It's an autumn day, the air is crisp with winter coming soon. There is the scent of fallen leaves and chimneys in the distance behind the walls of Arx. The sun shines brightly through the trees for the wild pig hunters who are starting to gather. A few attendants stand by the side, carrying pitchers of oil for the warriors who shall brave the forest to catch their prey.

Marian motions to those that would save the truffles for the cooks standing nearby, "Now?it's important, we don't want to hurt the pigs, only follow them to their truffle troves, and catch a few for the bonfire. The rest will be released." She has one of the warriors bring out a stout little pigs to show them what it looks like, "Their hooves are sharp but otherwise they're harmless?" She holds up a hand that's greased with oil, "But to make it a little more challenging, make sure to get the oil on your hands."

For the guests who are going to watching with great amusement, there are Redrain servants bringing drinks from the open air bar that has been set up. For them, Marian does warn, "If you're not in the glen, don't be hunting for pigs. We have to be fair about it."

1 Templar Knight guards arrives, following Madeleine.

Aethan has joined the Boar Hunt Glen.

Madeleine has joined the Boar Hunt Glen.

Aethan has joined the line.

Nurie wanders about at the spectator's edge of the gathering, obviously not dressed for pig catching. But she does seem to revel in the crisp and sunny air, and delight in being outdoors in an unfamiliar places. She listens to the rules as they are laid out, big grey eyes widening as the oil is mentioned. But then she decides to claim a good spot to watch!

Helena has joined the line.

Madeleine has joined the line.

Braith has joined the line.

Braith has joined the Boar Hunt Glen.

Madeleine came hurrying along into the glen with her poor, beleaguered Templar chasing behind her with a clank-clankity-clank. She skidded to a halt, leaning forward with hands on her knees as she caught her breath. "Di--did --- I --- make it?" She glanced briskly around for some sort of conformation one way or the other.

Merek makes his way to the truffle hunt, with his cloak on for the night air, lightly adjusted to his black attire. He looks around for the place people are gathering, and makes for that way.

Aethan has come today to hunt some boar, apparently. Or possibly just to have fun! His expression doesn't really look like he's here to have fun -- it's stoic, without a smile to be seen. However, that might just be how his face looks. He steps up when Marian explains the rules, and his mouth twists a little wryly when she mentions the oil, but he does go to get some. Turning to Madeleine as she runs in, he replies, "You're fine, I think."

Marian calls out to the guests, "Please join the glen..." She points to the boar glen, "If you're going to be joining the wild pig truffle hunt. Attedants will be putting oil on your hands. We'll be getting started in a minute." She gives a wide smile to Madeleine, "And no...you did not miss it."


There is a buzz about Braith as she quickly pulls back her wild hair and ties it from her face. Fingers flex and she grins to beat the band as she moves from booted foot to booted foot. The leather jerkin over her tunic to fend off the cold is given a tug form the helmet as she steps towards the boar glad, glancing towards Madeleine and Aethan she smirks a bit. "You made it!" Her tone is chipper one before she is moving over to the oil as instructed. She hums dutifully as she begins to roll up her large sleeves and tie them off at her shoulder. Humming all the while with a good natured rueful smirk she begins to liberally coat her arms.


Marian has joined the Boar Hunt Glen.

Helena looks like autumn personified in her gown in autumnal hues -- perhaps not the best choice for running around after boars. Still, she's a good sport about being terrible at all things athletic, so she's prepared to make a fool of herself. "This should be a good laugh," she says lightly, turning to look at the others. "Any advice for a beginner? I've never done this before. I hope they are just little boars..." The princess looks a bit frail to be trying to grapple anything larger than a puppy, really.

Madeleine wheezed, giving Aethan a thumbs up from her hunched position. "Congratulations on being named Voice by the way, Admiral!" Clearly she recognized the Kennex, though familiarity was limited to distant passings. As Marian confirmed as well she grinned and nodded, "Oh, good!" Before starting to straighten up her posture and straightening silks. To Helena she shook her head, "Looks like you and I are both first-timers!"

Turn in line: Aethan

Aethan checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Merek has joined the line.

Aethan checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 15 higher.

Aethan checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 17 higher.

Aethan checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Madeleine's congratulations have Aethan looking a little bit surprised, though when he looks at her more closely, he gets it. Eventually. Clearly he's not very perceptive. "Thank you, Archlector," he says. He ought to know the Archlector of MAngata, after all. There's a tiny smile that touches his face then, before he looks to Braith and a snort of amusement escapes him. Then he starts his turn, looking around for a pig. It takes him quite a while to locate one, it seems, his eyes narrowing and scanning back and forth, but he finally does. He goes after it quickly, seeming to anticipate its moves relatively well. It dodges once, he corrects his position, and then lunges forward, grabbing it as it starts to squeal in his arms.

Helena checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 10 higher.

Turn in line: Helena

Helena checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 0 higher.

Helena checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 4 lower.

Helena checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 19 lower.

"Good, we can look foolish together!" Helena says brightly to Madeleine, before it's her turn to be oiled up and look for boars. She sees the tracks fairly quickly, following them until she finds one of the things, but it's no match for her, leading her on quite a wild goose chase and empty handed -- no boar, no truffles, and a bit muddy for her efforts. Still, she laughs when she emerges from the glen, pushing a strand of blond hair away from her face, leaving a streak of mud on her cheek instead.

Turn in line: Madeleine

Madeleine checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Madeleine checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 15 higher.

Madeleine checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 2 higher.

Madeleine checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 14 lower.

Maxene, the steadfast ladies maid, Elegance, a Velenosian Greyhound, Pellinor, 4 Thrax Guards, Honey Snuggle, a Velenosian Angora cat arrive, following Alarissa.

Madeleine stretched out her arms and shook out her legs one at a time in a rather undignified hopping display as her eyes scanned the glen. Like Aethan, it took her awhile to locate a little piggy, but as soon as her hands were oiled she was off and running in a flurry of oceanic silks. OH! THERE! Under a bush! She dove after the little guy, holding no amount of dignitas as valuable during a truffle hunt. In it to win it, Maddy wrestled with the poor frightened thing, but inevitably the oil and the pig won and she was left on the ground grasping at air. "Oh, crow's feet and scum!"

Braith checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

The first three contestants go into the glen and so far only Aethan is the only one successful in getting out with a wild pig and some truffles. The two ladies who brave the glen only find themselves muddy as they exit. Although, it looks as though poor Helena had the worst of it. That mud isn't going to be easy to get out.

Turn in line: Braith

Braith checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 6 lower.

Braith checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 5 lower.

Braith checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 21 lower.

Helena is overheard praising Braith: she makes me look almost capable ;)

Nurie watches the piggies-and-pursuers shenannigans with wide eyes still, her fingers wrapped around a cup that she's been given by one of the servants. She cheers for the successful returnee, though there is worry writ upon her brow as two more return empty handed and muddy until she sees upon their faces that they seem to have had a good time, at least.

Madeleine stepped to the border of the glen full of laughter and coated in mud. Thankfully, spare robes weren't too hard to come by in her line of work so the stains did nothing to deter her humor. Her smile was wide for Helena, "You looked much more graceful out there than I did. I'm Madeleine, by the by." She dipped her head in a partial bow, rubbing mud-sprayed cheek with the back of her arm.


Braith is already laughing s the others rush forward to engage and she is dripping in oil, some of her wild hair already falling into her face despite her best efforts. She pfffts at her hair, trying to blow it from her face as she takes a step forward and then another. She finally lifts oil slicked hands and just manages to get her curls to stick to the side of her face. She hears the squeal before she realizes what is going on and instead of finding the pig they manage to blunder into each other. Shins catch the side of the fleeting pug as she suddenly tips forward, lifting her beg leg to try to soften the connection. Landing on her side in a squelch of mud and flailing limbs Braith lets out a cry of surprise. "Blast it!" She says and kicks her foot into the mud and launches herself after her query. A bit more of mud flopping and a couple of almost grabs the last is her jumping up and throwing herself at it in a last desperate attempt. This sends her sliding forward through the muck as her target veers quickly to the right. There is little to no friction and as she barrels forward poor Helena who is angling out of the field is slid into from the side and slightly behind - ANKLE bowling.


Turn in line: Merek

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 7 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 4 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 14 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 9 lower.

Aethan gives the pig to whoever it is that's collecting them -- probably Marian -- and then goes over to Helena and Madeleine. "Good try," he says, wiping some dirt off his face, but it doesn't actually make it get any better. He needs a mirror, clearly. "The oil really adds something extra." There's another little smile, before he turns just as Braith starts to slide. "Whoa!" He reaches to catch Helena before she goes facedown in the mud.

Merek takes off his cloak and smooths his leathers, while he finds the oil. He then successfully manages to find some truffles with the wild pig, and also manages to collect some, though eventually it will free itself from him, and he makes a sound like a 'tch' while he walks back.

Alarissa is purely spectating, there's no partaking of chasing porcine creatures through the glen, on foot or on horse. But safe in the distance the Princess Consort of Thrax watches with a smile on her face.

"Oh, thank you. I'm Helena," says the Redrain to Madeleine, looking pleased at being called graceful; physical prowess is not her forte. But irony is a funny beast, and Braith comes slip-n-sliding across the field, slide tackling Helena, who is *that* close, losing her footing. For a moment she looks like a deer trying to find its feet as her slippers fail to find purchase in the mud, but Aethan manages to grab her just in time. She giggles, before offering a hand to Braith to help her up. "Gods, lady, are you all right?" she says, one hand firmly on Aethan's shoulder so she doesn't fall with Braith back into the mud.

300 Poor Braith gets the worst of the mud splatter as she tries and fails to get any wild pigs or truffles. While Merek is successful on the collecting some truffles but doesn't manage to get the pig home.

Marian laughs as Aethan manages to bring home the bacon, "Well there...you are rather skilled at the pig hunting. Not many are able to catch those wee bit of problems."

Madeleine bellowed out her trademark trill of laughter, stumbling as she moved to step back from Helena as Braith came sailing toward the woman. Aethan was much more a gentleman than she. "Yeah, are you ok?" She looked down at Braith, squatting then holding out a hand to her. "Good catch, Admiral!"

It is hard to not admire the courage of one so intent on the task before her. Nurie is on her tiptoes, fingertips white against her cup from clutching it so far as Braith makes her final attempt, gasping as the woman slides full force towards the exiting Helena. But once more she settles back in, as all is well.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Marian before departing.


A face splattered full of mud, Braith attempts to stop herself when she hears the whoa and attempts to stop herself but there is little can be done when the full effect of mud sliding is in effect. Helena saved from the bowling ball that is the exuberant Sanna, she blinks and wipes mud from her face before finally looking up. White teeth even have a bit of mud on them when she looks up at them all. "Good catch," laughing she gets a hand beneath her tries to get up but only SLOPS back down into the bed against her chest. More mud splatters. Thats when she lays there a moment to shake her hands free of dripping oil and mud before reaching to take both hands offered and carefully gets a knee beneath her. "Thanks...okay..I .." she gets a boot beneath her and then another as she rises with help - her only chance really as she is plastered in mud. She turn her head and pfffts to et hair and mud from her moth before looking back to the others. "Sorry about that!" She glances to Madeleine with a grin, "I think so? Trying to start a new fashion trend over here." She grins at them all. "Well done. Nothing like a good attempt at wrestling a pig to get the heart racing."


Once Helena seems unlikely to fall, Aethan lets go, a little huff of amusement escaping him. "Are you all right?" he asks, before looking at Braith as though to check her condition. He's not a healer, but he could probably see blood or something. "Good effort," he says, still with some amusement, though the words sound sincere. He looks back up to Madeleine then, his smile widening a little bit. "Thank you. I didn't realize that would be part of the event." Nurie catches his eye then, and he looks over to her, waving a hand and calling, "You could be having all this fun, too, you know!" His tone is just a little bit wry, but it does sound like a joke. It's then that he sees Alarissa, and he inclines his head to her.

Redrain servants move about the successful wild pig hunters and happy spectators, bringing them refreshments of mead or wine depending on their preferences. Of course, Marian's got a bottle of whiskey and willing to share to any that want to have a drink with the princess.

One can almost see the warring instincts within the Lycene tailor, to be honest. Nurie tenses, as if eager to help with every fibre of her being, but then...mud. And mud on beautiful fabrics! There's something of relief in her face as she can settle it--there /are/ ladies who might need assistance this day, but right now none of them are Her Lady. She waves cheerily back to Aethan. "Never fear, my lord, I'm still having fun!" She lifts her cup to the returning competitors in salute.

"You should get some bonus points." Madeleine chirped toward Aethan, though Braith's fashionista comments have her modeling her mud coated garbs in over-accented display to no one in particular. "I'm into it. Gotta' love earthtones!"

There's a dip of Alarissa's head when Aethan does the same, a smile as she watches the shenanigans and wiley beasts and people.


Braith briefly nods to Aethan, "Aye, I think, time will tell. Likely some bruising but it was worth it." She clears her throat and lifts her voice, "I am offering hugs!" She glances back at the stands and makes a motion for any clean spectator to take advantage of her excess mud. Grinning with that mud marred white smile she claps her hands together for Madeleine - mod sprays here and there likely peppering her near cohorts. "Lovely, you working the color if I may say so." She pauses and introduces herself, "Braith Sanna, pleasure to be wrestling pigs with you all today."


"Perhaps we can get Mistress Petal to design a series of mud splatter gowns and then we will be in fashion," quips Helena, finding a silk handkerchief as she leans in to wipe Braith's face, quite oblivious to the streak and smudge on her own. "I'm glad I wasn't the only one who the boars made a fool out of -- no offense." She smiles brightly. "I'm all right," she tells Aethan. "Thank you for catching me. I hope I do not have that much in common with the boars," she says with a grin. "Helena Redrain," she tells Braith, offering a hand to her, before Helena heads over to Marian, grabbing a glass but preferring the whiskey to mead or wine, like any proper Farhaven girl.

"Can we keep some of the truffles for rare dishes?" Merek asks, while he finds a place to settle in, cleaning hands then he adjusts his gloves while he relaxes with his drink.

300 Old Ben gets it into his head to do a little wild pig hunting. He does a few shots of whiskey, rolls up his sleeves and then moves off into the glen. Within a few minutes, much to those on the grass, there are a series of squeals, plenty of deep swearing and then finally after a few minutes the Redrain warrior makes it out with a few truffles in hand. Of course as he starts to walk over to deposit his winnings and put his hand in to win the big prize, he looks confused as others start to point and laugh. Finally one of his fellow warriors hands him his jacket because there was a wee bit too much airing in the backside after his breeches were ripped in the hunting.

Marian laughs and then turns to Merek, giving a nod, "I don't mind if you take a few back but make sure not to take too many. We're using the truffles to make a few dishes at the bonfire later."

Aethan gives Nurie another wave of acknowledgement with a grin -- or what passes for a grin from him. Maybe it's not as Wie as some people's, but it's genuine. He wipes a hand across his forehead again, this time a little more successful at dislodging the dirt, and Madeleine's words get a nod from him, as he turns to Marian. "Do I get bonus points?" Though again, it sounds like he's joking. Probably, anyway. He turns back to Helena then with a shake of his head. "You don't," he continues, "so it's probably not fair to claim that one. Aethan Kennex," he says as he turns to Braith. "Nice to meet you, Lady Sanna."

Nurie mms thoughtfully, musing aloud more to herself. "'Tis not a bad idea, a competitor's gown. Or breeches and tunic. Of complementary colors, but fleece lined for warmth." She takes a lingering sip fom her cup.

Marian glances at her list where the tallies are being made and then admits to Aethan, "Well m'lord, it appears you're taking the lead at the moment. If no one else steps up, you'll be taking the 10,000 silver prize home soon." She turns to Braith who's been a good sport about getting into the mud, "And based on feedback from the guards, it appears they've nominated you for the other prize." She gives her a wink but doesn't say 'worst wild pig hunter' outloud, "And is currently up for the 5,000 silver prize."

Merek nods a bit, while he relaxes some and looks to the others, also.

"Well, there's that at least," Helena says to Aethan, as she takes a sip of her whiskey. "Congratulations, Lady Braith and Lord Aethan! Go figure that when there's a prize for least successful, I can't even manage to win that." She grins, though, clearly not upset about losing out to the mud-covered Lady Sanna. "You will need it for a new gown, I think, or a very good cleaner. As will I." She glances down at her own appearance -- not *quite* as slathered in mud, but definitely in need of a bath and a change of clothes.


As Helena offers to wipe her face, Braith's nose wrinkles an she holds still, a laugh escaping her. "Why thank you, our Highness, this shall be the highlight of my day. And such a beautiful cloth. Really think you are on to something, brand new inspired line brought you by Pig Wrestling in the Mud." The lively bard lets out half snort and then blinks as she feels a little less muddy - which is a hard thing to imagine. She takes the hand and there is a squelch of mud before giving it a good shake. "If I do have something commissioned you will be the first to see! I already can see the song for this," she teases them all. "And you, Lord Aethan, Just Sanna though, I mean really." she makes a motion down at her clothing to hint she is less a lady today.

Marian's announcement draws her attention she whistles loudly through her teeth for Aethan. The next however causes her to cough and then laugh. "Well then, I feel like I should share my winnings ..if they are mine with the Princess." She winks back at Marian before she chuckle even deeper at Helena. "I thought about seeing how the stains worked for m." She starts to carefully extract herself from the field lest she be caught with unsure feet again.


Madeleine laughed as she was speckled with further flecks of mud. "I'm Madeleine." She replied to Braith, "Nice to meet you, Lady Braith!" She chimed, flopping to a seat at the edge of the glen to continue observing. Not like more mud could hurt!

Maxene, the steadfast ladies maid, Elegance, a Velenosian Greyhound, Pellinor, 4 Thrax Guards, Honey Snuggle, a Velenosian Angora cat leave, following Alarissa.

Madeleine has left the Boar Hunt Glen.

When he's announced the winner, Aethan lets out a laugh -- an actual laugh, not an almost-laugh huff or something like that. "Thank you, Your Highness," he says with a nod to Marian, and he brushes some dirt off his clothes, though it doesn't really make him look more lordly at the moment. Braith's comment gets another nod as he looks down at himself, before continuing, "I suppose that's about right today." He looks over at Helena then when Braith says she's going to share her winnings, adding, "You can buy some pig-hunting lessons with it."

Nurie is overheard praising Marian: A wriggling and squealing good truffle-hunting time!

Merek is overheard praising Marian.

Nurie is overheard praising Aethan: Congratulations to the Victor!

Aethan is overheard praising Marian.

Helena is overheard praising Marian.

Merek is overheard praising Marian.

Braith is overheard praising Marian: Wonderful muddy event!

Nurie is overheard praising Braith: She slipped into second place, but showed a generous spirit!

Marian is overheard praising Aethan: For his win!

Marian is overheard praising Braith: For being such a good sport.

Aethan is overheard praising Helena.

Aethan is overheard praising Braith.

Braith is overheard praising Aethan: The most pig wrangling wrangler that there ever was!

Aethan is overheard praising Madeleine.

Braith is overheard praising Helena: Together we made this look ..not so easy.

Braith is overheard praising Merek: Well done!

Aethan is overheard praising Merek.

Braith is overheard praising Madeleine: A valiant effort! And for the hands up!

"Oh, no, you do not have to do that," Helena says with a vehement shake of her head. "You earned it, fair and square." This makes her laugh aloud again. "Just the laughter today is more than worth it. I do not need the coin, Lady Sanna." She grins at Aethan. "I am an apt pupil, but I think I'll leave the poor pigs alone, truly. They deserve more dignity than my floundering around with them in the mud."


Braith lifts a finger at what Aethan says and then nods, "I mean well worth while I suppose but what fun is that. I think I might put that on my bucket list..somewhere after flying lessons." She says good naturedly and shakes her head, more mud flying from her wild hair that is matted in places. "Ahh then I will send you a commiseration gift sometime soon, Princess. So that we may remember this auspicious day." She dips forward into a bow, her back foot sliding back suddenly and making her wobble. She manages to stay upon her feet as she rises up. She glances to the stands and gives a hearty wave, soaking in the attention with no small amount of enjoyment.

"Not necessary, but you are too sweet," Helena says to Braith, her new kindred spirit. "All right, I am in need of a bath. I shall see you all later!" she says, before turning for the path to head back to the city and the warm waters of her bathtub in Redrain Villa.