The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) 1967.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

This is a log of roleplay on PernMUSH, available online by permission of
Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern novels, and recorded by A.S. Korra'ti
(piper@murkworks.net), player of Mehlani of Telgar Weyr on PernMUSH.
This log may be distributed freely as long as this header remains intact.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log Date:
	9/20/1997

Log Cast:
	(People) Kethran, M'rgan, Mehlani, Melina, Kassima, Zerra, Maylia,
R'val, Shorva, Skylyn, Asrai, Lanryi, T'fian, Sanjeet, Kindre, Ceria, J'lyn,
C'vadan, Sionelle, Danton, Makear

	(Firelizards) Holl

Log Intro:
	Young Mehlani, daughter of F'hlan, bronze Tzornth's rider, is having 
the best sort of life a weyrborn youngster could wish. She has a loving 
father and his dragon and firelizards to help out, an entire Weyr in which 
to wander, the runnerbeast Tsornin and the cat Callie and her own beloved 
bronze firelizard Holl to keep her company, and any number of other dragons
with noses that need skitching. As of late she's also had a somewhat 
bemusing shift in her perceptions of the boys around the Weyr, especially in
the person of her long-time friend Devlin, who has come back from the 
Minecraft rather noticeably taller than she'd last remembered him being.
	And yet, shy as she can't help being as the daughter of F'hlan, the
simple fact that she _is_ a rider's daughter means that Mehlani's been
around riders all her life. Which has given her the opportunity to learn all
about what riders like to do.
	Like, for example, play dragonpoker....

----------
Benden Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJ$)
This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's 
  population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity 
  here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently 
  for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under 
  Salless' watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets 
  and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its 
  size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the 
  pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder 
  that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. 
  Branches of evergreens and glistening winter berries are ornaments of the 
  season.
A short tunnel jaunts eastward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of 
  cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southwest end of 
  the cavern near the westerly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. To 
  the southeast is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured 
  dragons and riders.
Contents:
M'rgan
Kassima
Melina
R'val
Kethran
Zerra
Maylia
Salless
Scrap of Hide
Athena(#9341V)
DRINKS, courtesy of Apprentice Suzot and Journeyman Enpici.
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Kethran scowls slightly. "The question is which rider Searched someone without 
  noticing something furry and wiggling," he comments. "And more to the point, 
  where the thing is now. I shudder to think of the effects one of those could 
  have in the dried-meat stores."

M'rgan gestures back to where their wet, slushy footsteps still remain on the 
  floor. "If you'll notice, my boot seems to be a little bit more in the front 
  of yours right there." He nudges an ice globule with the toe of his boot 
  before he grins over at Kassima. "So...I beat you."

Mehlani comes in at a rather faster than usual pace for her, her cheeks 
  flushed and her eyes bright from the cold outside. The girl's bronze fire 
  lizard, not on her shoulder for once, wings in in her wake, chattering at 
  her; Mehlani smiles at the creature over her shoulder. Evidently, the two of 
  them had been playing some sort of chase game.

Melina giggles, "M'rgan, you pushed in front of her at the last minute" She 
  shakes her head, remembering how much M'rgan hates to loose.

Kethran waves cheerfully to Mehlani, calling a greeting to which he expects no 
  response. THis is Mehlani, after all. Perhaps he'll get a head-bob in 
  return. He returns his gaze to the Candidates, the cheerful smile fading in 
  an instant. Must be firm. Big mean Steward.

Kassima snorts, squinting at the indicated footprint. "Some victory!" She 
  grins, though, pushing her errant bangs back out of her face. "But, if'n you 
  insist, I'll graciously conceed it. I'll beat you *next* time."

Zerra nods to Kethran, 'thats true, But she did say she was training it,' she 
  shurgs.and notices m'rgan and Kassima and chuckles at his logic.

Mehlani does bob her head at Kethran, but she also smiles in his direction, a 
  brief flash of teeth in her face. As Holl finally catches up with her and 
  flits in to perch on her shoulder, the girl approaches the hearth, drawn 
  there by the warmth even as her gaze quietly scans the cavern.

Maylia nods uncertainly to the assistant steward, "There's always the chance 
  she left it behind, but that's not like her." She nods agreement with Zerra. 
  "She did mention training, come to think on it."

R'val hrms, "If it's trained, it might return."

Kethran spreads his hands slightly, and manages a smile. "Trained or not, it 
  escaped." He glances back to R'val. "One is idly thankful that dragonets are 
  bonded to their riders. Otherwise, perhaps they could get misplaced as well."

R'val chuckles, "If Vidarth didn't need me, I know he'd be flying from weyr to 
  weyr, greenflirting right now."

Kethran looks back at R'val, and lifts a brow. "And he doesn't already?" he 
  asks, an impish gleam sparkling in his eyes atop a lopsided grin.

M'rgan puts his foot next to Kassima's as he starts to pull off his warm 
  jacket and outergarments. "Maybe if you got bigger boots you'd stand a 
  chance." As he untwines his scarf, his blue eyes scan the room, widening 
  slightly as he notices Melina. He hadn't realized that she was the one 
  speaking earlier. He peers at her, cocking his head questioningly.

R'val snorts, "Yeah, but only when I'm free."

Kethran laughs softly. "Since when did you start charging, R'val?" he asks 
  good-naturedly, his smile changing to a friendly one.

R'val chuckles quietly, "Never."

Maylia glances between R'val and Kethran, smiling a little at the friendly 
  banter.

Melina smiles sheepishly and waves to M'rgan, "Hullo" is all she says. She 
  tries to cocks her shoulders to show off her new knot.

Melina
Strands of dark hair partially obsucre the small, rounded face of Melina. She 
  seems constantly preoccupied with something, black eyes darting around the 
  cavern to find something to busy herself with. Her dark eyes glint slightly 
  with carefully bridled curiousity as they light fleetingly on you. Often, a 
  nervous smile can be seen pulling at ther thin lips, soon accompanied by a 
  soft blush. She seems to be about 16 Turns, 2 months, and 25 days. Melina 
  wears a pair of dark died wherhide pants borrowed from the stores in the 
  Weyr. She seems to have left her old gray skirt behind during her stay here, 
  favoring the pants more for doing her chores in. She also wears an emrald 
  colored thick tunic to keep warm in. Often draped over one shoulder or 
  pulled on is a jacket brought from the High Reaches Weyr. It's really just 
  an oversized flight jacket, but it seems to be more precious to Melina then 
  anything else she owns. Pinned to her shoulder is a simple knot constructed 
  of three cords, red, black, and a white one coursing down the middle. This 
  knot is of almost equal importance to her, proclaming her to be a candidate 
  at Benden Weyr. Faded wherhide boots pull mid-ankle on her slender calves as 
  well, shielding her feet from the ice.
Carrying:
Robeck
Zyma

Kethran
Broad shoulders atop a slightly narrower torso make Kethran look slightly 
  larger than his height of 6'0" would normally permit. His fine blond hair is 
  bound into a neat runnertail that falls to just past his shoulders. His face 
  is a mixture of well-defined angles and smooth curves, giving him a striking 
  appearance when combined with the emerald green of his eyes, which reveal 
  the intelligence behind them in their quick, observant motions. Little trace 
  of nervousness can be found in this youth's posture; he stands with 
  confidence but with no trace of arrogance in his bearing. Kethran is 23 
  Turns, 4 months, and 2 days old. (+detail) 
Kethran is currently dressed well in an embroidered tunic and trousers that 
  fit him snugly. The tunic is tan in color, embroidered with turquoise blue 
  in an intricate pattern. The pants are a far darker brown, with tan 
  highlights on the seams and cuffs that match the color of the tunic. He 
  wears a pair of soft, comfortable boots on his feet that are broken in but 
  otherwise not extremely worn. A Benden Weyr Assistant Steward's knot is 
  proudly affixed to his left shoulder, just above a patch bearing the symbol 
  of Telgar Hold.
Kethran notices your gaze and flashes a warm smile in your direction.
Carrying:
Randival
Gleam

M'rgan
        M'rgan is 21 Turns, 5 months, and 18 days old and has changed a lot 
  over the past seven turns at HRW. He has gone from being a child to an adult 
  (well, an adult with lapses into childishness). The responsibilities of 
  being a dragonrider, weyrmate, and father have shaped his personality into 
  one of strength, calm, and perserverence. A far cry from the prankster he 
  once was.
        In addition to an emotional transformation, the last few turns have 
  changed M'rgan drastically physically. No longer is he the scrawny, small 
  child. He is about 6'1" tall, which doesn't approach his father's giant 
  proportions, but it'll definitely do. He has acquired muscle on his arms and 
  shoulders from all of his physical duties and is developing the relaxed 
  posture and air of an adult. There is still baby fat plumping his face, but 
  the lines of the fine, well-formed features of the man that he is becoming 
  can be seen. Gentle blue eyes peer out from underneath eyelids that are 
  slightly droopy in the corners. M'rgan has short black hair that forms a 
  sort of shaggy cap, a perfect length for under his helmet. He has lost all 
  the tan from his childhood in Boll over the turns in the colder Ruatha and 
  High Reaches. M'rgan's clothes are plain and worn but they are colored, as 
  always, in HRW's blue and black.
        He wears a semi-complicated knot of blue and black with a single 
  strand of brown, signifying that he is a brownrider and wingsecond at High 
  Reaches Weyr. To it is pinned a battered patch, showing that he is a member 
  of Blizzard Wing
        +detail is available. *****'+email M'rgan' for the URL that has his 
  picture.*****

Zerra grins at R'val and Kethran and stands to clear the plates that Maylia, 
  suzot and herself used.

Kassima taps her boot toe, and shakes her head morosely. "Alas, Mart; if'n 
  m'boots were even bigger than yours--and I'm nay certain that Tanners *make* 
  boots bigger than yours--I'd flounder in 'em and trip for certain. Which was 
  *probably* your plan all along." Shrugging off her riding jacket, she slings 
  it over the back of a convenient chair. "Besides, I already stand a 
  perfectly good chance. I only missed winning by *that* much--and that, only 
  because you had a head start! Luck, brownie. All luck."

Kethran chuckles. "S'good. Imagine the hordes of disappointed greenriders! Not 
  to mention the amount of income you'd garner -- I think you'd be 
  insufferable if you were rich." Another lopsided grin, before he glances 
  back at the Candidates. "If the ferret is found, please let me know? And it 
  would be best if the Candidate who claims it finds it. If I or one of the 
  other lower caverns folk find it, especially if it's being destructive..." 
  He trails off, and shakes his head sadly, almost apologetically.

R'val chortles quietly, failing to reply to Kethran's latest remarks as he 
  tops off his klah mug.

Maylia stacks bowls into each other to help Zerra, nibbling her lip a little. 
  She grabs the klah mugs, offering, "More klah, Zerra?" Raises eyebrows 
  extend the offer to all.

Mehlani settles down quietly by the hearth, contentedly stroking the head of 
  her bronze companion, and watching those in the cavern from where she's 
  parked herself.

One arm still stuck in his jacket, M'rgan winces as he sees Melina's new knot 
  and he calls out to her, "Does Kena know?" Even as he speaks to Melina, he 
  listens to Kassima and at her luck comment he immediately answers back with, 
  "It's skill. All skill." A few more shoves and his left arm is freed from 
  the coat. A puddle begins to form around his feet from all the melting snow.

Zerra nods to Kethran and smiles to Maylia as she clears the paltes and trots 
  off towards the kitchen.

Melina nods quietly. At least, she told someone to inform Kena. She sighs 
  quietly and withdraws to sit quietly at her table.

Kethran glances back over his shoulder at Mehlani. "Are you willing to talk to 
  me?" he asks her, his voice not bearing the slightest hint of condescension. 
  Instead, he's simply asking a direct question, adult to adult. He smiles to 
  Zerra, and stretches slightly. "I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just 
  explaining how things are. Is everything all right, other than that?"

From the kitchen, Shorva walks out of the passageway that leads down to the 
  storerooms.

"Skill," Kassi drawls, brushing stray snow from the crown of her head. "Right. 
  So you keep insisting--but I think the brownrider doth protest too much...." 
  Trailing off, she shakes her head and lifts one shoulder in a shrug before 
  walking over towards the beverage pitchers. "Klah 'tis that you wanted, 
  y'said?"

Catching Kethran's gaze, the young girl by the hearth simply nods, serenely. 
  The flush of cold has left her face, being replaced by borrowed warmth from 
  the hearthfire.

From the kitchen, Shorva walks into the Living Cavern.
Shorva walks in from the kitchen.
Shorva has arrived.

Maylia, standing by the klah, selects two mugs and holds up the pitcher, 
  voluteering to pour for Kassima and M'rgan.

M'rgan gives his jacket a firm *snap* before slinging it over another of the 
  chairs. "Right. Klah. As long as it's not M'kla's. I never thought I'd sleep 
  again after that last batch of hers I had." He gives the jacket a small tug, 
  straightening it, before he moves to join Kassima. "Well, it's either skill 
  or I'm the luckiest man alive, Kassi." He winks at the greenrider.

Zerra returns a few moments later and sits again with her sister and watches 
  the group in the cavern, sipping her klah.

Shorva pours a cup of klah and shyly sits iat a quiet table, warming herself 
  with the drink.

Maylia snifs at the klah pitcher, peering inside. It not being strong enough 
  for either M'klah's or Suzot's brew she pours for the two, topping off her 
  own mug. Handing them off on her way, she returns to her seat with Zerra and 
  R'val.

R'val grins at Maylia readily, "Have you tried M'kla's klah?" He asks out of 
  curiousity.

Kassima shakes her head negatively to Maylia, with a smile, and picks up the 
  cider pitcher for herself. "That 'Reaches klah must truly be awful if'n you 
  can drink an entire mug of *hers* and live, without prior experience with 
  it...." Looking over to Mart, she laughs, eyes sparkling. "'Tis true enough 
  that there are some luck seems t'favor! Mayhaps," she offers magnanimously, 
  "'tis a bit of both. Just don't tell Kin I said that. She'd see me as a 
  traitor to the Quest."

Melina raises an eyebrow. She murmers defensively, "It's not /that/ bad" She 
  shifts in her chair again, watching Mart with dark eyes.

Maylia opens her eyes wide, nodding that yes, she's tried M'klah's klah.

Mehlani speaks up from the hearth, "Mother says that the worst klah on Pern 
  was made by Flirk." This solemn pronouncement made, the girl does not 
  elaborate, but merely continues sitting there by the fire, skritching the 
  head of her bronze.

M'rgan flashes a toothy smile at the Candidate as he takes the mug from her. 
  "Thank you." He takes a careful whiff of the stuff before he sticks out his 
  tongue for a bit of a taste test. After a few second's consideration he 
  pronounces in serious tones. "Not M'kla's." As the steam from the klah 
  swirls around his face, warming it, he grins to Kassima. "Well, E'dran's 
  requires a knife and fork to drink. The quest?"

R'val chortles at Maylia's expressive face, grinning, "I take it from that 
  look of horror you have indeed sampled M'kla's infamous brew. Didja like it?"

Zerra nods along with Maylia, remebering that klah she tried when she first 
  came tot he weyr.

Kethran goes home.
Kethran has left.

Kassima raises her mug in an ironic salute to the brownrider, sipping the 
  steaming liquid within gingerly. "The quest," she replies, once she's 
  swallowed, "to prove that everything you win at is utterly and completely 
  luck as opposed to skill. Save, a'course, for dragonpoker." She grins 
  mischievously at the brownrider. "That's because we know you *cheat* at 
  dragonpoker. We've both heard the tales!"

Maylia nods solemnly, eyes fixed now on R'val. "Yes, I did, but do you 
  remember how much bovie milk I put in Suzot's brew the other night?" She 
  pauses, "Triple it. Then the stuff's bearable."

Quietly, Mehlani rises, finally sufficiently warm, at least on the outside. 
  Unlacing her heavy jacket at the collar, she pads over towards the klah, her 
  nose crinkling in query.

R'val smiles, "Anything that would dilute that stuff might be helpful, but 
  I;'d still rather not taste it."

M'rgan straightens his back indignantly. "Me??? I have never cheated at 
  dragonpoker. I'm always taking yours and Kindre's marks because I'm /good/." 
  He jabs a finger in Kassima's direction. "Now, you on the other hand...How 
  do you explain that Conclave you got three sevendays ago? You even had to 
  draw three cards to get it." As he speaks his friendly accusations, the 
  wingsecond starts to slide over towards a couple of empty chairs.

"Don't make me pour this cider over your head," Kassi mock-threatens, waggling 
  her finger at Mart. "We all know about the Harpers you keep up your sleeves! 
  Besides, I've managed to best you at the game once or twice. Come t'think of 
  it, you still owe me from that game a couple of Turns agone...." As she 
  hears his allegation of cheating, the greenrider pokes Mart lightly on the 
  end of his nose. "*I* simply have luck. Just luck. That's all I ever need." 
  She seats herself in one of the chairs, nudging the other out for the 
  'Reaches rider.

M'rgan thanks Kassi with a slight incline of his head as he spins the chair 
  around and straddles it, the klah mug still clenched in his right hand. A 
  small trickle runs down the side until its absorbed by his cold hand. "Well, 
  it's nay skill you have," he tells her with a smirk, trying his best to 
  match her accent.

Mehlani quietly pours herself up some klah, and chooses a place to sit and 
  drink it, still not uttering a word as she watches the exchange between the 
  riders. Her head is quirked slightly; the lass is curious, it would seem.

Kassima arches one eyebrow, peering over the rim of her own mug at the 
  brownrider with a half-smile playing on her face. "I'm nay entirely certain 
  how t'take that... but if'n you're wishing, 'twould be glad t'give you 
  another demonstration of m'skill with a knife-blade. Come t'think of it, I 
  wonder what those Candidates did with the knives I loaned 'em?" Her eyes 
  flicker over the room, but she must not find the Candidates in question 
  since she abandons the search a moment later.

Shorva stands quickly, as if she just remembered she had to be somewhere and 
  was late. She quickly downs the last of her klah, which was certainly better 
  than anything her da ever made, and madeto leave.

"I've seen your skill, Kassi. And so far you haven't managed to slice off any 
  of my important bits..." M'rgan's voice drops a bit lower, "As you know." He 
  follows her gaze around the room but doesn't see anything of particular 
  interest either. Turning back he takes a sip of his klah before asking in 
  his normal, almost-too-loud voice, "I don't suppose you've got a few marks 
  you might be willing to part with."

The sudden movement catches Kassi's eye, and her attention is distracted for 
  just a second from her verbal banter. "Benden's duties t'you and yours, 
  stranger, and g'deve," she offers to the departing girl.

Shorva with one last look around, and a departig smile, she leaves
Shorva walks off towards the kitchen.
Shorva has left.
From the kitchen, Shorva enters the kitchen from the living cavern.
From the kitchen, Shorva pushes her way past scurrying kitchen girls and into 
  the storeroom passageway.

Kassima laughs, picking up her proverbial verbal weapon to resume the duel of 
  words. "Just as well for both of us," she muses. "For once, I suppose I'm 
  glad I didn't succeed at something...." Closing one eye in a brief wink, she 
  leans back in her chair and sets her cup on the table. "Me? Well, mayhaps a 
  *few*... though this is the Turnday season, so I fear that there're nay so 
  many for you to attempt stealing. What had you in mind? A dragonpoker game 
  might be fun, if'n other players could be found...?" Again, her gaze travels 
  over the other folk in the room in unspoken query.

Mehlani blinkblinks as Kassima's gaze sweeps around. Who? Her?

M'rgan's avarice-filled blue eyes sweep around the room along with Kassima's. 
  "As long as they've got some marks to spare, of course," he says in an aside 
  to Kassima.

Maylia blushes as she realizes she was evesdropping on Kassima's and M'rgan's 
  conversation. She shakes her head, quietly saying, "I've not even a full 
  mark to my name."

R'val shakes his head, "I'm not interested in losing my marks at dragonpoker."

Zerra frowns, and thinks for a moment, 'I have a few marks, but i don;t know 
  how to play i'm sorry.' she smiles in apology.

Mehlani looks from face to face. On her shoulder, rather baffled at all this 
  looking at one another going on between the humans, Holl chirrups.

"Oh, a'course," Kassi assures M'rgan. "Just a few would do. Thirty-seconds. 
  Sixteenths. Or, if'n nay *anyone* has money, we could wager for favors 
  again... though I'll be sharded if'n those aren't the hardest bets in the 
  world t'get people to ever pay off." She wrinkles her nose at Mart, then 
  offers a reassuring grin to the Candidates and Mehlani. "We could teach 
  you," she suggests. That knife-throwing and dragonpoker are the two things 
  she'd choose to instruct people in says a lot about the greenrider.

Mehlani finally observes soberly, "I know how to play dragonpoker."

M'rgan's gaze locks onto Zerra as she mentions having the marks but not 
  knowing how to play. He echoes Kassi's words, "We could teach you," although 
  the way he says it makes it sound less like a lesson and more like a 
  fleecing. "Well, maybe you could loan her the marks and she could do some 
  favors for you," he tells Kassima about Maylia.

Skylyn walks in from the bowl.
Skylyn has arrived.
Skylyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Skylyn has left.

Zerra smiles, a little interesed, 'I couldn't watch for a while could I?' she 
  asks hopefully.

Kassima elbows Mart lightly in the ribs, lest he give away to the Candidates 
  just what they'd be in for. "Hrm... a thought, I suppose," she muses. "A 
  week of feeding m'fire-lizards might even be worth a full mark piece... oh, 
  d'you now, Mehlani? Marvelous! That's three; certes one other can be 
  persuaded to play?" She turns on the baby-canine eyes, a rather effective 
  technique which she's mastered admirably.

Maylia looks a little uncertain, the image of Kassi's fifty-odd firelizards 
  swarming her not overly appealing. Her own five drive her nuts as it is. 
  Nevertheless the foolhardy girl nods slowly.

Asrai walks in from the bowl.
Asrai has arrived.
Asrai makes her way into the cavern, taking up short by the number of people. 
  Muttering something about eggs she heads over to the serving table to grab a 
  mug of bovine milk.

M'rgan can't seem to keep the image of dancing marks out of his eyes so he 
  drops his gaze to his klah mug, staring at his reflection in the dark brown 
  liquid, while leaving Kassima to convince the others.

Kassima immediately digs a mark piece marked with the Bitra Hold sigil from 
  her belt pouch and flips it to Maylia. "Bargain struck," she states quickly 
  before the girl can rethink the fact that she just agreed to feed sixty 
  fire-lizards for no less than seven days straight. "Be wary with it, now! 
  This brownrider here is a terrible trickster. I'd swear that he keeps a full 
  deck comprised entirely of Harpers up his sleeves, save that I didn't find 
  one... oh, heya, Asrai. Care t'join us in our game?"

Rising from the chair she'd claimed, her brow furrowed, Mehlani asks Kassima, 
  "But what would you bet in exchange for a sevenday of feeding your fair?" A 
  surprisingly long sentence, for this girl. But she delivers it quite 
  clearly, and evidently completely without guile, for her gaze is 
  straightforward and earnest.

Asrai glances over at Kassi and bursts into giggles, "Play Dragon Poker...with 
  you and M'rgan??"

Maylia deftly, or perhaps daftly, catches the mark flipped at her and stares 
  at it, wondering what she got herself into.

Zerra grins to her sister, winking, ' least we can give it a try.'

R'val moves to sit near Maylia and murmurs, "I'll play."

Kassima nibbles her lower lip for a moment, giving the question serious 
  consideration. "Bet against, as opposed to pay for? Hrm... seven days of 
  running minor errands for the person in question, methinks. A'course, Asrai; 
  d'you think either of us would be apt to stay out of a game of dragonpoker?"

Mehlani says solemnly, "I don't have any errands that anyone needs to run."

Maylia sighs resignedly, after all, she's agreed. She murmurs to her sister, 
  "There goes a sevenday of free time for studying, more'n likely."

At the mention of pulling Harpers from his sleeves, M'rgan grins slightly and 
  sets his klah mug down on the table before he pulls a deck of dragonpoker 
  cards out of his shirt pocket. Never leave the weyr without it. That's his 
  motto. He begins to shuffle the cards as he listens to the banter between 
  Kassima and the others with half-an-ear. "Do you have a few free marks, 
  Asrai?"

Asrai grins at Kassi, "No, I just wonder at how you'd think I'd actually play 
  a game concerning bets and marks with the two of you. But I will watch." she 
  plops down by the others.

"A sevenday of chores, then, I suppose. So long as they didn't interfere with 
  m'own duties," Kassima decides. Taking stock of all the folks who've agreed 
  to play, she suppresses an automatic grin and instead eyes Mart's deck 
  dubiously. "Think we can trust him as dealer?" she inquires of the others at 
  the table, grinning at the tease of the brownrider.

Lanryi walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Lanryi has arrived.

Mehlani's brow furrows again, but she settles into a seat near Kassima and 
  M'rgan, sitting there with quite properly straight posture. Holl, sensing 
  something Going On, cranes forward, eyes whirling with interest.

M'rgan snorts as he divides the cards for another shuffle. "Do you think I can 
  trust /you/?" he asks with a friendly poke before he starts to count the 
  people playing. "All right, who's in?"

R'val chuckles softly at the neverending banter of M'rgan and Kassi. "I'm in."

Lanryi skips in and looks around before grabing a glass of milk.

Zerra answers, 'I'll watch for the first round.'

Lanryi
At 8 turns of age, Lanryi looks much the same as before. Her strawberry-blonde 
  hair hasn't darkened, and is still up in two pigtails. Her blue eyes are 
  still blue, and she is still freckle-free. She's a happy little girl, all 
  big eyes and wide grin.
Lanryi is dressed in a sky-blue tunic and tan trousers. Both are a little too 
  large for her, but at the rate she's growing, they probably won't fit within 
  a matter of months. The left shoulder has been padded, and you can often see 
  Saski perched on it. The brown doesn't look so misproportioned since Lanryi 
  hit her latest growth spurt, but he still looks huge when sitting on her 
  tiny shoulder.
Lanryi is 8 Turns, 2 months, and 23 days old.
Carrying:
Saski

Zerra adds, 'If thats alright?'

Mehlani's only answer to M'rgan is another sober nod.

Maylia glances at Zerra, clutching her soon-to-be hard earned mark. "Mind if I 
  watch the first round, too?"

Kassima's fair, returned from hiding now that their mistress has been cured of 
  *most* of her homicidal tendencies, glide to perch around the playing table 
  wherever there's free space. "Oh, I don't know," the greenrider quips. 
  "Trusting me hasn't killed you yet, has it?" Was there slight emphasis on 
  the word 'yet' there? Nah.... "I'm in, certes, so long as m'marks hold out. 
  Go ahead and watch, aye. 'Tis nay so very complicated t'get the hang 
  of--you'll see." Trusting her might not kill them, no. But cause them to 
  lose all of their marks? Well, now--that's another matter entirely.

T'fian walks in from the bowl.
T'fian has arrived.

Asrai turns as she hears bootsteps amoung the chatter around the dragon poker 
  game just starting. "Greetings Weyrsecond."

Sanjeet walks in from the bowl.
Sanjeet has arrived.

If Mehlani is aware of the incongruity of her sitting down to dragonpoker with 
  Kassima and M'rgan, the lass gives absolutely no sign of it, and simply 
  regards M'rgan's playing with the cards, her gaze deeply searching. Holl 
  flicks a look at the man, and chirrs at him in a sort of 'This isn't going 
  to make my human mad, is it?' tone.

R'val glances up from the dragonpoker table, nodding towards T'fian.

M'rgan hmmphs as it appears he won't be making as many marks on this game as 
  he'd been hoping. He gives the deck a final shuffle before setting the pile 
  of cards in front of Kassi for her to cut. "The usual rules? Five card draw 
  with all three Harpers. 32nd piece ante. And a maximum bet of a 16th piece."

Zerra waves to people as they eneter looking up from the game that's about to 
  start.

Asrai continues to wave as the stranger, and then Kindre enter the cavern on 
  the heels of the weyrsecond. "Heya Kin! They're about to play some dragon 
  poker if you're interested..."

Lanryi sits down to watch the game of dragon poker and takes a large gulp of 
  the frothy milk which leaves a white mustache above the girl's lip

T'fian pushes snow from the shoulders of his riding jacket as he walks into 
  the living cavern, directly ahead of Sanjeet. To the new Candidate, he says, 
  "This is the living cavern. Where the weyrfolk gather when they're avoiding 
  their duties or chores. As you can see, they've got a rousing game of dragon 
  poker." He raises his voice to a tone that any of his weyrlings and 
  wingmaters will undoubtedly remember, "Everybody, this is Sanjeet, formerly 
  an Apprentice Seacrafter, now a Benden Candidate. Everybody say hi to him."

Kassima salutes T'fian immediately, of course, and nods to the stranger who 
  follows him. "G'deve, Weyrsecond and person I don't know... aye, Mart, I'll 
  agree to those rules--wait. Is that the maximum amount you can bet total, or 
  the maximum raise?"

Zerra ohhs and waves to Sanjeet, 'hello.'

Lids blink slowly, covering the all to acute, sensitive eyes of Sanjeet from 
  the instant harsh light. "G'dee." Ansewrs the one time apprentice, now 
  Benden Candidate dumbly. "I beet they don't git drunk here like tha do at 
  home, aye?" He asks, questions the form of T'fian before him.

Kassima cuts the cards as she asks this, then passes them back to 
  Mart--perhaps foolishly allowing the brownie to deal. "G'deve and well met, 
  Sanjeet," she greets the new Candidate amiably.

Lanryi wipes off her mustache and waves to Sanjeet.

"The riders do," T'fian replies to the Candidates. "I'm not sure if Siani and 
  J'lyn, and Elyandra are letting the Candidates partake. All right, let me 
  show you to the barracks. There this way." He moves towards the tunnel 
  leading into the lower caverns.

Sanjeet
        Stray, wind tossled locks of sun bleached mid-brown hair rest 
  stubbornly about Sanjeet's high set forehead. Deep set eyes of glistening 
  green twinkle with mirth as they gaze about at everyone and everything with 
  an intense intrest. Light, thin brows often preform an intricate dance of 
  there own, riseing and falling almost at a wim. A well shaped yet strong and 
  prominant hawkish nose portrudes from Sanjeet's thin, elegant, bony face 
  that has been tanned a deep bronze by the blistering sun. Thin, smooth lips 
  that are usually upturned into a lopsided grin conceal sparkleing, 
  glistening teeth. A strong chin, often turned at an angle that suggest full 
  confidance in himself finish of Sanjeet's fine, handsome face.
        Standing a hand taller than most, Sanjeet's long slender frame 
  perfectly matches his boney face. Long, lanky arms, tanned a deep bronze 
  tone end at large resin stained hands. Long, slim fingers, calloused by his 
  many turns working in the fields dance with a mind of there own as Sanjeet 
  speaks. A long, slim torso connects shoulders to /long/ skinny legs. Well 
  formed and developed by days of endless rigors. Large feet finish of this 
  slim body. But by being larger than most feet, Sanjeet chooses to keep them 
  well hidden in boots.
        Upon Sanjeet's lithe frame rests a tunic of steel grey. Its light 
  fabric breaths well in the warm climates. Short sleeved, it ends just above 
  the elbow's. Sanjeet's long skinny legs are covered by a pair of well tanned 
  blue wherhide pants.
        Sanjeet is 17 Turns, 11 months, and 8 days old.

T'fian walks towards the inner cavern.
T'fian has left.

Asrai grins brightly as she nods a greeting to the newest candidate, "Hello 
  there Sanjeet..welcome to Benden."

Boots stomp, Sanjeet follows without another question. He's here, then he's 
  gone.
Sanjeet walks towards the inner cavern.
Sanjeet has left.

R'val smiles as he watches the candidate pass by, "Another one, hm?"

"Maximum raise of course," M'rgan tells Kassima before he nods to the 
  Candidate and gives T'fian a quick salute. He scoops the cards back into his 
  hands and gives each person playing a nod before he starts to deal out the 
  cards. After each has five cards dealt face down, he reaches into his marks 
  pouch and pulls out a 32nd piece, tossing it onto the table for his ante. 
  "Hatchings are always busy times," he comments.

Mehlani watches M'rgan take out his coin, then looks around the table and says 
  soberly, "I ante a morning's chores." Holl flitterflutters, cheeps, and 
  peers down at the cards Mehlani has been dealt.

Zerra grins to Maylia as the game begins, her eyes wide watching as people 
  pick up their cards, trying to figure it out.

Another thirty-second piece is flicked onto the table by Kassi, clicking 
  against the first. "Aye, i'truth. But busy's nay always a bad thing... I had 
  a grand time yestereve, with the 'throwing lesson. A shame you missed that. 
  I might've taught you a thing or two." She gathers up her cards, scanning 
  what she's been handed with a perfectly inscrutable expression. She nods to 
  Mehlani and darts a glance at R'val, waiting for him to ante as well.

Asrai turns to watch the game...never having been one to play the game. She 
  dutifully drinks her bovine milk. "How did your flight go Kassi?"

R'val tosses in his ante without comment, after digging into his mark pouch 
  for a moment, "Tah dah."

Kindre walks in from the bowl.
Kindre has arrived.
Kindre gives Salless a quick grin before passing the elderly woman quickly. 
  Fetching herself a glass of red wine, she turns to regard the cavern, 
  smiling wide as she recognizes so many and the task they seem to be tending. 
  "Dragonpoker," is her first query, "Oh, and good eve to you all."

Kassima looks up from her cards to flash a grin at Asrai. "Oh... quite well, I 
  think," she responds, glancing sidelong at Mart. "'Twere neither any 
  mortalities nor even serious casualties. Always a fine thing in a flight. 
  Kindre, g'deve!"

M'rgan gives his cards a quick tap for luck before he picks them up. "We 
  didn't miss it. I took one look at the South Bowl and had Ularrith land in 
  the north. I've seen what you can do to those snowmen...and passing 
  strangers." He stops talking long enough to concentrate on his hand, taking 
  a peek at each card one at a time before sliding it behind its fellows.

Maylia peers at the players, still rubbing the mark. She looks uncertainly 
  from one to the other before touching R'val's shoulder, asking "Mind if I 
  look over your shoulder?"

Amongst the riders at the dragonpoker table, Mehlani, carefully cradling five 
  cards in her small hands, looks up and bobs a nod at Kindre, before 
  returning her blue gaze to the business at hand.

Asrai sighs with something near eggsasperation, "So...who won the flight??"

M'rgan flashes a big grinned smile in Asrai's direction, waggling his eyebrows 
  for two heartbeats, before he bends his head back to his cards.

Kindre drags a chair up near to the card players. Still in her riding gear 
  from the recent trip to and from both Half Circle and Seacraft, she turns 
  the chair backwards and stradles it. Arms rest on the back as she grins. "So 
  what I heard was right? Well, congrats to you, Mart. So, have you all been 
  playing long?"

"Aye, Kindre," Kassi answers cheerfully. "Care t'sit in for the first hand, 
  and join in the second? Provided, a'course, that you've marks...." Holding 
  her cards more closely at the overheard mention of looking over shoulders, 
  she just grins again at Asrai. "Lysseth did, a'course. Who else? And who's 
  going t'start the betting?"

R'val pats his cards after looking them over, and says, "I will."

Asrai sees the waggling of the eyebrows and giggles, "Oh good for Ularrith!"

Kassima shakes her head, looking once more down at her cards. "Nay, Kin--just 
  started this hand, actually. R'val's about to start the wagering if'n m'ears 
  don't deceive me. And aye, what you heard was correct... well, at least, 
  if'n you heard what I'm presuming that you heard. If'n what you heard was 
  that giant caprines made out of Fort stilton cheese are taking over the 
  Weyr, I'm afraid that's sheerly falsehood."

M'rgan's cheeks flush a light pink at Kindre's congrats and he can only nod 
  his head to her as a thank you, not quite able to meet her eyes. "This is 
  the first game." Schooling his face into a more appropriate blank 
  expression, the brownrider watches R'val closely while he places his cards 
  on the table, face down.

Kindre rubs the mark piece dangling from the chain about her neck and grins. 
  "Well, I'm low on marks, but will gladly watch. Safer this way with the 
  cursed Brownie here." A grin and quiet chuckle betrays the teasing behind 
  her words. Leaning to the left then right, tipping the chair in each 
  direction to get a better peek at the cards, she feigns surprise at 
  Kassima's words. "They're not taking Fort? Shards, I'm never listening to 
  those untrustworth drudges again."

Mehlani remains sitting there in her chair, her bronze fire lizard perched 
  inquisitively on her right shoulder. The girl looks at the riders sitting to 
  either side of her, and, taking a cue from them, folds her cards neatly 
  together and places them face-down before her.

Asrai grins at M'rgan's blush beforing going back to watching the game.

R'val tosses in a chip, "I'll bet one sixteenth."

Kassima keeps her eyes on her cards, her own expression utterly unreadable as 
  she notes, "Well, y'may be right. Some might be inclined to argue that he 
  does seem t'be on a winning streak...." Clearing her throat, she nods as 
  R'val makes his bet and turns her attention from the hand dealt her to 
  Mehlani.

Her small face, if possible, is graver than usual as Mehlani states politely, 
  "I would like to bet a washing of a dragon, please."

Asrai glances sideways at Kassi and comments quite innocently. "Yes, I supose 
  m'rgan /is/ on a winning streak at that."

"It's all skill, Kindre," M'rgan says before he nods to R'val's and Mehlani's 
  bet. He peers at Kassima out of the corner of his eye, trying not to appear 
  too interested in her bet. That is, he watches calmly until Asrai makes her 
  comment. Then he has to bite his lower lip to keep from smirking and all 
  interest in Kassi's bet fades for the moment.

Kindre's eyes crinkle as her smile curls high into her cheeks at Mehlani's 
  bet. She remains quiet for several moments, sipping her wine and gazing over 
  the collecting marks upon the tables surface. "Did you wear a kilt this 
  time, too," she can't help but break her silence to ask M'rgan, a grin 
  tugging her lips at his comment.

Where the roll came from that's heading right for Asrai's head is almost 
  impossible to determine. Sure, there's a basket of roll not far from 
  Kassi... but is she really *that* fast? "A dragon-washing? All right... I'll 
  see both of those, and raise by a sixteenth." She drops the mark pieces in 
  question into the pile, albeit with a bit of hesitation... as though she's 
  not quite sure that she wants to risk so much on this hand? Nah. Couldn't be.

Lanryi peers curiously at the dragon poker players and decides to have a 
  staring contest with the brown Saski perched on her shoulder.

*THUNK* It cuts off Asrai's giggle at Kin's comment..but not for long. "Hey! 
  What was /that/ for?" She asks innocently.

R'val chortles, "Maylia, dragonbathing's not a chore, is it?" He winks at her."

Kassima turns perfectly clear, innocent green eyes on Asrai. "What was *what* 
  for?" she replies in turn. Two can play at the pseudo-innocence game. "Alas, 
  Kin, I fear that he was kiltless."

Maylia rolls her eyes in response to R'vals teasing. "Depends which dragon it 
  is, of course."

M'rgan rarely drops out before the discard round so he smoothly tosses an 
  eighth mark into the pile, adding "I'll see that." He keeps his own head 
  slightly bowed to avoid any rolls headed his way as he concentrates on the 
  game. "Replacements, R'val?" he asks as he picks up the deck.

Asrai giggles, munching on the roll happily. She looks over at M'rgan and 
  comments impishly, "What a shame..but don't tell K'nan I said that."

Ceria walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Ceria has arrived.

R'val slips two cards onto the table, "Two please, M'rgan." He says, quietly, 
  studying the other players.

Ceria eyes the crowd in the living cavern.

M'rgan rolls his eyes as he overhears Kassima's reply to Kindre. "Can't you 
  all wait until I'm out of the room before you talk about my performance," he 
  hisses under his breath. Snapping back to the game he tosses two cards to 
  R'val. "Good luck. Mehlani?"

Zerra goes home.
Zerra has left.

From the quiet Mehlani comes a single card, slipped forward from her hand. She 
  lifts her sober gaze to M'rgan and lifts one finger, indicating her 
  requested number of cards.

Lanryi continues her staring contest until she goes cross-eyed and turns away 
  to continue watching the game of dragon poker.

Kindre smirks at Asrai's comments and then looks for the basket holding 
  whatever potentil bread projectiles that may come her way. "But Mart," she 
  mock-whines, "It's no fun unless we get to see you get uncomfortable."

R'val takes the cards with a nod to M'rgan, his expression tightening almost 
  imperceptibly at the sight of his new hand.

Kassima nods absently to Ceria--then shoots a look at Mart, one eyebrow 
  quirking up. "'Twere speaking of kilts, nay performance," she mutters sotto 
  voce. "'Twas unaware that the two were related...." She slips two cards from 
  her own hand, passing them to the brownrider as her turn comes. "Two, 
  please, Mart," she speaks up in a louder tone.

J'lyn walks in from the bowl.
J'lyn has arrived.

Ceria smiles politely at Kassima and silently observes the card game.

'Lani's replacement card is taken up with no more noise from her than she ever 
  makes. Whether it's a good card or a poor one is impossible to tell from the 
  girl's unwaveringly sober countenance.

J'lyn waves and shakes some snow off his shoulders.

Kindre waves to both Ceria and J'lyn, smiling as she offers, "Good eve," 
  kindly enough. The game of dragonpoker, however, quickly regains her 
  attention.

Maylia attentively watches the game, brow somewhat furrowed, as she tries to 
  assimilate the rules. She makes careful note of who trades in cards, and how 
  many, still rubbing the Bitra mark.

M'rgan hmmphs. "Too bad T'lar isn't around...One it is." With a snap of his 
  wrist he sends Mehlani's replacement card sliding over the table until it 
  lands directly in front of her. Even annoyed, he keeps his skill. Two more 
  to Kassima and he then he pronounces, "And the dealer takes three."

Sanjeet has arrived.
Sanjeet walks towards the inner cavern.
Sanjeet has left.

Ceria smiles at Kindre and then walks over to get a mug of klah. She returns 
  to take a seat near the game so she can watch.

J'lyn wanders over to stand behind Kindre, watching the game and slightly 
  tickling the back of the younger girl's neck. "Who's winning?"

Ceria Emmy takes flight.

Asrai looks over and gives J'lyn a bright smile and a wave of greeting.

Kassima rearranges her cards as she picks up the two replacement, one corner 
  of her mouth twitching downwards ever so slightly. "Evening t'you too, 
  J'lyn... T'lar, Mart?" For all that she might regret asking, she seems too 
  curious about what the brownrider meant by that not to.

Emmy flies off towards the inner cavern.
Emmy has left.

Kindre, surprised by the touch on her neck, giggles before leaning forward out 
  of J'lyn's reach. "I don't think anyone yet...which hand is this? The 
  second," she wonders generally of the players. Spying Sanjeet as he 
  re-enters the cavern, she waves. "All settled in?"

"First," Kassi corrects absently.

"Bets?" M'rgan shakes his head at J'lyn's question, giving Kassima, Kindre, 
  and Asrai a meaningful glance. "I don't think it's going to be me. Well, I 
  can talk about *kilts* with T'lar, Kassi."

Asrai smiles oh so innocently, "Could you talk to K'nan about them to? I wish 
  he'd wear his more often."

R'val chortles, "I don't think he's too fond of kilts, Asrai>"

Kassima flicks a look towards R'val, the one due to start the betting, before 
  nodding sagely to Mart in turn. "Ah, well then. Methinks that's a discussion 
  I'd find intriguing. Y'know how I have a certain interest vested in 
  *kilts.*" Black eyebrows slant upwards, lost beneath her dangling forelock 
  for a moment.

"Or Kiat for that matter," Kindre interjects with a slight grin. Shrugging, 
  she then looks back at J'lyn. "How fares with you this fine eve?"

J'lyn smiles. "I'm okay. How about yourself, fair one?"

Kindre's smile widen a bit. "I'm well enough. Visited Half Circle with T'fian, 
  then conveyed someone to Seacraft. While there, Meroth nabbed another 
  Candidate. A good eve, all in all, I admit."

Asrai nods to R'val, "I know, *sigh* why the last time he wore one was that 
  night by the..umm, nevermind. Its just been a while."

M'rgan's pale blue eyes flick between Kassima, Kindre, and Asrai. "K'tyn? But 
  I thought he...ummm...Never mind." Scooping up his cards again, he buries 
  his nose in them. Too bad his now red ears stick out from behind them.

R'val smirks kknowingly at Asrai, "I'll bet."

Ceria walks towards the inner cavern.
Ceria has left.

"You _need_ to bet now," says Mehlani softly, to R'val. Holl settles himself 
  back a bit on her shoulder, fluttering, his eyes whirling pleasantly blue 
  now.

"He what," Kindre turns back to ask the Reaches brownrider, her brows rising 
  slightly with curiousity. "K'tyn, I mean...hmm, I should be quiet so you all 
  can play, mayhaps."

R'val blinks at Mehlani's reminder and smiles sheepishly, "Oh yes." He tosses 
  in a sixteenth.

Mehlani bobs her head gratefully to R'val, then announces, "I would like to 
  bet a dragon oiling, please."

"He and Kindre have been spending time t'gether lately, going over... 
  Records," Kassi murmurs helpfully to Mart, before she lets a slight sigh 
  escape her. "All right... I'll see it, and raise a thirty-second." She sets 
  the marks down atop the growing pile.

J'lyn slowly bring his hands in front of Kindre and pulls them back, clasping 
  something around her neck.

Kindre, suddenly distracted by something passing in front of her and then the 
  motion she more feels than sees behind her neck, blinks before looking down. 
  Staring at a gold pendant from which a blue stone surrounds a black diamond, 
  she turns around. "Crack...dust...J'lyn? Oh my, what's this for? It's 
  beautiful..."

M'rgan frowns in slight jealousy at Kassima's murmur. "They have, have they?" 
  Mindlessly he shoves a full mark out into the pile, his attention on Kindre 
  and J'lyn. His cards begin to dip forward, starting to show their faces.

J'lyn blushes slightly. "Just... because."

Now that the betting's on, Maylia leans forward again, to watch with interest 
  before she joins the next hand.

Asrai blinks at R'val, then at M'rgan, then at J'lyn and Kin. "Oh my."

Kassima's eyes widen at Kindre's pendant, though she doesn't let her control 
  over her grip on her cards slip. "By the stars and moons, Kin--a lovelier 
  pendant I've rarely seen." She glances appraisingly at J'lyn--then blinks, 
  surprise registering, at Mart's full mark piece. And at his cards. She'd be 
  a fool not to try and get a peek at the latter, but she does have enough 
  honor to nudge the brownrider gently to point out the former. "Mart... 
  that's a full mark, nay a sixteenth."

C'vadan walks in from the bowl.
C'vadan has arrived.

Kindre frowns slightly before noting, "Were doing...uh, records. Seems Igen is 
  more attractive these days," to Kassima, as she can hardly glance from the 
  necklace...or anyone else...besides her friend. "Great Faranth's ghost, 
  J'lyn, this is lovely...simply because? Should I be worried?" Giving him a 
  half-hug while he still stands behind her, she leans back quickly. "This is 
  too kind."

C'vadan makes his way into the living cavern with several small hides he has 
  protected under his overcloak. He shrugs off the outer garment, then sets 
  the hides on a smaller table. Once happy they won't wander away, he waves to 
  those who look towards him.

Mehlani casts a wide-eyed look at the pendant given to Kindre, and her mouth 
  curls up on each end for a moment at the sight of it. Then she looks to 
  R'val and moves a dainty hand over to tap him very lightly on his nearer 
  arm. "You should play your cards now," she says simply.

J'lyn waves to C'vadan.

"Evening, C'vadan," Kindre calls and smiles as the sound of the scrolls 
  distract her gaze briefly from the pendant and J'lyn.

Kassima ahhhhs silently, apparently understanding the meaning behind Kindre's 
  phrase at once. She says no more of it, instead nodding to Cav in a slightly 
  preoccupied salutation.

M'rgan hmms absently at Kassima's words as he's too busy estimating how much 
  just such a pendant would cost versus how much he has in his marks pouch at 
  this moment versus how much Kena might not notice has gone missing. "Oh, 
  right." He glances away long enough to exchange a sixteenth piece for the 
  full mark, finishing his betting.

Asrai frowns as well...then looks rather confused..ah nrmallity achieved once 
  more.

C'vadan makes his way through the crowded living cavern to the serving table, 
  pausing once to chat quietly with D'ered before pouring himself some juice. 
  He grabs a somewhat fresh muffin and heads back to the table, taking a seat 
  and looking at the hides.

J'lyn settles his hands on Kin's shoulders to keep them from shaking, that 
  awful horrible blush still there.

Ceria walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Ceria has arrived.
Ceria comes back in and sits down to observe the game.

Asrai looks up at J'lyn and comments softly, "Its lovely J'lyn."

J'lyn smiles again, the blush deepening (shardit, go AWAY!). "Thanks."

Kindre places one of her hands atop one of J'lyn's as it sits on her shoulder. 
  Eyes still on the piece around her neck, her mouth opens and shuts a few 
  times, not being able to put thoughts into words. Grinning almost dumbly, 
  she looks up. "Where on pern did you find such a piece? I...just don't know 
  what to say."

Asrai sips at her milk, her eyes darting over to M'rgan...for some strange, 
  unkown reason of course.

C'vadan plucks at his lower lip as he reads.

J'lyn smiles. "I've a cousin who's a MasterMiner Jewelrycrafter down South. 
  She does amazing work."

Kassima drums her fingers, long nails clicking lightly against the table's 
  surface. "R'val, 'tis the time for you t'play your cards," she points out 
  helpfully.

"She does, indeed," Kindre agrees with J'lyn, "Please give her my compliments, 
  and again, thank you...I'm truly...well," she chuckles a little bit, "nearly 
  speachless."

J'lyn nods. "Will do." He winks at M'rgan and R'val. "And with a cousin in the 
  jewelry field, you can't imagine the discout," he stage-whispers at them.

J'lyn peers at R'val. "Um, I do believe it's your turn, R'val."

R'val flips his cards, "Mmhmm. I'll bet another sixteenth."
R'val lays down his hand with a grin, "Tah-dah. Three sixs."

M'rgan suddenly sighs as his gaze turns inward for a moment. He smiles a bit 
  thinly at J'lyn, "I'm sure I can't," as he displays his cards, just your 
  basic Hatching, eight high. "Do you think Ularrith would have permission to 
  feed here?" he asks the table at large.

As if she is releasing an insect from her small grasp, or perhaps unfurling a 
  fan, Mehlani neatly turns over her cards, spreading them out for view. She 
  has the Two of Sheaves, the Two of Hammers, the Bronze Dragon, the Brown 
  Dragon, and a Harper.

"I don't see why not," Kindre says with a shrug to M'rgan and smiles a bit as 
  she looks over the cards being laid on the table.

"I've a cousin who's a miner," Kassi observes idly. "She truly does give me 
  marvelous discounts--but I wind up spending enough anyway... oh, certes, 
  Mart. Just nay from... the south field? Isn't that where Tria keeps the 
  breeding stock?"

Lanryi stretches, yawns and heads to to bed. As she passes the croud she 
  mutters sleepily, "Night everyone."
Lanryi walks towards the inner cavern.
Lanryi has left.

Kassima glances at the other hands, and smiles faintly as she turns up her own 
  hand: five, six, seven, and nine of Crafts--and the eight of Weyrs. "A 
  Wedding, I believe," she says ruefully. "One suit short of a Wedding Gather."

C'vadan sips at his juice and starts on the next hide.

M'rgan collects his marks pouch and shoves it into his pocket before he rises 
  from his seat. "South field. Got it." He shakes his head as Kassi displays 
  her hand. "And you talk about my cheating. Too bad that Mehlani's hand beats 
  it. Ularrith isn't that hungry so we shouldn't be gone too long."

Asrai smiles up at M'rgan as he rises, "I think I'll walk out with 
  you..feeding time for the little ones."

M'rgan gathers his now-dry scarf and coat and begins to tug them on. "How old 
  are they now? Two months?"

Mehlani looks around from rider to rider, her brow crinkling, as she says 
  earnestly, "I have a question, please."

"I don't cheat," Kassi states primly, though she grins up at the brownrider in 
  a rueful fashion. "'Tis pure luck. Too bad, indeed. But at least I beat you, 
  and that's enough t'make losing the marks worthwhile... go ahead and ask, 
  Mehlani."

Mehlani inquires guilelessly, "Which of you is going to wash and oil Tzornth?"

Asrai smiles, getting that goofy mother grin on her face, "Month and a half 
  actually. Deeni watches them whenever I need to step out."

Kindre chuckles a bit, her expression having been distant for a few moments. 
  "Don't be surprised if Herath lumbers after him, Mart," she notes with a 
  roll of her eyes. "She ate yesterday, though swears she might be again." The 
  Wingsecond's comment brings a wide grin to her face. "Luck indeed it was. No 
  skill is applicable to poker."

M'rgan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
M'rgan has left.

Holl, looking _quite_ pleased now, croons long and clearly. fluttering to 
  punctuate Mehlani's question, and providing it a chirp by way of period.

Asrai waves to everyone as she departs.
Asrai walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Asrai has left.

Kindre peers up, almost sheepishly, at J'lyn. "You're certain I didn't do 
  anything to deserve this," she wonders with a quiet voice.

J'lyn blushes even deeper, if that's possible. "just being you, Kindre."

Kassima laughs, lifting one shoulder in a good-natured shrug. "Why nay leave 
  that up to Tzornth? Whichever one of us he wants to have oil him should have 
  the honors, 'twould think. 'Tis truth by all means, Kin, but just *try* and 
  get it through his head that there's luck involved in *aught* that he does." 
  She shakes her head, smiling at the old argument.

Mehlani considers this and nods solemnly to Kassima, then blinks after the 
  departed M'rgan, clearly wondering whether the game is over.

Ceria walks towards the inner cavern.
Ceria has left.

"Kindre, J'lyn," Kassi inquires, folding her arms on the table and looking 
  over to the pair, "care t'play in the next hand? Mart was kind enough 
  t'leave his cards here for us t'use, 'twould seem."

J'lyn shakes his head. "Nice of you to ask, but," and as if on cue he yawns, 
  "I must be headed up to bed."

Kindre laughs, nodding to Kassima. "True enough...Mart and the admition of 
  luck will likely never be heard." Another grin is offered up at J'lyn before 
  the Wingsecond's query cause her brows to rise. "I'd love to...oh, are you 
  sure you have to go, J'lyn?"

J'lyn nods. "Aye, it's past this old greenrider's bedtime."

"You are not old," Kindre returns and smiles. "Clear skies, though, and my 
  many thanks again for this lovely gift."

J'lyn
You see before you a tall youngish looking man appearing to be in his early 
  30s. He's actually 38 Turns, 1 months, and 1 days old. He's wearing dark 
  green garments with a heavy gold chain looped around his thick neck, resting 
  across his massive chest. His short dark hair is combed back in dark gentle 
  waves and his deep green eyes sparkle with intensity and humor. In each 
  earlobe glint 2 gold hoops.

Kassima smiles up at J'lyn. "G'night, then. R'val? Maylia? Do either of you 
  want t'be in this hand?"

R'val smiles, "Sure thing, deal me in."

C'vadan calls over one of the candidates and hands the hides to her. "Please 
  make sure these get back to Jerissa. Thank you," he says softly. The young 
  girl promises and rushes off with what must be important documents. Cav 
  smiles at the candidate and then looks over towards the poker game. "Mind if 
  I kibbitz?"

J'lyn smiles and waves. "G'night, all."

C'vadan waves to the old greenrider.

Maylia rubs the mark one last time before edging her seat up to the table. 
  With a nervous smile she nods. "Count me in this time?" Making the statement 
  more of a question.

Kassima asks in surprise as she looks up, "You play poker, Cav? Well, I for 
  one don't mind." Gathering up the cards that the 'Reaches rider left behind, 
  she starts to shuffle for the second hand. "That's five... enough, certes, 
  for a hand. Though you're still welcome t'play if'n you wish it, Maylia."

J'lyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
J'lyn has left.

Ceria walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Ceria has arrived.

Bobbing her head at J'lyn, Mehlani then turns round to see the others 
  gathering for the cards.

C'vadan brings his cup of juice to the table. "Me, Kassi? Nope. Just want to 
  watch is all."

Ceria sits down near Maylia. "You playing?" she inquires.

Kindre slides her chair against the table, pushing one of the vacated ones 
  slightly to the side so she can keep her seat. "You don't play, Cav? 
  Hmm...for some reason I thought you did..."

Maylia nods, and resumes rubbing the mark. If she's not careful all this 
  rubbing might wear it down... "Kassima gave the the mark in return for a 
  sevenday of feeding her swarm."

C'vadan shakes his head at the goldrider. "Nope. Never had the time or someone 
  interested in showing me how, unless they wanted my marks. Found it more 
  expiditious to just hand them over."

Sionelle walks in from the bowl.
Sionelle has arrived.

Ceria smiles at Maylia.

Kassima ahhhs, and shrugs agreeably. "As you wish, Cav...." After a few 
  moments of shuffling, she deals five cards each to herself, Mehlani, Kindre, 
  R'val, and Maylia. The rest of the deck, she sets near her left hand. "The 
  ante's a thirty-second," she announces, dropping an appropriately 
  denominated mark piece in the center of the table.

Kindre chuckles a bit and bobs her head. "I'll gladly teach you. To be true, I 
  likely owe you for those lessons you gave me when we were still candidates." 
  Looking over Maylia for a moment or three, she whistles. "And you live to 
  tell the tale? I'm surprised," she jokes to the Candidate before winking at 
  Kassima as she shuffles. A familiar wrapping of boots, heels thudding 
  purposefully on the caverns floor, turns Kindre's head. "Evening, 
  Weyrlingmaster," she says before even catching sight of the woman. She was 
  trained well to memorize the woman's steps several turns ago.

C'vadan peers over R'val's shoulder. Knowing how important secrecy is in this 
  game, his expression is carefully neutral.

"A morning's chores," antes Mehlani, as she had done for the previous hand.

Sionelle grunts something neutral to the weyrwoman, a wordless sound that's 
  not quite impolite, but hardly charming, either. The weyrlingmaster must be 
  in a good mood.

C'vadan waves to Sionelle, then watches R'val shift his cards around.

"She hasn't fulfilled her part of the deal yet," Kassi remarks in an amused, 
  still somewhat hoarse tone, surveying her cards. "We'll see whether or nay 
  she survives it... g'deve, Weyrlingmaster."

C'vadan gives Mehlani a curious look. "Chores?"

Maylia fishes a thirtysecond piece from her pouch, she does have a few small 
  denomonitions. The piece gets carefully placed in the small pile.

Kindre hmms audibly before looking up. "What's the standard start this eve? 
  Sixteeth of a mark," she wonders after Mehlani offers her wager.

Mehlani bobs her head gravely. "I don't have any marks." She peers over her 
  dealt cards at the table, then appends a trifle bemusedly, "Except those," 
  meaning the ones she'd won the hand before.

Kassima nods to Cav. "Favors may be bet by those without marks," she explains. 
  "Set at an equivalent value to the appropriate wager. A sixteenth is the 
  most you can raise; a thirty-second's the beginning ante."

C'vadan pulls forth his stylus and hidebound book from his pouch and begins 
  taking notes.

"Ah ha," remarks Sionelle, passing by the poker table. "A cut throat game. 
  You'll be ready for Bitra any day now."

"Then a thirty-second it is," Kindre remarks agreeably and fishes a mark from 
  the tiny pouch dangling from her belt. The soft thud of the wood on the 
  table seals her ante. "That was surely our intent, Weyrlingmaster," she says 
  with a smile to the passing Sionelle.

Kassima remarks serenely, "If'n 'twere a cutthroat game 'twere after, ma'am, 
  'twould be in Bitra that we'd be seeking it. 'Tis mainly for the fun of it, 
  this." And, hopefully, to slowly erode the amount of marks in her opponents' 
  pouches down to nothing without risking too many of her own--but Kassi's too 
  diplomatic to mention that part.

Salless shoos the layabouts out of the Living Cavern, getting them out of her 
  way.
Sionelle has left.
Melina has left.
E'ryn has left.

Kassima hrms consideringly at her cards, nudging one over to rearrange the 
  order. "R'val," she notes, "'tis your turn to ante up so that Mehlani can 
  open the betting."

Danton walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Danton has arrived.
Danton stifles a yawn as he comes in, and heads over to the counter to get 
  himself a drink.

C'vadan sees that he won't learn anything quickly from observing R'val so he 
  slides in behind Kindre to watch the goldrider play.

Danton wanders back over, cup in hand, and stops behind Maylia. "Twice in one 
  day?" he teases.

Mehlani's blue gaze settles on R'val, expectantly, and doesn't move from 
  Vidarth's rider. Holl, too, peers steadily at the man.

Kindre peers over her cards towards the caverns door when a the whispering of 
  cold air finds its way to the table. "Eve, Candidate," she calls to Danton 
  before pondering her hand once again. Leaning back a bit to show C'vadan her 
  cards, she smiles. "I'm not very good at this, but know the basics," is 
  admitted with a shrug.

Approximately forty-two fire-lizards, perched all around the room, join 
  Kassima in watching R'val expectantly. "Heya, Danton," the greenrider calls 
  over.

Maylia nods up to Danton, "Sure, trying to learn after all."

C'vadan nods and writes something down. "So, when did you learn this, Kin?" he 
  asks softly.

Danton waves to Kassima, "Heya," he says in reply, then says to Maylia, "You 
  didn't tell me you didn't know how to play earlier."

Various Candidates, riders, residents, Crafters, Weyrbrats, visitors, and 
  other folk within the room start staring at R'val too--just to see what's so 
  interesting about him to rate such watching from the poker players.

Kindre's lips wrinkle a little as she ponders the question posed. "Hmm. I 
  suppose I learned little bits here and there over the past few turns. Mostly 
  from watching and asking questions." Salless, despite being off duty, give 
  R'val a few pokings with her broom. "Dead as those flowers that nice young 
  bronzerider from...where was it again? Ah, Faranth, those flowers he gave 
  me."

Ceria Emmy takes flight.

Makear walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Makear has arrived.

Kassima leans over to murmur to Kindre, watching R'val, "D'you think he's 
  fallen asleep somehow? Perhaps we should try dumping snow down his tunic."

Danton waves to Makear, "Evening," he says.

Ceria greets Makear with a smile.

R'val pulls out a sixteenth, "Ah! There we are." He tosses it in with a 
  sheepish smile, "I had trouble finding that."

Kindre's eyes widen as a mischievious grin curls her mouth slowly. "I think 
  mayhaps you're right...oh, shards," she whispers, "he stirred." She seems 
  slightly let-down, sigh escaping her lips. "You're ante, R'val."

Makear looks about and realizes she must have stumbled upon maybe a game of 
  dragon poker? She smiles to everyone she knows and grabs a mug of cider 
  before sitting in the back to view what happens, since she's never played 
  before.

One can not believe how many riders and others in the living cavern run 
  towards the bowl to get the snow,. then sigh in unison as R'val antes.

R'val eyes the many riders, "Do it, and I'll flirt with every one of you."

Mehlani, as R'val makes his ante, bobs her head in mute satisfaction. "I would 
  like to bet a second washing of a dragon, please," she murmurs.

Kassima simply nods in response, and looks to Mehlani. "Your bet now, lass."

One wouldn't believe now just how many riders and others in the living cavern 
  frantically scramble for an excuse to leave the room. Some don't even try 
  and give a reason: they just flee, as fast as their legs can carry them.

C'vadan ahs at Kindre.

Ceria smiles slightly as she watches the dragonpoker game.

Kassima smiles, bobbing her head in assent. "Fair enough... Kin?"

Danton raises one eyebrow, and says, "Oho. Serious stakes."

Kindre mock-shudders at R'val threat. "Now there's an evil challenge if ever I 
  heard one," she teases before reaching for another mark to even her ante. 
  "First we get our cards, then bet whatever the minimum is...we get to trade 
  in a few cards as well, though only up to three unless you've an ace." 
  Bobbing her head to Kassima, she grins. "Fair enough to me."

C'vadan stifles a yawn.

Kassima laughs, shaking her head and gesturing towards the mark pile. "What I 
  meant was, 'tis your turn t'be betting! You've got a dragon washing to meet 
  with a favor or mark of equal value."

R'val winks at Kindre, "You heard it, Kindre, so watch it." He teases.

C'vadan puts his writing things away. "Early sweeps tomorrow. See everyone 
  later."

Mehlani bobs her head solemnly to C'vadan.

Kassima takes one hand from her cards to wave to Cav. "Sleep well, Cav, and 
  g'night."

Kindre, the mark still in her closed palm, chuckles. "Oops," she says with a 
  grin and puts it in the pile, "Another thirty-second will match, won't it? 
  Oh," she turns to C'vadan, "Good eve, then, Cav."

Ceria nods at the departing rider.

C'vadan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
C'vadan has left.

"I *think* that a washing's rated at a sixteenth... but I'm nay certain," 
  Kassi readily admits. "Mehlani?"

The quiet girl with the bronze fire lizard bobs her head soberly to Kassima.

Kassima grins and nods, green eyes travelling back to Kindre. "A sixteenth, 
  then, unless you care t'raise?"

Kindre frowns slightly and pulls her second thirty-second mark from the pile, 
  replacing it with a sixteeth. "No, no...this'll be fine," she says and 
  smiles.

Kassima leans back in her chair, holding her cards close so that none may see 
  them. The chair begins to tip backwards, balanced precariously by the 
  greenrider who occupies it. "Maylia? Your go, methinks 'tis. And then yours 
  after that, R'val."

Maylia nods, and fumbles in her pouch, pulling out the last peices in it. She 
  picks out two thirtysecond peices leaving not much save for the mark she's 
  habitually rubbing, and sets them in the pile. "It's a sixteeth, now, right?"

Danton taps the back of Maylia's chair to get her attention, and says, "I'm 
  off. Good luck. Tomorrow we'll teach you how to mark the deck." He grins 
  wickedly, and waves before heading off.

R'val nods his head to Kassi, tossing in a sixteenth, "There. I see the bet."

"Nay Mart's deck, you'll nay be marking!" Kassi yells after the departing 
  Candidate. "He's got too many advantages as 'tis! Aye, Maylia... well, I'll 
  see that and raise a thirty-second. Discards?"

Maylia gives Danton a confused look, growing to a smile as she comprehends 
  what he said.

Danton walks towards the inner cavern.
Danton has left.

'Lani peeks at her cards, then peeks at the marks on the table, then back at 
  her marks. "Two please," she murmurs, offering forth two of her cards.

Kassima reaches out to slide the cards across the table, flipping Mehlani two 
  new ones which land neatly face-down in front of her.

Kindre snorts at Danton's remark before an impish grin curls her lips. "You 
  know, I may have to get myself a deck and have that Candidate to show me 
  this marking thing." Placing a single card upon the table, intertwining 
  green and blue dragons on its back the only side seen, she says, "I'd like 
  one, please."

Maylia chews on her lower lip, poker face? What's that? And discards two, 
  neatly placed together on the table, with a quiet "Two please."

"Never use a marked deck," Kassi quotes as she tosses Kin her replacement 
  card, "lest your opponents learn your secret and use it against you... so 
  Aunt Tariani always told me. She was born in Bitra, so she knows these 
  things." Maylia receives her two cards as well, the rejects placed under the 
  remnants of the deck.

R'val puts down three cards and murmurs, his expression thoughtful, "Three, 
  please."

One, two, three cards are handed to R'val, and Kassi takes two for herself. 
  "Two for the dealer," she declares so that the others will know. "Go ahead 
  and bet, Mehlani."

Mehlani's gaze shifts from cards to marks and back again, once more. She 
  finally states, "A morning's chores."

Kassima queries, "That's a thirty-second's worth, if'n memory serves aright?"

Kindre's lips wrinkle, a fashion those familiar with her would recognize as 
  the woman being in thought. "That's a thirty-second, is it not," she wonders 
  after a bit of quiet pondering over her cards. "If so, I'll match it," she 
  says while adding to the pile.

Makear silently watches the game with rept attention as she thinks she sees 
  how it is played. She takes a sip of cider and edges closer, trying to see 
  who is wining.

Mehlani bobbobs her head to both Kassima and Kindre. On her shoulder, Holl 
  coos, resting his head atop hers.

Maylia takes a deep breath, and looks from Mehlani to Kindre to what's left of 
  the contens of her pouch. She flips one thirtysecond peice to the pile, 
  leaving only one more save the full mark. "I'll match that."

Ceria yawns and stands up. "Goodnight," she murmers as she leaves.

Emmy has left.
Ceria smiles as Emmy flies over and lands on her shoulder.

Ceria walks towards the inner cavern.
Ceria has left.

"R'val," Kassi states, looking now towards the bluerider. "Your turn. Match, 
  raise, or fold?"

R'val smiles and pushes two sixteenths forward, "I'll see it, and raise."

"I'll say," Kassi quips, looking at the amount on the table. She plucks a 
  thirty-second from the pot and tosses it to R'val. "The most you can raise 
  is a sixteenth, so you're a thirty-second above what y'need t'be. I...." 
  Glancing down at her cards, she mulls over her choices for a second. "I'll 
  see it," she finally decides. She drops the appropriate marks into the pot. 
  "Now t'see who wins all of this."

"These are my cards," announces Mehlani, turning her cards over unobtrusively. 
  A Gather of Dragons: the three, the four, the seven, the eight, and the nine.

R'val makes a face, "Oh fine, I'll only raise a sixteenth. I've such a bad 
  head for these things."

A corner of Kindre's lips curls downward at R'val's added bet. More of a 
  curious, debating expression than mere frown, she rearranges the cards 
  sitting in her palm. Nodding to Kassima, she equals the bet before lying 
  down her cards. "Crackdust...I've a simple Wedding." The five and six of 
  dragons lye beside the seven, eight, and nine of hammers.

Kassima wrinkles her nose, setting her cards down with a sigh. "Conclave." 
  Indeed, she has the five of Weyrs, the five of Hammers, the five of Sheaves, 
  the Weyrleader, and the Apprentice.

Maylia stops chewing on her lip, placing her hand down. Pushing her hand apart 
  to display the cards, just a Journeyman of Crafts and Wingsecond of Weyrs, 
  with the eight of Weyrs, and the three and the four of Holds.

Or rather, since there can't be two fives of dragons in a deck, the ten of 
  each suit instead. :)

"Impression," Kassi declares, looking at Maylia's hand. "Unless R'val's hand 
  beats a Gather, this round's Mehlani's too."

Kindre murmurs something about young women being in bed by such a late hour as 
  this, though likely it goes unheard, as she chuckles good-naturedly through 
  it.

R'val chuckles dryly and spreads his cards with a flourish, "A hand of empty 
  air is what I have." He presents his hand. Not even a pair.

Mehlani blushes, just a hint, her mouth curling up on each end shyly. "I 
  should go to bed now," she announces, handing her cards to Kassima.

Kassima laughs and nudges the pile of marks towards Mehlani, smiling ruefully 
  at the girl. "Methinks, lass, that you'd make waves in Bitra; whoever your 
  teacher is should be commended." Gathering up the cards again, she lets her 
  smile broaden into a grin. "Tell us who pays off which bets when 'tis 
  decided, eh?"

Mehlani smiles shyly once more and bobs her head to Kassima, carefully 
  scooping up the marks and murmuring to all, "Thank you very much." On her 
  shoulder, Holl croons happily, and with that, the lass slips quietly out 
  into the Bowl.

"On a winning streak," Kindre wonders with slightly widened eyes. "Well, you 
  played marvelously, from what I saw. True enough! I'm agree with Kassi on 
  that. You have a good night, lass, 'kay?"

[End log.]