"Ayve been saven this fer ye, dunna know ef ye'll need it, since naught all Druids do, bought, seein as ye've come into yer power, an' my teach'r gave me unne when I became a Druid, I though, ye should 'ave one, too." Beaming with pride, she hands him a well made spell component pouch, filled with spell components.
Jorun accepts the pouch solemnly, although it is hard not to see the swell of pride in his own bearing.
Mel leans against Alaric and gives her cat a dirty look, more properly.
Zaiobe quietly moves throughout the group, casually touching everyone once.
The Prince hears her quiet comment, and the already extant interest in his gaze upon her flares to a a high level. "Indeed, if you have a favorite bow, bring it tonight. We shall provide the arrows. And if any of you have a favored mount, bring that, too. The Three Games of Hongal are mounted archery, bareback riding, and wrestling. And I am," he says, still speaking directly to Myriana, "Most eager to see how you perform."
Alaric already looks miserable.
The Prince hears her quiet comment, and the already extant interest in his gaze upon her flares to a a high level. "Indeed, if you have a favorite bow, bring it tonight. We shall provide the arrows. And if any of you have a favored mount, bring that, too. The Three Games of Hongal are mounted archery, bareback riding, and wrestling. And I am," he says, still speaking directly to Myriana, "Most eager to see how you perform."
Lio's expression gets stony. She glances at Jorun. Then Zaiobe touches her, and Lio's face turns toward her feathered friend.
The Prince hears her quiet comment, and the already extant interest in his gaze upon her flares to a a high level. "Indeed, if you have a favorite bow, bring it tonight. We shall provide the arrows. And if any of you have a favored mount, bring that, too. The Three Games of Hongal are mounted archery, bareback riding, and wrestling. And I am," he says, still speaking directly to Myriana, "Most eager to see how you perform."Alaric already looks miserable.
Kalimac shrugs. "A shame jousting isn't included in that list."
Sandru raises his eyebrows. "All right. What about?"
"He has advanced en 'is training, so that 'e is at 'e point where I was when I first joined 'e caravan. I ken et would do 'im good if he could be exposed to nature more. I don't know if we can juggle it, but I wanted to ask if ye would make him a scout."
"Thank you, teacher," he says as he accepts them. "I shall try to be ... to be worthy of what you have taught me."
"You already are." She smiles.
Lio's expression gets stony. She glances at Jorun. Then Zaiobe touches her, and Lio's face turns toward her feathered friend.
Zaiobe looks a bit stunned after speaking with Lio.
The Prince hears her quiet comment, and the already extant interest in his gaze upon her flares to a a high level. "Indeed, if you have a favorite bow, bring it tonight. We shall provide the arrows. And if any of you have a favored mount, bring that, too. The Three Games of Hongal are mounted archery, bareback riding, and wrestling. And I am," he says, still speaking directly to Myriana, "Most eager to see how you perform."
He claps his hands and a horde of servants rush towards you. "Now show them to their rooms! Bring them anything they wish!"
"Refresh yourselves, partake of our famous heated bathing pools if you like! In two hour's time, we shall begin the Feast of Three!
Kalimac sets out to wash off several months of the road from him. He also takes Attatoq and brushes him quite thoroughly. If they're to compete in bareback riding or mounted archery, Kalimac is intent on Attatoq being fully presentable to the court.
You are swiftly chivvied to your rooms by the horde of servants. The rooms you are shown to are luxurious, with goose feather beds, warm fireplaces, access to steaming baths ... and endless assistants to pamper you.
It is quickly made clear to you that you have free rein to explore anywhere in both the large and rambling Palace and, whenever you are not called upon to attend a feast, the town. It also quickly becomes apparent that it will be extremely difficult to go anywhere outside your rooms, be it in the Palace or in the town, without at least half a dozen people appearing around you to help - servants, guides, guards, and other people with no readily apparent function.
With almost disturbing enthusiasm, there are people around to fetch you food, fetch you drinks, fetch you towels, scrub your back, brush your animals, guard you from danger, give you a massage, play music for you, point out interesting architecture, and, it is strongly implied, most likely whatever else your imagination can dream up, hovering outside your doors, waiting upon your word.
You do not think, after seeing how they react to you, that they are there to spy upon you. Their purpose genuinely seems to be to provide you with whatever you might wish.
Alaric cleans up and spends some time looking in the mirror, considering whether to lose the winter beard. He settles on trimming it back from escaped mental patient territory.
Kalimac shrugs. "A shame jousting isn't included in that list."The Prince hears her quiet comment, and the already extant interest in his gaze upon her flares to a a high level. "Indeed, if you have a favorite bow, bring it tonight. We shall provide the arrows. And if any of you have a favored mount, bring that, too. The Three Games of Hongal are mounted archery, bareback riding, and wrestling. And I am," he says, still speaking directly to Myriana, "Most eager to see how you perform."Alaric already looks miserable.
Mel leans up and kisses Alaric's cheek, "You could always ride Rags or Colonel Fuzzlestumps."
Mel leans up and kisses Alaric's cheek, "You could always ride Rags or Colonel Fuzzlestumps."
"Oh ei. Ei kavatse langeda mu tagumik selle parasiidi voolimispastad. Ma kaotanud vibulaskmine konkurentsi, tänan teid väga."
Alaric cleans up and spends some time looking in the mirror, considering whether to lose the winter beard. He settles on trimming it back from escaped mental patient territory.
After he steps away from the mirror, a much cleaner if uncomfortable looking Melinda comes up. She runs her hand down his bearded cheek with a smile. "Not fair."
After he steps away from the mirror, a much cleaner if uncomfortable looking Melinda comes up. She runs her hand down his bearded cheek with a smile. "Not fair."
"You like the beard, huh?" Alaric gives her a peck. "Sit down and let me rub your feet. These people keep offering massages, but... I don't like the way they keep asking about something called 快樂的結局."
Kalimac sets out to wash off several months of the road from him. He also takes Attatoq and brushes him quite thoroughly. If they're to compete in bareback riding or mounted archery, Kalimac is intent on Attatoq being fully presentable to the court.
"You like the beard, huh?" Alaric gives her a peck. "Sit down and let me rub your feet. These people keep offering massages, but... I don't like the way they keep asking about something called 快樂的結局."
"I like you. Wild man beard, hipster beard, or none." She does move over to the chair however, thrilled with the idea of Alaric rubbing her feet. As she settles into the chair, however, "快樂的結局? What does 快樂的結局 have to do with a massage?"
"I like you. Wild man beard, hipster beard, or none." She does move over to the chair however, thrilled with the idea of Alaric rubbing her feet. As she settles into the chair, however, "快樂的結局? What does 快樂的結局 have to do with a massage?"
"No idea. They're probably quacks anyway," he mutters. Since everyone who is not him is a quack.
"No idea. They're probably quacks anyway," he mutters. Since everyone who is not him is a quack.
Mel melts. By the time they are expected to go down to the festivities, there is a very happy, content Mel-shaped goo. And, unless someone objects, she will be attending said festivities bare-foot.
Bare-foot and pregnant.
"So ..." Ameiko says, after walking up and watching you brush the wolf for a short while. "Town looks interesting ..."
Kalimac grins his infectious grin. "Absolutely fascinating, I'd say."
He pauses in his brushing and appraises his handiwork. "You, my friend, are a very handsome wolf. I think you are ready to dazzle the court." He gives Attatoq a loving scratch behind the ears.
Putting away Attatoq's brush, Kalimac turns back to Ameiko. "So, would you like to do some exploring?"
Kalimac grins his infectious grin. "Absolutely fascinating, I'd say."
He pauses in his brushing and appraises his handiwork. "You, my friend, are a very handsome wolf. I think you are ready to dazzle the court." He gives Attatoq a loving scratch behind the ears.
Putting away Attatoq's brush, Kalimac turns back to Ameiko. "So, would you like to do some exploring?"
"Yes. Sure. Um. I was, uh, wondering if ..."
She looks around at the massed array of eager helpers surrounding you and switches to Halfling.
"See on olnud seitse kuud, sest meie esimene kohting ... Võibolla, võib-olla teine võib olla, et?"
("It's been seven months since our first date ... Perhaps, perhaps a second one might be in order?")
Rhost sits down in one of those heated baths, and promptly goes to sleep.
With almost disturbing enthusiasm, there are people around to fetch you food, fetch you drinks, fetch you towels, scrub your back, brush your animals, guard you from danger, give you a massage, play music for you, point out interesting architecture, and, it is strongly implied, most likely whatever else your imagination can dream up, hovering outside your doors, waiting upon your word.
You do not think, after seeing how they react to you, that they are there to spy upon you. Their purpose genuinely seems to be to provide you with whatever you might wish.
Lio begins to quietly have a nervous breakdown at the overwhelming attention and people who are trying to touch her. If anyone goes near her or Jorun and doesn't listen when she politely request they not do that, she will resort to magic to make herself better understood.
The Prince hears her quiet comment, and the already extant interest in his gaze upon her flares to a a high level. "Indeed, if you have a favorite bow, bring it tonight. We shall provide the arrows. And if any of you have a favored mount, bring that, too. The Three Games of Hongal are mounted archery, bareback riding, and wrestling. And I am," he says, still speaking directly to Myriana, "Most eager to see how you perform."
Myriana's eyes look demurely slightly down and to one side of the Prince. Perhaps there is just the shade of a blush in her cheeks. "The chance to test my skill with a bow?" she looks up and meets his gaze, "I am very much looking forward to it. The chance to do so while mounted?" her eyebrows rise as she chuckles softly, "I shall do my best not to injure anyone...including myself."
He claps his hands and a horde of servants rush towards you. "Now show them to their rooms! Bring them anything they wish!"
"Refresh yourselves, partake of our famous heated bathing pools if you like! In two hour's time, we shall begin the Feast of Three!"
"Hmmm, bath." Myri's eyes get something of a dreamy quality about them, staring into something unseen as her lower lip moves across her upper teeth. It seems she is looking forward to being in a city again after all. Her eyes come back into focus as she looks around for Buttersnips, scanning everyone in the caravan. As her eyes alight on the quickling she raises her eyebrows again as she repeats, "bath?"
and again, Perception dc29:
Lio begins to quietly have a nervous breakdown at the overwhelming attention and people who are trying to touch her. If anyone goes near her or Jorun and doesn't listen when she politely request they not do that, she will resort to magic to make herself better understood.
Perception to notice:
Sense Motive to understand:Upon noticing Lio's distress, Myri removes herself from the bath...or whatever else she is doing and moves to shield Lio from the unwanted attention. "Please, could we be alone for awhile?" Myri appoints herself something of a guardian if need be to keep any fawning servants away from the couple until she feels it is necessary to get ready for the competition.
"Yes. Sure. Um. I was, uh, wondering if ..."
She looks around at the massed array of eager helpers surrounding you and switches to Halfling.
"See on olnud seitse kuud, sest meie esimene kohting ... Võibolla, võib-olla teine võib olla, et?"
("It's been seven months since our first date ... Perhaps, perhaps a second one might be in order?")
Kalimac quickly does the sums on his fingers to confirm that it has really been seven months.
He replies in Halfling, "Ma arvan, et teil on õigus. Meie teine kuupäev on ammu möödas. Kui me läheme seda õigesti teha--ja ma tahan seda teha küll--täna on commandeered poolt prints. Homme öösel?"
("I think you're right. A second date is long overdue. If we're going to do it right--and I want to do it right--tonight has been commandeered by the prince. Tomorrow night?")
<No, no,> she says quickly, <He said, 'each guest shall participate in one of the Three Games of Hongal'. I swear that's what he said.>
Sandru nods. "All right. I'll take a look at the roster, see if it might be possible to switch some jobs around. Can't promise, but I will if I can."
"That's all thot Aye kann ask fer. Thank ye. Though... ef 'e salary es an issue... 'e diff'rence en pay can come frum me, since 'es most laikely goen ta replace summaunne who wassna getten paid. Bought I'd ask ye ta keep thot between us, so he dunna ken I'm geven 'im summa kind o' special treatm'nt."
"Ayve been saven this fer ye, dunna know ef ye'll need it, since naught all Druids do, bought, seein as ye've come into yer power, an' my teach'r gave me unne when I became a Druid, I though, ye should 'ave one, too." Beaming with pride, she hands him a well made spell component pouch, filled with spell components.Jorun accepts the pouch solemnly, although it is hard not to see the swell of pride in his own bearing.
Lio restrains herself from ruffling his hair or giving in to any other signs of motherly-like affection towards her young former apprentice. The proud smile she wears though, is quite clear for all to see.
While Hrunndalf urgently needs to buy a headband to unlock his spellcasting potential, he needs a bath to scrub off seven months of hardships even more urgently.
"That's all thot Aye kann ask fer. Thank ye. Though... ef 'e salary es an issue... 'e diff'rence en pay can come frum me, since 'es most laikely goen ta replace summaunne who wassna getten paid. Bought I'd ask ye ta keep thot between us, so he dunna ken I'm geven 'im summa kind o' special treatm'nt."
He nods. "If it needs to work out that way, I'll keep it quiet."
Kalimac quickly does the sums on his fingers to confirm that it has really been seven months.
He replies in Halfling, "Ma arvan, et teil on õigus. Meie teine kuupäev on ammu möödas. Kui me läheme seda õigesti teha--ja ma tahan seda teha küll--täna on commandeered poolt prints. Homme öösel?"
("I think you're right. A second date is long overdue. If we're going to do it right--and I want to do it right--tonight has been commandeered by the prince. Tomorrow night?")
"Ma arvan, et meil peol igal õhtul järgmiseks. See võib olla kas päevasel asi või hilisõhtul asi."
("I think we've got feasts every night for the next five. This may need to be either a daytime thing or a late-night thing.")
Lio begins to quietly have a nervous breakdown at the overwhelming attention and people who are trying to touch her. If anyone goes near her or Jorun and doesn't listen when she politely request they not do that, she will resort to magic to make herself better understood.
Upon noticing Lio's distress, Myri removes herself from the bath...or whatever else she is doing and moves to shield Lio from the unwanted attention. "Please, could we be alone for awhile?" Myri appoints herself something of a guardian if need be to keep any fawning servants away from the couple until she feels it is necessary to get ready for the competition.
Simply asking the various people to leave them alone seems to have no effect whatsoever. All of them continue to insist that there must be something they can do, some way they can help, or say that they are required to be there to guard you or look after you.
"Annwyl?" Shalelu says, very quietly. "Beth allaf ei wneud i helpu? Y dylem eu cymryd Jorun i'n ystafell, lle gall y tri ohonom yn siarad yn unig am dipyn?"
"Hmmm, bath." Myri's eyes get something of a dreamy quality about them, staring into something unseen as her lower lip moves across her upper teeth. It seems she is looking forward to being in a city again after all. Her eyes come back into focus as she looks around for Buttersnips, scanning everyone in the caravan. As her eyes alight on the quickling she raises her eyebrows again as she repeats, "bath?"
The stormclouds that had for some reason been gathering in the quickling's eyes vanish, and she nods enthusiastically.
When you return to the Courtyard, tables have been laid out for an elaborate feast on one side, and a huge area has been cleared for the games on another. There are over 300 guests, including among their number Prince Batsaikhar's wives, courtiers, concubines, subjects, and servants. As the honored royal guests, however, you are seated at the table with the Prince. He insists that Myriana sit at his right hand.
Buttersnips' eyes darken.
The Prince has asked his chefs to create the finest meal possible from only the rarest and most luxurious foods imaginable. The food served tonight includes: spicy duck heads, ox forehead, turtle casserole, pigeon brains, fried chicken feet, and "tiger, dragon, and phoenix soup" (made with cat, snake, and chicken meat). He once again asks you to regale him with stories of your travels.
He frequently suggests delicacies for Myriana to try, and makes sure that she gets the choicest selection of every dish.
Buttersnips' eyes darken further.
During the feast, the Prince's Royal Guards perform an exhibition of the Three Games of Hongal. You are all, of course, asked to participate, and demonstrate the skills of and talents of far lands.
Mounted Archery:
Bareback Riding:
Wrestling:
As Hrunndalf partakes of the feast and contributes to the narration, he tries to get a feeling for whether or not magical bolstering (by one's own means) would be considered cheating in the wrestling contests.
Alaric participates in the mounted archery contest, but does not bother to try.
Throughout the feast, he barely touches his foot and is just short of being actively rude to the prince.
Melinda sits next Alaric during the feast. If her smile is a little more real to the people working the feast, she is still happily polite to everyone else. The picture of a happy wife, close to her mate.
Noticing that she doesn't actually partake in any of the food that is but before is easier to miss.
Lio sense motive
Do they speak in Hongali around us at all? If so does their conversation give any hint as to the source of their worry?
As the ebb and flow of people continue even while Alaric pampers her, Melinda directs most of attention to her cat, who seems far more willing than herself to be waited on.
"Annwyl?" Shalelu says, very quietly. "Beth allaf ei wneud i helpu? Y dylem eu cymryd Jorun i'n ystafell, lle gall y tri ohonom yn siarad yn unig am dipyn?"
"Nid ydynt yn mynd i ddilyn ni yn ein ystafell?" Is the weak and very shaky reply, as she does her best not to set the palace on fire or surround herself with a barrier of winds.
"Probably because that odious leech will have them punished if they displease us," Alaric says with disgust.
Kalimac appears at the feast with a well-brushed and handsome Attatoq. He is in his court finery this evening.
Kalimac intends on participating in the Bareback Riding contest, and also in the Mounted Archery contest if he is allowed to participate in two games.
...As the honored royal guests, however, you are seated at the table with the Prince. He insists that Myriana sit at his right hand.
Buttersnips' eyes darken.
...& Myriana likewise insists that Buttersnips sit at her right. "B? Will you sit with me, please?"
...He once again asks you to regale him with stories of your travels.
Diplomacy roll to keep conversation with the Prince light but entertaining:
He frequently suggests delicacies for Myriana to try, and makes sure that she gets the choicest selection of every dish.
Buttersnips' eyes darken further.
"Oh, you have absolutely got to try this, dear, it's wonderful." as she turns and offers the remainder of the forkful of said choicest selection to Buttersnips after taking a taste herself.
During the feast, the Prince's Royal Guards perform an exhibition of the Three Games of Hongal. You are all, of course, asked to participate, and demonstrate the skills of and talents of far lands.
Mounted Archery:
Wild Empathy: or Handle Animal: if either would provide an advantage
ride dc5:ride dc10:
to hit:
other possible factors: point blank (+1 w/in 30' not included)
Myri brings her horse around, obviously beaming. "Oh my god, I can't believe it! That was such a lucky shot! I mean, from a standstill sure, but on top of a horse? Unbelievable!"