A Day Among Many

[Belgar]

OOCI've read over this so many times I can't tell if it's good any more. Sorry it gets kind of ramble-y.

Amusement shone in the Kelvic’s dark eyes as he watched Malisys barely rescue the front of his shirt from the fish grease and pudding left on his plate. It was a compliment in itself that his new acquaintance had been engaged in his explanation to the point of distraction, but the words did not hinder his swelling pride either. Belgar’s gaze moved from the almost empty plate to his own. There was certainly a dent in the pile of blubber, but he had not eaten quite as much as the men and women around him, whose plates had mostly been taken already by a different family of the community. He decided he would ask for the rest of the seal scraps afterwards, if they had not already thrown it out.

He took a rather large chunk of his meal in his fork, but did not lift it to his mouth just yet. “She is well; thank you for asking,” he replied politely, “She is living with her bondmate in Winterflame, a good five years from retirement, at least.” Like most bears, Belgar was not a man of family and was none the worse for it.

If Malisys had been any other Vantha, Belgar would have left it at that. After all, he could tell little else of his mother even if he wanted to. But the flattery had gotten the better of him, leaving the bear with an attraction he had not felt very often outside of his own race—that which was very similar to the connection between friends. So he continued, “My mother taught me how to be an Icewatch Bear. How to fight like one, live like one. How to hunt like one. I find I’ve learned much more from the Vantha, though. You’ve all something to share, and you are much better at keeping company! The barracks are comfortable, but no match for a conversation in a Hold.”

Only then did he finally eat his bite, struggling with it less as he grew accustomed to it. He thought it might help him finish with the others if he talked less, so he asked the teller across the table, “So tell me how a Coolwater catches a seal! Am I mistaken, or have I seen the use of a spear in one of your boats?”

[Malisys]

OOCWas nothing wrong with it that I saw, sounds pretty good to me. No worries. Malisys sat back in his chair and pondered for a few moments. He enjoyed listening and talking with Belgar, so he wanted to make sure his thoughts were collected. He gave the Kelvic a few moments to work on his food, then sat up straight and clasped his hands together. "Well, you see, the rumors are certainly correct, for the most part. When we hunt in a large group in search of many seals, we will take the boats. I've been on a few of these hunts before. We find a seal, then play a game of strategy with it, forcing it to keep moving towards a choke point with another one to three boats, then fill it with spears. We can't take any chances of missing, since the waters are so frigid, so these types of hunts often take many hours to accomplish. Malisys paused to take a breath. His hands were now moving in sync with his words as he spoke. "But I've heard of some small groups of hunters hunting seal by land. They trudge along the shores and look for a seal laying ashore for a quick rest. They study it for roughly ten minutes. Due to the nature of the beast and it weighing nearly seven times to ten times the average hunter's weight, they have to agitate it to come more inland, then surround it, assisting each other as needed. Finally, they're able to bring it down. It takes less time than a hunt by sea, but is much more dangerous. Malisys looked at Belgar, then around the room. He noticed that everyone else was beginning to finish their meals, and it was getting somewhat late. He wasn't sure how much about the Coolwaters the Kelvic knew, so he felt obliged to welcome him as warmly as possible. "Say, how much do you know of the Coolwaters? It is getting later, and mealtime is nearly over. When you finish, what say you to a tour of the Hold?" the Vantha asked, a warm smile on his face. He felt as though a friendship was budding between the two, and wanted to hear more of the man's stories. There was still some time left in the day, so he hadn't a clue where to start, though.

[Belgar]

Belgar took the time in that explanation to eat the rest of his meal. It intrigued him how the Vantha hunters often worked together for their catch. His dire size would make teamwork more of a burden when hunting something so small, but neither had he ever caught and killed more than one seal at a time. He briefly considered asking to accompany the Coolwater men on one of their journeys, contributing as a human himself, but ultimately there was no point to it. The bear was rather close-minded when it came to compromising the talents of both beast and man.

Nods of understanding and study rocked his vision as the Vantha went on. He almost forgot to stop when it ended, his eyes tinged with the faintest blue of thoughtful distraction. As the offer of a tour met his ears, so did he perceive the silent request for his plate from the boy who had already taken all the others’. Belgar nodded his consent and as his yet unclean plate was removed, gave another small smile to mirror Malysis’s. “Of course,” he replied, “In my long years I have not once visited this hold until now, even though its specialties are most akin to a my own.” While he recognized that few others had stood to retire, he added, “Now is as good a time as any. I would like to stretch my legs.”

[Malisys]

Malisys stood up and escorted Belgar out the door. He assumed the Kelvic had already seen most of the entrance of the hold, but he led him there anyways to start fresh. He smiled as they walked together, glad to have met a hunter outside of his hold he could respect. When they reached the entrance, Malisys held up his hands and pointed them towards the Hold itself. "Welcome to Coolwater Hold!" he exclaimed, clearly excited. "Let us begin." Malisys led Belgar to the dining hall, making some small talk and pointing out various small plants out along the way. Of course, they'd just come from the dining hall, so he didn't want to spend too much time with it, but felt it would be a necessary stop. He pointed at the structure with pride as they stood before it. "This is the Dining Hall, which you are well aware. One of our most prized buildings, built by the Iceglaze Hold. This is generally where we share our stories and mingle with other members of our Hold, so it is very important to the Coolwaters." the Vantha nodded involuntarily as he spoke of the Iceglaze Hold and the importance of the building. "We also keep our daily catch here and save any leftovers. However, seeing as our fish feed almost all of Avanthal, we rarely have a surplus. Can't catch too many fish and leave ourselves with none to breed." Malisys chuckled as he moved on, this time to a small building with a label of 'Training Hall' on top of it. He opened the door and led Belgar inside. A few Vantha were inside, practicing wielding their spears with speed and precision, others honing their reflexes in friendly sparring matches or dodging competitions. "This is our Training Hall. We come here to practice our skills. We have to be quick to spear a fish, especially in a moving boat. It's also important to keep balance, because we can't last more than a minute or two in the water, even with our Gnosis marks." He led the Kelvic out of the Training Hall and towards the Resting Quarters. A majority of the Coolwaters were headed there too to wind down to sleep. Personal homes were few. There was a Central building serving as both the guest quarters and a place for those who could not afford personal housing or simply wished to live with other family members. Most Coolwaters lived here, as personal housing was rather uncommon and only those who had special needs would move their families here. "This is where we sleep. Almost all of us stay in this building, and this is also where our guests can stay. You are welcome here any time, by the way!" Malisys said with a warm grin. He liked Belgar and thought he would fit in well with the rest of his hold, but figured him to be more of a loner type. Malisys moved much more swiftly as they approached the next destination. It was his favorite part of the Hold, the Dockyard. He ceased any bit of small talk and just looked forward, excitement in his veins. When they reached the docks, his eyes brightened and he extended his arms. "And this... is our Dockyard. All our fishermen gather here before embarking on their daily hunts. We keep our fishing boats and equipment here. There's a great view of the water. It's just such a relaxing place..." he trailed off with a lost smile on his face, staring at the swaying water.

[Belgar]

Hands in his pockets, Belgar stepped close behind—though not quite alongside—the Vantha as he led him outdoors. That now familiar smile erupted again over his contented face as he was welcomed to the place where he had already sat for so long; it would linger there for the rest of their short journey, faltering and growing again as distraction allowed. In the Dining Hall, he remembered his old thought about the seal fat, but decided it inappropriate to inquire at that time. In the Training Hall, he became briefly enthralled with the dexterity of the human bodies, but because he lacked any familiarity with the art, could think of nothing to ask. In the Resting Quarters, he was flattered by the invitation to stay, but was not yet tired enough to accept.

And so he said nothing through the majority of the tour, though it would be a lie to say he did not show his interest. He did not gasp or mutter or change the diameter of his eyes, but he had his own ways. As the dark water writhed beneath the Docks, challenging the night sky in the depth of its blackness, he looked out over the bay with a dream in his expression. In his mind’s eye, a boat crossed the water in the distance, pursuing three or four seals as they dove in and out of the air in desperate flight. The silhouette of a man stood at the front of the boat as his friends rowed heartily behind him. As they neared a thick floe of ice, he threw his spear.

Belgar’s fantasy melted into the bay as a particularly strong breeze tossed cold white foam at the pair. Reflexively he lifted his arms, but the light spray had already soaked small spots into his clothes. He chuckled once and did not move his gaze from the water to say, “We are already awake, bold sea!” It was his best attempt at a joke. He did not dwell on it.

“Your hold is not like the Barracks.” He mentioned, gaze turning between Malisys and the water, “There are all the same structures, but we bears are far less familiar than those we protect. It is larger there, as it should be, and training grounds take principal over the dining hall. But I do not dislike it. It suits me. It is my home.” There his eyes became downcast, eerily candid in the dim solitude. It had taken a long time for him to choose and accept that, after having lived among the cheery Vantha for nearly eight years, a whole generation in a Kelvic life. But it he had been told it was in his nature to prefer combat to conversation, service to camaraderie, and so it must have been true. His chin rose to the horizon again, lips flat. “Have you ever explored other holds, Malisys? How do you like the differences?”

[Malisys]

Malisys chuckled at Belgar's joke, but looked away at the same time, an awkward smile creeping across his face, for he did not get the meaning of the joke. Belgar changed the subject shortly thereafter, though, and Malisys' attention was gripped once again. The ocean's waves made for an interesting backdrop to the solemnity of the conversation, almost as if they were in a fairytale setting from one of the stories he'd heard growing up. At the onset of the question regarding other holds, Malisys seemed quite surprised and pondered for a few moments. "Well... yes, I have certainly been to the other Holds," he began, in a half-sarcastic tone. "The other Holds are very similar to my own, though most have buildings tailored to their specific needs. A dining hall and resting quarters are in every Hold, though." He looked out to the sea and smiled. He enjoyed talking to the Kelvic man, and considered him a new friend. He wanted to hear more of his stories, but it was starting to get late, so he knew there wouldn't be any time to delve into other subjects. "All of the Holds have their own unique flair, but nothing fits better than the Coolwater. I like to admire what other Holds do with with their talents, though. You say the Barracks isn't much different, but I don't remember going there. Would you mind showing me around sometime?" Excitement welled up in his chest. He'd always wondered about the Icewatch bears and where they lived, but he'd never been interested enough to go see the Barracks. Meeting Belgar and seeing how some of the bears were made him want to meet more of them and see how they lived.

[Belgar]

“This is only the beginning of my own tour around the city.” Belgar explained. He hesitated a moment before he decided against elaborating on his motives and his search. If Malisys did not know about that piece of Kelvic life, he would learn soon enough. He went on, “I have lived mostly in Skyglow, and secondly Icewatch. I have seen the outside of many buildings in my rounds, but rarely do I have the chance to wander indoors.”

Belgar tried to imagine what the other holds would look like, though he could only compare them with the Skyglow, and now Coolwater. The former was even more intimate to him than the Barracks, while the latter was new and fascinating, familiar in the bear-like talents of its residents. Though he was not surprised that Malisys had never before visited Icewatch, he was delighted to discover the Vantha’s interest in the stark warrior’s abode. “But of course I would see you around the Barracks,” he said, daring to reach out at clasp his friend’s shoulder for an instant. “Any time you would like to visit, ask for me and I will return the favor!”

He folded his arms and exhaled deeply at the black air, filling it with a fleeting, pale mist. The cold spring night only just tickled at his fingertips, but even that felt uncomfortable compared to the warmth of his thick fur coat. With no show of the discomfort, he indulged the man’s curiosities by adding, “I am sure you will find a bear or two who will be willing to train with you.” The smallest of grins flashed over his jaw at the suggestion. “Hunters make good fighters, I hear.”

[Malisys]

Malisys folded his arms across his chest as a large smile crept across his lips. He let out a boisterous laugh and turned his head to look at his new friend out of the corner of his eye. He could see what the implications of Belgar's words were, and he liked the idea. "I shall definitely take you up on that offer. I've never sparred with one of the Icewatch Bears before, though. This would certainly be a treat, as taking down a walrus weighing about twenty times less is fairly difficult." Malisys mused aloud. He was excited and his eyes once again shifted color. The Vantha turned to Belgar and extended his hand with a smile. He was glad to have made a new friend who shared in the indulgences of storytelling with him, and also had a good mind about hunting. He knew he could learn something from this man, and hopefully had something to offer in return. Only time could tell. "I am glad to have met you today, Belgar. I'm thankful to you for the meal we shared tonight, and for letting me hear your stories! I have to say though, I'm rather excited to visit the Icewatch Barracks. It sounds like a marvel in itself." he said as he shook the Kelvic's hand. "I'll take you up on your offer once I have some free time on my hands. I think I may want to hone my skills a bit before then, too. Until then, my friend!" Malisys turned away and headed towards the sleeping quarters, excitement brimming in his chest. A chance to see the bears in action would be worth it in itself. Fighting one would be a challenge he'd never been close to facing, though. Something that catered nicely to his desire to be a better fighter. He turned and gave one last wave to his new friend, before heading off for some rest.

[Cheshire]

. Character: Belgar Experience: Interrogation +3, Observation +1, Storytelling +1, Rhetoric +1 Lore: Trying to Fit in, Hiding the Truth, Thinking of Her, Hunting Styles of Collwater Hold [Basic], Collwater Hold [Basic] Character: Malisys Experience: Observation +2, Interrogation +3, Storytelling +2, Herbology +1 Lore: Boasting About Your Skills, Having a High Opinion of Yourself, Hunting Styles of Polar Bears [Basic], Additional Note: Great thread guys! PM me with concerns.