[center][h1][b][i][color=00aeef]Castle of Solace[/color][/i][/b][/h1]
[color=f7941d][i]The Oracle's Banquet[/i][/color][/center]

   It was the night of the banquet in honor of the Oracles and the end of the siege. For reasons unknown Bandersnatch had left, though he did not leave empty handed. He now held in his possession one of the mythical swords of the ancients, the Sword of Fire. The people of Solace, however, did not see that as much of a loss because Tornel, the High Wizard of the Castle, only used the sword as an ornament and never learned how to channel its great power. 

   The true inspiration of the Banquet was the arrival of the Oracles, beings of fable who were seen by many as god-like entities who have risen to lead them into the future, and by others as fake messengers created by the Wizard cult. Not much time had passed since their arrival, but like all monumentally changing events, waves of emotion swept through the population of the castle and and surrounding town. The common folk enjoyed a spectacle, and the possibility of seeing living gods was sure to be one. On the night of the Oracle's Banquet, as it was being called, the main hall of the castle was filled to the brim and people were gathered in the courtyard outside of the gates having their own celebration and listening to the music echoing from the castle interior. 

    On a stage at the end of the hall furthest from the door was the King's thrown and his chromed and gem-inlaid table. Sitting on either side of the King sat Sarah and Stephanie, each dressed in finery that was both radiant and glowing. After the girls sat family members of the King, including his son and three daughters. At the end of the table sat Tornel, purposefully positioned so that he could conduct the orchestrations of the Banquet. Each dish was brought in and served on fine pewter plates, the wine and juices were served in plain silver goblets shined to perfection. 

    The banquet hall was an open space between the King's table and the large double door that lead into the courtyard. There were tables against the far walls containing mountains of fresh food and servants quickly refilled trays and brought fresh munchies to the people dancing and mingling. On well lit balconies above the food tables there sat small quartets of musicians playing wind and string instruments with a drummer keeping the rhythm. To the King's left the musicians had a female singer, to his right was a male singer. They took turns but sometimes harmonized together, the affect was beautiful. 

   The roof of the banquet hall held the visage of 8 women, each in varying stages of dress and with different symbolic images around like stalks of wheat, a boat, or a golden fleece. One of the women had pink hair. The King would note that these are images of different Oracles who were venerated by the people. The people had different names for the Oracles based on tradition, the one with Pink hair was named [i]Laughter.[/i] There was no image to depict Stephanie. 

    Periodically throughout the banquet people brought gifts and laid them down at the steps before the throne. There they would ask for blessings from the Oracles, flatter them with a poem or song, or confess a deep affection and vow their servitude. Every third of Fifth supplicant was a performer brought in by Tornel who performed magic tricks, acrobatics, or some other vaudevillian act meant to entertain and keep the festivities fresh. After each one the people of the banquet would applaud and the night seemed to go splendidly.