Zelaria's large violet eyes take in the ranger, contemplating for a moment before she shakes her head and replies. "No, thank you." She looks passed his shoulder to Aesh, briefly. "Have you eaten?" she inquires. "I had coffee, but the children misbehaved and I missed breakfast."
"It's hard to think of myself as being from any one place since I've always traveled so much, first with my family and now on my own. I was actually born in this town though, during one of the many stops my parent's caravan made. I've made it a point to stop by the town on a sort of regular basis and have been to the last couple festivals celebrated here."
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"Ah, yes... the luxury suite had quite the spread," Aesh fishes around in his sack and pulls out the cheese cloth of snacks, including some of the bread, cheese, and fruit slices leftover, "Here, I didn't even think to ask. This should tide you over until we can find something at the festival."
After handing it over he asks, "Zel, have you seen the others?"
Zelaria accepts the food with a smile, but it fades and her eyes narrow when Zelldania and Demaiv are mentioned. "I do not believe it prudent to search for that pair," she says. "I presume the lovers will enjoy the festival in their own time."
Zelaria's head jerks down as a braid is caught up and yanked, and she loses her grip on the snacks, which scatter on the ground. "This is unacceptable!" she announces in a clear voice, color showing on her cheeks. A faint breeze picks up and the sound of children laughing can be heard, and the tone of the laughter is vaguely malicious. She exhales and closes her eyes, and the breeze calms. "Pray forgive me, you were saying?"
"N...," Adanel would start to reply before being cut off. With a simple irritated shake of his head, he would turn his head to the children to watch over them with a sad look in his eyes as he listened to his companions talk.
Quickly his eyes would dart back to Zelaria as she scolds the spirits that haunt her.
As she returned to addressing Aeshuura, Adanel would kneel down and pick up the cloth and scattered food. He had been raised to make the most of what was given and not to waste that which could still be used.
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Giving the young woman a concerned look, at loss, wanting to help, but being woefully out of his league. Instead, he nods, "Fair enough. Let the lovebirds enjoy the festival, we will see them soon enough, I am sure."
He also gives a nod of thanks to Adanel, for picking up the food, "Many thanks, brother. Now, let's find out what this sleepy little town has to offer!"
"Something about Sandpoint makes folk come back. Isn't that right Demaiv?" Demaiv had just finished rubbing his face with a cloth, and looked a little more awake. He looks quite cheerful. "I must say, having seen some of the glories of the world... even the Starstone of Absalom can't compare to being home again." Demaiv says, sighing contentedly as he takes his seat at the table, opposite his mother and to Dania's left. One might think he was trying to impress Dania with his worldliness. He takes a bite of one of the cakes.
"Delicious as always mother. Maybe people keep coming back to Sandpoint for your cooking. Dig in Dani!"
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As the group of three walked to the festival, they could see multiple vendors with booths, offering wares from the mundane:
"You've never seen such well made baskets my friends!"
To the exotic:
"Haven't you ever wondered what jewelry could be made at the hands of a Medusa? Come, look at the stoned lady's necklaces! They leave you unable to move! From how good they look! From how good they look!!! No, wait, it's a gimmick, I swear!"
Well, maybe not that exotic.
The smells of pastries and other goodies, however, were not far off, and someone was passing out fliers for events held that day. Already, a group of minstrels was performing songs and dances as well.
Adanel would stick to his usually quiet ways. However, on a whim, he would take a flier.
Other things of note, he would keep an eye out on the crowd for his mentor as he took in the various sights of this thing called 'society.'
Dania enjoys breakfast with Demaiv and his mother and inquires what a handful he must have been as a young child. When Demaiv goes off to clean up and change clothes for the morning, she'll try to subtly inquire of his mother if there are any young ladies around who had been waiting for his return. Obviously Dania wants to know if she has any competition...
After Demaiv is ready to go, Dania will thank his mother again for the breakfast and take his arm and allow him to escort her over to the festival grounds.
Zelaria studies the flier for a few moments, and raises an eyebrow, then glances about her. "Is thievery considered a talent?" she inquires softly. "Perhaps slapstick comedy is more my speed..."
She looks between the two assembled party members and trails her narrow fingertips down the page. "The scavenger hunt may be a group activity? Should we inquire?"
Dania enjoys breakfast with Demaiv and his mother and inquires what a handful he must have been as a young child. When Demaiv goes off to clean up and change clothes for the morning, she'll try to subtly inquire of his mother if there are any young ladies around who had been waiting for his return. Obviously Dania wants to know if she has any competition..
Demaiv's mother smiles knowingly and tells Dania that Demaiv never really had friends, let alone girls waiting for him.
As they're leaving, Demaiv offers his arm and they stroll towards the festival. He feels very strange, elated and also extremely nervous. As they stroll through the festival grounds, Demaiv watches Dani to see what she's most interested in, and suggests that they start with those activities.
"Hmmm, let's go and check out the physical contests and then the talent show." Dania smiles as she leads Demaiv off in the appropriate direction.
After perusing the parchment himself, Adanel lifted his eyes to meet with those of his companions.
"I..." to be honest, Adanel had more pressing matters. He still needed to find his own quarry, but he knew not where to start... "sure. Seems as good a place as any to search..."
"You think they would be mad if I used magic before the physical contest to make myself stronger?" Demaiv said mischeiviously, flexing his already-brawny muscles for Dani's benefit.
Grinning, Dania replies, "Only if they catch you using it. Though I doubt you need to resort to sorcery. You look more than capable without it."
Demaiv's heart skips a beat at Dani's praise, but he quickly recovers and smiles, even more mischeivious. "Perhaps I could cast my spell on you and you can beat burly men in these strength challenges?"
Dania snickers at Demaiv's suggestion. "That might prove a bit too embarrassing for all of those poor big burly men. Maybe I'll just watch the physical contests and maybe dance in the talent show."
"I would enjoy watching you dance. It must be beautiful." Demaiv says, the last line almost whistfully, seemingly lost in a daydream. He shakes his head and smiles at the woman next to him. "Let's see if I can't win you a prize in the strength contests." The pair head over to the physical contests, Demaiv trying to keep away any hawkers who would seek to pester his date.
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Applause could be heard coming from a stage nearby, as a woman with short auburn hair stood at the top of the stage. This was Kendra Deverin, Sandpoints mayor. She put up her hands to let everyone know it was time to settle down, and she addressed the audience with a bullhorn.
"Hello Sandpoint! I'm glad to see so many smiling faces here today! Even Larz is here! Did they pry you away from your shop with a crowbar Larz?"
The crowd laughed outloud as a great big man suddenly turned bright red and grumbled. Larz Rovanky, the local tanner, was a horrible workaholic, working even on celebratory holidays. The mayor clasped her hands over her mouth as she looked out onto the crowd.
"Oh...I'm so excited! Aren't you?"
A large an resounding YES! came from the crowd now gathering around the stage.
"Today, we remember our loses, but we also celebrate our victories! And we celebrate the Divines! For within all of us is the ability to overcome our loses and embrace our victories! ARE YOU WITH ME SANDPOINT!? SHALL THIS BE OUR MOST JOYOUS OF DAYS!?"
Again, the crowd cried out YES!. The Mayor seemed overwhelmed with joy, and started crying, which prompted the audience to cheer even louder with more applause. She kept trying to speak, but finally just handed the bullhorn over to a tall, imposing man, without a hair on his head, skin as brown as baked bread, and a demeanor that was rock solid serious.
"Thank you Mayor Deverin for that...wonderful speech. I'd like to now remind everyone that I'm going to be doing a weapons check, to keep offensive magic use away from the festivities, and to keep watch over your children, and yourselves, during the bonefire and fireworks later tonight. I'd also ask now that we all bow our heads in silence to remember those who lost their lives in the fire that burned down the cathedral five years ago,"
He puts his head down, as does the crowd, as the mood suddenly becomes somber and sober. After a moment's time, he looks back up and says thank you, and hands the bullhorn to a flamboyant looking man with shocking blue eyes and a long mane of blonde hair.
"Hello Sandpoint! I'm happy to see so many people here to join in the celebration! Hey! No frowns on those faces! No tears! That's not what today is about! Let's not let the bad memories flourish here! No no! Remember when our mayor, with her never stop attitude, said we'd rebuild? That Sandpoint would be a beacon of faith, hope and charity? And did we cry? Did we say no? NO! No, we reached into our pockets, we spent our time and energy, and we rebuilt! This Cathedral holds our blood, and our sweat, and our tears, and our love, and our joy. Love and joy. Isn't that a wonderful thing? Today is about love and joy,"
He smiled as he put his hands together and nodded to the audience. They seemed to have perked up.
"Now then! In celebration of today, tomorrow night, the Sandpoint Theater will be holding it's first production of The Harpy's Curse! Now, I know some of you know that already, but what you don't know is that the lead character, Avisera, is being played by none other than the famous Magnimarian diva Allishanda!"
Many people in the crowd seem delighted by this news. Meanwhile, the mayor and sheriff seem a little displeased at the man's shameless self promotion .
"Uh hu, well, without further ado, here is Father Zantus!"
Up to the stage walks an older man, a priest of Desna.
"I don't wish to keep you any longer, so, thank you all for coming, and, let the festival begin!"
With that, the crowd cheers.
Demaiv wasn't much for cheering, but he applauded the commencement of the festival. He is smiling cheerfully and looks down at Dani. With a tilt of his head, he says: "Well then, shall we find that talent show?"
"Such a noisy lot...," Adanel stated simply as he searched through the crowd for their missing companions.
Zelaria smiles softly. "I suppose you've have trained your senses to be extraordinary?" she whispers. "In such a crowd, that would be a detriment. How is it that you sleep beneath the stars and not wake to the song of crickets?"
Zelaria caught a glance at Adanel and turned to address the elder Aesh, but found that he had drifted from them in the crowd. For a long moment, she considers the throng, but feeling the press of so many against her closing in upon her, she blushes and folds her hands in her lap, and counts silently to reign in her composure.
"It appears as though Aesh has decided to pursue another point of personal interest,"[/b[ she states with a flat affect. [b]"Would you prefer to seek the scavenger hunt alone?"
Adanel continued to search the crowd as Zelaria spoke
"One learns to awake to the sound of more pressing matters at night, such as the lack of such a song. It is why I find these settlements such untrustworthy places. There are few nights one will hear the crickets within the confines of a human settlement."
Then, as Zelaria spoke of their departed companion, Adanel would turn his gaze to see the truth in her words.
"There is strength in numbers and I am not one to leave a woman alone in such environments. I will stay if you'll have me."
Of a human settlement? Zelaria muses, and smiles faintly. She dips her head into the flier for a moment to confirm where the scavenger hunt is meant to start, then folds the paper in such a way to make it easy to tie to her belt.
"This way," she says with some amount of cheer, gesturing in the direction they are meant to go.
"I was afraid of the city when I first arrived, too," she admits while they walk. "People keep dogs, but they haven't the same function as those that run alongside the caravans. More of pets..." she hums and twists the edge of the flier around her finger.
Taking Demaiv's arm, Dania replies: "Yes, let's go and see the talent show. I wonder if it is too late to enter it myself yet?"
Together they then head off in search of the talent show.
"I'm not so much afraid as on edge from it. Humans are so keen to killing each other for simple material gain, even when it is not necessary for survival."
Adanel would speak with a matter of fact tone as he strode along beside Zelaria.
"As for the dogs...they lack the pride their wild counterparts hold."
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Adanel notices, finally, Demaiv and Zelladnia walking up a nearby high stage.
For their part, the blossoming couple goes up the steps to a table, at which sits the flamboyant man who had talked about the theater during the opening speeches. He smiles widely and takes up a quill to a book he has in front of him.
"Here for the talent show? It's five silver pieces to enter. Please state your name or names? And the nature of your act; oh, nothing that could hurt the audience, and please remember, this is a family show; there will be children present. The performances will be before the sunset, after dinner,"
"My name is Zelladania and my act will be a dance performance. I promise to keep it suitable for all ages."
Adanel nodded his head in the direction of his remaining companions as he spoke to Zelaria.
"Seems our friends have another event in mind. Shall we continue onward or drag them with us?"
Zelaria is silent for several moments as she perceives the pair, her affect flat. "If you would prefer to stay, I am not adverse," she replies, her bright violet eyes as expressive as those found in an expensive doll.
Adanel eyes would stare hard at the smaller woman.
"I asked what you wanted to do. I am as well off without them and it is easier to maneuver the crowd in smaller groups."
Zelaria blushes and looks to her feet a moment. "It is highly improbable that the trained dancer will injure herself on stage, and I have no reason to suspect that her perfectly healthy beau will suffer palpitations observing her forms," she says finally. "Retaining control is far more difficult in crowds than left to my own devices. And I should think the element of mystery will placate the boys, as well."
Zelaria lifts her eyes finally. "Besides which, my eyes are not wholly useless, and I've a few spells which may aide us."
Demaiv smiles as Zella clarifies that he dance would be appropriate for all ages. Demaiv sets a gold coin down on the table. "For the pair of us. I would like to display both a bit of magic and a showing of strength, if you've something quite heavy.. say.. 800lbs, I may be able to lift it off the ground." Once again, Demaiv flexes for Zella's benefit.
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The man chuckles and takes the money.
"Alright then, I'll see you both tonight! For now though you kids have fun with the festival!
He waves them off as another person steps up behind them.
"Clark. I'm a master of disguise. I can change my costume in seconds,"
"Oh! What an interesting talent! You won't be naked, yes?"
"Oh no! I just put these glasses on, and tada! Don't I look different?"
"Um...honestly? That is near-to the stupidest disguise I've ever seen. Strike that, it is the stupidest disguise I've ever seen. You'll need to have an actually talent,'
"I can fly!"
"NEXT!"
Demaiv escorts Zella off the stage, a little distracted that he might not actually be able to lift what he claimed he could. Demaiv tries to strike up a conversation with the woman on his arm, still a little shy, "So, how long do you plan on staying in Sandpoint, Dani?"
"Then perhaps we should put our skills to use in this scavenger hunt you spoke of. Any clue where we must go to participate?"
As he spoke, he marked the strange red tint that seemed to over take the young lady's cheeks.
An elderly Elf, with a mane of fine silvery hair, and a tanned, weather-lined face, dressed in a simple green robe covered with Thassilonian runes picked-out in silver thread, drifts through the crowd, taking in the sights and sounds.
Ah, I had almost forgotten the frenetic pace of life amongst the humans. They are full of such energy - rushing around, accomplishing much in that brief moment of time they grace this world. Yet, despite the brevity of their existence, they are so alive! It is good to be back...
When he hears the gentleman spruiking for people to participate in the talent show, he cannot help but smile.
Well, that could be diverting...
He patiently waits his turn in line, and then announces himself.
"I am Skerrin Maltisse, lately of Kyonin. I can perform simple magical tricks to delight the young, and young at heart. What I can do may be surprising, but I guarantee that it is perfectly safe."
Zelaria nods. "I lived here for years," she admits, "and compared to Magnimar, there is little of the town to recall."
Zelaria leads the pair to area it is indicated that the scavenger hunt will be organized.
Gazing up at Demaiv, Dani responds: "I hadn't really thought about how long I would stay here. Usually I stay in one place until I become bored or need a new audience for my dancing. I suppose that having someone interesting to spend time with would keep me from getting bored too quickly around here..."
Demaiv blushes, reading too much into what Dani said, and stumbles over his words: "Er... well hopefully I'm not too boring for you."
Demaiv leads the lady on his arm around the festival, trying to show her a good time, naturally paying for everything.
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Skerrin:
The man laughed with delight.
"Oh, and I see you already have an opening line! Excellent! I'll see you later sir! Oh! 5 Silver please, and sign here,"
Zelaria and Adanel:
There was a man at a booth labeled Scavenger Contest. A line had formed, and he was handing out maps.
"Please, please, there is one queue! Please have your 5 copper ready! Here is a map describing the city, you'll get your clues in ten minutes, unless people keep shoving!"
Zelladania and Demaiv
Demaiv saw a series of booths set up. Each had someone in front of them.
"Hey, you, try your hand at popping these bags of air with a dart!"
"Naw, impress the lady with a feat of strength! Hit the bell, and show her that you have the strength of a god!"
"Ladies don't like stupid men! Come, come, see if you can spot which of these cups has the pea!"
"You should be so lucky! Come, show her what kind of skill you have with a crossbow!"
"Nah, that game is only for the unskilled! Show her real skills! Knock over a few milk bottles! It's harder than it looks!"
"Why not climb the Ladder of Doom! Show her you do not fear heights! Unlike his, it's easy!"
"HEY LADY! WHY ARE YOU WITH A LOSER LIKE HIM?"
The last comment came from a man whose head was in some sort of stockade. He was already surrounded by mushy apples.
"Hit the heckler! Get your vengeance!"
There was also a guy near the end who had a game with a ramp, balls, and target at the end of the ramp. He was quiet, and didn't have any customers.
The itch to show off his strength to Dani is there, but Demaiv spies the quiet man with the ramp. That seems more along the lines of Dani's talents. He was here to show her a good time, not show himself off. That was what the talent show was for. Demaiv releases the lady's arm and points out the empty looking booth at the far end. "What say we pay that man a visit?" Demaiv then, as serruptitiously as possible, casts Guidance and then clasps Dani's hand, transferring the luck granted by the spell to her. He hopes that she doesn't realize what he did.
"Hello there! What do you call this game? How much for the lady to play?" Demaiv calls to the man as the pair approach.
Skerrin nods gravely.
"Of course."
He then hands over the required registration fee, and with a flourish, signs his name.
Skerrin then bows, and returns to circulating through the fair-ground. Smiling as he passes the various game booths, he is eventually drawn to the large scrum of people surrounding the scavenger hunt booth.
This could prove diverting...