Pascal

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Even though Adrianna had interrupted Nymira’s conversation with Kensen while waiting for their food to be prepared, they still ignored her. It wasn’t a big deal. It was better to be ignored than despised. As they were conversing, though, a word Kensen used to describe Nymira rolled about in her mind a few times. Had he…called her Princess? She was a bit slow on the uptake, because they had moved swiftly past that and were going on about differences between their lives here and in Dimuran homes. Even if she had wanted to have a conversation with Ethan, or either of them, it would have been impossible with their bickering, and so she found herself continuing to listen.

In truth, it offended her that Nymira suggested they weren’t capable. If they were not capable, then why hadn’t the Dimurans come and taken over the lands? She was tempted to interrupt and ask as much, but Kensen was already answering her, suggesting that the Murans had different goals. She couldn’t really compare the two, and so stayed silent. Though she desperately wanted to remind Nymira that she could not even bandage her own wounds, which was a bit of a mark against her so called “capability.” She had been so prideful about not wanting to be healed, and yet she had no skills with keeping herself upright after injuries. Was it assumed that all Dimurans on the battlefield simply fought until they collapsed? Adrianna honestly didn’t know much about the Dimurans, or their royalty, but she didn’t like anyone making such generalizations.

Nymira asked Kensen about the inner cities, and Adrianna wondered how many of them he had been to, compared to her. She had no reason to think that Kensen was uninformed, but the fact that Nymira was going on about Adelon as a whole when she had not been to them was laughable. She scoffed, realizing that Nymira had not even been to any of the cities she already proclaimed to understand and turned to her own food, pushing aside a piece for Ethan when he finally tore his eyes away from the food being cooked. Kensen only had hearsay, but Adrianna didn’t bother to interject to talk about it. They would find out for themselves if they stuck around long enough.

The woman’s anger flared further, and Adrianna nearly smiled as she realized that Kensen was definitely getting to her. They bickered like an old married couple. She lost track of the point, though, as Nymira began to talk about how the clans decided things, and continued eating her meat. When everyone had their food, Adrianna tore off a piece of what she had gotten to share with Ethan, since he wanted to try multiple things. As they walked, Adrianna fell into step beside Ethan, who asked if she had been getting into trouble during her journey. “Not…particularly.” Adrianna answered. Was he wondering if she was going to put them in more danger? Or was he trying to gauge if she was capable with a weapon?

He answered the question a few moments later, saying that they were definitely getting into trouble when they traveled. “Ahh… Well, no. I can’t say I have run into much in the way of Church or monsters. A few bandits, a batch of slave traders, some general scoundrels, but nothing terribly interesting.” She answered.

“Some healers fight with their magic. I…can manage a few light-based attacks, but I’ve never been too pressed into a corner for that. And I have my own closer combat weapons.” She transferred the skewer to her left hand and pulled one of the pieces of her bo staff out of its sleeve on her right hip. “I keep a two section bo staff. So I can wield it with one hand, or link it together with the other and have a larger beating stick.” Adrianna spun the staff through her fingers quickly, and then twirled it around her body quickly and with very little effort. She had decent strength for attacks as well, but as she was eating and they were walking, she wasn’t going to do a full demonstration. Adrianna slid it back into the sleeve and resumed eating. She didn’t think she needed to tell him about the dagger she kept in her boot, or her proficiency with a bow. None of them were carrying them, so she doubted she would have the opportunity to demonstrate it.

“So…is it just the Church that has been attacking your crew? Or monsters as well?” She asked. “Could it be because of your company?” She gestured with her nearly finished skewer to Nymira. Though the woman was annoying, Adrianna was attempting to refer to the woman’s royal title, and see if she could learn more about her company in the process.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

I am going to skip this round. @shylarah you're up.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Adrianna saw Ethan’s face light up at the mention of the meads that the pub had to offer, as well as Nymira’s death glare towards him immediately after. Her brows furrowed in confusion, but she didn’t inquire about it. This group had been traveling together for quite a while (at least she assumed) and they clearly knew each other well. Besides, Ethan was an adult…at least, he looked like he was probably an adult. If he wanted to have a drink, that was his prerogative, and if he chose to listen to Nymira, that was his choice as well.

They made their way to a place Kensen had picked out. Adrianna had been there a few times, but the guy who was usually in charge of cooking occasionally set the food on fire and left everything blackened. Fortunately, he wasn’t the one cooking this time, which meant there was a chance that the food would be decent. “Depends on the kind of meat you like.” Adrianna replied. “I’m a fan of venison, so I would go for that. It is rich, and much leaner. I don’t care much for fat.” The loins would be quite expensive, because the cut was so good, but the steak was a fair enough price usually. The stew meat and roast cuts had already been sold off to make stew with one of the other vendors no doubt, but there were some ribs and the osso buco cuts of the venison, along with some beef, poultry, rabbit, squirrel, and other animals.

She picked out a smaller cut of venison steak for herself, since he was treating and she wasn’t terribly hungry anyway. “Why don’t you try some of my venison, and then pick out some beef for yourself, so you get to try both?” She offered, gesturing to the prime rib cut. “That one would be good, it is very tender, and works well over dry-heat like this.” She explained. Of course, he could get whatever he wanted, but she was happy to offer her opinion since it was requested.

While Ethan was still deciding, though, Nymira began to complain about laziness. “I’m sorry?” Adrianna asked, confused for a moment whether the woman was even speaking to her. “I am not sure that I understand what you mean by calling these people lazy.” Adrianna replied. “I would say that they are efficient, in most respects.” She imagined that the woman was complaining because they had someone else cooking their meat, but that was ridiculous. It was good to have specialists. Otherwise, everyone would end up being mediocre at everything. She agreed that there were problems with the Church’s control, but trying to break everyone apart and make them fend for themselves would make them all weaker as individuals.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

I guess that makes sense. I was thinking more that because Cecil is a Machina, he might have faster processing than humans, and would be able to come to a resolution more quickly. No worries!

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Adrianna quickly caught up with the group when beckoned, and raised her brows at the offer to have food bought for her by the group. She could certainly pay for herself, but she appreciated the gesture all the same. She had heard the tail end of Kensen saying he had a place in mind, but as Ethan asked her as well for good places in Mutebo, she tilted her head a little. “To eat?” She asked. Ethan looks at her a bit strangely and confirms that of course he was asking for places to eat.

“Sure, there are definitely a few places that I think give you a good amount for what you pay.” She said. Kensen already had a place in mind for now, but since they would be here for a few days. “An older man named Octonion has a food cart with meat and some fresh vegetables put on a stick and roasted. It tastes pretty great. I tend to be wary of stews because you never quite know what was put in them to make the stock, so I like that you can see exactly what you are getting. The mead at The Steep Archer is a staple worth trying. Their mulled mead is flavored with some fruits and spies, and then warmed by shoving a hot poker from the fireplace into it.” She gestured off in the direction of the building. Jerard had taken her there as a thanks for healing him, and though she had only been back a few times to try different meads, they were all fantastic.

Ethan then introduced some of the group, including the Dimuran she had thought was in charge initially, Nymira, who he described as difficult. Adrianna frowned slightly, wondering why she wouldn’t be able to talk to the woman. They had spoken fine the first time, and she wasn’t sure what had changed. “Yes, Amune introduced herself to me when we met at Norman’s before.” Adrianna recalled. She had frightened the girl by acknowledging the girl’s magic, and her over-exertion. “I could always just call you all, ‘Hey, you!’” She said, chuckling lightly. Adrianna glanced over to Kensen, trying to recall if she had gotten his name already, but figured she would just ask when she desperately needed it, or avoid using his name at all. Wasn’t there another man in their group as well? She thought she remembered seeing another when she first met up with them.

Adrianna’s polite smile fell when Ethan mentioned her being from the Church once more, and having thought it was a joke. “I was born in a city where the Church still has a strong influence, yes.” Adrianna replied. Saying she was from the Church sounded like she worked for them. Okay, well, she did work for them, but it sounded like she…actively created their doctrine and supported the practice of harming those with magic. Ethan seemed to get over whatever dark thoughts he was having, declaring that the past was best left behind them. “I suppose so.” She replied.

As they continued on their way to the food joint Kensen had picked out, Adrianna spoke up once more to Ethan. “When you asked about other places, I thought you meant just like…other shops and things. There is a neat training area if you are interested in practicing melee attacks.” Adrianna didn’t know that they were getting more formal training from professionals, and was just trying to be helpful. Someone had re-routed some trees whose branches were all removed, apart from a few that were strategically there to represent arms to practice attacks. The split bo staff she used in the area still swung on either hip. “There are some wood mages I know who fix it when it is broken, mostly by some people who practice their magic over there as well.” It wasn’t used by the guards and Taliya’s fighters so much as whoever else wanted to make sure they could defend themselves. No place was truly safe, after all.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

@Mogtaki I hear you. I mean, I've read all of Cecil's thoughts for the last few months, so I get why he is depressed. I guess my question was more about resolving some of those problems. Did you have character development things in mind for helping him overcome these problems that we (me, Vena, Shy) can help with. I'm not trying to be rude, but his internal thoughts are really repetitive, and I was wondering if there were plans in motion for helping him get out of that rut, so to speak.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

@Mogtaki hey mog, I know Cecil has been going through a rough patch, but I've been trying to figure out what character development you are hoping for though this internal battle of his. Is there supposed to be an Ah ha! moment that he has after a certain interaction? He has been in a rut for a while and I would love to help you turn the gears on getting him to a better place where he is ready to continue to adventure!

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Adrianna was a bit surprised by the haughty attitude Nymira displayed at the request. She hadn’t really seen too much of that before, and she stared in shock for a few moments before she recovered enough to reply. “I…No. I was simply suggesting that if you were going in the same direction, I could travel with your group.” There was safety in numbers, except for when one wanted to backstab the others. Nymira brought up the Church, and Adrianna grew pale. What the… How had she known about that? Of course, even as the question occurred to her, she knew it was Lionel. A simple punch in the face was going easy on him. How many people had he told, and how had that even come up? She couldn’t imagine any conversations from which “Oh yea, that healer guy used to work for the Church,” would have arisen naturally. He was doing this just to screw with her life.

For that reason alone, Adrianna was willing to leave the group. People with mouths as big as this weren’t safe, and it was better to travel alone. Of course, the fact that Nymira was refusing her request was another reason that she knew it was better to simply depart. “Fine then.” It was no use reminding the woman that Taliya suggested this. Clearly, the woman didn’t care.

She was already turning to walk away when Ethan came over and began to recount other people who had traveled with them. Adrianna couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to those other individuals. Had they all died? It wasn’t exactly a reassuring thought. Then again, perhaps they just went their own ways, like she planned to. Adrianna didn’t entirely understand why Ethan was suggesting he was let capable of navigating himself, but she really didn’t know him well yet. The Dimuran, however, seemed to catch his reference, and looked rather grumpy about the whole affair.

Despite Adrianna saying they could take their time and talk it over, Ethan extended a hand immediately, telling her that they would be staying in town a few days for training. Adrianna wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to travel with this group anymore. Who knows what Lionel had told them, and the Dimuran seemed rather upset about the whole thing, not to mention that it hadn’t been discussed with the rest of their group. “ummm Okay.” Adrianna took his hand and shook it briefly. He was about to say that he didn’t mind waiting, and ask what exactly they were training for, but Nymira interrupted and pulled Ethan away.

Adrianna stayed in her spot for a few moments, wondering if she was supposed to follow along. She didn’t need training, but she didn’t know where and when she was to meet them later…and frankly she didn’t have anything else better to do either. If they wanted her gone, Adrianna was pretty sure that Nymira would say as much. Initially, Adrianna thought that the woman was… stubborn, but perhaps the leader of the group. Now, she was beginning to think that the Dimuran was bitter and more than a little negative. Just before the group disappeared from sight, Adrianna picked up her step and followed them. She had traveled with strange folks before, and she knew the hard way that they weren’t going to slow down or accommodate her. She kept up, or was left behind.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Adrianna had gotten towards the more common areas before she realized what, or rather, who, she had stormed past in her effort to get outside and get fresh air. Standing outside of one of the other rooms in Taliya’s building was two of the men who had been with the group Taliya recommended she contact. She had walked right past them. She rubbed the bridge of her nose when she came to a stop. She shouldn’t have let her emotions get in the way. If she had been paying attention, she could have gone straight to them. Instead, she had stormed off with a temper tantrum.

Fortunately, as she made her way back towards the building, Lionel was gone, and so she wouldn’t have to take a stab at a comeback. He wasn’t worth the breath, even though quite a few things had come to mind when her called it a love tap. Love was the last thing on her mind, and if he considered that to be affection, then perhaps that was why he came across as such an obnoxious prick.

No. stop. Don’t waste your energy.

The group was just exiting the room where the two men had been standing outside, and were coming towards her. As she approached, she realized that she probably should have tried to figure out which of them was the leader. It didn’t seem to be the ones who had ignored her (and them for the most part) and were waiting outside, so she looked to the Dimuran woman who hadn’t wanted her healing. They had interacted the most of the group, and Adrianna was pretty sure the kid wasn’t the leader.

“Hey, uh…” Adrianna realized that she didn’t have their names, apart from the kid, and frowned slightly. That would have been another great question for Taliya, had she been thinking clearly. Stop blaming Lionel and move on.

Adrianna turned to the side and began to walk along-side Nymira. “I can walk with you guys, I don’t want to hold you up. Taliya suggested I talk to you guys about traveling. I’m making my way towards Midkemia.” She looked among them to gauge the recognition on their faces. “It’s… not a nicest vacation destination, but if you were going that way as well, I was hoping that I could tag along for some of the travel. There’s a bit of safety in numbers, even if you aren’t keen on going all the way…I wasn’t sure where you all were headed, and Taliya didn’t say—just that you all were traveling as well.”

“Anyway, I…uhh…don’t need an answer now, if you all want to talk it over or whatever. But I can take care of my own rations, do a shift on watch—“ She glanced over at the Machina, they probably didn’t need anyone taking shifts on watch. How relaxing that was. “I’ve heard you guys have gotten into some trouble with the church, and I don’t know much about Machina, but I am pretty good at patching people up.” Adrianna smiled. Knowing she had talked enough, Adrianna grew quiet, waiting for someone to tell her no immediately, or that they would discuss it as a group and let her know. If she couldn’t get them, perhaps she could work for a bit of time as a healer for some bandits in exchange for an escort. Bandits, mercenaries, idiots…any of them would do, really.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Hey @Mogtaki, does Cecil actually walk off, or is he more waiting for permission to go? I planned to have Adrianna come up to the group, but I don't want to miss-read the end part.
Thanks!