[Center][h1][color=ed145b]Aurora[/color] & [color=6ecff6]Gabriel[/color][/h1] [h2]& The Dungeon Master[/h2][/center] Aurora and Gabriel easily find the smaller stalls. Many of them serve a lot of snacks, and the vendors are calling out to the fairgoers to buy one of their snacks or beverages for one ticket punch. While they peruse the snack and beverage stalls, they can also hear laughter as a human woman and a gnome male compete in what seems to be a poetry contest. Aurora settled on the Euphoreo cookie and some Eveningberry wine, eyeing the ring toss game while Gabriel picked out what he was to eat. Deciding upon a more classic fair-going meal option, Gabe had himself a delicious candied apple on a stick alongside a bit of the Faerie bell nectar preferring a sweet tasting meal over the tartness of a wine as fine as it may be. Seating himself by his companion atop a barrel Gabriel noticed the elf eyeing the ring toss game [color=6ecff6]"A game of tossing rings, if they did that in Waterdeep the poor'd be rich."[/color] he laughed, slapping his shin while wiping the nectar from his lips with the back of his hand [color=6ecff6]"I think I'll test the mettle of that gnome over there."[/color] he clapped his hands together wiping any food from them with a twist of the hand and a whispered incantation of [i]prestidigitation[/i] before standing to walk over to the poetry contest [color=6ecff6]"Let's meet afterwards eh?"[/color] then with a nod he left to amble over to the gnomish gentleman and the woman. [color=ed145b]"Sounds good to me. Good luck with the poetry."[/color] Once Aurora finished the cookie and her wine, she walked over to the ring toss game watching the person currently trying their luck at it. After the person finished playing, Aurora stepped up with one of her tickets in hand. Aurora notes that the Eveningberry wine is actually sweet and non-alcoholic, while the Euphorio cookie has something to it that makes anyone who eats it smile. Gabriel enjoys the candied apple and nectar. Both Aurora and Gabriel had their tickets punched twice, one for each snack. The two eventually split for their respective games of their choice. [hider=Gabriel in the Gnome Poetry Contest]"[I]Sound the chime, it's time to rhyme! You bring the poem! We'll bring the gno-em![/I]" The gnome standing on the stage calls out as the crowd gathers. When Gabriel approaches, the gnome turns his attention to him, and he asks, "Ah! Do we have another brave contender? Step right up to this vendor! We'll punch the ticket, and you can compete cricket!" stroking his goatee Gabriel full of bravado stepped up onto the stage, a rakish grin on his handsome face as he offered his ticket [color=6ecff6]"A challenge trivial not hard, for friend I'm a bard!"[/color] with that witty repartee he chuckled, glib as ever sure but he wasn't one to gloat. The gnome grins as he punches the ticket, and he informs Gabriel "Best out of five is the winner!" He then calls out to the crowd watching the both of them, "Let's begin!" He clears his throat and starts the poetry contest off, "[I]What a merry knight To challenge me so! But despite my height, My poetry will easily flow. Beware, O' Knight. You will lose,[/I]" Gabriel finds that coming up with rhymes on the spot was harder than it seemed. His rhymes were met with clever quips of rhymes that got the audience, and even Gabriel himself, laughing! There was one part of the contest where Gabriel was able to impress the crowd and one up the gnome. However, in the end, Gabriel lost the contest. The gnome shrugged, "[I]A valiant try, But I'm afraid your rhymes aren't as sly. So, with a happy and sad sigh, I bid you good-bye,[/I]" He then calls to the audience, "Give this volunteer a hand, yes?!" The audience applauds Gabriel and the gnome as the bard steps off of the stage.[/hider] [hider=Aurora and the Almiraj Ring Toss]"This almiraj is no mirage. Adorn its horn with two or three rings to win a prize!" The stall owner calls out to other passing fairgoers as they pass by. Aurora would be able to see the cute rabbit like statue with a horn of its own teleport around the stall surface, making the ring toss harder than it looks. When she approaches, the stall owner greets her, "Ah! Hello there! Would you like to play? It's only one ticket punch!" [color=ed145b]"Sure up give it a shot."[/color] She handed her ticket over to the stall owner. [color=ed145b]"How many rings do I get per play?"[/color] After her ticket is punched, the stall owner hands her three rings, and he answers, "Three. Best of luck to you!" He then stands back to watch her toss the rings. Aurora finds that the ring toss game is much harder than it initially appeared. Especially because the statue keeps teleporting! She was able to land one ring on the statue for each set of three! But, unfortunately it wasn't enough to win her a prize. The stall owner asks Aurora, "Aw! You were so close with that one! Will you be trying again?" [color=ed145b]"No not this time. Have a good day."[/color] [/hider] Rory left the ring toss stall, and went over to where the rhyming gnome was. She waited for Gabe to make his way to the back before walking up to him. [color=6ecff6]"Certainly bested me,"[/color] he jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the gnome as he stepped off the stage following a quick bow of farewell to the audience and the gnome himself [color=6ecff6]"Guess I should stick to swordplay."[/color] Gabriel laughed mirthlessly, he wasn't a sore loser after all the gnome definitely was a talented wordsmith. Aurora went up to Gabe and gave him a sympathetic look. [color=ed145b]"Seems like you faired about as well as I did with the ring toss. That was trickier than it looked. I think I could do with a bit more food, what about you?"[/color] [color=6ecff6]"I think a bit of wine would be nice,"[/color] Gabriel nodded in agreement, his throat was a little parched from the poetry competition and he was a little eager to drink off his loss [color=6ecff6]"Let's get something and find a place to sit, eh?"[/color] [color=ed145b]"The Eveningberry wine is good, unless you want to something with a bit more kick to it. They might have something at the feasting orchard. Probably better seats as well."[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Sounds a bit better than sitting on the ground,"[/color] [i]and[/i] the sound of stronger drink wasn't something he'd pass up if he could help it thus Gabriel nodded in the direction of the orchard [color=6ecff6]"Let's go before the nights at it's end, wouldn't want to miss the main event."[/color] gesturing towards the large main tent down aways from the two of them. She kept pace with Gabe while they made their way to the tents in the feasting orchard. [color=ed145b]"I know I'm looking forward to the event at the big top. How are you enjoying this so far?"[/color] As Gabriel and Aurora continue walking, they see that the mood seems to brighten around them. Music and mirth radiate from the Feasting Orchard. The heady scents of flowers, mead, and berry pie waft through the air. Stilt-walkers pluck fruit from trees; musicians drum, pipe, and strum; and everywhere there is singing, dancing, and an inordinate amount of custard. A female gnome bard is currently performing, strumming her lute while singing, "[I][color=a2d39c]There, you see her Sitting there, across the way She don't got a lot to say, but there's something about her And you don't know why, but you're dyin' to try You wanna kiss the girl,[/color][/I]" They also notice that some of the people here are also preparing for another cupcake eating contest. Aurora settled for a more savory meal to go with the mead and looked for seating closer to the edges of the orchard. She took a few bites of the meal and washes it down with a swig of mead and looked over towards the cupcake eating contest to see who all were going to attempt it. While his elven companion settled in for her meal at the edge of the orchard her new friend, Gabriel was leaning an elbow on the table of a food vendor's stall looking rather perturbed with a frown as he rested his chin on his fist. He had just offered the man a tidy sum of gold, if he were to share some stronger liquor if he had any tucked away unfortunately for the bard the vendor hadn't a drop of good whisky nor rum to share thus with a huff the half-elf turned with a meager leg of turkey to make his way to Rory but was stopped by the musician who apparently took notice of his knack of honest flattery and people skills. Handing him a bottle of spiced rum a smile spread across his handsome face, thanking the musician Ellywick the bard now in better spirits accosted his companion with a spring in his step. Seating himself beside Rory, Gabriel swished the bottle to get her attention with a smirk [color=6ecff6]"Regards from the songstress,"[/color] he said mischievously taking a small bite of the turkey leg, making sure to finish his mouthful before speaking again [color=6ecff6]"Care to have a swig, before I finish the bottle?"[/color] Gabriel asked offering Rory the bottle of rum. She took the offered flask and downed a small bit that and set it down on the table. Aurora coughed a bit as it was a much stronger drink than she normally had. [color=ed145b]"Wasn't expecting that. Good gods what is that?[/color] She took a swig of the mead to try to sooth the burn from the liquor. [color=ed145b]"Is that a common drink for duelist?"[/color] the duelist, so to speak was chuckling amicably at her expense before taking back the bottle and downing the remaining contents of the rum holding a finger up in a [i]'hold on'[/i] gesture [color=6ecff6]"No, but it's common for the folk that live under bridges."[/color] he said voice a little rough from the liquor, the buzz even if it was weak satisfied the bard yet it didn't hide the odd way Gabriel sounded when he answered her question [i]almost[/i] like he was talking about himself. [color=ed145b]"You sound like your are speaking from experience. I've met a few people that lived under a bridge and they did drink anything like that."[/color] She shook her head slightly as if to try to forget the taste. [color=ed145b]"You didn't truly live under a bridge did you?[/color] In the amount of time they had known one another, Gabriel hadn't once looked anything but in good spirit yet at that moment a shadow crossed the half-elven man's face as he cast his eyes downward looking into the empty bottle of rum wishing it were full. A wistful sigh escaped his lips as he pushed a strand of gray hair out of his eyes as he looked up from the bottle to his companion [color=6ecff6]"You see this mark on my face?"[/color] the duelist traced the long scar upon the left side of his face turning slightly so to give Rory a better look at it. [color=6ecff6]"As a child I had to steal food to keep myself fed."[/color] he chuckled as though it were funny, a mere reflex as much as a nervous tick [color=6ecff6]"Boys that get caught don't go to prisons, no not in the slums of Waterdeep."[/color] he looked away from the elf staring at his hands as they tightened around the empty bottle of rum, breathing in and out slightly gathering his nerves some before continuing [color=6ecff6]"We disappear, or made an example out of...I was an example."[/color] he said simply gesturing towards the scar once more. Aurora fought down the urge to laugh caused by the enchantment from this place. It would have been a very inopportune time for such things as this appeared to be a very serious matter for Gabe. She sat silently contemplating why someone would do such a thing. Sure he stole but it wasn't for petty want or envy, it was only to survive. [color=ed145b]"I'm sorry to have brought up those memories with my question. I didn't know that happened there...[/color] Her curiosity was getting the better of her and she wanted to ask more about the matter. However she knew that she did not have the relational position to press the matter with him. They had after all just met a mere two hours ago. He did not know her, and Aurora knew little about him. [color=ed145b]"We can talk about something else of you'd like, or find something else to do."[/color] This was not something she was accustomed to doing. She didn't know exactly know how to comfort someone dealing with a rather traumatic event. Gabriel understood her, hell they'd only known each other for a couple hours and after a swig of the hard stuff he was nearly telling a complete stranger his life story and thrust her into an uncomfortable situation [color=6ecff6]"It'll be another story for another day,"[/color] those were the words of his mentor one that he told him often when Gabriel wanted to learn more from the old bard but words he often used in times like these [color=6ecff6]"Let's just finish our meal then make way for the big top."[/color] For the rest of the meal Aurora stayed quiet. The little bit of the story Gabe had told started to remind her of rumors she had heard about Thay. She didn't think most of them were true, after all why would someone be that cruel. It left her thinking more about the stories she had heard about Thay, and had her wondering if such things happened in her home of Aglarond. Once she had finished the meal, she cleared the trash, and made sure to clean any grim from her hands and clothing using prestidigitation. [color=ed145b]"Well I'm ready to go when you are."[/color] Gabriel gave his companion a curt nod, pushing his plate away without a word getting up with a grunt as he dusted his hands off [color=6ecff6]"Let's go then."[/color] he sounded slightly less enthused yet his smile had returned, a hand upon his weapon as the two departed from the orchard. [hider=Snack Options]Blue-frosted cupcake Candied apple on a stick Euphoreo cookie Eveningberry wine Faerie bell nectar Pixie tarts Sugar-glazed button mushrooms Tree sap lollipop[/hider] [hider=Game Stalls]Almiraj Ring Toss Catch the Dragon by the Tail Gnome Poetry Contest Goblin Wrestling Guess the Number of Feathers Outstare the Cyclops[/hider]