Tilarekna - Wednesday, December 06, 2000, 10:11 AM -------------------------------------------------- _--^^^#####// \\#####^^^--_ _-^##########// ( ) \\##########^-_ -############// |\^^/| \\############- _/############// (>::<) \\############\_ /#############(( \\// ))#############\ -###############\\ (oo) //###############- -#################\\ / \ //#################- -###################\\/ \//###################- _#/|##########/\######( /\ )######/\##########|\#_ |/ |#/\#/\#/\/ \#/\##\ | | /##/\#/ \/\#/\#/\#| \| ' |/ V V ' V \#\| | | |/#/ V ' V V \| ' ' ' ' ' / | | | | \ ' ' ' ' ## ## ######### ( | | | | ) __________________________ ## ## ## __\ | | | | /__ | A Pern Themed Moo, based | ###### ## (vvv(VVV)(VVV)vvv) | on 'Dragonriders of Pern'| ## ## ## art by | books, by Anne McCaffrey | ## ## arpers ## ale John Moser ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The "Dragonriders of Pern" (tm) books are copyright 1967 by Anne McCaffrey. You are playing this game by the kind permission of Anne McCaffrey and her agent, Virginia Kidd. Type: connect to login to an existing character connect guest to login as a guest character @who to see who's online @quit to logoff *** Connected *** Night or day, Klah can always be found warming on the High Reaches Hearth... Living Caverns The rough-hewn majesty of this cavern far outpaces any delight in the multitudes of curves that form its enclosure. The glabrous grey granite is shot through with translucent obsidian, lending subtly-veined sparkle to the walls and the foot-trodden smoothness of the floor that shows centuries-old placements of the scarred trestle tables; carven hollows give homes for the glow baskets and the coat-pegs that line the walls. No mosaics, no painting, no tiles: just a few well-done tapestries mark the pathway that lead to the kitchen to the north and the inner caverns to the west, and frame the nighthearth's stew and snacks, while a heavier strip of oiled canvas shields the unwary from the wind in the bowl. Scattered about in various perches and niches are fifteen firelizards. You see Old Auntie sit-by-the-fire, OOC NOTICE (look sign), Boots, Hobbes, Nimbus, Generic Sign-Up Sheet, Kageri, Hiliza's Candie Sock-Puppet, and Beeoh here. Etowaru is here. Obvious exits: Bowl Kitchens Inner Caverns Crafting Area Gideon arrives from deeper in the Weyr. You notice Gideon looking at you. Gideon Gideon appears at first glance to be quite calm and collected, though a mischievous gleam seems to tint his baby blue eyes from time to time. He shows signs of growing into what is now a somewhat lanky build, standing at 5' 11'', but many Turns of hard work have helped his shoulders to fill out considerably, along with his arms and hands. His legs however are still the wiry limbs of his youth, which he'll probably never lose. His sandy blond hair is kept quite clean but seems to have been forgotten lately, small tufts beginning to grow past his ears, managing to look a bit tousled at times. The calmness of his eyes makes up for that, however, clear and blue as the summer sky over High Reaches. Gideon wears a deep blue, short-sleeved shirt that appears to be new. A light, somewhat faded, dark brown wherhide vest covers that, two deep pockets on either side. He is also wearing rather light weight black pants, also well-adorned with deep pockets, that are tucked into black, mid-calf, wherhide boots. He wears a thick, black, wherhide belt around his waist. A small dark wherhide bag hangs from his left hip. Accutely alert, bronze Rei watches from Gideon's shoulder. Gideon's rucksack seems to hang quite comfortably from Gideon's shoulder. At Gideon's shoulder is... nothing! Eyes wandering down... farther... ah, there it is. The gleaming white knot of a Candidate encircles Gideon's leg, slightly above the left knee. It is beginning to show a bit of wear and tear, but it's still clean. He is awake and looks alert. Carrying: Rei Gideon's rucksack Gideon is 20 Turns and 26 days old. Etowaru smiles at the newcomer, and belatedly at Rekna. "Hello!" Gideon nods to the two women in the cavern at this time of day and walks slowly toward the hearth as he stretches, then reaches for the klah pot. "Klah anyone?" he asks in general, pouring at least one mug, probably for himself. Etowaru nods, smiling. "Klah for me, please," she grins at Gideon. "Rekna?" Tilarekna gives Etowaru a brief, but warm, smile as she takes a seat by the hearth - she may have been here a good long while, but she's still not used to the cooler climate - before glancing back to grin at Gideon as he makes a bee line for the klah. "Me, please," is tossed over, before Bay cheeps and nudges her cheek. "You can't drink klah - you're a fire lizard," is the amused scold directed at the little brown. Etowaru laughs, leaning over to give Bay a scritch. "And how are you today?" she croons at the 'lizard. Well, she always /did/ get on better with animals than humans. Gideon smiles as he pours another two mugs of klah and carefully sets the pot back on the ledge above the hearth. He takes the three mugs in his hands and slowly walks over to Etowaru and Tilarekna. "Freshly made, if my judgement is good," he comments, handing a mug to both of the women. He nods to Etowaru. "I'm Gideon by the way. I don't believe we've met." Etowaru accepts the steaming mug with a nod and a smile. "I'm Etowaru. Etowa," she adds. "It's easier." From Tilarekna's shoulder, Bay croons right back, far more willing than his two fair members to be skritched by strangers. Tilarekna simply smiles, accepting the klah with a bright grin at Gideon, blowing lightly across the surface of the hot liquid to cool it before sipping. "Thanks," she responds. "Well met, Etowaru, and good morning Tilarekna," Gideon says with a warm smile. Warmer than the morning air, certainly. Etowaru smiles in agreement, shivering a little. "Definitely!" Elehu quickly but quietly walks in from the Central Bowl. Elehu steps into the shadows that lead back into the Weyr. Gideon shudders slightly as he sips at his klah, waving to the Healer in passing before she ducks out of sight. He returns his gaze to Tilarekna and Etowaru. "So, what are your plans for today?" he asks casually. Etowaru shrugs, grinning. "Stables, probably," she smiles. "And just wandering 'round the Weyr..." "Morning," is returned in a tone as warm as her klah, and amber eyes glimmer as she sips. "Doing? Me? As little as possible if I can get away with it. But you didn't hear it from me." Nope, she's INNOCENT, is Reka. Completely. Utterly. Yup. "You?" Gideon smiles at Etowaru and nods. "You like runners, I take it?" he says, eyes twinkling slightly. "You must if your willing to clean up after them." He turns to Reka and laughs softly. "I wish I could say as much. Unfotunately I've already agreed to help organize the firestone room. There really must be a more efficient way to stack those stone sacks." Tyara strides with feminine grace in from the Central Bowl. Offered to.. "Glutton for punishment, are you?" Teasingly, Tilarekna shakes her head, and Jolinar tweeps lightly from beneath her chin. Sleepy lil green is she. "Well, good luck to you. I know how.. disorganised the sacks are at Ista, so you've my sympathy." Tyara is given a polite nod, as the candie takes another mouthful of klah. Gideon just shrugs, grinning at Reka, then smiles at Tyara as she enters. "Good morning Tyara. How are you this fine early morning?" Etowaru smiles, taking a sip of klah. With a wave for Tyara, she reaches for a roll, handing it to her ferret. "Come along now, don't dawdle!" Tyara's voice rises above the average morning noise, and she waves an impatient hand, shepherding a handful of brats into the living caverns. "Sit down, and if you're lucky, some of the nice candidates will bring some breakfast over here." Gaze travels pointedly to those assumedly 'nice' candidates, and the nanny raises an eyebrow expextantly. "Oh, fine, Gideon, only I have to feed the little monsters." And of course, you dont have to be a candie to help... Etowaru laughs, winking at Gideon. "How many 'brats ya got with ya, Tyara?" she grins at the nanny. Quickly taking the hint, Gideon sets his empty mug off to the side and heads towards the table nearest the kitchen, already laid out with a number of breakfast dishes. Taking two smaller plates he begins putting small portions of just about everything on each and takes them over near the head nanny. "Who needs to be fed first?" he asks her, his face split in an amused grin. Tilarekna blinks, and suppressing a giggle, the young girl rises from her seat, leaving her mug to cool upon the table. Vanishing into the kitchen, there is a little noise as the cooks yell audibly for 'SOMEone' to 'get those SHARDING meatrolls out of the oven before they BURN!!', before she ducks out, tray laden with foods Gideon didn't bring. And lots of extra mugs. And a huge pitcher of klah and juice. "Here you are," she winks at a couple of the 'brats (she's an ex-weyrkidbit herself, don'tcha know?) and she sets her tray down at the opposite end of the table. "Oh, just those," Tyara tells Etowaru, waving her hand at the dozen of restlessly moving children seated around a table. "But they're hungry enough for five dragons, and.. oh, thank you, Gideon," nanny smiles, nodding towards two of the boys already fighting. "I think it'd be wise to shut up Eneryp and Yllub first... thanks, Tilarekna. I'm sure the cooks appreciate it." Ha - cooks. What do they know about children?? Etowaru laughs and walks over to help out too, making sure no one spills /anything/. Not if she can help it, anyway... Gideon steps between the two indicated trouble-makers and... helps them take a seat, a chair inbetween them which he occupies as he sets the plates in front of them. "Let's see here, what else do we have," he says, reaching for a meatroll for himself, then pouring a few glasses of juice. Tyara takes a seat opposite of Gideon, between two of the girls who needs help eating - or rather, who needs to be forced because they don't want to 'ruin their figure'. Eyes roll at Etowaru as she approaches, and the nanny states briskly, "Charming, aren't they just, the little rascals..." Plink, plink, plink. Mug after mug after mug is set out and little grubby paws are slapped when they attempt to snatch the meatrolls. The brats can at least wait a few more seconds surely? "Pass the plates down," she grins and winks at the nearest child, as she places the klah pitcher by Tyara and the juice pitcher about a third of the way along the table. Yup, hopefully, Tilarekna has everything in hand.. "Oh, the cooks'll cope. They don't want hungry kids invading and underfoot while they're busy." She'd know. She's an ex-baker too. Etowaru laughs, winking at Tyara. "I'll get that," she offers, reaching for a plate of roast wherry and setting it down in front of the nanny. Gideon quickly begins assisting the various kids surrounding him as they grab at the offered food and drink, though mostly it involves uprighting dishes, glasses, mugs and plates before too much can spill, taking a bite out of a meatroll when possible. He laughs at Tyara's comment. "Ah, they're just in need of some good role models." If they still exist of course. Tyara sends Gideon a sullen look - was that a comment on /her/ behavior as head nanny? Sulk. "I guess they do, but it's difficult with so many... bed-hopping greenriders around here," comes the curt comment, lips settling into a wry pout as the nanny shoves bread with butter into the mouth of a heavily protesting girl. Etowaru rolls her eyes teasingly at Gideon. "Role models?" Right. Grabbing a plate before it falls off the table, jostled by a bunch of over-eager eaters, she grins and shakes her head jokingly 'fore setting it back on the table. Away from the 'brats that upset it, of course. "But green dragons don't produce weyr brats," Gideon responds a bit too innocently to Tyara's comment, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He snatches his half-eaten meatroll out of the hands of the boy at his left and hands the brat a meatroll from the plate on the table. Role Models? What are they? Tilarekna certainly can't remember having one. Well, not as far as she cares to remember at least. The rolls are offered, and she laughs at the rush to snag 'em while they're hot, the usual sweetroll plate kept absent from the table. "Easy there," she pours some juice for the several littler brats, and mock-scowls at the more noisey when they demand they get drinks NOW. "They're far better mannered than the Istan ones," she comments - seeeee, she's finally found something 'Reaches is better at than Ista Weyr is! "But their riders do!" she grins at Gideon, thbbpting slightly, before snagging a meatroll for herself before they're all gone. Tyara snorts at Gideon. "They can, in a way. You of all people should know this." Because he used to live here, of course. Ahem. "I never wish to go to Ista, then," she tells Reka in a wry voice, arms crossing over her chest. A young boy stares at Tilarekna and asks: "Greenriders produce brats? Hooooow?" Etowaru laughs and nods at Rekna. "They /definitely/ do," she grins. Swatting little hands away from the juice, she pours out several mugs' worth and hands them round. Argh... spill. Gideon grins at the inquisitive boy. "First they paint their fingernails, then they drench themselves in perfume and put on huge frilly dresses. Then they go rampaging through the Weyr, hitting men they find at random." He carefully picks up a glass that had just been set on the side of a plate about to tip over. "Then, their dragons jump into the air and start making lots of noise. Then everyone goes home." Tilarekna winks at the Brat in question, popping a roll into his mouth, before replying, "Ask the Harper. It's the harpers job to teach you," is her response, before she chuckles at Tyara. "Oh, I dunno. Ista's got the better weather, I think, " she would though! Is this weyr not coldcoldcold? Before another weyrbrat can ask a question, she plants the sweetroll tray in the middle of the table, and rightens several mugs before they can be spilled in the bratlings' haste to get the yummy food. "/Thank/ you, Gideon," Tyara cuts off, as one of the brats start asking about frilly dresses, "for that interesting explanation. This nice girl is right, though, ask the Harpers." Don't ask the nannies - snort. "And it depends on what kind of weather you like. Sometimes I'd like all the sun you people have," the nanny admits, sighing slightly. Etowaru grins and grabs a roll for her Tenshi, laughing slightly. "Chaos," she shakes her head, smiling. Handing the roll to the ferret, she nudges him slightly with her foot, the signal for him to stay /off/ the table, good boy. Tilarekna giggles at Gideon's explaination, and resists the urge to throw a meat roll at him - can't do THAT, might start a food fight, and Tyara'd never forgive them. Of course, two sqwabbling brats opposite each other might get there first. Distracting them with two other swweetrolls, she breaks the one they're bickering over in half before settling on her chair. "Sun is good. Always," she agrees cheerfully. "When I go back to Ista, if you ever want to visit Ista, my Da would probably be more than happy to bring you back and forth." As long as you don't hit on him, that is. B'oat, dragonic taxi service for his daughter and friends. Whee. What's this about returning to Ista? Ah well, she wants the summer sunshine again is all.. "Have you always lived here, ma'am?" Gideon winks at Tyara. "Anytime." Born story-teller, this one is. "If there's anything you need explaining, I'll set them on a path." He stuffs the last of a meatroll in his mouth and grabs a small cup for juice. He turns to Reka. "When are you going back to Ista?" he asks curiously. "Maybe we could hitch a ride together... in case." Etowaru raises an eyebrow at Gideon, still wiping the spilled juice off the table. "Just in case /what/?" Tyara, hit on someone's father who is a dragonrider? /Puhlease/. "Hrm, I've been to Ista a few times.... last time I got pregnant. Not going there again," she states dryly, pausing to keep Eneryp from pouring hot oatmeal into her pocket while sticking meatrolls up his nose. Icky brat... "Thanks, Gideon, I'll remember that th next time they can't sleep," nanny snorts, shaking her head at Tilarekna. "I've always lived in High Reaches, but not at the Weyr. And who knows which of you are going back? There're 37 eggs out there." Encouraging, isn't she? The corners of Gideon's mouth curve upward slightly as he looks at Etowaru and shrugs. "Just trying to plan ahead," he replies just over the din of the brats' breakfasting chorus. Etowaru nods, grinning at the nanny. "37 is a lot for a single clutch," she observes. Like /duh/. "Getting Searched is already a big deal," she smiles. Tilarekna nods ruefully, "True... 37 eggs... Eek." Well, as Gideon said.. "Well, if you need to hitch a ride, Gideon, I doubt m'da would object." Ruffling the hair of the small little girl beside her, she adds a roll to the child's plate - well, she remembers being a lil' brat too, don'tcah know. "Well, should you ever change your mind.." she smiles in response to Tyara's words, hiding the bigger grin behind the slighter twitch of her lips. Etowaru laughs, handing another roll to Tenshi. Ferret before brats. The brown furball gobbles down the roll, then streaks out of the caverns. "Tenshi!" is Etowa's exasperated call, before rushing out after the ferret. Ferret before brats, remember? Etowaru exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside. "I'll remember your kind offer if I do - though 'm sure I could get of the High Reaches riders to take me," Tyara tells Tilarekna, smiling faintly at the girl. Take her to /Ista/ of course. Not in. Ahem. Cough. Gideon hands a couple sweetrolls to the boys at either side of him who can't quite reach the plate. He stands slowly, licking off his fingers and nods to Reka. "Well, it looks like you've getting these guys in hand," he comments, ruffling the hair of his breakfast mates, "so I suppose it's time I start on that store room." Tilarekna smiles, shaking her head at Gideon. "Have fun. I've only to finish my Hatching things and help Caylea with hers. Have you seen her hand?" It's a right mess. The chattering of the brats makes her smiles warmly, and she nods to Tyara. "Well, which ever.." Like, okay, um, cool. sure. "We done with that meatroll plate?" she directs at the brattlings, tilting her head. Gideon takes a handfull each of the emptied plates and carefully sets them on the tray near the kitchen, then returns, shaking his head at Reka's question. "Hand? No, why?" "What's wrong with her hand?" Tyara echoes, frowning at Reka. "She hurt herself or something?" Ah yes, being a candidate can be really dangerous, didn't you know? Like, falling off the gallery ledge, being eaten by a dragonet....... Gideon takes another load of dirty dishes with him towards the tray, then peeks his head into the kitchen, shouting something not quite intelligible and brings a couple damp towels back with him to the brats' table. If only.. "She stabbed her hand with a needle, silly girl. Or something like that." A shrug and a snort is coupled with a headshake. "That and she was having trouble with it so I offered to help," Tilarekna knows just how dangerous candidacy.. although.. sewing? Dangerous? Bleah! Gideon frowns slightly. "Has she seen a Healer?" he asks, wiping a protesting brat's mouth, cleaning away the sticky mess. Elijah arrives from deeper in the Weyr. You notice Elijah looking at you. Tilarekna grins. "She IS a healer.. apprentice. But it was healing well. She just can't sew." Clutzy friend is Caylea. Even if she'd die before admitting that Tila considers her a friend. A nod is given the new arrival as the empty plates are taken from bratlings and piled on the tray. Elijah Small grey eyes glitter with mischief and laughter as a thin mouth parts in a wide smile. Dark black hair rarely goes where it is supposed to and only adds to the boy's disheveled appearance. Naturally dark tanned skin is marked with bruises and scrapes, with the occasional scar, denoting the kidlet as a clumsy one. Sticky fingers often hold a sweet morsel or a bit to eat, despite the kidlet's short thin stature. The little kidlet is a picture of innocence and youth. The boy is wearing long brown pants and a biege tunic that almost reaches his knees. The clothes are a bit baggy and slightly worn as if they are hand-me-down's from an older sibling or friend. When he must wear shoes the boy will don brown weyrhide boots, but most times he goes barefoot. Elijah wears the knot of a High Reaches Weyrbrat. He is awake and looks alert. Elijah is 8 Turns, 2 months, and 16 days old. Elijah shuffles in, hair ruffled in an untidy mop. He looks about the caverns for a moent buefore sitting in an unoccupied chair and searching for cookies. Gideon nods to Reka, hanging the damp towels on the back of an empty chair. "Yes, I'd forgotten that." He yawns again, then stretches his wide shoulders and arms. "Well, I'm headed towards the store rooms." He semi-bows to Tyara. "Thank you letting us help feed your little friends here," he says, winking at her, then turns towards the bowl outside. Gideon exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside. Tilarekna gives a short wave to Gideon, before hiding a grin. Glutton for punishment that one. Yupyupyup. Turning back to the brattlings, all plates are stacked neatly on the tray, and she vanishes with them, returning with a second damp cloth and another pitcher of juice. "Anyone need anything else?" she asks, "Or will that be all for now, Tyara?" Head tilts, and amber eyes blink at the Nanny. Tyara *eeps and was kinda lost elsewhere for a mo - sorry :) Elijah looks at the Nanny, eyes blinking up at her. "I'm hungry!" He states, figuring that as a Brat it's his job to make her life harder. Shrug. "No, that'd be all. Thanks for the help," Tyara offers, sending Reka a slight smile after waving after the retreating Gideon. "You can go back to sticking fingers in your needle now... so, /eat/," nanny hisses at Elijah, pointing to the other brats at the table, doing that. Elijah makes a face at the Nanny then at the food, but eagerly stretches dirty fingers to grab food. Sitting back, he chews contentedly, at least for now, as the food quiets the rumbling of his stomach. Tilarekna raises her eyebrows slightly; weren't needles supposed to stick into fabric? Or fingers? Nodding, jug is left on the table and the weyrgirl vanishes into the inner caverns, returning with a large bundle of white cloth. Seating herself away from stick-pawed children, she removes her sewing stuff from her pouch in order to finish her gown. Ugh. White. Why white? And why this shade of white? Surely the dragon hatchlings would rather something in.. oh.. blue? With pink spots? Ah well. Tyara *baps Reka. It was a typo :P Tilarekna * knows.. ;) Elijah *waves. Lunchbreak, now. Bye! Elijah goes home. =========================================================================