[StarBurst:]
A wild-looking creature, standing nearly fourteen hands tall at her equine
portion, the human torso higher, and the haircrest adding another four
inches to that. This half-woman, half-equine carries herself well on four
sturdy legs, her tail a bushy length of purple and crimson that matches the
hair on her head. Her human torso is outfitted in an ensemble of variously
dyed cured skins and furs. What shows of her upper body and her revealed
lower half shows a well-muscled and well-scarred body. Her head is shaved
on the sides, leaving a wide swath of bushy hair that descends to her neck,
braided there, with a few small objects (beads and tiny carved bones
mostly) worked there, with a few small objects (beads and tiny carved bones
mostly) worked into the braids. Her horse's body, and her human face and
the shaved portions of her head are colorfully tattooed with various
designs, including a prominent sigil tattooed with blue ink around her left
eye in the shape of a nine-pointed star. A scar on her face, near her lip,
gives her the expression of a perpetual sneer. Her eyes are small, and hard
-- black pools leaking out impatience and ferocity. Her skin, tanned and
weathered underneath the tattoos, is pierced in many places, including
metal rings in her nose and right eyebrow, several ear piercings (mostly
bone earrings), and three small bones, appearing to have been placed in the
skin of her neck parallel to each other, and scarred over. Her voice is
rough, and she snaps off her words as if impatient to be done with them.
Her steps carry her forcefully, her head held high, though it seems that
she holds back -- a constant fury held in check. Sheathed upon a harness
around her waist are two knives, a metal one proudly displayed, and a
jagged stone knife. She carries a spear, its head made of serrated bone,
the staff dyed several colors and having a few feathers on the end of it.
Upon her back is a quiver of arrows, along with a short bow, the stave dyed
white and tiny etchings upon it.

[Nightmoon:]
    Nightmoon is an incredibly lovely young woman with shining,
honey-blonde hair and enormous grey eyes. She is about five feet, seven
inches tall and has the face and form of an untamed angel...a sweet
naivete' and innocence about her.
    Nightmoon's body is caressed by casual clothing that seems perfect for
riding. Khaki-colored pants hug supple, shapely thighs before gliding down
the calves and sliding into brown boots which lace upon her feet. A white
tunic hugs her upper body, its neck laces open and revealing the hollow of
her throat as well as a tantalizing glimpse of the swell of her breast..
The ties at the cuffs of the sleeves dangle loosely also. The tunic is
tucked into the breeches, the outfit hugging her body. A brown belt cinches
in her narrow waist. A gold pin glints above her left breast when she
moves.

[Kendall:]
A man of indeterminate age (perhaps 30?), with black hair and steel-grey
eyes. His face is most often set into a grim expression, that looks as if
it might occasionally yield to a friendly smile. He wears a tunic and
trousers of sky blue with gold trim, under a cloak of darker blue. About
his trousers of sky blue with gold trim, under a cloak of darker blue.
About his right arm is tied a length of silver rope. A black-hilted sword
swings at his hip, and a grey hawk rides his shoulder, looking about
imperiously. Kendall leans on a cane, looking a bit troubled but not
unhappy.

[Jerifal:]
A suit of dull black plate armour covers the man from head to toe. The
visor of the helm is a mirror in the shape of a trumpeter swan with wings
outstretched. The breastplate is black without emblem, which cries of the
lack. The movements of the armour are smooth and silent as a shadow. He
carries on his left arm a shield of a mirrorlike substance. It is a tower
shield, with a curve, and the outside shield reflects yet the inner shield
is like glass, transparent, save for the arm band and wrist grip. An
ordinary enough seeming soldier's sword hangs from a belt in its sheath. A
cloak of the blue of a moonstruck lake at midnight flows off the knight's
broad shoulders. The visor is raised to reveal the man's eyes, a reddish
brown, with faint lines of stoicism and compassion. Yet he seems young for
lines. . . 

[Pallen:]
A 10 year old boy wearing a loose, dark red shirt, a pair of Sturdy black
trousers, a belt with a golden buckle and a pair of soft leather boots.
Brown hair often falls across eyes of the same colour. A small wirey body,
seems always on the verge of motion. A round blue badge, emblazoned with a
golden tree is pinned over his heart. 


[The scene: The Sha'dir Plain of Crinos. Kendall, Pallen, Nightmoon, and
Jerifal all make their way in from the distant hills to the west.]


A group of half-human, half-equine warriors are crossing the plains a bit
to the north. One points, a few look, and someone shouts. They turn and
gallop towards you, much laughing and calling out between them as they
approach confidently... arrogantly. StarBurst, one of those at the head,
pulls up, slowing, as they get closer, and peers at you curiously, her eyes
and those of the other warriors lingering on the horses you ride. A
discontent murmur rises from among the ranks of the Brusticai. StarBurst
raises her arm, spear clenched in one hand, and calls out, "Ho! Who crosses
Brusticai lands?"

A growl erupts from Nightmoon. "I am Venator!"

Kendall says calmly, "Kendall of the Blessed Tribe, soon to be Kei."

Jerifal's head turns and he gestures a little with his lance to Kendall,
then eyes the others. "Sir Jerifal, of the Blessed Tribe."

Kendall says "This is Pallen, a guest." 

Pallen shrinks back into Kendall

StarBurst snorts, seeming amused. "The only blessed tribe is Brusticai!"
she shouts, and a chorus of cheers and laughter erupts from the gathered
warriors. She looks to Nightmoon. "Venator..."

Kendall, Jerifal, and Nightmoon are mounted. Pallen is mounted in front of
Kendall.

Nightmoon's eyes glitter, "Aye. Venator. I am Nightmoon."

Kendall says "Luna has said otherwise. We pass to the Venator village."

StarBurst's eyes narrow. "You pass through our ranks only with our will."

Jerifal hums a gentle air to himself, and rubs his stallion's mane. The air
has a monotonic monastic hue. He speaks, "Then, I ask, may we pass, good
Brusticai?"

Kendall raises a brow at this, but lets Jerifal speak. 

Nightmoon straightens on her mount's back, tossing her long hair.. it
trails a bit along the saddle behind her.

StarBurst considers. One of the Brusticai warriors calls out, "We have not
heard of you, 'blessed' one!" StarBurst's head snaps to one side and she
glares at the warrior who speaks, then looks back to those she faces. 

Nightmoon says "Is you hear of Nightmoon? Sha'hai of Venator?" 

Jerifal's hands spread wide, in a gesture, pale and one
scarred--ungauntletted. His attitude seems to be that he cares not that
none have heard of him, for he is what he is. 

StarBurst smiles, slowly. "A sha'hai, we have, here!" 

StarBurst looks keenly at Nightmoon. "It is said Venator Sha'hai are mighty
in war." 

One of the Brusticai snickers softly. 

Nightmoon does not back down from StarBurst's gaze. "Some, aye. And you
hear how Venator are all warriors?"

Jerifal folds his arms across his chest, and watches the exchange with a
wary eye.

Kendall says "We seek only to pass and meet our friends in Venator." 

StarBurst sneers, "I hear from one that all Venator are warriors, I hear
from another they are all drunken, lazy louts." 

Kendall says, very mildly, "You have heard incorrectly." 

Kendall says "The ones speaking insults. Shall we pass?" 

Jerifal's voice is low, and dismissing. "Hearsay is worth little." 

Nightmoon says "I have hear we trade more Sha'dun to Brusticai than any
other tribe.."

Nightmoon smiles suddenly, "WillowWind have hear my mind voice. She know I
home and tell others." 

StarBurst laughs again. "You shall not pass without reason. We are the
guardians of these lands," she says with a pious air, almost pulling it
off, "and we can not let you pass without knowing you will not come to
harm. There are dangers here. We would not want you to be hurt."

StarBurst manages to keep a straight face, unlike a few of the warriors
behind her. 

Jerifal locks gazes with StarBurst. 

Nightmoon suppresses a sigh.

Kendall smiles, saying jovially, "Good! Then you can come with us to
Venator, and ask them if they are drunken cowards. Information from the
source, as it were." 

StarBurst meets Jerifal's gaze unflinchingly, almost eagerly. 

[StarBurst] You sense another mind.. gazing at you. 

Kendall likewise finds the eyes of anyone who seems to be second-in-command
or overbold. 

Jerifal's coppery hair is suddenly covered in a halo of white light, he
gestures openly, while his eyes flash. 

Nightmoon gently eases her mount forward a step.. 

StarBurst bares her teeth, and she raises the spear, ready, though she
involuntarily takes a step back at Jerifal's display. 

Jerifal says "We are sufficient for any threat."

Kendall says "Aye. Quite." 

Several of the warriors freeze, then, most looking to StarBurst. All are
quiet, now.

The light curling around Jerifal's head dims away, a gleam from a silver
circlet dies. 

Kendall 'convinces' any Brusticai looking at him of that fact, in no
uncertain terms. 

StarBurst hisses quietly, then lowers the spear. "I see," she says, biting
the words off, "that you know of the dangers here." 

Nightmoon eases her mount forward another step.. casually. 

Kendall says "In addition, we do not lack for danger ourselves. Shall we
pass?" 

StarBurst abruptly wheels, turning away from those she faced. "Go then to
your village," she calls over her shoulder, "and ready your sha'dun! We
will have need of some, soon."

StarBurst then abruptly gallops off, the rest of the warriors turning and
moving off with her. 

Venator allow themselves to be seen to the northeast.. in many forms. 

An eager howl erupts from Nightmoon, curling to the sky.. joined by many
others. 

Kendall chuckles quietly.

Jerifal watches Nightmoon.. and takes a deep breath, an easy happy air
settling over him. 

Kendall says "It is said," he remarks, "That the base oft choose the insult
that tells most against themselves."

The Brusticai warriors head east, though not far. They stop within sight of
both the first group of mounted people, and the Venator on the horizon.
Seemingly unconcerned, they begin to race each other at short distances on
the plains.

Nightmoon urges the horse forward to the northeast. 

The brown haired knight takes several more deep breathes, then leans back
in his saddle and raises his arms.. chest full.. 

Kendall spurs his horse toward Venator. 

A slow growing sound rises from out of Jerifal's throat.. higher and
higher.. building in pulses to a High C and cutting off, sharply.

Jerifal laughs, and urges his horse forwards..