Aella drops small gift box with a silk bow.

Fiore, the elegantly long-limbed androgyne arrives, delivering a message to Rosalind before departing.

Aella is making sure all the food and drinks are in order. A fresh plate of sugar cookies in the shape of a Raven are set out for everyone. She's particularly happy today and is being her usual spunky self. Fiery red hair is worn in a braid adorned in raven's feathers and beads. The Countess is welcoming guests as they walk in.

Karina strolls into the grounds, she doesn't know anyone really in particular. However, she loves to celebrate and even has a gift for the woman with red hair she's heard about. "Hi!" she squeaks out shyly, "I hope I'm not intruding, as I likely don't know any of you. But I've come bearing gifts because everyone should have a gift on their birthday." she smiles, rocking back and forth on her heels.

Karina takes a succulent blueberry tart from a leather messenger bag.

Karina takes an antler-handled quill knife from a leather messenger bag.

Rosalind comes running down the hall, a large smile on her scarred and freckled face. Her long red hair flies behind her. Rosa isn't dress for the special occasion. Nope. She's dressed in her every day leathers. "Hi!" The OLDEST Ravenseye greets everyone with a large wave, hurrying to hug Aella too. "This is great! Thank you!"

Aella grins as Rosa comes flying in, "Hello!" she laughs as she gets bombarded with a hug. She leans in with one hand wrapping around her sister and the other hand holding a gift box. When she finally lets go she'd present the present! "Happy Birthday Rosa. Not much but I'm sure you'll like them."

Rosalind takes small gift box with a silk bow.

She comes bearing nothing, Elora does. No food, no gifts, nothing. The little blonde approaches Aella and Rosalind with a small smile, nodding to include Karina in the gesture. Soft spoken as she is, they only get a warm toned, "Hello."

Aella waves to Karina, "Hello there, and no worries your not intruding. Everyone is invited whether you know us or not. A good way to make friends." she grins, "Oh there are cookies along the table." she chuckles watching as Rosa opens her present and then looking to Elora, "Lady Elora, I'm glad you could make it. Especially in the snow."

Rosalind takes the box and goes to start opening it. Much like Rosa lives her life. Tornado like. But there's the break. One like the eye of a hurricane. She sees Elora and goes to squeeze her into a hug too. A grin there. "Hi Lady El,"she greets sincerely. "I'm glad you could come." Her large hazel green eyes peer at Karina too. "Hi! I'm Lady Rosa Ravenseye. But you can call me Ros or Rosa. I don't mind either. Thanks for coming!" Then she proceeds to start ripping apart her present. "I love it,"she gasps! "I can give a fox to Triton. And I bet I can climb in this dress!"

Karina says, "I'm Karina Seabright," The petite brunette says quietly. She was much like Elora in the way she was soft spoken. "I've brought gifts." a sweet smile along her features with vibrant green eyes with flecks of blue looking about. Delicate hands with splotches of paint along them handed her the two gifts. "Here you go. It's nice to meet you.""

1 Iron Guardsmen, Onida, a boglands wolf-hound, Due, a tireless Whitehawk hound, Josse, a sharp-eyed Whitehawk falcon, 2 Whitehawk Guards leave, following Elora.

1 Iron Guardsmen, Onida, a boglands wolf-hound, Due, a tireless Whitehawk hound, Josse, a sharp-eyed Whitehawk falcon, 2 Whitehawk Guards arrive, following Elora.

Conall, a huge, friendly sable Wolfhound with bright platinum eyes, Ylva, an impressively-large, silvery Wolfhound with bright gold eyes, Parker, a quietly assertive servant arrive, following Sunaia.

Stray, Stormcrow arrive, following Triton.

Sunaia gets Ravenseye Sugar Cookie from Ravenseye Party Favors.

Triton walks in, waves and grins, then heads for the whiskey.

The Countess Aella is greeting guests, a wide grin along her face. "Hello, welcome. Free sugar cookies in the shape of a Raven! I promise there not made of birds." she laughs, teasing of course! When Triton walks in she waves, "Why hello birthday twin! I hope you've been doing well my elusive brother. I have a present for you but, it'll be a day later then originally thought."

Back in Arx long enough to be going stir crazy with the shifting weather. One day is great for a brisk ride over fresh snow pack, and the next it is cold, rainy and miserable. It could have been a disaster outside and Sunaia would have made it to Rosalind and Triton's birthday. There was whisky, and Rosalind swore it made anything, even bad weather, so much better. She arrived, re-familiarizing herself with the grounds and threw up her hands when she saw the party upon approach. "Countess Aella! Happy Birthday, Twins!" She says of the two. She had no drink in hand yet, but eyed a table of bottles for after introductions.

Karina makes away for the cookies that were mentioned after handing Rosalind her gifts. She loved cookies, and so she quietly walks over to take on and nibble on it. They were delicious so in that case she sneaks one more and pockets it for later.

Rosalind takes the tart and knife from and Karina. She grins,"Thank you! You didn't have to you know. I bet this tastes good. I don't know how to use one well enough yet, but---" But. But what Rosa? She grows distracted when Triton comes in. "Brother,"she exclaims, practically tackling him. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Someone is a bit excited. "Hi Sunny,"she waves from behind Triton's back. "Thanks for coming!"

Thoroughly unfestive blacks are worn in formal mourning, but the gentle blonde warms those with smiles. Elora turns when she sees a flash of copper, smiling softly at the sight of Triton. And then arching her brows when Rosalind tries to sack poor Triton.

"And it begins." Maybe Sunaia said it of her arrival, or maybe it was the joy she found in watching Rosalind nearly tackle her brother. "If you have a sketch artist for the occasion, now would be his cue to start. She'll bearhug him into a bruised lip after a couple more drinks." She had a clear idea of who she thought might roughhouse around and get first blood. They were so wholesome.

The northerners were not lacking in alcohol that was for sure. They'd pretty much have been an unopened bottle of literally everything you could get your hands on in Arx. "Feel free to help yourself." she gestures towards the table. Upon seeing Sunaia, Aella's stormy grey blue eyes the woman a bright smile beaming on her face. "Hello! Lady Sunaia. It's been a bit!" she grins, grabbing a glass of whiskey herself as one of the staff makes it to her.

When Karina heard a sketch artist she chuckled, looking at the splotches of paint along her hands. "Well it seems your in luck. Karina Seabright." The petite brunette with verdant eyes introduces herself to the rest.

Waylaid on the Whiskey Route, Triton sweeps Rosa into a circle and exclaims, "Happy birthday, old woman!" Then the elf tornado is replaced onto the ground and Elora is given a somewhat more dignified hug and,"M'Lady Whitehawk." There is also a wink after that for some reason before he turns to Aella and embraces her with even more formality, "Your Ladyship The Great. 'Sup?" Karina and Sunaia each garner a wave and a slight bow before he doggedly resumes his course toward the whickey.

Sunaia nods to Aella. "With Spring nearly here, you might have to get used to this," her finger points to her grinning pale face, "around more often. Stealing Rose and hiding from whatever else I should be doing. I can almost smell Spring." Then she paused to jest, "No, that's your whiskey."

Rosalind pats Triton on her head. She laughs at her brother after her sets her down,"And don't you forget it." Rosa misses the wink, luckily for him. Rosa rushes to Sunaia, going to give her friend a large hug. "Nice of you to know I'd be the one winning the wrestling of red heads." Looking around, she tells Aella with a large smile,"This is so nice! You decorated and EVERYTHING!"

Pivoting to Karina, Sunaia introduces herself, "Lady Sunaia Malespero. Please don't colour me in like a drab ghost, I swear I'll pink-up with after some drinks. If you manage some sketches of us all, send word to me? I would love to purchase them."

There's a soft inhale, and Elora looks to Karina and Sunaia. "Forgive me. I'm Lady Elora Whitehawk; it's a pleasure to meet you both." Eyes then travel down and land on the two dogs following her around. "Away." The hounds turn, walk to an out of the way area, and resume their raptly focused observation. As Triton passes, she murmurs something softly indeed, eyes lifting slighty in an inquisitive expression.

Aella lets out a snort like chuckle at Triton's many various nicknames he's given Aella over the years, this one tops the cake though. She has a chance to attempt to ruffle his hair as he's making way towards the whiskey, and she does it if he doesn't scoot out the way. Stormy grey eyes look around and then shift to Sunaia, "Ha! Us Ravenseye are an all year storm. Are you sure you wanna keep coming back to be tortured?" she laughs merrily. Then to Rosa, "Only for the bestest siblings ever. Don't tell Cadern that." she winks. There were indeed lots of decorations, lots of colorful ribbons tied around the trees with colorful tents filled with food and drinks.

Karina blinkedly blinks at Sunaia introducing herself. She's rocking back and forth on her heels eating a cookie. She's trying not to look adorable but she can't help it with disheveled golden brown locks, vibrant green eyes and rounded cheeks. "Oh, no no." she chuckles softly at coloring her like a ghost, "I might actually do some sketches. And you'll be the first to know, surely!" a sweet smile and she's looking to Elora, "A pleasure Lady Elora Whitehawk. Just Karina, I own a shop called Muse of Mourning. And I just arrived not too long ago."

Sunaia bowed her head to Elora. "A pleasure to meet you Lady Whitehawk." But she surrendered talk of Elora's dogs when she hugged Rosalind tightly. She had been away a long time in the south, and there may have been rumours about why. All of that dissolved around the two best friends, and when they parted, Sunaia shoved a figurine into Rosalind's hands to look over. It was in that moment, she said to Aella, "I'm a sucker for pain. Believe me."

FIrst comes whiskey, then Triton gravitates back toward Elora and plants himself, tipping the drink up for a solid starting slug. "Talk of storms and presents and dogs." He looks about the room with obvious satisfaction as he summarizes the conversation to create his own contribution. "I am glad we are not at a fluffy court gala. We are not even drunk yet!" This last is said mostly with confidence, although he pers suspiciously at Rosalind for a quick moment.

Triton also hands Eloira a wine.

Elora accepts the wine. "Thank you, my Lord," she says to Triton, smile returning. Staying by his side, she sips quietly and watches. It's not that she's being shy, oh no. She's enjoying the play between friends new and old, smiling at jokes and observing with pleasure.

Rosalind looks at her wolf and grins at Sunaia. She squints at it, then curiously back at Sunny. Then THEN back at Triton. "I'm not drunk, thank you." Yet. Then procedes to get a glass of whiskey. "Oh! You own a shop,"Rosa asks Karina. I take it you're from the Mourning Isles then." Smart assumption Rosa. "And pain? Pain is good." Rosa grins over at Elora and tells people,"Lady El is an amazing animal trainer."

Karina nods, and offers a kind smile to Rosa, "Yes, I work for House Grimhall. Seabright is a lowborn house. But my father was a naval captain for many years under the Grimhall family." she pauses to drink some cider along with eating her cookie. "My shop, yes. I'm an artist but I dabble in jewelry too." A woman of many talents!

Aella says, "I've seen some of Mistress Karina's work. Absolutely beautiful." a nod towards the woman before smirking to Sunaia, "Aren't we all." she replies to the pain comment. "What am I going to do with the two of you if you get drunk. It'll likely end up with us parading around the house and causing disaster." she laughs. "So Lady Sunaia, tell me what you've been up to.""

Rosalind's praise earns her a smile from Elora. "Thank you. I try my best," she says and then it's right back to silence for now. She really does seem content as she is. ...Until Aella speaks. Her brows furrow a little at that thought from Aella. "Is that fun?" she asks uncertainly.

Aella turned slowly to look at Elora, there was a clear teasing smirk along her lips. "Getting drunk? It's a very past time." she grins cheekily. "We oft sat around the fire pits in Stormheart and told stories around the fires late at night. That would usually wind up with us making a bunch of racket enough for our father to yell at us."

Sunaia lets Rosalind look at the engraving on the wolf figurine but doesn't spoil the translation yet. This was the best part of all her hard work. To see the spark of recognition in someone who can read the words, or the desire for knowledge of a person wanting to know what it says. Satisfied to have started the game with Rosalind, she again finds herself looking at Aella's glass but not yet tearing herself away from conversation to get anything. Catching up was more fun that drinks, or at least more accurate. "Countess," Sunaia attempts formality, prepping a war report posture. "The holdings of Nilanza required mapping, but the official story I'd like to propagate is my imprisonment on a fantasy island in which I learned to be a proper lady." Her grin speaks of all the entertainment in that start to her story. She spoke a bit towards Karina then, "I am not the best artist yet, but I am getting there. I still have to describe most of my findings to keep good detail, but cartography isn't in need of the type of talent Karina here has."

Karina's interest seems piqued especially when mentioning that Sunaia is a budding artist. Her smile is wide and contagious, "Oh! Another artist!.. Well, that's ok if your not the best. Practice makes near perfect. I say that because nothing is ever perfect. But that's what makes things so unique." she giggles, "I would love to see your maps sometime!"

Watching the byplay, his crow perched on his shoulder, Triton grins here and there but adds little commentary. The glass rises regularly, emptying in small but frequent hits between glances and grin.

Elora purses her full lips under twinkling blueberry eyes. "Parading around the house and destroying things, actually, Countess." Her eyes turn to Sunaia's wolfhounds and smiles. "Good evening, sirs," she says softly, smile growing. "It's nice to meet you both." It's almost as if she expects the dogs to talk back. However, she looks back to Sunaia herself. "You have beautiful hounds, my Lady. How long have you had them?"

Aella grinned, "No not destroying things, but fairly likely a pillow fight is in order! Blanket forts. It's the wholesome kind of disaster. Where we raid the kitchen and tells stories in front of the fireplace drunk. And maybe wrestling." she adds in at the end.

"What does it say,"Rosa asks Sunaia curiously. She finishes her drink, then has it refilled. "Drinking is fun when you're with the right people. And all the stories,"she enthusiastically exclaims, agreeing with Aella.

Sunaia looks over at her hounds, which never leave her far away. To Elora she mentions, "Four years, nearly..." There is a awe to her voice, like they are the children she doesn't otherwise yet have. "They have been through /a lot/ of deep exploring with me. They've saved me in a couple ways."

1 Iron Guardsmen, 3 Black Fleet Reavers, Moonsilver, the pale-feathered raven arrive, following Raven.

Elora tilts her head a little. "It's your kitchen," she says slowly to Aella, voice a little unsure. "How can you raid your own kitchen?" The logic of that fails to land perfectly with Elora, and she's puzzled now. But then she nods at Sunaia, smile returning. "Sounds like my Due and my late husband's hounds. It's amazing what can happen between us and animals, isn't it?"

Everyone pretty much has some kind of drink in there hand, there conversing and having a good time. Cookies, food, drinks and the likes were laid out under colorful tents with tables.

Sunaia checks luck and animal ken at hard. Sunaia is successful.

Raven strides in, followed by her entourage of guards. Her good hand carries a large, lovingly carved walking stick. Bundled up against the cold it's just her jade eyes peeking out but by now that alone makes her fairly recognizeable if the guards don't give her away

Triton may have thought his red hair would blend in around here, camouflaging him from attention. But he was so wrong, on account of his crow. Her ghostly white eyes tracked the bird on his shoulder. Mar was likely not far away, the Lady Malespero's large magpie. At times Mar tends to follow around Pasquale, who no doubt plays with him constantly and teaches the magpie to do things like command dogs to sit. Sunaia takes a small step back from where she stands, and pulls a small device from her belt pouch. It's not dissimilar to a duck call, but the sound it makes repetitive chac-chac-chac. That no doubt stirs Mar from wherever it lurks and gets the attention of Triton's crow as well. Who could possibly be mouthing off in their territory? Sunaia only smiles, wondering if his crow will come over and bark her for doing being noisy.

Elora is standing beside Triton, mostly listening and following the flow of conversation without comment. Every now and then, however, she speaks. Right now, however, she is watching Sunaia trying to catch a crow.

Aella says, "Ah Raven!!!" Aella exclaims, "It's been a bit. Welcome to Rosa and Triton's birthday party! There are sugar cookies. I made 'em myself. I promise there only shaped like birds not made of them." she grins teasingly."

Raven pauses and bows to Aella, "Good day countess, Yes I heart, that's why I'm here. It is good to see you, Countess Aella."

Elora leans over towards Triton, murmuring softly.

Poor Rosa's hawk is still nameless. He needs a NAME! But at the other birds, his large wings start flapping and he glides toward Rosalind's shoulder. When Raven makes her way inside, the red head grins. "RAVEN! Thanks for coming! Have a drink! Have a cookie! Watch the birds I guess, and all the dogs!" Because--all the animals. "Have you met my twin? I know I talked about him a lot. And El and Sunny..." Rosa starts chatting away, grinning. Not even caring she gave everyone nicknames.

Triton's crow is obviously well trained, eyeing Sunaia a bit with a cock of its head before pecking once at his shoulder and then looking toward Elora for some reason.

Elora's blue eyes travel from bird call to the intended crow, a brow arching. "Go on then. Be polite, please." And just like that, the crow flaps his wings to smack Triton in the head a few times before landing on a tree near Sunaia. Staring. So. Much. Staring.

Triton curses lightly at the wing-beating, although he looks toward the new arrival without much concern for the damage and dips his chin for Raven.

Just as Sunaia looks up at him...

|306CAW CAW CAW CAAAAW

Stormcrow replies.

Sunaia raises a hand to greet Raven, the woman, and not yet to shield herself at an angry crow. Yet. Sunaia had heard a nickname for Raven in the tavern a few nights ago but it eluded her now. Mostly due to watching Triton's crow not be moved to come see, and being ready. Ready for a foot-and-a-half magpie to descend in a maddening swirl of black and white-capped shoulders, that rip her hairpins out of her hair for using the messenger whistle and making assumptions (when no letter was in her hand). It was a suspenseful moment of potential incoming birds getting mixed signals from the very silvery lady, and ended with her being watched by the crow and having her hair fall out her bun to sweep down her neck and back in a partly-ruined state. Her hair was so fine and silken, it required help to do anything but lie lip around her face. "Damnit, Mar. I'm not-" but it was no use, whatever coded message was now being delivered was in route.

Just as Sunaia looks up at him...

CAW CAW CAW CAAAAW

Stormcrow replies.

Raven eyes the crow and a glance turns to make sure Moonsilver is discretely out of the way, removed from the chaos. She bows to Triton, "The Blackheart of Pravus, Raven of Setarco, a pleasure to meet you, my lord."