Jhond stands by the pavilion where a wooden crate has been set up to accept the donations for the food cupboard so that he can greet the guests as they arrive and keep watch over the refreshments to be sure that everything is setup correctly. He a pair of knee length sailors breeches and holds a flagon of mead in his hand as he smiles to towards those arriving.

Waldemai looks like the blacksmith his is, and he's not carrying food. He does have a pouch that jingles, though. "What are you asking for a donation?" he asks.

Khanne wanders into the area with a whiskey bottle in hand, looking as if she's already drank most of it, or enjoyed previous bottles before this. She isn't walking quite straight, and trips over a sapling, catching herself before she falls. She looks around for people she knows, then blinks and tries again. Seems she isn't seeing quite straight either. "Jhond! Hi! I'm here... I joined Jhond jovially!"

"Khaaaanne!" Mae is yelling, as she watches the woman stumble about. The small Grayhope is glad in her near-black cloak, as ever, and is currently in a light jog, trying to catch up with her. "Do you know the way? Why are you doing a funny walk? Is it much further?!" calls the city girl, who has left the walls of Arx literally a few dozens times and no more. And then Khanne drops down. Mae stops, and blinks. Then she looks over, spotting Jhond and his whole set up. "Oh. Hi," she says, as if she wasn't expecting to see him here. Then Waldemai. "Hi!" she says, a bit more cheerily.

"Welcome!" Jhond calls out to Waldemai and smiles to the man. "We will accept whatever you have to donate, my friend. every little bit helps" his gaze moves to Khanne as she calls out to him and stumbles and he frowns a moment before he spots Mae behind the northern woman. "Um.. Hello! Are you okay, Lady Khanne?"

Waldemai tips his cap to the younger woman. "Hi to you, too," he answers. "Waldemai Eisenhu, at your service." His leather apron and smith's hammer mark his profession. Then he attention is drawn to the host. "Anything?" He takes out five silver coins, each marked 100 and puts them in the pot.

Sitting on the ground where she landed ungracefully, Khanne looks up and laughs. She points towards Jhond as Mae catches up to her. "It's right here. I come out here sometimes... I'm not walking funny though." She looks at Mae like she's crazy. "I am walking perfectly fine!" She looks down at the ground she sits upon then. "Well, I was.... Now I am not walking." She turns to smile at Jhond and nods. "I am as right as rain. So perfectly fucking fabulous! Let's have some fun!"

1 Velenosa House Guards arrives, following Valencia.

Mae ignores the others, for now. Poor others. Her focus is on Khanne. She breaks back into that light jog, until she's beside the woman. Then she drops down onto her knees, and throws her arms around the woman. She leans forward and kisses her cheek, once, twice, thrice. Mwah! And then, holding her yet with one hand, she deftly tries to yank the bottle out of the noblewoman's hand.

Waldemai has paid his dues, so now it's time to get down to partying. "Your highness," he greet Valencia, one of the city's well-known social lions, and then raises his voice to call, "Who's for some games? And can I get some honest silver down on the,?"

"Wonderful! Thank you" Jhond says to the Smith with a broad smile and reaches forward to clasp the man on the shoulder. "Please, go enjoy yourself. The first pig just came off the spit the skin is still sizzling. Have a plate and a drink" he suggest before looking towards Khanne and Mae. "it seems you have started festivities without us, Lady Khanne.. but welcome.. perhaps you'd like to see that Mae keeps herself out of trouble?"

Waldemai rips the butt off a loaf of bread, and uses a knife to layer roast pork on it. He passes by the wine and mead, muttering, "Too frou frou," and fills a mug to the brim with ale.

Valencia makes her way lightly down the path on small leather booted feet, her dark eyes smiling as she comes upon the beautifully set decked pond. Her eyes widen at the magic of it and a little laugh of delight escapes her lips. "It is.... gods, it is remarkable," she smiles wistfully as she takes it all in nearly forgetting her manners. Turning to Jhond, Waldemai and the other lovely guests, she offers a bright and warm smile, "Good evening! My apologies for being late. I'm afraid I lost way and rode too far. Master Waldemai, I am so very happy to see you, sir," she nods to the man with great fondness. "I almost didn't recognize you not sitting way up high," she winks playfully.

Khanne tries to grab for her bottle of whiskey, but she misses. "Hey! I need that!" she protests, then pouts. She shakes her head to Jhond. "I wasn't.. No, not, well... " she pauses to think about what she is saying. "Right! Yes! That's what I did. I just couldn't wait! So I started before..." She then leans in and hugs Mae tight. "Hi Mae. I get to keep you out of trouble. I don't know how. Don't get into trouble, okay?" She starts to push herself up to her feet then, and it takes a moment, but she manages. Waving at Valencia, she says, "hello, Princess."

Waldemai raises his mug of ale. "To you, princess, and," he raises it again, "To our host. I can't say we've been introduced, good man, but raising funds is always praiseworthy."

Mae doesn't let go of Khanne. Rather, she pushes to her own feet, and hauls Khanne up with her. Becuase as slight as Mae appears (cloaked, at least), she's strong and stable. "How about..." she says, to Khanne. "I keep you out of trouble, too? Hm?" she asks, with a sweet smile. "Right now I think your trouble is drinking alone, so-..." Mae upends the bottle of whiskey and take a swig. And then, well, anyone watching gets to see a look of horrow cross her features, and the wincing, and the severe whiskey face. "Yum-..." COUGH. "-that's... that's good... stuff..." she gasps. A very weak wave of that bottle is sent to Valencia, as she keeps an arm around Khanne's waist, keeping her steady. Or fondling her. Or pickpocketing her. Who knows.

Might Jhond he watching where Mae's hands go to make sure they stay out of Khanne's pockets? perhaps! but he grins to the women as they rise and then smiles to Valencia with a bow of his head. "Princess! thank you for coming.. I am thankful you were able to follow the trail and no search party was required." With a grin he turns and waves to the donation box, "Please, donations in there and help yourselves to food and drink.. I shall start our first activity shortly."

Waldemai nods at that, and settles down to his cannibal sandwich and ale. He quaffs the first mug and gets a refill. "Got to be properly warmed up for activities," he explains.

There is a sweet look of concern for Khanne, the little princess' eyes softening as she spies the woman. Slipping to her side she offers her a little kiss upon the cheek, "Hello my dearest Lady. I'm glad to see you," she offers, give a warm nod to Mae as she steadies the Northern lass. Another smile is leveled at Waldemai as he tucks into the incredible feast prepared, dark eye dancing at his enthusiasm. The man obviously knows good food when he sees it. Giving Khanne's arm a gentle touch she moves to greet the event's host with warm incline of head and the offer of a delicate hand. "Missere Jhond, thank you for inviting and for hosting thing. I'm so very glad to help and to be here. You have truly outdone yourself." The little fox nods to the box and places a pouch of silver into it, looking a little embarrassed. "I hope you will forgive me if the rest comes in the form of writs. I was pressed for time and completely forgot myself. Please for give me."

"Of course it is good stuff! I only drink good stuff..." Khanne says to Mae, leaning on her. The willowy woman seems to have no worries about crushing Mae under the weight."Okay... okay, you can keep me out of trouble too. Did you know it was my birthday?" She grins brightly. "Not today, but, the other day... Remind me to go to the mountains for my birthday next year please. I am not supposed to be in Arx for my birthday..." She shakes her head, then nods. "Okay, you can drink with me." The head movements seem to make her slightly dizzy and she stops moving for a moment. She smiles at Valencia, who seems to remind her... "Oh, right! Donations..." She starts rifling in her pouch then hands some coin to Jhond. "Here!"

"I did /not/ know it was your birthday!" Mae says, with a little laugh. "Though, the timing of it..." she muses for a moment, and then grimaces. "Mmm. Well. Did you happen to make it to Magpie's shop recently?" she asks, ever so curiously. Soon as Khanne's steady, Mae lets her go, but doesn't go far. "We should get some food in you, Khanne," Mae decides. "Looks tasty!" she says.

Jhond accepts the donations and ushers them into the box with a smile, "Thank you... the less fortunate of the Lower Boroughs will benefit greatly from your generosity," he says with a smile towards Mae given her position with the soup kitchen. He steps away from the box then as the others move in to partake of the food laid out and one of the party attendants move up to him with a short spear tipped with a three tined tip like a large fork. "The first event is to be a frog gigging competition if any would like to partake. Largest catch wins and the cooks will prepare the frog legs while we move on to other activities" For some reason a spear doesn't get offered to Khanne.

"Happy birthday, Lady Khanne," Valencia offers with another smile. "It is kind of you to make time to come to this on your birthday. Perhaps so of that lovely bread, my lady?" she offers, setting to putting food on a plate for Khanne as Mae continues to steady the slender woman. Glancing up from her task to Jhond, the little vixen smiles again. "I have never do this before? How does one best approach this?" she ask, quietly looking to Khanne to silently seek direction as to what she would like on her plate.

Waldemai slathers some of the beans over the pork on his bread butt, inadvertently inventing the barbeque pork sandwich. "No good with a gigging spear myself, but I'll have at it for the fun of it, and because a good fat bullfrog is fine eating."

Khanne nods to Mae with a knowing grin. "That.. that's, for future reference, how you know it is my birthday time. Every year... Yep.. That..." She nods some more as she looks to Mae, then rubs a hand over her face. "But! Nope.. tonight, I am going to enjoy this party, and friends and the pretty decorations, and food. Yes, that... I don't think I ate today.... I should... You are smart, Mae. So smart." She eyes the spears... with one eye, the other is closed in a squint as if it might help her focus more. She is about to ask for one, but is distracted by Valencia. "Oh, it's not today. It was, but it is the week of, which is never a good thing. I should hide for it.. I will, from now on." She pauses. "But thank you! I am having a party if you would like, all of you.." She looks around at everyone at the party, even strangers, "you can come. It is after my birthday week, so it is safe... Reigna is throwing it for me."

Mae flashes an adoring smile to Valencia as the woman comes back with a plate of food. "You are wonderful, princess," she says. And then she'll make sure the plate doesn't get dropped, but trust Khanne to eat on her own. Northerners know how to put away roast pig, right? "Let you in on a secret," Mae says, to Khanne. "I've not celebrated my birthday in 14 years. No one even knows when it is. It's the /best/ plan," she says. Then she straightens up. "What's a frog gig? What do you do with the frogs...?"

Waldemai waits for the host to explain the game. "Done it a few times down in Southport before I came up here. Haven't seen much of here, but I'm not out this way often."

Jhond turns the gigging spear over in his hand and makes a downward thrusting motion with it. "It's pretty simple in concept.. you find a frog and you spear it. Trick is spotting them and not spooking it away" the Whisper explains with a grin and an attendant moves around with a bucket of spears of various lengths to be handed out to any that want them. He looks to Mae with a grin. "You eat them. They're better than rat, trust me" His spear is raised and points to the patch of lily pads. "There are the hunting grounds. Best of luck!"

"Thank you, Valencia.. Princess... For the food. I'll just have a little...." Khanne doesn't take the plate but takes a piece of bread from it, nibbling at it a bit as she watches this thing with frogs and spears. "Really?" she turns to Mae. "Hmm.. I should consider this..." When the attendant comes near her and Mae, Khanne asks, "can I have one?"

Waldemai seizes a spear and proceeds to stalk the wild and ferocious bullfrog. Fortunately for those around him he is only on his second ale. Others are more loaded, though, and he slips on his plain steel helmet to protect his second favorite organ.

Waldemai checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

"Poke frog with stick?" Mae surmizes, and gives a little laugh. "Sure," she tells Jhond. She takes a moment to unsling her cloak, and her blue messenger bag beneath. They're both set down, somewhere she can keep an eye on them, then she, too, takes a spear. "It's the best plan," Mae repeats. Then she starts over towards the hunting ground. "C'mon, ladies!" she calls after Khanne and, presumably, Valencia!

Jhond gives a look of reluctance .. but then nods to the attendant to give a spear to Khanne.

Plate delivered to Khanne and Mae, the little vixen takes the spear and frowns, testing the weight and feel of it in her hands. A little look goes Waldemai's way as the man heads off. Valencia purses her lips and then gathers up the edge of her gown, pulling it up above her knees and tucking it into her belt. She nods and prowls off to the pond, dark eyes glimmering as she quietly stalks her prey. The little dark haired fox means business apparently... flee, froggies, flee!

Valencia checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Khanne checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Jhond checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Mae checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Khanne smiles and hands the plate of food to the attendant, taking a spear. She goes off after Mae in a slightly wavy line of steps. Stopping at the edge of the pond, she hikes her dress up with one hand and holds the spear in the other. "Here.... froggy froggy froggy.... Ribbit.... " She hunts, and hunts, and when she spots a frog, she tosses the spear towards it. The momentum takes her with it a bit and she falls into the pond face first. Laughing as she resurfaces, she asks, "did I get it? Where'd the spear go?"

Mae is already out wading into the water into her boots, apparently trusting them to keep the water out. She watches closely, carefully, and seems to actually /try/. Despite having, you know, no idea what she's doing. "Ya!" she shouts, as she stabs. Just in time to actually spear one! A... a little tiny frog. She pulls it out of the water, and then immediately grimaces. "Eeewwww!" she says, and shakes the spear, trying to get the frog off. Of course, this means she misses Khanne having... difficulty. Until the splash. "Oh!" she turns, and then immediately lifts a hand to her mouth, to hold in a giggle. She ends up just snorting, and then bursting out in laughter.

Jhond chuckles and follows along with the others towards the patch of lily pads with the spear in his hand. He is, perhaps, slightly more successful than Khanne. A frog is spotted a few steps away and he carefully positions himself to drive his spear down through the creature to have it speared and stuck between the tines when he pulls it back up triumphantly. "Ah! There!" Khanne gets a look when she falls just to be sure she actually resurfaces before he grins at her and starts his way back towards the shore to see how the others did.

Waldemai manages, despite a certain lack of experience with pointy objects, manages to land something that might have been tasty if he hadn't stuck a spear through it. The splash is indeed distracting, and he calls, "Do you need help, m'lady?"

Valencia prowls to the west of the pond, dark eyes glittering, spear in hand, and there he is. She moves quietly closer... and closer... The frog seems to sense something, moving it's webbed feet to reposition itself on it's lily pad. The little vixen pauses waiting for the frog to settle. Again, she advances slowly, bottom lip held lightly between her teeth... and she LUNGES! Suddenly, there is another splash and a laugh and she reels to see what happened. The sight of poor Khanne sitting good naturedly in the pond is enough to distract anyone. The little princess covers her own mouth with a delicate hand to stifle the infectious laughter shared by the others and she moves to help Khanne escape the pond as well.

"No.. no... I'm fine..." Khanne says and tries to stand up in the pond, slipping in the mud and falling again. "Okay.. maybe..." she says, holding her hand out to Waldemai. "I'm Khanne. Have we met?" She holds up a finger of her other hand and says, "if we have not met until now, just know, that I cannot kiss you. Nope... " She shakes her head. "That's what starts the curse...." not that the man would even think to kiss her, but just in case, she lays it on the line. Noticing Mae's gigglesnort, she giggles too, presumably standing now with Waldemai and Valencia's help. She is thankfully drunk enough to not realize she is now in a VERY sheer, wet silk gown. "Oh... I need to write something... one moment..." She walks with their help out of the pond and heads to her bag to get a piece parchment.

Waldemai is certainly strong enough to assist a drunken lady from a lake, especially with assistance. "Waldemai Eisenhu, my lady," he says politely. "I've got a shop down in Southport Square."

Jhond opens his mouth to say something as he looks towards Khanne... but smartly closes it and instead hefts his spear up for inspection of the frog caught on the top. "Let us see who has the winner, shall we?" he says and waggles his spear about towards the others before handing it towards an attendant who pulls his frog off and moves towards the others to help them do the same so that the judging can commence... and the cooking!

Mae continues to laugh, and it grows a touch worse when Khanne talks about kissing. She takes a breath, and calms herself, enough to ask, "Can you kiss me, Lady Khanne?" She's moving along, possibly to follow Khanne? Probably not, since once she's out of the water she stops. "This game is dumb, Jhond... My frog got away because frogs are /gross/ and /slimey/," she huffs. And of course her critique has nothing to do with her surely not winning this event...

Valencia's dark eyes sparkle with amusement and then bemusement as Khanne speaks, "Curse?" she asks a little confused, turning to smile at Jhond to offer him her spear. "Do we perhaps have a blanket or a cloak we might borrow?" she asks sweetly.

"Oh! Halfshav!" Khanne shouts to Waldemai, taking a seat with her parchment to pen something. "Pleasure to meet you. What do you sell?" She grins at Mae and says, "sure! I already know you. Curse free, I think..." She nods to Valencia and says, "yep.. Curse. Kiss a man I just meet on my birthday or near my birthday.... Mm.. I'll tell you later. Happy times now... Happy." She leans over to start writing, if she is cold, she isn't showing any discomfort. It is summer and she is from the far far far north after all.

Waldemai raps his hammer on his helmet. Judging by the hollow sound, there's not a lot between his ears. "Armor, plate and chainmail, m'lady. I'm the official armorer to House Malvici." Which is, after all, why he's not in Southport anymore.

Jhond smirks over to Mae and shakes his head, stage muttering something about how SHE is slimey and gross, before nodding towards an attendant that is all ready moving forward with pile of towels in their arms to be handed out to those that need them. Khanne may get offered two. The other attendant returns to whisper something to Jhond who looks at them a bit surprised before pursing his lips with a nod and grinning. "The winner of the frog gig is none other than Princess Valencia! It seems the southern vixen has a gift! Your prize, my lady, is the first taste." And should one look, off inthe background, the frogs are being butchered to be lightly floured and fried.

Waldemai cheers for Princess Valencia!

Mae does look a /little/ curious about how cooks a frog. She has a strict /no lizards/ policy at the Murder... but maybe frogs? But, then, Khanne says something. What was that? Mae's eyes go wide, and a smile crosses her lips. She'll go over /that/ way, and steal a towel away from Jhond, to hand it over to Khanne. "Not that you do not look lovely, my lady... but..." But then a winner is announced. Mae laughs, and turns to look. "Princess! You are quite the huntress!"

Mae is overheard praising Valencia for: No one else could spear such a big frog!

There is a little laugh from the princess who looks more that surprised, "I am honoured, missere. Perhaps now my sweetest cousin Talen will relent and take me hunting as he promised," she teases playfully. "Amphibians of Arx will croak in my wake?" she laughs again. Her cheeks flush pink at Waldemai's cheers and Mae's compliment, but she manages a playful curtsy to them, a delicate hand upon her chest and head lowering gracefully. "You are far to generous. My prey was clearly stunned by poor Lady Khanne falling in the pool. He didn't have a chance."

Khanne is focused on writing for a moment. Her tongue sticks out in concentration, and she doesn't try to stop the water from dripping onto the page. At one point, she scribbles something out with almost angry gestures, but right after seems back to her drunk jovial self. She folds the parchment, then waves it over towards Drysi who is by the pond, playing with a lilypad. The apprentice gathers it for deliver and Khanne turns to Mae, taking the towel. She dabs at her face, as if it was the only thing wet, then smiles and wolf whistles for Valencia!

Waldemai returns his spear to the stack and his attention to his pork sandwich. "Thanks for that," he tells Jhond. "Brought me right back to my childhood, it did."

Jhond chuckles to himself and hands off his emptied spear to an attendant that moves around to gather them back up before he turns his attention towards Mae with a grin, "Since Ms. Grayhope was able to make it this evening... perhaps we might trouble her for a short explanation on where your donations will be going and her future plans for the soup kitchen? Her and I discussed them the other day, but I am sure you would all like to hear as well how your generosity will be benefitting those that need it most." Spotlight: Mae. and lets Jhond steps off to fill a flagon of mead for himself.

How awkward. Suddenly in the spotlight, while she was busy eyeing Khanne. She was just considering if she ought to wrap the noblewoman up in a towel, see! That was it. But then eyes are on her, and her own eyes flash wide. "What?" she blurts, as she looks to Jhond. There goes the red in her cheeks. "Oh! Uh-... um. I-... Well..." she stammers, for a moment, before she clears her throat. "See, uh-..." She makes a sweeping gesture. "The Soup Kitchen... is funded for this year and the next, but, uh... we'd like to offer /more/. Right now, just... just one bowl of soup a day. If we could do two, that would really help a lot of people. Also, we... um. I've got tentative planes to open a second soup kitchen. You know, like... maybe next to the House of Solace, or in the Uppers... cause... there are more people in need, and the Lowers are a far walk..." she explains, nervously, glancing from person to person. "So, um... you know. Every... every bit helps."

Leana, an Igniseri Guard arrives, following Luis.

Mae's story has Waldemai reaching for his coin purse again. "We want those folks to help themselves by working, but no one can work an one bowl of soup a day," he declares. Despite the enormous sandwich he is devouring, he isn't exactly Mr. Tightpants. "More ale!"

Valencia is overheard praising Waldemai for: One of the most generous, spirited and charmingly community-minded men I have the pleasure of knowing!

The attendant Khanne had practically shoved her food plate to before has brought it back over to her where she sits, still soaked from head to toe, save for her freshly dried off face. She is hungrily munching on the delicious stuff while listening to Mae speak. "Mmnnn.." She swallows her bite. "I will send more your way if you are still in need, Mae. I haven't it on me, but, I will get it to you." Waldemai's shout gets her attention and she follows it with, "more whiskey!!" Blinking, she looks around. "Where'd my whiskey go? Didn't I have a bottle?"


Dressed in black silks that give the man a shadowy appearance in the evening's dim light, Luis Igniseri wanders out into the forests upon where he had heard that a certain Whisper was having a soire. Gold filligree and Crimson embroidery depict the Phoenix of his House and stand out amidst the flowing dark silks. Hearing and finally seeing signs of the pavillion and set up, he arrives on the scene, looking around for a moment before the casks and kegs are seen, where he will meander towards, unless intercepted. He'll help himself to a large mug of something, sniffing it first, then taking a swig and grinning, "Aye, that'll do," he says aloud, then, drink in hand, he is able to look around and hearing conversation, but not yet recognizing any voices.


"A bottle? No.. we don't have bottles, just those." Jhond says to Khanne with a shrug and gesture towards the kegs and cask. He grins over to Mae with a nod of his head, "Thank you, Ms. Grayhope. The Kitchen is a shining example of what can be done to help. Every little bit counts." he says and moves his gaze among the others to settle on Luis a moment and give a polite bow of his head, "My lord, welcome. Thank you for coming... and for our next event.. who else besides Lady Khanne is willing to get wet?"

It's a nice summer day and after a long day in the forge a little wet on his outside will go down as well as the wet ale going down his inside. "This doesn't involve swimming, does it?" Waldemai asks. "I haven't got the hang of that yet."

"That's exactly it, sir," Mae says, to Waldemai. "I mean, that's... the issue. People should be working jobs they can do. Jobs they're good at. Jobs they ... you know. Like. But when you're trying to feed your children, and can't miss a day's work... it's hard to find work. So you end up... on some ship, that ends up being... doing something unsavory, or..." Mae just waves a hand. Then she takes the coin from the man, and smiles brightly. "Thank you," she says. Then attention is back to Khanne, and Mae dips her head. "If you have coin to spare, my lady... I'll take it," she says.


Luis looks to Jhond as the whisper addresses him, mug halfway to his lips. There's a bit of a 'caught in the act' look that flashes across his face and then he grins, toasing the whisper with his mug, "Thank you for the invitation and for having me," he adds, drinking once again from his mug in pleasant relief. As Lady Khanne is addressed, he turns his head to look at her, "M'Lady is already wet?" he notes of the words, then turns his attention back to Jhond, "Well I'm only recently arrived, though I'm fine with that, however, I'd prefer not have my shirt made wet by your game..." he offers, looking around for a place to put his mug, but instead drains it and hangs it on the spigot from whence it was poured, clearly calling 'next' on that. He starts to undo his shirt, each hidden clasp popping free from behind the folds of fabric, shimmering in the lantern light, until he shrugs out of the shirt, setting it atop the cask, and giving the whisper a smile, now bare from the waist up. "What sort of event am I participating in?"


Valencia listens quietly to the speeches and nods politely as the call for donations is made. The sound of Luis' voice causes her to turn head and a bright and beautiful smile finds her lips. "My dearest Lord Luis, you came. I'm so very happy to see you," she beams, moving to greet him with the offer of a delicate hand. Her eyebrow lifts at Jhond's question and her cheeks go crimson as Luis begins to gamely remove his shirt. There is a little cough and a look downward before turning her dark eyes back to Jhond. "What did you have in mind, missere?"

Khanne looks over to the cask and kegs Jhond refers to. Her brows furrow and she shakes her head. "I don't think I carried one of those in....." She lifts a hand to hide a yawn and when he asks who is willing to get wet (aside from her), she holds up her hand and says, "ooh! me! Me! Pick me!" And, as Luis would note, she is indeed wet, hair and silk gown soaked. Her eyes settle on Luis as she watches him take off his shirt.

"A game of chicken.. of sorts, but with staying where the water is shallow enough to touch so no swimming will be allowed. Two teams," he says as he looks between the group, "considering of a tower of two people in the water from each team and the others on the shore to direct the action... as the people in the water will be blind folded." An attendant tosses a leather water skin full of air to Jhond that he catches out of the air. "The goal is to get this skin from the water and bring it to shore."

It's right around the time that Luis mentions some unknown woman already being wet that Zerric arrives from the path of paper lit lanterns, his eyebrows arching up curiously by the time that he has fully arrived at the party. Then the lady seems very interested in Luis, which draws an amused grin to the mans expression. As Jhond speaks, his attention moves to the man, listening to what is being said.

With her little speech concluded, Mae's attention is back on Jhond. She stares, and blinks, then laughs. Then she coughs, and gives a slow look around. Clearly considering who she might have as a partner...


"Ah, my dearest Princess Valencia, I had wondered where I might find you here," Luis tells the Princess, taking her hand and placing a kiss upon the knuckles in greeting and then reaching up to take his shirt and place it in her hand, "Would you please do me the honour of keeping this safe for me?" He asks of her, though as she seems to ask about the game, he remains holding the shirt and her hand, "Unless of course you were planning to play that is..." he teases, but seems to enjoy the idea of such a thing. He grins as he sees Khanne willfully volunteer to get wet again. "Ah, well then, I seem to have removed the wrong article of clothing for this one... though I don't think it's that sort of party, so I'll just, roll up my pants..." he adds, giving Jhond a wink and a nod, "Perhaps we'll save that for later... but alright, so two of us are going in, and the rest are directing..." he looks to Valencia and takes his shirt back, placing it on the cask, "Alright, dear Princess, am I to carry you?" He asks with a pleasent smile, then grins over at Khanne, "Who will direct you?" Let's get this started!" he exclaims with a wild shout and a fit of laughter, then... game face. "For that matter, who will direct us... ah, Marigold! Come here, and guide us with your soothing sweet voice so that we may rescue the drowning skin!"


To Mae, Luis chuckles, "Unless of course you wish to carry this fine Lady here?" he adds to Zerric, meeting Mae's gaze and making the offer.


Khanne listens to Jhond and does that one eye squeezed tight thing again. "So... oh..." She blinks. "Which part am I?" She doesn't look so sure about this. She looks towards Luis again, brow arched when he mentions taking off the wrong article of clothing. Mist grey eyes drift to his pants as he mentions them and she starts to realize what was inferred. "Oh!" She laughs and looks over to Jhond, then back to Luis. "Direct me? I do not know... what I am doing..."

Jhond points to Luis, "Team one.. with him." he says by way of organization and then steps a few feet away. "Team two, over here by me."

"I'll carry Princess Valencia through the water, unless she won't have me, aside from that, we would need someone to direct us, if someone would be so kind... to help the dear princess out?" Luis offers, nodding to Jhond, "Also, since this will be our team spot, I'd like to point out that in our muster area we also have all of the kasks of drink, so... if my roguish attitude and the Princess' beauty don't draw you over, I offer these," he says, with a wave of his hand to the casks, and then fills his mug with his free hand, drinking it back loudly for effect.

When Luis has called him out, Zerric looks towards Luis, blinking a bit as he considers the mans words. "You want... Me to direct?" He inquires with some hesitation, then there is an offer towards Mae, and he looks in her direction with consideration for that as well. "I'm not the best sportsmen." The admission comes casually, not particularly seeming perturbed by this bit of information. Then team names are being made, and the scholar pauses and looks around to see who files in with which team. With that, to be on a team with Valencia and Luis, Zerric steps towards Luis, joining Team One.

Khanne rises up from her seat and bounds towards Jhond, throwing her arms over his shoulders and kissing his cheek. "Looks like you win me on your team! You're so lucky! We are bound to win!!!" Poor Team Two... Poor, poor team two.

Valencia blushes again and nods to Luis. "I cannot promise I know what I am doing, but I will do my best for you, my lord. I am yours if you will have me," she smiles and laughs gently as she steps to the Lycene Lord's side.

Mae hears that off, from Luis to Zerric, and her eyes flash wide. "Noooo, no no no. That man is /not/ touching me!" she says, loudly, looking rather offended by the thought. She sucks in a breath, and edges backwards. "I-... I'll, uh... watch... or..." She's angling towards Khanne and Jhond. One might well read that as towards /safety/.

Jhond grins as Khanne comes over to join his team and he puts an arm around her waist to hug her against him briefly before waving over towards Mae and Waldemai, "We need another! Mae, you could climb on Khanne's shoulders? or Master Waldemai's? Khanne can direct.. or you could direct Khanne and I... either way.. we need at least one more."


Zerric joins their team, "And you could have had the marvelous lady over there upon your shoulders, but you chose to give up upon such a wonderful adventure to dutifully grace us with your presence. You sir are more than just a scholar, but a true friend as well," then there's Mae's comments, and Luis laughs, "Ah, well then, perhaps we've saved two people tonight," he winks both at Mae and at Zerric, "Sorry about that Master Librarian, I apparently spoke too soon," he grins and then looks to Jhond, "Well that's enough for teams... but I know there are others who may wish to play, no?" He asks, looking around and waiting, but he will drop his mug on top of the cask and fetch another for Zerric, "There you are, welcome to the One team, I mean Team One." He says, then grabs his mug and goes back to drinking, hand resting upon Valencia's shoulder when she draws near again.


Waldemai has broad shoulders from hours at the forge. "Yes, I reckon I can keep one of you out of the water, at least for a few minutes."

As Mae declairs her offense at Luis' offer, Zerric recoils some, his own eyes opening widely with offense towards the woman. Though there isn't much said, rather he simply frowns towards her and shakes his head solemnly. Then he looks back towards Luis and nods his head at the man, not particularly seeming very vocal tonight. Even, towards Valencia the scholar seems to avert looking at directly if it can be avoided. There is a moment when he sits there, just chewing his bottom lip in silence.

Waldemai takes off the cloak he wears to protect his body from flying sparks, but leaves his battered vest on. It probably needs a good wash by mid-August.

Khanne gives Mae a curious look at her reaction to Zerric, turning to eye the man in querstion for a moment as she leans against Jhond. Slipping away from him, she heads to Waldemai. "Looks like it's me and you? Remember.. I am not kissing you."


Luis nods his head to Jhond at Waldemai's announcement, "Ah, good show! I think we're in for a challenge now," Luis tells the rest of his team, looking at Mae with also a strange sort of look, but then nods to Zerric, "Sorry about that Master Zerric..." he adds, a little confused as well, but then nods, and sees about walking towards the pond with the group.


Valencia looks confused at Mae's reaction and offers a sweet and welcoming smile to Zerric as he joins their team, though he may or may not see it. Nodding cheerfully to Khanne, Waldemai, Mae and Jhond, she turns and begins to remove various items that may not fair so well in water.

Luis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Waldemai looks aghast at the very idea of being kissed by a lady. "I would be put out of the commoners union for even thinking such a thing, my lady." he tosses his cloak aside. "I shall simply kick someone in the knee."

Valencia checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Waldemai has rolled a critical success!
Waldemai checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Zerric checked wits + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Jhond gives Mae a grin, "You can direct them to their doom?"

Mae checked wits + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Khanne checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Waldemai is true to his word. Someone is kicked in the knee. This is called sheer naked luck.

Jhond gins as the teams are made and attendants moved about to blindfold those that would be going into the water. The skin is tossed into the pond and Jhond moves to help Khanne up on to Waldemai's shoulders assuming someone else is doing the same for Luis and Valencia... once every one is ready? "Go! Direct them! Khanne, no biting!"

Down at the pond's edge Luis will wait, "Well dear Princess, I believe I am to be blindfolded," he looks over to Jhond to see if the man is going to provide for them. He will accept the blindfold then hand it to Zerric, "If you would do us the honours? Blindfold the Princess, and then me, and then I'll lift her up with your help," he offers, giving the Librarian a smile, and back to the Princess, "Thank you for trusting me to carry you, dear Princess."

When Luis requests that he blindfolds the Princess, Zerric pauses and hesitates for a moment, and then commits cautiously. Securing the fabric required to do so, he steps towards her and should he be allowed, wraps the fabric around her eyes and ties it somewhat loosely at the back of her head, likely not wanting to apply too much pressure. Then, with less hesitation, he does the same for Luis, tying the knot much more tightly. As he ties, he leans and whispers something into the mans ear.

Mae still looks... troubled. But with Zerric directing, and not grappling her or Khanne, the woman seems able to shift her thoughts back into the game. Of course, she does take off her boots, while everyone is getting ready, and roll up her trousers, to her knees so she can wade a little bit into the water. "Alright, Waldemai... forward! That's the way, alright pivot left-... no the other way, there it is!"

"But... but.." Khanne protests when Jhond tells her no biting. She is up on Waldemai's shoulders, legs looped over his shoulders, her wet skirts hitched up to reveal pale porcelain skin on long willowy legs. As he moves to follow Mae's directions, Khanne sort of weeble wobbles up there, arms held out for balance. Probably not the best position for a durnk person to be in... a dangerous predicament for Waldemai in fact. Thankfully, he is coordinated and Khanne can hold her liquor.

Valencia blinks at the comment about biting and raises her brow a kiss but the game is on and she makes herself ready. Accepting the blindfold from Zerric with a little nod, making sure it is secure, she then reaching out her hands to find Luis. A little cry is heard as she is easily lifted into position onto Luis' broad athletic shoulders, carefully balancing herself and nodding again. There is a little breath. "Alright, Missere Zerric," she laughs softly. "Avante, sirs!"


Up to Luis's shoulders Valencia goes and the move looks effortless for the Lord, afterall the Princess is quite dainty. That said, he pauses as Zerric whispers something to him, turning to whisper back, though there's less jovialness in the man's step as he settles himself, stance a little wider, "Ah, they're already starting! Princess are you good?" he asks up to her, then starts to move, stepping into the water, but waitiing for directions before he'll continue on. "At least she said sirs!" he calls back to Zerric, moving as directed, or at least that was his intention. He wobbles a bit here and there, the footing not entirely sure under the pond's water, but it is enough that he keeps upright and only the Princess' feet will get wet as they make towards the splashing and as much as Zerric directs.


The skin floats out on the water, ready for the taking!

Waldemai is being ordered about by his director and the lady on his back. "Yes, miss, yes, m'lady." The key thing is to just keep his feet under him. His short, bandy legs make him a very stable platform even in the water.

When Luis and Valencia are at it, in the water, Zerric looks around for a place to perch himself so that he may direct the pair. Soon he finds a log to stand on and bellow out instructions, though his voice perhaps not at loud as it should be. Nor does it spell out a great deal of enthusiasm. Despite his instructions being rather clear and concise, there is perhaps a small delay when they are given.

Khanne uses her hands, listening to Mae's calls for where the skin is. Waldemai moves them there, and when Mae indicates they are close, she starts trying to find the floating thing. She manages to knock it away a couple of times, but Mae does a good job directing them back to it, and eventually, it is in her hands!


As Zerric directs, Luis moves, and he's figuring they've got a fighting chance, when there's a scream from the other team that they have the skin, "Hold on PRincess, we have to go get it!" he tells her, trying to move quickly in the water towards the sound of the other team, but it does not seem like they will catch up to them, Waldemai being too sure on his feet and able to motor through that water like he was born to it!

The little southern princess listens carefully and reaches out in an attempt to seize the bag. "I am trying!" she calls out with a laugh and then suddenly letting out a girlish squeak as she is nearly unseated as Luis moves unexpectedly to the scholar's directions. Smiling broadly as she blindly reaches out for the prize, a bright and cheerful laugh bubbles up from the little fox at the ridiculousness of this. "Hurry! Hurry!" she laughs getting fully into the spirit of things. another flash of a smile kissing her lips. "Gods, only with you, my lord, would I find myself in such a predicament,"she laughs again, reaching out and dipping her hands into the water in an attempt to again find target.

"Yes! Grab it Khanne!" Mae shouts! And then the ball is grabbed, and apparently they'll get away with it, so Mae is smiling bright and clapping. "Good job, Khanne! You too, Waldemai!" and then, with victory declared, well, Mae's climbing back out of the pond and toweling off her feet to get her jingly boots back on.

Waldemai slogs back toward dry ground, doing his best to keep the lady from making excessive contact with water.

"And team two re the winners!" Jhond announces with a grin and a cheer, "Well played, everyone.. glad no one drowned this time." His flagon is raised in appreciation to the players, "Please.. continue to enjoy the food and drink. Take time to dry off in the summer night or go for a evening swim. Thank you again, everyone, for your donations to the worthy cause."

Valencia is overheard praising Jhond for: A wonderful, well-thought out event! Jhond is delightfully charming and great deal of fun. A truly wonderful host! Bravo! <3