Prologue: The Barony of Harkenwold

"Aye, sure!" - Carlos reassures - "We'll say yes for ya, no problem!"

Kathryn blinks at the request, surprised it is even allowed for outsiders to stand with Senior Hunters. Her answer comes quickly however. "Of course we will!" she says. "Right guys?"

She looks at Jojo and Zoe for confirmation.

"Sure, I don't see any problem with it," says Jojo, looking over at Zoe.

"I, uh, I'll pass," says Zoe, "My profile has been too high lately and you don't want the kind of trouble that can bring. I'll cheer for you guys from the crowd instead."

"Oh, okay. If that's what you want," says Alani, looking over to you guys to see if you'll say anything.

"Hmm, that might be safer, yes," Kat says with a hand on her chin.

"That really gon' make a difference?" - Carlos asks Zoe - "Ain't like our profile gon' get any smaller, what wit' all we got left on our plates. Sides, if yer the odd one out, that just might make you stand out even more."

Zoe's head tilts slightly as she asks, "Stand out more? What do you mean?"

"Wouldn't do for ya ta just disappear from us when somethin' big happens, would it? Yer sudden absence would stick out worse than if ya were jes' there, business as usual. Sides, ya really wanna start livin' like that? That's worse than exile, that a curse right there. F'ayone watching got a brain 'tween their ears, they'll know when yer avoidin' people on purpose, too."

"Besides, wouldn't that make your cousins happy if they see they got to you?"

Zoe facepalms and then says, "You're both right!" She sighs, looks over at Alani and says, "Of course I want to do it. I'd be honored to."

"That's great!" says Alani, looking immensely pleased, "I don't know who these cousins of yours are but they sound awful and I know who I want to stand with me in my ceremony so they can go kiss demons for all I care. And if they have a problem with that...well, they can argue with my bow. But enough about them.  

"Before the ceremony starts, you guys will follow Symania to the other Senior Hunters. When it's time to start, she'll lead everyone out into view of the tribes. Just follow the others out and whatever you do, just be sure to stand next to Folan and you'll know you are in the right spot. Then just listen for Symania to ask the question and answer yes in Elven. After that, Symania will name me Elder and I'll say a few words, the end."

Kathryn listens to the instructions while nodding at the appropriate moments. "That sounds simple enough," she says. "I'm surprised Symania is the one to name you Elder though. I thought it would be Ara."

Hunter gives her the OK sign and recasts "Three Robins In June".

"Yes, that's who would usually do it," says Alani sadly, "But Ara has stepped back and insisted we come up with a new tradition. 'New traditions for a new tribe' as she put it. Nesme's betrayal has hit her hardest of all I think, made her question the role of druid in our Quorum."

Symania sighs and says with as much hope as she can muster, "She just needs time to sort things out and to train more druids, time I think well spent for her. She'll step up again when it's time. I know she will." But Alani is already shaking her head no.

"She won't. She's still Ara--I'd never say otherwise!--but something's changed and I don't think her path will be with us for much longer. She'll train the next generation, however long that takes, but I believe she intends to leave after that."

"What makes you say that?" asks Symania.

"The way she looks out at the horizon when she thinks no one is looking. The way she is delegating to the rest of us, like she's training us to take over for her when she is gone. But it's mostly just a feeling when we talk. A weariness has crept into her when we weren't looking and I don't think a break will fix it."

A hush falls over the tiefling while Alani bemoans the parting. "I think she's right, Grandma. At least Ara's staying for a bit. She still wants to help her people, but they've been hit with a lot - herself included. Each of them is still their own person, and people lose their center sometimes and have to find a new sense of direction. Sometimes that means going on a journey."

Carlos sighs - "Bein' on the road, yer used ta things ya can do somethin' about, but some things... ya jes' can't very well fix." - he thinks for a second - "Can't hurt ta check in on'er, though."

RorytheRomulan wrote:

A hush falls over the tiefling while Alani bemoans the parting. "I think she's right, Grandma. At least Ara's staying for a bit. She still wants to help her people, but they've been hit with a lot - herself included. Each of them is still their own person, and people lose their center sometimes and have to find a new sense of direction. Sometimes that means going on a journey."

Symania doesn't look happy about it but she nods in acknowledgement of Hunter's wisdom.

K wrote:

Carlos sighs - "Bein' on the road, yer used ta things ya can do somethin' about, but some things... ya jes' can't very well fix." - he thinks for a second - "Can't hurt ta check in on'er, though."

"Just what I was thinking," says Zoe, after which Jojo nods in agreement.

"I imagine we all will sometime soon," says Symania, "But in the meantime, we should get this ceremony started." She looks at Alani and says, "Do you want to keep the warpaint? New traditions and all that."

After a long moment of thought Alani finally says, "No. There will be plenty of that in the coming days but that's not the promise I want to make to our people today. I'm not becoming Elder to lead our people to war, but to lead them back to peace and I should look the part." She looks apologetically at Kat and adds, "You really did a good job, though, Ser Elwin. I'm sorry to have to wreck your work."

"Don't worry about it," Kat says with a smile. "Just make sure to let me be the one to put paint on you next time you need some."

"Given the journey we're on, that may not come soon enough. Unless we're talking fingernails," Hunter quips. "How about it, Elder? Need a manicure?"

"What's a man-i-cure?" asks Alani, trying out the word for the first time.

Zoe giggles and says, "It's where a trained specialist cleans, cuts, and paints your nails. It takes a long time for the whole process but I bet I could paint your nails in the time we have. You know, if you want? I won't be able to match the war paint colors but I do have enough to match the pattern at least."

"Oh, I remember seeing that in Sarthel on the noble lady's fingers," says Symania. "I always wondered what that was."

Alani looks unsure but she finally offers a compromise, saying, "Um, why don't we try just one nail and then I'll decide whether or not to do all of them."

"Whatever you want," says Zoe with a grin. She pulls a box out of her belt pouch, which she opens to reveal a makeup kit with everything a woman would need to doll herself up for a special occasion and then she gets to work. After washing off Alani's fingers with soap and water, she begins using light blue and gray nail polish to reproduce the warpaint pattern on Alani's face. The Elder-to-be holds up her hand so everyone can admire it.

Alani says, "I had no idea how good this could look."

Zoe grins and asks, "So, all of them then?"

"Yes, all of them," says Alani. And so Zoe gets to work while the rest of you pass the time with her making small talk about this or that, until finally Zoe is done in ten minutes. "Thank you so much," says Alani to Hunter and Zoe, "This was a great idea."

"Wow, I had no idea this is how you paint your nails," Kat comments after seeing the final result. "It looks really good on you. Maybe I'll try it one day when we're not out adventuring."

She continues to gaze at Alani's nails with interest.

"Of course. It looks great on you. Uh, the ceremony is supposed to start soon. Should we get going now? I don't want to make you late."

Zoe grins at Alani and gives her the old double thumbs up of approval, "I'm glad you like them. Just make sure not to touch them while they are drying. They should be set in ten minutes or so. Just don't pick up anything and you should be good."

"Oh, got it," says Alani, nodding seriously, "But yes, we should get going. However, would one of you mind wiping off my face? I can't now." She laughs as she holds up her drying fingers.

"Of course," Kat says. "Here, hand me a towel and I'll take care of it."

The young knight uses water from her waterskin to wash the new Elder's face and wipe all traces of paint from her face. It takes only a minute before she's finished.

"There you go! You're now ready to face the crowd."

"In nine minutes." - Carlos helpfully adds.

After everyone laughs at Carlos' joke, Alani leads you all in standing up again and then looks at Symania, asking her mentor, "How do I look?"

Symania wipes away a tear and says, "Like an Elder. I'm so proud of you."

"Don't cry, you'll make me cry," says Alani, carefully hugging her teacher, who returns the hug.

That's when Gorduin's daughter Mari, pokes her head in, saying, "It's time, Gwathel."

Elven Translation of Gwathel:

"Thank you, Gwathel," says Symania back. Mari nods and pulls back to let the curtain acting as the door fall into place once again. Symania and Alani break their hug and the the older elf says to you all, "This way then. We really don't want to leave Terron and Shandalar alone for too long, he'll probably end up challenging her to a wrestling match again."

"What, really?" asks Jojo, laughing.

"They are tied at three a piece last I heard," says Symania, laughing, "But she's won the last three contests in a row now that she understands the rules." And so Symania tells you about a few of their bouts as she leads you to the waiting Senior Hunters, like how Shandalar lost the first one by biting Terron on the shoulder and how their last bout ended with Wolf Girl flipping over Terron's shoulder and using her forward momentum to then toss him out of the ring. Fortunately for the ceremony, Symania's fears prove unfounded.

All of the gathered Senior Hunters are looking more groomed than usual, having bathed for the occasion and each sporting their dress robes of black and green. The only one that looks especially uncomfortable is Aymar, who looks to be wearing Zoras' robe which is both too short for his height and too big in the chest for his physique.

They all say hi to you, though Folan's is a little stiffer than usual when you guys stand next to him in the line. Meanwhile Shandalar's greeting is perfunctory, as her mind is clearly elsewhere. In fact, when the ceremony begins Aymar has to snap her out of her revelry so she can walk out with everyone.

The ceremony itself is conducted in Elven and begins with Symania addressing the crowd. She raises her voice, calling out, "Moondancers! Iron Arrows! When our ancestors came together to hunt, only the bravest and strongest would be chosen to lead! We named them Senior Hunters, and around them formed the bands we know today! But a hunting band is not a people!

"When danger reared its ugly head, our bands came together to organize and meet this threat! We called this alliance a Quorum, and so our ancextors were shielded from harm. But a Quorum is not a people!

"Time passed, and as our differences melted away, so did our similarities grow, until one day the wisest among us said: 'Our people are the Moondancers and this is our tribe. We are one people, of one heart and mind.' And so our ancestors realized the truth of her words and named her Elder for her wisdom. For now they were a people!

"And so my people, we come together now just as our ancestors once did, to name an Elder. And I say this: Just as with the Elders of old, our most wise and strongest leader is Alani! And I say she should be Elder!" She turns to your group and shouts out, "What say you, honored heroes of our tribe? Will you have Alani as your Elder?!"

Terron leads you all in roaring your assent, stepping forward himself to address the crowd. "We, the heroes of our tribe, name Alani our new Elder. Only she has the strength to lead us and the wisdom to guide us!" The elves of the gathered tribes roar their agreement, something Terron and the other Senior Hunters are all too happy to play to with whoops and jumping and other assorted fanfare. Chants break out, each one representing the different bands, each one trying to outdo the others regardless of size.

When things finally calm down enough to continue almost ten minutes later, Symania addresses everyone for the last time. "Then it is decided! Come forth Alani! Come forth Elder!" The new Elder emerges from stage left, holding a spear in her left hand and her sceptor of office in her right. The cheering of the crowd swells once more, and she acknowledges it with a smile and a small wave of her scepter.

"My people," she begins, "My people! Look around you. Faces both old and new do I see, but Moondancers all! From this day forward, that's what you are! And nothing, no traitors, no invaders, will ever take that from you as long as I draw breath! As long as we all draw breath! That is the vow I make to you in the name of our ancestors, a vow I swear in the name of the Great Spirits and by all the gods worthy of that hallowed company!"

--------------------------------------------

Since the ceremony ended ten minutes ago, Elder Alani has been accepting congratulations from every elf and guest that has a mind to do so. Meanwhile, Folan and his men are guarding her and doing their best to keep her from being too overwhelmed, standing before her and causing the crowd to have to funnel into three or so lines.

You guys are currently sharing some wine with the Senior Hunters, watching the Elder in her first moments officially on the job. Aymar, who stripped off his stupid ill-fitting robe the moment the ceremony was over, shakes his head and says, "She makes it look so easy."

"She's been well trained," says Terron, saluting Symania with his wine glass. Symania grins and returns the salute.

The unified voices leading the cheers and yells of "aye" in Elven spur Hunter to do the same, as instructed at first, and then as cheerful as the others that these events worked out so well. After the ceremony ends, he finds Alani to give his congratulations and shake her hand.

Later, in the presence of the Senior Hunters, the tiefling's anxiety returns, and for the moment he nods and grunts in agreement while nursing his wine for kobold courage.