Event #6 Arkoda's Awakening & the Wyrm Moon

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Arkoda's Awakening & the Wyrm Moon
🜙 Arkoda's Awakening.
	With the emergence of hibernating creatures and the arrival of the thaw, Arkoda's awakening is being celebrated across Idan. In Krimnos, King Sitka, adorned with the white laurels of peace, announces the opening of the Krimnos Greenhouse to all of Idan, the many magical plants within it available to any in the general public who might have need of them. The Hymn of the Mountains tolls out gently from the crystal bells in Arkoda's temple, and the Krimnos knights hold a competition of skill in Hippogriff Flight Courses, Aerial Jousting, Archery, Armed Combat, and Unarmed Combat that is open to all. Participants have the chance to take on the mantle for themselves and join Krimnos' Knights, with the winners of each category potentially acquiring a rare Hippogriff from the Krimnos Aviary or a horse from the stables and a hefty sum of gold. In Didymos the celebration is split between the quarters. In the overlook quarter Queen Adira pardons a number of people from serving out time for their crimes with the option of joining the crew of any of the large fishing fleets or assisting the academies in keeping the buildings orderly, and a celebration of the Didymos justice system includes debates and elections for the Queen's staff of judges and advisors. In the ocean quarter, the fishermen are celebrated with sea shanties, shoreline bonfires, dancing, music, and a jubilee for the upcoming spring, all culminating in a grand feast where the main dishes feature fish, berries, boars, rabbits, fruits, nuts, and various honeyed sweets and drinks. No one talks about the shortage of fish in the bay, or the dragon that emerged from it last month. In the chaos surrounding the City of the Free Peoples, a group of rebel fighters in conflict with the city's current self-proclaimed leader are holding a celebration for anyone to attend at the Immortal Duke well into the night that focuses on bolstering spirits and joyfully, loudly, singing and dancing in spite of Captain Koroc's threats. Oddly, the Defenders seem unwilling to make a move on the heavily warded inn and everyone who joins in seems to lose their worries and cares the moment they step foot over the threshold. An elf with blond and brown streaked hair offers support and uplifting words and gives a speech at one point in the night that seems to really rally the crowded inn's crowd, promising that brighter days are soon to come and that before long the city will belong to the people once more, with no need to fear their true leader. There is even a mocking play that makes light of the former and current rulers. An armadillo beastfolk depicts Captain Lykos as timid and uncertain, waffling over decisions and eventually curling himself into an armored ball and rolling away off stage. An orc with horns on his head plays Koroc as a bullish brute that charges a mysterious masked and taunting character with a cape, careening right off the stage behind him and into a pile of prop boxes where he is 'slain' by his own stupidity.
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🜙 Arkoda's Awakening: Potion Seller
	The black markets of the three cities are constantly moving, never lingering in the same place for long. You may not have even known you were in it, were it not for the battle-scarred hyena and his human friend calling out to you with a gruff barked "Hey," followed by a smooth as silk sing-song "I know what you've been searching for." Against your better instincts, you find yourself compelled, stepping one foot after the next over to the harmless looking alchemy market stand. Nearly a hundred colorful bottles and vials of assorted shaped are stacked and stored around the lantern-lit stand. "You'll know which potion you need when you find it." The singsong voice of the woman washes against you like a reassuring touch, and she holds both hands out palms up, gesturing to her many wares. The leering hyena beastfolk beside her grins dangerously at you, winking. "If you think you can handle them." There's something unusual about them, they almost seem to shimmer in the light. As you pick up one of their offered vials you feel a dizzying sensation as if the earth has suddenly gone out from beneath your feet. You catch yourself on a tree and look up to find yourself standing in the middle of a mostly empty marsh somewhere between Didymos and the City of the Free Peoples. You're disoriented, confused, and your head is pounding. It feels as if you just went on an all-night drinking bender. The vial is gone, as is the market, but you aren't alone. Another individual is picking themselves up out of the marsh beside you, feeling the same effects of an unfortunate encounter with the tricksters or perhaps they were just out for a walk when you appeared out of nowhere and knocked into them.
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🜙 The Wyrm Moon: Wolves of Atrómitos
	King Ardis and his men have set up camp in an abandoned village near the outskirts of the City of the Free Peoples while the roguish leader of Didymos' ocean quarter attempts to get Captain Koroc to agree to assisted mediation from him and his men. So far his request has been repeatedly scoffed at by the towering red orc who views the man's attempts at diplomacy as a power grab. Dozens of rebels remain locked in custody of the Defenders and the knights of the City of the Free Peoples seem on edge, an air of anxious and paranoid tension rampant in the warcamp while a feeling of distrust and fear permeates the city itself. Prior to the Wyrm Moon, Captain Koroc declares that King Ardis' presence is an act of war and that the city is now under his rule. The City of the Free Peoples is still in a state of internal conflict. Their unofficial leader, Captain Lykos, has been missing since the end of December and in the wake of his disappearance, a red orc named Koroc has declared himself the new leader of the Defenders of the City. His greed for power has progressed over the months he has been in command of the army of Defenders, and he has now claimed himself King Koroc, rightful ruler of the city and its people, calling the city once more by the more familiar name of Atrómitos. His erratic, increasingly violent behavior and the fairly fresh scars covering one of his arms make him an even more fearsome sight than the already over-sized orc had previously been to behold. Even his most trusted fellow Defenders seem nervous in his presence. Dervish, the smaller orc that has been at his side since Captain Lykos' disappearance is quieter, remaining behind him rather than beside him. Dozens of citizens are locked up in cells in a makeshift Defender's warcamp prison and a struggle for power has risen to the surface. King Ardis is willing to help find a diplomatic solution by force if necessary, waiting outside the city with a small force of soldiers and putting out calls for information on the situation to help him help the people of the city. The newly recovered Captain Lykos is laying low, assessing the state of the city and searching the network for supporters to reach out to while he waits out the full moon. The rebels numbers are depleted but their current leader, an enterprising elf named Lorna with connections willing to fund her attempts to take back the city, is reorganizing her people and recruiting people to the cause of putting the city in saner, more capable hands. Koroc's new leadership seems to involve enforcing militaristic force and overbearing control over the city, but he is making broad claims of returning the city to its former glory, assuring his people that when he is in power, Didymos and Krimnos will give their city the respect they've been denied since the fall of Atrómitos Things have come to a violent final head, and the actions of everyone involved over the next few weeks could alter the City of the Free Peoples forever. As the full moon rises over the city's internal conflict, fearsome howls fill the brightly moonlit night and dozens of werewolves emerge from the shadows, attacking the newly re-named Atrómitos and the city's outskirts with a pack mentality rarely seen in the usually lone, cursed creatures. They hunt together, clawing their way from the wilderness toward the city, eyes blood red in the night, their black fur allowing them to melt into the shadows. The defenders can be seen all over the outskirts of the city, armed and ready, their response time impressive. Dervish leads them, and they beat back the werewolf attack. It's clear the werewolves are out for blood. Some of them make it through the Defenders' defensive lines, but many of the creatures retreat and turn their claws and teeth on the farmers and King Ardis' camp.
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🜙 The Wyrm Moon: Dawn of Dragons.
	Under the light of the larger than usual wyrm moon, the claimed dragon eggs scattered across Idan begin to hatch. The dragons that emerge from the eggs have no magical abilities, no flight, and no voice, but their personalities will grow and define rapidly. All but one of the hatching eggs found its way into the clutches of an awakened, for better or for worse. A lone egg, hidden away in a crate on Didymos' shore is found by the Didymos guards on patrol sometime after the waters have cleared. They take their discovery to Queen Adira, who is faced with a startling discovery. Another dragon outside Didymos. A proud denizen of truth and justice, she makes a courier post visible to all of Didymos, allowing them to see the hatchling for themselves, and explaining the circumstances of its discovery. She admits she is unaware of whether or not there may be more such creatures but assures her citizens that her scholars will be closely monitoring the hatchling. It is a frightening awakening for Didymos, but Queen Adira insists that until they know where it came from, if there are more of them, and if this creature is a threat, she and her advisors will be keeping it contained and monitored. Its kind may have destroyed the kingdoms of old, but she implores her people not to let that color their judgment. Frowning, she reluctantly admits that the actions of the people and creatures of the past must not be used to sentence people and creatures of the present and that if they travel down that road it would darken the clarity of justice they uphold in Didymos. Understandably, reactions throughout the city are wildly mixed.
🜙 Note.
	April's plot write-up will feature a follow up on both the Einjar Excursion and the Wyrm Moon events. Next month players will be helping to decide the future of the City of Free Peoples: Its name, its leader, and how it reforms following the conflict that has divided it and caused a rift of fear and confusion between its people.

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six | open

[swordproof]

ARKODA'S AWAKENING - Krimnos

There is something to be said for irony, Six thinks awkwardly, standing in the midst of the celebrations with a bear at her side. Her knowledge of other Gods is not as great as her understanding of Seyra, but even she knows of the nature of Arkoda and the connection with bears; hovering close to her, making excited noises now and then, Two seems to be fitting in perfectly. She had spent some time in the city of Krimnos before, straying from her own home with as much berth as she could, but she seems uneasy in the middle of it all, not sure how best to make herself comfortable in the middle of it all.

What makes it easier is the promise of combat, of fighting, and Six takes to that easily enough. Standing as tall as she does - seven foot and pushing, towering over some of the others there - with the strength of her Goliath mother in her arms, she rushes into the combat. It's the first time anyone who might have been watching her might see her smile, her hair bound up and high, sticking to her face as it uncurls from her braid, her greatsword only left to one side when she had to take part in unarmed combat.

She does not do everything, but she does a great deal - archery, armed combat and unarmed combat. She steers clear of the flying for now, unsure how best to manage that particular feat.

When resting, she avoids anyone who seems to be enjoying themselves too much and anyone with any kind of alcohol in their hand, instead settling alone in a corner with a bear that seems to enjoy sitting and waving at anyone who passes by, much to her embarrassment.

THE WYRM MOON - Atrómitos

This is the place more familiar to Six, and after the events of the Awakening she decides to make her way there - the new technology astounds her, the travel a little dangerous as she forces herself to ignore the knots in her stomach. Two's company is welcoming in this, the weight of a bear across her legs, as small as he is, something that distracts her as she goes. She wishes absently for a horse of some kind, some powerful steed to carry her there, but she worries what might happen to her new companion should she race off in a gallop. Is he fast enough to keep up? He seems so young...

She does not get entirely involved in the conflict when she arrives, not sure what to make of things. The medallion she wears around her neck shows her religious leanings better than anything else, but she spends much of her time watching, exploring the change in the city since she first arrived, scouting out the chance to find some armour, perhaps improve her blade, do something to make herself seem as strong as she had once felt.

Ardis, at least, earns some of her favour. Six wants to help the people of the city as best she can - she spends a lot of her time speaking to whoever she can, asking if they need support, if there is anything that can be done for them, if her height or strength of prayer might be of use... Or if they require healing. That causes her heart some pain. She is uncomfortable, and it's clear on the sharp lines of her face as she looks between people. Not even having an animal at her side can do enough to completely settle her nerves, especially when the night comes.

That is when Six shows her true strength.

WEREWOLF ATTACK

Six's immediate response to the attack is to draw her sword and begin to move forward. She rushes through the defenders in the inside of the city and goes out to the camp, her sword drawn and a bear growling, loud and vicious, at her side. There's no hesitation in her as she begins to engage with the beasts, her grip on her blade tight and sure, strength in the very shape of her - she goes straight to protecting anyone who might be being attacked by a wolf, her eyes wide and full of fire.

This is what she had been trained for, raised to do, what she had almost died doing, what she had died doing -

People around her seem stronger for her company, and sometimes she places her hand on the amulet around her neck, praying briefly and using her magic to help support - to give courage, strength, reaching out with one hand to touch anyone who is wounded or hurt and doing something to mend their wounds, even if she cannot save lives. She tries to be everywhere at once, cutting down wolves, touching hands, lifting people up, moving around the battlefield in her tunic and with her bear, not sure how best to manage herself.

It's clear she'll push herself to exhaustion if left to her own devices.

{ werewolf attack }

[aceso]

Even since she fell on the battlefield a century ago, Christine has chosen to steer clear of battles. It's never a place she's felt she's at her best and she'd much rather the injured be brought to her than for her to go to them. But since her awakening, she's been drawn into battles against her will. Being kidnapped and fighting for her life stands out, of course.

She hadn't expected another battle to come so soon. All she was doing was offering her services as a healer to King Ardis should that crazy orc calling himself king launch an attack on the small camp of knights. But werewolves? She'd heard of newly turned werewolves, but this attack comes as a complete surprise and she knows she has to stand and fight if she wants to make it out alive.

It's chaos in the dark, and Christine holds out both hands, projecting a ward outwards from herself.

"Get behind me!" she shouts to anyone close by who needs to take a breather behind her shield. Should any werewolf lunge at them, the shield will block their assault. For a little while, at least. Christine can't hold this forever.

[swordproof]

This is something that Six is far more accustomed to than she would like to admit. Fighting, battling, pushing herself, being in the middle of bloodshed and screaming and everything. It had taken her time to adjust after waking, but the weight in her hand and the familiarity of her greatsword makes her feel more confident, feel more alive, the Paladin she had been trained and raised to be. She thinks she can feel Seyra with her, even if she is not sure what kind of prayers she might offer now.

The wolves are different, a new kind of enemy. Six is accustomed to people, to warriors, to animals, perhaps, but nothing like this. She has never had to fight something with such bloodlust, with such intensity, and she can feel her own panic swelling before she forces herself to push and rush forward, cutting down limbs and bodies with the weight of her sword.

The barrier is a welcome relief and Six moves, ducking behind it and breathing out. Two lumbers over, small for his kind but still lumbering, pressing his body against her legs as she takes long, deep breaths, Six making herself as small as possible despite her height.

"Thank you," short and sharp as she catches her breath. "Are you harmed?"

[aceso]

"Not yet," she replies, holding back anything more she might say about it. Either she'll sound sarcastic or defeatist, and she wishes to be neither.

But she does risk a look over her shoulder at the very tall person sharing a ward with her, and her expression shifts.

"I remember you! Well, I suppose you must be in the same situation as I am, a hundred years on."

[swordproof]

"Please, tell me if you are." That is something Six can do, at least, which is more than she might be credited for given her size and the bulk of her muscle. Warrior, people would think of her, not healer. Not someone a little kinder.

Blinking, she leans forward to get another look at the woman, eyes widening in surprise before she nods.

"I think we did meet. I am Six - I worship Seyra?"

[aceso]

"Yes, that's where I know you." Christine's memory is jogged straight away. It wasn't everyday that a woman as large as Six was seen in a temple full of mainly healers.

"Christine," she replies. "What an odd situation to meet again." She casts her gaze around them and out of the corner of her eye spots a werewolf racing towards them. Turning, she braces herself with arms outstretched, a disturbance in the air shining with a pale light the only indication that she's holding a magical shield against the creature.

"Here comes one!"

[swordproof]

It's not part of her background she's ashamed of - she's proud of having worked for some time in a temple, proud of what it meant for her to have been so devoted to Seyra. Her time there had been in the darker parts of her life, though, and she hopes the Christine remembers her for the good parts rather than the bad.

"I have it!" Six shifts, moving, and twists her weight. She could stay behind the shield, but it seems a little silly when she knows she can take it down herself; she takes the greatsword in hand and goes straight for the wolf's legs, pressing forward.

Behind her, Two growls, loud, standing on two legs as he settles near Christine.

[aceso]

Nodding, Christine stands ready to assist her, but the growls draw her attention and her heart feels as though it's leapt from her chest as she turns to see another closing in. She has no choice but to switch from defensive to offensive magic, shooting out a bolt of lightning from one hand and into the beast's body. It stops in place, shaking with the jolt of electricity burning through its body, and Christine follows it up with a gust of wind to push it back and create more distance between them. Then she looks back to see how Six is getting on.

the wyrm moon

[kingsroads]

One of the people she asks if they need support is the very tired looking Jonathan Strange. He blinks a little, looking over at Six. Everything about his bearing tells her that he's not the sort of person who can help her with regards to armor: the elf is skinny, unarmed, and looks like one punch could take him out rather quick.

"Unless you've got a drink or something to keep me on my feet, I'm afraid any help you offer won't be any good. I spent too much time up and about last night and, unfortunately, am paying for it now." As if to prove his point, Strange yawns.

Tentatively, the hare at his feet hops over towards the bear, sniffing it slightly. The hare is spoiled to hell and back: there's a pretty blue bow around her neck as well as a small silver chain.

[swordproof]

Tiredness does not come as a surprise, not with all that has been taking place. Six imagines they will all be exhausted by the end of the night, the threat that curls around them almost too much for any of them to think on. It should concern her that so soon after waking she is being thrust into a fight, but it is what she had been trained for: to protect those that could not, to defend them, to care for them as best as possible. Seyra would be pleased with her, she thinks.

"I do not carry those drinks. I apologise." But she reaches out all the same and puts a hand on his shoulder - just a touch of her magic, something of a little healing, enough that he might feel better even if there is no wound to heal or cuts to soften into scarring.

Turning her head, Six pauses as Two leansd own, head tilting as his nose nudges at the head of the hare. "Be nice."

[kingsroads]

Strange is no stranger to the feeling of magic. So, as Six places her hand on his shoulder and her magic courses through him, he can't help but perk up a little in excitement. This person (with a bear???) knows magic. He can talk to her. He can be ridiculously nerdy about magic with her.

There's a bright smile on Strange's face as he gives Six a little nod. "Thank you. And, may I just say, that was a remarkably wonderful display of magic you just did. Quite subtle—that's always been my downfall. Did you study somewhere or are you self-taught?"

Hello there new person, you are now a new friend.

The hare is showing a stupid amount of bravery as she moves upwards slightly to sniff the bear's face, now that the nose is closer to her height. Bell is almost perched up on her back legs as she continues to inspect Two.

[swordproof]

Magic is somewhat familiar to her - it came with worship, with an education, with what Adrian had given her. It was not necessarily a novelty to her now, not after so many years, but the way that he looks at her (excited, perked, unfamilar to her) has her head tilting just so, eyes flicking over his face before she settles back.

"Was it?" Her prowess with magic isn't the thing that Six has often been complimented on before: she can heal, and inspire courage, but there are a great deal of limits. Her strength against enemies and her abilities to turn back the undead are far more useful in her opinion, at least when there are other more powerful healers around, and she's not sure that she is going to be able to offer this man what he wants.

Glancing at her bear, who seems very excited to have a new friend, she breathes out.

"I was taught by the same man who taught me the tennants of becoming a Paladin. It is... Somewhat self-taught?"

[kingsroads]

The animals continue to do adorable animal things in the corner as Strange remains brimming with excitement at the thought of a conversation about magic with someone. Somewhat self-taught? Well, he can work with that. He gives Six a little nod before continuing to yammer on.

"I learned at university, myself. Jonathan Strange, pleased to meet you." He holds out a hand for Six to shake...and then just continues to fuckin chat up a storm. "So you're a paladin? I must confess, I've never actually had a chance to have a serious conversation about magic with someone of your profession before. What's your specialty?"

[swordproof]

Six tries not to appear as genuinely baffled as she actually is, her eyes flicking over Strange as if trying to wrap her mind around what is going on. There are other people who might need her help - she's already rushed around and done what she could for the people here and there, healing and hefting and doing all kinds - but he seems curious in a way that does not necessarily allow for any kind of swift exit.

"I was never taught such things," not at home, at least, which leaves a bad taste in her mouth. "It is nice to meet you too, Sir Strange. I am Six." A pair of oddities with a pair of odd names to go with it, she thinks. "I am most proficient with healing and protection."

[kingsroads]

Strange is not very good at things like 'taking into account the concerns of other people' or 'realizing that other people exist when he wants something.' In his mind, he and Six are having a lovely conversation and he'd like to continue pressing her about her magic and her training...so he just continues to do that.

"What sort of protection? I'm an elementalist, so most of my protection is tossing up barriers of some sort."

[miraclewhip]

The thing about unarmed combat with other races, as a goliath, is that grappling is easier done from below than above. It's a natural advantage the smaller races have, if one that's rarely enough to offset the massive strength of a goliath. But then, humans rarely possess the strength of a goliath themselves. The crowd cheers loudly as Trevor is tossed to the ground and pinned. It makes for a good show and a good story, the woman being visibly human and taking down a goliath almost twice her size.

And he's not unimpressed himself. It's about enough to temper the disappointment of being knocked out of the tournament so early in a category that ought to have been easy money.

It's between rounds that he approaches Six. The possum on his shoulder can be heard before he approaches, hissing in apparent fear and distaste for- about everything in the immediate vicinity, honestly. He gives a quiet 'oh for fuck's sake' at it.

"Don't take that personally, he doesn't like anything." He says, rubbing the back of his head. "Came to cheer you on. Wouldn't do if you got knocked out of the contest in the next round, and I was the only fucker who lost to you. It'd be embarrassing."

[swordproof]

Six has learned to fight and fight well - she had been doing it since she was far too young to hold a sword, taking the brunt of guardsmen attacks in order to make herself stronger. It means that when it comes to brute strength she has something of an advantage - but even she balked a little at the sight of someone who was clearly fully Goliath compared to her half stepping into the arena.

She knows that she was incredibly lucky to be able to get the man down to the ground - luck and a shocking lack of height despite being all of seven herself.

Two is the one that notices Trevor first, turning his head and wiggling on his behind to lift a hand and wave, bear claws flicking just a little. Six turns only after that, pausing as she looks between the animal and the man, softening into something just a little tense when she recognises he is not here out of anger.

"That is kind of you," she admits, voice low and quietly. "I was lucky to best you, I think. I did not think that I would come out the victor of our match." And then a hand, offered to shake. "I am Six."

[miraclewhip]

He shakes her hand, but also shakes his head. The bear brings a smile to his face, but also brings up questions-

-it's hardly unusual to see people going about with animals, but a bear is a strange one. But there's no real way to politely ask 'hi, are you supposed to be dead'.

"Luck or not, you did. No hard feelings, and I won't give you any bullshit about underestimating you. You did good."

[swordproof]

There is something like pride that flickers on her face, just for a moment, before she relaxes and settles. It has been a long time since anyone complimented her on her prowess - no one since Adrian, she thinks, which is a sore enough thought - so she welcomes the reminder that this is something she is adept at, something she can do.

She doesn't really smile, but she's not as tense; not as concerned with what might happen between the two of them now. He's not after vengeance, so she has no reason to fear him.

"Thank you. I have trained for a long time to be as good as I am, so I am happy knowing I have not forgotten everything."

Krimnos

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard's had precious little time to focus on the festivities of the day. He has a list of things to accomplish before nightfall, and much of said list involves running from point A to B to C back to A before repeating the process five times over. What time he has taken for himself has focused on the greenhouse rather than the various matches. One area is not quieter than the other right now, but all the blooms call to him in a way that watching fights does not - save one or two matches, but that's because Trevor's involved.

There's a white wolf that goes alongside Alucard no matter what though, and she walks with about as much purpose as he does, until...

...until she diverts herself entirely, seeing waving bear and immediately going over to investigate further. From the dhampir there is a deeply exhausted sigh as the wolf walks right over, careful to look friendly at said bear but not get too close.

This is exhausting. Alucard stops where he is and groans.]

Ellis, come on!

[swordproof]

[ Six has deliberately thrown herself into the midst of everything that had happened - it is easier to fight and relearn what it means to move her body and her arms than it is to be think about what it means to be awake again. She does not quite have the mind to consider what it means that she is sure she died only to be brought back again, with the world so changed and different, and this helps.

The soreness of her muscles and the sweat on her brow is a welcome reminder that she is absolutely alive.

Turning her head, she blinks when she realises that her bear (a novelty in itself) has made a new friend, something like a startled laugh slipping out before she looks up at the stranger that comes hand in hand with the wolf. ]

I apologise. I do not think he has learned to be cautious.

[cryptsleeper]

Believe me, your associated is blameless. Her, on the other hand...

[There are disapproving eyes on the wolf, who turns back to Alucard for about two seconds before trotting right over to the bear now and sitting in front of him. She even huffs as she sits down, making it crystal clear that this is nothing more than a test of wills.

For his own part, Alucard sighs, having enough sense in him to at least move out of the way of street traffic before having to yell at a wolf in front of a perfect stranger.

A very large perfect stranger, now that he has the opportunity to register more than the bear that sits with her. Some sort of large relation, he thinks idly, and nothing more. He's attached at the hip to a goliath most days. None of this is weird to him.]

[swordproof]

[ Two makes a rather loud, excited noise, a baaaw that echoes just a little as he pushes himself up and wiggles closer, scraping across the ground. It's a clumsy, silly thing, and Six looks mortified for a moment before she glances back to Alucard and tries not to look as put out as she actually is.

She is tall, but she makes no comment on it, does not try to bring attention to herself. Her height does that already. ]

I think he wishes to make friends. I've not quite learned how to teach him politeness yet.

[ A sigh, and Six motions. ]

I have called him Two.

[cryptsleeper]

No, I think he has that naturally, given that he's had enough sense to stay out of the way of traffic and wait for others to come to him.

[It's at the loud bear noise that Ellis lets out a content little huff and then leans in to sniff at Two properly. She's all excitement once she's decided that yes, friend! is her final judgement and now all she's going to do is bump her snoot against one of his paws.

Alucard watches the entire display with his arms across his chest, judging his Ridiculous Spite Wolf more than Two.]

A good name. Ellis is...spirited, to say the least.

[Mostly, she's a jerk. Alucard's attention goes back to Six, and he unfolds his arms so he can offer his hand.]

I expect this'll take a few more minutes yet, knowing her. I trust you'll forgive me if you had other plans in the immediate future.

[swordproof]

And yet he waves at anyone who will look at him. Maybe it's caution I should be showing him.

[ At least he is kindly enough for a bear; he leans into the touch to his paw, eyes wide and childlike before he makes another noise and shuffles closer, ready to go for a roll in the dirt with the wolf - or sit nicely, if that's what she wants. He doesn't seem to mind whatever she wants to do.

Signing, Six shakes her head. ]

There are better names, I think, but, [ and she offers a hand with a wry smile, ] my name is Six.

[ They're a matching pair, isn't it adorable. ]

I was only going to wait for my name to be called in the next fight. It's no trouble.