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Post by hengest on May 29, 2022 2:59:56 GMT -5
The man begins gruffly arguing with Finny. Their tones and posture tell you much of what you need to know: the older man is surprised to find you here and Finny is justifying his decision to bring you here.
The woman has a different attitude. She brings you a clay bowl with pieces of fish and some sort of cooked root vegetables, topped with a couple fragrant herbs.
As she urges you to accept this, you note that Finny's tone has changed. He is now doing more of the talking and describing something at length. The older man's face grows still, then pale. Some of his authority seems to drain from him.
You have a bit of difficulty managing this socially, trying to pay attention to this discussion in their tongue while also attending to the woman who seems to be welcoming you...
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on May 29, 2022 13:58:31 GMT -5
I try not to obviously stare at their somewhat heated discussion while I wait.
<thinking> I'm not sure how this will end but he's not happy at this moment.
I smile and nod as the woman hands me the bowl. My stomach audibly growls due to my lack of regular eating habits lately. I take the bowl and dip my spoon into the mixture and take a bite. I now concentrate on continuing to spoon more into my mouth to satisfy my hunger. While I am eating, I notice that the tone of the conversation seems to be changing.
<thinking> It seems a little calmer between the two. Maybe it has turned in my favor.
As I near the bottom of the bowl, I smile at the woman and rub my stomach. I hope she understands that I like it. I grab the bowl by the bottom and hold it towards here while I point at the big pot and my bowl hoping she will understand that I would like some more to eat.
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Post by hengest on May 29, 2022 23:00:36 GMT -5
She looked pleased and quickly gives you another helping. You can feel that your body is definitely ready for something substantive. You do begin to notice a bit of thirst, however. The women places her open hand on her
The older man and Finny are still talking, the former now looking less surprised and more disturbed. He begins to speak to you a little gruffly, you understand nothing, then he stops and shouts what must be an order off towards the far end of the hall.
The door behind you opens again and a regal-looking woman enters. Her hair is straight and cropped at her neck. She is dressed in finer clothing than any of these folk, but still looks like she would be comfortable creeping through the woods at night: a supple leather tunic extended into legs that reach almost her knees. Her feet are bare. Her brow is adorned with a circlet. She looks at you in surprise and then starts speaking sharply to the older man, whose manner changes again. He seems like an officer called to account.
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on May 30, 2022 11:01:05 GMT -5
<thinking> She understood my signal for food so I bet I can tell her I would like something to drink.
I hold my hand up in a grip-like fashion and bring it up to my mouth in an imitation of taking a drink. I repeat this action 2 times and see if she understands.
I watch Finny and the other man in their discussion. I can tell the mood has changed. I can only assume that Finny has told him of the shape and what took place.
<thinking> Who is coming in here now?
I turn my sight towards the woman that has just entered through the door. It appears to me that she must be their queen or something similar because of her attire and the crown upon her head. She looks as if she wants answers now and I'm part of the problem. I can only guess because my understanding has not been restored yet.
<thinking> She is obviously royalty of some sort, so I better pay my due respect.
Unaware of what their customs may be, I do the only think I know to do at this point. I immediately stop eating, put down my spoon, and stand up. I turn towards her and kneel with my left knee on the ground. I then bow my head and place both hands palm up on my right knee to show that my intentions are friendly because I have no weapon in either one.
<thinking> I hope this gets my intentions through to her and the rest.
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Post by hengest on May 30, 2022 22:06:54 GMT -5
<thinking> She understood my signal for food so I bet I can tell her I would like something to drink.I hold my hand up in a grip-like fashion and bring it up to my mouth in an imitation of taking a drink. I repeat this action 2 times and see if she understands. I watch Finny and the other man in their discussion. I can tell the mood has changed. I can only assume that Finny has told him of the shape and what took place. <thinking> Who is coming in here now?I turn my sight towards the woman that has just entered through the door. It appears to me that she must be their queen or something similar because of her attire and the crown upon her head. She looks as if she wants answers now and I'm part of the problem. I can only guess because my understanding has not been restored yet. <thinking> She is obviously royalty of some sort, so I better pay my due respect.Unaware of what their customs may be, I do the only think I know to do at this point. I immediately stop eating, put down my spoon, and stand up. I turn towards her and kneel with my left knee on the ground. I then bow my head and place both hands palm up on my right knee to show that my intentions are friendly because I have no weapon in either one. <thinking> I hope this gets my intentions through to her and the rest. The woman's face lights up with understanding and she moves off to get something, but then freezes and seems to forget about your drink when the "queen" enters. You remain thirsty for the moment. As the queen enters, you notice another figure moving up from the back of the "hall" in your direction, cloaked but not stealthy. That figure also stops when she enters. As your show your respect to this regal figure, you hear a moment of silence from all around, silence soon broken by her voice. You think you recognize the tones of habitual authority. There is a rapid exchange between her and the older man, then Finny gets involved. She listens to Finny and then, you are sure, begins questioning you.
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jun 1, 2022 2:53:53 GMT -5
In the hopes that I do not mistakenly offend, I have no choice but to sit and listen respectfully because my understanding of their language has not been restored. If she tries to question me specifically, I will make those hand gestures I used before to get the point that I can't understand across to her.
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Post by hengest on Jun 1, 2022 9:59:52 GMT -5
You listen respectfully, but she sees your incomprehension. Making a miniscule gesture in your direction, she continues talking and suddenly your ears seem to be opened again. You can feel this this is not your language, and yet, you understand it. It feels as if you have woken up, more fully than before.
"...and the companion you spoke of? You intend to abandon your search and join us? For what purpose?"
You can hear that the chamber has gone quiet, save for tiny noises of shuffling and breathing.
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jun 1, 2022 18:36:47 GMT -5
"Your Grace, thank you for allowing me to understand and give me the opportunity to explain myself.".
I pause and look around the room at the people standing around before continuing. "My companion, Alla, got separated from me on the other side of the cross-barrier. I tried to find her, but I came to understand that the longer we were separated the less likely it would be to find her. She is capable so I'm confident that she will be able to handle the situation she is in now.".
I take a deep breath and exhale before continuing on with my explanation. "As for why I want to assist you and your people. It's simple really. Finny could simply attacked me when I was following him. Later that night when the others came to me as I was taking shelter, again I could have been attacked or worse. I was given an explanation about the agreement and your part in watching over this land. Finny agreed to escort me to the barrier rather than just pointing to the way. I'm not a knight or anything like that but I've read some of the stories and heard many of the tales. Everything I've seen from you and your people tell me that you are just and fair. I can no longer help my former companion, but I would like to assist you and your people. If that is acceptable, then I will assist in whatever way I can. If you find it unacceptable, then I will cross the barrier and bother you no more. ".
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Post by hengest on Jun 1, 2022 23:26:14 GMT -5
The queen listens to you, then stares at you in silence for an interval that is just beginning to seem comical when she replies.
"No lie in you, at least. We need no more silver-tongued gatewalkers! And you are right, Man, we are just and never kill without good reason. Sometimes even when we have good reason! Our rule is simple: do not do now what you would not do if your grandchilden could peep through Time to watch you doing it. Watch that rule and you will not fall afoul of our Law.
If this Alla is lost among the worlds, who knows. It may be as you say, she is capable. Although our patch is more hospitable than many and I will not tell you a pretty lie. She may be lost or may be changed in time or you may yet find her again. Our watch is growing and if you are with us you may see many things.
This thing you saw tonight is not the first such. You will learn some of why. If you truly stay. You are welcome if you are willing to do a man's work, but we will not attend to you as a guest forever.
You will understand our speech for a moon. If you are still here and living at that time, I will renew the charm.
Take orders from those who give them. In the end, you answer to your grandchildren and me."
The audience is over. She moves away to hold discussions with several others. Their speech you understand but cannot really follow. They talk of things unknown to you with the involuntary obscurity of those who know their business.
That cooking woman reappears at your side with a bowl of water about as big as her two cupped hands would be.
Finny looks relieved and approaches you again.
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jun 3, 2022 19:48:59 GMT -5
As she completes her declaration I respond with, “Your Grace, thank you for your hospitality and instructions. I will do my best to live up to your expectations while I am here. I will do my part.”. I keep it short and quick while she moves to attend to the other people and matters at hand.
I smile as the woman approaches and hands me the water. I gratefully thank her before taking down several big gulps to quench my thirst.
As Finny approaches I feel relieved to be able to speak to him on these matters. “Finny, I think that went well. What do you think? I have a few questions.”. I pause momentarily before continuing,
“I’ve been addressing her as YOUR GRACE because that’s the only title I know from back home. Is there something else I should be using?”
“She mentioned that the shape we saw wasn’t the first such incident – can you tell me more?”
“I hope nobody thinks I’ve given up on Alla. I’m still on the lookout for her so if I run across her then I will definitely reach out. It sounded like your Queen doesn’t have a good outlook on her survival. What do you think?”.
“She mentioned your watch is expanding. Do your people have more of these cross-barrier places?”.
“Can you brief me on my duties and responsibilities here that will fulfill the expectations placed upon me while I am here?”.
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Post by hengest on Jun 4, 2022 10:41:14 GMT -5
[Here's a summary of what you learn.]
Finny thinks you did well. If you hadn't, you wouldn't be walking around free. But he assures you that despite the harsh tone, they maintain their "government" as more or less benevolent. After some hemming and hawing, he manages to say that there is enough personal misbehavior that no one needs extra trouble from the authorities. And, despite earlier words about the quiet watch, he understands as you did that there is more going on, but he knows almost nothing about it.
Finny advises you to call her simply "Lady."
He explains that there are several such reliable places through which one can cross to "somewhere else" that may seem similar at a glance, although in at least one instance, the difference is very stark.
You learn that these places are not used lightly, in part for fear of such unpredictable events as the one you saw.
He thinks that nothing particular is expected of you apart from doing what seems right. He repeats the Lady's notion that "the law" is something you will brush up against only in cases of extreme misbehavior.
He proposes to introduce you to someone who can give you a better picture of the goings-on. That may help you get an idea of what you will be asked to do. Are you willing?
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Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Jun 4, 2022 11:45:37 GMT -5
[Noted!]
Without hesitation, I accept the offer to meet with someone who can explain more.
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Post by hengest on Jun 4, 2022 18:50:26 GMT -5
You thank the woman for your fish and water, and Finny takes you... [ to another thread]
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