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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:40 pm
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It was a fairly dreary day in the Stormborn, heavy clouds hanging overhead and blotting out the sun. It had been rather stormy the past few days, in fact, and Geist was glad there was at least a bit of a break in the rain to get out and stretch his legs. He was getting older now and the den he shared with his parents and siblings was getting a bit cramped now that he, his brother, and his sister were getting to be of the age when they'd start thinking about moving out.
After rounding a rather large puddle, the young male trotted off in the direction of the center of the pride, looking for a meal before wandering around. He was hopeful a Viking would be ending today and he could hear about all the things the Reavers had done, see the spoils they returned with, learn about the brave battles they fought and possibly lost. It was his favorite thing to do!
Geist was a bit disappointed to see that there wasn't any fresh meat around - the Thralls hadn't gotten back from their hunt yet, perhaps - but didn't let it get him down too much. Instead he headed for the pile of bones that was left for the scavengers or for those who wanted to decorate themselves with the carcasses. He pawed the skull of a young gazelle towards him, then another, then one of a zebra, and soon he had a nice little audience to talk to.
"Fear not, ladies and gentlelions, the Reavers shall return soon with wonderful new tales for me to relay to you," he said with a flourish of his tail.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:47 pm
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Smyg rarely ate when most of the pride was devouring their spoils, preferring to watch the dramas unfold instead. But now, all being quiet, he might as well find something to chew on for a while.
It wasn't uncommon for the lion to come upon others who had also chosen to wait, or were just plain hungry again, but this was not at all a sight he'd expected to see. The black and white furred boy was addressing an audience of skulls. And, to be frank, he was doing a shitty job of it.
"You must be joking," the Bard drawled as he came near. "Nobody talks like that, especially not in this pride."
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:53 pm
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Geist was about to launch into a story he had experienced himself when one of the skulls interrupted him. He sighed and glanced at the antelope skull that he had dragged over last, but rather than being met with the spirit of the animal that had been killed, he spotted a brown lion padding toward him between the prongs of its antlers. Golden eyes lit up in surprise and a grin crossed his face as Smyg, one of the few bards of the pride made his way towards him. What luck!
"I talk like that," he said, still grinning, not at all put-out by the incredulous adult. "Nice to shake things up a little, right?" He tilted his head a bit, braid swaying as he did so. He knew the older male wouldn't know him, but Geist had made it a personal mission to...er...well...not stalk, but learn as much as he could about the pride's bards. He wanted to be one, after all! He'd have to apprentice under one in order to be accepted into the small fold.
"How would you get the attention of a bored crowd?" The question wasn't so much of a challenge as it was pure curiosity. Geist had his own way of doing things, but he wanted to learn how the big boys did it, too.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:00 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:07 pm
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"You haven't met my siblings then," Geist said, his voice going just a tad dry for a moment. His siblings were great, really they were. He loved them dearly and his twin would often join him on spooking missions, although he was starting to realize the other dark male was usually there to try to hinder rather than help now that he was a bit older. Still, there were times when both of their parents would be away from the den and they'd get into scuffles from being so bored and Geist had quite the time trying to entertain them with stories, both made up and ones he had heard from Reavers and Captains.
"Uh...well...I haven't had much practice yet, no," the younger male said. "Just my family. And they kind of have to listen to me, right?" he added with a little grin and a snicker. He knew some of his older relatives listened to him with about as much enthusiasm a sloth has, but hey. That's what family was for!
"But I can't learn if I don't try," he added, lifting his head a little higher.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:12 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:16 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:22 pm
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"Hmph," was the brown lion's only reply, but a slight curl to his lips betrayed Smyg's pleasure at the responsiveness the boy displayed. He wasn't really interested in a protege, but who was he to deny such a receptive audience? After all, he was a Bard.
Nor did he think this boy threatened him in any meaningful way. There were very few Bards throughout the Myrsky Syntynyt, and while more could mean more competition, it would also ensure that more of the stories of the pride were witnessed and retold. Besides, competition was healthy in all respects. It would please him to partake in a contest of the mind, rather than the body.
"There is no such thing as a bored audience," Smyg continued his earlier statement. "There's a group of lions gathered in anticipation of a grand event, and there's a group of lions drawn together by mutual interest. If nothing catches the eye of all, they will most likely strike up conversations with those around them, alleviating boredom before it occurs."
Now Smyg smiled, a sharp-edged grin that made him look more like he wished to shed blood than share information.
"The trick is attracting the attention of lions whose chief focus is on something else. There are a multitude of methods, and a skilled Bard knows them all."
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:34 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:39 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:46 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:49 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:03 pm
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