Tu Falon (to make friends)

Posted on 28 Sep 2021 @ 5:28am by Mage Kalian Winter & Rogue Blaine Aries

1,674 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Summerday La Fête
Location: The Raven's Roost Tavern
Timeline: Cloudreach 19th – midday
Tags: New friends!

OOC: this is the day after 'New Friends and Allies'


Kalian had a good night's sleep, but he was still tired from the ordeal at the mine. And yet, his sister Tessa insisted he needed to keep up with his duties at the Raven's roost. The Summerday festival would start in only a few more days, and every corner of the tavern – from the open main-room, to the kitchen, utility room, and his father's bedroom in the back, to his room and the guest rooms upstairs - needed to be scrubbed thoroughly before Summerday decorating could begin and their rooms filled up with guests.

Well-hidden in plain sight as he was, Kalian still worried that someone at the mine had turned him in, so when the tavern's front door opened he cast a nervous glance in that direction.

Blaine walks in to the tavern. He looks around and finds a spot in a corner. He walks over to the table. Once he is seated he throws his left leg over the armrest leaving his right foot on the ground. Once he is settled he slouches a little on his seat. He raises his hand to get the waitress’ attention.

Kalian gave the elf a friendly smile, and despite him waving at Tessa, he went on over to the elf's table. "Good day, friend. Are you hungry? Thirsty? The ale is good, and so is today's stew. What can I get you?"

The elf orders something to drink and eat from a long morning of hunting. Once his food arrives he begins to eat it like a starved man.

Kalian lingered at the elf's table as he ate with impressive gusto. "It's not too busy, mind if I join you in a drink?"

He smiles. “ Aneth ara.” He says with a deep voice for an elf. He motions to the empty chair in front of him. “I can always use the company.” He takes a sip of his ale.

Kalian grinned back. He didn't know many Dalish words, but he knew aneth ara was a friendly greeting. "One moment." He stepped back over to the bar and returned with a second empty tankard and a pitcher of ale to share. Kalian took a seat across from the elf and filled his mug, then turned the pitcher's handle toward his company, indicating the elf could serve himself. "My name is Kalian Winter. Do you mind sharing your name?"

He takes the pitcher and pours himself some more ale. He smiles at Kalian. “I’m Blaine.” He slouches in his chair and puts a foot up on the chair. Trying to get comfortable. His limbs are much longer than your average elf. He begins to hum a little to himself in a baritone voice.

"Good to meet you, Blaine," said Kalian. He raised his mug to the elf, then drank deeply. Blaine's face was decorated with distinctive facial tattoos, in an interesting pattern. His grandmother had told him the tattoos meant something important, but he wasn't sure if it was polite to ask. "You're Dalish, right? What brings you into the city of Jader?"

“Aye, good to meet you too.” He looks Kalian up and down like he is sizing him up. He takes another sip. “Aye, I’m Dalish. I’m just traveling and decided to stop here for some drinks and to rest.” He gives him a small smile.

"I am surely glad you stopped by," said Kalian, amiably. "This tavern belongs to my family, my sister runs it." He lifted his mug to Tessa, who was frowning at him in a way that said she knew he was procrastinating his current assigned task – emptying the chamber pots upstairs. "Are you staying in Jader for long? The Summerday festival will be starting in just a few days."

He smiles at him. He then looks at Tessa as Kalian lifted his mug to her. He smirks as he looks back at Kalian. “She seems upset with you.” He chuckles. “Nice to meet you, love.” He says returning his gaze to Tessa. He takes another sip of his ale. His hood covering most of his face. Kalian may notice his black nail polish on his fingernails. “I’m unsure how long I’m staying. This town seems nice though.”

Kalian scanned the tavern to see if Tessa's husband was within earshot, but Ben was still in the kitchen, helping Cook.

Tessa approached the cheeky elf sitting at the table with her brother. "The name is Tessa, ser, not love," she said firmly but with good humor. Turning her attention to her brother, she said with a sweet sisterly smile, "When you've finished that ale, Kalian, I expect you to finish your chores. Those chamber pots won't empty themselves."

He looks at Tessa. He smirks and winks at her. “Sorry, lass.” He chuckles.

She just had to mention chamber pots. Kalian groaned. Well, it was a good thing Kalian was only trying to make friends with Blaine and not trying to chat him up. Kalian smiled sheepishly as Tessa walked away and replied to Blaine's observation. "Jader is my home, and I'm happy living here. But it's not perfect. Jader got an influx of refugees from Ferelden during the Blight, and many of them still live in a slum. The elves that live in the city… well honestly they live a hard life." Kalian considered telling Blaine his mother had been an elf, but he figured that wouldn't help Blaine's opinion of his family.

He takes a sip of his ale. He turns his gaze to Kalian. “Looks like you’re needed.” He says playfully. “I’ve never have been in one place for too longer. Never had a place I called home.” Be shrugs. He then smiles showing his perfect white teeth. “It’s not a bad place.”

"The Raven's Roost is a great place," said Kalian, with a bit of pride in what his father, then his sister had made of the place. "I have lived here most of my life, although I spent a few years of my youth living in the forest southwest of Jader, with my grandmother." It had been several months since he'd seen his grandmother, she was about due for a visit. "If you're planning to be here during the Summerday festival, I recommend finding a place to stay early, lodging fills up."

He smiles. “Aye, it is. I have spent most of my time traveling since I left my home in the Brecilian Forest. I will definitely keep that in mind! Thank you! You all seem nice here compared to what I’m use to.” He sighs

"The Brecillian forest, that's uh..." Kalian rubbed his chin, his tone conveyed thoughtful curiosity. "In south-eastern Ferelden, yeah? You've come a fair distance, then. What's it like, traveling so far from home? Must get lonely, being away from you family." Kalian's question stemmed not just from interest in this intriguing elven man, but in concern for his own possible future, roaming on his own.

Nods. “Aye. I have been traveling most of my life so it doesn’t really bother me.” He smiles. “Only family I have is two siblings. They do sometimes come with me if it isn’t too dangerous for them.”

"Well, Blaine, if you find yourself in need of help while you're in Jader, there's folks you can turn to. Hahren Liriel in the alienage, she's…. not too fond of humans, and understandably so." Not even her cousin's human children, thought Kalian with a grimace. "And I have a friend in the Jader Guard, Martin Josceran. Human, a good and fair man. We've a new patron, an elven Grey Warden named Jaslyn. If you're here at the Raven about the same time, I'll introduce you. And there's me, I'm a helpful sort." Kalian smiled and tipped back his mug, finishing it off, then checked to see if his sister was watching.

“Thank you for those tips! I really appreciate it.” He smiles warmly. “Have you and your family always worked this tavern?” He asks curiously. “I think it is lovely that you and your sister work together. I miss my siblings greatly. We do write often though.”

Kalian looked across the room to where Tessa lingered outside the kitchen kissing her husband Ben, with baby Gabriel held between them. He smiled, wistful for the kind of family life his sister enjoyed but he would never have. "My grandfather bought the tavern at the end of the Hundred Days Cough plague - came to Jader from Rivain. It's my sister who runs the tavern now, really. My father still helps out."

Rubbing his stubbled chin thoughtfully, Kalian said, "I'm thinkin' if my grandmother doesn't visit during the festival as she usually does, I may hike out to the southeastern forest and check on her." Kalian lifted a speculative eyebrow, wondering if Blaine knew anything about Dalish clans in the area. "Do you have any tips for a human like me, wandering in the woods?"

“The forests are beautiful. I hope you get the chance to see them.” He smiles. “I suggest not going to the clans. They hate outsiders. Sometimes they can even hate other Dalish that aren’t apart of their clan. Also try to be as quiet as possible so you don’t alert animals like bears and wolves. Stay on your guard as well.”

"Healthy wolves and bears are mostly predictable, you don't hurt or threaten them, they leave you alone. People… are far more complicated." Kalian smiled at his own vast understatement. "But you, Blaine… You're Dalish. And you seem, uh," Kalian searched for a word that wouldn't sound insensitive, "remarkably tolerant of humans, and this mostly-human town."

Kalian tipped back the last of his beer. "Well, I'd better get to emptying those chamber pots. It was a true pleasure to chat with you Blaine. I hope to see you again while you're in Jader."

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