[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/534494818479374336/645842717137698827/sand-dunes.regular.png[/img][/center] Valia prepared the baths for the both of them as Maeve spoke, making sure to turn to her to make eye contact here and there to let her know she was still indeed listening closely. “Mmm, that is true, and I wouldn’t have made myself a new friend either, and it's always fascinating to hear about things in other kingdoms,” she stated with a smile. She undressed and eased herself into one of the large round tubs, sighing relief as she did so. She rested a small folded hand towel on the rim to rest her head as a curious thought popped up. “Strange, Mrs. Suzune, Allard’s wife, would say, well… somewhat the same thing about women’s roles in The Scar, but from a place that is ruled by a lone queen, I wonder why they would adhere to such traditions? In Kalla, things may seem quite different. True, women are seen as more nurturing than the more warrior prone men, but that is what is cherished. There is a mutual respect for the other's talents. People of Kalla are judged on what they provide, and we work together to lift each other up. And as far as providing anything goes, children are one of the most precious things one can bring into the world,” she started to explain, though the mention of children made her unconsciously stop briefly before continuing. “There is a respect for both man and woman and what each brings to the table so to speak, but that doesn’t mean that if a woman chooses to take to the sword or if a man tries to take a less combat oriented lifestyle that it is looked down upon. Well, unless they fail miserably at it,” she added with a chuckle. “And there are few exceptions of course. Our dancers are all female, so we leave the drums to the men. The chieftain is usually a lead warrior, so they are male, however, his wife, if any, is to lead while he is away, and is usually his closest and only personal advisor.” She absentmindedly started to bathe. She chuckled at the thought of something, “Did you know Suzune and Allard actually met in conflict?” she asked, unsure of what tales Allard may have told her already. ----- Tali and Sev would find the bathhouse not too far off, and close to the oasis that was nestled into the side of the village. The building was slightly elevated on stilts, with enough room for some people to go underneath and make the baths warm if desired. Two guards, though fairly casual in gear and an axe tucked in each of their sashes, stood guard, one male, one female. They stood guard to make sure people went to the right baths, as well as to keep an eye on Lynn who was now in a small roped off part of the water that the kids would normally use to splash in while their parents were in the baths. There were three chambers to the bath house, the women’s side, the men’s side, and the couple’s chamber in the middle. The couple’s chambers were sectioned off between each one for the couple’s privacy, and to make a barrier between the men’s and the women’s baths. There had been a time where it was simply women’s and men’s baths, but too many curious eyes at times made for more conflict for various reasons, so they took a small number of the middle baths and created this section from it. If Tali and Sev were to pass the two guards, who would both either nod to them or give them a wave with a friendly smile, they would go up a few steps and meet a receptionist at a counter right before you would get to the chamber doors. “Hello and welcome!” the woman at the counter, “please, help yourselves to our amenities, after everything that has happened, we are letting people use the baths freely at this time,” she explained as she grabbed some towels. “Are you two a couple or seperate?” she asked genuinely. ----- Tyrael would find that the young blacksmith was quick and easy to learn, and that his own ability as a blacksmith was quite something to behold. Due to the small town, there wasn’t an abundance of orders, meaning that he was able to give everything he made all of his attention and time. His attention to detail was outstanding, and he was a perfectionist at everything he had snow, making sure not just to make a product, but to make something that would last for generations to come. While much may not be able to be salvaged from what Tyreal gathered, anything that was created was sure to be some sturdy gear that could stand up to quite some abuse. At the end, the blacksmith offered that the axe head would be able to be made, some various pieces of armor, and a wood round shield with metal banding on the edge. The blacksmith actually insisted that instead of more armor, to make a boss in the middle of the shield, as well as to cover the front of the shield in a thin metal plate, just a couple millimeters thick. This would prevent any fire attacks from burning the wood on contact, something few shield users had picked up in Kalla when facing enemy firekin. “If ya gonna not be able ta have full armor, ya need a shield. This is how most kalla warriors kit up. We are strong and mobile, we wear armor where the shield can’t cover, and let tha shield do tha rest. I know if we can handle nimbly toting a shield and a heavy weapon around, an orc should be able ta do it just as well, ay?” he said to try to convince Tyrael, but it was honestly their choice, after all, he is just here to make orders.