Bedivere has joined the Grimhall's heirloom feasting table with sophisticated engravings in sturdy wood.

Cassima has joined the a cozy nook of umbra and aeterna pillows behind a gauzy charcoal curtain.

Eirene has joined the small blackwood table with low backed chairs.

Thea has joined the small blackwood table with low backed chairs.

Edward has joined the Grimhall's heirloom feasting table with sophisticated engravings in sturdy wood.

5 Grimhall House Guards, Gustav, a gruff Islander advisor arrive, following Valdemar.

On this chilly winter's day the sun is just starting to make its descent towards the horizon, signalling the beginning of the dinner hour and the start of House Grimhall's feast. This is more than just the usual dinner party, with fine food to share among friends and even finer booze. It's one celebrating the fine Islander tradition of the saga, and aimed to honor the late Great Grim Duke, Harald Grimhall. In the traditions of Grihem's Point, sagas are told surrounding great rulers, leaders, and heroes of their day, usually as a means of celebrating a man or woman's life after they have passed. As it has been near exactly three years since Duke Harald's passing, friends and family have been gathered together to tell their favorite stories of him, from which his own saga will be written.

The Great Grim Hall is kept warm with blazing fires in the hearth, the snow outside merely decorative against the window panes. Thick rugs are cast upon the stone floor to keep the room insulated and festive at once, and in addition to the ancient feasting table with its elaborate carvings of Grihem's own saga, there are smaller tables and other gathering places for guests to make themselves comfortable. The Duke and Duchess join the party arm in arm, with the latter dressed in steelsilk and jewels meant to evoke imagery of the sea. They make their way to the head of the table, where Valdemar takes his proper seat and his wife settles in at his left. Guests are shown in directly, and place settings in gold and silver plate show off the best of House Grimhall's hospitality. At the far end of the table are Duke Harald's three grandsons, the three year old twins Arkyn and Antony, and their younger brother Harry, named for the man being honored himself. Likely they'll be tucked off to bed before too long, but not before they've had the chance to fill their bellies and hear some of the best stories.

Edward's been in the longhouse for a little while to prepare for the feast, catching up with old friends among the guard. When the proceedings begin he wanders through the feasting hall to the usual seat he takes at the table - on the Duke's left and halfway down. Passing the ship he makes sure to grab a bottle of the mead and rescue a cup of rum before he finally slips into his seat and then gets comfortable.

Insaya politely joins those people gathered to pay their respects to Duke Harald in the hall. Its awkward for her, really. None Grimmer than Grimhall (and none Harder than Harald), and all that. But she saunters along the VERY Thrax-y quiet hall, even insinuates herself in to carrying a laden tray around-- some are venerable souls and should be comfortable where they are. She can sling strongmead and oysters with spiced sauce, while people tell their tales. It seems to put her at ease, having something to DO. She nods politely to the Duchess, and makes a little bob.

Cassima has left the a cozy nook of umbra and aeterna pillows behind a gauzy charcoal curtain.

Cassima has joined the Grimhall's heirloom feasting table with sophisticated engravings in sturdy wood.

Eirene is here. She was a contemporary and, dare she say it, friend to Harald so she's not going to miss this, like she did his passing and funeral.


Cassima Thrax arrived in a timely, efficient manner. She bowed her head to the Duke and Duchess in greeting before turning her attention to a glass of rum with a twist of lime. It will preceed any meal, but what a lovely precedence it is. She comes dressed well to honor the late Duke, clad all in umbra save for the splashes of dawnstones. Her wild curls have been pinned up tightly and elegantly. She is here to listen; storytelling is far from her forte. Edward too gets a respectful nod, and then she turns to a servant for another serving of rum.


Thea didn't know the Duke. Not at all. No, instead she's here's with her aunt Eirene Malvici. So the quietly walks in the older of the two, grabbing a drink as walk in, and has seat. Thea is no stranger to Thraxian affairs, shocking enough. When she sees Insaya's tray of oysters, she grins a little. Those are actually pretty good.

Already here and having been seated is Lord Bedivere Whitehawk with none other than Cabbit the Cat upon his right shoulder. The man has a missing hand on that same side, too. He carefully rests his left/only hand on the table edge whilst looking up to those who might do story telling.

"Greetings guests, and welcome to the Great Grim Hall. I think most of the faces here today are familiar, though there may be one or two I don't recall. I am Vanora Grimhall, Duchess-Consort of Grihem's Point and the lady of this household. I did not know the Grim Duke for as long as many of you, but I admired him as much as I expect any young bride ever has her father-in-law. There was a time when he was a better and more involved parent to me than my own kin by far, and I loved him very much, and his loss is still much mourned. I was there when he died, fighting an old foe, cultists in service to his greatest nemasis. It was a good death, the kind of death I know he wanted, and we celebrated it and him when his body was given to the sea in Grihem's Point. Yet I know that in the Isles, we do not grieve the loss of our dead so much as we celebrate the life they led, the person they were. No one was more devoted to the traditions of his ancestors than Harald Grimhall. So tonight we are here to honor him as our ancestor with one of those same traditions. In sharing our stories of who he was, the legend and legacy, his saga beings to take form. I ask then that any of you with something to share about Harald, feel free to do so. Let us wine and dine and remember, together." Vanora smiles at the gathered family and friends, and retakes her seat.

The Malvici, grey in her hair, stands and moves to the center of the room. Her voice is rough but commanding, and carries easily in the hall. She wears black leathers of dubious origin and crimson steelsilk, armored even on such a 'festive' occasion. Eirene takes a swig of mead and starts. "Harald was not really a friend of mine, but we were friendly. He had battle-companions and that was the way it ought to be. I am a veteran of the first wars against the Horned God and likely to see that fight to the fucking end." She grins at the little grandsons. Likely they will learn new words if they didn't already know them.

"We were fighting the shavs of his army and then he stepped out. Elf with coppery eyes, long brown hair. And you could hear him through the din of battle. His voice was silken and full of evil. He wanted us dead. And then, he laughs and snaps. And all this army turned into wasps. Thousands and thousands of wasps. The fuckers are stinging left and right. We had to cover our patients and evac the triage centers. And then - Harald steps foward."

"He ordered his men back and anyone without an heir to their name. Then he bellowed the elf's true name and fucking charges with his axe in hand, blood and gore dripping from it. He actually MAKES it through the wall of wasps and soon Faelan is beside him. I... called him ahem, a dimwitted, limp-dicked, fish-fucking idiot. But then Harald swings, and brings it down hard and deep into his face. And we thought, for a moment, he went for the head! We've won. But no. Wasps fly back into that terrible beautiful asshole's face and knit it back together. And then the wasps surround Faelan to sting the shit out of him, and Harald gets backhanded into a tree, like a rag doll. BOOM. Sheer fucking grit and stubbornness kept Harald alive, he should have had a broken neck. As it was, he fractured most of his ribs, nearly punctured a lung, and had a severe skull fracture and concussion."

She lifts the mug of mead and grins. "I was the Death-Guard, as he called me, and made sure as fuck he didn't die then. So he could die another day. And today, we remember that day. But I? I will always remember him charging down a Herald and nearly killing him with a single blow. To Harald!" She drinks the entire thing in one sitting.

Vanora gets Silver skull of Sigvaldi.

Gogil arrives to the hall with little fan fare. He might just be here for the food and the drink, but likely to hear tale of the man he's heard so much about. He makes his greetings to the Duke and Duchess before moving to get a glass of rum, without lime apparently, and goes and takes his seat to. Upon sitting, he gives whoever he's sitting with a smile, before turning his attention to those who are about to speak. "To Harald!" Gogil says raising his glass of rum and downing it after Eirene speaks of the man they are here to honor.

There are so, you know, malign the humble bivalve, equating it to two days in the privy for a swallow of briny snot you are like as not to gouge yourself and die of the lockjaw. Unkind and untrue! Insaya hasn't got a cup, but she has a halfshell in hand in time for the toast at the conclusion of the story. She raises with a throaty sound of approval, and bolts it down witha splash of mignonette. That'll put hair on yer chest right enough! The shell goes into her apron pocket, and Insaya brings the tray nearby to Thea, offering silently.

"Harald!" Edward adds as he raises the bottle of mead and then takes a swig from it. He smiles widely and then sets his bottle down and slouches down into his seat some. He adjusts his shirt a bit as he looks up and down the table at those gathered before he laughs, "Fish-fucking idiot. Hoo boy."


Cassima turns her bright greens to Eirene, listening to the tale of battle and honor. It's the sort of tales that are greatly favored in the Isles, and there's a small comfortable smile on her features as the story is relived in the warm hall. She lifts her glass as well, taking a small sip of rum. Her eyes turn to sweep the table, but they stop at Bedivere ... or, more precisely, his cat. She blinks once, those eyes going wide in surprise at the presence of the animal. Her lips purse, and if anyone is sitting beside her they might hear a little 'hum' of displeasure. But then she turns back to the story at hand.


The Duchess applauds Eirene's tale, cheering at the part where Harald calls the Herald by name and charges him full on. She glances down the table towards where her sons listen wide-eyed, with only Antony speaking, a sweet little voice with an exaggerated "woah....so cool. But did he really fuck a fish?" Vanora frowns, "Antony. Mind yourself. And bring this over to the Lady Malvici. First toast of the night. The Grim Duke never did tell me the story of this silver skull...of who the enemy was who he found it worth to preserve his cranium for a drinking vessel. But some stories are better when we do not know them. Because then we can imagine." Antony is nudged then, and approaches his mother from whom he takes the skull filled with red liquid (It's wine, surely) and brings it to Eirene with a bow.

Cabbit the cat washes a paw which he rubs back behind his own triangular ear, doing so whilst perched atop the right shoulder of Bedivere. Meanwhile, the Whitehawk lord curiously listens to Eirene before lifting up his mead cup in his left/only hand. After, he lowers down said cup for a quick swig before evenentually lowering it to the table top, too.

Eirene salutes, her hand over her heart. It's sincere, which is something she rarely is. She takes the silver skull, studies it with a curious glance, lifts it towards the direction of the sea, and then drinks. "Thank you Duchess," she replies. "It was an honor and pleasure to serve beside him, always." She hands Antony back the skull and goes to enjoy some of the food on the table.

Thea accepts from the tray quietly, all while toasting Eirene's tale. She takes a big drink from her cup, swallowing. Not surprised at all. She mouths a "thank you,"to woman, and smiles a bit.

1 Melaeris Justicar arrives, following Ksenia.

Trini Albricci, an attractive young Lycene woman, 1 Templar Knight guards, Ravna arrive, following Dianna.

"No cats!" Harry yells, his two-year old voice piercing. "They'll eat all the fish! No cats are ALLOWED in the Great Hall during dinner." He says like a kid who knows, one who has possibly tried to bring a pet or two to the table in the past.


Cassima dips her head in respectful approval to young Harry, raising her glass in a salute to the child and offering a small smirk of amusement before she sips.


At this point the little boy breaks away from his end of the table to run towards his father, scrambling up into Valdemar's lap. He whispers loud enough to overhear, "Daddy what's a fish-fucker?"

Ksenia looks briefly bewildered as she stumbles upon the scene when exiting the hall's east wing, and the rather loud insistence on cats. A hand ruffles her already chaotic dark hair, the woman standing near the wing's door still as she studies the situation.

Oh. Okay! Sure, Thea can have the whole tray. Some people really just like their molluscs! Insaya lets go of the tray in the post-oyster daze of the terminally cheerful, and with a tuck and nod of joviality, sweeps off to circulate another platter. As she moves by the great-seats, she offers helpfully, "It's a kind of wily sea-captain, my young lord. You only tell 'em so when you've your manhood, though. Have to earn big titles like that." See? She's helping? She offers a tankard toward Gogil.

Eirene doens't look sorry about the language. She's amused. One can only imagine the vocabularies her own children have...

"To Father!" Valdemar echoes the toast and drinks deeply from his horn of strongmead following Eirene's story. Afterward, he chuckles somewhat and remarks, "There were parts of that he left out when he told /me/ that story." He then raises a brow at his son's language. "It is a name that /adults/ call each other when they are frustrated with one another. I don't want to hear you repeating it again," he warns the boy.

Thea hears the little boy and she chokes, hiding her expression behind her drink. Which she drinks--quickly. Swallowing,she lowers her voice to Eirene,"It's like listening to Colette or--,"but then there's a WHOLE TRAY of oysters in her face. Well okay then--I guess she'll be hungry.

Shown into the hall by a servant are Dianna and a much-taller gentleman whom she is still fussing over. "Yes, darling, but please don't wear the hat to the table? Nor put it on me; it's simply... not /done/ at fine dinners..." the priestess pouts, slipping out of her great, golden bear fur coat and relieving herself of it to a house servant. "My thanks, dear," Dianna purrs to the servant as she looks up into Ravna's eyes with great uncertainty, tucking her lips between her teeth for a moment before turning to smile at those gathered around the table. "Duchess, Duke; I'm so very sorry we're tardy.... May I present my... darling, Messere Ravna Culler?" She lowers her voice subtly and murmurs to Ravna - a little anxiously.

After being scolded by Harry, Bedivere carefully stands. "Apologies, my boy." Although it might not be taking the cat away, at least they move with their dinner plate (because a one handed man can only carry one thing at a time) to another location, like the cozy nook for instance, which has no other food which the cat could attack (besides their isolated plate).

Bedivere has left the Grimhall's heirloom feasting table with sophisticated engravings in sturdy wood.

Bedivere has joined the a cozy nook of umbra and aeterna pillows behind a gauzy charcoal curtain.

Dianna mutters, "Please, darling? Not ... ... not here, please? ... ... ... bow?"

"To Grampa!" Harry doesn't have a glass or a horn so he just bangs his fist on the table which seems as acceptable a way to toast as any. "Okayyy..." He responds to his father, somewhat dejectedly, after being informed that only grown ups get to say fish-fucker. He still doesn't know what one is, but it is OBVIOUSLY a super cool thing to yell or else kids would be able to do it too. Hopping down from Valdemar's lap, he charges back towards the other end of the table where his brothers are. There's quiet murmuring, and then Arkyn screams, "No, YOU are a fish-fucker!" causing Harry to cry. Vanora, watching this all unfold, merely sighs. "Who else has a story?"

"Oh, Dianna darling, I didn't see you come in. Join us, sit, please. Well met Messere Culler. Please do not let my protege make you nervous, while she's quite right about the protocols of fine dinners, feasts in the Grim Hall are...a little bit different." Vanora greets them both, smiling.

"Thank you," Gogil says to the offering of the tankard by Insaya, his smile broadening a bit. He doesn't even bother looking at what's in it but takes a healthy drink from it. "I'm going to get drunk tonight aren't I?" He says almost to himself as he takes another healthy sip from it. His smile broadens and his nods almost to himself, "I most certainly am!" He looks around dreamy like before he realizes the conversation at hand. "Fish-fucker," and for some reason he starts to giggle merrily.

Dianna has joined the Grimhall's heirloom feasting table with sophisticated engravings in sturdy wood.

While others arrive Edward slowly stands up from his seat at the table and he motions, "I have a tale to tell, Duchess." he says rolls his neck like he's stretching it and then he lets his eyes wander over the room. This time not the people but the things here, the momentos and reminders of the past. A smile tilts his lips up and then he looks down at the table as he takes up his rum and holds it as he waits for everyone to get settled again or introduced.

Ksenia decides to just bolt after some quiet observation, sticking to the walls of the hall as she makes for the entrance to the longhouse.



Ravna's movements are gaits that are not still, nor steady. He moves with the constant, resonant -thud- of that rubi staff. Gourds clinking together, like music, sloshing when too full, clunky when empty. All of Dianna's fretting is met by the coy grin of the Culler, his hat tugged down so only one eye is shown, and the hat is canted. "I am, yes. Me. Ravna. I, you know, have been to pllllllleeeeenty of fine dinners - I had turtle once, in a soup, yes. Very fine, love. Beautiful creature."
Then someone shouts Fish-Fucker and Ravna perks up! Pointing at the shouter! "Oi! See? I'm perfect here! It's like, a reunion. Yes. It is." A click of the tongue, and when they approach the table, so will Ravna use his staff to flick a leg of a chair, and draw it out for Dianna - then realize she's walking at Vanora - and the man moves beside Dianna, all sweeping arms to cut himself in half and just before someone could stop him. Ravna turns to look - "Did someone say 'tell us a story'?" Another click, and his attention is sharply jerked back to Vanora. The hat drawn off, the man does not quite stumble as to grin madly, and dip. "Nervous? Me? Never! Not once! Save this one time, with a boar-skinned Shav and two lil' things. Y'know? Oh! Thrax! I /love/ Thrax, fine beards they make, yes. I mean, it's my favorite. It is. Really. Especially in dice games -" He stands, to glance over Vanora, and Ravna smiles like a true fool, one eye barely open from drink. "Oh, my. Yes." A turn to glance at Dianna, then stares back at Vanora, "- You're right! She is how you say, yes. Very. Very 'stormy' and all that. Reminds me of this woman I saw, once, probably twice." A shrug, "Or I was dreaming."

"Please, Baron. Especially if it does not involve romantic relations with fish. But if it does...it does. The saga must be told hmm?" Vanora smiles at Edward

Eirene drinks and eats, listening to the children repeat her words and knowing, somewhere, Harald would find it amusing to hear. She goes silent for the other stories.

1 Melaeris Justicar leaves, following Ksenia.

Insaya brings servings of delicate, flaky fish on a bed of greens with samphire to Bedivere, perceiving that perhaps there is eating for two going on by that nook. She leans against the wall, and taps it with her knuckle, before making an offering gesture.

Some shuffling in the nook can be heard as a plate is moved from lap to table before the Whitehawk lord stands up and steps to the curtain which he then moves aside half way with his left arm sweeping to do so. "Would you like to join us?" He curiously inquires of Insaya, glancing to her plate then back to her eyes once more.

Ravna has joined the Grimhall's heirloom feasting table with sophisticated engravings in sturdy wood.

Lady Teonia Redreef, Aryka Wyrmfang, 3 Thrax Guards, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog, 2 Thrax Elite Guards arrive, following Sorrel.

"Thank you, Duchess." Edward tilts that back the glass of rum draining it in a drink and then replaces it with the Grimhall mead to hold in his hand as he looks around at those gathered. "This tale is interewoven with my own. But as I think about how to recount the events I am deeply reminded of my fondness for Harald Grimhall. He was a mentor. At times like a father. Embedded in my memory though are the events of this tale, this point in time was a turning point in my life. That is what Harald did at times. He influenced change. He created moments. And in this moment he gained not only my everlasting friendship but my undying loyalty for himself and his house." a glance and a nod to the Duke and Duchess where they sit.

Edward takes a sip of the mead and then he motions, "The War of Silence. In the closing days an army over two hundred thousand strong laid siege to the walls. They targeted the wards of Arx because that was where the city was weak, preventing the Houses from uniting resulting in the various Houses huddled up in their wards and Thrax was no different. That cold morning, with just a sword in hand, I climbed up the ramparts and there stood the Grim Duke. In plate and chain with a large axe on his shoulder he brought the two hundred men that were allowed to him in Arx and they lined the walls. Archers. Reavers. Each one knowing that if the Silent army made it in then Arx would die."

A moment of quiet comes to Edward and then he says, "At that moment the only noble standing on those ramparts besides me was the Grim Duke." he looks at those gathered, "And there in the cold morning on the wall we stood and finally Harald said to me," with this he approximates Harald's gruff voice, "What kind of a boy brings a knife and no armor to war?" a smile appears and Edward laughs, "With abit of trepidation and no less an ounce of fear at this man seemingly bred for war, I said to him that I saw he was the only noble upon the wall and that as his vassal I could not let him stand alone. And what did he do? Harald laughed. Then ordered a soldier to fetch me a proper weapon and his old armor from this very Longhouse."

"As I said am privy to this story it is not about me. Let me tell you about the greatness of Harald Grimhall. When the fighting started Brand's army walked siege towers towards the walls. And because of Harald's preparations and leadership he was able to concert arrow fire where it was needed to halt the enemy advance. And in response the masses coming up against the walls of the Thrax ward split with some rushing the walls being defended by the Redrains, who weren't doing so well, and the sally gates at the entrance to the Lowers. But Harald was as equally cunning as Brand was and so he ordered us all to retreat from the wall as if we were going to help another ward. When he drew us back that is when Brand made his move."

Edward slams a fist down on the table to make it rattle, "Boom!" he says loudly, "An explosion from one of the abandoned siege towers rocked the wall blowing a hole into it. It ripped open the ramparts and one whole section collapsed and crushed all of the buildings that were built nearby. Men fell from the wall with some dying from the fall and getting buried in the rubble. I woke up after a Grimhall Reaver hit me hard enough to make me think my mother had knocked me into my life at that moment. And the Grim Duke? He was gone. Missing. At the front of the explosion some of the soldiers thought he had been the target and was just...destroyed."

"Now we all know that the Grim Duke did not fall that day. No. You see no one knew where Harald was. And so without him I rallied what was left of the defenders and pulled them to the breach, Reavers...Darkwater men, we rallied." there is a moment where Edward now moves to stand on his chair and he motions, "Creatures this tall were the first through the breach. Bringers of Silence were terrifying creatures that could take out a company of knights by themselves. We were beset by them, the giant formori, and the masses that had returned in an attempt to pour through into a now vulnerable Arx. So we fought. For gods know how long we fought and just as we were about to buckle there came this roar of defiance like none I had ever heard before. And there," Edward points dramatically, "rising up from the rubble ready to extract vengence was the Grim Duke. In a mighty two handed grip of his axe he cleaved the legs off a Bringer and then removed its head from its body. With a shout, a rally of," Edward now yells, "TO ME!" along with a raised fist like he's holding said bloody axe, his voice rises in tempo, "A renewed surge of strength we pushed back against the invaders. We howled and we screamed and we cleaved and hacked and fought. And there at the front leading the charge was a blood soaked and very angry, a very mighty Harald Grimhall."

He pauses then to take a deep breath and then lets it out slowly, "For far longer than we should have we tired soldiers fought. We fought and we fought and we fought some more. Gore and blood soaked the ground. For every Reaver that fell they took five...ten of the Silence with them. A fomori ended my action that day. But I could see from where the healer had dragged me out of combat...Harald stood his ground an untouchable unmoving force cleaving death through any enemy that came close. Calling his rally when it looked like soldiers heart's were faltering and they held the breach until Abbas Thrax's fresh soldiers arrived from behind the enemy. Caught between Harald and House Thrax's fresh troops not a single soldier dedicated to the Silence survived. It was House Grimhall, it was the Grim Duke and Abbas, who held that breach and kept Arx alive until reinforcements from the other wards arrived."

With that said, Edward raises his mead and drains it. Then he steps down from his chair and stands there at the table. A moment in thought and in memory. He offers an easy smile he says gently, "I have known few finer men than Harald Grimhall. I hope he rattles the wheel in anticipation of his return."

"...Darling," Dianna quietly murmurs with a helpless smile at Ravna. She shakes her head in quiet disbelief, then leans to kiss Vanora's cheek. "I'm so glad it's different here; I should be sure ...no one would /quite/ understand Ravna's ways elsewhere." She smiles warmly to Vanora, then to Valdemar before finding her way to the chair Ravna previously pulled out for her. With a graceful dip of her hips, the priestess sits upon the chair and draws it in, looking up to Ravna with a tender smile. Across the table, Dianna smiles warmly to Thea and Eirene, listening to the story Edward tells while food is dished for her. "...Brandy, please? Or whiskey," she murmurs to the server.

Insaya murmurs briefly to Gogil with her eyes crinkling gaily. As the storytelling continues, and meeting Bedivere's eye says, "I wouldn't say no, Commander but I did bring it you, actually. Looked as though y'had your hands full."

Insaya has joined the a cozy nook of umbra and aeterna pillows behind a gauzy charcoal curtain.

Vanora is overheard praising Edward: Such vivid storytelling brought Harald back to life for a moment, and his grandsons bore witness

Sorrel steps in just as Edward speaks and speaks, and she mingles into the background as well as a tall and stately princess dressed all in red can manage. She listens to the tale the man tells and grabs herself a whiskey from a passing server.

Gogil has managed to stop giggling at the fish-fuckery, and listens to the story presented by Edward. His smile wanes, but doesn't drop from his lips. But when the fist comes down, Gogil is startled that smile drops, "Fish guts!" he exclaims before bringing his hand up to cover his mouth. His brown eyes dart around the table before he slowly lowers his hand, a sheepish smile forming upon his lips as he continues to listen to the story.

With a wink to Dianna, Thea smiles at her and Ravna,"Good evening,"taking a sip of her rum. Thea takes an oyster and lifts it toward her mouth, swallowing the muscle whole. She seems to be entralled at the stories, and the child and who likes the word fish-fucker. Thea has tried really hard not to laugh aloud at at that. But it's bubbling to the surface. You can tell.

"Edward that was...incredible. And I'd never heard that one before. Thank you, truly." Vanora speaks to her protege, and ever so briefly pale green eyes seem to shimmer with tears. From the other end of the table Harry is heard to respond, "WOW! That's SO COOL. I'm going to be JUST LIKE HIM that is why Mother and Daddy gave me his name!" The little boy bounces in his seat before rising with spoon in hand, as if doing imaginary battle with the threat of the advancing Silence.

Bedivere slightly smiles about the kind gesture that Insaya brought and then holds aside the curtain structure until she has passed through before then releasing the cloth to drape as it will before he sits down in the nook again.

Vanora is overheard praising Grimhall.

Dianna is overheard praising Grimhall: A grand dinner with grander stories such as I have never heard before



Ravna is busy listening to the story, too busy even, given the man's leaning on the back of Dianna's chair and sighing. Smiling, then, from ear-to-ear and scootchin' her in. When the server comes to her, there's a wave of his tattoed hand, a tap of one of the gourds, and instead that singular eye holds open - the hat removed at the table, and set on the back of Dianna's chair. Hair, messy, scars visible, eyes - eh. Mostly open.

Edward looks down a moment and then he nods, "Thank you, Duchess." he gives a nod to the two at the head of the table again and then he slowly takes his seat. He thanks the servant for the refill of his rum and he swaps that for the bottle of mead to take a sip of it. He looks at Harry and he leans over to say towards the boy, "That's a mightly claim to make. Ask your dad to get you a fine axe to start."


Cassima watches Edward, listneing to the praise of not one but two departed men. Her lips relax into a small, pleased smile by his words. When he is done, she claps one hand against her wrist softly, and then lifts her glass toward Edward. She drains it then, setting it down on the table to await another.


A broad smile raises Dianna's lips as she listens to the story Edward tells, but it is little Harry who earns a chuckle. "Bravo, young lord; and so you should aspire to such feats, surely." She applauds Harry, then looks to Edward. "Such a well-told tale; have you thought to draft it in a tome? I would consider such an addition to my own library quite wonderful. But, we have not met; I am Dianna Godsworn, Third Reflection Mirrormask - and my companion is Messere Ravna Culler, quite likely the luckiest man I should ever know," she purrs, smiling fondly to Ravna at her introduction of him. "And no, Thea - I'm not simply being vain." Dianna smirks and winks at Thea.

Dianna is overheard praising Edward: What a fine tale of honor and glory!

Cassima is overheard praising Vanora.

Cassima is overheard praising Valdemar.

Cassima is overheard praising Edward.

Cassima is overheard praising Eirene.

"I wanna do one I wanna do one!" One of the identical blonde twins stands up on his chair to declare, and the authority presumed in his voice might give him away as Arkyn, the elder twin and heir to Grihem's Point. "Can I Mother? I know that one!" He points towards the ceiling, where a Cetellus skeleton is displayed. "So once upon a time Princess Astrid Thrax was a BABY, even though she's a big kid now. And before THAT, Princess Astrid Thrax was NOT EVEN BORNED YET, she lived inside her mama." Vanora gives her son a brief look, one attempting to direct him back to the story and away from possibly explaining his theories on where babies come from to the assembled guests. "Okay FINE. Anyway so, she lived inside her mama until one day when she got BORNED, only that day they were on a boat and there was a big storm and a lightning BOOM BOOM and then a Shark-kraken came out of the water to EAT EVERYONE but Grampa said "NO YOU DO NOT!" And here Arkyn raises his little fist as if to act out his grandfather's part. "And then he SMASHED THAT SHARK KRAKEN to SMUSH and Princess Astrid got borned and they let us keep the BONES" Not that he was here for any of that, which might explain his rather choppy retelling. "Grampa was a BRAVE HERO who would NOT LET STORMS GET BABIES" and then he pumps his fist in the air some more.

Edward turns his attention to Dianna and inclines his head, "No Madame Godsworn, I have not. I might consider it. Though I am sure someone else far sharper than I with a pen could put the tale to a book." he leans back into his seat getting comfortable he glances to Ravna, "Culler." he nods, "Well if you do any drinking around Orathy and come out without some bruises then you are indeed quite lucky." he raises his glass to the fellow.

Harry beams at Edward. "Can you get me an axe? Daddy said no sir when I asked if I could keep his one, even though I can lift it up! Only cause after I lifted it I dropped it on Antony's foot. His foot should not have been under my axe! Um my daddy's axe I mean. I don't have an axe." Harry sighs.

Thea amusedly smirks at Dianna. "I have never said as such." Then her eyes shift over to Ravna and eyebrow lifts. She simply slides him over her tray,"Oyster?"

Valdemar applauds and drinks to each of the tales that follows, including the one told by his heir Arkyn. He then chuckles at Harry's own story of why he cannot have an axe yet. "You will have an axe one day, my son. You and your brothers, fine blades all around. But first, you have to be strong enough to hold one up without dropping it. You should only ever hurt someone with a weapon on purpose, when they are your enemy," he tells the youngest of his sons.



Edward gets a glance of sharp Culler eyes, just barely shut and Ravna smiles his wicked and wide smile. There's the tell-tale sound of silver as a coin flies from Ravna's tattooed hand to pop upwards, then get caught between fingers. "Heeee! Orathy!" The man rolls with a kind of humor that shakes off him, into his clothing. Leaning on that chair behind Dianna, to dip and press a kiss to her head, before looking to Edward, "Orathy! Ha! I, yes, Ravna, am absolutely - probably very - the reason he drinks so much. Or strongly." A pause, "The bruises were just a lesson to pick up a stick!" Smiling, the rubi staff is lifted, thudded against the floor, and then tipped back to the chair. At Thea's invitation, oysters are swiped up two at a time, held before his mouth and the man damn near breaks backwards in half to gobble them up.

With a light chuckle, Dianna plucks an oyster from the tray that Thea pushes across the table, sets one on Ravna's plate before taking one for herself. She smirks again at Thea and winks, then smiles at Valdemar and nods in agreement. "Quite so, Duke. Your boys are brave and bold - and, with family such as your own, it is no wonder." The priestess turns her amber gaze to Arkyn and smiles, "And you, young lord: What beasts will you keep from babies and those who would harm those you love?"

She glances back to Ravna when he replies to Edward, then notes the oysters already claimed by Ravna; she chuckles again and lifts an oyster to her lips; and, with a silent sip, the raw muscle is gone.

"'Sister,' rather than 'Madame,' I am afraid," Dianna gently corrects Edward. "It is only that... having given up my title already once - of 'Lady,' I sometimes favor simply being 'Dianna," the priestess smiles favorably at Edward. "Pray tell, what do you do now? I admit, I'm rather honored to be seated at the table with such a grand warrior as yourself - and find myself rather startled that we have not before come upon one another, elsewhere."

Arkyn considers Dianna's question thoughtfully and then answers, "I will ban all beasts that threaten babies from our waters! I will learn to speak shark so that they will listen and obey."

Edward smiles to Ravna, "I didn't know he needed a reason. I'll remember that." he sips from his glass again and then he turns his attention back to the head of the table for a moment, "That was something else about your father..,." speaking to Valdemar, "When Merida introduced the young Thrax man she wanted to wed the first thing he did was drag him over to the Navegant's place and challenge him to a duel to make sure he was suitable enough for a woman of Grimhall." he motions, "And I watched him fight that poor Stonewood boy here in this room when he wanted to marry your sister Melinda. Scared the wits out of him when Harald pulled one of the axes off the wall and threw it at him." he grins then shifts his attention to Dianna.

"I keep myself occupied with assistance to the House. Training Reavers and doing logistics work for some of the various military efforts that my House and Grimhall does in concert. Sometimes I help with other things but lately, the Duchess has had me directed towards matters military."

"Yes, of course Father would want to ensure that any man who wanted to marry one of our own was worthy. I guess that the Stonewood you mentioned must not have been, since Melinda ended up marrying someone else," Valdemar states, then looks around the table a moment. Taking a sip of strongmead, he then goes on to say, "If no one else has a story to tell about him, I do."

A bright laugh sparks from Dianna's lips at Arkyn's declaration. "When you learn to speak shark, will you teach me, young lord? I do not know how to speak to a /single/ animal; and I'm quite sure it should be quite useful." She beams at the child, then returns her attention to Edward, the smile lingering. "I daresay, that is some way to vet a man." She leaves the rest of her reply unsaid, turning her attention to Valdemar for a continuation of the stories; but, with a nod to Edward, makes a mental note to speak more.

Edward chuckles, "He was not worthy." he confirms for the Duke and a glance to Dianna, "It was Harald's way." he takes another drink from his rum and then turns his attention back to Valdemar, ready to listen.

"Do forgive me, my children are such a distraction I'm being a poor hostess." Vanora smiles, not terribly apologetic really. "Dianna, you and Baron Stormbreak here are both my proteges, he and I have been working together since I married in to Grimhall. Edward, Dianna has accepted my patronage as well, though that is really all that is similar about it. From you I've learned the Isles, and how to earn my salt. From Dianna, I grow closer to Tehom." She muses, "I have a story. At least one, though I know which to start with. For not every tale we tell even of a great man is one about his brave deeds, his heroism. Some are smaller things, yet no less important. The first time I met Harald Grimhall he told me I was vain, proud, and too spoiled...a typical Lycene, in his viewpoint. And though I think I might have hated him just a bit...I also wanted to change his opinion, very much. There was something about the Grim Duke that made a person want if not his approval than at least his begrudging respect. Earning either one was a long, hard road. Especially for a Pravus, for the Grimhalls and the Pravosi held a vendetta centuries old. It took time to convince him of my intentions and my loyalty, but once he was convinced, he was convinced. He determined that the feud between the families was harming both, making the houses weaker, and less wealthy, than they otherwise would have been. He told me that though I was still vain, proud, and stubborn, I was also 'useful enough to bring into the fold, and offered me my choice in marriage to any one of his sons, if in turn that marriage would seal the families in alliance for at least as many years as they'd been sealed in enmity. I do not think I truly pleased him until the twins were born, but once they were they were the light of his world. No man has ever been more devoted to his family than Harald Grimhall, and from his example I learned the kind of mother, and the kind of Duchess, I wanted to be."

At the conclusion of her non-story story, Vanora smiles to her husband. "Yes, please do."

Valdemar nods at his wife and stands when his time to tell a tale of his father comes up, drinking horn in hand and a somber look on his face. "The tale I have is the last that my father, the Grim Duke, ever made. As my wife mentioned at the start, his was a good death, a brave one earned fighting against enemies of Arvum. Of humanity," the Duke says as he looks around at everyone gathered at the table to celebrate Harald's life, "When I was still a part of the Mirrorguard, he joined us...Lord Luis Igniseri, Lady Rosalie Redtyde, Vanora and I...in an expedition into the tunnels around the Lodge of Petrichor when it was under attack. After being led to a particular cavern by a talking deer, we ventured in to find what enemies we could." He clears his throat after mentioning the talking animal, and then takes a moment to breathe before going on.

"There was an odd scent in the cavern...sulfur, I believe it was? And as we made our way further inside the tunnels, we found a sign that my wife recognized as indicating the presence of the Horned God or his followers. Of course there was not going to be any turning back after that," as he says this, he glances at Eirene for a moment with something of a grin on his face, then continues, "Lady Redtyde...Sister Redtyde now, though she was not Godsworn at the time...scouted ahead and found our enemies. Ten men, ten culstists of the Slaver outnumbering us two to one. We decided our best bet was to rush them, to charge them and try to take them out while they were still confused about who was even attacking them." He pauses here again for a moment, ordering his thoughts.

Then another laugh escapes him as he goes on, "And of course it was Father who lead the way, fighting as fiercely as every story you've heard so far tonight would indicate. He killed more of those cultists than any of us did, swinging his axe as if the Horned God would feel it each time the blade found flesh." Here, he takes another deep breath. "One of the cultists that he felled was the last one of them standing. Unfortunately, the cultist was a lucky little shit who managed to find a weak point in Father's armor with his sword and stabbed him deep. The light behind his eyes didn't go out until each of those cultists had drawn his last breath, though," he adds, finishing the tale. Lifting his horn of strongmead, he then toasts, "To my father, Harald Grimhall the Grim Duke!"

Insaya shouts from nearby, "To the Grim Dukes!"

Edward shouts from nearby, "To the Grim Duke!"

Dianna shouts from nearby, "Here, here!"

Thea shouts from nearby, "Here, here!"

Eirene shouts from nearby, "To Grim Harald!"

"I have one more, actually. My husband told Harald's last story, that of his death...though left out that in charging ahead the way he did he was not only settling an old score, but protecting his family. I was pregnant with Harry then, though it was too early to know it. I've wondered if he knew...that it was time for his good death so that his legacy could continue. Ancestors, descendents, this is what makes Grimhall what it is, and what made Harald who he was." A pause. "When we were safely in Grihem's point, recovering from the fight and the loss of him, I found a letter among his things. He...he knew, I think. I've memorized what it said, and my husband has it engraved on that band I gave him years ago."

"I have no doubt that our people will prevail against the coming storm; you must not fear the sacrifices that victory will demand. For Fear is the Guardian of Hate. In times of trial know that my eye remains upon you. May you grow greater than your father, and do deeds worthy of legend. Until we meet again." Her voice is solemn but not somber, and carries through the room with the weight of memory.

Vanora shouts from nearby, "To Father Harald. Until we meet again!"

Insaya seems to sharpen a little in the alcove where she is chatting with Bedivere.

As people are talking, Thea gets a message in her hand. Rather than interrupt, she decides to quietly slip out--finishing her drink first.

As more shouts of 'here here!" echo across the Great Grim Hall the great man's young grandsons are heard joining in, and once they've done so are led away from the table and off to baths and bed by their nurses.

Thea has left the small blackwood table with low backed chairs.

Finn the large Northern hunting dog with icy blue eyes leaves, following Thea.

Bedivere shouts from nearby, "Here here!"

Eirene's eyes are still dancing as the little boys are led away. They will no doubt be echoing her for some time. She lifts her mead once more and then sighs. "I miss him. A lot of my old friends are dead. Until the Wheel spits out back out, Harald."

Insaya says, "May we see his like again, and soon."

There is a glance from Edward to Eirene with that soldiers sympathy for the survivors. He gives her a nod of agreement with what she says and then he raises his glass, "Up until the end he was indestructible. He chose his moment. I hope I get to see him again."

"And now that we've collected his stories we remember them, and remember him...and do our duty in weaving them into saga and song, that Harald, son of Vladimir, grandson of Ivan, will be known and remembered by Arkyn, Antony, and Harry, sons of Valdemar, Grandsons of Harald, Great-grandsons of Ivan, and their sons, their grandsons, and the rest of their kin centuries from now, just as we sing Grihem's saga of centuries before, to remember where we have come from." Vanora muses softly, before letting her voice quietly drift into song. The words to Grihem's own saga are familiar to the family, to the staff, and perhaps to some of the guests, and voices join in until it is boisterously finished.

Vanora checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 41 higher.



Ravna gives a shrill whistle, not shy in the least. Not even a little, no. But at the listing of stories, two fingers go to the teeth and the Culler's appreciation can be heard, as tattooed hands clap together - where the hell did he stash those oyster shells? The eyes tilt around the room to finally take in the other faces - the guards, the many attendants, Insaya, Bedivere. Sorrel. There the eyes linger for a moment, before Ravna turns himself back to the table, and there's a peer down his nose at the Godsworn before giving a shrug. One of the corks on the gourds is popped, and deep down the rabbit hole that alcohol goes, that burns the inside of his throat and makes his eyes water until tears leak down the cheeks, and those eyes turn then to look over Vanora. "Sooooo -" Cut off by the song from Vanora, Ravna pulls a small little dirty scroll from his sleeve and slides it down, down, down, down to Dianna. There. It's a little message!

Eirene checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 9 lower.

Eirene's not a singer. She's notwhere near on key but she picks it up and sings along as best she can; which is to say, not very well.