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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 20:00:29 GMT -5
"Archery!" Ivona exclaimed, perhaps a bit more enthusiastically than she had intended. "Um, and horseback riding. And dog sledding sometimes," she added, trying to be a bit more proper. "I've been bear hunting a couple times as well. It's fun, but getting close to the bear at the end can be scary."
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 8, 2016 20:06:37 GMT -5
"Bear hunting? And archery? You are plenty talented! Kija here is quite the archer himself. Archery is common here, it's easiest to hunt that way." Malie was actively engaged in the conversation and was interested in what she had to say "I have heard of dog sledding as well. Not many kingdoms in the warmer areas get to see it."
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 20:13:03 GMT -5
"I wouldn't imagine so. It requires a lot of snow. Anything less than about three feet and you risk hitting rocks and toppling the sled," Ivona replied, eager to share her knowledge. She was also excited to hear that archery was common here. While it wasn't uncommon in Dreisten, and most people could use a bow to some degree, the majority of people preferred closer-range weapons like swords and axes, since most weapons were meant for self-defense in an emergency and not hunting. Most meat in Dreisten, after all, came from domestic herds and not from the wild.
Arun, on the other hand, sat back and simply enjoyed his meal, content to let Ivona do the talking. He wasn't a particularly social sort, especially not to those he had just met. And besides, his interests tended to be more specific, to the degree that people often didn't know what he was talking about, or didn't care, or both, and so he had learned to just sit back and let others do the talking when possible.
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 8, 2016 20:20:49 GMT -5
"Oh, I never would have thought about that. But now that you tell me it makes sense." Malie smiled warmly, saving the information for later use "Do you use your dogs for transportation? Or perhaps you race with them?" they had falcons which were used for hunting and to carry information.
Kija yawned and picked at his meal. With all the attention on his mom he could afford to relax a little.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 20:28:27 GMT -5
Ivona nodded. "Yes, both. Races are pretty common, and a lot of people travel with them in the winter. They're faster than horses in the winter because they're much lighter and can travel over the snow, so unless you're transporting something very heavy or a lot of something, they're more efficient. Arun's dog that be brought, Agnar, was born to be a sled dog, actually."
Arun glanced up at the mention of his dog. "Yes, his mother is actually a very expensive and pedigreed sled dog. She escaped and bred with a wolf, though. Because of that Agnar and his littermates weren't able to be pedigreed, so I got him practically for free. He's a good dog," he finished simply, returning to his meal.
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 8, 2016 20:41:15 GMT -5
"He sounds very reliable." Malie took a bite from her meal and washed it down with a sip from her water. Her eyes flicked to her son and husband who had said nothing. They both looked interested, but were saying nothing. Attention back on the Princess she said "Your dogs remind me a lot of our main transportation. Our falcons are used to share info with our villages that are farther away."
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 20:48:16 GMT -5
Ivona nodded. "Yes, I think Prince Kija said something about that before. I imagine that makes sending messages very quick. Even with our dogs, sending messages to the closest city and having a message returned takes at least a day."
(sorry for the short reply)
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 8, 2016 20:52:24 GMT -5
It's all good ^^ )
"Sled dogs may be fast, but flight is faster." she agreed "Depending on the village we can have a reply within hours to within minutes. Our farthest village takes perhaps a days flight there and back." Malie turned to Arun now and asked "Prince Arun, I have heard much from your sister. What about you? What do you spend your free days doing?" she was unsure if they shared interests, or had completely different ones.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 21:14:30 GMT -5
Arun looked up, careful to hide his distaste at being called attention to. He sat back, frowning as he considered the question. "I'll admit my interests are rather fickle," he replied after a few seconds, shrugging. "So I do whatever is within my reach and fancy that particular day. The trends that have remained more or less consistent.... if I have a few days, I may head to the nearby mountains with Isi and Agnar to camp and hunt. If I have less time, I'm content to go to the river that flows through the capital, or wander the markets. In the winter when it's too cold for either, I may practice blacksmithing and leatherworking, though I'll admit my skill in both leaves a lot to be desired."
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 8, 2016 21:20:01 GMT -5
Malie listed to him speak. Once he had finished she nodded "It is impressive that you are expanding you abilities. Being stuck in the same routine everyday can get quite boring. I should know." she laughed softly at her own comment "As long as you are moving things will work out." Malie looked to her own son "You really should take a note son, don't spend every day hunting." Kija looked displeased at being called out and rolled his eyes.
"Yes mother." despite his reaction, his words were fond.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 21:25:50 GMT -5
Arun glanced at Kija, then back at Malie. Shrugging, he said, "There's nothing wrong with specializing in something either. If you're that interested in hunting, though," he returned his gaze to Kija, "you could try expanding on different subjects related to hunting. Perhaps weapon making, for example. If you don't already," he added with another shrug.
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 8, 2016 21:32:57 GMT -5
"I can work with archery equipment and knives... don't ask me to make a sword though, it won't end well." he realized that he wasn't really selling himself to the others and added "I'm good at training falcons and tracking. I can also make decent armor and am pretty good at hand to hand combat." his mother tipped her head to the side, an amused look on her face as Kija tried to climb back up the cliff she had metaphorically thrown him off.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 21:36:27 GMT -5
"Metal armor or leather armor?" Arun asked curiously. He remembered that Kija had been wearing leather armor before, and judging by his comment about not being able to make a sword, he thought leather was more likely. Still, he had to ask.
Ivona, meanwhile, remained silent with a somewhat amused expression on her face now that her brother was actually engaging in conversation. He started off quiet, but if they got on the topic of something he was actually interested in, they were opening the flood gates.
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 8, 2016 22:01:22 GMT -5
"Leather. We don't usually use metal here. It's too heavy and restricting." they fought from a distance with archery, or focused on speed with close combat "I always thought it would be interesting to learn how to make metal. Though I was told it would be a fruitless quest since we never use it." Kija watched the other carefully, gauging his reactions "You said you did some blacksmithing right? What kind of level are you at?"
I have to go for the night.)
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 8, 2016 22:10:58 GMT -5
(aw okay. Talk to you tomorrow)
Arun shrugged. "As I said, I'm not that skilled. I can make things like nails and hooks pretty well, and if I'm lucky, a good horseshoe. I've made a few little daggers and pieces of armor, but nothing spectacular or even pretty."
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 13:03:27 GMT -5
"That's impressive in itself. You have some skill in it." Kija replied, he nodded. Malie was much more pleased that her son was talking now. It was fine with her talking, but it was better for them to get to know each other.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 10, 2016 13:26:02 GMT -5
Arun smiled, this time more legitimately. "I disagree, but I appreciate the compliment nonetheless. If you're interested though, and have a forge, perhaps I can show you what little I do know sometime. Even if you don't make much use of heavy armor here, I'm sure you still use things like nails and horseshoes."
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 13:30:17 GMT -5
"Yes. I would be interested in seeing it." Kija agreed. They had some blacksmiths, but Kija didn't usually talk with them. Learning from someone else would be a nice change "Maybe I can teach you some leatherworking as well." he would say that he was maybe a little beyond the basics on that. There were times he would have to fix his own armor and bags.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 10, 2016 13:33:04 GMT -5
Arun inclined his head. "I would like that. If you don't mind me asking, how skilled are you with that?"
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 13:38:20 GMT -5
"I've had to work with it a lot, well maybe not a lot. But I am good enough to make most clothing and armor. As well as a couple different bags. Though that is nothing compared to some of our professionals. They can make almost anything you ask of them." they were some he had taken lessons from. As prince it was expected he knew how to. His father was quite the talented crafter as well. Though in his family, his mom was probably the best.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 10, 2016 13:41:44 GMT -5
"Hm. I could probably learn a lot from you then. I've not made anything more than a few small books, pouches, bracelets, and a pair of simple bracers," Arun replied. "I suppose it's a trade then."
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 13:43:45 GMT -5
"Wonderful." they seemed to be done with lunch. Only his father still had food on his plate, but that was usual. He always took more than he would eat. Kija had to smile and shake his head at that. Turning back to the two he said "If you would like to, we can head out and I can show you around the village."
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 10, 2016 13:53:46 GMT -5
"Sure, that sounds great!" Ivona put in enthusiastically, though Arun's response was more measured. He actually wasn't all that eager to go out immediately- he would have preferred to rest up from their journey, and perhaps go the next day. But Kija seemed to be opening up, and it would be rude to decline him now.
"Sure," Arun said, nodding.
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 13:57:25 GMT -5
Kija smiled, happy they were interested "Great, let's head out then." he stood and nodded to his mother and father. They made sure to remind them to not stay out too long, they would need to rest as well after their journey. Once they were out of the castle Kija asked "Would you like to walk, or would you rather we take some horses. I realize you said you were not comfortable, but they are much easier to take over walking."
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 10, 2016 13:59:59 GMT -5
"That depends on how far we're going, I suppose," Arun replied with a shrug. "And how direct our course is. If we're simply meandering, I would prefer to walk. But, if we have a specific destination, I suppose we can take horses if you prefer."
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 14:07:45 GMT -5
"Unless there is anything specific you want to see we can simply meander." Kija replied, looked to see what the pair wanted to do. He was really fine with either.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 10, 2016 14:17:18 GMT -5
Arun looked at Ivona who shook her head. He shrugged as he turned back to Kija. "No, nothing in particular, I think. You're the guide; take us where you please."
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 14:26:19 GMT -5
"Alright, I have an idea where we can go first." the walk down to the village was mostly down hill, so it was easy. Once in the village he led them into the main center. Here you could buy almost anything they had. Especially some treats.
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Post by Aphelyon on Dec 10, 2016 14:46:56 GMT -5
Ivona looked around with wide eyes as Kija led them through the city, overwhelmed by the differences between here and home. Arun was equally interested, but less awestruck, and as they walked he made his best effort to stay in the shade where he could. As they came to the marketplace, Arun was struck by how similar it was to Atrosk's, the capital city of Dreisten. Though the architecture, people, and backdrop were drastically different, the ambiance was the same. People and animals moved through the square, the smell of food and candles saturated the air, and voices harmonized chaotically to form the cacophonous song of commerce. Ivona grinned as she trotted over to a jewelry stand, Arun following quickly so as not to loose track of her in the crowd.
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Post by 🎃𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛🦇 on Dec 10, 2016 16:45:15 GMT -5
Kija followed close behind as well "See anything that catches your eye?" he asked, moving to stand beside her. Jewelry was rare to find here. They did not have many mines in their territory. Any jewels were either from those few mines, or bought from outside sources.
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