It's Hard When You Can't Read! (closed, timechange, GF)

Aegis Labyrinthine · May 27, 2007, 01:50 PM

*~TimeStamp: Brightening Thera of the 1st cycle in the month of Imperos, Era I of the Celestine Mandate~*

About a candlemark had gone by with Aegis roaming the streets of Alleria Prime aimlessly, but loving it! He was enjoying seeing all the sights of people just going about their business, doing every brightening activities. It didn't take much to entertain someone who had just entered a new world of places, cultures, languages, races and so much more that he had never even heard about in his life!

From the observations he made from his roaming, Aegis could see that pretty much everyone he saw carried a weapon of some kind, whether it be a small dagger to a large great sword. This made him wonder what life was really like here? Why did these people all feel the need of protection from something, no matter what it may be.

He reached behind him and pulled out the small cheap dagger that Clyde had given him... it damn near broke just from unsheathing it! With a scowled look on his face, the beast thought to himself that Clyde meant good in giving it to him, but what damage could a dinky little blade do in battle? From Aegis' experience in the gladitorial arena he knew how to handle an axe pretty decently, so he made up his mind that that was exactly what he needed.

All he had to do was march into a store and grab one right? Well easier said than done! Aegis could barely speak common let alone read it! He just so happened to be standing in the merchantile district, but the only way he figured he was in the right area was from the street vendors that lined the roads, but all the buildings and kiosks looked the same to him with little signs he could not make out.

The large black minotaur stood in a gaggle of people scratching behind his ear spinning slowly in a circle trying to see if there was some way he could find a weapon forge. His confusion was very obvious and even though he didn't want to seem like an outsider, Aegis desperatly needed help...

Eyvind Redbeard · May 28, 2007, 03:52 PM

The Merchant District, what a pleasant place to take a walk after days of harsh training exercises. The noise of the citizens walking by, their light conversations, all that was like a healing balsam. Running with bags of stones and the way the officers talked to the recruits was a hell, but thanks to that Eyvind could give the due valour to the common things in life. Eyvind was getting hungry but he didn't want to spend unnecessary crowns in food so he openned a small bag he had and took an apple he had stolen in the barracks out, what a marvelous apple Eyvind thought, red and shinny!

Walking while eating the apple Eyvind noticed a vult in the croud, the vult was dark and seemed to have some sort of horned helmet in the head, curious Eyvind approached. As Eyvind approached he started to notice that the horns weren't attached to a helmet but to the head of the vult, it was a rather strange creature indeed, with a human like body and a horned head. The vult seemed confused and lost, with a final step and after swallowing the piece of apple he had in the mouth Eyvind found himself saying: "Serale, how can I help you?"

Aegis Labyrinthine · May 28, 2007, 05:38 PM

It took a moment or two before Aegis realized that he was being spoken to, since conversations were soaring back and forth among many different people around him. A smile found itself stretched behind the thick silver loop that was pierced right through the minotaur's septum. "Serale, you!" He said in a gruff voice that also sounded relieved that someone had come to his attention.

The first thing he noticed about the human was his red hair. It stood out from his pale skin and brought out his blue eyes. Aegis was impressed to see a variation of humans from, such as kemites he met earlier with darker skin and hair to this human with pale skin and red hair, whom Aegis could not name. The word 'help' sounded familiar to the beast, when Eyvind said it, as he understood what this meant, and could reply using his best common.

"Me, Aegis" He said slowly, pointing to himself. He then bit his lower lip and thought about how to word what he was trying to communicate. "Me...uhhh... fight!" He replied, but then quickly rephrased that, because saying you fight to the wrong person could end in an unpleasant situation. Aegis then took out his cheap dagger and held it by the blade, so the human would understand he did not intend on using it and continued. "No! This.... get more..." Although he didn't want anymore cheap daggers, he figured that if Eyvind could understand that he wanted to buy another weapon he would be well on his way.

The baffled minotaur then pointed at a few different signs above some shop doors and shrugged his shoulders and asked. "Where?"

Eyvind Redbeard · May 29, 2007, 12:14 PM

The strange creature seemed to have difficulty in speaking and when it said "fight" Eyvind thought it wanted to challenge him for a fight, he would accept it, he was a Legionnaire after all wasn't he? But then the creature showed him a rusty dagger, with the hilt turned to him, that was an universal symbol of peace, surely the creature meant that it was a fighter instead of challanging Eyvind, of course, where did he have his head to think on fighting in the middle of the Merchant District? The creature surely wanted a new dagger or any other weapon and was with great difficulty in finding a store. "My name is Eyvind and I will gladly show you a fine store where you can find good weapons. Follow me."

Aegis Labyrinthine · May 29, 2007, 12:32 PM

The jet black bull-beast's ears turned forward to listen in on what the Vagaran was speaking. He managed to pick up that his name was Eyvind, which was indeed handy knowledge to have if he was to interact with this human. Some of the verbs were familiar to Aegis, such find and follow, but words like store and weapons had not been taught to him on board the ship.

Aegis was naive and very rusty on his common, but he was certainly not stupid, he managed to clue in that what ever came after the word find was probably what he was looking for. So with much enthusiasm the minotaur pointed at his new companion and said slowly to get the pronunciation right. "Ey...vinnnd? You, Eyvind! Aegis follow Eyvind!" Aegis was ready to trail along side his helper where ever these weapons, as he called them, would be.

Eyvind Redbeard · May 29, 2007, 02:49 PM

The creature wasn't dumb at all! Eyvind had to make some research about his kind later. Nodding at pointing to a sign with an axe crossing a sword and some words underneath some 20 yards down the street Eyvind smiled at the minotaur.

"Yes, my name is Eyvind - he smiled again - and this is the way to a fine forge where you will find some nice weapons." Aegis didn't seem like understanding some words so Eyvind decided to make it easier to him. "Find good daggers there" - and he pointed the store again.

After a short walk they were there, "Kotra's Forge" could be read in the sign. Looking to Aegis before entering Eyvind said: "Here we are Aegis, take a look around." With a large movement Eyvind in the direction of the weapons display cases.

Secrets :

Looking at the price and items list Eyvind's attention went to the Two-Handed Swords for sale and to something that wasn't on the list: the Halberd.

"Serale. I was looking for some weapons for me and my friend here - Eyvind pointed Aegis - while he searchs for a weapons of his likes I would like to know if you have Halberds for sale or if I have to order it in advance."

Aegis Labyrinthine · May 29, 2007, 05:02 PM

After arriving at the heat filled forge Aegis made sure to memorize the symbols on the sign above the entrance. I better start learning these things, he thought to himself in his minotaurian language before stepping in the doors. The minotaur's large head cranked around in every direction as his eyes scanned the beautiful display of weapons. Daggers, swords, scimtars, axes and much more lined the walls along with armor and shields finely crafted from amazing metals. Aegis wasted no time in running his fingers along the elven chainmail, for it was something he had not seen before.

While Eyvind went to speak with the shop owner, inquiring about something unfamiliar, Aegis grabbed an axe from the shelf and held it in his right hand. It was a two handed battle axe, but the powerful beast wielded it with only one and swung it back and forth in a small section of open space. Something about it didn't feel right to him, he just couldn't pin point what it was.

After reshelving the axe, Aegis wandered over to some of the other armor that was on display in the shop. There was forearm protection, leg protection and hand protection. The gauntlets were what really caught his attention. An axe would be nice, but Aegis was a better fighter unarmed, due to his gladitorial experience. If he could have a pair of those fine steel studded gauntlets anyone who tried messing with the minotaur would get knocked into next Solaria! He took a pair off the shelf and decided that the axe could wait until he had further training with it. 95% of the fights he took part in were unarmed anyway.

Aegis held a gauntlet up so he could examine it while we wore it. The joints flexed well with his fist and the studs gleamed from the dim lighting in the forge. They were indeed shiny and would prove useful in self defense.

The minotaur smiled and walked up to Evyind wearing the gauntlets. Clenching his fists he flexed his biceps and gave a snort as he grabbed a small leather pouch of crowns from his kilt and placed it on the table. Aegis knew how money worked even though he had never had to buy anything, nor could he read the prices, so he dumped all 600 gold crowns on the counter and said to Evyind while shrugging his shoulders. "Me not know"

Eyvind Redbeard · May 30, 2007, 10:04 AM

"Serale. Halberds you say? Nah, we don't sell those soldier, all we have are those items on the shelves. Maybe if you are really interested in getting a halberd I can talk with Kotra, but he isn't here for the moment being so I can't tell." Said the shopkeeper after turning to Eyvind.

"Thank you, ask... Kotra then, I will probably return here soon to buy other weapons. The Legion doesn't provide everything a soldier really needs."

"Yes - the shopkeeper replied - many soldiers end up buying new daggers and other blades here due to the lack of a standard dagger in the Legionnaire's equipment."

Looking back Eyvind saw Aegis swinging a huge battle axe with a single hand. "He surely is strong" Eyvind thought. Eyvind then saw the minotaur placing the axe back on its shelf and taking some studded gauntlets. His later question about the price was obvious and Eyvind spoke to the shopkeeper "My friend here wants to buy these gauntlets, I have seen the price and I say 95 crowns is too much isn't it?" he grinned.

"Expensive or not it is our price, and it won't be changing no matter what you think." The shopkeeper replied with ease.

"It is always worth trying - Eyvind smiled - Aegis, the price is 95 crowns. Do you understand? Almost 100 crowns." With his fingers Eyvind counted up to 95 showing his two hands nine time and then only one hand so Aegis could understand with this gesture what Eyvind thought he couldn't with his poor knowledge of the common language.

Aegis Labyrinthine · May 30, 2007, 11:40 AM

The words ninety five or one hundred made no sense to Aegis, as he had never been told any numbers in the common language before, but when Eyvind held up his hands and flashed all 10 fingers nine times, then only one hand flashed one time, the large beast counted to himself in his minotaurian language. With a snort of approval, he divvied up his crowns and counted in his head, but every 10 crowns that he piled up, he spoke them aloud in minotaurian, which basically sounded like grunts and snorts to anyone who would happen to listen.

One would think that a slave who grew up with no formal schola would not be able to count even in his or her own language, but it was just the opposite. The masters of the slaves on Minatos made sure you knew how to count so the slave would not screw up on simple tasks demanded in their labour.

After he had accumulated the 95 crowns, Aegis slid them across the counter towards the shopkeeper and asked in common. "This niiineteee five?" Eyvind had said a couple unfamiliar words, so Aegis wanted to make sure he was saying the right price.

Along with wanting to read and speak better common, learning the number system of common would be a good thing as well, because just to look at the number written was about as clear as the beast looking at a bunch of squiggles, as well as hearing the name of the number, because 95 to the foreigner could have been an apple for all he knew.

Eyvind Redbeard · May 30, 2007, 12:46 PM

The shopkeeper took the money and started counting it. "It is all here mister!" The shopkeeper said with his comercial tone. Eyvind nodded, he had been counting the coins too, to avoid any attempt to lure Aegis. The minotaur seemed to know how to count properly because all the 95 crowns were there.

"Yes Aegis, ninety five crowns." - Eyvind answered.

"Thank you for prefering our store, have a nice day" - the shopkeeper said trying to get rid of the now anoying customers.

"Come Aegis, let us take a walk. Come. - Eyvind pointed the door and moved towards - Hey you, don't forget about my Halberd!"

Opening the door Eyvind left Kotra's Forge and waited for the minotaur in the street outside. There was a particularly beautiful young girl coming down the street. "If Putin was here I bet he would want to know that lass!" he thought. With a grin he waited for Aegis.

Veleraen · May 30, 2007, 01:23 PM

The giant had been out that brightening in search of something to eat and in something to sharpen his weapons with. Both the hunger to eat and the hunger to keep his arms in good shape meant that he would have to venture out to the city retrieve both before his duty shift began.

Wandering around the city, he passed merchant after merchant, shoppe after shoppe, many of them selling their wares, trying to advertise to the giant and the passerbys their wares. Looking about, the knight's eyes wandered into the letters "Kotra's Forge." "Aha, finally. I shall be only a minute Hakan..." The golden falcon that soared up above did not reply except with a faint screech from far above in the sky.

The knight was dressed in uniform and armour and also carried his seventeen foot giant sized halberd. A steel helmet adorned his head and covered much of his face and mainly bald scalp. A long, large red ponytail draped out of the back of helmet and the tip of a reddish beard poked out from beneath the helmet as well.

As Eyvind was coming out of the Forge, the large foot of the giant came down almost right beside him as Veleraen didn't see the young man come out so quickly. He looked down and saw that he had almost stepped on the soldier. "Ah, my apologies, I did not see you there. A habit I have been trying to break as of late." The giant rested his mighty weapon, scythe end first on the ground. Eyvind could see the halberd had been modified slightly as it had the head and shaft of a normal halberd, but the end tip was that of a two foot long scythe.

"My name is Sir Veleraen. I am a knight of the Order of the Black Rose. I was coming here to perhaps get a steel cloth or a sharpening stone to sharpen my weapons. What might be the name of the man I almost stepped on." The giant grinned as he took off of his helmet to reveal his scarred face, a large semi circle one running down from the tip of his right eye to his chin and another running vertically across his left eye. The knight bent down slightly and offered his hand to the man, unaware of the minotaur inside.

Aegis Labyrinthine · May 30, 2007, 03:51 PM

Aegis piled up his remaining crowns and slid them into his leather pouch as Eyvind wandered out of the store. The minotaur turned his head to the shopkeeper and said in his gruff voice. "Thank you" He learned to say that when someone does something nice for you from the fishermen that rescued him. With a smile and adoration for his new steel gauntlets, Aegis followed behind his new companion.

When the beast opened the forge's doors, he saw the biggest person he had ever seen in his life speaking with Eyvind. The fully armoured giant was taller Aegis and Eyvind combined! With a look of awe about his face, the minotaur slowly walked towards the two starring up at Veleraen. He could see that his new friend was not in any danger, so with a smile and extreme curiosity Aegis spoke. "Serale, you! You sooo big!" His manners needed work, but this was a real treat for the horned foreigner .

Rafe Nered · May 30, 2007, 04:42 PM

The elf nearly choked on his lunch as the odd pair came bounding down the street. Granted, he had never seen a bull-headed man befoer, but a quick survey of the agape faces around him confirmed that minotaurs were not a common feature in Alleria Prime, and he was not alone in his surprise.

And what a sight Aegis was! Towering well above Rafe’s humble stature, with horns like spears and tattoos that rivaled anything the boy had seen among his tribesman, Aegis was at once imposing and fascinating. As the two entered the forge across the street, Rafe crossed the street and placed himself close to the entrance of the shop, leaning casually against the wall and pretending to contemplate the dagger he’d been flipping in his hand, hoping to catch a snatch of conversation.

He ventured a glance as the soldier stepped out onto the street, and followed the human’s gaze to the pretty young thing passing by. An eyebrow went up, and he gave a low whistle. His dagger landed hilt first in his palm.

The giant took him by surprise. He took a step back, absently sheathing his dagger, just as Aegis appeared at the door beside Eyvind. The boy's eyes went from one to the other, taking in both the giant and the minotaur with intense curiosity.

When Aegis spoke, Rafe turned back to Veleraen, and with a slight smirk, nodded towards the horned creature. Already the boy's shock was subsiding.

“Yeah..what he said.”

Eyvind Redbeard · May 31, 2007, 08:33 AM

Eyvind was surprised, I hadn't noticed the giant coming from the other side of the walkway when he was glancing at the lass. Looking up he could see the giant's grinning face with a huge scar. "What did he say? Oh he was apologizing...Veleraen...right...Knights of the Black Rose? Aren't those the the Knights who protect the Regent? Yes yes!" Eyvind thought.

Aegis comment on the giant when he came out of the shop was precisely what Eyvind wanted to say, then he remembered the giant whose name was Veleraen asked him his name.

"Serale, my name is Eyvind Redbeard and I am a Legionnaire of the Jade Legion, Sir! I was showing my companion a place where he could buy some weapons, Sir! While looking for a weapon for myself, a Halberd, though shorter than yours, Sir!"

Eyvind's posture was that of a soldier who knew he was in front of someone of higher rank, after all the Order of the Black Rose was known to be constitued as the Elite fighting force who defended the Regent.

After saying all this Eyvind noticed the presence of a young boy, he could only spare him a glance now because he had to show his pride in the Legion. "Did he wistle?" Eyvind thought.