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Holmes: Isadora comes out of the tent to get some air. She sees Okhfels walking down the row of tents, probably figuring out his accomodations for the night. He dissapears around the forge. She notes the new Rhiani nearby, Elkaru. He's watching her sister, and Fazeris talking outside of Leuta's tent.
Elkaru bows to Isadora.
Isadora steps toward him. "I'd have expected you to be over on the Rhiani side by now. Are we Kaitaine keeping you?"
Elkaru: Your beauty keeps me, My Lady. Plus, I doubt the other Rhiani are nearly as interesting. Familiarity breeds contempt.
Elkaru: I am still hoping I may find myself useful to you.
Isadora: "You're nice, Elkaru. I like it, but what do you want from us? Your kin dislike us, so it can't be prestige. What, then?" She smiles, no sting in the words.
Elkaru: What do I want? Variety. Religous devotion. Beautiful sights and beautiful sounds. Anything that is good and fine. What else do people want? I have seen the face of my goddess in my own tribe, now it is time to seek her in other cultures.
Elkaru: Mostly, I wish to please you, My Lady.
Holmes: Fazeris finishes with Leuta, and she goes back inside her tent. He looks about, sees, Isadora, and after a little pause, comes over to where the two are chatting.
Isadora: Isadora, not religious, is trying to decide how to answer Elkaru when Fazeris comes over. She gestures between the two of them. "Fazeris--Elkaru, humble tribesman. Elkaru, Fazeris, unhumble duelist."
Elkaru raises an eyebrow and bows, though not as deeply as he did to Isadora. "A duellist? Indeed? I have the utmost respect for men to take the martial way."
Isadora smiles sardonically, watching Fazeris. "Oh, good. He loves respect."
Holmes: Fazeris seems to take afront from this somewhat, but tries to keep his cool, "And, as the head of Isadora's dueling society, she ought to respect me too. But I see that being out in the wilds has taken what little civilization was in her, and left her more savage than even the locals."
Isadora: "I'm touched by your concern. You shouldn't mistake a little weatherworn politeness for real savagery, though. Give me at least a few more weeks for that to set in."
Elkaru: I wouldn't knock savagry. Speaking as a savage myself, it can make a good change of pace from civilization. Tho I can't recommend it as a lifestyle.
Holmes: "Well, as one of my charges, I wouldn't want to see that happen. How about I give you a dose of civilization at the end of my blade? Have you kept up with your practice, Isadora?" says Fazeris pulling his rapier from it's scabbard.
Elkaru raises an eyebrow and takes a step back.
Isadora pulls her own, smiling. "I've kept up. Have you?"
Holmes: "As I remember, I could probably not practice for a while and still best the likes of you," he says disapprovingly.
Isadora: "Maybe I'll surprise you," she says and begins with a feint to his head.
Elkaru looks at Fazeris's blade and mutters, "Fahja woudl snap that blade in half."
Holmes: Fazeris stands as if uncaring waiting for Isadora to make the first move.
Isadora feints to his head, then swings her blade down to cut at his arm, aiming to slice the fabric of his sleeve.
Elkaru stares fixedly at Fazeris for a moment.
Holmes: Fazeris sees the attack coming in, and manages to beat her weapon aside at the last moment. Momentarily Fazeris has a look on his face that says that the attack had gotten closer than he'd expected.
Holmes: "You can do better than that, no?" he counters.
Isadora: "Fatigue of the job. I'll try to do better for you," she responds, circling for position.
Holmes: Fazeris responds in kind, to her maneuver, each of them looking for an advantage.
Isadora: "You've come a long way to see me. Are you afraid of what I might do, not under your thumb in Kaitaine?"
Holmes: Fazeris growls, and charges a tad recklessly.
Holmes: Isadora is forced to retreat heroically before the well executed attack. She loses a little balance giving ground, but keeps on her feet.
Isadora recovers with an unexpectedly hard cut towards his face. Nothing goes right out here--they're not content to banish her from Kaitaine, they have to follow to try to shame her here? Intolerable!
Holmes: Fazeris is infuriated that Isadora is lasting this long with him, and he strikes with rage.
Holmes: Isadora parries well, but cannot stop the man who is one of her society's best fencers. In the end, Fazeris beats her blade aside, and ends up with his blade near her head. He turns toward Elkaru and says, "See, respect via the sword."
Elkaru says merely: "Ever fought someone proficient with a more solid weapon?"
Isadora tosses her head, hand clenching white-knuckled around her rapier as she nearly tries to strike him from behind. Instead, she says, "That took too long, Fazeris. Getting older, getting sloppy? I'm. Catching. Up."
Holmes: Fazeris is taken aback, and the duel continues.
Okhfels , drawn by the sound of clashing blades, comes up behind Fazeris. He says nothing, but simply attempts to grab Fazeris by his weapon-side shoulder with one meaty hand and toss him aside like a ragdoll.
Elkaru takes a couple more steps back.
Holmes: The next moment, Elkaru looks down at Fazeris as he comes tumbling past where he'd just been standing, ending up in a heap on his own head. His sword lands much further away.
Holmes: "Aoww," comes from his crumpled form as he tries to unfold himself.
Okhfels: "Lady Isadora... You should not let people fight you alone. You are the boss, after all."
Elkaru says, in the same tone of voice as before: "Or, for that matter, fight anyone who's friggin' huge?"
Isadora: "What was THAT?" Isadora sputters, caught between elation and outrage. At Okhfels words, she shakes her head and recovers her poise. "If I'm not willing to fight people alone, I don't deserve to be the leader, Okhfels."
Okhfels: "General Taggis led the battle of Seven Bears from a throne that was carried to a hilltop."
Isadora: "General Taggis wasn't a Kaitaine aristo with aspirations to die young and powerful, I take it."
Okhfels: "He died old and powerful."
Isadora looks over to Fazeris--she'd hoped to win, expected to lose, and has no idea what he'll do now.
Elkaru: But did he die happy?
Okhfels: "What soldier does?"
Okhfels shrugs.
Okhfels looks over at Fazeris. "What do you want done with this guy, Isadora?"
Elkaru says: "Well, there you go." As if everything is settled.
Holmes: Fazeris manages to right himself suddenly, and flops on his back. He lays there panting. "Somebody get a hold of that horse that hit me. Somebody could get hurt."
Isadora: "Done? He's my honored guest." She strides over to Fazeris and offers him a hand. "The horse is Okhfels. He's good with fire."
Okhfels offers to take the other hand.
Okhfels smiles his "winning smile"
Holmes: Fazeris accepts the help, still stunned. "I see. What did I ever do to you?"
Elkaru waggles his eyebrows. He mutters, "Horse, ox, giant, mountain..."
Okhfels: "You were going to hurt Isadora. Can't have that."
Holmes: "I was going to improve her, you oaf," he says without the strength to give it any invective.
Okhfels shrugs as he helps Fazeris to his feet.
Holmes: "Nobody gets hurt in a duel like this. Well, not usually. Well, not often."
Okhfels: "In my line of work it's best to act first, think later."
Holmes: Fazeris is jerked as he finally ends up on his feet, grunting, "No, the arm stays attached, thank you."
Isadora: "And almost never badly. I didn't need the help... but thank you for it anyway." She smiles at Okhfels, presses Fazeris' hand before letting it go, then turns to Elkaru. "I'm so sorry for the disruption."
Okhfels points to one of the nearby tents. "Let me get you some wine. Make it up to you."
Elkaru bows. "Not at all. It was quite educational, My Lady."
Holmes: There's a sound of clapping coming from nearby, and people note Narbin standing there.
Holmes: "Well done, Okhfels."
Holmes: Narbin walks forward a bit, and looks over Elkaru as he does.
Holmes: His black leather armor shines in the risig moonlight, as does his greasy beard.
Elkaru raises an eyebrow and looks this berk up and down.
Okhfels smiles at Narbin. "Someone's gotta look out for the boss."
Holmes: "quite right, quite right. Though the boss is pretty capable herself, one must admit," he says in his slyly humorous fashion.
Isadora: "Polite as always," Isadora says to Elkaru. "This fine fellow is Narbin, one of my countrymen who helps keep us alive outside the borders of camp."
Holmes: Narbin bows in an overly gracious manner.
Holmes: When he rises, he gestures to Elkaru, "And who is the newcomer to the camp?"
Elkaru bows back. "I am Elkaru, as simple tribesman."
Okhfels takes Fazaris aside, "Hey, I know where we can get some wine and food."
Holmes: Narbin looks Elkaru up over a bit, "Tribesman, yes. Simple? Depends on the meaning intended."
Elkaru: What you see is what you get, my friend.
Holmes: Fazeris seems to dazed still to object, and heads off with Okhfels.
Holmes: Narbin replies, "That's what I thought. The large man and I have a plan for tomorrow or the day after. Happen to be unoccupied?"
Elkaru: Quite. Do you have a proposition?
Isadora reminds herself to find Okhfels and make sure he knows about the plan, as she told Narbin she would.
Holmes: "There's a site on the other side of the lake that I need some help with...."

Holmes: Gennadi makes his way along the lake as the way was described to him, and suddenly sees the trees in question. In fact, now that he's close, he can't imaging how he didn't see them from farther off. Now that he thinks about it, he did see them from afar when first entering this valley, but somehow the vision of them hadn't stuck in his mind's eye. Some potent magic at work, no doubt.
Holmes: The trees are four times as tall as any other tree nearby, and those compared are not small.
Holmes: Moreover, the trees have absolutely massive trunks. It would be a better description to say that they were huge trunks with some branches coming off of them.
Gennadi mutters to Breanna "subtle, that... d'you see any guards?"
Holmes: Breanna points to a single figure between the two trees. In the middle of a circle near a small stone shrine, there is a small person gyrating on their knees.
Holmes: In the dim light, something occurs to Gennadi, now that his eyes have adjusted somewhat to the scene. It looks as if one of the trees is made of stone in actuality. Which seems somehow....un-right...
Gennadi nods and heads that way, assuming a respectful expression.
Gennadi peers at the tree as he approaches, and compares it to the other. "What'ya suppose that's about?" he murmurs.
Holmes: Gennadi wracks his brain but cannot recall the slightest thing about these impressive trees. Odd that such a thing should not be widely known.
Holmes: Looking at the other tree, on the other hand, Genadi gets an overly strong sense of life from it. As if life were bursting to come out of it.
Gennadi moves within earshot of the ... person near the shrine.
Holmes: They person who sways near the shrine seems to be chanting something, and is oblivious to Gennadi's approach. As he closes in, he notes that she is only a child. Perhaps twelve.
Gennadi looks and listens closely... trying to tell if she's playing or praying.
Holmes: Not familiar with the local rituals, he can't be sure. At a guess, she's playing at praying.
Gennadi gestures for Breanna to keep back and moves forward.
Gennadi walks up like a respectful penitent worshipper and drops to his knees, striking a prayer/playful pose.
Gennadi watches the girl sidelong, and lets her see that he is.
Holmes: The girl starts after a moment, noticing Gennadi, and suddenly is on her feet with a violent inhalation. She looks ready to run.
Gennadi smiles winningly... no threat at all.
Holmes: She seems to calm down, but is still wary of the new arrival.
Gennadi: "hello," he says quietly. "I'm Gennadi. That's my friend Breanna."
Gennadi is also looking for a silver idol... you know... just out of curiosity.
Holmes: He notes it on the shrine which is now very close to where the girl is standing. It glints in the rising moonlight.
Gennadi leans forward slightly. "What's your name?"
Holmes: "I'm...I'm Geera," she says shyly. "Who are you?"
Gennadi: "I'm Gennadi. That's my friend Breanna. We're from Sh -- south of here."
Holmes: "What are you doing here," she looks a tad fearfully at the stone tree. "It might not like you being here."
Gennadi: I'm Rhianni, like you... (glances at the tree) does it not like at a lot of people?
Gennadi: and do you spend a lot of time here, Geera?
Holmes: She seems to just stare at the tree for a bit,"Lately I'm here all the time."
Gennadi glances back at Breanna. "Do your parents know you're up here?"
Holmes: The girl begins crying...the kind of crying that tells of tragedy.
Gennadi looks back at Breanna, who give him the bugging eyes look of "GO!" and motions with her hands. He turns back and scoots forward on his knees over the grass. When he gets close, he reaches out gently and tries to comfort her. It is obvious there are many things he is better at than this, but the gesture is surprisingly gentle.
Holmes: Geera steps back looking at Gennadi, troubled, for a moment. Then she steps forward and throws her arms around him.
Gennadi speaks the only lie the Rhianni are always allowed to tell. "It's okay." He pats down her hair. "It's okay."
Gennadi suddenly scoops her up and stands. "Well, this is the best luck ever, I think! It's just like like Anya, Lada and Sacha!" He smiles down at the girl.
Holmes: She looks up, wiping her nose, blinking. "Who?"
Gennadi blinks, looking astonished at the question.
Gennadi: Ladah and Sacha? The two lost heros who stumbled upon the beautiful young princess Ahnya?
Gennadi: I told this story to my sister a hundred times... how have you never heard it?
Holmes: This sets her to crying again.
Gennadi continues on. "Well, we are like Ladah and Sacha... and meeting Ahnya brought them all luck... after many adventures, in which they were all heroes."
Gennadi: Would you like me to tell you?
Gennadi dips his head to meet her eyes.
Holmes: She nods, and then bury's her head again.
Gennadi nods. "It begins," he says, turning and setting a bouncing walk down the hill... "near the Anything Bush...." and walks off down the hill.
Holmes: As Gennadi receeds, a flash of moonlight glints off the head of the idol on the shrine.

Holmes: Okhfels, nearly dragging Fazeris, reaches the forge, where his new compatriots are drinking. As they approach the extended tent, Okhfels notes a tall man with a shock of white hair watching the sky.
Okhfels finds a good place for Fazeris to sit down, and nods to the tall man.
Archelaus notices the sky get suddenly dark. He looks, not so much down, as over, to Okhfels.
Okhfels: "I'm Okhfels," getting a mug of ale for himself, and another for Fazeris.
Archelaus: I am Archelaus, well met
Archelaus: may I join you?
Holmes: The smith comes out of his forge, looking at Archlaus closely. "You Danarchan, aren't you!"
Archelaus: You have a good eye.
Okhfels: "Up to the boss," says Okhfels, nodding to the smith.
Holmes: The smith continues, "I see this, yes. Danarchans no good. Danarchans rip me off good metals in trade."
Holmes: "You a thief like other Danarchans?"
Archelaus: You are assuming a lot.
Archelaus is still fairly calm, it doesn't occur to him that someone would take this seriously.
Archelaus: You are not an educated man, I take it.
Holmes: The smith presses the issue, wine on his breath, "I not assume. Danarchans rip me off. You a thief too, I bet."
Okhfels just watches this exchange, for the time being... a shrewd judge of character would notice that he's listening closely.
Archelaus: I am not a thief, I am scholar and and truth-seeker. You are a drunken fool.
Holmes: The smith tries to get in his face, but is far too short, "I no fool, you a fool. You try to rip me off. You go away now!"
Holmes: Nearby, Pallos who'd lead archelaus to the tents of the Kaitane colony steps forward.
Holmes: "That's no way to treat our guest."
Archelaus: "Go? I have no where to go. You will sit down."
Holmes: The smith's head turns red, and almost looks to be steaming, "You no tell me what to do, I important here. You go. Pallos, take thief Danarchan away!"
Archelaus: As he warms up Archelaus' distracted demeanor is replaced by increasing confidence.
Archelaus: "I will not be so addressed by an unlettered sot."
Holmes: Pallos comes over, and puts his arm around the smith, and takes him back into the smithy. He whispers something to the small man, who nods in reply. Pallos comes back out.
Holmes: "Perhaps another location for your observations tonight?"
Holmes: The pair head off from the smithy.

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