Miranda arrives to the area indicated for the Gauntlet and looks about eagerly. She does have her cloak about her, keeping her warm in the cool spring weather, but her eyes are lit up with fascination and curiosity.

Miranda nudges Reese as she sees her and walks close enough to do so. "Ribbons. Don't show us all up, now, hmm?" she teases the Princess. "Make it look hard, okay?"

Mikani enters in with a curious series of steps. Her body is loose and limber as she moves. With a grin she greets Miranda and Reese. "Hello." She says with her usual warm and calm voice.

Malcolm's arriving to the not-as-clear clearing, taking a long look-see at the various obstacles that've been rigged up for the gauntlet. His smile is quick, bright, and he offers an easy-going wave to everyone - both new and familiar faces, all greeting with the same openness. "Nice to see and meetcha all."

Harlan enters on a pair of crutches, making his slow way from the city. He's got a pair of servants with him, apparently ready to assist whenever necessary. That said, Harlan's making it on his own, albeit slowly, and definitely not in prime exploring shape. Still, it's better than the alternative, yes? Once he makes it here, he pauses to catch his breath, and then half-smiles, "Hello, everyone."

"She could always do it blind folded," Aksel comments as he passes Miranda and Reese. The Northerner takes a long drink from a bottle of whiskey as he studies the various obstacles that are out there. "Hm. Aislin would have liked this," he says softly.

Felicia prowls over to join the slowly building gathering, eyes mostly on the course and her hand lightly resting on Wheelspinner's hilt. She finds a place to loiter near Reece and the others, a small smile lurking about her lips.

Lou is standing about, waiting for people to come. She smiles at those who have started arriving, waving at each one. Harlan gets an especially enthusiastic wave; it's the first time Lou has seen him since that fateful day at the Lodge of Petrichor. "Duke Harlan, I hope all is well with you," she comments, giving him an especially big smile, taking in everything about him. "Or, at least, better?" she queries. And then there is her sister Reese, and for her she has a big grin. "Come to try your hand, Reese?" she asks. And, then Malcolm, Miranda, Mikani. "Duke, Ladies," she greets. Politely, Affably. And, of course, the others get greetings as well.

Gruffudd, a ridiculously fluffy large cat arrives, following Ysbail.

Lethe arrives with a look of curiosity. She looks to those here with a smile as she continues to look around.

Malcolm has joined the line.

Miranda has joined the line.

Aksel has joined the line.

"Uh-huh, gladly, Lou - 'cause there's always gotta be that first volunteer, isn't that right?" Malcolm's touching a pair of fingers to the brim of his canny corsair's hat - no, the Crownlands Duke cannot sail, but it's a _cool_ hat - and he takes a step forward. As tribute. Obviously. "As far as physical specimens go, I'm fair to middling -- but I'll give it a go."

Felicia has joined the line.

Lethe has joined the line.

Miranda grins, "I am most definitely participating. The Telmar Gauntlet kicks my butt every time I run it. But it's fun! I figure this ought to be a great way to see how bad I am at these things." She winks.

Harlan nods towards Lou, still using the crutches to stay upright. His lips are wryly amused, "Better -- that'd be a good word for it, yes." He exhales a faint smile and says, "It's a slow process. The healers say I may be able to move around a bit more without these soon, but it'll be a while before I'm doing ... all of this." He moves his head towards the crowd.

Reese has joined the line.

Ysbail has joined the line.

Reese smiles warmly to those gathered here. "I don't know about blindfolded." She says toward Aksel and looks thoughtful like she is possibly thinking of such. She has a warm smile for Mikani and then a wave for Malcolm. The girl waves to Lou as well. "It thought I would try. I did this last year too. It was fun." Reese then blows Miranda a kiss. She gets into the line.

Ysbail reaches the clearing slowly, but with purpose, glancing about for familiar faces. She pulls her hair back from her face as she spots Reese moving over to stand near the Grayson Princess. "Did I miss the good parts?"

Anya, the cool as an ice cube Champion apprentice, Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette arrive, following Caspian.

Reese looks to Ysbail. "Not at all Lady Ysbail. It just got started and nobody has even attempted the gauntlet yet." She says toward her. "It is very nice to see you again. You are going to try?" She asks.

Felicia grins,"I like the challenge of your competiting." she offers with a dip of her head towards Reece,"Though well, I'm pretty sure your record of beating me at everything is unbroken." she acknowledges with a laugh.

Lou gives Harlan a consoling look. "We're rooting for you to be fully healed," she tells him. "I'm certain that Olivia is taking good care of you." From what she knows of the Duke's sister. "Lady Rhiannon is seeking to join the Explorers, did you know?" she makes idle chit-chat with her fellow explorer as she waits for those ready to compete to line up. She then looks to them. "If you are uncertain about trying the gauntlet today, I have decided that rather than giving you froo froo jewelry or vouchers for new clothing, that the prizes today are one of a kind." She pauses before a grin crosses her lips. "For those that take first and second place, you shall have a guaranteed spot on the next two expeditions that I end up planning. I have ideas for these expeditions already, and at least one of you has already been interviewed for one of them; a potential trip to Whitepeak, if my team manages to discover the mundane path to the top of this mythical mountain that was once home to the newest magics of the Metallic Order."

Miranda gets in line as well and pretends to catch Reese's kiss and smacks it onto her cheek. "For luck!" She smirks and listens to the prizes. "Woo hoo!" She likes the sound of that!

"Ers. That is to say, a guaranteed spt for one expedition each." Lou clarifies. "Not two expeditions each." She flushes a bit as she makes that clarification clear.

Caspian Huff huff huff huff! Caspian runs his way over to the event, having slept in for a little too long and is now late! "I'm here! I'm here! I am not late, y'all are too early!" He calls out to the crowd as he comes to a halt, pausing to catch his breath.

Caspian has joined the line.

Malcolm's not excited. No, not at all. Granted, were he one of his Graypeak Mountain dogs he'd be wagging. Instead, he just does a little dance while standing in place, listening to Lou.

Aksel glances over his shoulder to Reese, "C'mon it'd be an adventure. Like feeling around in a cave without light." He pauses a moment, "Don't actually recommend that." He takes a swig from his whiskey looking towards Lou as she speaks about the prizes being offered. "There's prizes?" He says to himself his brows furrowing a bit, "Thought we were doing this just cause."

Ysbail grins to Reese, "I wanted to at least give it a try, It sounded like a good bit of fun." She quets as Lou speaks, "That - Sounds like a prize very worth winning. Does she mean Cobalt?" Trying to place the names of the Metallics. Aksel's comment gets a wide grin.

Mikani has joined the line.

Felicia dips her head Lou's way with a grin and itches absently at her chin before turning to size up the competition with a discerning eye. From the shrug she gives she's clearly going to give it a shot anyways, electing to limber up with some stretching while she waits.

Mikani waits for her turn. She didn't need a prize she just wanted to know if she could do it.

Harlan nods towards Lou and smiles, "I actually suggested she do that. Keep the family tradition going, of course." He then steps back a bit and looks to Lou, "Whitepeak again?" He smiles faintly.

Reese looks to Felicia a bit sheepishly. "Oh I will not remain unbeaten by you forever. I cannot. You are just too amazing. I think you beat me before though. I remember something about a drinking contest and then a kitten." She says toward the King's Own Knight. Reese then smiles warmly to Caspian as he arrives. "GrandMaster Champion!" she calls out softly in his direction. Finally she turns to Aksel. "An adventure, just the like the explorers love." The princess muses. She then looks over to Ysbail. "It is fun to do."

"The Explorer's are an organization dedicated to finding adventure, exploring the lands, recovering lost history. While some of our purposes are very similar to the Scholars, we are not a secular organization, and our exploration is not limited primarily to those things the faith wishes to uncover. We can be hired out by nobles to scout their lands for ruins or to help with rebuilding efforts, we can be called to aid on expeditions to help find lost relics and history, or we can be called into service by the Crown or the High Lords for whatever projects they have." Lou says as she steps forward to address everyone. "As we undertake these missions or expeditions, there are any number of things we can encounter, and today is all about giving you a chance to encounter some of those things in a non-lethal way -- for our adventures are often fraught with danger, and a number of explorers have died or gone missing in the line of duty." She is quite serious whens he mentions the dangers part. Some know of at least one who went missing.

Because of the dangers involved, every person that wishes to become an explorer must pass an entrance exam. This is not that exam," Lou warns to those who might be thinking it is. "In fact, the gauntlet is just a bit easier than the exam we give. Information on the exam can be found within the Charter Hall of the explorers." Lou pauses, then says, "If you are here to participate, and have not already done so, please join the line." (OOC: +line/getinline)

"A kitten..." Felicia repeats musingly,"Meownica? What /did/ I win her for? I don't even remember to be honest.." she says to Reece with a flush of her cheeks,"Better she be in your collection than mine, honestly. And I'm not sure that drinking more counts as winning... well, mostly." she falls silent to listen to Lou, she might be familiar with the words, but respect is owed none the less.

Caspian has gotten in line! Because he is the last to arrive, he is also the last in line. He gives a wave over to Reese, calling to the woman ahead of him, "It's Caspian, not Champion! But points for the funny mistake!"

Miranda bounces on her toes, excitedly waiting for things to begin. She nods a bit in reference to the dangers bit, but is no less enthusiastic. It takes a special sort of crazy to jump in to the deep pool, after all.

Lou grins over at Harlan, "Whitepeak for the several times, actually. Gods willing, if we find the path." Once it seems like everyone is here who is going to participate, Lou begins, "The first thing most explorers do is investigate a topic of interest, to see what information they can glean and to see what direction they should be going in to find to find the ruins they want to explore, or that interesting place they want to go. Sometimes, we find leads. Sometimes, we find false leads. And, that sometimes means we're searching in the wrong place, but still might find something of interest." (@check perception + investigation)

Malcolm checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Caspian checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Ysbail checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

Lethe checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Felicia checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

Miranda checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Malcolm hrms, shrugging. "Whatever it is - I don't think I noticed at all, Lou. In fact, if there's book-reading to do or leads to follow, it might be better for someone else t'be doing that. Probably, you know, I'd be walking around in circles." Like he's currently doing around an obstacle, confused. "I do the leaping, mostly. Not the looking." The Shepherd's cheerful, admitting this, and that playful attitude doesn't diminish when he adds: "Probably not good for my life expectancy, but that's all right. There's always another turn on the Wheel."

Mikani checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

Caspian When it's his turn, Caspian rushes over to the books to find the obscure refrence that he is tasked to find, flipping through pages quickly to try and the refrence. His attempt at speed helps him out, but he is not the fastest person to find the reference, only second fastest, and he snaps his fingers in disappointment. "Damn. Oh well, I'm sure I'll do better on the other ones."

Reese checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Mikani looks at the books. Mikani had always loved books. She softly takes a sniff before looking through the pages. Finding what is needed she holds up her hand not even sure if that's what she's supposed to do. "Found it." She glanced at Caspian. "Is it a race?"

Felicia can't quite help the groan she gives, not that she's terribly surprised. Or that she fails to roll up her shirt sleeves and head over to the books. Dedicated scholar today she is not, rushing through her hunt so fast she misses it on the first pass-through and has to start over with greater attention to detail in order to find it.

Taking a moment to look around her, Miranda takes pity on the DUke and redirects him, offering him a bit of advice. She's already an explorer and there's no shortage of expeditions for her to get on board with. "Expeditions are about teams, my lord," Miranda offers to Malcolm, and gives him a pat on the shoulder to get him from no longer circling a useless, at the moment, obstacle. She's made her own discovery using what she knows based on her experiences so far.

Reese heads over to the books herself and she pours over them, but looks quite confused. "Um...these books don't say what needs to be stabbed." She says helplessly.

Lethe looks over the books and turns through the pages. She takes a while as she browses them before settling on a page she finds interesting.

"Stab the books." Thorley offers helpfully to Reese as he arrives, giving a shrug. He's late, knowing probably too late to participate - but hey, he can watch everyone else.

Ysbail grins at Reese, "I could use a bit of fun something to get my mind off digging through piles of dusty research. Meditation just wasn't cutting it today." Caspian gets a wave of greeting and her attention snaps forward. As Lou speaks, Ysbail laughs. "Well - so much for a bit of fresh air. Usually I ask people who have traveled their first, then check the libraries and records for the area." Making her way quickly over to the books, pulling them off the shelves carefully and checking for indexes or clues.

Ysbail says, "Do not stab the books."

Mikani looks at Thorley. "What did they ever do to you?"

"Words." Thorley responds dryly.

Reese looks over to Thorley. "Hmm..." She says, looking from her sword to the books.

Aksel checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

"Oh, well - yeah, Lady Miranda, yeah. It's all about cooperative work. Just, you know, I was admitting that I'm not the best at some things that others wouldn't miss." Malcolm shrugs his shoulders, offering the Sword of Gemecitta a broad smile. Then, a surprised blink of dark eyes and a laugh. "Only stab the books if they stab first. Afterall, need to be able to defend yourself, right? Sharp words."

Thorley checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 7 lower.

Felicia huffs at Thorley as she sets her book down,"Remind me to lock the library up around you." she snorts at him before looking towards Malcolm with a laugh for his suggestion.

Miranda snorts, "No stabbity of the books! Ixnay on the abstay!

Thorley nods sagely at Felicia. "Your books might try to eat me."

Miranda snorts, "No stabbity of the books!" She laughs a bit at the crazy antics and words of others.

Lou gives Reese an amused look when she mentions stabbing books. "Please don't, dearest sister. Please don't." She nods to Miranda, looking pleased at her attempt to help Malcolm. "Indeed, generally it is about cooperative work." She looks to everyone after they complete the first task. "Now, you know where you want to go - or well, think you might know where you want to go. Now you need to get there. Much of the time our explorations take us away from the city of Arx. We're in the wilds of the Gray Forest. That means we're either walking or riding, and sometimes that riding involves moving over or around a set of obstacles." And, indeed, in part of the clearing there's a small arena set up for the gauntlet that includes a set of small logs or tiny bridges or other obstacles that must be encountered. And, horses for people to use. Assuming they can find a way to make use of them! "And, that involves some skill in riding - but not expert experience. Also, skill in riding means that you're not as saddle sore as you could be if you did not have such skill, as you spend long hours in the saddle and know how to mitigate the length of time without getting sore." (@check dexterity + riding)

Miranda checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

"Well, they haven't yet." Felicia points out sanguinely to Thorley, an ear out for the instruction. Riding. She can't help the broad grin for that, stretching and trotting her way over to go select some poor sap of a horse to try and carry her through.

Ysbail checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Malcolm checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Lethe checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Felicia checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

"Don't break the old nag's back!" Thorley calls out after Felicia, patting his stomach in a total suggestion she's put on weight. He's apparently here to offer nothing in the way of helpful advice.

Caspian checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Harlan nods towards Lou and says, "Perhaps I'll be healed enough by that time to assist." He pauses, "If not, there's always financial support." He smiles and watches the people go through the gauntlet.

Aksel checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Caspian barely knows how to ride a horse. He's lucky he even knows which way to face on the horse! First he struggles to get on the horse, and when he gets on the horse, he struggles to lead the horse through the obstacle course that has been set up. He doesn't even finish before the horse gives up on him and refuses to move.

Aksel stares at Lou. STARES. She's asking them to go through books. He draws in a deeeeeep breath and lets it out slowly. When it's his turn, he moves towards the books and ever so slowly starts to go through them. He maybe slow at this, but he is certainly thorough.

"I'm not drunk enough to ride," Aksel says again STAREing at Lou. STARE. Wait, he's got whiskey so he takes a big drink from the bottle but is sorely disappointed when he finds it's only got like one swallow left. He peers into it, before dropping it on the ground to get on the horse. And he actually gets on said horse and hasn't been bucked off. Maaaaybeee he needs to try this riding thing more when he's sober.

Reese checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 37 higher.

Ysbail moves in the direction of the horses and eyes the animals Dubiously. "Ok, Nice horsie, we are going to get along just fine you and me, we will take this nice and slow." Nevermind that The redrain lady usually just goes on foot. It does take some doing, but eventually she manages (ungracefully) to get into the saddle and get the horse pointed in the right direction. "I suppose riding is another thing I should need to learn, Reese, how do you make them go faster?"

"Longer the book, the longer in the tooth, the more dangerous it is. 'S true, there's times when I've fallen dead asleep while reading something. An' what's next - riding. Oh, that's not a big deal at all. Been there, done that. Cousin Elsa's better at it. Although we got Graypeak Vanners - gorgeous things, really. Got the scars on my arm from where one had bit me, once, back when I was learnin'. Horses don't like bwing startled none." Malcolm selects a sound-looking gelding, mounts up, and takes the small log hurdles in stride with his trusty borrowed steed. Slowly.

Felicia fires Thorley an offended look. Totally not sucking in her stomach just to make sure, or from the faint color of her cheeks, perhaps concerned that he might be right.

Miranda takes a moment to check the saddle on a horse, then slides up over a mount. She directs the horse over a bridge or two. She lets the horse do most of the work, just directing it through the varied obstacles, including a short jump over a log that's 'in the way' as it were. No big deal. She gives the horse a nice pat on its neck.

Reese never stabs the books. With the help of others far more perceptive than herself she manages to figure out which direction to head. The girl mounts up on her filly. She seem to know a lot more riding than she did about investigation. The warrior princess grins over to Ysbail. "Riding is a good skill. I can teach you sometime if you want."

Lethe gets on the horse she decides on with a nervous expression. She rides the horse to the obstacles, and Lethe and the horse figure out what to do as each obstacle is encountered.

Lou watches as everyone navigates the riding obstacles, some more expertly than others. She grins over at Caspian. "Better luck next time, Caspian," she says about the horses, before directing him and the others to the next obstacle. "And, though you have a general idea of where you want to go, and what signs you want to look for, finding them on paper is quite a bit different than finding them out in the wilds. We must look for the signs, and search for the place once we're out in the wilderness - and make sure our directions are correct, otherwise we might miss that turn, or that outcropping, we were supposed to use as a guidemarker, because the directions we're working on are never exactly correct, particularly if it's a set of ruins we're out to explore. Sometimes, we need to double back and start over from where we know the signs are supposed to be in order to find the correct path." (@check perception + survival)

Miranda checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Felicia checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Lethe checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Aksel checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.

Ysbail checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Malcolm checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 22 higher.

Reese checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Ysbail laughs, "I may take you up on that princess, all things considered. I just prefer the ground better. Easier not to miss things." Speaking of missing things.

Caspian checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Miranda has a bit harder time than many of the others finding signs in the woods to get where she's going. Might be cuz she's on the horse or something. Still, she does find her way and makes good use of it.

Mikani has rolled a critical success!
Mikani checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

Mikani checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Aksel is glad to be off the horse, "Thanks for, you know, not killing me," he says with a pat to the horses side. He certainly seems much more at ease on foot and as he glances about a moment to take in his surroundings, he immediately starts the backtracking bit. His eyes are keen and he soon finds the elusive missing marker.

Malcolm's a little more perceptive when it comes to path-finding, sorta-kinda, and he's tugging on the reins to get the horse to follow direction, and manages it, although he might just be picking cues up from Aksel. "-- How did you do that?"

Lethe turns around and goes back over the path she took. She searches for anything she might have missed before.

"Shhhhh!" Caspian hushes Lou, putting his finger to his mouth. Then he is off his horse to do the next challenge, search for tracks upon the ground to move on to the next part of the gauntlet. It takes him a while, but he finally finds the right tracks!

Mikani looks at the horse. They never liked her before. Why couldn't it be a ship? She holds her hand out to the horse and it actually takes to her. Or she thinks it does. Mikani carefully goes around the horse to get on and set off after the others. She may be behind but at least the horse isn't kicking her off. As she nears the tracks she slows. Mikani's dark eyes find them and continue on following them at a nice walking pace. Cause why risk the horse not liking her now.

Felicia pets the horse once she reaches the end of the obstacle,"You're a good girl." she offers it in terms of praise, tying it off before she goes to track her missing marker. There's a grin directed briefly towards Caspian for his hushing and a squint towards Thorley in 'I'm watching you' fashion.

If Aksel doesn't like books or horses, he's really going to hate the /next/ bit. Lou grins at Caspian. "You've now found the place you want to go, and you come upon the ruins." Or, in this case, the building facade, "But the door doesn't want to budge. You remember in your research that this particular set of ruins has a tricky mechanism designed within it in order to get through the doors. You find where the mechanism is, but the trick is to find out how it operates. You spend some time pondering on the puzzle, to work it out. Sometimes, it takes more than one attempt - which isn't an issue because usually you have time on expeditions to work such things out." The door holds a tricky mechanism that either lets people in or holds them back until they are able to do it. Eventually, everyone will get through. (@check intellect + riddles)

Malcolm checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Caspian checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Felicia checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 9 lower.

Miranda checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 10 lower.

Ysbail checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Lethe checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

How the hell did Caspian even figure out the right riddle to open the door? He sucks at riddles! But he does, after a long while, and he seems surpised with himself, jumping up and down in pure joy!

It might have been a cooperative effort - because Malcolm's cheering Caspian on, offering unhelpful suggestions as to the riddle's potential answer - and he sputters with a loud whoop in victory when the Grandmaster's logical mind cracks it. "Well done, Caspian!"

"Well obviously, the spirits told me." Aksel says with a straight face to Malcolm, "Either that or I," starts to ramble on about the way moss grows on trees and the way the sun shines and the way the winds move through the threes and blah blah b... "I am pretty sure I could break that door." Aksel says with a STARE for the door now. Maybe the intensity of his STARE will break the code. Unfortunately it doesn't work. With a sigh, he starts to work on it.

Mikani checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Aksel checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Ysbail gets very animated when it comes to the next step, "Ooh, how did you guys design this, it's ingenious! The way the little gears and levers work, is this something you encountered before Princess Lou?" Ysbail calls out, getting down into the muck to carefully inspect every inch of the door, and really if you left her alone for too long she'd probably start taking the thing entirely apart. Instead she flicks the mechanism to open it. "That is fun."

Miranda is stumped, this time by the mechanism! She scratches her head, tries to figure out the lock, over and over again. "Hunh," she mutters.

Mikani grins as she sees the door. It takes her a bit to find it. But the secret lever is not missing from her for long. Reaching her hand up she pulls it and the door opens.

Mikani looks over at Miranda, "Want help?" She teases the other woman.

Miranda shrugs, "Sure. Expeditions are about teamwork, my lady. We can't all be awesome at everything, after all."

Malcolm's eyes are wide and huge and he takes it all in, all of Aksel's rambling on and on - until -- he snaps out of it with a blink and a goofy smile, "Uh-huh. Woulda been easier if you'd thrown the blame on the whiskey."

Lethe tries her best, but it takes her alot of effort to figure out the trick to the door. Still while she's confused she keeps trying.

Felicia tries to work it out, and steps back from the door and frowns at it, and then attempts to shoulder it open... and fails, and has to go back to trying to puzzle it out. Getting through eventually is a relief, even if from the color of her cheeks the knight's a little embarrassed about it.

Thorley checked dexterity + ride at difficulty 15, rolling 36 higher.

Thorley checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

....and Aksel doesn't do so horrible at it. He seems extremely shocked at this fact. "Much easier then up on Bighill," he mutters.

Thorley checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Reese checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Mikani nods as she moves over to help Miranda with her door.

"My good friend, and first seeker Lady Cadenza Fidante, was once stuck in the basement of a temple, feeding herself on the lichen and mushrooms that grew down there, until she figured out the puzzle to get herself out, which was related to all thirteen of the pantheon." Lou shares with Ysbail. True story that! She then continues forward when she's sure everyone has had a chance. "However, successfully maneuvering a mechanism doesn't mean that you still haven't triggered a trap on the other side as you couldn't have known it was there. You never quite exactly know who or what might have been living in the set of ruins after the original person has left. And, so, you might be left with "gifts" in their stead for any intruders that might come to occupy their new place of living." Lou shakes her head. "Sometimes, they rig things so that you need to dodge out of the way of them, in order to waylay others." And those that do not dodge out of the way get swatted with something that stings but does not do any serious damage. (@check dexterity + dodge)

Mikani checked perception + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

After realizing that he was STILL at the books, Thorley erps. "Uh. Okay. Hey! Let me borrow that donkey!" People were getting ready to send books back, Thorley grand thefts the donkey and makes his way up the others. And he makes riding a donkey look stylish as he arrives where the others are. After figuring out the next puzzle, he arrives at the door - and is immediately confused. "Hey, Felicia. See anything we can use for a battering ram?" he asks. Why not just use a big stick to open the door, right? He does eventually get it though.

Lou adds, "And it took Cadenza a /month/ before she was able to figure the puzzle out."

Miranda checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 47 higher.

Malcolm checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 43 higher.

Lethe checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Felicia checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

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

Ysbail checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Thorley has rolled a critical success!
Thorley checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 115 higher.

Caspian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 52 higher.

Mikani checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Aksel checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

Oh noes, stones! Caspian gets a bunch of stones thrown at him, and he dodges each and every one cleanly! Once he's done he pumps his fist in victory! Go Caspian! "Woot! Can't touch me! I'm too fast!"

After Mikani helps her get past the door, Miranda steps through and easily dodges the assorted traps that opening the door set off! She chuckles a bit, "There we go. That's more like it. It was a nice side-step, leap, dive into a saumersalt and to her feet kind of move.

Malcolm can't dodge a horse's bite to the arm, but. BUT he can dodge a hypothetical dodge roll like he means it.

Ysbail blinks at the story, "That's incredible." She's so engrossed that she almost doesn't see the giant obstical that nearly knocks her back on her butt in the mud. "Paying attention, is important. Got it."

With the door now unlocked it's time for the next surprise. Askel nudges it open with his foot and there is nothing. He blinks a few times before stepping forward and stepping back almost immediately as a swinging hammer comes down and across the face of the door. "Tricky, tricky."

Mikani pulls herself out of the doorway as the trap springs. After it's done she moves back through the door and into the 'temple'. "Well this is getting fun."

When it's mentioned that there will be dodging, Thorley takes a moment. "I am the spider. I can dodge like a spider can." And after smashing through the door - because he's totally smashing through the door, when the trap is sprung, he takes the door completely off of it's hinges, using it to soak up the 'darts' that are fired at him. "I'm used to Violet shooting at me. Don't tell her I said that."

Reese continues along with the contest. She can dodge pretty good. Now the books are out of the picture, the warrior princes is holding her own. "I know what I need to work on if I want to join the explorers." She says a bit sheepishly.

"Just don't use your shoulder!" Felicia recommends to Thorley. At least her situational awareness isn't awful, the movement out of the corner of her eye has her moving before she really registers what the 'threat' is, and after squints at it suspiciously. Ha. Missed me. There's something of a swagger to the way she steps away from it.

"

"I was sucking in my gut!" Thorley calls back to Felicia, a wink at her to make her blush all the more.

Lou cannot help but laugh heartily at Thorley's comments. "Oh, I won't tell her, but you've a lot of witnesses here today, Baron," she calls out to him. She then moves on. "So, you've gone through most of the building. But, sometimes old ruins and structures are not the most stable or steady, and to search through them you must navigate the missing parts of them. That often times means either jumping or swinging from one side to the other." Lou says as she motions to the part they all come to next, individually of course, where there's an opportunity to either jump across or swing across -- which ever method they prefer. "Some methods are easier on the building to do than the other, which might become unstable." And, it looks like there's a pit of water that people might fall into if they fall down. The pit is only 5 feet below the section they either need to jump or swing across. It's definitely wet down there, but deep enough to safely break a fall, and there's a handy rope to climb back up if one does fall. (@check dexterity + athletics)

Malcolm checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 29 higher.

Thorley checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Lethe checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 7 lower.

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

Reese checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 36 higher.

Aksel checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Miranda checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

Caspian checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

Ysbail checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

Yes, finally, something Caspian's speed! He takes some steps back and leaps across the pit easily, landing on the other side with room to spare as he steps away from the pit and pumps his fist up in victory!

Coming up over the pitfall, Miranda eyes the robe she can swing across and the distance to jump across. She backs up a few feet and then runs forward. It's several long strides that look super easy for her to do. She takes a leap, catching the rope along the way and swings across. She lets go of the rope and lands easily, lightly, perfectly on the other side.

Ysbail breaks into laughter as she catches Thorley's comment, enough that she's landing doing windmills on the other side of the water with the new obstacle, and only very narrowly avoids landing on her rear. "I clearly need more practice. If you teach me riding Reese, I'll teach you how to ask all the obnoxious questions. Deal?"

Lethe after having barely dodged the trap she tries to swing across only to fall. Still she's determined to keep going and climbs up the rope.

And here is the jumping over things part. Aksel takes stock of it and without hesitation backs up a few steps and leaps across the ABYSMAL CHASM of DOOOOOM. He lands on the other side, but just barely. He rotates his arms around and around to keep from plunging to his watery DOOM. "I need to get back to training," he mutters to himself.

Reese looks over to Ysbail, giving her a gentle smile. "Sounds like a plan, Lady Ysbail." She says in her direction.

Malcolm's not graceful, not nimble, maybe he's spry. Spry for his age, at least, because he's hoping and leaping and flinging himself off of obstacles until he can find a likely place to launch himself from and jump across to the other side. His laughter's utterly infectious, dark eyes glittering with joy, and his expression's boyish and ne'er do well. An appearance completely at odds with the title, until he lands on the other side, chuckling. "That' so much fun!"

Jump, jump like a spider! Thorley starts to leap over the openings, managing not to slip and go for a swim. "Come on, Felicia, hop like a bunny!" he calls over to her, as he uses the rope to swing his way over, and swings it back towards the other knight.

Harlan continues to watch all of the ongoings, although he's mainly staying off to the side. The servants make sure he's comfortable, as much as is necessary, and supply him with drinks as needed. He's well taken care of!

Felicia fires Thorley another firey squint. Hop like a bunny he says. The redheaded Harrow foregoes the swing, clearing the distance nimbly and hmphing in Thorley's general direction,"When Vi asks why you're covered in bruises next time we spar, I'm just going to point to this!" she advises him with a wolfish grin.

Mikani checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Lou seems to note how often spiders are being invoked here. She's somewhat amused. She gives Ysbail an encouraging look, and grins at Malcom. "Duke Malcolm, I think you are being distracted by the fact that your House is soon to have a party." She then continues. "And, sometimes, you encounter other people in your explorations. People that might not always speak the same language as you. In this case, it might be shav'arvani. Goodness knows how many shav'avarni people populate our lost ruins. I know of four ruined castles on Grayson lands up near Stormwall that are occupied, all, by shav'arvani." Lou says, by way of explanation. "And in this case, these ruins are occupied by those who are not part of the Compact. You must somehow talk your way through getting back out with a scuffle in the language they speak so they know you don't mean them any harm." Lou pauses then grins, "Lest you get kidnapped like I did." She looks over at Reese when she says this and her cheeks turn crimson. Because, that might have happened to Lou -- and it's not just a jest. (@check intellect + linguistics)

Lucien, a bright-eyed pine marten , 2 Redrain Guards arrive, following Helena.

Ysbail checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Caspian checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Miranda has rolled a critical success!
Miranda checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Felicia checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Lethe checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Thorley checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 5 lower.

Aksel checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 9 lower.

Caspian doesn't know any languages other then Arvani. He tries to show off his shav'arvani, but all that comes out of his mouth is pure jibberish. Frustrated, he draws his blade, "Universal language time! Stabbing!"

Caspian wields Thrall's Fury, a diamondplate seax.

Malcolm checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Miranda takes a minute to engage in the puzzle of linguistics. Figuring out what someone is trying to say by getting the gist of what they're saying. She uses an assortment of hand gestures, drawins, and actual language to get her meaning across and moves forward through the gauntlet!

Ysbail says in Northlands shav, "Caspian, that is not how you do that.""

Aksel is not a talker. He's the strong silent type. "Listen, I don't have any clue what you are saying, but I got whiskey? Yeah? No?" Such is the way of things.

Thorley takes a few moments, and then just, in a sudden burst, "Eat barnacles you bunch of bilge drinking, wood worming, mast riding, spider mooshers!" he calls out as he draws out his blade and starts to brace. "Stabbings for all, step right up!"

Ysbail blinks and mutters something in northern Shav, before switching back to her usual Arvani.

Thorley says in Northlands shav, "Totally how you do it!"

Ysbail says in Crownlands shav, "Is not Thorley, I'm totally telling Violet on you." The Blackwood lady grins. "And then what will you do?"

Felicia grimaces,"I should have paid better attention to my brother." she can't help but mutter, linguistics expert, she's not given the way she shakes her head.

Malcolm's not fluent in any other tongue but the commonly known Arvani. However, he's got a whole bunch of expressions - noises - hand gestures - and a smile that can brighten the darkest of shardhavens. He manages to communicate with that and seems to get the point across. Although, it's not certain _what_ the point is.

Lethe doesn't know the language, but she tries to communicate with them with gestures and facial expressions.

Mikani runs and jumps swinging across the pit. On the other side she looks around and sees that she is supposed to translate.

Mikani checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 41 higher.

Until there's a messenger. With a missive. Malcolm understands that courier in House Shepherd livery just fine. He accepts the parchment, tears into it, and he laughs. "Oop. Looks like I'll miss my own House's feast if I keep dragging my heels with you all." He crumples up the letter into his coat's pocket, straightens up. Flicking the brim of his hat with his fingertips, "It's been real good, everyone!"

Serenity arrives, delivering a message to Felicia before departing.

Reese checked intellect + linguistics at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Serenity arrives, delivering a message to Ysbail before departing.

As people talk amongst themselves, Lou carefully goes over the tallies and considers all of the points. She hrms softly, makes sure they are added up, and then looks up with a big grin. "So, after checking things over, it seems that Baron Thorley is in first place, and Princess Reese is in second place. They are a winners of one expedition each with me, should they so choose to accept."

Miranda cheers and applauds the winners!

Lethe is overheard praising Thorley.

Lethe is overheard praising Reese.

Lethe is overheard praising Lou.

Thorley is overheard praising Lou.

Ysbail is overheard praising Reese.

Ysbail is overheard praising Lou.

Ysbail is overheard praising Thorley.

Miranda is overheard praising Lou: Fantastic and fun Gauntlet!!

Felicia is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Thorley is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Ysbail is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Aksel is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Felicia is overheard praising Thorley.

3 Tyde Houseguard leaves, following Lethe.

Lou is overheard praising Thorley: First place winner in the Society of Explorer's Gauntlet.

Lou is overheard praising Reese: Second place winner in the Society of Explorer's Gauntlet.

Ysbail grins, "Congratulations Barron, Princess. Nicely done." She grins at Thorley. "I'm still telling Violet."

"Wait what, I did //what//?" Thorley asks, clearly and utterly confused at the idea that something he came out just to try and finds himself - uh. "Sure. Actually, Violet and I may need your services soon!" he offers. Sure, maybe. Why not? "Thank you your highness."

Caspian is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Reese is overheard praising Thorley: yay, first place in the gauntlet

"Oh gods now he'll be unbearable." Felicia opines with a wink Thorley's way,"I'd send you whiskey but well, I think Vi's already got that covered. Nicely done, oh grand baron." the bow offered is entirely too flowery and perhaps deliberately intended to nettle her friend.

Lou is overheard praising Society of explorers.

Anya, the cool as an ice cube Champion apprentice have been dismissed.

Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette have been dismissed.

"You know I don't drink, send it to Violet!" Thorley sticks out his tongue at Felicia. "And fancy title or no, I can still kick your ass!" he calls back to Felicia.

Miranda smiles and offers, "Well, this was fun Lou. I should get home. I've a reception to attend tonight." She mutters, "All dressed up and no escort." She laughs and waves to all. "Congratulations, Sir Thorley! And Ribbons!" With that, she heads out.

Lou grins over at Thorley. "Well, you could always gift your expedition spot to someone else, if you're not looking to go on one. But, I do often chose interesting places, like remote mountain ranges, Everwinter, out on Eventide Vast, that sort of thing." She winks in his direction. "I have a number of people waiting to go with me on things. Just. Time." That defeats her a bit. Time. "But, I can definitely tell you can handle yourself." She nods to Miranda and the others who are leaving. "Thank you for coming!"