Pathfinder Hall RP

[kleomenes]

Once again, the priest's inexperience with children leaves him a little dismayed at first. Ameris' brow furrows, but only for a moment, as he notices Timmy's nervousness. But immediately after a small smile appears on Ameris' lips - an attempt to look encouraging, although not a particularly good one. He would correct any mistakes the boy makes, matter of factly.

As Timmy becomes frustrated, the penny finally drops that the boy is really struggling, and Ameris would move a hand to rest on Timmy's shoulder to give it an encouraging squeeze. "Keep going, Timmy, you are doing ever so well! Look how far we have got!" Now, any corrections are given in an encouraging, warm tone, and Ameris praises Timmy for trying even if he gets pronunciations wrong.

"Reading is good, because the words help draw pictures in your mind." He says, in a pause.

Every time Ameris corrects him, the boy seems to lose an inch in height.
At the time of the break, Timmy grumbles irritably. "But why is it so difficult! Why are all these letters so similar to one another?! I look, and look and they are so alike!" the child starts to bounce in place and seemingly may start hyperventilating any moment now. "I try and I look hard at them but it doesn't work. Everyone gets it but me!" Timmy pouts, despair being such an overwhelming force for a child.

Ameris notes Timmy's distress, and keeps his hand on the boys shoulder. His voice becomes soothing - it is the voice used with a distressed patient. "I think you do very well, Timmy. Everyone is different and does things at their own pace. Do not get upset if you find words hard, you have a talent with drawing and imagination! Not everyone can draw stories like you do."

Ameris pauses. "Is this why you like drawing, because reading is hard?"

[Arn]

Mi-Le has continued to do morning meditation with the children. In the evenings, however, he simply keeps the children company while they pray to the gods. The monk of the Old Order does not join in the prayers, but he does seem happy that the children are following their own faiths.

[DM Arrakeen]

Ameris notes Timmy's distress, and keeps his hand on the boys shoulder. His voice becomes soothing - it is the voice used with a distressed patient. "I think you do very well, Timmy. Everyone is different and does things at their own pace. Do not get upset if you find words hard, you have a talent with drawing and imagination! Not everyone can draw stories like you do."

Timmy blinks some tears of frustration away looking doe-eyed at Ameris. "You really think I'm talented?"

Ameris pauses. "Is this why you like drawing, because reading is hard?"

"I don't know. Mrs Santraeger asked me to wrote the stories I wanted to tell and I couldn't so she told me to draw them," Timmy shrugs wiping his nose along the sleeve of his tunic. "Letters are too similar but you don't have to know them when you draw."

[Arn]

Mi-Le Begins to Guide Evening Meditation Sessions Before Bedtime

Other children succeed more or less at Mi-Le's meditation sessions. Some having an easier time concentrating and calming down than others. One of the older children, a girl, seems to be doing really well. She helps the other kids when need be.

Sometime later, Mi-Le seeks out the girl who helps the other children. "Hello. I am not sure I caught your name?" The monk smiles.

The young girl, a soon to be young woman really, turns to Mi-Le and smiles. A smaller kid sits in front of her trying to tie his shoes. "A moment, please," she utters quietly and turns her attention back to the child offering some instructions. Once the little one manages to pull a shoe lace through a loop she claps in encouragement. "Good. You are getting better. Now, run off to play. We will try again later," she picks up the kid and gives it a little push. The boy wobbles off with a bright smile. The girl finally regards Mi-Le. "Apologies. I wanted him to finish this. He is really making progress. I'm Julia, sir. Can I help you with anything?"

Mi-Le smiles. "I noticed your help with the other children. Thank you for that. I was wondering if you're familiar with Timmy?"

Julia nods in agreement. "I know all the children. Timmy is one of the youngest boys. Is he causing you trouble?" girl's trouble look moves to the doors and back to the monk.

The monk chuckles. "Oh no, not at all. I was just wondering what you knew about him. Where he comes from, his likes and dislikes, habits, and such. It might help me guide his meditation."

Julia thinks a moment, biting at the tip of her thumb. "If I remember right Timmy was found at some small farming hamlet that was deserted last year. He has troubles to sit in one place or do one thing for a longer time," the girl chuckles. "He is like a busy bee. He carries a notebook he got from Mrs Santraeger some time ago and he draws there. It's precious to him," Julia smiles and starts packing some toys into a chest. "Timmy is very bad at reading and writing and sometimes he loses his temper or start exaggerate wildly. But he is also curious and helpful when you ask him."

The monk nods. "Thank you." Mi-Le smiles. "You're doing well in your meditation. Do you have any questions?"

"Actually, yes. I do," Julia nods looking to Mi-Le. "I think we could implement some of the things you started teaching us before kids bedtime. Some of them have troubles falling asleep or have nightmares. If they were able to calm down this way, perhaps it would help them?"

Mi-Le smiles. "That is quite a good idea, Julia. It might help. I shall speak with Miss Sylvi about it. Thank you for the suggestion." The monk bows and goes to find Miss Sylvi.

Upon finding Sylvi, Mi-Le would bow in greeting. "I have heard some of the children have trouble falling asleep, or have nightmares. What do you think of working in some time for meditation before bed? Fifteen or twenty minutes might help calm them down so they sleep better at night."

The aging teacher thinks a moment on the idea. "That could be arranged but you would have to cut the evening prayers shorter. I'd rather have them in beds at the usual time if I can help it," Sylvi sighs, rubbing her temples. The woman clearly seems tired. "Can this be done?"

Mi-Le smiles and bows. "This can be done." He looks at her, observing her tired appearance. "How have you been? Is there anything I can do for you?"

Sylvi waves her hand dismissively. "I ain't so young anymore so I tire more easily than I used to while having almost three dozen of children between me, Richard and some help from the older kids and members of the Order," she shakes her head with a small sigh. "They are still a handful. I love my profession, mind you," the woman nods sternly to emphasize her words, "but I can't wait till the situation stabilizes enough so we are not so thinly stretched. As for the meditations, I'll be willing to observe this, I really hope this helps some of our charges."

The monk nods. That night, he begins to lead the children in meditation before they go to bed.

[Arn]

((Edit by Arn: moved to a more chronologically appropriate place in this thread.))

[Maecius]

Ameris notes Timmy's distress, and keeps his hand on the boys shoulder. His voice becomes soothing - it is the voice used with a distressed patient. "I think you do very well, Timmy. Everyone is different and does things at their own pace. Do not get upset if you find words hard, you have a talent with drawing and imagination! Not everyone can draw stories like you do."

Timmy blinks some tears of frustration away looking doe-eyed at Ameris. "You really think I'm talented?"

"Yes I do." Ameris says, sincerely. "You are drawing all these stories from out of your head, you have an imagination that most others lack. And your drawings are better than mine even though I am three times your age!"

Ameris pauses. "Is this why you like drawing, because reading is hard?"

"I don't know. Mrs Santraeger asked me to wrote the stories I wanted to tell and I couldn't so she told me to draw them," Timmy shrugs wiping his nose along the sleeve of his tunic. "Letters are too similar but you don't have to know them when you draw."

Ameris seems curious. "What do you mean by letters being too similar? Do you mean, say, l and i, or m and n?"

[Maecius]

Captain Desrah Asher can be seen going into the Pathfinder Hall, alone. She comes out an hour or so later, seemingly in good spirits.

[DM Arrakeen]

Timmy blinks some tears of frustration away looking doe-eyed at Ameris. "You really think I'm talented?"

"Yes I do." Ameris says, sincerely. "You are drawing all these stories from out of your head, you have an imagination that most others lack. And your drawings are better than mine even though I am three times your age!"

Timmy offers the priest a happy smile.

Ameris seems curious. "What do you mean by letters being too similar? Do you mean, say, l and i, or m and n?"

The boy nods energetically. "Yes. "p" and "b" and "d" and "q" look very alike. And others do too. It's very confusing.

[kleomenes]

Ameris seems curious. "What do you mean by letters being too similar? Do you mean, say, l and i, or m and n?"

The boy nods energetically. "Yes. "p" and "b" and "d" and "q" look very alike. And others do too. It's very confusing.

Ameris reaches across to draw with his finger on the book, tracing out the letters as he speaks. "Little 'p' goes down and little 'b' goes up, that is the way to tell them apart. The same with little 'd' and little 'q'. Trace it with me." He exaggerates how far up b and d go, and down p and q go.

"How long have you been trying to learn?" Ameris would then ask.

After a pause he would add. "What matters is how hard we all try. If someone finds something hard, and they try harder because of it, that means they are doing well. You might say they are doing better than the person who finds something easy but does not put all their effort in!"

[Nomster]

A strange man stepped inside Pathfinder Hall to speak. When he left, there was a tension in the air and the guards seemed more alert.

[Tsidkenu]

A familiar blue-robed figure visited Pathfinder's Hall today accompanied by a rather cheerful halfling. After idling in the foyer for some time the duo were eventually greeted by a returning Telia and an elven friend.

After discussing a great variety of generally happy topics, the priestess would leave the premises with her halfling friend after Telia and Ameris had retired to bed for the night. She left in good spirits with a large smile on her face.

[DM Arrakeen]

Ameris reaches across to draw with his finger on the book, tracing out the letters as he speaks. "Little 'p' goes down and little 'b' goes up, that is the way to tell them apart. The same with little 'd' and little 'q'. Trace it with me." He exaggerates how far up b and d go, and down p and q go.

"How long have you been trying to learn?" Ameris would then ask.

After a pause he would add. "What matters is how hard we all try. If someone finds something hard, and they try harder because of it, that means they are doing well. You might say they are doing better than the person who finds something easy but does not put all their effort in!"

"I know they are different when they are alone. But all together they blend and confuse me," Timmy sighs but traces the letters with his finger muttering their names quietly. "It's been some months of learning now. I'm not sure. How long did it take you to learn?"

[kleomenes]

Ameris reaches across to draw with his finger on the book, tracing out the letters as he speaks. "Little 'p' goes down and little 'b' goes up, that is the way to tell them apart. The same with little 'd' and little 'q'. Trace it with me." He exaggerates how far up b and d go, and down p and q go.

"How long have you been trying to learn?" Ameris would then ask.

After a pause he would add. "What matters is how hard we all try. If someone finds something hard, and they try harder because of it, that means they are doing well. You might say they are doing better than the person who finds something easy but does not put all their effort in!"

"I know they are different when they are alone. But all together they blend and confuse me," Timmy sighs but traces the letters with his finger muttering their names quietly. "It's been some months of learning now. I'm not sure. How long did it take you to learn?"

Ameris' brow furrows as Timmy speaks. It is not disappointment, rather deep thought, worry even. It dissipates though, when Timmy asks his question.

"A long time. I started when I was five, and I was still learning at twelve when I was sent to Court. We never stop learning really. I learned to read new things when I was twenty and learning to be a priest. We take as long as we take, so long as we do not stop trying."

He puts a hand on Timmy's shoulder, an action of reassurance. "I know you try really hard. Telia knows too. We do not worry about how much you can read, it only matters that you do your best."

[kleomenes]

Ameris and Tarina are seen discussing a note found by the fountain outside the hall with a hooded gentleman clad in white and red, who is known by various names locally. Later, after Lady Elvina of the Silver Rose arrives, Ameris and Tarina enter Pathfinder's Hall with her.

Later, Ameris Santraeger is seen exiting Pathfinder's Hall with a determined frown. He inspects the exterior of the building carefully, even rummaging through one of the flower pots outside until interrupted by a bearded gentleman. A warm reunion later revealed the man to be the paladin Alexander Marshall, of Torm and the Triad. Joined by Captain Reine of the Everwatch Knights, the three entered Pathfinder's Hall once more to share news.

[DM Arrakeen]

"I know they are different when they are alone. But all together they blend and confuse me," Timmy sighs but traces the letters with his finger muttering their names quietly. "It's been some months of learning now. I'm not sure. How long did it take you to learn?"

Ameris' brow furrows as Timmy speaks. It is not disappointment, rather deep thought, worry even. It dissipates though, when Timmy asks his question.

"A long time. I started when I was five, and I was still learning at twelve when I was sent to Court. We never stop learning really. I learned to read new things when I was twenty and learning to be a priest. We take as long as we take, so long as we do not stop trying."

He puts a hand on Timmy's shoulder, an action of reassurance. "I know you try really hard. Telia knows too. We do not worry about how much you can read, it only matters that you do your best."

"I'll keep trying, I promise. One day I'll read better. And I'll write as well as anyone!" the boy promises and rubs his eyes. "Can you read to me for a moment longer? Please," Timmy lays down, wrapped in his blanket.