He could see the city as a faint outline on the horizon, as it had looked for the past few days. When he heard about this thing, this city, he immediately decided to see it. But now, weeks later, he was seemingly no closer than he had been at the start. Perhaps if he had known how long it to take him to get here, he wouldn't have come.

Tarn Va Thaeindor had avoided all life for the past few days, keeping to the wilderness, the empty lands where humans, elves, and other strange creatures he had been told about were not likely to be. He had no desire to meet these creatures, whatever they may be, and did not wish to get unnecessarily caught up in some political venture, as he had found these creatures were wont to do.

Cities were full of them, but it wasn't the people Tarn Va Thaeindor wanted to see. It was the buildings. He had never in his life seen anything but the homes their race had fashioned from trees, there was no stonework, no unnecessary chopping of trees or anything where he came from, but in the city...stone buildings rose high as trees, and there were magnificent structures called castles, and all manner of things, as he had been told.

If only he could get there...

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Tarn Va Thaeindor could see a long stream of people heading toward the city's walls, and so he mingled with their crowd, careful not to talk to anyone, only listening carefully to what was going on around him. "Can you believe it? The Goddess of Life herself, he said! Ha!" "See, son? That's Lomedor, it is!" "I'm gonna stop by the inn, and drink till I drop, you'll see." Many of the words Tarn Va Thaeindor did not understand, but he could piece things together in his mind and discover what exactly they were saying. The city grew ever closer, and finally Tarn Va Thaeindor could make out a huge wall, made of...stone! It was true! Tarn Va Thaeindor's jaw dropped.


The city gates loomed high above him, and he was still gaping in amazement. The place was much bigger than he had imagined, and the entire wall was made out of stone. He shuddered to think of the torture it must have endured at the hands of the builders.

"Bei oht kanrepese, stoenl," he murmured prayerfully. The stone deserved it, after its suffering. There were many guards lazily surveying the people entering the city, but Tarn Va Thaeindor did not see the point, as there were several characters that were untrustworthy in his eyes stalking through the gates like they owned the place. Guards were worthless if they did nothing.

Tarn Va Thaeindor entered the city without too much hassle, and made his way through crowded streets, trying not to gawk at everything he saw. These people seemed more...more advanced than he had ever dreamed. The city was a bustling network of...everything. He saw thieves and merchants, lords and beggars, but he did not know they were called such. His eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at everything, and took in all the strange smells and sounds. He could hear children laughing, parents scolding, hawkers yelling loudly to get people to take a look at their wares. He smelled an unpleasant aroma he immediately recognized, the smell of waste and piss and all manner of that sort, but he also smelled things liked baked apple, some sort of cooking meat, and sweat and dust on the people around him. It was amazing, for one who had never been to any type of civilization before.

Finally Tarn Va Thaeindor grew tired, and searched for a place to rest that was quiet and far away from the hustle and bustle of the city outside. He found his solace in a place labeled "Parmamar Library" whatever that was. He stepped inside and the door closed behind him, and immediately the noise of the streets was cut off, leaving only a faint rustle of paper and the low whisper of voices. Tarn lifted his eyes to the ceiling high above, and then around at shelves upon shelves of books. All Tarn could do was stare, which he admittedly was getting rather weary of. He moved slowly down one of the rows, his finger sliding across the bindings of the books. Some were bound in wood, which he recognized, but others were bound in a strange hard-but-soft animal skin. His finger suddenly caught on some stray thread, and he smiled as he took the book out of the shelf and disentangled his finger from it. He could not understand the title, but he was determined to read it. After all, what was a scholar without books?

Alkar had been on hire as security for the gaurds for quite some time lately. He smiled as the stranger that he had been following stared with giant eyes at the places all around him. It was amazing how people acted to the city it was as if they had never seen a building before. The man he was following was certainly weird but he didnt seem to be a troublesome person. But still the orders were to follow him around the city.

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The day had been growing shorter and the man seemed to be getting more and more tired. He followed him until he had reached the foot of the library the man had then started up into the library. The man grabbed a book and that was when Alkar made his move to approach the man.

He walked right up to him and pulled him aside for questioning. Who wouldnt question a man who had just picked up a spellbook related to the dark arts of Magick. The man seemed suprised at being pulled aside like this. Alkar smashed him up against the bookshelf with little force he just liked to push his victims around while he had the chance. Who would listen to a kind peaceful guard who just tapped people on the shoulder and asked them quitely what they had been doing lately.

Alkar got all up in his face and started to talk."Sir are you aware of the fact that you are holding a book that is about the spells used by dark sorcerers?, and do you know that you need a special permit to even handle those books?"Alkar was irritated from having to follow this man around all day and was taking his frustrations out on him."Answer me or I'll have to bring you under arrest and you can spend some time in the local jail cells." The really seemed confused and yet strangely calm.

He heard footsteps approaching quickly behind him, then he felt himself spun around and slammed up against the bookshelf. Tarn Va Thaeindor was appalled that he was so slow in Arda. In his own country, there were none faster and more quick to reflect than he, and here he was, letting himself be pushed around by some...Tarn Va Thaeindor looked at the ears of the man, and was not surprised to see them pointed. Any elf would probably take every chance to beat him up, except for Arylia Dumas...but that was different. Tarn Va Thaeindor hated elves with his entire being, and being so close to one made him want to sick up, which actually would have been rather funny.

"Sir are you aware of the fact that you are holding a book that is about the spells used by dark sorcerers?, and do you know that you need a special permit to even handle those books?" the guard asked. Perhaps the guards were not so lax as he had previously thought. However, Tarn Va Thaeindor did not know this language, and had no idea whatsoever what a sorcerer was. Nor a permit, nor the word "handle" and several others. But he got the feeling that the book was not a good thing to have picked off the shelf.

"Please, I do not know this...writing, this speech?...very well. I am new to Arda." He could not help but smile a little at the name, in his language arda meant "aardvark". Tarn Va Thaeindor looked at the elf's malevolent face for a few seconds, revolted by how close they were. He knew that he should not try and get away, or the guard would take him for a thief, or one who practices dark...sorcerer. Whatever that meant. Obviously it was not a good thing to be. "I cannot read this." Tarn Va Thaeindor clarified to the elf. It was a terrible feeling, telling the elf that he could not read or write. It was true, in this language, but in his own he was one of the most adept scribes there ever was. That was why he had been put into the High Society, because of his skill with writing and his skill with speech. But no longer. Now, he was stuck in a world that did not even know his race existed, one that he thought liable to open great jaws and swallow him whole.

The earth here was his enemy, and did not like being touched by a foreign mind. He had proved that in the forest. He remembered the shock he had felt at having the earth, the trees, and the animals reject him. He needed to find the deities here. He needed to find their temples in order to survive in this world.

Alkar studied the man for a few more second before the stranger spoke to him. "Please, I do not know this...writing, this speech?...very well. I am new to Arda." This much was obvious to Alkar but the smell and the look of this man were beyond that of anything that he had ever experienced before in his life. But what made this all the more funny was the fact that he didn't really seem to understand most of what he said. The stranger gestured with the book and said "I cannot read this."

After this had been established Alkar sighed he had been sent on yet another wild goose chase. He wondered why on Arda he had ever even thought of helping the gaurds of this city out. The reason popped back into his head quite quickly it was a memory of the chief gaurd whom he had got in a fight with and ended up getting a severe beating from.

Studying his charge he noticed a look of utter revolt on his face that was an odd thing elves weren't usually stared at like this even by higher elves. This puzzled him even more about the person in question. The strange smell of fresh earth and blooming flowers was all around him. It was inticing just to smell this man. He smiled to himself then he turned to speak to the man.

"I notice that though cleverly covered as it is you seem to be disgusted by me may I ask why this is? and if you need a guide around this place I can show you some nice places in or out of the city?"

Alkar remembered that he had trouble with the common tongue and tried translating it into elvish for him hoping it would be understandable to the stranger.

Rayn al Boha walked through the city. He moved with ease, all his life he had been a thief. He had grown up in a city, citys were rough places. He had to look after him self. After a few years Rayn joined a Guild Of Theives. He made his way up through the ranks. He was among the best... But his friend got killed by a vampire on a job he was doing. Since then Rayn has been on a quest to become a Holy Knight... The only problem is, his faith in the gods isn't amazing as they have done nothing for him in his life and old habits die hard.

Rayn paused in the city square. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It had been a whole year since Rayn had been into a city. He listened to all of the sounds. Hawkers shouted their wares as it was a market day. Other then that he heard the genral hustle and busle of a city. He smiled when he heard singing from an Inn.

Suddenly Rayn's eyes shot open. His hand flashed down and grabbed the small hand of a young boy who had his hand in Rayn's pocket. The young boys eyes widened in horror. Rayn looked down and put on a cross face. "Nothing there but trouble lad..." Rayn said to the young boy. The boys eyes began to water. Rayn smiled warmly at him. "Don't worry, I've been in your position before..." Rayn said. He pulled a coin out of his pocket and gave it to the boy. "By the way lad. Keep some of it for your self. The upright man is not the nicest of fellows." Rayn said rather clamly.

The boy grinned. "Mister you are kind mister. How do you know so much about the under ground theives though?" The boy asked. Rayn laughed, "Because I'm Rayn The Rat." He said with a wink. The boys jaw dropped. "THE RAT!" He nearly shouted. "Every thief thinks your dead!" The boy said in wonder. Rayn smiled again. "The Rat is dead. Rayn lives." Rayn said. The boy grinned "Wait until I tell Jimmy!" He said and dashed off.

Rayn shook his head. Memorys flooded back into his mind. I knew a Jimmy... Bloody Death it was as well... He thought to himself. Rayn noticed the Library. Hmm I could always catch up on a story or two... He smiled and walked up the great steps.

Rayn entered the Library and the smell of old books hit him. He looked around at the rows of books. It would take me at least ten life times to read all of these... He thought and wandered over to the novel section. He pulled a book out. The Journeys Of David Hiscot. Rayn opened it and read a few lines. He was lucky enough when he was thief that an old lady who used to feed him every now and then learnt Rayn how to read letters and numbers.

It was then that Rayn noticed a dark haired and a light haired elf talking. Strange... Rayn thought and moved closer casually but not making a single noise.

The man began to speak in that language again, and said something about how Tarn Va Thaeindor was not covering something...or despite his covering...something about disgust...he shook his head sadly, and thought carefully over what the man had said. Perhaps I am not covering my expression, and I look disgusted. And he asked why, didn't he? Ah, that must be it. But how would I tell him? Tarn Va Thaeindor looked helplessly at the elf in front of him, revolted by himself and by the creature standing only a foot away. The elf looked slightly puzzled, and the small smile on his face spoke plainly of amusement.

Suddenly, the man began speaking in a strange tongue that Tarn Va Thaeindor had never heard before. None of the words were anything close to the language he had spoken a few seconds ago. Why had he suddenly changed?

"Stop, please. I cannot understand that," Tarn Va Thaeindor said, trying not to sound rude or cruel. It was hard to sound sophisticated when speaking a language he hardly knew. Now the elf looked disgusted in turn, and Tarn Va Thaeindor grew frustrated. "Do you have...ma - mah - majik? If you do, then..." Tarn Va Thaeindor gestured at his throat, and then the elf's, trying to convey the word language. Magic would make it simpler, and this time he could actually listen to what was being said.

Tarn Va Thaeindor's ears suddenly caught a slight shuffle of feet, and his head jerked up and to the left. A man stood there, watching them with gray eyes out of a hard face. Tarn's eyes immediately went to his ears, and his eyes softened slightly. They were round, not pointed. "Who are you, and why are you - listening?" Tarn Va Thaeindor asked him sharply, taking the opportunity to move farther away from the elf.

((would you two like to set up some sort of posting pattern, so we're not waiting up for others or should we post until we need the other character, or...? It seems to me we are all waiting around for someone to post. :p))

((OOC: I might as well post...))

IC:

"Who are you, and why are you - listening?"

Rayn heard one of the elves behind him say sharply. Rayn rolled his eyes. He turned around slowly. "Who me? I was just looking at the books..." Rayn said looking startled. If there was one thing he had learnt as a thief, it was to become an amazing lier. He bowed to both of the elves. "Sorry your elveships." He said with a rather mocking smile.

Rayn looked away pretending to feel awkward. "Erm... I am Rayn al Boha... I am visiting the city on a Holy Quest to become a knight." Rayn said warmly. He looked at the elves. They were completely different to each other. The dark haired elf seemed more street and stealthy like. While the blonde haired elf seemed more in place among trees and not citys. Rayn eyed them up completely taking in ever detail.

He paused. "So what bring two elves to a Library?" Rayn asked. There was something strange about these two. That much Rayn was sure of. Why don't I just stick to my own business... But then again that would be a little bit boring. Rayn thought. He shifted his sword belt around a little bit. With out his sword Rayn would feel lost.

Tarn Va Thaeindor's eyes hardened as he was called an elf. He was nothing like an elf, beyond his looks. And I do not look much like one, either. Look at me! I am fairer than he, and my ears, look how much longer they are! Why can people not see that? Tarn Va Thaeindor watched the man carefully, unsure of exactly why he was spying, even if he said he was not doing anything.

Rayn al Boha. A quest to become a knight. Tarn Va Thaeindor had no idea what a knight was, but the word holy held a certain...holiness about it that clued the Aerin Ishtheh in on its meaning. Tarn watched the man eying both he and the other elf, as if searching for something...weaknesses, perhaps. There would be none to be found on him, of course. Except perhaps arrogance. That was what brought about his race's downfall, supposedly. A prophecy, it had been. When the Aerin Ishtheh arrogance grew to be too much, they would be destroyed. Not entirely destroyed, though. And not because of arrogance. Because of elves. Elves like the man standing before him.

"So what brings two elves to a library?" the human asked. Tarn Va Thaeindor bristled. "I am no elf," he all but snarled. His eyes widened at the sound that came out of his throat, and he immediately cleared it, looking surprised and somewhat pleased. What am I doing? Why am I acting like this? It is not his fault he does not know...why am I so angry? He felt strange, as if he was being pulled in two different directions at once. He shook his head and looked at the human with slight disdain in his eyes.

The man was reaching for his belt, the belt with a sword on it. Tarn Va Thaeindor tensed, but relaxed once he saw the human adjusting it. He was feeling very confused. He just wanted to get away from these two people. He wanted to leave the city and go back to the forest he had been in before the long trek here. Life was much simpler in forests...life had been simple back home. And that is one place I will never return to. How I long to see it, though...

Out in the far reaches, one of a hundred million particles of pure, quintessential inspiration was struck by a stray meteor, drastically altering its present course.

Luc stepped into the library, glad to be back in civilization once again. The library was always a comforting place to visit after a long trip. Its comfortable carpeting, rich smells, and friendly atmosphere always saw to that. And, of course, there were armchairs: real, honest-to-goodness armchairs! Every time Luc sat down in one, it felt like a bruise on his spirit had just floated away. But armchairs weren't part of Luc's plan for today (at least, not for another five to ten minutes). Rather than for simple pleasures, Luc had come here in order to return a library book. More specifically, he had come to return Meteomancy for Dummies, a compelling, simple guide to all of the best weather-inducing spells. Luc had always felt comfortable with weather magic, what with being made of water and wind half the time anyways. Thus, it was with great appreciation that he deposited the book into the returns slot. Luc made a note to himself to send a letter to the book's writers requesting a sequel.

At that moment, his brain received a flash of inspiration, drastically altering the futures of several nearby Ardians. Most people believe that cause predates effect, but in many cases this is simply not true. The sudden altering of palm lines in the library would have given any nearby psychic a heart attack had it been anywhere else. Fortunately for the psychics, knowledge is power, and the interference provided simply caused mass headaches to sweep through the city's occult population.

But what was the inspiration, you ask? It was a simple thought that appeared in Luc's head. More specifically, it was this thought: If I look in the magic section, perhaps a sequel will already be there. If you think that this is an utterly inconsequential piece of information, then you are right. Then again, if you think that this piece of information is drastically important for future generations, you are also right. That's chaos theory for you. But no matter how you think of it, history was slightly changed by this event. For one thing, the future Duke of Lomedor wouldn't have a heart attack as a result of a slightly-too-worn armchair collapsing underneath him. But the event that is most relevant to this story also happens to be the most direct consequence of this event. That is, Luc happened to be within hearing distance when the words "So what bring two elves to a Library?" were spoken. The bitter reply, "I am no elf," peaked his interest even more. Luc ducked behind a nearby bookshelf, hoping to hear more. This conversation seemed to get more and more curious by the second.

Alkar had been sitting back sternly listening to the two argue and groan it was quite amusing that the man who had called himself Rayn thought that he would be able to spy on him and this odd individual was quite amusing.When he had called them both elves Alkar had silently snickered the being next to him was to fair and intune with nature to be a elf. Something about him reminded him of someone he once knew. As he was puzzling over the identity of the mysterious person their came a harsh snarl "I'M NOT AN ELF". That was when it hit him this wasnt an elf this was the exact opposite of his race. They were a group of beings who thought that the elves would bring down their race to its knees. As a matter of fact their were quite a few elves out there about 79 percent of them who wanted to kill these being but they would have to fight the people like Alkar who hated death above all things. This man belonged to the race of the Aerin Ishtheh.

Long ago back when he had been around fifty years old he had met one of the Aerin Ishtheh on his many wanderings. The man had hated him to the bone at first but after a few years near inner Arda the man had started to trust him like he would a brother. The man had taken most of that time to learn the basic speech of Arda but had eventually caught on to it. The man who was the only man Alkar had had that was like family had been slain before his eyes by a band of knolls. It had ruined him turning him into a heartless being for along time.

Then he spoke. "I get it now i understand who you are" he said turning to the Aerin Ishtheh "You are a man of the Aerin Ishtheh it has been over fifty years since I last saw your race he was dear to me we had grown close and wandered Arda for many years. What brings you here?" Then Alkar thought and remembered that he couldnt understand he had learned a little of their language and he tried to translate but he didn't think it had been 100 percent right.

Then he heard something near them behind one of the bookshelves. He said "One moment while I get something from over here please." Alkar drew his sword and phased through the wall so that he was standing right next to the man who had been dropping the eaves and spoke "Why are you spying on us what we speak of is not your buisness."

"Why are you spying on us? What we speak of is not your buisness."

A sweatdrop slid down Luc's face, landing on the floor next to the elf's boot. Luc's eyes, meanwhile, were firmly set on the katana. It was a fine piece of craftsmanship, though Luc was fairly certain that it had no enchantments. Still, a sword through your neck is pretty nasty, enchanted or not. Luc raised his hands in the air, backing up as meekly as he could. "I don't suppose that you can just ignore me, can you?" he asked weakly. The sword was getting closer now, and Luc didn't want a fight. This elf seemed reasonable. Right? Right?! "Er... Did I say that?" Luc gave a weak chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood. No such luck. "What I meant to say was that... that..." Luc grasped around for an excuse, any excuse. Suddenly, as he noticed the man's guard badge, one found him. It was a long shot, and Luc probably couldn't pull it off. Then again, most anything was better than this. "What I meant to say was that I'm your biggest fan! I saw you out there last week, and I was so inspired by your attention to duty!" Luc paused for a moment, trying to think of something else to say, something to flatter the guard some more. "And when I saw you, I realized that I had to be like you, that guarding was my life's dream! When I saw you come in here, I had to follow you. I wanted to know everything about you, that's all! Is that really so bad?" If Luc had been about ten years younger, it might have sounded convincing. The only way he believed that was if he had a stiff drink beforehand. But it was too late now, so Luc just stood there, praying for luck to come his way, and hoping desperately that the guard had stopped by the pub on the way over.

Alkar stared at this miserable excuse for a spy the man was claiming that he wanted to be a gaurd ya right like anyone at his age would even consider becoming a gaurd. He kept his sword bladde where it was just to intimidate the man as he stood their sweating his fears. He found this fear he gave certain people when he just popped out of nowhere was absolutely thrilling. So he sat there pondering what to do with this little snoop. He sighed it was against him to waste other peoples time like this unless he was reakin havoc at the same time.

He dropped his blade down to his side then he bought it up in front of his chest and tucked it neatly into its elven scabbard. He had rarely had to worry about spies before so he was suprised to find one. He thought it would be fun to sneak up on people like this maybe after this ordeal was ove he would become a private eye so he could spy and capture other spies. That to him sounded like a swell way to spend his day but he had to get back to the other two. "Join us on the other side of the bookshelf and dont try anything funny or I'll have to arrest you."

He turned and walked around the bookshelf to the other two wondering what had happened while he'd been gone."So guys I just went and got us a spy again thats two in one day but anyways what have you two been up to?"

."So guys I just went and got us a spy again thats two in one day but anyways what have you two been up to?" The guard asked.

Rayn looked at the new comer to the group and rolled his eyes. "Look! I AM NOT A SPY!" Rayn said raising his voice. "If I were a spy I would not have walked right up next to you! I was trying to find a book on the travels of Jacob Jurat who was a friend of David Hiscot!" Rayn said waving the book about David Hiscot infront of the guards face.

Rayn paused. "But oh mighty guard of the city... You must infact be guilty of something if you are pointing at every man within ten meters of you and calling them spies!" Rayn said raising an eyebrow. "And if you consider arresting me, think again! Because I will bring the gods down on you!" Rayn was becoming extreamly annoyed by this time. He couldn't believe that he had been called a spy. He wasn't spying... He just walked up to some strange looking people out of curiousity. And whats more, Rayn was known as Rayn The Rat. As silly as it sounded he was almost a legend among theives within the city... And he could be a darn good spy if he wanted... But to be called a spy when he wanted to become a Knight was an offence which Rayn wasn't willing to take.

Rayn took a deep breath. "Now good guard... Do you honestly think me to be a spy!?" Rayn asked calmly... His hand now slipping around his Holy Sword's hilt. Rayn didn't intend to be arrested. He also didn't want to draw his sword. But there was something about this gaurd which made Rayn distrust him...

((Mm...Alkar, the Aerin Ishtheh live on a different planet than this one...he wouldn't have seen one before. :())

Tarn Va Thaeindor frowned as the elf walked around to the other side of the bookshelf. Rayn al Boha did not speak, so they stood in silence and listened to what sounded like a slight scuffle and the murmur of voices, one of a stranger and one from the elf. Tarn Va Thaeindor glanced at Rayn al Boha, and then away from him, to the door to the library. He could leave any time he wanted. At least out there, no one wanted to talk to him. They were all going about their business just as they were supposed to. He did not like being harassed by an elf and a human. He had no inclination to talk to either of them, and is ignorance of their language humiliated him more than they could ever know. He could leave...

And then the elf was back, with another man. Tarn Va Thaeindor grimaced. Another spy, apparently. Was this world full of untrustworthy people? How could anyone stay alive with spies and men with swords going about brandishing them at every person who insulted them? It made Tarn Va Thaeindor glad to have grown up somewhere without all that to worry about. At least the Aerin Ishtheh were honest. If an Aerin Ishtheh wanted to "spy" they would walk right up top the person and listen, and no one cared because they had nothing to hide. At least, that was what it had been like in the High Society. There was nothing to gain from politics, plotting, and intrigue.

The elf, whose name Tarn Va Thaeindor had not yet learned, smirked at Rayn al Boha as he said something about two spies in one day. Tarn Va Thaeindor glanced at the human as well, and saw him bristle. "Look, I am not a spy!" Rayn al Boha shouted at the elf. The rest was basically an unintelligible mess, as the human was speaking far too quickly for Tarn Va Thaeindor to translate and listen at the same time. Finally, the man finished his tirade and put a hand on his sword hilt. Tarn Va Thaeindor stepped forward quickly.

"Please, do not use that," he said calmly. "The elf did not...did not mean it?" Tarn Va Thaeindor shook his head, trying to remember if those were the correct words. "I do not think you a spy, Rayn al Boha." That was part truth, anyway. Mayhap the man was just curious. That was no crime. Tarn Va Thaeindor turned to look at the newcomer, the one who was actually spying. His ears were rounded, like Rayn al Boha's, so that made him human. His eyes were a pale green color, and there was a distinctly nervous cast to them. Tarn Va Thaeindor guessed that he was very surprised at being caught, and frightened, or at least pretending to be frightened, of the guard. He was dressed plainly, with a belt wrapped around his waste, also containing a sword. Of the four men assembled there, Tarn Va Thaeindor was the only one without a weapon.

I will never get away if they wish to detain me. And if I do try to leave, the guard will think me guilty of some crime, will he not? Tarn Va Thaeindor asked himself.

"What is your name, human?" Tarn Va Thaeindor asked. His voice was normal, but the man looked nervous at being addressed. That seemed markedly wrong. A man with swords at his belt should not be so afraid. Tarn Va Thaeindor was immediately suspicious of the man, though he tried to keep his features schooled to calmness.

Luc listened somewhat bemusedly to the angry shouts of the guard and the "spy," contentedly out of the conversation. They bickered like a pair of schoolchildren! Not that I was any less childish with the whole "You're my idol!" act. Personally, it would have surprised me if that guard had believed me. At the moment, Luc was filled with the relief of being welcomed by the guard. Thus, Luc was quite surprised when the "spy" suddenly reached for his blade. A soft "No!" escaped under his breath, though only the not-an-elf's "Please, do not use that," could be heard. "The elf did not...did not mean it?" Luc briefly wondered why the not-an-elf didn't just buy a phrasebook, then dismissed it. Judging by the not-an-elf's phrases, especially his guesswork, Luc had a feeling that the not-an-elf hadn't even heard of phrasebooks, much less had an opportunity to buy one. "I do not think you a spy, Rayn al Boha." Luc smiled to himself, seeing the irony of the name that he had chosen for Rayn. Luc made a note of the name, then glanced at the not-an-elf. He grew nervous as he saw that the not-an-elf had started to stare at him. Shivers broke out on his body, and a cold sweat began to form. The not-an-elf didn't seem to be armed, but appearances can be decieving. For all Luc knew, this figure could be a fearsom enchanter! In fact, it was more than likely! After all, were not elves heralded as masters of magic and strength? And this not-an-elf certainly seemed to view elves as below him. "What is your name, human?" Luc jumped slightly, and his mind raced to retrieve his name from the ocean of panic that had overcome his thoughts. "I-it's Luc. Luc Midwell." Luc had a feeling that more was expected of him, so he swallowed his stutter and proceeded on. "I come from the region of Pharsti, south of Salquedor. I am also a swordsmage of the Brotherhood of the Shunned." Luc was satisfied that he had identified himself well enough, though he wasn't surprised when the not-an-elf looked rather confused. The Brotherhood was a very new guild; its guild hall was still under construction. Still, Luc felt confident enough with his identification to ask a few questions of his own. "So, who exactly are you?"

The human answered with a shaking voice, but seemed to gain confidence while continuing with his introduction, which proved to be a long one. He did say something about swords, and so he was probably adept with them. Tarn Va Thaeindor's eyes closed momentarily, thinking about his ventures with the Society of Blades, and how poorly they had turned out. He was good with swords, but found no joy in wielding one.

Tarn Va Thaeindor's blue eyes reopened to stare directly at the human, this Luc Midwell. He seemed to have gained enough courage to ask, "So, who exactly are you?" Tarn Va Thaeindor thought carefully about that, wondering who he was now. He was hardly even Tarn Va Thaeindor anymore, most people here did not address others with full names. Arylia Dumas had always called him tarn, and he was not Tarn. He was Tarn Va Thaeindor, always and forever. And there was his answer.

"I am Tarn Va Thaeindor, of the High Society, priorly of the Society of the Learned, the Society of Blades, and the Society of Archers. I am the last of the Aerin Ishtheh." Tarn Va Thaeindor took a deep breath, surprised with himself. He had not known the word for society, nor blade nor archer nor learned. How he had spoken those words, he did not know, but they had come and he was not going to take them back. He was who he was, and that would never change.

Luc Midwell was looking rather puzzled, as were the elf and Rayn al Boha, both of whom had not yet spoken. Tarn Va Thaeindor watched the three of them carefully, trying to measure their expressions and judge their thoughts by them. He was unsuccessful, though. All three faces looked as blank as stone, except perhaps Luc Midwell's, which was covered in sweat. The silence stretched a long while, awkward and anxious. Finally Tarn Va Thaeindor broke it to ask the elf his name.

"What are you called, elf?" Tarn Va Thaeindor asked, trying to keep the disgust from his voice. It would do him no good to make enemies, even though he already considered this man an enemy. He seemed confident and cocky, almost to the point of arrogance. Although...I am worse than he. I am worse than an elf in this. How awful... Tarn Va Thaeindor blinked quickly, to avoid the embarrassment of tears.

((Sorry it's short, no one else had replied so I thought I would, but there isn't much to say in reply to that. I would like to establish a posting order so we all know when to post. I think next should be Rayn or Alkar, then Luc, then me. Any other order you would prefer?))