#earthrunes

August turns to the Namer; everyone does.

Avalanches are strong, but not subtle... no, there are gullies, are breakwaters... and those hidden places are the sluagh's.

And as some bow to The Baron namer, or make a fuss, he seems to search, as if a man had heard something, caught a sense, but whose eyes? Oh the eyes failed o find the source, and he begins to laugh "I .. oh ho... the whisky here tastes fine, but the chaser of humility, That's even better... for it's all too rare a brew these days, and will do me more good. Oh do stop making a fuss over me, the rest of you that is... this is not my day, and I am not as necessary as even I hought. Oh ho.. here I am like a fart in a church and only one of you has a fan. No, let us remember his is about three women.
"

A tiny grey smile. Zara knows Dougal well enough. She will watch this one work.

August crosses to stand beside Coradel.

(Who no doubt would have some elegant welcoming words for the Baron Namer and all assembled.)

The crowds, unlike Zara, are confused at the Namer's behavior... a few boggans mutter worriedly. Is the old man quite all there? How MUCH Whiskey did he have? (To be fair, he smells of coffee more than whiskey). Why the odd behavior?

To judge from his frown, August might be having the same guilty thoughts.

Coradel steps forward, her lovely gown draping in very Fiona ways, and takes the Namer's hands. "Now, now, I know you don't much like fuss, but humor me for a moment?" She turns to the crowd, keeping hold of one of his hands. "Baron Roscolli has graciously joined us this evening to see to the saining of three of our fledges. He is our most honored guest, and I hope he enjoys our hospitality to the utmost. That said, though...I do ask my people to make him as comfortable as possible, which includes limiting the fuss...starting right after the saining." She gives Rosco a wink. "Fair?"

"I've no complaint about comfort I suppose" Rosco chuckles and whispers to Coradel "You didn't need me as much as you think, O Baroness. Talent and training walks somewhere in the crevices here... much credit to it." Then he speaks at normal volume, "I've spoken to each of the young women fledges. They are ready to take their names. "

Coradel leans in to hear the whisper, and looks puzzled, but as he returns to addressing the crowd, she smiles and steps away.

"Minerva.... you come first, over ripe, and I know you feel near to bursting. Fear not, the greatest secret of self will no longer be kept from you by misfortune and gloom. Your title bloom before us.... if I told you to pick a card, you'd like felt I mocked you, but Da'an is whimsical as much as it is Fate. Rather...I ask you instead to take these knukclebones in hand, place it in this silver goblet, and shake it- then release. Release your ignorance. Release your anxiety. Cast the dice and with them, cast away the last barriers to who you were, are, and a path to walk forward into the future on"

Coradel watches with interest.

Zara lurks and watches, not just with her eyes. It is always good to see how others work - Namers are not common, and she herself has only rarely sained.

Vince has shown up, fashionably late, but even the pompous lion knows not to interrupt a naming...

Emma is about, possibly chattering with Zing as the pooka fledge waits.

As Vince enters, a look of enormous relief washes over August's face and he almost starts over to the pooka, but doesn't; no, the Saining must not be interupted.

Coradel might not notice Vince's arrival right away...she's focused on the ceremony/ritual.

Zing relies on Emma and beams when she sees Vince

The possum waves big at the Lion!

There's a rattle of dice... as Minerva casts into da'ans great table

Ah, Vince does seek out Zing. and joins her before it is her turn... though he watches Minerva's time as well!

And Minerva gasps as her voile shifts, dress still lovely, but no knightly spurs, no squire marks... no circlet... and her face falls

August watches gravely.

whisper... whisper...

Rosco moves to her, takes her in a grip and whispers somethings. She nods, and lifts her chin, but her eyes are wet

Coradel squeezes August's hand and murmurs to him, "I will need to do some damage control right after the others are sained."

Vince sees, and hears the murmurings, and quickly acts, drawing attention to... himself, and Zing! "Whatfor needest thou with a namer? Are the names I call on thee not enough, wildcat darling, sweetpaws, tumble-pounce, songbird-foe, love-kitten?"

He proclaims, kneeling and throwing his arms out wide.

"Her true name is her own, " The Namer declares, "But please meet Gentlesidhe Minerva of House Eiluned, now true to herself"

"Let me be a namer! I name you sweetums, kitty-face, mon petit choux!"

August nods in response to Coradel before he is distracted (briefly) by Vince's histrionics.

There's appplause, but confusion... Vince's shinagins helping distract others from notcing the growing threat of tears

But 'Gentlesidhe' is no different that 'Gentleboggan' or 'Goodsatyr'

and all the room knows it

As Vince distracts the crowd, Coradel sweeps forward to take Minerva's hands. "Welcome to a sister of the house that fostered me!" She smiles, then leans close to whisper, "And here begins the mystery you must solve...what has become of your title? That is the puzzle you must unravel."

"A mystery? You're just trying to make me feel better about my humliation... but thank you. I..." She whispers back "It is much like the Baron himself, your husband I mean... maybe, da'an did place me here for a reason"

Pride is evident in Coradel's eyes as she nods agreement.

"No" Zing played along "Oh Vince, I know you fear that I am, in truth, a Catulet, and thou a Monte-Mew... but star crossed or not, I must go...into the jaws of Saining"

"Come..." she takes the girl's hand. "Stand with us as we watch the others."

"Are you sure you don't want me with the serving staff?" The Eiluned whispers back "I may soon have to beg the steward a job there. YOu've given me my fostering and I am now ... 'grown up'"

Without further comment, Coradel draws her along to stand beside her and Baron August.

Rosco, rough around the edges as he is, was kind and quick to down play any shame involved, and he fusses at the pooka "If you two don't mind? I have my own script"

that gets a few laughs from the crowd

THen he turns to Kylie..... for her, it is cards and she closes her eyes, then lays out five cards of fancy poker deck

Kylie grins as she sees her reflection in the cards and more "Hey, that's not furking bad" Her voile shifted as some of the diamonds lift from the display, and turn into Chimera like D&D Ioun stones that float about her wrists

The little gemstones might remind folks of Bit from the old Tron movie, the three of them as attentive to her as Zara's own spiders. Kylie seems in a great mood and more assured

"Lovely!" Coradel says. "Don't you think so, Minerva?" Reminding the new Eiluned to celebrate others even as she feels sadness.

"I give you crafter Kylie!" The namer nods

Minerva is still sidhe, so she can smile brightly even when dying inside. "Wonderful, Kylie"