I'm generally too, well, shy or awkward for most people to bother, I think."
Hm.. it's hard to say whether he's being genuinely friendly or not.. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but nobody I've ever met has been quite this friendly. Well, maybe the people back in the village... Either way, I'm keeping an eye on him, just to be safe. Still, he's offering me food, and that's something I won't ever turn down. Geez, I feel like I could eat a horse! Hmm.. maybe two.. Aea became lost in her own thoughts now, mostly oblivious to anything Tadhg might be saying after her acceptance of sharing dinner with him. I wonder if he plans on travelling with me more? He has taken a good bit of interest, at least more than most people I see. Ugh.. it's gonna suck later when I have time compare his niceness with all the people in the taverns who'll likely hate my performance, whether justified or not, or the ones who'll try and get me in bed with them, as if I'd even reciprocate such a thing! Hmm..
"W-well, I guess since you've invited me somewhere, I-I could invite you to the performance as well, i-if you're able to come, that is. You could just come with me once I finish eating later, I guess." Aea seemed a bit shaky, if only because she didn't normally take charge and ask other people whether they wanted to do something with her. It was usually the other way around, or not at all. Aea was definitely surprised in herself with how quickly she was opening up to Tadhg, at least, compared to most people she'd met before.
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Tadhg
Nomad
Posts: 14
Profession: Hunter/Butcher
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Tadhg
OoC Alias: Moogle
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Post by Tadhg on Jun 20, 2017 15:47:14 GMT -6
Tadhg rounded the balustrade mounted atop Namaste with Aea in tow. As the duo settled themselves on one of the stone half-circle benches in the sloping amphitheater barely within the confines of Bulgar's walls, Tadhg spent the next several moments gathering additional kindling for a cooking fire. The fire pit's previous occupants, as per protocol, had cleaned the iron grate that covered the ever-present pot within. It was customary; though by and large cosmopolitan these days, Bulgar still operated under Sacaean principles of collectivism and communal living. It was a service like anything else, whether it be cooking, performing, or smithing.
The same principles applied to those who left their raw meat out to dry in the sweltering early summer sun. A pinch of salt aided its preservation. Everyone was entitled to their own cut, and it was strongly frowned upon to even consider swiping what you didn't rightfully kill. Tadhg spied his savory cut on the far left side of the shared rack nearby and proceeded to unhook it as the coals within the fire pit mingled with the aforementioned fresh veneered kindling.
He turned over Aea's invitation in his mind and shuffled uncomfortably, though his head managed to spasm into something resembling a nod. He had intended to do some night tracking after he had ensured that Aea would have a safe place to sleep overnight, but perhaps that could wait. The duo would be well-fed, and although Tadhg wasn't a drinker, he could take solace in the fact that music would liven him up.
"Smells delicious," Tadhg began as he turned the meat over a few times over the fire-grate. "And sure, I'd be willing to accompany you to this performance. Just don't keep your theater audience waiting," he added with a ghost of a smile. That was the first time he had done that today.
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Aea
Manakete
"Music can heal even the most broken soul."
Posts: 54
Profession: Wanderer/Entertainer
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
Dragon Element: Air
Profile: ~Aea~
OoC Alias: Kyra
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Post by Aea on Jun 20, 2017 20:25:03 GMT -6
Aea responded to Tadhg, "Oh, don't worry, I won't be late. It isn't even quite dark yet!" Once the meat was done being prepared, Aea gladly accepted some, biting into it hungrily. Swallowing first, she spoke up, "Wow Tadhg, this is really good! I'm glad I decided to stop here first instead of going straight to the tavern on an empty stomach. I guess I'm a lot hungrier than I thought I was, heheh.." Smiling now, she took a bit more meat, devouring it with an appetite that didn't seem fitting for her petite form, and yet she did so anyway.
As time rolled on, the sun fully disappeared beneath the horizon, giving way to the moon, shining down from the starlit sky, and onto Bulgar and the rest of the plains of Sacae. As the embers of the fire pit began to die out, Aea finally spoke, mainly to herself but still audibly, while watching the sky. "It's so beautiful. The night sky reminds me of my childhood, when I would go just outside my home while my parents slept, and lie down on a rocky outcropping that overlooked the plains. I would just stare up at the sky, wondering how each of those stars got to be there, what their story is, if fhey have specific names... So many questions, and ones I'll likely never have answered." Smiling intensely now, Aea turned to Tadhg. "Well, I suppose I should be heading to the Drunken Swordsman now."
Leading the way, more so because she didn't want to be late rather than an actual sense of guiding Tadhg, the two eventually reached the tavern known as the Drunken Swordsman, a homely little building with a mostly friendly atmosphere. Taking her flute from her bag, Aea made her way to the small stage that sat on the far end of the room, doing her best not to make eye contact with anyone on the way. Once she sat down, she simply started playing a few warm up notes as the crowd began to quiet down. Speaking softly, Aea briefly said, "H-hello everyone. Tonight, I'll be playing a song of m-my own design, titled 'Casualties of the Scouring'. I-It's a sort of musical telling of Elibe d-during that time period. I-I hope you enjoy!" Aea let out a quick sigh. They likely won't interpret it as I would like it to be, but oh well.. Music holds different meaning to all who hear it, I suppose...
With that, Aea began with a few soft notes, and led into a peaceful melody, sticking with that theme for a minute or so. However, she quickly switched to more staccato, hollow sounding notes that gave off an eerie air, as if something imposing were approaching from far away, culminating in a clash of fast and varying melodies, so as to imply a struggle of sorts. Going on for minutes, the battle seemed unending, until Aea stopped, leaving nothing around her but utter silence. Just when everyone began thinking the song was over, she brought a few more notes in. They were weak and barely audible, and some people weren't even able to hear them, but the last dying notes of the melody were definitely there. Once finished, Aea simply stood up, quickly leaving amongst the applause before anyone could approach her or give her praise.
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