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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Oct 13, 2009 20:40:03 GMT -5
Travel was always as travel did... usually at whatever pace one foot landed in front of the other. No real hurry ... especially since he had no real clue where in the world he was headed. He never had. He just ... had a mission, and that was it. No destination. So one thin-worn boot landed in front of the other in a steady fashion. Every great now and again the youth wearing them would hop-skip in a jovial fashion. Not a care in the world, it was for sure! A knapsack was slung over his shoulder, dangling from a finger or two at his shoulder. What was in the knapsack was anyone's guess ... usually whatever he'd pilfered along the way.
Travel wasn't free, after all.
He paused for a moment as the Weyr came into view ... at the end of the very road he was walking. For that moment, he just looked up at the outside of the massive mountain of a structure. "Wow." he remarked.
He'd seen Weyrs before, been in them, too. Most definitely. Excellent places to pilfer a few things before moving on ... but never before had one snuck up on him before.
So that's why there were so many dragons in the sky, lately!
Shrugging slightly, he hop-skipped one more time, before resuming the steady, ground-eating pace that had gotten him this far around the planet. It was not long at all before he reached the bowl entrance. And just as if he belonged there, he slipped right around the edge in the most casual of fashions, headed straight for the storerooms. Or at least the most likely looking entrance that might lead to them. Where he could get some new supplies.
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Post by Spirithawk on Nov 25, 2009 22:58:48 GMT -5
Mneith was waiting for his rider outside the Lower Caverns. The toddlers were clambering upon his legs and tail but he didn't mind. They didn't weigh much. He saw someone walking around that was new. There had been a lot of newcomers in the weyr, but all of them had come to his rider sooner or later as a Candidate.
He poked his massive nose into the storeroom and let out a questioning bugle to catch the lad's attention.
We have a newcomer at the Weyr mine. He looks like he's lost.
Rhia stuffed another of the twins's toys into her knapsack. The toys kept finding their way all over the weyr where people could trip over them.
Coming.
She walked out in the direction of the opening Mneith was waiting at. "Hello there. Sorry if this big lout scared you."
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Nov 25, 2009 23:07:22 GMT -5
Honam paused mid-stride, one foot still in the air, before both brows shot up his forehead. Well, that was fast. He hadn't planned on getting found so fast. But then, maybe he should have tried an entrance a bit farther away from jungle-gym dragons. Usually they ignored him, which is why he hadn't gone to any trouble to particularly avoid the large creature. Finally he lowered the foot back to the ground, and snapped off a crooked grin. "Aw, it's no trouble. I'm not scared of dragons. Mighty fine beast that he is!" He said jovially, with a nod and partial bow from the hips toward the brown.
"I was just on my way past is all." He assured her, without actually betraying what he was up to. For all the world he just dripped in confidence, not betraying that he had just gotten caught. But caught at what? He hadn't even done anything yet, so he had nothing to fear. Nothing at all. "'Tis a g'day, eh?"
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Post by Spirithawk on Nov 25, 2009 23:29:32 GMT -5
"It's promising to be a scorcher. But that's usual for these parts. You aren't from around here. Your accent marks you as a Northerner, at least by birth." Rhia's voice was matter of fact as she scanned the lad. He wasn't from the Weyr and Christae hadn't sent her transfer papers so he wasn't here officially as a Candidate.
"I'm Rhia, Weyrlingmaster, Candidatemaster, and rider of brown Mneith. That's the big lug over there." She jerked her chin in the direction of her dragon.
I didn't mean to scare him. I just wanted to know what he was up to. He looked lost.
Rhia's eyes unfocused as her dragon spoke and then focused back on the young man before her.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Her grey eyes were curious. Not many travelers made it this far, and most of them announced their presence right away. She'd have to mention to Christae that the watch dragon was losing his touch. The lad had waltzed right past him.
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Nov 27, 2009 2:43:27 GMT -5
Honam tilted his head a bit, considering the brown dragon as the woman spoke. Finally, his eyes came to rest upon her face again once she finished, and he grinned. "You like to stay busy, don't you, ma'am?" He asked, completely ignoring her comments about where he was from. Candidatemaster, Weyrlingmaster, and a rider. My. Either she was a serious workaholic, or she had a dominance issue where she just got a kick out of bossing people around. Either way, Honam didn't plan on sticking around. He was allergic to both work and dominance games.
"Ahhh .... I was just passing through. I do need some new shoes, though." He pointed at his worn-out soft leather knee high boots. Something else he'd pilfered along the way from someone. They had been very nice boots at the time. Now ... they were just ... there. Rather worn out. How many pairs of shoes he'd burned through, he had no idea. He'd lost count a couple turns back. Not that it had been all that important. "Oh, and have you by perchance seen my uncle?" Nevermind he hadn't a clue who his uncle was ... or a name. It was really just a token question he asked everyone he met, leaving them rather confused when he couldn't supply the uncle's name.
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Post by Spirithawk on Nov 28, 2009 20:25:15 GMT -5
"Liking doesn't have much to do with it with Thread coming closer every day. It's more necessity. However, I do like teaching so my positions work for me. I just wish I had someone to take the Candidate Master position from me."
She paused. "Rehan! Don't you dare jump off Mneith!" She put her hands on her hips and glared at her son. "Isn't your father supposed to be taking you today?"
"Nith big! Da go bye," Rehan babbled.
The little girl ran from the dragon to tug on her mother's riding leathers. "Up."
"No Giana love. You're getting too big to go up. Mneith will hold you." The brown obligingly put his forearm down for the girl to climb. He didn't mind the little hatchlings.
"It's a good way out for you to be just passing through lad. As far as the shoes go, we have a Master Tanner here that could fix some new ones for you. If ye don't have the marks for it, we could work something out with him for you to do some work to pay for them." Her gaze was shrewd. She hadn't gotten where she was without catching on to things.
"Your uncle? A name and a description might help lad considering I don't know who you are."
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Nov 29, 2009 17:32:40 GMT -5
Honam's mouth quirked off to the side as he shifted his weight to the other foot, scratching the back of his head as he stared off into the distance. Work. Ugh. That was not what he wanted to do. Not when it was so much easier to pilfer whatever he needed! "It's not too far out. There are cotholds all over the place. Not to mention regular Holds." He pointed out. "I just follow the roads wherever they go, and there was a road coming here. So ... here I ended up." He shrugged slightly, free hand dropping back to his side as he shifted back over to his other foot.
"I don't have a name or description." Honam admitted. "I wasn't given that information before I was sent out." He wasn't stupid, no - he knew he'd been sent on a wild goose chase. But he also knew that it was for a good reason, whatever that reason might be. His mother didn't just send him out like that for no reason at all. But at the same time, he was going to honor her request, even if only in passing. For there was one thing he didn't know: that he didn't even have an uncle.
He shot a glance over at the kids clambering around on the dragon as if the giant predator were nothing more than a glorified junglegym, before his gaze returned to Rhia. His mind started cooking along on a new tack, trying to figure out how to get away from this shrewd woman before she either figured him out or put him to work. Either would be a bad thing, in his mind. Why work?
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Post by Spirithawk on Nov 29, 2009 23:08:01 GMT -5
Rhia raised an auburn eyebrow. "Not that far out? Lad, this Weyr is at least a couple hour's ride from the nearest hold. We aren't in any main route to any major hold either. So either you got lost, were looking for the Weyr, or you are wandering around where you shouldn't be."
"That's odd. Why look for someone when you don't have a name or a description?" She looked him over again. "What is your trade lad?" She didn't like the fact that he was avoiding saying much about himself. There had been reports of renegades in the vicinity and Rhia didn't want a repeat of the last renegade attack on the weyr.
OOC: Short I know
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Nov 30, 2009 12:00:17 GMT -5
Honam shrugged. "There's a road, ain't there? I have no idea where all the roads go. I just follow them. It's not like I have a map in my possession, or anything." He pointed out. Where roads went, so to did people. And since he was looking for a person? Seemed logical to him. "It's not like I'm wandering aimlessly through fields and woods." Just wandering aimlessly on roads, yeah, that was all! "I wasn't aware there was anywhere I wasn't allowed to go." Honam answered. Which was borderline true. As far as travel went. People's lodgings ... that was a whole other story that he didn't care to get into with this woman.
"Simple. Me mam told me to." He answered, sidestepping the question about trade. "She wants me to find her brother, and I aim to do just that. She's sick, see, and - well - surely you know how these things go." He shrugged, trying his hardest to look concerned and worried. But it'd been so long since he was home that he didn't even know if his mother was even still alive or not anymore. Likely as not, she was passed on by now.
In an effort to escape this rather... uncomfortable situation ... Honam cast her a jaunty grin, partial salute, and started trying to edge his way out. "Sorry to have bothered ya, M'arm." There had to be other ways of getting some decent shoes than word-sparring with this ... difficult ... person.
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Post by Spirithawk on Nov 30, 2009 17:33:12 GMT -5
Rhia raised an eyebrow. "Wait one minute. This weyr isn't open to the public. Either you have legitimate business here or you don't. If you do, then I will lead you to where you need to be. If you don't, I will escort you on your way with some food."
Be alert.
I am. Mneith pushed Rehan off gently behind his tail so that the lad was not in the way. He nosed Giana behind him as well.
"If it is shoes you need, we can go see P'rin. He's our Master Tanner. He can help you." She had dealt with a lot of students trying to edge their way out of lessons. This lad was making all the alarm bells ring in her mind, especially with the hint of renegades in the area.
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Dec 1, 2009 13:23:36 GMT -5
"It's not?" He asked, genuinely shocked. "People come and go from Weyrs all the time ... I thought." Most certainly he'd easily wandered in and out of them before without anyone getting all twitchy at his simply being there. But then ... that was in the North. Apparently, more than just the weather was different here in the South! "Alright, alright. Food and shoes, yes that's good. Ah ... you'd have to point me on, then, cause I only saw the one road." He added.
Hopefully they weren't going to ask him for marks for the stuff ... gifts were nice. Honam didn't really have but one or two marks on him. Carrying marks around was downright dangerous in these times, after all.
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Post by Spirithawk on Dec 2, 2009 13:35:53 GMT -5
"Weyrs are not as open to the public as you think. People come and go because they have valid business there. We are out of the way here. Usually we just get runners or our tithe trains and the occasional crafter."
She gestured for him to follow her. Hopefully P'rin was in the room that had been allotted to him for his leather craft. She didn't think Christae had assigned the bronzerider to another mission just yet.
Mneith, is Kilzanth still there
He is on his ledge.
Thanks
"We haven't much to offer. The hurricane depleted many supplies in this part of Southern. We can offer some dried fish and bread. We also have some fruit, but not much else right now. Some of our dragon are out hunting but they won't be back for a while." She gathered the food she had mentioned and placed it in a sack. "Here you go. Now let's go find P'rin."
The brownrider's well-worn boots barely made a sound on the smooth stone floor. She had a quick, purposeful stride. Nearly everything about her was no-nonsense. She knocked on the door to one of the craftsmen's rooms.
She heard a muffled 'come in' and opened the door. The dark-haired bronzerider was in a tangle of leathers, holding a knife between his teeth as he lined up pieces of hide to punch holes and sew them together to mend a piece.
"Who broke their straps this time?" She had remembered the near-death experience one of their riders had after not checking his straps properly. She saw P'rin glance up and then he tipped his head up to indicate the knife in his teeth.
Rhia strode forward and took the knife from him. "Should you really be doing that?"
"I know what I'm doing. And Oreth caught a claw in his straps and tore them, luckily not completely. He was able to land and get K'sor down safely. He glanced at Honam behind the WLM. "Who's this?"
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Dec 2, 2009 23:11:55 GMT -5
Honam followed her rightly enough and watched in silence as she packed a back with stuffs far nicer than anything he could have pilfered on his own. Right out of the larder itself! He was going to eat like a Lord for a while, that was for sure! The shards-eating grin on his face was really hard to hide, but he gratefully took the food she gave him, quickly tucking it into his own sack before it could be taken away again. Marvelous!
The next stop had him a tad more nervous again, though, as he followed her through the halls. Put bluntly, the woman scared him. Everything about her scared him. She was one that could get him into some deep trouble so fast he wouldn't know what hit him. And do it all with a smile, he was pretty sure.
When he entered the craftroom that was occupied by the fellow that could supposedly supply shoes, Honam shot a quick glance around the room, noting not only liftable items, but also quick ways out. Unfortunately, being in the heart of a Weyr? There weren't terrible many ways out. Much less quick. His gaze eventually settled upon the bronzerider, though. "Hello. I'm Honam." Honam answered, simply.
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Post by Spirithawk on Dec 13, 2009 16:07:58 GMT -5
The bronzerider brushed a strand of blue-black hair away from his eyes. He looked keenly at the lad with bright, pale blue eyes. "P'rin, rider of bronze Kilzanth, Master Tanner. Looks like you've been a long way." He carefully set his work down."Those shoes have seen better days. They weren't meant for long term traveling anyway."
What do you think Kil?
Ask Priath. The bronze sent an image of his dark green clutch-mate.
You're no help.
Do I look like a Searchdragon? The dragon went back to his nap.
His eyes refocused. "What can I help you with today?"
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Dec 22, 2009 22:23:41 GMT -5
What a mouthful of a name and title. Honam wondered how a person could remember all that much and keep it all straight. Did people really go around introducing themselves in such a fashion to everyone they met? It must get tiring. Get through saying who you were, and your jaw would be all tired out! Sheesh. Whether or not that was normal for people or not, he didn't know, as he tended to not hang around the upper classes... they weren't nearly as much fun.
"I have walked many a league, yeah." Honam agreed, before passing weight from one foot to the other and glancing at the sole of one boot. "Actually, this was her idea." He threw a thumb at Rhia, and shrugged. "But I started out looking for some new boots. Got a ways yet to go, see."
Simple enough, that. Hopefully they weren't trying to trap him into actually paying for anything... he really didn't have inclination or time for that sort of nonsense!
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Post by Spirithawk on Dec 28, 2009 23:04:09 GMT -5
"Traveler eh? Are you a journeyman of a craft, or just drifting until you find your way?" It had been many Turns since P'rin had wandered, trying to find a craft because he didn't really fit in at home, but the memories hadn't faded all that much.
"Well it is a very good idea, shoes are important, especially since you're from the North and probably aren't quite used to our climate and our various flora and fauna. It's too easy for you to step on something and catch fire head or something equally unpleasant."
His practiced eye gaged the size of the lad's foot. "I don't have any shoes made right now, but it shouldn't take me more than a few hours to get some made up. In the mean time, I'm certain no one would mind giving you a chance to rest and bathe."
The bronzerider glanced at the WLM. He caught Rhia's brief frown, but when the WLM didn't object, he smiled. "I'll need to measure your foot. Those shoes didn't look to be the right size."
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Dec 29, 2009 13:47:13 GMT -5
"Actually ... I'm looking for someone." Honam replied. "I haven't found them yet." He ventured forward, glad that it seemed he was going to get some shoes anyway. He'd just roll with the punches, whatever he could figure to do, whatever came his way. "I didn't have time or resources to get any custom made, no ... I just got whatever there was to get." Honam explained, before finding a place to sit and start working the shoes off. He'd gotten used to wearing them, so they hadn't really bothered him much. But like any other lad that wasn't done growing, his hands and feet appeared a tad bigger than there were supposed to be... which meant he'd crammed them into the boot and frankly made them fit.
It was a tad embarrassing, though, to reveal he hadn't been wearing any socks... not that socks would have fit in those boots, either ...
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Post by Spirithawk on Dec 31, 2009 16:58:26 GMT -5
"Searching for someone? I wish you the best of luck on your search then. If ever you're in the vicinity of Kabor hold, farther to the west, you should talk to my Master Kandor. He might be able to help you find the person you are looking for. He travels a lot but he is stationed there for now."
He took the old leather shoes, frowning. These wouldn't even be worth salvaging. How they managed to protect the lad's feet, he didn't know. "Well, these might not be the best that you'll find, but I don't make my shoes to fall apart after the first mile. I could make better ones, but I don't have the material and you'd have to wait at least a sevenday for the hide I need to cure."
"How old are you?" He took the lad' measurements, tossing the old shoes off to the side. He wouldn't need them for now. The weyrbrats ran around barefoot, so it wouldn't hurt him to be barefooted.
"If you're still growing I'll give you a pair that is a bit bigger so you have room to grow."
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Post by Marnark’tranarprol on Jan 1, 2010 1:36:14 GMT -5
"I'll be sure to do that, if I ever end up there. I prolly will, eventually ... I just don't know when." Honam answered. Master Kandor. He'd have to remember that name. Not that the man would be liable to be able to help any at all ... Honam knew he was on a pointless search. Especially considering he didn't even know a name to be looking for. Who knew? He might even be on the wrong continent. Quite likely, that.
"It's been a long time since I had shoes that only lasted a mile." Honam answered, a crooked grin on his face. "Most last at least ten." He added, in jest. Even old, used shoes tended to last pretty well, as most things were made to last - even if they were only apprentice made. "Only a sevenday, sir? I thought hides took longer than that to cure?"
"... I'm 18 turns, sir. I think. Not really sure - the seasons here are all backward, if you know what I mean." Came the tentative answer. "I am told I've got a bit of growing to do, yet. But I doubt it'd be anything drastic." He twitched a bit when his boot landed on the floor in a rather final fashion. Barefoot. Great. It was great that he was going to be getting new shoes, but ... sheesh. This meant he was going to have to stick around. So much for a quick in and out and be gone before anyone knew he was there! Well ... maybe it was worth it. "Thank you, sir." He answered, staring at his discarded boot and trying to sort out his thoughts. He'd thrown shoes away, before, it wasn't that. It was just... he usually had the replacements in hand before he threw the old ones out.... it was disturbing, really.
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Post by Spirithawk on Jan 4, 2010 12:59:50 GMT -5
P'rin spoke as he worked. He measured the lad's foot and then began sifting through the cured hides he already had to find the ones he had in mind. He could already see the make of the boot in his head. He had some tough hide he could layer to form the base and some softer hide to line it and then a slightly tougher hide to form the sides. "How high do you want them to hit when laced?"
He flashed the lad a crooked grin. "I'm certain these will last more than 10. If they don't you come find me and I'll either fix them or replace them." He took pride in his work.
"It does need more than a sevenday, depending on what method I use. The hide I need has been curing. It isn't ready yet though. I could send a message to the Hall for some, but it would cost me. I prefer to use my own hides. It is cheaper that way. Kilzanth is usually very careful with his kills so that I can salvage the hide from them. Wherhide, I have to get from a vendor. Not to mention, some methods of tanning cure hides faster here in the South than they do in the north. Our weather is hotter, we just have to make sure the humidity doesn't make the hides mildew. I also have ready access to salt water here for the salt I need for the process. I cure some of my hides with brine."
P'rin realized that Honam might not be interested in what he was talking about, so he didn't go into detail. "18? Then I'll make them just a bit bigger so that you can wear them a little longer when you grow. I grew a bit when I was 18 Turns. Not that it was that long ago."
P'rin worked quickly but deftly as he began cutting and working the hides he wanted to use. "If you want to bathe, perhaps we can impose upon Rhia to show you where you can do that? Clothes dry pretty quickly here too if you want to clean the travel dust off them."
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