Closed [The Orphanage] Escaping to a Canal? [Sayana]

[Tierra]

Note: Reference Image for Eclipsed Sun Tie froze like a statue when Sayana first placed her cloak around her shoulders, it was a response Tierra had developed from the abusive nature of her adoptive father that very rarely revealed its ugly nose. The orphan relaxed rather quickly though as her body realized there was no threat. “Some of the other kids get along well enough. Just not with me it seems. And we don’t get out much from the orphanage, so not many in the way of friends can be made on the outside.” With the racial question Tie found herself scowling and muttered in response, “I wasn’t trying to fall from the window. I just couldn’t find the wall beneath the ledge and keep my balance.” She feel silent after that though, only long enough to stifle a yawn as she listened to the reason why Sayana didn’t use a paddle. “Couldn’t a paddle be used to do the same thing as the pole though? I mean it could be used to push off the walls and buildings and such. It could be a bit louder I guess.” When Sayana mentioned that they were here though Tie looked around, here was not someplace that the orphan child knew where here was. Yet she climbed out to the vessel quickly enough and found herself on the small dock before being prompted to follow her savior to the building. A pause at the door with a finger to her lips Tie understood. The words that followed the universal expression of keep your mouth shut were a clear indication as to why. Well, surely that makes sense. I mean it is the dead of night. Once in the building Tierra felt instantly warmer though, the slight breeze outside did not offer the girl must in the warmth with her jacket as her only bit of protection She was left in a common room. The furniture indicated someone with some kind of wealth, not rich and fancy, but something more than she had. Yet on the wall were three paintings. Looking at each she smiled at the forest, wondering where in the world it was painted and what the artist would think of it now. Her mind though went to another one, this one was more clearly the city she known as home her whole life. The lake it rested upon with the city in the distance. This second image made the girl smile even more. Beautiful. was all Tierra could think of about it. It was the last one though; this one pulled her into it. It was the sun being eclipsed. Only a briefly defined white rim surrounding the blackness in the middle indicated what it was. The flares of white and gray were mingled into the surrounding blackness making them hard to tell the definition. Now this is something. Tierra made note of it, it was a black sun amongst a ring of white. Could it be the Black Sun? Could a member of the government reside here? Is my savior a member of the Black Sun? The singular image seemed out of place between the serene forest and the beloved city homage. When Sayana returned though Tie let out a soft yelp, startled to the current situation and she turned to look at her many armed savior. Beckoned to go back outside Tie did without a second thought, her mind only thinking of not to make a fool of herself before a member of the Sun. Stepping back into the boat she settled into the seat and looked at the small jar and pair of gray gloves presented to her. Listening to the instructions and what was contained within the jar Tierra reached for the items. “I... I don’t know what to say. I will have to remember the gloves.” I just have to figure out how to stash them from the chaperones and nosy orphan tattle tales. Tie thought as she pushed the jar into her pocket, it was clearly visible in her pocket. Pulling the gloves over her hands though trying to warm up some it was instantly clear that they were far too large for the girl’s hands. But she pulled on them hard enough to and the fingers pulled down around hers and the palm of the glove pulled down past the girl’s palm and down onto her wrists. Keep an extra eye out. Remember names, people, faces, places. “She… She is quiet. I haven’t really seen much of what she does with anyone, I just know she is there and has the funny marks on her hands. I think she might be a former slave from some far away land. Locked rooms though are a-plenty, I have no idea what resides on the other side though. “ The last question though Tie just shrugged on, “This is the first time I have snuck out. So I will have to make note of alleys and hiding places. Possibly even shortcuts.” Tierra nodded at that. I should see if I can get another notebook from Miss Sonja. The conversation drifted away from questioning to statements. “When will we meet again? Gifts? I feel I already owe you for saving my life and giving me these.” Tierra held up her hands and patted her pocket that contained the resin in it. It did not take long though for them to get to the orphanage, seeing as Sayana was being rather direct and without slowing to just enjoy the night. Once at the orphanage though Tierra hesitated on climbing back to shore. “Sayana…” She paused, unsure of how to go forward with what she wanted to say. “Thank you for not just turning me in.” WC: 958 OOCThat is fine. I understand the need to push the plot forward. I think we can wrap this thread up shortly.

[Sayana]

The orphan was attentive and quiet. There was a seriousness to Tie’s attitude which suggested a strong sense of maturity. The girl was not only grateful but also interested in repaying the favour. All these traits were ones Sayana valued and she was lucky to have such an opportunity literally fall into her outstretched arms. Had the orphan been less receptive, Sayana might have invoked more hypnotism on the child, but as it was, there was little need.

The Eypharian gave a couple nods as the girl mentally went over the questions and worked out the beginnings of answers. There would be more time later for Tie to investigate further and begin learning how best to gather information, but it was clear that the girl understood the purpose and various places to begin.

Sayana was mildly surprised when the orphan said it was her first time sneaking out. Not by any sort of aptitude for the feat, but because she had thought the girl had mentioned seeing life outside the orphanage. Perhaps they take the kids on walks. The thought was soon dismissed.

When would they meet? It was a good question.

“I’ll be back again soon. Not tomorrow, not the day after. It will take you time to gather some useful information. I’ll be back within a season.”

At Tie’s final words of gratitude, Sayana replied, “Now where would be the good in that?”

“I remember learning to earn my keep at around your age. All it took was determination and someone to believe in me. Let me be that someone, and we’ll see if you’ve got what it takes.”

She offered no more information on how they might meet up again. Frankly, she hadn’t the faintest clue, but she’d have time to sort something out. She gave a wave with a pair of hands, knowing that the orphan would soon be trying to find her way up to the window once more, or looking for an alternative way in. The orphan was an investment, albeit small, and Sayana hoped the time and effort would pay off in the long run. Despite a motherly urge to stay and watch to make sure the girl didn’t break her neck on the way up, Sayana gave a slow push of her pole to send her ravosala down along the canal. Once her back was turned, she didn’t glance back.

To believe in someone was to trust. To let someone make their own mistakes. Only then do people grow.

OOCLast post for me. You're welcome to do one more to practice your climbing.

Credit: Shimoje

[Tierra]

Tierra nodded when Sayana said that their next meeting will most likely be in the next season. “Yeah, earning my keep.” She muttered and turned towards the building. There was no indication that her running off was noticed by anyone, but Tie had a feeling she already knew that answer though well enough – she was probably going to be caught and punished. Turning back around, hoping to catch Sayana and her small boat before she left the orphan already saw she was too late, they were both already going down the canal, the boat’s pole pushing owner not looking back in this direction. A sigh and nod Tie turned back to the building’s opposing wall, looking up at the window she had fallen out earlier. It was still clattering in the breeze that far up. Gulping she pulled on the woolen gloves that she was given. Tugging them tightly into place to keep them from slipping Tie pulled the gloves cuffs up underneath the cuff of her jacket. Once they were secure as best as possible she pulled the jar of resin and applied some on both gloves, she tried to rub the resin around on the gloves in the hopes that she was able to smear it around and provide the best coverage and climbing capabilities. The resin only made the gloves stick to each other and with some effort Tie pulled them apart. Well this will have to work. Getting the jar back into her pocket took some palming and effort, but it eventually made it and with another gulp fueled with fear Tierra placed her hands against the wall, it was almost instantly that she could feel her hands connect to the wall. It was a shocking feeling, the roughness of the wall was numbed to her hand due to the wool gloves, but she could still feel the contours and cracked. She pulled her right hand away from the wall, between the resin and the wool material the glove peeled away with some effort and she slapped her hand against the wall about foot over her own head. Using that location she peeled the other hand away and placed it up above her head just a bit higher, this caused her to stand on her tiptoes and Tierra needed to figure out how to get her feet from falling. Placing first the left foot up, she tried to find a crack or groove to place the toe of her shoes in. it was not possible though. She grimaced and pulled her hands from the wall and sat down on the floor. Shaking the gloves from her hands she set them on the ground besides her, resin side up and pulled off her shoes. They were worn and flimsy, easily able to be smashed together in her other pocket. Tierra looked down at her stockings, the material was thinner than the gloves, but she hoped they were thick enough to protect her feet and toes from the wall’s roughness. Time to do this. Pulling the gloves back on so the resin side was on her palms and cuffs were tucked into her jacket sleeves the orphan once again confronted the wall. Pressing her right hand a foot above her head and the left a bit further above that one, with her feet in just stockings her right foot was able to find the crevice between stones and she used what strength she had to pull herself up on to it, using her arms and the resin to better support her weight. Her left foot followed a similar process as her left hand, just a bit higher than her right foot with the toes pressed into the crevice between rocks. Grunting she pulled her right hand from the wall and placed it higher on the wall this time she pulled her right foot up higher, placed it in a groove, lifted her left foot and repeated the process and then moved her left hand up higher. This was not an easy thing for her to do, but with some effort she used her left arm to pull her weight up so she could move her feet up and into grooves then lifted her right hand up above her head and repeated the process. Right hand, right foot, left foot, left hand, left foot, right foot, right hand, repeat. Tierra used the window sills as they came up to rest and check her feet and the gloves. She rattled the windows gently if she could see they were going into rooms that were empty. It took her two chimes to get to the sill she went out earlier and sighed with relief. Pulling the window open she slipped into the room. Sitting on the stool she placed there earlier in the night she pulled the gloves off, rolled them into a ball and shoved them into the pocket with the jar of resin. Pulling her shoes out shoes from her pocket she slipped them back on. She turned and reached out to pull the window shut and latch it. As the window came flush with its counterpart was when the orphan was caught, “Just what do you think you are doing?” Tierra froze, in the darkness of the room she hoped and prayed to Rhysol that the pocket of her jacket that held the jar and gloves was not a noticeable bulge. Tierra turned to face the adult placing her arm against the pocket to conceal the bulge, “I couldn’t sleep I needed some fresh air. My bed is too far from a window to open to provide any relief. I found this rom was free and away from the other kids so I could open and close the window without waking them.” Tie kept her face as honest as she could as she spoke the lie. A silent stare from the adult was directed at Tierra, it was clear the chaperone didn’t believe her, but from the orphan’s perspective this was a pretty ironclad alibi. “No excuse missy. You get your arse back in bed right this instant.” Tierra nodded and slid off of the ottoman and with head bent so she looked down as she passed her ‘captor’ Tierra walked quickly back to the room that held her bed. The adult followed silently behind her. Slipping back underneath her cover the girl smiled as she turned her back away from the chaperone and looked at the window away from her bed. As the door of the room swung close Tierra looked back over her shoulder, the chaperone was gone. Sighing with relief Tierra sat up and pulled the gloves and jar from her pocket and leaning over she shoved them into her pack that was hiding beneath her bed. Pulling off her jacket and throwing it into the pack as well Tierra flopped back down onto her bed. She was certainly tired and hoped to Rhysol – no prayed to Rhysol – that her little lie was taken as truth. WC: 1171

[Tanna]

Tierra

◈ Disguise - 1XP
◈ Stealth - 1XP
◈ Land Navigation - 1XP
◈ Observation - 5XP
◈ Mathematics - 1XP
◈ Endurance - 2XP
◈ Body Building - 2XP
◈ Escape Artist - 1XP
◈ Climbing - 2XP
◈ Prayer - 1XP
◈ Deduction - 3XP
◈ Socialisation - 5XP
◈ Acrobatics - 1XP
◈ Rhetoric - 1XP
◈ Investigation - 1XP
◈ Intelligence - 1XP
◈ Planning - 1XP
◈ Subterfuge - 1XP
◈ Acting - 1XP

◈ Stealth: Taking advantage of dark rooms and shadows
◈ Observation: Sensing when a threat has passed
◈ Escape Artist: A window with a loose latch can make for a handy getaway
◈ The horror of free-falling
◈ Climbing resin: Super sticky substance that helps with climbing
◈ Deduction: Connecting information to come to a conclusion
◈ Acrobatics: Trying to balance in a ravosala
◈ Sayana: Savior and ravosalawoman
◈ Sayana: Six-armed Eypharian new to Ravok
◈ Ravosala: Basic movements and pole propulsion
◈ Ravosala: Poles are better than paddles in the canals
◈ Climbing resin: Hard to wash off hands
◈ Climbing: Apply resin to gloves and boots for extra grip
◈ Sayana: Member of the Black Sun?
◈ Request: Exchanging information for gifts
◈ Climbing: Easier without shoes so toes can grip
◈ Climbing: Using crevices as hand and foot holds
◈ Subterfuge: Lying on the fly
◈ Acting: Trying to not break character while telling a lie

Loot +1 pair of grey wool, fur-trimmed gloves and +1 used jar of climbing resin (1 use left)

Sayana

◈ Driving (Ravosala) - 5XP
◈ Acrobatics - 1XP
◈ Persuasion - 1XP
◈ Negotiation - 3XP
◈ Leadership - 3XP
◈ Reimancy - 1XP
◈ Body Building - 2XP
◈ Investigation - 2XP
◈ Interrogation - 2XP
◈ Hypnotism - 1XP
◈ Intelligence - 1XP

◈ Observation: Movement attracts the eye, even hidden
◈ Rhetoric: Not everyone gets puns
◈ Absorbing the blow of a falling body
◈ Observation: Sensing anxiety in posture and actions
◈ Bribery: Exchanging gifts for information
◈ Reimancy: Using attraction to form a small whirlpool
◈ Tie: Young Ravokian orphan
◈ Tie: Longs for freedom
◈ Tie: Loyal informant-in-training

Notes Hey Say, please arrange your skills according to this announcement and update your ledger once you return. Thanks so much.

I really enjoyed this, thanks for the read! Let me know if you feel like I missed anything and please remember to edit your grade request.