"My world was mostly metal and gems, too," the bard shared with a rueful smile for the raven. "And it takes a little while to build up a reputation for fair play and goodwill, but people here will generally be open to helping you out until you're on your feet." There were always exceptions; the rift between the Naturals and the Outlanders had largely been papered over and was no longer so obvious, but the resentment lingered in unexpected pockets and eyes that glared at the newcomers - from other worlds or simply other regions - with mistrust, no matter how good their intentions.
Only time and elbow grease would heal that lingering divide, but if Rance was lucky he'd never see the flashfire spring up again the way it had during Jigano's first spring on Caido.
Rance's easy confidence was charming in its own way, and he drew a grin from the bard before Jigano focused a bit more on the painting of the scale pattern, answering questions as he worked. When he looked up again it was to watch the application of a red feather against the sky blue base color, a brow arching in curiosity at the vivid, even bloody, design. "Did the Ghost Queen have any helpers? Minor deities or children that assisted with her domain?" Some pantheons did, some didn't, but it was always harder to explain the roles of Caido's herald gods to those that came from worlds without any easy approximation; they tended to other place the heralds equal to their creators, or too far below them. Either too powerful, or not powerful enough.
As the silver paint dried he added thin lines of glue to the frame and pasted the panels into place, carefully centering them before he smoothed the thin parchment over the wood and metal it would seen be bonded to.
Only time and elbow grease would heal that lingering divide, but if Rance was lucky he'd never see the flashfire spring up again the way it had during Jigano's first spring on Caido.
Rance's easy confidence was charming in its own way, and he drew a grin from the bard before Jigano focused a bit more on the painting of the scale pattern, answering questions as he worked. When he looked up again it was to watch the application of a red feather against the sky blue base color, a brow arching in curiosity at the vivid, even bloody, design. "Did the Ghost Queen have any helpers? Minor deities or children that assisted with her domain?" Some pantheons did, some didn't, but it was always harder to explain the roles of Caido's herald gods to those that came from worlds without any easy approximation; they tended to other place the heralds equal to their creators, or too far below them. Either too powerful, or not powerful enough.
As the silver paint dried he added thin lines of glue to the frame and pasted the panels into place, carefully centering them before he smoothed the thin parchment over the wood and metal it would seen be bonded to.
