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 Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:04 pm
Shrisin Baen'duis, the Daughter of House Baen'duis, had decided to take advantage of the privilege of her rank and take a brief vacation from her schooling in Gallidurth's main temple. The students were allotted a certain number of free days which they might spend as they chose. She had decided to utilize one of the many mages available for hire in the city to arrive instantaneously in Llurth Dreir. She didn't care to spend extra time in travel, since her time was somewhat limited, and so she she had hired a mage to transport her and a few small articles she had picked up with Val in mind. Nothing expensive, but fairly practical gifts for someone training to be a warrior. Salves to ease muscle aches, and such. Also a jar of the salve made especially for House Baen'duis, created especially to help heal the marks left by a lash.
Upon arriving at the training school, Shri had given her name to the servant at the door and handed her packages to him to have them sent to Val's quarters. As she waited for confirmation that they had been placed where she directed, she considered what she would do next. She knew that he lived in a dormitory-style setting, and so that rather killed her thought that she might just go to his room and wait for him there. She wasn't particularly interested in conducting their meeting in front of his fellow students. Not that exhibitionism bothered her particularly, but she would rather not have that be the tone of their first meeting in over a decade.
So she adjusted the lay of the cloth of her dress, and made sure that her jewelry was lying correctly as well. She wasn't dressed too, too nicely, but she did look like nobility and she wore the arachnid crest which proclaimed her devotion to the Goddess Lloth. She wore the colors of her House as well, the silver and deep purple and deep blue of Baen'duis. She decided simply to watch him as he trained, and then talk to him after. Therefore, she inquired where he might be and went in search of him, strolling down the corridors past a large number of training arenas.
As she moved her gait became more measured and more purposeful at once as the sensual swivel of her hips became more pronouced. She couldn't really help it. There were so many attractive young people around who obviously appreciated the view she presented, even if they didn't know who she was or why she was there. A slight, smug smile curved her lips as she saw heads turn to follow her. She might visit this place more often if the was the reaction she'd get every time.
Irritatingly, however, she couldn't seem to determine which of the many sawdust-covered arenas her brother might be in, so she stopped the next person she saw - a female older than she and evidently in training to be an archer by the gear she carried - to ask.
"Do you know where Baen'duis Valyrr might be at this moment?" she asked, assuming automatically that her own rank was higher than that of anyone in the school except maybe a few instructors.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:13 pm
The cream haired female looked to the younger woman with a slightly raised eyebrow. It was obvious from the start that she held the young drow any higher than someone of her own stature or below. Priestesses did not impress her, mostly because of her sister. She had seen the female walk towards her area, the others commenting on the enjoyment the youngling seemed to take in turning the heads of the males. Even a few of the females would turn to examine her. But Shri was not one of those females. Yes this was a priestess, but it was very obvious she held the lowest rank in the temple barring servants.
The powerful woman turned to face the white haired girl, her body showing signs of constant training as well as a few whippings by the look of her lower back. She placed her bow across her and put her hands on her hips. Despite her lower position as a warrior, Shri was not a woman to be intimidated by size or stature. Everyone was mortal bar the goddess herself, so as a warrior, everyone else was just another target. "I am not his keeper so I am unaware of his whereabouts. But from his past behavior he is most likely bathing. It is his favorite pastime it seems. Who might you be that is looking for him?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:51 pm
Shrisin was unimpressed by the warrior's display of quasi-defiance. She was not accustomed to people who did not defer to her automatically outside the Temple, but she was not going to be childish enough to demand some sort of deference from the other female. Part of what she had learned in her life was picking her battles. This was relatively minor, as slights went, though the female's irreverent address was not particularly pleasing to Shri.
"I'm family," she said. It was all she planned to elaborate until she knew more of who she was speaking to.
She was curious, too. After all, bathing had never been an activity Val seemed overly enthusiastic about it. He bathed, obviously, and he was clean, but it hadn't been something anyone would describe as a favorite pasttime of his. She couldn't imagine why he would spend an inordinate amount of time engaged in keeping clean. Well, she could. He might be getting extraordinarily dirty, but presumably everyone else would be getting as dirty, and the female made it sound as if he was being particularly fastidious about bathing.
There was another reason he might have acquired an obsession with bathing, but she wasn't sure she liked that idea. People who were having sex on a regular basis tended to bathe about as often, for a variety of reasons. If that was the case, she was torn between a desire to interrupt his bath and remind him to whom he belonged and simply leave in a pique, which was rapidly developing, aided by the attitude of the archer she was addressing.
"To whom am I speaking?" she asked, her language still somewhat formal.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:06 pm
Well that seemed to tick her off. And the announcement that the female was his family just made her raise an eyebrow. Judging by her age she was younger than Val, perhaps a younger sister. He never spoke of his family. Then again during most of their meetings they didn't exactly have discussions. While they had learned about each other, it was mostly about what their bodies could take and their own views of failure. Val's in his devotion to the goddess and Shri in her devotion to her art. They next question made her curious about this female. Why would she care who she was?
"I am Shrilyn Auvryani." Her answer was simle and to the point. She didn't see the need to annouce her own status as the younger female obviously didn't care.
The archer twirled an arrow out of habit. Most archers did this, it tested the arrow's weight as well as giving them something to do. The lethal tip was something to be marveld at. Obviously handmade the curved tips forced the arrow deeper as a person moved and caused massive amounts of damage if not removed properly. But Shri was getting bored. Classes were over for the morning. In fact it was nearly meal time.
"It is nearly meal time. You could wait for him there."
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:30 pm
Much of Shri's ire vanished when she heard the archer's name. Her response was immature, but she was still young, and it amused her a great deal that their names were so similar. Really, there was only one phoneme's difference between the two names, though it had a significant effect on the respective meanings of their names. Silent Silk versus Silent Assassin. Auvryani was a name she knew from Llurth Dreir. It was another House, lower than Baen'duis in the hierarchy. That amused her, too, though she wouldn't point out her own, innate superiority to Shrilyn. Either the archer was aware of it and ignoring it or she was ignorant of it, and probably wouldn't care anyway, which would lead to her giving insult. Shri was trying not to set her up for that sort of difficulty.
At least, she wasn't until the archer began spinning an arrow. She knew very little of what being a warrior entailed, but she couldn't help feeling that it was a vaguely threatening gesture, and it was not appreciated. However, Shri was a prideful creature, and she was still amused enough by the similarity between their names to be somewhat charitable, even toward the undeserving, which Shrilyn was rapidly proving to be.
"In the baths?" she asked, still a little hung up on what she had picked out as the most pertinent piece of information Shrilyn had given her about Val. "That would be interesting, I suppose. Certainly it would be fun."
A wicked smirk crossed her lips.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:45 pm
"Interesting indeed. But I doubt most of the males would show proper attitudes if we were to walk in. I was refering to the dining hall. We all eat there, no division of gender." As she talked she continued to twirl her arrow, it was merely a habit. A few other archers walked by, twirling their own arrows. One was a crossbolt so it was smaller and more compact. The other was a long bow arrow, so it was far thicker than Shri's. All archers acknowledged each other with a nod before Shri turned her attention back to the female. But it was quickly pulled away again by a loud mouthed axe-wielder.
"Well well. If it isn't the poor child of Auvryani. Playing servant for the school already by showing guests around?." Lindyn laughed cruely as did a few of the younger warriors who were with her. They were much younger and looked up to the powerful woman, always agreeing with her. She was leaning against one of the wooden supports of the main building.
Shri simply raised an eyebrow at the axe-wielder. She showed no sign of anger at the statement. She merely turned to address her agemate. "I see you are only capable of attacking with your mouth as usual Lin. If you put as much effort into your axe as you did your mouth you might actually graduate one day."
The statement was all she needed to say to raise the ire of the other woman. Lin had a short fuse, something well known in her house and by the other warriors. Most stayed out of her way as she was one of the most powerful fighters at the school.
"Why you worthless little..." the female raised her ax, quite ready to attack the cream haired female. But then blood slid down her cheek as the arrow Shri had been twirling was now firmly lodged in the wood right next to her face. It was so close the flat of the arrow slid over her skin, only the edge cutting her. It was right next to one of her eyes. In the blink of said eye Shri had another arrow knocked and ready to fire.
"Worthless am I, Lin? You think you are so powerful. But you can't fight blind and you can't stop death if it's faster than your pitiful mind can think. So remember than the next time you pick a fight." Her words were vemon, but there was a smile on her face as she lowered the arrow and put it back in the quiver.
Lin pulled away from the pole, whiping the blood from her face. She glared daggers at Shri before walking off. She threatened the female with retribution as she staulked away.
"The things I deal with. So. Shall I show you to the meal hall?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 4:10 pm
Shrisin wondered what sort of reception Shrilyn expected. Personally, Shri wasn't anticipating anything short of appreciative astonishment, as she had no intention of getting the only change of clothing she had with her get wet. She doubted she'd be disappointed in that. She was very confident with in her own powers of seduction, and very comfortable with her body. She knew how others reacted to her as well. Perhaps Shrilyn was not so comfortable in her skin, though she did seem fairly self-confident.
She watched the confrontation between Lindyn and Shrilyn without displaying much emotion at all. She was merely taking an interest. She wasn't sure how she felt about this archer's willingness to shed others' blood, or her quickness to offer others advice. It tended to be the sort of thing which made enemies when offered in the tone Shrilyn used. Not that she had not been insulted first, and it had crossed Shri's mind to involve herself on Shri's behalf but she had quickly decided against it. She kept her own council, though. Their interaction had been too brief for her to form an informed opinion of Shrilyn yet.
She did know what it was to be mistreated by one's fellows, though now none in the Temple abused her, and she felt a certan empathy with the archer, but only enough that she responded with a quick, knowing nod of her head which might easily be interpreted as an indication that Shrilyn should show her to the dining hall.
"Do you have many dealings with Val?" Shri asked, unconsciously using the familiar form of his name. This did seem like the sort of place where he would be happy, form what she'd observed so far. It made her feel more comfortable, in a way, because she knew Val was happiest in places where things were uncomplicated.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:26 pm
The female continued on toward the dining hall, a few other archers giving her a look as to why she was escorting the young priestess. She just gave them a nod, one that usually ment a later explination. One thing about warriors was their ability to speak without ever saying a word. It was taught to them on a regular basis. Masters and trainers would only give them signals which they had to remember the meaning. A simple nod could mean one thing or another depending on the situation and the direction. If you did not follow it correctly, it could mean your life. It really was true, warriors were a world in and of themselves. They had their own language, their own codes, and their own communities. The mighty axe whielders, the presice dagger weilders, the swift archers, and the deadly sword weilders. She wondered about the priestesses, if they had anything like this. Her own sister never made light of her own trainign, saying it was far too complex for her simple warrior sister to understand. But she doubted that. She looked to the female at her side, her face unreadable as usual but her mind still examining. Then the female asked of Shrilyn's dealings with Val. It was an interesting quesion considering the circomestances but she would answer her.
"I....know of him. Older than most here but practices well enough. I've had occation to watch his practices after my own. His fellows think highly of him and tend to help him achieve in anything he struggles with. And when he does struggle he strives to achieve a higher skill." Again the detailed Shrilyn would point out faults. But at least with Val she could at least point out his attempts to improve on his faults. Shri was not about to admit her.....arrangement....with the male. Especially to a female member of his house. Through their meetings she understood them to be rather vicious in many ways. If his skills were anything close to theirs, the females of his house were truly worth the goddesses time. She thought much less of her own house. In fact she had been thinking a great deal of her own house as of late. Coming to a few decisions and thinking of other avenues that she would be taking in the future.
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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:12 am
"It doesn't surprise me that he's managed to distinguish himself with his dedication. He's always been like that," Shri said as her eyes took in the scene around her.
She did not miss the silent exchange between the warriors, for their questioning looks were hardly subtle, although Shrilyn did seem to be making an effort to display more subtlety than her peers. Shri could appreciate that. She also had no doubt that rumors of her visit would spread and eventually get back to Val, even if she didn't see him, which was looking more and more unlikely. Her time was limited, and it might actually be more productive to learn what she could about him from others, rather than actually see him. She just wanted very badly to see him.
Her cousin Trielnolu accused her frequently of being perpetually lustful, and she was right to a point, but then, Tri-no wasn't bound to remain virginal until she ascended to the Matronship of House Baen'duis. Remembering this she tore her gaze away from one male who was clearly her senior, but very beautiful, and who walked with a confident swagger that seemed to suggest he was incredibly good at what he did. Whatever he did. It made her seriously wonder if Val had taken any similar interest in any of the females of the schools. Or the males, she supposed, to be fair. Though she knew his tastes didn't run that way, there were enough good-looking male specimens that she found herself a little distracted by the sight of them as they passed.
She turned her attention back to the other Shri.
"What about you? Have you been training here very long? You seem more than competent with that bow you carry. Do you study any other weapons or techniques?"
The curriculum for females would probably differ from the males' but asking this would give her some idea of what Val was doing or would be doing eventually. She couldn't remember ever seeing him practice with anything other than a sword, though she supposed he could have practiced with other things when she wasn't around. She doubted it, however. In their youth, they had been almost inseparable, and there wasn't much one did that the other didn't know about, even in matters as trivial as practicing with weapons during free time. He did know how to use a dagger, she recalled, because he'd insisted that she learn to defend herself with one.
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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 2:20 pm
Hmm, the female was rather curious about the warrior way of life. Well it was to be expected for many reasons. Most outside this life did not understand the kinship and compeition that ran simultaniously. Also her kin was here so she would naturally be curious as to what he did. Lastly she was the only one who was currently talking to her why not ask what her talents were.
"In the begining we are all trained in each weapon to a certain proficancy. A warrior should be able to use any weapon at a moment's notice, even if those weapons are their fists." She pointed to a group of females who were sparring. Not one held an obvious weapon but if you looked closely at their hands, each wore a metal knuckle brace. Also their wrists and forearms were shielded in a metal gauntlet. Their hits were hard and most likely hurt like hell. "Like I said, a warrior must be ready to fight at a moment's notice."
"Once we have made our proficiancies we are allowed to specialize in one weapon. It will be our rank so to speak. We train together with our weapon, we learn it as if it where a part of our body. One we can control as easily as our hand or leg. As you mentioned, I choose the bow. One of the hardest weapons to achieve true mastery in." She looked to the smaller female, smaller only in body mass. Shrilyn was muscular while the priestess looked more lithe and agile.
"I have been training for a long time, longer than most. But I feel that I should not graduate until I have achieved a level of skill that I believe will best serve the goddess. I have already done what most do at the end of their training, which is make their own weapon. All of my arrows and bows are handmade. The tips produced by a younger brother who is skilled in blacksmithing and blade forging." That was one thing that did keep her house afloat in the soceity. Their ability to make some of the deadliest and most beautiful blades. Her brothers were all skilled blacksmiths but only a few managed to learn the delicate art of blade making. That was really the only thing that she was proud of her house for.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 8:52 am
Shri listened closely. The methods for teaching were much what she had expected them to be. She did wish she could watch some of the warriors training, especially her brother. She had not seen him in a very long time, and she was certain that his skills had improved beyond what they were when they were parted. She had always loved to watch warriors as they faced off and see the bodies moving as if in a choreographed dance. She appreciated the grace of a warrior in action. It was not a fascination her family particularly approved of, but they didn't approve of many of her interests or habits. So she merely learned to keep them to herself mostly.
"Is there some sort of hierarchy among the ranks? I mean, is specialization in one area more likely to earn a person respect, or is that determined within each weapon class? And what about people who wish to become proficient with multiple weapons?"
She was certain that she should just close her mouth, but there was very little chance she would ever again get to visit a warrior's school, and she wanted to know more. If she was going to be the Matron of Baen'duis, she would have to know as much about everything as possible, and this seemed a convenient way to learn. It wasn't as if she was really asking anything which was some great secret, after all. Everyone knew that ranks and dominance had to be established in everything. There were any number of ways of establishing superiority in the temple, and many of them were unpleasant. She suspected it was simpler for a warrior. Which is why warriors occupied a lower place in society.
Shri's own training was progressing to the point where she would soon be trained in the use of some weapons, but she would only receive a limited amount of training, since a priestess was expected to be flanked by guards most of the time. She would also be trained to use a whip, since that is the main weapon of a priestess. She could hardly wait for that training. It would be another lesson where she would probably be more knowledgable than her instructor. Sometimes it concerned her how much she seemed to know about less important aspects of being a priestess, and how comparatively little she knew about a priestess' actual duties.
"I didn't know you were allowed to forestall your own graduation." Such a thing was unheard of in a temple.
"You are fortunate that your family is able to be of some assistance to you here. Are you close to your brother?" That was treading on dangerous ground, she knew, for most females were not close to their male relatives, and very few were as close as she and Val were. Had been. She didn't know if they still had the same connection they once had. She would have to see him to determine that.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:50 pm
Shri thought over her answers for the female's questions. She understood the girl's natural curiousity considering prietesses where hardly given any real weapon's training. Each one used a different weapon and were against a drow using another weapon. None were the same yet all were seemingly equal in ability. She almost smirked at the idea of a heirarchy. Stopping near one of the training areas she nodded toward the fighters in the ring. "What weapon you have means nothing. Even a drider can swing a sword. It doesn't make you special. Age and experience have some effect, mostly due to more knowledge. But the real thing that makes you better than others is your skill and wit. Some, as you saw, don't think much of me because I fight with a bow and arrow. But I could kill every one of them before they even knew I was there."
She watches the younger ones fight. "Like I said, anyone can swing a sword. But if you never miss a vital organ or can disable an enemy in one stroke you are truly worthy of respect. Next is wit. You can be skilled with a sword but unable to make stradegy. Those warriors who are skilled with their weapons and can use their mind as skillfully as their swords are the ones we give deferences and respect too." It was the best explination she could come up with for someone who was not a warrior. She let the younger female watch the fighters before she answered the others questions. "Many warriors specialize in multiple weapons, it helps when you are caught by surprise."
She chuckled a bit at her surprise at her delayed graduation. "Warriors are different. We have to be sure of ourselves in battle or fall. So we have the option to wait until we are sure of our weapons and our skill before we take our place in Lloth's army."
When she asked about her brother and her closeness she raised an eyebrow at that. That was an unusual question for a female to ask. After all males of the family were hardly worth their time for the most part. Though considering her family, most of the females she knew were hardly worth her time. A few the family could do withouth. But she at least gave the question some thought before answering. "My brother is a skilled blacksmith. I am as close to him as a weaoon weilder and blacksmith can be. I feel no need to protect him, for he can protect himself. I feel no need to show him affection for he knows I appriciate his work because I use his creations over all others."
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 4:14 pm
Shri listened without comment. It was different here. In the temple one rose according to Lloth's wishes. Shri's progress had been rapid, and she wasn't sure exactly why, as the Spider Goddess had not seen fit to inform her why she should receive special treatment. She hoped it was because she was in Lloth's favor, and that her accelerated pace meant great things were coming for her, but she was reluctant to become too self-assured, though she wore an air of self-assurance like many wore cloaks.
"I believe that everyone must be sure of what they do in this world, or else they will fall. A Matron Mother must complete her tasks with confidence, or risk losing the faith of her House and the support of Lloth and her yochlols. We...they...are fortunate to be surrounded by talented, competant sargtlin who make it unnecessary for them to concern themselves with physical competition as well."
Shri was not as skilled at evincing admiration when it came to dealing with other females as she was in dealing with males. Her personal preference was for males, though she had known female company on occasion while acting as a servant in the temple in Gallidurth. The encounters had not been unenjoyable, she simply preferred male company. To be perfectly frank, she preferred male company over female company in almost every situation. There was less to worry about with males. Their submission and obedience, though it could grate on the nerves when one wanted immediate action or honest opinions, was a pleasant sort of simplicity.
"It is good that your brother is able to be of use to you. So many males seem unworthy to lead the existence granted to them by the Spider Goddess. Not that I question her judgment in allowing their continued existence. Not much anyway." She smiled conspiratorily.
"I had heard that there is a game, of sorts, which is played at the beginning of every year, and that is used to determine an individual's rank within their year. Is that not the truth, then, or is it simply not the practice of this particular school?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:19 pm
Shrilyn smiled a bit to herself as she listened to the younger drow speak of responsibility and the use of males. She was definatley a priestess, only they were so eloquent in their speech. And from the sound of it she was on her way to be a matron. She did think to her own house and it's future. A future that did not include the current matron. But that was a thought for another time. When the female mentioned the games she raised an eyebrow. Most people didn't know about the games unless they had a family member in the school. And even those that did had no clue to it's real purpose. Ah well, a time for enlightenment.
"The school does hold a game of sorts but it is more of a display for the new recruits. We who are graduating display our skills in a series of games to show them what they are expected to learn in their time here. Many young ones see the use and choice of weapons and it can inspire them to chose one for themselves." She smiled softly at the the memory of her game. It had been so amazing to see the grace and accuracy of the archers. Those games partially decided her own weapon choice. With a quick glance she saw the entrance to the cafeteria. Opening the door she looked about, not seeing Val.
"Well it seems he isn't here. So I have no idea where else he would be. Do you require a tour of anything else? Or shall I answer more questions about the warrior school?" She looked to the female next to her.
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:32 am
Shri tried to detect a degree of either irritation or humor in the other Shri's last words to her, but the words remained ambiguous, much to her disgust. She was usually better at reading people than this. It was frustrating not to be able to read Shrilyn's mood as easily as she could most others'. Not that it was terribly important. It was unlikely that she would have further dealings with the archer. Rather than deal with it right away, she chose to respond to Auvryani's remarks on the display for the younger warriors.
"That seems like it would be quite the display. I wonder if it would be possible to find a way to watch it the next time it happens. I would enjoy that immensely." She shrugged philosophically. "Likely it's only open to initiates, students, and graduates. Still. There are usually ways around that sort of restriction."
"I don't know. I had rather planned my day with the idea of surprising my dear brother, but since he seems unavailable I'm at loose ends. Is this a polite way of asking me to leave you alone and find some other way to amuse myself while on holiday? I won't be offended if you say it is."
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