"My liege, how formal we are, Roan." Wilhelm glances at Bej for a quick moment and sighs, "I suppose if you prefer that title then you should feel free to use it. Keeping up appearances and such. I understand your concern, and I think if you're more inclined towards the work that Dante has suggested, then we will find a different councilor." Watching Roan's reaction, Wilhelm's brows furrow a little as he manages to get a read on his brother in a distracted moment. Ambition in plenty. He has a hunger not unlike my own desire for glory. Perhaps we're not so different at that, Roan.
Focusing his thoughts back on the meeting at hand, Wilhelm listens to Rowan's suggestions, "That sounds reasonable. I'd add that trials should be decided by an impartial party of some sort. Perhaps a local magistrate? I'll admit, I have some trepidation with allowing certain religions to take hold in our lands. That said, if they follow the laws, I suppose even Asmodeans couldn't live amongst us."
The guards on the fort wall call out that a small gypsy wagon is approaching, along with a Knight on a horse. The wagon is indeed a gypsy style wagon, although it appears in excellent repair. The driver is a woman in her late teens, dressed in leather armor.
The Knight, on the other hand, is a young woman in her mid 20's with gleaming steel lamellar armor, carrying a greatsword on her back, and a lance balanced on her stirrup.
"Ahoy the.. outpost.. I'm looking for either Sanita Kalnath, or Lanya Medvyed." The Knight calls out, as the driver climbs down from the gypsy wagon. "Where can I find either or both?"
The guard sends one of the local children as a runner to look for Lanya, given she seems to have Wilhelm's ear more than Sanita does.
Lanya appears shortly after on the grounds inside Oleg's as she wonders who would be calling on her.
"Greetings to you milady, or am I being to forward with that title?" She asks smiling of the newly arrived redhead.
"Also you may call me Lanya, or Lanya Beladon as that is my real name. I'm only affiliated with House Medvyed, not married into it. Please, be welcome to our new beginnings and what can I help you with?"
The redhead locks her lance on the horse, and dismounts. She pulls off a steel gauntlet, while her horse waits quietly. "I am Baronessa Evelynn Kalnath, Lady Lanya Beladon. A pleasure to meet you." She holds out her hand, waiting to either shake hands, or to be snubbed, before continuing.
"I'm escorting Mademoiselle Montiff to meet you." Nearby, the young driver of the gypsy wagon is helping an elderly woman around the wagon. The woman looks to be close to a century in age. She's wearing a perfectly tailored traveling dress that looks like it could stand up to a hurricane. "Arrangements were made for a dress for yourself and a.. Wilhelm Orlovsky, I believe? The Mademoiselle insisted on coming down in person to do the fittings. I was asked by Baroness Malvanna to escort her and see to her safety."
The old woman walks over, pushing the younger womans hands away. "Damnation girl, I'm not made of glass." She eyes Lanya. "Hmm, your measurements were off girl. Good thing I came in person. You've lost weight and put on muscle since your last measurements. Lucky for you I came down, or you'd have popped out of the dress the first time you bent forwards or backwards." She snorts in amusement and nods. "Then again, maybe that was the idea, if it was, let me know, I can pull some tricks with it to give you better control of when it happens."
Cracking his back as he stands, Wilhelm suppresses a yawn as he looks down at the draft of Domierov's laws. [i]We've certainly spent enough time talking about that little sheet of paper. I'm sure my voice will sound raw tomorrow morning. Addressing his companions, Wilhelm says, "I think this is a good point to stop for the evening. Let's have some time to rest and recuperate before we're faced with the months of building that lie ahead."
After ensuring the ink had dried on Domierov's laws, Wilhelm carefully tucks them away before making his way out to the common area. Ordering a whiskey, he takes a seat by the fire and relaxes, content for a time to simply sit.
Lanya shakes hands with Evelynn. "A Baronessa? I should've heard about you I reckon, but I can't say I've ever seen you before."
Lanya looks pleased to see Mademoiselle Montiff and laughs at her joke.
She extends a hand to shake hers.
"You're very welcome Madame Montiff, I don't think I'd want that kind of dress just yet, perhaps in the future. I will do whatever you want to make that dress fit. As we're now setting up the barony, I should look the part shouldn't I?"
Heading into the kitchen, he asks Oleg to boil a kettle of tea - or if the poor innkeeper already had fallen asleep he boils it himself. When he returns to the common room he has a cup of tea in his hands and an unfinished letter in the other. "There's tea in the kitchen. *Yawn*"
Munin eyes the the new arrivals with curiosity. He bounces closer along the roof to try and get a better view. *Caw* Hmm. I recognize her ... He stares at Evelynn for a moment before he realizes from where. With a start and a loud *Caw!* he takes flight and hurries back to his master.
//
Fhârn was sitting outside at the back of Oleg's - enjoying the spring sun. Ahead of him was a set of schematics - a platemail. Next to it were another paper, filled with arcane notes. He smiled to himself - This might just work! Full of satisfaction, he made another note and leaned back, appreciating his handiwork.
Munin swooped down from above, narrowly avoiding landing on the wet ink. With a frown Fhârn picked up the bird and placed him in his knee instead.
"What is it that got you all fired up?"
"*Caw!* Trouble boss!" replied the raven. When he saw his master look around for his hammer, he quickly continued. "Not that sort. Won't do you any good this time *Cahaw!* It's Sanita's sister. She's visiting."
Fhârn narrowed his eyes and gazed of in the distance. "Ah..." Sighing he rubbed his forehead. While he didn't mind the Kalnaths on a personal plane, pandemonium seemed to follow. Standing up he lifted the raven and looked into his eyes. "Okay. Here is what we do. Do a sweep and take a look at everyone that came within the last week - no, make that two. You might get lucky and spot any 'spicers'. And do tell Sanita, would you?" With a nod, Munin took flight.
//
After informing his master, Munin headed out to find Sanita. Then he would try to get a bead on the new arrivals - but he didn't really fancy his actual chances on finding any would be assassin. But they might underestimate me, those silly two-legs. *Cahahaw!* When he finds the blonde sister, he calls out from the sky. "Caw! You got visitors! *Caw*"
//
Fhârn looked after Munin as he flew away. When the bird was out of sight behind Oleg's again he sighed one last time and collected his parchments and put them back in their case. A quick spell ensured that the last of the ink didn't smudge and that he himself looked presentable. Heading to the front side of Oleg's he spotted the pair of redheads conversing with an older woman. Knowing better then to interrupt, he merely waved in recognition and headed in to find Oleg. The poor innkeeper might need an extra hand in making room for yet another traveller - and a watchful eye to make sure no-one but Svetlana slipped anything into the stew.
The redhead gives Lanya a small smile. "Oh, I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't, Lady Beladon. Kalnath is a small Barony in Surtova, no bigger than a stone skip across." She says dismissively. "No reason why anyone outside Surtova would have heard of it." In the distance she see's Fharn wave at her and Lanya, and she tips her head at the man, eyes dancing merrily.
The old lady covers her mouth subtly, but the younger does a double take. "Lot of gold in that stone skip." The younger girl says oddly, earning a pinch from the old woman.
The old woman eyes the younger one in irritation before turning back to Lanya. "Well then girl, let's get you somewhere where you can strip down and let me take proper measurements. I've got your dress mostly done, but the final fittings and cuttings will take a week or so. I hope you don't have any plans. I don't have many years left in these old bones to waste while you race around willy nilly." She pushes the younger girl toward the wagon. "Go find a place to store the boxes, and we can use the wagon for fittings, as it was meant to be."
The younger girl, red-faced, nods and runs off.
Sanita looks up from a final check on the boy who Anastacia and herself had been looking after for the last two weeks. Turns out the story was, of course, a wild exageration. There had been no attempted theft or fight, he'd been in the man's shop and tripped over his own feet and hit his head on the merchandise, not been attacked by the shop owner.
Still, he was going to have a minor scar, which he was all sorts of proud of, and Sanita had been helping him come up with something that sounded reasonable as a reason for it when he was older and nobody remembered the real reason for it. She waved the boy off. She was overseeing the building of her house, which was coming along nicely so far. She'd end up selling it when the kingdom officially built a capitol city by the lake, but for now, it would handle her needs.
Looking at Munin, she blinks. "Evil Lynn is here? This can't be good. Ok, tell Fharn, and make sure someone discretely tells Svetlana to watch any volunteers to help her cook." She looks thoughtfu. "Tell Wilhelm to watch what he eats, Lanya too. Go find them, talk to them when you can get some privacy. Tell Wilhelm he might need to worry about a food taster sooner than I thought."
Lanya smiles as the old Madame Montiff ushers the driver away to box-stacking duty.
She then turns to the seamstress. "Oh, we're not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. Like I said we're just setting up our base of operations now, doing all the things that are necessary and expected of us."
She looks around to see and check that none of the men are within earshot.
"I'm quite free in my time today, that you could take measurements whenever the cart is unloaded. We'd need only to make sure that the men aren't peeking just yet. It would spoil their amazement when the dress is finished. I assume you've made such lower-cut dresses before?"
Circling one lap around, the raven replied. "*Caw!* Boss heading to Svetlana - I'm going to look up other newcomers. For 'spicers'" The raven nods and blinks at the last word, his idea of subtlety. "But I can tell Lanya and Wilhelm when I see them!"
Evelynn gives Lanya a nod as she begins talking to Mms. Montiff. "If you'll excuse me then, Lady Beladon? I have other issues I need to address now that I'm here." She gives the old woman a nod as well, before leaving. "Mademoiselle Montiff, I leave you in good hands."
She heads into Oleg's, moving with a ground eating stride, pulling her gauntlet back on. Once inside, she looks around untils he finds Fharn, who's just finishing up a conversation with Svetlana. "Ah, Arcanist Fharn, if I might have a word with you?"
"Why, yes of course!" Fhârn replies. He quickly glances back at Svetlana's cooking - She should be able to handle that really. Now when she knows. Ah well. - then nods at Evelynn to show that he is all ears.
//
After sweeping the area a few times - satisfied that no-one was brandishing poison or other tools of assassination openly atleast - Munin perches on-top of the wagon and waits for Lanya. When she finally emerges again he caws to get her attention. He flies down onto her shoulder and nods a greeting, but doesn't say anything until everyone else appears to be out of earshot.
"*Caw!* Sanita says you must watch what you eat *Caw*." He stares at her blankly for a few seconds, tiny gears turning in his head. Finally he tilts his head a bit to the side at speaks again. "So there are no unwelcome additions." Munin tilted his head in the other direction and sighed. "*Caw!* For poison. Poison is what she meant. Be careful!"
Evelynn looks around, and then motions for Fharn to follow here until she's moved over to the middens, as people generally don't go there. "Greetings, Arcanist. Father says to tell you he enjoyed chatting with you. Grandmamma said to tell you she's officially taken interest of you." A small smile tilts the corner of her mouth up at the last one. "I'm here, officially, escorting Mme. Montiff. Unofficially, Father asked me to come down and warn you and Sanita. My mother was absolutely furious after your little visit, and she's gone off the deep end. Father had to exile her back to her family estates. So he's lost any control he had over her, which means she's back in Or'Fana realms, with family money." She sighs. "I'm afraid mother has succumbed to the Or'Fana instability. At one time she was relatively reasonable. Anyway, normally this would be dirty laundry and I'd not say anything, but given you were there, you might be in the arrow path. You and Sanita should probably warn your Wilhelm Orlovsky about it as well, not the details, but that an Or'Fana may be off her rocker and wanting to sabotage your efforts in order to cost Kalnath and Malvanna money on their investments here." She looks thoughtful. "Hopefully I'll be spared the Or'Fana instability. The Malvanna's and Kalnath's are both very stable. If not, I'm sure Sanita can work up either a good medicine, or a tasty poison, to resolve the issue."
Shimmerscale walks resolutely in to town, retinue in tow. Her look has blossomed from the dark and pragmatic clothing of an angry noble into the bright glory of golden scale and gleaming polish. Her signet now hangs from a chain around her neck, and her feet are unadorned so as to find full purchase in the ground. A fine web of leather straps crisscross her form allowing her to hang her gear. Shimmer walks straight up to the gate, unconcerned with the guards waiting their.
"Fine day for it. Normally wouldn't be out at thus time, but for your jumpiness at night. Well don't just stand there like a lump. Announce me my friend."
The guard looks down, a bit askance, and then calls out. "Uh, there's a gold kobold here wanting someone." He looks over at Lanya. "Lady Beladon? I'm sorry to interrupt you, but uhm... there's a kobold here..." He points to the very obvious kobold standing in front of him, and then waves a bit hesitently toward the rest of the retinue.
Fhârn follows Evelynn. While she starts out good, his heart sinks as she continues. Dam... While he hadn't really expected good news - knowing someone unhinged might be out after him was never fun. Over dinner ... And she has money. The gods save us from the nobles! "Hmm." He strokes his chin, pondering. "I'm going to start with thanking you for the visit and your father and grandmother for their adoration. While it is certainly better to hear all this from you then an assassins dagger - you'll have to forgive me for not being all to exited." He sighs and smiles. "I'm sure you'll manage the 'family curse'. And Sanita's pretty crafty - she'll fix it should the worst happen. Perhaps we should go and find her? I made sure she has been alerted to your arrival - so she's probably dying to see you." Well, hopefully not dying. In that case this warning was a bit late ... Ah well. If she's breathing I can probably guilt her into dealing with this. Poor sod... The Arcanis gestures towards the commonroom and leads the way.
Evelynn nods. "I had hoped to find her. I think it will be a while before she can get an assassin or three down here, there's no guild in your town yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if one opens up shortly. Your competitors will be hiring them, I'm sure." She looks pensive, then shrugs. "Anyway, certainly, let us try to find Sanita. I need to give her some news as well from Grandmamma."
Lanya looks up surprised as the guard calls her.
She looks back to Mademoiselle Montiff and bows. "I'm sorry milady, duty calls, I'll be back shortly for the measurements. Can't wait to try on the dress."
She heads over to the guard to check upon what he might have to say and then notices the familiar golden scales.
"Felicia Shimmerscale!" She sounds surprised and elated, then hugs the kobold formerly known as Felix.
"How have you been all this time? It's been too long my friend." She then turns to the guard. "It's alright she's one of us, apparently you haven't heard the legend or the stories."
She takes Felix back inside Oleg's and introduces him/her to Mademoiselle Montiff.
"Madame Montiff, I'd like you to meet Felicia, she is a kobold of great renown and stature and one of our dearest companions travelling in these lands. Felicia, this marvellously creative lady just arrived today with Sanita's sister. She has created a beautiful dress for me, that I'm going to see shortly."
"Hmh. The town is little more then tents right now - a chaotic mess. When it solidifies into something more concrete, it will be easier to oversee and - with a bit of luck - identifying hostile elements. Right now ignorance is our best shield, but it won't last forever. But that is a problem for your sister to tackle. Let's go and find her!"
Sanita is still at her house, watching the people laboring to put up the stone walls for her. Fortunately, there's plenty of stone from the Kobold cave area, a lot of it piled up by the kobolds when they took it out of the ground.
Looking up, she grins at seeing her sister, but quickly schools her expression. "Evil Lynn I see, spreading more evil?" She asks with a smirk.
Evelynn shakes her head. "No, just being the bearer of bad tidings." She raises an eyebrow. "The raven reach you I assume, since you don't seem surprised to see me?"
Sanita nods. "Yes. I'm gonna steal him away when Fharn get's bored with him." She says, then tilts her head sideways. "So, only one reason you'd be here..."
Evelynn nods. "Yes, and you know..."
Sanita sighs. "Yes, I'm sorry... Is she?"
Evelynn nods. "For now... are you?"
Sanita nods. "So far, nothing so far."
Evelynn tilts her head. "Have you?"
Sanita shrugs. "I'm trying, resources."
Evelynn rolls her eyes. "Isn't it always... should I?"
Sanita nods. "If you can..."
Evelynn snorts. "Of course... Oh, she made it formal."
Sanita pales. "Gods no, I told her not to..."
Evelynn laughs. "That ever stop her? Oh, and Fharn has been noticed..."
Sanita groans. "Oh good lord..."
Dareon emerges from his room late in the morning, yawning and screwing his palms into his eyes to rub out the sand. He carries his spellbook in his hand instead of in its usual hidden pouch. He sees the newcomers, including the gypsy caravan and...a parade of kobolds!
The interest of the caravan is very secondary to the re-arrival of Shimmerscale and the kobolds, and so the tired-looking Dareon rushes over to the kobolds and Lanya.
"Hi!" he says, "Uhm. How's things?"
Simple, he knows, but...he doesn't really know what there is to say. How's life with different genitalia? What's it like being separated from the life you've known from birth, and distanced from your friends and family? What's it like being three feet tall?
He didn't know. It had been a long night, and Dareon was tired.
"It has been some time indeed M'lady, we will have to catch up." Shimmer then bows deeply to the Madame Montiff. "A pleasure to meet the mind behind the Lady Abergath's dress for that dreadful formal introduction on her sixteenth birthday, shame about the wine stain at the end of that night. Some women should learn early not to spread gossip in earshot of those they are talking about."
As Dareon huffs and puffs his way over Shimmer smiles and waves, answering his rather sheepish question."Wonderful my friend, it has been simply wonderful. The snarl progresses nicely, the eggs are well protected, my own clutch should be hatching any day now. So much cleaner than humanoid societies, none of this worry over who is related to whom. One big happy clan. How have you been, you seem exhausted."
The elderly woman eyes the small gold kobold with suspicion. "Yes, well, Casellia Abergath has never been accused of having anything between her ears more advanced than a bit of dead lichen. I believe her popularity with the younger nobility has more to do with her ample physical assets than any conversational or rational thoughts she might have. Plus, the Abergath's are, on the whole, a stupidly vicious lot. Fortunately for them, they inherited money from the former Earl. I'm sure it'll all be squandered by the time Casellia's children have children."
Seeing Dareon approach, the old woman gives him a cool nod. Not unfriendly, but guarded.
From the back of the gypsy wagon, the sounds of a girl grunting and muttering can be heard.
Rowan ventures out upon hearing a commotion of visitors. With a fair smile, he waves at Shimmer and comes to greet her first. Hearing Shimmer answer Dareon's question, he asks a few of his own.
"How many are you expecting? Do you think they'll have your golden coloration? I am glad to hear that you are doing well. How long are you planning to visit?" He stops there, listening to the sounds coming from the back of the wagon. Turning to the elder lady, he asks "Does the girl need any help?"
When they find Sanita Fhârn gives Evelynn a quick bow and excuses himself. "It seems as if we have more visitors - busy day today. And I'm sure you two have plenty to talk about." As he turns to leave the women have already started their verbal ping-pong match and Fhârn heads out towards the gates again, the source of the latest commotion.
When he noticed whom the new visitor was, a smile crept up on his face. The golden kobold intrigued him. While he hadn't known the man she had been before, he was curious of how the change had affected him. Her. *eh* It's a bit complicated I guess. And hey! Atleast he/she is unlikely to be an assassin ... He gave the kobold lady a courtly bow (his best try atleast! He had been practising in private for a while now and was getting pretty good.) - it seemed appropriate. "Shimmerscale. Welcome!"
Later the same day Shimmerscale returns, Dante finds himself face to face with a woman in steel lamellar armor as he re-enters Oleg's. The young woman's face is vaguely familiar. She tilts her head also in a familiar way, and nods. "Lord Dante Surtova, a pleasure to meet you. I've been looking for you sir. My understanding is you are recruiting officers for a military. I am Baronessa Evelynn Kalnath, I am seeking employment."
"Three if they all survive, I wouldn't even hazard a guess to the coloration. As for the visit, who can say. I am on something of a diplomatic mission as it where, I convinced Sootscale that we need a formal treaty with your people. You understand, trade routes and borders, mutual defense pact, that sort of thing." Shimmer waves over Fhârn as he approaches and notes the size of the crowd she is drawing.
Dante looks at the slightly familiar girl. "Ah, Lady Kalnath. Good to meet you. Armor eh? Don't take after Sanita so much as I would have thought, but maybe that's just wishful thinking." he chuckles.
"I'd be delighted to have you. I may ask for a display of skill before handing over some of the training to you, but for now your my first Lieutenant. Congradulations. What sort of things do you specialize in?"
Evelynn raises an eyebrow. "On the contrary, I take after her quite often, unfortunately, she's rather slippery and has managed to escape on the rare occasion I have a legitimate reason to take her down." She looks rather annoyed. "Hopefully one day soon, that situation will change. It's one of the reason's I came to your settlement, to be here when she shows her true colors and you put a bounty on her head. Well, that and my mother asked me to keep an eye on her to be sure she didn't escape this time."
Turning toward the training grounds that have been hastily set up, she unlimbers a very well made greatsword from her back. "As to what I'm trained in, small unit tactics and killing things dead." She takes a triple step toward the training stock and slams the greatsword into it.
The greatsword slams into the wood, and the stock shatters, sending splinters of wood in a spray away from the duo, and the top half of the stock snaps off with a loud crack.
Returning to him, she stows the greatsword on her back. "I'm also passable with a lance." She nods toward a horse who's standing nearby, wearing steel lamellar barding.
Once Lanya is done with Shimmerscales and Munin, the old woman's assistant escorts Lanya to the wagon. Inside is rather spacious with the boxes taken out. The old woman makes Lanya stand on a small platform and takes measurements of everything, and then begins fitting her for her dress. The dress is even better than she asked for, and made of a mixture of silk, lace and soft high thread count cotton.
Lanya will have to dedicate several days (3-4 hours each day) to being fitted, but when she's done, the dress fits her like a glove, but has enough give and take to fit even if she gains a few or looses a few pounds.
"Well now, girl. That isn't my best work I'm afraid, but it's as good as I can do in these conditions." She then pulls out a green dress built on a massive frame. "So, I was told this is for your beau? Do you think he'll look good in it?" She asks Lanya, eyes twinkling.
Lanya will happily invest the time to make the dress be fitted to her size, it's something she's been waiting on for some time now.
"No worries Mademoiselle, the dress looks perfect, just as I imagined. You've done a great work even if it's not your best. I'd gladly order a new one at a later date."
When Mademoiselle Pontiff asks about the green dress and her beaus she smiles a secretive smile.
"He will look good in it, I have no doubt. Though he is not my beau. Let's just say it's complicated to get a paladin out of his shell. I think my new dress will help with that."
Mademoiselle Pontiff grins. "Oh, you'd be surprised by how many Paladins come out of their shells for a pretty girl. You might even be surprised by how many come out of their shells for a pretty dress, be it on a pretty girl, or on them." She touches the side of her nose knowingly.
Then she looks at the green dress again, thoughtfully. "I'm an old woman though, and from the measurements, this Paladin of yours is rather large. My assistant is no taller than I am." She looks Lanya up and down. "You're rather much taller than I am, would you be willing to donate some of your time dear, to help me get him all fitted?" She ignores the fact she was perfectly capable of fitting Lanya despite her height.
"Of course I'd be willing to help." Lanya smiles wily at the old woman.
"Though wouldn't you need his actual measurements as well? Without his armour on I mean."
Despite her answer, Lanya still stand to model and help for the old woman to finish the green dress.
Pontiff looks thoughtful. "Oh my yes, I'm afraid that would be required, just as you had to strip down for your fitting. Oh well, he is a Paladin, I'm sure he can understand necessity." She pulls out a second outfit, this time a very ornate courtly uniform for a male. "And I'll need him to do the same thing for this, so I'm afraid he might well be spending several weeks standing here in the altogether..." She shakes her head. "The measurements provided by Baronessa Malvanna were taken from his armor, and I'm afraid they were woefully inadequate. I think it might be worth it to start from the beginning and get a complete and full set of measurements, before we do the fittings. But that might add another week to the time..." She pats Lanya on the arm. "I'll let you explain to him the necessity, young men tend to ignore old women as prattling..."
"I'll tell him, that uniform will probably look very good on him when it's all fit for him. Though I should probably also tell Sanita that she shouldn't creep up on Wilhelm as he's sleeping, it can't be very healthy."
Lanya dresses herself in her regular clothing and heads out of the wagon again, looking around Oleg's for Wilhelm.
When she finds him, her eyes sparkle, mostly because she's pleased with her dress, also to see Wilhelm and also to tease him with the measurements being taken.
"Greetings milord Wilhelm," she says with an obvious amount of sarcasm in her voice, "How are you this fine day?" She can't hide her smile about what she's going to say though she will listen in earnest to his reply.
"Your presence is requested on a clothing matter. Will you follow me?"
When they're out of earshot of most other attendants of Oleg's she casually remarks the details of what's expected of him.
"Wilhelm, there's a wagon over there, a very comfy wagon. You'll have some privacy over there, cause I want you to strip out of your clothes." Leaving him baffled for a moment Lanya walks with him towards the wagon and calls out for Mademoiselle Montiff.
"Mademoiselle, I've brought Wilhelm to you for the readjustment of his new uniform." She looks with a playful look at Wilhelm as she moves away.
"Oh did I forget to tell that part? Silly me. What did you think I was referring to?" She says as he strokes Wilhelm's chin with a finger and smiles when she walks away.
"Hmm, yes. The sooner we get it official the better." The bright smile fades a bit from the arcanist as he continues, his voice tinted by worry. "Remember our neighbour to the east - Maegnar? Turns out he has less then common decency when it comes to dealing with the non-humanoid races and I would not put it below him to try something with the Soothscales. A formal treaty should atleast give him pause - or a Casus Belli if it comes to it. And to the west some new fool is trying to stir up the horent's nest in Pitax. We're going to have an interesting time, to say the least ..."
"Impressive display Lieutenant." Dante applauds as the young girl shatters the stock. "Perhaps you and I could spar some time. It would do me well to stay at the peak of my skill against such an opponent."
Wilhelm, seated at one of Oleg's tables and surrounded by stacks of papers, is scribbling away at a document when Lanya arrives. Muttering under his breath, he seems oblivious to her approach, "... no, not good. Too long for too little ... that could work I suppose..."
Lanya's sarcastic greeting seems lost on the paladin as he finishes a last line with a flourish before looking up and replying, "I'm doing alright, though I daren't look away for too long. These papers seem to be multiplying every time I do. I may have to recruit a steward and a few clerks to help manage the workload. Enough time for that later, I suppose." Raising a curious eyebrow at her mention of a 'clothing matter', Wilhelm nods and stands, following her out of Oleg's.
He glances at the wagon as she mentions in, then misses a step at the second portion of her request. Flushing crimson, he stumbles a few steps as he tries to maintain his balance. Clearing his throat, still red, he glancing around to see if anyone is listening as he follows her towards the wagon, asking in an undertone, "I'm not at all sure that this is entirely appropri-" He cuts off as the sorceress addresses the tailor. Gritting his teeth, he tries to maintain a stony demeanor but a quirking smile manages to work it's way onto his face anyway. He observes dryly, "Yes, you did fail to mention that. Who knows what else I might have thought you were suggesting."
Turning to address the elderly woman, Wilhelm bows lower then is strictly necessary and says, "Greetings Mademoiselle. I hope your journey to Domierov has been a pleasant one. Baron Wilhelm Orlovsky, at your service. I believe Sanita mentioned that you'd be arriving. I'm led to understand there is a fitting that I shall need to attend to?"
Montiff looks up at Wilhelm, the woman is about five-one in height. "Oh my, yes, well, quite a bit of fitting actually, once for your dress, and when that is done, another for your court robes. I think it'll require two to four hours a day for a couple of weeks. Ms. Beladon will also be spending some of her time for fittings as well." Her eyes glitter. "I could do the fittings at the same time, if we were back in Restov at my workshop. As it is, I can only fit one person at a time in my wagon. And my assistant is a bit young to be standing around with you naked for two to four hours a day. She's only 15." The old woman looks at Lanya. "Perhaps you'd be willing to volunteer to help with his fittings, Ms. Beladon? If not, it will likely take me twice as long. I'm afraid I don't get around as well as I used to, especially in cramped spaces, like the wagon." She looks down at her body. "If I was 60 years younger, I think I'd rather enjoy fitting Mr. Orlovsky for his dress a lot more." She sighs. "The ravages of age I'm afraid."
The woman gives a wintery smile. "Thank you, Lord Dante. I think that would be good practice for both of us, experience vs youthful energy." She bows. "I'll need to see about hiring someone to build a place to stay, unless you have already had buildings raised for the military?" She asks, one eyebrow quirked up.
When Mademoiselle Montiff asks her to help her with tailoring Wilhelm she bites her lip in obvious amusement.
Ooo, she's good, very good. I will play along though, she won't have me feeling nervous with such a request.
"I have no qualms with that at all Mademoiselle Montiff, though I'd think milord Orlovsky might want his uniform fitted first though." She says as she steps back into the wagon.
"You're not afraid of two women are you Wilhelm?" She mentions as she extends a hand to get him into the wagon.
Lanya will have to dedicate several days (3-4 hours each day) to being fitted, but when she's done, the dress fits her like a glove, but has enough give and take to fit even if she gains a few or looses a few pounds."Well now, girl. That isn't my best work I'm afraid, but it's as good as I can do in these conditions." She then pulls out a green dress built on a massive frame. "So, I was told this is for your beau? Do you think he'll look good in it?" She asks Lanya, eyes twinkling.
"I have no qualms with that at all Mademoiselle Montiff, though I'd think milord Orlovsky might want his uniform fitted first though." She says as she steps back into the wagon.
Mme. Montiff smiles. "Oh, that's alright deary, he's a boy, what he want's doesn't count. The elderly woman, that's who counts. The dress will be much more difficult to fit, given his frame. I need to get it done while I still have the energy after that long ride down. The uniform is much easier to fit. My assistant could do it, if she was a bit older." The older woman smiles as she pats Wilhelm on the arm, and talks past him as if he were a reluctant school boy.
Not yet I'm afraid. I still need to see about getting some folks to build a barracks and a smithy to start. A garrison eventually. I don't even have a house yet." The steel eyed general says with only a hint of dismay. His tone says that while a house would be nice, he could sleep outside for an indefinite period without being put out too much.
Anastacia finds her days to be full. There is much to do. The cleric mingles with the folk of the growing settlement. They have need of spiritual guidance. Anastacia meets as many of the folk as she can. She tends to such injuries as she is able, both by calling on Pharasma's healing and through mundane methods, though she is hampered by the lack of a proper healer's kit. Anastacia resolves to buy one when she has the coin to do so.
While meeting the people, Anastacia discovers an earnest young fellow named Hardan Drevlok. This person had both an interest and aptitude for spiritual matters, so Anastacia begins to train him as an acolyte of Pharasma.
Anastacia also finds a builder of decent reputation, and commissions a modest chapel. Oleg's is a thriving community and not likely to wither away. It will need a permanent religious center. Anastacia is quite tired of living out of a tent, or in Oleg's inn. Having a place to rest and meditate in peace will be most welcome.
Hardan's skill at combat is unimpressive, so Anastacia recruits various, out of work, arms-men to keep an eye on her new construction. As well as guard the new acolyte.
Dante, no doubt, would have liked to recruit them for the army, but if so, he needs to be quicker about it. Anastacia finds this thought amusing, but in truth she would assign the men to Dante's command if need be.
When the covered wagon shows up, bearing Ms. Montiff and retinue, Anastacia takes note, but as they do not seem to be a threat she turns her attention back to the blueprints she is reviewing with the builder.
Of course, when the kobold delegation arrives, it a completely different matter. Dropping what she is doing, Anastacia hurries to greet Felix, ah Shimmerscale?
"Good to see you again, Shimmerscale." Anastacia smiles at the golden colored kobold. How has life been treating you?"
Later when there is time, Anastacia greets Mademoiselle Montiff. Once introductions are made, and she finds out what the old lady's profession is, Anastacia asks: "Will you be staying here long? I dare say you could stay very busy, here." Anastacia knows several seamstresses here in camp, but none of them really makes finery suitable for nobles.
Anastacia finds Mme. Montiff and her assistant eating one of Svetlana's meals outside, at their wagon. There's a small table set up, and upon her approach, the younger woman hastily stands up and offers Anastacia her seat, moving her bowl to the wagon seat instead.
Mme. Montiff waves Anastacia to take the seat vacated, and waves toward the fresh baked bread, butter, honey, and cheese on the table. After trading introductions, she smiles at the question. "Oh dear, I'm not sure. I don't plan on leaving any time soon. My old bones aren't really made for such a long trip, even in my nice comfy wagon. On the other hand, it does appear you're going to need some finery for formal occasions." She smiles at the thought. "I hear you're making a church. Church's always make young women think of marriage, which always makes them think of bridal dresses. Which always keeps me in gossip and gold." She smiles, and takes a draught of ale. For an elderly woman, she certainly seems spritely, despite her protestations of age.
Evelynn nods. "I can understand. I'm afraid I'm a bit spoiled at times, mainly around bath time." She smiles with a winsome smile. "I'll have to see about a small house at the least. Montague at least, is well trained and can be left outside without supervision or a barn." She waves toward her horse. "Trained by Monticellia." She smiles, looking at the big rangy horse fondly. "Never complains about all the steel, even when I run him into someone else's overweight plow horse."
She shakes her head. "In any event, Lord Skyborn. Please let me know what you need me to do. There are some things you should be aware of that are... sensitive... in nature. When you have time and some place private to talk. I don't think any are pressing at the moment."
"Now, perhaps we should find a table at Oleg's? I'm uncertain how Kobold's culinary culture is, but I bet they can't beat one of Svetlana's stews!" Fhârn laughs and leads them towards Oleg's, where they could sit down to share the news properly - and give Shimmerscale something to wash away the dust of the road with.