Blackout
West Point
Rider had enjoyed Sia's gently snoring. She's brutish and grating at times but sweet in her own way. And... that thing. The old one. But that is for later. Rider steers Chron into a rut. Sia wakes.
"I never liked walls. My husband kept me behind them for most my life. Once I tasted freedom I vowed to never sleep inside walls ever again." Rider doesn't like talking about those times. A life from long ago. Sia mentions the clothing of a group of people. A Lady and her Attendants. "Our society is ruled by women. But for a woman to raise her station she must rally women and other men to her. I am not truly a part of this government. Being Lord I am given special permissions. I can take as many Attendants as I want. I can marry all the husbands I want." Rider hops down from Chron and ushers Sia into her personal tent. A man dresses in embroidered garb rides up on a lizard the size of a horse. Without a word he begins helping Rider remove her leathers. As she undresses Rider continues explaining their class structure. "The three Matrons are the lawmaking class. They decide the laws of the land and are appointed by a majority vote from the Baroness class. A Matron will hold her position for ten years and they are elected from the Baroness class itself. They are given fifty Attendants who will serve them for life. The next tier of the matriarchy is the Baroness. A Baroness is a woman who has gathered at least nine women with the title of Lady to her court. A Baroness can have a total of twenty Attendants. A Lady in a Court Circle is considered a Mistress. Mistresses counsel and defend their Baroness. They may have ten attendants. A woman is given the title of Lady when she swears fealty to a Baroness. A Lady may have five Attendants." While explaining all this Rider donned jeweled clothing and has been walking with Sia through the camp and into the castle. They come to a bathhouse in the back and enter. Rider leads Sia into a large open bath. As they enter Rider removes the fine jewel encrusted finery given to her by the only man in the entire city wearing embroidered cloth. Rider begins scrubbing herself, still explaining the society.
"Men are an integral part of our society. Just because they can't have a title doesn't mean they are second class citizens. Men can employ themselves to women who will pay them for their servitude. As women are land holders they need men to work their lands, tend to their mounts and livestock, and defend their homes. These jobs are called Farmer, Rancher, and Guard. Should a man swear fealty to a titled woman and be accepted he becomes Attendant. Attendants wear the name of their Attendee as well as the house insignia of their Baroness on a surcoat. Attendants are not bound to their Attendee, however. Should any party be unhappy with their partnership the arrangement is ended, no questions asked. Think of Attendants as samurai. They serve their lord and work to bring honor to her as well as raise her up. In return she clothes, houses, and feeds her Attendant. Its really a system that balances trust and honor. In example some women will offer an Attendant to a woman of a higher class, with his consent of course, should she feel he is deserving of a life quality better than what she is currently able to give him. This, however, very rarely goes through as the bond between Entitled and Attendants can become very strong. Attendants who bounce around between women aren't held in high regard. A Husband is the highest rank a man can hold. Husbands manage the workers, tend to their wives estate, and lead their wives Attendants." Rider has finished scrubbing and rinses. She wraps a towel around herself and heads though the back towards a hotspring. As she settles into the waters she sighs contentedly enjoying the bliss of eased aches and tension.
South Point
Rebel Camp
Karnariel holds the baby gingerly. The baby coos softly well asleep. But Karnariel recognizes the dark skin and silvered hair. He swallows hard.
"Is this a baby Hand? It's not gonna stab me is it?" He calls after Lexianna but she is already gone. Karnariel rocks the baby softly. "Hey there little guy. You're not gonna stab me right?... right?" Jalen coos again almost as if in response.
In the Southern Ocean near the tip of South Point.
A pirate in the crows nest is watching the beach where Mystic Knights are loading the Marines into ships. He smiles and signals down to Smoke Hat. Smoke Hat nods in acknowledgement and orders the sails to be unfurled. As he gives the order for cannons to be loaded the storm changes. Someone has taken control of it. Someone other than him. He whistles to get the attention of the crows nest and signals with hand gestures to look for someone who is interfering with the storm. The crow's nest signals back confusion so Smoke Hat signals again slowly. The crow's nest nods slowly finally understanding. He scans the surrounding waters and strikes a green flare. Soon another flare is lit on a ship nearby. And another. And another. Until the swirling mists that had been hiding the twenty ships is colored a bright green. All ships reported no sign of an enemy. Smoke Hat scratches his beard. The crow's nest awaits a response. As Smoke Hat looks up to signal the Crow's Nest again he sees her. Lexianna. He signals the Crow's Nest to fire up the red flare and points at Lexianna high above them. The Crow's Nest fires the flare towards Lexianna and it flies right past her as the pirates below begin to fire their black powder rifles at her.
