[muffled spooky scary skeletons playing in the distance]

[geonomy]

Who: You! Me! Everybody!
Broadcast: idk but we've sure got a pretty broad cast of folks eh, eh
Action: HECK YEAH PLANET MINGLE
When: 10/7 until plot update or recaptcha

It's a deep, deep forest filled to the brim with fungi, mysterious life forms, and pitch black darkness. Explore if you dare and discover all these things and more! Just don't get lost...

Comments

[bryces_pup]

I imagine so. [It's rather amazing to Riona to hear about this. Bonds with animals are rather unheard of outside of Ferelden, and theirs is limited to mabari. She's never heard of it happening with any other creature.] Seems similar to the bond a mabari has with its chosen, though I dare say the one your siblings had with their wolves sounds even stronger. Did you know that would happen, when you received them as pups?

[steeledskin]

Not at all. [ the memories aren't easy -- but riona is part of the crew. by that logic, she's nearly kin. so sansa opens up with a touch more ease. ] Direwolves are so rarely seen south of the Wall that divides Westeros from the world beyond. And it is rarer still that they should ever be tamed.

[bryces_pup]

If a she-wolf and a male wolf amongst those your siblings had survived, then they might have a litter someday. [She implies hope in her tone that perhaps Sansa may have another chance to have her own direwolf.]

I've heard this "wall" mentioned quite a few times now. [Tyrion and Robb have mentioned it to her, and even Jon as well.] I take it it's far up north. What is it supposed to be keeping out?

[steeledskin]

The Wildlings. The giants. [ she bites her bottom lip -- because she didn't want to believe, and yet: ] The others.

[bryces_pup]

They all sound rather terrible. And ominous. What are these "others"? Can you say?

[steeledskin]

Cursed things. Monsters. [ nightmares from folk stories; she's never seen one, of course. ] Maybe they were men, once. I wouldn't know.

[bryces_pup]

Monstrous enough to have a wall built to keep them out, it seems.

[She wishes Thedas had such a solution to keep out the worst of its evils from the populace. But darkspawn could not be held back forever by mere walls.]

Does anyone stand guard at this wall? Surely they didn't just build it and decide that was good enough.

[steeledskin]

The Night's Watch hold the Wall. [ she lets a kind of pride play across her voice. ] Jon is their Lord Commander -- they take vows, forsaking title and family and other ties. They man the Wall, and protect all lands to its south.

[bryces_pup]

[She smiles in response to that pride.] Given what I've seen of his skills and demeanor, I can believe that. They sound similar to the Grey Wardens of my home, although they don't have a wall that they hold, per se.

[steeledskin]

The brothers who take the black are so brave. The North has always respected them -- sent men, when they needed men. [ ... ] But those in the South disparage the Watch. I do not think they take the men seriously when their recruiters come a-calling.

[bryces_pup]

I suspect it's because they're far away from the Wall and the danger it keeps out. "Out of sight, out of mind." But I am glad at least your people respect them. Thankless jobs are always made a little easier when there are at least a few who are grateful.

[steeledskin]

It never helps that recruitment has become so sparse that many a house sees fit to send only their criminals -- sentences are commuted in favour of taking the black.

[bryces_pup]

Ah, I see Westeros likes using that tactic, too. It happens with the Wardens in Thedas as well, though they need to be recruited - they can't just be sent off. Does the Watch take in anyone? Men and women?

[steeledskin]

[ a quick shake of her head. ]

Only men.

[bryces_pup]

Ah, right. I've noticed that Westeros does not generally like to see its women able to defend themselves.

[There's a slight touch of exasperation and disdain in her tone. It's not the women's fault, but the culture. She finds it baffling.]