The start of a tale (Kaja)

[Lariat]

Date: TBA by Kaja
Place: War Pavilion

Sounds of metal on metal echoes from within the war pavilion as two diamond clan brothers sparred with daggers. The pace was easy that day, it needed to be, his brother would be riding off with the watch that day to investigate a disturbance long off towards the Syliras border, a family there had related that they had seen some slavers in the area and they were making their way towards Riverfall. Of course his brother Liater Stoneshield immediately asked to be on the mission, and so this day, their normally heavy training would be light. Revin would stay in Endrykas, but not by choice as he wanted just as much to be a part of the party as his brother did, but he had other matters to attend to like seeing to some business of food with Nightgrass pavilion. In exchange for training some of their younger children in the ways of battle, they supplied them with food, and other supplies when needed. The previous week he had finished his training with the youngest son, Harin Nightgrass, and so today he would go and pick up the compensation.

With a deft twist of his wrist he parried his brother’s strike, hooking the blade up under his dagger and throwing it out wide to the side before rushing in to meet his shoulder with the opponents chest. The move over balanced him so when the brothers shoulder hit him, he toppled backwards and onto the ground. Revin Stoneshield extended his hand downwards to his brother lying sprawled out on the ground, and Liater graciously accepted it.

" Well played my brother " Liater said as he got to his feet, and slipped the dagger into its sheath on his hip. " It's only a simply parry brother, however shall you handle the slavers? " Revin responded, sheathing his similarly. Dagger wasn't their primary skill for either of them, Liater preferring the longbow, and Revin, his fists. Still it kept them in shape practicing with weapons they where unused to, and it became a sort of ritual for them to do before either of them went to battle. The sun was just beginning to reach its peak in the sky, and the change in light drew Liater's attention. " I must go now " he said, passing by his brother after briefly clasping his arm. " May Zulrav keeps you safe " Revin offered as he left and then returned his eyes to a training dummy. They day was yet young.

* * * * *

To any new arrival in the city that was not a drykas navigation among the seemingly chaotic collection of tents would be harsh, however there where those willing to guide new travelers, for a fee of course and help point them in the right direction. One such person was Tosun Windhowler, a man that knew the Endrykas completely and where the various traders like to set up his tents. As such he enjoyed modest rewards from those seeking direction and tended to hang out around the west end of the mobile city.

To anyone that might seek his services, they could be pointed in the right direction by most drykas, since it was his business to know names and frequently met with new family pavilions that entered the Endrykas. If they asked for the description of the man he could only be described as wearing green leathers, his hair a rich blond and filled with charms and caring twin scimitars at his hips. Most of the time he leaned against a tent, his eyes constantly searching for his next potential client.

[Kaja]

Season of Summer Day 12, 511 AV

She had been here a week, and so far she had not been bothered much by others. Most the language she heard around her she didn't understand, with a spattering here and there in Common, which she did. A few times those that she heard Common coming from she had employed to show her around a bit. She didn't know her way completely around yet, but she was getting a better since of things. At least she knew where to find the food stalls, somewhere to get a drink, and a safe place to stay. She really needed to start to learn the language that was used commonly here though.

She was quickly beginning to understand that Common was not spoken here as much as their own language. She almost wished she paid attention to things more, like what she had heard about Endrykas and their language. Maybe even tried to learn the language before she left? However before she left she really had no clue where she had wanted to go. It wasn’t until after she had left she had heard things about the moving city. That it was found in Cyphrus, and the road to there from Sylaris was to go down the South Kabrin Road, or well to at least get to Riverfall that is. She had taken that road, and luckily somehow without really knowing anything about it ran into the city in its trek on its route around the area.

Today she wandered around looking for something to do, maybe something to learn? Some training, or possibly somehow getting someone to teach her the language, it was a fascinating language to hear, pretty to her ear. She heard Common being spoken and asked the individual where she could find someone to help her find some training that also new Common. The person pointed at a man lounging against one of the tents and called him Tosun Windhowler. She said her thanks with a nod of her head, and moved toward the person he indicated. “My friend, would you be able to help me find someone, or something to do in the line of training, or possibly schooling me in the fine language of the Drykas?” She asked in Common.

[Lariat]

Tosun eyed the woman before him curiously, and with a smile he always wore when he felt a deal afoot. Rubbing his hands together, he spoke up in clear unaccented common. " Aye, well that depends on what sort of training you be looking for, with a sword perhaps, or something else combat wise, or are your interests more mystical? he asked. He mulled over the second request, he knew that he could teach her easily enough the language of the drykas, but he wasn't a complete sale out, and found to his surprise he wouldn't be willing to teach this outsider the language unless she proved herself. " As for the language my dear, you'll have to do without, I won't teach you the language until I knows your intentions more clearly " he said, keeping his tone warm and friendly, while fiddling with the straps of his green bracers.

Even as he waited measurably for her response, he was calculating what such information would be worth, after all he had to eat as much as the next guy, and no matter how beautiful this one was, he would be trying to get as much coin out of her as he would any other outsider. The sound of coins jingling together always sounded like music in his ears, no sweeter sound he would argue with his friends over a drink. Depending on what she said, everything would be determined soon enough was a warm sentiment that rolled through him.

[Kaja]

The young Kelivic mauled what he asked in her head. Well she didn't want to learn swordplay that would require her to actually have a weapon. That was something that she couldn't always handle especially with her sometimes transforming back and forth from animal to human. Plus she needed something she could use more with her animal then her human. Her animal was what she was; the human side was just what made it easy for her to communicate with other humans. She tapped her chin, her eyes rolling up to the sky. She was already a little trained in hunting, tracking, trapping, and running. However, it was always good to get more training in that, but she also thought that she needed to know more too. Finally after a long pause she said, "Well I am already trained a bit in hunting, tracking, trapping, and running. I was thinking maybe something on the lines of maybe combat in the form of unarmed combat, stealth, brawling, and boxing? Not all at once of course. Just throwing some things out." She smiled.

So, their language was not something you could just learn without some sort of proof that you were serious about it. I suppose that made some since to her. "Well, I must admit when I was a pup I was a bit negligent in my language lessons." She ground her foot in circles in the dirt, and a slight blush came to her face. It wasn't something she liked to admit, especially since it was something she should have taken more seriously or she wouldn't be in such a jam. "I was hoping that if I knew a bit more of the language, and maybe some of the other languages in the area I would be able to communicate better." She gave a bright smile, taking her hand and swiping her dark hair away from her face and behind her shoulder.

She wasn't sure what was needed from her as an answer, she certainly didn't want to use it for anything more then to be able to communicate better and to feel more at one with this new place she was thinking of making home. "How hard is it to become a resident here if you are an... Outsider?" She wasn't sure how she would be received, and she hadn't even realized earlier in her habit of her own speech among her type she had called herself a pup which would already tell the gentlemen that she was Kelvic.

[Lariat]

Tosun listened to her words carefully, scratching his head while he searched his brain for what trainers of those things he knew, and a specific one popped up into his mind. Revin, yes he might be willing to help her Though even if he wasn't willing to help the woman it wouldn't be his problem, as long as he got paid he could care less on what happened to the woman and how her request went. " I know where you might find a unarmed trainer, for a price of course " he said, while looking over her shoulder, and then back to her. It was a simple enough request and he would enjoy providing a service for her in exchange for compensation, even though he knew the trainer would likely ask for a form of payment as well. They all had to eat, and maybe he would knock a few drinks back with Revin tonight to celebrate their present surge in wealth. " Five gold rimmed mizas will do, make it ten and I will walk you there myself " he said extending his hand out to her with a charming smile, and liked his fast drying lips.

He kept his hand extended out somewhat stubbornly as he listened to her next words, and briefly thought of what she said. " We'll if Revin doesn't mind you then I suppose I won’t have any reservations about teaching you the language " he said, knowing that would be the best test of the woman's character that he was likely to get, and above all he knew he could trust Revin's judgment on these matters. Her comment about being a pup was a bit odd to him, but he figured he just misinterpreted her words to mean something else entirely, unless in fact she was a kelvic. " You are.. Human correct? " he asked for no other reason to simply satisfy his curiosity. After all it didn't really matter if she was a kelvic or not, just might affect what sort of payment he might be receiving.

Her last question seemed a easy one to answer and he realized that his statement might have been perceived wrongly, something he rushed to resolve. " It isn't that hard, as long as you behave yourself around here, and abide by our laws " he said adding a warm smile in there for effect. Suddenly he felt a strong hand on his shoulder and he turned around to see that it was Revin, the slightly taller man standing easily a head taller than him, and he looked up and waved a greeting. " Ah yes, Revin we were just talking about you ” he said his tone somewhat deflated by the fact that he likely wouldn't make any gold this day. "I hope you’re not trying to trick this woman out of her well earned mizas Tosun " he said with a sly smile, and then extended his hand towards Kaja in greeting. " My names Revin, tell me what was this man trying to con you into " he joked with a smile.

oocGreen means he is speaking Pavi

[Kaja]

For a price? She really didn’t have much money. Unfortunately most the money she had had been spent or lost by the time she got here to Endrykas. All the things she had got so far had been from trade, or working for it. She had worked for her food by hunting. She had experience with that, and some herding. Though she still had not advertised that she was Kelvic all that much, but it was the only way she could get a place to stay. She knew if she stayed on that it wasn’t going to be long before she would be known as a Kelvic, and she was still unsure how she would be taken, so far the few that did know didn’t care. However, that didn’t mean anything. While she retained her optimistic demeanor around people, mostly because even if they were mean to her she saw fit to only think it was a misunderstanding.

“Five gold Miza?” She couldn’t possibly do that let alone ten. She looked a bit forlorn. Maybe she could trade with him for at least just the information of where this man was. She blushed slightly and said, “Do you have anything I may do in trade for you for the information of where this trainer might be?” She asked. “I don’t have quite that much right now.” She looked at the other man hopefully. She had been able so far to trade services that she had experience of, however, she had pride she did not trade sex for anything. That was for her mate if she managed to have one in her life, if not she in her mind would die never had experienced that kind of intimacy. Up until now she had not had to experience it because she had for the most part either had the money, or been on her own in an unpopulated area. However, advances now had been extended to her, as she was a fairly nice looking human when she was in that form. “I will only trade for things like hunting, or herding, and yes…” She looked at him a bit wary. “I am a Kelvic, Dynakuva Painted Desert Dog is my beast. I will do anything also that is of work but to trade my body…” She looked away feeling dirty even having to mention it. However, a few men when she had asked before had come with her laying with them right off the bat.

She was completely ignorant of any laws what if she had already broken some she didn’t know what they were. “Would someone tell them to me? What if I have broken some already?” Panic began to appear in her voice and on her features. “What… what will happen to me if I did, I mean on accident or because I didn’t know?” Then she saw a tall man standing beside the man she was talking to. She looked up at him, and wondered whom he was. Then the man noticed him too and made it known that he was Ravin. Well that meant that she wouldn’t owe anything to this man unless he taught her Drykas. She blinked, and then smiled. “No… No.... Not coning me, friend. Just trying to find some training, and maybe some language learning?” She informed the new comer.

[Lariat]

No mizas, who traveled around without any money what so ever? How would you survive like that and feel your belly. " Hmm.. that does seem like a bit of a problem " he said eyeing her up and down. She didn't look like she could do much for him, but maybe she was particularly adept at a trade skill or something along those line he didn't know. He could always use a cook, or an arm band or two, and if she was particularly talented perhaps a tattoo. Tosun had been meaning to get another one to signify his victory days back in a skirmish with a pair of nasty glassbeaks. Her next words though silenced his musings though and he wondered how he could possibly use hunting or herding, neither where particularly his area of expertise but he supposed he could challenge her to get him some dinner in return for his help. Yes, fresh game sounded like a good idea for dinner tonight.

The thought of her trading her body for his services profoundly affected his pride, after all why would he need a woman to sell her body for him to receive a night of love, and any others that would consider it he considered mere beasts. The realization that she was a kelvic totally escaped him so focused was he on the slight to his pride, and as such no shock showed on his calm face that had a smile plastered on it. " No need for you to worry for your body, I wouldn't take it even if you offered it, and I might be a coin pincher but I don't have to resort to that to feel the warmth of a woman " he responded a bit sharper than he intended but his sense of pride was damaged and he felt the need to express his feelings. He started to open his mouth again when Revin came up, and his thoughts of a good meal, disappeared as abruptly as his thoughts of profit had flown earlier.

Revin spoke up before Tosun could open his mouth again. " The laws are simple; Breaking any of the Seven Drykas Laws is punishable depending on the conditions of the Law. Thieves who steal from homes or shops must first return all possessions to the original owners and then will have a choice of handing over valuable items or a specified amount of coin, or performing back breaking labor work around the city under supervision. Spars are a natural way of Drykas life, but there are specific places around the city where those activities are best carried out, named the War Storm Pavilion of the Diamond Clan. Anyone discovered fighting in residential areas will be put to work retrieving spears and arrows from target sessions at the War Pavilion. This is to give them a taste of what it is like to be in the wrong place at the wrong time - much like what any civilians would feel being caught in the middle of a reckless man's duel. It is expected and even encouraged that they be injured, so that their lesson will stick. Killing of any intelligent creatures in Endrykas is absolutely forbidden. Punishment is being sent to one's death out in the wild grasslands on foot. Once the person has breached Endrykas borders and entered this open land, any Drykas who wish to carry out the execution are free to do so as they are no longer under Endrykas rules when outside the city. " he said in a rehearsed ton and was joined in by Tosun midway in the recitation just showing that it was pretty standard among them. " I'm sure your fine law wise, and as for your request for training what are you looking for, I know a little bit of hand to hand kind of fighting but I work just as well with a dagger. As for compensation I'm sure your offer to do a little hunting for me would be sound as any payment for a day's work " Revin said with a smile and extended his hand to shake hers.

[Kaja]

Kaja blinked at him as if she had been smacked by his words. However, in this place the men might be more honorable then at others, and she had already went down that road of naivety in other cities. She hadn’t wanted to go down that road of humiliation, and pain again. Not that she had allowed herself to be used that way, she was still pure, but the pain came in a beating until she got away. Though she kept that memory to herself, his rebuke was felt however, and she lowered her head not saying a word back. It wasn’t worth further hurts from words to her on either side. Luckily for her before he could open his mouth anymore to rebuke her for his slighted pride her would possible trainer came up himself.

She looked at him, and listened, hoping she could keep everything they said inside her sometimes sieve like brain. She hated that she had been left with a slight weakness of her mind from her near death experience in the river that day so long ago. However, it seemed to heal slowly and she got back what was lost as well in the slow fashion, her memory was improving when she chose to exercise it. Which she was learning to do so more and more now, so she closed her eyes, listened very hard, while also concentrating her mind as much as she could to try to retain what she heard of the laws of Endrykas. She told very little about her loss of memory, and weakened trait. She didn’t want anyone to know she was flawed, and in her mind broken. She would never allow herself to be looked down upon and hurt her chances of having her greatest desire a master of her own, honor to her to serve someone.

She nodded when he finished not saying a word about the laws. They seemed reasonable, if not a few being a bit harsh, however she knew this was a harsh world she was born in. It really was a world of survival of the fittest, and she knew with her ailment while not detrimental, at times it did leave her vulnerable without things she needed when she lost them because she couldn’t remember where she left them upon changing into her animal form. It had not affected her too badly so far, a few scars added to her body, and maybe a few nights gone without food when she couldn’t hunt anything out, but she had always thought before she left she had been a bit too heavy.

She looked up at the taller man now, taking his hand, “Kaja,” she said in way of introduction. Her hand shack was not weak, yet it was not as strong as what a man would do to another man. A show of brute strength, or domination of the other, it had a firm, but definitely feminine soft quality denoting she was no push over, yet she was still a woman that allowed a male to have more domination as per her race, and background. Kelvics from there serving nature while still had their own style of thinking, and degrees of rebellion on their parts depending on their animal’s personality were not wholly always dominated by those they served. In her case her personality was of working together, and while she had her own mind and would voice it, she would rather follow then lead, though she would lead if push came to shove.

“I do not wish to learn with weapons. I am Kelvic, and I feel for me learning more disciplines that made use of just my body, and those things around me for extra protection would suit better.” With pride she stated, “I am a Dynakuva Painted Desert Dog of a pack in Syliras, we as a pack that served the farmers as herding dogs for their livestock, and did it well. Sometimes being hired out as guard dogs too, or hunting animals, but mostly herding.” Her head was held high; while she knew she was not always accepted in other areas her pride for her pack and parents was still high. Yes, sometimes she was afraid to mention it out right, but that did not mean she still did not have pride. “Because I am female I am made to go out of my pack when I become of a … certain maturity…” She tended to avoid the word sexuality as much as possible she had learned with past conversations that certain humans did not have the maturity level as others and they would laugh, joke, or even make overtures to her about it. To her it just meant she was able to procreate, and promote her race, and hopefully her breed, however others sometimes had a different outlook on it. “I am out looking for either creating my own pack, finding a master to serve, or both…” She shrugged. “To settle down, make friends, and a life, learn what I can to better myself to serve whomever takes me on, and strikes an alliance with me…” That was it she had just bared her heart’s desire to these two men she barely knew, whether they would know how deep that was to her she did not know, but she felt very vulnerable and exposed at that moment.

[Lariat]

Revin studied the curious girl before him, and mused on the fact that she was a kelvic. Perhaps a little bit of teaching her how to use her body would perk her interest and he knew how to do that, but it was unusual not to seek out training with a blade, or arrow, sometimes fists didn't quite cut it as well like when facing a heavily armored opponent. The thought awoke an aching pain in his fist as his body remembered that fight, the fight that was more painful than he would have expected, and the reason he took up a blade as a second discipline. Still who was he to refute her request, let her learn on her own the draw backs to relying on solely unarmed combat, and as he continued to think about it, he supposed it was in her best interest anyways since she was a kelvic, and besides he didn't see her riding off to war anytime soon, and she could do with some self-defense to protect her from those less than reputable men out there. She was a pretty woman, and that would get her in trouble in the future with men who preferred to take what they wanted, so today he would just teach her some self defense moves to ensure she stayed safe out here, and consider it as a public service for the moment unless she requested more, then he would have to work out some sort of repayment for his time, he did have his own errands to run after all.

Hearing her other statement, he didn't take to much note about it seeing it as not truly his or his friend to take that place, they had their own families, animals, and other things to take care of then watch out for this single woman in this city. For her other wants she would have to seek elsewhere as neither he nor, Tosun had such a desire to do anymore than make her way about the city easier and safer for her, anything else for the outsider fell out of their realm. Perhaps the kelvic will find another elsewhere in the city, but it is not my problem he thought, and then he nodded at the completion of her statement. " Well, if you follow me to the War pavilion, I'll see if I can't teach you some self defense moves but anything else you might seek you will have to look elsewhere " he said tipping his head to her and then turned to Tosun, before he would make his way back to the pavilion. " Give me a few bells worth of time to finish the training then meet me at my tent for drinks later " he told his friend, clasping his wrist, and pulling him close to pat his back before walking past him, and waving for Kaja to follow.

Having come right from there it was easy for him to find it once more, and so when he came to the large pavilion he waved his greeting to the people standing outside of the tent before entering in, and choosing a less active corner to teach the woman. The corner was relatively quiet if you could discount the clanging of blades and the hiss of arrows nearby, but it had enough space for him to do what he had came to do, and get out with little interruption. " The most important thing for you to know is a little bit of self-defense so I want you to hold your arms like this " he said holding his arms close to his body, both of them facing vertically and meeting at the top making the tip of a triangle. " Make sure you close your fist like so also, and keep your legs spread out for better maneuverability " he said, doing the same in slow motion to better her understanding of what he was trying to get across.

[Kaja]

Kaja tried not to look disappointed, as her feeling was that he was literally making her self worth look less to her. She knew it wasn’t meant like that whatever his reason for saying what he was saying to her about her finding her own help for the other things had nothing to do with her. However, it was very hard, and she looked down, dragging her feet a bit behind him when he led her off. Was she someone that did not look like someone that could serve properly? Did she look like she had nothing to offer? Maybe it was her human form, as a human she looked to delicate, to …. Useless. She was beginning to hate being in her human form even more, in her dog form she would command respect, she would be seen as useful, as the hunter or herder she was, in this female human form she looked like something that could do nothing.

She followed him into an area where there were lots of people around fighting in various forms and doing different things. Her eyes looked around taking it all in. The clanging of the metal on metal was slightly hurting her ears and she put her hands over her ears, her eyes squinting slightly. However when he eventually got her to where he wanted her and turned around her hands had dropped from her ears even though the sounds still distracted her and hurt her ears, and her eyes she tried to open her eyes to look wide eyed, interested, and intelligent rather then someone that was pained by the noise. She had to find some worth to those around her what if not by strength?

She watched the movements, and listened to what he had to say. She nodded her head, and while she was clumsy at first in her movements when she mirrored his she didn’t do that bad. She felt foreign in her movements in her human form. She had spent so many days, months, even a year or more in her animal form being in the human form and moving felt odd and uncontrolled. She growled softly to herself out of frustration. She already felt affronted from the man by him seeming to reject her in her mind as something he seemed to find unusable in his life, so she wanted to prove even more that she had some redeeming qualities to this proud, strong, athletic man. “How would this help me in my animal form too?” She asking needing something she could use in both forms. She couldn’t understand how this could be translated into something she could also use in her dog form too.

She was getting even more frustrated, and even angered. It made her miss her own kind, and pack even more. She knew she shouldn’t be getting angry with this poor man. He was trying to help her best he could. Would she ever feel like she was truly understood here? That she needed to adapt anything she learned to a total other form? That she was more then just this walking woman? That this wasn’t really even the true her, that her dog form was her true self? She watched as he showed her other moves, all the while her brain was also trying to adapt the moves to her animal form too.