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RESPITE FALLS WALLS - MIDDAY
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Nesseth is standing somewhat attentively at his post along the town wall, spear in hand and propped up at his side. He looks attentive, but he's mostly just gazing out at the buildings still being constructed in the area to the west, beyond the wall, where the Saurs and newcomers to town can readily get good sheltering. He smiles a bit, quietly enjoying how what was once nothing more than a dusty frontier town is turning into a bustling (if still quite small) city in its own right.
Louma slithers side to side up the access stairs, somehow too distracted to want to fly and observe the patrols. She makes her way along the wall, staring out over the construction as she goes. On reaching Nesseth she idly muses, "I think this wall is going to need a little expansion, with almost a quarter of our population now living out there."
Nesseth hums absently in response, nodding his agreement. "Mmh... especially out in that direction, considering the sand gators. Though... Brunilda definitely did a good job of making sure they gave the town a wide berth before now." He chuckles a bit, "Might even need a second weather shield, eventually."
Louma nods, settling next to Nesseth and crossing her arms. "There's that, too. We'll have to make sure the generator can handle it, of course. The surface area of a sphere and all that. I don't know what I'm talking about, but May would."
Nesseth shrugs a bit. "Well, it'd probably have to have a smaller generator or something nearby. There has to be an upper limit for the shield's height, I think, and we definitely can't have another lightning strike like the one that almost overloaded the generator when Yzzayt flew over..."
Louma laughs. "I do not expect we'll ever see lightning like that again. That aside, overlapping shields is apparently a very poor idea. Something about harmonic wavelengths. And explosions."
Nesseth looks over at Louma with a chuckle. "Then we just extend the smaller shield far enough to stop at the wall. We can probably set it up to avoid that sort of interference."
Louma shrugs. "We can let May handle thinking about that, trying to understand magitech still makes my head hurt. Until then, we'll have to have a plan to draw everyone under the shield in a bad storm."
Nesseth hums again. "Mmh, shouldn't be too bad if we let folks know about the occasional storms we get. Those that don't listen will realize why we suggest it pretty quickly."
Louma grins, looking to Nesseth. "I think the saurs at least know about the storms."
Nesseth smiles in turn. "Then they can join us in having a laugh on the wall when we see folks we warned scurrying for the shields, hm?"
Louma nods, chuckling quietly. She looks back out over the construction, quiet for a few moments. "With so many new arrivals coming every month, we are going to be able to explore more. It will be necessary, really, or else we're going to exhaust the space and resources here." She pauses, "Unless we start building along the road all the way to Bairnell. Make the longest city in the world."
Nesseth sighs a bit as he looks out over the construction sites as well. "Yeah... we probably would have a better lay of the land if the expedition reported back through the town, though I'm almost thinking they just bypassed Respite on the way back to Bairnell or something, at this point..." He takes a moment to scratch his frills a bit before adding, "We have a basic lay of the land in a couple of directions... but that's about it. With the Saurs helping, we might be able to map things faster, with their knowledge."
Louma nods, considering it. "True. If we had flying explorers, it would go much easier. Just an entire group of airborne folk. I would have done it a couple years ago. Are there no fliers in the Explorers Guild?"
Nesseth nods. "There are a few, but they tend to be grounded due to the dangers of flying solo in unknown territory. They tend to travel with a group on the ground and only take to the air when mapping a region out while the group is camped for the day."
Louma nods, sighing quietly. "Probably for the best, as far as safety is concerned. At least that is a reasonable decision. Can you believe some fliers don't care to take advantage of their gift? Like a fish that does not want to swim."
Nesseth gives Louma an odd look. "If I had wings, I'd be up in the air almost all day if I could handle it."
Louma chuckles, "Leana would disagree. She never seemed to care much for flying."
Nesseth furrows his brow a bit in confusion. "Your sister? Why not? I'd figure with wings like that, she'd be flying whenever she could, like you do."
Louma: "I don't know. She didn't always have the rainbow feathers, though. That looks distinctly... Coatl."
Nesseth gets a rather uncertain look on his face. "I mean... I'd have bought you saying she painted her feathers or something, if it wasn't for the fact that she had those pictures."
Louma looks to Nesseth, scratching her neck as she thinks for a few moments. "Well... I had hoped our adventures with Xochicoatl were tied up, but perhaps we need to consult Xochi . Perhaps she has felt or dreamt something."
Nesseth nods at Louma's suggestion. "Wouldn't hurt to ask, at least... though if what I'm remembering of those... moments in the Dark Sea, let's hope her dreams don't involve that place, if she's having any." He gazes into the distance for a moment, then his eyes focus back on Louma, "...And you're sure Leana's the same as ever, wing color changes aside?"
Louma puts on a dry expression with a tone to match. "Yes, she is still an aggravating nettle. There is no faking that."
Nesseth chuckles. "Good, so... whatever happened, at least Leana's still as she's always been, hm? No weird, creepy changes in personality or anything."
Louma shakes her head, sighing. "Unfortunately, no."
Nesseth sighs in tandem as he runs a hand over his head for a moment. "...Well, if there's one upside to it all, at least Xochicoatl isn't trapped, either in the Dark Sea or that manor back in the past. She got her freedom while Xochi got hers, as well."
Louma: "Agreed there. I am still keeping an eye on Leana for now, though now i have two things to watch her over. Still... If she is indeed not here on a mission to take me back, then she might as well meet May. Perhaps, if she's good, I'll even invite her to the wedding."
Nesseth lightly nudges Louma in the side, smirking. "Hopefully I haven't caused enough aggravation over the years to be denied an invitation, myself." He takes a moment to shift his stance a bit, getting a little more comfortable, "Speaking of... you've got your hands full with that coming up, right? Want me to talk to Xochi and see if there's been anything unusual going on?"
Louma nudges him back, grinning. "You were on the verge of it for helping Leana be annoying, but I suppose I can forgive you for now." She nods to his question, "I would, yes. If I run into Xochi otherwise, I'll ask, but if you could that would be appreciated. I can not leave all the stress on May and Mae's shoulders. They are both very small."
Nesseth smiles back at Louma. "What, sending me to patrol the runoffs the last couple of days wasn't punishment enough for that tip I gave her?" He chuckles and shakes his head, "Anyway, sure, once I get off of work, I'll see if I can pull Xochi aside for a chat over the weekend. I've not had a chance to chat with her yet since she recovered from that ordeal."
Louma: "I do hope she is doing alright. I will have to meet up with her sometime soon anyhow. We do have the conquest of Aephix to discuss, after all."
Nesseth answers with a perfectly even tone, smoothly rolling with the joke this time around. "Be sure to get Leana involved on that. She'd be a good retainer or something for Xochi with those coatl wings of hers."
Louma grunts. "She can be court jester."
Nesseth shoots Louma a teasing smirk. "Really? I thought that'd be you, with all those jokes you love to bounce off of me." He puts on a mock thoughtful expression, "...I'm just imagining you wearing a jester hat, now... and it fits surprisingly well!"
Louma sighs. "I'm sorry commandant. I couldn't save poor Nesseth. He lost his balance and fell off the wall before I could reach him."
Nesseth sighs melodramatically. "Well, at least I'd be taking a few feathers with me when I go. I apologize in advance for any bald spots I leave on your plumage."
Louma chuckles, patting Nesseth on the shoulder. "I'd drop you twice." She grins. "I have to go bother the rest of the patrols before they forget to stay awake. Let me know if you run into Xochi."
Nesseth grins at Louma. "I knew you weren't the sort to do half measures, anyway, so I'd expect no less, really." He laughs and nods, "I'll be sure to keep you in the loop, Louma, and... yeah, probably best I don't keep you too long before anyone else starts getting a little too sleepy on the wall. Try not to give anyone a heart attack, though."
Louma shrugs, sighing. "I will try. No promises, though." She turns, starting to head on down the wall. "Take care, Nesseth."
Nesseth waves at Louma as she departs to continue her reign of terror on the guards currently on-duty along the wall. "You too, Louma. See you later."