1 Fall 524
While Willis Efram had been to many places, he had never before been to The Outpost before. Having arrived in Syka the season before he had been busy, and had yet to find the time to look around it. However when he went looking at the Mercantile for something they did not have he recalled being told about the Dovecote on the day of his arrival.
Not having much to do that day, and his curiosity being piqued, they decided to swing by the place. After following those old directions he had been given and finding the Dovecote in Syka easily enough he had stepped inside, shut the door, and looked around. However other than seeing some birds fly about, poop, and come and go, not much seemed to happen inside the Dovecote proper. Efram, speaking mentally to his brother, urged him to go through the now closed door. "Just go already, there is no point in hanging around here. Might as well get things going!"
With a shrug Willis relented, quietly taking a step forward and swinging the door back open. When he did instead of the wet heat of Syka opening before him, an entirely different more arid heat arose before him. Having lived in Mura for a time, and then Riverfall, and most recently Syka, dry was not a common thing for the Akontak. Here though, the air itself seemed to impress upon him how naturally dry it was.
Stepping out the door though he noticed two things. A man coming towards him, and the sound of running water nearby. While the Outpost's air in general seemed dry to the bone, it clearly still had water. And quite a bit of it, by what he could hear.
Before he could think further on this though a smiling man approached him, seeming to take him in with the smallest glance like how a skilled merchant would understand his wares upon first seeing them. Or at least, this was the impression Willis had. Efram for once seemed to not have much to say, and did not seem to notice anything untoward with the man who quickly greeted him. "Hello, I believe you are a newcomer to The Outpost yes? My name is Paul, and I act as a sort of welcoming committee. You do not seem overly surprised to be here, but still new... Hmm... So someone told you what would happen when you came through, you believe them, and now you are here but for the first time?"
Nodding in reply, Willis agreed with the mans sage assessment. Once more feeling that earlier opinion of the man was correct, he seemed to be a man proficient in pulling apart and assessing a person upon seeing them.
"Ah yes, I am Willis Efram. And yes, this is my first time coming here. One of the locals back in Syka told me about the place, and how to go through. So I did. I hear there is a big market here right? And other things? I seem to hear a good bit of water flowing too, which seems a bit odd based on the air of the place. Where does all that water come from?"
Paul took in what Willis said and nodded along, seeming to examine his words and pull them apart before readying his own response. And yet Willis did not feel rushed by the man, more like he had all the time in the world to take care of him. Clearly this was something the human was well trained in, even Willis with his basic skills of observation could see that. "Ah, a fair point. And normally you would be right. But this is the domain of my Goddess, Xyna. She is all about commerce and trade, and so of course her trade center would have all that is needed for that. And that includes water. The water in question is pumped up from a well deep underground, and keeps this entire place watered through various ways and fountains. That is the water you are hearing. Oh and before I forget, here! A map of The Outpost, along with many of its key points. You are here, and the bazaar is here. And there are many places other than that marked."
As he spoke Paul pointed, clearly explaining the map to the Akontak. While he was not skilled in reading a map even he could follow these basic instructions. Though actually navigating to those places, or other less clear ones, that would be the trick.
"Oh, thank you! Yes, that is of great help. And perhaps when I have more time later I could hear more of this Xyna you speak of. I say a fair few divine were worshiped in other places I've been, but I cannot say I have heard much about her. For now, seeing as its my first visit, perhaps I could just focus on one place, and then explore more later on my next visit. Like seeing this bazaar. This is all a bit much to take in at once, so I would not mind a place a bit... Slower. And maybe a bit wetter..."
Paul, once more nodding along in understanding, began to think before pointing out a place on the map. "In that case, I will explain more when I see you return. For now, how about this place... It is called The Water Gardens. Maybe that is more up your alley? I think you might find the place suitable for a start. So we are here... And just go this way... And then this way... Turn here... And you should see it. The place covers a pretty wide area, and you should know it once you see it."
With a thankful smile Willis followed along, doing his best to recall the directions he had been given and the man who had given them. Paul. Silently examining the map one last time and orienting himself as best he could he slid the map into his pack and took a single step away.
"Thank you Paul. I will do my best to get there safely. And once I am more adjusted to the place, visit the bazaar on my next trip. Thank you!"
With that Willis left, mentally picturing the map, along with his starting and ending point. Luckily the directions he had been given were not too complicated, and so he began walking off in one direction while trying not to be distracted by all of the sights, sounds, and smells. From there he had a small turn... And then again... And before long he found himself walking upon one of the entrances to the Water Garden, a fairly large area that was not easy to miss just as Paul had said.
Looking about Willis eyes opened wide and his mouth formed into a smile. When he heard the term water garden he was unsure what he would see in a place such as this. But it clearly was more of a water place than a garden, so accented it seemed by said garden. It also had walkways, water, benches, more water, some plants, and more water along with walkways.
Following the stairway downward he came out on the once more even ground, and looked about a bit before dipping one hand into the cool clean water. Wiping his face and neck down a bit from where he had perspired Willis looked about, seeing a nearby bench and considering sitting there. All the while he had garnered quite a few stares and odd looks on his way there, something Efram had noticed but Willis had not really seen due to his focus on not losing his way. After all he was a oversized teen of sorts many did not see, and a mix of two uncommon peoples into something even less common. By his coloring alone most would take a second look, but so far his odd nature had not caused any direct trouble on this day. But it would be all too likely for someone to be interested in him upon seeing him, even if they were used to seeing Konti or Akalak before.
WC: 1,365
