Road to the White Tower- On the Road Again

[redcoat]

Migration from the Enjin platform

[opius]

CautionCat:
The first day of travel wasn't too eventful. A new traveler who needed to go the same way had joined them, and she seemed nice enough. A map maker. That must have been quite the adventure to log...
Konane had taken seat next to Alain during their travels, actually using the time to write in her journal. Something she was coming to enjoy. But after a few hours, the Otonin felt the need to stretch her legs and chat with the others who walked behind the wagon.
The days were getting warmer- a kind of warmth she was not accustom to. The seasons were the same, and yet different.
"Once we break for the day, or even between, I would like to search for... Plants to use. Maybe even hunt?" She spoke aloud, to no one in particular.

Ancelas:
Alain had propped up the travel bags they had loaded into the wagon, as well as the horse feed, to provide a lumpy backrest to those seated on the driver's seat. He reclined there, legs crossed over the footrest, reins held loosely in one hand. His eyes were half-closed, lulled as he was by the steady clop-clop-clop of Kenta Bobblesnoggins as the horse plowed steadily southward.

The Aegien stirred, blinking a few times before he squinted up in the sky to judge the sun's position. "It is almost time for lunch," he observed. "The border should be coming up soon, and there ought to be a clearing there we can unhitch the horse and settle for a time. A good place to hunt and gather, as it were."

Opiii:
Hunting. Alastair thought on the word as he sat in the wagon. It was a somewhat disheveled mess of hay, luggage, and various bits and pieces of equipment. Wooden pieces, lengths of leather, springs, gears, and at it's center: a ginger from Liore.

The mess of equipment and hay helped dull the sounds of travel, in addition to the thoughts running through his mind. He'd found another project to dig his teeth into, but for now it was in the preliminary stages- cutting wood to size, stitching leather together.

So far he'd been at this almost from the get-go, and it was getting to be about time to organize his progress and take a break. He spoke up as he placed down a freshly sanded wooden plate, reaching with beige-dusted fingers to the orange bound book.

"Where are we now? The Kingswood, right? I don't know if my professor came around here, but maybe there's notes, places of interest or something." He paused a beat. "... Though I think Klinkle has that herbalism book from the Green Thumb- might be worth a glance."

Suzune:
Milly enjoyed traveling with other people. It was preferred to having to make her way alone because it lacked the interesting conversation. They were clearly a colorful group of people that were from a varied background. She wondered absently what it was that keeps them together. But questions like that would have to wait a little, she was still a new face and she did not wish to pry without reason.

The case that her map was in thumped lightly against her back as she traveled on. She would be sure to mark this route on it later. It would be important should she to travel this way again or sell the mapping information later.

"Yes, I believe we are just at the edge of the Kingswood." Milly commented lightly, hearing Alistar's question. "Seems like a nice area up to this point. Not many problems at least right outside the city, that is good. I worry what might have befallen the missing trader transport."

Ancelas:
"The same wood we entered after we left the Fields of Mourning," Alain mused. "The Kingswood stretches from the Fields down past Auros. You could spend a week travelling and still be within the Kingswood... so named back when Rhinoa and Astorea were one kingdom. Most Rhinoans tend to forget that the forest reaches into Astorea... it's easy to forget that the two nations used to be one."

He leaned forward and stretched. "Hence 'Kingsroad' as well. We'll be taking the White Road once we pass the border - the only road north of Auros that leads to the White Tower. It is a short journey." He turned and nodded to their newest travelling companion. "As you are well aware, of course."

He stood up then and squinted into the distance. "I think another mile or so should do it."

Eventually they would arrive at the border - a large clearing in the forest with a sign on the road with a sign facing both north and south with the words "Welcome to Rhinoa" on one side and "Welcome to Astorea" on the other. There were signs of recent camps - travelers who had arrived at Fort Bragh over the previous week from Rhinoa. Alain led the wagon off the road and brought it to a stop, hopping down to tend to the horse.

Uberwulf X:
The Kingswood... Jaeger nodded to himself as he walked at the rear of the party. His eyes were on the back of the newcomer's head, watching and listening to her words and demeanor just as much as he'd observed everyone else that he'd come to travel with. As could be expected, he did not speak at all with her nearby, rather preferring to gesture his answers or suggestions until he could get a full read on her. As of yet, she'd given him no reason to be alarmed, but it had only been a day, and they had yet to meet a ruffian on the road that would allow the half-giant to see her mental mettle.

All that aside, he had nothing to add to the conversation so continued to listen, resolving to hunt when the time came. Once they reached an area Alain felt comfortable enough to pause the journey, Jaeger moved closer to Sae and folded his arms, waiting to see if she would be joining the hunt.

CautionCat:
Konane nodded to the idea of finding a resting spot. That would be nice, especially to look for something fresh for lunch. Rations, after all, were for when you couldn't find anything, or weren't able to hunt for whatever reason.
She was most capable of hunting. "We need herbs. Berries? I could see what there is in the area I could use. I am unsure how far... south things grow that I am familiar with." She frowned some, then shrugged, as she took a seat in the grass, observing their surroundings. "But I should be... well enough to find something for a meal."

The Red Coat:
((Deception Check: 3))

+Sae had taken point, in so much as she walked in front of everyone. Walked in front of everyone and had a shameful cry at her most recent spat with Tali. Knowing the border was coming soon, and that everyone would like to stop, she had managed to stop crying and dry her face, trying to get some control over what she looked like- she was a Mareki, and a Gunslinger after all. They weren't supposed to cry over stupid little crushes and some hurt feelings. She was supposed to deal with those hurt feelings in the traditional way- repress them and turn them into anger at her next skirmish.

Stopping in the clearing, she settled down near the edge of the group, taking out her dagger and beginning to whittle a little creature out of wood as everyone made plans as to how they would spend their midday break.

"I can make a fire, if you'd like."+

*Shuffled Glassware*:
At the mention of the book, Klinkle dug it out to flip through it. "I think I shall forage with you Konane. If we're lucky we'll find some of those healwell berries. Seems to be the terrain for them."

Kyt:
Jennar was in high spirits as they were traveling again, no mind heeded for the strife between two of their companions. They'd spent some time getting to know their traveling guest, curious as to what stories she might have had from her travels.

When they stopped at the border, the half elf casually strode off towards the forest, Shai loping along beside them.

CautionCat:
Konane watched Jennar walk into the wood, and she looked to Klinkle. "Yes, we can find those berries, and I can maybe try to scare up some rabbit. As much as I enjoy bread and jam... meat is just much more satisfying."
Nodding some, she looked to the others, not asking if anyone wanted to join, but rather a reading if someone would invite themselves. "A fire would be nice, Sae. I would like to cook, and boil some tea, too..."

Opiii:
Alastair continued to flip through the orange bound book, but Fenderberrin's notes were often disjointed and nonlinear. The initial information regarding silver and the Fields of Mourning had been early in the book, while the note confirming that earlier thought was toward the end. And considering how large the Kingswood was, viable information could be anywhere. Or nowhere.

He closed up the book and scooted toward the edge of the wagon, stretching his arms out and squinting some. The light was a bit brighter in the clearing, without the roof of the wagon dampening the rays. Off went Jennar into the woods, unsurprisingly. She.. did as she liked. That Konane and Klinkle would go out searching into the woods was likewise unsurprising. Likely Jaeger would head off to hunt as well, leaving himself along with Sae, Taliesin, Milly, and Alain.

Left to wonder what he could do during the break, he considered his options. "Do you uh.. Need help with the gathering?" He glanced at Klinkle and Konane as they prepared to disembark. He then turned his attention around, looking across the other end of the wagon to observe Jaeger and Sae. "...Or uh... help with camp?"

Taliesin:
::Taliesin had moved to sit in the cart as everyone dispersed. He knew he screwed up, but he was unsure what kind of apology would work. He looked to Sae having seen her approach. He furrowed his brows as Jaeger moved to her first.

He sat for a moment thinking on the situation. He hopped down from the cart and silently joined Sae and Jaeger. "Sae ... I'm sorry. I only proved your point ... " He looked between the two and sensing he was not needed he bowed his head somberly and moved towards the tree line ::

The Red Coat:
+Sae watched everyone disappear to their separate corners as she sheathed her knife and pocketed the little wooden cat she'd been working on to build a fire. As Alistair asked her if she'd need help, she opened her mouth to answer.... for Tali to appear, apologize, and slink off. She frowned deeply and rubbed her eyes, before turning to answer the question.

"I won't need help, per se- I figured I'd just build a fire so we can cook up whatever meat the others bring back so it would be a little easier to pack up. You're welcome to spectate if you want, though- I never did give you that lecture on Illyrian politics."+

Ancelas:
Alain leaned against Bobblesnoggins, one arm raised over the horse's back as both equine and human both observed the interaction around Sae. Bobblesnoggins snuffed and lowered his head to nibble at his grass.

"I agree," Alain mused quietly, patting the horse and stepping away from it. "How long do you wish to stop for lunch?" He asked aloud, addressing the entire group. "Illia is not far, but it will be further if we dawdle for too long. The news we carry is..." He glanced at Milly and then back to the others. "Important. Would it be wise to go through the effort of setting up camp now?"

CautionCat:
Konane tilted her head, thinking about how long she would like to rest. It was important to bring... Milly to her destination, as well as Alain's business.
She shrugged, smiling. "I am unsure. How much longer until we arrive? A day or so?"
She stretched her back some, arms raised up as she approached Alain. She made a soft grunt as she tried to hold back a yawn. "Either or, I do not mind. I am in no rush, so it is up to you, and our guest, Milly." She would glance to her, and back to Alain.

Uberwulf X:
With Sae deciding to work on a fire and tea, Jaeger's head moved to where Jennar left. He would have tried to follow if that didn't involve moving quicker than a casual pace, so instead he walked to Konane, stopping behind the tiny woman and folding his arms once more. It seemed that Alain wasn't keen on staying long so it was debatable if it was worth actually hunting, versus the foraging that Konane wished to do. He waited silently for their decision, his gaze moving between them.

Opiii:
Alastair looked toward Sae as he meandered around the wagon. Though the elves weren't directly sharing their struggle, it didn't take the mountain's wisdom to see something was wrong. Tali left, and with him Sae clammed up a little. Naturally he averted his eyes, lest someone accuse him off finding some amusement in their strife.

Once the male elf went his way, and Alain spoke his piece, he considered their current situation.

"Well... I would think we'd be better off resting a few hours at least. If the talk of bandits is legitimate, we'd do well meeting them with full bellies and, ah, clear heads, yeah?" To that he leaned against the wagon, observing the red headed elf as she palmed her wittled creation.

"... Might take you up on observing an a good lecture," he spoke quietly. "You look like someone who could use a distraction."

Ancelas:
"In my experience, bandits prefer to strike on the road," Alain observed. "We'd be safe enough in a camp, I suppose... but taking the time to set up camp, then break it down, just to have a little lunch...?"

He eyed the red-headed young man, tilting his head to look over the rim of his spectacles at him. "I will yield to the decision of the group, but I think it would be... wasted effort to spend so much time on so temporary a place to rest."

He reached into one of the pockets inside of his coat and produced a muffin. With a look of childish excitement over the find, he took a large bite and drifted to the edge of the treeline, idly walking along the edge of the clearing where Taliesin had wandered off from.

The Red Coat:

+Sae frowned deeply. "No, I don't think setting camp would be the wisest. A small fire for lunch, to cook off whatever Konane, Jennar, and whoever wishes to do some light hunting to hunt and dress whatever they come across- perhaps two hours might be a good compromise?" She asked, looking to the rest. "And whatever can be cooked in a reasonable time, we can... and the rest can wait for tonight." She ran a hand over her hair which had been bunched back in a messy knot.

It took her little time to start a fire- and soon she had a decent cookfire crackling before her- which ate up enough time for the conversation about setting up camp to take place. She knelt back from the fire and gave Alistair a friendly, half smile.

"You are right- I could use the distraction." Once more she took out the small cat figure she'd been carving, and began to go at it once more with her dagger.

"The thing to know about Illyrian elves, is that up until twenty years ago, we weren't exactly a unified country. There were five tribes: Naithrani, who dabble in magic and feel that that makes them better and smarter than everyone else; the Mareki, like me, who primarily study and practice warfare; the Marini, who spend more time out on the ocean than in the forest; the Deori, farmers and fine artisans; and the Alurani, who lived in the forest." She spoke evenly as she carved, reciting most of the lecture from memory... though colored by her own opinions.+

Opiii:
Lips pursed he slowly nodded to Alain's suggestion. In his experience, eh. The older wizard seemed to have a wealth of those.

Unfortunately he agreed with Alain on that subject. But at the same time he was caught sympathizing for his elven companions, and some of that strife fell partially on his shoulders, as well as the others who sat at the table that morning.

After some deliberation he cleared his throat and stood up from the wagon. "Yeah, why... Don't we skip the hunting and instead perform a little.. reconnaissance? We're going to have to head back this way to get to Astor city. If we know what's here, we can ride a little easier on the way back."

Already Sae seemed to agree. He moved away from the wagon and approached her, listening on as she went on about the elves. Their culture wasn't exactly secret- he knew a bit about the elven people, even spoke the language... But he was certain that Sae was about to really drive home how little he knew.

So as she started making camp and talking he retrieved a spool of thread and some older, patched garments from his bag and sat nearby, beginning to sew and mend the worn material.

CautionCat:
Konane turned around, to see Jaeger tower before her in his neutral stance. His size as very intimidating, but his face was not. She smiled, and shrugged.
"I am... sure we can find something within the hour. Cook for an hour... I do not plan on being here long." She looked to Alain, who seemed to have a mixed feeling, but wanted to push on not lingering... even though he had suggested to stop for lunch.
He was an odd, fickle man. But part of her was still drawn interest, with his knowledge at least. With that, she would turn to the woods, wondering where Jennar had gone to, and Klinkle in tow to look for berries and such. Jaeger coming along wouldn't complicate things... she hoped.

Kyt:
Jennar had presumed that since they were stopping, they were foraging, and admittedly was taking advantage of the break to just....wander, for a bit. It was....somewhat uncommon for the half-elf to be around this many people for this long. So they wandered around with their bow, looking for foragables and small game (no deer this time, not while they were traveling quickly), while enjoying the peaceful nature of the woods.

*Shuffled Glassware*:
Klinkle wasn't quite sure where the notion ofmaking full camp had come from, but agreed it was a bit much for a meal break. "Shall we be off to find what we may?"

Taliesin:
::Taliesin drew his crossbow as he made his way into the treeline. He decided that it might be best to go small game hunting while he had the chance. Quietly he pulled the string back and locked it into position. This was followed by carefully loading a bolt.

He carefully tracked what he thought was a rabbit based on the gait and depth of impressions. This drew him a little deeper into the woods to narrow down his quarry.(Survival rolled 19+4=23) His footfalls had been silent at first, but as he attempted to walk silently he had somehow begun to find every bone dry branch that would crack louder than one might expect. (Stealth check rolled NAT 1) Each branch brought about hushed cursing that though quiet in his shouting mind was herald enough to give any prey a head start.

Lifting the crossbow more he had hoped to simply ignore the failures and still bag something. Up ahead to his right he thought he heard and saw something tiny bolt for it. After a quick aim he pulled the release to send the loaded bolt flying. (Ranged attack- rolled 4+2+3=9) A little more cursing followed and he returned the crossbow to ready to fire status. He wasn't done trying just yet. ::

Ancelas:
((For those foraging with the Wanderer feat, roll Survival with Advantage. For those without, if you're foraging with someone, roll with Advantage as they use the Help option - only one person can make this check if you are foraging with a friend.

Konane, roll a normal Nature check as well.

I'll wait for some results before posting the response.))

CautionCat:
While Klinkle looked for berries, Konane would hunt for rabbits. Jaeger had tagged along, but Konane preferred to be by herself when looking for prey. She smiled to Jaeger.
"It would be silly to go side by side to hunt. I will take the left of the woods, you can go to the right. Klinkle, if you head straight, I believe I saw some familiar leaves of the berries we are looking for."
(Nature, 20 unnatural. Survival, 20 unnatural.)
She nodded to Klinkle as well, a wider smile on her face. Mischevious. "We can meet back at camp. Shouldn't be long for me to scare something up."

Kyt:
(Survival 19)

The Red Coat:

+After making a quick adjustment to the fire, Sae resumed her work on the small cat figure, starting to carve in little details here and there as she gave the promised lecture.

"So, twenty years ago, the Naithrani decide that everything would be so much better if everyone was unified- with, of course, the Naithrani in charge." There was a hint of something in her tone- distaste?- that she barely managed to keep under wraps.

"The Mareki fell in line with them, along with the Marini and Deori, with a little work. The only group that put up any sort of real resistance was the Alurani. Pressing on the new peace treaties, the Naithrani ordered the Mareki to deal with the resistance, and bring the Alurani into the fold." She paused there for a moment, examining the figure and trying to figure out the best words to use to describe what happens next.

"The Alurani were skilled archers, and very skilled with traps, and playing with a homefield advantage. The Mareki forces had a difficult time making any headway, not able to bring the Alurani to heel. The situation continued to devolve, with the Naithrani applying pressure from above to end the conflict... so, the Mareki ended it." She stopped carving, pausing her movements.

"General Cayne led the slaughter, opposed by only a few of his officers- who were immediately arrested for treason and dereliction... though as far as the Mareki are concerned, the crimes are one and the same. The Mareki killed men, women, and children, and sacked the Alurani capital of Sor Alaryn, burning it to the ground." She spoke quietly, continuing to carve the small figure.

"Embarrassed on the national stage, the Naithrani said the Mareki went too far, and they were publicly condemned for their actions. The Mareki, who felt they had been following the Naithrani orders, chafed under the condemnation. General Cayne became the Warchief of the Mareki in direct response. The Deori and the Marini feel the shame of having done nothing, and the Alurani are in refugee camps on the graves of their old cities, though a growing militant movement has started raiding settlements on the edge of the wood, and the Mareki are once more training to deal with it." She finished her lecture, as well as the small miniature of Hermes, offering the little wooden carving to to Alistair.+

Opiii:
Alastair listened, nodded, considering her words. This was.. news. He knew from his days in school that there was some strife happening among the elven tribes- but those were distant relatives, non Albion elves who had lost their way, squabbling over irrelevant, temporary things in an ever changing world. To hear it from Sae's perspective... that.. really changed things. He sat back a bit, sewing, going through the motions as he darned his socks, then moved onto a strip of newer leather, procuring a much larger needle and much stronger thread. He glanced down.

So... a political move got out of hand... But how does that lead to genocide, he wondered. As he thought on the matter he turned back to her, noting the proffered figurine. Blinking, he took it, brows high. She was good. It was accurate. His own design miniaturized... part of him was tickled. Most of him was.. horrified, confused. Elves were such elegant, diplomatic things, able to cut you with a word. How had it come to killing women and children?

"I... Get that warriors do what they're told." He responded, quietly. "...Politics are politics and people need to feed their families, I get that too.. but.." He pursed his lips, frowning.

"...If the Naithrani were publicly shamed for their decision, and passed the buck to the Mareki, and the Mareki pointed fingers at the Naithraini... then... Why continue fighting at all? If neither side wants to claim responsibility for destroying a whole tribe... Why resist the raids? Why not... Leave offerings? Work to get these refugees to come to a council meeting- Enact a policy of preservation to get them back on their feet? So what if they don't want to join some alliance?" He shook his head.

"Forgive me for my ignorance, but the way it sounds to me, no one is really upset about what happened. Not if they're... continuing to train and actively fight. It sounds more like the Naithrani are just embarrassed they got caught killing kids." He turned the miniature clockwork cat over in his hands, still observing the carved lines.

Uberwulf X:
Jaeger looked down at Konane, over to Klinkle, and nodded. He agreed that pitching an entire camp was pointless with them needing to push on as well as their being so close to somewhere they could safely rest, but there was nothing wrong with giving Kenta Bobblesnoggins time to rest-- it only took a split second for creeping fatigue to dull their senses and awareness, opening the group up to individual injury from a missed step, and having a little something in their stomach as they met their next goal allowed them to be comfortable as they talked to people.

Along those lines, actual hunting was pointless, but if he chanced upon small game or a bird worth grilling on the way to picking available fruit, then so be it. Otherwise he'd be sure that at least he, Alistair, and Bobblesnoggins could drink fresh water.

Ancelas:
It benefited the group greatly that half of them were extremely skilled at tracking down food and water sources. Between Konane, Jennar, and Jaegar, enough food - in the form of berries, mushrooms, wild potatoes and other root vegetables - and water - in the shape of a nearby spring that Jennar came across - had been found to feed the group for two full days. Jaegar also came across a deer run with fresh droppings, promising another fresh kill for dinner. Konane also found enough wild wyrmsbane to form the base for a potent form of... medicine.

Alain, meanwhile, also ventured into the woods, although none of the foragers happened to come across him.

Opiii:
Alastair was somewhat relieved when he saw Alain head off into the woods. Here he thought maybe the older wizard would chime in and have something to say...

CautionCat:
Jaeger went one way to find deer droppings, while Konane went the other, Klinkle nearby, as she went to hunt for a rabbit. (Survival, 5) After a few minutes of hunting around, going under bushes and smelling the air, she came up with nothing. No scent, no tracks... it was disappointing. She really wanted rabbit! Maybe someone else would have found one.
When she came back to Klinkle, she decided to just help her with more herbs. Finding wyrmtongue, which was a good start, since it was an important base for what she had an idea for.
"Maybe later, I can find more... how are you with your berries?" She asked her feathered companion.

*Shuffled Glassware*:
With a ruffle Klinkle sighed "None of the ones I was looking for sadly. Though I'm not as empty handed as you are. Perhaps it's simply the wrong time of day for rabbits." Klinkle scratched where beak met feathers, "Do you suppose we should keep looking? Or head back?"

The Red Coat:
+Sae smiled softly as Alistair picked up the less than subtle subtext from her lecture. Pulling the whetstone from her pocket, she sharpened her dagger once more, knowing that wood did leave it a bit duller than desired.

"It seems as if the Naithrani are just embarrassed they got caught." She quoted back to him. "Now, we wade into opinion, of course, but that is my take on it. Keep in mind, I am an exceptionally liberal and soft-hearted Mareki, the proud child of one of the traitors, so my take on all of this... might not be as popular as some others. Asking the Alurani to come to a council meeting would likely end up with the messenger's head on a pike on the border of the forest... but I agree that taking a hard line at the border might not be the best idea either." She shrugged her shoulders a bit helplessly.

"But, with Cayne as our Chieftan, I doubt anything will be changing anytime soon." She spun the dagger in her hand and slipped it back into it's sheath, pocketing the whetstone once more. Her eyes watched his as Alain drifted into the woods.

"You don't particularly seem to care for our charge." She was happy for the distraction that he'd given her- and truly, she'd not been paying close enough attention to the others outside of Tali. These were her Company, and her friends... and she'd neglected them.+

CautionCat:
Konane shook her head. "It seems these woods don't hold much near the road. It would take us a lot of time to find what we need... Plus, they did mention this would only be for a couple of hours."
She pursed her lips in thought, as she pocketed her findings, and turn to make their way back to the temp camp. "We can always look around, during our walk. Berries and such can grow on the sides of roads, too."

Opiii:
He'd been listening, watching her wittle and sharpen. He'd expected the comfortable silence to eventually break either with his own take on the politic once he'd formulated an opinion, or with her own continued insight. When she brought up their charge, he was caught off guard.

He glanced over his shoulder at where Alain had gone to and eventually spoke, frowning. "My discomfort about secrets has steadily turned to loathing. Now, I get it," He lifted his hands, "Our allies have secrets. Stuff they're not gonna share outright for whatever reason, that I can deal with, I'm not a stranger to that." He looked back over his shoulder to Sae, "But this guy, he's got so many layers of secrets and half truths that I can't be sure which Alain I'm speaking to at any given moment. So I don't." He looked back to the tree line.

"It's not that I dislike him. It's just.. better that I don't focus on him. Something weirds me out- and it's more than the carefree fool facade, or the talking to the fire, or the fact that he talks like my mentor." He looked toward her.

"You remember how weird things got in the field. Its like at the time it felt like he was urging me to do something stupid and heroic," he lowered his voice, "But now I that I look back at it, it's like he was playing on my fears to goad me into going after the others. Like he knew I'd take that torch and run. If you didnt talk some sense into me, I'd probably have run off."

He scratched his face, looking down. "And at the same time, I don't really sense.. malice? I guess? Back in the last town he kept going on about my busybody behavior, that I should rest and enjoy myself. I don't know, it feels like.." He pursed his lips. "... Like this guy's messed up before, lost someone, or made mistakes, and he's trying to sway our actions toward something. Like... Indirectly. Vicariously fixing things? I don't know, what's your read on him?"

Ancelas:
As Klinkle and and Konane began to head back - about an hour after they left camp - Klinkle's sharp eyes would pick out a very particular red berry plant hidden under a brush. The berries were the main ingredients in healing salves most herbalists knew how to make, and there were enough there for the creation of a single dose.

Ancelas:
"Not your best shot," Alain noted as Taliesin cursed at missing his crossbow shot in the woods. The human seemed to have crept up on the elf on silent feet, although he had wisely chosen to position himself next to a tree behind Taliesin sot that if the elf turned and attacked... well, at least he had cover.

"But then, one has to be at peace when hunting, lest they startle their prey."

Uberwulf X:
If the deer was just hanging out waiting to be hit with a javelin, who was Jaeger to deny it its obscene wish? He would remember the trail for later, before finishing his own foraging and getting water from the local source. As he did so, he wondered what he could make with the skin he'd eventually attempt to salvage; there would be space on the wagon to let it sit out, or it could be pinned to the side or undercarriage, depending on how much he trusted the road.

Soon enough, Jaeger returned only to unhitch their mighty steed, assuredly named after an equally mighty general, and gave it the time to drink. He remained vigilant while he snacked on his gathered fruit and/or nuts, but didn't expect much trouble this close to their destination.

The Red Coat:
+Sae got comfortable near to Alistair, so they would not have to speak loud- and therefor, could cut any conversation short if the subject arrived before they were done.

She did look askance when he mentioned loathing secrets though- after all, she was keeping a pretty large one from the group. The very nature of her crime and de facto exile from Illyria was... well. She was fine with Jaeger knowing- he seemed the sort that could understand quick and bloody justice. Alistair and Konane? Well, she just... wasn't sure they'd ever be ready to hear the truth.

Trying to straighten her face as he turned back to her, she nodded, listening to his description of events with a caring ear. The little elf did care- she cared deeply about all of her company, and knew that Alistair had misgivings about Alain from the start.

"My read is similar. He is no stranger to the road, and likely was part of his own company." She shrugged. "Who he lost through violence or some sort of unpleasantness. He very likely sees a lot of his younger self in you- you are both red haired mages... and to be honest, you both look similarly as well." She shrugged her shoulders. Sae wasn't going to push that thought very far, and let it hang there- she wouldn't have been surprised to find that their client had sown some wild oats in Liore a few decades ago.

"I think he is lonely. Being on the road, with us, is perhaps bittersweet. He sees all of us, a shiny new adventuring party, and sees himself in you, and wants to mentor you as to how being on the road is, all while not revealing what happened with his last group, for whatever reasons. Maybe embarrassment, perhaps to protect someone."+

Taliesin:
:: Taliesin had been distracted and had not heard Alain creep up behind him. The knee jerk reaction was to turn and change his hold of the crossbow to be a parry item while his left hand grabbed the hilt of the gift of Silvanis and draw to defend. Seeing it was Alain caused him to ease his stance, but it was a few seconds before the words properly processed.

"I norm-" He cut the thought short, opting not to give an excuse. "This was an exercise in giving Sae space and working to hone my hunting. But I am certainly not at peace." The crossbow was moved back to the holstered position. He looked around to see if there was any sign of possible quarry outside of Alain.

"You're very quiet for a human. Aided by magic or is there more to you?" He asked out of curiosity and with an eye towards caution. Of course it came off as casually racist, but it was fair to say that most non-fey and non-rogue like creatures were less than quiet. And even more fair to note that for there had been no sound at all preceding the question. ::

Ancelas:
Content that he wasn't about to get shot, Alain stepped out from behind his tree and slid his hands in his coat pockets. "Practice. I did not want to scare away any game. It looks like you're doing a fine job of it on you own."

He smiled, robbing the barb of any roughness. It was meant in jest, after all. "Forgive me for saying so, but things appear to have been somewhat... tense, between you and our resident Gunslinger. Far be it from me to involve myself in such things, but... well, the two of you aren't exactly being subtle about it, and it's very easily noticed. Is there something wrong?"

CautionCat:
Konane would come back to the temp camp seemingly empty handed, but decided to take a dip in the stream while she waited for food to be prepared. So she would still be out for another twenty minutes or so.
Having taken some soap for herself from the castle, she would freshen up in the cold water. Going so many days without a proper bath made her feel quite filthy. If it wasn't for the scented oils, she would have grown terribly uncomfortable with her body odor- which in retrospect wasn't that bad... Otonins were used to bathing on the regular. It seemed other cultures didn't quite flow the same way. At least, the lower classes. Or those used to traveling.

Opiii:
Alastair was oblivious to Sae's discomfort. For all he knew, she had no secrets. No important ones anyway.
(Insight. Natural. Fracking. One.)

Though, if she had any read on him, she might have guessed how he would have taken the news. Neither here nor there, Alastair was lost in thought on her words. "... Yeah. I guess... Ginger root grows pretty rarely out here." He pondered to himself, wondering which mystery progenator he'd received the "flame's kiss" from. It didn't last long before he sighed.

"I don't want him to see himself in me. I want him to be straight with me. Did he know old Fenderberrin or not? Does he recognize those people in the photo or not? Who came up with that quote, about heaven and Earth and philosophies? Because up until a few weeks ago I had built my entire paradigm around that, and figuring out what it means. "

Taliesin:

:: Taliesin shook his head at the invitation to continue his practice at the hunt. The attempt at a joke was recognized without seeing the smile. The delivery seemed to arrive in much the same vein that Alastairs would.

"Not subtle ..." a chortle escaped his throat. A hand lifted and laid flat against the bark of an obliging tree. His left hand gripped the hilt of his longsword and let the thought of the mists fall over him causing his nostrils to flare as if smelling something. "No, not subtle." His eyes opened and turned to Alain.

"Coming to terms with how to live amongst my own kin. I've little outlet and there is much pain at the surface." His thumb moved in circles atop the pommel. "And in being too quick to react emotionally I have been doing more harm than good." ::

Uberwulf X:
Jaeger wasn't sure how Konane felt about having company at the stream, so was sure to turn his body perpendicular to her own while he continued eating. He didn't make a big deal of it, as Alistair would have, rather even offering a nod if they happened to make eye contact as she moved to or into the water, before kindly looking away. They were far enough from the group that he felt comfortable speaking aloud.

"You maintain an innocent curiosity I've seen in few others on the road," he mused. Jaeger was sure not to note that such naivete was typically found in children, as to not offend Konane. "Have you figured out why your magic disobeyed you, and you fed the fire at the barn? Did it have to do with the metal we carried?"

The Red Coat:
+Sae shrugged. "Dunno- can't even say I'm familiar with the quote. I'm... not great at reading. I try, but the letters get all flipped around on me. Common, Elvish- the language doesn't even change it. With all the letters flipping around, I get frustrated, and usually find something more interesting to focus on." She shrugged again- having long since accepted the fact of being the dumb muscle in any group.

"When we were in conscription, Tali would read our training manuals aloud to me until I could memorize them and repeat them back. In the beginning, he even had to check all my written work to make sure I hadn't flipped any letters. I'm a bit better with a pen now, but my sister Pyria says my spelling still leaves something to be desired. She's the only one I write to, so she's used to puzzling out what I'm trying to say."

She waved off the tangent, leaning her head back. "Have you spoken to him in private about it- just the two of you? I remember you asking about the photo at dinner when we first met- he might be more open now, now that we've traveled some weeks together, assuming you do it one on one."+

Opiii:
He tilted his head, listening to Sae and her description. Where he might have gone and quoted the old addage Fenderberrin had crammed between his ears, he instead... Wondered.

Elves where elegant, intelligent folk, suited for magic and scribing. What Saw spoke of... Sounded more like a disability he knew of. A sort of miswiring of the mind a student at the Lyceum was known for. Great lad, incredibly astute- as they all were- but lacking when it came to language and conveying his thoughts. He wondered... Did Sae suffer from a similar handicap? And how different would her life be if she hadn't been conscripted.

Lysandre would have had an idea. And then gone off about how in Albion this, in Albion that, how if that lost sheep returned to the true home of the elves, et cetera et cetera. Over a month not dealing with that snooty professor and alastair was still getting headaches thinking of his voice.

He kneaded his brow. "I... Suppose I could ask him again. Assuming I get a quiet second. Kind of a hard subject to broach though, wouldn't you think?"

The Red Coat:
+Sae watched him puzzle it out, nodding. "I can get you a quiet second- he's an insomniac, and usually stays up the first watch reading. Any night that you like before we reach Illia, I'd be happy to wake you so you can get a chat in with him with fewer witnesses." Absentmindedly, she reached for a twig near them on the ground, starting to pick off the bark idly- giving her hands something to do.

"As far as how to word the approach... I would suggest nicely. Friendly chats are always better than interrogations... at least when dealing with allies." The last quip was said lightly, a teasing tone in her voice. Of course, it made her turn back to the twig she was currently stripping the bark off, frowning deeply. Wasn't that the advice she'd just given to Tali? And how well had that gone?

"As far as specifically how to word it... I don't have a clue. I'm not the best at subtle social situations. I'm more of a 'break into their house and read their mail' sort of girl when it comes to finding out someone's secrets."+

Opiii:
That was so oddly specific, yet he wasn't surprised. Sae was straightforward. For an elf. He nodded a little and scratched his cheek, mulling it over. "Late night huh. I could always just stay up late..."

He paused. "... Maybe I'll end a late night of tinkering with reading the journal. Waking me up when you two usually take watch? I wouldn't want him to think we're scheming against him.

CautionCat:
Konane paid no heed to prying eyes. If they were to pry. She was comfortable nude, and a reason why she liked loose clothing.
She soaked her hair, and knelt by the edge of the stream, her hips submerged. Then, Jaeger mused, and asked her a question.
"I would rather not think of it." She frowned slightly, knowing well enough it wasn't the cursed blade that caused it.
Lifting her head slowly, she started to knead the bar of soap into her hair, getting to the roots and removing the oils and dirt.

Ancelas:
"Yes... navigating the intricacies of having a relationship with one's kin can be... confusing." Alain approached, eyes peering into the woods where the animal - a rabbit, perhaps? Had sprinted off through. "Particularly when you are travelling through nations far removed from where you might usually find them."

He glanced over at Taliesin, frowning faintly. "You seem so intent on reconnecting with your kin, approaching strangers on a road across the continent from the land where you might best find your answers... and in doing so, you seem to be sacrificing your connection to the one closest to you, who walks beside you, who - dare I say - cares for you."

He watched Taliesin closely and lifted a hand to nudge his spectacles a little further up his nose. "Why is that?"

The Red Coat:
+Sae grinned at his plan, nodding. "See? Already a better idea than I had." There was no hurt feelings, nor ego when she agreed to his better plan, and the smile she gave him was genuine- and the first one she'd had today.

Sighing a little, she leaned forward and stirred the fire to keep it going, letting out some of the stress she'd been carrying in her shoulders evaporate.

"I want to... apologize. For all the drama between Tali and I. I hope it will settle soon- it's just... been difficult the last few weeks. I promise, we aren't normally like this... but his shedding of his Mareki facade seems to have left him a bit oversensitive to.... literally everything, and I seem to piss him off a lot. I mean, understandably so... my people did commit war crimes against his people, but still. Hopefully we can find our old rhythm again soon."+

Opiii:
At the mention of apologies, Alastair returned to the bathhouse in his mind. He straightened and glanced away, quick to dismiss the burden she assumed she'd placed on him and the party. "Oh, gods no don't. You're talking to a bastard, Sae, not the duchess of Kyr. I can't speak for the others, but folks is folks." He ran a hand through his hair, looking back to her.

It kind of... Stuck into place, looking wilder and messier as a result.

"Do what you need to do to get to common ground. Scream and fight it out if you've gotta. It might not be elegant, but nothin' good comes from keeping quiet for the sake of staying civil."

Opiii:
After several moments alastair paused, tilting his head. Dumbfounded, he looked toward Sae.

"... Wait, Tali isn't Mareki?"

The Red Coat:
+Sae smiled, using her newly peeled stick to poke a little at the fire. "Yeah, but it can make things... weird when two people in a group are constantly sniping at each other, and we seem to cycle through being as thick as thieves to wanting to scream at each other more than the average couple, even for our age." She also ran a hand through her hair, the two redheads seeming to match in how they handled idle hands.

When he was startled at her declaration of Tali not being Mareki, she gave him a wry grin.

"That's just the thing, isn't it? He was Mareki as long as I knew him- a better Mareki than I was- I'm considered to be a bit of a fuck up at home. Hell, he's the one that trained me to be better, to focus, to learn combat and to be a bit more tactical when choosing who to punch. But when we were in Astor, he decided that it was finally time to shed his facade... and reveal he's an Alurani."+

Uberwulf X:
"Unfortunately, I would," Jaeger pressed. "If only to keep it from happening again. If you learn how to heal, I would rather you not cast... un-heal on one of our allies. Consider the possibility that you will do the same thing to your friend, Klinkle."

With her being half-submerged, and Konane not minding, Jaeger looked to her again. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it an important-enough matter."

CautionCat:
Konane sighed, and dunked her head into the water, washing the soap from her hair. After a moment, she lifted her head back up, the wild wavy locks tamed by the gravity that pulled the water off the strands.
"It is not that... simple. My magic is called Wild for a reason, Jaeger." She frowned some, looking to him as she started to twist her hair and squeeze the excess water from it.
Her body was covered in blotches of dark freckles, on top of her already dark tanned skin. Not all Otonins shared the same skin tone, nor were freckles that thick all that common, but there were a few who did, showing their ancestry of what part of Otori they originated from.
Not that a lot of folks knew the history of Otori.
"I have no focus, I have no spells. It comes to me, as I will it. Sometimes... my will is not strong enough to contain it." She flipped her hair back, covering her back as she stood. Undone, without her normal braid, her hair length went down far past her knees, covering her calves. "However, it is not seemingly often that it does that. Sometimes it will change a spell I once knew... Sometimes I will learn a spell from another, just by viewing it over time."
She sighed, and turned to grab the towel she also took from the castle, dabbing her body with it. "You are concerned over something that cannot be controlled. I'm sorry you think I can just... fix it. I have been trying since I was little. Since... I turned of age."

Opiii:
"Huh." He glanced down for a time, thinking it over. He hadn't known Taliesin for long.. but he knew he was a skilled magician, a formidable arms master, and somewhat faithful if that icon was any hint. He'd believed the elf was Mareki based on the duo's mannerisms..to hear that Taliesin wasn't mareki, and Sae was a 'fuck up' left him rather at odds with how he felt. A few more moments digestion and he spoke. "Suppose that explains the strange encounters whenever we came across other elves."

The more he thought on it, the more he felt a bit like a heel for ribbing Taliesin a day earlier. He didn't need the teasing and exposure on top of his own mid... early life crisis? How old were they? Elves were hard to tell. He tilted his head. "So... you just found out too, then..?"

The Red Coat:
+Sae nodded, shrugging her shoulders. "Yeah- the first day in Astor city, or maybe the second? Still, not that long ago. It was... a shock. I met Tali on my first day of conscription." She grinned at the memory, leaning back on her elbows.

"I was eight. It was my first day, and one of the older kids heard my last name and said something snotty about my father. Probably used to Ratha's silence on the subject, I doubt he expected me to fly at him like an angry kitten. Tali was the same age as the older kid- maybe twelve?- and broke up the fight. I think he was a unit leader. He asked the boy why we were fighting, and I piped up that the boy had insulted my father... and Tali broke his nose."

Sae smiled a little. "Of course, that makes sense now. My father was one of the higher ranked Mareki who refused to follow Cayne's orders to massacre the Alurani. At the time though, I didn't know that, and I thought he was just being dashing. Tali got stuck with me as punishment, as our Commander tried to turn me into something useful."

Her icy eyes were half closed as she related the story, obviously it meant a great deal to her. "That was... Seventeen years ago this solstice."+

Uberwulf X:
If he could get away with observing her body without being called a lech, Jaeger would do just that. As his visit to the brothels and his comfort at the baths should have proven, he was not ashamed of his body, or others' bodies, and had no issue with an almost scientific observation of features. He watched the curve of her neck to her bicep, counted a few of the larger freckles, noted the angle of skin at her clavicle that gave way to proportional breasts, the length and color and texture of her hair, and her ease of movement with wiry muscles. He then looked up to the sound of a critter or bird rustling branches. Once her explanation finished, his eyes found her body again.

"It would do better to be concerned, rather than ignore it and allow it to destroy us. You're alive this long, so it hasn't destroyed you... but then again, you weren't acting with the eyes of Ruin on your back."

A massive mitt moved to stroke the mane of the adjacent horse. "You've done well to mitigate it, this Wild Magic, and I applaud you for it. Has there ever been a tale of someone controlling it? Maybe with the kind of well-adjusted focus you don't use?"

Opiii:
Alastair continued to nod and listen to her recounting. At the mention of Talesin smashing a kid's nose in, he couldn't help but laugh. Quarrels like those were common among the first years. He wasn't a stranger to them himself, but a wiser person schooled him long before the Lyceum on picking his battles, and learning what things were worth getting riled up, and which weren't. She got nostalgic, the mood turned quiet. As she reminisced about the years gone by, he tilted his head.

"Seventeen years... Plus eight..." He pursed his lips. "So you two are really young. For elves, you're just kids out here..!"

The Red Coat:
+Sae looked up to his shock, nodding a little. "Yep. I'll be twenty six on the summer solstice. Tali is a few years older than I am. I did ten years of conscription, a few months of cleric's training, a year apprenticing in my Papa's business, and then training at the Black Tower." Tactically leaving out her courtship with Elta, of course, as was her way.

"I try to act older- no one who knows anything about elves would take me seriously if they found out I wasn't even thirty yet. I'm probably not succeeding, what with my constantly fighting with Tali and all of that... drama. But at least you seemed to think I was older, so I must have been doing something right."+

Taliesin:
:: Taliesin didn't necessarily trust Alain enough to bare his soul to him. Out of the corner of his eyes he watched him carefully. "There are things that are not easy to describe without baring my entire history." His right hand slid down the bark of the tree and he stepped back.

"I've not meant to push Sae back. Things have lined up perfectly to do that though." His left hand still hadn't left the hilt of the sheathed blade. "The problem with digging up the past with people who don't know or understand is that they don't understand the stress or desperation." This wasn't a cop out as it was genuinely an issue between he and Sae as well as them and the others. It did not excuse his actions, but then again not much would.

He looked on to where Alain was looking, seeing if perhaps there was movement or sign that he possibly did hit his prey. "Why is it that an apparent magic wielder such as yourself never sleeps and walks as silent as death?" He asked very pointedly. Without Sae at his side he was far more wary, especially when someone as silent as Alain mimicked the behavior of his people that had nearly had him dead the night before.

CautionCat:
Konane tilted her head, thinking, as she leaned down to grab her clothes. Most humans were a little embarrassed of their exposure. Otori also was known for their public baths. But even then, most women stayed with the women's side.
She shrugged. "I would ask Alain... He knows of it. I was only told that I am gifted." She pulled her small clothes on, adjusting as she did, and started on her pants. "I was planning on talking to him tonight about it. I do not... understand my magic very well. Other than I can just... use it. It is a... fae touched sort of thing?" Konane raised her brow as she thought about it, tugging her short kimono styled top on, and pulling her wet hair out.
"Some say it is a gift from the Kami, that you are blessed and special. Most say it is a... cruel joke from the Yokai, that you are cursed and unlucky." She frowned, her thick black brows furrowed hard from the thought of being unlucky.

Opiii:
"Well." He shrugged, "It's... hard to tell with Elves. You all look young despite being hundreds of years old, half the time. I'm more surprised that most of us are around the same age. It's a little... I dunno. Offputting and at the same time reassuring?" He laughed, mouth crooked slightly. She'd notice a good number of his teeth were crooked. His front teeth stuck out slightly beyond the line of his upper teeth, and he had a slight overbite. Since he seldom grinned with his mouth open, those details could have been easily missed before.

"But yeah. You certainly do seem older than you are. Chalk it up to Mareki training, Gunslinger mojo, or whatever- You, and Taliesin too, you seem to have your stuff together. When you're not squabbling. Which, honestly, doesn't seem too out of the ordinary." He smiled, brows arched. "...Be glad you're both willing to at least working through your squabbles. I mean, stick around most towns- human towns, and you'll find the average married man and married woman happily, quietly hate each other. An odd trend that seems to correlate with wealth."

Kyt:
Well. At least while they were out, they were able to stock up well enough on fresh supplies. Jennar carried their load back towards the camp, eventually arriving and seeing most of the group gone. The half-elf blinked, laying the supplies near the cart and walking over to Sae and Alistair. Shai padded near where Kenta had been tied up, sniffing around.
"I'm going to assume that the others haven't run off or are dead." While a somewhat depressing idea, the half-elf delivered the statement with a cheery smile.

Opiii:
Alastair was drawn from the conversation upon Jennar's arrival. The half elf didn't bother him quite so much these days, her whimsical and secretive nature about on par with Konane's. Then again, Alain being the most unsettling of the group acted to sort of dwarf and drown out the quirks of the others, making them seem much more benign by comparison. To that end, he actually turned to smile at her, greeting her arrival. "Oh hey, welcome back. Uh, no one dead that we know of, though we've kind of been doing our own thing."

He said as he glanced down. The strip of leather he had been sewing had gradually come together without him knowing. Wrapped around his forearm was a sturdy sleeve of stitched leather, just shorter than an elbow length glove, sans the fingers and backing on the palm and hand. Double checking the measurements, he pulled the sleeve free and laid it across his lap.

The Red Coat:
+Sae smiled softly, sadly, as he mentioned how many married human people despised each other, and she bowed her head. "That's not just a human problem." She said quietly. If they did defeat Ruin here, it was very likely that Tali would like to push to Illyria... and if they did that, then it would be better if she hinted at the truth of her existence now. That she was a fuck up, currently in an unofficial exile. That her parents hated each other... that her father barely seemed to tolerate her after she was excused from the priesthood and her mother downright hated her. Ratha and Ivran- the former despised her, and the latter barely acknowledged her existence.

She had Pyria and Tali, and her relationship with Tali wasn't going that well, and she hadn't had a chance to hear from Pyria since she left the Black Tower. She suddenly felt... very alone. Lacking in anything better to do, she moved to the edge of the clearing and drew her sword, starting to run through the mindless drills taught to her during training.

Advance. Advance. Retreat. Left crossover. Extend. Attack in three. Forward recover....+

Ancelas:
"'There are things that are not easy to describe without baring my entire history," Alain echoed, with a quirk of his lips. "Suffice to say that I've had occasion to learn a great many skills."

He scuffed the ground with one foot and turned away, back toward camp. "Be careful, Taliesin. Your decision to pursue your quest so single-mindedly is pushing away the person closest to you. Stay on this path, and you will lose her - and make no mistake, that decision will have been yours and no one else's. Decide which is more worthwhile to you - this lost history of yours, or her. And then adhere to that decision."

He waved a hand over his shoulder as he started tromping his way back toward camp, not nearly as quietly as he had been during his approach. "Sorry. I have a penchant for meddling where I'm unwanted. Honestly, I just want to continue this trip in peace without the oppressive weight of adolescent elven drama darkening the otherwise pleasant weather. I'm quite selfish that way."

Taliesin:
::Taliesin still kept a wary look on Alain. The man was almost too secretive and he seemed perhaps not to need the company. "You suggest changing from one target to another with single mindedness rather than keeping the two at even focus." He took several steps in the direction his bolt was shot, but his face stayed in Alain's direction.

"I understand my problem and it isn't the end goal, but is something else entirely." He scanned wide for a moment and watched as he was walking away. He followed at a constant distance while getting to a different angle and attempting to blend into the wood as he once knew to do innately. (Flat roll - 4) His foot falls snapped twigs and brush. He might as well throw a tantrum at that rate.

Once they hit the edge of the wood he stopped. He allowed Alain to go on unfollowed. With a deep sigh he took to his knee and placed the tips of his fingers into the soil. In reverence his head dropped letting his disheveled hair fall about his face. With closed eyes he tried to recall a common prayer to Silvanis, something, anything.

In Alurani he spoke hushed as if to carry it on a gentle breeze. "Great father, lord of leaves, protector of the glade. We kneel in your soil and give thanks for your protection and succor." It was something like that, or at least the jumble of his memories turned it into something like that. He stayed in that place in prayer for a few moments more trying to call up the verses, but he was only succeeding in drawing pain from memories pushed below the surface to survive. ::

Opiii:
(perception : 5)

Alastair only glanced at Jennar beyond the initial greeting. He noticed Sae walk off and go back to her training. He mulled over what he'd learned, thinking back to Talesin and the Elven situation.

Distracted again by memories of his old elven professor, and the choice words he'd had to say about Illyrian elves, he didn't notice as others arrived one by one. He was lost in his own little world, stitching away as he thought.

Uberwulf X:
Jaeger nodded his continued understanding. "And how do you feel, lucky or unlucky? Perhaps it is another thing that is the eye of the beholder... or the immolated."

The horse had its fill of water and looked about idly, so Jaeger took the reigns as he prepared to lead it back to the cart. "A conversation with Alain would do you well. The subject seems to bother you terribly so set your mind at ease. If it's any comfort, despite the accident and any more that come, as long as you don't unheal on purpose, then it would be forgiven. And if there's anything I could do to help you relax, even if I can't actually help you with your issue of magic, I hope you come to me. Perhaps you'll teach me some magic, and I'll teach you to harness the anger in your little body."

CautionCat:
Konane frowned. "I am not angry." She shook her head as they walked back to the camp- Sae practicing, Jennar with a load of food, Alastair... Pondering?
"And I don't know what to make of myself." She shrugged to Jaeger. "I am also unsure how to teach magic... But I was saying you should talk to Alain about learning magic and what the difference between."
She huffed, and took a seat at the fire, taking out her hair brush and starting to brush her hair, hoping the heat from the fire and the sun help dry it. Her eyes looked to Alastair, and his leather work.

Ancelas:
"Sometimes you can get too close to a problem," Alain called out over his shoulder, "and at that point, you can't see your own blindspot. When that happens, sometimes it's helpful to turn to someone - or someones - with a clearer perspective."

That was the last thing that could be heard before he disappeared into the woods. Not... literally, Taliesin could still see him moving, but he was too far away to converse with at that point.

A few minutes later, he emerged from the woods and back into the clearing where they had made their little clamp. As he arrived, he clapped his hands together loudly. "Alright! Who's hungry? And more importantly, who brought the food?"

((We can continue as long as you guys like but there's been some talk about starting a new thread at the evening camp. Let me know what you guys feel like.))

Ancelas:
He may have felt awkward about saying the words, but saying them provided Taliesin with a sense of peace. The forest around him seemed to still, the filtered light somehow sharpening the shape of the trees and leaves and bushed to his eyes. A butterfly fluttered through the air, landed on a flowerbud, and rested. For the moment, the world around him was at peace.