Ashura's Dialogue

...I get the sense we both have air type personalities. Spending time with you is quite relaxing.

Those Earth and Fire types are always moving too fast for my taste.

I like to stop and smell the flowers sometimes, you know?

I know you're just tryin' to be honest, but I want to look out for you. Your bluntness might rub some folks the wrong way.

Now what you do with that information is up to you, but I thought it's best you know.

If you have the time, check out the dragon shrine on the east side of the village.

I find it’s easier to feel reverent when you’re surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Delaila would get on to me for telling you this, but Auni has a serious sweet tooth.

I always try to sneak him a slice of Reth’s berry pie when we serve it at the inn.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the importance that a good diet has for a healthy body.

But happiness is just as important for a healthy soul.

I heard Auni’s been going around telling the Human folk I’m some sort of war hero.

I wouldn’t put too much stock in that… “hero” is a relative term.

I helped the Republic win a war, yes, but I don’t think that the people we fought would be calling me much of a hero.

Some might say I strayed from my Path by opening the inn, but most people accept it when a soldier chooses to have a short career.

I prefer to think of opening the inn more as a “retirement hobby” as opposed to a second career.

Eshe might not think of it that way, but if she does think I did anything wrong, she never says so to me.

Eshe finds it strange that I spend so much of my time helping the Humans settle in.

If I suddenly found myself appear in a strange new land, I’d want someone to help me too.

I think you Humans bring with you a chance for us all to learn a little something.

Whether you know it yet or not.

It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten the attention of a traveling bard, but a few stop in on their way to Bahari.

You know the nearby town of Bahari is actually a pretty big trade port.

It connects our island province with the rest of Palia.

I’m relieved to be working the night shift now.

When I worked the day shift, I found I didn’t get enough time to step out and enjoy the Sun.

Being able to enjoy the outdoors was a reason why I moved to the Valley in the first place.

Besides, Reth seems to prefer to have nights off.

the inn is open 24 hours per sun cycle. It has to be for our guests.

Only difference is whether I'm working the front desk or Reth is.

Have you read Jalia Oratuu’s The Lost Ormuu?

It starts out like a traditional morality tale, but then takes a turn for the strange.

I think you’d like it!

If you want sports, you’ll have to go into Bahari.

My wife used to drag me there what felt like every cycle to watch the local Roundball team.

Soldiers in the Republic earn tattoos based on our rank.

Mine show that I was once a foot soldier, a lieutenant, and a third class general.

I can’t say they are a pleasant reminder...

I have a small room above the inn.

It isn’t much, but I find it’s enough to serve my basic needs.

There’s lots of spooky legends around these parts.

Some say the old well is haunted.

Others say there’s a monster roaming the forest. Nai'o used to scare Auni good with that old tale!

If you're looking to have a little fun, there's lot of ways to enjoy yourself in the valley.

I go fishing for fun.

Auni goes exploring in the woods.

Badruu can sit and listen to music in the inn for hours.

We have every sort of revelry here, no matter what your personal taste.

You wouldn't know it, but my wife and I used to party quite a bit back in our day.

the inn used to have a happy hour, until Sifuu got a little too happy one night.

I'm still finding pieces of copper wedged in the bar...

There are things about my experience in the war I haven’t told anyone.

When I first share those horrors, I want it to be with Sabine...when I see her on the other side of the veil.

Eyeing the scar above my eye?

It's...an old war wound.

The full story is a tale for another time.

The hereafter is one of the many mysteries that majiri can't explain.

And though I've not seen the dragon's face, I've seen his actions.

How else can you explain humanity reappearing again after centuries?

Good to see you up and about.

Me? I never really found I could get much sleep.

Not sure if it's my restless mind or my weak knee.

Regardless, I like being up and active - lying in bed lets my mind wander.

I really love a nicely prepared fish, don't you?

Grilled, fried, in a stew...

Now that you've got me talking about food, I'm hungry enough for supper.

When I see Sifuu at the bar I always think about the old Majiri proverb...

"Go on a pilgrimage to escape from your small town, but go to a small town bar to escape from yourself."

I love this valley. Every day the crickets chirp a new song.

The wind blows the smell of different flowers through the air.

Life is only monotonous to those who aren't looking hard enough.

Look over there, it's a Sundrop Lily. Everytime I see one of those, I can't help but get a smile on my face.

Their abundance was one of the first things I noticed when I first arrived in the valley.

If you go to the remembrance site, be sure to pay your respects to Sheera Daiya.

She was Delaila's mother, and Auni's grandmother.

She was a remarkable woman. She learned how to till the mountain land previously thought untillable.

I prefer any gift that comes from the heart.

But to be honest, you can't do better than a nice home cooked meal if you want to win me over.

I guess my sometimes my stomach overpowers my heart!

Even though I serve alcohol, I was never much one for drink.

I prefer to face the challenges of life with a clear head, thank you very much.

But if you're looking for a recommendation, Sifuu told me the wildflower mead is fantastic.

My knee's feeling a bit better today.

I was able to walk all the way around Crystal Lake, if you can believe it!

You can't go looking for something you have to create.

Take me, for example. Some wealthy Majiri might turn their nose up at running an inn, but I get to put smiles on my friends' faces every day.

I can't ask for more than that.

The wife and I used to have our own house, just on the outskirts of town.

There were so many memories of her there that it got hard to live in the present.

I was staying at the inn so many nights, I decided to cut my losses and move in permanently.

Feel that crisp breeze? Autumn is on its way.

You have to see the valley when the leaves start to fall.

Those beautiful colors are one of the reasons I moved here.

I think the cook's serving up his famous "egg surprise" again.

Not sure exactly what the "surprise" part is though, since the dish is entirely eggs.

Don't let his "bad boy" act fool you. Reth's a good kid at heart...even if he's a bit misguided.

I was a bit lonely this morning. Thanks for stopping by to entertain an old man.

You know if Chayne hadn't stepped up to become Sifuu's shepp, I would have done it.

I can't imagine what the village would be like without the two of them.

A town is kind of like a living organism, with each person acting like a piece of the whole.

Sifuu's like the heart of our village.

And Hassian's... the colon, I guess? Calling us all out on sh- dung.

Pardon me, but I almost used some foul language there.

Einar was in here saying your Oneness is fishing!

I think he might even be a bit jealous.

If Galdurs can feel jealousy, that is.

Years ago, my wife and I came to visit the valley to see the Shimmerfly migration, and we just decided to stay.

Can't say I regret it!

Did you know I actually grew up in the capital?

I still have family there.

So I try to make the trip when I can, which isn't easy on account of my bad knee.

I don’t mean to impose, but can I ask if you’ve ever lost anyone?

How would you like to be remembered?

Some of the new Humans told me they're having trouble fitting in.

Do you find it easy to make friends?

How do you think I could improve the inn?

Need some advice, kid? You look troubled.

One of my favorite parts of running an inn are hearing customer’s wild tales.

The boisterous and boasting make up a good number of our bar patrons…

What are you proudest of yourself for?

Auni was telling me some of my "lingo" was outdated. What's something the kids are saying these days?

Everyone in this village seems to have a special talent with something...

I'm not much of an artist, so I always said mine was with people.

What kind of art do you like to make?

Are you much of a fighter, Player?

You've been living in the village a while now, what do you think?

I have to admit. Night always unsettles me a bit. How do you feel about the dark?

I've been thinking about adding a few upgrades to the inn to make my Human guests more comfortable.

What do you think people would like?

‘Scuse me... if I seem... short of breath.

Just getting my morning exercise.

The healer says its important to get the blood flowing to my knee.

Good morning! Hope you're taking the chance to seize the day.

After all, you can't make the best of today tomorrow.

Night is a magical time in the astrological cycle. Keep your eye out for glowing flora and fauna.

I’ve always been enchanted by the abundance of both bioluminescence and magiluminescence you can find here.

I fish more for the relaxation than the results to tell you the truth.

I don't remember the last time I actually caught anything.

This old inn has been my home for the better part of the past few decades.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The memories I made under this roof are far better than those I made outside it.

Did you know this broom used to be a sword?

Yes, I repurposed what was once an instrument of war to be an instrument of service.

I keep it around to remind myself even the most specifically built tool can find a new use.

Many years ago I vowed never to pick up a blade again.

And I would advise you to think long and hard before you pick up one yourself.

Violence once done cannot be undone.

Reth's taking the night off, so I made my mother's favorite recipe. You'll have to guess what it is.

We could play a game of cards if you want.

I’m not very good at it though. Hodari used to beat me 9 out of 10 times.

I think that’s why Auni likes challenging me so much. We’re at about the same skill level.

You can tell some of the furniture around here is starting to show its age.

My wife used to take care of that kind of stuff.

I guess I’ve been having a hard time finding the heart to do it since she passed.

It's funny. I find myself sharing a lot more with you than I do with others in these chats.

And it's not as if I don't have other friends.

I mean, Auni and I have always been close. I always have a good time with Sifuu and Badruu.

But it's always you I spill my guts too. Make of that what you will.

Maybe it's just nice to get an outsider's perspective.

When my son was a child, he was always so adventurous. He loved to go climbing and hiking with his mom.

I suppose it’s no surprise he wanted more than this little village could offer.

You know sometimes I see a bit of my son in Auni.

They can both be...ambitious, which I know is a dirty word here in Palia.

Though I never saw it as an entirely bad thing.

For Nuroo or for Auni.

Reth doesn’t really know much about my family situation.

The one thing about Reth that’s very Majiri is how private he is.

He thinks if he doesn’t ask you to share anything about yourself, it means he won’t have to share anything about himself either.

I've been praying to the Dragon for the right words to say to my son when I see him.

Sadly, they haven't come yet.

Mail in Palia is unpredictable, so I have no idea when Nuroo will get my letter.

Not every village has a courier as reliable as our Auni.

I feel like what has happened to Nuroo is my fault.

He wanted to follow in my footsteps and follow our family’s Path in military service.

I tried to forbid it, as military training requires family approval.

He went above my head and got approval from my father. After that, I refused to talk to him for years.

Sabine and I loved our son so much, we didn't feel like a second child could compare.

Though, that's probably silly. If we'd had another child, I'm sure we would have loved them just as much.

My son’s got a life in the Capital, and I wouldn’t want to disrupt that.

Though it would be nice if he were to visit once in a while.

You're the closest friend I've had in awhile.

The last person I was this close to, other than Sabine, he, well, he...

He passed away a long time ago.

His name was also Nuroo. I named my son after him to honor his memory.

I hope to be able to make the visit to see Nuroo soon.

I'm saving up my pennies for a proper carriage. My knees couldn't take the journey on horseback.

But I can't imagine it will be too much longer.

Nuroo asked me the other day if I might marry again.

I hadn't really thought about it.

But I'm thinking maybe one day. The humans coming to the village have given me new life and new purpose.

One of these days I might be able to find it in me to move on.

I think Sabine would want me to find happiness again.

Nuroo sent me a picture of Lily today.

She was eating a lemon for the first time, and her nose scrunched right up.

She's just cute as a button. She takes after Nuroo.

I can't wait to meet her in person, but these pictures give me the hope I need to greet everyday as a new opportunity.

I've been thinking about giving my grand-daughter a gift. What do you think I should send her?

Nuroo just wrote me back and Lily loved her gift.

Thank you, Player, for the suggestion. You always have the best ideas.

I've seen you going in and out of Reth's store room.

You look like you're surprised that I know of it.

Yes, I know he has a place downstairs where he keeps a few things, but don't worry, I've never been one to snoop where I'm not welcome.

I'm glad Reth has someone special like you in his life.

He needs someone to straighten him out.

Just like Sabine did with me.

So, how do you think the Watcher is enjoying her room?

I'm glad you've taken the mayor under your wing.

He may seem like he's in a position of power, but I don't think he's ever made a real choice in his life.

...Unless you count deciding between petunias and daisies for his garden.

Maybe seeing your bravery will inspire him to do something different.

I miss my wife every second of every day.

Though I feel some seconds more sharply than I do others.

My wife was...sunshine personified.

If anyone in the village was feeling down, all they had to do was talk to Sabine to feel warm again.

You don’t have to feel sorry for Sabine, you know.

She’s gone past the veil into the Dragon’s Realm.

Save your sympathy for those of us left behind.

You know Sabine's body is not actually buried at her remembrance site.

She was taken to the wellspring on top of the mountain, like all Majiri dead.

It's just...most of us can't easily make that trip.

So we like to have a site closer where we can remember those who died.

If my my wife had trouble with anything, it was knowing how to slow down.

She passed from a completely preventable climbing accident.

If she's only taken a few more seconds to check her harness, everything would have been fine...

You still gatherin' up Sabine's favorite thing?

I don't mean to hurry you. I'm just worried I'll lose my nerve if I don't do it soon.

I sent Nuroo the letter explaining what I did.

I also told him about the man he was named after.

You see, my best friend, Nuroo, died during the same mission.

I thought naming my son after him would be a good way to honor him.

That is... until my son declared a military Path.

Then all I could do was worry that my boy would turn out just like his namesake.

I heard back from Nuroo...

Not only did he forgive me from keeping what I did a secret.

But he said he understood my hesitancy to accept his Path.

I don't know how to thank you for helping me open up... but thank you.

Burdens always feel just a little lighter when shared.

I'm sorry I sent you to get a book instead of opening up to you.

It's just, some things are so hard to say out loud.

Even to a trusted friend.

I've noticed Tish, Reth, and Zeki spending a lot more time together.

You wouldn't have anything to do with that would you?

You know what, don't tell me, I'll let those young'uns keep their secrets.

I know starting out in a new place can be tough, but you've been doing a great job.

I though I'd help you out. I've got a couple of recipes for purchase that might make your life a little easier.

You'll probably want to get a sawmill first thing, to turn some of that wood into planks.

Don't cut any fingers off on it, ok?

It's good to see you embracing foraging. My son and I used to do it together all the time.

I think you're ready for this new recipe I've got in stock.

If you've got any questions, you know you can always come to me.

You're doing our valley proud, Player.

Foraging in a way that cares for the land you live on isn't easy!

Maybe I've got a recipe around here that can make it easier on you...

Thanks for stopping by. It's always nice to see you.

That old sawmill holding you back already?

Let me see if I can rustle up a blueprint for a sturdier one...

It will help you cut wood in no time flat!

I have to say, I'm quite impressed with your skills.

You're almost as talented as my wife was when we built the inn.

Finishing up the inn was the proudest day of my life. I'll never forget the look on Sabine's face...

Anyway, I've got a recipe in stock I know you're ready to handle.

I've seen you foraging. I know by now you must have seen the enchanted trees around here.

Those trees grow back rapidly and can only be cut if you work together with some of your fellow lumberjacks.

If you do manage to chop one down, I've got a secret way to make them into planks.

You can do all sorts of things with those special planks... maybe one day you'll even build an inn with them.

You might just be the finest forager I've seen in the woods since...well, since a young me.

Even an expert craftsman can get a little lost sometimes, though...

If you're ever having trouble finding your way, maybe you can build one of my old dowsing rods.

You never know what that'll lead you to, but it's always a great surprise.

You've really made our valley proud, Player.

I see you've really worked to become a pillar of our community. And speaking of pillars...

If you ever need to cut something really tough down, I think I have just the recipe.

You've been doing great work out there, kid. That doesn't mean you should stop now.

The Maji Market should be going on about now. It won’t be around for very long, so you should check it out while you can.

I’d go myself, but someone’s got to manage the Inn.

I was going to stay and manage the Inn tonight, but Subira offered to do that for me. Plus a lot of folks have invited me to check out the Maji Market with them.

I'm probably going to head over once it gets dark. Hope to see you there.

Did Chayne introduce you to some of our Luna New Year customs?

Not only is he a pillar of support for the community, but a keeper of traditions and stories.

Even an old-timer like me has lots to learn from him.

Been a while since I've cooked hotpot. It's something you usually do with family, and well... I haven't had a chance to do that in a long time.

But it's always a good time having hotpot with friends, or even unfamiliar faces too.

I couldn't attend Kilima's first Maji Market because I had to manage the Inn.

But Subira offered to manage the Inn while I'm gone... And since most of the folks who are usually at the Inn are here at the market tonight, I thought I'd come check it out too.

I don't regret it one bit. It's beautiful out here, and the food is great.

I was talking to Zeki earlier, and he told me all about that surprise you and Chayne prepared for him.

Zeki isn't usually the type to show his emotions openly to others, but it was obvious how touched he was by the gesture.

He may be mischeivous sometimes, but he's a good guy. I'm glad he has good friends like you and Chayne looking out for him.