More preparations for the Winter Festival are underway, this time at the Pyramid itself. Even Windhaven is sending in people it seems.

Skeerix:
You see before you Skeerix, a young male gryphon. He looks to be just out of adolesence, a full adult in his own right, but still a little bit young. He's close to 80 inches in length, 44 inches at the shoulder, making him a fairly large male. His tufted tail adds a good60 inches to him. He' not that heve though, the male very rawboned, not quite filled out yet, although when he does he'll be quite a built gryphon. His coloration at his head feathers is a simple white, his beak a dusky yellow. Down his body his fur is a cream white, fading to a full white underneath him. His wings are a brown in color, lightening to a tan at the tips of his feathers.

Faekawn:
A young gryphoness, standing about 3' tall at the shoulder, leaving her third winter. Her immature plumage has fallen away, leaving her adult coat of dark golden and browns gleaming, with striking blacks accenting her secondaries. Her fur is mostly a dark bronze color, paler along the underside, and darker at her paws and her tailtip. Her beak is a light shade of yellow/gold, as are the scales of her forelegs. She's still just a little bit leggy, but is definitely growing into her adulthood. She has the mark of a gryphon who does a lot of flying, with strong wings and deep chest.

Ceylana:
Ordinary honey-brown lion half, deep chestnut brown feathers in front. Sharp black talons on all paws, yellow avian forearms and beak. Her feathers are dyed a variety of darker colors, some green, some blue, some purple. Her wings are broad, a full 20' tip to tip, her body large, 6'11" beak to rump and 4' high at the shoulder. She wears a variety of small pouches on thongs about her neck, all covered in different painted sigils and beads. Her demeanor is concise and to the point usually. She is soft spoken unless otherwise stated. Her age is old, over 200 years.

Aubri:
Aubri is a large, handsome nonmorphic gryphon. His foreclaws are scaled and yellow like an eagle's below the elbow joint, feathered above it, with four long talons on each claw. His body is feathered in golden brown back to his wings, where the feathers fade into fur of the same shade. His neck has a wash of iridescent golden feathers on it. Aubri's face ends in a fiercely hooked beak, over which his sharp, brown eyes notice you looking at him.
His wings are broad with rounded ends, hawklike. They are folded neatly to his back when he is on the ground, but spread for flight his wingspan looks to be over thirty feet. A noticeable pattern traces down his wings, outlining his coverts on top in bright gold feathers, each tipped with a black that is almost blue at the end. The pattern reverses along the front edge of his wings, then fades into his chest feathers, looking almost natural even though it is indeed feather paint. His large padded hindpaws have shiny black retractable claws in them, the tips of which are always showing on his toes. His smooth, tight rump is thickly muscled and marred only by a long scar running from shoulder to hip, long healed over.

Kayzon:
Here stands a gentle giant of a broadwinged male gryphon. Standing at exactly 4' at the shoulder and stretching out to a healthy 6'10", he's a big gryphon. His front half is a bright cedar brown in color, the top of his feathered head and eartufts crowned with a more terra-cotta reddish coloring. His wings spread out considerably, showing off the blacks stripes along the feathers The brown of his feathers breaks to a sudden shift in tones to a much lighter tan as his feathers halt and the fur begins. His beak and raptorial forearms are a bright, healthy yellow. The fleshy cere surrounding his beak and his talons on all four feet are a shiny black. The fluff at the tip of his tail darkens more along the colors of his feathered front. His personality is polite and quiet. He is quiet amiable and friendly when spoken too.

Carteth:
Your gaze settles upon a young hen, just past fledgling age. She seems to be of a hawken/lion persuasion by design. Her hooked beak, a dark slate color, leads off her form. Deep blue settles over nares and the fore of her feathers, and two lines of the color trail up to her ear tufts, coloring all feathers there. Beneath and surrounding the deep blue, the color changes to a cyan, and then to a deep green, which flows down midneck. An orange-red iris seems to almost glow between the decently sized black pupil and black outer eye. Back down, the green color begins to drift to a yellow around the base of her neck and ends of her feathers. Black scaled forelegs and talons shine slightly, still very clean and unmarred. Her wings hold a similar coloring: The entire top is a deep blue, except at the very edge of her primaries where it changes to a firey red. Beneath, the spectrum of colors that hold to her head and neck are mirrored. The wings are the broadversion, holding at the large span of 21'. Interesting is the color of her hind, however. Not the tannish color it normally would be, instead it flows of a darker green starting at neck base and wings, going back to near her rump, before it darkens to a black down her legs and along her tail.

Base of the Pyramid - Shrilk Crossroads
This is the east side of the base of the mighty obsidian pyramid created by the Core computer. From this vantage point you can barely make out the glittering portal at the top. All around, in every direction, are the remains of what must have been an immense festival or gathering of some sort. Though it must have been weeks, if not months ago, the earth is still packed, and there are still scraps of debris, tent spikes, rope, and the cold ash remnants of firepits.
Beyond this clearing to the north and south lays a dense forest, to the east a two rutted dirt roadways join, offering travel to the east, north, and south. The air here is cool and refreshing, blowing from the west across the lake which is on the other side of the pyramid. There seems to be a well travelled path curving around the pyramid and leading off west, directly towards Lake Evarim.

Skeerix wanders on by the pyramid, yawning slightly, having landed a short distance away from here and walked the rest.

Faekawn helps a few dozen other gryphons with laying out heavy canvas, helping drag the cloth into place according to scratched lines on the ground.

Skeerix watches with idle curiosity, noting the preparations that are beginning with the festival, wondering if he's going to end up going to it.

Faekawn heaves and drags with the best of them... then, when it's her turn to do so, she pads a few meters away and flops down, panting heavily.

Skeerix sneaks over to you as you take your break, chuckling a bit "Working hard?" he asks as he gets close.

Faekawn looks up at you tiredly, and hrfs. "Yessss... want to help?"

Skeerix cocks his head "What's in it for me?" he says, the quickly raises a talon "Just kidding."

Faekawn snorts sharply, and looks back to the others. "Nothing, I sssuppose."

Skeerix hehs "I was just kidding..."

Skeerix hmms "Why're you so grumpy?"

Faekawn looks back at you again, frowning. "Sorry... maybe if I wasn't tired it'd be funny."

Skeerix awws "C'mon..cheer up, and I'll lend a bit of a talon if I can..."

Faekawn gives you another look. "Alright..." She heaves herself back up again, and trots foreward, glancing upwards at one of the two drakes circling the tent's construction area. "There's a lot of ropes to lay..."

Skeerix hmms "Okay..I'll help out a little bit..." he says, moving over to where you indicate.

Faekawn nods, keeping an eye above for another few moments. "Yeah, so... see these holes, with the metal rings? Ya gotta thread the rope through... uhm... here, and here, like this?" She shows you, looping the rope skillfully through a pair of the rings.

Ceylana glides downwards from above to land near the base of the pyramid.
Ceylana has arrived.

Skeerix hmms, fiddling with the ropes, taking a few moments, but his deft talons manage it pretty quickly.

Ceylana flies high overhead, a small wing of gryphons behind, carrynets in claw.

Faekawn looks upwards at the arriving Windhaven contingent, chirrring faintly... "More are coming..."

Ceylana directs an unburdened gryphon ahead of her to scout on for a suitable landing spot as the area around the pyramid seems to be slowly filling in with tents and other supplies. The scout circles around the pyramid and skrees out, banking to a sharp landing a short distance away from the tent being currently put up. Ceylana turns to skree to the others with her and they also bank, being careful to drop of the carrynets before taking to the ground themselves. Ceylana's landing is slow and careful, her age trying to show itself, but her pride not allowing it to do so.

Aubri rounds the tent corner and pads up beside Faekawn with a chirrup.. "More of what?" he asks lightly.

Skeerix looks up, spotting the Windhaven contingent, wondering if he'll be okay.

Faekawn squawks and jumps slightly. "Aubri!" she laughs, turning around... "There you are.... "

Aubri chuckles and grins. "Where? Where??"

Faekawn grins, and clicks her beak at Aubri. "Silly..." She rrrks, and jumps over a set of ropes, then helps drag more over for Skeerix, so he'll have some slack.

Aubri laughs. "Anything I can do to help out?" he chirrs, watching the huge job of setup.

Ceylana looks over the supplies and items carried in the nets and talks with her gryphons before turning to survey the area now that she's on the ground to get an idea of what is going on and to she if she can figure out who is in charge.

Faekawn watches the Windhaven group for a little bit. "I... eep. I dunno. I just know a little bit of what's going on, and he..." she blinks, and looks at Skeerix... realizing she has no idea who he is. "Uhm... he's doing the only other thing I really know about..."

Aubri ohs and examines the ropes.. "Well, what're you doing?"

Skeerix continues to help, until he can get to a point where he can pause without messing up the work 'I'm Skreerix..just landing a talon for a little bit...."

Faekawn grins a little. "I gave him a hard time..." she chuckles. "Hi Skeerix. I'm Faekawn. Uhm... from Grylra..."

Skeerix ahs "I'm..well..from nowhere, really.." he says sheepishly.

Ceylana can't tell who is in charge yet, so she just heads to the nearest cluster of gryphons. The others accompanying her stay with the nets. She pads quietly over to the tent being set up by Skeerix and Faekawn. She is still far enough away to not hear much of the conversation yet.

Faekawn tilts her head a little as the Windhaven comes closer... this isn't one she recognizes at all... but then, she doesn't get to Windhaven very much these days.

Skeerix looks up to the approaching windhavener,fidgeting a little bit "Looks like we have another guest.." he says, joking a bit.

Aubri chirps softly.. "I'm Aubri, also of Grylra," he introduces himself.

Ceylana looks around and softly, yet politely asks, "Excuse me, but can any of you please point me to the gryphon in charge here? I have some questions and details to ask."

Faekawn bobs her head slightly to Ceylana, then looks to Aubri. He's /her/ boss, at least....

Skeerix is in charge of nothing, of course, shying away a little from the conversation.

Aubri shrugs a little and hrrs.. "I think that Dove's bandleader is in charge of this particular tent, but.. what do you need to know?"

Ceylana has heard of Dove and looks around for the small white gryphoness before answering Aubri. "I have come on behalf of Windhaven to see that a tent of ours is set up while there is still space to choose."

Aubri nods.. "Okay..." he prompts, cocking his head.

Faekawn trots over to help Skeerix some more, dragging more of the rope over, and starting to thread it herself, as well. She keeps her head tilted a little bit, listening in on the conversation, as she listened in on so many of her father's.

Skeerix gets back to work, wanting to finish this up so that he can free himself up, not thrilled at working..but he did promise..

Ceylana looks over at Faekawn and Skeerix setting up the tent and doesn't recognize any of them. She wouldn't recognize most gryphons considering how isolated she once was in her studies. She then asks Aubri, "Is there anywhere I can go to find out where to set up our tent?"

Aubri hrrrs and shakes his head. "I don't think anyone's in charge of that--just set up wherever there's space."

Faekawn aaacks, as she gets her hindpaw tangled in the rope, and she lays over to spend a few moments getting it loose again... and the knots out of the rope....

Skeerix erfs, going over to Faekwan to help her get untangled.

Ceylana nods to Aubri and pads back to her entourage and directs them to just start setting up right there. Of the six of them, she sends two to go assist Faekawn and Skeerix with their tent until this one is up.

Faekawn grrrs. "Dumb rope gets all twisty at the end..." she mutters, kicking her way free with Skeerix's help. "Here... you hold this for a second?" she chirps to him, tapping one end of the rope, then searching down the other.

Two adult gryphs, one male the other female, trot over to offer their assistance to Faekawn and Skeerix with the tent.

Aubri pads over to help out as well. "Are you all right?.."

Skeerix nods to Faekwan, holding the rope for her after she pulls free "Sure..." he murmurs, eying Ceylana now that she's up close "I'm Skeerix, by the way.." he says, introducing himself.

Faekawn chirps happily to see all the help! "I'm fine... just got careless..." She finds the end, and chirps "Hi, you two... I'll be back in a second!" So saying, she takes the end and leaps upwards. flapping quickly, just to drag the rope out straight. She lets go and folds her wings, letting the rope un-twist madly as it drops, and then catches it, sweeping up again, to let it fall one more time... much less tangled now. She lands again, and brushes happily against Aubri, before nodding again to the new helpers.

Aubri laughs and whistles at Faekawn. "Very nice," he chuckles, fluttering his wings a bit.

Faekawn grins a little back over her shoulder at Aubri, flicking her tail. "Thanks... I just didn't want to get tangled up again! Thaaaaanks, Skeerix," she chirps, then introduces herself to the new Windhaven.

Skeerix laughs 'No problem, Faekwan." he says with a chuckle.

Ceylana lets the others set up the Windhaven tent as directed as she looks over the remaining supplies in the carry nets. She does take enough time to walk over first and bow slightly saying, "Forgive me, I have forgotten my manners. I am Ceylana Zenari of Windhaven."

Aubri bobs his head once. "A pleasure.."

Faekawn grins, and nods as well. "Nice to meet you, Ceylana... what are your people setting up? This is a musicians tent, for us..."

Skeerix smiles a bit "Nice to meetya, Ceylana..."

Kayzon glides downwards from above to land near the base of the pyramid.
Kayzon has arrived.

Ceylana looks at everyone and nods her head slowly. She answers the question, "This tent in particular is a featherpainter's tent. We also wish to set up another tent for the mages to use as an information point for those interested in the magical arts, if that is permissable to do so." She looks at Aubri with a questioning look.

Kayzon glides in from the southwestern sky, after circling twice.

Faekawn goes back to help threading the rope, glad to see it's almost done. "Thanks for helping... see, it's not that bad?" she teases lightly.

Skeerix chuckles 'Well...maybe you're right.." he murmurs.

Aubri bobs his head.. "Certainly.." He hrrrs softly. "I wonder if Stormdancer is arranging for another display like two years ago.."

Faekawn either didn't hear that from Aubri, or doesn't know... and instead is triumphantly tying up the last of the rope. She beaktouches lightly with the drake... polite, but not exactly encouraging. "Thanks... there's a ton to do around here, so... you know... if you're not careful, somebody'll draft you for something again!"

Ceylana looks up as Kayzon's shadow crosses her path. She silently notes the new arrival and then bows slightly again to the grphons and heads back to her group which has the tent already half-way up.

Skeerix grins at Faekwan "Well, as long as they draft a lovely hen like you to ask me, how will I refue?" he teases lightly.

Faekawn laughs, and snaps her beak sharply at Skeerix, though quite a bit short of actually contacting. "If that's what it takes to get work done..." she grins, then leaps gracefully over the canvas, and helps start raising the poles...

Aubri chuckles..

The two Windhaveners step up to help Faekawn and Skeerix with the tent also.

Carteth glides downwards from above to land near the base of the pyramid.
Carteth has arrived.

Getting the tent set up is much easier with the Windhaven's help, and Faekawn and the other Gryrla eventually learn to work well with them... finishing much more quickly than they could have otherwise. Much interior work remains to be done, but that's for later... for now, most of the Grylra join forces to help the Windhaven with their tent.

Carteth pants for breath, as she wings her way through the air. Grrr, two days of this flying stuff, to get here. What a pain. She can finally see the pyramid, as well as a tent (or more) that are getting set up...

The four gryphons setting up the Windhaven tent are soon finished with the last minute help from their two and the two Grylrans from the other tent. The Windhaveners thank the two Grylrans and then start moving the remaining cargo from the carrynets inside.

Kayzon starts digging around for boulders about the size of your head. These are to line the many firepits that provide light and heat.

Skeerix hmms "I think I'm going to take a break...hard work does not agree with me..."

Faekawn grins. "You should go to the Windhaven tent, then..." she chirps at Skeerix... obviously in jest, since the Windhaven are working just as hard.

The "Parrot-Gryph"'s brightly colored body eventually comes a bit more into view, a large satchel hanging and swinging a bit behind her as she works to make it to the pyramid. She lets off a falty skree, which sounds oddly hilarious, to note her arrival...

A dull thud comes from the field near the tents as Kayzon drops the first of the stones there and goes back for more.

Faekawn glances up at the skree'd cry, and screams back, grinning a little, and launching herself skyward easily. "Carteth! You made it! Yay!" she calls, "Here, come on, we've just about got a tent set up!"

Carteth grunts back at Faekawn, as she continues in her panting flight. "Damn your energies, Faekawn!!" She tucks her wings, letting her fall a bit before fanning them to glide in toward the pyramid. She does a neat little land-hop-run-drop satchel-drop self deal, and lays there, panting for breath...

Ceylana can be heard from inside the tent and can be seen as she steps out to let the painters inside finish getting their materials together. She looks up at the new arrival and also makes note of the thud from Kayzon. She does not know what he plan to do with them yet, so she keeps her distance. This is still a Grylra event and she reminds herself that she is just a guest...with a lot of work to do back home.

Faekawn backwings and lands gracefully next to Carteth, grinning, nibbling her cheek playfully. "Want some water or something? There's a skin... uhm... somebody had it a minute ago... I could find it for you?"

Carteth makes a false little whimper, and rolls to her side after flicking her wings to her back. "Yes, please...And a little food? Havn't eaten since I left..."

There are food supplies for workers that are brought in each day with the supply shipmemts from Grylra.

Aubri watches Kayzon carrying stones around for firepits, then chirrups and wingwaves at Fae's new friend. "Good evening!" he greets, spreading his wings and lifting into the air as well..

Faekawn laughs, and nods rapidly. It's not a very long flight for her, back to Grylra... just a few hours... but obviously it took someone as out of shape as Carteth a lot longer. She lopes off toward the tent she was just working on, and peers around... finally squawking triumphantly as she finds the waterskin. She grabs it up in her beak and trots back over to the technicolor hen, and offers it to her.

The thuds turn into clack-clacks as the pile of stones gows in size.

Carteth raises a talon toward Aubri, in return, sending her own greetings in return, before thanking Faekawn for the waterskin. She opens in, rolls to her back, momentarily pouring a bit down her beak, before settling (with the waterskin tipped so it won't pour the water out) and just laying there, legs comically floating in the air. "Remind me not to ever do this again..."

Kayzon says, "You have to fly back you know."

Kayzon drops another stone on the pile.

Faekawn laughs, and nods rapidly to Kayzon. "You do! It's not so bad, really... it gets lots and lots easier, the more you do it!"

Carteth makes one of those 'pained chuckles', and slowly rolls back over. "Nasty nasty nasty gryphons, telling me these things...."

Ceylana stays out of the conversation for now, but does listen in with interest. She has settled down in front of the Windhaven tent and is also watching the rock pile with growing interest. Ah, good. Firepit rings, very good.

Faekawn giggles happily, and pokes Carteth playfully. "You gotta get up and walk, and flap a little, or you'll get terrible cramps... trust me... the first time I did a really long flight, I didn't remember to do that, and it was awful!"

Aubri laughs softly and shakes his head.. "Maybe you should join the scouts," he grins at Carteth..

Carteth mrehs at that!!! "Already trying to put me to work!"

Aubri laughs! "Faekawn will attest it's a good way to build stamina.."

Kayzon starts digging stopping to pant out, "These claws aren't made for digging.

Faekawn bobs her head, grinning. "It sure is... I could fly all day, if I needed to.. 'cause... I have to sometimes!"

Carteth glances around a few moments, noting two tents, and ponders a little. "Aren't there supposed to be more, Faekawn?" Okay, so, for at least a moment, the thought that work has only just gotten started isn't coming to her.

Faekawn laughs, shaking her head. "These are just the first ones up, silly! There's gonna be huuuuundreds of them! Just everywhere! And wagons... BIG wagons, some of 'em bigger than the tents! Shoot... last year, there were draft animals for one of the wagons that were as big as a tent! A few got loose, and we hunted 'em."

Carteth blinks at all this, nodding a bit. "Erm....hmm..." She ponders a bit, glancing around. "Well, I promised a few back at the plateau I'd draw up pictures of everything going on, as well as trying to be part, so..."

Aubri laughs and nods at Fae.. "And displays of magic, and food and drink.. oh, you'll have fun.."

Kayzon in extreme discomfort asks, "Aubri, is your mate coming to help this year?

Carteth bahs, and turns, glancing around for her satchel a moment. She finally spots it, and heads over, picking up the fairly heavy load. "There we are. All my stuff..."

Faekawn stretches out for a little bit, panting... then decides to go see if she can help Kayzon a little.

Aubri glances at Kayzon and bobs his head. "She should.. why?"

Faekawn grins back at Aubri. "Because she could do the stone for the firepits a lot faster than this...."

Kayzon says, "Digging the holes actually."

Aubri raises an eyeridge at Kayzon. "So you want her to do your job?.."

Faekawn grins, digging around in the remains of one of the previous years firepits, wondering how much work it will be to re-build... and ooohs as she finds a little sparkly trinket, overlooked in all this time!

Kayzon says, "Not really it's just... there has to be a faster way... at this rate I'll have to dig for three months."

Carteth settles a slight way to the side, pulling out some materials from her satchel, as well as a hard wooden board to use to draw on. Seems a few Grylrans gave her some presents...

Faekawn trots over to the first tent, where her carry bag is, and stuffs the little misshapen glob of glass into her pouch... it'll be a fun thing to give to the gryphlets in Grylra.

Aubri chuckles a little and nods. "I'll ask her to fly out and help," he grins.

Faekawn chirps to Kayzon, "Let's just work on the big ones that are left over, and fix them up some... that'll help, and we can start a fire in them tonight, I bet!"

Kayzon says, "Okay , but be careful not to dull your talons on the stones buried in the pits."

Faekawn snorts ruefully. "Not like I need 'em sharp anyway..." she mutters... though she is careful poking through the hardened ash and dirt that's drifted in over the last year.

Aubri clicks his beak at Fae and grins.. "Hey, you should take his advice.."

Carteth begins to sketch a bit, watching the work getting down. Outlines of the tents form on paper, filled in a bit, while the forms of those gryphons that are here are set in different spots doing different things. Intent made to have each put in the picture...

Skeerix slips away, his work here done.

Faekawn ducks her head a little. "Well, I don't want to break one or anything, but... oh, it would be bad to get cut on something, wouldn't it..."

Faekawn glances toward the two departing, and grins to herself... won't be the first time that's going to happen, here.

Carteth is done in short time, very good at getting these things done and life-like in no time. On the bottom, she puts, as the title, "The start of it all."

Aubri hrrs and nudges Fae with his wingtip. "If we're going to be back before dark, we should head back to Grylra.."

Faekawn looks around a little, and makes a face. "You're right... I've got a toy to drop off for the firstyears, too... though... maybe in the morning. And I'm supposed to bring a whole pile of instruments and stuff tomorrow. So we can make some music and stuff, for the people building." She looks down at her dirty claws, and grins. "Like... we're not building..."

Kayzon says, "I'll stay here tonight ... will you tell Meerith my heart is with her?"

Carteth blinks a bit, and raises her head. "Heading back?!"

Faekawn awwws, and grins. "If I see her, I will." She nods to Carteth, and fluffs. "Told you being in the scouts was good training! I'll be back in the morning, though... probably just a little while after secondsun."

Kayzon says, "Thanks."

Kayzon continues digging.

Carteth snerks softly.... "Uh, maybe I'll stay. The pyramid's top is likely a good place for getting a look at the dual sun-sets..."

Aubri chuckles and brushes Fae with his wingtip. "I'll come out here tomorrow, too.. I'll see if Dove can come help with the firepits."

Faekawn shakes her head, and gestures with her beak. "You can sleep there, in the tent we just put up. Some of the other singer and players are gonna stay there, too... it'll be warm, and nice." She rouses a bit at Aubri's touch, and stretches her wings, flapping them a few times getting ready for flight. "She'll have fun with it, I bet... but we better both watch her so she doesn't go crazy and try to do everything herself!"

Aubri laughs and nods! "I know, I know.. Believe me." he rolls his eyes playfully.

Faekawn grins, and arches her back, then gives her claws a shake, trying to get some of the dirt off... fortunately it's all pretty dry, so it comes off easily. "Well... should we fly?" she asks Aubri...

Aubri nods and spreads his wings after her. "Go ahead and lead off," he tells the scout. "I'll follow."

Faekawn grins a bit at the opportunity to lead her leader, and she nods sharply. She takes a few paces upwind, pauses... then takes two quick running strides, and leaps up off the ground, stroking quickly and powerfully upwards, well above the trees by the time she gets that far away... and climbing onwards, as she heads toward home, angeling directly across the lake - the shortest rout, but not a good one for those unsure of their wings.

Aubri takes off almost straight up, his powerful wingbeats lifting him above the tents before he starts to fly after her.