"Not in vain. No." Cass amended. "Just that there is still so much to learn. So much to learn. As I think you will see once you observe the training. You may be eager to join in, and I will gladly help you all I can."

Cass was surprised not only by the young noble's sincerity, but by his open camaraderie. He knew that Cyrus was an honorable man, but not many were so solicitous to those beneath their station. It garnered favor in the bard's eyes.

"Midmarch is a gem that will prove its value once properly polished. A task I relish nearly as much as you. There are aspects of society that I hope to nurture that have not been in the forefront of other lands. I also hear that you have some plans for the ringed place that will benefit many."

Cyrus smiled as Adoven is pulled away to dance with the Lady Viktoria, happy to see her enjoying herself and even happier to watch as Adoven does his best to keep up.

Turning to Cass he says, "Indeed, it is a diamond waiting to be found and refined. As for the Ring Fort, I have had my eye on it since the day we found and cleared it of it’s bandits, the first time that is... He pauses as he takes a drink of the glass of wine he’d been handed. "I guess when you come as close to death as I did there on two separate occasions, the place becomes special. I knew when we were leaving that I wanted to make something more of it. But the true planner is my wife..." He trails off a bit and then says, "Huh, that's odd, it just rolled off my tongue. My wife, Valoria, has mentioned grand plans for the area, and I have little doubt they will come to fruition. Cass, you're a good man. I am glad you joined Henry on this quest to refine the gem that is Midmarch. We are lucky to have you. Tell me Cass, what do you hope to gain in Midmarch, something tells me your answer will be more valiant and ambitious than my own would have been a month or so ago."

His eyes automatically casting down, Cass fought not to scuffle his feet. "Not everyone looks favorably upon half-elves. We are often treated as mongrels from both sides of the fence. I gained notoriety in Restov as a performer, but never really felt respected as a person."

Cass paused to take his longest pull of ale yet before continuing. "Even within the dueling circles, no matter how many opponents I bested, I never seemed to be as lauded as some of the lesser duelists. The charter proved to be my chance to make a change of things. Establish myself in a new land and perhaps establish the land as well."

Some of the dancers passing by caught his eye. Elegance in motion was always an attention getter. None had managed the level of Jicca's flowing story of earlier, however. "I have spent some time in coffee and tea houses where the atmosphere is social and congenial, and everyone seems to feel in their own element. I hope to foster similar venues with establishments of the entertainment and hospitality variety."

Cass shrugged and quirked a grin. "Or orchestrate dragon races. No one can match the prestige of a true dragoneer."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Sat 14 Oct 2017.

Cyrus listened to Cass intently and smiled as he revealed his desires for his place in MidMarch. "People are afraid of what they don't know and they use differences as small as appearances to exclude those that feel in anyway different, but you know that all too well. We have a few half-elves among us and all are seen as equals. You will be the same. You don’t need to worry about that here. And I hope you are able to make real that openness throughout MidMarch, I will do all I can to aid you in that.”

In reply to DM (msg # 40):

Understanding finally blossomed in Andalon's mind as he listened to the brief exchange between Lex and Ajax. After Lex had moved on, Andalon spoke to Ajax again.

"I probably should have realised sooner, when I first noticed the tankard you carry, but it was not until you mentioned the Lucky Drunk that I realised you might be a cleric of Cayden Cailean. His teachings are somewhat of a mystery to me and must be very different from the principles that Abadar espouses, I suppose. But anyone who could pass the Test of the Starstone deserves the respect of all men, of that I am sure. I don't know how many of the guests here might be more in tune with the Drunken Hero rather than the Master of the First Vault, but perhaps I should introduce you to Pipre, the dark-haired young lady over there? She is another of Henry's officers of Midmarch, like Cyrus, Valoria and me, but she is a talented alchemist and seems to know how to put alcohol to good use as surely as any of the other alchemical concoctions that make her so valuable whenever danger rears its head."

If he is able to catch Pipre's eye he will beckon her over to introduce her to Ajax.

After her congratulations she does look around, not quite sure how all this should work but luckily noticing Andalon looking her way. She walks over, rather unpracticed but deliberate in walking in her high heels. "Hello there, Andalon, how do you do? Introduce me to your friend?" She is quick to offer her hand, palm down, large oval or rectangle cuts of sparkling clear or glossy black stones texturing her fingers.

As Cyrus spoke to the guests of the wedding, Valoria smiled as he spoke of his wife. It did roll off the tongue nicely. Indeed the plans would come to fruition. In fact, they had alreay begun to take a form of a beginning with this wedding. The future looked bright.

As Pipre came forth, Valoria put her arms around the woman, hugging her. “Thank you Pipre. It is my hope we will be good friends in the future. If you ever want to view my spellbook, in order to write down some formulas, I would be more than happy to help.”

Lex backed away from Ajax, allowing Andalon and Pipre to speak to the groom's brother.

Marik paused for a moment, considering how he should answer her question. He hadn't yet made his intentions known, and truth be told, he'd only really come to understand what his aspirations were in the last week or so. But, he decided that if he were to share his desires with someone, Maraim seemed like a good choice to start with; he was certain she wouldn't be judgmental.

"Well, truth be told, I hope to eventually forge my own place out in the Midmarch, perhaps found a stronghold under the jurisdiction of Lord Henry de le Maistre, perhaps even earn a title of my own." He smiles a bit sheepishly, "I realize it's a bit overzealous, but we're meant to dream big, yes? And what about you? What are your goals in the Midmarch?"

Andalon took Pipre's outstretched hand and admired the gemstones adorning her fingers.

"Beautiful! You have excellent taste, Pipre," he declared.

Then he introduced her to Ajax.

"Pipre, this is Cyrus's brother, Ajax. I understand he is a cleric of the Lucky Drunk, Cayden Cailean. With your alchemical interest in alcohol and all its uses, and, as I understand it, all of the rituals of Ajax's faith using alcohol in one way or another, I thought you two might find more to talk about together than you might with most of the other people here."

In reply to Marik (msg # 60):

She smiled at him, she understood what it felt like to want something so much. "I am sure you will find your own place. Lord Marik has a nice ring to it! If I can help you in this endeavor let me know. "

Then he asked her about her own goals, she frowned "I am the first born of my father yet my title passed over me to my younger half-brother, I am a woman after all so I have no claim to it. Back home I had no place except to one day be married off to a man I hardly knew and have children until I died like my mother before me. It is why my auntie sent me away." she shook her head. "I have no specific goal yet except for spreading the grace of my lady. Nothing so grand as your own. But mayhaps I could start with the building of a library in Restov one day, after that perhaps Borric would need a hand with his temple to the Lady, then who knows, a place of my own does sound nice."

Pipre smiles at Valoria and wraps her up in the hug, giving a little kiss on the cheek for good measure. "I've not really had too many friends; that would make me happy. Oh, and if the formula book can help you out or you ever need any potion mixing pointers, you know who to ask. Say, I read that after a wedding you're supposed to do something like 'consummate' what is that? I can't wait until we get to that part."

-----------

"Ah, you're too sweet, Andalon. Oh, is that so? I put whisky in my healing potions, is it something like that?"

"I suspect Ajax knows how to turn whiskey into a healing potion," Andalon responded with a smile. "Gods willing!"

Marik nods as he takes a sip of wine. Well, if you decide you don't want to deal with the hassle of going it alone, I'm sure I will have need of a general, or at least a captain of the guard or somesuch," he says with a smile.

Pipre and Valoria exchange a few quiet words, before Pipre heads off into the main room to join the conversation with Ajax, Andalon and Tansy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:44, Tue 17 Oct 2017.

Vik and Adoven dance, Vik comfortable with the steps and routines but somewhat pedestrian in her approach -  Adoven lighter on his feet, but less sure of the steps.

After a brief word with Henry, the sword lord and his wife join the dancing and a moment later Henry and Bai join in as well.

Tansy, Ajax and Andalon chat as the brother-in-law continues to quaff ale heartily.  When Pipre joins them and is introduced by Andalon, Ajax smiles.  He can’t help but notice the cut of her clothing and the rings on her fingers.  Taking her hand, Ajax bends low and kisses the back of Pipre’s hand, his lips, perhaps, lingering for a moment longer than appropriate.

”I am, I suppose, Cyrus’s best man.  Or at least whatever the equivalent of that is in Abadar’s ceremonies.  I suppose you must be one of the bride’s maids …”  Then he turns his attentions to Andalon’s comment and in a slightly teasing tones responds  ”Ritual is such a complicated word, we prefer to call them celebrations.  And, yes, most of our celebrations include a goodly measure of ale, and we do bring out the stronger stuff occasionally as well.”  Then turning back to Pipre, Ajax continues  ”I often put apple jack in mine, but whiskey works as well.  Anything to perk the spirit up while the flesh heals.”

Marik and Mariam stand close to one of the tables at the back of the room, where servants keep passing and handing out small, tasty bites of food and keeping their tankards topped up.  They chat quietly about their hopes and aspirations for the new land.

In reply to Adoven (msg # 51):

"You dance wonderfully Adoven."

Vik found herself enjoying how the combination of her training and lack of skill and Adoven's natural proficiency made for a decent time

Pipre doesn't really notice the impropriety one way or the other. She plows on, always happy to talk about potioncraft, "And alcohol is an essential catalyst base that is often easier to find in drink form than pure spirit. I did make a potion out of lamp oil once, though. I suspect the methods of alchemists and priests differ quite a bit."

In reply to Viktoria d'Lodovka (msg # 70):

"The right partner makes all the difference" Adoven says as he looks Viktoria in the eyes. He looks as if he's truly seeing the woman beneath the warrior for the first time. And he likes what he sees. His motions become smoother as he gently guides Viktoria in 'feeling' the rhythm of the dance.

Seeing the others dancing, Cyrus moved away from his current conversations and approached his bride. Leaning in he held his hand out to her and said, "May I have this dance? I think it only fitting that we truly join in the festivities, my love."

Valoria blushed as Pipre asked about the meaning of 'consummate'. Luckily, Pipre was called over before she could give an answer. “Perhaps you should ask Andalon, over a dance? As a priest of the church and someone knowledgeable in....well I'm sure he could, accommodate you.”

Her eyes then fell onto her husband and a smile crossed her lips. “Indeed, let us dance.”

Andalon laughed softly at Pipre's admission that she had once made a potion out of lamp oil.

"If I ever get to taste one of your potions, remind me to ask what it is made from first before I swallow it all down. I hate to think how quickly a lamp-oil potion would pass through a body!" he chuckled.

He turned to Tansy and grinned at her.

"You're Tansy, aren't you? One of Henry's more recent recruits? I heard that your group was sent to explore some of the hills area east of the forest but I haven't heard much about what you might have discovered there. Did you find anything interesting or useful?" he asked.

In reply to Andalon de Lebeda (msg # 75):

Tansy seemed startled at Andalon suddenly addressing her, and made a small bow before answering

"Yes, we mostly explored finding mites and little lizard men called kobolds. Mites are, sort of goblinfolk if I had to describe it. Large insects too, a tick the size of a dog found itself latched to a place I can't really show you, begging your pardon."