Meeting Juneva in the Golden Litter

From FiranMUX

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Anarinuell: Palace District -- University Campus

The University Campus at Anarinuell consists of a large cobbled courtyard, which serves as both a meeting place and a way to get from place to place within the university proper. The centerpiece of the campus is a great marble fountain. At either side of the courtyard, a marble staircase leads up to either Kamnestra Hall or The Great Library. Footsteps echo like drumbeats through the empty courtyard. Only the occasional passer-by can be seen passing through the trees and moving between the scattered torchlight that lines the stairs as well as the fountain. The quiet of the courtyard now, lends striking opposition to the bustle of the day.

The cold winds blow freely through the open courtyard here, making these days and nights seem colder than they are.

Contents:
Golden Litter
Great Marble Fountain
## -1.2.0 ##
Obvious exits:
Marsyas Zaridik School for the Arts <MZS> Kamnestra Hall <KH> The Great Library <GL> East South West

Brannik boards the Golden Litter.

Golden Litter A goose-down mattress covered by rich purple silk is the comfortable foundation of this litter. Matching curtains give some privacy, and gold-painted, wood arms keep passengers from falling out. This litter has a tall headboard, carved with a depiction of the Goddess Eesha stepping out of a small natural spring, her nude body glorious in all its aspects. Like an enormous bed, pillows are strewn everywhere in shades of lavender, purple and green. The scent of incense perfumes the air.
(To leave the litter, type: 'leave')
Juneva Brannik

You climb into the litter, and settle yourself into a suppine position.

Not all of Juneva's guards could possibly fit inside the litter, but there are two of them sitting at either side of the young noble, who looks very relaxed and alert. She peers curiously towards the new arrival, black eyes glittering in the dim confines of her transportation. The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "We've arrived at The Great Marble Arch! If you're here to worship, this is the place. This marble arch is the entrance to the Temple Grounds, and it has been carved to honor all the gods of the pantheon and the famous exploits of the Warriors of Three -- who were mainly the fighting priests of Srenna, Unot, and Zin. These priests led the guerilla fight in the burned out city of Firalut during the Great War. Their leader was one of the Seven Heroes, the Prophet Velani, a priestess of Uf. She and her husband, the Dolo Oshta of the very savage Ticanee, worked together to free the Firan Realms from Shamibelian bondage until the end of the war. A widowed Velani went on to marry a second time, another Ticanee who became Clan Leader Torvahl when the Republic was founded. They say that the Warriors of Three still haunt Firalut and its surrounds. Others say that there are still crazed bands of the old men living out in the wilds, unaware that the homelands were liberated."

The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "Next stop: The Royal Amphitheatre!" Brannik lifted himself into the litter just for fun, though he's taken the tour before. His eyes go wide when he realizes who else is in the litter with him. Luckily the litter seems quite big, so the boy sits across the litter from Juneva and her guards. "Not only an Uffian," remarks Juneva of Velani, "but also a Griffon." Though whether or not she addresses Brannik is anyone's guess, as she says this while looking out the window. Atop her brow gleams a platinum tiara nestled in the confines of sandy brown braids which resemble a hairstyle worn famously by her mother. "And to think she married a Ticanee."

The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "We've arrived at The Royal Amphitheatre! The Royal Amphitheatre of Elianos was built for the games, plays and circuses of Anarinuell. Here gladiators duel, horses race, athletes compete, and actors act. Horse races used to be quite a bit more popular until one of the Elianik Princes threw a snowball and started a stampede that killed a young noblewoman named Amanaki Junik. She was only ten years old and died saving her cousin, Lady Neshi. It was also during this incident that Prince Vahlgellan was trampled and lay unconscious for days. Some say that the trauma he took to the head was one that he never fully recovered from, and why he turned out to be such a poor Ranivor. Oh, don't forget to take note of the new statue in the arena of Acting Queen Lucretia! She's a woman with quite a past, but the people here in Anarinuell love her for stepping forward and behaving as a Queen in Sabine's absence."

The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "Next stop: The Palace!" Brannik peeks over at Juneva, offering a grin. The conversation lapses as the litter moves on, the head litterbearer talking about the ampitheatre. Finally, he looks directly at Juneva. "Scuse me, Lady...you're a Griffon Royal, right?" he asks, his voice coming out softer than he intended it to. *Firan*

Juneva is smiling at the mention of Lucretia when Brannik addresses her and she turns, one brow lifted, to stare at the boy with an intensity beyond her years. "Yes ... I am. As you can see by my guards." Her tone is one of amusement as she makes a grand gesture to the pair which flank her pillow throne, one of them a wizened old Griffon with kind, blue eyes and a white moustache which turns down at either side of his mouth. They are dressed in full regalia. *Firan* Juneva says "And who might you be?" *Firan*

Brannik sits up, shoulders easing back. "I'm Brannik Istariniad." he says, in a level tone. He does his own study of Juneva, and her guards almost expectantly. *Firan* <OOC: ROLL> Juneva rolls her Memory at difficulty 6 and gets 1 success. The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "We've arrived at Embassy Square! This circular garden forms the entryway to the Embassy Building. Inside that building is an office for each Clan Leader of the Republic as well as accomodations for foreign diplomats. When the Vrelanders arrived, Ranivor Elianos housed their ambassador and his family here while he and Queen Sabine returned with the Vrelanders to their homeland on a Diplomatic Mission. But when ten years had passed, and the Vrelander Ambassador could neither tell the Firans where their homeland was, nor what became of the Ranivor and the Queen, these foreigners fell out of favor. Some say that they were murdered and others say that they ran away. Still others say that they are living amongst us in the city quietly."

The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "Next stop: The Jail!"

"Istariniad ... Brannik, you said?" Juneva's onyx eyes narrow in thought, her fringe of lash concealing all thoughts from the boy. There is a pause in her musings, however, to stare again out the window, and she makes an offhand comment, "The statue really is there. I have seen it myself many times." Back to the conversation, she suddenly brightens as if having remembered something. "YOU are the friend of Good Srennik Anirik! Yes, I have heard of you. You were there the night of my Lady sister's adventure with the game of darts."

"Living amongst us in the city? Have you ever heard such a thing, Bendus?" The Commander's moustache twitches when Juneva addresses him, and with a voice like the deep hum of bees, he responds, "No, milady." She marvels a moment over this news, turning back to Brannik expectantly. "That is who you are, right?" The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "We've arrived at The Jail! Behind that heavy iron door, the Republic's most notorious criminals have been housed. They say that the Anarinuell Jail is one of the most secure in all the lands, and there has yet to be a successful jailbreak from it. There have, however, been a few suicides. If you look up to that tower, you'll see the platform from which some prisoners have jumped to their deaths. That's also the tower where Sedrik Iberik, disgraced nobleman of the Iberik family, was found dead. If you've ever got a friend or relative in prison, you might be able to talk to them by going behind the jail--or what's known as Relative Row. Sometimes the guards let the prisoners talk through the windows and you can have a noisy chat."

The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "Next stop: The Army Post!"

Brannik glances out of the litter at mention of the statue, only to turn back to Juneva at mention of Srennik. "Yeah, Srennik's the greatest." he says, tone frankly admiring. "Yeah, he's my friend. He's been real good to me." he adds, smiling warmly. The expression is a very rare one for the boy, lighting up his usually brooding expression. *Firan* Brannik turns back to stare at the tower, shoulders quivering briefly as the Litterbearer discusses the jail.

"Oh, the jail! An exciting place. I have been there also ... though not actually inside a cell." Juneva declines to mention her sister's arrest, though it is known by most in the clan after a most unfortunate speeching incident. "Have you ever been to jail, mer Brannik?" Earnest interest lights the maiden's smooth features. "Oh! I /can/ see the platform. Poor Lord Marsalos ... I wonder if he knows his relative is mentioned on this tour."

The head litterbearer of the Golden Litter says, "Next stop: Military Street North!"

Brannik shakes his head quickly. "No, don't ever remember havin' been to jail." he says softly. His expression is one of relief as the tour moves on to the Army area. "I wouldn' want to, either." *Firan*

Settling back on a pillow, Juneva smiles quietly at the boy. "Well, as long as you do nothing wrong, there is really little need of an arrest. But sometimes even the best intentions go astray," she remarks somewhat absently, touching her tiara for a slight adjustment. "Are you related to mer Darius, then? I am assuming, since you share a last name ..."

Brannik nods his head, grinning a little. "Darius an Dodon. I got a lot of cousins, Lady." he says with a shrug. Tilting his head a bit, he asks "What if people think you done something wrong, but you really didn't? Would you still wind up in jail?" Cornflower blue eyes study Juneva quietly. *Firan*

Juneva listens with an open mouth at the horrible tale about Shorister, gasping as an elegant hand rises to her throat. "Oh, blessed Uf! Can you imagine such a fate as being stuffed into a /trunk/ after being murdered. How horrible. I hope he was executed and his head cut clean off." She looks back to Brannik, seemingly unaware he has asked her a question. "Hmm? Oh ... you mean if it was a mistake? Well that is why we have lawyers, mer Brannik, to deliver us into the arms of justice and set us free if we are wrongfully accused." Her smile is serene. "I am certain everyone who is not truly guilty of a crime is given their due. Don't you?" *Firan*

Brannik drops his eyes to the litter bottom, head making one slow dip and rise in a nod. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess. They wouldn't go executin' someone innocent." His head raises to look outside the litter with seeming concentration, the boy's shoulders hunching. *Firan*

The sun comes out to greet a new day. Juneva watches this reaction, for while she is sometimes inattentive, she is highly perceptive and possessed of strong feeling for a girl of her station. "Mer Brannik, has someone accused you of something you did not do?" *Firan* Juneva adds after a longer, more thoughtful pause, "Wait ... what do you mean ... execution?" *Firan*

Anika has arrived. Anika is followed by Tazra. Tazra has arrived. Anika wields her snowball. Anika looks at the litter at it trots back. Oo! victims! Tazra tumbles in behind Anika, giggling merrily.

Brannik shakes his head, eyes remaining on the tour outside. "Not since General Firuell said all my family was cowards. But he's an Aurik an they don't know any better." he tries for an offhanded way of speaking, but his tone is heavy and flat. "It don't really matter, Lady. I just...knew someone once who did somethin' bad. They died of it." *Firan*

Anika aims her snowball at Brannik! Anika's snowball becomes a useless slushy mess. Anika stops aiming at Brannik. Anika unwields her snowball. Anika meeps and hops off. Anika has left. Tazra follows Anika. Tazra has left.

Juneva is situated on a silken pillow, flanked by two Griffon clansmen in full regalia. She breaks away from her conversation with Brannik to look at the newest arrivals, sitting up as her guards fold in quickly about her, not realizing the children were holding snowballs. Once they are gone, the guards relax, though Juneva frowns slightly at the entrance. "Did you know them? It seemed they were after you, mer." A hand waves dismissively. "Nevermind ... but what is this about General Firuell calling your family cowards? Well that is such nonsense as never I have heard. Besides, you should not listen to the idiocy of Dringles, mer. Unless they are, of course, the ruling family. They are different, of course." And related to Juneva. "Who was this person you knew? Were they a member of your family?" *Firan*

Brannik smirks when Anika has to bail when her snowball comes apart. "Yeah, I know those girls. They just want to have a snowball fight. I'll get em later." he turns back to glance at Juneva. "Yes, Lady. It's not somethin' I usually talk about with folks. But it was a family member." He pauses and shrugs. "I think the Auriks are all crazy anyways, but yeah, you're right bout Dringles." *Firan*

"Most Gold Dragons are. They take what does not belong to them and speak poorly of those who are not them. It is unbecoming ..." Juneva realizes she has forgotten to get off at her stop, but intrigued by the conversation, continues to speak with Brannik. "I am sorry to hear that about a member of your family. They must have been a Griffon, then? What were they accused of doing?"

Now there's the question Brannik has been dreading. The boy actually pales a little and his eyes drop to his boots. "She killed someone, they say." he almost whispers. "Someone of importance, who was well liked." His eyes flit up, giving a slightly frightened look at Juneva and her guards.

<OOC: ROLL> Juneva rolls her Intuition + Reason at difficulty 7 and gets 2 successes.

"What do you mean? A murderer?" Juneva looks as though she is about to smile, on the verge of some amusing comment regarding the impossibility of Griffons being guilty of such acts, when the puzzle pieces click inside her head. At once her demeanor is changed, her warm skin growing pale as Brannik's while her gaze, usually so gentle, hardens into a bold, intense study of the boy. "You mean Brinna Sennet, don't you," she says, her voice as steady as the stare. "That treasonous harlot who murdered my Lady mother and tore apart our family." Juneva sits up, and her guards grow stiff, sensing the young Lady's shift in mood. "You THINK she is not guilty of the crime? That she was executed ... unjustly? And who are YOU to question the judgement of the courts when all the evidence was against her? WHO ARE YOU?"

Brannik straightens, shaking his head quickly. "No, Lady, no no." he swallows audibly. "I did mean...her." he says. "I was two when she....done what she did. And yeah, I think she did it." He gives Juneva a desperate look. "I said earlier I didn't think they'd execute the wrong person, didn't I? Why would I go thinkin' she wouldn't do it, when all my life people been so quick to point out how bad my mo...how bad she was?" His voice is shaking by the time he finishes, his eyes staying on Juneva. *Firan*

Juneva , despite her furious anger, has tears in her eyes and her chin begins to tremble, a hand clutching the hilt of the dagger she wears. "Your what?" she asks and grows entirely too still, becoming something entirely different, someone unlike herself. Even Bendus, having been Juneva's guardian all of her life, sees this and grows fearful, reaching to touch the maiden's arm with a gentle word, "Milady ... we have reached the end of our tour." But the Corinala does not stir or acknowledge this gesture, leaning slightly towards Brannik, her gaze as dark as the nature of the crime which was committed. "Who was she to you, mer?" *Firan*

Brannik notices the hand on the dagger, and begins to tremble. "Lady, please...I'm sorry for your pain. For what she did. It wasn't right. It was cruel mean and evil that your mom got taken from you." he says, his words heartfelt. "I din't mean to cause you hurt." He takes a deep breath. "The evil woman? She's nothin' to me. I hate her too, for all that she was the woman who bore me." *Firan*

Juneva sets free a breath she has been holding and the sound of it seems to fill the stillness which is so similiar to the calm before a storm, heavy with the possibility of destruction. "How DARE you speak to me," says the maiden quietly, sitting upright with one last sneer at Brannik. "STOP THE LITTER," she calls, leaving as soon as the command is obeyed. She does not look back. *Firan*

Brannik watches Juneva go quietly, lowering his head. It's only after the litter starts moving again that he moves, rubbing at his eyes with an angry hand. The boy's face takes on a brooding look as he stares unseeing out at the city while the tour goes on. </nowiki>