Tale as Old as Time
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
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MP: 10170
#29
Jigano's smile was wry and a little sad as he gave a slight shake of his head. "Their name, 108, was the year they were born. Or perhaps Ascended. I wasn't quite clear on that... but either way, they entered this world around a century after the barrier went up." Odd, to know more about the ones Sam seemed to consider his 'new' family than the bookmaker did, at least in some ways. It drove home how recent the ginger's attachment to them was, and how quickly he claimed such ties with people who had been strangers a year or less ago.

It made Jigano feel old again, and jaded, and his eyes grew distant as he nibbled his treat and sipped his tea, until Isuma pressed against the back of his head and purred soft reminder of her presence at his back, now and always.

He watched Sam squirm and wondered briefly if the bookmaker had caught sight of something he shouldn't have, but the truth was worse by Jigano's standards, and he sighed. "And how did she know, I wonder... and what business was it of hers?" He shook his head in frustration, exhaling a sharp sigh. "No, sorry Sam. Rhetorical questions.". He reached for a change in subject , looking out the window at the sunshine on snowy rooftops as he grasped after the first thing that came to mind. "What sort of new creatures have you catalogued here in Halo so far?"
Samuel Wordsworth
Book maker/seller

Age: 34 | Height: 5' 5" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 10 - Strg: 28 - Dext: 25 - Endr: 27 - Luck: 25 - Int: 1
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#30

"Oohhhh. That should probably be obvious. I just...never spoke to them that much." It had been back when he'd still been scared to approach a lot of people and 108 had hardly been the easiest person to socialise with. "I wish I'd had more of a chance to, before..." He shuffled uncomfortably; they both knew and he didn't want to bring it up.

Jigano seemed a little distant but Sam didn't comment; they'd both been through a lot, had a lot of thoughts...not all of them they wanted to share.

There was an apology for Jigano's questions, but Sam shook his head. "No, actually - I agree. It's not The Voice's business and she shouldn't have told me. She's not...always perfect." He shrugged.

"Oh, um, well. There's Ursur. I've seen a few rabbit like things...? People have been telling me about bugs, but a lot of them seem out of season." Honestly, he hadn't really been focusing on it. He'd spent too much time visiting Loren.

Samuel
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
But when he tried to walk again
He wasn't a child


Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#31
The bard nodded sympathetically and sipped his tea. 108 had never been easy to speak with, but they were calm and patient and a font of knowledge about the Spire and their goddess. Jigano had learned a great deal from them, not only about the Ascended but about Caido in general. Their time awake in this era had been too brief by far, but their sacrifice had both freed their home and potentially set the stage for a building conflict anew.

Blue eyes blinked in surprise at the agreement, and he tilted his head in cautious acknowledgment of Sam's comment, one he had heard before but which rarely seemed to have much sincerity behind it. This time, though - at least in so personal a matter - it did. Tempting as it might have been to rub it in and pursue that thread, Jigano opted for tact for once and let it go, turning the conversation to other things.

"Yes, the Ursur are not to be trifled with," he agreed wryly. "Though the one I saw was chained up at the time. What sort of bugs, though? I'd think it too cold here for many insects. Or... any insects, really. Unless there's an ice version of paper wasps?" He shuddered, glancing out the window dubiously as if expecting one to fly by at that moment. "Have you seen any dragons? Or elemental sprites?"
Samuel Wordsworth
Book maker/seller

Age: 34 | Height: 5' 5" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 10 - Strg: 28 - Dext: 25 - Endr: 27 - Luck: 25 - Int: 1
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#32

Sam could see Jigano was surprised that he agreed and revelled in it a little; he often got the impression people thought of him as only a devoted fool, unable to question The Voice at all. Hopefully in time he could make his friends see he had critical thinking skills, they had just led him to a different place than them.

"They've told me sometimes in the mountains in Longheat there can be some particularly hardy beetles." He shrugged, not fond of insects at the best of times and unmotivated to go and seek out any mountain beasties. "I...haven't seen any dragons or anything like that, no." Sam laughed quietly, confused that such creatures were apparently common here when he had not seen an inkling of them. "...Have...you? Oh. I did hear someone...maybe two people? Were killed by a dragon nearby recently."

Samuel
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
But when he tried to walk again
He wasn't a child


Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#33
"Beetles? That doesn't sound so bad... unless they're carnivorous, too," Jigano added wryly, considering what other traumatic creatures Caido tended to throw at them. Or perhaps that was Rae and Frey's forte? Regardless, Jigano didn't see himself finding them until next year. There was just too much else to do these days - and warmer places to do them.

His cookie was reduced to crumbs that he wiped genteelly on a napkin as he nodded thoughtfully to Sam's lack of dragon-sightings, then winced as Sunjata's disastrous quest was mentioned. "Yes," he sad, voice quiet. "Adam and his boyfriend Peter, and both of their companions. A white dragon killed and encased them in ice. Adam was a good friend of mine," he added, taking a deep breath to keep himself composed against the bitter twist of loss. His gaze grew distant again as he looked out the window, but what he saw was not snow-covered roofs. "Their deaths weren't entirely in vain, at least. They were helping Sunjata quest for the Temple Shrine's repair, and that was completed thanks to their sacrifice." Adam and Coffee's sacrifice, at least. The bard still couldn't understand why Peter had been there, but from what he'd heard from Deimos the whole event had been a shitshow from start to finish, poorly planned and playing entirely to Sunjata's vanity rather than any useful motion to help others.
Samuel Wordsworth
Book maker/seller

Age: 34 | Height: 5' 5" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 10 - Strg: 28 - Dext: 25 - Endr: 27 - Luck: 25 - Int: 1
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#34

"Knowing our luck...they probably are." Sam laughed softly, thinking that compared to some of the things he'd faced in the last years, carnivorous beetles might actually be rather mild.

That Jigano actually knew the names of the people killed, that he had been good friends with one of them...Sam's mood suddenly lowered and he wore a sombre expression. It was miles apart, hearing about a death abstractedly through a casual conversation then again from a grieving friend. "I...see. I'm sorry for your loss, Jigano." Gently he reached out to touch the bard's knee for a moment, just a soft comforting pat.

"Do you..know they're with Mort?" He asked, trying to wear a small smile, hoping that idea might give Jigano some solace. Ignoring the mention of Sunjata's name, which brought him no small amount of resentment and embarrassment, he focused instead on Jigano's sorrow. "If you'd like to talk about him, you could to me."

Samuel
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
But when he tried to walk again
He wasn't a child


Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#35
Having fought swarms before, Jigano knew better than to think a cloud of flesh-devouring beetles were 'mild'. One or two, perhaps, but a flight of a hundred? It was enough to send a delicate shudder through him as he sipped his tea to ward off the chill.

A chill that lingered at the reminder of the loss of Adam and Coffee - Peter, too, though he'd barely known the man. It had left fresh scars on Deimos and Amalia as well, two people who didn't need any more pain, and Jigano gave a grateful nod at Sam's show of sympathy and support, taking a moment to appreciate that his oldest friend on Caido was still alive(?) and well, when so many others were not.

He drew a breath, inhaling the scent of the tea to steady his voice before he smiled wanly at the bookmaker. "They are. Ludo wouldn't let them be lost, and at least they're together and with their companions in Mort's realm. Adam was..." he trailed off, trying to find the words to describe Adam and laughing ruefully as he shook his head. "Gods. A flashy, cocky, wonderful disaster of a magpie man? He loved to show off and be fashionable - in his own particular and rather unique way - but he was a good listener and when Caiside died, he was the one who... well. He could have left me alone in my mourning of the dead, but he helped me clean the blood off and talk and... and he pulled me out of a very dark place." At a time when everyone had their own worries and fears and demons to confront - some more literal than others. "We shared an opinion of Zariah and a love of music, though he couldn't carry a tune if I gave him a bucket for it," he added with a wry chuckle. "And Coffee and Isuma were about the same size and loved to romp together. She still misses her friend, too." So many of her playmates seemed to come and go with the seasons.
Samuel Wordsworth
Book maker/seller

Age: 34 | Height: 5' 5" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 10 - Strg: 28 - Dext: 25 - Endr: 27 - Luck: 25 - Int: 1
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#36

Sam listened quietly to Jigano's words on his lost friend, not wanting to interrupt, only moving to pour himself a little more tea, but he kept his eyes on the bard. He could only hoped when he died he might be remembered so fondly - Jigano's words made him smile, affection for Adam clearly showing through them.

"He sounds like a good man and friend. I'm sorry. Will you be putting up a lantern for him later this season?" He asked, leaning back to drink his new hot tea. "I considered putting one up for my father, but...I don't think they'd let me put up a lantern covered in curses." A wry smile then for this dark joke, which he hoped Jigano wouldn't mind.

Samuel
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
But when he tried to walk again
He wasn't a child


Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#37
"He was both, though he probably wanted to be seen as a 'cool and dangerous man of mystery,'" the bard admitted with a fond chuckle. "He had courage and heart in spite of a very rough life before he came to Caido. Ah... damn. His Heidi will never know..." He trailed off, sadness and loss showing through the bittersweet nostalgia as he hid his distress behind a sip of tea, taking a long drink of the hot liquid as he regained his poise.

"Mm. Yes, I think so. Black and red glass for his fashion sense. Maybe scale patterns on the black, for Coffee... and a sprinkling of snow flakes over the red for Peter? Perhaps the whole thing topped with a small set of black iron antlers for Peter's companion..." His gaze was lost for a moment in artistic musing before he blinked back to the moment and his smile returned, wry and without humor for Sam's father. "Who would stop you? But if Ludo picked it you might have to see him again, so perhaps better safe than sorry. Let the old bastard stay dead and don't give him any final words." He reached up to offer Isuma half a biscuit to nibble on, even if it meant crumbs on his shoulder. "Is there anyone else you'll be making a lantern for this year?"
Samuel Wordsworth
Book maker/seller

Age: 34 | Height: 5' 5" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 10 - Strg: 28 - Dext: 25 - Endr: 27 - Luck: 25 - Int: 1
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#38

"Heidi...? A...girlfriend?" Sam asked, a little confused; had Jigano not just mentioned a boyfriend? He supposed he knew that some people in the Hollowed Grounds loved a bit more freely than he did (personally, the idea of more than one partner at once seemed exhausting to him).

Jigano's lantern sounded magnificent indeed and Sam pictured it in his minds eye, nodding encouragingly. "It sounds very exciting. If..this man was as into being a 'cool man of mystery' or...whatever it is you said, he'd probably like that." With a little chuckle he added: "For the record, if I die, I'd like something rather more understated." If he'd get a lantern, that was: was it bad taste to make lanterns for those in Mort's realm for Ascended?

He nodded to the words about his father. "You're right. I doubt my mother will be attending to put him one up, so I certainly won't." As for anyone else, though...he thought for a moment, looking out the window. There was a part of him that felt like putting one out for Remi; oh, he wasn't physically dead, but the man Sam had once knew definitely was. Seriously though, he realised he'd actually been reasonably fortunate in the last while and had seen surprisingly little death. "...Perhaps...if Loren wanted, I could help him make one for his late Abasi. I'm in the good position of not mourning at the moment. ...I'm...not sure I'll be in the same place next year, so I may as well enjoy it while I can."

Samuel
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
But when he tried to walk again
He wasn't a child


Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#39
"An ex-wife, back on his old world. He had been worried that she wouldn't know what happened to him when he was brought here," the bard explained with a wry smile tinged with sadness. "They were still friends, though. It sounded as though she was the only one who would have really been worried about his disappearance, but now..." Disappearance had become death in truth, and saying that he had died a hero was cold comfort to those who wished he had instead been a coward and lived.

Some of the sadness lightened at Sam's approval of his lantern design, and Jigano's smile turned rueful. "I hope so. If Ludo chooses it, it will be... it will be good to get to say goodbye. To give him a chance to record some flamboyant last words in the Guild Chronicle of those events." He chuckled a bit at the bookmaker's preferences. "Morbid, aren't we? Discussing what we'd like on our lanterns. Though perhaps it's just common sense, given the dangers. I made a lantern for 108 last year... a simple cube, all white rice paper except for a black 'Spire' on one side, and pinpricks mimicking the constellations within the barrier." Ludo hadn't seemed to mind, though it hadn't chosen Jigano's lanterns, either.

Sam was one of the lucky ones, and the white haired man nodded slowly at the mention of Abasi. "I hope we can all be as lucky next year," he murmured, a fervent prayer to the Old Gods before tilting his head at the suggestion. "Did you know Abasi well?"
Samuel Wordsworth
Book maker/seller

Age: 34 | Height: 5' 5" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 10 - Strg: 28 - Dext: 25 - Endr: 27 - Luck: 25 - Int: 1
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#40

"...Oh." Sam frowned, looked down at the table. For those Outlanders that had left people behind he had often thought it was a horrible thing to never know how your friends back home were, knowing that they'd always think you'd just disappeared. "Maybe...in some ways it's better that she doesn't know? At least this way she might be able to think he's just...on some kind of adventure."

This Adam certainly sounded like he would cause a scene if his lantern was chosen at the festival, and the idea made Sam smile. "That sounds nice...You didn't actually say what you'd want on yours, though. It is morbid, but I'm curious." He laughed and gave Jigano and apologetic smile.

He shook his head at the question about Abasi. "I never met him. But I was thinking if Loren wanted to but found it hard to do it on his own, I could help. I think he's rather more distraught about it than he often lets on."

Samuel
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
But when he tried to walk again
He wasn't a child


Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#41
The tea was quite good, and Jigano smiled at the server as she went past to bring more cookies to another table. His smile faded as he looked back at Sam and the seriousness of their conversation, nodding slowly at the other man's way of thinking. "That's a more comforting way to look at it from our end, since we can't do anything about it either way," he agreed with a sad smile.

The sadness faded towards wry thoughtfulness at Sam's curiosity, but it was the sort of trait he encouraged in his loreseekers so he hummed for a moment as he considered it. "I... don't know that I have a preference," he mused at last. "Mostly I'd be curious to see what sorts of lanterns people came up with for me. Yours now... I would make a theme with books, perhaps write pages of poetry to glue around the outside, and have the base be wooden or light metal shaped like an open book," he told his friend with a wry smile for how strange the conversation must seem to anyone who didn't know them.

Though a little surprised that Sam wanted to make a lantern for someone he'd never met, his explanation soothed Jigano's own curiosity on the matter and he nodded with a soft sigh. "I think that describes him rather well even at the best of times. But it's a kindness I hope he accepts. He needs more help than he asks for, I think." They all did, far too often.
Samuel Wordsworth
Book maker/seller

Age: 34 | Height: 5' 5" | Race: Ascended | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 10 - Strg: 28 - Dext: 25 - Endr: 27 - Luck: 25 - Int: 1
MIA - Regular - Ragdoll Cat
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#42

"Mhm...Maybe one day we'll find a way to send messages across worlds, even if people can't return home." Sam wasn't sure if The Voice would allow that, but he could see some determined Outlanders finding a way to do it eventually.

The description of the lantern Jigano would make for him possibly should have made Sam feel rather morbid, but he just felt touched that it would be so thought out and personal. Smiling he looked up at Jigano pleased, holding his cup close. "That's...very sweet. I've never...I never thought anyone would make me a lantern if I died." Not that he'd have a chance to come back from Mort's realm, but, well...the tradition was still nice. "If...I had to make one for you, I might leave it quite simple but...greens, whites, a rising sun on one side and a moon on the other...and maybe a pen and a small sword on the edges? Perhaps Isuma on the top." He'd never been an artist but he hoped Jigano might still like the concept.

"He does." Sam agreed with a sigh. "I don't know how to let him know he can trust me properly. I..I don't know if I'm just going too far too quickly again. I'm trying so hard to stay back, to let him do what he needs to. But I just...I so quickly fall for people and want to just do anything for them. It's not healthy, is it?" He laughed uncomfortably.

Samuel
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
But when he tried to walk again
He wasn't a child




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