[Game Thread] Prologue: The Village of Daelwynn

[Bshaff]

Katarina quickly realized after opening her mouth that she had snapped before giving Naddie the chance to reply herself. Thankfully, Naddie retained her grace and followed my lead, telling Ramsey that we would find someone else to accompany us. With no reply from Ramsey, Katarina flips her flaming red hair over her shoulder and swiftly walks away with Naddie, hand in hand. The two girls remained cool until they had gotten out of sight and earshot of any bystanders. Naddie began to break down. Katarina had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. This clearly was not the way that she had imagined the situation to have gone. Maybe she is just too big of a romanticist. She felt that she was slightly responsible for Naddie's tears, since she had encouraged the conversation from the beginning. But truly, Katarina had never predicted a situation so wrong. Katarina put an arm around Naddie and began to comfort her,

"Oh Naddie, why would you ever think that? Your invitation was as graceful as ever. I was astounded that he reacted the way he did. You look breath taking tonight and you can't let one silly little comment ruin the festival for you. Besides, Ramsey doesn't know what he is missing. You gave him his opportunity and he didn't take--"

Before Katarina could finish her sentence, she was shocked once again. From behind her, the voice of Ramsey was heard yelling after Naddie. As she looked back, she saw the stumbling fool running after them, attempting to swallow his previous statement and yet still continuing to dig a grave for himself. Katarina chuckled at the sight, delighted to see that the plan had gone better than expected.

Now, instead of Naddie pursuing Ramsey, he is the one chasing after her. Perfect.

As he is running over, Katarina leans over to Naddie and whispers in her ear,

"See? What did I tell you. You were not only breath taking, but he didn't even know what to do. The river seems like it could be fun, let's see what he is planning."

As Ramsey finished his ghost story and finally caught up to the girls, Katarina piped up,

"Well look who changed their mind and decided to join us. The river sounds....alright...I'm not scared though. I don't believe in ghosts. Do you Naddie?"

[thrashmetaldan]

Katarina and Ramsey Naddie quickly wipes her tear as Ramsey begins running toward them. Her eyes widen a bit, and she clears her throat before responding. "*cough* Well, Mr. Flint, Kat and I certainly wouldn't...mind your company. Though, I must say, you're being more than a little confusing tonight. We'll allow you another chance. IF you behave as a gentleman, that is. Thank you, though. The river sounds lovely. And I'm certainly not scarred, either. I'm the daughter of a blacksmith and a hunter. It takes more than a tall tale to frighten me. I'm with Kat. Ghosts are the stuff of fairy tales." She brings her chin up high, once again. She then extends her elbow to him, ready to be lead to the river. In a brief moment when Ramsey was looking away, Naddie shoots Katarina a knowing smile. Perhaps the night would end on a positive note after all. After a moment, a confused look strikes her face. "Oh, Kat! I had forgotten you had some, *ahem*, business to take care of back in the tavern. And it really is getting a bit late. If you don't want to come along, you needn't have to. Though I'm sure the both of us would appreciate you being there." She shoots her friend a look that seems to say: It really is your choice.

[CaptainJohnHawk]

With his new found plate of food, Marcus was ready to find a seat and enjoy his hard earned meal. Scanning the room quickly, he discovered an empty table and abruptly sat himself down.

This smells so good!

Marcus decided that the best course of action would be to cut the entire thing into bite sized pieces, so he could dispose of the knife all together, and just work with the fork.

With bite after bite, Marcus is thrown deeper and deeper into pure bliss.

I forgot how good pork was! I know I can figure this recipe out, or at the very least try to ask him what it is.

He ponders over his food, as he scans the room, watching the party that is taking place around him.

Ok, I know I recognize some of these people, their faces all seem familiar, but their names are all eluding me.

Marcus continues through his meal, keeping a look on the old man that served him.

It would be good to talk to that man, it has been such a long time since I have REALLY sat down and chatted with anybody.

With his plate so clean, he could see himself in it, he throws his feet up on the table and leans his chair back up against the wall, arms folded behind his head.

I forgot how nice this tavern really is.

[Bshaff]

Katarina was unsure of what to do. She enjoyed the surprises and unexpected nature that Ramsey had brought onto the evening. There could be some potential excitement at the river and plus no one else would be around to share in the experience. This thought also led her to thinking, however, that something could go potentially awry. With Ramsey's bipolar nature and tendency to flee, Naddie could be left alone, late at night, in the forest. If Katarina deserted her friend at this moment there would be no bailing her out later. But then, on the other hand, Katarina had looked forward to the festival for her own personal reasons, a.k.a finding attractive, young men. And Naddie had given her the ok....
All of these thoughts raced through Katarina's mind and she finally decided to just choose both.

"I'd love to come to the river for a bit. I have to see for myself if the ghost stories are true. But I won't stay long, because I truly do have...things...to do tonight"

She shoots a look to Naddie that says,I'll just stay long enough to make sure you feel safe.

[thrashmetaldan]

Marcus As he sat enjoying the delectable food, Marcus was able to take in the dying party. As great as the festivities had been, they all knew tomorrow's would far outmatch them, and didn't want to be too tired to enjoy them. As the last of his line filtered out, Kready walked over to take a place by the young man. He held two large glasses in his hand. "Aye, boy. Be ye willing to share a round o' mead wit' me? I do be exhausted. Be needin' a short while to pick me feet off the ground." He sets the second glass in front of young man, grinning from ear to ear through his scraggly beard.

Katarina and Ramsey Katarina smiles warmly at her friend, and shoots her a wink. Then, looking back at Ramsey, she extends her elbow out to the man. "Well, in that case, perhaps you'd be so kind as to lead our way?" By now, she's regained her trademark grace and calm, and she was once again the picture of elegance as she waited for him to take her arm. "Shall I assume that since you know the area so very well, you'll be able to valiantly sweep in and rescue us fair maidens from any danger?" She says this with a coy smirk, indicating that her words were sarcastic, and that if there WERE danger, she would be the last to need protecting. It was well known that Naddie had inherited every bit of her father's toughness and her mother's skill. Her pa, Avery Folkston was a powerful, lumbering blacksmith who was well renown for having won the last 3 village strongman competitions. From a very young age, she had been expected to keep up with the her brothers in any and all things, and Avery was not the sort to show favoritism. Her mother, a woman just as beautiful as her, though it was a bit more mature and tempered beauty, Dianna Folkston, was known as the hamlet's greatest hunter. Her and her wolf Maxima were often to be seen at Daltias' shack, enjoying the freedom of the woods and the company of friends. All in all, most young people had found it true at one point or another, that Naddie Folkston was not a woman to be underestimated, despite her delicate appearance. Competent though she may have been, she looked genuinely excited for the young man to take the lead.

 

Nic, I leave you free to make assumptions about the terrain by the river, long as they fit with the temperate climate and isolated nature of Daelwynn.

[CaptainJohnHawk]

Removing his feet off the table, Marcus sits upright and graciously takes the cold beverage from the man, returning a friendly smile.
Marcus rarely drank alcohol, as he thought the minor buzz was not worth the incredibly dulled senses. However,
he was not a person to turn down such a kind offer. That, and the fact it had been over six months sense his last beer, gave him all the reason he needed to kick back and enjoy a round or two.

"Very kind of you sir", Marcus says as he cheers the old man, glass to glass.

This is a very tasty brew, the man has good taste I see.

"So old man, hows about you share that pork recipe with me? " He says with a large grin and a slight chuckle.
He could only assume the man kept such things a secret, so his hopes were not held high for the offer.

Taking another large drink of the brew, Marcus relaxed back against the wall again.

[thrashmetaldan]

Kready guffawed at the lad, his joyfully round jowls shaking as he did so. Kready was a LARGE man by any standards. Always had been, and some who didn't know him might find the fellow intimidating. Standing at nearly 6'1" and nearly as wide, he was very much the image of what he was. A bartender by trade, and a retired cleric of Dionysus.

"The recipe, say ye? I do be afraid ye'll have to be visitin' a fair sight more often before I be givin' up me trade secrets to ye. But, if ye comes around a bit more, perhaps ye be able to figure it out on ye lonesome!"

The two men sat around, laughing and enjoying themselves and making jolly as the last of the patrons filtered their way out of the hall. By the end of the next hour, Kready had run Marcus through nearly all of the operations of the Tavern, and updated him on most of his notable patrons. As it had been awhile since he last visited, some of the young people had been little more than children when last he saw them, and some of the adults barely more than young people. During the whole time, he kept the mead and ale flowing.

"Benefits o' the job, Marky!", he would say each time he refilled their mugs.

It was obvious to Marcus that this man was absolutely the joyful old loon that he seemed. Their whole conversation was filled with offers to come down to his establishment and become a hand. Not only would he like to see him more often, he suggested, but he also needed help around the place. But, before Marcus could give a definite answer, Kready would always stumbled drunkenly onto another subject.

"Do it ever be obvious to ye what a shine the trees here do have during the fall?"

Overall, it was the most fun that the lad had had in ages. Certainly the most since his dear old friend and mentor had passed. And as he left the Tavern to begin the long walk back home, his belly and his heart were both full. And now, he was left to wonder if he might come back down tomorrow to partake in the Huntsday activities as well.

[Osellic]

Ramsey led the girls to the river where he proceeded to show them all the secret in and outs he had discovered. While he had grown to find it fascinating the girls most likely thought it rather boring, because he was pointing out things like "Here is where the river is quietest, here is where the river is most shallow, most wide, most thin, loudest" and etc. Eventually he reached a tree trunk that had fallen over and across the river, he balanced across and reached the other side. Once on the other side he told a fascinating story about ghosts and monsters and the horrible river spirit. He warned the girls that if they weren't careful the river spirit would eat them up as they crossed the tree trunk bridge.

"Come on! You're not scared are you?"

[Bshaff]

Katarina loved a little adventure in her life. As soon as Ramsey even mentioned the idea of being scared Katarina was quick to stomp that rumor out. She stuck out her tongue at Ramsey and said,
Scared? You wish!"
She then gracefully lept onto the tree trunk

Dice Jump:

1d20

17

and did a swift round off to the other side just to show off

Dice Tumble:

1d20+3

(17)+3

Total = 20

Katrina scoffs in her head at the idea that anything scary could lie within or beyond this small river.

[thrashmetaldan]

Katarina brilliantly handled the jump, looking for all the world like a trained acrobat. It was made all the more impressive considering the Hunt's Eve dress she had been wearing, and even Naddy looked shocked at her friend's display. She clapped giddily and smiled at her dear friend.

"I was about to say that I could prove for you just how fearless I was, but it seems that Kat is brave enough for the three of us."

This was a night that Naddy was obviously enjoying. They had spent far longer than they originally intended down by the river, and despite the fact that there had been no ghosts to be found, it was all far more thrilling to her than most would expect. To the observant, It was clear that the Queen of the Hunt was glad to be out of the public eye for once, having a relaxing evening with her best friend in the entire world, and a young enigmatic boy, whom she found charming...if in an awkward, unintended fashion.

The hours passed quickly as they had their adventure, and more than once, one of the youths would rock a log or a tree branch that they had been sitting on, and the whole group would tumble into the sloshing stream. It was all a big laugh, and neither of the ladies complained. These clothes were nothing compared to the ones they had planned to wear for tomorrow's feast in any case. Though he felt intimidated by the presence of the women, even Ramsey felt his heart lifting when he saw how good of a time the girl of his dreams was having.

As they began to leave the area, the ladies realized that it was likely far too late for her to meet up with her own enigmatic stranger. They realized that they had seen him before, but couldn't quite place the name. Micah, perhaps? They were sure, however, that he, along with the rest of the village, would all be in attendance in the morning. As they pulled ahead, Naddy whispered in Katarina's ear.



Listening for her friend's reply, she then turned back to Ramsey.

"Katarina's father lives on the opposite side of town from my own abode. Would you be so kind as to escort me?"

He smile is expectant, and she once again extends her arm.

 

Alright, guys! One more post from everyone, and we can move on to morning.

[Bshaff]

Katarina took this as her exit. She was slightly disappointed to realize how late it had already gotten and that she hadn't gotten the opportunity to kiss a single boy tonight. She quickly shrugged off this thought, however, due to the fact that she had such a splendid evening with her two friends. She waved goodbye to the two and gave a small wink to Naddie. As soon as they were out of view Katarina checked her surroundings. Being alone in the forest was nothing new to her. She quickly slipped out of her wet dress and pulled a rubber band off of her ankle. In the moonlight it would have appeared that Katarina had disappeared into the shadows. This was not entirely true though. She instead tied her clothes to her ankle and transformed back into her fox form. With lightning speed she took off running, the wind blowing her auburn fox hair, towards her home where she would then have a very full, relaxing, night of sleep.

[Osellic]

All things considered Ramsey thought the night went very well. He hadn't imagined such an evening with Naddie ever to be possible but he was glad that it happened.

"Sure, I can escort you, but I don't know where it is..."

He awkwardly took Naddie's arm and traveled back to civilization,

If anyone is still awake I wonder what they'll say when they see me walking out of the forest with Naddie Folkston. What a laugh that will be..