Helgarr's face scrunches up at the goblin logic, but a hint of a smile dances on her face as Eugeni pipes in - "True that"
Looking around at the reasonably large group that has gathered around the venison stand, she ponders with some cepticism all the amazing stories regarding interplanar travel and legendary ancestors she has just heard - It cannot be...
But she was definitely sure she had seen the clothing on the beautiful woman just a few paces away simply change from one thing to another in a blink of an eye, so there was a definite trace of magic in the air for sure. Fighting her urge to give in to superstition, Helgarr stood her ground, keeping an eye on the woman just in case, but definitely amazed at the variety all around her.
It's the musician - she realized, as the man introduced himself as Marko Bodi - "Why do you roam from one village to another?" - the girl asks.
"A pleasure Varius." Alina responded as the half-elf returned from his wizard killing lessons. "I'm sure there will be more opportunities for drinks. It is, after all, a party and the drinks are free."
"And no Eugeni word of the Swallowtail Festival hasn't quite reached my homeland, but then most people probably prefer not to attract too much of its attention." She wasn't sure how much anyone here knew of her homeland but from what she'd gathered these past few months of travels, her home wasn't generally well liked. But then again she wasn't overly found of home either, so she tried not to focus too much on the matter.
I ended up here today only by happy coincidence. My uncle traveled these parts several years ago and mentioned having a few friends in the area if I need a place to rest." She says before noticing the fiddler had finally overcome his own surprise and joined in the conversation. So that is a Varisian. She thought as she took another sip of ale and looked him over. He doesn't seem to have the master thief look about him. Despite her assessment, the woman's hand unconsciously checks to ensure her purse is still near and not suddenly lighter.
"Why do you roam from one village to another?"
It's harder for the authorities to find them that way. She thought with a slight sniff.
As the red wizard completes his story of rescue and revenge, Zoli applauds and calls out "Bravo!! And the ghost sound at the end was a wonderful touch. I'll have to see if I can't tell that story myself some day, though I may need to change a detail or two."
"I don't have too many tales of my own yet, other than finding my button," she says, reaching up to her hair reflexively to touch it, "but I suspect that's all about to change. My poppa wants me to follow him into the theater, but, well, first of all halflings never get the good roles here -- I'd go mad playing human children all my life -- and anyway why just read about the past, especially when you live in a place like Varisia, where we can reach out and touch it!"
She listens to the goblin tells his joke (chuckling...though perhaps not for the reasons Ravboom thinks) and then to several others introducing themselves.
Suddenly she calls out, "Oooh, hold on! That's Wello Rocci!" She points to a halfling wheeling a cart behind him about 40' away, with a crowd gathering around. "I was wondering if he was here today. He makes the best sfogliatelli and he always runs out!"
With that she begins to wade through the crowd, calling, "They're delicious!"
"Sandpoint is a nice place to rest," Eugeni replies to Alina. "Are you just wandering, or were you headed somewhere specific? What kind of work do you do?" Eugeni asks, hoping to continue the conversation. Not that he isn't genuinely curious, he is. She doesn't come off as the druid type, but she does have that squirrel. Maybe she's a wizard or something and that's her familiar.
Alina brought her drink to her lips and tried to figure out if Eugeni was sincere in his curiosity. Unfortunately, humanoid or not, he wasn't human enough for her to understand. "Oh I suppose wondering just about sums it up." She replied. "And as the goblin pointed out earlier, this is a party. Let's not sully it by talking about boring things like work. I've wondered into a party and I intend to enjoy it. Now somebody talk about something interesting. Did the sla... heh, sorry... did the halfling say something about a play?"
Eugeni's ears twitch visibly as he considers Alina's response. Merr. She's got something to hide. Well, something besides those soft luscious curves. "Oh, so you're running from something. Well, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. You don't really know me.....I'm getting kind of bored too, actually."
Eugeni scratches his chin for a moment, before exhibiting his wolfish grin again. Raising his voice he says to those gathered around, Then he continues more quietly, "I could set up some apples on barrels over there in the alley. Everyone throws in a silver, and winner takes all?"
It would appear Alina has some secrets also. Well it'll probably be best to let them be for now. "So you also decided to take on the life of a wanderer? In my opinion it's a fine life as you never know what adventures you will find." Varius then turns to the Varisian man. "I've met a few Varisian groups in my travels here and I Agree with you. They are a fine and friendly group of people and do become scapegoats for others." Varius thinks back. I'm guilty for using such a tatic myself.
Upon Eugeni's request. "I wouldn't mind to test my skills. And it does seem like it could be fun" Varius looks over to the others. "Anyone else uo for some friendly competition?"
"Hey, I might not look it, but I'm Varisian as well. Varisian este limba mea maternă."
Bounding back seven minutes later, licking her fingers with powdered sugar on her chin, Zoli sees the shooting contest being set up. "Ooooh, nice. I'm not too late to join in am I?"
Zoli helps get the apples balanced on the barrels, and then slaps down her silver piece. "I'm ready when you are!", she grins, flipping a sling stone in the air and catching it.
Eugeni nods and smiles to Varius. "Nope," Eugeni replies to Zoli, "You're just in time." Eugeni leads the participants over to the nearby alley off of Cliff St. He sets the barrels up at the end of the lane, where any stray shots will fly harmlessly over the cliff and out to sea. With Zoli and Varius' help he sets up five barrels with three apples each set on top. He counts off twenty paces and draws a line in the dirt. "Alright, I think we're ready. Oh yeah, I forgot, winner pays for the apples!" He plops his own silver piece down next to Zoli's. "You wanna go first Zoli?" he asks, while unlimbering and stringing his bow.
"I am sad to say I haven't had a chance to learn any of those languages." Varius takes out his bow and prepares it for his turn. "Perhaps sometime in the future you could teach me them. I found that armed with knowledge, you can avoid unnecessary fights or settle them quickly." Varius plucks his bow string as if making a point.
Just around the corner, somewhat far off, and ever curious, stands a man in a strange, off-white mask. Taking an interest in the sudden festivities, he seems to just be watching the lot of you take turns with the bow and arrows, shooting apples.
Slowly but surely, finding that the group is far from the usual crowd and seems just as colorful as he is, he approaches somewhat nervously. He's even got his hands behind himself. At his sides lay 2 somewhat lovely axes, carried by his flamboyant, strange, oddly colorful self.
Zoli steps up to the line, brushes her hand over her lucky Thassilonian button, loads her sling, whispers "Chaldira Zuzaristan, may your luck ever overflow!" and shoots.
She's pretty happy with her performance until the last stone, when she tries to add a dramatic flourish and instead throws off her aim.
Disappointed in her performance but playing it off, she says, "OK, who's next?"
________________
At the sight of the first attempt, Lars perks up. This woman was rather impressive with that odd weapon of hers. He could throw plenty of his small bits of circular metal that he finds in the scrapyard with one of those, he thinks to himself.
Gaining more ground, he nervously speaks up as apples fall gently off of the barrels. He giggles somewhat at the last attempt, audibly. Finally getting to the group, he stands, awkwardly, amongst them.
On his side are his axes, and among his adornments include a somewhat gaudy piece of colorful neckwear, his furrowed hide armor with the sleeves removed to expose surprisingly well-toned muscles, as well as a small section of his abdomen. strange, white mask that hides a face with long, multi-colored hair. Truly an eccentric, sequestered individual.
Without speaking a word he squats, near one of the walls of the alley and watches silently again, enjoying the show and odd festivities, hoping someone would speak to him, for once.
One curious thing that bothers him, however, is the strange goblin wearing strange metal on it's strange body... it actually makes him a bit nervous and confused, but such was the world that he knew so little about. This probably wasn't the most colorful thing he'd end up seeing.
As he sits, he can't help but undress the lot of the group, trying to sum up the worth of their various baubles and trinkets and jewelry. The curvy tan woman certainly seemed like the kind to enjoy such lavish things, really...
Eugeni cheers for Zoli, "Nice shots!" For Kala, he says, "Nice try, better at the end." After the others finish, the furry archer steps up and sends five shafts down range.
His first two shots are perfectly aimed. The split their apple targets as neatly as if someone had used a knife. His third and fourth shafts slice chunks messily from the fruit with off center blows. His last shot is another center hit, but the angle is off and rather than slicing in two the apple explodes into chunks. Not bad! I should drink before shooting more often! Eugeni appears to be a bit taken aback by how well he just fired, he smiles modestly and steps back.
Joyfully, Lars speaks up just a tad. He doesn't speak common very well, however, and it most likely doesn't even seem like it's a first language to him at all.
Shaisa! Desktu Mik Mik Cahal!" he says at the sight of the first 2 criticals in exclamation. It was the most impressive thing he'd seen since he, himself, threw one of his axes at a goblin's head before it could get away with a shoddy rusted necklace...
... he still had that necklace.
With that train of thought, he immediately looked away in a bit of anxiousness. He tried his best to seem as though he hadn't been the one to make the noise, but he didn't disguise it properly at all.
Helgarr stands to the side, observing the contest with her arms crossed, paying close attention to the proficient shots of those gathered, though she makes no move to join in.
Alina smiled noncommittally at Eugeni's speculation as to what drove her to Sandpoint and then listened as he proposed an archery contest. She was only carrying her dagger, one of the few constants on her ever changing wardrobe, and certainly didn't think she could toss it very far with any accuracy. So she opted to watch.
Initially she thought the contest would only include the men, but then the halfling returned (sans treats for the rest of the group Definitely not a slave, or a very poorly trained one) and she along with Kala volunteered to participate. The halfing, evidently called Zoli, did better than Alina would have expected with her pebble sling by taking an apple nearly every time. The one miss being when she tried to show off. That, however, given the previous hits hardly diminished Alina's surprise at the little one's skill.
Clapping politely as the next contestant stepped up, Alina's eyes were caught by a mass of motley colors that silently joined her as a second spectator. The wide array of colors the man wore despite the limited amount of clothing he wore was hard to ignore as was the mask. A street performer on a break. She decided after a moment's consideration. He probably juggles those axes, though he'd probably do well to use more than two. Or maybe he juggles one handed and does some other feat at the same time.
Her speculation on the performer's act ended as one of the barrels gave a loud thunk and she realized Kala was now trying to knock over the apples. Alina was expecting the warrior to use something more powerful like a bow and wondered if she'd missed part of the rules. Are they all going to throw rocks at the apples? She wondered as she clapped when Kala finished her failed attempt to match Zoli.
Then again her attention was caught by the street performer. He was looking directly at her and Alina had the distinct impression he was undressing her with his eyes. It was hardly the first time a man had looked at her that way but for some reason this time was unusually uncomfortable. Adding a long loose sweater jacket that she pulled closed as she crossed her arms, she watched as Eugeni pulled out a bow and showed why he'd proposed the contest in the first place. The display drew a brief and wholly unintelligible cheer from the performer.
Curious she approached the man while Varius prepared to finish the competition. "Perhaps when they are done, you can perform your routine for us? What do you typically do, juggle?"
As the woman approaches, Lars somewhat loses his mind. She'd seen him admiring her wares. It was a bad habit he'd definitely gained. he knew the value of whatever cost the most on almost every regular villager he'd ever met and he would openly admit to being what goblins refer to as "Graspy" (Greedy).
Looking back toward her as she spoke to him, his heart was literally on fire. Someone was actually speaking to him voluntarily! Now if only he could understand her more important words...
One thing he had, noticed, however, is that she perked up when he spoke in goblin. That was a strike of luck, if he had ever had one, and frankly that just never happened. Never.
"Hirishek mo skarti! Se kilkil "Juggle?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.
Alina frowned at the man's response. It was just as unintelligible as his previous outburst with the exception of a mangled juggle. Somewhat regretting her decision to address the man but unwilling to be so rude as to end the conversation now, she pressed on with a second attempt.
Releasing the folds of her jacket and allowing it to hang open she pointed at the man began to mime juggling while trying her question in a variety of languages.
Zoli thanks Kala and Eugeni for their praise. In response to Kala's talk of sword and shield, she looks the warrior up and down and says "Indeed. I doubt I'd be happy to cross swords with you."
When Eugeni starts splitting apples like he was standing beside them, she jumps up in applause. "Well done! You aren't just a hunter, you sir are The Hunter Of Varisia!"
As the languages fly out of her mouth ever so fluently, he's taken aback. Most of it is just gibberish to him, unfortunately. He squeezes out a few words in common to compensate. "Sorry. I say goblin more than common." watching the hand gestures, he tilts his head. "I can't do that." he states assuredly. He knew of the gesture only because many of the goblins in the scrapyard frequently attempted such a thing. He was no better than they at it, either.
Tilting his head once more in a slowly forming habit, he presented a hand and took a bow, the only proper introduction he knew of, not helping his assumed position of "performer". Raising his head again, he looked up at her, head still tilted, and asked very simply; "Know you, of Junker's edge?"
Varius watches the strange man join the group.
I believe this man is the watcher that some of the locals talk about.
Varius then takes his bow and begins his turn.
Not used to being watched, Varius' aim is off only hitting the apples twice and just barely at that.
"It appears luck is not with me today." Varius' pride is hurt but he shrugs it off. He then approaches the watcher. He seems to live up to his name. Varius thinks as he get looked over by the strange man.
He addresses Alina. "I believe it would be wise to not jump to conclousions like before. I do believen this man is not a performer despite his look." This girl should be more careful. She seems naive about a lot of things.
Alina was a slightly taken aback when the man claimed in broken common to speak better in goblin of all things. Perhaps he isn't human after all. Nothing else I've thought about these Northerner's has been right. Maybe he's some sort of goblinoid or some half-goblin half-human mix. Is that why he wears a mask? The thought of how such a creature might be born to this world was not one Alina wanted to dwell. I don't blame him for trying to cover hide his goblin half, though I suspect he won't pass for human long if he can't speak common.
Oh wow. Is he actually bowing to me as if we were at court?
"I can't say I do. I'm not from here and only just recently arrived." She responded before thinking she might be speaking too rapidly for the half-goblin performer. So she slowly repeated herself with simpler words. "I'm new here. I don't know Junker's edge. What is that?"
And then Varius approached and with a small reprimand to her began speaking to the half-goblin in what she assumed, though evidently she should do that, was goblin. "Perhaps." She responded stiffly. "It was only a question and not unreasonable. Besides he doesn't appear offended by it."
Turning, rather surprised to be spoken to in his favored tongue, Lars can't help but get excited. Not giving the woman a moment to respond out of sheer misunderstanding, he happily begins chattering off in that same, easily misunderstood language once again, though his gaze stays on Alina.
Watching the strange events unfold, he can't help but be confused.
He sort of just looks at the thing, trying to figure out what it was they were doing.
Completely undeterred by the fact he'd just thrown a full, non-throwable axe properly, something he'd done plenty of times to catch fleeing goblins, he tilted his head again. "Junkers edge.. Good view of scrapyard and goblins. Many trinkets! Lovely really. Dirty... I watch it and keep goblins at bay! Good times." he says with a hint of pride in his work.
"My name is Lars." he says, nervous to no end. With that he goes to retrieve his axe that he'd thrown improperly.
"I meant no offense. It's just that some people may be offened by being called a performer. They may think you are mocking them and I'd hate to see you get into a fight over such misunderstandings." He gives a slight apologetic bow. "If you don't mind me asking how long were you traveling before arriving here?"
1st level: entangle, Faerie Fire, obscuring mist (D)
Eagle smiles walking through the fairgrounds, enjoying the celebration and the jovial atmosphere. Though he was not one to spend much time in cities, the Swallowtail Release was something he wanted to witness for himself. He felt a pang of disappointment at the raising of such lovely creatures in a cage, but felt that the symbol of setting them free could possibly be used to teach young girls and boys that creatures of nature are best left in their own environment.
He cast his glance about, just taking in the spectacle that was. His features perhaps a bit odd, as his face was angular, his nose hooked downwards. Perhaps the two most odd though were his eyes and "hair". His eyes had small black circles around them, irises of yellowish gold, and deep black pupils, very much like a bird of prey. The most striking however being his head, which instead of hair, was covered in thin snow white feathers, looking much the same as would the feathers of a bald eagle's head, hence many had taken to calling him Eagle Eye.
His eyes rest upon a group of men and women, taking shots and slinging stones at apples, and he walks over quite intrigued. He finds a seat, unstrapping his pack and shield and setting them to the ground, taking a seat and letting his staff rest against his shoulder. He stretches, a suit of leather covered in teeth and claws of various animals, and also feathers of all shapes and sizes and colors.
I hope you all don't mind me resting here a moment? Is there some test of Marksmanship today?
Alina allowed herself to be slightly mollified by Varius' explanation, but still found his lecture a bit presumptive. Before she could say anything though, Alina jumped in shock as the half-goblin suddenly began threatening her in goblin gibberish and throwing an axe and destroying one of the barrels. Instinctively she mentally pulled some of the mystic energy around her and wove it into her words as she placed a calming hand upon the presumably angry man. "Peace my friend. I mean you no harm. Please, sit."
Then over her shoulder she snapped at Varius, "How dare you! What did you say to him! You hypocritical little man and your lectures on misunderstandings!" Anger poured off Alina in waves as she watched to ensure the half-goblin resorted to no more violence and turned her back on Varius.
Hearing the comment, he can't help but smile a little. Once again, to the man, he mouths away beneath his mask in goblin once again.
With that, he picks up his axe, holding it in his hand. It''s a lovely, long-bearded thing not suited for throwing whatsoever, and seems somewhat cumbersome. Estranged and sequestered as he may have been, Watcher was most certainly no pushover when it came to strength.
Coming back with the axe in tow, he raises it against the sun before speaking again.
As he talks about, he opens a pouch on his side and pulls out a fanciful piece of multi-colored metal that seems far too small to be of any worth or use. It's a tiny, blue, shiny bead of iron that somehow gained a strange coloration. Looking at the woman again, he asks politely, after putting the bead back into the pouch; "What have you, of worth?
With that, he looks away for a moment, shifting the axe into his off-hand, and launching it at an apple he'd just glanced at.
Once again, the weapon somehow finds its mark, but somewhat skims the barrel as well before flying farther away into the alley.
Suddenly, and for no real reason at all, Lars finds himself enchanted with the woman who suddenly seems far more appealing than just a few moments ago. He can't, however, figure out why. Though she does seem rather angry... Wait, what did she mean by him being angry? Was he angry? No, not really...
Wait. That's right. She couldn't understand him and he threw the axe at the apple. ... That still didn't make sense.
"He mentioned the scrapyard and my mask. What is problem?" he asked, tilting his head as the woman became more and more soothing.
observing the new arrival.
Varius suppresses a smile as he speaks. "I assure you I don't intend to cause you harm or does this man. He simply asked for what reason we were shooting at apples and I guess he wanted to give it a try." Gods, she is bound to get in a whole lot of trouble if she keeps misunderstanding everything like this. "I give you my word I am not trying to harm you in fact I'm trying to do just the opposite. Theses misunderstandings might get you killed someday in the future and I would hate for the world to lose such a beautiful creature as yourself over something so trivial."
Lars had not been this confused since... well... no. This was the most confused he'd ever been. He just stood straight, looking at the 2 of them 1 at a time occasionally turning to see the other.
Turning toward Alina again. I should tell her what i said to avoid any more of a misunderstanding. "I've explained to him whats going on, and asked him to stop throwing the axe."
Alina was no fool. She'd seen Varius speak to Lars before the half-goblin threatened her with in his native tongue and violent display with his axe. She also didn't fail to notice how he continued to encourage Lars just before the half-goblin waived his axe at her and demand her valuables. Who knows what else he might have tried to manipulate Lars into doing if she'd not acted to pacify the half-goblin.
"Don't concern yourself on my account." She said bitterly. "I'm perfectly capable of handling myself."
Then turning away from Varius her voice turned sweet again. "Lars, are you hungry? There is some nice meat and some fruit over here. Would you join me? I believe you'd enjoy speaking with someone over there. He goes by the name Ravboom and is more familiar with your language than I."
Might get killed indeed. The boy has no idea who he's talking to. She fumed as she walked back to the venison cart.
Eagle smiles looking at the three of them oddly, and chuckles. It seems like you three have put a wrong foot forward? Why not just relax and enjoy the day? After all, i'd hate to see one of those rocks or axes fly errantly by mistake. Lets enjoy the company and the lovely weather.
Eagle turned his head to the sky for a moment, his mind casting to the vast blue expanse with small dots of white. Deep down he yearned to soar the skies, though he was not clear as to why, it was always something he wanted to do. He also stole a glance in the direction of the Storval Rise, another place that he wanted to visit. Imagining the birds that made their eeyries there, he smiled warmly.
Besides this is enjoyable weather, why waste the day fighting?
Hearing the man out, he shrugs. "I was never angry. Just throwing axe at apples." he says, pointing at the fact that the barrels had barely been touched, and the apples were thoroughly destroyed in the heat of curiosity.
As he says this, he picks up his other axe which is thoroughly covered in pulp at this point. Wiping it off on his leg, he puts it back into it's respective, wide-mouthed sheath.
Varius shows signs of frustration. "I have no doubt that you could. But forgive me for saying but you tend to jump to wrong conclusions quite quickly, and I have learned from experience that can be deadly no matter who does it. I just simply wised to convey some things i learned the hard way in my travels." If I wanted her harmed it would already be done. Why is it every time I try to do something nice it backfires? "I'm sorry if you still don't trust me but I've told you the truth."
"This is the reason I learn other languages." Varius sighs.
As confused about the situation as he was, Lars did indeed walk off with the alluring Alina, trying to figure out the situation. The strange man that spoke his tongue was a wonderful person from first glance, but he was concerned at this point. Something seemed far more confusing than just standing around with no idea what was going on.
That said, he was quite hungry...
As he walked he asked as simply as possible; "What is your name? What is trade? Where are you from? Curious." Every question was followed along with a head tilt.
He waved the others to come with him as they left, hoping they would tag along. He yelled aloud in goblin;
He smiled beneath his mask. "Friend." was a lovely word...
Varius smiles at them as they go off.
When Zoli stamped her approval on one Wello Rocci and some delicacy called "sfogliatelli" Xamarath was hot on her heels to sample a bit of the fine cuisine, even if he had no clue what she referred to. He found a cart surrounded and overwhelmed by a throng of hungry locals. While the halfling girl was more than equipped to navigate the tide of persons and extricate herself just as easily, Xamarath was forced to wait his turn and politely juggle invasive questions from inquisitive villagers before himself finally managing to gain access to the treats being offered. Fortunately, the wait proves to be well worth it, as the sfogliatelli is indeed delicious. He has nearly finished it entirely when he approaches the tail end of the archery competition. It appears as if Eugeni, the consummate hunter, has won the prize.
Glancing down to what few morsels remain in the fold of a napkin, Xamarath now hopelessly past being full, offers the remnants to Eugeni as a prize of convenience. "Looks like I missed most of the competition, although I did get to see the winner in action. Zoli's words ring true, this stuff is damn good! Were I not so full, I doubt I would be offering a share at all."
Eagle rises to his feet, watching these festival goers with interest. He moves over to the food carts and inspects all the food being offered, then he closes his eyes a moment, talking absently to himself.
He then smiles, taking a couple of items and whispers a few words over them in a different language, much more archaic in nature.
Eagle walks over towards Varius and Kala. "This is my first time attending the Swallowtail Festival. Anyone know what the signifigance of the event is?"