(12:20:07 PM) ***Blaize is off to bother the new rookie advneturers. Or as she thinks of it 'Give them good advice'.
(12:21:19 PM) ***Blaize thinks the others were a bit too morose about it all.
(12:22:39 PM) CelestialDoggie: Rumana is the easiest to find, given the small magical explosions happening in her vicinity. The others are roughly nearby, separated from the village itself but not too far away; Orlox is practicing his forms against a tree, and Ix is...apparently just watching and waiting.
(12:25:20 PM) ***Blaize waves
(12:33:38 PM) CelestialDoggie: Orlox is a young half-orc boy, broad in the shoulders and with faintly green skin; the oversized, tusk-like teeth of his heritage are only barely starting to jut between his lips. Rumana is a red-haired human girl, short and fairly spunky, with a smattering of freckles across her nose.
(12:33:38 PM) CelestialDoggie: And Ix...is a changeling, a girl (apparently?) with exceedingly pale, almost ghostly white skin, no nose, and a thick head of wispy pink hair. Orlox and Rumana called her a girl, but if she is, she has yet to develop any telltale curves.
(12:33:38 PM) CelestialDoggie: Or, perhaps, being a changeling--as Blaize knows what doppelgangers are--she simply chose to assume this look. It's really kind of impossible to guess.
(12:38:49 PM) Blaize: "Hi there!" She heads over towards Rumana.
(12:40:21 PM) CelestialDoggie: The redhead blinks and flails for a moment as she assumes Blaize is an errant fireball coming back to haunt her...but quickly regains her composure when nothing happens. "Oh, hi! You're, um...you were with those, um, allies of the tribe?"
(12:44:35 PM) Blaize: "I'm Blaize!" She poses a bit, letting the flaming wings fade so they can see her look. Blaize is a two foot girl with a martial artists figure, more like a small adult than a child, light redish-brown skin, red tattoos and long white hair that flows down to just further than her feet. Bright wings of flame spring from her back.
(12:45:04 PM) Blaize: She's dressed in long pants and a short shirt that reveals her belly a little.
(12:45:35 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Blaize, huh? It fits! I'm Rumana." She tilts her head to the side. "Can I help you with something?"
(12:47:20 PM) Blaize: "Nope but I thought I could help you! I'm one of the adventurers...and the others were REALLY dour."
(12:48:16 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Yeah they kinda were," she agrees, looking unwilling about it--like she doesn't want to insult Blaize's friends. "But it was still good advice! Probably stuff we really needed to hear!"
(12:49:12 PM) Blaize: "Yeah but they missed something very important." She looks over the outfits they are wearing. "The good parts that make it all worth while."
(12:53:31 PM) CelestialDoggie: Their attire can best be described as "functional tribal"--function over form, drab colors for hiding in the wintry woods and stalking food, without consideration for how the wearer looks.
(12:53:31 PM) CelestialDoggie: Rumana smiles very slightly--it looks like Blaize's words were exactly what she wanted to hear. "What're the good parts?"
(12:55:48 PM) ***Blaize looks at them...and pulls some bottles out of her bag of holding. Sweet drinks she bought in the city last time she was there. "Here, you can have these while I talk." She looks for somewhere to sit down.
(12:57:35 PM) CelestialDoggie: A couple of larger rocks, just on the small side to be called boulders, or a single tree stump are her options. Rumana accepts a bottle curiously.
(12:58:47 PM) Blaize: She takes a seat on the largest of the rocks and gestures for the others to sit with her.
(12:59:57 PM) CelestialDoggie: Orlox stops his practice and comes by, and Rumana plops unceremoniously on the ground. Ix stays put...but she's only a few trees away anyway.
(1:01:09 PM) Blaize: "Being an adventurer can be scary...and it can be painful. They are not wrong there." She shakes her head as she hands out a drink to the other two as well. "But that doesn't mean it's all bad. There are lots of people out there who need help and don't have anyone coming to help them."
(1:01:43 PM) CelestialDoggie: The trio--or, at least, Orlox and Rumana--listen intently, leaning forward as Blaize begins.
(1:02:57 PM) Blaize: The drinks in question are fizzy and very sweet. Blaize likes them. Cannith made a very nice thing in her opinion..
(1:04:09 PM) Blaize: "Being an adventurer...you can help those who can't help themselves. Back where I'm from...might makes right. If you are strong, you get to abuse the weak all you want and they can't stop you." She sighs. "Being an adventurer...well, I can change that. To stop bad things happening to people just because they don't fight well."
(1:14:04 PM) CelestialDoggie: The closer two are enraptured by the thought. Ix...in spite of herself, Blaize can tell the changeling girl is listening intently, even if she's feigning not caring.
(1:17:01 PM) Blaize: "Seeing people who's lived have been helped...it's a wonderful feeling. No matter how big the problems of the world are...for those people you made a major difference."
(1:26:31 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Like what you did for the Chieftess?" Orlox asks.
(1:37:15 PM) Blaize: "...stuff like that, yeah. With luck, we can get Darro and his people to retreat home so less people on both sides get hurt." She nods.
(1:40:52 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Or end them all," Ix finally speaks up. "You and our older warriors dealt with them easily enough. With the whole village fighting, we could just erase the whole army."
(1:45:18 PM) Blaize: "...I'd rather not do that." She shakes her head. "Those people... most of them are not bad." She sighs. "That's one of the things that's hardest as an adventurer. The idea that not everyone you fight is a bad person. They might be desperate or afraid." She pauses. "I've been there."
(1:50:06 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Desperate and afraid?" Orlox asks. "Or realizing that about the bad guys?"
(1:56:03 PM) Blaize: "Desperate and afraid." She nods. "That's why I try not to just erase people if I can. It's better to give people a chance to make up for what they did."
(1:59:04 PM) CelestialDoggie: "...That's a lot of people to give that chance to," Ix says, sounding dubious. "I heard the army is ten thousand strong."
(2:00:37 PM) Blaize: "That's why I'm hoping we can drive them out, rather than destroy them." She nods. "Destroying them means creating sadness for all thier own families."
(2:01:41 PM) Blaize: "It's also a LOT smaller than that."
(2:06:03 PM) CelestialDoggie: "...How small?" Ix sounds like she doesn't quite believe Blaize.
(2:06:42 PM) Blaize: "A lot. One or two thousand? Daro's actions are not popular even with his own people."
(2:11:18 PM) CelestialDoggie: All three stare at her, wide-eyed. "That's...it?" Rumana asks. "I-I mean...it's still a lot, there's only a few hundred of us here, but still..."
(2:12:47 PM) ***Blaize nods. "Most people don't want a fight with you. Even Daro sounds like he's being forced into it." She smiles. "There is always a bigger picture. I'm small but I'm not stupid~"
(2:15:50 PM) CelestialDoggie: Orlox and Rumana chuckle and bit at that, and Ix rolls her eyes.
(2:16:28 PM) ***Blaize raises an eyebrow at Ix. "Something you want to say?"
(2:19:21 PM) CelestialDoggie: "No," she answers, shaking her head. "Though I'm not the most trusting person ever, so you'll just have to get used to me not believing ALL your stories."
(2:21:41 PM) Blaize: "Alright~" She smirks. "But yeah...back to the good stuff. Being an adventurer is exciting. They were right about it being dangerous...but that's not a bad thing. Pushing yourself to your limits...it's exciting. Testing yourself against the world and winning."
(12:09:34 PM) CelestialDoggie: Orlox and Rumana continue to listen in a state of rapture, hanging on Blaize's every word. Ix looks more skeptical, though she's clearly interested--otherwise she'd have left by now.
(12:11:57 PM) Blaize: "After all...do you really feel your blood flowing if you just walk?" She grins. "No, you feel it flow and feel most alive when you are running and pushing yourself, reaching new heights."
(12:17:23 PM) CelestialDoggie: Ix, in spite of herself, seems completely enthralled now, too, but it's Orlox who's the first to speak up, voice excited. "Like the big jolt you get when you win a race or climb a tree the fastest?"
(12:17:50 PM) Blaize: "Exactly!" She nods. "Have you seen one of those lightning rails?"
(12:19:13 PM) CelestialDoggie: The half-orc and the human exchange looks, but Ix pipes up. "No. None of them come near enough the borders."
(12:20:58 PM) Blaize: "Alright. So they are a big metal tube with people in it, zooming along with magic so fast you can cross the entire country in a day or two. Standing on top of one is like being in the middle of a storm, seeing the world about you as little more than a blurr~"
(12:24:50 PM) CelestialDoggie: "But why would you stand on top of one?"
(12:25:43 PM) Blaize: "Because people in an airship had come down on ropes and landed on it! They were trying to rob it, kill people and take all they had! After all, if the lightning rail moves that fast then no guard can catch up to it and stop them~"
(12:30:17 PM) CelestialDoggie: "What?! Ropes? Airships? What kind of life do you *live*?"
(12:31:26 PM) Blaize: "The life of an adventurer! Have you seen an airship? They are REALLY cool."
(12:33:27 PM) CelestialDoggie: All three shake their heads.
(12:33:42 PM) CelestialDoggie: "I've heard of them," says Ix, "but never seen one in person."
(12:34:37 PM) Blaize: "...alright, where do you plan on going to adventure first?"
(12:35:45 PM) CelestialDoggie: The three look at each other, and shrug. Orlox speaks. "Breland, probably."
(12:41:43 PM) Blaize: "How about this? I have friends who live in Fairhaven...and you could go there by lightning rail and airship~" She rummages through her bags and pulls out a bag of money. "Here you go~" She tosses it to Ix.
(12:42:53 PM) CelestialDoggie: The changeling grabs it out of the air with dexterous ease. "...Really?" She sounds more confused at Blaize's generosity.
(12:43:52 PM) ***Blaize nods. "I DO have an evil secret plan~" She smirks. "I want people to see that other people are not inherantly bad. So they can see that people from here are good and you can see that they are good too~"
(1:22:47 PM) CelestialDoggie: The changeling girl draws the pouch of coin back toward herself with a thoughtful expression.
(1:23:46 PM) Blaize: "There is a bit extra in there for other expenses too." She grins. "So, what do you want to hear about next?~"
(1:31:38 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Magic stuff!" Rumana pipes up before the others can. "I want to hear what it's like outside here!"
(1:33:17 PM) Blaize: "Oh? There is a BIG magical college in Fairhaven I saw...and loads of people who craft magic items."
(1:34:37 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Anything that blows up real big?" Orlox rolls his eyes and Ix elbows the redhead fondly.
(1:37:09 PM) Blaize: "Oh, you want to see something blow up big?~"
(1:37:30 PM) CelestialDoggie: "It's...kind of what I'm learning to do," she adds sheepishly. "So...yeah."
(1:39:05 PM) ***Blaize grins and poses slightly, moving into a series of moves...and finishing with a punch that explodes into a firey shockwave.
(1:40:45 PM) CelestialDoggie: All three gawp at the display.
(1:43:41 PM) Blaize: "That work?~"
(1:49:34 PM) CelestialDoggie: "What--but how did--there wasn't even magic there!"
(1:50:24 PM) Blaize: "I'm a Fire Mephit. I'm MADE of elemental power~" She nods to Rumana. "I'm guessing you are too, if you are a sorcerer~"
(1:54:56 PM) CelestialDoggie: She blushes slightly. "I mean, I'm not a fire--what did you call yourself? But I'm told that there's old power in my family, so...maybe? I guess?"
(1:55:35 PM) Blaize: "Fire Mephit. It's like a fire elemental but much cuter~" She poses a bit.
(1:59:49 PM) CelestialDoggie: "I'll say~" That was Ix that time, eliciting another blush from Rumana and a chuckle from Orlox.
(2:00:21 PM) Blaize: "What else do people want to hear about?~"
(2:08:40 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Uh..." Orlox turns to the other two. "I...don't actually know. You two?"
(2:08:53 PM) CelestialDoggie: Rumana shrugs. "I can't wait to see the lightning rail, myself."
(2:09:08 PM) CelestialDoggie: Ix also shrugs, though she tries to look much more blasé about it. "Eh, it'll be a city."
(2:09:43 PM) Blaize: "It's not JUST a city. It's a city that makes all sorts of amazing things~"
(2:10:50 PM) CelestialDoggie: "And probably a city with a bunch of nasty folk in it, too."
(2:11:56 PM) Blaize: "And a lot of good folks too. Oh, you want to see one of the items I found in my adventuring?"
(2:14:45 PM) CelestialDoggie: Ix shrugs but the other two nod.
(2:15:38 PM) Blaize: She pulls her amulet out of her shirt. "It very briefly makes me even cuter~"
(2:16:58 PM) ***Blaize smiles brilliantly at Ix~
(2:20:13 PM) CelestialDoggie: The poor changeling has no chance, her eyes widening. A very visible blush comes to her pale and whitish cheeks as she stares at Blaize.
(2:21:24 PM) ***Blaize poses a bit. "See!"
(2:24:50 PM) ***Blaize grins. "Being cute is an important talent for a hero." She MIGHT be joking. It's hard to tell.
(2:29:03 PM) CelestialDoggie: Ix nods along...and then changes, showing off her ancestry. Her chest fills out a little and her skin darkens to a more normal hue for a humanoid, and her face obtains a nose, cheekbones shifting a little higher and chin a little pointier.
(2:29:03 PM) CelestialDoggie: When she's done, the pink-haired girl who looked the next best thing to a ghost is now a rather pretty young human teenager--if not as blessed as Rumana, still plenty charming in her own way.
(2:29:49 PM) Blaize: "...hah." She smirks, looking to the other two. "You don't HAVE to do that if you don't want to."
(2:34:12 PM) ***Blaize ruffles Ix's hair.
(2:34:56 PM) CelestialDoggie: Still blushing, she bats Blaize's hand away, looking mildly annoyed. "J-just showing you I can do it," she huffs.
(2:35:21 PM) Blaize: "Alright. I like the cute look though~" She sticks out her tongue.
(2:37:31 PM) CelestialDoggie: Ix blushes again, mumbling something under her breath. Orlox spares her by speaking next. "That...punchy kicky thing you did earlier. Is that how you fight?"
(2:39:26 PM) ***Blaize nods. "Yep. I studied at a Desert Wind Academy. They teach you to channel elemental fire through your body when you fight~"
(2:41:38 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Huh." He folds his arms over his chest. "Could...anybody do that?"
(2:41:50 PM) CelestialDoggie: Rumana grins. "Orlox likes learning new ways of beating people up."
(2:42:26 PM) CelestialDoggie: It's his turn to blush and tell her to shut up.
(2:42:37 PM) Blaize: "Oh yeah, anyone can learn to punch fire. It's a pretty simple skill once you get the hang of it." He also gets a hair ruffle.
(2:52:50 PM) CelestialDoggie: Orlox sputters and Rumana giggles again. "Serves you right," adds Ix.
(2:53:45 PM) ***Blaize ruffles Rumana's hair to make it three for three. "But yeah, while I AM a Fire Elemental...most of this power I got through hard work. Fire Mephits are pretty weak."
(2:55:12 PM) CelestialDoggie: "That's good to know. That we can get stronger, I mean," Orlox corrects himself. "Not that you were weak."
(2:56:13 PM) Blaize: "Of course, everyone can get strong." She nods. "Being an adventurer can be scary and it can be painful and it can be sad at times...but it's also exciting, wonderful and you help people who need it."
(2:57:02 PM) CelestialDoggie: Orlox and Rumana nod eagerly, while Ix slowly returns to the pale-skinned form she'd had before.
(3:01:45 PM) ***Blaize pouts at Ix, then sticks out her tongue. "Now, you want to hear some more stories?"
(3:03:20 PM) CelestialDoggie: "Sure...though we should probably get back to doing that training pretty soon..."
(3:04:47 PM) ***Blaize nods. "I can help with that too." She starts into some stories...some she actually experianced, others from the books she's been reading but with herself inserted instead of the main character.
(3:06:05 PM) ***Blaize also talks about her friends in the city, dancing and fashion. It's a very roundabout series of stories.
(3:22:53 PM) CelestialDoggie: Through it all, the trio listen dutifully, though Orlox grabs the stick he was using to practice with and fidgets with it while she talks.
(3:24:45 PM) ***Blaize is happy to help them practice when they are done with the stories, still giving advice and hair ruffling.
(3:28:30 PM) CelestialDoggie: In spite of hesitation over her size, they agree to have her take over their training for the rest of the afternoon...
(3:30:30 PM) ***Blaize demonstrates that her size is no weakness by flipping Orlox a few times when he charges at her. She's a hard worker, encouraging them to work harder. Punching, kicking, exploding, being cute! All important lessons!
(3:31:46 PM) CelestialDoggie: It's a trio of exhausted teens she has by the time the setting sun dims through the trees, night looming ahead...
(3:32:56 PM) ***Blaize gives them all another drink from her bag. "Have fun everyone?~"
(3:39:54 PM) CelestialDoggie: Orlox groans from his spot on the ground. Rumana looks just as happy to be resting against a tree. Ix pops the cork off and takes a sip of her Blaize-given beverage. "I'm sure they'll say yes later~"
(3:41:36 PM) ***Blaize ruffles the hair of each of them in turn. "Good. Got to keep getting stronger if you want to be better adventurers than me! Remember: Whether you win or lose... You can always come out ahead by learning from the experience."
(3:47:56 PM) Blaize: "...and don't worry if you are afraid. You'll be afraid a lot, everyone is. The reason I laugh and grin is to deceive myself and distract from the pressure and terror that dwells within me~" She grins widely. "But don't let that fear prevent you from doing what is right."
(3:49:48 PM) CelestialDoggie: "...Huh." Ix nods slowly. The other two acknowledge her with quiet nods as well.
(3:55:20 PM) ***Blaize ruffles hair. "Now, go get sleep. You are growing. Ix faster than the rest of you~"