A Knight's Squire - Terhune

[08:19] Terhune asks, "Hey, are you all looking for someone?"
[08:20] Signe Daman says, "Hm? Not in particular."
[08:20] Signe Daman says, "Well, the lightbringer if you know where she'd be held captive."
[08:20] Signe Daman says, "But otherwise just bridge guarding."
[08:21] Terhune asks, "Well, who caught her?"
[08:21] Signe Daman says, "Anthonio."
[08:21] Terhune seemed to slip his hands into the sash about his waist. Nervously glancing to and fro every few moments as he spoke to the magi standing guard on the bridge.
(Terhune)
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[08:21] Terhune asks, "Who'sat?"
[08:22] Signe Daman says, "Crazy guy with white hair, cosmic magic though its...odd. From Osrona originally I think."
[08:24] Terhune blinked slowly, why did that sound vaguely familiar. Oh, right it reminded him of a lot of people in Osrona.
(Terhune)
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[08:25] Terhune asks, "Uh... That describes a lot of people. A- Oh, wait are one you of those Mynorian people?"
[08:26] Signe Daman says, "....."
[08:26] Signe Daman says, "Myllenoris? I'm technically from Theria, but I live as a knight of the Petrakis right now."
[08:26] Signe Daman asks, "Are you not living in Myllenoris?"
[08:27] Terhune says, "Why would I live near the elf people? I don't want to die, that's ridiculous. "
[08:27] Signe Daman says, "Die? Waylan and I here both live among them and have not even been threatened."
[08:27] Terhune nodded his head sagaciously, very wise.
(Terhune)
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[08:27] Terhune says, "Yeap, mom said they were like that. All friendly then BAM you're dead and so's half your family."
[08:28] Signe Daman says, "...."
[08:28] Terhune says, "She knew a lot."
[08:28] Signe Daman says, "I've seen no evidence of that."
[08:29] Terhune says, "Visit the graveyard in Sudsbury."
[08:29] Terhune says, "Well... Graveyards... Though their big and sometimes connect underground."
[08:29] Signe Daman asks, "Are you referring to the genocide, of which, none of the teraphim involved still live?"
[08:29] Signe Daman asks, "And the people who lived in that Osrona live amidst the Teraphim right now with no conflict?"
[08:30] Terhune says, "Mom just said they lived forever."
[08:30] Signe Daman says, "They do not."
[08:31] Terhune says, "Huh, learn something new everyday. "
[08:32] Terhune asks, "Oh! Why did they summon a giant eyeball monster?"
[08:33] Waylan seemed to be popping in and out
(Waylan mer Joyau)
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[08:34] Signe Daman says, "Oh uh..."
[08:34] Signe Daman says, "I think he saw that eyeball monster the way people like Waylan and I see the stars."
[08:34] Signe Daman says, "But he also seemed insane."
[08:34] Signe Daman says, "So."
[08:35] Terhune says, "Probably cause they watched him all the time."
[08:35] Terhune asks, "Whose, him, by the way?"
[08:36] Signe Daman says, "....Did I not say his name was Anthonio? I don't know much else."
[08:37] Terhune says, "You didn't say he was the summoner just that he captured the lightbringer."
[08:37] Signe Daman says, "He...had an object. A marble."
[08:37] Signe Daman says, "He said it was a reusable chiron shard and had cosmic magi including myself put mana into it."
[08:38] Terhune asks, "What was it? Like an egg?"
[08:39] Signe Daman says, "More like a marble. A glassy sphere."
[08:39] Terhune asks, "Oh... I've not seen one of those in a few years. The Machine outlawed them. Did you all play with it?"
[08:39] Signe Daman says, "....no. We tried to put mana into it."
[08:40] Terhune asks, "Then it hatched like an egg?"
[08:40] Signe Daman says, "Well it cracked and released a fog. And then the sky covered in eyes."
[08:41] Signe Daman says, "And then an eyeball monster appeared, which you saw."
[08:41] Terhune looked up at the sky in that moment.
(Terhune)
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[08:42] Terhune says, "Yea... Wish they'd go awa- Oh did I see it. Fought it to, I didn't think I'd have to fight something when I walked in to sell my ores."
[08:43] Signe Daman asks, "So. You live in Osrona then?"
[08:43] Terhune says, "According to the taxes collectors."
[08:43] Signe Daman asks, "To be clear, are you intending to join the barsburg military?"
[08:44] Terhune says, "They turned me down for being..."
[08:44] Terhune he brought a hand up to his chin, remembering the phrasing.
(Terhune)
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[08:44] Terhune says, "Unfit for any use."
[08:44] Signe Daman says, "Ah."
[08:45] Terhune says, "I think he used a big word but I don't remember it."
[08:45] Waylan snapped back into reality it seems they were still talking, but he lost track of the conversation. He continues listening in an attempt to keep up.
(Waylan mer Joyau)
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[08:45] Signe Daman says, "You know, you could move to Myllenoris. I'd protect you. I could even train you in swordsmanship."
[08:45] Signe gestures to his sword
(Signe Daman)
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[08:46] Terhune crackling green mana curled visible along his arm as he reached up to touch the hilt of Thunder. His expression contemplative about the prospect. It would be nice to have an actual teacher but what if the Terraphim tried to kill him?
(Terhune)
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[08:47] Terhune asks, "I don't know that sounds... Why do you care?"
[08:48] Signe Daman says, "Honestly? Cause Barsburg doesn't. They'll enslave all of us to their machine cult."
[08:48] Signe Daman says, "You won't be the first that's come to Myllenoris around your age."
[08:49] Signe Daman says, "Nor the first I've taken under my wing."
[08:55] Terhune seemed suspicious still though the blunt answer helped. After-all it was easy to see it in the light of one warrior simply wanting another body on their side and one not with their enemy. His older brother had used to say, 'The person who holds the shield to your left is your best friend, the one in front your enemy. Now, a smart man convinces the one in front of you to stand to the right!'

Now that he thought of Yaldanian wasn't very good with words. Kinda bad actually, lots of talking not so much cool phrases. "Well, the Machine isn't that bad and its not a 'cult' that's a witch thing. The gods are banned in Osrona now." As he spoke he'd shake his head, remembering the old chapel his grandmother had taken him to every Leosday.

"...Well, tell me about Myllenoris. Why did the people who'd gotten killed when the elves attacked decide to live there." It didn't make a lot of sense to him, in fact the countless horror stories of his youth made the idea preposterous. There was a reason he'd avoided ever talking to the Terraphim there after-all.
(Terhune)
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[09:12] She tilted her head slightly, listening to what he said, trying to figure out why it was important. So he didn't want to serve gods. That didn't seem like it would be a problem. And Myllenoris, well.

"Because there were bigger problems. And those who'd tried to raze Osrona are dead. At least the majority are. I can't say all of them are."

She stepped a bit closer as she spoke, moving away from her guard post to make this less like a lecture or as if she was speaking down to him.

"Demons were attacking Myllenoris and Nysea. Witches were spreading. Theria was aiding them, as was Osrona. And if you think the Machine isn't bad, why are they here, trying to conquer? Surely if they were good they wouldn't need conquest to convince people.

In short, blaming all the Teraphim, for the actions of Teraphim who are now dead, doesn't make sense."

She was Therian. She understood the idea of the mightiest to rule. But that didn't mean it wasn't tempered by her experiences, watching Dun's rise to power. Simply because the mighty could rule, doesn't mean it was a flawless system.
(Signe Daman)
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[09:24] Terhune's attention, try as he might, couldn't fully settle on Signe. In fact his nervous, apprehensive nature, kept his gaze flickering to her companion and even to spots where no one stood. It was only as they stepped past the barrier, and got closer that he took a step back himself. Regaining the space between them quickly.

Though, the move did help his focus on them a little bit. After-all by getting closer they'd became the biggest threat to him. Though, he still wasn't sure that he trusted this whole 'they died' explanation but then again his mother had been kind of off-kilter at times so maybe.

There was a pause in his fidgeting as he thought about the Machine's purpose. He'd lived through a regime change and even before that his grandparents had lived through one. Stability certainly wasn't something known to the Osronan's since the dethroning of the Petrakis.

"Its the actions of the dead that shape our world. My grandma always said that. Usually whenever I was tired of being told how pa wouldn't have snubbed his nose at rat-stew." Old-style Sudsbury upbringing at its finest. "Though that got kinda weird with the Razukan coming outta the sewers. . ."

The silence stretched on for a few moments as he thought about how much harder his childhood job as a rat-catcher had became when he had to worry about giant rat people attacking him over hurting their 'family'.

He fidgeted with a buckle on his back-pack, one that crossed his chest, for a few minutes. The Machine would take him when he turned fourteen probably, just for a few years of 'service' even if they'd turned him away for early enlistment.

Somehow being forced left a bad taste in his mouth now. Now he wasn't being forced it was an honest offer or was it? His gaze flicked up suspiciously at Signe, flickers of crackling green mana coursed along scars that lead to his eyes, tinting the golden hues a sickly green.

"What's the catch then? High taxes, I paid my taxes you know." Sure, he'd asked earlier why they cared but this was a bit of good old fashion cross-questioning. Even if it was obvious and not very strongly worded. He was only twelve after-all.
(Terhune)
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[09:31] "The catch? You're going to a place with an entirely new culture, that's at war with Barsburg. The taxes aren't high because its a community more in tune with nature. There's fewer roads. Fewer establishments I'd imagine.

I've run into no trouble with taxes myself. My partner here and I are saving up to build a new church. No, the religion is not mandatory. Neither is the faith of the Teraphim. Though you will have to abide by some rules involving...not destroying nature within the city. For example.

But you will not be forced to fight. It is a choice."

Her emerald irises seemed to focus on him. Not hostilely, her hands...or rather claws due to her half shift, were kept far from her sword, and were not pointed at the young man. If anything she seemed to treat him like an equal, ignoring his age. Speaking to him as if he was every bit as important as her.

"I'm not sure what other things you'd call a catch. You may ask of your concerns though."
(Signe Daman)
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[09:39] Terhune blinked, Osrona was at war? He'd honestly not known but then again he wasn't exactly in the know. The fact of the matter was with that knowledge he'd either be taxed harsher or he'd end up being conscripted quicker.

Neither fate really appealed to him very much. Still though, the differing of culture was worrisome. Bringing some ore in to sell was one thing. Obeying some strange gods or something was another. Though, she'd said that was a choice. Which meant that he'd better be careful about his opinions in religions.

After-all, he knew better than anyone what a 'choice' was. Stay in line, keep head down, pay back society for the debt of being born, pray you survive the next regime change. Simple rules to live by if he knew them.

"Uh, I-" He paused thinking it over a few more seconds. Though, the idea of someone actually caring, even out of selfish reasons, about his training was an appealing prospect. "I accept the offer." It was to good to pass up and he'd not gotten many other such choices before.

"I don't know any other catchs but I'm sure I'll ask them when I figure them out. Oh, who are you?" It just hit him he'd no clue who he was talking to. Other than they were a knight.
(Terhune)
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[09:43] "Signe Daman. My partner here is Waylan mer Joyau. Do you need to retrieve anything from Osrona?"

She nodded her head as he chose to accept, a slight smile on her otherwise taciturn visage. She wasn't a completely emotionless person after all.

"Otherwise, when you're ready, I can escort you back. I'll inform those in charge that I brought you in. If you have any questions or want training, you are free to ask me. And I'll request if there's any trouble that I be brought in to deal with them."

Like a temporary guardian.

"I won't give you rules to follow. I'll simply explain what's expected if you make mistakes, and why its expected. Otherwise after that, consequences for your actions will be yours to accept."

A firm believer in letting children learn from consequences it seemed.
(Signe Daman)
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[09:49] Terhune's head swayed softly, "Everything I own is on me." As he spoke those words his hands gripped the ore-basket's straps a little. Shifting in place as he got more comfortable. A strong lad if the size of the basket was anything to go by.

His lips curled into a wide smile as he started talking. Clearly excited by the prospect of having someone, anyone, looking out for his well being. In fact his gaze flicked to the side towards, to others at-least, an useable eye in space. Offering the figment of his mind a smirk smug, see? He could be more than just another cog.

His gaze then zipped back to Signe, his smile remaining as pleasant as before. "I'm ready, just gotta like- Well, nothing I guess. Oh, that's fine I know how to avoid the blackhats." Pride welled in his voice, he was good at breaking the laws and not getting caught after-all.

"So, like are their soup kitchens in Myllenoris as well?" He paused, smiling a bit wider. "Well if there's less taxes I can afford my own food now." With a little giddy step he shifted closer to Signe. Not by much, still out of arms reach, but still it was progress.
(Terhune)
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[09:53] She smiled again and tilted her head.

"I don't know of any soup kitchens. But you can suggest it. Perhaps someone will take you up on the idea."

While he remained out of arms reach she did spread her wings, letting one settle in the space behind him as if protecting him from unseen foes.

"It'll be a pleasure to help you. Can I ask your name?"

A fact she had missed as well it seemed, her eyes drifting to Waylan to see if he was paying attention.
(Signe Daman)
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[09:56] Terhune did in fact plop into the space behind her. It was a safer location than anywhere else and he knew it. After-all better a sturdy body between himself and harm than just the wind. He let the idea of a soup kitchen settle for now. It was something he'd think about later.

With a slight start he spoke his name quickly. "Terhune of Sudsbury." He didn't know any other Terhune but his brother had always said his name like that to other military people. So, he'd follow suit!
(Terhune)
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[10:02] She walked him back to town, noting the complete dearth of people about. Well. Introductions would have to come later it seemed.

"Unfortunately most people are asleep. But for all intents and purposes, welcome to Myllenoris as a new resident. There should be plenty of people both around your age and otherwise to interact with and learn from. Feel free to do so.

It can be a bit eclectic, but anyone can approach the High Lord and speak to him. I believe the same is true of the queen though I see her around less."

She nodded, having done what she could of her duty for now.

"And since you mentioned ore, if you're not familiar, there is a mine nearby. Not like the one in Theria, but plenty of copper and iron veins. Some mythril as well."
(Signe Daman)
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[10:06] He'd not expected a lot of people and was even grateful it was mostly empty. After-all people had a habit of making him nervous. So, for now as he looked around his focus seemed to shift easily from the emptiness back to Signe.

"I don't think talking to people with crowns is a good idea." Which, to be fair it wasn't. Never really had been for the people of Sudsbury. "Still though, I'm sure that I'll be fine. I've met a few of the bigger kids around here. Sorta-"

He didn't want to say he'd came to practice his swordsmanship feeling a pang of embarrassment for once at probably how bad it was. Still he pressed onwards. "Well at-least the ground's softer here. Oh, I know of the mine I got lost in it. It needs more signs inside..."

He paused for a few moments then continued. "When I fought the monster I was really, worthless? When could you start teaching me?"
(Terhune)