Jordal, a bodyguard arrives, following Isabeau.

Pellinor, 4 Thrax Guards, Honey Snuggle, a Velenosian Angora cat, Dame Cupcake, the most elegant leave, following Alarissa.

2 Grayson House Guards, Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Valor, a small brown and white corgi puppy, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, Clark, an exasperated guard arrive, following Sabella.

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

Wylla has joined the an elegant rosewood harp.

Pellinor, 4 Thrax Guards, Honey Snuggle, a Velenosian Angora cat, Dame Cupcake, the most elegant, Maxene arrive, following Alarissa.

Kenna enters arm and arm with Tabitha, chatting happily with her cousin. "I know it's a little silly, but I'm //so// excited. It should be sad to see something pretty go - but also how often d you get to break stuff?" Only a little bit of sheepishness in that.

3 Iron Guardsmen, Dot, the war-wiener leave, following Harper.

3 Iron Guardsmen, Dot, the war-wiener arrive, following Harper.

The Archlector of Jayus is standing by the harp, watching the goings-on. A variety of Disciples are hard at work. Some are serving refreshments. Others are minding the shop where a variety of shovels and rakes and implements of destruction are positioned for the upcoming ceremony. Now and then someone will grab the Archlector, asking her a question, and she'll nod and wave them on, watching and waiting to greet any attendants.

1 Greenmarch Guard arrives, following Margret.

Esoka is here to break things! She looks SO HAPPY. Big, toothy smile and fast, eager stomping into the shrine. She finds a spot for herself to wait, until the destruction can begin.

Waldemai brought his own implement. "Anyone has any trouble, let me know," he says, and swishes the heavy sledgehammer through the air.

Lady Monique Greenmarch arrives on the arm of the Archlector of Gild, Blessed Etienne, the two of them chatting quiety together and one of them looking decidedly /very/ excited for this event.

Harper walks in and looks around, giving a wave to Kenna then to Alessandro, she heads over towards Esoka with a big grin, "Heya Aunt Esoka!" She takes up a spot near Esoka to watch the comings and goings with a curious look.

Arms linked with her cousin, Tabitha lifts her eyebrows and nods, "I know exactly what you mean!" She pauses for a moment before she adds to Kenna, "Well, maybe not the breaking things, but I suppose that could have some appeal as well."

Alarissa's made her way in, a smile on her face and fresh faced, regarding the shrine and it's currently still whole status. There's a glance to Waldemai and a smile then back to the shrine.

Gianna makes her way into the shrine, glancing about curiously as she does so. Seeking out Archlector Wylla, Gianna inclines her head to the other woman should she manage to catch her eye.

Lethe looks around with a curious expression. She smiles as she sees Waldemai. "You're certainly prepared."

While people gather for the main event, Niklas Kennex is sitting up on the musicians' platform, nimbly playing a spritely tune on his vielle. Well, a vielle. Something good for people who are just about to start smashing stuff up in the name of art, craft and arts and crafts. He watches the crowd and wiggles his elbow to wave to people as he recognizes them, never missing a beat on his bow work. Alessandro! Elbow elbow. Monique! Elbow elbow. Alarissa! Elbow elbow. When he sees Gianna he calls out to her, "Nightingale!"

2 Grayson House Guards, Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Valor, a small brown and white corgi puppy, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, Clark, an exasperated guard leave, following Sabella.

Waldemai shrugs. "I'm a smith. I have a shop full of hammers. A few metal chisels, too."

Sina arrives, her silvery eyes glancing around at the Shrine, viewing it for the last time in its current state. She gives Alarissa a little smile, and then she goes back to glancing around, studying the others present. She sees Dame Esoka, and gives the knight a dip of the head in greeting, and she gives Harper a little smile of recognition as well. She's rather quiet though. Large gathering, quiet Sina.

Jayanthi arrives at the shrine, and sees everyone ready to destroy the crafts and art pieces that many had created. She was ready too. She knew it was the start of something new.

Gianna arches a brow, a faint smile curving her lips. It doesn't quite reach her eyes. She makes her way to the musician's platform. "Lord Kennex," she greets Niklas, glancing about for a spare instrument, if there is one.

Esoka turns her smile, so bright with the promise of destruction, to Harper. And Kenna and Sina, when they're spotted. Boisterous waves are given all around. "I've been looking forward to this all week!" she says. Her head bobbing to Niklas' music. Trying to work up a pre-destruction rhythm.

In comes Alessandro, arm in arm with Margret. The former is smiling quite brightly, and saying to his wife, "...looking forward to smashing things and not getting in trouble for it, as I did when I was young." He spots Harper's wave, and returns it, before Niklas also gets a greeting, as well as a wide smile. His attention is then caught by Monique, and he calls, "Cousin! Ready to destroy things?"

It is the first time that Princess Isabeau Valardin has presented herself in public since the execution of her cousin... or, the man pretending to be her cousin. But, as she was devoted to Jayus, she is here now to witness and take part in the sacred rite. Odds are, she could probably use the catharsis that comes from breaking shit.

On her tip-toes Kenna looks about and seeing ALL the people she knows she returns the wild waves but the edges her way through the crowds towards Esoka and Harper. "Dame Esoka! Best Partner! Have both of you met my cousin Tabitha Whitehawk?"

Wylla nods back towards Gianna, offering her a smile. But she flutters about as Niklas plays, clearing her throat and waiting for the assembled to gather. "Have a drink if you'd like!" she calls out. Her voice is a little giddy with excitement. But she swallows it down, and waits for notice -- or whatever passes for it to the short, shy woman. "Hello! Once everyone's assembled, I'd like a word to bless our efforts before we get to work. Feel free to take a hammer, a shovel, or," she nods to Waldemai, "feel free to use your own, whatever you've brought."

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

Harper catches sight of Sina and waves enthusiastically, before grinning over to Esoka. "I've never done this before, but getting the chance to bash in something sure sounded fun!" She turns as Kenna approaches and bobs her head toward Tabitha, "Nice to meet you!"

"You just smashed things when you were young and no one yelled at you?" Margret asks Alessandro before she shakes her head in amusement before adding teasingly, "That explains some things." She waves to Niklas and murmurs something to Alessandro before saying to Monique, "He's far too excited about manual labor."

Amari glides in as if she were curious about the stream of people and happened to follow. Her eyes are wide as she takes in the scene and the people within it. Everyone she happens to meet eyes with gets a smile, friend or stranger, doesn't seem to matter. Luckily, she happens in just as Wylla says there's drinks and hammers around, so she offers a quick little wave to her and goes off to hunt for one, or both of those things.

Dipping a little at the knees into a small but well-executed curtsy, Tabitha smiles sweetly at Harper. "Likewise!" Standing up once more, the artist nods to Kenna then returns her gaze back, "Kenna has nothing but good things to say of you, you know."

Etienne doesn't appear to be hauling any rakes, shovels, or implements of destruction, but he wearing a pleasant smile and a particular glint in his eyes. "Would you like something to drink before chunks of the shrine fall into it?" he asks Monique, moving towards the refreshment table.

Lethe grins. "I know." She goes to get a tool and looks to Amari with a smile. "Hello again."

Wylla waves at Amari, mouthing, 'No kitten' in the woman's direction, with an apologetic frown. And indeed, the calico furball that some may know to be the Archlector's has, perhaps wisely, been kept far away from falling architecture, nowhere to be seen in the Shrine. Wylla moves then from the harp, making her way to the speakers' area on the musicians' platform, waving to Niklas to cease playing. "I'm... I'm not very good at speeches, and I'm standing in slightly for Master Sparte Fatchforth, who had a terrific idea, so I may not get it right, but I'd like to speak for him all the same." Surprisingly, her 'priest voice' carries much better than her usual, even if it's likewise a little hesitant.

Sina lifts a hand and returns Harper and Esoka's waves, and then she glances about, looking around to see if there's anyone else she knows. Not seeing anyone, she finally makes her way toward Alarissa, dipping a curtsey, before leaning in to whisper something to the Princess Consort. Then she turns her attention to Wylla ass he addresses the gathering.

Alessandro shrugs, his smile shifting a little bit smugly. "Well, I generally talked my way out of getting in trouble," he admits, which //also/// may explain some things. He leans in when Margret murmurs something to him, though, and whatever it is makes him raise an eyebrow. "Oh?" he asks, but after a moment, he nods. "Of course. Then we will." And he starts them further in then, toward Monique and Etienne.

Squeezing TAbitha's arm lovingly, "How could I have anything but good to say? Harper's the only reason why my face isn't broken a million times over." When Wylla begins to speak Kenna hushes until Wylla says Sparte. Then Kenna's going to be irreverent and whistle in cheering for Sparte.

Alarissa looks to Sina as she comes near, a wave for Niklas at his elbow, and slides her arm into Sina's.

Esoka looks to Tabitha, at Kenna's introduction. "I've not. Hello! I'm Dame Esoka Greenblood. I don't normally /try/ to bust things. I have to actively try not to. But it's nice that the gods give us a day to put our bashing intstincts to good use." Another motioning wave is given to Sina. "This is also a person you should know. Sina Izetta's a friend of mine, and very wise about the gods. Which'll probably make her good at breaking things today." She stops talking as Wylla gets things rolling, though.

Monique waves to Niklas and all the others she recognizes, and gives a big smile of greeting to both Margret and Alessandro. "Cousins! You two, together... ah, it just warms my heart!" Her eyes, big emerald pools, slide to Etienne, and brighten. "Please, Archlector. If you wouldn't mind?" She reaches to give his hand a quick squeeze before turning to Margret and Alessandro once more. "Ready to rubble?"

No kitten? Amari frowns disappointedly, but it seems a bit exaggerated. The sigh is definitely dramatic, but she's soon smiling again as she rounds on the implement of destruction table. She finds a hammer that looks her speed, and as she's hefting that, she catches Lethe's greeting. A polite dip of her head is offered, "My Lady. So nice to see you! Would you mind some company? Although there's destruction involved, I couldn't convince my cousin to come along. So it's just me."

Gianna sits quietly and listens to Wylla as she speaks, her attention focused on the Archlector.

Another sweet smile to Esoka and Sina follows, then Tabitha giggles very lightly, "I can't say that I share the instincts myself, so I'm glad there are people in attendance who do enjoy it!" To both Sina and Esoka, she dips on her heels ever so slightly again, then rearranges her skirts as she bobs back up, "So very good to meet you both!"

Harper grins wide at Kenna and Tabitha, "Kenna's the best partner anyone could ever ask for. She almost always makes me look good." Her eyes glint impishly as she winks at Kenna. Looking over at Esoka, she chuckles, "I try not to bust things either, but it sure feels good sometimes when you finall get a chance to for good reason!" As Wylla starts to speak she turns her attention over to her.

Wylla pulls a face at Monique's pun. "I, um. Hello, everyone! For those of you I haven't met, I'm Wylla, the Archlector of Jayus. Each year, this Shrine is torn down so that we can build a new one. A better one. A prettier one. A /more inspired/ one. Don't think of it as destruction. Think of it as clearing space to build something new, and all the potential that new building has. If this one as you see it now stood standing for the rest of time, how would we possibly make it better?" She pauses a moment. "So this is a chance at, well, rebirth and renewal, at finding new inspiration. After it's torn down, we'll be able to discover new means of building it. If you're interested in that, find me later." There's a pause, as she clearly has more to say, her fingers flicking nervously at her robes.

Isabelle, who isn't happy to be doing this have been dismissed.

Margret's eyes roll at Alessandro, but her irritation seems mostly for show because she's also laughing. "Of course you did." She smiles at Monique, and releases Alessandro to lean into her cousin a little and whisper. Then she goes quiet to listen to Wylla's speech.

Lethe smiles and nods to Amari. "Of course. I'd be honored. It's just me as well. This is a new experience for me, but I wanted to see what it's like."

Sina is whispering quietly with Alarissa occasionally, though when Esoka mentions her name, she looks in that direction and smiles. "Oh, I'm still learning everything I can about the gods, Dame Esoka," she says, somewhat modestly. "But I am ready to smash some things today." She dips a curtsey toward Tabitha and Kenna as she is introduced to them, though she smiles at Kenna. "I think we have met before, actually," she says, smiling to Kenna. "I think there were oysters involved." There's a hint of unusual mischief in her silvery eyes, before she whispers something again to Alarissa, as they stand arm-in-arm together.

Retrieving a bit more than he can safely carry Etienne is laden with refreshments, he slowly makes his way through the gathering to the small collection of people near Monique, slowing momentarily to listen to the speech about renewal and creation. He arrives and attempts to get some attention before he drops any, not that it would particular matter in this circumstance. "Lady Monique, Lady Margret." he offers.

"I am," Alessandro confirms to his cousin with a wide grin. "I think a little destruction will do us good." He quiets then, too, turning to Wylla as she speaks, though he also nods to Etienne, with a murmured, "Archlector, good evening."

Blossom comes dashing into the shrine somehow juggling an easel, a canvas, and painting supplies. How the tiny woman manages to carry all of those things without dropping them is known only to the gods, but there must be an uncanny amount of luck involved. Once inside, she starts looking around for a place to set up, clearly intending to paint the destruction of the shrine.

And belatedly, Tabitha dips into an even deeper curtsy to Alraissa, because Princess and all and because Alarissa is cool. "Your Highness," she says. Politely. Belatedly.

Monique listens to the Archlector of Jayus' speech, musing, and listening to Margret with her other ear. A smile crosses her lips, and she murmurs something back. But then there's Etienne, and the Minx reaches out to accept a glass, taking one for Margret, too. "You, Blessed Etienne, are a godsend." Badum-pshhhh! She's on a roll!

Wylla continues, "So this was, um, Master Sparte Fatchforth's idea. He thought that, when we start building up the Shrine again, people might want to -- um -- donate a brick or a piece of wood or a nail -- though it would be awfully hard to fit a dedication on a nail -- or what have you, whether for themselves, or for someone else, maybe in memory of someone else. I thought it was a lovely idea! That way, you, I, anyone could have a piece of the Shrine that belonged to them or whoever you wanted to go to. So if you want to do that, you should send Master Sparte -- sorry, /Officer/ Sparte -- a message about when this is all over. I'm sure he'd have said that better." And she motions for Disciples to start bringing out ladders into the open-air Shrine. "We'll be starting at the top. Please be careful. We don't have any Mercies on hand."

"Lady Whitehawk." Alarissa smiles wide seeing the noblewoman and the curtsy. "You don't have to, but I am flattered none the less. How are you?" She asks quietly, looking to Wylla as she continues, squeezing Sina's hand. "Don't worry Blesseed Wylla. Some of us know how to patch up our husbands and can surely patch up our friends and peers!"

Waldemai is ready to be one of the first up that ladder, but before he heads up he calls out, "I'll donate a whole cask of nails...Two if the summer is a quiet one."

When Sina reminds Kenna of the prior acquaintance she laughs, "My GOAL is to not bleed tonight if everything is the same." That said with a wink too before Kenna pokes at Tabitha. "You have everything to add to this."

"Thank you, Archlector." Margret says to Etienne with a smile. She leans over to nudge Alessandro a bit before asking, "Will you get me a hammer? A big one?" And then she begins whispering to Monique again.

"I'm very well, Your Highness," Tabitha replies. "I hope you fare well also. And congratulations on the birth of your son." Then to Kenna, she says, "Oh, it would be nice to make a dedication to Horatio, don't you think?"

Jayanthi noticed Blossom carrying all sorts of paiting supplies, as an artist herself, she was curious to know more about the short woman. She returns her attention back to Wylla's speech.

Esoka waves a hand at Kenna. "I'm sure this won't be bloody. And if it is, it'll be for Jayus!" With that, she goes to get herself a hammer, reaching over to clap Harper on the shoulder. "Come on, then!" She takes a few practice swings. Careful not to swing /at/ anyone. Her braining of folks is generally intentional.

Easel up, palette out, paints scattered all over the floor around her feet. Blossom has found herself a spot where things are unlikely to come crashing down on her head, and armed with her trusty brush, she begins. A little bit of gray here, some brown there, size something with her thumb, paint paint dab paint paint. Sadly there's no happy little trees in the shrine, but she'll make due.

Amari listens to Wylla explain the purpose behind destroying the shrine once she's moved to stand alongside the Tyde. There's a considered 'mm' sound from her when the Archlector speaks, but she's otherwise quiet until she finishes. After she smiles in a conspiratorial manner to Lethe, "Perhaps we should get a drink? Maybe by then they'll have it down to a safer height. Unless you're actually game to climb a ladder." She maybe isn't. No, she definitely isn't. She watches them go by with a look of nope about her. "See anyone you know?" She asks after, trying to eye a path to the booze through the crowd. Alarissa is offered a polite bow of her head when she's noticed.

Ever so obliging, Alessandro goes over to retrieve a really big hammer for his wife. It's big, guys. Don't doubt it. He gets a less large one for himself, and as he's headed back, Amari catches his attention. "Counselor," he says with a nod to her, though there's humor in his expression as he says it. Alarissa, too, gets a deeper nod, and he says, "Your Highness. Congratulations on your new addition." He doesn't linger too long, though, because he has to deliver Margret's super big hammer to her. Which he does straightaway.

Wylla's eyes widen at Blossom. "Hello!" And, of course, as the third painter in the room, and not a terribly officious figure at the best of times, she's easily distracted. "Have you come to paint? I'm, um, a painter too." She nods at Jayanthi. "So is she. You should see her shop, The Color of Spice!" It's a good thing that the disciples of Jayus are clearly used to carrying on without her efforts, and that there was clearly already a plan in place. "Jayus doesn't like painting with blood, I don't think," she notes in passing towards Esoka, a bit distractedly. "I mean, I've heard of sacrificing for your art, but..."

While it was unlikely that Isabeau was willing to hustle up onto a ladder to get this party started, so to speak, she does appear willing to watch with some measure of subdued fascination as others take it upon themselves to be so bold.

Harper chuckles and sets out to follow Esoka to the hammers, picking up one that seems just her size. She grips and ungrips it getting a feel for it but carefully avoids taking swings at anyone. "Never really tried hitting anything with a hammer before. This oughta be interesting." She grins over at Esoka. Eyeing Alessandro and the massive hammer he picks up she smirks, "Careful there, don't knock yourself out."

Waldemai calls out, "The trick is to keep your hands and feet away from the business end!" He gives the top of a wall a tap, to see how sturdy it is.

Lethe looks towatd the ladder and then Amari. "Maybe we can wait and see how it's done. A drink does sound good." She looks around. " Other than you I know Waldemai and Princess Alarissa. "

"Oh, but I'm //really// good at hurting myself when there seems to be zero reason for injury Esoka." Casting about Kenna picks up a smallish hammer and holds it out to Tabitha. "Making something for Horatio sounds lovely - but first you have to smash!"

Blossom waves with her paintbrush to Wylla, splattering blue all over her already paint-stained dress, and over her face and hair as well. "Hi! Yes, I wanted to paint the people tearing down the shrine," the tiny Lycene offers. "People always like my paintings of the shrines the best, I don't know why!" It's because the rest of your paintings are creepy as hell, sweetie.

"A boy for Thrax. I am content, and any more children are merely an additional blessing from the Queen of endings. A High Lady and a brother to have her back." Alarissa states to Tabitha. "I ahve done my duty by Thrax and I can rest for a little bit, before throwign myself back into ensure more children are released from thralldom. How are the Whitehawks?" Amari bow and Alarissa brightens. "Lady Keaton. My favourite Keaton. Don't tell Reigna." She is swift to add at the end, bringing her forefinger up to her lips to shhh and wink. "Any good cases of late that don't involve fashion?" Alessandro gets a dip of her head and a smile. "Thrax thanks you. He is a lovely and very hefty boy. He shall be an excellet squire to Valardin in the future. How is Greenmarch?"

Margret looks up from whatever she is whispering with Monique about at Alessandro when he retrieves for her the biggest hammer he can find. "Oh!" She says, and then she laughs outright before she says. "It's for Monique. She loves big hammers." She reaches to take the smaller hammer from her husband before giving her cousin a toothy grin.

It's at that point that Monique receives a messenger and turns serious. "I have to run to address something very important. Hold onto my hammer?" She passes it to Etienne with a wide grin and then back to Margret. "You know me too well. I do love a big hammer." And then she's waving to the trio, and slipping off.

Kit, the grey fox, a tiny man with a BIG unpronounceable name, 1 Greenmarch Guard, Q, a very tall man with a very short name leave, following Monique.

Waldemai calls, "Look out below," and gives a stone near the top of the wall a good whack.

Esoka is /not/ shy about climbing ladders. She descends one with gusto and, after big-throated laugh at those below her, starts hitting things! With her hammer. She concentrates on knocking stones loose, beaming over at Waldemai. "Master smith! That is a fine smashing hammer!"

Etienne is handed a giant hammer, handed is a loose term, at best he has a passing familiarity with the handle as it thumps onto the floor, he even manages to spill some of his drink on it and the floor in the process. "Uhoof." he manages.

Soot, a gray foxhound puppy, 3 Iron Guardsmen, Violet, a shopkeeper, 1 Crimson Blades Lieutenant arrive, following Petal.

With a worried look between Kenna and the hammer, Tabitha nods her head slowly and takes the implement from her cousin. Holding it both hands before her waist, she turns to Alarissa. There's a little smile then, and a side nod towards Kenna. "Oh, very well." Her smile widens, "I count myself very lucky to have such a wonderful family." Then Tabitha peers up at the falling stones and acts of wanton destruction.

Waldemai waves the hammer back at Esoka. "It'll do the job for bashing, too!" This is promptly demonstrated on teh next stone over. Bash!

Petal arrives in the shrine while adorned in leather and followed by by guards. She glances over the room, trying to get a feel for things here. A smile is given to Waldemai who she seems to notice first.

"Well, let's mingle our way to the refreshments, Lady Lethe. Perhaps we'll meet someone new." Amari smiles, but she's happy enough to start with someone familiar to them both. She heads for Alarissa, and manages a curtsey, even with a hammer in her hand. The jest makes her smile brightly and she nods, pressing finger over her mouth. "My lips are sealed, Your Grace, but unfortunately, there's been no cases. I've been entirely involved in contracts. I'm afraid for excitement I've had to go running through the Shadowood, fighting shavs." She sighs playfully as if that's somehow not as exciting as a good case. "It sounds as if the tour of the Isles was a success, and a new baby. Congratulations."

Tabitha checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Waldemai checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

Esoka checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

Alessandro flashes a smile at Harper, hefting the very large hammer, though apparently he's going to be using that one now! He looks back at Margret with a little laugh, and shakes his head, saying, "I think I am a bad influence on you." However, he accepts his fate, and then turns back to Alarissa. "Very well, thank you," he replies to her. "I was interested to hear of your tour of the Isles as well. I am certainly glad it went well on the whole."

Harper checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 31 higher.

Margret checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Sina grins at Kenna belatedly regarding the bleeding comment, then she squeezes Alarissa's hand in turn. "I think I'll wait until the destruction gets a little lower off the ground," she says to no one in particular then, eyeing the ladders a bit warily. The handmaiden glances about as others begin to work on the destruction process, smiling though with good cheer. She does wince occasionally, however, if a particularly lovely piece is destroyed.

Petal picks up a small hammer and while she knows how to hammer things to make them, she seems rather more uncertain about destruction. "I don't know about this." She says in her heavy Shav accent.

"Bittersweet, but successful none the less. Do not let me delay your religous right, smash away. I am going to enjoy watching." Alarissa relays to Amari before her attention diverts to Alessandro. "We should meet for tea or a drink in the Queensrest and we can speak."

Kenna checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 14 lower.

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

Lethe looks to Alarissa with a friendly smiles. "Yes congratulations on the baby." She turns to Amari. "I think that sounds exciting. You must have a lot of good stories Lady Amari."

Jayanthi turns back to Wylla, "Hello Archlector!" she offers her a smile. "How have you been? Sadly, I will not be painting this memorable event, I'll let Blossom do it." She chuckles, and looks around the place. "Today I want to help people destroy the shrine, and maybe start building it again other day." She looks the canvas that Blossom has been working on. "Jayanthi Hawkeye, a pleasure to meet you!"

Esoka SMASH! The prodigal knight is in her element, gleefully hammering things for the gods. She's not artful at it. She's no blacksmith. But she has well-honed arms that are good at hitting stuff. She manages to maintain her balance on the ladder while doing it, which keeps her from unintentional smashing.

Petal does take a swing though and she seems to do alright at such. She breaks som e wood and everything.

Harper nimbly scoots up one of the ladders to start whacking on some stones near the top, careful to watch for people below so she doesn't drop anything on anyone's head if she can avoid it. Her laughter rings out as she gives it her all, enjoying it very much.

Isabeau checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Kenna picks up a hammer that is not much bigger than Tabitha's, takes a swing and PROMPTLY hammers herself. Tiny grunt and then Kenna's just going to retreat and suck on that thumb. Ow Ow Ow. Don't mind her, she's just going to put the hammer down and not.

"I would welcome that," Alessandro says with another nod to Alarissa. "I shall send you a message soon." With that, though, he salutes with the very large hammer, he turns to the shrine, lifting it up. This is not going to be good. He can't really heft it all that well. But he tries, bless him.

Wylla watches as most people seem to be successful at the hammering. "Blossom, then," she murmurs to the painter. "Archlector Wylla of Jayus." The three short painters might seem to be relatively hammer-avoidant, but when Kenna whams the Abyss out of her thumb,the redheaded woman grimaces. There's not a Mercy on hand, so she makes a somewhat fitful gesture towards Alarissa. "You did offer, Your Highness!" she chirps towards the Thrax princess.

Isabeau takes up a smaller hammer and looks aside at Petal, who does the same, and offers the famed seamstress a small, but hopefully reassuring smile. "It feels... strange, doesn't it, Mistress Petal?"

Margret looks like she is about to hammer something real good with that little hammer, but then she looks between Alessandro and Etienne with a small frown before she holds out her hammer for one of them to take. "Why don't I hold a ladder for someone?" She suggests. Since clearly neither of them can handle such a big hammer.

Waldemai jumps the ladder over to the next stone over. "One at a time or the whole wall might come down. Aware below!" He gives the stone a practiced whack. Klunk!

Petal glances over to Kenna, seemingly rather concerned about her thumb. "Are you alright, Lady Kenna?" She asks softly. She then glances over to Alessandro, seemingly amused. "It does feel strange, Princess Isabeau" She adds, get ready to take another swing. Maybe she is even kind of liking it.

Blossom beams at Jayanthi as well, and offers, "I'm Blossom, hi!" She's mostly just establishing broad strokes right now, the gray of the walls, the brown of timbers, a place for a couple of ladders, and the like. She seems like she would be a sort of scatterbrained personality, but the painting has her focus like the most precise of daggers. A little bit of paint gets added to her palette, and she starts working on a hammer on the ground, then a ladder going up the wall.

Eyeing up her target, Tabitha narrows her eyes, then swings the hammer somewhat delicately, like she's scared she's going to break herself rather than any inorganic material. Apparently, though, this focus helps her to land a CLINKING strike in exactly the right place, and while it only does enough impact to chip off a wee bit of stone, she seems very pleased with herself. her wide grin is soon replaced by a frown as she dusts down her dress with her free hand, though, and then she turns around with wide eyes and gasps at what her cousin just did to herself, "Oh Kenna!" Then it's over to mother-hen her fellow Whitehawk.

"LADY KENNA!" Esoka calls out, with an affronted gasp, when Kenna hammers herself "I WILL AVENGE YOU!" She'll avenge wall, that is. She scoots herself toward the area the Whitehawk lady was working on and gives it some vengeful bashing.

Alarissa looks to Wylla as her name is stated and then to Kenna, a soft laugh as she excuses herself from the small grouping and heads to the other whitehawk. "Did the hammer attack?" She asks Kenna softly.

Petal peeks over to Tabitha, having a gentle smile for her as well. She doesn't seem to know the woman, but she is friendly like that. She gives Kenna's thumb another concerned look, but at Esoka's words she is giggling.

"We're going to have a drink and then get to the smashing. A pleasure to see you, as always, Your Grace." Amari explains to Alarissa as they begin to move on. Her hammer is given a half-hearted little practice swing to illustrate but it doesn't look like she's spent much time doing physical labor like that. She'll have to do a bit better for the real deal. With a smile to Sina, she looks back to Lethe and begins to wind her way further through the crowd, heading for the refreshments, and chatting as she goes, "I suppose I have a few good stories. How about you, Lady Lethe? Any adventures in the woods?"

Despite her fussing over kenna, Tabitha gives Petal a smile and a nod too! Then more fussing, trying to look at Kenna's hand.

Waldemai checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 51 higher.

Still sucking on her thumb Kenna grins sheepishly in Petal, Alarissa and Wylla's concerns. "Yep. Just, you know, getting into the spirit of destruction." When Tabitha comes to mother hen Kenna eyes her cousin, "Nonono, you have to go break, shoo! Go!" Eyes move up to where Esoka is speaking and KEnna laughs, "My hero!!"

"I afraid I've no room for another hammer." Etienne offers, he has taken to balancing his glass atop the handle of the giant thing. He keeps looking at the large hammer as if tempted to simply throw it at a wall rather than attempt to swing it. As the destruction reigns around him he flinches at the loud noises and looks nervously around to avoid anything falling on him. "This.. this looks fun" he offers somewhat unconvincingly.

Waldemai wields his hammer expertly, although the hammer is meant for hot steel and not cold stone. But it's big and heavy and brings down the stones one at a time. "Watch out!" he calls.

Alessandro, instead, takes the small hammer from Margret with a smile. "Thank you, wife," he says, and then he starts up the ladder, taking a swing with his much more manageable tiny implement of desctruction. Maybe it won't destroy as much, but he probably won't kill himself.

Alessandro checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Wylla motions the whole crowd to the side as Waldemai just about gets rid of a whole section of wall on his own, her eyes widening. "That was very good!" she calls up to him, sounding quite impressed, before she starts to head over towards her fellow Archlector. "We, um, haven't met," she tells Etienne shyly. "But I know who you are. Blessed Etienne of Gild. I'm... I'm Wylla. Of Jayus." As if that needed clarification.

Harper winces as she watches Kenna hammer her thumb. After watching Kenna to make sure no significant damage was done, she turns back to the wall with a vengeance. She laughs at Esoka's declaration, "You get it Aunt Esoka!"

Lethe watches Amari's practice swing. "Hopefully we'll make a good effort." She ponders. "I have a few but not so much recently. I'm hoping to have more in the future. I do love the forest." She gets a drink for herself.

"less destroying your own bones and instead, the bones of the shrine." Alarissa doesn't prod further to see if Kenna wants any help with her thumb and instead moves again to circle - carefully - and watch.

Blossom seems to not even notice the chaos happening around her unless she's directly addressed. She's too focused on her canvas, then on adding some red to her palette and beginning to add people to the scene - some on ladders, some on the ground - a little bit of gold for an archlector's coat.

"Of course you are!" Etienne says to Wylla, a wide smile brimming across his face. "What a splendid worship you've got going here." ignoring the woman's timidness. He maneuvers his way toward a spot safe from debris and risks. "I've never seen such a spirited observation, is it always like this? he asks.

Margret gives Etienne a sympathetic look as he looks so out of place with his giant hammer and obvious dislike of what is going on. But then Alessandro is going up a ladder and Wylla is coming over to talk to him so she smiles before turning to hold the ladder for her husband. "How long do we have to be married before we can start joking about killing each other?" She calls up at him, "Because I feel like it would be in poor taste still, but I am quite opportunely positioned."

Wylla shrugs helplessly at Etienne, her gaze flicking away at that enthusiasm. Clearly it's a bit much. "This is one of our two yearly events. The other is a crafters' festival in midyear." And she begins to tell Etienne all about it, before she realizes she's babbling, catching herself short with an "... oh." And then, a glance back to Alarissa. "Is the woman all right?" She gives Kenna a curious look, adding, "We can get you, um, ice if you need. Somewhere. I mean, it is winter."

Petal is still here smashing away and seemingly rather into such. "I do pound a lot of wood when making furniture, its not all that different." She murmurs.

Amari has joined the Dancers Floor.

Alessandro looks down over his shoulder briefly at Margret, shaking his head, though he replies, "Everyone's relationship is different," he intones, with just enough humor to make it clear that he's joking, as well, before he turns and whacks the structure with a hammer. And lo, he hits it! And a piece breaks off! Even he looks impressed with himself.

Lethe has joined the Dancers Floor.

Amari finds a drink for herself too and situates herself so that she can watch those already demolishing the walls, quietly chatting with Lethe as she does. After some liquid fortification, she'll surely go hit something with the hammer she has.

Esoka continues to wreck the shrine, divinely, so well as she can, until she's created a decent amount of rubble. And until her arms need a break. She takes a breather for some water, and to make sure Kenna isn't horribly broken.

Sina does pick up a hammer eventually, a small one, and starts helping with the destruction. She keeps at it for as long as she can, which is a lot longer most likely than anyone might think. Then again, she's not unused to hard work. The slender scholar does eventually leave off however, rubbing her shoulders and swinging her arms. Then she glances around one last time, before quietly ducking out.

Etienne checked strength + huge wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Sina checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Harper twirls her hammer, nearly dropping it but catching it again at the last minute then gives a particularly hard whack to the wall sending a large chunk caving in. Eyeing Alessandro climbing up the ladder she grins over at him, "Whack it hard lawyer man but be sure to hit the wall!"

Vald leaves, following Sina.

Jordal, a bodyguard have been dismissed.

Figuring he should get into the spirit of the festivities Etienne puts his glass gently on the ground, being careful not to knock it over and picks up the giant hammer by the head with both hands, hoisting it like you might a large sack of heavy grains. He teeters for a moment, swings the hammer low, back and forth a few times, hurling it towards a wall. The hammer, obediently chucked ungraciously a man in a very fancy coat falls unceremoniously on to the floor, producing a small dent. Success!

Waldemai ducks reflexively. "Watch that down there. The healers can't fix everything!"

"She seems to be fine, Blessed. Her thumb will recover, I am sure." Alarissa smiles to the Archlector. "I cannot wait to see what will be produced in this coming year and the plans. This is, I admit with no ounce of humility, to be my favourite shrine. You should visit Navegant at some point and their academy of arts." Etienne's throwing gets a raised brow and then a clap from the Princess Consort of Thrax.

Jayanthi looks at all the rubbish piles that have started to accumulate in the area. She coughs, "I think I should start now, while there's still something left to smash" She takes a small hammer and starts smashing.

Jayanthi checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Petal checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

"You did tell me you had written your Will, so..." Margret retorts as she crooks her neck to watch Alessandro hammer away at the fence from the ladder she is holding. She turns her head just in time to watch Etienne chuck the big hammer at the wall. Since she is holding a ladder she can't applaud but she does call out encouragingly, "Great throwing, archlector!"

Wylla's eyes widen at the utter lack of help from her fellow Archlector, and she flinches at the thud of the hammer on the floor. "Watch your foot!" she declares, before looking back at Alarissa, breathing a sigh of relief. "Oh, good. I'd hate to think anyone was injured here. I mean, I know inspiration can come from pain, but not like this." She grimaces, before her smile returns at the rest of Alarissa's words. "I will! I visited the Empyrean, and Mistress Gianna's Bard's College. Would you like to give me a tour of the academy of arts? You should send me a message, if you want. I mean -- if you want," she repeats herself.

Harper's call over to him gets a salute from Alessandro with the hammer, and he calls back, "I shall attempt to do so!" He looks down at Margret then with a wink, before he turns back to the shrine to take another whack. He's obviously enjoying himself. But that's apparently the last one he's taking, because then he's heading down the ladder again, and once he's on solid ground he leans in to kiss Margret's cheek. "Thank you for not throwing me to my doom."

As the walls start to come down, with more help from some of the destroyers than others, Wylla watches with a rapt look, glancing back every now and then at Blossom's painting. Bit by bit, the walls get lower, until finally even Wylla herself can see over the top of them if she stands on tiptoe. Less than two meters high now, the walls offer scant protection against the chill outside, but at least the sun is shining. At length, the tiny redhead moves back towards the musicians' platform, climbin atop it to be seen again. "At this time I'd like to offer a blessing. Can everyone please gather round and bow their heads?"

Petal still seems to be doing okay with her little hammer. She seems to be enjoying this all and got rather quietly into it all. She does stop at Wylla's words, gathering around for the blessing.

Harper slipping off the ladder, she drops to the ground dusting off her hands as she makes her way over to snag a glass of something wet. At Wylla's request though she pauses and moves over for the blessing, bowing her head dutifully.

"Too many witnesses." Margret says to Alessandro jokingly, and her expression softens when he kisses her cheek. She takes his hand to walk with him towards where everyone is heading for the blessing, and bows her head.

Etienne found something clean to brush his hands off on, and picking up the glass he discarded earlier inspects it for debris while he gathers around to listen.

Esoka gathers as the end of smashing is called, and a blessing called for. She kneels, lowering her curly head. She's red-faced from exertion, but it's a merry sort of tired that comes after hard, good work.

Alessandro lets out a little chuckle at Margret's words, before he, too, moves toward where the blessing is taking place, and his head bows, his expression sobering.

Wylla clears her throat to speak, squeezing her eyes shut. It's awkward. But she takes a moment to find her voice. "We who are gathered here today ask that Jayus look upon our efforts and smile. As the God of Art, Dreams, and Inspiration, we hope that throughout the last year, he's found art in our work within the shrine and without. We hope that we've dreamed good dreams and put our minds to the task of achieving what we've dreamed, and that inspiration has not been found wanting in our efforts. We ask the god to look upon our efforts, and to provide us with even better inspiration in the new year, so that we might achieve more and better things as our hearts so desire. If we cannot, then we ask only that the god not still our hearts to the hope that the future brings, and that we find within that some measure of peace and contentment. Thank you, Jayus, for all that you've brought to us, from crafter to Highlady or Highlord, and for all that you may bring to us in the future." Surprisingly, the blessing goes off without a hitch, flowing quite easily from the normally reserved woman. She breathes a sigh, and then opens her eyes.

Petal is overheard praising Wylla: a very nice blessing

Wylla checked intellect + theology at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Esoka is overheard praising Wylla: ART SMASH

Waldemai slides down the ladder once the blessing is done. "I look forward to this every year, Archlector. And remember, I pledged a keg of nails...two if the summer is slow.

Blossom puts the last stroke on her painting right before the archlector's blessing begins, then stands back and listens, while admiring what she managed to put on the canvas in such limited time. Putting her paintbrush between her teeth probably isn't the most dignified of looks, but it allows her to start gathering up her paints once the blessing is done.

Etienne is overheard praising Wylla.

Blossom finally turns her easel around so that people can see what she managed to capture, looking quite pleased with herself.

This painting depicts the Shrine of Jayus deep in winter.
There's a bit of snow on the ground in one corner, and
ladders up along the walls of the shrine. All along the
walls, on top of the ladders and on the ground, are
various craftsmen and craftswomen with hammers, some in
mid-swing. Stones are missing from the walls, and some
are captured in
mid air as they
fall. To one side
is a woman with a
finger in her
mouth, probably
after striking it
with a hammer,
and in the center
of the shrine is a
man in an archlector
coat struggling to
pick a hammer up.
Despite the absolute
chaos of the scene,
there is a serenity
to the painting itself.

One corner carries an inscription of "Shrine of Jayus 1009", and the other is
signed with a pink cherry blossom.

Etienne is overheard praising Blossom.

Margret is overheard praising Wylla.

Margret is overheard praising Blossom.

Blossom is overheard praising Wylla: Destroying the shrine was fun!

Wylla is overheard praising Blossom: ,1=A lovely painting to commemorate the annual destruction of the Shrine of Jayus.

Pellinor, 4 Thrax Guards, Honey Snuggle, a Velenosian Angora cat, Dame Cupcake, the most elegant, Maxene leave, following Alarissa.

The blessing concluded, Alessandro looks up, a more contented smile on his face, as though the words are still washing over him. "Thank you, Archlector Wylla." Though whether she'll hear it is another matter -- he still seems a little bit as though in a reverie. He leans in to murmur something to Margret, before he inclines his head toward Etienne, saying, "Archlector. Have a good evening." There's a wave toward Harper as well, and then he takes Margret's arm, starting toward the exit.

Amari is overheard praising Wylla.

1 Greenmarch Guard leaves, following Margret.

Rodrigo, Margret leave, following Alessandro.

Lethe is overheard praising Wylla.

Jayanthi is overheard praising Blossom.

Wylla is in something of a dreamy state herself, but she manages a smile towards Alessandro. Waldemai's words earn a quick nod. "That would be lovely! Send Officer Sparte a message if you want. I think that's probably the easiest way to do that." And then there's that painting by Blossom shown around, and her eyes widen. "Oh, that's /beautiful/!" she enthuses. "So lovely! I'll show you the one I did of the Shrine as it was this year, sometime." She chirps. "So that's... this, then. You can keep working if you want. Have some wine and cakes if you want. I'll be around if anyone has questions about Jayus."

3 Iron Guardsmen, Dot, the war-wiener leave, following Harper.

"Oh, they've made short work of it." Amari notes of the total destruction, but that's not going to stop her from helping, somewhat. She finishes her drink, sets the cup down and makes her way to one of the larger chunks of wall left on the ground. That one she hits with her hammer, and she totally dents it a little bit. Mission accomplished! Proud of her work, she returns to Lethe, "We'll have to swap books when we meet at the Knights. I'll bring something you might like."

Blossom seems giddy to hear the Archlector praise her painting, bouncing up and down a little bit as she claps her hands together. "I like it too! I'll make sure to paint an identical one so this one can be in the shrine for the year, that way Mailys can have one in her shop. She likes hanging my paintings in her shop. Well... some of them."

Lethe doesn't look that disappointed that she didn't help. "I think that was interesting to watch." She nods. "I'd like that, and I'll have to see which of my own books you might enjoy. Thanks for the company."

And so the people start to filter out, the Archlector smiling. "You can paint as many as you'd like!" Wylla tells Blossom, before she gives Amari an approving nod at her quite helpful efforts. "Everyone, I hope you have a lovely time. Don't get too drunk, or I'm sure we'll read about it in the Whites." It's an awkward joke. She's not good at humor. But, Jayus help her, she tries. And a bright, "Thank you all for coming!" follows as the Archlector steps back to watch the end of the day's work.