Building Faringal Manor (Attn: Tai'Dashan, Drak, Serena)(OPEN)

[Arath Faringal]

Surveying the flat parcel of land in front of him with a level eye, Arath envisioned the house he had been planning for so long.  Somehow he had never gotten around to it before, but that was going to change today.  Markers had been set, boundaries decided, plans drawn out, and materials obtained.  Today he would begin work on his new home.

 

He glanced over his shoulder at his two mentees, Tai’dashan and Drak.  They would be making a considerable contribution to this house.  And knowing that they would also be sleeping in it would make sure they put out their best effort.  Tai seemed eager as ever.  Drak was as unreadable as ever.  Not stony faced, but always shifting.  There was no sign of Serena yet, though Arath hadn’t actually ordered her to come and help. 

 

Looking down at the plans that had been drawn up, he smiled.  By far the grandest place he would ever call his home.  Two floors, with everything that six people would need to be comfortable.  Kitchen, living room, dining room, his study, and a large parlor made up the lower floor, while the upper floor was mostly bedrooms.  A large basement would be used for storage and whatever else he could think of.  Right now he main concern would be building all of it.

 

“Lets get started boys,” he told his students, laying the plans out on a large table.  “Start with the basement.  Carve out the earth and get the general shape and size right and then we’ll fine tune it and fire harden the walls.”  He knew it would take a few days to get the whole project done, but now that they were starting, he was eager to finish.

 

[TaiDashan]

OOC: Eager as ever i'm the first one posting haha.

 

TaI'Dashan heard the word earth and sighed. That was the one he had the least control over. He couldn't work with the element at the level most around him could. Putting this out of his mind he walked over to Arath. His mentor had taught him the ignoring the heat trick but he still was struggling with it. Peering over Arath's shoulder he looked at the plans for the house. Confused as he began, Tai'Dashan walked off shaking his head. 'Well,' he thought to himself 'Time to begin.' Seizing Saidin he started the task of lifting earth out of the ground as if with an invisible shovel.

[Myth]

His time so far at the Black Tower had gone faster than he would have expected.

 

Once the basics of how to seize saidin had been shown to him, and the five powers explained and demonstrated, much of the time he’d been left on his own to “figure out” the rest of it for himself. It was certainly a dangerous, high-risk method of training, but at the same time it forced (or allowed, depending on one’s view of things) initiates to progress rapidly. It also resulted in some creative ways to use the Power, some of which in turn created impressive new weaves. Most of this was inconsequential to him, but he had picked up a trick or two. Also, he was still maintained wild enough façade to not earn suspicion despite his obvious abilities, which was imperative. And fun, too, he had to admit.

 

But today, he wasn’t working on his own. Today he was working under the supervision of Arath, and working with Tai’Dashan, another relative newcomer to the Tower.

 

Arath had turned out to be a man that he respected and actually could see himself becoming friends with, if the Attack Leader weren’t his superior, of course. Discipline had to be maintained in an organization as violent as this, and Drak understood completely. But he had certainly come to like the man.

 

Tai’Dashan, on the other hand, he enjoyed teasing. Mainly because the guy was so eager all the time. Drak was reminded of an excited puppy trying to be a big dog every time he looked at the other Soldier. It always brought a slight smile to his face, and his blue eyes often flashed mischievously. Teasing him was a lot of fun.

 

Looking over the plans that Arath laid out and listening to his instructions, Drak wasn’t too worried. Earth was something he had demonstrated a high amount of strength in, even though he hadn’t shown his true skill… but more importantly, Tai’Dashan was horrible with it. Today promised to be VERY entertaining.

 

While Tai’Dashan walked over and began struggling to work his Earth weaves, Drak winked at Arath. Unnoticed by his fellow Soldier, he walked over to a nearby tool shed, where he entered and retrieved a suitable tool.

 

Walking back to Tai’Dashan, he stood next to him and watched silently as his “brother” struggled mightily. After several long moments passed, Drak patted him on the back and, smiling like a jackass eating saw briars, handed him the shovel.

 

“Maybe this will help.”

 

He thought Arath was going to hurt himself laughing so hard.

[Arath Faringal]

He couldn't help himself sometimes.  When Drak had come back to Tai'Dashan with the shovel and a sheepish grin, Arath had almost collapsed in laughter.  Drak only ever showed him deep respect, but he was almost merciless when it came to teasing the other soldiers, especially Tai.  He learned quicker than most but at the same time seemed very careful about not overstepping his limits.  He was about the only person Arath had ever trained who hadn't had at least a semi-serious accident.

 

Wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, Arath tried to compose himself before speaking.  "He's right Tai," he began, a large smile still locked onto his face.  "Doing it like that is no better than using that shovel.  You'll get the same amount done, and you'll be even more tired.  You need to do a little more.  Watch this, both of you."  He knelt down and placed his palm on the bare earth.  Siezing Saidin, he channeled earth into the ground in front of him.  Once he had reached deep enough, he pulled the ground open in a large pit, roughly ten feet down and ten across.  "See?  Much faster.  A little more effort, but a big time saver.  We can roughly dig out the entire basement in a very short time like this.  We'll have to be a little delicate with it when we finish up, but for now, this will be fine.  This is also a good combat weave.  Nothing stops and enemy like a long drop that they aren't keen on taking.  Put some spikes on the bottom, and . . . "

 

The reactions of his two students were so predictable.  Tai was eagar as ever to try out a new weave, even if it was in an element he was weak in.  And Drak looked eager to tease Tai some more with his formidable strength in earth.  He was probably planning on filling Tai's holes in as he went or something.  Or testing the combat possiblities and opening a pit up underneath him.  Either way, it was probably going to be funny.

 

Shaking his head and chuckling to himself, Arath turned away and began repeating his weave, clearing the way out for his house's foundation.

[Myth]

Drak watched intently as Arath showed them the “new” weave. It was simple, but required focus. And the more strength you poured into it, the bigger the hole you could make. And thus, the better the result would be.

 

The young channeler waited a few moments, and watched Tai begin to open himself to the Source before he said a word. But just as Tai was about to weave saidin, Drak blurted out, “You think you can handle it, Tai?”

 

The sudden outburst shocked Tai’Dashan into losing his grip on the Earth weave entirely, and caused Arath to laugh out loud. Smiling devilishly, Drak clapped Tai on the back and said, “I’m sure you’ll get it.” Then with a distinct pause, he added, “Someday.” Laughing and winking at his fellow Soldier to take the sting out of his words, Drak embraced the Source himself. He did so as little as possible here at the Black Tower, he didn’t want to seem too eager, or too polished, so he rarely performed exactly as he was supposed to. His strength in Earth and Fire had become well known, but so far he hadn’t quite reined them in, so to speak. Accidents do happen in this sort of training, after all.

 

Weaving Earth in the same manner Arath had just shown them, Drak opened a hole approximately the same size as the Attack Leader’s, then just nudged it a little bit more, and the edge beneath Tai’s feet gave way and he fell into the hole, his fall cushioned by a soft mound of loose dirt that Drak had ensured was there before pulling the prank. Taid’Dashan stood up and began furiously brushing off his clothes, but he missed the dirt on his face. And the amount clinging around his mouth was too funny for Drak to pass up.

 

Scratching his head, as if he was slightly confused, Drak announced, “Tai, I really think you should try using the Power. I don’t think you’ll be able to eat enough dirt to do what Arath wants.” Laughing uproariously, he ducked just fast enough to avoid the rock Tai threw at him.

 

In the background, he could still here Arath laughing.

[TaiDashan]

Tai'Dashan angrily brushed dirt from his face as he scowled at Drak. Opening himself up to the Source he created steps of air and walked up out of the hole. What made it worse was Arath seemed to think it was funny too! It was just like back home. Only this time, Tai'dashan wouldn't get into a fight. Turning around and looking at the hole Tai'Dahsan puzzled for a moment at how to overcome his weakness in Earth. Drak's Teasing was good natured but irritating nonetheless. Forming a solid blade of Air, Tai'Dashan sullenly started to open small holes with Earth weaves, and dig out the remaining dirt with weaves of Air. It wasn't too hard doing the heavy lifting with Air but the split weave took its toll and he was weary at the foundations completion.

 

Smiling at Drak and Arath over a job well done, Tai'Dashan spoke. "So whats next Arath?"

[Arath Faringal]

Arath knew he shouldn't laugh at the rivalry between his mentee's, but it was hard not too.  Especially with Drak trying so hard to get under Tai's skin.  But soon enough the banter died down enough to get the serious work rolling.  Once the general shape of the downstairs had been carved out, they set to work smoothing and fire hardening the walls.  Tai seemed happier with this, since it didn't require nearly so much strength in earth to do so and he was better able to keep up.  Drak thankfully was wise enough to not mess around with fire weaves.  Especially with his eratic strength in that element.  An accident could be all too easy.

 

In short order, the basement of the new home was completed.  A quick break and a few minutes later they began to set a framework for the rest of the house.  Arath gave each of his mentee's their orders.  "Drak, you'll help me to raise support pillars at these points," he said, indicating the spots on the floor plans.  "Tai, you start on the wall frames.  It shouldn't take very long using the power.  Just use air to cut any beams that need it and fasten them together like it says here."  Arath grinned.  "And make sure nothing falls on Drak.  Stones seem to have a way of seeking out his head from high places."

 

OOC:  Not very good, but it lets you guys move on a little more.  I'll get a better post up later.  Go how you want with this and we'll have most of the first floor done with my next post.

[Myth]

Drak chuckled at the joke. Having been in a position of power for most of his life, Drak knew a good leader of men when he saw one. The Attack Leader had the knack of keeping his men relaxed while getting the best out of them. It was a rare skill, but one that he could appreciate very well.

 

Sweat streamed down his face from the exertion, rivulets of mud forming from the dust and heat and hard work, the young soldier began hoisting pillars where the plans called for them. Reminding himself to not block out the elements had become second nature to him in his days at the Farm. Being careless with his knowledge would only end up with a lot of dead men. And me, which is far more important, he thought to himself.

 

Lifting things with Air wasn’t as easy as it looked, especially when the pillars were heavy enough to crush a man if they fell. But with Tai securing the wall frames and cutting the smaller beams, and Arath helping him raise the support pillars, the work progressed much faster than Drak would have thought possible. By the time Arath called a halt for lunch, the basic look of the structure was visible.

 

It was starting to look like a home rather than a hole in the ground.

[TaiDashan]

The day had been long and the sun burned high overhead as Tai'Dashan wove air into blades. Cutting the beams necessary, soon he was buried in wood and had to clear away the debris to continue. Thankfully Drak seemed to have gotten his fill of jokes and had set to work. The man's strength was impressive, and this pushed Tai'Dashan to work twice as hard cutting and fastening beams just to feel like he was working as hard.

 

Everything in life was a struggle. From learning how to survive to fighting the raging torrent of Saidin now coursing through him. Tai'Dashan wove air and lifted a section of wood large enough that he wasn't sure he could wrap his arms around it. That made him chuckle. Who would have thought such unimaginable power would one day thunder through his veins? Just as he was starting to tire Arath called for a break. Tai' had fastened the last main beam in place and gratefully pulled himself out of the hole. He stepped back and admired what they had accomplished. Releasing the Source with a sigh of regret, he gazed at the section of sky that eventually would be part of the second floor. The part that would be his living quarters temporarily.

 

Tai'Dashan had learned a lot in just the short time he had been training with Arath, about the Source, about himself, and about others here at the Tower. Sometimes it was hard not to smile at the men walking around looking lost as he had once. But Tai'Dashan took pity on them and had almost made it his personal duty to bring these men to Arath when he had time. Ta' smiled as he followed the other two men to the Inn for lunch. Yes indeed, he was quite enjoying his stay here.