"We tend to specialize in Naqil. We train in a single skill and do that one thing for our living, unless circumstances arise to change that. A doctor is a stable career, but there are two kinds and my kind could fall out of favor, I suppose. The priests have greater concerns at the moment than the proliferation of herb- over priest-doctors, though." Not that the priests liked having doctors they didn't personally control, but fortunately for her they seemed to think that foreign cultural influence was something more important to deal with.elemtilas wrote:"I see. I suppose there must be many of you, then, that never help with food production at all? That is different: for us, we will all take our turns in the gardens & orchards or with the animals. And the same will be true of building needed structures and maintaining them. It sounds to me that among your folk, people are very limited in your roles within society. Like you: you will be a healer, but never help repair a bridge or build a barn or become a jurist! It is different among us. "
Risatri seems concerned about the suggestion. It's nothing obvious -she's long since learned to mask negative emotions under a veneer of professionalism- but there's a slight crinkle to her eyebrows, a tendency for her eyes not to stay on one thing. "It's no good habit, to start removing leaders from power on a whim," she says after a moment. "The first time, yes, would be replacing an incompetent Councilor. But then what? Perhaps, having set precedent, next time we replace someone for merely being not quite as clever as the rest of the Council. And then, for making a decision that is unpopular, but necessary. Eventually we would end up like Nitch, replacing a leader every year for not being well-spoken or handsome, or for just existing when something unfortunate happens. The only presidents of theirs that last are the ones that are pure charisma and nothing else, leaving intelligence, common-sense, and benevolence by the wayside."elemtilas wrote:"Hih! It seems to me your rulers are busy little bees! Our Greatqueen and her councillors certainly meet to talk about what needs discussing, but I gather they make time for their other duties within the queenhold. I wonder though: how can you keep a councilor at duty when once your folk have discovered that he is incompetent for the task?"
"Councilor Taradaremi's incompetence is harmless. There are eight other Councilors to make up for him, and his assistant does quite well on her own merit. To be honest, it's a popular rumor that she was deliberately planted there to keep him under control. I suspect by Councilor Ixesremi of Culture. She's exactly the sort of no-nonsense woman who would do something like that." Gossip about the Councilors? A-ok. Just don't talk about trying to get rid of one, or anything else that could possibly be interpreted as inciting rebellion.
Risatri sits up and listens intently. When Enca brings up her and Nico's most recent molt, she reaches into a pocket on the side of her dress and retrieves a small codex. Unlike the books of modern Earth, the pages fold like an accordion instead of being nestled within each other. A brush wrapped in oiled cloth is retrieved from the same pocket, and a vial is plucked from inside the wooden case. Once opened, it apparently contains a deep red ink.elemtilas wrote:"The Moult? You are really interested in our wingfeathers? Sure I can tell you!"
"Well, let me start when a child is born. We're born with very small wings, much shorter than our arms, and these are covered with a soft whitish fuzz, more like a rabbit's fur than any kind of Daine hair or feathers. By the time the baby has maybe six months or so, the fuzz becomes tiny downy feathers. These downy feathers will remain on the child's wings for a few years."
[A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER REALLY COOL STUFF]
She starts scribbling fiercely, making notes in a fast, simple shorthand that all too quickly turns into chaos as she simultaneously tries to write down what Enca says and sketch out what her wing looks like. More than a little bit of ink splatters in a particularly inconvenient way and has to be worked around. The same thing happens when Enca brings out the two different kinds of combs, and yet again when she demonstrates 'punching' with the joint of the wing. The sketch for the last one has a theoretical depiction of what those spikes might look like.
Look this is fascinating stuff okay? It totally makes sense that Risatri would get a little overenthusiastic about getting everything recorded and try to do too much at once.
There's probably something she can say here that is professional and calm, yet also gets across just how much she's interested in hearing more. Unfortunately, "How strong are your wings? Can you lift things with them? Can I touch them?" are all just more questions. And the last one is probably a little creepy, too.