Shella Festival (IC)

[Krugeristan]

Kujanaero made a mental note that the Selkie seemed to be one of the few people on Earth who could overlook how aggressive Krugeristan was and still enjoy the company of one.

Selkie did not overlook, how aggressive Krugeristanis were - they just tended to look at the whole picture.
As it was, Leonard was a good example of that.
"It's an honour, Mister Kujanaero. Now then...", he said with a smile. "...what's your usual target distance?"

"On average, twenty-to-twenty-five feet, depending on the type of bow. Longbows, I can go a little further." Kujanaero bit his lip, wondering what was going on elsewhere. "Shot across a pool once, managed to hit the target. Stupid challenge, I guess, to see who could hit the target and avoid losing their arrows in the water."

[The Selkie]

"Yes, always nice to see a bunch of lovebirds, I guess." replied Oliver, shrugging.
"You know, I'd be fine with taking that free victory for him, if he doesn't really like to. A battle won without fighting is the best sort of victory, as my father always used to say. 'Suppose he knew more about it than me, though - I fight, but not like the first generation did." said Anni, frowning as she watched the Selkie Colonel wait on the field.

Kayla raised an eyebrow.
"You don't fight like the first generation did?", she asked with a confused expression, "Sorry, but... what do you mean? I saw your fight and... well, I suppose, that has something to do with the traditions of the Swordfighting Art in the State, but... what exactly, if I may ask?"
On the field, the Colonel asked the judge to give his opponent a few more minutes - just to be safe. The judge nodded and sighed.
He, too, hated it when people simply did not turn up.

"On average, twenty-to-twenty-five feet, depending on the type of bow. Longbows, I can go a little further." Kujanaero bit his lip, wondering what was going on elsewhere. "Shot across a pool once, managed to hit the target. Stupid challenge, I guess, to see who could hit the target and avoid losing their arrows in the water."

"...twentyfive feet...?", Leonard asked with a bit of a shocked expression, "Rhiannon's..."
He looked away, then back.
"Really, 25 feet?", he repeated, "I test bows at that distance. I usually fire arrows into a target 250 metres away from the back of a galloping horse during my contests - and I hit the mark..." He was a bit shocked. "Mister Kujanaero, you need to put a bit of training into up this morning. And that means only one thing..."

[Krugeristan]

"On average, twenty-to-twenty-five feet, depending on the type of bow. Longbows, I can go a little further." Kujanaero bit his lip, wondering what was going on elsewhere. "Shot across a pool once, managed to hit the target. Stupid challenge, I guess, to see who could hit the target and avoid losing their arrows in the water."

"...twentyfive feet...?", Leonard asked with a bit of a shocked expression, "Rhiannon's..."
He looked away, then back.
"Really, 25 feet?", he repeated, "I test bows at that distance. I usually fire arrows into a target 250 metres away from the back of a galloping horse during my contests - and I hit the mark..." He was a bit shocked. "Mister Kujanaero, you need to put a bit of training into up this morning. And that means only one thing..."

Kujanaero shrugged. "I have hunted before, at various distances, as well as earning crossbow marksman in the Special Forces, but that was years ago." It's OK to doubt what I can do. I'm not supposed to argue.

[The Selkie]

Kujanaero shrugged. "I have hunted before, at various distances, as well as earning crossbow marksman in the Special Forces, but that was years ago." It's OK to doubt what I can do. I'm not supposed to argue.

Leonard's shoulders sagged a bit. "I actually wanted to suggest an awesome training montage like you see them in the movies...", he said with a bit of a sour expression, before brightening up again, "But it appears, that we don't need to - hunting is best to build experience in that regard. What did you hunt for?"

[Fascistisk State]

Kayla raised an eyebrow.
"You don't fight like the first generation did?", she asked with a confused expression, "Sorry, but... what do you mean? I saw your fight and... well, I suppose, that has something to do with the traditions of the Swordfighting Art in the State, but... what exactly, if I may ask?"
On the field, the Colonel asked the judge to give his opponent a few more minutes - just to be safe. The judge nodded and sighed.
He, too, hated it when people simply did not turn up.

Anni shook her head. "No, my father didn't know a thing about fighting with a sword. The first generation refers to the first free Norwegians and Finns that broke free from the monarchy, the ones that fought for their freedom. My father was very young, and he only fought in the later years of the revolution, when our people had more equipment from the successful Norwegians. Still, he told me quite a lot about his time, and we learn about the war in great detail. A desperate enemy doesn't really care much for the rules of war, and the monarchy always despised the Finnish. Two of my uncles died, apparently. Never knew them. I fight in an area, filled with medics and bandages, they fought in the snows of Sweden and died there. It wasn't a game." Anni smiled sheepishly. "Sorry - the government really does hammer the history into our heads at an early age, and you did ask."

[Krugeristan]

Kujanaero shrugged. "I have hunted before, at various distances, as well as earning crossbow marksman in the Special Forces, but that was years ago." It's OK to doubt what I can do. I'm not supposed to argue.

Leonard's shoulders sagged a bit. "I actually wanted to suggest an awesome training montage like you see them in the movies...", he said with a bit of a sour expression, before brightening up again, "But it appears, that we don't need to - hunting is best to build experience in that regard. What did you hunt for?"

"Deer, red fox, wild pigs. All three go very well in stew," Kujanaero said, forcing a smile. "We're a pretty carnivorous people. Experimenting with flavors of meat is one of our pastimes."

[The Selkie]

Kayla raised an eyebrow.
"You don't fight like the first generation did?", she asked with a confused expression, "Sorry, but... what do you mean? I saw your fight and... well, I suppose, that has something to do with the traditions of the Swordfighting Art in the State, but... what exactly, if I may ask?"
On the field, the Colonel asked the judge to give his opponent a few more minutes - just to be safe. The judge nodded and sighed.
He, too, hated it when people simply did not turn up.

Anni shook her head. "No, my father didn't know a thing about fighting with a sword. The first generation refers to the first free Norwegians and Finns that broke free from the monarchy, the ones that fought for their freedom. My father was very young, and he only fought in the later years of the revolution, when our people had more equipment from the successful Norwegians. Still, he told me quite a lot about his time, and we learn about the war in great detail. A desperate enemy doesn't really care much for the rules of war, and the monarchy always despised the Finnish. Two of my uncles died, apparently. Never knew them. I fight in an area, filled with medics and bandages, they fought in the snows of Sweden and died there. It wasn't a game." Anni smiled sheepishly. "Sorry - the government really does hammer the history into our heads at an early age, and you did ask."

Kayla laughed at the last comment.
"That I did, Anni, and thank you for sharing that with me.", she said and nodded, looking out at the field, where the Colonel still paced up and down. "We, too, teach much about our history, so I can sort-of relate. It even is part of my side-job... anyway, yes, this is not war. War would be far bloodier, far messier, far less civilized... we would not be standing here having this nice little talk during a battle, but we would fight for our survival - on the same side, I hope." She grinned for a short moment, before she turned back. "We had our fair share of battles in our past and only one was resolved by a game..."

"Deer, red fox, wild pigs. All three go very well in stew," Kujanaero said, forcing a smile. "We're a pretty carnivorous people. Experimenting with flavors of meat is one of our pastimes."

"That's sounds like a good cuisine!", Leonard laughed with hige grin, "We can share recepies later, when you have the time - I know my way both in the kitchen and on the hunt. Farmer's boy and hunter of vermin, that was... and is me!"

[Krugeristan]

"Deer, red fox, wild pigs. All three go very well in stew," Kujanaero said, forcing a smile. "We're a pretty carnivorous people. Experimenting with flavors of meat is one of our pastimes."

"That's sounds like a good cuisine!", Leonard laughed with hige grin, "We can share recepies later, when you have the time - I know my way both in the kitchen and on the hunt. Farmer's boy and hunter of vermin, that was... and is me!"

"Well . . . good for you," Kujanaero said, his mind still wandering. "We can talk about recipes after the . . . tournament and . . . after I find Faye to fix this."

[The Selkie]

"Well . . . good for you," Kujanaero said, his mind still wandering. "We can talk about recipes after the . . . tournament and . . . after I find Faye to fix this."

"Agreed.", Leonard said, sobering, turning to the direction Eitil had gone to, "Well... women take their sweet time everywhere in the world, right?" He sighed. "Do you have family?"

[Krugeristan]

"Well . . . good for you," Kujanaero said, his mind still wandering. "We can talk about recipes after the . . . tournament and . . . after I find Faye to fix this."

"Agreed.", Leonard said, sobering, turning to the direction Eitil had gone to, "Well... women take their sweet time everywhere in the world, right?" He sighed. "Do you have family?"

"Not really. Just my parents, living in the frigid Glacier District of the country," Kujanaero replied. Yes, they are taking a long time . . .

[The Selkie]

"Not really. Just my parents, living in the frigid Glacier District of the country," Kujanaero replied. Yes, they are taking a long time . . .

"My parents and my sisters.", Leonard grinned and rummaged through his jacket, "I have a picture of them with me, if you want. I always have one..." There was a small note of home-sickness in his voice as he looked through his pouches. "I always put it somewhere else..."

[Aurora Confederacy]

Marla fired her own arrows, until an armoured man, another participant, tapped her onto the shoulder.
"Cuimhneachán in ten.", he told her with a firm expression.
Marla nodded. "I'll be there.", she replied and nodded with the same firmness. The armoured man looked over Marla's shoulder at Isis.
The bluenette nodded.
He went over, tapped her onto the shoulder and told her with the same firmness: "Cuimhneachán in ten."
And off was he, leaving behind Marla packing up her stuff and bow up, bringing everything in order, relaxing the bow and putting it into the pouch at her hip. She looked over to Isis.
"You heard the man.", she said and smiled, "If you want, come."

Isis, nodded then brought her bow back to a relaxed state and put the arrow back in its quiver before putting her bow in its case and closing its latches,
"we starting now?" she asks Marla, picking up her case with one hand and reaching into her gensai to release the stance hold of her leg with the other hand. The latches holding her leg in its stance release wth a gentle click, probably no louder than someone pulling back the hammer on a typical revolver pistol and with her leg released she follows Marla with a slight limp.

Isis also had a few questions to ask Marla, so as she moved a bit faster she limped a little more pronounced as the leg swing was lagging behind a bit however although she was in a slight bit of discomfort, she was in fact not in what you would consider pain, just mild discomfort bit nothing that was going to get in her way, and had she been standing in the traditional archery stance as opposed to a stance which is more akin to a rifleman where one leg is in front of the other and the forward leg being the one that is also weight bearing, in this case that leg being Isis's good leg whilst her prosthetic leg was the trailing leg so was bearing no weight, she probably would be in more discomfort.

[The Selkie]

Isis, nodded then brought her bow back to a relaxed state and put the arrow back in its quiver before putting her bow in its case and closing its latches,
"we starting now?" she asks Marla, picking up her case with one hand and reaching into her gensai to release the stance hold of her leg with the other hand. The latches holding her leg in its stance release wth a gentle click, probably no louder than someone pulling back the hammer on a typical revolver pistol and with her leg released she follows Marla with a slight limp.

Isis also had a few questions to ask Marla, so as she moved a bit faster she limped a little more pronounced as the leg swing was lagging behind a bit however although she was in a slight bit of discomfort, she was in fact not in what you would consider pain, just mild discomfort bit nothing that was going to get in her way, and had she been standing in the traditional archery stance as opposed to a stance which is more akin to a rifleman where one leg is in front of the other and the forward leg being the one that is also weight bearing, in this case that leg being Isis's good leg whilst her prosthetic leg was the trailing leg so was bearing no weight, she probably would be in more discomfort.

"No, we're not up yet.", Marla told her with unusual seriousness, as she explained, "The Cuimhneachán is... the term means roughly translated 'Remembrance'. It's a sort-of memorial service the Marcach hold before their tournaments. Other participants are invited as well, but the three rememberers are chosen by their age, the three oldest participants."
She smiled slightly.
"I made it so, that you can watch the Cuimhneachán of the Archers. I heard, that the Fencers did not do one this time, which is a shame...", she continued, "I hope, that you don't mind the presumption?"

[Krugeristan]

"Not really. Just my parents, living in the frigid Glacier District of the country," Kujanaero replied. Yes, they are taking a long time . . .

"My parents and my sisters.", Leonard grinned and rummaged through his jacket, "I have a picture of them with me, if you want. I always have one..." There was a small note of home-sickness in his voice as he looked through his pouches. "I always put it somewhere else..."

"It's alright, honestly. You don't need to trouble yourself with it," Kujanaero said. "I just want to get everything off my shoulders."

[The Selkie]

"It's alright, honestly. You don't need to trouble yourself with it," Kujanaero said. "I just want to get everything off my shoulders."

Leonard stopped. "Okay, fair enough." He exhaled. "That's a tall order, though. Getting things off your shoulders, I mean... especially with a woman like Faye. She's..." He sighed. "How old do you think she is?"

[Krugeristan]

"It's alright, honestly. You don't need to trouble yourself with it," Kujanaero said. "I just want to get everything off my shoulders."

Leonard stopped. "Okay, fair enough." He exhaled. "That's a tall order, though. Getting things off your shoulders, I mean... especially with a woman like Faye. She's..." He sighed. "How old do you think she is?"

"I don't know and discussing that would be rude. I also don't think that really contributes anything to your point," Kujanaero replied.

[The Selkie]

"I don't know and discussing that would be rude. I also don't think that really contributes anything to your point," Kujanaero replied.

Leonard shook his head. "We're getting there.", he said and frowned, looking into the direction Eitil has gone, "By the way, the answer is nineteen."
His face suddenly lit up as a smaller woman then those they were waiting for came our of the direction Eitil had gone to. She smiled, but Kiah was apparently a bit confused as the young Grey Wolf, more a pup then anything else, really, led her with waggling tail.
"Hey, there, searrach!", Leonard said and went to a knee, "I see, that you have a new friend!"
Much of the confusion vanished from the little face and a toothy grin erupted as the girl ran forward and hugged the horsearcher with a joyous "Leo!"
The archer laughed, using the other hand to pet the Grey Wolf before biding him to sit as he lifted the girl up to eyelevel with the two adults.
Kiah grinned. "Hello, Mister Kujanaero!", she said and waved with joy.

[Krugeristan]

"I don't know and discussing that would be rude. I also don't think that really contributes anything to your point," Kujanaero replied.

Leonard shook his head. "We're getting there.", he said and frowned, looking into the direction Eitil has gone, "By the way, the answer is nineteen."
His face suddenly lit up as a smaller woman then those they were waiting for came our of the direction Eitil had gone to. She smiled, but Kiah was apparently a bit confused as the young Grey Wolf, more a pup then anything else, really, led her with waggling tail.
"Hey, there, searrach!", Leonard said and went to a knee, "I see, that you have a new friend!"
Much of the confusion vanished from the little face and a toothy grin erupted as the girl ran forward and hugged the horsearcher with a joyous "Leo!"
The archer laughed, using the other hand to pet the Grey Wolf before biding him to sit as he lifted the girl up to eyelevel with the two adults.
Kiah grinned. "Hello, Mister Kujanaero!", she said and waved with joy.

Kujanaero was about to yell in Russian over the fact that Faye is only nineteen when Kiah ran over to them. He put on a fake smile. "Hello, Kiah," he said.

[The Selkie]

Kujanaero was about to yell in Russian over the fact that Faye is only nineteen when Kiah ran over to them. He put on a fake smile. "Hello, Kiah," he said.

Kiah put on a confused expression. "Is something wrong, Mister Kujanaero?"
Leonard replied for him with a smile, winking towards the Krugeristani, suggesting that he should please play along. "No, everything alright, Kiah. We're just waiting for your mother and Brigadier Eitil."
"Mommy and Auntie Kiah will take a bit.", the girl said with a shake of her head, "They sent me out to you, Leo."
"I see.", the young man replied in a serious tone.

[Krugeristan]

Kujanaero was about to yell in Russian over the fact that Faye is only nineteen when Kiah ran over to them. He put on a fake smile. "Hello, Kiah," he said.

Kiah put on a confused expression. "Is something wrong, Mister Kujanaero?"
Leonard replied for him with a smile, winking towards the Krugeristani, suggesting that he should please play along. "No, everything alright, Kiah. We're just waiting for your mother and Brigadier Eitil."
"Mommy and Auntie Kiah will take a bit.", the girl said with a shake of her head, "They sent me out to you, Leo."
"I see.", the young man replied in a serious tone.

The fact that Kiah could see through the fake smile made Kujanaero feel better, in a way. "I will be alright, I guess," he said, quietly.

[Aurora Confederacy]

"No, we're not up yet.", Marla told her with unusual seriousness, as she explained, "The Cuimhneachán is... the term means roughly translated 'Remembrance'. It's a sort-of memorial service the Marcach hold before their tournaments. Other participants are invited as well, but the three rememberers are chosen by their age, the three oldest participants."
She smiled slightly.
"I made it so, that you can watch the Cuimhneachán of the Archers. I heard, that the Fencers did not do one this time, which is a shame...", she continued, "I hope, that you don't mind the presumption?"

Isis listened as Marla spoke, "sounds good. although i think that had I been wearing my normal gear instead of this traditional out fit I would have stood out, here I feel that in this I kinda blend in nicely, I have noticed few people looking at me, not that I am self conscious, but travel and culture is always an experience. From my own country and its customs to Ryisa which is a deeply islamic nation so has its own customs, I have been to many places. This my second visit to the Free Lands, I was here with my partner in the spring. So are there ant cultural rites pertaining to the ceremony?" asks Isis as she walks alongside Marla with a slight but notable limp.

Over in the grassy spectator area, Holly notices Isis moving location, "Gwenny, I wander where Isis is off to, want to follow?" she asks before putting Bobby onto the grass then with a care gently and somewhat gingerly getting up onto her feet with an offering off Martyne, an offer which was politely refused as Holly believes that getting up unaided is something she has to get used to doing, even though she lost both feet some years ago and is still fiercly independent, so much so that she does not have a blue badge although Isis does!

[The Selkie]

The fact that Kiah could see through the fake smile made Kujanaero feel better, in a way. "I will be alright, I guess," he said, quietly.

Kiah put her head to her side and spread her arms out. "Mommy always says, that when you feel bad, a hug will make you feel better.", she offered a hug and with a slight nod, Leonard told Kujanaero, that it was okay from their side of things, that he indeed got a hug from her - from his side was his thing, though. "And when I feel bad, she hugs me too and everything gets better!"
It was childish logic, but Leonard had to admit, that she did have a point.

[Krugeristan]

The fact that Kiah could see through the fake smile made Kujanaero feel better, in a way. "I will be alright, I guess," he said, quietly.

Kiah put her head to her side and spread her arms out. "Mommy always says, that when you feel bad, a hug will make you feel better.", she offered a hug and with a slight nod, Leonard told Kujanaero, that it was okay from their side of things, that he indeed got a hug from her - from his side was his thing, though. "And when I feel bad, she hugs me too and everything gets better!"
It was childish logic, but Leonard had to admit, that she did have a point.

Kujanaero wanted to tear up a little, and he opened his arms. "Please . . . it's alright if you hug me. Where I come from, a hug from a child is a sign a person has good character . . . though I doubt that about myself sometimes."

[The Selkie]

Kujanaero wanted to tear up a little, and he opened his arms. "Please . . . it's alright if you hug me. Where I come from, a hug from a child is a sign a person has good character . . . though I doubt that about myself sometimes."

Kiah softly embraced the foreign man, nestling her head into his shoulder, Leonard passing the girl over with a smile of his own.
"You are good.", Kiah said with a small smile, "You are nice. And nice people are good." She nodded into his chest. "Mommy said so too."

[Krugeristan]

Kujanaero wanted to tear up a little, and he opened his arms. "Please . . . it's alright if you hug me. Where I come from, a hug from a child is a sign a person has good character . . . though I doubt that about myself sometimes."

Kiah softly embraced the foreign man, nestling her head into his shoulder, Leonard passing the girl over with a smile of his own.
"You are good.", Kiah said with a small smile, "You are nice. And nice people are good." She nodded into his chest. "Mommy said so too."

I really don't think I'm a nice person . . . I don't think your mother was honest with you . . . Kujanaero was quiet, unsure of what he could say properly.