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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TheBard" data-source="post: 49221" data-attributes="member: 2821">Episode 2: Cold Duck, Pistachios, Cheese and BeerCharacters Ingolf Egilson (Bard 1/Rogue 2) - Keith Martin Aoelif Snorrisdottir (Ranger 1/Fianna 2) - Jess Hanna Zaccara (Fighter 3) - Jon Hanna Martaine (Rogue 1/Templar 2) - Sean Holland Nicasia Xerecian (Rogue 1/Sorcerer 2) - Laura Holland Theodorus Commenos Alexius (Noble 1/Wizard 2) - Steve McDonald Time Elapsed: 3/14 — 3/16/495 A.I. Background After recovering their horses from the opportunistic innkeeper of the Red Bull, who was intent on auctioning them off (believing everyone in the White Bull must surely have perished), the group headed on towards Tavia once more, stopping to camp along side the road. Summary The next day, they came upon the first signs of human civilization - a small village, complete with a chapel, the beginnings of an imperial road, and a milestone from which they discovered they were only six miles away from the city. Several of the locals, upon learning that the group was bound for Tavia, encouraged them to support the Lavender faction in the upcoming chariot race, and Ingolf became interested in this idea when he learned that the charioteer was a Cimbri. Martaine took a moment to chat with the local pastor and pray at the chapel.The rest of the party briefly talked with a traveling dwarven merchant who was, unfortunately for the group's olfactory organs, transporting a large load of musk-ox wool toward the city. The dwarf, Oskar, discussed his frustrations with the complex tax laws of the human empire but clearly looked forward to the profits he expected to reap from the tough ox hides once he'd sold them. The group, holding their noses, bid him farewell and quickly covered the final few miles into Tavia before the noon meal. Tavia was bedecked all in its celebratory finery when the group approached, with many banners and pennants visible glorifying the empire, the church and Saint Petronella, whose feast was approaching. At the city gate the guard informed them that their best bet for lodging was to be had at the Bad Pony, an inn close by the Cimbri gate. The inn's sign, portraying a pony delivering a solid kick to the nether region of its would-be master, was easy enough to spot, and the group found stabling and accommodation there at a reasonable rate. While they munched on cold duck, pistachios, cheese and beer, the group learned that the chariot race inaugurating the festival of Petronella was to be that very afternoon. The two Alfar as well as the human warrior Zaccara elected to head for the race grounds, and after Aeolif was generous enough to secure a bottle of excellent wine they headed back out of the gate, in the company of a satyr, named also staying at the inn.Meanwhile, Martaine headed for the nearly completed cathedral in the center of the city to present himself before the Metropolitan and offer his services as a teacher. Although he was not able to meet with the Bishop, Martaine did meet Father Photus, the priest responsible for the local orphanage. Photus relayed that in the event Martaine was unable to find employment in the cathedral school as he hoped, his assistance was more than welcome working with the orphans. Martaine took the opportunity to pray before heading towards the fairgrounds without the city walls to find his newfound friends once more. Theodorus for his part visited the College of Abjuration, a huge, 8-story maintained by the college of wizardry. He unfortunately made a rather poor first impression, and the dean of the college seemed less than impressed with Theodorus' plan to study the sorcery of nearby Rolgulka and his reference to Tavia being in the dark "hinterlands" of the Empire. Nevertheless, Nicodemus, the dean, did affirm Theodorus' right to study at the college, assuming he could pay of course. He also added a warning -the college only accepted students who were also devout churchgoers. Theodorus made a few attempts to smooth over his initial miss-step and then left for the upcoming chariot race. Nicasia took advantage of the temporary chaos to slip off alone and get a feel for the layout of the city. She walked from quarter to quarter, marking the boundaries of the noble district, merchant's district, laborer's district and the slums as she went. Although Tavia was not as clearly and distinctly segregated as Iconium, Nicasia was easily able to discern the seedier parts of town as well as the more genteel. After her little walkabout he elected to join the others at the race. Theodorus, Martaine and Nicasia had little trouble spotting the satyr that accompanied the others from the inn, and soon all were deeply embroiled in the placing of wagers on the upcoming race. The satyr seemed a bit short of coin, and tried to place a bet with a small ivory trinket depicting a sylvan god of fertility, but the bookmaker balked at this offer. Zaccara bought the item from the faun and finally all bets were placed. The race itself did not go as many of the group were hoping, and in the end the chariot championed by the orange faction, representing the guildsmen and merchants of Tavia, had the victory. Zaccara won back the money he'd invested in the ivory statue and had the statue to boot; Nicasia, who had carefully hedged her bets, broke even, and everyone else lost money, a largish amount in some cases. While the suddenly poor members of the group were deciding what to do next, a member of the guard approached with an offer. Part of the feast celebrations included a tournament of arms, in which volunteers representing wolves would attempt to steal sheep guarded by members of the baron's own household. The "sheep" were nothing but bags of wool, although each contained a reward of some sort and one, if stolen, would give the successful wolf the chance to participate personally in the upcoming mass. After securing the assistance of the satyr, the group decided to try this tournament which began early the next morning, and retired to their inn to plan and celebrate. A few choice spells were selected and the outline of a plan was formed - the speedy satyr would attempt to grab the sheep while the others held the guardian shepherds at bay. As all plans, this one quickly disintegrated on contact with the enemy, and soon the field was little more than a pitched melee, which the crowd seemed to enjoy immensely. With a few well-executed spells and some solid blows from their padded clubs, the party managed to remove three "sheep" from the circle, and although one member of the "wolves" was rendered unconscious in the effort, fully three times that many "shepherds" were similarly out of commission.The baron himself opened the bellies of the sheep and presented the prizes to the assembled group - a silver bracelet with charms representing Saint Petronella, which went to Nicasia, a bottle of fine perfume made by the baron's wife which was awarded to the satyr, and a grand prize of full board for the entire group at The Partridge, Tavia's finest inn, along with the chance to participate in the morning mass for a single member of the group.The party returned at that point to their inn, and briefly discussed possible dispensation of the bones they were still transporting. No resolution was reached on that issue but it was decided to wait for the upcoming druidic festival concerning Arleta's Well before doing anything. Notable Quotes: "Are you a Justinian by any chance, brother?" - local Templar and "Shepherd" after being laid low by a vicious sneak attack by the club-wielding cleric Martaine. "No, I'm a Valerian, but I come from a city parish." - Martaine's reply.</blockquote>

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