Contemplating Calm
Morning in Ripa Daneo and Gata Nahaki dawned with blue skies above, and a bit of mist filling the gorge between the two cities. The very air felt full of anticipation, not of excitement, but of relaxation.
In Freelancers Villa, Fine Branch was oblivious to it, as they absolutely slept in. When Daystar's light filled the atrium, they moved there to sleep in the warmth. Separately, that is also what Tuala did. Perhaps it's a nekomata thing.
The monks of Tranquil Crossing monastery sent a largish delegation to the Ripa Daneo Temple of Serenity, to demonstrate and lead others in tai chi. Tai, Auala, and Eirdrimme attended this event, and participated. After, Tai visited his son Turoa, whom the Temple insisted on hosting. After a conversation that was perhaps not as Calm as the holiday called for, Tai spent some time sitting on the Temple's overlook meditating.
A bit to the east of that on the Rim, Dryali went hang gliding–after the day was old enough to sport a light breeze. He'd finally mastered the hang glider and the solitude plus the views were amazing, and the hang glider needed just enough attention to prevent him from getting too introspective.
The mountainous part to the south and east of Ripa Daneo was fairly wild, and Kaelani decided to go on a solo hike there, reconnecting with nature. Ondar and Terrance also went hiking, a slow hike with a group of others from Ripa Daneo.
By this time of day the tea ceremonies had started. The most fascinating of these were the public ceremonies held on various bridges across the Gorge. Even the shrine to Rohe held one, although the most elaborate ceremony was on the highest bridge, between the Garuda of Ripa Daneo and the Pteroti of Gata Nahaki. Glesni went to the one on the bridge with the shrine, but was distracted by the pageantry and formalism of the tea ceremony on the upper bridge.
Cathance and Ana had their own idea of tea, hosting a tea in their room just for small people, with tiny cakes and crumpets and all sorts of delicious treats. Naranjos, Errich, and Alvyn visited and took tea, as did the Murnig brothers, the Pastoral gnome stablemasters. Some even returned for seconds; the cakes and crumpets were very delicious.