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 Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:56 pm
Quote: Remember, all sorts of things will happen during events, and don't hesitate a LICK about jumping right in. ^_^ When in doubt, post OOC in the main thread, or mail me to ask a question. But otherwise- jump right in and have oodles of fun.
The heat of the valleys that had been pressing in like a fog... had eluded the gypsies this past month or so, while they had been in the mountains, up in the cool air. They had taken for granted their blessed cool weather- and realized that they had as soon as they were greeted with a warm wall of air as soon as they reached sea level once more. The caravan had pressed on through the relentless heat- and across the ferrypass to ford The Pythos. Now, however, with the cool air that rolled off the great river and crawled to the south, their journey was much more pleasant.
Valelldia was sitting on her wagonseat, ha'ing her oxen and leading her caravan around the city of Enallas. She had the cool breeze and the beautiful day on her mind- today, the meij was thick, and ready to bring something new to these gypsies. The Banyas has sensed it, too- new things were coming, and experiences that could only be created by that mystical source of all life.
Valelldia would not be soon disappointed in her sense of the meij. From Enallas, came a flurry of movement, coming down the road. Valelldia calmed her oxen and they slowed as she watched the figures solidify. They were coming nearer- and the dust that they kicked up all around them could only signify one thing-
A wagontrain. Gypsies.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 5:21 pm
Irina followed the wagon in front of her as they travelled down the road. It had gotten quite warm since they came down from the mountains, and she almost wished they were back there again. She wasn't fond of warm weather, and wiped the few drops of sweat that had collected on her forehead off with her sleeve. She pushed them up to her elbows and hefted her skirt up around her knees, steering the horses carefully as she did so.
Kal, on the other hand, was enjoying the ride, perching on the seat next to Irina. She was looking around at the nature that was passing around them, basking in the warm sunlight. She was happy to be riding, Irina could tell.
Irina noticed that the caravan had slowed, and she craned her neck out to see up ahead. She couldn't tell what the specks in the distance were, but she assumed there were other people coming toward them.
"I wonder who that could be?" she asked aloud. Kal's ears perked up and she shuffled over to Irina, crawling up onto her lap to see if she could see anything as well.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 5:32 pm
Lorelei was used to the weather - she had grown up in Port Tempranillo, after all. Still, it was a change, and it had taken some getting used to. The cool breeze was most welcome.
The cloud of dust to the east was ambiguous, to be sure, but Lorelei had a sneaky sensation that she'd seen that type of dust somewhere before. When she realized that it reminded her of how she'd first seen Val's caravan, a happy smile spread across her lips. Vanna saw the smile and laughed, looking to where her mother's gaze kept returning.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 5:39 pm
Caroline wonders aloud at the slowing. "What's the holdup, aye?" she inquires, leaning out of her seat, trying to peer around Varekai to see what's going on. She sighs and plops her plump bottom back into the seat, unsuccessful. "Nothin' for it 'cept to wait," she comments to Rojiza, who's poked her head out of Mountain Air's window. She's inside with Taog and Majesty, keeping them company. Taog certainly liked Ro better than Caroline, that was for sure.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 5:49 pm
Leshya'e leaned over and looked back at Caroline, shrugging and calling back, "Don't know, love...something might be in the road..." She then tried to look past the wagons infront of her, having just as much luck as Caroline. Anezka went inside Varekai and opened the back window, popping her head out to tal to Caroline, "Mum can't see anything past the others...Must be a wagon pile-up."
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:20 pm
Marissa, at wagon number five, had a most pristine view of the upcoming group. Could it be? A caravan! Marissa's lips parted in a little smile. She hadn't seen another gypsy caravan in years- the coincidence was a rare one, indeed. She clicked her reins a little to press her oxen on just a few more feet, so eager was she to see these travelers. She called Kale from his playtime at the back of the wagon, so he could take a look himself. He pointed eagerly- "Ahhh!" Marissa laughed and nodded, watching the unfamiliars approach with pleasant anxiousness.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:33 pm
((Peeps should be able to see at least something- we're headed south, and they're coming out of the east, from Enallas ^_^ No matter, though, now they'll be close enough to interact with!)) "Ho there!" Valelldia called, rattling the bells on the side of her wagon to let the procession know that they would be mooring their wagons. As she came down from her seat and settled her oxen, the other caravan drew nearer- and by the time Valelldia had called to her large family that their brothers and sisters were upon them, the newcomers were near enough to see. They rumbled in their wagons- all bedecked in their bells and wooden decor- typical wagon finery for a band of gypsies. In minutes, the two lines were connected- nose to nose, arcing out into one large V, connected by the two head wagons. Their oxen were close enough to lick each other's noses. The head of the opposite caravan was a tiny, frail woman, of an age anywhere from 30 to 40- so is the delicate, timeless nature of the gypsies. She lifted herself down from her wagon seat with a staccato grace- looking not unlike a silvery sheath that fell to the ground as her silver skirts and scarves swirled about her. "Greetings, fellow sister! May you ride in freedom, and live in grace. I am Esperita, and this... is my family." Valelldia took the woman's hands and squeezed them with a gentle greeting. "Greetings to you as well, sister. I am Valelldia, and this is my family. We're so happy to see you." Esperita laughed a trill, high laugh. "Have you been so long without other gypsy families? ...We've been travelling here, south of the Pythos for months now." "Yes, we've been travelling- for years now, without the company of other gypsies. North of the Pythos, though. Even north of the Great Sheulan." "Well, that would explain it," the tiny woman said. "And where are you headed next?" "Twiggle Forest. It's the quickest route through to the Port." As Valelldia spoke, her sister came up from Blessed Change to stand behind Val. Oqaia had not seen any gypsies other than these, the men and women she now considered her family- so she felt a little shy, now, with this encounter. "Ah," Esperita replied. "Well, we're headed west of here, unfortunately. It would have been nice to travel with you- but several of our children have destinies that have suggested we go west. That's why we stopped at Enallas- to buy Banyas and other fortune tellers for our use. " Esperita saw Oqaia and some of the others, and smiled. "Will you and your caravan have time to stop with us a while, though? Celebrate our first meeting?" Valelldia smiled. "Yes, that would be wonderful. I think we could stop here, in the shade of Enallas. Oh, I'm sorry. This is my sister, Oqaia. Let us let the others meet each other." Quote: Alright, feel free to approach the others. Go ahead and make up people if you WANT... but if not, I'll do it for you. Either way, I've got things in mind, and I reserve the right to take over ANY person you make up. (Not BIG things. This is not the main event. But things, nonetheless.)
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:45 pm
Marissa hopped from her perch, Kale balanced precariously in the crook of her arm. She trotted to the front of the line, surveying the new caravan in awe. It had been so long, and old memories of gay bonfire celebrations with friendly strangers came rushing back to Marissa. She hiked Kale into a more comfortable position in her arms (she didn't trust him wandering off by himself quite yet, not with so many new places for him to hide), and prepared herself to plunge into the gypsy tradition of greeting the first person she met. Her eyes scoured the line of wagons and oxen.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:48 pm
Lorelei moored Ivy-Twined in place and unhitched Caelebre, trusting him to stay close to his old home. That done, she held out her arms to Vanna, who hopped into her arms gleefully. Quietly, she followed Marissa (who she could recognize even from this distance from the fox boy in her arms) towards the other caravan. She stayed well back, still, unsure of how one went about greeting fellow gypsies.
Vanna had no such compunctions, and waved at whoever she saw.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:52 pm
A tall, lanky woman approached Marissa. She held an infant in her arms, and her eyes were bright. She walked straight towards her, her eyes focused on Marissa's but flitting to see Kale as she went.
"Greetings, sister! I am Stasha. ...Is this your son?"
+++
Meanwhile, Stasha's brother, who lived in the wagon behind hers, had spotted another gypsy that hung slightly behind. Leax was a typical gypsy male- dark-eyed, hair swept about his brows, and a mysterious, traveller's glow to him. He went straight to Lorelei.
"Bella. It is so good to see you. ...I'm Leax." He bowed, looking away from her only for an instant as he did so- and then, his eyes connected with her again.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:01 pm
Finally able to see that the group approaching them was another caravan, Irina was suddenly excited. It was always fun to meet new people, and on the road, a gyspy cherished times like this.
Irina moored her wagon quickly and grabbed up Kalpana, petting down Ivan and Natasha before she headed off toward the other caravan, following the other gypsies of the caravan--her brothers and sisters. Soon, perhaps she'd have even more 'family' to call her own. Perhaps she'd meet someone intriguing.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:01 pm
"Greetings!" Marissa carolled. She was not inhibited, and knew that her move of grasping the woman's hand and clasping them in both her own would not be considered over-gregarious. She shifted Kale in her arms, urging him to say hello (to which he grinned and chewed his finger). She said to Stasha, "My name is Marissa. This is Kale. He is...of sorts...yes. He is my son."
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:04 pm
Sizzla Finally able to see that the group approaching them was another caravan, Irina was suddenly excited. It was always fun to meet new people, and on the road, a gyspy cherished times like this.
Irina moored her wagon quickly and grabbed up Kalpana, petting down Ivan and Natasha before she headed off toward the other caravan, following the other gypsies of the caravan--her brothers and sisters. Soon, perhaps she'd have even more 'family' to call her own. Perhaps she'd meet someone intriguing. Cerces, whose wagon was near the head of her line, rushed forward, practically tripping on her heels to meet someone on the opposite line. "Greetings!" She called, before she ever reached Irina and her daughter. The blonde girl beamed- she was so excited. A red banya sat on her shoulder, gripping to stay on as his new master ran. "Greetings!" She said again, once she was closer, and somewhat out of breath. "I'm Cerces! So great to meet you."
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:09 pm
M i s s a "Greetings!" Marissa carolled. She was not inhibited, and knew that her move of grasping the woman's hand and clasping them in both her own would not be considered over-gregarious. She shifted Kale in her arms, urging him to say hello (to which he grinned and chewed his finger). She said to Stasha, "My name is Marissa. This is Kale. He is...of sorts...yes. He is my son." "Oh, Marissa. He's a gem." She looked up at her. "Was he a fox, or a red dhole before?" Her eyes gave a knowing look, and showed the woman her own bundle. The infant in her arms was asleep- but there was no denying the fresh bush of whiskers coming from beside the girl's nose. "This is Sarai."
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:14 pm
Marissa's eyes lit. She had almost forgotten how accustomed gypsies were to Fortunettes, and what a breath of fresh air it was. "A fox!" she exclaimed. She looked endearingly at Stasha's bundle. "Oh, my, she's a doll," she cooed. Reaching out one arm in a question, she asked "May I?" before putting Kale on the ground at her feet and warning him to stay there. Kale obliged, peering at the small child with utmost curiosity.
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