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Story Hour
(Cydra) The Year 271 Campaign (Low Magic experiment)
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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 2404767" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>Kyle Goldenbow spends much of the night preparing. Although he did not set up a booth on the first day of the festival, he now regrets it. He is Whitewater’s lapidary and stone-polisher (for semiprecious stones are washed downstream by the Roaring River), and he has many small stones and such that might fetch a few pennies from festival goers. Thus, Kyle rises early, puts on a cheerful face and heads to his booth. He spreads his wares out before him, careful to leave them all in view of himself when he sits behind them- the last thing he needs is a thief to steal his livelihood!</p><p></p><p>As the number of people present increases, and the singing of Cara Reed sweetly caresses their ears, the fun begins to flow. Gossip and rumors are exchanged along with coins and goods. “I heard that Tad Ranger has won the archery contest every year for the last four years! He’s sure to do it again!” “Did you hear? There is an alchemist here selling magic potions.” “You know, there used to be elves around here, but they all vanished long ago.” “The feud? Well, the way I hear it, it all started because Latin Garden is having an unnatural relationship with one of the Cooker bully-boys!” “The Weird Ladies are a trio of witches. They cannot be trusted.” “There is a crazy hermit that lives a couple of miles downstream.”</p><p></p><p>The sun slowly works its way into the top of the sky. Kyle makes a few sales, but nothing spectacular. One of the more interesting characters that he meets is Otis Optimus, one of the apprentices to Xastys the Sorceress, who dwells on the edge of town in a high tower. Otis and Kyle chat for nearly an hour as they barter and trade stones. Otis is polite but distant. Along one long edge of the festival, the sounds of construction still emanate from behind the heavy high curtain that the halflings erected yesterday. Cedric and his father are at the lord’s place of honor (by tradition, the local lord or one of his representatives remains at the festival while it is running to show their approval of it), chatting amiably with those that approach them. Jorgen maintains his vigilant watch over the crowd, keeping an eye open for thieves or halflings, and he also keeps more than half an eye on Tumenore and his men. He recognizes several of them in the crowd; though they are no longer armored, they are still armed. They are acting like everyone else at the festival, but nobody is especially fooled. They are on patrol. They make Cur Sed Seed entirely nervous. <em>What if they accuse me?</em> He can’t help but wondering... he is no bandit, but he <em>is</em> an outcast. Where do Tumenore’s men draw the line?</p><p></p><p>But nobody is accused, at least not before the contests that begin in the afternoon.</p><p></p><p>About noon the construction stops behind the curtains. The sign is changed- the performance will begin at the eighth hour. “What performance?” wonders Jorgen aloud. “I’ll have to keep an eye out for anyone working the crowd.” He glances worriedly at the nearest of the bandit-hunters. “And I need to keep an eye on all those guys!” Realizing he’s talking aloud, Jorgen gulps and self-consciously covers his mouth.</p><p></p><p>The first contest is an archery contest. There are traditionally only a few entrants, as one must provide his own bow (though arrows are provided). Jorgen and Goer both manage, though they both have to borrow bows. Their competition includes Tad Ranger, Greybold and Blake Cooker Junior. A target is set up just outside of the festival grounds, and three shots are allowed per contestant from a line at 50’ distance. There are three rings and a bullseye on the target. Jorgen manages to land one shot in the innermost ring, but his other two both miss completely. Goer has even worse luck- he doesn’t get anything. Greybold, a retired soldier, is clearly a little rusty, and quirks a self-deprecating smile when he completely misses the target once. Although Junior Cooker manages to land two shots in the target, Tad Ranger takes the victory again, for the fifth year running. This year’s prize is a fabulous golden arrow.</p><p></p><p>The second contest of the afternoon is a riding contest, with what amounts to an agility course for horses set up. The entry fee is 3 cp, a little stiff, but again, the main barrier to most would-be contestants is the need to provide one’s own horse. A few of the townsfolk manage to enter, including a number of the Cookers and one of their bully-boys. So does Drew Garden. Tad Ranger enters this contest as well, and Cedric borrows one of his father’s horses to enter, but unfortunately he is eliminated when his horse strays from the course. Ultimately, the victor is Tad Ranger again! He wins a child’s toy- a wooden horse suspended in a frame, which a young child could ‘ride’. </p><p></p><p>“Next year, my lord,” Goer commiserates. </p><p></p><p>Next comes a traditional favorite- the drinking contest. Cedric and Cur both enter it, along with a large field of other contestants. Two of the Brownstone brothers- the local dwarf population- enter; surely they will not be pushovers. The town drunk, Hadrian Fisher, already looks like he has had a few, but he’s ready for more. Goer’s dad and brother enter; and cajoled by them, he is persuaded to join them. Bangus Redcoat, one of the Cooker bully-boys, joins the fun. So does Antos Mallard, just a lad but willing to try.</p><p></p><p>Soon their heads are swimming, their mouths are mushy and their minds are dimmed. One after another they drop out of the contest, either passing out, vomiting or failing to set their glass down in front of them. In the end, it comes down to a tense battle of wills between Hadrian Fisher and Zandos Brownstone- and the famous dwarven tolerance prevails! Zandos wins. Drunk as a skunk, he receives his prize- a straw hat.</p><p></p><p>As the contestants stagger away, one of the bandit-hunters follows Bangus Redcoat with his eyes. </p><p></p><p>Cara Reed’s heart starts to pound as she enters the next contest: the sausage-eating contest. It’s a warm up for the <em>really</em> important one, which is coming soon. She’s getting more and more nervous; she spent a long time getting prettied up for today! Hopefully her hair looks okay- it’s been hot and dusty... Well, there is no time to worry about it now, the contests are under way.</p><p></p><p>“I could use a sausage after all that beer!” roars Zandos Brownstone. “Come, brother!” Showing an unusual level of jocularity, the two dwarves pay their entry fee and pull up stools to the table erected for this one. Little Cathy Cooker, the town’s milk maid (and a sultry, if aging, figure) sits opposite Cara. Several other townsfolk enter, as well as the retired soldier, Greybold. But when the long, thick sausages are brought out, Cathy demonstrates her legendary ability to shove things down her throat and stuffs the entire sausage down in seconds.</p><p></p><p>In awe, the others can only watch as she collects the prize- an entire goat, dressed and slaughtered. “Well, since I’m one of the Cookers, I don’t really need this,” she says magnanimously, “so I’ll pass it along to the second place winner.” She smiles at Cara.</p><p></p><p>There are two contests left: the chicken-plucking contest and the prettiest girl contest. People are laughing and joking as the pen that will hold the chickens is set up. </p><p></p><p>Across the festival, one of the bandit-hunters reaches Tumenore, at his tent. With a grim smile, the man- whose name is Narmox- tells his leader, “I think I spotted one.”</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> The rest of the contests! The Amazing Longleap Sisters perform! And Tumenore’s men make their move!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 2404767, member: 1210"] Kyle Goldenbow spends much of the night preparing. Although he did not set up a booth on the first day of the festival, he now regrets it. He is Whitewater’s lapidary and stone-polisher (for semiprecious stones are washed downstream by the Roaring River), and he has many small stones and such that might fetch a few pennies from festival goers. Thus, Kyle rises early, puts on a cheerful face and heads to his booth. He spreads his wares out before him, careful to leave them all in view of himself when he sits behind them- the last thing he needs is a thief to steal his livelihood! As the number of people present increases, and the singing of Cara Reed sweetly caresses their ears, the fun begins to flow. Gossip and rumors are exchanged along with coins and goods. “I heard that Tad Ranger has won the archery contest every year for the last four years! He’s sure to do it again!” “Did you hear? There is an alchemist here selling magic potions.” “You know, there used to be elves around here, but they all vanished long ago.” “The feud? Well, the way I hear it, it all started because Latin Garden is having an unnatural relationship with one of the Cooker bully-boys!” “The Weird Ladies are a trio of witches. They cannot be trusted.” “There is a crazy hermit that lives a couple of miles downstream.” The sun slowly works its way into the top of the sky. Kyle makes a few sales, but nothing spectacular. One of the more interesting characters that he meets is Otis Optimus, one of the apprentices to Xastys the Sorceress, who dwells on the edge of town in a high tower. Otis and Kyle chat for nearly an hour as they barter and trade stones. Otis is polite but distant. Along one long edge of the festival, the sounds of construction still emanate from behind the heavy high curtain that the halflings erected yesterday. Cedric and his father are at the lord’s place of honor (by tradition, the local lord or one of his representatives remains at the festival while it is running to show their approval of it), chatting amiably with those that approach them. Jorgen maintains his vigilant watch over the crowd, keeping an eye open for thieves or halflings, and he also keeps more than half an eye on Tumenore and his men. He recognizes several of them in the crowd; though they are no longer armored, they are still armed. They are acting like everyone else at the festival, but nobody is especially fooled. They are on patrol. They make Cur Sed Seed entirely nervous. [i]What if they accuse me?[/i] He can’t help but wondering... he is no bandit, but he [i]is[/i] an outcast. Where do Tumenore’s men draw the line? But nobody is accused, at least not before the contests that begin in the afternoon. About noon the construction stops behind the curtains. The sign is changed- the performance will begin at the eighth hour. “What performance?” wonders Jorgen aloud. “I’ll have to keep an eye out for anyone working the crowd.” He glances worriedly at the nearest of the bandit-hunters. “And I need to keep an eye on all those guys!” Realizing he’s talking aloud, Jorgen gulps and self-consciously covers his mouth. The first contest is an archery contest. There are traditionally only a few entrants, as one must provide his own bow (though arrows are provided). Jorgen and Goer both manage, though they both have to borrow bows. Their competition includes Tad Ranger, Greybold and Blake Cooker Junior. A target is set up just outside of the festival grounds, and three shots are allowed per contestant from a line at 50’ distance. There are three rings and a bullseye on the target. Jorgen manages to land one shot in the innermost ring, but his other two both miss completely. Goer has even worse luck- he doesn’t get anything. Greybold, a retired soldier, is clearly a little rusty, and quirks a self-deprecating smile when he completely misses the target once. Although Junior Cooker manages to land two shots in the target, Tad Ranger takes the victory again, for the fifth year running. This year’s prize is a fabulous golden arrow. The second contest of the afternoon is a riding contest, with what amounts to an agility course for horses set up. The entry fee is 3 cp, a little stiff, but again, the main barrier to most would-be contestants is the need to provide one’s own horse. A few of the townsfolk manage to enter, including a number of the Cookers and one of their bully-boys. So does Drew Garden. Tad Ranger enters this contest as well, and Cedric borrows one of his father’s horses to enter, but unfortunately he is eliminated when his horse strays from the course. Ultimately, the victor is Tad Ranger again! He wins a child’s toy- a wooden horse suspended in a frame, which a young child could ‘ride’. “Next year, my lord,” Goer commiserates. Next comes a traditional favorite- the drinking contest. Cedric and Cur both enter it, along with a large field of other contestants. Two of the Brownstone brothers- the local dwarf population- enter; surely they will not be pushovers. The town drunk, Hadrian Fisher, already looks like he has had a few, but he’s ready for more. Goer’s dad and brother enter; and cajoled by them, he is persuaded to join them. Bangus Redcoat, one of the Cooker bully-boys, joins the fun. So does Antos Mallard, just a lad but willing to try. Soon their heads are swimming, their mouths are mushy and their minds are dimmed. One after another they drop out of the contest, either passing out, vomiting or failing to set their glass down in front of them. In the end, it comes down to a tense battle of wills between Hadrian Fisher and Zandos Brownstone- and the famous dwarven tolerance prevails! Zandos wins. Drunk as a skunk, he receives his prize- a straw hat. As the contestants stagger away, one of the bandit-hunters follows Bangus Redcoat with his eyes. Cara Reed’s heart starts to pound as she enters the next contest: the sausage-eating contest. It’s a warm up for the [i]really[/i] important one, which is coming soon. She’s getting more and more nervous; she spent a long time getting prettied up for today! Hopefully her hair looks okay- it’s been hot and dusty... Well, there is no time to worry about it now, the contests are under way. “I could use a sausage after all that beer!” roars Zandos Brownstone. “Come, brother!” Showing an unusual level of jocularity, the two dwarves pay their entry fee and pull up stools to the table erected for this one. Little Cathy Cooker, the town’s milk maid (and a sultry, if aging, figure) sits opposite Cara. Several other townsfolk enter, as well as the retired soldier, Greybold. But when the long, thick sausages are brought out, Cathy demonstrates her legendary ability to shove things down her throat and stuffs the entire sausage down in seconds. In awe, the others can only watch as she collects the prize- an entire goat, dressed and slaughtered. “Well, since I’m one of the Cookers, I don’t really need this,” she says magnanimously, “so I’ll pass it along to the second place winner.” She smiles at Cara. There are two contests left: the chicken-plucking contest and the prettiest girl contest. People are laughing and joking as the pen that will hold the chickens is set up. Across the festival, one of the bandit-hunters reaches Tumenore, at his tent. With a grim smile, the man- whose name is Narmox- tells his leader, “I think I spotted one.” [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] The rest of the contests! The Amazing Longleap Sisters perform! And Tumenore’s men make their move! [/QUOTE]
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