Jasper, a treasure hunting gyrfalcon, Renato, an overconfident attendant, Bastien, a strapping Malvici escort arrive, following Kaia.

an immaculately dressed assistant named Johannes, a slightly embarrassed courier called Guido, Cosimo de'Malvici, the Southport banker, Kaia arrive, following Martino.

Elena, a solemn knight attache, Alette, a discreet lady's maid, Isabel, a calm diplomatic aide, 4 Valardin Knights arrive, following Zara.

Sunaia has joined the Table 1.

Kingfisher - The Osprey, 2 Redreef Wardens arrive, following Jace.

Kaia has joined the Table 1.

Martino has joined the Table 1.

Macario has joined the Table 1.

Thea has left the Table 2.

Thea has joined the Table 1.

Zoey has joined the Table 1.

Having spent some time in museum together, looking at shiny things while either looking shiny (Martino and Kaia) or wearing layers of dark clothing (Sunaia and Macario) the four nobles step smoothly into the main hall together. Left arm of Martino's having space for the fingertips of the Lady Kaia upon it at the two shiny-dressed step smoothing in. Chuckling hush with their group, the Malvici Lord notes, "Oh dear, Lady Sunaia. Oh how quick you do fall." Crinkling sharp greens, the Lord Martino is leading the group to arrange themselves comfortably around a large table in the room.

Tables, as usual, are set up around the room. The Pathfinder of the Society of Explorers, Lou Grayson, is sitting at one of those tables. She seems to be waiting for folk to arrive. She has some notes in order, and made sure people were aware that this would be best if they already knew Eurusi. Now she's curious to see who will show up to the event. She has a glass of whiskey set before her, just in case she loses her patience in teaching folk, even if she is a very excellent teacher.

Jace saunters in. He is tall and broad-shouldered. He rumbles in a low deep voice. "This be the place theys teaching Shav today?" he laughs loudly, "Reckon best be learning it soon. Coming in handy." He plops himself down next to Shyanne.

"Presumptious, Lord Martino --" a mild shift, no less warm, as the quartet enter. "-- assuming I fall at all. Pretending to doesn't count."

Lilith, the Raven leaves, following Branwen.

Shyanne moves a little as she looks to Jace she murmers a little to him quietly "did not take you as a linguistic sort." she says as she leans into him as she listens

For once, Thea is EARLY. Not on time. Not late. EARLY! Her flask in hand, she sits up front, ready to learn. Seeing Martino and Kaia, she greets her family with a brief wave,"Brother, sister in law. Hello,"a nod following to Sunaia as well. "Lady Sunaia. Long time,"the Malvici greets with a brief smile.

Zoey enters from outside, her aide Ruslana at her side and her guards trailing behind. She smiles brightly at so many familiar faces before taking a seat and getting comfortable.

Macario is a bit speechless, hand to his chest, as he moves through along with Sunaia, Martino, and Kai. There's a bunch of things that seem to be on the tip of his tongue, but he settles for a quiet sit down at the table one.

Katarina has joined the Table 1.

Sunaia has left the Table 1.

Sunaia has joined the Table 1.

Lore slips into the room quietly, offering a brief grin towards Lou with a dip of her head before finding somewhere to sit. She wiggles fingers in greeting to Zoey, again at Katarina, smiling at the people she recalls.

Shyanne has joined the Table 1.

"Oh, I do believe the one falling might be Lord Macario; but, oh who can blame him? With a Lady as _splendid_ as you, my dear Sunaia." she says with a giggle. A bit of a tease, following up the lord's reaction to their introduction. Then, they are finding their places by one of the tables. The one were Pathfinder Lou is at. "Pathfinder, good to see you again.~" she greets. Her wintery eyes finding Thea upon hearing her greeting and offering her a bright smile and a little wave in return. The same goes for Zoey as soon as she catches her eye.

Slipping into the room quietly, though with long, graceful strides, Zara takes a seat at one of the tables before looking ahead at Lou, prepared to do some learning.

Zara has joined the Table 1.

Zoey returns Lore's wave with a smile, then Kaia's after that. She whispers something to her aide, who then returns a moment later with a glass of water with mint leaves and berries. She relaxes a bit, waiting patiently for things to get rolling.

Merek walks along into the place and looks about whil he finds a place to settle in.


Princess Katarina Valardin enters, flanked by her guardsmen just as a matter of obvious safety. As she finds a place to rest herself, she gravitates towards Martino and his entourage, seeking out Martino himself directly: "Lord Malvici. Please forgive me for not responding to your letter in a timely fashion -- I will not bore you with excuses, but the things that are such as chaos lately have been fairly self-evident."

"Oh that is quite alright Princess Katarina." Lifting his eyes up, Martino's sharp greens are crinkling in their corners before leaning away from Kaia's side to offer up his hand to the Princess. "Please, come sit with us. The dangers won't be going away. Wine soon, though, yes?"

"Good afternoon and thank you all for coming," Lou says from her place seated at one of the tables. "Today we'll be going over the language of Brightshore," she informs them, grinning widely as she mentions the jungle island she'd returned from not that long ago. "I'll have to be honest, I'm not sure when you'll be able to use the language, as the people of Brightshore are quite against coming to Arvum, and we were barely able to secure docking rights to their lands for ourselves and folk of my choosing," no, that's not a slip of Lou's tongue, they heard right. Lou's choosing. "But i know some people were interested in learning the language. I can offer both spoken and written teachings," she tells them.

Jace raises a giant hand. "They speak Shav over there?" His voice is overly loud to get the question across. He chortles unnecessarily. The questions seems legitimate and not a joke despite that.

Zoey squints a little. "Of your choosing?" she asks Lou. "Does that mean that others are barred from making contact with the people of Brightshore?"

Shyanne looks over to Jace and the choosing also gets her eyes to raise softly

Looking first from Jace to Zoey, Lore smiles faintly and glances towards Lou, settling in for that explanation with a small chuckle.

Lou's gaze goes over to Jace as he asks his question, and she lifts a brow at him. "No. The people of Brightshore have never been from Arvum. The island is located in the Bright Sea. The language is Brightshore. Shav'arvani languages are only associated with Arvum, or the islands around it, that I'm aware. The language of Brightshore is Eurusi based, which is why I mentioned you'll need to know a passing knowledge of Eurusi first to learn it." Or, at least, that's Lou's requirement.

Lou glances over to Zoey. "The people of Brightshore were very specific that any ship going to their island bears my personal flag, due to the success of our diplomatic envoy. Both Ian and Wash are aware of this. Any ship attempting to go to Brightshore and docking there may be blown out of the waters otherwise. So, it's not my requirement. It's theirs. And, those wanting to go there need to convince me they won't bring trouble to the island. That you'll be allowed to dock at the island doesn't mean you'll be allowed /on/ the island, however. They have additional tests that must be passed before anyone can get into the island. I suggest you ask Ian about the trip if you haven't already."

"How were you able to secure these docking rights?" Zara asks, lifting her hand, she furrows her brows. "With that, I mean how difficult was it?"

Shyanne frowns a little as she murmers quietly to Jace.

Jace sits there partially leaned into Shyanne. He is looking at Lou with an expressionless stare. It eventually swims to the front of his brain that he's come to the wrong place for shav lessons. "Oh," he barks.

"Oh that is /very/ interesting... being Eurusi based." Flickering his eyes over his shoulder, Martino's beckoning Johannes to bring parchment from his folio and his writing tools. "What do the people of Brightshore... look like? I must admit that the small tales of the southern lands are ever-so-scant so I am touched curious."

Sunaia sets an elbow at the edge of the table, leaning forward, resting her chin in the cup of her palm. Rubbing between furrowing brows with the ball of her thumb, thoughtfully.

Thea is leaning back, comfortable. She listens to Lou too, curious. There's a brief squint a Martino too. "Are you expecting them to glow?" Brightshore. Get it....? Anyway, another drink.

Shyanne laughs a bit before she looks to something past to her she writes something and hands it back

"He showed me the sword he brought back, but we have not spoken about it at length as of yet," Zoey admits, sipping her water.

Shyanne moves to stand then she touches Jace's shoulder "Decided not to stay but thank you for the opertunity." she says as she moves back out.

Shyanne has left the Table 1.

Jace scratches the back of his head and says to Lou. "Well...Reckon sign me up. I love sailing and if you be needing people. Can always learn shav some other time." He looks up and waves to Shyanne.

Q-bert an Albino Possum, 2 Eswynd shieldbearers, 2 Redreef Wardens leave, following Shyanne.

Lou's gaze goes over to Zara. "Someone had to admit they fought the Abyss and won but they never told anyone about it before; the person who stepped forward had to touch a feather and if the feather glowed we knew they were telling the truth." Her expression is stoic as she says this, with no indication she'd reveal who that person was that made that admission. "That was the test of the Captain of their Guard. That secured us the right to dock our ship and board his vessel so we could be taken to the mainland to meet the Queen of Brightshore. She had additional tests before we were allowed to leave his ship and step foot onto the docks. We had additional tests we had to complete before we could leave the docks and enter the city, and then each merchant had their own test before we could purchase anything from them. Failure of any of those tests meant we might likely be turned away, either from the island itself or its services. Also, their tree ferrets and mice have an uncanny sense of intelligence, much like those of the Order of the Fluffy Bottoms. I figure they could probably tell if any of us were telling the truth or not." Lemurs, both kinds, she's talking about lemurs. And yes, that latter part is said with a very straight and serious face.

She inclines her head to Martino. "Indeed, the language is Eurusi based, however Eurus is no friend of theirs. They call Eurus a dark place, and believe Arvum has darkness too. We had to, essentially, prove that we were not tainted by the Abyss before we could be allowed on the island." She gives a small nod to Zoey as she mentions Ian's new goldsteel blade.

"Oh thank you, as always, Pathfinder." Dipping his chin lowly to Lou as she's answering, Martino is spreading parchment before him on the table. Stylus touching ink, pressing into the paper as he takes the note.


Katarina, who has been listening attentively, shrinks a little in her chair when Lou describes how Eurus is considered 'a dark place' and so on. Not that it makes much of a difference; she's already so tiny.

"Well, their assessment is a fair one, as is their test, I think," Zoey says. "I find myself rather curious about the tree ferrets now."

"Dark? Kinda arrogant o'them put 'Bright' in they name like that." Jace bellows and then laughs. He even slaps his knee. "Talkin rodents don't be sounding particulary glamorous to me."

Zara makes a wordless 'oh' at the mention of the assessment. She nods along, clearly finding the different tests more than fair. Though she can't help but do a little head tilts about intelligent ferrets and mice. And then the mention of the Fluffy Bottoms has her raising a brow. She seems ready to inquire more about this Order but shakes her head. Another time.

Zoey looks at Jace and opens her mouth as if to speak. She sips her water again instead and turns her attention back to the conversation.

Something makes Sunaia duck her head, balling her hand up - over her mouth - where she bites on her knuckle with a squeak of barely restrained laughter. Barely.

Lou grins at Zoey. "Lady Kalani brought one of the tree ferrets. Baroness Shae has one of tree mice. Baroness Shae also has one of their cats," a fossa, Shae has a fossa, "though I do not recommend getting close to the cat. It tried to eat my hand." Lou may not have forgiven the cat. At least they were not singing rodents. You want to move it move it. You want to move it move it.

Lou goes through a better part of the talk going through the differences of Eurus and Brightshore. Really, it's just variances of the same language. Some words have very similar meanings, maybe slightly different spellings. She has some primers that she's had members of the Explorers who wanted to learn make copies of for her and then she passes those out to show the visual differences for those that do better with reading learning than listening learning.

"They consider Eurus to be quite tainted by the Abyss and Abssal elements," she tells them. "And Arvum to a lesser degree. No one from Eurus is allowed to step foot in Brightshore. They leave Brightshore alone because they are too troublesome to attempt to occupy. They have balistae all over their docks, that they can easily aim at ships, giving them more than adequate defense, and a large navy that can be scrambled to action at a moment's notice. They were quite watchful of oru approach. Also, there are no o

Lou grins at Zoey. "Lady Kalani brought one of the tree ferrets. Baroness Shae has one of tree mice. Baroness Shae also has one of their cats," a fossa, Shae has a fossa, "though I do not recommend getting close to the cat. It tried to eat my hand." Lou may not have forgiven the cat. At least they were not singing rodents. You want to move it move it. You want to move it move it.

Lou goes through a better part of the talk going through the differences of Eurus and Brightshore. Really, it's just variances of the same language. Some words have very similar meanings, maybe slightly different spellings. She has some primers that she's had members of the Explorers who wanted to learn make copies of for her and then she passes those out to show the visual differences for those that do better with reading learning than listening learning.

"They consider Eurus to be quite tainted by the Abyss and Abssal elements," she tells them. "And Arvum to a lesser degree. No one from Eurus is allowed to step foot in Brightshore. They leave Brightshore alone because they are too troublesome to attempt to occupy. They have balistae all over their docks, that they can easily aim at ships, giving them more than adequate defense, and a large navy that can be scrambled to action at a moment's notice. They were quite watchful of oru approach. Also, there are no other bodies of land within six week's journey of Brightshore, so if you run out of supplies, you'll either die of dehydration or starvation. They have the advantage of a good defense and no place for you to rally if you wanted to mount an offense."


At the mention of no one from Eurus being allowed to set foot in Brightshore, Katarina sinks into her chair just a tiny bit more. At the same time, she's attentive to the lecture and the primers and all else that is offered. She's here to learn, after all. And fortunately the veil hides any flushing in her ceeks.

Leaning from his parchment for a moment, Martino's voice is murmuring hush to Katarina as he is spying the Eurusi Princess sinking in her seat. "Well... we could always see one of the tree beasts back here in the city? Perhaps it is the best bit, after all. Except for their wine." Realising his words, widening his eyes, Martino now /has/ to now. "Pathfinder, the Brightshore people. Grapes and wines or... more spirit-based drinks?"

Macario does that thing people do when they need to leave from a room, few polite smiles and the like before quietly turning to the door and departing.

Macario has left the Table 1.

"Reckon can travel with some livestock for slaughter case things get rough. Then ain't perishable 'til you fix'em up. Buys another week or so," Jace surmises. "Horses usually good for that because you can make 'em swim the boat outa duldrums or use 'em on land."

Sunaia has left the Table 1.

Sunaia has joined the Table 1.

During it all, Kaia is mainly taking notes and quietly conversing with her sister, Zoey. A bit of surprise, present in her expression, before shifting her attention back to Lou.

Sunaia has left the Table 1.

Lou tilts her head at Jace. "Where are you going to put barrels for water and ale then?" she counters. "Caravel holds are pretty sizable, but not sizable enough for a ton of livestock which you also have to carve out room for feed for them as well." She nods her head to Martino. "I'm sure either Shae or Kalani would be glad to show off the animals that accompanied them home. They will meep at you quite a bit." She speaks of the lemur-like animals. "And you'll see what I mean about uncanny intelligence if you do happen to see them. I'm almost certain the people of Brightshore were holding conversations with them." Again, a straight face when she says this. She notes for those that asked about the sword earlier. "Also, Lord Ian's sword is made of their metal, called goldsteel. I have a few bars of it myself, which I'll be working with the Crafter's Guild to see if they can create anything with it. It's very similar in material to our rubicund."

Zoey finishes murmuring something to Kaia before saying, "It is a beautiful metal, though I have not seen it tested as of yet."

"Aye, be knowing that. My experience, plenty of space once you tell the nobles coming along they'll have communal quarters and only one small trunk each." Jace looks serious. Then he laughs.

Drawing his lips further upon his face, Martino's smiling broadly before exhaling. "Well I think our Nia might be visiting one quite soon." Flicking his sharp greens to Kaia across the table, Martino's after leaning back down to touch stylus upon parchment. Chuckling hush at the comment about communal quarters and a small trunk, "For each day, a small trunk. Yes?"

"I believe Ian said that he's tried it a few times at the training center." Lou responds to Zoey. "Unless anyone else has any other questions on Brightshore or the language of the island, I think we're done here."

Kaia says, "Thank you for the lesson, Pahfinder. It's been most enlightening."

Zoey says, "Agreed! Thank you."

Zoey is overheard praising Lou.

Lou is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Katarina is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Lou is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Martino is overheard praising Society of explorers: As always the research they bring back furthers us all

Zoey is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Kaia is overheard praising Society of explorers: A most enlightening lesson on Brightshore and their language!

Kaia is overheard praising Lou: A most gracious teacher!

Lore is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Thea is overheard praising Society of explorers.