(open) a million miles from home, I'm walking ahead

[aquilus]

Who: Altaïr & OTA
What: An Assassin gets a feel for Abraxas; catch-all for the first part of the month
When: Early August
Where: Mostly Cadens

It takes more than a day spent in this strange new world before Altaïr truly accepts that this is not some delusion, a grand vision sent by the Apple or his master from beyond the grave — and even then he can't be fully certain of anything. But he did not survive Al Mualim's phantoms by denying what he sees in front of him, no matter how outlandish.

What is, is, and that means he must respond as an Assassin does. Learn the land. Observe the people. Hide in plain sight.

rooftop parkour;
He'd taken to the roofs almost immediately, and that's not something that changes with the passing of time. Not yet, anyway. It will take a while to learn Cadens as an Assassin truly needs to know it, including all the boltholes and escape routes on multiple levels. He spends at least a couple of hours during each of these early days observing, mapping, and simply free-running for its own sake; it keeps his muscles strong and his skills sharp. He doesn't expect to run into anyone else, and if anyone happens to see him skitter up or down a building like a lizard, well, he's not particularly bothered, as long as they're not a guard.

rooftop napping;
Eventually, he has to sleep, but not in the barracks. Altaïr is not under anyone's command and has no intention of allowing himself to be coerced into military service. Instead, having acquired* several linens, pillows and some hay from a nearby stable, he makes a place for himself tucked into a reasonably comfortable spot atop a rooftop, where he's unlikely to be spotted from below.

He's a light sleeper, but in the unlikely event that someone else is inclined to walk the rooftops, a recently liberated** knife rests under his pillow. Hopefully no one wakes up him up while standing too close.

*stolen
**also stolen

library & museum;
If being here has any benefit, it's that he can learn. Once his immediate needs are taken care of, Altaïr makes a point of spending time at both the library and numerous museums. In Cadens, it's not necessary that he take on the guise of a scholar, but if it were he would certainly fit the part; he gathers piles of books, surrounding him at a study table in stacks, and rapidly jots down notes and scribbles sketches at exhibits. It almost seems like the only reason he leaves is because he's kicked out at closing time.

desert;
Having acquired a sword, he's able to borrow a horse from a man who came to the conclusion that anyone who could afford such a fine weapon would clearly be coming into further funds soon. He may or may not be wrong, though Altaïr has every intention of returning his mount; he only wants to venture a little ways into the desert, extending his knowledge of the landscape by no more than a day's ride into the wilds.

Once he's far enough away from Cadens, he's not particularly surprised to hear the sudden sound of other hoofbeats, nor is he bothered by the appearance of bandits, who demand that he dismount his horse and hand over his money. Altaïr could inform them that they've made a poor choice of victim in more than one sense, but instead he smiles and reaches for his new blade.

Should anyone come along, he doesn't truly need the assistance, but they're welcome to join in if they like.

[ooc note - Feel free to tag this in action brackets or prose format, I picked one for the top level but I truly don't care which — I'll match you. Also, for the rooftops prompts, please keep in mind that Altaïr will be moving relatively quietly, so anyone who wants to spot a weirdo doing parkour should be fairly observant/prone to looking up...but he's still a weirdo doing rooftop parkour so it's not that hard to spot him.

If you'd like to try a different scenario, hit me up at my ooc intro/cr meme thread or on plurk at effervescible!]

Comments

[godshattering]

Can't argue with that either, when it comes to making your own. All the detailed maps in the world don't compare to covering that ground yourself and learning it inside and out.

[ Something that sounds like it probably doesn't need to be said, given the other man's own work history - with the maps - and already being out and about seeing Cadens from above. He hums a note of agreement in regards to what's offered here in the libraries thanks to those advancements since it sounds like they also have that in common. On this point, anyway, and given the amount of other Summoned he's encountered that come from places with things he can barely conceive of despite their patient descriptions of it, it is a little comforting to find out. ]

Here, follow me for a second. And bring the book with you, if you'd like.

[ Just in case it's something the other man is researching; wouldn't want him to lose out on another book, after all. Claude turns and heads to that cartography section he'd mentioned and when he reaches it he sets down their contested book on a chair. Better to have both hands free to retrieve the large, library-table sized scroll from a nearby rack that he places on a clear table and unrolls very carefully. The parchment is thick and sturdy enough to be handled, but the very detailed, handwritten work on this particular map of Abraxas in all kinds of vibrant colors of ink is worth preserving as it's revealed. ]

I'm not sure if you looked at the maps out in the barracks at all while you were there, but this one puts all of them to shame.

[aquilus]

[Altaïr pauses for only a moment before following — and makes sure to bring the book, tucking it into the small bag he carries. It might not be one he wants to dig into further, but then again, it might be.

The cartography area is impressive at first glance; few maps are on display, but it's clear that there are many stored to peruse if one has the desire. The one his companion retrieves is clearly a jewel of the collection.]

By far.

[He lifts his hand to trace over the paths — not touching the map, lest the oils of his skin degrade the fine work, but skimming a hairsbreadth above the surface, starting at Cadens and moving outward.]

I may need to find a new profession here, if this is what the local mapmakers are capable of. It's a pity this isn't more easily transportable.

[godshattering]

By far is an understatement. [ Just cheerfully pointing out that fact they can both see given the sheer amount of attention put into what's laid out before them. ] It's no wonder this one is kept here so it can really be shown off.

I don't think you have to worry too much about being put out of a job, though. This kind of map existed at a monastery where I attended academy, and it's the sort of thing that would make up someone's life work. At least with the technology we had which is to say: not much considering all of the work that went into it was done by hand.

[ This one could be too, for all Claude knows, really. The Free Cities are by far the most filled in with Thorne and Solvunn much less so as he gestures to those next. Unfortunate, but it makes sense given the current state of things. ]

I'm guessing most of their information on the other two nations comes from merchants able to travel the roads back and forth between settlements. That's off limits to us, at least when it comes to actually crossing the borders, and doesn't seem likely to change any time soon from what I've learned from others. But, [ don't give up hope on the map front! ] I still say an aerial map from the rooftops would be useful. Even as impressive as this one is, it can't tell you the best way to flee from one building to the next when you need to.

[aquilus]

[It sounds more and more like Claude hails from a world similar to Altaïr's in terms of technology, at least as far as the kind used to create maps goes.]

Perhaps. Still, the market for my work would not be the same.

[Technically he's never had a market for his work as a mapmaker, so in a way, it's exactly the same as where he comes from. But he'll keep that to himself. He continues examining the map, a half-smile on his face.]

But I'm not sure I'd want to sell a map with the best routes for fleeing. They'd hardly be as good if anyone could know them.

[godshattering]

[ Well. It's difficult to argue that the market wouldn't be the same, considering he knows a whole lot of nothing about the other man's world besides a handful of assumptions. Then there's also that Claude doesn't really know much about Cadens in the grand scheme of things; despite his efforts to learn as much as he can, the Free Cities has lots yet to be revealed. ]

Can't hurt to try it out anyway, or at the very least it'd be something to keep you busy for a little bit. Plus, no reason you can't sell it as the 'best' routes but keep all the actual best routes for yourself, right? No one needs to know the difference.

[ Now he's grinning because it's exactly the kind of loophole he likes - especially the kind he creates. That might be cheating when it comes to loopholes, but still. There is something else important he probably should've covered either along with that or long before it, though. ]

I'm Claude, by the way. Nice to meet you, since I don't think I've seen you around before even if Cadens is a pretty busy place.

[aquilus]

You have a point there. I'll have to consider it.

[To his mild surprise, the half-smile he's putting on mainly for the appearance of it grows into a genuine, amused one. There are other means of survival he'd prefer to pursue over cartography, given the choice, but it is an option, especially the specialized kind he'd produce. Something to consider.]

I am Altaïr. If you haven't seen me, that means I'm doing things right. [Ha.] But yes — I arrived recently.

[godshattering]

If you're doing things right, does that mean I get extra points for being one of the few to look up?

[ Or, you know, just one of the few also meandering from roof to roof when he's ready for a different view of the city, but close enough. Claude's not actually looking for an answer to that flippant question as he looks back at the map with a nod after the other man's introduction, committing his name to memory. ]

Well, welcome to Cadens. You'll find no lack of ways to stay busy here even if it might not feel like it at first. I haven't been here too much longer than you myself so I can't claim to know everything and everyone, but if you're ever looking for a job to fill in the cartography gaps let me know. I can point you in the direction of some merchants always looking for help.

[ Perhaps they haven't chatted very long in the grand scheme of things, but anyone with this kind of interest in knowing a city beyond the surfaces everyone sees is someone who catches Claude's attention. And is he offering in an attempt to get to know Altaïr better even if it's someday far down the road? Absolutely - but it doesn't make the offer any less genuine. ]

[aquilus]

[The fact that he is one of the few to look up just means that Altaïr will have to try harder in the future.]

I expect I won't have any trouble finding ways to occupy my time.

[He rarely does in a land he knows well, with hundreds of his brothers to work together in what must be done. Here, where he knows little and is alone? He expects he'll find himself too busy to sleep overmuch.]

But I may take you up on that. One or the other.

[godshattering]

I wouldn't doubt it. There's an inn where most Summoned here seem to congregate either to live or to get together in the tavern on the ground floor, so even when you do get busy be sure to stop by now and then.

[ Just a suggestion since Claude doesn't think he's seen Altaïr around Mag's in his careful noting of who the regulars are for his own variety of reasons, so it can't hurt to offer. There's also the fact where if he chooses to stay there then Mag will have plenty to keep him occupied. Something that helped Claude get through that first month of adjusting, so it's an unsolicited piece of advice he's quick to offer others now.

Still. Getting one's bearings isn't something he wishes to intrude on when he knows how vital it is from firsthand experience. With the map laid out and ready to be studied by an expert, Claude decides it might be best to leave the other man to do just that. ]

On that note, if you do want to take me up on either I can also usually be found around Mag's in the evenings. In the meantime, I'll leave you to our friend here, [ a gesture to the map, of course, ] to reveal its secrets to you.

[ And one more important thing as he picks up the contested book and holds it up for a second with a smile - ]

Thanks for this too, by the way. I'll find you to make sure you get to read it before I turn it back in. Only fair for passing up on it, I should think.

[aquilus]

[He's seen it. Rejected it as a place to sleep — it's far too populated, far too public for his taste. But it wouldn't be a terrible place to visit; if nothing else, it would likely be an excellent source of information gained by simple awareness.]

I may do just that.

[Later, though. Claude is right, he does want to spend some time with this map, memorize it as best he can. Knowledge is precious right now and he wants to soak up as much as he can.]

And you're most welcome. [His smile twitches into something more like a smirk.] It's a favor I'll only grant once.

[He waves him off and turns his gaze back to the map. Now, where to start...]