[Hall of the Crafts]
The icy walls of this octagonal hall are elaborately carved with scenes of halflings at work.  In the center of the room are two large statues of men in attitudes of watchful repose, as if supervising the work going on around around them.  Between each statue and the surrounding walls stands a sturdy altar, one wrought of oak and the other carved from blue tanik.
Also here: Prudence, Argaine who is sitting
Obvious exits: north, down
Orison, Andriatta, Zermon, Aritril and Blizzerdd followed.

You say, "And here we are."

Orison gazes with interest at a glacial ice wall.

You say, "Please all take a seat."

Andriatta sits down.

Blizzerdd nods to Prudence in greeting.

Blizzerdd sits down.

Orison sits down.

Zermon sits down.

Aritril kneels down.

Aritril continues to beseech the gods for mercy and guidance.

You say, "Our lecturer this eve is Prudence."

Aritril moves to a sitting position.

You say, "Who is going to speak to us on Tonis."

You say, "Please be kind enough to give her yer full attention."

You say, "And hold all questions and comments until she opens the floor to them."

You smile.

Orison nods to Prudence.

You nod to Prudence.

(Iscikella moves to the back of the room.)

You sit down.

Prudence says, "Good evening."

Andriatta smiles at Prudence.

Prudence fidgets.

Zermon nods to Prudence in greeting.

Argaine smiles.

Prudence says, "I know I'm not who you'd expect to talk about Tonis .... after all, I'm not a thief, nor am I fleet of foot.  Tonis is, however, the Arkati I admire most.  Unfortunately, the builders of this temple did not feel the same and put him here, a most unsuitable place."

Prudence glances at a grey granite statue.

Prudence glances at a white marble statue.

Prudence rolls her eyes.

Prudence says, "Most unsuitable."

Argaine nods.

Prudence reaches out and touches an enruned air elemental talisman.

Orison rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Prudence says, "I have an affinity for the air.  I hate closed spaces," she looks pensively at the ceiling above her, "and I prefer the open sky.  Naturally, that element is a large part of Tonis' territory."

You cock your head at Prudence.

Prudence asks, "Who is Tonis?  Is he nothing more than a large, winged horse traveling as a messenger boy, doing the errands of the Arkati?"

Prudence shakes her head.

Prudence says, "No, Tonis is much more.  Being one of the few Arkati of the younger generation to have his full powers, Tonis has inherited traits from both his mother, Oleani, and his father, Phoen."

Prudence smiles.

Prudence says, "From his mother, Tonis inherited a soft heart and a sense of justice.  It is rare that Tonis intervenes maliciously; rather, he tends to nudge fortune towards those who deserve it."

Prudence says, "Or at least those he thinks deserve it."

Zermon leans forward.

Prudence says, "From Phoen, his father, Tonis inherited a love of the air, boundless energy, and a wandering eye."

Andriatta leans forward and rests her chin in her hand, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Andriatta turns an inquisitive ear towards Prudence.

Prudence says, "This leads to a rather more complex Arkati than many of the others."

Orison fidgets.

Prudence holds up her hand and tilts it side to side in a so-so gesture.

Prudence says, "He is more than he seems."

Prudence says, "Tonis does not have foresight, and nor does he have wisdom.  He does, however, have luck and fortune, two of the more capricious of the spirits of the air, in his corner."

You smile at Prudence.

Prudence says, "He dares, with these allies, to tweak the messages the other Arkati give him.  He dares defy his elders."

Prudence says, "Needless to say, most people worship Tonis as young adults."

Prudence stares off into space.

Prudence smirks.

Argaine smirks.

Prudence says, "When his tweaks end up with results others don't like, he runs and plays with the elementals of the air, protected by his father's bright fire.  Air is his natural element, for it's as changeable and untamed as he is."

Andriatta ponders.

Prudence says, "One story of Tonis I have learned is of his compassion toward the weak and his changing of messages ...."

Prudence asks, "Would you like to hear it?"

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Blizzerdd nods to Prudence.

Zermon nods to Prudence.

Andriatta says, "Yes please."

Argaine grins.

Prudence slowly empties her lungs.

Andriatta grins.

Prudence says, "Tasked with delivering a message to an elf from Charl, Tonis naturally read it."

Prudence says, "The message regarded fishing in an area sacred to Charl and exactly how Charl would dismember said elf, splaying him with his trident, should said elf ever fish in the area again."

Prudence rolls her eyes.

Andriatta says, "Ooooo..."

Andriatta leans forward.

Prudence says, "Talk about swatting a fly with a sledgehammer...."

You chuckle.

Argaine chuckles.

Prudence says, "Tonis flew to the elf's abode.  It was a mean little cottage on a rocky coast.  There were several small children in the courtyard, and nothing in the cupboards.  The elf was mending his net next to a newly-dug grave, talking to his dead wife."

Prudence says, "Tonis was moved, and materialized in his blond, youthful form just out of sight of the elf and his children."

Prudence sighs sadly.

Prudence says, "He strode up to the cabin, and the children flocked to him, instantly recognizing him as a kindred spirit - an adult who never lost his childhood."

Andriatta turns an inquisitive ear towards Prudence.

You try hard not to grin.

Prudence says, "He played with the children until the sun began to set, the elf smiling slightly as his children laughed for the first time in weeks."

Prudence says, "Eventually, the elf invited Tonis to supper, sharing his meager supply with a stranger.  After supper, before the children settled to bed, they begged for a story from the gay stranger before he left."

Andriatta smiles.

Prudence says, "Tonis obliged.  He told a story of a cave in the cliffs by the shore ... a cave filled with the treasure of pirates long ago forgotten.  The children went to bed and Tonis left for the night...."

Prudence says, "When the family awoke in the morning, the children HAD to play find the treasure.  They made plans, packed apples for lunch, and opened the door."

Prudence smiles quietly to herself.

Prudence says, "Long, soft golden feathers adorned a path leading down the cliffs."

You lean forward.

(Prudence waves her hands expressively.)

Prudence says, "Needless to say, the elf fished no more in Charl's sacred waters."

Prudence examines her fingernails.

Blizzerdd begins chuckling at Prudence!

Prudence says, "Message ..... delivered."

Orison chuckles to himself.

Argaine grins.

Zermon grins.

Prudence says, "That is one of my favorite stories of Tonis because it shows several sides of him."

Andriatta flashes a wide grin.

You smile.

Orison softly says, "Aye the feathery side."

You chuckle at Orison.

Orison's cheeks flush a deep shade of dark rose.

Prudence says, "That he can be."

Orison softly says, "Erm."

Prudence says, "He's flighty, after all."

Argaine groans at Prudence.

Prudence pokes Argaine in the ribs.

You chuckle.

Speaking in Sylvankind, Argaine says, "Ow."

Argaine grumbles.

Andriatta smiles.

Prudence says, "To follow Tonis is to go on a never-ending walk of discovery.  Each day brings a change in the wind, a new side to Tonis' personality."

Andriatta clasps her hand over her mouth.

Andriatta chuckles.

(Prudence whispers loudly to Argaine, "You deserved it!")

Argaine mumbles something that you don't quite catch.

Prudence says, "Changeable, yet unchanging.  Capricious, yet steady.  Mischievous, yet kind."

You chuckle at Prudence.

Prudence removes a crystalline gold die from in her doeskin cloak.

You say, "Men always do."

You wink at Prudence.

Prudence says, "But sometimes he deserves...."

Prudence blushes and babbles a few incoherent words, looking sincerely flustered.

Prudence says, "Never mind."

Your cheeks flush with a soft shade of apricot.

Andriatta giggles.

Argaine winks at Prudence.

Prudence says, "Moving along about Tonis...."

Orison begins chuckling at Prudence!

(Prudence briskly moves away from Argaine.)

Prudence says, "To follow Tonis is to put your life into the hands of fortune."

Prudence glances at Argaine.

Argaine folds his arms over his chest.

Prudence says, "When my husband first proposed to me, I had to consult my die.  Tonis had to approve our union before I would, despite my desperate wish to be with him."

(Prudence tosses her die from one hand to the other.)

Andriatta says, "Hmmm..."

Andriatta ponders.

Prudence says, "Before rolling, I asked the wind for guidance.  I prepared myself for whatever would happen, then I rolled the dice."

Prudence says, "My heart, my need, my love, all bound up in one throw of a simple six-sided cube."

Prudence says, "I do not gamble for mere money.  That is for dilletantes.  I gamble with my fate."

You bite your lip.

Prudence waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.

Andriatta says, "Risky."

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Orison softly says, "Love is always a risk."

Prudence says, "Of course it is, but everything worthwhile involves risk."

Prudence says, "Tonis blessed me and nudged the die into a roll that was a kindness."

Prudence says, "We were married soon afterward."

Blizzerdd seems to lose some dexterity.

You grin at Prudence.

Andriatta appears to be trying hard not to grin.

Prudence says, "Much sooner than the fifty years he told me it would take."

Argaine chuckles.

Blizzerdd seems to lose some internal strength.

You chuckle at Prudence.

Andriatta exclaims, "Good thing!"

Argaine says, "I did say within that timeframe...."

(Prudence rolls the die around in her palm as she begins speaking again.)

Andriatta grins.

Prudence says, "As you may know, I will be holding a, erm, ceremony to ask for Tonis' guidance tomorrow evening."

You nod to Prudence.

Orison blinks.

Andriatta begins chuckling at Prudence!

Andriatta asks, "Bring coin?"

Andriatta grins.

Prudence says, "Tokens of the, hmmm.... celebration will be given to all who participate.  As most people have a problem with putting their lives in the hands of fate, the ceremony will be a mere .... game of chance with silvers as the stake.  The entry fee is ten thousand silvers."

Prudence nods to Andriatta.

Prudence says, "Or a note."

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Blizzerdd grins wryly.

Prudence says, "All rules will be explained during the um.... ritual.  The one most blessed by Tonis' touch will receive a set of dice with rather ... odd ... properties."

Argaine grins.

Prudence says, "Oh, and some coin."

Andriatta says, "Oooooooooo..."

Andriatta smiles happily.

Prudence says, "If you have any questions about Tonis or how I attend to him, now's the time to ask them."

Andriatta raises her hand.

Prudence nods to Andriatta.

Prudence asks, "Yes?"

Andriatta says, "I have just a very basic question..."

Prudence says, "Basic is good."

Andriatta asks, "The steed Tonis rides...  Was that something... well created for him, by someone like Imaera?  Or did he find it in the wild and tame it himself?"

Andriatta cocks her head at Prudence.

Prudence says, "Actually, he does not ride."

Prudence says, "He IS the steed."

Orison ponders.

Andriatta says, "Ah.."

Andriatta exclaims, "I didn't know that!"

Andriatta asks, "So is his... alternate form then?"

Prudence says, "Arkati can take many forms, and he chooses a pegasus, just as Imaera chooses sometimes to be a deer."

Prudence says, "One of them."

Andriatta says, "That makes more sense to me then."

Lenerius just arrived.

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Lenerius sits down.

Andriatta says, "Thank you."

Andriatta smiles.

Prudence says, "When he's cavorting with an air elemental, I've heard tell he changes form as fluidly as the water."

You say, "Must be something to see."

You nod to Prudence.

Orison raises his hand.

Prudence says, "That is part of what makes the Northern Lights."

Prudence nods to Orison.

Prudence asks, "Yes?"

Orison softly asks, "Who is his true love?"

Orison blinks.

Prudence asks, "Tonis? True love?"

Orison nods to Prudence.

Orison fidgets.

Prudence says, "He's young, carefree, beautiful, and at the height of his power."

Prudence says, "I doubt he's even given a thought to true love."

Orison rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Orison bows to Prudence.

Orison softly says, "Thankee."

Prudence says, "Welcome, I think."

Prudence asks, "More questions?"

Blizzerdd smiles.

You raise your hand.

Prudence nods to you.

Prudence asks, "Yes?"

Orison sets about preparing himself to be as presentable as possible.

You say, "Since Tonis is one who appreciates chance, are all forms of chance sacred to him?  I mean like a prayer to him."

You cock your head at Prudence.

Prudence says, "He does not so much appreciate chance as appropriates it for his own ends."

Blizzerdd ponders.

Orison scratches his head.

Blizzerdd says, "I like him alot then."

You ask, "And can ye elaborate on that a bit?"

Blizzerdd nods to Prudence.

Prudence says, "He uses his power to change chance, to dance along the edge."

You ask, "Ah, so thrill is what he seeks?"

Prudence says, "Not merely thril."

Prudence says, "Look at what he did for that elf in my story."

You nod to Prudence.

Prudence says, "He changed chance to manipulate a better outcome for that elf."

Prudence says, "For a while, at least."

You smile at Prudence.

Prudence says, "Tonis doesn't tend to think long term."

You say, "Youth will do that, aye."

You nod.

Orison ponders.

Aritril smiles softly.

Prudence says, "I could tell you what kinds of spoiled, arrogant adults those children became...."

Prudence says, "All because of chance."

You chuckle at Prudence.

Blizzerdd raises his hand.

Prudence nods to Blizzerdd.

Orison glances at Blizzerdd.

Prudence asks, "Your question?"

Blizzerdd says, "What if there is a bad outcome..."

Blizzerdd asks, "How do his followers think of him then?"

Prudence says, "He had a reason."

Blizzerdd nods to Prudence.

Prudence says, "Of course, in preparing for throwing the dice.... you tend to rig the odds in your favor."

Prudence stares off into space.

Blizzerdd asks, "They do not think ill of him then?"

Blizzerdd laughs at Prudence!

Blizzerdd says, "I see now."

Andriatta grins at Prudence.

Prudence says, "I believe I had to roll a three or higher to marry my husband."

Andriatta laughs at Prudence!

Argaine whistles tunelessly to himself.

Zermon begins chuckling at Prudence!

Andriatta asks, "Is that called stacking fate?"

Andriatta grins.

Argaine says, "And here I thought you hadn't noticed that."

Argaine winks at Prudence.

Prudence asks, "Is it not what Tonis himself does?"

Speaking to Blizzerdd, Aritril says, "I think it's the skill, the daring, the courage to take those chances that is admired, regardless of the outcoming."

Prudence nods to Blizzerdd.

Blizzerdd nods to Prudence.

Prudence says, "Why do thieves steal?  Even the most skilled and artful of thieves can be caught."

Aritril smiles softly.

Aritril examines her fingernails.

Andriatta says, "I don't have much luck doing that myself."

Andriatta chuckles.

Prudence says, "Yet they do it because it takes skill ... and patience ... and daring."

Blizzerdd says, "And reward..."

Aritril says, "And there's a thrill to living on the edge."

Prudence says, "Even if you plan everything just right, there's a way that something can go wrong."

Zermon raises his hand.

Prudence says, "Without Tonis' blessing, it does go wrong."

Prudence nods to Zermon.

Prudence asks, "Yes?"

Zermon asks, "So there is no fate?"

Prudence says, "Fate is what the dice give you."

Andriatta asks, "But it's not preordained?"

Andriatta cocks her head at Prudence.

Prudence says, "It can change, as the wind changes the pattern of the sand in the desert."

Prudence looks over at Andriatta and shakes her head.

Zermon nods to Andriatta.

Zermon says, "Ah ok."

Ichiko just arrived.

Prudence says, "Nothing is set before it happens."

Ichiko sits down.

Andriatta asks, "So fate is everchanging?"

Prudence says, "Yes."

Andriatta says, "I think I begin to understand."

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Zermon says, "Interesting, indeed."

Zermon nods to Prudence.

Orison blinks.

Prudence asks, "Have you never heard the phrase "a twist of fate"?"

You nod.

Zermon nods to Prudence.

Prudence says, "Every time you do, you can bet Tonis had a hand in it."

Prudence says, "Literally."

Zermon grins at Prudence.

Andriatta raises her hand.

Prudence says, "A stream may be fated to flow into the ocean, but it is the path it takes that makes the journey its own."

Prudence nods to Andriatta.

Andriatta asks, "Just out of curiosity... what sort of relationship does Tonis maintain with his parents?  I mean do they think him a mishief maker and worry their heads over him?"

Andriatta begins chuckling at Prudence!

Prudence asks, "Don't all parents worry about their offspring?"

Andriatta says, "Mine sure do."

Andriatta grins.

Prudence says, "And with Oleani having such a reputation as the Ultimate Mother...."

Prudence says, "I'm sure she has eyes in back of the eyes in the back of her head."

You chuckle at Prudence.

Prudence says, "Phoen."

Prudence shrugs.

You say, "He's too busy doing those man things or whatever."

You chuckle at Prudence.

Andriatta laughs!

Prudence says, "I'm sure he goes strolling with the sylphs with his son."

Orison chuckles.

Blizzerdd begins chuckling at Prudence!

Prudence says, "Side by side, picking up air elementals."

Zermon smirks.

Argaine grins at Prudence.

You laugh out loud!

You exclaim, "Likely so!"

Prudence says, "Perhaps my husband," she nudges Argaine, "will elaborate on Phoen's attitude toward his son."

Andriatta turns to face Argaine.

Prudence says, "It's a manly thing to do, picking up chicks."

Prudence examines her fingernails.

Prudence squints at Argaine.

Argaine tickles Prudence into laughing.

Orison sighs.

Blizzerdd smacks his lips.

You grin impishly.

Prudence says, "And if I ever catch you doing it, you're toast."

Argaine says, "I'm sure his father is like most fathers."

Argaine says, "And most likely swats him about the ears when he's caught tampering with things too."

Argaine chuckles.

Andriatta grins at Argaine.

Prudence says, "At least he didn't grow up into a cross dressing drunk like Cholen, so they did something right."

Argaine snickers.

Andriatta giggles.

Blizzerdd's jaw drops.

Andriatta clasps her hand over her mouth.

Blizzerdd bursts out in loud, raucous laughter.

Ichiko cowers away from Prudence.

Prudence raises an eyebrow in Ichiko's direction.

Prudence says, "Well, he's not."

Prudence says, "And Cholen is."

You chuckle.

Prudence asks, "Who are the better parents in the Arkati birth lottery?"

Argaine grins at Prudence.

You say, "I'm prejudiced and would say Koar and Lumnis."

You chuckle.

(Prudence spreads her hands wide in a gesture of open obviousness.)

Prudence says, "Childless."

Prudence asks, "Who would want to go to bed with a mountain?"

Zermon stands up.

Lenerius chuckles.

Prudence asks, "Well, outside of an Ice Princess?"

Blizzerdd chuckles.

Zermon just went down.

Prudence asks, "Any more questions before I manage to offend the followers of other, more orthodox, Arkati with my frankness?"

You chuckle at Prudence.

Andriatta shakes her head.

Andriatta says, "Answered mine."

Andriatta grins.

Prudence says, "Glad I did."

Speaking to Andriatta, Prudence asks, "Bringing silvers tomorrow?"

Prudence examines her fingernails.

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Prudence says, "Good."

Andriatta says, "That I am."

Andriatta chuckles.

Andriatta says, "And crossed fingers."

Blizzerdd seems to lose an aura of confidence.

Andriatta says, "And a snowshoe hare foot."

Andriatta says, "And..."

Prudence says, "No crossed fingers."

Andriatta squints.

Prudence says, "A blow on the dice and a whisper in the wind."

Andriatta exclaims, "... and this!"

Andriatta removes an earthenware halfling luck block from in her smooth leather belt.

Andriatta waves an earthenware halfling luck block around.

Andriatta shows Prudence her halfling luck block.

Blizzerdd says, "Loaded dice help too."

Blizzerdd winks at Andriatta.

Andriatta grins.

Blizzerdd stands up.

Andriatta laughs!

Andriatta put an earthenware halfling luck block in her smooth leather belt.

Argaine says, "You'll not find any loaded ones like these."

Prudence says, "Okaaayyy.... that looks like it could be very interesting."

Blizzerdd begins chuckling at Argaine!

Prudence asks, "Is that how you determined who got the front end of the pony when riding?"

Andriatta smiles at Prudence.

Andriatta laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Prudence says, "I know nothing about short peoples' customs."

Andriatta says, "Who sat in the back of ranga."

Andriatta says, "I'm from the lake country."

Andriatta smiles.

Andriatta winks.

Prudence says, "Okay."

Prudence says, "Who got tumped first."

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Andriatta says, "Exactly."

Andriatta says, "My brother and I woud draw straws."

Andriatta chuckles.

Andriatta says, "And I would rub my block."

Andriatta removes an earthenware halfling luck block from in her smooth leather belt.

Blizzerdd just went down.

Andriatta rubs her halfling luck block.

Andriatta says, "And usually won."

Andriatta winks.

Andriatta put an earthenware halfling luck block in her smooth leather belt.

Prudence says, "My brothers and sisters I would draw out parents' sanity."

You chuckle at Prudence.

Orison stands up.

Prudence says, "You could spin that thing and see what side it fell on."

Orison just went down.

Andriatta nods to Prudence.

Prudence says, "Of course, not every corner has the same weight...."

Prudence examines her fingernails.

Andriatta touches one finger to her lips.

Prudence says, "Anyway, I'm done."

Andriatta says, "That's a trick we never tell."

Andriatta winks at Prudence.

Prudence says, "Y'all are dismissed to make your own luck."

Argaine grins at Prudence.

You say, "I want to thank Prudence for lecturing this eve."