Times: SLT
Locations: Morning gathering with Kael, city streets, Turmus Theater, and festival gathering areas.
Summary: The day began with a hug and blackwine with Kael, followed by conversation about faith, our courtship, and the coming Companionship Ceremony. The class calendar board displayed the corrected November titles. The festival continued with the Girl Chase and an afternoon Game of Favors, with plenty of excitement, friendly teasing, and a few uncertainties over the rules.
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Morning Blackwine and Conversation with Kael — 6:07–6:34 a.m.
Kael greeted me with a warm hug, and I told him how good it was to see him. I offered blackwine, which he said he needed before beginning his morning. Our conversation wandered from coffee to my summer in Puerto Rico, where I had gone on a mission and stayed with English-speaking people.
We spoke about our faith and education. I told him I had been raised Lutheran, now called myself Christian, and held a BA in Missions and Theology. Kael shared that he was Catholic and a lay member of the Dominican Order. I told him about Eagle Brook Church, its online services, and the series of talks on family and Proverbs. It was a chance to learn more about one another beyond the business and bustle of Turmus.
A morning restart briefly interrupted the surroundings. I joked about the daily Gorquakes during the festivities as the neighboring region disappeared from view.
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Courtship, Clothing, and Ceremony Plans — 6:34–7:06 a.m.
Kael admired the outfit I had helped him find. I told him I had more places to shop and a few Marketplace outfits he might like. We considered making time over the weekend to look together, and I checked that he knew how to save and change outfits in Firestorm.
He asked whether I was enjoying our courting time as much as he was. I told him how much I enjoyed his company and attention, and that I hoped it would continue for a long time. We spoke about the interest others had taken in our courtship and about Ella helping with the decorations.
Kael suggested Selia as a possible officiant. I explained that I preferred Aries. William had performed our previous ceremony, but he was not in this city, and Aries seemed the most practical choice to me. Kael accepted that. We reaffirmed November 19 at 5 p.m. for the ceremony and discussed the possibility of a larger celebration and reception. He also suggested attending any suitable Halloween events together.
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The Trial Behind Us and Plans Ahead — 7:06–7:34 a.m.
Kael said I had handled the trial well despite the unexpected turns. I told him I was glad it was over. I also mentioned that Kelli had said we would talk that week, but the conversation had not yet happened and I had not seen Kelli.
We agreed that we needed a photograph together, both to display at home and to use in our invitation. Kael thought I could use some help with the planning, though Ink was not always available. We spoke briefly about Grace; he said she was not yet his and that any future arrangement remained uncertain. He could use someone to help with his office and flat.
I told him I truly enjoyed our mornings together. He spoke about preparing lesson plans on Justice and Liturgical Prayer, and I said I would enjoy reading them. He offered to upload the material after sending it out.
Before leaving, he encouraged me to relax and avoid taking on more tasks with the ceremony less than three weeks away. I agreed not to add anything. We shared another hug before he went.
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The Class Calendar Board — 7:40 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
The morning board messages first showed the earlier class titles. By 8:40 a.m., the display had refreshed with the corrected November schedule: The Codes of the Warriors, Metalworkers and the Forging of Gorean Weapons, Law on Gor, The Scribes, and Bakers and Butchers. The later display also showed the November 14 class, Magistrates, Courts, and the Hearing of Disputes, together with the December classes. It was useful to see the revised titles appearing on the board.
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A Troubled Arrival in the Morning Record — 9:43–11:09 a.m.
The morning local log also recorded an encounter between Berick Gothly and an armed newcomer, Spira. He called her a panther and demanded that she surrender her weapons and armor. She described herself as unfamiliar with the land and resisted his demands. The exchange escalated: Berick struck her with the blunt end of his sword, bound her, and removed her equipment. Jean later offered to guide him to the Slave House, and he led the newcomer away.
I did not speak or take part in that exchange in the supplied record. Her eventual registration, ownership, and final disposition were not shown.
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Girl Chase at the Theater — 12:35–1:30 p.m.
The Theater became the gathering point for the Girl Chase. Augustus explained the rules, and Ella helped organize the cages and keep count. The runners were given a head start before the hunters went out. Spectators cheered as the captives were brought back, and the number still hiding gradually dwindled.
There was plenty of teasing about the men's hunting skills and the girls' hiding places. Daffodil proved the hardest to find and was the last runner brought in. When the count was complete, Augustus announced Roland Kasimir in first place, Zeeb Al Sahra second, and Lothar Huntsman third. Daffodil won for remaining uncaptured the longest. Ella handed out trophies, and the participants thanked the organizers.
Emily Steele came to stand beside me during the event, carrying a folded newspaper, and asked whether I was new to Turmus. A little later, I remarked that I liked where I lived.
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A Close Obstacle Course Result — 2:06 p.m.
A public announcement described a very close contest between Candi and Daff, with Candi winning by one second. The speaker said prizes would be handed out to the winners and a consolation prize to Daff. The announcement did not provide a complete set of times or placings.
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The Game of Favors — 3:02–3:59 p.m.
Emily set out a box of scarves and explained how the Game of Favors worked. The women were to carry a scarf and persuade free men to accept one. The scoreboard tracked distinct recipients, so the same man could not count twice for a participant. Emily initially announced prizes for the first women to give away ten scarves.
Jessika set off eagerly to find recipients. The task proved harder than expected, with few available men and some apparently suspicious that the offer might be a trick. Emily admitted that organizing an event felt rather different from her usual work as a physician.
The rules remained a subject of discussion. Selia said the game was for the men and that the man with the most scarves would win. Emily's earlier explanation and the scripted scoreboard had instead focused on the women giving them away. Jessika asked whether women could receive scarves too, but Selia had said no. By 3:54 p.m., Jessika's scoreboard showed five distinct recipients. No final winner was announced in the supplied record.
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Clarifying Slave House Ownership and Sales — 4:09–4:19 p.m.
Later conversation turned to a visitor's interest in purchasing slaves. Selia explained that the city Slave House did not sell its slaves to people who lived outside Turmus. Aries clarified that July belonged to him and was not for sale; Melita was city Slave House stock whom he had won the use of through an auction rental; and Daft belonged to the private House Lupus Lacum.
Selia repeated that the city stock was not available for purchase by the visitor and suggested speaking with Jake about the private house. No sale was completed in the supplied record.
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