towards the village
13[11:24pm] <04Alarice> **Apart from the waning moon, and the Sudlache's lumiencence, its almost pitch dark, being close to 2am*
12[11:24pm] * @Morgan trudges along, trusting in his sense of direction
13[11:26pm] <04Alarice> **Surrounded by trees along the way, there is something disquietening about his evening stroll. An owl screeches somewhere is the night, and then there is nothing but silence
12[11:27pm] * @Morgan picks up his pace a little, hunching his shoulders
13[11:28pm] <04Alarice> The slight breeze catches leaves for and then, a papery rustling in the dark
12[11:29pm] * @Morgan mutters to himself, moving faster
13[11:30pm] <04Alarice> **though the journey is creepy, he gets to his destination safely*
12[11:30pm] * @Morgan hunts for Claudia's house
13[11:37pm] <04Alarice> **It's where it always is, on the outskirts, a tiny two roomed log shack.
12[11:37pm] * @Morgan thumps on the door
13[11:39pm] <04Alarice> ** there is a hint of candle light, and the shinking of stone on metal that had been faint now ceases. The door is opened. Claudia looks unsurprised to see him back in Sudlachenburg. She holds a sword down at her side, almost touching the leather trousers she wears. Her hair is loosely tied back with a leather thong, and the corset she wears is made of the same material over a once-white shirt.
13[11:39pm] <04Alarice> What do you want?

13[11:41pm] * Claudia couold have been pretty, perhaps with a slight change in her attitude and mind-set, she would have been, but her face is somewhat too angular, her eyes too cool, too knowing. She grunts slightly, stepping aside to let him in.
12[11:41pm] * @Morgan ducks inside the doorway
13[11:42pm] * Claudia 's house is small, the second room screened off by an old curtain. Her main room is mostly an armoury, with a few basics, and a small kitchen area tucked away at the back. It is clean, but does not feel like a proper home.
[11:44pm] <08@Morgan> this reminds me of my room in Avalon
13[11:45pm] * Claudia nods, chucking an armful of chain mail from a spare chair its been burying onto the floor
13[11:45pm] <04Claudia> Sit.
12[11:45pm] * @Morgan thumps into the chair
13[11:46pm] * Claudia sits on a bare square of floor, looking utterly at ease with the rough ground
13[11:47pm] <04Claudia> It's been a while.
[11:48pm] <08@Morgan> too long, I think.
13[11:48pm] * Claudia watches him
13[11:48pm] <04Claudia> You went to Avalon then?
12[11:49pm] * @Morgan nods, pulling the port from his coat
[11:49pm] <08@Morgan> had to get away
13[11:49pm] <04Claudia> Just like now, I see.
13[11:49pm] * Claudia smiles slightly
12[11:50pm] * @Morgan nods
[11:50pm] <08@Morgan> I've wanted to come and see you since I came back, but you know what my father can be like
13[11:50pm] <04Claudia> An older version of you
13[11:50pm] * Claudia reaches up, taking the port from him
[11:51pm] <08@Morgan> I'm not that... maybe
13[11:51pm] * Claudia nods, pulling the cork with her teeth. She drops it into her hand, and drinks deep from the bottle
13[11:51pm] <04Claudia> You are.
[11:52pm] <08@Morgan> difference being noone really has to listen to me...
13[11:52pm] <04Claudia> yet
[11:52pm] <08@Morgan> no... not yet.
13[11:53pm] * Claudia wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. She retains the cork, but hands him the bottle
12[11:53pm] * @Morgan takes it and drinks, though not nearly so much before handing it back
13[11:53pm] <04Claudia> Then we'll all be saying 'you know what Morgan can be like'
[11:53pm] <08@Morgan> I'm aiming for whimsical...
13[11:53pm] * Claudia holds on to it briefly
13[11:54pm] <04Claudia> Good luck. Just avoid tyrannical, and we'll be fine
[11:54pm] <08@Morgan> besides... people are already talking about what I can be like
12[11:54pm] * @Morgan frowns
13[11:54pm] * Claudia shrugs, drinking
13[11:54pm] <04Claudia> People will always talk. There's no silencing idiots
[11:55pm] <08@Morgan> maybe... just maybe theyre right
13[11:55pm] <04Claudia> Since when did you care so much what people thought?
13[11:55pm] * Claudia frowns, handing it back
12[11:55pm] * @Morgan shrugs
[11:56pm] <08@Morgan> people here are already scared of me... thats already bordering on tyrannical
13[11:57pm] <04Claudia> Rubbish. People here are afraid of change, afraid of life. Thats why they hide behind all the superstitious crap.
Session Time: Tue May 24 00:00:02 2011
12[12:00am] * @Morgan shrugs
[12:00am] <08@Morgan> there may be more to it than you think
13[12:01am] * Claudia shakes her head
13[12:02am] <04Claudia> We saw men die, kids we'd know, for god's sake. Nothing forewarned their death apart from the boom of a rifle and the flash of a vaticine cloak.
13[12:02am] <04Claudia> know=known*
[12:02am] <08@Morgan> thats not what I meant...
13[12:03am] <04Claudia> It's all nonsense, people read too much into trivial things. What a waste of time.
12[12:05am] * @Morgan shrugs, drinking a bit
[12:05am] <08@Morgan> you hear I'm getting married?
13[12:05am] * Claudia nods
13[12:05am] <04Claudia> Its general gossip. I heard it before I dismounted.
12[12:07am] * @Morgan nods, holding the bottle to her
13[12:08am] * Claudia takes it
13[12:08am] <04Claudia> Didnt get any detail though. I was more fussed about lugging my kit indoors before that bloody rain started
12[12:08am] * @Morgan nods
[12:10am] <08@Morgan> we've got nobles from all over this part of Eisen in the house now
13[12:10am] <04Claudia> Hope you've got everything locked away
12[12:10am] * @Morgan starts laughing
13[12:11am] * Claudia drinks deeply before handing it back
[12:11am] <08@Morgan> keep it
13[12:11am] * Claudia does
[12:11am] <08@Morgan> I was wondering why my father suddenly hid everything... including my swords
13[12:11am] <04Claudia> There's a reason that the poor in Eisen get poorer while the rich get richer.
12[12:12am] * @Morgan frowns
[12:12am] <08@Morgan> not if I have my way
13[12:13am] <04Claudia> Good luck with that too. Can't change centuries of bullshit.
[12:13am] <08@Morgan> why not? just because it always has been doesn't mean it always will
13[12:14am] <04Claudia> Might as well try and drink the Sudlache dry
[12:14am] <08@Morgan> Change has to start somewhere Claudia
13[12:14am] * Claudia rolls her eyes, and takes a swig
13[12:14am] <04Claudia> You always wanted to save the world
[12:15am] <08@Morgan> I want to save Eisen... and maybe Avalon, while I'm at it
13[12:16am] <04Claudia> Not likely
12[12:16am] * @Morgan shrugs
[12:16am] <08@Morgan> you never know
13[12:16am] * Claudia shrugs as well
13[12:16am] <04Claudia> So why are you getting married again?
[12:16am] <08@Morgan> because I love her
13[12:17am] <04Claudia> Its as good a reason to be eternally shackled to another person as any, I suppose
[12:18am] <08@Morgan> you're a real romantic, you know that?
13[12:18am] * Claudia shrugs
13[12:19am] <04Claudia> It's a gift
12[12:19am] * @Morgan laughs
[12:19am] <08@Morgan> and a montaigne captain tricked me into it
13[12:20am] <04Claudia> You're marrying a montaigne captain?
13[12:20am] * Claudia wrinkles her nose in disgust
[12:20am] <08@Morgan> no no
13[12:21am] <04Claudia> Thank god for that
[12:21am] <08@Morgan> I dont think Eisen is ready for that just yet
13[12:21am] <04Claudia> No, definitely not
[12:22am] <08@Morgan> no, the captain was trying to convince me I _should_ get married and played on my stubborn stream
13[12:23am] <04Claudia> You were doomed then, you've always been damned pig-headed
[12:23am] <08@Morgan> I'm not pig headed, I'm just stubborn
13[12:24am] <04Claudia> No, of course you aren't(!)
13[12:24am] * Claudia laughs, swigging from the bottle
12[12:24am] * @Morgan produces the second bottle, drinking from it
13[12:25am] * Claudia points
13[12:25am] <04Claudia> What are you, a magician?
12[12:25am] * @Morgan smiles faintly
[12:25am] <08@Morgan> I think I've more or less spent any conjuring abiliity now
13[12:26am] <04Claudia> Shame, a good bottle of blokners would have seen us right
[12:26am] <08@Morgan> there's a fair bit left in this one
[12:26am] <08@Morgan> minus the glass that my cousin threw into the fire
13[12:26am] <04Claudia> That the boyish one, or the strange one?
12[12:27am] * @Morgan laughs hard
[12:27am] <08@Morgan> the strange one
13[12:27am] <04Claudia> What did she do that for then?
13[12:28am] * Claudia spins the cork on the floor
[12:28am] <08@Morgan> I refused to marry her
13[12:28am] * Claudia laughs
13[12:29am] <04Claudia> Oh aye, pull the other one
12[12:29am] * @Morgan stares at her
13[12:30am] <04Claudia> You're shitting me, right?
[12:30am] <08@Morgan> you and I are beyond that, I think
13[12:31am] <04Claudia> What the hell is wrong with these women? Have you been rolling around in stallion urine or something?
[12:32am] <08@Morgan> thanks for the vote of confidence
12[12:32am] * @Morgan shrugs slightly
[12:32am] <08@Morgan> I have no idea what she's thinking
13[12:33am] <04Claudia> welcome. so thats why you've run off down here, because you've got more than you can handle?
[12:33am] <08@Morgan> because I needed some honesty in my conversation that I'm not likely to get anywhere else... and I wanted to see you anyway
13[12:34am] <04Claudia> Honestly I'll believe. But you used to want to see me when you wanted someone who'd be an actual challenge in a fight
12[12:35am] * @Morgan shrugs
[12:35am] <08@Morgan> I've been banned from fighting for the time being... hell, I got a fat lip and I'm sure my father was considering having me spanked
13[12:36am] <04Claudia> He should have done, he could have charged for spectators... or better yet, for the general populace of sudlachenburg to have a smack each... that'd change their opinion of you quick
[12:36am] <08@Morgan> not for the better, I think
13[12:37am] <04Claudia> You wouldn;t seem like a tyrant with a red arse
13[12:37am] * Claudia grins
[12:37am] <08@Morgan> No... thats true I suppose
[12:37am] <08@Morgan> I think I prefer the tyrant look
13[12:37am] * Claudia nods
13[12:37am] <04Claudia> I'd prefer that too
[12:38am] <08@Morgan> you hear what monstrosity I commited at the building site today?
13[12:39am] <04Claudia> No, as I said I listened long enough to hear you were back and getting married
12[12:39am] * @Morgan takes a large gulp of the blokners and hands it over
[12:40am] <08@Morgan> the Eisenfurst and various nobles all came out to see these fantastic new buildings we're making... and I put them to work
13[12:40am] * Claudia takes it, swigging that, then the port. She hands him the port bottle seemingly nonchalently
13[12:41am] * Claudia coughs, laughing hard
12[12:41am] * @Morgan shakes his head briefly
13[12:41am] <04Claudia> About time someone did
[12:41am] <08@Morgan> quite... it'll make it easier next time I try to bully them
13[12:43am] * Claudia nods
13[12:43am] <04Claudia> What are you building anyway?
[12:43am] <08@Morgan> houses... we've got new villagers
13[12:44am] <04Claudia> Been a breeding spurt has there?
12[12:44am] * @Morgan shakes his head
12[12:45am] * @Morgan holds his hand out for the blokners
[12:45am] <08@Morgan> some... well, homeless villagers I suppose... didn't realise the war was over
13[12:45am] * Claudia sighs with disgust, handing it over
13[12:45am] <04Claudia> How could anyone not realise that?
12[12:46am] * @Morgan takes a mouthful and hands it back
[12:46am] <08@Morgan> htye've been in hiding for that long, gettinv chased off... word never reached them
13[12:47am] * Claudia drinks again
13[12:47am] <04Claudia> So they're here for good?
12[12:47am] * @Morgan nods
[12:48am] <08@Morgan> if we can stop my soon to be father in law and Grunhelm from arguing long enough to build the damn things
13[12:49am] <04Claudia> Want help? I haven't shouted at unruly men in at least a day and a half
12[12:49am] * @Morgan laughs
[12:49am] <08@Morgan> what've you been doing?
13[12:50am] <04Claudia> There's a Freiarr on the north coast who is convinced Vendel are going to invade... I've spent a year training his men to defend the fort.
[12:51am] <08@Morgan> God help Vendel then
13[12:51am] <04Claudia> Don't be silly, you know Theus is Eisen
13[12:51am] * Claudia winks, drinking again
[12:51am] <08@Morgan> God be slightly merciful and let them slink off back to their hole...
13[12:52am] <04Claudia> Not likely.
12[12:52am] * @Morgan chuckles
12[12:54am] * @Morgan looks at Claudia for a moment then starts smirking
13[12:54am] <04Claudia> What?
[12:54am] <08@Morgan> I was just imagining you as a bridesmaid
13[12:55am] <04Claudia> There's more chance of YOU being a bridesmaid!
[12:55am] <08@Morgan> oh I dont know...there's a lot of powerful people at the house
13[12:56am] <04Claudia> I wouldn;t recommend trying. I can fire an arrow, remember?
[12:57am] <08@Morgan> and? I can fire a rifle, see which goes further
13[12:57am] <04Claudia> But I can do that as well
12[12:57am] * @Morgan shrugs
[12:58am] <08@Morgan> when it comes down to it, I made half the nobles in this part of Eisen, _including_ the Eisenfurst do common, physical labour... I suspect I could wield a fair bit of power if I really really tried
13[12:58am] <04Claudia> Don't try it, seriously. I'd never forgive you
12[12:59am] * @Morgan nods
[12:59am] <08@Morgan> will you come to the wedding?
13[12:59am] <04Claudia> Yes, if you think it necessary
[12:59am] <08@Morgan> its not necessary, but I'd like you there
13[1:00am] * Claudia smiles
13[1:00am] <04Claudia> Well, seen as though ya did bring me blokners...
[1:01am] <08@Morgan> thank you
13[1:02am] <04Claudia> Go on then, tell me all about it.
[1:02am] <08@Morgan> about what?
13[1:02am] * Claudia drinks more blokners
13[1:02am] <04Claudia> The wedding, the wife
[1:02am] <08@Morgan> the wedding is... a wedding... and she's an Avalonian girl
13[1:03am] * Claudia laughs
13[1:03am] <04Claudia> You ARE turning into your father!
[1:03am] <08@Morgan> I must admit, he gave me some stick about that until I pointed that out as well
13[1:04am] <04Claudia> Noble?
[1:04am] <08@Morgan> depends
12[1:04am] * @Morgan fetches up whats left of the port and drinks some
13[1:05am] * Claudia grins at him, holding the blokners
13[1:05am] <04Claudia> On what?
[1:05am] <08@Morgan> on whether or not her title was bestowed by a madman or not
13[1:06am] <04Claudia> You always were backward about coming forward. What the devil are you on about?
[1:07am] <08@Morgan> she was given a title by someone claiming to be a prince of some islands I'd never heard of
13[1:08am] <04Claudia> Not like you to believe so easy
[1:09am] <08@Morgan> I want to believe, I suppose. Besides, he was a good man in a fight
13[1:10am] * Claudia smiles
13[1:10am] <04Claudia> I'd take good over sane
[1:10am] <08@Morgan> absolutely... saved my life on any number of occasions... faced some nasty things side by side... reminded me of you except he had manners
13[1:11am] * Claudia curses him in Eisen
[1:12am] <08@Morgan> exactly
13[1:12am] <04Claudia> So she may or may not be a lady?
12[1:12am] * @Morgan nods
[1:12am] <08@Morgan> tough to say
13[1:12am] <04Claudia> I bet your father loved that
[1:12am] <08@Morgan> and since I'm not allowed to break anybody that questions it...
12[1:13am] * @Morgan thinks
[1:13am] <08@Morgan> I'm not entirely sure he's aware of it
13[1:13am] <04Claudia> Bets keep it that way if I were you
[1:13am] <08@Morgan> plan to
13[1:15am] * Claudia nods
13[1:15am] <04Claudia> She related to your mother?
[1:15am] <08@Morgan> no, not at all
13[1:16am] <04Claudia> What's she like?
13[1:16am] * Claudia watches him
[1:17am] <08@Morgan> loving, kind, gentle... strong willed enough that she had an argument with my father and questioned his parenting skills _and_ broke the door jamb on the way out... and he described it as 'spirited'
13[1:18am] * Claudia laughs
13[1:18am] <04Claudia> Perfect for you then
12[1:18am] * @Morgan nods
[1:18am] <08@Morgan> and above all that, she fixed me
13[1:19am] <04Claudia> Fixed?
12[1:19am] * @Morgan nods
13[1:20am] <04Claudia> You relaise they use that term when they castrate animals, yes?
[1:20am] <08@Morgan> when I went away, initially I intended to live as a serf... then I found myself in charge of protecting a silly girl who always seemed to have all manner of supersticious nasties following her. I sought death there, but the bastards just weren't up to the job
13[1:21am] <04Claudia> And she is the silly girl?
[1:21am] <08@Morgan> god no...
[1:21am] <08@Morgan> the girl was a noblewoman in Avalon who wouldn't listen to someone who knew better
13[1:21am] * Claudia nods
13[1:22am] <04Claudia> And how does... your bethrothed... fit in?
[1:22am] <08@Morgan> she stopped me hating who I am
13[1:22am] <04Claudia> No point hating who you are. It is what it is
12[1:22am] * @Morgan shrugs
[1:23am] <08@Morgan> I did, regardless
13[1:23am] <04Claudia> And now?
[1:24am] <08@Morgan> I was consumed with anger... hell, I shot a man for opening a door... now... I'm who I am, with the responsibilities I have and no desire to die
13[1:25am] <04Claudia> Good. If the vaticine bastards didnt manage it, then no-one should
12[1:25am] * @Morgan shrugs
[1:26am] <08@Morgan> even the damn sidhe realms didn't release anything strong enough to do it... so, rather than be hellbent on trying to justify myself out of existence, I'm hellbent on making _some_ change
13[1:28am] <04Claudia> Why not... no harm in trying I suppose
[1:28am] <08@Morgan> besides, I dont have to do it all myself... all I need to do is push a few people in the right direction
13[1:29am] * Claudia nods
13[1:29am] <04Claudia> And bribe the others with blokners.
[1:30am] <08@Morgan> no chance, I only give that to people I trust
12[1:30am] * @Morgan thinks for a moment
[1:30am] <08@Morgan> or those who will beat me up if I dont
13[1:31am] * Claudia laughs
13[1:31am] <04Claudia> I'd say I'm the second
[1:31am] <08@Morgan> more a combination of the two
12[1:31am] * @Morgan finishes the port
[1:32am] <08@Morgan> do you still have your uniform?
13[1:32am] * Claudia nods
13[1:32am] <04Claudia> Still fits as well
[1:32am] <08@Morgan> with all the little armour bits?
13[1:33am] <04Claudia> Oh yes
12[1:33am] * @Morgan nods
[1:33am] <08@Morgan> did you think we were fighting magpies that'd be distracted by shiny things?
13[1:34am] <04Claudia> You'd be amazed how the clever placement of shiny bits will distract primitive men to be looking at the wrong places at the wrong time
12[1:35am] * @Morgan laughs hard
[1:35am] <08@Morgan> would you wear your uniform on saturday? I dont have a regiment to go with, but you and HeinzHarold make up for that
13[1:36am] * Claudia smiles, though there is a rare flicker of emotion
13[1:36am] <04Claudia> We'll raise what's left of the flag...
12[1:36am] * @Morgan nods
[1:36am] <08@Morgan> you know my cousins son?
13[1:36am] * Claudia shakes her head
13[1:37am] <04Claudia> Boyish or strange?
[1:37am] <08@Morgan> strange
[1:46am] <08@Morgan> Varick, his name is... he's going to be in uniform to be our page boy
13[1:47am] <04Claudia> Will he be well behaved?
12[1:48am] * @Morgan nods
[1:48am] <08@Morgan> he's a good boy
13[1:48am] <04Claudia> Good, I don't really like children... or adults actually
[1:49am] <08@Morgan> I was thinking you could've stopped at "I dont really like"
13[1:57am] <04Claudia> Very true
13[1:58am] * Claudia drinks more blokners
13[1:59am] <04Claudia> So why are you here drinking with me, not there drinking with her?
13[1:59am] * Claudia smiles
13[1:59am] <04Claudia> Or are you banned from seeing each other
[2:00am] <08@Morgan> Because it'd either break her heart or make her very angry if I told her what had happened with my cousin, and I want to see neither emotion on her face...
[2:00am] <08@Morgan> funny you should say that, we were banned from being alone... ever
13[2:00am] <04Claudia> Ever? Surely they want you to be alone together after the wedding?
12[2:01am] * @Morgan shrugs
[2:01am] <08@Morgan> I think they probably have a chart drawn up of allowable times somewhere
13[2:01am] * Claudia shakes her head
13[2:02am] <04Claudia> Are you not going to tell her about what happened tonight?
[2:02am] <08@Morgan> once I've had time to calm down about it
13[2:03am] <04Claudia> Blokners will help
[2:03am] <08@Morgan> it would if I had any
13[2:04am] * Claudia hands the bottle back
12[2:04am] * @Morgan takes a deep drink and hands it back
13[2:04am] <04Claudia> Are you going to tell your father?
12[2:04am] * @Morgan nods
[2:04am] <08@Morgan> she's too dangerous for him to be unaware
13[2:04am] <04Claudia> Dangerous?
13[2:05am] * Claudia grins as if rising to a challenge
[2:05am] <08@Morgan> not in the sense we're used to dealing wih... she's manipulative, and mean and spoilt... and she's hurting
13[2:06am] <04Claudia> And you are worried that she will...?
12[2:06am] * @Morgan shrugs
13[2:06am] * Claudia turns her palms up as if to say 'do what?'
[2:06am] <08@Morgan> thats why I'm worried... I dont know
13[2:07am] <04Claudia> If this was war, I'd suggest armed guards
12[2:07am] * @Morgan nods
13[2:08am] <04Claudia> mainly for your future wife.
[2:08am] <08@Morgan> the thought crossed my mind
13[2:08am] <04Claudia> But that will cause suspicion and trouble.
[2:09am] <08@Morgan> I'll talk with Inga... her being with Molly wont raise any suspicions... its not ideal, but its better than nothing
13[2:09am] <04Claudia> Who is Inga?
[2:11am] <08@Morgan> she _was_ a maid, though last I paid attention she was Molly's personal maid, but they're thick as thieves
13[2:11am] <04Claudia> Can she fight?
[2:12am] <08@Morgan> I doubt it, but Molly can... and it'd be foolhardy to attempt anything with more than oe person here
13[2:12am] * Claudia watches him
13[2:13am] <04Claudia> I've always given you an honest opinion, regardless of whether you want to hear it, correct?
12[2:13am] * @Morgan nods
13[2:13am] <04Claudia> I wouldn't be letting her out of my sight.
12[2:13am] * @Morgan nods and stands up
[2:15am] <08@Morgan> can I borrow a sword? all mine are locked away
13[2:16am] * Claudia stands up also. Though she's been sat on hard ground all this time, it makes no difference to her agility.
13[2:16am] <04Claudia> Take anything you need.
12[2:16am] * @Morgan fetches up a sword and some chainmail and heads for the door
13[2:17am] * Claudia picks up the blokners, putting it on her table.
13[2:17am] <04Claudia> Send if you need assistance
12[2:17am] * @Morgan nods, ducking outside
[2:18am] <08@Morgan> after the wedding I want you to come by the house and we'll show the guards how to fight... Grunhelms good, but they could be better
13[2:18am] * Claudia nods
13[2:18am] <04Claudia> I will
12[2:19am] * @Morgan clasps her forearm
[2:19am] <08@Morgan> be well Claudia
13[2:20am] * Claudia mirrors him
13[2:20am] <04Claudia> And you
12[2:20am] * @Morgan nods quickly before taking off towards the house at a jog
13[2:21am] * Claudia shuts the door behind him