Kythias Quits!

-- Kythias' final interview as she leaves the Harpercraft. --

[ note the newbie intrusion toward the bottom, and realize how annoying it is to the people playing. If you've ever done
this, please don't do it again. ]

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Harper Office (#2732)
The office is bright, outside light coming in through the window to reflect off
whitewashed walls and ceiling. A pattern mimicking musical notation in colors
runs along the tops of the walls, shelf upon shelf rising from the floor to
meet it. Desks and filing drawers are arranged about the room, workplaces for
those whose job it is to keep the harpers and hall in order.
The air is fresh, tangy with sea and hides and well-seasoned woods.
The glows are lit, illuminating the work of the harpers as they go about their
daily tasks.
It is a summer midmorning. The southeastern horizon is inky. Rain begins to
fall, whipped by the strong winds.
Watching from a high shelf are Rhymert and Emerand.
You see Staff Tackboard, a sandtable, and Sign-up Sheet for B'var's Orchestra
here.
Obvious exits:
Shainman Rehearsal Hall Ballroom

Kythias (#5365)
You see a tall figure of regal carriage. She seems cold and haughty, but as you
look closer, you catch a glimpse of an impish twinkle in her eye. Her long
black hair is tightly braided, but little tendrils are constantly escaping and
floating around her face. A faint Threadscore scar trails down one cheek.
She has calluses across her hands, seemingly from long weapons practice, but
oddly, there are also string calluses on the tips of her long fingers. Her
clear blue eyes constantly roam, assessing the situation around her. As you
watch, you get a sense of controlled power about her, almost like that of a
caged wildcat.
Kythias is wearing a loose black shirt of light material. The sleeves puff
lightly about her arms and end just above the elbow. Her forearms are covered
with leather vambraces. She is also wearing tight leathern pants and knee-high
wherhide boots, also black. Under her clothing can be seen the outlines of
various oddly-shaped objects. Huddled in the shadows of Kythias's shoulder is
Vladimir.
She is awake and looks alert.
Carrying:
Woodlark target
a pair of dragon dice Vladimir
Kythias is 18 Turns, 7 months, and 17 days old.

Kythias glides silently in from the ballroom.
Kythias awn..wanders in, not to..noticing Shinnai's presence.
Shinnai nods to Kythias. "Glad you've finally come," she acknowledges, glancing
to a certain knot and note on her desktop.
Kythias winces, lok..looking at Shinnai guiltily. "Um..."
Shinnai raises an eyebrow. "So, please, go ahead. Tell me, if you will, why
you decided not to leave my hall in person, but instead sent a message?"
Kythias looks defensive. "You weren't in here to talk to. The only one I could
find was Fletcher."
Shinnai chuckles. "What, you mean I didn't happen to be chained to my desk at
that instant? How awful." She shakes her head slightly. "I'm sorry, Kythias,
but I don't consider that I'm particularly inaccessible. What made you so
eager to leave so suddenly that you couldn't wait for an hour or two?"
Kythias paces the room restlessly. "I had an appointment to go to with the
guard sergeant."
Shinnai watches Kythias pace. "Apparently so," she says equably, gaze falling
on her new accoutrements.
Kythias shrugs and begins chewing one nail.
Shinnai taps her stylus gently into the soft sand of her work surface, then
replaces it into its holder. "Kythias, until now, you've been devoted to the
Harpercraft. I just don't understand this change of heart."
Kythias snorts softly. "Devoted, hmm. Fascinating."
Shinnai raises an eyebrow. "Spare me your derision, Kythias. I want an
explanation. Preferably, a good one, and now."
Kythias shakes her head. "I've never been devoted to anything for my whole
life. Not for long, anyway. I didn't belong in the Harpers. It lo..took a
while to realize it, but I didn't."
Shinnai studies the young woman in front of her. "And you're now finally
devoted to the Hold Guard, or is this just another phase that you'll quit
sooner or later?" she asks, without accusation.
Kythias shrugs again. "I fit in better here."
Shinnai steeples her fingers under her chin, dark eyes following Kythias'
restless motion quietly. "Fit in. You keep using those words," she observes.
Kythias glances at Shinnai, then back down at the floor. "Do I."
Shinnai nods. "You do." She sighs, very softly. "I understand that you need to
follow your interests, Kythias. I just hate to see you do something so
suddenly and with apparently little reflection on the consequences."
Kythias frowns am..and mutters "...sounds like my mother..." then speaks up
louder. "It's not as sudden as you would think."
Shinnai says, "Perhaps not. In which case, I'm disappointed that you couldn't talk
with me sooner."
Rhymert stirs restlessly, tiny jewel eyes whirling a worried yellow-green as
she flits down from the shelf to perch on Shinnai's shoulder, ducking into her
hair.
Kythias shrugs and sits down abruptly
Shinnai reaches up to soothe the little green, sitting back as she watches
Kythias.
From Kythias's shoulder, Vladimir opens his eyes enough to watch the green fl.
Kythias turns her head towards her fl, carefully not watching the harper.
Shinnai says, "I hope you understand that, aside from the absolute discourtesy
you've done to myself and to the other Masters in this hall by not openly
declaring your intentions to one of us," she pauses to let those words sink in
just slightly, "Aside from that, that is, I am simply concerned that you're
not acting rashly and out of discontent, rather than a true wish to become a
Hold Guard."
Kythias wind..winces and sighs. "No rashness, no discontent, and I didnt intend
any offense whatsoever."
Shinnai nods acknowledgement. "I never thought you meant to. However, I think
that your Captain of the Guard wouldn't take it kindly if you did the same to
him, would he?" she raises an eyebrow questioningly.
Kythias shakes her head thoughtfully. "I guess not."
Shinnai touches the note briefly, unrolling it to glance at it. "Well, I don't
want to prevent you from following your own path, Kythias. But you do realize
that leaving like this has effectively burned your bridge. When I send this
in, you'll be out of the craft for good and ever."
Kythias slumps down in her chair, one nail in her mouth. "I don't care."
Shinnai raises an eyebrow. "You're sure about this."
Kythias shrugs, glancing in annoyance at Vladimir as he knocks her hand
wa..away from her mouth. "I'm sure."
Shinnai studies Kythias intensely, catching the young woman's eye. "Then let
me get your signature here," she breaks off her gaze to open a drawer,
extracting a thick ledger.
Kythias straightens up and leans toward the desk.
Shinnai flips through the ledger to the proper page... Former Apprentices.
"Here, if you will, sign your name below Alex's." she points to the spot on
the page, conspicuously blank save for one current name and the one about to
be entered. "And, please give a reason. Perhaps your future job."
Kythias takes the pen and carefully signs her name. Under the reason she writes
'Joined the guard."
Jakal walks in from the ballroom.
Shinnai glances up at the newcomer. "I'll be with you in a moment," she
assures, turning her attention back to Kythias, the two of whom appear to be
engaged in intense discussion.
Jakal walks out into the ballroom.
Jakal walks in from the ballroom.
Jakal says, "hello kythis"
Jakal says, "so glad to swwe"
Shinnai retrieves the stylus from Kythias, turning the ledger around to face
herself.
Shinnai studies the entry.
Jakal says, "bye bye"
Jakal walks out into the ballroom.
Shinnai nods to herself, signing her own name next to the entry. "Well, it's
official. I'll send a message to the Masterharper on the next ship."
Shinnai looks, disappointed, at Kythias. "I'm sorry to see you go." Rhymert, on
her shoulder, peeks out from behind her ear and cheeps softly, as if to echo
the sentiment.
Shinnai peers down at the little green. "You don't even know Kythias," she
points out to the firelizard, who promptly hides again.
Kythias smiles slightly at the fl and glances abck doe..down at thte floor.
Jakal walks in from the ballroom.
Jakal (#5915)
a tall dark skinned man whith a long black cloak on
He is awake and looks alert.
Jakal is 20 Turns, 3 months, and 4 days old.
Jakal walks out into the ballroom.
Shinnai looks at the retreating Jakal, a cool expression on her face. "Do you
know him?" she wonders to Kythias.
Kythias shakes her head, not trnin..turning ab..around.
Loiosh silently slips out of ::between::!
Kythias glances up curiously at her fl. "What?"
Shinnai closes the ledger. "Well."
Kythias glances at eh..the piece of hide handed to her by Loiosh. "Really..."
she murmurs. "Who gave you this?"
a faint smile appears on Kythias's face. "You better take it back to him."
Loiosh dissolves silently into ::between::!
Shinnai looks curiously at Kythias. "Pardon?"
Shinnai notes that it's extremely impolite to be receiving private messages in
the Hold Harper's office, without explaining to some degree.
Kythias shakes her head. "Firelizard antics again. Apparently someone's playing
games with Loiosh...Y'sil, to be exact."
Shinnai nods, and smiles slightly. "I'm afraid I'll be in for some of those
myself as soon as Rhymert gets a little older."
Kythias's hand apprea..approaches her mouth again, and Vladimir knocks h..it
away.
Shinnai says, "Well, I guess that's it, Kythias."
Shinnai appears resigned to the inevitable.
Kythias nods, glancing up ate Shinnai.
Jakal walks in from the ballroom.
Shinnai says, "I wish you all the best in your new position. Whatever you do," she
requests, "learn to do it *well*."
Jakal says, "you two still here"
Jakal walks out into the ballroom.
Shinnai says, "Sir, we are nearly done. If you'd like to speak with me, please
wait. If you're waiting for Kythias, please do so outside. "
Kythias fron..frowns faintly, wondering what was meant by that, and stands. She
bows slightly to Shinnaiand heads out.
Shinnai stands as well. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you," she says. "At least, I
hope so," she adds with a smile.
Kythias nods. "Fae..Farewell, master."
Kythias glides silently out into the ballroom.

Date: Tue Jan 16 18:21:16 1996 EST
From: Shinnai (#1357)
To: *Harper (#711)
Subject: Kythias has left the craft.

It's official; she signed the ledger this morning and as we speak, a message
has been sent off to the Masterharper to confirm it.

So, farewell, and best wishes to Kythias in her new position with Ista's Hold
Guard.

-- Shinnai, Ista Hold Senior Harper.
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