A man with long green hair and leaves growing from his face...

[DRSIII]

...enters the tavern leaning on a spear.

He makes his way to the kitchen and comes out with a full mug and a basin of water.
He sits at an out of the way table, sets the water on the floor and takes his boots off.  Root like toes uncurl and he dips them into the water with a sigh, then leans back and takes a long pull from his drink.

[Ashe]

The door creaks open and a feline face peeks in, followed by the rest of body. Striped orange fur covers the girl's form anywhere that it is exposed. In her hands is a skin-covered book that she seems protective over. Glancing around the tavern she walks into the kitchen and returns with a drink of some form--most likely water. Noticing the green man, she walks over and perches on the opposite bench. She makes herself comfortable, and opens the book reading voraciously at the material inside. It seems to be interesting her a great deal.

[DRSIII]

The bearded sylvani nods at the young tigress.
"Reading is good.  Learning is always good.  But remember just because something is written does not make it true.  Read, but also think and question what you read."

 

[Ashe]

She glances up from the pages. "How do you mean? Isn't each writing true for the individual that wrote it, if not for those that come after? Even if only true for a moment, it was still true."

[DRSIII]

He smiles at her response,

"Unless of course the intent of the writer is to deceive, mislead or to justify, even if only to himself, that which he knows is untrue."

"Further one always must consider whether the writer knows what he is talking about."

"I am not suggesting that there is not much written which is true or useful or valid learning.  Merely that one must think critically about what one has read, and not forget that the writing comes from the writer's point of view.  Any given scribe's perspective may not hold the entire picture."

The sylvani muses pensively for a moment, then continues, warming to the discourse,

"I am brought to mind an old parable.  Three blind men are brought to observe an oliphant.  They each touch the creature and are then asked to describe it.  The first,  who touched the oliphant's trunk, says that the creature is like a snake.  The second, who touched the oliphant's leg, says that the creature is like a tree.  The third, who touched the oliphant's tail, says that the creature is like a rope."

"Each was both correct and woefully wrong about the creature, simply because each operated from a limited and different perspective."

"All writing and all learning is like this.  The perspective and limitations of the source must be considered, and the quality of the content must be questioned and considered if one is to truely learn."

[Ashe]

The tigress looked away, chewing at her lip as she pondered over that information. She glanced back at the Sylvani. "You bring up an interesting point. " She closed the book and picked at one of the seams idly, tracing it with a nail. "I've never read anything like this, though I've heard of the concepts briefly. ... Mom wasn't the biggest fan on planescapes."

The tigeress sat up and raised her voice into a slightly higher pitch, obviously imitating her mother. "' Planescapes are dangerous and not for the likes of you or I to be goin' into. You've got no business learnin' anythin' about them places. Now study your lessons and practice the spells your teacher taught you.' I don't understand why she was like that--she'd almost never left home, but she acted like she knew they were dangerous or something. I'm sure they are  but... what's the harm in learning about them?"

She sighed and sipped at her drink, looking out of the window. "I'd love to read other books on this, talk with Da', and maybe Moriar and Vun too... after I read this. The writer... he writes so eloquently about being a Ranger and how that ties in to the planes and Nature and all that. But you bring up a good point, mister. He's not the only voice on this and not solely correct. " Onesti returned her gaze to the Sylvani.

"What do you know about the planes? Have you ever been to one? What was it like? Are they really all bad and scary and dangerous like Mom said, or are they like Macavoy writes," she lays a hand on the book protectively as she says that, "connected and dangerous if unbalanced? I think they're somewhere in-between--dangerous and connected and dangerous no matter what, but important to us is we expect to live and thrive here. Or anywhere for that matter." She opened her mouth to say more then closed it, realizing she wasn't giving her hapless table companion a chance to reply at all.

[Rowan]

A Sylvani with leaves growing from his hair and a black leather tabard walks into the tavern. A look of interest and surprise comes across his face as he views one of his own people for the first time since he came to the Oasis. Seeing Onesti speaking with him, Rowan gives her a smile.

Walking directly to the seated Sylvani, Rowan kneels and bows his head solemnly, "Venerable one, bless us with your wisdom. May the knowledge of your seasons enlighten this place."

Rowan remains still until spoken to.

[DRSIII]

The older sylvani smiles,

“Knowledge, not age, imparts wisdom.  Of wisdom I do not claim more than my share.”

“Rise, sit, join us.  Such formality, while the respect it displays is appreciated, seems unnecessary in such a strange place.”

“Besides, any seasons you may have passed in these new lands makes you elder in knowledge of them than I.”

[Rowan]

"One might have all the knowledge of Amroth, but if untempered by the wisdom of the ages, foolishness is sure to follow."

Rowan rises slowly and sits beside Onesti opposite the older Sylvani. A quick glance infers that she be on her best behavior.

"I see you have met the sapling Onesti. I am known as Rowan in this place, venerable one. How may I call you?"

[Ashe]

Onesti grins, and winks at Rowan, tail twitching in response. While she eyes his leaves, she makes no move to touch them and instead focuses her attention on the other Slyvani.

[Ashe]

While listening to the two Sylvani, the young tigress notices her father come in. Quietly, she excuses herself and goes to sit with him. They hadn't had much "family" time lately. This may be one of her few chances, what with her new obligation to the Grove...

[DRSIII]

The older sylvani nods politely at the introductions,

"I am called Cerris."

"I come here seeking knowledge myself.  In the scant years since the coming of this land there have been strange tales across the face of Amroth regarding this place and what it means to our world. 

"I decided that the best way to discover this would be to travel here and see the truth or falsity of such tales for myself"

[Rowan]

Rowan bows his head slightly in respect.

"I suppose that depends on the tales that you have heard, my kindred sent me on much of the same errand. I would be honored to pass on what I have learned in my time here, Cerris."

"Might I first ask what you have heard?"

[DRSIII]

"That a land fell from the sky and annihilated the people here before.  That the new land changed the face of magic as we know it.  That its coming heralds the doom of the world.  That its coming will save the world from a slow death.  That it is populated by violently insane madmen.  That it is a land ruled by druids.  That it brought with it undead and other monstrosities with power on a scale not seen since the days of the Star King.  Strange creatures and ideas, and stranger magics. That it is a land of fate, twisting the skeins of all Amroth"

"These are just a fraction of tamer and more credible of the wild tales and speculations I have heard."

"So I came to see for myself"

[Rowan]

"Though I cannot attest to what happened to who resided here prior to this place arriving, but it did come from a place called Tyrra and with it has come indeed some strange things and peoples. The magic of Amroth has drastically changed and Planes were brought and anchored here. I find those here strange at times but only slightly more so than any other warm bloods. This place they call the Oasis is governed by the Laws of the Great Druid. The druids themselves do not rule here but are merely the enforcers of those laws. Very strange magic is in this place and with the return of some of the powers of the Star King the land is not the same. It does seem to be a focus of both ill and good tidings. The Sodyr were awakened from their slumber and seem to be rebuilding but gargoyles walk the land. I have other thoughts but perhaps they are not meant for open ears to listen, venerable one.