Waldemai just likes the sound of the word 'Pubcrawl.' It has a pubby element to it, not to mention the whole 'crawl' thing.

Grady walks in with his wife on his arm and the Marquis at his side, and he's explaining something carefully. "The trick is to drink without guzzling, and most of all to have fun. You don't have to get wasted to have a good time, but it'll relax you. And a drink or two in and you should be totally relaxed and willing to play stupid bar games, which is when it gets fun."

Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, 2 Grayson Guardsmen arrive, following Sabella.

Jayeth lumbers into the bar a huge grin on his face, his clothing is marked with soot, smeared as if he tried wiping it off, his foot falls make light stomping sounds as he makes his way to wherever the drink of the moment is being poured. "Did it start yet?" he asks.

Jessa follows her husband and the Marquis with an impish smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes. "And the stupider the bar game, the more fun it is. At least when you've had a bit of alcohol in you to get things going properly." She pauses to look around the brewery, having not yet visited. "Ooh, very picturesque."

"Drink without guzzling. Pace myself. Then play stupid games. Do you win stupid prizes?" Rymarr seems to be going through a mental checklist by repeating Grady's words as the pair move side to side. The only issue is that the Marquis of House Deepwood sounds so very serious about the questions, as though the advice was worthy of being inscribed into the very stones of the Sovereign Bridge. One hand though rests over the pommel of the blade worn high on his left side, steadying it as he walks along in the company of Lady Jessa and Lord Grady.

Someone hasn't changed out of her leathers. Monique arrives just after the main party, hair pinned back and backpack shouldered, looking a little dusty from travel. There's a smile of greeting for the Marquis but her face lights when she spies Jayeth. "Master smith! Loving my throne. Good to see you again!"

All somber mourning clothes in a Lycene style, Josephine's made her way from a few blocks over. A promise is a promise and she is here to keep it, the older woman ensuring she's not in anyones way when she comes in.

2 House Deepwood Guards leaves, following Jessa.

a tiny man with a BIG unpronounceable name leaves, following Monique.

2 House Deepwood Guards, Jessa, Rymarr, Josephine, Monique leave, following Grady.

Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, 2 Grayson Guardsmen arrive, following Sabella.

Waldemai comes in looking for a nice ale, and is met with a...sign! "Dammit," he swears. "Sorry, my lords, my ladies...Does this say there's something extra good here?"

"I'm so glad, if you'd sent me word you wanted that giant heavy thing moved I might have fainted." Jayeth says to Monique, grining poudly.

"Clark isn't a real name either! Arrrrgh, you two!" Sabella has thrown her hands up and is stalking away from two men that are following her! But it's okay, they're wearing Grayson tabards even though they look more like farmers. Elizabetta and Lily are also there, looking a little smug that it's Sabella who is being bothered by them and not the usual vice versa. "I am going to get you all drunk tonight and then we will find out that Clark is short for Clarksenius or Clarkopher. You know, a proper name!" When she sees people she knows, people with normal names like Rymarr, she smiles brightly, "Oh good, I was worried you'd already be moving on to your next stop. Didn't I tell you to end here, Lord Deepwood? If Master Thayne shows up we're going to be stuck here for hours, mesmerized by some story he tells us."

Grady grins as Josephine and Sabella join them. "Mistress Josephine, I'm very glad you can make it. My Heart," he says, turning to Jessa, "this is Mistress Josephine, who very patiently listened to me as I waxed philosophic about your many virtues the other day. Mistress Josephine, this is Lady Jessa, my lovely wife. And Marquis Rymarr who you also may or may not know, but who is the reason for this crawl."

To Sabella now, Grady grins. "Princess Sabella, I'm glad you could make it after all! I trust you'll be happy. But how do you know I haven't planned to start /and/ end here, and make this merely a series of drinking events wherein my redoubtable Marquis learns how to relax and play a few pub games?" He gestures. "Drinks all around, for anyone who's drinking!"

Grady drops Grady's Box of Bottles.

Jayeth gets Bottle of Raconteur's Fond Memories from Grady's Box of Bottles.

Sabella gets Bottle of Raconteur's Fond Memories from Grady's Box of Bottles.

Rymarr gets Bottle of Raconteur's Fond Memories from Grady's Box of Bottles.

Monique gets Bottle of Raconteur's Fond Memories from Grady's Box of Bottles.

Jessa gets Bottle of Raconteur's Fond Memories from Grady's Box of Bottles.

Waldemai sniffs at a couple ales, since he can't read the damned sign. One makes his eyes water. "I'll have that...it'll put hair on your chest, smells like. What's it called? Impish intentions? Imp me!"

Jessa offers Josephine a broad smile and a little bow in greeting. "A pleasure to meet you. I hope my husband didn't exaggerate /too/ much when talking about me; he does that sometimes." And then she settles in with the others, taking a cider for herself and raising it in toast to Rymarr. "To the Marquis' health -- and his impending education."

"Lady Jessa. He did indeed wax poetic, such lovely words that I thought I might fall in love myself. His words ring truth and you have wrought inspiration in my soul" Josephine bends her upper body in respect to the nobles abounding. "Marquise Rymarr. No, we have never met I believe. The Princess Sabella I have already."

"A circuit? Bold strategy, Lord Grady. Let's see how it plays out," Rymarr intones solemnly as they wander deeper into the grounds. Josephine earns a shallow dip of his chin in greeting, though the rest of him remains rigid and decidedly uncomfortable, "Mistress Josephine, a pleasure to meet you. For the first time. Here". Only then does Rymarr takes up a cider, giving it a nod, "Okay, I can do this. I've had a sip of this sort of drink before. No sweat. I've got this," he announces sternly to Grady. Sabella though earns his attention and Rymarr lifts his cider before himself toward the Grayson princess, "And my first true exposure will be witnessed by a princess of House Grayson... wonderful," he states dryly. A breath is claimed and then a drink taken following Jessa's toast!

Josephine gets Bottle of Raconteur's Fond Memories from Grady's Box of Bottles.

Into the taproom strides Esoka. At a quick clip. This is not a party she wants to miss. "Ah! Good! I did not miss the drinking!" She goes to get herself a bottle, raising an arm to wave exuberantly to Rymarr.

"I'm always happy," Sabella assures Grady cheerfully, stepping up to take a seat at the bar and get herself a drink. "And that would be a very clever plan indeed! I don't think I've ever actually played a pub game, but I'm always open to new, fun experiences!" She takes a sip and grins over at Rymarr, "If it makes you feel any better, Marquis, I plan on getting so drunk I don't remember anything tomorrow! Ah, don't repeat that to my Voices." She adds quickly, looking around as if they might appear. When they don't she makes a big display of wiping her forehead and having more to drink. "Lady Josephine! So glad to see you out and about! It seems you are making yourself quite a name in this city already."

"Esoka!" Rymarr calls out loudly when he lowers his cider again. That first drink taken, he already seems to be relaxing as he continues on, "My favorite of the soka's!" He takes another drink and then turns his attention around the room before he leans over and shouts into Grady's awaiting ear, "Am I drunk yet!? Is this what being drunk feels like?! I feel perfectly normal!"

Jessa grins in answer to Esoka, raising her bottle in greeting. "No, you have not," she agrees. "We've all just taken our first sips, so you've timed your arrival perfectly to skip all of that boring lead-up and move right into the fun. Like drinking, and deciding which pub game we'll teach the Marquis." Josephine's description of Grady's poetry earns a laugh in answer, and a dip of her head. "Well, I thank you kindly, Mistress Josephine; I've heard good things about your work, but I'm afraid to admit I've heard very little about you yourself. But I shall assume that if I /had/, it would all be equally glowing."

Monique's grin for Jayeth is incandescent. "It was the brightest spot in my month thus far, and I am eternally grateful. Speaking of which, I'd like to commission something from you, if you've the time. I'm sure you're high of demand but if you might make room to speak about it later?' Then the Minx of the Marches is turning to Rymarr and company, essaying a bow in her beaten leathers. "Marquis Rymarr. I was a little surprised to hear of such an event held in your honor. You're taking it well," she grins. "I'm afraid I don't think we've met," she offers next to Grady, Jessa and Josephine. "Or if we have, my memory fails me. Lady Monique Greenmarch. It's a pleasure to join you this evening. Drinking. What could be better!"

Grady elbows a passing server gently. "Make sure he," and here he points to Waldemai, "has enough of whatever it is he's drinking. "To the Marquis' health," he chimes in, raising his own hand that has miraculously filled with alcohol in the direction of the marginally nervous Marquis. "Said Princess of Grayson is an understanding woman, and knows how to relax and unwind. You see?" He winks at Jessa now. "We'll pour him on home when he's good and toasty, and not a moment sooner!" He looks like he wants to greet Esoka and then Rymarr is shouting in his ear and he winces. "No," he says. "If y ou feel perfectly normal, you should definitely not be shouting at me. Relax, enjoy. Sip! Pace yourself!"

Esoka gets Bottle of Raconteur's Fond Memories from Grady's Box of Bottles.

Waldemai raises his (Free) glass. "To the Marquis' health," he calls, echoing Lord Grady.

"Lady Jessa Deepwood," Jessa replies to Monique. Then she leans to one side, nudging Grady with her shoulder fondly. "And this is my husband, Lord Grady Deepwood, the architect of Marquis Rymarr's educational experiences tonight." She takes another sip of her cider, then leans closer to the Greenmarch woman to whisper conspiratorially, "You see, the Marquis says he's never been drunk before. /Or/ played any proper pub games. Hence our little adventure tonight for family and friends."

Esoka gets herself a solid bottle of hard cider. And a mug. She isn't a /complete/ savage. It's filled, and she raises it. "Aye! To Marquis-Confort Rymarr and this fine excuse to have a little fun." With that, she drinks! Returning Jessa's grin with a flashed, toothy one of her own, after she's swallowed. "Oh, games! I enjoy throwing games. Especially after a few drinks. They get much more challenging! Sometimes for the people watching as well. I'll play anything, though."

"O-Of course! Lady Greenmarch! Never too busy, Jayus providing of course!" Jayeth says cheerfully, the large man now looming over his choice of beverage with some anticipation, he hoists it, stopping mid-drink to echo the crowd, "The Marquis!" he attempts, not quite landing the pronunciation of the word either due to the tankard or the experience.

"Oh, no. No throwing games!" Sabella protests, raising the hand that isn't holding the mug, "I was part of the darts contest at the Murder and I nearly killed two people and I was completely sober. Though one of those people was Luca and he doesn't count, so I guess it was half okay." She nods to that logic and has herself another drink. When she hears Jayeth's voice she waves to him, "Master Black! Good to see you again!"

Waldemai swallows half his ale. "So long as we don't play that game they play down by the docks...'Who can keep this down?' I think it must be called...Foul stuff we drunk in that, foul stuff."

"That would likely be because while we did not have too much time to speak, we had enough time fr him to effuse about his lady love and ask directions to the Raconteur." Monique is introducing herself, Sabella calls her lady and Josephine opts to introduce herself in turn. "Josephine Arcuri. Of the Velvet Box." They're drinking to health and Josephine can do that!

Rymarr offers a nonchalant nod of his head back at Grady's answer and, per instructions, Rymarr goes quiet so that he may enjoy another sip or two of his cider. Then he takes note of Monique and his expression becomes decidedly neutral. He watches the 'Minx of the March' for a long moment before he takes another sip from his cider and leans aside to quietly murmur something at Grady. When Rymarr leans away again he shifts himself up from the stool he commandeered only moments ago and lifts his glass of cider high, "I just want to thank each of you for coming this evening. For many of you, this is an opportunity for sport, but know that I still appreciate your presence... mostly," Rymarr remarks with a grimace.

Jayeth's answer sees Monique's smile spreading, and Jessa's sparks her to laughter. "I can well believe it. The Marquis' prowess upon the field of battle is legend, but I've yet to hear any tavern war stories. Clever of your husband to think of this!" She raises her own glass in toast, before adding, "I think the last tavern drinking game I played was something called 'never have I ever'. I don't remember much of it. Turns out, I've done quite a bit." She glances towards Josephine, and her smile grows at the woman's words. "Oh! I've bought a number of things from your shop, Mistress Arcuri, and loved every single one of them. You do exceptional work."

"Lady Monique, a pleasure to meet you," Grady says as Jessa introduces him. And then he pauses, nods at the murmur and murmurs something back. His smile goes wider then and he looks like he's about to say something to Monique when Rymarr gets up and makes a speech. "Oh no," he says to Rymarr. "No grimacing. Every time you grimace you have to take a drink!" Rymarr will likely have alcohol poisoning in thirty minutes or less.

"Thank you for that compliment. It reassures me that making the transition to the city was the proper choice. Which pieces did you buy?" Josephine is curious clearly, as to which pieces Monique bought. "And should you ever need more, please do not hesitate to visit. There is always something new in the displays."

Waldemai finished his spicy ale and claps the mug down to the bar top. "Now," he waves at the sign he can't read. "Is there something lighter than that?"

"Ah, is that game the one where someone makes a declaration of something they haven't done, and everyone who /has/ done it has to take a drink?" Jessa regards Monique curiously. "I haven't played that one, but it seems like a very good precursor to other games where you should /already/ be a bit drunk."

Marduc, a tattooed Prodigal arrives, following Aric.

"This is a very slow assassination, isn't it?" Rymarr asks Grady with his stipulation that Rymarr must drink at any time he grimaces. He plays along though and takes another drink from his cider. He winces after the drink and then smacks his lips together in order to taste yet more of the flavor. That drink taken per the rules, Rymarr leans toward Jayeth in order to look him over from head to toe, before Rymarr states the obvious, "Well, you're a right big one. How are you with a hammer and hitting people with it? Would you like a job?"

Princess Sally Acorn, an acorn toting red squirrel arrives, following Kenna.

Romina, a silent Mirrorguard agent, 2 House Velenosa Guards arrive, following Niccolo.

"That one gets better the longer the night goes on, yes," Sabella confirms for Jessa. "And the only assassination is usually the character kind. And it's done by yourself as you drink lots and talk even more."

Esoka turns to Sabella, after another gulp. Looking her up and down, in an appraising sort of way. "You nearly killed someone at darts?" She sounds a touch impressed. This is maybe not a good argument against the game, to her. She introduces herself, kind of just shouting to the room, "Dame Esoka Greenblood, if I haven't met you! Person who likes cider! Among other things."

Jayeth is absorbed enough in his own drink he is only half listening to the passing conversation, when he finishes the tankard and it hits the table he emits another celebratory announcement he thinks he heard, "More drunk!" a moment later he realizes there was no crowd to follow and turns a light shade of red, turning quickly to Rymaar's comment. "I am great with a hammer!" his enthusiasm is plain but I don't hit people with it" he thumps his chest "I stop people from getting hit.. so hard, I make armor off the visitor's road."

Monique leans aside to Grady, offering, "If he told you to watch your pockets, he wasn't kidding." And then she straightens, turning to answer Josephine's question. "My favorite is the orchid set. I wear them just about everywhere. I'm only not wearing them now because I've just come from a bit of exploring around the Lodge of Petrichor." She looks apologetic. "And I would never want to damage them." To Jessa, she offers, "I think you're very right, Lady Jessa."

Regal, the majestic pygmy goat, Orin, a Felhound Sergeant arrive, following Jaerith.

"Princess Sabella Grayson!" Said princess also shouts cheerfully since Esoka started it, raising her glass before taking another drink. "Nice to meet-slash-see all of you tonight! I apologize in advance for everything that's going to happen and to whoever's boots I'm going to end up ruining by the end of the night. And it was two people. I actually barely missed Luca and hit Lord Arik in the hand. But! He was wearing gloves so. It was great!"

"There'll be no talk of assassinations tonight. This is a friendly party, for drinking and enjoying. Don't kill people here, I beg of you," Grady implores. "Only think of the paperwork! Of course, if a nice brawl breaks out that's just between friends, so we'll keep it friendly right?" He eyes the potential troublemakers here, and he's probably got some idea of what's going on because he's looking at Rymarr. And Esoka. And Jessa. (Oh the betrayal) "Another round for everyone, and then I think we should play a dice game. Since we've already ruled out assassinations and Princess Sabella is here," he teases.

Jaerith pushes his way in through the doors, lute strapped across his back, a big ol' grin plastered on his face. Did someone say bar crawl. You bet your sweet butt someone did, and Gods Be Damned if Jaerith isn't going to be there. He takes a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness and then yells, "BEER!" Maybe the lord just needs to blow off some steam.

"One of a kind. I haven't made another set. They traveled across the water with me from Lenosia. Very lucky. I can see how they would look on you as well." But there is drinking to be had and Josephine's listening as she takes a mouthful of the drink she's fetched somewhere along the way.

From beneath his beard, Rymarr begins to grin back at Jayeth and his answer. He nods a few times, takes another drink from his cider and then a quiet bit of chuckling erupts from the man, "Hammer Down, yes? I've done some business there in the past, I must have encountered an apprentice or such," Rymarr answers casually. He seems to focus in on Jayeth for a moment, continuing to size the smith up from head to toe, but ultimately settling on his face, "Nothing wrong with not hitting people though. You have your trade and you're great at it, that's all that matters. I plan to write to you soon, or stop by your shop and pay a personal visit. A proposition... but, right now isn't for business, it's for _fun_!" Rymarr seems to place emphasis on the word with a glance back toward Grady. The mere mention of fun causes a grimace from the Marquis... which results in an annoyed sigh and another drink taken from his cup.

Occasionally, when one is walking from one place to another, there is a party along the way. This seems to be Niccolo's situation as he steps into the taproom, just a block or so from his own bar and on the way to his next stop.

Kenna sails in JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME to break a very specific curse - "Princess," Kenna slides her way closer to the woman, "I swear I have ALMOST spoken to you a fair handful of times. Do you know how good it is to put a name with your face?" Cheerful Kenna is just going to edge her way RIGHT IN.

Aric pushes his way into the Tap Room with Jaerith at his side and behind him a young lady yelling at Aric in a high pitched voice. He turns to her in the middle of the doorway and places a finger on her lips to shush her. "How many times do I have to tell you that I am no longer interested in random romps with trollops? I know you miss having a real man between your legs, but it can no longer be me! Now, go!" He waves her away and the girl runs out of the bar in tears, real or false, who could tell? He looks to Jaerith with an exasperated smile and a shrug and echoes his announcement, "Yes, BEER! All of the beer! In fact, a round for the place, barkeep! Aric Keaton never drinks alone!" He looks around the place for familiar face and sees one in particular. "Good evening to all! Let the drinking commence!!"

Having gotten another drink, and tempted to pick up a second for his free hand Jayeth grins his big unassuming grin at Rymarr's words. "Hammer Down! I'm glad you think so! If it wasn't for the hammer I'm not sure I'd be good at anything at all" he takes a long drink, "Well, except this sport!" he laughs at his own joke, using the tankard to wipe some left over ale from his face. "Please do stop by, I've been making a lot of armor with fish on it for some reason, I could use a new project."

"Prince Niccolo!" Sabella waves and offers him a bright smile, "Are you here to see how all the competition does it?" And then she blinks at Kenna, taking a moment to place her before laughing, "Lady Whitehawk, am I right? I vaguely recognize you from half a dozen events where I think I've seen you from across the room. You're related to Silas, right? My protege just joined your house and I could not be happier for her!" She pauses when Aric yells and a woman goes running out of the room. "...why would you ever address a woman like that?" She asks Aric with a frown. "Should someone go make sure she's okay?"

Samantha walks into the brewery, though once inside, she looks momentarily overwhelmed by the scent of the place. It takes a moment of looking around to find her collective, but once she does, she starts heading over to the Deepwood party, somehow managing to be both amused and pensive by whatever expression she's expecting to find on her husbend's face.

"Fun, indeed," Jessa replies to Rymarr with a broad smile and a bright tone. "You, Marquis, need to drink a bit more." The smile turns impish as she adds pensively, "Perhaps if dice games aren't to your taste, we should try Lady Monique's drinking game after all! Just to ensure you get through your cider."

With a woman crying and Aric causing it, Jaerith just smirks and rolls his eyes. Well, his cousin has something to handle anyways, so he heads off to do his thing. Jaerith on the other hand has beer to drink and its time to do so. He whistles under his breath as he pushes his way through the crowd to a place that he can get said beer.

While Jayeth speaks, Rymarr listens with rapt attention. Other affairs within the brewery go ignored for the moment, in favor of casting his attention toward the smith. The mention of fishes on armor earns another grin from beneath the Marquis' beard before he offers up an incline of his chin, "Well, we'll get together at some point in a few days and see about getting you an opportunity to make something else on your armor. Like, trees!" He begins to laugh aloud, though he soon drowns it out with another drink from his cider. When his cup lowers and Jessa's urging him to drink a bit more, Rymarr nods with thanks toward Jessa and takes another drink, draining the last of his cider. When he pulls his cup from his mouth, Rymarr casts another nod to Jessa before he states toward her, "Good thinking, good thinking. I was actually just thinking about asking my large friend here," Rymarr states with a nod toward Jayeth, "if he'd fancy an arm wrestling match. Dice or darts though? I'm open to these stupid bar games!"

Waldemai chimes in, "Dice, by all means. Although I'm drunk enough for an arm wrestle, too."

Esoka mostly just looks baffled at the whole Aric thing and the crying. "That is not a real anything," is her bland observation, before she drinks again. "Anyhow! I'm up for dicing. I've not played much, beyond watching the guards betting at it between shifts. You just throw the things and pray they land with the sort of dots up you want, aye?"

Niccolo seems to be focused (along with everyone else) on the ales on tap. Walking further into the taproom, he finds a spot at the bar and quickly gets an ale, just as Sabella greets him. Returning her smile, he quirks a brow: "Competition? Oh, I am not a competitive person - if I were the only customer at the Black Fox, all the better. I am here for a quick drink before a dinner. Always lovely to see you though, Princess."

"You are Tabitha's patron?" Kenna brightens as her cousin is mentioned. "Yes! She and Silas are both my cousins - though in rather different directions." Ah family trees being big~ "I could //not// be happier to have Tabitha actually join Whitehawk properly." If one could glow, KEnna would be DOING IT. "I just //had// to come say hello before one of us had to run, otherwise livein a world where I was sure there was a cosmic force keeping us apart." But wait! Chance? Kenna is drawn like a moth to the flame and stands on her toes for just a moment - "Might I join?" Dice, darts, WHATEVER.

Josephine is watching. All of the drinking that's happening and as people discuss which game it is that they should be playing.

Jayeth looks at his free hand and his ale hand, "Would I have to put down my drink?" he grins. "I could wrestle a bit, I don't want to hurt anyone" he seems genuinely concerned, but still flexes a little bit, his arm muscles doing a small dance under the sleaves of his tunic, maybe he is showing off, maybe not. "Is it drinking dice? Is it drinking wrestling? I don't know how to play that."

Grady waves politely at the newcomers, beckoning them over. "Join the party! We're teaching His Mighty Marquis-ness to enjoy himself, come high water or a hangover!" He grins. "It'll probably be a hangover. The more the merrier though!" He claps Rymarr on the shoulder as the man takes a drink, potentially spilling everything everywhere like a /fucking monster/ and then says, "Alright everyone! I have dice, there are darts here, and there are the more-embarassing drinking games where we tell extra personal things about ourselves to a room of strangers, but that's probably too advanced for the Marquis tonight. He's new to this, remember? Have mercy!" He smiles at Samantha as she joins them.

Overhearing Esoka, Jaerith says, "He prolly set it up. He's got a thing for a certain lady and he's trying to show that his days of... randomness are over." He gives glance around, swearing to himself that he saw said Lady Monique running around somewhere, mostly based off of her description from Aric. He snags up a mug of beer and begins to chug. Why? Because its time to drink. Slamming it down near him, he orders up another.

"I'll go for dice or arm wrestling, but I am not touching a dart," Sabella repeats before laughing to Kenna, "Well, now that we've met I can tell already we're kindred spirits. I thought I was the only one to be able to speak with such forceful cheer, but I am delighted to see that I am not alone. Do stay! Have a drink! This is only the first stop of many tonight! And yes, I am Tabitha's patron. I adore everything she comes up with, I'm quite sure there is no end to her talent."

Oh her sweet Skald...is that Rymarr in regular clothes? Samantha looks overcome with delight, beaming at Grady, who she regards as the author of all of this. "Hello, cousin!" she greets Grady in a dulcet trill, and notes, "I want to see Rymarr arm wrestle. Hello, everyone. Marvelous evening for a crawl, I imagine!"

Monique isn't running. She's sitting. And drinking. And waiting to see which party game gets selected. There's a glance over to Aric's arrival and departure, and a curious glance to Jaerith, with whom he arrived. The Greenmarch lifts her hand in a welcoming wave. "Lord Jaerith, I presume?"

Esoka grunts something-or-other in response to Jaerith. It's not sympathetic grunting. It's not a subject she terribly wants to pursue more, though. There is more drinking. After a gulp, her mug is raised at Kenna and Samantha in bar-room greeting. Hello! "I won the last arm wrestling contest I was in, so I'll sit that out. I /would/ like to see the Marquis give it a go, though."

Ooo, she's not hiding. Or running. She was sitting. With the wave and his name said, Jaerith gives glance around and then grabs his drink and siddles over next to Monique, "So. I see that we finally meet with one another, and Aric is off running around doing something strange. How do you fair this eve?"

Rymarr turns his attention around Jayeth. Which, given the size of the man, the Marquis leans to his right and peers around him in order to take sight of Samantha's presence. They Rymarr's hand rises up as another cup is pressed into it and then Grady slaps Rymarr's shoulder causing him to spill some of the drink. Shoulders shrug and Rymarr calls back at Grady, "Heeeey! You spilled my drink, I should.." and then Rymarr's unarmored hand curls into a fist which he shakes in the direction of Grady, though a good natured grin plasters itself over the Marquis' features as he uncurls his hand from the fist and attempts to playfully and lightly smack at the Deepwood lord's cheek, "you little scamp!" Rymarr is indeed in regular clothing and seems to have forgotten such as he rests perched atop a stool, swatting at Grady and conversely with Jayeth. It's Jayeth that Rymarr soon turns his attention back to, "Okay, you're on. Let's wrassle," Rymarr states firmly as he springs up from his barstool and tosses his emptied (and spilled) cup at Grady, as Rymarr begins to roll up the sleeves of his silk shirt and the trippy pattern of it.

"Dice then!" Kenna offers her arm to Sabella. "I think I might need to stay by your side then, and we can overwhelm everyone with cheer." If Sabella takes her arm Kenna is absolutely going to stay by her side a bit longer. "Wine please!" That's the drink for Kenna tonight, "Something light." Esoka gets a wave from across the room, much too enthusiastic.

Niccolo finishes his ale in short order. A moment of deliberation is evident on his face, but he ultimately pushes the glass away without ordering another. "I am already running late, but perhaps I will catch the end of this. And Princess Sabella, I am sure I will see you soon." He turns to go.

Waldemai here's the magic word. "Dice? Dice? Who's playing?"

Grady winks at Samantha. Rymarr's not just in regular clothes, he's in /spectacular clothes/, thank you very much. "Arm wrestling it is, as the Marquessa orders!" He seems particularly cheered as Rymarr finally starts to smile and unwind and he murmurs to Jessa, "That might be just the amount of alcohol. Don't let me forget."

"By the end of this evening, we might none of us remember. Maybe we should take notes," Jessa suggests dryly, even as she settles in for the dice.

"Good night, Prince Niccolo! If you get bored look for us in another tavern--maybe your own!" Sabella gives him a wave and does take Kenna's arm, "I have to warn you I have terrible luck. Not even Master Thayne can help me with that and he has tremendous luck! It just doesn't rub off on me, apparently." She glances over at the mention of wrestling, "I am definitely not drunk enough for that one."

Romina, a silent Mirrorguard agent, 2 House Velenosa Guards leave, following Niccolo.

"Oh, as ever," Monique replies to Jaerith with a charming smile. "And you, m'lord? Have you come to try your luck at winning a tavern game or are you here simply to forget about life and drink the world away?"

Jayeth sprouts a nervous smile, and looks at his two hands, deciding that he will in fact have to put down his drink, but not before taking another long swig, "As you wish!" he says looking for a suitable spot to anchor down, rubbing the moisture off his hands.

Quietly, Josephine finishes her drink and slips away.

Zelda, the royal messenger, 13 King's Own Guardsmen arrive, following Alaric.

"Then I suppose it'll be my turn to try to rub, I've been told that I can be rather lucky myself." Kenna giggles as she responds to Sabella and makes her way towards Grady. "Lord Grady! Might we use your dice?" While the others are getting all arm-tangled.

"Ew. Stop that. Jaerith is enough." Jaerith says to Monique, "And I had a mind to come here, get so trashed that I'm throwing up and embarrassing myself. And you?" He says, drinking from his mug. "You know, my cousin there has quite an eye for you. He tell you what he did?"

Grady nods at Kenna and tosses over a bag with a strangely large number of dice in it. "I brought enough to share around just in case. Good for the host to come prepared, right?" Waldemai and Kenna and Jessa and a few others are setting up to throw dice, and Jaerith and Rymarr are preparing to armwrestle while everyone else looks on, and Grady is presiding over all of it as the host, looking amused.

Monique grimaces to Jaerith. "Your cousin is a bit impulsive." She drains a healthy measure of whiskey. "A good friend, but if you mean what he said to Corban, yes, he told me." Her grimace is evident. "And we had words about it."

Alaric rolls in, clearly bent on crowding more knights into the area than is possibly advisable. "I heard we were dragging the Marquis around!" he declares boisterously. "I came to pony up for a round for him. And everyone else, too!" Big applause line, there.

Waldemai has rolled 5 13-sided dice: 1, 4, 8, 9, 11

Patches, a three-legged mutt, Flame, a chestnut stallion arrive, following Tristan.

"I lost pretty thoroughly at stones this morning to Prince Gareth. Pro-tip for anyone that wants to be good at that game: don't play against Prince Gareth," Sabella nods at her sage advice and has another drink. When Alaric's guards start piling in she stares and watches as they arrange themselves around the room. "You must be the worst at surprise parties." She says to the king with a grin and raises her glass to him. But when she goes to drink, it's empty! "Zane! I need more!" She tells the bartender, shaking her glass at him. "Please!"

Samantha offers a smile to Jessa as well, offering the woman a happy smile. "Cuz," she says with affection, declaring, "I'd like to see arm wrestle Esoka, but on the other hand, I wouldn't quite know who to root for."

Waldemai takes the dice and rolls. "Ace high," he says, obviously disgusted with his bad luck.

Samantha offers a smile to Jessa as well, offering the woman a happy smile. "Cuz," she says with affection, declaring, "I'd like to see Rymarr arm wrestle Esoka, but on the other hand, I wouldn't quite know who to root for." *repose*

Rymarr finishes with rolling up his sleeves and settles into a spot opposite Jayeth. He likewise anchors himself and plants his elbow to the tabletop as he nods toward Jayeth, "Take it easy on me. You're definitely my biggest yet," Rymarr states with a perfectly straight face. Then he takes note of Alaric, again leaning to the side to peer around Jayeth in order to take in the sight of the Compact's king. Another grimace sweeps over the features of the Marquis before he calls out, "Grady! I need a drink over here!" Marquis Deeepwood exhales a sigh and leans back, nodding toward Jayeth. Signaling his readiness whenever the boisterous smith was prepared. Samantha's comment though earns an answer without Rymarr tearing his unblinking blue eyes from Jayeth, "Esoka can have next!"

"Oooooh, no. What he said to Count Kael." Jaerith says with a huge grin on his face. He drinks door more of his beer and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. With half his beer left, its also time to start switching over to rum, which he orders up. While he waits, he slips the lute from his back and quietly strums a cord and begins tuning it a bit, "It twas quite the interesting night, to be sure. I had hopes that Kael would be able to make it to this as well. My goal was to drink both he and Aric under the table and laugh at them as I do so."

Tristan does not actually bring the horse into the brewery. He's not yet drunk enough for that. He does, however, open a window so the horse can stick his head in and no doubt annoying a server or two, and wanders toward the bar. "I heard a rumour there was drinking afoot."

"Kings don't sneak, Sabella!" Alaric calls back over to her before grinning at Rymarr's grimace and turning to regard Tristan coming in behind him. "Ah, Tristan! You're just in time. I'm here to buy everyone a few drinks and leave some inebriated chaos in my wake. Care for anything in particular?"

Esoka throws back her curly head and laughs. "Well. If you /really/ want to see me arm wrestle so badly." She does not need much pushing. She likes opportunities to flex. She does down her cider at a quicker pace, so she can be done before it's her turn. Raising a hand to wave to Tristan when her glass is drained. A nod, imparting some shared something-or-other, is exchanged with him.

Monique's crimson eyebrow pops up at Jaerith. "... what he said to Count Kael... what, exactly, did he say to Count Kael?" She looks slightly foreboding, slightly terrified, and not nearly enough drunk yet for whatever Jaerith's about to reveal. "Whiskey!" she calls out to Alaric. "And lots of it!"

Kenna has rolled 5 13-sided dice: 7, 8, 8, 9, 13

Jayeth swallows hard, planting his elbow down and taking position. "I was going to say go easy on me, if things go badly I won't be able to make anything for you". The comment comes along with a gentle smile. He makes his grip, positions his feet, he seems to be very seriously preparing himself for the event he begins pushing.

"If you're wanting to drink, you've come to the right place," Jessa calls out to Tristan, as she finishes a bit more of her own cider. She places the now-empty glass back on the table, resting one finger on the lip for a moment, before raising it to point straight at Rymarr. "We're helping the Marquis-Consort learn how to get drunk and enjoy himself a bit. So it's /educational/ drinking!" Which is, to judge from her tone, the best type of drinking.

"Your Majesty," Grady says with a florid bow, "Welcome to the party! We are indeed showing the Marquis how to relax and have a good time among friends. He's new to this so we're doing it gently. Right now he's sipping each time he grimaces, which has given him a right proper buzz. To those joining us be welcome, enjoy the drinks and the games! Dice over there, or here where Rymarr and.... someone I don't know... are arm wrestling if you want to enjoy the show or step up next!"

Kenna takes up the dice and rolls - she only vaguely knows now to play at all, so there's quite a bit of head tilting as she looks to Waldemai's roll and then back to hers. "Perhaps I should have placed a bet my good smith," she grins to him before looking back around - oh look a king! He gets a bow, and then a jaunty Kenna grin.

Sabella cheers for Kenna before she's handed a new drink, "You are lucky! Come stand beside me for the rest of the night. Maybe that means I won't trip and fall on my face." She goes to take a sip when she sees a horse in the window. Then she pauses, looks down at her drink, back up at the window, then down at her drink again. "Wow. This stuff is stronger than I thought."

Jaerith just sits there with his mouth open in a huge grin as he stares at Monique for a moment. He laughs loudly and then shakes his head, "Nono. I do not believe it my place to say such things if he has not told you." His glass of rum arrives and the beer is forgotten. He looks at Monique over his glass as he drinks, stupid grin still planted firmly. He sets the glass down and then looks back down to his lute, giving it another strum and ensuring it is tuned properly.

Alaric sends Zelda off with a sack of coins. "Whiskey, lots of it!" he declares agreeably before turning to receive Grady. "Well then, you must be Lord Grady. Pleased to make your acquaintance! I heartily endorse tonight's little project, thank you for putting it together for us all," he enthuses.

Samantha lets out a genuine squeak, and for all that she hasn't had a drop to drink, she excitedly bounds over to Alaric and attempts to give him a hug. And assuming she is not stopped or otherwise deferred by his Silver Swords, then good gods, she tries to give Tristan one too. Clearly Rymarr in amazing couture has some kind of magical area effect.

Waldemai picks up the dice and rattles them around. "Like to go a hundred silver on the next round?" He's got that look in his eye that says, "This here old boy likes a bet."

"Master Jayeth Black, Hammer Down," Rymarr recites his opponents name and the name of his shop - because free advertising - to Grady. It would seem that a little drinking and Rymarr's memory cleared right up regarding Jayeth. Rymarr pumps his hands into fists, relaxes them, pump, relax, pump, relax, and then with a nod to Jayeth he settles in for the competition of brawn and forehead-vein-standing. Hands grip and Rymarr gives his nod of readiness. When the competition begins, Rymarr begins to grunt and growl at Jayeth as the arm wrestling match begins. Rymarr seems to take on a lead, working his opponents arm as he exerts himself against Jayeth. At least until he seems to take note of Samantha's oogling and at which point Rymarr shifts slightly in order to give her a proper view to his posterior while he flexes and strains against Jayeth's thick smith's arm.

Monique's emerald eyes narrow upon Jaerith and his withholding. "That's hardly fair," she grumbles at the Keaton Lord. "Especially when I've yet to strangle anyone tonight and they've said no assassination, but they didn't say no outright murder..." The lute is eyed speculatively, like it could become a murder weapon at any moment.

Kenna laughs at Sabella's comment - "Why don't you come roll with us then, see if any of it does rub." KEnna's splitting her attention between the dice and the Sabella, grinning broadly. "A hundred silver it is then. Perhaps it'll go better than the last time I lost a bet to you."

Waldemai has rolled 5 13-sided dice: 5, 6, 8, 12, 13

Kenna has rolled 5 13-sided dice: 2, 5, 6, 10, 13

Waldemai nods and lets the dice fly. An eve worse hand. "King high," he declares.

Alaric collects Samantha with a hung out of nowhere. "I am not!" he declares a bit defensively before smiling at her. "Well, you're festive tonight."

"Hey you," Tristan calls out to Alaric in a manner of great respect. Well, okay. Not exactly. "Whiskey!" he echoes. "As strong as possible. I don't believe in starting slow." He acknowledges Esoka's greeting with a raise of his head.

Jayeth's forehead is clenched, his jaw clenched, parts of him not easily visible are just as likely clenched as well. The man lets out an inital grunt as the resistance to his efforts are less easily overcome as he expected at first. He inhales and holds it which makes his tunic pull tight around his chest, and somehow the large man seems to get taller in his chair, he strains making a fair bit of progress, through it his eyes widen and a curl appears at the edge of his lips.

The Keaton Lord gives glance towards the Over the Top action going on. Jaerith watches Rymarr for a moment, eye brows raising for a moment. "I swear... I am going to have so many stories to tell Kael about tomorrow... if I remember anything." He then gives glance back to Monique and says, "You /do/ know that Aric came riding like a bat out of the Abyss when he heard the news of you, yes?" He strums again, "And do not fear the mighty lute... its more a weapon of wooing than a weapon of murder."

Sabella is still giving the horse a look and then glancing around like, does anyone else see that? But no one else is saying anything or acting like that's weird, so she just has to assume she's had a lot more than she thinks, "Sure!" She agrees to Kenna's offer, leaning over to pick up some dice and give them a roll, though she's a bit distracted by Jaerith and his lute, "I'm not singing until at least the third or fourth tavern, let's not go crazy here!"

Sabella has rolled 5 13-sided dice: 2, 4, 5, 8, 13

The horse in the window nickers at Sabella. Perhaps her hair reminds him of hair.

"Of course not." Samantha says solemnly, and then takes a moment to watch the match. Her head slowly, comically tilts to the side, as she observes the Rymarr tush. And also all the bicep action going on. Shameless Marquessa is shameless.

"Your majesty! Well, this is becoming quite the social event, isn't it?" Jessa turns from her empty drink to offer a polite bow -- as much as one can bow while sitting at a table -- to the king, before selecting another cider and turning her attention back to the dice game. Sabella's comment about singing earns a disappointed noise. "I think singing comes after dice, but well before the end of the night."

"That I am, Your Majesty! And so pleased you could join us tonight! It's such an honor." He looks over to where Rymarr is arm wrestling and then he smiles as Jessa speaks. "That's what I do," he reminds her. "Social gatherings and diplomacy. If I weren't married to such a delightful woman, I'd think about becoming a Whisper." It's apparently a long-standing joke between them, because he laughs easily enough at it. "If we're singing we need more alcohol. Another round!"

Monique gives a long-suffering sigh to Jaerith, finishing off her whiskey. "I just will never understand men." She rises. "And I probably ought to be going. My cousin Margret wanted a word, and I suppose I ought to kick this drinking habit sooner rather than later." She sketches a graceful curtsey to Jaerith. "Good evening, Lord Keaton. I'm sure we'll be meeting again very soon." Threat? Promise? Anyone's guess!

"See, we spoke too soon!" The pair of women lose to the smith but Kenna's finishing her first glass of wine in what HOPEFULLY will be a long evening. The silver is passed over to Waldemai, but she shakes the dice ONE MORE TIME. "I hate to leave it as win for both of us - one last one?" A glance to both Sabella and Waldemai.

Rymarr and Jayeth work against one another, tense as their arms work to wrench the other's aside. Jayeth's progress though begins to work Rymarr's arm over and it's now time to stop showing off for Samantha. Now Rymarr must focus. They battle one another like behemoths locked in some sort of death-rolling struggle or love-making, who's to judge. Rymarr's mustache bristles as he growls with his exertions, ever so slowly working Jayeth's arm over. There's a moment where the two seem locked in place, unable to push their opponent's arms over and Rymarr bears down. Teeth grit, veins pop out at the Marquis' forehead and neck, as well as one pulsing monster of a vein near his left temple as Rymarr roars out in the face of his opponent as he begins to push Jayeth's arm over more.

a tiny man with a BIG unpronounceable name leaves, following Monique.

"Oh you sing?" Jaerith says, catching ear of Sabella's words. "That shall be put to test, I believe. Though I shall respect your wishes... I may have needs to pick up my violin... the lute isn't quite the instrument for dancing which I am hoping to see a bit of tonight." Jaerith gives a wink towards the princess. As Monique gets up, Jaerith strikes a musical sting and says, "Understood. I shall look forward to it."

"It is me, very perceptive," Alaric notes brightly to Tristan before ahhing to Samantha's correction with a cheerfully skeptical smirk. "My mistake, then," he deadpans. "Festive probably wasn't empathic enough of a term, anyway." He nontheless assists Samantha in making sure she doesn't lean herself all the way to the floor as he smiles at Jessa. "Pleased to make your acquaintance as well. You must be Lady Jessa, then." Yes, he's apparently that good with names, at least under House Grayson anyway. "Well, the Whisper House's loss is our gain," he tells Grady appreciatively.

Sabella grins at Jessa, "I can be encouraged! It doesn't even take that much. Just the more rowdy stuff I'd want to save for later when everyone else won't remember either so I can't be disavowed." She gives Jaerith a nod, "I dance too! Lord Deepwood, this may yet turn out to be the best night ever!" Though as she says this she's paying Waldemai one hundred silver so. Maybe not.

Waldemai accepts the small coins gratefully. "Thank you." Then, discretion being the better part of greed, he suggests, "Maybe we should watch the arm wrestling."

Esoka checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 8 higher.

"HA!" Esoka lets out a yell when the arm-wrestling match winds to a close, clapping her calloused hands together. "Splendid show, the both of you! Good fight, Master Jayeth! I shall be ready in a moment, to face the victor!" She gets herself another cider, with that. Then, drinks it. And drinks, and drinks, and drinks. Downing the whole thing in under a minute.

Jaerith watches Monique go, downs both the beer and the rum and states aloud, "Actually, that sounds like a good idea... I think I shall go grab my violin." He gives Sabella the once over and says, "Such beauty should have not have to try and dance to the simple music of a lute. I spend much time with my violin on ship and it provides for better music to dance to." He straps the lute to his back and states, "I shall attempt to return soon."

Regal, the majestic pygmy goat, Orin, a Felhound Sergeant leave, following Jaerith.

Waldemai points Kenna towards the arm wrestling and she adds her own cheer to the congratulations being passed about. "If there is to be dancing I will be right there next to you." A promise made to the new coolest person EVER (It's Sabella, she's the coolest.)

Jayeth has nothing left to clench, blinking at the mighty roar, and watching his arm as if it was someone elses his head slowly turns to follow it across the center mark, towards the edge of the table. More grunting, more terrible terrible realization coming over him as his arm ever so slowly reaches the table top and finally.. the touch. "Gaaah!" the cry of defeat!

"Maybe we should take part in the arm wrestling!" Sabella says enthusiastically to Waldemai, "Haha, I'm just kidding. Probably. Does anyone else see a horse over there?" And then she's staring at Esoka as she downs her drink. "...I'm definitely kidding about the arm wrestling if she's up next." Kenna gets a huge smile, "I shall hold you to that! I even learned that new dance from Mistress Rovashani, to tunes played by Master Itzal, so. That might happen!"

"Ah, of course, that's how I serve the Crown," Tristan tells Alaric, dryly. "By being keenly perceptive and being able to recognize the king." A pause. "Oh, and something to do with horses too." He swings a long leg over a bar stool, and says, upon overhearing Sabella, poker-faced. "A horse? What horse?"

"Dancing, drinking, singing to come as we wend our way home as well!" Grady seems in a fine mood, even if - is that his first glass of cider? Surely not, for he is jovial and as genial as they come. "Well done, Rymarr!" Titles are discarded, or perhaps drunk away? "Another round of arm wrestling, and dancing to come. I do most certainly approve! Sabella, you are a delight at a party. A /delight/," he enunciates clearly.

Rymarr thumps Jayeth's hand down and the smith's cry of defeat is met by a broad grin, though the sweat that has sprang from the Marquis' forehead truly showcases how close the arm wrestling match truly was. Rymarr extends an arm toward Jayeth for the clasping and he shares a quiet word with the smith as he leans over their dueling table. Once he's finished with the brief, quiet exchange then Rymarr turns his attention off toward Esoka and lifts his chin, pointing directly at her as he announces, "Esoka Greenblood! I'm coming for YOU!" He says as he waves her toward the table, eager to get into his next match while his blood's still pumping.

Jayeth wears a combination of sweat and good humor, and takes some oppertunity to nurse his arm and his ego. "Now I will have to drink with my other hand for the rest of the night!" he says, fumbling across himself to get at his drink. "I look forward to your up coming defeat!" he calls after Rymarr good naturedly.

"Something to do with that," Alaric repeats thoughtfully to Tristan. "Seems correct to me." He glances over at Rymarr's challenge with a grin, glancing to Samantha. "-He- certainly seemse festive," he offers as a compromise.

"A horse?" Kenna goes onto tiptoes again to look about, but it doesn't occur to her to look anywhere outside of the drinking establishment. Nothing, so instead - "I wouldn't arm wrestle Dame Esoka if I was paid to do it - she's wicked strong. WICKED. Oh - but between those two I wouldn't know in the SLIGHTEST who to cheer for." Which is proven very false when Kenna shouts out, "Go Dame Esoka!"

Esoka holds her mug up, in triumph. Then rolls up her sleeves. Taking a moment to flex for the crowd, before planting herself at the table. Arm ready to clasp with Rymarr's. "Try me, Marquis. For Gloria! For honor! For..." Pause, to think of a good third. "...for drinking!"

Samantha lets out the most giddy of giggles. "Isn't he amazing?" Samantha says to both Alaric and Tristan, noting, "Either of you wins, I'm happy!" She seems downright giddy, for not having a lick of alcohol.

"I always cheer for the underdog, so go Marquis Deepwood!" Sabella calls out with a laugh. Though that horse gets a sidelong look when no one else sees it. "Zane, maybe give me something a little stronger so I get past the horse phase and move right into the dragon one."

Alaric has some trouble not laughing just based on proximity to Samantha's giddiness. "I believe that," he observes to her. "I haven't seen you in this good of a mood for quite some time! It's wonderful."

Rymarr settles into his place at the table once again, feet planted and head up. He considers Esoka while she flexes and then approaches the table he offers up a grin for the Greenblood knight, though most of it goes hidden beneath his beard and mustache. He shifts in his position, plants himself, and then nods toward Esoka. Rymarr's fingers wiggling, as though some carnivorous plant, doing a little dance to lure in its prey.

"You see /dragons/ when you drink enough?" Jessa asks Sabella curiously. "What exactly do you normally drink, anyway?" To judge from her expression of curiosity, she'd like to try some herself. Because who doesn't want to get a glimpse of a dragon, after all?

Flame stretches his neck further through the window and nibbles at a decorative plant on a convenient table.

"I want whatever she is having," Kenna points at Sabella. Jessa gets a wink from Kenna. "Whatever it is, I want it. Who wouldn't want to see dragons?" BUT WAIT, "THERE IS A HORSE." Kenna finally caught sight of it.

"Oh," Jessa remarks. "/That/ horse. I thought it was part of the decor."

"I think," Tristan says in a stage whisper to Alaric, certainly loud enough for Samantha, "she may have found a way to get drunk without alcohol."

"No, I'm fairly sure that it's //eating// the decor." Kenna peers at the animal, "Is that even //healthy//?" Someone more knowledgeable about horses please pipe up.

Grady grins at Jessa. "Drink all you like, My Heart. I'll make sure you find your way home." Indulgence, thy name is Grady. Samantha gets a considering look and then he's nodding, cheered by her cheerfulness. "This is the best party," he says happily. "Everyone's having a good time, and maybe we'll have a barfight and maybe we won't, but lovely voices singing, games and drinking aplenty? And the King in attendance?" He looks at Tristan then. "Saw you come in but didn't catch your name? I'm Grady," he offers.

Sabella nods sagely to Kenna and Jessa when they say they see the horse too, "That's how it starts." Then she continues, "And I started with whiskey with Baron de Lire earlier, but usually brandy. This ale is pretty good, though. And what else would a person see when drunk but fantastical things that could not possibly be real? I really don't recommend trying to ride one though or jumping off of something and thinking it will catch you. I spent a summer on crutches after doing that once."

Flame's ears flip forward and he stares at Kenna with soft dark eyes, a shred of leaf dangling from the corner of his mouth, drooling green slime onto the window sill.

"This is Master Tristan, the Royal Stablemaster," Alaric tells Grady helpfully by way of introduction. "Tristan, Lord Grady Deepwood, our excellent host tonight."

Jessa watches the horse drool, and remarks to Sabella and Kenna, "That seems far too /real/ to be a properly fantastical hallucination. Normal horses drool." And, manifestly, so does Flame. "Unless it has wings, or talks, it's not a properly /fantastical/ horse. So clearly, we all need to drink more."

"Royal Stablemaster and Noticer of Things," insists Tristan. He's not letting go of that joke yet. He nods to Grady by way of greeting.

"Clearly!" Whatever Sabella is drinking gets delivered to Kenna and she catches the 'royal stablemaster thingie.' "Is that your horse trying to eat the plants?" Serious inquiry to Tristan.

Waldemai finishes his final ale, calls, "'Night, all, and thank you, Lord Grady," and staggers off in the general direction of the Lyceum Gate.

"Noticer of Things? What an excellent title, Master Tristan." Grady sweeps a bow at the man. "A pleasure to meet you, and thank you for joining our party here! We're not much on ribaldry yet but raucous I feel we're doing quite well with. And we meant to make it a crawl but didn't make it out of the taproom, but that feels more like success than failure, and an opportunity to schedule another of these sometime. And look! The Marquis is unwinding! Just a little."

Alaric glances from Jessa to Kenna with a vaguely curious squint and follows their looks to notice Flame for the first time. "Ah, it's Flame," he observes casually as if not terribly bothered by a horse leaning in through the window. "Do horses like the smell of breweries? Hops, barley, and all that?" he asks Tristan. "And just a little is a lot more than usual," he notes approvingly to Grady.

"Since none of us have tried talking to it, I shall endeavor to believe that it is a mystical creature that is here to impart some terrible wisdom like how we should drink more and it's fine, best friends are definitely made when alcohol is involved!" She also gives Tristan an interested look at his titles. "I love that! What kind of things do you notice? Thing-things, or things you shouldn't? Or thing-things that you shouldn't? Or are they things that are only horse related? I have so many questions!"

"It's not too late to be a crawl," Tristan tells Grady, "as I think if we all crawl out of here at the end, it still qualifies. Which simply means we all need to drink more." He gestures vaguely with one hand at Alaric's question. "Breweries smell like grain, so, yes, many horses like them." A pause. "Also, Flame and many of the other horses get a pint of beer mixed in with their evening feed. It's good for their coats and digestion. If you ever look at the stable budget, that's what the beer bill is for." He considers the noticing question carefully. "Things. Important things. Obvious things. Horse things. Sometimes bunnies."

Esoka /leans/ into Rymarr's arm, and the wrestling match begins. It is, right from the beginning, a grueling test of mutal flexing. Esoka's biceps bulge, her forehead clenches, and she lets out a /lot/ of grunted curses in shav-tongue. It goes on for...awhile, and she's sweating by the end of it. They're dead even until, little by little, Rymarr begins to better her...

"Yes, I'd heard from Mistress Lumen recently you were a very helpful bunny thing noticer," Alaric observes to Tristan. "Well done with that." He smiles and sips his whiskey, taking a moment to divert his attention to the arm wrestling. It seems like quite the serious match.

"//I// am still hoping for dancing." Kenna is going a LITTLE slower on her next drink of whatever Sabella had. Isn't there more of this crawl still to happen?! Falling down this soon would be a crying shame.

"I'm happy seeing him happy." Samantha explains, with a tilt of her head in Rymarr's direction. "And he so seldom lets himself relax in public. It's delightful." She ooh's then, as Rymarr begins to press his advantage while absently murmuring, "You're spending time with Lumen, Tristan? Good on you. She and I have been doing these little supper clubs, at some point I'm going to have you both over for one."

"...bunnies?" Jessa sounds as though she's not quite certain she heard that correctly. She puts down her nearly-finished second cider, and regards first Tristan and then Alaric thoughtfully (if slightly tipsily). "Are bunnies important to notice, then?"

Rymarr's teeth grit as he starts out strong against his opponent. Quite strong, really. It was undoubtedly the warm-up match against Jayeth and facing a cold opponent that gave Rymarr the strength to wrest Esoka's arm so quickly aside. Then they straight against one another. Back and forth, the center line becoming an outright battlefield as Esoka and Rymarr war against one another. For some time, Rymarr's strength seems as though it is beginning to wane. Then it's Esoka's turn as the Marquis pushes her arm back over. Little by little, Rymarr pushes Esoka over. It isn't with a crash that victory comes, but with the straining inch-by-inch hard fought struggle as Rymarr finally thumps Esoka's hand down to the table. He immediately releases Esoka from the grip and in a quick movement he whips his shirt up and off, he throws it in Samantha's direction, and then points both index fingers across the table at Esoka, "Esoka, I thought you had me! That was so close!" he nearly shouts across the table at his opponent before he extends his arm to her for the clasping and he leans across the table to mutter quietly to her.

"Not anymore," Sabella had stiffened a bit at the mention of the bunnies and that response is a little short. "Hopefully not again for a long while." She downs the rest of her drink, though not as impressively as Esoka did. It takes a couple gulps. "Lumen is amazing! Any time she's around people are just nicer. She made Prince Gareth smile the other day like it was nothing. It took me weeks to get one out of him one time!"

Jayeth watches the arm wrestling match with some interest, he even stopped drinking his ale, though he is several in by now. He flexes his arm every so often, staring at the contest of bulging biceps, he smiles out one end of his mouth as the winner is declared, feeling slightly better that he isn't the only loser tonight.

"I wasn't aware you were being consulted on the noticing of bunnies," Tristan comments to Alaric. He nods solemnly to Jessa. "Yes. Bunnies are _very_ important." He adds to Samantha, "Well, I've met her. A couple of times."

"I do enjoy being fed-- oh, he did it. And there goes his top," Alaric observes casually to Samantha. "Well, I do look forward to seeing that invitation come by, then." He grins sunnily at Jessa. "They are if they don't act like normal bunnies, as I understand it. I couldn't really describe what a normally acting bunny looks like, but that's why there are professional animal noticers like Tristan around," he tells her before looking back at Tristan. "I get a lot of reports. I even read them, mostly."

Princess Sally Acorn, an acorn toting red squirrel leaves, following Kenna.

Jessa looks skeptical at Tristan. She looks like she /wants/ to look skeptical at the king, but thinks it would be impolite. So instead she just finishes off the rest of her cider and murmurs something like, "Bunnies. Really."

"Very important," repeats Tristan, tapping his nose. A pause. "Oh. Are we taking our shirts off now?"

"I don't think I'll ever be that drunk," Sabella replies to Tristan, picking up Kenna's abandoned mug cause it'd just be a shame for that alcohol to go unused.

Jessa pauses as a messenger arrives, listening to the missive, and then sighs. Leaning over, she gives her husband a quick kiss and moves to stand. "I'm so sorry, love; it seems I'm needed elsewhere, so I'd better stop while I'm only tipsy. But thank you so much for dragging everyone out here."

"Bunnies," Grady says, sounding amused. He looks for a moment as if he will say more, but then Rymarr is shouting and winning and - stripping his shirt off and throwing it at his wife. And then that grin splits his face and he says, "Awww, yeah. We are having /that/ kind of party." Then Jessa is making her apologies and he stops to kiss her. "Go and do, my Heart. I'll see you at home." He doesn't take his eyes off her until the door is closed, and then he's returning to the party. "Another round? DRINIK!"