#odyssey

"After?" She shrugs.

"I have to win. That's all."

"If I fuck this up, nothing else matters - he wins, he wins everything, and Saoirse and the RedFin are all endangered, too."

"You won't fuck this up" She says "The guy might cheat, but that's not the same" Gladiola says "You're going to think I'm buttering you up, but the one thing I'm confident in here is your art. Your eye for beauty, your gift for making it real is.. it's just humbling"

"I'm sure Spiky Chick is gonna be phenomenal, and as I understand, Mermaid are about as proud as Ailil."

"I'm entirely certain that she's legit, and she'll make something good. I need to be better."

"I won't pretend I know about Mer folk anymore than you but Nockers are kind of the best of the best sir, with honors , when it comes to making. You won't fuck up. let's just hope SHE Does though, because I don't like the idea of bias and cheats swaying things in her favor"

"There will always be bias, art is subjective."

"And some will vote for her, or for Omario, because they don't want me to win - no matter what I do."

"That ain't a reflection on me."

"Me selling out and pandering? Me cheating and sabotaging? That reflects on me, and on my work."

A smile "Proud of you. And, so you don't think less of me, I wasn't going to suggest you do either of those"

"I ain't gonna fuck around with my work. I ain't no charlatan."

"Truth" A nod

The kiln looms ahead - it's a huge thing, very different from the contained one at the manor house.

"Big mambaa jamba, " She observes

"It's very traditional - charcoal fire, not gas or electric. But that brings out interesting qualities, and you can add things to the fuel you can't with a modern kiln, and have it affect the clay. Doubly so with chimerical clay..."

"I don't think the Baroness is going to make one of these for you" Wryly

"Yet."

A grin at her "Well, Wudlig has his catacomb so who knows?"

"Exactly! And Grog. Man, if he has cousins or something?"

"A pugmill is kinda like a dog..."

A brow lift "Mm..yeah no"

"Hey, Groggy!" She grins as she spies the BIG chimera. He does rather resemble a pug... or a Chinese lion... or perhaps a dragon?

"Hello, Grog" She waves

She rumples the big beast's ears, like she would Muppet's.

"mmm" a nod "Glad you've made friends"

"There's some decent folk here. Maybe we'll be able to visit in the future."

"I hope so. I like 8 out of 10 of em and it's really beautiful."

"Yeah, I like pretty much everybody but Butthurt-boy and his lackeys."

Soon enough, the nocker is back in The Zone (tm), intent and focused on mixing and applying concoctions of glaze to the bisque. The clay itself already holds color, thanks to Grog.

She finds that there are lookee-loos around, and it seems custom to let them watch the process - though Dayana runs off a couple kids that look like they are more interested in goofing around too close to the kiln.

A bag of dried insect husks await Thistle as well. They show no outward sign of light or life, but she can see the dull tint of the color that once was, and perhaps can be extracted with a mortar, pestle, and a little elbow grease.

Gwen stands watch, so to speak

Art has poked his head in a few times, but seems to also be preoccupied. Maybe also running interference, or snooping- er, investigating around.

I wonder if he's an Eiluned She ponders

Thistle does work on grinding up the bugs' light organs, and also persuades Citrine to shake a little pixie dust into the mix.

The Object is a thing of graceful lines and swooping, organic curves - the longer one looks, the more the eye discovers forms which have been integrated. It is a wave! It is the wind! It is a tree! It is a seal! It is a figure - no, two!

Gwen picks up lots of interesting glamour burbling in Thistle's work... and a headache, though the cool drinks that Aoife drops off for both of them help with that.

She also notices that of the others who peek in, a few look intent as well - not casting, but also focusing, perhaps Kenning. One younger grump lady, with only a few grey hairs yet in her tight curls, sticks around for a while, watching.

Gwen tries to recall if she was one who left with Omario in a huff the other day

Gwen isn't certain at first, but then she notices a particular scar on her knee that she recognizes, because it looked like a bite mark. Yep, that's her!

Gwen decides to intrude , and begins to dig into the ground with a foot tip

Her plan is to make an uncomfortable wind to blow where the woman is...throw her off with nature's breeze

no rules broken, no danger.... but a way to disrupt concentration on the old lady

The watching Selkie's gaze goes to Gwen, and narrows. She watches, and then scowls.

Pointing, she announces, "The Drylander is casting cantrips. I call foul. Only the challenger, as her own champion, may contribute to this Trial!"

"My cantrip does not contribute nor harm. It has nothing to do with the crafting or the trial, save perhaps to discourage SPYING eyes"

"And for that matter, it's not off" She says , for their is no breeze yet

Aoife steps up. "Tonia, she is doing no such thing. I vouch for her." The two warriors face each other. The elder, Tonia, speaks again. "There was suspicion that Challenge-Right may not be honored. What do Drylanders know of our ways? It is for this reason that I am here to observe."

"Is it?" Gwen says "We are trying to accept a challenge when rules seem to be hidden from us in hopes we slip. I learn I'm not to discourage spies even when it doesn't affect the outcome of the challenge itself. I learn too late that a battle may risk childlings as cover. May we please have this full list of rules written down? Or are you afraid that without making us ignorant your Omario might lose?"

Aoife frowns a little, but looks back to Gwen. "Guardian Tonia is correct. She may watch, as may any who wish to watch Omario's champion. Only interference is forbidden."

Before more argument can occur, the kin girl, Dayana, steps up. "Both of you are distracting her right now! Observe if you will - from outside." She points to the other side of a window, hands on her hips!

Aoife seems surprised, and the Elder bristles at being spoken to in such a tone!

"Yes, Dayana, I am sorry" A look to Tonia "And you have my apology as well. When we are kept in darkness by those who fear we might walk straight, it is difficult to see." and she backs away