Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Jul 21, 2019 20:52:59 GMT -6
Eqwin walked alongside his horse, with the group of "traveling clerics". He thought a bit about how he had fought a monster, but that all turned out well in the end, so he dropped it and his mind came back to the present. He was traveling with Lady Lucy and Lady "Doreen" to a village that nobody in their group was sure still existed. He had to continue patrolling the Etrurian and Sacaen border after this, but that wasn't important. He had finally had some people he could call his friends. He somehow hadn't made any prior to now, since anybody he got along with had some other title he had to address them by, like "cousin". He had a decent amount of acquaintances, but none he felt that close to. He felt pretty happy about this. He quietly walked along with them a bit before realizing something, before they had set off Doreen had offered to talk about horses and he had just said something to her like "OK" or "Alright". He felt a bit rude for not starting the conversation with her. He turned his head to her and wondered if she still wanted to talk. If she did, she'd initiate the conversation, right? No harm in trying. He thought of something and found a question he could ask.
"Do you think there's any sort of.. material, that horses would rather as bedding other than straw?" He asked her. "I know straw is a great material for the job, but do you think it'd be a waste to mix some cotton with straw once in a while for her bedding?" He was referring to Thoron. "Since cotton is used for human pillows, I thought that horses would like it too." He said, trying to explain his thought process.
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Post by Midori on Jul 23, 2019 18:49:31 GMT -6
"Proper bedding should provide a comfortable mat barrier between manure and urine. Straw is fine for them. Cotton.. not so much. Cotton if ingested, makes a real mess of their digestive tract if they eat enough of it. Things end up getting blocked.. and the poor horse dies because of it." Midori explained. She turned to look at Eqwin and was genuinely interested in the conversation.
"Back home we use a combination of straw and wood shavings. Though, it all depends, each horse is different. Some horses might just eat the bedding rather then lie in it." She leaned down and gave Ashes a pat on the side of her head.
"Have you not had ..." Midori paused for a moment. Did she ever learn Eqwin's horse's name? She tried to think back on their prior conversations, although now that she thought on it, it was mostly Lucy who did the talking for both of them. This wouldn't do! She needed to rectify this gross injustice of politeness.
"I.. just realized.. I never got your horses name... If you have mentioned it before.. I'm sorry to have forgotten." She looked at Eqwin's white mare for a while.
"Have you not had her long? She looks to be fully grown. And she's such a lovely combination of colors!"
It was at this point Midori realized how much she had been talking. Lucy was not kidding when she mentioned Midori could talk about horses for an eternity. Horses were one of the few things she could talk to people about and talk to them as equals. There was no need for any real formality when she talked about horses, unless she was talking to a man who was above her station. But, Eqwin wasn't a man, yet. He was teenager, a squire, she didn't feel threatened by his presence, despite she was a Sacean in Eturian Lands.
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Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Jul 24, 2019 18:47:13 GMT -6
Eqwin paused for a moment. He hadn't even thought of the fact Thoron could be eating her bedding. That seemed a little bad for her, but he had yet to see any problems that could be related to it. "I don't think she does that." Eqwin said, although he got a bit worried. Could she be doing it when he doesn't look? She was very surprisingly smart when it came to what she should and shouldn't do.
"Wouldn't wood shavings be even worse for your horse to accidentally eat?" He asked her when she mentioned her own horse's bedding. He could see how cotton would be bad, since it'd get heavy and clumped in a horse's stomach but at least they were plants. He put his hand on his chin and thought hard for a second, then realized something he felt should've been obvious for him. "Oh yeah.. they won't try to eat the wood shavings." He said, letting "Doreen" know he had gotten to the answer on his own. He felt a little bit stupid.
"Oh, her name is Thoron, she was named after the spell!" He said. "From what I heard, it's a super-fast lightning spell, so she was named after that with the hope she'd be fast." He said. "I don't know how fast she is compared to other horses, but she's definitely fast enough for me." He thought for a little bit. What was Doreen's horse's name? She hadn't told him that either if his memory was correct. "What about your horse?"
"I've 'had' her for about a year, if I remember correctly." He said. "I've always really liked animals and spent a bit of my free-time running errands for my family, so I thought about combining the two and getting a steed of some kind. Of course, a wyvern or something with wings is.. restricted to other countries' armies, right? Since I have no realistic way to join Ilia's Pegasus knights since I'm not Ilian and also a boy, and I definitely can't join Bern since they're a nation we're at war with, I can't become a wyvern rider. So I set my eyes on getting a horse. The rancher who sold me Thoron didn't want her for some reason.. He never told me why, but it doesn't matter." He shrugged, and then put his hand on Thoron's head. "If she didn't have whatever problem she had, I wouldn't be on my way to becoming a knight, and I'd be minus a family member." He smiled to Thoron, who looked back at him. He then remembered where he was. "Oh, yeah, I wouldn't have met you or Lady Lucy either." He said, turning his head to "Doreen" and smiling at her too. He was comfortable enough around "Doreen" not to fumble words like he had before, and the horse talk was definitely helping. "What about her?" He said, pointing to Doreen's horse. "How'd you meet her?" He asked.
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Post by Midori on Jul 31, 2019 17:52:35 GMT -6
"Ashes.. is Ashes." Midori was certain she introduced Ashes earlier. He must have forgotten like I have.
"And Thoron is a lovely name! We have a man in our village who can use lightning spells.. and yes.. they are fast." She smiled softly. She recalled a demonstration of the man's magical prowess upon an unsuspecting log. Shame that the log caught fire and suddenly everyone was scrambling to put the fire out by tossing dirt upon the log. It was a funny moment now, but during the actual event, it was kinda scary.
"I've had Ashes for a few years now. Maybe about six or seven years? She was probably about 4 when she came to me." She paused to think for a moment. Perhaps.. I should look into that.
"How we met? I was a teenager when it happened. There was a bandit attack on my village. And while our mercenaries fended them off, I was sent to tend to the wounded. Managed to save the life of a man who bred horses. And he gifted me Ashes a few days later as thanks." She gave Ashes scratch behind the ear.
"Back then.. I knew very little about horses. I didn't know how to ride them or how to care for them. I knew our riders used them. I knew they were an animal meant for labor. I knew they were important to our village. My superiors knew that knew nothing. So they arranged for Lady Lucy to teach me. And both of them have been with me ever since." She smiled softly at the thought.
"If it wasn't for Ashes, I'd probably be stuck in my home village. It is difficult for the women of my village.. to leave the village." She said that kinda somberly.
"Women who can either heal or fight.. are exceptions." An idea popped in her head.
"Would you.. tell me a bit about your hometown?"
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Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Aug 2, 2019 1:16:22 GMT -6
Eqwin thought about what her story. He didn't know of any place in Etruria where women were restricted like she said. His sister and mother could easily go to town whenever they wanted. That and mercenaries fighting bandits? Maybe if they were close and knights were elsewhere, but.. Before he could think any harder about that, she asked him a question. His hometown? he hadn't thought about his hometown hard enough to describe it to someone. He put his hand on his chin and looked upward to get his mind off of anything else. He really needed to focus on this one.
"Well... Let's see.. Huh. I may as well start with the village my family lives in. It's rather small, and it's near the town baron's house. I think everyone knows each other on a name basis, at the very least. My parents know most people there too, so a lot of the people know me. They also know me since I'm the first person in a while to be training for knighthood in the village. I don't spend much time conversing with the people there so I don't know some of them.. It's pretty weird to have people you don't know that well call out your name on a regular basis, but I think I'm getting used to it." Eqwin said. "I do a lot of stuff every day for my parents, so I guess it'd be hard for them not to see me at least once. Some knights sometimes pass through on the way to the baron's house. That's actually how I got recruited! Sir Argol was passing by and saw my riding form and asked if I've ever used a lance. Then after some talking he got me to look into joining."
"The main town I live next too is pretty cool. They have a lot of nice things, some shops, and I remember.." He was gonna mention that most of the girls he's seen are cute, but he got a bit flustered and decided to omit that part. "..That there's this area with a few seafood treats. Of course, they're pretty expensive due to their distance from the sea, but they're really good! Maybe it's just that I don't eat it often, but I still like it. They also have a space of merchant stalls that isn't that populated, but there's usually at least one merchant selling something foreign. I've made it a small goal of mine once to always have enough money to go look at their wares with at least one thought of being able to buy the stuff. Somehow, the merchant I visit regularly has magically stopped selling things I'm interested in after I started sticking to that goal.. Now because of that, I've gotten into the habit of saving money. I wonder if she'll have something cool next time I see her." He just realized his train of thought had gotten off of track.
"Oh, sorry. About the town again.. Hmm.. Oh yeah, there's a few restaurants around the west side of town. My parents sometimes bring me and my sister to them on special occasions, like when I first became a squire. Sir Argol also sometimes brings me 'after' training. I think he just includes it as part of the training. After the training I get really tired, and then we have to walk to the restaurants. I sometimes feel like my legs are going to give out, but with all the reasons that the situation presents not to fall over, I keep pushing myself. I guess it's just training to get me somewhat accustomed to pushing myself past my limits." He said. It was as if he were using Doreen as sort of an audio diary. He happened to realize this. "Ah.. I'm sorry. You're more interested in the town, huh?" He racked his brain for more info. "Oh yeah, there's a church of St. Elimine at the middle of it. My family-" He cut himself off mid sentence when he realized he was doing it again. "I remember there were a few smith shops around the church. I should-" He was doing it again. He sighed, and shook his head vigorously enough to give himself a headache. After that, he leaned on Thoron a bit. "Gimme a bit while I collect my thoughts.. How do you, no.. What do you think about the other countries? Y'know.. Sacae, and Bern, and all that?" He asked.
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Post by Midori on Aug 4, 2019 8:40:14 GMT -6
Midori smiled and listened to all that Eqwin had to say. She liked to hear him talk about home. He was like an excited child telling a parent all of the things that they did at the end of the day. She had to remember that Eqwin was still young. Not yet battered by the hard realities of war or life. It was nice to hear that his parents were still alive. She never got a chance to meet her parents. Her mother died due to complications after child birth. And her father died before she could truly make memories of him.
"Your home village sounds like a lot of fun." She took a deep breath for a moment. She shook her head lightly.
"I shall tell you about my home village." She closed her eyes and tried to visualize her home town. She couldn't reveal it's name. But, she could describe it very well. She could see the village in her head.
"My home town is located within the valley towards the far south. At the base of the mountains. We have a river that cuts through the western half of the village. My village experiences all four seasons. It's surrounded by an ancient wall made of cobble stone. It is very hilly. Once you reach the village proper, there is a large road in the middle of the town. It's our main road and it is adorned with various shops on both sides. It's always full of people, even in the winter. The artisans there specialized mostly in wood craft and pottery. The village is full of trees. It seems like there's a tree in every yard. During the spring each tree blooms with flowers and it's quite the sight. If you manage to make the journey upwards, you will find our orchids. The village is fond of cultivating plums. We use the fruit in everything from salve, soap, preserves, it even flavors some of our wine." She thought back on the wine. They always stored it in large barrels.
"The mountains are covered in thick trees. Mist is really common when you are that high up. You see it when you wake up in the morning and it has such a unique scent to it. The village is divided out into several sections. Though we do try our best to make things equal for the people. But, wealth tends to accumulate in certain families, unfortunately." She stopped there for a moment.
"There.. is something I must clear up. I'm sorry to say, the caravan and I.. we've been lying to you this whole time. Sir Argol found us out almost immediately. Neither Lady Lucy or I are Eturian. We are Sacaean."
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Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Aug 5, 2019 2:31:53 GMT -6
"It is!" Eqwin said proudly in response to Doreen's first comment. He never had many boring days, except maybe the ones where his parents and sister weren't home. Even then, he'd just spend the day with Thoron, or Sir Argol. He thought for a bit. Had there ever been a day this year where he had absolutely nothing to do? Logic dictated yes, since such a general question would likely be right, but memory stated no. He couldn't remember being bored after his parents let him go where he wanted. Had he gotten sick either? He stopped thinking about that when Doreen told him she'd talk about her village.
A... Valley? He knew what they were, but he'd never seen one. He tried to imagine what one looked like. A really large incline in the ground, like an upside down mountain. It has a river, which was somewhat easy to imagine. A wall too, but her description threw him off a bit. He imagined some moss on it, but then dismissed that thought since it'd probably be cleaned off. Wait, hills? How? It was in a valley, right? They must be some really small hills. Once she started talking about the village itself and and not the outside of it, it got easier. In the end, he just began picturing the town near his village with more greenery. He had heard of orchids, so he could at least decently imagine what it looked like, but what's a plum? He hadn't heard of plums before, surprisingly. Wait, mountains? Etruria has mountains?
Doreen's reveal about her being Sacaen caused a ton of thoughts to race through Eqwin's head. Most of them were just to distract him from the big one. He realized that the village she was describing wasn't Etrurian, which helped him make more sense out of everything. He was physically stunned, and mentally jolted. He was, at the moment, surrounded by enemies. If the weren't as incredibly kind, or if their meeting had happened differently, he could be riding back to the fort he started his patrol from with a death grip on Thoron's reins. He tried dismissing that thought from his head and another one charged into his mind. He was training to fight people like Doreen. It was inevitable that, if he became a knight, he'd eventually have to square off against good people. He... wasn't ready to think about that. He liked thinking that the group he was with was a very rare outlier. The group.. If he ever met these people again after becoming a fully fledged knight... That was enough of that. He needed a distraction for himself, and fast.
"What's a plum?" He quickly asked, as soon as it came to mind. He was genuinely pretty curious, and talking about it could carry a conversation. "Why are you Sacaen?" He blurted out, only for his expression to switch to shock right after. "Wait uh... no... I uh... I was.. I was thinking something like 'Why do they have to be Sacaen'... I... I'm sorry.." He looked down at the ground and slowed down a bit. After a bit of silence, he started talking again. "What do you.. uh... do for fun in Sa- I mean... In your village?"
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Post by Midori on Aug 7, 2019 18:12:40 GMT -6
"A plum is a type of fruit. Sort of like a peach but with out it's fuzz. They can be either sweet or sour depending on the type." Midori answered Eqwin's question about plums. She looked at the lad and noticed he appeared to be slightly shocked. Well, the sudden revelation that the group he had been indeed helping all this time was Sacean. Not Eturian. They were the enemy in this war. She understood his confusion, especially when he asked why she was Sacean. She decided to give him a simple answer.
"I am Sacean because I was born in Sacae." She gave him a moment to breathe.
"Please. We mean you or your country no harm." Well the caravan specifically didn't mean him or the country any harm. The Eturians were roaming through the plains killing all of the Saceans they can see. And the Saceans were right to fight back to avoid being killed by invaders.
"I cannot say the same for others of my kin... out there.." She made a motion with her arms.
"But, know this Eqwin. My caravan and her people will not harm you." She reassured him. Perhaps now was not the best time to reveal her real name. She would continue to play the role as Doreen. Eqwin did not need any more shocks for the day.
"Oh our village has plenty in the ways of fun. Horse races and archery contests tend to entertain the masses. I never learned how to wield a bow so naturally i'm awful at it. Ashes here wasn't bred to be a race horse. But, she can hold her own against them. We've got a whole section in the village dedicated towards.. fun. You.. might be a bit to young to engage in that sort of fun." Ah yes. As much as they tried, they couldn't stop the slow uprising of the village's red light district. Though the laws that governed the land forbade such acts of debauchery, they would turn a blind eye with the right donations. And the village could not ignore how prosperous the district was. Despite, it being in the edge of the village. So rather then fight the raunchy district the law decided to place certain sanctions and rules. A tax was placed on both the property and owners. The red light district was active at night. Behind closed doors. And there were laws governing the safety of those who worked in the industry. A clinic was set up to ensure the health and safety of all those involved with that line of work. Midori and a few other priests, under strict guardianship, would work in the clinic providing care to the workers.
"Let's see. Since, we have the stream that runs towards the western half. Kids like to jump over the rocks. And splash in the mud. We also have several ancient sites.. that the kids like to climb up on and make a mess of things. Festivals are fun. But, they are only a few times a year. But, they are nice. The whole village feels like it has a party. The poor, middle, and high class seem to throw away titles for a day and just enjoy themselves." She turned to look at Eqwin.
"Are you alright?"
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Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Aug 8, 2019 21:18:12 GMT -6
For most of what Doreen was saying, Eqwin was completely silent. While most of his thoughts were about the horrible situation, he did think about what she said as well. Obviously, they weren't dangerous. This wouldn't be happening if they were. If anybody were dangerous here, it was him. The second he became a fully-fledged knight of Etruria, he wouldn't be able to talk to these people anymore. As a squire, he's under no oaths. As a knight, he wouldn't have this liberty, and this scared him. Was... was fighting people like this really a knight's duty? Had Sir Argol done something similar to this before? Why? The horse races Doreen talked about from her village sounded fun, but Thoron was a bit tired, and he'd still have to get back to border patrol. Thank the gods, he stopped thinking about.. nevermind. Has every knight had to do something like that? No, he doubted that. There wouldn't be so many Etrurian knights if that were indeed the case. Fun that he couldn't participate in due to age? He couldn't drink, so he thought he understood.
"I think.. I'm OK." He said. "Your village sounds fun." He said. "I..." No, he shouldn't say it. "Why does your village have have an entire section for... drinking?" He asked. "I've never drank something.. uh... alcoholic? Yeah, alcoholic. Is it really that good?" He thought of something to say. No, not that. "Uh... Does your village.. um.. have performances and stuff like that? I remember seeing street performers in Etru- my village." He tried to think of something to talk about, but the same thing came up again and again. He felt bad. On one hand, it was a hard to think about but he didn't want to worry Miss Doreen if he talked about it. Then again, she was honest with him so he may as well be honest with her too. Not saying something was sometimes on par with lying. He steeled himself, balled his right hand into a fist, and held it to his chest as if he was making a vow. He did practice some more formal "knightly" actions, so doing this helped him calm down a bit. "I-I was uh... lying, somewhat, when I said I'm OK. I can't get the.. the thought of what being a knight of Etruria really means.. out of my head. I didn't think that.. my 'enemies' would be.. j-just like anyone I know. I.. I don't think I can ever consider someone like you an enemy... I guess.. I've just been thinking that I'd.. that I'd only be fighting people who were no better than monsters... Like bandits and stuff.. y'know?" He made air quotes with his left hand when he said "enemies". It felt like he had a huge weight lifted from his shoulders, and he felt relaxed for the first time since he learned he was traveling with Sacaens.
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Post by Midori on Aug 11, 2019 14:42:06 GMT -6
"It just does. To be fair, it isn't too large. That specific area. As a holy woman.. I am not allowed to drink alcohol leisurely. I am only allowed to have a sip of ceremonial wine during festival or holy rituals. To me it does not taste pleasant." Midori explained her tolerance on alcohol. She took a moment to look ahead of her and adjust Ashes's speed slightly. She wanted the horse to walk in pace with Thoron.
"We do have some families who specialize in street performances. But, if you want a better example you should come during the May month. That is when the circus troupe comes to town." She explained. She glanced back at Eqwin who appeared to be in minor distress. She knew he wasn't ok. But, he managed to explain his emotions and Midori was quiet for a moment. She was thinking on what to say.
"You are still young Eqwin.. In war you.. are trained to look at your enemy as your enemy. It is you or them. If you want to survive in war unfortunately you have to put aside your humanity.. for the glory of your country. Your country will tell you what you do in their service is the work and will of the heavens." She shook her head.
"My tribe's.. religion. Emphasizes showing mercy and kindness. It is a reflection of our tribe's history. And while that.. experience isn't quite the same.. it is difficult." She looked down.
"It.. is not easy. To be merciful and kind all the time. We are out here hoping to help out those who have been ravaged by war.. our tribesmen.. our enemies... Etruians.. That.. is not an easy thing to do. Most people.. reject our help... even other Saceans. It is not the same.. as killing another man. But, to see someone who could be saved with our help.. reject it all together for pride.. it.. stings. I have been taught.. to look inwards in moments like that. To reflect upon the ancient wisdom.. upon scripture.. in order to put that experience behind me." She thought a bit more.
"Those thoughts.. those regrets about having to kill.. If you cannot stop thinking about those thoughts.. then you will not make it to knighthood. My experience was different. I was orphaned. Left at the temple as a toddler.. I was trained since childhood to follow in the footsteps of my fellow monks and nuns. I had.. no room for those doubts." Another pause.
"You.. however.. you are very fortunate. To still have a family to return to should you choose not to become a knight. Is being a knight worth it? I don't know.. much about the whole practice to be honest. I know you are in service to the country.. but.. what is the reward at the end?"
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Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Aug 13, 2019 15:42:53 GMT -6
He was told by his parents that war and almost everything tied to being a knight sucked, but what Lady Doreen had told him really put things in perspective. Did Sir Argol abandon his humanity? No, he was still here, and all of the Sacaens around him were alive. Did she mean temporarily? But... How could one regain their humanity? He could understand how someone could view people as enemies without meeting any of them, since he was doing just that earlier today.. but... he pondered on everything he had just been told, cutting thoughts short for each other, and jumbling words. It was a really inefficient way to think, but it was the best he could manage. He had almost gotten overloaded when Lady Doreen asked him about what being a knight had to offer him.
He looked at her with wide eyes. It was pretty clear that he never thought too much about it. "I.. uh... I..." He stammered, trying to think. Why did he want to become a knight? He thought back to when he was recruited. Before then, he was just a simple boy who just so happened to have a horse he rode around on a lot. One day, he just so happened to have a fateful encounter with Sir Argol. He was riding past Argol when he saw a kid playing soccer with his friends accidentally kick a ball straight at him. Eqwin didn't know he was a knight, since he wasn't in armor, and his first thought was to protect who he saw at the moment as a somewhat elderly man. He made Thoron lunge forward quickly, which startled Sir Argol, but got Eqwin in range to deflect the ball. He successfully did so, fussed the children, and checked to see if Argol was OK. Apparently, this display was impressive enough for the old knight to ask Eqwin to become a knight, and train under him as his squire. He... Why did he accept the invitation? What was the reason..? His mind went silent for a moment, and one thought came to him as if it was a ballerina on a dimly lit stage.
"I.. I remember now." He said. "I-I wanted to become a knight.. to help people in need. I thought that if I was a knight, I'd be able to do more good than I ever could as anything else. I.. I realize now that.. that may have been wishful thinking... But.. it's my only real goal. I don't want to become some fancy general.. I don't want a bunch of land... actually, maybe I do. I can't imagine how happy my parents-" He was going to talk about making his parents proud of him, but then remembered that Doreen didn't get to experience having parents. "Oh.. I'm sorry if that's a touchy subject for you.. anyways.. I remember now that I just want to help people as a knight.. The amount of people that live in just one village is around... Let's say at least forty. Bandits and monsters.. When they ravage villages, they're going to kill most of the people.." He shivered a bit. Sure, he thought about how villages are razed, but he never thought that much about it. "That's... that's.. that's a whole village of people that aren't alive anymore. They can't talk to their friends, they can't go home, they can't ever do anything fun ever again, and they can never do the things they never got to do.." He accidentally made himself sad by saying that. He looked down at the ground and thought for a moment. "I.. I've decided on my goal as a knight.. Instead of just training because I lack anything better to do... I'll do my best to protect people." He decided. "That way.. The only thing I will have to abandon is the horrible thoughts of war.." He was getting a bit depressed from all of the heavy topics and philosophical thinking. He also just realized he failed to answer her question.
"I-I'm sorry for ignoring your question. It really helped me think... I uh... I think.. I think the end goal is usually glory and recognition? I don't know... I just decided what my end goal is... and I don't talk to any knights other than Sir Argol that often, but that's what I think the goal usually is." He thought for a bit about a more lighthearted topic. "A circus troupe? Do they have a clown?" He asked. "It sounds.. exciting. If the stars align and I somehow meet you again in May.. Could you bring me to see it? If they're in a village that doesn't give arrows as welcoming gifts to Etrurians, of course." He joked. "Also.. Sorry for repeating myself a bit.. I was thinking as I spoke."
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Post by Midori on Aug 14, 2019 18:38:43 GMT -6
Midori listened to Eqwin speak. The young lad had a dream and determination to see that dream come true. He wanted to be a knight to protect others. To protect others that live in villages that could be wiped out in an instant. That was a noble goal. A worthy goal. Such a shame that the state of the world may bring them on opposite sides in the battlefield.
"It seems I this conversation has helped to find your determination. Never lose sight of it. And if you do, remember our talk. And I am sure you will grow up to be a fine knight." She reassured Eqwin.
"And of course you can visit my village. Thought you will probably need to wear plain clothes when you come. I'd be more then happy to guide you around. Especially, if you come during spring. Maybe have Thoron participate in some races. Perhaps by then the war will be over and both sides can move on." She gazed out towards Lady Lucy and the others. Her tribe was a hodgepodge of different races. While most are predominately Sacean, the tribe routinely adopts outsiders, provided they renounce their previous citizenry, and swear absolute loyalty to the tribe. So with this influence of new people, bloodlines tend to mix. Their people look different than other Saceans. And that causes conflicts.
"Oh, I don't mind hearing about your parents and family. It's actually kind of nice. Did you and your sister get in trouble often? Would you like me to tell you about my upbringing in the temple?" She looked at Eqwin. She was always happy to talk about the bits and pieces of her life. It gave her a moment to reflect on young her's stupidity and reckless courage.
"I missed the circus last year. So I cannot be accurate in the number of clowns. But, from what I can remember from two years back.. there was a clown. As well as several performers who could jump and twist their bodies in strange positions. As a medic, i remember flinching at the sight. For I know that when bones and bodies move that way.. it usually means great harm. But, they simply moved back in place as if nothing had happened."
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Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Aug 15, 2019 16:43:25 GMT -6
"If the opportunity to visit your village comes up, I'm sure I'll accept it. The races sound nice, but.. I don't think Thoron is much of a race horse." He said. "I.. hope it will be." Getting back on the topic of the war and similar things wasn't something he wanted to do at the moment, so he was glad when Doreen immediately followed up with a different topic and that she clarified she was OK with talk about his family. "Yes, actually, but never at the same time. She'd often stay out late despite our parents'.. really strict curfew. When she got home, she'd be grounded for a while and stuck at home. She really didn't like being stuck in her room all day, so she'd ask me to get her things. They'd usually be toys, books, or things to help her sneak out. Of course, I usually didn't know she was using some items to sneak out, so I just happily brought them to her. When she used them to sneak out but got caught, I'd also get in trouble for giving her things. Fortunately for me, I was way less of a.. uh.. active person!" He snapped his fingers when he remembered the term. "Back then I could just take a nap, or read, or something like that. Nowadays, I'd probably actually die of boredom. I've gotten so used to doing things frequently that I think I'd contract some sort of disease if I stopped doing stuff for too long.. with the sun out, of course. My dad says it's as if I've never been awake once I fall asleep." He said, cheering up very quickly.
"That uh.. doesn't sound too fun, actually." He said in response to Doreen's comment about the contortionists. "I've never broken.. well, anything of mine, but my sister has. I remember once when her arm was broken, I accidentally bumped into it, and she starting screaming in pain. Of course, she's forgiven me for it, but I couldn't imagine something hurting that badly..." He paused for a couple of seconds. "Well, I guess I'll learn soon enough. I'll probably break something on my way to becoming a knight.." He felt like he had spoken enough, so he thought about how to give the conversation over to Doreen when he remembered he ignored her question. "Yes, I would like to hear about how life was at the temple. I remember reading some stories as a child that had kids running from those types of situations for one reason or another.. It's not that bad, right? Also, have you ever broken any bones?"
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Post by Midori on Aug 26, 2019 14:39:10 GMT -6
"I understand what you mean. Having nothing to do.. feels strange. It's one of the things I have learned to cope with while being on the road." Midori chimed in.
"In the village.. in the temple.. there was always something to do. Something to clean. Something to fetch. People to see. Pantries that need restocking.. some days we would be so busy that during the hour of prayer.. we would fall asleep mid way." Midori blushed slightly.
"It's hard to fall asleep on the back of a horse. I try to keep my mind busy during these travels. I think of home. I think of stories. I remember the misadventures of my friends and companions. Sometimes I imagine the stories differently... and that keeps things interesting." She glossed over at the road ahead. The group passed a small signpost that signaled civilization was nearby.
"A broken bone is an odd experience. Whenever one of the children would break or sprang their limbs a priest or priestess was nearby. Staff magic has the ability to mend breaks and stitch flesh back together as if nothing had happened. I've broken my arm once." The priestess raised her arm up.
"Ashes was responsible for that break. She reared up in a fit and I fell off. Landed on my arm funny. Fortunately Lady Lucy was nearby and she helped to mend it. Though I had to keep a cast on for a few days." She smiled softly. She thought for a moment. Eqwin was interested in hearing about her life in the temple. And she wondered exactly how much she should reveal. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine the main temple. Home.
"Temple life.. is.. monotonous. I suppose that is the best way I can put it. We wake before sunrise. Prepare ourselves for the day. Dress. Pray. Each priest and priestess has a specific job to do. These jobs rotate every month. And those jobs range from cooking, cleaning, temple rituals, tending the animals, maintaining our fields, so on and so fourth." She thought some more.
"My favorite job is the one that has me go out and interact with the people. Like tending to the medical clinics or house calls. I am not sure what it is.. but there is something nice about being needed. Although, if my superiors heard me talk about it, they might see it as a form of vanity.. or pride. In the clergy.. you have to keep your emotions quiet... calm. But, when you are out and about with the people. You can show your emotions a little bit... be more natural." She wasn't sure if she was making a lick of sense. But, she hoped Eqwin would understand how she felt.
"Anyway, the monthly cycles repeat until we hit a month with a festival. Then things get crazy."
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Eqwin
Squire
Posts: 33
Profession: Squire/Errand Boy
Affinity: Ice
Profile: http://fewotw.proboards.com/thread/7093/eqwin
OoC Alias: zacharychi
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Post by Eqwin on Aug 26, 2019 18:10:02 GMT -6
Eqwin chuckled a little bit at Doreen's mention of falling asleep halfway through whatever the "hour of prayer" is. It sounded important and really tiring, of course. Maybe relying on his imagination would be a good way to pass time like she said. He thought for a moment, but his imagination wasn't that good. Wait, what? He'd never really thought about his own imagination. How was he 14 years old with a dry imagination? What was imagination based off of? He knew that imagination was.. important, to say the least, but how was it fueled? Again, he never really thought about it. He'd have to ask Doreen about that. He listened to her talk about broken bones and realized how useful staves were. They could do all that? He knew they were good and their wielders are revered back in Etruria, but they can.. Wait.. Why didn't his parents ask someone with a staff to heal his sister's arm back then? Did they keep her arm broken to teach her a lesson, or do clerics charge a lot for their services? He didn't see the problem with Doreen's description of temple life. It was routine, seemed easy, and seemed both safe and rewarding. He related the emotion suppression with what he'd heard from some knights. When being selected for guard duty, one was supposed to be still, silent, and attentive. He probably couldn't do much as a guard. He had stayed silent for a while, so he figured it was time start talking again.
"Now that I think about it, Thoron has weirdly always been calm with me. I don't think she's ever tried to like.. get me off of her. She was probably trained well by the rancher I got her from. I doubt I'll ever break something due to her, but I really hope the opposite won't ever happen either." He said. One of the biggest fears he had was accidentally pushing Thoron too hard and breaking one of her bones. Horse's bones didn't heal back, right? He remembered hearing that once, but he never really checked the legitimacy of it. "Temple life sounds.. great? I haven't.. well.. lived it, but it sounds really comfortable." He thought a bit. She talked about it negatively, so maybe he should backtrack in the conversation so he doesn't make Doreen upset. He didn't like doing something... He didn't want to use the word "manipulative", but he couldn't think of another word. At least he wouldn't have to lie. "Well, I find my mundane life of running errands, training, and caring for Thoron every day entertaining, so I don't think my opinion carries much weight." He thought a bit about what Doreen had said. "Huh.. I never thought much about the feeling of being needed... I think that may be why I do at least half of what I do." He said, brushing a revelation about his lifestyle off as a simple side thought.
"What happens during festival months?" He asked. He remembered a festival he attended in Etruria with his parents when he was a kid. It had a lot of people from all over the country, coming together for the activities. He remember getting a wooden duck toy with wheels that he walked around a lot... until it broke, of course. He remembered seeing his sister sneak off for something and heard his parents yell at her for doing "romantic things" with a boy. He hadn't been to a festival in a while, now that he thought about it. Oh yeah, he had something else he wanted to ask. "I thought about how dry my imagination is, and I'm uh.. pretty sure that's a bad thing. How is it... uh.. fueled?" He asked.
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