Orrun: *grins* Some of them are, aye. We try to see who can go the highest. Do you like climbing trees?

Hakor: Ohhhhh. What does she paint on them?

Tesmir: Sometimes. Usually if it's really calm and civil. It's only fun to watch of things get a little heated. But then if it gets too heated it gets worrisome.

Kedmir: *nods* And these lessons are your own, or your siblings'?

Tilmere: Ah, so they are of the wild fairy variety. Do you like to pick them to make pretty bunches for your mother and grandmother?

Sulwyn: I like the little trees. I'm little.

Iola: For the cups, she often paints flowers or the sky. She is a fine painter.

Yestin: I have always found it a pleasure to match my own wit to that of another.

Aderyn: Mine and my sisters'.

Lyneth: *nods*

Orrun: *grins* But I'll bet even among the littlest climbers you like to go highest.

Hakor: They sound lovely. Does she paint other things, besides the cups?

Tesmir: You have? *thinks* I know it's interesting to watch Tilmere debate with other men of the city sometimes. But I don't think I'd have the patience for it.

Kedmir: *nods* What do these lessons entail?

Tilmere: So, if you were a wee butterfly lass, I would have to go into the fields to find the corncockles, and there I would find you?

Sulwyn: I'm not as little as Tal. He's still a baby! *points toward her little brother*

Talidor: *is eating a piece of bread, but making it more squashed with his fingers instead of putting it in his mouth*

Yestin: It is more subtle than swordplay, but the more powerful form of combat when used correctly* *grins*

Aderyn: Oh, the usual things ladies learn. *goes down the list* Music, painting, dancing, sewing, cooking, manners, account keeping, politics... *thinks* What do the ladies in Allare have to learn?

Lyneth: *giggles and looks shy*

Orrun: *smiles* Aye, of course. I'll bet you will be a good teacher in climbing trees when he gets to be a littler bigger.

Tesmir: *smiles* I'm sure. Kedmir likes to haggle. He thinks quickly and keeps ahead of it all.

Kedmir: *to Aderyn* Women here learn politics? *realizes how that might have sounded* I mean... Piensorite ladies, I don't believe, make it a subject to learn. *tries to think* Ladies in Piensor probably learn the same subjects... as well as subject any child would learn, I suppose. Reading, writing... history, probably...

Tilmere: *smiles and eats some more*

Sulwyn: Do you shake the branches?

Yestin: *smiles and listens* What is it like to barter with coin?

Iola: *nods* She paints wood and skin sometimes to make paintings. They're in the rest of the house.

Aderyn: *looks confused and interested* Do they not in Peinsor? How would politics not be a part of your history?

Lyneth: *keeps watching him as she eats*

Orrun: Shake the branches? I don't think so... why?

Tesmir: The seller and buyer goes back and forth naming prices. The seller tries to haggle for more coin, and the buyer for less. You have to find the right sellers, or the grumpy ones will get fed up and refuse to do business with you. But when a price is settled on, the buyer pays for the item with the coin amount that was finally settled on. *grins* Big market days can get really noisy with people haggling. But that's usually when we can find the best prices that aren't too expensive.

Hakor: *smiles* Does it look like fun? To paint?

Kedmir: *thinks* Not that I've heard of. Or at least, not often. Politics are a part of our history, but I meant learning the finer parts of politics. I have seen some women who have learned, but most have not.

Tilmere: *smiles* What kind of games do you like to play?

Sulwyn: So the fruits come down! *makes her hands do the motions of fruit falling from trees*

Yestin: *was leaning on his arm, but flops it on the table* How can you make such an intricate duel sound so mundane? *drinks his wine*

Iola: It is fun, but I don't do as well as Braith. She has a more steady hand than I do...

Aderyn: *thinks* I wonder why that is. It seems odd, not to learn something that can change so much in the world.

Lyneth: *gives a shy shrug*

Orrun: Ahh. Not usually, no. I don't think the forest has many of those trees.

Tesmir: *blinks* It's not? Sword duels are more exciting to watch.

Hakor: It probably takes practice. *leans over confidentially* You know how Ked looked awkward on the eguiterma? He's never had practice like your sister, and she's very steady and confident on one. Painting takes practice too.

Kedmir: *nods* I'm not sure... I suppose some of the wealthier ladies might learn it, because they have the time... Do women here take part of political events often?

Tilmere: *smiles* Let's see... ah, have you ever played a game in which lots of people hide, and one person has the job of finding them all?

Sulwyn: D'you have cones?

Yestin:

Garan: *grins at his brother's exasperation*

Yestin: More can happen there than steel could achieve... *eats his food*

Iola: *giggles* Aye, but painting does take a long while. It makes me tired to sit so still for that time.

Aderyn: The knights do, to a greater degree, but the manner in which the city is run affects everyone. How could anyone avoid it?

Lyneth: *shakes her head*

Orrun: *nods* The little things on the trees that can get really sticky?

Tesmir: Like what?

Hakor: *nods* I'm sure. I suppose when you're younger, it's harder to sit still because there is so much to see, and that way when you get better, you've seen so much, you have lots of things you can paint.

Kedmir: I never thought about it like that... I wonder if women in Murke will become more active in politics... or if they already are in other cities or even countries.

Tilmere: *feigns shock* Never? Well, this must be remedied! *thinks* Ah, here is one you might have played: have you ever played with dolls and given them parties?

Sulwyn: *nods enthusiastically*

Yestin: *grins and eats his food, ignoring Tesmir*

Garan: He does that when he thinks your actions have proven his point...

Iola: *smiles* Yes. I like to be outside in the air. It's easier to sit still out there, but I like moving better.

Aderyn: I'm surprised they haven't already. Father says it is like that in some regions of the East.

Lyneth: *looks ashamed when Tilmere is shocked* *nods slowly when he mentions dolls*

Orrun: Yes, we do have those. Our mother used to decorate the house with them.

Tesmir: =_= I don't think I like what that implies. *flicks a small bit of strawberry at Yestin* *realizes and glances at Tilmere, but relaxes when his brother didn't see*

Hakor: *nods* It's more fun to move around than sit around. Maybe someone will find a way to paint and move around.

Kedmir: *nods* Maybe Tilmere knows a few ladies who are interested in the subject. He's usually up to date on what's going on.

Tilmere: *looks annoyed with himself* *nudges her arm and winks* Maybe we can find a few siblings and play the game later? *smiles* Do you have a favorite doll?

Sulwyn: They don't go in the house!

Yestin: *looks smug and keeps eating*

Iola: That would get too messy. I can still dance while I play the flute though.

Aderyn: Perhaps there is some accounting for social status? I had forgotten that it might be different...

Lyneth: *nods* Ta brought her from far away...

Orrun: They can for decorating. In the winter, and then you can paint them sometimes. :3

Tesmir: *flicks cheese at him* Oi--

Tilmere: *sharply* Tesmir!

Tesmir: *jumps and looks at his brother sheepishly*

Tilmere: *gives him a warning look before turning away*

Tesmir: =_=

Hakor: You play the flute?

Kedmir: *nods* Perhaps. Maybe ladies of higher status become more involved.

Tilmere: *smiles* Did he? So she has seen quite a lot of the world to share with you.

Sulwyn: Do they fall on your head?

Yestin: *still looks self-satisfied*

Lyneth:

Tristram: *watches the twins for a moment*

Iola: Aye, all the girls do. Sulwyn is still learning, and Aderyn doesn't practice, but I enjoy it.

Aderyn: We have more opportunity to be. The wives and daughters of farmers and miners do not often have the time for a proper education as we have.

Lyneth: *hunches her shoulders and eats quietly*

Orrun: Sometimes. Especially if my brothers throw them.

Tesmir: Fine then. =_= *continues eating*

Tilmere: *looks at Tristram apologetically*

Hakor: Fun. What do you like playing best?

Kedmir: *nods* That makes sense. It is a shame, though, both men and women who aren't able to have that opportunity. Minds that are sharp and quick to learn don't have the time...

Tilmere: Lyneth? Are you alright?

Sulwyn: *giggles*

Yestin: *grins*

Garan: That's all he uses his wits for at this point, but he says he'll be important when he's older. *smirks*

Yestin: And I will. Just you wait.

Iola: Oh, I like the storytelling tunes. Then I can think of the words to any of them while I play.

Aderyn: *thinks* That is true...

Blodwyn: *strokes Lyneth's hair* She is well, but very timid for a Scalestride.

Orrun: But then they give me all of the pinecones, so I can throw them back.

Tesmir: Oh? What do you want to do when you get older?

Hakor: What is your favorite story to play?

Kedmir: *nods* I wonder if that will change. If farmers or miners will have that opportunity...

Tilmere: *nods* I'm sorry if I startled you, Lyneth.

Sulwyn: But that's a mess!

Yestin: *raises an eyebrow and looks around the room* Work with Father. What else would I do?

Iola: Most of the tunes are similar. That way you can always know how to sing them. What's your favorite story?

Aderyn: The Orders teach a great deal to the people. I'm sure they must have the opportunity.

Lyneth:

Orrun: It's in the forest, so there's no harm.

Tesmir: Oh. I don't know... I didn't know if you had an interest in a different occupation.

Hakor: *smiles, thinking* I've always liked the story of dragons, and how they came to the surface after years of sleeping underground.

Kedmir: But maybe not the time... are there any days here where work is not done?

Tilmere: *continues eating, unsure of what to do*

Sulwyn: There's forest in the house?

Yestin: I have seen the scalebacks. There is hardly an occupation more prestigious than to be of the family that has tamed them.

Iola: *listens* You have dragons that were under ground?

Aderyn: *furrows her brow and slowly shakes her head* There is always work to be done...

Blodwyn: Lyn, be polite.

Lyneth: *glances at Tilmere*

Orrun: Oh, no, I meant when we're outside in the forest. Tilmere would have our hides if we threw them around inside. o.o

Tesmir: *looks almost a bit jealous* That's true. Have you ever tamed one before?

Hakor: *nods* Well, their ancestors were, years and years ago. The first dragons were deep underground, asleep. But then they came to the surface. They caused a few earthquakes, but they've been fairly friendly. And now, some people even ride them.

Kedmir: *nods* But they receive some form of teaching? Or at least the children? If not in politics, subjects involving letters, or numbers? Or history?

Tilmere: *smiles at her* So what does your doll from far-off lands look like?

Sulwyn: *listens* Hide where?

Yestin: *nods* Never one that was fully my own work, but of course I have worked in the process.

Iola: *listens in awe* They tamed them as we did the scalebacks?

Aderyn: *nods* Oh yes, there are many songs that teach history. I imagine anyone could count as well as speak... Not everyone does learn to read and to write.

Lyneth: *shakes her head shyly again*

Orrun: Uh, I meant we'd get in trouble.

Tesmir: You have? What was it like?

Hakor: Mmm, maybe not tame them... they're sentient, or so I've heard. They can talk like you or I can.

Kedmir: *nods* But reading and writing would be important to learn too. For trade agreements, partnerships?

Tilmere: *smiles* Does she have a name?

Sulwyn: Why? *eats cheese*

Yestin: It takes a great deal of concentration, but the effort is worth the experience.

Iola: Can they? *smiles and imagines* What is that like?

Aderyn: Trade can be done well enough without writing. It has been often enough.

Lyneth: Aerona...

Orrun: He doesn't like us making big messes inside the house. *eats more of his crayfish*

Tesmir: It sounds exciting and amazing. Especially with those creatures... *looks rather impressed a wee bit jealous*

Hakor: That's what I've heard. I've never met one, though... maybe it's like talking to a god. Dragons are big and powerful...

Kedmir: True... what about keeping track of expenses?

Tilmere: That is a charming name. And you say your father brought her from far away?

Rune: *to Tristram* How many men does it take to handle scalebacks when working with them? Or when taming them?

Sulwyn: Oh. *munches on her food*

Yestin: Aye. Riding is always a great pleasure.

Iola: A god?

Aderyn: Father says everyone has their ways of keeping accounts.

Lyneth: *nods*

Tristram: For capturing them, it takes a fair few. A dozen at least. Taming takes at least seven until they are well controlled.

Orrun: What do you shake from the trees?

Tesmir: I'm sure. Do they really go fast? Like Ked mentioned?

Hakor: *nods* Maybe. I mean, gods are supposed to be extremely powerful and bigger than anything. Dragons might be similar. Not godlike, but the same traits, being so large and powerful.

Kedmir: That's true. How are accounts kept here? In a book?

Tilmere: *smiles* So she has seen far off lands? She must have a great many stories for your other dolls, aye?

Rune: *nods* How many does it take to work with them in the mines? Or are they fairly easy to control by that time?

Sulwyn: 'Un time, Yessin an' Garan shook beeeees. I don't shake bees.

Yestin: Oh yes. Much faster than a man could run.

Iola: Oh. Mama and Tada say that gods are more dangerous.

Aderyn: We keep them in a book. Some of father's partners use scrolls.

Lyneth: *nods*

Tristram: A single man can usually manage an animal by then. They do not go far into the mines, but cart away the ore and debris once it is above the ground.

Orrun: I hope not Bees? Was it accidental, or dos they do it on purpose?

Tesmir: o.o *eats, looking thoughtful* Have you ever tried riding one without a saddle?

Hakor: *nods* I've heard the same. I've never met a god, though. Maybe some are as weak as humans.

Kedmir: *nods* Scrolls? Those must be very old.

Tilmere: *smiles* Has she told you of these far off places?

Rune: *nods* And they don't mind going in to the mines a little ways? They aren't nervous?

Sulwyn: Purpose.

Yestin: You would not be able to comprehend how uncomfortable-

Garan: Just say it hurts.

Yestin: -_- It more than hurts.

Iola: ...Ta says the gods in the temples are fake and made of wood and stone, or they are evil spirits and creatures that eat men...

Aderyn: Oh no. They are just rolled instead of pressed between a cover.

Lyneth: *nods again*

Tristram: Not if the men look sharp, but they are too large to go very deep.

Orrun: Why?

Tesmir: Oh. o.o *looks thoughtful again* Does it hurt because their scales?

Hakor: Really? How does he know they're fake? Evil I could understand sometimes...

Kedmir: Ahh. Is it easier to manage accounts in scrolls rather than books?

Tilmere: She must have seen a great many exotic things on her travels.

Rune: *nods* Are scalebacks ever hunted? Wild ones, I mean?

Sulwyn: I'aknow.

Yestin: No, it's the spine ridge. They might as well have spikes down their backs like a wyvern. -_-

Garan:

Iola: Because they're statues.

Aderyn: I do not know. We keep books, but I can't imagine it is so very different.

Lyneth: *shakes her head* She hid in the sack.

Tristram: Not often. The larger ones are too deep in the swamp to follow easily, and killing a younger one would give a man little renown.

Orrun: Up to one of their tricks?

Tesmir: Have you ever tried standing, just slightly? You keep low over their back, but you don't sit on them, and grip with your feet.

Hakor: Oh. Maybe they just represent the gods? So it's easier to pay homage?

Kedmir: *nods* Scrolls are becoming an old method in Piensor. But I've seen older men use them sometimes. Tilmere says our father used some, but they were already becoming replaced by books. The pages were easier to protect from crushing with a cover.

Tilmere: *thinks, then nods* Perhaps, but what about at night? *tone gets a hint of mystery*

Rune: Are they a good source of meat? Or perhaps their scales can be used?

Sulwyn: Aye.

Yestin: If you try riding one yourself first, this will make more sense to you.

Garan: He sounds completely rude about it, but it is rather complicated, so he's right.

Iola: Yeah, but they're all selfish and cruel. Some of them have people killed in the temples.

Aderyn: Which is curious, since the covers are only a different sort of crushing. I believe father said some men store scrolls inside boxes or shelves to keep that from happening.

Lyneth: No, she didn't like it, so she stayed inside.

Tristram: Their meat is too tough, and their hides do not seem to keep well.

Orrun: I'm sure they've never tried to play tricks on you, aye?

Tesmir: Oh... it would be fun to ride one. But if they go so fast I might not be able to hold on.

Hakor: Ohhh. o.o I've never been inside a temple, I don't think... but maybe there are some who are kinder. They can't be all bad.

Kedmir: *smiles* That's true. *nods* That makes sense. I suppose scrolls take less space than books do, so more can be used and stored.

Tilmere: *nods* Ah. Such a big world can be a little scary for a little doll. But she must have been very brave to travel.

Rune: Even the meat of the young?

Sulwyn: Sometimes...

Yestin: Balance is easy enough.

Iola: *shakes her head* There's just one.

Aderyn: *nods* There must be benefits to both methods, or I don't expect they would coexist. In what trade is your region invested?

Lyneth: *nods*

Tristram: Aye. Scalebacks are not like birds and animals that are fed by their parents until they are strong enough to survive alone. The young hatch strong and must survive from that moment. It is well for us as we train them, but it means their bodies are tough and not so good for eating.

Orrun: But you're clever and trick them back? Perhaps an older sibling joins forces with you?

Tesmir: *mind looks like it's whirring overtime*

Hakor: There is? But... one god can't do it all at once. There are different ones for different things, and they all work together... most of the time.

Kedmir: *nods* That's true... our region? We usually receive trade from Luminne, across the ocean. When we lived by the water, our father would trade for fabrics from Luminne, sometimes articles of jewelry, and spices or other herbs. But now, in Murke, trade consists of furs and hunted meat and grown produce. Oh, I believe our father also did some trade with wine makers in Ainran on occasion. *looks at her* I hope that answered your question. I may have been all over the place there.

Tilmere: Now, correct if I am wrong, but I recall that toys come to life when they know they aren't being watched. Is that true?

Rune: *nods* Is there a higher demand for one kind of scaleback over another?

Sulwyn: Sometimes Tada or Nain or Mama catches them. *nods*

Yestin: May as well try it yourself. *pushes his thrice emptied plate back and leans back in his chair*

Iola: How come you think that?

Aderyn: I believe so... I meant the city and its surrounding lands. We have iron here. The crops and the animals are mainly kept for our own stomachs since other lands can manage them just as well and with more variety.

Lyneth: They're always alive...

Tristram: Aye. The eguiterma are much more content to draw carts than the baryonyx, so we keep them in use more often.

Orrun: Ahh. They make sure your brothers don't tease you too often?

Tesmir: *looks up* Really? I can?

Hakor: Well... there's so much around us. I haven't seen it all, but there's still the whole country I haven't seen, only a tiny part of it, and then there are two other countries across the water. Who knows what's on those? And long ago the countries were their own worlds, so maybe they had their own gods too. There's so much, so there might be different gods presiding over different things. Like crops, or the rain. Or magic.

Jek: *tilts his head slightly when his twin mentions magic*

Kedmir: Oh. *nods as he listens* Around Murke it is usually crops and anything that is hunted, including the furs. What kind of crops are grown here?

Tilmere: *nods* Of course. But they move when they think we aren't watching. So when you're fast asleep, Aerona is up and playing and telling wondrous stories.

Rune: *nods* What are baryonix best used for?

Sulwyn: *nodnod*

Yestin: I don't see why you couldn't, as long as you keep your head.

Iola: *looks confused* But God does the rain and the crops and all of the things... *scratches her head*

Aderyn: Wheat, corn, some orchard fruits, leaf vegetables, root vegetables, and fodders. The usual sorts I suppose...

(They're in a cooler climate than Peinsor, so I don't know how normal it is for them.)

Lyneth: *cocks her head* No, she's not... She's with me...

Tristram: They are more energetic mounts, so we are attempting to train them for combat.

Orrun: What sorts of tricks do you like to play?

Tesmir: *grins eagerly* Can I try it without a saddle too?

Hakor: Lots of gods do that too. Some are better than others at things, I guess.

Kedmir: *listens* What... *looks a little embarrassed* What is corn?

(I had an idea that Piensor doesn't have corn, but I'm not 100% set on this. )

Tilmere: Ahh, she must protect you from the spooks under the bed? But the other toys. Once they know your eyes are closed, they come out to play.

Rune: Is there often conflict here where they would be needed?

Sulwyn: The one with the otter.

Yestin: -_-

Garan: No, you can't ride them if you don't do it properly. They're too dangerous if mishandled.

Iola: *looks perplexed* No they don't. They're lying. Only God does all of them.

Aderyn: *thinks for a moment* Well, I suppose it is a very tall wheat... Taller than us, once it is grown to harvest. But the heads grown on the sides of the stalks and are covered in grains the size of a pea. They are very hard, but they are ground to be a poor sort of flour, or fed to the pigs.

Lyneth: But they play with me. Why don't they sleep?

Tristram: Not so consistently that we keep them on guard, but it takes a great deal of time to train them well, and the world is large, and the city and our homes do not have walls. as others have.

Orrun: How does that one work?

Tesmir: But... alright...

Hakor: How do we know only one God does it all? That's quite a lot to take on for just one.

Kedmir: *listens, trying to picture it* Are they hard to harvest? Being so tall and the grains hard?

Tilmere: *nods* Oh, aye, they do sleep. But sometimes they come out again to play, because toys love to play. And sometimes they must come to life to guard your bed to make sure nothing tries to sneak under it.

Rune: *nods* How do you train them for combat?

Sulwyn: The otter has the fish an' he tricks the wolf all the time.

Iola: Ta knows. He says it only looks big to us, because we're small. Like children see keeping house or work.

Aderyn: I don't believe so... They are harvested like any other large crop.

Lyneth: *Trevelian's little friends do that.

Tristram: With commands, as much as can be managed. Their way of thinking it to learn to associate what they see or smell directly with food. A fish shines and squirms, and smells of a fish, so it is food. But it would be a terrible err in judgement to teach them to associate any human appearance with prey. In the first place, we do not decide what our enemies wear, and in the second, there could too easily be accidents. So I have attempted to center their training regime around commands. They are told to react on the whims of their riders, rather than their own judgement. I cannot say that they would be able to keep their wits about them in line combat, but as guards and warding off predators or barbarians, I believe they are very well equipped indeed.

Orrun: Does he? How does he trick the wolf? He must be quite clever.

Hakor: True... but why would there be so many other gods if there's only One?

Kedmir: *nods* What do you use it for?

Tilmere: Ahhh. He makes sure his sister is well protected at night. Do his little friends get on well with your dolls?

Rune: They certainly would make a great force to be reckoned with. Even if they don't respond well in combat, those who don't know that could see an intimidating force. *looks rather intrigued by the idea* Would eguiterma be good for guards, if there was need?

Sulwyn: *nodnod* He's very smart!

Iola: *thinks* Because the other ones aren't really gods. That's what Ta says.

Aderyn: Some grind it into flour. We just feed it to the pigs.

Lyneth: They don't like people very much.

Tristram: Aye, I would expect so. They prefer more gentle work, and they are not as quick, but if they are goaded to it, they will get very irritable indeed.

Orrun: How does he trick the wolf? Aren't wolves tricksters themselves?

Hakor: But... how does he know? How can we tell which ones are real and which ones aren't?

Kedmir: *nods* Is corn easy to grow?

Tilmere: I see. Surely they like you, as Trevelian's sister.

Rune: *nods* Are you and your family the only ones who raise and use the scalebacks?

Sulwyn: Noooo. Wolbes are a tribe. But the otter is slippery. Sometimes the fox is tricky too, but the otter can swim and hide.

Iola: *thinks* ... I don't know... but Ta does.

Aderyn: It seems so. The wind can hurt the crop, and animals get at it the same as with any other plant, but it isn't terribly delicate or troublesome.

Lyneth: They don't like Aderyn at all, and she's Trevelian's favorite.

Tristram: *smiles proudly* We are thus far, to my knowledge. My grandfather began it when he was a young man.