Highest Ledges -- Starmount
Perched high over the lake, slightly further southeast than the very middle of the lake, these ledges are as high as one can get on foot. Only one cavern backs them at this level, a single medium-small opening that could house perhaps a small brown if it needed to. The ledges themselves are very smooth here, roughed by hand from the stone by the looks of the cutting, and well-leveled. A zigzaggy ramp leads downward to the northwest in the general direction of the Weyr side, while to the southeast a much straighter selection of ledges, apparently carved at much labor by hand, descend toward the hold side of the lake. You can barely see dragons in the water below, for this set of ledges is over a dozen dragonlengths high, and firelizards are only visible when flying very high. The view here lets you see most of the southern end of the Weyr, and almost all of the Hold buildings, of which there are quite a number.
Contents:
Riko
Aewen(#4114PVc)

Aewen peers at the figure as it approaches, until she recognizes it, and then a broad grin, though not a malicious one, spreads across her intriguing face. "Ahh, Puokano. Nice to see you here."

Puokano carefully clambers up the ledgeway, gaze upon his footing; therefore, the others fail to be noticed upon Aewen speaks. Attention jerks up, and he pauses. "Obviously, this is a popular place to dodge chores," he dryly states and begins to back away, ever so slowly. "I'll just leave you two to..whatever you where doing."

Aewen grins, "I'm sorry Puo, but you really must remember that 50 marks you raised at the auction."

Riko peers at Puokano, "I'm not dodging my chores, I'm just enjoying the view.."

"Yeah, whatever." Puokano rolls his eyes at Riko, tone carrying a necessary amount of skepticism. Glancing back at Aewen, he warily affirms, "I remember."

Aewen grins, and you can almost see the little horns poking out of her hair. "That green rider was my brother, Puo. Bidding proxy." It apprears you are mine for a week. Heh heh heh.

Riko ignores the conversation between Aewen and Puokano and just looks out to the horizon.

Backing up another few steps, Puokano sourly remarks, "I figured that." He spares a glance for Riko before focus flickers back to his 'owner'. "What do you expect that I'd do for you?" he questions slowly.

Aewen grins a little, "Well, first you can shovel snow. That was one of my chores today. Then, you can wait on me in the Living Caverns." Ah.. The delight of public humiliation.

Riko stifles a chuckle at Aewens' orders trying to look like he isn't paying attention to the conversation.

"No." Flatly, Puokano refuses, something akin to a smirk settling upon his countenance. "Make me." Hands are propped on hips, and he declares, "I won't do that."

Aewensmiles. "I could report your lack of obedience to Drekyn..." She leaves that threat hanging.

Puokano rolls his eyes. "Go ahead and do that," he challenges. "Does it look like I care any?" He pauses. "I'm not going to go get myself all cold just for you. I hate snow, and I won't shovel it. As for /waiting/ on you.." He idly waves a hand. "Forget it."

Aewen smiles a little, brushing her hair out of her face. What Puo doesn't know, is that she's been arguing with her big brother and his friends since she could talk. "Okay, then. I guess I'll just have to send for M'iva and D'ver. I'm sure they'd be happy to help."

"M'iva and D'ver." Puokano's eyebrows quirk slightly. "Haven't heard of them before. What would they do -- threaten to feed me to their dragons?" He smirks. "I /know/ that dragons don't eat people. I'm not that dumb." Nevermind that he wasn't quite so sure of that fact in the first couple days after his arrival.

Aewen smiles slightly, eyes glinting a metallic green. "That's my brother and his weyrmate. They donated enough money, I'm sure they could think of some things for you to do."

"And how do you expect to call them?" False innocence colors Puokano's tone as he remarks, "I don't see how you'd get a message off if you're stuck up here.."

Riko bends down to pick up enough snow to form a snowball, and then tosses it over the side of the ledges towards the lake. He's at least gotta look like he's not listening in.

Veralidaine cheeps malevolently from Aewen's shoulder. She'd like nothing better than to chew on his toes, and it shows.

Puokano awaits a reply, arms akimbo and expression smug.

Aewen raises one eyebrow. "You do know about flits, Puo?" She assumes the tone usually used with simpletons and small children.

Mockingly, Puo responds, "I suppose I would if one attached itself to me."

Aewen smiles a little. "Well, My firelizard, Veralidaine, happens to know M'iva, D'ver, as well as my mother, father, and High Reaches. All I would have to do is launch her, and she would go /between/ to High Reaches, and she'd go screetching around the weyr, radiating panioc, and you would have four very angry dragons, as well as their riders, breathing down your neck."

"Great." Puokano glares over at the girl and her firelizard, resigning himself to ask, "Can we make a bargain? So I don't have to shovel snow?" Muttering something rather unrepeatable under his breath, he looks far from pleased.

Aewen smiles a little happy smile, and nods a little. "Yes. A bargain. What are the terms?"

Puokano considers the conditions for a few moments, silent. "Something out of the weather," he decides. "That doesn't involve a lot of people watching." Puo's got to retain some dignity, after all. "So no places where lots of people would be."

Aewen smiles, and you can practically see all the opprtunities flying before her eyes. "well, that dosen't leave much to do...." She trails off, grinning almost maliciously, her eyes glowing a odd blueish-green.

"I'm sure you can think of some demeaning task," Puokano snaps out with annoyance. "It's all you've probably been doing for your entire life -- it comes naturally for someone like you."

Riko slips out of the scene, heading down the path at a leasurly rate.
Riko carefully descends toward the middle rank of ledges.

Aewen smiles, her gaze softening to something akin to pity. "I'm sure that's what you would think. But I had better things to do at the weyr." Like the infamous numbweeding of the Candis, and the runnign around the weyr in the nightgown...

"Sure. Whatever." Puokano dismisses Aewen's remarks with a flippant flick of his fingers. "Like I believe you."

Aewen smiles, ignoring the arrogant look on Puo's face. "Okay, but remember, I did pay 50 marks for your company."
Aewen carefully descends toward the middle rank of ledges.

Candidate Barracks -- Starmount(#52RALM)
This arching cavern is more than large enough to house seventy or so inhabitants, though it'd strain to manage more than that. Cots are set up rather haphazardly in all directions, mingled with several very large, rather stained and sanded tables covered with hides and other interesting objects. Activity in this room right now is considerable. A clutch must lie on the sands, for this barracks cavern is currently home to quite a number of not-quite-frantic, but very busy recruits. True, unless it's nighttime, it's very quiet around here, as candidates are dragged off to various chores, but one or more can always be found here. At night, it doesn't get any quieter, though most candidates learn right away to sleep through the fuss.
 A single large tunnel leads out from this room, down a slight slope into the northwest quarter of the bowl that faces the curved niche that houses the weyrlings and their lifemates. To the southeast can be seen the huge opening to the hatching grounds.

Aewen is already sitting on her bunk, meticulously folding her candidate's robe. She finishes, and places it in a basket, to glare at the back of Puo's head.

Puokano apparently decides that the best tactic is to ignore Aewen; he flops onto his own cot, kicks off his boots, and folds his arms across his chest as he stares -- glowers -- up at the ceiling.

[Log ends]