PM to join [Flashback]Syliras, The short route (Edelweiss, Jervis)

[Edelweiss]

He watched the man laugh, at least he was not angry and being fooled. Then again Edelweiss had done fairly little to harm him but you never knew about a person’s temper till you trotted all over it. He watched him stand and extend a hand, looking at it he hesitated a moment before taking it and giving it a shake. Such a strange custom; he would never understand it. “I do not think there are many elk here to see.” But he peered closely a Jervis.

“Then again, you’re not from here. Not with that pony anyway.” He looked at the man’s clothes and hair. No he had never seen one like this. “What would you have done if I were a giant cat pulling the wagon?” He gave Jervis a toothy grin before glancing toward his own wagon and sighing. Maybe he should stay longer, help the fellow get some food. He had never tried fishing before but how hard could it really be? “Was I really so tangled in the harness? I tried really hard to get into it then shift it straight.” He moved toward said harness and lifted it up.

It was brand new, the leather flexible and soft. It was not dyed, not so fancy as to be the gleaming black but instead it was an honest brown. Letting it fall and sending the bells ringing, he hoped up to the driver seat then ducked into the wagon itself and his chest. “What do you say to me helping you catch your meal since you were so kind to offer me one?” He pulled his key from a small fold in the wagons cloth cover then opened the chest to dig around.

Everything he owned was in here safely packed and tucked away. Finally he came to his fishing gear and tugged the kit out. “Ha!” While he was at it he grabbed his clothes and boots and was quickly dressed. He didn’t mind being without clothes but his parents had taught him young that clothes were proper around other people. To make up for it all his clothes were a merry white like his fur, all but his pale gray boots and cloak; both he left in the chest as he closed it and the lock with a snip.

Jumping back out Edelweiss grinned and held up his own fishing gear. “Tada, the fish wont stand a chance!” Now he just had to figure out what to do with the mess in his hand to make it so it could catch a fish.

[Jervis Hill]

“I do not think there are many elk here to see. Then again, you’re not from here. Not with that pony anyway.” Edel looked at the his clothes and hair inspecting him closely and curiously. Seemed they were kindred spirits.

“What would you have done if I were a giant cat pulling the wagon?” Edel giving Jervis a toothy grin before glancing toward his own wagon and sighing.“Was I really so tangled in the harness? I tried really hard to get into it then shift it straight.” Edel continued to babble on and for a moment he saw how Coli must see himself, though he actually enjoyed the attention.

"Indeed not I'm an Isurian from the deep mountains, A weaponsmith out to see the world. If you where a cat I'd probably tried much the same thing really, I'd assumed someone attached you to the wagon and you were suffering. I'd try to help if the cat would let me. I think I can see your problem with the harness, From my limited experience it needs to be tight to prevent injury to the horse. With what I have seen with your transformation it is quick and I assume you would have to leave it looser to accommodate for the time you turn into lights and are unable to hold it. A yoke like for the river bison my people sometime use for hauling would probably suit your purposes better in my opinion, though it would put more strain on your neck and chest in your elk form, it would be much easier for you to get in and out of and if padded properly you can leave them looser I've heard and they use less straps" Jervis said taking time to ponder the situation and as he spoke you could tell he knew more of transformation than he let on, though his ignorance of kelvic transformations was obvious.

Jervis had barely finished speaking before Edel spoke again with an idea. “What do you say to me helping you catch your meal since you were so kind to offer me one?” he said before taking off into his wagon.

"Wonderful Idea, Meet me by the river when you get your things. I'll go try to find us some worms or grubs for bait." Jervis called out after him though he had already left. So Jervis gathered his fishing gear and headed to the river and quick shaped a crude rod from a near by stick tying a line and hook to it. He set the simple aside rod aside and began overturning rocks and logs for bugs in the end finding two juicy dew worms and a single grub.

He set the worms on a large flat rock as they were less mobile and quickly attached the grub to his hook peirceing it through it's abdomen. By the time he had finished this Edel had re emerged from his wagon from changing saying “Tada, the fish wont stand a chance!”Jumping out Edelweiss grinned and held up his own fishing gear before trotting over to where Jervis was standing.


"Jervis's Speech"--"Jervis's Thoughts"

[Edelweiss]

“Oh that must be far, and a weapon smith? This I have never seen, is it like what you did with the rock?” He knew it was unsafe to do magic, and there were people who didn’t like him because of what he could do. Magic meant strangeness and many people didn’t like that, doing anything in their power to erase it. He was not one of those people but there were enough of them around that he was surprised by Jervis demonstration of it. “It must be useful talent. Those cats though, I do not think a smart man would go near one.” He had only heard of them but he could imagine his mother’s cat growing as large as a horse.

Ah the yoke, he gave a soft shutter. “No thank you. Have you ever tried to wear one of those? All the padding in the world won’t save your skin; and it would ruin my fur.” He crouched down beside Jervis and looked over what he had done. He felt a bit bad for the worm, but one had to eat. “My chest would be strong enough but I don’t know that I could have a wagons weight on my neck. I am no cow.” He was plainly grateful for this fact to. Cows never seemed to be all that bright to him. He started unpacking his own kit and frowned at the odd array of items in it.

Glancing once more at what Jervis has done, Edelweiss sat fiddling with the line and hook. He was scared to get the nasty looking metal stuck in his own fingers as he tugged and twisted it, testing the line and having the knot just untie again. “Come on little string, play nice.” He was frowning and close to outright glaring at the line. His fingers had a number of nicks after a while but he finally managed to tie it so as he tugged the hook; the string didn’t come off. “I hope the fish are easier to catch then the hook.” He unrolled some of the line before he set to digging in the little container of dirt for one of his worms. Maybe he would put them in a bigger container later on and give them food.

He knew from his dad that you could keep worms, you could house them and feed them and they would make more worms. Least then he would never have to buy more and worms ate leaves and grass and he could give them some fish to. He had just as much trouble getting the worm on the hook as the hook on the line. It kept moving and twitching and he felt worse for it but in the end he had his baited hook and with a toss of his hand he cast the line out to the water; the end wrapped around the bit of wood it had come with. “There we are, that wasn’t too bad. At least I didn’t push the hook in my finger.” Quiet pleased he sat flat on the grass to watch the line move around. “So how do you tell when you have caught a fish?”

oocSorry that took a bit! I have been cleaning the whole day. I have more to do tomorrow but all the furniture is moved. Had to bribe a neighbor with a home made pizza to help with it. XD

[Jervis Hill]

“Oh that must be far, and a weapon smith? This I have never seen, is it like what you did with the rock? It must be useful talent. Those cats though, I do not think a smart man would go near one.” He could see the slight fear in the edelweiss's eyes and hear it in his voice. Jervis understood, The timber lions of his homeland where quite fierce though stupid never learning not to bite the blessed arm often chipping their teeth in numerous stories he'd heard.

"Yes indeed it lies a way across the inner sea in the mountainous realm of Sultros. All of my people are craftsmen you see in their own way. I can tell you have never met one of us before. Though I look unarmed my god blesses my left arm with remarkable strength and the ability to shape wood metal and stone to my will. I'm still learning but I do my best. His blessings also make my left arm pretty much invulnerable." Jervis took his time to explain about his race and what he'd done, He'd seen the look of bewilderment in children's eyes before and thought it best not to be chased out of town by a mob or worse tailed by this person as he'd only draw attention. Not that he didn't like him, he found his openness and childlike innocence similar to his own though less jaded from experience.

Still he'd been open to show him his hand, it would only be fair to return the favor. Still he could start now removing his cassock and tossing it aside. The vest he wore open beneath the cassock showed his muscular arms and torso well in isurian fashion, magnifing the effects of the beauty of his rippling muscles. Even though simple cloth, every trade was an art in his kingdom. After eating he determined he would pay him back for his honesty and his trick.

"I notice you don't have a weapon on you. I could make you a wooden weapon of some sort if you would like something to defend yourself with. Though I'm sure your abilities in your other form are more than suited to combat with those horns. I thought I should offer, it is a dangerous world out here and it's easy enough to learn to swing a sword or staff. Feel not need to accept though, it's merely a chance for me to improve my skills and the materials are readily available." He gestured to the rocks and wood around. Edel continued on lost in his own thoughts.

“No thank you. Have you ever tried to wear one of those? All the padding in the world won’t save your skin; and it would ruin my fur. My chest would be strong enough but I don’t know that I could have a wagons weight on my neck. I am no cow.” Edel continued on he spoke obviously excited at this new experience, watching him play with the hook trying to avoid sticking himself only reminding him how soft barbarians were.

No not Barbarians, Other people. He had to change those thoughts out here in the wilds as they would serve no purpose. He thought to himself silently as he prepared another answer for the man-child Kelvic.

"Indeed no, I only have limited experience trying to help my friend over there be as comfortable as possible, Her name is Marble by the way. I have taken her to town with heavy loads many times and it would pain me if I burdened her or injured her with my own carelesness."Jervis said calmly about the yoke, He knew alot of the human ones to be like that but Isurian tried to put as much effort into keep their animals as their tools. All were parts of their chosen craft and to do less would dishonor their god, At least that was what Tenni had taught him in the orphanage. Pangs of guilt rolled across his face at the thought of what he had done, eating at his will to contine with this mad plan but his dreams and determination that this was Izurdin's path help him shake the unpleasent thoughts. All of this to see some barbarians.

No not Barbarians, Other people. He had to change those thoughts out here in the wilds as they would only hinder his dream.

“There we are, that wasn’t too bad. At least I didn’t push the hook in my finger. So how do you tell when you have caught a fish?” His barbarian ways and inexperience were obvious to him in the way he cast the line out with out a seeming thought. Jervis had done this only a few times himself but had been taught any chance to craft was a chance to worship so he was determine to improve on this basic design.

"The fish will pull on the line having taken the hook, Give one sharp tug and then try to wear the fish down by pulling it towards the short and from the water. It is a game of patience and skill not strength so if you try to force the fish to shore you'll only break your line and lose your hook."Jervis recited the words he recalled from a fisherman who'd helped him his first day. His words and directness showing his isurian heritage.

He thought back to the other Isurian fishermen he had seen trying to recall their tools specifically hoping their expertise could help him on his own endeavour here. He remembered little wooden floats and sinkers attached to the line and thought that easy enough to do here. He created the two items from stone and wood respectively, The float first as it required more work. For it he made a simple rough ball from deadfall as it was driest and sculpted a rough, small hoop to attach it to the line.

The sinker took much less time. He merely took a tiny stone and molded it around the fishing line an inch or so north of the hook. He tried to keep it as small and round for both balance and ease for the swallowing fish hoping to increase his chances and get some real food for a change. His stomach growled loudly at the thought and at the same moment his cassock began to hop and move.

At first it appeared a he'd thrown his coat on a poisonous snake to anyone paying attention which Jervis wasn't. However few seconds later his small grey mottled partner emerged looking vaguely displeased and sticking his toungue out at Jervis before quickly charging over and climing ontop of his head. The small gecko perched there and ate the various bugs that swarmed around Jervis and crawled on his body but did seem to bother him unless they got in his eyes, nose or mouth. Jervis tied the float he'd set aside to his makeshift rod with a simple knot.

"Praise be to Izurdin, and all the natural bounties in this world he provides."Jervis said over his creation with reverence. It was a poor offering given the current state of his skills but Izurdin taught each day was a chance to forge ones skills as well as well as one's self. To attempt to do less would be an insult to the glorious being and the gifts he had given to Jervis and his people. Finally finished he cast his line in as Edelweiss had down sitting back to wait patiently.

"Jervis's Speech"--"Jervis's Thoughts"

[Edelweiss]

He had only half listened as Jarvis told him where he came from. Sultros was a new place to him. He wondered where it was, but a quick glance at muscles and odd colored skin; decided it would be in his interest to stay away. He had neither the want to let a god change his light skin nor people to mock him for his slim build. He liked himself the way he was, if he got all bulky he wouldn’t be able to run as he liked, nor fit in the harness. Wretched thing that it was. “Your god sounds like a hard one to follow.” It was the only thing he could think to say that was not unkind or showed his distaste. He liked gods, but he did not like the thought of a brand.

Wondering if the arm was more of a brand, he hummed and furrowed his brows. “Well no I don’t have one.” Thinking of it, he never even thought of grabbing one. He didn’t want to hurt people, but there were other things aside from people. Animals that were not Kelvic could not be reasoned with. “That is very kind of you to offer; a staff of sorts sounds okay.” Least then he could knock their heads and just leave while their sleeping it off. “Oh, could you make it so I can throw it? Maybe I could learn to hunt.” Not wanting to hurt something or not, there were places even here where there were only animals to eat and Edelweiss was not willing to starve.

He looked again at the horse from earlier; she seemed as simple as any he had met. Of course he had yet to meet the fabled Striders but a horse was a horse. “Keep away from yokes; they’re for cows not horses. You could break her spine if you had a lot of weight on her neck.” He was mixed feelings about horses, and even dogs. He did not like how subservient these animals were to humans. He knew his da’ had killed a few horses beneath him on too hard of a run. Chased by enemies or by predators he ran the horses out to escape with his life. That was before he had come to the Sea of grass and learned to respect them better. Edelweiss thought the animals foolish.

Told how to tell if a fish would bite, he nodded but said nothing to the effect. He sat silently watching the string move over the water, but soon he looked back to his companion that had gone silent and had not thrown a hook. What he was surprised him and he watched two different things be added to the lines. He had those in his kit as well; a light bit of wood and some small ball thing. He took no mind to the tossed bit of clothing as he himself wore it only to be polite. Ignoring the odd scurrying creature was a lot harder. Staring with open curiosity he nearly reached over and plucked the lizard off Jervis to see it closer.

Such an odd animal with some very strange coloring. He was about to tell the human he had an odd thing on his head when the prayer came and Jervis finally cast out his hook. It went much better than his own had, it must have been the added things on the line. Looking at his trailing over the water, he debated pulling it in to fix it but in the end he didn’t care enough to do so especially as the little creature on Jervis head took his attention again. “You know you have a thing on your head?” It was eating bugs he realized. The swirling insects didn’t bug him in the least but watching as they were thinned around the human he decided the odd creature was being helpful.

Lazily he tugged his string just to see it move; and was surprised when with a plop it was gone. “What?” He tugged at the string again and the answer pull was nearly enough to have him drop the whole thing and move away. Instead he remembered about the fish pulling and he started tugging. “Hey I got something!” Excited he continued to pull it up’ wrapping the extra string back up. After only a few second he had the string out of the water, and a fish being dragged with it. Getting up he plucked it off the ground. It was quiet small, too small to eat anyway. “What do I do to get it off?” There was an edge of panic in his voice. The fish was thrashing in his hands and Edelweiss want to hurry and put it back in the water before it died.

[Jervis Hill]

Jervis waited a bit before responding to the young man's questions finally speaking up when he pointed Izzy out on his head.

"Oh I forgot to mention him didn't I, Izzy this is Edelweiss and Edelweiss this is Izzy, my travelling companion and business partner so to speak. I'd not put a yoke on her or you if it'd cause harm. I honestly know not much about yokes only having seen them used to haul heavy loads with wagons and bison. I'll take your word for it however as I would not want to harm my friend. I'd be able to craft you a spear or javelin out of wood with a stone tip if you'd like. It's simple enough to do. I won't even charge you for my work for the fine prank you played earlier and the advice on the yoke." Jervis said as he turned his head and smiled at Edel, there was an amused glint in his eye.

He laughed a little at Edel's panic about the fish about the fish a few seconds later. It was in no real danger yet as he moved to help. He took the pole and fish from Edel without a word. "This part is simple enough, though the fish struggle that makes it tricky. First you hold it down against the ground with a hand like this, then you slowly remove the hook by guiding it through the hole the hook already made. This part is a little tricky as the hook is barbed and you don't want to hurt or kill anything your not going to eat. Then if it's too small like this one is you toss it back." Jervis tried to keep himself as open as he could while working on the fish and removing the hook so Edel could watch. this was the way he'd been trained so it would work with him he assumed. His words were calm and controlled as he explained his work. When he was finished he tossed the fish over his shoulder where it landed in the water with a splash. Jervis quickly replaced the bait on the hook for Edel so he could try again.


That all being finished, he returned to his pole and cast it in with a plop, sitting very still hoping for a bite.

"Jervis's Speech"--"Jervis's Thoughts"

[Edelweiss]

He nodded to the odd creature, least it wasn’t poisonous if the human was so happy to be around it. Still seemed like a strange creature to keep, even if it kept away the bugs there were plants and things for that. “Oh no, I rather knock them on the head. I might make a mistake and they could be too small. I could help make them better and let them go again.” He shuttered at the thought of puncturing a hole in a baby on accident. “Em, maybe I should just use nets and traps.” Hitting it on the head might hurt them too much. “A staff would still be better, with a knob end.” He smiled brightly, despite the panicked fish in his hold.

“That was a good prank wasn’t it?” Maybe he could trick more people with that later on. Being laughed at or not he was very relieved when Jervis took the fish and eased the hook out, all while he explained how he was doing it. To see the fish just be tossed, his eyes widened in shock but he didn’t say anything, but vowed not to throw the fish he caught. “Thank you, and since you helped with fishing I can give more advice.” He watched Jervis re-bait his hook and was relived he wouldn’t have to do that again so soon.

“If you get a big enough container you can keep worms in it with good dirt; and putting vegetation or even meat on top will let them eat. Then you won’t have to buy new worms since they will breed.” He sat back down and tossed out his line again, once more watching it float over the water. “I’ve heard you can keep fish like that to, but I haven’t seen it. I plan on going to Riverfall; I heard they keep tons of fish that you get to see, and animals to.” He really wanted to go there and look. It was one thing to see a caught or dead fish but another to see one swimming around.

He tugged his line a bit, hopping to get another bite; but there was none this time so he contented himself with more waiting.

[Karliah Firestride]

The dirt path beneath Karliah's feet felt soft to her hardened soles, her long red hair lifted off her neck as the wind toyed it almost playfully. She could smell the dust from the road, the grass and plants, and the coppery tang of her own skin as the sun warmed it. All in all, a beautiful day.

She had decided to take a few days and go exploring along the river. Her companion Strider, Breeze, followed her as she went, often stopping to nibble at grass or other foliage. Her father Zavin didn't mind her going on these excursions, as long as she didn't go far and came back at night, she got so restless these days.

Breeze trotted up the path a ways and stopped, ears flicked forward and nose in the air. "What is it, Breeze?" Karliah asked in Pavi, her hands making a gesture for the question. Breeze snorted and turned, encouraging Karliah to hop on. The faded lavender dress Karliah wore bunched up around her knees, the thin and flowy material a contrast to the stiff hair on Breeze's back. Once Karliah was properly on, Breeze took off for the banks of the river, Karliah grinned as her hair whipped back from her face.

As they neared the edge Karliah noticed some carts, a small horse, and two males, they appeared to be fishing. She stayed on Breeze's back as the filly walked closer, when they were still several yards away Karliah gave a little wave. "Hello." She said in common, she loved getting to use it outside of the market, she could learn something other than the usual vocabulary, she was very bored with talking about wares.

[Jervis Hill]

"Greetings" Jervis said before turning to the stranger. He'd heard them approach but had paid them no mind, caught up in his fishing. He hadn't been worried they had made there approach obvious. Jervis was much more worried with what he saw now. It was a Drykas of the Amethyst clan, Kevil's Clan. That would mean they likely knew each other or would meet at some point. He didn't think the woman could take him by force but still he paled a little at the thought. Kevil knew these lands he'd track him down in a heartbeat if the old lady had messaged him already. Was this the first scout sent to bring him home , he wondered.

"So ... what brings you to the area, pretty lass?" Jervis didn't approach, he knew from his own bizarre war art looks could be deceiving so he remained wary. Looking a little scared as he'd been taught to throw his opponents off guard.

"Jervis's Speech"--"Jervis's Thoughts"

[Edelweiss]

Edelweiss huffed as his advice was ignored, how anyone could ignore sound advice was beyond him but it didn’t matter. He wondered how much a nice container the worms could not eat out of would cost. He would take his own advice at least, that is if he were to keep fishing. Seemed a boring thing so far. He heard the approach of a horse but didn’t bother looking, there were horses and ponies everywhere here. Yet they would not pass, instead he heard a soft voiced greeting.

Tilting his head back, he leaned backwards far enough that girl and horse came to view. Upside down or not he saw them and lifted a hand to awkwardly wave. He kept his upside down look for a bit. “Hello.” Red hair and pale skin, yet she rode a strider. That was strange. Turning back to his fishing he gave his line a bored tug. He wanted to do something else but he had promised to catch a fish. ‘Stupid fish,’ of course they weren’t. A stupid fish would be biting but this simple logic flew past Edelweiss.

He was all set to ignore the woman, in was a harsh reality that they had very little interest to him. As an Elk females were really only sought after for two things. Either the female was his mother or a breeding partner. He was too young to even think of that. Being young meant male’s interest him a great deal, either to show off or to test his skills. Of course to test his antlers he would need to find a similar male but that was hardly going to happen.

He looked at Jervis though, edging away from the human just a bit. Either he was very excited about some female or his fishing; else he was scared of the riders approach. He hoped he didn’t just make friends with someone who was going to get him in to trouble just as he left his home.