Not Blåskovian, Noraii

(OOC: This is a joint expansion done between me and Cowlass for the country of Noraida.)

4th March, 2025
Noraii Sea, Noraida

As resistant to the cold that Noraii tieflings were, Tinlé still had to wear a rather thick winter jacket as she stepped out onto the deck of the ship she was on. With her rubbing her gloved hands together, steam coming out with every breath she exhales. The young tiefling girl wearing a dark gray winter jacket with the red flag of Noraida patched proudly to the side of her arm. Though in all honesty she was far from being that proud of her country, as scandalous as that was to be seeing she was the eldest daughter of the Noraii High Priestess. But having enjoyed the relative freedom that the University of Neylapdor had given her, despite it being filled with Nystapi, made her reevaluate her country a bit more. Certainly gave her a bit of a different view of her mother. That being said, she certainly couldn’t complain about the privileges her mother’s daughter also gave her!

Usually census taking done by the Rotantic Diet was only done by professionals involved in the field, or with official representatives from the national government, which Tinlé was neither. But with some strings being pulled by her mother, and done as a way to celebrate joining the Rotantic Diet (which for them meant more money), she was allowed to join as part of her college studies of Rotantic History. As long she didn’t get in the way of the census takers. Though she did find it mildly funny that the census takers had mistaken her for her mother, though she hardly blamed them as appearance wise she was almost a splitting image of her. With both having long dark blue hair that contrasted with their light blue skin, bright gold eyes and same feminine appearance. Their main noticeable differences being frankly her mother was of more taller stature with far larger black horns. With hers being at the shorter end and not being forward facing. Though as she rubbed her hands she finally saw someone joining her on the deck.

A short but well framed kemonomimi stepped aboard the desk, wearing several layers of thick wool jackets combined with a cattle person’s hat with slits for their foxy brown ears. “Mornin’ miss.” They spoke with a thick Frakanic accent, tipping his hat to her as his boots clanged against the metal deck. Pulling down his scarf so he could better speak up. “Fine weather we’re having, perfect for volleyball and sunbathing.” His command of the Ngodian language was rather surprising to most, as many forget the Federation even has a Tiefling-Duarist majority petite-nation in its fold.

Tinlé couldn’t help but give him a curious glance at his last comment, raising an eyebrow as he said and crossed her arms. Hardly acting too offended about it however more attempting to be a bit humorous as she gave him a look.

“You don’t have volleyball in Noraida?” He gave a small smirk, leaning against the railing as he looked towards the sea. “Before you ask, I’m not an Akuanist, not related to any Akuanists nor am I ethnically or culturally Akuanist.” He still had a bit of a humorous tone, but Gods if he was asked which ethnic group he was a part of one more time he was going to lose it.

She rolled her eyes at her first comment, shaking her head in amusement before a small chuckle left her as she heard the second as she leaned on the railing with him. “I must assume you’ve been asked that a lot, huh?” She joked back towards him in Ngodian. “I must admit your Ngodian is pretty good, which is a good thing. Easiest way to convince people here that you’re not Nystapi.” Her tone was very friendly and warm, in many ways a heavy contrast to the stereotype that was involved with her people.

“When I arrived in Rikevaarland, I was stopped by a Norgsveltian elderly couple and was given twenty United Krone because they thought I was a Nystatinne and was homeless. I admit I wasn’t looking the sharpest fresh off the boat, but still.” He gave a small laugh, taking out the twenty krone bill. “Keep the money though.”

“Hey, it’s money to kill for here.” She joked back as she looked ahead as she watched some of the small icebergs they passed by and the ice that the ship crushed as it sailed on by. “I can hear from the accent you’re from the Federation, I can just imagine how cold it must feel for you.”

“Would say I’m used to it, but this weather is far different from the bogs over in Nystatiszna.” He cracked a smile. “I’m Jean-Jacques Julien, just call me J.J for short. I’m the census taker for this here operation and fun time in the ice.” He looked towards one of the icebergs they sailed past. “I feel like I was tricked into signing onboard to this, but I damn well know I wasn’t.” He gave a hearty laugh.

“Well it is a pleasure meeting you, J.J.” She gave him a bright smile as she raised her hand to shake his. “I’m Tinlé Avaion, as you’re probably already been told that I was gonna be joining you all on this.”

“You the Arch-Priestess’ daughter, wanted to tag along for a bit of adventure in the high seas and freezing cold deserts of ice.” J.J. gave an odd look at her hand before reaching out to shake it. Being incredibly awkward with his hand shake before letting go and returning to holding on to the rail. “You know this census right? We are going to count heads, do a bit of doctor work and spot environmental research. Not a whole lot else unless you wanna learn how to play cards.”

High Priestess but yes I know that, hardly the most exciting of travels in all fairness.” She might be far from the most patriotic Noraii out there, nor most religious Duarist either, but was one to correct a mistake nonetheless. “On the personal side this is more to be part of my paper about Rotantic History. In which contacting local Brewmasters on these islands could be of help, and well. They hardly have the newest Jotun now do they?” She said in a small joking tone as she took out her own Jotun phone from her jacket. “That and my mother thought that me coming along fit with the whole celebration of us joining the Diet.”

“Well, part of the trip is us handing them new radios and satellite phones. Not a fancy Jotun but good they are able to call once in a blue moon or two.” He gave a shrug before speaking again. “Yeah we be speaking to the Brewmasters, part of the reason why the Grand Shrine lass is here is to translate for us. Last time we tried a census, it turns out their Nys’tat’en was… Well we didn’t understand them, they didn’t understand us and we owe them a drum full of whale oil to avoid a marriage.”

She raised an eyebrow at that tilting her head curiously as she leaned her back against the cold railing. “To avoid marriage? Sounds more like a Nykea cultural practice than any of the cultural groups that settled on those islands.” She spoke in an equally curious tone though kept a smile on her lips. “Though I’d be glad to have a conversation with her about all of this! Especially as my Nys’tat’ten wasn’t that good to begin with.”

“Hey now, don’t be too racist but… It really does sound like a Nykea tradition.” J.J. gave a shrug. “They’re all part of the Ny’Akøy grouping, four different cultures up here in the warm weathered north. If ya want to speak to her, she is down below in the kitchen. Be sure to mention the Nykea thing to her, she will get a laugh out of it too.” He gave her a final smile as he pulled up his scarf.

“Hey now, you’re in Borea, friend!” She let out a small giggle as she hit him on the leg playfully with her tail, a small smirk on her lips. “If there is any place you get to be racist, it’s here.” She stepped away from the railing placing her hands behind her back as she took a few steps in front of him. “I’ll go and seek her out then, though I hope to talk with you again, J.J.”

“Well you more than likely will, this is going to be a two to three month long expedition.” He raised an eyebrow when her tail struck before looking back towards the ocean. “Just do me a favor, don’t end up getting married or pregnant during this trip. I am not going to be the one explaining to your mama about it.”

“Two to three months without having to spend time with my asshole roommate sounds like paradise to me.” She chuckled out as she shook her head in amusement as she was about to turn around though couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow towards him. “Are you certain it wasn’t a Nykea you all ended up meeting out here? Starting to sound like the wrong cultural group being categorised out here.” She teased slightly.

“Yep, so don’t get your hopes up now.” J.J. teased back at her, having pulled his scarf back down. “Now go and get yourself warm. I gotta speak with the captain before we make port.” He pulled his scarf back over his mouth and nose.

“Eww you sound like my roommate.” Tinlé’s voice was a bit more on the childish side there as she said that in response to his first comment before throwing her hair back with her hand as she turned around to walk away from him shaking her head.

1 Like

Tinlé took off her winter jacket as she entered back into the inside of the boat, folding it as she walked down the hall to find this curious scholar that J.J. spoke about, with her having been wearing a dark gray thick wool sweater under said jacket. Though as she walked down the hall she saw an open door, in which she leaned over to look inside of the room, her gold eyes landing on a short kemonomimi man with a NIB ushanka on. Much to her surprise as her eyes widened slightly at the sight.

The short (from her perspective) kemonomimi wore an outfit that most certainly looked like it was from the everso feared Bureau despite not fitting the stereotypical elements of it. His jacket was a white and dark brown zip up jacket, with the Bureau’s logo of its shield on one side with Nys’tat’en writing on the tab around it. A black pull-over mask hanging from his neck. Handcuffs and a pistol on his hip around his similar camouflage pants. Thick winter boots with bits of fresh snow still melting off of it. In front of him, was a cup of what she first assumed to be blood of babies but is actually just plain black coffee and of course, on his phone. Looking at various pictures of animals he took a photo of before leaving port.

She pulled her head back for a moment so it would no longer be in line of view of him, as she took out her own phone. Looking around on it assuming it could have been tracked, though having none of the tools to actually look into the Jotun she just sighed and turned it off. Not that she knew really what a tracking device would look like to begin with. She stepped a bit forward into the doorway, standing there as she cleared her throat before waving towards the agent of death. “Hi there! Um I was wondering if you knew where the scholar from the Grand Shrine is? I wanted to talk with her for a moment!” She tried to speak in a friendly tone with a smile, no matter how much that smile was a rather nervous one.

The agent looked over at her and gave a big bright smile. “Hey, how are you doing? You must be Tinlé.” His voice was monotone flat, no hint of emotion in his words despite his smile or attitude. “Oh you probably worried about this thing huh?” He lets go of his phone to give a tap to the NIB patch on his hat. “Don’t worry, we’re not actually like anything in those movies or stuff.” He leans his arm onto the back of the chair. “She’s getting dressed, why don’t you get warmed up and we can wait for her together.”

She let out a small laugh as she waved her hand as if she was waving the idea of her being at all worried to the side as she stepped more inside. “Oh please, I was hardly worried about that.” She was absolutely terrified about it if anything. “Sooo, NIB? What are you guys doing out here, some hidden terrorist in the Rotantic you guys worried about? An Hirdist underground base hidden under the ice?” She joked as she walked towards the table sitting very much opposite from him, though keeping an friendly demeanor as she joked with the agent she still not fully convinced isn’t dangerous.

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” He laughed in a very monotone manner, as if it was mocking her though his expression was making the motions of laughter. The tone in which it was delivered was flat as soda. “No, no nothing that grand. The Diet needed someone an expert in rotantic ecosystems and law enforcement, so they contracted the Bureau for our services. So which I got hired, I’m uh, what you say. Game Warden, park ranger type. I handle poachers, animal tracking and so forth.” He reached over to offer her a hand shake. “I’m Agent Ny’Filta, no last name.” He kept up his smile. “There are two other folks part of the security detail but I’m the one with the badge so I take point on it.”

“Well you already know who I am, so no point telling you mine. It is nice meeting you, Ny’Filta.” She gently grabbed his hand as she shook it, feeling a bit more at ease with him now. At least if she is assuming he is just being monotone and not actually mocking her. “I am glad to be joining you all on this at least! Haven’t seen the other two people you’re talking about, but I met J.J! He seems polite enough, or politer than my roommate at least.”

“Of course I know who you are, your mother’s reason why we hired those two guys.” He gave a squeeze with his hand shake before letting go. “He is a good man, I worked with him before in Kala. So if you don’t mind me asking, why are you taking part in this expedition? While we will try to make sure everyone is safe, there are still some degrees of risk out here after all. All sorts of dangerous things can happen here, slips on ice, animal attacks, drowning and the weather.”

“Ah you are an NIB agent after all.” She muttered very very quietly to herself as she thought about the question for a moment to find the best way to answer it. “Well you want the personal or official reason I am here?” She asked, tilting her head at him.

“I know the official reason, but it’s the personal reason what I am after.” He took a sip from his coffee, moving his hand over his phone. At first she thought he was turning it on to record her but instead he just placed it into his pocket.

She kept her eyes on his pocket for a good few moments before looking up at his face, smiling still as she leaned into her chair. “Well it’s nothing that interesting but if you really are wondering it’s mainly for two reasons.” She held up two fingers to put emphasis on it. “First reason is that I am studying bit Noraii history and culture, and there isn’t exactly great emphasis placed on our connection with these lands. It rarely gets mentioned much in our history books, it’s like one paragraph about the Ritiaida Treaty then it’s back to talking about Mekika again for the thousandth time even though he wasn’t really a Noraii.” She scoffed at that part crossing her arms as she thought about some of the stuff she was actually taught in school, it’s why she actually chose to study in Lapliszna to begin with. “So I want to contribute something more, well, actually meaningful, to learn about the people living there and our shared history with them. Even if it just ends up being lost in an exam paper gathering dust with not much further importance, it still feels like I would be doing more writing about them than writing about something covered a billionth time you know?”

“I understand, here I was worried you were taking part in something more illegal. Like facilitating a black market deal.” He kept a stern eye at her, staring directly into her ears as he sipped his coffee again. As if he was accusing her of something but as he set his cup back down on the table. He spoke again in that flat, monotone voice of his. “That was a joke, you don’t need to squirm. I already inspected your belongings. Unless you’re planning on making a deal with Valkyr pop music CDs, you are in the clear.”

She let out a small nervous chuckle at that scratching side of her arm. Falling quiet for a moment. “You didn’t actually go through my belongings did you?” She asked, a bit embarrassed raising an eyebrow at him, her cheeks becoming slightly darker.

“Yes, it is part of my job. Don’t worry I’m not judging you or going to tell everyone about your-”

“Then we will not need to talk about it either!” She spoke a bit louder than she meant to, before clearing her throat. “Sorry about that, was there anything else you wondered about?”

“You get along with the scholar, but as you were saying. There was a second reason?”

“Oh the second reason, well…” She let out a heavy sigh at that as she looked down at her lap, falling quiet for a moment. Almost as if the young girl was lost in thought. Though not long until it was just an annoyed groan leaving her as she laid lazily in her seat almost falling below the table as she did so. “I just really hate my fucking roommate!” Her voice was the best mixture of anger and whining as she spoke up again, having to put her hands on the table to pull herself up straight again. “He is just the absolute worst, I just needed to get away from him for a moment and honestly spending some months in the icy cold seemed almost like paradise in comparison.”

“Why don’t you just have him removed then or change roommates?” The agent tilted his head at her. “Your mother is in charge of Noraida, surely she can pressure the school to give you your own dorm room.” He removed his hat, placing it on the table.

“Well it’s a Nystapi university there limits how much she can really make them change stuff around for me.” She blew a bit of hair away from her face as she looked away for a moment. “Plus I’ve already changed roommates twice before, he is better than the other two so my mother told me I have to just get used to it.”

“Well, in all due fairness. You are going to Lapliszna, and I think it’s safe to say, no one likes the Nystapi. Maybe Blåskovians but they don’t know them on a deeper level. You should expect quite a bit of pushback to your existence.” He lifted up his coffee cup to his lips to drink coffee. “I would ask why you didn’t go to a university in Blaskog but I think I can understand why.”

“Oh I was considering it but fundamentally, as much as I hate it to admit it, the University of Neylapdor is one of the best universities one can go to in East Borea and is practically the only one outside Kungstad that is actually pretty for international students to go to. Of course there are the ones in Rikevaarland but my mother hardly wants to waste millions upon millions to get in there, and the only really good universities there are their business universities.” She let out a heavy sigh as she shook her head as she placed an elbow on the table as she leaned her head on her hand. “At least I should be happy that my current roommate almost act more like a Nykea than a Nystapi.” She gave a small scoff as she shook her head.

“You could always go to a university in Nystatiszna, it’s not like the old days. Have new buildings with heating, internet connection and all those other things international students love. Like calzones and cheap beer.” He raised an eyebrow at her comments however. “What do you mean almost acted like a Nykea than a Nystapi?”

“Oh I’m just joking about the dumb stereotypes you know?” She rolled her eyes, shaking her head in small amusement before a small chuckle left her. “You know how the Nykea like being more ‘loose’ with the clothing rules and all that yet respecting others? In contrast to Nystapi being more about the whole proving their dominance over others and not at all respecting wishes of others.” She let out another chuckle, a longer one. “Again mostly stereotypes but at least my roommate hasn’t threatened to punch me like other Nystapi have.”

“That is certainly a way to put it, if I recall correctly our fair scholar with us has her own unique opinions about Nykea people.” He gave a wide smile, finishing his drink. Standing up, “I have to go and check on my subordinates but she probably will be here shortly, she can’t resist the smell of coffee.” He gave a chuckle, putting his hat back onto his head. The pair heard light steps coming from down the hallway. “I must bid my leave, less I get trapped in social pleasantries.” Without even waiting for her to say goodbye, he quickly stepped as fast as he could away from the room.

The not-so famous scholar stepped into the hall, giving a sigh and huffing. Crossing her arms, shaking her head speaking in Nys’tat’en before switching to Ngodian. “Oh hello! Hope Ny’Fitla didn’t scare you too badly.” She gave a bright joyful tone, as she walked over to pour herself a coffee. She wore a colorful jacket, decorated with dozens of patches and a purple-golden pattern as fabric. With a fleece scarf around her neck, as she gave the brightest of smiles to the tiefling. She had fiery red hair, braided in the traditional way of her people, though not a people Tinlé could pick out. Having various colorful ribbons interwoven with her hair. She was short, even by Kemonomimi standards though that was to be expected as a Nystatinne. Her nekomimi tail swayed side to side, as walked over to the table with a cup in hand. Sitting across from her. “I’m Julie! I will be your friendly translator and storyteller.”

Tinlé was quiet for a moment as she looked at the much shorter woman across from her, just looking down at her for a good few moments before she then cleared her throat as she gave a bright smile. Though her cheeks became a darker shade of blue for a moment as she had a slight blush before she reached out with her hand to shake Julie’s. “Hi! I’m Tinlé Avaion, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I really wanted to talk to you the moment I heard we had someone from the Grand Shrine with us.” She spoke in a slightly nervous yet energetic and chipper tone.

Julie reached over to shake her hand, giving a warm squeeze to it. “Nice to meet you Tinlé.” She gave a sweet and calming tone. Excited at finally having a normal person to speak with. “Again, sorry if Ny’Fitla scared you. I think he enjoys freaking out new people when they sign on. You should have seen what he did with George, uh the Nystapi security guy. He took him into the back of a shipping container with a bunch of tarps hanging around, and then asked him if he saw his keys.” She gave an adorable giggle, taking back her hand to cover her mouth.

“Oh he was being surprisingly quite friendly actually, so far everyone I’ve met has. Though I’ve only met him and J.J for now, I likely won’t get along well with the Nystapi guy.” Tinlé said with a small chuckle of her own as she relaxed more again, her hands laying on the table. “Oh reminds me J.J suggested something to help me break the ice, since you know both of us are strangers so it’s good finding something we both like to bond over, right?”

“I love breaking ice! Not much else to do here unless you like cards or J.J. horrid sense in movies.” She gave a bright smile tilting her head to the side, her hair braid following along showing off the colorful ribbon tied into it.

“Well it certainly is better to break the ice rather than breaking the bed that the Nykea are experts in.” Tinlé said with a chuckle as she pointed both her fingers at her as she waited for a laugh.

She didn’t laugh, in fact she did the opposite with her lips turning into a frown. Pulling her coffee cup close to her as she took a sip. Standing up right and looking down at Tinlé, speaking in a flat, yet deeply annoyed tone. “Did George put you up to this? I am a Nykea.”

The tiefling’s gold eyes widened wide at that as she slowly stood up holding hands up defensively. “W-Wait I-I didn’t know you were Nykea, I was just told you liked these type of jokes by J.J and Ny’Fitla even hinted at it to and-” She was about to talk further but the short kemonomimi lass just walked away from her leaving her rambling to be pointless. Tinlé let out a heavy sigh as she sat down again as she put her forehead down on the table, an annoyed groan leaving her.

“Good job, Tinlé… Good job… Now you won’t get the cute scholar to help you because of your racist mouth…” She muttered out, muffled by the table.

6th March, 2025
Ny’Ritiszna. Ritiaida, Noraida

Ny’Ritiszna, the largest city in the Noraii holdings in the Rotantic territories though it originally was never designed to be one. It was actually supposed to be a joint-branch Blaskovian military base that would act as a primary supply depot between the outlying bases across the isles. In addition to which, it served as an administrative hub to keep track of the roaming Akuan groups in the area. Though not in the military part of base, with hastily constructed concrete apartments all around the base. As well with various smaller buildings for commerce and administration. However, as the march of time moved forward, Blaskovian left the bases to the Noraii to occupy. To which they never arrived, leaving the base empty for the island Akuanists to walk inside and take it over.

Whatever equipment was left behind, was taken over by them before the ice and snow could cover them. Few left-over airplanes were completely stripped and turned into metal longhouses for shelter, radio antennas were turned into civilian use. Whatever could be adapted, was and whatever couldn’t was scavenged for parts. The once not-so proud military base turned into a hybrid of designs as the Rotantic scavengers made use of it all.

Sitting in the middle of it all was the former command center and officer quarters. Being adapted into a communal elder home, meeting point for leaders, meeting hall and the council. Additionally it was the personal home of the Rotantic areas leader, well the closest thing that could be a leader of the various bands. The old Blaskovian authority would be calling them the High Chieftain though that title was far from being correct. They call themselves the ‘Tvistelegen’ due to them having the responsibility of shockingly, resolving disputes.

As the ship pulled into the harbor, Tinlé could spot the rarely seen Rotantic Akuanists running along in their busy work day. Several cargo boxes stacked next to their docked ship. Though her eye spotted a rare sickening sight for a woman as kind hearted as her. Hanging from one of the cargo-cranes swinged a recently hunted whale over the ocean, to be particularly a Rotantic whale which isn’t so surprising given they’re in the Rotantic. What caused the surprise was butchering the endangered animal in such an open view towards the world. Through her eyes drifted towards the stairs being pushed up against the side of the boat, connecting them to the dock.

Tinlé couldn’t help but quickly cover her mouth as she almost felt like she was going to throw up as she held onto the railing of the stairs, which with her tail meant she also blocked the path from the rest of the crew to walk down much to their annoyance. “Gods that is disgusting…” She muttered out as she for some reason glanced back towards the whale seeing it being cut open, her blue cheeks almost turning green instead. Taking a good few moments as she looked away, still being a bit hunched over as she pulled her red scarf closer to herself. Mainly out of comfort as she began walking down the stairs again. The bright red scarf being quite a contrast to her gray winter jacket, with the scarf being one her mother had knitted and embroidered for her. The scarf included a patch with a Duarist symbol of a half moon with a sun inside it, though instead of yellow as in their nation’s flag the symbols were black instead. With yellow writing right below it said in Ngodian, “Mil lea so” (my little sun).

Normally she may appreciate the nickname her mother gave her but she was still a little bit embarrassed, as such she used the old fashioned camera her mother had given her to hide the writing itself as the camera hung off from her neck, though she was careful in ensuring the neck strap hadn’t entangled around her dark blue hair that she spent a lot time on.

Julie walked up next to the tiefling leaning her head to the side to look at the camera. “I’m still mad at you being a racist but… Where did you get that camera?” She tried to suppress her excitement at looking at the old piece of technology. She wore her own scarf around her neck, being a deep dark purple color in nature with a patch somewhere in the middle of the craft that rested below her chin. The patch is an open scroll with an ink pot and feather on either side of it. Her eyes looking straight at the old camera from the 1970s.

“Look I wasn’t bein-” Tinlé let out just a small sigh as she shook her head as the two got into land. “It’s an handydown from my mother, she said it meant a lot to her and wanted me to take a lot of pictures while I am out here. Though I will say…” She took a small glance at the very dead whale as she let a shiver run through her as she looked back down towards the red head nekomimi. “I am not exactly seeing the best scenes to take pictures of right now.

“Oh Spirits.” Julie covered her mouth as she looked at the hanging whale. Turning her head away from it and nearly throwing up into the water. “D-do they have to do that in the open?” She gave a small awkward cough. “I-it seems very cruel…”

Neither one of them heard the steps of Ny’Filta walking past them. Giving a flat stoic tone, “That’s illegal.” Before he made his way towards the crates for inspection. Not at all emotionally affected by the dead beast swinging from the crane.

“Not in Noraida.” A new rougher voice spoke up from the staircase as a dark blue skinned tiefling man wearing a black security uniform, though with red and yellow symbols all over it. With him also having a dark red scarf like Tinlé, but instead of a black star and sun on his patch, there was a yellow star and sword going through it. With him having a name tag along his right chest that stood Gádeg Crarton. He gave the pair, or rather Tinlé, a respectful nod as he passed the two. Him having a handgun strapped to his side.

“Well it’s somewhat illegal I mean, Noraida is part of the Rotantic Diet. They just can’t sell it to anyone. Though I doubt the folks up here are going to care what we got to say.” Another new rough voice spoke up. Following the Tiefling, a tall wide-framed Kemonomimi walked down the steps with a rifle on his back. His scarf is a plain blue and white combo with silvery threading going through it. Having reindeer running across it. He gave a respectful nod of his own, though it was more towards Julie than Tinlé. The two men followed after Ny’Filta as he inspected the crates.

The two women could see the agent hunched over the crates, opening them up one by one. Tinlé could make out his scarf finally, it being pure black with the NIB logo in the center. “Looks like more illegal products here. Tusks, seal skin and such. George, you start counting the skins. Gádeg you count the tusks.” He leaned up and took out a cigar from his pocket.

“What will you be doing boss?” George took out a notepad, as he hunched over the crate of skins.

“Speaking with the hunters and politely asking them to not break international law with J.J. of course.” The NIB lit up his cigar taking a puff from it.

“Good luck with that.” Gádeg spoke up as he took out his own notepad from his pocket as hunched over to look at the tusks, using his tail to push some to the side as he tilted his head slightly. His horns were on a thicker side that went along his head rather than long ones. His full green eyes looking over them, writing down on his notepad as his tail went deeper into the crate being quiet as he did his job.

Tinlé looked awkwardly at Julie as she scratched the side of her arm. “I hope I can follow after you because neither of the things they are going to be doing sounds that fun.” She said in a bit awkward tone as she tilted her head towards the shorter neko.

“Well I suppose so but on one condition.” Julie held up her finger while her hand rested on her hip. “You need to take a photo of me with your camera.” She gave a soft, kind smile. Walking towards the edge of the pier, and thus making sure neither the crates nor the dead whale would be captured in the photo. Giving a warm smile as she posed for the camera. Stretching out her arms into the sky, with a foot lifted into the air behind her.

The tiefling girl let out a small chuckle at that muffling it as she held up her camera and focused it on her, smiling a bit more warmly at least having something to bond over with the scholar. “Smile!” She took a quick two pictures of the red head before walking over to her, showing her the pictures. “I think you look great! Honestly, I’m a bit surprised this camera works as well as it is seeing how old it is.”

Julie rushed over to look at the photos. “Thanks! I’m trying to get myself published on the Diet’s fundraising calendar. I hope I look great enough to beat out those darn Puffins again.” She gave a warm giggle, those her eyes told the truth that she was rather serious about beating those fucking birds for once for the spot. “Here, I can take your photo too if you would like.”

“Oh sure!” Tinlé smiled brightly at that as she took off the camera, giving it over to her new friend, or at least she was going to call her friend, before walking also towards the edge of the pier with a bright smile and holding up a peace sign with one hand. Her tail was high up in the air. With the writing on her scarf being now visible as it no longer was covered by her camera.

Julie took two quick photos of Tinlé before rushing over to her with the photos in hand. “You look fantastic in these, you should try sending them into the Diet for the calendar. You know, so we can hedge our bets against the puffins.” She gave a warm tone as she handed back the camera. “I’m going to head to the big building in the center, it’s where they have their storytellers. You may come with me now.” She gave a joking yet posh tone. Turning her nose up in the air.

“Hey boss, why is the Blaskovian flag on these crate lids?” George lifted up a lid, putting his notepad back into his pocket. “Got some writing too, looks like it was curved in.”

“Probably just leftover supply crates from the Blaskovian military.” The NIB agent took a closer look at the lid. Then tilted his head questioning it, taking the lid in one hand. “Julie, before you take off. Can you read this? I think I understand it but I would like a double confirmation.”

“Oh sure!” Julie walked over to the trio of men looking at the lid. “It says… Huh?” She gave a confused tone as she re-read it. “It says ‘Blaskovian Tax Harvest’ why would it say that?” She looked over towards Tinlé as if she would have the answer.

“You are really overestimating how interested I am in my mother’s work.” Tinlé said in a bit of a joking yet confused tone as she let out a small chuckle as she shrugged her shoulders.

“There are those who still think they are part of Blåskog over here, they seemingly never questioned why it was tieflings gathering the tax now instead of elves.” Gádeg spoke up in a flat stoic tone as he held up one of the tusks from the crate with his tail, looking over it before putting it to the side and writing it down on his notepad.

“Maybe they thought they were being blessed.” Julie gave a shrug, handing the lid to George.

“Or they just didn’t care to ask why.” George took the lid and placed it back down. “Or no one sent here could speak with them, and the Noraii government doesn’t care about Akuanists enough to learn.” Not particularly caring about the angry glance Gádeg sent him his way.

“J.J. and I will inform them, information is power and all that.” The NIB agent puffed his cigar.

“Well, you two have fun with that.” Tinlé said as she was about to reach out to grab Julie’s hand but decided against it as she held both her hands behind her back. “Shall we start making our way to the center?” She tilted her head towards the Nykea girl smiling warmly.

“Yeah!” Julie gave a warm smile as she walked forward. “To the streets that smell of whale, fish and gunpowder!” She gave a small cheer, being rather quick with her footsteps across the pier towards the entrance of the city. With Tinlé following close behind.

George leaned up from his crate of skins. “Don’t end up in an arranged marriage you, two. Gádeg will be heartbroken if he founded out that Tinlé got married to anyone else other tha-” A tusk slapped against his face.

“Whoops, my tail slipped, my apologies.” Gádeg’s voice spoke out in the same stoic and flattone as his eyes never left the crate, though a smirk was on his lips nonetheless. With George glaring at him about to reach out into his own crate to throw a skin at the tiefling man.

“Gentlemen, these are rare and endangered creatures remains you are playing with. You will treat them with respect and dignity.” The NIB agent gave a flat, stoic tone yet his glare in his eyes and the light hitting his badge on his hat made him all the more frightening.

“Sorry boss.”

Both men said quickly before focusing both their energies on ignoring the other and doing their job.

Tinlé let out a sigh of relief as they entered a building with some warmth, and also one away from all the fish smell, a small shiver leaving her from still having to think about the damn whale. Her gold eyes looking at what was the city’s main administrative building, though from what she was told, also acted as a sort of museum for travelers. As Julie and her worked further up, with a corridor in front of them that went left and right. With there being a sign on the left side being written in Nys’tat’en and one on the right side that was… also written in Nys’tat’en.

“You… wouldn’t mind translating what those signs are saying?” Tinlé asked, a bit embarrassed as she spoke in Ngodian as she looked towards her new friend.

Julie tugged on her scarf before reading the first sign to the left. “Oh, uh this doesn’t have a really good direct translation… How do I put this uh.” Her neko ear twitched as she thought for a moment as her tail swayed. “I guess it could be translated into a memory wall? It’s a bit more than that so don’t touch it. It’s not religious but it’s still important for them here.” She looked over at the right-handed sign. “That just says uh, well it can be considered to be a meeting hall. Not directly translated again but it’s for the elders to share tea.”

“So like a break room, then?” Tinlé asked, raising an eyebrow towards the neko, with her not able to help herself but smile a little bit.

“No no, it’s like an assembly chamber, but they drink a special tea during it.” She gave a weak smile, scratching the back of her head. Her tail swayed back and forth slowly.

“Ah understand!” Tinlé gave a nod at that before giving a curious look towards the left side tilting her head slightly. “So like, If I don’t touch anything that can be found on the left side I’ll be fine then?” She asked looking back towards the neko looking down at her.

“Yeah, also I am just saying this to be clear of any misunderstandings. It’s not that kind of tea.” Julie gave a small cheeky smile towards the tiefling girl. “J.J. clarified that he set you up with the joke from before. So only slightly hard feelings.”

“Oh thank gods…” Tinlé placed a hand on her heart letting out a genuine sigh of relief, almost hunching over slightly. Though soon straightened her back again. “But what do you mean, not that kind of tea? I’m not following along?” She asked genuinely confused as she raised an eyebrow at her.

“Oh please.” Julie gave a small eye roll before speaking again with a bit of sass in her voice. “Come on, let’s go see the memory wall.”

“I feel like you’re just messing with me now by acting like that.” Tinlé said as she followed after Julie as they walked to the left side, her arms being crossed as she had a small pout on her lips. As they walked down the hall it became visible that there were few pictures hanging all along the walls.

“Uh huh.” Julie walked alongside Tinlé, looking at the various photos that had been collected for the wall. “Huh, interesting.” She quietly muttered to herself, taking out a notebook from her interior jacket. Making a few notes as she stared a one photo in particular of a family photo.

In contrast to Julie, Tinlé was much less professional and reserved as she looked along the walls, taking quick pictures of the photos that were hung up and of the decorations that were on the walls. Her jumping almost bit up and down in excitement. Some decorations looked like things they took from ship wreckage, such as a large anchor that took a good portion of the hallway. Or some being old rusting harpoons that are no longer usable. Though the tiefling girl took greater emphasis on the photos that hung along the wall. Many were just sailors holding up their catch, with Tinlé not able to hide a giggle seeing a particularly happy young kemonomimi boy holding up a fish with one hand while wearing a very dirty sailor outfit. Wide toothy grin on his face though with some of his teeth missing. With his gray kitsune tail having swayed so quickly that it looked almost like a blur for old that took it.

All along the wall there seemed to be dozens of similar photos, of different residents having their special moments taken. Not all of it was catching their fish of course. Some was of blushing couples seemingly having their first kiss taken, some was of weddings. Some were more tragic, such a clear time the community as a whole mourned a loss and gathered around. Some older ones in black and white had darker undertones of elven soldiers saluting the Blåskovian flag. Or at least Tinlé would assume the undertones must be dark, it was Blåskog after all. Though the frown on her lips and harshness in her eyes upon seeing the elven soldiers was replaced with a smile and curiosity in her eyes as she saw Julie stop up for a moment to look at a specific picture.

“Hmm? Did you find something interesti-” Tinlé asked, coming behind the kemonomimi looking over the red head’s head, though she stopped up as her eyes landed on the photo. The photo being of a young little tiefling girl, one who must be much younger than ten. A tiefling girl of blue skin, with braided dark blue hair, wearing dark red robes but with a very familiar camera hanging over her neck. Her tiny black horns barely poked through her hair. Her eyes closed as tears ran down her cheeks, and her forehead was pressed up against the leg of a kemonomimi man. Man wasn’t visible from above the waist in the photo, but his hand was on top of hers. While Tinlé didn’t understand the Nys’tat’en that was written on the photo, she did notice a few things she recognised. Specifically the name Ava, and the date being 1986.

“Oh yeah, this family here was formerly part of an old whaler band that was unified with another one back in maybe 1937?” She turned to look up at Tinlé and gave a curious look towards her. “Everything alright?” Julie reached out with a hand hold Tinlé’s cheek.

Tinlé’s eyes blinked for a moment as she felt her cheek being held, her eyes looking down at Julie as she pulled back instinctively. Her eyes glanced back at the photo she was looking at. “Yeah no, I just… looked at a different photo you were looking at.” She said in surprisingly colder tone than typical as she turned around to walk further along the hall.

Julie gave a curious look, tilting her head at the surprise turn-around of her emotions. Hurrying to catch up with the tiefling and her damnable longer legs. “H-hey, what’s going on?” Having a soft, kind tone with her. “Is it something we- well Ny’Filta need to be worried about? L-like piracy?”

Tinlé stopped up at that, turning around to face the red head by raising an eyebrow at her giving a confused look. “Piracy?” She asked in genuine confusement though her tone clearly had some amusement even though her eyes didn’t fully match it yet.

The redhead gave an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of her head. “Was it though? D-did it look like piracy or some sort of pirate related activity?” She stood in front of her, looking up at her with a very real concerned look in her eye. “It’s probably not going to be an issue or anything, but it would be something Ny’Filta and J.J. need to take a look at it. So be truthful, okay? Did you see someone being held for ransom or something?”

“No no nothing like that.” Tinlé couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the idea, shaking her hands in dismissiveness, as she also shook her head. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts as she let out a heavy sigh, as one her hands scratched the other side of her arm. “It’s just… I’m pretty certain I saw a picture of my… mother, when she was a refugee. She has always been rather… secretive about well that time.”

“Oh thank the spirits.” Julie clutched her chest before looking back at the tiefling. “Sorry, just uh pirates.” She gave a small awkward smile, before reaching out to scratch Tinle’s other arm. She would hold her shoulder but she didn’t want to get on her tiptoes in her snow boots. “Come on, you can show me. We can take a photo of you next to it to send back to her.” She gave a bright, not-understanding smile but a smile never the less.

Tinlé took a moment to look down at the short lass, giving a small weak smile of her own as she couldn’t but just let out another small sigh. “I doubt my mother would want a photo of me next to it… but I guess I may as well show you. I…” She was quiet for a moment as she began walking back to where they were earlier at the hall. “I didn’t understand what it said in the writing, but, I caught the date and her name.” As they got to where the photo was, Tinlé would use her tail to point out where the photo was hung.

Julie looked at the photo, bringing her hands together under her chin. “She looks so scared here…” She quietly muttered as she then read out the message below the photo. “It says she was adopted into the Ny’Hvaltann Clan, by Ørnal Ny’Hval.” She gave a sympathetic look to Tinlé, reaching out to hold her arm. “I am sorry for your loss.”

“Well… It’s not exactly much my loss, I never got to meet my grandparents. It’s just…” Tinlé struggled to find correct words as she looked away, her tone solemn. “I knew she must have had it hard losing her parents so early, but…” She looked back towards the photo with deep sympathy in her eyes. “It is something much different seeing it.”

“They, um, the Hvaltann clan might have someone here who you can talk too about this. They’re not the biggest clan but they’re still around according to the last census at least.” Julie gave a small squeeze to her arm before giving the tielfing a hug, moving a hand to her back in order to slowly rub it.

Tinlé’s eyes widened at the sudden hug and couldn’t help but just gently pat Julie’s back as she let out a small chuckle. Not from amusement but just nervousness and slight fear from being vulnerable. “I hardly want to waste the crew’s time with this, and it’s been what? 36 years? What’s to say they even remember her?” She tried to dismiss the idea as she tried to pull away but the kemonomimi had a surprisingly tight grip in her hug.

“Oh it’s not wasting time, we have to visit them anyway for the census. They’re here in the city and also.” Julie let go of her hug in order to give an overly dramatic gesture towards the photo. “It’s called a memory wall, well not really but besides the point.” She gave a soft smile looking up at her. “And we also have to see if according to Sea Shepherd codes, that’s uh like clan or tribal laws. If you’re legally a member of their clan or not for the census anyway. Given your mom was adopted by them and all that.”

Tinlé was quiet for a moment at that, not saying a word before she just shook her head in amusement. “Well, it almost feels like the gods themselves are asking for this meeting to happen.” She said, scratching the side of her arm nervously. “I at least hope that the others won’t mind that I ask them questions that’s not related to the census.”

“Oh it be fine, all work and no play gives you cancer anyway.” Julie held onto Tinlé’s hand. “Come on, I think I know where they could be. Every decently sized clan’s got a little merchant store at the square. We can start there.” She tried to pull her along.

Tinlé couldn’t help but smile as she got pulled along by the much shorter kemonomimi, even glancing behind her shoulder towards the photo once more. Once more at what was the crying little tiefling girl on it, of her mother, before looking ahead. Giving an warm squeeze at Julie’s hand for comfort.

Tinlé barely had time to take in the marketplace and all of its various stalls and indoor shack market places before she was dragged into a rather large square looking building made out of an airplane hull and a patrol boat that was flipped over for a roof. How has it flipped over when it was so far away from the harbor crane, is a secret that no one would actually ask. As there was no reasonable and sane answer to be given, as the placing of it was just as maddening as it being there as a roof in the first place.

The front office of this strange metal square building unless other market buildings held a waiting area with various strange markings around that was neither religious nor Blaskovian in nature but yet felt all-so familiar to her for some odd reason. The waiting area had a series of chairs, not regular chairs like one would find so commonly at a store but airplane seats set up in a row. The receptionist desk is fashioned from a cut in half boat hull, with a flat top made out of sheet metal. Behind it laid a Kemonomimi woman, with large fox ears who ears perked up as the bullet in the bell attached to the door rang out. First speaking in Nys’tat’en before the receptionist looked up at Julie and Tinlé, then speaking in a heavily accented Ngodian. “How can we deliver for you today?” She gave a stoic, flat sounding voice as she made eye contact with the Tielfing.

“We saw the Ny’Hvaltann logo on your wall, and we hoped this business was run by the clan.” Julie gave a bright and joyful tone. Politely ignoring the various forgotten military equipment they’re using as decoration and structure.

“We are.” The receptionist replied in that same flat stoic tone. “What clan are you with?” She turned to look towards Tinlé’s Nykea friend.

“No, no I’m not with a Northern Clan, but her mother is!” Julie pushed Tinlé forward.

“Well, um, I don’t if she still is a-and stuff, I-I don’t know much about this clan stuff. L-Like is t-there an expiration date on memberships?” The tiefling joked in a nervous tone as the short kemonomimi pushed her forward towards the desk originally was planning on staying back but was not given a chance. She looked away from the receptionist, her hand scratching the side of her arm. “My mother, um High Priestess Ava if you heard of her, she… at least if the…” Tinlé looked towards Julie nervously before looking forward towards the receptionist. “The Memory Wall is correct, was adopted by a member of the N-Ny’Hvalt-, Ny’Hva-.” Her cheeks began becoming a darker shade of blue as she kept failing to pronounce the name as she let out a sigh. “Ny’Hvaltann Clan…”

The woman behind the desk gave a strange look towards her but before she had a chance to speak a man came behind a curtain. Speaking in Nys’tat’en at first before looking towards the Tiefling.

He was a tall, strong, well built kitsune man. Staring at her with a bit a joly in his voice as he switched to a more clear and understandable Ngodian. “Spirits be praised, your a damn spitting image of my sister.” His brown hair moved with his head as he gave a soft laugh. The receptionist spoke in a low tone to him before he gave another laugh. Opening out his arms and walking towards Tinlé to give her a tight hug. Lifting her up off of the ground. “Well that’s because you’re my sister’s daughter!” He boosted out in a joyful tone. Calling out in Nys’tat’en and a half-a-dozen children rushing out of the curtain despite the receptionist giving a hand gesture to ask them politely to calm down.

“Ah!” Tinlé gasped out as she was lifted from the ground by the surprisingly very strong kemonomimi, her back almost aching with how tightly he hugged her. Her eyes wide as she looked back towards Julie, her legs dangling. “I-Is this just a normal greeting over h-here? W-What the proce- Agh!” She let out a small groan of pain as the hug tightened even more. Causing her to look down at her… uncle? “P-Please try not to break any my bones, m-my mother can be quite ruthless.”

“Oh don’t I know it!” He gave another boastful laugh as he sat her back down onto the ground. “Your mother was, oh what I am saying. She is a menace.” He gave a wide grin as he ruffled up her hair. “I’m Oscar, your uh, I think it is called uncle with you southern brats.” The small army of little children ran up and encircled Tinlé, all of them poking and hugging her at her legs. “Sorry about the kids, they get a little excitable.” He held his stomach as he let out another laugh.

Julie meanwhile was a bit taken back, having accidentally backed up into a hall so as not to ruin the reunion though she was unfortunately noticed by the man.

“Oh and this your girlfriend? Quite the looker huh, not taking after your mother in that regard with her own crushes.” Oscar slapped Tinlé’s back.

“Gods have you not brought enough pain to my back…” Tinlé muttered out in pain, almost sounding tearful as used a hand to rub her back. She tried to keep smiling however as the kemonomimi kids began hugging her and poking her, though using her tail to almost try to filter them a bit by pushing some a bit away so they weren’t all around her at the same time. “Um no, Julie here is just my… friend. She helped me find, well, this place, after I saw a picture of a tiefling girl with well…” She held up her camera to show it to the kitsune.

One of the kids held onto her tail and wrapped themselves around it. Meanwhile Oscar looked at the camera, taking off her hands to inspect it closer. “Yeah, this is the same one she had when she arrived here. See here?” He showed the bottom side of the camera, with various little scratch markets and a small dent in it. “She threw this at dad during one of her fits. Broke the blasted thing, and took me all day to barter enough parts to get this working again.” He handed it back. “Ava… Didn’t take well to being adopted and living up here.” He tried to keep an upbeat tone for the sake of the kids but he pulled back the sleeve to his jacket to show off scars on his arm. “Not well at all.”

Tinlé took a moment to look over the dents and scratch marks of the camera, then at Oscar’s scars some being very clearly bite marks with her having to suspect her mother’s fangs must have dug rather deep. “I see… She hasn’t really told me anything about her time here, she told me she was well an refugee during the civil war and how her parents died but that’s about i-” She stopped up for a moment as she felt another small kid wrap around her tail, causing her to lift the two tiny kemonomi up as she moved her tail further up. Series giggles leaving them which Tinlé herself couldn’t help but giggle warmly at as well. “My tail is hardly an amusement park.” She spoke gently to them, even though she suspected they wouldn’t understand her. She then looked back towards her uncle.

The two kids holding onto her tail became three, as a third climb onto it. Amazed by it being able to lift them all up. One of the kids looked directly into Tinlé’s eyes and spoke in a language she didn’t understand. In these times she would have asked Julie to translate but she herself was occupied with two of the children running over to give her a hug around her legs and her inability to negotiate them to kindly remove themselves from her leg.

“I used to hold a bit of grief in my heart towards her, but I came to terms and understanding with it. She was… Going through a lot as a child and our dad, well he got a heart of whale with the skin of a bear. He adopted her without question but he wasn’t much for comfort as he was focused on keeping everyone in the clan alive.” Oscar looked towards the three children hanging and climbing onto her tail. He got low to the ground, looking at them speaking in a kind and soft tone. The children climbed off her tail, looking low to the ground. As he rose back up to the ground to look Tinlé in the eye. “Well, at least she didn’t raise you with the habit of knocking people over with your tail.” His tone was rather flat, without a hint of humor in it.

“Oh um, sorry if I’m reminding you of any bad memories.” She said in a soft tone as she scratched the side of her arm, moving her tail so it was wrapped around her leg so not to be easily grabbed into by the kids or be out in the open. “Knowing the type of threats my mother gave out towards others when she raised me, well, I can just imagine a younger, more hot headed version of her was likely worse.” She let out a weak chuckle at that she looked away nervously.

“We take the bad memories to make the good memories shine.” Oscar gave a gentle pat on Tinlé’s shoulder. “Can’t have Svaka soup without bitterroot afterall. Believe me, I know those threats your mom gives out and how she took joy in carrying them out. Frankly, I almost believed she was feral until she finally started speaking.” He gave a gentle smile, moving his hand to ruffle up her hair. “Which is why I’m rather surprised with you at least. Not even a single hiss from you? No trying to punch and throwing stuff around? If you didn’t look so much like her, I thought you would have bartered for the camera.”

Tinlé felt a bit better at that, smiling more warmer as he ruffled up her dark blue hair. Placing a hand on her hip as she chuckled. “If you want me to, I can bite your arm just to confirm it.” She said in a bit sassy tone raising an eyebrow at him. “Also what is Svaka soup if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Svaka soup, is Svaka soup. Ava loved it when she was growing up, I think she really loved just how chewy it was honestly. Gave her fangs something to chomp on that wasn’t people.” Oscar gave a small laugh. “You don’t need to bite me, I have enough scars as is.” One of the children started to try to climb the tiefling woman, using the tail wrapped around her leg as a foothold as they reached up to her shoulders.

“Well maybe I can try it sometime, as long as it isn’t whale meat.” She shivered at the thought grimacing as well before getting distracted by the kemonomimi kid climbing on her back, and reached out to her black horns pulling on them as they did. “Hey, no pulling.” She whined as her tail unwrapped itself from her leg and instead wrapped around the kid’s waist as she gently pulled them off her. Giving them a stern yet soft look. “Behave.” She gave the kid a poke on the nose before gently placing them down.

“Sorry about the kids, they are that age where they try to climb on top of everything.” Oscar gave a small laugh, as the kid was sat back down onto the ground. “As for the Svaka, of course it is made from whale meat. Spirits, almost everything edible around here is made with whale.” He gave a brief look over towards Julie who was dealing with a similar situation with the two children trying to climb onto her.

One particular brave child trying to climb onto the big tiefling learned from their sibling. Noting not to grab the horns as they started their climb. Already successfully going above Tinlé’s waist in their hike, with an arm they reached up to their shoulder. Trying to pull themselves upwards until their little eyes and ears peeked over her shoulder.

She let out a small chuckle at that as she gave a poke on the nose of the little kemonomimi who got up her shoulders. “As long as they don’t pull on my horns, I will be fine.” She said with a chuckle, though couldn’t help but grimace again about the mentioning of whale meat. “Then I think I will pass on the soup, and perhaps on a lot of the food here. I guess there is another difference you can note between me and my mother.”

“That explains a few things about your body. You look frail.” Oscar crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. As yet another child made their hike up the tall stranger, making their way to her other shoulder. “Those little hunters seem to really be attached to climbing into you specifically.” He looked down at them towards Tinlé feet as more children joined in trying to climb onto her and specifically trying to hold onto her tail again.

As Tinlé used her tail to try to keep other children from climbing too much on her, she also looked down at her own body before crossing her arms to give an annoyed look towards her uncle. “Hey!” She pouted as her eyes gave him a small glare.

“If you ate more whale meat and beasts of the sea you wouldn’t be so skinny. How do you plan to survive the winters?” Oscar gave a small smirk, crossing his own arms as his children took advantage of her distraction.

“I eat healthy food, and fish! I just am a bit careful about my diet, and got to experience a dietary experience that’s not just 90% seafood.” She muttered out annoyed as she kept an annoyed glare at the taller kemonomimi. “Plus we have heating for a reason.”

“It is good you live in the south, you would not survive up here but it is good you visit.” His accent shined through as he scratched one of the kid’s heads resting in her shoulder. “I once saw your mother down a whole plate of whale meat in moments. Completely unseasoned and without a fork. For you? I think you do better with someone factory making your meal or however you call speed food.” Oscar rested his hands back at his side.

“Yeah well, hush.” She gave a small ‘hmph’ as she looked away for a moment. Annoyed at the continued mentioning of her likely not being able to survive up here. Though looking away from him only meant looking at the face of one the kids on her shoulder, who gave her a tiny wave as she looked at them causing a sigh to leave her. “I get some of the best food in Borea at my university, so if you are worried about my diet you really do not need to.” She looked back at him, sticking her tongue out at him in a mildly sassy and annoyed tone.

The child that waved at her spoke in a bright and joyful tone. “Babushka!”

“Wasn’t worried about you starving just speaking in your weakness to survive here.” Oscar gave a taunting smirk. “Now I know your sister’s daughter, just without all the violence and threats of violence.” He gave a small sigh before speaking again. “Don’t repeat the word he said. Please.”

“Hmmmm. No promises.” She gave him a small smirk of her own as she kept a bit of a sassy attitude. “It is a bit sad she never told me about any of this…” She let out a small sigh as she looked down at the floor, only to chuckle as once more her eyes landed on a tiny kemonomimi. “Did my mother even… keep in contact with you guys after she returned back to Noraida?”

The small child looked up at her and stretched out her arms. “Babushka!” She cheered out with her tail swaying around rapidly.

“She did, but not for a good long while and a whole lot of letters she never responded to. I think it took her a while to understand but she got there eventually despite being so thick headed about it. Visited once when she became an adult, made up to mom and dad.” He gave an awkward scratch to the back of his neck. “But there was a long period of silence and she didn’t leave on good terms either. Had a whole mess of hate in her heart until she figured it all out.”

“Well…” Tinlé spoke in a soft tone as she reached down to lift up the kid looking up at her, holding the little girl into her arms giving them a poke on the nose before looking back towards her uncle. “Perhaps I can convince her to come with me when I visit again. That is, if you’d have her that is.” She gave a small yet warm smile.

“Of course she is welcomed here! She is my sister after all.” He didn’t held back his laughter, holding his stomach. “I mean I sell her for a half a rotten bone but that’s just what siblings do.” Oscar himself started to be climbed onto. As children eagerly climbing into his pants and then into his jacket. Originally there have only been six kids but it’s beginning to seem like that number has been steadily increasing as they spoke.

“Well it could be fun seeing you two interact, especially since from how it sounds like she was the one bullying you around.” She teased gently as she kept holding the little kemonomimi girl up, and still had two kemonomimi kids on her back with their heads laying on her shoulder. Even having a kid holding into her tail as she lifted it up.

“Well less bullying and more domestic assault.” Oscar gave a small eye roll. “You certainly are enjoying being the center of attention now. How about you?” He looked toward Julie who made the mistake of patting one of the children’s heads and now face several of them also try to get their heads patted. “About what I thought honestly.” He turned back to look at Tinlé. “I just hoped she calm down, I don’t got a body like I used too anymore and I would like to be able to walk around without needing a cane.”

“I don’t think you have to worry anymore about my mother being ‘feral’ anymore, uncle.” Tinlé said in a joking tone as she finally began putting some of the kids down using both her arms and tail, much to the pouting and whining from the kids. “One doesn’t become a member and leader of our clergy by being feral.”

“She is what?” Oscar took a step back for a moment, nearly tripping over one of the children. His hand reached out to pet them, starting a second line as the children organized themselves to make good use of both his hands. “She is a Brewmaster now? Or uh, Shrinekeeper I mean. No disrespect.”

“No, no, no. Not an Akuanist cleric member, Duarist one.” She clarified quickly as she pulled on her scarf to show off the Duarist symbol more. “She’s a High Priestess, and in fact wants to improve things in well here and the other Rotantic Territories!” She said in a surprisingly bit prideful tone before calming down for a moment. “I never actually realized why she cared so much about the Ritiaida Treaty and development of this region until, well, now I guess.” She had a genuine small smile as she connected the past conversations she had with her mother about it all.

“She converted? Or is something that she can do both?” Oscar had to hunch over, getting on his knees for the sake of his back as more children queued for their pats. “Either way, I’m awfully surprised by all that. Never thought she would be leading anyone other than a band of pirates. Well, it is nice to suppose she is sending help up here, sure beats the last time sunkissers came up here. They told us we couldn’t hunt anymore.” While his expression was upbeat for the sake of the somehow growing number of children in the room. His eyes told a different far more annoyed story.

“Converted? What do you mean, she has always been a Duarist?” Tinlé tilted her head curiously at that as she looked towards him, letting one the children down as her tail lowered closer to the ground again.

“Well she took part in our prayers, wore the kimonos, spoke Nys’tat’en and oh wait a minute.” He stood up, as the children dispersed around the room. Speaking for a moment in a strange accented Nys’tat’en towards the open doorway. Few moments later, a young teenager kitsune walked out. Wearing a Cotois hockey jersey, the team having long faded out and various patches across. Holding a curved up rock, with various itching and teeth marks across it. Handing it over to Oscar before disappearing back into the backroom. All while not saying any word.

“Thank you Teelee.” Oscar inspected the rock before handing it over to Tinlé. “This is her ol’ protection ward. She was so proud of making it herself, well mostly herself. Mama helped her out with some of the finer aspects, and she slept it every night. It’s uh, made out of whatcha call. Stone made from bones, don’t know what it’s called in Ngodian.”

“Huh, that is… interesting?” She inspected the hardened round bone, being a bit unsettled by the bite marks on it. “Her fangs must have been very strong, huh.” She handed it back to him as she scratched the back of her head. “Well she said her aunt was a Priestess and raised her in the church, so I guess I always thought she has only been a Duarist.”

“Ah, Mrs. Eyebrows.” He held back a sneer at the mention of the aunt. “I won’t hear of her memory here. Less we attract other ugly beasts.” Oscar crossed his arms, trying his best to remain joyful as a few kids noticed his expression. Crossing their arms soon after and standing next to him. “However, about her fangs, I’m still pretty sure she might be part bear.” He cracked a smile.

She gave an understanding nod at the comment about her grand aunt. “I get that, between you and I. She has always been a bit of a…”

“Horrid bitch?” Oscar chimed in quickly enough.

Though one of the smarter children, heard the word and of course, as with all children having a built-in trouble maker software inside of them. Repeated Oscar’s words in an adorable tone. “Horrid bitch!” Oscar was quick enough to speak in Nys’tat’en to inform them that they shouldn’t say it and a quick stare down around the room to enforce it wouldn’t be repeated.

“Well, I wasn’t going to actually say it because exactly that.” Tinlé couldn’t help but have a bit of a taunting smirk on her lips as she placed both her hands on her hips, having a bit sassy attitude. “But yeah no, I don’t have good memories of her. She well… She had a way of wanting to discipline me that wasn’t nicest.” She let out a nervous chuckle as some bad memories began to resurface. “Though my mom put an end to that when she found out, and well, she did it her way.”

Oscar shaked his head before giving a sigh. “Alright alright, no more memories of her here. Nothing good about that woman. Now let’s get you and your girlfriend some soup to warm you both up.” He kept up a smirk, as he wrapped an arm around the tielfing’s shoulder. Giving a look towards Julie who was currently fighting for her life against a children-sized horde trying to figure out why her hair was red. He spoke in his native tongue, and like magic the children retreated back into their rooms.

“Come on, I already told you she’s not my girlfri- Oh gods Julie you alright?!” Tinlé looked back towards the red head kemonomimi rushing over towards her as she wrapped an arm around her shoulders to hold her up, looking down at her with genuine concern.

“S-so many questions…” Julie gave a hug to the tiefling. While being exhausted from playing with all the children, she gave a warm smile. “Still, anything could be worse than having to play with a bunch of children.” Though with a taunting wink, “So girlfriend huh?” She gave a warm chuckle as she unwrapped her hug from her, walking towards the backroom where Oscar was directing them to head towards.

“He just wants to taunt me.” Tinlé said with a sigh as she followed for a moment before stopping up. “Um, do we have time for it? I don’t want to delay our mission here for longer than it needs to.” She asked in a bit nervous tone towards her friend.

“Tinlé we’re going to spend a month in Ritiaida, most of that probably just going to be here in the city. We can make time for this.” Julie gave a warm expression as she turned to look over her shoulder. “Besides, this is sort of part of my own mission here. Writing about the customs and culture here, which when you think about it all cuisine comes from soup.” She didn’t explain further as she went ahead through the doorway.

For a moment Tinlé wanted to speak up and bond with her friend over learning about the island’s customs and norms, it being after all part of her larger reason being here, until hearing that last line. “I, what does that even mean??” She asked bewildered, shaking her head in confusion as she followed after.

What a strange journey it been so far for her, and it only day one.