• Solo • The Sea Always Calls You Home

[Mab Prell]

Ashan 120th 721 Arc

“What do you want?”

The words were flung with irritated haste at the receptionist. Mab was acknowledged with a distracted wave in her direction, “She says she’s here for a job.”

“You can’t call me down here every time someone is looking for a job. You should schedule them on the same day.” Mab immediately identified the scowling woman as Elise for the tattoos sketched across her exposed forearms. No one at the pub last night had known much about the Menagerie’s caretaker beyond a physical description. Some Elements had chuckled in such a way that made Mab dread the interview, but refused to give the young Mer any insight. I guess I know why they chuckled now…

The receptionist looked up for the first time to chuckle, “When I do that you only ever make it through three of them before your patience expires and I have to send the rest home.” Elise responded with a grumble of acknowledgement and plucked a piece of straw from her hair.

“Fine.” She relented, looking to Mab for the first time. The receptionist smiled and winked at Mab, mouthing -Good luck!- under her breath.

Here we go…

Mab rose to clasp the trainers hand. Despite her human resemblance, the white freckles and orange markings on the back of her neck clearly marked her as inhuman. Elise shoved her blonde hair behind her ears before taking the necessary steps to meet the younger girl’s hand. Sun-faded blond hair framed an undeniably and classically beautiful face. Her beauty undiminished by the scattered pieces of dirt and straw caught in the wedges of a single braid draped in front of her shoulder.

“Well. Well. Who do we have here?” The Naerikk spoke with a precise pleasant that denied her earlier outburst.

“Mab….Mabel Prell.” Elise smiled uncertainly, unsure how to consolidate the previous abrasiveness with the immediate pleasantness. A nervous thrill slid up her spine when the older woman strode forward to seize her hand. Gripping my arm like she welcomes an equal. Mab felt ever inch a respected woman in that simple exchange.

It was the young girl’s first interview and she had no idea what to expect of the process having never participated in something so formal in Darbyton. In her childhood village she had been her parent’s unofficial assistant and often toddled along to work if a babysitter fell through or, when she was older, as an appreciated extra hand.

“Hello. I’m Elise Flarsdotter, a trainer and caretaker at The Menagerie. Prell…How old are you?” She continued, smiling with a softness that made Mab glance between the receptionist and Elise. Silence spread between them making Mab break eye contact uneasily.

“Fifteen. Turning sixteen this season.”

“Almost a young woman then,” Mab couldn’t help the glare of indignation. She’s only being so kind because she thinks I’m a child...

“Not so young. I’m not here to pet puppies, drool over drafts or hoof around with Hafrein. I’m a Darbytowner through and through. I’m here to contribute and pull my own weight.” Mab gestured to her rather large girth.

“Well I certainly hope you’ll pet the puppies, drool over drafts and hoof around with our Hafrein. Puppies need socialization and attention and Hafrein need you to hoof on after them to move them to new pastures. I assume this is your first job?” Elise continued without waiting for an answer, acknowledging that Mab would doubtless argue that no Darbytowner waited until adulthood for their first job – they were born to work.

“first official job.” Mab’s face mottled with red and white as she flushed.

“And our Water Element troops may be a touch offended if you call their Mergala drafts.” Elise added as she waved for Mab to follow her passed the receptionist and into the busy Menagerie grounds. Elise glanced at the receptionist trying to catch her eye and mouth a polite thank you, but the woman did not look up from the consuming papers before her. Elise wasn’t fond of this aspect of her job, she resented the time spent hiring and touring new employees. But, a child was as close to the innocence of an animal humans got and despite Mab’s protestations – the girl was still a child.

[Mab Prell]

“Do you have any experience with animals?”

“Yes.”

“Would you care to elaborate?”

“Mm…well in Darbyton I helped tend the Rangers hunting birds primarily. We used falcons, hawks and owls and I helped tend their feathers and I’ve prepared diets for the owls. We use mice with a variety of oils and vitamins. Last arc in Darbyton I learned how to use the glove and hood when carrying and transporting the owls on hunts.” As she explained, her mind trickled over her fond memories.

Reginald, an old retired snowy owl, was a personal favourite. While the old man often appeared grouchy and Mab had come to appreciate that he simply liked things done a certain way. He wasn’t afraid to give his handler a sharp reprimand should he be unnecessarily jostled. When hunting with less experienced Owls, Reginald could be relied upon to chase or lead the youngsters to the awaiting arm of a Ranger, and was therefore as important a part of the hunting party as those who were bowed.

Mab’s memory sketched out the few black markings that, like freckles, had dotted Reginald’s body. His eyelids were almost always half shut, but no less expressive than the wide eyes of much more youthful birds. He transitioned from sleepy to glowering with a millimeters difference in eyelid cover, a stoic characteristic Mab found utterly charming. No doubt, her daydreaming was evident on her face for when she turned her attention back to the present and the tattooed blond the woman was smirking knowingly.

“If that heartsick expression on your face is anything to go by, I take it you like birds?”

“Oh yes…” Mab breathed as she stopped to stare at the enormous cloud that blocked the sun. The Enormowl disappeared into the towering tree at the center of the Menagerie as quickly as it had appeared.

“Can you tell how old Zitilla is?”

“Zitilla?”

“The Enormowl that just passed overheard.”

Mab’s mouth hung open as she shook her head mutely, so occupied by the dazzling creature she forgot to shut it.

“Enormowls can live until 60 arcs, that’s six times as long as their aesthetically similar relatives the Snowy Owl. Young males may have quite the dusting of brown and black markings but adult males can be almost entirely white with very few black markings. Females like Zitilla, a young female, have a maze of black markings. They’ll fade a bit as she ages.”

Mab smirked, “I cared for an elderly Snowy, Reginald. I always thought he looked rather dashing in white but really he’s quite the grandpaps beard with all that white.” Elise smiled politely as she continued her stroll. The brunette Mer’s long legs kept up easily with the older woman, though her mouth and mind struggled to come along as quickly.

[Mab Prell]

“What is the longest feather on a bird?” The first of a pepper of questions that Elise vaulted at Mab.

“The primaries.”

“What affects feather quality the most?”

“Diet.”

“What are the different types of feathers?”

“Oh….mmm…” Mab hesitated. While she had seen that not all feathers had looked alike, she wasn’t aware that they had different names.

“Can all birds fly?”

“Yes.” That was the point of the feathers wasn’t it?

“What do owls eat?”

“Primarily meat including fish, land animals or insects. But ones in captivity need to be fed carefully formulated minerals and vitamins they would otherwise find in the wild.”

“What are pellets?”

“Left overs from their food that they can’t digest.”

“What is it formed by?”

“Mmm…I’m not sure.” Mab admitted, stumbling over her words as her confidence waned.

“List three ways, besides diet, you can improve feather quality?”

“Spraying the bird with water, misting, or treating for parasites on the skin, and...” Mab searched the vaults of her brain desperately, “and...uhm…giving them opportunities for bathing if their feathers are dirtied or exposed to salt or smoke.” She added with the enthusiasm due an eureka.

“Very good. You don’t have any theoretical background evidently, but you had some idea of the basics and some handling experience.” She explained as she rounded a building and stopped to read some information on a blackboard. Mab waited silently while the woman added a few scrawls of her own on what seemed to be a feeding chart.

“Here’s the thing Prell,” Mab’s chest pounded. “You’re evidently a very sweet young girl,” Oh no, here it comes… “you like and know a little somethin’ about animals and I could certainly use your size. You won’t blow away in the wind like some whippersnappers your age. But, we have plenty of manual labour, I don’t need anymore farm hands. I need people who…are ready to be mothers to my chicks. My nest is to big for me to tend to every squawk, but someone needs to. A girl,” she raised a hand expecting to quiet Mab’s objection, but the girls tongue was frozen as she watched the Enormowl cloud of her fantasies disappeared into cirrus wisps. “yes, you are still a girl, are not ready to be a mother.”

Mab held her face as stoic as possible, but couldn’t help the tremble of her lower lip. It wasn’t a pout or a prelude to tears but the physical expression of her frustration. What do I do? How can I convince her? Maybe if I spouted everything I know I could convince her I know enough. She must be disappointed because I couldn’t age Zitilla. I could volunteer until I could convince her I’m good enough to work for her. Her mother’s eagerness for her to work and help support the household flashed through her mind. Her mother would not be pleased if she came home not only without a job, but labour that would occupy her time and prevent her from getting a job that paid. A plea of necessity maybe? She seems tender-hearted enough. But her pride kept her from begging employment. The sea of options paralyzed the teen and she stared at the Naerrik soundlessly.

Elise waited patiently. After what felt an eternity she finally broke the silence, “I’m sorry Prell, but even now you can’t muster the zeal, fury, or gumption needed in a mother. Enormowls are beautiful, yes. But they are also fierce and potentially dangerous creatures. Someone as shy as you – well – I wouldn’t want to see you injured.” The woman seemed genuinely sympathetic as she turned away from the Mer.

“I have tasks that need my attention.”

[Mab Prell]

“Wait!” Prell shoved out of her mouth.

“Yes?” Elise stopped, looking over her shoulder. Prell didn’t notice the smirk tugging on her lips for all the emotions blinding her.

“You must have a use for a Mer. You have boating laws, you must have water mounts for your Elements. I could be of use.”

Elise tapped her chin ponderously. Elise had recognized Mab for what she was, and intended to use her for her race-given gifts, there was never enough Mer and it seemed impractical to not make use of her natural traits underwater. But, the girl had been entranced with the birds. It wouldn’t do to have her begrudge the pigeon-holing of her race. Instead, Elise was sure, that having to negotiate her own job would improve her confidence while maximizing her functionality. Besides, a grateful employee was certainly more productive and loyal. However, Mab was not so astute as to realize the manipulation she’d let herself be taken by. Elise had led her to water and made her drink.

“Yes, that’s true. Well enough. Come along then.”

Mab was a beat behind in her surprise as the two dodged and ducked the streams of people and animals that maneuvered around each other. Mother will be so proud, managing to talk myself into a job after all. Perhaps it’s better this way – I have something to offer in the water. With those owls, Elise is right, I’d probably just get myself or someone else injured. Although her imagination couldn’t resist clinging to the image of herself surrounded in the white plumage of the Enormowls while the wind beat her eyes half shut, she felt grateful for the water work.

As they walked, Mab was astonished by the Menagerie’s bustle. Even Scalvoris proper couldn’t claim to be this busy sometimes - she marveled. Each person seemed set along a series of complex waterways that joined and left each other. It wasn’t clear who had the right of way, it seemed to be dictated by some formula or hierarchy of animal being handled, direction and speed. Somehow everyone managed not to crash into each other and keep animals far enough away from each other to avoid any aggressive outbursts.

“What do you know about The Elements?”

“I know they uphold Scalvorian law and exist as four branches; land, air, fire, and water. They –“

“Flame.” Elise corrected.

“-Right, yes. Flame. They are responsible for protecting different aspects of Scalvorian law.”

“Yes, and each branch has a variety of mounts, trained and cared for here, that are available for their use.” Elise added, completing the thought in time to point out a large man walking a dog along a path to their left. “But, we care for and train other animals here as well: dogs, cats, flunnies and the like.”

While watching the handler instruct the heavily furred dog to sit Mab almost stepped into the path of an antlered beast pulling a sled through the snow. Reeling backward she lost track of Elise, who had stepped beyond the creature’s path. Mab leapt across the muddy snow the creature’s wide hooves had turned up, rushing to catch up and overhear the women’s explanation.

“-are mainly for the Land Troop mounts. They’re The Elements you’ve probably seen around town. They serve as guards and enforce Scalvarian law in the city. They mainly ride Hafrein, the deer that almost stepped on you just now.” Mab flushed in embarrassment. You might just trip yourself out of a job if you don’t get your head on a swivel and your feet under you.

“We always need help with the Hafrein herds. They are relatively hardy and easy to care for compared to the sea and air animal troops, but they are among the most numerous and during breeding season the males can be exceptionally difficult to handle. When their pastures flood sometimes we have to set up temporary fencing to keep them out of the area. Their feet are vulnerable to water-borne infections.” She elaborated in response to Mab’s head tilt. As they strode she pointed out at the distant fields where Mab could just see specks of moving black figures.

“You’ll also see Dinili, large armoured mounts, from time to time. Although they’re not as sure-footed and versatile as the Hafrein some of the troops prefer them in the city. We also use them to help haul heavy loads about the Menagerie.”

“Oh yes, we have Dinili in Darbytown. They help haul lumber and the like.”

“Oh yes, of course, you’re from Darbytown.” Elise nodded, her head on a swivel as they carved a path through the traffic. Is she paying attention to me at all? Mab thought with a tickle of annoyance that made her eyelashes flutter. Meanwhile, a flurry of schedules and expanding to-do lists occupied the Menagerie trainers mind while she toured the teen.

[Mab Prell]

They were nearing the water by then and Elise halted abruptly turning an almost entire 360. “We have two lakes. This one is connected to the sea, and is suitable for the majority of the mounts. However, if anyone is ill, pregnant or too young to be exposed to the sea’s inevitable threats we have another smaller lake they can be moved to.” The trainer explained, gesturing to each feature in turn. How do they meet the needs of such a diverse group of animals? Mab was stunned, not expecting the Menagerie to have the breadth and variety she had only witnessed a fraction of. Here I thought the diverse needs of the hunting fowl at home took impressive coordination and understanding. This is practically a metropolis of monsters. Hmm…not quite right. A Conurbation of creatures, every branch of the Elements their own suburb in the Menagerie.

Caught up in her daydreaming Mab didn’t notice that Elise had walked them onto a pillared pier that extended into the lake. Broad and well-kept the planks hardly creaked underfoot. Elise had a particular distaste for these interviews and tours. She preferred to hire people who had the same blinding adoration for the four legged, finned or winged creatures at the Menagerie. At least with them, even the more personable ones, she shared an unspoken bond and trust that they would treat the creatures with vigilance, care, and affection. Fortunately, Mab only seemed interested in a job and the animals. She, much to Elise’s relief, hadn’t asked so much as a single personal question.

“The two species you’ll be working with are Irrawaddies and Mergala.” Elise seemed to assume that a Mer would have knowledge of these creatures since she didn’t elaborate. Mab, beginning to feel the fool, didn’t ask.

“There’s more than enough work to do that doesn’t involve handling the animals. It’ll give you time to get acquainted with the staff, schedule and animal’s individual quirks in the beginning.” She explained as she led Mab towards a shed at the edge of the water.

“This is the store room, we keep all the harnessing and supplies here. Each species has their own room, and we have an extra room for the supplies of mounts of which there may be only a few. Individual troops will have their own supplies as well and can store it here or in their own places.” Elise walked into one of the rooms gesturing at the organized chaos of metal, leather, brushes, scrapers, and other instruments completely unrecognizable to the Mer.

“This large bin is where dirtied supplies goes. It needs to be cleaned and when necessary oiled before being hung back up. You can do this in any down time you find between tasks. We don’t have a strict schedule since every individual troop member will come and go on their own schedule and have different levels of experience with their mount. Some will need help cleaning, tacking, or caring for their animal. You will either help or find someone who is experienced with the animal to help you. I will pair you with a staff member who will be your contact point from here on out.”

The two left the store room and strode across a field toward a barn on the lakes shores. Mab glanced at movement in the corner of her eye. Dolphins! She exclaimed internally, watching the grey fins break the surface of the water near the edge of the lake and followed their passage.

Elise smiled and waved at the group. Mab was shocked to see several fins wave back. “Almost lunch time for the Irrawaddies,” The blond explained as they stepped into the barn. Okay, so Irrawaddies are basically dolphins, but what are Mergala?

“Your day will begin at dawn for feeding. You will bring in the Mergala listed on this blackboard in the stables You will bring pails of small crustaceans and plankton and measure out the appropriate amount listed beside each name, here, into their buckets before you bring them in. There will be someone here to help you identify and catch them until you become more familiar with the herd. Then you can clean or whatever tasks you are called to. You will help trainers by fetching supplies, cleaning stalls, and any other tasks they require. They may have you help with training or feeding the Irrawaddie as well but since the pods can hunt for themselves, there is less daily manual labour required.”

Mab nodded, chuckling to herself. Well…those expectations are vague aren’t they. “So, basically barely ordered chaos?”

“You got the idea. Everything that needs to get done gets done, but we find a malleable schedule is the most effective. Nothing goes to plan when you’re working with animals anyway.”

[Mab Prell]

“Ah! Alexandria!” Mab was perturbed by the evident relief Elise felt handing Mab off to someone else and had disappeared before Mab could blink.

“Alexandria,” a large scaled hand extended to meet hers. Mab turned to take in the reptile before her. As tall as Mab, she had the unfortunate pleasure of a direct view and sniff of the creature’s toothy maw.

“Mab,” She replied, trying to keep the tremble from her voice. What on Idalos IS this?! A light pastel green, the Ithecal was covered in a smattering of pale orange and yellow streaks. She wore nothing but a loose covering that belted over her hips and fell to her knees, a belt with a variety of pouches hung loosely from her waist. She was covered in delicate thorny spikes that erupted like bone spurs from each joint. Her face was a prickle of spines, small slitted eyes hidden under thorny crowns.

“Never seen an Ithecal before, hm?” Alexandria chirped good-naturedly and Mab realized she was staring slack-jawed.

“N-no. I apologize. I’ve been rude.” She closed her jaw and forced a smile. Well now all those school kid jokes make sense… she realized as she took in the broad shouldered dense creature so similar to her own silhouette. She decided she thought the Ithecal was beautiful.

“It’s alright,” Alexandria waved her hand as if banishing the bad smell that was Mab’s response, “Scalvoris Town is full of new sights though. You must be from quite some hole in the ground to not be used to novelty.” She croaked, slitted tongue licking the air as she laughed.

“What do you do at The Menagerie?” Mab switched subjects clumsily, no longer wanting to belabour her error.

“Like everyone here I’m a jack of all trades. I started out caring for the Mergala and then the Irrawadie. But, now I've joined the water elements, so I'm more of an experienced volunteer. It’s your first day I take it from your wide-eyed slack-jawed awkwardness?” The large snout of the creature made it difficult for Mab to interpret the woman’s smile as good natured or malevolent.

“It’s a lot to take in.” Mab replied, not able to keep the irritation out of her voice.

“Oh come now. I’m just teasing. The Mergala will knock that attitude right out of you. Of course it’s a lot to take in. Especially if an Ithecal is a lot to take in.” She chittered making Mab smile despite herself.

“I hope you’ll be able to give a more detailed description of the expectations here. Elise’s description was basically: feed, clean, do what people tell you.” Mab tried to match Alexandria’s snide playfulness.
Alexandria’s face fell, “You shouldn’t talk like that about Elise. She works harder than anyone – you’re lucky for whatever time she granted you.”

“Oh.” Chrien. I cannot keep up with this things humour. Mab’s face fell.

Alexandria laughed as she gestured for Mab to follow her as she hauled a wheelbarrow to a chute and a seahorse muzzled mount dropped it's head over the gate to blow air at the two. I guess that would be a Mergala.

“Gosh you’re gullible. Don’t take o’fence, you’re no jockey yet.”

Mab groaned. It was going to be a long day.


Total thread word count: 3.929

[Jackalope]

Experience: +10 xp

Knowledge:

Skill:

Socialization: The advantages of youth
Socialization: The importance of confidence
[see Comments]
Animal Husbandry: Sexing owls
Animal Husbandry: Aging owls
Animal Husbandry: Puppies need socialization
Animal Husbandry: Feet are vulnerable to water-borne infections

Non-skill:

Enormowls: Lifespan
Enormowls: Dangerous and Fierce
Elise Flarsdotter: Menagerie Trainer and Caretaker
Mergala: Seahorse Horses
Irrwaddie: Resemble Dolphins
The Menagerie: Purpose
The Menagerie: Layout
Elements: Land Troops Ride Hafrein Race: Ithecal

Skillplay: Appropriate to level

Loot: None. For wealth threads, you submit the wealth reward requests separately here. Once you’ve done a wealth thread for the season in question, then you can request additional wealth rewards along with other rewards in subsequent threads for that season. For your first wealth thread, +1 WP is indeed the correct amount.

It’s a bit confusing; I did it wrong the first time, too!

Injuries/Overstepping: None.

Magic Experience?: None.

Renown: +5 for starting a new job.

Comments:

I’m a bit surprised that a mer hasn’t heard of penguins. :p

Seriously, I enjoyed this thread. Mab has the right combination of insecurity and brashness for someone her age. Reading her ups and downs as she went back and forth on how well she thought she was doing was engaging; it made me want to cheer for her. I was a bit surprised when Elise said “No” initially, and was impressed by how Mab recovered from that.

The descriptions of the animals and of what Mab did and didn’t know about them, of the chaos of the Menagerie, and of the NPCs were all fantastic. The way she reacted to first meeting an Ithecal, and the way Alexandria went back and forth between being encouraging and pulling Mab’s leg reminds me of times when I started new jobs.

I consider the two knowledges you requested as Politics to be more appropriately classed as “Socialization.” That’s more the everyday “How-to-win-friends-and-influence-people” skill. Politics more concerns influencing policy and bigger social outcomes.

However, if you have your heart set on Politics because you’re working on it as a character goal, feel free to PM me to let me know and make your case. There’s probably some wiggle room there.

Let me know if you have any questions/feedback. Enjoy your rewards!