Group role-play: Ethadea, Mortiris

Ethadea | Mortiris | Ethadea | Mortiris | Ethadea

Ethadea
Curiosity
At the core of every human being is an overpowering sense of curiosity. From the moment we are born, everything about the world becomes a wonder to be unraveled. With most people, however, this curiosity fades and becomes less significan’t in their lives as they grow older. They come to overuse the phrase, "it is just the way things are," to dull the need within them to learn and understand. I imagine that the Gods didn't create the world and the life within it without a purpose. In fact, they bestowed us all with a bit of curiosity to drive us to discover that purpose and to understand ourselves and the world around us.
I emphasize this point, because curiosity has truly shaped every event in my life. Even on this particularly dreary morning, I could feel it bubbling within me. For a while I thought about brushing it off as being a sensation brought on by the weather. The rain was pouring from the sky in torrid sheets and a harsh wind whipped mercilessly through the isle of Riva, chilling everything in its path. The shutters of my small house clattered wildly, making me feel a bit edgy. But despite all of that, I knew something very curious would be happening today and so I let this feeling guide me.
I prepared my nightly meal, but this time I made it exceptionally large, much larger than I could ever eat myself. My dented tea kettle hung above the hearth in my small living room, filled to the brim with water and various herbal combinations. Then, after the tea kettle began steaming and the stew grew tender, there was a knock on my door.
'How very curious,' I said to myself, looking out at the pouring rain. 'Who would leave their home in this weather?'

A visitor
I opened the door to see a scraggly old man before me leaning heavily upon his stout wooden cane. His patched cloak was soaked and torn and he was visibly shivering beneath. 'Come inside,' I said to the freezing old man, wrapping his arm about my shoulders and heaving him into my home. I quickly stripped him of his sodden cloak and boots and sat him down beside the fire, rubbing his hands with my own to warm them. His face was gaunt and wrinkled and his sandy hair was heavily grayed, but his pale blue eyes were filled with an agelessness that I found to be very curious. He smiled at me in thanks and sank back into the chair as I disappeared into the kitchen. I reappeared shortly after with two bowls of stew, which he ate hungrily.
'I'm Ethadea,' I said as I handed him a cup of tea and positioned myself in the chair across from him. His cheeks were flushed from the warmth of the hearth and his body seemed to grow less tired as he filled his belly.
'My manners have slipped away I'm afraid,' he said jovially, setting the bowl of soup down in his lap. 'I am Mortiris.'
I poured myself a cup of tea and settled back into my chair. 'And how it is it that you stumbled upon my home looking so weary?' I asked, studying him carefully. He scratched at his gray whiskers and looked out the window.
'I've been traveling for quite some time now. I seem to believe I'm still youthful when I travel and forget my limits. I hope you don't mind my intrusion, I couldn't quite make it to the Inn on the far side of the city and your house looked inviting. I was even more pleased to find the woman within most lovely.' His eyes twinkled in the firelight and a boyish grin swept across his wrinkled face.

In good company
I couldn't help but smile at the old man's charm, but it was soon swept away with a bit of self-consciousness. I was in my fiftieth year and age was very ungracefully descending upon my body. Every morning there was a new ache, a new strand of gray' in my hair, and a new wrinkle to be found. I had grown accustomed to my solitary life and my appearance had not been that important to me... until now.
'Your wife is lucky to have a man such as yourself,' I said, taking his now empty bowl and heading to the kitchen to hide the slow flush that spread across my face.
He chuckled lightly. 'Oh no, I am unmarried. I have devoted too much of life to the world, my studies, and my clan. I'm afraid no woman could tolerate a vagabond such as me,' he said, closing his eyes for a moment and stretching out his legs.
'A scholar then? I find that most interesting.' I reappeared from the kitchen and poured him another cup of tea. 'I, too, have devoted my life to such studies, but now my travels dwindle as my age sets upon me.'
Mortiris raised his eyebrows in surprise. 'Well, fancy that we should meet now, two aged wanderers forever in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.' He looked out the window at the relentless rain and turned back to me. 'Do you mind if I stay for a while? It looks as though we will be seeing this weather for some time. I'm sure between the both of us we have enough stories to share to provide each other with good company in this poor weather.'
The curiosity that had been simmering within me for the better part of the day suddenly faded. It was quite similar to the sensation I would normally have felt if I had just made a discovery or answered an unknown. But this was slightly different, almost as if something had awakened rather than something being answered. I smiled again at Mortiris and nodded my head.
'It has been a while since I have had good company outside of my clansmen. Well then Mortiris, let me get you another cup of tea and I will begin my story.'

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Mortiris
A Return
It had been many years since Mortiris had walked through these halls, but now he was finally he was home. He was back from his adventures, studying abroad and returned to the clan he helped found so many years ago. The hall was still familiar to him, its grand forums and wide hallways echoed with the sounds to people and footsteps. That brought a smile to his face. He had always liked listening to the sounds echo from the vaulted ceilings. As he walked along the corridors he noticed something very different, he did not recognize any of the faces that passed him. It was with these two things in mind that he walked into Gares' chambers.
'It seems my old friend has gotten older in years, I dare say, maybe even wiser?' Mortiris joked as he greeted Gares with a bear hug.
'Mortiris, well isn't this a lovely surprise' Gares laughed, 'it has been some time hasn't it?' Mortiris found himself a seat and struck up conversation with his old friend.
'So many stories to tell Gares, I have seen more of the world and learned much but these old bones started aching for home so here I am.' Gares smile turned into a slight frown,
'We did miss you Mortiris, your departure was quite sudden. Things have changed since you left.' Mortiris looked slightly guilty as he went on,
'I do apologize for my quick departure, but at my age I can't wait around forever. Have you ever had that itch that tells you it's time to get moving? Well that hit me like an arrow between the eyes and I had to leave. It was my last chance to see the world, and oh the sights Gares. I have even ventured to the east and had the privilege of studying in the Melcene Universities.' Mortiris' eyes took on a vague expression as he thought about Melcene and his studies. Gares waited a few moments until he began,
'What brings you back to us Mortiris? As you probably figured out, these halls do not even recognize your face. Everyone is so young.' Mortiris sighed,
'I can reminisce about the old days but that is not what brings me back. I am getting old and this is where I hold my fondest memories of home. I do not wish to walk on your toes and I am glad you have taken over this clan. Yet, even in old age I can still be useful at teaching these young punks.' Gares and Mortiris each gave a slight chuckle.
'That is truth Mortiris, age hasn't worn down your wit or humor I see. Our new members keep getting more ambitious, they think they can take over the world at 18 even though they still call for their moms and dads at night.' Both men sat there for a moment in silence. Mortiris shifted in his chair, his aches and pains slightly uncomfortable. 'Alright then,' Gares stated as if deciding something, 'welcome back to Adventurers my old friends. Allow me to escort an old man to his room. We will have to feast tonight and you can begin recounting all those stories you told me about earlier.'
With that the two men left Gares' chambers, Gares in a confident stride that clearly identified him as a warrior and Mortiris following along with the hobble of an old man. The new recruits all looked in awe at Gares, each giving slight bows. Mortiris simply smiled. He remembered what it was like to be worshiped by new blood. He was home at that was what mattered.

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Ethadea
Childhood
'First, let me pull out some blankets before I begin, I have fifty years to cover and it might take a while.' I hoisted myself out of my chair and began rummaging through a nearby wooden chest. After several moments, I pulled out two large Mallorean blankets and handed one to Mortiris and kept one for myself. After we finished tucking in our old bones, I began to speak.
'My life truly started at two years old,' I said, taking a sip from my cup of tea. 'I say this for two reasons. One is because I can't remember anything that happened before then and the other is because at that age I learned a word that shaped my life.'
Mortiris chuckled politely. 'And what word is that?' he asked, his pale blue eyes twinkling with delight.
I smiled mischievously. 'The word is no. Such a simple word isn't it? It's a word we take for granted but use so often. That word signified my very first rebellion against the world. I've always been quite curious and full of questions. Over time, my parents devised this generic answer that I absolutely couldn't tolerate. "It is that way just because it is," they would say. Isn't that a terrible response? Anyway, I took to using the word 'no' to defy this concept that things "just are" a certain way. Once I knew my parents would be no help in answering my questions, I began discovering them for myself.'
'That's an interesting way to look at it I suppose,' Mortiris said, scratching thoughtfully at his whiskers.
'My parents believed it was a flaw of my character to be unable to simply accept things. It made their lives and my own difficult. It's quite frustrating not having all the answers and it's even worse when you have to wait to discover them on your own. Children generally don't have very much patience and I certainly was not an exception. I spent most of my childhood in a perpetual state of disgruntlement trying to answer questions that my mind could barely begin to comprehend. I drove off a lot of friends that way.'

Observations of the young adult
I sighed heavily and sank further into my chair as memories of my childhood came flooding into my mind. I barely noticed as Mortiris reached out and took my hand in his own.
'Well anyway, I was a difficult child to say the least,' I said, absently squeezing Mortiris' hand. 'It got a little better at thirteen when everyone around me also fell into a state of rebellion. I have yet to find out what it is about thirteen year olds that sends them into such a frenzy. The rebellion of those around me, however, was only of little comfort since theirs was more about appearance and defying their parents... mine was still defying the world and refusing to accept it as "being just the way it is. My studies became a bit easier as my mind began to understand more complex subjects, which was a relief for my parents and me. Instead of being outwardly frustrated, I was able to go within myself for quiet contemplation.'
'When I turned fifteen my parents began to pressure me to marry. I thought the whole notion was ridiculous. Everyone around me was behaving most strangely. I noticed that fifteen year olds play a very interesting game that I like to refer to as cat and mouse. The girls would saunter in and swish their pretty tails at the nervous mice... The boys that is. After a while they'd bat at them with their charms until the boys were completely
disheveled and then they'd scamper off and gleefully watch the poor boys be in a state of turmoil and panic until they came back and decided to have their way with them. This went on for about a year.'
'At sixteen, it is the girl's turn to get a little crazed. Within every woman is a little clock that is perpetually ticking. One day, a woman awakens and the alarm sounds and she goes into a state of total panic. Within a year the woman is married, her house is completely in order, and she's pregnant with her first child. I like to refer to this as nesting children, but my sense of curiosity dulled it. After all, I would only be limiting myself to one area of life if I accepted a life kept in the home.'
'Don't get me wrong, I had urges. That is completely natural. I think the young men have a more difficult time with these urges than women, but they are still there. It was around then that I met a man my age that was an apprentice of a local blacksmith.' I paused and looked into the distance wistfully. 'He was a handsome fellow, but none too bright. We had a little interlude for about six months before I was bored with him. I know, it was a terribly cruel of me to do that to him, but I felt I'd discovered all I needed to know of him and set off for other things.'

Leaving home
Mortiris laughed heartily and set down his now empty cup. 'Has everything in your life been nothing more than something to discover? Surely you realize you can't know everything.'
'Well, of course know,' I said with a scowl. 'It just took me a very long time to come to terms with that.' I waved my hand in the air as if to brush off the subject. 'In any case, I didn't marry at sixteen... Or at all for that matter. My parents were very distraught by this, since more than anything they wished for grandchildren. Finally, at twenty, I made a decision to leave the Isle. They didn't much care for the idea, but I suppose they hoped I would find a husband wherever I went and would come home with a number of children in tow, so eventually they relented.'
'It was in the spring that I set off on a Cherek ship and ventured into a world outside of the Isle. I found it all quite exciting really. There's something refreshing about boats once you get your sea legs and your stomach settles. There's a whole other world beneath the vast sea filled with all sorts of creatures, you know. It is truly a beautiful place and I've spent many years studying it. But, we will skip my discoveries for now. I wouldn't want to bore you with the anatomy of a fish or the moon's affect on the tides.'
Mortiris smiled and nodded his head.
'I arrived in the port of Camaar some time later. It's quite a busy city and it was a bit difficult to get around there, but I managed. I didn't spend as much time there as I would have liked, but I suppose I still have some time left to make a trip.' I paused and looked out the window thoughtfully.
'I will take you there sometime,' Mortiris said, causing me to snap back from my thoughts. 'My clan is in Camaar, I've spent a number of years there. I would happy to journey there with you sometime,' he said, patting my hand lightly.

A new home
'Pardon my interruption,' Mortiris said, raising his hand for a moment. 'You said you are a part of a clan. May I ask what clan is this?'
'Ah yes' I said smiling, giving myself a moment to reorganize my thoughts before speaking. 'I actually joined with them quite recently,' I began, 'I took a trip to Sendar to visit an old bartender I used to work for in between travels to earn a few gold pieces. Sadly, he died shortly before I even arrived. After his funeral, I decided to spend a bit of time in the city, reflecting on the years I'd spent there. As I was milling about, I came upon a beautiful garden. I found it very curious that I hadn't noticed it before, since I lived in Sendar for a number of years...' I paused, frowning slightly and then brushed off the thought. 'As I was walking around I was approached by a Rivan man by the name of Kemeron. After we introduced ourselves, we wandered about the garden, speaking about the various plants that grew and other such small chatter. He informed me that the garden belonged to a clan that he was a member of and I grew quite interested. He invited me into the clan hall where we talked for some time... or I should say I talked. As you know by now, I'm quite fond of talking about myself,' I chuckled. 'I told him about some of my travels and discoveries...which I may have slightly embellished, but he seemed amused at least. After I'd had enough of talking, he began to tell me a bit of himself and of his clan. I suppose I knew from the moment I walked into that garden that I would be making a new addition to my life. He told me that the name of the clan is Wanderers where people travel about the world and delight in their own stories as well as others. Finally, he asked me if I would like to call this clan home. I accepted, of course, and have met some wonderful people. I spent all of these years alone, studying abroad and found it absolutely marvellous to share it with others. I've learned so much from them and it's only been a few months.'
Mortiris smiled. 'It's truly a blessing to meet others like yourself. What takes you back to the Isle?'
I sighed heavily. 'My parents about ten years ago years ago. This is their home. I come back from time to time for a bit of solitude and reflection. It's my other home away from home.'
'Age does come with its downfalls, watching your loved ones pass away is one of them,' he said with a long sigh and then turned his attention to the window for a moment. 'Daylight will be upon us soon and we should rest,' he said, snuggling into his blankets.
'Will you be all right out here? You can use my bed if you wish and I will sleep out here.'
'No no, this will be fine. I have intruded upon you enough. Let us sleep.'
I handed him my blanket for a bit of extra warmth and pulled myself out of my chair. 'Good night Mortiris,' I said with a smile and headed to my room for sleep.

A simple gift
I made three very important observations the following morning. As I came out of my room I noticed that there was no Mortiris lying beneath the perfectly folded blankets in the chair by the fire. I frowned at this. Then I noticed that there was no longer a storm and sun was streaming through the window. I frowned even harder at this. The third thing I noticed was a letter resting just beneath a glimmering stream of sunlight with a flower resting upon it. At this, I smiled.
I picked up the beautiful flower and turned it around in my hand. It wasn't quite a rose but it also wasn't quite like any other flower I'd seen. It was pale blue, much like the color of Mortiris' eyes and merely a bud. I felt the silky enclosed petals with my fingertips and sighed wistfully.
'Well, let's see what you have to tell me Mortiris,' I said as I opened the folded letter.

Dearest Ethadea,
I regret that I had to leave so soon this morning. To our misfortune, the weather turned out to be pleasant and I must be making my way back to Camaar. Thank you for your hospitality. I have no money to pay you for your warmth, but I have created this flower as a gift. It reminds me of you and I suspect that it will remind you of me. I will write to you once I arrive home. We still have much to discuss.
Yours truly, Mortiris

'Well you old bag, it seems you got away from me this time,' I muttered aloud with a broad smile. I set down the letter and put a pot of tea on the fire and began my usual morning routine, humming a cheerful tune. As I was preparing some bread for breakfast I noticed something very curious out of the corner of my eye. Very subtly, the pale blue bud had barely begun to open. 'Ah... ' I said with a knowing grin. 'How very curious indeed.'

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Mortiris
A Letter
It was on a wet, cold, and windy day that a white dove flew to Ethadea's window. Nothing was unusually about the day except the bird. It landed directly on her table and sat there for a while before chirping to get her attention. With a slight jump she looked at the bird and noticed a letter attached to its leg. 'Who might this be from?' Ethadea asked no one, already knowing the answer. With a little grin of satisfaction she took the note from the bird and began to read.

My Dearest Ethadea,

The weather was quite pleasant on my journey back to Camaar.
My aching bones seem to be a little less stiff as I travel
with a new bounce in my step. I am relying less on my staff
and more on my heart. The days I spent with you a month ago
were more then enjoyable and I look forward to the opportunity
to share my stories with you. Please allow me to invite you to
my home once I am settled in and can better accommodate you.
I will continue to write to you until that time comes if you
will be so kind as to grace me with script of your own.

Bright eyed,

Mortiris

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Ethadea
Dove
With an elated sigh, I carefully folded the letter from Mortiris and placed it within a leather bound journal. It was a rare occasion for me to feel young again and Mortiris had a way of arranging his words to make me feel like a silly school girl. Unfortunately, my moment didn't last too long, for the little dove on my desk cooed and pranced about impatiently, pulling me away from my thoughts. 'Oh right, I suppose you want payment for your journey,' I said, holding my hand out for the bird. I stood up and clambered over to a small cabinet within my kitchen and pulled out a canvas interest. 'Thank you,' it chattered in my mind and hopped off my hand. 'Your welcome,' I responded warily. 'Not very often that I talk to birds,' I thought. The bird cocked its head at me. 'You don't? That's a pity.' I laughed aloud. 'Oh, I do talk to a few lovely sparrows that come to feed in the spring, but they've nestled away for the winter. Do you plan to stay long?' The bird looked out the window and ruffled its feathers. 'It is a dreary day and I wouldn't mind staying dry. Do you suppose I could stay here?' I nodded and smiled, watching the bird turn its attention back to the bag of seed.
'Well then, I should see to this letter.' I padded across the creaky wooden floors to another small cupboard above the mantle of my fireplace. I pulled out an inkpot and quill and shuffled back to my desk.

Dearest Mortiris

It's a comfort to hear from you, I was very disappointed to see you leave
and have been quite lonely this past month. I'm glad your trip went well
and I hope your old bones are well rested. I am looking forward to visiting
you and spending time in Camaar and awaiting your next letter with much
eagerness. Your gift is lovely and has even begun to bloom a little despite
the winter season. I also have a gift for you, which I hope you cause you
to think of me often. Despite our short time together, I miss you greatly.

Yours,
Ethadea

'Come here,' I said to the bird who was now perched atop a bookshelf near the fire. It fluttered its wings and settled on my desk, cocking its head at me. 'What did you need Lady?' the bird asked, ruffling its feathers. 'I just need to study you, that is all.'
I carefully looked at the bird, mapping out its features in my mind. Once that was completed and I was satisfied with the detail I had put into it, I took up an old silver ring I once wore and gathered my Will. I focused intently on the ring, murmuring the words "Change," under my breath. Slowly, the silver of the ring morphed into an intricately designed pendant of a small dove. 'It looks lovely,' the dove commented in my mind once it was completed. I smiled broadly, admiring the fine detail in my work. 'It'll be a burden to carry my little friend. You should rest now you have a long journey tomorrow.' The bird chittered and pranced away to its perch atop my shelf. I sighed softly, staring off into the fire as my mind wandered.

Memory
My mind slowly drifted, lulled by the dancing flames of the fire. The soothing scent of herbs wafted from the small tea kettle that hung within the hearth, relaxing my consciousness and allowing memories to seep from within.
I was in the city of Boktor, walking through the streets for the very first time. I was twenty three, perhaps even a bit younger. I remember milling about between the throngs of people, occasionally stopping in an empty spot to scribble down a few notes in my leather bound journal. I wrote avidly of the people, various streets and locations, and other such things about the grand city that I thought would be important to reference later. As I progressed through the streets I came upon a pair of rather unusual looking merchants. One man was short in stature and had one eye that seemed to roll about every which way. He was talking to another man who was very stout and had a protruding belly that rumbled every time he laughed... and he laughed a great deal. However, it wasn't their appearances that were so strange it was all the nervous hand twitching that caught my eye. I peered around the corner and approached another nearby man who was carrying a bundle of fine silks. I sparked up a conversation with the silk merchant and he immediately began rattling off a slew of compliments, telling me that such a beautiful woman as me should have only the finest silks in the land... of which he had at a "great" price. Quite frankly, I wanted to hit him in the face since it was clear he was lying and he wasn't doing a very good job at it. But I pretended to feel flattered and took up a bit of interest in his wares. Meanwhile, I had an ear open for the two nearby merchants. To my dismay, I realized I was gaining nothing from this conversation between the two funny looking merchants. I couldn't believe that all they were doing was talking about the weather! Perhaps they were old friends, I thought as I left with a considerably lighter sack of gold and a decent piece of Mallorean silk. It was a year later that I realized what all their twitching was about and the weather was a very typical piece of conversation used between merchants as they were making deals with their hands. And with a bit of regret, I learned that the merchant who sold me that "Mallorean" silk had taken clear advantage of my stupidity.

I caught myself in mid laughter as I returned from my daydream. The tea kettle above the fire began to whistle shrilly, causing the small dove still perched on the bookshelf to squawk in a rather unruly manner. 'All right, all right' I muttered, pulling myself up from my chair and taking the kettle from the stove. I poured the fragrant liquid into a ceramic cup and took a sip of my tea, eyeing the small bird that had fluffed up to abnormal proportions. 'It was just the tea kettle,' I said to the dove, chuckling under my breath. 'Not funny,' the dove replied, settling back down into sleep.

Traveling
A faint strain of light filtered through a small window in my bedroom only to immediately disappear behind a dark rain cloud. The weather on the isle of Riva had turned sour once again, sending sheets of rain pouring from the sky and a bitter wind howling through the drenched streets. I slowly open one of my eyes, looking out at the drab weather and immediately screwed my face up into a wretched scowl that only a truly annoyed elderly woman could perform. I was not happy to awaken to such poor weather.
After several moments I finally pulled myself out of bed, my bones aching from the cold and the stiffness of my old hay-stuffed mattress. I bundled myself up in an old shawl and shuffled into the living room to find that the dove had indeed left for its trip to Camaar, leaving behind a single white feather and a plethora of bird droppings. I grumbled some more about this as I stirred up a fire and settled down to a cup of tea.
My mind wandered as it usually did and the morning hours slowly slipped by. I looked out the window once more and frowned. 'Well,' I thought to myself, wiggling my toes before the dying fire. 'Isn't this just a lovely day?' I knew that my irritation was stemming from being restless. My feet were ready to travel again, perhaps because Mortiris' had made the suggestion of traveling to Camaar. Either way, I knew that it was time to leave Riva.
'To Camaar then?' I thought to myself as I mulled over some places to visit in my mind. I quickly decided against that as I didn't want to impose on Mortiris until he was ready for my visit. I tapped my chin thoughtfully. 'Perhaps I will return to Sendar and spend some time with my clan.' This sounded like a relatively good idea as it didn't really impose upon anybody and it would comfort my need to constantly be moving about. 'Sendar it is,' I said aloud, sipping my tea and mentally making preparations.

Adoan
As the morning hours slipped into the afternoon, I began making preparations to leave the isle of Riva. I have a tendency to be very methodical in what I do and I wanted to make sure everything was in order before I set sail away from the gloomy island. After everything had been packed, cleaned, and prepared I set out for the local carpenter who also happened to be the son of the blacksmith I fancied at the youthful age of sixteen. The rain had relented slightly, making the trek through the streets of Riva a bit easier to manage.
'Why hello Ethadea!' exclaimed Adoan's wife, Gaema, after I knocked upon her door. She was a lively, buxom blonde woman who looked as though she had a bit of Cherek meddled in her blood line. I noticed on this particular evening she was absolutely radiant and I guessed that beneath the heavy folds of her gown was the bump of a developing baby.
'Well hello my dear, how are things here?' I asked as she helped me into her home. Her mouth moved a mile a minute as she shuffled me over to a chair before the fire and took my cloak. As I suspected, she was pregnant with her first child and absolutely thrilled about it.
'Ethadea, might I ask you a favor?' she asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. I suppose I knew this was coming. 'I know you have some special talents and I was wondering if you could tell me if I am having a boy or a girl.'
Now, I don't ever really put any "magic" into predicting the gender of a child. I studied the bump of her stomach for a moment, and tapped my chin thoughtfully. 'Twins,' I said finally. 'You're about 3 months aren't you? You're a bit large for 3 months and by the shape of your belly I'd say you're having twins. Boys.'
Gaema glowed with delight kissing me on the cheek and embracing me warmly. 'Oh Ethadea, that is wonderful! I am so excited to be having children. Poor Adoan seems to be a bit exhausted already and I haven't even birthed them yet. Oh yes, you were here to seem him correct? Let me go get him.' She smiled happily and padded into the other room and soon returned with her husband in tow.
'Well hello Ethadea,' he said, hugging me warmly. He had bags under his eyes and his face seemed a bit pale. 'Pardon my appearance,' he apologized, 'but my wife has me running errands for her at all hours of the day. I can't believe what these women crave when they're pregnant.'
I laughed and winked at him. 'Well, we women know what we want and will do whatever we can to get it.'
He chuckled. 'So I've discovered. What was it that you needed? I get the feeling you're going to ask me to tend to your house again. You never do seem to be in one spot for very long.'
'This is true,' I laughed. 'It seems you know me all too well.'
'Well, I have known you since I was a boy and you have had a tendency to run off periodically. I assume the money is in the cupboard above the mantle and you want me to clean your house weekly?'
I nodded and stood up from my chair. 'Yes, that will be all. I will return again, have no worry,' I said, patting him on the cheek. He laughed.
'Leaving so soon then? I thought you'd stay for lunch.'
I shook my head. 'No, Adoan. I must be off. These feet ache for travel and I should leave while the day is ripe. I will see you when I return home. And Gaema, good luck with your those children. They will prove to be a handful.' I winked and grabbed my cloak from off a rack. After a few more goodbyes, I set back to my home.

To Sendar
When I finally set out to the port of Riva, the sky had stopped pouring and the wind had settled to a few lethargic gusts. It took the better part of the afternoon to find a Cherek captain willing to take a passenger aboard his ship. One man, however, had a bit of a soft spot for the elderly and with a bit of pressing he let me aboard. Just as afternoon faded into evening, we set sail across the vast sea.
Several weeks passed before our ship reached the port of Sendar. Travel was slow and the weather seemed to be set against us. Food was growing sparse and the sailors were becoming increasingly agitated. We were all quite relieved when we finally anchored in the port and the sailors eagerly sought a tavern to drink themselves into a senseless stupor before they would once again set sail. I thanked the captain, paid him well for his hospitality, and set out for the city of Sendar.
It was late in the evening by the time I reached the garden and I looked upon the clan hall with anticipation. 'Pah, you used to be able to travel for weeks with barely any sleep at all! Now look at you, the sun has just barely finished setting and you're ready for sleep,' I grumbled. I was immediately enveloped in comfort warmth as I stepped into the hall, but something seemed particularly strange. 'Hmm, everyone must have gone to sleep early,' I thought as I shuffled into the lounge, noticing that no one was around. 'Well, I hope no one minds' I sank into a pile of pillows and stretched my legs out beneath me. After a few moments I sank into a peaceful slumber.

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Mortiris
A Lost Letter
A white dove carried a letter to a small cottage located on the Isle of Riva. The bird swooped majestically downward making a great show of things. It knew the residence of this abode and knew the rewards that awaited it upon successful delivery. With a soft chirp it landed in a small window ceil peering into the glass.
A shrill cry left the bird’s beak as it saw a young man in the house, this was not the kind old woman who gave out seed. The man was vigorously sweeping the wooden floor. With a nod of determination the bird pecked on the window to try and get the man's attention.
Adoan looked up from his sweeping and noticed a small bird pecking on the window. 'How odd' he thought to himself as he went to let the bird in. Opening the window he allowed the bird to hop inside. Once it settled down on the table he noticed a small letter attached to its leg. 'Let me see that leg' he told the bird as he carefully removed the letter from it. The bird chirped expectedly, waiting for its reward. Adoan forgot the bird as he begun to read the letter...

My Dearest Ethadea,

Camaar has gotten quite chilly this winter. My old bones ache for adventure
and ache for the weather. Sitting in this hall with all these youth around
makes me forget that I am but an old timer. My mind races like that of a
rogue teenager but my body races like a turtle. I miss the warmth of your
companionship and would like you to join me here in this drafty Camaar
building. I look forward to your reply and am eager to come retrieve you
from that rainy little island.

Your travel companion,
Mortiris

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Ethadea
Whoops
Adoan frowned as he carefully folded back the small piece of parchment and set it on the table. It rather bothered him that he didn't know where Ethadea was. She came and went frequently and never really made a point to say where she was going let alone when she would return. Adoan, however, always remembered to ask just in case he ever needed to contact her. 'Where could she have gone?' he muttered, slowly pacing the room and scratching his chin. He completely ignored the dove that was prancing about on the table, seeking to gain his attention for her reward. After a bit of time passed and the bird finally gave up her prancing, an idea came to him.
'Aha!' he said, snapping his fingers. The bird squawked and ruffled its feathers, startled by Adoan's abrupt realization. 'Sendar! She must have gone there. I remember her saying something about a clan there. She must have returned there... After all, at her age I doubt she would go on any grand ventures and it's not terribly far away.'
He chuckled and began rummaging around the small cottage for a piece of parchment and a pen. He found them in the same cupboard as the gold stored for his payment and set them out on the desk. With great care, he began to write the letter.

Dear Mortiris,

I am Ethadea's house keeper, Adoan. She has left the city on one of her ventures and I am unsure when she will return and she has not told me where she left to. However, I believe she has returned to her clan in Sendar for a while. I will forward your letter to her. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Sincerely, Adoan

He set aside the quill and started critically at the letter. He had remarkable penmanship, probably because he worked with his hands all day and they had grown accustomed to fine workmanship. Once he was satisfied, he rolled it up and tied it carefully to the dove's leg. 'All right little dove, send this back to your owner. I'm going to attach the other letter that I want you to take to Sendar.'
The bird cocked its head at Adoan and pranced around in a circle. He waited for the bird to leave, but it merely continued hopping about on the table. Adoan peered at the bird, a little perplexed at its strange behavior. 'Oh right, your reward for your task.' He rolled his eyes and pushed himself away from the desk, searching through various cabinets for bird seed. When the bird was filled, it ruffled its feathers, hopping on the window seal and fluttered into the sky.

Boom
This story continues from this RP channel log.
'DAMN IT!'
I cocked my eyebrow as I heard a man's angry voice roar from within the apothecary. The tinkling sound of glass shattering... perhaps even exploding, was very audible even out into the street. With a bit of hesitance, I entered the apothecary and braced myself for whatever mad scientific experiment was taking place within.
'Oh hello,' a man said from behind the counter. He said it rather pleasantly despite the current circumstances. I hedged my way over to the counter and peered over at a frazzled old man with thick glasses picking up shards of glass.
'So, what was it?' I asked. 'By the looks of it, I'd say you put some sodium hydroxide and water together. That's highly explosive you know.' I know I sounded cocky, but I couldn't help it.
He furrowed his eyebrows and adjusted his glasses. 'Well, actually it was. How clumsy of me, I should know better.'
I smiled pleasantly. 'We all make mistakes. At least it was a very, very, very tiny amount. Even just a small amount with water makes quite a reaction. Anyway, I was wondering if you had some parchment and ink.'
The old man stood up and dusted himself off, looking at me quizzically. 'Is that all? You sound like you work in an apothecary yourself!'
Oh I how I love compliments. 'Why yes, as a matter of a fact I did at some point for a few years. I'm certainly not an expert, but I have a bit of knowledge. Anyway, I just need to write a letter.'
'Well then,' he hobbled over to a shelf with a stack of parchment and ink pots. After a few moments of rustling, he gathered the supplies and put them in a small sack. 'Well, that'll be 1 gold piece.'
'1 gold! Back in my day' I stopped right there. I didn't want to sound TOO old after all. I tightened my lips and forced a smile as I handed over a gold piece and took my supplies. 'Well you have a good day sir,' I said, and hurried out of the apothecary, grumbling under my breath.

OOC: There was a solo RP session before this in case anyone is confused.

Tying up the loose ends.
                                                             .-.
                                                            / . \
                                                            |\_/||
                                                            | | /|
  .-----------------------------------------------------------'  |
/ .-.    Dearest Mortiris,                                       |
| /   \  It seems my mind has slipped me once again and I forgot |
| |\_. | forgot to inform you of my travels. A few weeks ago I   |
|\| | /| I left the isle of Riva to return to my clan in Sendar. |
| '--- | I do hope this reaches you in time. I will be in Sendar |
|      | until you wish to seek me.                              |
|      |                                          Yours, Ethadea /
|      |-------------------------------------------------------'
\      |
 \    /
  '--'

I set the quill aside carefully rolled the note. I will admit, I was slightly worried that I had received a letter and that Mortiris thought I was ignoring him, so I rushed the note a bit. After a bit of searching, I found the tiny sparrow out in the garden and spoke with it briefly about the letter and its final destination. The bird responded cheerfully and left immediately after I tied the letter to its leg.
'All right, back to business,' I said, turning from the garden and entering the hall. It disconcerted me that I still hadn't seen anyone in the clan... Not that it was too much of a surprise, they come and go. We are wanderers after all. 'Oh don't be ridiculous, someone must be here.' I muttered and began trudging my way through the halls.

News
The sun cast a warm glow over the city of Sendar, its orange rays creeping across the dirt packed streets. The air was cool and the wind blew gently through the streets, kicking up mild clouds of dust. The afternoon was slowly fading into the evening hours and the streets bustled with life as people closed up their shops and headed home for the evening.
I was stationed in a rocking chair outside the clan hall, my head bowed and my eyes closed as I took part in my routine afternoon nap. It was a luxury I was quite fond of and something I could get away with in my old age. No one would dare accuse an elderly woman of being lazy, but had I been thirty years younger, I'd be bound to have someone hovering over my head shaking a finger at me and listing off a number of productive things I should be doing. I finally awoke just as Shinara was walking up a path through the garden, her eyes locked on a piece of parchment as she walked.
'Good afternoon Shinara,' I said, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and setting aside the small teacup that was enclosed within my hands. Shinara looked up from her paper and smiled.
'Well hello Ethadea, good to see you home. How was your trip to Riva?' She rolled up the parchment and tucked it away as she approached.
'Ah, you know how it is on Riva. Gray skies, gray people, gray houses. The weather is poor this time of year. I gathered my sense of peace and decided to travel home. How have you been?' I stood up and hobbled over to her.
'Things are well although there is a recent development that I would like to talk to you about when you have a chance, preferably in private. It's a bit of a delicate matter.'
I raised my eyebrow at that and frowned. 'Delicate matters tend to not be of the happiest subjects. I'm well awake now and have plenty of time, perhaps we should go inside and enjoy a nice cup of hot tea while we talk about this matter?'
She nodded placidly. 'We'll go to my study. It's secluded enough. Have you managed to run into any other members?'
I shook my head. 'Actually, I set out to look for them but that rocking chair looked awfully cozy and I got a little distracted.' I grinned. 'No matter though, I found someone and my mission is complete. Let us go inside.'

She's a Lady
We weaved our way through a few corridors in the hall until we reached Shinara's private study, speaking idly of my time in Riva. After entering her study, I immediately to putting mixed herbs before settling back in a chair. Even a matter of delicacy could wait for a good cup of tea.
'So what's happened?' I said bluntly, rubbing my hands together to warm them.
'As you are well aware, Kemeron took Lordship of Minstrels some time ago. Just recently, I discovered a note informing that he decided to step down from that position.'
I frowned deeply. 'Well, that really lays it on the table.' I paused for a moment to consider asking about Kemeron's reasoning behind it, but decided against it. After all, it wasn't really my place to be nosy. 'So what are your plans for Minstrels now?' I asked.
'Well, there is certainly a vacancy I would like filled. I've been thinking it over for a while now and I wanted to make an offer to you.'
The tea kettle above the fire began whistling shrilly, breaking through the conversation. I was a bit relieved to have a moment to busy myself and collect my thoughts. I had a feeling I knew where this was going and I needed a moment to mull it over in my mind.
'Well then, so what is this offer?' I asked, handing Shinara a cup of tea.
'As I said, Minstrels has a vacancy. I would like to offer you Kemeron's previous position. I think you would do well, however, it is entirely up to you.'
I smiled. 'I would be happy to take up the position. However, I think I'm a bit under trained. I suppose you will be working me through the details of his position?'
Shinara nodded. 'Of course, it's certainly a burden of responsibility to bear. We will talk further later on about the finer points of the position. Meanwhile, I have some work to do. Thank for the tea Ethadea, or should I call you Lady Ethadea?' She winked.
'A Lady eh? That will take some getting used to. I should be on my way anyway, I have a few matters of my own to attend to. I'll catch up to you a bit later,' I said with a grin.
Shinara nodded and smiled as I quietly left her room. I was still a bit baffled by Kemeron's leave. 'Perhaps one day I'll have to catch up with him again and see what he's up to,' I thought to myself. 'Meanwhile... I could use another nap.'

Rash youth
The days progressed at an unbelievably slow pace. I took up some reading to catch up on Kemeron's work in his previous Lordship and other such clan essentials, which preoccupied most of my time. Unfortunately, the time it preoccupied was dragging on. If there is anything to hate about reading, it is how long the day seems to progress while doing it. At the end of each day, my weary eyes blurred furiously, informing me that it was time to take a break. Just as soon after I removed my eyes from the parchment I was asleep, another one of my many faults. Finally, on the third day, I decided to give it up my studies and get a breath of fresh air. That is when I met Caienus.

----

'Caienus the Humble Tolendran. Now if that isn't the most oxymoronic thing I have ever heard,' I thought to myself, laughing quietly. 'Every Tolnedran I've ever encountered is out there for his own hide and to gain as much profit as possible doing it.'
After Caienus had departed, I took some liberty to amuse myself with his story. Indeed, every person is allowed to be that one "unique" person in their race that doesn't quite fit the mold. However, there is very rarely a person who is the complete opposite of their entire race. It is just natural to behave like those around you and for someone to be that different.
'Perhaps I'm being a little presumptuous,' I thought aloud, refilling my teacup and repositioning myself by the fire. 'I haven't the faintest idea what he has to gain from us, we aren't exactly rich and certainly not terribly interested in trade. I can't imagine he's up to any good.'
I tapped my chin thoughtfully, burrowing myself further in my robe as I did.
'Hmm... perhaps that is really why I allowed him in. The young ones are always so bold and easily corrupted and Tolnedrans are certainly one of the most corrupted peoples. We'll see I suppose.'
I recounted his story and very slowly what was nothing more than quiet chuckling turned into an uproar of laughter. 'That look was so priceless!' I laughed, wiping a tear from my eye. 'Like a young fledgling puffing out his feathers. Ah well, if he is honest, he will do well here. If he is dishonest, he will find that I'm not as gullible as it seems. Whatever the case, this will truly be interesting.'

Snowy Fall
The city of Sendar quieted as the afternoon sun slowly faded into darkness behind steely gray clouds. Thick, wet snow began plodding from the sky, driving the rest of the meandering citizens into their warm, fire-lit houses. I, however, remained out in the garden, the snowflakes catching in my wiry gray hair and dampening the tattered shawl I held tightly around my shoulders. I turned my eyes to the sky, searching through the darkness for a tiny sparrow. Almost on cue, a small swirling figure came rushing down from the sky.
'Oh no,' I muttered, realizing the bird was falling rather than flying. I held out the palms of my hands and caught the exhausted bird, rushing inside the clan hall. The sparrow felt cold, its heart racing and tiny chest heaving. 'I wasn't in that much of a hurry,' I grumbled, wrapping the bird in a warm blanket. Slowly, the bird seemed to warm and its breathing began to relax.
'It is so cold,' the bird twittered faintly. I quietly shushed her and untied the small piece of parchment from her leg. I unrolled the paper, turning my attention from her for a moment and eagerly began to read.

Dearest Ethadea,

Pardon my delay, I sent a letter but it was apparently to the wrong address and it took me a while to correct it. How strange that a sparrow would be about during this time of the winter. Where did you find her? She's absolutely delightful. Anyway, I'm now in Camaar and I extend my invitation to you to come visit whenever you are ready. Take care of this sparrow, the winter will be hard on her.

Yours, Mortiris

I smiled, folded up the parchment and tucked it into a pouch tied about my waist. 'Now then,' I said quietly to the little sparrow. 'No more traveling for you until you are well again. I will set up a small cage in my apartments for you to gather your strength and sustain through the winter. I'm sorry I was foolish enough to send you out in such bitter weather.'
I ran the front side of my finger down the sparrow's belly, silently hoping she would stand and recover. In response, she weakly struggled to her legs and fluffed up her feathers to gather warmth. 'I'm fine,' she chirped. 'I'm awfully hungry though Lady, I don't suppose that pouch at your side has any bird seed?' I sighed with relief. 'Of course.'

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