Blackfridayrule

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Ridahne nodded as she lay on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling with its clean, smooth grout holding in matte clay tiles. She inhaled a breath of herb-perfumed air from the steam that wafted up from Darin's bath and nibbled a piece of cheese-smeared flatbread. She never got over having access to so much food--good food--and being on the road so long had not done much to change that. Ridahne took advantage of it whenever it was offered to her. There was a familiarity about this place, this palace that held so many mixed emotions for her. It was almost like home, but a lesser home than Atakhara, a briefer and yet more recent chapter in her history. It was fraught with so many complicated memories, grief, anger, pain. And yet those feelings intertwined with a sense of camaraderie she'd never felt anywhere else but with Darin, and the joy that came with having new opportunities. And, Ridahne had to admit, she'd miss Tasen a little when they left it. But as she pictured the sea-pounded shores of her dusty, hot, and somewhat crowded hometown, she felt a new longing, a call home. The visit would be temporary of course, and Ridahne was not wholly convinced she'd survive to see it again. That was part of the reason she wanted to be wed to Ajoran now; if there was any possibility she'd die defending Darin and the Seed, she'd want to go down knowing Ajoran belonged to her.

"Aye, I think we're through with Tasen," she said with a thoughtful sigh. The day had been long and she hadn't spent much time to slow down and rest. Now that she was horizontal, she could feel weariness pulling at her. "There won't be much to prepare for the wedding really. Just some food--there's always food at a wedding. But in Atakhara at least, it's not a very big affair, not compared to other parts of Azurei or elsewhere in Elvish lands. But it is a party," she chuckled. Weddings in poorer regions of Azurei involved a lot less decoration or elaborate, imported food. But there was always some kind of alcohol, and there was always curry and bread to go with it. Grilled fish was also common, and sometimes stewed goat. And there was always a massive bonfire. "Get ready to dance, there'll be a lot of that. Don't worry, it's not the kind of dance you need to learn or know how to do. You just kind of move with the drums," Ridahne explained.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I'll get you a post, I promise. I haven't disappeared haha

Strange Horizons

Kaija immediately got the sense that Sendor was a political type. If he wasn't directly involved with politics, then he ran with people who did, she guessed. He spoke in the kind of overly polite way that rich people used at art galas and ceremonies when they either wanted to say more (or sometimes less) than what they actually spoke. She wasn't yet sure of what to make of him, though she took no offense that he hadn't researched the Mejori much before departure. She'd done her best to learn about her new teammates, but the briefing Vahl gave her was...well, brief. It was a relief they didn't know much about her, either. She was a bit disappointed that, though they'd both answered her, neither had actually wanted to place any bets. Pity.

Haelion answered in his own time, and Kaija guessed him to be the quieter sort. But she liked what he said about taking the world as it was. Kaija loved Mejor, but she was desperate for the break from formalities, rules, expectations, status, and most importantly, the law. Unless the isle was inhabited, no one nation's laws applied to the new land. Some exceptions could probably made for purely internal affairs, but Kaija heard from Vahl that she and her compatriots were responsible for making most of the larger decisions, though there were plenty of people that would be running the base camp to form a sort of multi-national council in case discipline needed to be dealt, or things of that nature.

"We sort of get to make our own rules, don't we? Kinda nice if you ask me. Like a fresh start." For her, it really was. A chance for redemption, and a chance to escape the dark deeds of her recent past. And while she was at it, she could gather valuable new information for Vahl as any good Raven would. Kaija studied the landmass on the horizon and wrinkled her nose in a kind of thoughtful expression. Her stripes pulsed a middling green. Curiosity. "I'll bet it ain't inhabited. I mean, if it was, why haven't we seen boats or shit in the oceans that came from here? Maybe they're not advanced enough to have ships like ours, I don't know." She sipped her wine; the flavor was sort of starting to grow on her.

Someone at the bow shouted "All hands! Prepare to board!"
The preparations would take a bit, but now things were getting real. This really was happening, and Kaija, not Iasha, would soon set foot on a brand new land no Mejori had ever touched. If she was honest with herself, she didn't deserve the honor, but she never settled for only what she deserved. Still, she felt a little guilty. Sorry, Iasha. Should be you out here. Kaija really did feel that way, though she had her own reasons for replacing the biologist. And she wasn't willing to let any guilt get in her way. Kaija swished her glass of wine appraisingly, then knocked the rest back with an ease that would put any drunken lout to shame. "Well," she said, "guess this is the part where we become explorers, eh? What'd you two do back home anyway?"

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Amaiera-Sol nodded solemnly. "I will keep this information discreet. If it becomes necessary for me to discuss this with the other Sol, then I will, but it will go no further. I think now, Astra-Sol, you understand how difficult decisions can be heavy, and how easy it is to make a rash choice. May you learn from this and become a better leader for it. And may both of you find rest in these walls." Amaiera-Sol returned the polite nod, and she and her taja left.

Ridahne supported Darin's arm as they walked, and she could feel the tension in Darin's movements. She remained quiet, letting the amicable silence hang between them. Both had a lot to think about, and there was no need to discuss it any further at the moment. Darin surprised her, though, by turning suddenly and crying into Ridahne's chest. Ridahne's muscled arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly as she rested her chin gently on Darin's head. "The barracks are smelly anyway," she said, gently trying a joke to lighten the mood. "I will stay, don't worry. We'll figure out what's next tomorrow. For now, we'll get a bath set up, and," she pulled away, only to cup Darin's face in her hands. Her hold was firm but not forceful. She gently tilted Darin's head up to face hers. "I've got just the thing to help you unwind. Come."

Ridahne led her to their rooms, and she accosted some servants and barked a few orders at them. Not unkindly, but she held a confidence and authority as she spoke. A metal tub was brought in and filled with water, and hot stones fresh from a fire were dropped in to make the water steam. One of the servants brought in a cloth sack full of something heavy, a small dark glass jar, and a bar of soap that had a bit of fine sand mixed in for better scrubbing. Ridahne dumped some of the contents of the sack in the bath; it looked like coarse salt. She poured some oil from the little jar into the water, and suddenly the scent of lavender bloomed in the air. Lastly, a cloth screen framed in wood was brought in for some privacy, along with a wooden platter bearing a soft white cheese, flatbread, and a dark red jam.

Ridahne churned the water around with her arm to dissolve the salt she'd poured in. "This stuff," she said, "Is a special kind of salt. Not the kind that sticks to your skin, not from the sea. Its some other mineral that makes your skin soft but more importantly, helps with sore muscles. That and the lavender, and the heat will loosen you right up, I promise." Ridahne kicked off her shoes with an indulgent sigh and flopped down onto a padded sofa on the opposite side of the screen. "I don't want to discuss business too much, but once we...tie things up here in Tasen, what do you say we head to Atakhara, and you see where I really came from? It's..." Ridahne laughed. "It's not much. But there's a lot of character there. Less ceremony and hierarchy and a lot more dust and fish and grit," she said fondly.

Strange Horizons

Kaija often joked about how the sailor's booze was swill, but she actually found it refreshing in its own way. She was partial to liquor--either whiskey, or the pale blue concoction that Mejor was known for, jumi. Jumi was made from many ingredients, including imported juniper, lemon peel, and a little periwinkle colored flower that gave jumi it's signature color. Despite its sweet, floral flavors, jumi packed a punch. Kaija--or rather, Iasha, had packed some of her own, but she was saving that for later. For now, the pale wine would do just fine.

Kaija was letting the liquid sit on her tongue as she thought with great anticipation about what lay ahead, when Jalen sat down in the seat across from her. Jalen was young and had been sent to be an assistant to her, to train under the renowned Iasha. He was elated to finally meet her (or what he thought was her) and hadn't left Kaija alone since. She didn't hate him, though his tendency to ask a lot of questions unnerved her. If anyone could call her bluff, it'd be him. But she had the feeling she could manage that well enough. She had to be cordial though, because if she was going to figure out how to be a biologist, it was going to be through watching him. Ironically, he was not the student in this situation. And anyway, she was going to be stuck with him for as long as she was around base camp, so she might as well attempt to make friends.

"Evenin' Iasha. I can't believe we're almost there! I don't know about you, but I'm SICK of this old tub..."
Kaija smiled at him, pulsing a friendly blue. She felt more like pulsing a more uncomfortable yellow, but Kaija developed a unique skill. Most Mejori could not self-regulate the colors they pulsed in their stripes, and thus their thoughts and emotions could be easily read by all who spoke Mejori colorspeak. If one wanted to remain inscrutable, they could keep dark. Kaija, however, could lie. Not just with her tongue, but with her colors. It was rare, so few ever questioned the sincerity of the colors she displayed. But it was hard to do, and it required concentration and mental discipline. "I never did like being confined to so small a place for so long. Can't wait to walk some solid ground again."
"Mm," he grunted in agreement. "Listen, I don't want to bother you, but I thought I'd mention the other two delegates are on deck at the moment. I know you haven't seen much of them, and we're almost ashore, so I thought maybe--"
"Maybe I should make nice, eh?" Kaija chuckled, pulsing blue. "Yeah," she sighed, "You're probably right. Might as well make an appearance and let them know I'm not a ghost. We're all gonna get real cozy pretty soon so...might as well. Make sure your shit's all packed up, Jalen, y'hear?"
Jalen inclined his chin and his headspines flicked up to their full height, pulsing a polite white. "Yes, Iasha."

Kaija, taking the wine with her, made her way to the top deck and looked around. In dimmer lighting, her teal eyes would flash a lurid green whenever they reflected some spot of bright light, like a torch or lamp. It didn't take her long to sort out which two men were the other emissaries, as they were not dressed like sailors and didn't have pitch on their hands. Both looked considerably more regal than the other sailors, and heck, even her. She did not wear any armor, and instead had cropped black trousers, short, sturdy boots, and a short, sleeveless garment that wrapped around her upper torso in a loose x shape, cut from a cool, sage-green fabric. A black undergarment wrapped tightly around her chest underneath it, but both left her lower torso exposed. This made the two large knives strapped to a belt at her lower back clearly visible and, more importantly, accessible. Her clothing suggested practicality and ease of movement, not status. The only sign she was not just any commoner was the assortment of gold accessories she wore. A gold ring in the middle of her nose, a tapered, swaying gold spike that dangled from each earlobe, a thin band of tight fitting gold on once bicep, and a rather thick band of gold clasping the end of her long black braid. Her scalp was freshly shaved down the sides, exposing the patterned bioluminescent stripes that ran along her skull and down her neck and spine.

Kaija approached the two without much ceremony and flashed a cordial white. "Ah, you must be Haelion and Sendor," she said to each in turn. Vahl had some limited information on the two that he'd given her, but it was not extensive by any means. "Nice to finally meet you. I'm Iasha Rhenuvi of Mejor. I...apologize for not meeting you sooner. The Mejori do not walk under the sun much and the adjustment to a day schedule is...difficult." That much was true, though Kaija had sort of milked that excuse for all that she could in order to keep largely to herself. Her colors melted to an amicable blue. "But I've managed just in time, it seems. Our target is just on the horizon! Anyone wanna take bets on whether or not it's inhabited?" Though no one had any real reason to be surprised by Kaija's generally straightforward and sometimes crass demeanor, somehow everyone she met seemed to have the impression that Iasha was more...refined. They always let it go--after all, they'd never met her and likely judged her all wrong. But this version of Iasha was evidently not the one most people expected.

Strange Horizons

Sounds good to me!

Strange Horizons

Sure, works for me. Take your time

Strange Horizons

When a ship lost at sea stumbled upon a new land and returned home with this news, it was quickly decided that this new land should be explored. Would it have intelligent life there? Society? Would there be strange flora and fauna? Resources the mainland was lacking? The peoples of Tassena had to know. Among them were the Mejori people, a nocturnal folk who long ago abandoned daytime living in order to ward off jungle predators that threatened their early ancestors. They felt like the representative they sent to explore this new land should be well-rounded to help prepare them for whatever situations lay ahead. So the queen and her governors hosted a series of games and contests that all were permitted to enter, regardless of station. The contests ranged from sword duels, grappling, hunting, herblore, woodcraft, and even debate, as no one knew whether or not the land would be inhabited, and it was prudent to prepare for such a possibility. The games lasted a whole month, becoming a popular subject among commoners and nobles alike. Tavern-goers would debate hotly which of their favored candidates would win and which would fall short. The marital status of the candidates was also a much-discussed topic. In the end, the queen, the governors, and the royal court unanimously chose Iasha Rhenuvi, a biologist who studied the natural world at the university in Jalek. Her knowledge of wilderness survival, how to properly document and study plants and animals, and her basic athleticism made her a prime candidate for further training.

The people loved Iasha. By all accounts, she was humble despite her newfound status and fame, she was intelligent, and she'd come from a common, unimportant merchant family. She knew how to talk to regular people, but how to mingle in polite society also. The royal family immediately welcomed her into the palace as a frequent guest, and it was widely rumored that the prince had an interest in her. No one could think of anyone better to send off into the unknown.

Which was why Kaija Tezusha felt a bit guilty as she looked out across the water, back in the direction where she could only assume home lay. Kaija had a lot of respect for Iasha, but that didn't stop her ultimately springing on her like a prowling tsura, tying her up, and stashing her in a closet in the palace. Kaija knew where Iasha would be, when, and how to get to her. She'd hidden the woman, stolen most of her gear, and convinced the captain of the Wind Chaser that she was Iasha. Kaija was mostly surprised that no one had seen Iasha closely enough (or at all) to be able to visually identify her beyond a general description that honestly could have fit a quarter of Mejor. She'd been told this was the case, but surely she thought someone on that boat had to have known her. They did not. The crew addressed her as Iasha, or sometimes Miss Rhenuvi, and they certainly treated her with the kind of respect and deference that the real Iasha deserved.

It was a difficult time at first, as Kaija had not yet adjusted to the daytime schedule she would need to keep in order to match her companions. She used that as an excuse to be reclusive, to take time by herself to review the information she had on Iasha and get her story straight so that she could perform under pressure if she had to. Eventually she couldn't hide behind that excuse and had to force herself to make appearances on deck, to talk to people and act like she had every right to be there. Now, finally near the end of the voyage, she'd fully switched to a daywalker's schedule. It still felt strange to go to bed when it was dark out, and stranger still to squint in the bright light of day, but Kaija managed it. Even so, she was glad it was late evening now, and she did not have to wear her sunshades or squint against the blinding light of the sun.

A voice made her turn away from the gunnel. "Iasha, we'll be making landfall shortly. Are your things packed?" The Mejori sailor asked.
"Aye, they are. Are we really that close? At last?"
The sailor smiled, pulsing a friendly blue in his stripes. "Aye, at last. Too bad there's not likely to be a tavern waiting for us onshore, eh?" They shared a polite chuckle, both of them flashing a neutral, polite white.
"No, unlikely. Guess whatever swill you keep down below will have to do. I think I'll go get myself some...might calm my nerves a bit."
"You're nervous?" The sailor asked, clearly surprised that Iasha could ever be nervous.
"A bit, if I'm honest." She was, though not about what she might find in the new world so much as she was nervous she'd commit some blunder and get caught as the fraud she was. Kaija was good at figuring out how to survive in the wilderness, but she was no biologist. Somehow she'd have to fake that part, and she wasn't wholly convinced she could. What if someone asked her questions that were too specific for her to answer? And what would they do to her once they figured out who she really was? Nothing good, she knew.

After a bit more polite back-and-forth with the sailor, Kaija did go belowdecks to get herself a drink. It was some kind of wine the color of honey, though what sort of fruit gave the drink its primary flavor, Kaija did not know. She did know that it settled the nerves wonderfully, so she sat in a corner with her wooden mug and sipped it slowly as she tried to think through what was expected of her once they made landfall. I never should have done this... she thought to herself.

Strange Horizons

Excellent. Did you have an interest in playing our villainous third? If you don't want to, I can, or we can just kind of share them. Up to you.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Thanks for checking in! Not too bad but I’ve been in a creative slump recently. I’ll try and post this weekend if I can