[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aRfAXko.png[/img][/center] [hr] [h3]Assani 29th[/h3] [b]Location: Yalen’s Dorm -> Society Faire[/b] [b]Day of the week: Lepdes[/b] [b]Time: 5:30 HI[/b] [b]Characters: Yalen, Colette, the IRS, Jonas, Derriere[/b] When Yalen woke from his slumber that morning it was not to the boisterous antics of his enthusiastic older sister. As he sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, his half-awake self noticed that a muffled commotion could be heard outside the front door of his dorm room. He instinctively sent out a mental probe, and what he could feel were three human presences, though the nature of the Gift couldn’t tell him enough to realize who they were. The clock on his night stand informed him that this was right when Colette would normally be breaking into his bedroom. Yalen wondered if she was one of the unseen presences. After hastily strapping on his supportive legwear and donning his vestments as fast as he could, the tethered priest rushed to the door and pressed an ear to the crack. [color=c7c7ba]”I don’t give a damn about your stupid regulations! You D.R.A.G.O.N. pricks need to learn some manners! How about making an appointment or something!”[/color] [color=IndianRed]”The law requires that-”[/color] [color=c7c7ba]”I know what the law is! How was I supposed to know the kid didn’t register the egg? He practically fell out of the sky after going missing for a whole week! All I’m saying is you government lackeys need to show some class! Who in the hells would be in the mood to talk about taxes at this hour!?”[/color] [color=FD5E53][i]Are they talking about me?[/i][/color] Yalen thought. While his sister continued to argue back and forth, he looked towards the shrine of Oraff erected in his sitting room. At the foot of the shrine was his froabass egg, which was resting in a brazier full of warm coals. The young monk had no experience with raising dragons, but the eggs of warm blooded creatures always need to be sat on right? He’d been doing his best to keep the unborn froabass comfortable since coming back to Ersand’Enise. [color=FD5E53][i]So dragon eggs need to be… registered?[/i][/color] After a head scratching moment, Yalen opened the door to greet his guests. Though his view was mostly blocked by his taller sister’s Century cloak, he could see the two unhappy gentlemen from D.R.A.G.O.N.. Perhaps it was due to the demands of travel, but the way they were dressed the men looked more like sheriffs than civil servants. [color=c7c7ba]”If you want your money so bad why not just mail us a bill so we can-”[/color] The sound of the door swinging open caused Colette to look backwards. The two men likewise craned their heads to get a look at Yalen. [color=IndianRed]”Well Ms. D’aureville, it looks like the man himself is now available. How about you step aside and let us speak with him?”[/color] The man on the left, a mustachioed gentleman with fair skin, appeared to be doing the bulk of the talking for the pair. His partner, a northeastern fellow with a dark complexion, merely stood at attention with one arm behind his back. Colette let a growl escape her throat, but after exchanging an apologetic glance with Yalen she finally relented and moved behind him so the boys could all speak. [color=FD5E53]”What business do you have with me that is so important?”[/color] Yalen demanded. [color=FD5E53]”You’ve made my sister rather upset.”[/color] The more talkative man stepped forward and removed his hat before taking a shallow bow. [color=IndianRed]”Forgive my impropriety Brother Castel. My name is Thomas. We tried to tell your sibling here that we require only a modicum of your time to settle some paperwork. Unfortunately she seems rather overprotective of you… I assure you that any distress on her part is entirely self-inflicted.”[/color] Thomas sent a calculated glance towards Colette, who clicked her tongue but maintained her composure. [color=FD5E53]”Very well. Who sent you?”[/color] Yalen analyzed the man’s attire in order to find some kind of identifying mark. There was a silver pin stuck to the officials’ jackets in the shape of a grape dragon, but he did not recognize its purpose. [color=IndianRed]”The Draconic Regulatory Association and Group for Organizational Nomenclature. D.R.A.G.O.N. for short.”[/color] Thomas held his hand out to the man from the northern continent, who produced a roll up piece of paper and handed it over. This was then unsealed and passed to Yalen. It appeared to be a primer on their organization’s philosophy and goals, as well as a disclosure on D.R.A.G.O.N. 's regulatory authority and the political entities that grant it. [color=IndianRed]”We received good information that you are in possession of one unregistered Froabass egg originating from Torragon. We are not here to arrest you nor confiscate any of your property. We merely wish to discuss the terms that would allow you to raise your potentially dangerous fire breather in captivity, while also providing necessary information regarding its health and enrichment.”[/color] [hr] Thanks to Colette the impressions made by the D.R.A.G.O.N. agents were somewhat sour, but once Yalen started flashing his hidden emergency fund the two men did a complete 180. At the end of their hour-long deliberation, the newly minted dragon keeper was left with an exhaustive list of resources to help take care of his baby froabass. They showed Yalen where to find reputable dragon related services such as ranchers, trainers, and even groomers. They also pointed out a number of books on dragon rearing that could be checked out from Ersand’Enise’s grand library. So long as he paid his yearly dues and didn’t cause any serious damage to infrastructure, the priest wouldn’t need to worry about any more face to face visits save for the occasional welfare inspection. Once the siblings had seen the agents off Colette slammed the door behind them. Yalen had no idea what they’d said to her when he was still asleep, but it was clear they found a way to set her off. [color=FD5E53]”Is everything alright Colette?”[/color] He squeezed her hand reassuringly. The older girl sighed and gently gripped his in return. [color=c7c7ba]”Yeah. I may have acted a bit immature. Command has me running ragged around the city dealing with this incident or that without end. Blast that Traveler and his lapdogs. Some nights I have to use magic just to keep myself awake.”[/color] Colette pulled her hand away and fidgeted with her equipment. [color=c7c7ba]”Say, you have the day off today right? The faire is about to start in a few hours. How about you skip the training for today and go have some fun?”[/color] [color=FD5E53]”What will you be doing all day?”[/color] Yalen questioned. [color=c7c7ba]”Well, that’s what I came to tell you this morning before those tax men showed up. My squad will be patrolling on high alert today. I have to watch over the streets and make sure nobody tries to bomb Parade Street, or assassinate a politician on their vacation. We’ll all be pulling a double shift thanks to the record high attendance. I’ll have to let Rita know I’m coming home late tonight.”[/color] She uttered Rita’s name with a measure of fondness. [color=FD5E53]”By the way, how is she doing with her new tutor?”[/color] [color=c7c7ba]”Well, Rita isn’t a bad student or anything. It IS pretty hard to get her attention on anything other than sports, but she’s got a brain in that head of hers.”[/color] Colette’s helmet, normally hung off her shoulders with a thick string, was now tucked firmly over her head. The design had a strange curvature to it, and the ocularium was like nothing he’d ever seen. It stood out from the bucket helmets most of the other Centuries were wearing. [color=FD5E53]”That is some odd looking headgear.”[/color] Yalen commented while poking at the helmet’s hinge. [color=c7c7ba]”You only see these in Kerremand. I forgot what they call ‘em. Technically it’s not to be used for real fighting, but armor doesn’t do much good against magic anyways and I think it looks cool.”[/color] Colette opened the door and took a step past the threshold before looking at Yalen one last time. [color=c7c7ba]”Good luck with your clubs. You should join as many as you can. I don’t want you to spend your entire stay here eating, sleeping, and studying.”[/color] [color=FD5E53]”Don’t treat me like a hermit! I’ll try to enjoy myself today. And don’t sneak a wineskin onto your belt alright?”[/color] He started pushing his sister out onto the street. [color=c7c7ba]”Wow Yalen. I swear you’re only this rude to me.”[/color] [hr] It was still early in the hours of Shune, yet Ersand’Enise was teeming with activity. Yalen thought he had grown accustomed to life in a big city, but the amount of people on the street today made him realize just how rural his hometown was. There was so little room to walk that people were spilling onto the street and blocking carriages. Parade Street alone had enough people on it to outnumber the entire population of Vilamòs. It was exhausting trying to navigate through the crowd without bumping into someone. After signing himself up with the Magicians Guild, Yalen quickly had enough of the hustle and bustle and began searching for somewhere to sit down. Without thinking about it he chose to walk in the direction of the Violet Enclave, but his search for an empty bench proved futile. Even the inns and taverns were unnaturally full, to the point where people took to standing outside with their breakfasts in hand. [color=FD5E53]”Pardon me ma’am.”[/color] Yalen squeezed through a group of gossiping ladies who were blocking the sidewalk, earning him a few grumpy stares. Despite his hasty apologies he nearly got smacked in the head by a fan. He stumbled westward for a bit, passing by some of the society stalls as he did so. The Bards’ Society was putting on an exotic performance behind the Academy, which momentarily drew the biro’s interest. A musician, dressed up in a long robe and turban, was cradling a strange looking lute in their arms. Yalen didn’t know anything about the construction of musical instruments, but he had seen street performers before. Their lutes had longer necks and frets underneath the strings. [color=FD5E53][i]I wonder if Ayla has played an instrument like that before.[/i][/color] Yalen thought to himself. The melody produced by the performer’s skilled fingers was hauntingly beautiful. The student became hypnotized by the acoustic soundscape and lost track of time. The music transported him back to the high desert of Torragon, the place where his fate had been changed forever. Every string plucked brought back a new memory. The crunching of sand underfoot. The riding of camels together with his friends. The sight of waxing Juni as she bathed the desert in her faint white glow. It was hard to believe that he’d gone through so much in a mere week. When the number was over, Yalen suddenly realized that he was no longer tired. With renewed vigor, he dove back into the crowded streets and set off in search of new societies to explore and perhaps even join. As he walked he repeatedly consulted the guide he’d received from one of the information desks, which provided a helpful reference for locating each society’s stall. There was a group that called themselves the Pragmatics which caught his eye, for reasons known only to him. On the way to his destination Yalen spotted an arrangement where people appeared to be enjoying themselves with some table games. A glance at his primer informed him that this display was sponsored by the Gamers Union. There were several games on offer such as chess, backgammon, and dominoes, along with foreign ones that Yalen did not recognize. His eyes were drawn to one table in particular, where a sharp looking man with a monocle was sitting next to a big wooden sign. [color=FD5E53]”Beat the society head at chess and win five Incantors…?”[/color] Yalen rubbed his chin. While a part of him was intrigued by the offer, he was interested in neither money nor bragging rights. Still, while he was no expert he did enjoy a good chess game. Perhaps he was standing there for too long, as the man sitting at the table began waving to him. “Hello there friend! There’s no need to be so indecisive! It won’t cost you anything to play!” With some reassurance from the monocled stranger, Yalen eventually pulled up the opposite chair and took a seat. “How goes the society hunt lad? My name is Jonas Hahn. Were you interested in joining the Gamers Union?” Despite his face, the man sounded quite friendly. His Drudgunzean accent was barely noticeable. [color=FD5E53]”Actually I was looking for the Pragmatics... I just happened to bump into your setup along the way.”[/color] Yalen replied. “A man of the sciences eh? I thought all the worldly types were with the Stresians, but I guess I was wrong. As a fellow scholar, would you do me the honor of having a game with me?” Jonas gestured towards the chess board, where the ivory carved pieces were already neatly arranged in anticipation of a match. [color=FD5E53]”I suppose I could play one game.”[/color] “Excellent! As the current King of Games, I will let you pick which side to play.” The man of Huulendam leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers together excitedly. [color=FD5E53][i]King of Games?[/i][/color] Yalen put the thought aside and, after some deliberation, chose to play white. His opening move was to place his pawn on E4. Jonas immediately blocked it with his own pawn. The priest was stunned by how fast his opponent made his decision, and it showed on his face. The master gamer smiled and said nothing. Suspecting he was outmatched from the start, Yalen resolved to hold out as long as possible. He advanced his knight on the right side, and Jonas did the same. The game truly began once the opening moves were made and the big pieces were unleashed. The bishops entered the middle of the board and started devouring pawns with impunity. Knights jumped back and forth. With no queens in the middle of the field, both players decided to perform a two space castle maneuver. Apparently Yalen was playing quite well, for a crowd was starting to gather around the table. A mix of Gamers and curious observers watched as the players jockeyed for a superior position. Yalen was penetrating the left side with his knight and two pawns, while Jonas had sacrificed one of his pawns to allow his queen to enter the game. Unfortunately there were too many pieces blocking the way, and Yalen was forced to retreat within range of his own queen. It took a few dozen turns before either player managed to capture something bigger than a pawn. Jonas and Yalen both sacrificed a knight at E4. Then Yalen made some errors. He moved one of his pawns too far, which allowed Jonas to capture it [i]En passant[/i]. Then he hastily captured a black pawn on the left, which left his H1 rook defenseless. A series of trades ensued which ended with both colors lacking rooks. Yalen had one knight over Jonas’s zero, but the latter had an extra bishop. The black queen also had a superior position in the middle row that made it difficult for the monk to push his own queen forward. [color=FD5E53][i]I’m being overwhelmed…[/i][/color] Yalen bit his thumbnail and contemplated his next move. The spectators were respectfully quiet. Nobody interrupted the duel by making jeers or shouting out suggestions. “You’re doing quite well Mr. Castel. Most of my challengers would have been in checkmate twenty turns ago.” Jonas complimented him. [color=FD5E53]”You praise me too much Mr. Hahn.”[/color] Yalen continued moving pieces around noncommittally, trying to preserve what was left of his pieces while probing the black side for openings. Jonas continued to force sacrifices out of Yalen, picking his line apart with threat after threat until his remaining pawns were all blockaded by Jonas’s. All that was left for the white player was a queen and a bishop… and yet somehow the same could be said for the King of Games. However, while the pieces in play were nearly identical, Jonas had a better position. In a few turns, he easily captured Yalen’s pawns from behind. Then Jonas started dancing around Yalen’s king with his own queen. Yalen panicked and ended up making another couple mistakes, losing both his queen and bishop. After that it was over. Jonas slowly walked him into a checkmate with ease. “Checkmate.” Jonas announced. “But, it was a close game. You have a talent for chess Mr. Castel. I applaud you.” He clapped his hands together encouragingly, leading the crowd of spectators to follow suit. “If you enjoyed yourself as much as I did, I would love to welcome you to our society.” [hr] Yalen continued to wander around the faire grounds looking for clubs to fill his quota with, and eventually he found himself standing in front of the Five Thrones Tavern. Having been founded early in the city’s history, the establishment was a major attraction in Ersand’Enise. The high quality food served here brought in sophisticated clientele that wouldn’t normally be seen around commoners. Thanks to the tavern’s reputation the price of entry was higher than other places, yet there was a society with pockets deep enough to reserve the entire building for the faire. When he reached the door, Yalen was met by a posh looking woman a few years older than he was. She looked too gaudy to be an employee of the tavern, so he assumed she was a member of the Tasters. “Good morning sir.” The lady cooly greeted him. “Are you interested in buying a membership to the Tasters’ Union?” Yalen nodded. [color=FD5E53]”Yes ma’am.”[/color] “Splendid. If you just want to sign up then you may simply flag down one of our members inside the venue. Additionally, if you’re willing to pay a single Incantor you may take part in today’s wine tasting event.” [color=FD5E53]”Hm…”[/color] Yalen crossed his arms and tilted his head. He didn’t really have a taste for alcohol. The only time he drank was when a religious ceremony called for it. That being said, the point of the faire was to have fun and experience new things. This might also be a chance to become a little more grown up. The price wasn’t an issue either. [color=FD5E53]”Okay, that sounds lovely.”[/color] Yalen palmed a coin into the hostess’s waiting hand. “You won’t regret it, I assure you.” The woman stuck a small pin onto Yalen’s collar, likely to indicate that he was a paying visitor. She politely ushered him through the double doors and then left him to explore the tavern unmolested. The interior was magnitudes dimmer than the outside. He had to stop and wait for a second so his eyes could adjust. There were at least a hundred people inside, sipping on wine glasses and quietly chatting amongst themselves. Most of them looked like merchants and noblemen. Servers rushed this way and that with horderves and buckets while society members solicited attendees with sign up sheets. As this was his first wine tasting, Yalen wasn’t entirely sure what to do. He stood to the side and watched some of the other guests. Rather than swallow, it looked like they were spitting the wine out. Between samples they would consume a morsel of food and sip some water, probably to keep their mouths from getting tired. “Welcome to the Five Thrones Tavern sir.” A staff member finally appeared to notice Yalen and approached him. “I apologize for the wait. I will be happy to serve you today. We have two menus available for tasting today: local or imported. Which shall I prepare for you?” The server showed Yalen two sheets of paper, each one with a selection of drinks listed on it. He scrutinized them briefly, but gave up as soon as he realized he recognized none of the vintages. [color=FD5E53]”The local menu will be fine, thank you.”[/color] With his selection made, Yalen was left alone for a minute while his server went to retrieve the correct wines. She returned with a basket containing four bottles, a wine glass, and a spit bucket. “Here you are.” The server offered Yalen the glass, which he accepted. She uncorked a bottle and carefully poured the liquid so that he had about two ounces at the bottom of his glass. “This cabernet is made with red grapes from the Solenne Riviera region. The vineyard is owned by Jean-Claude le Farriere himself. It is quite popular for its blending process which offsets some of the bitterness.” [color=FD5E53]”Jean-Claude? The professor of Fine Cuisine or the dragon rider?”[/color] Yalen inquired while looking at the wine in his glass. It had a dark purple coloration to it. When he brought the glass up to his nose, he could smell something spicy beneath the alcoholic aroma. Peppers? “I would be the former, my boy.” A masculine voice called out from behind. Yalen turned around to see a face he recognized. The Tan-Zeno couldn’t be missed with his long, curly hair and expensive suit. He was known among the student body to be quite boastful, and many found it difficult to tolerate his company. “I happen to be the head of this here Tasters’ Union I’ll have you know.” Jean-Claude continued. “As you may already know I also own many famous vineyards in Perrence.” He rubbed his chin while looking at the glass in Yalen’s hand. “If you don’t mind, could you share your opinion on that glass of wine?” [color=FD5E53]”Er, okay…”[/color] Yalen spun the wine in his glass a bit and then poured the lot straight into his mouth. His tongue was not accustomed to liquor, and he was momentarily overwhelmed by the taste of alcohol. However, he resisted the urge to immediately spit it out. He closed his eyes and swished the wine around. After spitting the wine into the bucket, Yalen proceeded with his commentary. [color=FD5E53]”It- it’s a little dry. Um, it was blended with a dark fruit of some kind. I think it’s cherry but also something else… Cassis perhaps? It’s also a spicy and herbaceous. I believe you added a touch of bay leaf and Virangish pepper.”[/color] “Interesting. I had you pegged for a first timer, but your palette is pretty good.” Jean-Claude grinned from ear to ear. [color=FD5E53]”You flatter me professor.”[/color] Yalen’s eyes drifted sheepishly downwards. He wasn’t used to dealing with caricatures of nobility like Mr. Ferriere. “What is your name?” [color=FD5E53]”Yalen Castel.”[/color] “Well Mr. Castel, when you’re finished with your round of wine tasting, maybe you’ll be interested in a bit of competition. We’re doing a blind sampling over there and our top performers get a month of membership free. How does that sound?” [color=FD5E53]”That sounds wonderful. I’d be happy to partake.”[/color] [hr] [h3]Assani 30th[/h3] [b]Location: Society Faire (Day 2)[/b] [b]Day of the week: Victendes[/b] [b]Time: Early afternoon[/b] [b]Characters: Yalen, Isabella, Colette[/b] [hr] Yesterday was a blur. Yalen had spent all of Lepdes signing up for clubs. After joining the Pragmatics, Gamers, and Tasters he continued to walk back and forth between the stalls trying to finalize his decisions. Here and there he had bumped into one of his friends and kept them company for a while, which usually led to him getting pressured into a particular society. After chatting with the other tethered students he was led to the Unchained Society, a group dedicated to supporting people with the tethering. Ayla was especially pushy with her suggestions, having roped him into joining not only the Egalite Fraternite, but also the Draconic Order and the Fauna Society. These he didn’t mind. The societies suited his personality and interests just fine. However, the fact that he was also joining the Fingersteeplers? He just wanted to forget about the embarrassing performance they made him do on stage. Today was going to be all about fun. With his quota met, Yalen was free to enjoy everything the faire had to offer. First he wanted to try some desserts made by the Pumpernickel Clubbe. Then he wanted to make a second visit to the petting zoo. Then he wanted to visit the Fireflies again and ask some questions about dragon riding. [color=FD5E53][i]Before I do any of that though, I need to go help out the Carnation Accord… wait, how did that happen again?[/i][/color] Yalen zipped around his room trying to get ready while organizing an itinerary in his head. Once he was good to go he exited his dorm and walked in the direction of Cathedral Square, where the walk-in clinic was being hosted nearby. However, there was something odd about his surroundings that he noticed. The street was still quite busy like yesterday, but almost half the people that should have been attending the faire were absent. On top of that, there was something off about the looks some people had. They looked stressed out, and anytime Yalen passed a group of pedestrians he could hear them whispering urgently to each other. [color=FD5E53]”What is going on?”[/color] Yalen muttered to himself. When he finally reached the location of the Carnation Accord, he found that the entire building was surrounded by bystanders. A perimeter of Lamplighters had been formed to block off the entrance while Centuries worked to fence the place off with binding magic. [color=FD5E53][i]Did a bomb go off in there or something? This is weird.[/i][/color] The young monk worriedly paced around the edge of the mob trying to assess the situation. It didn’t look like they were bringing any injured people out, and the building itself was in good shape. Was someone carrying an infectious illness in there? [color=a187be]”Yalen!”[/color] A familiar voice rang out from Yalen’s left. He looked to see Isabella rolling towards him from behind the crowd. [color=FD5E53]”Isabella!”[/color] [color=a187be]”Dude, did you hear? An aberration popped up right in the middle of the clinic. They’re sealing the building and canceling the Carnation Accord’s entire event.”[/color] [color=FD5E53]”A what!?”[/color] The color left Yalen’s face. [color=a187be]”Yeah. Mrs. Tomaras absorbed it before it could touch anyone else, but she got really sick. They took her somewhere. I dunno where. I saw everything go down while they were treating my heat rash.”[/color] Isabella scratched at her shoulder, which was noticeably reddened where it wasn’t covered by her dress. [color=FD5E53]”This is bad. Aberrations were popping up in people’s bedrooms a few weeks ago too. Now it’s happening again…”[/color] Yalen’s face darkened with anxiety. [color=a187be]”Someone said the aberrations are popping up all over the city right now. A girl in my class said she saw a chick go crazy and start attacking people. Maybe we should head back to our rooms and wait for this to blow over.”[/color] Isabella suggested. [color=FD5E53]”I agree. Let’s get out of here.”[/color] The two tethered traced their steps back to their dorms where they would hopefully be safe until the next morning. While Ersand’Enise had quite a bit of security, aberrations were unpredictable and could appear anywhere they wanted. Holing up in their rooms wouldn’t necessarily quarantine them from the anomalies, but at least they wouldn’t be at risk from other people who had absorbed one. Yalen and Isabella split up in front of the former’s room as she was staying in the common dormitory. [color=FD5E53]”If something happens, pinch me with your magic. I’ll come over right away.”[/color] Isabella lightly punched him on the arm. [color=a187be]”I’ll be fine you dummy. See you tomorrow.”[/color] Yalen rubbed the spot where she hit him as the pigtailed girl rolled herself out of sight. Their respective dorm assignments weren’t too far from each other. If needed he could be there in just a couple of minutes. Still, he couldn’t help but worry. It wasn’t good to take Izzy lightly though. She was a year older than him after all. [color=FD5E53][i]Eh? Who is that?[/i][/color] When Yalen began walking to his front door he saw that someone was waiting there for him. They were small like a child, but strangely their feet weren’t touching the ground. Furthermore, as Yalen got closer he observed that this person didn’t have any identifiable features. They were like a void in the shape of a human. Like… [color=FD5E53][i]An aberration.[/i][/color] The moment the thought solidified in Yalen’s head it was like his mind was ejected from his body. He screamed at his legs to take him far away from there, but physically he continued to get closer and closer to the distortion in reality. It was reaching for him. Beckoning towards him. The thing in the shape of a person held its hand out welcomingly, and when it did his own hand mirrored it. Something had him in its thrall, and all he could do was watch in horror as his body was puppeted by a terrible desire. [color=c7c7ba]”Stop!”[/color] Just when Yalen was about to make contact with the void, he was tackled to the ground by Colette, whose presence he failed to notice in his state of insanity. The impact broke the hypnosis, allowing him to sit up and watch as his sister marched towards the aberration and pushed her hands into it. [color=FD5E53]”What are you doing!?”[/color] Yalen screamed. His voice was ignored, for she was too focused. He could sense the flow of energy within her body. She was absorbing it, just like he and his friends had in Torragon. The aberration vanished in seconds, and when it did the knightess collapsed to her knees. [color=FD5E53]”Colette!”[/color] Yalen pushed himself up and ran to his sister’s side. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind and shook her. [color=FD5E53]”Colette! Are you okay?”[/color] He started drawing energy in preparation for a healing spell, but his concentration was interrupted when an armored hand pulled his wrist away. Colette abruptly stood up and brought her face close to his, though Yalen could barely see her eyes through the slit in her helmet. Her breathing was ragged, like she had run a marathon at full sprint. [color=c7c7ba]”You and I… will take about this… later.”[/color] [hider=clubs and tldr] After paying D.R.A.G.O.N., Yalen signs up for clubs, plays some chess, and goes wine tasting. He nearly gives in to the aberration addiction but is rescued by his sister. Egalite Fraternite Unchained Society Pragmatics Gamers Union Tasters Union Fauna Society Draconic Order Fingersteeplers [/hider]