[Flashback] Making it livable (Solo)

[Faraluun]

Making things work (Part 2: Landing in a strange place) 24th of Summer, 496 AV Location: Alvadas NPC Approval: Received Underneath him the ladder shakes slightly as he shifted his weight, angling his feet forward so his black boots better held against the wood of the slender bar. He rested heavily on his forearms as he looked carefully around for the thin pole Aerla had mentioned, his eyes finally settling on it, the tool ever so casually laid across where the wooden tile of the roof met with the stone work of the gutter. Leaning his right side against the sparse stonework of the roof, he stretched out his right hand to wrap around the handle of the wooden pole, and bringing it to himself, he quickly went about looking for anything that might have gotten suck in the drains. He wasn't at all used to such work, but with a bit of explaining from her, and the promise he wouldn't fall off the ladder if he leaned against it right, he agreed to help her with the clearing of them. Syna's light blessed the sky now, but her radiance turned him mortal, his glorious shining silver skin giving way to bronze, his taut, compact muscles expanding and becoming less toned as his height also suffered. No longer did his horns grace his head, and leaving only a mass of brown hair. A sigh escaped him as he rolled his shoulders, and stretched his arm out to its length, probing the tip of the pole as far as he could to get a clump of dead leaves that had collected there. Tugging with all the might he could using only one arm, the mass of leaves scrapped softly against the stonework till eventually it was in arms reach and allowed him the chance to tuck the pole underneath his arm and simply scoop the dead leaves over the edge to plop against the ground with a wet smack. There was joy to be hand in such simple work, and with a slight smile he repeated the process on the other side, stretching out as far as he could while making sure to keep his arm hooked around the edge of the ladder, and his feet locked in. If this was as easy as climbing got he had no idea how some people managed it, especially on mountains that had not such easy hand holds as this wooden ladder did. Within one tremendous tug, he had brought the pile of leaves on the opposite side to him, and scooped them out much like he did the others, careful to not throw his weight into any of his movements as he kept wary of overbalancing like he had last night. He could still see a few leaves the pole hadn't been able to get, and taking a hesitant step up the ladder he slowly climbed up till the lip of the roof was in line with his hips. Spreading his legs apart, he pressed his knees against the sides of the ladder, locking them in place as he leaned forward and slowly picked at the smattering of leaves dusted against the base of the gutter. The wind picked up not to far along beside him, but thankfully wasn't strong enough to blow his feet out from under him, and becoming more and more focused on the tiny clumps of leaves still there, he shifted his feet closer to the left of the ladder. It creaked ominously, but after just quivering a moment did nothing else, but still was unnerving to make him step back to where he was a pick up the rest quicker. Soon enough he was starting down the ladder, placing one foot right after the other, never focusing to much weight on the rungs while making sure to keep a solid grip on the wood that had a tendency to be slick in the morning from dew according to Aerla. When his feet finally touched down on the ground he almost felt like kissing the cool grass, and quickly stretched out the tense knots in his muscles that had bundled together when he was maintaining his rigid position on the ladder. He started first with clenching and unclenching his fists, stretching out his muscles taut as he spread his arms as far wide as he could manage. The sun dazzled across his sweat dapple forearms, the glittering reminding him of his night's form, and quickly paling in comparison. In this form he played host to more concerns that he could possibly manage, but the drive he felt thrumming in his chest seemed to speak of other things, things that made this form not so bad. He slowly brought his now unclenched fist back to his chest, knotting his hand in the fabric of his shirt as slowly he drew it off of him, giving his body some air, and showing of the dark tattoos that so patterned his body, the circles of thorns that encircled his arms being the only ones he could see himself for the moment. Always full of discoveries this body was, but he hoped one day to find out just what everything meant, and what exactly he himself was. Just then a door opened, and Aerla came out a bucket of water held in one hand, and shovel in the other. "Your done. Good, I could use some help planting" She said was she extended her hand and put the shovel in his hands, before quickly brushing past him, and making her way behind her home through a thin alley. Behind it as small square patch of dirt rested where the cobble stones had been removed to reveal damp loam beneath. Gripping the shovel firmly in hand, he watched silently as she set the bucket down and examined the earth, pushing a finger into the soil before withdrawing it, and disappearing back into the alleyway from which they had come. She came back to find him laying against the shovel, his eyes still yet watching for her to return, and when she did he was quick to swing the shovel to the ready, slapping it across his right hand as he held it like a club with his left. "So what're we to do?" Faraluun questioned, his eyes settling on her back only to glance at the wide clay jars she set out in front of her, and taking a small step forward he angled to get a better view of what she was planning to do. "Get me enough soil to fill these three jars, then I'll tell you" she said with a slight smirk, settling back on her haunches to see him get the soil. With a hissing smack, the head of the shovel met the earth, carving into the earth only for him to lean back with the shovel and carve out a clump of earth in a shower of dust. Again and again he dug into the earth scooping out handfuls, till at last he had a sizable pile that came half way up to his knee, and letting the shovel fall to the cobbles, he kneeled on the ground and looked to Aerla who was now picking up the dirt in her hands, and placing it into the pots. "I was thinking the other night that having some plants inside might briten the place up, so thanks to your help we will have a little more in the common room than your bedroll." Aerla said with a soft smile, slowly filling up each jar in turn. "Now get inside and get cleaned up, I'll be in there momentarily"

[Faraluun]

A dull metal basin filled with water awaited him inside, the silence of the water lapping within pure and clean. Stepping out of his dust covered shoes, he padded over to the bowl resting on the table, pulling off the rest of his clothing on his way to it, leaving just his loin cloth. The water waited, waited to reflect a face not his own, and looking at the brown locks that cascaded down his forehead, the bronze of the skin on his face, the murky teal that so possessed his eyes, he felt a stranger. Faraluun the human, dived his hands into the cold water, rough palms rushing down to greet the smooth bottom of the basin only to rise up cupped together, splashing a wave of water aver his face and bringing relief to his sweat dripping brow. Water streamed down from his hair to cross his shoulders and prickle the skin of his body it made his way down, and looking around he made a attempt to wash more carefully, accepting the rag that rested beside the bowl, and soaking it throughly before carefully pulling it across his skin, every part of his body getting its attention in turn. Like tiny streams the water traveled across his skin, gathering the dust up in its wake and leaving fresh tan skin beneath. Standing still he fought to keep the puddle forming at his feet minimal all the while running the water soaked rag across bare flesh right down to his very toes. He tossed the rag in the water just as he grabbed the long strip of cloth resting just beside the basin, and quickly ran it over his tanned skin, whiping the water away under its absorbing properties. It reminded him very much of his beginning in the ocean not so long ago, the water that had so thrust him into the world even now was keeping his flesh free from grit. Water always had been a wondrous thing. Faraluun was quick to dress. Just to the side the door opened and found him half dressed and tugging on a shirt to cover his bare midsection. Aerla carried in one hand a rabbit still very lively, while the other one carried a tin pot, and she was quick to make her way over to the fireplace. "Care to help me try to cook?" Faraluun nodded curtly, taking the time only to straighten up his shirt before walking over to her to find the woman quietly piling wood in the fireplace, before taking out wispy tender to stock around the wood. Strange metals gleamed on the floor beside her, the two narrow bars seemingly useless to his eyes, but even them Aerla picked up and immediately began striking together which cause a shower of colorful sparks. The tender was dry and quick to take the flame, the heat dissolving the resistance of the wood and producing a wave of heat once the logs where properly smoldering with undisguised flame. It was almost enough to make him start sweating again, sweating being yet another disgusting habit this body of his possessed though it's reasons remained unknown. Silently the woman continued about her work, setting the tin pot over the pan, which he could now see held water within it, and almost instantly the metal hissed with the change in temperature. Gently she changed the pressure her legs put on the kicking rabbit between them as her hand defended to grab it by it's neck and quickly snap the weak bones that supported it. Her bright blue eyes twinkled as she turned to look at him, and hand him the now dead animal. "Help me clean it will you?" It was all he could do to simply hold the dead animal in confusion at her bizarre request. Why did she want him to clean a animal she had just killed? Before he could open his mouth to speak though she produced a fine knife from the folds of her cloak, pushing it into his hand as well, and in the deep recesses of his mind he recognized the concept for what it was. "Skin it you mean?" His words fumbled from his lips, betraying his uncertainty and sheer lack of comprehension of his own words that so confused his mind. The language was his own, but the subtleties yet escaped him. Faraluun gripped the blade anyway, setting its sharpened tip on the animals flesh to rip through its hide to the tender muscle beneath. Dragging in long cuts, the fur covered skin fell away from flesh in strips, the fuzz taking to the air only to stick to his own clothing or that of the woman sitting nearby tending to the fire. He continued to do so on no word of the woman's assuming, hoping that this was what she had meant though his mind lead him to believe otherwise. Half a bell, and one pile of bloody fur later he was done and putting the mangled body of the rabbit in the water filled pot whose water was now well under way of boiling. It sizzled and popped as it met the raw, red flesh, thinning out some of the tendons but otherwise tenderizing the flesh they held within to a constancy that would be better able to be enjoyed by humans. "How long do we wait?"

[Faraluun]

As with much everything she did, her answer was rather vague, her words more suggesting that he spend his time doing something productive for a while, than simply sit here and watch the meat cook. Hesitancy shaped his actions but his stood up all the same, and eyes turned to the sky, he silently wished he was by leth's side once more, or at the very least someone would explain to him what exactly he was doing here. He'd sooner bite his tongue clean off than doubt leth's divine judgment, but his short time amongst the world had already proved to be very confusing, and he was finding it harder to sift through that which had been presented to him. For the moment though he contented himself to sit at the table, staring at the stack of parchment the woman had placed there, and blandly stare as a inkwell and quill was placed before him, Aerla finally taking a seat across from him. "I believe I promised to teach you a more about summoning last night" She spoke with a rare wry smile, before taking a sheet of parchment and quill. With an ease born of practice, she drew a circle, and then a smaller one within that circle. "Now, take up a piece of parchment and copy what I drew onto your own paper" After gathering the necessary materials, he attempted his own circle on the parchment sheet in front of him. Putting to much pressure on the quill, he could could hardly maintain a straight line, much less an evenly rounded circle, the tip of the quill wobbling across the page because of his improper handling of it. Noticing his trouble, Aerla got up and moved behind him, placing her hand over his. At the insistence of her fingers, he loosened up on the quill, and let her hand guide his through the proper passes making for more precise looking circle than his first crude attempt had been. "Now, you try it on your own, and don't press so hard down on the parchment!" She playfully chided, before walking away to go check on the stewing rabbit. Filled with trepidation, he started anew on a fresh sheet of parchment, and taking her advice to heart, he started on the circle much slower this time, letting the quill more or less glide across the paper. It made for a fainter line, but at least it wasn't wavy like his first attempt had been. Several moments Aerla announced that the rabbit had finished cooking, he'd managed to complete two circles, one inside the other, though truth be told, they were more ovals than circles. It still drew a small smile from him, and satisfied for now he raised up from the table to join Aerla by the fire. Work on the circles could wait after midday meal, his growing hunger demanded his attention for now.

[Faraluun]

"Why can't I just use the top of a bowl to draw these circles?" Faraluun asked in frustration after realizing his drawing was more oval than circle. In truth, it wasn't the circles that bothered him, though they where proving rather vexing. His attention however kept drifting to wondering about this strange city, and why he had surfaced here. It gnawed at the back of his mind, a question begging to be resolved.

"Because bowls do not make suitably sized circles for summoning" Came her matter of fact response as she walked over to check on his work so far.

"Then why am I practicing drawing these smaller circles?"

"Because if you learn how to freehand smaller circles it will be easier to draw out the bigger circles"

"Why am I even doing this? I don't even know who I am" He replied, more to himself than to Aerla, a bit of irritation creeping into his voice.

"Ah, so thats whats got you so distracted" Aerla replied after a few moments pause, sympathetically putting her hand on his shoulder. "I know that not knowing can be a painful thing, sometimes there is no clear answer to be reasoned out. Sometimes it must be sought after."

At that he looked back at her, her familiarity with the subject bringing so many questions to his mind, but spoke before he could give any of them voice.

"I'm going to go look and see what I can find out about what you seek. In return I expect to see you to be able to draw me a proper circle when I get back" She said as she moved for the door, giving him one last look before leaving. With a sigh, and more distracted than ever, he went back to drawing circles.

[Faraluun]

He'd lost track of how many circles he'd drawn when at last the door creaked open, and Aerla swept inside, a pair of books tucked underneath her arm. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed them accompanied by her smile, which surely meant good news.

"It seems you belong to the Ethaefal" She said as she walked towards him, setting the books down across from him on the table. Noticing his look of confusion she continued quickly. "Its apparently what people like you have come to call themselves"

"People like me?"

"Yes, there are others, its all in here" She replied easily, tapping the books. "It took me a while to find out what I was looking for, and even longer still to find these two"

"Can I see them" Faraluun asked expectantly, unable to keep himself from staring at them. In those could lie the answers to all of his questions.

"Not yet, first you have to show me that you can draw a proper circle"

"Of course" He readily replied, before taking out a fresh sheet of parchment, and putting his quill to it. Slowly he worked it across the paper at a continuous slope until at last he met the line he started with. To his disappointment it was not as rounded as Aerla's circle, and snatching it off the table, he moved to crumple it up when Aerla's hand touched his shoulder.

"That looks fine, I'll leave you to your books." He grinned despite himself, and watched her disappear into her room before picking up the first tome. It had a worn light blue cover, its title, My time in Lhavit by Doran, almost unreadable as faded as it was.

Opening it up, he started sorting through its contents, carefully thumbing through the pages till he found the first mention of the Ethaefal.

but there was nothing more awe filling than the Ethaefal, a graceful and wondrous people. They seem to frequent the city often, perhaps because they feel closer to Syna and Leth here, or perhaps there is a deeper connection to the city. In any case they are truly beautiful to behold, though they are difficult to befriend. You try to buy a beautiful lady a drink an..

It went on to detail some nonsense about his failed relationships, and a particularly bad bout of sickness that the writer blamed on the local cuisine. The rest of the book proved just useless drivel about the various 'inconveniences' 'suffered' throughout his stay, to Faraluun's disappointment.

Putting it to the side, he picked up the other book, this one clearly in better shape, its title, A Collection of Ethaefal Accounts, clearly visible and filled him with hope. Perhaps this one would prove more enlightening. To his surprise, he found a beautifully scribed note just above the title of the first chapter when he opened it up to its first page.

"From a rift in the realms, we descended, torn from the grace of the sun and moon to be thrust bracingly back into the cycle of life. It is our fate to remain here, and remember what we once had. It is our burden to bear."

Chapter 1: On the Origins of the Ethaefal

He read on, captivated by what the book spoke of.