In reply to Narrator (msg # 1):

Oligur arrives outside Sandien's hut, seemingly rather relieved after his conversation with his commander.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 1):

Sanuzi begins to look around for fetishes or other holy objects, specifically a braid of hair and beads. He uses his Spirit Sight (if still possible) to examine objects.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:59, Wed 25 Sept 2019.

Sandien's house is peaceful.  Oligur can hear Tamarkora inside talking with a woman.

Sanuzi approaches and enters the house.

Sanuzi is familiar with Sandien's house, where she keeps things, and where she has things you were told not to touch.  This is an emergency, so you go through those places as well.  As you move through the house, you notice that there is a young woman of the Garlin family tending to mother.

In one of Sandien's secret stashes you find a copper ring.  There are thirteen braids of hair, each adorned with beads.  Each braid uses only one color of bead, and each has a spirit bound.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 4):

Sanuzi carefully and respectfully lifts the braids. Out slithers the scaly black snake that hangs out with him. She seems to unfurl her scales a bit and Sanuzi gently touches them to the snake, which retracts her scales a bit. With all the braids adhered, the snake disappears beneath Sanuzi's scant clothing.

As he finishes this task, Sanuzi makes sure Tamarkora notices him (if he has not already). He'll be polite and greet the girl, thanking her for her help, but really wants to relay to Tam that if Mother is OK for now, we might be needed elsewhere.

For now, I'm going to the Lunar camp.

Tamarkorda's jaw clenches as he listens to Sanuzi, he swallows hard and for a long time seems unable to speak, but finally he nods and gives his lodge-brother a hug before following him. The sleeves of his tunic lash about for a few moments as if some unfelt gust of wind had passed through the hut.

OOC ---> I take it Sanuzi and Tamarkorda are going over to the Lunar fort.

Having heard that Oligur is standing guard outside Sandien's house, Astrelia has taken it upon herself to bring him something to eat and drink.

"Oligur," she says with a smile, her body wrapped in a warm fur lined cloak.  "You are good to help the shaman while she helps one who serves the Seven Mothers.  You missed the mid-day meal, so I have brought you something to keep up your strength."  She is wearing a nice, form fitting gown under the cloak.  You see this as she raises her arms outside of the cloak to show you a wicker box that must have your lunch.

Oligur's jaw drops open. He tugs off his helmet and rapidly tries to smooth down his hair with his hand."Y-you  are much too kind. That you should care about the needs of this lowly soldier... I--I have no words"
Oligur bows deeply and long at the waist, and on standing back up he gratefully accepts the gift. For a moment he looks over his shoulder, as if wondering if he should share with his shaman colleagues... but he seems to put that thought out of his mind and instead shuffles slightly to the side, placing himself between Astrelia and the view from doorway. He beams at her as he eats.

"You are welcome, and it is no trouble.  It is the least I could do for one being praised by his commander."

Walking back to the Lunar fort with Tamarkorda and Sanuzi, Oligur strolls with a renewed vigor to his step. He seems quite cheerful, whistling a bit despite the gloomy atmosphere in the camp. After a bit he addresses his comrades:
"So, I hope you found what you were looking for in there?And speaking of finding things... Would either of you have any suggestions for finding a gift one could obtain here in Jelmine, one that is suitable for a lady of refined tastes and quality? This town is not exactly Glamour, or even Alda Chur, but, would you have any thoughts?
Just curious.Uh, in general."

Tamarkorda takes a sideways glance at Oligur one eyebrow raised, then, looking straight ahead again he muses, 'I saw Aranda sew some fine work back at the hut, she is one of the Murval Garlin Murval girls. Y One might ask her to make a thing to please such a taste, if there were time to spare. Or might Garrik have such wares in his goods from Boldhome?"
OOC {edited Aranda's bloodline which thought I had got wrong having read anoyhert post, but on the npc page and in more recent posts it seems I was right the first tim}
This message was last edited by the player at 07:33, Thu 28 Nov 2019.

In reply to Oligur Jaffez (msg # 11):

Oligur, you have no need of trinkets! You can not purchase affection with gifts...

Sanuzi pauses and looks aside at Tamarkorda and winks.

If you want to be memorable, be kind. You are already well ahead on that part.

Oligur smiles at his two companions, heeding their input in turn, as they continue to the Lunar fort. 

Tamarkorda made his farewells at the Lunar fort and went back to Sandein's house.  As he enters the house, Aranda comes from the back room.

"I am glad that you have returned Tamarkorda."  She stops, "You look exhausted.  Are you OK?"

She comes over and pulls Tamarkorda into the house.  "Sandein's Mother is sitting up, and she has a blank look on her face, but otherwise she is fine.  You may look her over, but let me get you some stew and bread."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:55, Sun 03 Nov 2019.

Tamarkorda smiles at Aranda saying 'You should see Sandien and Sanuzi! we are all fine I think, I'm just hoarse from signing and talking to Lunars. Thank you for the food. I'll be back in a trice' he goes to see Mother.
'Aria is in bronze at the loom house' he tells her. 'Sandien is sleeping. I hope you are well'
When he is finished with Mother he will return to Aranda to eat.

As you just came from there, you can tell that mother is staring toward the Lunar Fort.  She does not acknowledge you or speak to you.  She blinks approximately once every minute, and her breathing is very slow.

Aranda calls to you, "since you were singing, I will also prepare you a special tea.  It will sooth your throat."  Aranda is not overtly flirting, but she is being very maternal.  You have seen her before.  She helps Sandien out with housekeeping and cooking.  She is not a shaman apprentice.  Like most young women of Jelmine, she is a devotee of Ernalda.  She is of the Garlin clan.

You then notice that Mother's left index finger is moving ever so slowly.  It is the only part of her body that seems to be moving.

---

If Bingling is with Tamarkorda, Aranda will also prepare him some stew.  She has mushroom beer as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:05, Sun 03 Nov 2019.

It occurs to Tamarkorda that Mother may be tracing out a rune with her index finger. So he stays long enough to see if he can make any sense of this idea before going to eat.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 17):

Bingling compliments her on the taste and thanks her for her hospitality. He smiles, nods, closes his eyes, and trills a moment while he mentally makes a note to share some of his best mushrooms with her for free as a reciprocity-gift.

Aranda smiles at Bingling's compliment, then goes about her work.  It appears that she has been working on a quilt composed of cloth fragments.

---

Tamarkorda watches her finger movements.  They are very precise, but it still takes nearly 20 minutes to figure out what she is drawing as the movement is painfully slow.  Aranda leaves some tea and stew beside Tamarkorda.

Eventually Tamarkorda sees the complete pattern.  She draws the rune of Fertility, draws a circle around it, and then taps the center.  Every time she taps the center, there is a subtle wave of power leaving the rune that Tamarkorda finally notices.

After about thirty minutes, Mother turns her head and squints as if trying to see something in the distance or hear something.  He head then turns back to the original position.  She closes her eyes, and passes out on the bed.

Tamarkorda puts a blanket over Mother and with the first three fingers of his right hand lightly traces the shape of a harmony rune on her forehead.
Then he rejoins Bingling and Aranda.

OOC:  Narrator edited post to strike out one action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:17, Sun 03 Nov 2019.

The moment Tamarkorda finishes drawing the rune, Mother's eyes open.

---

Bingling and Aranda hear a crash from the room Mother is in.
You find Tamarkorda on the floor.  It looks like he hit his head at first, but there is blood coming from his eyes, nose, and ears.

Aranda says, "Bingling, please stay with him.  I'm going to get Inkarne."

Tamarkoda waves his hand in front of Bingling and Aranda at arm's length. He doesn't seem to be focusing properly.

In reply to Tamarkorda (msg # 23):

Bingling has no idea what to do, but stays with Tamarkoda.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Mon 04 Nov 2019.

In reply to Bingling Hyxloriz (msg # 24):

Astorl will stay with Bingling.

Tamarkorda says something in a language neither Astorl or Bingling understands. Then he says something else and tilts his head on one side. He may be asking a question.