RP:Cookies, Concerts, and Comrades
Summary: Lanara heads to The Ginger Snapped Bakery in Cenril, in hopes of supporting Khitti's new business, as well as hiring her to cater an upcoming pig roast event. The witch brings a polar bear cub along that is just dying from some treats, and Khitti introduces Lana to her bandmates from the popular group, 'The Sound of Sirens'. After some discussion, it's agreed that Khitti will cater the event and her band will give a concert, to draw a big crowd and provide entertainment. The two women have a bonding moment and each earns a title in the other's guild, a 'Spiritualist' and an 'Advocate of Nature' are additions to the Adventurers' and Paladin's Guild.
Khitti || The Ginger Snapped bakery continued to sit where it always had since the fall of Mrs. Mallard’s, albeit now with a bit of a different design than what it had when the bakery was first built. Gone are the gingerbread house decorations on the outside; the building blended in with the rest now on Cenril’s Merchant Street, towering a little higher than some with its newly added second story. Occasionally, the eye of passersby would be caught by the large display windows, only for them to look further into the shop and find themselves peering at a conversation between a clearly human female and four rather unsavory-looking undead at a table in the eating area. The redheaded woman, who was of course the owner of the establishment, went on talking to the rest of her band. “Right, so. We need to figure out a way for you guys to not become extra-dead because of my magic while we’re up there on stage. Any ideas?” Gorey Taelyr, a spectre and second-in-command of the band let out a hm, “What about some sort of enchant?” Dayv Ghoul (a ghoul, duh, who was also the drummer) and Spyder (the bassist skeleton with spider webs weaving in and out of his chest cavity to hide its arachnid inhabitants inside) nodded in agreement. “What about a barrier? One for each of us?” This second suggestion came from the lead guitarist, Jon 3. “That could definitely work,” Khitti said finally. “Using regular and shadow types of fire before was one thing, but this holy aura will flare up again when I use that holy fire--and I’d rather not have my band literally go up in flames, nor do I want to replace you.” Khitti loved her bandmates dearly, even now that she was no longer one of their kind.
The walk through Cenril this morning is a welcome reprieve to the witch, as she had been somewhat confined the past week. After running into a little trouble involving a drug cartel and the slave trade, she had found herself in a predicament that she never thought possible. Still, Tiberius had been more than willing to give her permission slips whenever she desired, likely to get her out of his hair as she had been the worst of house guests. Lanara had been meaning to stop by the Ginger Snapped Bakery for quite some time, though she’d been so caught up in her work at the sanctuary that she hadn’t found a free moment. Khitti had become a friend, and the witch was rather fond of the redhead, ever since she gave her and Meri a ballet lesson. The paladin had supported her endeavors too, such as shouting her support at the trophy ring, attending the masquerade ball, and Lana was one that enjoyed returning the favor. After all, friends and family always came first in her book, and Khitti was turning out to be a fine friend, so Lana was here for more than a mere social call. Wearing a pale yellow sundress, tan sandals, and holding a straw bag over her shoulder, the woman gently holds onto the paw of a polar bear cub, which happens to be walking bipedal, and his height reaches Lana’s knees. The duo pauses before the door of the bakery and the cubs black nose twitches as he inhales the delicious aroma of fresh baked good, his charcoal eyes widening in glee. “Alright, Aspen. Wait. Before we go in, let me make you presentable.” Grinning, she removes a little bowtie from her purse and fixes it around his neck, “You be a good boy when we visit Khitti, okay? I’ll get you a big cookie, but I you have to behave.” Lana opens the doors and steps inside, silently hoping that they had highchairs, as the cub was prone to wandering. Chocolate hues take in the modernized surroundings of the recently renovated bake shop, and her grin widens as she catches sight of Khitti talking to four undead males. Naturally, they all glance over at the babe with the bear cub, and Lana feels her cheeks reddening as Gorey Taelyr gives her a lingering once over. “Sorry! I hope I’m not interrupting anything! Hi, Khitti!” This was awkward. She had heard of the popular group, though she’d never seen them up close… Nor did she realize the members, save for Khitti, were undead.
Khitti blinked a few times and looked up as her name was said, only to find Lanara in the shop--with a seriously adorable little polar bear cub. Khitti had to resist most of her outward squeeing. “Hi, Lanara! Nah, we’re just about done here, I think. Poor guys can’t deal with holy magic of course, and since I’m fresh out of the necromancy type, we had to figure out how to keep them safe. Can’t go about murdering my boys on accident, you know. Fans think it’s all an act until they realize it isn’t and then the chaos and shouting and mayhem starts in.” Khitti awkwardly side-eyed the ground at this thought. There had been a time before the current band members that she had ones that were fully alive and breathing. This didn’t go well. Her mother, who was a ghost, killed the drummer. It was a whole thing and now he’s buried at the garden in Cenril’s Theatre. Oi. She went through the line of bandmates that circled the table, introducing them all, each one giving a wave (Jon, of course, only had three fingers on each of his hands--hence the name) to the witch and muttering a hello. “Don’t mind them, they’re still a little shy around the living,” the redhead said. A smirk formed when she noticed Gorey making googly eyes at Lanara, but she said nothing. If it was going to help them get used to the living, Khitti was alright with it. “Who’s this little one?”, she motioned to the polar bear, “They’re entirely adorable. Oh and pull up a chair, if you want!” There was still a bit of room here and there at the round table.
Lanara is relieved that she hadn’t interrupted, and she lowers herself into a chair between Khitti and Gorey, giving each of the undead a warm smile. “Hi, everyone! It’s so awesome to meet you all up close and personal.” She was trying hard not to fan-girl. Back in Schezerade, at the bardic academy where she used to teach, the Sound of Sirens was all the rage. The magical orbs continuously played their hottest songs, and Lana was one that was known to get a little shy around celebrities. Hell, she had close relations to The Backstreet Bards, but they didn’t exactly rock out like this group, and one could only handle so many slow ballads. As Lana crosses her legs and nods sympathetically to Khitti as she talks about her fellow band members catching fire, Aspen chooses this time to waddle over to Jon. Lifting his fluffy paw, he compares the man’s three fingers to his own, and his eyes widen, before he glances over at Lana. The cub didn’t understand why the guitarist was missing a few digits, and he wiggles his own toes, as though asking for some sort of explanation. The witch shakes her head, as though telling him not to act up and upset the band, and they all watch the cub sigh and wander over to the large display cases. He walks up and down the glass, eyeing each dessert, before he finds an oval smiley face cookie, and his little pink tongue slips out of his mouth. Seeing what he wants, he quickly prances over to Khitti and wraps his paws around her leg in a hug, of sorts, peering up at her and begging, as though he were a puppy. Lana laughs, “I’m so sorry... This is Aspen, he’s –always- hungry, and I promised him a treat. That’s also why I stopped by…” Running a hand through her long locks, she smiles apologetically at the band, before giving her full attention to Khitti. “I’m hosting a pig roast in Xalious next weekend, and I was wondering if your bakery could cater the event? I’m a big fan of supporting my friends in all of their endeavors, and since you’ve been so amazing to me, I’d like to hire you.” Aspen is bored as the adult’s converse, so he tightens his grasp on Khitti, and when she looks down, she’d find him pointing in the direction of the cookie counter.
Khitti chuckled at Aspen’s antics as Lanara goes about explaining them, “I completely relate to him on a spiritual level. I’m the same way. It was much easier when I was a vampire--I didn’t gain a pound. Now? Gotta watch what I eat. Or try to at least. It doesn’t always work, heh.” Well, she wasn’t too much bigger than she’d been before, but she’d definitely had a bit more in the curve department, thanks to her pregnancy. “Hey Victoria!” A dark-haired woman came out of the kitchen (likely having been flirting with her boyfriend Albert, the sugar sculptor) and peered over the counter at her boss, “Get this kid a few cookies, yeah?” Victoria grabbed a couple things from within a case and went around to find the ‘kid’. She blinked a few times as it wasn’t exactly a kid, but soon got over her shock and handed over the cookies, some of which were wrapped in cloth and tied with a bow. “Here you are, sir. An assortment of three cookies for the road and a big chocolate chip one for right now.” She smiled sweetly at the bear cub, then wandered off to deal with the few customers they had for the day. Khitti, meanwhile, tilted her head as Lanara mentioned the pig roast, her eyes getting all big at the thought of an opportunity to bring in more customers, “Definitely!” She could hardly contain her excitement. “I’d meant to do something for the place a while ago, but I just didn’t have the time. What sort of things do you want? A bit of everything? We can provide different teas too, in case there’s folks there that don’t fancy drinking.”
Lanara pulls Aspen onto her lap as he clutches the cookies to his chest, his dark eyes glued to the one that was meant for ‘right now’ and his mouth opens slightly. Knowing better than to eat without his mama’s consent, he looks up at the witch and she nods, “Say thank you to Auntie Khitti, first!” The cub pauses, his cookie half raised to his muzzle, before he rests them on the table and extends a paw to the paladin, hoping to give her a shake of gratitude. He’s adorable, and several of the customers are pointing at the snow cub, ooh’ing and ahh’ing, as they’ve never seen one of his kind, least of all in Cenril! After shaking Khitti’s hand, Aspen nibbles on his cookie his focus captured for the moment. Lanara hands some coins over to Victoria, along with a sizeable tip, as she tries to speak to Khitti about the arrangements, when they are yet again, interrupted. Two children, likely a brother and a sister, come over to the table, holding cake pops, and they size up the four undead men. Normally, they’d be scared out of their wits, but there’s a fluffy bear at the table, and the need to stroke his fur is overwhelming. The big brother whispers to his sister, “Becky! Mom said we have to go as soon as she’s done shopping…” The little blonde, being smarter than her counterpart, glances over at her mother and shouts, “Mom! We need cupcakes for a school party! There’s like… A lot of students.” The mother quirks a brow, not having received any letters about a school party, but being the maternal person she is, she orders fifty cupcakes. They’d have to wait, of course, so Lana winks at Khitti and lowers Aspen to the floor, where he hides his coveted cookies behind him, and engages in play with the children. He was great for business! The witch thinks hard and shrugs, “I’m honestly not sure what to do, and I know that it’s such short notice. But… It’s for the Adventurer’s Guild; we’re doing an open house barbeque type event. I imagine there will be over a hundred people. And I don’t even have entertainment! I’m going to have fireworks, at the end, of course… But I can’t get a band under such short notice. I was hoping the drinks would match the music, if that makes sense? I’m all about planning the perfect party.” Lana looks over at the cases, her eyes as glazes as the doughnuts, as everything looks so scrumptious. “Khitti. I would like at least one of everything… And several dozen of each type of cookie. I know it will be expensive, but the cost is no problem. And you may think we’re feeding several armies, but whatever is left, I’m going to donate to the orphanage in Gualon. I would never waste your work.”
Khitti took that bear’s hand and shook it because, uh, how can you not? “Such a little gentleman. Enjoy your sweets, little one.” Watching the cub wander off to play with the kids, she wondered when Dominic would start walking. And then it went to him running off. And then… Okay. Do not go down that rabbit hole. Her attention was pulled back to Lanara as the witch seemed to fret about the lack of time before the party, “Oh, that’s no big deal. This isn’t even my full crew. I’m sure they’d appreciate the overtime pay too.” They were interrupted again, of course, but this time by her bandmates. “Hey, we’re gonna head back to Vailkrin before it gets too late, okay?”, Gorey said. “You know how people get with undead after dark.” Khitti nodded to him and smiled, “Yeah, you guys go on then and be careful. I’ll go through the library on Brand’s ship and do a bit of research to try to find some barrier spells that’ll help you guys. I’ll let you know when I’ve got something!” Victoria would tend to the mother and her kids wanting the cupcakes and the Sound of Sirens would take off--though not before Gorey gave Lanara a wink and a wave--leaving the two to continue their conversation finally, and hopefully without further interruption. “For the guild, eh? My band could handle that to if you want! And I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the guild too, now that you bring it up. Adventuring’s been hard to come by lately, what with all the chaos with Larket and Kahran and all that stuff. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t made time to just go out and do things like I used to. Fighting evil’s fine and dandy, but it gets rather tedious after a bit--not to mention that it feels like once you’ve seen one evil dude, you’ve seen them all.” Her demeanor shifted a little now that they were more or less alone, the excitement that had been there before brought down a few notches, and even the hints of a frown threatened to show through. “With Brand working all the time now, we haven’t gone out and done any sort of adventuring like we used to--and I’ve not even been able to do any research at all on things like I enjoy doing.” She took a breath, then let it out ever so carefully. “What I’m trying to get at, if I can stop rambling, is… is there a place in the Adventurer’s Guild for me too? I was afraid to ask, considering I know a lot of the guilds are run differently from others.”
Lanara laughs as Aspen finds a spoon and tries to balance it on his moist nose, much like the children that he’s playing with, and the customers all give in to contagious giggles. Those big black eyes cross as the cub tries his hardest to balance the spoon, which continues to fall to the floor. He’s quite determined though, and he picks it up again and again, much to the enjoyment of his audience. The witch isn’t able to have children, so it makes sense that she had a polar bear cub that suffers a curse of never growing older or getting any bigger. In a sense, Aspen was very much like a toddler, and all of Lana’s animals were treated as though they were human. “He wanted to wear his overalls, but I told him that the bowtie was much more suitable for an outing.” Lana winks at Khitti, and sips a mug of peppermint tea that she had ordered, in the midst of all the excitement, her eyes widening as the band prepares to leave. She hoped they weren’t leaving because of her arrival, so she gives them each an apologetic smile as they pass by, and feeling a little reckless, she returns Gorey’s wink. Why not? She was single and it was harmless! A faint blush creeps into her cheeks, though if she were asked, she’d blame the warmth of the tea. “Khitti, that would be wonderful! You really mean the Sound of Sirens will play at the event, -AND- you will cater it?! I… I…” Filled with such emotion, Lana inches nearer to Khitti and pulls her in for a quick hug, “That would be so wonderful! You are such an amazing woman, and I truly have the utmost respect for you and all your accomplishments. Brand and Dominic must be so proud of you! You are a life saver and I can’t thank you enough for accommodating the picnic on such short notice.” The moment of gushing would pass, as she relaxes in her chair and looks around the bakery, “This place looks amazing. I love the decorations, and there’s even a second floor!” Lanara sips at her tea as Khitti asks about joining the guild, and surprise registers on her face, her smile reaching her tapered ears. Lowering the mug, she tucks her hair behind her ears and nods her head, “We would be honored to have you, Khitti. I honestly never imagined that you would be my friend, my party assistant, -and- my guildmate, all in one meeting.” Giggling, she claps her hands, “I’m so excited! We actually are planning a pretty big adventure for later this month! There’s this small island off the coast of Rynvale, and terrible storms are being created by this creep called Crimson Cloak. Anyways! The islanders want their land back, but… Sharks have gotten caught up in the storms. It will be dangerous, but there’s the promise of a chest filled of gold. We will be having a meeting after the open house event, and you can come and meet the other members and hear more about the sharknado.” Grinning, she leans in, “But I need you to promise me… That if anything ever gets too dangerous, that you think about Dominic. He needs his mother… And your family comes first, always.” She’d wait for a reply, before adding, “I’ve recruited several members so far, however, I don’t have anyone with holy magic. And seeing as we do all sorts of adventures… Some involving dark beings, others involving cursed relics, or forgotten tombs with curses… I really think you will be an asset. How would you feel…? About having a title? They are given to those that show merit, and are active adventurer’s more than just a member… I’m not sure what we would call it…” Lana grins, “It’s funny that you asked me about joining the guild. I was interested in joining yours, too, ever since Kelovath and I spoke. But… I’m not sure if you’d want a witch in your ranks, especially with all that’s going on in the realm. I only perform white magic, unless it’s a means of self-defense, as I’m a strong believer in karma. But… Maybe think about it?”
Khitti || The thing about being a vampire was that when you blushed, no one could tell, unless the vampire had just fed. Khitti no longer had that luxury. She’s even been made fun of on a few occasions for it (not in a bad way though!). As Lanara heaped praise onto her, the templar’s face turned several shades of red; it didn’t quite get as dark as her hair, but it was certainly working its way there! She accepted that hug and struggled to find her words, ultimately saying at length, “It’s no problem. There might, uh, be some added people once it gets around that we’re playing there, but I’ll add in some extra food at no cost just in case and then it can get donated with the rest. Hopefully the band’s fans don’t get too rowdy. As long as the barbeque is in a nice open area, it shouldn’t be too bad.” Lanara would tell Khitti about the adventure later this month and Khitti got all wide-eyed at the prospects of joining it in hopes of a change, to help with the depression that’d been lingering over her head the past few months. “Oh wow. I’d definitely want to help with that. And a title? Hm. What do you suggest? I’ve never really given myself a title before.” She tapped her chin for a few moments, then shrugged at the mention of her own guild, “Honestly, I asked Encara--I think you said you knew her?--to join, because she’s a pretty devout follower of Delisha. So long as a follower has no evil intent, then I’m completely open to admitting them to the guild. Is there someone you favor most out of all the gods? Or do you call upon them as needed? I know some rituals, whether it’s witch-related or not, tends to call upon specific ones or a collection of them. I ended up getting help from Arkhen, Delisha, and Vakmathras when I got rid of my vampirism. It’s, uh, not a thing I recommend doing, but that’s one of the reasons why I’m as open as I am about this. Some people don’t agree with it though, unfortunately.” Khitti sighed. It was a bit of a struggle trying to get people to see her point of view. Some people went along with it, while others not so much. “But, the guild is paladin-y only in name, for the sake of keeping things simple. I’m by no means a paladin, and Queen Hildegarde and the high priestess Leone are also a part of the guild as well.” Feeling like she was being a bit long-winded, Khitti said finally, “I would not oppose to having a witch in my ranks. Sometimes I feel more akin to you and the rest of the witches than I do my own fellow holy magic-wielders.”
Lanara shakes her head, stating that she’d cover any costs, as Khitti was the one doing her the favor, and she hm’s at what esteemed title to give the woman. In truth, the elf only gives higher ranking titles to those that deserve them, and those she trusts, so she must view the blushing redhead as one of merit. The gears turn in her head and she taps her finger against her chin, before taking another sip of her tea and having an ‘aha’ moment. “What about… Our Spiritualist. I have already filled the roles of translator, research, navigator, healer, and the like… The rest of the members are starting out as members or recruiters, and will advance in years to come. I was hoping to find a docent to give tours in our relic museum, but you seem like someone that enjoys being outdoors and on the go. I’m the same way; I have a love and hate relationship with routine.” Grinning, she explains the title, “A spiritualist is someone that can guide the members on their quest… There are times when members may need someone to talk to, or some moral guidance. We will be in dangerous territories from time to time, and it scares me to say this, but some people are fueled by greed, more than the thrill of the journey. Also, you’d be the go-to person if an object or relic came in that seemed to be far from holy, and you’d be the one to research the deities of the areas or tribes we travel through, so that we are always prepared… I remember you saying that you were a vampire and that you’ve been to the shadow plane…” She frowns as she says this, as she had been there once too, briefly. Encara was at her side, too! Still, once in a while she’d have a nightmare that filled her with a dread she couldn’t explain. “I think that you understand what true darkness is… As you do true light. Whether you’re a true paladin or not, I think you’re what the team needs. Do you like that title? Or is there something else you’d like to be called or a position you’d like to fulfill?” As Khitti replies, Lana rummages in her purse and pulls out a simple key, along with a small canister that had a waterproof seal, and likely was used when carrying maps and important papers. “Our secret meeting room is in Xalious, though the exact location shifts every few minutes… Whenever you are in need of a safe haven, or are called to a meeting, simple hold this key… It will glow when you are near and a shimmering door will appear, walk through the portal. It’s nifty, as we all have a locker to store our belongings, and things needed for our adventures.” She doesn’t explain the canister; it was obvious what it did, though only the higher ranking members received such an item. As the mention of who she worships comes up, Lana smiles, thinking of the Goddess. “Well, normally I refer to whichever God or Goddess would be best suited for whichever spell I’m using, and depending on the situation… I believe in one deity, overall, and I think that she is divided into others, a piece of her in each. We call our earth mother, Gaia. And those that practice the craft… We tend to bond closely with one patron God or Goddess, and mine happens to be Rhiannon. She is a beautiful Goddess that has a love for horses… She meets those that pass and guides them over the rainbow bridge and to the otherside, so that they have a safe arrival. I feel a kinship to her that I can’t quite explain. I think it’s more than just her love of animals.” Something about this is making Lana emotional, and she blinks back tears, smiling as Khitti informs her that she would let Lana join the Paladin’s Guild. “You really would welcome me to the guild? I would be so grateful. I love to really help those that I can with my craft.”
Khitti just stared at Lanara quietly, the title offered and an explanation given. Khitti’s own olive-green eyes even started to get a bit misty. There were very few people that took her views of light and dark and that whole spectrum of good and evil seriously. To be able to find a few here and there managed to take that weight off her shoulders little by little and she was grateful for it. “ ‘Spiritualist’?” The word was said more in wonder than doubt. She’d nod after a bit of thought and smiled, “I think that’ll do just fine. And, heh, I think at one time I would’ve begged to stay inside a museum all day, but now, I’m definitely more of an outdoors sort of person--it kinda happens after you’ve been kidnapped and cooped up in a dragon’s cave for several months.” She’s still traumatized by that. Maybe she should find a therapist. Khitti nodded in understanding at Lanara’s explanation of her views with witchcraft, letting out a faint ‘hm’ in thought. “We do a sort of title thing as well, though it’s really more to let the newer members without training know who to go to for help. Mine’s ‘Templar of Cyris’, Kelovath’s is ‘Paladin of Arkhen’... you get the picture. Something simple. How does ‘Advocate of Nature’ sound? I can certainly see some followers of Xalious seeking you out or maybe those with ground or flying mounts that might need a bit of added help in the magic department to help grow their bonds with their steeds or anyone just interested in natural magic or the Craft in general.” The redhead smiled a bit, taking the key finally and tucking it away into the pocket of her dress, “I’ll be sure not to lose it! If you’re alright with the title, then let me see your hand for a moment. I promise I don’t bite--not anymore anyway.” There was an innocent grin to accompany that remark. “And if you don’t like it, don’t hesitate to say something.”
Lanara looks into those mesmerizing green eyes, and she can see the thin film of liquid covering them, much like the unshed tears that were within her own eyes. The women were having a rare bonding moment, and Lana is touched that after only a few months of knowing Khitti, she had an understanding of her, and deeply rooted respect. Not many understood that there couldn’t be darkness without light, nor could there be light without darkness. Khitti had been touched by both in her life, as had the witch, and rather than live in despair, they molded their minds to accept the unknown, to research what was foreign, and to trust their instincts. They were survivors, victims, and heroines, all in one, and they earned their place in the realm at a young age. “Spiritualist it is… I’m so honored that you’ve accepted. I look forward to spending more time with you, and meeting the others.” There’s a pause, as now its Khitti’s turn to understand Lana, and to see where she would best be suited within the Paladin’s Guild. The witch leans forward, paying close attention to her words, and it’s then that a single tear spills onto her cheek. For someone who had trouble showing her vulnerability with others, the brunette feels as though someone had noticed her deeds, understood her craft, and accepted her for all that she was and would ever be. Instead of responding to the title, she swats at the rogue tear, and takes a minute to collect her thoughts. “Thank you… It’s refreshing to find someone that isn’t against my kind. I feel that witches are so misunderstood, and it’s so unfair. We bleed and breathe like everyone else… And a true witch is a healer, first and foremost.” Lana sniffles and nods, the memory of the newly given title causing her eyes to well with tears again, “That is the most fitting title I’ve ever been given… I accept. I’m so touched, Khitti, I really can’t even explain how much this means to me. You know how I am with animals, familiars, and mounts… I think I can really help in that area. And being a lover of nature, and a devout follower of the Goddess, I can’t think of a place I’d better be suited.” She smiles, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink as she extends her left hand, and places it on Khitti’s palm. Aspen sees the two women growing emotional and holding hands, and so he wanders over and rests his paw upon their hands, too. His dark eyes look up at Khitti, and then at Lana, and as they lower, he spies a cookie on the table that one of the band members left behind, and so he sneakily remains focused on his prey.
Khitti beamed proudly at Lanara as the two shared their moment, and Lanara handed over her hand, the redhead doing her best not to snicker too much at Aspen. “I’ve been spending some time here and there with ‘Sara Grace’,” she said, making sure to use Valrae’s alter ego. Khitti, of course, loved her employees, but there was always that fleeting sense of anxiety and paranoia there when it came to stuff like this. “Magic was banned in my home country,” the templar continued, that holy aura of hers flaring a little as she drew the outline of a sun on the back of Lanara’s hand, while managing to hold onto Aspen’s hand too, before allowing the cub to hunt his next quarry, “So, after I… uh… ‘acquired’, for a lack of a better word, my dark magic, it was brought to the attention of the council that helped rule over that land. Most of them wanted to burn me, just as they do with witches in Larket. But, thankfully, there was one who wanted to spare me and suggested that I be banished instead… and that’s how I eventually ended up here. So, when I say that I understand what you’re all going through, I absolutely mean it.” The sun rune glowed silver on the witch’s hand and then disappeared suddenly, leaving no trace of the mark whatsoever. Aspen got one as well, though his was in the shape of a heart. “There. Now you’ll be able to get into the members only area in the guild hall. It was finally finished a couple weeks ago. Zahrani’s helped funnel refugees from Larket to Kelay, where it’s located, after the monarchy started this whole Vakmathras nonsense. So, you might even know some of the people there. There’s the headquarters beneath Vailkrin as well, but that’s being renovated at the moment to be used for more business-like stuff.” She released Lanara’s hand and smiled, “It’s really refreshing to start being around so many like-minded people now. I didn’t think it was ever going to happen. Well,” she said, pushing herself up out of her chair, “I better go do a bit of research on personal magic barriers, and let everyone here know that there’s a big order of everything needed this weekend--I might have to let them use my magic oven too!”
Lanara watches as the sun is drawn on the back of her hand, and she can’t help but smile. A daughter of the moon had now welcomed the sun into her life. Her expression is filled with warmth, much like the symbol upon her skin, and she can’t help but laugh as Aspen examines his paw. He looks up at her, as if asking if he was now a member, too, and the two women giggle. “I’m sorry that you had to go through all of that… And I know Sara, quite well…” Lana knew all about Valrae’s disguise, the glamour spells, and how the woman had attended the masquerade, the peace gala, and met her for lunch a few days prior. The witch had been tossed against a tree, while her beloved retriever had been stabbed to death by a man bearing a silver warhammer symbol on his shirt. Her gaze drops to see the brand on her hand vanish, and she looks up at Khitti in surprise. It seemed they all had a little magic! “Thank you for everything, Khitti. I can’t wait to see you at the picnic, and to meet the others in your guild… And to introduce you to everyone in my guild. You will fit right in. We can use someone with your energy and zest for life, as well as all of your knowledge.” The witch rises from the table and snatches up Aspen before he can grab the cookie from the table. He was going to have such a sugar rush that she was not equipped to deal with, so she hugs the bear to her chest. “Ooh your magic oven! I’ll be sure to stop by often and to tell others of this place. I wish you the best of luck .The tea was delicious!” Extending one arm, while the other held the cub, she gives Khitti a quick hug, and heads for the door. They both had a ton of planning to do before the picnic!