Heh. I still remember when Laelith kept to herself during these celebrations. I say let's see what Jayne and the other nobles are talking about. See if we can get their thoughts on anything.

Jayne's group first, then see what Gaius and co. are up to.

Though later we should see about getting Laelith to give us a private show.

>>15963505

second.

>Bumping for CQ!

Smiling at Laeliths show, you make your way over to Jayne, Lennis, and several other nobles. "I wont budge. Its better to capture wild and train ANY mount than it is to breed and raise."

Lennis nods sagely, but the head of house Morlan scoffs "Have you ever tried to tame a Gryphon?" he asks, almost accusingly.

One of the other nobles, one you dont know, laughs as he adds "No, nor would I like to. Even the chicks are larger than a mastiff, and strong enough to take the jugular out from even my sturdiest horse."

Lennis sighs "Your destriers are almost as bad as Uurlanthi destriers. All muscle, no brain. My son could-"

"Breed a better horse when he was ten." Jayne and Balor Morlan finish for the half drunken Bohzd.

>>15963669
"It's quite dangerous but very fulfilling when you tame a wild animal as your mount. I still remember taming mine a little bit after Jayne just taught me to learn to ride. Then she gave me the bare instructions on how to tame one and let me dive in head first."

>>15963761

I like this. Lets go with this. I reaaaally don't wanna get dragged too deep into this disagreement.

We should also profusely thank Jayne for healing us and saving us during the last battle.

>>15963827
I figured that would be done in private. And I think it was our life elementalists that did it. I believe Jayne specialized more in keeping energy up rather than direct healing.

>>15963839
>>15963827

If we're thanking them, we should just thank all of them for their contributions to this campaign, that it could not have been possible without their support.

>>15963839
Good point

>>15963505
Rather than see what Gaius and the rest are up to, I wonder if we should find Vi. See where she is and why she's not taking part. Although the same could be said for Autronius I guess.

>>15963870
Thank everyone for their great work. Briefly discuss the logistics of training his men with Vohzd Lennis. Don't talk too much business during a party.

Find Vi, talk with her and take her around the celebration.

You chuckle as you take a drink from your cuyp, and join the conversation "Taming wild mounts can be quite dangerous. I remember taming... if you could call it that, Spite mere days after Jayne here taught me to ride. I think I nearly broke more than a few bones in my body."

Balor echoes your laugh "Well, uursan respect strength and dominance. Wild Gryphons respect nothing, and see anything with strength as a challenge to their dominance." he sighs "I agree that you find far superior specimens in the wild, but unless you raise the beast, it will never allow you to ride it."

You smirk "I'm certain that if I really wanted-"

Jayne puts her hand over your mouth... though your shock at how swiftly and gracefully she crossed the group of nobles and leaders to press her body up behind you would have been enough to keep you silent. She wraps her free arm around you, and pokes her head past your shoulder "I have already plucked your broken body from danger once this season, and would rather not do so again, my love."

You smile becomes sheepish "And I cannot thank you enough for that. Or any of you for your parts in this campaign."

The men gathered around you all nod, and one of the nobles you dont recognize raises his cup "To Degnar, to victory, and to friends."

As the other men in the group raises their glasses Jayne chuckles quietly into your ear "Not that I dont doubt you would survive the ordeal... but I would hate to have to go without your for so long again." she pauses, and whispers even softer "Now please, save me... Lennis is insufferable with how he gloats over his sons when he is in his cups."

Toast them and apologize for plucking away Jayne. Go see Gaius and the other manly men next.

>>15964254
"Unfortunately, I hope the rest of you will excuse Jayne and I. After being on my back for a few days, there are a few things I need to catch up on. Enjoy the celebrations."

I'm tempted to say we should put Jayne into that drinking contest with Sansa and the rest, heh. Regardless, I still think we should find Vi.

>>15964254

"Thank you, all of you. Without your combined efforts, we would not have held the line here against those who would savage our home. I toast and celebrate you men."

Toast them and excuse ourselves, keeping Jayne on our arm as we go off.

Scoop her up, carry her off. That'll get her free of their clutches. At a safe distance we can put her down again, kiss and a wink, and then go find Vi.

How about we get Jayne to go find Vi? We're missing out on valuable party time.

>>15964489
>>15964318
>>15964307
>>15964295
These sound good to me

You nod, and after drinking the toast you add "I am rather sorry my friends, but after being unconscious for several days, I have fallen behind on several things..." and at that, you spin around and lift Jayne up. You only make it a few steps before she struggles free and attaches herself to your arm.

Grinning like a madwoman, she looks up to you and coos "As much as I would love for you to carry me off right now, I would be breaking our agreement..." you are about to ask what Jayne is talking about when she exclaims "Ohh... thats sad."

You look up to see Vi, standing off in the shadows at the outside edge of the celebration, looking confused and alone. The two of you make your way over to the woman, who's eyes are fixated on the display Laelith is putting on by herself, now that her pupils are laying on the ground away from the elf, panting and sweating. "What are we all doing?" she asks, confused.

Jayne raises an eyebrow at the former Loukys hive "You dont know how to celebrate?"

Vi shakes her head "No... yes. we do not know what is appropriate."

>>15964566
"Whenever we finish a campaign, we celebrate the fact we were successful. We relax and try to enjoy ourselves as best we can without worrying about our other problems. Take my arm Vi, and I'll take you around camp and show you."

>>15964566
"Having fun. Drinking, telling tales, jokes. Tests of skill. Whatever feels enjoyable for the moment. It is customary to share a few alcoholic drinks and such with friends and comrades after a successful campaign."

>>15964608

Seconding. Not sure how to really go about this.

>>15964608
>>15964611

Whatever combination of these sound best.

I don't really have anything to add. I still think we should take the time to socialize with our captains.

>>15964608
Thirding.

>>15964611
And if all else fails, ogle Laelith. You'll be in good company.

Yu smirk, and reply "Well, after a successful campaign, it is tradition for us to relax, celebrate, and do our best to take our minds off of the friends and comrades we lost." You pause and raise your cup reverently, before continuing, without drinking from it "So we drink, make merry, tell tales... whatever we feel like, truly."

Jayne sighs, and reaches over to put vi on your other arm "We will show you how to enjoy a celebration... I cant beleive that Justinian was so... plain, about it."

vi still looks confused, and her look deepens when you stop by a large, half-full wooden keg, its top open, though the two beneath it are full and sealed. You proceed to pour the drink you had offered the fallen before into the barrel, and Jayne does the same. "Why did the two of you do that?" she asks as you move away.

You shrug "An old legionary tradition. You offer your fallen comrades and friends a toast, then pour their drink out into a barrel. At the end of the celebration it is burnt, to be certain that it makes it to them in the afterlife."

Jayne frowns a little "It has been some time since I was at a celebration that filled three kegs so quickly."

Vi looks at the two of you, confused "Isnt that dangerous?"

You chuckle "The barrels are kept well away from the camp, and opened up. With elementalists we may not even need that precaution anymore."

Vi nods, and accepts the drink that you offer her. After taking a sip, she spits it out "This is a poison!!" she smacks her lips rather violently "And a poor one at that... it would take years to kill with it... and the taste is horrendous."

>>15964831
"It is not the taste we drink it for, though in time many come to enjoy that as well. It is the effect it has on the mind, loosening inhibition and allowing one to relax easier without becoming too much so. But do bear in mind one must know when to stop, because as you said it is a low level poison to the body. In your case, it might be that you can regulate the point as you wish."

Let's teach her to dance next. Maybe she'll like that more.

"That's true. We mostly drink it to lower inhibitions during social functions. It's no fun if everyone is watching what they say."

>>15964831
"Well, drinking too much isn't all that good, that's for sure, but poison? Only in the barest sense. There is actually a large industry for making this."

>>15964886
Heh. Amusing. I'll second this. No point in forcing her to drink if she really doesn't want to. Although it could be amusing to see her drunk.

>>15964886
>teach vi to dance
I support this idea and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Wait, can Justinian dance? Well, probably.

We should also stop Laelith before she turns herself into a dishrag again like last time she put on a show.

>>15964945
additional: Might be a good idea to have Jayne refresh Laelith after her show while we dance with Vi too. Will give them both something to do while we're on the floor.

>>15964945
>>15964886
Are we strong enough at the moment to dance? We just woke up after receiving some pretty bad wounds after all.

>>15964991
Well, we got us the best life elementalists in the army, so I would hope so.

>>15964945
Get Laelith to teach Vi to dance.

If you know what I mean.

You chuckle "Yes, alcohol is an acquired taste... and yes, if you over-indulge in it too often it can kill you. But its value is not in its medicinal properties, or taste. Rather its ability to loosen ones social inhibitions, forget unpleasant memories for a time, or calm the nerves. It is improtant to know when your self controll is too greatly degraded, so that you can slow the rate at which you drink, or stop of course." you take a drink yourself, sighing contentedly "And of course, no one is forcing you to drink, and you may very well be able to negate the effects of alcohol on your body."

Jayne chuckles "I can... to some extent at least. It clears like any other toxin." she takes a drink as well "Though I see no reason why one would want to do so." It seems as if Jayne is ready to say something else, when the entire force freezes again, as a massive dragon made of fire and smoke erupts from Laeliths torch. Seconds later, a group of gryphons follow the massive beast, and then begin to battle the dragon.

For a while, all three of you watch in awe, until you whisper to Jayne "I think it would be kind to keep poor Laelith from passing out, love."
>cont'd

Jayne sighs, and takes another drink "I suppose. She will be more than eager to show me her gratitude as well..." she trails off, not sounding overly enthused, but clearly not off-put at the request, and more than willing to help the elf.

"What about us?" Vi asks after Jayne leaves to help Laelith, a different, much sweeter smelling drink now in her hand.

You smile "I, am going to teach you how to dance."

-----CQ-----

Several hours later, after what feels like the thousandth time your foot has been stepped on, a laughing Vi cries out "Mercy! We cannot learn this sober, let alone inebriated."

You sigh, having rather enjoyed her desperate attempts to learn quickly. You had expecter her to be quite lithe, but after all this dancing, you are beginning to suspect that Uurist posses more physical grace than her "You are hardly drunk, I would not even say you are feeling a buzz yet?"

"Buzz?" Vi asks, confused "We can feel our bodies responses slowing, and we certainly are not as embarrassed as we should be for what we have been doing."

Sighing, you try to think of an explanation as you look out over the celebration. Sansa and her competitors are still drinking at a steady pace, and Gaius, Cornelius, Malcius, and now Finian and Aurelius are at a nearby table, dicing for drinks, by the look of it.

>>15965283
"Ah, then you're beginning to learn the value of the experience. Many things just can't be taught with words."

>>15965283
"Well, perhaps you would like some Mead. Lena had an... interesting adventure with it her first time drinking, and it's sweet. Let's go get a mug for you."

Do so, and then perhaps go listen to people telling stories or join in cheering for people in the drinking contests. Some sort of passive activity where we can sit with Vi and consume liquor while watching the fun and maybe telling her stories of our own. Something to keep her enthralled and enjoying the night while not excessively taxing her (or us) physically, basically.

>>15965399
I'll second this course of action. Can't really think of anything to say at the moment.

>>15965399
addendum: Oh, oh! I know. Go watch Laelith's show. She never got over her fear of Laelith and had the talk, did she? It might be a good time to have them become friends when she is slightly buzzed and her fear is deadened, and we can sit with her and watch the show while we talk and drink with her... she was already enjoying that before, so we know she likes it.

>>15965283
"A slight loosening of inhibitions, as well as the slight slowing of bodily responses"

You chuckle as you lead her from the area where most of the dancing is taking place. as you get yourself another drink you offer "Perhaps mead for you this time? It is a sweeter drink... and Lena had a rather, interesting, experience with it her first time drinking alcohol."

Vi nods, nervously, clearly having seen Lena earlier "We are... curious about that story." the woman replies, taking your arm as you go to sit between Sansa drinking competition, and the other commanders drunken dicing.

as you regail Vi of Lenas drunken exploits, you enjoy watching the aerial battle Laelith is creating, which has become a good deal more realistic and visceral since Jayne moved in to boost the elf. You also learned that the three dwarfs are finally drinking Sansa under, though from the looks of it, it would be a miracle if a single one of them was able to stand, let alone walk to their tents at this point. At the other adjacent table, Cornelius is handily beating the other soldiers at dice, and beginning to pull in coin as well as force the others to drink.

As you launch into another story of your friends drinking exploits, the flaming dragon slays the second to last gryphon in the sky. Almost the entire camp is watching the show with rapt attention by now, save those moving drinks, or otherwise entertained. As the battle intensifies, you begin the story of how Lena tried to pick a fight with Collin drunk. As you set down another empty cup, and Vi sets her fourth empty glass down, you end the story "So, we never did get to see which of the two was a better fighter, but I suppose that is for the best."
>cont'd

vi leans her head against your shoulder, smiling "That was best for her. We think she would have been-" Vis voice catches in her throat, as a flaming man materializes on the gryphon as it charges headlong at the dragon.

Greatsword in hand, he leaps at the massive beast of fire, driving his blade into the base of the intimation immortals neck, even as his mount is devoured. Soundlessly, the beast roars in pain, as it crashes to the ground. the image explodes just above the camp, to a roar of applause and cheers. "Not historicalaly accurate, but damned if I that was-wasnt rousing." you hear Gaius announce as Laelith takes a bow.

>>15965601
"Still having difficulty around fire and Laelith? Have you tried speaking to her throughout this campaign?"

I'm voting for a timeskip to the next day. We've got lots of shit that needs doing. Celebrating before you get all of your work done feels off, though it's forgivable in this case since Trentz was out for three days.

>>15965628
Seconding this, and if Vi feels up to it we should invite Laelith over. Praise her show, try to get the two of them to talk and be comfortable with each other.

Is that a no to taming a wild griffon? :(

I'm drinking and don't approve, pax

You sigh"Still afraid of Laelith and fire?" you ask, beconing the elf over towards you. "Perhaps you should attempt to speak with her some more. she really is rather gentle, despite her- ow!!"

Laelith slops down next to you, shaking her right hand "I knew that striking you for that was not worth it. Your head nearly broke my hand."

Vi giggles "Actually we were shocked by the show Laelith was putting on... shes not as frightening as we thought her once. Though she can be unfortuanately... snippy? short tempered?"

You catch the elfs hand as she attempts to playfully strike at Vi. Through your drunken struggles you reply "Yes, that would be the word I was going to use. I dont know why she had to strike me for being truthful."

Laeliths struggles land her sprawled out across you and Vi, looking rather sour in her defeat "I will burn you Justinain Trentz. So you had best be kinder to me." she half threatens, as she pulls a small tongue of flame to her right hand, holding it to your face, and as a result, near Vi's. this does cause the woman to leap back, screaming slightly as she fleas the flame. In her now rather drunken state, she trips over her own to feet, and lands on her back, seconds later she is pushing back from the two of you slowly. Laelith, for her part looks shocked, and apologetic, but for the moment, neither of you know how to react.

>>15965863
"It's alright Vi. Just calm down. Laelith was just joking around. She wouldn't harm myself or you despite how she was acting. Right, Laelith?"

>>15965863
"Laelith, please, let's not do any burning right now. Come on, Vi. She was simply playing, having fun. Laelith is very good, you've seen how good she is. And she wouldn't hurt you. Right, Laelith?"

After Laelith apologizes get up and help Vi stand, give her a hug, and bring her back over to sit with a comforting arm around her or something. Remind her that we promised we'd protect her and won't let anything happen if she seems nervous. It would be nice if we could get her to explain her fear of fire and maybe have Laelith understand that she shouldn't go around flashing bursts of heat in Vi's face.

But yeah, maybe we can ask Vi if she wants to help Laelith with research and learn how to harness her powers even better. She commented on how skilled our elf was, after all.

Help her up.

"It's all right Laelith. We're all a little drunk here."

"don't worry Vi, she isn't going to hurt either of us. She was merely making a joke"

Right, also make sure Laelith doesn't feel too bad either. It was a mistake, people make them. Whatever her acidic exterior, Laelith is a big softie at heart.

You force a chuckle as you kiss Laelith and disentangle yourself from her "Come now Vi, we were simply playing. You have watched Laelith no doubt, do you truly believe that she would purposely harm me?"

Vi freezes her backwards scramble "We... we just saw her strike you, and she was trying to get at us, and..."

You chuckle again "Is as drunk, and much more tired than either of us. Despite her rather acidic tendencies she would not hurt a friend."

As you pull Vi up, and brush off her dress Laelith frowns "I didnt mean to frighten you Vi, I had thought that you werent as afraid of fire as you were..."

"We... we are not as terrified, but..." Vi begins, but trails off when Laelith hugs her. Shrugging you join the embrace, making sure that there are no hard feelings.

"HEY!!!" you hear Sansas voice exclaim, and the three of you turn to see an upside-down Sansa, dripping ale and looking as cross as an incredibly inebriated woman can while hanging from a stool "Not until we're all together! Otherwise its cheating!"

Vi glances about nervously "We... we aren't doing anything we shouldn't be with you, are we?"

"Hugging? Oh I hope not. I hugged plenty of people while drunk. If that's cheating then I'm in big trouble."

>>15966207
"No, Vi. She is just being playful and, well, a bit jealous of my affections as well I would say. My wives all seem to have a pact of some sort that I was not informed of, and you appear to possibly be in the running. Do you dislike the thought?"

>>15966207
"Hugging someone you care about is perfectly fine"

>>15966261
Voting for this.

You smirk "Hugging someone you care about is perfectly fine love." you reply to Sansa as she topples from her stool.

She looks over to her opponents, of them, only Gabriel remains in his stool. Sansa pouts "I lost..." she sadly slurs.

Smirking, you plant a kiss on the top of Vi's head, and make your way over to Sansa, and help her to her feet. "I think that you have had quite enough now, Sansa. we wouldn't want you to vomit, now would we?"

She looks at you strangely "Your talking like Vi'ni'tee'frunylady..." she observes as you lift her.

You chuckle again "Just how much did I drink with her that night I recruited her?" you ask Laelith.

The elf shrugs,a s Kyria and Jayne join the three of you "I dont know, but it must have beenalot." Kyria answers you cheerily. Looking about, you notice the main area beginning to thin out. Shrugging, you escort the ladies back to your tent.

-----xXx-----CQ-----xXx-----

Within an hour, Jayne had all of you perfectly sober, and quite energetic. By morning, she had resuscitated all of you at least twice. By late morning, you finally make your way from the tent. as usual the camp looks more a battlefield than a dwelling for soldiers.

More than a few soldiers are still asleep outside, most of them in incredibly uncomfortable looking positions. Several have clearly had their drunken slumbers taken advantage of, and will no doubt be the victim of many more jokes for their being so far gone as to be the victims of their current predicaments.

Over by the mess tent, Lena, Catalina and Vi all sit on a bench, eating slowly, and shielding their eyes. From the look of it, they all left their tents mere minutes ago. At another table, Cornelius is happily counting coins, as the few other conscious soldiers look at him with either envy or anger, the looks betraying whether or not they had been in competition with the man the last night. that aside, the camp is quite dead, as most of its population is still sleeping.

>>15966655
Oh my, looks like Vi can't cure a hangover.

I guess we should go have some breakfast?

>>15966655
Well, lets get some food and sit down with Vi and make sure she is okay.

>>15966655
It's nice to know that there's someone out there who can out-drink Sansa. That girl was starting to scare me.

Let's surround Justinian with a garden of beautiful women.

Chuckling, you make your way over to the trio of young ladies, the youngest of their number the only one looking mostly functional. Sharp eyed, though her garb and hair are a mess, Lena looks up to you "Good morning commander. We werent expecting you up so early."

"Its not good... and not fair." Catalina groans from between the arms hiding her face from the sun.

"Not morning either." Vi adds "Next time we are driving the... shit, from our body before we go to sleep." at least she looks up, the whites of her eyes incredibly red.

Lena chuckles "That would be cheating Vi, I told you that last night."

"We think its cheating that you dont suffer for drinking more than us." Vi retorts.

Catalina nods "Held your hair while you vomited. Why cant you be nicer."

Lena smiles sweetly "I cant help that my hangovers arent that intense. And I am being nice, I didnt properly dress, just like the two of you, so neither of you look like fools."

Catlina groans and cries out "poofy".

Vi shakes her head "No, to early for us to see alive thing that isnt. Not natural..."

Best hangover collective ever.

>>15966865
We did sort of give her the drink. Maybe we should let Jayne purge her, or have Jayne teach her how to purge a hangover.

If that's possible.

"Poofy? ....OH, the golem... thing.... You named it Poofy?"

>>15966893
Assuming that Vi can do it. Although she does seem to have enough grasp of human biology to make that poison sword.

You raise an eyebrow as you sit down "Poofy? You dont mean the... golem?"

Catalina nods "We thought it was a good name at the time... so I added the name to the topazs that sustain it..." she thumps her head against the table "Why did I listen to you?" she asks.

Lena laughs, rubbing her friends back "It was your idea Catalina."

"You should have stopped me!" the necromancer exclaims, earning winces from everyone, herself included.

Chuckling, you turn to Vi "I trust you enjoyed the night then?"

Vi nods "We... enjoyed ourselves."

"Loudly too" Lena teases "You actually woke me up after I passed out... that has never happened before."

You raise an eyebrow "Oh, so Lena didnt seduce the both of you?"

Vi tilts her head, confused, before laughing along with Catalina. "I-I-I I, what would make you think I would..."

Catalina glances about before half-whispering "Well, Vi is certainly good looking. and considering that you took both of us to your tent... and even tricked me into sharing a cot with you, well..."

"No, I, I'm" Lena begins to protest

"Just now realizing that your in Catalinas robe, and that she is in one of your dresses?" you offer, getting an even deeper shade of red from Lenas face.

Finally understanding, Vi offers "And none of us put undergarments on when dressing this morning."
>cont'd

Now both Lena and Catalina are several shades of red darker than you thought possible, and now as froze as the men in the small group of soldiers that had been walking past.

Hiding a smirk, you give the men a reproachful look, before turning to snicker into your hand. "WHY??" Catalina asks, betrayal in her voice.

Now, Vi looks confused again "Because its more comfortable?"

Lena shakes her head "No, it was the hangovers. Clearly the hangovers... you said yourself that they cant be cured."

"You dont seem to get hungover though..." you tease the girl.

Catalina groans "Justinain, save me... they're trying to hurt me."

You chuckle as Lena shakes her head, her eyes making it obvious that she did not intend to suffer Vi's unintentional barbs alone "No Commander, its me thats being hurt, make them stop."

>>15967019
Ugh. We don't want any part of this. Women can be more vicious to their friends than men to their enemies. It may be a time for a tactical retreat.

>>15967019
>>15967012
"Now, now Lena. If I had known you were that lonely I would have sent Kyria over. Why, if you are expanding your clutches past Catalina already I'll have to speed up my own timetable and save poor Vi."

"Well, its good to see that you are all okay. Unfortunately I have to check on a few more people this morning, so you'll have to excuse me for a bit."

You sigh, shaking your head "Now, if you had let me know you were tha lonely Lena I would have happily sent Kyria to cheer you up." As lena opens her mouth to protest again, you forge ahead with your own jibe "But from the looks of you two, it is Vi that needs saving... as Catalina is already lost to you... but she is a grown woman and I trust that she can handle herself." vi grins, Catalina joins Lena in her attempts to protest, and the two cut each other off. "Unfortunately for all three of you, I have other things to see to yet this morning." And at that, you finish your meal, rise, and head off into the camp, doing your best to look busy.

Behind you, the three are still going "I wouldnt"

"He thought that!"

"That was fun."

"No it wasnt!"
"No it wasnt!"

"aww..."

>and on that note, Pax will stagger tiredly to his bed and sleep
>Someone archive please
>I'll be back thursday at 9pm server time
>if you have any CQ/setting questions just email me at paxcomquest@yahoo.com