Quote from LorenzotheGreat >>

Paartu says, "There is a constellation, important to my people, ..."

Alcazar looks up at the mention of a whole people, "I apologize, I mistook you for some magical experiment or punishment, or perhaps a product of chaos magic. Yet you say there is a whole race of people such as yourself...that it remarkable!" He stands and walks over to Partuu. He holds out his hand in greeting, "Alcazar Tremayne. It is a rare privilege to encounter something or someone wholly new. How is it that you heard of the academy?"

The pale young noble frowns slightly at the tortle's idea. In his opinion the name and emblem should not represent any one individual more than another, but he holds his tongue, instead smiling briefly as he notices the squirrel peek out of the elf's backpack, then quickly taking on a more stern demeanor again, glancing over at the elf to see if she noticed he accidentally expressed an emotion. As he returns to his sketches, Nepharios suppresses a chuckle at the elder noble's ignorant, or possibly simply demeaning comment.

Paartu holds out his hand as well. "An invitation was sent to our elders. In our region, our people are often requested to be royal advisors or tutors to young nobles. I suppose they needed someone like that here."

Alcazar nods, "Fascinating indeed. Was the journey long? I have traveled quite extensively, but never encountered your like. Rumours of course, but one must not pay attention to such things in general." His gaze becomes distant, "Perhaps if I had spent more time in coastal areas..."

He thinks for a while longer, "Yet...you mentioned monkeys. They are more common in jungles and wilderness areas. Perhaps that is the reason?"

Paartu's eyes light up at the mention of jungles. "You know of jungles? Are there any nearby?"

(( That answer depends upon the DM! ))

(There are no jungles nearby.)

Jinx peeks over Nepharios' shoulder to get a better look at the sketch he is creating. She stands up on her chair in order to see over him. At just over three feet tall, Jinx was by far the smallest member of the group. "That looks good," she says. "Where did you learn how to draw? Noble school? Do they have a school for nobles? They've got to, right?"

At the sight of the squirrel, Jinx is distracted and leaves Nepharios to his work. Instead, she meanders over to the conversation with Paartu. "Does that mean your homeland is a jungle?" she asks. "What's it like? Do they have tigers there?" Jinx has only heard about tigers in stories, and they both fascinate and horrify the gnome, imagining a beast with orange fur and a jaw big enough to swallow her whole.

"Well thank you...Jinx was it, but I'm merely doing some simple sketches for inspiration. I was schooled at home myself, but I'm sure there are some schools that would only take the really rich. It's not there you will find the best and most inspiring intellectual atmosphere though I think. I am still hoping the Clearwater Academy is the place I've been looking for to take my learning to a new level." The young pale noble explains with a brief smile to the purple-haired gnome.

Sylvie wiggles her fingers towards the squirrel in greeting. Her head turns this way and that, with everything going on. "Can't say I've heard've that constellation, Paartu, but know of a couple similar ones. It's like Alcazar says, we all see them. They're guides during travel, along with being pretty and just a bit mysterious, since it seems we're sorta going for that. And hands are used to make things, or help forge paths..."

She quiets briefly, brows furrowing as she thinks about the potential symbolism behind their name and emblem. Though she smiles towards Nepharios. "Seems like we're already learning new stuff. Wasn't expecting to learn so much from our new friend here! Like they allow pets here. And we'll be going on enough trips to form groups." "Speaking of, Jinx mentioned bein' good at getting information. Might be great for studying later, but are the rest of us good at other stuff? Know magic's been brought up a bit..."

A faint blush can be seen as Sylvie smiles at the young noble. "I...I know some magic, I don't know if it will be helpful in our assignment though, I am merely an apprentice, but I am here to learn." He says, trying his best to sound confident when speaking to the half-elf.

Ewock leans over to sniff at Sylvie's fingers. After a moment he jumps back into the backpack where he can be heard rummaging around, only to return with a small nut he appears to be giving to Sylvie. With Miawynn watching and listening to the interaction she peeps up, "His name is Ewock and he is not a pet. I tried to get him to stay in the forest but it wasn't long before I noticed the food in my bag missing..." She rolls her eyes with a slight grin appearing as she says this last part. "He has become my only family of sorts you can say." As the mentions of magic and things that people are good at, she grimaces. Aware that she never had anyone to teach her anything but the wolves taught her to hunt and the squirrels to forage. All she learned she gathered from those animals that helped her survive in her forest but nothing else. However it does spark a few moments in her memory, the earth... it always would rumble as intruders got to close to our camp.

Quote from LorenzotheGreat >>

Paartu's eyes light up at the mention of jungles. "You know of jungles? Are there any nearby?"

Alcazar shakes his head, "No. No. None at all. Beastly places. Everything there wants to eat you. The only question is whether it happens slowly or quickly."

He draws another deep breath. "Well," he says, looking around at his new companions, "...it seems we have a name, the beginning of an emblem..." nodding at the art work, "...and our introductions are complete. Should we perhaps let our leader know?"

He looks around the room to see how the other groups are going.

Jinx is delighted by the little squirrel. She resists the strong urge to reach out and pet him, but she senses that would frighten him so she restrains herself. Instead, she says, "He's so cute! We don't have critters like that where I come from." Thinking back to where she grew up, in the Underdark, she represses a shudder. The surface has been everything she dreamed of and more, and there is no way in the Nine Hells she's ever going back below.

Jinx looks around for the headmaster. She raises her hand like she's in primary school, because she's not sure what else to do or what the actual protocol is here. "Excuse me, Mr. Headmaster," she says. "I think we're done!"

"We are?" Nepharios says, looking up from his sketches, seeming confused. "So what did we all decide upon then? And can I at least have a look at the emblem before we submit it."

Alcazar wiggles a finger distractedly in the direction of Nepharios' own work. "That, my dear boy."

"I had assumed you were listening to our deliberations while working. A hand, stars, you know...that sort of thing. Or are you being a true artiste, never satisfied with your work?"

He peers more closely at the sketch...

(( I had assumed it was along the lines discussed, but if not, happy to RP Alcazar's reaction etc! ))

Miawynn speaks up as Nepharious appears to be unsettled with his work... "Trees signify strength and resilience. Not to mention they can grow out and communicate with their roots underground." After she blurts this out, her eyes go wide. Suddenly horrified that she contributed. Hoping no one thinks her ungrateful of the work they've put in. But to her the trees and the forests are her life, her family... Looking back at the current drawing she quickly responds "It looks great though, we just have a lot of squirrels in the trees back home" Turning her eyes down. Sinking her head into her arms which are crossed on the table in front of her. 

Sylvie's eyes widen as Ewock gives her the acorn. "Aren't you a smart lil' fella?" She giggles, turning the little acorn around in her hand. It had been a while since she last held one, and never one that had been gifted by an animal of the forest. She gives a reassuring smile to Miawynn as she speaks. "Lot of different trees too, yeah? So can have a lot of different designs, if we wanted to throw some trees into it. But it might get cluttered if we threw in every idea."

She clicked her tongue. "I'm sure what we got looks great. And if it isn't ready, then we can just show them what we have, so they know we're coming up with one."

Miawynn looks at Sylvie and gives her a smile and nod. "I agree, the headmaster will not be disappointed" The smile lingering on her face. 

Paartu sighs and slumps a little. Muttering to himself, he says, "No jungle, no food...how do people live here?" Hearing the others talk, he perks up, saying, "A hand, a tree, a constellation. White on green on black. I reminds me of my home. I like it."

He asks, "If we finish quickly, does the food come sooner?" Then, noticing Ewock in Miawynn's bag for the first time, he smiles with seeming delight. "Oh!" he says, "Very wise. You brought your own."