Chapter One: Infiltration

[Terra Artemos]

Terra enters the garden as Koldar finishes his story to Silfer, sweeping the area with her gaze, as if she could see into the shadows. After taking in what see wanted, Terra moved towards the two. "I will stay for one of your tales Koldar, and then I will go and wash the unhealthy smell of horse from my body."

'Life is a grim reality, through which only honor shines.'

[Avour]

Twirling about in the red velvet skirt feeling silky smooth under the top. At first shying away from Talia as she went to put a ribbon in her hair, however letting Talia put it in her hair smiling.

“ Skirt make Talia beautiful.” Avour says and then realises that the skirt would make the same difference to her. Somehow Avour’s already huge smile doubles as she looks down at herself. “Avour need water reflect to see Avour in Skirt.” She laughs, her whole body surging with excitement.

Wondering what a hem is Avour comes to the conclusion that the hem is something strange about the skirt that she must look out for while walking. Heading towards the door Avour stumbles over the hem of the skirt and then turns around with a cheeky smile on her face and looks at Talia.

“Avour find hem.” She giggles and scratches her cheek. “Talia Friend, Avour no want to tear Skirt how can Avour walk with Skirt but no trip?” Avour tries to remember how she’s seen other ladies walk with skirts on. Bending down she grabs a handful of the skirt showing her trousers underneath with the back of the skirt pulling against her legs. “Avour grab Skirt and walk like a She Human.” Avour pretends to look like an elegant young lady, while she actually looks like a bizarre looking young lady attempting to look all high and mighty.

She looks at Talia and her normal smile returns. “Show Koldar Friend!” She giggles. “Terra wear Skirt too?” Avour giggles picturing Terra in a dress. Her eyes light up “ Koldar Friend wear Skirt? Avour think that Koldar Friend look good in grass colour!” She says with such enthusiasm it’s almost pulsating from her body.

“You’d be lost if I wasn’t here to annoy you”
             – Little Sister speaking to Big Sister.......
Character Description

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Talia nearly missteps and falls down the stairs  when she imagines Koldar with a green skirt (maybe he would prefer now to be a knife thrower instead).

„Well“, Talia answers Avour giggling“ I would ask him, perhaps you offer him to try out this skirt first tomorrow, then if he likes it we buy him a green one in Strata!“ and mean as she is sometimes, she adds: „Avour, ask him if he would like a matching ribbon as well! Should look fine with his blond hair!“ Now Talia can‘t stop laughing, she has a very vivid imagination.

Down the stairs she stops: „Avour, please wait a moment ! I have to come to breath first before entering the garden.“ she wipes the tears from her laughing out of her eyes, tries to find a normal look for her face which is quite difficult in the moment and says then to Avour:

„Please, go first, I will follow a few steps behind you!“ With these words she opens the door to the garden, waiting for Avour.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge; for knowledge is limited whileimagination embraces the entire world." - Albert Einstein

[Avour]

Avour walks through the door with her customary grin on her face. Looking like a child at a candy store Avour grins and sucks on her top lip for a little while and then releases it with a little ‘tuk’ noise.

“Avour wearing Skirt.” She says trying to sound sophisticated. “Even have ribbon in Avour hair.” Avour says with a nod and points at her bow. “Found out what hem is.” She grins “Trip you over does hem” She joyfully whispers bending forward a little her eyes looking about playfully.

Avour turns around and grins at Talia. Then quickly twists her waist back around to the front and then looks at Koldar. “Avour think that Koldar would look good in grass colour Skirt.” Avour announces looking seriously at Koldar wondering what the sudden snickering is about.

Avour turns her waist a little one way and then quickly turns around in a circle making the skirt spread about and then hit her legs. Avour smiled again and looked at Talia. “Avour smart looking Halfing now!”

“You’d be lost if I wasn’t here to annoy you”
             – Little Sister speaking to Big Sister.......
Character Description

[Silfer Darkflare]

"People can surely be so dumb, especially when using anger as an advisor..." My mouth stops open when i stare at Avour coming down to us. Not amazed at all, she walks to Koldar and says:"Avour think that Koldar would look good in grass colour skirt" I suddently understand tht my poor eyes are about to pop out of my head and fall on the floor. Quickly i try to get my face back to normal, and then i see the situation from Avour's side. Then i just cant resist laughing. All i manage to say trough the laughter, is:"Koldar, you should really try it... But i wonder what Talia would say if she saw you in it."

Wisdom is only possesed by the learning.

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

„Oh well“ Talia says with  an earnest looking face though the corner of her mouth twitched tellingly: „ There are people where the men wear skirts, out of grasses as I heard. Or I have a even better idea, why not start a new tradition, Koldar. Then you will become the first Knight of the Green Skirt, not worse than a golden fleece and.....well“ looking into Koldars face Talia thought it might be better not to continue with her proposals and asks for a glass of wine instead.

[Terra Artemos]

Terra watches in her usual cool manner, as Talia enters following Avour, who was dressed in different cloths, which matters little to her. Terra the cold settling down on her again. Reprimands herself with out words for not bringing her cloak, and begins to shiver slightly, but does not allow the cold to choose her actions, so she stands there continuing to watch without interest.

'Life is a grim reality, through which only honor shines.'

[Capher]

I return from the beach where I had been having a long conversation with my Master. I walk into the inn and hear laughter coming from the vineyard. I walk into it curiously and I recognize the voices. I stay hidden in the shadows listening. When I hear Avour mention to Koldar that he should wear a skirt. And then Talia mentions about men wearing ones or Koldar starting a new tradition. I begin to wonder if they all had too much to drink? I try and imagine the scene and I have to stop myself from laughing. I put on a straight face and walk into the light. I see Avour wearing the dress and blouse I stole from the bordello. she actually looks good. I think to myself. I clear my throat. "I thought you wanted baths ladies? Instead I see your all here. Avour you never looked so good. But Talia the dress was for you. You would not believe what I had to go through to get that dress and blouse. I think we should all get some rest. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am tired and dawn comes early."
I turn and go back up the stairs. I was about to walk into our room but remembered that the ladies still were probably going to take a bath. So I went into the room where the ladies were and lay down on one of their beds. Soon I am fast asleep.

[Silfer Darkflare]

I notice Capher, but say nothing. After he has gone, i say to Koldar, Talia, Avour and Terra:" If you want, i have a good story to tell. But only if you want, if not, ill go to bed."

Wisdom is only possesed by the learning.

[Koldar Mondrakken]

I finish my little tale and discuss with Silfer. "Most people think that...  perhaps I'll tell you the true story when..." I stop in the same moment I recognize Silfer's distraction...

Avour looks beautiful in the dress although you recognize that she haven't worn any before. My amusement apruptly stops when Avour suggests that I would look great in a skirt. 'What the ...?' I can only stare at Avour, who is waiting with a friendly smile for an answer. 'She can't mean to...How...?'

Then Talia notes that there are tribes with such traditions and if I might want to start a new fashion.

I've only an angry look for her. Then I turn to Avour again. At all she means this serious. I stutter searching for some kind of concept in this situation and recognizable turn red. Looking from one of my so-called friends to the next I try to find a adequate response.

"Well, err.... Avour, thanks.... You look great by the way."  I scratching my head, stroking through my hair in confusion I pause.
"You know, Avour, in most cultures only women wear skirts  if any at all." I glare at Talia. "Nevertheless. If we were in my country I'd know dozens of young men who would kill for this sight, I can assure you."
I bow politely. To get this over this situation fast. I look up and with an inviting gesture turn to Silfer. "I alerady told had a little tale. It was not true and it was not good. Only enough to get over an uneventful waiting time so I think it is now Silfer's turn to tell us about the world!"
I step back and sit down on a stump to listen to Silfer's telling.

'*Phew*. The dangers I meet with these people are different from what I ever met before. I'm closer to an heartattack than an Orc fight!'

Koldar Mondrakken, Knight of the Moonlight

[Avour]

Koldar doesn’t look at all happy, and keeps giving Talia nasty looks. Avour is rather confused “Why Talia friend think Skirt on Koldar Friend big laugh and Koldar friend think bad?” She voices her opinion and shrugs her shoulders, Koldar mentions something about places having Cultures her eyes widen as he says the word.

“Avour being lady, and…” She stops when Capher appears. He doesn’t seem to happy that Avour is wearing Talia’s dress either. Mentioning something about the ladies wanting a wash Avour remembers how dirty she feels and with slumped shoulders walks back upstairs to their room, slightly waving goodbye to Talia making sure that no one else saw her wave. Then disappeared inside.

Once upstairs she heads for the gentlemen’s room and eventually gets out of Talia’s new clothes. Has a wash and then walks into her room seeing Capher asleep on the bed. Unsure of weather or not she is allowed to use Talia’s cape again she leaves it be. Taking the chair from the dresser she moves it under the window and kneels on the chair with her arms resting on the window plane looking out side. She soon falls asleep again.

“You’d be lost if I wasn’t here to annoy you”
             – Little Sister speaking to Big Sister.......
Character Description

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Seeing Koldar a bit shocked by their proposals, Talia nearly regrets for having teased him. She had met him only this morning, perhaps she should be a more carefully with treating other persons? But it was so tempting after Avour had proposed it first. „With a regretful smile she looks at him saying : „Sorry Koldar, shouldn‘t have teased you, thought I would hear a story from you now?“ And turning to Silfer: „But one of yours is welcome as well,  I‘d like to know you all better. This night is too beautiful to go to bed.“

She makes her comfortable with the back leaning on a tree, her woollen blanket wrapped around her. But then she sees that Terra seems not very comfortable, looks like she feels the cold of the night. Talia remembers her useful cape in her pocket and offers it  to Terra with the words:“ You look like you need something as well Terra“, throwing it to her at once. Oh dear , she thinks, was I too rash again?

"Don't be pushed by your problems.  Be led by your dreams."

Edited by: Talia Sturmwind  at: 12/7/01 10:39:05 am

[Terra Artemos]

Terra catches the cape, and hands it back as she walks by Talia. "I do not need this. Capher is right we should get some rest. I will go bathe myself, and then take his advice."

'Life is a grim reality, through which only honor shines.'

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Talia looks at Terra walking away with consternation. Why is this young woman so reserved, somehow she has an aura of desertetness around her as if she is all alone in the world. What has she encountered in her life that she is this way? Talia had her share of loss and grief as well, but time heals a lot and she is able to enjoy the life again. What may have caused this solitary in Terra which seems a permanent companion to her? But there seems no way to help her in the moment.

Talia puts her chin on her knees, arms around her legs. Somehow the fun is out of the situation, the stars seem to have dimmed their light. And it started do funny, indeed.
She turns to both men asking: „Do you still like to tell one of your true stories or should we take Caphers advice? I can‘t really wait till I something, but otherwise.....“
She falls silent waiting for an answer.

"Don't be pushed by your problems.  Be led by your dreams."

[Silfer Darkflare]

I see now that everyone got away and the situation got bad. "Well, i will tell a story,but true or not, i do not know. It goes as a legend in the lands far  from here. And it goes like this:

There were a country, ruled by a terrible dragon. This dragon did as he pleased, living in a tower high so all could see him. In the tower he had treasures of the land, all of them. People of the land lived poorly, and laboured hard to have food and clothing. There went a story by that people, that the old turtle in the swamp had a sword to slay the dragon with. So quite often there was somebody to say: "I will slay that dragon!" They all went to the turtle, and she gave all of them a simple sword of grey steel. Then they went to the dragon, but every time, after the battle was ended, a servant of the dragon cried out from the tower, so everybody could hear:"The knight is slain! Glory to the dragon!"
  This went on, until once there was a stranger passing the lands. He heard the peoples cries, and wanted to slay the dragon. He was very young, so the people did not belive that he would make it, when so many brave heroes died already. But he ventured to the old turtle, and also to him she gave a simple blade of grey steel. He ventured up in the tower, and the dragon attacked him. They fought and fought, and finally the dragon was slain. But the dragon spoke to the hero before he died:"There will always be another...." The hero was troubled, but went in to the treasury. There were gold and jewels in piles and heaps. And theen, a voice spoke inside the hero:" take it, its yours, take it and you will have absolute might against this people." He heard the voice, and felt himself changing...He felt greed. His skin got black, and he felt claws growing out of his hands. But then he thought:What shall i do with this gold? I have so i survive, and i like my wandering life. I do not need it! Thus, felt himself again. And for the first time in many centuries, a herald did not cry from the tower. Instead, the hero came out. And the people were free. Then, our hero went to the swamp, to give back the sword. But the old turtle said: "Keep it! It is nothing more than a sword of grey steel. The power is not in the blade, but in him who wields it."

I took a pause, and then said: "What do you think? Could it be true?"

Wisdom is only possesed by the learning.

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