All are playthings of Fate until they bond together |
The blog of an idealistic FE fan
All are playthings of Fate until they bond together |
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Schall: Hello fellow wood enthusiast! Hemn: Hello! Wait- what? Schall: You’re a wood enthusiast, right? Hemn: What’s a… enthusiast? Schall: Someone who really likes a specific thing. Hemn: Oh… no. Schall: But you chop down trees right? Hemn: I build things for people. I'm strong and they're weak, so they provide me shelter and sustenance, and I build things for them like little shacks and nice stables. Schall: Do you do wood carving? Hemn: Naw. I’d be no good at that. ‘Sides, that’s wasteful. Schall: But I love wood carving! How is it wasteful? Hemn: I think of every tree I cut down as a deal with nature. I kill a tree and plant a new one in its place. So I benefit from nature, and nature doesn’t suffer from me chopping a tree down. Also, I gotta’ get all the squirrellies and birds and the like down ‘fore I knock down their home. Then they’ll have an easier time finding a new place to stay and they don't get squashed. Schall: Okay. But what does that have to do with wood carving? Hemn: If you’re gonna’ take from nature, you have to use the things you get. Every part of it has to be used, and it all hasta’ be for important stuff. Not for making little- thingies with the wood, but like, things you need. Schall: Oh. Hemn: The way I see it, it isn’t right to benefit from someone and then not return the favor. So when I cut down trees, I use the wood for something that matters. I hafta’ make sure that all the animals have new homes and that I’m not damaging any other trees when I knock down the one. Schall: I guess that makes sense. Hemn: Is that all you wanted to say to me? Schall: Yeah, I think. Hemn: Alright then. ‘Scuse me. Schall: Of course. B Schall: Hemn, I was thinking about something you told me earlier. Hemn: What, you didn't believe me the first time? I told ya' I have an extra little piece in my finger that lets me wiggle it 'round real weird. See? Schall: N-no, not that. What you said about not returning a favor to someone. Hemn: Oh. What about it? Schall: It's just that... I have never thought of things that way. I've always let people use me, I thought it was the right thing to do. Hemn: It's the right thing on your part. But they should be giving somethin' to you too. Do they give back to you? Schall: Does supportive friendship count? Hemn: No. Schall: Then no. Hemn: Again, I see true appreciation as nice returns. So if they don't give anything back to you, then they don't really feel grateful. Schall: That isn't true. Hemn: Eh? Schall: I don't mind if no one gives something back to me, because I know that they appreciate me helping them. Hemn: How do you know? Schall: I just do. Y'know? I just do. Hemn: I have lived my whole life working. Did you know that? I been on my lonesome since I was ten. Schall: I had no idea. Hemn: Well, I was. Anyway, when I was fourteen, there was this man who wanted me to build him a cottage right on the outside of this forest in Tryst. This guy told me he didn't have a house, so I thought I could give him this one without any charge. After all, I had recently gotten another huge job somewhere else, so it wasn't like I needed the man's food or shelter when I could just go to my other site. Makes sense, right? Schall: Yeah. Hemn: Well, this man did have another house. And you know how I found out? Schall: ...How? Hemn: When I was done with his cottage, he told me thank you. Then, a few days later, he got stupid and left a lit candle in the house while he went off on an errand. The whole place burned to the ground. I saw the smoke rising from the forest and ran to the cottage. And when I found all of my hard work eaten by flames and smoke, I cried. I cried, and the owner found me crying, and he told me, 'relax, I have another one.' Schall: ... Hemn: I have never felt angrier at anyone. He just didn't care about how much I put into making the very thing that was burning in front of me. He even lied to me so that he didn't have to pay for my services, because he knew that if he said he had a home, I wouldn't have helped him free of charge. Schall: I'm sorry. Hemn: I was lucky. The other job I was on, the rich guy who hired me recommended me to a blue blood in Kestra, and I got real close with one of her servants while I worked on a massive theatre with some of the duchess' other hands. I never did free labor again. Schall: That's an awful story. But that doesn't change the fact that there are always people who need help and can't give back to you in any way but a gracious smile. And I'm okay with that. Hemn: Fine. But don't be surprised when you get walked all over. A Schall: Is it true? Hemn: Wh-where did you come from? And what're you so giddy about? Schall: I heard that you were interested in helping me build a fence for the small village South of here. Is that true? Because you know it's for no charge, right? Hemn: It is? Schall: Oh. So you didn't know. Hemn: Was this your idea? Schall: I thought my skill in wood carving could be used for important things, like you said. Hemn: Yeah, but you're not gettin' anything from doin' this. Schall: I get experience. And I get the villagers a nice fence to keep their livestock. Hemn: Experience, huh? Schall: Yeah. And I don't think they're going to burn it down any time soon, either. The fence, I mean. Hemn: I know. Schall: So do you want to help us? Hemn: I'll consider it. Schall: Really? Hemn: Sure. Schall: I'll go tell the others- Hemn: Wait, Schall. Schall: Huh? Hemn: I wanted to thank you. I let somethin' bad that happened to me in the past get in the way of being a good person. But you- you didn't stop trying to get through to me. And you were a good friend to me, too. Schall: ...You're welcome, Hemn.
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Schall, the naive knight, enters the battlefield with the presence of a child, but the skill of a trained mage. His description: A NEWLY APPOINTED ROYAL GUARD, HE IS RENOWNED FOR HIS PROWESS IN MAGIC. HE IS KIND TO A FAULT, BUT EXTREMELY NAIVE AND IMMATURE. HIS MOOD ON THE BATTLEFIELD IS ALWAYS SCARED AND UNHAPPY, AS HE IS NOT ADJUSTED TO VIOLENCE, BUT HE HAS ALWAYS DREAMED OF BEING A KNIGHT. HIS PARENTS ARE VERY WEALTHY NOBLES, AND HE WAS RAISED AS A SHELTERED CHILD. HIS ADOPTIVE BROTHER, MICHAEL, IS JEALOUS OF HIS POSITION. Schall is the game's only troubadour. He is also the only character to start with light magic, because troubadours now have access to magic attacks from the get-go, as well as staves, like usual. This may make some prefer him over Annika, but Schall has his own quirks, good and bad, that make him serve a different role than Annika. Here's the good stuff:
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Taren: Whatcha' got there, Schall? Schall: Huh? Oh, I finally finished a little home for this squirrel. It took me three days to carve it and hollow it out. Taren: You spent all that time on a squirrel house? Schall: Yes? Taren: Schall, why did you waste that many minutes of your life? Schall: But the squirrel got hurt... Gill nearly trampled him, he was lucky he didn’t die. Taren: So what? He’s a squirrel, his life’s impact on the world is astronomically puny. Schall: All life matters, Taren, no matter how big or how small. Taren: Schall, humans are the true impactors, without us, nothing on this Earth would ever change. Schall: But why does that give us the right to bully other creatures? Taren: That isn't what I meant, I'm just saying I don't think that squirrel was going to affect the number of casualties in our next battle. Schall: Why must it always be battle? Even in war, other things are important too. Taren: In war, in all battles, you have to be focused. Schall: Well, this is how I stay focused. Goodbye, Taren. Taren: Okay? B Taren: Schall, I wanted to apologize. Schall: I forgive you. Taren: Really? But I haven't even told you why I wanted to apologize yet. Schall: There are plenty of people who don't understand why I do stupid things like lift baby birds back in their nest when they failed to fly, or leave baskets of fruit at people's houses when I don't know them, or... build squirrel houses. Hah. I know, I'm a weirdo. Taren: No, that's not it, you're sweet. Schall: But I always do it. I can't stop myself, even when it feels sort of embarrassing. Occasionally, when I try to be nice to someone, they don't trust me or don't accept my help. And it makes me sad. Because all I ever want to do is help. And there aren't many people like that, that don't expect a reward. Taren: Because not everyone can afford to give freely. You come from a rich family, Schall. Did you ever think about how much money that fruit costs? Or how much time it takes for someone to climb up a tree and find a bird's nest? It's cute that you want to help people, but it can be sort of off putting when it could be interpreted as charity. Not everyone wants that. Schall: I guess. Taren: Look, I wanted to apologize, not because I was thinking you were weird, but because I called it a waste of time. How you decide to spend your time, your money, or your wood, it's your business. Schall: Thank you. A Taren: Schall, I know we had a nice conversation the other day Schall: It was refreshing, yes- Taren: And you're just so sweet, but- you really didn't have to give me a fruit basket. Schall: I didn't. Taren: What? Schall: I just told other people about what I did at the capital. You know, giving without reward, and I suppose they followed suit. Taren: So, who is this from? Schall: Does it matter? Taren: A little? Schall: It doesn't matter. Taren: But then I can't thank them. Schall: So thank yourself- for being such an encouraging friend. Taren: Aww... c'mere, you big dope. Schall: You're... crushing me... a little. |
AuthorI am a recent high school grad who really should have better things to do. I have a passion for world building, video games (especially FE), and writing. I also enjoy music, doodling, and avoiding socializing :\ Archives
February 2018
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