Kyla was awestruck by the barn. Nothing in her limited experience had prepared her for something like this. Certainly, the small Donahue clan didn't have anything so grand. Their meeting place was a tiny pavilion of several posts and a roof. Her new clan was much bigger, of course, and could use a barn like this. She shivered at the thought of such a project and hugged herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:00, Thu 01 June 2017.

The small group was genuinely warm and pleasant, keeping both the chatter and coffee flowing freely.  Four of them were here for the festivities and got roped into the morning meeting.  The fifth was a local Shay that was attempting to prove his worth to the new Bren'in.  It was quite some time before Ciniod graced you all with his presence (strolling in with much swagger and pomp) but thankfully you were entertained and had almost forgotten why you were there in the first place.  Taking a seat on the Bren'ins' chair (the 'throne' is actually a large oak tree stump/root that naturally formed into a large chair) Ciniod eyes you all heavily.

"Alright...let's be honest, it was a long, looong night.  Can you all please remind me who you are again and why I asked you to be here?"

In reply to Heart of the Mountain (msg # 75):

Naturally, Travis was somewhere unobtrusively over-watching the scene while dealing with some kind of choir as the Bren'en had arrived and asked for a second introduction.

Erbin stepped forward and with a slight nod to Ruairidh spoke first, "Good morning Bren'in, Erbin Shay, we spoke briefly yesterday about the need for yeast."

Ciniod seems to spark a little at the mention of the yeast, like someone had kicked his chair suddenly.

"Oh yes, yes, of course, now that is the whole reason you're all here this fine morning.  Big ceremony coming up and we need a special wine brewed before that time gets here.  Our yeast supplies are pretty much gone so we need to make a run into town and get us some more.  I suppose anything else we see is fair game as well...just remember to avoid the fire (guns).  We don't touch them things and they don't come chasin' us, clear?"

"Yeast?  Making a run for yeast?"  She snorted.  "Gotta have the wine, I suppose.  I'm game for a raid, no matter what.  It's the 'anything else' bit that interests me." Knife in hand, she gave it a little spin.

In reply to Maeryn Farrell (msg # 79):

As usual, for any who bothered to look, Travis could be seen with a frown as he overlooked all who gathered in his normal watchful way.

Ciniod seemed slightly perturbed by Maeryns' not taking the matter as serious as he had hoped.

"We have ways of making our own yeast but it is of poor quality.  It's perhaps the only item that we need those damn outsiders for!", he hisses with disdain dripping from his voice.  He takes a moment to calm himself before continuing...

"Yes, anything else.  We usually hit one of those big food stores that has all types of stuff other than food.  Water, booze, food, clothing, knives...they got it all down there and it's all in one convenient place."  He belts out a hearty laugh and is promptly joined by his cronies.

While most had not noticed, one of the elders had entered the building not too far behind Ciniod.  He rolled his eyes skyward and pursed his lips as the Bren'in spoke.
"Your father would not have approved of this!"  The man turned and stormed from the hall.

Recognizing the voice, Ciniod sighed and waited as the old man stormed off before turning around to look.

"And he's not in charge anymore, is he?", he yelled.

Kyla gaped when the Elder and the new Bren'in had words. She quickly looked down and pretended she hadn't seen or heard anything, rather than to disrespectfully catch Ciniod's eyes.

She wondered why they couldn't just send someone to go buy the yeast. They could trade some of their furs and beautiful carvings for the outsiders' money and go buy it. It seemed like the most peaceable thing to do. But she didn't say anything, just kept her thoughts to herself.

In reply to Kyla Shay (msg # 82):

Having either gotten fed up or having decided this wasn't worth his time anymore, either way Travis moves from his spot in the wall with a gentle thrust of his back and he quietly announces "I'll prep" as his quiet step exits him out of the building.

The sun seemed angry now, its heat beating on his shoulders and neck. He felt like the ground growled at him as it crunched beneath his feet. He couldn't help but feel like these things were true whether they were or not, he felt like the mountain was demanding to be heard and though he felt like its voice called for calm he chose to ignore his own musings and for the sake of coping he ignored his own instincts over the matter.

They had means to grow better yeast, he knew this, there was other ways to make fermented drinks as well... One time a one of his cousins had gotten drunk off of there aunts chai. Another time his same cousin and there brother found drank the juice of Travis's mushrooms Flooded and fermented by the rains on dares.

However, if they where going to go then he would at least try to make sure there wasnt any issues while they where at it. In turn he just hoped none of them did anything really stupid.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:08, Sun 11 June 2017.

Erbin waited for the Bren'in to regain his composure "How much Brewers Yeast is needed? I am sure the place has some but on the off chance the don't have enough. We can be on the look out for any other place that may have a supply."

Erbin was taking an even deeper dislike to the new Bren'in, but it was to late now to refuse. "When would you like the raid to commence and will any of your men be joining us?" as Erbin looked at each of the Bren'ins cronies in turn.

"Well they've never let us down before but I suppose you have a point."  He pauses, contemplating Erbins' question.  Clearly he was not expecting such an idea.

"There's one of them grain stores out near the edge of town.  I know we've hit them before in years past.  I suppose if we need to we can always head there."

Downing what's left in his cup he stands up, stretching to his full height...

"Alright...we better get ourselves ready.  Gonna be a busy day."

Kyla knew she wouldn't be going with the raid. That wasn't what she was good at. She was skilled at farming, foraging and hunting small animals. She decided to do some foraging in the woods while the others were gone. Maybe do some fishing or light hunting. The others of her clan would come back to a fine feast!

Apparently satisfied with their Bren'in's answers, Maeryn slid her knife back into the sheath at her hip and headed for the door.  She gestured for Kyla to join her as she neared.  "Hey, Kyla!  Could use your help.  Think you can help me scrounge up vittles for the road?  Always like to be prepared in case we get caught out for a few days."

Before Kyla left on her hike...

Kyla smiled shyly at Maeryn. The other woman always seemed so sure of herself, so confident in her abilities. The pregnant widow wished she could be so out-going. But she wasn't. She was shy and that's just the way it was. But she did have confidence in her abilities, she'd just never be the first one to say so.

"Yes! I would like to help you!" she said, happy Maeryn had asked. "Will you want jerky and pemmican? Or will you be stopping to cook any?"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:06, Tue 13 June 2017.

"Meet me over by the motors, not hard to find, just listen.  Get what you need, we'll have the rest there.  I'll explain more once we get going."

Ciniod disappears from the building with his cronies at his heels.  Several of the other men mumble and murmur amongst themselves.  From what you can hear, it was directed primarily at Ciniod and laced with expletives.

In reply to Ciniod O'Farrell (msg # 89):

Travis would already be at the ATV's, Checking them over in fact, using a wrench that he had not be previously openly carrying to check the tightness of bolts as well as cablings, tubes, and tires.

"Nothing that need be cooked," she answered Kyla.  "I can't cook worth a lick and I don't trust any of them to, either."  She gestured with her thumb at the retreating Bren'in and his groupies.  "Hope we won't be gone long, but better if we take stuff that won't spoil.  Got stuff in mind?"

Kyla nodded again, more thoughtfully this time. "Yes. There is a powerful lot of meat in the Farrell's smokehouse. I saw it yesterday when I went with my Ma to get a bit of ham to fry. I'm thinking smoked bacon and ham with bread. It won't be fancy but it'll be filling. All the clans can give what bread they've got baked. We can bake more, you can't. How many are going?"

Maeryn shrugged. "A couple of handfuls, I'd reckon.  Maybe a dozen or so.  Won't need more than something to tide us over.  Just the basics, I'd say."

Kyla nodded her understanding. "Sandwiches are pretty basic. Let's go to the smokehouse first and get a chunk of ham and some backstrap. I can take it to my...my mother and the women can fryte meat whilst I ask the others for bread." With that settled, she waddled toward the smokehouse. She'd almost said "my clan" but had rescued herself in time. Gods, how she missed Innis!

OOC: Just to double check, for the raid I have going:
  Erbin Shay
  Travis Hunter
  Maeryn Farrell
  Ruaridh McEntyre-Farrell

Anyone I missed?

Erbin quietly made his way toward the motors, thinking about the coming raid. Seemed like a silly reason for a raid, just to get some yeast. Erbin suspected it was just a reason for the new Brenin to flex his muscles. "Kyla? Is there anything you may need from the valley?"

OOC: Affirmative for Erbin.

Kyla stopped, touched that Erbin had asked. It gave her a warm feeling of acceptance just as she'd gotten when Maeryn asked her to help round up food. Perhaps she would be able to fit into her new clan, after all. "Thank you so much for asking, Erbin. You know, my Papa gave me a butterscotch candy once when I was a little girl. I haven't had one in years but I've had the awfulest craving for one lately. I'd love some, if you run across any. And I'd like a new fry pan. Mine is a hand me down and very old. I'll cook you a good meal in it!" That last was an impulsive offer but she meant it. And she was a good cook.

"Baby stuff," Maeryn added.  "Ain't got a lot of it laying around.  Always could use some new baby stuff."  As they walked toward the smokehouse, she threw a sidelong glance at Kyla, eyes dropping to her stomach.  Maeryn liked the littles, like playing with them and teaching them, but she couldn't imagine herself as a mother.  Curiously, she felt protective of Kyla and the unborn child in her belly.  Perhaps because new blood in the clan was a cause for celebration.