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15:17, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Ailith.

Posted by Editor-in-ChiefFor group 0
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2538 posts
Mon 13 Mar 2023
at 01:33
  • msg #857

Mid Second Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 856):

Llewelyn sighs.  No.  It's not their place.  They're part of this place.  It's not the same thing.

He glances at Foot and Hammer, who squonk back at him.

This is all guesswork.  But I'm pretty sure the reason these two wanted to come here was to make sure nothing bad happened to it.  Because if it did, they would be dead.

He cocks his head and crosses his arms, staring at Hammer and Foot.  Oddly, they don't squonk back at him.

They were lucky this time, as the problem had...a lot of warning.  They had a chance to fix it.  Or bring us here to fix it.  But what happens if a problem comes up that doesn't give them any advance warning?

Besides.
He turns and looks again at the panel.  The only way you got here to fix the problem was because I gave you a ride.  So consider this the fare.  Coq?  The symbols?

Coq shrugs and studies them.

"This one is...The first among many?

Then...Pull.  Yeah.  That one's easy.

Let's see...Smooth

And...Tumble maybe?

And-"


That's good enough.  Sounds like these control the way the ship moves.  Which would make sense, given the...

He points at a short, squat column.

Ailith...will you sit there for a moment please?
Ailith
player, 442 posts
Mon 13 Mar 2023
at 23:11
  • msg #858

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

Ailith simply shrugged as she looked at Coq and the two drones, as if to say. he has a point.'

“Sit?” She looked at the column. “Here? Uh, sure, I guess?”

She didn't sound terribly sure, but it was more surprise than doubt, and she went to sit as instructed without much hesitation.
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2541 posts
Tue 14 Mar 2023
at 02:07
  • msg #859

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 858):

Llewelyn studies you.   How's it feel?  Comfortable?  Try reaching out to the panel from where you're sitting please

The chair isn't uncomfortable.  But not comfortable either.  It feels a little too tall.  You have to bend your feet to keep your toes on the ground.

The panel is just out of reach if you don't hunch forward a bit.

Llewelyn nods and motions for you to sit.  Now Coq?  If you could try that as well?

Coq is a little taller than you.  So he doesn't have the issue with his toes, but the panel requires him to reach over as well.

Llewelyn scratches his chin.  He turns to you.  Ask Foot and Hammer to show you pictures of the people who used to...live here before you please  He considers them.  I doubt they'll do it for me.
Ailith
player, 443 posts
Tue 14 Mar 2023
at 13:58
  • msg #860

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“It's not bad, but...” Ailith shrugged. She stood when asked to, but instead of watching Coq do pretty much the same thing she had, she looked  curiously around. Tempted, for a moment, to give her curiosity free rein.

The question to know if she would have wasn't to be answered however as Llewelyn brought his attention back to her. “Those who lived here? Sure,” She waved at the two drones to invite them to do it, “but didn't we already see them in the shuddle under the river?”
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2550 posts
Thu 16 Mar 2023
at 02:13
  • msg #861

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 860):

The...craftsmanship here is different than there.  Kind of.  Just indulge me if you don't mind.

You ask Foot and Hammer.  They squonk amongst themselves, then Foot floats over to one of the panels.  It extends a little arm you didn't know it had and...does something.

The panel lights up and then in mid air there's a ball of light.

The light twists and reforms.

You are looking at something...gray?  It's kind of like a person.  With two legs and a head.  There's three arms.  Two on one side and a larger one on the other.  But the head looks like a proper person.  Except it's too...hairy?

Llewelyn sighs.  Foh bahnk ay.  Wasn't expecting that.  But the cranial structure...huh.  Okay.  I think things are starting to make some sense.

Ailith.  Coq.  Meet your...hmm.  How do I put this?  Do your people have a practice where you can own each other?  Like one person can become another person's legal property?


Your call if the institution of slavery exists on Ailith's world
Ailith
player, 444 posts
Tue 21 Mar 2023
at 00:12
  • msg #862

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

And #5000 is mine :)

“Oh.” Ailith blinked as she considered the creature Foot was showing them. “Ah, slaves? I’ve heard about it, but…” she shrugged, “I’m not sure if it’s a real thing anymore.” Or if it ever was anything more than stories. She…hadn’t exactly been the most studious as a kid, all focused as she had been on her crafts.

“They look ugly.” She declared, most categorically. “You think the shuddle in the river was trying to escape from them?”
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2559 posts
Tue 21 Mar 2023
at 02:40
  • msg #863

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 862):

I didn't even notice we were at 5K.  Thanks for pointing it out.  Happy 5,000th post to you

Llewelyn considers the image.  Not sure.  But...

He seems to think aboug something for a while and then shrugs. I suppose I can tell you this.  You may not want to spread it around.  Your people might not take too kindly to it.

But there's debate among my people who have studied your planet.  There are some who say your people were not born here.  That you might have been...brought here or came here in shuddles or something similar.

That race...
He nods at the image Foot is still showing. Is...I think...a people who were known to make slaves out of other peoples.

So you know...I used to think your people did come from here.  But this shuddle and that image...they make me doubt.

What I don't understand is why Hammer and Foot listen to you and Master Matah.  Can you tell me how you found them?

Ailith
player, 445 posts
Sun 26 Mar 2023
at 21:58
  • msg #864

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“Some people are never taking anything well.” Ailith muttered, obviously annoyed to even have to care about it.

“In the dream, I was told that we couldn't stay here for too long and had to go back someday.” Ailith shrugged: obviously, the news that her people may not originate from their current planet disturbed Llewelyn more than it did her.

Not that she wasn't curious or wanted to know more. Not at all. She just wasn't disturbed by it. Why would it matter?

“We... Well, I found a stick with buttons. I showed Master Matah, we tried a couple of them and next thing we knew, Foot and Hammer were with us. Telling us we were the captains or something. Sort of.” She clearly wasn't sure about it.
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2567 posts
Mon 27 Mar 2023
at 02:50
  • msg #865

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 864):

Llewelyn makes that face that makes you think he's thinking about something.

I'd like to see this stick.  But for now...

I'm not sure what else we can do here.  The question now is...what do you want to do with this place?  I mean...
  He glances at Hammer and Foot.  ...this is yours now.  Right?

From the squonks that rush forth, Hammer and Foot seem to have some opinions on that statement.  But what they are, you have no idea.

Llewelyn looks at you and Coq.

Coq, who's just been listening to all this, shakes his head.  He too looks at you.
Ailith
player, 446 posts
Sun 2 Apr 2023
at 20:20
  • msg #866

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“You’d have to ask Master Matah, he’s the one who has it.” Ailith shrugged.

Hearing the concerto of squonks, the young apprentice frowned. “Can we go back to the one squonk for no, two for yes please? Oh, wait. Is there something in here that would allow us to better communicate with you?” It probably was too much to ask for, but…
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2578 posts
Sun 2 Apr 2023
at 21:53
  • msg #867

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 866):

They both squonk twice.  Hammer floats over to one of the pannels and squonks rapidly at it.

Llewelyn walks over and studies it.  Might be a port.  Uh...a way for my bird to...you know what? Never mind.  I'm just gonna do it.

He reaches up and pulls some long strands from his bird and fiddles with the part of the panel Hammer was floating at.

After a while he stands and touches his bird a few times.  One of those pictures-in-the-air he calls haul ohg arams is floating in the air.  Llewelyn seems to study it.

This looks like...a sort of translation of sorts.  I can use this to establish a...to understand the speech.  If you give me a few days...I think I can come up with a way to speak to Hammer and Foot.
Ailith
player, 447 posts
Mon 3 Apr 2023
at 19:14
  • msg #868

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“Great!” Ailith exclaimed, obviously happy she would be able, finally, to properly communicate with Hammer. And Foot of course. Even though she wasn't quite sure how Llewelyn learning to do it would translate to her, but one thing at a time.

The news that it was going to take a few days was met with less enthusiasm though. “Uh, where are we going to sleep? And we don't have anything to eat, do we?” Or to drink for that matter...
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2584 posts
Wed 5 Apr 2023
at 01:21
  • msg #869

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 868):

Well.  I was assuming we would go back to the village.  You do remember we have my shud del. Getting back home won't take long.

Is there anything else you wanted to do here?


If not, we can return planet side next post.

Thanks

Ailith
player, 448 posts
Wed 5 Apr 2023
at 20:43
  • msg #870

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“Oh, uh... Eh eh.” Ailith rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “I thought you needed to stay here for the translation thing.”


“But, uh, no? I guess we can head back?” She looked at the two drones and Coq, looking for confirmation.
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2586 posts
Thu 6 Apr 2023
at 20:25
  • msg #871

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 870):

Llewelyn taps his bird.  Already pulled what is needed.  You'll see.




On the ride back, Coq remains quiet.  Llewelyn touches the shud del down a few kilometers from the village.  He then waves and flies off, letting you both walk the rest of the way.

Coq picks up the sacks.  "So we just say we got lost and found our way back, right?

"Is...are things for you always like all that?"

Ailith
player, 449 posts
Sun 9 Apr 2023
at 22:58
  • msg #872

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“Hmm.” Ailith pensively tapped her lips for a moment. “No? But also, sort of, I guess? As for what we tell... As for what we'll tell...” She tilted her head to the side for a moment...then grinned. “I'm sure you'll come up with something while I go tell Master Matah what happened.”

With a cheeky wave, Ailith went to do just that. Well... After a brief passage through the kitchens to get something to eat because she was famished. Almost literally so even!
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2592 posts
Mon 10 Apr 2023
at 02:42
  • msg #873

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 872):

You hear Coq sigh.  "Just like a head apprentice...Tell me to do the clean up."

Master Matah welcomes you back, though he seems more joyful to see Foot back.  Foot happily squonks and nuzzles against Matah's shoulder.

"So.  What wonders did you see this time?"

Assuming you are telling him everything.  But I'll let you decide that.  You don't have to go into details.  Summary is fine.  But if you want to go into details...go nuts.

Hey.  You do you.

Ailith
player, 450 posts
Mon 10 Apr 2023
at 20:43
  • msg #874

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

Ailith being a good girlTM, of course she tells everything!

“Well... I don't know about wonders...” Ailith grimaced. “First I was given something to drink, only to be told later on that I belonged to a minority of people who didn't react well to it. I'm sure Master Olk or Coq will be delighted to recount that. It involved fluffy clouds...”

“Aaaaaanyway.” She rubbed her neck for a second. “After that some crazy guy attacked me in my tent. Thankfully Foot and Hammer managed to chase him. He was one of those religious nuts or something. Coq or Master Olk...again...should be able to tell you more. There might be a conspiracy afoot.” She seemed to consider the question semi-seriously for a moment.

“It gave us a nice enough pretext to leave early andf get picked up by Llewelyn though. We went to the moon, and apparently, hmmm. It was, hmmm. Oh, hmm, like there were some detritus in a furnace and it threatened to blow up, so we had to clean it up. Which I did. By touching a symbol.” She shrugged. “Don't ask. Well, you can but I'm not sure what more I could tell you about that.”

“Oh, yes.” She continued without even pausing, pointing at Foot. “One squonk is not, two is yes. But Llewelyn found something that should help us really talk with them in the ship on the moon. Not sure what but he's working on it. Oh and he thinks the ship belonged to slavers who brought our ancestors here. As slaves I guess? Though they managed to escape.”

“Hmm.” She thought with a finger on her cheek, looking towards the sky. “I...guess...I can also tell you I've been having...hmmm...visions? Visions and dreams of my great-great-great-great-great...and many other greats...grand-mother.” She frowned, Llewelyn didn't explain that now that I think about it... And she wants me to go to the Gray Mountain. And avoid the yellow colour for some reason. Llewelyn doesn't know - about the mountain thing - as I wanted to talk to you about it first, but since I'd need his help to get there... Well...”

After that rather...disjointed report, Ailith answered any question Matah had on...well, anything she knew.
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2599 posts
Thu 13 Apr 2023
at 03:11
  • msg #875

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 874):

Matah listens, first with eyes wide, then a puzzled look, and then a more puzzled look.

"Gray mountain?  Yellow?  Hmmm.

"I recall something from many years ago.  When I was an apprentice here, the head apprentice at the time was from a far away village.  He would draw maps.  They were highly stylized.  Very beautiful.

"But...I remember one of the maps he drew had a gray mountain.  It was...prominent.  Hmm.  I think his name was Ulin.

"He left when his apprenticeship was up, though we did ask him to stay.  You could try asking among the merchants that come through.  I know he wished to travel.  And I believe some of the merchants buy his maps for their own use.

"And...slaves?  That's..."
  He shakes his head.  "Llewelyn makes some bold assumptions.  I have never been a slave.  Nor has anyone in the family.  Perhaps we are not understanding him.  Or he is not understanding us.  In any event, one squonk for yes.  Two for no, huh?

"Well.  Let's put that aside.  We have something else we need to consider.  It's almost time to head for the high village.  At the end of next season we will need to move.

"We will have much to do to get ready.  And Ailith...I am going to name you the head apprentice."

Ailith
player, 451 posts
Fri 14 Apr 2023
at 01:11
  • msg #876

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“Uh...” Ailith blinked, opened her mouth a few times but always closed it without saying anything. She didn't seem overly enthused by the news, but neither was she surprised by it: she had been warned after all. No, the thing she wanted to do was refuse - it would be even more complications after all! - but she knew enough to realize doing so would only hurt her.

“Thanks? I guess? She finally managed to say at some point. “Does that change anything regarding assignments or stuff like that? Oh and I suppose we won't have a new apprentice before we've reached the High Village?” But maybe as soon as they did, after all she had arrived at the beginning of the Low Season.
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2601 posts
Fri 14 Apr 2023
at 02:54
  • msg #877

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 876):

"I'll give you projects and you will assign them out.  One of the tests of being the head apprentice is evaluating the skills of your peers and determining who will be the best fit for the job at hand.

"And...we may have a new apprentice soon.  I received several letters recently.  If I decide to take someone on, they will join us in the high village."


He seems to consider something.  "Perhaps I should have you evaluate the projects they sent to us.  As a first duty.  Feel up to the challenge?"
Ailith
player, 452 posts
Fri 14 Apr 2023
at 23:18
  • msg #878

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

“I can do that.” Ailith answered soon enough. After all…what else could she say? 'No, I’d rather not'? That would go over really well. Plus, while she wasn’t going to be arrogant about it since she didn’t feel she was all that good, at least when crafts were concerned she was relatively confident to identify what was good and what was bad. But… Would the bad stuff even be given to her to assess? Did anyone who was bad even send anything?

“And,” she added with a cheeky grin, “I’ll delegate all the people stuff to Helza, easy.” Speaking of people, maybe she ought to go have a talk with Zez too…
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2604 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 03:19
  • msg #879

End of First Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 878):

Matah chuckles.

"I'll let you figure things out yourself.  Everyone handles the duty differently.  There is no wrong way to do it...as long as the results are all good ones."

He points to a cabinet.  "There are three projects in there.  Bring them here."

The first is a glass jar.  On first glance, it's haphazardly done.  The bottom is much thicker than the top.  The sides do not seem to be a uniform thickness.

But.

The tinting on it is interesting.  The artist managed to blend in several shades of blue in a rather intricate pattern

The second appears to be a length of woven cord.  You certainly have more experience with weaving reeds, so you can tell it's well woven.  Like the jar, it makes good use of various colors.  The reed strands woven together are red and yellow and orange and deep brown.  It's a bit discordant in places.  But overall the coloring work is well done.

The last project is a small jar.  Taking the lid off, you get a complicated scent of florals and herb.

"I've never had a perfumer submit an entry to us," Matah adds, pointing at that one.  "I'm not aware of any village with a perfumer.  So they must have applied to us in hopes of attaching themselves to our name."
Ailith
player, 453 posts
Thu 20 Apr 2023
at 23:19
  • msg #880

Mid Second Cycle, Low Season 20672

“Smells nice at least.” For a few seconds Ailith considered the projects, then asked, “So… What are the criteria to evaluate those projects? The things to look for?”

And after a short pause, she added, “And… What happens to those who are not selected? Are they guided to someone else you feel could give them what they’d need? Because, I mean…” she waved at the three projects, “They all have strengths and weaknesses obviously, but… It seems harsh… No, it seems unwarranted to just say 'no' to any of them…”

“I assume those are the result of a pre-selection?” She doubted anyone who didn’t put some decent effort into their project would dare send something to Matah, but… There had to be some rush things or something? Or even people who thought they were super good when they just…were not.
Editor-in-Chief
GM, 2613 posts
Fri 21 Apr 2023
at 02:02
  • msg #881

Mid Second Cycle, Low Season 20672

In reply to Ailith (msg # 880):

"There's no such thing as a perfect project.  At least if there is, I wouldn't want to see it.

"What I look for when I judge a piece is...does it show promise?  It doesn't have to be perfect.  But I have to be able to tell that the person who crafted it put something of themselves into it.  That they tried.  You'd be surprised by how many we get where that was not the case.

"The other thing I look for is indications of raw talent.

"Part of being a Master is having to evaluate.  Not only other people's work, but your own.  Don't look at it in terms of If I had done this, I would've done it this way.  Instead, think about what about this work makes me jealous?  What do they do that I wish I had thought to do?.

"And no.  We can only take in so many apprentices each year Ailith.  Those who do not make the  cut can try to get on with other villages.  Or they can forge their own road.

"Now.  Review each piece.  And tell me what you think of it."


Let me know if you need more details.  Or you can make them up yourself if you wish.
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