Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Arwel was very much a busybody whenever he was anywhere with books. Journal out, he'd scribble notes surrounded by books on all sides, reading and examining, sketching drawings of items of interest and more.
Today was no different, of course, but in this case, he was so wrapped up in his writing that he was also singing. Very softly, but that didn't hide how nice his voice sounded. If anyone else nearby him could hear him singing, they were making no effort to let him know in case he stopped. It was a very pleasant undertone to the cafe, at least to those who could hear it.
It was a soft song, or at least the way he sang it was soft. Almost like a lullaby, soothing and sweet, with his gentle voice that hit deeper notes than you might think you would get from hearing him talk. He had a decent vocal range, and with practice might even become good at singing. Not that he was really realizing he was singing. Normally, he never sang in public, but he was wrapped up in what he was doing, and sometimes music helped him focus.

Arwel probably looked like a scholar, or student at the university with his set up. Stacks of books on all sides around him, a journal open that he took notes in with one hand on a book, finger following the sentence he was copying down. He’d pause now and then to pull a book from the stacks around him, looking up something he wasn’t sure about or wanted a visual for. His drawing skills had improved since the ice caves, or at least he thought they might have. His journal was full of notes on animals, particularly mammals, as well as any herbs that would put an animal to sleep, and anything poisonous (just so he knew what to avoid if he camped outside). He wanted to find the best way to obtain items for a totem, doing the least amount of harm to the animal if possible. So far, the Nightpup seemed like the perfect option for him for his first totem, his master in magic had mentioned that for his first totem he should choose a mammal and thinking about how it would be his first time shapechanging, he figured choosing an animal that was domesticated to some degree might be a good start. He wouldn’t have to worry about some of the traits that wild animals might spur in him during the change, or at least, that was his hope.

For the longest time, he was in his own little world researching, pausing only long enough to drink some water, though he couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. Probably before he came to the scholars nook early in the morning, shortly after it had opened. There were some books in the Scholars Nook that he hadn’t been able to find at the library, as sometimes happened when people from out of town brought in new books, and well, his love of learning meant that sometimes he’d forgo things like eating and even sleeping once or twice in his quest for knowledge. He was oblivious to the soft singing he was doing while reading and writing, likely Pash was to blame for making him more comfortable in his skills through their lessons, and probably would have remained oblivious to anything outside of his books until the nook closed if someone hadn’t nearly upset the stack of books to his left. He snapped out of his reverie to help them steady it, murmuring it was alright as they apologized and saying it was nothing. He adjusted the stack and had been about to go back into his research when he heard the words, “There are others that he was in the ice caves with, people he told me saved his life.” Lifting his head to look around, he wondered who was talking about the ice caves, and the people who had been in the expedition. Not intending to eavesdrop, his curiosity got the better of him as he listened to the rest of the conversation, in which the owner of the Scholar’s Nook offered to ask around and find others who had been on that expedition. He blinked, biting his lip as he pondered what to do next. He had been one of the people on that expedition, so perhaps he should go over? But then that would be revealing that he had eavesdropped, which would be a breach of manners and not really a great first impression on the person who wanted to find him and the others...Perhaps if he apologized first? He thought over his options for a few moments as their conversation ended and the woman who had been asking after the ice cave adventurers returned to her books. Finally, mustering up his courage, he moved to stand, closing and stowing his journal and pen, and moved over to her table. Arwel had a rather imposing figure, standing at a little over six feet tall, his arms, torso and even thighs were covered in a myriad of tattoos that added a bit of mystery to his figure. It was his face, or rather the natural look it had, that usually led people to believe that he was one of intimidation when in reality he was anything but. Today, however, as he approached Faith, the look in his eyes betrayed his nervousness, biting his lip as he approached her and running a hand through his short red hair, eyes that were now purple from becoming a Rupterer looking at her as he said hesitantly, “Ah….h-hello, miss. I hate to intrude on your reading, b-but I am afraid I o-overheard your conversation, for which I am sorry to have eavesdropped. But I heard that you were looking for members of the ice cave expedition for some reason?” he fidgeted as he said, “I-I am one of those who were on the expedition, my name is Arwel. D-did you need to find me and the others for some reason?” He dearly hoped that his eavesdropping, accidental or no, wouldn’t unduly upset her. If she was looking for them for innocent reasons then it would be nice if perhaps he could befriend her. He didn’t have many that he considered friends, though he did have a few that were more like companions, though he knew none of them on a deeper level. Padraig and the others on the expedition he felt were companions, people he would put his life in their hands, and yet he didn’t really know them very well. The caves hadn’t exactly left time for that. Though, if he could meet up with them again, he’d love to fix that, if he could get over his shyness long enough to say as such.

Arwel hadn't expected the young lady to know his name, though he supposed if she was looking for those of the expedition it would make sense to learn their names...He was a bit surprised to see that she had silver eyes, his own purple ones eyeing her for a moment before ducking his head shyly and reaching out to shake her hand. He wondered if she had magic, or perhaps was a Biqaj who could change their eye color. Dropping the thought for the moment, he moved to take the chair offered to him and, when she introduced herself, something from when they were in the caves clicked and he said, "Ah, you must be Padraig's flower I heard about then," As she went on to say how he had helped save Padraig's life, he blushed and ducked his head shyly, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "I-I um...well...I'm glad I was able to help, but really...i-it was just the right thing to do. I did what I would want anyone to do for me...my only wish is that I was able to prevent him from having been hurt at all," he admitted. He still blamed himself for Padraig's injuries. If only he'd done better, moved faster....

He blinked, taken from his thoughts when he felt her hand squeeze his arm, telling him that if there was anything in her power that he needed, she'd do for him. He blushed darker and said, "Ah well....y-you don't have to...um...th-thank you." he finally managed to say after much stumbling over his words. He wasn't sure if he deserved such a thing from her for doing what, in his eyes, was something that went without thinking in treating Padraig and not leaving him to bleed out and die, but he didn't want to refuse it when he saw how earnest she was, and heard how strongly she felt about Padraig. It clearly meant a lot to her, so he would probably think of something small he needed that she might help with so she'd no longer feel obligated. He didn't like the idea she might feel like that over what he did, so he was thinking of the polite way of going around it.

He was entirely taken by surprise when she told him that he was, in fact, invited to a wedding. Her wedding, with Padraig. He'd never attended such an event before, but when she said they would be delighted if he could come, his mind jumped to what he was going to give them as a present. You gave presents at weddings right? Mind already overthinking on what to do for them on their big day, he glanced over his shoulder at the books when she inquired about his studies and smiled. He loved to share what he learned. "Ah well, mostly studying animals and how to safely be able to approach them, like by drugging them. Say you wanted to get mm....samples, from a wild animal, but you don't want to have to kill the creature to get it. If I could figure out the right combination of a humane trap that won't kill the animal, along with some kind of bait that when eaten would safely incapacitate the creature, then you could gather...samples, or study it in safety, without having to kill it." While the samples were more realistically, how he'd get what was needed to make a totem, the idea that he had explained was in fact what he was researching. He just didn't outright say it was for magic purposes. "Ah, no I'm not at the university. I thought about it until well...I saw how much it would cost." he said with a bit of a laugh. "I'm afraid I don't have a job, so I can't afford to go, I'm scrimping as it is just to buy a house here." he fidgeted and asked, "A-are you studying, at the university? What's it like?"