Kereek bows dramatically to the King, smiling toothily. "We am Big Heroes, King! Baron Jon am sending us to compete!"
Prazil scratches his head in confusion, forgetting yet again the helmet he wears atop his head, and shrugs in silence, accepting that his efforts in learning to call Jon Duke instead of Baron were wasted.
Shaking his head to banish the confusion, Prazil then smiles brightly and waves at the King of Pitax. "Hi!"
Katerina knows little of the man personally. Pitax has long been an unstable country with an uncertain future. King Irovetti has ruled it for over a decade, and under him it has flourished into an artist's paradise.
The King gets the woman massaging his shoulders to stop and go to a nearby tent-room to fetch a platter of fruit, cheese, crackers, dip, and a decanter of wine with glasses.
"Please, take a seat," he says, and another servant brings two regular-sized chairs and two small-sized chairs. "Tell me of the welfare of your kingdom. As it understand it, it is only a few years old, but that region that you inhabit is notoriously unstable. How fare your people?"
"Being so close to Brevoy, you must be nervous about the rumour of war there. This is the first year that Brevoy's competitors won't be joining us in the decade that we've had this festival."
Prazil looks expectantly at his comrades, having learned quite some time ago to defer to them in times of serious, heavy talk. Still, he couldn't help himself from at least being friendly to the nice man and answering his initial question.
"Good, your highnessness! Thanks!" He smiles brightly before resuming a more neutral expression after catching a withering 'don't-be-stupid' glance from Kereek.
Kereek nods vigorously. "Our peoples am very good! Very good and very ... people. We am for making a good place for all peoples who am good." Kereek adds.
King Irovetti narrows his eyes. Not suspiciously, but with curiosity and confusion. "Hm. It's good. My kingdom is good too - I've been working hard to promote the arts, and to expand our borders into neighboring areas."
"Well, my herald Nunzio will show you to your tent - there should be people there to meet with you. Please let him know who is going to be competing in each event in the next few hours."
Prazil helpfully adds, "Kereek am artist too! He am for liking to paint!"
"Oh? That's good to know, thank you for telling me, little scaled creature." The King waves the group away dismissively, and a young unobtrusive servant comes to lead the group away.
A short walk later and you are led to your own tent. A huge and ornate pavilion tent decorated with the Hartsland flag and colors. Inside you find both your Baron, Jon Surtova, and Orin Ro. They are accompanied by a half-dozen servants and porters. They smile as the group enters the tent, and Baron Jon gets up to pass by the group.
"It's good to see you!" he says, waving, shaking hands, giving hugs and patting heads. "I suppose that my meeting with Irovetti is next. How did yours go?"
The servant stands behind the group, speaking softly, "Nunzio will be by in two hours to collect your tournament registration. The competitions are as follows:
"On the first day, there is an archery competition. Contestants select provided bows and arrows, and compete to get the greatest number of difficult shots in a short period of time. There are three targets at varying distances, and you have six arrows to fire. You have forty seconds to fire. The archery competition is followed by a march by each of the nations showcasing things that the nation wishes to showcase."
"On the second day, there is a display of magical prowess. Each champion choreographs a non-lethal display, like a fireworks display, using only their own magical ability and imagination. They will be graded by judges on their showmanship. It is followed by a great heroes' feast."
"On the third day, there is a test of strength. Contestants select provided axes and compete to chop through the greatest number of logs. Points are awarded for each complete and for each partial log's destruction. On the night of the third day, we construct a great pavilion in the center of the arena, and there is a boasting competition. Contestants fabricate a story, and are judged based off of the magnitude and construction of their story."
"On the fourth day, there is much feasting and celebration. We party all day and all night long, and contestants drink heavily. At midnight on the fourth day, there is a drunken joust. Contestants ride provided horses, carry provided lances, and attempt to unseat opposing riders from the other kingdoms."
"Mr. Nunzio will be by soon to collect which competitions you are going to be signing up for."
He pulls out a little piece of paper which explains what he just said. "Kingdoms are awarded points for first and second place showings in the various competitions. The top-two-scoring kingdoms are awarded legendary gifts. This year's gifts are a rod of splendor for second place and a luck blade with two active wishes for first place."
Once alone Katerina exhales, her nervousness faltering. "The tournament. I think I could give a fair showing at the archery, unless Agnar would prefer doing it. Obviously Kereek will win the magic competition. Maybe do a phatasmal display of our trials?" She looks at Marcy and says, "I was afraid the strength contest would be something like that." Turning to Prazil she adds, "But our knight should be able to do just fine, no?" When the kobold fairly jumps up and down at the idea Kat smiles. "Boasting is to Marcy without a doubt, and I suspect she won't have to fabricate a story with all she's seen in her decades on Golarion." Though she thinks about it, she does not stick her tongue out at Marcy. "Lastly, the joust goes to Prazil. Par excellence, he is our knight and I doubt any here could best him, with or without Spike."
"But that leaves us this question: what do we showcase of Hartsland? What are we most proud of?"
Prazil shrugs at Kat's question. "How can we be for having all of Hartsland in the parade? That would be for taking a very long time."
Kereek bows to the King and nearly leaps for joy when they see Baron Jon-Jon. "Ooo, Kereek am for displaying magical prowess, yes yes!"
Marcelline, sitting nearby and leaning up against a provided table, smirks and nods. "Lying for a good cause is easy," she says. "Lying for my own personal enrichment? That comes practically effortlessly."
Agnar touches Skybolt with a hand when Katerina asks him to shoot. He shrugs. "If you would ask me to compete, I would, but I have no special preferences."
Baron Jon chuckles. "It seems like you've got this handled," he says. "I'm off to meet King Irovetti. I'll be back soon! You'll have to regale me with what you've been doing since we last saw one another when I return."
Prazil frowns and his shoulders sag as Jon strides off to meet with Irovetti. He opines, "Awww, we am for never getting to be seeing him any more."
Slumping into a chair within the large tent, he shrugs at mention of the joust. "It am for sounding like joust am not for being normal joust. Prazil am not for being sure about getting drunk. What am that for even being like?"
As Jon takes his leave, Katerina offers a curtsy, "Stay safe,
m'Lord."
"Marcy's sure to have tales of drunken benders, not me. I imagine it's like trying to stand up and finding your legs have other ideas. Or that you speak and your tongue feels like a dry wash cloth." Katerina shrugs, "Like I said, drunkenness has never been something I have done."
Orin walks up to the group. "I bet I could show decently at the archery competition," he says, shaking hands in greeting. "if none of you wants to participate, that is. And we can find somebody who wants to drink to joust."
"Prazil am for doing it, Prazil am just not for knowing what to be for expecting is all."
After a couple of hours, Irovetti's herald Nunzio Arpaia comes to the tent. He has a large ledger, inside which he records the names of each contestant that is going to compete in the Rushlight Tournament. He thanks the heroes and leaves the tent, heading around to each kingdom's pavilion to take down their offerings.
When the evening comes, Baron Jon returns from his meeting with Irovetti laughing, and the whole group shares dinner as provided by the Pitaxians. Dinner tonight is a massive roast pig that the whole group gets to share and roasted corn cobs completely slathered with butter. The whole meal is well-spiced and the flavor is nearly overwhelming. Carafes of wine or different juices are brought to the group whenever the previous carafe is emptied.
The next morning, the heroes are awakened by a great trumpeting. Summoned to the great coliseum, everyone except for Katerina is guided onto the stands, which are tall and wooden and hold hundreds of people - nearly all nobles or family of the competitors from neighboring River Kingdoms.
Katerina is led into a small preparation room where she finds five other competitors. From Daggermark, an agile young rogue named Ilraith Valadkani stands fiddling with his bow, glancing back and forth between the other competitors. From Mivon, a middle-aged elven maiden named Navarathna. She seems jittery and excited, and introduces herself to Katerina right away. From Tymon, a half-orc gladiator called Damanjot. He is large and strong, and merely grunts at Katerina's appearance. Pitax's champion is the popular barbarian warrior Villamor Koth, who is also King Irovetti's personal bodyguard. From Gralton, a noble-looking hunter named Heidan Wyld stands.
One of the competition assistants hands Katerina a mwk composite longbow (+1 Str) and tells her to wait just a few minutes.
Prazil drinks as much wine as he is able at the dinner, hoping to learn what being drunk is like. It doesn't take long before the little kobold is tipsy and even less time after that before he's well and truly drunk.
He winces in the morning at the sound of the incredibly loud trumpets and narrows his eyes to mere slits to shield himself from the angry morning light. He plops down on the stands between Kereek and Orin with a groan, and raises a hand to cast shade across his face. "Prazil am not for understanding bigfeets. Or maybe bigfeets am not for feeling like this after they am for having lots and lots of wine?" He shakes his head and looses another soft groan.
Try as he might, he can't recall much other than impressions from dinner the night before.
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Heidan smiles and nods to the newcomer.
"We're complete then?" he asks.
At his feet, a monstrous big cat lies. She looks the maiden up and down and gives a wide yawn, showing an impressive set of fangs.
Once pleasantries are concluded, Heidan moves to his spot and focuses his attention for a moment.
Arrows seem to fly from quiver to string to the farthest target almost faster than the eye can follow, four shaft gone in a matter of seconds. He frowns, shaking his head, as the last two don't go precisely where he intended.
He takes a beat and fires his final two arrows at the same target, again shaking his head as his aim isn't perfect. He passes the bow back to the judge.
"It seems I'm more used to my own tools than I'd realized," he muses.
Stowing her nervousness, This is just another duel, truly, Katerina greets Navarathna warmly, "Is maith liomsa freastal ort. Ádh mór a thabhairt duit an lá inniu." She returns Heidan's smile with one of her own, her grey eyes weighing him in the process. To the others she is cool, and keeps an eye on how they behave.
Katerina watches as the hunter Heidan shows his skills. Her cheeks flush as she sees so many misses. Did the man just throw the match? Why? Moving to the line Katerina takes the oversized bow and trying not to think of how the longbow almost dwarfs her, she tests the draw. The bow was never my weapon of choice, but at least I can do what I can. On the signal she sets, draws and looses a series of shots in a steady rhythm, Green, Green, Blue; Green, Green, Blue.
The first shot leaves the bow beautifully, directed right at the center of the target. Which, it promptly bounces off of. Her next shot is a bit wild as she tries to put more draw behind it, but at least this one sticks. Then to the blue target, her arrow is accurate enough. Her arms continue like a clockwork, her breathing steady, exhale-pause-shoot-inhale. The green target is struck again, another blue fletched arrow sprouting from it; and again. The last arrow flies and slams into the blue target, making a 'V' with the one she sent into it earlier.
for
for
for
for
for
for
She lowers the bow, looking at her workmanship. Did I do better than the hunter? Katerina keeps her eyes focused downrange, trying not to reveal her excitement. But I missed one, too...I need to practice more with a bow. She looks back at the crowd, and is relieved to her a steady if gentle applause.
Heidan seems supremely confident.
Heidan gives a wry smile to the pretty blonde.
"Nice shooting; better than my own this day, even if a more cautious target," he says.
"I...well, archery is new to me." She returns the smile, and offers, "And it was windy when you were shooting."
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Each competitor lines up and fires their arrows after the pop of a snapdragon firework, and must stop before the pop of a second. Heidan gets four of his arrows into the red target, scoring 28 points, while Katerina scores 19 points firing at the green and blue targets.
Villamor Koth, the Pitaxian competitor, fire his arrows slowly. He fires one at a time, and his arrows fly Vital and strong, sticking solidly into his red targets, scoring 30 points.
The ranger Damanjot fires at the red target. He fires slowly and deliberately as well, only one arrow at a time. He seems to have excellent senses, and the distance of the last target doesn't hinder him much. Five of his own arrows stick into the targets, with his last bouncing off of the edge harmlessly - he scores 25 points.
Navaranth jumps about, showing off with fast shots at the red target - she fires all six of her arrows in barely ten seconds. Her arrows are fast and accurate, but three of them bounce off of the target, failing to do any damage. She scores 23 points.
The Daggermark competitor is caught trying to switch out his arrows with adamantine arrows. Adamantine would render the thickness of the targets worthless, and would make it far too easy to deal damage to the targets. He is immediately disqualified, though he doesn't seem too upset about it.
Nunzio Arpaia calls out the final roster of competitors as the competition ends. Pitax is the winner, and scores 3 points towards the final prize. Heidan scores 1 point for Gralton to determine prizes.
Villamor - Pitax - 30 points
Heidan - Gralton - 28 points
Damanjot - Tymon - 25 points
Navaranth - Mivon - 23 points
Katerina - Hartsland - 19 points
Ilraith - Daggermark - disqualified
There is much applause and fanfare, and significant trumpeting as well, and the competition formally ends. The coliseum is given over to Pitaxian entertainers, who either fire arrows in interesting or convoluted ways (with their feet for instance) or who juggle or breathe fire.
Trying not to sulk, And not a swordsman in the bunch, I bet!, Katerina approaches Heidan. "A better show than you thought."
Kereek claps hard for Kat, but looks really impressed with the Pitax entertainers. "Hmm, Kereek am thinking he am for making better fireworks! And better fire breathing!"
Prazil winces at each of Kereek's claps and then withers as the victor is proclaimed and the home crowd erupts in cheers and shouts. "Ughhhh. Prazil am for thinking that Prazil am not for liking being drunk." He leans forward and claps his hands over his ears, forgetting once more the helmet he wears, and so does very little to muffle the noisome throng around him.
Orin sighs and rolls his eyes, "I bet I could have done better," he says, though Jon admonishes him for not supporting their comrade. "The other contestants made a strong showing, and are clearly very competent archers. Give Katerina her due - she made all of her targets."
Heidan smiles again.
"Better, but not good enough," he says ruefully. "This is not the type of archery I'm used to, truth be told. I'm trying to turn over somewhat of a new leaf, as it were, so good practice. You shot well for someone who -- if I may be so bold -- is more accomplished with the sword at your hip than the bow."
"Prazil, I'm sorry I suggested you do this stupid challenge. I just hoped to show Hartsland wants to be a good neighbor and follow Irovetti's rules. Maybe Agnar has something to help your head?"
* * *
Kat ignores Orin as he smarts off, and keeps her face neutral as he is chastised by Jon. "Thank you, m'Lord."
A new leaf? from what, I ask... As Heidan compliments her reputatation she answers, "I was taught by the best and honed by deadly opponents... but I shouldn't brag." Her cheeks take some color and her voice fades. she changes back to the original topic,
"Ahem. No, I should have been more bold in my strategy. No risks means few rewards."
"Challenge am not stupid! Jousting am for being very fun! Being drunk am not for being fun, though. Maybe jousting am for being more fun than being drunk am not?" He shrugs, then offers Kat a hug. "You am for doing way better at the shooting than Prazil would be for doing, Kat! Those targets am for being really far away!"
He then looks up at the other competitor she's speaking with and he waves cheerily despite his pained squint against the harsh light. "Hi!"
During the post-challenge exultation and party, somebody approaches the group. A middle-aged human man, he is equipped with adventuring gear and an ornate black rapier. He wears a small crest on his shoulder which identifies him as hailing from the kingdom of Tymon, the gladiator-archy. He hails the group in a confident baritone. "Greetings, Hartsland emissaries. Mr. Heidan. I hope you will accept my compliments when I say that you performed well for a brand-new River Kingdom, and that I look forward to seeing your performances in future contests."
"I am wondering if I can have a moment of time with your archery contestant, Katerina." he says, his head inclined.
Baron Jon looks at Katerina, a questioning frown on his face.
Heidan nods, waiting to see what the lass decides.
His hand idly ruffles the fur of the massive cat that's padded up to join him.
Prazil's attention is ripped away from the swordsman to the big cat and he gasps, suddenly forgetting his headache. "Ooooo! Wow, Mister, am this big kitty for being yours?! Can I be for petting it?"
Heidan shakes his head.
"He's not a pet, and I don't own him," he says, his voice serious though without any strong emotion, as if he's simply stating a fact. "He's a friend.
"Would you pet any of your other friends?" he continues, gesturing toward the others in the area. "If not, I wouldn't pet Thkrull here."
The word means silent death in orcish.
Katerina looks to Baron Jon and asks, "With your leave, m'Lord?" When the baron nods his assent she steps off and follows the newcomer. As they walk she moves to his left side. "It's an honor to meet you Gregor Aldori. To what do I owe this visit?"
He hums as he leads Katerina a small distance away from her allies. "By chance," he begins, "I am here competing for Tymon, in the story-telling competition. I was watching the competition, and happened to notice you entering. You see, I have heard tales of your exploits - of your triumph over the cyclops which destroyed Varnhold, and your defeat of the corrupt Lord Drelev, and many other things. I have also heard that you never formally earned the name Aldori."
"I am here to ask if you wish to rectify that by engaging me in a one-on-one swordfight, here, at the festival. If you beat me fairly and with witnesses, I would be honored to bestow the name upon you."
Katerina's jaw drops.
Prazil scratches his head at Heidan's question, forgetting his own helmet again, as he considers the difference between pet and friend, petting and hand shaking. After several long moments, he asks, "What about hugs? Prazil hugs Spike and Fang and Agnar and Orin. Prazil used to be for hugging Kereek, but Kereek am for saying it was for being embarrassing."
Heidan blinks.
"In my experience, a wild animal isn't going to appreciate you trying to hug it. Thkrull will probably think you're trying to choke her and react ... unpleasantly," Heidan says with a slight smile, a hint of humor in his serious voice.
Then he changes the subject.
"I must admit, though I've heard stories, seeing kobolds equally represented in a kingdom of man is new to me..."
Gregor furrows his brows. "Ms. Katerina. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, lots of new things for Prazil too. Centaurs trapped in really old cyclops ruins was for being new. Mean troll king was for being new too. Tatzylwryms and Tigerlords and frog-people, all am for being new. But new am new only once. You am for getting used to it though." He smiles brightly at the archer-man then glances to the side and point to Katerina a short distance away, her mouth agape as she stares without blinking at the swordsman with her.
"Huh. What am for being wrong with Kat-lady? Prazil am not for seeing her make that face before." He turns back to Heidan and offers a shining grin. "Oooh! Another new thing!"
Heidan snorts.
"I suppose you're right. Unfortunately, that look is nothing new to me. You could say it's why I'm here, as it's not always deserved."
He turns his attention to the other two to watch what's happening.
Katerina finally closes her mouth, fortunately before any flies get in. She looks at Gregor Aldori and says, "I am fine, m'Lord, it's just that there are those who would challenge your wisdom. I am too young they would say." She stops her jabbering and bows to Gregor, "It would be my honor to be formally accepted as a Aldori Swordlord by you." Deep in her chest her heart is hammering like mad.
