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Edda · **07-19-2015, 01:10 AM**

Perhaps leaving him by himself was not the brightest of ideas. For a man that had killed three people with relative ease, he was not as volatile as she expected. Still, leaving him alone was a risk, but so was bringing him to the Bobbing Cork, potentially. Maybe time alone to enjoy the beauty of Fallgourd would do him some good â€“ he had seemed rather on edge ever since they had come upon the road. So long as he did not wander far, he should be fine. This is not fanatical Ishgard, Edda reminded herself, nor home.
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Her room was on the second floor of the inn on the north side of the building, overlooking the lake and waterfall. Edda made her way up the stairs as quickly as she could. She hissed as her ankle protested its continued use and gripped the railing tightly. Rather than let it go, it would be better to take care of it now. Limping the rest of the way, she continued to her room and sat down on the bed to remove her boots. Her ankle was red and swollen with pain. Edda frowned at it in disapproval. It was not a serious injury, only irritated, but for such a minor sprain to be so painful was an annoyance, if not embarrassing.
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The woman put a hand to her ankle and furrowed her brow in concentration. It was a trial, to do it in this way. Healing from within still felt more natural to her, but there was insistence from many in Gridania that she cease to â€“ for reasons she both understood, and did not. Edda closed her eyes and concentrated. Do it right. A cool sensation spread throughout her ankle, the pain dulling and melting away. Huffing a sigh, she leaned back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling as the spell took effect. That she should be crippled in this manner was disgraceful.
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Once the pain had resided and the swelling had gone down, Edda stood and began to undress. A warm bath usually awaited her when she returned from her walks, but there was no time for such luxury now. Her skin felt thick, covered in grime and sweat. A change of clothes would be little help, and so she imagined the long bath that lay in her future and began to change. She dressed for the cold â€“ an intricate white coat and hood lined with fur, warm tights and long boots made for the snow. The woman looked about the room in thought. She did not have many belongings here, only those sent from home by retainers, and other miscellaneous items she had purchased while in Gridania.
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Edda knelt in front of a large trunk that sat at the end of the bed, and began to dig through it. Most of the items within she had never used, and began to pull out what seemed useful. A small, but heavy tent with a bed roll and blankets. An empty leather wineskin and a pouch of dried meats that had been pushed on her by a merchant in the city. Edda frowned at a rolled up map of the Black Shroud and Coerthas regions, out of date for six cycles now. Closing the trunk, she bustled about the room for a variety of other objects. Warming potions, a rain cloak and a paltry sum of gil.
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She had learn how to pack efficiently at a young age, and the woman managed to fit most of her items in a large knapsack that appeared as if it had never once been outside. Satisfied with her selection, Edda began to lug her equipment out of her room and back down the stairs. The Xaela could be seen at the plaza as she left the inn, and she sighed in relief. He had not wandered far at all.
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â€œAny trouble?â€ Edda asked as she approached, now without a noticeable limp. She scanned the area to find nothing out of the ordinary. It was an eerily quiet day in Fallgourd, but no less peaceful for it. The woman began loading her tent and bag onto her chocoboâ€™s saddle with machine-like practice as she gazed at the man. He seemed quite curious and engaged with the aetheryte. Was this his first time seeing one? It was a bizarre thought to Edda, but one that made her smile in amusement as she tightened the straps on the saddle.
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â€œAre you alright?â€ She did not wait for an answer and instead rephrased the question, still smiling.

***Nero*** · **07-19-2015, 02:10 AM**

While his transient companion made herself busy with her retrieval of items, Kasrjin had occupied himself with examining the town from the vantage point of the settlement's central forum and examining the curious rock that levitated at its hub. The occasional passersby would glance at him curiously, but besides the man from before none had approached him. The settlement itself quickly exhausted the remainder of Kasrjin's interest, which had been invested fully into the floating azure formation.

The more he gazed at the structure, the more it intrigued him. The rock formation was rough cut and housed in brass; the way it levitated and rotated meant it was clearly arcane in nature. The Xaela had placed his forehead against it and closed his eyes briefly, and confirming his suspicions was a certain telltale feeling--albeit a minuscule one--of that paradoxical cross between a low hum against one's skin and suddenly sticking one's hand into boiling water. However, the familiarity of the sensation felt...wrong. It was too refined, and too artificial. While Kasrjin's perceptions of it had at least a passing similarity, everything else about the energy felt foreign. Another cursory inspection of his surroundings failed to reveal any of the peoples wearing pointed hats that may have been able to answer his inquiries, and the Au Ra stepped away from the formation.

Still, what exactly was the purpose of this structure? The brass of the formation and its position in the hub of the town allowed a few theories to form in the Xaela's mind. Perhaps it was merely a symbol of cultural importance, or they utilised its energy in some way that was not obvious from its appearance alone.

In any case, the Tsenkhai's suspicions were at least partially correct. Though its form was twisted and warped beyond almost all recognition, something that bore a vague resemblance to the Correspondence was present upon the western continent. That was one question that had been handily answered. Though the energy's nature he had yet to understand, it was progress.

The Xaela was lost in thought, hands straight down at his sides when the corner of his eye caught the presence of someone approaching him--the female who had brought him into town, this time brandishing a large knapsack upon her shoulders. Her gait had straightened considerably, suggesting that the injury she had suffered was healed, or at least sufficiently cared for such that it did not significantly impact her rate of movement. Many of the larger items she had begun to fasten to the feathered bird creature whose presence Kasrjin had completely failed to keep track of.

"Any trouble?" the female asked. A smile was creasing her face, for some reason.

She received a confused frown from the Au Ra for her efforts.

As if sensing his inability to comprehend such a nonspecific query, the female asked a different question that seemed similar in intention and tone, though only somewhat less confusing in its wording. "Are you alright?" She was still smiling in a fashion that had begun to cause the austere Xaela some small measure of discomfort. Kasrjin went down a brief mental checklist in order to evaluate the nature and purpose of the question. She should be able to infer based on his appearance and movements that he was at least visibly uninjured. If the female had intended to ask as to the status of his mental health, she would have specifically asked such a query, so therefore by asking this question of "are you alright", the female must not have intended to ask about that. The word "alright" had a definition that could be loosely interpreted based on the context, and she presumably was not inquiring as to the nature of directions in terms of left and right. Was she asking him what he wanted?

He followed up with a sentence spoken in a rather stiff, mechanical fashion. "I wish to comprehend this land's social conventions as we travel," Kasrjin stated bluntly in a fashion that he was rapidly becoming more comfortable with. He'd refrained from such questions before out of thin consideration, but now was not the moment to be prancing around about conversation practices. While they were making their way to their destination, he would obtain information he needed in order to perform the function he had been assigned in the most efficient manner possible.

The Xaela spun around a few times to gain his bearings before looking straight at the female again, noting her height as he had to practically gaze at his navel in order to examine her properly. "We are going to...Cur-this? Is this the name of the destination I am bound for?"

Edda · **07-19-2015, 09:52 PM**

The man was tense, that much was certain. Whether it was the new surroundings that put him on edge, or herself, Edda did not know. Perhaps this was the natural demeanor of his clan. It would surprise her, but it was not her place to make judgments about a people she did not understand. Her lips pursed and the smile faded from her face.
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â€œYes, we are to head west, to Coerthas,â€ Edda said. She looked away from him and reached into a side pocket in her satchel. The contents were stuffed with krakka root, which she began to feed to the rather eager bird. â€œAs for whether or not that is your destinationâ€¦ It is the only region on this continent that matches your description of snow and mountains. The Highlands are vast. If you have a specific heading, or goal, it would be wise to say so.â€
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She looked back to the Xaela with a sober expression. The chocobo nudged her shoulder for more feed, and she absently stroked its beak while examining the man. It seemed strange, to be so eager to head to land he could detail in the most nondescript way imaginable. Wherever he was from, it seemed too far a distance to hunt or trade. Edda had little knowledge of the dark-scaled Auri. That they were tribal, primitive, and a warmongering people was all she had gleaned from the library at home. He had displayed some sophistication in bartering his services, so traveling to Coerthas for such crude reasons as sport or glory seemed unlikely.
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Edda snapped her gaze away from the man, and motioned vaguely for him to follow. She pulled the bird along at a slow pace and headed towards the west gate.
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â€œAs for your previous question,â€ she began. She kept her eyes straight ahead and her voice low. â€œI will answer whatever questions you may have to the best of my ability. Feel free to ask however you like. Do keep in mind that some things cannot be taught through word alone, however.â€
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The woman glanced at him briefly over her shoulder, before facing away to sigh. She was far from the best candidate to teach a foreigner the customs of the common man. Though she fought it as best she could, Edda was well aware of her stringent and frigid nature. Taking cues from her would only worsen the Au Raâ€™s current demeanor, if anything. He would need to meet people that knew freedom and laughter, and experience that warmth for himself. She could teach him only in the way a book could â€“ she could not give him experiences that were not meant for her.
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The two passed out of the western gate with little trouble. The scenery was far different here despite its proximity to the woods, with only a few spattering of trees against the hard, barren earth. Night would fall soon, and though Edda had packed a small lantern, now dangling on the side of the saddle, the cover of clouds might render it too dark to continue. The road to Dragonhead was notoriously dangerous, though she felt more at ease than she would have if she were alone. The Xaela still had his sword, and presumably had enough experience to be able to fight in dim light.
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Edda reached into her back pocket to slip on a pair of black gloves. It was not much colder yet, but she knew how volatile the weather could become in the mountain pass. She glanced at the man briefly. Would he be warm enough? The furs he wore certainly looked thick, but the skin exposed at his shoulder was concerning. He did not seem the type to complain, however. Edda wrapped her hood closer around her face, and made a mental note to ask later as they continued on.

***Nero*** · **07-20-2015, 01:08 AM**

Kasrjin curled the corner of his lip in contemplation. Coerthas. This was where the snow and mountains of the western continent was located. Apparently it was located further to the west, which was...the Au Ra spun his body around several times in an odd display of attempting to gain his bearings. He still couldn't tell which way was north inside this blasted forest, even within the settlement. The low elevation that the settlement afforded, being on top of a river, did not allow him to discern any visible mountain ranges either.

He had little choice, then, but to trust in the female. So far she was adhering to his request, and in exchange the Xaela would be expected to fight for her. This was a permissible arrangement, though the bartering of services was a concept that was still a little odd to him. So long as he managed to reach the region of this "Coerthas", he could narrow his search from there into something more. In addition, Kasrjin made a mental note to make a request for a compass when obtaining such an item became amenable.

As for Highlands...that must have been another region. He merely shook his head silently when the female asked for a specific heading. Truth be told, Kasrjin had not planned that far, but instinct had made the suggestion that he would know where to go when he reached the area he should search.

It was with some good fortune that the pair were not accosted by any other delays as they left the settlement, and the masked warriors left them unmolested. It was to be presumed that they had yet to find the trio of corpses that Kasrjin had left behind, and it was unlikely that the green-clad guardians would hear his appeal for arbitration. Though the Xaela felt confident in his ability to handle multiple combatants to a certain degree, fighting and violence in general was often a very inefficient course of action that took both time and energy, both of which Kasrjin wished to contribute towards his search.

As they left the settlement's gate, he took note of an enormous, broken piece of stone that hung high in the air. It was visible even from within the town, marked with elaborate lines and designs, and it was larger than any other structure the Xaela had seen. Though Kasrjin kept pace with his guide and her yellow bird, a part of him was terribly curious about it, though he'd refrained from asking questions that were irrelevant to what he'd asked before so as to avoid confusing the female. The terrain of this area was also marred and broken, like a battlefield. The towering trees and canopies that had so thoroughly covered the forest floor was gone, replaced by cliffs and rocks. Clearly, something had happened here to cause this area to differ so greatly from that infuriating forest he'd recently occupied.

The sun gradually sank beneath the horizon, giving way to the chilled veil of night. The terrain the pair trod upon began to slope upwards, signifying that they were closer to where they wished to reach, and the walls began to narrow into a mountain pass of bluffs and crags. Kasrjin noted the female pulling her garments closer to her and donning a pair of gloves; it was a reasonable assumption that her peoples were not as acclimated to the cold. On the other hand, this temperature was considerably more comfortable to Kasrjin. He'd always had a particular distaste for the heat, and the ventures that required travelling to the southern steppes always earned a measure of disdain from him. Even so, he would need to be cautious; it would be foolish to assume that the climate of the western continent would so readily match that of the Othardian glaciers and tundra, and though the Xaela was comfortable with frigid conditions, he was also acutely aware of the dangers. If the temperature dropped much lower, they would need fire, or at the least keep moving in order to maintain adequate warmth. The pair's travel was mostly silent. Though Kasrjin's request was to obtain information while they travelled, the Au Ra was content with examining the environment of the fabled western continent for now.

A shroud of smoky clouds covered the sky above them, and hard dirt soon gave way to patches of frozen soil. Kasrjin began idly flexing and unflexing his hands so as to keep the blood flowing in case he required rapid movement from them. The leather wrapped around the handle of his sword would prevent frost from building upon it, but it would be unwise to make the assumption that this route was completely safe.

"A camp is required soon," the Xaela spoke aloud to the slim female figure slightly ahead of him. He could not accurately gauge how far they had travelled, but the region had noticeably transitioned into one far more inhospitable than the idyllic forest. "And I would use the opportunity to ask you for information." He made a short trot to stand ahead of the female; though they had yet to reach the snowline, the drifts would inevitably prove to be a hazard. It would be more practical for the taller Au Ra to lead and thus carve a path, but to do so would require him to gain a sense of direction from the female. The wind was gentle and thus there was no present threat of a blizzard, but as the temperature dropped lower and the remaining light vanished over the horizon, Kasrjin's face twisted in consternation. The mountains at night were as deadly a foe as any number of black ones.

As if the mountains themselves heard Kasrjin's wish for convenience, a small, rocky outcropping, shielded on three sides by crags and boulders, presented itself some distance away. Instinctively, he reached his left arm out, the shoulder unguarded by the leathers and furs, and firmly grasped the female's shoulder, practically dragging her with sheer force and an inability to comprehend social conventions, to the outcropping.

Releasing her, Kasrjin exhaled. "Suitable," was the only word he said.

Edda · **07-20-2015, 03:44 PM**

The road to Coerthas was clear enough. It was not a heavily used road, moreso now by adventurers than caravans, but the lack of vegetation and cold preserved it in a way that only heavy snow could cover it altogether. Edda sighed in relief. Her poor sense of direction would not be compromised this way, and fear of starvation and freezing quickly became an afterthought.
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Edda huddled close to her chocobo as she walked. Gullinbursti she called him, a strong name that ill-suited the beast. He had been trained by her uncle to sense danger from wild animals, and flee at a momentâ€™s notice, preferably with Edda in tow. This did not always work, much to her chagrin, and found the chocobo more likely to bolt at the sound of an uncorked bottle than the howl of a wolf. Still, it was a safer bet than clinging to her scaled companion, and the large bird was a nice source of heat.
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As night began to fall, the woman fell into a slight daze as she continued walking. It had been a very long time since she had trekked this far. â€œA camp is required soon. And I would use the opportunity to ask you for information.â€ Edda snapped to attention and looked over her shoulder, only to find the Xaela already beside her and moving to walk in front of her. She jumped in surprise. The journey so far had been eerily quiet, and the sudden noise and movement set her heart pounding.
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No sooner had she put a hand on her chest to calm herself did the man suddenly grab her roughly by the shoulder and pull her aside. Edda sputtered as he did so, losing her grip on the reigns, the chocobo following out of instinct. He released her quickly, and the woman reached up to absently rub the shoulder he had grabbed, and pouted at the ground. â€œSuitable,â€ was his apparent reasoning for his actions, and Edda shot him a sharp glare before looking around.
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It seemed like a good place to camp, as if she were anyone to judge. She could count on one hand the number of times she had slept outside. If the Au Ra â€“ who seemed as if he had never once slept on a soft bed in his life â€“ thought it was a suitable stopping point, then she had little choice but to comply. Fetching the tent and blankets, Edda frowned, realizing she had never assembled a tent before. She had seen them, surely, in the Shroud and outside Ulâ€™dah in the refugee encampments. Putting one together seemed an entirely different beast, however.
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She cast a sidelong glance to her companion, and thought it best to ignore him while he did whatever it was he thought necessary to camp in unfamiliar wilderness. Perhaps if she took little notice of him, he would do the same for her, and would not witness her embarrassing fumbling with the tent. Edda managed to wrestle the construct to the ground next to a large boulder. It was small, thankfully, the framework of it being simple enough. She grabbed a small rock to hammer the pegs into the hard earth, and managed to stand it up in a dilapidated manner. She unrolled the mat and heavy blankets within. Despite its sad appearance, Edda stood and looked upon the tent in quiet triumph. It would do for the night, barring any sudden, strong gusts.
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The woman fetched her knapsack from atop Gullinbursti and set it in the back of her tent. She withdrew a few items â€“ a comb, the out-of-date map, two warming potions and another tincture of nondescript function. Edda sat at the entrance of the tent, her feet and head poking out of the front flap, and facing the center of the small outcrop. She toyed idly with the two potions in her hands. It would be impolite not to offer him one, and so she sat and watched him, awaiting an opportunity.

***Nero*** · **07-21-2015, 12:25 AM**

He examined their surroundings as the female rustled through her belongings. The gentle bite of the cold breeze caressing his face brought a sense of familiarity so intimate that it was almost dangerous his mind. This was followed by a brief shake of the head, and a swift, practiced refocusing on the task at hand.

The onset of night brought about more inclement conditions, and a mild snowfall had begun, though it was barely noticeable as they had not yet reached a suitable elevation for drifts to build. The Xaela's viridian eyes shimmered as the remaining daylight evaporated to give way to an inky veil. He inhaled deeply, partaking of the air's frigid draught. The outcropping would provide an adequate aegis from the frost and the wind; several boulders seemed to have been strategically placed by a rockslide that had taken place within the last moon, if the displaced dirt near their new campsite was any indication. It was tucked away with a small bluff serving as an overhang, and it seemed that the crag as a whole was relatively isolated enough to be considered mostly safe. They were not terribly far from the road, but if the cloud cover maintained itself, then it would be difficult for one to spot them here.

Kasrjin turned his head to note the female having set up a ramshackle structure devised of refined leather, presumably a sort of personal dwelling. He gave a slight nod in approval; the female's slender and unmarred appearance belied one in accepting that she could survive in wilderness, but it seemed that she had obtained adequate preparation.

This was to be expected, to an extent. She was familiar with this continent. It would stand to reason that, knowing the geography, she would know what to prepare depending on where she was travelling. The Au Ra himself was rather comfortable despite the wintry conditions, even with the exposure that his tunic failed to cover. The temperatures were not overly harsh, though that was likely to change the farther up they went.

Having surveyed the area enough to his liking, Kasrjin retreated into the outcropping, undoing the straps to the harness that held his sword in place. The austere Xaela silently sat, his back against a straight surface that marked one of the boulders facing the road, his position somewhat left to that of the female's personal structure. He placed his sword such that the handle rested against his collarbone, the crossguard of the weapon residing beneath his chin, and the tip sunken into the dirt.

It was when Kasrjin settled himself into his position that he noticed the female handling two glass vessels and eyeing him curiously. That was a natural reaction, now that the Au Ra thought about it. He was a stranger to this land, having encountered one another barely a sun ago, and now bartering services such that the he might reach his destination.

He merely stared back, unaware of how hard his gaze was upon her. There were many questions he wished to ask the female regarding this land. A part of him desired the presence of Tsanai in this circumstance; she had already traveled to this land once, and she would have surely been capable of sorting through the other female's responses to discern the useful information, in addition to asking the questions that would obtain that information in the first place.

There was little subtlety or grace in the Xaela's speech as he spoke suddenly, his deep voice still containing that paradox of smooth gravel. "In what manner will I be fighting for you, and against what or whom?" It had been Kasrjin's mind since they'd enacted the bartering of services. The female had already begun acting in her capacity as his guide, but he had yet to provide an equitable return for such a transaction.

Edda · **07-22-2015, 12:26 AM**

There was an intensity in his look that made Edda squirm. To see him roost so easily was unsettling. He was quite unlike the heroes in the adventure novels she had read as a young girl, and she felt somewhat betrayed in her expectations of seeing a hardened frontiersman make camp in the brutal, masculine ways she had read about. Building a fire, hunting game, cutting open a wild antelope and burrowing inside it for warmth - whether or not such feats were greatly exaggerated, the lackadaisical display of the Au Ra left her both wondering and disappointed. He clearly had no mind to commandeer her tent, but would he be warm enough? Perhaps this climate was more agreeable to him, yet it was no secret that body temperature dropped during rest, and no warrior could fight a death of cold. Edda frowned. It would be embarrassing for him to die in such a way, more so for him than anything, though whether or not he intended to stay there for the rest of the night was unknown.

The woman peered at him through the darkening night, meeting his inquisitive gaze. The question he posed was far more personal than she had expected, and found it difficult to answer straight away. The dim light of his green eyes stood out against his dark skin, and Edda suddenly felt very nervous. Eager to escape the sensation, she stood suddenly, and approached him with a few hesitant steps. She held the two vials in front of her in both hands, before squatting down and placing one on the ground within arms reach. She looked him in the eye and did not speak in a wordless offering.Â

To demonstrate that it was not poison, Edda uncorked and drank the contents of her small bottle in one go. It had a sour, burning taste, like her father's brandy mixed with old milk. She grimaced, but it did not take long for the aftertaste to fade. The effects were immediate; a warm, tingling sensation spread from her chest down to her fingertips and toes, warding her body against the cold from the inside out. She had little knowledge of alchemy, but enough to know the potion was more relief than an aid. Its effects were not unwelcome however - the liquid heat that ran through her felt like a small luxury in the harsh wilderness.

"I will not be redeeming your services right away - if I do at all," Edda began. She slipped the empty vial into a satchel at her hip and walked over to Gullinbursti. "If I have need of you in the future, I will seek you out. There is a single, solitary person I would have... removed, before they can do more harm. I doubt there will be much of a fight, however." She giggled softly at the thought, before her expression darkened substantially. Though she spoke with aplomb, there was a wavering in her tone, as if she was sure, but saddened.

Edda retrieved the unlit lantern from her chocobo's saddle, before turning around to face the Xaela. "Perhaps," she began, with a curious spark in her eye. "You should tell me your name, before you ask any more questions." This was, of course, assuming his people had names, a practice that did not extend to every tribe of Auri, as she understood it. It was an innocuous question, at least in Eorzea, and she hoped the presumption that the solemn man had any reason to give his name would not offend him.

Heading back to stand in front of her tent, she gave the man what she hoped was an encouraging smile, before lighting the lantern with a small flame from her fingertip. More a parlour trick than actual thaumaturgy, the flame settled in the lantern, and was enough to illuminate the outcropping so that they would not have to speak in total darkness. She set the lantern down and hesitated, before casting the man a hard glance. Was he really going to stay like that? Would he truly be warm enough? If he made no motion to move after his questioning was done, she would have to offer him something then. Until that time, there was little reason to, and so she resumed her original seating at the mouth of her tent.

"For what it is worth," she said as she placed a hand on her chest. "You can call me Edda, if it suits you."

***Nero*** · **07-22-2015, 08:51 PM**

The Xaela eyed the female curiously as she placed a mysterious bottle in front of him before withdrawing a similar vessel and downing the contents easily. Kasrjin wasn't entirely certain of what to make of the display or the offering he had been given. Was he expected to imitate the gesture? Was the bottle placed at its arbitrary location for a reason, or was it intended to be an offering to him? If the female had meant to give the bottle to him, it stood to reason--at least to Kasrjin, to whom the word "subtlety" was often spelled with six numbers and a hyphen--that she would have simply handed it to him instead. It seemed that the female would be more conducive towards answering his questions about social customs, but it was impossible for him to gauge what was and was not an appropriate occasion to ask such questions.

Judging by the way her facial features creased, it seemed she was still apprehensive about him, which was not an unreasonable reaction. The female retreated to her bird. "I will not be redeeming your services right away - if I do at all," she said. Kasrjin frowned. The purpose of the transaction was to trade one service for another, but it seemed the female had little intention of completing the trade. It seemed there were many more nuances to the concept that he was unaware about.

"If I have need of you in the future, I will seek you out. There is a single, solitary person I would have... removed, before they can do more harm. I doubt there will be much of a fight, however." The female's expressions following her statement were peculiar; she chuckled before being overcome by an irrepressible grimace, almost a scowl.

The Xaela dismissed the oddity of the sequence. The western continent was vastly different in expressions and interactions. This was simply one of many things that confused him, and it was sure to not be the last.

At the inquiry of his name, the response was automatic. "Khadai," the Au Ra said simply. It was extremely unlikely that there were any other Khadai present, or that they would make themselves present in the near future. Thus, giving her his personal identifier would be superfluous and confusing, such was his reasoning.

It was with vested interest, however, that Kasrjin witnessed the female conjure a flame from nothing to light a lantern. His eyes widened, and the Xaela shot a glance to the top of her head to see if there was a pointed hat. The lack of one caused him to frown; though he did not sense anything of the sort, and though she did not seem to have prepared the appropriate materials or experience the manifestations, it seemed to be a minor form of the Correspondence. He would have to confirm if it was truly similar or if it was something of a different nature. That would wait after his preliminary inquiries.

The female--who adhered to the label of Edda, though if it was a title, a name, or something else was beyond him--looked at him inquisitively, as if expecting his inquiries. Though Kasrjin was still uncertain of the continent's social cues, perhaps this was worth the plunge. He pursed his lips in thought. It would be foolish to assume that the female--that is, Edda--was all that familiar with this "Coerthas" region. She was capable of guiding him there, presumably, but that did not mean she had the requisite knowledge. While it would not hurt to make sure, it would be more efficient to ask questions he felt had a higher chance of being answered as opposed to making queries in subjects that his guide may or may not be familiar with.

"I wish to know the masked warriors," he began, adjusting his posture. The cool temperatures were rather comfortable, even with the exposed segments of his garments, and so long as he guarded himself from the wind it seemed to be of little threat. "I was attacked without provocation. I wish to avoid such confrontations in the future." It was with a twinge of regret that he remembered having to discard the venison, for they would not have dried quickly enough for him to store them.

"In addition, I wish to gain knowledge of the western continent's practical social conventions. The nuances escape me. I may have cause to interact with others and desire to be self-sufficient in such circumstances." Kasrjin's words felt awkward and out of place to him. He tried to communicate as clearly as possible--once again, Tsanai's absence made itself acutely aware to the Xaela--and his uncertainty in his words manifested itself in a frown upon his face. "I do not wish to cause discomfort upon others, but I require information on subjects. Inform me of the etiquette to perform such a task."

Edda · **07-22-2015, 10:36 PM**

There was little surprise that he did not drink the vial. In any other instance, Edda would have considered it rude, but he seemed to be lacking in common manners, and she supposed he seeked to rectify that in his own way. It was admirable. A shadow of doubt still lingered in her mind, but there would be no harm in humoring him for now.

"The masked warriors were the Wood Wailers," Edda began, addressing his first question. "They protect the Black Shroud, the forest in which you were lost. The citizens of the Shroud follow a certain set of rules - they must follow these rules. The Wood Wailers apprehend those who do not, and thus protect the forest."

The woman looked him steadily in the eye with a sharp look, an apprehensive curiosity. "I do not know what it is you did, but doubtless it was something illegal. I will not lecture you of the laws of that region, but know most confrontation can be avoided by dropping your weapon and surrendering yourself. You would be imprisoned, but at least you would not be hunted as a wanted killer."

She paused, and thought on his other query. It was less of a question and more of a request than anything, and Edda frowned in thought. "As I said before, social conventions are usually learned, not taught. But, if you insist..." She trailed off, and looked up at the cloudy veil.Â

"Give your name before you ask things of others. Use phrases such as 'excuse me' and 'please.' Thank people who help you, and bow to those who are gracious to you." She sighed and looked back at Khadai. It would be much easier if he were more specific. Even then, she was far from qualified for this. "It would help you to smile from time to time as well, you know. Like this." Edda gave him a practiced smile, full of gentleness and warmth, a default expression that she had been taught from before she could remember. She waited for the Xaela to try, though she doubted he would.

***Nero*** · **07-23-2015, 12:43 AM**

Illegal? Then he had broken some manner of principle. Kasrjin had been wandering the forest for several suns unmolested until he had hunted that doe, and lacking in the grace of the Nayantai, he'd made a particularly unsubtle and clumsy affair of it. If the masked warriors, these Wailers, were protectors of the forest, then they kept strict watch over it and its denizens. Seeing an intruder violate its charge would certainly provoke them into attack. Though the doe itself as an individual was relatively insignificant, a lapse in protocol would have been unacceptable, especially if their duty to guard the forest was not self-appointed and placed upon them by a higher authority.

The Xaela nodded with his new comprehension of the circumstances. The next set of answers, however, brought nothing but more confusion. What was the purpose of giving one's name prior to making requests if the circumstances did not require specific differentiation between individuals, such as a transaction between two people? To excuse was to forgive or justify. Was it custom to ask forgiveness before a wrong had been committed? Or was it instead a cultural concept that making requests was inherently a malicious act, and thus it was considered an act of immorality that demanded absolvement before it had even taken place? What did the word "please" mean, and in which contexts would it be appropriate? Express gratitude? Bow?

Kasrjin's eyes nearly crossed from attempting to process all of this information at once when the female broke out into a smile. It is not as if the concept of such a demeanor was alien to him, but it was not something he was used to. His mouth creased into a rough imitation; the horrid amalgamation of something of a scowl, a smirk, and preparing to open one's mouth to bite the head off of an entire fish. He maintained this for less than a second before dropping it, feeling foolish.

"Strange," he murmured, scratching a hand through jet black locks, the motion causing a shake from the streaks of emerald green that ran themselves through his hair. For the third time in a relatively short interval, the Xaela made a fervent wish for Tsanai to make sense of all of these functionless platitudes that the western continent seemed to operate on. It was not as if the Xaela had never smiled or was unused to it, but the act of deliberately forcing it in order to adhere to social conventions seemed incredibly impractical. It seemed best to change the subject of inquiry. No doubt that Kasrjin would have to make extensive time later in order to properly prepare himself for study in these principles.

"What is this destination, Coerthas? What is not permitted within such an area?" Kasrjin's question sounded somewhat more eager, having shifted back onto information relevant to his task. He wanted to ask for details, but if he asked for its size he would receive that information in units that did not translate properly to him. "Describe to me the threats, whether they be in the form of storms or beasts. What manner of settlements are present?"

Edda · **07-23-2015, 12:33 PM**

Khadai seemed understandably confused by her answer. His expression morphed into a focused perplexity, as if trying to decipher her words instead of wondering when to apply them. He looked at her soon after and attempted to mimic her smile, to disastrous results. Edda bit her lip to keep herself from laughing, his quick frown enough to make it clear that she did not need to warn him to never make that face again. The woman listened to his next questions with a placid expression, before continuing.

"Coerthas is a large region, covered in snow and ice. At the center of these highlands lies The Holy See of Ishgard, and beyond it lays Dravania, and the abandoned city of Sharlayan. The people of Ishgard are a wary and isolated peoples - the few settlements you will encounter may seem rather inhospitable. Ishgard has recently rejoined the Eorzean Alliance, though to what ends, I know not."

Edda paused. It occurred to her that most of what she had said was likely lost on the Au Ra. If he even knew what Ishgard was, he doubtless knew or cared about its present situation. Still, the opening of its gates was a monumental event, and news of it had assuredly traveled far and wide. If he truly did not know, why then was he so enraptured with the place? This seemed to run far deeper than personal fancy - he was driven, as if on a mission. Could he be a spy? There would be no way of knowing for sure, and it was not something she could simply ask. Perhaps his goal would be made clear in time.

"As for threats," she continued. Her voice was quite serious, in the hopes that if her words did not get through to him, her tone would. "Ishgard has been at war with Dravania for a very long time." Edda hesitated, feeling the need to clarify. "Ah, the Dravanians are an intelligent race of dragons and their kin, and mortal enemies of the people of this land. I've no idea if they have changed at all, but you should not speak of dragons outside of how much you delight in killing them, if at all."

"It is a land ruled by their beliefs and ancient hierarchy. Take comfort that you are not the only stranger that will be coming to these lands, but it would be wise of you to take care in your actions. The judgement of those in power can be as much your enemy as beasts and weather. I am sure you will be fine, however." Edda nodded to herself. Doubtless he would rush off on his own at some point, and meet one who could better assist him. It would not surprise her if there were more Auri travelling to Coerthas, and it would be good for him to learn from those who were also strangers to Eorzea.

***Nero*** · **07-23-2015, 09:14 PM**

The Au Ra leaned closer towards Edda as he listened intently, soaking in every detail and filing them away. There were many names to keep track of. Coerthas. Ishgard. Dravania. Sharlayan. Dravania was the home of dragons, fighting the inhabitants of Coerthas. Sharlayan was an abandoned settlement. Many of the things described were consistent with the information he'd he'd received; conflict between swords and wings among a sea of mist, with blood upon the slopes of snow and mountains. The Tsenkhai's interpretations were vague--such was the frustrating nature of the Correspondence--but gave enough detail that Kasrjin knew that he was moving in the correct direction.

Holy See...the second word he didn't know, but the first word implied strong religious tradition. The land is "ruled by beliefs", so likely they were ruled by tenants and tradition. His frown, which was quickly becoming trademark, reappeared on his face as he noticed something missing from her description: the sea of mist mentioned in the Correspondence. Whether this was a metaphor or a literal location was unknown, and that distinction would be very important. He was compelled to seek the conflict of swords and wings, which was an obvious reference to the war between Ishgard and Dravania. The location of such a thing to fulfill his objective, however, was less specific, and would thus prove more elusive.

He debated asking, his face scrunched in contemplation, but in the end decided against it. The nature of Kasrjin's task did not necessarily need to remain secret, but it would be more prudent to approach his undertaking one task at a time. Edda would surely be on hand to answer more of his inquiries should he have need of her. Thus, the first goal was to obtain more information on the conflict of swords and wings, and how exactly it related to what he was seeking.

Kasrjin nodded to no one in particular, satisfied. It was a short, terse conversation, but it had proven fruitful in its own way. He leaned back and placed himself back on the boulder he had originally been resting upon when suddenly, a thought struck him. Was this trading of information, technically, a transaction of services? Perhaps such questioning was considered a commodity and he was expected to make an equitable trade. That would explain the curious looks he had been receiving from Edda, yet she had made no mention of it. The Au Ra fidgeted, his thoughts clearly represented in his expression, before speaking again.

"I am to answer inquiries you possess," he said flatly, stiffly, the words and sentence structure clearly not familiar to him. It was more of a statement, almost a demand given his rough timbre, and he found himself hoping he'd handled that particular circumstance at least adequately.

Edda · **07-23-2015, 11:04 PM**

It came as a mild shock that Khadai did not press for more information. Her explanation was dubious at best, full of holes and far from a passing grade. She had found Ishgardian history distasteful as a child, a preference her instructor equated to having never seen a dragon, and her grasp on the city-state's current situation tenuous at best. That he did not inquire further seemed an indicator of satisfaction, and for that Edda was glad.

He settled back against the boulder, seemingly done for the night, until an uncomfortable look appeared on his face. His eyebrows creased, lips set in a terse frown. "I am to answer inquiries you posses," he said in a flat, almost reluctant sounding voice. Edda could not stop a soft chuckle from escaping her lips, the look on his face and tone of his voice reminding her of her sister when she was being forced to share her belongings. 'On whose authority?' She wanted to ask, his awkward wording leaving room for gentle teasing, but she imagined it would serve only to confuse him.

The woman reached up and pushed her hood back before letting her ponytail down, running her fingers through her long hair as a makeshift comb. She would be needing a bath soon. The thought made her wrinkle her nose. A hot bath seemed too great a luxury to be found in Coerthas, even more so in such a dire time. Not impossible to find, surely, but likely at a high cost. She had only grabbed a handful of gil, and war was doubtless sending prices out of control. She would have to send for more when she made it to Ishgard.

"Tell me where you are from, then," Edda said, humoring his command-like offer. "Describe it to me," she added. It would not do to let him get away with a single sentence for an explanation, which he seemed to have a penchant for. Waiting for her answer, she reached into her bag behind her and pulled out another vial, distinctly larger and deeper in color than the previous two. She held it between her hands as if warming it, and stared at Khadai expectantly.

***Nero*** · **07-23-2015, 11:34 PM**

Kasrjin pursed his lips, considering the words available at his command to describe it. Was she asking for a description of the geography? His people who lived there? Was she asking about Kaarad-El or the region that surrounded it? Oddly, the Xaela felt that it was inappropriate to ask Edda to be more specific in her questioning. Tsanai had described that sensation as "manners"--verbal courtesies wherein one's conversation partner is indirectly praised or somehow accommodated through the omission or addition of certain phrases and changes in one's tone and inflection. Edda, too, had mentioned the word "manners" as something that was necessary when adhering to the western continent's social conventions.

He found the idea to be terribly impractical.

Nonetheless, if he was to adjust to a degree adequate enough to carry out the interactions that would bear him the needed information, it would do to have some practise, starting with not requesting that Edda be more direct in her questioning. A roulette spun in Kasrjin's mind, and arbitrarily he decided to describe the geography of the area.

"It is a...cold place. Filled with many mountains, atop a glacier." It was truly a titanic effort calling forth the words that would adequately describe it. Kasrjin found that the western continent's language had far too many variables; the possibilities with which one could say a phrase had so many permutations and alterations that could be applied that it was nearly impossible for him to consistently decide what words to use. "There is tundra, with hills and plains of snow. The sun's appearances are short." A crease of his brow. "The northwest sea is cold, with floating ice. It can be very cold." The Xaela tried to think of as many scenes as possible that he could see. "There are southern forests with tall green trees. And dry steppes."

Kasrjin exhaled, his ordeal done with. The language was surely something one got used to with practice, but elaborate eloquence was not a concept very much appreciated or utilized by the Khadai, though he frowned again. According to the principles of an equal transaction, he had more questions to answer, which would surely be a challenge.

Edda · **07-24-2015, 03:16 AM**

Edda listened patiently to the man describe his home. It was an honest effort, that much was obvious, but as he finished and sighed, the irritation upon his face was telling. He looked as tired as she felt after hearing his description, and the woman wondered off-hand if she should teach him other words for â€˜cold.â€™ It would explain his apparent comfort in the current weather, and though it was not quite what she had been hoping to hear of, it would do for now. She had no way of knowing exactly where he came from based on his description alone, but if he was not from Eorzea, then he must have come from Othard, if not further.

Turning away from the man, Edda rummaged through her satchel to bring out her rain coat. It was not heavy, but enough to protect from the elements. It seemed wasted on the Xaela, who appeared enviably unaffected by the drop in temperature brought about by nightfall. Instead, she stood and draped it over Gullinbursti, who had curled up between the side of her tent and a boulder. His plumage was thick, but for some reason she felt the need to take extra care, as if what little control she had here would slip away from her as she slept. Edda collected the unused vial of warming potion by Khadai and pocketed it, before lifting the lantern, still burning, and placing it closer to the Au Ra.

â€œIf you would like to put it out, you may do so,â€ she said to him, motioning to the lantern. She hesitated for a moment and bit her lip. There was a desire to voice her uncertainty for his comfort, but she felt silly doing so now. He was resourceful, to have made it this far â€“ a little cold would not kill him now. Or so she hoped. She cared little for him on a personal level, having only just encountered him in a rather unpleasant manner, but it was clear he was not a bad person. Far from the heartless murderer she had first taken him for, but that was neither here nor there.

â€œI am going to rest for the night. We have a full sunâ€™s worth of travel tomorrow, so I suggest you do the same. If we make good time, we should reach Dragonhead by nightfall. You may query me as much as you like tomorrow.â€ She hesitated, before uncorking the green bottle she still held, and drinking all of it. It had a murky, bitter taste, but she was becoming quite used to it, and crawled into her tent thereafter. Edda curled up beneath the heavy blanket. She shivered, still touched by the frigid air, before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

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