hexarchate_rpg | Chapter 2.2

[Sorry I didn't get this out earlier, y'all. Happy summer/winter holidays!]

The Cantata emerges from the rift on an approach to the Lanterner stronghold called Autumn Pyre. The Cantata hums very quietly to reassure the mothlings, then falls silent; it's been impressed on the Cantata that discretion will be necessary. For their part, the mothlings have free run of an enclosure with Fluffy the Vraselian pseudo-dragon, and both mothlings and dragonet seem to be entertaining each other with games of tag and hide-and-seek. They are happy to play with any humans who stop by, as well.

Scan reveals that Autumn Pyre is heavily fortified by the standards of the day, mostly with invariant weapons like railguns and missiles. A few dozen moths are already docked there, and several more are patrolling the area. Two small Lanterner patrol moths, nearly identical, veer lazily toward the Cantata.

Patrol moth #1 hails the Cantata in several different languages, including the high language. For its part, it transmits the Lanterner emblem--a stylized yellow lantern against a blue background--and the speaker is requesting that you halt and identify yourselves. "This is the Lanterner Federacy in the year 852," the speaker goes on, "under the benevolent rule of the Honorable Aramis kae Pharon. Are you human? What are your hospitality requirements?"

[Feel free to take advantage of the between-moves planning post if you need to, and to make whatever preparations, including rearranging the Cantata's variable layout, you deem necessary.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Finally, there's some useful information - the word endings in Sasha's barbarian language seem to be connected to gender, and apparently, those people don't have a proper way to address a plant-woman (or anyone else who's been enhanced) either. Mafyyil is still unsure what all that has to do with her dress but is willing to let the issue slide. She's too curious about other things. "Did you choose to be called Sasha?" she asks.

"I chose not to be called Sdaret, if that's what you're asking." Not that many people had tried, except occasionally Mirek, when he was angry Sasha wasn't stealing sweets for him.

"I'll use Mafyyil, then, if you prefer." Interested by the conversation, Reshad has stayed quiet as Sasha explains.

It may be noteworthy, then, that Sasha hasn't tried nicknaming /her./ "Where I'm from, nicknames are often used by friends or family members," she offers.

It doesn't sound like Reshad's referencing the high language. That's more disclosure than Sasha expected. With an air of innocent curiosity, she asks, "What name did you go by, when you were small?"

Ah - interest. That is so much better than disconcerted closure. Reshad knows full well that Sasha will look up whatever name she gives; well, and she may have the joy of it.

"In school, I was called Myoya Tonash." It's true enough, as far as it goes. "And you?"

[If Sasha looks that up, she'll find record of a boy from the recently-conquered world called Aiwui under that name in a Vidona school. Myoya is not a family name, but rather reflects children enrolled from a particular region. Tonash, likewise, references the virtue of obedience in the high language, and is not a Aiwuyan name.]

"Oh, I never went to school." Sasha's tone is demure, but she's watching Reshad (and the rest of the people in the common room) for a reaction.

"Ah! How times have changed." Reshad gives a thin, but apparently genuine, smile.

After all, he lack of data is still data.

Chapter 2.2

Re: weapons and fake titles - paging Seyli, Reshad, Alaric, and Mafyyil

Re: weapons and fake titles - paging Seyli, Reshad, Alaric, and Mafyyil

Re: weapons and fake titles - paging Seyli, Reshad, Alaric, and Mafyyil

Re: weapons and fake titles - paging Seyli, Reshad, Alaric, and Mafyyil

Re: weapons and fake titles - paging Seyli, Reshad, Alaric, and Mafyyil

Re: weapons and fake titles - paging Seyli, Reshad, Alaric, and Mafyyil

Re: weapons and fake titles - paging Seyli, Reshad, Alaric, and Mafyyil