Meadow, Before Great Smials
The Stock Road ends here in a large area, cobbled for the most part,
and surrounded by a field brightened with a flower garden and an old
green bench. There are trees all over the meadow, stately oaks for the
most part, their branches stretching out to provide shelter and
shade. Surrounded by endless rolling hills, the scenery is enough to
cause one to lose their breath.
But far and away the most impressive thing about is right before you:
a great round doorway is carved straight into an enormous hill. The
door itself is stout, oaken, and ancient, bearing the scars of many
years' peering out onto the hills. A blackened iron ring is set in the
centre of the door, but is rarely used since the door is almost
alwaysopen except in times of inclement weather. On either side, the
hill is spotted with round windows, allowing glimpses of hallways and
corridors and bedrooms. Off to the side, a dirt path leads to a stout
stable, for the mounts of the many Tooks and their guests, and an
expansive garden begins at the door to Great Smials. You notice a
low-lying window near the front of the smial with feminine looking
drapes...so low one might even climb in if they were so inclined.
A thick blanket of snow covers the broad expanse of the Meadow, and
the trees are barren of their leaves and silent, the birds having
flown away. An unusual quiet hangs over this usually lively field.
Contents:
Panadrin
Ka'Lae
Egg Dueling Field
Great Smials Garden
Obvious Exits:
Door allows entrance to Great Smials through an impressive doorway.
Garden Path forms a trail of large circular stepping stones to a
formal garden.
Stables is a westward leading path to where you can leave your steed.
Road is a dirt causeway leading to the outskirts of Tuckborough.
To the right of the door, suspended from an elaborate looking iron hook, is a
pretty silver bell hanging with a cord. You might RING the BELL and let the
Ka'Lae MacAlister
Neither tall nor short, this slender female looks as if she is one
familiar with hard labor, since her body is well toned though she is
not overly muscular. She has long thick black hair that can be styled
in many different ways. Today, her very long hair is pulled back in a
pony-tail with the top layer woven into a thick braid that lays over
the rest of her hair that is pulled back so that is flow back like
ebony river of hair down to the small of her back. Her face is thin
and slender with very dark brown eyes that are almost like black
pools. Her lips are not full, but thin.
She is clad in simple, yet sturdy clothing. A long woolen skirt that
flows easily about, but not too much to get in her way rests upon her
slender hips. A heavy white blouse with light tan leather vest over it
to accentual her thin waist is worn over her thin, but shapely
chest. About her waist is a thick leather belt that holds a pouch of
leather, and a large knife..possibally used for her work. The only
jewelry that is visible upon her person is a ring that adorns her
pinky finger on her right hand. Her feet are clad in soft leather
boots that ride up almost to her knee.
Carrying:
Ring Mail Armor
Metal Helmet
Metal Shield
Longsword
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RL (Arizona) time is Mon Dec 10 13:01:03 2001 (+time).
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IC time is about 11 AM on Sunday Afteryule (January) 3,
1425 S.R.
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IC Weather Conditions
The weather outside is frightful... a warm fire inside a cozy smial might be
delightful. As long as you've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it
snow on this Afteryule/Frery day.
==============================================================================
Watches the rider as she dismounts and notices a certain faint grace
to her movements, "I would ask that you leave that as well, but I know
how naked a warrior feels without any weapon, so in good faith, I will
allow you to retain it. Panadrin bows, politely and carefully eyeing
her out of the top of his head, still wary that she is more all she
makes of herself. He stands and waves at the hobbits on either side
and all but 6 leave them. "My name is Panadrin Took, I am a pastry
Chef by trade, but I m a member of this great family and I welcome you
to Tuckborough. These premises are known as The Great Smials." as he
holds up his arms showing the great mound before them.
Ka'Lae chuckles nad shakes her head. "I use this knife more for eating
and as a tool. I could use it as a weapon, but never have." She undoes
her belt that holds her ring mail on. She takes the knife off and put
it in her saddle bags as well as a sign of trust. She places the belt
over the saddle and then lifts the mail over her head.
Trying to stretch on his toes to look a little taller, Panadrin eyes
the woman and her shapely figure as she removes her mail, and
smiles. "I would ask your forgiveness for my rash words and hasty call
for armed support. We hobbits tend to be more sociable." Looking at
her steed, "Is your horse thirsty, hungry? I can him watered and fed
while we talk?"
One of the six hobbits watches closely as the big woman steps away
from the horse. As she takes a few steps, Omfast advances boldly and
reaches up to the horse. "I will watch the horse," he mutters, eyeing
the other five helpers standing around. "Water and hay, no problem..."
Ka'Laestashes her mail in one of her saddle bag, and then slips on her
belts back on. She looks to the hobbit looking to take her horse to be
stabled. "I had heard this was a peaceful place. I was surpised that I
was greeted with armed people. I thought I did not pose any threat.."
She looks ot her horse, "But I suppose you are not used to human, and
ones bearing armor. I have traveled far and long, so I have to be
armed."
Looking to the horse and the gardener, "your horse will be safe with
him, he loves horses," and looking back at the woman "but you must be
hungry," Panadrin pats his head..."Would you like to break fast with
us, we do eat 6 times a day when we can and I have already missed
firsts," ramling on and on, please, let me show yo true Shire
hospitality." And he waves at the remaining 5 hobbits to leave them
and turns to Omfast, "when you are finished quaartering the horse why
don't you join us?"
Omfast gracefully slips aside as the woman does some more packing,
careful to keep his distance. He goggles as he watches her handles her
mail. As he watches, he steps back one more step and tramples into the
horse's leg. The horse shies away, and the gardnener jumps. "Yes, sir,
yes, right away, come on now, horse, all is fine..." He starts to
mumble soothing words and leads the horse away into the darkness.
Ka'Laenods her head. "I would be honored, since I have riden far and
long." She looks to Panadrin and does not comment about him eating six
meal with his girth. "What do you call this meal that is your first?"
Leading the woman to the nearby garden," well in the Common Speech I
have always refered to it as Breakfast, if you will follow me we can
eat over here in the garden which is sheltered from the wind.
Ka'Lae follows her 'host' as she makes her way to the garden. She
looks around curiously, since this is the first habitat that she has
visited while int he Shire. All the other days have been on the road,
and away from the inns. "That is the same as our first meal, so we
have that in common."
Panadrin has left.
Panadrin goes into the garden.
Ka'Lae has left.
Ka'Lae goes into the garden.
Suminas has left.
Suminas goes into the garden.
Showing the weary woman to a clear spot sheltered under a tree,
"please have a seat here under the tree with me" and with great effort
Panadrin works his way onto his knees and then onto the
ground. "Suminas, Omfast can you fetch our guest some breakfast? She
has riden long and is tired and hungry."
The smell of sweet nectar wafts invitingly toward your nose as you enter the
garden.
Great Smials Garden
You see a large, sprawling garden. Several fountains (the water having
been diverted from the Stockbrook) spout water grandly into little
pools bordered by wildflowers here, and a cobblestone walkway leads
you around each one, so that you can feel a light refreshing mist on
your skin. Statues dressed in creeping ivy can be spotted towards the
back of the garden, and stone benches dot the sides. Weeping willows
seem to be the head gardener's favorite tree, and quite a few of them
let their long, bending branches sweep the ground. No matter what the
weather, flowers bud gregariously here, and bright reds, yellows,
whites and pinks cover the landscape. Bluebirds share the garden with
a few ever-chattering squirrels, and besides the occasional fight over
a nut, the place is very peaceful and looks like a wonderful spot to
rest. At the southern end of the garden you see a narrow little path
that runs south through a stand of willows. Perhaps you should follow
it and see where it leads to.
Obvious Exits:
The Vineyard Trail winds through a hall of willows towards a shady
area.
Out leads to an open area before Great Smials.
Iron Gate leads through a metal entryway carved out of a tall hedge.
Contents:
Suminas
Ka'Lae
Panadrin
Took Family Plot
Great Smials: Vineyard
Suminas stands up, "I am afraid fair lady I must depart, I would have
liked to talk to you and perhaps hear of the outside world but it
looks like that is not going to happen, perhaps sometime we can meet
again, and if you need somewhere to stay for the night, come to
buckland, in brandyhall there will always be a place for you."
Ka'Lae smiles at the new hobbit and inclines her head. "I ma Ka'Lae
McAlaster. It is a pleasure ot meet you. She looks around and smiles
as she waits for her meal to arrive. Her gaze then rest on her
host. "An emergancy at your bakerly? Yes, I would like to talk to you
more. I have interest in bakers from different lands."
Omfast comes in, a big tablet on his arms; the table it ladden with
pastry, fruit, a steaming tea pot, several mugs, a can of milk, some
cereals, some toast, butter, several kinds of jam and two different
pots of honey. He grins sheepishly, and you notice that he must have
washed his face and hands while he was away. "Omfast is my name,
Omfast Cotton. Pleased to meat you." To Panadrin he says, "The eggs
will take a bit longer, I am affraid. I'll be back in a minute."
Ka'Lae shakes her head. "No, this is pleanty. No need on cooking
eggs. This fruit and bread looks pleanty." She reaches out and takes
one fruit she had not seen before and smells it. "This is
interesting. What do you call this fruit?"
Interested in Ka'Lae's comment, Panadrin smiles and blushes a little,
"I have to admit my interest was in your being a warrior when we first
met, but now..." his voice trails off and he mumbles "I find you
interesting" and speaking up he says "Are you a baker?" Noticing the
food arrive, "Thank-you Omfast, that is very kind of you."
Suminas begins to leave and turns around and say "goodbye good sirs"
Suminas says, "and of course the fair human lady""
Suminas kisses ka'lae's hand
Omfast laughs and eagerly leans forward, but as he hears somebody call
him from behind the hedges, he jumps up and says, "No no, this will
not do. The eggs are being prepared as we speak. Just a minute. I'll
be serving right away." With that, he speeds away, to return a little
while later with eggs, ham, more milk, more toast, some fruit juice,
glasses, napkins, sugar, spoons and more plates. He is sweating, you
see. He bows hastily and says, "My help is required inside. Just call
if you need anything, there will be people waiting." With that, he
departs again.
You take a look at the beautiful statues and fountains before, almost
unwillingly, leaving the garden.
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