A wide open space in contrast to the dense Tengel jungle, the Sekudui Farmlands are open to all farmers and ranchers! There is much space available and plenty of resources to help raise some fine Tuskow or Roosken. (+3 Endurance, +2 Speed)

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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:49 PM

Katarina set the basket of vegetables by the sink and proceeded to wash them. Still shy, Sekhmet wandered over as well, wanting to feel helpful, considering how much she was intruding upon their home at the moment. “Is there anything that I could do to help, possibly?”

The older woman smiled at her guest, offering her the carrot which she was currently washing. “Sure! If you’d like to help me wash these vegetables, I’ll go check on the soup and bread.” As soon as Sekhmet took over the washing, the mother dried her hands on the towel by the sink and walked over to the stove, lifting a lid off a large cast-iron pot. The warm, rich smell of stew rose from the pot and wafted through the house, making Sekhmet’s mouth water simply at the scent. It was unlike the smell of any other food she’d ever had in her life, but she didn’t need to be familiar with it to know that it smelled delicious.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:49 PM

A large wooden spoon was inserted into the stew and stirred before Kat lifted it to her mouth to blow on it lightly. Tasting her product, she pondered for a moment, then reached into a cabinet by the stove for a handful of different herbs and spices which she began to add to the stew. “So Sekhmet, have you been away from home long? From what I understand, the desert is quite far away from here. What brings you out to our humble little town?” Her hands never stopped moving as she continued her work on the soup, although she gave an air which clearly showed that she was listening intently to what their visitor had to say.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:50 PM

“It has been over a month now since I last saw my home,” Sekhmet began, puzzling out what she was going to say as she went. She hoped that she would be able to give a satisfactory answer without giving away too much. She really didn’t want to lie to these kindly people either. “I miss my home and family terribly, but I…wanted to go out and see the world as well. This is my first time out of the country, and I admit I’m a little lost.” None of what she said was untrue. She only hoped that perhaps she might be able to find a place to stay at least until she found her own feet and could earn her own keep.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:50 PM

“Oh, you poor dear,” Kat replied, stopping in her task of flavoring the soup to glance over at their guest. It definitely explained why the young woman’s clothes looked as worn as they were – she didn’t see any luggage or other personal belongings, so she wondered if she even had a place to stay. “Do you need somewhere to stay for a while? I’m sure my husband would be fine with letting you stay in our guest room, given you don’t mind doing a few chores around the house here and there.” She chuckled lightly, but her offer was genuine as she wanted to help this lost young woman find her feet. After all, she couldn’t imagine how scary it must be, being lost in an entirely foreign country.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:50 PM

“Oh, well if you wouldn’t mind, that would be wonderful,” Sekhmet replied, although she couldn’t help but feel a pang of embarrassment again. Never before in her life had she ever had to be dependent on another for what she needed. Having come from royalty, her every care had always been seen to, but now, she was going to have to learn how to make her own luck in the world, and it seemed as if her days of being waited on were over. Now was as good a time as any to learn a few practical skills (although the her of the past would never have imagined or acquiesced to it). The only way to survive was to change with the times.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:50 PM

“I would be more than happy to help out around the house with whatever you need in return for your kindness…but only if it wouldn’t be too much of a burden for you.” The sound of a door near the back of the house opening and closing caught her ear as footsteps echoed in a distant hall. “Oh yes, please, please stay with us!” young Mary piped excitably, clearly happy at the prospect of having another friend to play with in the house. It wasn’t often that the family had guests, and when they did, Mary always wanted to play the hostess (not to mention have someone else to play dolls with her). “Raphael would love it if you stayed too, would you Raphael?”
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:51 PM

“Now what is this that Raphael would love?” a deeper voice queried. Another figured entered the now progressively more crowded joint kitchen and dining room, this one a man wearing work clothes which were well-worn and dirt-stained, which contrasted against the clean white socks which stood upon the hardwood floor. Katarina certainly liked to run a spick-and-span house, that was for sure. As well-loved as everything in the house was, there was not a speck of dust or dirt to be seen – quite an accomplishment for a farmhouse. “Hello there, young lady,” he said as his eyes settled upon Sekhmet, dipping his head in greeting to her.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:51 PM

“This is Sekhmet, and she’ll be staying with us for a few days,” Kat said as she made her way over to her husband, giving him a kiss on the cheek in welcome. “I’m sure that’ll be alright with you, right?” The raised eyebrow which she gave him wasn’t necessary, as he was still studying the stranger in his kitchen, but with an equally kindly air as his wife had given her. “Why yes, most certainly she is welcome to stay with us,” he said gently, ruffling his quiet son’s hair as he did. “And I’m sure Raphael would love it too,” he said wryly, his eyes twinkling in amusement as he glanced down at his boy, who blushed faintly pink. “You’ve already met my family, I see. My name is Adrian, and it’s lovely to see a different friendly face in the house for a change.”
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:51 PM

“You’re all too kind,” Sekhmet managed, somewhat overwhelmed by the influx of new people. She certainly hadn’t expected this kind of welcome when she’d come wandering into town. She was honestly surprised by just how kind and welcoming the people of this town had been when she arrived, and it gave her hope that perhaps it might not be so momentous of a task after all to tackle finding her way on her own in this new world. If there was one thing that was sure, it was that there would be plenty of support from those around her, even if she still had no idea why they were so eager to help. “Lunch is ready!” Katarina chimed authoritatively, and the members of the family began to move their way around the kitchen like clockwork, following the familiar rhythm of routine.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:53 PM

The table was soon laid, fresh milk poured into clean glasses, and heaping bowls of fragrant stew ladled out for each person. Katarina stood with a loaf of bread, cutting thick, crusty slices as Raphael shuttled them to each person, blushing once again as he dropped his eyes, handing Sekhmet’s slice to her blindly before running off again to his mother. “Sit, sit!” Adrian said kindly, gesturing Sekhmet into her seat as he took his own as well, waiting patiently for his family to join him. Once all the food was served, Katarina took her seat by her husband, and the family inclined the heads, preparing to bless the meal before them.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 02/24/2015 3:57 PM

This was a brand new experience for Sekhmet - she'd never said grace before in her life, let alone at a meal, so after a moment of perplexed staring, she imitated the posture of the people around her, inclining her head and clasping her hands with her eyes closed (although she peeked every few moments to make sure she was still doing the right thing). Once it was said and done, everyone seemed to come back to life once again, digging heartily into their bowls of soup. Sekhmet was a little slower to follow suit, still unsure of the proper protocol for meals in this land. She was soon told to dig in by Kat though, and she did so with relish, not remembering the last time she'd had a meal as delicious as this. Even the royal meals back at home, while good, were more pomp and circumstance than substance, and there was a homely quality to this that the meals she'd had in the past just couldn't touch.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 01/14/2018 9:36 PM

"So, I'm sure you've already been thoroughly grilled by my dear family while I was out, so I'll spare you any more awkward questions about yourself." Adrian's smile was kindly as he glanced up from his stew at their visitor, his expression open and encouraging. It must have been pretty obvious that Sekhmet felt out of place here, and it was clear that everyone was more than happy to do what they could to make her feel as welcome as possible. "Have you had any experience working around a farm before? Sure, it sounds complicated, but most of the tasks are quite simple once you get the hang of them. We'd be happy to show you the ropes while you're staying with us."
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 01/14/2018 9:39 PM

Sekhmet gulped hurriedly as the question was aired, having just taken a rather large bite of stew. After several days of not having proper nourishment, this meal was the most delicious thing she could ever remember having eaten in her life. The spices were distinctly different from those that were used in her home country, but while they tasted foreign, they were every bit as rich and full-bodied as anything she'd ever tasted. She just barely avoided choking on a rather large chunk of potato as she hastened to swallow and reply, just managing to avoid a coughing fit. A gulp of milk helped to wash the remnants down enough to allow her to respond.
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Re: A Home Away From Home [Self]

Postby Flame » 01/14/2018 9:43 PM

"No, I can't so I have." That was the plain and honest truth; she'd never gone anywhere near the kind of manual labor that upkeeping a farm must take. After all, she'd lived a rather "cushy" life (as many would deem it) before now, but one that was much more focused on language, politics, and other such subjects rather than practical skills. "I would love to learn though," she continued hastily, not wanting to come across as lazy or unwilling. "I hope that it will not be too much added trouble to have to educate a newcomer on top of your existing responsibilities. I promise to try and be as much of a help and as little of a nuisance as possible."
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