Open Chronicles Steamy Stew and Stars

[Nuir]

The view of the night sky was often impeded by the dense tree tops on this journey. This night was the same. Nuir had been traveling in no particular hurry down to Alliria. He had made camp and a small fire. After placing a small pot of stew on to cook he sat by the fire staring up through the branches of the trees.
The scent of the cooking stew softly wafted into the air. The only noises were the far off rustle of leaves, insects buzzing in the night and the crackle of the fire.
Nuir wasn't a fan of how obscured the view was but even he wasn't oblivious enough to try sleeping in an open field.

He was near the south of the Spine and would soon be entering the north of Allir Reach.

 

[Rignid]

Rignid was on the trek from Alliria. He hadn't had any particular plan for where he was going, but decided that he wanted to travel towards the Spine, and this was where he was now. It was the night, and he was looking for a suitable bit of brush to sleep in- he was becoming a connoisseur of natural sleeping solutions at this point.

He leaned against a tree for a second, and winced as he accidentally put pressure on a large graze up his arm.

He kept walking for another half an hour, and was surprised when he stumbled upon a savoury smell coming from a clearing just up the way. He walked towards it, now seeing the glow of a fire. He hoed that he might trade some of his bread for some warm stew; the taste of broth was becoming foreign to him after a few days of crackers and pickled radishes and not much else.

He stepped into the clearing, seeing the figure of the white-haired elf sat by the fire. He cleared his throat so as not to cause alarm, and to make the other aware of his presence.

 

[Nuir]

His ears perked slightly at the sound of an approaching figure. A human emerged from the darkness and brush. Nuir watched the stranger approach with a neutral expression, neither fear nor malice. The human with their golden hair and youthful looks had a scholarly look about them. This eased Nuir's concerns to some extent.
He motioned for the man to gesture that he may join by the fire.

Soon, Nuir will have spent more time among outsiders than those who raised him a notion that was disconcerting but unavoidable. While he often failed to understand the many customs he came across Nuir quite liked meeting new people. Each person presenting a unique opportunity to learn or to practice his craft. So the notion of sharing his camp with a stranger raised no apprehension in him. Perhaps it was the natural sense of charity of a healer or perhaps naivete but Nuir tended to give most folks the benefit of introducing themselves before drawing any strong opinions. Even the more hostile types tended to be if not welcoming then tolerant once they learned he was a healer.

He silently waited, watching intently with his mismatched eyes for the man to approach or speak or both.

 

[Rignid]

Rignid took the gesture that the elf made as an invitation to warm himself by the fire. He sat opposite his companion, placing his bag at his feet and leaning forward to warm his hands. Rignid felt more comfortable next to the fire, as its light cast some frays across the space- they were weak, but nonetheless they were magic- and he did not feel on edge. The elf across from him seemed kindly; introverted but not antisocial, he just had the aura of somebody who wasn't accustomed to being around others.

There was a moment of awkward silence, before Rignid scratched the back of his head and cleared his throat and looked towards the elf.

"So, which way are you travelling? You don't seem like you're travelling for trade or for war," Rignid asked, curious about the other's light equipment and vials and pots.

 

[Nuir]

Nuir tilted his head in thought for a moment "I've none to trade other than my craft....though I suppose war wouldn't be the worst place to end up. I am a healer by trade." Nuir gave in way of explanation and introduction. He found it a little odd that the man wasn't forthcoming with an introduction. Usually those approaching gave their name first or he supposed sort of violently demanded identity first. The stranger fell into neither camp so Nuir offered "I am called Nuir, and I shall call you ...?"
His expression was reserved as he took in the features of the human now more closely lit by the fire. Humans were plentiful everywhere but their variety made for interesting arrangements. He guessed this man was quite young but he wasn't terribly good with ages.
The human seemed to be very interested in the fire....some humans were like that.

"I don't have true destination in mind...only that I felt I should seek out practices and learning outside the spine. In truth I haven't been this far south before. " He volunteered quietly as he felt the stranger seemed to desire a bit of idle chatter.
Then because it might be useful to know what was ahead he added.
"From where have you come?"
He had been told before that his manner of wandering about was reckless but it simply didn't occur to him to worry about what might be ahead on the path. Once he'd set his mind to traveling he found it easier to simply go see. So far he hadn't ended up in any truly terrible binds.

 

[Rignid]

Rignid was almost startled by the elf's first question. He had completely forgotten to volunteer his name, so engrossed in the warmth of the flame.

"I'm Rignid," he offered, "I'm a travelling scholar and I have just been travelling up from Alliria," he then said in answer to the other's second question.

"If you're travelling south, I can definitely recommend stopping by there if you're interested in healing. There is an order of knights called the Knights of Esion, and their healers are incredibly skilled," Rignid told the elf, deciding that he might be interested in that sort of thing. The elf was an interesting one, from Rignid's experience he could tell they were one of the Aerai, but they lacked the warrior presence of the other Aerai Rignid had seen.

"oh and since I'm giving you travel tips," Rignid continued- reminded by the dull throb on his arm, "there is a very territorial boar up in the direction you're going, so I'd steer clear of any large clearings for a day's travel," and Rignid pulled up his sleeve to show the Aerai the long graze running up his left arm. He had only managed to escape the Boar by pulling a tree down between his adversary and him, but he doubted that knocked any sense into the beast. And despite his companion being of a warrior culture, he didn't look like he could fight much more than a small pig. Not to diminish his worth Rignid told himself at that thought but it appears as though his skills lay more passively.

 

[Nuir]

Now with a name for the face, Nuir listened intently to Rignid's reply. So he didn't just look scholarly, he was indeed scholarly. That put Nuir somewhat at ease as he found the more learned types easier to find common ground with. He was indeed interested in this tidbit of information about skilled healers. He was always eager to observe other healers as the ways of healing were just as diverse as the many peoples of Arethil.
He made a mental note of seeking out the Knights if he should come upon the opportunity.

His eyes moved from Rignid's face to the wound on the man's left arm. At a cursory glance the wound seemed mostly superficial, but certainly deep enough to become infected. He did have supplies with him to clean and dress the graze but here under the night sky it would be more practical to use magic. Generally he was hesitant to use magic to heal. He had been warned that there were those that were extremely weary or even morally opposed to magic. Some of the dwarves he had spent time with deeply distrusted magical healing methods. He tilted his head and carefully regarded Rignid. He didn't seem the type to be opposed. Though perhaps that depended on what the man was actually a scholar of.
"Would you like me to tend to it?" He asked in a way that really was more in the realm of 'are you the sort to swear up and down you don't need tending.' He moved closer to the human to peer more closely at the graze.
In any case Rignid was right that Nuir was no hunter and would avoid such a beast if possible.