In the small town of Swallowfeld, life is never easy. The hamlet's sturdy folk toil diligently to eke out their existence in the fields and mines of the Lonely Coast, always aware that tomorrow holds no promises. They take life one day at a time.
Except for the Harvest Festival...
This is the one time of year when the people of Swallowfeld set aside their toils and troubles for three days and nights of unabashed merrymaking. Music and laughter fill the air, brightly colored sashes and pennants hang from every home's bough. And, of course, delicious food and strong drink flow freely.
Among the most time-honored traditions of the Festival are the contests. Villagers of all stations come together to pit themselves against one another in feats of strength, of skill, of magical prowess, and of wits. Although sportsmanship and integrity are paramount, an entire year's worth of bragging rights are on the line, so the townsfolk take these games quite seriously. Outsiders are welcome to join in the fun for a nominal entrance fee as well.
It is in this environment that you find yourself in the town of Swallowfeld tonight. Perhaps you came specifically to partake of the Harvest Festival's games and vittles. Or, perhaps you are a traveler of the Lonely Coast, who has just happened upon the annual celebration. In any case, it's not hard to notice that in some of the villagers' eyes and words runs an undercurrent of tension...even fear. Obviously, despite the brave faces and loud music, something is amiss in Swallowfeld.
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Leave the stodgy research to the old coots; a true wizard learns his craft by doing; not by reading and writing. It was with that thought in his mind that Arden Tide packed up his belongings and headed for Swallowfeld; earning transport and keep along the way by impressing folk with his magic.
The Harvest Festival seems like a perfect event to test his mettle against other wizards, and perhaps gain some coin and notoriety for his trouble. Not that I want to come off as some bloody street magician... Hopefully his skills will not only impress the judges, but some would-be adventurers as well. There is powerful magic written on scrolls and in long forgotten texts hidden deep beneath the earth.
Tae hurries through the town, eager for the chance to use his bow for a little target shooting in contest with the town's best. Win or lose isn't as important however as simply the thrill of the competition itself. His chores done and his mind clear, he slows a little on the way, enjoying the pageantry of the town decorated for the festival.
His first stop at the festival itself is the dumpling cart where he spends a couple of his very few coins on a small treat for himself. Enjoying the succulent morsel, he wanders through the festival grounds, greeting fellow townsfolk and marveling at all the new faces in Swallowfeld as well. Serious about keeping his mind focused and his hands steady, he passes on the strong drink.
Tae heads instead directly to the archery range where he will soon be pitted against the best shooters in the area, and perhaps even some strangers as well. The monks might not approve of him using his skill in competition with someone other than his own self, but this was going to be fun! He smiled as he surveyed the grounds, licked a finger and held it up to test the strength and direction of the wind.
In addition to the contest itself was the chance to meet others, perhaps one or more who were interested in his skills as a bowman. "It's time to leave home, learn more of the outside world." He heard his father's words in his head again and again, then shrugged. Perhaps he's right, I know so little of the world at large. Tonight, maybe I'll learn a more... and meet others who want to do the same.
Bruden spent the last week and a half in preparation for the fair, and though he had been to this particular fair 6 years running now, this was the first time he was running the games. No longer an apprentice, his duties were to oversee the preparations and the running of the games, and a healthy lot of them there were this year. Archery and Wrestling were done everywhere it seemed, but the cleric's order seemed to have the only reliable transportable obstacle course. The fire building contest usually gets taken over by the wizards if there are any although if there were enough. The plate spinning contest could go either way, and the scarecrow contest always was a crowd favorite.
He had his own ideas spinning in his head for new games, but the time honored tradition of not starting new games in your first year prevented him. Besides, this route had almost always been relatively peaceful and he didn't really worry that he wouldn't make it back next year.
With the final banner in place, he took his place at the registration booth with pen and parchment, ready to start taking signatures when the village elders announce the opening festivities.
Jackson topped the crest of the hill and got his first look at the village of Swallowfield. He could hear the strains of music even from this far away, and pipes and drums made him want to dance. Giving his polearm a quick spin, he continued toward the town. I took the prize for wrestling in Bromston, and I can do it here also. This the way to live life, keep to the roads, follow the fun, and reap the rewards of daring. All I want tonight is a bowl of something hot, a mug of something strong and a plump tavern wench to put my arm around. With a hearty laugh, Jack went to find the officials and pay his fee.
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When Arden arrives at the festival the vendors are just beginning to display their wares for the day. The smell of smoke leads him to the sight of a pig roasting on a spit. {i}Perhaps later.[/i] he thinks to himself as he continues to look around, his eyes finally settling on his true desire.
The largest cup you have filled to the brim with mead, my good sir.
Arden flips a coin into the vendor's hand and raises the cup in thanks. Any news about town that would benefit a visitor such as myself? Arden offers what he considers to be a winning smile.
Gnarweiss can't rightly remember when he came to Swallowfield or even quite how he got here. All the happy go Lucky gnome can remember coming to this quaint hamlet is that it happened to be along the path he happened to be following one day. Given to flights of fancy and wander lust, Banderflash had left the land of his birth in search of adventure. Gnomish curiousity is a strong thing, but so too is gnomish spite. Leveraging the two led the young, by gnome standards, gnome to life of sweeping sewers and tunnels of goblins, kobolds and giant rats. Always by his side is a black mace topped by a smooth head baring a gilded death's head upon its face.
Bounding from place to place about the festival, Gnarweiss takes a particular interest in an elf at the archery lanes.
Walking out to stand next to this unusual visitor to the town, Gnarweiss just stands a couple of inches from the elf and stares at him with huge eyes.
Tae pushes back the hood of his cloak and reveals he is, after all, just a normal human, and a local resident as well, his parents owning a small mercantile business in town, plus a small plot of land for farming. He smiles at Gnarweiss and nods a greeting. "Hello there. Come for the archery contest, or just to watch?"
A while later after things start, Bruden notices that there must have been some miscommunication and the elders of the village must not have gotten the message out concerning the need to sign up for the contests. He inhaled deeply and let out in a loud bass tone, "Come and register for the contests to be eligible for the prizes!". Noticing that even his loud voice merely contributed to the overall din of the fair, he turned to a couple of boys who were nearby and had noticed his announcement. "A copper for each of you if you get the word out," he said to them. They were both off like a shot into the crowd parroting his announcement.
Tae, hearing one of the boys announcing the need to sign up for the contest, smiles at Gnarweiss and shrugs. "Seems we have to sign up for these contests." One last time he eyes the targets from the firing line and gauges the distance with a practiced eye.
Then he heads over to the Festival booth to sign up for the archery contest. Once there he nods to Bruden and softly speaks, "Hello, Brother Bruden, I want to sign up for the archery contest."
Bruden smiles broadly at the archer that came up to register. He readied a quill with his parchment. "Your name and either your father's name or place of origin and which contests you wish to enter please. He says loudly enough for several people in line to hear. "But you said archery all ready. I should have guessed." He nods at Tae's bow and arrows.
"Tae Logran, son of Jason of Swallowfeld, and as you already guessed, yes, archery please," he smiles and shrugs a little nervously. My first year competing at the Festival! I hope mother and father will be proud of me.
A weird smile crosses Gnarweiss' face when he realizes his case of mistaken identity. "Just here to watch, my friend. Looks like your up.", he says gesturing to the officials.
Tae finishes signing up for the archery contest and begins to wander the festival grounds, spending a few more copper for a lizard-on-a-stick, one of the few things he can afford to buy. He ponders his ability to do well in the contest while he gazes at the others gathered to compete or to watch. It's always amazing to see the town transformed by the festival and its grounds. But my first time as a contestant... I hope I'm good enough. It's one thing to hunt rabbits and shoot at hay bales at home, but with the whole town and all these strangers watching, will I be able to concentrate?
Gnarweiss moves about the crowd with nearly no one noticing the dimunitative figure gliding in out of the shadows and from under horses and wagons. Keeping a close eye on Tae from a distance, the gnome follows on to see what things of interest this man may find himself in.
Impatiently waiting until all the archery pansies in front of him moved through the line, Jackson finally gets to the front. Plunking down his entrance fee he declares, Jackson Tanner, and I will be taking the prize for wrestling.
While resting beneath a table set up near wrestling patch, Gnarweiss is suddenly jolted by the heavy thump of a coin on wood. Peaking out to see who is causing all the ruckus, the gnome sees a strapping young man with an intense fire in his eyes. "This fellow could be quite entertaining!", he thinks to himself.