The bathing area is quite public - there is no separation into different stalls or changing areas, although there is one separated alcove with an adapted trench latrine (also seems to have been grown out of solid wood, but it leads deep into the branch, and warmth rises from deep in the latrine. This is the epitome of a perfected "composting toilet," your nutrients feeding the tree and it's life quite directly). There is a large pool of water to bathe in, and there are rivulets of water flowing down from the canopy above. The highest parts of the tree capture moisture from the air and condense it, and much of this water is directed through the bathing area. Walls of moss and leaves have a constant trickle of water moving down, and some leaves can be lifted to become spouts, allowing you to stand directly under a trickle. These trickles, and the tree's own vascular system, keep the bathing pool full - a good 3 feet deep and 15 feet in diameter - and a dense moss carpets the bottom of the pool. The bathing area is filled with the scents of aromatic lavender and sage, which grow from cultivated pots along one wall, and it is clear that people take small pieces of them to use as they bathe, to help cleanse their skin or their auras.

In the North Branch, you will find well-stocked shelves filled with various foraged goods from the forest. Nuts, seeds, swamps, berries of various kinds, roots and tubers. Tucked a little bit away from the other food is an alcove that can't be looked into until you walk right into it. In this, some deer carcasses, rabbits, and squirrell hang to cure. It seems that some people do not like to see the dead animals, but that a compromise was made. There are a few cooking areas - stone circles with space for a cooking fire underneath, and a system above to hang ceramic pots or a platform to place an iron pan on. There are no active fires, but embers still glow in a couple of the circles, and rekindling would be no difficulty at all. There is enough space for a few dozen people to gather, cook together, and eat together; although it seems the expectation would be that people sit on the ground.

The sleeping area consists of many rows of hammocks often arranged in two layers (like bunk beds), suspended between rows of smaller trees growing upwards from a ground of soil - it's a whole miniature forest growing atop the Village tree. Some areas of hammocks are lightly separated from others by hanging cloth or tapestries to offer some minor privacy, but there are also many people sleeping openly in hammocks, with packs of things either underneath them or hanging from one of the trees. As you come into the area, you can see many varied people lying in these hammocks. A majority seem to be elves, but there are also halflings, a few firbolg, dryads, satyrs, a couple of humans, and many other things. In fact, one pair of hammocks are laiden with two Bugbears, not far from the entrance to the area. There is a deep, earthy smell permeating the entirety of both sleeping platforms. Most people are already asleep, but here and there friends whisper to each other while lying down, and in some places a hammock holds a couple - sometimes even a couple with a child or two - who whisper the last thoughts of the day to one another. One area of the southeast branch is devoid of trees or hammocks, instead having a small glade of soft grass and sphagnum moss, and here there are a couple of centaurs who have lain down for the evening. Some conversation shifts as you pass by, but when it becomes clear that you are seeking hammocks of your own, nobody bothers to talk to you or interrupt. You find a group of 6 hammocks close by each other (some on tope of others) that are unoccupied. Esmerelda and Semmer will help you carry Muro there and place him in a hammock before he wakes, and then the two of them work together to grow and reshape the vines of the hammock into a tight coccoon that will restrain and hold him there until he reverts to his smaller halfling form.

As you settle in to your hammocks, you can hear nocturnal birds and insects of the forest, the wind ruffling leaves all around you, and Silver Stream river, far below. You are much closer to the river than you had realized before.

Sha-gravis dreams vividly of the Aarakocra Aerar.in one moment Sha is covered in feathers and blood in the next he sees an aarakocra family Aerar is teaching their son to fly.  When Sha finally awakens in the wee hours of predawn his thoughts are quite burdensome. Sha dresses in his vestaments of Selune performs meditation and prayer with incense and censure.

Even though Sha knows many eyes are watching he gives himself to the moment of devotion.

As the lift begins to move upwards Saoirse feels how her previous worries and fears becoming less and less present. They turrn as distant as the ground now looks from their current point of view. As faded as whatever may lie beyond the magnificent view they currently have their eyes upon, which seems now far and unimportant. The lift keeps rising and she keeps sharing cheerful smiles and amazed looks with her companions. 

While the sense of community in this place is not foreign to her - as it doesn't look so disparate from that of her order - this place is at the same time completely different. Perhaps it's the natural frame that makes everything look so balanced, so respectful, so .... alive. Or perhaps it is because it here that she's felt really free since he left her home for the first time, not but some weeks ago. As she realizes this, Saoirse feels a tinge of guilt. Shouldn't she be thinking of returning to the Order...? But this is a fleeting thought, and as Semmer and Esmerelda walk them through the different branches and show them to their hammocks, she just forget and indulges in getting to know the wonderful place they've been invited to.

When Hemlock, Sha and Lam decide to go bathing, Saoirse respectfully declines. She will of course do it. In fact, she's dying to bathe, but she just prefers to wait for a while. Later, when there's even less people around she will do so. She's so accustomed to bathe rather publicly at home, that the idea of finding the bathing place of Village Tree empty in the later hours of the night seems rather appealing for a change.

So instead of that, she just walks alone for a moment, visiting every branch for herself. She takes special note of the East branch, where there are several stalls and carts filled with many wares. There she finds weapons and armor, and thinks that it would be useful to find herself a second weapon. After everything she's fought in the last hours, she feels more confident about going for two-weapon fighting. She didn't take that many lessons in that style at the Order, but something tells her she'll do just fine after a bit of rest. She'll have to remember to ask Rhys or Semmer the next day about this. 

A while later, she ends up visiting the bathing area, where she relaxes for a long while on her own, letting the coolness of the water refresh her warmer than normal (for most humanoids, anyway) body. She even takes the time to wash her cloak - which Muro stopped needing the moment he was caught by the Sleep spell - in one of the miriad of trickles running down the mossy walls. 

Later, Saoirse goes back to the hammock the dryads have prepared for them to find most of the party asleep. If she finds Saffi awake, she'll try to approach her, apologizing for the way she reacted while talking about the True King. The genasi would like to listen to her story, if the changeling wants to share it. Not out of compassion - which Saoirse suspects would only earn Saffi's contempt - but because if there's a truth and an injustice that needs to be brought to light, the fire genasi would like to know about it. And know if there's anything that can be done about it. 

When Lam wakes the next morning, he is tangled in his hammock- it seems as if he tossed and turned up a storm in his sleep. After untangling himself, he wordlessly lumbers right back over to where he ended the night- to the North Branch, where the food is. He intends to eat a hearty breakfast as he wakes up, and then immediately look for ways to help in this place. If Hemlock is awake, Lam will try to find him to see if he can help with any of the firbolg’s tasks. If Lam spots either of the two bugbear that were around last night, he will try to make eye contact and wave. If his presence is not requested anywhere else, he will try to offer his assistance to folks in order to repay their generosity in letting him sleep and eat here.

Making his way quietly to a bottom hammock, Hemlock finds sleep comes easily, his tired and injured body finally relaxing now it was cleaned and fed. But his sleep is not undisturbed. In the darkest part of the night he is roused by a warm sensation on his chest. Groggily coming to, he reaches to the spot to find it is his wooden amulet that is producing the heat. And it isn't just the warmth that is different about it. Looking closely he can see pinprick points of light coming from the stars carved into one side of it. He concentrates his druidic energy on it, and finds the lights grow in intensity. Looking around, he remembers where he is, and not wanting to disturb anyone else present he simply takes the amulet in his hand and clasps it as he falls back to sleep.

When he wakes in the morning, he remembers the incident in the night, and looks to his amulet. It is harder to see in the light of day, but he is sure he can make out those same pinpricks of light still there.

Making his way to the north branch, he joins those other folk that are preparing breakfast. Avoiding those that are cooking meats, he makes his way to an empty cooking area and starts to prepare breakfast. When Lam offers help, he accepts, and shows the bugbear how to grind nuts into flour. At the same time he himself prepares some almond milk. Once done he mixes it all together with some sweet fruit juice and makes pancakes, topping them with fresh fruit. Alongside this, he makes some fruit infused tea.

He will serve anyone who takes an interest for as long as there is interest, or until he is wanted for other duties, making sure he himself and Lam are fed (if the Lam wants some) before ensuring his area is clean and tidy before he leaves it.

@Hemlock, make a nature check to make lots pancakes and tea, plus you proficiency bonus (Cooking tools), with advantage (Lam is helping)

Saffron was asleep when Saoirse returned to the hammocks, but woke up as Saoirse climbed into the hammock underneath hers. She's a light sleeper, not accustomed to sleeping near others, or at least not near anyone she can fully trust. She looks down at Saoirse, and when the blood hunter asks, she whispers more details of her story, keeping the same emotionless voice as she does. Passive Insight 13 to overhear.

Tesfaye can not get comfortable in the hammock, and struggles and falls out a few times before giving up. When you wake in the morning, you can see that they walked over to the centaur glade at some point during the night. They are still laying there when you all start moving around for the day, fully retracted into their shell, with the deep breaths of sleep audible for anyone nearby.

In the Eastern Lookout, there are other people making offerings and prayers to a variety of gods. Sha-Gravis gets a few odd looks because of the elaborate nature of his vestaments, but is not hastled more than that at first. When he finishes and looks back up, a firbolg child is standing in front of him, hand out to offer a handful of dried herbs. If Sha does not reach out to take it, the child will walk away, looking a little sullen.

 If Sha does take the herbs, the child smiles excitedly, and speaks fairly rapidly in Elvish. "¿Puedes contarme una historia? Nunca he visto ropa como la tuya, así que apuesto a que será una historia que no he escuchado antes. Me gustan más las que tienen dragones y héroes, pero también las que tienen dioses y monstruos!"

Sha understands:

Hemlock Cooking: (13,8)+1+2=16 (That is with Int based as you mentioned Nature. I was hoping to use Wisdom, which would be 18, but your call @dm).

Sha-gravis begins his tale of the goddess.  All creation was sparked from a vast nothing called the void.  Shar remembers this time yearns for it, like when we’re tired and want our beds, but like all of us there was a curiosity about this new creation part of her Selune like a mother nurtured and provided even mothered other gods and goddess’. Unlike us however when she began to experience this conflict of feelings a schism began to form, from this we have two churches, when in truth we have one goddess.  Treating someone as two rather than acknowledging our dual natures is not healthy and Shar is part of the goddess’ pain at not being recognized for who she is.  These truths are not welcome by everyone, kind people can be cruel...

Sha will embellish his story with thaumaturgy & guidance also telling about some monsters Shar had a hand in creating but when the tale is done he brings out a pipe and smokes a little.  He thanks his listener.

Saoirse doesn't interrupt Saffron and takes good note of every detail she mentions.

After this, and with a few tosses and turns to adjust to sleeping on a hammock, the genasi falls asleep. 

Her sleep is deep and calmed, and she doesn't even realize the slight crackling of electricity running though her fingers at some point during the night...

The next morning, Saoirse wakes to a rumbling stomach. Seeing that Hemlock, Lam and Sha have already left heir hammocks, she asks Saffi to join her to go grab some breakfast. On their way, she smiles at the endearing sight of the tortle retracted in their shell, still fast asleep. Though they must be tired, Saoirse calls them softly, as she thinks they will prefer having breakfast with the party instead than on their own. 

Whatever Saffi and Tesfaye decide, she will head to Village Tree's center platform and instead of heading directly to the North Branch, she will first stop at the weapon's stall, where she will ask any local about acquiring a light melee weapon to use as an off-hand or, preferably, a non-light finesse weapon that she can use in her main hand (and then use her current scimitar as off-hand weapon):

 - Would it be possible for me to acquire such a weapon, or should I ask Archdruid Rhys for permission first? He did tell us that offering gifts is the custom in Village Tree, instead of trading or buying. I'm not sure what kind of gift I could offer ... - and she thinks for a moment - ... mmmm, would it be useful if I could offer some weapon traning? Back where I'm from I used to train with adults, but teaching the younger kids was part of our assignments, too. We would use wooden weapons, of course. 

After this, Saoirse (and whoever accompanies her) will head for breakfast. If she catches Sha in the East lookout, she'll wave at him and ask him to join them. Once they reach Hemlock and Lam, Saoirse will assist them however she can and will profusely compliment Hemlock for his delicious pancakes and tea!

While Sha-Gravis is telling his story, several other people come to listen, joining the firbolg child. They listen, enraptured, and when thaumaturgy adds sound and light effects, people gasp or laugh or sigh, as the storyteller intends. One woman, a thin older fairy, pulls out a pipe of her own, stuffs it with some of the same herbs the child had given you, and smokes near you. "Please consider coming to the eastern lookout again at sunset, tonight or any night. People gather to tell, and to share, stories there each evening. You are a gifted storyteller, young cleric. 'like when we want our beds,' I like that. I'm sure young Lichen here will be telling your story to others in no time. He's already quite the storyteller himself. Thank you for adding to my truth."  The Firbolg child, Lichen, grins sheepishly at the compliment, and bows his head respectfully to Sha before wandering off to talk to another person in the lookout.

While Hemlock and Lam cook, various denizens of Village tree come to the north branch. Many make their own breakfasts, but there are also several people who come to watch Hemlock giving instructions on how to cook the pancakes and prepare almond milk. A centaur actually follows along with the steps, and is excited to ask if you will taste his attempt at it when he has finished. It doesn't have quite the right consistency, but the taste is good. The pancakes and tea that Hemlock makes is taken by people almost as quickly as he can make it, with everyone giving compliments and seeming to enjoy the filling, hearty pancakes. Like many a good cook, however, Hemlock remembers another time when he tried the same recipe and the result was just a little bit better - less grainy flour, in this case - and isn't 100% satisfied with himself. Still, there's no arguing that it's pretty good, and people come to offer Hemlock and Lam other breakfast items - breads, cereals, and simple nut and fruit mixes with some special herb added for a twist on the flavor. The two bugbears you saw sleeping in hammocks yesterday also come by. Only one of them takes a pancake, but they offer Lam a fried egg, and some sort of a venison sausage.

Muro wanders in in the middle of all of this, back in halfling form, and takes some food, but he sits off to one side shyly. He bows his head in deep gratitude if any of the party make eye contact with him.

A large black snake crawls up around the ledge of the platform of North Branch, and as it slithers towards you all, it stands up and blurrs into Rhys, who walks right up and takes a pancake, heaping it high with fruit. People naturally part to let Rhys pass, and one deferentially offers him their sitting place, but nobody moves far away from him at all, nor do they react to his entrance as a great snake. They are clearly comfortable around the Archdruid, in an informal way. "I never sleep better than I do as a reptile. They know how to relax." Then Rhys makes eye contact with Hemlock and says in druidic, "O'n i'n teimlo egni yn dod o dy ardal di neithiwr. Mae'n ymddangos bod canllawiau wedi dod atoch chi, heb angen fi. Llongyfarchiadau, ieuanc." The people near him quickly start talking with him in a friendly, neighborly way, and an Elf child runs up and jumps into his lap, although Rhys is a little small for that, and the child is old enough to know better.

 Almost at the same time, Cylence walks into the dining area. Most people give him a wide berth, although they also greet him. There are many eyes on him, with looks that range from admiration to frustration. Some people greet him as he walks past, but not in ways that spark conversation. "I am very glad that your party has made it hear unscathed, and even with a new addition. We should speak soon, after your meal, about things that are too serious for such a large crowd." He nods at Rhys, indicating that the archdruid is certainly welcome to those more serious talks. Cylence does not take a pancake.

Saoirse does not find anyone at the weapons stall yet, and West Branch is pretty quiet. It seems that most people are off to breakfast. Tesfaye wakes when Saoirse calls to him, anf follows slowly and groggily, without saying much beyond a mumbled 'goodmornorning.' They do not seem to be a morning tortle. Saffron walks straight up towards north branch, although nobody sees her arrive.

Sha sees Saoirse’s wave and waves back.  He inquires about Lichen’s age would he or his parents be averse to a coming of age ceremony?  If he is in human terms about 13?

Sha agrees to return in the evening.  As he gets near the food court he can smell all sorts of wonderful smells he takes a little walk around and discovers the meat storage surely close to the river there must be some fish here, if so Sha will select a piece roughly 6 ounces.  He heads out to see Hemlock flippin pancakes he gets in line.

With a pancake and a small bit of fish he goes to sit with Saoirse, “I’m unfamiliar with what you spoke about the True King.  He was an important figure in your order?  Also in your order are some who are Lycans similar to Muro, what is your order, if you don’t mind my asking.”  If there is strong chicory tea Sha would very much like that also?

The firbolg child is about 12 or 13 in human terms, but the older fairy looks a little surprised when Sha offers to perform a coming of age ceremony.

"Lichen will take his vision quest when he is ready, and he asks an elder. It would be odd for him to ask this of a stranger, but I will let him.know that you have offered. His mother is probably around the village somewhere, but his father moved across river to the greatwood last year."

Conspicuously, Sha can not find any of the sorts of larger fish (trout, sturgeon, alewives or salmon) that he would expect to find so close to a significant river. Instead, the only fish in the storeroom are pond fish like bass and bluegill, or the small young trout that venture up smaller side streams.

Of teas, however, there is a huge variety, both local and imported. One smells like chicory, and satisfies Sha's desire for that.

"Mae rhywbeth wedi newid, mae'n wir. Mae angen i mi ei archwilio i ddeall serch hynny", Hemlock replies to Rhys in druidic.

To Cylence he merely nods whilst he carries on working, but does spend a little time wondering as to what he meant. All would be revealed in time though. 

Once the preparation of the morning meal is complete and everything is tidied, he gives his thanks to Lam. "My thanks for your help, Lam. We did well I think", he says to the bugbear.

He then moves to join his companions with a plate of pancakes of his own, sitting down to enjoy it with a cup of fruit infused tea, and listening to whatever conversation was going on. He does wave to Muro as he walks passed, motioning for the halfling to join them.

Lam is satisfied. He has never made anything as complex as pancakes before, and he is grateful to Hemlock for showing him how to help. He is amazed as he watches the amount of people who take pancakes- it is more interaction than he is used to in one setting, so he does not say much to anyone and lets Hemlock handle more of the social interaction. When the two bugbears come around, though, Lam gratefully accepts the food and introduces himself to them.

When Hemlock thanks him for his help and says they did well, Lam puffs up his chest a little bit and responds, still low in pitch but louder in volume than usual, “Thank you for showing me how.” He takes a plate and adds two pancakes- one for himself, and one to potentially save for Tesfaye whenever they get here- along with the egg and sausage that he got from the bugbears. It looks like the best plate of food he has had in a very long time. He sits with his friends and listens to any conversation, but is too busy eating to add much to it himself.

Saoirse takes note of how differently people react to Rhys's presence in comparison to Cylence's and remembers Semmer mentioning that they have different views regarding HMC invaders in their land and often argue regarding how to act towards them. She wonders if those arguments are so public that they have caused the locals to be so distant towards the elf. Contrary to them, she nods and wishes a good morning both men and then greets Cylence more specifically. After all, the last time the party and him saw each other was while being imprisoned and he's the one that invited them to Village Tree:

- Me alegro de que podamos volver a vernos, a salvo y fuera de la prisión.

She wonders what they will be talking about later, but her guess is that it will be related to the HMC presence in the valley. They may have risen high above the ground, but the problem in the shape of a half giant/half dwarf, and the HMC as a whole, is still lying around not that far away.

Sha's question catches her in the middle of that thought. 

- My order? Well, I guess we are not that different from any other chloisters that exist in Eolus, at the organizational level at least. We live in a sheltered community with our families, everyone of us learns to fight since we are old enough to stand and able to wield a wooden sword. We live together, study together and everyone of us has a training duty for several hours a day and have other chores to do to keep our day to day working as a community. And our faith lies in the Lightbringer, the True King that gave shape to the great and peaceful kingdom we once were, but that unfortunately was shattered in the moment of his death.

She notices at that point that Saffron has not joined them for breakfast and wonders where she might be. Hadn't the changeling left the resting area along with her but a few moments ago? In any case, she continues talking:

- At the age of fifteen we are given the opportunity to undergo a ritual that alters our blodies in ways that allows us to be even better at fighting. While this is not forced upon us - and we are free to travel outside of the chloister to help us understand the world better and thus decide what we want to do - most of us decide to follow the ritual. We do this with pride, and because we believe in the good that it brings. To the Order, and to whoever we might help because of it.

She doesn't add anything else on the topic, but asks the tabaxi instead:

- What about you Sha? I got the impression that your beliefs caused you problems where you come from?

In a given moment, Saoirse addresses both Rhys and Cylence about the topic of acquiring a new weapon in the weapon's stall. Perhaps they can inform her if this is an option, and if her idea of a offering some training could be accepted in return.

The genasi will also join Muro for a moment, to ask him how he's feeling and tell him everything she learned about Weretown from Semmer.

What about you Sha? I got the impression that your beliefs caused you problems where you come from? -Saoirse

  “Where I am from is far away, in my pride (a tabaxi clan) we lived in peace and in balance.  I desired to share my faith, so I travelled far from home.  I have never really performed the duties of my calling as other clerics do, and Springdawn seemed a good place to begin.  I wear separate vestaments like a hypocrite, just so I don’t offend anyone.  This community seems much different.  Perhaps I can finally worship in the way my goddess desires here.”

After following & talking with Saoirse, Sha inquires with Cylence about hiring a tailor or seamstress, one who might help me combine my vestaments into one more appropriate to Sha’s particular unified faith.  As for payment or trade the extra fabric from joining the two into one may be kept as well as... what might they ask in return?

The bugbears seem very fascinated by Lam, but when they speak common, they do so with the same elvish accent at the one everyobe here has. "We havent met you before, and we know all 10 of the bugears living in the Valley. How'd you get up here? In any case, welcome, brother."

Many of the locals' conversations with each other involve them describing something they're planning to do in the next few days, or a minor issue they have. Often, another person, not directly part of the conversation, will jump in and say that they would like to give the first person some specific gift, which is exactly the thing they need! Sometimes, these gifts are 'regifted' within a few minutes, to another person who describes a similar need. You may notice that people who give larger gifts also recieve quite generous gifts - even if they are from somebody that they haven't given anything to. Further away from you, most conversations are in Elvish, but right up near where you are grathered, people all seem to be making an effort to speak in common, and you are encouraged to overhear. Here's an example of the sort of exxchange you hear: 

Bugbear, to elf: "In my last hunt, the deer took many arrows. It was a good hunt, and the herd will be traveling nearby again tonight."

Elf, to bugbear: "My son has made his first bow, but still struggles to find his marks. He is dedicated, and will certainly improve!" (This elf glanced at Saoirse as he spoke, not inconspicuously).

Centaur, to bugbear: "I have many arrows, and would love to give you a dozen of them. Come by the West Branch later and I'll bundle them up for you."

A different Elf, to centaur: "Your arrows always have beautiful falcon or kingfisher feathers in the fletching. We collected many feathers, to give to you."

As you discuss your wants and needs out loud, people are enthusiastic to help you, and offer gifts. A tall elf approaches Saoirse and speaks, "A rapier in my posession would be much better served in the hand of an expert such as yourself. Do me the honor of accepting this gift on the West Branch after this." One of the dryads walks up to Sha-Gravis. "It would be an honor to work with your foreign fabric, and combine the two robes. Please feel free to hand me your vestaments, and I will do my best to get the work done today or tomorrow." Several people hold bundles of dried herbs in their hands, and offer them directly to one of you. If you accept the herbs, these people may ask for something directly. One child (a girl between 7 and 10 years old) approaches Saoirse this way, and asks her if she can show her how to properly swing a scimitar. Others just ask you for introductions.

People hang on to Hemlock and Lam's every word, and one fairy even flies up to Lam with a few sheets of paper rolled up together, offering them to him. "I was given these recipes when I began learning to cook."

Lam, delighted to talk to fellow bugbears but a little embarrassed of his own grasp of common compared to theirs, responds to the two bugbear in his clear Goblin accent, “Thank you. I am not from Valley. I am from the Outlands. I am glad to meet you.” He wonders how they got here as well- it sounds to him like they have lived here a while- but he is too shy to ask any questions at the moment.

As Lam looks around and listens to the different conversations, he has a hard time following the thread of logic. By the time someone says something and Lam has worked out what it is they are implying they need, someone else is already offering it to them. He is not used to this kind of social interaction at all. He stands there stunned for a few moments, trying to follow some conversation as they all morph into each other, until his focus is pulled by the fairy who offers him some recipes.

As he takes them, a warm feeling bubbles up in his chest. He had never really tried to cook before, but he found making pancakes with Hemlock this morning to be incredibly rewarding. His tone warm with gratitude, he says, “Thank you. I would like to learn more.” Then thinks for a moment- he is pretty sure he hasn’t quite figured out how things work here yet, but he asks the fairy directly: “Can I repay you?”

If anyone directly offers Lam dried herbs, he accepts them. He hopes to be asked for things he knows he can do- like manual labor- but is willing to try to give anything he is asked.

If Cyclence seems to want to take the party aside, he will go with to hear what Cyclence has to say.

Saoirse places a hand in Sha's shoulder:

- Yours is not an easy path. I wish you can find the balance you seek, Sha, and acceptance to your faith.

The genasi smiles to the elf that has offered her a rapier:

- The honor would be mine! My name is Saoirse, can I know yours? I will take good care of that rapier, I promise. What could I do for you in return? Do you need help with something? Could I offer some training in sword fighting?

At that moment, the little girl comes asking about wanting to learn to swing a scimitar and Saoirse's smile widens. Though she hadn't always been happy about all the chores she had to do at the chloister, she did enjoy teaching the young kids. So she stands up from where she's sitting and leads the girl a few steps away from where everybody is eating, and puts her scimitar (though sheathed in the scabbard) in her hands. As it could be a little heavy for her, the genasi helps her hold it. Though it is a little awkward to hold the weapon that way, they still practice a few swings together. Mostly in a playful way, but hopefully interesting enough for the young girl to have a little fun, but also to actually notice how the scimitar should be gripped. 

- Imagine you have a egg in your hand, and that you want to hold it so it doesn't fall. But you don't want to hold it so tightly that you break it, right? Well, it's the same with a sword. Your arm need not be tight, but relaxed and using just about enough strength to hold the sword properly, but also in a light way so your wrists can move flexibly. Can you imagine how tiring it would be to hold a weapon very firmly for a long while? That would tire and sore your arms too quickly and we wouldn't like that, right? That's why it is very important to have them relax while holding a sword. There you go, you are doing it perfectly!

They stay that way for a while, with Saoirse trying to turn the improvised class into a game but also saying practical details that are key to a proper swordfighting stance. She glances at the elf that mentioned his son was trying to learn archery and says him:

- If your son also wants to try swordfighting I'd be more than happy to train with him a little too! I'm not not an expert with bows, though, I could use some tips in that matter myself!

Hemlock finds all the attention a little nerve wracking, and does not really have any stories to tell, unless asked specifically. If any of the conversations make it sounds as if people need torches, a tinderbox or a shovel, he will happily offer his own. He will also listen for anybody who has need of herbal potions and have the ingredients, offering his assistance and hoping they offer spare ingredients in exchange.

After a while of listening, he heads off to sit with Rhys.

"We overheard talk of a river spirit as we travelled. I would be very interested to hear more of it. You obviously live in harmony with it".