Ah finally, spring! Warm enough to wash items in the sun! At the river stream, sauntering with a basket on her hips, was a white hair woman with a full curvey physic and an apron around the waist. Stopping short of the bridge, she turns right down the forest path where the slow stream was low and at reach. Scaling close to the water edge, she spread out a colorful blanket and began setting up a spot for washing bed linen... Aleena pulls out a glass ornate bottle and shook it, staring at the lavender flowers dancing in the oil. She took a moment to inhale it's sweet scent before pouring some over a bowl of soap seeds.... Lavender, such memories with this flower... Shutting her eyes, she began to tucking her hair in to a long braid over her shoulder kneeling on the blanket. The stream poured away pass her side in soft collide against the stone in a soft symphony. Clear and crisp scent of pine rose in the air to greet the afternoon.... With a flick of her new braid behind her, she was ready to begin. Armed with a smaller bucket she daintily leaned in, scooping up streamwater and pour it in to a much larger one beside her over the linen. One after the other, she continued this with a soft slussh rheumatically, pouring over the soap and watching them bubble.... After a few moment, she haults and runs a wet wrist over her forehead, panning her eyes around the green world. It would be nice if there was someone to talk to at least? With all the announcements as of late, the town was riddled with conversations.... For now, she attuned to the sound of the robins chirping above and began to rub the clothes together in the soapy white plume.... Squish squish squish!
Sho’thar is the embodiment of the dark, Inil is the embodiment of light. Neither are evil or bad. So here’s the question: Why is it that when we reference “evil,” we equate it with “darkness?” (Thought it would be fun to have this in character debat.)
The winter wasn't the friendliest time for Vax so with the temperature rising pretty quickly in his opinion he was a bit relieved to get back outside. It has been a while since he's bothered to chop off his hair and as a result he could actually tie is back for the first time in years and it felt strange but that's beside the point. Now he has met Aleena before, on his first night in New Haven. There was a discussion about a giant flaming shoe and his newfound hatred of spiders, but they haven't had many encounters aside from that so he found it a bit surprising to see her washing linens all of a sudden. It's a bit of a habit but he tends to keep to his stealth, which has proven rather impressive even in daylight since two bandits didn't see him leave a building no less than two minutes before they went inside to try and pilfer someone else's belongings but this isn't stealth for combat, this is just his nature, hopefully he doesn't get whacked with a big stick. "What am I smelling and why does is remind me of those oils rich people carry with them to make them smell better than they probably do?"
"AAHhh!" Startled, the little maiden widen her eyes and gazed about the area for the voice. "w-ho goes?!" fluttering her lashes. A bubble or two swirled in the air for a moment. With a calmer voice, "..Um vell, that scent iz Lavender. They are actually from ze mountain valleys and grow near cottages, my homeland. I suppose they are more rare outside ze country side...? " She peeked about holding a wet towel drenched in water, seeking the person among the trees.
Given she was very obviously startled, but not going to swing, a young half elf clad in dark clothing with exposed arms and tattoos seemed to come out from the trees. He carried a knife and a long sword which are both of Elven design and at least a few people have theorized the symbol tattooed on his hand is some kind of assassin's mark but he's rather friendly for one of that line of work. "I wasn't trying to scare you, I just kind of have a natural stealth, and no lavender was not so easy to access for me, I was not the most wealthy person ever where I'm from." Upon him revealing himself one could see his left arm bares an alchemy symbol, the mark on his hand, and a person's name with a number 8 under it in Roman Numerals. His right arm appears to have some kind of family crest on it and that prominent Wolf's Head pendant caught a little bit of light, but not enough to set off glare. "If you don't remember me much, I was one of the new arrivals that was involved with the Scarecrow and Jackolantern spirit murders. They wouldn't leave us alone, so we made them leave us alone."
Aleena watched the figure almost peel away from the shadows, slender and comfortable with themselves. She noted the weapons, but seems sheathed.... Noting his markings as well, but Aleena only gave a friendly smile. The maiden wore a simple chemise blouse, a black corset with a ruffled ruby skirt hidden under the white apron. Her staff near by was rested on a tree, a curly white head made of some kind of vines... The only thing extra ordinary is the lengthen white braid she had and a symbol of inil on her forehead. Aside from that, she seems like a typical cottage maiden. "Oh jes, I remember ze great harvest month,...it vas Vax was it?" she dropped the wet linen in the bucket and sighed. "Aye, ze Pumpakins vere not friendly thiz year...." she frowned a bit. "They usually faught away ze scarecrow?" She gesture a near by log across the stream, "Comith? Joo can sit vith me if you like.. I'd like to hear how did joo all make them go away?"
He was pretty agile and hopped up onto the log before getting in an odd seating position with one leg outstretched and the other crossed over the outstretched one, and then proceeded to pull dried meat from his pouch, he almost always has snacks on his person. "And you're Aleena, you wanted to do something with a large flaming shoe to the Drow Spider but there was a distraction involving an obnoxious bard and Wolf being, well, Wolf." He may be armed but he's not particularly hostile as much as he just likes to be prepared incase something happens. He was a street urchin for a while so it's kind of a habit of his. "Where do I begin with the Harvest monsters, oh boy..... First of all Legion did nothing when 5 people were screaming bloody murder at some unholy hour."
Aleena immediately blushed, she's been saying that for a while now hasn't she? Her idea of a flaming shoe for the large spider.... "Aye, dreadful that spider isn't it! Vell, I do not know vhere we can attain or purchase a large shoe. I do not think Giants live here or a cobbler?" "And Theron refuses to give up his shoe..." she half-jokes with a chuckle... She reached over to pour over fresh water to rinse out the linen, and frowned a bit on the last bit about the Legion. Putting the bucket down, she said more sincerely, "I am dreadfully sorry that happen Vax,..should joo ever need a sanctuary and healing away from such things, fear not to knock on ze cabin closest to ze Tavern,..#10, I would have let you all in within safety of my ward... " nodding firmly "..I swear it by our Eldest of Light Inil, any hour of ze night my doors are open for safety..." She shook her head, "I thought having a pumpkin outside ze door helps purge them away? Or candy? But...my estimates were wrong?" Gazing up at Vax "Was anyone hurt from thiz?"
"We were outside and Kannoth stole a pumpkin so they kept following us because he was also following us. No one got injured to my knowledge though. 22 and Joseph were with us and between the five of us we ended up both winning and being unscathed. A few people were impressed given three of us were fresh off the boat but apparently you'd never tell if that experience was to go by." He was pretty upfront, didn't try to oversell the story or anything. It made him feel a bit proud but that was about it, he's not very prideful in nature and normally prefers to avoid heavy combat. "How long have you been here? I know you're a priestess or something like that, definitely some kind of ritualist." He is an intelligent young man but he also talks to people, so he has some kind of approximation on a fair amount of the town at least as it's always good to get info on people in a general sense, however he doesn't practice the magical arts himself.
"Well,...joo were all very brave, I will say that! " she smiled, "I am most glad non vas hurt, Kannoth can be a mischievous fellow but he means no harm to anyone unless provoked. I am very glad joo all can hold your own, joo vill need it more and more around here..." Aleena chuckled some, as she squeezed the towel over the river, draining it with a twist of her wrist. "I remember seeing Wolf, chasing after Kannoth. Very feisty individual I must say! Ze name suits them.." she humored.. She sets the twisted linen neatly in a pile beside her and proceeded with the next one. " Myself? Hm,..." she studdied the sky for a moment in thought, "Aye...thiz summer vill mark ze 3rd year for me. Aye,...it's been a long while hasn't it?" She gave a weak smile gazing down as she washed the linen with scrubbing, "I vas ze first arrivals of ze Exiled Lands, way before ze town was even established. No Elendari, no shelter, no cabins...and no tavern..." She sighs, rubbing her forehead for a moment and pauses to look at Vax, "Those were hard times,...only tents over our heads, and even firelight was not permitting so we would not be found. Marshes and swamp, rained on and no roof over our heads...." nodding firmly a few times.... "But I have no regrets,...tis my mission here. A priestess of Inil, that I am, mage of white in the service of the innocent and healing. Been ushering New Haven as a ritualist for a while now, trying to encourage people to think twice, use their heart and well,....remember to be good to one another and who our real enemy is..?" The maiden made a weak smile, "Saddly, I've not been taken seriously..." She began to squeeze her linen again, "Vhat of you? Joo seem ze type to keep to yourself?...So I'm in awe you come to speak to me? I do want to learn more of ze new arrivals..."
Her description of the early days of New Haven reminded him a bit of his childhood, sleeping out in the elements is no fun, especially for a child. Vax is pretty resilient though, look at him now, an assassin of all things. "I do keep to myself a lot but if there's anything I've learned it's that some friendly encounters help make you seem less suspicious in a land full of people with trust issues. I don't like getting involved in a lot of the political aspects but it doesn't mean I won't socialize if I know no one's going to stab me." To be fair that dagger is literally always either in his hand or very easy to pull out in a moment's notice. He even sits in one specific spot in the tavern because it allows clear view of both doors incase something goes down, as well as a quick exit through the kitchen. "A lot of people are a bit skeptical of religious followers, it's pretty common where I'm from actually. I don't see anything wrong with it, I just never felt a personal connection to the higher powers if that makes sense. I mean what kind of beings let a bunch of children squander in the street like that? I was forced to become self reliant at a young age."
Aleena sets down everything she is doing and gave Vax a sincere attention. "I know joo feel pain,...many do. What you say is very accurate, joo are very inquisitive and intelligent. I will not lie and say I too have a problem trusting early on. I vas stabbed and assasinated by a new immigrant who vas fresh off the boat. Pretended to befriend me, and when we were alone, I vas slashed and discarded in to the woods. All because,...they had a false bounty on me. A fake Elendari bounty, intended to remove me....." She closes her eyes, "...it hurts me still. To know ze very people I swear to heal, swear to protect, did nothing to help me. I seeked justice and none came. No laws,...no one stood up for me. Even so, I simply asked that ze individual were to leave New Haven, I didn't seek blood nor vengence. Vant to know why?" Lifting her gaze to Vax, "Because I believe in forgiveness, in feeling free from anger. I believe in kindness and love and good faith. Ze elders are often mistaken for Genies and Angels who grant wishes. They are not mystic Fae. Our Eldest Inil, is not a person,...she is Love it self. The very embodiment of Light..... and she, and the other five members of ze Elders, gave the gift and curse of Free Will. " Aleena lfited both hands upwards, "Ze free will to do Right, Wrong or Nothing at all. It is because of this that ze Elders do not intervene. They gave us their gifts, it is up to us to utilize them..." She closed her eyes, "Some think there's some power us Priestesses use? There is none. Not the kind that mages and warlocks use. I pray for Inil's guidance and wisdom. Any power she gives? Is really courage, hope and love, thats it. Sometimes it's ze one thing that can change an entire course of history. And any flora and fauna in this world can utilize that..." "But to answer jour question Vax? Bad things happen because this world is free to do so. Without being puppeted by any being, if an Elder were to stop all wrong actions, we would all be their dolls without a soul. Constantly stringged to their bidding. And we know that is not ze case. But that also means we are free to make it a better place...." She lifted her finger, " It is not the Responsibility of ze Elders to make this world a better place. It is ours and it has always been ours. That is divine truth. And if you need guidance how to do that? That is where prayer comes in...." Aleena smiles, "I do not follow Inil because she does things for me. I follow her, because i BELIEVE in Love and Hope. I want to grow them like patches of sunlight that people can embrace. For even in ze most horrific places of the world, hope can be found. Joo have to believe .... that is why I continue what I do. To restore ze light in others, even if I been hurt or destroyed or assassinated...." " That iz...what it means to believe in the Light. "
She points at Vax smiling. "Joo have ze light in you too,...despite everything and how you grew up and the odds, you and two other ones fraught off those scarecrow! That is called courage and hope! To never give in! This is what it means to believe in Inil. Tis not some mystical being,....it's about believing in the light in ourselves. We all carry it everyday, some practice it more than others...it's our choice.." Pressing a hand to her chest, "But she, is inside here,...and in everyone. "
"To be fair I'm probably the only person who can say I took on my particular line of work not out of revenge for myself but because I don't like those to torment the less fortunate. I only robbed the greedy rich and offed those who wish ill will on the innocent. Granted the lines are a bit blurred here a lot of the time but I'm still not going to kill someone without some kind of actual reason." It's common knowledge that he is an assassin, that name on his arm was the first person he's ever killed, granted it was out of spite so the name and his age during the incident are permanently imprinted on his skin to remind him of himself, and to not take an innocent if it's avoidable. Sure he's a lot more desensitized than when he was 8 years old but he still knows his roots. "Have you wondered what the tattoos are for? I always catch people staring a bit when they see them but most wouldn't expect someone my age to have quite this many. They all have a story, but no one's asked."
She peeked at the marking and squinted a bit from her distance, "Can't see it vell? But looks like a protection seal? I actually don't know vhat it is? ..." Seems the little priestess is not in the know of assassins and such or who is one of them. She chuckled sheepishly scraching her chin, "I try not to stare or ask too much! I don't want to appear rude. But if there's a story to tell? I'd like to hear it..."
"The mark on my hand is something I got years ago, it's an assassin's mark but I have a feeling it's exclusive to my old home. I got it after I killed someone who was heckling a punch of the poor folk in my area. Apparently the guy was an assassin target and I took him out first." He held up the underside of his arm so she could see the name and the number. "That one was from when I killed someone the first time. I'm not too proud of the circumstances so I got the name and my age marked on me so I could remember my turning point but at the same time as a reminder to not lose sight of why I do what I do." The Alchemic symbol on his arm was next, it's red and pretty easy to spot. "I do recall an alchemist told me what this was, I forgot the name though. It's kind of funny because it comes up a lot for alchemists. I have a fondness for poison if I have to get my hands dirty hence this tattoo." The crest on his right arm was a bit different though, compared to his other tattoos it seems almost out of place because a family crest would indicate having a family yet Vax stated he was an orphan. "This one is new. I know nothing about my family, yet one day while snooping around I caught wind of a name I remember from the deepest recesses of my brain. It was my mother's name, so some digging let me find her family crest and I got it marked so I would have some idea of my origins, even if there's a chance I won't meet her in my life."
"I see, you seem somewhat proud in what you do even though they seem like scars of the past? To come out strong during times of horror is a great thing. I do not sense ill will in you, simply cautious...." she looked at the crest a bit, "But also, I sense you hope someday,...someone would recognize it don't you? To know where you came from?" she smiled some, having a bit more interest in that one. "Family is very important,...even though joo vill not find her? I hope you have a family still, a community to support and comfort you in great woe. And there is lots of it here...." "Believe it or not, there are many like jourself though? Coming from rough places and committed to occupations like yours. I can't say I agree to your lifestyle,...but I do hope that joo continue ze defense for ze innocent ...and what is truth.." She set aside the wet linen in her hand and pondered. "...do you detest people like me?" she asked suddenly, her expression soft and sincere...
"No, if I don't like someone they will know pretty immediately. There's not point in putting someone on edge for no reason, it's a waste of energy and there's a chance in this world that they may end up saving your life. I get cautious but without actual reason there's no purpose for me to antagonize someone." He's fairly apathetic, honestly his eyes have more emotion than his tone of voice since he's rather monotone in that department but his expression is fairly neutral and kind of warm. "I'm the only assassin you'll meet with both a sense of humor and a sense of humanity, most people kill for the highest bidder but I don't run like that. You haven't given me a reason not to like you and even offered sanctuary should I need some help so if anything I'd be more like to off someone for you than try to do it to you directly." Even if he doesn't share her beliefs, Vax knows Aleena is a genuinely nice person, he has no reason not to be nice to her.
Aleena studied him for a bit, he was hard to read, but she gave a smile reassuringly. "I am happy to hear thiz...you are a frank individual and I am happy joo open up to me I feel I understand who joo are a bit more. We need more transparent individuals in thiz town. But as to your offer? I also truely hope such a thing vill not be needed Vax, but I thank you non ze less..." pressing a hand to her chest in a gesture... She relaxes and begins to set aside the linen one by one in a basket for a moment. "....what do you hope to find here? In the Exiled world? Much will happen in ze next moon, have you not heard?..."
He looked up for a bit, thinking about that as it's a question he hasn't really been asked before. Not once had someone asked what he was hoping to find in this new location, even he isn't really sure to be honest because he's never one for finding stuff, it usually finds him. That's how he got on well with 22 and Joseph and a fair amount of other people so quickly. "That's an excellent question, perhaps something to live for? I never really had anything or anyone to get close to until recently but I don't often look for things or people as much as they just find me by sheer dumb luck or some kind of weird fate. I mean, I know I'm a pretty odd individual given I wasn't scared when the Blood Fae was well within contact range of me on my second day in New Haven."
Aleena tilts her head "I mean anything? A home? A job? A community?...Anything...? It's alright if you have none? I vas curious if joo had any goals? But seems you are content to go with the wind....?"
She frowned a bit "...I would be weary of her, ze Blood Fae,...she can snuff out anyone's life at the flick of a wrist. You may feel apathetic to strong auras,...but that iz one not to mettle with. She consumes blood,...and can control anyone who has blood..."