Aiedail Announcements

[Wyrda]

((I will be keeping count of the days, so don't worry about time flow. A day in the festival ends after a certain event.))

*Day 1

The sun was setting, torches, braizers, and bon fires being lit all around. The stadium was refurbished, the stage well lit for the opening of the festival. Already, the bleachers were crowded with wyrms and humans eager to watch. Mjrna was nervous, she hadn't performed this dance in years. "You'll do fine, sis." Mjor encouraged. "Thanks... you should probably go up to the stadium. It's about to start and I'm sure everyone is waiting for you."

Mjor returned to the stadium box built for royalty. Mjnerva smiled at her. "How's Mjrna?" "Nervous. It's been a long time since she's had to preform the dance of twelve." Mjnerva nodded, "Of course, she'll be fine."

[lupus_acerbus]

Ranith glanced up at the stadium box, checking once again to make sure he was out of Mjor's line of sight. If he had his way he wouldn't even been here at all, but he had accepted long ago that many of the decisions in his life since Zurak's death were no longer his.

[skywraith]

Samuel had entered the stadium area and found a seat. Earlier this night, he had shaved off his beard and dressed in a simple outfit, more like what he was use to wearing. He knew about the royal box, but, right now he did not want to be there, despite the fact that Mjor was and she wanted him there.

He had set into motion events and, before three days, one of them will be resolved, most likely, in a death. One of the things needed to be done was the announcement had resumed as did the challenge.

Glancing up to the box, he could see Mjor and her mother, getting ready for the first event.

He had not seen David, but he suspected he was around, lurking.

[Wyrda]

Just as the first even was about to start, a wyrm came running up to the box. <<The singer is ill! She can't sing.>> Mjor looked startled, <<Sick? Do we not have a replacement?>> The wyrm shook her head. <<Looks like you have to do it, Mjor.>> She glared angrily at her mother. <<You set me up.>> <<Of course, now get down there. The crowd is getting anxious.>> Mjor muttered a a few choice words before she vaulted over the railing to the stadium floor.

Silence fell as she began to stamp her feet in a slow rhythm. Mjnera walked out, an ornate, double-edged spear in hand, her steps in time to the beat Mjor was setting. Once on the large stage, Mjor began to sing. The song was not in Aspis or any other known spoken language, it was the language of the Aspects. Mjor's deep, rich, vibrant voice rung out as Mjnera moved in a flowing, trance-like dance.

Through the course of the sacred dance, shadowy forms of each Aspect began to appear in a circle around Mjrna. As both song and dance concluded, one spot was left empty, but after a few moments, the final Aspect appeared, Terrorogas... except, it was an image of what he use to be. All the Aspects were gathered for a brief moment, and then they were gone. The crowd erupted in applause and both Mjor and Mjrna bowed.

[skywraith]

As Samuel listened to Mjor's voice, it reminded him of Trish. He closed his eyes and saw her singing in the glade behind their house. The beauty of that voice enraptured him, as it did many others. It, also reminded him of that night, her voice was permanently silenced. The tears were flowing freely by now, with sobs punctuating the sorrow. He had never really, gotten over her death. Drying his eyes he watched the last few moments of the dance. He stood up and applauded with the rest, Mjor and Mjrna were both excellent at what they did. Heading to where Mjor was, he kissed her hand.

"I think it is time we announce that the wedding has resumed."

[Wyrda]

There was a sudden burst of clamoring and they were surrounded by a crowd of both wyrms and humans. <<I can't believe you're finally getting married.>> <<Is this him? He's handsome.>> "Congratulation, sir Samuel! We're all happy for you." There was all sorts of congratulations and cheers, including from around the stadium. Mjor looked at Samuel, a little perplexed. "Guess someone beat us to it."

The crowd suddenly parted. Yssea, Venera, and the twins, along with forty other wyrms were on the stage. Mjor stepped forward, looking directly at Venera. "You still refuse to approve?" "Yes." "Fine, then I declare Ishar-nula. I dominate you, you give your approval." "Accepted. I dominate you, Mjor, the wedding is off and you leave Samuel for good." The other consorts cleared the stage as Mjor walked up the steps.

Mjnerva placed a hand on Samuel's shoulder to prevent him from jumping in. "Don't worry, they're not fighting. It's a dancing competition, of a sorts. In the view of humans, it's very erotic. Archbald once described it as... having sex with your clothes on." She laughed. "Just watch and enjoy, she's not going to lose."

[skywraith]

Samuel sighed amongst all the cheers and congratulation, "Your mother or Dark-yn - maybe, both - have big mouths."

Samuel watched Mjor and Venera with a little detachment. This was an Wyrm dealing and he decided to set aside the throne and crown temporarily to deals with some Clan matters, including this one. When Mjnerva placed her hand on his shoulder, he turned and looked at her, with deadpan eyes.

"I think Archibald told me about this, this should be - interesting." He watched the two mount the stage. Samuel chuckled as he sat down, "poor Venera, she is going to loose twice in one night, for she had made it a Clan matter as well."

[Wyrda]

The dance, with no better description, was incredibly fast-paced and erotic, they're bodies twined as they skillful moved around each other in a very apparent game of seduction. It only last a couple of minutes, with Venera flushed and flustered, Mjor looking smug.

"You gave your word Venera." The wyrm glared at Mjor angrily, but swallowed her pride and said. "Then, I approve your decision to take Samuel as your life-mate." Her voice was strained and she was furious, then stormed off. A sigh of relief seemed to pass over the crowd. "Well? Get back to partying people!" Mjor shouted mirthfully. Musicians and performs immediately graced the stage to put on a show as Mjor stepped down. "Well, that's over with."

[skywraith]

Samuel was a bit aroused by the dance. He watched as Mjor, skilfully, took the upper hand and had Venera backing down, although, that smug expression could be her downfall. But, he knew, how skilled she was, from the times they had made love. He was quite pleased to see Mjor had won. He wondered how he would fair in his challenge.

He muttered to the retreating Venera, "do not be to hasty to leave, you might get a chance at me after all."

He caught her hand as she descended and kissed it again, "a most enjoyable dance, one we should do after we are married, or, something like it. I am about to offer the midnight song of challenge, so, whatever you do, please, do not interfere." Samuel kissed her hand one more time before heading to the outskirts of the festival grounds.

There he had set up an area, a small ring of stones with a flat rock in the middle. Stepping into the ring, he struck the flat rock with his staff causing the ring of metal against stone, as he cried out, "Hear this! The challenge of the midnight song is on me! I choose to wed Mjor! Any, who would challenge this, have three days to offer the challenge or, forever hold their peace!"

A small crowd formed around him, most, wondering what was happening. He scanned the crowd for a specific face. That face was in the back moving forward. David stepped out of the crowd and up to the ring, where he stopped. Samuel had prepared himself for this, but something was wrong.

David just bowed with a smug expression on his face, as he said, "not tonight, Lord Thorne, but soon." He turned and left with Samuel watching.

He had expected David to challenge, but David had other plans and that worried him. The fact that he announced his intent to challenge bothered him even more. David was plotting something and he had only three days to pull it off.

[Wyrda]

No one, for the time being stepped forward and the party went on. People milled out of the stadium to watch street performers or grab a free pint of. The night air was filled with music, laughter and other joyful sounds. "It's good that people are enjoying themselves." Mjor commented. Eve had come down to join them (and I'm assuming Puniceus is with her.) "Yes, it's very nice to see everyone so relaxed."

Mjnerva and Mrjna joined them. "Well, once all the challenging is over, I think things will be a little calmer." Mjrna commented a little snidely. Eve shrugged, "Cultural differences, mind you." Mjnerva had an odd expression on her face. "I would like you all to come with me.... it's rather important."

[skywraith]

Samuel paused a moment staring where David had disappeared, with a pensive look on his face. Although, he was mildly surprised Venera did not challenge him, he was not surprised no one else did. Having performed his duty, he returned to where Mjor was, both glad and worried that the battle did not happen. He had sensed it on a few occasions, but he was certain now, Terrorogas was with David and that complicated things.

Not wanting his sour mood, dampening the festivities, he took his time returning to Mjor, taking in the mood of the moment. Soon, his mood was lifted by the music and laughter.

He reached to where Mjor and others were and listened to the banter between them. Hearing Mjrna's remark about challenging, that mood tried again to reassert itself. He pushed it aside with a mild remark, "Highlanders are not ones to wait to the last moment to handle such things as humans are."

It seems, every time someone had the look that Mjnerva had, something not good seem to happen. He sighed and followed Mjnerva.

[lupus_acerbus]

Puniceus politely nodded to Mjnerva and motioned for her to lead the way. He stepped out of the way and slipped his arm around Eve's shoulders.

[Wyrda]

Mjnerva lead them to a run-down building not far from the stadium. Candle light flickered through the grime-coated windows. "Eve, Puncieus... could you all go first? You're better acquainted with him then the rest of us are." Eve gave a suspicious look, but didn't press the matter. "Alright..."

((Mjnerva is referring to Cervinnon, who's inside getting drunk right now))

[lupus_acerbus]

Puniceus went into the building and looked around. "You're...Cervinnon, right?" he asked. He was fairly sure he recognized the Wyrm from when just after he had proposed to Eve.

[Wyrda]

The black wyrm drained his shot glass and looked up at Puncieus. "Oh, you're Puncieus, my Eve's life-mate, right? Wasn't expecting company, but please have a seat. Hello Eve." She bowed a little in his direction and took a seat across from him. "How are the little ones? I hope they're growing strong and healthy. Drink, sir? Figured, I'd celebrate the festival by myself for a bit."