In Which Our Heroine Discovers She May Have Overpaid [Open]

[Srennia Te'yessi]

Brightening 15 of Cryxatum
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

Srennia’s house was slightly smaller than she had anticipated, and also slightly more downtrodden. One could not in all conscience call it a hovel, though with another era or so of disrepair such a term could be easily applied. One also could not call it unliveable, or even intolerable. Really, the only correct term was In Great Need of Repair. It was still upright, and close inspection proved that most of the tiles on the roof were intact, and the plumbing worked and there didn’t seem to be any sort of rat infestation, though mold did seem to be encroaching with alarming speed. It was simply a little shabby, and the door hung wearily on its hinges as if the metal were too exhausted to hold it up, meaning that Srennia had to use all of her force to open it and nearly gave up and headed for a window.

There were furnishings, which was fortunate, as Srennia had little money to spare on such things, and while they creaked ominously when sat upon and the kitchen table wobbled if so much as breathed upon, they seemed to be in good enough shape to avoid purchasing replacements. The bed had a few loose springs and sagged like a giant pit of quicksand in the middle, but she was fair certain she wouldn’t fall through in the middle of the night, so that was alright.

The paint on the outside had long ago been eaten away by insects, who in turn had come into the house in droves to die of lead poisoning. The walls and window sills were lined with insects of all varieties and sizes, with the largest being the cockroach who had chosen to die in the big metal tub she presumed she was supposed to bathe in. Fortunately, there did not seem to be any living relatives of the cockroach present in her home, so Srennia set about sweeping the insect corpses out of her house with the coarse broom she found in the closet. It left little bits of straw strew about its path, which she was forced to pick up afterwards.

There was a pump out back and a bucket, which she used to cart ice cold water in and out of her house, using the tiny bar of soap, scrub brush, and practice born of years of chore to scour every last speck of dust and grime from the old wood panels of her floor and wall.

Finally, her fingers cramped with effort and cold, her house not gleaming but at least visible and free of dirt, and the suns beginning to set, Srennia declared the houses’ status to be In Moderate Need of Repair and retired to the squeaky rocking chair she’d found in the front of her house and watched the people go by.

OOC: Anyone who wishes to join this thread is more than welcome to.

[Thoth]

Many people passed during the time she watched them. It was after about half a candlemark that a elderly man walked by occasionally having to stop to rest in his travels. One such time was as he walked passed. He was simple dressed showing neither wealth or poverty. His hand held a staff as he walked.

[Srennia Te'yessi]

There were a lot of passerbys at this time of night, but Srennia supposed that the evening was quite pleasant. She’d always found watching people to be a relaxing pastime, despite how her family frowned on it. Strange, they’d called it. She didn’t understand why – people were fascinating, especially in a city as diverse as this.

Strange, then, that in a place as diverse as this the one person who truly stuck out was an old man. He came by when it was falling more towards darkening than brightening, his frail body assisted by a staff rather than a cane. His dressing did not display the tattered or well-worn look of her less well-off neighbors, nor was it approaching the finery she’d seen the merchants wearing earlier in the brightening. It was simple, unassuming, and therefore radically different.

Her interest piqued, Srennia sought a way to gain his attention without appearing a fool. She could – no that was stupid, and far too desperate. If she approached him, she risked looking like a common thug – for what other reason could he expect her to have? So she leaned back in her creaky rocking chair, lifted a hand and said in a voice that was little short of a shout and perhaps more forced than she would like, ”Vendui!”

[Thoth]

The elderly man looked up at the woman as she spoke. He blinked at her for a long moment before waveing and repling back ”Vendui! young lady.” He then began to move slowlly towards her. "It is a pleasent day, much better then the previous season."

[Srennia Te'yessi]

"Oh it is pleasant indeed, though I'll admit I prefer the coolness of the Spring," Srennia said. "This will be my first season in Diana, however. I'm from Silrosia," she explained, "where it gets rather humid during the Summer season. Have you been in Diana long?"

[Thoth]

"Oh yes, the city of faith isn't ever boring. The church seems to get into more trouble then anyone else." He gave an old man chuckle.

[Dante Asunder]

Dante was out and about looking to ply any of his money making trades. It was close to darkening and he was paying close interest to the passing inhabitants in case any looked like they were carrying large amounts of money. He tried not to stoop to petty theft, but hey times had been tough. Through his observations he noticed an elven woman starting up a conversation with an elderly gentleman. They wouldn't have attracted that much attention except one Dante found elvish softskins attractive and two they seemed to be standing near a large pile of insect corpses. They didn't however seem to be in an overabundance of wealth so Dante wasn't about to try to rob them. He used the call to check and see if either were Dracons like himself then got back to checking the wandering people.

(OOC: If you don't want anyone else messing with your thread just ignore my post)

[Srennia Te'yessi]

”Gets into trouble?” Srennia asked, pulling her eyebrows together. That certainly did not sound like the Church she had envisioned. Diana seemed to be all about general stability, control and slow, careful change where change was necessary. Not like her God, not like her God at all. ”What sort of trouble could a whole church get into?” she asked, laughing a little.

Her eye was caught by a flash of movement. A strange, intimidating sort of man was standing on the street, staring at them. He seemed to be concentrating fairly hard, as well, and she raised her eyebrows at him. He had a beard and a mustache despite his apparent youth, which made him look like nothing more than a criminal of the child-kidnapping variety. Fortunately, Srennia was not a child, nor inclined to form opinions based entirely on appearance alone. She lifted a hand in a quiet acknowledgement of his presence, and turned her attention back to the more interesting old man.

OOC: Sorry for the long wait!

[Dante Asunder]

Dante was somewhat surprised by the elf's acknowledgement, but he gave her a big smile and waved back. Having been so thoroughly noticed he decided he wouldn't be plying his trade here today. Instead he slowed his breathing and heart rate so that he could listen with more clarity and tried to pick up what the couple were saying while not staring at them.

[Thoth]

The old man shoock his head. "People seemed to get really passionate and fisty about religion." He shook his head. "Its not like after was in question or anything."

[Dante Asunder]

Dante decided to play at neighborhood greeter and walked up to the couple. "Serale to you both. I couldn't help overhear; are you new to our fair city? Welcome to Diana, my lady." he said speaking to first to the couple then to the elven maiden. He wore a large grin and tried to appear as on threatening as possible. He kept his arms casually to his sides and gave the couple a short bow with his greeting. "If you want news or need help finding somewhere just ask."

[Thoth]

"AHH that is the other aspect of the city of Faith. Always helpful and friendly people." He said with a knowing nod of his hea.d

[Srennia Te'yessi]

"Oh, serale!" Srennia said cheerfully, glad that the man had not decided to linger in the shadows in his previous, rather creepy manner. "Yes, I am new here - thank you!" She smiled - people were quite nice here after all. She'd been worried that her race would lead to segregation - as the Silrosian people could be considered somewhat snobbish in their relations with others - but it would seem people here were friendly regardless. "Well, any news at all would be delightful - do you work for the local paper, or are you simply well informed?"

[Dante Asunder]

Dante returned the elf maidens friendly smile, "Well in point of fact I do work for the local paper. On most days I can be seen out and about gathering information and what not. Forgive me I did not introduce msyelf, my name is Dante, Dante Asunder and you are?" He looked first at the elf maiden, by far the more astetically appealing of the pair and then the elderly man, giving a friendly smile to them both.

[Thoth]

The old man grunted. "hum about time. Robtan I am known by my mother, taken to Diana's bosom, rob to all else." He looked over. "Newspaper you say. How long have you done that."