Medieval: the Kingdom of Kyth

[Shinko]

Though Morgaine had finished her sweeping some time ago, she still lingered outside. Her other cat, the grey tabby named Mercury, was draped over her shoulder like a silvery shawl, purring in her ear. She rubbed the side of his head absentmindedly as she observed the crowd. He had come out not long after Rust went inside, demanding attention and promptly getting it.

Now, however that attention was diverted, and she turned to see Rosalie coming out of the shop.

"A perfect day, eh?" the older woman repeated. "Y'know, you just might be right, kid. In fact..."

Morgaine gave Mercury a tickle under his chin, and the tabby purred even louder. She grinned, a wicked grin that was always the warning of mischief to come.

"I think on a day this perfect, we should not be slaving away in the shop. After all, the kingdom is in mourning, is it not? We shouldn't work while we're in mourning."

She watched the crowds. There was no mistaking the presence of noble insignias on some of their clothes. A thrill of delight shot up the locksmith's spine. Nobles meant money.

"There are so many new people in town who could use our services," she went on. "But being new in town they might get lost. We are charitable locals, so we should help them find their way."

Morgaine winked at her partner, fingering her key necklace. So many opportunities.

SPOILER: Click to show

Basically Morgaine proposes to Rosalie Dylas (Maddy) that they close the shop for the day and go out to harass the visitors advertise their wonderful services. Also she has a cat on her shoulder because she is awesome like that.

[Omni]

Orrin headed along toward the market in that half-lumbering gait of his, carrying his bag in one of his lower hands. Seems he wasn't the only one headed toward the market, as there were a few others headed in the same direction. Not that it was a surprise; he was pretty sure the market tended to be a busy place no matter what town it was in.

After some time, he reached the market itself. It was still morning, so people were still coming in, but already there was some hustle and bustle. People peddling wares, moving from shop to shop, stopping to look at him...

The market was big, probably on account of it being in the capital. A few of the things he could see included a stand selling odd statues, what looked like a key shop, and an inn off a ways. He could smell foods, and if he squinted, he thought he could see a butcher shop. And those were just a few things out of many: it seemed to go on and on! With this many shops and businesses, it was hard to choose where to go to first!

Perhaps for now he'd just wander around and check out the selection...

SPOILER: Click to show

Orrin makes it to the market and decides to take a look around. Possible people nearby include Avery, Gelquie, Lizica, Shinko, and Rosalie Dylas (Maddy).

[Robyn]

It may be hard to believe, but even hundreds and hundreds of years ago, there was still such a thing as the “bad neighborhood”.

In the case of the village of Medieville, it was a phenomenon that tended to spring upon the unwary traveller before they themselves were even aware of it-- a place that acted as a dark lake, rising up to swallow its victims in darkness the further they delved in. There was no name for this place, no colloquial titles or ghost story signs swinging from crooked iron. It truly was a lurking beast. It began with the few off-color shops in the heart of the marketplace, and they were tame at best, nothing more than middling dark magicks and petty stolen goods, with distance between them. But a turn down the wrong alley would soon land one in a world of corruption and blackness almost unthinkable for so simple a time, with stalls decorated with foreign horrors and huts with evil practically seeping through their stones.

One might wonder why amidst all of these sinful places there stood, of all things, a church. Granted, it was a dismal specimen of a church-- its stained glass windows sagging within confines of grey-green planked walls, through which poked winding tendrils of ivy and moss. It was so overgrown that it seemed to fade in and out of the forest behind it. One might even assume that it was fitting, for there to rest an abandoned church in this surely godless land.

But the First Holy Church of Woo was far from abandoned. In fact, on both the darkest nights and dimmest mornings, the weary traveler would often catch sight of candlelight flickering from within, glinting ruby and gold upon the grimy panes of glass. For where else was a church most needed than in the heart of sin?

It was on such a morning that just such a traveler happened upon the house of worship, though worship was the absolute last thing from his mind. He staggered in through the door, dizzy and reeking from his activities in the last three dens and hoping for a place to collapse. However, the sight laid out before him stopped him in his fumbling tracks.

In the front and center of the sanctuary, past the twin rows of ebony pews and wavering in the soft glow of votive candles knelt a beautiful figure cloaked in black silk. Her features were entirely obscured from the back, but her melodic voice soon reached him across the empty space, crooning as if she were whispering right into his ear. He’d never heard such convicted prayer in his life.

“Our Woo, who art in Aether,
Hallowed be thy quill.
Thy spirit bring on iv’ry wing,
And usher forth thy will.”

The man stumbled past the benches towards her. A feeling was welling up in him, a feeling he hadn’t experienced since boyhood-- could this be the stirring of the Spirit inside him, he wondered? A true religious experience, warded on the wings of this angel before him?

She was a smooth, porcelain thing, her jaw seemingly curved out of marble, her hands clasped together in white thinness. Curious, though. As young as she appeared, her hair tumbled in silver waves from out of her wimble. Curiouser still were the flashes of color that ebbed up on her arm where the sleeve tugged down. Swirls of yellow and deep purple outlined in dark ink seemed to form the first peekings of various religious iconography, as if someone had painted a mural just beneath her skin. The rising feeling in the man’s heart waned, confused. What sort of sister of Woo would ever alter their earthly body?

As he stood in the stupor of this revelation, the nun finally issued her amen and rose, seemingly a shadow pulling up in curves of silk from the floorboards. Her eyes still benevolently closed, she opened her arms towards him.

“Welcome, brother. Your travels have been arduous; your sins many. You have come to be cleansed in the light of Woo.”

It was not a question. He was still unsure of whether to nod or back away when her laughter began to fill the chapel, quiet at first but building to a raucous peak. She doubled over, and when she righted herself, her eyes flashed open-- both a brilliant, piercing violet that seemed otherworldly.

“Well, you came to the right place!” she shouted, gathering him up by the crook of his arm. Before he could protest, the girl dragged him to the sculpted wooden quill that lorded over the sanctuary on the far wall. She kicked its base unceremoniously, and a stone panel swung forth, revealing a dimly lit series of back rooms.

“First Holy Church of Woo’s got plenty of room and board for folks like you, and it looks like you need the rest. And a bath. And Woo’s divine influence, to be perfectly honest! Don’t worry, don’t worry; we’re all sinners, my brother. We’ll fix you right up, and you’ll be a man of Woo in no time.”

The quillcifix on her necklace jangled as she practically tossed him into a side room, where he tripped and fell onto the bed in the corner. He righted himself and saw doubles and triples of her grin.

“Well, don’t be shy, brother! Rest up, rest up. It’s still early yet. And once you’re done, we’ll have breakfast and communion-- and then betting rounds and drinks will start around three or so!”

She gave him a final nod, and then flounced down the hallway, habit flowing like a black breeze behind her.

The last thing he heard before passing out was, “The name’s Sister Purity if you need me! Hope you brought your wallet, brother!”

SPOILER: Click to show

Sister Purity, who is not your conventional nun, runs the not-so-abandoned and equally unconventional First Holy Church of Woo in the bad part of town. It's pretty dang corrupt. Rooms & chapel now open to boarders!

[Rosalie Dylas (Maddy)]

Rosie looked confused for a second. Morgie seemed in an awful good mood today. Not staying in the shop? Getting out? This was beyond weird.

"I don't-"

Then the penny dropped and her face lit up. Her eyes widened with understanding. The nobles were in town, and that didn't just mean people in pretty clothes talking all fancy. That meant money in their pockets. Money in their pockets that could very well go into Rosalie and Morgaine's pockets, nay, belonged in Rosalie and Morgaine's pockets. And it was their responsibility to get that precious gold to its destined place.

She could hear the clank of gold. She could see the gleam of gold. Oh, Rosalie loved gold. Gold meant pretty dresses and more supplies to make her beautiful keys. Gold meant freshly baked bread, as much of it as she could eat, and she could eat quite a bit of it. Also money was nice just to count and clink together. Rosalie was quite fond of money.

She smiled, it could only be called a sly smile.

"Oh, Morgie you are right! They could get lost. They need our help! And maybe we could interest them in some of our wares?" Rosalie asked, reaching to meet Mercury.

"It is something we HAVE to do. We would be awful citizens if we didn't." Rosalie said firmly.

She'd get to see the nobles, bustle in the excitement, sell her lovely keys, and get money. This was the perfect plan she loved it.

"Let's go!"

SPOILER: Click to show

Rosalie Dylas loves gold. She decides to set off with her business partner Shinko to help the nobles, and also profit!

[Gelquie]

Elin had trudged along the road quietly as she pushed the cart along, the inn soon coming into sight in the distance. She had waved away a fly from her products when she heard someone call from behind.

”Elin! I’ve got something for you!” It was Kelcey, holding a basket to his side. Huh. What did he have? Before she could respond, however, Kelcey caught up with her and leapt into a monologue. First he spoke on how he figured Princess Destiney wasn't eating, and therefore he shouldn't eat and be selfish. Elin let out a frown. Did she seriously hear what she thought she just heard? But before she could say anything, Kelcey continued, talking about a present for Destiney, specifically a scarf. He eventually paused, but he had gone on for so long that Elin wasn't sure how to interject, and then Kelcey motioned to the basket. ”Pork butt. You forgot it.”

“Oh,” Elin said. He said that she forgot it, but really, it was more Aunt Clare's fault for not putting it in the pile in the first place. Elin loved her aunt, but she is a bit... absent sometimes. “Thank you. Could you help carry it to the inn with me? We're nearly there.”

With that she moved along, this time deciding to speak up. “I'd love to see your scarf later; I'll swing by your place after my dinner. Or you can swing by mine. Doesn't matter. And I'm sure she'll like it. Maybe if we see her raven, you can flag him down if you want. Just... don't push him.”
Then Elin paused. She knew what Kelcey was like, and that he wouldn't stop at anything once he had a goal in mind. But at the same time, she was always concerned about his crush. Even without the fact that Kelcey had hardly even met Destiney, well... Destiney was a member of royalty and Kelcey wasn't. And with all the nobles that had come into town with the intent of asking for the Princess' hand, she knew that Kelcey's chances had worsened even more. But at the same time, she never knew quite how to say this to him and have him listen seriously. So in her past conversations, she would listen, but she would try to gradually persuade Kelcey to not get his hopes up too much more than they already were.
...It was a very, very gradual process, as it turned out.

Even so, she was not going to let one thing go. “But Kelcey... Don't starve yourself just because Destiney is in mourning. It's not selfish to want food, it's selfish to waste it. Destiney will eat eventually. And you should eat too. Please, just... when you get back home, please eat.”

Elin let out a sigh. She wasn't sure with how much weight Kelcey would consider her words. He hadn't been in Kine during the famine, so she supposed it was hard for him to know. But Elin, on the other hand, experienced it firsthand, and she remembered her family savoring every scrap of food they could spare; they had no other choice. This was until she eventually moved years ago to live with her aunt. Kelcey knew this, but knowing wasn't the same as understanding. Elin knew that.

It was then that she found herself at the entrance of the inn, but she began to wheel her cart around the building. “It's easier to take the meat to the back,” she explained. She eventually made it to a back door that she knew well and knocked.

“Xavier, Ilsa! Your meat's here!” she called.

SPOILER: Click to show

Elin listens to Kelcey (Avery) ramble before asking him to help her take the meat over to the inn. While they walk, she responds to him, noting that while his crush is ill-advised, she figures he won't listen to a blatant "no". She also reprimands him for abandoning his dinner because of his concern for Destiney.
She arrives at the inn and goes to the back kitchen door. She knocks on it and calls for Xavier and Ilsa (Elcie) to come receive their shipment of meat.

[Draco]

Davorin Silverkin walked through town, in the open, hood down, but his hair now messy covering his face some. He liked to have his hair cover his face when in public. It hid his appearance some, and didn't look as suspicious as a mask or wearing a hood when it really isn't needed all the time. After dealing with business it was always a good idea to head to a safe house. He had them all over town, in different inns, rented out homes, and a few other secret areas. Stopping he looked at his surroundings. The closest safe house of his was just around the corner, the church. He wasn't totally religious himself, but it did make a good hiding spot compared to others.

He walked around the corner and entered the property through the back, through the garden. He stops a moment to look at some of the roses.

"They're coming along nicely."

He then glances down at small plants hidden underneath the roses. Most people wouldn't think of them other then filler plants or weeds, but for him he knew very well what they were. He would sometimes use them to assist in his jobs. Depending on the plant, they did different things, but most were poisonous. Slipping out a knife he cuts a few white roses before walking into the church.

Stepping in he places the flowers into a vase kept near the back door. He'll use them to replace flowers in the church later. First he was going to his room. Walking past Sister Purity, giving her a nod, he walks into his room.

Inside he checks the roof for anything wrong. After several minutes of checking for out of place items, traps, people, or anything else, he lays back onto his bed. He wasn't tired, but he felt that laying back for a bit might be a good thing.

SPOILER: Click to show

Davorin Silverkin walks to one of many safe houses in town. The current one being at the Church of Woo.

There he does a little gardening, checking on his roses and... Other plants... Before heading inside.

He passes Robyn then heads to his room to relax for a while.

[Liou]

Beneath the blanket of mourning that had befallen their town, the people of Medieville were uncontrollably excited. Change was on its way. The nobles, in particular, were on their way. People whispered, heads turned to follow anyone who seemed worth looking at.
Heads turned so much, in fact, that a very strange series of neck pains appeared in town, travelling down the streets as if it were contagious.

Who could this lady in the humble dress be? To those who did not recognise the uniform, her figure, her gentle smile, the grace of her light footsteps, her dainty features and the radiance of her hair could mean only one thing: the lady had to be some kind of noble. She had even come from the direction of the castle! Despite the dress, there could be no doubt about it.

Laurie Kidde's fingers played with the flowers in her basket as she made her way across the street - behind her back, a man stared so hard that he let go of his wheeled cart, which sped down the street, causing shouts and crashes every few yards.

The lady's sweet honey-colored eyes wandered over the patrons of a tavern, who were sitting outside with their drinks. Noticing their stares, she gave them a shy nod. The ale immediately burst from their mouths as they choked and thumped each other on the back. Laurie gasped at that unfortunate mishap and withdrew a handkerchief from her basket, darting over to help wipe the ale from their fronts.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through her hair, which flew out of its small coif. She immediately ran after it. A bystander dived to retrieve the handkerchief, which she had dropped, before it could touch the ground. He fell right into a pile of crates.

The wind blew Laurie's headdress further away and she ran across a street, jumping up to catch it every few steps, in vain. Her long braids danced behind her back as the gaze of a young coachdriver fell upon her. She blushed and waved at him. He started, pulled too hard on the reins, and there went his coach for a long ride in town.

Laurie's chase stopped when the wind blew her coif so far that she could no longer see it. It was already getting late. Princess Destiney would need her meal served, then she would need her hair done and her clothes tended to before the night, and probably a kind soul to listen to her heart's woes and to answer her midnight whims. The maid's eyes turned towards the sky above her family's home - well, towards the roof tops in approximately that direction. Oh, when would she have time to visit them again? However would her little sisters learn the wonders of life without a feminine presence to guide them? She would have to make sure that Kelcey looked after things all right. She would be sure to question him the next time he brought her gifts for Princess Destiney.

It had been heartwrenching to leave her beloved goats - for her own good, they had told her - a few years ago, to go up to the castle and earn her keep as a servant. The castle's superintendant had immediately been impressed by the teenager's striking appearance. The princesses' personal servants had to be pretty; not good-looking enough to overshadow their majesties' well-groomed beauty, but pretty enough to fit into the decor and please the masters' eyes.
"I'm... I'm Laurie", the teenager had mumbled nervously, accidentally giving a childhood nickname. "I mean, m-my full name is..."
"Laurie," the superintendant had scribbled on the register. "We'll get you a dress fitted right away, you're not going anywhere in these goat-scented rags."
And thus, Laurie had found herself in a rather comfortable maid's dress, in the colors of House Ascension. No one questioned it - someone who looked like that could only be a maid, right?

Though confused by the castle at first, Laurie had quickly adapted to the young princesses, guided by her own experience looking after young sisters, and herding goats. Princesses could be surprisingly similar to goats, at times. Minus the smell, the beautiful sleek figure, and the intelligence.

Laurie had grown up with the princesses, in a way. She knew all the toys and trinkets and just how they had to be tidied up, and especially when. She was used to sewing and mending torn clothes and patiently dealing with little girls' tempers. She knew what temperature and fragrance the princess liked for her food and bath, and not to mix the two. She knew Princess Destiney's marvelous hair in and out, and the two always enjoyed their nightly brushing ritual.

Laurie heard all of Destiney's secrets, woes and secret woes. Sometimes she even became Destiney for a while, when the princess could not choose between two dresses and had to see them worn by someone else, or when she wanted to sneak out at night and needed someone to sleep in her bed so that it would not look empty. Laurie had Destiney's complete trust for such tasks, and was proud to be her mistress' most loyal, faithful servant. It was a good thing that the mistress was kind and at least as ditsy as her maid.

Laurie sighed, longing to visit the fresh, green, not stinky pastures and her innocent, angelic goats. She turned away from home and skipped towards the castle instead. Poor Destiney and her sisters were so busy with their many relatives staying in the castle. That meant less work for Laurie and the other maids, as all the aunts and uncles and their own servants were diligently looking after the young princesses; but it also meant that Laurie was the only one who could get out of the castle while Destiney was stuck in it. Laurie would have to run all their errands in town. Her basket was already full of treats, sewing supplies and toys and trinkets that had to be mended.

Despite the dreadful sorrow of the king's death, which Laurie felt and shared with all the princesses as she comforted them, this was a very exciting time, with new, different tasks to complete, and soon new people to serve. Laurie would stand loyally by Destiney during this ordeal, holding her endless supply of handkerchieves and supporting her love for Kelcey.

But oh, how wonderful it would be to meet all the visiting nobles, to admire their glorious figures and garbs, to hear their melodic, fluid voices that said such intelligent things, to see them, to observe them, to follow them, to bring them the finest foods from the kitchens and watch the delight on their majestic faces, to maybe make their beds and wait upon them at night! Laurie might even be able to bond with some of them, and hear the tales of the heroic deeds that they had doubtless performed in their home lands. She would serve them faithfully, making sure that they would succeed in their every endeavor, whether it be political intrigue or getting dressed - she would be right there to help them with it and keep a smile on those aristocratic faces.

Laurie stretched her arms happily - her basket slammed into the face of a man who had been staring at her.
She could already feel the presence of the nobles in town, like something glittery tingling in the air, making everything at least one fifth more beautiful. They might be so close... maybe even one street away from her!
She couldn't wait to actually meet them.

SPOILER: Click to show

Laurie Kidde, the gorgeous, faithful maid of Princess Destiney, strolls around town, running errands for the princesses who are stuck at the castle preparing the mourning feast.
(Strange accidents happen behind her back, for some reason.)
She is the elder sister of Kelcey Kidde and left her goat herding family a few years ago to become a castle maid. She became quite close to Destiney over the years.
She ADORES the nobles and is very eager to meet them and look after them.

[Elcie]

Ilsa beamed at the tall young woman who had just come through the door. "Welcome, traveler! You've come to the right place! Got a special deal on today, what with poor His Majesty's funeral coming up and all." She didn't mention, as she named the price, that the special deal was actually more expensive than the usual rates tended to be. She was pleased that her plan had worked - clearly, demand was higher than usual. Very sad thing, the king's death, but good for business. The timing had worked out perfectly. She hoped his daughter would be as considerate with the timing of her wedding. Ilsa could probably charge even more for room and board during a wedding.

"There'll be supper and drinks served down here in the evening, and there may even be entertainment, so do try to resist the urge to turn in early. I know you'll be tempted once you see how comfortable our beds are, but you mustn't give in!" More tips for Xavier, she thought. Let no one say Ilsa Wright did not look after her employees. "I'm the innkeeper here, so if you need anything at all, just ask for Ilsa Wright."

In the kitchen, Xavier was beginning to get ready for supper. The sound of a knock at the door made him jump so badly that he nearly dropped the stack of pots and saucepans he was holding. Carefully he set them down on a shelf instead and hurried to the door. Clearly, he was more on edge than he'd thought. He could not help the fact that he still looked rather nervous as he opened it. "Elin, you're just in time. You wouldn't believe how busy it's been," he said. "Do you need any help with that?"

At the same moment, Ilsa poked her head in around the doorway that opened on the rest of the inn. "Xavier, could you-- oh, you're busy. Hi, Elin. Never mind, you keep doing that, I can show guests to their rooms myself. I bet we'll be full up before the night is out! I can't even remember the last time that happened." She darted out again, ready to go show Ruth to her room.

SPOILER: Click to show

Ilsa, who is in a very good mood because today's been a lucrative day, gives Zylaa a "special deal" and shows her to her room. Meanwhile, Xavier is still feeling rather nervous and gets startled by the arrival of Gelquie with the meat shipment. He offers to help her unload it.

[Thundy]

700 YEARS EARLIER

High in the skies over Kyth there was a brilliant flash of light, followed by a dull rumble. Out of the flash an object was seen to be racing across the sky, steadily losing height. As it neared the ground, those who chanced to be looking in the right direction could see inside a man with glasses and a beard laughing while another covered his face with his arms. It arced over the town and descended into the streets with a terrific crash.

Tony opened his eyes and uncovered his face. The scene he was presented with was shocking enough to leave him speechless. The car was partly trashed, the wind-shield was completely blown out, the suspension was sagging towards the front of the car, which was most worryingly halfway into a carriage loaded with agricultural products. The carriage, since being made of wood and not steel, had faired a lot worse in the temporal collision, fruits and vegetables were scattered everywhere.

“Oh well thanks a lot, there goes my no claims bonus, do you even care how much my insurance is going to be after this?” Tony said angrily to the wizard, who surprisingly was not there, and in his place two small cards. The first one read:

“No, I don't care about your car insurance. If you need any help (other than being sent back to your own boring time) just peep the business card”

and the second one...

“Steve Magerage, Wizard, Bass Guitarist, Interdimensional Prankster, call 1-800-MAGE-RAGE or email [e-mail]”

“Lotta help that is,” Tony remarked to nobody in particular, he then remembered that he had in fact, been in a car accident (indeed now the world's -first-), and opened the door to go take a look around. He found the driver of the cart, dazed, half burried in a pile of carrots and potatoes.

“Hey man, you alright? Had a bit of a fender bender, we ought to exchange information.”

“Ooh arrrr, what information laddie?” the cart driver said, rubbing his head.

“You know, car insurance, we should probably get you an ambulance too, you don't look so good.” Tony pulled out his phone and dialled 911. It never even bothered to try connecting as Tony looked at it, a flat 0 bars of signal. “Or you know what, do you know where the hospital is? I can just drive you there,” he pointed at the car.

The cart driver froze getting up and stared at the battered Toyota with his jaw dropped open. After a second or two he stuttered, yelled, and bolted from the pile of vegetables.

“Was it something I said?” Tony shrugged.

Tony got in the car and tried the engine. It coughed and sputtered, but would not turn over. So it had finally come, the end of Tony's valiant car. He hit the dashboard out of frustration, put the gear into neutral, and with much effort, got out of the car and began to push it away from the wrecked vegetable cart.

The idea that Tony was now in a new part of time was starting to catch on in his head, but hadn't really fully taken hold. For all he knew he picked up a hitchhiker dressed as a wizard, and now he was at some renaissance fair. People in the street were dropping everything, literally, with sound of crashing pottery and squawking chickens as Tony wheeled the car down the muddy road. From time to time Tony smiled and waved to some of the people on the street, as if there was nothing out of the ordinary in his actions whatsoever.

One thing for certain though was that somebody in authority would probably not take kindly to the Metal Beast destroying a cart in town and then fleeing the scene, so Tony decided to head for the edge of town and not stick around the scene of the crime, perhaps to find a repair shop and get the Corolla working again. There also appeared to be a sort of inn or public house down the road. Then again for somebody pushing an auto-mobile in the middle ages, he wasn't going to be inconspicuous in the least.

SPOILER: Click to show

Tony arrives in the 14th century, and is promptly in a car crash. After the other driver is scared witless by the Metal Beast, he strikes out for a place to take stock of what's just happened.

[Shinko]

Morgaine and Rosalie were walking down the street, having put Mercury away and locked up the shop for the day, when a tremendous crash resounded from around one corner. Startled, Morgaine grabbed her skirts so that she could run around the street. Most sensible people would run away from such noises, for course, but Morgaine was not most people.

She saw the familiar sight of a carriage full of fruits and vegtables that had been on it's way to the market. But less familiar was the absolutel choas around it; the carriage itself was in pieces, with its contents all over the street. The source of the damage, near as Morgaine could tell, was a huge metal thing that, when a man in strange clothing emerged from it to talk to the carriage driver, Morgaine realized must also be a carriage. A metal carriage wit no horses; not something one saw every day.

Speaking of horses, the ones who'd been pulling the fruit carriage were in a panic, having been yanked over by the impact. One of them appeared to have broken it's leg; the poor creature would have to be put down. But the other seemed alright, just cut up and badly frightened. It thrashed against it's restraints, screaming in panic, while it's injured companion cried out in equal terror.

The old woman wasn't just fond of cats; she loved all animals. She knew if these horses weren't gotten under control, both of them would probably have to be shot- even the healthy one. Otherwise they'd cause a mess in the market, and maybe kill someone if they got loose. She was about to flag down the man who'd caused the accident, but he was walking away, pushing his cart with his bare hands... somehow.

"Way to take responsibility, ye bloody git!" she yelled after him. With a distinctly unladylilke snort, she looked around and spotted a four-armed ape man across the way. Walking up to him with an apologetic grin she said, "You look like a strong lad; wanna help me get these poor beasts in hand? They're likely to do themselves a bad turn if they're not calmed down."

SPOILER: Click to show

Morgaine witnesses the crash of Thundy 's car, yells at him for not doing anything to help the horses that must have been pulling the carriage he crashed into, and asks Omni for help calming the creatures since he looks strong enough to handle it. She's intrigued by the twenty-first century car and the four armed man not particularly perturbed by either. When you're an elf's wife you see a lot, and after a while very little really surprises you anymore. Rosalie Dylas (Maddy) is probably somewhere very close by, maybe right behind.

[Sporty]

Clarissa jolted upright as a massive CRASH sounded from somewhere outside the smithy. Jumping up from her workbench, she darted out of the back room and weaved her way past the various furnaces, anvils and worktables in the main workroom. The master and his apprentices were already crowded around the smithy door, and as she was fairly short, Clarissa had to squeeze past them to get a good view of the outside.

There was some sort of commotion going on down the street, not far from the market. As Clarissa shielded her eyes from the sun's glare to get a better look, she noticed something moving slowly down the street in her direction.

It was a hulking metal... thing, probably some sort of carriage, with a twisted and battered front and glass in the back windows. It seemed horribly inefficient, with no place she could see for hooking up horses, instead pushed by a single man at the back. And as for the man himself, he must have been some sort of foreigner, with his bizarre clothing and his apparent unease in the capital city.

Clarissa hesitated in the doorway for only a moment before curiosity beat out duty to her craft and she ran out to meet up with the foreigner. She noticed that the carriage was empty save for seating and some sort of foreign gadgetry, and it struck her that the man was more likely hauling the beaten-looking thing somewhere for repair than transporting a wealthy family. "Do you need any help with that, sir?" she called to him. Approaching the carriage, she eyed the strange, thick metalwork and added, "This is a fascinating vehicle. Do you mind me asking what all those levers and things inside are for?"

SPOILER: Click to show

Clarissa is startled by the crash of Thundy's car and goes out the front of the smithy to investigate. She is both fascinated and baffled by the metal carriage, but curiosity wins out and she approaches Tony to ask about it while offering her help.

If Tony and Morgaine end up conversing, Shinko and Rosalie Dylas (Maddy) will probably see Clarissa as well.

[Kozma]

Ignotus put on his cloak and threw the hood over his head as he entered the marketplace. He had some important business to conduct in Medieville. He had heard that King Starmey had died and that Princess Destiney was set to become the Queen of Kyth. He also heard that some of the nobles and lords were going to try and win her hand in marriage; no doubt because they only wanted to inherit the throne she was to sit on. He normally wasn't interested in politics but he felt that now was the time to act. He knew something big was about to happen and that it would be his best bet to fulfill his mission - the one he began so long ago.

Strolling through the marketplace, Ignotus noticed some strange things. He saw man wearing odd clothing along some kind of metal cart or carriage. He also noticed some kind of four-armed ape. There certainly were some strange things going on in the marketplace today; Ignotus wondered if any of these oddities were related to the recent death of the king.

Ignotus stopped for a moment and wondered what he should do first. Ignotus feared that his next decisions would be very important and the events over the next few days would be critical to him, to the history of Kyth, and to the well-being of the world.

SPOILER: Click to show

Ignotus goes to the marketplace where he sees Thundy and Omni. Shinko, Rosalie Dylas (Maddy) and Sporty should also be around if I'm not mistaken.  Ignotus also believes that the events and decisions made in the upcoming days will be very important.

[Omni]

Orrin hadn't been looking out for anything in particular, but when a big thing dropped out of the sky and crashed with a loud noise, it was hard not to notice. He immediately headed over to the scene to get a closer look, and saw the big metal... thing having mashed itself into a veggie cart, and a man walking out of it.

Now, it wasn't often that there was something weirder-looking than him in the same area. However, weirdness could wait; right now he wanted to make sure no one was hurt, and that there was no danger that could make someone get hurt. His first thought was about the cart driver. He started heading over to get a look at him, only to watch him get up and run away.

Well, he can't be too hurt then... he thought.

The man who walked out of the metal thing starting pushing it down the hill. Around then he heard another voice calling to him. "You look like a strong lad; wanna help me get these poor beasts in hand? They're likely to do themselves a bad turn if they're not calmed down."

Right, horses... Big as they were, they would be the danger to look out for. "Alright," he said calmly, starting to walk toward the horses. "Take it easy. The big metal thing won't hurt ya." He tried to get an idea of what both horses were doing. One horse had fallen on its side, and its leg looked like it had broken. The other was trying to run away, but between the damaged cart and the hurt horse, it wasn't going anywhere. Not at the moment, anyway.

"S'alright. I'm not gonna hurt ya either. Someone should go make sure yer driver's okay," he said, glancing at the people nearby, "but I can help ya. Easy there..." Smiling, he slowly raised one of his upper hands near the good horse, putting said hand on its neck and starting to pet it, making his way up toward its forehead. "Nothin' more's gonna hurt ya."

After awhile, the horse didn't seem to try to bolt, bit it still wasn't calm. It seemed to be reaching for the other horse. "Ah, yer worried about yer friend, are ya?" he said. "Don't worry. I can help." He turned to the elderly woman who had called out to him earlier. "Here. Would ya keep pettin' this one? I'll start workin' on the other."

With the good horse having lowered its head a bit, he was able to start petting the hurt horse while still petting the other, waiting for the woman to take over. He set down the bag that he was carrying and started to take a look at the hurt leg. "Ah yeah... That's a bad break, but I can help." Thankfully, it was one of the front legs. He wasn't sure he could do this if it were a hind leg. Unfortunately, he couldn't wait for this one because it just wouldn't happen with its leg like that. He let his hand off the good horse and started petting the hurt horse's head with one of his lower hands. Very, very gently, he took its hurt leg in his upper hands and its good leg in his other lower one. "Now, this will hurt. But then it'll feel a lot better."

He was sure that the people around him would think he's crazy, but he'd decided that he was going to do this. Taking a moment to brace himself, then trying to move quickly, he firmly held the hurt leg and pulled the bone back into place. Not surprisingly the horse screamed and thrashed, and it took all four of his arms just to try to keep it from doing him, or itself, any real hurt, and even then the hoof from its good leg got him in the lower arm. Thankfully, it noticed that the pain in the leg had in fact gone away, and immediately, it became much more calm. As it began to calm, so did the other horse.

"There. That's not so bad anymore, is it?" he said, petting it reassuringly. "Now hold still for a little longer..." He continued holding the leg still with his upper hands, and using his lower hands - he had to admit that sometimes having four arms came in handy - he opened his bag and pulled out some cheap cloth and a couple of thick sticks; ones that looked like they'd simply been cut from a larger branch. He set the sticks on either side of its hurt leg, and began firmly - but still gently - wrapping the sticks into place.

SPOILER: Click to show

Orrin hears Thundy's car crash and runs to help. He watches the driver of the damaged cart run away, and figures he can't be too hurt. Shinko asks Orrin to help with the horses. Orrin calmly walks up to the horses and starts petting the one without the broken leg, asking people nearby - perhaps Rosalie Dylas (Maddy) or Kozma - to check on the cart driver. Noticing that the good horse seems to be worried about the hurt horse, he asks Morgaine to keep petting the good horse while he tries to help the other horse. He begins petting the hurt horse and then sets its leg. The horse screams as the leg is set and kicks his lower arm, but then calms down after it's set and the pain starts to go away - the other horse calms down in kind. With the horse now relatively calm, Orrin takes some sticks and cloth out of his bag and starts putting the broken leg in a splint.

[PFA]

"Jeniver!"

The voice startled Jeniver, causing her to misaim and accidentally hit the back wall. Thankfully, the misfired spell didn't seem to do anything (or did it?). "Yes, mother?"

"We're going to view the town now," her mother told her. "Are you coming?"

"Oh. Uh, I guess," Jeniver replied with a shrug, following after her parents. Honestly, she wasn't that interested in exploring a smelly old peasant town, but maybe there would be something interesting happening.

Of course, no sooner had they left their room than did they discover that the King's Arms Inn was now bustling with activity. Some butchers had come by with a cart full of meat, and someone passing by who looked like some kind of elf, and a woman of rather large stature... they hadn't realized that this inn was so popular. Jeniver wrinkled her nose at the sight. She didn't realize she'd have to be spending all this time with so many smelly peasants. She much preferred her manor back in Corvus, where all she had to deal with was servants and fellow nobles.

"Oh my. Quite the crowd, I see," Jeniver's father remarked, making his way toward the door. His wife and daughter followed after him, the latter staying as close to the former as possible. They were stopped when they got to the door, where the innkeeper was speaking with the previously mentioned large-statured woman. Jeniver's father frowned. "Pardon us. Please let us through."

SPOILER: Click to show

Jeniver accidentally casts a spell on the wall, which appears to do nothing but who knows. Her parents decide it's time to head outside and look around, but they notice that the inn has filled up with smelly peasants since they got here (passing by Coaster and possibly Gelquie and Avery). Ew, smelly peasants. So they make their way toward the door, asking Zylaa and Ilsa (Elcie) to let them through.

[Gelquie]

((Collaborated with Elcie!))

Elin gave a friendly wave to both Xavier and Ilsa as they greeted her. "Hello you two. It's nice to see you again. Yes, I could use some help bringing in the meat. But before we do, do you have the money we agreed on?"

"Ilsa left it with me this morning." Xavier dug the coins out of his pouch and handed them to her. "I did count them earlier, I hope that's still the right amount."

Elin took the bag from Xavier and opened them, counting the coins inside carefully. Eventually, she nodded. "Looks about right," she said, smiling as she tied the pouch to her belt. "Let's get this meat inside, then. Kelcey, could you put the meat in that basket on the table over there?" Elin pointed towards the table.

They began to get to work unloading the cart and stacking the meat on one of the nearby tables. As they were doing this, Elin began to notice the commotion from further inside the inn. There was always some commotion in the inn, but today it was particularly noisy with customers. As she finished stacking some of the lamb meat onto the table, she walked over and took a peek out towards the inn. In there, she saw the inn being almost completely packed, and some of them with well-dressed people with unfamiliar accents. These must be the nobles from other provinces.

"Wow," Elin said as she walked back towards the meat cart for another load. "You weren't kidding about it being busy. You both have it under control?"

"I hope so." Xavier glanced nervously at the door. "We've never had noble guests before."

Elin frowned as she hefted up another stack of meat. "Can't be easy; they probably expect a lot. But it's good for business, at least."

"They are paying a lot," Xavier admitted. "But I'm just trying to keep out of their way until they want something."

"That's probably best," Elin commented. "They might be happy with that anyway. As long as nothing big happens, it'll probably be fine--"

CRASH!

The intensity of the noise made her essentially drop her armful of meat onto the table. The din of the chatter inside the inn had silenced, as they seemed to have heard it too. Elin ran towards the kitchen door and gazed out, searching for any sign of chaos.

"What in Woo's name was that?!" Elin cried out.

Xavier was so badly startled that he nearly crashed into the table. "I have no idea," he managed once he'd steadied himself, and went to the door to peer out around her.

Elin was eventually able to catch sight of something large glinting in the distance, along with something wrecked in its wake, and Elin pointed this out to Xavier. It was slightly too far away for her to catch the details, but it was... odd. Was the city under attack? And if so, by whom?

Elin was silent for some time. But in that time, there didn't seem to be any other attacks. But then what was that?

Either way, a small crowd was forming around the strange thing. And curious though Elin was... There was too much going on. And what if it was dangerous? Besides, she hadn't finished bringing the meat in. She figured that whatever she did, she should at least do that first.

Shaking slightly, Elin picked up another stack of meat. "L-let's finish up," she said, her voice quaking.

Xavier nodded quickly, obviously just as shaken. He finished helping her unload in silence, unable to help occasional glances out the door.

SPOILER: Click to show

Elin and Xavier (Elcie) make the deal, and they work together to bring the meat inside, with Kelcey (Avery) likely helping. As they do so, they note how busy the inn is, and discuss having nobles as customers. Their work is interrupted by a loud crash, and they both peer out the door to see what it is, but they can't get a good look. Worried and uncertain of what to do, they both decide to finish unloading the meat.