Rissada - Session 27.6

After finishing her fortune-telling with Arastalia and doing her best to explain away the charred circle of grass in the cathedral's courtyard, Nalzij decides to visit her gryphon in the stables.

Stable Keeper: "Careful there... this is just a little more treatment for the wing, it's going to be okay..."
Stable Keeper seems to be applying a medical ointment to the gryphon's wing wound, which has been beginning to heal over the last couple days.
Nalzij: "How's progress? It looks like he's a little calmer this time."
Stable Keeper: "Well, to be honest, this has mainly been about tending to its physical training."
"It normally takes weeks for me to properly train a horse to take its rider into combat. But your gryphon... he's really quite intelligent."
Gryphon: -squawk-
Stable Keeper: "If he seems a lot calmer when you're around, though, that's because that's exactly the case."
"He's a real handful when you head down to the underground, and keeps on trying to follow you."
"I can't even apply the medicine unless you're around."
Nalzij: "I was told they were smart, but I wasn't expecting it to be so true. I'll try to find more time."
"Beats trying to keep Pitch out of trouble, anyway."
Stable Keeper: "Do you think you'll be able to spare a little more time around the cathedral?"
"I'd like to help him get more used to the physical stress of having a rider, especially in combat."
"And you're the only one he'll let ride him, so..."
Nalzij: "Sure, I'll stick around more. I shouldn't be needed anywhere else for a while."
As Nalzij steps up to her gryphon, the sound of a door opening is heard, and Arastalia wanders into the stabling area, looking around curiously.
Nalzij: "Hey, Ara! Done with reading for now?"
Arastalia: "For now. Master Engir has decided to return to the underground for now, and he expressed a desire to be alone, though I am unsure why."
"...I am uncomfortable here alone, however."
Nalzij: "Don't worry about it, he's just the sort who likes his alone time. You were curious about the gryphon anyway, right? Though I don't know how well he gets along with anyone besides the two of us..."
The gryphon seems unnerved by Arastalia's presence, backing away from her slightly. The horses also appear to be rattled.
Arastalia: "...Ah. I don't get along with most animals, I'm sad to say. Though I'd very much like to."
Nalzij: "Strange, but I see your point. I like them better than people. Animals don't care how funny you look."
Arastalia: "They say animals see everyone in a different way people do. It's less about caring whether you're a human or elf or orc, but more... your soul."
"You get along with it because you have a soul that is kind to animals."
"I'm jealous, to be honest."
Arastalia chuckles to herself sadly.
Nalzij: "I'm not sure what to say to that. If it's just about kindness, I don't think you'd have trouble, though."
Stable Keeper: "You two work together, though, right? I don't think it would be good if the gryphon can't get along with your group."
Nalzij: "Yeah, that's true."
Arastalia: "I can... try to talk to it? If you think it's safe?"
Nalzij looks back at the gryphon
Nalzij: "Hey, she's a friend, okay? Nothing to run away about."
"It should be safe? We're right here, anyway."
[Handle-Animal check: 28]
Arastalia advances warily towards the gryphon, trying to be careful and minimize her movements.
The gryphon calms down and allows Arastalia to approach, though it's still keeping its guard up.
Arastalia: "Please. I'm your friend. Lady Nalzij vouches for me, too. I just want to get along with you."
Arastalia reaches a hand out towards the gryphon warily, as if to pet it.
Arastalia recoils her hand suddenly, flinching.
Arastalia: "Ah... this is going to take some time, isn't it...?"
Nalzij: "Ara, is your hand okay? I didn't see what just happened."
Arastalia: "I-I'm okay. I... I don't blame it."
Gryphon: -squawk-
Nalzij: "Hey! I can't keep you with me if you're gonna hurt my friends, and I don't want to have to leave you behind, so be nice."
Arastalia: "N-no, please."
"It's... not its fault."
Nalzij: "If you say so..."
Arastalia: "Like I said, animals... don't really get along with me. Only if they're sleeping, like the foxes were, can I get near one."
"I'll try my best not to be a nuisance to it, so please, don't blame the gryphon."
Nalzij: "I'll take your word for it. Hope it won't be a problem for long, though."
Arastalia: "Mister Gryphon, I know you don't like me, but I hope you'll let me be your friend one day."
Gryphon: -squawk-
Arastalia: "I... I guess that was its answer, huh..."
Arastalia laughs weakly, backing out of the gryphon's holding cage.
Nalzij: "Sounds like you understand him better than I do."
Arastalia: "I... can't actually understand him."
"Animals speak in a way different than people."
"...I've never exactly gotten the chance to see if I can read one's fortune, either."
"I wonder if I'll get to read Mister Gryphon's fortune one day."
Stable Keeper sighs.
Stable Keeper: "What a mess this is."
Nalzij: "It is. He hasn't been like this to everyone else, right?"
Stable Keeper: "Not at all. He hasn't even bitten me, despite how unruly he usually is about getting the medicine on his wing."
"I guess your friend is right, animals really do seem to not like her."
Nalzij: "Don't worry about it, Ara. I'll figure something out, if he doesn't get used to you."
Arastalia: "T-thank you, Lady Nalzij."
Nalzij: "It's nothing. Can't have friends getting along too badly. Last time it happened someone nearly got herself killed. I should repeat what I said earlier about that you'd best ignore Anarod."
Arastalia nods slowly.
Arastalia: "I'm sorry that I'm so... fragile."
Nalzij: "Fragile? You didn't seem so. I don't think anything bad of you, Ara."
Arastalia: "Thank you, Lady Nalzij."
"Perhaps I cam speak with you more, in the future. You're a very kind person."
Nalzij: "That'd be nice. I'll be around, anyway."
Nalzij turns back to the gryphon, petting it.
Nalzij: "Hm... I really ought to have something to call you, shouldn't I? I don't feel I've the right to just give you a name like I would a normal beastie, but just 'gryphon' doesn't seem right either, and whatever you'd call yourself I can't understand"
Arastalia heads off, clutching her right hand protectively.
Stable Keeper: "Well, creatures tend not to need names in the wild."
Nalzij: "How did he manage to hurt her that badly without me even seeing it...?"
Stable Keeper: "She put her hand far too close to him."
"It was probably only a quick warning bite, but..."
Stable Keeper looks to where Arastalia had been standing, where a few trickles of blood had dropped to stain the grass.
Stable Keeper: "Gryphons can be quite dangerous, it would seem."
Nalzij sighs in frustration
Nalzij: "Well, a name. I'm not good at names. How about Lux?"
Gryphon: -squawk-
Stable Keeper: "...I'm not sure if that was an agreeing squawk or a disagreeing squawk."
Nalzij: "Sounded like agreeing to me, but I can't tell for sure. Still, I guess it'll do."
Stable Keeper: "Well, then Lux it is."
Lux: -squawk-
Nalzij: "I should still have plenty of spare time. Back to training?"
"It's been useful for me, too, I can't say I've kept up with riding practice since I left."
Stable Keeper: "Alright. Why don't you try getting up and walking around the field a bit?
Nalzij climbs into the saddle, careful of the broken wing, and tries to nudge the gryphon into a walk
The gryphon walks out of the pen, carefully moving to acclimate itself to the weight of Nalzij and her armor.
Beast and rider trained in unison with each other for the remainder of the evening, and when night came Nalzij retired in her old quarters, preparing for the next day to hear what news her friends bring.