Parking
Tenebrae - Sunday, April 19, 2015, 6:14 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--<* A06: Lower Alexandrian Gardens District *>=--=--=--=--=--=-
The city is divided, unofficially, into Upper Alexandria and Lower Alexandria. The Upper resides further up on the slope of the mountain, and rests to the east of the great river. The Lower resides to the west of it, and if the Lower could be said to have a heart, this verdant park might be its center.
Amid all the bustle of the Lower City, its Gardens District provides a peaceful respite. The warmth of Althea holds sway here, and though Daeus receives the occasional nod, this is clearly Her domain. She shares it with Dana, in the verdant green of this area. Vines and trees, remain green no matter the season and numerous flowers bloom along the park's walkways. Faerie-light lanterns hang from branches and along hedgerows.
A number of shops may be found here, most notably the city hospital, for which the park was originally built. Though now open to the public, the gardens by and large, remain underneath the hospital's care. However, in the Althean tradition, much of the work is provided by volunteers.
It's mid-day, and Iuitl has found a seat near the Soldier's Defense. It's there that she's offering healing -- after making sure the Althean healers approve of it -- for those who just have minor damage like bruises or small cuts. She even set up a sign near where she's sitting... written in Draconic, Sylvan and Tradespeak. When she isn't talking to people wandering up to the Soldier's Defense and finding her on the way, she is relaxing in the sunlight that shines against her black-scaled face, her tail twitching behind her like a comfortable cat.
Godwyn gives a nod toward any passerby as she stands guard, armed and armored. She glances toward the sith for a moment, taking in her features. "Dragon's wings shelter. You're quite good at that."
Munch isn't hurt, that's for other people. Or so he tells himself until the next time he bumps into a tough fight. But this particular day the metal man is hale and healthy, wandering the garden in idle curiousity, pausing to read over the Draconic sign. (A few might be susprised to learn that yes, he can read)
The remark from Godwyn gets the relaxed Sith to look over in that direction. Iuitl's mellow gaze looks at the sentinel for a few thoughtful seconds. "Wings shelter," she replies, "Thank you for the kind words. I am simply doing this because I want to be helpful." She nods at Godwyn, and distractedly turns her attention to Munch. "Wings shelter. May I help you?" She has a very gentle, deliberate voice, very unfitting for a Sith and very appropriate to someone inclined toward healing others.
Iuitl and Godwyn stand before the Soldier's Defense, each helping in their own ways. The Sentinel has struck up a conversation with again, someone she has never met before, and thus has taken most of her interest... or at least, as much as a guard can have. "Indeed. Althea blesses those who would heal. Your name?"
Munch blinks, his actual wings fluttering a little as he reads over the simple sign listing Iuitl's services. "I am well, thank you. Was just curious, few bother to scribe outside tradespeak. Well, other than the scrawl in Gobber Town, and the occasional shoppe posting in elvish to try and look fancy." Most of thsoe signs are actually mis-spelled.
Kyson is out and about in the city, either delivering messages for the masters at the Academy or picking up his own supplies to continue his research. As if he needed to announce his arcane profession, a disk of blue-white energy floats behind him carrying a large basket. The disk hovers about a knee's height off the ground and follows at a comfortable distance. It would seem that he needed to collect more than his arms could carry today. The reference to Althea gathers his attention if only a bit as he walks. So many different sights and sounds here in the city - far different from the small village where he was raised.
Kiroth comes to the soldier's defense as he does almost every night to use the blessing that the Shining Knight have granted him. He nods to Munch, Godwyn, Iuitl and Kyson, "Greetings."
Iuitl responds to Godwyn's question, "I am Iuitl of the Tlanextic," and gives a respectful nod at the guard. Munch's curiosity gets more thought. "Is it not normal to do this?" she wonders, apparently having no clue, thus becoming terribly confused. She looks at the sign thoughtfully. "I saw other signs in other languages... I wanted more to understand what I was here for." The sign just describes cheap, quick healing service, it's not very complex. The others arriving get a glance. Kiroth only gets a nod in greeting, Iuitl trying not to split her attention too much.
Kyson nods to Kilroth and lets his eyes drift over the small gathering of others - noting the exotic appearances and foreign dialects. The floating disk halts as he halts, floats as he moves - like a loyal pet carrying a load for its master. With a faint glance behind him to make sure the basket and sack which sits atop it are still where they should be. "Greetings," he calls a bit louder than a normal, conversational, tone as if to announce his presence.
Munch shrugs. "I think most are just too lazy to write more than tradespeak. They assume everyone can read that. Or maybe I'm just not looking at the right signs. Anyway, Munch TerrorMaw, Golem Who Eats." He nods greeting to those gathered, familiar and no.
Godwyn says nothing as she places a hand on her chin, trying to place then name. Then she nods. "Quite interesting name, that. I'm Godwyn, Sentinel of Althea." She bows, just enough. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Kiroth nods his head as he moves up towards the others, "And I am Sunblade Kiroth. What brings the rest of you here? I am here to share the blessing of healing that the Shining Knight has bestowed upon me."
The name that Iuitl hears from Munch gets a few blinks. His appearance was a bit of an oddity for her already, but after that she is completely at a loss. "Ahh... I dislike laziness," she says to him, distractedly. The arrival, and greeting, of Kyson and Kiroth get more attention then, after a pleasant nod to Godwyn. "The same as you, Sunblade," she tells him, "I am offering healing." She pats the sign gently. She has a gentle and deliberate voice, practiced to avoid hissing at people, and fairly appropriate for a healer.
Kyson is content, for the moment, to hang at the fringe of the conversational group - or he was until Kiroth spoke. A knight of the Platinum Dragon...interesting. As if someone spoke his name or perhaps tugged on his shirt, the young apprentice suddenly glances up and over his left shoulder to a perch on one of the nearby buildings. There, silent and ever-watchful, a simple barn owl bobs its head a few times as if acknowledging something. "Tell me, Sunblade...have you ever seen true evil?"
The question, by the tone of the young man's voice, seems more inquisitive than accusatory.
Laziness...
Godwyn takes a closer look at the diminuitive Sith, and takes note of what she's wearing. Not even what's around her neck, the color of her robes. The tone of her voice. Even the manner of her dress. But it's the admission of a dislike for laziness that gets her.
"Ah, the Forgetful Dragon... Father Time." She smiles. "A good choice, that. So you seek to learn?"
Munch blinks with a soft click, peering at Kyson. "'Evil'? Plenty around, though 'true' evil gets complex. Deamons from the void, undead risen in hate, avatars of a madd Goddess wannabe, pretty sure thay all count. You seeking something in particular?"
Kiroth nods, "Good to know that others will lend their blessing to those that don't have it." He looks at Kyson, "I have confronted many who have chosen to do evil and done battle with them as have Godwyn and Munch here, in a city such at Alexandria there is no shortage of evil that wishes to gain a foothold in the city."
Iuitl expresses visible surprise at Godwyn, her tail thumping once and her posture straightening. "Yes. That is why I came to Alexandria. I learn by speaking to the people I give healing to, so I may bring understanding back to my tribe," she explains, and seems very delighted that it was brought up. "The library is very enjoyable. There was nothing of the same nature in Am'shere."
"Forgetful Dragon teaches me much," she concludes.
Godwyn smiles and turns her full attention toward Iuitl. Perhaps guard duty can wait, there are other Lancers and Sunblades about. "And Althea has much to teach me as well, I admit. It's good to spread true knowledge about things to others. But it takes no small measure of compassion to heal. You seem to be in abundance of that."
Kyson hrms audibly and shrugs a shoulder, taking a step towards the Knight, the floating disk pausing for a moment before following. "I ask about 'true' evil because of something that I read at the Academy and it confused me. I was curious what your view was as a Sunblade. Forgive my tone if it was taken wrongly..." he excuses and then adds, "...it was only meant to clarify and to learn."
Munch shrugs. "The only stupid questions are funny when you're drunk. If you wanna know something, ask. You're bound to learn something from it."
Kyson nods, approving of Munch's sentiment. One need only spy the crescent moon medallion around his neck to see that the young man is a follower of Eluna - no wonder he has questions. "I can't say that I've ever been drunk, sir - but I believe that I am still searching an answer to my question." The slender wooden staff in his hand holds his weight for a moment as he leans forward and rests the top-most portion on his shoulder and wraps his arms around it as though he were holding a lover to his breast. "So many...questions," he mutters and then looks up to the others. "but please...don't let me dim your mood. I'm sure that you have stood firm in the face of such foes."
Iuitl's next words are more somber. "Forgetful Dragon has lost his compassion, and forgotten the bond with his deepest friends. It is, in itself, a lesson: Compassion is too easily lost, when searching for wisdom." She touches the sign again, and tells Godwyn, "Even in my most ancient days, in the future, I never wish to forget compassion... and someday, I hope He remembers what it meant." Her tail thumps again.
Godwyn grins. "You know what? I think we'll get along just fine, Iuitl." She reaches over to place a hand on her right shoulder. "May I never forget my heart either in the pursuit of what I aim for. It's what I've been trying to remember."
Kiroth hmms, 'What did you read at the Academy that has you asking about true evil?" He wonders curiously, "I would say that the lack to fight against evil and to just stand by do nothing."
Munch buzzes quietly. "Forge your own path. Don't let others hold you back from it, or lead you to places you don't want to go. But remember those who's paths have crossed yours, or who travel with you for a time."
The sight of the golem with its scaley skin and gears and such draws Kyson out of his self-imposed fugue. Though the city may have a fair number of his 'kind' around, the one before him seems a bit different if any similarity could be made amongst walking machines. The question posed to him, however, redirects his attention over towards Kiroth. "Oh...there was a description of the fall of Rune - and of the destruction of one of their great libraries," he begins. The young man's hand reaches up to fiddle with the crescent-moon of his amulet as if muttering a mental prayer while the image of burning buildings crawl into his mind once more. "I asked one of the other Masters about it and they said it was 'True Evil'...to destroy knowledge and it got me to think."
The words from Godwyn make Iuitl seem very bashful, following silent all except for the rumbling noise she makes toward the sentinel. "Thank you," she manages to say, bowing her head to the guard in gratitude. The touch seemed to have triggered this, more than anything else.
Munch buzzes. "Knowledge is what you leave behind when your physical part is gone. What you did, what you said, what you discovered, for good or ill. To destroy knowledge is to kill immortality. But, are some things best lost."
Kiroth nods, "Well Rune wasn't totally lost, and it still isn't lost as they fight against the Dran. They are diminished from the lost of their God, but they have bounced back under Eluna."'
Godwyn sighs and removes her right hand. "Please, no need to feel so discomforted around me. I'd like us to be friends." She gives her an encouraging smile, or at least, what she hopes Iuitl sees as one. "Would you like that?"
Kyson nods and glances up to check the sun's position in the sky. He must quicken his steps if he's to return. "A point well made but...I need to make my deliveries before I can continue trading tales." With a polite bow he excuses himself and heads down the street.
"Very much so," Iuitl replies, delighted again, in her very subdued way. The diminutive Sith decides to pack up her sign, having not received any customers for a while now. Setting it aside, she directs her full attention to Godwyn. "Are you from this city?" she wonders at Godwyn, less awkward now that she's moving the conversation along.
Godwyn bows her head, just enough. "Been here for three years of my young life... but no. Not from here. You'll find that many aren't from here, just as many as were born here." She pauses for a moment considering. "Shamed as I am to say it, I'm from Charn. Not the best place to grow up."
Kiroth nods a little bit, "Of course, be safe." He says and he looks to Godwyn, "You're sword is mysteriously quiet tonight Godwyn, I thought those with items that could talk were hardly quiet."