Xanadu Weyr - Wanderin' Wherry Tavern
It is often whispered in the crowds that converge here, that a certain Weyrleader was asked what he wanted in the remodeling of the pub that was not so long ago given a refreshing. He muttered back over the rim of his ever-present mug, "I don't care what you do with the place, just so long as there is plenty of ale." With that in mind, cask after cask of ale lines the walls of the tavern, the remodeler's idea of a jest. As they age, the casks bring a real rustic atmosphere to the pub, along with the deeply wooden flavor that seems to be the theme throughout.
The lighting is dim, as it should be in all good pubs, and the tables and chairs are plentiful. A long mahogany bar, intricately carved with runner beasts, stands vigilant duty at the head of the bar, lined with stools for those patrons that seek the bartender's company.
It's early morning at Xanadu and a sweet spring fragrance fills the air as the sun alights upon numerous blossoms. Even in the tavern the scents linger, mingling with that frying apples and meatrolls that are presently being cooked up. Keziah is sitting in a back corner with a plate of cheese and some slices of rare herdbeast. She has the disheaveled look of someone who just recently got off shift. There are few people in the tavern at this hour as most tend to wait just a little for their heavy drinking. The meatrolls are soon handed off to a Galaxy wingmember who tosses a salute off to Keziah and he heads out, while the basket of crispy deep-fried apples are brought out to Keziah, along with a refil of hot cider.
It's even earlier in Western, where this bluerider hails from - at least that's the assumption, judging from the knot twisted upon her riding jacket's shoulder. Walking up to the bar, the woman sits down on it, pushing her loose hair over her shoulder and adjusting the two necklaces she wears so they hang nicely against her button down blue tunic. Ordering an ale and some of those fried apples that have caught her senses, she turns to survey the tavern after her order has been placed. Glancing over towards Keziah, the woman lifts her head in a little silent 'hey' nod. "Apples good?" she calls across the tavern.
Keziah hisses a little as she takes a bite of the hot food and then smiles as she enjoys. At the entrance of the younger woman she glances up a little and then gives a nod in return and then a thumps up at the question as opposed to yelling across the room. She alternates between the cheese and the rare slices of meat to the apples, washing things down with the cider. It's as good a breakfast as any for her.
Kimmila gets her ale and slides down off the bar stool, meandering brazenly right up to Keziah's table, sliding into an empty chair and just inviting herself over. "Hey," she says, grin crooked despite the tiredness around her eyes. "Know of any good hunting spots around here?" Leaning back in the chair, she sips her ale and nods appreciatively to the flavor. "Good stuff," she remarks, looking around at all the barrels. Another sip. "Real good."
.
"Depends on whatcher huntin' fer." she notes "Belly keeps a good supply of drink." she adds and then after a moment she states "Names Keziah, rider of Alosynth, welcome to Xanadu." She takes another drink "We've some tasty wherries out in the forests, and the whersports are pretty active this time as well. 'snakes you'll find just about anywhere, but head north along the river and you'll find some nests that have been hatchin'. Stay away from the area towards the south, you'll run into some swampland there. Lose people in there all the time when they don't know the area. Quick sand and all. Hard to get a dragon out, but they bottom out before they be in any danger."
Kimmila settles comfortably into the seat, stretching out her legs to the side and smiling. "Kimmila, Varmiroth's," she returns, smile crooked but warm. "Wherries, I suppose. Not that I'm awake enough to go hunting today. But Varmiroth wanted to see some forests, so I brought him here so he could see the views while I had a drink." Her green eyes look thoughtful and intrigued at the mention of the swamps. "Got anyone who likes to take people out there?"
Keziah gives a nod of acknowledgement "A pleasure." She nods "Well, the if you go out west and a little north, saw some flocks while on sweep." she murmurs. "Also across the river on the other side of Caspian there have tended to be some good flocks." She then eyes Kimmila and arches a brow. "I don't encourage forays into the area." she notes "Again, it's not safe and many areas a dragon cannot get into." she huffs a bit "It's my job to rescue people, not see that they get into situations where they need rescuin'"
Kimmila grins wryly, chuckling behind her mug as she takes another sip. "Alright, fine. I won't get you in trouble," she says with a little wave of her hand. "I'm in the S&R wing at Western, myself," she adds, as if that might give her some credibility to get more information on the intriguing swamps. "West and north. I'll have to remember that, the next time I'm in town. Again, too tired to do any hunting today. Other than hunting down this ale and those apples."
Keziah arches a brow a bit "Just stay clear of the swamps. As an S&R rider you should be familiar with the rule about not putting yourself at risk." she remarks "I don't condone recklessness. "There are better areas for hunting and even if a dragon can't be sucked under, plenty other risks for them, as well as their rider." She then nods a bit "GOod idea, really reckless to hunt while tired, and after ya've been drinkin'" she adds. "Course, iffen yer too tired to be searchin, her dragon may feed from our corral."
Kimmila lifts a hand with a low laugh. "Relax, Keziah. I promise I won't go to the swamps." Today. "No need to lecture me, I'm well aware of how this stuff works. And no, he's fine, I'm just thinking of hunting spots for myself. He's occupied with the views anyhow."
Keziah hmmphs a bit, but she subsides. After all Kimmila isn't one of hers, current wingriders or past weyrlings. "Well then." she murmurs wand settles back to finishing of the slices of meat and cheese now that she's finished her apples. "North and west are yer best bets or east across the lake." she then hmms a little "Course, there are some good coastal wherries further up north near the ocean by Rubicon, though gotta watch their herds up there as well."
Kimmila sits up a bit when her order of apples arrives, picking at the hot fruit with quick fingertips. "Mmm, delicious," she compliments, sipping at her ale and enjoying the two flavors mingling together. "The coast sounds interesting. Is it a rocky coast, down here? Or a sandy one?"
"It's fairly sandy, though you'll have rocks due to the cliffs. Solid stone it is too. Tis a shame really, the high cliffs would have been a grand place for some weyrs. Though near the ocean, they've some caverns there, most likely opened up by the sea. " She hmms a little "You've got the dolphinhall up there too, so there's always a fair amount of dolphins around. They seem to have fun with the dragons in the water."
Kimmila frowns slightly, pushing hair away from her face as she continues to pick at the apples with her fingers. "Hmm. Well, I'll have to go check that out too, I suppose. Spent lots of time in Southern, but not much time around this weyr, I'll admit. How long have you been here?" Idle conversation as she enjoys her food and her ale.
"Southern? Oh, you mean Ierne." she shakes her head a bit "Don't here it much called that anymore." There's a pause and a teasing gleam "Or are they not teachin' the Weyrlings right over there at Western?" She smiles to take any sting out. "I've been here. Hmm" She thinks about it a little "Getting on to near twenty Turns." She hmms a little "Seems so much longer, but then I did spend some Turns up at Reaches afore movin' down here."
Kimmila shakes her head, "No, I mean the Southern Continent. In general." She waves sticky apple fingers to encompass it all. Brows lift at the tease, and she laughs faintly. "Hah, no. They teach us alright at Western." Nodding, she glances around. "And you like it here? It's okay being in the same place for that long?"
Keziah ahhs a little and nods "I stand corrected." she remarks and then she blinks at little at the phrasing of the question "Well, I've certainly never found a problem being here all this time. Plenty to do. Course I ain'y in the Weyr the whole time, I'm out about the area, sweeps and such, visiting the holds. I love it here. Have ever since I stood for my first clutch here. Liked the place enough, so I stayed on and worked in the stables." She smiles fondly "Likely woulda gone on to be StableMaster when Tarsin retired. Still I think Yina will be good, I trained her up as my assistant when I was assistant to Tarsin. It's a good place, friendly." If one ignores Kezi of course. "Weyrwoman Thea makes sure things are done." This last is said a bit wryly.
Kimmila nods slowly as she listens, picking at the apples and sipping her ale. "Yeah, friendly counts for a lot," she says thoughtfully, fingers toying with the feline talon necklace she wears. "You were left standing your first time, then?" She smiles. "Always liked riding runners. There a place you can rent one for the day? Not for today," she says, her eyes gleaming with mirth, "and I'm not going to the swamps. But for some other time." She shakes her head a bit, "Admit Id on't know much about Thea."
Keziah laughs brightly "First seven times actually." she notes with a gleam in her eye. Course player is cruel and evil to her characters. "Dunno, about anyone lettin' ya rent a runner, people round here are still recovering from the loss of the runners to that blasted plaque." she goes quiet for a moment "I lost all my fine runners. They were runs that I had bred especially for travelin these parts, small and wirey and the endurance to go far." She does eye Kimmila a moment and then just hmmphs.
Kimmila blinks, staring at the woman in surprise. "/Seven/? You stood /eight/ times? All here? How old were you when you started?" Utterly surprised, Kimmila gives the greenrider a sizing up look. Then she frowns. "The plague…?"
Keziah can't help but laugh. She does love watching the shock on people's faces. "Aye, eight times, but not all here. Most here though. Gives hope though to them that don't Impress their first go round." she pauses a moment "I almost didnae stand for that last one though." She shakes her head "It had been a few Turns since the last hatching I attended." There's silence for several moments at some memory. "Still, I'm glad I did."
Kimmila shakes her head, "Or their second, or third, or fifth…." She whistles softly. "Guess that's proof that once you're Searched, there's a dragon out there /somewhere/. And I'll bet. Got tired of disappointment?" Her head nods, and she chuckles. "I'll bet you're glad you did."
Keziah gives a nod "Aye, you just gotta persevere and no, it's not so much I was tired of being disappointed. I mean, sure I was, but after the first couple of times it really ain't so bad. It's a wonderful time for meetin' new people and all." she smiles "I am glad I did though. Alosynth said she wouldn't have been happy if I hadn't been there, course she also told me she was sorry for being so late." she shakes her head a little. "Silly girl."
Kimmila laughs, "Well, a rider's got to find the right dragon, else it'd be a horrible partnership," she says with a wry twist to her lips. "I enjoyed my candidacy quite a bit, actually. It was the Weyrlinghood that I didn't like as much."
Keziah tips her head a little "Why's that?" she asks curiously and then leans forward "I'm always interested on hearing a weyrlings perspective of things." she notes "Was it the Weyrlingmaster or did something happen?"
Kimmila shakes her head, "Neither. I didn't like the restrictions. I know why they were needed," she says, lifting a hand to hopefully forestall any protests on Keziah's part, "but I hated being stuck in the weyr for over a turn, having my every move watched and dictated for me. I was so glad when graduation came and I could do what I wanted, again."
Keziah ahhs a little "One of those huh?" she shakes her head a little. But Kezi not protesting? Whers would fly in the daylight first. "What? Didn't they have you weyrlings flying over your Weyrs territory and learning betweening points?" she asks and then she grins "Course, did they ever show you a weyrling and their dragon that decided they were ready for betweening than they really were? There's always someone who thinks they don't need to listen, that they're smarter than their Weyrlingmaster. Course I suppose we could stop dictating and watching and well, population control. Poor dragons though. Couldn't condemn them to death, just because their rider is stupid."
Kimmila's eyes narrow and she gives the greenrider an even look. "You asked for my opinion, and said you were interested in hearing a Weyrling's perspective. Now you're arguing with me about it?" she asks flatly. "I said I understood why the rules were necessary. I followed them for Varmiroth's sake. Doesn't mean I enjoyed it. And yes, of course they had us flying over the territory and learning between points. There's a difference between /having/ to fly somewhere, though, and having the freedom to go on your own."
That's Keziah for you. She sits back and tilts her head "Well, how would you handle weyrlinghood then?" she asks after a moment. "Truthfully, if you had control. What would you change? And I only asked because you said you didn't leave the Weyr at all for over a turn." she notes "Which makes it sound like they ain't trainin' ya."
Kimmila shakes her head, "First off, I would never be Weyrlingmaster. I don't have the patience for it. And I wouldn't change anything. Like I said, I know the reasons behind it and I think the restrictions are necessary. I still chafed under them. Of course we left the weyr, but not on my /own/. Not until graduation. And I'll thank you not to insult Western's Weyrlingmaster staff like you've been doing, with your little petty jabs."
Keziah gives a nod and looks satisfied and then she smiles "It's good to see that you'll defend yer Weyr." she states. "And that you stand by their practices even if ya don't like it. Too many wouldn't, and don't." she notes a little saddly. "Still, you did make it sound like they weren't so you might be more careful on your word phrasing." she notes.
Kimmila snorts, "They didn't teach me how to be diplomatic in Weyrlinghood," she says with a twisted grin, tipping back her ale once more for a long pull. "So what else is there to do fun in this weyr? Other than staying away from the swamps," no, she's not going to let that go, "and hunting and not riding runners?"
Keziah just shakes her head a bit. "Remember, them swamps are not a playground. We've enough of those here if you want that." she notes with a grin "Well, there's the observatory iffen yer interested in the stars, course there's always the lake. Good fishin' and swimmin' and as the weather gets hotter, a number of the riders practice dragon divin'. Much more entertainin' than cliff divin'." She hmms a little "Well, we're currently exploring some ruins that just presently came to light." There's a pursing of her lips. "And hopefully we can keep our Weyrwoman from trying to kill herself." she snorts a bit. "We've had some sinkhole troubles due to a number of heavy rains we've had here. Oft time you can also find some action here, in the tavern. Later on into the evenings they'll be lots of singing and ganbling and such."
Kimmila listens as she picks more at the apples, sucking her fingers after each bite to get all the sugary goodness from them. "Ruins?" she asks, a brow lifting as she gives the greenrider a curious look. "What sorts of ruins? Where?"
Keziah hmms a little "Well, we're thinking it's an old hold. It's in an old section of the forest. The harpers are still going through and documenting things. Easy to turn an ankle, but it's very nice find. I don't think they've decide as of yet what they're going to do with it." she notes thoughfully. "I think that's still under discussion."
Kimmila glances around the tavern and then leans forward a bit. "Can you show me?" she asks, her voice low as if they were discussing some big secret. The bluerider's green eyes are bright with eagerness and curiosity.
Keziah hmms a little "Well, currently it's only relevant people down there. Miners and harpers and people who are helping clean things up." she notes. Though anyone can volunteer to clean, just so long as my wing is notified on who is down there and they've an escort from the minecraft." she tilts her head "Interested in hostory or archeology then?" she asks with a smile.
Kimmila frowns with a soft exhaled snort. "You keep tantalizing me with fun things to do, and then snatching them away at the last minute," she laments. "I'm interested in seeing things that are interesting and different. I could volunteer to clean I guess, if it got me down there to see it."
Keziah eyes Kimmila "Fun things? You think risking your life and your dragon to play in murky swamps is fun? They're dangerous. Not fun. Trust me. I've been there enough times and have had to be rescued myself. As for the ruins. They're not a playground to be just running willy-nilly through." she shakes her head "It was discovered because a tunnel collapsed. Other tunnels could still collapsed and if we don't know yer down there. You could be stuck and then we'd have a panicked dragon on our hands. Or if you were knocked unconcious, things could be more serious than a panicked dragon. I don't care if you don't like restrictions and rules, but my wing is worked hard enough as it is. If I can stop one fool from trying to kill themselves, then that's one less person they need to rescue. It's always better to prevent an accident than to just open wide the doors and say, sure go have fun. Not to worry. Galaxy is here and happy to come save your happy butt any time at all. Rain or shine. We just love pulling yer out of any and and all situations because we are just sittin around with our thumbs up our bum." End sracasm. "If you want to see the ruins, then you're gonna go about it just the same as everyone else. Rules and regulations."
Kimmila rolls her eyes at the greenrider, finishing her ale and pushing to her feet. "Alright," she says flatly, tone clipped as she tosses down a mark to pay for her food and beverage, "I'm tired of your high and mighty attitude. I /said/ I would volunteer, not that I'd sneak off and do it on my own. I'm not an idiot, I'm a S&R rider too, and I know first hand what can happen when the rules aren't followed. You have in your head that I'm some sort of reckless child who needs to be protected from herself, when I'm not. I've saved plenty of people from all sorts of situations - including tunnel collapses - and I'm not in any hurry to need rescuing myself. I'd be happy to follow the rules and regulations, but I'm done with this conversation and your bias against me. Good day to you, Keziah. Have fun saving the world."
Keziah snorts a bit "Then stop acting so childish by whining about having fun things taken away. I don't give special considerations. You wanna see the ruins? Then fine. See the ruins. I ain't stoppin' ya. Ya just gotta follow the same procedures as everyone else. I didn't dangle the swamp either. I simply told you to steer clear, but no. You gotta keep wheedling and finangling like some little over-privelaged Holder's brat." she snorts. Yer makin' yerself sound pretty reckless ta me." She crosses her arms as she watches Kimmila. "You asked for good spots to hunt. I gave you good spots. Then you lament over the restrictions of dangerous areas. Get over yourself. It's not all fun and games, you keep this up, you're going to get either yourself killed or someone else." her eyes flash, her temper is up. There's a narrowing of her eyes. "Fun. Aye. It's always a treat to rescue idiots. The wilderness doesn't play nice down here. And it's not just the critters that bite." She sighs "A good day to you to then." she mutters.
Kimmila's eyes narrow and anger flares in her eyes. "Childish? I was-" but then she stops herself, shooting a look towards the exit. Gritting her teeth, she gives her head a firm shake. "You know what? I've got nothing to prove to you. Except I would /never/ put someone else in danger, no matter what /my/ choices are. I'm going to take the high road and leave before I do something I'll regret." Then she turns and leaves, long strides making short work of the distance to the door.
Hey Keziah, what's that over yonder? *Sneaks Kezi a dose of the reckless in her cider while she's not looking*
Oh just what the wing needs. Kezi drunk while doing drills. :)
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
Tsk. What is this drunk you speak of? Reckless doesn't always mean drunk. ;)
Even better? Kezi being reckless during drills? She'll really piss off Ers'lan. Muhahaa!
I reject your reality and substitute my own.