Streamwood Settlement
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Nestled in a sheltered clearing of the deep woods of Coghill is the Streamwood settlement, named for the small stream running through the middle of the settlement. A stone retaining wall has been constructed along the stream’s course for safety. Babbling quietly, the stream trips merrily over the stone bed as it winds further south. Every so often a glimmer of light reflects off a passing fish. Over the water in several locations are low, wide bridges, perfect for passage or fishing. Water lilies as well as wildflowers growing along the streambed perfume the air with their aroma.
Small wooden cottages peek out from the tree line, constructed from the sturdy lumber the woods provide. Some cottages have small flower or vegetable gardens out front. Others have small wooden or stone figures decorating the yard, a nod to their resident’s occupation. There are two fire pits, one on either side of the stream for communal use. The atmosphere is serene and welcoming, perfect for raising a small family or starting a new career.
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You can go: Manor Road <N>, Lorcan <1>, Saeryn <2>, Warner <3>, Ald <4>, Aderyn <5>, Chosette <6>, Damala <7>, Lora <8>, Celia <9>, Cantil <10>, Renand <11>, Rafe <12>
Contents:
A daughter of eve with dark brown hair (Saeryn)
Larder Basket
Firepit <LIT>
Saeryn walks along the road from the town. For once she is not alone nor particularly quiet. A group of other girls are with her, tittering over something or other. Saeryn is clearly protesting whatever statements they are choosing to make.
Snow falls, thick and quiet. It’s not quite thick enough to be a blizzard just yet, but it has coated the ground deeply and is still falling. Lorcan is just outside his mother’s door, shoveling the already-accumulated snow out of her walk. He looks rather disheveled, hair falling out of its ties and cloak awry, as though he’s already come from a hard days work at the guild and got straight to work clearing snow when he came back.
Saeryn detaches herself from the group and hurries away. The girls also disperse shortly. Head lowered against the snow, Saeryn hurries to her cottage and disappears inside for a moment or so before coming out with a worn-looking winter cloak, its hood pulled up to shield her face. Taggle peeks his head out of the door as she exits again, but pulls back when he sees the white all around.
Lorcan shovels away, looking mostly mindless of everything but the weight of the shovel in his hand and the (nearly) futile effort he’s making against the falling snow.
Saeryn looks around as she pulls the door closed behind her in a very slow way, as if she is ready to dodge back inside. Her eyes fall on Lorcan as one of the very few, if not only, out in the snow.
Lorcan moves back a ways into the settlement, creating something of a path from his mother’s door to the main path. A thin coating of snow remains in the area he’s cleared, but at least one could walk over it instead of slog through it.
Saeryn watches him in silence, leaning against the wooden door. After a few second’s hesitation, she steps off of her small porch and retraces her steps there. Even with her recent passage, the going is slow and she drops her gaze to focus instead on finding the easiest path.
Lorcan flings a particularly large shovelful to one side of his path and straightens to survey his work. He blinks snow out of his eyes as he plants the tip of the shovel in the snow beside him.
Saeryn, who had almost reached him, dodges around the mass of flying snow, though it likely would have made very little difference had it hit her.
Whether by means of extreme concentration, or obliviousness, or simply the thickness of the falling snow (call it what you will), Lorcan doesn’t appear to have noticed Saeryn’s approach, or her near miss with the pile of snow. With a grunt, he turns back to his work.
Saeryn opens her mouth to speak as he takes his momentary rest, but falls silent again as he ends it just as quickly. Biting her lip, she glances downward at the snow piling about her and begins to forge her way towards the dead firepit.
Still oblivious, Lorcan turns his attention back to his self-assigned task. Suddenly Adelaide’s door creaks open with a sigh and she hollers out into the settlement, “Lorcan Barrentine! Whatever are you doing out there in the snow? Don’t you know it doesn’t do any good to shovel while the snow’s still falling? Come inside this instance; there’ll be plenty of time for that later.”
Saeryn reaches the firepit slightly before the door opens and is examining the snow-covered logs, stance rather limp. When the voice cuts through the chill air she jumps and turns to squint through the whiteness for the source.
Rafe enters the settlement from Rafe’s cottage.
Lorcan doesn’t complain. He merely tosses a last shovelful out of the way and strides towards his mother’s door. The strong firelight from within casts a swathe of light through the falling snow, which falls directly on the firepit. Widow Barrentine squints through the flakes as she waits for Lorcan at the door. When she calls out again, her voice is astonished. “Saeryn, child, is that you? Whatever are *you* doing out in weather like this?” Her tone turns scolding and she opens her door wider. “Come inside and get warm, the both of you.”
Saeryn jumps almost guiltily as she is addressed. Glancing at the firepit with a desperate attempt to find an excuse, she brushes back some hair and begins to walk meekly towards the Widow’s door.
Lorcan has by this time stopped in his path towards Adelaide’s cottage. His initial expression of surprise at his mother’s greeting fades and he appears to be waiting for Saeryn to catch up with him.
A muffled bustle can be heard behind the door of Holman and Nell’s cottage, and after a few moments out pops Rafe, looking in particularly high spirits this evening. He is dressed warmly, but the weight of his clothes is belied by the spring in his step.
Saeryn, gaining the path Lorcan had just made, travels much more quickly and reaches Lorcan without difficulty.
Lorcan offers her a small smile and his arm. “Evening,” he says, a sheepish note in his voice.
Rafe shuts the door, swivels on one boot and marches toward the firepit, clapping his hands together and rubbing them with glee. After a moment, he notices the shaft of light crossing his path and follows it back to the open door. He smiles and calls out, “Oh! Hallo there, Lorcan! And Saeryn too!”
Saeryn returns Lorcan’s greeting with a vaguely embarrassed one of her own: “Good evening.” As her name is once again called out, she turns to see Rafe and calls out, if more quietly, “Good evening, Mister Rafe!”
Lorcan looks up as he is greeted again. His smile widens somewhat and he says, “Good evenin’ to you, Rafe.” Of course, Adelaide, never one to wait long, interrupts from her door to say, “Well, come one now, no sense in getting soaked to the bone in the snow. And you as well, Master Rafe, do come in out of the snow.” She crosses her arms as though daring any of them to dispute her sensible offer.
Rafe positively beams at Adelaide’s brusque invitation and makes his way over. “Thank-you kindly, madam. It’s colder than it looks out here!”
Saeryn echoes Rafe’s thanks with a few less words and once again begins to walk into the home, glancing over at Lorcan for a brief moment.
Lorcan gives an almost imperceptible shrug of his shoulders and follows directly.
Adelaide shuts the door behind the trio and bustles about taking people’s wraps. She hangs them on a peg beside the door and waves a hand at an arrangement of chairs and small tables before the positively roaring fireplace. The fireplace itself seem to be the focal piece of the room, and could be best described as a colossal work of stone. A rocking chair and several other chairs are settled in front of it. The opposite side of the room is take up by what looks like a kitchen: cupboards, counters, a table and the like. A small hatch appears to lead into the cellar. In the back of the room is a door to a short hallway leading to what seem to be three bedrooms. The entire cottage seems to attest to the occupations of its once-occupants: most of the decorations are made of stone, and all throughout are neatly stitched tablecloths, doilies, seat cushions and the like. Also of note are three things hung on the pegs behind the door: a large workbelt containing chisels and instruments of stonework, and its smaller companion (as for a boy). Besides those is a small and beautifully embroidered apron, as though for a young girl.
Rafe slips gratefully out of his coat as Adelaide offers. After taking a look around the well-kept home, he quietly slips off his boots as well, and stows them neatly by the door. This leaves his feet clad only in socks, but he makes do. “Most kind, madam, thank-you again. I’m sorry, I’m not sure we’ve been introduced…?” he offers as he removes his hat and hangs it on a peg.
Saeryn relinquishes her snow-adorned cloak with a shy smile. “Thank you, ma’am,” she says quietly, looking around. Her eyes light on the workbelt and she cants her head as she examines it.
Adelaide turns back over her shoulder as she starts to head into the kitchen area, and comes back. “Well, well. I suppose we haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Adelaide Barrentine, you see, but most folks call me the Widow Barrentine or just Addie. And you’re Rafe, of course. Oh, don’t be surprised; hardly anything goes on in this town without my knowing about it, as I’m sure my son can attest, so I’ve heard all about you.” She smiles brightly and just as quickly bustles off after mugs and such for tea. “You’re welcome, dear,” she says, once again over her shoulder. Lorcan gives Rafe a “Yup, she knows *everything* look” and goes to help her.
Rafe grins widely as Adelaide’s speech washes over him with barely a pause. “Well, charmed to meet you properly at last, Addie. I hope what you’ve heard has all been good.” He shares a friendly wink with Lorcan.
Rafe grins widely as Adelaide’s speech washes over him with barely a pause. “Well, charmed to meet you properly at last, Addie. I hope what you’ve heard has all been good.” He shares a friendly wink with Lorcan.
Saeryn looks after the Widow with a little bit of bewilderment but then smiles and continues to survey the room.
Adelaide waves a hand idly at Rafe. “Oh, of course, of course. I don’t put much stock in the bad things people say anyways, bunch of busybodies.” She sniffs, and Lorcan hides a smile behind her back. She hands Lorcan a tray of cups and small dainties, and he carries it over to set it on one of the end tables. Adelaide takes a hot pad and pulls a large teapot off a ring over the fire. “Tea?” She offers, carrying it over to the tray of teacups.
Rafe starts nodding eagerly at the question of tea when suddenly there is a rap at the door. Since he’s still standing right by it, he glances at Adelaide and then makes a decision, opening it. A voice from outside asks, “I have a message for Master Rafe.” Rafe looks momentarily befuddled. He nods and looks back to the room, “Apologies, friends, something seems to have come up. I must join you another time, but thank-you again for the kind hospitality, Addie!”
Adelaide looks up, tilting her head slightly at the unexpected interruption. She nods when Rafe speaks. “Of course, of course. You’re welcome, dear,” she smiles after him.
Saeryn bites back her own grin as the Widow speaks and then follows Adelaide to the tea tray and accepts the cup as the door opens. She bids Rafe farewell as he is called away.
Rafe smiles and waves to his hosts, turns to eye the messenger uncomfortably and then steps outside with him, pulling the door to behind him.
Rafe leaves the cottage for the settlement.
Lorcan watches after Rafe for a moment, looking vaguely puzzled. He turns back to accept a cup from his mother and then settles into one of the chairs comfortably.
Saeryn sits down on the edge of one of the chairs, frowning slightly at the door. She takes a sip of the tea and suddenly seems to relax, a near silent sigh escaping her.
Adelaide pours her own cup of tea and settles into the rocker. She lets out a contented breath of air (similar to Saeryn’s, accept louder, of course) and looks around at the pair expectantly. “So. Do tell me all the news, you too. You’ve settled in nicely, I hear, Saeryn?” Lorcan sips his own tea.
Saeryn nods, cradling the cup so it doesn’t slosh over the side. “Oh yes. It’s been much easier than I was expecting.”
The widow says, “Excellent. It’s always lovely to feel as though you’ve made something of a place for yourself, I think.” She glances at Lorcan who responds as though prompted, “And your – your cooking is coming along well?” He looks up at Saeryn.
Saeryn’s nose wrinkles, possibly the beginnings of making a face, but she smoothes it out again before it is clear. “Yes, it’s coming along quite well, I think.”
Lorcan nods and looks back down, almost shyly. Adelaide ventures, “Well, a great many things take time, my dear.” She gives a soft little sigh. “A great many things.”
Saeryn nods with a semi-laugh, which may be a tiny bit forced. “My mother used to say things are only worth the amount of time you spend on them.” She takes another sip of her tea and glances out the window (which does very little good, given the weather). She stands and sets the tea back on the end table. “You’ll have to excuse me, I need to be going. Thank you very much for the tea.”
Adelaide looks up, and nods. “Very true.” When Saeryn stands, she says, “Oh, well you’re very welcome,” with a smile. “Shall I have Lorcan walk you back? Weather like this can be dangerous, you know.” Lorcan sets down his cup and nods, looking ready to get to his feet.
Saeryn starts at the offer and then gives a bit of a smile as she retrieves her cloak. “I, um… Thank you.”
This time it is Lorcan who answers. “Of course,” he says, his voice warm and nearly protective, surprisingly enough. He shrugs into his own cloak and then crosses the room to give his mother a kiss on the cheek. “I should head back home myself, Mother. I’ll be back first thing in the morning to dig you out,” he says with a twinkle in his eye. She laughs and swats at him, saying, “You’d better.” He smiles faintly and crosses to the door again.
Saeryn’s smile grows as Lorcan says his goodbye and they leave, waving once more over her shoulder.
Saeryn leaves the cottage for the settlement.
