Dale News - 2013-09
| Date | Location | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 03 | ESGAROTH | Of furs and fountains |
| 12 | ESGAROTH | Letter delivery service |
| 12 | ESGAROTH | The reluctant skirt-wearer |
| 17 | ESGAROTH | Careless rendez-vous |
| 18 | ESGAROTH | Into the mouths of babes |
| 22 | ESGAROTH | Watcher on the Wharf |
| 25 | ESGAROTH | Yule celebrations |
| 25 | ESGAROTH | Look what the storm blew in! |
| Post Title: | Of furs and fountains |
| Author: | Brev |
| Date posted: | 03 September 2013 |
| Lady ISOBEL seems to have emerged from seclusion - yesterday evening I saw her sitting by the fountain in Taurdain Suites showing off her new arrival to a group of children. Someone else who was showing off was her uncle DARIK (really, shouldn't a grown man know better?), who was engaging one of the Taurdain lads in a mock battle and enjoying every minute of it judging by his grin, which didn't leave his face even when he was playing dead. It's a mercy he didn't knock Lady Isobel and her darling daughter into the fountain (I seem to recall her making a pointed remark to that effect, too. Is it just me, or is she getting more like her mother?)
Also come to admire the baby was BREV's hunter friend GIDON. He told Lady Isobel very prettily that her daughter was beautiful (his choice of words set me wondering if perhaps a /little/ prompting was involved) but almost had a fit when she generously offered to let him hold the babe. Brev was after some furs for a coverlet for the little one, but seemed to think rabbit wouldn't go down too well. Gidon's protestations that rabbit fur was much the softest clearly carried weight with Lady Isobel, for she agreed to the suggestion, pointing out that little Dara looks nothing like a rabbit (and I won't tell you what my husband said when he heard that!) Darik's suggestion of a bearskin was brushed aside and so the elder Taurdain went hunting for the produce of the kitchens instead, leaving the two younger men in peace to discuss many things ... but oddly not rabbits. | |
| Post Title: | Letter delivery service |
| Author: | Brev |
| Date posted: | 12 September 2013 |
| It's funny what sort of folks you see abroad on the street late at night. No, you dunderhead, not /that/ sort of folk! I was on my way back from the Flagon and took a wander past the Elven embassy. Well, we all knew Elves like starlight and this pair must be no exception (not that you could see many stars in all that cloud, come to think of it. Fine, lantern-light then). Master HARUVEN was instructing his young assistant, that pretty blonde elf-lass, in something or other - all I could catch before she left were the words 'No dice, and no rooster statue'! What do you make of that?
Then Master BREV appeared in the door of Taurdain Suites and started looking mighty uncomfortable. Not just because his little bundle of joy had just spewed on him; no, if you ask me it was the sight of the Elven diplomat that did it. The carpenter was mumbling something about a letter: judging by the state it was in when he finally produced it, he'd forgotten to deliver it. Of course, the Elf was far too polite to mention it and spoke quite charmingly to the baby too. Mind you, in that silvered tongue the Elves use, even swear-words probably sound charming ... | |
| Post Title: | The reluctant skirt-wearer |
| Author: | Brev |
| Date posted: | 12 September 2013 |
| I must say, I didn't think much of Lady ORIANA taking that ragamuffin LOUSE into House Karath as her 'Aide' (as if an intelligent woman like our Steward needs that sort of help!). Still, at least it gives me a good chuckle sometimes, seeing that young tearaway forced into skirts and sitting reading histories. Trust me, the girl doesn't like it one bit. You should see the thundercloud face on her!
Speaking of thunderclouds, it was pouring rain when Lady Oriana got in the other night. I heard her tell Louse she'd been training the men, and would you believe it, that child actually questioned her! The Lady took it in good part though: she explained gently that yes, it is possible to fight in skirts (of course, Louse wanted to learn!) and that old histories, boring or not, are worth reading. I'm not sure Louse took the point, she kept wittering on about some old King with a silly name (something about a weak bladder? Beats me.) Next thing the conversation had turned to swearing - no surprise that Decks spawn knows a few filthy names. But did I really hear Lady Oriana promise to teach her to swear in Elvish? No Elvish names came out, however, for Louse made the mistake of asking if Oriana had a sweetheart in Arathmor (where /does/ the girl get such ideas?) The Lady turned pale and I'd have sworn she looked angered, though I did notice her eyes watering. Odd - I mean, none of us likes House Arathmor, but to have a reaction /that/ forceful ... Do you think Lady Oriana knows something she's not telling? I'd keep my eyes and ears open. | |
| Post Title: | Careless rendez-vous |
| Author: | Isobel |
| Date posted: | 17 September 2013 |
| Poor LOUSE! (played by BREV) Much as that impertinent girl gets on my nerves (specially now that she's swanning around in them Karath clothes, acting all uppity) I still feel for her - the other night she had the misfortune of ducking into a doorway where that nasty minstrel DELLING (played by ISOBEL) was hard at work with some lass.. I happened to be passing after the day's toil and I saw the woman walk off in a huff. Well, she was no better than she ought to be, mark my words. I can't for the life of my fathom why young Louse stuck around to bandy words with /him/ though. Oh, he likes to think he's a wit, but between you and me - isn't he becoming a bit, well.. dull? Suppose that's what happens to some when they settle down. | |
| Post Title: | Into the mouths of babes |
| Author: | Isobel |
| Date posted: | 18 September 2013 |
| ... you should put honey. At least if you ask NIAMH of Taurdain (played by ISOBEL). The other day when she came home from running some errands she ran into BREV and with him he had his daughter. Y'know, I've seen him carrying her around a bit more often lately - I reckon that for all his grumbling he must enjoy it. Not sure why any sane man would risk such caterwauling, but then again, he is foreign..
Anyroad, he must've been tired of it right then because I think he offered her to Lady Niamh more than once before she snapped the babe up, taking her off to the kitchen for some sweet treats. Where Brev was off to after that? I've no idea, he didn't care to share. | |
| Post Title: | Watcher on the Wharf |
| Author: | Brev |
| Date posted: | 22 September 2013 |
| What brought Lady ISOBEL to Fisher's Wharf early in the morning I can't imagine. Doesn't she have better things to do ... like looking after that baby of hers? The poor mite was nowhere in evidence! Anyway, she was loitering around like she had nowhere to go - didn't she know that's asking for trouble? I saw old Harald coming up to her and asking for money: claimed she should pay him a 'viewing fee'. Quite persistent he was too, but then BREV emerged from the Underdecks and broke up the party, countering requests for Taurdain charity with a claim of his own that charity consisted of not breaking the fingers of someone who'd laid a hand on his wife. How barbaric!
Have to say, I reckon Harald had a point. Aren't House Taurdain /supposed/ to throw their money around if you suck your cheeks in and look hard-done-by? Has 'the charitable House' lost its tender heart? | |
| Post Title: | Yule celebrations |
| Author: | Brev |
| Date posted: | 25 September 2013 |
| Don't know when we last had such a stormy Yule! I heard the Yule bonfire would barely stay alight ... me, I was just glad to stay indoors and toast the new year somewhere warm. Still, it didn't stop Laketown from celebrating. The evening after, the Taurdains had a big gathering at their place - half the town was invited, from the looks of things! Crafters and commoners as well as the bluebloods. Fortunately there was plenty of food and drink to go round.
Even the more reserved nobles seemed to be enjoying themselves - though I did think Lady ISOBEL looked a little worried. I heard her asking her husband she wondered whether someone might steal the baby. What a daft notion: as if anyone would /want/ something that screams that loud! Even BREV made some remark to that effect, though he put it a bit more politely. She can't have been entirely reassured, however, for a little later Brev slipped upstairs to check on the infant, while his wife ... hmm, you know I can't recall seeing her after that. Still, I'm sure she had a pleasant evening. | |
| Post Title: | Look what the storm blew in! |
| Author: | Brev |
| Date posted: | 25 September 2013 |
| The dead of winter is hardly the best time for journeying - but that hasn't stopped some. You'll never guess who turned up at Karath Manor the other night, on the wings of the storm. No, it wasn't Lord Bernar, though I'd not put it past him. It was Lady ORIANA's mother, the Lady Evanna, and what she thought she was doing I don't know. I can tell you, she's not in the prime of life any more. Oriana seemed quite shocked; seemingly they'd already arranged a visit for the spring. However, she called for a servant to draw a bath and see to making the visitor comfortable. Funny thing, as she was led away I'd swear I heard Lady Evanna muttering something about wolves. There haven't been any of those round the Dale-lands for a while ... have there?
Lady ISOBEL arrived next, presumably to see Oriana. She might have turned round and walked out again, however, if it hadn't been for the entrance of young LOUSE in such a disreputable state: she'd gone out without a cloak and her Karath livery was ruined. Not to mention the fact that she'd hiked her skirts up past the knee and you could see the holes in her stockings. Both noblewomen had a bit to say about that, and Oriana ordered the girl to take a bath too. Her sharpness was lost on the young reprobate: Louse was far too horrified at the idea /she/ might be required to share a bath with an elderly noblewoman. She slunk off then; Oriana had to send a servant after with her orders. After all the kerfuffle, it's little wonder that Lady Isobel didn't stay long. Whether she had any purpose for coming other than friendly chatter I don't know - both women seemed rather subdued. Lady Oriana did promise to visit her friend in the Suites soon, likely she's expected to coo over the baby. | |
