EVENT: The Eldest accepts Welles as a visitor to Stedding Maotai.
DATE: November 11, 1998
LOGGER: Marith

Small Copse: Forest, Stedding Maotai
	The first thing noticed when entering the copse is the oddly placed well 
sitting right in the middle. The next odd thing that might be discovered are 
the tiny windows placed within several of the mounds, looking down in what 
seems to be some living area. Great Trees, beech, apple and many others, appear 
to surround the area, offering protection against the dangers of the forest.
	Scattered across a dark background is a sparkling delight as a cluster of 
stars greet the night. Soft wisps of moonlight dimly fall on several hills of 
the copse, making them softly glow in natural splendor. The trees seem bare, 
save for the occasional pine, with their missing leaves. Piles upon piles of 
snow litter the ground, covering the Ogier mounds. Paths are cleared so that 
the Ogier may travel back and forth freely to the clearing. A well, worn path 
leads toward the south, heading in the direction of what seems to be a forest 
clearing.
                                                                              
Obvious exits:
Clearing  Guest House  

Welles walks into the residential area, exiting the guest house.

Leading a tired looking nag of a horse into the clearing, Welles pauses, his 
dimunitive form rather outclassed by the animal whose reigns he holds. Pausing 
a moment, he rubs the creature's nose, before speaking, his voice a soft, 
rather hesitant tenor. "Hullo...?" He sounds less than sure of himself.

Apparently one of the Ogier women appears to be passing through this area. She 
pauses, turning her warm brown eyes on the man entering the copse. A tufted 
brow lifts and her ears twitch a little. Finally, after a few moments 
observation, she speaks, "Be welcome to Stedding Maotai." A brief pause ensues, 
"I am Marith, daughter of Paloa daughter of Altar." Another brief pause as she 
regards the man before her, a look of curiosity within her eyes. "Be welcome.'

Welles pats the nose on the horse, the tired brown-coated nag whickering 
lightly. He responds, "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I'm Welles...son of Dilon, 
son of Trenden." He copies her greeting, adding, "I wrote a letter a few months 
back, and received a favorable response, I do hope I'm not intruding?"

The elderly woman's brow furrows a bit, a touch of mild surprise coming to her 
features, "It is not often that we get humans introducing theirselves as we..." 
She comments, as if Welles was something to be studied later. "Your letter was 
received, Welles, son of Dilon son of Treden. And indeed, it was most 
favorable. You are here to study with our scholars, yes?" She does not yet give 
her exact position in the stedding away.

Welles nods his head: the safest thing to do, when unsure of someone's rank, is 
to be exceedingly polite. One learns such things in Cairhien. "Yes, ma'am. 
Especially some of your history, and try to get a grasp on your writing. I read 
of someone who tried to learn it, he said it was most complex, and didn't get 
too far." He shrugs, a boyish smile curving his lips, quite at odds with his 
age, perhaps thirty or so, "That sort of thing fascinates me."

"You will find our language most difficult to understand..." Marith murmurs, 
her voice soft, almost musical. "It is not like Old Tongue, or what you humans 
call commoners talk."

Welles nods, lightly; he considers, "That's what I read. That it's tonal in 
nature..." He trails off, shrugging, "I'd like to try at least, ma'am. The 
letter really didn't say, who should I announce myself to? I don't want to make 
myself unwelcome."

"I am the Eldest of the stedding, son of Dilon son of Trenden. Trust in when I 
say you are welcome within Stedding Maotai." An impish sort of grin appears on 
her furred features, her ears twitching back and forth in an uncanny sort of 
amusement. Old she may be, but she has some sort of humor.

Welles blinks, his blue gaze fading a moment in surprise before it sharpens 
again, "OH! I'm sorry, ma'am, I should have greeted you more profusely. And I 
appreciate the welcome." He's a bit high strung, perhaps, his adam's apple 
bobbing slightly as he speaks, long, thin fingers rising to slide through black 
hair.

A smile quirks upon her lips as the Eldest considers Welles, however she lets 
it slip after a few brief moments, "I do ask, that while you are hear, that you 
follow the ways of the Pact. None are to be harmed here. The stedding are safe 
for all to enjoy. There are other laws, though you'll learn them in time, if 
you are staying long enough to learn our ways."

Welles blinks, "Hurt?" He looks surprised, and shakes his head, "'course not, 
ma'am...I don't even know how to do that sort'o thing. I'm a scholar, not a 
fighter." He nods, lightly, and musters a rather shy smile, "I do appreciate 
the opportunity, ma'am. I'm trying to reconcile the writings of Thern son of 
Leen son of Wenden with some other authors-- his is one of the few books 
written by Ogier at the library in Cairhien. What got me originally interested 
in the topic..." He'll continue on if you let him.

"Indeed....?" A tufted brow lifts at Welles words, the Eldest's head tilting 
just a bit as she regards him, "I'm not certain I'm familiar with those works, 
though I must admit I'm not very well traveled." A faint pause, brief in Ogier 
terms really, "However I do feel it my duty to warn you now. You humans are 
hasty creatures, and we've just begun opening the stedding to more people here. 
I will not kid you when telling you that others were most displeased with our 
decision to do as Stedding Tsofu does and invite others to study."

This brings a slight moue of consideration from Welles; he nods at the female's 
words, speaking seriously now, "I suppose I can see that, ma'am. I'll do my 
best to insure that the decision's seen as a good one, at least due to my 
actions. And Thern wrote mostly in regards to the time just after the 
Breaking." He shrugs, lightly,

Marith shifts slightly at that mentioning, though she nods faintly, "Indeed..." 
She murmurs once more. "If you'd like I can show you to the guest house and 
make certain that you are taken care of."

Welles's lips curve, and he smiles, "I'd appreciate that a lot, ma'am."

Marith inclines her head a bit, "Please follow me then..." She starts to take 
up the path she was following, no doubt checking on the other visitors within 
the Stedding. She opens the largish door, then enters inside, holding it open 
for Welles.