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The Festival is just starting up, the Mayor is making her opening speech, welcoming all the locals and guests to the Sandpoint festival.
The square is full of the smells of food-carts and the the sound of chatter and games being played. While the world outside may be a harsh and dangerous place the atmosphere within Sandpoint itself is joyous for the day.
Where are you all?
Many of you have backgrounds indicating you area already in Sandpoint, others can have just arrived or arrived the night before, either with a merchant caravan, bringing supplies for the festival, a group of travelling entertainers or on your own.
[ooc]The specifics may be different, but the general layout is the same, if you want a map
The tall woman strides leisurely at the edges of the crowd in the temple square, clad in armour, thumbs hooked in her belt. She nods here and there to greetings from citizens, but for the most part her gaze is roving over the people, attentive to signs of trouble. Sandpoint is mostly a quiet place, but festivals such as these... people tend to drink too much, get a bit overexcited, and before you know it you have to step in and break up a brawl. Besides, it's an attractive setting for all manner of thieves, cutpurses and conmen. So Avanoa keeps her eyes peeled and her ears open, patrolling the edges of the square and now and then threading her way through the crowd in a seemingly-random pattern.
She barely pays any attention to the speech from the mayor, anticipating instead the moment when the sheriff will take the stage. She knows that many people won't appreciate his sombre message, won't even listen to him perhaps, but she thinks his speech necessary and appropriate. The civilians are all to prone to forgetting the horrors of the world, what thin barriers there are between their little sheltered lives and a messy death. But as long as Avanoa is alive, she'll do everything in her power to let them be oblivious and forgetful. To enjoy their festivals, their celebrations, their drinking contests and meat pies, their games of skill and chance. She wishes them joy of it and hopes that maybe this time there won't be any serious injuries.
Festival day! the kind of day when people seem willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. The White Aneen tavern had set up a small platform for him to play and juggle to draw attention.
He spent all night dreaming of new songs, pulling chords and melodies from the stream of consciousness.
Trace wandered through the crowds, a smile on his face. It was a good day, and everyone was in a good mood. Old Man Sark had even greeted him pleasantly. It was nice to have people smiling at him instead of looking at him suspiciously.
Sure, he had pulled a few pranks. Some of them had even gotten out of hand. He had to stifle a chuckle at the memory of dying Old Man Sarks prize hens a virulent green. But no one aside from himself had gotten hurt, so he wasn't sure why everyone was so grumpy with him. Enough! It is a festival, Trace me-boy, and you are going to have fun.
Shaking off the melancholy memories, he nodded to Avanoa as he passed her near the bubbly pie seller. Pausing to buy a bubbly pie, he wandered on, relaxing in the celebratory atmosphere.
*wanders about enjoying the sights and sounds, taking some time off the forge to relax with the current events*
*approaches trace and avanoa with a hearty laugh*
"How fare thee people? I heard theres lots of tasty things around now at festival time!"
*puts a friendly hand on traces shoulder*
"Oh and trace, how is that thing i made for you working out?"
Trace smiles at Yu'lak, "You have got to try these bubbly pies. He keeps them hot and bubbling and they are magnificent."
Trace beckons to the vendor and hands Yu'lak and Avanoa a bubbly pie.
*tastes it abit*
"Great cooking as always in this town!"
The tall , spare frame of Zimm Nata lurked about the edges of the festivities. She's just came to Sandpoint the other day, following the advice of her sometime's companion Elbow. He'd informed her of the festival and that he'd be performing here.
Usually one for the more urban areas, Zimm nonetheless sometimes found her in more remote areas, one never know where one might come across interesting numenara.
She spies Elbow performing in a nearby cul-de-sac and carefully makes her way through the crowd, ulitmately finding herself towering over a gaggle of children watching the mutant enterain.
Arms crossed to hide her uncomfortableness, Zimm waits and watches until Elbow was finished his performance.
Avanoa raises an eyebrow at Trace. "Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law in the execution of her duties, citizen?" A twitch of her facial muscles hints at a barely suppressed smile, so Trace can tell that she's just joking. Probably.
She takes the pie from the vendor, careful to not burn her fingers on the hot pastry shell. "I hope you didn't put anything weird in it, Trace. I know you love your pranks, but not everyone finds them amusing. One of these days, someone will get real angry with you and tan your hide until you're purple all over. And that, if you're lucky." She keeps her tone light, but her words sound almost resigned, as if this is a conversation they've had many times before and she knows all too well the lack of effect it has on Trace.
Nodding at Yu'lak, Avanoa asks the crafter: "And what project are you working on these days? This festival is drawing people from all over, have you made any good sales?"
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He finishes the set with a wonderful rising chord and a 7-ball waterfall. "Thank you all, I'll be back later with even more new songs!"
"Zimm! Good to see you again. Did you hear the last one. I used that chord progression that you said was 'quadratic'. After you explained that, I could see the music in my dreams. It opened up so many possibilities."
*tastes it abit*
"Great cooking as always in this town!"
Trace smiles at his friend, happy to have brightened her day a bit. Then her earlier question registers and he grins with real enthusiasm, patting the disk hanging at his waist, "This thing is amazing, Yu'lak! I went hunting with it yesterday and even though my aim was totally off for some reason, it came back to my hand every time! Thanks again!"
Avanoa raises an eyebrow at Trace. "Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law in the execution of her duties, citizen?" A twitch of her facial muscles hints at a barely suppressed smile, so Trace can tell that she's just joking. Probably.
She takes the pie from the vendor, careful to not burn her fingers on the hot pastry shell. "I hope you didn't put anything weird in it, Trace. I know you love your pranks, but not everyone finds them amusing. One of these days, someone will get real angry with you and tan your hide until you're purple all over. And that, if you're lucky." She keeps her tone light, but her words sound almost resigned, as if this is a conversation they've had many times before and she knows all too well the lack of effect it has on Trace.
Nodding at Yu'lak, Avanoa asks the crafter: "And what project are you working on these days? This festival is drawing people from all over, have you made any good sales?"
Completely missing the hint of her smile, Trace frowns, "Aww, c'mon Avanoa, I'm just tryin' to be nice."
When she takes the pie he smiles broadly, "Me? Just a little feller like me? When would I have had time to do that?" But his face takes on a more serious cast, "No pranks today Avanoa. I think the Mayor might actually exile me from the town if I messed today up for him at all."
He finishes the set with a wonderful rising chord and a 7-ball waterfall. "Thank you all, I'll be back later with even more new songs!"
"Zimm! Good to see you again. Did you hear the last one. I used that chord progression that you said was 'quadratic'. After you explained that, I could see the music in my dreams. It opened up so many possibilities."
Zimm cocks her head and considers her mutant friend's question, "While you did incorporate the quadriatic progression, I did notice some tonal variances in the half-tones you used in the bridges. Quite disconcerting." she observes drily, then after a moment, "Unless, you had done so purposefully" she adds doubtfully.
He chuckles, "Flash for the crowd. They expect flourishes and variation. A perfect performance doesn't appeal quite so much."
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Anyone in range of the main stage in the square can hear the mayor hand over the gruff Sheriff, his voice amplified, like the mayors by a Numenera device to be audible all across the square and faintly audible across most of the town.
::Cough:: "Thank you Mayor, While I expect everyone to enjoy yourselves, and I know good food and drink are part of the celebrations, I will not be overlooking disorderly behaviour this eve. I'd like to suggest a moments silence when the bonfire is lit at dusk to remember those lost in the fire that took previous church from us."
Zimm looks at Elbow and nods, saying "I see." though it was obvious that she did not.
"The dignitary is about to speak...." she says, then listens to the Sheriff attentively.
When the moment of silence was finished , Zimm turns to Elbow, "I am never quite sure what to make of these memorial silences...."
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He unfolded his hands after the silence. "Nothing can bring them back. The silence is a way of accepting that they are gone. Silenced forever. It's for the survivors."
Trace stands quietly, subdued as the memories wash over the assembled crowd.
Zimm nods her acceptance of Elbow's explanation, remarking " I require sustenance".
She spies a vendor nearby, selling baked goods, and walks over. Waiting awkwardly, she nods to the three individuals already testing the vendor's wares, "Excuse me, those confections look appealing. Are they satisfactory?"
Avanoa nods in response to the woman. "Quite so." She gives Zimm and Elbow a long, appraising look. "I hope that your stay in Sandpoint is pleasant. I am Avanoa le Gataifale, town guard, at your service." She makes a shallow bow, then continues, gesturing to herself and Trace. "If you are in need of accommodation, I can give you directions to the nearest inn. If you are in need of entertainment, this citizen here can point you to an establishment that suits your preference. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance."
Trace smiles at Zimm and bows slightly, "Welcome to Sandpoint. My name is Trace. And the bubbly pies are positively the best thing about these festivals."
*solemny is silent abit*
"Trace...Avanoa " Zimm repeats, as if committing the names to memory, "Your greetings are reciprocated." she says, as if unsure if she said the correct thing.
She picks up pie and takes a small bite....a smile emerges on her face, transforming it for a moment into what Zimm would have looked like, had her life's journey taken a few more gentler turns.
The smile fades, and she stands , looking at the bitten pie in her hand, "While pleasant, I do not think this confection offers much in the way of nutritive value.".
She carefully places the pie back on the table and steps back, looking at the others expectantly.
Posting so I can hide this game