#andorastart

[shcdowknight]

“Trust me, I know there’s danger in every village.” Breaking his words down as if he was speaking to a child, Qiren continued, “But this is Delos. We don’t see anything too wild even on the main road. By the gods, the forest isn’t even as dark as people would have you believe! Trust me, a soldier’s life here is far easier than anywhere else.”

[nancalendula]

“Comfrey... Comfrey...” Nan murmured to herself, her basket swinging from her arm as she looked down at the undergrowth. Smatterings of white, yellow, and green plants covered the Dark Wood’s floor. She had wandered off the path to search for the plant. It was one of the few she didn’t have in her herb garden, because the soil wasn’t quite right, but she needed it for a neighbour with an inflamed sore.

Finally, she spotted its distinctive large, hairy, leaves, and she picked her away through the flowers and plants, and bent down to study it, deciding which leaves to cut away. There was a disturbance in the undergrowth -- the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs -- and Nan looked up sharply, to see who had made the noise. “Hello?” she called.

[ofjuniper]

who: open to anyone where: near the square when: nearing midday

RUFFIANS, THE LOT of them. 

Juniper had been on her way to a local herbalist with the intention of selling some things from her garden, when a small group of young elves, likely caught in some sort of game, had come running, jostling against her. Suffice to say, some of her herbs now lay on the ground, and while most of them remained usable, a few that had fallen by the wayside could no longer be salvaged. Juniper supposed they had been young enough to make being reckless seem like a normal thing to be, but they had also looked old enough that they ought to have felt guilt for leaving her to pick up after their mess. She remained quiet and did not mutter expletives under her breath like an old crone, but the irritation was clear on her face as she began to pick up some of the herbs and return them in her basket.

[shcdowknight]

“This is heavier than it looks,” Qiren huffed, stumbling back slightly. After staying out late at the temples the night before and making the rather fearsome journey back to the village in the dark, his attitude was somehow worse than usual. “What’s in this? Rocks?”

[shcdowknight]

“I have heard stories about the Delos New Year celebrations,” Qiren admitted somewhat begrudgingly. It was difficult to pay the village any compliments given how bitter he was about being there. Crossing his arms, he looked over the lavish decorations in the town square. “I wonder if it’ll measure up to my expectations.”

[shcdowknight]

“Urrrgh,” Qiren groaned from the ground, rubbing a newly sore shoulder. “Mind lending me a hand? Apparently, walking and talking is no longer a talent I have.” Fruit from the wagon he’d tripped over was rolling about. The vendor wasn’t happy, and Qiren was carefully avoiding their eye. “Please.”