Let's Get This Show on the Road [Open]

[Zander Brogthamon]

With another log thrown onto the last fire it seemed that all preparations were in place now. The sun was just starting to set casting soft purples and pinks across the sky that made the ocean almost glitter. This was the only time Zander would ever find the ocean pretty. The whole reason he'd set up this party was to celebrate the soldiers of Aralore. He knew how hard each and every one of them worked every day. Knew how they were all ready to put their life on the life for their country should they ever need to. It was nice to get away from the slog of work for a while. Out of the armor and swords. Just get out for a night and breath a little.

There were a few old blankets near some of the fires, some long pieces of drift wood off to the side held the food and drink he'd brought with him. Some of the men he worked with regularly had come to help him set up but were currently having a "sword fight" with sticks they'd picked up along the beach. At least they were having fun.

The air was cold enough to see his breath. Something Zander normally hated. Though he supposed if he stuck close to the fires for the night, along with some ale, he'd feel fine. He'd invited as many soldiers as he could and even some nurses. Raphael Bishop , Primrose Cadigan , and Naeva Northam had been the first three people he'd talked to about it. Though everyone was free to invite who they wanted. He couldn't promise things wouldn't get a bit chaotic as the night went on though.

With a sigh Zander gave a long stretch and let himself warm up a bit as he watched some of his friends go from sword fighting to wrestling.

[Jaren Wright]

The lieutenant heard about the bonfire through the grapevine, and it was normally something he would ignore and not attend. Not that he disliked anyone who might be there...but it was more for the gossip that might sitll be lingering around him, and what had happened during the last war. Many people had been lost, many commanders had lost their soldiers, yet the burden of it was still sore for him. He'd had the commanding title thrust upon him during the heat of battle, where everyone but one man came out alive because of a single mistake.

He still dreamed of the blood at night. It's why he struggled to sleep.

Yet, getting out seemed like a good, logical idea. However, considering he wasn't going to do this alone and had no wife to speak of, Jaren was dragging his sister, Brianna Wright along. Griffin had been invited, but he wasn't sure if his brother would attend or not.

Approaching the beach alongside Bri, his pace slowed as he let out a gentle sigh. "I'm already beginning to change my mind..." he told her, even if the sight of some of the men goofing around was amusing.

[Brianna Wright]

To say Bri was excited was an understatement. The word "yes" had already left her tongue before her brother could even finish asking her. It wasn't a noble party that would require finery and other things, this was a party for soldiers. Something Brianna Wright had desperately craved for as long as she could remember, was being a knight. Yet her sex had prevented her father from allowing such notions. She was a lady, and a lady's didn't swing swords.

The party would serve as a good distraction as well. Cheer her up a bit, and if she could keep Jaren company all the better. She'd made sure to dress in a simple, furlined dress, and boots. Something to keep the cold out as she wore a simple cloak as well. Her hair was up in it's usual simple updo and her brown eyes looked around curiously at the soldiers all present. They were certainly already into their sprits as boisterous laughter filled the air, and she felt a small smile spreading across her face. "Nonsense, we just got here." She told Jaren quickly. Wrapping her arms quickly around one of his, as if it would prevent him from running away on her. She peaked up at him, as a stubborn looked crossed her face. "We both need this. What's Griff always saying? We need to get out more?" She said. She wasn't actually sure if Griffen said that or not, but she thought it would certainly help in trying to persuade Jaren to stay.

She had an inkling he was worried about what the others would say, given his demotion. But what better way to also prove everyone wrong that you were in fact doing alright? And if anyone said anything mean about her big brother...Hell hath no fury like a Brianna Wright scorned.

[Naeva Northam]

It wasn’t too often that Naeva joined in on such events or parties that were specific to military members. It wasn’t because she thought she was better than everyone else, or that she didn’t like them--but it was more so because she didn’t want people to feel like they couldn’t be themselves or enjoy their evening because their commander was present. That was the farthest thing she wanted to do--was to ruin anyone’s enjoyment because they would be afraid of what she might think of them and what they did with their time off-duty.

In all honesty, Naeva didn’t care what others did in their free time. The only thing she did care about, was that her men were respectful and did not cause harm to others or misrepresent what they all stood for.

When Zander Brogthamon had told her about the bonfire he was planning on hosting, and that he wanted her to attend, she had turned him down at first, for this reason. Still, he insisted. So it was why she had come if only to be supportive and present to her men.

Slowly, she found her way towards the beach and when she finally spotted the bonfire, she forced a warm smile on her face as she approached it. Her blue eyes scanned the area, looking towards the others gathering around, wrestling, laughing, and enjoying themselves. She didn’t want to ruin that. With a slight sigh, Naeva continued on, pulling the hood of her cloak up and over her head to perhaps hide or at least to blend in. A woman with blonde, braided hair often stood out against all the other men in the area, it would be obvious to everyone who she was and she did not want to draw attention. She even wore a fairly simple dress (though still had a pair of britches underneath), which wasn’t always typical attire for the commander.

She found Zander and offered him a smile and a wave before she found a spot on a boulder around the fire. It was then that she spotted Jaren Wright and his sister, Brianna Wright , at least that’s who she thought she was. It had been a while since she had been able to speak to the man. After what had transpired from the war, she knew the man was struggling with the whole thing. Most were after what had been endured.

“How are you?” She spoke out, almost inaudibly, to whomever else was in the area where she sat.