Who

Willimina Dinsayde Dayne(NPC) Esmara(NPC) Celesti(NPC) NPC OutRunner

What

Some much welcome relief comes to the Zingari of Igen in the form of four new members!

When

It is 11:02 PM where you are.
It is late night of the thirteenth day of the eighth month of the first turn of the 12th pass.
In Igen:
It is the forty-third day of Summer and 81 degrees. The night is clear. Stars twinkle merrily.
In Southern:
It is the forty-third day of Winter and 63 degrees. The night is clear and bright, stars twinkling merrily in the darkness.

Timor: moon2.jpg
Belior: moon5.jpg
Where

Lost Oasis, in the middle of The Great Central Desert

OOC Date

 

willimina_default.jpg

igenlostoasis.jpg

The Lost Oasis

Blocked from view in the south by one of the largest sandstone formations jutting from the desert, this lovely oasis is truly a hidden jewel in the sand. Leagues away from any trace of civilization, it boasts a tranquil blue pool of fresh water and shallow stream fed by an unseen spring beyond a dark crevice in the bluff. Trees spring up against the rock, providing merciful shade and filling in the narrow recesses surrounding the water. The height of the outcropping funnels a near-constant light breeze through the place, cooling the air considerably in comparison to the desert beyond.

However, for all its beauty, there is an unaccountable air of fear and uncertainty about this oasis. At night, the otherwise friendly wind can cross the space with a low, unnerving howl, and creatures passing in the shadows do so in nervous, unseen movements. This has, unfortunately, been a place of grisly discoveries for Igen Weyr - most likely due to its out-of-the-way nature. Sweep riders have observed no renegades, bandits, or criminals of any other stripe in the area thus far, adding to the mystery here.


Willimina shades her eyes against the wind whipping through the Oasis as she leaves her wagon with her trusted second in command. She turns to Wrenari and shoos him off. "Go, be swift, and be courteous to our sister clans!" The man nods a doting ascent to his leader and rushes off into the night. Willa sighs and looks around. The sands are empty for the most part. She spots Timotin by one of the fires and waves at him, smiling when he waves back. She can hear the soft twang of his guitar and a sudden bout of painful nostalgia hits her as she remembers the sounds of her father's and Merivel's instruments playing along. So many Deaths. So many people gone. She shakes of the melancholy feelings just in time for one of her outrunners to come zipping to her side.

"There's a group of foreign Zingari headed this way. Two Wagons, both pulled hearbeast teams of six, two on runner back, each with a train of five or so runners. The wagons seemed to be stocked to bursting ma'am" The outrunner looks elated, one of the first looks of joy amongst them for sevendays.

Willimina nods, her chocolate orbs widening in excitement. "Go! Hurry! Guide them in for sharding sake!" She shoos the runner off and goes to wake some helpers, tagging Timo along the way. "Come all, We are soon to have very welcome guests." She leads them to make the preparations, jumping every time she hears a sound, wanting the new arrivals to be here already.

Dinsayde sits up straight in his saddle as he spots the zingari Outrunner racing back to them a-runner-back. "Hey look there Dayne, the rider is coming back. Hope he doesn't break that pretty neck riding like that. T'would be a shame to lose such eye candy." He laughs decorously as they continue to miander across the sands, keeping pace with the wagons, which are being driven by Esmara and Celesti.

Dayne coughs and spits something out onto the sands. He squints in the pale light of the moon at the approaching figure, and at the distant camp, which can be clearly seen in the cool night. "Ha. We will see. I hear the competition to be Mistress Willimina's next lover is fierce, mayhaps he seeks to prove something with such breakneck speeds." Dayne re-adjusts in the saddle, switching the hands he holds the train leads in.

Laughter comes from the wagon directly behind Dayne and Dinsayde. Celesti, aunt to both the aforementioned males, glows with her own laughter, pale cheeks turning red beneath brazen mocha eyes. "More like he seeks to prove his worth as his manhood is too small to please!" She breaks off a piece of the redfruit she'd been eating with her teeth and chews with a satisfying crunch. "Are you two going to join in?" She asks, curious.

"Dayne had better not!" Esmara, Daynes twin from the looks of it, shouts from the wagon in the rear. "His wife will be joining us soon." Esmara sounds imperial, matter of fact like. "But I'm sure the elders wouldn't mind if Dinny took an interest. Wouldn't you agree hatchling?" She smiles at Dinsayde, even as she uses his childhood nickname.

Dinsayde rolls his eyes. "Shit it, Esmara! I'll take a wife, or a lover, whenever I damn well please. I was fortunate to escape betrothal, don't jynx me now. I'll have so much flesh to explore!" Dinsayde turns and gives his elder sister an artful pout. "Come now Esma, don't sour my fun." He turns back to the front, grinning at the sound of Esmara's reply of tinkling laughter.

The Zingari Outrider comes to a sand spraying stop next to Dayne and his train of runners. "Our humble Leader Willimina sends her greetings. You are a most welcome sight indeed! Please, you see the camp ahead. Come at your own pace. Food and drink will be ready for you when you arrive! Is there anything you would like me to relay to Mistress Willimina?"

Dinsayde holds up his hand to silence his elder brother Dayne when it looks like the man is going to reply. "Come now brother, this is my expedition, enjoy not having to be the one in charge." He grins at Dayne and faces the rider. "We are glad of the hospitality cousin. Please just let Mistress Willimina know that we will be there as fast as we can. And that we come bearing many gifts." He winks at the outrider and tosses the man a mark.

The outrider catches the mark in a gloved hand. He sticks it between his teeth and chomps down, as if to test the validity of the coin. He nods, salutes, and takes off back towards camp at the same breakneck speed as before.

Dayne laughs. "In such a hurry. Tsk. Tsk. He keeps up like that and he'll have no chance at all of sowing his seed anywhere." They all have a good laugh at that and continue to meander towards camp.

Meanwhile…. Willimina rushes around making preparations. She gets a couple of the younger men to move the wagons so that the other two can join the circle. She has someone posted at the livestock pens, built for when the sky is thread free, to take in the runners, herdbeasts, and small livestock. And thank faranth too, because she is down to one sick runner and a pair of overworked herdbeasts, one of which would be dinner the next night. She has Timotin heat up the stew and brew tea, and she sends a youngling to fetch wine, whiskey, and water. Then, she waits. When her outrunner returns, she smiles at him. He relays the news to him and Willa nods. "Come fetch me when they arrive." Willa heads back to her wagon and her baby, who would be waking to eat soon.

The Zingari camp is a flurry of activity. Timo and a few others work on preparing food. The fires are stoked and brought back up; the livestock pens are readied. As are the traveling wagons for livestock. The pens are too small to hold all that the newest members bring. And the supply wagon is opened to be restocked so that the new members can use their mobile homes. Busy busy busy.

It is a couple of hours before Dinsayde and his small caravan pulls into the shelter of the oasis. Dinsayde, who is normally a charming jokester, goes silent at the sight he beholds. The few Zingari that mingle around are tattered and skinny. They have sunken cheeks and dark rings under their eyes. Coughing comes from one wagon. "Shards…" He whispers under his breath. Someone goes running for the largest wagon in the train and disappears inside. Dinsayde notes that and slides from the back of his runner. He hands the reigns, and the train leads to the boy waiting and watches for a moment as the boy leads the six runners to the pens. He turns to the rest of his family, face grim. "You guys get the wagons parked and help unload. Get us settled. I need to talk to Willimina." They all go to do as Dinsayde bids and Din turns and heads for the wagon he'd seen the person disappear into.

Willimina rushes to her door when there's a sharp wrap on her door. She opens it and a young Zingari teen enters. "The new clan members just arrived ma'am" WIlla nods and points the boy to the food on her table. She leaves him to eat it and steps outside her wagon, just in time to see one of the newcomers head her way. She meets him halfway, hand extended in a clan greeting. "Greetings Cousin! You are a welcome sight indeed! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for coming to our aid!"

Dinsayde greets Willimina in the traditional fashion and then bravely takes the woman in a hug. "Of course cousin! We could not let our head clan fall so easily. We are at your disposal." He lets her go and gives a deep bow. "If you'll forgive us, though, we are exhausted. It has been a long and hot journey. I can see there is much to be done here, but we must recuperate, or we will be of no use to you."

"Of course! Please, food and drink have been prepared for you. You have your choice of water, wine or whiskey. Make yourselves at home. We'll chat in the morning." Willa smiles and waves the newcomer off, completely forgetting to ask his name. "Rest well!"

Dinsayde starts to introduce himself after forgetting but is cut off by Willa's words. "Of course ma'am. We'll see you in the morning. Please, if you need anything, let /us/ know." And with that, he turns on his heels to return to his family, and the awaiting work they have to do before bed.

It is not long before the camp is quiet once more and all are sleeping in their beds. That's four new members to bolster the ranks. Only time will tell how many more will come.

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