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Eira Post 1

Eira gave a bit of a sigh, breathing out a white cloud as she walked toward where the others would be gathering. She was bundled in a warm fur trimmed coat provided to her by a merchant friend of hers that worked in Dernd. With the weather being bad and this meeting taking place at such a cold time the man had thought that she would need it, something that she couldn't thank him enough for given that he was exactly right. Her hands were hidden in her sleeves, her hood up, and she was otherwise covered from head to knees in the warm coat and under that a pair of warm pants and fur lined boots... and she was still cold. She missed her cozy inn already but she knew that the information being shared today was beyond important, enough so that she actually left the inn she ran to be here.

The others she'd left home, wanting them to continue running the inn without her, to allow people somewhere safe to stay, where they wouldn't have to worry about being alone. There were so may rules these days about how one shouldn't travel alone. It was why she'd tagged along with her merchant friend to the gathering, separating from him only once they were among others and he'd spotted some fellow tradesman that he needed to speak with.

Taking in those around her she found herself wondering if she should see about advertising her inn, offering shelter to those who traveled far to get here and might need a place to stay. A thought she'd save for later deciding that the information on what was going on was a bit more important then inviting people to the inn. For now at least.

Jerami Post 1

Jerami glanced over at Lixes before turning to look up at Drexl, stepping a bit closer to him. He had decided to go along with his boyfriend and his boyfriend's brother to this gather, to learn what he could, to make sure that he was prepared for whatever the future might hold. He wanted to help, to use his magic for good, but he hadn't exactly know how to do so until now. He wanted to offer his help to those that might need it and now might be the time to offer that help.

Stepping in closer to Drexl he wrapped his arms around him, hugging close to him, and said, "I think Lixes is actually right, we should be careful." Smiling up at Drexl he said, "I'm relying on you today." He'd had to leave Bruin and Narcys behind, not wanting his pets to risk being cold in the weather that predicted in Sauti. He was glad that he'd been able to secure some warmer clothing. Long sleeves, warm leggings, a dress made of a nice, warm, thicker fabric... not to mention a coat, boots, a scarf, and various other things made to keep him warm as it seemed it was that he was quite weak against the cold. He'd blame the fact that he'd grown up in the nice, warm lands of Jauhar which only made the cold seem that much worse.

Ergon post 1

Remembering the last mass gathering he had attended, Ergon kept himself on high alert. The Dretch could and did pop out of anywhere, and he did not want to be caught off guard. There were a lot of people present at this meeting, so keeping an eye out would be even harder. Still, he had people to protect, and he wanted to know firsthand what decisions were made.

While he wasn't exactly pleased to see all the different people there, he could appreciate that many were willing to gather to face this threat to all. It was probably because it was so warm here.... Not everyone was hardy enough for Zena's snows.

Amalric | 1

Amalric had plans.

After Maritza’s arrival at Daurelt’s, things had actually progressed in an impressively swift manner. The small council he met with was especially pleased by the addition of Ritz to his plans, and seemed if anything, impressed by her blunt, matter-of-fact approach explanations (alongside everything else). He had managed to pack everything he needed — which wasn’t much to begin with, he supposed, simply supplemented by what the academy was allowing him to take from their own libraries — in short order before heading out. Even transportation down to Sauti had been arranged in part by the school in their eagerness and paid for from their pocket.

He was surprised to receive such a positive reception, but perhaps at least some minds were opening up over the years, particularly after exposure to the new culture. Perhaps they were simply terrified to be outclassed by an entire continent of people capable of creating flying war machines. Regardless of their reasoning, however, it worked in his favor for this moment, so he chose not to dwell too deeply on it.

Instead, after a brisk and uneventful trek down where the frozen weather got blissfully warmer — if no less covered in snow — they arrived at their destination point, where Belreans often made landings and departures. But it seemed there was an unanticipated hold up.

He should have known. It wasn’t as though it hadn’t been spoken of. He knew of the Dretch, technically, it was difficult not to have heard of what was going on unless one was deaf. But he had had so much else on the mind with none of it directly pertaining to him such that it had simply slipped off the chart somehow.

And now, there would be ‘no ships out’ until this gathering at least was complete. So, here Amalric waited, fiddling with the fur lining of his jacket cuffs, adjusting his coat, and glancing over to the young woman at his side. Surrounded by shivering non-natives with puffs of frosty breath dancing up white into the glistening, snowy morning air, he gave her a sheepish grin.

“At least it’s warmer here while we wait?”

Amalric | 2

Amalric tried not to be too amused. On the one hand, he was personally very eager to be on his way, too. This hold up helped nothing from their personal perspective, and for whatever cowardice it might imply, he could admit there was a part of him eager to be off the continent for the very reason all these people were gathered here now: though the dretch could potentially strike anywhere, it seemed largely to be a Tendajian issue, and he was more than happy to put space between himself and illusory shadow beasts.

Particularly when the alternative was so promising. New horizons, seas of knowledge, libraries as large or larger than their largest all with vast stores of new information much of it uncharted anywhere in Tendaji’s halls. He was brimming with excitement.

But, he was also perhaps just a touch anxious still about the actual prospect of flying that would necessarily come before the landing, and Sauti’s snowy winterscape was as familiar as they came. They had began the morning with breakfast and now, for all he did want to be on the move soon, he was content enough just to people watch. Besides, he reasoned, it might be useful to at least make themselves aware of what was afoot before they departed, and it did seem a bit callous to complain too much when their only issue was a travel delay—whereas many of those here had notably more severe grievances, mostly in the form of vanished loved ones.

Of course, Maritza’s reaction contained distinctly more impatience towards the entire ordeal, and as she bundled in one of his spare coats — which fit nicely, as it turned out — puffing her agitation, he found himself smiling and leaning to knock his shoulder lightly against hers.

“They likely could,” he admitted. “But I think people appreciate a sense of community at a time like this. Of course, I am not certain why it needs to hold everyone up, but…” A brief pinch of a frown crossed his features as he glanced out toward the crowd, “I am surprised there are so many affected…I think I underestimated how much of a continuing issue this was.”

He hoped, perhaps selfishly and certainly privately, that it would simply all be over by the time they returned. Perhaps it was a time and place for heroes, but Amalric was not and would never imagine himself as one. Whatever need there was in the world now, it wasn’t for him, and he would do better for everyone to stay out of their way and continue his research in safer spaces.

Maritza | 2

The knock of shoulder against shoulder jarred her mentally, and his smile was off putting. She couldn't stay in a perpetually puffy mood when faced with something like that; honestly, he wasn't playing fair. It softened her some, but only towards Amalric, and in the barest of ways. "Like durufs in a storm," she groused, though this time her words held less bite. Her little snotter would huddle up next to her as close as he could when he was scared, and she imagined a lot of his fears could be compared to the ones around her. They didn't know what it was, just knew it was there, and when someone looked like they knew, they gravitated towards them.

I think I underestimated how much of a continuing issue this was. In truth...maybe she had as well. It seemed like it had started out very isolated, like it should still be a small scale problem, but this was nearing an unnerving thread of consistency. "They were in Belrea too, I think. I didn't attend the meeting, so I didn't see, but there was enough talk." Maybe there was something to this information gathering after all. If this threat was in Belrea same as it was Tendaji then they needed to know why it came across the ocean, how, or, possibly, if it had always been there to begin with. She wasn't a fighter, didn't take Amalric for much of one either, and if there was a strategy to avoid these things then she wanted to know what it was.

Elia l 1

Near the center of the gathering stood a grouping of Zenan elite, chattering among one another like birds. Their clothing was 'thin' by iceling standards, with just a scant layer of fur to keep the chill off, though it was no less grand than anything else they owned. Several had brought their children along with them, fearful of leaving them behind for even a moment, and that is how Elia came to be in Sauti for the first time since her birth.

Adopted by icelings as it were, the little teen had been sequestered in Zidel for the majority of her life. She'd scant seen more than blue and pale faces over her years, and now that she was seeing so much more it was...a little intimidating. Her sister was 'helpfully' pointing out each of the different species, some of which she knew by reading and others she'd only heard gossip of; like the Belreans. It was a distraction, however the form, from the real reason they'd come. The reason why all the adults were huddled around each other more so than usual.

They were close enough to see the leaders, to overhear their talk, but honestly, it made them even more of a target to Elia. If the dretch really were to strike again wouldn't they go for the loudest voices? She tucked some hair behind her ears and took a deep, albeit shaky, breath.

It's going to be alright; you just have to believe it, and you'll be fine.