Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kyrie had finished eating by this time, and was leaning back comfortably in her chair.

"You're going to need to be prepared for all kinds of weather," she replied. "I don't know how quickly you're able to make your maps, but if we're caught north in the winter you've got to be prepared for blizzards and ice. If we're south in the summer, you need to be prepared for some hot sun and humidity. You'll need good boots that'll last you because you'll be doing some serious walking in some pretty harsh conditions. Solid tents - and I do mean solid. But make sure they're easy to set up and take down, too, just in case."

She paused. "If you need, I can help you find a decent tent. That's probably going to be the hardest thing to track down."

Earendil nodded. "We would appreciate that, thank you," he agreed. "Is there more that we'll need?"

Kyrie nodded. "I'm assuming you all have weapons of your own," she said slowly.

Cantor laughed. "You've always lamented the quality of our weapons, Kyrie."

Kyrie arched one eyebrow. "You blame me?" she asked dryly.

"Good enough for me," Kyrie nodded. "Then as long as you've got some food and water, maybe some coin for buying things, items for trade ... you should be fine."

Andarien didn't say anything, but kept nibbling at some food. He wasn't really looking forward to Kaito's arrival ... even though he had promised to learn the weapon, and he realized how important it was to do so, he wasn't looking forward to it.

"Well, that depends on where you are," Kyrie mused. "Every country is different, and sometimes different towns and cities like different things. Some people are happy with a song or a tale, others like something more solid. Some like useful things, other people like arty things."

"Gwen would love anything to do with art," Lara spoke up with a laugh. She grinned at the visitors. "Gwen is my younger sister. Not an artist like Lily or myself, but she does enjoy looking at things. Or did, anyways. I haven't actually seen her since Cantor and I were first married."

"She does," Kyrie grinned. "I was there about five years back. She hasn't changed a bit."

"You're making me want to visit again," Lara smiled.

"Don't," Kyrie said immediately. "You've made the trip before, neither you nor Cantor are fighters, it's not a good idea. There's a reason you came here rather than stay there."

Lara smiled warmly and folded her hands in her lap. "Dolerum is one of the countries belonging to the Dark Elves," she murmured, "and it is beautiful. Thick forests ... rolling hills ... it has it all. And the people there are wonderful."

"If you're also a Dark Elf," Kyrie added. "I'm over a thousand years old, and I've lived there, off and on, since I was nineteen. But in all that time, most of the people there still haven't warmed up to me because I look like what I am. Half human."

She spread her hands in front of her in a gesture of incomprehension. "My brother is there. He's half human, but he looks like father - he's got elven ears instead of human ears. He was more accepted right on sight than I have ever been."

Kyrie laughed aloud at Miyuki's comment. "Well, it's not as if I really gave them a reason to warm up to me," she grinned. "When I first arrived, I avoided people as if my life depended on it. Then, once I started going out, I was very different from the rest of them - always training, going for runs, using my weapons ... no one carries weapons there."

"The same could be said for here," Earendil pointed out, "yet we haven't been unwelcome."

"Ah, but that's an entirely different story," Kyrie grinned. "Here, people don't have weapons because they don't make weapons here. In Dolerum, they have weapons but they prefer not to use them if at all possible. Here, it's been peaceful for as long as most people can remember. There, there have been wars between countries. People who wear weapons outside of wartime are looked at with suspicion."

She paused, then added, "And I think that here in Caras Galadhon ... as long as you're not actually hurting anyone, just about anything goes. I bet no one has asked Lin about her wings yet, or Miyuki about her tails either."

Kyrie nodded. "I won't lie to you. There will be some places where you'll want to hide such things, if you can."

Earendil rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. Lin could, if she wanted to, take her wings inside of herself, but he knew it made her uncomfortable; and he knew Miyuki could change her appearance if she wished. But there was also the matter of Shiro and Kaito, who could not change their appearances.

"That would work," Kyrie agreed. "And if they've got good cloaks, that should be fine. Well, we can figure that out when the time comes, anyways."

She pushed her chair back from the table and stood. "Anyways, I'm going to pass on dessert and take a nap instead," she said. "But Lara, I'm going to hold you to a walk when I wake up, yeah?"

Lara laughed softly. "Yes, yes. But Kyrie, your room is occupied - do you think you could share with Lily while you're here?"

Kyrie grinned, her eyes sparkling brightly. "You betcha."

"I'll get your bag," Lily volunteered, picking up one of the bags Kyrie had brought in with her.

Kyrie smiled and picked up the second bag, hefting it carefully over her shoulder. "Wonderful to meet you all," she said, turning back to those who were still at the table and raising one hand in a wave. "See you again soon."