One of the lost. [Open]

[Matthial]

For his part Matthial listened while trying to watch his step. It was just as his foot found its way into a crevice that he heard a word he recognized. Grabbing his leg with both hands he gave a pull as he spoke. "Webbing.. like the magical kind? Is that how you.... uah!... found me?" Pulling his leg out at just the right moment he gave a satisfied grunt before continuing to follow Ronan. "Worse then glassbeaks? Like what?" This whole region was utterly alien to the man. He had been outside of Syliras for a LONG while. Yet most of it had been up north. The plains offered a new challange, something he wasn't expecting. As he followed he watched his companion. The man seemed a tad bit distracted, not by their surroundings, but by something else. Well now, everyone's got something hidden away nowadays. Life ain't gettin' any easier. Reality seemed to agree with the wandering knight, as he stepped into a rather large thorn bush. The chainmail protected his leg, and the thick boot his foot, but it was still irritating.

[Ronan]

Ronan looked back as he heard Matthial yelp, and couldn't help but smile when he saw the man trying to tug his foot from a crevice in the earth.

Semele bless him in these wilds...

"As for the Webbing - I have no doubt it could be used to find people, but no. I just found you, it's as simple as that."

Ronan pressed on, knowing they were almost upon Endrykas. He didn't quite know what to make of his new companion - he wasn't a man to play his cards to his chest, he seemed honest and genuine.

A truly honest man on Mizahar...? Ronan snorted. That will be the day! Every man had his secrets...

"Glassbeaks are just little chicks to the Drykas. There are serpents here that drift through the grass like fast flowing water - but you don't hear them. No one hears them, until it's too late. But even the serpents are fodder... there are phantoms and ghosts. This is Semele's realm, and it's not only the living that inhabit these Grasses..."

[Matthial]

Matthial was quiet for a moment as he re-adjusted his sword sheath under his cloak. The belt hand a tendency to push the chainmail underneath into his side when walking for long periods. Normally he just tucked his shirt in thicker there, but in this case it hadn't occured to him until just now. Listening to Ronan Matthial got the impression that the Sea of Grass was considerably more dangerous then he had been led to believe. "Hmm. Dealt with the dead before, would rather not repeat the experience. Say, how about you friend, you live in the city? Whats it like, I hear all kinds of stuff up north. They speak of strange magics, and men who marry more then one lady. Seems a bit.. wild down there." It was a strange thing, the more Matthial spoke the more it became apparent he was hiding an accent. His voice was apparently much deeper then he gave on, causing voice cracks when he said certain things. As he continued to walk, Matthial looked about. He didn't imagine they where close to the city, but it seemed reasonable that they where going in the right direction.

[Ronan]

Ronan laughed - just a little. "The dead are never fun to deal with."

He liked Matthial's humour, dry, yet warm. The man was quickly becoming likeable, and Ronan was beginning to enjoy the company on the trek back towards Endrykas.

"The stories you've heard are probably true - though people tend to paint us as barbarians... The patriarch within each family is called the Ankal - and he can have more than one wife. Not every man does that though. As for strange magics... there's the Web..."

Ronan trailed off as they crested the next slope of pointed grass. The moving city came into view, majestically stretching out before them. It was a network of horses and tents, all spilling from the Stalk Meet in the centre - where the pavilions met and shared.

"And there it is," Ronan said, a small smile forming on his face, "Endrykas."

[Matthial]

Matthial paused and took a deep breath. Exhaling, he studied the city in its entirety, and then, as the seconds passed, the minute details. It was a ritual, the taking of breath. Every place he had been he made an effort to remember it. His life didn't stand for much anymore, so he tried to make things where he could. Out of the corner of his eye, he guessed Ronan was happy to be getting home. Just as he was during his last visit to Syliras. Something about the place you where raised. Home wasn't where the house was. It was where you had been raised. Some chose to leave, and make a new home, but that first home was immortal. Stored away in the memories, and setting the standard for all that preceded it. Blinking away his thoughts the man laughed. "Well here we are. Booze, women of questionable ethics, gambling, and bug-ridden beds!" Turning, Matthial eyed Ronan, and then bowed his head while keeping eye-contact. "You.. do have women of questionable ethics yes?" The Drykas struck him as very tribal from Ronan's description. Since they wern't entirely civilized, they may not have any sort of organized prostitution. A shame, but the traveler was sure he could do without. Sometimes, he wondered what life would be like if he didn't spend what little socializing time he had around vagabonds, drunks, and bandits. Maybe he'd be a little more ...civilized himself? Giving a rueful grin to nobody in particular he smiled at Ronan. "Say are you a ..Ankle?" Taking another step, he started his descent towards the city of the Drykas.

[Ronan]

Ronan raised an eyebrow at the man's spoken expectations of Endrykas - it seemed Matthial would be surprised by the Drykas lifestyle and culture. The man had come from one of the urban cities - or so Ronan presumed. He'd heard his own rumours - of sleaze, crime, and prostitution.

"You might be disappointed," Ronan said carefully, "women are sacred here - the daughters of Semele. Their ethics aren't generally questionable..."

He realised he was probably making Matthial feel awkward. He was painting a picture of Endrykas full of stringent rules and pure law.

"There's fun though, if that's what you're looking for. The booze is abundant, and the evenings are full of party and song."

And the drums... I remember you playing them Darus. And the dancing. Everyone was dancing...

"I'm not an Ankal," Ronan began walking again, "I'm not even in a pavilion any more."

And then he said no more, realising he had already revealed far too much to this foreign stranger, unaware of the ways of the Grass dwellers.

[Matthial]

Ugh, youngins, always so touchy. Laughing, Matthial continued to walk. "No need to get amped up friend, I was making a joke. Syliras isn't filled with women of questionable ethics either. ...well.. I take that back. Some of those lady knights wouldn't bat an eyelash at using a blunt object on a bloke. Strong women those." The traveller felt himself walking a bit faster as they approached the city. It would be nice to have a ditch to sleep in. As opposed to an open field. "Booze is well enough for me. Do the Drykas use Miza's as the currency?" He'd joshed the poor hunter enough. Now Matthial was getting ready to explore a new city. Always an exciting prospect. .. and maybe find word on them..

[Ronan]

Ronan looked at Matthial. "I'm sorry... I can be a bit serious sometimes - or so I've been told. Endrykas is the moving city, and we get all manner of travellers. You'll find your Miza's will be taken by all establishments here."

He stepped forward into a main thoroughfare. The place was bustling as always - the crowds jostled, and market sellers shouted, advertising their wares at the top of their voices. He glanced at his companion, and saw he looked a little bewildered.

"Forget everything you've ever seen in other cities. This isn't really a place of organisation. Things have developed organically - and people go where they wish. It can seem a little chaotic for the first time. Come with me - I think we could both do with a drink."

[Matthial]

Matthial visibly perked up as his companion mentioned alcohol. He decided to stay silent at this point, for fear of offending his host. It was becoming evident that the Drykas had an entirely different sort of humor then what he was prepared to offer. The young man just walked beside Ronan and studied the city while waiting to be led to whatever drinking establishments Endrykas might have had.

[Ronan]

Ronan led Matthial to a hawkers tent he often frequented - the trader himself sold the hard stuff. Pure, unadulterated Cyphrus Ale. Endrykas only became a hub of drinking and dancing in the evenings, but the drink itself was sold all day long.

He turned to his companion. "You'll find the parties don't begin until sunset - but you can start drinking whenever. Here, save your Miza's. I was rude, so I'll get you this drink."

It's time I made an effort. How will I ever get anywhere if I just keep pushing?And besides... I love seeing outsider's spluttering over the hearty ale we Drykas drink. A little smile began to play on his face as he handed over a gold miza to cover two drinks.

He passed the flagon to Matthial. "Here you go. Drink up."