Happy Valentines Day! What started as a simple mini-thing wi..

Happy Valentines Day! What started as a simple mini-thing with some silly pictures became a Lore Dump(tm) thing , I hope I get the chance to expand this universe more for you!
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“Human! Sit here and join me. I have something for you.”

The morning sun had already broken over the horizon, allowing a warm beam of light to invade the otherwise drab Inn room Gideon the Wizard and Urgran the Orc had been inhabiting for the past few days. With the windows open, the sounds of Alder city below rose to life—the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of countless footsteps across cobblestones, the creak of market stalls opening, the rumble of carts and horses, and the occasional chug of machinery making its way in and out of the city center. The Human Capital was invigorating and energizing. To humans, at least.

Gideon sat himself at the foot of the bed as instructed, directly across from the possibly naked Orc. Soon enough, Urgran produced a small red package from within a tangle of ratty blankets... The wizard could feel his face flush as the realization hit him.

“Ahem. I’ve… heard in your culture this is the correct thing to do for your companions. I wanted to celebrate your. competency as an adventuring partner. Happy Heartsfire’s Eve.”
Urgran nodded in self-assurance, holding out the small box in his hands. Now that it was away from the blankets, Gideon could see it was exactly as he feared - a small, heart-shaped box no doubt filled with a small amount of rectangular, cheap chocolates. The wizard stared, not even able to remember the last time someone cared enough to give him such a thing, much less from someone he actually spent so much time with.

Urgran stared into the wizard’s face, confused by his expression. “Did... I do something incorrectly? Is this the wrong type of sweet?”

Gideon grimaced, gingerly taking the box and opening it to reveal a few chocolates inside. They looked incredibly cheap, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

“Urgran, Heartsfire’s Eve is...” the human trailed off. “Well, it’s really more about…” The human stopped short, his face feeling hot. Did he really not know what this holiday was all about?

The wizard dove into a nearby bag, mumbling to himself as he sorted through magical trinkets, tomes and other objects the Orc wasn’t really willing to put too much thought into.

“Here.” Gideon smiled, returning with a small pendant in his gentle hand. It looked like a chunk of polished amethyst, with a thick, gold wire crisscrossing and setting it inside of a handsome copper ring, almost like it was suspended there magically. With a rough hand, Urgran gently took it, studying it in his green palm.

“That... That stone came from the Orcish Marshlands. I collected it when we were passing through a few months ago, but you should have it. Since you’re... uh, also a competent partner to me, too.” The Wizard smiled, looking at the Orc and quietly hoping this gift was well enough with such short notice.

Urgran stared at the beautiful, deep plum stone, gently rolling the pendant in his hand and letting every angle reveal its brilliance. It reminded him of home. The coldness of its surface was like the sharp, frigid mornings. The shifting violet like the brilliant, stunning colors painted across the infinite sky, as the sun slowly woke from its daily slumber. Colors that reflected in every puddle, every source of water left by the goddess. He could feel the slow, gentle world, his world, coming into life, his people working, singing, worshipping…

But he wasn’t there. The room of the Inn compressed around his senses. The manic sounds from the outside. The sky hidden behind constant, towering walls and buildings. The human wizard, sitting across and intently watching this moment of weakness.

The Orc took a breath, closing his eyes. The thoughts of home rushing back for just a moment.

“... Thank you, Gideon.” Urgran said simply, holding the stone against his bare chest, the pendant warming in his hand, almost like an invitation to linger. Gideon shifted in his seat, thumbing the box of candies he’d just received.

“…Here, let’s share these chocolates and then we can find you some clothes.”