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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JoeNotCharles" data-source="post: 4649907" data-attributes="member: 79945">The jester nudges Seven Rabbit. "Finish up, there, the crowd's getting restless.""Oh, uh..." says Rabbit, his train of thought broken.  "Well, when Death saw that his rival had finally fallen, he started gloating and parading up and down the court calling, "You see?  I am Death, and no-one can defeat me!"  But Acatl picked up his brother's body and showed his wounds to Xilonen, saying, "See?  He was alone on the court and none of the other players could have touched him."  When she saw that her suitor was cheating, Xilonen was furious and awarded the contest to Acatl, and demanded that Death return Itzcuintl's life to him.  And since Death loved her, he could not say no to her demands.So Death took Itzcuintl's body into his temple, and wrapped it in linen sheets adorned with arcane symbols, and anointed it with rare oils and preservative spices.  But again the faithful mosquito helped Acatl by spying on Death, and it when it came back it whispered to him all the rituals and spells that Death had used, so that Acatl and his descendents would in the future be able to perform the rituals himself instead of depending on Death.When Itzcuintl was returned to them, Xilonen awarded One-Acatl's head to the brothers, and they left to return to the surface as quickly as they could before Death could devise some new treachery.  And when they reached their home, they found that One-Acatl's mouth was stuffed with kernels of corn, the first ever seen in the mortal world, a gift from Xilonen for humbling Death.So it was that the twins brought back from the underworld two great gifts - corn, the golden plant that brings bountiful harvest, gift of Xilonen, and the knowledge of mummification that brings life after death, gift of the Lord of Xibalba.  And this is why it is said:Out of Death, LifeOut of Shadow, LightGold on the hillsAnd laughter in the halls"Seven Rabbit intones the last words in a solemn, ritualistic tone, and bows from the waist.  The jester gives his words a moment to fade, then leaps on to the stage.  "Well, there you go, folks - the tale of the Brothers Corn!  Let's give him a hand!"Silence again.  The jester leans over to Rabbit and says, "Well, I liked it - but maybe next time you should tailor the tale to the audience a bit, hmm?  I don't think that one will get much play in the sticks."The jester does a sudden somersault and comes up with a bag of gold in hand.  "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for!  Which story won the hearts of the crowd?  Make some noise for your favourite storyteller!  Was it... Seven Rabbit with the story of the Brothers Corn and the Blessing of Death?"A scattering of polite applause and confused muttering."Or was it...  Petey the Weasel with the Princess in the Ice Tower?"Petey's friends and relatives erupt into cheers, while the rest of the tavern shrugs.  The jester tosses the bag to Petey.  "Here you go, lad - easiest 50 gold you've ever earned!And the rest of you - YOU could be the winner next time!  The signup sheet's still here, so if you've got a story in you that's bursting to come out, sign up for next month's contest!  And  know a lot of you are adventurer's - we'd love to hear some PERSONAL recollections, instead of the same old folklore we've heard a thousand times before.Oh, and in case you were paying more attention to the entertainment than to what's going on in the front of the house, I think there are two people up there recruiting adventurer's - so if you don't have any stories to tell yet, why not go up there and introduce yourself?See you all next month!"The jester somersaults again, right off the stage, and is lost in the crowd almost immediately.  Seven Rabbit steps down as well, looking a bit disappointed, and shoulders his way towards the front.  "That's harder than it looks," he mutters.He walks up to the eladrin and warforged. "Hello, I am Seven Rabbit, astrologer and adventurer.  I was busy telling a story, so I fear I did not hear your introduction.  What is your problem?  Perhaps I could consult the heavens for you and find if the omens for your task are auspicious."[sblock="OOC"]As I said before, but this time with character sheet: <a href="http://www.enworld.org/wiki/index.php?title=L4W:PC:7_Rabbit_%28JoeNotCharles%29" target="_blank">Seven Rabbit, level 1 dwarf warlock</a>[/sblock]</blockquote>

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