Corindus is relieved that the sheriff would have one of his other deputies keep an eye on Bloodeye. Being one of the town's paltry lawmen begins to worry Corindus, now doubting that he is up to the task.
Breaking up brawls or wrangling troublemakers - obvious problems that he could solve with his strength - were what he had in mind when he finally offered his services to Baleson. Even keeping a sharp eye out for trouble seemed like something he could actually do.
Conducting investigations and making plans, however - Corindus fears he simply is not sharp enough for such duties.
With a sigh, he seeks out Mary. Notions of romance and starting a family plague him no less with anxiety, but with one date already to their credit, at least Corindus feels a more palpable sense of belonging.
Corindus as you walk around the place it gets more lively as time goes on as folks get getting ready for tomorrow and some want to have some early fun and entertainment.
You find Mary in the Sitting Duck talking with some of the other tall girls in town and it seems from a distance they are all trying to give each other advice on something.
You even spot Hu and Duke talking about something in at a corner table of the Sitting Duck glancing at the girls while some of the girls glance at them.
Eve replies back to Darion
"Why don't we have some fun with the games that are setup at the moment?"
Vona says to Wu Chen
"Let's make sure everything is ready for tonight's trial run of the performance"
Luk:
Luk says to Kinshar
"Let's see if you can win at the other games?"
Wu Chen nods. "I agree. It is time I get into costume, and be prepare for action!"
Darion replies to Eve ”Very well lead the way. Which game would you like to try?”
Kinshara agrees to Luk's suggestion and attempts the hammer & bell game as well as the toss & dunk. She invites him to try his hand at the games as well.
Kinshara gets wins a number of games and gets the the Town's Polar bear Mr Hans dunked into the water tank.
Luk:
Luk tries the games
Luk shows that he does need to work some on his strength, and also gets Mr Hans dunked into the tank.
Eve replies back to Darion
"We both know strength isn't our strong point, but let's give it a go with the hammer and bell first."
Darion replies back to Eve
”Ok but don’t laugh if I drop the hammer on my foot. Literally or figuratively. Here goes”
Darion tries the hammer and bell
Darion is impressed with the way he performed. Mostly cause he didn’t look like an idiot
Eve comments on Darion's swing
"Wow, you did better then I thought"
Eve gives it a go
and misses and sliding on something on the ground ready to fall over
Darion sees Eve slip and he moves to catch her
Darion catches Eve but with a poor stance and falls over with her.
Eve comments on Darion's catch attempt while laughing
"Looks like we both aren't all that graceful"
And she gets back up with Darion's help.
Darion thinks about kissing her but then he remembers that this is only a second date and he doesn’t want to scare her off. He settles for an awkwardly long time holding onto her after helping her to regain her balance
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What was originally supposed to be just another stopover in town with Ludwig, dropping off supplies for the Low Market, has transformed into a residency. As the first of his roots settle into the stump-riddled soil of Falcon's Hollow, Corin is reminded that he is a man with more strength than courage.
The latest evidence is how shaken he feels upon seeing the congregation of women at the Sitting Duck. Their height is not the source of his unease; indeed, Corin has grown to paradoxically accept uncommonly tall women as common around the town.
If he were a sharper man, he might suspect that they are swapping advice on men; ironic, considering how he suddenly feels in dire need of advice himself. Demonstrating perhaps the breadth of his social tact, Corin decides it would be rude to interrupt, so he leaves the tavern and returns to his pretense of patrol.
His mind happens upon Darion. As a wizard, he is bound to possess knowledge. At least, that's what Corin's mind reasons out. He steers his patrol to locate his magical comrade and soon finds him among the festival games lining the Low Market square.
He arrives just in time to see Darion try to catch Eve, leaving the two to tumble, laughing, to the dusty ground. Even moreso than with Mary and the other women, Corin understands that this would be an even more awkward moment to intrude.
Left adrift, the riverman-turned-deputy sees the hammer and bell game. He decides to give it a try, hoping that his strength - the one thing he could always count on - would give him a temporary escape from the tangle of social interaction.
The bell's dull chime brings a rare smile to Corin's face, although he feels a flush of embarrassment and hides the smile away again when he sees a small crowd of people offering claps and nods of approval.
Wu Chen practices some techniques for the big show.
She pulls off a graceful twirl, then incorporates an acrobatic tumble…
…which she lands, then finishes with a kick!
—with good form and decent power for a twelve year old, or even an older teenager, she thinks.
She assesses the move: Many opportunity to make mistake, but I think risk pay off if technique is beautiful, and fit with music.
She turns to Vona, "How you like mix of dance and martial art? Both are same to me, really. Kick is dance, become martial art when foot collide with face." For clarity, she adds, "On purpose."
Eve laughs as she continues after getting back up
"Should I still try the Hammer, or should we try something else?"
Vona says to Wu Chen
"I've heard that in some places they hid their martial art in dances, So I'd not be surprised"
Kinshara congratulates Luk on his success at the Toss & Dunk game.
Luk:
Luk adds
"I wonder how that man can stand the cold water, since I'm not from around here?"
Wu Chen smiles at Vona's words.
"Is so true! Scaled Fist style is not danciest of many style I consider, but I think my kick will be beautiful when I become master, very long time from now. I think maybe I can master Western Tongue sooner.
"I know my father is better at common language than I am. For me, priority is—was, I mean—to learn Language of Dragon! All I do at monastery is study and dance. Maybe is boring life to other girl, but dance is fun, and… I think studying pay off if dragon stop by and I dissuade him from eating Father's horse."
Wu Chen catches herself babbling and gets in position to practice her routine once more.
Performance begin soon… I am ready!
"I spoke with some traders from up north once. They assured me that Falcon's Hollow is quite warm in comparison to their homeland. I suppose you simply get used to it." Kinshara says.
"Though it does look very cold."
Luk:
Luk adds
"It's a winter festival with some snow on the ground, so it's got to be cold, though probably not as cold as the river."
The Performance starts and goes on
Corindus continues on patrol
Corindus sets aside the hammer from the bell game and sheepishly resumes his patrol. The sudden, embarrassing amount of attention leaves his senses especially keen.
You spot a red rock guild member scouting the festival likely looking over people, items, and events.
He seemed to take extra note of the performance, or someone in the front row of the crowd watching it.
@Wu Chen
The performance is good and gives the locals a good does of entertainment including a style they've not seen before.
Seeing how the crowd likes her act, Wu Chen adds an acrobatic technique--
--pulling off a daring flip and a roundabout!
and gives the crowd even more to enjoy.
Once Vona finishes her song, Wu Chen ends her dance and bows to the crowd. No speech is required in this situation, so as decorum dictates, she gives none. In her heart, however, she speaks to the most important member of her audience:
I perform for you, Shelyn. When the time come, I hope my skill do more than flip around, wow crowd. I hope some day, my skill prevent little girl from losing mother. Am still beginner, still child, but soon I grow up. Soon, I become strong like father, strong like people who rescue Vona…
The encounter with Bloodeye had already put the riverman on edge, so this additional suspicious behavior was doubly troubling. Rather then reporting back to Baleson, Corin figures he can manage a single thug on his own.
Corindus attempts to shadow the Redrock Guilder, keeping an eye on him and getting a better sense of the angle he's working.
Wu Chen goes back stage and asks Vona a number of questions about her rescuers.
Vona answers the questions as best she can.
Corindus trails him with no problem, it also seems he drink a lot of alcohol before scouting the festival.
Darion replies back to Eve ”We might as well try something else. In the worst case scenario at least everyone else will have a nice laugh at how awkward we perform the task. What do you have in mind”
Darion noticed Corindus coming close but never actually coming over to talk. He keeps an eye out for the strong river man so that he can ask Corindus what was his concern.
Eve laughs a bit as she speaks
"How about we see about dunking that man with his own game?"
About an hour passes, the performance of Wu Chen is over and she gets changed back in to her normal clothes with Vona in the Changing room
Corindus follows the red rock member for 30 minutes after which he thinks he's just being a drunken fool and continue patrolling the festival for another 30 minutes, and you return back to the Sitting Duck for a quick drink and snack before continuing sitting at a Table next to Hu and Duke
Darion and Eve play a number of games and chow on some of the festival food.
Kinshara and Luk also continue with a number of games and some festival food.
As your in the change room changing you fail to notice someone enter and Knock out Vona and you being knocked out and put in a large sack.
Kojima-san runs into the Sitting Duck and approaches the Hu and Duke's table, and is loud enough to be heard at your table,
"Some one has taken my daughter Wu Chen, can you help me find her."
Hu and Duke give the look that they can't standby and do nothing
Hu replies
"We'll find her, I hope she's not been targeted by this town's underworld, as underworlds can get very dark and some never let you return."
Kojima-san thanks them and sees that you've over heard the events, as did the women that were talking and it looks like they are moving out as well.
Kojima-san approaches you I've heard you helped Vona and Eve, I ask can you help me find my daughter?
As both you and Eve are enjoying the festival, Vona runs to Eve and you
"Someone's taken Wu Chen, I need help?"
You run into Lady Cirthana and she looks like she's in a hurry when she runs into you she asks
"Can you help us find Wu Chen, someone's taken her from the changing room."
Wu Chen finds it near-impossible to escape skillfully. She tries to get a sense of her surroundings. Is Vona with her?
Wu Chen takes her time using her Stealth and Escape Arts skills to gradually loosen her bonds. This way, when the sack is open, the girl can break free.
You've been out for say 30 minutes but now half-awake
and the ropes are tied well your still sacked,
roll a perception check?
Disoriented and in a bit of a panic, Wu Chen breathes shallow...
...in part, to avoid consuming breathable air faster than it can seep into the bag. And in part, she tries to listen to her captors, or perhaps her fellow captives.
"Yes, of course we'll help," Kinshara says hurriedly.
Darion replies to the women ”Well let’s go find the girl. Which way did they go?”
"Of course!" Corindus says to Kojima-san, quickly rising from his chair. "I wouldn't be a very good deputy - or a very good person - if I refused. Where did you last see her?"
You hear nothing but the sound of the potato sack bag rustling as your being moved.
and yes your gagged.
Lady Cirthana adds
"Wu Chen was last seen with Vona in the Changing room for performances"
Vona replies
"I don't know since I was knocked out first in the changing room, they likely took her was I was knocked out and didn't even see it coming."
Kojima-san replies
"According to Vona, she was with her in the Changing room when she got knocked out from behind."
Wu Chen sees no point in making sudden moves, but as she is moved, she tries to gradually undo her bonds, making only small movements.
If successful, her goal is to loosen the ropes so she appears to be tied, but can slip out of the ropes easily. Attempting to get out of the bag while being moved is way too risky—
Men just knock me out if I pop up like Jack-in-box. Must be patient. Must not panic. Must pray…
Darion knows he is not much of a tracker but he knows that Corindus has better skills in that area of expertise. Darion looks to find the man and hopefully together the group can find the missing girl.
After finding Corindus they go to the dressing room area where Wu Chen was last seen
”Corindus what do you think do you see any clues here”
Darion looks around as well
If any local knowledge would help Darion will try to relate that as well
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Corindus follows Darion to the changing room, hoping to quickly discover a lead.
Still settling into his role as a deputy and member of the law, Corindus somewhat meekly allows Darion to take the lead on the search. Nevertheless, he adds his dedicated focus to the task.
Unfortunately, the deputy is left embarrassed by the sight of ladies' clothing. Despite himself, his eyes keep drifting to the unmentionables rather than in pursuit of clues.
Struggling to force the blush from his cheeks and to better fulfill his duty - especially with a child's life in the balance - Corindus kneels down to inspect the floor. He looks for any fresh footprint or tracks - anything to suggest who may have taken Wu Chen and where they may have gone.