Life As Usual?, Chronicles of Mereton: 1

[Charisma]

It was a fairly normal day in the small village of Mereton - small enough that everyone knew everyone, but large enough to merit an Inn, known simply as 'The Bar'. It has its share of outcasts and its 'personalities', but one thing's for sure - things sure don't move fast around here. Unless it's gossip, of course.

Auntie Keziah is baking in her cottage, watching through her windows as the village children play in the sunshine.
Calin, Kristen and Anithis are all in various parts of the surrounding forest, passing the time amongst the trees and beasts that dwell there.
Joseph is in The Bar, cleaning up and setting out the tables for another slow day.

Nothing ever happens here. It's a completely normal sunny day in Mereton.





Yeah, right.

[Lady D]

Anithis was sharpening her daggers one by one checking each blade and lovingly sharpening it. This had been her occupation for the past hour. Now on the last blade she considered what else to do with her day. Hunting would come later at night when the wild herds were settled and quiet. Easier to take the weak and slow, her supplies were running low on supplies some deer meat would help but it was probably time to go into town and pick some things up. Anithis tutted quietly in annoyance and sheathed the last dagger and tied up her quiet camp before taking a game trail towards the village listening to the forest around her.

Humming a quiet tune as she walked Anithis considered the village, she liked it as far as villages went. It was quiet and the people seemed content to live out their lives as villagers one of the reasons she had chosen it. A place where she could be at peace with herself and live in a forest without being too far from people should she ever get the sudden urge to spend time talking. Anithis walked the path quickly and silently over time she had developed the ability to walk quietly through the forest, wouldn't be a good hunter if it were other wise.

Anithis waited at the edge of the forest for a moment listening before she left the cover of the trees and headed into the village proper.

[KitClairvoyance]

Kristen sat amongst the tall oak trees that surrounded the village, rays of sunlight dancing upon the ground as the wind caressed the leaves of the forest around her. Here she felt at ease, not having to worry about not being able to talk.

Several animals came up to her, a squirrel nosing its way into her lap. She smiled, stroking the squirrel's back. The animals weren't afraid of her, they didn't shun her like the villagers because of her disability. Here, she felt accepted.

Still, she was human and needed to live amongst humans. She didn't exactly dislike the village, it was just that she found it hard to get along in day-to-day activities without being able to speak. But she found her way around somehow, and most of the villagers had become accustomed to her.

[Lady D]

Anithis was scanning the village when she caught a glimsp of something through the trees, a colour that was not of the usual browns and greens of the wood. Anithis spotted Kristen and with a lop sided smile nodded to her before continuing along the road towards Aunties place. Auntie Keziah was the first person Anithis usual went to see upon visiting the village for the simple reason that Auntie always knew what was going on around the village.

[Charisma]

Auntie Keziah frowned as she pulled the burnt cookies out of the oven. It was peculiar, because she had put them in for the same amount of time as the last batch - and she always knew exactly how long that was, though she couldn't put a number on it - and they were the same thickness. Yet the last batch had turned out fine, while this...

Quickly, Auntie turned to the window and, sure enough, there was Anithis heading into town. Whenever the girl decided to come in, she'd burn the oats and sultana cookies and have to pull out the lamingtons she kept in the freezer. Well, time to face up to facts...

Auntie dusted her hands off, dumped the burned cookies into the barrel marked 'Kindling' and opened the back door for Anithis (the front door was only used when you were married and when you died - these young things using it every day had no sense of tradition!).

[Lady D]

As always obedient to the oddities that Auntie held to Anithis entered through the back door trying to ignore the smell of something burnt. Whenever she visited Auntie there was always the smell of something burnt in the air. Anithis never did ask about that, it just wasnt on her list of things to inquire about.

"Hello Auntie Keziah, how are you today? Is it not a pleasant day" Anithis said it was her usual greeting to Auntie even when it was raining and blowing a gale she still said what a pleasant day it was.
"What are the happenings within the village since I last came by, any traders in? I have a couple of fox pelts that should fetch a sum"

[joseph]

*out side*

Off in the distance Joe comes running out of the bar and heads straight for the Mayors/Sheriff office

*in the office*

Sheriff .. you asked for my help? if you did i must be important....

[can be continued by "GM" or someone willing to play the sheriff]

[Charisma]

Auntie bustled about, pulling out the lamingtons and placing them on the kitchen table with a glass of milk for Anithis and tea for herself. Only then did she sit down and take up her cup, blowing gently on it. She waited for Anithis to sit down opposite her before answering the question.

"'Tis a pleasant day indeed, child," the old gossip chuckled, eyes twinkling with mischief. "But whyever would you think I would know whether the traders were in town? I'm just an old spinster, why would I know something like that?"

She dodged the question without much subtlety, but with enough innocence laced into her tone to irritate those who knew her well - or perhaps just make them laugh.

((If you have an idea, run with it dear. NPCs can be played by anyone, and no one else knows what you have in mind.))

[Lady D]

Anithis chuckled at that
"Oh don't," Anithis said and took a lamington which she quiet enjoyed.
"Auntie you are so wonderful that everyone simply has to tell you everything" Anithis said in flattering tones though she herself didn't tell Auntie much past observations but then she didnt really tell anyone much.

Anithis enjoyed the old spinsters company, clever and quick witted Anithis always found her conversations with the older woman enjoyable. It was a break from the silence of the woods, not that silence was bad but sometimes it was good to be reminded that there were people in the world who seemed to do no harm. It was good to be reminded of the little luxuries that civilization had to offer like cakes. Anithis wouldn't stay though, she would always eventually return to her quiet camp.

[Charisma]

Auntie fluttered a hand playfully like a maiden fending off compliments.

"Oh, stop flattering me child," she chided lightly, lifting a cup of tea to her lips with the other hand and sipping at the hot liquid. "As it happens...no, there aren't any in town right now. But the wind told me there might be one in the next couple of days - will you stay in town until then?"

[Lady D]

Anithis sighed
"Perhaps, perhaps not. You know if I stay in town one of those unmarried louts will try and play defender and tell me the woods are no place for a girl. Or you might just try and set one of them up to propose the black god of death strike them down should they try."Anithis said with feeling and then grinned.
"Actually I might stay in town and practise a little if someone wants to get their fingers cracked with a staff. Its been a while and I am rusty" Anithis said considering it then grimaced as she remembered the days when finding a good sparring partner was easy as walking out into the courtyard.

[Charisma]

Auntie shrugged good-naturedly at Anithis' proposal for staff practice. She certainly didn't use one - her knives were much closer to hand, not that she used them with any great skill either; more, the fact that she had quite a collection tended to warn people off - but she knew there were a few around town that did.

"Mayhap you'll find a partner," and here her eyes twinkled for a moment, betraying the double meaning, "and mayhap not. Rusty you may be, but it's always nice to learn a new skill - or relearn an old one. Now child, are you going to help me with dinner or are you wishful of leaving already?"

[Lady D]

"Ah cooking I guess thats one of the skills I should probably improve upon." Anithis joked and then good naturedly got to her feet to help Auntie in her cooking.
"You know maybe we should snare a husband for you" Anithis laughed and then pulled out one of her hidden knives and started to peel potatos.

Anithis considered if it was worth making her way back to camp to get some of that nice rabbit she had bagged the other day. She thought that Auntie had a lovely recipe for rabbit.

[Charisma]

Auntie chuckled and set out potatoes and carrots for Anithis to peel and chop, setting a water-filled stewpot to bubbling over the fireplace. At the next comment, however, she nearly dropped the lid.

"A husband," she choked out, "for me?"

Then she burst out laughing. She laughed so hard she had to sit down again, tears of mirth running down her face. Occasionally she would sober a little, then she'd look at Anithis, mutter "husband" and start laughing again.

It was quite some time before she calmed enough to wipe the tears from her face, and even then she was still chuckling.

[Lady D]

Anithis grinned at her
"Knew you would feel that way" She said and then paused tilting her head to one side.
"There is a party riding into town" She went over to a window and looked out staring down the road at a group just riding into town.

"They look like traders, I dont like them though. They haven't come to this village before have they?" Anithis asked frowning at the tough new comers.
"I am going back to camp, maybe they will buy some pelts off me" Anithis said though she really wanted to pick up her weapons as opposed to her furs.