Octohopper, a prismatic jumping spider arrives, following Ferrando.

2 Armed Confessors, Angwyn the otter, Mordred, Abner, Capt'n Waddles the small cock with a bell, 2 Rivenshari Clan Guardsman, 2 Redrain Guards arrive, following Ann.

Violeta Emili, tall and shadowed rivenshari, 2 Rivenshari Clan Guardsman, Tregva Emili, a colorful ravashari performer, Campanilla, a beautiful blue roan gelding with colorful ribbons and bells in mane, Ann arrive, following Mattheu.

Mattheu takes a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Mattheu takes a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Ferrando trucks in, apparently in mid-conversation with a personal kite-sewing assistant riding shotgun on his shoulder. "Don't worry! Just poing onto whatever you want me to pick up," he tells Octohopper. "I know, I know, this is your reputation on the line here, we'll definitely make a kite that won't embarrass you to all the Nox." He pauses to look about once arrived at the ground proper. "You -have- made a kite before, right? 'cause I sure haven't."

It is a gorgeous late spring afternoon. Birds are singing, and the world seems a lot cleaner without the dreaded threat of the Horned God hanging over everything. The red moon is no longer red, and has receded back to its silvery gray nothingness in the sky, visible hopefully only at night, where it belongs. Today is a day of celebration. Children run through the field of petals, laughing and giggling with pet dogs or other kinds of pets. There is laughter, and there is a sense of peace, for however brief it may be. But it is a peace.

As the time arrives for the kite-flying event to begin, Skaldia is standing in front of a large colorful pavilion that has been set up where people can make kites. All manner of supplies are available, from lightweight cloth to thin parchment, and lightweight pieces of flexible wood to make the frames. Paints of all colors and varieties are available as well, to make the kites as colorful as possible.

"Hello! Welcome everyone!" Skaldia says, smiling cheerfully around. "We'll start the kite-making contest soon, followed by the kite-flying contest! Please, feel free to help yourself to a kite keepsake - one only please! And a King Calithex statuette!" The Huntress glances around, looking decidedly more chipper than she looked before the battle. "Let's celebrate FREEDOM!" she shouts, lifting a fist and raising it high as if punching the memory of that big creepy Book of Endings that was in the sky.

Ferrando is overheard praising Skaldia: FREEDOM! And kites.

The breeze fills with song of soft bells as Mattheu and Ann Rivenshari arrive for the kite flying event. Neither with a kite of their own. Enough color between them that something beautiful could be thrown together if need be.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 2 Ashford Archer, 1 Ashford Scout arrive, following Lisebet.

Daoud, a Harrow Banshee arrives, following Cufre.

Indeed, Ann follows Matti as she takes a look about when they finally reach their destination. Her hand resting on his forearm as if he is the string to her kite as she takes this all in.

Daoud, a Harrow Banshee leaves, following Cufre.

Mortimer arrives with little fanfare or the like, the elder merchant's gentle amble speaking to no hurry in getting to where he should be for this thing. The look about here and there while he's seeing what is what as it were, as he pauses to lean on his cane for a second. Not too heavily, mind you, but there's definitely some using of the thing.

Mortimer takes a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Ann takes a glorious kite shaped like a butterfly from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Ann takes a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Mortimer takes a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Titania takes a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Lisebet makes her way over to the lodge, somewhat behind Mortimer, enough that she doesn't move faster to try to catch up with him at any rate. She is by herself, family left home, though of course the usual guards are with her. She pauses to glance around as she arrives, before moving forward to look around inquisitively.

Ferrando leaves his spider to low-key fret in wordless silence (or just stand around normally, Octohopper doesn't emote a whole lot) while he goes to look for the host. It's pretty easy since she's the one making the big welcoming speech. "Freedom!" he declares brightly to her in a thoroughly celebratory fashion. "Thank you for hosting this event. As ever, if the Liberators of Skaldia can be of any assistance, you need but ask. Otherwise, I'll attempt to watch a spider build a functioning kite with possibly no prior experience whatsoever. That can't possibly go badly at all, right?" He smirks at Octohopper. "Yeah, you thought it was funny siding with the Harlequin earlier, but now the shoe's on the other foot, huh?" he taunts.

Titania takes a glorious kite shaped like a butterfly from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Daoud, a Harrow Banshee arrives, following Cufre.

Lisebet gets a glorious kite shaped like a butterfly from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Mattheu is left to stare at Ferrando as he continues to speak to the spider

3 House Riven Soldiers, 1 Greenwood Tribe Blood Warriors, Lianna, 1 Bisland pride guards, Feydin, a white-tailed eagle, Vigilance, a juvenile female Oakhaven Bloodhound, Berthold, Tinsel arrive, following Mia.

Mortimer eases out of the way when he hears Lisebet coming in after him, that kindly smile to her as he bows his head briefly to her, before he's making his way closer. Ferrando, for that part, looks far more familiar, and he allows a smile for the liberator before he's finding somewhere comfortable to sit and spy for some moments.

Titania comes walking into the field of petals looking around, her hair is down cascading over her shoulders with many tiny sea shells through it. Her leathers have many hues of blue silk tied into them. Her ocean blue eyes look about, taking everything in, there is a air of grace an command about her as she moves further into the field.

Skaldia grins at Ferrando, and gives him a good-natured soft-punch on the shoulder. "Now you, what do you think Skald would think if it seemed like I was impersonating him and getting a following?" she says, though she is grinning. "JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE SIMILAR NAMES DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING!" Or does it? "And Octohopper is welcome to try!" She laughs. "Anyway!" she says, glancing around with a big smile, "if you're wanting to participate in the kite-making contest, please let me know! If you don't want to make kites, but want to try the kite-flying contest, please let me know!" She huffs a bit, clearly not used to making big announcements like this, her face a bit flushed. "Please help yourselves to the keepsakes! One kite and one Calithex statuette per person please!" She lifts a lock of auburn hair, and shoves it out of her face as she glances around. She beams a smile at Mortimer, and Titania. "Welcome!" She says to the former, and to the latter, "Lady Titania! Good to see you." Lisebet also receives a warm smile.

Her overly-armored companion at her side, Cufre spots Skaldia and waves before leading the way to the pavilion. She selects an armful of supplies, then heads down to claim a spot at the long table.

Lisebet inclines her head in greeting to Mortimer when he nods her way. Her eyes are dancing, and there is a slight smile on her face, the relatively young duchess heading over towards Skaldia as well, following along as she looks to see how to participate. "Good to see everyone," she murmurs softly, a very swiftly passing gleam of mischief showing on her face. "Thank you for the opportunity to attend and participate. I'm Lisebet Ashford."

"Honestly, he'd probably appreciate it and think better you than him. Skald doesn't believe very strongly in having a following because it clashes with his inherent nature as the embodiment of independence," Ferrando advises Skaldia good-naturedly. "And of course it means something! Mostly it means it's funny." He grins impishly. "Well, I suppose then I will challenge my boon companion to kite-making if she's a valid participant. Let me know if you need help hauling things around later!" And he steps off to go let Skaldia do host things while he looks around for the food. He's pretty sure somebody somewhere mentioned a feast. "Yeah, that's right, I'm taking you on," he tells Octohopper.

Mattheu's attention is pulled towards Skaldia as she speaks of Skald. A silly little grin upon his lips "As the Ravashari here I think you would be safe from that possibility. If he does have question to your impersonation, might he take it as a boon that you share in similar name and blesses us further in freedom with choice to be made freely and without others to force their choice upon us." The jingling lord looks to the kites and materials available. "Might we add bells to their tails? I think the wind would be happiest in knowing we seek to sing as well as play in painting the sky."

Mortimer beams a warm smile to Skaldia when she's calling out her welcome. "Thank you for the greeting, young lady," says he with aplomb. Though Lisbet at her introduction gets an equally warm smile, and a respectful bow of his head. "Mortimer Mairelli, my lady. A pleasure." Though hearing folks talk about 'attending' and 'participating' encourages him - albeit with a groan - to get back to his feet and make his way closer to the others.

Mia makes her way through the fields, picking out a careful path that allows her to avoid crushing any of the flowers underfoot, accompanied by her usual lady's maid and a tattooed Prodigal guard who is decidedly Not-Thesarin, yet one quick, passing glance at the man for anyone who only knows him by reputation might make a person think otherwise. Maybe all the Greenwoods have a certain resemblance? Who knows, really. "--fine, really. I assure you," she's murmuring to the pair of them.

There is a wave to Ferrando and a smile for him and his spider as Ann walks with Matti. Asking Matti, "Have you met Ferrando? He's an old friend and use to carry my books for me."

Skaldia grins at Ferrando and nods. "You're probably right," she says quickly to him, before adding, "And I already made a bunch of kites. This is for everyone else!" She turns to Mattheu and grins at him as well. "Absolutely! My mother chose my name well," she says with a grin, beaming proudly. "Who wouldn't be happy to be named after the First Choice?" She nods to Matthew. "You can add bells if you want, and if you think it'll still fly." She grins, and looks around, seeming enlivened by the turnout and participation. To Mortimer, she inclines her head. "Nice to meet you, Master Mairelli! Please, I hope you enjoy the day. It is a beautiful day to fly kites, wouldn't you agree?" She sees Cufre, and gives her older sister a friendly wave, before turning to Lisebet. "So nice to meet, you, Lady Ashford. If you want to start making kites," she says, raising her voice again in case anyone is confused, gesturing toward the pavilion, "please head over to the tent, and grab your supplies! There is also a feast table over there," she says, gesturing over near the poppies.

Titania moves to Skaldia, "Huntress Skaldia, this is lovely." her voice soft like a breeze very gentle on the ears when she speaks. "May Mangata keep the skies clear and the wind in our favor yes." she smiles, she gives a soft sound, "I would like to make one and see if it will fly." she grins at this thought, oh how badly it may fail! But she is going to try.

Lisebet smiles and nods to Skaldia. "I think I shall do just that," she says with a definite nod. "A pleasure to meet you as well." That to both Skaldia and Mortimer. "I don't know if I've ever made a kite, but if I learn how, I'm sure the children will love to make some with me in the next few days." She turns to head towards the tent with the kite making supplies and catches sight of Mia as she does so. That brings a bigger smile to her face, and recognition, as well as a follow on hint of concern. "Mia, it's been a while," she offers simply.

Ferrando detours on the way to the food as he's called over by Ann and smiles affably to the noble pair. "Lady Ann, Lord Mattheu, hello there," he replies sociably. "And yes, I've met Lord Mattheu briefly. He knows quite a lot more about how to get horses to go where you want them to, it's rather fair to say," he observes before regarding him. "And it's true. I'm an escaped research assistant. Er, -retired- research assistant. Alas, it's someone else's important duty now to make sure the copies of 'Notes On Field Geometries And Drainage Patterns For Proper Legume Cultivation' aren't waylaid by anyone in desperate need of an insomnia cure."

Mattheu looks to Ann with a smile and soft word as he nods to Ferrando, bells within the lord's hair sing in his movement. Dipping into a flourished bow "Lord Mattheu Rivenshari. It's a pleasure to meet one that knows Ann." A step is taken towards the kite making supplies as he starts to rummage through what exists as he looks back to Ann saying something to her in Ravashari.

Mattheu says in Ravashari, "We will never hear the end of it from the children, I best make something they can fly later as well?"

Mia's dark eyes lift from the field underfoot at the sound of her own simple name, searching out the source of it. Catching sight of Lisebet, she offers an unusual expression -- or at least an uncommon one for her, outside the walls of her own keep. A smile passes across her face, followed by a dip into a curtsy. "Duchess Ashford. It's been quite some time since I saw you last. How is your family? The people at Ashford Keep?"

OOC: You say: For kite-making rolls, please use: oldcheck Dexterity/Any Social/Intellect + Any crafting ability or Legerdemain/Manipulation, Diplomacy, Leadership, Haggling/Riddles, Streetwise at 15

Social types can try to convince helpers or children running around to help them build the kites, if want.

Mattheu checked dexterity + legerdemain at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Mortimer checked composure + streetwise at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

Titania checked intellect + diplomacy at difficulty 16, rolling 30 higher.

Ferrando checked dexterity + sewing at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Lisebet checked dexterity + diplomacy at difficulty 15, rolling 39 higher.

There's a laugh that erupts from Ferrando when Ann hears him listing that book. That will never get old for him. "OOh that's right! Chariot race. Got you!" She's been a little busy and had forgotten that the two had met earlier. Laughing at something that Matti says but doesn't detain Ferrando, "Please enjoy the meal it looks like I have some kite making to do.

Ferrando GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + sewing(5) at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Ann checked intellect + diplomacy at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Ferrando GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + sewing(5) at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Lisebet moves over to Mia, distracted for a moment from making kites. "I am well, and so is the family. Ashford Keep had some small issues that kept us busy over the past while." She pauses and then says something in addition to Mia, but at a much lower volume, before she says, "Are you making a kite? Do you know how? If so, do feel free to help me out." She gestures towards the kite making area, waiting to see what Mia's plan is before she heads off.

Ferrando gets a glorious kite shaped like a butterfly from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

It takes a moment or three, or four, for Mortimer to make his way over to where the kites are being made - some things just aren't rushed, though it's more the fact that Mortimer looks like he just doesn't ever rush anywhere. He does mark who is coming that way towards the tent-making - and there's a look towards the food too - but as some things simply need be done, he makes it a priority to get the kite made first.

Skaldia gets black leather hood with gold-brown fur lining from adventurer's backpack with bedroll.

There's a soft laugh from Mia at the question. "No, Duchess, I'm afraid that I have no idea how to make a kite. I came to support the Harrow sisters in their efforts, and the former King in his, whatever they may be. I planned to rely on children with more eagerness than they have steady fingers, and to help them where tying or gluing bits may be difficult for small hands." She leans in, lowering her head to catch the last of whatever it is that Lisebet says. The words draw out a happy exhale, almost a happy sigh. "My hearty congratulations to you all. There's something so hopeful about seeing the world carry on and life going about its business, regardless of whatever history decides to do with us."

Ann says in Ravashari, "Yes, you are likely better at this than I am, love. I never said I was a crafty person it seems my skills run scholarly."

"Likewise! I've got a spider to beat at her own game as well. Probably," Ferrando tells Ann and Mattheu. "Enjoy the event!" From there it's a bit of material collection (this involves grabbing two of everything) before picking out an open spot of field and launching into assembly. This is somewhat interrupted by Ferrando being somewhat guilted into not making a fist-sized spider drag things into place, which kind of interrupts his entire flow. "I feel like I'm making one and a half kites here at the very least," he murmurs to nobody in particular while eyeing a bit of string like it's some sort of secret puzzle. Knots are mysterious things. Meanwhile, Octohopper skitters around much more efficiently dispensing with using some of the provided materials in lieu of natural webbing.

Skaldia glances over to Mia, and gives the Marquessa a smile and an inclination of her head. THen she turns around, and starts walking up and down the long table, looking at everyone's kites, and murmuring quietly about their progress. She seems delighted, her features lit up and happy, which was rare with her before the battle, and immediately after. The sound of children's laughter can be heard around the field, and the murmur of voices and the bustle of activity is indeed heartening after so much doubt and fear in the recent past.

Lisebet's laugh is musical and amused. "Well, that makes two of us on the kite making," she observes. That said, she nods her head, taking a breath. "I shall promptly go get some materials. Shall I bring you back some too?" It might be a competition, but Lisebet is perfectly willing to help. Petite she might be, but she's got helpers at least if she can't carry everything. She heads over, gets her materials and starts working on figuring out how to make a kite. "A long string, and - a frame." She pauses, staring at the wood and material, in front of her. A glance up and then back to staring for a moment. "Do you suppose I'll get style points for using different colours, even if they don't match?" That's rhetorical, and then Lisebet is finding a shade of Green - Ashford, and a shade of Blue - not Ashford. "This'll work, I'm sure of it." Uh huh. If she's lucky. Thankfully, there's a youngster nearby who looks over and points out that the kite does need to be able to catch air. Which has Lisebet add more material in gold and silver. Hastily.

The Rivenshari lord is stuck trying to tie sticks together and paste cloth in a means which would allow the portable little sail to fly as a kite should. He looks to be far more interested in ensuring bells are attached to edges of the kite and is in hushed argument with two women of equally colorful dress in where bells should go. "Tregva..." Mattheu is stuck pinching his nose as the sisters who follow him around and are supposed to help take to making their own kites and keep stealing materials away from Mattheu with laughs and jests in Ravashari for him being too slow. "No... There's plenty for all. Get your own!" Finally looking over to Tregva and Violeta who have taken to sitting with any child that is willing to help them, with Tregva trying to offer lessons in how to best 'borrow' supplies from the table. Specifically the supplies in front of Mattheu. He finally holds up a kite with three bells upon its frame. "I think this should fly."

Titania starts to work on her kite, the lady is doing hers in many hues of blue, cause of course she is. She is a disciple of Mangata after all, she is quiet while she works, her tongue slips out to the corner of her mouth as she works it shows how into this kite making business she really is!

Ferrando ends up with a functional, if somewhat rough, ready, and only slightly overglued standard kite. Octohopper's kite is about one third the size but pulled off with about five times the craftspidership and actually looks quite intentional with a very nice spidersilk tail with a few tiny ribbons incorporated inside, sort of like a diamond-shape web that has managed to catch a bit of kitecloth in lieu of any bugs. As far as design goes, Octohopper frankly has Ferrando well beat with a simple yet colorful design, whereas Ferrando's looks kind of like a field tent that was mugged and used for kite parts. Neither of them is probably winning anything (unless there's a special prize for cutest mini-kite). "Hmm," Ferrando declares thoughtfully upon eyeing the finished results. "Call it a draw?" he ventures hopefully.

Cufre Taking a pause to look down the table gives Cufre the advantage of some bystander-training in how to make sticks that don't quite want to bend thataway to bend thataway. She hasn't even started to touch the brightly-colored fabric scraps in front of her.

Ann has been quiet as she has been working on her kite. Staying focused. Looking up every now and then when she hears Tregva and Violeta amused at their antics. But then Matti is showing off his kite and the bells and she smiles big. "It will fly. The wind will hear it and offer its support." Hers looks to be a ray of different colors likely scraps of fabric she could find as she too puts bells on and waits for when they are suppose to be flying their creation. Looking around and seeing who else is crafting. With a free hand she waves to any she may know as she double checks her creation.

At the sight of Skaldia passing by, Mia dips her head low -- low enough to almost, almost but not quite, be considered a full bow. The gesture is certainly respectful, teetering just within the boundaries of what a landed noble would only ever be expected to show to a high ranking member of the Faith, or perhaps an especially famous and highly regarded Whisper. And yet. Should she catch Cufre's eye, both Harrow sisters receive the same treatment. "Materials would be lovely," Mia answers, a few seconds too late for the Duchess to likely catch, though her helpers might. In the meantime, Mia busies herself with a pair of children who need an extra set of hands, apparently content to be 'overseen' and directed by two boys who haven't yet reached double digits. "Ohh, those colors match beautifully," she comments to Lisebet. "But I've always been partial to green and blue.

Mortimer is not a kite-maker, or whatever it is that you call one who. Makes kites. A mindful look at the others, though, even as the merchant is taking his time to carefully fold and attach the fabric to the spars, as if he's making certain that even if it's fairly simple, it's a kite that is going to stand a chance of actually being kite-like. He does look down and up the table at the works of the others, a nod at Titania's work, and a lift of his brows to Ferrando. "Are you of mind, messere, to simply settle for draws in life?" he asks the Liberator, with a note of play to his tone.

Comedenti, the Calderan Bearded Vulture arrives, following Titus.

Comedenti, the Calderan Bearded Vulture leaves, following Titus.

Comedenti, the Calderan Bearded Vulture arrives, following Titus.

Ferrando glances over his shoulder and up at Mortimer from his seated position. "I think it's more settling for not having a long and protracted argument with a shrine-residing prismatic jumping spider," he observes dryly. It might be too late for that; evidently the draw offer was not particularly well-received as Octohopper in the meantime has >poing<'d over to Ferrando's kite and left an 'X' in webbing over the top before skittering away. "Okay, now hold on, it's definitely not -that- bad," Ferrando protests low-key indignantly.

Lisebet doesn't quite hear Mia, but Ramona does, and so kite materials of a random sort are brought back to the Marquessa. "I also love those colours," Lisebet admits, with a smile back to Mia. She grins at the children who are helping Mia, occasionally asking for a bit of help herself. Because why not? It hopefully helps to make the kite able to actually fly. At the least, it looks - like it might. Now Lisebet looks up and down the table, taking in all the other kites being built. "We have a very creative and talented group," she says. That spider though gets a long look, but only that. And then a nod. She might have been away for a bit, busy with - responsibilities. But she's not taken aback by a kite making spider, at least. In fact, at the protest from Ferrando, there's a grin that crosses Lisebet's face.

There is a dark shape that moves in the sky high above where kites might be flying, and if one has really really good eyes they might note it has a 3m wingspan that's gray to black. And soon enough, a knight comes with a very delicate object in his hands as Titus appears for the kite event.

Titania looks up as Skaldia comes and speaks with her in soft words, she smiles warmly to the Huntress nodding her head. She takes the moment to look up and down the table. When she does she spots Titus and she turns to look to him, "Lord Titus." she bows her head to him, "If you wish you can join me, I am almost done."

Mia sinks down into a seat, leaning a touch closer to Lisebet as she does so. Although she drops her voice, her words aren't quite low enough to be a whisper. "Is that man," she asks quietly, and with the way that her eyes flick over, she clearly means Ferrando. "Having a conversation with a hopping spider?" There's something about her tone that suggests that no, Mia is not scandalized. On the contrary, she looks as if she'd like to be comforted by hearing a 'yes', a confirmation that she is not, in fact, imagining the scene before her. It certainly wouldn't be the most alarming thing she's seen lately. Far from it.

"Attention everyone!" Skaldia announces, "when you have finished with your kite, please make your way into the open central field, where the kites will be judged! Then we will begin the kite-flying contest!" She turns then to stare toward the shadow passing overhead, and follows the string to Titus as he arrives. She offers him a broad smile. "Welcome, my lord! You are just in time for the flying contest! Please help yourself to the keepsakes or the feast, as you choose, or you can simply head out to the field to await the others, since you already have your kite in the air." She smiles, and turns back to watch the progress of the other kite-makers.

Mortimer might be seen to laugh slightly, but when his voice finds him, it's hardly unkind. "Now, now, young lady," says he to Mia. "We cannot always choose the forms our friends take, and we should be accepting of all as they come. Silver judges none of us as any greater than any other." And that might be the crux of how he sees the world, even as he's considering Ferrando and his 'friend'.

"Attention everyone!" Skaldia announces, "when you have finished with your kite, please make your way into the open central field, where the kites will be judged! Then we will begin the kite-flying contest!" She turns then to stare toward the shadow passing overhead, and follows the string to Titus as he arrives. She offers him a broad smile. "Welcome, my lord! You are just in time for the flying contest! Please help yourself to the keepsakes or the feast, as you choose, or you can simply head out to the field to await the others, since you already have your kite in the air." She smiles, and turns back to watch the progress of the other kite-makers.

"I think he's arguing with the spider," Lisebet says after observing for a moment. "And losing." Her words are also low, as she replies to Mia. There's a pause and then Lisebet adds, "Also I believe the spider has a kite that might be better than mine." There is amusement in her voice as she says so, certainly not concerned about kitemaking ability or her own lack therein. She grins at Mortimer and inclines her head. "It is true that friends come in all shapes and sizes," she agrees.

Titus hears Titania and so he walks over to her while Comedenti is flying high high above. Titus gestures a bit up to the sky where the bird flies, "It's fair if Comedenti destroys the competition in the sky, right? He gets awfully protective." to the countess as he comes alongside her and shows the item he has. To Skaldia he says "Thank you very much for hosting this event, it is a great idea."

Cufre, who has been far too fixated on the mess of supplies before her to notice much else, looks over to Skaldia with the announcement, then back at the far-from-airworthy framework in her hands. A shake of coppery hair and a lopsided smile to her stern companion make it clear that this is a competition left to others today.

Mattheu turns with kite in hand, "Feast?" Somehow the Rivenshari bottomless pit missed that there's a full feast by the refreshments and is heading towards the table as his kite is tucked under arm and a plate appears in free hand where he can start piling up tasty morsels. Eventually making his way out to the field to fly his kite, a roasted chicken leg held in mid bite within his lips as he settles to figure out a means to hold the kite and enjoy the food he found. His mouth somewhat full, "Okay. You're to go into the air. Up."

Mia looks up from where she's currently holding down a bit of a stubborn stick from one of the boys, her attention trailing over to Mortimer when she realizes who it is that's addressing her. "Ohh, I make no judgment against him for his conversation, sir," she reassures him. "Quite the opposite. It's a relief to know I'm not the only one who's been on the receiving end of such commentary lately. I was afraid a bit of my mind had cracked itself open, or perhaps had wandered off." She says this with no trace of irony whatsoever, either, which may be the alarming part of her little speech, if any of it is.

Ann won't even attempt to get a plate full of food until after the competition. She does follow Matti and tells him, "I think you have to wait for a get ready, get set, go. I think that is how that works." Looking up to the skies to see if anything else is flying besides Titus bird giving that lord a wave in passing. Telling Matti, "We get our kites judged first and how pretty the judges think they are then we fly." That is how she thinks are suppose to go.

Ferrando picks up both kites as Octohopper hops onto his shoulder. "We -are- old friends, aren't we?" he asks encouragingly. "Wasn't for me, you'd still be stuck on that island in the Saffrons, probably. I wasn't even married when we first met." He pauses in mid-stride on the way out to the flying field and squints. "Okay, that came out a little weird." He clears his throat and stakes out his spot for flying operations. "No, I'm not going to launch your kite, I know, it's your gift to the King before he goes to kick ass in Eurus, alright?" he concludes soothingly.

Mortimer checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 30, rolling 18 lower.

Mattheu checked charm + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

Titus checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 30, rolling 6 lower.

Lisebet checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 30, rolling 18 higher.

Ann checked dexterity + sailing at difficulty 30, rolling 10 lower.

Ferrando checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 12 higher.

Mia checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Titania looks up to the sky as the bird flies above them, "Lord Titus, if I get bird dropping's on my armor." she looks to him with a twinkle in her ocean blue eyes, "You will be responsible for cleaning them." she then attempts to get her kite to fly.

Lisebet smiles at the children and at Mia. "I think I'm done, how about you?" She's ready to bring her kite to the field for judging and then to try to see if it flies. "Shall we go be judged?"

Mortimer has no illusions in where his skills lie, and this keeps his expression from trying to the forlorn when there's the mention of flying the kites they have made. "I am sorry for you," says he mindfully, with a pat to the cloth-and-wood kite that's in his hands, of which he's been proud, before he sighs softly. And... no, indeed. The man, at his age, is not perhaps much for launching the flying thing into the heavens above. A fluter, and a fall, and he just seems to regard it sadly, before he's carefully lifting it aloft in his hands again. "You are, perhaps, better meant for those who wanted the kites, my cloth friend," he muses to it, as if it were alive.

Cufre returns what supplies can be used by someone else to the baskets and carries her would-be kite frame with her to the field to observe launches. Her steps bring her to Skaldia, and she engages her in conversation as the kites make their attempts at the sky.

Mattheu smiles with a full mouth of chicken leg which he takes another bite from before stuffing the leg into a very colorful pouch as he chews trying to be a little polite about it. A hard swallow as he looks at the kite and starts to spin in circles with his arm holding the kite being brought up and down in a flapping manner to finally nearly throw the kite over his head and pull back on string help the fabric catch at the wind. As bells upon the kite start to sing in each pull and loosening of grip the kite lifts itself with the wind. Satisfied that the kite is going upwards he looks over his shoulder to Titania, "To be shat on by a creature of the wind is a measure of luck Lady Titania."

Titania checked dexterity + manipulation at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

Titus drops an arachnokite of spidersilk.

Kite-flying is a time-honored lower boroughs street kid pastime. Ferrando's evidently picked up at least a decent amount of skill at it, being a big city kid-turned-big city big kid and all. It's a bit ungainly in the air (probably due to its ungainly construction; it still looks like a soaring bit of cannibalized soldier tent up there) but he does get it to swoop around fairly well. "You didn't want to go riding on one of these, did you?" he asks the spider. Octohopper promptly crawls into his shirt pocket. "Okay, fair enough," he replies dubiously, going back to kite operation.

Titus says "I'm going to pretend you didn't even ask, because if Comedenti heard that he'd be very offended and then I'd have to deal with an offended bird. That isn't a good time, no matter how much I love him." Titus though is focused more on trying to get his kite to fly. It takes a very long time, it isn't quick at all but slowly and surely, the very delicate thing floats higher and higher. The arachnokite made from spidersilk glistens like a rainbow when the light catches it just so. Any huge gusts and it just might be ripped to shreds!

Ann soon follows Matti. But those who know her know she's not very athletic so it should be no surprise that her kite barely follows through in trying to catch up with Matti's. It at least has bells and its colorful. So win win?

Mia is just about to reply that she is ready to take their kites -- none of which she actually made, so much as holding a bit down there and tying a knot here for some of the children attending -- seem ready to test. It's right as she opens her mouth to answer Lisebet that the youngest of the children she's been assisting wails out, "But I don't WANT to lose my kite!!" at a volume and pitch that only small children can manage. "It's alright, it's alright. I'll help you hold it so the wind doesn't snatch it away," she reassures him, shrugging her shoulders at the Ashford's Duchess-Consort.

After a grin at Mia, and a nod to the children. "I'll try to fly this one," she assures them. Lisebet brings her kite along, showing it to the judges, and then she moves to try to fly it. She doesn't seem to be having much luck, until she starts to run - only she's not really good at running, but she is good at dancing, so she starts to dance, leaping and twirling, which covers the distance and gets the kite started up in the air. Maybe the once Valardin from Westrock Reach has flown kites on the beach before? In any event, her style of raising the kite is unorthodox, but the kite does swirl and circle up and up.

Titania chuckles at Matthue's words, she knows she is a Kennex and been on a boat more then she like to admit. She looks to Titus as he seems to be having issues. She smiles, "They can be so moody." she says softly and looks to him, "I can help if you like Lord Titus and please, I am Lady I know longer lead a house." she says in a soft voice to him.

Cufre waggles her kite-attempt as she speaks with her sister, smiling as she does. When the two part, Cufre heads to the crate and selects one of the favor kites to give a go where some of the non-competitors are gathering.

Skaldia gets a pair of bleeding heart leather bracers from adventurer's backpack with bedroll.

Mattheu sings a little tune under his breath as he continues to play with the kite.

"In the open sky, where dreams take flight,"
"We embark on a kite-flying delight."
"With strings in hand and mischief in our eyes,"
"Our kites soar high, reaching for the skies."

"Colorful silks flutter, a vibrant ballet,"
"Dancing with the wind in a whimsical display."
"Reds and blues waltz, yellows and greens prance,"
"A cheeky rainbow performance, a kite lover's trance."

"Up, up they go, defying gravity's might,"
"A rebellious rebellion, an aerial flight."
"Tickling the clouds and dodging the sun,"
"Oh, these kites know how to have fun!"

"No boundaries can bind, no limits in flight,"
"The kite dances freely, in the day and night."
"Its tail trails behind, like a colorful stream,"
"A celebration of freedom, a whimsical dream."

"The wind whispers secrets to the soaring kite,"
"Tales of mischief and laughter, oh what a sight."
"With each twist and twirl, a dance in the breeze,"
"A carnival of colors, an airborne tease."

Mortimer applauds Mattheu's song while he's still consoling his kite for his own failings as a kite flyer.

Lisebet checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 6 higher.

Lisebet drops A Simple Kite in Blue and Green.

Titus is getting the spidersilk kite up in the air carefully which means very slowly, but he says to Titania "If you'd like to fly it, by all means go ahead. It just is a gift for King Calithex, I don't think he's ever had a kite made by someone where I'm from. I hope he likes it. I was wondering if maybe he wanted full-body kites the size of dragons to imbue with wind magic." As Mattheu sings, he actually taps a booted foot on the grass, something seems to make the Warmonger chill here today.

Anything Matti does Ann is here for it. Her smile wide as she listens to him. He is a Ravashari entertainer after all. She doesn't invade his space as he sings and flies his kite because he's doing a better job then she is. But still she looks up at the pretty trying to catch up with Matti's who's ahead of hers.

Titus is overheard praising Mattheu: Storms ride gales but happiness rides on the gentle breezes of songs sung well.

Ferrando sets about reeling in his recently constructed kite, possibly before the inherent flaws in its glue and/or string tying result in its piecemeal landing as debris instead of kite, singular. "Well, that was fun!" he declares sunnily with a bit of a side-to-side look at other kites. "Probably could have done with making it a bit more colorful in retrospect, but there's always next time I suppose."

In Mia's case, the question of getting a kite into the air is less one of managing the kite itself so much as it is managing the little boy who is wielding it. One hand grips his, while the other grips the kite-string to make certain his creation isn't lost should he lose his grip. "Faster!," she urges him, taking to the grass to run nimbly across it. "Faster, faster!," she cheers, until it finds the speed it needs to lift and suddenly snap the string taut. "Hold tight. Hold on!"

Mortimer does overhear Titus' words to Titania about the kite itself, and he's turning to fully watch what it is that is being offered, before he's considering the kite again. Brows lifted, there's the sense that he's making a note for later for himself.

Lisebet laughs as she finally comes to a stop, kite up in the air, waving in the wind. She's not even thinking about anything other than trying to keep that kite in the air, for a moment lost in the moment.

Skaldia whispers something to her sister, putting her arm briefly around Cufre's shoulders. Then she's marching down the line of kite-fliers to judge them on appearance and flight-worthiness. She nods to Mortimer with a big smile. "That is a lovely kite, Master Mairelli!" she says, but she does seem a bit dubious as it doesn't quite stay in the air. "Maybe some of the children can help you get it into the air?" she suggests, beore moving on to the next. To Titania, she beams. "Lovely," she says with a nod, before moving on. Mattheu gets a big smile from her as she stares up at the tinkling kite. "Looks like it is air-worthy after all!" She grins at him, and smiles to Lisabet and Ferrando and Mia, and Octo-hopper gets a bow.

Finally, Skaldia turns and makes her way back, and stares at Titus' kite, then she looks up in the sky, and then his kite. "Ahem," she says, "I thought the bird was your kite, somehow," she says. "This one is lovely!" She watches as it struggles to stay aloft. Perhaps a bit delicate for these winds though," she says with a soft smile. She moves on then, and finally finishes the judging of the kite-making. She pauses, however, standing to listen to Mattheu as he sings his song, her eyes shining for a moment, and she offers her own applause as well, clapping vigorously. She glances to Titus then, and smiles. "To be honest, no one really knows why His Majesty King Calithex wanted kites. But I wanted to honor the chosen brotherhood he shared with our ancestor, King Harren Harrow, long ago before the Dance of Skulls. Before King Harren fell to the shadow, and lost his way. It seems fitting, to send His Majesty off with a celebration." For now, she simply watches the kite-flying, not yet drawing the contest to a close or announcing a winner. She seems to be saving the sight of it all within her mind as she glances around, looking content.

Ferrando's proactive kite landing might have also doubled as an excuse to swing by the food area to snag a roll to snack on quickly. That little bit of business taken care of, he next busies himself with helping a few random kiddos get their kites up and into the air before handing them off. He's capable of getting up to pretty good launch velocity, after all.

Titus says to Skaldia, "Maybe it was a private moment shared by two brothers who chose one another, a memory on a simple day which reminds him to look up to dreams rather than get too bogged down here in the harshness of reality. Or maybe no reason. Elves are strange." As the refreshingly light breeze picks up, it makes his delicate kite threaten to fly away. The light shifts and the kite seems to disappear only to move and reappear with a rainbow shine to the spidersilk in the sunlight.

There is something quiet exchanged between Matti and Ann which causes the lady to glow as she smiles to him. Yes, she nuzzles him in public. Gasp. Staying nearby as she continues to look to the skies. Content to be where she is at and who she is with.

Mortimer huhs softly, but that nod that comes at Skaldia's words is an easy one, even as he's digging into his pocket to offer up a few silver coins to some of the nearby children along with the kite. "You'd be doing me a favour if you'd fly this for me," he can be heard to be saying, with a wink. And then he's stepping back a few, hands both resting on the top of his cane, as he watches the handiwork, with a glance about at the efforts of the others.

Mattheu pulls gently to his string to wrap it around a hook within his glove allowing him some freedom to bow to those around him for their applause. Only to pull at the chicken leg in pouch to take a few bites from it as he looks to Ann in grin. "See. I can eat and fly the kite." This is said as if there was a challenge made, or perhaps he was told to wait until after flying the kite.

Skaldia smiles to Titus, then turns and raises her voice once more."

"Well, based on looks, I would say Master Mairelli has outdone himself." She smiles to the older gentleman. "First prize on construction, and overall appearance." She nods to him, and then she smiles to Mattheu. "And to Lord Mattheu Rivenshari, the prize goes for air-worthiness, and beautiful song."

She turns back to the table then, and opens a large sack, from which she draws a very nice kid-leather hood. This she hands to Mortimer. Then she draws something else from the sack, and hands this to Mattheu, a bracer with a tooled bleeding heart." She leans in to murmur to him, then she grins, and turns around. "That concludes the contest! But please, please feel free to linger and fly kites, and make merry! To Choice!" She lifts her fist once more, smiling around. "Thank you all for coming!"

Titus is overheard praising Mortimer: Kite Master

Ferrando is overheard praising Mortimer.

Ferrando is overheard praising Mattheu.

Titania smiles at Titus as she takes his kite and shows him how to get it a bit more air born, "I am sure he will love it for whatever reason Lord Titus." she hands the string back to him as she looks up to it. She looks to her kite in the air and for a moment there is a thought of sadness that washes over her and then she is pushing it away and she starts to roll her string to bring the kite down.

Cufre is overheard praising Mortimer.

Cufre is overheard praising Mattheu.

Cufre is overheard praising Skaldia.

Lisebet grins, managing to hold her kite so she can cheer on the others and applaud for the winners. "To Choice!" she echoes after Skaldia's words. AFter a bit, she finds a child looking somewhat forlorn and passes on the string to her kite, letting the small one have it, encouraging and helping as the kite dips and soars in the air. That done, she too heads for the snack table, feeling the need for a drink and perhaps a chicken leg of her own.

Titus gets a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Mattheu is overheard praising Mortimer: A song of sail and windwhisper

Ann is overheard praising Mortimer.

Titus takes a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Cufre gets a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Mortimer takes a few moments to realize that Skaldia is speaking to him, before he gives the woman a more profound bow as he's holding the hood in both hands. "Thank you, my lady," he says, and there's a smile that betrays him. "If only more people these days, after my blessed wife passed, would still comment that I win first prize on overall appearance." This is clearly something that tickles him as he likewise bows his head to Mattheu at his win. Echoing the hostess' toast, he goes in search of a glass, lest he speak further before he's properly wet his whistle.

Mortimer is overheard praising Mattheu.

Mortimer is overheard praising Skaldia.

Mia is overheard praising Skaldia.

Ann is overheard praising Skaldia.

Mia gets a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Mia gets a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Comedenti, the Calderan Bearded Vulture have been dismissed.

Skaldia gets an arachnokite of spidersilk.

Skaldia gets A Simple Kite in Blue and Green.

Ann is overheard praising Mattheu: You can sing to me any time

Skaldia gets a glorious kite shaped like a butterfly from a sturdy leather belt with tooled leather pouches.

Skaldia gets a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a sturdy leather belt with tooled leather pouches.

Carissa, a Southport bodyguard, Planchet the Lycene maggiordome arrive, following Eirene.

Ferrando applauds Skaldia from his reacquired spot in the middle of the food. "To choice, and thank you once again for hosting! And may I add, I'm very happy for your family that your ancestral hall's been cleared of the Herald's Abyssal occupiers, and will remembered as the site of one of the Compact's most important victories. Even if it's, er, still probably a major undertaking to clean up all the mess remaining there," he declares appreciatively.

Titania takes a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Skaldia smiles to Mortimer, then giggles at his joke. "Oh you," she says, giving her hand a little wave, and she colors. "I can see I am going to have to keep my eye on you!" She grins at him, then she turns to Titania, and Lisebet, and Titus, and Ferrando, and all the others. She is glowing with happiness. "Please, enjoy the feast! Fly your kites! Make merry," she says to people as she starts walking toward the food area herself. "I'm starving," she says, and proceeds to fill a plate from the buffet-style feast on display.

Lisebet gets a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Ferrando gets a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Inspired by the displays, perhaps, Cufre returns to the long table to have another go at her bundle of sticks.

Mortimer does finally get a drink, a proper white given the weather, and is taking his time siping it before he turns that smile upon Skaldia again. "I would say 'both of them', but I strongly assure I am on the up-and-up." Though he turns his attention to the others about, but listens more than saying anything else, even as he peeks at what Cufre's up to.

Lisebet gets a small plate of food, and a drink, and then she turns to watch what else is going on. "The kites are so beautiful as they fly up in the sky," she says. She's content that she made a kite, and it didn't disintegrate upon take off. For her, it's a win-win.

Eirene makes the long treck from the city with a trio of kids. Two at that inbetween a child and teenager age, and the third a few years younger. Her elder the Malvici twins Idris and Iris, and the younger her Riven son Jace. They've come to fly kites or do something socially acceptable with themor perhaps play battle kites.

Cufre checked dexterity + smithing at difficulty 9, rolling 56 higher.

3 House Riven Soldiers, 1 Greenwood Tribe Blood Warriors, Lianna, 1 Bisland pride guards, Feydin, a white-tailed eagle, Vigilance, a juvenile female Oakhaven Bloodhound, Berthold, Tinsel leave, following Mia.

Skaldia has joined the a patch of whimsical coppery orange poppies.

Mattheu checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 11 higher.

Mattheu drops A Rivenshari ode to the wind.

Skaldia plops herself down in the poppy patch, careful not to crush any poppies, and starts eating. She glances around, watching the kites being flown by people she has come to know and respect, and by their children. She draws in a deep breath of that freedom-filled air, and then sighs contentedly before digging into her food.

Ferrando adds his and Octohopper's kites both to the burgeoning heap of donations, and with that done begins the moderate hike back to the capital.

Octohopper, a prismatic jumping spider leaves, following Ferrando.

Skaldia drops an arachnokite of spidersilk.

Skaldia drops A Simple Kite in Blue and Green.

Skaldia drops a glorious kite shaped like a butterfly.

Skaldia drops a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish.

Cufre eventually gets to something that may be recognizable as a kite. She shakes her head all the way across the field to where they are being collected and sets hers with the others. As she passes Mortimer, she angles it so he can have a look at the finished work, shrugs at him, and keeps on.

Titania pulls the kite down to gently pack it away to hand off to whomever is collecting them, she looks to the feast and moves over to it. Petrichor supplies and Mangata waters. She gathers a plate and something to drink and says a soft prayer over the food before she starts to eat.

Cufre drops a first attempt at a kite.

Mortimer gives a reassuring smile to Cufre when she's on her way over to put the kite with the others, as he moves to do the same with his 'offering'. "You seem as if you are disheartened by it, my lady," he says gently to her, and gives a faint smile. "Intent matters as much as output. Lives shall not be lost over a kite, yes?" Though he clearly, from his tone, doesn't know if that's precisely true.

Mattheu looks surprised that there is a prize to come along with flying the kites where he almost looses the kite he's flying. A quick grab at the string to pull it back as bells sing in the air and he's looking at the bracers he's been handed. A small nod to Skaldia, "I'll have to come see what there is then." As he lets loose a small short burst of whistle and hands string off to Tregva and Violeta who have been playing with the various children. Mattheu shakes his head to them both, "This is not our house." To then look over towards the table as there is a plate of cookies there. "Oh no..."

It's in this moment when most of the children with a soft song upon them charge for the refreshments table each seeking to steal a cookie for that is what they've been told of how is done with such a prize on display. It's also in this moment that the twins, Ilan and Raya make themselves visible with Ilan charging to her mother's skirts and jumping to try to grab at the string of Mattheu's kite. And Raya - /Of course Raya is leading the charge/ to take to the tables and make sure the other children get a cookie. Mattheu is left to stare at Ann with a silly grin.

Eirene gets a King Calithex Ael'Noctis statuette from a table displaying a bunch of King Calithex Ael'Noctis mementos.

Eirene gets a beautiful orange and blue kite shaped like a fish from a wooden crate filled with colorful kites.

Eirene checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 44 higher.

Eirene drops a kite of hawks in flight.

"Just Cufre," she says to Mortimer, "Harrow. Did I seem disheartened, really?" She shakes her head. "I'm not. It just looks so much easier than it is. But it was fun, and I'm glad to be here for all of it."

"You looked a little bit so." Mortimer smiles and looks reassuring, even as he's moving off, the glass of wine in his hand, leaning just a bit more on his cane than when he'd arrived...

Eirene comes in with her children, and they instantly go to fly their kites. The twins share one with hawks on it, for their mother's maiden house, and Jace has one with his heron for house Riven on it.

Skaldia smiles as she sees Eirene arrive, and she stands up, plate of food in hand, and makes her way over to the General. "Lady Eirene," she greets. "Thank you so much for coming! Are these yours?" she asks, eyeing the kids as they run off to join the kite-fliers. She smiles as yet another pair of kites are added to the pile.

Ann is looking to the bracers when they are handed over to Matti and she's smiling. They are pretty neat and bracers are always welcomed. Finger waving to Tregva and Violeta and almost gets bowled over by Ilan when she is to her skirts. "Don't worry love, we have a couple kites that we can take home for you all to have a turn on it." Looking to see where Raya is and there's a shake of her head which makes the bells in her hair ring. Sil the oldest and the brother can be heard yelling, "Wait for me! I want one! " He must be talking about the cookies. Looking to Matti when he gives her that silly grin and she's heard chiding him in mirth, "This is your fault you know." Her smile is bright and so is her eyes she really knows its just for fun.

Eirene checked dexterity + alchemy at difficulty 9, rolling 46 higher.

Eirene drops a kite of a heron in flight with a starry tail.

Cufre heads for the table of refreshments, favoring food over drink. Hands and pockets full, she and her combantion wander the grove.

Daoud, a Harrow Banshee leaves, following Cufre.

Mattheu says in Ravashari, "Yes. It is all my fault."

Ann laughs at whatever it is Matti tells her and there is a wagging of her finger now as she looks to see other children not Rivenshari with bells on their wrists. Besides cookies they were gifted with bells from the Rivensharis.

Titania looks up and waves a gloved hand, "Lady Eirene." she calls to her as she is sat at the table with a plate of food in front of her.

Eirene's children now have bells, cookies, kites, and a mother who looks like she's not going to get any sleep for a week at this rate. The three run amuck with the Rivenshari children. Eirene, for her part, has some good stiff alcohol and waves to Titania.

Titania grins, "Mangata smile on you Lady Eirene." she greets her with a warm smile, her Ocean Blue eyes seem more alivwe then before and there is just a feel about her. "Would you like to join me?"

Titania has joined the a patch of whimsical coppery orange poppies.

Eirene offers a half-bow to Skaldia. "Meet Iris, Idris, and Jace. My two by my first husband Cicero, and Mihaly's son." She grins. "They heard about kites and wanted to offer theirs. Especially if it's going to the Nox Ex-King." She shakes her head. "How does that all work anyhow..."

Mattheu pinches at his nose as his children have taken to ensuring that every parent here might be writing to him shortly about the bells and songs to be making their way through their respective houses. A smile to the children as the horde takes to charging with cookies and the refreshments table being scarce of cookies now. The laughter and giggles from children leaves him with a wide smile as he steps closer to Ann. His assistants work with the kite he made, allowing others to play as well while he and Ann can have a moment within a chaos that they both appear to be all to well aware of. "Yes. Ima." As he looks around them, "If this must all be my fault then it is something which I will take credit for. For there is song and joy all around us."

Smiling, Skaldia returns Eirene's bow and greets the children with grins and silly faces. "So nice to meet you all!" She says before they run off to join the kite-fun. The Huntress joins Titania at her table, and turns to Eirene, setting her plate down. "I'm not exactly sure," she says with a wrinkle of her nose. "I think I will just drop them off at the Nox'alfar embassy, and see what happens." She laughs softly.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 2 Ashford Archer, 1 Ashford Scout leave, following Lisebet.

There is a smile only for Matti as Ann tunes out the chaos that surrounds them. Having given off her own kite to one of her assistants to have the children play with just as she promised Ilan. Her hand goes to his cheek and she stares at him. "I agree. We all need this moment of song and joy. A memory to remember." She has a thing for memory banking and this is one of the things she will always remember as long as she is on this side of the wheel.

Skaldia adds to Eirene, "Or do you mean the contests? Alas, we already did the contests. But we're still taking kite donations, and there is plenty of food!" She gestures around.

Eirene gives the children a look "See, that's what you get for being last-minute stuff. Go have fun with the other kids, but you won't get any prizes." They pout but then go shaking bells at one another and being generally childlike. She smile at Ann and Mattheu as she watches them and their own children run amuck alongside. "I'm glad this had a nice turnout. We could use the chance to celebrate good things."

Titania looks to Skaldia and smiles then she looks to Eirene, "When you have time, I know you are busy I need to speak with you." she looks off to the children who play, she has some memories of her son that were returned to her and watching the children play make her smiles.