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

"What are you drawing?" Deva asks abruptly of Edain, claiming a neighboring seat while peering openly at his parchment. Spying Calista too, she wiggles her fingers in a friendly manner at the Fidante.

Cicero arrives too along with a bunch of others and sits along side some various people.

Alis is quite obviously going to sneak up behind her brother once she arrives, and looks around the room. Fortunately, since she's not decked out in steel, she's a little more quiet as her footsteps bring her up behind his chair so that she can try looking over his shoulder. She tries holding a finger up to her lips so that the other nearby ladies don't give her away, too.

Lydia isn't nearly as open about it as Deva is, but she does slide along the couch so that she can peek at Edain's drawing.

Costas slips inside with the practiced unobtrusiveness of the common retainer, wiping a fine sheen of sweat from his stubbled scalp. There's the hint of a pleased, but exhausted, smile dying on his lips as he filters into the mixed company.

Edain angles his drawing to Deva can see it, "Pricess Alis feeind Sir Arugula." Edain explains. It is also more or less very basic shapes hardly more than stick giures. "It's a work in progress...." he says mildly embarrassed as his voice lowers.


A little sparkle in her eye, and a light step - Mae Culler slides through the door of the academy of as if owned the place. The courier - such as she was, had curious eyes for everything - and the toothy smile that the leather-clad young woman wore was never fading. A glove, slightly dusty as it was, lifts up to brush fingertips along a pillar as she finds a place to seat. Preferably not hidden away from the corner - but somewhere near the back in the middle.

With all of his usual cheer - though without his usual gaggle of unsavory mercenaries to shout jokes at, Captain-General Audric saunters into the room. With a bright grin and a few nods to people that he knows, the sellsword finds himself a place to sit without bothering too many people. At least, without bothering them unintentionally.

Calista lights up when she spots Deva as well. "Princess! Good to see you. It's been too long. I hope all has been well."

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

When Sina sits at the same table, Sophie turns her attention and offers a friendly smile. "Hello. I am Sophie Valardin. I hope the evening finds you well."

Kima arrives, her gaze alighting upon those that she knows - such as Costas, or even the Captain-General, before being stolen away by others, some of whom she nods to, or clasps hands with. She then finds herself a seat, but not before taking a quick message.


    Hearing interaction from his cousins, Aurelina glances back, and seeing who is next to Sophie the most average of Valardins steps over with a respectful nod, "Miss Sina wasn;t it? I trust Her Highness is well?"


"It's a very apt depiction," Deva says very matter-of-factly to Edain, allowing a small smile on her lips. "Good to see you too, Calista. The real and honest answer is that I find myself regularly in need of a drink, but I suppose things could always get worse. I hope things fare well for you."

As people (mostly) finish filing in, Aislin finally stirs from her post against the table, unfolding her arms and moving to stand properly. "Welcome," she begins, "to what I hope will be the first of many meetings of this new Explorer's Society. And there are a gods-damned lot of you here, so I'll try to make this introduction quick." Her tone is wry as she makes this statement.
"Originally, this Society was going to be an excuse for like-minded people to get together, to share tales of their explorations and trade resources. But with recent events, it seems much more important. Those of us who have been all over Arvum have seen things, after all. Things that are hard to believe for anyone who hasn't been out there, but which seem increasingly relevant to both Arx itself, and the Compact as a whole." Aislin pauses now. "There's a lot of knowledge which has been lost over the centuries, some of it still waiting for us out there. Or even here, in the Archives. Already, several notables -- including Prince Edain," and here she nods to the Valardin, "and House Saik, have pledged to help provide finances and support for future expeditions. But in the meantime, it's up to this society to determine /where/ those resources are best spent."
And with this said, the white-haired adventurer looks over the assembled faces. "Where it is we should start looking for our lost history. What we've seen out there that we need to know more of. So if anyone has a tale to share they think is relevant?" She trails off here, looking over the others, to see if anyone else would like to speak first, or if she should continue herself.

Mason is at the side of the Grayson Voice, finally able to drag his wife out to do something that didn't pretain to matters of state. It's no secret that the foreign Prince has been waiting for this particular meeting to show up, because he can't quite claim he's had a whole heck of a lot to do recently. "Good that you were finally able to get outside. I was afraid I was going to have to drag you out of that office by your feet." A touch to the of his agal towards Aislin when he sees her, and nod to the Prodigal Vik, the pair of aces he at least recognizes.

The dark-haired handmaiden lifts her head and turns it when she's addressed, blinking her unnerving, mirror-colored eyes up at Aurelian. "Ah; yes, she's quite well. Busy, but that's what happens when you're a Princess of such a renowned House," she muses to the Prince, pushing her hair back behind her ears. She grows quieter as Aislin begins to speak.

You can't rush a pregnant woman. Partially because of the temper and mostly because there is literally no rushing when you're carrying a figurative boulder about your midsection. Princess Lou Grayson hasn't even bothered to dress up. Not that she usually does, but today is a bit beyond the norm even then. She's wearing a //robe//. It's a very finely made robe, mind, but it is a robe. Perhaps to hide the awkward shift beneath; no gown properly fitting the normally slim, athletic woman who has found herself not just with child, but steadily nearing the point of 'popping.' Still, it's little surprise that the explorer of Grayson is here for this... even if she's leaning on her husband as they walk in, one hand clutching a loaf of bread and the other picking bits off of it to eat. "I hate," she's muttering to Mason, "how tired just //walking// makes me right now."

Alis is skeptical; she is not a stick figure. But there is no argument from her when he says it's her feeding his warhorse. Just a raised eyebrow as she leans against his chair (and him) to listen to the proceedings.

Audric shifts a bit, before standing to move to sit next to someone he actually knows, rather than someone he can just annoy for however long the meeting lasts. Dropping down next to Kima, he asks, "Is this the time for me to mention my unicorn antics, or should I save that for places when people are significantly more drunk? I can never tell, really."

"Thank you Princess Deva." Edain says as he turns to his his sister where she leans against his chair, "I drew this for you sister." Of course he did. Looking to Aislin then, Edain stands and speaks, "There is something I wanted to say to everyone, but I do not want it to distract what this meeting should be about, so might I have a moment when you arre finished?"

Lydia raises a hand up as if waiting to be called on by a teacher, except for the fact that she doesn't wait at all. She scoots forward to the edge of her couch, leaning forward in anticipation as she adds in. "I'm afraid that I don't have as much funds available to me as Prince Edain, but I do have some little bit of money, and since I have never travelled much, I would like to make it available to this society. If only because it will let me sit in on the meetings!"

Deva leans to murmur something to Alis, a small smile on her lips. She waves at Lydia, too, upon hearing the nearby Nightgold.


    Aurelian nods to SIna in recognition of her words but also grows silent as Aislin starts things off. Once done he states, "There was a matter I wished to discuss before the meeting, but one's time is not always their own. I would still rather discuss it in private before bringing it before the group however. That said I do wish to formally state that I came to this meeting to officially join the Society." Perhaps not really needed, but Valardins do have a bit of a reputation for being overly formal, or at least a few of them.


Kima leans back within her chair, listening to Aislin as she addresses the group. There's a nod for what the Ashford has to say, but the blonde does not appear as though she has aught to add for the moment. She does, however, glance between her two companions. One of whom is the Unicorn-minded Audric, the other being...

Well, Costas, of course!

"Perhaps we might wait to hear what the others have to bring to the table before we awe them with that particular tale, hm?"

"I said I'd carry you needed it." Mason remarks over to Lou in good nature, unbothered by her leaning against him and guiding her towards the first open area for them both. Though themention of funds gets him to perk up a bit. "I would perhaps be willing to dedicate a certain amount if it would be helpful in venturing future expiditions if you're looking for donations."

When no one else seems immediately to speak up with their own tales, Aislin chooses to speak again. First, she inclines her head to Edain when he makes his request, and again to Lydia and Aurelian. "To start with," she notes, "I think it would be useful to find anyone who knows the Gray Forest or Green Forest shav dialects. Particularly the Reapers of the Gray Forest, or even moreso the Su'tavi of the Green Forest. Because it turns out that some tribal dialects are, in fact, corrupted forms of elvish; with the appropriate knowldge as a base, one can learn the language much more quickly." A pause, and then the Ashford adds dryly, "Which /does/ seem like it could be a rather important skill, of late."

Cara arrives a bit before the meeting begins and finds a quiet place to sit and observe the proceedings; she has a green leather book with her, apparently some form of journal, in which she proceeds to jot little notes as individuals speak.

Serafine clears her throat. "I know a few," she offers softly.

Watching Aislin with a solemn look on her face, Deva's arms remain crossed in front of her in a casual manner as the information is shared. She turns her head when Serafine speaks, looking toward the woman with a curious expression.

The matter of languages gets Mason to turn his attention on Aislin. "I have a certain degree of knowledge languages. I could try taking some time and seeing what I could dicipher from what's already known. Maybe enough to construct an actual alphabet."

Whatever it is that Alis is conversing with Deva about so quietly sure must be amusing, as she is having a very difficuly time keeping a straight face. At least she pats Edain's shoulder supportively though. First when he hands her the drawing and then when he speaks his piece for now. It's Aislin's interesting tidbits about shav language that capture her attention then, though. And she quiets, with a slightly furrowed brow.


    Aurelian states, "Unfortunately I am not knowledgable of those, though if it would help I could make the attempt to learn them from others to expand our numbers." as he retakes a standing position roughly mid-way between Aislin and his cousins.


"I was raised by pirates," Sina murmurs, leaning her cheeks against the palms of her hands, "They don't have very interesting languages."


     Serafine grins at Sina, "Fair number of fascinating epithets, I wager."

Calista is quiet for the most part but listens to the conversations while jotting down a couple of notes here and there. She's also taking the opportunity to take notices of who is speaking and committing their faces to memory.

"From the songs that Princess Alis has brought home I would dissagree." Edain says quietly at Sina's remark.

The tip of Sina's nose twitches. "Perhaps it's different when you hear it all the time," she suggests, picking at the top curve of her ear.

Kima listens attentively, taking notes as well, much like Calista is doing. It is an unfortunate failing on the part of her parents and tutors, surely, that she speaks but one language.

Mae Culler flicks her gaze along the gathering crowd towards Costas - and flicks the man a wink of sorts, her ever-present smile only blossoming into a grin. Turning her eyes forward, she leans to one side, towards Lou, "Seems like it would be a lot of bovver to learn a language that's only spoken by a buncha long-dead spears in the middle of th' greenwood," she ponders aloud to the Princess, in more or less a low tone, sticking her jaw out to one side as she considers, casting a glance towards Mason in the meanwhile.

"Profanity could count as a language of its own," Aislin agrees with Serafine, her tone one of wry amusement. Turning serious once again, she adds, "There are several around already who know enough to puzzle through elvish documents, albeit imperfectly. But the more we have who can speak and read the tongue, the better; if we have to re-cement a treaty with a foreign power, it's only polite to at least *try* to speak their language." She glances over at Serafine, as if trying to decide whether or not to volunteer the princess for something. In the end, she settles only on, "So if you already know a shav dialect, compare it to the original, untranslated form of the nox'alfar treaty and see whether you recognize any of it. If you do, speak to someone who already knows a bit more elvish, and see whether you can work from that."


     Frowning a little in thought now, Serafine considers Aislin. "The People are to the south of the Gray Forest, patrolled the edges and claimed them as their borders. The language they spoke is close enough to translate and speak, as what I've gathered from translating the treaty, and there was only a word I missed in translating it. I suspect what I speak is a different dialect, just from studying the document. I've no mind sharing the other dialects of Shav'arvani I know, piece together the other languages?" she suggests, crossing her arms over her chest as she widens her stance and cocks a hip.

"Will any effort be made to tutor those wishing to learn these foreign languages?" Kima asks, looking first to Aislin, and then to the group at large. Then to Serafine, "What was that word, if I might ask."

Viktarkim arrives a little late and pauses to shake some of the rain off of the silvery wolf fur of his cloak. The archer with the tattoos and ritual scarification marks over his dusky face looks around and gives several he knows in her a nod. As he hears Serafine speaking with Aislin and others, Viktarkim remains quiet as he moves to a position to lean against a wall to listen.

Once there is a chair, Lou claims it. Even if she must glare someone out of it. The woman does appear a touch uncomfortable, but that may very well be the pregnancy more than what is being discussed. She does look sidelong at Mae, blinking at the woman. "There's plenty of academics who would be prone to disagree with you," she points out, blithely. "And there's doubt on the long-dead part." She does note Viktarkim's entrance and lifts a hand to offer a mild greeting.

Lydia said what she came to and now sits back again. It finds her scooting towards Edain though. She appears to still being listening intently, but she leans in to whisper to him, keeping her voice low enough that she doesn't disturb the rest of the meeting.


     Serafine looks to Kima, feigning brief shock that the Knight Saik even deigns to speak to her. Her lips curve and she nods her head to the woman. "Teind. I've been studying it for close to two months parsing out the meaning. It feels important but I'm not certain of it exactly."

Alis looks completely innocent, of course, after Edain's remarks on the songs she chooses to serenade him with at breakfast.

Kima inclines her head to Serafine, saying, "Thank you."

"I was wondering what that meant," Sina confesses, casting a glance aside to Serafina.

Deva whispers something to Alis, her expression not even a little bit innocent.

Serafine turns her head to look at Kima.

Cicero sits there quietly, listening. channeling Jon Snow.

Kima does not seem to notice Serafine's scrutiny! She's busy blathering something to a sellsword, all hand gestures like a rerun an old person can't quite remember watching before.

Alis beams a smile at Deva. And she looks far too pleased with herself when she nods politely at the other woman. Arx shall never be the same again.

Sina sits back in her seat. Her hands rest on her lap. She studies faces present. It's not a very interesting thing to do, but silence seems to suit her.

Audric gives a quiet snort at something, then adds, "I'm afraid that despite me and my lot's travels, we never were much good with languages. It's hard to pick them up over all the screaming, really." He's helpful!

"They're... far from dead, yes, though not for lack of trying by some," Aislin agrees, nodding towards Lou at her comment about the possibly-not-so-dead state of elves. "So the language could be very useful. And while I can't speak for anyone else, I'm more than willing to try teaching what I know to anyone who wants to learn it. It will just be easier for those who have an appropriate shav dialect as a grounding." Serafine's comment earns a momentary wince, as if it's just reminded Aislin of something, but she doesn't elaborate on it. Instead, she shifts the topic. "But elvish isn't the only useful thing left out there to uncover. There are records of ancient wars hidden away in distant ruins. Useful tools out there to find. I'm certain some of you have seen them for yourselves." She looks out expectantly over the audience, clearly willing to let someone else bring up their experience, rather than dominating the conversation herself.

"It seems to me that certain matters of linguistics are very much a scholarly concern, of which I am sure there are many -- like myself -- who intend to pursue it here in the city," Cara speaks quietly, but she's easy enough to hear, a soft lilt of the Lycene south in her enunciation. "I wonder, though, if there are plans in the near future for expeditions to gather more information in a less..." She searches for the word. "...bookish manner." She makes a note in her journal and adds, "As a researcher, I would be very happy to help organize or collect maps, descriptions, oral histories, or stories from any and all who have them to contribute, too."

Serafine says, "I was busy fighting, fucking, and having babies, I never wandered far from where I was. Met some interesting people. An Elf, a Bringer, but no tools or ruins as I recall."


A nod to Princess Lou and Mason with her. Viktarkim's dark eyes skim over the others gathered here. Discreetly as the tall Shav'arvani scout may, he slips over closer to have a look at various things set out for viewing. Among them is Serafine's translation of the Nox'Alfar Treaty. Quietly the Prodigal archer reads the document without saying anything as the others speak.

At her table, Sophie remains silent and attention, jotting down notes with graphite, blue eyes darting to the source of each voice. In the course of this, she notices Viktarkim and flashes a friendly smile.

Edain quickly makes 'earmuffs' over Alis' ears as Serafine talks about her previous activities in the wilds. He's going to get a look for this.

Serafine gives Edain a Look.

"Makes me wish I had some of the books on the Caer'alfar language that I've seen a couple of times. Makes me wonder if there's any kind of similarity between what I've seen in the past and the Nox'alfar." Mason seems to ruminateon that he takes a moment to really think upon. Just one more thing to research later when he has time. But when Aislin moves onto the ruins and the things seen in ruins, there's a glance at Lou, as if maybe she might have something to say on that.

Costas grunts softly to himself as the topic finally moves on from languages to something physical. Rubs his jaw. Makes a low comment aside to Kima and Audric.


    Aurelian nods to Aislina nd says, "I've been to some of the ruins as a field scholar myself, mostly assisting collegues in their expeditions. I intend to investigate more myself when I have enough resources and proper investigations done. I will also accept any courses in elven languages as well."


"We went near Eurus once," Sina offers. Then she lapses back into silence, an awkward silence as she shifts on her chair and continues speaking mentally. When the silence breaks, she murmurs, "There aren't any ruins at sea. Or elves. Just... Other things." Her back straightens a bit and she blurts, "I would like to learn elf tongue. Any elf tongue."

"I would certainly hope that there will be expeditions of a less scholarly manner, Lady Cara," Audric says. "And if anyone winds up wanting to go on one of those such and needs some extra swords to hand, I'll be offering greatly reduced rates in the name of rediscovering the past. History's always been an interest of mine. Oh, and I met a unicorn once in some weird ruins, but I don't think they'll be much help. Mean buggers, it has to be said."

Alis swats at Edain's hands, rolling her eyes at him dramatically. Good thing HE wasn't at the zoo earlier with the lot of them. "Really?"

"Oh, there are things in Eurus that might qualify." Mason suddenly comments towards Sina. "But I have no idea if they'd be relevant now. And some of you have already heard that particular tale."

Kima, her hushed talking completed, clears her throat and sits straighter. "I have travelled much of the Lyceum, but I never acquired any knowledge of the Shav language." There's a faint shrug, not apologetic, but not careless, either. "But I am not unused to the travails that come with the road, or its dangers."

And then Audric speaks and Kima, unable to help herself, grins crookedly.

Aislin pauses a moment at Audric's mention of unicorns, as if letting that process. "I actually have never seen one of those," she admits. "Fairly certain I saw a dragon in the skies off the coasts of the Waste, but a unicorn? That's a new one to me. I'd love to hear that story later." Or, presumably, the location of said ruins.

Ruins? Lou does look towards Aislin in interest, but the woman doesn't currently speak up. She does, however, lean a bit to capture Mason's sleeve. "I wonder if those rubbings of the markers I found in the islands could be brought here. Perhaps someone has seen the language elsewhere." She glances towards the treaty, "I doubt it's Elven, though. But a thought, perhaps."

Mae brings up a hand, scratching the tip of her nose at Lou's response. She wasn't quite angry, in fact, her smile seems to blossom ever brighter. Opening her mouth as if to respond, those words get caught in her throat - her eyes going rather blatantly towards Viktarkim, her eyes flickering over the man's visage.

"That's when I realized, that I am in the wrong room," says Mae in a whisper towards Lou, grinning widely as she pulls herself out of the chair - to drift backwards in the available seating towards the fringes of the room proper. Look! She left an open seat behind!

"Certainly!" Audric says, cheerful as ever. "I am happy to answer any and all questions whenever anyone would like. It was a fun day and bears remembering whenever possible."


     Serafine shifts, the inked, scarred woman frowning as she listens to the others.

With quiet steps, Julea slips into the Athenaeum, fingers drawing back the hood of her cape as she comes into the room proper, and in doing so, exposes black hair that while normally in disarray, has seen a brush recently, and has been adorned with a single clipped ribbon. She steps to the side of the door way, and takes a moment to get her bearings, eyes darting around the room.

Costas looks up, catches Mae's eye with a subtle lift of his shaved head. His hand wags in the universal semaphore for 'C'mere', making room between he, Kima, and Audric. To the sellsword he murmurs lowly, "You just promised a room full of noble credit reduced wages. I'm starting to reconsider my entire estimation of you." The click of his tongue is direly remonstrative.

"For what it may be worth," speaks up Sophie, her voice lambent and carrying well enough, "I may be able to marshal some Mercies for any such expeditions. Failing that, I am willing to make myself available." Because it is always good to have a healer.

Audric just grins, producing a flask from somewhere and taking a drink. "It's for a good cause," he says. "I do occasionally have things I believe in -besides- getting paid. Sometimes. It's happened before! ...once."

Kima, for the nonce, simply holds her tongue; looks more like she is trying to gather her thoughts before speaking up again.

"Well, as we've seen or heard, there are plenty of things out there in the world hard to explain," Aislin notes. "Beasts supposedly only seen in myth. Relics that do... unusual things when handled properly. Inscriptions of power in ancient runes. Dark rituals that actually have a measurable effect."
Indeed, Aislin sounds momentarily deeply unhappy, even angry, about that last one. But she shakes it off, continuing, "The more things we can find, the more we can learn, the better. But if no one else has specific stories to share -- and I suspect most of you have heard /my/ tales before -- I'd suggest the first thing we should really discuss is where best to focus early expeditions. We have offers of funding, of swords, of Mercies. We could easily manage to field several small traveling parties. When we /do/ muster people to travel outside of the city, where should we first look?" The Ashford adventuress doubtless has ideas of her own on that topic, to judge from the tone, but she's once again trying to open the floor to other ideas.

Serafine says, "Perhaps places some of us have already traveled to and know well enough to lead a party?"

Edain clears his throat and says, "That actually dovetails into what I wanted to talk about, Lady Aislin, if I may."

Without a word, Mason nods at Lou, getting up to move away, speaking with a servant quietly, looking like he's giving very specific instructions to have relayed to another servant. "Tell them to take the large brown leather tome with the green trim. They'll know the one I'm talking about." Sending the man away, he moves to reake his seat next to his wife. "Lady Aislin, I have some information that might be relevant. But most of these places lie in Eurus, so they may or may not have any real bearing here."

Kima looks to Edain when he speaks, clearly eager to hear what the Valardin prince has to say.

Aislin tilts her head towards one prince, then the other. "Let's let Prince Edain speak first, and then Prince Mason." She sounds like she might well suspect what it is Edain wants to talk about.


    Aurelian looks to each present before finally stating, "I would suggest gathering all information from all sources first. Then determinign which is most relevant for the Society to take interest in, then appointing one to oversee the expedition based on the focus of it." simply, sounding more like a field schoalr than before. Ah logical pragmatism. Or just Captain Obvious.


Noting the arrival of a messenger in the back gesturing discretely at her, Deva rises quietly from her chair. With a polite dip of her head and a quick smile for Alis, she excuses herself as quickly as she can manage.

Calista focuses her attention now on Edain as he is about to speak.

Sophie swivels into her sit to regard her Highlord cousin. Eyes eyes on Edain, it would seem.

Mae notes Costas' gesture, moving to kinda find a spot in the huddle nearish him. "Friends of yours?" asks she in a whisper, her eyes flickering between Kima and Audric. Her smile blossoms again, before attention starts drifting back towards the speakers.

Edain steps forward and clears his throat, "Well I think I am surrounded by many like minded individuals here, but when I learned that Lady Aislin was forming this society, it was my hope the Society could have a good working relationship with the militaries of the compact. Recent events have been a painful lesson that we do not understand what is out there near well enough. I plan for the Valardin to work close with the society, and I am happy to advocate on it's behalf to my peers if needed. I hope that we can work together, be that sending extra swords for protectiong and guides and supplies." he cocks a thumb to Audric, "Be it assistence in hiring skilled sellswords where needed. And in return, I am hoping the society can help with the monumental task of scouting Arvum better. In the form of reports of what you observe while you travel to your sites. Or maybe even.. taking a slightly.. scenic route so we can get eyes on a region we've not been through in a couple of centuries or more. I don't know exactly how this relationship would work, but I'd like to see us support each other."

"Now as for where to start. God knows I am not smart enough for any good advice there, But if the Society is open to sharing what they learn on the journey as much as the destination, I'll support it however I can."

Julea remains quiet, but attentive, fingers fidgeting all the same with a patched hem running along the base of her cape. Inadvertantly tugging and loosening the thread there. She frequently examines people within the room, particularly faces that are new to her, which are most of them, but when Edain starts to speak, her focus quickly snaps to him.

"Friend, teacher - countrymen?" Kima tacks on that last word with a slight upward lilt as she glances askance at Costas. But she hushes in order to listen to Edain.

Aislin nods once to Edain in thanks. "Of course, it's often hard to take large groups into the most remote areas. But a small group -- five or six people -- can still be a manageable expedition. And I've recently been reminded how effective a group with widely varied talents can be, whether or not they consider themselves explorers. So the assistance will be most welcome." The Ashford woman glances over at Kima for a moment as she says this, for some reason. Then she turns to Mason, gesturing for the Ah'joni prince to speak next.

Kima gives Aislin a curt nod, but offers nothing in the way of words for the moment.


    Aurelian nods to AIslin and says, "I am accustom to such groups myself, that is about the right number, especially dangerous areas might need more, but generally that is enough. Areas with almost no risk can even function with three or four, which could be of benefit if we have multiple expeditions to safer areas."


Viktarkim still isn't saying anything. Having carefully read the document that caught his attention, the Grayson scout takes up a position to lean lightly against a wall, folding his tattooed arms over his chest as he continues to listen.

Nodding, Mason rises up, placing a quick smooch on Lou's cheek before standing. "I will not tell the full story here, as some of you already know this story. As most of you know, I am not native of Arvum, I am a child of Eurus." he addresses the crowd. "But Lady Aislin speaksof elves and we might've seen something that might be relevant. Some of you, perhaps in your travels, may of heard of a place called Pyre. Or perhaps by another name. Caer'alfar. This is a place I have been to, seen. Amoung my people this was seen as a forbidden dark place. An empty ruin. After my own expidition there, I can tell you it is not empty in the slightest." he starts to describes, eyes falling on his wife for a moment, perhaps for strength to say some of this aloud.

"I will not go into details about it, I have no real desire to turn this talk dark. My point is, is that place, has a very, perhaps errily so, similar name to the elves in Arvum. Nox'alfar and the other. I don't really believes this to be of any real coincidence. So perhaps, if any of you have heard the words Pyre or Caer'alfar in your travels across Arvum, that would put a particular connection between the two places. It would least show, that at some point, elves did indeed travel from one continent to the other. Though where they originated, I couldn't say."

"I would hate to suggest any one place of exploration before conferring with my baron, and my duke," Kima finally says. "However, I do think it would be a good step in the right direction of we could /compile/ a list of likely places we should hope to explore."

Then, as Mason speaks, Kima considers him for several heartbeats. "It seems to me that there are different...ah, tribes, or clans of elves, as surely as there are different Shavs, or even different Arvani. I would even go so far as to venture a guess and say that they undoubtedly did not march in lockstep."

"Pyre? Isn't that the place fireweave comes from?" Sina wonders, looking to Mason with her pale eyes and allowing her brow to furrow subtly. She sits back in her seat, beginning to pick at the tulle of her many-layered skirt. "The elves are simply eerie. But it would make sense. Sylv'alfar. Nox'alfar. Caer'alfar. Perhaps 'alfar is 'elf' and they are all elves -- and isn't that disturbing?"

Lydia has been quiet up until this point - except for her short conversation with Edain - but she speaks up now, enthusiastically so. "Which would make the first part of the word connected to their houses or tribes or groups or whatever." She then lifts a hand and gives her head a shake, with a winkle of her nose accompanied by a smile "Sorry, I'm sure that was obvious to everyone, I just got a little excited!"


    Aurelian nods to Sina and says, "Linguistically it likely does mean elf, the question becomes what does 'Caer' mean, as it would likely denote the type of elf that lived there origianlly."


"There's nothing to apologize for, Lydia," Kima says to the other woman.

"Without seeing what their king calls himself, I wouldn't be able to speculate," Sina murmurs, "Nox'alfar seems to be elves of twilight. Night. Death... Calithex has some unnerving titles."

Aislin's jaw clenches slightly at mention of Pyre; she, at least, remembers Mason's previous descriptions rather vividly. But instead, she seizes on the linguistic element, nodding to Sina and then Lydia. "The Nox'alfar refer to themselves as the 'Twilight Court' when writing in Arvani; I suspect the others are similar 'Courts' of elves."

"Unnerving?" Kima asks, unable to keep the grin free from her face. "On the one hand, I find them most poetic. On the other?" She looks to the hand she has held aloft; the grin remains. "I don't think we have any idea." She finds and picks out Viktarkim within the room. "Prodigal, with Serafine momentarily stepped outside, might you have any means of assisting us? Have you any guess as to what 'sylv' might refer to?"

Edain looks at Alis, "It's the Twiligh Court? Why have people been letting me call them the 'Twinkle Court?'"

Vigorous note taking recommences with Mason's tale. Sophie does pop up, peering around, "I thought Caer'Alfar was the city of the high elves, founded some 9000 years ago. I suppose it is possible that historians transposed the clan name as a place name."

Alis stifles a laugh, glancing sideways at Edain. "Because it's really kind of cute to hear you call it the Twinkle Court." she reveals. "Especially combined with whatever you call the Nox'Alfar when you try to pronounce it."


    Looking to Aislin Aurelin states, "If it is based on cycles of the day, then it stands to reason there is a day, night, and dusk court as well. That said as we have three of them, and under the assumption that is all of them which is a large assumption, it could be more light related. In which case we have a twilight, dark, and light court."
    He then looks to Edain and states, "To hear you say twinkle I'd imagine Your Highness." presenting an uncommonly seen soft smile at the end, did the scholar just make a joke?


Alis gestures towards Aurelian. "See? I rest my case."

"Fireweave?" Mason raises a brown, looking to Sina. "I've never heard that word before. Could you perhaps going into a bit of explanation to what you mean by that? I might now what that is if I know more about it. I may know it by another name. As to the rest," he takes a moment. "Caer'alfar is what my people called it. That was it's ancient name. As the story goes, my people were either slaves to the rulers of the city or descended from them directly, the information about which is hard to disseminate. It is only second to how forbidden and it is to the Silent City, the thirteenth of the Dune Kingdoms."

Sina's tongue runs against her tooth. "The term slyv'alfar brings to mind sylvan. Sylvan means... Wooded, forested." Her shoulders roll, an awkward shrug full of her uncertainty. "Perhaps it has nothing to do with the times of day, but simply where they live."

Aislin nods to Sina. "That was my line of thought. It's certainly something worth looking into, to see if there are any long-forgotten records of what the sylv'alfar called themselves."

"I believe someone mentioned to me that 'caer' might mean 'fortress' -- so perhaps not a group so much as a location," Cara says to Sophie with a faint smile. She's been taking notes for most of this as she listens. She glances to Aislin and tilts her head, "May I make a suggestion, Lady Cousin? Have you considered, perhaps, having a small competition? Establish temporary teams of at least three individuals and hold a competition within the city itself -- bring back one piece of new lore or a secret or difficult location. The team which succeeds in bringing back the most interesting bit of information will be given first shot at our first opportunity for exploration."

Edain sighs, "So we have Wood elves, night elves, and high elves, Now we just need to find some 'answer some damn questions' elves."

"So we have tree elves and death elves of the Twilight Court," Sina claims, throwing her hands up somewhat in exasperation, "This all makes me miss the Whore a bit. There were no elves at sea, just the sea beasts."

"With this talk of words and what they mean... And this might be..." Julea starts to say, and then there's a brief clearing of her throat, before she attempts to speak again, "Probably is a stupid question, but what are... " She hesitates then, saying the word slowly, enunciation exagerated like someone ill-used to it. "Gyre. Geir? Gear? I'm not sure how it is said."

Viktarkim thinks about Kima's question, "Nox ... may refer to night. Or darkness possibly. Silv may refer to light, like silver, something that shines." He gives a slight shrug, "That is partly intuitive based on other information, but also related words. But I can not give you a definitive answer there." His baritone rumbles low, his dark eyes to slip around to various of the other speakers.

"Caer could mean sand. The place where Pyre is located is deep in the deserts of Eurus. In the middle of a section of desert called the Scorched Sands. Or Blasted Sands. Where the sand turns to a black almost ash like. Gratned there is no way to say for the moment." Mason comments on the translation of the name.

Edain looks to Julea with an exprecious that just says, 'Right?'

Sina's eyes cut to Julea as she brings up 'Gyre', her expression becoming a cautious one, as if she knows more and isn't speaking on it.

Lydia wrinkles her nose at Sina. "Can't we keep calling them twilight elves? It sounds less terrifying than death elves."

Alis glances over at Lydia. "Or, Twinkle Elves. That is definitely non-threatening."


Something Julea asks gets Viktarkim's attention. He looks at her a bit sharply but is silent.

Edain says, "Anyone could've made that mistake."

"Or both," Kima suggests. To Viktarkim, Kima nods, and thanks the man for his words. she then tries desperately to keep up with the flurry of words, and in the end she shoots her arm into the air like an over-eager pupil. "I have a suggestion, before we say aught else."

Alis says, "Of course."


    Aurelian looks to Cara and says, "I find it best to send the person best suited to what the expedition is aimed at. In the case of the Alfar then I would suggest those who knowledge the language best should lead as an example. Given any expedition would likely uncover some form of writings if nothing else. For a location you would choose who has been there the most."


"Fireweave is this fancy silk stuff. I thought it came from Pyre. They called it Pyreweave sometimes," Sina murmurs to Mason uncertainly, keeping Julea in her peripheral thanks to the Gyre comment. That appears to have truly gotten to the young pirate's daughter.

Aislin covers her face at mention of 'Gyre'; whatever the word means, it looks like she might be developing a headache. But Cara's comment earns a firm nod. "That's not a bad idea," she admits. "But with travel outside the city discouraged for the moment, maybe we should turn our attentions to the oldest bits of our own city here. The ruins dating back centuries, the forgotten crumbling buildings. The bits we walk past every day, and so never really think to see. There might be answers closer than we think."

"Could we PLEASE get a scholar or two to take concise notation?" Her own attention cuts to Julea. "Where did you happen to hear about the Gyre?"

Now it's Kima who gains some of Sina's attention. The entire thing with the Gyre puts the handmaiden right off. She preferred elves, clearly!

When at least a few sets of eyes shift towards her, Julea pauses, and pushes a hand back through her hair, clearing the angled fringe from her face. "Just read it somewhere. It might of been a mis-spelling, or perhaps I said it wrong." There's a touch of awkwardness now to her and she ends with a brief shrug. "I probably said it wrong."


    Aurelian looks to Aislin and says, "There is a complication to such an investigation, as some of the oldest sites are also protected by the Faith or the royal line due to being a place of significance or a holy site. Hoyl sites especially should be avoided without formal permission as the punishment is quite serious if caught."


Without looking up from the notes she is taking, Sophie wryly inquires, "Will those of you getting your knickers in a twist about this gyre kindly share with the rest of the class?" She doubts it, but someone might be tiring of so much secrecy.

"This is, I know, a great deal to take in all at once." Aislin glances around the room, not without sympathy. "Gods know I've had years to get used to the things I see out there, and sometimes I'm still surprised when something turns out to be, ah, not exactly a rainbow." Whatever that means; she does give a wry glance to Kima as she says it. She straightens then, "So, let's take a bit of Lady Cara's suggestion: find a team of comrades you think you could work well with in the field, and set yourselves the task of finding some forgotten bit of lore here in the city, in a nondestructive manner which does /not/ cause any international incidents." Possibly she speaks from slightly embarrassed experience. "Whether that's from a site somewhere near the city, or lost records in the archives. Whether it's information gleaned from traveling merchants, learned from a sailor you enticed into his cups, or /anything/. But just take this as a challenge to see how well you work together, and what you can learn to bring to the Society's next meeting."

"Sea legends," Sina answers Sophie, speaking quietly and somewhat tersely. She says nothing more on the subject. (Perhaps she's a superstitious pirate.)

Kima is silent a moment, then she snorts in amusement. "It's something or someone, out near..." Her eyebrows shoot up. "Why, Eurus, I think. Three sails bearing no mark." She shrugs. "That's all I've managed to discern. Perhaps it is a legend, perhaps not. I mean, we once thought elves were no more than myth."

Sina's pale eyes cut aside to Kima, and though her expression is a stoic mask, her eyes seem to be calculating something silently.

"I think someone was trying to sell you something with a great story behind it." Mason remarks at Sina. "I've never heard of Pyreweave, but then again that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. But nothing comes out of Pyre. Nothing but darkness. So I would imagine that this fireweave is being made somewhere else." With Aislin trying to sort things together, he nods at this. "I'd be happy to work with anyone willing to do so."

"Sea legends." Julea echoes Sina's words, though quietly, and with a hint of puzzlement to the tone and her brow furrows above her eyes to match. When her eyes rise, they fix upon Aislin, listening to her talk, and (for now at least) offering nothing further vocally. Kima does get a glance as she expands, and she watches her with curious eyes.


    Aurelian is silent for a moment looking to Aislin's challenge and then states to the group, "As that is the challenge I'd highly recommend avoiding any holy sites in the city, though if you do wish to make the attempt speak with the Dominius and get permission from them first. Also if the site lies within the district of any of the great Houses get permission from the head of that respective House as well." Said more as a helpful requirement instead of a recommendation in regards who to speak with, though the avoidance of holy sites does sound more like a recommendation against.


Seeing that Sina is sitting at the same table, she likely will here Sophie sincerely say, "Thank you." The kindly smile might well be missed.


Nope, not a word out of the Prodigal about the Gyre. Viktarkim has refolded his arms over his chest and does his best barbarian out of the woods impression, stoic but vigiliant.

"I would like to work with the shav," Sina decides. She seems to appreciate that he, too, is made uncomfortable by this talk of the Gyre. Of course, then she pauses to correct herself: "Prodigal. Not shav. The tall, tattooed one..." That she doesn't know his name likely bears poorly on her hopes to team with him, but such is the way life goes.

"Viktarkim," Aislin supplies, helpfully. Apparently she, at least, is passing familiar with the Prodigal in question.


Dark eyes in his sharply planed face slip to Sina. If he's about to speak up to say he has a name, Lady Aislin supplies it helpfully. A subtle quirk of his mouth indicates his amusement and he gives both women a nod, "If you like. Though my interest lies with the Gray Wood or the mountains, for my part."

This suggestion made, Aislin glances around the room. "I'll schedule a second meeting soon, probably for a few weeks out. Does anyone else have any other questions, or suggestions? If not, I'll let us disperse for now."

Though she's been largely quiet, Lou isn't too out of thing to not be paying attention. The Voice of Grayson is slouched just a bit in her chair to relieve pressure on her back. The hunk of bread she entered with has been devoured and she's largely brushing crumbs off her robe. Because of course, robe. There is a look towards Sina, then a glance towards Viktarkim. "I would prefer Viktarkim remain near the city and not range too distant, but I'm sure he can find time to do... exploration in the city as Lady Aislin has recommended."

Sina allows an enigmatic smile to cross her lips. "I've never been to the Gray Woods. That would be very interesting," she states, rising from her seat and approaching Viktarkim now that he's assented to allowing her to join his expedition. She lapses into silence shortly after, of course; that seems to be her way, though she does look to Lou when the Princess speaks.


    Aurelina looks to Aislin and says, "I would like to speak further, but that can be done after the meeting or over the next few days."


Aislin nods once to Aurelian. "I'd like to speak to Princess Lou after the meeting, but you can seek me out at the Ashford house later," she assures him.