• Closed • [Seasonal] Twilight Masquerade

[Darius Baer]

Darius was a slow learner.

Mere trills before Juliette's arrival, he had been on the verge of sharing a kiss with Astra for the first time. The anonymity provided by the pair's masks had emboldened him, and had it not been for the half-biqaj beauty spying an unusual shape in the mist, the moment might have been all that he had imagined.

But Juliette's arrival changed his perspective. Her knowledge of his and Astra's familiarity with the sea revealed that their cloak of invisibility did not hide them at all. The dark-haired host had recognised them, and that meant that others might, too.

There would be no kisses, then. It would be poor etiquette to act in such a way in public. Or would it? Either way, the moment had passed.

"Well met, Juliette," Darius responded with a light chuckle of realisation. "I suppose there is no need for us to introduce ourselves."

He smiled politely as the woman in the red dress moved away, and turned to Astra.

"I think we've been made," he sighed gently. "So much for anonymity."

Charbonneau Keep appeared on the horizon, appearing to rise out of the water as though it had been a submerged citadel. The lights made it clear that it seem welcoming to the guests, rather than the foreboding fortress guise that it usually wore.

The ship reached land, and the passengers vegan to disembark. As Darius and Astra made their way towards the gangplank, they briefly bumped into a familiar face. Well...familiar eyes that no mask could hide.

"Balthazar," Darius greeted the maze, not bothering to introduce himself because it seemed he was already recognisable. "You are well, I hope. Has Elisabeth made the journey?"

The pair had not long been married, but if she wasn't present, Darius was sure that she had good reason to be elsewhere.

The Scalvorian had hoped he and Astra might have a carriage to themselves, to steal a moment's privacy before arriving at the keep, but it was not to be. They found themselves with other guests, as they sat among the warm pillows and blankets that ensured a comfortable journey. For much of the brief ride, Darius found himself looking out the window, through the line of trees to the Hollow Sea beyond, quietly admiring the sight of a few ships going about their travels after dark.

When they arrived at Charbonneau Keep, Darius knew better than to offer Astra a hand down from the carriage, but the footman did not. The half-biqaj was so quick to get out that she almost stepped on the poor man's buckle shoes as she moved past. Not wanting Darius was careful to keep pace with her.

"So sorry," he said to the footman as he rushed past.

He only caught up to Astra a short distance from the entrance to the keep, but it was enough to enable him to catch his breath and regain his composure before they both stepped out of the lavish courtyard and into the building.

Inside, the grandeur of the keep was impossible to ignore. The usually unflappable Astra marvelled at the opulence on display, but as far as Darius was concerned, there was nothing more beauteous in the room than the half-biqaj herself. Their attention was pulled back by the music that began to play, and the pair were soon browsing the tables for appetisers.

A waiter came by, with a tray of drinks, and Astra took a champagne flute, while the the baron requested a cider.

"You're a creature of habit," Astra quipped in response. "So very predictable, Darius Baer."

As he was waiting for his drink to arrive, Darius caught sight of Oram across the room, and he returned the man's nod. They were too far apart, and there were too many crowded conversationalists between them, for the bearded blond to make his way over. And besides, he soon realised that his Ranger friend was seemingly occupied, looking about the room.

The waiter returned with the cider, and Darius thanked him, before turning to Astra, whose eyes were sparkling in a lilac colour that he hadn't seen before.

"A toast," he said, raising his glass with a warm grin, "to a memorable night."

"To a memorable night," she echoed.

The pair clinked their glasses together, sipped from their drinks, and stepped through the double doors that led out to the balcony.

OBJECTIVES

• Describe something you see on the carriage ride from the dock to Charbonneau Keep - ships on the water.
• Speak to an npc! Describe one piece of their wardrobe that isn't detailed in my post. (This can be small - jewelry, a scarf, etc) - the footman, who is wearing buckle shoes.
• Describe a drink that your pc partakes of (if any) - cider.
• Greet a pc! (You don't have to stay and talk if you want. A nod of the head is fine...) - Balthazar and Oram!

[Zana]

122nd Ashan, 722

There were other people here, inevitably, but they were of limited consequence to Zana Delroth by virtue of not being her. Some of them she recognised ~ people such as Oram Mednix who was, Zana considered with a slight smile, quickly becoming like a persistent rash. Irritating and hard to shift. Having been raised in a brothel, and worked in one for probably longer than Oram had been alive, Zana had seen quite a few such rashes and he had a number of things in common with them. But, being of a superior race ~ the daughter of an Immortal ~ Zana had only ever seen such ailments on others and she had judged them harshly for being so careless as to allow the rash to take hold.

Oram Mednix, Zana determined, would not be the first rash to take hold of her.

Dismissing the Chief Ranger from her mind and thus rendering him non-existent, Zana turned her thoughts to the tentacled creature. It was here as a guest, it transpired, not as entertainment. In fairness, had it been here for entertainment value, she would have considered it poor taste, but it would have nonetheless made more sense than to have something bedecked in jewels with squidgy vile fronds unfurling from it's face and spilling down below the mask it wore. Ew. Tentacles, she could forgive if she had to, but someone who turned such obviously expensive jewels into gaudy? That was too much. Again, like Oram, the one now dubbed "Tasteless Tentacle" in her mind was assigned to non-existent.

It had with it a child, and the child - for reasons which made sense to Zana - spoke to her. She looked down at the child with ice blue eyes and she considered her question. Why was she so pretty? "Because the world is full of ugly and it needs great beauty to counterbalance it," she said. Then, she gave a slight smile. "Run along now, and be pretty to make the world better." Hopefully that would make it go away.

There was also a man she recognised and knew by sight as Balthazar Black. He was famous and around here he was known for a few things. None of them interested her, so she dismissed him in her mind. She spotted Darius, of course, a baron in the very barony that she was living in at the moment. However, he was engaged in public displays of affection with a pretty enough scrap and, more than that, Zana knew that look. He was besotted. While it would be undoubtedly fun to step in there and change their world view completely, Zana had enough of a sense of self preservation that she wanted to keep things at the barony sweet. Besides, Darius had that lost-puppy-forgot-to-shave look and it combined two things she found singularly unattractive: stubble and neediness.

Dismissed.

While she was peripherally aware that there were twig-people here, Zana paid them no heed on account of being twig-people. It was quite enough that she was being asked to deal with tentacles and stuffed bears in one moment, she wasn't up to acknowledging talking pencils.

Then, a rather handsome man approached her and spoke and Zana turned her gaze to him. First, her eyes took a slow journey over his body, languidly appraising him as she listened to his words. He spoke, telling her that her entrance was stunning and her dress exquisite. He may as well have told her that the water was wet and the sky had stars, for they were equally obvious. "You're far too kind," she said with a gracious smile. Then, she offered her hand to him, holding it in such a way that would allow him to shake hands or to kiss her hand were he so inclined. It said such a lot about a person, after all. "I'm Zana Delroth," she said softly. "Are you a fellow guest or one of the creators of this evening's festivities?" His clothing was well-made, but not daring. Even down to the carefully folded silk kerchief in his breast pocket it was unadorned and unremarkable.

When she had finished speaking with him ~ she made her way to the area with the blankets and there she encountered a most unusual fellow. As he called her 'fair maiden' and gave a most old-fashioned bow, Zana smiled gently. "You're most kind," she said to him and she took the cloak. "How very gallant, Zoro Astrian. I am Zana Delroth, it is a pleasure to meet you." It was. This one was utterly besotted (appropriately) and would be an attentive and considerate assistant for the evening if she allowed it. "I don't believe we've met?" She wrapped his cloak around her, closing her eyes briefly in pleasure as she did. Gesturing to the seat by the rail, she glanced at him - he was spouting pink, Immortals help her. "Do you know that you appear to be surrounded by pink mist?"

They got off the boat and were put into carriages. Zana was growing bored with this constant to-ing and fro-ing and she glanced out of the window to make sure that Zeke was there, in the skies above, ready to take her out if she wanted to leave. She sat, quietly in the carriage and her gaze turned to the Keep as it came into view. A hundred thoughts flittered across her mind, but Zana kept quiet and waited.

Once they arrived, it was more of the same, which surprised her. The same musicians, the same people, more canapes and drinks and chat-among-yourselves. Zana watched the ongoing situation here, divesting herself of Zoro's cloak and giving it back to him with a gracious smile as they arrived. "Thank you, Zoro, that was most kind of you. " She gestured around at the place. "I wonder, does this sort of thing happen often? I confess, I had considered that Smooglenuff Manor was likely one of very few large manors on Scalvoris, if not the only one. I am rather surprised that there are more." It was interesting to her that the same staff were in both places - it was both interesting and odd. It spoke of the transient nature of either the house or the boat, after all, since having both permanently would require both to have a permanent staff.

Sipping her fizzy wine, Zana considered it.

Objectives Aimed for

1. Describe something you see on the carriage ride from the dock to Charbonneau Keep ~ Zeke!
2. Speak to an npc! Describe one piece of their wardrobe that isn't detailed in my post. (This can be small - jewelry, a scarf, etc) - kerchief
3. Describe a drink that your pc partakes of (if any) ~ fizzy wine
4. Greet a pc! (You don't have to stay and talk if you want. A nod of the head is fine...) ~ Zoro

She comes on strong with a beautiful smile,
But her teeth are as sharp as a crocodile.

[Rakvald]

Svartholda blushed furiously when Zana implied that she, Svartholda was pretty. Then she giggled and scurried away, feeling terribly shy all of a sudden.

Ọyä was met eventually by a large, blonde toddler with green eyes, carrying a teddy bear. Her eyes went wide when she saw the wooden person walking around. But of course, having lived half of her short life in Desnind, she'd seen tunawa and stranger things before. But tunawa never ceased to delight Svartholda. She knelt down on her knees, still carrying the lucky teddy bear, and beckoned to the tunawa. "Hello! You are pretty." She giggled, "I'm pretty too."

Svartholda held out her finger for the tunawa to grasp, by way of greeting, "I Svartholda."

She waited for Ọyä to accept the greeting, and then sighed heavily, "Want ride?" She asked, patting her shoulder. Should Ọyä accept the invitation, Svartholda would get up regardless, and look around, quite lost among the fancy people.



Someone approached Rakvald and his wife, offering assistance if it's needed. He'd quite gotten over the sight of the Atramentous Trench, dismissing it as a trick of the eyes in the fog and twilight. So having gotten over it, he began to take notice of the rest of the people on the boat. It was then he saw the unmistakable mutations and person of Balthazar Black! His dream buddy and fight buddy. "Holy shit, is that Blathlazar!!? It is!" So saying, he took off his weighty mask, and said to the attendant, "Here, hold onto this, I gotta say hi! Ildred!! Find Svartholda. She's liable to get underfoot."

Ildred rolled her eyes, and just stood by, sampling some of the appetizers, entirely uninterested in pursuing her child for the moment.

Rakvald slapped Balthazar on the back with his tentacled hand, his face tentacles on full and grotesque display now. "Balthazar! Don't your recognize me! It's Rakvald! Your dream buddy. Say are you still working as a cop? I set up a gym and they're bugging me about something like health inspections. I think they're trying to shake me down! Put in a good word for me?"

"But how have you been? I got a few awesome mutations since you met me..."

From then, and to the time that they were set to disembark to the keep, Rakvald would stick by Balthazar for the most part, chatting him up as they disembarked and entered the carriages. Once the carriages were set to receive them, Rakvald dragged Ildred and Svartholda, bringing them along into the same carriage with Balthazar. He wouldn't have it any other way, and there was no argument to be made with Rakvald. He was going to catch up with his dream and fight buddy, and nothing was going to get in the way of that.

"Oh, yeah I got a gym now. We're gonna whip those nerds at the University into shape and make them pay! Pretty cool huh?" Rakvald smiled beneath the tentacles, which were writhing quite animatedly. By now he'd been handed back his lavish mask, which he held in his lap for the time being.

"I wonder what this keep is all about. Never heard of it..."

"Oh, this is my family, this is my wife Ildred, and my little gal Svartholda." Rakvald swept his tentacled arm to indicate them. Eventually they were let out of the carriages, and Ildred tended to Svartholda and possibly Ọyä if she had ended up accompanying the toddler.

"Yeah, so we got lots of instructors set up for strength training, but I'm really looking for a fencing instructor, to teach blades." Rakvald went on to talk to Balthazar, "You know anyone that's good with a sword?"

He was all but oblivious as they were led into the main foyer, mostly engrossed in his conversation with Balthazar.

OOC

Spoke to an npc and a pc for the objectives.

[Balthazar Black]

122 Ashan 722

Staring out into the fog could only capture the mage's attention for so long before his small impulse to send a breeze into it would become a desire. The more he watched the shapes change, the more he thought about dispersing them altogether. He didn't but the thought remained. The transition from sunlight to night was always a strange thing for Balthazar when he did not sooth the mutations that affected him. The world went from bright to clear in a slow shift. Everyone got tired. People went to bed or they went out for a fun night but the suns were down. He ever became a creature of the night, the mutation would surely be to blame. He missed Elisabeth. He should have brought someone. Oh, wait. Balthazar's eyes shifted to the railing beside him where the small, invisible burning rock was sitting and swinging his feet. He was no diri of parties, but he could hold a conversation if Balthazar prompted him well enough.

Maybe the diri of death could as well and was simply messing with him. It was only going to be Crow to him until it deemed otherwise. Crow and Fuego. Companions for the one who forgot to bring a friend. A moment before he was going to initiate a conversation with one of his diri, a voice called out his name. He stood up a hair straighter for a moment and turned to see who'd called out to him. In the end it was the sound of his voice that Balthazar recalled most specifically. He tapped his cane on the ground twice the moment he recognized who the professor from Saoire's feast. They had shared a table but the rotating immortals had a habit of drawing focus more than the professor had. The professor didn't need to know that though. "Professor Fridson, it has been a while." Balthazar said, trying to greet the man in a friendly voicer that did not betray how distant he'd been moments ago.

The scholar remarked on Balthazar looking different and Balthazar gave him a small shrug. "I'm a patron of many magics, they all make themselves known in some way most of the time." He figured that was an easy way to write off the real reason for why he looked different between the two occasions. As for the second part about how he'd been, Balthazar tried to maintain his friendly smile as he explained his recent efforts in vague terms. "I've been well, despite myself. There is never a lack of things to do around the island. What about you? How have you been since we last met and what do you think about these... mysterious invitations?" Balthazar could maintain a conversation, if nothing else. He could not, however, avoid looking at the professor's rather colorful and bejeweled mask. It was the sort of thing that Balthazar wouldn't have worn. Full of yellows, purples, and oranges and clashed in almost every way with his outfit. It was so wrong that it almost worked.

The conversation could not last forever though because Balthazar heard his name coming out of someone's mouth across the boat. It wasn't precise, he wasn't sure he had heard it, but when he turned his head slightly and saw someone approaching him he knew he would need to excuse himself. "Excuse me for a moment, I've been found out." Balthazar said, giving the professor a small pat on the back before turning to face the unmasked Rakvald. He'd picked up a mutation or seven since they last met but it worked for him in a very abstract way. The tentacle beard was an interesting look. Rakvald hit Balthazar with a solid slap on the back, a rather familiar greeting by now. The man spoke fast, rattling off questions and information in the same breath that probably should have been split between two- or maybe it just felt that way. "Unfortunately for your gym, I'm an Element no longer- and when I was my word might have gotten your gym looked at more closely, not less. What I do now is closer to bounty hunting but I'm looking to set up a more stable business soon. Actually, very soon now. Regardless, if I were you I'd just try to clean the gym up a bit? It might be easier."

Knowing there would be no excusing himself to get off the ship, he and Rakvald moved together over to the gangplank and another, much more recognizable, voice called out to him. He turned to find Darius with a woman. You have her right there and you stopped to talk to me? It was that thought which caused Balthazar's expression to shift into surprise as he recognized Darius, rather than surprise about Darius being there. "Darius! I should have known I'd see you here. This is Rakvald, a friend from my dreamwalking trials." Balthazar said before addressing the question that had been asked about Elisabeth, "Unfortunately not. Despite our wishes, business in Haven kept her. However, I am glad to see that you brought a friend." Balthazar turned his attention to Astra for a moment, "Hold onto that one, he might to get lost if you don't." If Darius was lucky, she might take that literally. Regardless, "We will see you both inside," Balthazar excused himself to cross the gangplank and get into their next mode of transportation.

Balthazar moved into one of the carriages with Rakvald's family and sat again, looking out at the trees that lined the path they were taking. He saw a squirrel jump from on tree to the next as they moved and for a moment he let it fascinate him, but the interest passed quickly. It was hard not to think about the things Rakvald had told him about his wife- if Balthazar remembered the story correctly. Fortunately, Rakvald resumed their conversation soon enough. He brought up the gym again and Balthazar made a small note in his head to track it down at some point and see what it was like. "It shouldn't be to hard to whip them into shape. What made you want to open a gym?" Balthazar asked. He'd considered a tavern, a pub, a smith, an alchemist shop, a mercenary company, a private investigation firm, and even just leading the guards in Haven- but he had never considered opening a gym before.

Rakvald mused about the strange keep before introducing Balthazar to the family. Balthazar couldn't deny he had similar thoughts. It seemed like every season he found another large mansion in Scalvoris. However he focused more on Rakvald introducing his family than thoughts of the coming keep. He greeted each member with a small nod and figured they'd be able to talk later if they wanted to. Rakvald quickly went back to talking about his gym and Balthazar listened with amused interest. "I'm pretty good with most weapons you put in my hands, but I'm better with swords than hammers and axes... for now. I know a few other people too. Why? Does your gym need an instructor or someone to show off and inspire people to do better?"

They were let out into another extravagantly decorated place- a courtyard this time. He exited the carriage on his own and took a few steps off to the side while his eyes darted around at the decorations. Timing might have been everything to them, but it seemed extravagance was as well. They moved together into the grand foyer and Balthazar found himself holding his cane more than using it to walk. He considered asking it to wait by the carriage until he returned but didn't. In theory, he could ask it to wait wherever he wanted it he got tired of holding it.

Juliette was there to greet them once again and she did so with the same enthusiasm as before, announcing where they had arrived and inviting them to mingle over appetizers and drinks until the main ballroom was opened. It seemed easy enough. Balthazar found himself dragging Rakvald to the drink table faster than he expected he would and after a trill or so of searching he saw they did not have what he was looking for and instead settled for a wine that was clear in color. That was about all he could tell from the way it looked but it had a complex smell and a decent enough taste that he liked it. Balthazar took his drink out the double doors and onto the balcony where he looked up at the sky once more before leaning his cane on the ledge and turning to look at those in attendance from his new vantage point. Somewhere ehe could continue speaking with Rakvald and still get a good look at the party.

He took small sip from his drink as his eyes moved. He recognized a few faces behind masks but not all of them. He couldn't help but notice the woman who'd flown in but noticing her was about as far as his thoughts went. Darius and Astra were toasting. Good for them. Balthazar sipped his wine. Oram was doing relatively what he was doing and if they made eye contact, Balthazar would nod to him. Balthazar turned his head slightly towards Rakvald and asked the question only a mage would ask, "What did you do that got you the beard?"

Objectives

1. Saw a squirrel jump from one tree to another
2. Talked to professor, described his mask.
3. Drank a random wine
4. Spoke to Darius / Rakvald / Nodded to Oram

[Zoro Astrian]

Zoro was thrilled to learn her name. It was destiny, he thought, her name began with Z! When we are married, he thought to himself despite Maureen’s heavy sigh, we will be Zoro and Zana Astrian!. Maureen chuckled at that, but pointed out “It’s a shame she’s not a biqaj” in Zoro’s mind and he nodded. Zoro couldn’t tell how old his future bride was, something which he always found difficult to judge in a woman, but he was sure that she would give him many beautiful children, each one of them healthy and handsome and living up to their name which inevitably would begin with Z also.

The fact that she called him gallant gave Zoro great satisfaction and he puffed out his chest even further as he jutted his chin just a little bit more. Unfortunately, however, at her mention of the pink mist Zoro’s embarrassment grew and just when he thought that his blushes couldn’t be any deeper or brighter, the swirling tendrils of pink intensified. This added to his embarrassment and so began an exponential increase of pink.

When Zana squirmed beneath the folds of his cloak, Zoro thought that he might die. Thankfully, it was at that moment that he was distracted from his own prepossessing thoughts and almost overwhelming emotions by a striking young woman clad in a most interesting shade that was evocative of his uncle Zeb’s garden. As beautiful as the woman and the dress were, it was her shoes which captivated Zoro’s attention. His eyes were drawn to how the bright silver of her shoes caught the light and seemed to make them glowing shoes. They seemed incongruous against the beautiful and delicate dress, but Zoro knew that he was far from an aficionado of women’s fashion.

As the woman in question approached him, she asked Zoro how he produced the pink mist. Zoro took a moment, being a little taken aback. He then smiled broadly and explained. “It’s a gift, from the fairies,” he said. “There was this thing that happened a while back and I happened to be there. And there were fairies. And this sort of happened then. There used to be bubbles, too, but they’ve worn off.” As he spoke, Maureen gave a mock sigh in his ear. ‘Women of Idalos, the Great Romancer has spoken,” she said drily. ‘There used to be bubbles, too.’.

Before they disembarked the ship, Zoro made sure to go and greet both Oram and Darius, for he knew them both. “Hello, it’s nice to see you,” he said to them each as he approached them individually. “I hope you have a splendid evening.” He made sure to doff his hat to the very pretty biqaj lady with Darius and was warm and friendly to both of the men he knew and respected.

When they were led to carriages, Zoro saw an opportunity. He bounded forward and held the carriage door open for Zana. “May I assist you embarking into this carriage, fair maiden?” Maureen whispered in his ear. “Maybe you should say ‘hello love, can I help?’ or ‘you need help there, darlin’?’ or something?” but Zoro manfully ignored her. He spent the carriage ride trying and failing to make meaningful small talk and as he realized that he had been wittering constantly for the last ten minutes, he resorted to pointing things out through the window. “Look!” He exclaimed. “A parrot!”

With a sudden flash of inspiration, Zoro spoke his thoughts. “I wonder,” he mused. “Which came first, the parrot or the pirate? Are there parrots on Scalvoris because there are pirates here, or are there pirates who came in pursuit of parrots? There seems to be a positive correlation.”

“Zoro,” Maureen said firmly. “I beg you. Stop talking.”

Finally, they arrived at the Keep. It was an impressive building and they were once again left to their own devices. Zana found him and gave him back his cloak. As he saw her approaching, Zoro grabbed a drink from a passing staff member and gulped it down. It was fizzy, it was lemon flavoured and the rim of the glass was dipped in sugar. He liked it – it was both sweet and sour all at once. Once he had his cloak firmly in his grasp again, Zoro looked for Oram or Darius. “Why are you looking for them?” Maureen asked. “I’m hoping,” Zoro said, grabbing another lemon drink and knocking it back in two gulps, “that they’ll distract me from following Zana around like a lovestruck puppy. I don’t wish to appear too keen, after all.”

“Heavens forbid” Maureen said drily, well aware that that ship had sailed.

[Avalon]

Ashan 122, Arc 722

The Journey Begins…

While a relatively short trip from the moorings to Charbonneau Keep, there was plenty of food, drink and conversation to keep everyone entertained, as they soon found out.

Oram found himself looking for those that might take advantage of the guests but found himself distracted by the arrival of Elise Shmickel. The young woman carried herself calmly as they greeted each other, curious eyes occasionally casting around as she replied to the man's comment. "I didn't tell anyone I had gotten a letter. It seemed odd, so I wanted to see first what it was all about. I can't say I'm any better informed now, but the night's still young."

Elise seemed disappointed that Oram had no further insight into the event but laughed it off. "Ah well, I suppose we will just have to play along and see what mysteries the evening has in store for us. I must confess, though – I feel terribly out of place." How would remain a mystery for the moment, for nothing in the way she held herself or spoke betrayed any hesitation or discomfort.

The smiling thin man Oram noted continued to weave through the crowd, strolling at a slow pace. There was nothing notable about him other than the fact that he was more interested in observing than speaking.

Darius was having a moment with Astra when the beautiful Juliette arrived, greeting them and shattering the blond sailor's expectation of privacy. As he commented about not needing to introduce themselves, the woman responded with a smile, eyes sparkling. "Ah, but what kind of hostess would I be if I didn't know those entrusted to my care? If it makes you feel any better, I doubt that the guests are quite as informed as I."

Turning her attention to Astra, Juliette continued to smile warmly. "It must be an experience, being on a ship that isn't yours? I hope you are finding the accommodations to your liking."

She swished off, red dress rustling in her wake, leaving the pair to greet and mingle as they wished.

The Daughter of Delroth observed. Her entertainment, for the moment, was considering those around her and deciding if they were significant enough to warrant her further attention. At least until the approach of the handsome man, that was.

As she extended her hand to him, a mischievous smile flitted about his lips, taking it gently and ever-so-lightly brushing his lips against the skin. “You honor me, Zana Delroth. I shall endeavor to make sure that you don't regret it."

Many men might have withered under Zana's gaze, one way or another, but not her companion. He appeared confident and calm, and his eyes remained with her the entirety of their conversation. "Jareth, milady."

He fielded her question regarding his purpose there quickly, chuckling lightly. "An excellent question from a superior intellect. Let's let the evening play out and see where we land on that, shall we? A delight, fair maiden."

Their conversation was brief, ending with a wink and withdrawal to a nearby group of people Zana wouldn't recognize. Still, if she were paying attention, the Mortalborn would realize he never strayed far from where she was.

Balthazar didn't have long to be alone with his thoughts as Professor Fridson joined him. If the man was uncomfortable regarding the nature of the mage's mutations, he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed rather fascinated. "Many? Oh, I see, I see. Incredible. I would love to discuss that with you sometime when there are fewer people and more time."

Their conversation continued, and Balthazar asked after the good Professor. "Oh, I agree! Always busy. So much has happened with the Forging and that business with dragons. I can't imagine what will happen next. Researchers are up to their necks in work, but I suppose it keeps us all busy. Every event teaches us more."

Their conversation ended quickly as another guest hailed the mage, but the Professor didn't seem to mind, calling after Balthazar, asking him to give his regards to Elisabeth.

Fleur looked momentarily confused as Rakvald's mask was shoved into her hands, but the smile never wavered. She followed Rakvald as he yelled to his wife to find the young girl and then went to greet another strange-looking man with glowing dark blue eyes. While the two guests were occupied, the blond gestured to a nearby servant to take the mask and her place so she could continue her duties, excusing herself but reassuring Rakvald that the young man would stay with him for as long as needed.

Ildred busied herself eating, ignoring her husband. Instead, Svartholda found a new companion in the form of the lovely Juliette. Kneeling gracefully, which was quite the trick in a ballgown, Juliette grinned at the young girl. "Well, hello there, lovely. Would you like to keep me company for a time? I have many people to visit, and I'm sure they would be delighted to meet you."

Zoro spoke to Therese, whose beautiful wisteria-hued dress and long deep crimson locks were quite show-stopping. In contrast, she herself was soft-spoken, but her eyes spoke of interest and intelligence. She listened attentively as he told her the vague details of his fairy-granted ability, a broad smile slipping across her lips. "Fairies?!? Oh my, that must be quite the story! I would enjoy hearing it sometime if you were so inclined to grace me with it. There might be time later in the evening?" The offer was presented gently as a subtle invitation.

After Zoro bounded off to greet others, Therese moved on, welcoming and smiling at people. Fleur and Juliette were circulating as well. Pierre and Bruneoise stayed towards the fringes of the crowd, observing and assisting those that needed it. At one point, Juliette's eyes avoided those of the two men – handsome and thin- sifting through the crowd as if they didn't exist, but only someone extremely observant Expert Detection would note that.

Charbonneau Keep…

The reception area at Charbonneau Keep was lively and elegant. Guests were seen to, and everyone, despite whether they came with someone or not, seemed to find someone to converse with. Or someone found them. The staff appeared excellent at making sure that no one found themselves alone.

Per the order of events of the evening, the reception was timed just long enough to give the guests a chance to relax from the trip and stretch their legs before the dining portion, but before long, Juliette was back, announcing that the ballroom was open for seating.

As people moved towards the dining venue and gave their names, room attendants escorted each to their tables.

The ballroom was elegantly dressed, clad in brilliant gold and white tones, allowing the natural tones to stand out, highlighted to striking effect by rich jewel tones of emerald, ruby, and amethyst. Dozens of large round tables were scattered throughout the room, shrouded in deep gold cloth. Not wishing to distract the eye, each table's centerpieces were similar; low-sitting features of gold and white candles, floating in large crystal bowls of water with deep-hued petals of various flora.

Each place setting, meticulously set, featured ornately folded gold linen napkins in a blooming flower design. A silk re-creation of various Scalvorian flora nested at the center of the napkin.

The Segreti Table

Therese greeted people as they arrived at the table, smiling and gesturing each toward their seats.

Darius and Astra would be the first shown to their table, named 'The Segreti Table.' Each place setting had names written in ornate script, indicating where people should sit, but there was no need because of the lovely redhead, who was only so happy to direct people.

They would find a beautiful menu before them as they sat, outlining various options for every taste. Pierre, whom they might remember from the dock, was also attending to the table.

Zana was the next to be shown in, Therese warmly welcoming her. "The servers will be by soon to take your order for all courses - appetizer, soup or salad, main course, and dessert- but please ask if you have any questions about the menu. Drinks will be brought promptly after ordering."

Before she could sit, however, Jareth appeared, gracefully pulling out her seat for her, smiling. "We meet again." If allowed, he would see Zana safely tucked into her chair before taking his own seat, placed a few away from hers.

Zoro and Maureen arrived, much to the delight of their attendant. "Hello again! Your seat is right there. The server will be around soon. Make yourself comfortable."

Wisp-Wish and Ọyä were escorted in and found that to accommodate their diminutive size, a small table was set upon the large one, complete with tunawa chairs and their own tiny little centerpiece to match those of the larger tables. Details were everything, after all.

Therese continued to offer directions and answer questions as each new person arrived. The last to do so were Professor Fridson from the University of Scalvoris and Council Member Marcelle Tran. They both offered quick greetings to all before taking their seats.

The Mistero Table

Bubbly Fleur stood waiting to greet her guests, excitedly pointing each in the direction of their name card.

Oram was the first to find his way to the ballroom and, perhaps to his surprise, would find Elise already seated at the large table he was assigned to. Before Fleur could, the young woman spoke up to Oram, smiling mischievously as if she enjoyed preempting the attendant. "Well, apparently, we were destined to keep running into each other," she said, reaching out to pick up the ornate place card at the setting next to her right to show him.

Fleur's eyes flashed with a bit of annoyance, but the small storm passed quickly, returning her attention to her duties.

Balthazar and Rakvald, with the latter's family, of course, were shown in, being escorted to 'The Mistero Table.' Their blond attendant smiled and informed them of the ordering process, and the rest of the table, which would commence shortly. "They'll ask you for your whole order at once. There are four courses – appetizer, soup or salad, main course, and dessert."

Leigh Birch from the Scalvoris Council joined their table, offering greetings before taking her seat, listening to Fleur repeat the instructions regarding ordering. Her arrival was quickly followed by that of another woman who introduced herself as Felicia from Luna's Dream in Scalvoris Town.

Last to arrive was the thin man from the docks, quietly nodding to Fleur and the others as he sat, immediately immersing himself in the menu.

Both Tables

Once everyone was seated, the table host took their seats. All the guests were informed as to how the service would flow. Servers quickly arrived at the table to take drink and food orders, efficiently answering any questions people might have. Pierre and Bruneoise approached their assigned table host, quietly whispering something in their ears, too low for anyone to hear. Both of the young womens' faces drew serious but nodded and swiftly returned to smiling at their guests, not missing a beat.

"Our host is running a bit late, it seems. He's sent ahead his apologies and will join us soon."

Conversation flowed at both tables, and drinks quickly arrived. It wasn't too long before the first course - appetizers - reached the tables.

Mod Stuff: Please Read

I've designed the OOC areas to be informative but not conclusive, so please let me know via discord or pm if you ever have questions. I will undoubtedly miss a lot of things! This is my first solo Seasonal, so please be patient with me as I'm figuring out the process as I go.

Info & Rules

• There will be a posting round each week. This was stated in the sign up. If you miss a round, there will be consequences including but not limited to death by chocolate, zombifying, and being attacked by a flock of rabid wild geese. Two rounds and you are out! You have been warned...
• This style of event moderation - with objectives etc - was created by a wonderful moderator named Crimson. I had forgotten all about it until I saw Peg used it here. Thanks to Crimson for the amazing mod style, and to Peg for seeing it carried forward for the enjoyment of future writers. It's a legacy very much worth continuing. Much love to you both!

Things to know

• As for the menu, I'm leaving it up to you guys! Assume there is a menu but please describe your choices as they arrive at the table.
• The appetizer arrives this round. Next round will include the soup/salad.

Missed Rounds

• Balthazar - No misses! Gold star for you!
• Darius - No misses! Gold star for you!
• Oram - No misses! Gold star for you!
• Rakvald - No misses! Gold star for you!
• Whisp-Wish - One miss!
• Zana - No misses! Gold star for you!
• Zoro - No misses! Gold star for you!

Objectives

• Mention placing your orders for all courses of dinner (appetizer, soup or salad, main course and dessert) You do not need to describe what you order at this time. You'll do that when it arrives at the table.
• Order a drink
• Towards the end of the post, please describe the appetizer you ordered as it's delivered to the table.
• Describe the type of silk flower that is replicated at the center of your napkin display.

Annotations

• 'Elise' became 'Elisa' in several locations before I noticed it. Ooops! Muscle memory! (And thanks to Darius for catching the stray Elisa that made it in!)
• Jareth is a name I've wanted to use forever. There's just something about the flow of it I like.

The Segreti Table Table Seating Chart PCs: Zana - No missed rounds and all objectives met! Zoro - No missed rounds and all objectives met! Wisp-Wish - One round missed! Darius - No missed rounds and all objectives met! NPCs: Jareth (aka - the handsome man) Therese (Host assigned to the table - long, red hair, wisteria-hued dress) Marcelle Tren (Scalvoris Council - Trainer) Professor Fridson (University of Scalvoris) Pierre (Attendant assigned to the table)

The Mistero Table Table Seating Chart PCs: Balthazar - No missed rounds and all objectives met! Rakvald - No missed rounds and all objectives met! Oram - No missed rounds and all objectives met! NPCs: Elise Shmickel (Ranger) Fleur (Host assigned to the table - bubbly blond in fuchsia) Leigh Birch (Scalvoris Council - Proper) Mysterious Thin Man (Name TBD) Brunoise (Attendant assigned to the table) Felicia

Deadline to Post: Tuesday, April 12th 11:59pm
(Pacific West Coast Time)

[Darius Baer]

Of the pair, it was Astra who responded to Juliette aboard The Lestibournes. The half-biqaj let a quiet laugh escape her lips as their host spoke of the experience.

"I won't deny," her lips grinned beneath her mask as she leant across to her fellow brunette, "that it is a strange sensation to board a ship and not feel a need to order the crew about."

"Well, don't get too used to it," Darius replied good-naturedly. "The Libertalia would suffer without you."

In her own mind, Astra disagreed. She knew Darius to be a fine captain, but the baron liked to compliment her in front of others. She appreciated his flattery, and she reached out and touched his forearm to let him know.

A short time later, Darius had a brief conversation with Balthazar. He didn't recognise Rakvald - their previous encounter had involved a redhead's toothbrush - and he expressed disappointment that Elisabeth had not made the journey.

"Please pass on our regards to her, if you would," he smiled politely.

Zoro was there, too, and Darius greeted the young man warmly, but the ship was arriving at its destination and the excitement of the other guests pulled his attention away.

It was only in passing, as they made their way towards disembarkment, that Darius caught a glimpse of Juliette's gaze seemingly avoiding the gaze of a thin man who was also on the ship, quietly observing as he moved about. He would have thought nothing of it, but the hostess had been welcoming and exuberant when she had spoken to them earlier. It seemed strange to see her so reserved in that fleeting moment.



It was not long after their toast that Darius and Astra were invited to enter the ballroom. The Scalvorian was slightly anxious at first, because he was much more comfortable trying to keep his balance on a listing deck than swaying back and forth on a dancefloor, but that all changed when he saw the tables. They were exquisite - no big surprise given the amount of effort that had clearly been put into the rest of the event - with napkins meticulously folded to represent a flower. In the case of the seafaring pair, they each bore a striking resemblance to a thistle.

Darius guided the half-biqaj to 'The Segreti Table', and pulled out a chair for her to take her seat. Once there, Darius wasted no time in ordering another cider for himself, while Astra politely declined the offer to have her half-finished champagne flute topped up.

They took in the decorations, the menus, and the miniature table that had been set up on top of theirs. And, after being assured that ordering early would not result in them receiving their meals before the other guests, they worked their way through the dishes on offer, requesting something for each course.

As each guest joined the table, Darius did his best to point out to Astra who they were. Zana, of course, needed no introduction, for the half-biqaj had seen her take her seat on the Scalvoris Council. Zoro, meanwhile, had been with Darius at the soul bearing, but the young man's attention was difficult to catch, for it was seemingly focused on the aforementioned Councillor of Foreign Affairs. The others were largely unknown to Darius, and he took the opportunity to politely introduce himself and Astra to each of them.

It was as their appetisers were being delivered - bruschetta for both he and his brunette companion - that Darius looked across to the other table and saw the thin man once again. Instinctively, he looked about for Juliette, wondering if she was still avoiding the man's gaze, but, upon not finding her, he turned to Therese instead.

"Excuse me," he politely asked of the redhead, "but do you happen to know the name of the man who is sitting in the same seat as me, at the other table? Opposite Balthazar. I saw him on the ship on the way over here, but I didn't have the good fortune to speak with him."

OBJECTIVES

• Mention placing your orders for all courses of dinner (appetizer, soup or salad, main course and dessert) You do not need to describe what you order at this time. You'll do that when it arrives at the table. - Ordered!
• Order a drink. - Another cider!
• Towards the end of the post, please describe the appetizer you ordered as it's delivered to the table. - Bruschetta!
• Describe the type of silk flower that is replicated at the center of your napkin display. - Thistle!

OOC NOTE

I missed the fact that Zoro interacted with Darius on the ship - apologies, Zoro - so, with Avalon's permission, I have made a slight edit to include that interaction.

[Oram Mednix]

C is for coquille; c’est assez bon pour moi

Oram almost missed what Elise said to him as he tried to track the comings and goings of the odd thin man. He could practically hear his brother and sister-in-law shaking their heads and rolling their eyes in frustration and despair as he turned his attention back to the charming young woman at the last moment, just in time to mutter: ”Well, I know what you mean by feeling out of place, but I’m sure you’ll do fine.” He looked at her and tried to re-establish some presence as he added: ”But like you, I’m intrigued by the mystery of the whole thing. Let’s see what comes to light.”

Not too much else had come to light while the party was still on the boat. Zoro moved on to meet other people as a handsome stranger presented himself to Zana. This newcomer seemed more self-possessed than the young biqaj, and he wasn’t emitting pink soap bubbles. Oh well, Zoro, the hunter thought as he watched the pair interact: Hope you had fun while it lasted.

Once the boat docked there was little time for socializing until the guests had arrived at the Chateau de Whatever. That would change once people were shown to their dinner tables. Oram was initially glad that Elise would be at his table; it would be nice to have somebody he knew to talk to. But then the Chief Ranger realized that it might actually make things more awkward, as talking shop would probably be frowned upon here, and he suddenly realized that he had little else in common with Elise, and knew almost nothing about her outside of their work.

He smiled when Elise mentioned how they seemed destined to keep running into each other, but that bright spot faded somewhat when he noticed that the normally bubbly Fleur registered a moment of annoyance. Why was that? Was she merely irritated at having her thunder stolen, or was there something else about Elise’s observation that she didn’t like? Regardless, their hostess seemed to recover her cheerfulness quickly enough, especially when she got to point out to the baffled Chief Ranger that the floral pattern in his napkin display represented a newly-discovered plant known as a “pink twist”.

Oram knew most of the other guests at the table already; they weren’t hard to recognize behind their respective masks. To his surprise, the strange thin man was one of their table-mates, as well. That would make it easier to keep an eye on him. Of course, that also made it easier for him to keep on eye on them, as well. It had not been lost on the hunter that neither of the hostesses had made any attempt to greet him, suggesting that he was somehow connected with the event staff, rather than a regular guest.

Remembering his experiences with Baron Devin’s party at Smooglenuff Manor, Oram had remembered to bring his reading glasses, and looking over the menu quickly vindicated his wisdom in doing so: there were all sorts of words he would have stumbled over without them, albeit he was still unfamiliar with many of the dishes they described.

Not wishing to fall out of the goings-on in the room for too long, he made his dinner selections as quickly as he could trust himself to do so. He had had no idea about wine pairings, so he had asked for ‘Butler’s Choice’, if that were a thing. He did not have to wait long for his appetizer: a preparation served on a scallop shell that the menu had called “coquille videnoise”. Oram had never had one before, but it had sounded appealing somehow, and he was secretly proud of himself for not being surrpised that it wasn’t some sort of cookie, notwithstanding of the name. The waiter served it with a dryish white wine apparently called “condrieu”.

Having pondered for a bit how to balance being a good dinner guest with ferreting out the mystery of the place he found himself in, Oram recalled that he had a way of doing both at once. As he bit into his tasty, somewhat buttery scallop dish, he decided to use one of the abilities from his Sojourn Mark, an ability known as “Brain Food”, which enabled him to learn about a location from the food served there. He didn’t know if it actually worked the way he was trying to use it, but now seemed as good a time as any to find out.

Brain Food

Hunger has many forms, including the hunger to learn. If a Sojourner eats in a place, then they learn about it. Should this be the wilderness, the Sojourner will have an indepth understanding of the flora and fauna of the area, although not specifics of where individual plants / animals are. In built up areas / civilisations, the Sojourner will understand the society, social groups, hierarchy and customs of the place. By eating, they learn.

[Zana]

122nd Ashan, 722

Zana so hated it when people disappointed her.

First there was Zoro who had seemed to be quite interesting but now seemed to her rather like a frog. As he puffed his chest out to the point that he did, Zana was reminded of the frogs she would see in the garden now and then and how they would inflate their chins to the point that it looked like their skin would pop. A misty-pink frog, she decided and she watched only briefly as his attention was taken by another woman in a rather gaudy dress. It wouldn't have mattered how the woman looked, the moment that Zoro's gaze turned to another and he began to pay attention to her, not to Zana, her intererest in the pink-misted frog-man was over.

Ah well.

Then there Jareth. He was the worst kind of creep, she realised. He didn't answer her question but instead sought to appease her with a mindless compliment. The man didn't even bother thinking up an unusual or interesting compliment, he simply spoke some trite nonsense and then stalked her for the rest of the journey. It was - and he was, Zana had decided - utterly tiresome.

Zoro gave her another opportunity to look rather bored as he joined her in the carriage. She took his hand, as offered, but gave him naught but a brief nod of her head. He spoke all the way there, although she gave a slight smile at his thoughts on the parrot. "I adore birds. My father is the Immortal of birds, after all." But, she said no more than that.

They arrived and there was more mingling. Zana was growing bored with it, she did not like being herded around for what felt like an interminably long time. Eventually, they were seated and she looked around at those on her table. There was Zoro, there was Jareth, there was Darius. Those were the people that she knew - at least a little. There was also Marcelle, who Zana knew from the Council. When Darius introduced himself and Astra, Zana smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Astra. I'm Zana," the last she said to the table, just in case anyone didn't know. Glancing down at the menu, Zana made her order and then she took part in the chatter of the table. She did not favour - or ignore - either Zoro or Jareth, she simply chose to focus on the group. She didn't lead conversation, unless needed, but instead simply took part in it. She ordered sparkling water with a twist of lemon and then focused on the table.

When her appetiser came, Zana made sure to say thank you as the plate of salad was put in front of her. Moving the napkin with the small silk rose aside, she looked at her salad and smiled slightly - it looked delicious. She'd ordered - should anyone be noticing - vegetarian options for each course. Their "host" was running late, and Zana couldn't help but think that this was all just part of the theatre. Quietly, she watched and said no more for now, waiting to see how things unfolded.

Objectives Aimed for

Mention placing your orders for all courses of dinner √
Order a drink - fizzy water √
Towards the end of the post, please describe the appetizer you ordered as it's delivered to the table. √
Describe the type of silk flower that is replicated at the center of your napkin display. √

She comes on strong with a beautiful smile,
But her teeth are as sharp as a crocodile.

[Rakvald]

Balthazar said he was no longer an Element. While given the framing that Rakvald had presented might’ve led one to think this would disappoint, this only put Rakvald more at ease around Balthazar. Rakvald wasn’t a big fan of law-enforcement and authority figures. To think that Balthazar was no longer one of them wasn’t entirely a bad thing. And bounty hunting? “You know, I’m something of a hunter myself…” Rakvald said, and it was true. He could track animals fairly well, as one who’d lived for a time in the wilds.

“Oh yeah! I could just clean it better. Maybe hire a maid.” It was at this point that a man interjected, greeting Balthazar, “Oh Hi Darius…” Rakvald almost choked on his own tentacles, when he recognized the voice speaking. Then again, a lot of people had similar voices. Perhaps it was a coincidence.

“Say you don’t happen to have a big boat, do you Mister Darius?” Rakvald asked, and then shrugged. He’d just leave it alone for now. But he did remember that incident from so long ago, when he’d been shoved unceremoniously from a boat when he’d only wanted something to eat.

Eventually however, they were to move to the carriages and off the ship, and Rakvald was relegated to the one that Balthazar traveled in, along with his family. Ildred was mostly quiet now, and Svartholda just stared at Balthazar, smirking behind her lucky teddy bear.

When the topic of the gym came up again, Rakvald answered his question, “I wanna make people strong, and there’s something about people showing off their strength and improving their bodies that always appealed to me… As a Graft mage, I suppose?”

Balthazar said he was good with most weapons, but of course Rakvald wouldn’t presume to offer him a job unless he said he was looking.

“Yeah, we could use a fencing instructor, for sure. I suppose I’ll keep looking if you aren’t interested and don’t know anybody!” Rakvald shrugged.

But then, he went quiet as they approached an extravagantly decorated courtyard. Rakvald sort of clung (not literally of course) to Balthazar’s orbit, while his family trailed off.

When they were relegated to the Mistero table, Rakvald began ordering for all three courses. He hailed down the server, and asked, “Hey for drinks, you got any Pray Soup? If not I’ll have some Port.”

Eventually an appetizer came to the table, which for Rakvald was some breaded, fried calamari with a side of tomato sauce. The silk flower on display on his napkin was a purple orchid of sorts.

“Oh the tentacle beard?” Rakvald said, as Balthazar asked how he’d gotten it. “I may have pushed myself a bit while forming a totem. I’m a Becomer, you see, as well. But the graft part of the process of forming a totem was what did it. When you have so many sparks though… which one is responsible for what mutation, it all gets to be a bit much to keep track of, you know?”

“What have you been up to, and why no longer the cop?”

Objectives aimed for

Mention placing your orders for all courses of dinner √
Order a drink - port √
Towards the end of the post, please describe the appetizer you ordered as it's delivered to the table. √
Describe the type of silk flower that is replicated at the center of your napkin display. √