RP:S1, E2 Unusual Orc

From HollowWiki

Summary: Taly called Larz a beau to defend him in front of a Sage guard.

The Sage Forest Bell

The dense canopy of the forest cover parts here, allowing the sunlight to stream down and bring a subtle warmth to your face. Rising up from amidst the spinney of thistle ahead, a tower of whitened Sagewood ash catches your attention. Intricate notches are cut into the once living pillars that form the base, creating rungs to reach the platform high atop. Hanging mystically just beyond reach is a bell of gleaming silver, long dormant as its purpose has become shrouded in time.



Talyara finally made it back to her makeshift home behind the animal sanctuary two nights ago. Injury and exhaustion had kept her in bed all of yesterday; however, the swelling in her side had significantly calmed down and the little witch thought it was safe to get some chores done. Clad in her usual pair of leggings, simple cotton blouse, and worn leather boots, Talyara set off towards the bell, a hand weaved basket tucked in the crook of her arm, various vegetation and flowers lining the bottom. Today, Taly’s unruly locks were tamed in a braid which hung heavy over her right shoulder. The druidic witch kneels beside the base of the sage bell, working her fingers through the earth to dig at a base of the structure.


Largakh came around the other side of the bell base as he was also collecting things, but not for himself. A lot of the local elves meandering about whisper and gossip about the orc for it’s been some time since he’s shown his face around here. They thought they were rid of him! Some elves seem to act as if he isn’t even there and surely he can hear those giggling and making fun, but he ignores them. Today he is dressed in what we might consider relaxed fit jeans that look a little well worn and a simple cotton short sleeved shirt. Quite a bold choice given his skin condition and - again, it seems he doesn’t even care. Brown eyes so light they are nearly yellow narrow on a flower ingredient and he goes to reach for it just as Talyara did. He made it first, but decides against taking it and holds it out to her if she dares accept it so publicly from this pariah. Looking down at her from his height might be intimidating if he was a large as usual orcs, but he’s thin and a bit lanky seeming.


Talyara quickly withdraws her hand away from the flowers as another goes to grasp them. She does not do this from fear or prejudice but rather, he had been there first! She quickly looks up as he offer then out to her and without so much as a start or a grimace, she gives Largakh a sweet smile that reaches her emerald hued eyes and shakes her head. “Nah, you got to them first. You take them.” The man was quite tall and Taly was short to begin with but it didn’t seem to bother her much. The witch pushes herself up to a stand and wipes her dirt covered hands on her leggings. “I know where others grow."


Largakh looked away from her right after she smiled up at him and put the item in his own basket, but he had a lot more than that. Seems it’s errands day even though he doesn’t seem the type to be caring for a family… One of the many things that seem odd about him. Even though his angular facial features are stern like an elve’s to offset his green skin and tuscan yellow eyes his voice was not as pleasant; low, gravely and sounding a bit harsh he offers a short, “thanks.” A glance to a pair of elves whispering ‘she’s talking to it!’ and snickering before going about their day. It was a little awkward for him being around an elf that is actually nice to him, maybe she was pretending? He shifts a heavy knapsack securely on a wide shoulder so it stops slipping off and at her mention of knowing where more of the flower grows, being a man of few words, he asks, “where?”


Talyara was brought up by a welcoming community, one who accepted any and all people. However, she felt that maybe had more to do with her witch upbringing than her elven one, as the latter had been known to be prejudice. So when those pair of elves snicker and whisper, Taly has no problem turning her face towards them and fixing them with a glare. She turns back towards Largakh and sighs. “I’m sorry about them…” she mumbles before moving off towards the west where there was a dense forest before leading him to a clearing. Here, several patches of flowers grew. “I’d appreciate it if you kept this a little secret between us,” she says again, the smile back on her face before she moves off to one clump and began picking the flowers.


Largakh was used to that sort of reaction whenever he traveled home to see his grandparents, explains the simply nice attire and plethora of supplies because he doesn’t like them going out with this plague business… Though he rarely admits this bit of information to just anyone. Her apology is met with on single nod, “me too.” When she leads on he follows at a good distance as to not draw attention or else people will think she’s being friendly with him again. She smiling up at him once more and sharing this secret place with him, this awkwardness makes his lower jaw sort of sift - he’s hiding his underbite. A crooked closed lipped grin offered before he puts a long slender finger to his lips like a ‘sh’ motion to her request of keeping her secret. He glances around and sets some of his things down along with a long bow that had been secured across his chest. If she knew her ingredients and cared to watch him she would find a certain pattern that what he was gathering was not for him, but for elves on the more elderly side.


Talyara loses a small chuckle when Largakh puts his finger to his lips and she takes that as a promise that he won’t share this with others. The witch busies herself with some the flowers and then turns to a particularly nice bunch of sage—she was in need of a some new smudging bundles and adding the wild flowers would be a nice touch. Her side was becoming sore and she rubbed her healing injury with a grimace before dropping to sit at the base of a tree. It is then that she watches Largakh curiously, more to see what types of flora he was harvesting. She recognizes a pattern as he moves. “Are you a healer?” She calls out to him.


Largakh glances over his shoulder because he’s still not used to fellow elves addressing him, but they are still alone. A glance up to her and the shaking of his head, “no…” to play up the dumb orc angle he points to himself, “Larz.” He had gathered enough of what is grandfather had told him to get. His grandparents used to be prominent in the community, him a healer and her a priestess, but no longer even though they secretly practice. He had walked toward the elf but kept his distance, “you need help?” He motions to the fact she was holding her side.


Talyara wrinkles her nose slightly at his denial of being a healer. “What you are collecting isn’t accidental. These are herbs for tinctures and poultices,” she counters somewhat gently; however, she wouldn’t but the issue. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Larz. I’m Taly.” When he motions to her side she looks up at him shakes her head. “No, thank you. I got attacked the other night. I got healed up but it’s my first day foraging and harvesting since and I might have over done it a bit. I’m just a little sore. But thank you for asking."


Largakh digs in the basket and pulls free a list, just words, and shows it to her. An orc who can read elvish - also odd, maybe that’s his own cursive writing as well? Larz didn’t look convinced and he offers a hand down to help her back up and support her if he needed it, “where does Taly go?” He means to escort her home and make sure she made it safely without issue - it was the least he could do for her help. “I know healer,” he knows two now, but if he had to he would take her to his grandfather in case she needed more healing. “An elf healer,” to be more specific since elves seem to know how to heal their own kind adeptly.


Talyara graciously places her small hand in Larz’s, allowing him to help hoist her up and wincing slightly from the movement. But she doesn’t let go, not after seeing the list he procured. “Do you speak elvish?” She asks him in her native tongue, thinking that he short, curt common is due to it being a non-native language. Depending on his response she would continue either in elvish or common respectively. “I live a bit beyond the bell in a small cottage behind the animal sanctuary I built for my sister.” Suddenly, her expression sobers and she attempts to catch his eye. “Hey, I know most elves probably don’t treat you nicely. If the little bit I saw earlier was any indication. I’m not like that, that’s not how I was raised. You seem nice,” she assures him with another kind smile.


Largakh is strong due to his orc half and assists her easily, heck he could carry her if it were appropriate. He tries to dumb down his intelligence because that’s just what everyone expects and when she starts speaking elvish, he does understand - it’s readable on his expression, mostly those large yellow eyes. He simply nods and she's trying to catch his gaze again, it’s something he’s not used to though so he doesn’t have much to say to her kind words. Just before they left the seclusion of the clearing he responded in elvish, “sounds nice. Animal’s don’t take too kindly to the evil in my blood.” Once they were out on the public streets again an elvish guard halts their path, pointing his finger accusingly, “did you do this to her -orc-?!” Larz isn’t a coward and doesn’t let go of Talyara if she still needs him to hold her up and his simple reply of, “no,” isn’t good enough so he tries to pull Talyara free of the monstrous man.


Talyara grins slightly when he answers her in elvish. She could tell he understood her based on the way his eyes responded, the expression on her face. She may not have her true empathic abilities anymore, but some of it still lingered, even if she couldn’t manipulate it. She kept her hold on Larz as they walked towards the main roads, to help support her lithe frame and the heavy basket she carried. When the guard stopped them Taly halted, frowning at the man. “No!” She says in chorus with the half-orc before going to move away. However, when he moves to grab Larz, Taly’s eyes narrow, her nostrils flaring. “Let him go!” She commands in elvish and blurts out the first thing that comes to her mind. “He is my beau and I demand you unhand him at once!” And here Taly would physically grab the guards wrist. If one were playing close attention that would notice that her hand was slowly becoming discolored and the guard would feel a sudden burn on his flesh.


Largakh remained calm, he was a calm being - surprisingly as he wasn’t quick to anger. He’s used to being an outcast and such so this reaction doesn’t bother him, but it was Taly he was concerned about, she’s in no shape to be carrying on like this. His jaw tensed when she lies and his eyes opened slightly in surprise, although he moved passed it and tried to gently pull her free from the guard, “no Taly.” The guard seemed more disgusted that she’s with the orc in -that- way than what happened to his arm, “you disgusting wretch!” Larz does not care if someone insults him in the least, but insult an innocent around him - that is a mistake. It was loud, booming and echoed in the trees when he bent over the guard to get in his face, “NO!” Silence followed and his yellow eyes seemed like fire in his flare of anger. This was enough to send the elf walking in another direction, he picked Taly’s basket up and was back at her side once more holding her up… “Sorry.”


Talyara hears Larz warn her to step back but she doesn’t, getting her glare on the guard even has he slings an insult her way. Only relinquishing her grip and stumbling backwards when the half-orc leans over the guard and yells loudly. Taly remains still, watching the elven guard scamper away and Larz coming back to her and not only picking up her basket but holding her weight as well. “I’m sorry,” she says again, this time a bit more shyly as her emerald hued eyes drop to the ground. “I don’t like people hurting others, especially when it isn’t warranted. I didn’t mean to upset you…"


Largakh arrived at where she was leading them to, “not you. Him,” he said shortly meaning that she did not upset him and it was actually just the guard. He wonders if she even realizes what she said back there. He glances around again to make sure there were no elves in earshot distance, “you probably hurt more of your reputation than whatever that guy could have said to me. Be careful… I am not liked around here.” He would help her inside and make short work of saying goodbyes, “I may see you around.” He offers before having to trace his steps back to where he left his stuff and now he has to explain to his grandparents what took him so long… Never been good a lying to those two.