Lapgaggle Artistry

Log Info

• Title: Cogswallow and Tibbins
• Emitter: Sabina
• Characters: Aya, Linwen, Sabina, Ygraine
• Place: A08: Northern Highbridge Over Tornmawr River and Shipping Channel
• Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 1:10 PM
• Summary: Having agreed to meet Sabina for some practice sketching, not only does Ygraine find that Sabina has had an all-too-close encounter with a plague-ooze, but that soap and lye are viable weapons against the magical horrors. A dripping-wet Irshya squabbles with Sabina's peacock for a spot in the picture (and on the Tarienite's lap), before Aya arrives to add to the exotic mix of potential subjects. All in all, a memorably strange first afternoon as an aspiring artist in Alexandria!

-=--=--=<* A08: N. Bridge Over Tornmawr River and Shipping Channel *>-=--=--=-

The Northern Highbridge is immense, a marvel of modern-day artifice and engineering. Carefully cut granite blocks form four evenly spaced arches across the placid waters below, with cantilevered wooden bridge sections set into the stonework. On each side of the moving bridge sections are two crane-like contraptions made of iron attached to thick chain extending down to the bridge's surface. These contraptions appear to raise and lower the center of the bridge, to allow for greater and larger ships to move through Alexandria. These levers are controlled from tiny structures set into the stone, off the main causeway.

The Northern Highbridge is not the only way to cross the river. There are other bridges further south and there are ferries, but it is certainly the most impressive way. A sister bridge, identical, lies to the south.

On the eastern and western sides of the great 200 foot span of the bridge are two low, squat, well-constructed guardhouses. These structures obviously serve a defensive purpose, allowing access to be controlled by the troops stationed there.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Particpants --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Aya             Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.            37s  1h
Irshya          A small, blue-skinned Goblin in sea-green robes.      1m   1h
Sabina          Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes              5s   2h
Ygraine         Athletic young woman: rapier-armed Ceinaran           0s   2h

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Another beautiful day in the city. The heat has been climbing over the last few days, the humidity coming and going as well as a few showers. The sky is a wonder of puffy clouds and blue backdrop. The sun bright.

Bina is on her way to meet Ygraine for her sitting for the practicing artist. However she is not her chipper self. Missing is the mask she normally wears and her bird walks along side her rather then apon her shoulder. The priestess is pale, almost grey in color, with brow perspiring. In one hand she carries a vial, the other hand a rag.

She still manages a smile as she first sees Ygraine, a weak wave as well.

Ygraine has posted herself near the highest point of the Northern Higbridge - using the structure itself to grant welcome shade, while retaining a largely-unhindered view of the sunlit vista. She has a new-looking leather satchel slung on one shoulder, and an air of cheerily nervous apprehension... at least until she catches sight of her friend. Swiftly, her expression turns to one of open concern, and she hurries forward to meet the Tarienite.

"Do you need healing? Something else?"

Red eyes peer up at Ygraine, or what can be seen of her, and a blue and green dripping monster begins the slow ascent of the many stairs leading up to the bridge from the beach below. At length, and a little out of breath, the Gobbo peers at Ygraine and Sabina from the stairwell, laying in wait. Dun dun dun.

The sickly Sabina shakes her head and waves a hand side to side. "No healing please. I'm afraid that would only make things worse. I managed to have a plauge ooze travel up my nose."She shudders and looses her sile for a brief moment. "But I still have my life. So.. where did you want me to stand or sit?" she asks brightly.

It is safe to say that Ygraine looks more than a little shocked. "I... good grief. Would, err, a restoration help, perhaps? Revivify you a little, without... directly combatting anything? And... are you well enough to cope with this?" For the time being, she remains too thoroughly distracted to register the potential for an imminent shark-attack.

The little blue-green shadow darts along the edge of the bridge, and makes itself known to Ygraine by a squeak, followed by a wet and physical bump. Irshya clings to Ygraine's side. "Ygraine! Binabina!", she says loudly, but cheerfully.

The blue-green shadow's appearance and loudness cause the blue and green bird at Bina's side to call out loudly and open it's fan of feathers. Bina is startled, cluching hold of the vial even tighter for a heartbeat and then relaxing into a smile and soft chuckle. "Hello, Irshya." she greets the gobbo quietly. "No.. resorations do not work. In fact I would likely procede to vomit forth another ooze. So please.. no magics apon me. If someone does cast something apon me and a ooze appeaers. Use only blunt weapons, fire or soap to get rid of it."

Ygraine lets slip a startled yelp... but after a moment she laughs, reaching down to pat warmly at Irshya's shoulder, before attempting to crouch down and give the soggy little goblin a more equal hug. Still, much of her attention remains on Sabina. "Fire it is, then, if I need to help out. I should probably make sure to acquire a good mace, for when blunt weaponry is required. But my Lady grants me the ability to conjure fire, when needed."

The Gobbo is part way up Ygraine's side before the woman can being to hug, and Irshya laughs, enjoying the contact. She does wiggle free after a short bit, turning to look to Sabina. Irshya's expression is sad for a brief moment, before she shuffles over to hug at Sabina's waist. "Binabina sick? Irshya heard of plague. Is curable. Need to find strong priest. They can cure Binabina. No be worried. Binabina will be fine."

Bina hugs the wet gobbo with more laughter. "I will, Irshya, in time." She then runs fingers through the wet hair, trying to straighten it out. "No magic fire, Ygraine. Only non-magical as it eats magic." She hands the vial she has over to Ygraine. "Use this. Pure lye. Poisonus however. Don't get it your eyes." She shrugs then and smiles once more. "Where do you want me? Posing for an artist is not stressful and something I can manage today."

"Not even...? Gah." Ygraine carefully accepts the vial, eyeing it dubiously for a moment, before neatly tucking it away into a belt-pouch. "Thank you. For the warnings, as well as that little dose of delight." The Ceinaran straightens up to full height again, finding a wry smile as she watches Irshya provide her uniquely soggy reassurance to Sabina. "If you're sure that you want to go ahead with me trying to improve my - exceedingly limited - artistic skills, then I will be very glad of your assistance. Both your aid, in fact, if you want to share a picture. I was thinking of positioning you in the shade, or at least where the sun won't be in your eyes. And where we can avoid blocking passers-by..."

Irshya squeaks at the feel of fingers running through her hair, and she squirms free from Sabina's embrace. "Irshya hear it only eat a little magic. It burns, but magic is sucked in. Taken away. Real fire better, yes!" She bounces up and down a few times, and then stands on tiptoe to pat at Sabina's upper arm. "Binabina has strong spirit."

Turning to Ygraine, the Gobbo's eyebrows rise up a little. "Ygraine is doing arts?"

The Tarienite gives Ira another smile and then nods to Ygraine. "That sounds lovely." she says before raising the rag to her mouth and coughing into it. She then looks about for a likely enough spot and points to it. "There? or somewhere else?"

"Yes, I'm going to be doing arts. Or trying to, anyway," Ygraine smilingly assures Irshya. "Would you like to be part of it? I should warn that I'm *really* not much good! And perhaps we can find somewhere for Sabina to sit, so that this is as easy as possible for her..."

"Paintings?", the Gobbo wonders. "Ygraine is painting?" Irshya quivers with excitement, and looks to Sabina. "Binabina should find a comfortable place to settle. Irshya hear that paintings can take years."

Humid, warm, and still. Another glorious late spring day along, or in this case over, the Tornmwar. How delightful. The major redeeming factor is the fact that the haze filters some of the sun overhead. Through this, Aya move across the bridge from the western bank and lower city, likely destined for the east.

Bina laughs loudly at this. "Years? Goodness. I suppose I should find a place to sit. But I can't sit for years. I believe that I can give Ygraine most of the day however." She moves over to the selected spot and then spreads out her dress and slowly lowers herself down to sit with her back to the railing of the bridge. He bird then takes this moment to hop into her lap, tail feathers towards Ygraine.

Bina spies Aya moving by and waves without much energy. "Morning, Aya."

"I am afraid that I am just intending to *try* some preliminary sketching," Ygraine laughingly assures Sabina and Irshya (and perhaps Lord Empy). "I doubt that *anyone* would want to commission me to create a painting that might take years to produce... though perhaps by the end of that time, I might have picked up a moderate amount of skill. As it is, I fear that I am a rank amateur, and quite, quite unworthy of my fascinaing and lovely subjects."

The Ceinaran grins, winking impishly as she offers a flourishing bow to her fellow clergywomen - the unfamiliar Aya receiving no more than a curious glance and a polite smile, for now. "Quite apart from anything else, we have researches to return to. With luck, we might manage to make sense of some of the great wealth of information that is tucked away in various places in the city..."

Irshya stares at the peacock that hops into Sabina's lap, and then the Gobbo moves to occupy the said same lap. "Birdie would look better standing on ground.", the Gobbo says. She pushes at the large bird with her forehead, to nudge the bird out of the woman's lap.

Aya dips her head to wearily(?) waving Sabina in acknowledgement as she approaches. "It is. It remains to be seen whether it will be a good morn-" Her words pause and an brow arches as she notes first the bird, then the blue gobber shark seem intent to use Sabina as a nesting spot. "You may need to sit for years, if just to nurture your lap to grow large enough for all parties interested..."

Bina bursts out into laughter again as Emp gives angry cry and pecks at Irshys' head. She laughs until she coughs. Normally at first and then voilently and she covers her mouth with the rag again. Still smiling she picks up Emp and cradles him in her arms like a babe with the feathers spilling over her arm and down. "Easy.. you two. Emp can have an arm and Irshya can have lap."

The young Eldanar can't help but laugh, shaking her head as she grins at the scene before her. "You really do *love* being held in a lap, don't you?", she cheerily asks Irshya. Then she looks to the new arrival, and offers a somewhat playful bow. "Ygraine Penlew, neophyte artist and adherent of Ceinara, at your service."

The Gobbo acks and ows as the bird pecks at her, but she succeeds in sprawling into Sabina's lap, made easier by the fact that the peacock is cradled in the woman's arms. The now basking Irshya rests her chin upon Sabina's knee, and looks to the woman. "Irshya sorry for Binabina's cough.", she says softly. Glancing to Ygraine, she shrugs. "Is perfectly sized for Irshya." Her eyes flick towards Aya, and the Gobbo grins toothily. "Lap is big enough."

Aya's head and eyes shift to Ygraine before she returns the bow with a simple nod. "A pleasure." Her glance returns to Irshya briefly, one corner of her mouth curling upwards. "So it seems. For now. Another may come along and wish to join any moment."

Ygraine giggles again, arching a brow - perhaps imagining Aya joining the War of the Lap - before she moves to take up position, and quickly start extracting her sketching implemenets from that new satchel she's carrying.

Irshya squints at Aya for a moment, her grin broadening further, the sherk-teeth in full view. "Irshya's lap.", she says with a little growl. "Lady can find another." She snorts then, and giggle lightly. The gobbo eyes Ygraine's movements and watches curiously.

Emp reaches his head down and pecks again at the top of Irshya's head. Bina opens her eyes to tsk at teh bird. "Enough, Emp. It's ok." The bird resettles itself unhappily. "Are you telling me my thighs are oversized, Irshya?"SHe says sleepily and with humor. And then to Aya, "Who did you have in mind for vying for seating rights?"

Ygraine giggles, shaking her head as she grins happily at the others. Conversation, however, she eschews for the time being - intent on actually making at least a *brief* attempt at a sketch, while something less than full chaos has broken out before her.

The Gobbo squeaks again as the bird pecks at her, and she shows her teeth to the peacock. "Irshya remind birdie that it would be good roasted with herbs. Birdie has Binabina cuddles. Irshya have lap." She snorts again, and chuckles, trying remain still so that Ygraine's sketch won't be blurry.

"I've no idea who might arrive next," Aya notes with a roll of one shoulder to Sabina and/or Lord Emp and/or Irshya... whom shall hereafter be referred to as 'The Lapgaggle.' "Stranger events have occurred in this city."

Settling into her chosen spot, Ygraine props up her sketchpad and gets to work - sneaking frequent peeks over the top of the page, smiling happily to herself (and at Sabina and the lapgaggle) throughout.

Irshya peers at Aya a moment and shrugs. "City is strange. Make ocean seem almost placid.", she says, before glancing to Ygraine, again eyeing her as she sketches. "Ygraine painting with charcoal?"

Cracking a grin, Ygraine nods and shrugs to the curious little goblin. "Sort of. Drawing. Or sketching. I'm not using paint. But this is an attempt to see if I can capture any sort of image I'm remotely happy with."

"Ygraine draw on people, sometimes? Or just on... on... paper?", the Gobbo wonders. "Like mask Binabina has?" Irshya's feet come up and begin to swing back and forth slowly. "Irshya make shrine to Rada. Near water pool in God house part of city."

"I haven't drawn on people, no. Not in the sense of making tattoos, at least - the permanent markings some people have on their skin?" Ygraine cocks her head, smiling at Irshya. "And you have made a shrine? I'm glad. Would you mind if I came to see it?"

"Irshya would be happy. Ygraine can receive blessings of Rada. Maybe give offerings." Irshya grins brightly. "Tattoos? Ah, sailormen have those, yes? No, Irshya mean like... painted faces. Colours fancy women use."

"Ahhhh!" Ygraine laughs, nodding. "Make-up. Yes, I can apply make-up, though I am not a great artist in that regard. But yes, tattoos are quite common among sailors, yes. And I would be delighted to receive blessings there."

"Ygraine can give blessings of Naranara! Irshya would be pleased." The Gobbo's broadens. "Binabina could give blessings of Taratara!" Irshya laughs and stretches out a little in Sabina's lap. "Is nice out today."

"Were you swimming again, before you came up here?", Ygraine asks with a smile. "You seemed rather wet, when you hugged me." And she certainly hopes that it came from the river rather than most other potential sources in the city.

The Gobbo's cheeks mottle a deep lavender and she looks away a moment. "Yes. Irshya chase fish. Catch fish. Eat fish."

"Not a huge one too big for you, this time?", Ygraine enquires. "I'm glad."

Irshya laughs then, glancing back to Ygraine. "Not so big as the last time.", she says, her cheeks still lavender, though it is fading. "Irshya still hungry. Will fish again after sketchings."

"I could take you for a meal in a tavern, if you would like to have some cooked food," Ygraine offers, venturing another smile.

Her expression is one of shyness, and she looks away again. "Irshya like food places. Irshya have no coin. Irshya no like having others buy for her all the time."

"You can consider it a fee, for sitting for an artist. Many people get paid to do that sort of thing," Ygraine points out encouragingly.

She seems to consider that for a time, and peers at Ygraine. "Irshya not much of a subject.", she says with a low chuckle. "Too fidgety."

"I suppose that I will have to have you sit for me frequently, so that you can get in more practice, then," the Ceinaran cheerfully averrs.

The Gobbo sticks out her tongue, a light blue thing which appears to be split at the tip. "Irshya would try.", she says softly. "But maybe inside? Less people to wonder what happening."

"We can certainly do indoor portraits. I admit that I hadn't expected to draw more people than Sabina. And Lord Empy, of course!" Ygraine grins. "But surprises can be a very good thing, Ceinara teaches."

"With Rada, surprises can be very bad.", the Gobbo states. "Weather nice sometimes, and bad sometimes. Why people should give offerings on trips."

Ygraine nods sympathetically. "When it comes to art and inspiration, Ceinara encourages us to embrace opportunity and chance. If we do nothing but what is safe and easily repeated, in *our* field, then we will struggle to create works of great meaning or beauty. Not, I admit" - she eyes her sketchpad - "that I am in much danger of creating any great works of art, myself."

"Irshya would try painting. But does not know how. Or have any paints or papers." She looks over to Ygraine. "Would probably make a mess."

"I would be delighted to help you learn," Ygraine happily assures her. "I am only a beginner myself."

"Ygraine sketched before she knew Naranara? Or only after? Did Naranara chose Ygraine for her potential?" The Gobbo goes silent a moment as she suddenly stretches at length and yawns silently. "Weather is making Irshya sleepy."

"I did a little drawing, as a girl. I was trained, at least basically, in an array of 'ladylike accomplishments'. But I lack much talent, I fear. But yes, you sleep, and I shall draw."

Bina wakes slowly, raising her head bit by bit. Her eyes peel open a crack as a cool breeze drifts by. She finds Emp asleep in her arms and a gobblin asleep on her lap. Groggily she turns her head to look for others.

Ygraine is still present, sketching away - and grinning when she sees Sabina stir. "It seems that I have found a marvellous new way to send companions to sleep."

The Tsuran woman smiles and shakes her head. "Nay. I am having trouble finding energy to do simple things. The comfortable closeness of two others.. a warm day in the shade. All combined it dragged me down to sleep without much effort. " A quiet laugh, "I feel terrible and wonderful at the same time."

"I can imagine," Ygraine says sympathetically. "And you do have a very snuggly sleepy goblin there, as well as Lord Empy. I wish that I had the talent to capture the scene properly!"

"Talent is gained through work and a passion within the heart." Bina says softly. "Your heart is full, I think. Only the work remains and here you are doing that work. It will come. I believe it." She yawns and sets about combing the ragged locks of Irshya until the gobblin fusses in her sleep.

Giggling, Ygraine smiles fondly at the participants in the unusual little scene. "Thank you. I hope that you are right, and that I can find some genuine competence. Ceinara does not require her clergy to be notably accomplished... but we do have to try to pick up at least rudimentary competence in *some* field of artistic endeavour."

"And Tarien does not demand that we play pranks or be obnoxious. Yet somehow many of our priests manage to go far beyond the call of duty. To far." Bina says with a coughing chuckle. "For some reason I feel little call to prank when I could use words instead."

Nodding as she grimaces slightly, Ygraine chuckles. "Our little friend's Lady" - she nods to Irshya - "can be a signal patron of nobility and travel... or be hailed as the patroness of wreckers and stormcrows. My own Lady certainly has some... selfish individuals in her service, for whom vanity might be considered among the least of their moral failings. But I am a judgemental Eldanar, of course."

"The gods are indeed gods. But they all seem to come from 'human' understanding and natures. The best of persons can have bad sides or bad moments. The gods are no different. And as lesser reflections the priests are even moreso." She gives Ygraine her tired smile and shrugs softly. "Heavens forbid there be a judgemental Eldanar! Whatever shall the world do?"

Ygraine grins happily, then sticks her tongue out. Unlike Irshya's earlier, hers is neither split nor blue. "I certainly feel that I am never going to manage to live up to the impacts - for good and ill - that my ancestors had upon the world. But I do want to try to share at least a little niceness and joy, where I can."

"And that is why I like you, Ygraine. You wish to share niceness and joy. Many many people do not. I myself am a selfish soul. I want everyone around me to be happy so that I can find it easier to smile and find my own joy. Sad but true.." She says getting more and more quiet as her eyes drift towards closed again.

Laughing self-consciously, Ygraine blushes as she ducks her head. "Thank you. And I do hope that we can both succeed in making those around us happy," she says quietly, smiling as she watches her friend doze off.