Tikva drops a large leather bag.

A spotted stray cat arrives, following Roran.

Lady Teldra, a Lycene noblewoman, Buchanan, a Champion, Sir Bristleworth the Hedgehog, Steadfast, a guardian dog, Lisette of Ashford, Cosette of Ashford arrive, following Cara.

Abbas Thrax makes his arrival with Rey at his side. They are flanked and trailed by six ex-reaver guards. Abbas is clad in his red squid thematic armor and his barbed alaricite axe hangs from his belt. Rey is in her Mercy robes of white and carries a doctor bag with her. "Perhaps I will particpate. If it is a free-for-all I pity whoever sides with me. I cannot imagine I would be staring down a lot of eager individuals wanting to cave me head in." Abbas comments to the woman he arrives with. "Or is this a Grayson only affair?"

3 Iron Guardsmen, Ted, a melodramatic twenty something arrive, following Calaudrin.

Behtuk produces a third sausage roll from his canvas bag and stuffs a big bite in his mouth.

5 Thrax Guards, Bastian, the Reformed Rogue arrive, following Cassima.

Yes. Yes, that is definitely Rey. The tiny Mercy has to trot a bit to keep up with him; she has to take a good two steps for every one of his, after all. The combination of the cold air and the exertion has stung life into her cheeks and brought luster to her sea glass green eyes. The doctor's bag she's hauling along with her makes it clear what she's doing here. That having been said, she definitely came here with Abbas, and is making absolutely no effort to pretend otherwise. "Just... try not to kill anyone, okay?"

Aleksei makes his way onto the grounds, his usual good humor a bit distant, a bit muted; he looks like someone who's trying for a friend, though. His gaze catches on Rey with Abbas, his brow furrowing a brief moment before his jaw hardens and he turns his gaze away. He looks about instead at the various seating options, considering a moment.

Tikva checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Isla, a small silver fox arrives, following Cadenza.


Cassima is here merely as a spectator. The newest Minister of Finance and Incomes for House Thrax wears hunter green today, a slight deviation from her normal black. The heavy brocade shimmers, and is pressed with a pattern of leaves and vines. The underskirt and underbodice are colored pink in a rare show of color. Her wild black curls are pinned up and out of the way.
She moves past the field, along the tents with a look of idle curiosity as she approaches the seating and booth areas.


Satchel looped over a shoulder, the Archlector of Lagoma's making his way in to the tournament grounds, some speckeld stray cat at his heels and watching the ongoing. His steps bringing him to Aleksei and a murmur to the man.

The tournament grounds are alive with a carnival atmosphere. Stands selling hot meats and sweet treats have set up shop, and an ale bar featuring the best beers, ales and ciders from the Badger Boardinghouse is doing a tidy trade as well. Everything is festooned in Grayson green and gray. Pennants banner in the air, and fine fabric ropes cordon off various contestants' areas for the contents in those colors.

The benches have been festooned with flags bearing artistic renderings of the emblems each of the vassal houses of the Crownlands, and layered with cushioning and blankets in the House colors of each.

A contingent of musicians has been hired to play sets of rousing music, and some thoughtful soul has actually hired a team of facepainters to paint funny designs on children's faces and hand out toy soldiers in Grayson-painted armor and uniform.

Into the carnival atmosphere, Tikva has been running about from place to place, making last minute arrangements. Rather than immediately throw herself into her role as emcee, however, her progress is arrested by her sight of Lady Rey on the arm of a particular Thrax prince, and all other thoughts are plainly swept away from her by all indications of her expression. She strides towards them in a shimmer of dark armor, her mouth tight. "Prince Abbas," she says. "Little sister." Her stare intense, her chin elevated, she says, "You may observe our panoply and play if you choose, Abbas Thrax, and anyone at all, Grayson or not, is welcome to participate in our event today, except for you personally. I will not dishonor Gloria with your participation." (Not very carnival atmosphere of her.)

Felicia has the good fortune to off duty for the moment, though the King's Own knight arrives clad in her armor, red hair a tangled braid down the back of it and badger fur cloak drawn tight to keep out the chill. A brief stop by the ale bar on her way towards the stands themselves with a bright enough grin on her face, even if it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

Cara arrives wearing -- well, a Laric costume. Almost. She's in breeches and tall boots, with a swirling black and crimson cloak and what is almost certainly her husband's stolen shirt beneath it. It looks odd, but on the other hand, this way she won't get pie on _her_ clothing. She and her retinue happen to be entering the Tourney Grounds around when Tikva makes her declaration regarding Abbas' participation, and she halts, looking between the two as if her intervention might be required.

Calaudrin heard there was a party happening here in the tournament grounds. He arrives, smoking and glancing up the sky before his attention drops to the crowds of people milling around. And there are quite a few people, he moves slowly through them. When he passes the person painting children's faces, he looks at them blankly and then moves along. He passes briefly as Tikva speaks to Abbas and Rey, the corners of his mouth turn up just slightly and he moves quickly past them.


Zoey seems to be preparing to take to one of the stands when she hears her name. A guard points out Caspian, and she gives the Thrax duelist a wary look. "Back for more, Master Wild?" she asks pertly, all good humour gone from her features.


Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Rey wavers a little bit under Tikva's stare, but she doesn't crumple, and she doesn't shy away. In fact, there's a little bit of a challenge in her eyes. She also doesn't argue, however, letting Abbas fight his own battles, and letting Tikva make her own choices.

Cadenza had gotten that message from someone in particular and chuckle a bit. Shaking her head, she would get herself gathered up before making her way over to the grounds. Making her way, she'd tilt her head a bit as she looked around for seating and familiar faces before spotting Caspian. Waving, she'd nod to him before making her way over towards a seat because....why not?

Lethe arrives to the event and takes a curious look around. She smiles as she sees the children and the facepainters. She watches for a moment before finding a place to sit.

"I came to apologize," Caspian says back to Zoey in response to her answer, shaking his head. "I took a few breaths and reflected on what happened, and found I was rude and inconsiderate. Flirting with you when I met you, using foul language around you with my friends, saying you were from the Oathlands. Rather then apologizing, or even just talking to you about it, I reacted with sarcasm and spite. It was childish of me, and I'm sorry."

Aleksei straight up startles when he suddenly finds Roran next to him and murmuring a quiet word, almost jumping out of his skin. And then it passes, and he actually smiles. "Blessed Roran! I didn't know you were back in the city! I don't know, I was just considering--" His attention is pulled back to Abbas -- or, more specifically, Tikva. He watches with close attention.

"Fresh from the road but still wandering. It got a little cold and I was hoping to make it back in time for Flammas here." But that didn't happen. Roran watches the dramatics potentially unfolding before them, a hmm sound reverberating.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

a black robed Silent Reflection arrives, delivering a message to Felicia before departing.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

The Thraxian prince Abbas looks to his companion (not on his arm but accompanying him). At the approach of Tikva and her dictation he offers her a smile through the thick black beard. The dreadlocked ex-Warlord dips his head, "As you wish." The prince dips his head in acceptance, "Am I allowed to observe at least? Or should I depart altogether?" He inquires. His voice is naturally gruff from strained vocal chords after years of barking orders at sea. The prince looks over to Rey, "I am glad you made it safely and unmolested. Here is where my escort shall end. I bid you a wonderful evening, mercy."


Cassima has plucked up a glass of liquor from one of the sellers, pausing in her walk by the little kerfuffle around Prince Abbas Thrax and the woman on his arm. She watches, thoughtful but quiet. Perhaps it is this particular sight that has her reaching into her purse, plucking out a tight wrap of writs, and dropping it into the collection. Then she sips, and watches.


Cadenza has joined the General Seating.

Lethe has joined the General Seating.

Clankity clank. Jessa Deepwood makes her way into the tournament grounds dressed in her armor, and with a warm smile already in place; a chance to see a sparring match between skilled fighters -- to get to know the others of her fealty -- is a welcome way to experience this new city she finds herself in. But she arrives to find the occasion already marred by what appears to be a dispute of some sort, and so her attention focuses on the conversation between Tikva and Abbas.

"You may," Tikva says. She gives the ex-Warlord a slight inclination of her head, turns a long look upon her younger sister, and then inhales a long breath, turning to stride on long strides across the field, summonsing up some -- inner fortitude to scramble up whatever she was initially going to say.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Catching that look from Caspian she would smile softly before seeing that little fox catching up to her, letting it land in her lap to be pet. Almost demanding it.

Cadenza claims that.

"You may observe the fray with me, if you care to, Prince Abbas. We do raise our banners in defense, in part, of course, of the people sworn to House Thrax," Cara offers calmly, glancing at Tikva and giving her a quiet nod of approval. "I do plan to be hit by a great number of pies, though, so you may wish to keep your distance after that."


Zoey turns fully to face Caspian when he begins to apologise, clasping her hands before her loosely before her. Eventually, her eyebrows lift and she inclines her head slightly. "My mother is from the Oathlands," she says quietly. "There is no shame in it. But to call a Lady or any Peer's parentage into question is quite an insult. It is a matter of honour. I am glad that you have seen the right of it, however, and shown that you can learn from your mistakes. That is the mark of a man who will go somewhere in life." She smiles a little. "Thank you for coming to me. Be well, Master Wild."


Rey finds a smile for Abbas, but there's a bittersweet note to it, and a hint of sadness in her voice when she speaks. "Thank you for making sure I got here safely." She catches and squeezes his hand once, and then breaks away to go in search of whatever kind of medical station has been set up. Or to set one up, if that hasn't already been done.

As people troop in and arrive, taking their places at various benches and generally throughout the tournament grounds, Tikva turns aside from the little contretemps she has just participated in at the front and waves her arms in the air with great (initial forced, but growing more genuine) energy, attempting not to look rattled (success is in the eye of the beholder, really). "Thank you all so much for coming! I look forward to seeing how many of you choose to honor Gloria and compete in our contest of arms later on! For now, though, I'm just excited to see your faces!"

Putting her fingers to her lips, she lets out a shrill whistle so that everyone knows to pay attention to her, and stands on her tip toes as she calls out:

"WELCOME! We're here to rally for the forces of the Crownlands and the Compact, to prepare for the war effort, and also to have fun and give away prizes! Yay! If you're planning on competing or bringing your soldiers to compete in the marching competition, please make your way to the field and get ready so that we can tell you the rules!"

Caspian offers a bow towards Zoey, telling her. "You as well." And then he is off, moving towards the general seating, sitting himself down next to Cadenza with a smile, reaching over to scratch behind the ears of the fox on her lap.

Caspian has joined the General Seating.

"Not that cold, really--" Aleksei says to Roran, but he's clearly distracted by the interplay between Tikva and Abbas. When it seems to draw to a fairly peaceful conclusion, though, some of his tension eases. "You want to sit? Let's sit."

Aleksei has joined the General Seating.

Jessa has joined the General Seating.

Messengers. It's a thing to juggle her ale to accept the scrip from the Silent Reflection, but there's a slight nod for the robed one before the scrip is slipped away and she continues over to the stands, finding a good spot to linger so she can watch silently for now.

Felicia has joined the General Seating.

Roran has joined the General Seating.

2 Novice Keaton Huntsmen, Norwood II arrive, following Margerie.

Zoey has joined the General Seating.

Calaudrin has joined the Field.

"I thought we might dance." It's off-handed to Aleksei but Roran soon follows the other Archlector to the benches in question, a flip of his hair and braid over shoulders where it won't hit anyone before settling.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Calaudrin eventually finds his wave to the beverage tent where he begins to drink ale. He doesn't seem to be with anyone right now and is happily indulging himself when the call for the contest begins. He scratches the scruff on his face before he tosses back the rest of his beverage. "Ah, why not?" He asks of no one in particular and takes to the field to join in on whatever is planned.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a black velvet pouch with orange-pink initials of JA.

Calaudrin has joined the line.

Tikva claps her hands and whistles, and then calls, "Our first prize of the night is a purse of silver for the winning commander! 100,000 to the leader of the troop that marches best!"

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a large leather bag.

Margerie has joined the line.

"You're very welcome." Abbas answers, "Should you come across the situation you found earlier again and are near the Thrax ward or the Isles Canines you are welcome to find respite in both places. Just ask for me or my men will see to your needs in my absence." And with that Abbas departs the company of Rey. He offers a smile to Cara and nods to her, "I shall, thank you." And the armored man moves to join her.

Felicia has joined the line.

Esoka comes striding onto the Tournament Grounds. She goes to drop off something-or-other on behalf of Riven's Sword for the troops, then hustles over to join the festivities. She gets herself an ale from the beverage tent, grinning and waving enthusiastically to Calaudrin when she spots him heading up to play.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a large leather bag.

Looking over to Caspian she would smile then as she nodded. "So....are you going to go do this? I think....I'll just do as you ask....and cheer you on....." Cadenza would chuckle as she winked at him playfully.

RULES FOR MARCHING GAME:

Round 1: command + leadership at 15 (simple marching in tandem!)

Round 2: command + leadership at 25 (more complex marching drill in tandem!

Round 3: command + leadership at 40 (complex marching drill in tandem, strike your shields and chant together!)

Winner: max combined score! 


Cassima remains a few more quiet moments, as if assuring that any potential conflict is truly passed. Only then will she turn to find her own seat. She sits at the end of one of the benches, one that allows her to get up and leave at her leisure, should the occasion arise. Then? She wallflowers like a boss, wetting her lips with the liquor in small sips.


Cassima has joined the General Seating.

Cara has joined the High Booth.

Margerie is having one of those nights where before you even quite know what's happening? You've handed over some silver and been swept into a line without quite knowing what's happening. The former Countess must have had either too much tea or too little so far today. She ends up tapping the shoulder of Calaudrin in front of her. "Pardon, just to make sure. I'm not in line to hit anything or anything quite as alarming as that, am I?" But if marching it is, well. "Why am I suddenly glad someone else is up first," she finishes with a smirk.

2 Grayson Guardsmen, Alejandra, a snowy white hound, Planchet, a young valet, 2 Iron Guardsmen leave, following Ainsley.

Calaudrin waves back to Esoka from where he's standing with a few other people for the contest. He also waves to the other people on the field with him. "Hello." When Margerie speaks to him, he listens and then laughs. There's a quick shake of his head. "No, we're going to try and command some troops in a little parade, I believe. It should be fun. And not dangerous."

Abbas has joined the High Booth.

Felicia wasn't exactly planning on participating in this portion, which is perhaps obvious when some of the younger King's Own approach her. The surprise is evident in her face, along with the shake of her head at first, but apparently she's going to concede given the reluctant kind of nod and the way she casts her eyes towards the sky. There's mumbling under her breath, perhaps a paean to Gloria for mercy as she finishes her ale and goes to at least try to get some semblance of organization.

Margerie has joined the Field.

Felicia has left the General Seating.

Felicia has joined the Field.

Cara climbs up to the higher booth, the best vantage point to overlook the field and possibly to shout something leaderly in the event that such things are required; the booth itself, though, is made open and festooned with gaily bright ribbons, and seems intended for whomever might wish to sit within and not solely her own occupancy.

Esoka has joined the General Seating.

2 Grayson Guardsmen, Alejandra, a snowy white hound, Planchet, a young valet, 2 Iron Guardsmen arrive, following Ainsley.


Zoey looks up and spots Ainsley. She smiles and rises to cross over to his side. "Cousin," she greets the man with a little laugh. "I've not seen you in ages. How are you?"


On his way to the High Booth to join princess Cara Grayson Abbas flashes his cousin the princess Cassima Thrax a grin and smile. There is a nod of his head to her and he seems to be in pleasant spirits. Once he gets up to the booth he finds a place to sit near the princess. His guards remain below. They are not so bold as to interrupt or distrust his invite. But not too far that say should some wild attempt on his life emerge from the stands they cannot intercept it. The man offers the princess a quiet conversation and begins to speaking to her at their spot.

Ainsley's been mostly trying to stay out of Tikva's way, while supporting whatever she needs! A familiar voice is caught and he turns, to smile toward Zoey, "Zoey!" He reaches out to give her a hug (but gently, because he's in full rubicund) and then says, "Want to come march with me? It'll be fun you can shout 'We Win Glory' at the top of your lungs."

Ainsley has joined the line.

Elizabetta, a lissome lady-in-waiting, a small brown and white corgi puppy, Lily, a lithe young woman arrive, following Sabella.

Tikva claps her hands! "All right, let's get started! I'm going to call out the troops one by one! Starting with a simple drill, let's go!"

Turn in line: Calaudrin

Calaudrin checked command + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Turn in line: Margerie

Rey sets herself up in whatever medical area has been set aside. Hopefully she'll just be treating marchers who accidentally sprain ankles.

Margerie checked command + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Turn in line: Felicia


The Bisland noblewoman laughs and returns the hug of Ainsely with a little squeeze before stepping back. "I'll cheer you on from the stands, Ainsley," Zoey says with a grin.


Felicia checked command + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 10 lower.

Tikva has joined the line.

Turn in line: Ainsley

Ainsley has rolled a critical success!
Ainsley checked command + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

Turn in line: Tikva

Tikva claps her hands as the troops begin their march, whistles, and calls in a bright, clear voice: "Go, go," as the troops make their march, beginning in simple formation drills with varying success!

Sabella arrives at the tournament grounds and glances around briefly until she spots Zoey. She quietly makes her way towards the Bisland woman, and when she's behind her, she taps her on her left shoulder before she ducks behind her right. "Boo!'

Calaudrin shrugs to both of the women near him, "I make guards walk around sometimes. How hard can... some of this be?" A simple drill he seems able to manage and the people that have been assigned to him march around without falling all over themselves.

Margerie may not come with her own forces, but part of the leadership? It's pulling out the volunteers. Margerie Keaton turns towards the audeince and claps her hands over her head twice. "Alright, younguns! First ten of you out here and in line each get a basket of Marie's cookies!" And then she's giving them Good Old Fashioned Aunting guidance and verbal nudging to get them in line just so. The impromptu Gingerbread Gang? Doesn't make a bad accounting of themselves at all!


Zoey turns in the direction of the voice, coming face to face with Sabella. She grins. "Playing games are we?" she teases before giving the Princess a hug. "Come. You're just in time to cheer Ainsley on!"


Ainsley ruffles Zoey's hair before jogging (clank clank CLANK) to the field. So he can call out to his group, "C'mon! For Grayson and compact, None Greater!" He gets a simple formation up and running in no time at all. Look'em them march!

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Calaudrin, go! Round 2!"

Calaudrin has rolled a critical success!
Calaudrin checked command + leadership at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher.

Jordal, a bodyguard arrives, following Isabeau.

Possibly some warning ahead of time might have been a good idea, certainly looping Felicia in at the last second as 'commander' for the group isn't a gamble that appears to be working out for her group. Even she has to try and resist cringing too much at the disaster that unfurls. Which... possibly, doesn't help the situation any. Certainly she winds up just pressing a hand to her face with a shake of her head while they try not to trip over one another's feet. Find synchronicity? That's beyond her group it seems. Still she draws herself up and sets her hands on her swordbelt, composing herself as if this wasn't about to get even worse.

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Yay! Go Margerie, round 2!"

Margerie checked command + leadership at difficulty 25, rolling 13 higher.

At the High Booth the esteemed Thraxian Prince Abbas converses idly with Cara. He watches the parade and smiles at moments and he waits for the next round to commence.

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Go Felicia! Yay!"

Felicia checked command + leadership at difficulty 25, rolling 10 lower.

Sabella has joined the General Seating.


Zoey gahs suddenly, ducking as Ainsely reaches for her hair. "Ainsley Grayson!" she calls laughingly after the Prince. And then she pouts, tugging out her hairpins and attempting to rearrange her curls.


Calaudrin's people are marching but they're also complaining. "How come we didn't get the one who gives out cookies?" They receive a sour look from the Iron Guard Lieutenant and he encourages them to do a better, more complicated march than the last time. Though he's now eyeballing the complainers in his troup. Can you fire your volunteer parade marchers?!

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Go Ainsley!"

Kit, the grey fox, a tiny man with a BIG unpronounceable name arrive, following Monique.

Cara observes from the high booth as well, in what is likely the weirdest pairing said booth has played host to in quite some time. She claps along for the successful in the marching and almost laughs at the hair tugging shenanigans.

Ainsley checked command + leadership at difficulty 25, rolling 23 higher.

Sabella turns to watch Ainsley, cheering loudly as she waves a kerchief in the air. She nudges Zoey playfully and takes a seat, crossing her legs at the ankles.

Tikva cheers and whistles with more clapping as the more complex drills go on!

Margerie is encountering some of the challenges that come with an impromptu force, especially a younger set. When it's time to begin the more complex things? It takes a while for the kids to get it, but their leader? She's right in the mix with them at least, close enough to pull the straggler back after a rich bout of laughter when the tenderhearted child hears the other group complaining of their cookieless fate and starts to trot off to offer to trade places. "Now if you stay and we do well enough next round, we might be able to sweettalk Marie into cookies for everyone."

Ainsley ducks out ahead of his group, motioning to the side. They split down the middle and flow around him a smooth (but not perfect) wave, meeting on the other side of him, as if he were a stone and they a stream. They then about face and do this once more.

Kit, the grey fox, a tiny man with a BIG unpronounceable name leave, following Monique.

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Okay! Round three! Calaudrin, go!"

If getting Felicia's troop to try and march straight was a clattering monstrosity, round two? There's at least one clash between some guy who can't see and another guy who was too worried about where his feet were. At least the redheaded knight puts more of an effort into trying to get them in some semblance of order but it's to no avail, those close enough to hear may well catch her muttering,"I definitely have not had enough ale for this." as she tries some hand gestures and shouting to at least try to get them marching in a straight line.

Calaudrin checked command + leadership at difficulty 40, rolling 15 lower.

Caspian has left the General Seating.

Caspian has joined the Far Stands.

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Margerie, go!"

Margerie checked command + leadership at difficulty 40, rolling 3 lower.

Cadenza has left the General Seating.

Cadenza has joined the Far Stands.

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Felicia, go!"

Felicia checked command + leadership at difficulty 40, rolling 36 lower.

Abbas looks down and spots the princess Isabeau's arrival. The reaver prince stands and draws her attention. A red gloved hand gestures to the space next to him where he sits near the Grayson princess. He is not paying attention to the marching for just a moment.

Tikva shouts from nearby, "Ainsley, go!"

Ainsley checked command + leadership at difficulty 40, rolling 4 lower.

"Don't try to steal my people with your cookies!" Calaudrin grouches at Margerie. But this grouching, it will be his downfall! As he's shooing away this womant that he just met, his marchers get all messed up and start to wander in different directions and shout their chants all at the wrong time. "Oh, whoops."

W


Cassima catches the arrival of Isabeau from her own spot on the edge of the general seating, nodding her head respectfully toward the woman as she passes. When she lifts her face, she'll pair the silent greeting with a small smile.


'We're not stealing, we're encouraging everyone to do well so we can share the cookies," Margerie chimes out merrily. Perhaps it's the lure of the future sugar rush, but as the field becomes the scene of disarray? At least it's the kids who are turning the chants into giddy, happy displays of camaraderie that simply aren't ... really at all terribly unified. But they're certainly spirited!

Ainsley goes in a tight circle around his group, motioning at them with his hands as he goes. And it would be spectacular ... if it were smooth. But a few of his signals are a little slow, so it's not quite as smooth as it could. The group tries to fade out in a spiral around him, and for the most part it's successful, but a few go a little late, and a few go a little too early based on Ainsley's out of sync signals. He's still smiling and laughing, however, as his group marches around him in a circle, and then coils back up into a square.


As the marching gets more serious and complicated, Zoey manages to get her curls back into some semblance of 'arranged'. In go the hairpins and she's studying the commanders carefully. "We can only hope," she murmurs to Sabella, "that our armies have cookies." She waves then at Ainsley as they pass.


At the conclusion of the parade grounds, Tikva claps her hands for the competitors and calls, "Well! It appears that the winner of the parade is Prince Ainsley Grayson! But that won't do! My darling husband knows we can't throw a party and then keep the prizes for ourselves! Ainsley, what shall we do with the prize purse?"

Tikva adds brightly, "Our runner up is the troop of Lady Margerie Keaton of the Oathlands!"

It's probably a mercy, when Felicia's troop give up. It starts with the guy that manages to find an invisible pot hole, probably dug with the divot of his own boot, and winds up sidelining the guy next to him with a wild swing of his shield. That no-one accidentally managed to decapitate themselves, or their neighbor is some kind of miracle in and of itself. Likely, the sheer cacophony of it probably distracted the more experienced troops and by the end of it the knight is just hunching over waiting for the noise to stop with her head in her hands. Her face almost as red as her hair.

Princess Isabeau Valardin arrives unescorted save for the company of her solitary bodyguard. She is clad in blue and white, the colors of her Great House, and looks as lovely as ever albeit a bit pink-cheeked. Then again, maybe that only adds something to her charm. She takes pause for a moment to survey the assembled crowd and the various goings-on before making particular note of an impossible to miss bit of waving by Abbas. She weaves through the crowd in that direction, sparing a smile for smile and much more subtle wave for Cassima along the way.

Isabeau has joined the High Booth.

Ainsley flashes a little grin at Tikva and says, "Hhhhhmmm." His eyes glint a moment and he looks toward Margerie, Calaudrin, and Felicia. He asks with laughter in his silver eyes, "Maybe we should have them stand on their heads and whoever falls over last gets it?" He is ... joking, right, yes?

12 Thrax Elite Guards, Crow - Thraxian Steward, Lilybelle - Fluffy Maine Coon arrive, following Victus.

Abbas rises with the Oathlander princess arrival to the booth. He moves to her and helps her to her seat. His eyes then turn and he looks back down to the happenings below.

Tikva gives Ainsley a performative sweep of eyebrows from her pose at the judges' booth.

Tikva has joined the Judges Booth.

Calaudrin makes wavey hands as everyone as they scatter away. When Margerie is announced as the winner, he tips his head in her direction. "Congratulations Lady Keaton!" He even manages to smile! Then he departs the field and returns where he can purchase more ale and maybe a snack.

Calaudrin has left the Field.

Margerie calls out, "Don't spend it on cookies!" It's the last thing to be be heard from her as she ends up swarmed by writing down names and grubby hands on her cloak. The Oathlander manages to get a hand up to wave when Tikva says her name. Ainsley's suggestion? That gets her to raise her voice again and swiftly, "Your Highness, I have the minor objection that I am not at -all- dressed for standing on my head, young man. I did have another idea, though. If I'm to have a vote as coming in second, perhaps any share I would be due could be donated to the Troops?"

Calaudrin has joined the General Seating.

Margerie has left the Field.


After Isabeau has walked past Cassima's corner seat at the general seating, she turns her eyes back to the happenings below. Mmmm, good free booze.


Ainsley grins at Margerie and says, "Rubbish, all attire is attire for head-standing!" However, he gives her a little bit of a bow and says, "But, yes, I think the prize should go to Lady Margerie. And donating to the troops is a wonderful idea. You're very generous, my lady."

Clad in leathers with a dozen or so guards at his back is Victus Thrax. Though instead of carrying any sort of weaponry to the occasion, he instead was holding a bundled up and wriggling lump of baby with him. The sea-blue garment she was wrapped in barely doing much to contain the few months old's excitement at the world as she grasped at literally everything within her presence. The High Lord and his energetic daughter make for the general seating, stealing a chair and setting it up beside the two Archlectors, Roran and Aleksei. "Who's winning Faith-people?" He asks of them, just before turning and slapping Cassima on the back in greeting. Astrid makes a dull sound of bubbling, her own little greeting.

Victus has joined the General Seating.

Rey meets a couple of Felicia's dispirited marchers with kindness and at least an attempt at encouragement. She chatters away at them while she checks them over and treats bruises and (yes) a sprained ankle. Her hands are skilled, and she works quickly and efficiently, but whatever she's saying is making her poor patients give each other confused looks. At least they've forgotten about being dispirited, though.

Tikva troops down to give the purse to Margerie with a brilliant smile. "Now, everyone, while our staff gets our next event ready by bringing in A GIANT TABLE FULL OF PIES, I'd ask you all to give your attention to my dear friend and cousin, Princess Cara Grayson, just for a moment!"

Cadenza would be watching the festivities, looking up as new faces would make their way in. Giving them a polite nod, she didn't want to interrupt while Tikva was talking.

Felicia rises to her feet at last, the appalled shake of her head offered for the guys that formed her troop rueful,"Congratulations, Prince Grayson, lady Keaton." she offers to them before moving off to at least talk to the guys about maybe giving her a head's up more than five seconds before go time next time.

Felicia has left the Field.

1 Grayson Guardsmen, Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle, Deliverance, an albino falcon, Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound, Rascal, a hyper terrier, Rosalie, a lady in waiting arrive, following Reese.

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

Jeffeth has left the General Seating.

Jeffeth has joined the Far Stands.

Ainsley makes his way back over to his cousin(s?). A tilt of his head is given toward Zoey and he asks, "Are you going to participate in the pie eating contest?" Though quiets after Tikva asks for attention to be turned toward Cara.

Cara rises to her feet and calls, "I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for coming, personally, and to especially thank those merchants and craftsmen who have given us their time and efforts! If you can, offer them your support and your patronage in thanks for their aid, as without the generous and hard work of the true and loyal, none of us would have weapons or clothes or the ability to march off to battle. We cannot all raise sword in defense of our homeland, but we can support our soldiers nevertheless. If you can, your support is greatly appreciated!"

Wait, what? Did someone from the Oathlands do well? Princess Isabeau offers a rather belated bit of loud clapping and calls out, "Well done, Lady Margerie!"

Ainsley has joined the General Seating.

Margerie has joined the General Seating.

Now, Tikva marches down from the Judges' Booth in a militant stride, her face bearing a brilliant smile. Her bard's voice pitched to carry, she calls: "NOW. WHO HERE HAS EVER WANTED TO THROW A PIE AT A GRAYSON?"

She spreads her arms wide. "To compete in the next event, I'd like to ask everyone who wishes to participate for the potential prize -- six ingots of Stygian metal -- to come join me down here in the Field, and dodge VOLLEYS of pie! Hurled by volunteers from our audience and some of our own house servants and also my confessor Warren because I did promise him he could! If you're throwing pie, you aren't eligible for winning the prize, sorry!

"There's two ways to win: first, be the person with the LEAST amount of pie on your face at the end of the contest! Second, be the person who manages to BEAR WITH pie being pelted at them with the MOST amount of grace at the end of the contest!"

Tikva has left the Judges Booth.

Tikva has joined the Field.

Behtuk lumbers away from the stands. Someone mentioned pie.

Behtuk has left the General Seating.

Behtuk has joined the Field.

Oh Cadenza's smile would widen then. Grinning she would to Caspian and laughed. "This is my speed!" And with that, she'd toss her cloak off....so at least that wouldn't be ruined then moved to the field.

Margerie bows her head towards Isabeau as she and the pouch that seems to have caught her a bit off guard (and a dozen or so new followers) make their way to the stands. It isn't long before a couple of those kids are turning into impromptu messengers.

Caspian has left the Far Stands.

Caspian has joined the Field.

Cadenza has left the Far Stands.

Victus gets up almost as soon as he sat down. Free pie with the only drawback being having to be pelted? He is in one hundred percent.

Cadenza has joined the Field.

Victus has left the General Seating.

Victus has joined the Field.

Pie? Pie. A few words from Felicia and apparently, the redheaded knight is a glutton for punishment. Certainly, although she elects to remove her outer armored layers and stack them up neatly and respectfully, she's got no qualms about heading back out to the field in tunic and pants.

PIE DODGING CONTEST:

THREE ROUNDS of either DODGE + DEXTERITY AT 15 or COMPOSURE + ETIQUETTE, PERFORMANCE OR MANIPULATION AT 15

HIGHEST COMBINATION WINS!

TO JOIN IN, join Tikva on the Field!


Cara has left the High Booth.


Cassima suddenly finds herself holding the Princess Astrid. She looks rather startled by the baby's sudden presence, and she holds the child on her lap, each staring at the other for a few confused moments. Then there's some bouncing on her lap, some humming of soft notes, some wiggling of fingers at each other. This is how you baby, right?


Calaudrin has left the General Seating.

Calaudrin has joined the Field.

One figure least likely to be able to dodge pies seems to be setting himself to doing it. Sir Jeffeth Bayweather starts to trod towards the field, clinking and clanking as he does so.

Jeffeth has left the Far Stands.

Jeffeth has joined the Field.

Cara has joined the Field.

Jessa stands up. "I think," she notes to the others in the general seating, "that I'm utterly unconcerned with my own dignity, and this could be rather fun." And so the Deepwood noblewoman also clanks her way over towards the field for a bit of pie-dodgery.

Jessa has left the General Seating.

Jessa has joined the Judges Booth.

Jessa has left the Judges Booth.

Jessa has joined the Field.

Rey gets well, well, well away from the field, lest she be accidentally pied. Pie-related injuries will have to troop their butts over the wherever it is that she set up.

Lethe has left the General Seating.

Aleksei looks like he's longingly arguing against an inner voice that probably sounds terribly dignified and Lycene. And then, his foot jiggling, he suddenly bounds out of his seat and onto the field.

Aleksei has left the General Seating.

Aleksei has joined the Field.

Esoka has left the General Seating.

Esoka has joined the Field.

Cara does think to take off her rather nice cloak as she descends onto the field, tucking it away and passing it to her lady in waiting. Some things should not be risked with frivolity, apparently. She glides out onto the field with her head held high, the picture of a Lady, who is undoubtably going to be covered in pastry with very little delay.

"You have this Blessed Aleksei! Go for the eyes!" Roran calls out happily.

Reese has joined the Field.

Rey has commandeered a pie, and is sharing it with the soldier with the sprained ankle and an especially enterprising child who realized that there is pie.

Reese was here from here the start, really! She now makes her way toward the field while adorned in her pink. a smile is given to those in the field.

And now those who are here to throw the pies swarm out to join those across the table. The pastry lies glistening across the surface of the table in flavors: apricot cream, lemon meringue, vanilla cream, cherry pie, winter apple, and plum pie. Tikva has joined the line of those to be chucked at, and flings her arms up in the air. She calls, "Ready? Go!"

Cara checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Caspian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 58 higher.

Esoka checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Aleksei checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 79 higher.

Victus checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

Calaudrin checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 50 higher.

Jessa checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Tikva checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Felicia checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

Behtuk trundles over to the nearest pie on the ground and sits down to eat it. That's all he's interested in, getting to eat.

Behtuk checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.


"Your daddy's gone to take advantage of the free pies," Cassima is telling the baby Princess Astrid on her lap. "For which we're very proud of him, being fiscally responsible." She pauses, the baby coos, staring off in an opposite direction. "However it's important to remember that the pie is not technically free. There are costs associated with the clothes, the transportation, and the lost time all associated with attending today. Not to mention which, it is always expected of great houses to reciprocate in hosting other events of equal scale. That's why, my dear Princess Astrid, you must always remember: there is no such thing as a free pie."


Cadenza checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Wilhelm the Iron Messenger arrives, delivering a message to Cassima before departing.

Calaudrin happily dodges some pies. Inevitably there's some pie that gets on him, but he's largely free of being hit with any baked goods. It's a fine day!

THE PIE HURTLES! Pastry flies! Filling glops every which where! The shrieks and laughter of children and their parents punctuates the impacts variously!

Esoka bustles onto the field. To face pie. "This looks fun!" she says with enthusiasm to Calaudrin. "Probably." She throws herself into the contest gamely, though, swerving this way and that to try and evade thrown desserts. She has a naturally bullish way of moving that's not the most useful in ducking and weaving from pastries, but she doesn't get too messy right off. She opens her mouth to yell loudly back at the children, fierce smile on her face.

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

Sabella has left the General Seating.

Elizabetta, a lissome lady-in-waiting, a small brown and white corgi puppy, Lily, a lithe young woman leave, following Sabella.

Garibaldi, the Lycene swordbearer arrives, following Theron.

Elizabetta, a lissome lady-in-waiting, a small brown and white corgi puppy, Lily, a lithe young woman arrive, following Sabella.

Aleksei is not here to play. He is here to WIN. Or something. He's certainly taking all of this pie dodging seriously, dancing aside, twisting around, coming out the other end of the round still pristine.

Victus has faced the ravenous crowd with two birds forward. That is to say, two middle-fingers extended to those who are hurdling pies this way and that. Every extra pastry thrown his way earns someone else another rude hand gesture while he's grinning ear to ear. He's left largely unscathed too, his pie-dodging abilities a shockingly honed skill.

Felicia probably has more than a couple of troops who would thoroughly enjoy caking her with pie. The first one's easy, second? Not so much, there's no doubt she's going to get splattered, but at least from the whoops of laughter she's not too concerned about it.

Reese darts around the field, dodgining the various pies. She looks down toward a fallen lemon pie with sugar-lust in her blue eyes.

Cadenza was laughing as she tried to dodge those pies and was spinning around but still...probably got skimmed by a couple. "AAck!!!"

Caspian doges the pies with quite a bit of skill, ducking and weaving through the hail of them, sliding left and right, even jumping over one, laughing as some pies come close, but don't hit him! Though he looks over to Aleksei and his effortless dodging and laughs his way. "You ain't gonna beat me!"

It's rather boring to throw pies at a man who is more intent on eating them than noticing any impact. Behtuk might be an easy target but after the first few desultory pies are thrown his way he is forced to stand up, move a few yards and seat himself again to eat the pie thrown at someone else. Not particularly compelling, though he retains his calm.

Jessa dodges... sort-of. It's a very clanky, somewhat slow sort of dodge; perhaps a pie fight in full armor was not the brightest tactic? But to judge from the Deepwood noblewoman's laughter, she doesn't particularly care whether it was a sound strategy or not.

Cara stands completely still as Piemageddon erupts all around her. There's pies flying! Dodging! Diving! Bits of crust and bits of berry and she just laughs and takes it with only a modest amount of covering her eyes to avoid being blinded by shortcrust.

Dripping with lemon goo and cackling like an idiot, Tikva throws her fist in the air and yells, "READY FOR ROUND TWO? AIM YOUR PIES!"

Jessa checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Felicia checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Caspian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 43 higher.

Aleksei checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 43 higher.

Calaudrin checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 49 higher.

Victus checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 38 higher.

The big oaf of a man attempts to navigate the sea of pies. Rather poorly. Through some miracle Jeffeth is able to duck out of the way then twist to the side out of the way of two pies. He then deftly falls to the ground to avoid pies. Anyone close will notice that he actually tripped and fell. But it did take him out oft he path of some more pies.

Tikva checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 31 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Behtuk checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

Cara checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Cadenza checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

Baron Archibald Chirpington, a Gyrfalcon, 1 Grayson Guardsmen, Severa, the Guard Shepherd arrive, following Aiden.

"Wanna bet?" Aleksei laughs back at Caspian. His footwork this round isn't /quite/ so excessively fancy, but he still seems to be a particularly difficult target to hit.

Esoka checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

Well running around, lifting the hem of her dress to run but tripped a bit as she was then smacked with a pie. "Ack!!!" Laughing she would just try to keep moving then. Cadenza's poor dress...oh well.

Luca has joined the General Seating.

Sir Jeffeth Bayweather stays on the ground. Others are getting hit by pies now, and he seems to be safer laying face down on the ground then trying to avoid things while on his feet.

"Bring home some Blueberry for the cloister Blessed Aleksei!" Roran calls out, hands cupped around his mouth.

Caspian continues to dodge the incoming pies with skill and grace, though the pies are getting closer and closer, just wizing by dangerously close. He grins back to Aleksei once the pies stop, pointing to his own eyes, then to Aleksei. He turns his attention to the field, then to Cadenza, grinning as he points out, "You're suppose to dodge the pies!"

"This is precisely why I--" Cara pauses to wipe a bit of custard away from her face, continuing blithely, "--Why I decided to wear my _husband's_ clothing and not my own. Berry juice is so difficult to extract from silk, or so I hear." Cheerily, she doesn't flinch as a pie goes whistling overhead, frosting her hair with crumbs.

Calaudrin dances around the field as pies continue to be lobbed at all of the contestants. He seems to be quite enjoying himself this time as now he appears to be warmed up. Some people are sitting around eating the pies, so he tries to just not trip over them as he goes.

Aiden has joined the General Seating.

Clankity clank SPLAT. Jessa's dodging is definitely not as graceful -- or effective -- as others; she's definitely going to need to wash her armor when this is done. And her hair. And really her... well, everything. The noblewoman swallows a mouthful of pie, then comments with a laugh, "And they say /victory/ tastes sweet! It's defeat that's tasty, today."

3 Iron Guardsmen, 2 Kennex corsairs arrive, following Titania.

Splatter of cherry smearing down her dark shirt, Tikva slips on some whipped cream and crashes, giggling, into the nearest person. "Whoops," she goes, licking goo from her face. "What a mess! Whee!"

Aiden shows up a little late, not that anyone would notice with all those flying pies. He gingerly moves toward the general seating and looks for faces that he knows among the benches.

There are berry pies? Behtuk forgoes a pie he's had before in favor of getting laboriously to his feet and trundling over to a more heavily pie-encrusted location, where he plops, literally splashing pie, down and begins digging his fingers into that pie as well. A stray pie connects with the top of his head, knocking his hood down.

Felicia manages to get a face-full of the one that goes over Cara's head with a muffled 'erp', turning her back to the crowd so she can scoop goop out of her eyes at least... for all that wiping her face with her tunic is more kind of spreading the problem around than resolving it.

Luca, clearly, has forgone fashionable lateness for inexcusable tardiness with his appearance. The swagger is an unhurried stroll. His hair is in artful disarray from having slept, clothes mostly clean but wrinkled. He doesn't care, shamelessly taking big bites from the meat pie in one hand - and taking swigs from the cider in his other hand.


Spotting Aiden, Zoey stands up and waves him over.


In the midst of Victus' triumphant defiance in the face of dodging pie, one manages to catch his outstretched middle finger dead-on. The Thrax has lost one ability to say 'You suck' through body language, but he does gain a handful of cherry-pie. This is an equal trade off as he's now lapping up his hand while bobbing and weaving. There may also be a case of him using Aleksei as human cover.

"All right, everyone! Round three! The FINAL ROUND!" Tikva throws her arms in the air. "GO! AND PREPARE TO BE JUDGED!"

Behtuk checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Caspian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Victus checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 58 higher.

Aleksei checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 66 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 53 higher.

Esoka checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Cadenza checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

Calaudrin checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

Tikva checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Jessa checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Felicia checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 45 higher.

Cara checked composure + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 31 higher.

Rey continues to share pie with the sprained ankle soldier, who has decided to just nod and smile at whatever she's saying to him, and the kid, who is probably making about as much sense.

The large knight starts to raise from the ground, carefully pushing up with his arms. Jeffeth puts one leg out as he raises up, only to have a pie beam into the side of his head. With his precarious balance it knocks him back and he just allows himself to go back into the grass.

Caspian's dodging streak comes to an end. As he is sliding across the field he steps on a leftover spie, ending up sliding right into the path of a pie that hits him in the rear. He now has pie on his butt.

Esoka sticks her foot /directly/ in a bit of fallen pie. She manages, through some quick recovery, to avoid totally face-planting. But it's a near thing. As things shake out, she doesn't embarrass herself /too/ badly, but she's going to have to scrape some raspberry off of her armor. She drags a finger across her shoulder to taste some of what's collided with her. Grunting in approval. "Not bad."

Aleksei is not so easily sacrificed! He makes an affronted noise when he realizes what Victus is doing, and promptly dodges right behind /him/.

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

Rinel has joined the General Seating.

There are squeals of laughter from the kid sitting with Rey when Caspian gets pie on his butt. She points! Just in case Rey missed it! The man with pie on his butt!

Prancing around but then....oh dear.....at least missed some of them. Laughing, she would look to Caspian and scrunched her face. "Oh whatever!" Cadenza would come sliding to a halt as she started to wipe the pie off of her face and realized it was all in her hair. "Oh man...."

Titania comes walking into the grounds she is wrapped in a cloak but one can see she is dressed in leathers and a silk top, her hair is down and she wears a simple silver band that crosses her forehead. Her ocean blue eyes look about looking for a place to sit and watch.

Calaudrin has managed to get several hits of pie by now and one point he kind of just stops to try and hsake some of it off before he goes running through the battlefield once again.

Rinel makes her way to the general seating, watching the field with no small degree of confusion.

Dripping with pie filling and cream, it is very clear that Tikva is not the winner of this contest. Slightly staggered with the incredible amount of mess she has created, she pitches her voice to carry: "That was a hell of a thing!" she calls, and cackles. For a moment, she stands slick and sticky with her hands in planted at her hips, and then moseys to slip across the incredibly messy field to whisper for a moment with her confessor, who has been tolerantly watching and making notes this whole time. "One moment while we figure out which of you darting someones has managed to escape with the least, or most graceful, amount of pie!"

"In fact, it's considered quite polite to serve citrus-based pie at events in winter, at least in the south," Cara says cheerily as people cavort around her in attempts to avoid pies. She doesn't move, she just lets herself get utterly pelted with pastry. "The bright flavors provide an excellent counterpoint to heavy winter cuisine, and of course, the fruit is most in season when the year turns!"

Victus isn't quite ready for Aleksei's sudden movement and it's a malfunction at the junction as one pie hits him across the chest, splattering gooey bits of it across himself. In retaliation he grabs the desiccated remains of some red and blue sticky goop and promptly SHOVES IT IN THE ARCHLECTOR'S FACE.

Tikva is overheard praising Cara for: Such expertise in pie etiquette! I never knew!

Zoey cracks up laughing at Victus' pie cavorting.

Cara is overheard praising Tikva for: The most delightful morale-raising event I've ever attended!

Jessa dodges a pie, dodges a pie, raises her hands in a victory stance... and takes one square to the face. KERSPLUT. "Pffl," she manages, exhaling enough pie filling that she can breathe again. Turning to the pie-encrusted figure that might be Cara Grayson (underneath all the fruit, cream, and pastry), she observes, "I had no idea that pies could be a fashion accessory, your highness."

At least defeat is sweet, this time. Felicia laughs and shakes pie from her fingers before going over to offer Jeffeth a hand up,"That's part of why I decided it was best to take mine off." she offers with a wink.

Roran is rising as Victus attempts to shove the pie in Aleksei's face. "Foul! Dirty play! You have to let him taste it first, to see if he'll at least enjoy that pie High Lord!" Clearly, Roran's yanking a little bit on chains.

2 House Wyrmguard Guards, Springbottom, the ravenous pygmy goat arrive, following Sorrel.

Aiden has left the General Seating.

Baron Archibald Chirpington, a Gyrfalcon, 1 Grayson Guardsmen, Severa, the Guard Shepherd leave, following Aiden.

"Cheater!!" Aleksei /immediately/ declares when he finds himself with a face full of pie from Victus. "He wipes at the berry goo with his hand and then starts licking it from his fingers. "At least it's good."

"My dear lady, anything can be a fashion accessory if the one who wears it is bold enough," Cara replies to Jessa, a bright grin on her face as she adjusts the bit of pie shell currently serving as a petite cloche hat atop her braided hair. She is going to need so much time in a bath after this.

Caspian lets out a little laugh towards Cadenza, then a massive one as Victus tires to smear Aleksei with pie. "Get him your grace! It's not too late to sabotage him!" He shouts at the two. "All is fair in love and war! And this is war!"

Someone is going to have to tell Behtuk to get his butt off the field and stop eating the pie. He carries on without regard for the judging.

Esoka lopes across the field to meet up with Calaudrin again. Attempting to catch him in a pie-covered embrace. "That was fun! Even if I don't think I won. I do better at hitting things than avoiding them."

Laughing she would just shake her head as she picked up a pie, lifting her skirts of her dress to run full speed at Caspian and decked him in the back of the head with a pie. "Bam!!" Cadenza then just kept laughing as she pumped her fist in the air. "That's for being mouthy about me getting hit!"

Sorrel has joined the General Seating.

Tikva calls out in a laughing voice, "It appears -- apart from some /after action messing about/ by HIS GRACE, that the winner of our pie dodging contest is, today, Archlector Aleksei Morgan! Our runner up, at a close and adorable bright pink second, is Princess Reese! With Master Caspian Wild in third place! Everyone who hasn't had any pie, please feel free to enjoy a slice while our party of pie removal servants helps clear the field for the next people to use the tournament grounds, and everyone who wants a drink should get one, because the next thing we're going to do is parade to the Training Center for our Free-for-All in just a few minutes!"

"/You/ did this." Victus replies with utter conviction in his voice, pointing finger covered in pie-crust at Aleksei. Then throws up both of his arms. "Disqualify me if you must, I have ALREADY WON." He shouts as he starts meandering off the field, holding his head up with a shocking amount of pride for someone that's been pelted with baked goods.

Calaudrin loops an arm around Esoka's shoulders after the pie-hug. "That was fun. Different but fun." He wipes some pie off of the front of his clothes and lets it go to the floor.

Caspian gets a pie to the back of the head, too busy laughing at Aleksei's misfortune to sense his own coming. He lets out a cry of surpise and ducks down, reaching to feel the back of his head. He takes the pie tin off his ass, yes, it's sticking there, and attempts to return the favor by pushing his butt pie, clearly the best pie, right onto Cadenza.

Aleksei's eyes go a bit wide at the prize Tikva hands over to him: what seems to be a small supply of stygian. "Oh wow," he says, not looking immediately like he knows what to do with this, but happy to have it!

"Wow. Everything smells like sweetness," Sorrel observes as she arrives to the event and heads up into the stands, grinning broadly at the contestants as well as those already present in the seating area. "So much pie!"

Rinel murmurs "But why are they throwing pies at each other..."

"Well-done," Cara cries towards the victors, applauding crisply, before looking down at herself and breaking into laughter now that the contest is done and she doesn't have to keep a straight face, "Dear gods, I'm going to have to pay my launderer a ridiculous sum for this."

Once the pies stop flying, Rey brushes crumbs off of herself and stands up. And here, her devious plan is revealed! Because the girl who she just fed a bunch of pie comes with her to help her clean stray bits of pie off of the first aid area. What was that Cassima was saying about free pie? Rey will send her back to wherever she came from before the fighting starts, of course.

"Ha! I'm afraid I lack the requisite boldness," Jessa remarks to Cara with a smile, as she shakes a bit of pie-goo from her hands. "Or at least the requisite grasp of fashion to feign the boldness. But perhaps this will serve as extra armor for the free-for-all? A delicious pastry shell to turn aside blades..." She manages to look slightly hopeful, even if it's clearly a melodramatic show. "Either way, a memorable event to arrive in Arx just in time for."

Zavi arrives, following Magpie.

When the cleaning crew comes, Behtuk gets out of the way. The shovels and rakes make it clear he's not going to eat -that- bit of pie. He cradles one that landed pie tin up as he returns to the sidelines.

Zoey has left the General Seating.

Sir Aldahel, Octavian, a silken spaniel, 3 Bisland pride guards leave, following Zoey.

Magpie wanders in, perhaps draw by the cheering and smell of pie in the air. He does have a fondness for pie, after all. "What the fuck is going on here?" He asks the first person he sees.

Reese is still in the field having done a pretty good job of dodging pies, but she still has a little pie on her. She tips her figures into the cream, intending to try a bit. A smile is given over to Aleksei as he is announced as the winner. Reese then notices Luca and gives him a cheerful wave. She starts get ready to head to the training grounds.

"Pie happened," Luca /would/ say toward Magpie if his mouth wasn't full. Instead it comes out sounding more like, "Lfffmff."

3 Armed Confessors, Cambria arrive, following Giulio.

"Congratulations!" Tikva smears some lemon goo off of her cheek and then licks it off her thumb, and then fills her lungs to call, "Everyone! The free-for-all will be starting soon, and we will begin our inexplicable pie-covered trek to the training center for it! The prize for the winner of that shall be six ingots of diamondplate, courtesy of House Grayson! I hope you all had fun, and embrace that everyone spends a little time in life with pie on their face!"

Luca has left the General Seating.

"Ack!" Running from the 'butt pie' she would just head to the stands then, covered in pie. Looking up, she'd wave to Sorrel then before making her way back to her seat, careful not to get anything on anyone. Good thing she was sitting in the far seating. Spotting Sorrel she'd give her a wave while trying to catch her breath. Cadenza need a serious bath now.

Esoka keeps an arm companionably around Calaudrin's waist. Just spreading the mess covering her leathers around, but she shows little care for that. "YAY BLESSED ALEKSEI!" she hollers, when the winners are called. Some obnoxious whistling is directed at Reese and Caspian as well. She looks down at her armor, at the announcement of the free-for-all. Perhaps considering a cleaning. Then, she just grunts and shrugs. "It'll still be functional. If sticky."

Victus has left the Field.

Victus has joined the General Seating.

Behtuk has left the Field.

Esoka has left the Field.

Rinel shakes her head in obvious confusion before leaving.

Rinel has left the General Seating.

Victus is covered in quite a bit of pie himself when he spots Magpie. "Mags, you didn't get to get hit with some fucking pie. You missed out." He calls over to the man as he retakes his seat beside his cousin and daughter.

"My mother's the best baker in Sanctum, so I'm very fluent in pie," Aleksei says sagely to the crowd before making his back over to the general seating."

Aleksei has left the Field.

Aleksei has joined the General Seating.

"Indeed, my lady," Cara laughs again at Jessa's words, shaking her head, and begins to pick her way awkwardly off the field -- her clothes so laden with fruit pie filling that she practically squelches.

Cara has left the Field.

"Some of it will probably get knocked off in the fight later." Calaudrin muses, looking at Esoka gear all covered in pie. He attempts to clap when Aleksei wins the dodging contest. "Congratulations!" He calls out to him as he quits the field.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a large leather bag.

Felicia heads for the nearest barrel of water once Jeffeth is up on his feet, to dunk her head and try to get as much of the pie out of her hair and off her face as possible before going to fetch her armor again, less concerned about dripping wet with pie crumbs tangled in her redhair than getting any of it on her armor. And after that? Ale! A grin's offered at Magpie in passing, the spreading of her hands perhaps meant to cover 'see? pie!'.

Caspian checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 39 higher.

Having arrived too late for the pie-throwing thingamabob, with Sabella on his arm, Theron marches on with the rest and a cousin and sibling in tow to the Training Center!

Giulio trailed by three armed Confessors, Giulio escorts Cambria into the tournament grounds. Something of a smile settles his lips as he moves along. Spotting Sabella and Theron, he meanders along, giving a bit of a nod to the too. Something of amusement settles his lips, nonetheless. "Brother mine, your Highness, I trust you are well?" One eyebrow lofts in dry amusement. He regards the piles of pie detritus with a bit of a chuckle. "Oh what a delightful day. What an absolutely delightful day."

Caspian hurls the pile towards the fleeing Cadenza, obviously intent on striking her in the backside as she flees!

Sorrel returns Cadenza's wave enthusiastically, grinning broadly. When Victus passes her, she informs him, "Smelling delicious, Your Highness!" She seems like she's in a fine mood, looking at everyone covered in pie. "I'm almost sorry I missed it, but I'm less sticky this way," she remarks generally.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a large leather bag.

Jessa shakes a little more filling off of her gloves, and makes her way off the field in preparation for the free-for-all.

Jessa has left the Field.

Jessa has joined the General Seating.

Cambria arrives on the arm of her cousin, the one trailed by three surly (or perhaps sulky), Confessors. Spying Theron and Sabella, the Marquessa offers them each a friendly wave.

Tikva picks up a large leather bag.

Magpie throws Luca a grin, "I like pie, but I'm not sure I'm in the mood to wear it right now." He throws a charming smile to Felicia and he chuckles, then wanders over to an event coordinator to put in a small donation. He gets a griffon medallion in return, "Ooooh! Nice!!" The man immediately puts it on.

Tikva gets the Pink Griffin Medallion from a large leather bag.

"Brother, cousin," Theron greets, before leading towards the free-for-all. "I don't have time, so just follow along."

Elizabetta, a lissome lady-in-waiting, a small brown and white corgi puppy, Lily, a lithe young woman leave, following Sabella.

3 Armed Confessors leaves, following Giulio.

Garibaldi, the Lycene swordbearer, Sabella, Giulio, Cambria leave, following Theron.

Wiping pie from his brow, Jeffeth had been retreating from the pie scene. The large man had been looking into his helm to try and gets the last bit of pie out of his face. But in the reflection of the spotless metal. That's where he saw the shooter. His brow arches at the man caught in his reflection pulling his arm back to throw a pie at a princess. Sir Jeffeth Bayweather looks up from his helm, mouth going agape as he catches Cadenza standing in Caspian's crosshairs.

The helm is dropped.

A giant armored man sails through the air, arms extended as Jeffeth Bayweather leaps three feet through the air to take a pie to the chest. One that was intended for Cadenze. Catching the pie, the man continues to fly until falling into a heap in the grass.

Tikva has left the Field.

Ainsley has left the General Seating.

2 Grayson Guardsmen, Alejandra, a snowy white hound, Planchet, a young valet, 2 Iron Guardsmen leave, following Ainsley.

Zavi leaves, following Magpie.

Reese has left the Field.

1 Grayson Guardsmen, Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle, Deliverance, an albino falcon, Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound, Rascal, a hyper terrier, Rosalie, a lady in waiting leave, following Reese.

Abbas has left the High Booth.

6 Thrax Guards leaves, following Abbas.

Abbas leaves, following Rey.

Sorrel has left the General Seating.

2 House Wyrmguard Guards, Springbottom, the ravenous pygmy goat leave, following Sorrel.

Aleksei has left the General Seating.

Keso, a street urchin, Peanut, an oversized mastiff leave, following Aleksei.

Victus has left the General Seating.

12 Thrax Elite Guards, Crow - Thraxian Steward, Lilybelle - Fluffy Maine Coon leave, following Victus.

Calaudrin has left the Field.

3 Iron Guardsmen, Ted, a melodramatic twenty something leave, following Calaudrin.

Jessa has left the General Seating.

Confessor Imori, 2 Grayson Guardsmen, Confessor Warren, 5 Armed Confessors, Ainsley, Magpie, Reese, Felicia, Esoka, Rey, Sorrel, Aleksei, Victus, Calaudrin, Jessa leave, following Tikva.

Isabeau has left the High Booth.

Jordal, a bodyguard leaves, following Isabeau.

3 Iron Guardsmen, 2 Kennex corsairs leave, following Titania.

Caspian seems rather stunned when Jeffeth comes out of left field and intercepts the pie meant for Cadenza. He lets out a laugh, shaking his head as he calls back to Cadenza. "Sir Jefffeth saved you! Go grab your cloak, we better get going." He moves over to Jeffeth to offer him a hand up.

Roran has left the General Seating.

Taking the hand, Jeffeth is careful not to put much weight on Caspian, helping himself up with his free hand. He seems to be all smiles and laughs before he looks down. "My tabard." He says somewhat sadly before going back to gather up his helm and follow the crowd.

Cadenza was just about to speak but turned to see Jeffeth save her! Eyes wide she'd look to Caspian and raised her brow. "Oh that's how it is? Okay...." Smirking she would then hurry up and grab her things before running to Jeffeth. "Thank you Sir Jeffeth! My hero." Leaning down to that 'corpse' and gave him a kiss on the cheek before he got up and she too running.

Jeffeth has left the Field.

Caspian has left the Field.

Cadenza has left the Field.

Isla, a small silver fox leaves, following Cadenza.

Cadenza leaves, following Caspian.

Cassima has left the General Seating.

5 Thrax Guards, Bastian, the Reformed Rogue leave, following Cassima.

Margerie has left the General Seating.

5 Thrax Guards, Bastian, the Reformed Rogue arrive, following Cassima.

5 Thrax Guards, Bastian, the Reformed Rogue leave, following Cassima.