It's a pleasant luncheon in the back green, still winter gray, of Vitalis' residence in the City. The weather is brisk, cold - lingering winter chill held in abeyance by pot-bellied iron stoves and a crackling bonfire. An 'Arxpedition' he's called it, welcoming friends and family and trusted associates to enjoy food and comeraderie as they either have, or might, were they out Exploring.

On the thirteenth day of the month and at the thirteenth hour, the luncheon becomes something else. With brandies and pipes, mugs of cider or tea and amaretto, Vitalis gathers everyone at the bonfire. With a brand from the fire, Vitalis lights thirteen candles in glass shelters. There are objects at his feet, his things, gathered on travels or significant in some way. Some look utterly mundane. He stands there, back to the crackling flames, his voice pitched into is deeper registers and welcomes everyone, "My blood," he nods to family, "My friends and allies," he nods to the others. "Thank you for coming."

He lifts his hands, palms up, voice resonant, with the cadence of ritual: "Primum is the stuff of life itself. Our links to it have been tainted for centuries. You are here to bear witness to my attempt to cleanse my own connection through sacrifice and the sharing of my hopes for the future. Think on what you witness. Give thought to what you would like to see come to pass and share your vision with others so that eventually Primum will be ours once again." A log on the bonfire shifts abruptly, embers exploding upward. Flames lick hungrily over fresh wood. He grins, lopsided, at the bit of added theater as he shrugs out from under the signature snarling pelt he wears draped over his shoulders.

"First. Respect for bravery." Vitalis' brow furrows, "Not mine... hers." He tosses the pelt as carefully as he might into the fire. It will not smell good. "She fought hard defending her own-" He rubs absently at his chest and, then, seems to realize this will take hours if he doesn't move along. "-and deserves rest."

"Vigilance for influences from without-" he slips a mirrored bracelet off, it winks in the firelight, "-and within." On to the fire it goes.

"Curiosity that leads to deeper understanding," a page with angular doodles on it goes into the flame quickly becoming ash.

"Curiosity that leads to hope," he tosses in a strange dried leaf with long blade-like fronds woven cleverly together.

"Curiosity that leads to trust," he grins and tosses a bit of bark onto the flame.

"Love-" represented by a carrot, of course. What else? "-for our friends, wherever we find them." He tosses it in, looking ruefully at everyone, "This is probably the only thing I'll add to the fire that will smell good, my apologies."

"Love for our families - the ones we're born to," he holds up an iris bulb, it looks like an onion, but sadly for the growing pool of scents, is not, "-and the ones we make."

"Moments of joy and simple beauty to lift flagging spirits," said simply, the rattling frame and paper of a brightly painted kite added to the flames, its cheer devoured, crackling.

"Music as a path to resonance, if not harmony, in connecting with those dissimilar," he stoops to flick open the latches of his lute case, running hands along the strings one last time before an old friend goes onto the fire with the rest.

"Dedication to our oaths and our passions freely chosen," his voice is loud, bright, carrying, and this is followed with a tuft of fur fetched from his coat pocket, rolled between fingers to make a thin strand and tossed.

"Passion, for the strength we learn despite our vulnerabilities-" a small leather folio, bearing comb, trimmers, and straight-razor, "-or, rather, because of them."

"Sacrifice, when it is called for." He collects himself a bit and holds up a charm that any who know him recognize it as the one clipped to his belt since Valerio's death. He swallows and adds it to the fire, lips moving silently.

"And above all... purpose." He slips Enigma from its stays at his hip. The whip's slivery coils gleam in the firelight. "Strange familiar echoes brought this weapon to me. Whispers from the Dream?" He shrugs, head shaking, "If you hand me an alaricite blade tomorrow, I'll never hold a weapon more suited to me than this one. We are woven together and without it... I will be less." His lips flatten as he looks hard at it, "It represents no more and no less than my purpose in life - the ones before, this one, and the ones to come." He pauses a moment, silent farewell, "For the Dream." He turns towards the bonfire and with both hands tosses the whip in.

And waits.

This is going to be a lot of Apollo standing and watching awkwardly. He doesn't have the background to understand what is going on or why, nor the composure to paper over that fact. What he does have? Is just enough charm to come off more "rituals, am I right?" than a total head case.

Dressed in Ashford colors and leather armor, Rhiannon shows up at the party. She is often out of the way, not what you'd call exceptionally social. But she listens, she observes and she witnesses. Her lips curve a little at the bark and then her eyes go to the fire to watch quietly. She makes note of each one, registering the significance and the sacrifice.

Food and drink are fine lures but Juniper attends in support of their host. With warm eyes and the force of her smile, she silently cheers him through every item cast into the fire, and commiserates with every hesitation. It might seem a difficult thing, to pour support and reassurance into the act of remaining quiet, remaining still, but she's a courtier of no little skill-- and an enthusiastic friend, at that. When Vitalis has finished, and waits, she cups a hand over her heart. Maybe a prayer's said but if so it too is silent.

Fianna is present and dressed in Stormwall's colors as she stands in quiet support of Vitalis' ritual. She watches as each item is given to the fire and smiles faintly at the offering of a carrot in particular. Not because it's the only thing that smells good being burned but because of what is represents as part of the ritual. She watches with curious eyes as Vitalis speaks and can't help the hitch in her breath for that last sacrifice made to the fire. As she exhales a quiet breath, she waits with the everyone else once Vitalis stops speaking.

The Nilanzan Seneschal is not much for Arxpeditions or snow. But friends and amaretto tea? Those she loves. She is a silent observer to the ritual, but the expression that begins curious changes to encouraging as Vitalis's sacrifices grow - and ends dazed by the time Enigma ends on the pyre.

Maja .. doesn't really know what the heck is going on. She doesn't know much about anything! So she's here watching in wide-eyed confusion. Ritual? To cleanse .. whatnow? To say that her mind is being blown is an understatement but she does her best to be silent and keep it together. Hooooboy.

Antea will be attending this 'housewarming' and all it entails. While there, she will observe a ritual of cleansing at the bonfire as Vitalis undertakes it. She is non-participatory, only there to observe and learn.

On the thirteenth day, in the thirteenth hour, Vitalis gathers his friends to perform a rite of cleansing. He lifts his hands, palms up, voice resonant, with the cadence of ritual: "Primum is the stuff of life itself. Our links to it have been tainted for centuries. You are here to bear witness to my attempt to cleanse my own connection through sacrifice and the sharing of my hopes for the future. Think on what you witness. Give thought to what you would like to see come to pass and share your vision with others so that eventually Primum will be ours once again."

And then he begins his sacrifices. Things small and large, mementos and memories. He lists bravery, and vigilance. Curiosity, understanding, hope, trust, love... twelve different things that he would see woven into the dream, and the fire stays steady as it consumes each offering.

And then he holds up a silver whip. "And above all... purpose." He slips Enigma from its stays at his hip. The whip's slivery coils gleam in the firelight. "Strange familiar echoes brought this weapon to me. Whispers from the Dream?" He shrugs, head shaking, "If you hand me an alaricite blade tomorrow, I'll never hold a weapon more suited to me than this one. We are woven together and without it... I will be less." His lips flatten as he looks hard at it, "It represents no more and no less than my purpose in life - the ones before, this one, and the ones to come." He pauses a moment, silent farewell, "For the Dream." He turns towards the bonfire and with both hands tosses the whip in.

Now the fire flares, and for a moment it is as though the fire whips out and lashes each of them in turn - and yet they are not burned. No, instead they are inspired, their hearts burning brightly with the feeling of the future - incipient, coming toward them faster than they can know, and suddenly with that whip-like feeling they know that the primum is closer to being cleansed than ever. That their actions have meaning. That whatever their purpose is, they are moving ever forward, relentlessly seeking a better future for all.

And then a voice echoes in the room, a strange voice with a foreign accent, sounding dry and dusty from disuse. "What spurs change onward, yet never changes itself?"

The question hangs in the air, and then the fire gutters and is out, the ritual complete.

Domonico will be drawing up a series of exercises, from moving as a fleet, to rapid changes in fleet formations and a few 'friendly' competitions (short races and chases etc).
Before commencing the exercises, Domonico will gathering the various fleet commanders and captains, getting to to know them and allowing them to meet each other before briefing them on the various exercises.
The actual training will take place in Lycene waters and Domonico will be focussed on getting the best he can out of the ships under his command, allowing the individual fleet leaders leeway to make decisions but still directing them to work as a whole, united fleet. He'll be running his command from the flagship of the Malvici fleet, the brand new, top of the range dromond Sea Hawk (named for Francisco Malvici), which is armed with siege weapons in the form of light catapults and ballista.

Under advisement from Admiral Alric, Ari will bring the Pravus fleet of Galleys he commands, those under the Black Fleet, in a spirit of full cooperation with the grand Lycene fleet that Commodore Domonico is attempting to put together. His daughter having the role she does, he'll gladly help.

Aahana brings the ships that House Volkov has available to the training exercises. While nominally in command of the ships she is leaving the operating of them to the captains, giving them instructions to fully co operate with the instructions and orders from Domonico.

What Aahana will be focussing on in particular will be making sure these exercises and war games are viewed in the best possible light. She'll cite the benefits in improved relationships between the City-States of the Lyceum and even further afield (with observers from other fealties), the improved efficiency that united fleets will have in defending the Compact and the benefits of learning from experienced naval commanders.

Miranda is going to be staged upon Domonico's ship, wherever he is. She will be observing as representative of Rubino-Zaffria to help Lysander organize their own Navy if it should be needed. In addition, she will be assisting Santi with combat techniques for boarding parties and close up combat.

As Domonico's protegee and the commander of the Saik military forces, Neilda brings the humble and yet proud collection of the Saikland's naval might. She attempts to learn the identities of and get on with her new comrades as much as she can (for it is planned by her mentor, and she is a dedicated student), and in turn learn all she can about warfare from them.

The Malespero fleet joins the exercises - and Beatrice joins in person as Domonico's Special Advisor. Combining her management expertise with Lycene personability, she knows how to create an environment in which large, diverse, complex teams of people work together to create success.

Beatrice becomes one of Domonico's fixers. She plans, recommends strategy, and anticipates problems while liaising with and mentoring junior officers to mediate disputes among and within the fleets. She focuses on ensuring the engagement has established a communication structure for the House fleets that gets leadership the information it needs to make sound decisions without choking the effort with unnecessary bureaucracy.

And she does it while wearing a really fancy hat.

The Fleet of Caith may not be very large but Armani Gilden knows her way around a ship and has been convinced to join the exercise, if nothing else to determine if Domonico can walk the talk.

One of these participants is not like the others.
Regardless, that's not going to stop Jasher from politely introducing himself and taking part as a guest participant and observer. He hasn't brought ships, but he's brought himself and a handful of fellow Thraxian sailors to participate alongside Santi in boarding actions, personal combat, other such things that require getting hands dirty, and overall work alongside people who aren't Thraxians while getting to know something of their quirks.
It builds teamwork and it's educational!

Determine to put his own fleet to the test, Admiral Alrec Magaldi joins Commandore Ari Corsetina showcasing the Pravus galley fleet and commanding the fleet to absorb as much as they could and to dedicate time to cross-training with the other houses so that they could work together better.

Aisha is going to have the Invernos take part in Dompnico's training. She herself does not take part in the training but she does lead the Inverno troops and such by direction.

General of Gemecitta's Armies, Duke Consort, and Voice of Gemecitta.... are very large titles for a former Grayson Prince, but, that doesn't mean he's sitting on his laurels. He commits Gemecitta's fleet - which despite being land locked they have some ships! - to partake in these exercises. Practice sessions are extremely important and the last major conflicts of the darkwater certainly reduced the number of capable sailors - new ones need to be trained. When Domonico approached Aiden upon these competitions, Aiden immediately stood behind the idea. He knows the merit of military drills and learning strategies that cannot be taught any other way than doing. He voices his approval and will send the Commande of the Navy and all captains besides, to attend. It's not a request, it is an expectation. Besides, they'll get paid for it.

Santi is there for when things get bloody. He will be spearheading training in personal combat; boarding actions/repelling boarders, marine landings and the like - with a specific eye towards the unique complications that come with fighting on ship: confined spaces, fewer options for protective equipment or cover, using the environment to your advantage (AKA When in doubt, kick 'em overboard), and how to disable a ship by targetting specific lines or rigging.

While Valenzo is no longer a Southport navy man, he's always glad to answer the call! The Tasty Terrapin is a fast and agile little ship, perfect for exactly these kinds of exercises -- and her Captain will use all of his impressive sailing skill to keep his ship on the move as the fleets try and catch her, with his rough and tumble crew more than happy to join in on the mock-combat training for those who manage to board.

Assisting her fellow Malvici, Caelis will bring down a few of her ships from the Valardin Navy to assist in her cousin's training endeavor.

A touch of the exotic is brought to the fleet's maneuvers: longships flying the colours of the Truesworn arrive to take part. Their crews seem eager to learn all they can, and are happy to share the insights gained while serving aboard their distinctly un-Lycene vessels.

Waldemai will be bringing his tools along on Domonico's adventure and patching up any difficulties with armor among the members of the party and putting new edges on everyone's weapons as the lulls in battle permit. He also has his battle hammer and his own armor along just in case.

At Lord Domonico's request. Dariel has organised a feast to be held after the conclusion of the exercise. Which is lucky because Dariel certainly doesn't have any naval skills he could possibly contribute. After checking that the feast is actually to be held on dry land Dariel organises enough fine food to feed a navy, sufficent entertainment and plenty of alcohol for all. Dariel spends his time making sure everyone is enjoying themselves after a hard time at sea. He plys people with drink, food and company so they make the most of it.

He'll be learning from the others on board. Having recently come back to the city, he wants to support his brother's work so will be staying with the fleet. He'll be learning from others and meeting the other Captains and Admirals around. Helping in part with some logistics to support the navigation on-board with his brother.

Lord Domonico Malvici's naval exercises go much better than one would reasonably expect, with so many different navies with different traditions participating. There's a surprising lack of conflict between the different proud navies, with no altercations that one might expect from blows to pride as one navy or another scores victories in the drills, and it goes frankly suspiciously well. Most of the navies involved expected -something- to go wrong, but near as they can tell, nothing did, and all show enhanced readiness. It's disquieting to some when absolutely nothing goes wrong.