Chapter 17: Critting the Pies
General Summary
Two days have passed since we last saw our heros. They have spent their time enjoying the games and festivities that arrive before Loras' Day.
On the 18th, the group is greeted by Arik Prince in the common room of The Umbral Inn. He asked about the whereabouts of Falaern. The group informed him that she was out "doing her own thing." He didn't seem too sure that they were telling the truth, but he went along with it. He then told the group that he had signed Lenihlra up for a magic fight in Xhosidva that day.
They made their way down there only to find out that Lenihlra was going to be fighting Gal Powers' cooler, buffer sister, Gil. Jacquora left to find an ale while Thydona and Inhe went to the stands. Lenihlra and Gil went to the fighting field. Both were fairly evenly matched, each loosing spell after spell. Lenihlra was successful in the end, knocking Gil unconscious.
The next day, on the 19th, the group made their way back to Sanctuary Stadium for Jacquora's fight. Her fight with a human ranger named Khil was also evenly matched. But after wounding the man with several well placed arrows to the shoulder, he admitted defeat, allowing Jacquora to win the fight. This advanced both her and Inhe on to the final round.
On the 20th, Inhe participated in the sprints at The Tracks, narrowly winning with a tie finish.
Additionally during this time Jacquora, Inhe, and Thydona returned to the carnival. They visited the fortune telling machine, which gave them the following fortunes:
For Jacquora: "Be careful who you trust. Salt and Sugar look the same. Lucky numbers: 15, 3, 9"
Inhe's first fortune read: "A face from your past is nearby, take heed! Lucky numbers: 18, 10, 7"
Her second fortune read: "One bad chapter doesn't mean your book is over."
Her third fortune read: "Don't panic"
The pair also had their faces painted; Jacquora as a cat and Inhe as a demon.
Inhe suceeded in winning a prize at the strength test: a small gecko or lizard from the fire islands that burped little sprouts of fire. Jacquora excelled at the knife toss and won a large stuffed turtle dragon. Both won a few small prizes as well including a small wooden ocarina, a bag with some costume jewelry, a jar with a goldfish in it, a paper unicorn horn filled with candy, and a small stuffed griffon. Inhe also won the pie-eating contest with the fastest time recorded in many years (critting twice with the checks for eating pies). She won a small cash prize as well as free pastries/pies for life from any bakery in the city bearing the Baker's Guild sigil on the front door/windows.
At some point on the 21st, all three of them received a note in their pocket that read "He needs an answer tonight. Be ready." They revisited their plan for Lenihlra to agree to working for him. Thydona told them she was going to be watching over them to make sure they were okay.
In the dream, Lenihlra was confronted with the choice from Wesley to work for him. He agreed to not harm her friends and Falaern in exchange for orders in the coming days.
The morning dawned on the 22st and all three of them woke up, their plans set into motion.
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