• PM To Join • Arrival in Venora

[Kayleigh]

Ashan 3 718, Late Afternoon

Location: Fort Venora

It had been a testing if not eventful trip on the way to Fort Venora, Kayleigh had spent the last part of her Cylus getting here with a farmer. The two had developed a much in depth trust in one another, after their survival with the encounter of a bandit group along the road. It was apparent that the VII were prowling the kingdom in numbers, intending to strike more fear and terror into the citizen's that lived here. But not Kayleigh. She stood up to those lowlifes and in doing so, met one of the most amazing people to have briefly stand by her side. Qylios.

Although she couldn't determine how such a fateful encounter had occurred, Kayleigh considered that moment itself a blessing on her behalf. Were it not for the Immortal of Light and Courage, then Kay surely would've suffered worse from those horrid bandits. Now those thugs were rotting in the wilderness, feeding the crows that likely came later for the free feast. The songstress had her own injured arm wrapped up to prove the fight actually happened, no matter how surreal the event entirely felt to her anyways. Now that they were in Fort Venora and parted ways, Kayleigh decided to investigate the place for her self.

She didn't know what to expect exactly but she wanted to discover something out of the ordinary, her coat tugged at the collar to try and shield her neck from the rains that fell. Bloody cold. Her hair was in a right mess already because of how soaked it had been, and before she wanted to poke around this new place; she determined it best to bunker down where she could warm up and dry off instead. A tavern. That would be an excellent start really! Thus when she looked around at the number of people walking by, she slightly reached out to a person to politely grab their attention.

"Excuse me," She would address the individual, "Do you know of a tavern and perhaps a clothing shop I might be able to stop at? This wretched rain has me soaked to the bone."

[Doran Cooney]

While it may have been prudent to move with a bit more haste as the rain fell in its steady deluge, Doran had already been soaked completely through. He'd left his house in search of food, having planned poorly and finding his cupboards to be bare when he had risen from a troubled sleep some breaks before. When he'd departed, there had been a gentle mist, but within the break, enough rain had fallen to give him quite the drowned appearance. Sloshing his way down the muddy lane, his head bent moderately against the slight angle of the shower, he blinked wide at a woman about his age who gently pulled him aside for some guidance.

Though the air was fill with the steady plink of rain against the roofs and puddles, but it was not so deafening a noise that he need raise his voice beyond his usually light and airy tone. "I most certainly do." He held an arm out in invitation, but started off in the direction he'd been headed regardless of whether or not she planning on taking it. "You are not from Venora?" The question was bright and curious, his eyes equally so. He pushed his pace into a bit of a jaunt, as the the woman had seemed to find the rain far more a hindrance to her comfort than he. "It will be difficult to procure clothes with the weather in such a state as this, but there is a tavern nearby where you might dry these." "

[Kayleigh]

Kayleigh had a look of sincere thanks when the guy she had bugged for directions seemed nice enough to help, her lips held in a modest smile when she looked at the man in the eyes. He was taller than her certainly but he carried himself in a soft spoken demeanor, with earthly tones in both eyes and hair as he walked the lane. Already an attractive sort to lay eyes upon Kay's smile widened some, until surprise overcame her expression at the offer of his arm. Did he aim to escort her like a gentleman would a lady? Well how cute! Kayleigh had never really been given a proper tour or escort like this, such a courteous gesture nearly made her blush when she took the arm.

"Thank you kind sir." She told him with a brief giggle as her arm remained wrapped around his, although the stroll in the direction she came from somewhat threw her off for a Trill. Evidently she wasn't from around here at all otherwise she wouldn't have needed to bother him, let alone ask for general direction within the area. Quite often Kayleigh stood out much like a sore thumb when she visited places like this, mostly because the culture felt vastly different from the place she often referred to as home. Home. It felt like a long ways off even here, when all she would have to do is venture a ways south. She often wondered how Rharne had been in her absence there, as she suddenly remembered she had left practically two Arcs ago.

"No, not at all." She answered him warmly as they continued the stroll down the lane, although she had to increase the gap in between steps to keep up. He was only several inches taller than her but already he could outpace her, as was such the curse of being shorter than most Kayleigh met. Yet she didn't let that slow her down any, no she much rather preferred to try and keep up with people like this man. "I come from a place South of Rynmere, the city of Rharne just beyond the waters and shore. Have you heard of it?" She inquired curiously with a look up to his face, one of her lips quirked into a smirk as she noticed as well.

The kind stranger looked pretty drenched as well from the rains, not surprising since everything exposed tended to be doused sooner or later. While a little rain was good every now and then, this early in the season was far too cold to even consider it necessary. It might've certainly put a damper on the mood some, but it certainly didn't make the Trial any less enjoyable given present company. "I have spare clothes in my pack thankfully," She pointed out with a glance over her shoulder, "though I can only pray the rains haven't soaked those as well." That would be even more damper come to think of it...

All her clothes drenched because her bag was too wet. Naturally she had purchased a traveler's bag that should at least be resistant, but after standing in the downcast long enough even that can only go so far. "I appreciate you being my guide sir, if you don't mind me asking you of course; what name do you go by?" She inquired trying to sound formal at best, clearly Rynmere's antics were rubbing off on her.

[Doran Cooney]

"Ah!" Doran nodded at the mention of Rharne. Though he was not well acquainted the place itself, he knew it by a moniker he'd heard passed around by the Ryns in taverns here and there. "The city of wine?" Beyond that it was a trade hub that produced a selection of alcohols, where, apparently, the populace was prone to parties and festivities, he knew very little about the climate or people who populated it. Judging by the woman alone, they seemed a charming enough populace, and he politely smiled, rain dripping off of his ruddy nose. The chilly deluge had yet to freeze him all the way through, but he still picked up their pace a bit, as the tavern was still several bits away.

"It is fortunate you have arrived prepared." He chuckled at her slight misgiving regarding her second set of clothes that, presumably, were safe within the pack. "We keep our hearths burning hot during these times, worry not." And she was the standard, not the exception, when it came to the general state of those they would be joining. It was a chore to go about the streets and maintain an arid disposition, and most would have sodden boots if not worse.

They turned down a path where, up a head, a bright lantern glowed a brave, solitary cheer in the natural mirk of the rainfall. Several people, from all different directions could be seen making their way to the solid wooden door, some shouting at their companions to hurry along while others were quick to dart inside without a second thought. "Oh, yes, introductions." Though she already had a hand lightly pressed to his arm, Doran held his free aloft in an invitation to shake. "Doran Cooney, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, I hope." His smile was warm and genuine; his mouth seeming all the larger as his usually thick head of wavy hair hung in flat strands on either side of his soaked face.

[Kayleigh]

"So they call it!" Kayleigh responded with a brief giggle when she heard the name, it was always interesting for her to hear people call Rharne that. Namely because it was rightfully earned by the citizens, as well as their patron Illaren, who served the city as faithfully as it served Her in turn.

"It's definitely a little less structured than Rynmere is in terms of culture, here it seems the nobles have a lot on their minds such as the other families. I'm sure it's interesting to arrange marriages and plan the next line of succession in your family, but all the politics involved are a bit too punctual for my standards." She admitted a little sheepishly with a slight furrow within her brows, unsure how that proved to be one of the first of her concerns with Rynmere.

"Rharne's less ceremonious and more about celebration honestly, always something worth toasting a drink over when you're there." Kay told him with a soft grin on her face as she looked up at him, her eyes briefly admired the angular structure of his jawline as they walked along. "Most fortunate indeed." The lady agreed with a corner of her lip tucked upward in a grin.

"It's always reassuring to know places around here look out for people like me." In a sense that statement rang true for her as it did bring comfort, knowing that somewhere nearby she'd find refuge from this rain. Admittedly the cold was never a friend to her, thus she did her best to hide the slight shakes that accompanied her form. She really was colder than she anticipated somehow, a dilemma she hoped didn't seem obvious to look at. "Just a little longer," she reassured herself as she thought of that warm fire, although admittedly a nice hot bath also felt just as inviting also.

The stranger that escorted her gave the name Doran Cooney once she asked, and yet again Kayleigh couldn't help but shoot him a warm smile upon hearing it. "Kayleigh Wintoic good sir, it has definitely been a pleasure meeting you." Almost charmingly so considering how polite he seemed to be, Kay herself couldn't help but wonder why men in Rharnian couldn't display this much courtesy. "Oh no..." The thought hit her hard compared to the chill within the rain. "I'm slowly becoming like the women here! Frivolously trying to attach myself to the arm's of a man just because he's being so nice!"

So unlike her to be honest... Although Kay couldn't outright believe that's what all the ladies of Rynmere concerned themselves with. Still the thought irked her enough to cause a stir, thus she only slightly loosened her grip around his arm. She was a warrior that needed to maintain the appearance, not some delicate girl needing to cling to an arm. Of course she didn't want to forget her manners or disregard just how nice Doran was being, thus she didn't outright pull away like she probably would have towards some other stranger.

"Doran Cooney. A good name I would think," She complimented with a look forward down their path, "Doran being a name that houses inner personal strength to me. Cooney is more an unusual surname though, is it from a family or clan that branches beyond Rynmere any?" The songstress inquired curiously as they continued to walk along the muddied lane.

[Doran Cooney]

Though he'd never been one to worry too much about what life might be like outside of Rynmere, the information was welcomed with a quirked grin and bright curiosity in Doran's dark eyes. Though she claimed foreigner, her assumptions about the nobility of his homeland were spot on. There was so much tied up into house and home, bloodlines and successions, had Doran been of the nobler caste, he might have found her comment offensive. As he had had his own name traded for another, he hardly felt tied to matters of family. Lily, truly, had been the extent of his ties - all else was distant formality. Still, he chuckled at her admission. Though he knew well the houses of Rynmere, even he found himself confused at time as to who was owed what respect.

Her description Rharne cast the city in a lackadaisical light. Though Venora was no stranger to celebrations and festivities, he would never have thought to name them in brief recount should he be asked what it was the duchy was like. The fondness in her voice only further served to further solidify the aptness of the city's epithet. Though it was not likely he might ever find himself in transit to such a place, he made certain not to forget that should his wanderlust ever see him leave his island nation, Rharne was not too far a distance.

"Well met." The had neared the tavern's doors and he pulled against the heavy wooden handle to allow her pass before following her inside and finally out of the rain. Scents of smoked meats and mead filled the warm, humid air and there was a hum of conversation with the occasional bought of merry laughter. The smooth, worn wood of the floor shone wet, puddles here and there from the many dripping bodies. While there were quite a few people within the establishment, there was still room to move about quite comfortably, and the din was kept at a minimum, needing no raise of voices or drawing near to hear what was being said within earshot.

Kayleigh's comment about his name elicited a brief, non-comittal shrug from Doran's unworried shoulders. "It is not Venoran, true, but I am afraid I do not know much more of it than you." While perhaps he should have been sad, he had long since come to terms with such things. His identity, as long as he could remember, had hardly been tied to his name. It had been to Lily, to his role as cousin and brother. His surname was just that: a name. As he had never sought power or influence, it matter little to him.

Removing his arm from Kayleigh's already loosened grip, he smiled a polite excuse, taking a step away and turning his back. Bending his neck forward, he rapidly shook out the worst of the water from his locks with a flurry of his thin fingers. Turning back to his companion, hair still dripping but not longer plastered to his skin like some sort of thin lichen, he gestured towards the large, crackling hearth, around which several of those who had only recently arrived were gathered, all in various states of drying. "Shall we?"
Player's Note: Feel free to jump in at any point from here on out, Val!

[Val Valencia]

*Common*

“Rynmere…” Val hummed thoughtfully as she tied up Shoes, “more like Rainmere, isn’t it, Shoes? Don’t worry, you’ll be covered and I left you your blanket. When the rain eases off we’ll find you a nice stable. I’ll ask someone in the tavern.”

The dancer had ridden the horse through the rain, finding shelter where should could for two trials, she was no expert in horse care but she thought he would get sick if he kept in the rain. The tavern had temporary stables for the horses, currently filled with several other riders horses. Shoes and Door comfortably situated together, Val skipped through the puddles with her bare feet, twirling her cape like a child would to catch drops on her tongue with a gleeful giggle.

Rain and drink, two of her favorite things together that would get her sick swiftly if the hefty sneeze that followed her giggles was anything to go by. With a sigh she paused her merriment to rush into to the tavern, hair snapping in her face. With great gusto Val rushed the door then flung it open, there was a trill of silence as the dancer hurried to shut it before more rain poured in.

As if she was home Val shook her head like a dog the whipped off her cloak, hanging it with the others drying their clothes. She cast a quick glance around the room, taking in the damp that hung in air mixed with the warmth of the fire. It was fairly crowded, not uncommon with the rain, but it was clear no one seemed to have been prepared for how wet they would be. Her feet almost slipped in the few puddles around as she budged her way towards the hearth. As if she were among old friends Val bumped elbows and grinned widely, uncaring of any looks she received or actually not noticing the few side eyes when she flung water all about.

“I love this season! It sucks its too cold to really enjoy it,” Val interrupted herself with a loud sneeze and flail of her arms, “but I think I enjoyed it too much!”

She lifted her foot and wiggled her frozen toes to emphasis, hoping to warm feeling back into them before she got a drink. Continuing on as if she’d been the native Val turned to peek at the people beside her, “What brings you out of the rains?”

[Kayleigh]

At the greeting another stranger had spared them when they arrived Kayleigh gave the person a nod, her lips still softly upturned into a smile as they finally walked within the building. "Thank you!" She murmured to Doran as he held the door open for her to enter first. At last they were finally out of that infernal rain! To have finally walked in someplace warm and dry already lifted her doused spirits, and the natural invitation of burning wood and seared meat filled her sense of smell.

How invigorating! She couldn't help but first remove pack after the two pulled away, so she could first remove the soaked jade colored jacket afterwards. "I'm sorry if I'd sounded improper," She told him with a sudden apologetic look, "being in Rynmere you must deal with a lot of family related subjects anyways. It must be a pain every now and then to have to speak of the matter often." At least that's what she started to figure when he dismissed the notion, when overall the surname didn't really seem to matter as a subject. With the jacket finally slipped off and thrown over her pack, she looked to Doran and couldn't help the reaction that occurred.

A short laugh bounced into the room when she watched Doran frizzle his hair, a similar fashion demonstrated with her hair as she held a handful at first. With a gentle twist and squeeze she wrenched the water from her cluttered strands, as droplets fell on the floor near the entrance they came within. When she checked the rest of her outfit she found that fortunately; her blouse wasn't as soaked as they felt before, and her trousers were only partially drenched from the thighs downward. Even so she still couldn't fight off the chill that clung to her body, thus picked both jacket and travel pack up so the two could be moved closer to where they'd sit.

"Yes please!" She encouraged as Doran seemed to carry the invitation further within, but of course Kayleigh was already eager to get closer to the hearth. She had to readjust the saber at her belt as she also pulled it out some, just to make sure the scabbard kept the blade from getting wet also. When the two found a spot to linger and sit down at which was close enough to the hearth, Kayleigh rested her pack on the side of her chair closest to the source of heat. With the jacket then rested over the chair's back she then took a seat with a sigh, and pulled her hair all to one side over her shoulder. Another woman had entered the area with such vibrant energy, that already it seemed to infect Kayleigh just seeing it.

She couldn't help but laugh a little and roll her eyes with humor, her lips partly opened as the laughter softly died to a sigh. "Obviously the cold really, I'm certainly ready for warmer weather. Oh!" She looked from the lady to Doran with a excited gasp in her expression. "How about we have something to eat? That'll help us warm up I'm sure! No need to fish out your pockets, it's my treat for to-trial!" She offered warmly with a generous smile at the two, her hands occupied with winding up her hair in a twist.

[Doran Cooney]

As they made their way closer to the back of the tavern where the fire so merrily danced about is pyramid of wood held safely in the stone confines of the hearth, Doran caught the sheen of Kayleigh's blade out of the corner of his eye. He made no comment on the weapon, as it was expected any traveler should carry something to defend one's self with. Still, he found it a bit surprising she chose a sword and not something smaller and more wieldly. Perhaps her open, confident nature had something to do with it, and Doran grinned to himself at the thought. He certainly didn't want to test her temper, it seemed.

While she settled into a chair, her cloths damp but not soaked as Doran was, he chose to stand, his back to the flames, and let his chilled bones begin to soak up the soothing heat. Though he had planned to stop by the tavern and warm himself some before heading to the market, he was glad for the company. Conversation always made for a more pleasant passing of one's time, and he'd underestimated just how cold he'd actually become. Already, the fire's warmth had begun to draw forth the itching, uncomfortable sensation of feeling returning to his fingers and lips. He would need to remain for a good while before heading back out; it was fortunate that he need not search for something or someone to entertain him in the meantime.

Before he could ask the other woman what brought her to Venora in the first place now that they were safe from the heavy beat of the rain that still fell like so many fists upon the drum of the tavern's roof, eyes already sparking with a friendly curiosity, he found himself flinching away from the spray of unwanted water. The culprit, a young dark haired woman about his same height, stood at an impressive distance, and Doran's lips turned in an amused grin. Nodding with Kaleigh's answer, he offered a simple, "Agreed."

The prospect of food reminded him he'd yet to eat that day, and he nodded with an appreciated smile. "It would be rude to refuse so generous an offer, but please allow me, at least, to purchase a round of drinks?" Waving his hand at the bartender, who nodded and began pouring, Doran turned his attention back to the dark haired woman, who seemed to be joining them as their third. "Doran Cooney, at your service." He offered a bow of his head, hands still a bit clammy and wet to give a proper handshake. "Are you seeking shelter here as well, or something else?" What else there might be, he had no idea, but if the woman had something else in mind, he certainly wanted to hear it.

[Val Valencia]

*Common*

“Really? I’m not a fan of the cold but I love the rain, I hope it rains all,” Val drug out the word with a cough as rubbed her arms to rid them of the sharp tingles of warmth, “season. I wasn’t trying to escape at all, I just can’t finish up making a new routine if I can’t feel my feet but theres no better beat than the rain! Plus once I’ve warmed I can dance here, it echoes wonderfully! Oh, and Door and Shoes are not appreciative of the rain, still a little seasick actually.”

She started to sit but missed the heat of the fire and drug the chair a little farther away so she could sit and be warm, “We should just move the table,” she mused, “I never turn down free food and drink but I’d have to pay you both back somehow, don’t wanna be in anyones debt, not even a pretty couple like yourself.”

The dancer grinned wide then a spared cheesy wink, aware she was hamming it up but in good spirits with the prospect of drink, food, and a new attempt at dance. It helped that it wasn’t a falsehood, both her companions looked rather attractive. Dorans formal introduction made her peg him as Venoran (unless he was simply upper class) for each Venoran she’d spoke to talked as if everyone were royalty, even most of the lower class had an accent. The girl she wasn’t sure of but her words were a little more casual.

“Half to say that I’ve never eaten Venoran—is that how you say it?—food, so what would you recommend? Or is it similar to everywhere else? And I’m never picky with drinks, give me an ale and I’m happy.” Her hands never seemed to stop moving as she talked, words flowing like water and running together in a messy pool, “I’m Val, by the way, pleasure to meet you both but I don’t think I caught your name miss?”