The riverside barony of Saikland Greens is bustling with activity as locals and visitors from across the Compact prepare for the Vineyard Games - a series of vintner-inspired contests taking place during a summer wine festival. For several days, revelers have been able to walk through the streets of the village and sample wines on specially arranged patios, take tours of vineyards and winery facilities, attend lessons on the making of wine, and more. Now, as the games are called to begin soon, the grounds of the Saik family castle have filled with contestants and onlookers, merchants looking to sell food and drink, and a small group of judges conversing with Medeia as house staff and a few Eswynd warriors rush to finish setting up the various contests.

Once conversation with the judges is finished, the lady steps back and spends a short time mingling and greeting familiar faces before it is time for the festivities to begin. She moves to stand on a platform to address the crowd. "Hello! On behalf of the Saik family, I would like to welcome you to Saikland Greens! For those who do not know me, I am Lady Medeia Eswynd nee Saik, Minister of the Hearth and overseer of the vintners and distillers here in Saikland. Though duties call them elsewhere today, I would like to thank Baron Talwyn and the house steward - Fortescue - for their invaluable assistance in making the arrangements for this festival while Baroness Lucita and I were in Arx." At the mention of Lucita, Medeia summons the baroness and Cesare to join her. "Baroness Lucita and Softest Whisper Cesare - my delightful protege - have also been immensely helpful in making these games happen." She pauses so people can applaud, then calls out, "Without further delay, if you wish to compete, step forward to the platform!"

Lucita winds through the gathering, more relaxed looking than the past few weeks. She gives a beguiling smile toward the visitors to Saikland as she joins Medeia. "Oh, It was good to see them again. Welcome to Saikland Greens everyone. While you are here, don't forget to stop by the Mirrored Ballroom and browse through our little archives and the small collection of memorabilia donated to the archives. Enjoy our beaches and the countryside. Lady Medeia and Softest Whisper Cesare have done a wonderful job and all looks ready for people to have fun. Bear in mind some of the activities may be rather messy and may stain the finer fabrics, so use care as you have fun!

Gio moves at a pace that is between Northlands glacier - and someone's pet turtle retainer. It's careful on account that with proper boots, he is not quite on even footing, and as needs must - a certain amount of caution is required. His smile is mild and genial and practically carved on. His grey-green eyes - full of too many stormclouds - are touched with just a little concern that also pinches his eyebrows together until he's sure. Once there's a cup of wine and a some kind of delectable snack-on-a-stick that's been obtained from the vendors, the worry is gone. He doesn't step up to the platform, merely attending as a spectator. "It all looks so splendid, my ladies - Baroness Lucita," with a nod, politely as the Saiklands ruler. Then, smiling. "Lady Medeia. Softest Whisper Cesare."

Auda wanders and weaves about the festival, definitely stopping at each and every table of wine samples. She even takes her time, sampling each variation and chatting with the vintners about the wines. At the call for contestants, of course, the waifish young alchemist is making her way up to the platform with a bow of her head to Lucita and Cesare, and a grin for Medeia. "This is wonderful!"

Those that took the same ship to Saikland with Mattheu Rivenshari might recall that he ran up the main mast the moment his feet took to the deck and he stayed up there for most of the trip laughing and jingling while the winds lead and pushed them. Upon the solid ground, he's back to his usual bouncing, jingling self with a casual sway in his walk. A brief discussion with ship's captain, a wink and a smile, and he's off to Sailkland Greens. A flourished bow to Lucita and Medeia as he enters, the bells upon his clothing and in his hair sing out in their soft melodies, "Lord Mattheu Rivenshari. A lovely event to have made the travel to." Medeia is given a nod and smile, as he turns to Lucita, "And it is wonderful to meet you Baroness Lucita."

Gianna struts toward the platform. Compete? Yes. Gianna enjoys competing. She's even foregone more than a few sips of wine to keep a clear head for winning. Once on the platform, she inclines her head to their hosts.

Thea comes rounding a corner, her arm around Drake's. "I forgot you've never been here. I've always enjoyed visiting,"a smile cast to Lucita. "Baroness. Hello." She turns to Medeia too, giving her friend a wave. "This was a great idea. I'm so glad we could make it,"wiggling her fingers to Gio as well. "Cousin." Thea goes to find a drink as well. "Messere Auda. Nightingale Gianna. Good to see you both...,"she greets.

Gianna inclines her head to Thea and Drake. "Countess," she greets. "Count." There's a faint upward curve at the corners of her lips, like the ghost of a smile.

Ivy is wandering around, looking a little out of place and awkward. Her entire entourage of animals is with her today since this is an outdoor event, with a direhorn at her side, a skunk waddling along in her wake, and a kite riding her shoulder. She wears an expression of relief in seeing a few people she recognizes, lifting a hand towards Thea and making her way towards her. "Countess! How nice to see a familiar face. How are you?" She glances towards where the games are being held, "OH, is it starting already?"

Gianna takes a few side steps away from the skunk, one hand coming up to touch her lips with concern. Nevermind it's far away.

Drake had been saying for a while that he needed a getaway, so this is a good opportunity. Seeing a festival like this reminds him that he used to largely be considered the lazy, slacker party animal of his family instead of such a hard-working head of house. And it's nice to see people, too. When Gianna nods over, he nods back. "Greetings to you." Seeing there's a competition, though... well, he certainly can't resist that sort of thing. "So, are you going to be competing in the games too?" he asks Thea, though she knows he's up for it.

Lucita says, "a pleasure to meet you and again, you are most welcome. There is usually a nice breeze here to keep it from becoming too hot. Please make yourselves comfortable if you are watching though do encourage you to enjoy some of the games. They will make you appreciate your wine even more."

Cassiopeia arrives with a bright smile, indicative that she enjoyed the travels that got her here. A needed break perhaps, a chance to see something new and revel in the scenery, perhaps. Or...maybe she just loves wine. Either way, she is dressed in traditional Arakkoan silks and looks content to be here. Fingers carefully navigate long skirts as her eyes taking in the scenery. Her attention drifts to many places, seeming endeared by it all. When she sees their hosts, she takes a few steps in their direction. "Lady Eswynd," she says readily to her, "what a lovely event, thank you for hosting." The same is extended to Lucita, though she is unfamiliar with them. Cesare receives a warm kiss on the cheek, "Softest Whisper, always a delight to see you," she murmurs before she lets her attention drift around.

The Softest Whisper is dressed thematically! No, really, his pants are precisely the color of a delicious red wine, and his shirt is sort of the color of a white, and - it was totally intentional, at least that's the excuse he's giving to anyone who compliments his outfit. He is at least four glasses in already and shows no sign of slowing down or stopping. "I think it's bad for me to compete," he admits out of the corner of his mouth, "but I'm definitely going to stomp the grapes and taste wine." He takes Gio by the elbow and steers him. "Gio, this is Lord Savio's cousin, the Marquessa of Tremorus, Cassiopeia. And Lord Mattheu Rivenshari, who I need to confer with at some point about that interrogation I finally got around to - Lord Mattheu, how are you? Enjoying the wine?" A wave of fingers to Gianna, Drake, Thea, and Lucia, as well.

Thea smiles over at Ivy. "Naturally. And I know the feeling. I never do well in large crowds myself,"she confesses. She gives a flutter of her fingers to Gianna, telling her,"It's been awhile. How have you been? I'm sure busy." Thea squints at Drake, like he grew two head. "Of coursebI am!"

It's like Monique knew this might get messy. She arrives in a gown of obsidian-hued umbra, adorned with diamonds and opals for just a touch of this-could-be-a-bad idea. At least it wasn't aeterna. Her green eyes sweep the place with pleasure, landing on several familiar faces.

Medeia smiles at Gio and then gives Auda a returned bow of her head. "Guildmistress, I am excited that you were able to make it." A few more greetings are given, then: "Lord Mattheu, hello! Nightingale Gianna, an honor to have you. Wyvernhearts," She beams at Thea and Drake, "Did you drag Lady Ivy with you?" The animals with the Blackram woman cause little to no fuss at all. Cassiopeia gets a bright smile, as does Monique - the latter also getting coyly wiggled fingers of greeting. After a glance to Lucita and Cesare to ensure all is ready, she looks out at the crowd, lifting her voice high again to reach all ears, "For the first contest of the vineyard games, contestants are tasked with finding a /perfect/ bunch of grapes, cutting it from the vine, and bringing it to the judges. They will be determining the winner based on the color and ripeness, size consistency of the individual fruits, and the fullness of the cluster." One of the Saikland vintners ensures each contestant that approached the platform has a small knife to cut their chosen bunch from the vine. "Everyone ready?" The lady passes her gaze over each person lined up, confirming. "Off you go! Good luck!" She waves them off into the rows of grapevine to seek their prize.

Monique checks dexterity and legerdemain at normal. Monique is successful.

Auda checks dexterity and legerdemain at normal. Auda is successful.

Gianna checks dexterity and investigation at normal. Gianna marginally fails.

Thea checks intellect and investigation at normal. Thea is successful.

Gianna tears her gaze away from the skunk to nod to Thea. "It's been too long," she tells Thea. "And yes, busy. About to be busier." She inclines her head to Cesare before turning her attention to Medeia. Once she has her knife, she steps off the platform to stride along the rows of vines. What does a good bunch of wine grapes even look like? Her eyes narrow. She is really not sure.

Drake checks perception and investigation at normal. Drake is successful.

Mattheu checks wits and investigation at normal. Mattheu fails.

Cassiopeia checks dexterity and investigation at normal. Cassiopeia is successful.

Once Gio's had his wine, taken a bite - he is amazingly biddable. He has forgone his drab mourning greys for better cuts, accents of color added - the heartblood drop of aa ruby, the glint of a golden skull. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Marquessa Cassiopeia. A pleasure, Lord Mattheu." With a pause, "Cousin Thea - and her spouse, Count and Countess Wyvernheart, have you met them?"

"I wouldn't miss a wine festival, Lady Medeia! Have you seen my office at the College?" Auda can't help but grin, clearly pleased to be here, and enjoying herself immensely. She takes one of the offered knives, and sets off into the rows of the vineyard, searching for the perfect grapes.

Auda checks luck at daunting. Auda is successful.

Cassiopeia checks luck at daunting. Cassiopeia fails.

Drake checks luck at daunting. Drake fails.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea is successful.

"Whisper Cesare!" Mattheu spreads his arms wide, bells jingling and lifts Cesare up in a goofy level of a hug that has Mattheu's arms around the man's waist. Then spinning mid hug to look to Gio, "A pleasure to meet you, Gio." Cesare is put back upon the ground as Medeia is calling out the contest. Clapping his hands together, and giving a bounce in a cascade of bells all chiming out at the same time. "Picking grapes could be fun, if I don't eat them all before we get back with where they are to go." A tip of his hat to Cesare, nod to Gio, an smile to Medeia, And Mattheu is off in a bounce and skip towards the grape vines. What happens next is simply described by many in the vineyard as the young lord would pick a grape, taste it, either spit it at the ground or continuing chewing on the grape until the next. He doesn't come back with any grapes, other than what are in his belly. He is sporting a wide smile though.

Cesare checks composure at normal. Cesare marginally fails.

Drake looks at Ivy and smiles when he's asked. "Well, we have now. Though I'm about to get the games underway. Maybe with a glass of wine for the work." That will help him be smarter after all. He looks at Gio as he's picking up the glass. "A pleasure. Are you grape-picking with us?" Drake gets marching orders to check out the vines, so... off he goes into the vineyard as instructed. He's looking carefully for a suitable bunch... not really a pro at agriculture, but good at using context clues to figure things out in general. It shouldn't be too challenging to go by looks alone. He ends up parting from Thea in the process, but she's already better with plants than he is, after all. He's still openly chatty while doing this, which may be to his downfall.

Lucita watches with interest, corners of her lips upturning in a saucy grin as she spots some feasting on the grapes while checking out the various vines and types.

Ivy checks intellect and agriculture at normal. Critical Success! Ivy is spectacularly successful.

Gianna steps gingerly around a spit out grape, her nose wrinkling slightly. She peers at the vines. She really has no idea, so she just looks for the ones with the prettiest colour. A small bunch is deftly sliced off the vine with her little knife and she makes her way back to the platform.

Cesare gives Gio a look of assessment. Yes, he is familiar with the feeling of combined bodily sensation and emotion often known as "hangry," and the relief accompanied by eating. And wining. Not to be confused with whining. He starts to say something, but he is being picked up! He manages not to punch anyone instinctually, and schools his face into a neutrally pleasant expression, as per usual, but the picking-up and putting-down, a thing which he does /not/ usually experience, ekes an undignified squeak out of him.

Thea sets out to find the grapes, stopping to murmur something to Lucita first. "That looks like firm. Nice shape,"she decides, removing it from the vine.

Turning her attention to where she hears her name, she offers Gio a warm smile and Cesare a look of appreciation for the introduction. "A pleasure," she says with a dip of her head. At the mention of Thea, she turns her attention to her and offers a friendly smile, "Countess lovely to see you again," she tells her. The young woman decides to join in on the search, slender fingers searching through the vines, but she isn't quite sure what to look for. It's a nice bunch, but it isn't the nicest bunch. It's still a lovely bunch of grapes though, and she appreciates it for what it's worth.

Monique checks luck at daunting. Monique fails.

There's a very interesting noise emitted by the Softest Whisper, especially when there's a riveting Rivenshari brandishing bells - and one that has hugged Cesare. Gio pauses. Watches, sleepy-eyed - and smiles with languid approval. He has been wine-ing. He will be cheesing, shortly. As soon as he spies that vendor again. "That was amusing." The remark remains without clarifying context. He sips at wine, shaking his head slightly to Drake in answer before the game-players are swept up into the next event. "Only here to breathe fresh air and get politely drunk, my lord."

When all the contestants have returned with their bunch of grapes and deposited them with the judges, the judges take several minutes to look over each one and render a decision. A folded piece of parchment is brought to Medeia bearing the name of the winner. "Lady Ivy Blackram, congratulations! The judges have deemed the bunch of grapes you brought to be the most perfect. The bunch was from the vines used to make our signature 'pellerossa,' a dry red wine. These grapes are all meant to be small, bearing thick, dark - almost black! - skins. Now! Those who would like to compete in the grape stomping contest, please line up!"

Medeia is overheard praising Ivy: A fantastic eye for perfect clusters of grapes!

Ivy returns the smile to Thea and gives a small nod, "I know exactly what you mean. I never know what to do with myself." She turns at Medeia's call, smiling towards her and lifting a hand, "Of course, my lady! How could I miss grape games??" So it's wine, but really, its about the plants, right? Or at least the fruit! Looking back towards Drake, her smile still in place, "I'll join." A messenger delays for a few moment but she makes her way over to where the rows of grape vines can be found. She eschews the outer edges, heading towards the inner rows and making her way inward. One hand is up and feeling lightly at the leaves and vines in passing, her eyes focusing on the grapes themselves, looking for a full bunch that satisfies her exacting standards. This is where being Minister of Agriculture for a 'country' House comes in handy. Perhaps a third of the way down the row, she stops. Turning, she crouches down and starts sifting through the leaves. "Ah.. there you are..." Carefully, delicately, she reaches in with both hands, trying to disturb the grapes around them as little as possible. Making a very precise slice on the vine one inch above the cluster, she withdraws carefully from the vines and murmurs something soft under her breath. Rising up, she carries her bounty back towards Medeia.

The cluster forms an almost perfect teardrop of round fruit, the coloration that deep purple edging on black with hints of red when the sun shines on them, firm of flesh and with smooth skin and a vibrant stem. Ivy offers them up with a faint smile, "So, ah, you may have some hybrids hidden away on the inside of the rows. It looks as though the yard started with a black muscat that was pulled out to make way for the pinot. But I think some of the roots or seeds must have remained because these appear to be neither one or the other, but a combination of both... you'll want to look for the clusters closer to the vine, hidden under the leaves."

Gianna looks at Ivy's grapes. She looks at her own grapes. A short sigh escapes her, and she drops the grapes on the ground.

Auda huffs a little bit as Ivy's grapes are deemed the winners, looking between those ones and her own. She does try one or two of her grapes on her way over to the next line. "Congrats, Lady Ivy!"

Thea waves a bit to Cassiopeia. "Marquessa. Hello." Looking at her own grapes now, then Ivys, she exhales. "I'll feed them to Martino. Tell him they're delicious." Always plan B. Thea smiles over to Gio, telling him,"Drinking too much is always a good plan."

"For this second contest," Medeia begins, addressing the contestants and onlookers, "We ask that the competitors undertake the task of grape stomping! Each will have a tub full of green grapes - I was thinking about stains, you are welcome - and five minutes in which to stomp as much as they can. The winner will be determined by whoever has the most volume of juice in the end." The tubs are being carted out and lined up before the crowd. Once they're all set up and each contestant is standing in one, she calls for the start of the timer.

Cassiopeia checks stamina and performance at hard. Cassiopeia is successful.

Thea checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Botch! Thea fails completely.

Ivy checks stamina and performance at normal. Ivy is successful.

Mattheu checks stamina and athletics at hard. Mattheu is successful.

Gianna checks stamina and performance at hard. Gianna is successful.

Drake checks stamina and athletics at hard. Drake marginally fails.

Cesare checks dexterity and performance at hard. Cesare marginally fails.

Auda checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Auda is successful.

Ivy checks stamina and performance at hard. Ivy is successful.

Ivy checks luck at daunting. Ivy fails.

Gianna checks luck at daunting. Botch! Gianna fails completely.

Mattheu checks luck at daunting. Mattheu fails.

Kiera checks stamina and athletics at hard. Kiera is successful.

Cassiopeia checks luck at daunting. Cassiopeia marginally fails.

Drake has a bunch of grapes that are apparently far from perfect. Ivy's do look much nicer. But, no matter, they're still all right, so he pops a grape into his mouth. Wine grapes perhaps are not meant to be eaten directly, but this seems fine so far. Definitely not perfect. Now, the next activity he might be all right at, but he's having a BIT of trouble standing on the grapes, as it were. He ends up stomping with less vigor than he usually brings to a competition as if he's trying not to entirely ruin his pants. There's a BIT of stomping.

"Politely drunk?" Cesare says to Gio, eloquently arching an eyebrow as though he has no idea what that means, although he almost certainly does. Then, as the grape stomping competition is announced, he marches his way to the grape tubs with all the misplaced confidence of someone who knows he has no business stomping grapes. Shoes politely removed, he gets to stomping. It is immediately clear that his dancing abilities do not quite carry over to the slippery feat - he sort of... sloshes around with only a modicum of grace. Certainly not the well-oiled rhythmic grape pounding that others are managing.

Auda checks luck at daunting. Auda fails.

Kiera checks luck at daunting. Kiera marginally fails.

Gianna peers down at the tub. She stoops and undoes the straps of her sandal boots. She gingerly steps into it and stamps a few times. It's not the worst. She gives more more spirited stamps, holding her arms out at the sides for balance. She picks up the pace. Her downfall, unfortunately, is when she looks over at the next person's tub and sees they have more juice than her. Her eyes narrow. She ups the pace of her stomping, mashing her feet up and down again and again vigorously. Perhaps too vigorously, because her right foot slips and she yelps as she stumbles. She staggers to right herself, arms briefly flailing, and winces. That was a bad landing.

Lucita s shoulders rise and fall with suppressed laughter as she watches the peope in their grape stomping efforts. "Not as easy as it looks. Wonder if playing music to stomp by would help? No, guess not. "

Kiera checks luck at daunting. Kiera fails.

Stomping time! The woman has her shoes off before it's even time, content to feel the grass between her toes and then the grapes. Tugging up her skirt, she ties it, so that she can really get into the grapes. Feet lift and press down, as the smile on her features brightens. "This is amazing! Why haven't I tried this before? It is so squishy!," Cassiopeia seems thrilled by the feeling and sensations from stomping on the grapes, having a fantastic time.

With a full belly of grapes Mattheu is still bouncing in his steps and grabs a glass of wine, drinking it down quickly while watching everyone else start to take off their shoes, he grins and starts to use his arch to push at the leather wrappings around his calves and slips out of them as he hops into the barrel with all the bells singing out. Mattheu pauses as he starts to move his feet around and gets a silly grin on his lips. "Any way possible to get the most juice then?" And he's bouncing, dancing, spinning. A jump upwards is met with his feet pulling up under him then shattering of those soft melodic bells singing out as he starts mashing the grapes. A spin and kick at the grapes, mash of his heel, raise of hip, bells are caught mid swing and silenced as he takes to his other foot. Repeating the dance while smashing grapes. His calves are covered in the pulp, and he doesn't look to be loosing steam anytime soon. A reach over the edge of the barrel and he has another wine glass, this one is sipped at. Calling back to Cassiopeia, "Right!? This is almost as much fun as stealing cookies."

Carefully removing her boots and socks, rolling up her pantlegs to keep them from getting soaked by the grapes, Ivy paces towards the tubs. Stares at it, then sighs. She steps into the tub and... starts to do a jig? Yep, that's a jig alright! Hands on hips, she keeps up the frenetic movement, staring straight ahead, completely stone-faced as she dances her way through the tub of grapes, squishing them down into a fine slurry with the juice gathering below. But this has GOT to be a strange sight, the 6'2" Blackram woman stone-facedly doing a cheery little jig for minutes on end as they work to turn grapes to juice.

Cassiopeia checks luck at daunting. Cassiopeia fails.

"Dolitely prunk," Gio answers the question that Cesare asks, and his lips curve - so coy, this one. He follows in Cesare's shadow, tucking himself into a place in order to be granted a perfectly wonderful view of everyone's grape-mashing prowess. It does as Gio expected - and more, and he lightly claps - toasting the participants between each. He leans, swinging the wine cup in his hand from side to side in some rhythm that's just a little out of pattern with grape-stomping, and his leg jogs 0 foot tapping out on the same beat.

Gianna eases out of her tub of grapes, opting to give up. She leans down and rubs her ankle. Mournful. She will not be winning this competition. Also, ow.

Thea slips into the tub. Because who doesn't like a good stomping, RIGHT?! And her excitedness shows as she starts to stamp and stomp, her smile obvious in the enjoyment. "This isn't so har--,"she starts to say, but when she starts to trapeze more around the tub, her foot slips. Taking Thea down. In juices and pulp. "Fucking Shite,"she calls out. Nothing approprite as she flails for a moment, slipping as she tries to gain her footing.

Kiera arrives just in time to see the grape stomping and dancing and sllips off her shoes to climb in a vat, though much less adventurous and more traditional in her stomping methods than the lord rivenshari, she is nonetheless semi sucessful at the task and pleased with this

Cesare eases out of the tub, wipes his feet and ankles off, and drags his sandals with him to take a seat next to Gio, appropriating one of the many wine bottles around the vineyard so he can refill Gio's glass and then steal it and drink from it while they watch the, shall we say, more successful competitors. He mutters something to Gio, shaking his head, amused.

Kiera checks luck at daunting. Kiera marginally fails.

With the competition on this event down to Cassiopeia and Kiera, Ivy steps out of her tub and moves over to Gianna, crouching down, "May I?" Indicating the ankle she's favoring. Glancing up, she offers, "Anyone that needs it, I can offer a quick check to ensure scrapes and bruises are tended."

Auda maybe isn't the best grape-squisher, but she does seem to have a lot of fun! She dances and stomps in her barrel of grapes, making a mess of her leathers. Maybe the grape juice will come out? Maybe.

Drake looks startled as Thea suddenly slips down. He stops the stomping he's attempting to offer her a hand-up. "Oop. Careful now. These are slippery." He wasn't going to win anyway and his chances fall further.

"Yes please," Gianna tells Ivy, keeping her weight on her good foot. "Did you come with... a skunk?"

Gio inclines his head to listen, and he averts his eyes for a moment, lips quirking into an expression that still a smirk, but it

Cassiopeia checks luck at daunting. Cassiopeia fails.

Thea takes Drake's hand and exhales. "Thank you. How far did you get,"she asks her husband while she looks on at the others.

Nodding, Ivy glances to where the fat skunk is digging up grubs and worms and other small ground bugs to eat. Looking back to Gianna's ankle, she reaches for a roll of bandages, "Rascal, yes. He's been with me for almost a year. I tried to release him back to the forest earlier in the year and he refused to go. So now I just let him follow me as he pleases. Either he'll find somehwere he wants to settle in or he'll stay with me." Quickly and efficiently, she wraps up the Nightingale's ankle, tying it off and murmuring, "You've sprained your ankle. its not bad, but you'll want to be careful with it for the next few days."

The five minutes pass surprisingly quickly, with lots of cheers and hollering from the crowd. As the competitors finish and climb out of the tubs, each is given a towel and some water to clean their feet and lower legs with. The tubs are carted toward the platform where each is carefully drained to measure the juice stomped out of the grapes. The judges eyes the amounts closely, finally giving Medeia a name: "Lady Kiera Wyrmguard, congratulations for squishing the most juice out of those grapes. What an impressive feat."She gives a wink to no one in particular for her pun. With the tubs cleared away, some of the burlier Saikland vintners can be seen bringing barrels out to the marked off race lines along the vineyard's perimeter. "Are you all ready to race barrels? Contestants may carry, roll, use their horse to push or drag, or otherwise move the barrel - intact, without breaking or spilling a drop - from the starting line to the finish line!" A motion is made for people to get ready.

Medeia is overheard praising Kiera: A feat of fine grape crushing!

Gianna stares at the skunk for several heartbeats. "Mmhmn," she tells Ivy as the woman explains the skunk to her. When she's diagnosed with a sprain and wrapped up, she squinches her nose up. "I have to perform at the Celebration of Blooms. It needs to not be hurt by then. Is it going to be fine by then?"

"Wouldn't know." Gio inclines his head to listen to Cesare's murmur, averting his eyes for a moment in order to catch the last of the - oh. His mouth moves without volume, whispering in return. A sip of wine hides the exact words. Lips quirking into an expression still considered a smirk, but ever-so entertained. He allows casual theft of his wine, especially when there are easily available refills. He murmurs, politely, "Judging from what I can see, here - it's wet work."

Lucita claps and cheers for all the contestants. "I will have to tell you how badly I did the first times I tried stomping grapes. I think I squished more from falling down amid them than I did with my feet."

Nodding, Ivy rises up and offer a hand to Gianna, "You should be dancing fit by the time you reach Arx. If it still pains you when we get back, let me know and we'll take a closer look." She glances towards the next round then back to Gianna, "Do you wish to continue?"

Thea checks dexterity and manipulation at hard. Thea is successful.

Drake checks dexterity and ride at hard. Drake is successful.

Ivy checks command and animal ken at hard. Ivy fails.

Auda checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Auda is successful.

Mattheu checks dexterity and brawl at hard. Mattheu fails.

Cassiopeia checks charm and seduction at hard. Cassiopeia fails.

Gianna takes Ivy's hand and straightens up. She looks over at the barrels, then announces, "I'll have someone else do it. You, there." She beckons to a young woman, a worker at the vineyard. "Would you help me out, please?" The Nightingale! So elegant! So famous!

Gianna checks charm and manipulation at hard. Botch! Gianna fails completely.

Cesare checks charm and seduction at hard. Cesare is successful.

The woman just eyes Gianna, rolls her eyes, and wanders off.

Gianna glances around, like, did anyone else see this BULLSHIT?

Kiera checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Kiera is successful.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea fails.

Kiera checks luck at daunting. Kiera fails.

Whatever Gio whispers to Cesare is received with delight by the Whisper. "I would /love/ that," he says. Then, as if Gio isn't even there, Cesare turns to two of the burliest Saik farmhands who are loitering nearby sneaking sips of wine and skewers of tasty snacks. "You know what else I would love? If you two....strapping young men...would take that barrel...and carry it over there for me. As fast as you can. I could do it, but you're just so much bigger and stronger than me. Look at those /biceps/. The size of my /head./"

Cesare checks luck at daunting. Cesare fails.

Drake checks luck at daunting. Drake fails.

Nodding, Ivy moves to get a barrel strapped to Treb, who had been peaceably eating grass until just then. She whistles sharply to get his attention.... and is roundly ignored by the massive wargoat. Frowning, Ivy moves farther back and lets out a three note trill that should call the direhorn to her.

Treb, in all his massive glory... sits down. And just stares balefully at anyone that approaches him.

Trying once more, Ivy puts thumb and forefinger to lips, letting out a sharp whistle.

The direhorn rolls over like a cat that's been harnessed. The wine in the barrel sloshes around as the goat moves before starting to leak out around the edges. This interests Treb enough to crane his head around and start lapping at the wine that's dripping out.

"Treb, no! You canNOT get DRUNK!" Ivy shakes her head and sighs, moving to detach the barrel and carry it back to where it came from... the direhorn trailing behind to drink up the wine that trails from the cracked barrel.

Gianna crosses her arms over her chest and watches Ivy and the direhorn. After a moment, she nods. "That makes me feel a bit better," she tells no one in particular.

Auda checks luck at daunting. Auda fails.

Kiera is utterly and truly shoccked at her win at stomping as she was spending more time watching Mattheu's dance than her own progress . spurred by her sucess, she opts to give barrel rolling a try and is equally shocked to get the thing to move with few determined shives

Thea spies---her trusty and most favorite(only)messenger, Rocco. Turning, she goes to smile at the man. One he is usually scared of. "Rocco. My favorite. My lifeline.(Lies) Would you PLEASE go and grab that barrel for me. I'm too slippery and well--you know how hard it is to grip when you're dripping and juicy."

Rocco squints at Thea, but he does as he's told. Realizing he isn't paid enough for his Countesses dirty work.

Mattheu looks at the offered water and shrugs, leaving his feet and calves covered in grape juice, then pulling his foot wraps back on. A smirk as the next challenge is offered, and he tilts his head a little at the barrels. A passing tray of wine has a glass pilfered from it and downing the drink, he's looking at the barrel. "It's mot much differences than the othersies things." He attempts to push the barrel and it is refusing to budge. A step back as he looks at the barrel, "Ifts we get it unto its side, it shoulds roll?" Who he's talking to is anyone's guess, though the next attack of the barrel doesn't get it upon its side and instead the Rivenshari lord must not know his own strength as the barrel's side is falling apart and now Mattheu is left trying to plug the hole he's made first by finger, as the crack grows, he's lapping at the spilling wine. A smile on his face, full cheeks of wine as he attempts to drink it as fast as it is spilling, and wine running over his clothing. All of which he doesn't appear to mind.

That is until the barrel finally does fall on its side and starts to roll away from him. Mattheu stops dead and looks down to the shark plushie on his sash, petting its head. "Aw. Sharkie didn't get his drink." Then looking up and watching the barrel slip away from him.

Now, he's chasing after the barrel. Not to deliver it, but to stop it so the shark plushie can have a drink too. Slipping in the spilled wine and sliding after the barrel. Bells singing out as he's laughing.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea is successful.

Cesare checks luck at daunting. Cesare is successful.

Auda checks luck at daunting. Auda marginally fails.

Kiera checks luck at daunting. Kiera fails.

"Ach, poor hands, leave them to their revelling." His slow consideration offered, his regard unhurried. "To be admired, at least." To himself, mostly. Now - there's a throaty husk of laughter, and Gio's attention shifts toward the delightful spectacle, "Goat has the right of it. Be merry. Well done."

Drake checks luck at daunting. Drake marginally fails.

Drake decides to go for the 'use a horse' option as opposed to the 'ask someone else to do it' option. This is his secret work ethic showing through, but it's a wash since he really does just make the horse do most of the hard work.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea fails.

Cesare checks luck at daunting. Cesare fails.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea fails.

While no doubt much merriment and contest of skill are on-going, Baldessare sneaks into the crowd gathered to watch. There is fashionably late, and then there is showing up well after the contests have started. Maybe he is just there for the wine.

Cesare checks luck at daunting. Cesare fails.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea fails.

Cesare checks luck at daunting. Cesare fails.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea fails.

Cesare checks luck at daunting. Cesare fails.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea fails.

Cesare checks luck at daunting. Cesare marginally fails.

Gianna takes some time to clean her feet off and reclaim her sandal booties as the competition continues. She claims a seat for the moment, not quite sulking but not really NOT sulking.

It seems the audience wasn't expecting the games to be quite so entertaining - or they're very drunk. The cheers, jeers, and general excitement reaches an almost ear splitting volume as the barrels are raced with mixed results. The staff in charge of cleaning up after the event looks less pleased and enthused by the way the events have been going. However, there is a clear winner: "Cesare! Er. The strapping lad Cesare convinced to do the race for him!" Medeia laughs at the end result, telling the crowd, "Alright! In a few moments, we will begin the second to last contest!"

Medeia is overheard praising Cesare: Softest Whisper, Silverest Tongue - that poor guy.

n the end, Cesare's pair of farmhands ekes it out, and he pops up to his feet to cheer for them, sloshing the wine glass he is holding, which is actually Gio's. When they return, they are each summarily fawned over and given all the praise they can handle, as well as a bag of silver each. It is important to note that the bribery happens /after/ the event, not before. Charm was the motivation here, not money. Really.

Drake looks around and sees that someone who was NOT an official competitor has nonetheless taken this one on behalf of Cesare. He has to admit that's funny, so he dismounts, and salutes. He nearly trips again because he didn't get a chance to put his boots on after the grape stomp and this is likely why his kicks on the horse weren't as powerful as they could be. But it was all fun, so, in good spirits, he gets a glass of wine to await the next contest happening.

Lucita continues to watch with interest. She moves over to Gianna and discretely murmurs. "You are alright? I guess most of this is as far from your talents as it was from mine a few years ago. Still hope you are havig fun."

"I'm fine. Except my ankle. It's sprained," Gianna quietly reports to Lucita, pursing her lips. "What are the next contests?"

Auda rolls her barrel, trying to run on the top of it! She does pretty well, all in all, but not nearly well enough to take the win. She cheers for Cesare, though!

Gio reaches forward, discreet with his slowness - otherwise he is not hiding his intention - set on stealing the bottle that was the source of the wine cup's riches. At least, he has silently made a claim to this particular bottle of wine. Leaving the Softest with the cup. He takes a pull from the bottle, tucking the wine into a safe place in the middle of his lap - shifting to sit sidelong, one leg crossed over the over. Once the conquest is complete, he says simply: "This is mine now."

As some of the event staff begins to clean up the mess of the barrel race, others are carting out tables, cases of empty wine bottles, and some other bits of equipment - presumably items which /might/ help in putting wine in the empty bottles. Barrels that didn't break are brought to the tables and each competitor is given the chance to find a table and a case of bottles. "This contest will give our contestants two minutes to fill as many bottles, seal those bottles, and replace them in the case as they can! Broken bottles and massive spills of wine will count against their total." Medeia explains the challenge to everyone with a grin. "Ready? And? Start!"

Drake checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Drake is successful.

It seems strangely fitting that the only competition Cesare has won here tonight is one which did not rely on his own abilities. He tries to distract by moving the spotlight onto the farmhands, but they mostly want to drink - which is also what Cesare wants - so he settles for sitting back down and handing Gio's glass back over - or attempting to. He does not succeed, as Gio has an entire bottle now.

Cassiopeia checks composure and athletics at hard. Cassiopeia fails.

Thea checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Thea fails.

Baldessare checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Baldessare is successful.

Lucita says, "Bottling the wine and wine identification are the two that are left." She glances toward Medeia. "Can you check her ankle between the contests please? I don't know if she needs it wrapped or cool compresses or ... well, just what needs doing." She gestures toward Gianna. "Want you comfortable to enjoy what remains."

Ivy offers a applause and a genuine smile towards Cesare, "Congratulations, Softest Cesare!" She shoots a glance to her direhorn, who still seems to be trying to drink the spilled wine. Sighing, she turns back towards the competition and steps up to the bottles, frowning. This is not going to go well.

Ivy checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Ivy is successful.

Gianna shakes her head, raising her hand. "It's alright. Lady Ivy already looked it over and wrapped it." She extends one leg to show off the lovely wrapping job Ivy did. "But thank you. I think I'll sit this one out. Wine tasting, though... that, I can do. They made me learn how to do it."

Kiera checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Critical Success! Kiera is spectacularly successful.

Mattheu checks dexterity and athletics at hard. Mattheu is successful.

Drake gets to bottling. This is simply a feat of dexterity, so he's at least up to the task, bottling very quickly at a steady rate. Not an inhuman one, but a steady one.

Ivy looks up at the sounds of her name and turns a smile towards Gianna, waving a bottle in her direction. She blinks, then spins back around since she was in the middle of filling it when she'd turned around! "Oh no, no, no, no! Treb! No! Stay back! You are CUT OFF!" She sends a narrow eyes glare towards the direhorn as it starts moving in her direction, the wine she spilled in its sights.

If Cesare is going to offer the glass back to Gio, well, it would be ever-so-rude to refuse it. He simply has both, or starts to reach for it, and almost offers the bottle in return. This may cause some minor confusion - and if so, it's done with utter disregard and a devil-may-care smile. Whichever Gio ends up with - wine bottle or wine cup - he'll flaunt it as a victory. At the end, he gestures, hand held up - pausing, then pointing lazily in the direction of the direhorn and its mistress, Ivy. He swallows, calls out, "Get the goat!"

Mattheu appears to have had enough from chasing the barrel, still drinking from the broken barrel as help arrives to claim said barrel. He looks over to the others, "Bottle? But..." He has been distracted enough to not realize his barrel is being carted away from him. Looking back to take a sip, it's gone. Then looking to the suggested next challenge, throwing his hands into the air, "Don't let be said that I ever gave up." there's a laugh in there somewhere. "I just don't know home much will get into the bottles?" He's still questioning putting the drinkable stuff into a bottle when he's right here.

To say that most of the wine got into the bottles would be a fair assumption. To say that a method of a sip for me, a pour for the bottle was made use of, would be an excellent description of the jingling, chiming bells that sing out with each bounce and hop that Mattheu makes while bottling both the wine and himself.

Thea goes to reach for a bottle, but well. She gets distracted because Rocco is HANDING her a glass of wine. Because why wouldn't he? And so Thea is now busy drinking, enjoying that far more better than stocking up wine bottles themselves. Wine should be drunk right now. Not packed away..

"You may not know this," begins Baldessare to whomever happens to be next to time at the start of this event. "But I recently had opportunity to practice this, after the dismissal of Julius from the Black Fox." He moves nimbly enough at the task, continuing to tell his story. "Although truth be told, it was the Archduchess who was truly the master of spinning the bottles." He concludes the task looking very satisfied with himself, having done so without any mishaps. Until he realizes that Kiera had long, long been finished. "Impressive," he remarks, again really to no one in particular.

Her barrel's progress was painfully slow but her bottle feeling skills are much better. She is not strong, nor is she usually particularly coordinated or fast but tonight she has a critical and perhaps unfair advantage.she's sober and so normally middling skills rise to the top of the barrel

Medeia nods and moves to check on Gianna, but there isn't much else she can do to help. "Lady Ivy seems to have done everything I would have. But I can assure you that you will feel well enough to perform." She gives a reassuring smile to the Nightingale before turning back to the current contest. "Oh! Lady Kiera, it looks like you have won again! Congratulations! And? Truly remarkable. By the gods." |It's going to take Medeia a moment to announce the last contest.

Medeia is overheard praising Kiera: Fastest bottler in the south.

Cesare takes the bottle from Gio and swigs from it with aplomb and dignity becoming of one of the most proper people of Arx society. Sometimes one must simply drink from a bottle, it is as it is. He applauds for everyone filling bottles, although he has no idea who is winning or what the contest is about.

Mattheu has managed to get his hands upon another bottle, is it his? was it someone else's? Doesn't matter as he's taking a small curved knife to the top of the bottle.

As glass breaks, he's giggling and starts to drink directly from the bottle.

The cases and barrels and spills are cleared away, the tables left in place. A line of servants holding silver trays with glasses of wine comes and arranges three glasses in front of each contestant who is going to try the wine identification taste test. "Our final challenge!" Medeia beams out at the contestants and crowd. "Is to identify correctly each of the three wines. One is our standard table white, made to refresh and suit a variety of foods throughout the year. Another is our clover white, infused with clover and honey. And the other is our winter white, ripe with citrussy flavors." A look is given to the contestants, then a signal is given for them to taste the wines and make their best guesses.

Gio takes a sip - stops, lowering his stormy eyes - and he stares at the bottom of his empty wine cup. "No, there's at least one -" sip "- left." Left with his cup to his own devices, he starts to lean away and remove himself from his relaxed lean and careless drape. His right foot has fallen asleep. He gives it a shake, winces with cattish hiss of displeasure, and continues to shake the feeling back into his foot until he stands completely - shifts, and settles his weight. He does not have sea legs - barely has land legs, and moves with only because he is in his cups. A polite drunkard, he steers himself off to find that fried cheese vendor.

Ivy checks intellect and alchemy at normal. Ivy is successful.

Cassiopeia checks intellect and etiquette at normal. Cassiopeia fails.

Thea checks intellect and alchemy at normal. Thea is successful.

Mattheu checks intellect and investigation at normal. Mattheu fails.

Gianna checks intellect and etiquette at hard. Gianna fails.

Cesare checks wits and etiquette at normal. Cesare marginally fails.

Drake checks intellect and investigation at normal. Botch! Drake fails completely.

Cesare immediately rises as well - holding the bottle, still, which he looks at with a momentary perplexity before setting it politely back on the table - and heads toward the wine tasting tables. This time he looks very confident. He sits down and tastes each of the wines immediately. Then he tastes them again. Then...he stands up and attempts to find Gio who is eating fried cheese, and make him taste them instead.

Baldessare checks stamina and etiquette at normal. Baldessare is successful.

Thea checks luck at daunting. Thea marginally fails.

Baldessare checks luck at daunting. Baldessare is successful.

Ivy checks luck at daunting. Ivy fails.

Mattheu stares at the bottles, a squint of his eyes as he crouches down and really stares at the wines. A sip of each, a shrug. "They all taste lovely!" Then mixing all of the wines together, grabbing all three of the bottles in one hand, and wandering off to find a nice tree to climb and sit in while finishing off the drink.

Drake has already had a few glasses of wine. So now his task is to drink more wine? Sure, he's up to that. He picks up a glass and drinks it. He tries to consider the proper words at this point for how to describe it... and utterly fails. The only solution is to try a different one. "...This one is a dry wine, right?" It is definitely not. "No, that makes no sense. How can a liquid be dry? I think it may actually be cider." It is also not.

Gianna eyes the wines. She has one last chance to win something. She touches the tip of her tongue to her lower lip and picks up the first glass. Swirling the liquid around in the glass, she inhales the scent and has a sip. On to the next glass, and the next, the very picture of wine tasting etiquette. Except she hasn't been a Whisper in years now, so... the skills. They are not what they used to be. Gianna's brow furrows, uncertain.

Ivy leaves the bottling behind to step up to the last event. She frowns faintly, not being much of a wine drinker, then shrugs and smile. It can't be that hard, right? Unfortunately, Ivy forgot to account for her apparnetly wine-addicted direhorn who trots his way on over to her, bleating and headbutting her knees to get to the wine. Finally, Ivy just gives an exasperated look to Medeia, "I'm afraid I have to sit this one out. Treb likes all the wine. Very much. Possibly too much."

Thea has already started drinking, so what's a few glasses more? "This should be fine,"she decides with a slight smile.

Gianna peers over at Ivy and raises her voice to call out, "Do goats barf?" Apparently quite seriously. Not everyone knows about goats, okay?

"You're asking me to - no, no, Softest Whisper. My palate is not quite so complex after so much drink - drink, and, oh - have you tried this?" Gio offers a chese stick. "It's cheese. Tastes like cheese. Complements wine." Deadpan. Although, he will not drink any more. Not any more. Maybe one more. But, he won't seek it out. Maybe he will. He cards a couple of fingers through his dark hair, considerately, and mulls it over on a thoughtful bite of cheese.

Stepping up to the table, Baldessare looks over the tray of wines in front of him, studying them each deeply. He draws the first one to his nose first, ingesting the scene, before taking a slow, studious sip from the wine. "Aye, this truly brings me to thoughts of winter. The accent is slight, but unmistakeable." He places it back down upon the tray, moving on to the second. He repeats his process - brief sniff, and then careful sip, passing his lips. "A fine vintage," he offers, looking towards Medeia, raising the glass. "Surely able to enhance any meal. But, I suspect, not nearly as intruing as what I can only assume is the clover." He places the second glass down and moves to the third. He brings it his nose, swirling about, and a warm smile crosses his lips. "Ah, clover. How this brings back memories." He takes a brief sip from the glass, before placing it back down. "Nice complements, but I have never likened by wine with such sweetness. But it is the clover white, unmistakeably." He reaches out to reclaim the first glass, which he claimed to be the winter, and raises it in salute to Medeia. "My favorite of the three, the winter." And then he enjoys a long, luxurious sip.

Drake is overheard praising Medeia.

Drake is overheard praising Cesare.

Drake is overheard praising Lucita.

Cesare takes the cheese stick. He nibbles on it delicately, very thoughtful. "Tastes like...cheese," he agrees. Deeply confused, "Why is it so good?" He murmurs something to Gio, pursing his lips and glancing out over the lovely scenery of the summer vineyards, cheese stick in hand. Statuesque.

The final contest is a bit less high energy, but nonetheless? The crowd watches intently, waiting to see who will prove to have the most sophisticated palate in the game. When Baldessare gets them all correct, and with quick efficiency, he is named the winner. "Congratulations, Your Highness! And what an honor it is to have a prince of Velenosa here to enjoy our festivities." She then turns to the crowd and asks, "Who was your favorite?"

Medeia is overheard praising Baldessare: The perfect palate.

Gio tuts, and tips his head up, sweeping storm-grey eyes over the summer landscape - the vineyards. "Pastoral perfection. I wonder what it all looks like in the spring.

Looking back to Gianna, Ivy blinks, then nods, "I mean, almost any animal with a throat and digestive tract has the capacity to throw up. But goats have a four-chambered stomach that has some very strong stomach acids that break down a lot of different materials. So I wouldn't worry about him."

Gianna mouths, 'four?' when Ivy informs her of that fun fact. "...Ew." She puts down all her tasting samples and looks instead over at Baldessare thoughtfully. "....Have we met?"

Kiera is overheard praising Cesare.

Kiera is overheard praising Baldessare.

Kiera is overheard praising Ivy.

Kiera is overheard praising Medeia.

"Breathtaking," Cesare replies. "We'll have to come back. All the blossoms -" he gestures with his cheese stick hand, then remembers he has a cheese stick and returns to nibbling on it. "Do not choose me!" He shouts to anyone who may be thinking about voting for him.

Turning to bow towards Medeia, Baldessare replies. "My family would be most disappointed in me if I did not acquit well in a challenge of /that/ nature." As he accepts a couple of congratulations, he looks over towards Gianna and offers her a smile. "I do not believe so, milady." He inclines his head to her. "As I have already been introduced, I believe you have the advantage of me." He extends a smile her way.

"Nightingale Gianna Delvecchio, of the Bard's College," Gianna tells Baldessare, inclining her head. "Apparently I've forgotten some of my wine tasting skills."

Ivy heads over towards Medeia, smiling slightly, "Thank you for hosting this. Even if I didn't acquit myself as well as I'd hoped.. it was fun. And I'm sorry that Treb got drunk, I didn't even know he liked wine. I don't even know how he got -into- wine..." She shakes her head, then sighs. "But still, this was fun. And needed."

The crowd starts yelling out names, but one name stands out among them - being yelled more frequently and louder. "Kiera! Kiera! Kiera!" A grin spreads across Medeia's face as she signals to the crowd to calm. "It is my absolute pleasure to announce Lady Kiera Wyrmguard as the crowd favorite this year! Congratulations, my lady. You have earned the right to a custom wine created by the Saikland vintners and myself to your tastes." The lady can't stop smiling. "Thank you to everyone who joined us for the festival, and especially to all of our competitors who made the games so much fun to watch."

Pleased that someone from his family is the victor, Drake claps his hands. He's pretty drunk by this point - wine tasting is very hard - but glad to see Kiera victorious. "See, competition does run in the family, doesn't it? Well done!"

"Ah, of course, the Nightingale!" Baldessare bows his head again to her. "Your reputation well precedes you. I have never had the fortune of hearing you perform, but it is one that I have longed for." He offers a smile at her admission, and then he shrugs. "Our family is born with those skills, what can I say?"

"Ach, imagine that - and the threat of blushing starts to loom. Those fruit trees, shivering with pale blooms, aching for some passing soul - one consumed with -" he gestures with half-nibbled upon stick of cheese "- whatever a poet's soul is consumed with." A pause. "It's good because it is mostly salt and fried." Gio is very astute, and feels it's important to answer every question (he can remember) and smiles, a little, to himself. Murmuring a couple of last words, the death's head moth of a young man finishes his cheese.

Upside down, hanging from a branch in a nearby tree with wine bottles tucked away to the crook of branch, Mattheu cheers for Kiera. Bells jingling as he swings softly from the tree.

"If you attend the Celebration of Blooms," Gianna tells Baldessare, "I'll be singing then. With a hopefully unsprained ankle. You should come by."

Lucita says, "Congratulations to all the winners. Please enjoy the hospitality of Saikland Greens and all these lovely grapes and wines." She says this as she circulates amid the people gathered. "And hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the wine making process."

Again, Baldessare nods to Gianna. "I will do my best to attend, then, Lady Nightingale." He bows his head again in respect.

There's a flicker of an almost-smile as Gianna inclines her head to Baldessare again. She tilts her chin and moves away from the platform, still favouring one ankle over the other.

Kiera is heading up in the tree with Matti, so substitutes a bow and wave for a curtsey "Thank you. As I will be sharing my prize with friends and family who actually partake I will need some tie to confer

"I thought you said you had the soul of a drunken philosopher, not the soul of a perfectly first-rate poet," Cesare accuses Gio. "I'm going to make you start writing my lyrics, at knife-point." He finishes his cheese too.

"Mm, this is a threat - but, it will not sway me, Softest Whisper. You need to find someone who prefers a rhyming scheme, because there's a patter to lyrics. All excellent songs do, which is not me." Gio pouts, defending his stance. "Aggressively rhyme free." The pout that juts out his thin lower lip is a half-hearted thing at best, before he shifts, takes a step back - and meanders. As he might be so much more drunk than he seems.