<strong>Location:</strong>Middle of Marukan<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Everyone and anyone<br/><br/>Miri laughs outright at the memory.  "My brother was always trying to out-eat you at those gatherings," she says, dismounting.  "He didn't manage to break your record until years later..."<br/><br/>At Chorgath's question, though, her expression sobers somewhat.  "You've got a motley crew with you tonight," Miri observes pointedly, looking back to Sanger.  "Do you vouch for them?"<br/><br/>[...]<br/><br/>Two of the veterans dismount at Miri's order, and she bids the sergeant with the banner to report back the all clear.  "It's a long story," she finally says, heaving a sigh.  "But we've got time.  Make yourselves comfortable."<br/><br/>And, when everyone who cares to listen is properly arranged, Miri uncaps her waterskin, takes a long drink, and wipes her mouth before setting it to the side.  "The news is out almost everywhere nowadays, so there's no harm in telling you this much anyway," the Marukani leftenant says, working up a good ramble.  "It's been recently discovered that Lookshy's been working on a new project -- a skyship, something that could humble every other flying vessel they have.  And that they've been working on it for more than fifty years, alongside all of the other work they've been doing.<br/><br/>"Three years ago," she continues, gesturing broadly, "some clever asshole found out that the production of this skyship was being facilitated by goddamn Witches, of all things, and the Gens go absolutely apeshit.  Start seeing Witches everywhere.  Start blaming Witches for the Drowning of Nexus.  Start blaming the Witches for Thorns, the Solar Chosen in the Hundred Kingdoms, pretty much anything that can be blamed starts getting blamed.  Start mounting Wyld Hunts to the exclusion of other things, pulling out of farther-away places.  Start letting contracts lapse, or start renegotiating them higher.  Start to get mouthy at the Council of Rivers.  And it's just gotten worse and worse over the past several months."<br/><br/>Another gulp from her waterskin.  "Why did we follow you?"  Miri asks, smirking.  "We were here to make sure you weren't going to be burning any villages full of Moonchildren on the way back."