Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise arrives, following Niklas.

2 Grayson House Guards, Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, Clark, an exasperated guard arrive, following Sabella.

3 Thrax Guards, 2 Thrax Elite Guards, Lady Teonia Redreef, Aryka Wyrmfang, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog arrive, following Sorrel.

The Badger Boarding House is usually crowded and loud, but tonight it is especially so as Princess Sabella weaves among tables that have been set with lots of finger foods, desserts, and of course free alcohol! That last one is probably what has drawn a lot of people in. She watches the crowd assemble and then claps her hands to get people's attention, "We'll wait a few more moments for people who straggle in, but if you're here for the scavenger hunt do let me know!"

Free alcohol? Is that why Iliana has come out and about? Honestly this is probably not the case but a little bit of booze never hurt anything. She snags a glass off of a table on her way by and then raises it from yonder at Sabella. "Are you planning to send out search parties in case any of the scavenger hunters don't make it back in a reasonable amount of time? Or, you know. Ever?"

Niklas comes downstairs, looking around like someone who one hundred percent had no idea this place was here. "Huh. The Grayson ward has a bar. Who knew?" He heads over to the bar while waiting for everything to start. Looking over the menu he mutters, "Oh, well, this is why everyone goes to the Spirits."

"I think I was here once," Sorrel remarks to Niklas with a laugh as he passes her, shaking her head slightly. "I blame Tikva. Or perhaps Sabella. Otherwise I wouldn't know this was here either."

Merek makes his way into the place, looking like he is here to watch more than anything, while he looks about, dark attire on.

a

1 Grayson House Guards have been dismissed.

a small twilit kingsnake have been dismissed.

Thistleton, an elderly and devoted manservant have been dismissed.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 2 Ashford Archer, 1 Ashford Scout arrive, following Lisebet.

Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting have been dismissed.

Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting have been dismissed.

2 Grayson House Guards have been dismissed.

Clark, an exasperated guard have been dismissed.

"This is why we're hosting it here," Sabella tells Niklas with a laugh, grinning at Sorrel, Merek, and Iliana, "We're going to put this place on the map! Which, by the way, a map is one of the prizes that can be won tonight!" She then starts putting things on a table, "Hopefully no one is too exhausted from running around the city to come back here and celebrate!"

Lisebet slips in quietly, curious to see what is going on. She glances around, drifting over to Sabella and everyone else. "Hello. I thought I'd come see what this was all about. Is it okay if I try?"

"Hopefully," Iliana agrees. She doesn't approach the table, only watches for a few moments as things begin to be laid out, but it isn't long before her attention strays, drifting to assess the competition. She has polite nods for most people, as they're recognized, but another little lift of her glass for Lisebet before she finally has a sip.

Niklas points at Lisebet. "I insist!" He grabs his drink and pushes himself to his feet. "I'm off to proctor a stop. See everyone at, uh, a place. That I can't name."

Once it seems like the crowd has settled, Sabella steps up once again, using Niklas' shoulder to get up on a chair so her voice can carry, "All right, there are a few rules to go over! In just a moment I will give you the first clue. This will send you to a certain place where you'll need to find the answer to a trivia question and a clue that will lead you to the NEXT place will be there and so on and so forth until you reach the end. Do make sure you have a quill and some parchment ready! The first person back here with all the correct answers wins and we have prizes for first place through third so make sure you're going quickly! But, not rudely. Please do interact with anyone you might meet along the way," she gestures to Niklas to hurry on out. Like maybe a couple of these might be staged. "Is everyone ready?"

Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise leaves, following Niklas.

"I'm ready!" Sorrel calls with cheer to Sabella, looking amused. "Should be good fun, and perhaps I'll learn something in the process."

Lisebet offers a curtsey if a bit belated to the royalty present. Niklas gets a grin as he heads off. That done, Lisebet turns her attention to Sabella, curiously. "I am as ready as I will ever be. Are there rules against us working together if we should choose to do so?" A slight grin, though she may be just expecting to be that terrible at it.

"There's only three prizes, so if you'd like to work out a time-share for who gets it when that's up to you!" Sabella laughs, taking a bit of parchment out of her skirt, "All right, here is your first clue...good luck everyone!"

Sabella drops SCAVENGER HUNT CLUE 1.

"Well, here we go," Sorrel says with a laugh as she reads the first clue. "I suppose clue 2 will be at the City Center!"

With the presentation of the first clue, Iliana knocks back the rest of her drink and leaves it almost inconspicuously on the table very near where she found it. She angles over for a read, brow twisting ever so very slightly. "Is that a trick question?" And then she's off.

Merek makes his way about, from the place, with a wave and a nod also.

Lisebet inclines her head, smiling. "Thank you, Princess Sabella," she says easily enough. "And now we get to head out towards - right." She laughs as the others are on the same page, and starts out.

Gunner, the Leary Military Adjutant, Emilie, a plump lady's assistant leave, following Iliana.

3 Thrax Guards, 2 Thrax Elite Guards, Lady Teonia Redreef, Aryka Wyrmfang, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog leave, following Sorrel.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 2 Ashford Archer, 1 Ashford Scout leave, following Lisebet.

Merek arrives back with a wave and a smile. "I am going to... Get a drink, and watch what people come up with. Looks fun, but I've won so much stuff recently, best to give those three the fun," he says.

When all the competitors run out, Sabella has herself a seat at the bar and gets herself a drink. She smiles at Merek as he comes back instantly, "And here I thought you were just very, very fast. Do pull up a seat, Sir Merek! I have my bets on Princess Sorrel finishing first."

"Oh, I'll put bets on her too," Merek says, while he takes a moment to settle in and take a drink. He seems like he will be mostly to himself!

3 Thrax Guards, 2 Thrax Elite Guards, Lady Teonia Redreef, Aryka Wyrmfang, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog arrive, following Sorrel.

Sorrel returns triumphantly, with a list! And she's laughing all the way as she finds out who got into a brawl here at the Badger Boardinghouse Tavern. "I've been everywhere!" she declares brightly.

Sabella is sitting at the bar with Merek, chatting a little bit with those around as she waits for people to return. When she sees Sorrel she brightens, "Princess Sorrel! I had placed my bet that you'd be back first! Did you find everything you were looking for?"

Sabella gets SCAVENGER HUNT CLUE 1.

"Everything! Including Prince Niklas, who I was not looking for, but who I managed to find anyway," Sorrel replies with a merry laugh as she holds out a list of handwritten answers in her wild scrawl. Perhaps Sabella will be able to read it.

Gunner, the Leary Military Adjutant, Emilie, a plump lady's assistant arrive, following Iliana.

Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise arrives, following Niklas.

Sabella eagerly reaches out to take the list, giving it a look over before passing it to Elizabetta to do a better job, "I might have stationed him there knowing that you'd have to go by to try to slow you all down," she says with a grin, "What did you think? It's the first time I've done anything interactive like this."

Iliana finally makes her way into the boarding house. Finally. She stops just inside, not at /all/ to catch her breath, no, no. It is to look around. Maybe to look for Sorrel, who is easy enough to spot, and whose presence here already wins a very, very wry shake of her head.

"I thought it was fantastic, although there were some people in the city that we kept running into, and they were laughing about being there just to slow us down, too, I think," Sorrel says with a grin. "The only comment I might make is that it's sometimes easy to find a later clue earlier, and if you play a bit strategically -- and you know a lot of trivia -- you might save yourself some time that way. But otherwise, it was brilliant and I loved it."

Sabella giddily takes the list from Iliana as well when she approaches, beaming at the two of them, "You two look like you could use a drink," she laughs, "I hope you were able to learn a little bit. I know I did when I was putting this all together. Well," she looks to the door, "I hope the Duchess isn't too lost! But Princess Sorrel you are first place so you get first choice of the prizes! And Marquessa Iliana, after Princess Sorrel has chosen then it's your turn."

Sabella drops a large map of Arvum in an extravagant frame.

Sabella drops magnetic compass and compass rose.

Sabella drops The Art of Getting Lost, by Sir Jerry Perdue.

Sorrel gets a large map of Arvum in an extravagant frame.

Sorrel snags the map. Because it is incredible and she loves it and she's going to stick it in her husband's office.

Niklas follows everyone else in, still gnawing on a chicken leg. "Did I win?"

"You won dinner," Sorrel says to Niklas, clapping for the prince. "Winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

"I'm still undecided if that was meant to be a walk through the city's history, or if it was sponsored by various shrines and assorted businesses in the hopes of attracting attention." Iliana has - mostly - caught her breath; it helps that she's collected a glass of something to drink. She comes over to examine the remaining prizes, settling on, "The book. Maybe one of my kin will read it for the cautionary tale that it is." Despite the beverage, her tone is wry to the point of dry.

Iliana takes The Art of Getting Lost, by Sir Jerry Perdue.

"Mister Congeniality," Sabella grins at Niklas when he shows up again, "And as a prize you get to take me home tonight." She has a sip of her own drink and then replies to Iliana, "I actually tried to stay away from people's places of business for the most part, but perhaps if I ever do this again I'll ask people if they'd like me to put them on the map so to speak. Make sure they're all stocked up!"

Sabella gets magnetic compass and compass rose.

Niklas gestures with his chicken leg, then says to Sabella, "Duchess Lisebet and Duke Ryhalt, hm, that makes them sound married, are still out there! They've stopped to talk to everyone, so are probably going to be a bit late. And since they ran off in the wrong direction after leaving the theater, I imagine they'll be able to make good use of that compass."

"It definitely helps to know the city well. I knew the answers to some of the questions but had to go to the locations to get the next clue!" Sorrel notes with a bright laugh. "I don't think they were terribly concerned about winning. It's not about winning, really."

"Since Sir Merek sat out it actually worked out perfectly since I had three prizes and three competitors," Sabella points out, though she looks to the door again, "...but I do hope they aren't too too lost."

Merek applauds for winners while he offers a smile also, "Congratulations!"

"Did they get the fake clue I made to go and challenge someone at the Murder of Crows to a fight?" Niklas does a good mock worried. "I thought I threw that away."

Iliana, prize in hand, tucks the book under an arm and goes to drop herself into a chair. "I saw them... outside the Theater," she admits. "Though I lost track and have no idea if that was their first visit to Lord's Lane or not. I got turned around in circles and ended up crossing Judgement Green... four? times."

1 Farshaw trained guards, Palamon, a supercilious eagle owl arrive, following Ryhalt.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 2 Ashford Archer, 1 Ashford Scout, Ryhalt arrive, following Lisebet.

Lisebet and Ryhalt do manage to make their way back to the badger boarding house, laughing and talking as they do. "Hello everyone," she says, not the least bit sad to be last. "That was a lot of fun."

When Lisebet and Ryhalt come through the door the entire room erupts in cheers! Sabella claps her hands and laughs again, "We were worried about you! But since Sir Merek sat out, this means you came in third!" She hands Elizabetta the compass and she delivers it over to Lisebet, "I'm glad to hear you all thought it was fun. I really did have a fantastic time collecting the information. I've actually got enough to do this at least three more times!"

Ryhalt looks somewhat disappointed he won't be stuck adventuring Arx the rest of his life, but chuckles at the cheers. "Oh look there *is* a best last prize after all." He grins at his sister as his earlier tease actually turns out to be true.

Merek is overheard praising Lisebet.

Merek is overheard praising Sabella.

Merek is overheard praising Iliana.

Merek is overheard praising Niklas.

Merek is overheard praising Sorrel.

Merek is overheard praising Ryhalt.

Lisebet gives Ryhalt a grumble, at his tease, though she does accept the compass from Elizabetta when it's brought over. "Oh, but - well, thank you," she says. "I truly wasn't expecting to win anything. It was definitely all about the fun," she says, moving in to take a seat. "And now a drink? That really was quite fun, Your Highness. I enjoyed it." A glance to see who is there, her cheeks flushed perhaps a bit. Eyes bright with the enjoyment of the time out and about. And with her brother, she's feeling quite lucky. "Three more times? That's quite exciting. Perhaps I can find a spot to settle for the next time, and cheer the competitors on."

"That's excellent! Maybe next time, instead of playing, I'll help you slow down the scavengers," Sorrel says brightly to Sabella, then motions to her map. "This is exquisite and I love it. We have a rug that's a map of the Mourning Isles that the kids sail little ships on. And then we step on them and break the masts off."

Iliana downs about half of what's in her glass before Lisabet and Ryhalt come through the door, so she's in time to raise it in a toast to them before Sabella's secondary announcement, when she winces, visibly. "Three more? Next time I might have to bring Valitina along. Though that might limit me to solving three clues, and that only if they're near to one another."

"Oof, I know that pain," Sabella says with a wince to Sorrel's mentioning of broken masts, "I've taken to wearing my slippers rather consistently around the house," She catches Iliana's wince and laughs, setting fingers to her lips a moment later, "Oh come now, Marquessa, you came in second! Next time you will surely be first now that you definitely know your way around. I greatly appreciate all of you coming out to play this game! Perhaps next time I will have fewer clues and take Princess Sorrel's advice."

Ryhalt laughs at the idea of fewer clues and more slowing down. "More adventure! Still, this was very well thought out from what I could see...as one of the slower-downers." With a grin he nods to Sabella.