Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Kyrademon’s Jade Regent PBP, Part II

Game Master Kyrademon

Toward the end of the Meeting

When the major questions have been largely addressed, Hrithik brings a new point before Sandru and the group. "When we reach the next town along the path we have decided, I would ask that we change living arrangements as we add wagons. Our healer has a family, and a need to share many lessons. It would be considerate to allow him and his daughter and any dedicated tutors to reside together privately in their own wagon."

"Likewise, I have a number of alchemical works requiring extreme cleanliness and care, and Mister Tollin has engineering plans. Our runescribe may desire such a dry, specifically uncluttered place to scribe, as well. I would ask that a reinforced wagon be available as the residence of those with delicate projects who so wish it, perhaps to become an armored wagon whenever such can be afforded."

Work hiccups have me pulling a late shift now. Unable to make big responses until much much later, so wanted to get this in while Caravan gathering is still a thing.

As the meeting is winding down

Mel looks a final time around the fire, noticing Lio hasn't taken dinner yet. She excuses herself briefly and returns with a bowl of stew for the elven woman. As she hands the bowl to Lio, she looks around trying to find Alaric.

After the meeting, Alaric will approach Ameiko. "Can we speak privately?"

As the meeting is winding down

Mel looks a final time around the fire, noticing Lio hasn't taken dinner yet. She excuses herself briefly and returns with a bowl of stew for the elven woman. As she hands the bowl to Lio, she looks around trying to find Alaric.

Lio looks up at the food offered before her. She was distracted enough by whatever her thoughts were that she didn't even notice the food had been ready and people had been eating. She smiles a little hesitantly at Mel, reaching up to take the bowl. Thank ye She says as she takes it carefully, fingers brushing against Mel's as she touches those edges that were cool enough for Mel to handle (rather than the hot middle part of the bowl).

During the meeting, right after she speaks with Zaiobe.

Mel looks at Hrithik, "I think that you probably have mislaid fears, since Zaiobe was mute before that point."

He makes Hrunndalf's call a litany: "And my flame."

"And my hammer."

"What kind of cavalier of the Order of the Dragon would I be if I didn't agree to this kind of epic quest? I'll drop off a letter back to my dad when we're in Karlsgard--to let him know this trip is going to be longer than expected--but other than that I'm ready to go."

Kalimac remembers the litany, the pattern of which he has broken. "I was going to say, '...and my wolf,' but that would just be silly," he says with his usual easy smile.

Myri again glances at Attatoq again. She smiles, "Looks that way." She continues to brush every last bit of his fur, including getting him to roll over in order to finish the job. When she is done, she continues to sit with one hand on his shoulder. ... Unless it looks like Kalimac objects.

During the meeting, right after she speaks with Zaiobe.

Mel looks at Hrithik, "I think that you probably have mislaid fears, since Zaiobe was mute before that point."

Hrithik shakes his head. "That is not a fear. She clearly claimed the item in the Vault long after joining our party. But the concern is it may have had something to do with the initial loss, however far ago, the tale of which is not widely shared. If it were involved in any way, resilient as it is, mere heal magic might be insufficient to the task ... it is kind that the option has been withdrawn."

Lio looks up at the food offered before her. She was distracted enough by whatever her thoughts were that she didn't even notice the food had been ready and people had been eating. She smiles a little hesitantly at Mel, reaching up to take the bowl. Thank ye She says as she takes it carefully, fingers brushing against Mel's as she touches those edges that were cool enough for Mel to handle (rather than the hot middle part of the bowl).

Mel's smile for Alaric changes into a very different one for Lio, one that makes the girl look younger somehow. And then it falls away.

Mel stands still for three minutes, nothing moving but her eyes, which move in paniked jerks. A number of time, her throat moves as if she is going to speak, or scream, but she stifles the sound before it emerges. Three times she cannot, and a small sound of pain escapes. Her hands drop from the bowl, attached to limp arms. She looks down at her arms, seeing things that no one else can, makes a noticeable effort to move an arm, and all she gets is a hand that spasms.

She turns, legs unsteady and moves away from the group in the direction of the wagon where Rhost stores his cooking supplies.

Mel's smile for Alaric changes into a very different one for Lio, one that makes the girl look younger somehow. And then it falls away.

Mel stands still for three minutes, nothing moving but her eyes, which move in paniked jerks. A number of time, her throat moves as if she is going to speak, or scream, but she stifles the sound before it emerges. Three times she cannot, and a small sound of pain escapes. Her hands drop from the bowl, attached to limp arms. She looks down at her arms, seeing things that no one else can, makes a noticeable effort to move an arm, and all she gets is a hand that spasms.

She turns, legs unsteady and moves away from the group in the direction of the wagon where Rhost stores his cooking supplies.

Alaric drops whatever he's doing, up to and including scampering rudely away from Ameiko mid sentence (should that be necessary), to attend to Mel.

Earlier, or perhaps later, but certainly at some point

After the meeting, Alaric will approach Ameiko. "Can we speak privately?"

"Sure, says Ameiko. "What's up?

Earlier, or perhaps later, but certainly at some point

"Sure, says Ameiko. "What's up?

"When you return to Minkai, is your intention to take the throne, or just overthrow the tyrant presently sitting on it?"

"Well," says Sandru. "That's Buttersnips in, on Myriana's voucher. And it sounds like everyone is tending in the same direction on the other matters, so welcome aboard, newcomers, thanks very much once again to our longtime friends, and it sounds like we're off to Karlsgard tomorrow."

"Oh," he adds as an afterthought, "Melinda asked me if we could take the time to rededicate the chapel to Desna in the Castle tomorrow, and I think that sounds like a fine idea. If we get an early start and a large enough group of people working on it, I think we can finish it up pretty quick and get out of here not much later than we would have otherwise, so I don't think the danger of delay is too big. But anyone who wants to work on that, I'd say you should be prepared to get up pretty early in the morning, because I'd still say the sooner we get away from the place where the box was opened, the better."

Sandru closes the meeting.

"Oh," he adds as an afterthought, "Melinda asked me if we could take the time to rededicate the chapel to Desna in the Castle tomorrow, and I think that sounds like a fine idea. If we get an early start and a large enough group of people working on it, I think we can finish it up pretty quick and get out of here not much later than we would have otherwise, so I don't think the danger of delay is too big. But anyone who wants to work on that, I'd say you should be prepared to get up pretty early in the morning, because I'd still say the sooner we get away from the place where the box was opened, the better."

Hrithik bows to Sandru and Melinda. "That was the unfinished business behind my desire to briefly stay. I look forward to seeing others in the morning."

"Always wanted to save a country," Ameiko says quietly and a little wistfully as the meeting breaks up.

Earlier, or perhaps later, but certainly at some point

"When you return to Minkai, is your intention to take the throne, or just overthrow the tyrant presently sitting on it?"

Ameiko blinks, then laughs.

"Take the throne? Me? Alaric, come on. Sure, they'll call me the Bartender Empress and I can serve drinks in the Autumn Garden."

"Leaving aside the fact that I've always been a supporter of Andoran-style citizen councils anyway, I'm a stranger from across the world who's never set foot in the country, which is surely everyone's choice for their next ruler."

”We’re going there because we’re the only ones who know the truth about a tyrant. No one’s taking the stuff about me becoming Empress seriously, right?” She says again, a little more uncertainly, “... Right?”

Still playing catch-up with some of the pre-meeting posts; I will get to them, I promise!

Earlier, or perhaps later, but certainly at some point

Ameiko blinks, then laughs.

"Take the throne? Me? Alaric, come on. Sure, they'll call me the Bartender Empress and I can serve drinks in the Autumn Garden."

"Leaving aside the fact that I've always been a supporter of Andoran-style citizen councils anyway, I'm a stranger from across the world who's never set foot in the country, which is surely everyone's choice for their next ruler."

”We’re going there because we’re the only ones who know the truth about a tyrant. No one’s taking the stuff about me becoming Empress seriously, right?” She says again, a little more uncertainly, “... Right?”

Relief floods over Alaric. "Right! Right. Oh, thank... well, thank my lack of Gods, I guess... Yes. Yes, of course I'll help. Anything at all, and I'll be there. I'm sorry, I just got a little nervous, everyone looking like they wanted to set up a new dynasty and I sort of panicked, but I figured I should talk to you before I did or said anything stupid -- too late, right? -- and here you are thinking more or less the same thing. All right. Okay. I'm going to go now." Alaric, embarrassed, is going to shuffle off to somewhere darker until the blood leaves his face.

...aaand flex time time! :)

"For as long as I travel as one of your number, this I would vow," says Kelda.

Hrunndalf glances towards Koya and Spivey for signs of distrust, knowing them to be wiser judges of truthfulness than he is. "That's good enough for me, then," he concludes otherwise.

"Melinda asked me if we could take the time to rededicate the chapel to Desna in the Castle tomorrow, and I think that sounds like a fine idea."

Hrunndalf nods his agreement. Though he prefers not to get involved with the gods on a first-name basis, he has a positive image of Desna, and definitely prefers her over what he's seen from Pazuzu.

"No one’s taking the stuff about me becoming Empress seriously, right?” She says again, a little more uncertainly, “... Right?”

Hrunndalf turns towards the two, and pipes in, "Oh, that reminds me... have you decided how it would befit us to address you? I believe the usual style would be 'Your Imperial Majesty', but perhaps you would prefer a more... culturally appropriate style? 'O Mistress of the One Hundred Falling Cherry Blossom Petals' maybe?" He almost manages to keep a straight face.

Alaric drops whatever he's doing, up to and including scampering rudely away from Ameiko mid sentence (should that be necessary), to attend to Mel.

"Will you be alright?" Hrunndalf calls after them.

"Will you be alright?" Hrunndalf calls after them.

Alaric turns for long enough to give Hrunndalf a helpless shrug.

Rhost pops his head into the Supply Wagon.

When the major questions have been largely addressed, Hrithik brings a new point before Sandru and the group. "When we reach the next town along the path we have decided, I would ask that we change living arrangements as we add wagons. Our healer has a family, and a need to share many lessons. It would be considerate to allow him and his daughter and any dedicated tutors to reside together privately in their own wagon."

"Likewise, I have a number of alchemical works requiring extreme cleanliness and care, and Mister Tollin has engineering plans. Our runescribe may desire such a dry, specifically uncluttered place to scribe, as well. I would ask that a reinforced wagon be available as the residence of those with delicate projects who so wish it, perhaps to become an armored wagon whenever such can be afforded."

Sandru scratches his beard as he considers the logistical puzzle.

"Well ... that's not actually an ideal set-up for what you want, there," Sandru points out. "Really, the two alchemists, you and Tollin, should take the two-person supply wagon together, so you can set it all up careful and make sure no one who doesn't know what they're doing messes with it."

"Then there should be another wagon kept on the emptier side so anyone with less delicate, equipment-intensive projects can use it as a clean crafting space during the day if they need -- Myriana, Liothonae, whoever else. I suppose one or both wagons could be reinforced, but I have to tell you that won't really affect the usefulness of it as crafting space, except in the wrong way, by reducing the storage room. I'd actually say reinforcements should go on the full sleeping wagons before anywhere else. Makes more sense and protects more people."

"I'll ask if Alaric and Reta want to be placed together in some way when we re-organize, but I got to say, I don't see why Shalelu would need to move in with them. She can keep givin' lessons to Reta without sleeping there."

Rhost stands outside the Supply Wagon in his best shoulders-squared, arms-crossed, nothing-to-see-here guard pose.

Playing Catch-Up

Playing Catch-Up

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.

After the meeting, Myri discovers that Hrunndalf is just introducing Spivey and Koya.

Catch-up response

Mel nods, a sad smile at the comment. Notices that others, like Myri have been waiting to ensure Ameiko's good health, and with a final gentle squeeze, releases the bartender.

Looks down at Ameiko's previous clean clothes, and abashed, "sorry."

Playing Catch-up

Catch-up response

Looks down at Ameiko's previous clean clothes, and abashed, "sorry."

"Oh, seriously, Mel. It's a shirt. Don't worry about it."