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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3425452" data-attributes="member: 11760">Finding an unlocked room proves to be a challenge for Hazel: Some of the rooms are normally occupied by the staff, and during the festival, merchants and other visitors have occupied most of the others. Finally, she finds one door ajar, which the Bergin gnomes seem to have picked the lock to open. None currently remain in the room, having all disappeared out the open window, and she can hear her brother and the gnomes jeering at the crowd and hurling rotten apples down at the drunken dwarves.Hazel grasps the window frame and leans her head out, looking upward. She studies the handholds and the roofline; she ignores the apples sailing past.C'mon Hazel, you can do this in your sleep. He's a foot and a half shorter than you; if he can climb his scrawny butt up there, so can you.She pulls her upper body back into the room and unclasps her cloak. The long fabric could hamper her movements, so she leaves it lying near the window.Taking a deep breath to calm herself -- Remember, he's nine. You did stupid things when you were nine. And if you toss him off the roof to teach him a lesson, you'll regret it later. Probably. -- Hazel steps out onto the window sill. It creaks ominously under her weight, and below, someone whistles and yells a comment about the view of Hazel from this angle, but she's able to get a grip and pull herself onto the shingles on the roof."Want an apple?" Reed asks, grinning his head off."Thanks much." She plucks the apple from Reed's hand and cautiously sits down on the roof, using her heels to keep from sliding anywhere. She casually tosses the apple in one hand and surveys the brawl. It's hard to keep her voice jovial, but she does her best. "So, who came up with this brilliant plan?"She casts a sidelong glance at the Bergins, who don't seem to have halted their apple-throwing since her arrival."Because once you explain it to Da -- and you will explain it to him -- he's gonna think it was their idea. And then he's gonna go have a chat with Constable Bridger about gnomish tricks and impressionable boys."Hazel pitches the apple back into the half-filled basket and wipes her hand on her trousers."And then, I suspect, you'll be spending your days till Blessing playing pincushion for Aspen." She eyes her brother from head to toe. "You know, I think you'll look mighty fine with a wedding dress hanging off your shoulders."Standing near the doorway of The Cat & The Fiddle, Vonmora Farrin scans the brawlers, making a note of which Glangirn dwarves are swinging arms and connecting fists with the Farrin dwarves."Oh, ho, ho, they won't fight for the mountain," Vonmora mock-flexes her arms in a macho pose, "but theey fight over cider."An uppercut to the chin sends Dalarn sprawling on the ground, a small cloud of dust briefly billowing out on impact. Dalarn wipes the blood from the side of his mouth with the back of his hand and kicks both of his feet forward, using his weight to propel himself back upright. He cracks his knuckles, roaring as he charges back into the commotion. Vonmora nods with approval and raises her green beer in a toast and offers a brief prayer that he might find glory in battle.Stotch treads lightly into the mud to help Tock up."Hurry!" Kat waves his arms and tries to get Tock and Stotch's attention. He begins pointing toward the nearest path of exit from the mob scene cleared by the now sleeping dwarves.Stotch looks up, and grins."Kran's warts! I thought today would be dull!"And then a beefy hand grabs him by the wrist and yanks him backwards, out of the fray. As he goes sprawling, he spots Deputy Tucker Gallaway wading in, frustration written all over his face. A moment later, with a squeal, Katadid comes hurtling out of the melee, landing on Stotch. Then, finally, both of them looking somewhat surprised at finding themselves in the situation, Tucker leads Tock Chandler out of the chaos.In their wake, Dalarn Farrin suddenly fights with renewed skill, his fist connecting with Glangirn nose after Glangirn nose as Vonmora Farrin looks on, visibly pleased with herself. Dalarn's next target: Emus Graygullet.Above her head, Reed Sawyer gives a full-body sigh in the way only a small child can, and mumbles something. Hazel can't hear his reply over the noise of the dwarves below, but her little brother seems willing to come inside. She gets him back in the inn first and then follows, shooting a dark look at the gnomes capering up on the roof as she does. They seem oblivious, talking excitedly in Gnomish and apparently trying to bean the deputy at the edge of the fray with apples. Then they spot something and quickly follow Hazel back inside with their bushel of rotten apples."Constable's coming! Gotta go!" one of the Bergins squeaks out as they push past. Hazel checks her possessions to make sure they're all still with her, which they seem to be.At the smithy, Constable Bridger suddenly stops beside Emmerson, who shoots him a "follow my lead" look and then hands the paladin his crutch. Balancing with one shoulder against a support beam of the smithy, the constable unslings the rifle from his back and fires a round into the air.The booming echo sends the birds flying from the trees and brings the melee to a muddy, bloody, beer-soaked halt."ALL RIGHT! BREAK IT UP! GLANGIRNS, GET TO THE SMITHY! FARRINS, OTHER SIDE OF THE SQUARE! EVERYONE ELSE, GET TO ANOTHER EDGE! NOW!"As Constable Bridger's voice booms across the square, Emus reluctantly lets go of Dalarn's beard at the same time that Dalarn lets go of the shoulder of Emus' armor. Both lower their right fists and turn to reluctantly obey the constable's orders. Emus turns to call Skeeter but sees him near the front door of the inn, standing protectively over his greatclub and half-finished drink. Reed is nowhere to be seen."Dumb dog," Emus grumbles. He picks up his club, finishes his drink, and gives Skeeter a scratch behind the ears and a "good dog" before heading over to the smithy with the other Glangirns. He gives Vonmora Farrin a mocking salute as he walks past.Hearing the constable's booming orders over the throng of voices coming from the brawl, Ragglus decides being anywhere but his current location is the best course of action. He walks leisurely toward the back of The Cat & The Fiddle, intent of looping around to the back of the stables, and out of casual view. With any luck, he'll get a jump on the rest when Milos starts pouring again.Not surprisingly, the dwarves that got hurt in the fracas shrug off their injuries, muttering "falling rocks hurt more than their fists" and return to their neglected tankards, slapping those knocked out by Katadid's spell before they do.After the last dwarf leaves, Emmerson turns to the constable."Sir? I wanted to ask your advice about something. It's about the bishop's desire for me to serve as the priest in Maidensbridge. You see, I spoke today with Ebuferpaly Potentloins and we had this discussion ..."</blockquote>

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