Octavian, a silken spaniel, Serissa, the equanimous nanny, Kaia arrive, following Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask.

Captain Teemo, a mountain lion cub, Flappinum, a human with many opinions arrive, following Leona.

Octavian, a silken spaniel have been dismissed.

Serissa, the equanimous nanny have been dismissed.

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

A slender woman, lean and spare, with pointed elven ears and piercing green eyes enters. She is stalked by a lion cub who seems to be nudging her this way and that with headbutts from time to time, but there's an energy to the woman that is seldom seen. She has never been seen in Arx before, for certain, and for all her formalwear she still has a weapon - belted at her hip is a longsword with an intricate hilt of ebony etched in silver, and its pommel is the shape of a skull. It is not peacebound.

Someone wearing an impish midnight ebon fox mask makes his way into the place, with a cloak on as well as the mask which he wears also.

Someone wearing ash-ghost mask has a way of lurking, even when he enters. He wears a brilliant red robe, but his mask is gray and dark with only hints of flame. Like a flame half-extinguished, guttering. His painted mask tilts toward the lean-spare elven woman. Novelty is novelty, even to the guttering.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask eyes the green-eyed woman with the sword warily, but looks to the other guests for cues.

The swings have been claimed by an early arrival. Easily amused, easily entertained, the woman with the guise of a Copper Skull stretches her toes to the ground and pushes off once, twice, again, and has an easy rocking rhythm established by the time others begin to trickle through the gardens. One is spied in particular and earns an enthusiastic wave-- though the coppery one is waving at the /lion cub/ instead of the woman he escorts. How rude.

Someone wearing white dragon mask of silk, leather, and bone is trying to find his own bearings at the masquerade as the elven woman and her lion companion arrive. One cannot see the reaction of the man beneath the mask, but the subtle tensing of his frame may speak more to his reaction as he wacthes her for a moment longer than polite before his attention returns to finding a bite to eat and a drink,

Insaya enters the gardens, she seems not to be wearing a mask and also she has a good amount of confessors along with her and a small black cat. Insaya offers a polite greeting to everyone present and makes her way to find food and drink, also to get an idea what is happening here

As the beautifully masked partygoers begin to arrive, a slender figure breaks out from the crowd, blue eyes peering out from the lacy mask that only barely disguises her.

"Thank you all for coming. I couldn't be more pleased to be part of the on-going praise of the Queen of Endings, thanks to Father Aureth and Harlequin Evaristo." She smiles warmly, "It's the grand opening, as well, of this space that's been created in memory of my former patron, Prince Luca Grayson." She clears her throat, "I think he'd have enjoyed a park with bushes and plants that he could pass out in." Her head bends as she laughs softly. "I hope you'll all take a robe that's been provided, or light a lantern and send your prayers up to the Queen of endings."

Someone wearing a wickedly decadent arachid mask comes dressed for the festival. She tilts her head as she looks toward the women with the lion cub and then goes to find a drink.

Someone wearing a northern winters wind mask has more of a waddle than a step these days. Not hard to guess who she may be. Not knowing who's who. She steps off to the shadows to sneakily consume some whiskey before someone takes it off her.

Here is a man whose whole mask grins like a death's head, bedecked in spider's silk and electrum, aeterna and gold. He looks ... dramatic. It is also not terribly difficult to figure out who he is, even though spiders and skulls are frequent decorations this evening. He lifts one hand in the air in a curving inward gesture of his palm, and his shining hair gleams as it falls to his shoulders, silvershot golden. Standing in the Luca Grayson Memorial Park, he fills his lungs to boom out a welcome as though this is his party, even though, strictly speaking, it is not. "For our part, the Harlequins are delighted to see you all among the gardens," he calls. "Embracing this life of ours by night, for we shall all one day return to the Wheel. Raise a glass while you're at it, and have a damn drink. I'm pretty sure we could all use one."

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask arrives, following Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask.

Insaya gets a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing a wickedly decadent arachid mask gets a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing ash-ghost mask mutters, "Drink deep, for tomorrow we may be ash and smoke and soul, renewed, but forgetting, gone, but persistent. Lot to drink to, that."

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask gets a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Insaya gets Queen of Endings Lantern of Remembrance from a sleek oak armoire with ebony inlays and dangling spider motif.

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask mutters, "... ... ... ... ... going ... know who ... are."

Said lion cub seems blithely unconcerned with the woman with the unbound weapon, and instead bounds over to the woman wearing the Copper Skull mask, headbutting her now, leaving the elf alone.

That elf who could go rogue at any moment. Any moment.

"I brought the good bottle," she states in response to the welcome from the man in the skull mask. "The wine is not likely poisoned, but if it should be then would be a gift, to send you to the Queen even sooner. There and back again spins the Wheel." Her accent is strange, foreign, and her speech patterns are ever so slightly off as she proffers a bottle of Nox'alfar wine and offers it to him first.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask turns to the Ice Dragon and whispers to her.

"They weren't lion when they said tonight would be interesting." comments the white dragon as he lifts his mask slightly to take a drink from his glass, and then spies the ice dragon, and there's a curious headtilt.

Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask bubbles with laughter as she slips from swing to ground. Collapsed in a puddle of plain black linen and amusement, she reaches for the lion cub's ruff with both hands, to scrub his cheeks and generally make an immense fuss over the creature. "Oh my goodness, it's been ages! Hello, lovely. But where's /your/ costume?" makes for a teasing demand-- one that's followed with the young woman plucking a bangle from her bracelet, to fix it to Teemo's bandanna. "Here, now you'll fit right in..." Because that's going to happen. Sure it is.

Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask takes a stygian spider adorned with opals and duskstones from a leather and white gold bracelet with beads.

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask grins at the elf, or at least, he turns his grinning skull mask towards her. "Bless you," he says, reaching to accept the gift of the wine and quite amiably pour himself a glass of what _likely_ isn't poisoned. "If I die tonight, I sincerely hope everyone will drink at my funeral, which someone else will have to run."

Anya, the cool as an ice cube Champion apprentice, Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette arrive, following Caspian.

"Back to the Queen, and when hence from the Queen? One can spin a long time through Death before waking again. And who else really wants to run funerals?" asks ash-ghost, before taking a perch among smoky trees.

Someone wearing ash-ghost mask has joined the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Someone wearing a strapping young man wearing a fanged steel mask has joined the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Insaya has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask seems to be whispering with the butterfly and the phoenix about something.

Someone wearing a wickedly decadent arachid mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a northern winters wind mask is actually enjoying herself. People watching. Sipping at whiskey. No guards! This could be heaven for the little lady.

"I am in the business of causing them, not hosting them," replies the Nox'alfar woman to the ash-ghost, nodding approvingly at the man in the skull mask. "And seventeen points to the one in the dragon mask, redeemable at the Twilight Court. Tell Calithex from whence they came - by provenance of Elisia even, he might double their value." She grins, but there is something in her eyes that suggests this might not be the best idea.

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask has joined the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask has left the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask arrives, following Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask notices the sun and moon arriving. "Well aren't they a pair!" She looks around the party. "So many fantastic costumes."

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask takes a long and trusting drink from the Nox'Alfar wine he has been poured; it takes a moment's effort to manage it, because the sheer face of his mask is not _best_ outfitted for drinking, but he does it. Holding the bottle high, he asks the room at large in a voice pitched to carry: "Volunteers to host a funeral? I'll write the eulogy for you before I go, if I can manage it. I mean clearly someone has to, and it's pretty efficient if it's me."

Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask gets the opal and stygian spider secured on the lion's bandanna. Once that's done, and he's handsomely adorned for the occasion, she rocks knees to feet in order to claim the swing again. "That's a trip worth the redemption!" she calls cheerfully, for the bounty of points being awarded. Worth a salute too, for the dragon mask and the giver. Then the white skull makes his invitation and she laughs again. "I will! But only if it doesn't require being tackled, as at Prince LUca's."

Someone wearing a prickly spiny bloom mask emerges from somewhere in time to say, "If I must," to the white skull with a put-upon sigh. "As long as I'm allowed to tell the joke about the octopus."

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask crosses her long legs comfortably, watching the people as they stroll in,"These are all quite amazing..."

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask comes in slowly, looking up and around as if she's not entirely sure she wants to be here, "It's lovely, the Countess has done an incredible job, but it feels so strange to be here. With only his memory rather than with him."

Someone wearing white dragon mask of silk, leather, and bone may have felt a small shiver go through him as the Nox'alfrar addresses him, but he straightens slightly to tilt his head. "Perhaps I will find a way to make that offer." he comments dryly as he turns his attention to the paths.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask nods in agreement with Phoenix and Carnelian. "Oh, certainly! Most wonderful indeed.~"

Someone wearing a northern winters wind mask sneaks as best she can towards the fireside. Taking a seat, she balances the almost finished drink on her belly. "I have missed opened fires. I can't wait for winter to be here."

As the alcohol begins to circulate a little more heavily, from rum to wine, to whiskey and then some, in the distance a quartet springs up, the music light and worthy of dancing if anyone should feel like it.

Oddly, in another part of the garden, the faint smell of haze might be caught on the next breeze. It must be the purple smoke trees.

Someone wearing a northern winters wind mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

"As someone in disguise," says the fellow in the shimmering sun mask, "I surely do or do not know who Prince Luca Grayson was and may or may not have fond or negative memories of him stealing my wife's clothes." He looks around, then picks someone at random, stepping up to the grinning white skull mask and saying, "Countess Carita, you have done a truly fantastic job here. Prince Luca would either have loved it or not, but if not he probably wouldn't have said so where anyone heard him, maybe, I may or may not know." He gives a conspiratorial wink, which doesn't really work when wearing a mask, then heads off to look for snacks.

Insaya is listening as she enjoys what food and safe drink is provided, she seems for the most part just to be observing for now

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask tilts his glass in the direction of the prickly bloom, and says, "Thank you, my dear. There aren't enough octopus jokes in anyone's lives, for certain, so I can at least do that small service for the world on the way out." He leans backward on his heel, a hint of a snort escaping him. "I'm sure Countess Carita _has_ done a remarkable job, wherever and whoever she is," he says amiably. "Who are any of us, really?"

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask nods to the white skull and sets a hand against his chest. "Why, she may even be me!"

"A funeral without jokes," the woman calling herself Elisia retorts, "is a funeral asking for more Death. If we cannot please her with humor, She will be appeased by blood."

Someone wearing ash-ghost mask puts his hand up. "I'm sorry, I'm not funny. Would a moderate amount of blood-letting be acceptable as an alternative?"

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask tells the ash-ghost, "Not if it's yours. What would your mother say?"

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask flags down a server and plucks a glass of whiskey from the tray. Bowing her head, she smiles before taking a long sip,"Much better."

Someone wearing ash-ghost mask scoffs. "It's just /blood/. One can give way direr things than blood."

"Then surely, Elisia, we must assure that she is left in stitches of laughter instead of upon the skin, because the cost of blood.." comments the dragon masked male, "...takes a lot out of you."

Someone wearing a prickly spiny bloom mask presses a palm over his chest to offer, heartfelt, "Thank you. Between my joke and your eulogy, I'm sure it will be talked about for years to come." The cactus man looks toward Elisia and nods solemnly. "Jokes are no laughing matter."

"Better jokes than tackling," copper and roses opines. She toes off the ground and sets the swing to doing as it was made to do, the small tumbler of whiskey she's plucked from a passing serving tray held carefully to avoid swaying spills. "Though some of us lack skill with either, really."

Someone wearing a strapping young man wearing a fanged steel mask hears Elisia and retorts to everyone and no one, "I'm going to have duels at my funeral. Think that'd be enough blood?"

Someone wearing a northern winters wind mask briefly slips a finger under her mask and itches her cheek. She shifts slightly readjusting her dress.

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask asks the prickly spiny bloom in horror, "Do you only have _one joke_, my dear? We really have to get you some more material. Maybe we can ask that wisecracking dragon for help."

Someone wearing a lacy web-spun mask of spider silk has joined the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Rinel has joined the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Insaya is listening and observing all the people is masks. Her companions close at hand, nearby, seeming to watch over her. She is eating and drinking as she watches who is here, her eye following Rinel a moment

Someone wearing a carved blackwood skull mask arrives in the gardens unattended, and makes his way slowly towards the fireside chairs. He stops to pick up a glass of Velenosa Red on his way.

Someone wearing a carved blackwood skull mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a prickly spiny bloom mask sets his hands to his hips and turns bodily toward the white skull. "Of course not!" he declares, offended. "I have at least two, as you know perfectly well, since I sent them both to you yesterday." Beat. "Plus that thing I said just now about jokes and laughing matters, surely that counts." HA HA GET IT.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask finds herself a glass of something and then a seat a moment later.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask has joined the Elvenbane Bench.

"Yes, that was very good." The skull-masked man slants a sidelong look at the Nox'Alfar, who might be a better judge of puns than he, but what he says gravely is: "At least two points."

"Six more points," Elisia says jovially, pointing a finger at the man in the dragon mask. And then she turns to the man in the fanged steel mask and shakes her head. "Is it ever?" Is it a rhetorical question? Her sword is still not peacebound. "What cannot be soothed can be bought, if someone is willing to pay the price. Something Luca knew well, restless though he was. Rested now he is. Or is he?" She shrugs, the riddle - or the comment hanging in the air even as she moves to take a drink from the bottle she brought, offering it around to any who want to share some of the Nox'alfar's wine.

Aendor, a grim-faced House Acheron guard, Faleena, a prim and proper lady's maid arrive, following Umbroise.

Having collected his twenty-three points, the man in the white dragon mask appears to be preparing to leave. Maybe he's got things to tend to. Maybe he's just not sure what happens if he reaches one hundred points with Elisia.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask finds an area wide enough to open her wings, lifting them slowly as she twirls in a circle.


AXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXA
/\XXXXXXAt first glance appearingXXXXXX/\
//\XXa normal bolero embroidered andXX/\\
///\ beaded with feathers the colors /\\\
////\XXof rising flame, the wearerXX/\\\\
/////\ raises their arms to reveal /\\\\\
//////\XXred and gold wings thatXX/\\\\\\
///////\XXreach eight feet wideXX/\\\\\\\
////////\ between the wingtips. /\\\\\\\\
/////////\XXXXBeads shimmerXXXX/\\\\\\\\\
//////////\XXXlike hundredsXXX/\\\\\\\\\\
///////////\of dancing candle/\\\\\\\\\\\
////////////\ flames as the /\\\\\\\\\\\\
/////////////\wearer moves./\\\\\\\\\\\\\
//////////////\XXXXXXXXXXX/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
//////////////Q\___[V]___/Q\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
//////////////QQQQQQQQQQQQQ\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
///////////////QQ.QQQQQ.QQ\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
/////////////////:QQQQQ:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
X////////////////:-----:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
XX///////////////:XXXXX:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
XXX//////////////:XXXXX:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
XXXX'////////////XXXXXXX\\\\\\\\\\\\'
XXXXX'//////////XXXXXXXXX\\\\\\\\\\'
XXXXXX'--------XXXXXXXXXXX--------'


Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask finishes what's left in her glass and lets the momentum of the swing carry her from seated to strolling towards the cluster around the man in the white skull mask. She holds out her glass when the Nox'alfar's bottle strays close.

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask has joined the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask just like the Phoenix, finds a wide enough area to also spread its wings, lifting them slowly to twirl around in unison to its fiery feathered companion.


AXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXA
/\XXXXXAt first glance appearingXXXXX/\
/\\ a normal bolero embroidered and //\
//\\beaded with scales of icy blues//\\
///\\XXXXand purest white, theXXXX//\\\
////\\wearer raises their arms to//\\\\
/////\\ reveal wings that reach //\\\\\
//////\\XXXa span eight feetXXX//\\\\\\
///////\\between the wingtips.//\\\\\\\
////////\\XXXbeads sparkleXXX//\\\\\\\\
/////////\\ like fresh snow //\\\\\\\\\
//////////\\in the sunlight//\\\\\\\\\\
///////////\\as the wearer//\\\\\\\\\\\
////////////\\XXXmoves.XX//\\\\\\\\\\\\
/////////////U\___[V]___/U\\\\\\\\\\\\\
/////////////UUUUUUUUUUUUU\\\\\\\\\\\\\
//////////////UU.UUUUU.UU\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
////////////////:UUUUU:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
X///////////////:-----:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
XX//////////////:XXXXX:\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
XXX/////////////:XXXXX:\\\\\\\\\\\\\
XXXX'///////////XXXXXXX\\\\\\\\\\\'
XXXXX'/////////XXXXXXXXX\\\\\\\\\'
XXXXXX'-------XXXXXXXXXXX-------'


Someone wearing an impish midnight ebon fox mask looks to the display with amazement.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask blinks a bit as the wind generated by that display of wings rustles her skirts, "Oh, how creative! You must tell me who made your costumes. How clever to make them interactive like that."

Someone wearing a strapping young man wearing a fanged steel mask sees the ice dragon and pheonix spreading their wings, and raises them by raising his arms and twirls about, flapping them. "Lots of wings tonight."

"Thank you, dear," the man in the prickly bloom mask says, appeased. "Now excuse me while I go get one of those robes. I have to send one to Elloise." He points a finger back at the white skull as he walks off. "Another joke! I'm full of whimsy and delight."

Someone wearing a prickly spiny bloom mask gets a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask gold-flecked green eyes watch even more wings. Holy wings! "Now if you both could only fly,"she says with a brief smile and a sip of her drink.

"You're definitely full of something," the white skull says fondly.

The woman with the Nox'alfar wine pours obligingly when an empty glass hovers nearby. She seems willing enough to share the wealth. "Maybe if they move their arms really, really hard."

Fortunato has left the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask laughs at the talk of flight. "Oh, if only! It would be more fun than walking." To the one in the shadowy moon masks she says, "I'll tell you who I am after the contest, and then I can answer your questions."

Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask reaches up to push her mask up and back to allow for drinking. Juniper, exposed! But she smiles with more warmth than a skull can muster, and her eyes show to be twinkling when she sips-- until a doubletake goes winging up at Leona, wiping amusement away. "...oh?" returns to something softly spoken before she shakes her head-- not here, not now. It takes her a moment before she reorients on current conversation. "The problem with flying, I think, would be swallowing bugs."

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask hears the mentioning of bugs and suggests fairly,"Why couldn't a person keep their mouth closed. That would solve that problem I'd think..."

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask chuckles at the comments and twirls its wings a bit more, following the Phoenix afterwards.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask has a sup of her non-Nox'alfar wine and opines, "I rather think the problem with flying would likely be the landing. Flapping your wings to take off seems like it might be easy or at least second nature to those with wings, but how do they learn to land?"

Aendor, a grim-faced House Acheron guard, Faleena, a prim and proper lady's maid leave, following Umbroise.

"But it'd be worth it!" calls someone wearing a blackwood skull mask to Juniper. "To fly, I think I'd swallow a hundred - no a thousand bugs! Unless they were bees..."

"Spiders eat bugs and seem to come out of it okay. As it is I eat chickens and cows, so perhaps a diet of bugs will get me back into my pre-pregnancy outfits." Shimmering Sun pats his tummy. "Though I imagine it would take a lot of bugs to feel full."

"You can't pick and choose the bugs you swallow when you're flying!" Juniper-as-Copper Skull calls back to they of the blackwood skull. So easily restored to good humour, her grin is evident until she tugs down the mask to conceal it again. "Landing at least you could practice over water. Skim low, dive in..."

Attendants begin to circulate with small pieces of paper, large enough to write a name on.

The same figure as before steps out from the small group in the smoke trees, her laughter soft as she departs as if she'd just heard a joke. Her words are still peppered with amusement as she announces, "Parchment is going around, please say who you think the best costume of the night is, who is second, and who is third. At the end of the evening, those three will get a prize for their efforts."

(OOC: Just page Carita, please! <3 )

Rinel smiles as she takes a last look around the area and slips out.

Rinel has left the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask finishes off her whiskey,"To fly, it would all be worth it!

The woman with the green eyes smiles a hard smile at the Copper Skull. "Don't make promises you don't intend to finish. You can't just call it changing your mind in the service of Lagoma, Archlectrix." But there's a soft whuff of breath from her - is that laughter?

Insaya has left the Fireside Chairs.

Liho, a small black cat, Confessor Dale, 3 Armed Confessors, Jack leave, following Insaya.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask has left the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a lacy web-spun mask of spider silk has left the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask settles back down. "Well that was fun!"

Someone wearing a lacy web-spun mask of spider silk has joined the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask grins at the Nox'alfar woman because there's little else a skull can do /but/ grin. But there's a marked hesitation before she inclines her head in respectful fashion. "Wise words, your highness," she answers. "And certainly something to keep in mind. Especially when every breath's a promise, in its own way." This she punctuates with a lift of her drink, a delicate sip taken beneath the chin of her mask.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask has left the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask has joined the Elvenbane Bench.

Someone wearing a northern winters wind mask slips her mask off as she escapes the possible mischief she's created.

Arcadia has left the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a carved blackwood skull mask takes a very long drink of his wine with a suitable death stare given to Northern Winters Wind as she departs. He sighs, but, smiles again as an attendant arrives with a new glass of wine.

Someone wearing an impish midnight ebon fox mask looks over to the Nox'alfar, offering a little polite nod, if for no other reason than in respect to an elven member of the community visiting. He seems to be in his thoughts though, for what can be seen from the mask.

Someone wearing a wickedly decadent arachid mask has left the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask retreats back towards the swing, towards Teemo. It /is/ a retreat, no bones about it, chin tucked and sidelong gaze fixed on the elven woman as she goes. As before, she opts to sit on the ground to the side of the garden path. Curled there, a blotch of dark linen against softer shades, she lowers her head and works fingers up beneath her mask to rub at half-hidden eyes.

"I am often wise," Elisia responds loftily, but now there's a sparkle of humor in her eyes. "Wise and bloodthirsty. But honorable. My nature," she says and her grin is toothy. "But I'm just here to honor Luca, who died worshipping the Queen he loved with at least half his heart." She shakes her head. "At least it wasn't a boring death. He'd have been heartsick about that." One finger is tracing the skull-shaped pommel of her sword, though the man in the fox mask who nods at her catches her attention long enough that she nods once in return. Though the Copper Skull's retreat doesn't escape her notice, she seems content enough to let the woman go, returning her attention to the man in the white skull mask and leaning in to ask him something.

"Boring, his death was definitely not," the white skull says. His laugh is a little edged, on the end of a cough, and he chases it with a swallow from the glass. He murmurs something more quietly in answer to Elisia, and then reaches up, half-consciously, to thread his fingers through the loose fall of his golden hair. "I honor Luca Grayson with each glass I drink and with each duel on which I bet, which apparently we aren't supposed to do."

"I know this might sound a bit crass to ask, but I was not in Arx when he died," begins the man with the fanged mask. "How exactly did he die? I know he died in a dancing competition against the queen's favorite priest, but why?"

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask wanders into the gardens peering this way and that before overhearing the fanged masked man and making a quiet *tut* sound before heading for some of the refreshments.

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask picks up a handily available glass of wine. "I honor Prince Luca by falling asleep in public places and making a spectacle of myself at every opportunity!"

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask has left the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask has joined the Elvenbane Bench.

"Did I just hear you're not suppose to bet on duels?" asks the spidersilk mask from her spot at the fireside. "How strange, why not?"

The woman grins now, and her hand closes about the pommel of her sword but she does not draw. "Well enough," she says with a little bow. "But I think I've been here long enough, and it is time for me to do a bit of dancing myself." And just like that, the Nox'alfar woman with the intense green eyes is suddenly the most dangerous person in the room. And the mountain lion's head lifts up as he goes on alert, and in a snigle leap he bounds over to her and they exit.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask gets a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing a strapping young man wearing a fanged steel mask gets a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing a strapping young man wearing a fanged steel mask gets Queen of Endings Lantern of Remembrance from a sleek oak armoire with ebony inlays and dangling spider motif.

"Farewell, Elisia," says the man in swirling spider's silk, with a little bow, his hand fisted over his heart. "Oh, I'm sure _you_ can," the white skulled face says with an airy wave. "I'm just not supposed to, because of etiquette, or something."

Captain Teemo, a mountain lion cub, Flappinum, a human with many opinions leave, following Leona.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask gets Queen of Endings Lantern of Remembrance from a sleek oak armoire with ebony inlays and dangling spider motif.

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask takes a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

"The point of learning etiquette is so one knows /when/ a rule may be safely broken." She tilts the glass she'd been drinking from and sets the rest aside untouched. "And few things sweep a crowd up with excitement and energy than a proper duel."

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask takes a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing grinning white skull mask glances at his glass of wine, glances around the room curiously, and wonders, "Am I dead yet?"

Caspian has left the Secluded Smoke Trees.

Anya, the cool as an ice cube Champion apprentice, Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette leave, following Caspian.

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask has joined the Fireside Chairs.

"Not unless we all are." The man in the spiny prickly mask returns to stop near the white skull, now with a glass of wine in one hand and a robe thrown over one shoulder. It sort of ruins the whole Look, but he either doesn't care or doesn't notice. "Shall I pinch you?" he asks white skull.

"Would you get some kind of enjoyment out of that?" the skull asks the bloom gravely.

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask shrugs at skull mask. "If you aren't, just wait."

Someone wearing a carved blackwood skull mask chuckles overhearing the copper skull's remark. He drinks the rest of his wine, and turns to someone wearing a spider silk mask. He bows, saying, "I've had a wonderful evening, My Lady. You do great honor to the Queen, and I look forward to hearing who's costume turns out to be the favorite, though I must be getting back home to rest."

"Can't know until I try," prickly bloom answers serenely.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask takes Queen of Endings Lantern of Remembrance from a sleek oak armoire with ebony inlays and dangling spider motif.

Rysen has left the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing a lacy web-spun mask of spider silk is overheard praising Harlequins.

Someone wearing a prickly spiny bloom mask is overheard praising Harlequins.

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask is overheard praising Harlequins.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask takes Queen of Endings Lantern of Remembrance from a sleek oak armoire with ebony inlays and dangling spider motif.

Someone wearing Copper Skull with Rosebud Crown mask rocks up to her feet again. "It /was/ lovely, thank you so very much," she says to their hosts (one of those etiquette rules /not/ to be broken). "I ought to be getting back as well, and whatever was in that wine is having an... odd effect. But thank you. Gods bless and keep you all." On that note-- and after a detour for the party's promised swag, much admired-- she makes her way out.

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask takes a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask is overheard praising Harlequins: A magnificent event!

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask is overheard praising Carita: Wonderful details on the event planning!

Juniper has left the Cushioned Bench Swing.

Layne, the withered veteran leaves, following Juniper.

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask takes a luxurious cozy robe in the colors of the Crown House of Arx from Lounging Robe Wardrobe.

Someone wearing a gorgeous monarch butterfly mask takes Queen of Endings Lantern of Remembrance from a sleek oak armoire with ebony inlays and dangling spider motif.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask has left the Elvenbane Bench.

Thea has left the Fireside Chairs.

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask looks out over the thinning crowd of masquerade goers, finishing off his first goblet of wine. His attention briefly lingers on the fiery phoenix masked figure and the ebon fox masked one as well before he makes a comment to those around the fireside chairs.

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask finishes off his glass and passes it off to someone who is either a server, satisfied at a job well done, or one deeply confused guest. "So when do I get my prize?"

"Awfully presumptuous of you!" the phoenix calls to the sun.

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask clucks his tongue. "Am I not the sun?" He offers the phoenix the slightest tilt of his head. "Not to worry. Though you may fall tonight, surely at the next masq you will rise up and claim first prize!"

"Nonsense sun! I would dare bet the phoenix here might actually rise from the ashes to the ocassion." comments the ice dragon.

"The sun is overrated and oft times the cause of to much heat. Where is the silver lined cloud my elders told me to look for when things were dark or the soothing moonlight by which lovers dare to get caught." the cowberry masked figure calls from the fireside chairs, bothering a server to replenish his wine glass.

The spider-silk masked figure gasps at the Cowberry when he leans her way to murmur something. "Trying to. Not actually doing." His arm is then patted as she rises, or was that several smacks? Amusement dancing in her eyes at the banter between the Phoenix and Sun. "First place goes to a fearsome and fiery phoenix. You were certainly well-liked, congratulations."

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask offers a brief applause as the spider-silk masked figure assaults him (classfully) during her announcement.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask seems to hand over something to the Phoenix.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask shouts from nearby, ""Yeah! Congratulations Phoenix!"

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask rises, spreads her wings, and bows deeply.

Carita has left the Fireside Chairs.

Greguin, an organized priest have been dismissed.

3 Templar Knight guards have been dismissed.

Binky, an asshole crow have been dismissed.

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask has joined the Elvenbane Bench.

"Second prize goes to..." The sprider-silk masked woman pauses, sighing softly as she glances around. "... where did the Sun go?" Here, her eyes sparkle with amusement as she dips her head his way. "Congratulations, you were the second most popular."

"A rivalry mayhap, will we see them as the red moon ball sporting the same masks vying for a rematch?" the cowberry masked man wonders with an audible gulp of wine to follow.

"The next time there is a masquerade," says the phoenix, "I plan to go even bigger."

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask shakes his head as he steps up to collect his prize. "Perhaps. Though mayhaps we should exchange costumes and then see who wore it best." He looks over at the phoenix and gives a quick nod. "I think that skirt would be rather flattering."

Someone wearing a fearsome and fiery phoenix mask laughs. "Does your costume come with Lady Moon as well? It's not fair if I only get half the set."

"This is a lesson to anyone throwing a party like this, if you want to give your partygoers a prize for their efforts, do it sooner rather than later." The lacy masked woman says, "Third place goes to the skull that just left. I'll have to messenger it."

"Do you know who that was?" the phoenix asks of the woman in the lacy mask.

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask claps along with the announcement then lifts his wine glass, "To the Hostess who gives gardens and prizes, with charm enough to entertain the Phoenix and the Sun themselves."

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask chuckles at the spider's comment. "That may be quite difficult, no?"

"Certainly not, how many skulls could possibly be wandering around Arx at any given time?" The Moon asks.

Nodding, the lacy masked woman smiles though the lace. "No, not in this case."

Someone wearing shimmering sun mask sets his hand on his chest. "I believe it was that dashing, and handsome, young rake, Prince Niklas Grayson."

Someone wearing a lacy web-spun mask of spider silk says, "I mean, I know who it was. It's not difficult!"

"Oh was it now?" she phoenix says, amused. "And how would you know that?"

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask laughs. "Now, now, Phoenix let's not spoil the fun! We all know spiders have eyes everywhere! Surely that's how she knows!"

"My question was directed to the Sun," the phoenix replies. "Why don't we reveal ourselves then, so we know who our masked rivals are?"

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask looks around and laughs again. "Oh my apologies, with all these masks and ongoing conversations is hard to keep track of who spoke to whom."

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask checked stamina + survival at difficulty 60, rolling 9 lower.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 24 higher.

"Like the sun, I'm afraid, I am far too dazzling to look upon." The Sun turns and offers the Spider a bow. "A fantastic evening, o mysterious host! Thank you ever so much." Then he moves to extend an arm to the moon. "Shall we be off, my love?"

Someone wearing a shadowy moon mask rises from her seat, all silvery radiance as the golden sun moves towards her, "Of course. Thank you for the conversation and pulling me from my reverie," she says to the dragon and the phoenix, "I'll have to figure out who you are and thank you properly later."

"Very well, Lord Sun. Until next time!" The phoenix lifts her wings high and uses a series of short, rapid flaps to make them shimmer.

Someone wearing magnificent ice dragon mask bows to the host as well and then looks over to the Phoenix. "Shall we too take our leave then, sister?"

Someone wearing Cowberry domino mask offers his arm to the web-spun masked figure in shadow and lace, "If the hostess has no one more charming to depart with, I would be happy to help her direct the servants to clean up."

"I think so. The hour is late." The phoenix give a bow with her wings splayed to the lady in the spider lace. "This was a wonderful event. Thank you again!"

Dipping a curtsey at the compliments given, "Thank you all for coming." the spider-silk masked woman says, then sighs at Cowberry, shaking her head. "They know what they're doing, but you can give me a piggyback ride home." Though if she lets him, or if she's serious, is hard to tell -- since she's already walking off without him.