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You arrive back at the Caravan and are greeted happily by the companions you left behind, including an awake and hale Ameiko. After introductions are made between them and the four additional people you have brought back with you, you are unsurprised to learn that Sandru is calling a Caravan meeting tonight to discuss the implications of what has happened, and decide what should be done next. It is implied that Ameiko, at least, will have something to say.
However, before that occurs, he has allowed a half hour or so for people to change clothes, clean up, eat some food (or cook it, if they wish), and chat beforehand.
Welcome back.
Rhost drops off his sledge and bustles around preparing dinner.
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Alaric immediately approaches his surrogate daughter, a huge smile lighting his face. "Bint! I jitkellmu Goblin issa!" He screws up his face, trying to remember the bizarre vocabulary. Then, more solemnly, like this is some kind of ritual greeting: "Ninsab kuntenta li inti ma jittiekel."
At Reta's Taldane, Mel smiles at her. "Prosit. Tridu lili biex jitkellmu biss fil-bniedem?"
Mel smiles happily and slightly shyly at the older woman. "Very glad you are better." She stops, thinks for a minute, "I think Lio has your..." she shrugs. "Danger and glory, for lack of another description."
She looks over at the uncleric, no doubt with Reta,
She looks over at the uncleric, no doubt with Reta,
The sudden press of people shouting, interposing themselves, and grabbin at her arm actually shocks Kelda out of her berseker rage. She looks confused for a moment until the import of Melinda’s words in Skald become clear to her, and then she turns to look at Alaric, holding on to her arm, the meaning of her expression evident on her face:
Ew!
When Hrunndalf explains the situation further, however, her expression lapses back into mere confusion.
Reta strides forward and sticks her hand out towards the still-armed Kelda.
“Pleaseta meetcha!” says Reta happily. ”Coulda taken ya! Learning Taldane! Crisp! Loom! Exsanguinate!” Her small frame swells with pride.From the darkness between the trees, a form steps forward and resolves into Shalelu, slowly lowering her bow.
”Welcome back,” she says.
As it becomes apparent that there will be no conflict...and with the emergence of Shalelu. Myri pulls her sled to the side of the path and towards her sister, then drops the rope. She takes a deep breath and looks up into Shalelu's face. "Sister. I have missed you so much. May I?" She only pauses for an instant before her arms wrap themselves around Shalelu and squeeze tightly.
Will:Her control, never being great in the best of times, loosens and tears leak from the corners of her eyes and her breathing becomes ragged for just a few moments then settles. Myri steps back, wiping her face with her hands. "Sorry. I am happy to see you. I trust all stayed well here?" Myri's hands are uncustomarily empty, never being without a bow while traveling outside the caravan. Of course, she was pulling a sled.
Mel turns a very nice shade of mint, not horribly noticeable in the dark. Looks at the woman's wagon, down at her blood and grime encrusted clothing. She sighs a little, and heads over to where Rhost is starting dinner preparation, rolling up her sleeves, almost immediately, her arms from the elbows down are far cleaner. "Nista 'għajnuna?" She asks the cook.
Since introductions have already been made, Myri will excuse herself to get cleaned up and put away her extra gear(she keeps the quiver on). She returns shortly thereafter.
Mel turns a very nice shade of mint, not horribly noticeable in the dark. Looks at the woman's wagon, down at her blood and grime encrusted clothing. She sighs a little, and heads over to where Rhost is starting dinner preparation, rolling up her sleeves, almost immediately, her arms from the elbows down are far cleaner. "Nista 'għajnuna?" She asks the cook.
** spoiler omitted **
Myri approaches Mel and Rhost, smiling up at both of them...then stops with a puzzled expression on her face. "Umm, Mel? Is something wrong? Uh..can I talk to you for a sec?" She motions off a little ways.
"Is something wrong? I mean, you always...you know *phht*" she makes a quick upwards and outwards motion with her hands, "at the very least...and I know you like the real thing even better...so, what gives?"
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"Iva," Rhost says. "għas-saħħa għal aktar tard"
"for health for later"
Rhost is making a large batch of both meated and meatless food, and will be watching to see whether any of the new NPCs avoid meat. The cook fires are hotter than usual, and Rhost is soon sweating mightily. He sends Melinda off to the supply wagon for some garlic when it's time to sear the chicken.
The primary word to describe tonight's dinner is hearty. A lot of root vegetables (potato, carrot, rutabaga) in both stews. Onion, garlic. Pepper. Thick chunks of chicken in the meated stew.
Myri approaches Mel and Rhost, smiling up at both of them...then stops with a puzzled expression on her face. "Umm, Mel? Is something wrong? Uh..can I talk to you for a sec?" She motions off a little ways.
Mel looks down at herself, turns a little mint, and shrugs.
"Oh, okay." as she returns with Mel, "..and can I help, too? um...I mean, is there anything I can do?"
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Alaric immediately approaches his surrogate daughter, a huge smile lighting his face. "Bint! I jitkellmu Goblin issa!" He screws up his face, trying to remember the bizarre vocabulary. Then, more solemnly, like this is some kind of ritual greeting: "Ninsab kuntenta li inti ma jittiekel."
"Missier!" cries out Reta, and wraps her arm around Alaric's leg in a crushing embrace.
"Oh, okay." as she returns with Mel, "..and can I help, too? um...I mean, is there anything I can do?"
Mel smiles, "With dinner?" She motions to Rhost.
As it becomes apparent that there will be no conflict...and with the emergence of Shalelu. Myri pulls her sled to the side of the path and towards her sister, then drops the rope. She takes a deep breath and looks up into Shalelu's face. "Sister. I have missed you so much. May I?" She only pauses for an instant before her arms wrap themselves around Shalelu and squeeze tightly.
"Mmf!" says Shalelu. Then she returns the embrace.
Her control, never being great in the best of times, loosens and tears leak from the corners of her eyes and her breathing becomes ragged for just a few moments then settles. Myri steps back, wiping her face with her hands. "Sorry. I am happy to see you. I trust all stayed well here?" Myri's hands are uncustomarily empty, never being without a bow while traveling outside the caravan. Of course, she was pulling a sled.
"All is well here. Although there was a period that was slightly ... dramatic."
"And you are all right?"
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"Missier!" cries out Reta, and wraps her arm around Alaric's leg in a crushing embrace.
Alaric laughs, attempting to return the embrace, but when he can't, he settles for an affectionate ruffling of her hair. When they disengage, Alaric sits down to bring himself to eye level. "Tell me everything that happened," he says happily.
Alaric immediately approaches his surrogate daughter, a huge smile lighting his face. "Bint! I jitkellmu Goblin issa!" He screws up his face, trying to remember the bizarre vocabulary. Then, more solemnly, like this is some kind of ritual greeting: "Ninsab kuntenta li inti ma jittiekel.""Missier!" cries out Reta, and wraps her arm around Alaric's leg in a crushing embrace.
** spoiler omitted **
Myri smiles at Reta and Alaric before moving up to Shalelu.
Mel smiles, "With dinner?" She motions to Rhost."Oh, okay." as she returns with Mel, "..and can I help, too? um...I mean, is there anything I can do?"
Myri looks at Rhost expectantly. For some reason her mouth waters every time she hears his name.
Mel smiles, "With dinner?" She motions to Rhost.
Rhost finds something for Myriana to do. There are enough vegetables that all three can be washing and chopping at approximately the same time.
"All is well here. Although there was a period that was slightly ... dramatic."
"And you are all right?"
"Dramatic? You must tell me...unless, um..never mind. I'm sure it'll come up. Yes, we are fine. ...though I've found trying to determine between right and wrong can be...confusing. I am very glad to be back. I guess I already said that. Shutting up now." She gives Shalelu another quick hug, then turns to retrieve the dropped rope. She does a head tilt towards the caravan and raises her eyebrows in what she hopes is a "Walk with me?" non-verbal communication "or do you need to stay on guard?"
Mel smiles, "With dinner?" She motions to Rhost.Rhost finds something for Myriana to do. There are enough vegetables that all three can be washing and chopping at approximately the same time.
untrained cooking roll: any modifier?
Myri momentarily watches Rhost and Mel and then begins to imitate them as best she can, albeit a bit slower. She seems happy to be helping.
"... and then we got trapped in that one man's very boring memories where everyone shouted a lot for a while, and then the woman with the guitar became Queen of the World," she concludes.
Whatever Reta just said must have been hilarious, because Alaric can't stop laughing. Finally: "We're not certain about that last. Power derives from the consent of the... um... all right. Now that you speak Taldane, I'm going to attempt to do something very foolish. We're going to talk about government." For the time remaining, Reta will either have to suffer through an anarchist's lecture on civics, or else find some way to stop Alaric from his yammering.
At Reta's Taldane, Mel smiles at her. "Prosit. Tridu lili biex jitkellmu biss fil-bniedem?"
"Nah, I've been in human language totally experts already now boy howdy," Reta replies. "Should learn greener one now instead, like the one with twisty talk you use to blow stuff up."
Whatever Reta just said must have been hilarious, because Alaric can't stop laughing. Finally: "We're not certain about that last. Power derives from the consent of the... um... all right. Now that you speak Taldane, I'm going to attempt to do something very foolish. We're going to talk about government." For the time remaining, Reta will either have to suffer through an anarchist's lecture on civics, or else find some way to stop Alaric from his yammering.
She appears to be listening raptly.
"Nah, I've been in human language totally experts already now boy howdy," Reta replies. "Should learn greener one now instead, like the one with twisty talk you use to blow stuff up."
Mel's smile is quick and happy. "Actually can do that in any language, it's just about concentrating my will. But if you want to learn we can start with the important words..." A pause.
"ಬೆಂಕಿ" a beat, "fire". "ಚಮಚ. spoon. ತಂದೆ. father. ದುಷ್ಟ ಮಾಂತ್ರಿಕ. Evil sorceress."
She smiles, "And of course, ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ. Prince."
She appears to be listening raptly.
Alaric's lecture ends with the statement: "A government's virtue can be measured by the degree with which it protects the powerless from the powerful."
...and let's see how a Goblin interprets that.
"Dramatic? You must tell me...unless, um..never mind. I'm sure it'll come up. Yes, we are fine. ...though I've found trying to determine between right and wrong can be...confusing. I am very glad to be back. I guess I already said that. Shutting up now." She gives Shalelu another quick hug, then turns to retrieve the dropped rope. She does a head tilt towards the caravan and raises her eyebrows in what she hopes is a "Walk with me?" non-verbal communication "or do you need to stay on guard?"
Shalelu, in turn, replies with a hand gesture that appears to mean "Just give me a few minutes," and goes to greet some of the others who have just returned to the camp, while Myriana presumably helps with the cooking. Then, while the food is simmering, she rejoins Myriana and walks beside her.
Hrunndalf participates in the homecoming celebration, exchanging grins, words, shoulder-claps, and bear hugs as appropriate, but for the second time within few days, grave news is weighing down his spirit and tempering his enthousiasm. Seeing Ameiko on her feet again comes with a particularly difficult mixture of emotions. "Good to see you hale" is all he manages, hoping the rest can go unsaid for now.
Seeing how Rhost already has as many helping hands as he can use, Hrunndalf uses his half hour of free time to take a quick swim in the Steam River. The brisk water helps him take his mind off the upcoming meeting, and restores some vigor to his battle-weary limbs.
When he comes back, wringing water from his braid, he looks both cleaner and more composed than before. He even seems to have found his adventurous grin again.
Alaric's lecture ends with the statement: "A government's virtue can be measured by the degree with which it protects the powerless from the powerful."
...and let's see how a Goblin interprets that.
Reta appears to be pondering Alaric’s words very deeply.
”So Chief Gutwad ... is good ... when he protect Reta from ... um, Chief Gutwad.”
She considers that for a while.
”He only do that ... when he think Reta might stab him in the eye.”
This requires further processing.
”So gov’ment ... only good ... when it have reason to fear.”
The light of understanding flashes in her face.
”Reta must always threaten to stab powerful people in eye!” she triumphantly concludes.
... while Myriana presumably helps with the cooking. Then, while the food is simmering, she rejoins Myriana and walks beside her.
"Thanks Shae, umm..I think I'm getting better and..." she hesitates in her step as a thought crosses her mind which she obviously has conflicting emotions about. "I..I found a really cool quiver which really helps with the added weight of the extra arrows and bows and similar stuff...um, d..do you want it? I...I know you could probably use something like this, too." She shrugs out of the quiver, but kind of hugs it to her, like she's not really wanting to let it go...but...it is her sister.
Reta appears to be pondering Alaric’s words very deeply.
”So Chief Gutwad ... is good ... when he protect Reta from ... um, Chief Gutwad.”
She considers that for a while.
”He only do that ... when he think Reta might stab him in the eye.”
This requires further processing.
”So gov’ment ... only good ... when it have reason to fear.”
The light of understanding flashes in her face.
”Reta must always threaten to stab powerful people in eye!” she triumphantly concludes.
Alaric shakes his head. "You're right in principle. A government that fears its citizens is more likely to behave itself. But that's more about implicit rather than... no. Don't threaten to stab powerful people in the eye. Sure, you'll be testing the government's virtue, but you'll also probably be executed. Which would make me sad."
Alaric's conversation with Reta, draws an approving look from a passing Myri.
Then she says, rather slowly, "Considering that it is of fey design ... and has 'For My Daughter' stitched into the embroidery in concealed Wayfind runes ... I think perhaps you should keep it."
Hrunndalf participates in the homecoming celebration, exchanging grins, words, shoulder-claps, and bear hugs as appropriate, but for the second time within few days, grave news is weighing down his spirit and tempering his enthousiasm. Seeing Ameiko on her feet again comes with a particularly difficult mixture of emotions. "Good to see you hale" is all he manages, hoping the rest can go unsaid for now.
"Glad to be back," she replies, nodding to Hrunndalf with a small smile.
Alaric shakes his head. "You're right in principle. A government that fears its citizens is more likely to behave itself. But that's more about implicit rather than... no. Don't threaten to stab powerful people in the eye. Sure, you'll be testing the government's virtue, but you'll also probably be executed. Which would make me sad."
Reta nods solemnly.
Mel smiles happily and slightly shyly at the older woman. "Very glad you are better." She stops, thinks for a minute, "I think Lio has your..." she shrugs. "Danger and glory, for lack of another description."
Ameiko gathers Melinda into a hug, gory clothes and all.
Shalelu examines the quiver in Myriana's arms carefully for quite a while without speaking.
Then she says, rather slowly, "Considering that it is of fey design ... and has 'For My Daughter' stitched into the embroidery in concealed Wayfind runes ... I think perhaps you should keep it."
Myri's face goes white at Shalelu's words and her eyes search for..."How could I have missed th..." her brow furrows, "Um, Shae, I...I still don't see it? Where?"
Ameiko gathers Melinda into a hug, gory clothes and all.
Mel returns the hug, whispering to the woman,
Ameiko gathers Melinda into a hug, gory clothes and all.Mel smiles happily and slightly shyly at the older woman. "Very glad you are better." She stops, thinks for a minute, "I think Lio has your..." she shrugs. "Danger and glory, for lack of another description."
Myri, from a short distance away, smiles happily.
Myri, from a short distance away, smiles happily.
** spoiler omitted **
"Hey, that was all you guys, not me." Ameiko replies to whatever Myriana just said. "No need to thank me for lying flat on my back."
at some point, Myri would find Koya...mostly to see if she is talking to Spivey...and anyone else for that matter. She will also try to keep a general idea of where Kelda, Zaiobe and Buttersnips are.
If they are talking, "May I join you?" She sits down somewhere by Koya's feet to listen in on their conversation.
"Hey, that was all you guys, not me." Ameiko replies to whatever Myriana just said. "No need to thank me for lying flat on my back."
Myri looks surprised at actually being heard, a slight flush appearing on her face. She bites her bottom lip, and appears indecisive for a second, than says "Umm, I need to get cleaned up. I'll see you later 'kay?" She rushes off to get cleaned up and so as not to butt in on Mel's time with Ameiko.
"Here." She points to a spot on the embroidery that looks like nothing but a stitching pattern. "Wayfind runes. Very old. Hardly anyone uses them anymore. Desnan priests, sometimes, but I do not think the practice originated with them."
Myri attempt to see what Shalelu is pointing out, squinting a little.
Perception:
will:
She slings the quiver back over her shoulder and moves to hug her sister again, "I'm sorry, Shae, I didn't mean to offer you something meant for me. Thank you for pointing it out. I...really, really love you." her eyes are all foggy and she squeezes Shalelu fiercely, but then suddenly releases "..Umm, as a sister I...you know what I mean."
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Mel's smile is quick and happy. "[...] if you want to learn we can start with the important words [...]" A pause.
"ಬೆಂಕಿ" a beat, "fire". "ಚಮಚ. spoon. ತಂದೆ. father. ದುಷ್ಟ ಮಾಂತ್ರಿಕ. Evil sorceress."
She smiles, "And of course, ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ. Prince."
Hrithik, walking past and around on his way toward Spivey, smiles at both women and adds, "ಉಪ್ಪಿನಕಾಯಿ. Pickle."
Shalelu blinks. "Yes, of course. I love you, too."
Myriana breaks out into a broad smile and says happily, "Um, when the meetings done, could we visit the river? I'd really like to get cleaned up better. That is, if I'm not pulling you away from something else, of course." then adds, "I guess we should probably be getting back, before they start without us."