Well, he'll serve as a solid enough distraction, as long as I'm not in his line of sight at the time.
Looking down at the gnome, "The point of a festival is to enjoy yourself, yes? Let's give it a try! He extends an arm towards the doorway, waiting Beagan to take the lead. "Well, let us away!"
Viviana looks at the gnome , with slightly confused expression, then her face brightens and she shake his hand.*
"Baegan right?"
She adds:
She is either saying "You are welcome" or "The horse is on fire"
Whatever it is, her gnomish is awful.
----------
Outside,Viviana enthusiastically examines the crowds and engages her companions in various small talk.
"I bet they have all sorts of fun games here! Granted, I'm sure they're not as fun as Gnomish games, but still! Who else wishes to join me?"
"Good idea.By the way what are this gnomish games exactly? "
As the conversation begins to die, Aleksander quietly excuses himself from the table.
Stopping to fuss with the little details on his uniform, he adjusts the clip that holds his watch issue blackjack on his belt, then steps out the front door into the sunlight.
With a clipped stride, Aleksander sets off towards the festivities, stopping to politely ask a nearby town guard for directions to the local blacksmith.
------------------
Aleksander asks a guard about the local blacksmith. "'ey, what are you supposed to be, eh? Some kind o' soldier? Yeh, there'a smithy a'right. Red Dog Smithy" (Area map 15) "but ol' Das Korvut ain't there t'day on account o' the Festival. I seen him up runnin' the Ogre's Hammer game in the Cathedral yard. Bet a lot o' folks'll here some swearin' up there t'day."
The guardsman gives you a sarcastic salute and laughs as you walk away.
The rest of you head up to the Festival chatting amongst yourselves and looking at wares and sideshows. All the way up the hill in the Churchyard area is where most of the games are set up. It is roughly mid-morning and the opening speechs are set to begin at noon in the churchyard near the stage, with lunch served thereafter.
Here is prior post of sights and games:
As you begin the ascent up the hill you see the market square full of traders and goods. The babble of barkers calling and the haggling of housewives has already begun. Most of the shops in town are closed for the festivities, but nearly anything imaginable appears to be for sale today (and today only!) if you can find the right merchant. Along the route, stalls have been set up with all manner of goods, distractions, diversions, and entertainment all waiting to separate a backwoods farmboy from his hard earned coin. There are jugglers and clowns, acrobats and fortune tellers, puppet shows and peep shows; there is even a dancing bear!
A large stage has been constructed in the church yard (you may have seen it yesterday) and there are stands and stalls all around the yard and down the intervening streets. Guardsmen stand watch on a few corners, and the sea of humanity (mostly all appear human at least…) seems to grow with each passing moment.
A few of the games seem to grab your interest. There is The Bloody Knuckle, a roped off area apparently for boxing, The Devil Hunt, an archery contest featuring a strangely designed target, Dragon Races, a 30’ long parallel track for racing some kind of creature, The Goblin Toss, a beanbag toss with some oddly shaped bags, The Ogre's Hammer, a test of strength featuring a hammer and a lever system, a fortune teller stand, and finally a pie-eating contest.
While you wait for the actual Festival program to begin, take a moment to look around, then tell me if you wish to shop with merchants, visit any sights in town (including any stores etc) or test your luck with any of the many diversions mentioned (or seek out another specifically that was not mentioned).
"I'm not here fer fun an' games. Bloody festivals..." Dolgrin grumbles as they walk to the festivities. Bloody humans...
Once there he cranes his neck looking around for Lars, in hopes of negotiating a quick sale of supplies so he could be on his way out of this town. So bloody noisy...
@Dolgrin: At the top of the hill, in the churchyard, near the stage, you spy the large Ulfen man unloading platters of food and casks of mead.
As you approach, Lars salutes you cheerfully:"Hail Son ov Stone, velcome to da Festival. Lady Ameeko sez yoo need help wif supplies. I vill help yoo after unloading dis food, ja?"
You see him closely and notice he has a long ugly scar in his hairline and is missing 2 fingers from his left hand.
As they approach the depths of the festival, 'Dada points at the Goblin Toss game and laughs. "Beagan? Are you sure that's not a gnome tossing event? You little guys are supposed ot be good at throwing things, right? Want to give it a shot?"
Dolgrin looks at the quantity of items being unloaded and sighs. This'll take forever...
"Do ye be needin' a hand?" he offers.
Beagan sharply turns and flashes Gudada a distasteful look, but moments later changes into a big smile and hearty laugh.
"Ah, you got me! Excellent joke there, Mr. Purrun! Yes, let's go see what this Goblin Toss is about, shall we?"
Viviana laughs and shake her head.
" Goblin Toss? You are like children! Have fun,i will see the fortune teller.
Should be hilarious,they always go on about handsome stranger and similar baloney."
The Goblin Toss is a game where players throw little beanbags shaped like goblins through holes cut in a plank board which are shaped like fireplaces. Throw the goblins in the fire, okay?
Cost to play is 1 cp. There are separate distances to toss the 'goblins' for men, women and children. Winners are getting a bag of venison jerky from Sandpoint Meat Market. Daviren Hosk, your dinner companion from the night before, is working the booth.
"Aye, mister gnome, give 'er a try. What can it hurt. Them gobbies are no good anyhow."
One of the children runs by: "That man said this jerky is made from real goblin...they sure are tough."
@Dolgrin: Lars readily agrees for you to help unload, but does say he wants to stay for the speeches and lunch and will help you after lunch is served, just past high noon.
You spend several minutes rolling barrels of mead and ale to the Dragon's pavilion in the churchyard while the smell of something delicious begins to tickle your nose.
Ameiko is supervising the preparation of a salmon-curry dish in the hopes of winning the Best Fare prize for the 3rd straight year. The other inns and taverns are also preparing wonderous concoctions, so the yard begins to take on a delectable aroma in short order.
@Viviana: The fortune teller is in side a tent marked with strange runes and symbols. At the table inside is perhaps the oldest living person you have ever seen. She is wrinkled and gray, and her face is leathery. Her long spindly fingers shuffle oversized pictured cards back and forth, as if they had a mind of their own.
At first you think she is asleep, but just as you begin to be uncomfortable, she speaks, her voice a dry croaking rasp."So my lovely, how cane Madame Mvashti help you? You do not vant your fortune read today, and spoil such a joy-oos experience as dis festival, no? Leaf and vatch de dancing bear, child! Turn back before de Fates ruin your goot time, eh. If you know what's goot for you, listen to Madame Mvashti. If you tink you know best, drop a gold coin in de box and de Harrow vill reveal that which you would radder keep hidden."
She begins to lay out the cards in a 3x3 grid and listens for the clink of the coin in the box. It appears she may be mostly blind...
"Real goblins you say? Well, if that's the case, then I might spend all day trying to win some of that delicious-looking jerky!" Beagan tells the boy with a wink.
After paying his admission, Beagan steps forward, stands on his tip-toes to get a better view of his targets, and lets them fly.
First bean bag:
Not having thrown many objects in his life, the first throw falls very short. Of course, he immediately begins blaming the wind and other outside factors.
The aromas tickle Dolgrin's nose as he helps with the set up.
"Well... perhaps I can wait until after lunch to discuss business. I suppose it can't hurt to taste the various foodstuffs you humans produce," he says to Lars, his mouth beginning to water.
Still grinning like a child, 'Dada hands over a copper while Beagan's first toss falls so very short. "Beagan? Maybe you should ask for permission to use the children's targets instead?" He tosses his first beanbag at the target, using a gentle, under-hand toss with a lot of arc to it. The "goblin" hits at the edge of the "fireplace", clinging momentarily to the edge of the hole before falling through.
"Ach, yer throwin' like a wee lass, there, gnome. Put yer wrist inta it. Watch that fella there dae it and lairn somethin', eh" Hosk yells from his perch at the gate.
@Dolgrin: As you and Lars get the last of the food unloaded, he saves one little tun of ale out. Bringing over the tap, he opens it and offers a draught to you. "Dis be our revard fer unloadin' dat food, ja? I'm sure Lady Ameiko vill not miss dis little bit of ale. Drink up Son ov Stone. Enjoy da day, ja"
He smiles mischievously, and drains his wooden cup bending to refill it again.
Viviana seems bit disturbed , but is too proud to turn back.
"I am priestess , not some farm girl. I won't allow mere carnaval trickster to frighten me."
She caresses her holy symbol and gives a coin to the old woman.
"I fear no secrets. "
@Viviana: The old woman laughs, a throaty dry laugh that leaves her coughing. So, jew haf de faith in de Gods eh? Goot dat goot, child. Jew need dat faith in times to come. Jew wait and see iv Madame Mvashti tells true."
She says:"Now pick one cart child, it is da role cart, and describes how jew fit into the worlt."
She flips over the card you indicate, revealing a Varisian bride and groom dancing. "Ah The Marriage...dis cart does not mean husbant for jew, child, but means jew will be de center of union of ideas or ov strangers. Strong powerful union, ok?"
She melds that card back into the deck, scoops up the other 8 in the spread, and begins shuffling and mixing them in patterns that make you slightly dizzy.
Eventually, she spreads the cards back out in the same 3x3 pattern you saw before. "Dis is de spread, my lofly. Dis is vere I see de future for jew. De first column is de past, middle is de now, and last column is de future. Top row is happy tings, middle is unclear tings, and last is bad tings dat did or vill happen to jew, ok?"
She reachs to turn over the column representing the past.
The first card revealed is The Midwife. "Dis card have more importance in dis place. Place is happy past. Dis cart not mean baby for jew, but mean new life or new learninG. Maybe dis cart mean jew happy in your temple traininG, no?"
The second card is in the place of uncertain past and turns out to be your role card: The Marriage. The woman is a little taken aback when this card is shown. "My darlinG, dis is very powerful meaning. Your new friends, maybe jew just meet dem, they have very strong influence in jour life. Very stronG."
The third past card is for unhappy past events: It depicts a mob decapitating a nobleman. "De UprisinG, not a happy cart, in dis unhappy spot. Maybe jour family is nobles forced to flee home, eh? Madame Mvashti see all."
She taps the middle row. "Time to turn ofer the carts showinG de now. First is happy now, next unclear now, last bad or evil now. You turn..."
The first card shown in this column is The Trumpet. She tells you it is a partial match and therefore of increased import. The Trumpet indicates a declaration of power but is in the position of positive present happenings. She surmises that you are happy to have a chance to exert your powers after finishing studies.
The second card (in the exact center of teh spread) makes her whistle low: It is The Peacock. "Child, dis cart is in it's True Match. Dat mean it very important, an in center of spread mean all readinG very important. Dis matched with role cart before, very unusual, very mysterys. De Peacock mean jew have or will soon have a very strong shift in life."
The third card of this set is The Cyclone. She tells you it is also a Partial Match and that it means evil tumultuous times are on you.
Finally, she is ready for you to reveal the last column, which shows the future.
The first card is The Courtesan in the position of positive future. "Dis also important match. Courtesan mean intrigue for jew, but happy outcome, ok?"
SEcond card is The Juggler: The crone smiles at this one. "Also partial matched. Dis cart mean fate is on jour side in de future. Dat goot ting, child."
The last card of the spread is The Carnival. She explains this card means illusions or falsity will result in a bad future outcome for you.
She smiles when the reading ends. "So beware anyone who is not true to jew like Madame Mvsanti has bin. It will be very bad for jew otherwise, but Fate is on jour site child and a sudden shift inside jew, will result in an intrigue working to jour benefit. Dat soun' goot to me, my loff. Now let an old voman get some rest, eh?"
'Dada, after taunting Beagan about that first toss while squeaking by with his own first throw, asks the gnome "You are having fun, aren't you?" Then he tosses his second bag at the second hole and it flies true, slipping through the hole without making noticeable contact with the board.
"This couldn't be much easier, could it?" he directs at anyone in the crowd who might be watching before making his third toss, which manages to hit the board, but it is wide, on the outer edge of the board, not really near that final hole at all. 'Dada frowns, slightly. "THAT goblin obviously knows something about how to fly. He would rather hit the bricks than the fire! Can't say that I blame him, either!"
Anyone paying attention might suspect that the young Varisian is actually putting some effort into his next throw. Again, he focuses on a high arc, and the bean-bag goblin hits on the lip of the fireplace, where it hangs for nearly a full second, before falling out, away from the fireplace and onto the ground. "Greased the board around that last hole, did you?" He chides the hawker, obviously teasing him.
Picking up his last little goblin bean bag, he looks over to Beagan. "Wave good-bye!" he says while wiggling the bean bag's painted "arm" at the gnome. "Burn, you wretched little thing!" as he tosses this one with another high arc, coming very close to matching the previous throw, but this one just a tad further back and to the right, and this time the bag slides through the hole, and 'Dada has managed to throw a "goblin" into each of the three "fireplaces".
"Huzzah!"
"Ha! My, that was quite the atrocious throw on my part, wasn't it? Well, I'm glad to see one of us fares much better at these types of non-gnome games. Now, if we were back home in Whistledown playing my favorite games, like 'Words That Rhyme With Torag,' then I'm afraid you wouldn't stand a chance!" Beagan proclaims with a big smile.
After Gudada's resounding victory, Beagan looks at the Varisian and asks, "Congratulations! So, what's next then? More games? Food? I am feeling a bit hungry myself."
The grizzled ranger running the goblin toss congratulates Gudada and hands him over some of the beef jerky as his prize. "Aye some good tossin', an' that's no lie. Tha's the way ya treat gobbies, now!" He pats you on the back as you turn to see the other diversions the fair has to offer.
Obviously intrigued, Viviana bids farewell to the old woman.
"Thank you, that was very interesting.
I too have advice for you.
Don't spend the whole day in this tent. Go out and enjoy yourself."
Outside, Viviana looks for her friends while still thinking about the woman and her cards.
"Perhaps Gudada will know more about this."
pp
That was great, Viviana probably will try to learn from the old lady , if there is opportunity.
Dolgrin smiles at Lars. "Now that's more like it!" he declares as he samples the ale. "Aye. With this I'll be enjoyin' whatever this town has to throw at me." He finishes the ale in a long gulp and then draws some more. "Fer the road...," he says to Lars with a wink before moving off to view the rest of the festivities, his mood lighter.
"I'm off duty." Aleks holds his wry smile as the soldier, departs before shrugging off his stung ego.
Keep smiling. You're not winning anyone over by being a moody git.
"Yes mum," he mutters inwardly, pushing his thoughts inwards and burying them again.
"Pardon me." With that, he pushes into the press of bodies, slowly observing the crowd as he drifted along streams of people, 'feeling' movement and watching the streams.
Crowds were always interesting to watch. To the untrained eye, a thronging crowd might seem complete anarchy, but to the seasoned eye of a city guardsman, there were always patterns as people streamed after each other in unconscious lockstep in tiny challenges of dominance and submission.
Deliberately, he begins to maneuver through towards the merchant stands, keeping an eye open for armorers, fletchers and the like, becoming one with the flows as he moved through the pack with the measured pace of a veteran watchman.
-----------------
@Dolgrin: Lars is called away for some business by Lady Ameiko and her crew as you begin to wander, ale tankard in hand, through the crowds, your mood lightened. Ahead you see a half-orc man, wearing a red tabard, pushing a rubbish cart, and stopping to pick up trash etc with a long sharpened stick. The man/orc sees you coming and a grin spreads across his bestial mouth. "Not of'n we see a runny dwarf roun' these parts. Why doncha go back ta yer smelly hole, li'l rat, a'fore I catch ya in me trap?" A gutteral laugh escapes him and his eyes flash a challenge. He positions his cart so as to block your path.
@Gudada: Leaving the Goblin Toss with Beagan, you find yourself in front of the Dragon Races. Here, participants are urging long iguana-like lizards, painted in garish colors and adorned with dragon wings, down a long raceway. The first lizard to cross wins. More to your interest, a gaggle of Varisians and Cheliaxians has gathered off to the side and they appear to be wagering on the outcome of the race. An enormous man with a squint eye appears to be the ringleader of this side action.
@Beagan: A nearby booth calls to you. The proprietor is a man, but has the most brillant red hair you've seen on a human. His hair is long, falling past his shoulders and his skin is bronze. The sign reads: The Feathered Serpent, and his wares are an odd and eclectic mixture of incense, spices, ancient statues and relics. A shelf holds what he is touting as Love Potion, and a private area to the side has a pile of scrolls for perusal.
@Aleksander: As you peruse the shop, a voice calls to you. "Soldier, soldier, come here. I have something for you." As you turn, an elderly woman approaches you, holding a sweet plum pie. "Here soldier, I know how you boys get hungry. Why my Casp could eat a horse when he got off duty." She smiles, but her eyes cloud over, "You haven't seen my Casp have you? He's been away a long time, and I'm ready for him to come home. It's not like him to be away so long. Whoever heard of a festival without it;'s Sherriff?". The old woman looks confused for a few moments, but to your relief, a pair of women come and gather her up. "Mother," one says, "you remember that Dad isn't coming back, right?" leading the widow to back to her stall. The other turns to you and apologizes: "She gets a little confused sometimes, but she means well. Enjoy your pie, courtesy of Sandpoint Savories, come back by if you'd like another." She gives you a little wink and turns to attend the stall again.
"Well, we can't have a peckish gnome running about, can we? Here, have a bit of jerky and let's see what we stumble upon next. Or do you want to enter the pie-eating contest? THAT should fill you up right quick!" 'Dada glances about the place, wondering for a moment if Viviana has deserted him or not. He settles down into trying to select a likely mark or two, based on the direction the gnome chooses to go.
"Leave it to an orc to sour my mood," Dolgrin mutters before glaring at the half-orc. "I be seein' a bit of irony in yer words filth. It seems that you be the one with the odours aplenty, what with you collectin' the refuse o' the town. Makin' up yer nest to lay some sh*te so ye can have a family? Or mayhap somethin' to eat when ye get peckish?"
Gudada: You see many rubes among the patrons at the fair. A rich merchant who has had too much wine, a over-size noblewoman with a purse full of coin, a Varisian man who is asleep from drink on a bench. Depends on what you're looking for.
Dolgrin: The orc grimaces at you. Mayhap, you'd back them words wit' a lil axshun. I eat bigger meals than you fer breakfast."
He steps around the cart and cracks his knuckles. He's probably 10' away, but takes a threatening position.
Eyes wide with excitement, Beagan seems to completely forget about his present company temporarily and wanders over to the The Feathered Serpent.
"By Desna's rear, your hair is magnificent!" Beagan exclaims while also giving a shake of his own red mane. "Your shop is a wonder to behold. The name's Beagan, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
Beagan's eyes begin to wander all over the store, trying to take in everything that he sees.
Beagan: The man turns to you. "Hello wee fellow. The Feathered Serpent is the finest magic shop this side of Magnimar. What can I do for you, perhaps an enlargement charm or a love potion, eh?"
He smiles widely and is attentive to your needs.
Casp... Sheriff... The realization suddenly kicked in as fragments of Ameiko's story come together with the stark reality that sometimes stories had faces behind them...
Casp Avertin. Sandpoint Sheriff. Killed in the line of duty attempting to apprehend a serial murderer in Choppers Alley. For a moment, he just stood there, reality seeming to flow around him as if he had become unstuck in time.
Two reminders of the same dark past in less than a day, on the day of a festival to commemorate the reconstruction of a burned church...
Normally he'd brush it off to the healthy paranoia that had served him so well on the beat, but there was something about this he wasn't ready to write off to chance.
Something felt amiss, like he was on the precipice of a far greater discovery, yet the path before him still lay buried beneath the unknown.
Shaking off the feeling of foreboding, Aleksander stepped back into the crowd, letting it carry him along as he nibbled at the pie and brooded about the uncertain future.
Dolgrin snorts. "I'm not sure I'd wanna dirty me hands on yer filthy self, but if'n ye come at me, I'll oblige," he says, settling in for a fight. He glances down at the mug in his hand and shifts his stance so that the mug is behind him. "Don't want te get any o' yer blood in me beer," he explains and then motions for the half-orc to come.
@Aleksander: You mingle in and among the crowd, disturbed by the uncomfortable encounter, but quite enjoying the pie. The crowd begins to move towards the churchyard settling into seats or finding places to watch the consecration speeches that will begin at noon.
You hear the sweet singing and see it is the cleric of Shelyn you met yestereve, enchanting the crowd with her performance, but suddenly, a fight breaks out behind you and you see your new dwarf friend engaged in a street fight with a half-orc swinging a club. (see below)
@Dolgrin:The half-orc makes a low rumbling noise that rises to a roar in his throat. The crowd around quickly moves away forming a ring to watch but not become part of the action. Then the beast lunges at you swinging his trash-poking stick as a club. Ready for him, you step inside the swing, stiking him in the neck with an open hand chop.
But the beast's swing also catches you upside the head, making you see stars.
@Viviana: EDITED TO BELOW
Viviana shrugs ,and decides to make it easier for them to find her.
Beside this the locals seem far to focused on Desna.
She clears some space for herself ignoring the mutter and tries to catch the attention of the crowd,time to spread her faith.
Gather around people of Sandpoint! Come and hear the melody of beauty.
Instead of preaching , Viviana chooses to impress the people with one of the many ballads devoted to Shelyn.
The beauty of the melody and the gentleness of the words stir the crowd and they become entranced by your performance. Many are seen to hold the hands of their loved ones, or move closer together as the music holds them.
Unfortunately, the sound of a fistfight breaks the spell, causing the crowd to flee in all directions. Ahead you see a half-orc wearing a red uniform top, swing a stick at the poor dwarf you saw in the Rusty Dragon yesterday.
Shocked by the sight of the fight ,Viviana quickly makes strange gesture towards the orc,and yells:
"STOP THIS ,BOTH OF YOU!"
If not, she will try to convince the crowd to separate them
Dolgrin snarls, "Ah, I see the city hasn't civilized ye yet. Bringin' a club to a fist fight. I was takin' it easy on ye a'fore. Now... not so much."
He then prepares to retaliate, but pauses when Viviana approaches shouting for them to stop. Instead he takes a step back and settles into a defensive posture, and waits.
"Ah, are you a student of the arcane too, sir? I've dabbled in magical arts for some time, but just recently began to really explore my potentials. Mostly for show, but I figure that magic can be useful in a lot of different ways, you know? It's good to be versatile, I always say!"
Beagan will riffle through the various scrolls and baubles to satisfy his curiosity.
"This all looks wonderful, but I'm afraid I won't be able to buy any of your wares today. I just got here all the way from Korvosa, so my pockets are... ah, a little lean, you know? But, it sounds like my stay in Sandpoint will be for some time, so I hope to fill my coinpurse and empty it again on your goods in the near future," Beagan says with a wink and smile.
Hearing the marvelous performance by Viviana, 'Dada pays her the respect her performance is due, listening with the rest, moving forward to see who the performer is, and smiling when he sees that it is her.
Even as Viviana starts trying to make peace break out, the Varisian is playing a different angle. "I've got a silver on the dwarf! Who'll cover it?"
The belligerent half-orc stops his assault at once and turns to look at Viviana. "Hello Lady, you sing purty..." He seems to have forgotten his enemy and is paying signficant attention to the cleric of Shelyn.
The positive energy suffuses all around, healing the wounds that both combatants took. Soft delicate music rings in the ears of Dolgrin as the healing magic takes effect.
A few moments later, the Sherriff arrives. "Heard there was disturbance but it looks to be resolved now. Keep an eye on that'un. Gorvi's been a handful 'round here for a long time. Suggest you steer clear o' him when ya can." He gives a raised eyebrow to the dwarf with the welt on his head, nods to the crowd, and walks off intent on his next action.
Beagan did hear the distruption, but before he turn his attention away from the trifles in the booth, it ends. The man introduces himself: "I am Vorvashali Voon, a student and collector of the arcane. It is a pleasure to meet a fellow purveyor of The Art. If you have need of specific items, or wish to trade or sell, please look me up. It may take me a little time to get special orders, but most things I can eventually procure." He gives direction to his shop which is located at Area 44 of the Sandpoint Map.
Since the fight is a short one, Gudada has little luck drawing any interest in wagers. A few of the crowd, though, decide to go to the boxing ring to wager on a real fight.
Viviana sighs in relief .
"You" she looks at the half orc. "Go away and behave yourself, the festival is not place for brawls."
Then she points the dwarf:
"And you!Why would you fight in the street like some common ruffian?"
Viviana looks at the boxing ring with disgust and sighs.
"You two have ruined my efforts! The people were listening to me ,but now they are more interested to watch some foolish fights.
By the way how's your head? He hit you pretty hard.
Come with me, let's try to find the others."
Dolgrin looks at Viviana incredulously. "An what? Ye'd have me jes stand here and get beat on? A dwarf's got a right te defend hisself. 'specially from the likes o' him. Or would ye have preferred that I use me axe instead of givin him some gentle taps with me fist?"
He then sighs and rubs the swiftly diminishing bruise on his head. "I be fine. Thank ye fer yer assistance," he says and walks with her. "What others?"
Aleksander looks upon the brawl with distaste as his hand inches towards the baton on his belt.
Not your turf. Observe and move on. The Dwarf can handle himself. The other chided gently.
Noticing the arrival of proper authorities, Aleksander turned away with a disapproving shake of his head heading to rejoin the crowd milling around the cathedral.
While he held the Drunken Hero above the pantheon personally, he never felt his veneration excluded respect and belief for the rest of the good deities that others worshipped, from valiant Iomedae to fickle Desna.
Perhaps, today, more than any other might be a good day to receive all their blessings.
"It's better to avoid fights. He beats you,or you beat him ,and he directs his anger to someone weaker.
Either way someone gets hurt."
Viviana looks around and spots Gudada .(and Beagan if he arrives ,i guess Alexander has moved away ,if not she wave at him ).
"What do we do now? I say let's go to the cathedral,the ceremony must start soon.
Unless you prefer to watch this."
She stares disapprovingly at the boxing ring.
"Ahh, so in unavoidable situations like that, it's best go fer the kill then instead o' just knockin tha sense into 'im. Got it," he says with a grin.
"Ahh, our breakfast and dinner companions. I see," Dolgrin says with a shrug. "They say misery loves company, so sure why not. I have te wait 'till it's over te get my supplies and get me gone from here anyhow."
"The cathedral? Why not? Especially if we can get you to sing something else while we wait. That was beautiful!"
"Excellent! In that case, I'm sure we'll be doing business at some point in the near future. And perhaps you'll be able to come see me perform at the Sandpoint Theater by then as well!" Beagan says while walking out of the shop.
As he heads outside and back into the festival proper, he spots his new acquaintances gathering around where the commotion was only moments prior.
"Hello, chums! Did you hear all that noise earlier? It sounded like a bar fight out here! Goodness, it seems people can't just be happy and enjoy a good party once in awhile. Anyway, I'm off to the cathedral to see what this hullabaloo is all about. Anyone care to join me?" Beagan asks sincerely, and before even getting an answer, begins to casually stroll off in that direction.
As you wander back into the churchyard, you see Lars is still sitting in a pavilion on the south side near where the Rusty Dragon's booth stands. He waves you over wiht his maimed hand and offers you all seats. "De speechinG is about to begin. Sit, my friends and see vhat is said." He passes out mugs of ale to any who wish from his open cask
@Aleksander: As you wander in the churchyard, you see your acquaintances from last night all gathering in the pavilion near the south end. It appears the Ulfen man from the Dragon is there also with a broached keg of ale.