[Ranger's Hall] A meeting of (quite different) minds. *training/self-mod

[Apakai]

20th Brightening of Melora, Spring in Era XIV Post Fractum

Apakai was visibly shaken from his journey to the well-fortified shelter. He couldn’t help but look over his shoulder every few feet while traveling the forest of Natura. He knew that the orcs were out there. And he knew that they were coming for him, eventually. At times he walked, mostly he ran, however, until he reached the Ranger’s Hall.

He wasn’t in the building very long before a young elven woman came to greet him, her cloak billowing in the wind from the open door. He was fascinated to see that it’s colors blended with whatever she was standing in front of. She walked up to the human and spoke to him in the language that he didn’t understand.

“Owaten,” he said. He hoped that the elven woman didn’t give him too much trouble. He didn’t want to be put out of the building to have to walk all of the way back to town.

She spoke again. Apakai quickly answered, “Owaten.” He smiled this time, hoping that it would show he meant no harm. Anything would help at this point. “Owaten,” he repeated.

After a few minutes, (and a few unfriendly-sounding words,) the elven woman walked off down the corridor. Apakai waited impatiently, pondering his situation. He wasn’t sure if he was going to make it in this world. It was so different from his own. Being a slave, oddly enough, was easy for him. He had been one his entire life. Ever since he was born he had been beat up and told to do this and told to do that. But trying to be a proper citizen? That wasn’t so easy. It was uknown territory for him. Though, not being able to communicate with anyone other than a few people didn’t help to make anything easier.

He was lost in thought when another elven woman rounded the corner. She had strawberry blond hair, and had the look of an eternity in her eyes. She wore the same color-changing cloak the other woman donned. He realized that this woman was the one he was looking for.

“Owaten?” he said. He hit his fist to his chest and greeted her. “Apakai,” he said.

To his surprise, she spoke the Vysticchi language. It was one of the languages that he spoke. “Ah, yes, Apakai. The former slave who killed his Orc master and came to be a free man. It is nice to finally meet you,” she said with a smile.

Her greeting shocked Apakai. She obviously knew more about him than he had expected. However, she was a ranger, and the leader of the rangers, as he understood it. He decided not to press the issue.

“Apakai sorry if not welcome. Apakai no understand all things. Very sorry. Need help.”

Owaten shooed away the younger elven girl as she stepped closer to the human. Her face took a serious note as her eyes narrowed. “What kind of trouble, Apakai?”

“Apakai no talk,” he answered. “Natura people talk to Apakai, but Apakai no talk back. Not know words of other people. Apakai too dumb.” To his surprise, Owaten smiled. She let out a slight giggle, (something she didn’t seem accustomed to.)

“And there I was, all along, thinking that you were about to tell me of how orcs were about to invade our peaceful town in hopes of reclaiming there former possessions.” Apakai did believe this, but decided not to say anything about this at the moment. “So you can’t speak common tongue. That is problematic, I understand. However, I do not see how that involves me. I am up to my elbows in trainees as it is. I don’t believe I can spare enough time to teach someone how to talk.”

Apakai interrupted her. “Only Owaten! Only Owaten understand Apakai. Must teach! Apakai no protect Natura if Apakai no talk!”

She pondered this for a moment. Finally, she said, “I don’t know. You say you wish to protect Natura? Is this what you truly wish?” Apakai excitedly shook his head in agreement.

“Very well. If you truly wish to help our town, and can hardly deny such a request. We will begin tomorrow.”

[Apakai]

21st Brightening of Melora, Spring in Era XIV Post Fractum

The Brightening was a beautiful one. Apakai couldn’t help but feel excited about learning how to speak common tongue. And the fact the Owaten was helping him cheered him up more. It didn’t matter that when teaching she wasn’t quite as nice as she was when they met yesterday. This was a wonderful thing she was doing for him. Yes, this was going to be a great new life.

“Your not paying attention, Apakai,” he heard in Vysticchi. He quickly snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the elven woman. “If I am going to take time out of my busy schedule to teach you to talk, than the least you could do is pay attention. There are many other would-be rangers that I could be….”

Apakai interrupted, “Apakai sorry. Apakai listen. Please teach, Owaten.”

She huffed before continuing. “As I was saying, the first thing you have to learn is not the words. The words will come later. There is a correct form when speaking in, well, any language other than orc. You have to break through the language barrier. This is an example:

“When referring to yourself, you don’t say your name. In fact, that is considered either quite rude, or quite egotistical. You say ‘I’. You also don’t need to say my name when we speak. You say the word, ‘you‘.” She pointed her finger at herself and said, “I.” She then pointed at Apakai and said, “you.”

Confused and irritated, Apakai shook his head. “No!” He pointed at himself. “Apakai,” he said. Then he pointed at Owaten. “I?”

“No, No. Owaten,” she corrected pointing at herself. “Owaten. I Owaten. You Apakai.”

The human looked confused. He responded, “You Apakai confused. You Apakai not… sound good. You Apakai sorry, I Owaten probably mad.”

Owaten's head began to throb.

[Apakai]

23rd Brightening of Melora, Spring in Era XIV Post Fratctum

The last few brightening had been hard on both student and teacher. Apakai was surely getting a grasp of the proper form of speaking in common tongue, but to Owaten’s dismay, they hadn’t actually begun learning the language yet, as they were both still speaking Vysticchi. She couldn’t get too frustrated at the fact they were speaking the wrong language, as she understood from talking to the ex-slave how different orcish tongue and common tongue really were. There were a lot of things he had to change, and he was picking them up.

Contractions and how to properly use them were difficult for Apakai to understand. He often confused “can’t” with “won’t”, or would try to create new ones; she nearly fainted the first time he said will’nt. But then again, he was just learning, and she was actually surprised at how open-minded he was to such a new way of talking.

However, it was when Apakai said, “I am ready… to learn… a … new language,” that Owaten decided that they were ready to begin with actual common tongue.

[Apakai]

26th brightening of Melora, Spring in Era XIV Post Fractum

The last few brightening seemed to fly by for Apakai. He was with Owaten most of the time. Even when he was eating, the elven woman was pointing at things on his plate, telling him the correct word for things. She was surprised to find that he never got tired of her constant tutoring. He seemed to get more excited at the prospect of talking like everyone else every brightening. He would come to her early every morning, and they wouldn’t stop for the night until several candle marks into the night.

Owaten had also brought a few books from the Naturan Library to aid in Apakai’s reading and writing. Just like talking, he had a hard time allowing his mind to accept a new type of communication. It had taken him much practice to understand that letters were different sounds, reading went from left to right across the page, and that the breaks in-between letters meant a new word. However, once he learned these, his learning of reading and writing sped up dramatically.

It was midday that found teacher and student under an ancient tree outside of Ranger’s Hall, sitting on the soft grass. Apakai’s face was stuck in a book, Owaten guiding him through the reading process. She had chosen it from the library for it’s simplicity with words. It was a children’s book, and she new that Apakai would find interest in the story.

“The… boy… ha- had… no…,” he looked at Owaten confused. “Owaten help?”

She gave him in irritated look that needed no explanation. He quickly corrected himself in common. “Can you help me, Owaten?”

“The word is ’parents,’ Apakai.”

“The boy… had no… parents, but t… t… tha… that did… not… stoop?… no stop!.. That did not stop him from… ma… may… ma-king… new… friends.” He looked up from the book. “What is this word mean, ‘friends?’”

“What ‘does’ this word mean, and it means people who you are close to. It means people you like and that like you in return, and that don’t get mad at you for what you are.”

Apakai smiled warmly at Owaten. “Apakai not…. I not have friends before Natura. Orc.. The orcs get mad at me because I’m slave, so they’re not f…friends. But people here not care that I slave, so they are friends, right?”

She smiled. “Correct. Now, back to reading.”

[Apakai]

29th Brightening of Melora, Spring in Era XIV Post Fractum

Apakai was beginning to feel comfortable with the language, though he was still making mistakes, confusing words and saying things incorrectly. However, she was happy to find that he was no longer using Vysticchi, one of the languages he had known when they met, as a ‘safety net’ in their communication. Though sometimes he would struggle with pronunciation and the proper usage of words, he was only speaking in common tongue now.

He was even reading much tougher books now, though he often didn’t understand what everything meant. Owaten said it was good practice in proper form, and that understanding larger words would come with practice through reading.

This brightening they were inside of Ranger’s Hall, sitting in front of a window looking outside. He read from a history book.

The conflicts between the Ancient Aelyrians were unlike any that the other races on the mainland of the continent had ever experienced. For centuries, the winged ones had developed increasingly sharp and focused mental disciplines that enabled them to transform pure will into magical energies. These powers were unlike the simple parlour tricks of mediocre spellcrafters and the isle was soon awash with interdimensional fissures and monsters that - while easily handled by the Aelyrians - would overwhelm any mortal easily. It was at this time that the Cyraxians came.

As he read it his speech was broken and ragged. He fought through many of the larger words, just to mispronounce them in the end anyways. He looked up at Owaten. “When do I get to... learn... what all of these mean?”

“Just know that the Ancients were extremely powerful and magical beings. As I told you before Apakai,” she responded, much more patient with the human than she was when they began their studies, “I am not a scientist, nor am I a historian. You will have to learn such things from someone else. I am hear to teach you to talk, and in this I have been quite successful, but our time is coming to an end.”

Apakai felt a bit saddened at this, but decided to get back to his studies. He looked once again at the book in his hands, and continued reading.

[Apakai]

31st Brightening of Melora, Spring in Era XIV Post Fractum

Owaten decided this brightening that the human was ready for practice in the ‘field.’ He now had a strong grasp of the language, he just needed to be properly tested. True, he didn’t sound highly educated or well-read, but at least now he could hold a proper conversation. And that is exactly what he was going to do in the town of Natura. Several of them, in fact.

The first Naturan that the couple engaged looked at them bewildered. They did look quite odd, surely, the rangermistress of Natura with the ex-slave. She with her regal elven attributes and magnificent flowing cape; he in his rags and unkempt beard. It left Apakai feeling quite self-conscious, but he understood this to be a vital step in his mastering of the common tongue.

“Serale,” he said the woman, visibly intimidated and vulnerable. “How are you this brightening?” That was the easy part. Owaten had told him that it was a common greeting, and was almost useable in all situations.

She looked a little frightened, but she responded nonetheless, “I.. am good. How are you?” She looked at Apakai strangely, trying to understand what this was all about. Owaten saw the woman’s suspicion, and decided to ease her mind.

“My friend, Apakai here, is just learning how to speak our splendid language. I thought we would walk amongst the town and practice with random passers-by. I hope we aren’t taking too much of your time,” she said to the woman.

“Well isn’t that nice!” the woman exclaimed, smiling at Owaten. “Being taught by the Rangermistress herself! Aren’t you the lucky lad!” Her enthusiasm scared Apakai, still uncertain with himself in the current situation.

“Yes, Apakai luck.” He closed his eyes, realizing his mistake. In his nervousness he had had a slip of the tongue. He corrected himself. “Yes… I am very lucky.”

“Indeed,” he added, not sure what to say next.

Then, to both his and Owaten’s surprise, the words started flowing out of him. “Owaten is a… wonder - full teacher. She has taught me good.”

Owaten nudged him. “She has taught me well,” he said. “I hope that I can soon talk with more people. This is a wonder - full language, and the people of Natura are my friends.” It wasn’t perfect, thought Owaten, but it was a good first try. The woman and Apakai spoke for several moments before she turned away and continued on her way.

Apakai turned to the elven woman with a questioning look. “Very good,” she said, as the human relaxed. He smiled, happy with the victory. “However, you still need work. Your improvisation was better than I had hoped, however, though proper execution is still lacking. All in all, though, very good job Apakai.” She returned his smile.

“Would you like to stop for the day? Or would…” she said before he interrupted her.

“No thank you. I would like keep… to keep talking to people. I am having very much fun. Thank you .” He didn’t allow her to respond before running frighteningly up to the next person he saw.

[Apakai]

33rd Brightening of Melora, Spring in Era XIV Post Fractum

It was time for Apakai to rejoin the town for good, Owaten decided. They had spent the last few brightening walking through Natura, stopping every person they saw for mindless chatter, and it had proven to be an excellent exercise. It had certainly finished up his training, as the elven woman was having a hard time correcting Apakai’s almost perfect speech.

The man’s manner, and the way he held himself, had changed drastically too. While he was completely confident with his verbal skills, and had even been writing his thoughts down on paper as to practice his writing, he stood straighter and seemed proud of his accomplishment. He seemed like a new man. Now, if it wasn’t for his rags and the fact he needed to shave…

“I am sorry to see you go, Apakai. I must admit, you were a handful when you showed up here, but you are quite a changed man.”

“Thank you for everything you have done,” he said smiling. “You have made my life easier. I can be a proper citizen now.” He paused for a moment looking at Owaten. “I am happy that it was you who taught me. I think you understand me better than most people.”

“Well yes, it was helpful that I could speak Vysticchi.”

“No, not understand what I was saying. You understood me. Thank you for being a good friend, Owaten.”

She smiled at him, proud of the man who had freed himself from slavery and was ready to start living in a civilized society. She said, “You are a good friend too, Apakai. And luck be with you, for knowing how to talk is the first step in a lifetime of learning. You must be up for the challenge, if you are to survive in this world in which you are still a babe.”

“And don’t forget your promise, my friend,” she said, looking at her student.

“I won’t. I will protect Natura.” He turned and began walking home.

[Apakai]

ooc: sorry if this isn't long enough. I couldn't find anything in the Compendium about learning languages, so I kinda had to wing it, and I quickly found myself running out of ideas. If it's not enough let me know

[Kalinda]

~ Approved! ~

You can speak Common now!