Sunday, March 30, 2003

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Southeastern Bowl

This area of the bowl is the highest point of the bowl floor; from here, it slopes down and to the northwest, spilling out to the plateau below the wide gap in the Weyr rim to the west. Various tunnels here lead into the Weyr's inner caverns; the living caverns, hatching grounds, and main Weyr tunnel all branch off from here. To the west lie the stables where the Weyr's runners are housed. There is also a stone stairway that leads up to the Weyrleader's weyrs.

It is a summer afternoon.

Perched on rocky crags about the bowl are four firelizards.

Bronze Nhamarath, green Fellrath, blue Celth, brown Banoth, brown Morath, brown Tangreth, green Kitiarath, green Phirath, bronze Bydelth, brown Ftoranth, and brown Rilskiath are here.

You see Gritty-Grassy Green Handprints here.

Thistia is here.

Lyria stands leaning against her dragon, scratching her head, looking up at the sky, then looking back towards the caverns. Thistia is spotted. "You!" Yes. her. "You the one who wanted to come firestone collecting with me?" A closer peer at the candidate,"Oh yes. Thistia, right? We got you from the minehold, didn't we?" Yes, yes they did, in fact. "You're good at lifting sacks. You can only come if you help me carry the firestone sacks." There. Deal's laid out on the table.

Thistia walks out of the caverns, heading towards the beach, her usual source of solace and quiet when she needs it. She stops, smiling at Lyria and then listens to the deal. A grin spreads across her face. "Will you do me a favor, while we're there?"

Lyria raises an eyebrow. "Maybe..." Lyri can be suspicious of somethings. However, a favor for Thistia warrants a favor in return. Although that's not necessarily useful since she /is/ a candidate and can simply be told to do things. Ah well. Lyri will have to mark it down for some later date. "What's the favor?"

Thistia smiles. "Well, there's someone from the minecraft who I'd really like to talk to. If he agrees, can he come visit? We'll find him a ride back, later on. And he can help us carry the firestone." She looks hopefully at Lyria, waiting to hear the answer. It seems like a reasonable deal to her.

Lyria nods satisfactorily. "Sure. Ski's a big boy. He won't mind the extra weight." She gives the dragon a look. Then turns back to Thistia. "No, he'll be fine. I can't see why not. Especially if he helps carry firestone." So Lyri slaps a hand against the dragon's hide,"Well grab a jacket and c'mon then." Off to the minehold!

Thistia grins, nodding. She hurries to grab a jacket, running back towards the rider and dragon and shouldering the jacket on, fastening it tightly. "Sounds great," she says with a grin, waiting for her chance to mount up after Lyria. "And carrying firestone is one of the less painful chores I can think of."

-travel spam-

You glide down for a landing.

Miner Courtyard

Not especially large, the smooth stone area is still big enough to accommodate several dragons landing or taking off without danger from the cliffs. The ground is big square flagstones, cut from pale granite and remarkably hard wearing. However, at the midpoint of the courtyard is a creation of a master stoneworker - a centerpiece to draw the eye. It is a globe; a relatively stylized model of Pern, done with intricate inlay work that has covered the entire orb with semi-precious stones that gleam in the light - the high polish the work of dutiful apprentices. In diameter, it would be approximately ten feet (three meters).

Looking northwards, people can see an imposing granite bluff with various openings cut into it - which is the MineHold itself. Nevertheless, glance west and you see the ground drops away steeply - a carefully paved wagon track leads down towards Tillek Hold proper. To the south is nothing but rough rocky outcrops, sharp-edged and dangerous land to traverse. The east is also rocky but a well-trodden path winds through the outcrops and up over a ridge.

It is a summer afternoon.

Gliding above is a blue firelizard.

You see WatchWher's Den, Minecraft Booth, MineHold's Mind-Boggling Magoozle, Display Stall, and Penguin Peach here.

Sainin is here.

With a bob of creamy auburn head, Rilskiath offers a gentlemanly arm to assist you in dismounting.

With a bob of creamy auburn head, Rilskiath offers a gentlemanly arm to assist Thistia in dismounting.

Thistia blinks as she climbs down, seeing Sainin in front of her. "Oh...um...I thought I'd have to come find you," she says inadequately, not really explaining anything at all by this surprised outburst.

Lyria lightly hops down from her dragon's neck, looking around the minehold, calling over her shoulder,"Okay, Thistia. You know this place better than I do where's the fire- Hi." She also blinks at Sainin. "Are you the one who she," a thumb is pointed at Thistia,"said would help carry firestone?"

Sainin stands there, eyes rather wide and more on the dragon than on the two that have dismounted from it. Slowly he manages to bring his eyes from the dragon to the two. "Wha.. umm, firestone?" he absently nods his head. "I suppose so." he agrees, eyes fixing upon Thistia in a look of confusion.

A slow grin spreads across Thistia's features as she notices the confusion in Sainin's eyes. She nods, very business-like, to Lyria, then turns to Sainin. "Right, this is him. Sainin, meet Lyria. Lyria, Journeyman Sainin. Now, Sai, if you'll just grab some of the firestone, we'll grab the rest and we can all be on our way." Eyes glint as she tries to get this one past him, waiting to see if he'll catch the 'all' in that sentence.

Lyria nods shortly, figuring Sainin had already been let in on every thing so the little rider just looks around for where they can pick up the firestone and be on their way.

Sainin has begun to serious wonder why he ever chose to specialize in the smelly rock. he should have know it would bring him face to face more often with these riders and their dragons. Taking a deep breath, he nods slowly and points over towards the path to the quarry a little. "Its all ready..." he mentions, leading the way. Anything to get the dragon out of his immediate sight.

Thistia nods to the quarry, smiling at Sainin. "Yes, I know where the quarry is. But I promised Lyria here that you would help us with the shipment.' She takes a step closer, putting one hand gently on his arm. "Please?" she says softly, trying to make this last question quiet enough that the rider won't pick up on the problem.

Sainin blinks a bit as he glances towards Thistia, though he continues to lead the way. "I can help you with the loading Thistia. Its what I'm supposed to do anyways." from the growth of the stench, its rather obvious that the three have found the sacks of the firestone load.

Thistia nods slowly. "And will you come back to the Weyrs with me?" she asks softly. "Just to talk, for a bit...We'll get you back here before you're needed. And we could use the help with the firestone." Before he has time to answer, she's moving towards the firestone, faster than he is, to pick up the first sack.

Lyria grabs her own sack of firestone, hovering juuust close enough to overhear a bit of conversation and still look like she's not listening and hasn't heard anything and she just hums slightly. Helpful dragon that he is, Rilskiath edges closer to them. Less of a walk back, not that it was very far in the first place, but still.

Sainin follows after, to get his own bag of the firestone. Perhaps, if he concentrates on that, then he doesn't have to worry about what she just asked him to do... his eyes though find the dragon who has moved a bit nearer, causing him to stumble a step or two. Him, go to the weyr? He knows they talked about it before, but....

Thistia stands next to Sainin as he stumbles, offering support. She stays silent; she knows he heard her, she'll just have to be patient for a minute or two and see what he has to say. One sack gets dumped next to the helpful dragon, and she goes back for another.

Lyria stays next to her dragon, attaching the sacks onto his straps, waiting for the other two and the rest of the firestone.

Sainin gets only so close to the dragon before dumping his sack there and moving to quickly catch back up with Thistia, his eyes glancing over the rider for a moment as he does so. "Thistia." he calls to her, before hushing his voice. "You know how I feel about dragons. Even if I did agree to go to help, that... that..." he points back towards the dragon, though he can't seem to finish his sentence.

Thistia stops as she hears him call her name, turning to face him. She listens to Sainin, then nods solemnly. "Sai, I know. But you said you'd try. And...well, I want to talk. And I can't leave the Weyr for long. It's your choice." She smiles at him, looking a little apprehensive as she heads back for another sack, waiting to hear his response.

Lyria takes this time to look around. Hm. Minehold. Nice place. Her dragon, however, slips his head around a bit closer to Sainin and Thistia, looking curious, and perfectly friendly.

Sainin moves quickly to catch up to thistia and to somehow place in between himself and the dragon who seems to have gotten curious. "Fine.. I'll try." he says quickly before he can talk himself out of it, which would be quite easy for him to do. "But you better not laugh..." he adds, almost as a whisper.

Thistia turns around, eyes widening in surprise. "Really?" she asks incredulously, smiling hugely. "Thank you!" Surprised and very pleased, she whirls around, braids bouncing, to grab one of the last two sacks, smiling cheerily at Lyria as she passes the rider.

Lyria grins back at Thistia. Why is she grinning again? Don't know. But it can't hurt, right? Yeah. She straps the last couple sacks on,"All set, then?"

Thistia looks over at Sainin, smiling, and nods. "All set," she says, holding her hand out towards him.

Sainin sighs as he reaches out to take a hold of Thistia's hand. His eyes are torn between watching the dragon and the rider... He just knows that he's going to regret this in some way or other.

Thistia smiles, squeezing Sai's hand gently as she turns to Lyria, waiting for her to mount up so they can follow. "Thanks again for the ride," she murmurs to the rider before turning around to give Sai an encouraging smile.

Lyria has gotten pretty good at recognizing signs of dragon-phobia. Or at least being scared of them. So a mental note is sent to Rilskiath to be extra still. Lyria easily mounts up and lends a hand down towards Thista,"Hey, no problem. That took a lot less time than it usually would with just me carrying sacks."

Sainin places himself strategically behind Thistia, he's not hiding.. honest! Though he does seem quite tense.

Thistia grins and nods agreement, letting Sai hide behind her until Lyria's hand invites her to mount up. She releases Sainin's hand for just a minute so she can take Lyria's and mount up. She looks back down at Sainin and offers him her hand again, both in mental support and physical aid in mounting up.

Lyria checks over her shoulder, and checks the bags so everything's secure. "Alright then. Ready? Going between," she gives...oh... a /second's/ warning before they pop off into nothing.

-traveling spam-

Central Bowl

Looking toward the sky from the center of Ista Weyr's bowl, you view the five towering pinnacles of the Weyr rim that appear to reach into the clouds. The bowl floor slopes gently upward to the southeast, where various tunnels lead to the hatching grounds, ground weyrs, and living caverns. Across the bowl to the northeast are the weyrling barracks and training grounds. The Weyr's artificial waterfall sheets down along the northern wall of the Bowl, its pool concealed at the base of the bowl by a cloud of mist. West, the entire wall of the bowl has been blown out by some long-distant eruption, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean.

It is a summer afternoon.

Gliding about are two firelizards.

Bronze Umeth, green Estsanth, green Almirath, brown Djarreth, and brown Rilskiath are here.

Currently the crunchy cookie center between Rilskiath's chewy caramel and creamy chocolate ridges, Thistia smiles back at Sainin, shouting as loudly as she can, "That's the worst part over, now." She holds on to Lyria, glancing around.

Currently the crunchy cookie center between Rilskiath's chewy caramel and creamy chocolate ridges, Sainin eyes the ground longingly as he watches the rider dimount, though he still keeps a tight hold on Thistia.

Currently the crunchy cookie center between Rilskiath's chewy caramel and creamy chocolate ridges, Thistia smiles, turning around to look back at Sainin. "There...we're here." She grins reassuringly. "Only you'll have to get off first, 'cause you're holding on to me tight enough that I can't get off first."

Currently the crunchy cookie center between Rilskiath's chewy caramel and creamy chocolate ridges, Sainin slowly loosens his grip as he moves to try and follow the rider, perhaps moving a bit too hastily.

Sainin stumbles to the ground, landing in a heap near the dragon.

Thistia slides down without any trouble, smiling at Sainin then grinning at Lyria. "Thank you. We can take the firestone, from here, if you have somewhere you needed to be."

Pendren shakes his little boo-tay down from the western bowl.

Lyria blinks at the two behind her. Blinkblink. Oh and then Sainin falls. "Are you okay?" she asks, walking over to him and offering a hand up. "Ooh please do. " Even if she doesn't have somewhere she needs to be, she can probably come up with something.

Thistia nods, smiling encouragingly at Sainin. "You all right?" she echoes, before nodding over at Lyria.

Sainin frowns as he scrambles a little away from the rider, even though she only seems to want to help him get up. Eventually he manages to get up, eyes though go to the ground. he's fine.. yep.

Thistia sighs softly, shaking her head. "C'mon, Sai...grab a sack or two and we'll get you out of the bowl and into the Weyr.

Pendren scoots himself out into the rather trying heat of fading day. Looking perfectly innocent, and straying right on up to Lyria, Pendren goes about the prelims to a good groveling. Ahem. "Lyria? Could we-- I mean I-- I mean we-- ask you a question?" Throat is cleared, eyes attempt to not look too shifty. Twitch.

Sainin sets his mind to the task that he was brought here for, and moves for two of the nearer sacks. Hoisting them up, he turns to thistia and waits for her to lead the way, keeping quiet and not focusing on his surroundings.

Thistia leads the way accordingly, smiling to Pendren on her way past. "Thanks, Lyria," she says again.

Thistia saunters, hips swaying gently, to the Southeastern Bowl.

Yuri slips quietly in from the Southeastern Bowl.

Sainin walks to the Southeastern Bowl.

Lyria waves a hand to Thistia and goes to lean against the flank of her dragon. Which she does. And then Pendren appears. A suspicious eyebrow is raised. He sounds like her asking one of her brothers something, or something like that. "Uh....If you like..."

Kaefe walks in from the Southeastern Bowl.

Yasmine walks in from the Southeastern Bowl.

Pendren peeks 'round at fellow candidates now starting to assemble before clearing his throat and continuing. Sweaty palms? Cheek twitch? Occational nervous cough? All part of Pendren-- nothing to get suspicious about. Heh.. heh heh.. ahem. "Well, the four of us were doing laundry when we ran into-- into--" Blatent panic. "S'neak, and S'neak said there were some packages for the barracks down at the hold? Ista hold?" pause. "Anyhow, he thought it would be a good idea for the candidates to go pick up the packages, but he left before we could ask for a ride down there?" Feet begin to scuffle, neck to turn red. "So what we're asking is, if you're not horribly busy, if you'd like to take us down to the Hold?" Deep breath.

Yasmine stomps into the bowl, the ever-present scowl laying upon her face. Eyeing the area around her, the youngest candidate shuffles closer to her fellows, knowing full well what brings them all out at this time. "So we gonna go an' get this dun' wit'?" Yasmine comments, trying to act as nonchalant as possible. "Y'know, this.. err.. chore thingy." Cough. Yeah. Lyria is gazed at, the 'rider getting a look before her eyes snap back to the group. Of course, the whole time trying not to look up to no-good. Cause Yasmine and no-good just don't go together.

Lyria stares at Pendren and the other candidates for a moment. There's... 'packages' for them? Smirk. Yeah right. The little rider brings a hand up to her chin and paces in front of the group, a couple of whom are her age or older. Hah that's great. "Now then. Should I take you to the hold. Hm." She walks back and for a couple time then stops back in front of Pendren. "What's in it for me?"

Standing right at the back of the group, something in Kaefe's eyebrow twitches at Pendren's... explanation, but of course, 'Fe doesn't make a sound, moving just to brush hair out of his eyes. He has his own reasons for needing to go down to the Hold, reasons which definitely don't involve sheets and laundry, but he isn't about to tell anyone, least of all Lyria. Though if she asked, he'd probably have to. At Lyria's wily question, Kav lets out a snort.

Yuri has somehow been caught in the middle, where she's protected on all sides from suspicious stares, and whatnot. In lieu of actually having to say something for herself, she nods in support of Pendren, and scrunches up as small as possible. Just your average Candidate, here, move along.

Pendren was almost positive there little ruse would work, and now that Lyria's settling into a bartering mode, he begins to loosen a tad. After all-- bartering is the essence of a good healthy system, and he's up to the challange. "Well, what if I said I might be able to get you--" he looks around at the small cluster of candidates behind him before a purely innocent expression molds his features. Oh, this is going to be something. "Your very own-- High Reaches bred-- Llama." Oh, he knows Lyria's weakness, or at least, he thinks he does. And rassling a llama from reaches offers all sorts of new mischief for would-be-pranking candidates. Halo.

Yasmine crosses her arms and taps her foot with annoyance. Unless it was with runners, the Keroonian girl never had the greatest amount of patience. "Wha's in i' for 'er, indeed..." She grumbles out. However, Pendren's announcement causes the girl to take her hand and thusly smack it against her forhead. "A bleedin' llama he says." Yasmine rolls her eyes but snaps her mouth shut, instead of commenting more.

Lyria shakes her head. "Nope. Wouldn't work. We had a llama once. Trik and Lira took it from Reaches. We named him Moose. Didn't work out. They don't like the heat." So hah. "Besides, you'd have to get it down here." Poker face is put on, her eyebrow just slightly raised. Although she /would/ like a llama. Rilskiath settles next to her, his own poker face on - not like one could tell, but really. That's what he says.

Pendren pouts, looking back at Kaefe, Yasmine, and Yuri. He's open to ideas, and with that in mind, takes a step back still muttering faintly to himself. "Well if it were shaved it wouldn't get so hot, and if you got a little oen it would grow up an..." He trails off into silence as he molds back into the group. Time for someone else to throw out a really good idea. Anyone? Hello? ( ..is this thing on..)

Kaefe is oh-so-tempted to snort again, but decides it probably wouldn't do much for their cause, and settles for rolling his eyes delibrately at Pendren instead. See, he knew it wouldn't work. Pendren knows shardin' nothing about llamas either, apparently. As Rilskiath makes his prescence known -- or better known --, a vague memory of something is triggered in Kav's brain, but the boy just shrugs it off. For now.

Yuri peers up, somewhat reluctant. "Well... I know this barmaid at the hold... I'm sure we could get something refreshing for you while you waited", she suggests, somewhat brightly, an all-too-innocent look on her face as she shifts around uncomfortably.

Yasmine chews on her lip for a second, then raises her head. "Uh.. wha' if'n we go an' like.. wash yer dragon o' sumthing? Even yer weyr.. o' wha'ever. C'mon Lyria, we gotta go an' get this bloo'y chore done, y'know? Jus' wouldn' be right i' we let i' go an' all." She throws out, shrugging her shoulders. "But, 'ey, if ya wanna be the one t' tell S'neak tha' we didn' do i', then ya can. S'long a' we," Her hands gester to the group, "Dun' get in trouble fer i'." And with that said, Yasmine once again crosses her arms and awaits an answer.

Pendren just -stares- at Yuri. Nono, they don't want Lyria anywhere near the Mug. At least,Pendren certainly doesn't-- he's planning to walk right on into that bar and get something strictly prohibited. Mmmm. Prohibited. Yasmine on the other hand gets a positively beaming smile. There-- perfect-- he /likes/ that one. Indeed, he does.

Lyria nods with a grin to Yuri. "Good call." She's a Wavecutter, afterall, and we know Wavecutters like their alcohol. Nothing outrageous. A drink will do. "Besides, I've got a couple people that I could visit. My brother's at the hold, I think..." A slight shrug to Yasmine,"I could just /tell/ you to wash my dragon if I wanted him washed anyways." She really /should/ make sure that they have 'packages' to pick up anyway and talk to sneak, but, y'know, oh well. An eye to Yasmine,"What's your name again?" They're ushered toward the dragon, "C'mon then."

Kaefe eyes first Yuri and Yasmine, then Lyria, almost incredulously. He is /not/ cleaning any rider's weyr, least of all Lyria's. And washing Rilskiath doesn't bode well with him either, since he can't help remembering the last few times he was near the dragon and water at the same time. Kaefe is definitely scowling now, yep, and still not offering suggestions. Not needed anyway, since Lyria seems to cave, and so 'Fe shrugs and waits for the rest to move first.

Yuri cringes. So the chores and the newness of it all are taking an all-too-visible toll on her, at least today. Or maybe it was the fumes from some of the laundry. yepyep. In any event, she approaches said dragon somewhat cautiously. "What's his name?" is the question offered Lyria, maybe if they change the topic, she'll forget about it.

Lyria climbs up the large brown's neck. "Oh right. This is Rilskiath. And you are..." A hand is offered to whoever feels like climbing up first.

With a regal sweep of his head, Rilskiath allows you to board and settle into a nook between ridges.

Rilskiath [Central Bowl]

Daring hues of amber plunge over sinewy wingsails, tumbling towards neckridges of bleached mahogany. Shimmering hues of cinnamon spill along the clean lines of trimly muscled limbs. Creamy bronze tint seems to cling with ever-present light to the headknobs of this zealously colored brown. Glimmering bits of silvered brown speckle his hide, as if, somehow, morning dew manages to cling through day and night. Mahogany swirls up from his underbelly, curling around his lengthy flanks, ending along his tail. The darkness rings his tail in stripes, a startling contrast from the lightness of cinnamon that covers the rest of his equalized self.

Firm leather, tried and true, snakes easily around the athletic neck of the brown like spilled wine on varnished wood. Imperial purple fore and aft straps converge onto the glimmery surface which heralds the impeccably urbane neck plate. A potent wash of wild violet blooms alongst the edges, swirling and soon yielding to diluted washes of lavender. The shiny vinyl coating only enhances the intoxicating dioxazine purple and it also gives for a neat sound effect whenever stretched.

Rilskiath seems to be listening.

Pendren would hi5 the nearest candidate, but he's still managing to maintain a bit of tact, thank Faranth. He strikes out for the dragon that brought him to this weyr in the first place, giving his hair a little run through and striaghtening his damp tunic --Did he mention it's hot here?-- "Thanks Lyria."

"Not t' say we'd actually listen an' clean 'im.." Yasmine wrinkles her nose at the 'rider, but quickly forces her face into an emotionless one. "Err... m'name? Shells, it's Yasmine. From Keroon." She state, raising her chin with pride and walking over to the brown dragon and mounting up. Oh yeah.

With a regal sweep of his head, Rilskiath allows Yasmine to board and settle into a nook between ridges.

With a regal sweep of his head, Rilskiath allows Pendren to board and settle into a nook between ridges.

With a regal sweep of his head, Rilskiath allows Kaefe to board and settle into a nook between ridges.

"Yuri", the little one mutters as she reaches up, and mounts. Is that a slight blush, again, at some memory? Perhaps, perhaps no.

With a regal sweep of his head, Rilskiath allows Yuri to board and settle into a nook between ridges.

Lyria shakes her head,"You would listen and clean him though. You're candidates. You do as you're told." Fwahaha. Lyri /likes/ not being at the bottom. A glance over her shoulder to make sure everyone's secure and she gives, oh, maybe a second's warning before they pop off into nothingness,"Going between."

-traveling spam-

Yasmine lets out a curse the moment she comes out from between. "Didn' think she actually 'eard me." is whispered to another candidate, before the girl looks towards the ground. "Err. yeah brownrider. Yer right, we /should/ listen. Only right an' all tha' stuff." Yasmine flicks her hand with that comment and then points to the Hold. "We goin' then?" Yes. Demanding.

Lyria just smiles mysteriously as they circle downwards. "Here we are," she announces. Thank you captain obvious.

Ista Hold Courtyard

Built into the side of a hard granite cliff, Ista Hold looms dominantly to the west. Windows pock the smooth surface of the cliff in neat rows until they get closer to the ground, where they begin to frame the great bronze doors leading into the Hold itself. A sea breeze seems constantly in the air here as the ocean and the wharf lay but dragonlengths to the east. Beaches are scattered to the north, recreational areas for the Hold's residents when not working.

It is a summer sunset.

Perched on a windowsill are nine firelizards.

Gold Ysbryth, blue Kearneth, green Kimianth, and brown Rilskiath are here.

You see Toshiro here.

With a bob of creamy auburn head, Rilskiath offers a gentlemanly arm to assist you in dismounting.

With a bob of creamy auburn head, Rilskiath offers a gentlemanly arm to assist Yasmine in dismounting.

With a bob of creamy auburn head, Rilskiath offers a gentlemanly arm to assist Kaefe in dismounting.

With a bob of creamy auburn head, Rilskiath offers a gentlemanly arm to assist Yuri in dismounting.

With a bob of creamy auburn head, Rilskiath offers a gentlemanly arm to assist Pendren in dismounting.

Kaefe rolls his eyes before glancing around at the rest of the candidates and carefully sliding off the brown. It's all old stuff to him, relatively at least. Ski gets a hesitant palm on the shoulder and a murmured something that could probably pass as thanks, before 'Fe moves away, hanging around just outside of the group.

Pendren is here! Here in the land of alcoholic drinks! Bwaha! Bwahahaha! With a very ginger hop-skip-step, the candidate is free to go. Pakcages? What packages? Without even the most base thought to precaution, the smarmy ltitle creature starts heading for the hall and for, oh yes, the Mug. Drool.

Yasmine knows to give thanks when it is due, and Rilskiath does deserve a thanks for getting the group to the Hold, after all. In so, the girl sweeps into a bow to the brown dragon, lifting her head and smiling, a glint present in her eye. "Thanks a bunch, Rilskiath, Lyria. Now we can go'an get this er.. thing.. we gotta do.. done. Yeah." Clearing her throat, the stablehand looks over at Pendren, Yuri, and Kaefe, before jerking her head towards the doors that lead into the Hold. Who shall take the lead?

Yuri slips off that last bit, but catches herself, and nods to Lyria. "Thanks...", she mutters. A quick glance to Pendren, and she represses all thoughts of offering a drink, crossing her fingers, unless... "What shall I get?" It's a general-enough question, really, and could refer to either their 'chore', or Lyria.

Rilskiath takes it all modestly, looking as handsome as a handsome brown dragon can look, and finds a nice spot in the sun to curl up in. She strides off towards the hold,"Soooo how 'bout that drink?" she asks loudly trying not to face the candidates as she smirks. Oh she's evil yeees. But she won't plague them the whole time. Just long enough to make 'em sweat.

Pendren is about to shoot through the hall doors, tact be damned, before Lyria says those horrible, ear-crinkling words. That rider is evil, she's just, evil. Turning slowly, painfuly, around to face Lyria and his fellow candidates the Dren gives a weak nod and holds the door open. "After you," mutter. Mutter, mutter, mutter.

You walk up a few small steps and pass into the Hold through the great doors.

Rilskiath> Since it's Yuri's job to get Lyria whatever the 'rider wants, and Pendren's already heading off to the Hold proper, Kaefe figures he can just up and leave, too. Not in the direction Pendren's going, though; 'Fe is off to a certain Healer Hall, limping slightly as he tries to keep weight off his bandaged right ankle. Waving vaguely at the rest, he calls lowly, "Meet you later."

Rilskiath> Yuri giggles, suddenly having an evil idea of her own, as well, as she hails a passing drudge and whispers a message, or two, to him. "All set", she grins at Pendren, rubbing her hands together.

Rilskiath> Pendren waves a hand towards 'Fe. "Later, at the Mug." And he's off. Bum ba da duuum.

The Flying Mug

A few shades too bright for the lighting to ever be called quite dim, the interior of the Flying Mug reveals upon closer inspection the marks of a much-frequented bar. Although the tables all match and the chairs are of a set, one or seven chairs have a wobbly leg, a few tabletops have big gashes across them, and each surface has an intricate pattern of turn-old mug rings. A well stocked, well polished and well maintained bar stretches across the expanse of the wall, facing the series of shuttered windows looking out on the courtyard. The bar stools are better maintained than the chairs, with low backs. And they spin, too! An intricate 'mural' covers the ceiling and there's a 'note' on the wall.

High in the rafters are thirty-one firelizards.

You see fly and Bartender Lem here.

Miyosha and Pendren are here.

Like the stubborn child she is, Yasmine slams her way into the Mug, a sour expression on her face. "She's gonna ruin ev'rythang!" Is hissed out between clenched teeth to the other candidates. "Wha' are ya plannin' on doin' wit' 'er?" And it better be good, Yasmine came to have a good time, after all. Can't do that while being watched. "Err.. The packages were goin' t' be delivered over 'ere. Some.. where." Yes. Smooth. Shifting her eyes, Yasmine takes a step back and disappears for a few moments within the tavern. Better to make it look like they are doing what was said.

The entering rider and her troop of candidates is greeted by none other than a bustling barmaid, by the name of Iry. All a-bustle, and definitely having recieved her message, she bobs a head at Lyria, and proffers a large glass of some alcohol. It looks normal, oh yes, but she fails to mention that it's also one of the strongest brews they happen to have lying around. "Heard ya wanted a good drink", she saucily greets, a raised eyebrow given to Yasmine. "This'n one of our best", and she nods empathically at that. "Well, what're you waitin' for? Take it, take it, on the hold."

Pendren steps into the Mug with a quiet sort of reverence, reserved only for those special times when one finaly gets something he's wanted for a very, very long time. The scent of alcohol rises to mingle with the chatter of various patrons, and the over-all atmosphere is awfuly inviting. Of course, there's that little issue of Lyria being in the same space and therefor Dren has to tread lightly. Yasmine gets a welling stare before her free hand gets a tense tug. "Hey, /I/ didn't suggest this fandangled plan, we either get her in and out or we get her drunk as 'ell." All this is said quietly and with much conspiracy as he can muster. Soon though, he's floating about the loose knot of Istans and puttering towards the bar. Iry gets a calculating once-over. If he asked real quiet-like for some cider with a 'kick' she probably wouldn't keep it to herself. Hmm. He'll have to get creative.

Lyria drops down into a seat by the bar, with a small smirk on her face. She'll most likely get her drink, then leave to go see some people, but /they/ don't have to know that now do they? Besides, if they get noticeably tipsy, she can send them running laps around the bowl. Hey, what're they trying to do? Get her drunk or something? She's their designated driv- er...rider. Yeah. "Why thank you," mutters Lyria, blinking. If they didn't notice, this girl tends to be one of the smarter riders. And luckily one with a higher alcohol tolerance. Of course, she is only five foot four and of a small build so there could be some adverse effects here. She sips at the drink. She's learned well. She knows how to appear as though she's drinking a bunch, but not really drink all that much. It's all in the way you handle your drink.

Yasmine peeks her head out from her hiding place behind a random drunk. "'Dren! Get 'er t' drink /faster/!" She demands, in as quiet a voice as she can get. "Shells, why couldn' we o' found Sapha o' one o' those other 'riders. Heard they all liked t' drink lots." But no, they had to find the responsible, smart one. Go figure. "C'mon! Ya two are smart," She jerks her head at both Pendren and Yuri. "Spill sumthing on 'er o' something. Jus' do i' fast." And once again the candidate-girl disappears amoung the crowd, the only knowledge of where she may be due to a few people yelping and then yelling, and some cursing going right back.

Yuri is somewhat sidetracked by a bunch of familiar faces, and people. And impromptu-showered with thwaps on the back, and some of those packages... well, at least they /look/ like general packages. And then, she extraciates herself from the mess, a little more ruffled now, and somehow inches towards Pendren, whispering something into his ear. "We could go elsewhere in the Hold, first... she can't stay here forever?"

N'ano walks nonchalantly in from the great hall.

Pendren gets an idea-- Oh yes, a whopper of an idea. Bling. "So Lyria, I've heard you can handle your liquor pretty well. Did you know Yasmine here could down a glass that big i nsomething under a minute? It was the most fantastic thing I ever saw." What? Saw? Actually, he didn't even -know- Yasmine until candidicy, and he certainly doesn't know the slightest about her drinking habits-- but-- just go with him here, he's got that bright idea. "Anyhow, I don't mean any offense or whatever but, I bet you couldn't do that, you're just so slender!" And Yasmine isn't? The poor boy is digging himself a nice big hole.

"Heeeey guys," N'ano happily greets, waving about a bottle, in particular towards Lyria, being the only other legal person from the Weyr gang. Yep, he's still a little out of it from the party-like thing. "Byddie said ya'll were here--thought I'd come by and say, hey!" With that said, he takes the closest seat available to the group, whether it be on someone's lap or very much up close and personal. Probably just a solitare seat, though. "Hope ya'll ain't drinkin'! Big nooo nooo..." Busted? What does he know, anyway?

Lyria raises an eyebrow,"I'm not too bad." A raised eyebrow,"Caaan she now?" Her mug is held in both hands. "I'd like to see that." Only prollem is...Candidates. Alcohol. Nono. "Wait. Pause. She's smaller than me," points out Lyri. So.../How/ deep was that hole exactly? "N'aaano. Sooo nice to see you. Oh, I brought them here since they had to..What was it you had to do again? And so they bought me a drink." Mug is waved towards N'ano,"See." Big Potent Drink.

Kaefe walks in from the great hall.

A choking sound can be heard within the confines of one large group. "Hey, kid. What do you think your doing?" One of the men says, peering down at the blonde haired girl. "Will ya shut yer big, blubberin' mouth? Faranth, tryin' t' be all sneaky an' got a buncha' dimbglows givin' 'way m'position." Yasmine clearly says, even giving a swift kick to the man's shins before booking it from that table. Crawling on the ground, the Keroonian girl finds herself, yet again, near the other two candidates. "Wha' the.. wha's he doin' 'ere?!" He being N'ano. "Honestly, are these blasted 'riders all 'round 'ere? Dun' these people ever work?" Not everyone has the work ethic a stablehand does, alas. Peeking her head up at another table, a half-consumed drink is eyed. Since no one knows her position just yet, it wouldn't hurt if she took a /small/ drink from the mug. And she does so. But hey, once you pop, the fun don't stop. So it is only right to drink whatever is left in the mug and continue on her way.

Pendren looks mildly desperate now-- all that alcohol is just so wonderfuly close. So beautifuly near, and he... can't... drink it. That's it, it's time for plan B! Plan B you ask? What is plan B? Well, let me enlighten you people. Giving a bright smile to N'ano and a belated nod to Lyria he shuffles and herds Yasmine and Yuri a bit away from the riders. "Alright girls, this is what needs to happen. The only thing we can hope to do here is kill two wherries with one stone. We need Lyria and N'ano to get drunk, real drunk, drunk enough to want to leave with /each other/, mmk?" A pause, a deep breath, and Kaefe is imemdiately waved over to the little circle. "I'm going to have a word with Iry, she might have a few more ideas on the matter of perhaps giving their already strong drinks a little more-- pep. "So, you guys have to try and plant the idea in their heads that they /want/ to get outta here and together, and then-- the alcohol will be ours." Is that unbridled glee in his voice? You better believe it.

"Packages", mutters Yuri from the side. Right, you guys keep them distracted. while she goes to search for something to make it /seem/ legal, at least. She doesn't really drink, after all. "Speaking of which, I should go hunt them down..." And she treads off quietly in the direction of the rest of the hold, hoping 'dren won't be annoyed with her. A quick whisper to him, and she's off, beckoning to Iry on the way, and a half-wicked smile drooping off her face.

N'ano nods his head quickly, "Aye... you can, but they can't, so just make sure they don't, eh?" With that stated, N'ano takes a big swig from his own bottle. There's a shortage here apparently, so he's come equipped. "Any of ya'll taste that--Gar cider stuff? /Shardin'/ good..." In more ways than one. And to Yasmine's question, N'ano nods, "Aye--we work. Wavecutters are off from sweeps right now, 'n I just came from searchin' 'roun here." Simple as that.

Yuri slips quietly through a door into the great hall.

Kaefe is immediately confronted with one extra rider and a strong smell of alcohol as he walks in the door, frowning as he recognises N'ano. Great, all the riders that plague his life are gathering. We just need Sapha, now... Being waved over by Pendren, he just shrugs as he listens to the Plan, perching himself on a seat.

Lyria nods solemnly to N'ano,"Yes, yes I know." She lowers her voice to a whisper,"It's really fun to watch 'em eye the drinks." She sticks her tongue out at the drink while the candies conspire,"This stuff is awful," she mumbles, sliding the mug down the bar and picking up an identical mug with water to sip at, the candidates hopefully none-the-wiser. "Yeah, I had a taste at the beach thing before. Got any to spare?" Somehow some clean glass is proferred toward N'ano.

Yasmine stoutly smacks her forehead with her hand once again. "I gotta learn how t' keep m'voice down.." She says dully, throwing a look over her shoulder at N'ano and Lyria. Walking away from the two dragonriders and leaning in towards Pendren. "Ya wan' us t' get them t' do wha'?" Her face contorts to one of disgust. "Ick. Tha's jus' ick. But.. guess wha'll ever work." Though Yasmine did get to have a small taste of the wonderful alcohol. Aha! And no one the wiser. "Fine, I'll jus' walk m'self o'er there an' give i' a shot." Turning on her heel, the little candidate marches right over to Lylia and N'ano and plants both her hands on a nearby table. "So... uh... Lyria's lookin' pretty good, dun'cha think?" SHe waggles her eyebrows at the Weyrleader. "An' tha' looks like some good tastin' alcohol. Ya should like.. drink.. lots." Thank you Yasmine the obvious.

Pendren watches as Yuri just leaves, leaves with /his/ vestage of a plan B. Oy vey. Yasmine is quickly stepped towards and talking resumes. After all Yasmine /is/ his partner in plotting when it comes to this, and his favorite of the female candidates so far. "Yas, this is getting desperate, if I don't get a drink soon I'll be lible to.. to... I don't even want to -think- about it." Riders. Timing. Yeesh. Of course, he's about to say more to Yasmine when she suddenly does-- whatever /that/ just was. Slack-jawed, boggle-eyed, Pendren just watches, of course, he can only watch for so long, before he quickly helps himself to a nearby peice of fruit currently not under surveylance in an attempt to hide an outpouring of mirth.

"Yeeep, I took a bottle," N'ano responds, pouring felling wavecutter a mug full. "Don't tell no one though 'cause it's all I grabbed--all I got till I go to Gar 'n ask for some more!" As Yasmine steps up close, N'ano eyes her warily, quirking his brows before giving way to a solitare 'Heh'. "Why, you gonna ask her out?" he jokes, motioning towards the brownrider, "Ya'll can't have relationships though, so you better count that out." Backfire. Muwah. Her little plan to get him to drink more though is successful, his mug toasting the air before being brought to his lips. He's only doing it to tease the candidate though. Y'know the 'Ha, I can drink and you can't' kind.

Lyria hides a wiiide smirk behind her mug, then schools her face down a bit and waggles an eyebrow at Yasmine. Oh yeah she looks good? She does the same as N'ano with a wink, sipping at her glass and grinning at the candidates. Tauntauntteaseheh.

Yasmine throws a dirty look at N'ano. "Gah, no I ain' gonna ask 'er out. Wha' kinda girl ya take me fer?" Snorting, the 'hand clenches her hands into fists. "I got m'self a guy anyway. Eh.. well.. I /had/ m'self a guy. Till he became a li'l floozy." The girl frowns at the memory, but throws it behind her for the moment. Well, regardless they are teasing her, at least it is making them drink more and more. All according to plan. Or.. half the plan. Whatever.

"You remind me of a friend I once knew--y'sound exaaaaactly like her..." N'ano comments idly towards Yasmine, attempting to toss her one of those chum-arm-punches, but knowing his state, it merely hits... the air. Oif. "I was in love with that girl--'n then she took off to t'reaches," he heaves a sigh, sniffing. "That's 'k though--'cause I dun love her no more. That's gone with m'childhood." Drinkdrink.

Lyria just shakes her head and sips slowly at her cider. N'ano is eyed. TipsyN'ano. Lyri is just quiet AmusedLyri. Yup.

Kaefe is just, you know, sitting there, and watching the action. Punctuating it with a couple of snorts and eye-rolls, of course. He's good at staying inconspicious and stuff, patiently biding his time. It helps that between the rest of them, they provide extremely amusing entertainment. Guess Pendren isn't that dim, after all.

Yasmine raises an eyebrow at the Weyrleader, slowly nodding her head. "Uh.. huh. Tha's jus'.. er.. great?" Blink. The Keroonian shakes her head and tries her best not to smirk triumphantly. Drink, my pretties, drink! Ahaha! "Wha' was yer friend's name? An' why did she go t' 'Reaches?" Lyria is peered at, as is her drink, the girl mentally trying to get the brownrider to drink more and fast. C'mon, be cool like N'ano is. You know you wanna.

N'ano is far passed TipsyN'ano. Way beyond that point. "Aiana--she was /hot/... she wasn't in love with me of nuttin'--heck, I pro'lly only liked her 'cause of her looks, bein' the pretty thing she was. 'n I 'unno why she left..." Or his mind's too fuzzy to remember. But yes, anywho, their devious plan has worked upon N'ano. Wonderful. Now let's see him attempt to get back to the Weyr safely.

Yuri slips back into the Mug, and surprise of all surprises, she's actually laden down with packages. All of a certain, cubish shape and size, and the disgruntled frown on her face might cue one into the fact that something totally unplanned for did happen. Which is, they actually have /something/ to bring back. Only to stop, eyes widening, at the sight of the current state of the rest of the [little small critters who live at the weyr].

Lyria cracks a grin at N'ano's story and giggles. Ah! Was that a giggle? It /was/. Ohmyohmy. "Poooor N'ano." Lyri earns status as AlmostTipsyLyri. Giggle.

Package-laden-Yuri is duly noted and eyed by Kaefe, who just sort of shrugs and grunts and turns to Pendren. Did he figure /that/ into his plans, now? Somehow, 'Fe doubts it. Maybe it's about time he helped out a little, though. Striding up to N'ano, he claps a hand, very ungently, on the 'rider's shoulder. "Gone already," he mutters, shaking his head. And Alain having just given him something for hangovers a day or two ago. Lyria is eyed, then. Hmm. Perhaps he might as well wait a while before dragging N'ano out, or something.

"Tha's.. sad." Yasmine says, nodding. "Really.. sad." Not really, but she has learned it is smart to humor a drunk. "Ya know wha' ya should do? Go! Go t' 'Reaches an' demand she come back t' Ista wit'cha a' this very moment. And, shells, jus' incase, take Lyria wit'cha. Never know when a troublesome guy might get i' the way an' try t' stop ya from reclaimin' 'er an' all." Yasmine is dead set on being left alone in the weyr, without having to worry about sneaking drinks and being caught, and she'll do whatever it is in her power to get the two Istan dragonriders far, /far/ away from the tavern. "So go! Now! Quick! Before sumone goes an' takes 'er before ya can!"

"Pooooor me, yeah. She's outta the picture now though." As evident in the way N'ano's hands push the imaginary person away. Well, not imaginary, but the not-present girl from his story. Sighing, N'ano stands from his chair, electing to pace back and forth as best as he can a couple of times. Why? Why not. And then once again, he settles back onto his chair with a Humph. "Nah--I 'un want her... I've got a woman," or two or three? Who knows with him. As they try to usher him out, he just gives in to shaking his head "I dun wanna."

Lyria shakes her head at Yasmine. "Hullooo. He's weyrmated." Or...something like that. "Sides, why would I want to go all the way to Reaches?" Dun thiiiink so. Snickergiggle.

Yasmine purses her lips and narrows her eyes. This being called Yasmine's annoyed and angry look. "Oh yes ya do! C'mon! Go! Get 'er. Think o' wha' ya'd be doin' for yer Weyr. Think o' the Weyr, man! The Weyr!" The candidate exclaims, throwing her hands up into the air. "Ya can always 'ave more women." She points out to Lyria. "'least tha's wha' I was taught." Well, not exactly taught. But right now isn't the time to tell the truth. "Would either o' ya like another drink? Cause.. y'know, I can go an' get'cha one."

Yuri shirks the packages just next to the door, near the safety of the bar counter, and deciding not to approach just yet, huddles with a barmaid for a moment or two, probably getting a heavily edited version of What Has Passed here. Or not.

"Oh! She didn' like me 'cause I wouldn't uh---heh." N'ano'll keep that as a personal comment. "Nevermind. Heeey, 'n I've tried 'fore, dun get me wrong--never worked." He knows what he's talking about, really. "Another? I 'unno--'soon I ain't even gonna be able to find m'way back to Bydelth... I should slow down some, I think."

Lyria shakes her head slowly, sipping at the last of what's in her mug. "Mmm...Nah. I think I may go sit outside 'er somethin'. 's a nice day." Solemnnod. Hm. Just what the candies wanted? But question is...will she go?

"Yeah. Tha's t' much information, thanks." Yasmine drawls, rolling her eyes. "By the first egg of Faranth..." She mutters, tapping her fingers on the table. "Slow down? Shells no! Dun' do tha'!" Cough. "Meanin', y'know, i' doesn' really matter. Those dragons are durn smart an' I'm sure a strapin' bronze like yer.. uh.. Bydelth? Yeah, Bydelth, could help ya get home wit' no problems. An' i' not. Tha's wha' we candidates are 'ere for, right?" So long as they pass out soon or leave. "Yeeees! Goin' outside. Such a pretty day an' all. Dun' get mucha these wit' havin' t' worry 'bout Thread and the lot. Ya two should go out an' jus' lay 'n the sun. Sober yerselves up while me an' m'crew go back t' gettin' the rest of those packages." Peering over at Yuri, Yasmine gives a small wave. "Looks like Yuri went an' got a few o' 'em, but S'neak said tha' there were lots. Gotta re-bed all them cots in the 'barracks, af'erall."

N'ano gets an idea from Lyria, and manages to stand, though a bit wobbly, "I'm goin' to walk some of this off... I'll be back though--better not see a glass in y'hands..." he threatens, adding a sagenod to the threat. And with that, he starts towards the door, and stops to listen to Yasmine, "Yeeeah. okay." He really means it though. He's going out to let the sun dry and sober him up some.

N'ano walks nonchalantly through a door into the great hall.

Lyria nods sternly,"That's right. I'll be outside when you get all your packages. The dragon's pretty hard to miss. Just tell him to find me if I'm not there..." ANd she trails after N'ano.

You pass through a door into the great hall.

And meanwhile in the Mug...

Igor> Yuri's eyes glint slightly at that last comment. No glasses, eh? Well, that's soon fixed, with a few whispers to Iry. Of course, N'ano didn't know anything about those 'transparent' mugs someone's been cooking up, eh? Slightly more cheerful now, she glides over the floor to join the chortling candidates.

Igor> As the two dragonriders leave, Yasmine waits for just the moment as the door shuts before she lets out a loud cheer. "Aha! M'wit wins a gain! An' t' think, I thought they'd never go an' get out." She cackles and rubs her hands together. Oh yes, this is when being a stablehand comes in handy. Drinking is what she knows best, next to runners, that is.

Igor> Yuri settles in with the rest of the girls, grumbling slightly. "I /did/ think S'neak was just having us on, y'know... imagine my surprise being ambushed by that darn weaver on the way up to the old dorms." Eyeing one of the assorted drinks on the table, she selects one at random and pours it into one of them new-fangled mugs, shrugging at Yasmine. "Any idea what this one is?"

Igor> Yasmine is far from being rowdy, really. She's well mannered, every so often. "Yeah, know wha'cha mean. Didn' think tha' there would really be some bleedin' packages. Thank shells ya came i' when ya did. Dun' think they would 'ave believed me." But they did, or were to plasted to give a hoot. The other girl's drink is eyed and the stablehand only shrugs her shoulders. "Could be anything, really. Jus' try i' an' see. I'll piiick.. this one!" She declares and selects one mug, grabbing it and downing it in a few gulps. "Bleck. Tha's.. jus' gross. Really. Dun' drink anything tha' is like.. slightly brown..ish.. an' smells like a runnerstall." Yeah. Smart.

Igor> Yuri takes a tentaive sip. "Shards!", she exclaims, nearly dropping the 'mug'. "That's horrible!" You've got to forgive her, it's her first time tasting wine after all. That and with the wine shortage, it's not likely that they somehow ended up with a good skin of Benden. And the mug goes back on the table, double-quick. Nothing in her hands, nothing at all...