E6! Daezirn event R16, Styinnor's market

[Torv]

Styinor's off Track Market

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/794871932088221769/811936768617742356/Styinorresize.jpg


Danneta-Yvaon
The Ko
Great Scrimthun Unity
Á’Shansholí
Targiz
Uzii Protectorate of Mamut
Star Kingdom of Solais + 1


The eastern and western delegation reach their goals after more than a decade of travel and mapmaking. With them they have skulls engraved in ritual Styinn, describing the safest way to Glaondi Yejon and the craniums of great sages with now outdated invitations from Afbyldi.

Ritual Styinn is an artform where placement and form matter more than a clear continuity, learning all the subtle signs of where the next paragraph will be can take years. Usually it varies greatly depending on the context of the message, on a map description the hard and dangerous passages might be placed inside the eyesockets or behind the upper jaw, reflecting their inaccessibility compared to other parts of the journey. Decoding a ritual skull for the first time is seen as a great honor amongst those using the practice.


In Mamut one group of Ugglos travel along the coast, until they see the divide between the two land-seas. There they sail in until the reach a great structure, searching for Closed-fist Mudmore.

Continuing further south, past a massive forest they eventually find a city beyond their wildest imagination. Unsure of who could lead such a place they give the skull to a very tall human, more finely clothed than the others.

The other group instead travel inlands only to get caught in a trap, saved by a group of scaly creatures they leave one of the skulls behind.

Roaming the land aimlessly they eventually find a walking rock. Marvelling at this wonder they decide that such a mighty creature must be important in some manner and invite them to Glaondi Yejon.


The group reaching Tarandi has an easier time finding recipients as the first place they set foot on proves to be the home of the water controlling humans.

Further south a unified nation seems to stretch on forever along the coast, deciding to travel further inland instead they leave a skull behind with the natives, gesticulating for it to be taken to someone important.

Motioning their way towards the stars landing they are surprised when the fireworshippers and star callers turn out to be in the same place. Debating for a while they decided to give such a powerful nation two invitations, in a gesture of goodwill.
Styinor is a stony city flowing along the ridge of Troustur Hreggur, situated in the northern half of Glaondi Yejon the nearest port lies about a day’s travel on foot away. The buildings are small and rectangular in shape and from afar the staggered layout seems disconnected, with certain sections walled of without an entrance but what rises from the ridge is only half of the tale. The old community of Troustur Hreggur lies beneath, a twisting maze of nooks, crannies and narrow tunnels. Newer and more stable tunnels serve as straight walkways between different parts of the upper city however the differences of new and old bleed together in more than one place and a wrong turn often leads into the haphazardly web of original tunnels below.

Lightning in tunnels is provided by pyroemerald/smaragds, they glow for a long time if they are kept anywhere but in cold darkness. The tunnels both cold and dark and often damp too. As the city has grown the practice of basking the crystals in the sun during the day has created the plains of dusk, open marketplaces during the night they light up with countless teal specks before people collect the rocks for their nightly routines.

Hoyrrobryikkun is by far the largest duskplain, surrounded by a low wall and an inner rim of houses, where every merchant worth their salts sleep, other important Ugglos have their own living quarters in the tunnels of Bryikkun (https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/794871932088221769/810958155105566720/20210215_203622.jpg) below. A path equally parts uneven stairs and roads leads down towards the nearest port, anyone entering the plaza for the first time will notice a tall tower without any windows under construction and a thick building of massive boulders on the left side, usually guarded by a pair of beefy Ugglos from different guilds.

A quarter of the plaza has been sectioned of with large tarps stretched between stone pillars An, so far, unnecessary precaution in the clear and chilly spring night. Under the tarps a group of ugglos are working franticly, carrying out large tables with the usual refreshments, raw fish in seagrass. A recent addition are a few cooked crabs and large bouquets of flowers. The rest of the sandy plaza is bristling with merchant activity, stands being raised and wares displayed on rugs, leaving the minimum of room for customers to walk. Most of the other Ugglos there seems largely uninterested in the merchants, instead focusing their gaze on the path.

The last forerunners from Afbyld’s decade old mission had returned little over a week ago, re-telling stories of their discoveries in the land-seas. Most Ugglos had seen a human by this point but the tension of meeting other new nations could almost be touched in the air. Unlike other nights when the market only become lit by a few smaragds and the nightsky after dusk had fallen it now emanated a faint cyan light from a multitude of gems stuck to pillars, stands, laid on rugs and tied around wrists.

Ferirbadi, a young Ugglo on the verge of adulthood stood near the gate, at the top of the path. He was surrounded by a retinue of older Sagus, clinging to their pointy “walking sticks”. Dressed in a tunica embroided with Styinn runes he had a thoughtful look in his eyes and greeted everyone passing into Hoyrrobryikkun, to the elders’ dismay. Supposed to be a figurehead they were no longer sure who manipulated whom and questioning the youngling infront of the other guilds would be unwise. For some reason peers constantly surrounded Ferirbadi these days.



Londkannuaur is pacing under the tarps. Having travelled all over the isles and even personally met the Uhtsi his presence at this event, crammed with people, were not optional. Despite a life at sea the years had been kind to him and he still walked with a hop in every step. Wanderlust still intact all it would take for him to go off on one last quest were a fanciful tale to chase until its end.

Hof, a masterful smith and well-versed in the art of Somtvinno stands in a small hut, built on the side of the guarded building. She’s dressed in a thick leather tunica and have blister marks on her forearms. White tools glimmering with a faint green light hang from the walls, and only the more well dressed Ugglos seem interested in her goods.

Holfviti is coming up from a small tunnel and walks around on the crowded plaza with a large basket, trying to catch glimpses of the visitors. Believing in the old ways his fervours devotion lies behind the recent growth of the Daezirn Integrity Cult. Their beliefs are even more sceptic towards any land-dwellers than other Ugglo’s and he is sure to make his opinions well-known, if he gets the oportunity.

Stone-breaker, a fuzzy bumblebee three feet long is flying around a large copper bucket under the tarps, while a Sagu watches her with a truthseer at his side. They seem to be in a deep discussion over Daezirn-history and Holfviti is intent on listening, while accidentally walking by the couple multiple times. (Played by Xanxost)

Lady of Fire is a younger bumblebee. She is currently buzzing around Hofmeyjon with all the enthusiasm her two feet of length can muster. Hofmeyjon, an Ugglo on the shorter side is dancing wildly, while blowing into a thick blade of grass, producing a piping sound. Hofmeyjon sometimes gets nudged by Lady of Fire when she takes a step out of rhythm and they both seem to enjoy their weird performance. (Played by Xanxost)




Auction
Buy an artifact, bidding ends with the war-deadline and is wheighted at about 70/30 between offers and acting like a decent person.
Effects (Approved by Dark): +2 to buyouts or +1 to resist raids across dark blue borders, use reasonable targeting.
Feel free to co-operate with offfers. There is only one artifact available though. Artifact name to be decided/workshopped with the buyer and be delivered via dip action next round.

Born at the right time Hof was one of the first Ugglos able to pick up the real art of smithing after centuries of struggles. Raised on tales of legendary smiths from old time, forging masterful pieces worthy of heroes she is looking to do more than just engrave simple tools in liquid flames. It would require more resources than she has at hand objects ready to tell a story, seeing the intricately engraved skulls some of the visitors are carrying she hatches a plan. Raising her voice over the murmur of the crowd she announces.

Visitors from far away lands come here and see the enchanted weapons of our forge! Glimmering in the dark they will never let you become cold and though they seem britle they are as sturdy as any metal. I could turn your invitations into objects with properties beyond your wildest dreams. Come here and see the wonders of Somtvinno for yourself!

While Hof appreciates knowledge as much as the next Ugglo what she's really after are objects of the old world for her own studies and a bit of good materials to create her own mythical items.



Explore Troustur Hreggur
A Ugglo settlement holds much more than meets the eyes at first, with secrets hidden behind every corner for those that know where to look.

Risks: Strained IC relationships, especially if entering guarded areas. Sneaking around is expected, getting caught is a sin.
Rewards:Ways to mess with or even change the direction of the Ugglos, a few require mechanical actions to act on.

Mechanics: Use intrigue with the event rules (https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/794871932088221769/811569742791311360/20210217_130811.jpg). Outright noes are reserved for sneaking 30ft ents into 7ft high tunnels and the likes. Normal bonuses for investigations apply, e.g. those with TSR rep 2 or higher get a +2 bonus. Answers will to a limited degree depend on the investigation fluff.

Target Numbers
Investigate the market, TN 6, open OoC knowledge.
Enter narrow tunnels, TN 10, D.I.C knowledge.
Enter Bryikkun, TN 12 (8 for Daezirn players), internal politics.
Find Bryikkun Hall, TN 14, further politics
Go deeper (requires the character to be in Bryikkun or the tunnels), TN 18, hidden lore.

Other opportunities might arise during the event.



Dance Off
The Bozuls communicate with a combination of buzzing and dance. An odd form of talking for most others it’s often quite the event when someone tries and a small circle of spectators have formed around the Lady of Fire while others try to mimic her speech to the best of their abilities.

Roll Diplomacy per the event rules (https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/794871932088221769/811569742791311360/20210217_130811.jpg), to try and follow the bumbelbee’s movements.
<TN12: the contestant stumbles around as the dancing becomes too complex.
TN12: the contestant manages to pull off an impressive dance, to the delight of the spectators.
TN16 the contestant “buzzes” successfully while dancing and learns a simple phrase in Bozul



Other

Londkannuaur is currently limited to Daezirn only, unless quest jank is used to get him to Mamut with a Scrim hero.

Murder games?

[xanxosttheslaad]

The Ugglos standing with Ferirbadi near the gate hear a faint, high pitched buzz from down the path, which slowly grows louder. After a few minutes, they see a pair of Bozuls, one larger than the other, each clutching a rope woven from grass fibers. The rope holds up the three corners of a large wax-coated copper dish, a cycloid profile about three feet in diameter. The Bucket is heaped with coal, part of the regular gifts to the Smiaurskotor, and the load takes a toll on the fuzzy flying merchants holding it aloft, as they bob up and down and quickly flutter their wings. Upon reaching Ferirbadi and his entourage, they gently set down the Bucket before landing and collapsing to the ground. After a few moments of rest, they slowly begin beating their wings and rise into the air, performing a lethargic rendition of what would be recognized by attendees of the gathering at Bryikkun as the Bozul greeting (https://flat.io/score/60154b625708dd25e6105dba-bozul-greeting?sharingKey=b08b6adaf21867cc5d14842d036a57 e16fcf277eb3bce16f063010ea906f925594be3cfda9124e0c 48c9b804edec62dca27dbc34d63739023813678562e82a16).
Greeting, Ugglo friends! We are Stone-breaker and Lady of Fire, and bring to your brilliant marketplace gifts of coal, and secrets!
And indeed, upon closer inspection, the underside of the large copper Bucket they had been carrying bears intricate inscriptions in what appears to be Styinn, protected by a coating of wax. An attempt to read it with a cursory glance is fruitless, however, as it seems to use some kind of cipher.

[Torv]

Ferirbadi waits for the Bozuls to finish and takes a step forward at the end of their performance, spins around, relaxes his shoulders and touch them with the corresponding ear in quick succession before speaking.

Welcome flying friends! I am Ferirbadi, caretaker of this place and your gifts are most appreciated. The other guests are not expected far a little while longer, but you are welcome to stay in Bryikkun until they arrive, as always. Some from the Skota-guild have begun collecting the flowers on our island, I find the Yerorras’ purple charm most intriguing and hope it will be to your satisfaction, should you find the chance to taste it.

Taking a moment to inspect the reddish-brown bucket Ferirbadi scratches himself behind his right ear.

This is truly a most fascinating object, I have not seen script like this in quite a while. Let me send for Gomoll, a Sagu mystorinn. Perhaps they could tell you more about this, in the meantime do enjoy the market there’s sure to be a thing or two that will catch your attention.

[Silent_Interim]

So far, the Scrim have not come far into the Daezirn Isles. Though a few have ventured as far as the Westernmost region that is to become a part of the Unity, before this day, none had dared to come so far from safe, solid land. They are an unknown beyond Mamut, perhaps known by the Dreamspeakers, but not by anyone else. They know this; and as they come, they seek to make a lasting first impression.

The fleet of ships that bears the Thunspeaker is not large, but it is ostentatious. Employing strange sails of an unfamiliar but undeniably effective shape and style, guided by a superior knowledge of the heavens that allows them to sail far more effectively across the open waters, and laden with gifts of silver, emeralds, and precious copper and bronze, the handful of ships cut a path to the unfamiliar island that leaves confusion, wonderment, and significant wealth in their wake.

When they arrive in the city, the Thunspeaker is heralded by both drums and their bodyguard, a strange, silent white-furred creature the height of a human, clad in bronze armor, wielding a sharp spear with a head of the same material. The one known as Steady-Hand leads the procession of Scrim along, scanning the crowds for danger. Behind her walks the Thunspeaker themself, a slate humanoid standing a little over seven feet in height, with precious emeralds pressed in across the whole of their body, and silver inlay highlighting some of the delicate and intricate carvings running across their stone. Slightly behind and to either side of them walk two more Scrim, a little shorter and made of basalt, each with a set of drums that they play rhythmically and loudly. Behind those two follows a procession of Scrim servants, carrying a variety of vases, boxes, and sacks, all obviously heavy by their sheer size, though the servants do not seem to be perturbed by their heavy burdens.

As the procession approaches the gate, Steady-Hand falls back a little to walk in step with the Thunspeaker. Having observed the young Ugglo greeting the new arrivals, they steer towards him, coming to a halt with the procession trailing a short distance back from the gate itself. Within a moment of the leaders of the procession coming to a stop, the drumming stops too, and with it, the rest of procession takes one final step before standing firm.

When Nithor speaks, it is with a surprisingly strong grasp of the local language, although their accent is definite and strong. "It was both a pleasant surprise and a great honour to receive an invitation to visit this land. I am Thunspeaker Nithor, and I speak for all my land. I come bearing gifts; a mere taste of what my people have to offer. To whom do I have the honour of speaking?

[Torv]

Rocky Showboats
Ferirbadi had gently asked Londkannuaur about his past multiple times, and read most of the journals from his time in Mamut. That catamaran could have rivalled any mural made in the past decade, was it not for its inevitable decay. He knew about the stone people, not thralls of the Uzii but a mighty people of their own. Still the procession making its way up from the valley made the records seem bleak in comparison.

As they come closer it’s clear that the Scrim has held nothing back coming here, the other implications being near unfathomable for most Ugglos, just getting here in one piece over such a great distance is a feat in and of itself.

Stepping forward to meet a most beautifully engraved and decorated rock person Ferirbadi listened to their greeting, not keen on letting two wrongs make a right a truthseer stood at his side. Before responding he cranes his head back and locks eyes with the spot that supposedly holds the creature’s sight. Then he bows his upper back but rotates and tilts his head in such a way that eye contact is maintained throughout the movement, ending with the chin above the spine. His titles still hold little meaning but Ferirbadi puts on his most impressive voice, with all four feet of his might.

Welcome to Glow-Rock (Ferirbadi gives the truthseer a look before he continues) Thunspeaker Nithor! I am Ferirbadi, Brudohous of the Smiaurskotor and Husvordthur of this city. Your gifts are most appreciated our neighbouring nations have much more interest in the material than us, but they too are here at the market. To me the grandest gift is the intricacy of your engravings and the flowing patterns of your emeralds, it has been a long time since my eye feasted on such complete and unison art in the open. You may even rival our art of Somtvinno, though in a different manner.

Your gifts are indeed grand, but I still hope you will find something of interest at the market, the Isles are sure to contain something you have not encountered before. Should you wish for it food and housing will be provided for you and the entourage during the entirety of your stay in Hoyrrobryikkun. In my role of Husvordthur; Welcome to Styinor!



Dance-Off!
Hofmyejon had fun. Like real fun. The Bozuls were fantastic. Swaying wildly, she blew as hard as she could into her grass blade while watching Lady of Fire for clues. Hearing a raise in the bee’s pitch she took it as a sign of approval and launched into the air from a basket, gracefully waiving her arms in the night breeze. Only to crash into a stone pillar before she could land and finish her move. Hofmyejon laid on the ground for a while, when she stood up she offered Lady of Fire a bouquet of Yerorras as thanks for the lesson, before stumbling towards Bryikkun, her head pulsating like it had a heartbeat of its own.

[mystic1110]

Retirement suited Ces just fine . . . bathed, smiling even, the old man arrived at the island intent on exploring the far reaches of the world in his dotage. Mamut held too many bad memories for him and besides, he earned a break. He arrived on the island with some entrepreneuring merchants from Kursaal and jumped off the boat with surprising lithness to land on the beach. On the sand Ces looked out into the ocean and imagined that day with the Storm Bird and its exhortations. He shook his head, his long white hair flowing with the motion - blight was a young man's game. Ces looked into the sun, his poor hand shading his eyes. If only some one could create some type of shade to cover ones eyes so one could stare at this gorgeous shining ocean without squinting.

Walking towards the city, the people reminded Ces of that stranger he fought almost two decades ago. Looking back at that tournament he knew he considered himself an old man even back then and laughed at the thought that he would grow to be as old as he was now. Ces tried to remember that creature's name. It was a long time ago. Regardless he walked behind the merchants as they entered Styinor and then Hoyrrobryikkun. The Merchants did what merchants do, wine greetings, palm gestures. Ces instead scanned the crowd for a familiar face. Unfortunately, not having been around these people before their strangeness made them all seem alike. He shrugged and wandered off the merchants intent to make the most of his remaining life and enjoy his time in strange yet pleasant lands.

[Torv]

Reunion of Champions

Londkannuaur gazed over the crowd, so many people. He had gotten a sense of it in Mamut but here it stood out clearly, the Islanders were short in comparison to the land-sears, a few of them nearly twice as tall as the average Ugglo. Could it be? Surely not? He had caught a glimpse of something familiar, while most humans looked similar this one did not. The normally smooth face was ridden with scars to the one side, sure there were a few more wrinkles and the man had a great white mane now but Londkannuaur would never forget the face that brought him to deaths edge, only to laugh it of moments later.

Making his way throughout the crowd he pushed himself ahead of Ces and approached the man from the front, touching ears to shoulders while doing so. Locking eyes and ensuring that he had been seen he introduced himself to the harsh fighter, thankful that the Avicennians had figured out the fundamentals of the language when he had not.

Welcome to Glow-Rock Champion! Long has it been since we fought and hopefully it shall be even longer to the next time. But my debt remains, you thought me the way of Mahmut and I told you nothing of the Isles in return. I have earnt the name Know-Land here, so let me bridge the gap in knowledge during your stay, would that be sufficient to consider the debt erased? There is more to see and read here than what would be easy to fit into a lifetime, if one knows where to look.

[mystic1110]

It would be hard to say that Londkannuaur was a familiar face - the people were too strange for Ces to be able to tell what exactly distinguished any of them from each other. However, Ces understood the words having studied with the Merchants over the long journey. His mouth breaking into a wide smile, Ces extended his arms to his side palms up in a long ingrained practice of greeting from his tenure as Sherriff of Kursaal.

Know-Land! Glad to meet you again! And I was not Champion, I was just another loser that got further than you my friend.

Ces laughs as he pieces together the entire speech.

And enough about debt. Debt is for merchants and gamblers and I am not the former and I am no longer the latter.

Ces comes forward and extends his hand towards Londkannuaur inviting him to shake it, not thinking if that's even a thing people did on these isles.

And I have no need for knowledge - I stood face to face with the Storm Bird that may as well have been a god and was a fool then, spitting in its face instead of asking for wisdom. Too late for me to learn and too late to act on that learning. No, instead if you must repay me, talk to me as a friend and show me the sights of your beautiful isle.

[OmnivorousOgre]

Two visitors from the far south disembarked from one of the Scrim ships. While they had first come to Scrim lands to combine what they’d learned of the peoples to Mamut’s west, they had now tagged along on a trip through the treacherous waters to the east. Firmly wrapped in fur cloaks, they were clearly not used to the climate. Okeneth and Aidha, Karra’s youngest half-orc, half-elf children, had arrived where no Koxrrit had ever set foot before.

The two approached Ferirbadi some time after Nithor’s grand entrance. While the Scrim had taught them some words of the local languages during their voyage, they still very much needed help from the translators present. “Greetings! I’m Aidha, of the Exkerreth clan from Rankalore.” Even though she’d been doing it for the past four years now, it still felt exciting to be allowed to share her name instead of just her clan. “And this is my brother Okeneth.” After waiting for a moment, she jabbed him with an elbow. “Greetings.”

It was only after speaking that Aidha realized how unlike anything she’d seen before the creature greeting them was. She started circling him and examining him from different angles. Her brother was having none of it and grabbed her by the arm. “Don’t be rude, let’s go.” Once in the market, Aidha rushed around haphazardly, already halfway to the next stall before anyone could even finish their sales pitch. Okeneth on the other hand carefully examined the wares of each merchant before moving on to the next one.

[Torv]

Old Friends
It had been over a decade since their duel, after that Londkannuaur had stayed in Swampum, while rebuilding his catamaran. They had so many strange traditions there, as Ces extended a hand it belatedly triggered a memory. Extending his own hand he grabbed the backside of Ces’ and shook it with a firm grip.

You might consider yourself a loser but I’m pretty sure I’d still be beaten by most of Mamut in your duels. Consider the debt forgotten, it’s customary to trade over every piece of information here, I mostly find it a chore but it’s good to keep in mind when haggling.

Few would call this isle beautiful, but you are here at a good time, in the winters the freezing winds howl between the ridges and in the summer the rain pours sideways. Still, in moments like this there’s a certain beauty to it all.

Tell me where you would like to go, Hof is over there with her glowing knives and I believe our northern neighbours, the Bozuls, are giving their own version of speaking lessons, then there is Miajo Hregger a few days travel south with its ancient murals. Should you stay longer there’s unique lifeforms to see on all the surrounding isles too. Perhaps we could speak of this Storm Bird and God then.




Greetings?
A strange couple of humans were approaching Ferirbadi, as Aidha greeted him he tilted his head back and looked into her eyes. Then when he was about to bow she began walking around him, making for an odd twisting of his neck while he tried to bow, stand still and keep eye contact at the same time. Before he figured it out the other one grabbed Aidha and they were of to the market. Peculiar.
He hoped they would find what they were looking for, there was plenty to see after all and the finest raw fish they could offer.

[mystic1110]

The Old Man smiles

Let us just walk along your beach and talk. I expect there will be plenty of time for glowing knives and trying and failing to teach me a new language.

[Silent_Interim]

Rocky Showboats
Ferirbadi had gently asked Londkannuaur about his past multiple times, and read most of the journals from his time in Mamut. That catamaran could have rivalled any mural made in the past decade, was it not for its inevitable decay. He knew about the stone people, not thralls of the Uzii but a mighty people of their own. Still the procession making its way up from the valley made the records seem bleak in comparison.

As they come closer it’s clear that the Scrim has held nothing back coming here, the other implications being near unfathomable for most Ugglos, just getting here in one piece over such a great distance is a feat in and of itself.

Stepping forward to meet a most beautifully engraved and decorated rock person Ferirbadi listened to their greeting, not keen on letting two wrongs make a right a truthseer stood at his side. Before responding he cranes his head back and locks eyes with the spot that supposedly holds the creature’s sight. Then he bows his upper back but rotates and tilts his head in such a way that eye contact is maintained throughout the movement, ending with the chin above the spine. His titles still hold little meaning but Ferirbadi puts on his most impressive voice, with all four feet of his might.

Welcome to Glow-Rock (Ferirbadi gives the truthseer a look before he continues) Thunspeaker Nithor! I am Ferirbadi, Brudohous of the Smiaurskotor and Husvordthur of this city. Your gifts are most appreciated our neighbouring nations have much more interest in the material than us, but they too are here at the market. To me the grandest gift is the intricacy of your engravings and the flowing patterns of your emeralds, it has been a long time since my eye feasted on such complete and unison art in the open. You may even rival our art of Somtvinno, though in a different manner.
Your gifts are indeed grand, but I still hope you will find something of interest at the market, the Isles are sure to contain something you have not encountered before. Should you wish for it food and housing will be provided for you and the entourage during the entirety of your stay in Hoyrrobryikkun. In my role of Husvordthur; Welcome to Styinor!

Nithor bows. "I am honored that you find my artistry so impressive. All of what you see upon my body is my own work, though of course I have the privilege of access to great stocks of the fine materials I have used for my carving. My true passion lies in the telling of tales, though; I hope that I will have the opportunity to regale some of your fine folks with a ballad or two. Regardless, I have no doubt that we will find much of interest in your markets. I gratefully accept your offer of food and housing; much of my entourage remained aboard our ships, and I have many who would take great pleasure in resting on land for a few nights before we must return."

After the conversation is done, Nithor leads the procession into the market. After a brief and silent conversation with the Thunspeaker, Steady-Hand peels away from the rest of the group to explore the market alone, though not long after she is gone Nithor instructs a half-dozen Scrim to follow, at a respectful distance.

What she finds takes her breath away. A circle of their strange hosts, surrounding another strange creature- but what a creature it is. Graceful, majestic, with wondrous stripes, cutting through the air in a dance unknown to her... but this is more than a dance. There are patterns, more than patterns, and she unconsciously begins signing at it, in what feels like a weak imitation of this, the obviously superior means of communicating.

After a few minutes of watching, discerning the pattern, she flips her spear over and plants its point in the ground. Hands now free, she roughly pushes her way through the circle. One of the grey creatures stumbles away from its flying, wondrous dancing partner, apparently exhausted from the dance. She pays it no mind, stepping forward to face the strange flying thing.

When she begins to dance, it is in counterpoint, not imitation. There can be no hope of repeating the patterns, so why try? Instead, she remains mostly on the ground, pirouetting and occasionally leaping. Her arms sign nonsense as she does, controlled patterns of nothing at all, as she does her best to interpret the dance she's following to something suitable to her utterly insufficient frame. Something is lost in translation, but less, far less than when she needs to speak to the clumsy, loud oafs who cannot abide her silence long enough to learn its shades. This, though, the combination of dance and buzz- for the first time, she thinks she can imagine those sounds as words, and not merely noise. Her throat hums, though quietly, in the best imitation she can manage of the buzzing sounds.

When she is done, it is as simple as that. The dance comes to a natural rhythm of completion, and she signs what she hopes will be understood as thanks to the strange, beautiful creature, before striding over to her spear and moving on to explore the market further.