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To say Chak was feeling a bit 'stuffed' was an understatement.
He looked over the feast, his mouth still watering as it would, but every time he tried to open his mouth, a waft of rotting vegetation crossed his beak, forcing him to quickly shut it.
Not only wad Chak having a difficulty eating anything, but worse yet, it made one of his favorite activities, talking, difficult.
He rubbed belly with one hand, and the bite on his arm with another, his jaw clenching until it hurt.
With Andrietta’s encouragement, Alizna shows off her fabric. “Got some worms from a trader near fifty years ago! Use silk for ‘most everything now! It’s sturdy, durable, soft! Warm in winter, cool in summer!”
Arthur nods to Stali. “Happens from time to time. Pigs and other animals go bad round here. Our Uncle Hal got hit with one that gave him tendrils out of his gut for a day until we got them all pulled out.”
The families responsible for particular aspects of the meal proudly make their way to each table or pavilion, bringing platters laden with food. Once all are served, Mayor Kriegler stands for a short benediction. “It is time for us to bless the meal and give thanks to the slumbering dreamer whose gossamer cloak protects us.”
When Andrietta also gives her blessing, the Mayor cocks his head.
Meanwhile Alizna elbows Andrietta. “What was that? Some kind of spell? Are you a priestess, dear?”
Among the usual fare of whole fresh greens, roasted pig, and fresh-baked breads, there are also more unusual food items in this offering. You see black mushrooms, an odd-smelling salad tossed in a malt vinegar, fried silk worms, smoked tick legs and stirge blood sausage.
When the wooden platter of fried silkworms arrives, Alizna announces, “I cooked these myself! Here, dip ‘em in this!” She produces a small dish of ground caraway seeds and salt.
Owen tells you all about the tick legs as he bites into his with relish. “The best stuff’s inside! Just use your forks like this to peel the hard, chitinous part off!” He tells you that the legs of giant ticks are smoked first, then boiled. Served steaming hot, villagers use small, two-pronged forks to tear apart the outer shell to get at the soft meat inside, much like boiled crabs served in coastal communities.
Meanwhile, the Mayor beams at all of you as he points out, with relish, the Stirge Blood Sausage. “Ravenmoor's most popular delicacy!” He grabs tongs, and puts a sausage on each of your plates. “What we have here is the specially prepared blood sacks of stirges. The engorged creatures are plucked fresh from blood-drained oxen and their abdomens pinched and twisted off. These casings are stuffed with spices and rye berries and then boiled. The blood, grains, and spices congeal, forming a briny sausage! Do try it.” All around you, the villagers are eating their meal with delight. The Mayor raises an eyebrow. "I hope you're all not going to be as fussy as your predecessor. Mr. Kyle saw all this bounty and just walked away from the table."
Do you try the dishes? Untold delicacies await! Dazzle your tastebuds!
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Stali looks at the salad, and then says "I fear some of the greens in the salad may cause problems for my kind."
In Tengu he explains "I believe the leaves are an addictive drug. We will want our wits about us."
Stali avoids the salad but does take small portions of the verminous entrees to push about his plate convincingly. He does take larger portions of the bread and other more normal food. Maybe they will not notice if I don't eat the grubs...
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"In Tien Xia, there are many who use similar methods, but they're largely impersonal efforts, mass-produced works that lose some of the home-spun feel that yours do, dear." The grandmother is gracious and polite in return. "Who knows, I might even be willing to part with some of my hard-earned coin for the right outfit."
The benediction and the immediate after-effects cause the paladin to squint a bit at the Mayor in turn, then blink a few times as she's elbowed.
"Easy, dear. Yes, I was a priest of Andoletta a while ago. We had a bit of a disagreement about what I should be doing, so I'm not anymore. Doesn't change the habits though."
She will signal her ease of concern with eating most of the offerings, but sparingly and respectfully, watching the feast thoughtfully as she does so.
"Sausage from a stirge? Aren't those pets? That sounds a bit like torture for the poor things?"
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Before the feast started, GAllako would get the others aside and speak to them in Tengu:
"I recognize what that beast was. It somehow got infected by spores from a foul evil outsider monster called a cythnigot. They corrupt the things that they infest. No idea how best to kill them or to prevent their infestation, I'm afraid.
The mayordefinitely seems to be up to something. He pretty deliberately egged on the villagers until he realized that it wasn't working and he then backed off. It really did NOT seem to be innocent misunderstanding to me. Be on your guard everybody, there is definitely something not quite right going on here"
Gallako would eat some of everything from the feast EXCEPT for the salad
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Vralk tries all the meat portions of the food
"These tick legs aren't bad. Silkworms ok. Roast pig not bad but prefer Bacon.
Stirge Sausage! This IS BEST FOOD EVER. Better than PIE!!. Want MORE!!!. Do you have Sausage Pie???"
He then proceeds to stuff his little self with as much sausage as he can manage to get down,
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"Is there any way to tell if someone is infested? Does it have to sprout in order to control someone?" he asks, the concern plain in his voice.
Looking to Andrietta, he then asks "Sorry to change the topic, but does it seem strange the way all the villagers call out to Desna yet none of them appear to be her priest? Were all the games somehow linked to Desna?"
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"This doesn't match anything I've heard of the Song of the Spheres, though the games are largely variations on local festivals we sometimes had back home, if a bit odd. Could be due to the isolated nature of the community, but it seems 'off' somehow."
There's a bit of a pause.
"One of the children was mentioning that there's an informal sort of curfew, and individuals that don't adhere to it get swept away by 'Night Creepers', and others taken by 'The Dream Tender's Moth'. While that could be the fancy imaginings of a child, I don't ever remember anything like that, either. That sounds like a bad thing, and Desna... while unpredictable is a decent enough sort, if ancient? I'm no theologian, but it doesn't seem to 'quite' fit."
Almost as an afterthought the grandmother adds...
"Also, notice how the mayor was objecting when I was going to bring in my walking stick? Something is definitely up there, so remain on guard."
Hikaru tries a few leaves of the salad, not enough to be a full portion. The leaves are spicy and a little bitter with an overlay of other piquant herbal aromas that Hikaru has never tasted before. Combined with the malt vinegar, and alongside the various meats, the salad is a surprisingly tasty counterpoint to heavier dishes.
Even with a few leaves, Hikaru feels more bubbly and giggly. The feast swirls a bit around him, and he realizes that if he didn't eat more of the other food he might get tipsy. At the tables and picnic blankets all around you, families are piling their plates high with salad, laughing and getting more than a little drunk.
Those of you who try the worms discover they have a crunchy, chewy texture. Crisp on the outside, more tender on the inside, they pop as you crunch into them and have a slightly nutty, slightly meaty taste. They're great with the cumin and salt dip. The flavor of the tick legs is decidedly loamy and gamey, but it's balanced by several sweet and tangy dipping sauces that are brought out. As for the stirge sausage, Vralk is correct that it's disturbingly delicious. One woman brings out a meat pie that contains both bacon and sausage, and sets it in front of both ravens.
Harv, who's been mostly quiet, answers Andrietta's question. "Some stirges are pets... guard animals, playmates and such." He nods to young Ornigaard, who's now playing fetch with 'Applesauce' and with some of the other children. Ornigaard absolutely refused to have any taste of the sausage and folded his arms when it had been passed around earlier. "Others are beasts that we raise like the pigs and oxen. Might be a bit hard on them, but they go quick and after the best darn meal of their lives!"
There's also a dessert that involves lots honey and fried dough at the end. It's a little sticky, but quite good. Meanwhile, all the teen girls stand up. You see Elsa, Mari and of course, Shel put flowers on their heads.
Shel comes over to Hikaru. "Wish me luck, handsome! I'm trying for the role of Feast Queen! Cheer me on, will you?"
In the distance, Sarano can see Hannah miming sticking a finger down her throat again.
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Giggling to herself at Hannah's gesture, she'll try some of the food, avoiding the Stirge Blood Sausage and the legs and well the worms too. . looking around slightly green as she notices her allies digging in.
I mean worms, really, its a little stereotypical, oh feed the bird people worms, geeze, Harummphing to herself, clearly a little annoyed at the food choices.
Glaring a little bit at Hikaru and Shel's over-the-top romance, Sarano will hold up fingering, whispering at Hannah across the table, "Oh my goodness, they are just the worst!"
Trying some of the pig and the salad, not realizing it is anything but a salad, however it tastes quite good and she readily eats more of it.
Her cloak and robes continually get in her way while eating, growing more and more frustrated she'll remove her cloak so that it no longer interferes.
Its fine, people won't even notice, I'm just another Tengu at the table
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Sarano, this is the best salad ever! You have no idea why the others hesitated. The festival is spinning around you and you feel terrific! A burst of confidence flows through you. You could acheive anything!
Owen grins at Stali. “Who chooses ‘em? We do! It’s the ones at the high table that get to vote! Though the Mayor and Leonard...” Owen pauses. “Where is Leonard, anyway?” Then Owen shrugs. “Probably off sulking because he’s not at his brother’s table today. Anyhow, if it’s close the Mayor has the deciding vote.”
“Ahem!” Mayor Kriegler gains everyone's attention, gesturing with one arm as three families present their beautiful teenage daughters. The families, who had withdrawn for a few minutes, come in from the direction of the ramshackle and apparently abandoned Temple of Desna that stands on the edge of the Festival Grounds. Dark-haired Mari enters with her brothers and her mother. Red-headed Elsa enters with a bunch of siblings, an aunt and her parents. Shel stands with her mother, Anya, her father Saul, and a very reluctant Hannah. The little girl stands bored as her mother fusses with Shel’s golden hair. Mayor Kriegler claps his hands. “It is our favorite moment... the time to choose the Feast Queen!”
The villagers clap and cheer for the girls.
Each of the prospective queens is dressed in white silk robes with intricately braided hair decorated with garlands of local flowers. They take a tour of the family pavilions and tables, and recount the rehearsed story of Ravenmoor's founding.
“In the beginning, life was hard in Ravenmoor. Our village, like so many others, was founded by proud Chelish knights.” Shel stands in the moonlight, voice clear and strong. “Other towns that they founded grew into great cities: Korvosa, Riddleport, Magnimar -- where our guests hail from.” She nods at the group of Tengu, while some of the people laugh. “But while other towns grew and thrived, our poor Ravenmoor lay under a blight.”
The audience hushes as lithe little Mari comes forward, dancing first joyously, then listlessly, finally falling to the ground barely moving. Elsa comes forward, but she’s so nervous she’s mumbling a little. “Um. The town was starving. Children were dying. Crops were under a [...mumble...] of corruption.”
Shel reaches out a hand to lift Mari up. The dancer reaches back, as if hope is dawning on her face. Shel speaks, while Mari dances again. “Then Iola Kriegler, called for help. She went on a vision quest, looking for answers deep in the darkest part of the Churlwood.” Mari dances again, hand held over her eyes as if searching for something.
Elsa swallows nervously, but then gets the courage to bring up her part of the narrative, mentioning the two selfless druids who came to Iola’s aid. All three girls join in together in a threeway dance of joy, weaving back and forth between each other. Finally, Shel states, “Iola's happy return brought prosperity back to the village by luring the crops' corruption to sleep on the soft wings of dreaming moths.” All three girls wave their arms, allowing their sleeves to billow like those of moths.
The whole village claps madly. Mayor Kriegler turns to all of you with interest, and to the rest of the table. “It’s now time to choose the queen, and you must all help me decide. Shall we all confer?”
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We will need to take a look at that temple later. Something isn't right about this town. For a town that claims they were saved by Desna, I really would expect them to better maintain the temple.
Stali watches the whole performance with keen interest. What was that about blighted crops? Again a mention of moths. I wish I knew how this all connected, but it seems to have started with Iola Kriegler.
Stali politely claps for each of the performers at the appropriate points. None of them have feathers, but Mari's dark hair is a nice color. Elsa needs more confidence. Shel remembered her part and helped Elsa. Guess it is between Shel and Mari.
He watches and takes his cue from Owen and Arthur as to what is expected. Are we to huddle or something? Is this to be whispered, or do they allow the crowd to hear what is said?
Everyone pulls together in a discreet huddle. Arthur asks, "What do y'all think? Who told the story best?"
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Hikaru smiles at Sarano... She is much like her, no wonder she feels a connection... both are shy and retiring, but Shel is the prettiest and told the best story.. with Mari coming in just behind her in composure and poise, but not in beauty... Elsa is sweet but a bit too shy to be a festival queen I think... Good thing I'm not the judge. He glances over at Vralk at the mention of the crow wanting to be queen and chuckles... "Oh, aye, I'm sure if he wasn't asleep, he'd declare himself queen and crown himself too. He'd definitely look cute in a dress with ermine cloak, crown and scepter."
“What makes you want to vote for Elsa?” Arthur asks, curiously. “She mumbled a lot. I'd vote for Vralk afore her.”
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Continuing to giggle and titter, "Well its obvious isn't it, she is the one that wants it the least! Any who strive for power are bound to be corrupted by it, those reluctant to wield it are the most likely to use it responsibly," Turning a side glance at Hikaru, "I mean, of course Shel did the best. . .and is beautiful--by human standards, I'm sure--but she wants it too badly,"
Nodding to herself, as if her argument makes perfect sense.
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Best make it clear that I don't see humans the same way as other humans see each other.
Stali thinks a bit before stating "None of them have feathers, well except that token Hikaru gave to Shel." He makes a dismissive gesture, saying "That hardly counts."
"I did like how Mari did the story as a dance." Looking to the villagers at the table, he asks "Did she come up with that herself, or is that always part of the performance?"
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The grandmother watches the performance, then nods a bit at each point though her face furrows a bit (probably more noticeable to tengu than humans, though) as the mention of moths comes up again.
Moths. Moths. Why Moths? Moths eat the good clothes. Not butterflies. Why?
She then shakes her head a bit.
"Elsa. While Shel's practiced and experienced it sounds like she's hogging all the important lines and being bossy rather than a fair competitor. Elsa, on the other hand, well, she's doing the best she can from what she's got. Leastaways, that's how I'm seeing it?"
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"I think all three did their best, I'm sure... but Elsa was a bit too meek for my taste... Mari's dance was wonderful, but Shel was the best at storytelling, and the story is what it's about I think... but ultimately, it's not up to us, is it? it's the mayor and the high table that decide, yes?" "Or is that us? if we decide, I think Shel should be festival queen! I did like the dance, a lot, but I've got to cast my vote for the clearest storyteller."
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Well I think Shel is showing her ambition, motivation and determination by taking charge, assuming command, and providing direction. And... Shel seems to fancy Hikaru and possibly he does her as well. Would we be standing by our friend, companion, and colleague were we to betray, cross, and be disloyal to him in matters of the heart?
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"Judging a contest fairly is not betrayal, General." Stali replies. If anything, it would be unfair for Hikaru to judge if his interest has moved to this human.
Looking to the Mayor, he adds "Although that does beg the question of how we are supposed to judge the contestants. Is it each judge's opinion, or are there criteria that we should be following?"
"Dancin' has always been an option." Alizna notes. "'Least, it has since as far back as I 'member. Sometimes the girls all take turns telling the whole story, one after t'other. Other times a girl paints scenes, or they all do a skit. This year they worked together, which was nice. It gets old hearin' the same story three or four times in a night. Heard Elsa was shy and didn't want to tell the story by herself, so those girls came up with a group effort."
She looks around you, squinting. "We usually choose t'one that's most poised, or tells the story the best. So... two of you like Elsa, an' this young peacock of a fellow likes Shel, so what do t'rest of you think? I'm leanin' towards Shel but I liked Mari's dancin' too."
Harv waits for Alizna to vote, then joins in when she votes for Shel. Arthur and Owen, interestingly, vote for Mari. "Five for Shel, three for Mari, two for Elsa. Shel it is," says the Mayor.
Shel is overjoyed at her win. She jumps up and down, hugging everyone in sight. Shel sits next to Hikaru, and joins you all for the honeyed locusts and fruit pies that are served for dessert. "This has been the best day ever!"
It is getting late. The sun has set, and droning insects and mosquitos have descended upon the gathering. Everyone is slapping them off. Half-drunk villagers start to pack up their tables and chairs, getting ready to retire. The Mayor asks casually, "Have you all decided where you want to spend the night? Y'all are welcome to spend it in Kriegler Manor."
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Hikaru congratulates Shel with a courtly bow to the 'queen' and a kiss on the hand. "Shel, you were undeniably deserving of this honor, but I must admit the story told in three voices including the dancing, was wonderful, and each of you ladies," he bows to the other two as well, "did admirably... all of you showed your best effort and great talent."
When asked about sleeping arrangements, gives Shel a little smile and lofts an eyebrow to give her a chance to invite him to spend the night, but to save her embarrassment, he turns to the mayor and says, "I thought we'd just stay at Kriegler Manor if we're still welcome, but the others may have different ideas. So, my boon companions, what say you as to accommodations?"
Shel draws Hikaru aside. Her eyes sparkle and she smells of flowers. She whispers to Hikaru, "I'm going to sneak out tonight, after curfew. Will you meet me at midnight by the North Bridge?"
Meanwhile the Mayor waits patiently to see if the rest of you will take him up on his invitation.
"Oh! I cannot wait!" Shel smiles and kisses Hikaru on the cheek, looking nervous and excited at once. She waves to all of you, then helps her family pack up.
Hannah gives Sarano a hug. "You be safe, okay?" The girl then runs after her parents, Saul and Anya, and her sister Shel. Everywhere, villagers are packing up the festival.