<@Dreol> [Varyn's caravan, Buda, Hungary, June 15th 1262, 11:00 PM]
<@Dreol> [Sabina and Elderia have both answered Varyn's invitation out to 
the outskirts of town where his Caravan and assistants have been set up 
in a small cottage.]
<@Dreol> [Sabina is leaning against one of the walls on the outside of 
the cottage and Elderia is sitting on the steps outside the front door 
waiting. They are both dressed in loose, cotton dresses lined with silk. 
Sabina favoring brighter colors of red and yellow and Elderia wearing 
cooler blue and green.]
<@Dreol> [Begin.]
 06* Varyn throws open the door, the sounds of others being drunk and 
laughing can be heard. "Family! Come in side. I invited a third to join 
in on the entertainment tonight, hopefully so all the winnings don't come 
from my pocket...."
 06* Anstace arrives precisely at the time indicated on the invitation -- 
not a moment early, or a moment late. She is wearing a rather modest, but 
classical Greek chiton.
<@Dreol> [The two ravnos stand and enter the cottage.]
 06* Varyn grins. "And there she is. Anstace please! Come in!
 06* Anstace nods in acknowledgement. "your hospitality is noted"
 06* Anstace steps up into the caravan and nods to the other guests.
<@Dreol> [Sabina sits down at the table, as does Elderia. Sabina speaks 
up first. "Thank you for the invitation, cousin. How has the summer been 
treating you?"]
 06* Varyn is loud and boisterous right now, not as quiet as he has been 
in court. Inside are five humans, already drunk, laughing amongst 
themselves. and smiling at the strangers.
<Varyn> Ah. I wish to travel more. Of course I'm sure you feel the same.
 06* Anstace looks around the caravan, watching the humans for a moment 
before turning back to Varyn and the conversation.
<@Dreol> [Elderia nods. "Yes, of course, but we have a job to do, and the 
hospitality has been acceptable."]
 06* Varyn laughs, smiling. "There is drink, and there are dice games. If 
there's anything else you might want let me know. I will get anything I 
can"
 06* Anstace tilts her head to the side. "i have not played dice games. 
you will have to explain."
<@Dreol> [Sabina's mouth twitches some at the mention of alcohol and she 
nods, as her eyes shift to the drunk humans in the room. Elderia shrugs 
and leans back in her chair. "Dice games are always fun." Sabina wanders 
over to the group of humans and finds a young man with blonde hair and 
she crouches down, tipping his head back and sinking her fangs into his 
neck and stays their locked onto his neck for a few seconds before 
licking the wound clean and standing up again, leaving the man with some 
smears of crimson liquid around the wound.]
<Varyn> Ah, i thought they would have dice games in your childhood. We 
are playing Schock....
 06* Varyn goes on a rather long and complicated discussion of the game 
at hand.
 06* Varyn also smiles seeing Sabina enjoying this already
 06* Anstace listens carefully and watches the demonstration intently.
<Varyn> The winners of the round take half the pot, the loser of the game 
is the one that fetches the beers for the next round.
<@Dreol> [Sabina stumbles back after a moment and sits down. Elderia 
nods. "We will teach you, Miss Winter Rose... Perhaps you could tell us 
about your childhood. I am sure that you have some very interesting 
stories."]
 06* Anstace turns to look at Elderia. "perhaps. i was judged to be 
strong enough as a baby and was not thrown into the chasm, if that is 
what you mean by interesting"
<@Dreol> [Elderia nods and chuckles. "That is a start."]
 06* Varyn coughs. "It seems that first challenge for us all."
 06* Anstace turns to look at Varyn. "one of my brothers was too weak. my 
mother told me of her journey up Mount Tygetos with the Gerousia."
<@Dreol> [Sabina nods and wavers slightly.]
<Varyn> What about your hobbies Anstace? Perhaps.. here let us join the 
game and just talk as we game?
 06* Anstace takes a seat at the gaming table, watching the others 
closely. "recounting my childhood disturbs you, then. i shall change 
topics if you wish."
<Varyn> I am just more curious about you than what could or should have 
been
<Anstace> ah.  very well.
 06* Anstace watches the die roll. "i collect knowledge and information"
<Varyn> Do you enjoy that?
<Anstace> yes.  though what used to be common knowledge has not survived.  
it has caused my valuation of things to be somewhat off.
<Varyn> Most of these guys are being taught my secrets of metal working. 
 06* Varyn waves around at the herd. "Tell me Sabina, what do you enjoy?"
 06* Anstace looks at the others and nods.
<@Dreol> [Sabina looks up and nods. "I enjoy dancing and drinking as I 
did in my mortal life, but I probably enjoy travel most. In that respect, 
our current guard duty job is pretty fulfilling."]
 06* Varyn smiles and looks over at Elderia. "And you?"
<@Dreol> [Elderia looks over at Varyn. "I also enjoy travel, of course, 
and gambling, as I'm sure you know. I also collect clothing from my 
travels. I love seeing what is fashionable in other parts of the world."]
 06* Varyn smiles a bit. "I have a few pieces from when I was last in 
France if you wanted to see them...." He wasn't even trying to hide he 
was here to make friends and relax.
<@Dreol> [Elderia nods. "I would love to, yes."]
 06* Anstace looks at Elderia. "you do not find them uncomfortably 
binding?"
 06* Varyn groans and stands up after tossing the rest of his money into 
the pot. "Let me get them. Ah, I believe fashion is meant to be binding 
and restricting."
<@Dreol> [Elderia shakes her head and looks at Anstace. "On occasion. 
When traveling, I wear looser, more comfortable clothing, but I enjoy 
seeing and wearing different fashions at court."]
 06* Anstace nods. "when on display, yes, comfort is the last of anyone's 
concern."
 06* Varyn smiles heading back into his trunks and pulls out two dresses 
for Elderia, they would be a little out of current fashion but nice 
enough. "Ah here we go."
 06* Anstace watches the most recent throw of the dice and what the 
others are doing, following along carefully, she tosses several coins.
 06* Varyn winces a bit at Anstace's actions, but he's behind her so he 
doesn't give anything away.
<@Dreol> [Elderia looks over the dresses. "Ah... these are very nice. it 
has been some time since we have been in France."]
<@Dreol> [Elderia tosses the dice.]
<Varyn> It's a shame you haven't been. I find it beautiful when I get 
over there. 
<Anstace> France was the first place i was brought after i was awakened 
from my sleep.
<@Dreol> [Elderia nods. "It's very nice. We were there a few years ago 
when Mr. Andreas hired us."]
<Varyn> It is lovely. I just.. I get a little of this and a little of 
that to sell. It keeps me busy as I travel and helps allow me to craft.
<@Dreol> [Sabina smiles. "It must be nice to have such a great excuse to 
travel"]
<Varyn> Ah it is and isn't. Mixed blessing. It is why my friends here are 
with me. Need a show of force.
 06* Anstace looks at Varyn and then at the people he gestured too. "do 
you find yourself needing to be forceful often?"
<@Dreol> [Elderia nods. "There are often unfortunate encounters on the 
road."]
 06* Anstace nods.
 06* Varyn sighs looking at Anstace. "More often than I'd like."
<Anstace> not much has changed.  have you encountered a sphinx?
<Anstace> they are particularly fond of riddles.
<@Dreol> [Sabina shakes her head. "We have not."]
<Varyn> I have not either.
 06* Anstace nods. "probably for the best. they are apparently ill 
tempered if you answer incorrectly."
<@Dreol> [Elderia smiles. "So, Anstace... What do you think of the world 
now? It must be strange to have been asleep for so long and then awaken 
to this world."]
 06* Anstace glances at the nearest human as he apparently won the round. 
or at least did something good as he seems to be rather happy.
 06* Varyn chuckles looking at Anstace. "I did think we would all 
appreciate a night away from the courts."
 06* Anstace turns to Elderia. "do i think it is strange? yes. a step 
backwards in many ways. and yet in other ways, still very similar. and 
then, occasionally, i come upon something quite new and fascinating."
<@Dreol> [Elderia nods to Anstace and tosses some coins in and throws 
dice, as it is her turn.]
<Varyn> other cultures are like that, most of them are surprisingly 
similar.
 06* Anstace watches Elderia's turn with interest. "indeed."
<@Dreol> [Elderia nods. "Yes. That is true even just when one travels 
from country to country."]
<@Dreol> [And they continued to drink and gamble into the night until 
dawn was nearing.]
<@Dreol> [End.]