Oruch Ways

Razen stands amid the bustle of the port with an air of thoughtfulness. People walk around him naturally though he stands off to the side so as to stay mostly out of the way. Even so, he's given wide berth simply by virtue of his size. Some give him suspicious glances, but for the most part he goes unnoticed. Like a rock in the river, the people mostly don't seem to care that he's there. He seems the same way, mostly unaware of the people that are around him, watching the water instead.

...well, with one exception, a small dark-skinned elf who has been trying to find Razen for days. A young child from the Port recently ran up to notify her of his presence there, and she has come down accordingly, sidestepping the crowds with practiced ease. She is careful to approach him from the front, not knowing if he has fully recovered from his ordeal and not wanting to startle him.

"You stand like a mountain," <yrch-speak> she remarks. "What weighs you down?" <yrch-speak>

He turns toward her slowly, blinking languidly and then nodding a hello to her. "Hello Yelrona. Just thinking." He shrugs his shoulders and then smiles a small deprecating smile. "Actually I was not thinking of much at all." Everything he says he says in Tradespeak. "Your oruch is very good, I don't seem to speak it very much lately. Not many people seem to use it around here."

Yelrona nods. "It's not commonly used. I suppose most of the oruch who settle here are trying hard to fit in among humans. I suppose I've just been doing a lot of research in Oruch, so my brain naturally goes there." She pauses for a while, looking out over the ocean with Razen. "I imagine you have quite a lot to not-think about, these days."

"You have been doing a lot of research into the ourch?" Razen seems curious, and like her he pauses after that and then shrugs. It's not his normal carefree shrug but more a start of that which falls too quickly. He shifts his weight subtly and glances at her. "I suppose I do."

She nods. "I have. Or, rather, into a few Oruch in particular." She thinks about what to say about that and finally settles on "Trying to find their next of kin, and those responsible for their deaths."

She nods at his agreement. "Tarien teaches that pain is healed with laughter. But I suspect that's not your way."

"Well, it should not be too difficult with Oruch. Most ourch have strong familial ties. Find their clan and finding those who are related to them won't be that much further behind. At least among the sons of Adom." He nods at this and looks out away at the water. "You are right. I can not laugh off my failure, nor the time I spent bound against my will. What was done makes me..." Razen clenches his fists. "I can not laugh. I can barely begin to smile."

Yelrona nods. "Yes, exactly. And in most cases I knew the clans to start with... though admittedly, they were shared under fire, so my memory was imperfect. So it took some looking around. Still... not difficult." She pauses. Then: "It would greatly surprise me if any part of recent events constituted a failure on your part. Either way, though... is there anyone you trust enough to talk about it with?"

Razen nods to her commentary about the oruch. "Work then, but not hard work. I wish you luck on it." The rest of her words bring a shrug. "I left my family, and the one person I could truly talk to on the tundra plains of my home. Here I have friends but... I do not wish to burden any of them with such things." He sighs and looks at her, meeting her eyes. "I failed you Yelrona. By being captured. For that I am terribly sorry."

Yelrona rolls her eyes. "Oh, cut that out. Your capture led us _directly_ to the people responsible for the Charneth spying on Alexandria, as well as the assassination attempts on Chay and the others... and, incidentally, turned up the smugglers responsible for shipping slaves to Veyshanti, as well. You brought them all down." She looks out over the water before adding "I'm sorry it took us so long to find you. Had I known it would be so difficult I never would have agreed to your plan in the first place."

Razen smiles and shrugs again, that same half-aborted shrug. "It worked out for the best, and I hear that they freed that ourch slave that the fake duke was keeping captive. I am glad of that. I thought perhaps he would end up a casualty of the fighting."

Yelrona nods. "We did, yes... he was an unwilling combatant, and switched sides readily enough when offered a viable chance to do so." She smiles. "If only they could all be freed so easily."

Another pause, more looking out over the ocean. Then: "Do you want your captors dead?" Conversationally, as though she were asking him if he likes pepper in his lamb stew.

"Aye." Razen glances over at Yelrona and finally shakes his head. "I would rather face them all in single combat and teach them the meaning of a fair fight!" He shakes his head again however. "But they are not the sort of people who know what honor is."

"No, they aren't," Rona agrees. "We could teach them, though. If you want."

Razen arches an interested eyebrow. "And how might we do that?"

"Track them down," Rona says with a one-shouldered shrug. "Find their names, where they live. Grab them, put them in a locked room with you and two weapons. One of you comes out."

A slow smile spreads across Razen's cheeks and he shakes his head. "I think most of them are in jail at the moment... but the thought... it does make me happy. Perhaps you and Tarien are right. Smiling and laughing are the cure to what ails."

Yelrona grins. "The trick is to find the humor that appeals to each person. I mean... people can be broken out of jails. Hypothetically. I've been told."

Razen's smile stays where it is, and his eyes grow a steady mischievously malicious glint. "I like it." He peers at her prospectively. "If any of them get out you tell me so that I can challenge them."

"Deal," Rona agrees, chuckling, and goes back to looking out over the water. After a few minutes, she adds "On a completely unrelated note, I could use your help with something."

Razen winces. "So long as it is not pretending to be a slave again... I would be happy to help you Yelrona."

Yelrona laughs. "I promise... no slavery involved. Like I told you, I've been tracing back a number of Oruch warriors, in order to inform their clans of the manner of their deaths. And in one case, to return his weapon to his kin." She pulls a finely crafted blade from her scabbard. "I could use an assistant better acquainted with Oruch customs than I am, to avoid giving offense where none is intended."

The half-ourch blinks and admires the blade. "I would be happy to do what I can." He looks mildly uncomfortable. "Though I warn you that my help may be something of a hindrance to you."

"Oh?" She tilts her head to one side. "Why is that?"

He glances around and steps closer to the building he is beside to better get out of the way of those passing by. "Have I ever told you why I left my clan?" Razen is looking at the ground.

Yelrona shakes her head. "I don't think so?"

"I introduce myself as Razen Diharth - which I think you know means 'of no home' - but once I was Razen Vulkakhson, the son of Vulkakh. My father bore many sons and one daughter before me. All ourch-blooded." Razen leans against the building but not comfortably. "I was never the hunter that my father wished me to be. Not so strong in battle as he. He thought my mother's blood made me weak." He looks up finally. "It may be so among other clans that my half-bloodedness, my lack of surname or names of valor will make them think less of me - less of you for bringing someone like me with you."

Yelrona shrugs. "If they think less of those who are not of oruch blood, or only partially so, that's their problem. As is figuring out how to deal with the fact that their children lost a fair combat to those they despise. For my own part, you are always welcome by my side. If you choose to stand there." Gently Razen clasps Yelrona on the shoulder. "I choose to stand there. You may in fact be my greatest friend Yelrona. I wish you could meet my sister. To have two who have been so kind and taught me so much meet would give me great joy."

Yelrona smiles. "I would like that. Would you mind telling me more about her?"

"Parba is like you. She is strong and fierce, wiser than I by measures. She is the one that gave me my tattoos." He motions toward his face where his eyebrow is bisected by a figure. “My sister is called by many names. Wise-woman, Hunter of the Great Wurm, Maker of Weapons to name just a few. She taught me much when I was young and... I miss her terribly." Razen smiles as he talks about his sister, but it is a half-sad smile. "If I could have brought her with me to these lands then I would have no regrets in leaving my home behind."

"We could visit, if you wanted?" Rona suggests. "I would like to learn more of your homeland."

Razen nods. "I will take you someday then, when I have earned a name worthy of calling."

"I'll hold you to that."

-End-