The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 11, 2023 23:29:52 GMT -5
In celebration of a job well done, Count Thadda spent a few days organizing a get together in the Sky Gardens for all of the volunteers who assisted with taking in refugees, donating items, procuring materials, and building the new shelter. Weeks of hard work deserve some sort of recognition, and he's happy to give it. Unlike one of his political counterparts, Thadda has no issues interacting with the common folk, and the Sky Gardens makes a lovely backdrop for a pleasant party. Besides, he wants to do a few other things with this gathering. Mixing with the sounds of the waterfalls, a small band plays jovial music for a few enthusiastic attendees in a center area kept clear for dancers. Flagons of ale are served for the attendees, and Thadda walks about greeting those he passes with his own mug held firmly in his hand. Unlike typical noble events, things won't stay too quiet here. Celebrations don't need to be quiet, anyhow. The Count looks around for a particular pair: his dignitaries, Astrid and Wolfe, who he would expect to show up. Since Astrid has mentioned that her father is a minstrel in the past, he attempted to hire the man, but he didn't have much success. He at least invited the man, so when he does spot the duo without a guest, his golden eyes look a bit puzzled, but he approaches nonetheless. "I expected you'd bring your father so I could meet him," Thadda says. "I'm starting to believe the man is make-believe." This is said in jest, but there's a hint of genuine concern behind it.
Quest Name: Time for Court Participants: Requires exactly two people (you and one other, if the other participant does not qualify, they will not gain the reward) Location: Anywhere (Can be repeated for a different region) Post Requirements: 5 post per person, 200 words per post Reward: +10 Security for selected Region (+10 more if your home region) Description: The most boring part of politics is, well, the politics. While most people like helping by being out in the field, it is just as important to attend court. Now as a notable member of your region, people vale your opinion, giving you the chance to speak for the higher ups of the region. You can detail this however you like, attending a session of court, sitting on a council or making a speech at a dinner party. You are free to explore your creativity with this one.
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
32
Renown
Other / Decline to State
Dragon's Cradle
978 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Blue Raspberry on Mar 11, 2023 23:55:35 GMT -5
Blue looked over as they were approached by Count Thadda. They weren't very excited to attend court last time because of all the stuffy politics and boring trial, but this get together was a lot more enjoyable. It was almost like the Ball. Tables were around the edges of the area with finger foods and drinks, people were actually smiling as they spoke to each other, and that jerk, Baan, was nowhere to be seen. Much better.
"He's real, he's just kind of shy. We had to practically kidnap him to get him to play for us once." Blue replied with a chuckle.
Count Thadda returned the laugh, though a bit nervously. Was Wolfe kidding? Did they actually kidnap their own father and force him to put on a show for them? The strange man was a bit, well, strange sometimes. At least he seemed friendly, so they doubted he'd do anything to harm them. They just moved on.
"Yes, well, anyways... I'm glad you both could attend. Your help in these trying times was invaluable. If anyone deserves a little praise at this celebration, it would be the two of you." Count Thadda said to Astrid and Wolfe as he raised his mug of ale in front of him and then took a dignified sip.
Much less dignified in her drinking was Mizzi, who walked over after spotting Count Thadda and the two trouble-making dignitaries she'd enjoyed the company of and especially enjoyed watching humiliate Baan.
"WHATTUP BITCHES!" She called out, obviously already very drunk.
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 12, 2023 0:29:48 GMT -5
Astrid, dressed in her little battle maiden dress that she wore to Court in Thorock, grins at Thadda. "Ah, ya don't hafta give us no recognition or nothin'," she says. "Sky Peak is our home. We're happy ta help." It's true. Ever since her first day of being picked up off the street, Astrid committed to doing things to help people less fortunate than her, which probably explains why she doesn't do anything for rich people if she can help it. Well, that plus a bad experience doing a job with Shaa for some rich jerk in Eclipse City.
Before Thadda can answer, Mizzi comes strolling up, both hands raised in the air as she proclaims her arrival to the others. In reality, she arrived early because Mizzi knows how to party. Thadda rubs his forehead with a stressed expression.
"Mizzi..."
"Heyoooooo, Thadda! Ma buddy! Ma guyyyy! I'd hook my arm around yer neck if I could reach it!" Mizzi breaks down laughing at her own joke. "And ma two favorite digging Terries!" Mizzi slaps a hand on Astrid's shoulder and leans on her, still laughing.
"Hiya, Miss Mizzi," Astrid says, amused by her antics. She quite likes Mizzi.
"I see the antics have already started," comes a familiar and extremely dislikeable voice. Baan approaches with two guards in tow, all of them looking less than impressed.
"Ah, Dorovan," Thadda says as pleasantly as he can. "So glad to see you could make it." He does not mean it.
"This party for peasants is an embarrassment," Baan says with a stifled sneer. "Why celebrate people doing their jobs?"
"Well, ya didn't hafta come," Astrid says plainly. Mizzi nearly falls down in a fit of laughter.
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
32
Renown
Other / Decline to State
Dragon's Cradle
978 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Blue Raspberry on Mar 12, 2023 1:14:56 GMT -5
"Hey Miss Mizzi!" Blue was also happy to see the Gnome. She was really friendly and fun to be around the last time they'd met.
Blue was wearing a nice outfit that Cantio had made for them. A dark blue suit with some silvery embellishments sewn into the cuffs and lapel over a while dress shirt and a silver vest. It was a very dignified and refined outfit. Cantio had even made Blue fix their hair and beard a bit to be less scruffy and more neat. He wanted Blue to look good for this event. He'd shown just as much concern for Astrid, brushing her hair and neatly braiding it for her, making sure her dress was perfect. He had tried to make her a whole new outfit as well, but she'd refused. She thought her dress was already perfect and wouldn't let him make her a new one as much as he wanted to.
Blue's happy smile faltered when they heard a familiar voice and turned to see Baan approaching and already acting like a jerk. They nodded in agreement at Astrid's statement. Baan definitely didn't need to come, and they would have all been happier if he didn't.
Baan didn't take kindly to the statement. He scowled at Mizzi who was close to rolling on the ground laughing before looking at Astrid.
"You clearly don't understand politics, girl. And I thought you were supposed to be a dignitary."
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 12, 2023 2:09:05 GMT -5
"An' I thought ya were s'posed ta take care of all yer citizens," Astrid says snidely, meeting Baan's gaze with unwavering displeasure.
All strength leaves Mizzi's knees. The gnome hits the ground, spilling ale on herself. She's a brilliant example of a village leader, and Baan cannot stand her.
Baan gives Thadda an absolutely enraged look that he only simmers to avoid a public outburst outside of his hometown. "Thadda, control your dignitaries. You allow them to present such disrespect to your fellow leaders?" he demands.
Thadda's expression remains steady as he takes another sip of his ale. "Baan, I would like to point out that you approached us and immediately insulted the gathering that I put together for my citizens who volunteered to assist in efforts to feed and house refugees from other cities. Do forgive my citizens for expressing their displeasure in your sentiments." Just as Baan starts to scoff, Thadda continues. "Well, I think it's time for me to get the festivities really going so everyone can relax. Do try to have fun all of you." Then Thadda, with a small wave of his fingers, urges Astrid and Blue to leave Baan's presence, even if that means leaving Mizzi hurgling on the ground before he walks away.
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
32
Renown
Other / Decline to State
Dragon's Cradle
978 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Blue Raspberry on Mar 12, 2023 15:13:23 GMT -5
Blue didn't need much convincing to not be near that jerk anymore. At Thadda's silent urging, Blue and Astrid walked away to leave the three leaders to go their own separate ways, scattering into the rest of the party. It was more like leaving just two of them to go their own ways though, as Mizzi was on the floor completely out of it. She couldn't stop cackling at Baan's embarrassment and anger. Even as they walked away, Baan was still seething and eyeing Astrid out of the corner of his eye.
The first place Blue wanted to visit, as to be expected, was the buffet tables. The dishes at this event were a bit different from those that had been served at the Black Harvest Ball. It was a much more humble spread. Small plates were stacked for people to take and serve themselves on with silverware nearby. Instead of the fancy finger foods, there were pans filled with mashed potatoes, cheesy pasta, roasted meats and vegetables, and seasoned rice. It was a less expensive, but very comforting and delicious assortment fitting to an event following a disaster.
Blue was on their best behavior. They only piled one plate high with food, serving themself a bit of everything they could fit on their plate, and then controlled themself. They didn't want to cause any problems for Thadda by eating too much. They took their plate to an empty table and sat down.
"This is great! You should try one of these, they're delicious!" Blue said to Astrid while offering her one of the decorative silk flowers that had been spread across the buffet table between the different serving platters.
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 12, 2023 18:57:46 GMT -5
Joining Blue Raspberry at the buffet table, Astrid is pretty tempted to take a bunch of extra food, but she reminds herself and Blue that this food is to celebrate everyone's efforts, not just their own. Lots of people need to eat. Besides, she can feed them more later with the help of the magic shared between herself and Cantio, which she reminds the ooze of. They can have another large meal at home, and she even bets that Thadda would let them take the leftovers.
The two of them sit together, and Blue eats a flower then tells Astrid to try one. She looks a bit perplexed looking at the flower offered to her. There's something about its texture that doesn't seem very flower-like to her. When she feels it, she realizes why: it's a flower made of silk. Well, that's a nice touch, but wasn't this a decorate for the table?
"Um, Blue, that ain't people food," she says with a giggle. "Here, set it back on the table." With that, she clambers out of her chair and reaches to the center of the table and plucks a flower from the bouquet arranged in a vase in the center. She takes a sniff of the purple perennial then glances around and offers it to Blue. "Try that instead."
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
32
Renown
Other / Decline to State
Dragon's Cradle
978 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Blue Raspberry on Mar 12, 2023 19:40:59 GMT -5
Blue put the silk flower back on the table. They hadn't even noticed it was a fake, just popping a few of them into their mouth like candies. They only realized after Astrid told them it was a decoration that they hadn't digested the few they'd already eaten at all. They unconsciously didn't digest things like fabric or wood since a lot of items they wanted to keep intact were made of those kinds of materials.
The real flower that Astrid gave them was good, but pretty much everything the ooze ate they considered tasty. Even the things they couldn't digest, like metals. They still tasted it even if they couldn't digest it. A lot of their favorite foods were things they couldn't digest.
"Mm. Not bad. I like the other one better though." Blue chuckled with a grin.
"Like the other what better?" A familiar, cheerful voice came from the side as Mizzi climbed up into another chair at the table. She breathed a bit heavily, probably from all of the laughing she'd just done, and had a towel pressed to the front of her clothes to soak up some of the alcohol she'd spilled on herself. Judging from how clumsily she moved around, she was still really drunk. Maybe even more than before.
"Uhh, the other, ummm..." Blue stumbled over their words, trying to think of something. They didn't think it'd be a good idea to tell Mizzi they'd eaten some of the decorations. They looked at Astrid for some help.
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 12, 2023 20:02:58 GMT -5
"Oh, they liked the other petty fork better," Astrid quickly explains away. That's what the tiny cakes are called, right??
Mizzi looks up from dabbing her shirt with the towel, slowly processing confusion on her rosy face. "Petty fork..?" Her eyes slowly move around in all directions while she tries to think about what Astrid could possibly mean, meanwhile Astrid sweats thinking she's said something totally wrong. Mizzi sees the little cakes on the girl's plate, and torch lights dance in her eyes. "OH! Pettifor!!" She suddenly starts laughing again. "Ah, I forget yer just a kid without alla theeeee fancy vernacular of courtly folk!"
Astrid does not know what "vernacular" means, but she assumes it has something to do with a manner of speaking. Mizzi is much too drunk to explain that.
It's about that time that Thadda taps a knife against his mug, a dull clanging echoing throughout the gardens. "Good evening everyone," he says in his usual commanding voice. "Thank you all for joining me this evening. Before the festivities get into full swing, I wanted to say a few words. This celebration may be small, but it comes humbly from my heart with the deepest of gratitude for all of the hard work every one of you put in to keep this village on its feet during troubling times. I want to extend a special thanks to the hard work of our local dignitaries of Mister Wolfe and Miss Astrid. They helped organize many of the efforts, protected a caravan of supplies from raiders, and participated in the construction of the shelters for our new residents. For everyone who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into our tasks in the last few weeks, I raise my glass to you. Your efforts make me even more confident that Sky Peak will remain a stable community for people of all walks of life. Cheers!"
The crowd responds with a resounding, "CHEERS!" and glasses clink together followed by a muffled chorus of glugs before Thadda continues, "I won't take up too much more of your time. I hope you all take this evening to relax and enjoy yourselves."
"YEEEEAH!!! WOLFE AND ASTRID LET'S GOOOO!" Mizzi shouts.
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
32
Renown
Other / Decline to State
Dragon's Cradle
978 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Blue Raspberry on Mar 12, 2023 20:39:57 GMT -5
Blue nodded, thankful Astrid had swooped in to cover for them. They were steadily improving on their improvisation for situations like this where they needed to hide their oozish tendencies from people, but they still weren't the greatest. They had to work on it some more, but they could worry about that later. Now there was a celebration going on, so they wanted to enjoy themself.
"Yeah, that. A petty four. We don't have the Vernan... cool... huh? We don't know fancy words, but we will!" Blue stated with a smile. They may have looked like an adult, but they were just as bad, often worse, than Astrid when it came to big words and courtly etiquette. They were actually a lot younger than she was, though they were thankfully a fast learner. Cantio had his work cut out for him teaching the two of them how to properly behave themselves at events like these and they were going to really need his help judging from how quickly their reputations were rising from all of the work they kept doing.
"YEAHHHH!" Mizzi shouted, standing up on her chair. She was clearly enjoying herself, cheering and shouting long after Thadda's speech had ended. Blue laughed, until her chair suddenly tilted a bit too far from her drunken dance atop it and she fell. Blue moved quickly to catch her so she wouldn't get hurt and held her like a baby in their arms.
Count Thadda walked over with a grin on his face and looked at the now snoring Gnome in Wolfe's arms.
"It seems she's had a bit too much to drink. Don't worry, this happens a lot. She'll be fine tomorrow morning. I'll take care of her. You two should enjoy the celebration." He said as he took Mizzi off of Blue's hands and carried her away, shaking his head. It seemed like this wasn't the first time she'd passed out at a party and likely wouldn't be the last.
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 13, 2023 12:12:33 GMT -5
When Blue catches Mizzi in their big strong arms, and Mizzi, in her drunkenness, does not know up from down. She looks at the handsome knight, a heavy blush across her cheeks (either from the drink or for some other reason), and her eyes blink slowly. "Oh... Mister Wolfe, you're big and strong, aren't you...? I like a man who can handle his-" She suddenly burps, interrupting herself as Thadda comes over and apologizes, taking her off Blue's hands.
After Thadda bids them a good evening and walks away, Astrid lets out the snickering she's been holding back for the last couple of minutes. "Wh-What the heck was that?!" she bursts. "Ohhhh, Bluuuuue, I think Miss Mizzi's got a crush on yaaaaa." Astrid's giggling continues as she settles back in her seat. That reminds her of something. "Oh yeah, how'd that dinner with Gwen Mystwud go? I didn't get ta hear about it! Tell me EVERYTHIN'!"
When Blue received the invitation for dinner at the Mystwud estate, Astrid recognized Gwendolyn's name on the invitation, and of course she encouraged the ooze knight to go. The trickster energy within her couldn't help herself. They never had a chance to talk about it, but Mizzi's behavior reminded her of it.
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
32
Renown
Other / Decline to State
Dragon's Cradle
978 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Blue Raspberry on Mar 13, 2023 15:58:20 GMT -5
"Ha, she didn't crush me. She was really light." Blue laughed as they sat back down in their seat.
"It was nice. Getting there wasn't very fun. It was too cold for me, but it was nice and warm inside. We just talked about stuff and ate. I told her about fighting Ziev a little. She said she wasn't there because she was training. Oh, she said she made a lightning bolt with someone, just like you did! Crazy, right? She asked me about sleeping and affairs or something. The food was good, but I dunno if it was really a feast. People just brought little plates of food. It was okay though. And she said she enjoyed it too. I'd go again if she invited me."
Blue spoke between shoveling forkfuls of mashed poatoes and cheesy noodles into their mouth. Overall, they'd felt the experience was pretty enjoyable. Gwen talked about a lot of stuff they didn't really understand, but the conversation hadn't been bad. It wasn't one sided like a lot of conversations with nobles bragging about themselves at fancy events were. Blue had told her about some of their own adventures too, notable about the fight with Ziev and their dignitary duties.
The ooze had no idea about the actual purpose of the visit. They knew nothing about romance or suitors. They'd just enjoyed being invited over for a meal.
"What'd you do while I was gone? Did you do anything fun?"
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 13, 2023 22:17:28 GMT -5
Astrid absolutely adores when Blue doesn't understand a turn of phrase. Sometimes it's fun to explain, but she isn't exactly sure how to explain it in this sense, especially since she was mostly joking about Mizzi. "Yer right, she sure didn't crush ya," she says through a giggle.
She listens intently while Blue tells her about their adventure to Frost Gale for a single meal. Honestly, it sounds way less exciting than she was hoping for, but a smile plays about her lips as she hears that Gwen was talking about the time they created a lightning bolt together. "It ain't all that crazy," Astrid says with a grin. "That was me an' her lookin' fer some special roots fer the Consortium. There wasn't a storm, so we made one. Kinda scary if I'm bein' honest, but she had a good time, so I figure it was fine in the end."
"While ya were gone?" she muses, thinking back to the days around Hearth Day before she and Blue dragged Cantio off to a concert. "Ah, there was a real stormy night, an' it supercharged the forge, so I got some work done I'd been tryna do fer a while." Astrid's finger flicks at an earring dangling from her ear of a sun, designed to look somewhat like a flower, with a lightning bolt stem. "I managed ta figure out how ta get the magic fer this just right. Cantio's got the other one. Just a keepsake fer each of us. Like I've got the boots ya coughed up, an' ya've got a whole new set of armor!"
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
32
Renown
Other / Decline to State
Dragon's Cradle
978 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Blue Raspberry on Mar 14, 2023 0:00:28 GMT -5
"Huh? Wait, it was you and her!? Oh, that makes more sense! I thought it was just crazy that she did the same thing as you did. She didn't mention you at all." Blue exclaimed in surprise, pointing their fork at Astrid. It was then Blue noticed Astrid giggling about something. "Hey, are you hiding something from me? You know you have to tell me if you're hiding something from me or else it's entrapment. Blue asked jokingly, pointing their fork at Astrid in mock accusation. There were a lot of things the ooze wasn't aware of, so it was too easy to hide something that should have been obvious from them.
"Oh yeah, I met a guy named Gerhart that said he knew you. We fought a big ball in the sky called an Origin Matter together. Mister Zarius was there too." Blue casually mentioned while digging into their plate of food again. They listened to Astrid talk about what she'd gotten up to in their absence. They were happy she'd done something she enjoyed then.
"The best armor in the world." They stated proudly before putting the last forkful of roast chicken into their mouth.
"I wish I could have worn it here, but Thadda and Cantio both said not to. I had to dress all fancy and stuff. I do like these clothes a lot though. They feel pretty good. Maybe I should ask Cantio for an outfit that has some of my armor in it like yours does."
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS ONLINE
41/66
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
2,081 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 16, 2023 21:33:33 GMT -5
Astrid lets out a dramatic gasp, hamming it up, of course. “She didn’t even mention me?!” she exclaims. “It was my idea! I can’t believe she didn’t mention me!” Astrid takes a long pause, grinning at Blue. “I’m just kiddin’, I ain’t offended. It ain’t like everyone knows each other. Ya made a name fer yerself, so that musta been how she heard of ya!”
When Blue points their fork at her with their totally fake accusation, she puts her hand over her chest. “What! I can’t believe ya’d accuse me of hidin’ stuff from ya! How dare you!” This whole charade mocking the local nobles is pretty fun, and she lets herself laugh. “Entrapment?? Where’d ya hear that one??” she giggles, elbowing Blue’s arm playfully.
But then she looks at them a bit more earnestly, the smile not falling away from her face. “I don’t keep nothin’ from ya on purpose. So much stuff happens, sometimes I just forget what all I did an’ didn’t tell ya,” she says. “An’ ya know the same goes for ya too, right? Ya don’t hafta tell me everythin’. Just the stuff ya wanna tell me. I’m happy ta listen an’ talk. I love havin’ someone who likes ta chat an’ be around me.”
She takes another bite while Blue talks about meeting Gerhart, and her eyes go wide. “Okay, maybe it is a small world,” she says jokingly. “I’ve done a couple thin’s with Gerhart too. Like remember when we found that dwarf home full of the big bugs with Mister Zarius an’ I said I’d been in another dwarf home? The one with dwarves that were cursed ta be yetis?? That was with Gerhart!” Then she pauses and gets a big, conspiratorial grin on her face. “Didja know he’s datin’ Cirice??”
A thoughtful look crosses her face. “I dunno what an Origin Matter is,” she says, wondering if she’s ever seen one. “A big ball in the sky…” Then it clicks. “Does it look like a ball full of stars with really powerful magic??”
Hearing Blue brag about the armor brings another smile to her face, warm and appreciative. “I’m glad ya like it,” she says. “I like makin’ armor fer protectin’ people I care about. I bet Cantio would definitely help us make ya a spiffy courtly outfit with bits of yer armor mixed in! He loves a challenge.”
|
|