Open [The Great Bazaar] All That You See

[Duenna]

Summer 10, 516

Duenna drew a breath inwards, steeling herself against the cacophony assaulting her. Everywhere, everything was vibrant and alive; humans bustled throughout the marketplace, twirling through the morning sun that gleamed through the high windows. Below, lanterns of all variety, whether magical or flame, called attention to the wares of eager vendors calling out for her Miza. The lost girl was frozen near a rare bit of unclaimed space along the wall, paralyzed in her plain cotton gown. The fabric fluttered around her thighs as she anxiously wriggled, attempting to muster enough bravery to go out and about again.

She had left that morning emboldened, stashing the most of her money in her room before braving the castle again. The doe would have preferred to bury it somewhere safe in the woods but worried about the inaccessibility of it, though she had frequently done so in Endrykas. Was it the maternal instinct of the deer that allowed her to never forget the placement of it? After all, it would be how a fawn would be found. Girls like you don’t have fawns, Duenna, she thought, teeth chewing her thin lower lip regretfully. One thin hand squeezed the silver chain of her necklace, and she had gathered whatever strength she would be able to find. Tentatively, one slender leg reached out, and then the other—she was walking, out into the shrieking marketplace, where the other people thrived so easily.

Some sort of animal keeper caught her attention first, some avian Duenna did not recognize perched on his shoulder. Seeing her curious eyes sweep over a glassbeak egg on his counter he chattered at her in common tongue, but spoke too quickly—she could not understand and shied away, fearful, towards a potter’s wares. Beautifully crafted, this shopkeep was a gentler personality, offering instead a smile in which the teeth were spotty and missing. Duenna turned her eyes downcast, reaching out with her fingers—but she dare not actually touch the pottery. Behind her, another creature passing by shoved her roughly forward, and Duenna was grateful for the fearful distance she had placed between herself and the dishes she could no doubt not afford. Reflexively her hand went to the lower hem of her gown, where she had sewn hidden pockets on the inside to guard her moneys. Had it been some sort of theft attempt, they were unsuccessful.

Even with all the mysteries and wonders of the bazaar, Duenna was a flower in the heat of this summer, quickly losing strength against the swirls of lively enterprise surrounding her. Eager for some reprieve, she stepped back into the moving throng of people, eyes roving for some sort of exit.

[Garland]

Garland had been busy for most of early summer and had barely gotten any sleep. He walked around the bazaar as a squire on patrol, but he still looked at the stalls and merchandise, seeing if he needed to wanted anything.

He was tired and his patron had given him a relatively easier assignment today than his usual patrols in the woods. Still the bazaar was not the easiest job in the world, and some would argue that the forest patrols were easier, but he had been running around the forest for most days now and only brief reprieves in the city.

He gave a yawn and watched the crowd. "I don't think I need anything right now..." He said to himself and looked over to some large bird thing perched on an old wiry man.

"You! Yes! Come! Buy from Victor's pet goods! Ha! Come! Trade!" The wiry man, most likely named Victor spoke out. Garland was sure that most of the animals caged were dangerous, and also that bird perched on his shoulder. It looked tamed enough though.

Garland backed off, he already had a pet and she mostly took care of herself. He ended up right beside a pottery stall, with plenty of colorful pots and such, creating a rainbow of pots with hand-painted designs, that would be perfect for anyone.

The only problem was Garland didn't really have a use for pottery unless he bought a plant along with the pot. He stepped away from the pots and noticed someone run pass him.

Looked like a thief but an inept one. He just ran pass a squire in very recognizable armor. That or either he was on a job and was late for something. Garland stepped away from the pots and found himself in the middle of the crowd.

He had gotten lost in the bazaar more times than he'd like to mention, despite living here most of his life. The fact that he was short and most of the people in Syliras were quite tall, he had to be on his tip-toes to even have a chance of seeing over the crowd. Still it was in vain, he was a short squire in a sea of people.

"Not again..." He said beside a rather tall person next to him. "Excuse me, mind helping me get out of this crowd? I can't see which way the exit is in this mess of people."

[Duenna]

It was hard to determine an escape route amongst the throngs of roving people and humanoids, but just as she had decided which way her legs would carry her, she heard another voice. Duenna would just as soon ignore it, except that the man appeared to be addressing her—and, coincidentally, seemed to be hoping for the exact same outcome she was. Duenna imagined that her face looked more than a little frightened as she turned to him, utterly perplexed that another might assume she knew anything at all. It was mere luck that she had noticed a clearer area nearby, hinting that an exit might be found. “Uh, she postponed, struggling to make her word choices clearly, “Maybe this way, yes?” As she spoke, the entirety of her form moved with the words, Pavi desperate to break out against all this common tongue. Her body had angled in the direction she ascertained, mouth spread into a smile she could only pray seemed more friendly than afraid.

In an effort to be helpful, the girl reached forward delicately, gripping one of his own fingers between her own and attempting to lead him with her towards the exit. Duenna had no idea whether it was the proper thing to do, but it seemed right in her own mind to help the man, as odd as it may look to bystanders. She was clearly poor, and an awkward foreigner at best, leading a Syliras squire as though she had him leashed. Though to be honest, Duenna did not know the difference between a Knight and a Squire at all; as far as she knew, they were all law enforcers of the same rank; but she realized that Garland would be the authority over her. For that reason, she would do all that she could to assist him.

Thus it came to be that the deer was attempting to guide him in the proper direction, breaks in the crowd revealing a gateway to a more peaceable setting where one might exit the bazaar. “What you wanted, Sir?” The question was spoken submissively, eyes downcast, hoping not to offend her betters. Though she was unwilling to look him in the face, she could spend decadent amounts of time admiring the play of light on his armor, the likes of which she had never been able to gaze at so closely. How many attacks had it been able to deflect for him? Duenna hadn’t failed to notice how much more peaceful Syliras seemed than Endrykas had been, and she knew it was the result of these armored men who patrolled.

[Garland]

Garland didn't much like being led by the hand, but he didn't mind too much. He always hated big crowds, if a chase was going on, big crowds are just horrible to navigate. Also being a man of short stature made this extremely annoying.

Soon enough the two of them made it out of the main bulk of the crowd, somewhere with a lot more breathing room. He finally had room to stretch his arms and legs. He gave a small smile at the person that helped him get out of the crowd.

She seemed very strange to his eyes, though. He couldn't quite put his tongue on it. "Oh I don't want anything, just a bit of help getting out of the crowd. Thank you." Garland gave a salute and looked around for anything suspicious.

There was no rule that you can't talk with people while on patrol, you just have to make sure you have your eye out though.

"I'm Garland, nice to meet you miss." He said happily, although his voice had a tinge of tiredness in it. Sera Catherine had been teaching Garland about Chivalry, did he have to kiss her hand or something? He had never really done anything "chivalrous" before.

He took her hand and gave a light kiss. He half expected to find a hand slapped hard across his face. He pulled back and looked at the person that led him out of the growing crowd.

She looked so meek, but much taller than Garland. Garland was built like a statue, bulk and brawn under the armor, compared to this person, they were nearly a complete contrast.

"Excuse me, but you seem lost. I may have trouble trying to push my way out of a crowd, but I do know this city quite well I would say. Is there any place you'd like me to escort you? A squire's job is to help anyone in the city." He said and thought about any place someone like her would like.

Judging from her looks, she was not a hardy drinker or a fighter, she looked more akin to someone who would weave baskets or sew a dress. Then again looks can be deceiving and it wouldn't be the first time a nice looking creature surprised him by being a skilled fighter.

[Samuel Longwell]

Grading Complete Please edit your grade request thread so that it's obvious that it's been graded. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions/problems with your grade. Name: Garland XP Award: Rhetoric 1 Lore: A pot is no use without a plant Trying to be chivalrous Notes: Duenna, no SE paid so grades withheld. Garland, I hope you enjoy your grades (even though there wasn't so much).