PI-Seinor: Seeking Panling - Chyril 22 MT (Nakwa and Sevti)

Sevti · Post by **Sevti** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:46 pm

Sevti stepped out from the temple into the bright sunlight of the day. Her hand rose to shade her eyes as she scanned the slight crowd that were passing the temple on their daily business. She didn't think she'd be so lucky as to find Finodborn walking by at just this time, but it didn't hurt to check.

Of course, she was right. Luck was not with her. "It looks like you'll get a chance to see more of Seinor, Nakwa," she told the newcomer with a smile Her words were mostly human, with the occasional adhiel and, when she knew it, the occasional half-giant words thrown in. "I was hoping that Pan would be smiling on us and our quarry would have been walking by just as we came out but it is true that Pan doesn't give to those who don't search for themselves."

Looking first to her right, then to her left, she tried to let intuition guide her. But nothing was really speaking to her so she chose toward the left - getting further out of town rather than closer to it's center. Her steps were quick, trying to set a pace that would not be uncomfortably slow for her larger companion.

"I'm guessing you haven't been here long," she put forth conversationally. "Otherwise the town would have been abuzz with the news. Have you found a place to stay yet?" Her attention seemed to be focused on Nakwa as they walked, but every burn or so, her eyes would dart to the people they were passing before coming to rest upon her large companion once more.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:26 am

Ducking automatically as he passed the smaller-than-normal doorway - smaller than normal for him, at least - Nakwa made his way out into the sunlight. It took him but a single blink to adjust to the harsher light; compared to the beating rays he was used to on the desert, this was comparatively dim. As they started walking, he instinctively kept his gaze out and alert, glancing at passers-by and interesting buildings while reserving a glance for his companion every now and then to reinforce the point he was making. Every few minutes, he would shift the pack on his back, making sure that his greatsword and axes hadn't slipped at all.

"I have no quarrels with exploring the town while we search," Nakwa replied, still with a faint smile about his lips. Nakwa appreciated her use of the occasional half-giant word, but the only word of adhiel he knew so far was their greeting - 'namaste' - and so was at a loss to return the favour. He kept a slower pace and a little distance between them so Sevti didn't have to crane her neck as high, though. "I have never seen a place like this before in my life; water and trees all around, both scarcities in the desert. This places looks like a paradise to me."

"To be honest, I have been on the Isle for less than a mark so far," Nakwa replied, his hands gesturing slightly as he spoke. "I got off the boat and went straight to the temple, as was my goal here. I havn't found a place to stay as of yet, no; do you have any suggestions as to where I should stay?

"Are my kind a rarity here?" Nakwa asked at Sevti's mention that the town would be abuzz with news had he been here for a bit longer. He hadn't seen any other half-giants on their walk so far, but he had seen very little of Seinor at all so far.

Sevti · Post by **Sevti** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:15 pm

Sevti smiled, leading the larger being toward the bar she'd just left. "It is beautiful," she agreed, "For a new town. But not nearly as beautiful as Tal 'Fea was before the invasion. We built things to work with nature rather than against it. We've tried to do the same here, but..." Her voice drifted off, unable to put the sadness of the loss into words.

"The Nymph and Satyr sometimes lets room," she told him, changing the subject quickly. "Though if you're going to be here for awhile, now is the time to build a home. There's still plenty of room to build. I've got a small house near the outskirts of town, though most of the time I'm actually at the Temple."

The tiny woman's eyes widened as a thought occurred to her. "Why didn't I think of it earlier? No, don't bother renting a room at the Nymph and Satyr. You can stay at my home instead. It would be nice for it to be used rather than the dust and dirt to build up every day."

As she talked, she continued to glance at the people they passed, hoping one of them would be the person they were seeking. When Nakwa asked about others of his kind, Sevti turned her full attention back to him. "Not many, no. I've actually only ever met two others. They came not long after the attack and fought with the residents of the Isle. They've since moved on, but I'll always consider them friends. Mnnaguth helped save my life once. And everyone here knows how much help they were." She raised her eyes to meet Nakwa's. "You'll have no problems from anyone here."

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:45 am

Nakwa could feel the pain in Sevti's words as the trailed off. If Tal'Fea was more in tune with nature than this place, Nakwa reasoned, it must have been a sight to behold. He didn't bring the issue up again, but followed her change of topic instead. As he spoke, he kept most of his attention on Sevti, though his gaze wandered around the new sights. He looked at the marvellous buildings and lush foliage, and occasionally at passers-by out of courtesy to see if he could find Finodborn, even though he didn't know what the man looked like.

"That would be... a great favour, and one I would be most happy to repay in the future," Nakwa replied as Sevti mentioned her home, momentarily surprised at how friendly the small human was. Hospitality was well-established in the desert, but it was usually formalised and between entire tribes; offering your own tent to a particular stranger was much rarer. Even with the short time he had spent with her, though, Nakwa found himself warming to Sevti; she hardly seemed that much of a stranger at all.

"Most of my money was spent on the boat-journey over here, and so relief from paying for a room at the Nymph and Satyr would be of great help. Perhaps if fate leads me to stay here longer, then I will build a house; but, unfortunately, I'm not sure how long I will be staying."

A smile crossed Nakwa's face as Sevti mentioned the two other half-giants who had been here previously. "It would seem they have left big shoes for me to fill," he remarked. "Were you part of the War at all?"

Sevti · Post by **Sevti** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:29 pm

"Repayment isn't necessary," the tiny Panling assured the larger. "As I said, it's not being used right now so I'm glad for you to use it. It may be a little smaller than you're used to but I think between the two of us, we'll be able to make it comfortable for you." A friendly smile lit her face.

"As for money," she mused thoughtfully. "I can't help you much there. We're still trying to grow back to what we once were. But occasionally there will be requests for guards if someone needs to go into Tal'F... I mean, Aveas for anything. That might get you some coin that you'll need."

When Nakwa mentioned the war, the woman's hand automatically went to the dagger at her side. She made no move to draw, instead caressed it. After taking a deep breath, she spoke. "Officially, I wasn't. Unofficially, very much so."

Her fingers brushed over the hilt of her dagger as she spoke, voice devoid of emotion. "I was in Tal 'Fea when they attacked. My parents' tavern was burned to the ground. I escaped the flames thanks to a nearby tree and made it to Gatetown. My parents were nowhere to be found, nor was Father Andi. But Paloma was there and so was..." Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. It's been half a yahren, girl. Let it go. "Abeo. He was a Bloodling, like you. But he was human like me. His fiery hair matched his temper and, if he'd wanted to, he could have crushed me in an instant."

Instead, he crushed your heart, the voice in the back of her mind told her.

But not because he wanted to, she shot back. He didn't chose to leave.

"Instead," she went on, holding back the tide of emotion that had been threatening to overwhelm her for months, "he came with me to rescue my father. He taught me how to fight." I taught him how to love. "We rescued my father, but we lost Abeo. He was captured."

She paused as a laughing couple crossed their path, arms about one another, pausing for a deep kiss. Sevti's heart cracked a little more at the sight, but she couldn't begrudge them. Love or Joy, it mattered not. Take it while you can, she thought to them. You never know when it will be gone.

When she and Nakwa started to walk once again, she continued her story. "With some friends, I tried to go to Tal 'Fea to rescue him. We arrived at the same time as the Panling fighters. I was able to sneak in but saw Abeo's body burned in the middle of the street. That was the end of the war for me." She shrugged her shoulders, joy starting to creep back into her voice. "After that, it was just rebuilding. And we're trying our best to do what we can without forgetting what we'd lost."

There was a lot she'd left out - the nights she'd cried herself to sleep, the choice she made to give herself completely to Pan, the steps she took to get this land so they COULD rebuild - but some she couldn't tell because she was in enough pain from what she'd already told and some she couldn't tell because it didn't seem important. The later, she figured, he'd find out from someone else. She didn't need to play her own lute.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:28 am

"Hm; perhaps offering my services as an escort would be useful. Thanks to you and your offer of hospitality, though, I should have enough money to get me by for the moment."

Nakwa listened quietly as Sevti tell her story. Her tale of suffering touched him deeply, and made him realise just how much the War must have cost not only her, but everyone here. He lay one hand comfortingly on her shoulder as she finished her tale.

"Battle should never be forced upon the innocent," Nakwa replied, searching for words of solace. "If these men of the Mouth had any honour, they would not have taken your father prisoner; perhaps then things would have been different. I have little doubt Abeo rests now in Pan's arms; he gave himself to the joy of the Blood and for the betterment of others. If the cowards in Aveas make further move upon the rest of the Island, rest assured that they will have to get past me before they lay a hand upon you or those you love again."

Nakwa's thoughts were turned to war as he talked. Back in his homeland, war on this scale was practically unheard of; being nomadic, there was no reason for fighting a war over land. The closest thing they got to was a dispute when two hostile tribes camped at the same well; but even then, battle was formalised and conducted according to codes of honour. There were no prisoners, no murder and destruction of the lives of innocent. The joy of battle came from an honest fight with another warrior, face to face and toe to toe, not from cutting down women and children who fled from wanton destruction. Nakwa's muscles automatically clenched in anger, though he was careful not to tense the hand on Sevti's shoulder; the invaders deserved to be punished.