driftfleet | festival day!

Who: EVERYONE
Broadcast: Up to you
Action: Everywhere in the Yadrolla system!
When: 5/30

[At last, the day has come: Festival Day! Once again, the Starstrikers have taken the trophy this year. But that doesn't mean members of other teams, or those who didn't play, can't celebrate with the rest of them!

There are parties everywhere. Ribbons, streamers, and confetti litter every major street in the system. (Remember what they say about glitter...) There is food on every block, and people cramming into shops to get in on the merch.

Don't forget about the reason for the festival-- the pet adoption drive! A large playground-type area has been set up on the Starstrikers' desert moon where people can play and interact with the lovable creatures needing new homes. Whether you're looking for companionship or just something to do, there's plenty to coo over! Every pet comes with an info card listing a fanciful name and a general description of their age and temperament. Maybe Sir Pringle the puppy or Marquess Mariana the fish can become your new best friend.

Sadly, the Fleet will be drifting in about a week... but feel free to party until then!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Now it's his turn to feel sheepish under her praise. ]

I've been practicing from the notes you wrote.

You are doing very well. I think anyone would be impressed.

Really? [ It's been so long since he's actually been in school, that he's not really sure how to gauge his learning. He thinks it's pretty slow to start, but he's never learned a language before. ]

Really. It isn't easy to learn another language, especially one not from your own world.

It's fun, though. I like how it sounds.

I'm glad. [ And it does warm her heart, her smile settling for the first time in days. ] If I could teach you more I would.

You've already taught me so much already, Leilani.

That doesn't mean I don't wish to teach more. I think that is why I was chosen to be a First.

What else would you teach me? We already have hunting and Elvish down.

Magic, maybe. [ Leilani shifts, moving to sit cross-legged on the bed, leaning back against the wall. ] About how to best travel, how to ride... About the Gods, once. That would have been my duty.

[ He makes himself comfortable, open to learning more. ]

Tell me about the Gods?

[ She looks pained, just for a moment, before she leans to one side and gathers a piece of paper and a pen. As she speaks she begins to draw a diagram. ]

It begins with Elgar'nan, the God of Vengeance. As the All-Father he leads the Gods with the goddess Mythal, the Great Protector. Their children are the twins, Falon'Din and Dirthamen, Friend of the Dead and Keeper of Secrets respectively. Then there is Andruil, of the Hunt, Sylaise, the Hearthkeeper of Arts, June of the Craft and Ghilan'nain, the Mother of the Halla.

[ She draws them out, labelling each name, focussing on her work with an intensity that looks closer to painful than interested. ]

Then... The last of the Gods is Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf. He is a trickster, known as the Bringer of Nightmares, He Who Hunts Alone.

[ Carl follows along with rapt attention. One sticks out to him that he doesn't quite understand the concept of. ]

What's a Halla?

[ Below the names of the Gods she begins to sketch one out carefully. ]

Something akin to deer. They're special animals to the Dalish and they are used to help move our aravel when we travel.

Why are they so special? [ Talk to him about halla and not that jerkface. ]

They pull our aravel, they provide us with milk and butter... They were created by a God. It is said that it is the halla who lead the elven people into the afterlife, guiding us into the next life.

And your aravel are the wagons you travel with.

What does the next life look like for an elf?

That's right. [ Leilani pauses, thoughtful, fingers tracing over the lines of her own writing. ] We are buried and a tree is built over our graves. We're given an oak staff so that we can protect ourselves from Fear and Deciet before we are met by Falon'Din and taken beyond the Veil.

Fear and Deceit? What's beyond the Veil? Do your people have stories about what comes after?

Not anymore. I'm not even sure they're true. [ She shakes her head. ]

I kinda feel the same way.

[ After everything he's seen? God has to be dead. There's no hope nor faith that can save them from the things that roam the earth, now. Hell is living. ]

[ She gives him a small, sad smile. ]

We do not need to believe in Gods. We need to believe in each other.

[ He nods. ]

That's right.

[ Reaching out, she draws Carl close, wrapping both her arms around him and swallowing her tears. ]

I believe in you, da'len.

[ He goes with her, sagging against Leilani and wrapping his arms around her, too. ]

I believe in you, too. If I'd had a big sister, I'd want her to be you.

[ She feels like family, even if they're not blood. ]

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