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Tolon	The nomad camp looks fairly haphazard, the tents seem set down without any real pattern or order. The people gather as they see fit. Yet the permimeter is ordered. Firstly there's a ring running around the outside of camp that is used for training, children and adults alike ride the ring regularly shooting targets set up at complex angles. This makes for a fairly reliable watch on its own. Then there are the patrols, during the late afternoon groups of riders travel the land around the camp, hunting small game and possible trouble. Tolon for his part is currently within the confines of the camp, a small open area has been set up for melee training. He's currently watching as one of the Nomads teaches children to use the sword. The children range in age from little more than tots simply watching, to teenagers close to adulthood and already wearing real swords.
Orchid Blossom	A young fae-blooded woman stands in the entrance of the largest tent, a shawl about hre shoulders doing little to hide the face that she wears a sheer silk loin-cloth, a brass collar, and nothing else. She stands in the shade of the tent, pale-skinned and pointed-ears. The nomads pay her little heed as she looks on, watching the men training with swords, lips slightly pursed.
Eloidhe	To the outside of the camp a very different woman approaches, wearing heavy robes with long red hair that almost brushes the ground in a pony tail. Small red feathers decorate the up do and she trails her fingertips along them thoughtfully as she approaches the camp with an open, curious expression.
Tolon	Tolon motions to Orchid, his expression thoughtful. "Have you been taking riding lessons? You will need to be comfortable in the saddle when we next move." He frowns his attention turning back to the training as his name is metioned by the middle aged man showing the boys. "Tolon, come show the children how to use a sword?" He grins warmly at Tolon as he motions him over. The patrols don't take long to spot the woman approaching their camp. A single rider breaks from the group as they near, speaking in a casual tone. "Good Day. Do you have business with Tribe Tolon? Or are you simply passing by?" It's a fairly friendly greeting, though it's hard to miss the three other riders still holding bows well within shooting distance.
Orchid Blossom	Orchid Blossom nods her head. "Yes Master, and I haven't even fallen off since the first day. Not unless you count the time they gave me an unbroken horse to ride." The slender slave rubs her backside ruefully. She steps out of the shadow of the tent, her own long hair down to her knees. The slave approaches the melee training area, stopping at the edge.
Eloidhe	Looking up from the rider to his companions, Eloidhe blinks. "I'm passing through, but a big, well defended camp like this seems much safer than camping alone." She points out, looking up at the rider with an open expression. "Unless your camp doesn't welcome outsiders, it's no skin off my nose to keep moving past after all." She notes in a cheerful tone, tilting her head a little as she smiles.
Tolon	The rider nods to his companions, he then turns back to Eloidhe, his expression thoughtful. "We will bring Tolon. He will make the decision." He shrugs a shoulder. "We get few visitors. Most avoid our camps. Traders sometimes visit, we sometimes have other guests. Tolon will decide when he gets here." The rider doesn't take long to traverse the camp, Tolon is at this point, just preparing to spar with the middle aged man teaching the children. Sword raised in a defensive posture. "You will need to do better than simply not fall off, we ride long hours at a fair pace. You will need to practice harder." He turns a shout of his name being heard as a rider approaches. Tolon, we have a visitor." The rider speaks calmly. "She said she thought this would be a safe place to camp." He sounds amused. Tolon for his part simply nods. "We'll meet her then. See if we should welcome her or send her on her way." He looks to Orchid. "Join me. You're more familiar with outsiders." With that he begins at a quick pace to meet the arrival.
Orchid Blossom	"I'm sure I'll have plenty of practice as we travel. The riding is easy enough I suppose, unless I try to gallop all the time." Orchid Blossom hurries to keep up with Tolon, moving toward the outsider. Unlike the nomads the slave is unarmed. "So did you want me to do most of the talking Master, or am I just to keep my mouth shut and my ears open?" The Fae-Blood slave falls in at Tolon's heel, her own shorter stride skipping as she tries to keep up.
Eloidhe	Eloidhe waits patiently, at one point she even sits and appears to meditate before hearing riders approach. At that point the redhead rises to her feet and brushes her fingers through her hair to shake out any debris from sitting. She shades her eyes with a hand, peering at them before lifting her hand to wave with a cheerfulness.
Tolon	Tolon considers Orchid's question. "We shall see." He mounts a horse at the first oppertunity, motioning for Orchid to do the same. When they reach Eloidhe, he offers her a nod of his head. "You must be our visitor. I am Tolon." He studies her closely for a moment. "You would like to stay with us?" He smiles. "We've had many visitors lately. You can I hope understand why a group such as ours must be careful?"
Orchid Blossom	Orchid Blossom's eyes widen ever so slightly as she looks the redhead over, recognizing the woman from some weeks earlier, back in Nexus, before she became Tolon's slave. She does her best to hide her reaction, pulling her smaller horse in beside Tolon's. The Fae-blood glances between both Eloidhe and Tolon curiously.
Eloidhe	Eloidhe shrugs a little. "A group of travelers? I mean, dangerous times. That's why I got excited seeing the camp. I'm a performer, going town to town-always better to group up for a night than-" She starts in a careful tone before getting distracted and looking to Orchid. "Oh hey, that dancer from Nexus, finally hit the road too huh?" She grins a little more broadly and tucks her hands into her long sleeves before looking back to Tolon. "So, just a night, I'm headed west a bit I think and it seems like a good opportunity to sleep a little safer and maybe resupply."
Tolon	Tolon considers Eloidhe. "Kete Riders are often looked upon as... Savages by others. Though we may also consider heading West, though we need be careful to seem... Unaggressive in some parts." He shrugs a shoulder as though it's of no importance, his attention turning to Orchid. "You know each other?"
Orchid Blossom	"Yes Master, we met in Nexus before... you know." Orchid Blossom lifts her chin, pointing out the slave collar, now facing Eloidhe. "I didn't so much hit the road. More like made a very unwise bet, and ended up as Master Tolon's slave. I think I got the best out of that deal though. Trust me, if Master tolon offers you the hospitality of his tent he's totally savage, so you should take him up on his offer, if you take my meaning." The Fae-blood woman's eyes have a mischevious twinkle.
Eloidhe	Eloidhe's back stiffens slightly and she leans her weight onto one foot. "Slave?" The word dragged out with disdain, looking back up at Tolon. Her eyes flash and her jaw clenches, slowly taking in a breath. She flashes the man a tight smile. "I'll keep walking I think, I don't trek with slavers." She notes and holds her hands out to show there's nothing in them before taking a step back, one foot she keeps lower to the ground than the other with her steps.
Tolon	"We're not slavers." Tolon shrugs a shoulder. "We have no laws against slavery, but then neither does Nexus if my understanding is correct?" Tolon seems amused. "It was your friend here who made the wager... Though I doubt she really thinks the decision unwise." He seems amused. "You can keep traveling of course, though you are welcome to a tent if you want one." He looks to the other riders, motioning them back onto their patrol.
Eloidhe	"Nexus has issues." Eloidhe huffs and looks to Orchid. "She set the terms? Your people don't go out-scooping people off the street as merchandise?" She asks Tolon and narrows her eyes a bit, studying his face closely. She seems to be weighing the pros and cons of risking it.
Tolon	Tolon shakes his head slowly. "She set the terms." He shrugs a shoulder. "I have killed, I have looted and on several ocassions I have made slaves. All of these acts were judgements passed on those who had murdered, looted and tried to enslave my people. I see no reason to explain myself to you. Stay if you wish, if not then I will have my people prepare what supplies you will need and you can continue on your way."
Eloidhe	Eloidhe chews the inside of her cheek before letting out a small breath. "Well, as I don't mean you or yours ill, I suppose that means I have little to worry about." She reasons and looks back over her shoulder a moment as she considers. "A break from the wilderness would be welcome. I can of course pay for any supplies." She adds with a look at Tolon. "I am called Eloidhe, sometimes the Crimson Crane of Lookshy." She notes with a small bow.
Tolon	Tolon nods. "It is a pleasure." He dismounts, motioning for Orchid to do the same. "We will arrange a tent for you. You are welcome among our tents and to share a food and fires." He grins brightly. "I traveled with a former soldier of Lookshy once, he was a great warrior and a fine friend. Never wielded a bow like he should have however."
Eloidhe	"I imagine he was skilled in martial arts however?" Eloidhe looks at Tolon as he dismounts, taking her time to study him. "Not too many of Lookshy leave the rank and file, especially soldiers. He must have made an interesting traveling companion." The dancer's tone polite looking only briefly to Orchid as she dismounts before putting her focus back on Tolon. "Are you more a student of the bow, then? I tend to keep to cities, I don't see much of wandering tribes admittedly-they have less interest in performers it seems and make their own fun in my experience."
Tolon	Tolon shrugs a shoulder. "He was. Some people aren't made for the military." He smiles as he recalls his travels. "I am famous for my bow. Among the Kete I have yet to meet my equal. Perhaps I never will." He motions to the ring they pass. "We are by nature horse archers. Yet we learn sword and spear, versatility is vital to our way of life." He laughs with a nod. "We do make our own fun, though we appriciate the arts. Few performers wish to travel amongst the blood thirsty savages though. Sometimes a reputation is a terrible thing."
Orchid Blossom	Orchid Blossom has kept hre mouth shut, an unusual thing for the Fae-blood to do. "Eloidhe, will you want a tent prepared, or will you take the hospitality of one already standing? Far be it for me to overstep myself, but I'm sure that many would welcome you. I don't imagine that many women with red hair come to this camp." She purses her lips slightly, examining the woman's superbly long hair.
Eloidhe	Walking, Eloidhe considers his words for a long moment. "In that we agree, reputation can indeed be a terrible thing in some circumstances." She looks around as they walk, studying the camp. "Why do the Kete travel. I've heard in the north some tribes do travel, and to the south to be sure-but less so in this area." She admits before looking to Orchid Blossom and arching her brows. "It's just hair." She demurs and tilts her head a little so the long locks sway. "If they've seen a fox or a crane they've seen prettier examples of the color by far. I won't presume to assume I'll be taking to any beds-I'm sure something small to curl up in is just perfect."
Tolon	Tolon shrugs a shoulder. "Why wouldn't we? The horses need a lot of land to graze." Tolon grins. "What else would we do? Build cities? Towns and walls? I would ask why? Cities smell, they pen you in and make you soft with their false promise of safety." He shakes his head. "There is not a person here who would ever wish to stop our way of life." He listens to the exchange. "We will have a tent set up for you. It is tradition." It's said as though that is the end of it. "You are our guest, you shall have a tent, if you choose to stay there or elsewhere is your concern."
Orchid Blossom	"But really, any of the unmarried men would I'm sure welcome you into their tent. It's not just your hair that is unusual." Orchid Blossom looks Eloidhe up and down unashamedly openly. "Say the word though and I shall get to setting up a bed in your tent." She turns back to Tolon. "Master, shall I see to preparing her a meal?"
Eloidhe	"Thank you." Eloidhe nods to Tolon and gives his questions more thought. "A city provides opportunity forless practical trades to thrive. Yes, there is more weakness and frivolity, but it is also a place where the individual thrives separate from the group. I'm sure you know everyone in your tribe, in the city I'm another face that can come and go, disappear for better or ill." She points out as they walk and looks at Orchid Blossom again. "I work hard to be exceptional, bedding a strange man just because I was passing through wouldn't lend it's self to that image. It would have to be an exceptional person." She points out to the other woman in a soft voice. "I am not in any rush to do so, however."
Tolon	Tolon considers Orchid for a moment. "Eloidhe is welcome to join me for dinner." He smiles at the Eloidhe's words. "Indviduality is valued amongst the Kete greatly. We have no lords looking down on servants and serfs. We bend knee to no one. These things foster indviduality as does our way of life. We learn to survive, to find and build shelter, to track and to hunt and to defend ourselves. A single Kete can live apart from the group better than most city dwellers. Cities have their values, they offer things that don't come from elsewhere, but nothing that is worth giving up the freedoms that we have." He then smiles faintly. "This tribe is small, but yes. I know each of the tribe, though that's not the same for everyone here. I prefer a community with such connections, being surrounded by strangers all the time seems... Unsettling."
Orchid Blossom	Orchid Blossom dips a curtsey. "I shall try to behave then Eloidhe, and not try to seduce you further. Though I assure you, Master Tolon is most exceptional. May I take your leave to go prepare food?" The slave keeps her opinions on individualism to herself, letting her betters discus the matter.
Eloidhe	"As a pretty face, in just one city, you can expect to be a pawn, or a possession. Being surrounded by strangers is a benefit in that circumstance, if you can build an aura of power about you-at least in my experience. So I started going city to city-which is how we've crossed paths." She tells Tolon with a brief, friendly smile before looking to Orchid Blossom. "Thank you, though I understood the intent, I assure you."