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Kadri, for the moment, looks wistfully to the other revelries going on - then sits, and picks at a roll.

She felt a need to do something unwise but one voice in her head told the other voice in her head that this moment was, indeed, not the time.


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Bekkah

She looked up into the blacksmith's eyes and gave him a sweet smile.

"I do love gardens in the moonlight." she said simply.

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The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Dusk to Evening, Midsummer's Day


Bekkah and Finn, Cesare, Kathi, Darcy, Marcy and Tray, Romana and Kay, Kisa and Daxia, Darian and Longtooth

Midsummer’s night came quickly, the sun falling far far off to the west, over the sea of Opals. Somewhere, in the town Khorall Larsen looked over, the waters were painted the colors of fire as the tide rushed up to the stone carved pier.

It was a warm night, but with the darkness the revelry in the streets broke up – quite naturally. Exhausted children trundled to bed, the older one trying to stay awake all night; something their parents might not even manage. But that would occur in the taverns, the inns and the homes of the City from most humble to most proud.

One might expect the great hall of the Kories to be loud and raucous – albeit properly until the heir and his wife had a little too much to drink – deep into the night. Those who gamble are probably having a field day in the servants corridors, for who ends up with who is always more interesting when the lead players, as opposed to getting along … don’t.

For the restless, like Kadri, it was a quandary. To balance propriety and recklessness, that was a dance of a different beat, and someone was probably chuckling at how she had ended up putting herself atop such a collection of truths and half truths. What would a certain Korie lad be doing about now? Probably dancing in the shadows cast by birch and silver moonlight, having dared a dangerous game of threece, put everything to risk on a few soft spoken words – help my brother – and won.

Toss the dice, take a chance …

Was there anything Kadri wished for that would be worth such a daring toss of finely carven sticks?

Though not everyone, however, could be as lucky as Bekkah. stolen away gracefully, that last dance spinning the two out of the circle, up the road, so that when they music ended she and Finn could walk the streets of Talantal, climbing up through the city. Tucked beneath his arms it was almost as if the tales told in the farms were true - the streets truly were paved with gold.

And yes, the gardens that lined the Third Ring's wall - set just back from the defensive parapets, were beautiful, and even more so in the soft moonlight.

Down would come far far too soon.

Or not soon enough, for others.

“Up up up … if you think I’m carrying you back up to that fancy dancy cathedral you got another think coming, snowhair!”

Some wishes, however, were more like trying to push an immovable object. Which was an odd reversal, usually Romana was the irresistible force.

“Knights in shinings armors …”

There was a poke.

“Kays need shinings armors …”

“Nin ... nin ... nin …. I like my …hey don’t you dare fall asleep again!”

Shoulders shrugging, the Initiate rolled her head back, to look to her mentor,

“Looks like me watch ain’t over. Should be fine.”

That simple acceptance of duty broke the last of Dazi’s ties holding her to the little square. Bekkah was dancing the night away and Kay was probably right; it was Midsummers and the two were probably safe; if any trouble did come seeking them it would be faced with all manners of fierceness. A battle worn spear and the wrath of simple folk for someone who actually helped them.

Marcy and Darcy chose a suitor each, to let themselves be escorted all the way back up to the fifth ring. In some ways it was silly proper. In other ways it was a touch of gold – how many lads from the First Ring would be able to say they were welcomed through the upper gates?

Kathi too was playing escort, for her young master’s brother. Tray had finally bid himself adieu, turning to follow in the wake of the twin initiates. He glanced to the side, reminding a Dayalan of her other tasks.

“The one thing about libraries is that they do not go anywhere very easily. However, mine does have a warm fireplace and oil lamps; I’ve spent many a night reading far later than I should.

“That and the kitchens will be staffed until past dawn and breakfast.”

Two of the small group would retreat to the closest tavern. Dandelion was quite comfortable in such a place; in some ways it did remind her of home – she had probably spent many a Midwinters and Midsummers in such places when she was growing up and throughout a mercenary career.

Probably many even less fine than those found in Talatal’s poorer quarters.

It was quite easy for her to claim two places at the bar; all it took was a steely look and a gold coin placed on the wooden counter.

“Jake, give the lady room.”

Usually the biggest coin they ever saw down here was a guilder or two.

“Light horse … eh?”

The Koromov ordered up a pair of beers and then a round all across the house. She knew how to keep the locals happy.

“Just be careful, laddie. Horse archery and you will end up annoying not one but two gods. One won’t like you thinking that His teachings aren’t good enough and the other is quite jealous of Her follower’s talents.

“Unless you do what I do – and pulling off that trick on a larger more balanced scale would be bloody interesting – for many many reasons.

“A troop of one.

“I started that way.

“You start by collecting a handful of folks you can trust.”

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Kadri:

She announces to whomever is present to hear;

"I believe that I feel the need to retire for the night - I have perhaps had a bit too much excitement for the day. "

Extracting herself, she made her way to her room, where she shed every trace of her finery and dug out of simple but serviceable clothing, cloth and cloak. Her hair she reworked back into its simpler stylings. Kadri the noble soon was left to lie on a bed, out of sight. Kadri of no name in particular reappeared, particularly reappeared presently in a tavern, looked up and over at Mikal, winked ... and ordered a drink, keeping a hood pulled over her face. Having acquired her drink she found a place to sit.

Be damned if she wasn't going to have at least one drink as herself rather than as herself. She was going to be who she was, not who she is. And she was going to drink. To friends, to laughter, to family, to the Lady, and to herself.

At least once before midsummer's was completely gone.




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Mikal

Having been keeping at least one eye on Kadri, when she excuses herself to go she finds him at her shoulder. He doesn't say anything, even when she changes to go back out. He simply follows her, though this time he stays a short distance away so as to give her some space. He sits further down the bar from her and lifts a glass in her direction.

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Dandelion Koromov

Looking to the side the Horde's Captain glanced past Mikal.

"You know, if I can't hang him from the rafters, maybe I can try his wife.

"It just feels like Midsummers is missing something ..."

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Cesare

Once Daxia and Darian have finished their talk, Cesare asks Darian.

"Are you staying in the city or moving back outside tonight? And is there anything you'd like to do this evening? I know cities are not your favourite place to be but there are opportunities here for shopping or entertainment."

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She looks over towards Dandelion and raises her drink her direction.

Much better. Out of the jester's outfit, out of the cage - or at least hiding from it.


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[Ut oh. ...his direction? Kadri's gonna get hung for sure.]



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(Bah. I typed for dandy while thinking Mikal)

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Darian in conversation with Daxia

For all the things Daxia had said, it was the lead thing that snagged Darian's attention, perhaps even that of Longtooth. The supplemental information about Hunters being near by was born out by the quality of the meat served. It seemed to Darian that the Hunters here were not as affected by the walls as the one in that last walled place.

"Aye. Darian, Longtooth need others. Two not whole make Pack."

She chewed on her lip a moment, then added, "Darian no city talk. Dazi help?"


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Daxia Yurisdotter
earlier, in conversation in Darian

“Yah.” Dazi half smiled at Darian, and rolled her eyes. “Yah, Darian know Dazi help.”



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Darian in conversation with Daxia.

A smile flitted across her face followed by a look of uncertainty.

"Dazi see snarkhounds?"

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Daxia Yurisdotter
earlier, in conversation in Darian

Dazi shook her head.

“Not see. Only hear tell. Heir breeds.”

She glanced over at the Korie Lord.

“Dazi think Tray... hint? Almost hint? Heir not kindest...”

She shook her head again. No, that wasn’t the right word. Hounds didn’t need kindness, they needed discipline.

“No, no... Heir have no patience to train right. No discipline. Darian understand this?”



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Darian in conversation with Daxia

She may not have understood the words exactly but she was fairly sure understood the meaning.

"No Learn Hunt??"

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Daxia Yurisdotter
earlier, in conversation in Darian

She hesitated, considering the things she’d overheard.

“Learn hunt... but not learn Hunt. Not Hunt like Darian.

“Dazi not know. Only think, maybe, Tray say right. Hound like Hunter.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Darian Hunter, make prayers proper to Khannish. Longtooth good Hound. Heir...” She shook her head again. “...not Hunter, not make prayers, not make good Hound. Not proper Hound.”

Dazi shrugged.

“Only big guess for Dazi.”



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Darian in conversation with Daxia

A frown creased her face, and her gold eyes narrowed to slits. She had seen evidence of a Hunter. Daxia had said Hunters be here. This, what Daxia was telling her, was sacrilege.

Yet she was still aware she was in place of tall walls and her voice dropped to a whisper too.

"Why Hunter not stop?"

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Daxia Yurisdotter
earlier, in conversation in Darian

“Dazi think Hunter... cannot.”

She looked around them, at all the people, back toward the Gate and the outer wall of the First Ring. Then she looked back at Darian and spoke softly once again.

“Hunter, Hunters get pups when need, yes? Heir is Heir. Heir say... all do. Not know this Pack. Dazi not know any Pack.”

The Dayalan lowered her eyes to the ground. She was not happy with the reality of the world, but she understood politics and her place in the world. She was a pagan. Darian was a pagan. The Kories were upstanding members of the Imperial Church.

“Sometimes all must do... things not like in heart. Do needed things to survive, yes?”

She looked back into the Hunter’s eyes.

“Celi not learn this, not believe this. So.”

She spread her hands slightly. What was done was done, what had happened had happened. Celi was no longer with them, but returned to her Mother.

“Maybe Pack here learn... must do this, must do that. Must survive.”



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Darian

"Grey Men come. He say go. Darian go. Darian want stay."

Her frown deepened though she nodded. She understood doing something and not wanting to. She had to trust that he had known best. He had sent her away while he stood and Hunted the Grey Prey. He had given her a directive too. She and Longtooth were the last of their Pack. They were to find a new territory. Establishing new territory included establishing a new Pack.

"Snarkhound learn wrong be... Wrong."





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Daxia Yurisdotter
earlier, in conversation in Darian

Dazi nodded. In theory, she understood this. The finest horse could be made useless and skittish under the wrong hands, while the best trainers could take an otherwise unremarkable horse and turn out a reliable warhorse.

But for Darian, it went even deeper than that. The snarkhounds were part of the compact Hunters made with Khannish. To pervert that... no, Dazi didn’t think she could fully comprehend that.

Why, it would be like asking a Unicorn to be simply a...

Oh. Well, maybe she did understand a little better than she thought she did.

“Dazi understand wrong be wrong. Understand Pack must survive, too. Hard... like walk on edge of sword.”

The redhead paused, then lightly rested fingertips on Darian’s arm.

“If Dazi can help Darian, know Dazi will. But Dazi not understand all things.”

That last? It was actually freeing. It was one thing to be told one was a cobble block and didn’t know a thimble’s worth of anything about anything. And it was another thing to admit not knowing something.

But not understanding? The Ineffable could never be understood, but humans and their machinations? That was what she was trained to do. To understand people... politics... the reasons for this and the motivations behind that. Oh, perhaps if she had more information, she could understand. That didn’t help Darian now, though.

“But Darian is friend. Dazi do best to help.”



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Darian in conversation with Daxia

Another nod. All the Wrong weighed heavily on her. Now, now she really did miss her Pack and her Master. She had not learned nearly enough yet. She knew the ways of her Pack, the ways of the Hunt. She knew the idea of building a Pack, but to put that into action, to make a successful Pack...

"Darian need help," she said with another nod. "Darian want fix Wrong, but..."

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Daxia Yurisdotter
earlier, in conversation in Darian

She sighed and nodded.

“Much Wrong in world. Dazi want make all Wrong be Not Wrong. Cannot.

“Dazi, Darian, us?” Dazi gestured to the others of their group. “Small in world. But strong, yes? If this Wrong possible to make Not Wrong, we try.”

And they would, too, if it was at all possible... physically, and without alienating Dawnview’s new ally. Hadn’t Morning Star said she wasn’t just supposed to be gallivanting about? Oh, he did. Making a difference in the world? That seemed to be what this little group was meant to be doing.

“Same as make Not Wrong girl in first City,” Dazi mused. “Same as make Not Wrong Romana dying in Forest. Same as make Not Wrong Priestesses in old Temple.

“Us? All will help Darian if Darian need help for making Wrong be Not Wrong. Yes?

“Only Darian say is possible.”

Dazi tapped a finger against her lips as she thought. It’s true that only Darian could say if such a thing would be possible, and she’d likely need to find the Hunters, or the... Lead Hunter? Darian called her Teacher ‘Master’, so maybe it was Master Hunter? Well, words and their meaning are something to consider for another day. The point was that Darian would likely need to not only find, but talk with the Master Hunter here.

Dazi sure hoped he — she? no, probably he — was less... unstable? Definitely... less unstable than Bordertown’s Hunter.

“Darian remember Mikal say very loud at Dazi she not think, think, think when rescue Tashka, Linette?” She looked up at the stars, her Sisters, her eyes straying, as always, to the Dark Patch. “Darian remember Cesare say no, no, not our business? And Dazi say... okay. Dazi do anyway. And all help Dazi.

“Hmm. Cesare like say not our business, then be big help anyway. Cesare confusing.”

The Dayalan tore her eyes away from the poignant sight of her Sisters... beautiful, and so heartbreaking.

“So. Same. If Darian say we must do, then Dazi say we must do. All help!”

She smiled again at her friend.

“This make Darian hurt inside. Yes. And Darian not have Pack. Yes. But Darian have Family. Like Pack, some different.

“Until find Pack, Darian have... us. Have Family.”

Dazi nodded once, decisively.

“So.”



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The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Evening, Midsummer's Day


Kadri, Mikal, Dandelion, Daxia, Darian, Longtooth and Kisa

Dandelion looked between Mikal and kadri, weighing her options, balancing cause and effect.

"Meh ..."

She admitted with a smile, raising her own mug to Kadri and Mikal in return taking a slow draught of the rich beer.

"First, its bad form to get into a fight with someone you just danced with ..."

She shared a smile with the Korie wife's bodyguard.

"But mostly, its no fun when one hasn't done anything to deserve hanging, now, is it. "

Tray and his own escort had already started the long climb back to the Keep's central ring; watched carefully by Kathi and perhaps picking up a small shadow as the skies and streets darkened. The lamplighters were out, and while there were few to be lit in the lowest ring, as one got higher and higher the city began to sparkle - like diamonds fallen from the sky.

The true stars, however, kept their watch as night fell and they began their own evening dance. Kisa watched the sky, hands folded behind her as head tilted, just a bit. Two seemed to be brighter than usual.

But then, it was their first Midsummer's together too.

She waited, quiet - patient wasn't quite the right word. True she was patient, but she alwo wasn't trouble, quite happy to loose herself in the midsummer's crowd, so far away from home, from responsibility, from duty.

To just look up and count the stars.

One. two.

Until Daxia had finished her conversation and they could make their own way back to the keep.

Elsewhere ... the night has taken the eldest Aterran and her two Talantal charges, two headed home and one walking the city gardens. The last Initiate was under watchful care and thus was assured to return safely.






[[OOC Notes: It appears Midsummers is winding down ... you should work out any last Talantal requests, so that we can move to the next day and perhaps even farther ...]]

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[An OOC to all and sundry, most of whom are probably confused: The timing of the conversation between Daxia and Darian is considerably earlier in the evening. It is, in fact, occurring while Cesare is still apologizing to Kathi... while Tray and Kadri and Kisa and Cesare and Kathi and Mouse are still right there at the table.

Quote
The lordling nodded towards Longtooth.

“My brother’s are all young — or seem to be when I watch them run in the yard. Personally, I’d think cunning only gets one so far, then you have to know what you are doing. Though that might just be a scholar talking.”

This is from the Long Post three back. Daxia does not hear this, as she has stepped away to speak with Darian.

Yes. I put myself on a different timeline. But that means I'm not in this timeline, and Kisa is not waiting for Daxia to finish her conversation, for it is long finished. However, since I can't do two timelines, Kisa will just need to be... not here... until Daxia gets back. That will happen when she finishes her conversation with Darian.

And I will likely do to you, my dear GM, what you so often do to others... render parts of your post null and void. Actually, parts of several posts, since you've had three Long Posts (fine, two and a half... maybe) since this conversation will have finished. Right... I know... doesn't bother you. Just know that you might need to backfill in PM. However, it is probable, even likely, that Daxia and Kisa are part of the entourage accompanying Tray back to the First Ring. Don't take that as gospel, however, as I don't know what happens for the rest of the evening after this conversation.

This is why time loops are bad. This is why I don't like them. 'Nuff said on that topic.

But I did want Daxia to actually have a conversation with Darian, and not simply say that a conversation was had. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Philosophy! If a conversation is had that the GM does not witness, does it ever happen? No. Statement of fact! Did I know we would have an Important Conversation? No. But I did give ividia the chance to respond either here (to continue the conversation) or in private (to indicate that it was fine to move on). As you can see, we are having a conversation.

This explanation and mini-rant has been sponsored by Super OCD Woman Industries, your go to source for tracking data and timelines. Our motto: Don't mess with the Goddess! (And while it would be logical to assume the Goddess in reference is Dayala, what with the emphasis on time and all, that is the not the Goddess of Super OCD Woman Industries.]



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Kadri:

She actually speaks, her voice a passable Bordertown accent.

"A drink, a drink to midsummers, a drink to dances, a drink to honor, a drink to some well-timed and much needed chaos in the city of Talantal. A toast to the ever merciful lady Attera and the healing her chosen bring. A toast to those who never will violate their bond once sealed."

She nods at Mikal.

"May the setting sun greet the rising moon and Her brave daughters shining in the night sky. May the shadows where night meets day be filled with mirth and merriment."

Her eyes flick towards such a shadow with a half grin.

She drinks from her raised cup, taking a deep swallow.

Ooc: the only other thing she would have tried to figure out before leaving would have been a conversation with Rikart.

Last edited by Art in the Blood; Mon 27/10/14 02:00 UTC.
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