Merek makes his way to the Tournament Grounds, and moves off to the side to avoid any water that seems to be milling about. He smooths out his cloak a little bit.

Acacia arrived to the Tournament Grounds early, arms folded against the top of one of the fences so she could squint over any preparations being made. It didn't stop her from ensuring her flask was ready-at-hand for her to sip off it though and that an amiable wave and roguish grin, instead of a long-distance bow, was granted up towards Jaenelle.

Orathy is loitering near the judges booth, though he looks toward the scene of the tournament ground with a flicker of interest, eyes dancing up toward Jaenelle, then back to it. His name was surely going to be on the participant list.

Niccolo arrives to the tournament grounds with Deva on his arm. The archduke and princess are followed by the man's usual retinue of guards, even though they walk some distance away to allow him a certain mount of privacy. Once they enter the grounds, those dark brown eyes of the duke study the surroundings. Spotting Acacia at one of the fences, he allows a touch of a grin and dips his head in her direction, before he continues leading Deva to a place the two can settle at. He leans in to whisper to the princess.

It was very hard to keep the water liquid, almost impossible due to the freezing temps but where theres a will there is a way! The Hostess of the competition has been perched at the Judge's booth for some time it seems, the bundled up Princess watching as those who might wish to join or enter begin filtering through. Jaenelle returns Acacia's wave with a grin of her own, a slight dip of her head in response before she peeks towards Orathy doing his best to guard her from where he leans. To the man, "so. People are going to be diving into that water over there. But it should be ok." She motions towards the never ending stream of servants going to and from the pool with large pots of heated water.

Katarina arrives amidst the crowds pouring in from the streets, slowly brushing back the hood of her woolen cloak to lend an admiring stare toward the ship erected in the center of the tournament grounds. "Is beauty," she remarks toward another, gesturing toward the vessel with a hint of a smile at her lips. Uncertainty settles in her expression as she looks over the seating, nestling herself into a row of benches that offers the best views while her assigned attendant and translator follows suit, settling in beside the young woman.

Kodo and Podo - The Ferret Twins arrives, following Haati.

Kodo and Podo - The Ferret Twins have been dismissed.

A chance at physical contest? Marquessa Dominique Wyrmguard is here. She looks at the heated water and blinks. Her eyebrows raise with curiosity. She takes long stride to gain where people are gathered.

Deva engages in quiet conversation with Niccolo, a small smile on her lips as they weave their way through the crowds. There's a wiggle of her fingers for Acacia, smile brightening. She continues moving along with the archduke, making herself comfortable where they sit. Her gaze sweeps out toward Jaenelle and then the field of water, her lips pressing together in thought.

Haati decides he is going to see what he can do and finds himself at the Grounds and the competition.

Niccolo has joined the General Seating.

Katarina has joined the General Seating.

Orathy glances up toward where Jaenelle is perched in the booth, looking back toward the ship surrounded by steaming water, for the temperature is bound to cool it, even if poured heated. "Divin? Er, ye got some place to warm 'em after they go in? Reckon I jist be havin me leathers 'n shirt underneath, be mighty cold iffin I be fallin into tha..." announcing to her subtly that he was competing, a flash of a grin sent her way, "Looks cold."

Merek has joined the General Seating.

Ford nearly gasps with delight when he sees the display set up at the tournament grounds.

Deva has joined the General Seating.

Merek does not seem intent on signing up, moving towards the general seating, which he settles in at. He pulls his cloak to him due to the cold, and slides on his hood. He seems curious about the whole thing.

A swing of Acacia's head produced a cheerful smile towards both Niccolo and Deva at their greeting, a loft of her metal flask provided the both of them, before she issued a bit more down her throat to warm her. "... Looks bloody freezing," she agrees towards Orathy, allowing a slow whistle to pass her lips and then the inevitable bolder grin upon her features. "It's going to be absolutely terrible. I hope people are making bets over this thing."

Felix lumbers his big self up to the tournament grounds as well, wearing heavier wool today for the weather. His leather cloa is also worn about him and pulled tight around his shoulders. There's a bit of a bounce to his step as he tries to stay as warm as he can. Niccolo is offered a respectful nod of his head as well as a smile. Apparently Felix is on the participation list as well. He casts his gaze towards the judge's booth and gives a respectful nod of his head to Princess Jaenelle.


Jaenelle stands from the booth, doing her best to be seen and heard by all. With a clearing of her throat, the princess announces, "if you wish to participate, please make yourself known and we will begin momentarily."


Ford calls out to Jaenelle at the judges booth as he makes his way down the steps, "Can I still sign up?"

Leta saunters into the tournament grounds, looking curiously all about the place. She shoots the water a look of slight concern, but her eyes rise to take in the ship with an admiring, amused grin, letting out a whistle. She shakes her head and continues on through, searching for the best place to settle at. In passing, seeing Niccolo, the sellsword briefly and vaguely doffs her hat and bows awkwardly, "Your Grace."

Joslyn rises from a seat to speak to Jaenelle. "I'd like to participate," she says. "Joslyn Manicelli."

Haati finds where it is he needs to signup for whatever the crazy ship extravagance is and makes his name to the participation lists and waits to see what they will be doing.

With one crooked arm still hooked against the top edge of the fence, Acacia turns towards Jaenelle and lifts her freer hand, "Here for your enjoyment, your Highness. Acacia Culler."

"It's not -that- cold," declares the Northern princess, her gaze sliding along the faces of those bundled up. Deva dusts her hands over her leathers while she considers, and then hops back up to her feet. "I will!" she calls out to Jaenelle, brightly. "Wish me luck," she tells Niccolo, brightly pressing a kiss to his cheek before moving to strut on over to the field in her not-so warm leathers.

Deva has left the General Seating.

Haati nods and bows to Jaenelle the judge, "Another for the task your ladyship."

Deva has joined the Field.

Ford has joined the Field.

Orathy has joined the Field.

Acacia has joined the Field.

Haati has joined the Field.

Joslyn has joined the Field.

finds his way into the grounds themselves. Blue eyes scan the area with a lack of immediate recognition before settling onto the ship itself. There's just a scant tilt of the mans head, a hand raising to ruffle through hair and brush it back a few times as he makes his way towards some nearby wall. Clothing a set of dirtied and used leather with a heavy cloak. "Franco Gilden. Looks like a bit of fun." He offers, brows lifting at the call for participants, and moving towards the group on the field.

Niccolo exchanges a few more words with Deva, and whatever she says seems to amuse the archduke. Catching Felix's nod, he returns it along with a touch of a smile and he does the same for Leta's odd bow. He's not surprised when Deva goes off to join the competition. "Good luck," he calls out to her, after her kiss to his cheek. Leaning back some, his hands come to clasp on his lap as he watches just moving to the field.

Felix has joined the Field.

Franco has joined the Field.

Leta considers the ship, considers Janelle, gives the water a good squinty look, then shrugs and raises a hand as she heads closer, calling out, "Leta Broadbent, yer Highness."

Leta has joined the Field.

Dominique has joined the Field.

Orathy comes up alongside Acacia, brow arched in a challenging manner, "Bet cha I can make it up thar befer you?" He winks at her, since his name was on the list anyway. He does turn back to Jaenelle, bowing his head (I know right) in her direction before he takes the field with the rest of the contenders.

Katarina sets her mouth into a pensive line, her gaze roaming over the faces of nobility and commoner alike, absorbing the sights with a relaxed contentment as she nestles deeper into the warmth of her hooded cloak. Briefly, she looks tempted to amass on the fields with the rest of the contenders, but a quiet word from her attendant sees her lingering where she's seated.

"... That's cheating. You're terribly good at things like this," Acacia huffs towards Deva, trekking after the Princess with a few last sips of her flask stolen, before it's stuffed away into the interior of her cloak. "... We should ... form an informal alliance with each other," she easily states just moments later. A quick grin is extended towards Franco upon his arrival, before she wonders, "... Think you'll say the same when you feel that water, love?"

Dominique looks hesitant at the water, raises a hand anyway. She joins the group on the field. "Marqussa Dominique Wyrmguard, accounted for."


Jaenelle turns her grin towards her cousin as she announces its not cold, nodding in approval as Deva joins the field. As more people begin to filter over, heads are counted and names taken. Deva, Ford, Orathy, Acacia, Haati, Joslyn, Felix, Franco, Leta and Dominique are all read off with appropriate titles.


"... You owe me a bottle of whiskey if you lose," Acacia decides towards Orathy, squinting in his general direction, before she confesses with a murmur, "... I'm actually terrible at this kind of thing. ... It can't be worse than that cooking try though, aye?" She quiets down afterward, dark eyes looking up towards Jaenelle from where she stands comfortably with that moderately slouched posture.

Ford slides off his gloves and begins to stuff them into his coat pocket, regarding this large ship that has some how been moved on land and put into the center of this field.

"Terribly good at freezing my ass off?" Deva asks of Acacia, a wicked smile on her lips as she joins the others in wait. "It's not cheating, it's just the only field advantage I ever have from growing up in the mountains of the north. When it comes time for summer, and everyone is dashing about, I'll pass out from the heat and everyone will leap over my prone body in the dirt." There's a pause. "But I'm always amenable to improving relations with others, of course."

Simone arrives, in a combined spritely skipping-jog, so that by the time she arrives at the tourney grounds she is in a most delightful mood. She glances over the field, pressing her gloved hands to her cool cheeks and turns immediately to seek a place among the stands for a seat. She settles in, cloak drawn close, with her hands clasped against her middle for warmth.

Simone has joined the General Seating.

"Aye, wha bout a bottle of scotch? Be seein a fine bottle in the Black... Mountain... trade place-" because he can't remember the names. With a boastful grin, Orathy looks up to the ship, exhaling a breath, "Should be good practice anyhow." Still, Orathy peels away at a name he knows, "'Xuse me Acacia, someone I be needin ta team up with, eh." He's on his tip toes as he looks back toward where the Marqussa just announced herself. He cuts his way through the field of contenders to settle in beside Dominique, "Allo 'gain love. Fancy meetin youse 'ere. Workin together ya supposin?"

Haati begins to do some stretches he usually does before working at the shop, this looked like it was going to strain every little thing and add some bruises to boot.



There is a lot of commotion happening on the ship as it prepares to leave the docks. The sailors are all preparing, some seeing to supplies while others the ship itself. Everyone seems to ignore the tied up and covered figure held by the center mast for safe keeping though, clearly secure in the knowledge the hostage isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

While people stay busy, that gives the dashing hero a chance to sneak aboard the ship! (Thats you, you dashing hero, you!) There are countless possible ways of entry, most notably the ropes hanging from the railing of the ship or the slender plank leading from the dock to deck. Perhaps though, you wish to try your luck blending in with the crew or merchants for less physical approach?

Choose One:

Rope: Strength + Athletics
Plank: Dexterity + Athletics
Blend: Stat + Skill of your choice (Social Option)




Orathy checked strength + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 36, 21 higher than the difficulty.

Ford has rolled a critical success!
Ford checked command + intimidation against difficulty 15, resulting in 43, 28 higher than the difficulty.

Deva checked dexterity + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 20, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Acacia checked charm + streetwise against difficulty 15, resulting in 59, 44 higher than the difficulty.

Haati checked dexterity + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 35, 20 higher than the difficulty.

Joslyn checked dexterity + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 26, 11 higher than the difficulty.

Felix checked charm + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 28, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Dominique checked dexterity + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 47, 32 higher than the difficulty.

Leta has rolled a critical success!
Leta checked dexterity + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 78, 63 higher than the difficulty.

Tied up and covered in canvas that hostage struggles vainly against the ropes that bind them. Head to toe their figure is obscured with ropes around chest, waist, knees and ankles. Stuck.

Franco checked strength + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 29, 14 higher than the difficulty.

There's one thing about this Culler is that he can climb! Orathy sets off to a jog once it looks like all clear and the participation lists are announced. The jog leads into a flat out run that will eventually see him leaping for one of the ropes hanging off the railing on the side of the ship. It's actually not half bad, as he catches the rope between his hands and starts hauling himself up the side of the ship - clearly he's done this before. Maybe.

Deva is off to a slow start. She starts to approach and board the plank, and then suddenly realizes how completely impractical her heeled boots are after a few steps. So she backtracks, kicks them off, and resumes crossing barefoot along the slim width of wood. She's definitely behind the back, but smiling all the same, with her arms spread out to the sides to help maintain her balance.

Haati is quick, deciding in a moments notice that the planks look the quickest way to get across, seems several others thought so as well. he isn't the first to get there, but he isn't last and is across them with little trouble it appears.

Blending? After sizing up the ship for a period of time and stalking back and forth, Acacia huffs out an amused breath and then unbuttons her cloak. She folds it up neatly, draping it across one of the fences and then idly swaggers towards the functional crew. "Why is it always the same supplies," she complains, already winking and adding conversation to one of the women there. There's a familiar manner in the way Acacia snuck into the general line of moving actor bodies, hauling up one of the supply bags and tossing it over her shoulder to sidle on into the ship. It isn't the most impressive method, surely, but she takes to it with ease. She can scarcely hide her grin though when she eyes Orathy flipping his way up the wooden sides.

Ah. Right up Ford's wheelhouse. He immediately heads right up the gangway and starts barking at the crew without stopping, "You there! Why aren't you up in the rigging, I wanted to be out of pour before noon! If the main isn't catching fucking wind in the next four minutes I'll have you keelhauled until we're out of the reefs!"

Joslyn moves straight away through the plant, hiking up her skirts and managing to maintain her balance quite well, even if she's not quite as rapid as theothers. She murmers to herself, taking a deep breath and digging in her heels to try and get herself moving along a little faster.

At the sound of immediate bounding and leaping Franco finds himself back a few steps, quite obviously eating the snow kicked up from others rapid ascent. Lips curve into an easy grin, and he begins shrugging off his heavy cloak as the man settles into a lazy jog towards the ship. As one Culler bounds atop a rope, Franco himself jumps for another nearby, latching at it and trying to find legs against the frozen hull to begin climbing.

"Not bloody goin' in there." says Leta with a look towards the water. Still, she starts to remove some of her clothers, carefully placing hat and cloak aside. Then she struts over to the ship, eyes the sailors milling about, eyes the ropes with a crooked nose, then eyes the planks. This is followed by her best cat impression as she struts easily and swiftly up the plank. It's as if she was just out for a run down Merchant's Road or a nice open field, arms just barely out to the sides to help maintain her balance.

Dominique is a climber by nature and is able to shimmy and clambor up the side. A Shambor? She is not far behind two others, Leta and Ford.

Valencia has joined the General Seating.

Orathy sidelong glances at Franco who is also choosing to go the route of climbing, which sparks a challenge in Orathy's eye but also he hollars over to Franco, "Iffin we be needin ta hold alliances, yer with me, aye?!" A good natured grin follows suit, because Orathy Culler is doing something he likes, climbing where he's not welcomed. He heaves himself up hand over hand, walking up the side of the ship, managing it well. At the top of the railing, he rolls himself over, to get aboard.

Joslyn has left the Field.

Merek inclines with respect to Niccolo, however a messenger arrives for him, and he doesn't interrupt those at the seats, instead standing up, and making his way onwards.

Merek has left the General Seating.

Felix takes, perhaps surprisingly, a far subtler approach than his stature might suggest. He starts walking with a bit of a jaunt and pulls his wool cap down slightly over one eye. The cloak is pulled about him as he approaches the ship and starts by talking to the guard. "Evenin'. Got a passenger what needs droppin' off. Who handles that?" The large man flashes a casual sign some observers might notice to be a common gesture among smugglers in the Mourning Isles. The guard nods to Felix, recognizing the sign apparently. Tension fades a bit and he gestures up the gangplank after telling the 'smuggler' who he might do business with.

At the other climbers words, Franco's head turns aside, a grin tugged over the other mans lips as he heaves himself up, putting upper body into the work as much as legs. "Oh, Definitely." he responds with a holler, "But they're all cats over there. I think we may need an advantage." He calls, glancing to the plank itself, grin turning a little more devious as he eyes the wooden plank, dragging himself up, and rolling over the rail a bit after Orathy.



You've managed to make it onto the ship, everyone is very proud of you, especially the hostage who is bored. It might have been difficult getting to this point, but now there is no turning back, now you are among the enemy. One of the sailors stops you, demanding to know what you're doing and why you are just standing there. There is work to be done, don't you know! This ship isn't going to sail itself!

You are far enough away from the other crew members that the interaction goes unnoticed. You could incapacitate him before anyone else notices? Should you try to talk your way out if it instead? How do you handle this?

Choose One:

Rush the Sailor: Strength + (Brawl, Small wpn, Medium wpn, Huge wpn)
Sweet talk the Sailor: Charm + Manipulation
Better way, prove it: Stat + Skill of choice



Orathy checked strength + medium wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 53, 38 higher than the difficulty.

Felix checked charm + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 30, 15 higher than the difficulty.

Acacia checked strength + small wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 67, 52 higher than the difficulty.

Leta checked strength + huge wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 58, 43 higher than the difficulty.

Franco checked strength + medium wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 28, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Abbas arrives, following Julea.

Deva checked strength + huge wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 52, 37 higher than the difficulty.

Ford checked command + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 25, 10 higher than the difficulty.

Haati checked charm + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 33, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Dominique checked strength + medium wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 37, 22 higher than the difficulty.

Upon rolling up onto the deck, after navigating his climb, Orathy comes face to face with a sailor who begins to turn his way, as if to question his presence and in fact, as the sailor is mid-talking, there's no hesitation in this man. He knows what he has to do and he pulls the axe free, swinging the non deadly but still blunt end of it directly across the guy's face. Actors they may be, but Orathy still takes him down like he means business, sending the sailor sprawling unconscious. He looks over his shoulder toward where Franco is, before he hunkers down himself, preparing to move onward... axe out and ready if he has to haft-whip another sailor into submission.

Haati in the good nature of entertaining or knowing a sailor loves a good sea song, Haati begins to start up a rather lewd one about visiting ports at each call....

"Excuse me?" Ford narrows his eyes at the sailor and leans forward, "You couldn't -possibly- be inferring that you don't know the captain when he's standing in front of you, are you?" Standing straight again, "No, that couldn't possibly be the case. Now quit wasting my time, and yours and get to your damn post, we're already behind schedule."

Acacia chose the safer route for managing her way inside, but this is an event and not the real deal. Few have seen Acacia actually fight before outside of the Boroughs, but she seems to have little issue when she enforces a bit of agility to sprint towards the poor actor who was paired up with her. "'ey Love. Need to get through here," she murmurs with just a rakish slash of a grin, scarlet curls tousled about her head when she eased aside to feint inwards towards his lower abdomen. Rather than try to sincerely cut the man, she instead seeks to use her swifter leverage to toss the bloke overboard. Someone has to go into that water.

Improvise. Deva doesn't see a weapon around, nor does she have a spear with her, but she does find an empty chair on the deck of the ship. With an apparent preference for wielding large objects, she seizes it by the rungs and holds it high enough to swing hard and knock the guy out or at least send him skittering off. "Sorry!" She doesn't sound like it.

Franco is still breathing heavy, chest raising and falling in deep, frigid gulps as he raises himself to his feet on the deck, just in time for an actor to make his way over and start accosting him. There's an uplift of his dark blonde brows, "You're right. I need to get us sailing into the market post haste." He agrees with a blunted nod of his head, even as his other hand snags ahold of nearby oar. And then he spins with his full body, striking the man with it once, listening to the nasty crack. And bringing it about on him again, to send the actor onto the ground and leaving Franco breathing heavier. "You know, maybe somewhere with more medical knoweldge is a better destination." He huffs, looking ahead towards Orathy, and keeping a hold on his appropriated oar as Franco moves on a few steps back.

Dominique has a fancy faire of dueling with a sword, a lot of fancy foot work and sword play. A few 'have at thees' and 'agardes!' She is straight forward and to the point. A woman not to be triffled with.

Felix sees the sailor coming and just acts natural, offering a bit of a gruff grunts towards the sailor. "Passenger what needs droppin' off," he answers the sailor. "I'm supposed to talk to Yancy about it. I got business, lad. In and out, no trouble." He keeps his head down and makes no eye contact, looking very much like someone who wants to see as few faces as possible, though he does study in his peripherals. The sailor looks wary and gives him a long, hard look before finally jerking his head to allow him passage. "Alright," Felix grunts in parting.

The hostage tries to move still, but to no avail. The bonds are too tight, too well tied. Muffled noises emit from the bundled prisoner too, calls for help perhaps.

Orathy spots what Franco has done to meet his own sailor, which earns a laugh from Orathy, a bawdy deep chested hearty one, certainly of approval. He steps over toward the heavily breathing Franco and claps him on the shoulder, "Name's Orathy. Let's get this done aye?" He nods to the hostage bound on the center mass, competing with the others who are taking social routes to navigating the course. Brains vs brawns tonight!

Leta hops off the plank and looks about. She skulks, not too well, and is spotted by a sailor. The sellsword eyes him up and down and manages a half-hearted smile and a wink, but her broad shoulders slump. "Sorry." she apologizes, as she leans a hand on a nearby box, "If you'd been a sailor lass instead..." she sighs, hoists up the wooden box and all of a sudden charges the sailor with it, holding it aloft above her head and slamming it onto the poor sod's chest to toss him overboard and into the hopefully not freezing waters.



That went well! Look at you, nothing can stop you now. You've made it onto the ship, you've distracted the sailor, and now all that is left is collecting the hostage and departing. Piece of cake, right? Right! As you walk towards the covered figure of the hostage, reach down gently as to not frighten them, you delicately remove the covering over their face to reveal your hostage is none other than Prince Cicero Velenosa.

Huh.

Now you must figure out a way to get the Prince off the ship. The only problem is it's /his/ ship, and he isn't going anywhere without it. As it turns out the sailors were stealing one of the Prince's merchant vessels and taking him along for the ride as a bargaining chip. Unable to cut his loses, the Prince is stubbornly refusing to leave. It is your job to make sure the Prince is safely taken from the ship by any means necessary.

Convince him, its for his best interest.

Choose One:

Pick him up: Strength + Brawl
Come to an agreement: Command + Intimidation
Order him at once: Command + Leadership
Any means necessary: Charm + Skill of Choice



The Thraxian Reaver Prince widens his eyes at the sight before him when he enters. The man is dressed in blue-ebon silk with a touch of leather boots. Abbas does not don his typical armor. The six Thraxian guards that accompany him and Julea are equally flabbergasted as they arrive and the man cants his head and just /stares/. Abbas is carrying the latest member of Thraxian fealty. He grins and sets her down and then has one of his men hand him the bottle of rum, "This.. is.." He just does not have the words. The Salted Thraxian Warlord is just staring at the event with wonder.

Ford checked command + intimidation against difficulty 15, resulting in 40, 25 higher than the difficulty.

Orathy checked command + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 30, 15 higher than the difficulty.

Deva checked command + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 57, 42 higher than the difficulty.

Acacia checked charm + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 44, 29 higher than the difficulty.

Felix checked strength + brawl against difficulty 15, resulting in 37, 22 higher than the difficulty.

Leta checked charm + war against difficulty 15, resulting in 32, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Franco checked strength + brawl against difficulty 15, resulting in 29, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Haati checked strength + brawl against difficulty 15, resulting in 17, 2 higher than the difficulty.

That split second of pause had Acacia leaning forward, right hand curled into a terse fist at her side, before she exhaled tersely. "... Can't really just punch a Prince for all fun and games, can you." Her tongue dragged along her lower lip, before she leaned forward, expressing a whisper towards the hostage or three with a tight smile extended. Given that her 'Princess', of more masculine natures, was merely a dummy though, she ended up just hauling it by the hand and allowing it to be dragged behind her. Surely, she convinced it.

    The Thraxian pair arrive, belatedly, having missed the start of the tournament. And once she is set down, Julea unloops one of her arms from about Abbas to indicate the people competing, pointing out one of them with a gloved finger and grinnng. With her feet once more on land, she comes to a stand along side of the Thraxian Prince and clasping one of his hands, she tugs him along, and towards one of the benches. "Come, let's watch the show, it should be pretty funny." She encourages.

Julea has joined the General Seating.

Dominique checked charm + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 15, 0 higher than the difficulty.

Cicero blinks as the cover is pulled from his head to show him gagged with a silk scarf over his mouth. Once removed he speaks loudly, "These ruffians are trying to steal my ship! my cargo! you must run them off. we've need of these goods for the coming days!"

Dominique groans. "Men and their boats!" She growls and she tries to convince him, but she isn't terribly good at it. "It would have been easier to bet you for it."

Finally, Deva resorts to tactics with her words instead of her feet. Or hitting people with chairs. "We can just get you a nicer ship later," she sighs at first, pointing a finger out toward the stands in general. Then she takes on a more direct, commanding tone of voice as she stares at Cicero with both hands planted firmly on her hips. "Let's get the fuck out of here. We'll be back and make them all pay. For now, let's not leave your pretty face to get thrown overboard. I think your family would be very irritated otherwise." She slides a look to Acacia, grinning mischievously. "You can -definitely- punch a Prince for fun and games," she insists with a merry laugh.

Haati seeming to be comical and knows the situation is far to out of his idea of real. Well he bops the dummy on the head and hauls it over his shoulder and heads out down the ship. Sure its a dummy, but it can still feel right. He looks to thee water and almost considers dumping the dummy into the cool waters.... but he shrugs and decides to carry it off the rest of the way.

"Bad news your highness. You've lost your ship." Ford states plainly, "I would say it was taken by a pair of pirates, but in trut-- well, in truth, it was.. but I've in turn taken it from them. So your ship, which then became theres, is now mine. So... if you could get the fuck off my ship, I'd appreciate it immensely. Thank you, bye bye now. Bye. Goodbye, have a nice swim."

Abbas has joined the General Seating.

"You know, it's not every day I get to actually say I'm doing this for your own good. Today's just a lucky one." Franco declares to his dummy, though he glances up to the actually tied hostage as the big man swings one arm, elbowing the dummy, before hefting it up over a shoulder and looking back towards the gangplanks that were so adeptly scurried across once already. "Race?" He calls aside to Orathy. "I'll trip anyone but you I see, you do likewise?"

Orathy can pick up nobility by their boot strings, he's pretty certain. However, the task set before him as he realizes this was a ship in which the Prince did not wish to leave, takes a bit more than physical prowess to not get fought against while doing so. He debates the merits of picking up the 'dummy' hostage like a sack but instead, reverts to a sense of command, showing a leadership that is rare for him to express. "Aye, Highness, tis yer ship but we be not havin a crew ta take 'er back!" He looks toward the 'acting sailors' peering toward the 'fake' hostage or however it's to work, perhaps by yelling at the hostage enough that it echos for the real one, "Have sense! Reckon I be ordered ta take youse alive 'n can make a pact ta take yer ship back when we all be werkin together! Aye!" He looks to Franco, then the others around him, crying out, "OY!! YOU all LISTEN! Reckon we can take 'em!!" Because with everyone working together, they could outnumber the actors, so he points with his axe, "WHO Be with ME Aye!?" Because if this were real, he might just try that. He looks to Franco, looking back to the 'real' prince...

"Sorry!" Leta calls out over the railing to the sailor she just knocked over, then twists about and strolls over to the Prince, holding up her hands in confusion at the refusal to leave. Then, a moment later, she flashes a bright sunny grin. "Right! See now, got a plan, don't I?" and so she does, with wild, elaborate gestures, outlining a most cunning plot to retake the ship once the Prince is out of it. There's a distraction, a small fire set somewhere, a team of dashing mercenary commandos, and a grand finale involving a stampede. She's not very clear on how she sneaks the cattle onto the ship, and admits some other distraction might be needed, but it'll work. "So we got to get you outta here - see, then when you show up wanting to climb aboard, right? That's the -first- distraction we need. Tactical retreat, aye?"

After displaying knowledge of underworld activity and convincing a sailor he was here to see someone named Yancy, Felix looks fairly rested when he comes to the place where the Dummy Cicero is being held hostage. Felix looks over towards real Cicero and looks like he might laugh as he just reaches down and hoists the heavy dummy up in his arms. "Order are orders, Highness. We're getting off this ship quietly." And with that, Felix covers the dummy's 'mouth' and drags the dummy off underneath the large expanse of his cloak. He's got no time for obstinate princes. He's got a job to do.

As no one stands with Orathy, he shakes his head, "Fuck it then Highness, yer coming with me..." and he takes one of the dummies to plod along with Franco, nodding to him, "Race it is!"



Well. You both came up with terms that were satisfactory. You might have had to carry him out, seduce him, or promise to buy him candy when this was all over, but there he goes. The sailors are all quite aware their booty is missing by this point. Did Cicero just give them all the finger and talk about their mother? Great. Your window is pretty small to escape and the choices are not as plentiful as they were when you first arrived. Your only chance to survive this is to get to the highest point and...jump. You begin to climb the mast, higher and higher until you and your "Prince" have made it to the crow's nest.

Is that fire? The sailors know that without Cicero their plan is ruined. They can't steal his ship now, so they do the next best thing, they light the damn thing on fire. The crew begins to depart in a hurry, leaving the dashing hero and the prize to burn. There really is only one way now, you have to jump. Make it good.

Do Both:

Climb: Stamina + Athletics
Jump: Dexterity + Performance





Ford checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 18, 3 higher than the difficulty.

Deva checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 23, 8 higher than the difficulty.

Orathy checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 52, 37 higher than the difficulty.

Deva checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 13, 2 lower than the difficulty.

Felix checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 18, 3 higher than the difficulty.

Dominique checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 36, 21 higher than the difficulty.

Ford checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 20, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Acacia checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 30, 15 higher than the difficulty.

Acacia checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 15, 0 higher than the difficulty.

Dominique checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 12, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Felix checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 7, 8 lower than the difficulty.

Haati checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 32, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Leta checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 69, 54 higher than the difficulty.

Haati checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 24, 9 higher than the difficulty.

Franco checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 41, 26 higher than the difficulty.

Franco checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 43, 28 higher than the difficulty.

The real Cicero is freed from his bonds by the sailors and slinks off the ship for later dramatization!

Orathy makes a split decision when the opportunities for escape prove limited. Climb Culler Climb! It's the only sensible thing that he can do and without losing pace, he bundles the dummy under his arm and one hand climbs the ladder rigging that'll lead up to the crows nest. He's mastering it pretty hard, considering the difficulty of it. At this point, he leaves Franco to his own devices, since the other man seems to want to jump rather than climb and... the last time Orathy jumped, he ended up with a busted arm. So, upward and onwards!

Dominique completely forgets there is suppose to be some artistry to this jump and falls, ending up diving head first half way down.

Well. If we must. Ford tosses the dummy down into the water and then for the sake of the crowd, he takes off his long coat, balls it up and hurls it into the stands. Then with all the moderate grace of someone practically born in water, the Marquis swan dives off the crows nest and dives into the arctic waters surrounding the ship. When he pops up pushing his hair back from his face he lets out a gasp. "FUCK!" Now comes the scramble to get out of that water...

Haati seems to be in his element for this last bit of the show. He climbs relatively well enough to make it tot he top and then when there he puts on a grand show. "To save you we must jump... What will happen, will they make it. Is there sharks in the cold waters below. I can always feed the prince to them." And with a laugh and a jump that is rather well perfomed he leaps off.

Orathy checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 17, 2 higher than the difficulty.

Getting in. Stabbing people. Grabbing a dummy. Easy. Climbing something and diving into the water? Acacia had laughed towards Deva at her quip, even when she snagged ahold of one of the ropes and began that upwards scale with the dummy haphazardly in tow with forgotten limbs akimbo. A squint is provided towards Orathy as he races upwards far faster than her. "... But I still want my whiskey," she complains, cresting the top of that Crow's nest and staring down into the water from that high above the stands. "... Bloody Blessed fucking be." There's no grace. No skill. It's just a solid plummet into the frigid waters and the upwards splash to go with it. She manages somehow to surface just behind the dummy Prince - which serves as an excellent flotation device - sputtering and laughing. Wiping her hand over her face, she chokes out with amusement, "... Where's Deva?"

The climbing, Deva can handle. Mostly. She seems to be a little off. Maybe it's the lack of shoes. Or the skirt. Definitely the skirt. She clutches her poor stuffed 'prince' and surveys the water below with an uncomfortable stare. The fire and height doesn't seem to bother her-- it's the vast expanse of briskly cold water waiting for them below. With her arms wrapped tight around it, she takes the plunge and falls into the water with very little grace. Really, the landing and splash look more painful than anything. It's a while, perhaps too long, before that flash of red hair appears above the surface. "Apparently I can't bloody swim!" she gurgles, briefly disappearing back under the water again. It's a struggle to paddle back up so she can breathe, and too-long a trek to the edge where she can hopefully pull herself out with what little pride she has left.

Orathy's dummy goes first, because, nobility first and all! He throws it out as far as he can. Then, it's his turn. At least he'll be leaping over the flames, which he does. It's not about performance in this jump, it's about survival and while he does manage not to hit anything on the way down, to make a great SPLOOSH at the bottom, it looks like he barely made his body straight enough to cut through the water. A big wave of it swallows up him before he surfaces, grabbing onto his 'dummy' prince and kicking toward shore.

hefts his hostage up, looking to the lack of gangplank, then up to the mast. That grin that's been lingering spreads wider as blue eyes gaze up, and up. "I'm not guaranteeing you won't drown, Your highness." He claims to the dummy rather openly, before locking him onto a shoulder, and clambering up the mast itself with a bit of a practiced movement, though it's slowed and awkward, and he seems to keep spiraling about it towards the left with the dummy on that shoulder. Still, once he reaches the top, and looks out there's a slight cant of his head, looking towards Oarthy. "I think teamwork means you're planning to brace my fall, right?" He calls out loudly, before lifting, and throwing the dummy overheard, and diving after in one motion. He grabs a dummy, in the water after a loud sploosh that had some semblance of structure, whether his or not is unknown, and kicks towards the shore already shivering on the way.

The disappearance of Deva, as observed by Acacia has Niccolo abandoning his quiet conversation, so that he can rise. He stands and his eyes narrow and those narrowed eyes scan the field with well, a narrowed expression. His eyes settle on Acacia and then Franco and he's about to call out something when Deva resurfaces. His shoulders relax and he offers the Redrain princess a wry hint of a smile, before he finds himself sitting back down.

Jump? Fine. "Your Highness! Nothing to it, just a little hop. Water's fine!" and then Leta disrobes. Not fully, but she does hastily undo the buckles on her thick padded gambeson. Maybe it's part of the performance, maybe she just doesn't want to wear it when it's waterlogged. So she's down to the long white linen shirt worn underneath. The sellsword tosses the gambeson overboard with a flourish, hoping it floats, then steps onto the railing and combs back her hair "Nothing to it!" she proclaims, and does a handstand on the railing for absolutely no reason. And from there, she dives, and what a pretty dive it is. It involves tumbling about through the air and whatnot, and a cute little splash once she hits the water.

Leta checked dexterity + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 20, 5 higher than the difficulty.

It's not a little splash. It's a bit bigger than that, Leta's splash.

Dominique forgot to disrobe and forgot her dummy. She splashes around, and pulls herself out with a gasp. "Oh.. COLD!" SHe chitters in her clothing. Sopping wet, head to toe, dripping and leaving a river in her wake.



You've survived...Maybe! Please hold while the crew makes sure no one died (And points are calculated)



Leta checked stamina + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 34, 19 higher than the difficulty.

Ford manages to make it out of the water, holding the stupid straw filled dummy, he chucks it to the ground, and begins taking off his boots, pouring the water out of them on to the ground. Between his teeth chattering, he's swearing constantly.

Still skulking with 'Prince Cicero' hushed under his cloak, he stops short and looks around for a method of egress. Grabbing the ladder leading up, he grumbles to himself about heights. This being the only way, he's just got to suck it up and climb. He makes it up to the highest point of the obstacle course with Dummy Cicero hoisted over one shoulder and looks down. It's certainly not something he's accustom to, being up this high. Smoke? Felix looks back down where the fire is being started and swallows hard. A string of obscenities is uttered through clenched teeth as he, with Cicero Dummy, leap down. And down.

And poor Felix bellyflops right into the water with one of the more painful-looking splashes likely to be witnessed. That's a lot of person to drop into water from that high, after all.

Simone rises from the stands, briefly, if only to pick up a bundle of coat and throw it toward the chattering Kennex -- "Marquis!"

Haati i able to get out of the water, course it was cold, course he was shivering, but it seems blankets are being handed out and everyone is being checked on so they don't freeze to death. So he will survive it and it was quite a bit of fun too.

Ford catches his coat in stride, but eagerly takes up an offered blanket to dry himself a bit before the coat goes back on. In the end, he ends up draping the coat over his shoulders with the blanket underneath.

The sopping dummy is tossed and abandoned as soon as Acacia climbs her sodding way out of the frigid water, some of the exhilaration from the deed duly lost when the merciless winter air comes into play. A lazy hand is offered towards Deva, which only provokes another bit of laughter to be shunted out from her. "... I want a stash of your finest whiskey, your Highness, I suddenly decided," she chitters. The shuffle of her soggy leather boots cuts a path through the powdered layer of snow, one hand manipulated through her dark scarlet locks to flip them back away from her grinning features. "... I'm gonna go get my bloody cloak, before I freeze." She whistles with some admiration towards Leta, though it takes a bit for her to muster the sound, with a hand also moved to try to smack both Orathy and then Franco on the back with a breathy, "Good bloody show."

Orathy har's at Franco's joke, shaking his head as he quickly moves out of the way in the water of all the falling dummies! Swimming seems to be a steady thing, with the Sack O' Prince under his arm.



Once more Jaenelle stands from the booth, speaking softly to her assistant as people jump and then freeze even if the water is still replaced by warm.

"After careful consideration on how the saving of my dear cousin by marriage was handled, the judges have come to a decision. Winning by a large margin is Leta Broadbent! Thank you so much for all of you who came to participate, I am very honored to have been able to host.

Mistress Leta, for being the bravest among all you have won an evening with Prince Cicero, and 300 writs to assist you in whatever you may desire."



Dominique teeth chitter miserably. She even stifles a sneeze, barely. "Achoo!" She will come down with a cold for sure. She leaves before her clothing freezes to her body. TO THE GROTTO.

Crawling out of the water, Orathy lets the dummy Prince sploosh on the ground proper. In leathers, wet, he immediately feels the cold run to his bones. He shudders and clenches his jaw. There's a nod to Acacia, "Youse sa well...Fuck it be cold..." There is no way to warm up in wet leathers. None. He kicks the dummy on the make-shift shoreline, looking over toward the announcement of who wins. He nods to Leta, but his teeth are chattering so hard he's... right along with Dominique, "Aye, I second tha!"

Dominique has left the Field.

Valencia returns Simon's incline of head warmly, dark eyes dancing. The little princess sighs happily and then stands up to cheer, all sense of decorum set aside when Leta is announced the winner. The little raven-haired princess smiles broadly, calling out, "Bravo! Well done! Well done, everyone!"

"Thank you," Deva tells Acacia with a shudder, teeth chattering quickly as she accepts the offered hand to help pull her soaked self out of the water. She sprawls there on the ground for a moment, without an ounce of elegance in her bones. "All the bloody whiskey," she replies briskly, tightly wrapping her arms around herself. "I should find my shoes..." she realizes, grimacing as she looks around. "Okay, I take back what I said earlier. The cold is pretty miserable when you're wet," she acknowledges, hands lifting in an effort to pile those damp red locks on top of her head so they don't stick and freeze to her neck.

Ford trods his way up the steps of the tournament, at this point it didn't matter who won. It wasn't worth it.

Simone has left the General Seating.

Orathy has left the Field.

Once in the water, Leta grabs the dummy and starts swimming to shore. Then she stops, swims off to the side, grabs her gambeson floating by, and -then- swims out towards the shore. Why, it's practically an improvised flotation device. She shivers once she's out of the water, linens dripping, and eyes her boots with concern, but takes a blanket with a smile, "Thank you!" while trying to see how badly soaked her padded armor is.

Leta looks up as her name's called out, and goes back to combing her hair, this time wet. "I won? Of course I did!" and she takes a bow. Since she's not actually trying to bow properly, just make a show of it, it actually looks pretty good, "Thank you, your Highness! And the honorable judges!" There's a flourish, then she holds her arms up, waves the crowd.

Cicero appears once again at the 'shore' to insinuate himself in the place of Leta's fake dummy. "Mistress Leta Broadbent, at least I know the name of my champion! " he calls out loudly and reaches behind himself to pull out a bundle of wrapped silk that he holds out to the mercenary. "I pray that you take this favor as a token of my gratitude."

Ford gives Abbas and Julea a shivering salute as he passes them on his way out, "Apparently I'm not a very good play-acting pirate."

Deva is overheard praising Leta for: Way to kick some ass!

Franco's movement to the shore ends with a few climbing steps, pulling himself out first, then the dummy. It's raised upright once ashore, and he makes an effect of brushing it off at the shoulders a few times. Atleast until Jaenelle's announcement of the winner. At which point the shivering man gives it a negligent shove over, and onto it's back. "Please tell me we're letting the ship burn until I can feel my fingers again?" He asks, his own low basso chattering quietly as he moves to snag his 'dry' cloak, and it's used as a towel, for the time being, the man glancing towards Deva and Acacia, giving Orathy a nod, before moving towards the collected redheads. "I think I heard something of whiskey?" He asks, chattering stilling some as the cloak gets wound tighter.

The Greenmarch hops up to her feet, tugs her cloak off, and moves forward to blatantly drape it over Ford's shoulders. "Pirate killer," she offers.