Mail delivery in Valdemar was a slow thing.

Usually.

When letters were coming through the peculiar nature of Fandom's communication network, they got there rather faster then when they came by horesback from Karse.

Luckily no one noticed when the piles of correspondence delivered to the Karsite Envoy's suite included some very odd looking envelopes with some even stranger languages.

[This is the mailbox drop for letters for Karal, seeing as voicemail doesn't work for him in Valdemar, what with the no phones and all.]

Karal had his back against a tree, a thick sheaf of paper on his lap and a quill pen resting loosely in his fingers. The slowly sinking sun was warm overhead, the quiet cries of birds blending with the sound of Companions moving through the long grass to create a pleasant background music to what was left of the day.

He'd come out of the Council meeting to find himself with a rare and entirely unexpected spare afternoon. Escaping the palace was the only way to keep it spare, he knew, so he'd dashed back to his rooms, grabbed his old scribe box and an apple, and he and Altra had snuck out to Companion's Field: the only place he knew (absent an emergency) that no one would come looking for him.

The apple was long gone, shared with a passing Companion foal. The papers on his lap were as blank as they'd been when he sat down, reflecting all too well the state of his thoughts. "Maybe if I hadn't left it so long," he muttered under his breath and was answered by a distinctly feline snort from above his head. :Well, you did, and with good reason for the most part. It hasn't exactly been quiet around here since we got back.:

Karal nodded, reaching up to scratch Altra under the chin. The Firecat was stretched out on a low branch, giving Karal a clear view of the paper.

The blank paper.

He sighed. Altra rolled his eyes, making the world spin 'round for Karal. :Just write. She's hardly going to be expecting The Writ. But if you don't write something soon she's going to think you don't want to write, and how do you think she'll feel then?:

No one could do guilt like a 'cat. It was just the spur Karal needed and he bent his head, from habit rather than need, and began to write. Tentatively at first, but soon the words were flowing out of him, with only occasional interjections from Altra.

( And it looked a little something like this )

The sun was setting as he finished, but with the benefit of Altra's eyes he could see as clearly as if it were noon. He smiled as he blew on the ink to dry it, then folded it neatly, tucked it safely away in his scribe's box with paper, pen and ink, and he and Altra returned to the palace.

[ooc: There are more letters coming, I swear it! I have just been totally swamped and my brain has turned to cheese. The gooey kind that looks seriously suspect.

FYI: As Karal has not the voicemail capability, if anyone wants to send him a letter, it can totally be left right over here. It's also linked from his profile.

Oh yeah, NFB, NFI, OOC AOK.]

The sun was warm overhead, almost too warm, but Karal turned his face towards it with a quiet sigh. The morning was peaceful and still and his first true moment off since he'd returned from Fandom.

Altra had gone to Sunhame to deliver a stack of urgent missives to Solaris, things that needed her direct approval rather than that of the Envoy, and Talia had urged him to take the morning for himself. She'd even brought him a guide, the young Heraldic trainee on whose arm Karal's hand rested. Tripping over my own feet as I tried to find my way might not do much for the dignity of Karse, he thought wryly. "I think we're almost there?"

There was a start of surprise from beside him, followed by a, "Yes, sir!", and Karal hid a smile. She was very young. Or maybe it was just that he felt old. A few more steps, and he stretched out his other hand, fingers brushing against the smooth wood of the fence. "You can leave me here, Trenia. I can manage on my own."

"Are you sure, sir?" Her voice was worried, and he could picture her earnest expression.

"If there's one place in Haven I'll be safe, it's Companion's Field, and," he smiled at her, "if I run into a few trees, I'm sure it won't do any harm." It took a few more moments of persuasion, but eventually she left. Karal listened to her footsteps retreat, shaking his head as they stopped rather than fading away. No doubt she'd keep an eye on him, and no doubt she'd ask her Companion to do the same, but he put them out of his mind.

( A walk in Companion's Field )

[ooc: NFI, NFB, OOC AOK.]

As some of you know (and most of you have probably figured out), I'm leaving the game. My new job, though awesome, when taken with my timezone, is not compatible with playing. Add in the fact that I'm going back to school in the new year to finally finish my Masters, and it adds up to saying goodbye to an active role in the game.

So, I've sent my characters home, and will only be keeping Karal as an ex-pat. I've loved playing at Fandom High, which was my first and has been my only RP. The game has made me laugh and made me cry, and sucked up countless hours of time (and sleep!) in the most fantastic way possible.

Thanks for everything, and I'll miss you guys a hell of a lot.

It was hard to know where to start. There was so much to gather up and sort through, deciding what he could take and what he couldn't. For a start, anything that needed electricity was right out.

The only exception to that was the recorder Evey had given him. Altra had promised that he'd find a way to recharge it with magic.

The Firecat was perched on top of the wardrobe, giving Karal the widest possible view of the room. After a moment's thought, Karal reached for the painting Andrew had given him, and he began to wrap it carefully in his winter cloak.

The sadness he felt at leaving was less than it had been yesterday morning; Evey's yes, no matter that they would be living in different worlds, had lifted a great weight from his heart.

[ooc: The door is open, and this is Karal's last interactive post in Fandom. Open for visits or phone calls. Please assume being handwavily told he was leaving, or invited up to the dorms, as needed. I'll be sleeping in a couple of hours, but will pick up any pings in the morning. ]

Too tired to walk from the Causeway to his room, Karal had asked Altra to Jump them. The Firecat, though weary himself, obliged, and so they appeared out of nowhere, Karal stumbling as they landed.

He forced the nausea away and dropped to sit on his bed. As Altra leapt up to sprawl next to him, he saw that Aravis wasn't here. It looked as if she'd not been here for awhile. :She probably went home for Christmas.:

"You're likely right," Karal agreed, and lay back, hands folded across his chest. Hopefully she'd return soon.

It had been a long few days, with little sleep and too much to do. It had also included a trip to Karse, which was where they'd just come from. He'd needed to speak to Solaris.

It's your choice, Karal. It will always be your choice.

I know. And for that reason, this is what I must do.

With a sigh, he sat up, leaning down to touch the pocket of his pack; the object he'd fetched from Sunhame was still tucked safely away.

"For now, a shower. We can start in the morning."

:You shower, I'm going to sleep.:

With a small smile, Karal ruffled Altra's ears, let go of the Firecat's sight, and headed for the bathroom.

[ooc: Just establishy]

School was done for the term and Christmas was rapidly approaching.

These facts seemed to have passed Karal by.

He was, as was becoming the norm, sitting at his desk, working. Altra was curled on a pillow next to his papers so Karal could read them. "I know the tariffs on stock sold into Valdemar from Karse, and through Valdemar to Rethwellan, are important, but I'm finding it difficult to care right at this point," Karal muttered, even as he was making notes in the margin.

:You'll care the first time I don't have cream,: Altra pointed out, batting at Karal's hand playfully. :More stock means more cows, more cows means more calves, and calves mean cream.:

It made Karal laugh wearily and ruffle the cat's ears. "True. Let me finish this, and then we can look at the missive from Karse." He sipped his tea, separating himself from Altra for a moment to ease his headache, finding the darkness peaceful, then began again, losing himself in his work.

It came as a shock when suddenly, some time later, he wasn't seeing papers - there was window and sky and a corner of the school. "Altra?"

The 'cat was alert, attention focussed and intent on something only he could see. :We're needed.: He leapt off the desk, padding towards the door. Karal could only grab his cloak and follow.

[ooc: just establishy.]

It was hard, not being able to see. Karal trusted Dean not to let him run into anything, but he was used to having Altra's eyes to see through.

Though, even if he could have seen, he might not have looked at anything, his awareness of the force hovering over Dean's skin distracting him completely. It was spiralling in as the artist worked on Dean's skin, becoming part of the design.

He shifted in the seat, turning towards the buzzing sound. "Does it hurt?" he asked curiously.

[ooc: NFB distance and Dean modded with permission.]

Despite the cold, Karal had cracked the window open. He'd been sitting at his desk for a hundred years, now (or at least it felt like it), and the fresh air helped clear his head.

:You could take a break,: Altra suggested from his spot crouched over the documents Karal was reading.

"In a minute," Karal murmured, frowning at the paper. Or rather, frowning at its implication. Much as he didn't want to, it didn't leave much of a choice. He sighed.

:A break,: Altra repeated firmly, and suddenly Karal couldn't see the paper. All he could see was the room's open door as Altra stretched and shifted. "Was that mistletoe always there?"

[ooc: open door, open post. I just have to put the first coat of paint on my floor, but I'll be back in 30-45 minutes.]

Karal was sick of both his room and the Vkandis-damned warbling that was coming out of the radio. Even when he'd turned it off, he could still hear it coming from elsewhere in the dorms.

So he'd packed up his work, wrapped himself in his warmest cloak, and he and Altra had made their way to the stables. As he set out his papers and his writing box, he couldn't help smiling. As an acolyte he'd escaped to the stables -- it had been a safe, warm reassuring place to hide.

Those days seemed so long ago that it felt like a different lifetime, but now, even with everything that had happened since then, here he was, once more finding refuge in the stables.

:Work now, reminisce later,: Altra yawned, stretching out on a hay bale above Karal's head, looking down on the papers in his hand. :There are mice to hunt.:

'Hush, 'cat," he muttered absently, reaching up to scratch Altra's ears with one hand while he smoothed out the letter from Herald Alberich with the other.

[ooc: establishy]

The morning had seen Trenor returned to his normal horsey self. Karal had settled him in his stall with a blanket and a warm mash, and come back to the dorms for a shower and morning prayers.

His trip to the common room for breakfast had yielded a surprising quantity of milk and warm cookies. He gave the milk a miss, but happily loaded up on cookies to bring back to his room. It was cold outside but it was toasty in here, and Karal settled on his bed with a book, sighing happily at having a whole day of--

Altra suddenly sat up straight, ears up, and Jumped away. "Altra, what?" There wasn't an answer, given the Firecat was gone. Moving carefully, Karal set his book on the bedside table, feeling along the edge so he didn't knock over his tea.

As suddenly as his sight had blinked out it blinked back in again. Altra was back, and he'd brought something with him. "Oh."

:I have an alarm set on the mail.: Altra was sitting on a pile of correspondence, the seals telling Karal they were from Valdemar, Karse, and Iftel.

"Oh, good." Karal ran a hand through his hair and shifted his tea to the desk. "I guess we're spending the day working."

[ooc: establishy]

He felt cold today, far colder than usual. Trenor woke up, stretched, and when he struck the stable wall, his eyes shot open.

"This isn't right," he said and struggled to his feet, looking down at himself. He was a person.

He wasn't scared, though. He knew what to do. Find Karal. Karal would look after him, just like he had last time. After all, they'd been through this before.

Thankfully, this time Trenor was clad in more than just pants. Given the cold, Fandom had seen fit to outfit him in a heavy sweater as well as some thick socks, and changed his shoes to something more human friendly.

Grinning, Trenor opened his stall door - much easier with fingers than with lips - and trotted off happily in search of Karal.

And maybe some treats. Lots and lots of treats.

[ooc: just establishy! And thus begins the parade of equines.]

Altra was off somewhere, having left Karal at the door to his room after the Dawn Rites. This wasn't a problem; he'd be back soon enough, and Karal knew his way around.

Smoothly skirting the end of the bed, he headed into the bathroom to get a glass of water before sitting down to work. He'd finally gotten through the papers that had backed up while he was a puppy, but more had inevitably arrived.

He couldn't quite hold back a small sigh. He didn't mind the work, Sunlord knew, it was both a challenge and his responsibility, but it would be nice if the pile was smaller than Altra.

Distracted, he absently felt for the glass, filled it from the tap, and lifted it to take a sip.

It wasn't water. The shock of it nearly had him spraying the bathroom. It wasn't bad, he realised after a moment, just not water. He sniffed it, took another tentative sip. "There's hot chocolate coming out of the tap."

It was so strange, he had to say it again. "There's hot chocolate coming out of the tap."

:Fill me a bowl, then, and we'll get to work.: Altra sauntered in, sounding amused. Karal sighed again, filled a bowl for Altra and a mug for himself, and they settled at the desk to work.

It wasn't long before both were slightly buzzed from the sugar.

[ooc: It can be open if you don't mind seriously slow SP.]

Karal woke up. And was immediately very confused.

He'd reached out for Altra as he did every morning, the blind Sun-priest equivalent of opening his eyes. But rather than seeing the room, or the ocean or -- as on one unfortunately memorable occasion -- the inside of a rabbit, his vision was filled with brown. Oddly textured brown.

"Altra?" There was an odd smell in the room, too. "What's happening?" he asked, the faintest hint of worry edging his words.

His only answer was a puur. A deep, loud, window-rattling purr. "Altra?"

:They're beautiful.: The cat's voice was dreamy. If Karal didn't know better, he'd think Altra was drunk. Or drugged. "Altra, what in Vkandis' name is going on?"

The brown receded as Altra took several steps back and turned in a slow circle so Karal could see the room. Karal's jaw dropped. "...what?"

There were birds everywhere. Not live ones, thankfully; these ones were dead and roasted.

:Also delicious,: Altra added. :And Karal, there's another bird inside them, and then another inside those!: He walked a slow circuit around the room, taking in the bounty of Turducken that filled it.

"Well," Karal ventured, rubbing his temple, "it is supposed to be a day of thanksgiving." At least until Altra makes himself sick.

The thought did not go unnoticed. Altra lifted head. :Don't be so foul,: he said primly, and dove back in.

Karal groaned and pulled the blanket over his head.

[ooc: Establishy only, because sleeping and then work.]

Karal wasn't chewing on a rubber bone. That would just be silly. He was simply lying under the blanket because his ears were cold.

Even if he had been chewing on such a thing, it would only be because blind sheepdog puppies weren't overly good at holding a toothbrush, and the rubber bone (which he definitely wasn't chewing, oh no) had styled itself a 'dentabone'.

Whatever it was, it was oddly satisfying to chew. Not that he was, of course.

Karal, currently a blind sheepdog puppy, crept farther under the blanket on the bed and gnawed at the bone a little more fiercely. There may even have been a tiny, satisfied growl.

Look, certain behaviours are endemic to a puppy shape, and he'd been shaped like a puppy for some time now. He wasn't actually worried about the bone, though. It was the sneaking urge to leap up and yap at Altra that concerned him.

[ooc: For the puppy-sitter! Up early cause of the whole timezone/SP issue.]

It was a pleasant day, so Karal had the window open while he sat at Evey's desk. Altra was sprawled lazily across it, half-asleep, and Karal sipped his tea as he reviewed his notes from the week.

Both of them were relaxed and generally happy. Evey would be back eventually, and until then Karal was happy to study, listening to his recorder.

He couldn't help a small chuckle as he realised he might be just be the only student who wasn't worrying about the weekend, what with not having any visitors coming.

[ooc: Evey's room modded with permission, and post is for one. Err, two.]

It felt odd to be back in Karse, as if he'd been gone for ten years, twenty, an entire lifetime. As if it had been a hundred years since he'd climbed these stairs, a thousand since he and Ulrich had set out for Valdemar. As if maybe that Karal had been someone else completely.

He squeezed Evey's hand as they followed Altra up the spiralling stairs. He didn't have time to be here, there was so much to be done in Valdemar, but just this once he didn't care. He had a chance to show Evey his homeland, and he was going to take it.

"The tower is like nowhere else in Karse," he said, voice reverent. They'd reached the top, and Altra leapt up to perch on the low wall. Karal smiled as the 'cat looked out into the darkness. "Or it will be," he amended, "once the sun rises."

[ooc: NFB distance, and for the other person in Karse.]

He was exhausted, but Karal couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts were running through his head. Altra was fast asleep at his feet and Evey fast asleep in front of him, which meant he had to move very carefully as he slipped out of bed to avoid waking either of them.

There was nothing he could do about the Mage's Collegium controversy, except think on it. The border invasion...He'd authorised the sending of Karsite aid in the shape of a Healer-priest and her two apprentices to help with the injured. It remained to be seen how well those of Errold's Grove and the other towns would take the arrival of Karsites in their midst. The small guard troop escorting them and the wagon of goods - also Karsite - might help sweeten their reception.

The real problem, the one that was keeping him awake, was Sun-priest Veren. The Seneschal's Herald had been keeping an unobtrusive eye on him, as had Herald Alberich (who seemed to have an affinity for spying that Karal never would have guessed at). There was no doubt he was speaking again those from Iftel, but it was...subtle.

Too subtle for the Valdemarans to do anything about, despite the fact that he'd been here since shortly after the end of the war with Hardorn. Veren was skirting the laws against proselytising, against the rules and strictures put in place to ensure No One True Way was something more than words. But something needed to be done, and Karal was - however much it disturbed (and scared) him - the final answer on matters of faith here in Valdemar.

Tomorrow he would go into Haven and speak with Veren. And if he wouldn't listen... Karal sighed. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.

The bed was beckoning, promising warmth and sleep if he could just stop thinking, and he climbed under the covers to curl against Evey. He did manage a small smile as he pressed his face against her back, breathing deeply as he snuggled closer still. At least Veren's actions had achieved one thing - for the first time, the priests of Vkandis who made their home here in Valdemar had gladly accepted his authority. Karal was the Envoy, therefore Veren was Karal's problem.

It was a decidedly mixed blessing.

[ooc: NFB, distance & Evey modded with permission]

Their classes were done, they were packed, and so Karal and Evey were leaving for Valdemar. It wasn't quite so much fun as a Homecoming carnival, but they would get to spend the week in a palace, which helped make up for it.

Karal squeezed Evey's hand as they followed Altra through the portal, grateful she was coming with him. (And if she had brought a firecracker or two to put down a certain troublesome Sun-priest's robes, the week could prove to be very interesting indeed.)

[ooc: Just establishy, Evey modded with permission.]

It was a strange scene in Karal's room Thursday afternoon. Karal was standing in the middle, facing his desk.

Altra was sitting on top of the desk, tail curled around his paws, staring unblinkingly into a crystal disc that was bounded by silver and sitting on a silver base. The device - a teleson - was about the same size as the Firecat, and in the disc could be seen the small figure of a robed woman.

They were talking to Karse. The teleson was the magical equivalent of an interdimensional telephone, and it took magic to hold the connection.

Karal and Solaris had been talking for over an hour, but it was finally coming to an end.

"I understand," Karal said, folding his hands in the sleeves of his robes. His most formal robes; he wouldn't appear before the Sun of the Sun in anything less, and it didn't matter that she could only see Altra. "And I agree. With the possibility of hostilities on the border, and Veren's difficulty with Iftel, it would be better were I to return." He considered, then added, "Tomorrow, I think."

Solaris nodded in approval, thanked him, wished him well, and promised she would speak with him again when he arrived in Valdemar. Altra let the connection go and rolled onto his side, yawning.

"I should start packing." Karal sat down on the edge of his bed and rubbed his temple, annoyed that his headache was coming back and wondering if feeding Sun-priest Veren to the Iftel ambassador (a gryphon) would be acceptable. "After some tea."

[ooc: Just for one, please, and up early for time zones.]

It was Friday night, traditionally a time for mirth-making and merriment. It wasn't a tradition to which Karal strictly subscribed, but even if it had been, this Friday night he wouldn't be.

A large stack of bundled documents had greeted him upon his return from class*, some from Valdemar, some from Karse and, unexpectedly, some from Iftel. Among the Iftel ones was a thick book which turned out to be a history of that country.

As eager as he was to read it, he set it aside until he'd dealt with the other matters.

The sun had long since set, and he was still working, Altra perched on the desk so Karal could read, and they both had a headache from it. "I'd hoped it might be a little longer before this started," he murmured, turning to the next page.

:You're the Envoy, it was only a matter of time.: Altra grumbled and prodded the parchment with a paw. :But I'd hoped the same thing.:

_______
*Not actually greeted; they were just sitting on the desk.

[ooc: open door and open post!]

So, I now have a project at work on top of my regular work. It was a project someone else was supposed to go offline to work on full time, but that someone is on holiday and our deadline has been set at 1 December.

So I get to do it. Yay me.

This will make me scarce and incredibly slow during the afternoon/evenings/night EST Sun-Thurs (work day in this time zone), if I have any availability at all, and it will hold until 27 October. (Which is the day person on leave returns and I am counting the days 'til then omg.)

*clings*

This is for firebringerborn and waytoomanynames, as well.

*outs self to those of you who hadn't figured from the proliferation of puns that I play the unicorn*

Altra was off somewhere, Karal wasn't sure where. The Firecat had stiffened suddenly, made sure Karal would be all right to get back to the dorms on his own, then taken off in the direction of town.

Karal was all right to get back to the dorms - he was only sitting out the front of them, after all - but on his way, he picked up a passenger. He'd felt something land on his head, brushed at it, felt it shift and had thought that was the end of it.

Sadly, Karal's curly hair was comfortable, and the small dove was perfectly happy to stay there, even though Karal went inside, walked up the stairs and into his room, and settled down to study at his desk, listening to his recorder.

Occasionally, he brushed at his hair, with the feeling that something wasn't quite right, but the dove didn't budge.

[ooc: the door is WIDE open and Karal has a small dove on his head. Look, I didn't set up the photo shoot, but I'm damned sure going to take advantage of it!]

Karal hadn't been hiding under his bed, no matter what he'd told Gavin. He hadn't been hiding at all. He'd simply been where other people would be unlikely to stumble over him, and no, he wasn't saying where.

Now, he'd broken cover to make his way up the stairs to Evey's room, Altra leading the way, hoping against hope that perhaps she might still be herself. She'd changed last time when he'd remained normal; it would make sense that this time she'd remain normal while he changed, or so he kept telling himself.

(Somewhere, Fandom was laughing at him.)

Knocking quietly, he leaned against the doorframe, pushing his mind-of-its-own hair behind an ear.

[ooc: for that girl who's a guy who lives in the room, yup.]

After attending Town Hall, Karal and Altra had hurried back to the dorms, to find Evey and explain what was happening.

Obviously, he wasn't going anywhere after that. Eventually, he'd fallen into an uneasy sleep, only to awaken in the middle of the night. He wasn't sure if Evey was asleep, so he was very careful as he sat up, not wanting to disturb her if she was.

Altra was not asleep. Karal reached for him, to see through his eyes, and then he was looking out over the island. The Firecat was standing sentry by the window, he realised.

:Go to sleep, Karal,: Altra told him. :I'll keep watch.:

Closing their connection, Karal lay back down and curled around Evey, trusting in Altra to keep watch. He doubted he would sleep again, even with that, but he could pray.

[ooc: room and its owner modded with permission.]

Karal was sitting on his bed, books and papers spread around him as he occasionally spoke into his recorder. Anyone looking in might think he was studying -- and he was, sort of, it just wasn't for school. The Writ was open under Altra's nose, and the book Dean had loaned Karal lay beside him. The other books were the diaries of past Sons of the Sun and Karal's own notebooks from years as novice, acolyte and priest.

He had a headache. So did Altra. Reading wasn't easy on either of them, but Karal owed it to Dean to find an answer to his question.

Karal sighed and rubbed his temple. "Let's look at Dean's book again," he murmured. Altra grumbled, but moved to stand over it as Karal turned the pages.

[ooc: the door is open a crack, and the post can be open, too, as long as you don't mind likely SP due to work.]

Karal was sitting on his bed, legs crossed, Vkandis medal in hand, meditating.

After yesterday, he felt the need for some inner peace. Altra was asleep, draped across the end of the bed, and the door was very firmly shut.

[ooc: expecting one, but open, sure! Also, why am I awake at 4 am??]

Karal has fled to his room after the gremlin-induced insanity had been cleared away, and he had stayed there for quite a long time. First he'd had to shower. A lot. And scrub himself all over. A lot.

For each new thing he remembered, more scrubbing was necessary. The memory of John eating Gavin's hair had him using the entire tube of toothpaste.

And then he'd had to listen to Altra lecture him. Also a lot.

And then he'd had to screw up his courage to go and see Evey. Which he'd finally done, and had crept through the halls to her door to knock quietly.

[ooc for: her whose room it is]

Karal was listening to his notes from class today, sitting at his desk while he stared off into space.

Well, not space, exactly. Altra was intently watching a small shadow moving under Karal's bed, and so Karal was, too. "I think it's just a mouse, Altra."

:Here? It could be anything. I'm not taking any chances.:

[ooc: the door, she is open; the post, she is open; the Sharron, she stayed home from work so; the availability, she is great!]