Wearing what looked like two or three large necklaces of flowers Malcolm walked the fairgrounds and bazaar with a giant smile on his face. The sun was setting and the buzzing activity made him feel like all was right with the world, the sounds and smells of the festival filled him with a joy that praised life in all its glory. He had joined a group of onlookers enjoying a juggler's troupe performing spectacular feats with flaming torches and musical instruments of all sorts.

He clapped and shouted encouragements with the rest of the crowd before he settled down with a bowl of stew underneath a canvas roof. Fresh off the road having only arrived at the festival this morning, he enjoyed the opportunity to simply sit in peace and quiet observing the life around him. Weeks on the road had made his boots start to chafe so after finishing the meal he took them off and sat there, rubbing his weary feet, his cloak making him appear a small bare-footed red dot in the sea of colourful festival-goers.

Qamar walks slowly through the bazaar, her hood pulled up over her horns, carefully observing the various festival attendees. She hadn't intended to visit Rendrick during the festival; she just happened to be traveling through the area at the time and joined a caravan that was headed there. So far, her visit has been pleasant enough. The crowds of people and the numerous vendors made her feel like she was in a big city rather than a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Theirastra was a bit at ease being in a new land, and a new world for that matter! She enjoyed the prospect of meeting new people and seeing new lands, but still she had a job and was here to do that task.

From outside the village stepped a creature, no a being, no...it had to be an elf. There was no other answer, it was surely an elf. It was, no she was a sight to behold though as she stepped forth into the town and began to look around with curious eyes, eyes that...sparkled.

When her feet hit the ground she would stand there for a moment, looking at those that stood before her with her sparkling eyes. Her medium straight light green hair flowing in the light breeze as she took each in for a moment. Her beautiful light green skin was smooth, and beautiful as she stood there. If not for being an elf, one could mistake her for a dryad because of her hair and skin. Despite everything, she was an attractive young elf that stood just barely over 5'6" tall and was lithe.

She would then begin to make her way to the bazaar, walking along the streets taking in everything. Looking at the wares for sale, and the food being offered as she walked along.

Tornan, like others, had not necessarily planned to be in Rendrick or attending the Festival of Flowers.  He had been travelling to... Um...  It was...  Damn.  It may eventually come back to him some day.  For now though, the festival presented opportunities.  He had been offering his services as a guard, porter, and general laborer to the town, merchants, or entertainers.  It hurt his pride, of course, to resort to such, but he learned a while ago that pride did not fill the belly.  Simple, honest bard work could do that though and wasn't so bad.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Mon 13 Dec 2021.

As the sun sinks below the horizon, three short horn blasts echo from in front of Durrcan Keep, barely audible over the noise of the bazaar. A few festival-goers and merchants stop and look around, then shrug and carry on what they were doing; most others don't even appear to notice the sounds. However, anyone who pays closer attention to what is going on notices that the local guardsmen stationed throughout the bazaar begin to make their way toward the edge of town where Durrcan Keep is situated.

Qamar watches the guards leave the bazaar. That doesn't bode well, she thinks. I wonder what's going on... She makes her way through the crowd, following the guards toward the keep at a distance, all the while keeping alert for any sign of what is going on.

An uneasy feeling crept upon Malcolm when he noticed the guardsmen remove themselves from such a delightful festival. He stomped his feet back into his boots and stood back up with the groan and heavy sigh you make when you don't really want to go, but absolutely have to. Grabbing his walking stick he tapped it into the ground twice and mouthed a prayer to Silvanus before he realized the Old Man would have no business here, in this place of dead wood and houses of stone. No, it would be up to Malcolm to investigate this one. He tightened the straps to his backpack, made sure everything sat comfortably, shield, maul, everything sat tight in its place.

He did not run towards the Keep but he took longer strides than one normally would if you were enjoying a night of pleasure such as this. It wouldn't take him long but he attempted to keep up with the guardsmen. After all, this might all be just a call for nightly service for all he knew.

"What is that all about?"  Gerard asks the man at the kebab stall.  The guards leaving the fairgrounds could mean a number of things, but the blowing horns and unconcerned people had him thinking that this was normal.  Or at least planned.

"Are the soldiers gathering up for a military parade?"  Gerard took a bite from him his kebab as he continued talking with the cook.  "Nobody seems interested."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Tue 14 Dec 2021.

Tornan, who just happened to be walking by the kebab vendor at the time, assumed Gerard's question was for him.  He paused, leaning on his axe like a walking stick, "No idea....  Odd time for a parade...  Seems like ye'd want to be havin' those durin' the day, eh?  See all the finery...  The... um..."  The dwarf seemed to suddenly lose track of the answer that no one asked him for anyway.  His brow knit in confusion and he looked around as though trying to figure out where he was or what he was doing.  Spotting the vendor, Tornan shrugged, "Eh...  Two.  Please and thank you."  He groped in his belt pouch for the likely amount of coppers needed.

The sound of horns distracted Adeline from the acrobatic show she was watching. She wasn't alarmed, but she didn't know the significance of it and that piqued her curiosity. Seeing the townsfolk unperturbed and the guards drifting away, she allowed her intrigue to draw her in. Absently, she quickly paid for a brightly coloured hairpin from the woodcarver, styled like gambolling, intertwined otters. She didn't even haggle and certainly didn't engage in the after-purchase pleasantries the stall-owner tried to engage her in. Then, tucking the pin into her flower-crown, fixing it to her head, she followed after the guards toward the keep, keeping an eye and an ear out for any clues to what was going on.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:32, Tue 14 Dec 2021.

"You're right."  Gerard responded to the dwarf who arrived at the stall to purchase his own kebabs.  "They'd probably want to do a parade at noon, not dusk."  He took another bite from his kebab.

"Can't imagine why all the guards would be called away then.  Seems like a bad idea to leave a packed fairground without them."  Gerard finished his kebab and disposed of the stick.  His arms crossed as he looked out towards the keep where sound of horns had called away all of the soldiers.

"If there was a threat they'd call the citizens into the protection of the walls."  He continued talking about the situation, whether to himself or the dwarf or the kebab vendor was anyone's guess.  "If they were closing the festival down they'd tell everyone to disperse.  Hmm..."

Theira lifted a brow as the guards ran off at the sounds of the horn. "...hmm."

Overhearing the pair talking at the stall next to the one she was at she would make her way over to them. "Aren't you the slightest bit curious as to why they left like that?" The green skinned elf said wrapping an arm around Gerard. "After all they all just ran off. We should go see why!"

The guards from the bazaar begin to assemble outside Durrcan Keep, where a local minor noble who has been presiding over the festival, Lord Jonas, is giving orders to the guards already present. As the curious adventurers approach the keep, they can hear bits of his address to the guards: "...escaped less than an hour ago... no telling what he'll try... keeping the crowds safe is our first priority... might have to deputize some to aid in his recapture..." The guards then bustle around, giving and receiving orders, and slowly disperse back into the festival crowds. Half a dozen additional guards exit the keep and take up posts on the outskirts of the festival grounds.

Malcolm noticed a group of people arriving that much like him seemed like curious festival goers and not guardsmen. He approached the trio Theirasta, Gerard and Tornan and introduced himself with a polite bow, "I am Malcolm, and I'm afraid I didn't quite catch what was said. Did they say someone had escaped? A prisoner was it?" He spoke with a soft, friendly tone obviously attempting to be very respectful to these strangers. Without waiting for a reply he continued:

"Perhaps we should ask if they need our help, the more people helping to keep the festival going undisturbed the better, no?" He stood still waiting for a reply, exchanging looks between the three strangers, casually leaning into his spear as a walking stick. Hopefully none of them would notice his leading question, an innocent attempt at manipulating these three into helping him.

Seeing an opportunity to both sate her curiosity and perhaps even strike a deal, Adeline approached one of the guards giving orders. She hummed three notes, pleasantly. "Might I speak with Lord Jonas a moment? We couldn't help overhear that danger might be afoot! Assistance to be given if price be paid, hmm?" Her voice dripped honey as she stepped in close to the guard, letting her cassolette work its primal influence on the unsuspecting mortal; scents of a fresh sea-breeze, clean cloth and floral perfume working together to form a wholesome aroma.

Tornan looked up at Gerard with surprise was he addressed him, "Of course, a parade would be better at noon...  See all the finery better...". He says it with absolutely no recognition that he just said the same thing a moment ago. He seemed confused at the bit about the guards...  And curiously confused as Theirastra questions why he is not more curious about something he, apparently, just now found out about.  But, he agrees, "Yes...  We should...  What's this about the guards, then?"

The dwarf, axe in one hand and skewers in the other, is happy enough to follow after these strange folk to see what may or may not be going on.  The half heard orders twixt lord and guard made him more curious of course.

To Malcolm, he nodded his head in acknowledgments of the greeting, "Malcolm.  I'm...  Tornan.  Yes".  He started to introduce Gerard and Theirastra, but realized he couldn't remember (because he had never known) their names, "Sorry...  I seem to hae forgotten your names...". Back to Malcolm, "Certainly willing to help, of course.  What needs doin'?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Thu 16 Dec 2021.

"Oh, hello."  Gerard said with surprise as he was casually embraced by a strange green elf.  "Didn't see you there, somehow."  Before he knew it he was swept towards the keep by the elf, with the dwarf he just met following along.

It didn't take too long before it became apparent the soldiers were receiving new orders only to disperse back into the festival grounds.  But no explanation for his personal turn of events came before the three of them were met by another festival goer.

"Well, my name is Gerard."  He introduced himself after names started being tossed out.  "Do you think they want help?  I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask about the situation.  Should we find one of the watch captains then?"  Gerard mentally shrugged as he surrendered to the idea of being swept along with the sudden escapade.

Qamar caught only bits of what Lord Jonas had said to the guards, but her curiosity was definitely aroused. She slowly makes her way closer to the keep, then notices a group of other apparently-interested individuals approaching Lord Jonas and decides to follow along behind them to see what is going on.

"Fantastic!" Malcolm exclaimed with a friendly smile, "I already see someone approaching Lord Jonas. I suggest we do the same and offer our help. If they don't want us we'll simply return to whatever the night still has to offer and enjoy our time. Hopefully this will all blow over quite quickly."

With that he and the others head over to Lord Jonas to introduce themselves, or whatever guard captain they encounter on the way and listen to what Lord Jonas has to say.

"We heard what was said earlier about someone escaping. Now were here to help keep the night safe from harm, if you'd have us."

A guard leads Adeline (and the others) to Lord Jonas and informs the noble that they are interested in helping out. Lord Jonas looks them over quickly with a smile. "Oh, thank the gods! Yes, yes! My guards are already stretched thin with the festival, and a, um, situation has come up that calls for quick and quiet action... So your assistance would be greatly appreciated," he says, pausing momentarily, then, seeing that those assembled appear to be interested, continues, "We had an incident at the opening of the festival involving a group of local hunters. Thankfully, a group of adventurers stopped him from ruining the festival, and the hunters were imprisoned... But now they have managed to escape from our jail, and we don't know where they are, but I fear that they might be planning something, some sort of revenge or payback, and we can't have that. If you can recapture the escapees, I will personally reward you handsomely for your work."

"Hi!" Theira said to Gerald, her arm still around his shoulders for the moment. "I tend to have that effect sometimes, there when you didn't think I was there!" She said with a small giggle.

"I am Theirastra." Then she considered his next question for a moment. "It sounds like they might. That last bit sounded a bit like deputising people maybe... That means giving them the authority to arrest and such right?" Then she nodded at his next question.

Tornan leaned again on his longaxe as they found themselves before Lord Jonas.  He finished off the last of his skewer as he listened.  The answer for himself was easy enough, "Well, you had me at reward, sir.  No need for flattery about my handsomeness.  Tis nice to hear it though, all the same."  He smiled, though it was still hard to tell if he really did misunderstand or was just kidding.  At the question of authority, he ran a hand through his beard considering, "That's true...  Some sort of official warrant might do well."  While he considered, he turned that considering eye on the rest of volunteers who had stepped up...trying to gauge just what use each might be in such work...

"Oh, yes," Lord Jonas says to Tornan. "I'll have warrants drawn up for you, to make it official. You'll want to meet with Tarrow Shick, the jailer, for descriptions of the escapees. I'll have the warrants sent over to him.

"How does 100 gold for each one recaptured sound? I want them alive."

"Never been deputized before."  Gerard said as events continued to pull him along, "But sounds like you really need the help.  Count me in; who am I to argue with where the wind chooses to blow me?"

"Just what crime are these hunters guilty of, anyway?"  The scruffy man asked as he stroked his beard, "Are they dangerous?  Should they be expected to get violent when confronted?"

"I'll come too. I have nothing better to do, and if the wind's of the season blew me here while on my current quest, then it is meant that I should be here." She said with a simple nod agreeing with what Gerald had said.

"What sort of capabilities do these people we will be looking for have, and those that originally went looking for them had?" She asked, her tone now suddenly more serious, more of a military like bearing in nature. Something was odd about this elf most assuredly, and it was not just her skin color.