Aethelred, Dangerfloof, the Bearded Vulture arrive, following Freja.

Serenity, Drysi, a young shaman apprentice, Champ, a pygmy goat of excellence arrive, following Khanne.

Ender, a Silver Gyrfalcon, Ursa arrive, following Marian.

There is a bit of a buzz around the bar as people are getting their free drinks. Cirroch is standing wearing a crisp white coat and shirt and crimson red pants and is standing around a crowd of people introducing himself to them. "Welcome! Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach," he says, his voice deep and booming. "Have a drink on me and get comfortable!"

"It would appear we are neighbors in the ward then." Freja arrives and approaching Cirroch, offers her hand for a shake of greeting. "Marquessa Freja Nightgold, nee Redrain. Voice of the North. A pleasure." She glances around and poses the inquiry, "...you do realize what new hell you may have wrought for yourself with this concept of 'free', right?"

Khanne walks in just behind Freja, smiling at Cirroch and waving at him as she does. "Hello there! I heard free... and drink... and well, here I am!" She grins at the Marquis. "Good to see you again."

Marian arrives in tow with Freja and Khanne, minus her daughter who was given to her nursemaid before she went to the bar. She approaches the big man in question, "Greetings Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach. I am Princess Marian Redrain, sister in law to this one..." She points to Freja, "Because I married her brother, Prince Fergus." She gives a half smile and then gets herself one of those free drinks.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

Cirroch lets out a belly laugh as he takes Freja's hand pulling her closer and shaking her hand. "Well met, my friend. Yes, I hope not to start a riot," he says with a smile. He then turns to Khanna and bows his head. "Ah yes, Lady Khanne. It is good to see you, too! I was planning to reach out to you soon," he says smiling before turning toward Marian. He bows a little toward her. "Well met, Your Highness," he says with a genuine smile. "I hope is all well, with you three. I am newly returned to Arx, as you might've heard."

"It isn't a riot so much as...well, it reminds me of an old joke. At a Northern wedding once a speech was made and with a tear in her eye, the best woman told all the men to stand next to the person who had meant the most to them in their lives." Freja grins, pausing a beat. "The bartender was almost crushed to death."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

Khanne chuckles at Freja's joke. "Was that at your wedding?" She grins and winks as she walks over to Cirroch to clap him on the back. "Making yourself at home then? It was good to see you at the party." She turns to the bartender then and says, "the usual, please."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

Marian lets the bartender get her a drink as well and then tells Cirroch, "Well...it is nice to meet you finally." Since her previous life had her in House Valardin and not Redrain, "I shall drink for your return." She gives him a quick toast and takes a drink, "I never heard that joke Freja."

Cirroch grins widely at Freja while she tells her joke and at the punchline fills the bar with his laugh. "An old one but a good one," he says. He looks toward Khanne and nods. "I have. I went to the Sip'n Spar last night and got my ass handed to me by a petite woman without armor using hairpins," he admits with a twinkle in his eye. "I couldn't land a blow." He raises his drink back to Marian and takes a sip of his whiskey.

"No, sadly my wedding was entirely sober." Freja teases Khanne. "For the most part and the small bit of it I attended. I don't bathe in buckets of whisky, contrary to the popular belief..." she defended with a glass of whisky in her hand. "And that...is humiliating. I'm sorry, but perhaps she just knows what she is doing? Small and quick!"

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

Reese arrives in the bar while adorned in pink and toting along her weapons. She peeks over the bar, trying to get a sense for who is gathered here.

Khanne grins at Cirroch, lifting her glass when Marian makes a toast. She takes a sip, then asks the man, "was she blonde?" She nudges him with her elbow. "Don't take it too hard. There's a few tiny squirrelly things in town."

Marian raises a brow at the mention of hair pins, "Hair pins...hmmm, I don't think I've fought anyone lately with hair pins. Did you happen to catch her name?" She does look curious at the identity of the mystery fighter.

"Oh yes, she is as nimble as ever," Cirroch nods. "I don't take anything away from Lady Joslyn. That was her name. Lady Joslyn Stonewood. She is quite the dualist. I'm slow and soft," he says with a smile. Cirroch is standing near the bar with Freja, Khanne and Marian gathered around him at a tall tabletop. They each have drinks.

Ryder the falcon arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

Ryder the falcon arrives, delivering a message to Fergus before departing.

"Ah, the Lady who was not originally a Lady?" Freja asks after Joslyn. "Can't tell if I recall her name or not...so many of them these days. Hairpins sticks out though." a terrible pun, but honest all the same.

Ryder the falcon arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

Reese has recently arrived inside the bar when a bird zooms over and gives her a message. The same falcon drops off a message with Fregus and Freja as well. "Oh, I know her." Reese, likely commenting on Joslyn.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

Khanne nods and says, "she's pretty tough, I hear. Only become more so since being ennobled." She nods, taking a drink of her whiskey.

Marian grins when he brings up Lady Joslyn, "Ahh, I knew that she was an amazing crafter but I didn't realize she could also fight with hairpins." She shakes her head and takes a sip of her drink, "I shall have to keep that in mind." She adds a side comment, "She's working on my new bear armor. I'm looking to see how it comes out."

"I don't know her life story," Cirroch says with a shrug. "I just know how she fights." He looks toward Reese and bows his head. "Welcome. Come get comfortable and get a free drink. I'm Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach. Newly returned to Arx." He gives her a genuine smile and raises his glass to her.

Damn bird. Fergus wasn't the only person it hit, practically throwing messages around. He had just arrived, standing in the door way, looking for the message that had been given to him. Reads it over, makes a slight sucking sound through his teeth before continuing forward inside.

Freja unfolds her letter and quirks a brow, glancing aside to Fergus. "You care to handle this one for House Redrain? Darren is busy and I am fucking slammed enough as it is with our other defenses." She tosses back the rest of her whiskey before giving her brother a one-armed hug and peck on the cheek.

Reese gets another message, she reads such over and then gives Freja a smile for some reason. It almost looks like she is up to something. Maybe the message was about her! Reese as no poker face. She then turns to Cirroch, giving him a smile that touches her blue eyes. "Oh, I am Princess Reese, nice to meet you and thank you." She says, drawing close. She seems lured by the booze and shamelessly takes a free glass of such.

Marian is standing at the bar, giving her husband an eyeful before telling Freja in a teasing voice, "Well if Darren would get around to making my military diplomat status official then maybe I could help you with some of that." She gives a wink to her sister law, "Till then, I guess I just get to be a pretty princess."

"General Reese?" Cirroch asks cocking his head to the side as he looks to Reese. "I just meet your Crown Princess and was going to ask about you but she had to bolt. I am interested in hearing about your campaign into the Gray Forest. I had heard terrible stories.

Ryder the falcon arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

"

"Military diplomat status what now? Do you mean a Minister? I'd have to check with him before I would make anything official myself." Freja shares to Marian. Reese gets a narrowing of her eyes. "What..are you up to that you're looking at me like that for?"

Ryder the falcon arrives, delivering a message to Fergus before departing.

"I am General Reese." Reese says in response to Cirroch. "I can talk to you about the missions." She adds in his direction. "What terrible stories have you heard?" She questions gently, before looking over to Freja. "Oh it..." She says and then finally gives up on any attempt to lie. "I just had someone volunteer to make the gift for you. You will probably like it, but I can't tell you what it is or who is making it."

Khanne nods and smiles to Cirroch. "I went with Reese on a trip or two. I would have told you about her as well. She's good at what she does, for sure."

"Why are we gifting me gifts?" Freja asks, a little wary and incredulous of the offer. Paranoid, much?

Marian nods thoughtfully at Freja's words, "It's fine. I'm sure he'll get around to it when he can." She then finishes up her drink and then slips out s the bar starts getting busy. She gives her husband a quick peck on the way out the door as she waves goodbye to her host.

"Why you looking at me like that." Fergus grunts, stepping over towards Marian. "Sorry I'm late, Nia was throwing a damn fit." A glance at the rest of those gathered around the table. A nod. Then back to his wife. "You leaving just as I get here? What did I do this time."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

"Well, stories best left for later, perhaps," Cirroch says looking around at all those gathered. Cirroch stands at a hightop near the bar and most of those gathered around him have free drinks. He waves to Marian. "It was nice meeting you." He looks toward Fergus and bows his head. "Welcome. I'm Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach. Have a drink on me," he says to him and whoever else is newly arrived. Introductions all over the place.

Reese looks over to Freja. "I am just planning a little awards celebration. I know that peace in the forest is a tentative and shaky thing, but I still wanted to celebrate and honor those who went on the missions. Hopefully before the next situation strikes. Anyways, I posted about it on the classifieds. It wasn't hard to get a crafter to volunteer to pick you, Princess Freja." She says before looking over to Cirroch. "Oh, okay, later is fine." Reese says in his direction.

Ender, a Silver Gyrfalcon, Ursa leave, following Marian.

Fergus mutters something to Marian when she passes by, watching her leave. Without warning, he drops himself into the chair his wife had been sitting in. "Marquis." he growls in greetings. "Fergus. The one that keeps that one in fucking check." he acknowledges to Freja.

Eshken lingers near the door - seeming to contemplate slipping back out upon appraising the company - but he simply can't after Cirroch takes stock of those present, offering out drinks on him. Eshken replies to the offer with a humble bow of his head, shuffling closer to the bar and lingering near the more familiar Reese. "Greetings, lords and ladies of high regard," he says quietly, looking to each present and giving them a bow of their own before he shifts onto his seat, folding his hands on his lap. "Very generous of you, marquis," he adds, to Cirroch. He scans among those present once more before looking down at himself and adjusting the cuff of his sleeve, obviously feeling a tad out of place.

Alejandra, a snowy white hound, 2 Grayson Guardsmen, Planchet, a young valet, 2 Iron Guardsmen arrive, following Ainsley.

Reese looks over to Eshken, having a gentle smile of greeting that reaches her blue eye. "Master Eshken, nice to see you." She says in his direction.

Dust the rat arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

Cirroch bows his head to Eshken in acknowledgement. He looks toward Fergus but doesn't respond to his introduction. Instead he turns back to Khanne and raises his brow.

"He keeps me in check when he has a care to, or I a care to rile him." Freja grins at Fergus before sticking her tongue out at him. She claims a seat beside him and motions for another whiskey. "Though, I am my husband's concern now....." her words drift off and she glances to Eshken, beckoning him in. "Marquess Freja Nightgold, nee Princess of Redrain. Voice of the North. A pleasure. Welcome! Join, tell a tale or too. Or a joke. I could use a good few of those."

Ryder the falcon arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

Ainsley slips in dressed in black silks-- which likely means he's off duty. His guards are waved away when he comes in. Though his big fluffy dog keeps pace with him, her tongue lulling out as she darts away from Ainsley to go see Reese. BOOF! says Alejandra.

Khanne got lost in her drink a bit and noticing Cirroch's look, murmurs, "hmm?" She spots Fergus then and smiles. "Hey, Ferg. How are you?"

Reese crouches down and starts trying to scratch behind Alejandra's ears. She notices Ainsley a moment later, giving her cousin a smile of greeting that that touches her blue eyes.

Reese checked dexterity + artwork at difficulty 9, rolling 36 higher.

Eshken returns the smile to Reese. "The pleasure is all mine, your highness," he says, with a practiced calm compared to his otherwise anxious demeanor. "Oh- apologies. Eshken Greenblood, voice of house Whitehawk. So used I am to the quiet, I often do forget my voice.." he adds, with a quiet chuckle. "A pleasure to meet you all - those of you I haven't met before, that is." He gives Khanne a nod and a small smile.

Fergus bristles only a little bit when Freja introduces herself, making no comment initially. "She's good at being an annoying little fuck." A glass is taken up. A rare smirk is offered to Khanne's greeting. "Hey cutie. Could be better, could be worse. Kid keeps me up at night. How's tricks?"

"Beautiful dog," Cirroch says looking from Alejandra to Ainsley with a smile. "Welcome. Have a drink on me. I'm newly returned to Arx. Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach." He looks toward Eshken and nods his head. "Well met, Master Eshken," he says. "Have you had occasion to travel north?" He takes a sip of his whiskey.

Sunrise, lilac breasted roller arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

Freja has joined the Back Booth.

Reese is still crouched down near Alejandra even as yet another avian comes flying in and drops off another message. She reaches it over and smiles.

Ainsley makes his way over to rub his fingers through Reese's blond locks. "Reesie." He tells her affectionately before collecting his hound back to him. A tilt of his head is given toward those gathered, before turning toward Cirroch, "Thank you, my lord. I'm Ainsley Grayson, and this is Alejandra the Iron Guardshound."

"BOOF!" says Alejandra, happily, wagging her tail at Cirroch.

"I'm good at more things than being annoying. It just so happens to be my favorite best thing when it comes to you." Freja counters to Fergus, nudging a whiskey over towards him. "Here. You look like you could stand to loosen up."

Khanne smiles and wiggles her fingers to Eshken. "Hello again. It's been ages!" She looks to Fergus and says, "see... that's why I won't have children for a long while. I need my sleep. Freja though...she's got an heir to make..." She looks over her shoulder towards the woman and winks. She then sends a wave to the others, Reese and Ainsley.

"Not as of late," Eshken replies, with a regretful sigh. "Not around your end of the north, especially. Most of my business has taken me from Hawkhold to here, and back again." He glances to Khanne and returns the wave with a half smile. "Indeed. I apologize for.. not bumping into you again, but I'm sure you've kept busy anyway," he says, before returning his attention to Cirroch. "It would be nice to have the occasion again. The further north you go, the more beautiful it is, so I've found."

Reese rises to her booted feet as Alejandra takes off. It would be silly to stay crouched down without a dog. She returns Khanne's wave with one of her own. "Here let me show you what I made for Luca." She says and pulls a butt sculpture out from her bag. "Don't tell him though, its a surprise."

"Well met, Alejandro," Cirroch says giving the hound a pat on the head. He turns back to Eshken and smiles. "It is beautiful if you can stand the cold. In Giant's Reach we have hot-springs and geyseys and caves and icy mountain climbing," he says before taking another sip of his drink.

Reese drops a sculpture of a fine butt pierced with an arrow.

"Ain't much I really like, but Nia is a bundle of fire. She's gonna make a helluva Sword one day. Probably better than me. She'll actually take the job seriously." Fergus comments. "Marian says I ain't all that bad in terms of being dad." The whiskey is taken. "You start talking about her having kids, I'm tearing my ears off."

"While many attempts have been made since the wedding night, alas, Limerance stays in the way." Freja reassures Khanne and her brother for that matter. "No heirs until I take care of a few things." Fergus gets a roll of the eyes. "Go ahead, tear them off. Might make you listen better with two huge holes in your head."

Fergus makes gagging sounds.

The big fluffy dog barks happily at Cirroch before trotting back to her master. Ainsley peers down at Reese's sculpture and says, "Well that's nicely done, Reesie." He finds himself a chair next to her without asking and says, "Introduce me around?"

Khanne nods with a smile to Eshken. "I have been, yes. I hope you are doing well though." She lets him go to converse with Cirroch then, her eyes drifting instead to the sculpture Reese pulls out of her bag. A laugh erupts from Khanne, loud and joyous. "Oh! That is amazing!"

Eshken lets out a wistful sigh at the description of Giant's Reach from Cirroch, smiling back. "You make me long for a vacation I don't yet deserve, my lord," he says, with a slight shake of his head. "Though, I would perhaps skip the mountain climbing. Dependent on whether or not the whiskey is as fine as that I had sampled before," he murmurs. His brow furrows as he spots Reese's artwork, visibly perplexed, though he snaps out of his thoughts to confirm Khanne's hopes with a reassuring nod.

Reese smiles as Ainsley and Khanne speak of the statue. "Lou shot him in the butt by mistake. His butt recovered, thank the gods." She says, further explaining the reason for such. She then then ohhs. "Well, I am pretty sure you know Princess Freja, Prince Fergus and Lady Khanne?" She asks and then looks over to Eshken. "This is Master Eshken though. He thinks I am foolish with money and is connected with Whitehawk." She says, giving him a smile.

Ainsley turns to smile toward Freja and says, "Ah, I've met Princess Freja at least once. Though I don't believe I've met Prince Fergus before." An inclination of his head is given toward Khanne and he says, "Or ... my lady Khanne?" He stands again so he can sketch an respectful bow to the two nobles, and one as well to Eskhen, "Ah! Whitehawk? How are you connected to Whitehawk, Master Eshken? I count Baron Silas one of my closest of friends." He flashes a broad grin.

"Come to Giant's Reach if you can find it and be my guest," Cirroch says toward Eshken with a smile. "The whiskey is the only stuff worth drinking. Southerners haven't been able to perfect whiskey, yet. I don't recommend ice climbing after sampling the whiskey, though. Good looking out." He looks toward Reese's sculpture and grins. "That's quite the gift, General."

Ainsley, noteably, has tea! Tea! No alcohol for him.

"Is there good climbing there?" Freja asks of Cirroch and of Giant's Reach. "I need more of a challenge these days and ...yes, this large lump is my brother." she confirms for Ainsley's introductions.

Eshken raises a finger to Reese, wagging it insistently in denial. "I don't think you're foolish with your money, your highness. You've proven it to me, with evidence. I know it," he explains, lowering his hand with a cheeky smirk. "I am the voice of house Whitehawk," he explains to Ainsley. "I hear that quite a lot. He's always pushing me to make myself some friends, but why go through all the effort when I can simply have his." He chuckles again, shaking his head. "Apologies, I'm being foolish. A pleasure to meet you, my lord," he says, with a bow of his head to Ainsley. "I will keep your invitation in mind," he adds aside, to Cirroch.

"Eh?" Fergus looks away from his drinking, indeed looking like a large lump. "Who're all these fuckers?" Leaning back in his chair, he's able to pick out a couple of faces, but the rest doesn't look to ring any bells.

Reese looks over to Ainsley. "Oh, I apologize, I didn't realize. This is Prince Fergus, the Redrain General and this is my cousin Prince Ainsley, the Paladin of Gloria." She then turns to Khanne. "And this is Lady Khanne who has joined our missions is quite amazingly talented at understanding the spiritual world. She then peeks over to Eshken, giving him a smile. "I'm stimulating the economy by purchasing its like a thing."

"There is, my lady," Cirroch says toward Freja. "It can be treacherous. Each year we have a couple fatalities but if you want a challenge it's there," he says with a smile.

Ainsley smiles toward Eskhen and says, "Well, Silas does have many friends, so if you're to have someone's friends it's not bad to have his." He glances sheepishly toward Reese at her words and coughs into one of his hands. "Aaah, yup, that's me." A glance of grey eyes toward Fergus, "I can give you the entire title spiel if you really want but it's kind of boring. Nice to meet you, your highness."

Freja grins wolfishly. "I always want a challenge. Ferg and I once ran from an avalanche. Good times."

Thesarin steps through the door, wearing a resting scowl on his face as he looks over the people who've come to visit. He looks every inch a shav warlord done up as a Grayson nobleman, especially with his loose shirtsleeves loose enough that the winding tattoos on his arms keep showing out.

Eshken nods in agreement with Ainsley. "Certainly. I'm honored to keep the company of such noble men and women," he adds, as a comment to Ainsley. He takes a moment longer, glancing to Reese, to consider her last comment. "I suppose that is technically true," he mumbles reluctantly, giving another shake of his head. With Fergus' reappearance from his drink, he perks up, looking presentable. Thesarin's arrival gets a respectful nod, followed by a brief smile.

"Good times." Fergus agrees with Freja, nodding. "Warchief." is the idle correction. "Generals are titles for fancy people. But yeah, good to meet you all."

Ainsley lifts a hand when he sees Thesarin enter. "Count Riven!" It's said with a broad welcoming smile. "Come join us?" He waves the Warlord turned Noble his way.

Reese lifts her gaze to Thesarin, giving him a smile of greeting that touches her her blue eyes. "Greeting Count Thesarin." She then turns to Eshken, nodding along and seeming pleased by his words. "Warchief Fergus." She says, correcting herself after Fergus does.

Cirroch waves at Thesarin as he enters. "Welcome, Count Thesarin Riven, I take it? I'm Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach. Get comfortable and enjoy a drink on me," he says with a smile.

"Oh! Hi, Ainsley. Prince, Ainsley.. that is.. sorry. I am lost in my thoughts tonight. A pleasure to meet you," Khanne says after a moment to Ainsley, smiling to Reese.

"I'm not altogether shocked to say that is the second butt sculpture I have seen since coming to Arx." Freja says aside to Reese before turning her attention back to Fergus with a narrowing of her eyes. "So many titles here...I'd have to somewhat agree." Cupping a hand around her mouth she calls out to the barkeep, "A round of whiskey for us all! It seems we need to loosen up further until the titles are as muddled as our eyesight."

Ainsley turns toward Khanne while and smile and says, "Ainsley is fine, my lady." A hand waves and he says, "I'm not particularly concerned about formalities. Are you well this evening? Khanne right?" A squint and he says, "Khanne Halfshav if I remember my Who's Who of Redrain, right?"

Reese looks over to Freja, giving him a nod. "That really doesn't surprise me either." She murmurs.

"Eshken." Thesarin's face cracks a genuine smile a moment, and he moves to give the man a series of manly back-slaps and arm-clasps that likely jerks the smaller man around like a rag doll. "How are ypu, lad? How's your suster?" Reese and Ainsley get a more subdued nod apirce, with a "Prince, Proncess." He glances ovef at Fergus at mention of his title, but looks over to Cirroh as the host approaches, eyebrows just raised. "Heard of me? Aye, I'm him. Giant's Reach, eh? Grow 'em big up there?"

Sir Rodrick, a Valardin Knight, Spirit, the Sleepy Brown Fox, Echo, the Energetic Arctic Fox arrive, following Sasha.

Khanne chuckles and nods her head to Ainsley. "Good. Because I can barely remember the list of my own, let alone everyone elses...." She nods and says, "Halfshav, yes.. and yes.. I am doing pretty well tonight, if tired... "

"By reputation, yes," Cirroch says to Thesarin with a smile. "They call us mountain giants. I don't know how much stock to put into those legends, though," he says with a smile. "But I guess there have been quite a few legends that have been proven true lately."

Eshken grunts in pain and grits his teeth as the shock of the first back-slap strikes him, though he soon hides his shocked expression behind a bit of good-natured laughter. "Lovely, and lovely as well. Setting up her forge, now, so quite pleased with herself," he answers quietly, adjusting his tunic and hair from the ruffling he had just received. He clears his throat and sits up straight. He looks eagerly to the bar for the promised whiskey, plucking one out from among the rest to drink of.

Ainsley gives a small nod toward Khanne and says, "Aye. I ran the recruits through several laps in the Ward of the Compact this afternoon. A few of them are cursing my name, but I'm well tired myself." He sips at his tea and asks of Khanne, "What has you tired?"

The whiskeys are passed out to all gathered. Northern whiskey. The strong stuff.

Sasha walks into the Spirits in with Sir Rodrick carrying a sleepy brown fox while a rather hyper one is in Sasha's arms being carefully carried. As she sees Cirroch, a smile brightens up her features and she moves to join his side as she says "I am sorry I am late Marquis." She looks to all gathered around and says "And how does the day treat you all?"

Gerard, an aristocratic secretary arrives, following Brianna.

"Ah, my love," Cirroch says as he catches sight of Sasha. He beams a smile toward her. "This is Princess Sasha Valardin," he says introducing her to the bar. He looks over to the bartender. "Can we get a hot tea for Sasha, please," he says with a wave toward Sasha. He then turns to her and pats Echo on the head and gives Sasha a peck on the cheek.

Sunrise, lilac breasted roller arrives, delivering a message to Sasha before departing.

"For once? Good friends, good conversation, good whiskey, and not enough sleep. For once..." she grins. "Not stress and strife and work... It's been a good few days... Though, the work cannot be put aside altogether... it has been woven into the fun. Moments of seriousness amidst the revelry.

Reese has tumbler filled of whiskey. She looks over to Sasha when she arrives, giving her a smile of greeting that touches her blue eyes. "Greetings Princess Sasha." She says in her direction.

Brianna checked charm + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Sasha receives a missive and reads over it for a moment before writing something and sending it back before she smiles back to everyone present. And she returns a kiss upon his own cheek as she says "Thank you Marquis. I am glad you are having fun." She looks to Reese and says "Greetings Princess Reese, and how are you cousin?"

"Strange days," Thesarin agrees with a nod to Cirroch. "Damned strange." He takes the whiskey with a grunt of thanks, and looks to Eshken with a second grunt of approval. He seems to have a whole repertoire of grunts for different situations. "Good to hear. I'll let the Countess know to call on her. Needs some proper armor her own." He downs the whiskey in a go, and looks to Cirroch. "So what have you heard, if I can ask?"

Freja stands up in her chair once all have a whiskey glass in hand. The Redrain Voice is already taller than practically all women, even a few men, so the chair ensures she is heard - if not seen. "And now, one of my favorites, if you will allow it.." she places a hand over her heart and looks fondly down at her brother...before kicking him in the side with the toe of her boot. Her attention shifts back, "I drink to your health when I'm with you, I drink to your health when I'm alone, I drink to your health so often that...I'm beginning to worry about my own!" And then the Redrain turned Nightgold tosses back her whiskey in one fell swoop and falls back down into her chair in a fit of bacchanal laughter.

Reese looks over to Sasha. "Oh, I am pretty good." She says and then lifts her gaze to Freja as she toasts. She takes a drink of her own whiskey in response when the toast comes to an end.

The door opens with a nudge of a booted foot and for a moment, the axe that's raised over a shoulder looks to be thrown until Gerard puts a touch of his fingertips to the sharp edge and clears his throat to remind Brianna that one shouldn't throw axes inside. There's a sigh of defeat before she says, "Okay, fine. We don't throw axes inside anymore, but it isn't like it's a wineskin being tossed for a lucky bride to be to actually catch. If they're that stupid to catch an axe, I mean..." she gestures a gloved hand as if to say politely maybe they deserve it. The said axe is stuck in the wall near the entrance with a thunk before she gives a hiya wave to people already here.

Eshken stares at Freja amid her toast, holding still with his whiskey near his face - though son he takes the drink down in one fell swoop, upon realizing that she is in fact making a toast. The thunk of an axe impacting wood causes his head to swivel and look back in time to spot Brianna, raising his now empty glass in greeting to her and following up with a bow of his head. "My lady, you've just missed whiskey."

Ainsley checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 10 lower.

Ainsley glances upward when the door opens and spots Brianna. His expression becomes rather thunderous and he says, "Oh, fuck no." A snort is given and he says to to Reese, "See you, Reesie. Marquis it was nice meet you. Count, always a pleasure. Tell Mia we'll have dinner for her soon. Lady Khanne." Then he's standing and striding for the door-- if he has go to through or around Brianna to do it.

Freja motions to the barkeep again. "Nonsense. An entrance of a friend is another reason for yet another toast." The scout grins impishly up at Brianna and beckons her closer. "Come, come! I haven't seen you since the wedding. A crime, that."

Reese looks toward Brianna and then over to Ainsley, the Grayson princess seems pretty confused. "Take care. Ainsley." She says in his direction. Brianna is given a smile of greeting that is maybe just a bit sheepish.

Reese picks up a sculpture of a fine butt pierced with an arrow.

Fergus grunts at being kicked. "Fuck, you're already messy." But he drinks anyways. "She'll drink to anything. She's never been the picky sort."

Freja narrows her eyes, "Did I miss something, Prince Ainsley?" The Redrain Voice has a tone that shifts rapidly, alarmingly, from that of mirth to one of cold iron.

Cirroch finishes his whiskey after Freja's toast and then holds Sasha close as he looks back to Thesarin. "About mountain giants specifically? I don't know. We tend to brush those legends off where I'm from but I suppose I could indulge you. Sasha here actually seems to know more about the actual legends but they says the people of Giant's Reach and specifically the Sanna are descended from mountain giants."

Another round of whiskey is passed out and Sasha is provided her hot tea.

"I'll pass it along, Prince Ainsley." Thesarin watches the man leave, and glances a question toward Reese. He looks back toward Cirroch, not quite eye to eye with the other man. "I might have to ask." He shows teeth for just a moment, something like a smile. "But I was asking on what you heard of me. Man has to keep an eye on his reputation, or you can't say where the thing will go

Khanne blinks as Brianna comes into the Spirits with gusto, then turns to nod towards Ainsley. "Be well," she says to him then waves to Brianna. "I proably should take my distracted dreamy self home... "

Brianna spies Ainsley thundering her way and she looks at him, giving a little whistle. "You make silk look hot." she says to him as they pass by before she steels a kiss on Freja's cheek with a grin, whispering something to her before nabbing one of those free rounds of whiskey being passed around. "Hi Reese! Fergus...and belated happy birthday, Khanne. Are we drinking to birthdays? Battles or something else?" she asks the group.

Brianna is overheard praising Ainsley for: You make silk look hot. Mrawr.

Ainsley checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Ainsley pauses briefly at Brianna's words, grey eyes burning silver bright with some thunderous emotion. His mouth opens and he it seems like he might say something (and it wouldn't be kind given his expression) to Brianna, but a twist is given to look toward Freja and he gets his composure back. "No, Princess, everything is well. I'll be off now." And then he's slipping out the door without another look back.

Sasha easily leans in close to Cirroch as she is drawn in while he talks to Thesarin. Though she is watching how Ainsley is reacting to things and looks a bit concerned. When her name is said, her attention draws back with a smile towards Cirroch and Thesarin as she says "I enjoy researching intriguing things to be honest. I have discovered many things in my research and some things that have been shared with me of others." Her gaze back at Cirroch as she says "And soon we will find where the last ingredient for my cure is." A couple of spoonfuls of sugar into the tea and it is gently stirred then. She then giggles as Thesarin better elaborates and a hinted blush echoes on her cheeks while she sips upon her tea. She looks towards Khanne and says "Belated happy birthday Lady Khanne." And then she watches Ainsley leave out the door, looking a bit curious but her attention returns to Cirroch and Thesarin.

Reese still seems pretty confused about what is going on. "You are pretty tall." She says to Cirroch. She then looks over to Sasha. "Oh, that is good news, a cure." She waves one more time toward Ainsley as he continues toward the door, but it might be missed as the prince doesn't look back.

Brianna is given a peck on the cheek as well in greeting, Freja crinkling her nose playfully before shifting her sharp gaze back to Ainsley's retreat. "Well enough that we are greeted with your backside. A fitting image, for the behavior." she calls after him in half jest, raising her whiskey in a parting toast for him. "May the morning bring better alms, or a prettier face to warm your bed, whichever." Her attention shifts back to Brianna and she explains. "We're drinking to many things, and with each shot I change my reason...this one? Is you. Next one? To Ferg's charming scowls."

Fergus glances at Freja, raising a brow. "The fuck's his problem." he growls, downing the rest of his glass.

Cirroch lets out a laugh to Thesarin. "Oh!" he says. "I'm just observant. I heard someone call you Count Thesarin and Count Riven. I'm afraid I haven't had occasion to hear your name before, my friend." He then looks down toward Sasha and nods. "I've already begun my 'research'," he says with a grin. "Or my delegation, at least. You know I'm no good in a library, my love," he adds. He looks toward Reese and smiles. "Thank you, General. But not overly, I'd say. I've seen taller." He looks toward Ainsley and Alejandra as they leave and he waves. "Good bye Alejandra!" he calls out. "Oh and Prince Ainsley..."

Alejandra, a snowy white hound, 2 Grayson Guardsmen, Planchet, a young valet, 2 Iron Guardsmen leave, following Ainsley.

Eshken simply sips his whiskey quietly at the odd exchange between the new arrival and the departing prince. He appears rather confused, picking up another bit of conversation to latch to. "Birthday?" he says, in Khanne's direction. "A shame, it must have passed me by. I owe you a gift of some kind. I'll have to find something later."

"Ah" Thesarin nods, and gives that toothy smike again. "Not to make myself seem vain. I've had a few heard of me lately I hadn't known. A cure for what?" Thesarin asks, nd then he looks over to Freja, and Cirroch, and he has a long, deep sigh. "Lay off him."

Khanne smiles at Sasha and says, "thank you. Pardon my tiredness. Seems whiskey is only making it worse... I do love research too... Mmm.. more the feeling when I actually find something interesting than the tedious bits itself. Thankfully, so much of mine is done out of the archives and off the beaten paths..." Shaking her head she smiles then to Eshken. "Thank you, very kindly, but you of course do not have to get me any gift."

Reese looks over to Thesarin, giving him a nod. "You are getting sort of famous Count." She says and then pauses. "What kind of things do you thing Countess Mia would like?" She asks.

Brianna snickers at something that Freja and her whisper about, but as the toast is for Brianna she lifts her glass, "To the untamed North and the friendships you can find there that burn bright and warm." Back the glass is tilted and the whiskey drank. As Ainsley heads off, she says to Freja, "Maybe he wanted to just show how well those silk pants fit him? -I'm- not complaining....more guys should wear silk pants I think."

Sasha smiles to Cirroch as she says "I know my love and they are being helpful." She says to Thesarin "Oh I suffer for a disease that causes me to not be able to build muscle for now but I know the last plant I need from my cure is out there. I am not allowed to go and search for it myself. It would be foolish and I would be more of a hindrance than a help. But my protege Jayanthi says she will help however she can. I am not sure if she is willing to travel with. That is something I can discuss with her when the time comes." She smiles to Khanne and says "That is fine. And if you like I could send over what I have found so far upon but I haven't found where just yet. I could offer to help you in your next research endeavor in turn."

"To the untamed North and the friendships there.." Freja crinkles her nose with a hiccup as she raises her glass to that next toast, cheeks now flushing for a brief moment with the influence of the drink. "Spirits, and you used to -complain- about the silken south, Brianna...used to be furs and leathers is all you would accept. We have changed." She lends an ear to the other side of the conversation and chimes in, "Khanne's birthday was celebrated with women riding men like bears."

A bit of blush tinges Eshken's face, contorted in a confused expression as Brianna describes her taste for silk and Freja informs him abou the birthday festivities. He finishes his whiskey quietly.

Reese peeks over to Sasha. "Oh, Mistress Jayanthi is making me some paintings." She says and then turns her attention to Thesarin. "We should talk soon Count. I need to get a meeting now though. It was nice to see you all and nice to meet you Marquis Cirroch."

Sunrise, lilac breasted roller arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

Khanne rubs at her cheek and says, "I've been working with Maeve... have you spoken to her? I wonder if you look for similar things..." She glances at Freja with a snicker at the drunken hiccup, but lifts her glass and takes a sip. "To the North!" She shrugs and smiles slyly. "I don't know... leathers, furs, silks.. they all have their merits... mmmmm yes! Ha!" Khanne laughs. "It was great fun! Riding the bears!" She chuckles, and noting the blush on Eshken's cheeks, she says, "it was a race, like a piggyback race, only they had to wear furs like bears..." Then, overhearing Reese, she hmms. "I need to finish my paintings..."

"Buying out the bar in the Redrain Ward may have been a mistake," Cirroch says as he raises his glass with Freja and finishes his drink. He turns to Reese and bows his head. "It was a pleasure, General. I hope to speak with you again," he says with a smile. He then turns to Sasha and Khanne and pays attention to their conversation on the cure.

Freja waggles her fingers in a fond farewell. "Toodle-loo, Reese!"

Reese looks over to Cirroch. "Oh, feel free to message me when you want to speak and I will try to be free." She says toward in his direction.

Thesarin nods to Sasha, slowly. "I know Jayanthi. Need to settle up with her, as it happens." He seems to think a moment, and gives a slow nod. He holds out an arm toward Reese. "Send word when you'd like to meet, Princess. You know where to find me."

Eshken laughs as Khanne explains the bear racing festivities. "Excellent. And now that you've let Thesarin hear the idea, Esoka will hear it, and she'll make sure I'm saddled by next year," he says, setting down his drink with a chuckle. "Goodbye, lady Reese," he adds, bowing his head to her.

Reese looks over to Khanne. "I look hope to see them one day." She says of her paintings. She smiles once last time to thsoe gathered here and slips out.

Brianna holds a hand up, "Hey, I'm allowed to change my mind!" before gesturing for more drinks this-a-way-please. There's a look of approval and nod given to Khanne on hearing about the birthday party, "That'd have been a fun party, I'm crushed I missed it but I owe you, Khanne. Who won on the bear riding races?" as she seems interested in hearing who might be a good bear mount. Reese is given a goodbye wave.

Sasha smiles to Reese and says "She does amazing work!" trying to catch her before she leaves. Her gaze returning to Thesarin as she says "She is my protege. I am curious what she made for you."

"She might try, Eshken, but you're still Greenwood, and that makes your safety my duty. And I think carrying these women might just snap you in two." Thesarin gives another wolfish grin, as he goes to have the glass refilled at the bar. He looks over toward Sasha with a slow nod. "A gift for my Countess, and a portrait of me. Never thought to have one. Still not sure of what to do with it." A pause. "And I'm sorry to hear of your illness. Should've said."

Cirroch looks toward Brianna and bows his head to her. "Welcome. Come get comfortable and get a drink on me. I'm Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach and this is Princess Sasha Valardin. I'm newly returned to Arx," he says by way of introduction.

More whiskey is passed around. The staff seems to understand to keep people topped off.

"I adore Esoka! I will have to talk to her... wait, you know Esoka?" Khanne smiles at him. "Do you think you'd be a good bear, Eshken?" Turning to her cousin, she says, "I was crushed you missed it too! And yes, you owe me, nig time. Um... Valerio rode Kael.." she laughs. "They technically won, but Valerio gave his prize to Mae. I rode Duke Laurent... who is very fast... very.. we came in second though because I was laughing too hard to get the stick in the hole..." She pauses. "Um... I couldn't get the rings on the lance...."

Khanne says aside to Thesarin, "I mean... I could try.. but, I really don't weight that much..."

Sasha sips her tea and kindly says to Thesarin "Thank you, but soon I will have my cure and it will be nothing to fret over anymore. And I have never thought to have a portrait of myself painted before either in truth. But I am sure she did you justice Count Thesarin. And she does indeed make lovely perfumes." She looks to Brianna with a warm smile as she says "A pleasure to meet you." She then looks curiously between Khanne and Thesarin with a smile on her lips.

Fergus gets up to his feet. "I should probably go take care of a few things before I get so messy that I wouldn't trust myself giving orders." he utters. "Peh, don't trust me giving orders sober for that matter. " Speaking of, he reaches down to finish off his glass, setting it back down. "You all be good. Or not, I'm not your fucking mother."

Eshken rolls his eyes at Thesarin, shaking his head yet again as he shifts to get comfortable in his seat. "My cousin!" he informs Khanne, with a chuckle. The second question seems to catch him off guard, the steward pausing in deep thought for a few moments. "Yes, if given enough notice. At the moment I'm more akin to a small deer or something of the like."

Eshken adds a bow of his head to the departing Fergus, after he speaks. "Be safe."

Blue eyes blink as Brianna is trying to follow the words that Khanne is saying, but she erupts with a laugh, head tilting back. Tears are at the corners of her eyes as she dabs a fingertip to each, trying to regain her composure to be polite towards Sasha and Cirroch as she quietens to a few giggles before clearing her throat and taking a drink. "Ahhhh, goodness." Another giggle threatens to break through her smiling lips, "Hello, Cirroch, Sasha. This is quite the drinking party you've got going here! Are you planning some drinking games?"

Thesarin has been drinking rather steadily, and he might just be starting to feel some effects. "Be well," he raises a glass to Fergus, "Shame to see you go. Stange not being the only Warchief in a room."

Thesarin turns then toward Sasha with a slow shrug of his broad shoulders. "She patched up some folk after a scrap I was in. I asked her to show my grattitue. She asked to paint me. Thought it over. Agreed." Another slow, rolling shrug. "Fond of it. Worth showing off."

Freja looks all too thankful for the next round of drinks that Brianna orders, though she is beginning to look as though she should slow her approach. She tosses back that last shot and then pinching the bridge of her nose, "Fuck..I need to go to a meeting with Calypso. You all will have to excuse me, yeah?" She pushes up from her chair and then musses Brianna's red tresses. "It was a pleasure meeting all of you, Cirroch. WElcome!"

Khanne smiles at Eshken with a lifted brow followed by a wink. Brianna's laughter causes her to do so as well, but then, she yawns and takes a drink of her whiskey.

"A drinking game. There's an idea," Cirroch says looking around. "Do we have a mountain goat and five gallons of grease?" he asks. He then looks toward Fergus and Freja as they bid farewell and he smiles and waves. "A pleasure to meet you," he says.

Khanne lifts her hand and looks over towards the outside, where Drysi tries to keep Champ from eating everything in sight.

Freja has left the Back Booth.

Aethelred, Dangerfloof, the Bearded Vulture leave, following Freja.

Eshken is once again thrown into confusion by the wink, clearing his throat and looking to his empty cup for an escape, lifting it to find nothing but air present within. He puts on an exaggerated frown, head bowing to Freja as she makes her own escape. "A pleasure," he adds to her, lifting the empty cup in cheers. His perplexed gaze falls on Cirroch, in the end. "Do you keep five gallons on hand? I'd have at most one, back at the house."

As Freja heads off, Brianna puts her booted feet on a nearby chair to lean back in her own, sipping and listening. A brow lifts up, curiosity written over her face as she repeats, "Five gallons of grease and a mountain goat?" She takes the bait.

Thesarin mutters something softly to himself, and then has another half-glass of whisky, turning to face Khanne with a stern look toward Khanne. "You know Esoka well?" He does a sort of half-smile again, showing teeth under his stern expression. "My own sworn Sword, she is. Marched her out of the Grey Forest when she was just a girl, took her into the Compact by my marriage."

"Oh you don't play greased mountain goat off the mountain?" Cirroch says turning back to those giving him a weird look. He grins widely revealing his question to probably have been a joke. Probably. "What sort of drinking games are popular in Arx?" he asks.

Sasha blinks a bit and curiously asks "Greased mountain goat off the mountain?" She giggles a bit and sips on her tea and looks about curiously about the drinking games. She doesn't know those...

Khanne chuckles a little and smiles to Eshken. "Sorry, I am just teasing..." Turning to Thesarin, she says, "well... I wouldn't say I know her 'well', but, she's saved my ass a few times, and we've been on some interesting trips together..."

Gerard, an aristocratic secretary have been dismissed.

Eshken chuckles and returns a warm smile to Khanne, waving her apology off. "I'm well used to it," he assures her, letting out a quiet sigh. Looking to Cirroch, he gives a little shrug. "I'm not quite used to playing games with my drinking down here. Most of my drinking isn't fun at all. Tonight, however, has been. And free, too. I owe you so very much."

"Your welcome, friend," Cirroch says clapping his hand on Eshken's shoulder. He looks back to Sasha with a smile. "I don't usually join in with the drinking games with the men, in truth, Princess," he says with a smile and a wink. "Or I won't around your family," he offers. "At least till the wedding."

Sasha giggles at the wink and blushes as she murmurs "I see. And I can understand such things. Perhaps you can explain the game to me later?" And more of her tea is sipped upon and is soon empty.

Thesarin nods to Khanne, looking just as serious as ever. "I'm Count Thesarin Riven, chief to the Greenwoods." He places a hand of his own on Eshken's shoulder, with a stern nod. "This man here is Eshken Greenblood, Voice of House Whitehawk, branch from the same root as Dame Esoka. Marked from neck to hips of the same proud line of warriors, back to the breaking of the world."

Khanne nods to Thesarin. "I've met with Eshken before... pleasure to meet you, Thesarin. I am Khanne... Khanne Halfshav with a really long list of titles..." She looks to Eshken when Thesarin mentions being marked from neck to hips. She hmms, then nods to Thesarin again. "Sounds like a proud blood line to me."

"Well, then" Cirroch says looking from Thesarin and Khanne to Eshken. "Then you're especially welcome in Giant's Reach, friend, if you ever get that vacation," he says with a smile. He looks toward Sasha and raises his brow with a smile, his drink catching up with him. He takes another long drink from his whiskey.

Eshken winces at Cirroch's hand against his shoulder, though he lightens up when he realizes he's not receiving another clap from Thesarin - though the hand on his shoulder soon after induces a brief wince. "Though my path has diverged a bit from that of the proud warrior, it's the same blood," he informs her, smiling with pride. The mentions of markings gets Eshken adjusting the cuff of his clothes, suddenly self conscious. He glances to Cirroch, giving him a grateful bow of the head. "Thank you."

Thesarin says a few words to Eshken in a low tone, and then gives a single solid nod to Khanne. "A pleasure, Lady." And he turns back toward Cirroch, with another slow nod. "Might be I can, some day. Any man gives me free drinks is welcome to the Twainfort. No legends of our founding I know of, but a strange thing happening even now." Thesarin takes another glass, starts to raise it up, and then paises, and sets it back down on the table. "How are you finding the city, Marquis?"

Khanne starts to push herself away from the table. "I, am going to have to go tuck myself in to bed. Good night gentlemen," she nods to each of them. "Princess." She smiles to Sasha.