1628, Late Earth Season, Stasis Week?
Context
Varanis and Xenofos meet on the road before the scribe makes the journey to Prax.
Events
While Berra, Maalira, Lenta, and Varanis are travelling towards Boldhome, they meet Xenofos riding his bison towards Wilmskirk and Greyrock. He greets the group warmly, and nods to Varanis “How come you are travelling this way?”
“We were summoned by the Earth Temple. Something about the house or the land it’s on, from what the messenger said,” Varanis tells him. “We’ve told Valseena and the others that we’ll meet them in Prax if they can’t wait. Maalira wanted to come with us and she’ll make it easier to connect with the rest of you once we cross into Prax.” A White Lady of a local tribe makes travelling anywhere easier.
“Well that is awkward timing if anything.” Scribe looks back. “I can ride with you I suppose, it is not like we have a time limit in reaching Prax. Although…”
She arches a brow. “Although?”
“Aranda has had troubles in her pregnancy. I think she is well protected by Our Lady and Ernalda and White Ladies take good care of her.” He strokes his beard “But I thought I could ask mother if Eiritha could look after her too…”1V: Remind me… you’re not banned from the Paps, right? X: No Xenofos is not banned from there BUT we have passed that and he made no effort going in there. V: Yeah… just trying to think up possibilities, but frankly, if you wanted help specifically for Aranda, I’d have thought Nochet or Ezel would be the place. X: At the point of writing the letter I did think child would be blood relation and family connection might be a thing to use to get Eiritha – and family involved. But anyway it is a thing to do in Prax, with family since it is a women’s thing.
He shrugs “Might be it is a family thing only. But I do owe her.”2V: I’d intended to give you dreams/nightmares about Neela and her children, but I ran out of spoons. Figured you’d get pulled in multiple directions that way and I could grin maniacally at you. The dreams you were going to get included crocodiles eating the family and/or Neela’s new husband dying. You could just pretend you had those nightmares too, without me needing to get creative. X: OK. Those nightmares added to repertoire. More things I can discuss with Erhehta if we meet the Straw-weavers… which at the moment seems unlikely.
“We’ll catch up, cousin. I have no idea how long this business at the Earth Temple will take. You know what they can be like. It could be hours or weeks.”
“Lenta could not tell you more?” The scholar looks at the short Ernaldan.
Varanis shakes her head. “The message came after Lenta did, not with her.”
Scribe gives Lenta a new look, looks at Varanis and then nods. “I see.”
Varanis follows the scribe’s gaze to Lenta and then directs a scowl at her cousin. “I want to get to Boldhome, figure out what this is all about, and then get on the road. I’m fine. We’re fine. Just get going and we’ll see you in Prax with the others as soon as we can,” she tells him, a little impatiently.
“It is possible I may need to bury myself in the Pavis library for a while – on top and apart from looking for Salt and Teeth.” He is looking towards Lenta again.3Or perhaps rather through her and towards Pavis. 4Dice say that Varanis fumbled insight – or just failed it badly – 98 and I don’t have my char sheet open. I have interpreted this as her thinking that either Xenofos is jumping to some kinds of conclusions about Lenta or that he’s trying to communicate with Lenta via pointed glances. She can’t decide which it is. X: I rolled a special for you. V: I’m not seeing anything in what you’ve written to suggest that. I’m willing to reassess, but what are the clues? X: Well, for fail he would have been staring at her in awe. Fumble even stronger ;-), clue/result was looking through her. But granted. That is not obvious. V: Ok. My reply still works then. X: Or we go with the fumble because it is amusing.
“Travel safely, Xenofos,” Varanis commands. “Take good care of you until we meet up.”
He smiles towards the Ernaldan “You too, Varanis. Prax and safe are not necessarily a thing but I try.”
Varanis stares hard at Lenta.
“She is pretty, like a flower” he notes absentmindedly before turning his full attention towards Varanis “It seems you were right about Lhankor Mhy being jealous. Well, not Lhankor Mhy, but his servants sometimes.”5For giggles I threw insight for Xenofos and rolled 91- not a fumble but he is happily oblivious of Varanis mood and suspicions 🙂
Lenta is discussing something with Maalira and looking demurely at Varanis from time to time.6She is obviously trying to hide whatever is going on between her and Xenofos.
Varanis glowers more, beginning to look stormy. Manasa shifts beneath her, picking up on her rider’s mood. The mare directs a look at Xenofos’ mount that suggests she is trying to decide between biting him or leaning on him hard.
“Dorasa did not grant my request to be allowed to take the vows for Uleria before I look for more ancient texts reinforcing my point. I think she is not getting my point, this is a personal, mystical revelation. Such texts might not exist even when the vision is True and eternal.” The scribe starts sounding frustrated, but ends with obvious conviction. “But I will not be deterred, if going through Pavis library is required I will do it.”
“Right. So then you’d best be on your way, so that you can get that research done and I should get to Boldhome to deal with whatever it is Kalis needs to tell me about the house.” She waves at him irritably. “As I have already said,” the emphasis on already is hard to miss, “travel safely. I will see you soon.” This time, she doesn’t wait for further words, but nudges Manasa forward, interrupting the mare’s intentions. The horse pins her ears back and lurches ahead, settling after a few strides. Once she’s secure in the saddle, Varanis twists to wave at her cousin.
“You too, Ranie. Catch no walktapi.” The scribe sounds joyful at first. “And look out for crocodiles!” But in the end his mood seems to falter.
- 1V: Remind me… you’re not banned from the Paps, right? X: No Xenofos is not banned from there BUT we have passed that and he made no effort going in there. V: Yeah… just trying to think up possibilities, but frankly, if you wanted help specifically for Aranda, I’d have thought Nochet or Ezel would be the place. X: At the point of writing the letter I did think child would be blood relation and family connection might be a thing to use to get Eiritha – and family involved. But anyway it is a thing to do in Prax, with family since it is a women’s thing.
- 2V: I’d intended to give you dreams/nightmares about Neela and her children, but I ran out of spoons. Figured you’d get pulled in multiple directions that way and I could grin maniacally at you. The dreams you were going to get included crocodiles eating the family and/or Neela’s new husband dying. You could just pretend you had those nightmares too, without me needing to get creative. X: OK. Those nightmares added to repertoire. More things I can discuss with Erhehta if we meet the Straw-weavers… which at the moment seems unlikely.
- 3Or perhaps rather through her and towards Pavis.
- 4Dice say that Varanis fumbled insight – or just failed it badly – 98 and I don’t have my char sheet open. I have interpreted this as her thinking that either Xenofos is jumping to some kinds of conclusions about Lenta or that he’s trying to communicate with Lenta via pointed glances. She can’t decide which it is. X: I rolled a special for you. V: I’m not seeing anything in what you’ve written to suggest that. I’m willing to reassess, but what are the clues? X: Well, for fail he would have been staring at her in awe. Fumble even stronger ;-), clue/result was looking through her. But granted. That is not obvious. V: Ok. My reply still works then. X: Or we go with the fumble because it is amusing.
- 5For giggles I threw insight for Xenofos and rolled 91- not a fumble but he is happily oblivious of Varanis mood and suspicions 🙂
- 6She is obviously trying to hide whatever is going on between her and Xenofos.
