Alarissa is flitting about the room, being laden with child isn't slowing down the High Lord's wife, a wide smile on her face and a laugh that now and then ust faintly peaks over the rest of the noise in the room. The modest red dress draping over the swell of her middle where Thrax's heir is busy growing. The coronet nestled in her hair, there's a a faint graze of her hand to someone's arm, a glass of wine in her hand and the Princess is has departed from that little enclave of individuals and making her way toward Neve. Never who has put on a production probably just as good as the mummers, regarding having to walk through the maw of the sharks jaw mounted around the entrance to the room.

Neve hesitates to take the arm. "It's..okay? It seems okay..." She waits for a confirmation before taking the arm in hers. "It's pretty scary..and well. I've seen things I've thought were dead before be not as dead as I thought they were, Lady Alarissa." A title! Success! She eyes the large whale-teeth one more time uneasily. "Neve..well, Neve means..I mean..her..me. I mean, me, the Lady Neve, doesn't know anything of the sea really. We did have streams though. Sometimes there was swimming to be had. There is a stream right by my natural home in the Greenwood. With a small dock for boats and such, right next to the treefort."

Merek steps into the Maw and looks around a bit. He has on his cloak which has his own sigil upon it, and the one of House Fidante as well. He moves through and inclines to those present, before he looks for a place to take a seat and relax for the time being! Seems he is one of the first guests so far.

"The sea and the ocean are just a very, very deep and wide river Lady Neve." Alarissa assures her. "We shall have to take you out on the Red Sperpent at some point out into the bay and back. A day trip. See how you hand that." But there's Merek and there's an inclination of Alarissa's head to the man. "Master Black. It has been some time has it not? Have you ever met the Lady Neve?"

People flit in and out, the Max a steady hub of activity as Alarissa seems to be in the throes of hosting a social thing. Just a thing.

Merek looks to the others as people file in, and then stands up before he inclines to Neve and Alarissa, "Perhaps in passing? The name is familiar, but I do not recall them well," he states, while he offers a smile in their direction. "I'm Merek Black, Fidante's Master of Coin, Officer of the Guard, and Senior Scholar of Vellichor's Discipeship. Merchant of the Crafter's Guild, and Liason of the Gold Order." He looks around for a drink and reaches to pick one up, "To Thrax, and its people," he then offers, while he takes a sip.

Ian arrives, following Wash.

This would not be the Archscholar's first time to the Maw, but per usual she was overcome by the decor. Bianca paused not far passed the entry, taking in the unique display of architecture that was so different from any other cultural inclinations in Arvum. A few more lengthy moments passed before the robed woman of white proceeded further within. To those who had yet to meet her, the woman commanded attention in both visage and mere presence. Woman of white would be an understatement as she maintained the complexion of a marble statue, but her being seemed to radiate an overflowing vibrancy.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Bianca before departing.

Wash comes in dragging a tiny little wagon full of booze. It's all the Kennex Vodka he could lay his hands on in short notice. The wagon though, that looks like a child's toy, so short is the handle that he has tied a lead onto it so that he doesn't have to stoop to reach the handle.

Ian follows along after Wash, maybe in case some of the booze falls off the wagon? That's the effect he gives off, especially the way that he keeps his gaze fixed on the ground as he walks.

Neve is holding onto Alarissa's arm. "No no, Neve..I mean, I don't want to ride on a big sea serpent. That sounds dangerous, and very drowning-prone. Neve is like a tree, she likes to stay pretty rooted when she can. I took a voyage by boat when she came here though. All the waving, and the rolling, and the motion. It was very much not like a tree in the ground." She smiles softly to Merek "You have a lot of titles of things. I am..Lady..." she looks at Alarissa for any verbal queue that is whom she is supposed to title herself with. "Neve..Greenmarch. I am..Neve, of the Greenwood. Um..I don't really have any fancy titles to compare to yours. I am..." she quirks her lips a bit, trying to think of something impressive. "I am..a maker of my own arrows..mostly. Well..I can't take credit for that, the Trees are what provide the wood and do all of the real work. I suppose I am just a Lady Neve."

There's good maelstrom rum in bottles stationed about and drinks can be easily picked up and poured. So there's a glass at hand for Merek. "To the Mourning Isles, the Saffron Chain and her people." Alarissa offers up to Merek, passing over a cup of something to Neve, lifting her own glass up in salute. It's high and bubbly laughter, pressing a kiss to Neve's cheek. "You look very beautiful today. The ribbons look lovely in your hair. Master Merek. I leave her in your capable hands. I see a stranger and strangers cannot do." And just like that, Alarissa's extracting her arm from Neve's and making her pregnant way toward Bianca. "Dear Lady in white. I confess to not knowing you. His Grace is away, I have pilfered his liquor cabinet and I invite you in partake. My home, in this moment is yours." But there's Wash and Ian. "Have you met the Lord Kennex's? Lord Ian, and Lord Wash, and Lord wagon of alcohol" She knows Kennex bottles when she see's it. "Please tell me you've more mango, I am almost out."

6 Crimson Blades Sergeant arrives, following Tobias.

Merek nods a bit to Neve, while he looks to Bianca and smiles in her direction, then watches as Alarissa moves towards her to greet them. Back to the woman he blinks a few times, "I don't think that she meant an actual creature," he admits, while he moves towards the place that has been left now that Neve has been left to him for socializing. "It's a pleasure to meet you in any case. The Greenmarch are quite wonderful," he states, as he takes a drink. He has a bit of a limp though. "So how are you doing?" he asks, "And fletchery? That sounds amazing."

Bianca's pale gaze glanced about in search of a familiar face and finding two in company. One familiar and the other a newer acquaintance and so she headed for the familiar who just happened to be near the woman addressing her as well as... well, everyone else! "A pleasure to make your acquaintance." She then gestured to herself as she addressed the three unknowns, "Archscholar Bianca."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Bianca before departing.

"Pardon his Grace." Wash says, indicating the wagon. "He's feeling a little under the weather. I had to drag him all the way here. But I assure you, he brought plenty of his namesake to go around." He fetches forth a blackberry vodka, examines it and the painted blackberry on the side. "This is the treasure that the world will lose if the Kennex ship does not right itself soon."

Neve tilts her head a little to the side, sniffing at the drink she was given. "Hmmn..It's not apple or strawberry wine..." She swirls it in the glass, watching it. "Fletchery? No no, just the arrow making. I know not of making any fletch..." She watches Alarissa move away "Hmm. You know, something seems different about her. I think she might be pregnant. Do you think she's noticed yet? Do you think we should tell her?" She then quirks her head one more time "Wait..you think the Greenmarches are wonderful? Why? That is usually not the world I have heard when referring to Greenmarches."

Bianca excuses herself as she gets assaulted by messengers, stepping aside with an apologetic bow of her head to meet them.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Bianca before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Bianca before departing.

Ian stops walking when Wash stops, and only once he has stopped walking does he look up. He folds his body over his cane in what approaches a bow to Alarissa. It's sloppy, but at least the sentiment is there. He nods to Bianca, as well, another familiar face.

Merek looks aside to Neve and blinks a few times, but then just nods a bit, "I'm sure she knows she is with child," he states, as he takes a drink, "Oh, well the ones I've met have always been nice." He smiles a bit to the Lady, "It should be fine to drink, rum I think, and its aged well," he adds.

"I assure you, Lord Washburn, that Arvum will not wither for want of the Kennex Blackberry. Everyone is doing everything that they can to ensure that we will enjoy black berry or mango vodka for many years to come." Alarissa states. "Archscholar, a pleasure. Princess Consort Alarissa Thrax." Realizing she neglected to introduce herself while introducing others. "And behind me would be Master Merek Black and the Lady Neve Greenmarch of the Greenwood." But Bianca is innundated and Alariss offers a dip of her head for Wash and for Ian. "Will you join us? Evne his grace, the lord wagon of alcohol."

It's people filtering in and out of the Maw, some in awe of the sharks jaw. Biance stepped aside to deal with messengers, Alarissa guiding Wash and Ian back over toward Neve and Merek.

Darrow strides into the Maw, appearing, like nearly always, a wolfish shade en route to some business. However, he appears interrupted by the liquor cabinet and the festivity, though his eyes do not linger on the drink nor the social pleasantries around him - he stares, with pale blue eyes, past the area and into the rows of executioners' crosses. When they return, he notes Alarissa nearby and inclines his head deeply. "Your Grace," he speaks, his tone as even and cool as the keel of a ship.

Wash drags the wooden wagon, painted a bright blue toward Merek and Neve. "Oh I have met the Lady Greenmarch. You could say that we've seen fist to eye in the past." He points to his own eye to be clear.

Ian follows Wash and the now ennobled wagon of booze for a few steps. Once he can more or less said to be within a range of social conversation, he stops and looks up so he can nod a greeting to Darrow.

A bit late is better than never, or so the saying goes. Tobias comes fashionably late, his left hand gesturing along the walls next to the main entrance in a non-verbal command, before the mercenary general starts to head inside. "I don't often have a chance to see this place." Tobias starts to venture over to the concentration of people. His eyes eventually look over to the giant store of alchohol, "I see you'll pulled out all the fun stuff, Your Grace."

Neve hmmns. "I see. So you think she knows already? Well..that is good then. That is good." She catches Alarissa's greeting, and looks curious looking to Merek "Your a master? What are you a master of?" Her lips tug downward a touch when she spies Wash. She points ever-nonchalantly, by pointing openly and directly at Wash. "I tried to punch that guy in the face once. He's actually really quick, I didn't hit him. I'm supposed to apologize for that, but I'm not sorry about it. I meant to do exactly what I meant to do. So..I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do." She sniffs the glass "Rum huh? It's too bad it's not Apple wine, or Strawberry wine. Those are wines that I like."

"... I'm the Fidante Master of Coin," Merek states with a simpleness to it, "Besides that just call me Merek," he offers. He chuckles at Wash's commentary, and looks to Neve, "Is that so? Uh, why did you try to hit him?" he asks curiously, he then motions a bit, "I'm sure there is wine somewhere. I actually made a Lenosian strawberry wine that I think some Thraxians bought, if it's somewhere around here," he peeks about. He notices Ian and inclines to him with respect, noticing the man and recalling him somewhat. He offers to Wash, "A pleasure to meet you m'Lord."

"Lord... Darrow." It takes Alarissa a moment to rememeber the name, but there's Tobias and Alarissa looks to the thrall manned armoir of liquor. "I had it brought from our room. While his Grace is away, I thought perhpas to share his taste in alcohol and see if there is any that he lacks and that I have missed. How are you Lord Telmar." The Princess Consort doing her best to flit from group to group, though there's a puzzle look to Neve regarding whether someone is in the know.

"The reasons she gave was that the spirits commanded her. Bloody nuisance spirits." Wash says. "Never seen any good come of them personally. Just a lot of talk. Not like the pantheon. At least they take an active hand when it's needed. But the Greenwoods are upstanding Valardin folk, not hidebound in the slightest. I'll stand by them any day."

Darrow folds his hands across his swordbelt, and now that he's seemed to have paused, returns Ian's nod, familiarly. "Lord Kennex. It has been some time."

Ian matches Merek's nod of greeting with one of his own, and then shifts his attention to Darrow. "It has. How have you been?" Like he has to ask.


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There had been rumors for months among shipwrights of something major coming out of the city-state of Lenosia, a secret project involving many of the finest ship designers of the Compact. Now it's been announced, House Velenosa has started sea tests for the Carlotta, a new class of ship designed to handle the deep oceans- a caravel that resembles the designs used by Eurus or Cardia. The hulking, multi-sail ship makes a port call in Arx, putting any secrecy to rest.
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Neve peers at Wash, and reaches over to give him the random drink. "here, this seems more like your kind of drink." She considers. "Well..that is not exactly correct. I was trying to assist him in obtaining very high quality wood for his shipfleet. A ship built of trees of high privum, would be of much higher quality and very difficult to destroy or sink in comparison. We could not gain agreement so he obtained inferior wood by comparison. Neve..I mean..I was trying to tell him to pay attention to her words and take her seriously, and she did not beleive he was doing so. I do regret using the violence, however I beleive in my conviction."

Wash says, "She was making promises she could not keep." Wash explains. "I humored her as long as was possible." He takes the bottle from Neve and replaces it with a bottle of vodka. "Try this instead. It has berries in it.""

"Sounds like a good plan." Tobias confirms, before he heads over there, instead of the main grouping of people. "It's been a while since I've been to any decent social gatherings." Tobias notes as he examines the selection, "anything in particular you'd say I should try?" He looks to Alarissa with that.

Merek looks over to Neve when she talks about ships built of certain woods, then when she speaks in the third person he takes a long drink and then lets out a thoughtful sigh, "In any case. This is some really great rum," he mentions, because he's not commenting into that situation.

"The Dark Spot." Alarissa murmurs, peering in. "The stone whiskey is a favourite. Though I prefer the Kennex mango myself." She gestures to the bottle. "Or you can go to the tea cart and I can have someone pour you some milk." Alarissa offers with a sparkle in her eye for the humor it likley brings. "THough clearly, I'm lacking the Kennex Blackberry and I have heard the Mazetti have something called Third Wall. If you would like, Lord Telmar, you can take a bottle of the Dark Spot home with you?"

Neve shakes her head softly "Neve does not have an ability to lie. Perhaps it might be that you did not read the situation correctly and deduce a proper result? There are things in each land that people do not understand. Perhaps this is one of them? It is not of my power to grant anything. I am just a daughter of Greenmarch. My father however has the power to provide. It is a missed opportunity I'm afraid. If the darkness attacks the fleet as it did before, I see it not being but ruined again at this rate. The horned god is strong, powerful. It has not yet proven itself against sea faring men and women. However..with the abilities it has shown thus far, I beleive that it would be effective at elininating ships while keeping them intact."

Neve shakes her head softly "Neve does not have an ability to lie. Perhaps it might be that you did not read the situation correctly and deduce a proper result? There are things in each land that people do not understand. Perhaps this is one of them? It is not of my power to grant anything. I am just a daughter of Greenmarch. My father however has the power to provide. It is a missed opportunity I'm afraid. If the darkness attacks the fleet as it did before, I see it not being but ruined again at this rate. The horned god is strong, powerful. It has not yet proven itself against sea faring men and women. However..with the abilities it has shown thus far, I beleive that it would be effective at eliminating crews while keeping the ships intact."

Ian slips out, following a messenger who comes to fetch him.

Both the messengers were sent away with a rather lengthy reply before Bianca turned to return to her former place. Oh, look! A wild Darrow has appeared! "Lord Darrow, pleasant to see you." Bianca quietly interjected so as not to interrupt any ongoing conversations.

Wash turns his attention to Merek. "It's best to take anything she says with a grain of salt." He says, offering the other man his hand. "Wash Kennex, messere?"

3 Bisland pride guards arrives, following Samael.

6 Crimson Blades Sergeant leaves, following Tobias.

Merek looks towards Neve for a moment and lifts his brow in thought, then he looks to his drink. He sighs a bit and it looks like his entire mood has been ruined for the most part. He does not really speak about it though. Instead he takes his time to... Oh! Take Wash's hand, and shakes it a bit, "Merek Black, Fidante Master of Coin and Disciple of Vellichor. I'm also with the Iron Guard as an Officer. I'm not sure if I've seen you before, but I came to the Isles on the tail of the recent battle there. I only wish I could've done more for Thrax." He seems earnest, and he's Velenosian, so that isn't a surprise that he's friendly with Thraxians. He does look to Neve in thought, but he's not getting in the middle of any commentary for the time being. "The Maw is a wondrous place, I've not really come to the Ward too much except to help on projects or visit the tavern."

"Master Black is a skilled metalworker too." Alarissa states as she's swinging back on by the small grouping, having set down her nursed glass of alcohol somewhere. "Very skilled."

"I was recuperating at the tail end of it." Wash explains. "Some spirit ridden bear with duck feet tried to take my arm off at the shoulder. It was a close thing. Have you seen one of the swords we recovered?"

Samael walks into the Maw, not from the Courtyard, but from the noble bedrooms. He knits his brow as he seems a little curious about the gathering taking place. He timidly makes his way into the room trying not to draw attention to himself. He walks over to the thrall near the liquor and inquires as to what the event is, his Bisland pride guards following close behind. After learning about the social he smiles and accepts a tumbler of Setarco Fire.

Neve takes the vodka, and passes it over to Merek. "I'm going to go stand over here, because I feel uncomfortable, and I would rather stand over there by myself and pretend I'm not here then to continue talking with both of you." She lets a moment pass by, then waves with a smile "Bye!". Walking over to where she pointed near the wall, she stands with her hands behind her back, swaying a little, just watching the little groups form and chatter.

"I might've seen one while I was out and about at my shrine visits, but I'm not sure," Merek tells Wash, while he looks to Alarissa, "Ah, not /that/ skilled but I tr---," then Neve speaks those words and he looks at her, and seems to be at a loss for a moment. No comment to anyone at all, just. Watching.

Wash drapes an arm over Merek's shoulder. "I've got one of these swords, and let me tell you, the crafting is unique. Never seen a curve so exquisite in steel. Wood yes, but not steel. You should talk to Titania about it. Titania is looking into the blades. Tell her I sent you. She's more the pray for insight type of person, it may not even have occurred to her to talk to a smith yet."

Darrow singles Neve out, stepping towards the Greenmarch girl, looking at her with his hooded reflecting-pool blue eyes. "You mentioned a Horned God, and an ability to kill the crews where they are berthed upon a ship?"

Merek looks over to Wash once an arm is on his shoulder, then he blinks a few times, and nods, "I can certainly look at the blades for her. I have a tendency to figuring out things about metal when I study it. And if I can't, then Hana is another great choice as well," he offers, with an adjustment to his cloak. "Smithing is what brought me to Arx to begin with in fact. Everything else kind of came after that. Never expected to be a warrior as much as a smith."

Alarissa has a frown on her face as Neve is quite suddenly departing from the group. But to Samael there is a lift of hand and a dip of the pregnant princess consorts head in greeting before focusing on Merek and Wash.. "They are lovely. They swing through the air beautifully. A lovely balance to them. Cobalt knew her skills."

Samael regards Alarissa, raising his glass to her. "Good evening, Princess. You look radiant," he says with warm smile. He then steps away from the liquor and turns to his pride guards and relieves them for the moment. He then works his way along the wall over toward Neve. "Good evening, my lady," he says with a kind smile. "I'm Samael Bisland. Do you want me to get you a drink?"

"I like to research weapons and metal, it can be quite exciting in any case," Merek tells Alarissa, while he nods a small bit. "I doubt I'd be able to match the skill in creation for what I've heard, but the study and knowledge of metal and its particulars are much easier than actually working with them sometimes. But it can be the other way around."

"Well, take a look at it sometime and tell me what you can learn. Never hurts to get an expert opinion." Wash says. "And some vodka, take some of that with you."

Neve looks to Darrow "No, that is not entirely correct. I talked about the horny god, and what I theorized as an ability to take out crews on a ship. He has proven in combat that he has the ability to control thousands upon thousands of bees..wasps, some kind of creature, and form them into effective attack patterns. In a ship where this is nowhere to run, I beleive that it would leave them more vulnerable to such an attack where he could stay further away and not be attacked, perhaps in a mist, yet sailors have nowhere to retreat to, having to deal with the attack head-on. The horned god only temporarily withdrew - I beleive he was testing our power and mettle. I beleive he will most certainly strike again." She tilts her head a little. "And those are all the words I am going to say for the remainder of the night."

"Do you look into other materials?" Alarissa looks to Merek, inquiring, a thoughtful look on her face. "To discern what something is made of?" There's a glance to the ennobled wagon. "You'll not leave before leaving a bottle of the blackberry in the armoire will you Washburn? You cannot leave, without doing such. I would devestated. A splash of that in the tea would be lovely."

Merek looks over to Neve, then back to Wash, "Thank you, I will see about it. Definitely will like having a drink with me." He has his secretary come with a letter, and he looks at it, then nods a bit, "I must be on my way all, but it was nice to meet new folk and speak with you all." He inclines then to all that are there!

Skillet the bumbling baby bear have been dismissed.

"Nice to meet you Master Black. Look us up in the Kennex Kay when you have the time, or run out of vodka!" Wash says with a smile.

Aneka, 3 Iron Guardsmen, Meeka leave, following Merek.