07.06m: Wallflowers

[ShadowOfPreservation]

"Thankfully Rogbar was able to find us a wonderful diversion for us a while. That certainly lessened the time I'd expected to spend feeling awkward here at the ball. I certainly wouldn't mind hearing a few stories of Master Rogbar's exploits...see if the tales others spin match his own high opinion of his deeds." Jiga's tone is clearly jovial and her words clearly said in friendly jest. "I can't say I have any tales to tell in exchange that anyone would care to hear." Again, her words are in jest but her body language implies that she'd really rather not talk about her past. Turning to Aibne she says, "or perhaps you'd be willing to tell me of yourself?"

[Draylen]

Aibne rubs the back of his neck, frowning slightly. "I don't really have anything interesting... Honestly, I'm not really that important," he says, before grabbing a few chairs, dragging them over. "But I'd happily tell you tales of Master, if he doesn't mind." The bear grins a little. "I wonder which ones I should tell... I could always tell that one...*"

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*Obviously something extremely embarrassing, most likely a noodle incident at the moment.

[Joshua]

Rogbar will wave his hands defensively. "No, no... Jiga wants to hear of the company. Why not a real story? or the company, of the Siege at the Ebony Gate, of something that actually matters? My love life, while amusing, is not all that important. It is a distraction in times of peace, but it is not what we are."

[ShadowOfPreservation]

Barring any significant events requiring their attention, Aibne and Rogbar likely relate a few tales of the Striders' more exciting adventures. Jiga listens attentively, quite interested in hearing about the rest of their band as well as using the tales to gain additional insight into her companions' characters. After referring to Rogbar as Master a few times in the relating of the tales, Jiga is now convinced from the context that Aibne is using the term as something different than a simple title or rank. She takes note of it but keeps it to herself, understanding how that could bring up things they might not want to elaborate on.

She's likely questioned a bit about her own adventures. "Much of my life was spent in the sort of profession that would have put us at odds had we met not so long ago. I wouldn't call any of it adventurous. The only tales worth sharing would be of my time in Akra after meeting Lyra. But as she's apparently been here for a month already, I'd hate to repeat any stories she may have already related. Suffice it to say that I'm essentially her helper and apprentice. When I'm not training with her I sometimes help run her store. I'm afraid coming here is my first real adventure since leaving my old life behind. And making new friends seems an excellent way to start off an adventure so my thanks to you both!" She still seems a bit shy and withdrawn but she's trying hard and is certainly doing better that when she first arrived at the ball.

At some point when there is a lull in the conversation, Jiga will say, "What you said earlier Rogbar, I think Lyra would argue with you over that point. I don't really have the experience to argue either way but...she'd say that who and what we love is never a distraction. It may not be the whole of what we are but it shapes and defines us." Looking over to where her friend is standing, she continues. "She loves Her Goddess and her husband and to know anything about either is to know her character." Jiga now looks quite embarrassed, her feathers ruffling and wings folding in to make herself smaller.

[Joshua]

Rogbar will blush at Jiga's statement over what love is. "I do not know mi'lady. I suppose I never thought about how who I loved might reflect on me." He will look wistfully away for a moment, lost in a bit of thought. And then the old Rogbar returns. "Perhaps, now that the guards are letting me stay, Telocl will take me back!" This is followed by every guard within earshot tensing, and finally.... "No, that love is past. Perhaps... there will be one to reflect properly on my mightiness."

[ShadowOfPreservation]

Jiga just smiles at the incorrigible flirt, her attention drawn by her friends' approach as Lyra and Rasanam make their way over with Odin in tow. "Don't worry my friend, you'll find the right one. It seems we have company," she remarks, standing to give her friend an embrace.
"I hope you've been enjoying the ball so far," Lyra asks her.
"Quite so," Jiga replies with a warm smile at Rogbar. "Rogbar here has been quite the gracious host. He and Aibne have been treating me to tales of their exploits."
Lyra seems pleased as she continues, "Wonderful! I hate to interrupt but I'd like to introduce our guest here, Odin." She stands to the side with a gesture to the man. "Odin, allow me to introduce my good friend Jiga, Rogbar the Mighty, and Aibne Grant."

[Rasanam]

Rasanam nods politely at all present, offering to shake hands with Aibne and/or Rogbar, and - once the immediate introductions are done - pulls out a sketchbook and starts drawing.

[Joshua]

Odin shakes people's hands. "Good to meet you. I had hoped to talk to Aibne. I know the pattern is a bit of a state secret, but... I was told you were tricked into becoming a member of the noble court. I've never heard of such a thing happening without great plots behind them*. I'd be most interested in understanding the basics of what happened."
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*: Odin is beign a bit polite, but it's clear that part of the reason one might be forced to be a noble is as a figurehead or cat's paw.

[Draylen]

Aibne grasps offered forearms and shakes them vigorously, narrowing his eyes slightly. "An old man stole my pay, and I chased him into a giant cavernous room." He's intentionally being vague, shrugging very slightly. He shakes his head. "Besides, I'm not the important one, whatever my so-called status." He smiles at the artist and Lyra, bowing slightly. "I was about to tell Jiga of the great tale of Rogbar the Siege Breaker." He grins, chuckling a little. "He destroyed the mighty Walls of Yerhi'Co with nothing but the sound of his voice." He begins to go into the tale, starting with a simple retelling of Jericho, before going into an adventure of espionage and magic, how he and a cadre of other mages got Rogbar into the center of town and amplified his voice, making it reside through the town so powerfully that the outer walls of spell and stone crumbled without the siege lasting more than a week.

[Joshua]

Apparently, Rogbar is capable of getting dangerous. But that's an open secret.

Odin shakes his head listening. Unable to determine if Aibne is for real or hiding a nefarious plot. He finally observes... "Where I am from, real power determines rulers. No mater how skilled one is in sorcery or shapeshifting, having real power means you win."