Welcome to Gaia! ::

((For all intents & purposes, I think of my gaian house as being in a forestlike area to the east of Bass'ken lake. So the trees on the east side of the map picture are the start of the woods.))

Having come home rather later than she had intended from Turtle's Paradise the night before, Trelweny barely had time to hug, kiss, tuck, in or check on her family before crashing in her own bed. This new day dawned bright and beautiful through the open windows of her bedroom. Letting her sleepy eyes stay shut one moment more the young woman breathed deeply of the winter air, so cool & crisp & refreshing.
In the other room, she could hear the sounds of her son stirring in his crib. He would wake hungry as he always did. She wondered if Locke was still sleeping or if the cait had already gone off in search of his paramour, Aqua. Smiling softly to herself at the thought she rose & stepped into the shower, hoping to be finished before Theron had woken all the way. She planned on telling her 'brood' the plans for the picnic over breakfast.

Trelweny was just pinning her coiled braid on top of her braided half ponytail when she heard the soft notes of a lullaby signifying that Theron was awake enough to turn on his crib music. The music was waking the others who had not yet moved as well. Mostly because the animals knew that it meant the toddler would soon be free to roam. If fur was going to be pulled in overzealous 'lovings' & 'pettings' they wanted to be awake for it. If for no other reason than it was easier to get away.

Weaving her way through toys, furniture & still groggy pets, Trelweny made her way to Theron's crib. The tot smiled his father's crooked grin at her, mischief dancing in his nearly black eyes. As she reached for him he shook his head at her & buried his face in his blankets for a minute. Trelweny watched, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Turning his head to peek at her the toddler grinned, pleased with this game. Then he pushed himself up, stood & lifted his arms endearingly to his mother who swept him up happily. "Did my little man sleep well? I bet you did."

She changed his diaper & dressed him in his clothes for the day before setting him down to play. He headed instantly for his brightly colored little piano-organ and began pressing keys. Satisfied, Trelweny stepped over to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her family.

[[Continued from Guild-Durem, Pg 18]]

It was really late when Shyam got up after meeting his other "new friends" and training with them. He'd only had time to sleep a couple of hours before wearily dragging his tired body up. He knew that he didn't have much time to change, clean up, and get to Bass'ken lake on time to meet with Trelweny.

He showered quickly, and found the least smelly clothes he could find (with the fewest wrinkles as well) and practically threw them on.

"When it rains, it pours... when it rains it poors," he was chanting under his breath like a mantra to keep himself moving. He was so excited to have met Bob and the others, but, for some reason, he really didn't want to disappoint Trel either. She'd had enough pain in her life, and for now, she just needed a good friend.

Once he was dressed, he attached his dagger around his ankle, and strapped on his short sword. One never knew. He hid his money pouch inside his waistband, grabbed a hat, and flew down the stairs of the apartment building, making sure that his door was locked, only as an afterthought.

Once on the street, he took a deep breath to collect his thoughts. "Trel said that there were a lot of people in her 'family', but I don't know how many..."

He wandered down to the open air market, filling a bag with as many fruits and assorted goodies that he could find, that any type of animal would like.

When he had two large bags full, he quickly began to wonder how he was going to get all of this and himself all the way out to the lake.....

"I am sooo going to be late!"

((Be back for more))

It was an odd procession that stepped from the small woods into the wide open grassland around Bass'ken Lake. Trelweny led by a handsbreadth pulling a red child's wagon. In the wagon rode her 21 month old son, the shy & lazy gray tyuris, a small & hyper yellow persekitty, the moomba and 1-2-3 very small mushroom-like creatures which the moomba kept saving from Theron's curious hands. Not quite beside Trelweny or behind her the ninau foal strove both to not out-pace the human & to drag the food laden wagon behind him. Though slightly larger than a clydsedale foal, he was not yet accustomed to pulling weight and his long face was taunt with concentration.

A rosy-brown kura with a butterfly mark on her face like a mask alternately flew and walked behind the wagon with a hard look on her young face. To the relief of those sharing wagon space with the baby her frequent shifts between air & ground often distracted to tot. The green cait trotted happily making faces at Theron with his fox familiar on his shoulders, clinging to his ears. A miniature kitsurugi pup with candycorn stripes nearly ran to keep up between a slender creature reminiscent to a chinese dragon striped like a perppermint stick and a brown reindeer with a bright red nose.

Side by side the talaye twins kept bright eyes on both wagons. Being larger, they had to learn from a young age to keep an eye out for their smaller family members. Also, being the next largest it was their duty to aid the ninau should he tire. Behind them the blue plaid AudioRhetoric, witch gaiacom & the strange dragonlike plushie creature brought up the rear, generally overseeing everyone.

Flittering from one to another the blue-grey kunkun led the other tiny fliers -a grey & olive faerie Anubis & a small creature that might have been a cross between a sheep & a canine- in a merry frolic overhead.

And Trelweny was so used to their company she did not think what a sight they might be.

((I had debated over whether to make a new charcter or not, then decided I wanted to have Tien available. *silly grin* I thought I took the easy route... but now I'm not so sure!

I've pretty much linked all my pets except for Shoalin Wolves & East of Eden Equus. oh, & my Skies of Pern Character has Fellis. *nods to self* My new sigmap will show the distinctions better. xp ))

"Hello!" She called back, definately in higher spirits than when he had met her. Waving, she speed up her pace a little. "Nice chocobo. I hope we haven't kept you waiting? Getting everyone ready always takes longer than I expect it too."

Drawing up closer, she smiled at the youth sensing his trepidation on some inner level. "They can be a bit much at first. We don't always go everywhere with everyone though so we're usually not so overwhelming. Just be glad we're not meeting indoors!"

Even as she chuckled, her attempt at a joke sounded lame to her. "Why don't we go over next to the lighthouse for the picnic? We can set up & I can introduce everyone to you."

She indicated to him to have his chocobo fall in beside her so they could head up the path north that ran past the lighthouse.

((Don't worry about it. I've got other threads to keep me busy!
*noda emphatically* I know esactly what you mean. I've had to 'fudge' some time on my Gaia timeline because I'll be in one RP that IC lasts one day, but in RL might last a few months. Then if I want to do any other RP I have to decide when that "one day" happened so I don't get too overly confused. Like the twins are currently in a private RP but I RP them in the regular thread too.
I realised about the class requirements after I had already started to RP 'myself' so I just tried to find one that would fit with the way I was intending to opperate. *sheepish* My bro always jokes that when on the line I'll always pick a bard. lol ))

"I'm glad." She paused, wanting to be truthful. "I'd say anytime I'm alone is an off day, though some days are harder than others. Like special days, anniversaries, & birthdays." Smiling she made a point of pushing the thought aside. "I'm glad they're not intimidating you. I don't always think of how they might come across to a stranger.

"Ah... Tien. It actually knows English, would you believe? But for some reason it insists on speaking its natural kunkunese mixed with German most of the time." She giggled recalling the kun singing along to the opera of Tristan und Isolde. "I think the only reason she hasn't picked up any French is because we seldom speak or listen to it in our house. She picks up the other languages as well, but seems to like German for some unknown reason."

As if on cue, six inches of blue-gray kun whooshed passed their heads gaily shouting "Itineo!" at the top of its little lungs.

Accepting Shyam's help with careless ease Trelweny reched for the picnic cloth that held the other picnic items in place over the cart. She was thinking about what he had last said before replying. Elysians were something she was only minorly knowlegable in. Myranda had filled her in to parts of the conversation between versham & Genesis (only the informative parts & none of the dilema that had arisen) so she was more knowledgeable now than she had been at the start of the Winter Festival t Turtle's Paradise.

With everyone's help they spread out the cloth & emptied the cart of its load. If it was an easily made, easily traveled food, it was probably there. "Shippou, wait for everyone else." She casually remarked to the little fox, who halted with paws only microns away from a carefully set pie. "Who me?"

She shot him with a stern look which seemed to molify him momentarily. Turning her head to Shyam she returned to his comment. "I'm not sure I'm the best one to tell you about Elysians & their Familiars, even though Caylee here is technically a familiar in that reguard." The little moomba "meep"ed in agreement. "There are many more familiars than Elysians you see."

The cart was nearly empty & the spread before them was looking very good to Trelweny. With an amuzed sigh she realized that Theron & Shippou were already helping themselves. Theron had found a container of seedless grapes, & his round cheeks were buldging chipmunk fashion with them. The sly little ever-hungry fox was being more discrete as he snatched crackers from one container and chunks of meat or cheese from others, always keeping his bright black eyes on who was watching him.

"But come! Let's eat before Shippou eats all of the food." Hearing he was caught, Shippou gave a "who me?" look through buldging cheeks. Most of the pets simply chuckled. "You can ask questions & we can try our best ot answer." Clearing a place for herself next to Theron she handed the tot a fingersandwich & removed the grapes once he was distracted. "Normally I would do rounds of introductions, but I've seen it realy keeps the names in memory. If you learn them as we go, it should be easier."

She turned Theron so he could face the rogue. "Theron, say hello to Shyam." The child fussed, reaching for the grapes that had come back into view when Trelweny moved him. "Say hi, Theron."

Reluctantly, a little hand pressed agaianst his mouth, palm facing out. With a glimmer of mischief, Theron opened & shut his hand in a tiny wave. Trelweny beemed with pride.

Her eyes lit up as he procured his own additions to the meal. Since it was winter they did not always have the freshest fruits of all the varieties, mostly canned fruits and those that did not go bad as quickly. "How wonderful!" She clapped her hands together in delight even as Theron scampered over to snatch an apple. Shippou also darted over to Shyam, laying claim to one of the pastries & looking up at the youth with adoration in his eyes. "Timex is sure to love these. "

Indeed, the ninau seemed to whinny his thanks before applying himself to the offered treats. "Though I fear now that you've fed him you've been deemed by Shippou a friend for life." the little fox bristled as she chuckled. "Hey! I've got a growing appetite to think of here!" Shippou defended himself, causing a wash of giggling from Trelweny & the twins. Even Locke was grinning. Crinkling his noce the fam stuck his tongue out at them all.

"As for Theron being cute... I certainly think so, but then I'm a triffle biased."

Rumpling his hair she once again tried to distract Theron with something having a little more protein in it than fruit. "Theron, try this summer sausage."

"I've heard there are books in the Temple, but I don't quite know where that is. Although Caylee has been with us for quite some time now, it's only been since I found Turtle's Paradise this winter that I learned what she was." She pursed her lips, pausing to take a bite of fresh German potato salad. Chewing thoughtfully, she petted the moomba in question as Caylee munched happily on the fresh carrots. Swallowing carefully Trelweny tried to put her jumbled thoughts to words. "Most of my information comes from Myranda, though on who is in charge of the Tavern is still a relative mystery. It seems the parent of the Phoenix's summoner is a ghost & she's involved, as well as another female ghost." She pauses to shake her head, quite confussed about this. Anything that shakes her faith in the here-after has an unsettling effect on her. "However at the Temple there seems to be an Overlord and a Crystal Guardian. The elysians have a connection to some sort of Prime Crystal, different from the smaller crystals that summon them.

They come from the Nexus. Something bad happened there & they all died or fell asleep. Until they're able to be summoned here, much smaller than they were before." Self doubt played across her features. "Is that nearly right, Myranda?"

Leaning against the cart casually yet in a striking, aloof manner the ebony skinned witch gave a curt nod of her head, causing her aqua tipped short blonde hair to flip. "That seems to be the gyst of it, without asking someone more involved. My sources were not exactly straitforward in their information." She was not eating, and did not even appear to be moved by the sight of food. "The elysian Genesis seemed quite book learned in the matter & has also survived a journey back to the Nexus. She has drawn a very detailed sketch of their former city. Perhaps I should print a copy for you after we return home."

((I love Shippou, that's why I named the fam that. *grins* I tried to give the little fox some of his namesake's personality traits but he kinda grew on me. Unfortunately, he's not a cosplay. sad Just one of the automatic fams the original caits used to come with.

For size references, you can check my profile. The compiled pics used there are fairly good size references for my gaia family pets. I think the one in 'about' has names near each as well.

for theron's pics you can either reference his gaian avatar in my sig or through my friendslist or if you're feeling really bored there's millions of pics in my photobucket account viewable through my www link.))

((Ah! I love playing with intelligent people! *hugs* Sometimes I over-explain something just because I don't always know for sure what to expect from others.

Speaking of the sigmap, I forgot to check the filesize when I uploaded my new pic last night. sweatdrop Got on today & my sig was banned. @_@ I'll have to be careful about that from now on. I don't know what the increase on gold to be paid is each time, but I certainly have no desire to find out!

Back in the beginning of October when I first made my sigmap I put links to the threads that showed me how in my journal. It really wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. *nudges*

Oh, & sorry 'bout taking all day to post. InLaws came to visit. O_o The whole lot of them. 11 adults, 3 children -Theron being the oldest- in our little basement apartment. Eek. ))

"I love Farmers' Markets." Her smile brightened, both in genuine happiness & at the compliment. She just could not help herself.

"I'm starting to like the tavern better myself as well." She nodded, finally putting two & two together. "Even after Myr told me of the ghosts it didn't sink in that they might be behind the feeling of being observed."

Coral lips crinkled in a smirking grin. "Thank you, but no. I am sufficiently powered up for the day. Perhaps I might go to the house to link up & print this picture?" Her tone was mild yet not quite haughty. Merely that of someone not needing to prove themselves & sure of there abilities. Trelweny gave a gentle nod of permission as she caught the gaiacom's aqua eyes. With a mix of Curtsy & bow in her short aqua tank dress, Myranda bid the party adieu.

"From what I've been able to gather, it's more a matter of character & timing to be granted the chance to be a summoner. Koniryu was a god at one time, but I don't believe he became a summoner until after he lost all his powers. Magical ability doesn't seem to be the unifying quality." Seeing that Theron was happily eating a variety of foods she did not stop him when he reached for a chocolate chip cookie. "Bites, Theron. Take bites."
None of the family was surprised when the child -mishief & understanding twinkling in his eyes- closed his teeth on the center of the treat... and then promptly opened his mouth again to shove the other half of the cookie in as well, pushing it in with the back of his hand & grinning as he chewed. Trelweny shook her head in resignation with a smile before continuing. "I suppose you could call summoners a rarer class of people. I don't think many elysians have been summoned, & they each only have one summoner. If the Prime Crystal has any say in who becomes a summoner I would think it would behoove it to find summoners that would aid its cause, not desist it."

Sighing, Trelweny sampled the tea cookies. Little pink hearts in honor of the upcoming holiday. "We should really visit Turtle's Paradise more. I can only think the key to more understanding will be from interaction with people who visit there. Especially the summoners & Elysians."

As if the trip was nothing to her, Myranda casually returned. She must have run to hve made it there and back again so quickly, but she bore no signs of physical exertion. "Here it is." She handed each a printoff. "The Elysian Genesis called it Aesolon Reaux."


Trelweny fingered her copy gently, almost reverently. "It's beautiful. Like a city in a dream."