The voyage from abroad had taken Genuvah across many different lands. He'd been trying to find more of his kind, mostly keeping a low profile, not getting into fights or drawing attention to himself. But in all of that, he sought to form a gathering or enclave of people like him. Yet his search had borne no fruit. He had no idea what to do, so he returned finally to his Grandmother in Almund. There, he promised to find a safer place to settle than in Almund. While Tamar could easily take care of herself, Genuvah didn't want her to continue living in some forsaken cabin near the Witchwood Graveyard. If it wasn't pranksters calling on their cabin, it was thugs trying to extort from them. Plus, that place spooked the hell out of him.
So he'd heard of Haven on returning to Almund. A settlement founded by the famous Balthazar Black, and now led by his consort or girlfriend, Elisabeth Angelus, who he''d also heard of, yet knew less of. He thought it was a good opportunity to get into something at the ground level. To work toward a brighter future for at least him and his grandmother, if not other Yludih.
His grandmother wished him well on the trip but wouldn't come with him yet. He had to set up a place for them. So he came to Haven, marching north from the Sentry, with camp equipment strapped to his back. He didn't know if they had accommodation for new settlers arriving, but he was willing to set up his own tent and work for whatever he could.
So he arrived at the promised place, Haven. The name of the place evoked an air of safety and refuge. A respite from the harshness of the rest of the world. Of course, if that turned out not to be true he wouldn't exactly be surprised. There were plenty of places that were ill-named in order to attract settlers. But he was willing to take it on faith.
He arrived as Cowle Rhiogsson, his half-aukari disguise. He'd grown a beard in recent months, not for lack of grooming but because he actually enjoyed the way it looked and felt. His hair was still cropped short. He wore much of his chainmail armor, with some plate portions and padded under armor as he walked through the fields toward Haven.
When he arrived, he was approached by a pair of what looked like armed guards. One of them, surprisingly, appeared to be of avriel extraction. Cowle nodded to them, and said, "I'm Cowle Rhiogsson. I'm hoping to join the settlement as a guard? If you'll need my services?"
Balder and Silk, patrolling the edges of Haven, had been the two approached. One of the advantages (and disadvantages) of where Haven used to be located, was the fact that strangers were rare. One tended to know everyone in the settlement, making security a bit easier. The new location was on the same side of Faldrass as the docks, just north of the Sentry, and much easier to locate if one went looking for it.
Eyeing the stranger up and down, Silk smirked a bit as Genuvah spoke his intentions. “A guard? Interesting. Welcome to Haven.” The male with her offered up a hand to greet Genuvah. “Balder. This is Silk. We will take you to see Elisabeth.”
As they walked, Balder stayed quiet for the most part, with Silk being slightly chatty. “It’s odd. I wonder if there is a rumor out there about how Haven moved to this side of the island. Scalveens are a superstitious lot. Wouldn’t surprise me if they had come up with something fantastical.” Whether or not Balder or their visitor had anything to say about it, Silk continued until they came to the beach. There, a raven-haired young woman sat, eyes closed. Next to her, blinking up at the trio with intense orange eyes, was a kitten, who simply watched them, watching Elisabeth.
“Ahhhhh…she’s meditating. Quiet. She should be done soon. We can just wait here.” Silk’s voice, while promoting quiet, was anything but, and another voice joined the conversation. “She was. That seems to be over for the moment though.”
Opening her eyes, Elisabeth took in the view of the waves briefly before rising to see what Silk and company needed. Smiling, she inclined her head gently at the man the guards had brought to see her. “A pleasure. Elisabeth. Welcome to Haven. And your name?” Regardless of her kind nature, the young woman was skilled with people and strangers in the settlement made her feel on edge until she had a better sense of them.
Nodding at the two guards, Silk and Balder moved to return to their rounds, leaving the two to talk. Motioning down the beach, Elisabeth spoke again. “Let’s walk – shall we? I’d like to hear about what brought you to Haven. Oh, I should warn you. Sand in shoes is not pleasant. You are welcome to remove yours if you’d like.” Pointing down at her own bare feet, she wiggled her toes for emphasis, and promptly found them 'attacked' by Sir Storm of Haven. Laughing softly, she introduced the feline. "This is Storm. He's terrible bossy but he keeps all of us on our toes."
Returning to the subject of sand, Elisabeth began walking. “I learned very quickly after arriving in Haven that having one’s home just off the beach has many wonderful advantages, but sand in the shoes is not one of them. Besides, the warm sand of Faldrass is wonderful for tired feet.”
Last edited by Elisabeth Black on Thu Aug 26, 2021 1:40 am, edited 2 times in total. word count: 503
Cowle looked to Silk, and then Balder. The former was an avriel, and while their kind was not fondly looked upon where he came from (and he didn't escape that prejudicial outlook for most of his life), neither were Yludih. So he'd amended his outlook toward the winged folk for the six years he'd spent in Scalvoris and abroad from his home city. Besides, she wasn't half bad-looking.
He shook Balder's hand as it was given. Then he fell into step beside them. When Silk mentioned that there may be rumors about the town having moved, he quickly picked up on that. "Are you serious? It's fairly well-known. I had it from a small-time shipper in O'Rourke's in Almund, who intends to make a stop here for trading. It's very much the talk of the Island." Cowle murmured, his hand falling on the pommel of his longsword as he walked. "They say that Saoire herself moved the village? Is there any truth to that?" Cowle shrugged, "At any rate, I'm hoping to make a place for myself here if I can."
When finally they arrived at the beach, there was a black-haired woman, and a kitten that simply watched them and Elisabeth. Cowle was immediately taken by the beauty of the animal, its orange eyes were dazzling.
He knelt on the sand and held out his hand for the cat to get his illusionary scent, which was mixed with the smells of travel. When Silk said they should wait for her to get meditating, the woman, who he took to be Elisabeth herself, spoke up and said her meditation was at an end. He stood up then, from where he greeted Storm, and nodded his head toward her, "I'm Cowle, Cowle Rhiogsson." He said with confidence. It was his name and had been for the better part of his life before discovering his true nature as a Yludih. He was Cowle Rhiogsson before he was Genuvah, and so it wouldn't seem odd or misleading that he referred to himself as such. Besides, he'd grown attached to his identity, and still had yet to come to full grips with what he was, even in the six years he'd known.
"I've heard a lot about you and Balthazar. They say you helped save the Island, and he has as well in his time. How much about those stories is true, I wonder?" He asked, as they walked. He didn't remove his boots, however. They would keep the sand out well enough, being tightly stitched.
Cowle looked on Storm again when she introduced him, "Hello Storm." Cowle always had a soft spot for felines, he had to admit. He didn't expect that the cat would give him trouble as Elisabeth warned him of the animal's bossiness. "The sands are very unusual and pretty. I've been living in Scalvoris on and off for about six years, so I've had time to get accustomed to the colored sands. I come from Rharne originally."
Cowle didn't think he could detect a Scalveen twang in her words and thought perhaps she too was from elsewhere. Although he couldn't place the accent. "Where do you come from, if you don't mind my asking?"
They walked along the beach for a while more. It was a pleasant ambiance, and Cowle had always enjoyed life on the coast. That said, he wasn't sure if having a house right on the beach would be for him. he preferred a bit more stability in the form of land beneath his feet, without worrying about the high tide, storms, or colossal waves. But he supposed he'd get used to it.
"As for becoming a guard in Haven? That's why I'm here. I want to get my feet wet, and in on the ground level in a settlement. If I can." Cowle thought for a moment, then added, "I do want to learn to fight better, as well. Your guards look like they know how to handle themselves."
When Cowle mentioned that Haven’s move was well-known, Silk’s face lit up into a bright smile. “Well now, you hear that, Balder? We’re famous. Imagine that. I wonder if that will buy us some drinks in taverns once we get out and moving around Scalvoris a bit.” Rolling his eyes a bit, Balder nodded to Cowle in response to his question. “Aye, she did, and we are ever in her debt. She is a kind one, Saoire.”
Never one to pass up an opportunity, Silk was still babbling about the idea of free drinks to Balder as they moved away, getting back to their duties, leaving the visitor with Elisabeth. They wouldn’t be far away, but the young mage knew how to take care of herself so there generally wasn’t a worry about something nefarious happening.
As the man lowered to offer his hand to Storm, the kitten gracefully sauntered over to him, gaze never wavering as he sized up the new one. Flicking his tail, he gently rubbed his head against the stranger’s hand, testing him to see how readily scratches would be given – a very important test of suitability for being one’s servant.
Elisabeth’s cerulean eyes looked over the man briefly as he introduced himself. There was nothing obvious that stood out as unusual, so the conversation continued, smiling. “Cowle. A pleasure to meet you then, Cowle.” If he had a sensitive nose, the man might pick up notes of lavender and orange in the air, notes that many people associated with the young mage’s presence.
He brought up her recent adventures, and knew Balthazar’s name as well, and his adventures too. It was something she was starting to experience, recognition, although her Yari consort was still far more well-known than she. Still, people knew her name and things she had done, and it was hard to escape that reputation.
Smiling, she shrugged her shoulders gently. “We’ve done our part, I suppose. I enjoy helping when I can. I won’t speak for Balthazar, but I feel I’ve done what anyone would have in the same situations. At least, I hope that. I believe in people.”
Storm followed along behind them, curiously meandering through the sand as they spoke. Cowle mentioned Rharne, which lit up Elisabeth’s smile. “Rharne? I lived there for a time. I met Balthazar there, in fact. I have a great fondness for Rharne. I still have a house there. I’m hoping to go back and visit eventually, but life has been a bit busy as of late.” An understatement if there ever was one, but true, nonetheless.
He followed up with asking where she was from, which she readily answered. “Viden. I lived there almost the whole of my life until moving to Rharne last arc. I only stayed in Rharne less than a cycle before coming to Scalvoris.“ Elisabeth was aware that her accent was a bit unique, even by Viden standards. She had always chalked that up to her studies in languages, because otherwise there was no explanation. Well, there was...but it wasn't something she had any knowledge about so there was no point entertaining the notion.
They strolled along, and the matter his intentions came up. Elisabeth listened, nodding gently. “Haven would welcome you. Certainly, there’s training to be had. Balthazar trained the guards, and me to a certain degree. I can help with that as well, if you desire. I’m of a firm opinion that one should always be ready for trouble if it comes knocking, and it seems to come knocking on my door quite frequently.”
Laughing softly, she kicked a bit of sand for Storm to chase. “Balthazar comes and goes frequently but is happy to train people when he is ‘in settlement’. I am skilled in blades and unarmed combat.”
He was a talkative one, this Cowle Rhiogsson, but currently he knew more about her than she did about him. "So, Cowle, tell me what I need to know about you. I know you are from Rharne and are familiar with Scalvoris. What else is there to know, good Sir?" Giving him a bit of a smile, they continued to walk, and she was curious as to the answer she would receive. It was telling, what someone willingly told another about themselves.
The cat seemed friendly enough, so he scratched around behind its ear. The cat, Storm, seemed to like that, so Cowle continued for about a bit while Elisabeth talked. False modesty was always baffling to Cowle. If someone had done something worthy of noting, enough that the entire island knew their names, he didn't understand why they wouldn't embrace it. Then again, Cowle remembered that he himself enjoyed keeping a low profile. Perhaps fame came with its own set of unpleasantness.
When she mentioned that she lived in Rharne for a time, Cowle nodded quietly. "I am from there. I doubt I'll be going back." He didn't know the circumstances of her stay there, but could certainly understand the disinclination to make an extended stay. Rharne was a mixed bag on the whole, and while Cowle had some good memories of the place they were overshadowed by his expulsion, as he was cast adrift to Scalvoris with Sir Cormier.
He stood up after scratching Storm's ears for a while and listened to her speak on training. "I have a lot to learn, I wouldn't call myself an expert at combat." He offered, although he knew it wouldn't exactly inspire confidence given the role he was here to fulfill. It'd become plainly obvious very quickly that he hadn't much training beyond the basics if it came to a fight. And nothing bothered Cowle more than being caught in a lie.
"I came to Scalvoris about six arcs ago from Rharne, after my mother died." He said, preemptively waving off any sympathy that came his way regarding the loss. "I landed in Egilrun, and worked for the Watcher's Union in odd jobs, guarding a caravan here or there..."
"I stayed with my Grandmother for a while in Almund, where she lives on the outskirts of the Witchwood Graveyard. I'm hoping to find a safe place for us to settle, as that isn't exactly the best neighborhood. Still, she can take care of herself, but I always worry." He thought for a moment, wondering if there was anything else he'd forgotten. "I like to er... gamble a bit. Favorite drink is lemonade with a bit of whiskey brewed into it."
There was quiet for a moment from him, and he was content to walk along with her and Storm for a while. After a bit or two, he thought to ask, "Do you get much trouble since the move? What kind of action is there hereabouts that a guard might get into?"
Last edited by Genuvah on Mon Jun 20, 2022 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 432
Storm was very much inclined to ‘hire’ the new one on the spot, for scratches and attention were plentiful. The adoration was very much appreciated and even though he had great fondness for the settlers in Haven, they really needed to step up their game as far as Storm was concerned.
Elisabeth listened to the man’s words about Rharne, and pushed no further. In her experience, when someone stated something in the way he had, about doubting they’d be going back, there was usually good reason for the sentiment. Pressing the issue would gain her no points and possibly make him uncomfortable, and the young mage had no desire to do that. She did, however, make a note to steer clear of the subject unless Cowle brought it up in the future.
The man rose to speak to Elisabeth a bit more, leaving Storm with a difficult dilemma. While the new one had made an excellent first impression, the feline felt the need to test further, meowing as he rubbed against Cowle’s leg gently, curious to see what reaction that might produce. The young mage had seen this song and dance a few times herself, smiling at the pair but remaining silent on the matter, focusing her attentions on the redheaded man.
He moved on to his skills, which the young mage waved off a bit. “Everyone has a lot to learn. Always more to learn, Cowle. That’s why we train. I admit I tend to train more than most, but I want to be ready for anything, I suppose. I was the same way with academics, always wanting to learn more, about anything really. “
As they walked, she listened as he further outlined his arrival in Scalvoris, speaking of his grandmother near Almund. The name of the town caused Elisabeth’s spine to shiver a bit. She hadn’t been able to shake that tendency since her arrest there, although she knew it was silly. Trauma had a funny way of landing on a person and the young woman had her own unique brand of it to content with still.
“Your grandmother, we would happily look out for her, if she were to come here. I want people to feel like they are part of something in Haven. We look out for each other.“ Her tone was still friendly, but there was a deeper sincerity to the words. Elisabeth was a protector at heart – she knew that – and protecting the settlers of Haven was a priority of hers. “Once you know us, of course. I wouldn’t expect you to take my word for that.”
They walked and she considered what he had told her thus far of himself. It felt, in her opinion, that he was just looking for a place to belong – a sentiment she understood all too well. As he asked about trouble, the raven-haired mage shook her head. “Very little currently. The Badlands aren’t as imminent a threat as they were in our former location. However, Faldrass is only now being repopulated. Hopetoun, Haven, the Barony. As much as I’d like to say our settlement will always be this quiet, I know better and will make sure we are prepared for whatever comes. “
Recalling something she had missed, she gave him a brief smile. “Oh, and I like iced tea with lemon, in case you were wondering.”
Cowle seemingly had picked up an admirer, or so it seemed to him. He’d always had a soft spot for cats, from the one in the tavern in Almund that he and his Grandmother often frequented, to now this one. And basically any alleycat he’d ever met. Some people preferred dogs, but Cowle was happier around cats. Besides, dogs with their superior senses tended to make him a bit paranoid. Cats at least had the good grace to be about themselves more than others.
So as Storm rubbed against his leg, He stooped down again, and began rubbing the cat’s neck. “This cat… a very interesting breed by the looks of him.” Cowle said, noting the interesting coloration and fur around his neck. “Where did you get him?”
As they went along, Cowle decided to try and bring Storm with him, picking him up and snuggling up to the cat as they went along. “I hope you don’t mind if I take him for a little carry-along. He seems starved for attention!”
She went on to speak on her philosophy with regards to learning, and training. While Cowle could see the merit in being prepared, he had to interject on one key point, “That’s true, but training too intensely can result in some strange habits, that are easily exploited by one who is more flexible in their approach to combat.” Cowle countered, “That’s not to say that drills don’t have their place, but when someone is trying to hurt you, that’s an entirely different situation and quite unpredictable, is it not?”
Cowle had his small share of incidents where he’d gotten into fights, although they were rarely more serious than a fist fight in a tavern. He’d been in at least two battles where weapons were involved.
“Thank you for your hospitality then, but I’d want you to be sure.” He said, of her welcome toward him and his grandmother. “We may have others joining us too, if what you say about this place being rather quiet is true.”
She mentioned that iced tea with lemon was a favorite of hers, and he nodded, “Lemons, yes.”
He liked lemons, could never quite explain it. They just made him happy.
“Since you spoke of training… I’ve heard of your ability as a warrior, as well as that of Balthazar… I was wondering if we might try our hand at a friendly spar now?” He pet Storm a few more times, who seemed mostly oblivious to the bellicose subject of their conversation.
“I probably won’t provide much of a challenge, be forewarned, but my old mentor Sir Cormier always told me I’m very unpredictable, and tricky opponent. They say that tends to be the strength of a novice fighter…”
Grinning softly, Elisabeth watched the pair interact, shaking her head a bit at Storm's antics. "It seems you've passed his test, Cowle. Not an easy feat, I assure you." The feline, of course, had a soft spot for those that tended to him when he desired, but sometimes it was a matter of continually working on those that hadn't seen the light yet regarding his awesomeness. At least in Storm's mind.
And as for what type of feline he was, that was something of a different story. "I'm not sure about his breed. He was a gift from a girl in Rharne. I was told he was found as a kitten in the Stormlands, and while she said there were some interesting traits he would grow into, he's not really shown any signs of it. I think he's just a normal cat, but who knows, I suppose."
Cowle's assertion that Storm seemed 'starved for attention' gained a chuckle from her. "He may think he is, yes. It's far from the truth, though." Glancing at the pair, she wondered in the feline provided some sense of security for the young man. "However, by all means, brings him. He does have a way of making everyone feel better."
Their conversation was wide-ranging. She enjoyed the back and forth between them and agreed when he made a point about training. "That's very true, on both counts. The issue comes when training is all that's available. Due to circumstances, training was all I could do for the longest time. Things did eventually catch up to me, and I've learned a lot about live combat because of that." No need to fill him in on the details. If he stayed in Haven, the man would soon learn about Elisabeth's habit of getting in over her neck.
Elisabeth had to admit that it was nice to talk to someone who wasn't as steeped in combat as Balthazar and Praetorum. Occasionally, she thought that perhaps they had issues relating to her relative inexperience, having long passed where she was in her skills. Cowle was easy to talk to and seemed to have an open mind, which were both positive things in her book.
"Haven is indeed quiet. Growing though, so it won't stay small forever. I want to think that no matter how the settlement grows, it will always have a certain stillness. A place for people to breathe and reflect." Slow living. Slow living was a concept Elisabeth was only starting to understand.
A great deal of her time away from the settlement wasn't what one would consider 'slow,' but when in Haven, it was her desired state. "I've certainly done some of my best thinking here. The settlers taught me to slow down and be intentional while I'm here, which helps balance me from the time away when I can't exactly do that."
A smile escaped as he inquired about the possibility of a spar. "Balthazar has me beat hands down with unarmed combat, but I can put him on the back foot with my sword. He'd never admit that, though." It was something of a joke between the couple now although she believed if her beloved were speaking to someone about her, he'd probably say the same. It was just something he'd never admit to her.
"I never turn down the opportunity to engage someone new. Blade or unarmed? I'm proficient in both. I have wooden training blades available."
Comments: Genuvah’s search for a new home and for a brighter future for his grandmother and him was described well in my opinion. I love how you described Haven – a respite from the harshness of the rest of the world. You made it sound like a wonderful place for Genuvah!
I had no idea that strangers were rare in Haven. I really liked the scene where Silk and Balder took Genuvah to Elisabeth, and she was sitting on the beach, with Storm next to her.
“Ahhhhh … she’s meditating!”
That made me smile!
I love how welcoming Elisabeth is in this thread. She also asks Genuvah a couple of important questions though rather than hiring him immediately. She gives me the impression of being very observant in this thread!
One of the things that also stood out to me about this thread was Genuvah’s interaction with Storm. That was lovely!
All in all, this was an entertaining little meet and greet. It’s a pity it was never finished. I was really looking forward to that spar!
Enjoy your rewards!
P.S.: You can also find the XP and the Knowledges for this thread in your UCPs!