Mammon raised an eyebrow, " So that we can live in comfort...."

" Oh!  Customary Law mostly, though I have aquainted myself with Royal Law and Church Law recently...."

She raised her chalice, and Otto took a couple of laps from the top of it, " To comfort!"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Sat 26 Oct 2019.

Barlow was demolishing a wedge of cheese, " Aye, and more bedchambers and back alleys....and the living tend to be a bit prettier and smell better."

" Cheese?", he held a small piece between his fingers towards Usopis mouth.

Drummond fixed Sir Turren with a look, then grinned to himself, " Nothing like a perfect peach....".

He headed over to the table to refill his goblet.

In reply to Mammon o' Greybridge (msg # 19):

Lann raises his goblet and tosses his new friend before continuing , "I consider myself an aristocrat where I come from and tend to use the plural first person pronoun at times, I'm afraid. I'm certain you must b good at what you do to afford such finery. Perhaps we could form some study group. I am a bit more interest in ancient lore but I believe I better learn some royal law to stay in good health here."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:06, Sat 26 Oct 2019.

Desie eats his fill, which is not much. Noticing that The Boar has moved toward the end of the table he takes his mug and raises it at the big man, acknowledging him. Looking across the room be is aware that Lann is holding court with the woman named Mammon, with the man dressed in green close by, Usopi is in conversation with another man.
He spies out the lady dessed in green with an accent from home before slowly and deliberately moving toward her.

"I understand from your speech that you might be Cornumbrian? How is the land I once called home? Forgive me, I am Deise, you must have arrived after I left.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Sat 26 Oct 2019.

Mammon looked him up and down again, " Nobility? Really? Are you certain?"

" Glissom must be quite a wild place compared to Albion I suppose."

" A study group? And what body of law would you like to acquaint yourself with particularly?"

" Yes...there is something of lore about you....don't you agree Otto?", she scratched under the cats jaw and it burbled a series of mewling sounds then gently bit her earlobe.

" Now, now. No need for jealousy, My Love."

"Well my mother is clan shaman so that makes me sort of an aristocrat in my little tribe but I guess we do things differently. Haha kinda make makes right sorta environment. Still I guess a bit of knowledge of law of these parts will be useful to survive here I supposed? How long have you been in court?" Lann asks.

Looking at the cat, he could not help but notice it is a pretty cat. "And you do have a pretty feline companion," he says, trying to make the cat feel better.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:48, Sat 26 Oct 2019.

" Shaman? I do not know this title.  But there is something about you that is different to most fighting men.  And its not just all your pretty toys...."

Otto preened as Lann complimented it, for a moment Lann wondered if the animal understood his words.

" Well, Lore and Law.  I am happy to familiarise you with whichever parts you take most interest in."

"Sort of a counsellor, Clann magician and I guess Clann deputy when the King isn't around? I don't  discuss much politics with her only learning and sword play with her and her friend who taught me much of what I know. The rest I learnt from traveling around the region. I think you must be good at what you do and can probably look after yourself well! All pretty ladies need to! And I would like to learn how to behave before a king. Lest his majesty decides to chop my head off," Lann says with a laugh.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:37, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

Aphail eats and drinks in a measured and thoughtful way.  Ever watchful and alert.  His attention moves to Sir Uthen of Sadley, his new target.  When an opportune moment strikes, Aphail will take his leave from Caith and sits close to the knight.

"Sir Uthen, I feel that we have much in common and I would like to get to know you better.  You heraldic symbol of a beehive is most interesting.  As a follower of Artia, I believe in the natural order of things, the careful balance between man and nature.  Sometimes nature needs to be encouraged or protected from hostile intent, much like your ancestors building hives for wild bees.  In a fair exchange of labour, both prosper.  The bees have a safe place to live and the humans get some honey.  The same is true in the forests of Glissom.  When hunting, we kill only what we need to eat, only in moderation, and never in the mating season. I maintain a balance within my own forest.  I hope one day to run a Hunting Lodge in Glissom, where I might take a wife and have a family." his eyes flick at Caith before continuing.  "Do you have plans for the future Sir Uthen?"

Caith does her best to be polite, introducing Leofwyn to Alphail and Brannon, before she sits down, making a silent apology to the three wolves that died for her warcoat as she does so, for the disrespect of being used as a cushion. The lifelike glass eyes in the wolf's head hood now hanging down the back of her stool seem to glare sullenly at the room from ankle height.

OOC: Caith sits near Alphail, and Leofwyn, so that's down near the end of the table where Brannon is seated.

Up close, the black bands of embroidery on her tunic can be seen to not be entirely dark, as the threads of fine spun black wool form a repeating pattern over the scarlet cloth underneath, similar to a fern's growing fronds around her hands and neck.

She eats rapidly, but daintily as she can manage, wary of the different taste in cookery at first. Food is food, and it would be a shame to waste it, not to mention an insult to the cook.

Caith looks up as Deise approaches and lifts his mug to the man in boarskin, Dairmund, then chats to Leofwyn. Her slow look about the room sees no daggers in hand that aren't being used as eating utensils, so she whispers to Alphail "I will be back in a moment, so nay be thinking I've abandoned ye to the tender mercies of polite conversation."

She approaches the big man slowly, as one would any dangerous seeming beast, and quietly says "Ye seem to have something of the same taste in outer wear as I do, sir. If it would offend ye to speak of it, then I will nay ask again, and apologize for the offense in asking, but my curiosity wonders why ye wear a boar's skin in particular?"

Caith adds politely "We may nay be royal company, Dairmund, but I would be most happy if ye would sit with us a while regardless." then wryly admits "Easier on my aching neck with so many great big folk to talk with..."

_{EDIT: Typos fixed and additional text added for clarity.}
This message was last edited by the player at 00:06, Mon 28 Oct 2019.

Aphail is grateful that Caith introduces Leofwyn to him.  He certainly would not talk to such a young, beautiful, noble druidic person unsolicited!  When he has returned from talking with Sir Uthen, he will strike up with Leofwyn.

"Milady, I am Aphail-in-the-Hood.  I am a servant of Artia.  Artia is the Goddess of the Hunt.  She teaches us the power of the natural order of things.  I can see by your demeanour and behaviour that you too are a follower of nature."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:40, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

" A Clan? It sounds positively primal....and yet you have a King?  Ah, King Corbin is unlikely to have too many of our heads off I think."

" Clan Magician? And what does that entail....have you inherited some of her talents?"

" Well, of course a woman must sometimes look after herself, but it can be quite a bit of work and an extra pair of hands is always welcome."

Usopi chuckled at the man’s response, ”Indeed, the living are more appealing then the dead, though we did see a naked female giant that led an army of undead soldiers and summoned a bone golem. That was uncomfortable”

He raised a hand and took the offered cheese, popping it in to his mouth, ”Mmmh, good cheese.”

Usopi looked to Cene and saw him in conversation with the King. He decided his question could wait and turned back to the rest of the table.

" Surely you jest? A female giant...an army of the dead and a....whatever that other thing was..."

" You understand that most folk would think you mad to speak of such things with such familiarity."

" It is certainly an interesting life you have led so far.  Are you betrothed, Sir Usopi?"

" I guess she looks after the spiritual needs of the clan. Well she taught me some. I supposed you are also skilled in the way of controlling arcane forces? I am not surprised if you have the power to charm man and beast alike."

"So what brings a fair lady to these parts?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

" Arcane forces? Me? Whyever would you think such a thing?"

" Well....I am not without my ways....but I am somewhat confused by yourself. You carry blade and maille and seem a man-at-arms, yet you say she taught you her ways....it is most unusual..."

" Lack of work....and I heard that King Corbin was in need of someone learned to assist him."

"A woman who can charm me is certainly a magi,"'Lann grins before continuing,"Well I suppose I am a warrior then and sometimes a singer,. She taught me how to fight and simple movements. As clan shaman she does her fair share of fighting. So what are your specialties?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:18, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

Usopi chuckled at Barlow's disbelief, "I suppose that is true. Our adventures do seem like tall tales. Though in the hall of a castle ruling a land that, until recently was dominated by a dark god and his plague ridden servants, it should seem less so."

He took a drink of ale to wash down the cheese, "Hells, I likely would have thought myself a drunkard before I started my journey north. But so far I have learned that nothing is impossible. Just in my first encounter with the group I travel with, it ended with us fighting a group of armed and armored beast men larger then myself, led by a priest that controlled a flying plague beast. In fact, that's where I got my long sword. Which, fantastically in and of itself, cuts through stone like butter while also imbuing its user with an overpowering rage that makes one see friends as hostile combatants. A lesson we learned while fighting a horde of moor-fae when we were crossing the moors."

As he talked he smiled broader and leaned back in his seat, marveling in the absurdity of his journey. Then he looked down at his plate as he thought how to answer of his betrothal.

"No would be the most direct answer, though I have found myself thinking lately upon a bold Chieftain who expressed some interest in me when we passed through her clan's holdings." He paused a moment and then shrugged, glancing back up to Barlow and the table in general, "Though I seem intent on wandering a while longer, so perhaps there is little reason to ponder on such things. Gatanadese will lead me where he so desires."
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:51, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

'And keep you in good health, sir,' Turren raises his cup to Usopi, having just caught the last of his words.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:47, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

"Good evening, Sir Turren!" She smiles and sits down. "That's very kind of you to say. I'm glad you liked it! Often while I travel, I live off the fruit that I grow from my staff, so I learned very quickly to perfect the peach!"



"Good evening to you, Herbwife Caith!" Leofwyn smiles and gestures that the place beside her is free.



"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr.Aphail-in-the-Hood."

"My name is Leofwyn, and indeed you are correct. Nature and all it holds has become more of a home to me than my actual home... Though you'll find me less of the 'huntress' than those who follow Goddess Artia."




As Leofwyn sees Deise coming, she rises from her chair to meet him.

"A pleasure, sir. My name is Leofwyn, and yes, you are correct." She gestures for Diese to sit with her in the now empty chair beside her.

"I grew up in the southernmost parts of Cornumbria, but have not been back for the better part of 10 years. No matter where I go and what I do, though, I can't seem to shake my accent." She smiles at Deise and adds,

"It seems that my accent has served me well this evening, though. It is nice to meet a fellow Cornumbrian. What brings you out here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:08, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

"Like yourself I am a traveller, leaving home 15 years back. I've not been back but would like to see the marshlands and coast again. Some day, maybe. I came here to serve a new King with a new broom to sweep away old dirt. Truth of it, I'm tired of working for old dirt. You, what  brings you North?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:20, Sun 27 Oct 2019.

"You are from Cornumbria, Leofwyn?  This is the furthest south I've ever been.  What is it like where you're from?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:41, Mon 28 Oct 2019.

Diarmuid regarded Caith in silence for a few moments and she felt a prickle go up the back of her spine as his eyes moved over her.

He reached forward toward her slowly and touched the scarred side of her face, a slight, and slightly disturbing, smile creasing his lips. He nodded and squatted down inclining his head forward so that Caith could see on the crown of his enormous head the distinct half-inch deep impression of a shire horses hoof....similar to the scar on Sir Turrens head but far deeper.

" Diarmuid was a happy, Darian attacked Diarmuids lord, Diarmuid fought the Riders, Diarmuid fell. Diarmuid came home to ruin,   The Boar woke and saved Diarmuid. The Boar lived in the woods, felt the heartbeat of the world, killed the other boar before it killed the boy...wore his skin for warmth...hunted and scavenged...the people were afraid of the Black Boar of the Woods."

" Diarmuid came back together slowly....but the Boar did not leave. Diarmuid came from the woods, the people were afraid....but Diarmuid made Darian afraid and ended him."

" You are from Glissom, I have been to Glissom. It is nice...only saw city though..."

" Who you serve in Glissom? Who you serve here? Speak truth, The Boar can scent lies."

" Contracts, Writs, Compacts...the usual rigmarole. Certainly not as exciting as battle or warfare."