"Isn't it though?" Victus looks a tad bemused at that, looking back to Freja. He seemed to have gotten his definitions mixed up there somewhere. Well, no matter. Parties were parties and they were to be enjoyed with good friends! "Well, whatever, keep me in the loop." He stands beside his guest of the evening as his eyes travel across to some more familiar faces. Isabeau in particular receives a nod of greeting, as well as Prince Aiden and Admiral Caelis!. He leans down to murmur something to Freja as the guests continue to pile in, taking her by the shoulder as he finds a place in the sand to sit his large form down.

Evidently even leaving the city is not enough to save Nicia from all messengers, and she halts before actually getting to join the party to deal with one. Whatever it is that is written causes a frown to appear, and she hurriedly sends a short response before turning towards the party, trying to shake it off.

Charlemagne the Unicorn arrives, following Larissa.

Aiden has come wandering down to the beach, with an anxious and wistful look toward the ocean, rather distracted immediately to go and greet people. He remains in the shadows of the torches and bonefire for a time, crossing his arms across his chest as he's sporting a young parrot on his shoulder and his guard, Jerran, is managing the gyrfalcon.

Marian arrives at the beach, her keen eyes taking in the surrundings as she makes her way down the path to where the party is. She spies Isabeau and makes her way over to her, a light smile on her face as she surveys who's already there.

Eithne arrives, following Ferrando.

"Then in that case I see little point in discussing it." Erika quips before turning to Kieran, "It would seem not, though it seems impractical to swim in clothes at any rate. But of course you'd approve in nude swimming, Kieran." She gives a warm chuckle before sighing, "But, I must be off." She sighs and gives Osmond a rub on his furry head. "Enjoy the party everyone." She gives a deep bow before leaving, heading for the woods.

"No, it isn't. It is a bit disappointing when it does." Freja asides to Victus, nodding to something the High Lord says to her. A hand is lifted in greeting to familiar faces from the Redrain.

And so it goes, Isabeau reciprocates the Thraxian High Lord's acknowledging nod and adds the flourish of a smile to the gesture. She even goes so far as to call him, "Your Grace..." aloud. Upon the approach of Princess Marian, however, the Valardin woman turns her attention to the Sword and moves to stand off to the side, out of the way of the steady steam of incoming arrivals.

Osmond the Pine Marten have been dismissed.

Tiki torches and bright moonlight light the way from Arx's gates down to a stretch of the beach that has been reserved for a grand beach party. A roaring bonfire casts both light and shadows over the moon lit beach and more torches line what would be the darker edges of the party.

Some tables hold a variety of fresh cold cut meats, sushi, cheeses, and fruits while others are reserved for water, herbal teas, and wine. Blankets are set beneath the trees and on the dunes for comfortable lounging away from the fire and a few extra tables have been brought in for those that prefer the comfort of chairs.

To light the water, small lanterns gently bob atop the calm waters creating a safer swim zone for those who wish to take a dip. A sizable anchored platform floats just outside the ring of lanterns and a couple of rowboats sit off to the edge of the lit area for dancers to reach it.

Maxene, Camille arrive, following Alarissa.

Aiden has joined the Southern Dunes.

Ferrando trucks in with Eithne, looking about at the setup with a faint grin. "Well, it's not Lenosia, but it'll do," he says with mock-grudging approval. "That's a proper bonfire going, though. What do you say, shall we go check out the food first?" he asks her probably to little surprise.

Aemily - A Black Hound, 1 Saik Guard, 2 Iron Guardsmen, Amethyst - A Clever Raccoon arrive, following Arcelia.

Arcelia drops 27 books.

Larissa comes sauntering down the dunes with her sandles in hand and her dress tied at her knees to keep from dragging in the sand. She smiles at everyone she see's and takes up a spot in the sand

Nicia lingers a little out of the water, watching as people arrive, or mill around. There's a very small frown present still that she is evidently trying her best to wipe from her face before she actually approaches anyone. Which, that part alone seems to be proving to be a tough choice as she spots a few different people she knows. After a bit of internal debate, and mood lightening lecturing that also comes in the form of a glass of wine picked up, she begins to make her way towards Marian and Isabeau.

"What?!" The petite armorer replies incredulously at the tall bouncer. Eithne's all wide eyed at the decor and stops just before proceeding further into the party. "I've never seen the beach look so good. This looks great!" Her voice is a little loud for her small stature and she holds herself to be taller but standing next to Ferrando does not help her cause.

Bowing to Victus, Caelis rests her hand on the pommel of her sword, still armed despite the pretty blue seasilk dress. She looks for Arcelia and comes to a pause as she looks over at Nicia. "Hello sunshine!" She calls brightly, waving before resuming her greet the hostess quest.

Marian smiles as Isabeau stops to wait for her and joins her on the sand, "Oh...don't let me stop you from joining the festivities. I just wanted to say hi." She looks around, seeing Freja and Victus, she gives them a nod in greeting.

Aiden looks once toward the black liquid tide as the nights caress turns the waters bleak, giving no hint to what's on the horizon even if the orange flare from the bonfires reaches out rays toward the unbroken horizon, and then there's those floating lanterns. After a time, Aiden moves further toward the party but remains on the fringes, spotting Victus belatedly and nodding to him, but otherwise watching for now with a few adjustments made to the parrot on his shoulder, feeding him a little snack as the parrot gives out a playful whistle.

Kieran offers another dip of his head in greeting when she notes his presence. "Princess Cousin. I should have known I would find you at a bonfire." He scans the gathering crowd and waves to a few more familiar faces. "Are you going to be engaging in the storytelling contest?"

Gustaf arrives, following Anze.

Anze arrives, following Calypso.

2 Pravus Honor Guard arrives, following Juliana.

Gino, a surly sailor, Juliana arrive, following Antonio.

"I'm not much of a builder." Freja says to Marian with a soft laugh and a shake of her head. "I'll spectate on the castles, but I'm here mostly so I don't grow -too- pale. Sun and all that. Bonfire tan?" so says the woman as pale as snow.

Victus being the giant of a man he is casts a long shadow across the beach as he makes his way toward one of the tables. He wastes no time on proper manners as he sweeps his arm out like a tentacle, wrapping around a good platter of meats and food as he can with one arm and sweeping through a few bottles of wine with the other. "Alright. Let's fuckin' GO!" The Thraxian howls as he stamps his way back to Freja. Similar hollers of greeting are tossed toward Marian, Nicia and the rest who'd given him a much less bodacious greeting. His teeth gnash forward as he tears the cork off a bottle of wine and hastily passes it toward Freja while another soon finds its place locked in his jaws. Never too late to start. "I bet you could build the shit out of some sand castles if you wanted to, dirty one."

Arcelia is standing off to the side with some musicians and who are getting ready to play. She offers them a warm smile and then heads over to join the party as the melody begins and people start to dance. Today Arcelia is wearing a rather sheer dress, the black lace revealing much of the woman but nothing of her lady parts. She begins to walk around and greet her guests, politely curtsying to people as she says hello. The first person she stops to see is Asher. "Good evening Master Asher. I hope you are having a good night so far?"

It may be a beach party, but, Anze is dressed like he normally would be. Armor, leather and steel, and his greatsword swung over his back as he acompanies Calypso to the party. He mutters something to her as the pair near the gathering.

Calypso arrives at the beach with Anze at her side. She heads over to the Hostess first and inclines her head. "Lady Arcelia, good evening. The beach looks so much more inviting lines with tiki torches."

Ferrando looks down at Eithne with a fond and only slightly condescending smile. It's so cute she thinks this rates in the same class as Lyceum beaches. "Oh, it's a great setup for sure, but we really have to take a trip down south someday," he agrees lightly, putting an arm around her shoulder and squinting a bit into the torchlit and moonlit areas. "C'mon c'mon, food," he encourages a little urgently, steering her towards the wine and cheeses. "It's a party! Can't party without energy."

"Hello, again!" Nicia pauses when she hears Caelis, that frown vanishing fairly quickly as she smiles, a hand lifting in a wave, "I was just thinking about you the other day." She then pauses to glance towards Victus, offering him a smile and wave as well before she continues to move towards Marian, "Your Highness."

Isabeau regards Marian with her small smile and kind eyes and replies, "Your company is certainly no impediment to my enjoyment of this little--" ha! "--gathering, your highness. I'm rather glad to see you here." The blonde princess allows her blue-eyed gaze to drift back over toward Victus and Freja again as her companion's attention likewise wanders. "Go on," she gently prods the Sword.

"Nothign compares to down south." Arcelia agrees with Ferrando. "But I did my best to recreate with what I had. Been a while since I've been to a party in Southport." She turns then to face Calypso and curtsies. "Lady Calypso, it is nice to see you here tonight." She nods her head to Anze and offers a smile. "Your Highness, thank you both for coming."

A contented smile on his face, Antonio Velanosa arrives upon the beach- dressed as he normally does in his sea-faring leathers. He doesn't arrive alone though- the vision of blond loveliness that is Lady Juliana Pravus is on his arm, the two conversing quietly as they may their way toward the party.

For a person that's habitually early, Cristoph shows up to this party a little on the late side. But he does show up! His arrival accompanies a few others and he chats with them before slowly gravitating towards the table with all the cheeses and fruits and assorted foods. "Nice dress." He comments to Alarissa now that they've passed the initial crowd of people. He snacks a piece of cheese and commences with scanning the crowd, looking over heads. Super casual in a looking for someone sort of way.

"good to see yah Arcelia" Anze says with a return nod, giving a little chuckle at Calypso's return whisper. "Ain ever been to a beach party before."

Kieran looks to Anze and gives the man a nod of greeting. "What? You didn't tend the one last year?" He pauses and rubs his chin in thought. "No, I think that was just Fergus and I."

Anze shakes his head at Kieran "nah, beach seems an odd place for a party to me, but, well, most likely cause we ain really got beaches back home."

Eithne waggles her brows a bit. "Promises promises." She replies with a quirky grin on her lips. Stormy grey eyes scan the beach, taking in the sights around her as she moves with Ferrando towards the food. "I suppose we should eat. Though we should also grab a drink or two, also." There's a playful wink there before glancing over to Arcelia with another smile for the noble woman. "Southerners always think the Southern beaches are the best. I'll just have to wait to see for myself." The armorer nudges the big man beside her. "I could use a vacation."

Calypso smirks a touch. "It is no Lycene beach, certainly. But the decoration really does bring about the festive atmosphere." She looks to Anze then. "I don't think I've been to one in Arx. The last thing even close to this was a party thrown on a boat by Princess Donella."

Walking up to the group greeting Arcelia, Caelis falls in next to her cousin. "Lady Arcelia, you look sensational." She offers and gestures to the beach. "Nice party." She looks to her cousin and soon to be cousin with a cheery smile before nodding to Kieran. "Your highness, good to see you."

Freja narrows her eyes at Victus. "Is that a challenge? Shall we make a wager then? I think they have already taken names though..." she sighs dramatically, the back of her hand pressed to her forehead. "I think I'm going to be faint." With a snort she grabs the whiskey bottle he passes over and drinks heartily before handing it back over. "What was that again?" she asks of Kieran.

"Well I hope you enjoy yourself Prince Anze." Arcelia turns then to face Eithne and pulls is handed a bottle of wine by one of her guards who is holding a bag. "I hope you get to go down south and enjoy our hospitality. The Malvici are especially lovely to visit down in Southport." She offers out the bottle to Eithne. "Random gifts tonight in addition to game prizes."

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

"Thank you Lord Christoph." Alarissa murmurs in response when the compliment is paid, easing off his arm once they have made it in to the event, glance around to those present. Victus gets a dip of her head at least, Mariand and Isabeau both as well. The pallid Princess who's risking another freckle coming out reaches for one of those bits of cheese as well to nibble, eyeing the crowd. Wincing at some of the language used. "Hopefully, it will be entertaining."

Anze shakes his head a little at the idea of a party on a boat "lucky this ain a party on a boat, otherwise I don't think you'd get me to come." He nods to the cluster of his family "want to say hi to tha jerks of tha north?" he asks Calypso.

Marian smiles at Isabeau's prodding, "Well...I suppose." She gives her a smile before making her way in the direction of Freja and Victus. She pulls out the mead that she brought with her to the beach and gives greeting, "Maybe you'll see my sculpture when you start looking around the Dunes. I was here earlier, crafting my masterpiece.

Kieran dips his head to Caelis, "Lady Caelis. Always a pleasure." He is about to say something else, but Freja grabs his attention, "I asked if you would be participating in the storytelling contest." Anze earns a reply, "We could try making a beach. Import some sand and dump it along the Red Run. We might be able to truly enjoy it for a few days in the middle of July.

Arcelia then turns to Caelis. "Thank you Lady Caelis." She offers the woman a bright smile. "I hope you enjoy the party as well. It has been a lot of fun planning and Duke Hadrian was very generous in helping get this party going as was Lord Karadoc."

Eithne widens her eyes at the bottle of wine given to her by Arcelia. "My Lady! This is very gracious of you. Thank you." The petite armorer dips into a curtsey that isn't completely practiced. She's a little rough around the edges but makes the attempt since she's in a dress. "I'll have to make sure to return the favor should you come to visit my shop." Eithne nudges Ferrando again. "We totally just scored!"

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Aiden appropriates a drink and finds a spot in the sand near one of the bonfires to sit. He's already got his boots off, came prepared this time with a pair that's easily able to come off his feet. Silver eyes watch quietly as his gaze marks those he knows and those he doesn't. He does spend an awful long time looking toward the waters edge.

Nicia gives Marian a bit of a wave when she begins to move on, but doesn't try and insert herself into the conversation. Instead she just turns her attention towards the rest of the crowd, idly sipping her wine as she starts to scan faces.

Calypso gives a nod to Caelis as she spots her cousin. "Almost like back home." She looks to Arcelia then. "Oh was he? I am glad to hear it. I haven't seen my brother out and about in a while. Im glad you were able to utilize his social talents, Lady Arcelia."

Anze snickers at something when Calypso says hi to Caelis before saying "aye there Caelis" then with a shrug to Kieran he says "feel like movin all that sand would be silly, just get in tha way of good proper snow."

The High Lord's grimace breaks for just a moment as a ghost of a grin begins to play over his lips. "Princess Marian. Heard you got hitched. Or are gettin' hitched." Victus puts a hand to his hip, that bottle of wine he has in a vice-grip almost totally empty already. "I didn't finger you for a sand sculptor neither. Maybe you and Freja should see who can build the most rickety castle and then I'll come and fuck 'em up." He grins down to his guest, making those few inches they share in height as exaggerated as he can. Alarissa in kind would receive a quick wave, recognition flashing over his face for just a moment before he's drowning in alcohol again.

"It is no problem at all. Enjoy it!" She offers Eithne a smile before Arcelia approaches Kieran with a bright smile and offers out to him a bottle of wine that is handed to her by one of her guards. "Your Highness, for you." She offers the man a warm smile, having never met him before she starts with an introduction. "I am Lady Arcelia Saik. It is a pleasure to meet you and have you at the party."

Ferrando grins back to Arcelia as she chimes in (and prizes them up with wine). "Thank you! I think you did an excellent job of bringing a little south back up to Arx, Lady Arcelia. It's a cracking bonfire over there, for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if they could see it all the way back in Caith," he tells her before nudging Eithne right back. "That's got the drinks covered. Let's go get some of those cheeses before they're all gone! Lady Arcelia, thank you again." He bows to Arcelia and heads off to do just that. "You know, now that I've stuck it out through a couple of Arx winters I won't feel at all like I'm running away and hiding if we head south for a few. And you -deserve- a vacation after all that armoring you did during the siege, that's for sure," he notes as he wanders foodward.

Freja grins at Marian. "I'll try and look for it. And see? He already wants to play sea monster and smash our poor castles to bits. Bully." She sticks her tongue out at Victus.

Arcelia turns her head to Calypso then and offers a smile. "He was enthusiastic about helping with the party. Where ever he is tonight I hope he is enjoying himself as well." She then turns her head to Ferrando. "You are most welcome Master Ferrando." She turns her attention back to Kieran then!

"To my knowledge the contract is still under negotiation," Marian tells Victus with a smile, "But yes, I hope soon that Prince Fergus and I will be married." There's a softer tone to her voice when she speaks of her intended. When Victus jokes about destroying her castle, "Oh no...I prefer to craft animals in the sand rather than castles."

"Almost is. I can't wait for you to get to go back for the honeymoon." Caelis tells Calypso brightly and pats Anze's arm. "Heard about the race. I'll be ready." She promises and nods to them before watching Aiden wander off. She smiles to her cousin, and Arcelia and slips away, walking down the sand to plop down next to Aiden. "Your highness." She says by way of greeting.

Anze chuckles "heard bout tha race? Calypso must be damn excited" he gives her an eye for a moment before looking back to Caelis "makes me think shes gonna tie my horses legs together or somethin."

Kieran accepts the wine from arcelia with another respectful bow of his head. "Thank you, My Lady. Prince Kieran of Redrain, Master of Revels to the Crown." He eyes the wine a bit, before noting, "I am more of a whiskey drinker, so I will have to rely on your expertise on how great this wine is." He takes a sip and nods in appreciation. "Well, my untrained tastes likes it at least." He chuckles a bit to Anze and nods, "Snowman beachgoers sounds a bit amusing, though."

"Then I will hunt the sandy bits of your critters for Petrichor." Victus affirms, the sweet wine running through his blood already loosening up his somberness quite a bit. That means it wasn't time to stop now as he moved onto the next bottle beneath his colossal arm. "Then, I'll knock down Freja's northern castle in the sand. Hmm. Actually, is snow dense enough to make castles? If we had some, I might like to see that instead..."

Juliana seems to have taken a page from Antonio's book, when it comes to her clothing choices for the evening. Leather pants with teal piping along the outer seams lead to a flamboyant set of boots with teal overturns. But instead of completing the leather trend, she's chosen a delicate and soft silk blouse, shaded all sorts of ocean hues. She has her arm wound round Antonio and is looking up at him with a wide smile. "...and they gave it to me because they said the color matched my eyes. Isn't that sweet?" She looks around as they arrive at the party, smiling wide and looking content.

Trudging down from the cliffs above, Korka plods through the sand in the direction of the brightly lit gathering. So many people. She does not immediately move to approach the full distance, lingering at the light's edge as she looks over it all.

"Excuse me." Cristoph says to Alarissa, before venturing away from the table and making his way through the crowds of people. He'll nod his head to those that he knows or lift his hand in a brief wave but eventually he finds himself in the vicinity of Nicia. "I see that you made it here." He states by way of greeting, giving her a sly half smile.

"Goldfinch," Aiden says quietly toward Caelis as she decides to plunk down beside him, a soft smile etching upward on the curve of his lips, "Are you uhm, enjoying the party?" He looks toward the bonfires and lanterns, and all the people clustering and chattering away. Silver eyes wander toward her, "It's a lively one."

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

Camp is now unlocked.

"Abandoning me. I see how it is." Alarissa childs Cristoph with a small laugh, not trying to keep him with her. Not when she see's who it is that he's heading for. Which leaves the Grayson turned Valardin Princess to make her way into the throng and brings her in conversation range of Juliana and Antonio. "Lady Pravus." The smile, serene and brilliant as she comes to stand near the other woman and her companion. "How are you this day?"

Camp is now locked.

"I am not much of a yarn weaver. No one wants to hear my tales from the North anyways. Nonsense and all." Freja says to Kieran with a slight flush to her cheeks as she goes for the whiskey again. "Yes, snow is. I used to make forts of it back when I was little to ambush Ferg and Anze with..." she answers Vitus with a ghost of a smile playing at the edge of ehr lips as her gaze flits to her brothers momentarily.

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Curiously, in the absence of Marian's brief salutation, Princess Isabeau finds herself stood alone on the dunes. She lingers for a little while longer, slipping out of her fine silk shoes, and then begins to amble toward the edge of where the sand meets the water with her dubious bodyguard in tow.

"Aww, poor you." Eithne playfully rolls her eyes at Ferrando. "Big man gets all cold in the Winter." She snerks at him and threads her free arms in his. "Let's go find ourselves a nice place to plop ourselves down and enjoy this bottle o'wine."

Kieran gets a smile from Arcelia. "It is a pleasure. I hope I will get to talk to you again soon but I must make my rounds and say hello to my guests. Thank you for coming." She moves then over to Antonio and offers out to him a bottle of wine as well. "Your Highness, it is nice to see you were able to make it."

Fergus doesn't show up anywhere unless there's liquor involved. But he does drop by bonfires, had been saying for awhile now that he'd really like to go to one or hold one or whatever. But he's just in the middle of arriving, bearded scarred face eyeing the large fire in relative silence, a hand having taken hold of a whiskey bottle that's long since lost the cap to in the surf. Which he drinks from. "Nice fire." he grunts to nobody in particular.

6 Thrax Guards arrives, following Abbas.

"I did happen to make it." Nicia agrees with a quick smile at Cristoph, lifting her glass at him, "I even managed to find the wine, and a quiet, out of the way place to stand." She glances around, noting a few of the newly arrived individuals, giving her cousin and Antonio a bit of a wave before her attention turns back to Cristoph, "I was considering uprooting myself to go say hello to a few people, did you want to walk with me?"

"Well, it does match your eyes," Antonio says, laughing softly to whatever it was Juliana was talking about, a hand patting hers. Before he can say anything else though, they're approached by both Alarissa and Arcelia. So many As! And while Jules is greeted by Alarissa, Antonio smiles at the Saik woman, taking the offered bottle in his free hand. "Thank you, Lady Areclia. You've outdown yourself. I expected no less."

Anze chuckles a bit at Kieran "sounds like somethin you'd do to fuck with tha lot of us. Make a f'an beach in tha winter an act like its normal as can be" an then over to Freja Anze barks out "aye, an then after you ambushed us we'd shove your face in tha snow."

Ferrando seems to be reconsidering his initial intentions to share any of the cheese he's stacked up with Eithne as he squints down at her. "Whatever. Snow is unnatural," he grumbles before grinning and pointing up at some dunes. "How about up top there? Bet it's got a good view. Sand here's kinda rocky but it should be warm still from being out in the sun all day, too."

Enter the Warlord of Thrax. And he comes with his reaver guards as he makes his way down to the beach. He brandishes a bottle of rum in his hand and he already seems to be taking pulls from it. Abbas is not wearing armor but instead a nobleman's clothes. Dark eyes scan those present in the light of the bonfire.

"My family is here, in part. I'm sure I'll have fun. And some friends, like yourself as well some other familiar faces around the compact. Thought I'd come drop by first. There might be dancing later, if you'd like to brave another dance." Caelis offers to Aiden where he settled on the fringe of the party. "I'll be about, if you decide you want some company." She adds and clasps her hand on the prince's shoulder before getting to her feet and carefully dusting the seasilk dress off.

Victus checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Anze catches some line from Ferrando and bah's at him "snow is tha most natural thing in tha world, its weird that there are people who ain ever seen it before. Ain able to pack up sand an throw it at no one."

Juliana turns her attention to Alarissa, a small smile curving her lower lip, "Why hello there your highness. I trust the evening is treating you well?" Juliana leans in towards Antonio just a bit, so their shoulders brush, but her attention is focused there on the Valardin princess.

Calypso grins at Anze. "Sure you can. Get a little water in it and it packs up nicely. Shall I demonstrate?"

Aiden checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

Kieran gives another dip of his head to arcelia as she moves on to make the rounds. Looking to Victus, he nods, "Indeed, high Lord. snow can be used to make amny interesting things. It compacts well." He grins to Freja and notes, "Nonsense makes the best stories." His attention moves to the water and he begins to descened to the beach, giving Caelis and Aiden a nod of his head. "It's the end of summer so might as well enjoy a swim while we can, right?" He then begins undressing.

Arcelia offers Antonio a smile. "I am glad you approve Your Highness. I hope you enjoy your evening. I am going to give out one more bottle of this, for now, and then I am going to make my speech and get Limbo going." She smiles at him again and curtsies before moving over to Korka and offering out a bottle of wine. "Thank you for coming tonight."

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Aiden smiles quietly up toward Caelis, "Another dance would be nice. Thank you. Please, go have fun and mingle. I'll be alright." He looks over the crowd that's gathered, for now keeping an amiable look to him, withdrawn than normal, but he doesn't have to be the host of anything so he can slip into an introverts corner, or well, patch of sand before the fires.

Marian gets distracted when she sees that Fergus is at the party. She momentarily abandons her companions so she can stalk up to him and wrap the arm that's not carrying the blackberry mead around his waist, "Miss me?" She looks around at everyone present, "It's a big party, isn't it?"

Blink. Blink. Korka had just started to shift backward and away with someone important looking heading towards her, but then there is a bottle of _wine_ held out and she is so very prompt to step forward and take it. "I - uh, you are very welcome," she says, holding the wine lightly against her chest. "No problem." Big smile.

After some hushed words between Freja and Victus, the High Lord suddenly springs into action. While not as graceful as he would have hoped, a powerful arm locks around Freja's waist and suddenly lifts her into a sitting position atop one of his shoulders with some awkward posture. After straightening out his back, he manages though. Now holding a Redrain princess with one arm while he holds his wine in the other. If he wasn't so lazy as to drop his booze, that would've gone much, /much/ smoother. "There. Now nobody will shove your face into the sand while you're up there." His eyes glance over toward Abbas as he enters, a grin between brothers in arms being shared as he hoists his guest like a trophy.

Cristoph glances over his shoulder at Alarissa when he hears her chiding him, grinning broadly. Back to Nicia, he offers her his arm. "Yes, I'd like to walk with you." Now that he's closer to he takes a quick moment to say something to her quietly before he allows her to the lead the way in making the rounds.

Her hand gives Ferrando's brawny biceps a little squeeze and clucks her tongue at him. "You know, some people might think these are the most unnatural thing in the world, but no one complains about them." Eithne takes a sassy little turn and sashay's up to the dunes. She tosses the bouncer a little wink over her shoulder then promptly sticks her tongue out at him as she makes a dash for it. "Last one to the dunes is a rotten egg!"

"I will smell of smoke and ocean when all is done, but I am faring very well." Just the last bits of her black eye and cheeks, greens nad mottled yellows. "But it will be worth it, I am sure. You are looking ravishing this evening." She noticed the outfit. "And who has managed to get you on his arm this day as well." A glance with the dark blue eyes at the man in question, Antonio after Arcelia departs.

Ferrando gives Anze what could be termed as a politely skeptical smile and a shrug, but declines to comment, mostly because Eithne is running off with the bottle of wine while he's distracted. He looks back at her quickly. "Eh- hey!" he complains brightly, and starts chugging through the sand after her.

Eithne has joined the Northern Dunes.

Ferrando has joined the Northern Dunes.

Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Hearing Kieran's offer, Caelis laughs and shakes her head. Last time I stripped down to swim, Prince Abbas cheated at a boat race. I think I'll find a nice wine first." She tells the Redrain prince and nods to Aiden. "As you will, Prince Aiden." she says warmly and walks over to the refreshment table.

Eternally grumpy as he tends to be, Fergus isn't the smiling sort. That doesn't mean his features soften just *slightly* at the redheaded Valardin's approach. "Yeah, I guess I did. A little, at least." he grunts, nudging her a little. "So what's the fucking occasion? Just heard there some shit going on an decided to show my mug." Some people he recognizes, and his sister especially, giving his sister a particular pointed look while on Victus' shoulder. But then back to Marian. "How you doing."

Kieran has joined the In the Water.

There is a flash of interest at what he says, and Nicia murmurs something quietly back to him as she tucks her hand around his offered arm. She then glances around, trying to decide who to head towards first before she points in Caelis' direction, "Have you had the chance to meet Lady Caelis yet?" She starts to head towards her direction, which thankfully also will bring her back in the direction of wine.

Squee, the Flying Squirrel arrives, delivering a message to Calypso before departing.

"High Lord Victus." Abbas flashes some teeth to the man in greting and grins at his long time friend and brother in the Salt. He looks up and catches sight of Freja and cants his head slightly, "Just like old times." He offers and takes a long pull of rum. There are a few swallows before he wipes at the back of his mouth. Abbas spots his sister and then Antonio. The Warlord heads that way but not after having one of his men hand him a bottle of rum. In the distance he finds Isabeau and with a paced toss he sends the rum sailing in her direction and it lands in her direction unborken by the cushon of the sands.

"Aye Victus, five silver to toss her in tha ocean" Anze yells out to Victus with a Freja on his shoulder.

Freja begins to say to Anze, "Well, you may have made me eat snow but I also remember vividly the time I-" and that anecdote is cut off swiftly by the High Lord of Thrax hoisting the Voice of Redrain up on his shoulders like some game trophy. A girlish squeak escapes as she flails for a moment and then settles on her new perch with a cough and continued flush of her cheeks. Right. She totally planned on this, Cool as a cucumber, she holds a hand over her eyes and narrows her gaze. "...I can see my house from here." She grins and then adds, "I'LL GIVE YOU 100 TO NOT!"

Squee, the Flying Squirrel arrives, delivering a message to Calypso before departing.

"Very good, my lady," Antonio says to Arcelia, as the party's hostess departs, turning his attention now toward the Valardin nee Grayson princes who's conversing with Juliana. He doesn't introduce himself though, instead allowing the Pravus woman to make it.

"That's a Thrax for you, ruining fun in the water. At least he didn't drown you," Kieran notes back to Caelis before proceeding to strip down completely and run out into the water, diving under the waves. When he emerges and runs a hand over his head to slick back his hair, he turns to face the ebach and watch the crowds around the bonfires.

Arcelia offers Korka a smile and nods her head. "Enjoy your evening." She then moves away and towards the center of the party.

Marian gives him a shoulder nudge while he holds her, "I'm not sure what the occassion is...although I did submit a sculpture for the contest. I spent all morning on the dragon and I think it came out pretty well." She pauses as the High Lord of Thrax grabs Freja and puts her over his shoulder. She takes a sip of drink and murmurs something to Fergus, her alert eyes glancing at the other Valardins present to see what they're up to.

Victus quirks a brow toward Anze and then turns that look up toward Freja. He was handling balancing her weight on only one half of himself surprisingly well for a man that was no doubt already halfway toward total shitfaced. "Really? 20 n' a hundred? That's how much you value your life?" He scoffs. "I would hail-mary you straight to the fuckin' Maelstorm. Even further if you wait awhile." He punctuates that remark with another powerful swig of wine. "Actually might not have to wait too long..."

Something that Nicia mentions has Cristoph gesturing to one of those approaching wine servers. "Please?" He asks and will take a glass first for her and then for himself. "I haven't had the chance to meet her yet, no." There's a little shake of his head and then he takes a sip of his wine, hazarding another set of quietly spoken words to her.

Once Arcelia has moved away, Korka holds the bottle of wine up so she can stare at it, her eyes going more than a little wide. The woman looks around in her immediate area, and then, tucking her bottle beneath her arm she heads for the food, grabbing herself a plate.

Calypso is overheard praising Arcelia for: Refreshing summer party! It makes me miss home.

Sweet refreshments, Caelis gets herself a glass of wine before spying there are boats and she gets a steely look in her eye deciding it's never too late for a rematch. She purses her lips and sips at her wine slowly, undoubtedly plotting for the moment.

Eithne falls into her seat at the very last second, barely holding herself together to beat out Ferrando to the Dunes and flops down on her rump with a raucous laughter.

Well then. Nothing puts an end to a half-sulking stroll on the beach like the abrupt airborne arrival of a bottle of booze. The Valardin princess stops short as her bodyguard moves up closer, cautious. Isabeau looks back over toward the bonfire thoughtfully and it's likely that it doesn't take her long to sort out the culprit.

Calypso gives Arcelia and he cousin Caelis a brief nod and quietly heads back towards the city with Anze.

Aiden picks up 27 books.

Nicia finishes her previous wine, trading the empty one for the full one as she steers Cristoph in Caelis' direction, her brows lifting upwards a bit at Cristoph's whisper. Instead of answering right away, though, she just pulls him towards Caelis, "Lady Caelis..." She calls, then indicates Cristoph with her glass, "I wanted to introduce you to Duke Cristoph Laurent." The start of introductions made she then leans in to murmur something back to him.

Aiden drops 27 books.

Gustaf leaves, following Anze.

Anze leaves, following Calypso.

Fergus was about to step forward to eyeball what exactly Victus and Freja are to. Don't blame him for being the overprotective brother. A very large overprotective brother. So one might thank the smaller Valardin for saying something to him, enough that he decides to just drink instead. "Little dragon, eh? Didn't make a bear? I'm fucking hurt." Looking elsewhere, he gives a wave over to Eithene. "Hey. You. Short smith with the strong hands." Just saying hey, it looks like.

1 Saik Guard, Gunther, a Rottweiler arrive, following Estaban.

Aiden picks up 27 books.

Arcelia steps forward and with a well projected voice speaks to her party guests. "I would like to take a moment to simply say good evening to you all before I begin. I hope you are all enjoying the party thus far and that you will continue to do so throughout the night." She pauses a moment, taking in a breath before she continues. "I would like to thank Duke Hadrian Malvici for a generous donation that helped see this party into fruition. For those of you that haven't had the opportunity to meet him I highly recommend trying to corner him for wine and conversation." R
"There will be limbo to start us off tonight, dancing for all throughout the evening, and then we will wind down with some stories and revealing the winner of the sand sculpture contest." Arcelia turns her body slowly, taking in those gathered as she presses on, hands folded regally over her stomach. "Throughout the night I will be accepting donations that will be given to the Faith to aid them in recovering their funds spent on the siege and will be making a small donation myself. Tonight is also a night to celebrate Jayus and Mangata so please take time to remember them throughout the evening."

Arcelia is overheard praising Hadrian for: For his generous donation that helped the Bonfire Party happen!

Aiden drops 26 books.

Aiden drops Grayson Sand Goose - Sculpture Contest.

"And I would take you down with me." Freja warns Victus as she shifts her weight enough to sit more comfortably on his shoulder. "Redrain family is taught to brawl before we crawl..." She pauses and then notes aloud, or moreso bemoans, "I'm only half-drunk enough for this." To try and soothe the bear, she smiles at Fergus and gives him a wave of her fingers.

Woody, an infantile Northern white-faced owl with soft gray plumage arrives, delivering a message to Abbas before departing.

"My thanks, your highness." Juliana replies to Alarissa, her eyes tracking up and down the other woman, taking in the sight of her, picking apart the cut and quality of her clothes. "As are you. Have you met His Highness Prince Antonio Velenosa?" She looks to Antonio, "This is the Princess Alarissa Valardin."

Estaban comes walking down onto the beach looking around as he does, so many have come to the beach party and it makes him smile, yes he is smiling at the moment He looks around for Arcelia the tall man can find her easy enough right?\

"I haven't seen a bear close enough to be sculpting one," Marian tells him with a wink, "Once I join the family, I promise to make a bunch of little bears." She gives him a wink and drinks her mead. She sees Freja waving their way and waves back with a laugh.

Victus's eyes turn toward Lady Arcelia as she speaks on the festivities of the evening. Maybe it was just the wine talking, but he could almost feel himself cracking a smile. Almost. Very much so almost, but no cigar. His lips diverted into a shark-like grin at the last moment. "We sing praise to the to the Goddess of the Salt itself!" The High Lord bellows loud to the sky in Mangata's own praise. "Tears in our wake, NEVER at our wake!" With that, he slams back that bottle of wine like his life were dependent on him getting absolutely drunk right, this, second. Freja would likely be noticing the effect more than anyway as her view swayed just a bit more. "You know in Thrax, we throw our babes in the water to see if they sink or swim. I can tell ya' who learned to swim before he sank. You wanna take your chances with him on an island?"

Arcelia motions to the tending servants of the evening and they start to make rounds with bottles of Saik Wine, offering to fill and refill glasses while she continues her speech. "Lastly, I want to take a moment to discuss the theme of the evening which is "In The Moment". We live our lives often forgetting to enjoy the simplicity of each moment. We let time pass us by too fast, we plan out our lives one page at a time instead of remembering to pay attention to each word. We sail through the rain that pours down on our lives rather than stop to feel each rain drop hitting our skin and assess the way our body rocks with each wave on a ship." She pauses with a smile.

"Tonight is about living in the moment. Whatever you do let it be spontaneous, don't plan it out... just do it because you want to do it. Let go of the need to plan out each step of your life tonight. If you make a donation let it be because you feel it in your heart. If you share a kiss with someone than let that kiss be full of passion. If you dance let the grace of the Gods flow through each step and carry you off into the night. Tonight, just have fun."

And with that Arcelia raises a glass of wine she has been handed. "To the joy of The Moment, to all of you, and to just living." Once the brief toast is made Arcelia offers all her guests a respectful curtsy and heads off over to the limbo bar. "Limbo time!"

Abbas makes his way over near his sister and offers an apologetic look as he leans in and whispers to her softly.

Aiden did his part earlier. He played in the sand. Yes. So now he's drinking by himself and watching the antics of the other people, generally being more socialable to the birds he brought with him rather than the people this night. To those who approach him he'll offer a quick nod and smile and maybe a polite word.

Larissa picks up 26 books.

Freja checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

Fergus nods back at Freja, tipping his bottle towards her before drinking from it. Victus, in classic brotherly fashion gets the 'I got my eye on you' gesture a pair of his fingers. He is manhandling his sister after all. But he goes to listening to Arcelia and talk about the purpose of the bonfire. "I got a couple stories. Not sure they're the kind people want to listen to. Usually involves heads rolling and limbs lost." A glance at Marian. "Though, I know that's the kind of shit that turns you on."

"Lady Nicia." Caelis greets warmly. Look who can behave? "How are you today, Sunshine?" Well, mostly behaved. She looks to Cristoph and curtsies. "Duke Cristoph. Nice to meet you. Lady Admiral Caelis Malvici, Voice of Southport." She offers and smiles. "I believe limbo is starting, did either of you care to join in?" She asks.

She has food, she has wine. Korka takes both to the edges of the lit space again, flopping herself down to sit in the sand while she consumes her pilfered haul. She watches from her vantage point with clear interest, attention swinging all around as she takes everything in.

Larissa drops 25 books.

"Would you expect no less?" Alarissa inquires of Juliana, a raised brow, arched delicately as hands smooth the lavender linen dress that bears her some modesty and allows her to enjoy the evening air. Those dark eyes traverse once more to Antonia and the same smile for Juliana is offered to Antiono. "Prince Velenosa. Clearly, she has been hiding you somewhere. It is a pleasure to meet you. There are quite a few people here yes? An abundance of them. Everyone seems to have crawled out of the woodwork."

"Oh...now you're just teasing me," Marian winks at Fergus when he jokes that bloody tales turn her on. She gives him a tug with her hand, "Come on, let's wander a bit and see the sculptures." She doesn't seem that interested in doing the limbo.

Freja makes an attempt to grab the bottle from Victus, maintaining her balance and even doing it with some grace! "Till the Last...shot. Whiskey. I need whiskey." she says, modifying the Redrain motto for her own amusement. "The snows can be just as cruel as the salts...I'd take my chances!" she brazenly declares in her tipsy state. Arcelia gets a round of applause and a sharp, shrill whistle of approval from the shaman.

"A pleasure to meet you, Princess Alarissa. Indeed, Lady Juliana keeps me stuffed in her closet, so I'll stay out of trouble." Antonio says, once the lovely woman on his arm makes the introductions. Abbas' approach gets a curious look and a bit of a half smile, as the Lenosian prince does his best to not eaversdrop on their whisper.

Cristoph doesn't reply to Nicia's more quietly uttered words aside from one arched eyebrow and a softly spoken, "Lets talk later." Then he's bowing at the waist to Lady Caelis after the introductions are made. "Lovely to meet you. I think that I'm probably going to pass on limbo myself, it's not a forgiving activity for the tall and I'm not that limber." He smirks and cuts his eyes towards Arcelia when she gives her speech, giving a round of applause once she's done.

Asher checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Larissa has been scribbling furiously on one of the books that Arcelia brought and when it is finished she gives the ink a blow and closes it, tucking it aside for later as she looks around her and smiles. "Lady Juliana, hello!" she calls out to her friend as she moves over and takes a seat next to where she sits. "My Lord, hello" she greets Antonio as well as she burrows herself into the sand. "Are you enjoying yourselves?" she asks

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

"Then I shall find you two in a moment. Lady Arcelia is a dear friend, I mean to participate at least a little." Caelis tells Cristoph and Nicia, a hand on her blade before she hands the cutlass off to her guard to walk over to limbo.

Asher hasn't been outside the city in ages. The exception tonight, is that he has a delivery to make, and a party to go to. All things considered, tonight should be a good night. When he gets to the beaches, he's still wearing his leather armor, still has his weapons tied to his waist, and still looks like he's fresh out of the smithy. A bit of soot on his neck that doesn't quite reach his face. At the time of arrival, limbo has started, and he's spotted an Arcelia. So he makes his way over - but takes his turn with it before he says hello! Can't say no to a challenge!

Kieran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Caelis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Juliana smiles at Alarissa as she looks to Antonio and then up at the Prince, a brow lifting when he mentions being stashed in her closet. Abbas' approach and whisper draw a confused look to her face and she tilts her head to the side. "Yes, brother, soon." She looks a bit pensive as she tries to rejoin the conversaion.

Nicia glances towards Arcelia when she gives her speech, altough she doesn't quite applaud there is an attempt at a smile for that before she shakes her head at Caelis, "Of course." She replies when Caelis starts to head off to participate, lifting her glass to take a swallow from the wine before she looks around, "Anyone else you'd like to say hello to that isn't doing the limbo?"

Kieran hears the limbo is beginning and swims to shore and wades out of the water. He quickly dons his trousers but leaves the rest of the clothes on the sand, since he is likely to end up back in the water. Once the game actually begins he easily dips under the bar being held, before applauding for Caelis and Asher.

Arcelia walks over to Victus, he drew attention to himself!, and offers him a bottle of wine. "Thank you for getting into the spirit of things for the evening. I appreciate that." She then heads over to the limbo bar that two servants are holding up to watch the game of Limbo!

The Warlord of Thrax lingers near Juliana a moment. Dark eyes move and find the occupants of the party. He casts a glance to check and see if clothing is optional for the limbo. As usual his participation depens on that one fine point. Likely this was not a Pravus or Kennex pool party so that meant outside of swimming he did not have the chance to show off his 'Salt Life' ink across his abdomen. He takes a long pull of the rum and then he offers one last whisper to Juliana. He pats Antonio on the shoulder and then head for the limbo line. He strips off his silk shirt because surely the buttons will cause him to lose.

Aiden has left the Southern Dunes.

Kieran is shirtless and shoeless currently, so Abbas will not be alone.

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

"That might explain how well dressed you are." Alarissa replies, looking to Juliana as Abbas diverts the womans attention. When he's done whispering, there's a tilt of her head to the Thraxian. "Prince Abbas." A greeting before she looks back to Antonio. "And when you're not stuffed in her closet?"

Isabeau has joined the Quiet Strand.

Walks along with Marian, heading to look over the sculptures. He eyes the dragon that Marian had made. "You made this?" he glances over at her. "That's pretty good. I mean, I don't know shit for art, but I know what I fucking like." He's done enough limbo for one lifetime on that boat, which is just going to bring back naseauting memories of being on a boat to begin with. "I'd probably just make a sculpture of a big ol whiskey bottle. Start simple and do what you know."

Estaban gets to Arcelia putting his hand on her shoulder looking to her, "I am sorry I am late." he says to her softly looking to Victus nodding his head to the man. He is dressed in leathers in the colors of Greens and white with lions on them a bow is on his back and a sword at his side.

Abbas chucks the deuces and a wink back to Alarissa and eyes the bar as he approaches the limbo and he goes down and aces it. The inked up Reaver Prince wheres a shit eating grin. He was even guzzling rum while he went under. Dark eyes move to Caelis, "Been a while. I doubt you've forgotten me." He teases.

Marian has her hand tucked in his and gives it a squeeze when he speaks well of her sculpture, "Oh...I'm glad you like it." She motions to where the shells were used to make the scales, "The scales took the longest. I had to place them by hand." She leans in to listen to his murmured words and then lightly kisses him. There may be activity going on around them but her eyes are on Fergus.

Isabeau has left the Quiet Strand.

What's this? -More- free wine? Do not mind if a High Lord does. "Many thanks, Lady Arcelia." Victus' words are a tad slurred but he still manages a surprising amount of coherency. He adjusts his grip on Freja's lap just to ensure he doesn't carelessly dump her anywhere that wouldn't be hilarious. Fergus' death stare was enough to make sure of that. His eyes set upon the limbo as Abbas moves to participate. "CRUSH THEM, WARLORD!" He called to his brother in the Salt.

Aiden stands up from where he had taken a spot, brushes himself off. He regards the antics of the limbo. There's a brief smile for the excitment but he doesn't stick around to find out the results.

Jordal, a bodyguard leaves, following Isabeau.

Baron Archibald Chirpington, a Gyrfalcon, 1 Grayson Guardsmen, Mr Tarquin, a Blue and Gold Macaw leave, following Aiden.

"Have you met Princess Alarissa yet? I walked with her here. I believes she's over by your cousin." He gives a lift of his chin in that general direction. Cristoph then gives her a curious look and asks, "Unless of course you want to go do the limbo. I'll cheer you on." He takes a sip from his glass and looks at her over the rim, a smile tugging on his mouth.

"This time I don't plan on letting you so close!" Caelis shoots to Abbas and raises her chin. Her hands settle on her hips as she does. Defiant at his teasing.

Ferrando has left the Northern Dunes.

Antonio accepts that pat from Abbas with a bit of a grin, though the change in Jules' demeanor gets an eyebrow lift. No matter for now though, it's a party! "Oh, when I'm not in her closet, I'm usually at sea. So.. one or the other." This is, of course, said to Alarissa. When Larissa joins, he gives the woman a nod of his head. "So far. So good."

"Yeah, that's good shit, Mari." Fergus nods, looking at the shells. "Would've helped you an shit, but...I would've just tried burying myself in sand and calling it good." A glance over the others, taking each one in, looking it over like an art critic might. Or at least, faking it like he is one. "We should go fuck with my sister. Feel like tossing her drunk ass into the ocean." A look over at the other pair. "We could take'em."

"I never have met her officially, no." Nicia replies, glancing towards the limbo when it is mentioned before she shakes her head, a smile fighting it's way back as she declines, "I shall pass, although I appreciate your willingness to cheer me on if I had decided." She gives his arm a tug instead, starting towards where Alarissa, Juliana and Antonio seem to be gathered, "Come introduce me to the Princess. Have you met Prince Antonio? If not, I can introduce you to him."

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

Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Kieran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 16, rolling 0 higher.

Juliana sends a reassuring smile Antonio's way, after nodding to her brother before he leaves. Larissa's arrival has Juliana perking up immensely, abandoning Antonio's arm in favor of giving the whisper an enthusiastic hug. "You and I are in need of a drink, dinner and a very long conversation."

There is something about bonfires that will bring out the jovial in the Northerners, particularly shaman. Freja is no exception as with a touch of whiskey, a touch of mischief, her lips are curled in one of her rare and heartbreaking smiles. She lifts up her bottle in a toast to the limbo, tossing back a great deal. Her eyes widen only briefly as Victus readjusts his grip to make sure she doesn't fall. "Careful!" she warns with ripple of laughter before her voice lifts in a traditional Northern song, catchy and clearly suited for drinking. At the end of the chorus there is a shout of cheer and a lift of the bottle. Once it dies down she asks of Victus, "Should I switch to something more of salt to sing?"

Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 16, rolling 18 higher.

Asher checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 16, rolling 18 higher.

Caelis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 16, rolling 10 higher.

Arcelia looks to Estaban and offers her brother a smile. "I am glad you made it." She watches Abbas with his guzzling and laughs happily as people continue to play.

Antonio has joined the Southern Dunes.

Juliana has joined the Southern Dunes.

Alarissa has joined the Southern Dunes.

Nicia has joined the Southern Dunes.

Kieran leads off the pack for the second round and just barely clears the bar. He swings around and notes to the other contestants, "My back is sore of course. Makes it heard to bend over." Yep, that's totally the reason.

Larissa has joined the Southern Dunes.

Korka has food and wine and a game of limbo to watch. There isn't even anyone that looks like they're going to chase her away. It's a great night. There's an easy grin on the woman's face, her demeanor relaxed.

"GO FUCKING LOW!" Victus bellows in encouragement at Abbas. "KICK GRAVITY'S ASS!" More primal hollering and equally unintelligible howling are soon a commodity from the High Lord as he cheers his cousin on more and more, the singing voice of Freja seeming to be what evidently soothes the beast in time. Holding onto the scout tighter than ever, he looks to her with eyes full of fire. "Yes you mystical bard, sing us a chanty of the sea. These mainlanders need not answer, but they must -listen-!" His tone is no higher than a growl, as if a landslide of gravel was pouring down from his lips.

The Warlord of Thrax goes right back into the line this time just to show off. His long hair hanging down over his shoulders. He stops mid-way through the limbo under the stick and sets the bottle of rum on his flat rock-solid abs of Thraxian doom. And he holds a pose and tosses a wink to Caelis. Then he finishes and gets through and before the bottle drops he snatches it and takes a drink. Abbas turns to watch her go through.

Cristoph has joined the Southern Dunes.

Larissa takes a seat on the dunes after returning Juliana's greeting and she begins to cheer on the limbo line.. if not quite as enthusiastically as Victus.

Marian shakes her head and draws herself closer to Fergus, "Oh no, I'd rather just lay out a blanket and cuddle while we watch the festivities." She nods over at the dunes that afford a little more privacy, "Come on..."

Caelis shimmies under the bar after Abbas, starting to regret wearing a dress for a change as she carefully avoids tripping on. Clearly she's the niece of Eirene Malvici, making a rude gesture at Abbas when she catches him watching her bend back.

Fergus really looks like he wants to screw with his sister, but Marian wins out. "Okay just let me do one fucking thing." He kneels down, clumping together some wet sand much like a person would with a handful of snow. "Just remind her that I love her." Standing back up, he gauges his distance and then hurls the sandball, to smack his sister at the back of her head. Get sand all up in that hair. "Alright. I'm good." And he following with the redhead.

Kieran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 18, rolling 19 higher.

Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 18, rolling 33 higher.

After the second round, Asher has stepped to the side, to find Arcelia, and surprise her with a hug. He's laughing with merriment and is then looking towards Aiden - who has gone. Damn. Someone around here has to be a messenger, right...? Well, outside the city it's unlikely. He shrugs, and will take care of things later. Now, back to Arcelia, and while speaking he's taking off his armor to set on the ground. And the jewelry he's wearing, too, that gets put into pockets. His pants stay on, because... /Pants/. "Hey there, Lady Saik. Did the rings fit well? Not too big around the fingers, I hope." But then, round three! He's waving to her, has to get back to the game!

Asher checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 18, rolling 1 higher.

Caelis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 18, rolling 10 higher.

Kieran slips under the bar much more easily this time and stretches a bit on the other end, "Must have worked out that soreness." He then looks behind him at Abbas even easier and much more showy attempt. "Boooo! Hissss!"

Marian shakes her head at Fergus, "She's going to get you for that." She links her arm with his and then starts off down the beach with him. She leans against him, putting her head on his shoulder. She looks content to let the chaos happen around her.

Once again the servants lower the bar for the next round of limbo while Arcelia watches on. "You can do it Caelis!" Then she gets a hug! She offers Asher an endearing look and "The rings are perfect Master Asher!" She chuckles at Kieran as he goes under the bar again.

Oh is that a rude gesture? Abbas just gives a very sweet smile to Caelis and offers, "You are as beautiful as ever, Lady Malvici." He rumbles softly, "I have never seen someone look so good at losing." And then he goes down and he hops his way through. He nearly is touching the ground and it's obscene how he goes under. And then just for shits and giggles he goes backwards the way he came after successfully making it through. Just because.. Caelis. Then he starts cheering for her, clapping, encouraging her, "I know you got this. You're a saltstar."

Finishing her plate, Korka sets it aside. The wine glass gets the same treatment, her bottle stuck back under her arm, and the dark haired woman heads back for the path she came in on.

"Thanks Archie." Caelis laughs and hugs her. "Made sure to leave the corset at home after the last time I played limbo." Watching Abbas showboat she laughs and shakes her head. "Yeah yeah cuttlefish." She tells Abbas as she ties her skirt into more of a sarong so she can move with out flashing anyone. She takes her turn carefully.

Caelis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 21, rolling 3 higher.

After another peal of laughter Freja counters to Victus, "Better a bard than a siren! But, since you insist...something happy, not sad." she promises herself as much as him as her voices raises again, "And we'll roll the old chariot along....and we'll all hang on behind..." It is bright, catchy and a few even probably join in along as her voice carries the melody.

Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 21, rolling 12 higher.

Kieran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 21, rolling 6 higher.

Freja is also hit with sand ...in the back of her head. 'MOTHER!" she curses loudly, a hand going to the back of her head with a 'ow'...."Fuckin'...MY CURLS, FERG!" And truly, that is going to take some time getting out of that unruly mess.

Somewhere left behind, a small contingent of House Pravus Honor Guards lurks above the beach, watching their charge move on without them. Lianne dressed all in black descends from the path leading back toward the city. Uncharacteristically, she wears her hair down today, brushing past her shoulders. Her verdant gaze tracks the festivites, wide-eyed with unmistakable amusement, a bright smile bowing her lips.

"I fucking *expect* her to get me back for that." Fergus grunts. "Otherwise she's getting all soft on me an shit, an we can't have *that*, can we. Keeps her on her toes. Otherwise I'll tell Auntie Drea on her." But he goes along either, pausing at the swear. "Love you!" he calls over his shoulder at her, continuing along with Marian.

Estaban smiles, "It looks like everything is going good Arcelia." he breaths deeply standing near his sister and then looking around, " Did Prince Aiden not show?" he asks with a bit of worry in his voice.

Asher checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 21, rolling 9 higher.

Never let it be said that Abbas was one not to take a chance to drink rum and show off. Many Thraxians were competitors. He was no different. You should have seen the time he and Victus played naked pool chicken and they came out bloody and bruised after a battle. But here he was all cocksure swagger and the Reaver Prince turns the bottle upside down and he is guzzling and chugging rum with the bottle in his mouth /while/ going under the bar. When he comes up he turns to watch the other two and he grins the whole time. Clearly he is on his way to population drunksville.

Kieran notes to Estaban, "Prince Aiden was here sitting on the beach, staring at the ocean and the birds since the party started. He just left a couple of minutes ago." Then he dips under the ba ronce more, finding it about as easier than the last. "Yep, my back is definitely feeling better now."

Victus takes notice of the sprinkling of sand that lands against his shoulder, seeming to put 2 and 2 together on what had just happened. Like a bear just awoken from its slumber, the High Lord growled viciously as he bent forward. Freja would no doubt be rattled around but he was determined as he scooped up as much balled up sand as possible between those calloused digits. He handed the fruits of his labor to Freja when he was upright again. He brings a hand up to steady her back while the other cocks her closer to the front of his shoulder as if he was aiming a human catapult. "Kill him." He orders toward the scout.

Kieran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

"Prince Aiden has come and gone actually, you had just missed him when you got here." Arcelia offers Estaban another smile as she watches the games. Seeing they are not all having that much trouble clearing the bar the servants drop it a little lower than the last time! Sneaky servants!

Caelis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 3 higher.

Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Freja checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 19 higher.

Asher checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 6 higher.


**********************************************************************
The proclamation by Duchess Belladonna Pravus, the Duchess of Setarco, in outlawing her vassal and attainting House Argento caught most in the Compact by surprise. The House had been an extremely close vassal, with a member of House Pravus, Lady Lianne Pravus, acting as a voice for House Argento in seeing to the rule of the city-state of Nilanza for some time. But unfortunately Duchess Belladonna Pravus had uncovered treachery on the part of House Argento, and declared their lands, ranks and titles forfeit.

House Pravus naval forces, joined surprisingly by House Thrax, blockade the smaller march's city-state of Nilanza, issuing immediate surrender demands. Inside the city, an intense whisper campaign to discredit House Argento catches on with the populace, and the city would very nearly be on the edge of revolt even if they weren't facing catastrophically numerically superior forces in their waters. As the time runs out on the demands to be met, House Argento's vassals from the smaller city-states of Bravura and Caina show, with flags of House Malgentilega and House Iverno flying on the ships. While the majority of House Argento's military forces break from their Argento leaders, a small minority try to coordiante an attack with the forces of their vassals in a bid to break through the blockade, so some Argento family can slip away from Pravus to fight another day.

The bid fails. The Pravus and Thrax forces utterly crush the small number of Argento vessels willing to fight, and run down survivors, with most of Iverno turning on their lords. Immediately following the brief naval engagement, Nilanza is invaded- with the city-state's gates opened by troops eager to declare their new loyalty to Pravus. A brief, extremely bloody battle with the handful of loyalists follows, which includes the capture or death of nearly all of House Argento. The previous Count of the March Salazar Argento is among the dead. Nilanza now rests in House Pravus' hands, with their vassals soon to follow, and House Argento has been destroyed.
**********************************************************************


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

Caelis is not going down easy, she's determined to as least stay in the game even if Abbas is showing off enough for all of them. "Pants." She calls to Arcelia. "Next time just pants and a chemise and I'm calling it a day!" She laughs and barely makes it past, holding her breath as she plays.

Kieran They were just sailing by at the time, I am sure, Victus. :p

Asher checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 36, rolling 3 higher.

Kieran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 36, rolling 21 lower.

Ender, a Silver Gyrfalcon, Fergus leave, following Marian.

Freja hugs her arms tightly about Victus' neck as he leans forward, "OH, C'MON!' she starts to protest, thinking she'll be dumped head first into the dunes. She almost is but manages to hold on until the Thraxian is upright again. Her song ceased, she looks to the sand to Victus, then to Fergus, back to the sand, and the sequence continues before she obeys with a single succinct nod. The sand goes sailing towards Fergus but..misses him by a few. "I'll get him later...I know where he sleeps.." she grumps.

After the /fifth/ round of limbo, Asher is still in! He calls out to Arcelia, "Perfect is not good enough, Lady Saik! I want everyone to swoon when they see something I make!" He's enjoying himself, laughing, and then the sixth round, even lower - still going strong! Popping back to standing afterwards, he flexes a bit, then laughs at himself as well. Are there drinks? There should be drinks. That's what he's looking for. Maybe someone brought some wine... Or rum. Rum would be good.

Kieran moves towards the bar. This time he doesn't even try, just walking into it and knocking it over, because he knows he isn't going to make it at the level it's at. He notes to Caelis, "You could just do it nude, then you don't have to worry so much about what you're wearing."

"Yes, a lack of pants is why I'm not playing." Arcelia laughs, her own attire a thin lace dress that shows so much skin through it that it is almost scandalous but for the fact her lady bits are covered in black cloth below. She smiles over to Asher then. "I may have swooned when I got them but you will never know for sure."

Caelis checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 36, rolling 2 lower.

Abbas has rolled a critical success!
Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 36, rolling 29 higher.

Arcelia gets a Favor from the Crafters Guildmaster from simple cloth backpack.

Arcelia gets a Favor from the Crafters Guildmaster from simple cloth backpack.

Fergus must've kissed Marian goodnight and told her he'd see her later, because he doesn't turn down a good fight with his sister. Because he comes spiriting back, coming like wrecking ball, barreling down the beach, having taken off his boots to get better traction in the sand. "HEY FREJA. CATCH THIS." And he leaps at his sister while at a flat out run. Which also means he's jumping at Victus. He's jumping at both of them, not one of ever caution these kind of things. But really, the main target is Freja.

Asher checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 42, rolling 8 higher.

Oh she tries. But of course Kieran's suggestion distracts Caelis. "That is a view none of you are getting." She gestures and hits the bar before flopping on her back with a laugh and getting out of the way. She walks over and punches Kieran's arm lightly as she shakes her head. "I was so close to having him beat!"


Arriving at the beach, Pepper looks at all the people enjoying the festivities. She blinks and looks around, attempting to figure out where it will be safe to mingle <disappear> among them. Pepper cannot help but get caught with the games though, and could only watch as the others play limbo, one individual walking into the stick and ther others attempting to meet the cruel flexible standards.

Arcelia gets two things from her guards an offers one over to Kieran and Caelis. "Thank you both for playing!" She was all about giving prizes out tonight!

Eithne has left the Northern Dunes.

Victus checked strength + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Fergus checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

There was a reason the Warlord of Thrax was in such amazing spirits. Word starts to filter out how Thraxian forces absolutely crushed it in the Salt led by their Warlord to assist Pravus. And as two Thraxian young boys come up and cheer their Warlord on the man smiles and kisses each of them on their head. He turns and with double-flex arms he blows a kiss to Caelis. And then he not only stops under the incredibly low bar. He starts to dance. His arms go up and he gyrates his hips. He never lets go of his rum as he starts to do an imaginary tangle bent over absolutely backwards. When he gets to the other side he does a complete backflip. "It's been a good week." He rumbles.

Abbas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 42, rolling 11 lower.

"Damn." Victus deadpans to the Princess decorating his shoulder, unfortunately just missing her mark. What he didn't expect however was the apparent wrecking ball of a Redrain giant about to be drilling his way to them. It was like a bear spreading its wings and coming straight through the sky, but Victus was drunk enough to know no fear in that moment. He dug his heels into the sand and braced, becoming like a bulwark as he held Freja close to himself. She would not be unseated if he had anything to say about it. However, dodging was not in his repertoire. That was Freja's problem.

Kieran is knocked slightly aside from Caelis' punch and he notes something quietly to her as he rubs his arm. "We just haven't gotten you drunk enough yet. More wine!" His eyes go wide as Fergus bolts past, charging right for Victus and freja. "He's top-heavy right now, Fergus! You can take him!"

Asher is flexible as all get out, tonight. How, he'll never know. The bar is so close to the ground and he isn't sure he can hold that for very long... But he has to. If anything but his feet touch the ground, he loses! So bend he does, and afterwards he's hurting from a cramp. Still, looking back to watch Abbas... What happened? Maybe he missed it.

Skapti had been walking along the shore when he saw the light of the fires, and heard the loud, boistrous voices. Curious, he strolled closer, eventually finding the party and the scads of partygoers and nobility.

After collecting a drink for herself, Lianne loiters on the outskirts where she might watch the limbo without yet mingling with the other guests, her smile wide and delighted. Once or twice, her gaze strays over the crowd, stilling here or there as if planning her route.

Arcelia checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Freja checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Freja checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Rolling her eyes, Caelis sweeps some sand at Abbas. "I feel fit to swoon. Any second now surely." She tells the prince dryly and unties her dress to shake her skirts back out and kiss Arcelia's cheek. "Nice game Lady Arcelia." She offers and looks about for the conversation she'd excused herself from, back to business. She swats Kieran again as she walks past to retrieve her glass, giving the Prince a small smirk.

Abbas had already won in his mind. The only person he wanted to beat had fallen. And so his eyes are on the women and not on the bar and this time he just starts off with a drunken fit of laughter. "I AM A THRAXIAN REAVER GOD!" He screams out and then he eats sand. He is rolling in the sand and finishing his bottle of rum. He sees the bar on him and shrugs. He won as far as he was concerned. And when he gets up he leans over and whispers to Caelis as he passes. And then he is head off to the distance on a paht to go join Lianne. He lost that battle. But that battle was not the war.

Arcelia hears talk of Argento being nearly wiped out by the voices of some of the servants of the evening and her face loses a lot of its life. For those that might know, Arcelia's father had married into Saik from Argento and so the Argento had been family to Arcelia. Even if she wasn't part of that House and even if she wasn't apart of what had been going on she still knew them and cared for them. A few seconds after hearing about it however her face slips back into happy mode and she resumes her evening like she didn't just hear a lot of her family had been killed. She accepts the kiss from Caelis and returns one of her own, chaste and to the cheek. "I am glad you had fun!"

Arcelia gets a silver and enamel pendant with the likeness of Mangata from simple cloth backpack.

Arcelia gets a silver and enamel pendant with the likeness of Mangata from simple cloth backpack.

Well. There didn't seem to be anyone keeping away the riffraff, so Skapti's eyes start to roam the party, looking for the nearest supply of alcohol. Any good party had to have alcohol after all, so it had to be somewhere, didn't it?

Arcelia laughs as Abbas rolls around on the ground and gets two black boxes from her guards. She brings one over to Abbas and offers it to the man. "For you, you did fantastically. Thank you for playing."

Oh! Abbas lost? Asher... Won? He looks fit to burst with surprise, and applauds Abbas there, whistling out. "Well done! It was only luck for me. Luck... And perhaps sand. Any rematch would end in your victory, I'm sure!" Drinks! Drinks all around - all around Asher. He wants them. Gotta get drunk!

Abbas smiles to Arcelia and then looks at the pendant and smiles. "Thank you." He offers and he takes the pendant of Mangata and he wears it proudly. "No, no. All praise to you my friend. You did amazing."

Lianne has joined the Beneath Trees.

"FERGU-" is the last thing heard from Freja before Fergus barrels into Victus and herself. Luckily, the giant of Thrax has a somewhat good hold on her so when the Sword of Farhaven connects he jostles Freja, sending her sailing backwards over Victus' shoulder only for him to be able to have a hold of her ankles/lower legs at the last moment. The situation they're left with is the Voice of Redrain, face down and dangling by her legs over the High Lord of Thrax's shoulder while threatening in very unladylike curses and terms to hurt her brother in all ways imaginable. Truth is, if it weren't for Victus' vice grip she would be eating sand right now.

Abbas has joined the Beneath Trees.

Kieran is swatted and chuckles, before moving to the refreshment table to refill his wine glass. "Lady Arcelia. You never shared your expertise on wine with me. Am I right that this is a good one?" He turns around and leans back against the table, waiting to see if there are any other silly contests to participate in.

Lianne draws up a little straighter as she catches the, uh, Thraxian Reaver God, as it were, heading in her direction, brows arched skeptically, chin lifted as in challenge. Still smiling, mind, mutedly amused.

Estaban hand ssqueezes her shoulder, "Arcelia I will return in a b it I need to go check on something." he kisses rge top of her head, "I will be back in abit." he loos around spotting Caelis and watches her for a long moment then turns to head back up the beach.

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Arcelia turns and hands Asher the other box with a smile. "You did fantastically. I didn't realize how... flexible you were." She looks impressed with both Asher and Abbas! She turns then to face Kieran. "Oh I apologize. I like it but then again, I made it so I might be a bit biased." She offers the man a smile and then nods to her brother. "No problem. I will see you when you get back."

1 Saik Guard, Gunther, a Rottweiler leave, following Estaban.

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Like the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object, it's a pretty decent sized impact when Fergus and the other pair collide. And that, gets him one of his very rare laughs. And all for his efforts, he gets his sister to topple over backwards. Which is fine, he can work with. This must be something siblings do, only the Thrax lord got caught in the middle of the two being jerks to each other. Just what they do. But he does look at Victus, being one of those types that actually comes to eye level with him. "Nod fucking bad." he grunts in what cross vague approval. "She go fucking lucky this time."

Arcelia gets Starlight Wine - Saik 1002 AR from simple cloth backpack.

Drinking her wine, Caelis takes a moment to feel quite recovered from Limbo before looking for Nicia again. The Malvici wandering the dunes and waving to Estaban a moment to late it seems.

Abbas settles down next to Lianne. The Thraxian Reaver God just plops right down next to her and starts to talk quietly.

Victus checked strength + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 51 higher.

Arcelia makes her way over to Skepti and holds out a bottle of wine. "Thank you for coming."

Asher grins widely at Arcelia as he accepts the box. A quick peek, and a raise in eyebrows. "Well then. Very nice, thank you, Arcelia." No more 'Lady Saik' there. "I'm very flexible. It's part of how I saved Magpie and Fortunato. That, and again... Luck. I'm starting to feel like someone cast a spell on me at birth. General luck, but only when it's not needed."

Though it takes a load of effort between the charging bear of a man and the toppling scout, Victus does manage to stand his ground as his boots dig deep grooves into the sand below. Exasperation is written in his face in droves as one grip handles keeping Freja poised. With a quick snarl, Victus would suddenly -heave- the Princess with one arm right back over his shoulder by her ankles alone and subsequently aim her descent straight atop Fergus' head like a human battering ram. Not hard mind, but certainly enough to leave a mark. Beads of sweat dripping down his forehead from the exertion as he brought their sibling rivalry to a head!

Kieran notes to Fergus, "Lucky? She doesn't look lucky. She looks like a kill Victus is dragging back home." He chuckles a a bit, before looking back to Arcelia, "Ahhhh, you made it! Well, I will trust your opinion even if it is biased, since it seems to match my own tastes." The prince eyes Arsher's box then, wondering what could be inside that caused him to raise his eyebrows.

Seeing the man seemingly starting to surround himself with drinks, Skapti's gait soon takes him near to Asher and the nearby libations. A glance towards the limbo pole, the sailor looking at it somewhat dubious.

Nicia's over near some piles of sand. Thataway. With Cristoph, Juliana, Antonio, Alarissa and Larissa.

Fergus checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.

Freja checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Arcelia offers Asher a smile. "The two of them were lucky that you were there to aid them. I am glad that the three of you are all safe and well." She turns back to Kieran with that smile still on her face. "I used to make wine with my father when I lived in the Saiklands. He wanted me to learn more about the family's business. Saik produces wine so it made sense to him that I know how it was made and learn to do it myself. I am glad you are enjoying it."

Walking over to the dunes, Caelis looks over to Victus, decidedly relieved no one has tried flailing her, the joys of height. She waves to Nicia at the dunes and gestures north. "Gonna go lay on the sand and cool down a moment." Her smile easy and crooked.

Caelis has joined the Northern Dunes.

Before Freja can raise a protest to being used as the man's personal trophy turned weapon, the scout is hoisted over Victus' shoulder and left to be dropped in a heap on top of Fergus. She is willowy thing, but that shit still hurts and her elbow connects with Fergus' nose as they are left to crumple in the sands. She rolls off, groaning and rubbing a hand against her lower back along the spine. "REALLY?! WAS THAT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY I AM NOT A FUCKING BATTERING RAM!!" A pause as she remembers something. "...I may have deserved that, but I don't think you've found that part of my prank yet, Victus..." Remembering her brother was the cause for all of this she aims a kick at his shin. -Hard-.


Pepper blinks. Lord and Peseant both competeing and it was the pesant that won, there was a faint smile in the end. She looks around to those that are gathered. She looks around curiously as she attempts to find an indvidual or two to talk with. She walks around for a bit, avoiding those playfully fighting in the sand. She pauses a moment and can only watch as one of the strangers is being used to beath the others. She walks to the safer group she thinks. She heads towards the Limbo winner, the hostess, and those that are gathered around them. "Good Evening." She responds her eyes drifting across the beach every so often

Arcelia gets Silver Ring With Blue And Red Quartz from simple cloth backpack.

Arcelia gets Silver Ring With Blue And Red Quartz from simple cloth backpack.

Nicia glances in Caelis' direction when she hears her, a hand lifting to wave, "You did wonderfully at the limbo!"

Arcelia picks up 25 books.

At some point, Skapti had nipped off with a bottle of rum, and ended up near the northern side of the dunes, taking a seat to watch the rest of the party as he drank.

Skapti has joined the Northern Dunes.

Fergus is fast, but maybe he wasn't quite expecting for Freja to be used a damn flail. The moment of impact, the sound of her elbow striking Fergus' nose is sharp and an audible 'crack!' suggests she did more than just bruise his face. As tough as the man is, he goes down into a heap with Freja, pushing her off the same time as she's rolling off him. "That was fucking funny." he utters, a tone a bit different. Like his nose might be broken. "Ah shit, not again." he grouses, ignoring how his eyes are watering from the pain. Because if you never had your nose broken. That shit *hurts*. And he's ignoring the bit of blood on his shirt from it. Nothing new there.

Still giving out wine Arcelia makes her way over to Cristoph and offers out a bottle of wine. "Good evening, I hope you are enjoying the party. For you." She smiles brightly and then looks over to Asher. "Dance with me?"

From the safety of her dune Caelis can be heard chuckling. "Thank you my Lady Sunshine." she calls back you Nicia. "I f only it were that obstacle course!"

"I was helping." Victus shot back at the pair in the sand with a shit-eating grin. He knew exactly what he did and was damn proud of it too. "Really, this is more your fault than mine. You were the one who asked me to this thing." He tuts down to Freja with a wag of his finger. A very disoriented one as the booze was still kicking in. "Oof. I'm thinkin' that's gonna hurt more than that sixty-five thousand silver furniture." He commented sympathetically to one of the five other Fergus' dancing around his vision at the moment. He was no stranger to a party ending in some broken bones... But that's what made it go from great party to fuckin' fantastic party! "No but really, the wine here is fuckin' great."

Cristoph looks surprised when Arcelia approaches him with that bottle of wine. He accepts it graciously, "Thank you, my lady. This is a fine party you've put on." He's not quite sure what to do with the bottle just now, so he tucks it under his arm for now. Safekeeping!

Kieran looks over to Pepper as the woman approaches the little limbo group. The shirtless and shoesless prince, still dripping a bit of water from his hair gives her a nod of greeting. "Hello. You're a bit late to the party and need to catch up with the rest of us. Would you like some wine?" He gestures to the filled wine glasses sitting on the refreshment table that he leans against.

"You were supposed to be protectin' me, not hurting me!" Freja chastises the High Lord with a hiccup - indication of her own whiskey induced state. Her mercurial temper turns then on Fergus, "And -you-!" She stammers, unable to find the words before she comically hiccups again.

"I would agree with the Lady Pravus. You would, if it was the right shade. But finding that shade, becomes the issue." But then Alariss is standing, opting to brush the bits of sand off her dress and smooth out - hah - any wrinkles in the linen dress. "Now, I see someone else that I wish to make my greetings to. Be well, everyone." Not bothering to list off names. With that, the pale Valardin Princess is making her way from the souther dunes.

Arcelia checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 23 higher.

Asher checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

As Alarissa moves to walk away, Antonio gives her a bit of a wave, but thats about it, before his attention returns to the other people at his sand dune, though, it's primarily focused on Juliana.

Though he may have had a few drinks, Asher does realizes when he's being asked a question. But... "Dance? Uh. I'm flexible, not... Musically coordinated." Still, he follows behind her. Because she's attractive and he's... Well, he's Asher. And he tries. By the Gods, he tries. But that's about all he's got.

"Obstacle course?" Nicia wonders, glancing in Caelis' direction to see if there happens to be some explanation forthcoming before she gives Arcelia's arrival with wine a bit of a smile, "Wonderful party." She offers before she's able to move away, then the whole yellow color conversation actually backfires on her, and she nods, "Of course..." She then leans towards Cristoph, murmuring to him quietly.

"Eh, Marian liked it. Wasn't for me. Besides, it's pretty sturdy, that fucking bed." Fergus rolls his shoulder in reply, not looking too hurt by the fact he just got his nose broke. Probably isn't the first time. "Gimmie a moment." He puts fingers on the side of his nose, then jerking it hard, the sound of cartilage and skin crunch and crack back into place with a swift movement. Yeah, that hurts too, growling like an injured bear, but at least he's able to breath again. "Fuck that." More tears at his eyes, scrunching his face and then giving a little test breathe through his nose. "That's fucking better." Eyes land on Freja. "Me *what*?" he leers at her, perhaps proud of himself, even if it got him hurt for it in the process.

"With the blindfolds and the dresses?" Caelis asks and looks over the dune between them to smile at Nicia as she wiggles her fingers to the others. "I think things are mostly safe from the Thrax deciding to play cornhole with people if anyone needs more refreshments." She suggests and looks towards Abbas and Victus.

Arcelia offers Nicia a bottle of wine when she speaks to her. "Thank you, I am glad that you are enjoying yourself tonight. Here, you have some wine too." She grabs a glass of wine for herself from a table on her way out to dance, letting Asher follow if he wishes.

"They do seem... Enthusiastic," drawls Skapti, overhearing the comment about cornholing Thraxians.

"I solved the problem." Victus stated with as much pride in his voice as ever there was that night. He almost looked flat-out offended that his brave protection was not going on so well. How much better could they ask for than being the sledgehammer that destroys their enemies? "You should learn some fuckin' manners, Princess." He scoffs. "I bet the Oathlander's get some fuckin' confetti fanfare when they save a damsel in distress. Always so judgmental." Then there's the nasty business of Fergus rearranging his face that has him grimacing, though not as darkly as the mention of cornholing. "What the fuck is that? Dragon lord never explained it." He called across to Caelis. "Is it like a back-ended shag or are we talking about an actual fucking game?"

"Good evening, your highness." Cristoph says to Alarissa as she departs, a hand lifted to wave at her. Which is awkward with the bottle of wine he's now cradling. Life is so awkward. "I think yellow would look lovely on you." He glances towards where the Thrax were playing human cornhole and nods as faint amusement lines his face, calling out to Victus, "It's an actual fucking game, my lord!" Sometimes he can be mildly helpful.


"It's a shame, always running late." Pepper smiles and grabs a glass when directed to the table. "Thank you," She responds. "It seems I've arrived in time for the festivities," She chuckle. "Lady Pepper Malvici," She dips tilting her head politely. "Pleased to meet you."

"I'm pretty sure I am literally half of your weight, High Lord." Freja counters to Victus. She is certainly going to have her bruises in the morning from that ordeal. "You should learn some fuckin' manners yourself!" A pause. "I don't give confetti, I give whiskey."

"The much better gift," Kieran notes loudly to Freja's words. Then he looks back to Pepper and offers a bow to the lady. "A pleasure, My Lady. And being late is fine, even fashionable in the Lycene, I understand." He gestures towards Caelis over on the far dune, "So you would be related to Lady Caelis Malvici then?"

Alarissa has left the Southern Dunes.

Kieran adds, "Prince Kieran of Redrain, Master of Revels to the Crown."

"Oh! That one, yes." Nicia laughs when Caelis reminds her just which one, she then glances at Cristoph to offer an explanation, "The Princess had everyone dress each other while wearing blindfolds. I never did figure out the point...but it was at least amusing." Then the matter of cornholing and she just looks utterly blank, saved by having her own bottle of wine, and then reaching to liberate the one Cristoph has from him.

"Actual game your Grace!" Caelis calls to Victus. "Prince Edain taught it to me! He wasn't wrong, it's invigorating and a little strenuous, but I'm a fan!" She calls over and looks back to the Valardin in the sand dunes. "It's really a popular thing in the Oathlands, right? I was'st being tricked?" She looks to Kieran and waves seeing Pepper. "Lady Pepper!" She calls out brightly.

The only thing Asher can't follow for long, is footwork. Arcelia is skilled, Asher is drunk. And also not skilled with his feet. That said, he's doing his best. It's not bad... But even so. He's not getting anyone's applause for it.

"Did my fucking job for the evening." Fergus wipes blood off his nose with the sleeve of his shirt. "You." he snappoints at Victus. "Bring her back in one piece if you fucking could. Or I'll have to go looking for her. An that shit is never fun. Take it easy. Have with the cornholing, or whatever that is. Think I'll pass on that. Not drunk enough." Before making his way off.

Skapti eventually stands, and sets the now half empty bottle in the sand, and starts to continue his stroll. Gait a bit more... Wobbly than before.

Freja glowers at Fergus, "Love you...jerk." as he moves to leave.

Skapti has left the Northern Dunes.

Kieran looks from Caelis to Nicia, raising an eyebrow, "Why wasn't I invited to this game?" He shakes his head in a dejected manner and takes a long sip of his wine.

The hardly clad lady dances in the sand not too far from the roaring fire, just inside the moist sand where the water washes up from the ocean. Arcelia looks like she is more at peace dancing than she was standing around and save hearing about her family's death and disgrace she looked pretty much at peace. While Asher may be having trouble keeping up with the wine drinking lady, Arcelia doesn't seem to mind as she gracefully dances in intricate circles around the man. The Disciple of Jayus was that for a good reason, this was her passion and her soul was poured into each step, twist, and turn.

"Why did they name a game after corn and fucking?" Victus calls out to no one in particular, more so just shouting his disdain to the heavens or to anyone who would listen. He was too far gone for proper conversation by this point anyhow. Looking back between Fergus and Freja, the latter of which hoists the bruised lady up to her feet as he sees the wounded bear off. "Ya' know I would love to have another brew, but we should probably be gettin' you home anyhow. Jumpin' into the flames is looking like a really good idea and that's usually a bad sign."

"Love you too, jerk." Fergus says giving a wave over his shoulder and heading out.

Pepper says, "Your highness," She responds with a smile in acknowledgement with his words. Smiling at Caelis She waives in response. "Hello Lady Caelis." She looks between the Prince and Caelis as the banter among them starts, her smile still on her lips as she takes a sip from her glass."

"Cornholing is a very popular game!" Cristoph confirms before looking confused when his bottle of wine begins to disappear from his grasp. "Hmm. Wait, you were all dressing each other and blindfolded- I think we should go have that talk." He mutters low to Nicia, seeing as how all the people around them are beginning to depart.

Cristoph is overheard praising Arcelia for: Fantastic party!

"We should." Freja agrees to Victus as she grabs ahold of his hand to be lifted back up to her feet with no lack of wincing. "C'mon, let's get you away from the flames. You've been a good escort, but time we got me and you home." The drunk leading the drunk. Perfect.

"We were, and there was a risk of being walked blindfolded into the pool, but no one had that happen. Lady Caelis was smashing at giving directions through the course." Nicia replies, not offering any explanation as to why she's stealing bottles, but at the mention of the talk she nods, "We probably should."


Pepper smiles. "Yes, I am to Lady Caelis." She responds remembering the prince's question.

"No it's cornholing. There's these holes and you throw bags of corn in them-it's a country side past time! They could call it Gopher Boinking, who knows?!" Caelis explains-poorly before drinking her wine and sliding into the sand dune beside Cristoph and Nicia. "See, that's what I like the Oathlands, so simple, low fuss. You can dress each other at a party where you're already dressed and it's all in good fun."

The High Lord gives an over-enthusiastic wave to those still in attendance as he sets off with his entourage of guards and Freja in tow. "Thanks for the wine, Lady Arcelia!" He howls toward the lady dancing by the fire as he half walks and half stumbles his way back up toward the city.

Victusppl

12 Thrax Elite Guards, Crow - Thraxian Steward, Lilybelle - Fluffy Maine Coon, Freja leave, following Victus.

Kieran waves to the departing Fergus then the duo of Victus and freja. He turns his attention back to Pepper and grins. "Ahhhh! Cousin I take it?" He looks over at arcelia's beautiful dancing and Asher's attempts to keep up and gives the man a sympathetic nod. The prince knows exactly what that is like.

Larissa offered her goodbyes to the small cluster on the dunes and turned for home.

Larissa has left the Southern Dunes.

Charlemagne the Unicorn leaves, following Larissa.

Lianne has left the Beneath Trees.

"We're very wholesome." Cristoph agrees with Caelis, grinning crookedly. "If you'll excuse us, I think I'm going to esort Lady Nicia back to the manor." He dips at the waist and begins to do just that. Winding through the crowds until they're on their way to the exit.

"Best behavior I'm sure, my Lord." Caelis offers to Cristoph sharing the smile and nodding to Nicia. "Good night Sunshine." She tells her before pushing off the dune to wander back over to Arcelia.

"We'll catch up!" Nicia assures Caelis before she turns to join Cristoph in beating a hasty exit, or at least an exit, examining the bottles of wine in her hands.

Juliana has left the Southern Dunes.

Arcelia's eyes fall onto Kieran and he is caught watching her dancing with Asher. This is all the prompting that the young lady needs she looks to Asher. "I'm going to grab a Prince." She twirls her way over to Kieran then and offers the man a smile. "Dance with me Your Highness?" She extends a soft hand out to him as she continues to dance right in front of him.

Antonio rises from where he was sitting, arm in arm with Juliana, and the pair leave the beach.

Antonio has left the Southern Dunes.

2 Pravus Honor Guard leaves, following Juliana.

Gino, a surly sailor, Juliana leave, following Antonio.

Trust Asher to win a contest of flexibility and then nearly fail at dancing. But at least Kieran understands his issues. Oh, the woes of being a jeweler. So good with his hands! But about seven left feet. And when Arcelia pops over to grab a Kieran, and Asher simply chuckles, moving to find another drink, and a place to sit. A salute given to Kieran in a 'hope you enjoy' kind of way.


Pepper nods, "Cousins, yes your highness." She smiles and sips her drink again. "Caelis is, one among a many of my beloved cousins."

Kieran checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Cristoph has left the Southern Dunes.

Nicia has left the Southern Dunes.

2 Pravus Guard leaves, following Nicia.

Nicia leaves, following Cristoph.

The path of Abbas is a weaving and winding one that has him finding whatever booze remains. A wine bottle. Liquor before... he can't remember. So the Warlord of Thrax just uncorks the bottle and starts to drink it without a second thought. The man then looks to see who remains that he knows. Nicia. He offers the woman a toast and a grin. And.... Caelis. Dun. Dun. Dunnnnnnn.

As the new marquessa and the reaver whose combined houses have so very recently overthrown House Argento go their separate ways, Lianne drifts toward the refreshments in search of a refill, her glass empty. Though her evergreen attention tracks her departing family, it settles eventually upon the hostess, watching for a moment once she has more wine in hand.

Kieran grins and nods at the correct guess. "Lady General Calypso too. soon to be a cousin-of-law of mine. Wonderful woman." He is about to continue conversing with Pepper, when Arcelia dances over to him and invites him to join. He blinks a bit and looks at Asher, cursing himself quietly for letting her see him watch. Then with a smile and a dip of his head, the prince takes the offered hand and moves toward the fire to begin dancing as best as he can, "Thank you for the invitation, My Lady." He doesn't have any skill at him, but he knows how to use his charm and presence to take people's attention off of his dancing and onto his face.

Smiling to Pepper, Caelis nods to her before looking over at Abbas and rolling her eyes. Standing a hand on the back of her neck she mouths the word "Shark" at him before leaving Arcelia to her dancing in favor of refilling her wine glass at the refreshment table.

Kieran checked charm + seduction at difficulty 15, rolling 32 higher.

The refreshment table. That's exactly where Abbas just was. And so the drunken Warlord winks to the passing Caelis. He makes his way in the direction of Pepper and grins, "I don't believe we have met." The man begins with a wide grin. "I'm Abbas." He leaves the rest off because well -- does he really need to inform her of his infamous manner? The Warlord quit introducing himself by title a long time ago.

At first Arcelia isn't much paying attention to how Kieran is dancing, her eyes are fixed on the man's face as she dance, tipsy laughter escaping the woman as they dance but then she is watching him move he might not be the most skilled dancer but that didn't so much matter. What Arcelia was looking for was whether or not he was having fun or not.

Kieran is always enjoying himself. If he isn't, he stops doing whatever it is that is boring. He looks to Asher for a moment and grins, "I think you were dancing much better than I. Do you give lessons?" He looks back to Arcelia, "Or maybe I should ask the obvious expert if she gives lessons."

Asher checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 29 higher.

"She gives lessons, alright!" Asher laughs out and stands again, this time with a bottle in his hand. He does a quick move, something that he learned just then from Arcelia, and laughs a bit more, enjoying himself. "There we are. See? She can teach you, too!"


Pepper continues to smile especially as Caelis heads away and even more so when Arcelia seems to sweep the prince she had been talking to away with the liveliness and appeal of dancing. Approached by Abbas Pepper dips her head respectfully towards the Prince, her posture almost turning to a curtsey, but but not quite due to the informality of the gathering among them. "No, Prince Abbas, I do not think we have met before, But it is a pleasure."

Leaning against the refreshment table, Caelis cheers for Asher at his flourish and looks to Pepper and Abbas, holding out her glass to be refilled. More wine is best wine. She drinks and keeps half an eye on Abbas before looking to the others dancing near the water.

"I have been teaching Master Asher in fact." Arcelia offers as Asher breaks out his dance moves to show off a bit of what she has taught him. She looks to Pepper. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. It's his eyes." She motions for a servant to go to Pepper and they hand her a bottle of wine!

Lianne, as she has all night, keeps to the outskirts. Not for lack of enjoyment, clearly, given how she keeps right on smiling, watching the few who remain with genuine delight. One might guess the poor woman's been tucked behind a desk and buried in letters for weeks and had forgotten what life looks like for all that she wonders at the drinking and dancing. With shoes left behind near the refreshment table, she drifts barefoot toward the water, wine yet in hand.

Lianne has joined the Quiet Strand.

The man assumes a contrapossto position and assumes that infamous statue like pose. The curve of his hip carries his swagger and he offers a bright white smile to Pepper, "And you are?" He inquires as the sight of the curtsey, "The pleasure is all mine." He casts a look over his shoulder. "You are very striking, no doubt a relation to my limbo competition?" He inquires of her. The man then motions to the dancing, "Would you care to dance?"

Kieran turns to look at Asher as he demonstrates the moves he has learned, and the prince gives him a nod of his head. "Well, it seems I need to ask for lessons. I have had a few people ask me how to teach them to dance, and I always have to disappoint them that I don't really know how to dance. I just do a good job of faking it well enough that most don't notice." At Abbas' request to Pepper, Kieran looks from Asher to Caelis then Lianne off in the distance. "Why not everyone dance?"

"Trust me, she's a damn good teacher." And so Asher shows off another move Arcelia taught him, another little bit of interesting footwork. But he's still drunk, so... Well, it isn't graceful.

Asher checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

"I'm good up here." Caelis calls to Kieran. Away from the water. She looks back to her wine glass and mulls it over before setting it down. She's avoiding glancing to the ocean it seems. Pushing off the table to head up the beach quietly, hand lifting in a wave. "Night Archie. Cousin. Don't be a stranger." She says softer.

Caelis has left the Northern Dunes.

Rohm the Blackguard leaves, following Caelis.

Arcelia smiles. "Yes, why don't more people come and dance?" She very much seems to like this idea, she very much approves. The praise of her ability to teach gets a smile from her as she turns around to face her dance partner. "Thank you Master Asher." She waves to Caelis as she goes.


Pepper cannot help but laugh as she is handed her bottle of wine and at Arcelia's comment. "I forgive you Lady Arcelia." She chuckles and her attention turns back to the prince that had approached. "I am sorry, Prince Abbas, I am Pepper Malvici. And Yes, Your Highness, if you are referring to my Lovely cousin Lady Caelis." She responds whom announces that she was leaving then. "Night, cousin." She responds, and then at the invite to dance, nods. "I would enjoy dancing very much,"

Lianne's brows pitch upward as she seems to be included in the call to dance. There might be a plaintive look to her wine to wonder why it hasn't done its part to make this seem a good idea. Of course, the trick is drinking it, isn't it? She does a little more of that as she makes her way toward the dancers without word, watching as others pair off.

Abbas checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Kieran watches Caelis depart and quirks an eyebrow, before turning his attention back to the group, "Well, at least that makes pairing up easier, so no one feels left out." His attention moves to Arcelia as they continue dancing, shifting styles so quickly that he has a touch difficulty keeping up.

Kieran has left the In the Water.

Abbas Thrax escorts Pepper Malvici out to the area designated for dancing and with a slow bow he moves in close. The Warlord will take her hip and hand and he will clear his throat. And then bare toes dig into the sand and he begins to take her through some Saffron Chain affair. Thraxian dancing was a bit different and not appropriate for the venue. So with a grin he smiles and inquires after his partner, "So tell me, Pepper..." He teases, "What is it that you do that claims your time in this wonderful city." Abbas hates Arx. So he is full of shit. But he is an okay dancer at least.

Pepper checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Being without a partner, Asher spots Lianne wandering over. She's appropriately preparing to dance... Maybe? So he's over towards her, to offer a hand, without using his words he's asking her to dance.

Arcelia doesn't seem to be running out of energy! The girl can dance and she could dance for hours if she is allowed to enjoy herself. Beads of sweat does start to make its way to her skin as the heat of the fire and motion of her body calls for her body to cool itself down. She's not breathing terribly hard and she appears to be able to carry on a quiet conversation with Kieran as she just keeps going.

Lianne doesn't quite finish her wine by the time she catches that offer from Asher. With some little puddle of red yet left within its bowl, she dips to set the glass down right in the sand. Someone will clean up, right? It won't be her. Delicate fingers alight in Asher's as she dips her head in gracious acceptance of the offer. "You needn't be gentle," comes with an impish glint in her vibrant eyes.

Arcelia checked stamina + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Asher grins at Lianne, and pulls her to dance. "Wouldn't think of it, of course. Though usually I save not being gentle for /after/ the party..." It's hard to tell if the alcohol made him more flirty, or just the same as before. Either way, he's making sure to try and impress the woman - whose name he does not know - with a few skills he learned from Arcelia. But apparently he has much to learn yet from the Disciple.


Pepper follow's Abbas's lead, as she is escorted to the dancing area. With his bow, she responds in a curtsey, and does her best to match with the thraxian style of dancing. "I arrived towards the end of the seige, in attempts to help." She responds. "Generally I have the heart of an eternal scholar, and often have my nose buried in books." She chuckles. "Get a good look, Your highness, this might be one of the rare moments you might see my face with out piles of paper in front of it," And with the pace he sets, Pepper does alright, at least, she doesn't appear to miss any steps.

Asher checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

1 Saik Guard, Gunther, a Rottweiler arrive, following Estaban.

Kieran checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

At the end of their dance the Warlord of Thrax guides Pepper into a slow dip and he grins down to her. Were he a more scandalous man the Reaver Prince would bust a move that would get Caelis' dander up. But never let it be said that Abbas Thrax was not the most upstanding of gentlemen. He really was not. The man grins and winks to the woman, "You did well." He offers, "Thank you." Abbas never did find where his shirt went to. And so he lifts the woman without a scoundrel's kiss, "Now I must bid you all a good night. I have ..." He shrugs, "Things." Brow waggle. Abbas turns sans shirt. He gathers his reaver guards. And he chucks the deuces on his way out.

Kieran manages to keep up Arcelia for now but he notes the heated look she has and realizes that he too is getting a bit warm from the closeness of the fire and the late summer night air. "My Lady, should we get something to drink to cool off or move to dancing in the water?" He looks then to Lianne and Asher, grinning at their interaction and dancing. "Good work, Asher."

Estaban comes back down onto the beach he had been gone for a while and his mood does not seem like it has changed since he left, he looks around and moves to sit near the fire if it is still going silent and looking into its flickering flames.

A not of her head bounces her wavy hair around Arcelia's shoulders. "Oh, yes a swim sounds wonderful. What sort of beach party would it be if no one got wet?" She reaches down to take Kieran's hand in hers and moves towards the water.