Shella Festival (IC)

[The Selkie]

"I haven't had a go yet, but I'll fight...", Kayla explained and looked at her sheet, "Faye Donn of the Tribe of Wexford. Should be fun!" She grinned, as she, too sat down in the grass. "And it will be a good show. Colonel Alhajin fights completely different to how Selkie usually fight and seeing people react to that... it's always good. He's known for going to all SDF-soldiers participating and telling them, that they are free to fight to their fullest, because if they fear to fight him, they are useless - if he gets the feeling, that someone is holding back, he's noted down and kept an eye on." Kayla made a face. "He's very strict with his people, stricter then General Niochan."

"They sing songs of the best Field Marshals, heroes of the Kombihæren. I don't think I've ever heard of one that was noted for his easygoing nature in regards to men under their arms, though." Oliver gave a massive shrug. "I suppose you don't have a lot of lazy sods with no discipline in their body reaching that sort of rank. I think the only reason I reached Visekorporal was the mandatory service."

Anni laughed. "You think? I know. Oliver would never last in the military. He's got too much love for the finer things in life." With a grin still on her face, she turned to watch the General preparing in the ring again. "Faye Donn, eh? She any good?"

Kayla nodded. "Oh, yes, they say so.", she said with a smile, honestly looking forward to that one, "Very nimble, very fast and not really strong. She's actually a fisherwoman and merchant in one, but very good with the fish-dagger she owns. Mean little bastard, that thing, more a short sword then a dagger."
Kayla grinned at Oliver. "And you would very much appreciate seeing her, I'm quite sure of that!", she said with a grin, "Alas, her heart is taken by another one..."
On the field, Colonel Alhajin was getting impatient.

Marty chuckled, "no no no, not volcanoes, we have 3 of those in the country, Mount Sula'm'buru and Mount Halvaar in the north-east along with Mount Diablo which last erupted in biblical times but its summit crater has a hot lake in it which at sixty degrees its too hot to swim in, whether Dibby blows again is anyones guess as there has not been any activity there in two and a half thousand years other than the hot lake. The deep Geological store is where our nuclear industry stores its spent fuel that can not be reprocessed, its actually quite warm down there and the blast doors are to keep any fire and debris inside the store area and since its opening in the sixties there has been no incident that registers in the nuclear event scale, and yes its big, VERY big with a warren of tunnels under there" she says, "I can't say how many people work there or the amount of fuel and material stored there, and South Sands Energy won't tell you even if you asked them and the place is not signposted, its just an un named road off a highway that has a big heavy gate across it. Near it is the Jan Mayen power station but in Khayr Ad'Din there is the old RBMK power station which is being decomissioned, all the fuel from there went to the DGS as it can not be used in any other power station. After Chernobyl they had to modify the reactors but in twenty thirteen the decision was made to close the plant. Older gas cooled Magnox types are still running though"

"Ah... Gualchró.", Gwen said with a nod, now taking over from Tyran, who was out of his league, before she continued, "Sorry for interrupting. Gualchró is our version of the DGS, it seems. Back before we switched to greener energy production methods, the Free Lands were run, energy wise, mostly on nuclear power. Deep underground powerplants, so that if something goes off, it stays down. Some of them are still running, Dad worked in some of those before he took a new job." She cleared her throat and leaned forward to whisper. "He told me once, that they bring all of their spent fuel rods to a secret storage bunker named Gualchró, somewhere deep in the Great Woods - what happens there is more secret then secret. Rumours vary in saying, amongst others that they are simply stored there, others say, that they are traded to with aliens, others again say, that they are used to build nuclear weapons... Whatever it is, it is strictly hush-hush!"

[Krugeristan]

"I'm not an expert in law and punishment, but, working in the oil fields is least of what you'd have to worry about," Kujanaero said. "Some divorce cases can carry a less severe punishment of sterilization--however the methods of such can be quite barbaric and done so purposefully."

Eitil frowned.
"And I stand corrected.", she said in a dry tone, before she turned and asked while still walking to the petting zoo: "Tell me, though, what would net me such a punishment? Me being divorced?"

"Being divorced because you cheated," Kujanaero replied. "Sterilization is typically reserved for if offspring was produced in the cheating relationship. The child is then taken away and put up for adoption."

[The Selkie]

"Being divorced because you cheated," Kujanaero replied. "Sterilization is typically reserved for if offspring was produced in the cheating relationship. The child is then taken away and put up for adoption."

"Sorry, small misunderstanding.", Eitil said a bit harsher then she intended, frowning deeply and showing her intense displeasure at the words spoken by the Krugeristani, turning, "I did not cheat on anyone. And neither did my husbands. So... Any other accusations?"

[Fascistisk State]

Kayla nodded. "Oh, yes, they say so.", she said with a smile, honestly looking forward to that one, "Very nimble, very fast and not really strong. She's actually a fisherwoman and merchant in one, but very good with the fish-dagger she owns. Mean little bastard, that thing, more a short sword then a dagger."
Kayla grinned at Oliver. "And you would very much appreciate seeing her, I'm quite sure of that!", she said with a grin, "Alas, her heart is taken by another one..."
On the field, Colonel Alhajin was getting impatient.

"Fish-dagger? She sounds bloody crazy, fighting with something like that." Anni paused for a moment. "To each their own, though. I've not known many people good enough with daggers to do anything but get someone right hard in the stomach. Should be nice to see someone that know's what they're doing with it." Oliver nodded sarcastically, turning to Kayla and feigning an expression of injury. "Am I truly so unattractive? Everyone thinks I'm the bachelor, everyone. My bloody heart can be taken as well, you know. I could be gay, for all you know. I mean, I'm not, but..." Anni continued to absently pick at the cloth on her blade, speaking without looking up. "You're not gay? News to me."

[Krugeristan]

"Being divorced because you cheated," Kujanaero replied. "Sterilization is typically reserved for if offspring was produced in the cheating relationship. The child is then taken away and put up for adoption."

"Sorry, small misunderstanding.", Eitil said a bit harsher then she intended, frowning deeply and showing her intense displeasure at the words spoken by the Krugeristani, turning, "I did not cheat on anyone. And neither did my husbands. So... Any other accusations?"

"Not really. The only other case where sterilization would be a sentence is in child abuse cases," Kujanaero said. "That's typically all, I think. Like I said, I'm no expert."

[The Selkie]

Kayla nodded. "Oh, yes, they say so.", she said with a smile, honestly looking forward to that one, "Very nimble, very fast and not really strong. She's actually a fisherwoman and merchant in one, but very good with the fish-dagger she owns. Mean little bastard, that thing, more a short sword then a dagger."
Kayla grinned at Oliver. "And you would very much appreciate seeing her, I'm quite sure of that!", she said with a grin, "Alas, her heart is taken by another one..."
On the field, Colonel Alhajin was getting impatient.

"Fish-dagger? She sounds bloody crazy, fighting with something like that." Anni paused for a moment. "To each their own, though. I've not known many people good enough with daggers to do anything but get someone right hard in the stomach. Should be nice to see someone that know's what they're doing with it." Oliver nodded sarcastically, turning to Kayla and feigning an expression of injury. "Am I truly so unattractive? Everyone thinks I'm the bachelor, everyone. My bloody heart can be taken as well, you know. I could be gay, for all you know. I mean, I'm not, but..." Anni continued to absently pick at the cloth on her blade, speaking without looking up. "You're not gay? News to me."

Kayla laughed at the exchange, heartily, before she told Oliver: "Don't worry, you do look good - but Faye is just... completely head over heels for her beloved. It's a wonderful sight to see the two of them... three, if you count Gleoite in." She grinned. "That's Faye's pet, a Dreapadóir... wonderful laddie, let me tell you."
Kayla smiled and turned back to the field.
"The Colonel's opponent should arrive sooner rather then later or else he might get disqualified.", she noted with a small frown, "Not that I don't think, that he would win, but the Colonel is not someone to take a victory for free without raising an eyebrow."

"Not really. The only other case where sterilization would be a sentence is in child abuse cases," Kujanaero said. "That's typically all, I think. Like I said, I'm no expert."

"Neither am I.", Eitil said and turned back to the way, "We should be..."
Suddenly, her pocket vibrated, which she pushed her hand in, taking out her smartphone. Her finger worked a bit on the device before she frowned. "Text from Leonard, Faye is at the petting zoo. She looks like she cried and is currently cuddling her daughter and a Grey Wolf." There was a small pause. "Speak true - what did you do to that lassie?"

[Krugeristan]

"Not really. The only other case where sterilization would be a sentence is in child abuse cases," Kujanaero said. "That's typically all, I think. Like I said, I'm no expert."

"Neither am I.", Eitil said and turned back to the way, "We should be..."
Suddenly, her pocket vibrated, which she pushed her hand in, taking out her smartphone. Her finger worked a bit on the device before she frowned. "Text from Leonard, Faye is at the petting zoo. She looks like she cried and is currently cuddling her daughter and a Grey Wolf." There was a small pause. "Speak true - what did you do to that lassie?"

"I honestly don't know. I said something about how I don't have any friends at home, and she stormed off. I don't remember what she had said before leaving." Kujanaero walked a little faster.

[The Selkie]

"I honestly don't know. I said something about how I don't have any friends at home, and she stormed off. I don't remember what she had said before leaving." Kujanaero walked a little faster.

Eitil frowned. "Hm... if only Finnya was here...", she mumbled under her breath as indeed the outermost areas of the petting zoo came into sight - one of the areas, where people could sit and relax.
Eitil did not spot Faye as she went through, a small smile on her lips, which did not quite reach her eyes.

[Krugeristan]

"I honestly don't know. I said something about how I don't have any friends at home, and she stormed off. I don't remember what she had said before leaving." Kujanaero walked a little faster.

Eitil frowned. "Hm... if only Finnya was here...", she mumbled under her breath as indeed the outermost areas of the petting zoo came into sight - one of the areas, where people could sit and relax.
Eitil did not spot Faye as she went through, a small smile on her lips, which did not quite reach her eyes.

What if one of those fucking foreigner whores got to Faye? Kujanaero thought. He leaned over and picked up a rock . . . just in case.

[The Selkie]

What if one of those fucking foreigner whores got to Faye? Kujanaero thought. He leaned over and picked up a rock . . . just in case.

Eitil saw her companion pick up a rock from the corner of her eye - if that made him feel safer, then he should, so she let him be. She knew for a fact, that many of the people tending to the petting zoo were armed in one way or the other.
Visitors often forgot, that Selkie were not armed for show, quite on the contrary.
The redhead from before, Leonard, approached them with a small smile, waving. "Morning, again.", he said and motioned for them to come closer. Eitil did. "Faye is with the Grey Wolves and Kiah, playing. She looks like she cried, so be cautious. And you..." He looked at Kujanaero. "Stay back here with me for a few moments, please."

[Krugeristan]

What if one of those fucking foreigner whores got to Faye? Kujanaero thought. He leaned over and picked up a rock . . . just in case.

Eitil saw her companion pick up a rock from the corner of her eye - if that made him feel safer, then he should, so she let him be. She knew for a fact, that many of the people tending to the petting zoo were armed in one way or the other.
Visitors often forgot, that Selkie were not armed for show, quite on the contrary.
The redhead from before, Leonard, approached them with a small smile, waving. "Morning, again.", he said and motioned for them to come closer. Eitil did. "Faye is with the Grey Wolves and Kiah, playing. She looks like she cried, so be cautious. And you..." He looked at Kujanaero. "Stay back here with me for a few moments, please."

Kujanaero frowned, glaring at Leonard. "Why? I came for the purpose of finding Faye."

[Aurora Confederacy]

Martyne laughs at the Aliens reference, "some folk" she chuckles, "back home we tend to use nuclear for its heat to warm places, The factory where my truck was built is right next to a nuclear plant, so close that they use its steam to heat the plant"

Marty looks at her watch then to the field, then to Holly "when is Isis taking stage?" She asks.

Over at the enclosure, Isis is continuing to work her bow, arrow after arrow being sent down range with some getting perrilously close to ther centre spot which makes her smile, BUT she has yet to nail the spot.

[The Selkie]

Kujanaero frowned, glaring at Leonard. "Why? I came for the purpose of finding Faye."

"Because you're a man and Brigadier Eitil is not - as is Faye.", Leonard explained in a few short words, "Women find it easier to connect to other women... especially in a state of emotional distress."
He looked at the Brigadier in question, nodding.
"You should listen to him.", she said with a frown, "He has three sisters."
"Older ones.", the young man nodded. "All three. Go, Kiah - I'll entertain him somehow. We're both archers, so I'm quite sure, that we can find something."
Eitil nodded. "Sorry for letting you wait here.", she told the foreigner, nodded and turned to go to where Faye and Kiah were.

Martyne laughs at the Aliens reference, "some folk" she chuckles, "back home we tend to use nuclear for its heat to warm places, The factory where my truck was built is right next to a nuclear plant, so close that they use its steam to heat the plant"

Marty looks at her watch then to the field, then to Holly "when is Isis taking stage?" She asks.

Over at the enclosure, Isis is continuing to work her bow, arrow after arrow being sent down range with some getting perrilously close to ther centre spot which makes her smile, BUT she has yet to nail the spot.

"It's still a bit until the Archery Tournament starts.", Gwen said with a smile, watching a lonesome fighter, well known to the Selkie although he did not look like it, pace up and down, waiting for his opponent. "We have the Fencing Tournament on our hands right now. If you want, I saw a few blacksmiths with the peddlers, maybe we can lend a few swords and do a round or two?"
Tyran nodded. "You should, Gwenny is a good teacher!"
The redhead in question blushed.

Marla, still standing at her side, had begun to watch her quite some time ago, only occassionally shooting an arrow and then not even watching where it landed.
She nodded in approval - she was good. Talented, to some extend. One-Legged Virgil would be proud to see his legacy in such a usage.
But how would she perform during the competition? That was always the question, she as an experienced fighter knew that better then some would think.

[Krugeristan]

Kujanaero frowned, glaring at Leonard. "Why? I came for the purpose of finding Faye."

"Because you're a man and Brigadier Eitil is not - as is Faye.", Leonard explained in a few short words, "Women find it easier to connect to other women... especially in a state of emotional distress."
He looked at the Brigadier in question, nodding.
"You should listen to him.", she said with a frown, "He has three sisters."
"Older ones.", the young man nodded. "All three. Go, Kiah - I'll entertain him somehow. We're both archers, so I'm quite sure, that we can find something."
Eitil nodded. "Sorry for letting you wait here.", she told the foreigner, nodded and turned to go to where Faye and Kiah were.

"Fine. Unreasonable this may be, especially since I don't know what I did, and probably never will at this rate," Kujanaero snapped.

[The Selkie]

"Fine. Unreasonable this may be, especially since I don't know what I did, and probably never will at this rate," Kujanaero snapped.

"You are correct.", Leonard said and nodded in understanding, "You may never will. And yes, it is unreasonable."
A Grey Wolf came trotting up to the two men, sniffing at the redhead's hand, who absentmindedly placed his hand on his head, softly stroking him between the ears.
"But it is how it works the best, believe me. Emotions - and women, for that matter - are like that.", he said. "So... archery."

[Krugeristan]

"Fine. Unreasonable this may be, especially since I don't know what I did, and probably never will at this rate," Kujanaero snapped.

"You are correct.", Leonard said and nodded in understanding, "You may never will. And yes, it is unreasonable."
A Grey Wolf came trotting up to the two men, sniffing at the redhead's hand, who absentmindedly placed his hand on his head, softly stroking him between the ears.
"But it is how it works the best, believe me. Emotions - and women, for that matter - are like that.", he said. "So... archery."

Kujanaero didn't think it was right to switch topics so quickly, but chose to mutter, "Been doing it ever since I started walking. That almost all you need to know. I won gold in Vancouver, London, and Sochi, and silver in Rio."

[The Selkie]

Kujanaero didn't think it was right to switch topics so quickly, but chose to mutter, "Been doing it ever since I started walking. That almost all you need to know. I won gold in Vancouver, London, and Sochi, and silver in Rio."

"Ah, that's... impressive.", Leonard replied with a small smile of his own, "I've been on horseback since I was five and first shot an arrow with six... from horseback, mind you. I'm a horsearcher and to be quite honest, they say, that I'm one of the best. I could list you a few trophies I won since I was ten, the year I joined the Marcach Guild as an Óg, you would say as a Junior, but I doubt, that most of them would say anything to you. I do, however, consistently manage the Four-Fifty."

[Krugeristan]

Kujanaero didn't think it was right to switch topics so quickly, but chose to mutter, "Been doing it ever since I started walking. That almost all you need to know. I won gold in Vancouver, London, and Sochi, and silver in Rio."

"Ah, that's... impressive.", Leonard replied with a small smile of his own, "I've been on horseback since I was five and first shot an arrow with six... from horseback, mind you. I'm a horsearcher and to be quite honest, they say, that I'm one of the best. I could list you a few trophies I won since I was ten, the year I joined the Marcach Guild as an Óg, you would say as a Junior, but I doubt, that most of them would say anything to you. I do, however, consistently manage the Four-Fifty."

"I do have pictures of each of the medals," Kujanaero said, reaching into his jacket pocket. "We're not supposed to brag or talk about our material achievements without any proof."

[The Selkie]

"I do have pictures of each of the medals," Kujanaero said, reaching into his jacket pocket. "We're not supposed to brag or talk about our material achievements without any proof."

"That's a good tenet! I have pictures with me and the trophies, and of course the trophies themselves, but not with me at the moment. Didn't think, that I would have to proove me winning these today...", the redhead nodded with a smile, a slight bit of awkwardness in it, before extending his hand, "By the way, I'm Leonard. I don't think, that we introduced each other."

[Krugeristan]

"I do have pictures of each of the medals," Kujanaero said, reaching into his jacket pocket. "We're not supposed to brag or talk about our material achievements without any proof."

"That's a good tenet! I have pictures with me and the trophies, and of course the trophies themselves, but not with me at the moment. Didn't think, that I would have to proove me winning these today...", the redhead nodded with a smile, a slight bit of awkwardness in it, before extending his hand, "By the way, I'm Leonard. I don't think, that we introduced each other."

Sliding the photos back in his pocket, Kujanaero gently took Leonard's hand. "Jakovi Kujanaero, of Krugeristan. Relatively small . . . violent nation."

[The Selkie]

Sliding the photos back in his pocket, Kujanaero gently took Leonard's hand. "Jakovi Kujanaero, of Krugeristan. Relatively small . . . violent nation."

"I heard of your people.", Leonard nodded and gave the hand a firm shake. "You sound nice. Firm in your morals and understanding of the world, which is something I can get behind."

[Aurora Confederacy]

"It's still a bit until the Archery Tournament starts.", Gwen said with a smile, watching a lonesome fighter, well known to the Selkie although he did not look like it, pace up and down, waiting for his opponent. "We have the Fencing Tournament on our hands right now. If you want, I saw a few blacksmiths with the peddlers, maybe we can lend a few swords and do a round or two?"
Tyran nodded. "You should, Gwenny is a good teacher!"
The redhead in question blushed.

Marla, still standing at her side, had begun to watch her quite some time ago, only occassionally shooting an arrow and then not even watching where it landed.
She nodded in approval - she was good. Talented, to some extend. One-Legged Virgil would be proud to see his legacy in such a usage.
But how would she perform during the competition? That was always the question, she as an experienced fighter knew that better then some would think.

At the enclosure
taking a pause from shooting, Isis carefully inspected her bow and smiled as her bow is holding up nicely, the suppleness of the wood and the elasticity of the bowstring proving to be a good combination even though the bow is a simple self-bow that was made from a piece of wood using little more than a bowie knife, albeit a bloody sharp one.

Isis picked up the bow again, pulled an arrow out of her quivver and brought it to bare, pulling back then with a momentary glance she let the arrow fly, although it wasn't again dead in the centre spot which is where Isis had been hoping to land an arrow, the arrow did land on the dividing line, she looks across at some of the masters, bullseye after bullseye they fired off, although some of them shot some doozies, those arrows either going over the target, past the target or in some case not even reach the target which made Isis smile, "at least I have some chance" she thought to herself as she sent another arrow down range, it too landed in the target area but about half way between the bullseye and the outer ring.

[Krugeristan]

Sliding the photos back in his pocket, Kujanaero gently took Leonard's hand. "Jakovi Kujanaero, of Krugeristan. Relatively small . . . violent nation."

"I heard of your people.", Leonard nodded and gave the hand a firm shake. "You sound nice. Firm in your morals and understanding of the world, which is something I can get behind."

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.

[The Selkie]

At the enclosure
taking a pause from shooting, Isis carefully inspected her bow and smiled as her bow is holding up nicely, the suppleness of the wood and the elasticity of the bowstring proving to be a good combination even though the bow is a simple self-bow that was made from a piece of wood using little more than a bowie knife, albeit a bloody sharp one.

Isis picked up the bow again, pulled an arrow out of her quivver and brought it to bare, pulling back then with a momentary glance she let the arrow fly, although it wasn't again dead in the centre spot which is where Isis had been hoping to land an arrow, the arrow did land on the dividing line, she looks across at some of the masters, bullseye after bullseye they fired off, although some of them shot some doozies, those arrows either going over the target, past the target or in some case not even reach the target which made Isis smile, "at least I have some chance" she thought to herself as she sent another arrow down range, it too landed in the target area but about half way between the bullseye and the outer ring.

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."

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?"

[Fascistisk State]

Kayla laughed at the exchange, heartily, before she told Oliver: "Don't worry, you do look good - but Faye is just... completely head over heels for her beloved. It's a wonderful sight to see the two of them... three, if you count Gleoite in." She grinned. "That's Faye's pet, a Dreapadóir... wonderful laddie, let me tell you."
Kayla smiled and turned back to the field.
"The Colonel's opponent should arrive sooner rather then later or else he might get disqualified.", she noted with a small frown, "Not that I don't think, that he would win, but the Colonel is not someone to take a victory for free without raising an eyebrow."

"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.