Wary.  Horror.  Deception.

A moment before, Peck had merely been torn between 'I ought to go; I want to stay', but the conversation that presages the return of the Strangers gives him an altogether different kind of uncomfortableness.  One that he is determined to address, though before he can say anything he finds Ariadne leaning towards him, and can't help but turn towards her ... and that's awkward again, though he couldn't say whether her question of him makes that better or worse.

"Horrors ?  I've heard of them, just tales though, creatures from elsewhere."  Killers, eaters of flesh ... not, that he won't say.  "They always bring woe."

"You know of Horrors ?" the young smith looks away, up to Tralistaire, his tone adding the unspoken 'you've seen them ?  "Is that why you've been so long with the Mayor ?  You bring warning ?"

Shard had started out by thinking about the masters training, but like Yona had fallen asleep at his desk.  Hearing someone enter, he jerks up quickly and looks about slightly embarrassed he had submitted to sleep.

Stretching he looks about, slightly perplexed as to the questions of horrors.

"I'm not sure I understand. Creature of woe from another place? Like Urdon's mind? or like when he throws his socks at us?"
Ariadne whispered to Peck

Her inner monologue was of course rather different.
"I know what Horror is. It's an emotion. Like mothers expression when Angua and Salachia (Ariadne's younger siblings) stole a bag of flour and ran around the house making 'Hogswatch', but a Horror? A creature that bring woe? Sounds too stupid to survive! Where's Chaya? I'm in a mood for a fight... No wait. Mum says girls don't fight. Hmmm... I'm in he mood for righteous retribution. Even if I have to start it. Maybe Flechette will teach me to duel like a lady when we're done with stabbing apples? I better listen what they have to say. Hopefully I can get to use some energy soon."

Ariadne did her best to stop her mind from continuing as she straightened her back and sat up in the attempt to be teachers pet... Or at least appear interested in listening rather than acting.

Horrors.

What an unpleasant turn this took all of a sudden.  The idea of such is unsettling enough that she does not wish to dwell deeper into that particular subject.  As always, trying hard to not think about something in particular usually has the exact opposite effect.

She attempts her best to blend with the wall which she is leaning up against with her back, sincerely hoping that it is not the next 'test', dealing with such... horrors.  For now she would merely observe and take note, practising the better part of survival; passing unnoticed.

Tralistaire pauses for a moment, his smile freezing, caught offguard by Peck's direct question.  "Ah, well, no, nothing so.. specific.  Indeed, the topic didn't come up at lunch, and..." he looks a bit chagrined, "Was not intended to come up here, either.  It's not really an ideal subject for such a pleasant afternoon," he suggests, waving a hand towards the sky, his sleeve trailing gently behind it.

"But yes, indeed," he hurries ahead, "We have confronted a number of Horrors in our days.  Standing before you are none other than Skel'cha'ach's Avengers!"  He draws himself up proudly, as does the Troll, Orm'gha.  The others, too, react to the name, if less noticeably; smiling, straightening slightly; Jenette brushes a strand of hair back.  "We have traveled together more than two years now, and in our time, together and apart, we have done a great deal of good."

"The Scaly Chachaha Avengers?
How come I have never heard of them? What kind of good?
Tell us one of your stories."

Shard, listening to his T'skrang master frowns, as usual, thinking of what the Elementalist had said.  "Who is Skel'cha'ach and why did he or she need to be avenged?" he asked carefully.  "What is this good you speak of?  Good for the group, good for Barsaive, good for your pocketbook?" he asks tapping his fingers against the desk.

Sliding off the boards to stand on the floor, Yona scowls and unhitches her skirt from a projecting splinter, then retrieves her stick.  This is all starting to sound less and less like a good thing.  First it was all we can teach you things, but now it's angling towards talk of danger and horrors unknown.  And the dream still lurks in the back of her mind, making her even more uneasy.

"I never heard of Skel'cha'ach either." she volunteers, "They never lived here, so you need to speak more plainly if you want us to know your meaning.  Start at the beginning... who was Skel'cha'ach?"

Uncertain as to why, Anora felt sort of embarrassed over the fact that she, like the others, had no idea what these names represented.  Not that she was at fault, unless it was merely gossip and not news, but even so she felt as if she had missed something.

Or perhaps Karick's Bend was indeed so backwater that it was embarrassing that way.  She was not certain.

"I'm uh, afraid I-I haven't heard of you.  I-I'm sorry."

Somewhat redundant what with the others sharing similar points, but she feels she ought to say something, however insignificant it may be, as well as apologise, although she was not sure what for.

Peck snorts. "Not as if Karick's Bend gets many visitors who might bring us such news," he notes.  "That's why your arrival caused such a stir.  Tales of long ago are the best we can manage."

"But like my friends, I too would know more of your adventures," he pleads with Tralistaire, eyes shining.

Tralistaire waves his arm again, though Anora's comment makes him smile.  "No, of course not - though our reputation does, I assure you, exist, one could hardly expect it to have spread to a place where neither we, nor, indeed, anyone else, has visited from afar.  Believe me, less isolated towns than this have," he bows his head modestly, "Somehow, overlooked us."

"Right now, I fear, I owe you less an explanation and more an apology; this conversation has quickly ranged beyond my intentions, and appears to be stirring up a good deal more discomfort than is needed.  Perhaps I can alleviate some of this by laying a few more of our cards down, as it were."  He looks to the others, briefly, pausing longest at Orm'gha.

"Skel'cha'ach," he pauses again, and Orm'gha gives a very slight nod, "Soulthinker Bloodsteel," Tralistaire finishes, "Was Orm'gha's younger brother.  His truly is a tale for another time, and not mine to tell, but I may say that he was not an Adept, but simply... young, even younger than yourselves."

Orm'gha's deeper voice interjects, "And then a Horror found him.  And now he is Not."

Tralistaire nods, waiting a moment to see if the Troll is going to continue, and then goes on himself.  "Indeed.  Orm'gha, rather than meekly accepting his loss, set out to avenge his brother; he found others who had been touched by the same Horror, and, in time, we Named ourselves Skel'cha'ach's Avengers, in his memory."

"There is," Calisaren interrupts briefly, "Power in Names."

Nodding, the T'skrang holds onto his thread.  "And there you have our purpose and beginning.  The end, I fear, is yet to be told; we hunt the creature still."  He sighs at that, looking down for a moment, and then shrugs.

"Well, we are nothing if not tenacious," he laughs, and Flechette rolls her eyes.  "And in the meantime, we have done good - a daring exploration here, a dashing rescue there.  Why--"  He breaks off as Jenette stands up suddenly, her head tilted a little to the side.

"We've got another visitor," Jenette says, with a chuckle, quickly hopping up to sit in one of the paneless windowsills along the north wall.  "Who might as well join us."

Listening to the explanation, Yona isn't altogether sure that she believes it.  A group that is actively hunting a Horror.  That's just ridiculous.

But then... why would anybody lie about something so unbelievable?

Jenette goes to look out of the window, and Yona directs her attention, and her questions, to Tralistaire.

"How long have you been searching for this thing?  And why did you come here to find it?  Do you think it's here, or has been here?"

Ariadne was confused.
She had a million questions. Her classmates knew this and just as she inhaled sharply to start her barrage of questions Yona took over with more sensible questions and Tralistaire pulled her short attentionspan to the window.
It was about time Ariadne did something. She had been sitting still for way too long.

From the other side of the window, a surprised looking young elven woman with long dark blue hair and wide violet-grey eyes, stared up at Jenette. "Uh... I'm sorry, miss. I didn't mean to... the walls aren't quite finished and it's rather easy to hear outside," she stammered. "I'll... um... yes... come around..." she said, hurriedly gathering up her long grey skirts and carefully stepping around the carpentry supplies toward the more proper "front" of the school. She couldn't help but be a bit unnerved... did she hear right that they were talking about Horrors? Here? It was a good thing she had come, surely these other town children wouldn't have relayed any of this to her father.

All this talk of Horrors ... and then t their teachers' reactions to whatever lies outside and by the Dark you can be sure that Peck's gaze turns that way and quickly, until he hears Feydra's voice and he can release the breath he didn't even know he was holding.

Inviting her in too ... mirrors what they seem to be saying about there being no shortage of would-be Adepts in the town, for all that everyone has nigh on forgotten what that means.  And underlines that the calling isn't for everyone, matter not their potential.  Kerric for one, though more like the Dwarf is absent because his father forbid him, while Opluriko came, but the dream and all the talk of leaving ... well, he sees the doubt in the T'skrang's eyes now.

"She's the mayor's daughter," the young smith blurts out, meant half as introduction and half as warning for belike every word Feydra hears will go straight to Marawel's ears.

Tralistaire gives Feydra a friendly smile.  "Ah, Feydra, yes?  Your father mentioned you.  It's a pleasure to meet you.  I," he draws in a breath, and is promptly interrupted by Kira.

"Is Tralistaire," she says.  "I'm Kira, that's Calisaren, Flechette, Orm'gha, and Jenette."

Deflating slightly, Tralistaire gives her a mock hurt look.  "Indeed, a most... efficient introduction.  Please, be welcome.  Now, Yona, the answer to your question is simple, and I hope reassuring: We didn't."

Flechette chuckles.  "Remember how you'd never heard of us?" she interjects.  "We'd never heard of you, either."

Tralistaire shrugs.  "Put a bit more politely, our arrival in your fair township was not intentional at all.  And to be clear, we can be certain the Horror we hunt is not here.  Of that you need have no fear whatsoever.  We have been hunting it for just over a year now as a group, though individually Calisaren has been aware of it the longest - she first encountered it nearly fifteen years past, though she was not hunting it for most of that time.  I would say Orm'gha has been actively seeking it the longest, but even there, much of that time was spent in finding allies, for even someone as robust as Orm'gha is wiser than to hunt a Horror alone."

"So that's us.  If we might ask, what brings you, fair Feydra, to grace our afternoon?"

Feydra makes her way to the 'front' proper of the school, as her eyes go wide with the barrage of information. First, Peck completing her introduction for her, followed by the abrupt introduction of all the Strangers, and finally some summary of Horror talk. Her head fairly spinning by the time Tralistaire focuses attention back to her.

Clearing her throat slightly, she lets the bottoms of her skirts drop back to the floor and clasps her hands in front of her, "Apologies for the interruption... I... my Father wished to know if your accommodations were adequate and I have more spare moments to inquire than he does." She hedged a bit, "I'm also glad to hear that your arrival doesn't suggest any danger about our parts," she noted solemnly, as one hand subconsciously reached up to her neck to fiddle with a delicate silver chain partially hidden behind her dress bodice and the wrap across her shoulders, tied across her chest. "Not Horror related ones, anyway...." Suddenly remembering herself, she drops her hand and looks at the Strangers, "How much longer will you be with us? And is there anything else you need?" Her eyes stray to the other town folk in the room, questioningly, as if she's not really sure why any of them are there.

Peck suppresses a grin as Kira efficiently interrupts what would undoubtedly have been a most long-winded introduction by Tralistaire, appreciating the Orc's economy with words as the T'skrang does not.

Though the tenacity of the Strangers in following the trail of the Horror, some of them for almost as many years as he has, both awes and comforts him in terms of the commitment that requires (in equal measure to the fear and revulsion that the thought of such a creature invokes).

In the face of such marvels, the return to the mundane, as Feydra correctly delivers the Mayor's enquiries, is somewhat jarring leaving him much disturbed.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Sun 06 Oct 2019.

Ariadne exhumed and leaned forward over the table. Her pen moved idly to her mouth and started to bite gently on it as if she lacked something to do.
After a few seconds she turned her attention to Peck and mimed silently "What?".
Pen still resting in the corner of her mouth.

Yona hunches down in her seat as Feydra enters, and carefully does not make eye contact with the other girl.  This is hardly surprising, since Yona has spent a relatively large portion of her short life learning that any sort of connection with others is often a bad thing.  Usually resulting in a variety of negative situations.

Insults, threats, cruel jokes, hurt feelings, and occasional violence.  Just to name a few examples.

Still, she pays close attention to what everybody is saying.

Peck notices Ariadne's silent enquiry, but shakes his head, trying to persuade both her and himself that naught is amiss.

Tralistaire raises an eye-ridge amusedly.  "Your father's concern is greatly appreciated," he says, inclining his head.  "We are fine, of course.  Compared to the nights we had to spend high in the windswept peaks of Ustrect, almost anything is comfortable, and this," he gestures grandly to the half-built walls, "Is luxury.  Of course, the mountains were the worst for me, perhaps leading to an unfair comparative," he allows, looking over the other Strangers with concern.  "Does anyone here find this schoolhouse to be untenably abominable?"

Jenette chuckles.  "What, after the swamp?" she asks.  "I don't think so."

Calisaren wrinkles her nose.  "It was the sewer for me.  Ugh," she shudders.

Llewendan stretches, shaking his head and leaning back against the wall.  "I'm comfortable anywhere," he demurs.

Kira cocks her head, looking at him skeptically.  "What, even in the Badlands?" she asks.  He shrugs.

Tralistaire lets the silence sit for a beat, until it's clear that neither Orm'gha nor Flechette are going to deign to join in the fun.  "Well, I believe we all find our circumstances tolerable, and the people of your town quite welcoming.  But in speaking with your father," he turns his attention back to Feydra, "It came out that until the building is finished and something more formal might be arranged, teaching is generally done by anyone who has time and something to teach, and attended by anyone who is interested.  We... have both of the former, and some of your peers, to our unending delight, have turned out to be the latter."

Calisaren flutters up briefly, hovering at eye-level and looking at Faydra curiously.  "What about you?" she asks, curiously.  "If you could learn anything at all, what would it be?"

Yona sits a little straighter and listens with interest as the visitors discuss other places they have been, and compare them to their current location.  And mentally, she agrees with them.  She, herself, has been in far worse places (in fact, many of those places have been among her various homes over the years).

The question for Feydra really draws her attention though - what is the mayor's daughter interested in learning?

And following that comes a dreadful thought... What if Jenette needs to abandon me, to teach her instead?

Feydra listens curiously as the Strangers discuss the other places they'd been, her eyes going wide as they start naming names. "All the places on the maps..." she says quietly. She almost seems shaken when Tralistaire looks back at her. "Uh, yes, that's how learning here works... mostly...." she turns to look over Ariadne, Puck, and yes, Yona again, silently wondering what they were studying. Calisaren fluttering past her steals her attention away again, "What would I...?" She seems wholly caught off guard by the question. "Well, I... I have tutors that come teach me... politics and trade, mostly. And social conduct. Sometimes I sit in on meetings...." She looks around at nothing in particular, seemingly trying to find the correct answer wedged in the corners of the half-built room.