[i]Althalus[/i]

[color=00aeef]"The college won't tolerate anyone souring relations with Eania because they couldn't swallow their pride long enough to be polite whenever a noble happened to speak to them. Which is doubtlessly the only reason a noble would want to fight you, since we're novelties at best. Mages from the famous College of magic. A curiosity to be satisfied. Nothing worth even playing politics with, much less challenging to a fight without being provoked. So, my oily troublemaker, I'd suggest that if a noble talks to you, you smile and nod. Because if you get thrown in jail for provoking one of the nobles you so despise, I doubt the College will bother trying to save you. Besides, for the vast majority of this festival we're just going to be 'among the commonfolk'. You should be totally at ease. Not to much though, of course. Representatives of the college, and all that. You're going to be watched very carefully.[/color]

Althalus spoke from across the carriage, leaned backwards against the wall. His eyes had been closed most of the ride, catching up on rest for the festival to come. He was dressed in rough, homespun clothes of simple tans and whites. For all the world, he looked like another Eanian farmer or laborer, coming to the festival for a good time. Of course, he still had his knives hidden carefully on his body. He wasn't foolish enough to trust a festival like this to go smoothly. He stretched, sitting up, and turned his attention to Lyn.[color=00aeef]"Shimmerstone. The Light of Eania. I've been here a few times on business. Its nicer than most cities, the people are kinder. I suspect it has to do with the over-saturation of Billant temples in the city, promoting good will and kindness to all but a select few. The best time to be in the city is now, however. Dancers, acrobats, storytellers, merchants, tricks with all kinds of weapons, reduced prices at taverns and inns, and general good cheer all around. Once we get past telling them how honored we are to be invited to this honorable city by its honorable leader on this most honored of days, we'll have a great time. Who knows? Maybe there'll be some Herbamancers you can talk to. I hear that those in Shimmerstone are second only to the elves beyond the mountains."[/color] He smiled and winked at his daughter, settling back against the wall.

[b]Aramir[/b]

"Of course!" Aramir exclaimed, peering out the window like a small child. She was ecstatic. This was her first time being to anything close to a festival, and it showed. She kept to her normal clothes, the only thing being different is that she didn't have her bow on her. Why should she? They were in the seat of Eania's power. Anything that could successfully attack here was much stronger than she could damage with her bow. And besides, she still had her magic. "Can't you hear it all? The bustling crowd, the laughter, the sizzling food. This is gonna be great. Well, after we go and talk to the people that invited us here. That's the important part, obviously. But the fun part will be after we get out of there and get to go to this festival. I don't even know what all goes on in it and I intend to find out thoroughly!"

She glanced over at Helena and then nudged her shoulder lightly. "You could probably even make a few coins selling your drawings. I'm sure they're are plenty of people who'd want to buy some."

[@Vesuvius00][@May][@13org][@Fallenreaper]