( it's actions that come rather than words, moiraine stepping closer, crouching towards the plant that he'd been near. and she takes her dagger from her belt, gently making a cutting before tucking it away into her pouch )
There are few enough supplies here. It makes each additional one more precious.
( what moiraine hasn't done is taken a good look at him, having only seen that he'd been about to step somewhere she needed )
[Xingchen cocks his head at the sound of a knife blade cutting something, trying to make sense of the situation. She's gathering plants, he thinks, and important ones, at that. Fair enough. He'll keep still.]
Ah. I'm the problem.
[If there are plants to be hunted, then he probably is trespassing.]
Tell me where I might go so as not to disrupt your efforts?
[If this woman chooses to give him the time of day and glance up at him, she'll see a tall man clothed in white robes, albeit dirty ones, with a white cloth tied across his eyes.]
( with the herbs now tucked into her pouch she stands again, head tipping up to answer his question. which is when she really notices, realising why he didn't know what he could have stepped on rather than simply being ignorant of the plants )
I don't know this place well. I arrived only yesterday.
( she's just been checking anywhere that has a plant in it for supplies, taking advice from the healers as to other locations as well )
( there's a touch more warmth in her voice. moiraine might be in a strange world, might be feeling out of sorts for being cut off from her power but she still has manners. it's just taking a moment to remember that )
My name's Moiraine. If you've been here for some time you know this place, its people better than I do. I'd like to hear about your experiences.
[Introductions are in order, though, so he encircles his arms in a salute and bows.]
Lady Moiraine, this one is called Xiao Xingchen. As for the people of Taravast, they are proud and do not appreciate having the wool pulled over their eyes. So when it came out that the Doxe cared more for his own wellbeing over their own, they took matters into their own hands.
[Hence this very destructive and angry revolution. Then again, revolutions don't tend to be quiet and friendly.]
Tensions had been building for some time before that, of course. I think that is always inevitable when you have some sort of ruling class like this.
( she was in fact a lady, though moiraine had shrugged off and distanced herself as much as she could from that part of her life. though everywhere she went there were some who still called her lady, who refused not to )
Rulers often do manage to be a little shortsighted, to have wants that benefit no one. ( she knows certain rulers that had done just that, started wars out of a lust for power even though it hurt their own people. her uncle had done exactly that ) What became of him?
[Xingchen wonders at Moiraine's lack of want for a title, but says nothing of it. Everyone has their reasons and he's sure he wouldn't be much different. It's simply none of his business.
To answer her question, he has to take a moment to think, to get the facts straight.]
From what I have heard, his granddaughter took his head. He had...been using her as a means to gain some form of immortality without her knowing. On top of everything else, I cannot find much fault in her actions.
As am I. I think his efforts were quashed along with him, but I cannot say for sure. Since we won't be staying here, hoping is all we can do.
[Taravast has not been a pleasant place for Xingchen, due mostly to his own personal problems that have accompanied him here, but he hates to leave it in such disarray. If he could, he would stay and help whoever would accept what a blind man can do, but he is part of this little ragtag group and that takes precedence. They all need to get to their proper homes. This world isn't it.]
I know more happened, but I fear I wasn't the most attentive these past few months. Hopefully I can change that as we continue on our journey.
( particularly when they were strange. moiraine has travelled enough that she's seen different places, has seen that they aren't always kind or enjoyable to visit )
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no subject
There are few enough supplies here. It makes each additional one more precious.
( what moiraine hasn't done is taken a good look at him, having only seen that he'd been about to step somewhere she needed )
no subject
Ah. I'm the problem.
[If there are plants to be hunted, then he probably is trespassing.]
Tell me where I might go so as not to disrupt your efforts?
[If this woman chooses to give him the time of day and glance up at him, she'll see a tall man clothed in white robes, albeit dirty ones, with a white cloth tied across his eyes.]
no subject
I don't know this place well. I arrived only yesterday.
( she's just been checking anywhere that has a plant in it for supplies, taking advice from the healers as to other locations as well )
But the region ahead of you I've already worked.
no subject
[He smiles, though it is a little weak. He's tired, asks everyone else here, but that's nothing he hasn't dealt with before.]
I didn't think I recognized your voice.
[But while she gives him some direction, Xingchen decides to stay where he is, at least until he really must be moved.]
I apologize for not helping you collect more...plants, I take it? I would probably cause more harm than help.
no subject
( there's a touch more warmth in her voice. moiraine might be in a strange world, might be feeling out of sorts for being cut off from her power but she still has manners. it's just taking a moment to remember that )
My name's Moiraine. If you've been here for some time you know this place, its people better than I do. I'd like to hear about your experiences.
no subject
[Introductions are in order, though, so he encircles his arms in a salute and bows.]
Lady Moiraine, this one is called Xiao Xingchen. As for the people of Taravast, they are proud and do not appreciate having the wool pulled over their eyes. So when it came out that the Doxe cared more for his own wellbeing over their own, they took matters into their own hands.
[Hence this very destructive and angry revolution. Then again, revolutions don't tend to be quiet and friendly.]
Tensions had been building for some time before that, of course. I think that is always inevitable when you have some sort of ruling class like this.
no subject
( she was in fact a lady, though moiraine had shrugged off and distanced herself as much as she could from that part of her life. though everywhere she went there were some who still called her lady, who refused not to )
Rulers often do manage to be a little shortsighted, to have wants that benefit no one. ( she knows certain rulers that had done just that, started wars out of a lust for power even though it hurt their own people. her uncle had done exactly that ) What became of him?
no subject
To answer her question, he has to take a moment to think, to get the facts straight.]
From what I have heard, his granddaughter took his head. He had...been using her as a means to gain some form of immortality without her knowing. On top of everything else, I cannot find much fault in her actions.
no subject
( to have her own life drained for someone else? it was a terrifying thought. moiraine also couldn't blame the girl for her actions )
Hopefully his methods are known to no other.
no subject
[Taravast has not been a pleasant place for Xingchen, due mostly to his own personal problems that have accompanied him here, but he hates to leave it in such disarray. If he could, he would stay and help whoever would accept what a blind man can do, but he is part of this little ragtag group and that takes precedence. They all need to get to their proper homes. This world isn't it.]
I know more happened, but I fear I wasn't the most attentive these past few months. Hopefully I can change that as we continue on our journey.
no subject
( particularly when they were strange. moiraine has travelled enough that she's seen different places, has seen that they aren't always kind or enjoyable to visit )
Perhaps where we travel next may be different.