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after learning what he could of the tax collector and the taxes, Hikaru makes his way over to the area where folks are talking about and betting on the bird fights. He declines to place any bets, but watches with intense interest nonetheless...
He makes his way over to Gallako after a bit and asks him quietly, "So what do you think Vralk's chances are against those other birds? I hope he doesn't get hurt badly, neither in body or ego, eh?"
Vralk’s Qualifying Raven Fight
Several nicely carved wooden cages are wheeled into the central competition area, each containing finely bred raven specimens. As a villager removes the canvas cover, the eight ravens within the cages immediately begin cawing aggressively at one another.
Viorec Korzha, who does not himself have a raven in the fight, gets drafted to referee. “This is a fight to qualify for the rest of the matches. If t’other raven goes down, call off your birds! On the count of three... Release your ravens!”
The whole village chants: “ONE. TWO. THREE!”
Grizzle, with his newly mended wing, comes out of his cage eager and sniping, aiming straight for Vralk!
Grizzle scores first blood with his first hit, but Vralk proves to be fairly dodgy in his next two passes. Vralk, can you take him out before he hits you again?
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Mayor Kriegler comes forward as villagers start to feed the bonfire. “In the early days of our founding, Ravenmoor was hit with a supernatural blight. No crops would grow, no seeds would germinate. Our village was starving, and so their priestess, Iola Kriegler, prayed to Desna. ‘Why are we being tormented? What can I do to save our village?’ The answer came, like all answers do, in the middle of the night. ‘You must purify yourself. You must undertake a leap of faith, be the dreamer and the dream. You must go on a vision quest, Iola, if you wish to save Ravenmoor.’”
The Mayor pauses as he looks out over the crowd, the crackling of the flames the only sound as the village holds its breath as one. His face is lit from below, the glow making it look even more manic than usual.
“So she took the leap, traveling over flames and into the realm of dreams and the unknown. So she found the answers and worked the miracles that allowed our crops to grow again. But will we make her do this alone? No! We leap with her!”
The Mayor and his brother, the remaining members of the Kriegler family, leap first over the flames while they are still low. Then elders and children leap, as the flames build. As older boys and healthier villagers join in, the fire is fed to increase the height of the flames.
Viorec turns to all of you. “Will you leap with me? T’others will think you respectful if you do.”
He leaps, but like many villagers can't quite clear the highest flames, comes out with a point of singeing from fire damage.
All the villagers clap for Hikaru, and the pretty teenager Shel Lupesco hands Hikaru a glass of beer. "You were wonderful! So dashing, leaping in that feathered cloak of yours! Weren't you afraid that it would catch fire?"
The villagers rush in and help pull out the feathered shaman / bard / sorcerer out of the flames. One of them pours a bucket of water over Gallako's singed tail feathers. "Hold your head high and think of Desna when you leap!
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Realm of dreams? I'll have to ask Andrietta and Gallako...
Stali is calmly watching as the people leap the flames. He is quite surprised when Gallako fails, and quickly rushes to his aid. "You need more of a running start if you are gong to do something like that, friend. I'm glad you are alright,"
Maybe just ask Andrietta.
He then takes his turn leaping.
Not quite as graceful as Hikaru, but enough to clear the flames without getting singed.
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Hikaru accepts the beer and smiles at Shel, giving her a little wink as he says, "Actually, my dear, I forgot I was wearing something so flammable when I jumped... I should have taken it off and put it into your keeping before I did, then we would have had a reason to meet up after the jump and talk. As it is, it appears we did anyway. Thank you so much for this," he says raising his beer slightly. "So tell me, what does a lovely lady like you find to do here in town? Other than the festival, are there many activities to keep you entertained?"
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Chak begins passing out the betting slips. As confused looks settle upon the faces of the villagers, he facepalms himself with a clawed hand. Chak made the betting slips just as he had remembered seeing them in his youth, including colorful names to identify the participants such as "one-winged bird" and "annoyingly obnoxious dancing pie bird". But he had written them just as he remembered them... from Goka... in Tien.
Abandoning the betting slips, Chak decides to test the flames, but decides it would be wise to do so not weighed down by his armor. Once he has shed his armor he takes a leap.
He clears the flames easily, and sticks the landing on the other side. He does a dance on the other side, wondering if he could have made that leap with his armor on.
Shel eats up every bit of Hikaru’s flattery. “I’d be honored to hold that pretty cloak for you. Never seen nothing like it.” Shel runs her hands over the feathers. “So soft.” She flutters her eyelashes and gives Hikaru a conspiratorial grin. “Are your own feathers that soft, or are they more sleek and functional like a raven’s?”
Then she sighs when Hikaru asks her about the town’s entertainments. “Nothing to do in this town between festivals but smack bugs and work. Sometimes I help ma in the shop, and that’s not so bad. Sometimes I do smithy work with my father, and I hate it, but ‘least it’s too hot in the smithy for bugs most of the time. My old boyfriend, Paulli, and I talked of going to Riddleport together but then he got all strange on me for a couple weeks and after that... He went off to Riddleport on his own without even saying goodbye.”
She looks up at him. “The Mayor says you’re all here to bleed us dry for taxes, and then you’ll be off to Riddleport too. That true?”
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Vralk is declared to be one of the toughest competitors anyone’s seen. The betting begins anew, with villagers eagerly grabbing betting slips and then scratching their heads at the Tien.
Leonard Kriegler looks at his slips angrily, waving them under Chak’s nose. “What in hells? Ya got slips written in common, Beakbrain?”
Clawfoot vs Foolscap
Greediguts Attacks
While Gallako tends Vralk’s wounds, two more wooden cages get wheeled out, and Clawfoot and Foolscap dart and glide, attacking each other in an almost dancing fight. Finally, Clawfoot falls to the ground, the Foolscap’s owner parades the Raven around the commons.
Meanwhile, the only bird fatter than Vralk gets wheeled out. Greediguts is in a snarly mood, rattling against his wooden cage and thumping the door as he caws angrily. The villagers whoop. Leonard Kriegler elbows Gallako hard in the side, and yells, “That’s my bird! Your bird’s in for a heap o’pain, City Boy!”
The betting begins anew, with villagers rushing Chak for betting slips written in common. What a fight! Greediguts is clearly a prime contender, hitting Vralk every time he circles, and once for a double damage crit!
___
The whole town watches in shock and applauds as Chak does the highest leap (maybe to get away from all the raven bettors) that they’ve ever seen in this small town!
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The next game is announced!
Saul Lupescu, the town's smith and trader, produces an aged wooden box containing old, rusty starknives. He holds the starknives up high. “These were the weapons carried by our village's founder, Iola Kriegler! She could throw these crazy blades as far as dreams could take her!”
He explains that up to eight contestants can compete. “Y’all can take turns throwing six starknives at bales of hay at distances of 20, 60, and 100 feet, with the most sticks winning the contest!” He looks at Stali and the other tengu. “Since y’all are visitors, do you want first try at the Falling Stars contest?”
Krissy turns to Andrietta. “I bet you’re a great thrower! Can you toss some Falling Stars at those bales?”
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There is a flurry of beaks and claws with both Raven and Crow dealing and taking damage. Greediguts manages to land more blows on Vralk than Vralk lands on him but Vralk is just bigger and so can take more damage and outlasts Greediguts
"I win. But I have NEVER seen a raven so mighty as Greediguts. He is a wonder amongst ravens. I name him Greediguts the Magnificent, the Raven who NEARLY beat Vralk The Mighty. He may eat beside me today and have some of my PIE!. Gally, heal him up!"
Gallako does as ordered and heals up both Vralk and Greediguts.
Viorec comes up to shake both Gallako and Leonard's hands. "That was the fiercest raven fight I've ever seen! We'll be talkin' 'bout that one for generations to come!"
Ornigaard claps for Vralk. "I told my friends you were the feistiest bird I ever seen! Look at how you stood up to Greediguts!"
Snaphounce vs Soot
Vinegar Tom vs. Wormwort
There are two more raven battles in round one of the Raven Fights. Snaphounce narrowly routs Soot, while Wormwort has a surprise win against local favorite, Vinegar Tom. Then it's time for Round Two, Snaphounce versus Vralk!
Snaphounce starts strong, hitting five times with its first five attacks, but then starts to peter out. Vralk, can you take him?
Wormwort vs Foolscap
Meanwhile, Foolscap pulls out a victory against Wormwort, earning the right to advance to the final round!
Saul Lupescu explains that you have six tosses total. "Hitting the nearest bale and sticking is one point. Hitting the middle bale is worth 4 points. Hitting the far bale is worth 10 points, though hardly anyone ever does that." Then he looks at Chak speculatively. "Are you thinking of entering, lad?"
Viorec nods as Vralk and Snaphounce have another potent fight with tons of feathers flying. "Our last match will be between Foolscap and Vralk!" He looks at Foolscap's person, a thin woman named Ida Krevinsk. "Mistress Krevinsk, is Foolscap ready to go to the final round?" The woman eyes Vralk nervously, biting her lip, then finally nods.
Viorec then looks to Vralk, then Gallako. "Vralk, are you ready to go to the final round?"
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You say hardly, scarcely or barely anyone hits, strikes, or reaches that far bale? Well, then observe for I am not just anyone!
Chak takes a moment to focus on the far bale. Slowly he releases his breath and then launches a shot with all his power.
*thunk* The star buries itself in its target.
The second shot veers a little off target.
The third nearly gets away from him completely. He lets out a nervous chuckle.
The fourth shot grazes the bale but doesn't stick.
The fifth falls short.
And the final one nearly hit the middle bale by accident.
Well, you are sure right about that. These things are a bit heavy, for throwing if you ask me, but I showed you it could be done, accomplished and completed. It was possible, doable, and achievable.
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Stali hefts the starknives, trying to get a feel for how they work. He then steps up just behind Chak, awaiting his turn to try throwing them.
I am surprised they have allowed them to rust like this, I would have expected them someone to have cared for them better than this.
Once Chak is done, Stali steps up.
"I guess it is my turn. Think I'll go simple for my first throw."
"These throw better than expected..."
"...or some of them do...."
Shaking his head, he admits "I don't see how General Chak was able to hit that far bale." With that, he throws his final starknife at the middle bale.
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Watching all her friends participate in the various contests, Sarano prefer's to stay out of the limelight, instead choosing to eat some fair food and perhaps listen in to what the town's folk are saying.
After watching the Raven flights she'll offer to help mend any of the animals if they are too hurt.
If the little girl is still with her, she'll whisper, "want to see a fun trick?" drawing out her wand of Speak with Animals she'll cast it on herself and then try and convince one of the ravens to drop a pie on Hikaru, jealous to see him flirting with Shel.
I mean, she doesn't even have any feathers, might as well be naked, hmph
The crowd erupts with a cheer when General Chak gets at least one rusty starknife into the furthermost bale. Despite the subsequent misses, members of the crowd come up to shake his hand.
Mayor Kriegler claps. "IMPRESSIVE! So impressive! Ten points to General Chak!"
Then Stali plays a more conservative game, earning 17 points and some good-natured applause, but nothing like the enthusiasm that Chak's single hit got. Crowds love dare devils, and these villagers are no exception.
Then Viorec steps up, looking nervous. "I have no idear why Iola Kriegler insisted on usin' these starknives. Their balance makes no sense to me at all. Why couldn't she have gone with daggers or something that made sense?"
Like Stali, he plays a conservative game, aiming all of his throws at the middle bale. Unlike Stali and Chak, it is clear that Viorec has little idea how to handle the odd-shaped knife, despite having grown up in this village.
"How the heck do you aim these blasted things?"
"A little better!"
"Huh! Maybe I'm figurin' them out!"
"Or not..."
He earns 8 points, and shakes Stali's and Chak's hands. "Any of the rest o' you tryin' this?" He looks to the rest of the party.
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Poor Foolscap only gets in one attack on Vralk before he goes down. The crowd cheers Vralk and foists treats upon him.
Snaphounce and Grizzle get very excited at the idea of dropping food on Hikaru. They can't manage to haul a full pie, but they can spew cracker bits on him. "CAW!! CAW!!"
They mostly miss, showering the area around the flirting couple. Shel yells, "Ewwww! What's gotten into you birds?!"
Hannah Lupescu doesn't care that the ravens miss. The little dark-haired girl hugs Sarano and says, "That was the bestest trick ever!!"
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Andrietta will walk along slowly, using her quarterstaff as a walking stick and generally taking her time. The eating of the small sticky bun makes the paladin crinkle her eyes with a bit of a twinkle.
"Krissy, dear, you're not a bird, it's okay if you eat more. It's okay, and it's good on you for showing respect to your elders, but... you're still growing and need more to eat."
She will listen intently to Krissy as she speaks, then tilts her head as the question comes up about being scared.
"There's being scared on the outside, and being scared on the inside. Scared on the outside, everyone sees that, everyone knows something scared you, dear. I don't get scared on the outside anymore, because *my* Gramma watches out for me. I do worry, though, because if you stop worryin', you stop carin'. And that's a first small step to being a bad person."
"Sometimes fear is good, sometimes it's bad. So what do the Night Stalkers look like, according to Hannah? Did she say?"
There's a brief pause as the adoptive grandmother considers.
"Have you ever heard stories of grown-ups bein' taken, too?"
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"Now, now, Shel, we haven't come here to cause any harm to the town, certainly not to collect taxes that have already been collected... we are here to find the tax collector and hopefully the taxes that were already paid. And I'm sorry your young man left without you, but it seems by even your own account he was troubled for a time before he left. Something was worrying at him... May I ask when this occurred, when he left that is?"
He also adds: "And as to my feathers being as soft as the cloak, the cloak IS made from my own feathers, so they should be equally as soft.. would you like to confirm that yourself... I am not averse to the idea of your touch, my dear. Perhaps We can make you something from a few I've shed recently - perhaps a hat? or decoration for a belt?"
Hikaru takes his turn with the star knives, aiming two at each distance of target, but only after asking Shel, "May I dedicate these throws to your beauty? Perhaps you would let me carry your token for luck before I throw?"
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Looking at Stali, hoping he didn't notice that she just sent a flight of birds to harry Hikaru, "Oh. . they look rather sharp don't you think? I-I-I guess I can try,"
Sarano throws all six of the blades at the first barrel.
Looking around, amazed that most of them hit, breathing softly, "Woah. . ."
I mean, I doubt Shel could have hit even a single barrel, and what kind of name is Shel? There's no ocean around here, how'd they even pick that name
Krissy curls up like a fledgling under Grandma Andrietta's comforting wings. She then whispers in Grandma's ear. "Hannah said the Night Stalkers looked like big stirges, only with people arms and legs and such." She shudders. "Sometimes they take grownups, I think. They tell me that if you get taken by the Dreamer's Moth, that's what you become. A Night Stalker."
Meanwhile, Hannah glances at the flirting couple, then sticks a finger down her throat and mimics puking to Sarano as she watches them. "Bleah! Do grownups have any idea how stupid they sound when they flirt like that?"
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Still, inspired by his new muse, Hikaru scores another 16 points and quite a few cheers from the crowd and a number of his starknives hit the bales. Shel claps for him and kisses him on the cheek. "Your feathers are soft!"
Shel's father narrows his eyes and starts storming towards the couple, only to be stopped by a middle-aged blond woman that looks remarkably like an older version of Shel. She grabs the sturdy blacksmith by the hand and whispers something in his ear. He abruptly stops, his expression more pensive than angry.
Even shy Sarano gives the game a try, sticking quite a few into the nearest bale and getting a respectable five points.
Krissy asks Andrietta, "Are you gonna try it? My old grandma used to throw stars, and she hit more often then she missed!"
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Mayor Kriegler announces, "It's time for the three-legged race! Who all wants to compete? Do our fair visitors wish to try their wings... er... legs at the race? Remember it's a running race! No flying allowed!"
The Mayor raises his eyebrows. "Oh, come now. Surely some of you spry newcomers want to pair up and give this a go! Find a partner, and join the race!"
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The grandmother nods knowingly, giving Krissy a comforting hug when she shudders.
"That sounds really scary, and sort of sad, too, because getting taken away from your family ain't right. We'll kind of listen around more, kiddo, see what else we can find out."
At the urging of the child the grandmother steps to the line and takes her designated armload of stars, letting a pair fly at the far target, then a pair at the middle, then a pair at the nearest before grabbing her quarterstaff and twirling it around as if to strike at an imaginary target that had closed to her location...
With good enough form from the blow, she will hold her quarterstaff extended for a few beats, not QUITE showing off before twirling it around and leaning on it heavily once more.
Andrietta scores a respectable eleven points, including on hit on the far bale. Krissy cheers loudly for her. "How did you learn to use one of those Starknives? We never get to see them 'cept at festival time."
When it becomes clear that Gallako is too busy carting a preening Vralk around to participate in Falling Stars, other villagers step up, but like Viorec, they find the strange blades difficult to handle. They get a few lucky thunks into the nearest bale, and Stali is declared the winner!
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Gally whispers to Hikaru
"I don't want to embarrass the villagers. Or ourselves. Lets just take it slow and steady"
Assuming Hikaru agrees, would take 10 on acrobatics for a 12. So, full move. Which would likely put us somewhere in the middle of the pack.
If Hikaru prefers to try and go faster Gallako would definitely agree.
Stali is declared the overall winner of the star throwing contest, though big cheers are also offered for Gallako, Hikaru and Andrietta, for making those challenging distance throws.
Other contestants step up to join the race, giggling. A number just take it slow, making their way across the field as steadily as possible.
Some of the younger contestants, inspired by watching Stali and Chak, try to go faster.
Pair A, a couple of teen girls named Elsa and Mari, cannot stop giggling and keep falling hilariously over themselves.
Pair B does VERY well. They're a pair of brothers, named Owen and Arthur Belesco. They're determined farm boys who've clearly been practicing for this event, and have been reigning champions for five out of last six festival days. They come in just behind Stali and Chak, but ahead of Hikaru and Gallako. Everyone cheers them heartily, and when they're done, they shake Stali and Chak's hands. “That was the best racing we had in a long time!” Owen declares. “You gave us a workout!”
Pair C is more cautious, but keeps a decent clip. The remaining pairs are a bit uneven, with one partner faster than the other, which bogs both down. All in all, it's declared to be a great race. The mayor shakes the hands of Stali and Chak, and everyone cheers for both them and Owen and Arthur.
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Once the three-legged race ends, the villagers quickly erect a low fence of timbers around the central competition green while a pair of brawny villagers bring a squealing, sickly-looking pig into the enclosure. To the cheers of a growing crowd, the men slather the increasingly agitated pig liberally in slippery grease before tying the end of the rope around its neck to a post.
“It's time for the Greased Pig Contest!" Mayor Kriegler calls over the high-pitched squealing of the pig. “Now, we’ve seen our feathered friends dominate in the other contests, but now... Now, we’re gonna give ‘em a challenge that’s down to EARTH. We know you’re fast, but can you lot catch a greased pig?”
The villagers are whooping and laughing, and even Viorec is grinning from ear to ear. “C’mon, I know you fellas can do this. And if you can’t, it’ll be just too dang funny to pass up. C’mon, make our day!”
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Stali gives Owen and Arthur each a firm handshake, sincerely complementing them "Glad you enjoyed it! You made it quite the race for us as well."
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Looking warily towards the pen, Stali says "I can give it a try. Exactly what do I need to do?" Might be a good idea to go first. Might be less muck. I am going to need a bath after this!
As he is saying this, he unstraps his sword and leaves his excess gear near Sarano. "Please watch this for me."
"Needs at least three pig grapplers at a time, or s’not a proper greased pig contest!" Viorec declares.
“We have ourselves one volunteer, do I hear more?” Mayor Kriegler asks.
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The grandmother takes off her pack and a smaller pack and leaves them with Sarano, cracking her neck back and forth as she step-thumps into the muddy enclosure leaning on her quarterstaff.
"Ain't nothing what won't come off with a good washing. You've got washing bins for after this, right? Wouldn't be fitting t' sit at a feast all muddied up an' all, would it?"
She'll step-thump around, glancing at the judges. "It's okay if I keep my walkin' stick with me, right? Promise I won't hurt the porker with it."