The doors of the Ambassador have been opened with the addition of more workers for tonight. There is pretty much every drink that one can think of and a sign that says drink in the establishment is free. Finger foods are left around the edges of the room for people to mill and drink and dine. For now though it seems it is just open for right now.

Princess Natalia Grayson is left with a glass of white wine in her hands as she makes sure that there is enough drink and talks to the people that are around the area. A soft smile on her features as she gets it set up for those that might decide to come. It appears that she is planning some sort of game should people desire to be part of them.


Pietro is looking freshly groomed and clean to the point where there's actually still some dampness to his hair from his bath, but considering how coated he was in dog hair and puppy drool earlier today, it only stands to reason. He is at Valkieri's heels as he lopes into the bar, following like an overly large hound his own self. "--and Dawn said she was going to give me a hound pup, so fair warning, that's happening," he's telling Valkieri whether he wants to know or not.

"You are not bringing a puppy into the Palazzo," Valkieri informs Pietro blandly as he strides inside and heads immediately towards the bar. He doesn't give any immediate indication that he even realizes there's some sort of event happening until they're inside and it becomes much clearer. He stops. Something is happening.

Winter ends at the door of the Salon, leaving Lady Sylvie Zaffria free to remove that which would normally keep her warm for the heat of the low lights and crowd and fire set somewhere, surely, to warm the place. She wears a distinctly Lycene gown of amber silk, the back dipping to reveal the base of her spine and the sleeves only knotted at her shoulders, shifting open to show the length of sunkissed arms. She came early and is already seated, a small smile on her lips as she nurses her wine, nodding to a man who is walking away from her rather than joining her. He likely saw a princess or someone much more interesting.


     Serafine, in her coat and her usual leathers, appears behind Valkieri on the heels of Pietro. "But puppies are adorable and sometimes they make grumpy lords smile," her husky voice intones from over the shoulders of the men.

"Don't be foolish, I know how to keep a hunting hound. As well say you aren't going to keep your horse in the Palazzo." Pietro handwaves airily. When Valkieri stops, he keeps walking, turning to move backwards so that he still faces Valkieri as he continues to move and making himself certainly at risk of crashing into someone or something as his locomotion fails to stop. He grins. "Silly, Serafine. You know he doesn't know how to do that."

Eirene's made an attempt to dress up for the occasion. Clean clothes in Malvici black wool and red silk, silver and black hair in elegant braids. And no blade. None visible anyhow. There is little doubt that there is one hidden someone on her person per her houses' habit. She strides in on her heeled boots and instantly scouts the room, finding exits and vantage points. Then she can take a look at the drinks and the guests.


     Serafine has to laugh. "Oh aye, silly me, to forget that." Her eyes sparkle with mischief.

Anze has been in the city for all of a few hours, but already the word of free drinks has brought him out. He looks like a northerner, not bothering to dress in silks or anything, hes draped still in a wolfpelt cloak and leather plate. He doesn't know anyone here, but drinking makes friends. Or enemies, depends on how good you are at drinking. He lets his green eyes scan the room but his goal is the bar, and with it a glass of whiskey.

Damon isn't far behind Eirene, actually. He slips in behind her and closes the door, to keep the cold from seeping in anymore than it already has. He sees the drinks, he sees the food, and makes a quick beeline to grab one of each.

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

Sylvie has joined the Shadowy Table.

"I don't bring my horse to my /bed/," Valkieri says to Pietro with a scowl. He scans the crowd, noting Sylvie nearby, and then a few of the others who have made their way in for the occasion. He eyes all the free, /open/ glasses of wine and continues making his way to the bar instead.

Ianthe didn't really need to hear much more than 'free drinks' before she decides to venture away from the beach to venture into a drinking establishment that she hasn't been in before. She doesn't dress up for the event. She's clean, her dark curls are pulled away from her face, but her clothing is plain and servicable. Perfect for blending in and not attracting attention. Once inside, she takes a moment to spot the whiskey and heads straight for it. No distractions.

Well, a man draped in wolf pelts is certainly a man that Sylvie needs to meet, and isn't that what this event is for? As she is abandoned at her table, she offers a warm smile to Anze, her own glass of wine tipped forward in a gesture as she invites, "My lord, if you are looking to join someone-- My name is Lady Sylvie Zaffria of Gemecitta." Her gaze slides to Natalia, before she adds in a teasing murmur, "And perhaps, if the game that our hostess is planning can be played in pairs, we certainly do /look/ like opposites who may make an unlikely pair, don't we?"

"I am definitely not here to comment on your bed," Pietro says. He pats Valkieri on the shoulder, and then turns to wander off away from him so that he can investigate the drinks. He fetches up near the whiskey as he obtains some of it, and tips a cheerful smile at Ianthe, who he doesn't know, as he says, "Bottoms up, right?"

Anze turns his head and grins at Sylvie "A Lady Zahffria, eh? I always look to join people when it involves somethin fun, Anze of Redrain, and if theres a game ah partners to have, I'll have it with you, always appreciate boldness in people, they're usually interestin types."

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

Bright and beautiful, the princess claps her hands. "We have a few things tonight that I would love you all to play. I think the first is that we gather. We shall introduce ourselves and get drinks. I am Princess Natalia Grayson." The blonde woman offers. "I would think we should come up with a bit of drinking off the bat. It is a simple game of Never. In it you say you have never done something. If you have never done it, you do not drink. If you have done it, you take a drink. We shall take turns of course." She hmms. "As I introduced myself first. Never have I ever peed standing up."


Eirene's grabs a spiced cider and something wound around a stick. Likely some kind of bacon and a vegetable. "Games?" She glances at the princess as the word is uttered and she rolls her eyes. "Gods help us, we're going to have people puking their guts out all over the floors before evening's end, aren't we?" But the topic is announced and she takes a drink.

Damon laughs at the broad nature of the question and takes a drink. This was going to be a long night.

Serafine grabs the whiskey. Takes a drink.

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

A laugh escapes on Sylvie's lips, her honeyed Lycene accent clear as she answers with a murmur as Anze turns to join her, "You will find that I do not lack for boldness, your highness." She falls silent to listen to Natalia's greeting, and then she reaches for her wine for a long, slow sip. She stands at the table, smiling to Anze, before she offers, "Never have I ever slept anywhere except my bed." A pause, and to the rest of the crowd, she introduces herself, "Lady Sylvie Zaffria." As she takes her seat, her fingers fall on Anze's forearm and she leans forward to murmur something.

Serafine looks at Sylvie, deeply amused. The -lady- has peed standing up? Well then.

Ianthe eyes Natalia, quirks her lips, and then gazes longingly at her whiskey. But does not drink.

Princess Sabella arrives just as she sees the event is under way. She smiles warmly at her cousin, but doesn't move to interupt her from addressing the crowd. When she hears the instructions, she moves to the bar. She leans over and asks if she might have her wine a third watered down. A small grin comes to her face. When she hears what the game is. This first statement was easy. She doesn't drink. And then to the second statement, she takes a small sip.

Valkieri mutters something under his breath as one of the servers unseals him a new bottle of wine and pours a glass. He does drink, but it's unclear if he's actually participating in the game or not. He sets his glass down and eyes Sylvie, which possibly means he's slept somewhere other than his bed or he hates fun.

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

Eirene groans again. A bite of her something on a stick and then she furrows her brow. "So that means we've never slept other places, right? Clear up your wording, girl," she says to Sylvie with her blue eyes rolling slightly again. She doesn't drink this round.

Pietro takes a drink with a bland look on his face. "But have you ever signed your name?" he asks Serafine, leaning backward into the bar on the brace of his elbows and balancing his whiskey between his fingers. He takes another drink for having slept outside of his own bed, like any other campaigner, young or old, and snorts. His voice rasped a little by the pleasant burn of the whiskey, he says, "I've never worn a ribbon in my hair, which is a shame, really, as I come to think of it."

Natalia drinks at the comment about not sleeping in her bed. She has slept in many places, including a recent camping trip to the woods. A lifted silent toast to Sylvie for her choices and a smile at Ianthe's longing look.

Anze turns his head to Natalia "Ah, so yer the princess that already knew I was here aye? I'm Anze of Redrain, don't think I know any of you 'ere and I've certainly done both ah those things." So he takes a good solid drink of his glass of whiskey "as fer things I've never done, I ain't ever been out on the ocean." There is a tilt of his head to Sylvie and a smirk before he mutters back.

Damon draws in a breath through his nose and exhales before taking another drink. It really was going to be a LONG night, "Never, have I ever," He pauses for the sake of theater and looks around to the participants in the room, "Slept with another person in this entire city." The corner of his mouth pulls upwards in a cheeky smirk. Game. Set. Match. Thanks for playing folks. Then he dips his head, "Lord Damon Wyrmguard."

Serafine LAUGHS and tucks her hands behind her back. Damn.

Sylvie's smoky gaze lifts to Anze, humor buried in it, but she lifts her wine to her lips and drinks. She drinks again for Pietro's statement. And then again for Damon's. Her drink is empty, but luckily Natalia's hired help is quick to replace it.

Then Sylvie leans to whisper something to Anze with a laugh.

Pietro, like Sylvie, is already going for a refill. Well on his way, really. "Oh right," he says, "Pietro Igniseri. I forgot that part."


     "Do initials count?" Serafine laughs to Pietro. And takes a drink.

Natalia sighs and drinks on the mention of the ocean, but NOT on sleeping with other people in the city. Clearly she did not think this out for her own sensiblities.

Ianthe takes a long, long drink from her glass of whiskey, as if afraid that if she doesn't take advantage now, then she might not get the chance again.

Serafine takes a sip.

Eirene tries to catch up. "Ribbons - what am I, seven? No. Ocean Yes. Slept with... are we talking sex or military bunking with no sex involved," she calls out to Damon. "Lady Eirene Malvici," she introduces by means of explnation.

The door opens and in peeks a a horrid albino bear head! Or, at least a headdress made of one and attached to the tall Northern woman known as Freja Redrain. With a polite nod to whomever is manning the door that night she steps in and removes it, draping it over the crook of her arm and shaking out her waist-length curls. Her sharp eyes flash over the interior, either sizing up the salon's patrons or looking for someone or no one in particular.

Serafine moves to stand on a chair, because she's short and a Velenosa and she can get away with such shit. "I am Serafine Athalie Velenosa," she introduces herself, raises her glass. "Never have I ever ..." She sees Freja enter. "... made love to a redhead." And she sighs. Dramatically.

Damon doesn't drink. He's totally winning.

Sylvie's gaze slides to Valkieri, watching him for a moment. And then she calls him out across the bar, her voice lifted as clear as a bell as she tells him, "Lord Rubino, I believe that it is your turn." Then she takes a drink.

Anze chuckles at Sylvie's comment and grins at Damons question "I ain't met every women in the city yet, I mighta slept with one, can't keep track a every girl who leaves the north aye?" He takes a drink anyway. And then a raised brow at Serafine "I think you Arx folk all need tah get out more. Sleepin in yer own beds and not 'avin sex, whats this all about?"

Sabella looks for a seat, and she finds a sofa in the back, so she settles to the right of the sofa. She is quiet as she listens to the others give out statements. She doesn't drink to the ocean, but takes a small sip for the next statement, and when the third comes- she holds the glass in her hand.

"I doubt the validity of that claim." Freja says in her habitual neutral tones as she approaches the table Serafine is posted at. She reaches out a long leg, the toe of her boot nudging at the leg of the chair Serafine's standing on as if she might give it a kick and test the Velenosa's balance. "What's goin' on in here?" She asks openly.


     Serafine eyes Anze as the man -clearly- knows nothing about her.

Sabella has joined the Far rear couches.

Ianthe pauses, frowning. She appears to be visibly running over a list in her head, then, tentatively... she takes a sip.

Serafine checked dexterity + brawl against difficulty 15, resulting in 14, 1 lower than the difficulty.

Pietro takes a sip from his glass at the redhead thing and scrapes his thumbnail along his dark eyebrow as he sighs. "Guilty again," he says.

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


     Serafine wobbles on her stool and laughs! and makes a jump to grab on to Freja with a curse.

Damon arrives next to Freja with a tall glass of whiskey in his hand, "We're playing never have I ever." He moves the tall glass towards the Redrain woman, "Introduce yourself and then something you've never done."

Eirene takes two drinks, ponders the third but lets it pass. She grabs a passing crab cake from a server and chews on it thoughtfully. "Oh, I need to pick something, don't I? Never have I ever... ah... shit... never have I ever ridden a horse side-saddle."

Valkieri glares at Sylvie. He's been keeping towards the back at the bar, his sips not seeming to be particularly timed with the beats of the game. But forced to be involved, he says in his driest, most party ruining voice, "Never have I murdered someone." After a beat, he inclines his head to the room. "Lord Valkieri Rubino." Can't forget that part.

Sylvie meets the glare with cool amusement, only offering a polite smile to the man. She doesn't lift her drink, but she does curve closer to Anze to murmur something to the prince.

Serafine gropes for her glass. Drinks.

Pietro pauses with his glass held loosely in his hand as he lifts his dark gaze to weight upon Valkieri's face for an extended pause. Then he pounds back the entire contents of the whiskey glass and slams it onto the counter beside him, a hint of growl escaping on the following rush of his breath. He doesn't say anything.

Freja checked dexterity + dodge against difficulty 15, resulting in 27, 12 higher than the difficulty.

Sylvie does drink for Eirene's statement. Hey, pretty dresses are more important than riding properly.

Sabella listens to the statements given, and she smiles at sitting side saddle. She takes a good sip. At the next statement, she is more focused on observing the others. She doesn't take a drink, but remains silently engaged.

A sharp turn on the heel and Freja slips away from Serafine's jump/grab combo with a bright, rippling laugh that rings like bells in the valley. "Spirits, having a rough night, Serafine?" she teases in good nature with a wink. "Whiskey! For her and I, I find that I am -far- too sober and this is a malady that needs curing." She announces and beams a smile of greeting at them al. "Can I join in on this game? Are we just now making introductions?"

There is a slow smile that grows over his face when he spots that look from Serafine and then a full blown grin when he sees who approaches her. "It cannot be" and he tilts his head to mutter something back to Sylvie before he moves over from the lady to Freja for a moment, and he throws his arms around her. "Sister!" he says warmly and then backs away a little to place a hand on her shoulder "by the spirts its good tah see yah"

Ianthe still hasn't taken a drink for at least two rounds now. At this point, she just looks angry. She looks resentfully at the whiskey in her glass, as if blaming it for tempting her.

Natalia takes a few drinks but then she sets the wine aside. Clearly, she is just here to facilitate the games. She will move over to Sabella to kiss her cheek in greeting and then looks around. "I didn't think out how much I would have to drink." She gives a smile to her cousin.

Damon lifts his eyebrows and tilts his head with a shrug when his offered drink to Freja not only goes ignored, but so does he. Then he just moves away and continues to not drink, someone needs to come up with something good. His throat is getting dry.

Serafine does get dumped on the floor and cackles at Freja. "Monstrous!" she laughs.

Sylvie only murmurs a goodbye to Anze as he leaves her table, once again abandoned by a man for a prettier and more interesting princess. She smiles, her gaze sweeping back to the next person to speak.

Eirene mutters, "It ain't murder if it's war," and takes a bite of her pie instead of drinking.

Sabella kisses Natalia back, "Some people are very clever in their statements. I've been trying to think of a good one myself..." She then whispers something to Natalia, her finger plays with the stem of the glass, almost as if she is lost in thought.

Valkieri's gaze sweeps the room, and it's Pietro and his finished drink that he stops on. His expression doesn't twitch, but it lingers there a long moment before pulling away.

Serafine moves to her feet and reclaims her chair, but this time with her bottom and not her boots.

Pietro tilts sideways to obtain more whiskey in his glass. Now that he has it, he dawdles his fingertip around its mouth and doesn't meet Valkieri's glance.

The young scout is not as well composed as Anze may be, and notorious for lacking social graces and proper decorum it only takes one look at her brother for Freja to give him a surprised hug that may send them both toppling from her surprise. "BROTHER!" She exclaims with tangible glee, mirth filling her voice as her rare and heartbreaking smile escapes in the light of a true moment of joy for her. "About fucking time! Father always said -I- would be the last to leave Farhaven, not you!" She pulls back to look at him and then gives him another hug. "Please tell me you are staying?! We need a whiskey! Fuck it, a bottle!" Another ripple of laughter and she is motioning for one to brought over to her which a server promptly sees to. An aside to Serafine. "I am not monstrous, only...well, elusive."

Damon moves himself over to one of the farther corners of the Salon. Since no one seems to be offering anymore to the Never have I ever game, he seems content do just drink. Now that he's got two glasses worth to himself.

From her shadowed table, as Valkieri sweeps a look around, Sylvie curves a brow upwards expectantly. She even makes a gesture to an empty seat next to her as she exchanges an empty glass for a full one with a servant.


     Serafine looks at Freja like one might a unicorn or a rare creature to be experienced. Or, well. Like a mountain that should be climbed for the breathtaking experience. She even sighs, long and longingly.

Natalia smiles as she talks to Sabella and then she comes to her feet to walk over towards Freja and her brother. She nods her head and moves to kiss Freja's cheek, but she can evade if wanted. "I am glad that you came." Her eyes slide to Sera, surely she must mean that longing look to her.

Anze laughs and grins at Freja "Aye, well, I though' i'd be too fuckin hot down here, so I 'ad to wait for a proper fuckin winter so I could manage it. Aye i'm stayin, one night 'ere and there's already free whiskey, it ain't a place I think I should be wanderin away from anytime soon." And then Anze grins at Serafine "Yah said a princess Serafine right? Its good tah meet yah" He says offering a free hand to Serafine even as he keeps one around Freja's shoulder all brotherly like.

Valkieri snaps at a server to follow him with his carafe as he makes his way over to the table Sylvie sits at. He sinks down into a seat, and the servant refills his glass and then leaves the carafe behind. He murmurs something to his co-Voice in a low voice. (Hah.)

Serafine makes a face at Anze but accepts the hand, her's strong and callused. "Just Serafine, please." She eyes Freja. "Tell me how to get in her good graces and stay there forever."

"Toughen up. I was still wearing my leathers and running in them every morning to start off the training." Freja teases Anze as she pours both him and herself a glass and takes a seat. She tilts her head to Natalia's kiss, though not returning it herself. A smile is what the Grayson princess receives as a manner of greeting. "Doing better, I hope? Here, this is my brother, Anze." She punches him lightheartedly on his shoulder and then in that moment catches Serafine's look. "You alright, darling?"

When Sabella notices a Lord moving further from the crowd, she makes her way over to him. (Damon). She offers her hand, "I don't believe we have met. I am Princess Sabella Grayson. Perhaps you might like another to join you?" There is a slight pause before she takes a seat beside him.

Eirene offers, "So that's it? We end on I never murdered anybody?" She takes another deep drink for the sake of drinking. Anything else we gonna bare our souls about t'night?" The Malvici leans her back against a nearby wall, putting up a foot to brace herself.

Now that whatever game they had been playing appears to be over, Ianthe takes a long drink, drains the glass, and asks for a refill. She eyes the crowd, starts to realize that maybe this wasn't an event for the common folk, but remains to enjoy the free whiskey and snacks anyway. She walks along the finger food tables, looking for pastries.

Damon offers a light smile to Sabella as she approaches, taking her hand gently he dips his head, "Lord Damon Wyrmguard. A pleasure."

"Oh, are we just drinking now?" Pietro asks as he glances after Ianthe. He picks up his glass towards his mouth like he thinks that's a great idea. He straightens, and blinks a few times as he checks his balance. He's had rather a lot in a short amount of time. And then: "Oh hey, there's food!" Now Ianthe has acquired a tugboat, I guess; he's following her to the food.

"Never have I ever-- fostered with another family," says Sylvie at the question of where they are ending for the evening, tipping her wine glass in a toast towards Pietro and smiling. But her voice falls again, gaze lingering on Pietro, as she answers Valkieri.

Anze hands are just as calloused and strong of grip as Serafines, and the return handshake has him grinning "good handshake and my sister likes you, yah must be an interestin one Serafine. As to keepin 'er on yer good graces and staying there, I aint figured it out yet. You just wait until that punch aint playfull naymore. Girl is right scary sometimes." He takes that fresh glass of whiskey from Freja and takes a strong drink before smiling at Natalia "good tah meet yah in person princess Natalia, I wasn't expectin someone to find me so quick hidin out waitin for a bout with a messanger of all things." He joins Freja and Serafine at their table.

Serafine has joined the Large Table.

Valkieri has joined the Shadowy Table.

Anze has joined the Large Table.

Freja has joined the Large Table.

Natalia smiles towards Freja. "Choices have been made." Then she smiles at Anze. "You will find, Your Highness, I know a lot of things." She moves a bit to gather up a piece of paper. This woman seems always to be on the move. She also directs for a bottle of rot gut.

Ianthe glances over her shoulder and Pietro, grinning. "I have no idea, but I was getting tired of being taunted by whiskey I couldn't drink." She spots a tray of pastry-looking objects and leans in to examine them before taking one, popping it into her mouth, and nodding. She points that tray out to Pietro. "Apple tarts."

"Well to meet you, m'lord. What brings you to this event? Do you know my beautiful fashonista cousin, Princes Natalia? She has a great talent for events," Sabella says to Damon. She pauses before saying anything else to hear the statement, but she doesn't drink. "What do you like to do?"

Damon has joined the Far rear couches.

Serafine also doesn't drink. She terrorized her family into adulthood.

"Ooh!" Pietro seems readily distracted by pastries. He scoops up one of the indicated tarts and takes a big bite. Then he gives Sylvie a hangdog look with a mouth full of spiced apple. "This is gonna hurt," he says muffledly through his mouthful, and then takes a swallow of whiskey to chase the sweet, spiced fruit. "Gods, that didn't mix. Lady Sylvie, I am /appalled/ that you did that to me."

"Dearest people. I have our second game of the night to be started." Natalia offers as she picks up ribbons. "I have the infamous rot gut of liquors. Only the best of the best can handle it. So I will have you take a shot of the the whiskey (@check stamina). Should you handle it, you will be blindfolded and spun in circles. You will then be directed to place the ribbon closest to center (@check dexterity). The closest wins the game and a bottle of rot gut of your very own."


Damon continues to smile in Sabella's direction, "Mm. your cousin and I have met on several occasions. She's a delight." He takes a drink, a small one, "As for what I like to do. Write, spend too much time in the training center, and.." He laughs, a bit sardonically, "Meet people, at least when I'm not being ignored."

Sylvie's laugh escapes easily, and she questions across the bar, calling teasingly, "Are you, really, my lord? I won't tease you too much then, certainly, because I am sure you could return the favor."

Ianthe happens to hear the question between shoving pastries in her mouth. And takes a drink. Twice. She moves on to the next plate, which also look like tarts. She takes one, sniffs it experimentally, then takes a small bite. Her nose wrinkles and she finds somewhere to throw it away. "Ugh. Is that mushroom? Tastes like a mushroom. Gross." She perks up at the mention of the next game. Now this was something she could handle. Maybe.

Eirene hands off her cider onto a passing tray and claps her hands, rubbing them together. "Bring it, highness. Now we're playing a real game." The older (than most of them) woman grins at this, moving to Natalia's side to take a ribbon and a shot."This is more my kind of entertainment. Although I'm still not going to have any sympathy for anyone losing their appetizers into a bucket."

Freja nods to Natalia's comment, leaving it at that while here in the crowd. "I'm not scary. I get shit done." she attempts to clarify Anze's words and gives a shake of her head as she chuckles, "You're one to talk; you and Fergus both are mighty frightful with a sword in comparison to me." There is a pause as she tosses back her whiskey without so much as a wince at the burn, quickly seeing to it that it is refilled and anyone else's at her table in need. As Natalia speaks she falls silent and glances up. "Bring it!" she calls out with a jovial laugh. "Who is first?"

"All right. Terrible rot gut. A challenge worthy of us all." Pietro gestures specifically at Valkieri with his glass and says, "Dare you," because he's drunk enough to revert about ten years already, apparently.

Serafine bounces in her seat, excited. "ROT GUT!" she yells, inadvertently echoing the famous 'HAMMAR WHACK!'

Freja jerks a thumb in Serafine's direction. "We have a volunteer for first go. I'll go whenever!"

"Well...I'm not ignoring you," Sabella says to Damon. She turns her attention to Natalia when she speaks of the challenge. She grins, "That sounds like a fun game. I have a feeling you can handle your whiskey better than I. What if we bet one another? But we'll have to come up with our own winning prize.." She looks at him, curious to see if he has a idea on that.

"No," Valkieri says as soon as Pietro even tries.


     Serafine steps forward. Takes a shot of Rot Gut.

Anze laughs at Freja's comment and grins "yah, get shit done, thats a way to put it" he finishes his own whiskey and laughs again at Serafine "I like your friend sister. I'll happy go second"

Serafine checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 20, 13 higher than the difficulty.

"Hah, backing down from a chellenge," sneers Pietro, waving his glass around (slopping droplets of whiskey over his hand). "You used to be more fun, do you know that?" (He probably wasn't.)


     Serafine slams back the drink, walks completely unphased to be blindfolded and spun in circles.

Serafine checked dexterity against difficulty 7, resulting in 20, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Sylvie's silvered gaze slides sideways towards Valkieri at Pietro's sneer, studying the man beside her. She smiles softly, shifting to murmur something to him.

Eirene checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 31, 24 higher than the difficulty.

Damon glances sidelong at Sabella, a more playful gesture than suspicious, "A bet you say?" He draws in a breath then quirks one of his white eyebrows, "Are we betting to see who can complete this task between the two of us, or them?"


     Serafine then slams the ribbon home perfectly. Removes her blindfold, checks her aim, and bows to the room.

Ianthe checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 9, 2 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene checked dexterity against difficulty 7, resulting in 24, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe checked dexterity against difficulty 7, resulting in 12, 5 higher than the difficulty.

"Who can complete the task between the two of us, and whoever can do it better," Sabella responds. She watches the others take their shots, and then turns her attention back to Damon.

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

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

Eirene takes her shot and slams it back with ease. She doesn't even flinch or cough; the Malvici just shrugs it off. "Okay. Blind and spin me now..." The cloth goes on the medic and she's turned in a circle a few times. With a steady stride, she easily pins it on without much trouble. She makes it look easy.

Damon slowly pulls a smirk across his face and nods, "Very well. That sounds like fun." He places both of his glasses of whiskey to the side and places his hands together, "But a prize..." He laughs, "You sure you don't want a bottle of rot gut?"

Freja watches each competitor with an individual round of applause for each one. "It's a feat just to stomach the stuff, truly..." she mutters to Anze as Serafine goes. "Did you ever have that stuff from the village in Eoid's Field? I was dizzy for a week and they had to keep me from starting a fight with a bezerker..." she snorts and raises her brows, "Want to go at the same time? Make a bet of it?"

Once the offensive, not sweet pastry (a dirty, dirty trick) is disposed of, Ianthe makes her way to the wherever these shots are being passed out, takes one, knocks it back. She doesn't pass out and waste all the pastry she's just stuffed down her throat, but she's pretty sure she's now missing a layer of skin from her throat to her belly. Blind-folded and spun n short order, Ianthe manages to complete the required task, and only a little unsteady. Excellent. She rips the blindfold off, blinks once, and then moves again for the food tables.

Anze chuckles and grins when Serafine bows to the room "already makin a strong act tah follow" and then Eirene does the same thing followed in quick succession by Ianthe. Anze grins at Freja "I think I like this city already, shouldna takin my damn time in comin 'ere. Aye, same time, loser 'as to buy all tha drinks for a week?"

"Be careful. Last time Deva and I got into the whiskey we started a bonfire...the locals here thought it was something to be alarmed about." Freja snorts and then rises to approach Natalia, holding up the rot gut to Anze in silent toast before tossing it back. "Deal on that bet."

"How about we play for favors? If I can handle it better than you, you owe me a favor, and if you can handle it better than me- I owe you favor?" Sabella asks. Who can turn down such an offer from a Princess? She smirks at him to accept.

Anze checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 21, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Freja checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 13, 6 higher than the difficulty.

"I have never been fun," Valkieri informs Pietro archly. His brow twitches at whatever Sylvie murmurs to him, and he looks at her with a steady gaze to reply quietly.

Anze checked dexterity against difficulty 7, resulting in 12, 5 higher than the difficulty.

"I have never been fun," Valkieri informs Pietro archly. His brow twitches at whatever Sylvie murmurs to him, and he looks at her with a steady gaze to reply quietly.

Damon dips his head, "That sounds fair enough."

Freja checked dexterity against difficulty 7, resulting in 33, 26 higher than the difficulty.

"Liar," Pietro tells Valkieri with a smile. He wanders over to the rotgut challenge so that he can put his money where his mouth was, so to speak, and try it for his own self. "Don't drink too fast, or you'll burn your mouth; don't drink too slow, or you'll taste it," he says lightly, and reaches for it.

Pietro checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 6, 1 lower than the difficulty.

The shots are laid before Damon and Sabella, and she encourages Damon to take his first. She holds her shot, and takes a small breath. Sabella watches the others as she licks her lips. It's almost as if she thinks that preparation will help her in some way.

Anze laughs a short laugh as he pounds that shot without blinking and then lets the blindfold be tied around him "well, the locals 'ere ain't had proper fun the most of em I'd bet" And then he takes the ribbon and slams it into place with perhaps a little too much entusiasm before poppuping up the blindfold and grinning to see if Freja managed to do the same

Eirene looks at the whiskey again. "Are you sure that's rot gut?" She looks around the room, hand resting on her hip. "That stuff's weak..." But she's got age and treachery on her side by the looks of it.

Damon stands and picks up the shot, sending it home without a moment's hesitation before going for the blindfolds, shaking his head and coughing a bit, dat firewater tho.

Pietro throws back the rotgut with the same enthusiasm that he applies to all other areas of life. He barely even has time to really know and understand his regret before the slam of his hand onto the table is the only thing that's keeping him nominally upright as he retches with as much verve as he applies to, well-- you know, everything else he does. It's very noisy. I'm not getting any more descriptie than this.

*descriptive.

Damon checked stamina against difficulty 15, resulting in 12, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Sabella checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 30, 23 higher than the difficulty.

Damon checked stamina against difficulty 7, resulting in 11, 4 higher than the difficulty.

Sabella checked dexterity against difficulty 7, resulting in 4, 3 lower than the difficulty.

The rot gut goes down alright, no puking on Freja's part but she does make a pained look and tightens her jaw at the taste alone. She takes a deep breath and allows herself to be spun, only to stab her ribbon in the -dead- center of Anze's. "Well, looks like I'm buying!" she laughs and sticks her tongue out at her brother. "And..well, you may be right. We'll just have to bring the North to them!"

Damon checked dexterity against difficulty 7, resulting in 35, 28 higher than the difficulty.

Sylvie is certainly not a lot of fun in this: she doesn't get up to drink rotgut at all. Instead, she'll continue sipping her wine and speaking in low tones to Valkieri, a brow lifted at something he says.

When Freja lands the ribbon dead on his and Anze chuckles again "aye, well, we 'ave to keep drinkin I guess. 'ad tah show me up eh?" He looks over to the direction of Eirene and hrms, stepping over to her "Yah said lady Malveecy right?" holding his hand out in greeting to the other women "Yah seem like yah know yer way around a drink, yah should join me and my sister if yer lookin tah drink proper."

It appears that the preparation has somehow been of help to her! Sabella downs the shot in one go, and she trembles but manages to keep it down. Her hand moves to her chest, "Ohhh! That burn." She places the blindfold on, spins in a circhle, and attempts to place a ribbon in the center. The shot has her weak on her feet, and instead of placing the rubbon center, she places it far off from center. She removes the blind fold and blinks at loosing. Then she looks at Damon and grins at him, "You owe me a favor." She giggles softly.

Eirene clasps wrists with Freja at the offer. "Glad to. I was dreading drinking wine and tea all night long," she says with a wry grin. "Call me Eirene. Lady's only when we're politicking and I recall we weren't going to be doing that tonight."

Eirene has joined the Large Table.

Once Pietro has righted himself from his particularly dignified position of being noisily sick, he is a little more noticeably wobbly than he was before he vomited. He waves his hand as he half-walk, half-staggers his way over to the bar and demands water, which he uses to rinse out his mouth like a proper Roman-- no. Only when he has cleansed the worst from his breath and checked himself over to make sure there's no vomit on his shoes does he make his slightly weakened and wobbly way over to the table with his liege lady and lord at it. "All right, I admit it, you're no fun but you're wiser than I am," he says as he sits down.

Pietro has joined the Shadowy Table.

There's a few ticks in his eyes and a twitch in his neck, that stuff lingered, but Damon cleared his throat, applied the blindfold and is spun well and proper. With a INTENSE determination, Damon walks straight ahead and pins the ribbon, well, pretty damn close to the center. I think? "Do I?" he pulls off his blindfold.

Anze laughs and grins at Eirene's reply "well its good tah meetcha Eirene. I was worried of tha same, I aint expected so many southerners tah be so good at this, and I aint a fan of politicin myself, so that'll be fine by me" he says as he rejoins the table

Ianthe makes a face when Pietro obviously cannot handle his liquor. She looks down at the apple pastry in her hand and then quietly puts it back. Thanks for ruining it, Pietro. Ianthe sighs and takes a drink from the glass of whiskey she's holding in her hand.

Whatever Valkieri is murmuring to Sylvie, it's interrupted by Pietro flopping down at the table with them. "Did you--" Oh, man, did he totally miss it? He totally missed it. "You /didn't/." EW, PIETRO.

"It was vile," Pietro mourns.

There is a step to the side as Pietro throws up. Her eyes slide over him but then quickly avert away. Yep, nope. Natalia moves away from him with a bottle of rotgut. "YOu have all spun wonderfully. One knows that I am happy about spinning. The winner of this round is Lord Damon." She walks over to give him the bottle and then attempts to kiss his cheek. The princess will straighten. "Now we have told of ourselves, we have spun in circles with alcoholic skill. The next is the game of shots. If anyone wishes to take shots of whiskey, please step forwards and prepare for your win. The winner will get a prize."


"Naturally. What else are baby sisters for other than to be a pain in the ass?" Freja smirks at Anze, walking alongside him. Eirene gets a smile, the taller woman quirking her scarred brow. "I certainly hope not. My politics aren't really honeyed words."

Pietro clearly considers himself already the loser of the drinking contest, for he makes no move to rise.

Ianthe considers it for a moment. She's already drinking whiskey anyway, but does she really want to potentially end up throwing up like Pietro? In the end, she decides to decline the offer. One must know their limitations. Instead, she lingers off to the side, drinking and watching the others quietly.

Eirene glances at the pair of northerns. "Are we game for round two? Shots sound like something fun." She nods to Freja's mention of words. "Yeah, I save the politicking to my nephew and the diplomacy to my niece." Anze gets a wry grin. "I was the baby sister, personally."

Freja rises and ruffles Anze's hair if he doesn't stop her and looks to Natalia. "I'll take this challenge. I intended on getting plastered this evening anyways." She grins to Eirene. "You may get some of my politics yet, the amusing ones at least.."

Anze chuckles and grins at Eirene even as Freja ruffles his hair, which he doesn't seem to mind "Aye, lets fuckin drink, its what we're 'ere for right?"

Damon was already in it now, so he might as well go for it. He steps up for some shots, man.

Sabella moves to stand beside Damon, ready to take the shots, and attempt to handle as much as her body can handle. She smiles at Natalia.

Anze checked stamina against difficulty 8, resulting in 24, 16 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene checked stamina against difficulty 8, resulting in 20, 12 higher than the difficulty.

Sabella checked stamina against difficulty 8, resulting in 4, 4 lower than the difficulty.

Damon checked stamina against difficulty 8, resulting in 12, 4 higher than the difficulty.

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

Freja checked stamina against difficulty 8, resulting in 14, 6 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene's game for the challenge. She grins at her two new friends and takes a shot. Once again, the black and silver haired woman downs it without much trouble. "Drinking and making friends; this is the kind of politics I much prefer."

Damon first shot goes down no problem, tastes great even! He turns the shot glass upside down and sets it on the counter, turning back towards Sabella, "Are you alright, Princess?"

Anze downs the shot without issue, so far it isn't just boatful talk from the table of drinkers "aye, either drink and make friends or drink really well and make some enemies and then turn em inta friends."

When Sabella takes her shot, her throat rejects it and she spits it out as smoothly as she can back into the shot glass. She reaches for a napkin and wipes her mouth. She swallows and says to Damon, "No.. I think I am out this round. Good luck, m'lord." She then moves to settle back at the rear couch to watch the competition.

Pietro folds his arms on the table and puts his head down. "It's super ... /super/ entertaining," he says loudly, and then starts to laugh, all be it a bit muffled.

Serafine has left the Large Table.

"Fuck..." Freja comments oh so poetically as she coughs mid-shot. She isn't down and out for the count though, still hanging in there.

Pietro's sober duplicate arrives, pauses in the doorway, then quickly spots his match by the laugh. Vincere rolls his eyes and wades into the room to drop his hand on Pietro's shoulder. "I understand that you are being super, super entertaining, as well?" He nods to others as he enters, but it's fairly clear that his attention is focused on the Igniseri drunkie. He spares only a, "Lord Valkieri, Lord Sylvie," for the others at Pietro's table.

"Round one is done with only one beautiful loss to the table. Let us see them take their second shots." Natalia offers as she directs a server to take some peppermint tea to both Pietro and Sabella.

Anze checked stamina against difficulty 9, resulting in 16, 7 higher than the difficulty.

"Lord Damon," Eirene says with a warm chuckle. "Nice t' see you again. Do you remember me this time?" Her eyebrows raise. "Looks like it's just us four then, eh? Sorry, Princess. You get used to it after a while; the burnin' stops eventually." Speaking of, she laughs for Freja and shakes her head. "Caught you off guard, did it? Come on, we got more ahead of us."

Eirene checked stamina against difficulty 9, resulting in 17, 8 higher than the difficulty.

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

Pietro surges to his feet when Vincere drops his hand on his shoulder, only to immediately teeter on his feet, his hands braced on the table. "Whoa," he says, head drooping a little as he squints. "I stood up too fast." This bodes well.

Damon smirks at Eirene and winks, "Of course I remember. I'm not quite that drunk yet." He picks up round two, silently toasts to Eirene, Freja, and Anze. Down the hatch!

Damon checked stamina against difficulty 9, resulting in 14, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe accepts the message from its bearer. She scans the note, frowns faintly, and then makes for the door. Business calls.

Valkieri barks a "Fine!" to something that Sylvie has said and stands from his table. He pauses when Vincere approaches and then steps closer to the man to murmur something in his ear before he heads for the exit.

Freja checked stamina against difficulty 9, resulting in 16, 7 higher than the difficulty.

"Marquis Vincere, it seems that your brother has gotten himself quite-- inebriated," is the way Sylvie greets her vassal, though her words are softened with an affectionate smile for the poor man. Her brow curves upwards in a question for Vincere, but it seems that Pietro standing answers it. Except then Valkieri is stepping away as well, her gaze tracing him only briefly. To the departing Valkieri, to Pietro and Vincere both, she says simply, "Good night, my lords."

Anze chuckles when Sabella knocks herself out of the running. He claps Freja on the back "c'mon girl, yah drank worse than this 'afore." There is a second shot, and Anze raises it in return to Damon before downing it and it goes down like the first, though he actually notes the taste this time. "I think we 'ave ourselves a fourth drinker." Anze says in regards to Damon

"Wait, are these the drinks I'm paying for?" Freja asks Anze, her ivory cheeks showing a faint flush. She glances to Eirene, "Bloody hell...I shouldn't have started in the spirits before I came here..." She tosses back the second shot and manages to not cough this time, though she does crinkle her nose.

"Gods, are you out on round one?" Vincere takes Pietro by both shoulders to shake him, once, which is exactly what you shouldn't do with someone that drunk who is already teetering. POOR SHOWING, PIE. He exchanges a word with Valkieri, and offers Sylvie a short bow. "I will keep him away from your new couch, my lady. If you'll excuse us."

"Round two and those have still remained." Natalia offers as she watches the drinkers and indicates they are to get another drink given to them. She gives them a smile and then waits to see how this will go next. She's drinking tea now. Yep, tea.

Anze checked stamina against difficulty 10, resulting in 21, 11 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene checked stamina against difficulty 10, resulting in 29, 19 higher than the difficulty.

Damon checked stamina against difficulty 10, resulting in 7, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Eirene waves her hand under her nose. Well, that one was a bit harder. She picks up the third round and toasts the other three. "To good liquor and good friends, may one always lead to the other." She actually -smiles- at that, softening her look for a moment before tossing back the shot. Smooth as silk, it goes down. She slams the glass down with a grin.

Pietro rocks easily with Vincere's shake and then tilts forward into him, crashing hard with the secure certainty that Vincere will bear his weight. Since he has already emptied his stomach, Vincere is safe from the other likely result of shaking an obvious drunk. "No," he says, his head resting on his brother's shoulder -- hi. "There were a few before this. I lost when we drank horrible stomach sloughing garbage."

Freja checked stamina against difficulty 10, resulting in 13, 3 higher than the difficulty.

Pietro has left the Shadowy Table.

Damon lifts that third shot and looks at it, lifts it a bit higher and then tilts his head. He takes a moment, purses his lips and shakes his head, "Nope." It goes right back down and he leaves to return to Sabella.

Valkieri has left the Shadowy Table.

"Oh, good," Vincere says a bit vaguely, and then drags his brother out before he can further besmirch their already well-smirched name.

"I will make sure that the servants are sent for herbs and more water for him," is what Sylvie offers to Vincere. Before he leaves, totally. Her gaze slides towards the drinkers in the competition, lingering there for a moment on Damon. She winces in sympathy for him, offering him a soft smile, before she slips out of the room as well.

Anze snorts at Freja "yah ain't payin for these drinks, sah I dun think this counts as yer paid drinks" and then shot three happens and he laughs at Eirene "tha mighta been tha first smile I've seen ahn yah tonight. Whiskey's good for yah" Anze looks up at Sylvie whos been now ditched by her company and he motions her over "yah welcome tah join us Lady Zahffria, yah look like yah need a drink"

Sylvie checked stamina against difficulty 10, resulting in 10, 0 higher than the difficulty.

Sabella lightly pats Damon's arm. "Well- at least you gave it your best shot. You lasted longer than me. Tell me more about yourself. I have to know what your skills are if I am to take a favor from you." Her hand remains on his arm. She then begins speaking to him in a way that only those at the couch can hear what is said.

Damon sits down next to Sabella again and takes a moment before lowering his brow and lifting a finger, "Now hold on just a minute. I properly whomped you in that competition, and I owe YOU the favor?"

"Or three!" Freja echoes her brother's sentiment as Sylvie moves to depart. She holds that whiskey up in a silent toast and then tosses back that next shot. Her cheeks are sporting a full on blush now from the drink, but she is managing to hang in there with Eirene and Anze at the very least. "If I throw up Fergus will never let me hear the end of it!" She bemoans to Eirene before turning to Anze. "Keep it hush if I do!"

Sylvie has left the Shadowy Table.

"Round three sees an attempt that just was not to be." Natalia offers as she indicates some tea be sent to the man and then her eyes flick to him and her cousin. She looks back and has the others served their next round of shots. "Drink up."

Anze checked stamina against difficulty 11, resulting in 17, 6 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene checked stamina against difficulty 11, resulting in 13, 2 higher than the difficulty.

"Doctor's oath. Never tattle on a patient. Or a bar-mate," Eirene says with a smirk. Anze is given a shrug of her shoulders. "Well, I'm having -fun-. Alcohol is an old old friend of mine." And here comes the next round. She almost coughs but manages to keep it down this time, waving her hand in front of her eyes. "Felt that one, didn't I?"

Freja checked stamina against difficulty 11, resulting in 14, 3 higher than the difficulty.

Anze rolls his eyes at Freja "yer jus puttin on a show. I've seen yah drink, this aint gunna kill yah." Sylvie leaves and Anze shrugs and then he laughs at Eirenes comment and its her turn to get a friendly clap on the shoulder "aye, good friend at that." He does his shot and blinks, its starting to hit now "shit, this is one hella way tah introduce someone to Arx, I should show up in tha city 'ere more often."

"I thought that was what politics was, puttin' on a show!" Freja defends, feigning being offended as her eyes widen and she covers her mouth with a gasp. The act is dropped almost instantly and she is giggling, pausing long enough to toss back the next shot. "Never tattle on a bar-mate? I like you."

Sabella giggles and she shakes her head, "No- you handled the ribbon part well. But I handled that first shot better than you. /That/ was the bet. We didn't mention a ribbon. And you are neglecting to answer my questions. Tell me about your skills." She gives his bicep a light squeeze.

"Round four sees them wanting more. We have a few Redrains and a Malvici. Who is going to be first to fail?" Natalia offers as she gets them served their next round of shots. "Drink up."

Anze checked stamina against difficulty 12, resulting in 9, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Eirene checked stamina against difficulty 12, resulting in 14, 2 higher than the difficulty.

Freja checked stamina against difficulty 12, resulting in 16, 4 higher than the difficulty.

Anze is offered another shot, and he does it, and then there is a slow blink. "Ell. Fak." Anze says slowly as he flips the shotglass to put it top down on the table "eh thin eh mi be drunk." That shot hit him apperntly "Eh fuckin 'en outta practin eh thin' fuckin dun 'member 'isky goin dun li' tha"

Eirene shakes her head. "We are gonna regret this tomorrow, aren't we," the Malvici says with a grin. She takes the next shot and manages to keep it down but it's getting harder. Her laughter is a bit more wild as she sets the glass down. "But hey, we're new friends. Part of being in Arx is making friends, right," she grins at Anze and clasps him back on the shoulder as he admits defeat.

"Friends? Yeah, drinkin' helps tha to move right along!" Freja hiccups and gives Anze the double snap of the fingers and the point, effectively bringing the Fonz to Arx. "I'll try my fuckin' best! The room is gettin'...all..well, y'know. Different."

"Round five sees some defeat! The Prince Redrain has fallen. The women remain. Who will be the drinking champion?" Natalia offers to them as she glances towards the other two left in the room not playing.

Eirene checked stamina against difficulty 13, resulting in 8, 5 lower than the difficulty.

Freja checked stamina against difficulty 13, resulting in 18, 5 higher than the difficulty.

And she's done. Eirene take two tries to even grab her shot and can barely get it to her lips. "Thash it. You win, M'lady friend," she slurs at Freja.

"Round six has a winner! Princess Freja Redrain has won the drinking contest. Huzzah for the Princess." Natalia walks over to hand the woman something as her 'prize' it seems.

"Blady fakin 'ell" Anze grumbles, his accent thicker than all getout now "'oo tha 'el tau' th' fakin southe'r tah fakin drin' li' tha? I ain' fucki' spec' spirits-dam fa'n ouner tah geh ah yah kn' n'tha ahl tha fa'n 'rink?"

Princess Sabella is heavily engaged in her conversation with Lord Damon. Their words don't leave the couch as they speak to one another.

Freja tosses back that last shot and then -slams- the shot glass down on the table so that it cracks. Her fingers get a small cut, bleeding, but she doesn't seem to care as she flexes and recites her family's words, "To the last!"