Re: Asher at the forge

[Asher Fairchild]

*Asher looks at the note*
"I suppose this means you don't have any siblings Hugo?"

*she looks at Krond*

"He's making a joke about all of us having siblings. I have three brothers myself. I miss them everyday! I'm thinking of going to visit them in the late summer."

[Krond Thuliaga]

Oh I see *Krond chuckles a bit* its a little sad you don't have any siblings Hugo. Its a bond unlike any other you'll have. That sense of caring and sibling rivalry builds character and helps each other grow; much like what we have here at Holdfast. Though it doesn't seem like it these days with the village so empty.

*Krond, now taking a seat next to the warmth of the fire, turns to face Asher*

Tell us of your brothers Asher. I wasn't aware you had any siblings either.

[Asher Fairchild]

*Asher smiles at Krond and chuckles a little*

"That's the first time anyone's asked me that since I left home. I'll gladly tell you about them. Let's see. There's Peter, he's not much older than me. 22. There's Adelaide, he'd be about 27 now, and there's Merek. He's 30 now I suppose. We were all very close, they were my best friends. I looked up to Merek the most. He was the first to go off to the academy to train for his knighthood. My other brothers followed. I was so envious. They'd come home during their off time and teach me some of what they learned, Merek even brought me home a bow one year for my 16th birthday..."

*Asher picks up her bow which has been laying at her feet and runs her fingers over the wood*

"I had to keep it a secret from my parents, they hated the fact that I wanted to train with my brothers. All I wanted was to become a knight like them. Where I'm from, women aren't allowed to fight. Or even think about fighting. But my brothers never hesitated to continue training me. Looking back I'm sure they would've gotten in a lot of trouble if anyone found out!" *she says with a big smile and loud laugh, but the smile quickly fades*

"I' miss them so much and would love to visit...but going back could be dangerous for me. Even sending them a letter...I'd have to be careful. Somedays I think I'll never see them again."

"But anyways enough about me. How about you Krond? Tell us about your brother?"

[Krond Thuliaga]

"Gladly my dear" *he says in his boisterous voice*

"Keothi, like I said before, is my younger brother; about 3 years younger as a matter of fact. I remember when we were kids and he'd always try to do the same things I did even though he was younger than I was; always trying to follow me wherever I went. He'd even challenge me to fights every now and then just test his mettle. I knew he looked up to me and I did my best be a good big brother. My parents always used to tell me 'Krond, its the older brothers job to look out for his little brother', and I always have.

He grew up to be a fine warrior in our clan. Actually, Asher, he took to the bow much like you and is quite the marksman. *Krond says braggingly as he laughs. Then a hush falls over the fire as Krond's smile slowly fades*

I was 17 when I left my clan, and my family, to travel the world; looking to hone my skills as a warrior. I remember looking back at the face's of my father and brother as they saw me off, Keothi's was full of tears. And my father saw me off with a smile. He understood why this was so important to me, but not a day has gone by where I don't think of them both. I just hope Keothi doesn't resent me for leaving.

*Krond's face turns more serious*

But I had to leave; it's all for the sake of achieving my ultimate goal.

*Krond looks at Asher*

I'm positive you'll see your brothers again someday. A bond of siblings is greater than the distance between them. Just got to have a bit of hope.

[Ivy]

Hugo struggles to write a response to keep up with the conversation, but after throwing a few more pages into the fire, he has a response.

"Being an only child wasn't so bad. More food around that way."

"I intend to travel in late summer as well, to the scarred lands I've heard so much about."

Underneath the text, there is also some illustrations

The first being of three stick figures in a house, with one being smaller than the other two

The second one being a crude drawing of the Island, with a dotted line leading east over the ocean. On the dotted line is a boat bearing a stick figure.

[Malva]

During this conversation Malva can be seen counting her fingers with a puzzled look while mumbling names before running out of fingers to count on and putting her hands away.

[Krond Thuliaga]

Hahaha having a hard time rememberin all the names Malva?

So Hugo, judging from the picture you want to sail away from the island? Is that it? Or is that how you got here in the first place?

[Ivy]

Hugo turns to a new page and, knowing his intended audience well enough, starts on a new illustration.

After a moment, Hugo shows off his work:

It is a crude illustration of the known world, with a dotted path leading from the northwest corner of the empire, east through the frontier, through the confederacy, and across to the island, with a number of detours along the way.

A different looking dotted line leads from the island into the eastern ocean, with a question mark at its far end.

"Both"

[Krond Thuliaga]

Ooohhh I get it! :3

[Skyrius Ventus]

"Siblings aren't all that great. Lets talk beasts, any of you have any new information on some beasts for my Guild?"

[Ivy]

Some scribbling happens.

"The Beasts Guild? I've been meaning to write to you about that. Care to explain your plans?"

[Datura Shinso]

"Your brother sounds like a real piece of trash, Ventus" - murmurs Datura, whilst emerging from the shadow of a nearby tree - "But... he is an Imperial."
Leaning against the tree, Datura takes a sizable bite from an apple, throwing the remains into the woods. Seemingly uninterested in the rest of the conversations happening around him, he lights a cigarette, and inhales. Looking at the rather disgruntled faces of those around him, he exhales, filling the air with smoke.
"And I thought that I was the unstable looking one, why does everyone look so gloomy?" asks Datura with a slight grin.

[Skyrius Ventus]

I lean against a tree and stare at Datura. Smiling I scoff, "He's okay...sometimes. Datura, I've been meaning to talk to you and some of the other knights about some pressing issues."

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