Mhari is sitting by the fire one night outside the clave walls.  Z'Dakk is curled nearby, recently fed and dozing by Mhari's side.  The Glaive has enough light to engage in some small task, repairing a scabbard or sharpening a knife or something similar.  The evening is busy with insects, but not in a bothersome way.  They are chirping, not biting or swarming.

Urr-dani comes up to him.  She is seen to try to control her ... enthusiasm?  Imperiousness?  Frustration?  Anticipation?  Some mood she doesn't want easily read is schooled from her face as she approaches and greets him in the Truth.  "I wish to see the City of Yenth.  Will you take me tomorrow?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 22:37, Tue 10 Oct 2023.

Mhari smiles but keeps his demeanor calm... knowing it took a great deal of humility and courage for the proud noblewoman to make such a request.

"Certainly milady.  Yenth is a bit of a ways away.. land travel is about a day, but I could take you there with a few bolt riding jumps, though I would prefer Not to use that... its kind of tiring.  We could ride Z'Dakk and it would take us perhaps a 2 to 3 hour journey... its the best route in my opinion.  Z'Dakk is not a beast... he is as intelligent and sapient as you and I.. he just perceives the world differently ~ he has too, he has no eyes.  My point is its perfectly safe to ride him.. he will not let you fall. Plus it would allow you to see ... our world in a most scenic fashion."

"Which would you prefer?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Thu 12 Oct 2023.

Urr-dani seems both anxious and intrigued by the idea of riding the blue creature.  She ponders the option for a bit before asking, "Is it possible to test the ride, first?  I would be sure that I am in comfort before committing to a trek of some hours."

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 3):

Mhari smiles warmly, "Of course.  I have a combat saddle for Z'Dakk that has multiple buckled belts to secure me or cargo for aerial combat or turbulent weather... don't think we will need them for this short journey.. but you can be 'belted' to the saddle with no chance of falling from your seat."

"When could such a test flight be arranged?  And what attire must one wear?  I would not like to get entangled in straps, or worse yet, slip out of them."

Mhari is patient, "Well we should probably try one long before we plan to leave so if its not to your liking we can arrange some other travel means. As for attire, warm clothing, not per se cold weather clothing but sleeved, leggings, perhaps a scarf or tight-fitting cap to cover your ears and soft boots at least to cover your feet... it can get windy high up."

"I'm available right now so let's try a test flight now?"

...

If allowed Mhari will lead Ur'Dani to formally introduce her to Z'Dakk.  Which will be a short mental rapport with Mhari at her side both of them merely touching Z'Dakk's long sinuous azure scaled neck... while they share thoughts of greetings and welcoming emotions of friendship.

Hopefully she will get the understanding of how intelligent Z'Dakk's is and how deeply bonded in friendship Mhari and the Z-Drake are... Z'Dakk's is no pet!  Mhari and Z'Dakk's are friends.
~ Mhari mentally views Z'Dakk and an inscrutable, but fascinating Sage of Earth lore from a unique point of view, while Z'Dakk mentally thinks of Mhari as his adventurous sometimes excitable but amusing human.  Ur'dani may also pick up some of the images of their many travels and battles in the skies, of the Semi-metallic post-human woman 'Ymir Yvain' but core to their relationship is a deep trust and regard for each other's safety.  There is no doubt.. Mhari would risk his life to protect Z'Dakk's life. The same is true for Z'Dakk.

The formal mental introduction done Mhari will demonstrate the war saddle, the buckles how to secure them and the spring-loaded quick release buttons for emergencies release and all the failsafe reserve belts and securing buckles... all while grounded to get Ur'Dani familiar with them how how they secure them safely.

Only then will he ask her if she is ready to a brief flight?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:11, Wed 08 Nov 2023.

Urr-dani's introduction and orientation do not go as quickly and smoothly as Mhari would hope, but the process does progress.  Both the human and scaly flier experience Urr-dani's confusion and overwhelm as her thoughts are received by the Z-drake.  The equivalent of screams of panic, fleeing in terror, wailing in frustration, howling in confusion, grunting in effort, sweating with concentration ...  it is clear that this is nothing she was prepared for and it is taking a supreme effort to sort through the mental process.

Her facial expression during that entire process, though, barely shakes from a regal calm.  Whatever schooling of expression she has been taught was done more completely than you have ever witnessed.  An outside observer might only think her patient and mildly interested.

The education takes longer, too, as it must penetrate whatever thoughts are whirling in her head after the telepathic event.  However, eventually, she is ready to go.  Her attire was largely suitable already, and required only a change of shoes and selection of appropriate headgear.  The days in the fledgling clave have produced some adaptation in her, after all.

Mhari will remain patient, this is clearly something waaay outside her familiarity.  He keep his tones with the instructions and rapport gentle and tactful specifically avoiding a teacher student tone more of a instructor participant mean.  He had no idea she was so frightened of Z'Dakk... but he supposes he is a somewhat ~ frightening, eyeless, toothy-mawed, huge, winged-lizard visage... and blue.

So what he expected would be a couple hours... seems to turn into a all-day instruction with the skittish noblewoman... he will be forebearant and go slow, but eventually when she is ready he will sit and secure her on and t the saddle as he sits behind her and they will take flight upon Z'Dakk's back...

He will telepathicly suggest to Z'Dakk to do more gliding than beating his wings depending on wind patterns for the day to ease Ur-Dani into riding flight and to keep his altitude to under 500 feet when possible so the heights do not seem so great.

Mhari does not want to do so.. but if holding Ur-Dani around the waist to calm her in flight helps he will do so.. just to let her know he will not let her slip from the seat... even though in truth the belt and buckles have a better more reliable grip than him.  Again he does not want to be too intimate in his touch with a married woman.. but he does want to reassure her she is totally safe riding with him on Z'Dakk.

Urr-dani is very patient with the instructions and it's not entirely clear how much of her slowness to catch on was terminology or skills.  Clearly, she is nervous around Z'dakk.  She repeats several times that there is no creature even remotely like him where she comes from.  No flying creature even half so large, actually.

Perhaps the greatest surprise is her ease in the saddle once the flight has begun.  It seems quite clear that she is familiar with riding some sort of large animal, although she is cagey about this.  She merely asserts that "Women of royal stature were all taught to ride a [strange animal name]."  Urr-dani doesn't even seem bothered by the heights, although she does scream during the landing process, with so many tree branches close by.

Mhari is satisfied that Ur-Dani is suitably prepared for their flight to Yenth on the marrow.

Telepathically Z'dakk had his own "commentary"...

{You should choose a mate with less chaotic thoughts...}

'Ur-Dani is NOT my mate'

{We shall perceive. We are ~~Untranslatable~~ with your... mating choices... she seems healthy.. and ~~Untranslatable~~...}

'Ur-Dani is another's mate, I'm respecting that'

{Irrelevant. Clearly they are a negligent mate. They are not here ~ You are.}

'Not that simple. Are you not absent from your mate?'

{Changing subject is ineffective. Can sense your ~~Untranslatable~~ attraction and desire to protect her, sensed it before}

'Hush. Not thinking about this ~ Your not helping.  Quiet she might be able to hear you now.'

{We shall perceive...}

----

Ignoring the inscrutable teasing of Z'Dakk, not withstanding some of the Z-Drake's thoughts were just simply concepts his mind had NO basis for understanding Z'Dakk's intent was clear ~ his own inscrutable humor at play.

Mhari made supply preparations, packing his saddle for the brief trip the next day.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:51, Fri 01 Dec 2023.

Urr-dani seems more nervous with Rob accompanying them.  "Is your dragon capable of lifting the weight?" she asks, even as she secures herself with the straps.  If given the option, she will sit in the front-most seat and request that Rob ride behind her.  The perceptive might catch the aristocratic woman muttering something about a "lady-in-waiting" although she does not speak to or treat Rob any differently than usual.

Urr-dani does pay close attention to the requests and packaging of the trade goods, include some dried fungi and powdered root that Mhari is requested to bring to town to the main clave of Yenth.

Mhari chuckles, "...I think Z'Dakk views it as I'm HIS human, but as for weight he's strong enough to lift a large full grown herd domestic in the air in his claws or jaws... equivalent of four full grown men.  One male and two females will not burden him greatly..."

He gestures for her to follow walking down Z'Dakk's side to his flanks running his hand gently down the azure-scaled drake's side across his wing vanes and points out, "..you see he has one continuous wing vane.. but has four muscled limbs to flap with. His flanks have two additional limbs forming smaller Demi-wings part of his main wings. These 'demi-wings' provide him with more raw lifting power then a traditional Xi-Drake... even though they are somewhat larger than his species."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Mon 04 Dec 2023.