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This message was last edited by the GM at 02:28, Fri 05 Apr 2013.

To Bryon:
Hmmmm... Long staff ... Aescopulo had a long staff - used it for special penetration, very earthy minerals and all that. He had a theory about deep portaling and a world inside the world. ...

Somehow thinking of the staff moved Scolo in only two or three mental steps to sheep. Something about shepherds and their crooks maybe and he asked.

Who keeps sheep In Lucimburic? I mean any animals really ... They seem to have labor divided by subspecies. So would an herbivore do it? Like a werehorse or a were cow or something or would it be a carnivore? Would you trust a wolf with sheep? Would a Cow want to do such a thing? Are there were cows? How many creatures are there? Now that I think of it - they all seem to be carnivores ... Or birds ...

Are there only finite choices or do new variants appear?

What's that? Vagrants here? I don't know - but if ... and the. .... Do you like the bath? I made a bath spigot once ... Gave it as a gift ... I wonder if it will help him relax ... I would like to relax - I once turned a hot spring to ink, it is very soft.

Hmmm? Oh yes wizards - we are very stout, stout indeed. And the AppleFranks to prove it.

To Aelessuria:
Huh? Oh yes .... I'm so happy did you see the dancers? He says with glee then conspiratorially adds
They were me Scolo giggles very pleased with himself that sphere up there may never go away - they can tie a rope to it and have a swing! Or a gallows I suppose - or maybe it would be a gallows on hanging days and a swing on Saturdays ...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Fri 05 Apr 2013.

Bryon grins ear to ear. Despite his stream of conscience, Scolo was not above wanting to relax. "No I've not tried the baths here. Perhaps you could show me where they are? I think we could both relax there."

He is like a fey! How intriguing...

"Thank you, but there is no need to curtsy to me. It is good meeting you, Bryon," Rita says, smiling while introducing herself. "And you too, Nichodemus...Scrumff," she says when the ferret kisses her hand. If Scrumff allows her, she will pet him gently. Is this Bryon's familiar, she wonders?

"Are you a wizard? Aelasuria told me you have fey lineage."

Rita is flattered and even a bit embarrassed when Bryon refers to her as "intelligent" and as a "Lady of Breeding."

"I am Rita Duronus, a priestess serving Lady Proserpina and Lord Pluto," she says. "Athena, whom we Romans call Minerva, was quite a good guess. My sister is a priestess of Minerva, and both of us, as children, were schooled at the Temple of Minerva, which runs the school back in Arras, where I am from, originally."

How should she explain that she is the only priestess of Proserpina, possibly in the world? Maybe she won't have to explain it. It is better to keep things simple unless Bryon asks for details.

"So you are going to be a bridesmaid too! Along with Cirrus, Kyriel, and Aelasuria's sisters, there are going to be quite a lot of us! Did you and Aelasuria know each other back in Geneva?"

Obviously, Bryon is not a wizard after all, as she tells Scolo she has never met a wizard before. A bard, perhaps?

"This is my friend Riordeg," she says, standing close to him. "Riordeg, meet Bryon."

Bryon will likely notice a resemblance between Theoderic and Riordeg, though Riordeg is younger and has dark hair while Theoderic's hair is blond.

"The baths in the palace are wonderful. Several of us bathed in them the last time we were here, a few months ago," she tells Bryon.

Baths in the palace - he is not confused but since he was thinking along two different threes and they can sometimes influence one another Scolo wonders aloud about
 Bats. Hmmm Werebat, now that would be nice, I wish it were true about turning into one if it bites you, I would enjoy being a bat. Do they carry rabies?
At about the same time he answers Byron - oh yes ... Relaxing - where are the baths? I don't know but surely that could be the next stop of this little party! Whoo hoo! What do you think fellas?
He says to his feet, the bunnies seem to nod.

I used to heat an area of the river back home - Edgar liked it ... Hmmmmm

He's not here - doesn't like crowds but he won't miss a bath party.

She nods slightly seeing Kyriel is very serious about dealing with any potential assassins.

With Scolo she smiles her green eyes sparkling a bit as she remembers the wonders of the performance. "Oh yes particularly when you made them sparkle so that people could see them. Interesting that you made them invisible at first. A truly wonderful performance Scolo I think that people will be talking about you, Cirrus and Diamond hammer for quite some time to come."

She blushes slightly at Bryon's suggestion however she too favored the baths as she truly had enjoyed them on her first visit. She trusts Scolo is a adult and can care for himself despite his unsane nature. He hadn't survived this long by doing anything foolish. "OH yes! I was fortunate enough to enjoy Duke Bastow and Lady Babette's private baths. They are truly amazing and one thing about Lucimburic I will never forget. I am sure they have a variety of bath Houses in Lucimburic. I haven't had the chance to try them though." Which she might not especially with the Duke's and Lady Babette's private baths available.

She looks surprised when Scolo talks about bats then smiles knowing his mind tends to wander a little. It certainly was a interesting topic. "You never know Scolo magic can do wonders if you unravel it's mysteries. Although I am not so certain you would want a curse as that is how people perceive that Myth. A uncontrolled transformation that  leads to dark things. However if you could transform at will like they do perhaps it would be a wonderful gift. You could pray to their goddess. I have no idea if she will answer though."

Scrumff looks over a shoulder at his mistress, "She can understand me? I thought only you could do that."

Bryon schruggs at her companion, "Maybe she is using magic?"



Bryon grins. She liked this girl, a lot. It was too bad she seemed smitten with her uninteresting companion. "No but I do use magic. It just comes from a different place."



Bryon was all but bursting with energy, she hopped up and down, clapping. She is showing off her attributes but not for the boy, for Rita. A girl can hope, right? "Oh but your far to bright and cheerful to be a godess of the underworld fellow. No that can't be right. I don't know Proserpina, but Prosper I know to be a word that means to get ahead in life. So if your other diety is one of prosperity, then I think you fit nicely. And from a temple of wisdom no less. Well I think you and I will be lovely friends."



Bryon tried to make sure this part went well. It could easily shame the future Queen into putting Bryon into a place of honor reserved for friends and Bryon was not about to make that social faux paux. "I'm from Helvectia, which is near Geneva I suppose, nearer than it is to here anyway. No I just met the lovely future Queen today and although I am sure we are becoming good friends, right now we are still in the becoming phase. Besides, I not bride's maid material for a couple of reasons. One - I'm more the type of girl that gets invited to a bachelor party, if you get my meaning. Two you must be a maiden to be a Bride's Maid, otherwise your a Matron. I left Maidenhood behind a half dozen years ago..." At this she blows a kiss to the sky, meaning she does not regret loosing her virginity, "and I would hate for anyone to call me Matron. It would make me seem old and used up, you know? I have much of life left to live."



Bryon gives the fellow a halfhearted curtsie and an equally halfhearted, "A pleasure." She hardly looks at him, much less gives him the time of day. Rita was the interesting member of this duo.



She sides up to Rita, threading an arm through the Priestess' "Well I would invite you to bath with me, but you may not return to your bo." This is again her not so subtle way of saying "I want you, Rita."

Then Scolo returns to the converation,


It was not until just then that she noticed Scolo's bunny feet. She squeeled and laughed and clapped. "Magnificient. Bunnys for your feet. Oh I must have bunnys for my feet. Are they your familiars? You are so very interesting Mr. Scolo." Leaving Rita she threads her arm through Scolo's. "I was thinking of a party as well, but you were the only guest I was thinking of inviting. Come, lets you and I go look for baths and other ways to relax each other." If he lets her she all but Drags Scolo with her toward what she assumes will be a bath house. Turning to look over her shoulder at the others she gives a knowing wink, "Don't wait up for us." This is aimed at Aelasuria, but anyone who wishes may respond.

Eadoin has already explored the issue of baths in Lucimburic.  There are limited possibilities for bath taking in town.  Sadly, the palace baths are at the basement level of the palace, and off limits to all but a few… although Aelasuria has that option, as do her guests.


 The town has only two public bathhouses.  The “Upper Town” bathhouse is on the north side, a little west of the Tower of Higher Arts.  They charge a modest fee for the “basic” services, and more expensive supplementals (soap) are available.  Down in the Grund, “Uncle Gus’s Bathhouse” is along the Alzette River, on a narrow semi-island all its own, and like some of the other establishments in the Grund, is very cheap, at least at the outset, and makes money selling goods and services of a somewhat shadier nature.  In particular, rumor has it that the side businesses of Uncle Gus’s Bathhouse are not the sort of things that someone of Eadoin’s age ought to be exposed to.

The palace has its own baths, and so do some of the more upscale buildings of the town, but most of the town’s bathing is simply done in the river, as the Alzette river is close by and clean- although the astute local never bathes downstream of the Grund.

Of course, it is late December.  Bathing in the river is not without hazards.   Sometimes, people can hear the howling of intrepid bathers plunging in.

*** *** ***
Scolo has drawn a lot of attention, and there are people, especially children, wanting to know more about the flamboyant wizard they have never seen before.  Or heard of.  He gets a lot of “who are you?” “where are you from?” and “How can I become a wizard?” right up until Byron starts to drag him away.

** ** ** **

One by one, people trickle away, and the plaza empties out.

One of Aelasuria’s friends returns.. one of the two she assigned to watch over Cirrus, to report that this might be a harder job than she thought.  But at least, Cirrus is going to sleep for the night, at the palace.  They can rest, and face another day tomorrow.

Eventually, it is time to turn in.

* * * * * * *

In the morning, that is, late in the morning, under the kind of gray winter sky that carries a slight threat of snow, Phileas Argentos returns to the stage in the Plaza.

There, he announces the day’s entertainment, and festivities.  In the afternoon, the Lucimburic Medal for Gallantry will be presented to one of the bravest citizens of the Duchy… and there will also be a wedding.  He leaves it at that, supplying no more detail.

With the children, Scolo plays pulling coppers and tree frogs out of their ears and telling them all manner of lies and few good truths about how to become a wizard.

Go to school but don't believe what they tell you

the best books are for adults only

forget everything and hunt for a leprechaun

rub a tree frog on your forhead for three days, but don't kill it

Don't be a wizard be an anarchist

you need to listen to very loud music all night long

You could go to the academy but if you stay too long they suck the magic out of you.

Just believe in yourself you can do it

They head of to the bathhouse eventually ... I won't dare say what may or may not happen there, or how many people come and go but Scolo has the ability to do prestidigitation all the time - so the water temp is always perfect and those spiky little washcloth mits are awesome! and ... there may even be fireworks for all the people in the bath.

In the morning Scolo can be found barefoot with his naked legs hanging out the window - he is eating a winter salad and throwing out the Belgian Endives...fortunately they fly away like little birds until the real birds (blackbirds mostly) snatch them up for warm nest making.

He sings a little song

"Still I sing bonney boys
bonney mad boys,
bedlam boys are bonney
for they all go bare
and they live by the air
and they want no drink nor money"

This isn't the window to his room, it's a public hall - but he is wearing his smock.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Sun 07 Apr 2013.

Rita smiles at Bryon. "I'm not using magic. I don't need words to understand that Scrumff is giving me a friendly greeting, which I most appreciate. Aelasuria loves animals, and in spending time with her, I'm finding myself coming to be more fond of them as well."

Bryon's magic is probably an innate part of her, just like Cirrus's magic is. That's how things seem to be with fey creatures.

"Fey magic, I'm guessing," she says when Bryon says her magic comes from a different place. "A bit like Cirrus, the girl who just sang so beautifully. She is part sylph."

Bryon is clearly not familiar with the Roman pantheon, which makes sense, given her background.

"I am a priestess, not a goddess. We are at a festive occasion, and we just won a great victory, and knowing what went into that, of course I am cheerful. But I am a priestess of Pluto. That is how I trained. I have since had--messages from him saying he wants me to serve his wife, Proserpina. She brings brightness and cheer to the underworld. As for prosperity, perhaps you mean the goddess Fortuna. Or maybe Pluto because he is also the god of wealth.

I am not a priestess of Minerva. I attended a school for children run by the Temple of Minerva," she clarifies.

Bryon is not acting at all the way Rita expected. She's barely paid attention to Riordeg at all. Rita is secretly glad though she will not betray those feelings.

"I would love to be friends with you. And don't worry if you don't know all the details about the Roman gods. That's not your heritage. I barely knew anything about the fey until I left Arras, and I'm still learning."

Not very familiar with wedding customs, Rita has never heard that a bridesmaid must literally be a maiden.

"Really? I thought a bridesmaid is any woman the bride chooses to honor and make part of her ceremony. Perhaps the customs differ in different cultures. I'm not even sure what the Roman custom is. That's a question for a priestess of Venus. I for one would never ask anyone such a private question. If Aelasuria wants you to be a bridesmaid, it's between you and her. I certainly would have no problem with it.

You're certainly not old or 'used up.,'" she says, laughing slightly. "The words don't matter. It's the love and goodwill among friends that does.

It would be up to Lady Babette to decide whether we can use the baths at the palace," she says. "Are you staying at the palace or with the elves?"

Rita is somewhat taken aback seeing Bryon making advances toward her. I need to learn more about satyrs and what they are about, she thinks to herself.

"Of course I will return to Riordeg. Always," she says, trying not to offend the woman while at the same time making her position clear.

Then Bryon is distracted by Scolo and his bunny slippers.

"I see what you mean," she whispers to Aelasuria, making sure Bryon cannot hear her. "Don't worry, Riordeg. You know I would never leave you."

Her face brightens, and she smiles as an amusing thought occurs to her. "Thank the gods my father isn't here to see this," she says to Aelasuria and Riordeg, still whispering. It wasn't so much Bryon coming on to her as Bryon coming on to almost everyone. "This is exactly why he is so against the wild Saturnalia celebrations."

"I have no problem with it. I think Bryon can be a bridesmaid though I respect her feelings on the matter. I am not certain she wishes to be one. I am fine with that and I hope that you enjoy yourself Bryon. Your part fey it's possible you will live longer then I will." She smiles at bryon wondering what sort of longevity the immortal fey might impart.

Looking at Rita she listens to her as she responds to Bryon  Rita composes herself well then turns her attenton to scolo briefly as he walks off with Bryon. Waving to both of them she smiles then look over at Rita. "Yes I think Bryon is more fey then human."

Listening to her friends she nods slightly replying softly to them offer to assign more as needed. She is aware though that life is as it will be only so much can be done. Still she will do her best to guide Cirrus to use wisdom in her decisions.

Shaking her head slightly with a smile she continues softly.  "I think no harm has been done. All who particpate are willing at such festivals. I have never seen one myself. It's getting late we should return to the palace."

OOC: Next stop palace. Not sure about the morning. ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Sun 07 Apr 2013.

In her guise as a derving girl, Kyriel accompanies Aelasuria. Under some other circumstances she might be tempted to hang out with Cirrus and help keep her out of trouble, but she knows that her attention has to be on Aelasuria and King Theoderic for the next few days. Distractions can't be allowed.

Rita can always keep an eye on Cirrus, she reassures Kyriel. Since both she and Cirrus are bridesmaids, they will be together anyway to be dressed for the wedding by Aelasuria's mother and the Geneva elves.

Bryon hummed as she washed her face that morning. A wonderful morning after an eventful evening and she was in high spirits for it. She dressed and found Scolo
s bunny slippers. She picked them up and giggled to herself at his forgetfulness.

She found him sitting in a window box, which caused yet another round of merry laughter. "Master Scolo, you forgot your bunnys." She places them on the floor near him so he could find them easily. Then she bends in and kisses his cheek warmly. "Thank you for a very entertaining evening. Don't forget you've promised that if you find more foot bunnys you will give them to me."

She pauses a moment for his reply them floats away to the square for the announcement. She claps for joy, wondering if it was the wedding or one of the others planned for this time. She had seen lots of winter lovers about, any of them could be planning to make the "grand mistake" as her uncle called it.

Somehow, on very short order, Mergyon had found appropriate clothing for Tawna and Haakon for their award and wedding ceremony.

Preparations had been hasty and chaotic- the crowd in the plaza (they've been there on and off for days now, coming and going, a changing sea of faces enjoying the entertainment and taking a break from shopping and eating.  The haste and ambiguity was deliberate- if the palace staff and the citizens of Lucimburic were confused, with even Theoderic and Aelasuria not knowing the plans, certainly, any attacker would be confused as well.

Thus far, no sign of any serious problems- the guards had managed to break up a fight between two wereboars (much to the dismay of the wereboars) and there had been reports of pickpocketing but nothing else.

So Mergyon had worked his wonders.. or rather, his contacts did.   He knew several of the finest tailors in the city, in fact, he was related to two of them, fashion being a common career choice for Wereminks.  Haakon had an outfit based around a polished bronze breastplate, with all sorts of braids and decorations, and Tawna had a dress that was “poofy” in places that she normally did not poof.

“I'd complain,” she whispers to Haakon, “but it's his moment, why not let Mergyon enjoy it.”

But Mergyon does not lead them to the plaza.  He merely directs, and lets them know that Phileas will take over and manage things at the plaza.  Mergyon has other work to do, and hurries off.

Phileas Argentos makes the announcement.  First, a single trumpet sounds.  Loudly.  An F sharp.

"Ladies and Gentlebeasts," Phileas says.  "His Highness the Duke of Lucimburic wishes to acknowledge the special courage and service of a citizen of the Duchy."

Bryon simply stood in the crowd, taking all this in. Despite the "mistake" about to be made, she cannot help but feel excited for the two involved. It was romantic and they were starting a new life together. Plus there were bound to be plenty of unattached people about and she should be able to locate at least one interesting person in the lot.

She smiles as she finds herself suddenly surrounded by dwarves, all of which vie for her attentions. She laughes merrily, giving each a bit in turn, but never enough to fully sate. Let them chase her a bit more...

If nothing else, the ceremony on the stage gives an opportunity for the display of Lucimburic's soldiery.  There is a squad of troops on either side of the stage as Tawna and Haakon walk up.

Surrounding the plaza is Lucimburic's cavalry troop.  The Duchy has very few horsemen.  There is a general shortage of domestic animals here, especially riding animals.  For reasons unknown, most Lycanthropes have a hard time with domestic animals.  The "predator" types, the Werewolves and Foxes and Lynxes especially, seem to make horses nervous, and it takes a lot of training for a Lycanthrope to overcome this and keep the animal calm.

Most visitors soon notice, also, there are no "Were-forms" of any domestic animals.  Only their wild cousins.  Foxes and wolves yes, dogs no.  Boars yes, pigs no.  No werecattle, but perhaps a WereAurochs.  Sheep and goats... well, no one's seen a Weresheep here.  There are a few Weregoats, but clearly, their "goat" heritage is derived from the wild ibex, a creature often found in the Alps, or maybe the chamois, with a larger range, or maybe a mix of both.

Because of the tension between domestic animals and the Lycanthropes, the mounted troops of Lucimburic are drawn almost entirely from the Duchy's Human population.  It is a small force, kept around for special purposes which are best served by mounted soldiers- and this kind of ceremonial function is one of them.

Then the Duke himself appears, a towering, broad figure as big as an Ogre in his hybrid man-bear form.  With shining armor and huge hairy arms, he ascends to the stage... and gives both Tawna and Haakon hearty bear hugs.

Bryon is impressed with the pageantry. She watches in awe as the Duke climbs the stage. Her initial interest wains as she realizes she knows none of the participants. She decides to go shopping, maybe have her new friends spend their money on her.

Shopping Thread

In the plaza, on the stage, the Duke makes a long presentation, describing (quite vaguely) Tawna and Haakon's efforts on behalf of many- scouting for the troops, rescuing Elves, bringing back vital reports concerning the movements and plans of the Huns.

Mergyon the Weremink Majordomo makes an appearance, and very officially gives the Duke two small golden medals- intricately inscribed and patterned disks of metal- on silk cords.

He grants the award to Tawna first, calling her a Hero of the Duchy of Lucimburic, hereby noted for gallantry, and loyalty to the Duchy.

Then he introduces Haakon.  "Not a citizen of our Duchy," he says, "but one who deserves our acclaim, who has fought by Tawna's side for months and seen her through every hardship.  Therefore in recognition of this I do proclaim him First Companion of the Order of the Forest Moon."

Haakon is beginning to realise that he may be a little out of his depth among all this pageantry, but he bows solemnly and looks to Tawna, trying very hard to suppress a grin.  He reaches for an finds Tawna's hand.

The dwarf watches and claps accordingly

The Duke finishes his presentation and presents Haakon and Tawna to the crowd, which responds with a mix of applause, cheers and wild hooting and howling.

Duke Barstow himself applauds, and smiles.  When the noise dies down, he addresses the crowd again, his loud voice carrying over the plaza.

"Tawna and Haakon have requested of me a boon.  I have told you there will be a wedding here today and there shall be, the wedding of Tawna and Haakon, who do deeply desire to spend their full lives in the company of each other."

The crowd applauds.. weakly.. there is a lot of sputtered reaction, whispers back and forth among them.  It's them?  It's not the king and the Elf?

Obviously, many were expecting to witness the wedding of Theoderic and Aelasuria.

"Isn't it just like Wereweasels," someone says.

Some people begin to wander away but most people stay.  It's still a wedding, right?

Cirostis erupts in loud cheering and shouting.

anyone who attempts to walk away, gets a very embarrassing and most intimidating look from him.

On hearing the comment about wereweasels, Haakon moves his hands only to return them to their former position and takes Tawna's hand again as he realises that his ceremonial garb doesn't include his bow.  He relaxes and grins.  "I'm not a hero", he says, "I'm a dressmaker.  I've done things, I admit, killed dragons, sacked cities, faced an ogre alone and unarmed, rescued my aunt and cousin from slavery and set up a highway patrol to keep Vesontio, my home town, free of bandits.  But I'm not a hero.  I wouldn't dare be a hero because I value the esteem of this Lady beside me more than that of anyone else, and too often when I take risks, she thinks I'm crazy.  So... I'd be really grateful if you people could stay and share in the lifelong bonding not of two heroes but of a dressmaker and a schoolmarm."

The wizard wanders his way into the crowd.