Lady Teonia Redreef, Aryka Wyrmfang, 3 Thrax Guards, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog, 2 Thrax Elite Guards arrive, following Sorrel.

2 Pravus Honor Guard, Abram, an ornamental hermit arrive, following Matteo.

With Sir Floppington at her side, Scout Rowenova shows up with a bright smile despite the muzzle shade in which she is ultimately framed by wolfy headdress. Striding forth on her booted feet on the sandy beach, she heartily waves then shouts out with Northern lungs, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUR GRACE."

The beach is alive with people, and why wouldn't it be, what with the food and drinks that are available for any and all that wish to partake. This is a surprise party for Victus after all, whose tastes don't run to the Queensrest that it might for his wife. Though the actual events are not proceeding apace until the birthday man arrives, but rumor has it he's on his way down. For now though, tables with more hearty and simple fare are being seen to and simple drinks both alcoholic and not are being poured for those in want.

Alarissa herself is carefully guiding her husband down the steps to the beach. "Maxene spoke to something happening at Mangata's statue and I thought perhaps you might enjoy some fresh air and exercise." Astrid waits as well, down by the beach with Maxene and other members of the house, fresh from Brighthold where the ship from Maelstrom brought her to. In the distance the whirlpool can be seen, still then, ever churning.

Thea comes walking down to the beach, Finn naturally at her side. She's heard Rowenova before she's even gotten all the way down. Thea amusedly shakes her head and directs her feet that way. Finn? He runs off toward Sir Floppington. He's made friends too you know!

Lydia follows Rowenova because that's what she's been doing since she left Redrain. She looks about the beach like a tourist, never having visited here before in her memory. She weaves her way through the crowd to a good place to watch the descent, snagging a glass of something wet along the way to raise in toast when the time comes.

2 Halfshav skilled veteran guards arrives, following Brianna.

The two hounds happily play, Sir Floppington a bit older but still spunky despite his greying edges.

There's a slight hobble to the Prince of Maelstrom's gait when he is making it down to the beaches. Every now and then, Victus raises a hand toward his chest and gently presses on the cotton shirt beneath his coat. It usually follows with a grunt or grumble of somethong obscene. He's escorted by his dozen guards, the feline companion that's perched atop his shoulder, and the paddling otter that jogs under his coat tails. After making it all the way down to the beach, he lets out a long sigh. Followed by a quick scan of the area. People. Lots of people. Food and drink too.

"... Well." The High Lord dips a hand into his pocket. "Guess we're doing a party-thing."

A newcomer comes wandering down the beach from the direction of the city. Aswin Ulbran is outfit, as typical, in some rather ordinary looking leathers rather than any fancy party wear. His hands are slid into his pockets and his stride is casual as he approaches the group, his eyes shifting from face to face as he attempts to see if there are any that he knows.

"Surprise. Though this had been planned before you aggravated shrubbery. Happy birthday. Though you cannot run the gauntlet, you can at least judge if it was well done enough to your satisfaction or not. Perhaps cleave some cake to be shared." And as if on queue, there's a torpedo of a five year old running toward her father and ramming into his knees. No lick of her in proper princess clothing befitting her station. More what Victus would let her run around in and the little wooden axe at her side. "You can set the gauntlet to start dear husband. But surprise."

Alarissa gestures to the gathering crowd. "Another year survived."

Sunaia makes her way down to join the festivities barefoot, with her boot-laces knotted up and tossed over her right shoulder. She darts a quicksilver glance around, offering a close-mouthed smile that threatens to tilt toward a grin. She pauses, sets a hand over her heart, and she sketches a bow. "Happy Birthday to the Highlord of Thrax --" with pale cheeks ruddy from too much sun, she blows out a breath and straightens. "Is anyone accepting gifts on behalf of his Grace?"

Sorrel is here. She's already hit the rum table. She has a glass of rum in one hand and is looking for the nanny who let the heir escape. Presumably so more small Thrax royals don't escape also.

Maxene with a bevy of sea serpent liveried servants step forward at Sunaia's question with a quick offer to take any gifts that may be brought.

To Lydia and Thea, Nova smiles back. "Hey hey. Are you both going to play?" Then, she motions out toward the gauntlet before them. "It is so impressive! Well done, Your Grace!" That is aimed at Alarissa who came up with it all.

Brianna strides down to the beach, a nearly-ten-year-old strawberry blonde boy in tow. The boy spots Astrid, and all decorum is out the window. He runs over to give her a bear hug, taps her on the head and shouts, "YOU'RE IT, NO TAKE BACKS" and fakes off down the beach. Lady Brianna bows her head politely to the High Lord and Lady of Thrax. "We are still perfecting manners," she says with a long-suffering sigh.

Nodding eagerly, Lydia bounces on the balls of her bare feet. "Of course! I was surprised with my invitation and my own gift-at-hand is my abject humiliation in such things. Pray Victus survives the laughter to live another year!"

Victus lets out a proper 'oomph' as Astrid slams into his legs. He reaches down to pat his daughter on the head and distract her attention at the same time. "Yes, hi. Go play with that strange Northern boy." Off she goes. The Prince's first instinct takes him over toward one of the benches where he can plant his roots for the time being. "Are there real sharks...?" This directed toward his wife as he settles in. "I really don't need gifts. I got all the stuff I need to have." Slump. Already blowing off any semblance of stiff and proper posture.

Thea looks over to Victus first, the Malvici offering him a nod,"Happy birthday, Your Grace." That's one. To Alarissa, she smiles at her as well. "I think you succeeded in the surprise. And the gauntlet looks well--that looks pretty amazing, Your Grace." Thea looks over to Rowenova and nods,"Well of course I am! But first I need a drink." That said, Thea goes over and spies Sorrel. She obviously has the right idea. "Princess Sorrel. How are you,"Thea greets her as she reaches for a glass.

Aswin doesn't really seem to know anyone present as of yet, but he does send a nod of greeting toward Sorrel on his way to get a drink. Once there is alcohol in hand, the Ulbran turns to gain a view of the Gauntlet, crossing his arms over his chest before he takes a drink.

"Gracious no, not real sharks. Just sailors from our ships happy and willing to dress up as them and wrestle." Those sharks, are probably not Jerks. Alarissa watches as Astrid imidiately takes off to play with that strange northern boy as Victus puts it. AS people greet and bow, Alarissa dips her head and someone is on hand to tend to whatever drinks that Victus may want. "Each is a reference point to his Grace's years alive. Notable moments, at least that I know of. Far more enjoyable I'm sure now, than they were at the time. I do hope you have fun. There is a special prize for the winner." People line up, ready to take a crack. "Everyone will probably run it better with a few drinks in them."

Sunaia has joined the Wooden Picnic Table.

Sorrel lifts her rum to those who are joining her at the drunks table. Er, drinks table. "I'm pretty good," she says to Thea easily enough. "Especially since the staff has my children well in hand at the moment. I think last year my son peed into the bay. Just, y'know, because he had to go. Ugh. Toddlers. He's bigger now."

A Prince of Pravus, it is likely no surprise that Matteo shows up late. It's likely more of a surprise that he was invited at all, but word does spread when invited from whisper to whisper. He meanders his way down to the beach, dressed in black silks with his rubicund sword at his hip, his curls ever wind-mussed and skin bronzed like a sailor. He walks with an old man dressed in the Northern robes of a shaman, conversing with him with soft laughter shared between them. As he reaches a servant with a drink tray, he snags a glass of whatever is handiest and most popular.

Brianna saunters up behind Sorrel and wraps an arm around her waist. "Don't say that too loud. His Grace might get ideas," she stage-whispers.

Thea checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 57 higher. Thea rolled a critical!

"Fish pee in the bay too," Sunaia offers, stepping up to accept a drink from the refreshments table. She sticks her nose in the glass, snuffles the contents, and she takes a drink from it. "Ooh, oof. Rum. Good stuff."

Thea checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 7 higher.

Thea checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 6 higher. Thea rolled a critical!

Thea checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 11 higher.

Thea checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 5 higher.

Thea checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 4 lower.

Thea checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Thea checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Thea checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 3 lower.

Thea checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher.

Thea checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

As the dogs play nearby, Rowenova awws softly about what Lydia recently spake. "Well, it is the thought that counts!" She lifts up a wave to Caleb as well as Brianna her Halfshav before she moves by Aswin with a nod. "Gonna play?"

Haakon is late to the revel, wandering down the path from the main road and pausing to cast a slow look over the festivities underway. "Damnation, but this is.. something," the Prodigal mutters to himself. Checking his offering, Haakon takes a second look about and weighs where to wade in.

From the way of the docks lumbers some sailors, or one presumes them to be sailors, dressed in costumes meant to look like sharks. And they do. Comically of course and with holes for their faces to poke through. But glittery sharks with fins descend upon the party and head for the wrestling ring, ready to fight.

Aswin sidles up to the Gauntlet as Thea readies herself to begin her run. He watches her progress for a moment, but eventually that fellow in the shark outfit catches his eye. The Ulbran moves over toward the ring that he occupies and looks in at him for a moment, sizing up the fellow before he turns his glass of rum up and drains the contents. "I'll give you a go," he comments in toward the shark before he drops his cup to the sand and crawls through the ropes.

Pulling one arm across his chest to stretch out his shoulder, and then the other, he moves toward the man. Squatting to a ready position, his strategy seems mostly to bait the shark-man into lunging for him, then dodging at the last moment, trying to cause the man to overbalance in the sand. He is doing pretty well, given his quickness, and eventually the Shark goes down and Aswin has his arm pulled behind his back, twisting hard to try and get the fellow to submit.

When her name is called, Thea's off-toward CAKE! Taking a large ass weapon, she hacks that sucker in half. That's right! Huh. Who would have thought? That done, she's off to the dingy's. Carefully, she one by one hops each one. Her long legs making lead way. Managing not to fall. When Thea has finally made the ship(Thank Gods), she starts searching for a glass. Please please please don't be octopi. Please please please. Finding something, she takes a glass(rum),before continuing on. Thea has managed to pass her rolls, clothes for the most part in tack. AND getting back across the dingy. AGAIN! Thank the GODS!

2 Pravus Honor Guard, Abram, an ornamental hermit leave, following Matteo.

An awkward flipper points toward himself and the shark looks surprised but then elated. And so a crowd gathers around the shark wrestling arena and as soon as Aswin is ready and the individual handling the ring rings an actual bell, the man dives forward. All sharky limbs making for the Ulbran. The suit makes things awkward for the sailor but they're well matched as they start to fight in the sand. But the suit also makes it easier for his opponent to grab him and throw him to the ground as the the last grasp gets him turned around and indeed that arm twisted behind him, the other flipper of the suit is smacking onto the ground in submission. "Mercy!" He calls out.

Once Thea has finished her run at the Gauntlet, and he has finished shark wrasslin', Aswin makes his way back toward the obstacle course. He is panting a little bit from the exertion, but he seems to be ready enough to make a run at it. He brushes the sand from his hands on his chest, then promptly spits into them and rubs them together. Once he has begun, the Ulbran seems intent on trying to make it through the gauntlet as quickly as possible. He hefts the huge weapon and has an easy enough time cleaving the cake, even if the weapon does seem a bit clumsy in his hands. He has an easier time hopping across the dingy's, the distance and rocking motion not seeming to bother him overly much. Once on the deck of a ship he glances around wildly, then shrugs his shoulders before picking a net at random and pulling up... a shark filled with rum! Then on to that long plank that he scurries across while dodging the kraken's tentacles. When he is on to the next challenge, he somehow manages to make it through without breaking anything he isn't supposed to, and then he hops across the dingy's again before landing on the beach and taking up the spear and weaving through the obstacles between himself and the statue of Mangata. Taking up the conch, he blows out a blast before yelling out an entirely unconvincing sailor's curse.

Sunaia has left the Wooden Picnic Table.

Haakon eyes the sailor-sharks with a raised brow, muttering something under his breath before finding stands of paper beside brushes and pots of ink. A sharp sniff, and the Prodigal lingers for several minutes there, making a little piece of illustration. He looks up at times to see how a few familiar faces fare on the gauntlet.

Thea exhales and looks over at Rowenova. She grins a bit, telling her,"That was fun..."downing the rum she left on the table.

Sir Floppington the Soulful Hound have been dismissed.

When it's her turn, Lady Brianna eyes the gauntlet with the utmost seriousness. First, the cakes. In the battle between pastry and an alaricte blade, the pastry rarely wins, especially when it's Brianna holding the blade. Sorry cakes. The strange Northern boy on the beach stops trying to shove sand down the back of another child's shirt to cheer for her as she makes her way almost effortlessly across the dinghys. Isn't Whitehold landlocked? And isn't her husband the one Thrax who hates boats? Huh.

Once on board the ship, Brianna eyes the buckets, pulling up a glass shark bottle of rum. She takes a moment to dramatically open the bottle and take a swig before setting it down -- that Champion showmanship is in her blood. Setting the bottle down, she makes her way nimbly across the plank, dodging the thrown objects, even catching a few and throwing them back. Then it's the climbing. She might still be strong and nimble, but lately heights make her queasy. She manages to grab three items, but two bottles of perfume come crashing down to the deck. Whoops. Oh, well, no use crying over spilled perfume. She runs and hops her way back across the dingys, weaves around the spears, and arrives at the shrine to Mangata, raising the conch to her lips and blowing until her lungs scream. She falls to her hands and knees in the sand, catching her breath.

At the cake table, Lydia carefully sizes up her target. She rubs her chin as she looks down upon it. She crouches tableside to observe it layer-on. Nodding to herself she picks up a huge double-headed axe, struggles briefly with its weight, then brings it down upon her cake broad-side. Pieces of cake fly everywhere. Like shrapnel, taking out many nearby the table. A good portion of cake splats against Lydia's face and slides down her décolletage. Satisfied the cake is in at least 4 pieces, Lydia moves on.

Lydia rushes the line of dinghys, hopping one, two, three. It is on the forth that her toe catches the rim of a dinghy and spinning heels-over-head into the drink she goes. Some of the cake is tossed from her body by centrifugal forces, the rest spreads about her in the water to feed the fishes.

Climbing out of the ocean, her silk dress is stuck to her body. The Shark Fishing is pure luck. But it helps to read the rules before rushing in. Crossing her fingers and adding please, not a shark, not a shark, she casts her lure. Of course she gets a shark! Exactly what she didn't want! She turns it in with an adorable pout.

It is at the Kraken's Pass that all hope of getting the salt water out of silk goes out the window. Cloth drenched in oil slap at her body, ripping holy terror out of the silk, but she dances her way along. She almost seems to enjoy the tentacles having their way with her body, using each blow to spin herself along the plank. That is, until the dog-headed whale knocks her right in the back of the skull. She tumbles from the plank, a sickening thud upon the sea. It is a few moments before she can be seen climbing up the side of the next ship waving, looking like she's shouting "I'm okay, I'm okay" over her shoulder. But it might just be "ow that hurt", it's hard to tell.

Talk about a wardrobe malfunction, the torn neckline of her dress is more open, significantly lower than when she started. Her dress has lots of slits now to show off her graceful legs. She races toward the foremast, oily feet sometimes slipping on the teak deck, but she keeps her feet and climbs the rigging. She claims jewels, dangling bottles of perfume, anything she can toss about her neck and keep moving. From the forsail line she tucks a stuffed kraken under one arm. At the end, she snags a couple strips of fabric and tosses them over a descending line, holding both ends. If there are cries of "are you crazy" from the crowd she doesn't hear them. She slides down the line like a... um... like anything but a pro, crying out in delight.. um.. or maybe abject terror as gravity adds to her momentum. Her prize necklaces flail about her neck, beads and perfume and ribbons in wild chaos. But through it all she hangs on to her kraken and delivers him, and by some miracle every gathered prize safely to the deck.

Oh no, the dinghys again. With more care, she tries to make her way across, but after everything she's already beyond the limits of her stamina. She takes a gracefull stumble and hits the water back-side first. Holding her stuffed Kraken above her head and out of the wet, she slowly returns to shore.

Climbing the sands, she simply plants one bare foot after another, non-stop. It is at the tree she catches her breath, and picks up the Conch shell. She shouts out aloud, "Bless you, Mangata, Goddess of sea and breeze, for all those who keep their composure as they face adversity. She presses her lips to the shell and blows a single, pristine note, clear and loud, as if the Goddess answers her in its tone. And, satisfied, she saunters her way off the gauntlet, drenched, bedraggled, and clothed in silken shreds that by some miracle give her a last remaining modicum of modesty. Nothing can take away her dignity.

TL;DR Don't. I survived. I had way too much fun writing this and I'm very very sorry.

Haakon gets Water of Life from Belt.

The Thrax Gauntlet? Sorrel is a pro. It turns out that Sorrel is a really excellent cake cutter. It's really spectacular watching her cleave cakes artfully, almost like a cake cutting dance, charming and almost airy and just utterly perfect. And then on to dingy-hopping, which she does just as artfully, her glass of rum still in her hand. She sips it delicately. Plus, she almost immediately finds herself a shark while fishing! She makes it look easy.

The Kraken's Pass? Sorrel pirouettes her way through it, dancing charmingly across the gangplank, not spilling a drop of rum. She tosses about objects in the wardrobe section, and she shows no mercy to a couple of the toys. Back to dingy-hopping? This time a mid-air pirouette, because she's just showing off at this point. She takes up the conch shell and toots it loudly, then throws back the remainder of her glass of rum.

That being done, Sorrel stalks back to the drink table for a refill.

Rowenova wields a steel ulu with an antler handle and copper fixings.

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

Although an ulu might not be the kind of weapon for which Victus is known, Rowenova pulls one off her belt and then rocks it (quite literally) through every cake that she must encounter until they are in even quarters. Then, the calculating scout dashes forth with precision hops between each dingy then ultimately fishes up that glass shark which is all filled with black rum but which she does not drink just yet. She dashes up the gang plank before then relying heavily on being the Luckiest Woman in the Dream (or so she thinks), carefully collecting the High Lady's items without a broken one at all then taking along the whole bundle she has gathered so far as she dingy hops again, and again. Finally, she makes it to the sands and shuffles stuff to one arm before picking up the spear which she takes with her, too, then reaches out, snatches up the Conch shell and blows it with those mighty Northern lungs! After, "THANK YOU!" Then, she puts the conch down, takes the spear from her cradling arm and then violently plants it in the sand. And, that is that!

Lydia applauds, cheering Rowenova on from near the exit as she quits the field.

Brianna has joined the Wooden Picnic Table.

Brianna cheers for Sorrel and Nova, then walks over to the drinks table, opting for lemonade as she sits down, a sweaty mess.

With Rowenova's attempt at the gauntlet, which has seen a great many people commoner and noble alike, it's a hard thing to track. But the ones in charge of doing such have been watching like a hawk and when the runs are all done, Alarissa's being brought the results even as others are stepping up to paint, or wrestle a shark. Oh but people enjoy wrestling sharks it seems. Astrids taking her crack at painting her father.

After her run, Nova bows to those who cheered for her. "Thank you." says she, doing so in a softer tone than the one used to thank Mangata a moment ago. Then, she pops up to her full height and carefully arranges all the items that have been gathered where they should go.

There's a consultation with Victus before Alarissa rises from the bench that they are seated at. There's a clinking of the back end of an ornamental dagger on a bottle of of rum. "Thank you for coming and partaking in his Grace's surprise gauntlet. After careful counting of the points awarded, and my abject apologies that the prize was not yet ready for the winner by the time we came here but I have been assured that it will be tomorrow, I would like to award third place in the gauntlet to Lady Brianna." There's a gesture with her arm to the Halfshav noble. "Second to Scout Rowenova, a good show. But first place is to Princess Sorrel." A gesture to the Thraxian Princess. "And a notable showing by the Duchess Nightgold, to whom you may keep the Kraken as a momento. Please. EAt, drink, be merry, wrestle a shark or paint his Grace in squid ink." Alarissa smiles, dipping her head to everyone.

Alarissa is overheard praising Sorrel: First place in the guantlet!

Alarissa is overheard praising Rowenova: Second place in the gauntlet!

Alarissa is overheard praising Brianna: Third place in the gauntlet

Alarissa is overheard praising Thea: For praticipating!

Alarissa is overheard praising Aswin: For participating

Alarissa is overheard praising Lydia: For doing her best!

Alarissa is overheard praising Victus: Happy Birthday to the High Lord of Thrax

Sorrel is overheard praising Victus.

After OCDly arranging the items gathered, Nova merrily chimes. "Good job!" Then, she gathers up a whole bunch of party food into a couple boxes here. Though, she does seem to be eating on some of the meaty bits every so often!

Aswin waits to hear the results of the Gauntlet before he offers a few claps toward the winners. He makes one last pass by the drink table to take up another glass of rum before he begins to head back up the beach in the direction of the city.

Lydia is overheard praising Sorrel.

Lydia is overheard praising Rowenova.

Lydia is overheard praising Brianna.

Lydia is overheard praising Alarissa: The most wonderful host!

Sorrel seems delighted that she's won. So delighted, in fact, that she has another class of rum.

smooshes her Kraken to her chest, but in a sudden panic remembers just how wet she is and quickly brushes it as dry as possible.

After the winners are announced and Thea has done her mingling and gives her goodbyes, she starts to walk off toward the city. She offers a wave and a smile,"This was fun. Thank you. I hope His Grace enjoyed his birthday..."

Finn the large Northern hunting dog with icy blue eyes, Rocco, the rascally assistant leave, following Thea.

After loading up the two boxes and ultimately ensuring they are strapped up, Nova heartily waves to Victus, "May you have a blessed rest of your birthday and heal well, Your Grace. Thank you, too, Your Other Grace."