Kitchen Area
The second half of the main cavern serves as the kitchen for Benden Weyr. The many tables that take up this area are usually covered with foods for wonderful dishes in various stages of preparation. Drudges keep watch over the many hearths at the side, where there's always at least one klah and one stew pot ready for the hungry. The tunnel at the south end of the kitchen leads to the storage areas, with helpers constantly moving in and out to bring in more supplies. Herbs and other dried goods hang from the racks above the tables, on the walls are shelves filled with a variety of different plates and dishes. The sinks at the western side of the cavern are almost always filled with mugs and bowls needing a good scrubbing.

Nehyn wanders in, sniffing the ever delightful aroma of the kitchen.

Muireann has kitchen mitts over her hands and is trying to lift a very large, heavy, syrup-filled pot from the stove. Lucky enough, there's no drudges about just at the moment to witness the perpetrators. "One o' yous wanna grab that other end? Just be careful - it's hot."

Nehyn snags up a towel and grabs the handle on the other side of the pot. "How are we going to get this onto a dragon without spilling it?"

Arial stands about looking at the large pot of syrup... she's not touching that. No way!

"Good point," Muireann admits. She glances round the place. "Either of youse see a lid for this thing anywhere about?"

Arial glances about and spots one that may fit over by the sink.  She picks it up, examining it curiously. "Think this will do?"

Nehyn nods. "Give it a whirl."

Arial gently places the lid on the pot, eyeing it critically. "It doesn't fit quite right, but I think it's the best we can do. We don't want the syrup to get too cold."

Muireann just holds up her end, waiting for Arial to fit the lid over the pot. She doesn't want splooshing with hot syrup more than any dragon would. "Mebbe tie it on?" She suggests, jerking her head to the spool of twine hanging behind the door.

Arial retrieves the twine, thinking perhaps she should have just held the other end of the pot... all this work! "Okay, it's as good as it's gonna get," she announces to her compatriots, the lid fastened to both handles by the coarse string.

Muireann grins across the pot at Nehyn. "Ye set?"\

Nehyn nods. "Lead on."

Muireann begins backing out the door, eyes flicking between Nehyn and the floor behind her.

Nehyn shuffles out, carefully balancing the pot and its caramelized contents. "Don't let Tylenth spot us," he mutters quietly to the others.

Arial sneaks out after Nehyn, her eyes darting about. You know, if Muireann and Nehyn get caught, Arial's gonna run for it.  After all, she's not carrying the pot.

If Arial runs, Nehyn's going to be the first one making a new pot of this stuff to put in a certain Candie's cot.

Muireann keeps a wary eye focused across the bowl on Tylenth as she approaches Dagnabith; charming D'rat already aboard, regarding the trio with a lazy smile and not lifting a finger to assist. She nods over at Arial. "Ye wanna jump up first and we'll pass the pot up to you and D'rat?" Not gettin out of it that easy.

Does Arial have to answer that honestly... Oh well, she did say that she'd help. With a slight shrug she nods and climbs the living hulk that is Dagnabith.

Nehyn lifts the pot slowly, careful to keep it level. Here's the trick, since a minor miscalculation could result in him being covered in the stuff.

Muireann lifts her side of the pot in time with Nehyn, wanting no more than he to become a caramelled Candie

D'rat heaves a sigh and shrugs out of his riding jacket. He folds it over Dagnabith's back to protect the dragon from the hot pot, then takes one handle, his thick riding gloves protecting him from the kettle's heat.

Nehyn crawls up behind Arial and D'rat, then reaches down to Muire to give her a hand up.

Muireann accepts the hand and with a one.. two... /three/ she's aboard. Drat snorts at the pot cradled before him, lip curling and eyes rolling, but Muire's threatened to tell that knockout blonde candidate just what he was doing with the twin drudges last night, so he's no choice but to help. A lift of his hand and
Dagnabith rises, wings flaring, into the evening sky.

Tylenth's Tempestuous Teepee
The weyr is a large home for a green, the couch-like hollow has been worn to draconic proportions over countless Turns by countless occupants. Swept free of sand, dust, and hide fuzz daily, the only remarkable thing about it is the large, blue, stuffed dragon 'pillow' at one end. In the back corner, a good sized 'bed' is tucked in nice and neat between the 'wardrobe' and an overstuffed drooping 'chair'. Resting in front of the chair is a longish table, a most peculiar 'board' resting on it's surface. Along the other wall, a 'worktable' extends the entire length, it's surface cluttered with all sorts of things. Near the entrance to the weyr, a three foot long 'carving' sits proudly atop a small table. Gentle scenes of forests have been painted on the stone cold 'walls', the trees almost seem to wave in the nonexistent breeze. 

Arial gently slides down Dagnabith's leg landing with a soft thud.

"So this is A'razi's weyr..." Boy is he in for a surprise.

Nehyn shivers. "Kinda creepy, isn't it?" Dunno why he says that, but it seems true.

Dagnabith flicks his wings as he settles down to await the return of the pranksters on the outer ledge. D'rat just looks bored.

Muireann scrambles off the dragon's back. She detaches one of the buckets of fur and feathers from Dagnabith's carrying straps and holds it out toward her cohorts. "Here... One o' youse want to take this an' the other one? I'll help carry the syrup."

Arial reaches for the buckets, nearly toppling over from their wait. "Do you think this is enough," is asks sarcastically from the region of the furs, Arial's face obliterated by the bucket.

Nehyn begins laughing. Just laughing. "Oh, won'tcha like to see his face when he wakes up all covered in this goop?"

"Sure we gotta do Sabria's as well..." Muire's expression is one of mock-hurt. "An we want to get him good and fuzzy, right?"  Face lights at Nehyn's remark and she just nods, grinning like a mad thing. "What I wouldn't give..."

Nehyn laughs. "Think he'd notice a flit or two?" Nah, that'd just like being asking to be caught.

Arial heaves and lugs, right... good and fuzzy. Her eyes dance, "But what I wouldn't give to see A'razi first thing in the morning."

Nehyn snickers. "It'd prolly be all fuzzy."

Muireann gives D'rat A Look. "Ye gonna sit there like an eejit or ye gonna gi'us a hand?" she inquires, brow raised. D'rat sneers,
then sighs, rolls his eyes, and slips down to assist with the pot of syrup. The pair lug the kettle over, then tilt the pot, allowing syrup to slowly drizzle over A'razi's sleeping furs. Muire can't hold back a delighted grin.

Nehyn dumps a bucket of the hair and wherry feathers on the sticky goop, teasing it out a bit to spread it out. "We have enough for Sabby's place?"

Arial scatters the fur in her bucket all around the furs, her eyes dancing evilly.

Muireann grins. "Should do," she replies. A wee bit of syrup is sluiced on top of the fur/feather mixture; all the better to stick you together, A'razi, dear. She regards the collective work critically. "Ye reckon we should hide the glows as well? Just so's he can't see his bed before he gets in?"

Nehyn cackles. "Oh, that's a great idea. And hope he doesn't bring up any fresh ones in the meantime."

"Good thinking Ranny." Arial walks around the weyr, stealing glows and putting them in her beltpouch. "I think that's all of them," she tells her friends, the last of A'razi's glows in her hand.

Re-lidding the pot, Muire helps D'rat carry it back to Dagnabith. Stowing it aboard, she scrambles up behind D'rat onto the dragon's broad back. "Shall we get on then?" she asks, voice low and urgent. "'Fore 'Raz comes back?" Muireann does /not/ want to get tickled again. Ever.

Arial hastily follows Ranny's lead, the thought of actually being caught by A'razi dreadful. She quickly scrambles up Dagnabith's back and looks back at Nehyn.

Nehyn nods, scooting adragonback. "We'd better hurry."

Outside the Living Caverns
Up here in the mountainous regions of the northern continent, the air is forever cool except for those few days in the summer. This area is almost constantly busy with people walking in and out of the living caverns just off to the west as well as to and from the bowls. The ground has become grassy on the slightly sloped sides over the turns now that Thread had stopped falling, and on the sunny days, the weyrfolk come out to do the minor chores out here. Just outside the caverns, dragons can be seen lounging on the grassy knolls while waiting for their riders to come out of the caverns or to socialize with the others, occasionally playing with the lower cavern children.
As Rukbat heads to its evening rest in the west, the air begins to chill.
A chilled, crisp breeze blows through, making the ears tingle and turn slightly red. Decaying plants perfume the air with a scent of their own, making the nose tingle likewise.

Dagnabith lands in the bowl, sails a-fluttering. Muireann slides down, then extends arms upward to receive the pot of syrup - now significantly lighter. "Thanks, D'rat," she singsongs, though the smile comes nowhere near her eyes. D'rat is not a favorite of hers, by any means.

Arial sighs in relief and scrambles down from Dagnabith. Scanning the skies she grins up at her friends. "I think we're in the clear. No sign of Tylenth at all!"

Nehyn grins. "So how are we going to get our other victim?" he whispers.

Muireann just winks. "This way." Tell a drudge you're cleaning and they'll show you nigh on anything. She sneaks off toward Sabria's weyr.

Muireann heads northward towards the hatching grounds.

Arial reaches up and gets the pot of furs and follows Muireann carefully. Can't not have Sabria furred when she's feathered. 

Muireann climbs up the stairs against the Weyr wall.

You climb up the stairway, avoiding the narrow edge.

Landing Ledge
From here the whole of the northern end of Benden Weyr is visible. Across from the ledge, the giant entrances to the junior queen's ledges are quite visible, as are the Star Stones, looking over from above the Hatching cavern. The ledge is narrow, but comfortably allows for several large dragons. Smooth stone worn by time is scarred by furrows dug in by grasping talons. An archway on the side of the Weyr wall leads into a dark corridor, while the giant weyr entrance of the senior queen looms behind.

Nehyn climbs up from the stairs.

Muireann climbs the narrow stairs, syrup pot clanking against the walls of the corridor. "Shards. Gonna wake up Fabrinath easy." she mutters to herself, trying to hug the pot closer to her to still the noise.

Arial pants behind Muireann, her pot clanking away, unnoticed.  "Shards there's a lot of these stairs."

Nehyn does his best to tiptoe, edging as close as he can to the open wall. "You sure no one's inside?" he whispers.

Muireann shrugs. Who can know? "/Sabria's/ not there... Saw her down the caverns at dinner earlier. She was talkin bout stayin down fer somethin' er other." She hopes. "Ye see anything, Nehyn?" voice lowers to a soft whisper.

Nehyn shakes his head, hoping no one hears the rocks in his head rattle, like his ma always said they did.

Muireann takes a deep breath and sneaks into the Weyrwoman's weyr.

Nehyn walks into the weyr.

Arial gulps and follows... where one candie goes, another can go!

[Candies!] Muireann: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
[Candies!] Kysha: Hmm?
[Candies!] Nehyn eeks!

Fabrinath's Freaky Funhouse
Looming mightily over the cavern, the wide expanse of ceiling stands well above even the tallest of dragonkin. Spacious enough for two of the largest dragons in Benden Weyr to comfortably rest in, the senior queen's weyr is beyond a doubt the largest of all. A giant depression in the middle of the stone floor, deep and
spacious enough for both the queen and her mate, is filled with sweet smelling rushes, and covered with soft quilts. Upon the walls, wide hangings of various scenes color the weyr brightly along side the perpetually lit glowbaskets. The curtained doorway leads to the bedroom while the more solidly barred door on the side of the weyr leads to the Council chamber. In the back, a sturdy table surrounded by tall back chairs, stands ready to receive visitors, with a bowl of seasonal fruits on the top along side a pitcher of klah. But what truly catches the eyes is the extent of the purple and pink paint liberally spread across every stone surface of the weyr, even designs in the same hues all over the floor.

Arial stops, startled by the use of color all too apparent in this weyr. "Oh my, I'm feeling a wee bit nauseous."

Muireann just stares. Just stares. Just stares.

Nehyn tries not to look. "Let's just get this over with."

Nehyn brushes past the crimson and gold curtain of the doorway to the bedchamber.

You walk through the crimson and gold curtain barring the way.

Sabria's Shadowy Sanctum
A fairly large chamber, not grandiose but suiting to house the Weyrleaders of Benden. The tapestries on the walls are exquisite works of high quality and the large rug on the floor is deep and plush. A smooth regularity of the stone walls indicates that this is one of the oldest rooms at Benden and by far, the most luxurious. Dominating the far wall of the weyr is a large wide bed, with an elaborate patchwork 'quilt' placed over the furs. A rare wooden bureau stands against the other wall, with even a polished mirror from the Smithcraft above it. Several clothes presses have been placed at the foot of the bed. The oddest part of it all is that unlike the outer room, not a sign of Sabby's zany painting exists here. It's simply a comfortable, even plush type of chamber, where Sabria chooses to rest and unwind.

Muireann brushes past the crimson and gold curtains to step from the weyr.

Arial quickly picks up the quilt and folds it, placing it on a clothes press at the bed's foot. "Wouldn't want to get gunk on this. It looks personal."

Nehyn nods. "Then she really would be after blood."

Muireann nods, then begins sluicing syrup onto the furs themselves. Proper payback for that flurry of dyebombs. She grins at Nehyn. "Nah, nah... we'll just get the furs." ...though that should be enough for anybody.

And the fur flies... Arial dumps the contents of her bucket in Sabby's sleeping furs, and spread it around, her eyes dancing.  She's enjoying this! Who cares about retribution, after all, how are the riders going to know that it's them.

Nehyn helps to tease out the snips of fur. "Don't forget to put a bit more on top, Muire," he grins.

Muireann nods and allows the remainder of the syrup to dribble out over the surface of the shaved-fur coating, forming a nice shiny glaze. "Didja save any o' the wherry feathers for her?"

Nehyn nods. "I think there are a few handfuls mixed in."

Muireann nods to Nehyn as she spies them, and grins brightly. "We'd best get goin then, eh?"

Nehyn nods, and he's outta there.

Main Living Cavern (#2000)
The domed cavern of Benden Weyr's living cavern is ever filled with a warm and friendly ambiance. Several ventilation shafts open up at the ceiling to allow the passage of fresh air inside, formed from the natural crevices of the ancient volcano, while the walls are brightly decorated with accented designs from colored cements used to fill in cracks in the stone. The living cavern is filled with stout, highly carved 'tables' where 'riders' and 'weyrfolk' work, talk, and relax. The hearths are always lit and pots of stew and klah are always available, though the klah supply drops dramatically in the mornings. Trays of food are brought in by the drudges every so often, topped with meatrolls (covered so that the firelizards don't get them), bubblies, and other treats. The bar lies near the hearth, where
riders take great advantage of the wines, keeping Bob the bartender quite busy. 

Hrethwulf turns and carefully wraps the grand harp. 

A'razi pours himself a mugfull and sets to sipping quietly.

Kysha wrinkles her nose and asks, "A'razi, Rowena, would you excuse me?" She adds strangely as she glances down a hallway, "I should go change."

Muireann materializes out of thin air.

Kysha is soaking wet for the record.

Muireann is doing her best to sneak while carrying a large cauldron. Suspicious? Nah. Though she counts on the general buzz of activity to detract attention from her as she skitters into the kitchens. 

Muireann sniffs the air as she heads into the kitchen area.

Kestrel blinks at the sudden insurge of people before she nods to Hreth, "Well they're only words you deserve to hear for such a fine composition." she retrieves her wine glass and takes another sip.

A'razi eyes Muireann's back thoughtfully.

Nehyn walks in from the bowl, looking around to see who's here.

Kysha giggles and slips into the hallway while the people zoom by.

Rowena warms her damp, no soaked form by the fire as she smiles down into her cup. Klah!

Kysha sniffs the air as she heads into the kitchen area.

Hrethwulf says, "Has your master's ears any suggestions for it?"

Like Rowena, A'razi is as close to the fire as he can get without being scorched. Drip, drip, drip.

Caz slips in slowly, dark eyes glance about the room, taking in each occupant.. a chair quickly is found and he sits. 

Kestrel frowns a little in thought, running a finger over the outside of her glass as she plays the ballad back in her head. After a moment she turns her eyes to Hreth and with a smile, shakes her head a little, "Not at the moment, Hreth. It's still so fresh in my mind. I'd have to think about it for a time."

Kysha walks in from the kitchen carrying in the scent of delicious food.

Hrethwulf nods and smiles "That is hopeful at least" he grins a lopsided grin

Arial swings in, bucket in hand, and makes her way towards the kitchen. A slight tuft of fur escapes her bucket, landing on the cobblestones. Easily overlooked. She whistles a happy song as she pushes through the doors to the kitchens.

Kysha giggles and sends beads of water all over the place as she does, "Oh wonderful. I don't think he suspects a thing."

Nehyn wanders in, sniffing the ever delightful aroma of the kitchen.

Muireann winks at Kysha, clicking her tongue. "Ach thanks fer playin' decoy." Eyes swivel round to note her cohorts and she continues to grin broadly, collecting the pot from the floor and filling it with water to rinse away the traces of syrup and feathers. "Cracker job, youse guys."

Nehyn grins toothily. "Now we just hafta hide."

Kysha grins and nods, "Time for me to change before I catch a cold." She slides toward the door on tiptoes.

Arial blinks at Nehyn? "Hide?"

Kysha wanders back into the main part of the cavern.

Muireann nods cheerily and gives the pot a cursory scrub. "Nerat sound good te ye?" She grins.

Nehyn nods. "Yah. Nerat. Good thing the Hatching will be soon.  Otherwise, they'd drum us out of the Weyr."

Muireann just nods again, silly smile still plastered across her face. She's not remotely apologetic... yet.

Arial grins and then yawns, the evening's pranking getting to her.  "I'm going to soak extra long in the baths tonight and then I'm
off to bed." She grins evilly, "I know two riders who won't sleep so comfortably tonight!"

Nehyn laughs. "I don't care how they sleep. It's how they /wake up/ that will be interesting."

Another giggle escapes and Muire finishes pretending to scrub the pot. She dries her hands on a spare dishtowel and peeks out the kitchen door, gauging her chances of sneaking out without being seen. "You said it, Nehyn."