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The frontier town of Bellis stands within the quiet shade of the Verduran Forest, nestled along the western banks of the slow-moving Sellen River. Flower gardens color every homestead, painting a vibrant scene under the summer sun. Common folk go about their business, tilling the land, tying off keelboats, and hobnobbing over cups of mead. In the distance, a dog barks, children laugh, and the bees hum while gathering pollen.
If you already know Elyin, you have received a simple but pretty invitation to his wedding; otherwise, you come across an open invitation posted in town.
Festivities for the wedding stretch from the stone chapel and rose gardens of Shelyn, past a large open-air tent, and down to the sun-drenched, tree-lined banks of Stillwater Creek. Music and laughter fill the air, with partygoers calling out for attendees to join their games and merrymaking.
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An elegant kitsune woman approaches the chapel. Those of you who have met her see that she has traded her usual formal white dress for a more muted navy blue, though it is still far too formal for even a wedding in these parts. Her eyes scan the crowd for any familiar faces or those wearing insignia of the Pathfinder Society.
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Looking around cheerfully, an imposing ifrit follows along after the kitsune. A sleeveless golden silk robe swirls around her feet and fiery ripples run up and down her arms. The flames in her hair are muted to gentle embers, but she is still a little on the intimidating side.
She blinks to hear the thrush speak and grins at the kitsune's response.
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While chatty during the journey here with White Rose and overall excited for attending her first wedding, Elena suddenly becomes quiet with a slight pained expression on arrival. A pang of melancholy hits her out of nowhere. He throat tightness and her chest hurts...
Clear summer skies.
The smell of grass and flowers in bloom.
Children laughing in the distance.
All of this seems so familiar. A long forgotten memory just under the surface of her mind she can't quite recall as much as she tries. A sense of a loss washes over her and all she knows is that she had all of this once.
She remains mostly silent for a while, just following White Rose's lead, but eventually tries to focus more on the event at hand.
"Do we know the dress code? I've... I've never been to a wedding before, I don't know what should I wear. The armor seems a bit much."
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Overhearing Elena's comment, a tall, muscular young Kellid woman with a hooked nose and copious scars awkwardly steps up to join the conversation. "Uh, hi. Yeah. So, you think I'm underdressed?" She gestures to her simple, travel-stained leathers under a rather new breastplate. "I haven't been to anything that required nice clothes in years. I'm Kala, by the way, and this is--oh. Where's Smelly?" She casts her eyes about a bit and spots her quarry back along her route a ways. "Just a sec. I gotta go wake up my bear."
Hustling over to the snoozing fur pile, she mumbles an apology to a nearby shopkeeper, who has a rather alarmed look on their face. "He's harmless, really. Just a big furry snoozeball. Come on Smelly. Let's go."
Finally making it back to the group with a very sleepy bear in tow, she sighs. "Sorry about that. This is Smelly, but I shoulda named him Snoozy. Uh, so...the clothes? Please tell me I don't have to go shopping." She looks genuinely concerned about that prospect.
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A tall dude with a dark green cloak suddenly appears by the White Rose and Elena, whispering, ”Guess they’ll let any anybody into this wedding…”
After the dude bows, he pulls back the hood of his cloak, revealing Wymarc’s grinning face. ”Good to see you again, m’ladies, it’s been awhile. What brings you here? I wasn’t expecting to see anyone from the Society…are you friends of the bride or groom?”
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Elena blinks in surprise seeing Wymarc show up. "Oh! Hey! Nice to see you here! Well... I think White Rose got the invitation. This is quite the way out of the road and I thought it would be best to come with her just in case anything that cannot be talked down came out of the bushes..." she shrugs. "Besides... it's a nice change of scenery after my last mission."
She looks at Kala and her bear with a smile. "I think we are in the same predicament... I wouldn't mind looking for something comfortable that fits the party's theme for us if needed."
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The ifrit drifts closer to join in the conversation. "Oh, are you all Pathfinders, too? I'm Oondeen...the Undying," she adds in a rather abashed voice. "I was, er, a *lot* more pretentious in my youth. Unfortunately, it's kind of stuck now."
Oondeen smooths a crease out of the robe, drawing attention to the tattoos on her arms. "I don't know anyone in the wedding, but I was heading back to Absalom and a party sounded like fun."
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After attending a conference at Ranginori, the Duke of Thunder's court on the plane of air, Navi was able to travel back to Absalom with an adventurous young cloud dragon headed almost in the same direction as her. In no rush to get back where each were headed, the pair would frolic in the clouds high above. Sometimes Navi would ride on the dragon's back, other times she would free-featherfall and glide with the wind, then land on the dragon as it swooped underneath her.
They traveled for several days and Navi was looking for excitement. She suddenly spots a celebration being prepared in a small town nestled beside a forest below.
"Oooo. I'm going to check that out. It was a pleasure traveling with you, Zeghesdar. I do hope to meet your wife and children soon. Farewell, my friend."
"Farewell, Navi. You're welcome to swoop by anytime. Stay out of trouble!"
The dragon says with a chuckle as he soars off.
Descending to get a closer look, she spots a fiery-haired ifrit hurrying down the street with a few other humanoids, possibly giving chase.
"Hmm. I wonder if they're friendly. Might as well introduce myself."
Navi does a loop and nose dives towards the group. She comes to a dead stop high above the ifrit and keeps watch, her light blue skin camouflaged with the sky above, to make sure they're not there to burn down the town. It just so happens a few of their faces are familiar.
Could they be... Pathfinders?
After a few minutes of spying, Navi decides to swoop down closer. She stops about twenty feet away to hover above them and calls out a greeting.
"Hellooo there, friends. I am Navi. I noticed from above that the town is preparing for some sort of celebration. I very much enjoy celebrations and was wondering if I could join you as a guest."
She says as she swoops and darts above the group, her translucent dragonfly wings fluttering. Her wayfinder dangles from a chain at her hip, hoping that they notice it.
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Kala pulls up short, stunned by the nonchalantly flying newcomer. Her grandmother's hypercritical voice accusing her of not being good enough echoes through the back of her mind. Her hand instinctively reaches for Stinky, her recently deceased wolverine and best friend who had been by her side since she lost her family and much of her tribe to a cholera outbreak. Instead of his coarse fur, her fingers just find Smelly's. Heart sinking into the pit of her stomach, Kala manages to keep her face stoic. She's even less excited about clothes shopping now.
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Elena laughs nervously. "Oh, we are just arriving as well... I guess the more the merrier, right?"
"Splendid!" Navi exclaims with glee.
She floats to the ground and walks with the others."Some of you look familiar. I think I've passed you on the grounds of the Grand Lodge... " she chit-chats with her new friends as they wander about the festival.
"Oh! By the way, what's the celebration for? It appears to be quite the party, with the whole town being involved and all."
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"It's a wedding, as far as I understand. I... I was wondering if I should hit a shop to get something 'merrier'. Even if the armor is a bit shiny and might be okay for other official events, I don't want to stand out that much... particularly to keep the attention on the groom and bride, you know..." She confesses sheepishly.
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Soni surveys the crowd. "I think we are destined to stand out here, regardless. But it is not a faux pas to wear armor to an event unless it is specifically requested that you do not. Just consider yourself wedding security, Elena." The kitsune smiles.
"But it seems that we have some new friends here. Pathfinders as well, by the look of you, though we have not had the honor of working together. My name is Soni Alemnin, and I am one of the Society's negotiators, when one is needed. I am pleased to make your acquaintance." She offers a paw to Navi, Kala and Oondeen in turn.
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Elena blinks in surprise seeing Wymarc show up. "Oh! Hey! Nice to see you here! Well... I think White Rose got the invitation..."
Wymarc smiles. ”I took a break to see a friend near Wispil; she knew the bride being married here today and invited me along…”
As the newcomers appear, he grins mischievously and bows to them. ”Wymarc, at your service, ladies, a pleasure to meet you. With all these Pathfinders coincidentally ending up at the same wedding, what could possibly go wrong? On the other hand, if it goes like my most of my sanctioned Society missions, might be a bad omen instead.” His eyes twinkle as he continues. ”And I the only male amongst you lovely ladies…maybe not a bad omen after all…”
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Kala blinks. "Lovely" has never been a term applied to her, except in jest. Unsure how to handle that, as always, she chooses to ignore it. "Uh, yeah. I'm a Pathfinder. I was just heading back to Absalom after a mission in the Emerald Spire got put on hold. Indefinitely. Stopped by town here for supplies and saw the general invitation. Free food? I'm in." Stinky would've loved all the free food. She muses with an inner sigh. Of course, it would've been hell trying to keep him from ruining the party. Heh. "But if I gotta buy nicer clothes, I'll need to find a men's shop. Women's clothes never fit right. <sigh>" She begins looking around for an appropriate merchant or store with a resigned look on her face.
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Wymarc shakes his head lightly, trying to give a reassuring smile. ”Kala…is it? Sorry, I suck with names…any way, you don’t need new clothes for this wedding. My friend told me it was more casual; heck, they even posted a general invitation in the town square, definitely not formal. You look fine, just as you are…heck, I’m going in my drab cloak, feel naked without it…”
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Hearing Elena mention the dance floor, Wymarc’s eyes brighten. ”Dance floor? Aye, let’s go there first…it’s been too long since I’ve cut the rug. Would any of you ladies care to dance?”
Walking over to the floor, old habits being hard to break, Wymarc eyes the layout and the folk in the immediate area…
…and then he’ll dance with any of his companions that wish to…if none of them wish to dance, he’ll ask either his friend who invited him or one of the ladies that came unaccompanied…
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"Kala, you look fine. Don't worry about your dress." Oondeen almost pats the hunter on the shoulder, but changes her mind at the last moment as she catches sight of the badger? Weasel? too big for mink?
Oondeen grins at Wymarc, grabs his hand, and scampers towards the dance floor. "I'm all over a dance! Let's go!"
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For once, Kala doesn't mind that Smelly has fallen asleep again. She lets the others move along ahead of her as she takes her time rousing him and coaxing him to follow her. "Poor guy. You're worn out from all that traveling, aren't you? Come on. There's a sunny spot over there for you to nap in." She gets him settled close to the dance area so she can watch everyone else dancing, and stands beside him so no one panics about seeing a bear nearby. Her foot taps *almost* in time to the music as she lets herself enjoy the festivities.
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Her arms and legs sore from frolicking in the sky with her dragon friend, Navi is not really in the mood to dance. A sit down meal would be more like it. She sidles up to Kala leaning against the low fence and makes light conversation.
"Not in the mood to dance either, eh, Kala? I'm just so exhausted from my journey here that I just want to take it easy for a bit."
"I'm glad our new friends are enjoying themselves. Wow. They're pretty good dancers."
Navi notices White Rose step on some toes.
"Oops! White Rose could maybe use some lessons, though."
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Kala's a bit surprised that Navi chooses to join her, but is glad for the company. "Heh. Uh, yeah, well, she's still better than me. I'm all left feet and clumsy-awkward when I dance. But yeah, it's fun to watch 'em. ... So, uh, did you...fly all the way here? Is flying hard? Like with the wind and all?" Kala's not so sure she'd enjoy it; solid ground has been a big part of her life so far and she's rather fond of it.
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"Oh, no."
Navi responds to Kala's inquiry.
"I didn't fly all the way. My flight ability is quite limited -only a few minutes a day. However, I do have an innate feather fall ability. Being a wispy sylph, it allows me to stay up in the air for quite some time as long as the wind currents are strong. I can free fall slowly for a bit, then catch an upward current if there is one. I travelled here with a special friend that has the ability to fly like a bird. If I couldn't catch an upward current, he was sure to swoop below me to catch me."
She gives Kala a grin.
"It's quite exhilarating to soar with the wind."
"So. Do you have any special abilities?"
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"Um. I dunno. Uh, I got some magic, I guess. Mostly I hit things with Orc Brains." She pats a well-worn warhammer at her side. "Stin--uh, Smelly helps. He's pretty well trained, just exhausted from traveling so long." Desperate to get the focus of the conversation off herself, Kala tries to spot her new acquaintances on the dance floor. "Wow. Oondeen and Wymarc are pretty good."
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"Um. I dunno. Uh, I got some magic, I guess. Some healing and other stuff. Mostly I hit things with Orc Brains." She pats a well-worn warhammer at her side. "Stin--uh, Smelly helps. He's pretty well trained, just exhausted from traveling so long." Desperate to get the focus of the conversation off herself, Kala tries to spot her new acquaintances on the dance floor. "Wow. Oondeen and Wymarc are pretty good."
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Navi can sense that Kala is uncomfortable when asked about her special abilities.
"Well, it seems like you have a special affinity with animals." she says with a smile and leaves it at that.
"They are very good dancers, indeed."
"I sure am famished. Soaring high in the sky gets you a lot of bugs in your mouth. Not very tasty, I must say, and surely not enough to be considered a full meal. Ick." she says, sticking out her tongue and scowling in disgust.
"Maybe there's a food cart or refreshment stand nearby."
She glances about through the throngs of party goers looking for somewhere to get a bite to eat.
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Within the shade of these massive oak trees, musicians perform a variety of quickstep tunes. Several partygoers have already joined the dance, whirling beneath colored streamers, and lanterns hung between the trees.
A half-elf oversees the music and entertainment for the wedding, upon seeing those of you dancing and enjoying yourselves he offers if any wish to perform you are welcome to.
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you can hear the band Quiet down as Elena starts to sing, and the Half-elf bows and leaves you to lead and the band to follow, people enjoy it with a smile and when Elena finishes she is cheered, and applauded.
The band picks up and carries on with the music as the Half-Elf is off tending to another area
There are several different areas with Events going on, remaining
Lovers Bridge
Feast Tent
Gazebo/Amphitheater
Horseshoe pit
Chapel of Shelyn
Rose Garden
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As Wymarc leaves the dance floor with Oondeen, he’s grinning like a Cheshire Cat, thoroughly enjoying himself. He bows to her, ”That was a blast, Oondeen! You dance very well, indeed…and forgive the pun, but you are one hot lady! So, where do we go next? Lovers Bridge sounds fun…or perhaps the Feast Tent to grab a bite? Oh, and that was a nice song, Elena…”
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WRD - Rose Garden
A wide path leads to a maze of thick, ten-foot-tall hedges with songbirds nesting within them. A few wedding guests stand at the entrance, with one or two occasionally venturing into the maze to explore the flower gardens and statuary inside.
As the caretaker of Shelyn’s Grove tends to the rose gardens contained by these hedges. She also displays several pieces of sculpted art throughout the maze, with benches placed conveniently nearby. Many wedding guests have already availed themselves of these seats
Navi - Feast Tent
Delicious smells emanate from this large canvas tent. Partygoers frequently come and go, carrying wooden plates of fried fish and barbecued pork with cups of honeymead. Around the back, smoke rises from several cook fires.
Under the canopy of this pitched tent, Revas Benwold serves food and drink for the wedding celebration, including his own special recipe of honeymead. Several volunteers man cookfires behind the tent, frying fish
and roasting racks of pork ribs. Anyone can eat for free, but the canopy’s shade offers little sitting room. Instead, Benwold encourages revelers to enjoy their meals outdoors, either on picnic blankets by the creek or the amphitheater’s benches.
While enjoying Benwold’s food, you may also participate in a special auction called a box social.
Kailah’s seven bridesmaids each prepared desserts and placed them in decorative boxes for attendees to bid upon. They hope to raise enough money to provide a dowry for Kailah. Winning bidders receive their chosen dessert and also get to enjoy it in the company of the lovely
bridesmaid who made it. This time-honored tradition helps pair young ladies of marrying age with potential suitors in a supervised setting.
Most boxes contain a variety of fruit pies and honeyed cakes
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The only thing here that really interests Kala is the food, but she knows that she'll dread everything else more if she eats her fill and has nothing to look forward to later. So, in the spirit of delayed gratification, she follows White Rose into the rose garden, coaxing Smelly to follow her without too much difficulty. Of course, she has to repeatedly assure the other guests that he's no threat, just like a big sleepy puppy dog.
When they're finally in a spot with no melodramatic/concerned people around, she remarks to white Rose: "It's so weird to see plants so...perfect. It's like they're in straight jackets. I feel bad for them. ... Is that weird?"
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Navi fills up a plate with anything vegetarian and helps herself to a carafe of honeymead. She then goes to look at the desserts available for bidding.
"These desserts look simply divine! I must surely get one."
Navi looks at all the desserts available for bidding and checks to see how much has been bid on each one.