IC III

[shaidar]

Newton bows as indicated and gesticulates for this retinue to do the same "Your highness"

[thirdkingdom]

Prince Nacknosh

The giant leans forward and examines the adventurers blearily through his single eye, then sniffs loudly. "You are welcome in my domain, of course!" the giant rumbles, "and it is good you came when you did, for we are to have a feast before long, and we would be honored if you would join us. But first, you should join the revelry! Get you down off those mounts, and shed yourself of cumbersome armor! Find a glass of chilled wine and a partner and dance to our music!"

At his words the musicians strike up a tune, a jaunty jig that has the mercenaries clapping along to the beat within a few notes.

[Rex]

Shmara

Shmara steps forward and bows, tugging on her forelock.

"Hail mighty lord."

[shaidar]

Newton doesn't have to be told twice, and quickly joins in the revelries.

[kalstone]

Svenn

Svenn likewise joins the revelry, looking for a comely lass to dance with.

[thirdkingdom]

Newton and Svenn are swept into the dancing. It is a frenetic whirlwind, a complicated pattern governed at the same time by Law and Chaos. The two are soon sheathed in sweat and disoriented. For how long have they been dancing? With whom? Some are human, or humanish, while the elves possess an otherworldly, androgenous beauty that is both titillating and terrifying. Newton two-steps briefly with the squirrel; while somewhat familiar with the beast-men of Absalom, of which Notai is an example, she is something else. An actual squirrel, the size of a human, and dressed in human clothing. Her fur is shiny, her musk intoxicating, and then the two are swept away by the current of the music.

[Rex]

Shmara

Shmara will also join the dancing, but does not partake of any alcohol.

[kalstone]

Svenn

I've had a little bit too much, Svenn thinks. All these people start to rush by.

He shrugs. Just dance. It'll be ok.

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo and Feargus, the only ones not joining in on the dance, see their companions whirling around, like children's tops, going from arm to arms in a frenzied fashion. Prince Nacknosh settles back into his enormous chair, settles his chin in one hand, and gazes at the dancers, seemingly ignoring the two wallflowers. A half dozen short people -- it takes the two a few seconds before they realize they are in fact goblins, dressed in neatly pressed green and yellow surcoats with absurdly long, curled shoes -- begin leading the party's mounts away to the side of the palace. The horses allow themselves to be led without nary a whinny of protest.

[thirdkingdom]

Drinks begin to circulate, the adventurers find glasses of cold wine, moisture beading on the chilled pewter cups, pressed into their hands over and over again, those dancing and not. Dimly, they recall the warning never to eat nor drink anything of Faery. After hours -- or minutes, perhaps, it is hard to tell -- the smell of cooking meat begins to waft towards them from the palace. It smells familiar, almost like beef, but is difficult to place. From their peripheral vision the companions espy their mercenaries being plyed with the same drinks as they; here and there a grinning mercenary saunters past, a strangely attractive fey on either arm.

It is up to each adventurer whether they will drink anything at this point.

[shaidar]

Newton

The scout is lost in the confusion and excitement of the situation, consumed by the sights and sounds. Sweating, he is offered a cool drink, which he happily takes. Ready to quench his thirst he stops just before drinking, as the warnings from the stories of Faery spring to mind. He quickly returns the drink to the tray and throws himself back into the dancing so as not to draw attention to himself.

In the spirit of the situation, I'm going to roll against his WIS to see if he can resist consumption:
Consumption: [1d20]=11
Just passed

[Atlictoatl]

Late to the party, a man and a few retainers arrive at the edge of the festivities. He has a thoughtful frown on his face, expressed on both brow and mouth, and sips inattentively at a champagne flute crafted from the bulb of a pink flower.

He's 6' tall, but his limbs seem over-sized for his frame. His long brown hair has a number of twig-and-silver hairclips, and cascades halfway down his back. One eye has an emerald-colored sclera, the other is violet; each looks like a solid-colored orb. He is attired in the same manner as the party-goers.

The revelry of the party swirls near him, but doesn't touch him, as if there were a pocket around him across which the dancers take graceful care to not intersect.

[kalstone]

Svenn

Svenn grabs a glass of wine and is about to quaff it when he sees his companions abstaining. He reluctantly places the glass back on the tray.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

Never one to dance (unless it was the dance of combat), Gardo watches the scene of revelers. He is rather intrigued as he watches Mariusz dance, never having seen the man do so makes the fascination of it even more so. He glances over to Notai by his side, as she to gazes upon the crowd. As he turns back, he notes the goblins leading the horses away. He watches a few seconds then begins to turn towards the Prince. He interrupts this movement by taking a long look at the tall latecomer, assessing this newcomer.

Shaking his head to clear away any stray thoughts, he turns towards their host. "Good Prince! A word with you, if I may?" He waits until given leave to speak. "This is a fine party, surely one of the most amazing ones I have surely seen. That said, I have to remind myself to remember the good of my men and companions. I see that our horses are being led away, may I ask why and where? Furthermore, we are adventurers, explorers as such, in our lands and would love to explore this one. I know this cannot occur without your leave and knowledge of any laws that, if were broken, could risk our safe return. Which leads me to a pressing point: When we leave, can we return to our land the same way we came into this one? Would we be able to find the way back or could be hire a guide to help us return? Oakleaf of the Silverbark Court didn't mention that we might end up here when he told us about a human settlement we were searching for before we stumbled into your lands. I mainly ask this as I have a rather important date with the Baron of the Ironskins that I should not miss and would not wish to be delayed here and offend him and the great opportunity he is giving me."

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

Never one to dance (unless it was the dance of combat), Gardo watches the scene of revelers. He is rather intrigued as he watches Mariusz dance, never having seen the man do so makes the fascination of it even more so. He glances over to Notai by his side, as she to gazes upon the crowd. As he turns back, he notes the goblins leading the horses away. He watches a few seconds then begins to turn towards the Prince. He interrupts this movement by taking a long look at the tall latecomer, assessing this newcomer.

Shaking his head to clear away any stray thoughts, he turns towards their host. "Good Prince! A word with you, if I may?" He waits until given leave to speak. "This is a fine party, surely one of the most amazing ones I have surely seen. That said, I have to remind myself to remember the good of my men and companions. I see that our horses are being led away, may I ask why and where? Furthermore, we are adventurers, explorers as such, in our lands and would love to explore this one. I know this cannot occur without your leave and knowledge of any laws that, if were broken, could risk our safe return. Which leads me to a pressing point: When we leave, can we return to our land the same way we came into this one? Would we be able to find the way back or could be hire a guide to help us return? Oakleaf of the Silverbark Court didn't mention that we might end up here when he told us about a human settlement we were searching for before we stumbled into your lands. I mainly ask this as I have a rather important date with the Baron of the Ironskins that I should not miss and would not wish to be delayed here and offend him and the great opportunity he is giving me."

Prince Nacknosh\

The cyclops leans forward to regard Gardo with a bloodshot eye the size of a dinner plate. "Your horses are being cared for in my stables," he says, "after such a long journey they need some attention. I'm sure you will be seeing them before too long. Why are you thinking of leaving so soon? You just arrived. Dance! Have some wine! Dinner will be ready shortly, and then we will feast. You lot are looking far too thin; let's put some fat on those bones. Fat is flavor, after all!" The Faery Lord either does not understand the rest of Gardo's question, does not know how to answer it, or perhaps does not want to. Probably not the last, though. He looks pretty honest.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Well spoken! Fat is fla.... wait, what?" Gardo binks his eyes a few times as he tries parsing the words of his host, a head twitch or two accompanies it. A moment later, eyes widen in surprise then quickly return to something close to normal. He addresses his host. "If I am to stay for a bit, I'll need something from my horse. I'll send someone to fetch it." He turns to Notai and whispers, "Those words scare me. Go, check the horses and see what is becoming of them. If possible, retrieve something small from one of them and bring it to me. Go quick!"

Returning to his host, "Good Prince, let me ask you this. Have you ever encountered a tree named Oakleaf from the Silverbark Court or any member of that group?"

[thirdkingdom]

The Prince's enormous eye focuses in on Gardo. "Never heard of 'em," he says, in voice low and rumbling. Notai nods and disappears into the crowd, headed in the direction they saw the horses go.

Let's see, a couple of rolls. : 1d20 4 3d6 10 Let's see how perceptive Gardo is. I'm going to say it is Wisdom or lower on 4d6: : 4d6 13 <checks Gardo's Wisdom score> Hahahahah! Nope.

[VonAlric]

That's just mean.

[thirdkingdom]

That's just mean.

I swear I check Gardo's Wisdom score *after* I rolled. I was like "hey, 13, he might actually succee . . . Nope."

[VonAlric]

That's just mean.

I swear I check Gardo's Wisdom score *after* I rolled. I was like "hey, 13, he might actually succee . . . Nope."

Thus the reason I have Mariusz act as his conscience many times. Long term goal is for Wulfka to start filling that spot as Gardo knows she may make a better overall fighter than him someday.