Throughout all of these ordeals--the stern woman diverting into a building with her companion, Edda harassing the red man, and the pair of them being lead into an area that would serve as their lodgings--the Xaela did nothing but follow his guide in complete silence and stare guilelessly at everyone and everything, soaking the information like a sponge. He did not intend to stare, but in his language the word "subtlety" was spelled with six different numbers and a loud scream, and when combined with a general lack of control over his facial expressions, the Au Ra's method of retaining visual data was expressed in hard, steely glares. Random passersby--and there were a few of those, even as night began to fall upon the camp--were subjected to intense gazes that seemed to question why rocks were solid and why doors swung on hinges, along with a few more practical lines of inquisition.
With a particular interest, Kasrjin noted the presence of another one of those azure spires of crystal, also framed in brass and rotating gently upon an invisible axis standing at a central location. Its presence eliminated the possibility of it being merely an interesting bauble. From what information he'd received before, this was the territory of a different sovereign state that possessed an identical structure. That meant one of two things; it was either some kind of symbol, or it served a practical function that called for its presence within settlements. He made a mental note to ask as to its purpose at a later time--though he doubted that anyone would be able to elaborate on its connection with the Correspondence, at the least knowing its utility would narrow down many possibilities.
Decorating the parapets were more of those odd structures of black steel with wicked spikes emerging at a point. If the Xaela had to guess, those were projectile weapons used against dragons. Kasrjin snorted to himself. The size of the devices implied penetration strength and long range, and yet if the long spike in the centre comprised of one shot, then reloading must have been terribly slow and impractical. One would have to be an exceptionally skilled shot in order for the weapon to be efficient against aerial opponents. Smaller projectiles designed to fire in volleys would work better. The goal wouldn't be to kill dragons, but to force aerial opponents to a lower flight ceiling such that more effective weaponry could be deployed against them.
Kasrjin also noted the weaponry that the settlement's warriors possessed. They were modest, simple fare at times, being well-crafted spears and halberds. What was truly impressive to the Xaela was the amount of metal this land seemed to possess, judging by how many small swords were present. Swords were very versatile weapons, but extremely wasteful; spears and axes performed similar functions with less material and simpler techniques that retained effectiveness in a variety of situations. A hand unconsciously reached up to tap the handle of the blade briefly with one finger before recalling the imperative about keeping his sword sheathed. The Erdegai, and even Kasrjin himself, had protested against using so much material on a single weapon when the same amount of metal could have become a score or more spearheads, but now in this land of foreign folk and foreign foes, Kasrjin was grateful to be equipped with the adaptability of the weapon.
In any case, if so many of these warriors were equipped with melee weapons, then the dragons either landed often out of necessity, or there were other foes among the dragons that were restricted to land. Either that, or they had used so much metal in crafting armor and swords that they lacked the materiel to supply ammunition. Else, it would have been far more ideal to equip them with weapons like the firelances of the black ones.
The soldier in Kasrjin's head was still figuratively marching along when the Xaela came to with Edda thrusting a metal bauble towards him.
“You will stay in here. There will be water for a bath and food brought up to you. If you must leave for any reason, I will be in the room next door. Do not wander alone – it would be unsafe.â€
With that definitive statement, the female invaded the premises of her own lodgings and shut the door with an unceremonious clunk. Thus, the Xaela was left alone in the hallway with naught but the small metal item he'd been left with. He turned to face the door to which he'd been assigned, eyeing it curiously. A receptacle in the door took an item, presumably the bauble. He spent several minutes silently struggling with how the two were supposed to fit together when, after managing to jam the trinket in the receptacle, the door swung open when Kasrjin attempted to pry the small item from the keyhole's grasp.
He stared rather dumbfounded at that occurrence. That metal trinket was an extremely impractical way to open a door.
By the time the tall Au Ra stepped inside, three of the settlement's inhabitants arrived upstairs. Two were hefting an impressive wooden vessel in tandem, and the third stepped two and fro from the stairs to deliver large metal jugs. This was presumably for the bath. This was, presumably, a common occurrence for the western continent. The concept wasn't foreign, but the Khadai very rarely had time or occasion to spend at the heated pools. It was one of the last things that Kasrjin had done before departing for the western continent, and it seemed like years ago since he had last enjoyed the sensation.
The settlement's labourers were simply dressed. One knocked on Edda's door and paused until the door swung open and the wooden vessel was ushered in. After they had emerged, they carried a second wooden vessel into Kasrjin's lodgings. The third labourer deposited several of the sizeable metal jugs into both of the rooms. The Xaela poked one, which was warm to the touch and allegedly filled with hot water.
He frowned. Kasrjin wasn't sure he trusted peoples who had such ready access to bathing.
When the labourers departed, the Au Ra gingerly stepped into the room before closing the door behind him; his hesitation was not for the room itself, but rather he was still unsure of the proper social conventions. Was this to be considered a private space? He was the only one present, but it was dangerous to make assumptions. Should he ask Edda? But what if that, too, was the improper reaction? Was it possible she would take offence to the inquiry?
The room was spinning by the time the myriad questions left his head.
Conventions be damned.
The room seemed warm enough, and even the blunt Xaela had to admit that given the matted blood that had been collected on the furs in the past few day, his garments required maintenance. He peeled off the leathers and undid the simple straps and buckles and pulled off the rough length of twin that had held his jet black hair in a ponytail. The sword was left on the cot that lay in the corner, the point against the wall but the handle within easy reach should he require it. Though the tunic was quite comfortable, having stripped down Kasrjin felt remarkably light. He flexed his arms and legs, his body clean of any scars or unusual features save for the obsidian scales that marked various parts of it, and shook the mane of hair. To be honest, he'd have much preferred cutting it short, but for reasons that escaped him Tsanai had insisted that maintaining a longer hair length served some nebulous manner of practicality despite it giving an opponent an easy handhold in a grapple, and so the Xaela had kept it.
Kasrjin eyed the metal jugs that were left by the door. He would empty their contents later. Now freed of his garments, he took the time to stretch and make sure all of his muscles were in proper working order.
It would be foolish to let his guard down, but that did not mean he could not relax.
With a particular interest, Kasrjin noted the presence of another one of those azure spires of crystal, also framed in brass and rotating gently upon an invisible axis standing at a central location. Its presence eliminated the possibility of it being merely an interesting bauble. From what information he'd received before, this was the territory of a different sovereign state that possessed an identical structure. That meant one of two things; it was either some kind of symbol, or it served a practical function that called for its presence within settlements. He made a mental note to ask as to its purpose at a later time--though he doubted that anyone would be able to elaborate on its connection with the Correspondence, at the least knowing its utility would narrow down many possibilities.
Decorating the parapets were more of those odd structures of black steel with wicked spikes emerging at a point. If the Xaela had to guess, those were projectile weapons used against dragons. Kasrjin snorted to himself. The size of the devices implied penetration strength and long range, and yet if the long spike in the centre comprised of one shot, then reloading must have been terribly slow and impractical. One would have to be an exceptionally skilled shot in order for the weapon to be efficient against aerial opponents. Smaller projectiles designed to fire in volleys would work better. The goal wouldn't be to kill dragons, but to force aerial opponents to a lower flight ceiling such that more effective weaponry could be deployed against them.
Kasrjin also noted the weaponry that the settlement's warriors possessed. They were modest, simple fare at times, being well-crafted spears and halberds. What was truly impressive to the Xaela was the amount of metal this land seemed to possess, judging by how many small swords were present. Swords were very versatile weapons, but extremely wasteful; spears and axes performed similar functions with less material and simpler techniques that retained effectiveness in a variety of situations. A hand unconsciously reached up to tap the handle of the blade briefly with one finger before recalling the imperative about keeping his sword sheathed. The Erdegai, and even Kasrjin himself, had protested against using so much material on a single weapon when the same amount of metal could have become a score or more spearheads, but now in this land of foreign folk and foreign foes, Kasrjin was grateful to be equipped with the adaptability of the weapon.
In any case, if so many of these warriors were equipped with melee weapons, then the dragons either landed often out of necessity, or there were other foes among the dragons that were restricted to land. Either that, or they had used so much metal in crafting armor and swords that they lacked the materiel to supply ammunition. Else, it would have been far more ideal to equip them with weapons like the firelances of the black ones.
The soldier in Kasrjin's head was still figuratively marching along when the Xaela came to with Edda thrusting a metal bauble towards him.
“You will stay in here. There will be water for a bath and food brought up to you. If you must leave for any reason, I will be in the room next door. Do not wander alone – it would be unsafe.â€
With that definitive statement, the female invaded the premises of her own lodgings and shut the door with an unceremonious clunk. Thus, the Xaela was left alone in the hallway with naught but the small metal item he'd been left with. He turned to face the door to which he'd been assigned, eyeing it curiously. A receptacle in the door took an item, presumably the bauble. He spent several minutes silently struggling with how the two were supposed to fit together when, after managing to jam the trinket in the receptacle, the door swung open when Kasrjin attempted to pry the small item from the keyhole's grasp.
He stared rather dumbfounded at that occurrence. That metal trinket was an extremely impractical way to open a door.
By the time the tall Au Ra stepped inside, three of the settlement's inhabitants arrived upstairs. Two were hefting an impressive wooden vessel in tandem, and the third stepped two and fro from the stairs to deliver large metal jugs. This was presumably for the bath. This was, presumably, a common occurrence for the western continent. The concept wasn't foreign, but the Khadai very rarely had time or occasion to spend at the heated pools. It was one of the last things that Kasrjin had done before departing for the western continent, and it seemed like years ago since he had last enjoyed the sensation.
The settlement's labourers were simply dressed. One knocked on Edda's door and paused until the door swung open and the wooden vessel was ushered in. After they had emerged, they carried a second wooden vessel into Kasrjin's lodgings. The third labourer deposited several of the sizeable metal jugs into both of the rooms. The Xaela poked one, which was warm to the touch and allegedly filled with hot water.
He frowned. Kasrjin wasn't sure he trusted peoples who had such ready access to bathing.
When the labourers departed, the Au Ra gingerly stepped into the room before closing the door behind him; his hesitation was not for the room itself, but rather he was still unsure of the proper social conventions. Was this to be considered a private space? He was the only one present, but it was dangerous to make assumptions. Should he ask Edda? But what if that, too, was the improper reaction? Was it possible she would take offence to the inquiry?
The room was spinning by the time the myriad questions left his head.
Conventions be damned.
The room seemed warm enough, and even the blunt Xaela had to admit that given the matted blood that had been collected on the furs in the past few day, his garments required maintenance. He peeled off the leathers and undid the simple straps and buckles and pulled off the rough length of twin that had held his jet black hair in a ponytail. The sword was left on the cot that lay in the corner, the point against the wall but the handle within easy reach should he require it. Though the tunic was quite comfortable, having stripped down Kasrjin felt remarkably light. He flexed his arms and legs, his body clean of any scars or unusual features save for the obsidian scales that marked various parts of it, and shook the mane of hair. To be honest, he'd have much preferred cutting it short, but for reasons that escaped him Tsanai had insisted that maintaining a longer hair length served some nebulous manner of practicality despite it giving an opponent an easy handhold in a grapple, and so the Xaela had kept it.
Kasrjin eyed the metal jugs that were left by the door. He would empty their contents later. Now freed of his garments, he took the time to stretch and make sure all of his muscles were in proper working order.
It would be foolish to let his guard down, but that did not mean he could not relax.
