Session 7-2b:

[Carthrat]

[02:21] * @Saul walks out of the temple, shaking his head slightly at the sheer snideness of some of his.. brethren. "Honestly. The one time I'm not actually presentable is the time I have to make a formal visit," he mutters, scowling a little.
[02:22] * @Darius chuckles.
[02:22] <@Darius> "Ahh, temples are too stuffy anyway."
[02:24] <@Saul> "You don't say? I always thought so," replies Saul, nodding. "At least.. well, perhaps not my own," he adds. "It's probably best for all concerned if we avoid... other temples in the future, however."
[02:25] <@Darius> "Eh, I dunno. Dwarves are alright.. They don't get overblown with crap, usually."
[02:27] <@Saul> "Usually. There are some notable exceptions," replies Saul, thinking about something he saw a long time ago. "How about where you're from, eh?"
[02:31] <@Darius> "Eh, we don't really have temples.. Everyone works for the good of the tribe, and everyone has a job to do, and our pride comes from helping the tribe."
[02:32] <@Saul> "Perhaps not temples, but surely your tribe has some sort of spiritual guidance," presses Saul, interested. "People need to give some name to the... higher powers, in any culture, or so I have seen."
[02:34] <@Darius> "Aye, we've our guides.. I think the closest I've found out and about here are the druids.."
[02:37] <@Saul> "Druids, eh," replies Saul, shaking his head. "Honestly... I suppose nature is to be respected, at any rate," muses Saul. "In the end, it will still be here, while places like this city will be gone..." There's a sad note to his voice, reflecting a moment of finality.
[02:37] <@Darius> "We mostly follow the tribe's animal, though."
[02:38] <@Saul> "Oho. The same as Serith?" replies Saul, giving the simolodon a glance.
[02:39] <@Darius> "Aye, the same.. She's one of our totems in the village. She will be recorded in our village history for as long as it exists."
[02:40] <@Saul> "And may that be a long time," replies Saul, musing. "You told me some time ago, but I admit I have forgotten- where does your tribe originate from?"
[02:46] <@Darius> "It's out in the wilds, on the edge of the borders.. I've gotten turned around and led astray by you all so many times, I've forgotten where we are."
[02:46] * @Darius smirks at Saul.
[02:47] <@Saul> "We walked *up* from Paxburg, and then we walked *back*. If that's enough to get you lost, I'm amazed you can find your way to your swords, let alone to here from your.. whereever it is you came from," replies Saul, smirking back.
[02:48] <@Darius> "Eh, it's more being in the city. I've never been able to keep my senses in one."
[02:49] <@Saul> "But there are signs!"
[02:49] * @Darius shrugs.
[02:50] <@Darius> "There are signs in the wild too, but you city people get lost all the time, too."
[02:52] <@Saul> "They're not clearly labelled," points out Saul.
[02:52] <@Darius> "They are for us."
[02:57] <@Saul> "But you *can* read, right?" replies Saul, cocking an eyebrow. "I mean, look. 'Trade District'. Plain as day, right?"
[02:57] * @Darius shrugs.
[02:57] <@Darius> "Yeah, I can read, but when you have twenty diffrent streets inside the trade district, it gets confusing."
[02:58] * @Ami-chan (Merc@cpe-68-203-166-225.houston.res.rr.com) Quit
[02:59] <@Saul> "I suppose that's fair, but you really just need to know which ones you want to go to," replies Saul, shrugging. "Just stick to the, um, larger streets. They're harder to get lost in."
[03:00] <@Darius> "Eh, I suppose. I'm still not used to any cities, though.. I've only been in one a few times."
[03:01] <@Saul> "And the only way to *get* used to it is to stay in one a while," replies Saul. "That is, if you want to. It could be worthwhile."
[03:01] <@Darius> "It could. I've had.. problems... in deal with people, though.."
[03:03] <@Saul> Saul raises an eyebrow. "They're having as many problems in dealing with you," he replies, shaking his head. "It's... just that there are more of 'them' than there are of 'you'."
[03:04] <@Darius> "Aye, true, but I don't throw insults or glares."
[03:05] <@Saul> "Numbers and a sense of being in a group make the wrong words seem acceptable," replies Saul, sighing. "It's the flaw of society... but one that you can use, if you learn how."
[03:05] <@Darius> "Eh? How?"
[03:12] <@Saul> "It's difficult to explain," replies Saul, slowly. "But... you stand out. The things you do, what you say- because people whisper about you, and that you stand out in their minds, your actions will be remembered. The only question is how you can use that to your advantage," he replies, eventually.


"Aye, I know that. I act with honor and pride like my tribe should. I still get glared at and insulted at every turn."
[11:41] <@Saul> "It's true- but for many of these people, you're the first tribesman they've ever seen," replies Saul. "They've had their heads filled with stories and nonsense- they base what they think of you on fiction, rather than fact. And if an entire community uses a fallacy as a guide... then it's not something that will be changed quickly."
[11:43] <@Darius> "Hmmm.. So what should I do? I've been keeping with acting as I should as a Rider of my tribe, but I'm starting to lose my temper with... people."
[11:46] * Olorin (~Khazad-du@69-29-252-195.dyn.centurytel.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[11:47] <@Saul> "Almekia is a different system to a tribe. You say you act with honor and pride... but Almekian honor, and Almekian pride- in the end, they're different things to yours," replies Saul. "But the thing to remember is that they are based on the same fundamental values.. so, in reality, only the appearence and presentation is what differs." (More.)
[11:48] <@Saul> "It's simple. You can never fully escape the sense of being 'different', here," he goes on. "But you can learn something about what makes Almekians.. work, so to speak. Consider a means of showing respect to the culture that you work in. It's unfair- but if you learned a little, a few will make an effort to learn a little about you. And that opens the door to greater understanding."
[11:51] <@Darius> "... Alright.. I sorta understand that... What should I do for it, though?
[11:51] <@Darius> "
[11:55] <@Saul> "The fact that you speak the same language is, believe it or not, undoes much of the prejudice people may show towards you," replies Saul. "They have to treat you, at least, as a man, rather than as a total outsider. The only thing now would be to teach you to how better marshall your words and actions," replies Saul. "To be honest? You should ask Gavin, perhaps, to teach you a little about knightly customs."
[11:55] * @Darius grunts.
[11:56] <@Darius> "Eh.. Maybe.. I guess it wouldn't hurt ta ask, at least.."
[11:57] <@Saul> "It would be worthwhile in any case," nods Saul. "After all.. when you return home, you would be one who knows well the outside world. Better if you can move through all parts of it with ease, eh?"
[11:57] <@Darius> "What about elves? I know it's sorta random.. But the only elves I've ever seen have been you and Seryf.."
[11:58] <@Saul> "Yes, well... Seryf knows more about other elves then I do," replies Saul. "It's probably best you speak to her."
[11:59] <@Darius> "Eh? How's she know more'n you do? Yer an elf, ain't ya?"
[12:00] <@Saul> "Maybe so, but I wasn't raised by elves," replies Saul, chuckling to himself. "And she was.. I think. To be honest, I don't know very much about her."
[12:01] <@Darius> "Mmm.. Who were you raised by, then? Humans?"
[12:01] <@Saul> "Humans wouldn't live long enough to raise me," points out Saul. "No, I was raised by a dwarf and a gnome."
[12:02] <@Darius> "Eh? That's kinda an odd pair, ain't it?"
[12:04] <@Saul> "They were in business together. Merchants," replies Saul, nodding. "How about you, though? Weren't you raised by your elven parent?"
[12:05] <@Darius> "Nah.. Dunno what happened ta him. Think he used to live in the area.. A Ranger, said my ma. She died a few years ago, too. Serith's about as close to blood family as I got."
[12:08] <@Saul> "He's still alive," replies Saul, shaking his head. "Most likely. Heh... you know, Elaine's story is much the same as yours... though, well, you'll meet her mother tonight, most likely.."
[12:10] <@Darius> "Eh? Huh, interestin'. Probably much the same fer most half-bloods, though. My ma died fer me right as I was coming into my growth. Tribe's fighters took ta me, though."
[12:11] <@Saul> "Yes... much the same," replies Saul, musing. "The elves have no excuse, though. I don't know why they think they can become parents, and simply ignore their children.."
[12:13] <@Darius> "Aye, don't see much of a reason fer havin' a kid if you don't plan ta be around to see the man or woman they grow ta be."
[12:14] <@Saul> "Heh... our group really is a wreck," muses Saul. "Three of us having hardly known our real parents... it's funny that we came together like this."
[12:15] <@Darius> "Eh, it don't bother me none. I still remember my Ma, and I had the tribe ta show me the way as I grew. In the tribe, if a kid don't have blood parents, everyone sorta becomes their parents."
[12:16] <@Darius> "Or, aunts and uncles, at the least."
[12:18] <@Saul> "Really? Heh... it's always been a sore spot with me, though," replies Saul, sighing. "I suppose you were lucky, though. More than can be said for quite a few half-elves.. or 'half-humans', as the elves like to call them."
[12:19] <@Darius> "Ahh.. I suppose.."
[12:19] * @Darius claps Saul over the shoulder.
[12:20] <@Darius> "Bah, anyway, their loss I say! What fools wouldn't be proud ta have a kid like us?"
[12:20] <@Saul> "But anyway-mrag!" sputters Saul, stumbling forward. "I *told* you not to do that!"
[12:20] * @Darius grins at Saul.
[12:20] <@Darius> "Ah, someone's gotta toughen ya up. I saw how ya looked after that brawl."
[12:20] * @Darius smirks at Saul.
[12:21] <@Saul> "There is a *time* and a *place* for that, and this is neither!"
[12:21] <@Darius> "Ya ain't always got the time to be ready when you find the place, though. Best ta get it over and done with anytime ya can."
[12:21] * @Darius continues to grin at Saul.
[12:23] * @Saul mutters something. "...don't have *time* for mundane, physical training... got to *study*..."
[12:24] <@Saul> "...already done my fair share of hauling bags of rocks..."
[12:26] <@Darius> "Eh, rocks don't hit back."
[12:30] <@Saul> "It's still hard to cast spells when you're burdened by a sack of rocks," mutters Saul.
[12:31] <@Darius> "Harder ta do it with someone's fist in yer mouth, though."
[12:31] <@Saul> "Isn't that why I have you?" replies Saul, innocently.
[12:32] <@Darius> "Nah, not really."
[12:32] * @Darius grins at Saul.
[12:33] <@Saul> "Not to worry. I'm sure there's some spell out there, somewhere, that grants the caster monstrous teeth. We'll *see* who punches me in the mouth after that."
[12:35] <@Darius> "Eh, if there ain't, ya can make one, can't ya? Use Serith's as a base fer it."
[12:36] <@Saul> "I shall call it the 'Maw of the Tiger," replies Saul, nodding. "And add some theatricalities."
[12:36] <@Darius> "Heh, sounds like a plan."
[12:38] <@Saul> "I can't remember if Paxburg has a mage guild," muses Saul, walking along. "Most likely it does... hmm. I shall need to look into it.. tomorrow, anyway. We're almost there."