Another New Player (please join meee) lol

[Salak]

Late brightening, Aslanica, the first cycle of Junctior (Autumn) in the 14th Era

Salak stumbled out onto the street as the man pushed him from behind. He staggered out of the door and fell to the ground.
"Get out'a'here, and don't come back kid!"
a rough human voice yelled.
Salak rubbed his head and returned fire,
"You human idiot! I'm probably as old as you!"
he young elf shouted back. Climbing back to his feet, he smiled, that was one bar he wasn't alowed into. He pulled on the hanging part of the belt across his chest, tightening the sword on his back. He sighed, he was hoping for a mean a drink of some ale and a bed for the night, but aparently it was not to be.

He had only been in Portshire for a few hours and although he hadn't been to many places, but he had found it hard to aquire some accomodation. Or even a decent dinner! He rummaged in his pockets and found 6 gold crowns, the rest was in the bank. He sighed wondering where he'd get something to eat. Setting off down the road, he figured that he'd find something to munch on eventually. He exited the street and randomly chose left, heading down the road. After a few minutes he came across a small stall and bought an apple to crunch away on while he walked.

He had come to the city in search of adventure but so far hadn't found anything of remotely any interest, but he was sure a bit of action would catch up with him soon.

[Charlie Wallace]

Uncountable ships waited in the water for their turn to berth. Seedy buildings and convergent alleys wound there way through the dirt street.

During brightening, the open market was awash with customers. Peddlers and traders with filled carts created aisles among the heavy planks of the wharf. The carts were haphazardly placed creating blocked entrances and dead ends. Ornamental rugs hung from wooden posts. Rockers and divans were perched in corners. Children seemed to be underfoot constantly.

There appeared to be a booth for every taste. Food, fish, fruit, and ships tools were all intermingled. Odors from the varied wares blended with the sea air. It was pungent and unpleasant. Salak ate an apple from the fruit vendor.

Ahead a horse clopped in the dirt. The elven woman riding the horse was beautiful. Long golden hair blew into her face fanned by the sea wind. Her green eyes were downcast and she let the horse lead her through the street. She was deep in thought. Salak was sure she had not seen him, yet he was very close to her.

[Salak]

Taking another bite of his apple, Salak glanced around himself. Breathing in the late afternoon air, he took in the sights, the lapping water against the docks, the boats swaying gently to and fro in the water of the port, the elven woman. Wait... Salak's head whipped back, the light and hence his vision, was fading, but there was no mistaking it, that was an elven woman, the long slender figure, the ears, the bone structure. Her bright green eyes stared down at the pavement below, and she led a strong horse behind her by the reins and seemed to be contemplating something important.

Salak's heart jumped, maybe she knew her way around this strange human town! Maybe she could direct him to a good night's sleep away from the wolves and creatures of the night. He stepped up to her and ducked down to enter her field of vision.
"Greetings, fair elf,"
he began, a smiled gracing his features,
"I must profess, finding one of my kind amongst this city's inhabitants was somewhat of a pleasant surprise."
He stood back up to his normal pose and offered his hand,
"Salak,"
he finished.

He wondered how old she was, what clan of elves, and why she was here. He certainly was thrilled to find such a person in this city, believing that the city was almost entirely humans.

[Charlie Wallace]

Lyra's head jerked up from her reverie. The horse stopped. She was on the docks and her lack of attention could cost her her life. Her hand went immediately to her dagger. She was beautiful with pointed ears protruding slightly from long blond hair. Although the air was cold she did not cover her head with a hat.

Lyra's voice was musical. Her speech sounded with the deep accent of her race. She spoke softly, but Salak could hear her words plainly, "Hail Salak, elf. I am Lyra Starshine." When she raised her hand in greeting, her elven cloak opened slightly revealing a green tunic with gold embroidery.

She said, "There are many of our brethren in Port. You will find them at many turns. Do not fear them all. Do not trust them all, Be wary on the docks."

[Salak]

Salak smiled as he got her attention. It was not every day that one met such a beautiful woman, she was certainly graced in looks, even by elven standards. He noticed her expensive shirt when she greeted him and wondered how she came to be of such wealth, certainly Salak would not be able to afford something of that calibre, but to ask was not polite so he left that comment unsaid. She continued on her mesmerising voice, telling him that there were many of his race in Portshire, he smiled, it was nice to know that even though he had left his village there were still those of his kind around and about. Lastly she warned of the danger on the docks.

"It is most pleasant to make your aquaintance Lyra Starshine."
he smiled,
"And you're most welcome to lower that if you so desire..."
he indicated to her dagger, a smiled still gracing his features.

[Charlie Wallace]

Lyra let her hand slip from the dagger hilt. She said, "Prudence when meeting strangers, whether elven or otherwise, will keep you alive."

Lyra's horse was at full stop now. The dirt streets were filled with many tracks, and Salak and Lyra were not the only people in the area. Lyra said, "So what is it you seek Salak? I have lived in Portshire many years and know much about it."

Lyra's head dropped some. She said, "Although I do not know how long my time is here to remain."

[Salak]

Lyra seemed to Salak to be over way of everything, he wondered how she was ever able to have fun! Never the less she let go of her blade, (much to the elven boy's relief), and asked him what he sought. The boy stroked his chin for a second before saying,
"In the present all I desire is a good mea-"
he was cut off by her saying something of not being around much longer. Salak's face switched from cheeky to worried in an instant,
"What troubles you Lyra Starshine? And what might a simple elf such as myself to in aid?"
he asked.

[Charlie Wallace]

Lyra's eyes were sullen. She said, "There is nothing can be done now. Even revenge won't bring Nicholi back, so thoughts of retribution bring no joy to my heart. I am as good as dead without him."

Lyra pointed to a two story building jutting up from the smaller cluster of shacks. "You can eat at the Boarhouse. Meals are a crown. Do you need coin?" Lyra reached into her pouch and withdrew five golden crowns. She held out her hand offering the money.

[Salak]

"Your generosity is most appreciated fair elf."
he said with a grin,
"But my funds shall see me through as they are, and anyway, I would dare not take from one in grief."
he added on a more sombre note.
"Perhaps you would care to join me at my dinning and we may discuss your problems... It may help you know..."
he said with a note of genuine concern in his voice.

[Charlie Wallace]

Lyra shook her head. Her blond hair rustled and exposeds her ears. She said, "No. I cannot eat. Perhaps you might do something for me, that a stranger could do. I am too well-known in Port to move undetected."

Lyra swung her slender, shapely leg off the brown chestnut. She pulled the reins and walked with Salak. She said, "We will go to Old City, where we can talk in private. We will not be alone though for I will be in the company of Latifa Farrah. There might be cakes, but the only thing I can offer for sure is tea. Do you think you can stomach it?"

[Salak]

"The tea, most likely not, but I will survive without food for time yet."
he grinned.
"Plus I am cursious as to the nature of this..."
he concluded. He wondered what she wanted him to do for her, obviously it would involve being somewhat... discreet, he smiled, he had been here for one afternoon, and had already found adventure, this city was great! It was turning out to be everything he had wanted from the human lands and more.
"I shall follow you"
he added with a nod of his head.

[Charlie Wallace]

Lyra was thin and stately. She carried herself like an evlen queen. Her lithe body was firm and toned. She gathered stares from the dockworkers they passed. She did not turn her head and continued straight through the Division Wall Gate. The Sapphire Guard posted there did not ask for visas.

Salak followed Lyra and entered the flower shop. Smells invaded his nostrils. Color blazed in the candlelight. Flowers of all shapes and sizes were arranged in precise ornamental bouquets. Tall crystal vases of long-stemmed carnations adorned the wooden shelves. Bowls of lilies littered the floral counter where the small elf manipulated ferns and marigolds into a work of art.

Latifa Farrah smiled and rushed to embrace Lyra. She said, "You've been gone so long and I was worried. Tifa raised her eyes to meet Salaks. "Serale," She said, "I am Latifa and you?" Tifa wore a violet-petaled flowers in her hair.

[Salak]

Salak followed Lyra through the streets and smiled as she gain a few stares from the dock workers, it was part of being an elf. Naturally you seemed to attract attention from the less fair races. They wound through the streets for a little longer before coming to a flower shop. As Lyrea went in salak paused and looked at the sign, Blooming Beauty, he snorted, not if it was created by a human. He stepped in the door and the young elf was greeted by numerous earthen smells, the flowers all around reminded him of his old home which was both nice to be reminded of, and made him tense at the same time.

They were greeted by another woman who hugged Lyra and expressed her worry for the wealthy woman. Then the shop owner turned to Salak and eyed him up, he felt nervous, as though he were being judged. She greeted him and announced that her name was Latifa, then asked for his.
"Serale to you in return."
he said and bowed his head just a fraction,
"I go by Salak."
he added with one of his smiles, then turned to Lyra,
"So, are we here to create floral arrangements, or is there a more pressing task at hand?"
he asked good naturedly.

[Charlie Wallace]

Latifa turned sharply and stared at Salak for his comment. Lyra didn't seem to notice. Her thoughts were deep inside and she was concentrating. Lyra walked behind a curtain that led to the back room. Latifa followed.

Lyra was seated at the table staring at her empty cup. Latifa took boiling water and added it to the tea leaves. Lyra said, "I can't believe he's really dead. Did you know his throat was cut?"

Latifa put her hand on Lyra's shoulder and gently patted. She said, "I heard rumors but no details. Do you want to share this with a stranger?" Latifa looked directly at Salak. She had not yet poured him tea.

Lyra said, "He is an elf. In order to finish this, I will need assistance. I'm hoping our meeting was destined." Tears welled up in Latifa's eyes. She was only half-elf and not as capable of controlling her emotions as Lyra was.

[Salak]

Salak followed them into the back room and stood in the doorway as they first talked, he got the feeling that Latifa didn't like him for some reason, he thought that maybe she took offence to his comment, and thought it meant that he didn't think of flower arranging as a worthy use of time, or he cosidered it could have been entirely something else.

From the doorway he heard lyra say that someone was dead, and that their throat had been slit, he felt his heart go heavy, the death of an elf in such a way was sad, sad because in their homeland it never would happen, murders were very rare in the elvenlands, or at least they were in salak's village. This elf probably wouldn't have died if they hadn't come to the human's cities. He sighed, what a shame.

His concerns about Latifa were confirmed when she didn't offer him tea, not that he minded, but that it was customary to do so, and she obviously didn't particularly want to. But Lyra told her that she believed he was important to her sorting out what was going on with whatever was going on. Salak moved up to Latifa and smiled softly,
"Thank you, but I never was a big fan of tea, dead tree and all that."
he said.
"I am very sorry to hear of you loss, both of you, and would do whatever is within my power to help you be at peace."
he continued getting down on one knee and facing them.