Dream-walkers always knew to expect the unexpected, but the sight Gale beheld was something entirely new. She had left the enchanted garden and entered what could be described as the celestial heights in the strictures of one of the religions practiced in Karkhata. The streets were literally paved with gold, and there were glittering precious stones everywhere the eye could see. The carefully pruned rose bushes were just as beautiful in the bright sun. She stood in wonder, awed by all that she saw. It was like a beautiful dream.

As she let her mind and feet wander through the streets, she saw many women with their children. Their clothing reminded her of the more luxurious garments of the merchants of Karkhata, and for a moment she would have thought she was back home. Tiptoeing over the silver and gold lined streets, she wondered if today was a market day. In her time walking she had seen very few, if any boys and men in this city. This was strange to her, but she assumed it was because they were at work or at school learning. It was not uncommon for mothers to bring their young children out while shopping. She had seen women teaching their girls how to haggle prices and pick the best produce all the time on days when she had finished her chores early. 

When she passed by a magnificent fountain, her curiosity led her to peer into the watery depths of its basin. She saw some coins lying at the bottom, in a design she was not familiar with. She did not reach in to take one to examine it more closely, as they represented the hopes and wishes of those who tossed them in. She prayed that the coins themselves would disappear once the wishes were granted. If they were good wishes, they could only bring more happiness to an oasis like this. Finding a comfortable spot by the road, she took a seat and entered a state of meditation. Maybe if she cleared her mind, the story of this fair city would make itself known to her. She always saw such incredible things when she entered the dreaming world, perhaps this would give her direction on where she should go next.

As her mind slipped into a state of peace, she thought to herself on how her teacher would love to hear about what she had seen in a fantastical place like this.

As he stepped onto the glittering streets, Delanac took a deep breath. Ahh, Sularia. Their air was warm and clean, and still smelled like roses. He had been here a few times with his father back when he was sure he'd become a blacksmith. For a man who worked with metals, Sularia was a place of interest for a myriad of reasons. It was here where Delanac learned about the different metals and precious stones sold in the city's bazaar and how they were used to create high-quality artisan goods. Carric saw his son had a talent for shaping metal and details, thus he decided to expose him to goldsmithing and silversmithing early. Walking down the busy market, he reminisced over those trips. The feeling of wonder as he followed the colorful stones watching them blossom into an intricate mosaic, seeing stalls lined with any raw material a craftsman could ever want, and standing in awe at the delicate beauty of the famous quartz fountain.

Stopping before said fountain, he lifted his head and crossed his arms admiring the sculptor's handiwork. It was just like he remembered, maybe even better. After all those years it still retained its smoothness and fine detail. Pulling out his canteen, he held the container underneath the water cascading down from the upper basins until it was filled. Taking a swig, he capped it. Today he had come here for a different reason. Instead of ingots, ores, and precious stones he was here for something more utilitarian. When he left Yovaesh he had only the bare essentials. If he was going to become a master chef, he would first need the right tools. His first stop was by a tent selling herbs and spices. Having only cooked simple meals all his life, he could only recognize a handful of the names written on the jars. Seeing a prime business opportunity, the merchant struck up a conversation and in turn Delanac had her explain the flavors and qualities of each of her wares.

He left after purchasing a bundle of dried bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, oregano, peppercorns, and tarragon. He thought about buying some fresh herbs, but the dried ones would keep fresh longer. He skipped a few spices he had wanted as they were too expensive for his pouch. Apparently some of them were from the Parvporan city of Abed, which was on his list of places to visit. The city was famous for its curry, especially during the festival of colors. He head also heard of the halfling city of Komiteia and their excellent cured meats and cheeses. The thought of food itself reminded him that it was about time for a midday meal, and he left the bazaar to find an establishment serving the city's local cuisine. On his way, he saw a girl sitting by the road with her eyes closed. Curious, the orc came over and passed his hand in front of her face to see if she was awake or sleeping. When she did not react, he gently tapped her shoulder. 

Gale was deep in the depths of the realm of dreams. This place was new, and the stream of consciousness shaped it differently than in Karkhata. Sparkling lights shone below while glowing precious stones acted as stars. Vines reached up from the ground to connect to them, and the plant life seemed to move creating a path as she walked. She knew not what these things meant in relation to the waking world, but it had everything to do with the dreams of the people here. Fragrances of flowers, grass, and water flowed through the fabric of the dream as she watched their trails drift through the air. Sitting on a chair formed from the curvature of a large leaf, she saw the lights ripple as she felt a tapping on her shoulder. Satisfied with what she had seen in her walk, she pulled back into her physical body, leaving the dream.

Outside, the girl slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, and looked around for who or what which had interrupted her. She saw a tall figure beside her, partially crouched to be closer to her height. Looking up, she stared for a while as she came up with a response. He looked very strong, and his muscles were likely from hard labor. He did not look like the people here, but what drew her attention was the curious shade of his skin. "Oh…" Her voice trailed off. Realizing that she had been staring for quite some time, she stood up. "Is there something you wish to ask of me?"

"Oh, didn't mean to disturb you. Were you sleeping? Never seen anyone doze off in the middle of the day by the side of the road before. Proper odd place for a nap, I'd say." Delanac took a few steps back to give the girl some space. She was an odd one, that was for sure. From the way she slowly woke up and took her time in responding, she was probably still half-asleep. She didn't react badly to him being orc, so that was a good thing. "No, no–I was just seeing if you were alright. Say, why were you sitting here all by yourself?" Sularia was very safe compared to most cities, but he couldn't help himself from worrying seeing a lass all alone like that. She didn't have any red in her eyes, so he hazarded a guess that she wasn't a Rosenite. Her hair was quite the unusual shade of orange, reminding him of the flames from the forge when it was roaring. It was like it had been made from fire itself.

"I wanted to learn of this city's story, so I decided to take a little walk in a dream." She spoke plainly and honestly, as it was the truth. "It is a beautiful city, with many flowers. The flowers themselves dance and move on their own as jewels shine in the skies. Life and water is plentiful here and they flow freely. But I have yet to gain insight into such things. A city like this must have many wonderful stories to tell." Although the dream-walker had seen such sights in the dreaming realm, she had no idea how accurate her dreaming was. For someone who had never heard of a Rosenite or their history, her depiction was very close to the truth itself. The strange man seemed puzzled at her words, and she in turn did not understand why. Folding her hands together, she waited for him to respond.

After listening to her reasons, Delanac feared he was right. She was an odd one, but didn't mean anyone harm. He had no idea what she was talking about aside from the dreaming part; which only made sense as she had been asleep. "…I see. If you want to know about the history of Sularia, I could tell you what I know. Keep in mind I might not have all my facts straight, so if accuracy's what you're after, best get the story from the horse's mouth–so to speak." When the girl looked up at him expectantly, he assumed she wanted to know.

Taking a deep breath, the orc looked if there were any people walking around friendly enough to give a tourist some information. When he failed to spot any, he heaved a sigh. "Hrmph… Looks like I'll have to grin and bear it. Come on, let's find a cooler spot to sit. This might take a while." He motioned for the girl to follow him as he made his way over to a small restaurant with tables and chairs outside the shop, beneath a large cloth canopy. This particular place was a favorite of his in the past, as they served a refreshing fruit drink made with tropical flavors and the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. Ordering a glass for himself and some water for the girl, he took a seat. "So, where do you want me to start?"

Gale followed him to a canopied building with chairs and tables outside. Slipping into the other chair at the table, she settled in. "Hm…what should I ask first?" Tilting her head back and forth, she rested her chin on her knuckles. Having found her train of thought, she raised her hand over her head. "I would like to hear the name of this place, and how it came to be if you please. It looks a lot like home, but it doesn't feel like it. There are lots more flowers here." Having made her request, she folded her hands on the table and crossed her legs on the chair. What kind of story would he tell her? Maybe it would be a tale of love and laughter, or one of loss and sadness. Or perhaps one of flights of fancy, with a bit of whimsy. With ears ready to listen, she watched as the wind made the tassels hanging off a post sway back and forth in the breeze. She loved stories, even if they wren't always happy ones. 

Leaning back in his chair, Delanac began with the first question. "This beautiful city of precious metals and jewels is called Sularia, the heart of the land known as Arri. This nation was founded long ago by a race known as Rosenites. You're probably seen many of them walk by in the streets and the city. The society here is distinctly matriarchal, so just imagine women in positions normally held by men in other places. I don't know too much when it comes to history, but this land has been through its share of struggles from without and within. In other words: Arri is a strong nation, and its people are fiercely loyal to their land." 

From inside the cafe, a waitress came out bearing a tray with their drinks. The woman smiled as she set down the glass of fruit juice and chilled water. "Thank you, ma'am." Delanac nodded politely to her before she returned to the interior of the restaurant. Taking the drink he ordered, he took a sip and let the flavors mingle on his taste buds. Mango, strawberries, a hint of lemon, honey, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. He'd tasted this one before, but didn't know what it was. He'd have to ask the owner about it later. The girl was taking a drink from her cup of water, and peered at the bottom of it as she drank. She seemed to have an unnatural curiosity towards everything, even something as mundane as a stoneware cup. As the orc savored his drink he wondered where she had come from. Adeluna? No, she didn't seem like the type. Vilpamolan was out of the question, and Egjora wouldn't make sense. Her attire ruled out Karith and Ataiyo, but perhaps she was from Abed? 

"So, any other questions?"

"Ohh…I see. That's very different indeed. Sularia…what a pretty name. It even sounds beautiful when you say it. So this truly isn't home after all. The people in the city here seem happy, so it should continue to grow healthy and strong for years to come. That is a wonderful thing." Indeed, she had noticed this before she had drifted off to sleep. The children here were carefree and their parents relaxed. Surely they would not act so if the city was not safe for them. She hadn't noticed the society was matriarchal however, and she connected the observation of a high female population present on the streets with that. If all the women were out doing business, then where were the men? She pondered this thought, but changed her focus as a question she had been musing came back to her. 

"I almost forgot, while I was listening I had a question. I wanted to wait until you were finished speaking, and nearly lost it." Setting her cup gingerly onto the table, she asked him. "What is a Rosenite? I have never heard of one before. Was one of their ancestors known by the name of Rosen, or was that their surname?" She did not understand why the man looked so confused at her question. Did she say something wrong? She hadn't misheard the name, had she? Gale then followed up with another question, before she lost her train of thought. "I have realized that I also forgot another thing. My name is Gale, efendi. I humbly ask you in turn, how may I address you?"

Delanac was flabbergasted. He couldn't believe she didn't know what a Rosenite was. Even someone from Abed would be aware of this, at least. Her sudden politeness caught him off guard, and after hearing her speak so respectfully he couldn't be angry at her. Perhaps she had lived a sheltered life away from the world and cities. "Oh uh, you can just call me Delanac." Being called 'Mr. Ironbrow' was strange to him, and it made him feel it sounded stuffier than formal. He wasn't used to the whole 'sir' and 'madam' thing, even in places like Adeluna. He moved on to clear up her misconceptions.

"As for Rosenites, it's not like that. You see, they have a connection with plants and the earth and their rulers have the surname 'Rose'. Many of them name their children after flowers. I've heard that most of them have a red ring around their irises, so that's how you can tell if you're talking to one." That was as much as he knew about them. He hadn't encountered many Rosenites outside of Yovaesh, or at least ones he was aware of. He did know that most of them were female, and that he had never seen nor heard of any male ones. "So Gale, where's your hometown? You don't seem like you're from Sularia." He was already aware now, seeing how unfamiliar Gale had been on even the most basic knowledge of Canelux.