Dance Of Seasons

On the morning after the feast, Lady Darshi and Lady Alysha meet in a courtyard to test their martial skills. The contest was observed by Lord Naresh, Lord Hazir and Lady Alysha's guard.

Alysha feints and taunts Darshi, using her double-ended quarterstaff to advantage. Lady Darshi changes to a more mobile fighting style which puts Alysha at a disadvantage. She tries to goad Darshi into making an all-out attack by insulting Darshis parentage. She was unprepared for Darshis witty retort and completely lost her temper. Alysha lit her flaming staff. This was now a duel to the death. Lady Darshi defeated her opponent and showed remarkable restraint by merely wounding her grievously and actually administering first aid. She then walked away, letting Alysha's people take care of the body.

The three witnessing Ramalinga lords reacted very differently. Lord Jangir expressed regret that one such as Lady Alysha had escaped with her life. Lord Hazir feared the consequences of the duel and was sorely tempted to intervene, regretting his tender years, but in the end only sent a servant to inform Lord Ramachandra. Lord Naresh gruffly complimented Lady Darshi on her restraint and proceeded to personally inform Lord Ramachandra. Lady Darshi returned home and continued her martial arts practice alone.

After receiving the messages about the duel, Lord Ramachandra called on Mizi Modina and joined her in the bath while they discuss he unfortunate incident. The situation was getting suitably erotic when Bolfa Modina interrupted, shooting jealous glances at Lady Mizi. Even though Lord had to leave, the spell was broken, and the would-be lovers separated.

After the match, Lord Hazir went to meet with the young students from the mountains that he had introduced to Modina life. They all seemed very content, but they had also all learned some of the decadent ways of the city, losing some of the purity of their mountain heritage. More interesting, however, was the fact that he spied Lady Eshaki Modina spying on him in the guise of a shopkeepers daughter. Deciding to test her devotion to her role, he bought some things from her "father" and asked to have them carried home - which forced her to accompany him carrying wares. Looking about the city for some way to impress her, he had to settle for the temporary compound of the Temple of Northern Celestial Air, where he proceeded to do some acrobatic stunts - and botching them rather badly. The disguised Eshaki Modina asked to be sent home, and Lord Hazir blushed deeply and personally carried her wares. He sent both her and Lady Samara Modina consolidation presents.

Lady Varadiya and Lord Li Fu spent most of their time in marital bliss, but Lady Varadiya felt the first pangs of pregnancy - and didn't like them at all. Despite her robust physique, she suffers from morning sickness, strange cravings, and various other ailments. Lord Li Fu is most tender and understanding, the perfect image of a doting father-to-be.

In their compound, the Ramalinga lords held conference, and decided to offer House Pandino 150 chests of gold for the Behemoth. The burden was split between most of the provinces, and Lord Naresh was named the custodian in the event of a successful purchase, as we figured he could put it to engineering tasks.

The Ramalinga party returned home in suitable style, and each returned to his own. The winter season approached, and the lords decided to spend this time separately, each in their own province. A very young Imperial Courier arrives as a gift from Lady Mizi to Lord Ramachandra, to establish a diplomatic connection between the houses. The first issue at hand is the punishment of Lady Alysha Modina. Lady Darshi expresses the opinion that she needs to enter a monastery, and she is promptly sent to Lord Hazir to manage. She feels extremely uncomfortable in his small, poor monastery, and Lord Hazir cannot really manage her, so he, in turn, sends for Master Aiupar from the mountains. The situation turns out for the best when Master Shi Chiang appears to tutor Lord Hazir as a Defender Monk - he can handle her, simply by giving both his students great amounts of physical punishment.

Another missive tells us that we won the bid for the Behemoth, and that it will be delivered once the winter rains are past.

Lords Darshi and Naresh train together over the winter with the same master, both studying the secret arts of defense.