Thankfully the staff at the Valardin Manor are are very good at getting things set up! All of the usual banquet tables are arranged neatly and additional large tables have been hauled in from the Laurent Manse just in case. There's abundant food and snacks. There are a variety of maps spread out, allowing for guests to pick and choose from different campaigns. Some are bigger than others and games can be played one versus one or as teams with multiple people. There are armies comprised of tiny pewter figurines and a stack of playing cards with different moves to be played.

Cristoph is sort of milling around like he always is at the start of these things. He's inspecting one of the tables when guests begin to arrive, in some deep conversation with Marquessa Tyche. He seems very /into/ explaining whatever this game is. "...and that's how I beat my grandfather one time and he was so completely aggravated, he actually thunked his hand on the table. Baron Norwood's grandfather was there too and he had a lot to say about his lack of composure. Like a lot, he talked about it for months. It was really annoying."


Katarina is one of the first to arrive, because war games sound like fun that can be had without physically exerting herself. Sure, that spar at the Training Center was great and all, but nearly a week later Katarina is probably STILL catching her breath. The diminutive Princess dips herself in a curtsy toward Cristoph and Tyche, and looks around at the tables: "Oh! These are adorable!" Exactly what you want to hear your fleet admiral call your war game. "Which domain am I meant to play as? Or am I allowed to choose my own?"

Bayberry, an Oakhaven juvenile bloodhound, Steadfast, a dunskin stallion courser, Bumbling Bees from a Clement bee hive arrive, following Norwood.

"So you're saying that this charming relationship you have with Baron Norwood is hereditary?" Tyche wonders of Cristoph, picking up on the way grandsons seem to mimic grandfathers in their ribbing. She grins, reaching out to pluck up one of the pieces, turning it over in her pale palm. "Mm. If no one thunks their hand on the table tonight, I'm going to call the night a failure," she sets the challenge to him, replacing the piece where she found it. Her gaze lifts to spy the other guests joining, her smile warm. She takes the smallest step to the side, allowing Cristoph the space to play host to the event.

Reigna walks in on Kael's arm, just catching the tail end of Cristoph's story, "If that had been me I would have been extraordinarily proud! But then I have an adversarial relationship with my mother and a predilection for gloating. It is very unseemly and is something I have tried to blunt over the years, lest I pass such things onto the children." Reigna glances up at Kael and gives him a grin. She's standing particuarly close to her husband, as if loathe to let him away from her side.

2 Keaton Huntsmen, Marigold, a cheeky pygmy goat arrive, following Amari.

One of the best parts about arriving to an event held at your own home, is that you can be ready at the last minute and still arrive on time! Arm in arm with Fiachra, they sweep into the dining room just in time to hear a story being told. "Oh no, not the grandfather story again!" Alis quips, completely deadpan even though she's never heard the story before. "Duke Laurent, you are the best host. Marquessa, a pleasure to see you again." Kat she tries to sneak up on to give a quick hug to, before the great grand greeting ritual begins.

Ryhalt enters the room and, seeing the maps laid out on the tables, lifts his eyebrows. "Oh, so there really isn't any risk of Duke Cristoph breaking his arm again because..." He chuckles to himself. "Well, suppose someone could still throw a table at him if things go poorly. Clever." He nods his approval of the game and drifts about from table to table, checking out the maps with an experienced eye.

Katarina checks perception at normal. Katarina fails.

"My grandfather had a very specific view of what he wanted from his nobles." Norwood has been here the whole time and slides right into the conversation. "We almost thought we would lose him when Duke Edmund knighted me, such a scandal." This from the straight laced Norwood.


Katarina is examining one of the miniatures when Alis comes up from behind and hugs her. The veiled Princess actually makes a squeak kind of a noise when she's hugged. Payback for calling painstakingly crafted war miniatures adorable, perhaps. "...Alis...!" she gasps, fixing her askew veil once the hug is over.

Mabelle arrives in the manor clad in tweed from head to toe. Literally. She has a hat on. Scanning the room as she enters she squints at the tables who look utterly familiar to her and raises her eyebrow for a moment before shaking her head, "Oh, tells of Uncle Edmund. What can go wrong?", she greets all the Oathlanders and assuming, "If a brawl will break out here I will be surprised. I'm not sure if pleasantly surprisued, but surprised".

There are not, in fact, a variety of Keaton children that arrive. They might be busy with being sidetracked by the indoor pool or maybe they are actually behaved and in bed. The parents of the horde however, Kael and Reigna, are indeed present and accounted for. As stated, his wife is on his arm and he is not hindering their approach to Duke Laurent and Marquessa Tyche. "Ah, my Liege," he greets, bowing low and deep. "Marquessa." She is not the recipient of a bow, but he nods most amiably. "I..." Whatever he was about to say is lost to Reigna's words. He laughs then, turning his head to press a chaste, albeit absolutely adoring, kiss upon her brow. Ah, there is the Highlord. Naturally he bows to her, holding it for a stretch of time.

"I wouldn't say anything about either of those grumpy old-" Cristoph pauses there as if he begins to realize that him and Norwood behave like grumpy old men together. There's a bit of a resigned sigh, fond, but resigned. "Yes, I guess it /is/ hereditary. I wonder where he is no-" Oh, Norwood is right there, talking to him. "And yet he lived on for several more decades, bestowing his wisdom upon us all even when we wished he wouldn't." The crowd is scanned briefly, "Will you play with me or against me tonight?" he wonders of Tyche, just as she's stepping back for a moment. "Ah, Princess Katarina. Good to see you. You can pick any map that you like, no assigned seating." Laughter erupts when Reigna says that she'd be proud, "Too bad you weren't my grandfather then. Good evening, Marquis Kael. Marquessa Reigna." A warm smile is turned onto Alis when she greets him, "Hello!"

Making his way into the dining room arm-in-arm with Alis, Fiachra lifts his free hand to about shoulder-height to give a jaunty sort of wave to everyone in general. "Grandfather story?" he pauses to ask Alis with a briefly curious look on his face. As Alis slips away to attempt to sneak-hug Alis, he greets her with a smile in an attempt to distract her. "Katarina." The hand waves again and then he's off towards the tables and the drinks. "I'm going to get drinks. Anything in particular you'd like?" This is directed towards Katarina and Alis, though he's already leaning in the direction of said drinks.

"Your Grace," Tyche dips in a curtsy to Alis, a smile for the woman. "Prince Fiachra," to her husband she dips her head. "Marquessa, Marquis," to Reigna and Kael. "I feel like we're having a little reunion, but then I remember you all are frequently in one another's company, and I'm just the odd one out. Good to see you all again," she says before letting her attention be pulled by Norwood and his grandfather stories. She grins, "Baron Norwood, your watching over of Duke Cristoph warms my heart. The only reason I agreed to come tonight was because there would be no horses in sight." Cristoph's question has her eye the table, brow knitting, "Can we play on a team? Then count me on your side, although I am far better at the diplomatic side of war."

Cristoph has joined the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Cerys arrives wearing a new gown, a simple but beautiful garmet made from luxury velvet in a dark shade of sapphire blue with gold stitching that forms embroidery in the shape of roses along the billowing skirts. The sleeves are short and off the shoulder the waistline tight andlaced with golden ribbons. She wears no jewels, her steel colored hair pinned up with golden rose pins as her only accessory. She enters calmly, peering around thoughtfully with a serene gaze. A fox in a house of Oathlanders yet she seems perfectly at ease. Approching the host she curtsies politely and with grace. "Well met Your Grace. I am Princess Cerys Velenosa. I do hope you don't mind my joining you today? I was curious to test my knowledge off battle stradegy...."

Reigna beams up at Kael at the kiss and then turns those friendly eyes to Tyche, offering her fellow Marquessa a smile before looking to Alis and Fiachra. "Your Grace! Prince Fiachra, lovely to see you both. Princess Katarina, your namesake is wondering when she is getting stolen away for another of your adventures. I explained that her auntie is very, very busy these days, but know that you are thought of." Reigna turns to Tyche, her gaze lingering at the space between the Inverno Marquessa and the Laurent Duke, "Oh, I would not say that. You are more than welcome among us, my lady. You are excellent company."

Another Keaton arrives, also without any children in tow, if very small goats don't count as such. "Yes, I know. Try your very best to not eat anything valuable." Amari is saying to her as they breeze in, then she's all polite smiles, nods and bows of her head to the assembled who outrank her. As is usual for her, she doesn't run up and greet anyone in particular, but politely insinuates herself into the scene as an undemanding presence. Spying Mabelle in all that tweed, she ends up alongside to look over her impressive ensemble.

Alban walks in a few moments after Cerys. He is dressed in, well, armor. Sweet, sweet new armor. That shines, and looks nice. He spies his cousin across the hall, and hails him, "Ryhalt! I did not think these sorts of affairs were your cup of coffee," as he walks over to the man.

Alis does so enjoy when Fia helps her cause trouble. So the bright smile she briefly bestows upon Katarina at her surprise is given him as well. "Whiskey!" is called out after him when he asks what drink she'd like. "Marquessa Reigna. Marquis Kael." There's an honest to gods slightly pained look on her face at Kael's insistence on not just bowing but holding it. "Is that your way of challenging me to a game? I accept!" she winks at Reigna after that, turning to smile at Cerys next. "Not at all, Your Highness. Be welcome, enjoy yourself." she encourages, waving towards the tables and the refreshments. "As for being the odd one out, Marquessa Inverno - the best way to fix that will just have to be that you spend more time with us." she points out, with a dimpled smile.

Alis has joined the beginning of the shield sigil table.

With it looking like the room is reasonably full with whoever will be in attendance, Cristoph finds a glass somewhere and rings a fork against it to gather the attention of the room. "Hello everyone! Tonight we'll be playing a game..." and then Cristoph talks about how game is played at length for roughly FIFTEEN ENTIRE MINUTES which undoubtedly feels a lot longer than that and no one will be able to get them back. Minutes of life, lost to the void. And he concludes with, "Choose whichever table and map you'd like. There is a sheet at each with a short list of rules, in case you forget. Remember this is for fun! Let the games begin!" The ringing is done again and he steps back. To Tyche, "Then lets play on a team together. Who are opponents? The Keatons?" he wonders, turning a crooked smile onto Reigna and Kael.

Mabelle calls toward Tyche playfully, "IF you want to win the diplomatic side you want ot me on my team", she winks to her and notices Amari at her side, "Good evening, Lady Amari. Are you hear to save me from not having a change of clothes?". Cerys gets a warm smile from her, "Princess Velenosa, a pleasure to see you here and what a lovely gown if I may add". She exchanges a few whispers with Amari before her eyes land on Fiachra, "Prince Valardin, I do not believe we had the chance to be properly introduced, a pleasure", she notes sure if she should mention her name but adds, "Lady Mabelle Laurent"

Hearing his name, Ryhalt lifts his head from the latest map to grin wryly at his cousin, Alban. "I can't be completely neglectful of such things. I wasn't sure if I would be watching tonight or participating, but I think this might be hilarious diversion from all the seriousness of late. It's good to see you here."

"Nonsense, Marquessa - no reunion. Or rather, if it is, we should find them more often with your company included," says Kael in turn to Tyche. He's grinning though and, with a dipping of his voice, he starts, "You, wife of mine, are going to beat me in these games--" Yet he is cut off with Alis' decree and he stands straight, squaring up his shoulders. "I would be honored, Your Grace." When Cristoph is declaring it a team show, he laughs. "I feel challenged," he says, yet he seems absolutely delighted for it.


Katarina huffs quietly because she got surprise-hugged. She may have lost the hug battle, but the hug war remains to be settled. Still, she curtsies toward Fiachra, and toward Reigna and Kael, and toward whoever else requires a curtsy. "...something not terribly strong, Prince Fiachra, if you do not mind? I suspect I will need my faculties about me for this game." Katarina's attention returns to Reigna: "I'm sure I can always arrange an adventure that just happens to lead inexorably toward, oh, say, that Lottie's shop in the city. I can only imagine what fabled treasures might await there~." Katarina is indeed offering childcare as an excuse to go eat sweets. The devious mind of an admiral at work. She surveys the maps and tables. "I shall play as... the Cloudspine," she decides.

"Yes, he did. I do miss him," Norwood replies to the end of the grandfather conversation with Cristoph and Tyche. He looks at the tables and ponders for three seconds before joining Cristoph and Alis because he CAN.

Norwood has joined the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Mabelle's call to her has Tyche laughing, her hand moving to touch Cristoph on the forearm, "It seems I've already been claimed for the night, Lady Mabelle. Next time we will come together, and destroy all with our diplomacy." To Alis, Kael, Reigna, all claiming she's more than welcome, she smiles. "Wait until you see how well or poorly I play this game, and then consider your open welcome." She moves with the Laurent duke to claim a chair at a table, waiting to see if Reigna and Kael will rise to the challenge he has put out.

And to Norwood, Tyche adds, "You seem to honor him well, if what Duke Cristoph speaks of is true."

Reigna looks between Alis and Cristoph and then up to Kael, "I am onboard to reveal my ineptitude at combat! But who are we playing? Is it three against the pair of us?" Reigna's brows lift and she is grinning, "I will have to dig deep and come up with plenty of stirring speeches to turn the tide of hostile forces in our favor, husband!" Spying Amari, Reigna waves to her favorite cousin and co-Voice, offering Mabelle a smile as well. Looking back to Katarina, Reigna nods, "That would delight Kata, surely."

Tyche has joined the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Katarina has joined the north banquet table.

Although he comes somewhat close to walking into Tyche, Fiachra manages look and stop in plenty of time on his way to the drinks. "Good evening, Marquessa Tyche," he returns pleasantly. "I'm glad to see you could make it." The trip to the drinks is further halted when Reigna and Kael appear and the smile on his face is renewed. "Marquis and Marquessa Keaton," he greets them both with a gentle bow of his head before gesturing the same to Mabelle. "Then it's good to finally be properly acquainted, Lady Mabelle." After nodding once, reassuringly, to Katarina and then winking to Alis, he goes to fetch drinks all while keeping an ear out for Cristoph's introduction and explanation of the games.

Reigna has joined the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Kael has joined the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Ryhalt has joined the west banquet table.

"Lady Mabelle. You're looking very well knit... but did you?" Amari replies and though she sounds serious, her smile betrays the teasing inherent in the question. As Mabelle goes on to greet Cerys and Fiachra, she naturally looks to both in turn and dips her head very politely. There are games afoot however, so her attention is somewhat divided as she watches people begin to sort into teams. "Well, I'd like to play as the Abandoned leader, I think, commanding a wild horde from the North, which map is that?"

"Oh, by all means. I can wait." Alis gestures between the Duke/Marquessa and Marquis/Marquessa combination to play against one another before she horns in on things with personal challenges. "Duke Ryhalt, how nice to see you here." she greets, while taking her seat at the table. "Baron Clement. Lord Alban. Lady Amari, ..." The greetings continue, like a litany. "Lady Mabelle! What fabric is that? I need that in blue! Maybe as a pant set.." her eyes narrow slightly in thought, before she shakes her head. "Ugh, fashion. I'm ashamed of myself."

"Good to see your silver, you mean," Alban says, turning to strike a pose in the new suit he wears, "I have not yet properly thanked you for the contribution, but I do hope it is to your liking." He then looks around the room as individuals move to various tables, and starts to walk off towards one. He gives Cerys a glance as he spots her, and then a wave. Alis gets a greeting, "It is nice to see you again Princess Alis."

Alban has joined the north banquet table.

As people begin moving to the tables to begin their warring, Cristoph starts handing out the cards at his own. "Of course, we're starting on teams now. But maybe there will be betrayal! Who knows." Figurines are pushed into position. Their map is central Compact, focuses on the Lycene Split. "I'll play... House Clement," he decides, flashing a smile to Norwood. "A resourceful barony with some very annoying horses and far too many ducks." He looks from Tyche to the others at the table, leaning in to murmur something before they begin. "Why don't you play House Lyonesse?" Then he taps his fingers on the table.

Mabelle smiles warmly to Reigna and Kael, "It is always beautiful and heart warming to see you both togther, something to aspire to", she winks and scans the room to wonder who she is going to be. Fiachra is flashed a smile as well, "It is indeed good, do enjoy your evening, My Lord". She laughs at Amari's comment and elbows her just a bit, "Yes, I brought a change of clothes. all honeysilk, does that help?", then almost chokes on her choice a bit. As Alis diverts her toward her outfit, Mabelle cannot help but pose for her, "The new Artshall tweed, of course, it comes in various colors. And what's wrong with fashion?!". A wiggle of her fingers then to Alban and Ryhalt, "Farshaws". Attention span.

"Let you rally the troops then," says Kael in that amiable way toward Reigna, flashing a grin to her and keeping her absolutely close. She might actually be his good luck charm at events such as these. Or his security blanket. "We could perhaps attempt to sway her husband - Hello, Prince Fiachra - to our side and make it a three on three match." There is a hint of teasing evident with that declaration, for of course Kael dips his head to Fiachra and makes a point of catching Alis' eyes in brief. He glances across the room as though seeking another in brief. Which of course means that he catches sight of Katarina and the Princess is greeted with that humble inclination of his head. With that, he turns back to the board, starting to set up pieces. "House Keaton," he declares, of course. He's on the cusp of saying more when he spies, "Lady Laurent!" to Mabelle and then his cousin yonder. "Little Cousin!" Amari, there.

Seton, A Velenosian Assistant have been dismissed.

"House Lyonesse it is," Tyche picks up one of her pieces to examine the army she suddenly became the general of. "A good thing I have surrounded myself with Oathlanders, so I might properly get into the minds of these little soldiers." The piece is replaced, and she leans in to murmur something in return to the Duke, a finger tapping at the table toward one of his pieces.

After a murmur between Amari and Mabelle, the former arches a delicate brow slightly and leans in closer to peer into her ear. No wait, actually, it's her earrings she's eyeing speculatively. A smile suggests she approves of them. "They're lovely. Are they being dug up from the Saffron Chain? And I suppose that'll do. If there's a surprise flood in here you'll be alright." Alis' greeting is smiled about, well, perhaps more the idea of the blue tweeds, "Your Highness, you should let Lady Mabelle help you in that regard. She has a good eye." Hearing a Little Cousin from one of the tables, Amari then lifts her hand to Kael and Reigna in greeting. "But, right. Shav horde. Let's find a table and upset a match."

Reigna bursts into delighted laughter when her husband picks Keaton. Because of *course* he does. There is a merry twinkle in her eyes as she considers, "Clement and Lyonesse versus Keaton annnnnd...." Reigna ponders her options and settles on, "Moore! I shall captain the Tessa Guard. Foolhardy, reckless and full of haphazard luck."


*** Cristoph has called for an opposing check with Kael. ***
Cristoph checks intellect and war at easy. Cristoph is successful.
Kael checks wits and war at easy. Kael is successful.
*** Cristoph is the winner. ***

Ryhalt chuckles at Alban and says, "It does look quite good on you. I am pleased. You're most welcome." As Alis greets him, he grins to her, "Hello High Princess, thank you for having us in your house this evening. Hopefully it really won't come to beating each other with furniture." He hides a grin as it's never certain with this crowd. He returns Mabelle's wave and smiles.

Mabelle has joined the south banquet table.

EXAMINE.... Norwood purses his lips at the choices before turning to glare. "Nora loves the ducks! Well. I will be Darkwater then." Thrax ftw. "My peace honey will win the day."

Smiling to Amari as well, Fiachra dips his head in a greeting to her and smiles once more to Mabelle. "I'm sure I'll see you both again before the night's end. Please, enjoy yourselves until then." Drink-fetching doesn't take long and eventually the Prince-Consort makes it back to the table with two whiskeys and a light strawberry desert wine he thinks Katarina might like. Drinks outside of whiskey and water confound him to no end. As he delivers the drinks to Katarina and Alis, he turns his attention to Kael with a raised brow. "Of course! What is still available?" As he takes a seat at the table, he cranes his neck to look over the "battlefield" curiously.

"It's fashion." Alis has a blank look on her face when Mabelle asks the question. "But something with PANTS and POCKETS just sounds rather nice." And then of course she is mock jaw dropping. "Are you pitting my spouse against me? I suppose it's a good thing we like to be a little competitive." She leans over to be sure to catch his eye on his way back from getting drinks to brow waggle a little, and then back to glance mildly at the Keatons. "I'd be glad to lend my extensive war expertise to the Lyonesse and Clement team. I will be /Greenmarch/." - But then there is Ryhalt's comment, and it prompts a laugh. "Please aim any furniture at the mis-matching decor and not one another."

There's that brief murmured exchange between Tyche and Cristoph, whatever she's said, it has him laughing. He goes through his deck and picks up a card. "I choose to take my Duskshire Mustangs and ride against the Keaton cavalry!" he declares and moves his pieces. In theory maybe there's dice involved, who knows. But he waits for Kael's chosen move and then the figurines are LOCKED in battle. It seems that on this turn, House Clement is prevailing against Keaton. For now.


*** Tyche has called for an opposing check with Reigna. ***
Tyche checks charm and diplomacy at easy. Tyche marginally fails.
Reigna checks charm and propaganda at easy. Reigna is successful.
*** Reigna is the winner. ***


*** Reigna has called for an opposing check with Tyche. ***
Reigna checks charm and propaganda at easy. Reigna is spectacularly successful.
Tyche checks charm and diplomacy at easy. Tyche is spectacularly successful.
*** Tyche is the winner. ***

Mabelle declares, "I'll be house Fournier", for reasons. But her expression is impish. That house is going down. "The stones actually come from Mazetti, and after years of being accused velvet is bee fur, I fully plan on accusing her of removing her cat's eyes for this". Horrible. But well desserved. Mabelle then bows her head to Alis, "Your wish is my command, High Princess", she winks to her and wonders aloud, "Cristoph, did you bring cake or just furniture?"


*** Alis has called for an opposing check with Fiachra. ***
Alis checks intellect and war at easy. Alis is successful.
Fiachra checks perception and leadership at easy. Fiachra is successful.
*** Fiachra is the winner. ***

Alban peruses the various armies laid out, and settles on a banner of the Templars. "It is good to choose a familar army I think," he says, before settling into a seat, and flagging down someone for a glass of..well...something alcoholic.

Oh no. Ooooh no. Kael is absolutely starting to peer at the terrain and the miniatures and poke at them. "Is there a reason that most of the Keatons look so grim?" he asks as he studies the figures, his expression solemn. "Who crafted these?" Whatever the case, when the actual match begins he seems to be enthralled, and though House Clement appears to be holding the edge he seems entirely engaged. "I think House Keaton might require your assistance," he mutters sidelong to Alis. He pokes at a particularly scowly Keaton miniature, taking him from the playing field. To Fiachra he says, "Why not Wyrmguard?"

Whatever deal Cristoph and Tyche have made publicly seems to have been solidified privately, the Laurent's laughter having the Marquessa grinning widely. She turns to the table, her dark eyes cutting across to Reigna. "I will have to let Lady Brigid Moore know how I fair against the armies she's leaving behind to join my own House." And then they engage in some wonderful debate about the merits of giving up space on the board, in the end Reigna's efforts to spread the glory of her armies succeeds. She relents, dropping back across a border. "For now, spread your Moore word, Marquessa."

"Well, come with me if you like, Lady Fournier. We'll go invade Duke Ryhalt's map." Amari invites after she's seen how everyone has grouped, or not. "He can be Mazetti and we'll steal his cat's eye shipments."

Amari has joined the west banquet table.

Mabelle has left the south banquet table.

Mabelle has joined the west banquet table.


Katarina has her glass of whatever Fiachra happened to obtain for her. Hopefully, it is not a devious prank on the part of her brother in law. "Hm. Blackram, versus the Templars. I will have to have a talk with my protege," that would be Marquessa Teagan, "about this unfortunate turn of events." The veiled young Princess looks to Alban, and though her grin can't be seen, it shows in her gleaming golden eyes.

Mabelle gasps at Amari, "Oooo diplomatic incidents with the Lyceum. I'm in", she trails her toward Ryhalt's table.

"I must believe they were modeled on your expression during one of the numerous war councils, beloved. Why that one has your grimace done perfectly." Reigna teases Kael, though as she is called on to aid the faltering Keaton cavalry, she laughs and begins moving her pikemen, "To the flanks! Think of your families! Your sumptuous squash! Defend your fields! Route the Lyons!"

Norwood isn't attacking anyone just yet. In fact, he looks like he is having WAY too much fun lining up all his little ships and pushing them towards the shore of the oathlands. He even forgets himself for a moment and starts humming a marching song.

Norwood checks charm and performance at hard. Norwood fails.

Norwood's humming is not good


Katarina looks over at Norwood from another table and furrows her brow in very indiscreet judgment of his humming.

Alis narrows her eyes at Fiachra when they face off against one another, pulling a card or maybe rolling some dice, or doing... whatever the game requires, only to look mortally offended at said game mechanics. "Rude. Did you just convince some of my own people to join your own army!?" She mutters sidelong back to Kael. "Got my own troubles over here in the Greenmarch!" she points out, pursing her lips together to to attempt not to laugh as exclamations abound at their table.

Mabelle rubs her ear a tad upon hearing Norwood

"There's cake!" Cristoph claims and slightly stands up to spot the table that has the food. "There, it's there!" he turns back in time to watch out how the play goes between Reigna and Tyche, his expression intently focused on the exchange. Even as he studies Kael's army. When Kael asks about his pieces being so grim, he can't help but start to laugh. "I don't know who made these. Maybe we can find out." But he waits patiently to see what the Marquis' next move is going to be against his tenacious cavalry. "I play to rally the enemies troops to join meeee what are you doing?" he wonders of Norwood when he hears him.

Ryhalt laughs at Amari. "Cats are sneaky, though. Don't go thinking you can just steal their eyes." Horrible punage and such. He smiles between Amari and Mabelle. "Prepare yourselves to meet the bottom." He grins lightly, shifting his ship figures along the coast of his map.

A laugh comes from Alban, "Well, I promise it will be quick one way or another? Gloria is not much for long, drawn out suffering," he says to Katarina, "Who is your protege?" he asks, as he lines up his soldiers, and then draws a couple of cards and rolls some dice and starts moving them like he knows the rules of the game that he's playing.

Alis' brow-wiggle is caught and Fiachra responds with a sly and flirtatious smile as he sets the whiskey before her. His eyes linger on her overlong as he refrains from speaking whatever might be coming to mind. Kael's suggestion is met with a nod from Fiachra then. "Wyrmguard it is," he agrees before taking his place at the table opposite to Alis. The game Fiachra plays is one that indeed focuses on unconventional strategies that make use of his keen eye for detail. When the battle is over, he smiles at Alis and shrugs his shoulders. "Tch! As if I was going to get slaughtered by you on the battlefield."

Mabelle lifts her finger to signal a moment and rises to a nearby table. She returns with at least four trays of cake. She must have been a waitress in her previous life. Or she's getting help. "Bottom of what, Duke Farshaw? My stomache? There is no such thing", she grins.


*** Cristoph has called for an opposing check with Reigna. ***
Cristoph checks charm and propaganda at easy. Cristoph is successful.
Reigna checks charm and propaganda at easy. Reigna is successful.
*** Cristoph is the winner. ***

Amari gives Ryhalt a solemn sort of nod, as one does their opponent before matching wits, then she's peering down at the map. Eschewing most of the figures, she builds a force of light cavalry, archers and skirmishers, then fills the woods with them. "Queen Irama has arrived, you've infringed upon the lands of my people and now your lives and your cats are forfeit." She informs the Duke, before adding, "And we don't like House Fournier either."

"My lord," Tyche demands of her 'partner' in this. "Get your armies in there. Do not let the Moore forces win," she nudges Cristoph forward, encouraging his ruthless conquering of the map. In the meantime, she levels her eyes at Kael, a brow arching, "Shall I see if I can maintain what he gained?"

"Hum?" Abruptly Norwood's unconscious humming is interrupted by Cristoph's words, thankfully missing all the other looks he gets. "Oh - I am getting into a flanking position behind the Clement forces. Need to deliver my soldiers."


*** Tyche has called for an opposing check with Kael. ***
Tyche checks command and leadership at easy. Tyche is successful.
Kael checks command and leadership at easy. Kael marginally fails.
*** Tyche is the winner. ***

Mabelle gasps aside at Amari interrupting her eating cake by being overly prepared. She quickly assembles some pieces to be an army, "What? What have we done to you? We're just sitting here, spying on people", she grins at her and turns her eyes to Ryhalt, "Yes, but your cats must die and turn into jewelry!"


*** Katarina has called for an opposing check with Alban. ***
Katarina checks charm and performance at easy. Katarina is successful.
Alban checks wits and empathy at easy. Alban is successful.
*** Katarina is the winner. ***

Kael squints a bit more closely at the next Keaton figure and shoots a dubious look to his wife. It cracks at the edges soon enough however to show a barely concealed grin. He tries, and fails, to look serious. Clearing his throat though he turns back to the game and surveys the board as a whole once Duke Laurent makes his declaration. "I believe that I am going to rally my troops and attempt to inspire them to remember the cause..." With that, the next match is made, and Kael squints a bit at the outcome. "No *wonder* the Keatons are scowling!" he declares.


"The Marquessa of the Cloudspine, Teagan Blackram," Katarina says, perhaps giving away why she chose to play as the Blackrams. Either that or she just wants to fantasize about being tall. The Suj'abbati-turned-Valardin is also moving cards and rolling dice, while advising Alban on the rules of the game, which she is absolutely making up as she goes along.

"You assume I can do less damage just because I have fewer troops? Well, now I'm just offended." Alis quips at Fia, arraying her game pieces to try and flank the Wyrmguard forces. "Whoever made these also put whiskey flasks on the Greenmarcher's belts. Check it out." she holds up one of the pieces for Kael. "I think that's why they aren't scowling."

"Nooooo! Deny the appeal of delicious, delicious honey! Come baaaaaaaaaaaack!" Reigna shakes a fist, giggling, though as they continue to lose troops, her competitive streak rises and she looks seriously at the board and leans in to whisper to Kael, pointing.


*** Alis has called for an opposing check with Fiachra. ***
Alis checks intellect and war at easy. Alis is successful.
Fiachra checks perception and leadership at easy. Fiachra is successful.
*** Alis is the winner. ***

Tyche's move to command her armies forward, leading them toward victory involves some drawn cards, some moved pieces, and she manages to push the Keatons back all the more. Kael's cry as she gains land has her laughing, "I would think that any who fell to /me/ would not scowl, Marquis. They would thank me." The laughter dies down, and she tilts her head to see Cristoph has also moved forward. She leans across the table, 'whispering' to Kael and Reigna, "I think he may take this from us all."

"Not our cats! This means war!" Ryhalt squints at the figures on the table as if he actually knows how to do this. "Killing our cats is an unforgivable insult!" He is really struggling not to laugh as he mobilizes some of his knights to counter Amari's forces and sends what looks to be a spy or diplomat after Mabelle's. "Cat eyes are too cute to cut out of their heads, barbarians! We'll convince you of your evil ways or this is war!"

Cristoph is unable to contain his laughter when Kael declares that he understands why the Keaton figurines are scowling. He pinches the bridge of his nose to keep it together in a dignified fashion. "I'm a very serious duke," he insists to the table. Or maybe it's to himself? "Join House Clement! I have a lot of ducks!" he insists as he rolls his dice and plays his card. When it turns out that he's stolen some portion of the Keaton troops, there's a laugh and he turns his attention to Fiachra and Alis. "Should we put in with House Wyrmguard or House Greenmarch?"


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Mabelle. ***
Ryhalt checks wits and diplomacy at easy. Ryhalt marginally fails.
Mabelle checks wits and diplomacy at easy. Mabelle is successful.
*** Mabelle is the winner. ***

Norwood has left the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Bayberry, an Oakhaven juvenile bloodhound have been dismissed.

Steadfast, a dunskin stallion courser have been dismissed.

Bumbling Bees from a Clement bee hive have been dismissed.


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Amari. ***
Ryhalt checks intellect and war at easy. Ryhalt marginally fails.
Amari checks intellect and war at easy. Amari is successful.
*** Amari is the winner. ***

When Reigna is leaning in toward him, Kael offers a few words in response to her in a quiet manner. That said, he's grinning ruefully. Now, Tyche's commentary has him snorting by way of amusement before he leans forward a bit to see if those figures managed to change their expression. They have not, of course, but he *does* point out silently one of her cheery looking miniatures. "Wyrmguard!" he says. "Tis in the marriage contract!" Yes, he beckons Fiachra to their side.

Mabelle cackles at Ryhalt menacingly, "You're a lot of talk for someone who cannot even defend a cat!" Mabelle tries to find any figurine that even resembles an animal and surrounds it with her troops, "All your eyes are now ours".

While Tyche is near out of her seat, leaning over the table to push an army piece forward, a messenger arrives. She blinks, settling back to unfold the slip and scan the words. Her nose crinkles, she leans in to murmur something to Cristoph, and then in a grand show of staying true to her partnership, she declares, "The Lyonesse armies surrender to... House Moore!" She tosses her general to Reigna. "Beat him, will you?" She nods to Cris, before turning a dazzling smile on him. "Good luck, my lord. I am certain these new odds will inspire you to great heights, and I look forward to hearing all about the efforts here." With that, the Marquessa Inverno pushes from the table, says her goodbyes all around, and then turns to make her way out!

Norwood's ships finally arrive on the shoreline nearest Cristoph's Laurent troops and beams. "And now to burn the land around you, and cut off your supply lines."

Tyche has left the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Alban pokes at his pieces and says, "I didn't know that rule about how flanking soldiers cannot be attacked until a horseman is nearby...I am pretty sure I've never played that way before..." he then marshals his troops and sends them off on another foray against Katarina's armies.


*** Reigna has called for an opposing check with Cristoph. ***
Reigna checks intellect and leadership at easy. Reigna is successful.
Cristoph checks wits and war at easy. Cristoph is successful.
*** Reigna is the winner. ***

"You can't pull a contract clause on /my own husband/." Alis protests, bursting out laughing at Kael when he lures in Fiachra. Or, tries to. "If it's all of you against me, I'm going to topple the board." she threatens, as Cristoph debates who to throw in with. "And to think I just got revenge on the troops that abandoned me." She's doing her best to be huffy here, but a good shot of whiskey helps. A lot.

There is a widening of Reigna' eyes as she unexpectedly takes over the Lyonesse forces. "The Lyon's Tide has turned! The fighters turn on Clement! It is a massacre! Oh the HUMANITY!" Reigna chortles and pantomimes a furious charge from her newly adopted forces, "Get those pesky Duskshire horses! One bit me on the chest!"

"Oh, gods and spirits, we don't kill the cats. We're not savages. We're the Shadowcat tribe, we adopt them." Amari explains as if horrified that such a foul crime would be ascribed to her proud, free peoples. "However, we will kill every last one of you and feed your bodies to the giant cat monster we worship. You too, House Fournier." Seems reasonable. Her opening gambit shows promise too, as her light cavalry pours out of the woods to cut Ryhalt's supply line and steal his baggage.

When Tyche suddenly has to run, Cristoph nods in understanding. However when she BETRAYS their alliance at the last minute, he laughs and tosses up one hand and declares jokingly, "I'm going to get my revenge on her later." He gets into it with Reigna and loses on this particular turn. "NO! MY MUSTANG-MULES!" he calls out as his cavalry is attacked. "Alis! I'm going to help you. I'm deploying my infantry against House Wyrmguard. They're all wearing iron wool, which makes them shiny and itchy."


"It is a strange rule, I agree," Katarina says to Alban. "However, we must play the game as it is proscribed to us. Now, when Duke Cristoph explained this to me, he said that when adjacent to a mountain range, ballistas may only move diagonally according to the grid lines of the map..." Katarina continues cheating rampantly through her gift of gab, though the more rules she makes up, the more she risks hemming herself in if Alban is actually able to exploit any of those made-up rulings against her. "Now, the direhorns may move forward and backward but not side-to-side..."

Fiachra's jaw drops a little as he watches Alis bring another unit around and absolutely decimate the unit he bolstered with Alis' defectors. "Oh, that's just foul," the Prince-Consort says, making a face. "Good play, though. You were just waiting for me to overextend." He cracks his knuckles and narrows his eyes down at the board. The gears turn and he sips from his tumbler of whiskey. He laughs to Kael's words and shakes his head. "I couldn't gang up against my own wife," he retorts.


*** Katarina has called for an opposing check with Alban. ***
Katarina checks intellect and leadership at easy. Katarina is successful.
Alban checks intellect and war at easy. Alban is successful.
*** Alban is the winner. ***

Kael looks aghast when Fiachra declines that 'invitation' to join the Keatons, though he is not actually oblivious to the additional army alliance that House Keaton picked up. He narrows his eyes and steps in a bit closer to Reigna, his arm wrapping around her even as he considers the board for a while. "I," he declares, "feel as though we should teach Wyrmguard a lesson for going against a marriage alliance!" Naturally he speaks of the Keaton-Wyrmguard one rather than the *real* one. Of course said point is punctuated with a grin toward Prince Fiachra.

Consider the fact Ryhalt's baggage is cats. Lots of Cats, Amari is getting a dismayed look, "So you're keeping the cats and eating the people?! Insanity!", she hits the table with her fist and then adds, "I hope you eat the children first. So noisy oy!".


*** Amari has called for an opposing check with Mabelle. ***
Amari checks intellect and war at easy. Amari is successful.
Mabelle checks intellect and leadership at easy. Mabelle is successful.
*** Mabelle is the winner. ***


*** Cristoph has called for an opposing check with Fiachra. ***
Cristoph checks intellect and war at easy. Critical Success! Cristoph is inhumanly successful in a way that defies expectations.
Fiachra checks intellect and war at easy. Fiachra is successful.
*** Cristoph is the winner. ***

"You'll see!" Ryhalt mock glares at Mabelle, though it is clear there are reasons he leaves this stuff to other people! "Cats eject the poison!" Poison verses whatever Mabelle's troops, what could go wrong?! It's the Lyceum, of course there is poison! "Assassins go forth and protect the cats Don't let them kidnap a single one!" He doesn't even bother trying not to laugh at this point, sounding rather merry as he probably sabatoges his own changes. "Look they fight against each other, go, go, go!"

"Being ruthless sometimes is fun." Alis whispers sotto voice to the others at the table, and in a perfectly innocent expression. "Keaton, it's time to meet Greenmarch's war elks!" she decides, picking up a little elk figure and tromping it all over the board near the Keaton troops threateningly. Of course, Fia's declaration earns him a grin. Perhaps even an impish one.


*** Alis has called for an opposing check with Kael. ***
Alis checks intellect and war at easy. Alis is spectacularly successful.
Kael checks wits and war at easy. Kael is successful.
*** Alis is the winner. ***

With all of his troops out Norwood has to seriously consider what to do now. He shoves little boats here... there... and eyes where everyone else is at. Hum. "How to War Elks feel about water?" Norwood asks Alis, for a friend.


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Mabelle. ***
Ryhalt checks perception and manipulation at easy. Ryhalt is successful.
Mabelle checks perception and manipulation at easy. Mabelle is successful.
*** Ryhalt is the winner. ***

"Betrayal thy name is Wyrmguard! For shame! To arms! None can stand against the righteous fury of Keaton!" Reigna is giggling, tears of mirth making her eyes sparkly. She begins consolidating the Moore-Lyonesse armies, "A quick battlefield wedding sees these two Houses align for success against the enemy!"

Alis furrows a brow. "More than horses, less than fish." she decides, for Norwood.


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Amari. ***
Ryhalt checks wits and leadership at easy. Ryhalt is successful.
Amari checks wits and leadership at easy. Amari marginally fails.
*** Ryhalt is the winner. ***

"Fair enough," Alban says with a shrug, playing straight against Katarina's rampant cheating. This time though he sends his ballistas in to rain fire on her troops. To great effect, "I will have to have you write these rules down so that next time I need to run it by my commanders, they have something to reference."

Mabelle is stuck for a moment what kind of tools and strengths Fornier has, and calls out, "I'm going to use all the swarmies on you! We are immune to poison! Which they clearly are not as some of them begin to fall, Amari's troups with them, "Queen IFORGOTYOURNAME, how are we losing?!", Mabelle accuses her, of course, she has nothing to do with this defeat to the Farshaw Duke.

"That is distinctly unhelpful." Norwood replies. "I will fireball you from the river."

As the war elks are sent that way to attack Keaton, Kael's mouth opens into a little 'o' and he stares at the Valardin Highlord for a moment. "You buried my hounds," he says, voice low and aghast. Just like that, he is tipping down a series of his houndmasters with the assorted hounds. "*Elks." He grimaces just so and shakes his head. Then, hearing news of the battlefield wedding he looks sidelong to his wife. "Who is getting wed?" he asks her in a conspiratorial whisper.

"I'm very confused about what's going on in this war anymore," Cristoph declares after he wins around against Fiachra. "Are we all attacking Keaton? What army does Norwood have right now? Is that DARKWATER? I send my five ships after him."


Katarina watches as the ballistas decimate the direhorns. She can all but hear Lady Ivy Blackram's wails of horror in her ears. "...ah," she murmurs, realizing she just played herself while trying to overcomplicate the made-up rules and confuse Alban. "Well. Blackram will not surrender to the Templars yet. No matter how many of their giant animals are slain... in the name of Gloria... for some reason."


*** Cristoph has called for an opposing check with Norwood. ***
Cristoph checks command and sailing at easy. Cristoph marginally fails.
Norwood checks command and sailing at easy. Norwood is successful.
*** Norwood is the winner. ***


*** Katarina has called for an opposing check with Alban. ***
Katarina checks command and leadership at easy. Katarina is successful.
Alban checks command and war at easy. Alban is successful.
*** Katarina is the winner. ***

"I thought you were bringing heavy cavalry and footmen, not swarms." Amari complains of Mabelle's troop composition, as it does cost her some of her skirmishers and then a sizable number of her cavalry, after stealing Ryhalt's cats and baggage (which is also cats), leave the battle with their spoils rather than stay and fight. "I need to think." She announces, taking a step back from the table with a finger curled on her chin as she weighs her options and plans her next move.


*** Alis has called for an opposing check with Norwood. ***
Alis checks command and leadership at easy. Alis is successful.
Norwood checks command and leadership at easy. Norwood is successful.
*** Norwood is the winner. ***

"Uhm... I suppose it would have to be Lord Septimus to Lady Brigid!" Reigna replies with a playful moue as she looks coyly up to her husband. She looks past him to Alis and says, "Not the hounds! No! But Brutus was such a solid stud with generations left in him!"

All Cristoph has to do is bring up everyone attacking Keaton and Kael sends him a very pointed look. "That is it," he says. "*How* do I resurrect towers in this game?" He takes this moment to, in fact, step away and acquire refreshment. One glass for his wife, another for he. His own is downed in an instant so that he can flip the tumbler upside down and resurrect a tower. Or barracks. That might actually not be a legitimate move. "Ok," he says agreeably to Reigna. "We can sacrifice Lord Septiumus for that alliance."

"You realize that Clement's navy is a bunch of row boats, right?" Norwood replies as he pantomimes flicking the silly ships over. "Take THAT you! and DEFEAT war elks!" Norwood is way too excited about everything.

"You what?" Ryhalt stares at Mabelle and bursts out laughing. "Swarmies? When did House Fortier get that many goats?! Eat up that poison goats! Yum, yums!" He probably has been hanging out with his new son too much today. "Regroup!" He takes advantage of Amari setting back. "Wait, don't you savage hordes just attack mindlessly like a plague?! Wait... WHERE ARE MY CATS!?! Get back here!" He shoves whatever figurines are nearby after Amari's side of the table.


Katarina looks over at the other table: "Wait, to /whom/ are you making sacrifices of Lords-- what kind of game are you /playing/ over there?"

"Are you setting my ELKS ON FIRE? NorDarkwoodWater is setting my ELKS ON FIRE." Alis frantically gallops some of the elks she just used to bury Keaton hounds with (?) away from this body of water that is flinging fireballs. "I need more whiskey. This is too intense." she declares, knocking back the rest of what's in her glass.

Well, that's not good. It would seem that Fiachra's decision to go it alone did...not pay off. Cristoph's army sweeps through Fiachra's, causing him to have to re-assess his position. "I really should have played a stealthier game, for starters," he replies to Cristoph with a laugh. "That move to poach my dear wife's soldiers didn't play out the way I wanted." He casts a playful look her way and squints at the board. "But this game...I think I am pretty well fucking routed."

Alban tries something complex with his soldiers. There's movement and positioning, and rolling, and he frowns as his forces start to get beat back by the Princess. He hmmms and leans back in the chair, looking at his position as it grows more dire, and then sends in his reserves. He looks up and says, "Are we not all playing the same game? That seems...counterproductive."

Katarina checks charm and performance at normal. Katarina is successful.


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Amari. ***
Ryhalt checks intellect and war at easy. Ryhalt is successful.
Amari checks intellect and war at easy. Amari is successful.
*** Amari is the winner. ***

Mabelle huffs at Amari, "What's wrong with swarms? They are evil, its perfect, besides, at least they stayed", she huffs once more and collects a piece of cake. This is how she thinks. Or maybe she just wanted cake. She squints amusedly at Ryhalt, "Swarmies are not goats! What?! How can cats eats goats? This war makes no sense!". She is on her feet now, "Regroup, regroup. Horses with daggers in their mouths! Yes!".

"Oh my gods, am I losing to Norwood's ship? Norwood's never been on a ship in his LIFE!" Cristoph insists to the entire room. Which is almost certainly not true, but then he bursts out laughing. It's a laughter that deepens to tears when he hears Ryhalt shouting about his cats. At that point he just puts his elbows down on the table and covers his face, shoulders shaking.


"There are many regional variants," Katarina says to Alban, regarding whether or not everyone is playing the same game. This is also going to be her excuse for why she's making up much different rules from what the other tables are doing. "Anyway. Blackram's ground forces have the experience in the cold and the mountains -- so I add an extra die here..." No, she absolutely does not get to do that, and yet she does. "And at last, House Blackram will rid the compact of the scourge that is, er, the Templars~."

"Yes, well, apparently they are fine when they are not REAL." Norwood replies quite PRIMLY. "Carita will be so pleased


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Mabelle. ***
Ryhalt checks wits and war at easy. Ryhalt is successful.
Mabelle checks intellect and manipulation at easy. Mabelle is successful.
*** Mabelle is the winner. ***


*** Katarina has called for an opposing check with Alban. ***
Katarina checks wits and leadership at easy. Katarina is successful.
Alban checks wits and war at easy. Alban is successful.
*** The rolls are tied. ***

"Oh yeah? Well what does Pimsley have to say about setting innocent elks on fire?" Alis counters at Norwood, in the snootiest voice possible.

Mabelle calls toward Alis, "What is with you setting everything on fire?", Mabelle looks concerned.

"I didn't set anything on fire!! Norwood did! Shouldn't you be eating someone's goats with your cats or something?"

Alis ... says to Mabelle.


"For some reason, every game we have played as a family ends up like this," Katarina says to Mabelle. "Charades is always an impersonation of a thing on fire..."

Alban says a quiet prayer under his breath as the die rolls, and when it comes up JUST under what Katarina needs -- not enough to really give him an advantage, but enough to stop her counter attack, he claps, and then says, "Your lack of faith will be reported to the Archlector," as he maneuvers his ballistas back into position to do something again. Maybe shoot at the horses. Or whatever.

Mabelle grins at Katarina, "All those months of bottling in", she winks to her and then just eyes Alis. She eyes her. Not with cat's eyes.

"Fire is working just fine." Norwood replies firmly. "Let's see... fire on Keaton next!" Norwood is just going to attack everyone because he CAN.

Ryhalt glances over at Alis' table. "Is this suddenly a...like five-sided war?" He laughs helplessly. "Is this where we get to throw stuff to reach other tables?" Is so in on this? "Ahem, I mean the furniture you want destroyed."

Kael does not actually seem to be engaging in any maneuvers at all at this point. No, he is turtling. Absolutely playing the defensive route. When his first tower passes muster, he is moving to acquire the next tumbler from a passing attendant, and so on. There might actually be a little bit of a series going on here. Less dice, more eyeing of the board, in general. Considering the position of his small cluster of troops. "Wait, what?" he says, looking up when Norwood joins the fray against House Keaton. Et tu?

Kael checks stamina and survival at normal. Botch! Kael fails badly.

Kael, definitely feeling that booze.

With Cristoph's navy apparently gone and his composure finally recovered, he takes in a deep breath. "My gods. Wait, no one has attacked Moore in awhile. I need my rematch against Reigna! I'm sending my infantry against you!"

The dread Shadowcat tribe hasn't been routed yet. Queen Irama launches her main assault on Ryhalt's cat citadel using siege towers that roll ponderously out of the woods and really tall ladders carried by swifter skirmishers who aren't particularly arrow proof - so they have to run fast. "Deploy your horses with daggers in their mouths and he won't be able to reinforce." She tells Mabelle. She's so focused on her grand stratagem that talk from other tables is slow to sink in, but when it does, she looks up and around, confused. "We can use fire?"

Alis fling a single war elk figuring at Ryhalt table. "I don't know how much help it will be. But, good luck little war elk! Flee from the FIRE that NORWOOD set and NOT ME." she emphasizes, making a face at Katarina from across the room.


*** Reigna has called for an opposing check with Cristoph. ***
Reigna checks intellect and war at easy. Reigna marginally fails.
Cristoph checks intellect and war at easy. Cristoph is successful.
*** Cristoph is the winner. ***


Katarina winks to Mabelle. With Kat's eyes. She returns her attention to her game with Alban: "Tut. House Blackram will decide the doctrine soon enough, not the Archlector," because apparently this is now a war between House Blackram and the Faith at large. No wonder the Templars got sent in. "Now, according to the rules of the passage of time in the game, around a month should have gone by..." Katarina is of course now making up rules to try and set the conflict in the dead of winter, in the Cloudspine.


*** Katarina has called for an opposing check with Alban. ***
Katarina checks command and leadership at easy. Critical Success! Katarina is inhumanly successful in a way that defies expectations.
Alban checks command and war at easy. Alban is successful.
*** Katarina is the winner. ***

Amari checks luck at normal. Critical Success! Amari is spectacularly successful.

Ryhalt looks back at his table to find he's under siege. "When did this happen?!" He blinks as Alis' elk falls right down in the center of the mess. "Great! Set the Elk on fire, take them down!" It's the best he's got?! "Don't let the Cat Cithadrel fall, they're after our eyes!"

FIRE, "Did I forget to mention my dagger wielding horses breath fire? Yes!", he pushes the figurines to surrounds Ryhalt's... cats? She then reminds Amari, "Queen Irmama, "I hope you are aware that after I'm done with decimating him, I'm coming for you!", she yells now, "FIRE!"


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Amari. ***
Ryhalt checks intellect and war at easy. Ryhalt is successful.
Amari checks intellect and war at easy. Amari is successful.
*** Amari is the winner. ***


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Mabelle. ***
Ryhalt checks wits and war at easy. Critical Success! Ryhalt is spectacularly successful.
Mabelle checks intellect and manipulation at easy. Mabelle is spectacularly successful.
*** Mabelle is the winner. ***


*** Norwood has called for an opposing check with Kael. ***
Norwood checks command and leadership at easy. Norwood is successful.
Kael checks command and leadership at easy. Kael marginally fails.
*** Norwood is the winner. ***

"FOR LORD SEPTIMUS!!!" Reigna's troops charge forward, utterly confident in their superior numbers. Reigna has been sneaking sips of her husband's drink and her cheeks are getting steadily pinker. "FOR KEATON!"

Snickering at the flaming elks, Fiachra continues to look to the board to get some idea of what he could possibly do. For the time being, he just tries to keep his remaining units out of harms way so he might have a chance to rejoin the battle when the other armies have been weakened a bit more. "I don't even remember the last time charades happened."

Mabelle calls to Reigna, "Who's Lord Septimus? He sounds like a disease"

Alis gives Fiachra's elbow a nudge. "Wanna team up and overrun Norwood's ships? He must be repaid for the dastardly sneak attack." Fire is not exactly sneaky, but after enough whiskey it feels that way right? She slides the Greenmarch war general figurine towards the Wyrmguard troops. "Empty his ships of inferior rum, replace it with whiskey!"

"Nooooo, not the Cat Cathedral!" Ryhalt mock wails as Amari and Mabelle's forces overwhelm his despite the fire elk. Let's admit, it wasn't the *best* defense he could have waged. "Don't surrender now! Send out the..the...the... CAKE!" He steals one of the pieces of cake Mabelle set on the table and starts 'icing' the figures as fast as he can...at least until he runs out of cake. Some servants are going to hate him when they get tasked to clean this mess up. "Load the cats eyes and gooooooo!" He tries to sail his ships away from Amari and Mabelle's forces. "They can keep cat landia, but our eyes are golden!"

Grim, the green eyed fluffy black cat, Edmund, the bookish assistant arrive, following Braxas.

"What? No! Attach the prince!" Norwood turns his ship towards Fiachra's forces and points. "Take my naval fire!"

Cristoph is busy battling but eventually his attention is swept up in whatever is going on at the other table, which sounds just as fantastic as what's been going on at the one he's at. He watches as Alis turfs a figurine to Ryhalt and he begins laughing once again. "I concede!" he calls out suddenly and stands up from the table, he wanders off to the sidelines to send a quick message out via Rupert. Then he turns back to the tables and wanders by Mabelle, leaning over his cousin's shoulder to OBSERVE.

Mabelle stares at Ryhalt, shocked, "You cannot use cake against me, that's illegal". Because setting cats on fire is good in everyone's books. When Cristoph arrives Mabelle points at Ryhalt, "Look, look what he's doing! He's making a mess!"


*** Norwood has called for an opposing check with Fiachra. ***
Norwood checks command and leadership at easy. Norwood is successful.
Fiachra checks wits and stealth at easy. Fiachra is successful.
*** Norwood is the winner. ***

Braxas slips in fashionablly late as is his style it would seem. The lean built, dark haired giant is wearing finely made unbra silks with real amethyst gems for adornments on the shirt's sleeves. Its striking. An earring of silver and amethyst dangles from one ear in as bold stament of fashion as he sanuters in. "I heard we were flexing our knowledge of battles with out actually stabbing each other? Who will challenge me hmm?" He grins impishly and bows to the royalty and nobles with perfect poise and grace, moving towards a free table to try and join the fun.

"We aren't going to be lingering here, Lady Fournier." Amari assures her, so they'll be long gone before Mabelle can turn her firebreathing dagger wielding horses on her Shadowcat tribe. The flaming war elk falling from the sky is a sign, a good omen, for when it hits the board, the Shadowcat's siege towers roll up to the walls of the citadel and her brave raiders pour over the walls to steal all the cats they can find. They're merciless looters one and all. "Victory. It's a shame though, that in your time of loss and disaster you've turned to the false Cake god. He can't save you." She then orders her archers to fire on Ryhalt's ships.

His wife is not the only rosy-cheeked one, for while Kael's beard obscures most of that, the tips of his ears are red and he's looking awfully glassy eyed. Content. Also, that, "You look exquisite tonight," was *absolutely* meant to be a whisper to his wife. It's too loud though. "I -- Norwood! How did your ship take out my infantry?" He taps the troops down with a scowl. "And Lord Septimus is our marriage alliance to House Moore, Lady Laurent! Hopefully they have heirs by now..." He eyes his diminished miniature ranks.


The labyrinthine rules that Katarina has been freely making up finally snap together like a disorganized pile of jigsaw pieces suddenly becoming the finished picture. Despite the Cloudspine's heavy losses, House Blackram mounts a staggering and daring offensive that drives the Templars into the sea. "And with that, the Templars are conquered," Katarina purrs. "And House Blackram controls the Faith. You are a worthy opponent, Lord Alban~. So much so that I feel I have /earned/ my cake." Because of course Katarina is going to celebrate her victory by going and getting a whole bunch of cake for herself. A whooole bunch.

"What happened to his cathedral??" Cristoph depends to know of Mabelle. "Have you used your one elk, Duke Farshaw? Oh my gods, is that it? Overwhelmed by enemy forces? That poor elk."

The nudge to Fiachra's shoulder draws his attention from the board to Alis and, with a sly smile, he nods his head in agreement. "Aye. He's getting awfully comfortable with his navy there." He attempts to repel Norwood's attack by moving his units into a more defensive position, relying on cover to try to confound the naval fire. He's taken heavy losses, but Fiachra is still at least hanging on by a thread in the game. He leans over to Alis and whispers something to her quickly.

"Darkwater boats are without peer. Maybe I should consider actually building some Navy for Clement

"Darkwater boats are without peer. Maybe I should consider actually building some Navy for Clement." That is a bad idea Mr. Landlocked. Don't get a big head from this. "What is this whispering?" Suspicious abruptly as he eyes Alis and Fiachra.

Katarina checks dexterity and stealth at normal. Katarina marginally fails.


Katarina is nearly able to get away with putting what amounts to three normally-portioned slices of cake on her one plate, but in reaching for a fork her finger slips and the silverware clatters.

Alis can't help a fit of giggles as lone Norwood with his little fleet of ships is laying waste to this entire half of the room. She exchanges a glance with her husband and grins impishly at him before looking all wide eyed at Norwood. "What about their whispering." she counters, trying to pull the attention away from herself by nodding towards Kael and Reigna and that failed adorable whisper of the Marquis'. "Also, I am going to trounce your boats, sir. With what is left of my whiskey wielding warriors."

Ryhalt nods sadly to Cristoph. "The Elk backfired... Turns out setting elks on fire doesn't win the war." Who knew? Grinning lop-sided, he chuckles at Mabelle. "All is far in war. Cake will be a game-changer, you'll see!" He blinks, though at Amari. "False cake god?! Did you hear that cake god, strike down the heathens!" Probably much to Mabelle's horror, he turns the plate in his hand over and plops the remainder of the cake down on as many of Amari's archers as he can. "Cake save the ships!"


*** Ryhalt has called for an opposing check with Amari. ***
Ryhalt checks intellect and war at easy. Ryhalt is successful.
Amari checks intellect and war at easy. Amari is successful.
*** Amari is the winner. ***


*** Alis has called for an opposing check with Norwood. ***
Alis checks command and war at easy. Alis is successful.
Norwood checks command and leadership at easy. Norwood is successful.
*** Norwood is the winner. ***

Mabelle exclaims at Amari, "False god of cake?! False?! Its the one true god!", she shakes her fist and then turns her voice nice and normal and tells Cristoph, "Oh that was not me, it was Alis". Mabelle looks impressed as Amari spews out all this war talk, "Wow. You're good at this. All I know to do is toss things and yell Fire!", she keeps eyeing Ryhalt as he goes on with the cake coating, but actually cheers Ryhalt, which defines rolls and the sides of the war, when he smashes Amari's table mates with cake, "Heathens!"

When suddenly Duke Farshaw is turning a plate of food on top of some of the figurines, Cristoph pinches his nose and continues to laugh. He leans over to murmur something quietly to Mabelle, a quiet chuckle rippling through him. Then he was moving along through the room again.

Braxas has joined the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Mabelle elbows Cristoph discreetly.

Fiachra smiles as he looks sidelong to Alis and then to Norwood. "And what remains of my meager forces will sneak around while that's happening to target your army's leaders, Baron Norwood." he says and makes the necessary move on the board to set up for another contested action.

Kael absolutely is working on counting his number of troops but his eyes at this point might be a little bit blurry. He peers, he squints, and he tilts his head to the side. Eventually though he snorts and he says, "House Keaton withdraws for the time being to ensure the continuity of their line." He swipes a cluster of still standing troops and pulls them back to one of his makeshift towers aka an upside down tumbler. "Your Grace, Duke Laurent, Lady Laurent, exceptionally well done. Norwood, we are going running one day soon. Prince Fiachra, I shall not forget this and I will vex you soon. Little Cousin!" Amari is actually waved to once he's heartily called forth her nickname once more. "A good evening to you all!" Kael, in fine spirits. Finer yet with the way his arm curls around his wife and he withdraws.

"Compact scum!" Amari gasps, as Queen Irama, she's really committed to the role, guys, "You talk of honor and chivalry, yet you massacre my people with your giant cakes." Outraged, she sets fire to the cat-thedral in the middle of the cat citadel, after she's herded all of Ryhalt's remaining defenders inside and ordered the doors barred from the outside. Breaking character, she grins at Mabelle, "Thank you. That was a good game. Both of you, thank you. Sorry I have to raze your city, but you brought it on yourself."


"There is an /extreme/ amount of honor," Katarina says, around a forkful of cake the size of a potato, "in giant cakes."

Kael has left the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Reigna has left the beginning of the shield sigil table.

2 Keaton Huntsmen, Sir Pupsalot, a polite, tri-color corgi, Oaken, an Oakhaven bloodhound, 1 Healer Guardian, Gigi, an apprentice physician with attitude problems, Merrygold, a human with many feelings, Gilda, a most delightful golden fainter leave, following Reigna.

Vern, 2 Keaton Huntsmen, 2 Valardin Knights, Reigna leave, following Kael.

Norwood's boats are doing weirdly good at this, and he shakes his finger at Alis as she loses. "And more fire for you!" Someone tell Norwood that fire isn't a thing that boats HAVE to do. Kael's words get a nodded acknowledgement.

Braxas joins one of the tables, bowing to Cristoph, Alis and the other noble present. "Good evening. Do you have room for a latecomer to your battles here? Braxas of House Whisper at your service." He bows his head and selects an army, one known for speed and aggressive stealth manuviers. He immediately starts plotting and tries to lay an ambush and trap for the one closest to his lands... He keeps a calm face smiling oh so politely as he watches thier reactions to his little plot there and sees what the raction is.


*** Norwood has called for an opposing check with Fiachra. ***
Norwood checks command and sailing at easy. Norwood is successful.
Fiachra checks wits and stealth at easy. Fiachra is successful.
*** Fiachra is the winner. ***

Ryhalt laughs at Amari's end gambit. "Wow... that was savage. Note to self, do not make an enemy of Lady Amari. Good game both of you." He laughs some more and shakes his head, not even sure how to describe the chaos they'd just engaged in.

Mabelle blinks confusedly at the board and at Amari, "Wait did I lose? How did I lose? Cake is a victory", she takes a fork and eats it right off the coated troops. "Oh yes, Good cake." She mumbles between bites and quickly corrects, "Game. Good Game".

"Welcome, Braxas. I'm afraid that my forces have been depleted, and my amazing spouse is getting revenge on my behalf." Alis declares, still laughing at Norwood's antics, and standing up from the table a moment. "I'm getting cake to drown the rest of my sorrows with. And maybe soak up some of the whiskey before the room spins." And she, of course, gets two enormous servings of cake. One for her, one for Fiachra. "I'm taking the end piece with the extra frosting and don't any of you try and stop me! If I have to lose my troops I am not losing my frosting!" she calls out, warning everyone in the dining room of her intentions.


Katarina looks over from being about to take that very same piece. And... hesitates for a moment, before going for a different piece. What the hell happened to the three she'd taken already?

Laughing, Fiachra lifts a hand to wave to Kael in parting. "Be well, Marquis Kael," he tells him. "You'll no doubt get any number of chances to vex me in this game. Large-scale battle is something I don't have a lot of practical experience in, admittedly. I like finding an advantage and..." The Prince-Consort manages to move his units onto Norwood's ships where he starts targeting the leaders of his fleet. Looking up from the game, he looks to Braxas and smiles a greeting. "Well met." He nods towards Alis as well, chuckling. "And avenge you I will, my love."

As Norwood's poor poor forces are decimated by Fiachra's attack the Baron SIGHS deeply. " Well, all good things must come to an end. Well played. Carita should be proud of what she accomplished." Nod, and he is totally going to send her a letter to the effect that if she invades the Oathlands and attacks indiscriminately she could be a badass before being wiped off the face of the map. "You want to attack the Prince, Whisper." Norwood replies, standing up and picking up his little ship. This is coming home with him k thanks.

"Wasn't liberating all the cats from Duke Ryhalt's deranged cake worshipping cultists the winning condition?" Amari wonders. "In the face of such crime and depravity one must be savage. The weed must be pulled roots and all so it may never grow again." But since she's not Queen Irama, she runs a fingertip through the icing atop the cake that's killed all her archers and tries it. "Some cake would be lovely, I think."

Mabelle informs Amari confusedly, "I am the deranged cake worhipping cultists!!", she holds her fourth cake up as proof


*** Braxas has called for an opposing check with Fiachra. ***
Braxas checks intellect and diplomacy at easy. Braxas is successful.
Fiachra checks wits and stealth at easy. Fiachra is successful.
*** Fiachra is the winner. ***

Ryhalt grins as Mabelle starts to 'clean up' the battlefield. "The cake god will rise and take revenge. One day. It's a prophesy or something, somewhere." He chuckles at Amari. "I thought it started as a plot to *steal* all the cat's eyes because of some weird bee fur controversy. By the sound of things, the cake god is being invoked everywhere." He grins and walks over to observe the match at the top of the shield sigil table.

Bayberry, an Oakhaven juvenile bloodhound, Steadfast, a dunskin stallion courser, Bumbling Bees from a Clement bee hive leave, following Norwood.

Alis leans over to watch the sudden match up of Fiachra vs. Braxas and murmurs something quietly to her spouse before he makes his play.

Amari's eyes widen a touch as she realizes her mistake, "Oh, so you are." That's mildly embarrassing. She has grace enough to dip her head to Ryhalt and look somewhat apologetic, "Yes, that's right. We meant to steal all the cat's eye gems, then all the cats, and well, everything spiraled into violence. That tends to be what happens."

Mabelle presses something to Amari's hand, "For your victory". She then rises tiredly, "Yes, Violence, cats, cakes, I need my beauty sleep. Thank you for hosting, Cousin, High L.. Princess, Valardins, Cat Worshippers, fire setters, you were all a dubious yet genuine pleasure"

Braxas has left the beginning of the shield sigil table.

Alban has left the north banquet table.

"I like to think I have learned a thing or two being so competitive with the High Lord," Fiachra says to Norwood with a smile. "Working together, we can be fierce. You just about killed us with that navy, though. Well played." The attack that comes for his now small band of rogues from Braxus' forces is narrowly avoided and then countered. Something Alis whispers to him has the Prince-Consort quirking a brow, however, and a slow smile crosses his lips. "And I think at this point, what remains of my army shall scuttle these boats somewhere sunny and warm." Laughing, he politely excuses himself before standing and joining Alis. "Good evening, everyone."

Katarina checks dexterity and stealth at hard. Botch! Katarina is fails completely.

Ryhalt laughs at Amari and nods in agreement. "Was bound to turn to violence with cats and cake involved." He waves as Mabelle speaks of needing to go sleep. "This was a fun time, thank you for having us again." He smiles lightly.


Katarina piles up her plate with yet more cake. Too much cake. This is why she's huffing and puffing so much during spars. She makes sure to leave enough for the others -- /just/ enough. And she attempts to discreetly ferry her cake away to be enjoyed in private -- except one of the Darkwater boat pieces has somehow ended up on the floor, unseen by the Princess. Katarina steps on it, slips, and in trying not to topple over, smushes a plate full of cake into her own chest. Katarina stands there for a long moment, looking rightfully mortified. "...I'm going to my room," she says. In war, there are winners... and losers.

Alis smiles quite impishly, and hands Fiachra his plate of cake. "We bid you all a good evening." And then sweeps out. She may have forgotten her fork. But whatever.

Alis has left the beginning of the shield sigil table.

2 Valardin Knights leaves, following Fiachra.

Sir Rhys, a Valardin Knight, Laurene, a military adjutant, 8 Valardin Knights, Fiachra leave, following Alis.

Mabelle has left the west banquet table.

Katarina has left the north banquet table.

A dutiful Valardin aide, Juba'al'samara, a Suj'abbati royal guardsman, 2 Valardin Knights leave, following Katarina.

Ryhalt has left the west banquet table.

2 Farshaw trained guards, Suzette - a Westrock Aerie Page leave, following Ryhalt.

"You were an excellent ally and enemy, Lady Mabelle. Thank you." Amari says after a quick glance down into her hand and another murmured thanks follows. "It looks like the night is done. Let's walk together." She offers the Laurent before flashing a quick grin at Ryhalt and noddding to those still remaining. Some smashed cake is scooped off the map and fed to Marigold before she's off!