3 Armed Confessors arrives, following Insaya.

The beehive garden is lit by torches and one moderately sized bonfire. The aching cries of night birds and crickets pierce the heavy air. Smoke hazes the light in pools, and off to the side, the beehives themselves. There is a table set out with beverages - mead, of course, milk, of course, and other things folk would expect. A piper and harpist play quietly, though it's not clear where they are, the music floats in the air with smoke and the night chorus.

Lady Margerie Clement, wife of the late Baron Norwood Clement and cousin to the recently fallen Lord Kastelon Keaton and 'auntie' to Lady Mabelle Laurent, bears the telltale signs of a woman who has been crying. The elder woman sits on a bench, somewhat removed from the main focus of the memorial.

Vitalis is ghosting through those gathered as he is wont to do, expression solemn, though he greets those guests who arrive with appreciation and warmth.

12 Grayson House Guards arrives, following Liara.

Was Countess Ember Redreef wounded when Redreef Shores fell? It would explain the slight limp, like one knee is a bit less bendy than the other. She's arrived in full armor, horned helmet and all, with her cloak wrapped around herself. All of it shadowmeld. One might question the social graces of wearing an outfit that completely covers oneself, even one's face, but any who know Ember know that social graces were never her 'thing.' Perhaps that's why she's arrived with Princess Sorrel, who's better about all that.

Thea is here, battered and bruised. But she wouldn't miss this, not for anything. She is helped to a table and sits, nodding politely.

Adalyn is moving through the guests who arrive, a soft smile on her face as she speaks to those who arrive in soft tones. Her green eyes looking around, she spots Margerie and she breaths deeply. It has been hard on all of them but perhaps a bit harder for some, "Countess Ember." she speaks in a soft tone. "Thank you for coming, if you would like their are refreshments at the table, the mead is excellent."

With her arm hooked through Countess Ember's, Princess Sorrel Thrax nee Wyrmguard is leaning slightly against the woman, though her face is bare save for the tear stains that run down her cheeks. She is also armored, though much of that is in the crimson of House Thrax. She smiles vaguely at Adalyn, nodding to her. "Thank you, Baroness," she says with characteristic warmth. "We shall try the mead."

Thea has joined the an Aion starlight table.

Liara arrives quietly and approaches the gathering, to pause nearby. She doesn't speak up to draw attention or anything but rather just waits there, staying on her feet for now, her features solemn.

3 Armed Confessors have been dismissed.

When Margerie sees Thea, she smiles softly, some small measure of relief breaking through her grief. She rises from the bench and moves join the Wyvernheart countess, pulling the younger woman in for an unexpected hug. "It's always good to see the best horse in the lands." Briefly, her attention falls on Sorrel and Ember with a nod, and then another nod for Liara.

Quietly, princess Denica walks into the garden, dressed in a white pant-suit that embraces golden tones of honey. There's a somber expression on her features, vivid blue eyes have dulled into something akin to a misty morning over the sea. Hands in her pockets, her attention drifts around, making her way towards the gathering, wordlessly. A gentle nod to their hosts, it speaks of her appreciation for the proceedings. A second nod to Liara in greeting, before Denica sees Thea and steps over to join her, giving the woman's arm a squeeze in greeting.

"Baroness," Ember says through her mask, tilting her head in a deep and respectful nod. She lifts her head right as Sorrel declares that they shall try the mead. Ember turns her gaze toward the Thraxian Princess on her arm -- no, not Denica -- and stares for a moment, before very, very slightly nodding.

Vitalis weaves a path to Liara, "High Lord Grayson, welcome." Vitalis' face is stark chiaroscuro in the darkness, firelit and solemn planes. "Please let me know if I can get you anything." He looks up and sees Denica arrive, bowing to her, "Princess Thrax."

Thea blinks surprisedly at the hug from Margerie, but she relaxes and smiles a little. "Good to see you. It's been a long time, you're good yeah?" What injuries?! Ha! There's a brief smile at Denica as well when she joins them. Reassuring her.

Liara tilts her head in a gentle nod to Margerie, and to Denica she offers a faint smile. Then with Vitalis' approach, she turns to reply, "I will only be here briefly, my lord, but thank you. I had not had the opportunity to bid my protege and friend farewell. I will only be here briefly, but I feel she would quite understand."

Marigold, a cheeky pygmy goat, Barf, the Bog Dog, 2 Redire Veilleurs, Hunk, a giant squirrel, Toffee, a fluffy pomeranian arrive, following Amari.

Adalyn nods her head, "Princess Sorrel, thank you both for joining us." she tries to keep a soft smile on fore everyone as she moves through the gathering. She swallows hard a deep breath and she moves on as she moves to greet more people.

A pit bull that Ember never bothered to name have been dismissed.

Vitalis bows and smiles to Liara, a hand over his heart briefly, "She would." He withdraws and inhales deep the woodsmoke-scented air. It catches in his throat, definitely the smoke. He lifts a hand to scrub it down his mouth and beard, expression fey a moment before he stops dead and just *shakes his head* at Hunk. "Baroness Amari. It's good to see you." He pulls at the top of his boot and shows a bit of cheese-embroidered sock. He gives her a shoulder bump and looks at Hunk, "Mmh, do we need to feed him?" Cue Vitalis positioning himself between Hunk and the refreshment table which definitely has nuts on it.

Thea lifts her eyebrow at the giant squirrel. Then back to Amari and Vitalis. "Good thing my children aren't here,"she mumbles a bit loudly. There's a smile for them however, as it's been months upon seeing them. "You think you're going to block a giant squirrel, Vitalis,"Thea teases.

It's the end of the world. People are just going to have to get used to weirdness, like a lady riding into a memorial on a horse-sized squirrel. The rider is polite enough to not bust in and make a giant scene, and ruin everything. Amari instead lands near the gate, slides off Hunk's back and points him to the corner. There's a snuffly-sniff-chip of protest, but he takes the hint and curls himself into a huge fuzzy ball with his tail wrapped around himself. He'll just sulk there.

The Baroness is taking off her helmet when Vitalis approaches and is upright and smiling in that way a person does when they're actually trying not to cry. "He already ate a wagonload of acorns this morning. He'll be fine, thank you. Don't make a fuss... Nice socks!"

It's hard to smile at an occasion like this, where everyone is grieving friends and relations. Sorrel, though she has been married to an Islander for a decade, still has that Oathlands lilt in her words, that soft Blanbier accent. "Thank you for hosting," she says to Adalyn, then steers Ember in the direction of mead. She reaches for a glass, offers it to the Countess, then reaches for one for herself.

Ember checks dexterity at daunting. Ember fails.

Ember hesitates before taking the glass. "Er." Still, she takes it, and then moves to try and stand behind Sorrel so that she can tilt her helmet up and take a drink. Any who look over in that brief moment will see that underneath, Ember Redreef's skin is a deep crimson, and not because she's blushing. She tilts the mask back down and then says to Sorrel: "The mead is good." Her gaze settles on the giant squirrel. "Where do you suppose they find nuts big enough...?"

Vitalis can't help but note Amari's brittle mien and gives her arm a squeeze. "Thank you for coming. Thank botho of you," he turns a toothsome smile at Thea, an alloyed thing all gallows humor and ache, light in the dark, "As host I am honor bound to try." He bows, ever-gallant. Though he does look off at the windows of Clement manse, windows that may have little faces in the mullioned panes. Up past their bedtime. Vitalis straightens and gives them 'A Look' and makes a shoo-ing motion.

Vitalis has joined the line.

"You look hurt," Denica states the obvious to Thea, but her attention drifts as a massive squirrel arrives and her brows lift upwards. One of Denica's attendants, approaches the refreshment area and gets her a glass of wine. In returning it, she holds it rather than take a sip just yet.

Adalyn spots Hunk and spots Amari and she heads right for her, "Baroness Amari." she so was doing good till her dear friend is now there. She moves to wrap her arms around her and pulls her in for a hug, her face hides in the womans neck. She is quiet for a moment as she hugs her, "Sorry Hunk, I will give you a hug next." she tells the large squirrel.

Sorrel is probably aware of what Ember looks like without her helmet on, but clearly doesn't care. Not that she's really looking at her companion. She's just sipping her mead in a peaceful sort of way. Distant. The exhaustion of grief. She stares for a moment at the squirrel, as if this is not the first time she's viewed such a thing. "Well, they got you here," she says dryly to Ember. "And you're a big nut."

"How dare you," Ember says to Sorrel, her tone flat and deadpan. She's just holding her mead for now, after that first sip. Too difficult to drink with her helmet's full-face-covering visage. "Will you be saying any words?"

Liara tilts her head in a light nod to Vitalis, and then she quiets. She is still for a short time, her gaze tilted downwards, perhaps in contemplation. She certainly isn't in a loquacious mood, anyway. Then as she looks back up, it is just in time to see the giant squirrel. She cannot help but smile all of a sudden. "I do dearly hope that Lady Mabelle had the opportunity to see that."

With that, she turns to head out, almost as soon as she had departed.

12 Grayson House Guards leaves, following Liara.

Amari embraces Adalyn as tightly as she can without crunching her against her armor. "Baroness Adalyn." She replies fondly, "I know you'll do Norwood proud, no matter where you go and what you do. And, I have no idea how you ever convinced Jethro to take up the Sword. You'll have to tell me how that feat was accomplished later." A final squeeze and she'll let her cousin-in-spirit if not blood go free again. The pressure causes a strange little yip to sound from the satchel slung across Amari's body. Wincing over it, she turns over the flap and Toffee's head pops out. "Sorry." As Liara goes by with her comment, she dips her head respectfully and assures her that Mabelle did. Then her eyes light on Margerie, and a staid little smile is offered her favorite aunt.

Vitalis moves through the crowd and finds Denica and Thea, "Highness. Countess." He smiles, "Thank you both for coming." He checks that they've got beverages and is pleased to see they do. Though something he heard earlier finally registers. He clears his throat and looks over to Ember, "'The mead is good' is perilously close to insult, Countess." He tucks his chin and looks at her from under his brows, "Today especially." He glances at the moon guaging the time and then bows, excusing himself - met by a servant with a torch tarred in a fragrant resin. He lights the torch and begins moving towards the hives.

Margerie nods to Thea and gives her a gentle squeeze before drifting over to Amari. Now, the woman's eyes are watering again as she grabs her into a tight hug. No restraint, because sewing her niece is just too emotional right now.

Adalyn holds her tight then lets her go and smiles looking to Toffee, she sniffles. "We will have Tea and I will tell you the story." she says looking to Margerie her hand moves to touch her arm gently when she hugs Amari. Her eyes search out for Vitalis watching him, swallowing hard as she breaths deeply.

"Let's do. I'll have some time before the siege turtles arrive." Amari schedules after a quick thought on the timing of it all. It can work. Turtles are slow. She wiggles her fingers Thea's way then and starts to say hello when she's wrapped up in another hug. Thankfully the alaricite and diamondplate don't buckle. Her smiles does, true, but she scrunches her eyes and just barely holds the tears back. Toffee is slid over to balance on her hip, while her little dark eyes set in all that floofy white fur taking in the garden and the people in it.

Sorrel giggles. Ember's deadpan reaction delights her, and she giggles like a drunk, clearly feeling some of that emotional exhaustion that comes with grief in the face of the end of the world. She takes another sip of her mead and considers. "Perhaps. I lost my baby sister. It's hard to think of words," she admits, still sounding a bit wry. "Even for me."

When Vitalis calls Ember out, she responds with: "Mm." Perhaps it's out of decorum and a sense of the occasion that Ember doesn't contest the charges. She reaches a gloved hand out to rest it on Sorrel's shoulder. "Let me know if you need a... hug, or something," she says, like she's not sure what grieving people are actually supposed to do with their bodies.

Vitalis lights the torch, and it spits and sparks briefly before catching. He pats an ember that lit on his coat and then straightens to address those gathered, "Thank you for coming today. 'Telling the Bees' is a tradition some Oathland houses observe, sharing life events with the bees in their care. It is believed to bring harmony between keepers and bees and ensure the health of the hives." Vitalis pauses, torch aloft, a column of fragrant smoke rising from it, lazily swirling. He turns and moves to address the hives, sitting quiet in the darkness.

He clears his throat. Vitalis isn't a performer, like Sorrel, nor a battlefield commander, like Ember, speaking to be heard is not something he does. In some ways, anathema to him, but he lifts his voice, a fine nuanced tenor, "We bring news. A terrible foe has swept through the Oathlands, through all of Arvum. Farhaven stands. Ostria stands. At present, in the West." He pauses, throat tightening, continuing after a moment, "Only Artshall and Sanctum stand among all the domains of the West." He drops his head and lifts it again, "Duchess Clover Farshaw, Lady Mabelle Laurent, Kastelon Keaton, and Baron Norwood, among countless others, have fallen to make it thus. We have gathered to share in this, to come together, before the last stands begin in the South and beyond. And here in Arx." He lowers the torch, and exhales, moving to set it in a stand for any to take up and speak should they wish.

Taking a sip of her wine, Denica watches the bees in silence, as the torches are lofted upwards, her gaze follows them. There's a quiet breath as Vitalis lists the names of those that have passed. Lips press together, emotions fresh on her features. "We are grateful to the people that risked and gave their lives to protect others. There is no greater sacrifice, it is one that is self-less and I hope we continue to share their stories, both in grieving but also to celebrate such incredible lives led." A breath, "it hurts to loose a friend, the pain is unreal," Denica says, her voice quiet, she bites on a quivering lip. "But the pain is a result of the love we hold in our hearts, so may us hold that love tightly." The words are harder to speak come the end, they catch in her throat and her voice cracks. Denica takes a step back and fades into the background, perhaps she goes to look at the flowers or the bees, to be alone with her thoughts, the past, the present and perhaps still a bit of hope for the future.

After a few more hugs and some more tears, Margerie quietly slips back into the house.

2 Clement trained guards, Pearl, a trusted Clement assistant leave, following Margerie.

"We'll get her a reed straw so that she can drink it through her mask," Sorrel offers to Vitalis mildly on Ember's account, then offers the Countess a bit of a wry smile.

"I have to say," the Thrax bard continues. "That I considered all of these people friends. All of them. They were known to me, and I was fond of all of them. Lord Kastelon, his dog and his puns. Lady Mabelle, fierce about fashion and bees. Baron Norwood, an amazing instructor of horsemanship. But it's Duchess Clover Farshaw's loss that hurts the absolute most.

"My little sister," Sorrel says, choking up, tears filling her eyes. "Terribly clumsy. When we were girls in Blancbier, she shot me with an arrow." She holds up her left arm, pulling back her sleeve to show off an aged scar near her elbow. "I was standing behind her at the time, so it was all the more amazing that she managed to hit me. She didn't often hit her target, but she often hit //something//. She was so nervous when she married Duke Ryhalt. Nervous that she'd somehow trip over something and take down an entire duchy somehow. But she managed. I was there when she gave birth to her little girl Ivy, because obviously she had to curse the next generation with botanical names, something I was not permitted to do to any of my Thrax children."

Sorrel sniffles a little. "We fought many battles together, and she was always looking for the chance to help the phoenix be reborn. Phyl'ra'kal entrusted her with his life feather. And maybe that inspired her a little bit, to set things on fire. Many things. I'm not entirely convinced she was safer with fire than her bow and arrows, but she did love it so."

A soft sigh, and Sorrel bites her lip, trying to maintain her composure. "And now, now I'm going to miss her for the rest of my life. Which hopefully will be long enough to count in years instead of days," she says. "I know everyone here will be working towards that end, to keep the world from ending, so that we can have time to truly mourn those who sacrificed themselves already and those we will lose in the coming days and weeks." She raises her glass. "May we all miss these folks for years."

"Hear, hear," Ember says, raising her glass with Sorrel. "I knew Lady Mabelle through my late husband, Count Saverio. It was his untimely passing that put the two of us in contact, and we shared our grief, and supported one another in what feeble ways we knew how. I like to think that somewhere, Lady Mabelle and Count Saverio are catching up, continuing their conversations about topics obscure and ancient."

Adalyn holds up her drink as Sorrel and Amber speak, she moves to take up the torch, she looks around at everyone. Her head tilts to the side slightly as if she was not ready, she never been good at this! But a deep breath is taken in and let out, "I.." she shakes her head. She falls silent for a moment then speaks again. "My father the later Baron Norwood was a strong man, a honorable man he." her voice cracks as it looks like she may cry, "He died doing what he believed needed to be done, he died protecting the innocent, taking evil out of the world." she sighs, "My Father, no my Papa I am sure would be looking on us with that same expression he did with everything else." she gives that look and then chuckles and sniffles. "Lady Mabelle." the tears start to run down her cheeks, "Was a dear friend, I will never forget her." she says softly. "They will be remember, all of them will be remembered."

Once Margerie releases her, to retreat back into the house, Amari finds herself a cup of mead. Less to drink it, than to have something to do with her hands besides pet Toffee who seems content enough in the satchel. They both listen to Denica's words, and then Sorrel's. At the mention of the improbable arrow wound that Clover inflicted on her sister, she can't help but smile. Ember's commentary on Mabelle and Saverio prompts much the same, if more a wistful smile than an amused one. Adalyn's words prompts her to dab at her eyes to stem the oncoming tide. Finally, she says, "It's reassuring to hear that I wasn't the only one to accidentally wound a loved one with a misjudged arrow. Mine hit Norwood in the thigh, and I suppose as a lesson in personal responsibility, he made me pull it out myself. It must have hurt. He really should have had a Mercy do it, but I certainly learned my lesson. He taught me many more besides and took me on as a squire, despite how poor a prospect. His patience was legendary. I would not be here without him. I wouldn't even be the same person. Most of us who knew him were likewise changed for the better. He was the stone that made us sharp. The star that kept our courses straight." She lifts her mug then, running out of words. "As for Lady Mabelle. She was like the very glamorous older sister I never had. I was just happy she thought to include me in her many schemes, even if I didn't and still don't know a lick about alchemy and probably caused her more grief than not with my 'help'. We had many fun adventures, I'll never forget. She was full of surprises and brimming over with style, and cake. Kastelon, my cousin, he was what a Keaton should be. I know he'll be missed, with everyone else who has fallen and will fall before this is through. Remember them."

Thea has left the an Aion starlight table.

Vitalis listens to each person speak in turn, face in shadow, eyes a spark of light in the depths of his brow. He sniffs and goes to speak, perhaps to add his own thoughts to the chorus. But then holds up a finger and disappears into the mansion.

a blue and gold macaw, Renard, Haldir, a Rottweiler leave, following Vitalis.

a blue and gold macaw, Renard, Haldir, a Rottweiler arrive, following Vitalis.

Vitalis drops a white oak pillow chest with blue straps and gold hinges.

Vitalis returns carrying a big chest and drops it amid those gathered. He cracks the lid, "The Baron collected pillows. Among other things. Please, if there's one that you would like to take, do." He squats to peruse the trove and picks up one and his face crumples, jaws clenched. A blink sends tears down his cheeks, and the moment is past. He clears his throat and tucks the pillow under his arm, "I'm claiming this one." He holds up a pillow for all to see and a bit of laughter cracks the grim. It reads: POOP APOLOGY.

Vitalis takes a pillow embroidered with a poop apology from a white oak pillow chest with blue straps and gold hinges.

Amari gets a juicy pink pillow from a white oak pillow chest with blue straps and gold hinges.

Amari gets an overstuffed green and yellow square pillow from a white oak pillow chest with blue straps and gold hinges.

Vitalis yawns, surprised by the suddenness and ferociousness of it. He blinks and scrunches his face at those yet gathered. "I think it's time I turned in. You are all welcome to stay as long as you like, there are quarters in the House should you have need. And we thank you for coming." He straightens and looks off east. "I appreciate all of you." He frowns and goes to Sorrel, "Highness, I never said hello. Hello. Thank you for sharing." He moves from person to person clasping arms and offering thanks, though he does not touch Ember's armor, opting instead to bow and then, with a hand over his chest, he bows and heads to the house.

3 Thrax Guards, 2 Thrax Elite Guards, Lady Teonia Redreef, Aryka Wyrmfang, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog leave, following Sorrel.

A pack of giggling and gossiping Redreef handmaidens leaves, following Ember.