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"I was the herbalist for a rural community. I encouraged them to grow kale and other beneficial plants, but they chose to grow more dangerous crops."
I have read about certain dangerous plants, hemlock, nightshade, snakeroot even oleander. The most dangerous plant grown around here is tobacco. Daven says to Meg, ignoring the jester.
The Jester seemed to be frustrating he wasn't getting the reaction he wanted, and did a few somersaults away. He began berating a few children, trying to browbeat them into giving him candy...until their father strode up with a glare.
After the jester left, rather than ignoring the trio, most of the people in line gave approving nods and smiles to the little group.
They had reached the front of the line.
"You there! Oy! Pay attention!" yelled the barker from behind his wooden podium, "I count three tickets, yeah? That'll be nine coppers pieces for the lot of yah!"
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On the dance floor, the couple had changed leads. Sunny wasn't accustomed to slower-paced dancing, but it seemed to come naturally to Randle. He took the lead, and they flowed across the dance floor as if they had been dance partners for years. Soon into the song, two of the remaining couple were disqualified. They too, seemed inexperienced in slower music. That left Randle, Sunny, and two other couples vying for glory.
After the song ended, the couples were asked to line up in front of the announcer. The winners were to be declared.
When the last tune comes to an end Sunny cheerfully hugs Randle,
"Ah! I got's ta' be workin' on me speakin' better! Thank'e much-ly fer ye dancin'!" She bubbles enthusiastically to Randle as they form the line facing the announcer. She even takes time to compliment those other dancers who remain and shared the floor with herself and Randle.
"Ye move so nice, like. An' ye so skilled at movin' so slow about tha' place."
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Randle was surprised when the music stopped and looked confused for a moment as if waking from a dream. Sunny's cheerful hug and comments catch him completely off guard and Randle can only smile and nod in response.
What was I thinking? Dancing like a grouse during mating season. It must be the elvish lass or this place. I must remember my duty and not let these frivolities distract me. By Old Deadeye's beard I will make sure my course is straight as an arrow from here on out. Can't unplow the field so I may as well see what this foolishness reaps. I must have looked like one of the carnival's dancing bears compared to Sunny.
Randle nods to the other dancers and stands beside Sunny in front of the announcer looking uncomfortable with all of the attention from the crowd.
"But I is got'a learn tha' speakin' of tha' peoples better. Yer speakin' of tha' kin be right okeys but can I be speakin' more like tha' peoples with ye?" She asks.
The barker looks confused.
"You already have tickets? Well, show 'em to me then! Don't be shy!"
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The announcer for the dance competition was baiting the crowd with jokes and stories, while the judges sent a boy up with a sealed envelope containing the results.
"...so I told him, 'That's no duck! That's my plow!'" The audience laughed uproariously."Oh, ho! Here we are, ladies and gents! I have the results in front of me now."
He opened the envelope.
"In third place, we have Jonathas and Rosealie!"
The crowd cheered, and Couple One ascended the stage. They were given a paper award, made to look like a copper medal, and they were all smiles.
The announcer continued.
"Now for the winning couple. Just a reminder folks, the second place couple is given a free night's stay at the Heartfelt Embrace Inn, in the Honeymoon Suite! But the grand prize if the real winner here, folks; let me tell you! You may recall the hullabaloo that came about when this monetary prize was put forth. People were in an uproar! The Grand Prize package consists of a night in the King's Suite at the Heartfelt Embrace, dinner on us at the Fleet Messanger's Pub, front-row seats at the Circus, and a full ten gold pieces!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, boos, and all sorts of raucous behavior. A fistfight even broke out in the back over whether a dance compettion was worth that much prize money.
"And now, without further ado, the winners are...."
He pointed at Sunny and Randle.
"Sunny and Randle Kane! What a lovely couple they are folks! Give them a cheer!"
He obviously mistook Randle and Sunny for a couple, but then again, so did the audience. The audience cheered, waved, and generally just made noise.
"Come on up to the stage here, you two, and collect your prize!"
The announcer was grinning ear-to-ear.
Sunny listens happily to what is being called out, even giggling as well when the crowd around her laughs. When the first winners are called out Sunny gives a jump into the air for joy and cheers their success.
At the Commentator pointing to Sunny and Randle and exclaiming they too are winners Sunny again bounces for joy before again hugging Randle enthusiastically. With the indication to come up onto the stage Sunny 'squees' in delight and skips up to where the commentator awaits.
Sunny bounces forward and stand on tip-toes, leaning on the prop to look out at the laughing and cheering crowd swirling around the space before her.
"Much I'd like ta' be thankin' ye fer tha' learnin' of tha' dancin'! An' much I rilly rilly like ta be thankin' ye fer tha learnin' of tha' speakin' of tha' peoples!" Waving back and laughing brightly Sunny calls out to those watching on, before she turns and 'glomp-hugz' the commentator in exuberant thanks. Stepping back and taking both his hands in hers she shakes them up and down vigorously before bouncing over to stand besides randle.
"Hee! Is so much fun an' excitin'! Is jus' like back home, when we has tha' travelin' of tha' Sea Folk comin' past." Sunny burbles away,
"An' we has tha' singin' an'a dancin' an'a runnin' an'a feastin'!" She claps her hands, "Oh! An' tha' olders? They set up one a them rock throwin' thingys an' we throw rocks ta' tha' Sea Folks an' they catch 'em an' they try an' trow 'em back an' get th'a ribbon's an'a banners whut be set up fer 'em ta' hit." Sunny stands taller again and peers around,
"Does ye be havin' any folks like that about fer your high fine t'do? Y'know, rilly rilly tallest folks? Like, taller than a hut type tall?" She shrugs not noticing such and then looks to Randle,
'Hey? Wher tha' other folks winnin' go?" She looks back to the gathered crowd, "there wus more than jus' us an' them t'other two folks? Whut does they be winnin'?"
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Randle stood in shocked silence as the announcer named he and Sunny winners. His protest that they were not in fact wed were drowned out by the roar of the crowd. Randle was led helplessly to the stage by Sunny. It felt like trying to navigate a boat on a raging river without a paddle. Despite every instinct screaming for Randle to decline and leave he could not help but stay and grin at his obviously excited dance partner.
A fool has better sense than I do! You would think I am some youngling drunk on wine at his first festival. If not for the elvish lass I would be gone like a stag into the forest but her I stand like a hare caught in a lamplight.
Norme clapped lightly with a smile. Jezebeth, though she gave a more modest clap, was pouting.
"Weren't they impressive, Jezebeth? We wouldn't have stood a chance!"
As Jezebeth moved to sit far too closely beside him on the left, she ran her hand down his chest as her mark glowed through her fingerless gloves. When she then grabbed his left hand with her own, his mark glowed as well. Jezebeth replied.
"But watching them wasn't as fun~ You don't really give us as much alone time I as wish you did. We are entwined as one now are we not?"
Norme immediately knew what she was doing. He studied this sort of thing after he met her, and the telltale signs of honeyed words to manipulate were all over. He steadied himself and gulped.
"Though we are, that doesn't mean we can go out and flaunt it. Paladins, remember? They would kill you, and I'm the sole reason they haven't yet. I'd say that's enough favor for now. Perhaps we can set time aside later."
He could get serious when he wanted, and he hoped it would be enough to curb her for now. He then stood and grabbed her hand.
"We should go explore some more of the festival. These come rarely, so it's always fun."
The announcer addresses Sunny.
"The fourth and fifth place finishers each receive a free meal, and tickets to see the Halfling Joust later tonight."
He pats her arm.
"Don't you worry now, they'll be well taken care of."
He started handing the various prizes over to the pair.
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A young boy, maybe six years of age, had walked up to Norme and Jezebeth while they were speaking. He tugged on Norme's clothing.
"Mister? Did you know your sister looks funny?"
The boys parents ran over, just in time to look shocked and embarrassed at the boy's words.
"Oh, we're so sorry! He doesn't know any better.."
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The carnival barker took the tickets.
"My apologies, young man!" He tore off the ends of the tickets in a zigzag pattern. "Frederas, take these lovely folks to front-row seats inside!"
He pointed at a large, brutish man, done up with makeup to look less human. Frederas nodded at the group, opened the canvas flap to the pavilion tent, and held it open. He gestured for the group to go inside.
Frederas spoke with a soft, gentle voice.
"Well, miss, there ain't much I know about Dromston. Yeh see, I only recently got into town with the circus."
He thinks for a moment as they walked.
"Well, I kin tell yah about what I hev done since gettin' here, iffin' you'd like."
His lack of an education started to show more and more, as he began speaking with more excitement.
"First thing I done found when I gots here was the Swordbearer; a big ol' smithy on the north end of town. Th' men thur let me help em; even paid me fer a bit a work! Oh, and then thur's the Grodkal's Joint. It's a place where you kin pay to..."
He blushed, and stopped speaking. He even went so far as to clap his hand over his mouth.
Still blushing, if not more so, he continues.
"Well, anyway, after I went an' did that 'un, I wuz tol' 'bout a place what buys yer junk an' pays real nice like. I went and git my travlin' moneys, and wuz able to buy this here tiny thin' fer meself."
He sheepishly reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a tiny ceramic unicorn. It is a beautiful object, shiny, lustrous, and cute. He holds it up proudly. It obviously means a lot to him.
"Do yah likes 'er? I named her Fluffykins! She always be sleepin' on mah pillow at night."
He beamed.
Federas chuckled nervously, and handed over the unicorn to Daven.
He looked at Meg.
"Uh...um...thanks."
He nodded.
"Your seats are jus' over thur."
He pointed at a little seat of box seats, ringside.
The announcer addresses Sunny.
"The fourth and fifth place finishers each receive a free meal, and tickets to see the Halfling Joust later tonight."
He pats her arm.
"Don't you worry now, they'll be well taken care of."
Sunny smiles at the Announcer's comments and eagerly/happily accepts the gifts.
"Ooo! We's got shine!" She exclaims brightly as he looks at the coins cupped in her hands for a moment... Before skipping off and finding the other pair of dancers who'd been amongst herself and Randle at the end of the event. There to hand each one one of the gold pieces from her five (So, it should be one gold piece for each of the other dancers leaving Sunny with one as well) then turning back/returning to Randle.
She turns her remaining coin over and over for a moment before deciding on which side she likes more. Licking the other side she presses the coin to her fore-head and then steps back with a 'How do I look?/'Ta-DAA' pose which lasts only a moment as she again takes the coin in her hands.
"I Wunder if'n I can get it put on'a ribbon? Or a scarf?" She muses then looks to Randle.
"Whut t'is be happenin' next, then?" She asks
Draxwile, for his part, simply watches and listens. It's evident he's trying to follow along, but some of it seems to be sailing over his head. When the big fellow pulls out his tiny unicorn, however, he tilts his head. Was it a pet? He knew it was made of ceramic, right...?
...oh well, who was he to judge?
The other dancers gasp when Sunny gives them such a tremendous prize. They all thank her with hugs, handshakes, and tears.
The announcer, seeing an opportunity, chimes in as well.
"What a nice gesture! Did you see that folks; she gave away most of her prize money to the other contestants! Whatta gal! Give her a hand folks. What a way to celebrate Founder's Day!"
The crowd erupts into cheers and applause.
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Frederas chuckles when he sees Daven casting a spell.
"Wha' you dooin' thur? That a silly song?"
"Thank yeh fer sayin' such a nice thin'. Is good."
He patted Daven on the head affectionately.
The other dancers gasp when Sunny gives them such a tremendous prize. They all thank her with hugs, handshakes, and tears.
The announcer, seeing an opportunity, chimes in as well.
"What a nice gesture! Did you see that folks; she gave away most of her prize money to the other contestants! Whatta gal! Give her a hand folks. What a way to celebrate Founder's Day!"
The crowd erupts into cheers and applause.
Sunny returns the hugs just as cheerfully and enthusiastically. When every one starts cheering and clapping Sunny joins in the cheering and exuberance as well.
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Randle is also moved by Sunny's gesture and passes out a gold piece to four different families in the crowd trying to identify those families most in need telling each, "gold may help but don't forget that it is worth less than family and hard work."
Then Randle returns to stand by Sunny and wonders where they will be lead to next.
Randle, like Sunny before him, was met with tears, hugs, and awkward manly handshakes. It was quite apparent he had made a real difference in the lives of some of these onlookers.
Once he had rejoined Sunny next to the announcer, the announcer was ready to hand over the rest of their prizes. He'd had saved the tickets to the circus and hotel for last.
He leaned in to whisper to the pair. "I don't know if you two are actually a couple, but play nice for the audience, okay?"
He turned back and addressed the crowd.
"Well folks, here is the rest of the prize. One night's stay at the King's Suite at the Heartfelt Embrace Lover's Hotel," He winked at the crowd, who catcalled the pair for a few moments, "Of course, that is after they have dinner the Fleet Messenger's Pub," He turned back to the pair,"Be sure to get the steak!"
With a great flourish, he pulled out the remaining prize, a pair of tickets he handed one each to the pair.
"And last, but of course never least, the Front-Row tickets to the traveling circus! You folks will enjoy it, but you better hustle over there! The show starts in less than ten minutes!" He winked at the crowd, and with a dramatic flourish began to push the two towards the circus. He wasn't actually pushing, but the crowd at it up, and began cheering, clapping, and catcalling once more.
Sunny is happy and excited to receive yet more stuff. Clasping her prizes in cupped hands. As she skips along towards where ever it is she's being directed Sunny gushes excitedly,
"Oh! Steak! I has heard about steak! Is somat ye get from a critter...um... 'Cow'! Yeah! Ye squeeze it or somat an' out ye get is steak!" She bounces along happily towards the pavilion and her 'special' seats, all the while chattering away to Randle about stuff.
"Oh! An' somat called 'Shrooms'. Yeah, I heard that they's rilly, rilly won'erfullest tastin'..."
"What exactly is this 'show' supposed to be? I haven't seen a circus before." Draxwile asked as Daven returned the tiny unicorn, before eyeing the approaching crowd as the fair shouter herded them to the arena. "From the sound of it, it must be a spectacle to see... it's not dangerous, is it?"
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"What exactly is this 'show' supposed to be? I haven't seen a circus before." Draxwile asked as Daven returned the tiny unicorn, before eyeing the approaching crowd as the fair shouter herded them to the arena. "From the sound of it, it must be a spectacle to see... it's not dangerous, is it?"
Honestly Drax, I have never seen the show up front, I'm usually in the back providing light and some special effects...The most dangerous things I know of are the tightrope walkers and the lion tamer
"Mister? Did you know your sister looks funny?"
"Oh, we're so sorry! He doesn't know any better.."
After a bit of a pressured moment, Norme nervously laughed.
"Oh, um. It's fine! We've gotten that before. She wasn't born to my parents. After a couple of boys, they wanted a girl, and she was without hers, so they took her in. So he made sense."
The bold lie was a tale spun simply to appease them, and validate the child in a roundabout way. Jezebeth kept her cool, and simply put the hat she had back on. It looked a lot like Norme's, but was more of her size, as opposed to Norme's, which looked slightly too big.
"Oh, um. It's fine! I've gotten that before. She wasn't born to my parents. After a couple of boys, they wanted a girl, and she was without hers, so they took her in. So he made sense."
After her hat was on, Jezebeth decided to respond with a coy smile.
"Yes, but he's the better of the two brothers for sure. So no offense taken. But, since you are here, do you mind giving us some information about the places around here? We're looking for something fun to do next now that the dancing is done."
Jezebeth crossed her arms and leaned back a bit, a smirk crossing her face as she raised her orange eyes in a quizzical look.
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Randle offers his arm to escort Sunny to the circus. He nods to the cheering crowd and hopes their new found celebrity passes quickly. Randle's stomach growls as they talk of dinner and not for the first time he wonders where Sunny is from in light of her odd questions. Who has never heard of a cow? Perhaps some deep forest elven tribe? However, the answers do not matter as Randle realizes he is become quite fond of Sunny and despite having just he trusts her.
Sunny is too busy glancing around at the town they're walking through, and waving back at people, to initially notice Randle's arm sticking out in an odd way.
When she does notice, she frowns a little, then blinks obviously thinking. Quickly realizing something with her usual 'Oh!' of understanding she twists a little and stuffs the tickets and coin she's holding into a pocket in her skirt.
Having secured her prize she happily takes Randle's arm with both of hers. Skipping and bouncing along besides him.
"So? Whut's that buildin'? Whut's them peoples? Oh! See them lasses in'a buildin' wiff tha' ribbons an'a lil' red lanterns wavin' at us?" Though Sunny doesn't wait for Randle's explanation as she almost immediately waves back a said women brightly and with her usual enthusiasm.
She glances at Randle's midriff.
"Awe, ye is makin' tha' tummy noises?" She looks around at the shops, stalls and vendors they are passing, sniffing at the air.
"Where does folks be goin' fer vittles...?" She muses, "Back home, most times ye can jus' be climbin' tha' right tree... or gettin' somat from tha' ocean..."
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Randle does his best to keep pace with Sunny's barrage of questions. But before he is able to respond with more than a couple of words the elvish lass moves on to the next question.
Noticing Sunny's makeshift outfit, Randle muses subtley, "Perhaps you would allow me to buy you something new to wear with our winnings. It would truly be my honor."
Sunny looks down at herself for a moment before looking back at Randle seeming nonplussed,
"But.. I is wearin' stuff?" She ponders, "An, this stuff is new. I in't never weared it afore." She tries to explain even as the pair continue along with the crowd(?) towards... where ever it is that every one seems to be going.
The little boy turned to his parents.
"See? I told you she was his sister!"
He stuck his tongue out at his mother. She looked frustrated, and gave another apologetic smile to the pair.
"Thank you for being so understanding. He is...a bit difficult."
She reached over to her husband's hand, and grabbed a pair of tickets.
"Here, please; it's the least we can do!"
She thrust the tickets toward Norme and Jezebeth.
Meanwhile, her husband was telling Jezebeth about the sites and sounds of Dromston. There was a wonderful little private school, that had an emphasis on magical instruction. The class sizes were rather small, apparently. He went into detail about the dance hall that was scheduled to open next week, as well as the fact the nearby military base was, he informed Jezebeth in a conspiratorial whisper, reputed to have a fight club.
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At the circus tent, the trio had reached their seats. They were in good seats, ringside, sitting next to an empty box seat. The seats they had were a pair of long benches, made of handcarved oak. It would comfortably seat two human-sized creatures.
It appeared that they were only a few minutes from the start of the show. A few acrobats and jugglers were warming up, and a few children were walking around selling candy for a copper piece each. One, a girl of no more than 12 years, was nearby. She eyed the party, and walked over with determination.
She thrust the candy box at them. It had little mint candies, and a few kinds of chocolate. Her eyes were large and wide, and her lower lip was stuck out, quivering.
"Buy one pwease?"
Randle and Sunny have been escorted to a very nice box, equipped with comfortable chairs, a small table to hold refreshments, and even a carpeted floor. The wooden walls came to about Randle's waist, and gave the illusion of privacy.
Once Sunny buys the whole container, for far more than it is worth, the little girl gladly accepts Sunny's offer. She introduces herself as Clara Grace Cadrin, a local to Dromston. Her family owns a little overnight stable for traveler's horses. Cadrin's Stabling is a small establishment, but fair. Little Clara Grace is overjoyed at the idea of actually getting to watch the show, as well as being able to help her family financially.
"Thank you very, very much." She says in a somber voice, "You're very nice to me miss!" She is trying to be polite, but is obviously excited.
Sunny skips along with Randle. When they arrive at the main entry for the tent/Circus Sunny quickly takes her ticket from her pocket and presents them proudly to the vendor surveying every one's admittance.
"Suny-Randle, multi-pass!" She exclaims brightly, then looks to Randle. "Mool-tee Pass." She repeats the word a few times, seeming to experiment with this new found word.
Once their tickets have been taken and the pair shown to their seats, Sunny's reaction to the little vendor girl is probably typical. With the blond Elf handing over her last prize 'Shine' and thence giving away said treats to all those seated around herself. :)
Sunny nods and listens intently to what Clara says by way of introduction, though come the ned of her 'Hello' Sunny giggles a bit,
"I in't a 'Miss', I is a 'Elf' what be called 'Suny' in'a speakin' of tha' peoples." She 'corrects the young girl brightly. As people shuffle into their seating places around them Sunny quietly begins to natter away with young Clara.
"See? I told you she was his sister!"
"Thank you for being so understanding. He is...a bit difficult."
"Here, please; it's the least we can do!"
"Oh! Uh, thanks! I guess that answers our question."
He smiled and turned to Jezebeth, whom was subtly flirting with the married man as he gave information, causing Norme to take a worried look onto his face.
"Come on Jezebeth... Let's go see the circus show. We should be able to relax a bit there."
Meanwhile, her husband was telling Jezebeth about the sites and sounds of Dromston. There was a wonderful little private school, that had an emphasis on magical instruction. The class sizes were rather small, apparently. He went into detail about the dance hall that was scheduled to open next week, as well as the fact the nearby military base was, he informed Jezebeth in a conspiratorial whisper, reputed to have a fight club
"That sounds marvelous. Do tell me more."
As she smiled, Norme's voice rang at her, and put her into a mood.
"Come on Jezebeth... Let's go see the circus show. We should be able to relax a bit there."
"Hmm? Oh, alright Norme. I suppose it will be entertaining."
The pair then began to make their way to the circus, with Norme thanking the man and woman again. When they reached the tent, they showed their tickets, and hopefully got inside to their seats.