Kit, the grey fox, Brigid the Genet arrive, following Monique.

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

Mal, a devious raccoon arrives, following Shae.

Serenity arrives, delivering a message to Marian before departing.

It's the first of January. Not only is it a new year but it's also Marian's birthday. And what better way to ring it in with a challenge for all the nobles of Arx to join Marian on the Gauntlet's fiercesome obstacle course, wearing some finery that they wore last year. Now, don't put on a dress you love because it's sure to get torn. There's drinks a plenty being passed along the stands for folks to have, a string quartet has taken residence nearby and is playing their mischievous music for the brave souls taking the Gauntlet tonight with Marian.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. I'm sorry for the last minute, haphazard way I pulled this together but it seems like a certain someone didn't plan a party for me so...I'm doing it myself," Marian tells the crowd with a laugh, "Now, there are some prizes for folks to score well." She lifts up a Crown of Lilies for everyone to see, "The best score gets bragging rights and a crown to put on their mantle." She also holds up a few leather flowers for folks to see, "I'm also giving away a few prizes for folks that score close to the winner." She looks around and then admits to the group, "There's even a prize for the person that scores the worst on the Gauntlet. So...run the Gauntlet, do your best in your finery from last year and try to win some of these tokens." She gives a clap and then steps aside to let folks join her on the Gauntlet's run.

Marian has joined the The Gauntlet Obstacle Course.

Corban has joined the The Gauntlet Obstacle Course.

Eirlys has joined the The Gauntlet Obstacle Course.

Shae has joined the The Gauntlet Obstacle Course.

Monique has joined the The Gauntlet Obstacle Course.

Honestly, Corban would not have come if he had known it was a party. In fact, he didn't know that it was a party. Rather, he was just walking by, minding his own business, when he saw people moving towards the Gauntlet. And then when he got there and saw it was a party, it seemed rude to leave. He looks around at all the women around him lining up for the course, muttering to himself. "Don't make a fool of yourself, Corban, or you'll never hear the end of it."

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

Eirlys is standing there in a silk gown and it is probably cold since she doesn't have a cloak on currently but she is walking around to warm up, probably also got some whiskey to make her body think it's warm. She looks over and sees Corban. "So who is going first? Also is Corban wearing a dress if he runs the Gauntlet? I feel this is only fair. I could even go get a dress for him." She offers with almost innocent smile, dimples showing. See she is being helpful and not at all throwing someone under.. the wagon (since buses do not exist.)

Monique is here on purpose for her sister's birthday. She's wearing the white gown with the cut-glass girdle she wore to the White Ball, covered by an evergreen cloak, trimmed in fur. She turns to Corban's arrival, eyeing the man with something akin to... consternation.

Shae makes her way into the training grounds, having shown up just in time for the beginnin of Marian's birthday party! Dressed in a simple country style wool dress that looks like it has seen a few repairs. Her golden sunshine kissed hair, pulled up in a slightly messy topknot. And her little raccoon companion currently perched on her shoulder. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIAN!!!" Comes her bright cheerful voice as she makes her way to join the group, her gait a bit off due to her slight limp. "EIRLYS!!" And first well Shae would try and hug Marian and then Eirlys. A big bright smile to everyone there! "Hello!! And yes, he should!" Said with big bright grin!

Running the Gauntlet drunk? What could possibly go wrong? Perhaps Sophie merely is here to socialize with family and friends, but odds are the Mother Mercy is also on-call while on-site because she well knows her family and friends. All the same, she is all bright smiles and warmth, in contrast to the crispness of winter. "Happy birthday!" she cheerfully chirps to Marian, her cheeks and the tip of her nose a little rosy from the cold. "Please, all of you, I implore that you make sure to live to see the next one." Beat. "Especially you," is the cheeky quip to Corban.

Marian looks at Corbin where there is a rack of dresses for folks that want to do a quick change, "I do not hold it up against anyone that wants to put on a dress before they take the Gauntlet." She's teasing so it's okay if Corbin wants to wear his regular clothes. She gives a big hug to Shae as she comes up and greets her, it's clear that they're a warm good. There's extra torches lit tonight to try to warm things up for folks. She gives two thumbs up to Sophie to let her know that she's going to be careful. Sort of. Who cares! There's alcohol and an obstacle course to conquer. She drags all the folks on the course with her to the first one and then gives a loud, "Let the games begin!"

Marian has rolled a critical success!
Marian checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Shae checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

The Duke of Halfshav approaches the area and glances around. He wears a simple pair of black pants, with a red vest over a black shirt.

Suddenly, Corban feels very much like a Thrax out of water. Eirlys is proposing to put him in a dress. Monique is looking at him. Someone is telling him -- and only him -- not to die. "If this is just meant for women," Corban begins to say, looking for an elegant way out of his conundrum. But then the shout goes for the games to begin and, well, Corban /can't/ /not/ take the challenge. So he sprints for the single bars.

Corban checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Eirlys checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Vercyn checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

Marian takes the lead as she launches herself at the single bars wearing her dragon chiffon gown that she wore last year. The material moves with her even though she's carrying the extra bulk of the dress and it's amazing to watch this warrior princess make this course her own.

The smallest Keaton may be slowed down somewhat by her slight limp, her arms don't seem to let her down. Though she does shoo Mal off with a couple apples to go sit with Sophie, as she is not sure she wants to try and run the course with him clinging to her head an most likely making it harder for her to see where she is going and what she is doing. Hopping up she grabs the single bars and with some relative ease, speed and grace makes it across them. Though she may not look strong, apparently there is a bit of hidden strength in the spot of sunshine.

Eirlys attempts the single bar and forgot she had a dress on that hooks over her fingers, so silk slides against the bar and she well probably falls on her ass. You know in a super dignified way. She is laughing as she lands though, it isn't the first time the Gauntlet has gotten the better of her or at least a part of it. She adjusts her dress by ripping the part that hooks to her hand off and stands up to get ready for the next round.

After the single bars, Corban is squarely in the middle of the pack, behind the birthday girl and the healer who told him not to die, but ahead of the one who tried to put him in a dress, so not too bad. It is a passable performance from the Commander as he comes off the bars and towards the next obstacle.

While the others start out of the proverbial gate, Sophie assumes her standard position on the sidelines, cheering people on until she needs to patch someone up. Except Petrichor's blessed Fluffybottoms! There is an adorable masked bandito who has just stolen her attention while working on stealing her heart. Hello, raccoon. Please don't give the Princess rabies if she can't refrain from trying to pet you.

The Older Duke starts off at a brisk pace, perhaps surprising for one of his years if you did not know the man. He grips the bar with a grunt and pulls himself up. There is a slight catch as he does so, but Vercyn does manage to clear it

Marian checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Shae has rolled a critical success!
Shae checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Corban checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

Eirlys checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Vercyn checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 5 lower.

Monique checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

Marian finishes the single bars and then goes running full title at the low hurtles. She jumps over those hurtles, continuing to keep her lead as she sails over each one without that chiffon gown knocking any down. It's a beautiful thing to watch that dragon dress sore as she takes the Gauntlet by storm.

Monique checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Eirlys does better with the low hurdles though she is pretty sure she heard her dress tear a little, at least she thinks it was her dress. At least this time around she didn't fall on her ass, that is all she can ask for really.

Vercyn Vercyn attempts the hurdles. Apparently at his advanced age it is harder for him to kick his legs up, knocking down a few hurdles as he clears them.

Ever the one to be competitive with her sister, Monique takes off like a shot after Marian. It helps that the other woman is pregnant, of course. The glass fragments of her girdle belt flash as she surmounts the first obstacle and charges the low hurdles. It's not quite as easy, and there's definitely a tear to her white skirts.

Luckily for Sophie, he was a well... fairly well behaved little trash panda! And friendly as ever to boot! Scampering up to her he holds out one of the apples Shae had gifted him with and chitters happily up at her. Running. Shae can run, but her limp makes her gait a little funny, gives her a sort of slightly funny hop to it. But she is running heading for the low hurtles, and perhaps surprisingly enough she manages to clear them as she does so, not hampered by her dress. Perhaps she has a bit of practice running in them. Passing Eirlys, she flashes a little grin at her. "It's torn right in the back!" She teases her bestie with a bit of glee along with a little giggle.

Marian checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 19 higher.

Slow and steady trots the Corban, getting himself over the low hurdles, but just barely clearing them. Indeed, while he has not landed on his face, he is also watching the lady warriors in dresses zoom by him. Well, at least he gets a look at Monqiue's rear when she bolts by.

Corban checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 9 higher.

Monique checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 13 lower.

Shae checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 14 higher.

Vercyn checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Eirlys checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 33 higher.

Corban gets a look at more than just Monique's spectacular backside as she charges past. He also gets a magnificent view of her lean legs as she starts grappling with the wall, and sliding down it furiously.

Fergus checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Fergus checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Fergus checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

Eirlys may or may not have hiked her dress up to her knees while running before letting go to climb the wall. At lease she seems to be heading towards the front of the group. Maybe all the times she stubbornly practiced the Gauntlet were not in vain, even the times she ran it in armor.

Marian swears under her breath as Eirlys starts to beat her at scaling the wall. She's working her arms, that chiffon gown flapping in the wind as she pulls herself up and over that third obstacle. She glances over her shoulder and sees her errant husband arrives, whistling to let him know that she sees him and is glad to see he made the impromptu party.

Vercyn hits the wall with a slight grunt, before he starts to pull himself up the side of the wall. He grunts in frustration as he scales up the side.

Corban does at least pause slightly to admire the view of Monique as he goes up and over the wall. He is concerned for a moment, mind, that she might hurt herself on the way over, but when she only slides down, he hops over the other side to make a jog for the next obstacle.

Fergus is late, tending to his sister's woes before she finally decided to pass out on her couch. Which he then deposits Freja on her bed and makes a bee-line for the Guantlet. And he comes out at run once he arrives, taking the first three obstacles in easy stride and catching up with the rest of the pack. Seems like he's done this thing plenty of times in the past.

Apparently Shae was not gonna let some silly limp slow her down, as she came out of the low hurddle hurtling towards the wall. A wild little laugh as she threw herself towards the wall. Strong hands and arms gripping at it as she hoisted herself up. Feet finding purchase as she climbed over the wall, a huge beam of a smile towards Eirlys. "Hey! After this lets go riding!!" And then she is slidding down the otherside of the wall. Waving to Fergus as he joins the party. "HELLO PRINCE FERGUS!"

It is advisable that no one gets injured while Sophie is all heart eyes when the raccoon seemingly offers her one of its apples. Maybe if someone yells loud enough, she'll notice more than Mal.

Marian checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 16 higher.

Monique checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 6 lower.

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

Eirlys checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

Fergus checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 29 higher.

Shae checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 6 lower.

Vercyn checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 1 lower.

Marian tackles the double bars with a ferocity that shows this warrior princess still has it. She shimmies herself down the cold steel rods, only being outmatched by her competitive husband. She swears under her breath as he shows her up, "That's right! Do that in a dress Fergus." She sticks her tongue at him.

Corban glances over his shoulder as he goes through the double bars, perhaps slightly concerned that he doesn't even quite see Monique behind him yet. But not hearing any other commotion, he presses forward, onward to the v-logs, keeping himself on pace.

Monique is definitely starting to struggle. Her athleticism is not ideal, that much is clear. The double bars are more like the quadruple bars for the poor Minx. Her white gown is looking rather impure, by this point.

Eirlys is not far behind two people in tackling the double bars. Though she is probably hiking her dress up more often than she should, either that or she just let it rip some, whichever works.

Vercyn hits the double bars towards the back of the group, stuggling more with double bars then he had with the wall. Though not quite so gracelessly as the hurdles.

Apparently double bars were just not happening tonight! Did we mention it was winter and likely icy out! bars and ice are no fun! But that doesn't matter to Shae, launching herself at them and... sliiiiiiiiiip goes her fingers on the second on and down she goes. Landing with a nice thud on her behind. A silly laugh bubbling out of her as she sits there a moment, giggling and then rolls over moving to her feet. A foot catching in the hem of her dress. *RIPPPPPPP!* It goes and face first she goes, with another laugh out of her. Pushing up to her knees she eventually makes it to her feet and then she is off heading for those v-logs! A bit muddy now. And Mal well, he takes a moment to check out Sophie's hand, and then her dress and if not stopped is likely going to climb up her to perch on her shoulder.

Marian checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

Corban checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 17 higher.

Shae checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 1 lower.

Monique checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Vercyn checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 5 lower.

Eirlys checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

Fergus checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Marian looks at her nemisis and growls at the v-logs, "Not tonight!" She lifts her skirts in her hands and then runs up the logs and down them, her dress ripping a little on the ends of the logs but she manages to get through that leg of the course in her dress without falling down. She gets to the bottom and lets out a shout because it's one of the few times she's managed to get through that obstacle successfully.

Fergus almost *never* has problems with the V-logs, but this time was a change of pace. He slips, badly, almost falling off them altogether. Maybe he was staring at someone's butt for too long, causing him to to try and take some time to pull himself back up and finish that particular part of the course.

Maybe Monique is distracted by Corban ahead of her. Her eyes certainly watch him far longer than they probably ought to. It doesn't help her attempt at the v-logs. In fact, it earns her several falls and more than a few livid bruises.

Eirlys does hear Shae having trouble and yells. "You alright, Shae?" She gets over the logs but it's not super pretty in fact she probably wobbles just a little. This dress is so done after this race.

Going steadily through the other obstacles made it so that Corban could save all of his stamina for the v-logs. And when he hits them, he hits them hard, going all over them, just as they like. He is sure-footed up the top, and quick on the way down, finishing it off with a grunt of success, knowing that was an obstacle well taken.

Vercyn makes his way up the logs, breaching the top with a grin. Unfortunately, on the way down his foot catches and spills him down the side.

Marian checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 1 lower.

Monique checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 11 higher.

Fergus checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 7 lower.

Between her gait and the ripped hem of her dress she falls into one of the logs as she gets a bit cauught on one of them! Tripping over she catches herself and kicks her foot free. Ripping that dress further. Continung to make her way through the v-logs. Head popping up at Eirlys' call to her. A hand waved high above her head. "Yep!! Though my dress is not!" She calls back with a bit of laughter in her bright voice.

Eirlys checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 5 higher.

Corban checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 18 lower.

Shae checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 14 lower.

Vercyn checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 1 higher.

A raccoon is climbing up Sophie's leather armor with the intention of perching on her shoulder. Let us hope no Archfiends of the Abyss are super adorbs because the Mother Mercy might inadvertently sell her soul when overwhelmed by the cute. Bless her heart, she is so giddily beaming despite the awkwardness of being quasi-bent over to accommodate the animal. It's really not like carrying her cat around, is it?

For all of Corban's success on the v-logs, the high hurdles continue to be his nemesis. And he doesn't even have a dress to blame it on. One possibility, of course, is the sight of Monique's limber legs going up and over those hurdles so -- ably -- such that Corban more runs /through/ them rather than over them. "Ow!" he curses under his breath.

Ow, Ferg's shins. He takes some of the hurdles, vaulting over them, but hits enough that it slows him down. The v-logs must've dragging down enough that he can't get his rhythm back. Not his best time around the course. Normally he's not that bad.

Marian swears under her breath as the skirt of her gown knocks over a hurtle as she runs down this part of the course. There's ripping as the gown's hem gets shredded and she manages not to fall but the warrior princess isn't able to make a clean run this time.

Eirlys just mutters. "Fuck it." Then rips the seams at the sides of her dress so she can do the high hurdle. See this is why she doesn't wear dresses!! At least not all the time! Though this is a lot of fun.

While regular hurdles were difficult for Vercyn, he manages to spring over the High Hurdles much easier. Perhaps he had over compensated for the smaller ones. More likely, he was tired of all these kids showing the old man up and wanted to demonstrate he still had a trick or too. Breath pumps from his lungs, leaving him far to focused to do much else.

Monique's dress is already torn far, far higher than it should be. The hurdles present no challenge for her because of it, and she leaps them like she's leaping Valardin guardsmen, running away with her loot.

Marian checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 3 lower.

High hurdles and a limp, perhaps not the best of friends, but this was for fun! Even more determined now, her nose scrunches up and she rushes forward move to leap over the fist one and just collides with it full on instead. Her and the hurdle falling forward, as she flails a bit and goes face first into the cold muddy ground. Ow! That had to hurt a little, a loud thump from her falling. "Oww," She mumbles into the ground, though it was nothing quite serious as there is still some laughter to it. And then there it is a soft laugh at herself as she pulls herself up. Glancing around as she wipes some of the mud from her face.

Sure it was sort of like carrying your cat around, if your cat likes to shoulder perch. Once he was up on Sophie's shoulder he bites into his apple, one hand resting on her head. And then his nose was in her ear checking it out. Hope she is not ticklish!

Eirlys checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 7 lower.

Shae checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 1 lower.

Monique checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 15 lower.

Corban checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 3 higher.

Fergus checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 7 higher.

Vercyn checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 14 lower.

Monique got cocky. It's not a big surprise. Her ego doesn't even do the courtesy of breaking her fall into the icy water. She lands with a phenomenal SPLASH, and the water quickly soaks her white dress, making it rather impressively opaque to the undergarments beneath. Fortunately, her fiery hair is a decent modesty shield and she's laughing and shivering too hard to care. She casts a glance aside to Vercyn. "Come here often?"

And last, but not least, up the rope. It's Corban's best showing so far, though hardly close to the warriors ahead of him. He hits the bell and then drops down, landing on his feet. And that is when he notices Monique having splashed out in the water below. "Ah, do you need a hand, my Lady?" he asks, reaching a hand down and offering her help out, even as a servant hovers nearby to wrap her in the blanket.

Sophie might be ticklish, or just squeeing like a wannabe Disney Princess living one of her fantasies when that raccoon nose and its whiskers sniff at her. At least the leather helm on her head protects her from any claws that might dig in as she shakes a bit with giddy giggles.

Or she could be laughing at people ker-SPLASHing in the water. This being Sophie, that's likely not the case.

Eirlys makes it without hitting the water that alone gets a very loud. "Yes!" Then Shae makes it and that has Eirlys looking for her cloak, finding it and bringing it around the Keaton. "You did really good." She means that considering there are times she has done worse.

Vercyn hits the robe at speed. Unfortunately, the cold and the stress already taxing his hands, his grip slips and he falls into the water. He goes under for a moment before he stands up, laughing loudly. He pushes his hair back from his face. He looks over to Monique and grins. "More often then I might like to admit perhaps." He laughs against, falling back into the water to float on his back, the Halfshav being no stranger to cold.

Marian dangles on the ropes as she shimmies down the ropes. She slips and catches herself, almost hitting the water, only getting her torn hem wet that's behind her. She manages to finish the course first, glancing at the servant who was keeping track. When she realizes that she's the big winner of the Gauntlet run today, she let's out a whoop, "I get to keep my Crown of Lilies!" Then she motions for Fergus to take his pick from the gift basket. Choose from flowers, plushie, or cigarellos. The alcohol is not for gifting. Just for drinking.

Marian gets Crown of Lilies from a gift basket of flowers by Petal.

Fergus is able to climb the rope and doesn't drop into the water. Which is a far cry from his last times he's done it. At least for once he doesn't hit the water, dropping down onto his feet. "Not my best fucking showing." Out of breath and having worked up a sweat, he goes to check the scores. A frown. "Second place. Of fucking course, why does that seem no longer surprising to me." Beaten by his wife. Again. Water is wet, sky is blue. He considers the basket. "The plushie." he finally decides.

Monique, surrounded by handsome men, looks perfectly content as she extends a hand to Corban. But instead of using it to get out, she uses it to yank him in. It's a quick, dextrous movement designed to see the Lord and Commander soaked through. Even as she does it, she asides to Vercyn, "It's not so bad, is it? Reminds me I'm alive."

Fergus says, "Correction. I want the cigarillos."

Fergus gets A pack of Cherry flavored Black Mountain Cigarillos from a gift basket of flowers by Petal.

But apparently Shae was just too darn determined to not let her limp stop her from continuing. Eyes narrowed at that rope. Leaping for it with all her bright exuberance being thrown into it. And up she goes, apparently her determination and some of that upper body strength helping her. Eyes widen as she makes it to the top and rings the bell. That's not to say there was not some difficulties getting up that damn rope, but lets just look at the positives! "Yay!!!" She hops a little and hugs Eirlys. "We made it!" Shivering a little and snuggling against Eirlys. Clapping for everyone. "GOOD JOB EVERYONE!" Is exclaimed with genuine cheerfulness.

Eirlys walks forward grinning and picks up a plushie. "I like this one." Her gaze moves up to her cousin's. "Happy Birthday! I am so glad you are my cousin. One night we should sit and talk and I can tell you how Fia when round wanting to be like you and I wanted to be like him which meant I wanted to be like both of you." She grins.

Corban was -- not expecting that. When Monique goes to take his hand, he expects her to go slack so he can pull her up. Instead, she is pulling him that way and -- yep. He's a goner. Splash! Corban is head first into the water, surprised, then looking over at his antagonist, splashing water over and towards her. "A fine loser you are!" he half laughs, half shivers, half shouts. But he doesn't seem angry. Just surprised. And cold.

Vercyn stands up and pulls himself out of the water. "I am a Halfshave. A chilly bath is hardly worth a mention." He runs his fingers through his hair. He scoffs slightly, waving off the servents that approach.

Fi-i-i-i-inally, Sophie's attention returns to the runner, and she can't help but good-naturedly laugh, "Lord Corban, it's no good for you to survive the Gauntlet only to die from hypothermia!"

Marian grins as Eirlys selects the plushie and then bends down to pick out a flower for the man with the worst score. She picks it up and then makes her way over to the older man, "A flower sir for your lackluster performance." She also offers a glass of whiskey to help him warm up since he's all wet. Sadly, not everyone gets a gift tonight. Only the top 3 and then lowest score. But overall, Marian looks very happy that a nice crowd showed up at the party and ran the Gauntlet with her.

Marian gets a rose with silken scarlet petals and leaves of green satin from a gift basket of flowers by Petal.

Eirlys turns at the splash and laughs. "Corban you should have known better. It's always a trap." She grins before checking that Shae is warm.

Marian gets an adorable corgi plushie from a gift basket of flowers by Petal.

Marian picks up a gift basket of flowers by Petal.

Titus, a young wolfhound arrives, following Gaston.

Vercyn bows with a wry smile as he accepts the rose from Marian. "My thanks My Lady. Sadly, it seems such tasks are behind me."

Better late than never, right? Gaston certainly seems to thinks so! He finds his way to the Gauntlet eventually, hound following along beside him. A wide, too sharp, feral grin for those present as his eyes land on the gathering.

Monique extends a hand out to Corban from her wet, seated position beside him. "Truce?" the Minx says with bright laughter and warmth in her emerald eyes. "I promise, it was all in good fun. And maybe the desire to see your clothes plastered to your body."

Servants move about and hand out warm blankets to folks that just finished running the Gauntlet. Marian has a cup of hot tea and is laughing as folks stand around and enjoy some drinks while they chat with each other. Marian moves back over to her husband after acknowledging the words from Vercyn and gives him a hug. "And now...I offer you some warm brownies in hot fudge with hot chocolate to help warm you up from the recent exercise." Servants start coming out with trays of hot chocolate and warm brownies that crumble in your mouth.

Fergus comes around to sling his arm around Marian's waist, pressing an actual kiss, in public, no less, to her cheek. "Happy birthday, darlin." he grunts in his usual way. "I'd give you your present from me, but I don't think anyone wants to watch that."

Eirlys sees Gaston and her grin gets big enough to show her dimples. She waves to the man and holds up the plush Corgi she got. "Look what I won!" She says this while standing in a green silk dress that is ripped, likely has mud at least on the hem of it and looks like.. well it went through the Gauntlet. Eirlys is standing next to Shae and if Shae didn't protest she put her cloak around the younger Keaton woman.

Corban takes the hand and manages to pull himself up as well. And indeed, his plain white tunic and earthen pants that he wore to run The Gauntlet /do/ cling fetchingly. If wetly. And coldly. "Truce," he allows, his own eyes sparkling. And perhaps getting an eyeful in return. Though he is too polite to say that. Though she can likely see where his eyes linger. "Shall we seal it with a drink, Lady Monique?"

While a bit damp and muddy Shae seems to be in very bright spirits. Eyes widening at the corgi plushie the Eirlys won. Clapping loudly for her. "Oh my gods, that is ADORABLE!" She squees a little over it, looking it over as Eirlys checks on her. Mal, meanwhile seems rather happy with himself. Getting the princess to laugh. Finishing off his apple, his tail cruls around her neck a little and he goes in to hug her, before he scrambles back down and makes a bee-line for Shae. Standing up on his hind legs as he reaches out at her. At seeing Gaston she waves widely to him. "Gaston! Come help us celebrate Princess Marian's Birthday!!" And of course she is okay with Eirlys wrapping her up in her cloak. And Brownies Fudge? YUM!

Marian is overheard praising Fergus for: For giving me a good run through the Gauntlet.

Fergus is overheard praising Marian for: Happy Birthday. Not even going grey yet.

Eirlys is overheard praising Marian for: Happy Birthday, This party was the best!

Corban is overheard praising Marian.

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

Monique dips her sodden lockes to Corban. "Sounds like a plan, my lord." She keeps her hand near him, only transfering it to the commander's forearm. "Lead the way? Hopefully there's whiskey. I'm damn near shivering out of this gown."

Her services unneeded, and the furry bandit darting off, Sophie advances to merrily wish Marian another, "Happy birthday!" No sooner than that is relayed, a messenger darts to the Mother Mercy, murmuring something to her. With apologetic smile, she informs the lot, "Alas, I fear I must take my leave. Well done, all of you, though!" That relayed, she's off.

Dame Rosario Nevarre of the Oathlands leaves, following Sophie.

Brownies, fudge, and hot chocolate, and Gaston gets to skip the Gauntlet run? It seems the Blackram arrived at precisely the right time, doesn't it? The man's savage gaze glances towards Eirlys as she shows off the Corgi, and there's a hearty chuckle from the man. "Wonderful! I'm sure he'll be a fine companion!" with cheer in his voice. A wave back to Shae, and the man looks to Marian and Fergus. "A happy birthday indeed, it seems. You look stunning, if I might say so, Princess Marian. Prince Fergus is a lucky man, to be certain."

Baron Archibald Chirpington, a Gyrfalcon arrives, delivering a message to Gaston before departing.

There is a moment, and then Corban bites his tongue when Monique says that she is shivering out of her gown. "Yes, I am sure that we can scare up some sort of whiskey. That sounds like a fine idea." The servants hover nearby with the heavy blankets, ready to offer them to the plastered-on wet duo that seems to have appeared. He keeps his arm steady so that he may formally lead the way to the alcohol, no matter how ridiculous they look.

Marian smiles as everyone offers her birthday wishes. She snags a hot chocolate and drinks it down, loving how it warms the belly as they stand around and eat warm brownies in fudge together. Bottles of alcohol continue to be passed about so folks can doctor their hot chocolate as they wish. It's pretty easy to find a whiskey bottle for Monique to taste and warm up.

Vercyn is overheard praising Marian.

Vercyn takes the whiskey with a smile and an incline of his head. He takes a drink of it and leans back to watch the others silently.

Eirlys beams at everyone for the most part but she does focus on Shae and Gaston. "Maybe we can find you a plush Corgi, Shae?" She offers and shivers a little but she stepped back hoping Shae doesn't notice. She laughs. "You should have seen us all run the Gauntlet. I am pretty sure my dress is ruined, which I am fine with." Also Eirlys totally snagged some hot chocolate, brownies and fudge and whatever else that she could. "So how are you doing?" She asks Gaston, her eyes up on him for a moment. "We should schedule our next sparring time soon." She offers then looks at Shae. "Also I need to show you more riding skills. Whenever you'd like."

Yes, Fergus will actually take a hot chocolate, trying it for once this time. "Alright. It's not so bad." he finally decides, unaware of the linger chocolate on his the lip of his beard. He won't say anything about the sweets that she eats. "Kid's got a sweet tooth. At least it's not fucking bacon...well, everything."

Marian nods at Fergus, "Oh she totally does. I've been craving sweet things since I got pregnant." When she overhears Eirlys asking about another plushie. Marian perks up, "Oh I think Fergus might be sitting on an corgi plushie." She looks at her husband for confirmation as she leans into him, enjoying the time with family and friends.

Shae seems a little focused on her hot chocolate and whiskey, cause yum! Chowing down on her brownie with fudge. Though she does note Eirlys shivering and slips her cloak off and throws it around Eirlys instead. "You need it more, silly." Nose scrunched up a little.

"I take it now wouldn't be suitable then?" Gaston asks, rather dryly towards Eirlys. He snags some of the chocolatey goodness as well, and is happily munching on a brownie, as he looks over the gaggle of other party goers. He reaches a hand towards the fastening his wolfpelt, and soon it's placed around the Sword of Greenmarch, unless she objects. Or was going to be, but then Shae gives Eirlys's cloak back, and so it's placed on Shae instead.

Monique finds whiskey and a blanket, but also a quick escape moments later, waving to her sister and Corban.

Monique has left the The Gauntlet Obstacle Course.

Vercyn takes the chill easily, with only the occasional shiver. He takes a dreep drink from the whiskey and smiles. "All told, a rather enjoyable event."

"Yeah, I do. Eirlys is welcome to it. We'll get other plushies for the cub. Got time yet." Fergus utters, giving Marian another squeeze before he lets go. "Well, I should get going, I got a present to get ready for you. Wanna make sure it looks all decent. You stick around some. I'll make sure that Ulf doesn't let you in. See you at home." He'll break away at that, heading back to the villa.

Marian waves to her sister as she leaves, finishing up her hot chocolate and brownie. She looks around the group that's left, "Well...thank you all for coming to my birthday party. I am so glad to see so many faces come out for my Gauntlet challenge. But it's getting late and cold for those of you that got wet, so let us head to our homes to warm up and I hope you all enjoy the new year."