aetolian nights

Descent near the inn. (road) (Spinesreach.)
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    /
-[+]-

-----
The stars twinkle in the clear night sky. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is
on the ground. Leaning calmly on his staff, a Guardian of the Master Crystals stands here. A ruddy
farmer with a sharp pitchfork stands here, eyeing you warily. Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-
Lionheart is here. He wields a buckler in his left hand.
You see exits leading northeast, east, and west.

You blink.

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Oh."

You say, "Oh, hello, you."

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Hey Elea."

Akaryuterra glances around and then over your shoulder toward the house, "What're ya doin'?"

You say, "Are you... headed somewhere?"
Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Not really."

Akaryuterra returns his attention to you.

You say, "Hum. Going... home, then?"

Akaryuterra shrugs. "Just came back ta the city, wasn't headin' anywhere particular. Got an eld ta
offer though," he says.

You say, "Hum, well, I was thinking I might check on the Wheel."
Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Need me fer that?"

Akaryuterra offers, "We can meet you there after we offer the eld, perhaps?"

You say, "That could be nice."

You give Akaryuterra a peck on the cheek.

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "See ya there then."

You nod your head at Akaryuterra.

Akaryuterra leaves to the northeast.

<walky walk>

The Great Wheel. (Spinesreach.)
-----

 [+]
    \
-----
A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. Leaning calmly on his staff,
a Guardian of the Master Crystals stands here. You see a sign here instructing you that WARES is the
command to see what is for sale.
You see exits leading southeast and down (closed pine door).

Akaryuterra arrives from the southeast.

You look about, rubbing your chin thoughtfully.

You have emoted: Eleanor nods downward. "C'mon."

Akaryuterra begins to follow you.

Akaryuterra follows you to the down.

A barren stockroom. (Spinesreach.)
-----

 [+]

-----
JESUS SPAM
You see a single exit leading up (open pine door).

You close the door to the up.

You lock the up door.
Akaryuterra begins to wield an eye sigil in his right hand.
FIREFLY!!! GTFOOOOOOO
FIREFLY!!! GTFOOOOOOO
FIREFLY!!! GTFOOOOOOO
<earthshaker panic attack>

Akaryuterra throws a sigil at the ground which bursts in a flash of light.

You say, "Let me see, I wonder how many vials we need..."

<blurdy blur crafty craft>

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "You got another one'a those pouches ya made
me?"

You say, "Hum... no, but I can make you one."

You have emoted: Eleanor eyes you appraisingly. "Actually, I have been meaning to just make you some
new clothes. You've been, hum, lacking."

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Ain't exactly had need fer 'em."

You say, "I guess you don't feel the cold so much anymore..."

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "It is somewhat annoying, but not so
bothersome as it used to be."

You say, "Well, you'd like to have some proper things anyway, right?"

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Yeah, sure."

Akaryuterra gives a nod, "Kinda nice ta be able ta dress sharp now'n then. Look good, that sorta
thing." He rests his hands on his hips as he watches you idly.

You have emoted: Eleanor gives a warm smile. "I thought so. And I don't have to muck around with
spines and wings anymore, so I can make all kinds of things pretty easily."

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Ya want any help makin' stuff fer the
shop?"

You say, "Well, it was only vials and pipes I was intending to do."

You say, "I should probably do more books and things, but that can wait."

You have emoted: Eleanor rubs her chin. "I'll need to sew some more things for here, too... hrm.

You say, "Hum... that will do for now, though. C'mon, we're going home."

Akaryuterra falls in behind you.

<walky walky walk>


Akaryuterra follows you to the east.
A comfortably warm living-room. (Spinesreach.)
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  |
-[+]
  |
-----
A sturdy, well-used backless chair has been placed here. A sigil in the shape of a small,
rectangular monolith is on the ground. A slender silver vase rests here.
You see exits leading north, south (open pine door), west (open pine door), and down.

You close the door to the west.

You have emoted: Eleanor casts her gaze surreptitiously up and down your frame, looking thoughtful.

You remove a formal longcoat of the Cabal.

You remove a tenebrous sash of the Conduit.

She is a wise Human with a stocky, broad-hipped and well-padded build. She seems an earthy, no-
nonsense individual, with narrow brown eyes that hold a calculating glint. Her face is round with
soft features, a small nose and an expressive mouth. Her hair is fully longer than she is tall, and
has been collected back into a tight braid and pinned up out of the way in a few loops at the back
of her head. Her fingernails seem unusually thick and clawlike, with a bluish tint toward the root
and a pointed tip. Furthering the reptilian appearance of her hands, her arms are sheathed from
fingertip to shoulder in glossy greenish-blue scales. She is wearing:
a brown leather traveler's pack
a pair of ash-grey trousers
a black sleeveless shirt
a silver wedding ring, inlaid with dark opal, symbolizing eternity
a white, full-sleeved undershirt
sturdy black boots
4 red glass rings
a small leather belt pouch
a pair of heavy, crystal-lensed goggles
She walks with the blessing of Ysmali.
She walks with the blessing of Niuri.
She walks with the blessing of Severn.

You remove a brown leather traveler's pack.

You remove a small leather belt pouch.

Akaryuterra removes his own armor. The process goes much more smoothly without wings in the way.

You have emoted: Eleanor makes her way across to her chair, grabbing a familiar basket of sewing
materials on her way. She flops down, levering her boots off and soon afterward drawing her legs up
to sit cross-legged in the sagging old armchair.

You have emoted: Eleanor makes a thoughtful pouty expression, eyeing the various bits and pieces in
the basket. "So, a pouch at least, hm?"

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Yeah, good ta have one at hand if I need ta
get somethin' outta my hands."

You have emoted: Eleanor considers the scraps of leather she has. "You know what we need," she says
suddenly, taking a moment to unlace the cuffs of her undershirt.

Akaryuterra walks across the room and makes his way to the couch, flopping down on it heavily.
"What?"

You have emoted: Eleanor raises her hands, palm-up- she snaps her fingers, and suddenly she holds a
small cup in each hand, with barely a flicker of oddness having passed through the room.

You give a carved bone cup to Akaryuterra.

You say, "Something to drink."

Akaryuterra takes the cup in hand and gives you something of a curious look, his attention turning
to the contents of the cup for the moment, "Uh. Right, I guess." Cupping the vessel in both hands
hands- dwarfing it by doing so- he inhales slowly, smelling it.

You have emoted: Eleanor takes a small sip from the other cup that she still holds- identical, as
far as you can tell.

You sip the tea, which is warm and soothing. After you swallow, you begin to feel light and relaxed,
and you feel suddenly so happy you could giggle.

You have emoted: Eleanor exhales slowly, sinking back into her chair a little. "Right!" she says
cheerfully after a moment. "Sewing. Yes."

Akaryuterra tilts the cup back and sips from it, watching you over the rim.
Akaryuterra sips his "Desert Leaf" tea, smiling happily afterward.

You have emoted: Eleanor pulls the basket into her lap and fishes about in it. She seems to have
learned fairly well how to compensate for her claws, if her nimbleness of finger is any indication.

Using the design for reference, you carefully cut, assemble, and stitch together a draconic belt
pouch.

You have emoted: Eleanor rubs a rag over the freshly finished article, polishing and buffing here
and there, her mouth pushed out in a preoccupied sort of pout. "So," she says eventually, without
looking up, "So, what sort of things do you want to wear?"

Akaryuterra tilts the cup back again, sipping, before mentioning, "Gettin' pretty good with those."
He lets a small sigh, releasing some amount of tension as he does.

Akaryuterra blinks, caught without much to say. "I dunno, never really figured on anythin'," he
admits, "Never needed ta. Ya already did that suit getup that worked out good, yeah? Then the Cabal
stuff.

You have emoted: Eleanor reaches over and sets the pouch on the arm of the chair you reside in.
"Well, yes, the formal things... and you're talking about, hm, the pin stripes?"

You sip the tea, which is warm and soothing. After you swallow, you begin to feel light and relaxed,
and you feel suddenly so happy you could giggle.

You drop a draconic belt pouch.

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Yeah."

Akaryuterra gives a somewhat exaggerated nod, "That one. Didn't I wear that ta the openin'a the
institute?" He sets the cup of tea on his knee, holding it steady while he gestures with the other
hand, indicating the vertical stripes of the suit in question.

You have emoted: Eleanor looks upward, tapping her claws against her chin thoughtfully. "I... don't
even remember." She waves a hand in front of her face. "I couldn't tell much of anything at that
point."


X A A N H A L

<bwooooong>

"Right." Akaryuterra murmurs, half to himself. His tail dangles over the more distant arm rest, the
tip swinging in a slow rhythm, to and fro. "A blur'n all that." "An all encompassing din, perhaps?"

You have emoted: Eleanor glances to you, then down at herself, then back to you- she seems suddenly
displeased with the state of inhabiting two different chairs that she finds you and herself in.
Abruptly, she gets up, still holding her cup- without asking permission or any fanfare much at all,
she steps across to the couch and sits on you.

"Ah, hey," Akaryuterra warns, surprise written on his face as you make to sit on him, "Careful ya
don't knock that over!" He takes the cup from his knee and holds it out of the way, ensuring you
don't spill it. "Looks like yer enjoyin' yer tea," he observes.

You have emoted: Eleanor gives you an utterly cute smile. "Mmmhmm. What about you?"

Considering the cup in his hand for a long few seconds, Akaryuterra gives a nod, "S'good tea, yeah.
Tastes like it's that special kinda tea ya make." He looks to you for confimation of his guess.
"Stuff from down in the desert, yeah?"

You have emoted: Eleanor nods happily. "Mmmmm. Desert tea. Used to... hum, used to hunt in the
evening, come home and... around the fire, this, and spiced meat and song and dance to keep the cold
away."

Akaryuterra tilts his head at you, giving a quizzical look, "When you were with the gypsies?"
Carefully, he brings the cup toward himself- he had still been holding it at arms length to protect
it from spilling. Slowly, he takes a sip watching you, and especially your happy expression. A small

You have emoted: Eleanor nods, but after a moment shakes her head... then halfway nods again. "Well,
sort of. We... there were some nomadic... there were Xorani, in the desert, and we, there was a
while I spent with them and a few others, not the whole caravan, though."

Akaryuterra half nods and then half shakes his head as he listens, his brow furrowing as he attempts
to keep up with both the body language and the story. After a moment to take it in, he asks, "So it
was you an' a bunch'a xorni with some weed 'round the fire?" he asks for clarification.

You have emoted: Eleanor grins broadly. "Yes! Just like that." She flops against you, miraculously
keeping her drink in its vessel as she squirms to get more comfortable. "Singing songs and...
telling stories and... looking at the stars. Mmm."

Akaryuterra sips his "Desert Leaf" tea, smiling happily afterward.

After looking distantly at the opposite wall of the living room for a short stretch Akaryuterra
looks up to you, leaning to the side so he can better crane his neck to look you in the face. "What
kinds've stories?"

You have emoted: Eleanor sniffs, and raises a hand, wiggling her fingers in a gesture which could
practically mean anything. "Lots of stories, um." She pauses to take another sip of her tea. "Things
like... the stories of the stars, all the... con... const, um, shapes they make." She smoothes her
hair back from her face. "Or... sometimes it was just tall tales, like how someone tracked a giant
sand lizard or... or met a beautiful princess who lived, um..." she squints, brow creasing with
intense thought. "...At... the bottom of an oasis, I think it was."

Akaryuterra nods as you explain, repeatedly, stopping near the mention of a sand lizard to take a
sip of his tea. "Bottom'a the oasis- y'mean like a lake, the water, right? Was she a Kelki?" he asks
as his articulation begins to decline. "You must know so many stories," he marvels, eyes locked on
your face.

You have emoted: Eleanor rolls her shoulders in a shrug. "She might have been a kelki, I don't know.
The hero of the story drowned anyway, I think." She holds her cup in both hands, inhaling deeply the
steam coming off it. "Mmmmmmm," she articulates, partly in response to it and partly to your comment.
 "Maybe, I guess. I probably don't remember most of them, but... you can make up the bits you forget,
 that's how stories work."

Akaryuterra looks to his own cup, as if reminded by you, and takes a long, slow drink. As he peers
into the cup to judge what's left a look of excitement dawns on him. "Do you remember any p-," he
starts to ask, suddenly halted mid word. Pursing his lips, he thinks, "Pa- any that you like more
than some of the others?"

You have emoted: Eleanor chews thoughtfully on her lip, rocking a little in her seat atop you. "Hum-
mmmm, let me think..."

Akaryuterra sips his "Desert Leaf" tea, smiling happily afterward.

You say, "Well, hmm... there was one I liked, about a thieving merchant."

Akaryuterra drinks from his cup as he watches and waits. The end of his tail peeks out around the
corner at the end of the couch with regularity as you think.

You have emoted: Eleanor licks her lips, and takes a thoughtful sip of the tea. "So it's about this
man, an el'jaziran man, we'll call him, uh... Sim. And he was a rope maker, I think. He lived in the
desert and... he wasn't, you know, hugely rich, but he did okay."

You sip the tea, which is warm and soothing. After you swallow, you begin to feel light and relaxed,
and you feel suddenly so happy you could giggle.

You say, "So one night, Sim has this dream, telling him... he has to go on a journey. Go see, uh,
Enorian, right? One of those p... pilgrimage things. So Sim decides, okay, he'll go. He sells up all
his things, all his stock, and it makes him a fair bit of gold. So he buys some nice silks which
he'll take with him, to sell maybe. But he still has a thousand sovereigns left over, and he doesn't
want to take it all, because he'll get robbed."

You have emoted: Eleanor wraps her arms around her knees. "So he thinks to himself, what will I do
with all these, um, all this money? I know, I'll hide it. So he buys a big pot and puts his gold in
it, and then to hide it he puts some olives in the top, right? So it looks like it's a big pot of
olives." She licks her lips, pausing to squint as she thinks of the next part.

You say, "So... oh. Right. So he goes to his friend, who... I forget what he was a merchant of, but
anyway, he asks if he can keep his olives in his friend's storehouse, and the friend says sure, and
he puts it in there and goes on his way."

After a moment for the story to sink in, Akaryuterra gives a ponderous nod. "Well, yeah, makes sense.
 Shit out on the highway, those bandits down by North of Trees. All kinds'a things." He frowns, "But
people eat olvies. Can't stay safe long."

Comprehension flashes across Akaryuterra's face.

You have emoted: Eleanor waves a hand. "He, um, well, his friend had other olives."

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Makes more sense."

You have emoted: Eleanor nods. "So... Sim goes off on his pilgrimage, and... his silks sell really
well in Enorian, so he makes a lot of gold, and he decides while he's out there he'll go and see
more famous places. Goes all over the place, to... you know, islands, and... stuff."

You have emoted: Eleanor peers into her tea. "He's gone for seven years, and his friend and his
friend's wife think he must have died out there or whatever, because he'd been gone for so long.
Anyway, one night they're having dinner and missus realises they're out of olives, so she sends her
husband to the store house to get some more. So he's out there, and um, he sees Sim's pot, and he
thinks well, Sim's never coming back, I might as well use his olives, right."

You have emoted: Eleanor sets her cup between her knees, using both hands to make a gesture like
upturning something. "So he tips out the jar, and you can imagine his face when a few moldy olives
fall out and then a whole lot of gold."

You have emoted: Eleanor's expression mimics surprise and delight as she continues. "And of course
the friend is pretty, you know, he likes this. So he thinks, yeah, I'm just going to take this gold,
Sim's never coming back anyway. So he fills the jar back up with olives and takes the money."

Akaryuterra gives a nod and a shrug, reasoning, "I mean, people'r gone fer longer all the time, an'
sometimes they show back up- but not real often. Fer all 'e knew Sim's olives weren't even gonna
leave." By the time he finishes his words the cup is poised at his lips, and he takes a drink. "Sim
should'a dropped in an' said hi or somethin'," he comments.

You have emoted: Eleanor takes a drink of her own tea. "Well, few months later, Sim comes home." She
pauses, possibly for dramatic effect, or possibly just to inhale more of the sweet-smelling steam.
"And his friend is... you know, pretty 'oh shit oh shit' about it all, but he pretends like
everything's fine. Sim asks for his jar back, the friend gives it to him, Sim goes back home."

Akaryuterra sips his "Desert Leaf" tea, smiling happily afterward.

You say, "So he cleans up, you know, gets settled, then decides to get his gold out so he can um,
put it with his other money. So he starts scooping out the olives... one, two, three, and he's
thinking hang on, I only put a few handfuls in the top. So he tips the whole jar out, and of course,
it's only olives in there and he figures out what's happened."

You have emoted: Eleanor makes an attempt at an angry face, but it's only a vague representation of
one, really. "So he goes back to his friend and shouts at him, you know, you stole my gold!"

Akaryuterra smirks and snorts, "Ya left yer gold. What'd a think was gonna happen after that long?"

You say, "And the friend says, what gold? The gold in the jar, Sim says! And the friend says, you
never said anything about gold, you just gave me a jar of olives, didn't you?"

You have emoted: Eleanor manages to look stern. "If you took my gold, says Sim, then just admit it
and I'll forgive you." She shakes her head slightly. "But the friend, he keeps denying it and
denying it, and he says that IF there was gold, which he didn't know ANYTHING about, then it must
have been taken by, um, his employees or something."

You have emoted: Eleanor licks her lips. "So Sim can tell that his friend is going to keep lying
about it, so he says look, if you won't tell me the truth then I'll take this to the Sheik. And the
friend says do whatever you want, so that's what Sim does."

Akaryuterra gives another slow nod.

You have emoted: Eleanor sits up a little straighter. "So they have a big trial, right. And Sim
tells his story, about how he put the gold in the pot for safe keeping and left it with his friend,
and then how he came back and it was gone."

Akaryuterra sips his "Desert Leaf" tea, smiling happily afterward.

You say, "And the sheik, he asks the friend, what have you got to say for yourself? And the friend
says yes Sim gave me his pot, and it was in my warehouse and I don't even know where it was in there,
 and he told me it was olives and I believed him and that's it."

You have emoted: Eleanor mimes stroking a beard. "I think you're telling the truth," says the sheik.
"You're his friend, so of course you believed there was olives in there. Case dismissed!"

You sip the tea, which is warm and soothing. After you swallow, you begin to feel light and relaxed,
and you feel suddenly so happy you could giggle.

You say, "So Sim goes home all upset of course, and the friend goes home thinking he's got away
clean with the money."

Akaryuterra reasons, "He should have forseen such if he couldn't prove it."

You have emoted: Eleanor gestures with her cup, narrowly avoiding sloshing what's left of its
contents over the rim. "Not the end of the story, though!"

Akaryuterra leans back and returns to silence, listening intently.

You have emoted: Eleanor takes a sip of the tea. "Next day, the Sheik is out for a walk with his
guards and he overhears some kids talking. What are they doing, he asks, and one of the guards says,
oh, they're playacting the trial. It was pretty big, everyone's talking about it. So the Sheik says,
hmm, let's listen to them."

You have emoted: Eleanor makes another vague gesture- perhaps laying out where the people in the
story are positioned, but it's hard to tell. "So the kid sitting on a big rock, he's pretending to
be the sheik. And he says, bring me Sim's jar of olives! So this other kid brings him, like, a rock
they're pretending is the pot. And the kid pretends to pull one out, and eats it. And he looks at
the other kids there and he says, ah, yes, this is a tasty olive." She glances about as if looking
amongst the members of an audience. "But how can this be, says the kid. Because anyone can tell you
that olives go bad in three years and lose all their flavour!"

Comprehension flashes across Akaryuterra's face.

You have emoted: Eleanor affects a cross expression, playacting as the child. "Sim's friend, you
took the gold and filled the jar with fresh olives. If you'd used your head you'd have used old
olives and never been caught, but here's the proof and you're a liar and a thief."

You have emoted: Eleanor settles back in her seat in your lap, slipping out of her assumed role.
"Well, the sheik is pretty floored by this. Kids say the damndest things, right? So he goes home and
he sends a messenger to get Sim and Sim's friend and an olive merchant to come to the big tent. So
they all roll up, and Sim is a little confused and sim's friend is panicking, because he's thinking
wait, why are we back here, wasn't it all decided?"

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "Deserves what's comin' ta 'im."

Akaryuterra nods his head resolutely.

You say, "So the Sheik gets Sim and the friend to re-state the case, and then he gets Sim to bring
up his pot that had the gold in it. So he gives one of the olives from the pot to the merchant, and
he says, what do you think of this? And the man tastes it and says, this is a fresh olive, it's
probably from this year's crop."

You say, "Well, sim's friend knows he's caught, so he immediately confesses and begs the Sheik not
to, you know, have his head cut off. And the Shiek looks at Sim and says, what do we do with him?
And Sim says, well, he's my friend, I don't really want revenge or anything as long as I get my gold
back."

You say, "So the Sheik has the friend give the gold back, and then locks him up for seven years
instead of having him killed like he usually would have. And um, so Sim had his gold back and the
friend had what was coming to him, and... the sheik gave a thousand gold to the kid, too, the one
that had the idea, because he was pretty impressed at how clever the kid was."

You have emoted: Eleanor affects a haughty, but wise expression. "Always listen to what the young
have to say, the Sheik told his advisor, because they are often very wise indeed."

You sip the tea, which is warm and soothing. After you swallow, you begin to feel light and relaxed,
and you feel suddenly so happy you could giggle.

You say, "And... that's it."

"We don't listen ta the young that much sometimes," Akaryuterra states bluntly, adding, "Like, new
kids comin' ta the Cabal'n al that." He sips at his tea thoughtfully and then gives a satisfied nod.
"I have never heard that story before," he says.

You say, "Well, lot've the time they don't speak up."

You have emoted: Eleanor takes a sip of her tea. "In the Cabal, I mean."

Akaryuterra nods in agreement, "I try to get them to." He frowns as he peers into his cup, "It
doesn't work often. They know what to do anymore."

Commissar Akaryuterra Ryotega Junakutz-Lionheart says, "I can't remember if I needed help often."

Akaryuterra squints at the distant wall, thinking.

You have emoted: Eleanor flops against you comfortably. "You did a little bit, but I was there to
help you."

Akaryuterra smiles, his focus returning from the opposite wall. "You've been there when I needed
help ," he affirms, though it is clear he doesn't mean any single instance throughout the years.

Akaryuterra gives you a peck on the cheek.

You have emoted: Eleanor nuzzles her cheek against you in return. "Always," she tells you warmly.

Akaryuterra sips his "Desert Leaf" tea, smiling happily afterward.


<Aaand fade out.>