PM to join Many things can be Deduced [Cowlquape]

[Assilsa Curare]

35th of Fall 513 AV

There are always things to learn and observe and every so often a huge chance arises. Chances are better taken then ignored, this is how many people travel taking the chance to leave their homes and see the world.

This was how Assilsa ended up in Ravok, Nyka and everywhere else she had stayed over the years. Sitting with her legs folded and a book in her lap Assilsa considered where she would end up next. She had found herself a nice wall to lean against, a comfy floor and a lovely, interesting book all in the main room of the Hostel and under the watchful eye of Vysia. Assilsa was enjoying herself, her freshly washed hunting gear, the quiet and her book on Nyka.

After what seemed only a short while after she had started the bookm Assilsa looked up at to the candles being lit. She was sure she had only started reading in the morning, she only started reading for a bell or so, looking down at the book Assilsa sadly confirmed how long she had been reading.

“One… Two… Three…”

Aloud she counted fifteen pages left of the book, looking up again with a pout Assilsa’s eyes focused on a flickering candle, refusing to finish the book.

[Cowlquape]

Cowlquape had the brilliant stroke of luck today that led to finding out more of the status of his nemesis. It took some work and a lot of walking, but it paid off in the end. Now, it was getting late, and it was time to head home.

As he approached the Safe Haven Hostel, his eyes darted back and forth. Lots of buildings here, in this city. Some of the windows were drawn shut, some were wide open, and only half of the above mentioned actually had light streaming through them. Cowlquape observed one lady, lighting a candle and placing it on the sill of a curtain less window. The candle flickered into the night.

Entering the hostel, Cowlquape gripped his hat as a gust of wind threaten to take it away. Nice place, the hostel was. Seeing how much money is spent on treating the monks like minor deities, it was nice to have a place like this.

Cowlquape approached his room, tapping his cane as he went, observing every nick and scratch in the hostels doors and synthesizing how they we're caused. It was kinda a hobby of his.

Eerily, a noise reached out to Cowlquape's ears. It was the sound of a young lady counting... Strange, he thought. It was only a little farther ahead, too. Basically on the way to his room. So as his curiosity convinced him, Cowlquape rounded the corner.

There was a young lady sitting on the ground with a book in her lap, starring at a candle not far off. She was, by the looks of it, almost finished with her book, and perhaps meditating on it, or refusing to complete it.

Then he noticed the claws and the pale skin. A Symenstra, eh? Cowlquape had never met a Symenstra (in a normal way that didn't involve being intimidated for his money). He was interested, for certain, but didn't want to distract her focus from the candle. Cowlquape synthesized that perhaps a candle isn't really all that entertaining.

"Perhaps you'd be more interested in fraternizing with some thing more lively than a candle?" Cowlquape greeted with a smile, tipping his hat to the young lady.

[Assilsa Curare]

The sound of a man’s voice drew Assilsa out of her day dream, her garnet eyes focusing on a man in front of her. Assilsa’s distracted mind couldn’t put together a reply to his enquiry; The candle was indeed beautiful however the man was much more lively.

“You are more lively….”

Tapping her book’s leather cover with her long claw like nails deciding whether or not to allow the man to converse with her, she could use the distraction from the book.

“Indeed… take a seat”

Assilsa placed her book to the side and bunched her hair in a messy bun to keep it from her face so she could pay full attention. As she wrapped a lose strand so it would stay in place, Assilsa smiled politely as she observed the man. He held himself with honourable stance that made Assilsa wonder if he was a nobleman.

“what would you like to know?”
Assilsa

[Cowlquape]

Cowlquape was invited to take a seat, and to ask questions. Well not at all shy, are you? He thought.

Cowlquape crossed over and tiredly sat down across from the young girl. His eyes caught the details that intrigued him most; the claws, mainly. It's not really an average thing, you know; but then again, that may be all perspective. One of the main things floating around in his head was: how might normal tasks be performed with such appendages? And secondly; why was one such interesting creature residing here, in the Safehaven Hostel, and furthermore; Nyka?

The floor was a bit cold, and so was the wall which he leaned up against. Must have been the stone transfering heat to the chilly breezes outside. One way or the other it was much more comfortable in here, and Cowlquape for one was not going to complain.

"Well as far as questions goes," Cowlquape said, with a friendly smile, making himself comfortable. "I suppose names are a good start. My friends and enemies call me Cowlquape; pleased to make your acquaintance."

[Assilsa Curare]

‘Cowlquape, what an interesting name’

Cowlquape had chosen the floor option, possibly to fit with the situation of Assilsa also sitting on the ground. Scanning the softly light room Assilsa noticed that shadows caused by the candle light almost created a story.
The smallest shadow, shaped like a snake, was running from the largest shadow, a bear looking creature, filled with menacing glee the bear shadow caught up with the poor snake shadow, tearing it to shreds. Blinking Assilsa shifted and turned her attention back to her conversation.

“And enemies? Interesting… I am Assilsa Of the Curare wed it is a pleasure to meet you”

Looking back at her book Assilsa sighed softly, she had spent all day reading, and had managed to miss the chance to buy a jacket. Shivering she wrapped her arms around herself, Assilsa’s skin began to prickle the longer she sat there. Assilsa

[Cowlquape]

Cowlquape nodded and smiled.

"We've all got them, unfortunately. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, miss Assilsa of the Curare!"

Very intriguing name; Cowlquape stored it in his mind. He was good at remembering names. Assilsa was a particularly interesting name... different enough to stand out but short enough to not stumble on.

Judging by her features, Cowlquape tried to guess an age of around... 16-19. She looked more on the older side of that spectrum, but there was no telling. He wondered then if she was here alone? If she was, she was very brave.

Cowlquape noticed Assilsa shiver in the cold, using the feeble frame of her arms as a makeshift protection. Cowlquape was surprised that Assilsa hadn't brought out a jacket with her! Or perhaps she didn't own one?

In any case, Cowlquape's first reaction was to offer his.

"Oh- you must be cold," He said, unsheathing each arm from its warm sleeve. "Here, this ought to do you some good. Do you not own a jacket?" Cowlquape asked, concerned.

[Assilsa Curare]

Assilsa considered reaching out for the jacket however she stopped herself before she reached out. Cowlquape had a right to know why she did not have a jacket; also she could not accept a jacket and make him cold.

Sitting up on her knees she untucked her hunting shirt. Assilsa would be classes as stupid if this was any other situation however it was the only way she would be able to explain. She could tell that he was getting confused however Assilsa knew it would make more sense when she showed him.

“I ran into some slavers a while back…”

Lifting her cotton shirt to reveal the redden stitches, the holes where the string punctured her stomach were surrounded by yellowing bruises. Holding the shirt above the wound Assilsa looked back at her companion

“My jacket is useless now since its part of the reason it isn’t as bad”
.

[Cowlquape]

When the girl began to lift her hunting shirt, Cowlquape became confused and was about to speak- and then he saw.

Cowlquape took in the details of the damaged epidermic tissue. What a scar, he thought. It led to the question of by what manner was it caused; Cowlquape guessed any number of bladed weapons, and even some non-bladed. Cowlquape additionally wondered just how far back "A while back" was. Any mention of slavers was enough to make ones blood boil.

In any case, Cowlquape was determined to hand Assila the jacket. "Well In that case I insist," He said, tossing the jacket to her so she'd have no other option but to catch it. "I'll be perfectly fine without it. And if its not too forward of me to ask; what in the gods names happened to you?"

[Assilsa Curare]

Before she knew it the jacket was wrapped around her face, lowering her shirt Assilsa grabbed the jacket placing it loosely on her shoulders, already she began to feel it warming up her cold skin.

“Ravok doesn’t take kindly to strangers, and I fetch quite a high price since Symenestra rarely travel from Kalinor, so when I drew their attention I was in some… a lot of danger… one of them managed to push me off a roof and dislocated my elbow”

Looking back out the window Assilsa wished she would be able to go back to the city that floats, she had actually met a few nice people around the town, ignoring the slavers however she still felt that call to return home…

[Cowlquape]

Cowlquape was glad she had taken the jacket. He was sure he'd find another one, one of these days.

This talk about slavers intrigued him. Not for any blatant morbid purposes; Cowlquape despised them and he felt what they had done to this poor girl was unforgivable. But they were undeniably a source of injustice that should be prevented from entering his city of Nyka. To him, however, slavery was not something that occurred to him very often.

The ground had grown colder but his back had remained warm. He suspected the temperature wouldn't become any worse than this, and that he would survive long enough without a coat until a new one was acquired. Wind was audibly tangible outside, gusting in some sort of lazy uproar; or like a prankster of a ghast, knocking oh windows and shouting to frighten the residents within. The candle was casting some enormous shadows now, the thickness of which one would imagine could be felt in weight. A faint scent of chamomile hung randomly in the air.

"Symenstra... Now that subject intrigues me as well. However the treatment you described to me sounds horrible!" Cowlquape exclaimed. "It's a grace that Nyka had no such atrocities. Selling people for money... It's never sat right with me. I'm sorry for the terrible experiences you must have endured... Tell me? No such institutions reside in Nyka, correct?"