Jaenelle moves through the snow towards where the small space is reserved for hosts and judges, away from where the challengers are placed with the mountains of snow. She gives everyone she passes a warm smile as she remains bundled up in fur. "Welcome" she calls out, fingers wiggling as people enter.

The bard is moving slowly into the area looking this way and that on his back is a lute and dresse warmily though long black gloves and his bright red and green cloak. His body is dressed in a tight red tunic and his pants are bright green and black work boots. He moves slowly int othe area watching it all for the moment with a wide smile."Lovely lovely." He then walks over slowly by one of the fires to grab himself a mug of waht is worm and good.

Fortunato has made concessions to both the weather and the event by wearing a heavy, if clearly very old, wool coat over his usual dark frock. He glides in, or tries to glide in, barely lifting his feet from the ground as he moves. It's a little graceless. Snow-churning, really. He plucks up a mug of cider and eyes a mound of snow thoughtfully.


     Joscelin Arterius approaches Jaenelle, smiling at the woman, wearing gold, woolen garments, complete with cloak and gloves. Her cheeks pink from her cheer and the cold. "Hello!" she calls cheerfully.

Leola stands out in the drifting whiteness; her dark green riding cloak clutched around her as she makes her way towards the training fields. Despite her long skirts, she moves fairly easily through the snow, approaching the fires in turn and settling close to them. Her wrapped hands flex, constantly, against the cold, and her nose is reddened by the thin winds.

Cicero is there too, directing a few last minute carts of snow to be parked near the edge of the field to provide more material to those that might need it. He moves away then towards Jaenelle and Joscelin, a smile on his lips and a metal mug of mulled wine held in gloved hands to keep them warm. "Good day, ladies.. shall we get started then?"

"Hello to each that I have yet the pleasure to meet and I'm Tulasam traveling bard." He then takes the warm drinking moving towards the group and the host is smile at for a moment."This is lovley and I hope it is a sign for more good times to come." His voice is soft and filled with mirth and joy of living."Maybe next time and I would have the honor to play for a group." He then sips the hot drink slowlty with a content smile spreading over his lips.

Fortunato sips his cider over-rapidly and winces. What, he trying to burn himself? He raises his voice. "Accepting more contestants? I'm happy to watch, if not."

"We have not started yet, so you are most welcomed" Jaenelle tells Fortunato, including Tulasam, "do not even think about just watching!" She turns when Cicero and Josc approach, dipping her head politely to the guildmaster and offering a kiss to the Prince's cheek. "We shall begin, I am sure it will all be beautiful."

Joscelin chuckles and bobs a curtsy to the Prince Cicero.

Joscelin says, "Accepting all contestants."

Joscelin glances at the others. "Yes?"

Fortunato ducks his head in something like a bow. "I will compete."

Joscelin grins at Fortunato, and reaches out to embrace him.

Leola glances to Joscelin, and follows up with another curtsy towards Cicero, polite enough, before she tugs her cloak tighter once more "I've not made one before" She says in her quiet, saikland accent "But I'd appreciate watching, and will at least try, if you need the numbers" She gives a slightly amused look, and another light shiver

"Of course it will all be beautiful, Princess, our contestants have the two of you for inspiration" Cicero answers with a look between Jaenelle and Joscelin paired with a grin. He turns to the others assembled and smiles, "All are welcome to enter, of any occupation or blood. Let this day and competition be a celebration of life continuing despite the chill of winter and other events. We will persevere." He lifts a hand to gesture to the piles of snow. "Please, choose a position and begin your work. We have some tools available should you need them, but what you make is entirely up to you. The Princess Jaenelle and Guildmaster Joscelin will be judging your creations and prizes will be awarded for the best works."

Fortunato skips back a step, raising both hands palm out. "No hugs! Sorry, I am in a direly non-hugging mood. My own mother could not hug me right now." Flap, flap the hands. He edges toward a pile of snow. "It distracts me from my work!" he calls over shoulder as he goes.

"I did not know I could enter this is a honor to do so." Tulasam bows slightly and moving towards one of the blocks for a moment watching it and then he smiles big slowly touching it with his leathered hand. His fingers working over the ice inside of the glove and his eyes are closed as he debates. He then picks up the pick slowly in his right hand and then he starts to work slowly trying to get the image inside of his mind into the ice. His other hand gripping the brush softly working it over the ice trying to spare nothing but the faint touch of it.

Tulasam checked dexterity + artwork against difficulty 10, resulting in 28, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Fortunato checked perception + artwork against difficulty 10, resulting in 45, 35 higher than the difficulty.

Joscelin rolls her eyes at Fortunato and sighs.

Joscelin grins.

Leola checked dexterity + artwork against difficulty 15, resulting in 14, 1 lower than the difficulty.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Fortunato before departing.

Leola tramps away a little, through the snow, watching the groups. She looks down at the snow, and then smiles suddenly, a bright, warm expression coming to her eyes. She uses the hem of her cloak to smooth out a patch of snow, before bending down to begin. She does not build up, much, but tightly packs snow together and smooths the sides down with her wrapped hands, getting sides as flat as she can, and cambering the top. It's hardly ... refined. But she adds another, smoothing the path between them. Crouched in the snow, her hands work quickly, and her focus is on this, more than the others. A thin twig is used to scratch in doorways, windows, as the impromptou map of ... a farmstead, is raised up, clumsily is slowly.

Fortunato plants himself in front of his mound of snow and sweeps his hands high as if he were about to chop someone into submission. Instead he, er, gets to work. He packs in the lower half of the snow mound, shovels out snow when packing alone won't do, until the upper half, less supported, threatens by sheer weight to tumble down and bury him. But it doesn't. Quite. The most basic of bases built, Fortunato pauses to wave a messenger in and out. Manual labor is tiring. All right, then. Now he gets to the more detail work. The upper part of the base he shapes into folded back wings, a fanned tail. The highest bits he manipulates into a head and open-mouthed beak. The lower bits, as he returns to them, he packs into webbed feet. The detail and sense of poise and balance is exquisite, but the snow sculpture /is/ still a duck.

The little blade is moving expertly in Tulasam's hand as he digs it into the ice slowly trying to make the perfect icon of peace a dove with a child holding it as it flys out of it's hand. His motions are on the dove right now and making it the deleciate with little chops and then he starts on the child now slowly and using the brush to make sure everythign is uncovered no deep cracks no damage. His eyes are locked on the work for the moment nothing else matters at all right now just the goal to make art come to life. His mug is sitting there now on a stool next to him untouched and the steam drifting up towards the heavems/


     Joscelin walks around the sculptors as they work, her smile small but her eyes intent. She hums as she goes, watching hands and eyes and figures. She smiles at Leola, admiring her structures, rolls her eyes at Fortunato because she was practically raised with the man and knows he's talented. Tulasam gets a more intense examination, or his piece does, tilting her head and walking around his sculpture.

Cicero extend an arm to Jaenelle with a smile, "Princess.. shall we take a look at the scupltures?" he asks and once his arm is taken begins to weave about the contestants. "A... mallard? Interesting choice." he comments to Fortunato as he passes by.


     Tagapagtanggol pads over to Fortunato and sits at his back like a giant wall of warmth. Joscelin glares at Taga. "Traitor," she mutters at the deeround.

Leola gives Josc a small smile from her hunkered position. She brushes away drifting snow, shifting her own position to stop it accumulating on the small model. She gives a little nod, glancing at the other pieces, and then at her own, letting out a small, resigned chuckle, before she picks up a handful of snow in her hands, insulted by her cloak, and scatters it gently over the rather poor sculpture. Nope. Nothing to see here, folks.

Jaenelle is easily led by Cicero, looking at the first pile of snow and Fortunato's duck. She looks at the animal, "that is adorable. I would like a duck now. My rabbit needs a friend." Because why not.

"A mallard is a plain bird," Fortunato explains as he draws a finger around the beady bird eyes to draw them out, "but it has its triumphs, especially in miserable cold and miserable storm. A proud bird, the mallard, if not beautiful!" He sounds awfully passionate, who can doubt him. He smiles, small and real, over shoulder at the dog. It's soft and genuine enough that he must forget he's not alone for the moment. Anyway. On to detailing that triumphant open bill and answering Jaenelle, "Every rabbit needs a friend," he says, solemnly.


     Tagapagtanggol drops her head to her paws and ignores the playful glares of her mistress, solid and furred and warm at Fortunato's back.

The next step is to make the child as he starts to debate on the position of the legs and he lifts the drink slowly to his lips and Tulasam setting it down again on the chair with a soft chuckle. He is lost in the work and then starts to work on the little dress and one leg is up behind her in the air and the other is firm on the ground. Her face is slowly coming to shape under his little blade and the smile curved up and the eyes twinkling with pleasure. He then starts to work the curve of the lips and his eyes closed for the moment as he brushes it now slowly with the snow brush.

Brushing off her hands, and on the cloak as well, Leola straightens, looking amused by her brief play in the snow. She moves to the fires, holding out her hands to them, and then blows lightly, bringing them back to tuck under her cloak, watching the actualy skilled

Cicero chuckles and has the path he leads Jaenelle about on allow them to come in line with Joscelin. "What do you think, Guildmaster? Is there a particular sculpture that is catching your eye? should I leave you two ladies to discuss?"

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Joscelin before departing.

Jaenelle nods to whatever Josc says softly to the hosts, clearly agreeing with the judge they chose for the event. She scans the other artists, offering Leola a soft smile before she looks over the adorable girl that Tulasam is carefully crafting.

Cicero engages in a whispered conversation with the two judges, a smile on his face and nodding along occasionally while keeping his eye on the competitors and their works.

Fortunato gives the dog another faint smile as he sculpts more triumph into his duck. And details feathers and such. These are super detailed feathers.

"Well now to get this...."Tulasam's voice is soft and then he moves towards the hair doing little curls and then he starts to carve the motion trail slowly to make it look like motion of the bird. His knife is digging into it quickly into the ice and then he sighs softly steping back. He examines it the dresses first and then he looks at the legs trying to make sure the detail is how he wants it. The left leg is up and as if she is about to skip the right one firm on the ground. He works the blade over the shoes adding a little more detail and then his eyes are on the bird with a wide smile on his face."Perfect and it is a done to my liking." His voice is thick now with pleasure and the cider picked up again.

Leola watches the work with interest, lightly clicking snow from her cloak and skirts, keeping close to the fires. She's totally not here for the warm cider and the hot fires. Still, her eyes follow Cicero and Joscelin for a moment, and she bites the inside of her lip in thought.

Joscelin gestures to the others and steps apart from them to approach the Saiklander. "Hello," she chuckles, and offers Leola a mug of cider. "How are you? I'm Joscelin Arterius."

The conversation over he moves with Jaenelle over to Tulasam's sculpture to pause and admire it. "Excellent work. Very lifelike.. can almost see the movement..." he glances over to Fortunato then too, "You are all doing quite splendidly... once you are all done we will have the judges confer for a moment and I will announce the winners... and award the prizes!"

"Exciting, exciting." Fortunato almost says it to himself as he starts sculpting little upsurges of water around the duck's webbed feet.

"Josc - the guildmistress?" Leola asks, raising an eyebrow and smiling quickly. And curtsies, lightly "Leola Allenatore." Her voice has a slow, lazy accent to it, and she shifts to watch Tulasam's work, musing, and she takes the mug "I'm well, thank you. We don't get ... snow, at least not like this, to the south." She says with a bright grin "It's been a shock"

The blade is slowly droped after he finishes working on the dress and then he sighs softly just sipping the hot drink now with a content sigh. His eyes watching the others back and forth then he walks over to lean against the wall and his eyes are closed for the moment again enjoying the drink and then he sighs softly.

Joscelin grins at the young woman, inclining her head. "So I hear. Aye, the Guildmaster, but it's a new title, I'd still prefer 'Joscelin' or 'Josie' or even 'Mistress Arterius but-" She shrugs. "Traditions are what they are. Still, Joscelin is fine. I'm pleased to meet you Leola."

She smiles a little, bobbing her head, her untuly hair sliding around her shoulders as she shifts to flick it back behind her, into the hood of her cloak "I'd consider informality, but -" Her eyes flick to Cicero, and then back to Josc, an apologetic tone entering her voice "I've no desire to insult. Mistress Arterius, then. An honor" She looks thoughtfully at the woman "I don't think, though, I'd be suited to your guild. Lord Eos asked me to come to Aex to train the Saik's horses."

Cicero moves with Jaenelle at his side back to the position they had started at, one that provides an excellent view of the entire field and all of the sculptures. "Please, once you are finished visit one of the pots we have keeping warmed over the fire. Let some of the heat return to your fingers and bones before we made final decisions."

Fortunato makes a point of finishing the little surges of water before shaking snow off his gloves and returning to the table to do some recovery cup-clutching.

"Well then it is done and it is perfect and no more work."Tulasam then moves towards the fire after his debate on the art and then he stops looking at the others."Hello again and it was a pleasure to work on such a fine project." He nods towards them and then he sips the warm cider for the moment looking at the other works."They are so lovely and I feel honored to have mine stand with the others."

Joscelin shakes her head at Leola. "No, I didn't expect you to be a crafter-type, though you'd be welcome to apply. We take merchants and traders too, most of which our in our fold, as well as the commoners and families of such. We sell to the nobles and cater to them and their needs, but they aren't all we serve; we're meant to serve everyone." She grins at Leola, lacing her fingers together. "Horse training, that's a good calling, lucrative too. I'd imagine you've brought up to horses all your life, then?"

Fortunato tilts his head toward Tulasam as he approaches. His clutch tightens slightly around his mug. "What kind words," he says. "May I ask what you do for a living? You made an excellent effort. It's not easy to have a snow sculpture stand up like that, let alone give it arms and a delicate bird to release."

"The family business" Leola smiles "More or less, any animal. Horse, hawk, hound - we've trained them all. It's not the type of business which needs a shop, though" She says, quieting and glancing to Tula and Fortuno as they begin to discuss pieces. She holds the warm cup close, sipping it "And ... I've learned that what I thought was lucrative is different in the city" She gives a small grin "I didn't realise Arx was so ... rich."

"I'm a traveling bard artist and magic maker." Tulasam looks over at Fortuanato for the moment with a soft chuckle."So a little of this and that but yeah I have made snow sing before to tell the story lurking in it's heart before." He then looks at the others for a moment with a wide smile."It is about touching it delicate not having too brutal of a cissle." He then sips again slowly the drink and then he looks at the other bird."Also it seemed to be a needed piece given what is going on in our world. I wish to remind others that peace may fly but it will always someday return."

Joscelin nods. "Lots of nobles in one place, it tends to make for a rich economy. I've lived here my whole life, though, so I'll take your word for it."

Cicero moves his way to Joscelin, Jaenelle at his side, and smiles to Leola before looking to Joscelin, "Pardon me, ladies..." he says and nods to the guildmaster, "Your decision still stands?" he asks.

Joscelin nods to Cicero with a warm smile. "It does."

Leola quickly curtsies to Cicero as he approaches, and she falls silent, wrapping her cloak back around herself once more and sipping from the cup, draining it dry, and letting it warm her fingers before she moves to return it

"Magic maker?" Fortunato tilts his head a little further. "You're going to have to expand for me, if you would," he says. "But snow sculpture is something you've done before? I can tell. It's a peaceful piece, for certain. Meant for fond dreams. What does the child represent, if the bird is peace departing?"

"I do tricks and the such all sorts nothing more then that." Tulasam chuckles softly watching the man and then out of nowhere there is a spinning silver coin in his finger traveling this way and then with a flick of his fingers it becomes two coins. He spins it around his fingers then he blows on them turning it into a single red rose and then as he slides the rose along his fingers it turns into three roses."One for each of the amazing ladies and sadly I don't know a flower for a male to male present."

Fortunato claps his left hand almost soundlessly against the cup. "Very nice! I have a brother interested in neat little tricks like that, but I don't know that he does duplicating coins and roses. I'm impressed." He quirks a small smile. "And I don't speak flower etiquette one way or the other, but I'm okay without, thanks."

Cicero nods and steps away again, taking a drink from his warm mug of wine before turning to address the group, "Many thanks to all of you that joined us and made your marks on the snow. Each of your sculptures is a wonderful creation is its own right.." he looks between those gathered and then gestures to Jaenelle and Joscelin, "Our judges have seen each offering and have made their decision." He takes in a breath, smiling, "To quote one of them.. Presenting your art is a an act of bravery, especially when knowing it will be bested. For this reason, for displaying just courage as we all need to display in these days.. the first prize goes to Leola Allenatore... In addition to a beautifully crafted item from Mistress Joscelin herself House Velenosa has supplied me with a gift of 5,000 silver to give to the winner." he nods his head to Leola, pausing for applause... "And our other fine sculptures will be awarded as well. How could the not be for such exquisite work? Each of you will received 2,500 silver and something crafted by the Guildmaster herself." he adds on with a smile between Fortunato and Tulasam.

Joscelin looks to Leola and winks. "What's yur favorite color, darling?"

"The child to answer your question though is to show the fleeting hope of gripping that which is going away." But then Cicero is talking silence and then he beams at the man."First prize is well earned bravery is a talent not many seem to have in these days." He then claps his hands togther with a wide smile and then he takes his own prize with a soft little boy."I'am honored as well thank you for your kind words and I have enjoyed making it and I hope to do something more in my own skill." He then slides the lute quickly to his fingers idly playing with it plucking the strings.

Joscelin gets a shiny pretty bracelet with yellow and orange beads from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Leola blinks, confusion spilling on her face as Cicero passes the coin to her. She curtsies deeply, and speaks down "I ... thank you, your highness, truly. I just ... I dind't think to win." She says, and then looks up, her face bright. She looks to Joscelin, and then glances at her cloak "I like the darker greens, usually. The ... the colors of the woodland. Greens, browns, greys - any of those.

Joscelin looks to Leola and smiles. "Artists and craftsman know what it is to present the best of what we make knowing that it's not just a piece of jewelry, or a chair, or a painting. It's a piece of us, truly, and to show it to others is to show the world a piece of ourselves, no matter how small."

Joscelin gets a shiny pretty bracelet with blue and green glass beads from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Joscelin moves to Tulasam and smiles at him. "Well done, messere. You can choose between blue, red, and purple."

"I see. Thanks for explaining the piece." Fortunato executes his little bow and turns to receive his monetary prize with a cautious, "Bravery is certainly important, as is the willingness to try again." His smile reawakes, if small. "I hope I will see Leola at other art competitions." With that, though, he's accepting his bracelet from Joscelin. He turns it this way, and that, watching the beads catch the light and laughs his short, sharp laugh.

Joscelin winks at Fortunato. "Be sure to show our mother that."

"Well then I shall have to take the blue for it is like my home the sea." Tulasam slowly watches Joscelin with a wide smile and a soft chuckle."I mean who could not wish to honor one's true home." With that he sips his drink and holding out his hand with a wide smile.

"I'm sure she will enjoy it," Fortunato says, mildly.

Joscelin smiles warmly at Tulasam, her gold eyes bright. "Aye, I do agree."

Joscelin gets a shiny bracelet with glass beads in a range of blues from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Joscelin steps back and applauds the participants. "Well done, the three of you."

Cicero watches as Joscelin hands out her portion of the prices and joins in in the applause. "Yes, well done. Thank you for showing up your art and doing that your parts to make the city a little brighter.

Joscelin gets a shiny pretty bracelet with red and pink glass beads from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Joscelin gets a shiny pretty bracelet with purple and indigo glass beads from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

As he takes the bracelet Tulasam beams at her and then he slides it over his wrist slowly with a bow and then he looks over at the other items."That was a great time and if you do it again I would love to do it." He then looks over at Leola with a soft light in his eyes."That is lovely and I would love to see you with some training. I think the skill is there just need the polish."

Joscelin agrees with Tulasam about that.

Leola is all smiles, all happy confusion as she takes the bracelet, holding it up to the light. She nods deeply to Fortunato, as he says "I shall, my lord, if I can at all" She slips the bracelet on, onto her right arm, and clears her throat once more "I .. can only thank you, your highness, my lords, Guildmistress" And there is another deep bow of her head and a flushed, uncertain look