"Facts and science support themselves, with no need for a royal decree." Altai discreetly aviods eating fugu. "Now, how did this nereid end up being, ah, possessed by the royal household?"
Altai discreetly avoids eating fugu.
Emrael politely demurs at the offer of the fugu, pleading little appetite, and listens to the conversation.
"Facts and science support themselves, with no need for a royal decree." Altai discreetly aviods eating fugu. "Now, how did this nereid end up being, ah, possessed by the royal household?"
"Well, she came as a guest, from the court of the Sea King, and.....implored us for protection. We created an environment suitable to her care, and she's been here ever since."
Altai discreetly avoids eating fugu.
You see......forms, maybe two dimensional. They seem to be walking around in the paper walls. Humanoid forms; much like a shadow except invisible; maybe a silhouette if that makes sense. Every once in a while they course through, in the paper.
Emrael politely demurs at the offer of the fugu, pleading little appetite, and listens to the conversation.
"It's understandable; it's.....an acquired taste......."
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Satari eats a scant half bowl of plain rice, unseasoned. He drinks copious amounts of tea, and praises the Emperor's fine taste in serving such impeccably sourced and brewed leaves.
"Perfection," he sighs, "such as I had not thought to taste since the hillside plantings of Three Wind mountain were scoured by the Worm of the Northern Stars these many decades ago. Thank you Excellency, for easing an old man's half forgotten heartache."
Satari is content to wait, enjoy the company, and see where this pleasant encounter leads.
"Aye; the tea itsself was grown by a kami of the tea leaves, trained in divination and growing the best plants.
You can really tell......
one of the perks of being Emperor......."
then;
"honorable Satari San,.....does not the rest of the dinner suit your fauncy?...."
"Yes, it truly does enhance the flavor - makes for a quite delightful tea. As to the food, I mean no disrespect. These old bones need little and less sustenance. Of late I find that tea, especially tea this good, is all I truly require for health.
"aaaah, I see. I'm endlessly fascinated by the range of observances displayed by the devotional folk."
he waves his hand.
You can see your chi flowing; enervating your body like glowing ganglia, all flowing from your hara at the center of your center of balance.
"Marvellous," is all he says.
huzzzzah!
Elgan (having discovered long ago that he is now immune to all natural poison, [at least all of the ones he's found so far,...]) Examines the fish with a quizzical expression, pops a morsel into his mouth, chews thoughtfully, swallows, then grins.
"Choot chere'! Dis' heah aint bad! Taint bad at'tal! Tas'e jes lahk muh mammy's crawfish stuffin'!" He declares with glee, and devours the rest of his fish with gusto. Wiping his face with the back of one hand, he leans over close to Emrael.
"Um,.. iz yew gonna eat dat?"
Elgan seems totally uninterested in the musical discussion, (although as always he enjoyed Pip's playing) but when the neriad is once again mentioned his pointed ears perk up.
"Beggin yer pardun yer royalness. But ah'z jes' wunderin'. Whay did deh Neriad come to yew fer? Dey's notoriously independant, an' tend teh stick teh demselves. WHut happen teh her, perzackly?"
"She was.....in jeopardy. She sought a place to hide, one which my court mages could provide her. So I helped her.
She is quite lovely....."
"They like a challenge; such as suitably housing a nereid...."
Elgan's curiosity is obviously perked now. But he glances at Altai, and at the slight shake of the wizard's head he restrains himself from pressing the matter until they the dinner is over and they are allowed to visit the neriad. At least, that's the druid's plan. But the little wild elf is not known for his restraint, anymore than most of the others he has chosen to hang around with,...
The Emperor smiles sombrely.
huzzzzah!!!!!!!!!
nitey nite!!!@!!!!!!!
huzzah! pool time!!!!!
well, figured out how to make it rain. Lose your pool card, send for a new one, and the instant you get it and get the kids up to the pool, it'll start raining.
The. Exact. Instant.
huzzah!
huzzzzzah!!!
"It's understandable; it's.....an acquired taste......."
Emrael politely demurs at the offer of the fugu, pleading little appetite, and listens to the conversation.
"So I have heard. I'm sure that it is quite exquisite to be served at your table." She stops the druid's reach. "Perhaps I will try a bite. But I really can't eat much more."
She will daintily sample the fugu, studying the flavor and texture before swallowing. Then she will let Elgan finish off what's left if he's so inclined.
It's really really good.
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"In my youth, we would dare each other to eat fugu, to feel the tingling lips and quickened breathing. It was a treat reserved for the most holy of days. Ah, I remember the lanterns and the dancing before the feasts, and the processions of the holy men. Every year we thought one of us would surely die from the poison-fish, but we all lived to make our vows. Long time back, now."
"......Ah, yes; I remember sneaking some from my drunken uncle's plate when I was younger and it was forbidden by my mother as too dangerous for a young crown prince.
I think that that fear made it taste best of all,...."
he muses.
"How do you like it, Emrael San?"
"Tolja' so!" Elgan grins happily.
Elgan mostly just sits back and samples this and that from the table. (New foods do interest him) He mostly tries to keep his mouth shut for most of the talking. He's wise enough to know when he should let others handle the high-class, upper-echelon chit-chat sorta stuff. Usually.
It doesn't prevent him from adding his usual, occasional, colorful interjections though,...
heh heh;
"So, miem; how do you find our meagre fare? I know it's not up to the same snuff as the Isle of One Thousand Pines' grand banquets;...."
nitey nite!!!!!
Dok, totally disinterested in the food, takes in the surroundings as he absently scratches Colu's belly.
right on.
heh heh;
"So, miem; how do you find our meagre fare? I know it's not up to the same snuff as the Isle of One Thousand Pines' grand banquets;...."
Elgan blinks, he wasn't really paying attention, and he isn't sure if the grand poo-bah is talking to him or not.
"Huh? Oh, OH! Iz guud yeh chere'! Ah don' know 'bout deh spread dey lays out at deh Aisle, But dis heah iz as guud as anyting dat muh mammy kin whip up! An' she's deh bestest cook in deh Darkwuuds yeah?" He says cheerily.
"Emperor, I am sure that you are well aware of the quality of the fare offered on your table. It is wonderful, every bit as delicious as one of the Lady's grand banquets. Our thanks in offering strangers such a marvelous repast."
He smiles; "I really wasn't fishing for compliments......" can a ghost blush?....
She gives a small seated bow. "Only the truth. No fishing necessary."
"....oh, go on......
No; I mean it.....go on...."
The miem's giggle is quite musical in response.
"If I may ask, tell me what it is like to be an emperor. Do you ever feel that those around you withhold their opinion for fear they will anger or disappoint you?"
Some of the others look shocked.
"Oh, of course they do. All the time. I would too. But,....one must learn how to coax out what one wants to know.
It's a game of give and take.
In some ways, though,.....being Emperor is worse than being a slave. I.......I have no freedom. But the people need me."
huzzzah!!!!!
She just nods in understanding, "The Lady has mentioned as much when the burden weighs heavily. But she also laughs and says in most ways, it is far better than being a slave! I just wondered if was the same in your culture as ours."
Elgan starts looking around. The little druid isn't usually given to causing trouble, but he also doesn't have the greatest attention span in the group. Elgan getting bored is about as good an idea as Stiggy saying 'just one more drink!'."
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One of the other ghosts comes up and whispers in his ear.
He looks startled; looks at the partymember carrying the turtle.....
"so, why do you have a dragon in your backpack?..."
Satari also looks startled - turtle dragons are tremendously good luck. Why hadn't he noticed such an auspicious sign before now? Truly the mysteries of Wa are manifold and full of delight.
"I just want a scientific basis of a new royal decree....."
Oh in that case ...
Pip, being adventurous in the food department eats the fugu and anything else given to him with gusto
"so, why do you have a dragon in your backpack?..."
Pip grins through a mouth full of sushi
"Because he wouldn't fit in his pocket?"