Yang [quote=@Restalaan] "I see, tell me more. I would like to see those places you recommended one day." Yang smiled excitedly and she listened to Ozzy, she also made a brief list on where to visit too. "But if you're planning to go to Zipangu, aside from the four temples, there's also the capital, famous dragon priestess and Hakutaku scholars." [/quote] Familiar with the name Ozzy had felt giddy, his head swimming with what could only be imagined as another world full of beauty and splendor and exotic beauty. The prospect was akin to giving a child some cake to talk about the wonderful places of the world. He felt at his hip and back. [color=gold]"Oh where is my journal."[/color] He remembered that back in the sitting room he left his backpack and gear, he looked in that direction and raised a hand as if to mock a reach. [color=gold]"It's so far..."[/color] He looked back her shrugging. [color=gold]"Alright, I'll do the best I can to describe them and make mental notes."[/color] He said with a big grin. He sat with his head in his hand, an elbow on the table, she had his attention. [quote=@Restalaan] "As I was saying, I think you'll like the Hakutaku scholars. They're kind of like you but study on everything. Whatever knowledge you want, they probably have an inkling on it." [/quote] He got taken aback. [color=gold]"Oh I know one. Auntie Fanah'ho!"[/color] He pulled it back, looking a little embarrassed as he raised a hand to his mouth and exhaled to calm down. [color=gold]"I mean- Fanah'ho. Family friend. She worked with my mom maintaining our village library, trading books."[/color] He crossed his arms as he nodded. [color=gold]"Lucky. Hakutaku have some kind ancesteral knowledge passing magic... thing... Fanah'ho used to lord it over us whenever we were on a project.[/color] He snorted, suddenly remembering a humorous time. [color=gold]" Said we'd get all the answers if I'd be her husband. I was like fifteen, who does that?"[/color] He shrugged, sighing and shaking his head. [color=gold]"Obviously. Some of us have to do things the old fashioned way."[/color] [quote=@Restalaan] "There's the Oni mountains too but I think you would want to go there last." She waved her hand at that, recalling the drunken tirades that occur daily. "But the eel village near my temple are nice too, they serve the best dango." She recalled the local village close to their temple and sighed, so much things she missed there. "Oh, Dango is a sweet. My apologies."[/quote] [color=gold]"Oni Mountains. Eel Village... Err, Temples, Eel Village, Oni Mountains. Got it."[/color] He returned the favor trying to think up some of the choice spots. He set his finger to his chin, stroking it gently. [color=gold]"Hmm, let me think. Oh yeah. Chanta! It's a little town to the east nestled in these endless orchards of willow trees. At the beginning of summer, all of them blossom into white and red flowers and buds grow into these floral fairies. The Chantans have a summer long festival to welcome them."[/color] Not having his book on hand, he cupped his hand and closed his eyes as if to picture it. [color=gold]"Its like the entire village is covered in blossoms on every wall, and every street. So romantic."[/color] He opened his eyes as it segwayed to another memory. [color=gold]"Another one is Madame Enki. She resides in the Demon Realm as a titanic Frog. I mean huge! She swims through the deserts of the realm carrying a city on her back. From the distance, you see these building sized tents and lights and these weird spinning wheel and train contraptions and you can hear the laughter from the other side of the horizon. I tried to catch up but she was too fast. Sounds like alot of people were having some fun though."[/color] He seemed disappointed but followed it up proudly. [color=gold]"Occasionally she shows up on the outskirts of human cities. Her arrival is akin to a circus coming to town. But I imagine probably alot wilder. There's no way to know yet where she turns up but someday I'll see it."[/color] He could go on and on for hours if he must but Ozzy was always more interested in people and their stories. It was that curiousity he always had. And everyone had such a rich story to tell. [quote=@Restalaan] "If the master lose, then that's that. The other person gets to proudly say, they won against the legendary master of the White Tiger temple."[/quote] He made a little interested hoot. [color=gold]"Oh. Well that doesn't sound too bad."[/color] [quote=@Restalaan] "As for the master? Well, he'll still teach and be part of the temple but won't be eligible for taking the master title until he retrained himself to prove himself worthy again."[/quote] Sounding and visually looking a bit more dejected. [color=gold]"Oooh, thats a bit worse."[/color] She spoke of going back, and he got the impression that it would be bad... He could imagine that maybe she would need to protect the temple, or fight so that it reclaimed its master. He figured losing the master would be a kin to losing the boss or an organization. What would happen to the students? The temple. Ozzy completely understood her feelings of that. The topic of the fighting came up but Ozzy got a sense that she wasn't interested, which made sense. Maybe the marital arts were for self defense, discipline, and self improvement. He was treating it like some kid who wanted to kick things and felt a little silly about bringing it up. Yang seemed so kind. He'd imagine she wouldn't hurt a fly if she could avoid it. [quote=@Restalaan] "Well, the road to become a martial artist and a master is...beyond just physical. Even I don't know what's the next step." Yang features softened a bit as she realized just how large the difference between her and her master. "There are just some things fist can't solve, you know?[/quote] His hypothesis was confirmed. She was a student, a student in body mind and maybe even spirit. A step beyond what he is. He could argue that sometimes a fist helps but that wasn't his nature either. Everything can be solved with logic and words and commitment to teamwork. He raised his hands and brought them out to her as if presenting her to the world, the flaps of his wings following in the motion slightly. [color=gold]"Thank you."[/color] He said as if she put into words something he's been trying to tell people forever. [color=gold]"I know exactly what you're getting at. You're letting the world be your teacher as you find out about yourself and how you can change it. Its almost like reading. Its good to know how to do things, and how they work but if you don't get out there and apply it, or teach it, or build it; whats the point? I've been trying to do the same thing. Except all I got is my noggin and a sunny disposition to try to make things happen."[/color] He bapped his head in an attempt to be cute and funny. [quote=@Restalaan] "Haha, that's too much of a praise. I'm merely a humble disciple seeking their path." She laughed it off and blushed slightly at that. "I suppose I'm the busy-body monk?"[/quote] The description made him laugh covering his mouth with his forearm. [color=gold]"That also works."[/color] [hr] Morgan [quote=@Lmpkio][color=f7941d][b]"Oh we've known each other for thousands of years!"[/b][/color] she casually blurts out, seemingly unaware of how long other creatures live, [color=f7941d][b]"Or well... a little less then a thousand because there was this whole "Great Dying" thing and then everyone just uh... well... yeah, I think you get the picture. But I thought I'd never get to see her again until you guys told me she still exists!"[/b][/color][/quote] With a pardon to Yang for getting it the middle of their interruption, Ozzy's attention went to the cordial and friendly doctor Morgan. The words she spoke of were --- strange... [i]Thousands of years...?[/i] [i]The GREAT DYING!?[/i] What would a mothman be doing with such knowledge? Was she a history buff too? Why did she seem to speak so forward, so intimately about it. Sure she kept a stiff upper lip and a smile while talking about her friend, it was really quite strange. Ozzy's brows noticably raised as he listened in on the conversation between her and bart. [quote=@Lmpkio][color=f7941d][b]"Really?"[/b][/color] she asked curiously as her antennae perked up, [color=f7941d][b]"I suppose they happened to be the new-type, yeah? They're like, the most common type around these parts. Like, technically I'm a Mothman as well, but I'm what you would call... how to put this... the 'original' variant? Dunno how we parted ways, although I'm curious to know how..."[/b][/color][/quote] Ozzy' couldn't keep his trap shut. He piped in. He was a little unsure because now he was looking at Morgan differently. Not exactly sure what he's suspicious of but he chose his words carefully. [color=gold]"Well, even before the Demon King used her magic to convert the monsters of the world and changed the mana lines, there's been evolutionary correlations and sub-genus' of monster species. Magical, biological, or evolutionary adaptation could lead to miraculous and unnaturally fast changes."[/color] He was going to mention that they could be just an off shoot of your 'species' but he wasn't exactly sure what Morgan was. A mothman doesnt have such an expanded life span to claim thousands of years. Thats the realms of dragons, undead, demons, and golems. He wanted to know more, but- to bring up something with her family, it hardly seemed the time. [hr] [quote=@Lmpkio][color=f7941d][b]"But enough about me,"[/b][/color] she finishes up her portion as her eyes began to glow vaguely in the light, [color=f7941d][b]"What do you do? I know you very much like to research, but what for? Documentation? Science? Maybe even as a lil' science hobby of yours?"[/b][/color][/quote] [quote=@Restalaan] "What about you? They call you the wandering scholar?"[/quote] [@The Irish Tree]Nephele [@PaulHaynek]Bart, Neil [@ZekariVoblis]Teelfa :within Earshot) [i]The Wandering Scholar?[/i] Hmm, he closed his eyes again, lowering his head, looking kind of cool for a split second. [color=gold]"I like the sound of that."[/color] He then laughed as the conversations went back to him. His cheeks red from the mirth of the room. He felt like he was surrounded by friends. He settled down and began his head addressing Morgan and Yang, and anyone else whom settled their eyes on him, a reaction to feel like everyone is included [color=gold]"As fun as a general savant would be, I actually do have a goal I'm working for."[/color] He looked away from the group for a moment and thought. [color=gold]"How do I word this?"[/color] He had to do it repeatedly but it was still such a foreign concept. [color=gold]"An anthropologist is the study of human societies both past and present. And considering the cultural implications, that also includes monsters who have very interesting social structures as well. Present company not withstanding."[/color] He made a wave towards Morgan, towards Nephele, towards Teelfa, each from a different species that may have a profound effects on the world and how human respond to it. [color=gold]"My mom and dad studied the same thing I do now, so I guess it's a family buisness."[/color] he shrugged sheepishly. [color=gold]"If I can quote my dad. We're currently undergoing a pretty interesting time, with the Demon King wanted to engage in relations with human kingdoms, the Order losing some of its military support, trade with the dwarves, the elves. The world itself could be entering a renaissance of economic and political connections. There could be less wars, and more growth, but these processes need to be slow or you'll have political instability and prejudice. And lets face it, some monsters just aren't civilized enough to function in a communal society. Theres alot of factors to consider that someone like me dedicates myself to studying and resolving."[/color] [color=gold]"So, right now. My mother and father are in Whitewall trying to get support for something they are calling an embassy. A place where political leaders can talk out their problems rather than fighting about it, and I'm taking up their field work, traveling to observe and record on a personal level how folks interact and live. On occasion, I can offer someone help, consulting on constructions, negotiations, or offering solutions to distant villages that others have figured out. But mostly it's trying to figure out how a particular human and monster can live together. It feels more like matchmaking most of the time then anything useful but regardless."[/color] [color=gold]"That's why I'm actually here at this guild. To learn about how monsters and humans work together outside of the household. How they cooperate in martial, intellectual, economic, or labor pursuits. So, I'm hoping at some point to publish my findings and maybe become a teacher. Every village on the planet is going to need human monster experts as relationships develop and there is cohabitation. Considering the latent abilities and talents of some monsters, I'm hoping to facilitate some symbiosis. And hopefully, maybe make a difference? We'll see. D-did that make sense?"[/color] He cocked his head to one side, his bird like features becoming temporarily more apparent. [@Enkryption]Annalise On que, the dinner was interrupted by a massive armored knight? Woman? Ozzy, like the others addressed the new comer and as typical she was given a greeting and a welcome. Apparently she needed the forge, making sense considering the size of the armor. Still, what kind of battle was something like her going to? Or maybe the monster was the armor, Ozzy covered his mouth, wondering if he read the passages about Living Armor's or golems correctly. The bit of levity between her and Nephele broke his train of thought though it was still peculiar. Regardless, he stood up, a new lady entering the room. He gave the woman a tip of his head in a bow and a wave, adding in another smiling face that would greet the stranger. Ozzy wished she wasn't exhausted under all that metal. It sparked a question, though he directed it at Bart. [color=gold]"Master Bart, you mentioned that you were almost up to your previous numbers, how many would that be? Because honestly."[/color] He smiles, again showing that odd pride he did knowing that he discovered such a diamond with this guild. [color=gold]"It seems like your door is always open. Is it always this busy with visitors and members, and clients in need?"[/color]