[IC] The Village of Soren (a 1x1 Harvest Moon/Rune Factory-inspired Village RP for FaithfulMuse and Stern Algorithm)

[Stern Algorithm]

Gil, Bormash, Kalram and Emtardas helped unload the caravan and reload it with merchandise to be sold. When they finished Emtardas said, "Great job everyone. If you haven't heard, Ryul's father, Illithor and Illithor's girlfriend, Talila, will be staying at Soren. Of course, Ryul, as our merchant, even though you won't be staying here due to your travels, you'll be considered an honorary citizen. There's bound to be a welcome feast tonight at the inn, so be sure to come."

Kalram approached Ryul and asked, "Are you from Elsil?"

---

Reas felt the leaf, losing zirself in the sensation of warmth. Ze was glad Elizabeth dropped the previous topic, though ze was sure Elizabeth did so to indulge zir, rather than actually being tricked.

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul nodded when Kalram asked him if he was from Elsil. "Yes, that's what the village I came from was called, why?" He asked, assuming the elf had a reason for asking, rather than doing so with no reason at all.

"So far, it's the only herb I know that has such a trait. Other herbs don't give off such a warmth or a herb,though I'm still hoping to find something similar to it." Elizabeth said to Reas.

[Stern Algorithm]

"Oh, that's where my family's from," Kalram explained, "what a coincidence. We don't remember it much though, I left when I was five."

---

"It's really amazing, Emtardas sometimes talks about magical plants, though they're usually not the kind that are good for people," Reas commented. "I bet everything you have here is beneficial."

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul smiled upon hearing Kalram's answer. "I grew up there, as did my father. It was a very nice place to live." He told the elf.

Elizabeth put the herb back to where it belonged. "Yes, everything here is medicinal, it's good for you." She said, before noticing a bouquet of flowers in a case on the table, at which she smiled. "Except for those, though. Those are just for decorative use only."

[Stern Algorithm]

"Why did you leave?" Kalram continued, "I'm not really sure why we left, but I think it had to do with mom and dad's marriage. Dad never told me, he says I won't have to worry about that stuff in Soren."

---

"Did you pick these?" Reas asked.

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul took a moment to answer. "The village was attacked a while ago, and there's nothing left of it now. That's why my father and I left to find a new place to live." He answered. He wasn't sure how Kalram would react to that, but there was no point in lying about it.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, I picked them with me once while looking for herbs. A lot of beautiful flowers grow close to this village." She said with a smile.

[Stern Algorithm]

"I see," Kalram said, unsure how he was supposed to feel about a place he barely remembered, "Father said that if the Coalition of Elven Nations continued to engage in senseless war, something like that was bound to happen." Kalram suddenly realized how callous he must have sounded, "I-I mean...I-I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been tough, losing your...home. I don't know how I'd feel if Soren was attacked."

---

"Oh," Reas said, seeming suddenly a lot less interested, "I thought you'd tell me that someone in the village gave them to you as a symbol of their undying love or something." This statement came out a bit unusual, given it was intended to be humor, but was delivered in Reas' usual stoic monotone. While expressing very little emotion zirself, Reas was interested, some would say unhealthily so, in the emotions of others; love, in particular, was something ze wished to observe, to dissect, often to the chagrin and discomfort of the ones ze was observing.

[FaithfulMuse]

"To be honest, the village being in ruins wasn't the worst. It was more painful to lose the people I was close to while growing up. I knew them for all my life, if not most of my life, and suddenly, they were gone." Ryul answered.

Elizabeth smiled sadly upon hearing Reas' answer. "As much as I'd like to tell you otherwise, I have no lover or secret admirer. And if there is someone secretly admiring me, than they do a very good job at keeping it secret."

[Stern Algorithm]

"We've all lost something," Bormash joined the conversation with empathy in his voice, "We can't get back what we've lost, but Soren is for new beginnings and sticking together." By this time, all the merchandise had either been loaded or unloaded, depending on their destination.

"Thanks for the help," Emtardas said. Despite looking to be in the prime of his life, Emtardas behaved somewhat like an old man, or maybe he was just lazy. "Well, you can return to the inn if you'd like," Emtardas said turning to Ryul.

"Or I can take you on a tour of the town," Gil offered. Kalram seemed excited to accompany them.

---

"is there someone in town you secretly admire?" Reas asked, pushing the topic.

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul smiled upon hearing the offer of a tour from the town. "A tour sounds nice." He answered. If anything, it was better than heading back to the inn already. He had really no desire to go see his father and his girlfriend again at the moment.

Elizabeth smiled a little bit before answering Reas' question. "You could say that Bormash has managed to catch my interest lately, but I wouldn't go as far as saying that I secretly admire him." She said to zir. Though regardless of her interest in the orc, she doubted that anything romantic wouldn't be a great success. After all, she doubted that anyone would want a woman they couldn't even lightly tap on the shoulder without freaking her out.

[Stern Algorithm]

Bormash, Gil and Kalram took Ryul out on a tour of the town. Soren was nestled into a gentle valley, surrounded on three sides by forested hills that went into mountains. The one open side on the west led to the only road into Soren, which connected to a major highway and trading route. A river flowed down the middle of Soren and headed south after leaving the town. A wooden wall was built on the west side with a gate flanking the road. Near the entrance was Malkas' inn, and across from it was Emtardas' shop.

"Further in the back," Bormash said, gesturing east, "Is my father's ranch. It's next to the river and we graze the animals on the hills. Gil's father's shop is to the north, near the foot of the mountain, surrounded by forests, giving them easy access to their mine and lumber." Gil nodded in confirmation.

---

"What do you like about him?" Reas pestered.

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul listened while the others showed him around and Bormash told him about the farm and carpenter being a bit farther away. It was good to know where everything was, and also interesting to know what kind of profession they had.

"He's strong, but also very peaceful for someone of his kind." Elizabeth explained, not sure what else to tell Reas. She didn't know the orc that well, but still.

[Stern Algorithm]

"Near my house is also the home of Elliot and Eline, siblings," Gil added, "My brothers mine ore which they supply to Elliot who is a blacksmith, while being near the forest is beneficial for Eline, who hunts. And near the center of town,close to Emtardas' shop is our clinic, run by Elizabeth."

---

"Yeah," Reas added, "Father says that Soren is a place where everyone can be their better selves, no loyalties or societies to drive us to harm one another."

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul nodded. "I see." He said. Considering the professions of the siblings, the location of their house made sense. After all, this way they got everything they needed for their job close to home.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, that's what I like about Soren. It's very different from the village I came from.

[Stern Algorithm]

"Actually ,speaking of Eline and Elliot, I'll go let them know we have new visitors," Kalram said, and rushed off towards the woods.

Bormash turned to Ryul, "So that's basically where everything is, is there any place in particular you'd like to see?"

---

Kalram made it to Elliot and Eline's house and knocked vigorously on their door, "Hey! Mr. Elliot! Ms. Eline? You guys home?"

---

Reas didn't say anything, ze didn't want to ask for fear of reopening old wounds, but ze understood that everybody came to this village to escape from difficulty and suffering. As a magical being, Reas could sympathize with what Elizabeth probably had to go through. Reas turned zir back to the herbs, "Are any of these dangerous?"

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul thought for a moment, but then shook his head. "No, I don't think so."

It didn't take long for Eline to open the door and notice Kalram standing there. "Elliot isn't home at the moment, is there anything you want me to tell him?" She asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, all if them have a medicinale use only, they can't really bring harm to anyone." She answered.

[Stern Algorithm]

"Alright then. Well, welcome to Soren," Bormash concluded, "What's your father's occupation?"

"I think it was fisherman," Kalram chimed in, "at least, that's what I think he told father."

"My dad will probably have to make your dad's house next to the river then," Gil said.

---

"That's good," Reas said. Ze continued to ask about the plants when Emtardas entered.

"Ah, I thought I might find you here," Emtardas said, then turning to Elizabeth, "I hope Reas hasn't been too much of a bother."

[FaithfulMuse]

Ryul nodded. "Yes, my father is a fisher." He confirmed.

Elizabeth smiled. "No, not at all. It was nice to have some company, actually." She said to Emtardas.

[Stern Algorithm]

Kalram looked at Eline, "Tell him that we have new people in town, so we're going to have a welcome feast. They're staying at my dad's inn if you want to meet them."

---

"She was teaching me about the medicine," Reas said.

"Well, at least you weren't being unproductive," Emtardas replied, "Let's go home now, we should prepare for tonight."

[FaithfulMuse]

Eline nodded. "Alright, I'll let him know. We'll come to meet them in a moment." She answered.

"I told Reas that ze can come over if she has a day off and wants to learn more, so if you can't find zir next time, there's a chance that ze's over here." Elizabeth told Emtardas, supposing that it was good for him to know.