0 to 20 in 3.5 (Tegannie, StandardBC, peacenlove)

[smashbro]

April 11

Church bells ringing, children playing, adults talking and drinking. The entire city of Basilland seemed to be out and about. Vendors had closed their stands, and those who were not catering the wedding had closed their restaurants. Everyone was in their Sunday best, though you could tell there was a difference in wealth. Nevertheless, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, whether or not they knew the bride or groom.

There were rows upon rows of chairs to sit in, all facing the white gazebo, decorated with flowers and garland, where the two would be wed, with seats reserved for the bride's family and husband's family near the front.

The wife's family seemed to be very friendly, many mingling with the groom's family and townspeople. She, Anne Louise Cadenza Marshall, was nowhere to be seen today, but in the days before the wedding, made herself a part of everyday life in Basilland. Although rich enough to spend her life in her gardens, she enjoyed being outside of palaces and royal buildings.

Her family is proud of their heritage, many wearing white garments with dragon images on them. Although their blood was diluted enough that the dragon heritage was nearly lost, they keep to their family's proud tradition. However, they are not all the uptight nobles that many hear about. Many of them are very friendly to all, and mingle amongst everyone.

The husband's family, while cordial, seem to talk to those obviously closer to their level of wealth. Duke Eugine Booth waded through the guest, saying hello to everyone, but not staying in place for long. He seems to be alert, and on edge, attributing it to being excited for his big day.



Before the ceremony begins, there are many activities for the guests to enjoy. There are many bands scheduled to play, and games for both adults and children to play. Simple ball games are played by children, while a small group of adults seem to be enjoying themselves with Creatures and Caverns. Many eat and talk, drink and talk, or drink and drink and drink, only to escorted away by guards.

The guards themselves all seem to be doing their job, but slightly confused. They are vigilant, looking out for anyone causing trouble, but with the entire city invited, there is nowhere and no one who can be told to leave. The guards are many of the town guard that have been seen before, but some extras have been hired, including one of the Raptorans from a nearby colony.

One very vocal person who seems to not be enjoying himself is Laurent Booth, Eugine's younger brother. He has had more than one too many drinks, and constantly complaints about the "robot" that replaced him as best man. The guards watch over him, but cannot let him leave, as he is still part of the wedding party.

Even the hired help all seem to be enjoying themselves, as they are being paid well, and are allowed to attend the party and eat food themselves.


The wedding itself has not started yet, and few stay seated. As you all make your way around the guests, you hear one of the bands playing.



I've been looking for a rider who's qualified
So if you think you got the ranks, step onto my ride
She's a fine-tuned supersonic speed machine
With a flaxen mane and a chestnut sheen

If you wanna ride her let me know, know, know
Come on what you waiting for, for, for
My mare is ready to explode, explode, explode
So hop on up and watch her go, go, go, go

She'll get you where you wanna go, and she won't break a sweat
she can ride all day till she's a silhouette,
Can you handle the scarp? Can you run through the hills?
If you can baby boy then she can go all night

Cuz she's 0 to 20 in three point five
Baby you got the reins-

Now shut up and ride (ride, ride, ride)



EDIT: The wedding takes place on the Western end of the city, with the end of the seating meeting the buildings. On the outside of town, there are many small houses (from which people enter and leave) and a few inns, each at least 2 stories high. The gazebo and chairs are all on flat land, for a perfect view of the couple when they make their vows.

Unfortunately, with it being 11:00, and no trees around, some people are hot, and seeking refuge under tents where the food is set up. Some even go into nearby buildings, those staying in hotels have binoculars to see if anything is going on.

[Tegannie]

Hmm, this lizard has electrical powers. Blue and bronze dragon breathe electricity...ulhar and...aujir. I like aujir. Camilla thinks to herself while heading over to a food tent. Turning to her newly acquired lizard, she tells him, "I shall call you Aujir, after the great bronze dragon."

Unfortunatly, it has gotten too hot to continue to wear her dark hood, so she sneaks behind a tent and pulls it off, tucking it into her bag. She carefully adjusts her bangs so her horns arent very noticeable.

The girl who arrives at the refreshment tent is wearing a noble's clothes, but has a backpack with her. As well as a shocker lizard upon her shoulder. If someone looks closely, they can see small horns peeking through her bangs. Most would probably recognize her as the daughter of a minor noble.

Wondering if she could slip away before the ceremony starts without her parents noticing, she grabs a drink and scans the crowd for her parents.

[smashbro]

"Eugine Booth, if you would please join me here in the gazebo," the priest calls out, and slowly everyone makes their way to their seats and posts. All of the workers, aside from the guards, are allowed to take seats, and slowly the crowd quiets. The music begins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kDWaVZqO9o) and all turn to see a woman in white, at the end of the aisle. He father holds her hand, teary eyed.

Down on the other end of the isle, the black suited husband smiles, but his eyes betray his impatience and worry, as they dart around at all of the guests. He fixes his tie and smiles at his (assumidly) blushing bride, as she walks down the aisle, veil obscuring her face. She reaches her soon to be husband, and he gently lifts her veil...



She smiles at the man she loves, a brown strand of hair falls delicately on her face, and she smiles.

The ceremony goes well, and the priest nears the end of the ceremony. "If there is anyone who believes that these two should not be wed, speak now, or forever..."

At this point, a dozen women stand up, and walk into the aisle.

The maid of honor also steps forward, and rips off her veil to reveal an elven woman with long, black hair. Glinting in the sun, a dagger is now at the bride's throat.

"You were MINE! And then you try to marry this... this hussy?!? Nobody move, or vous amore Anne Louise Cadenza won't be red from blushing anymore!" The elven woman smiles sadistically.
"You'll follow me and your new woman here into the gardens, and we'll talk this over like civilized folk, now won't we?" She turns to the crowd. The women from the crowd fill the aisle, daggers out, pointed at the crowd.

"AND NO ONE IS TO FOLLOW US! IF ANYONE SO MUCH AS COMES WITHING TEN FEET OF US, THE BRIDE DIES!"

She begins to back away toward the gardens, the guards frozen in place, not sure what to do.

"Wha... why aren't you going after her?!?" Eugene cries out, pointing at the elven woman. None of the guards react right away, and a look of confusion, horror, and anger washes over Anne Louise's face.


Without any immediate intervention, she will back toward the nearby hedge garner, will hedges 10 feet high as walls, and the dozen women from the crowd will slowly follow, with two staying back by the entrance, waiting for Eugene.

Also, pardon my French, I don't know any of it. It was close to what I want from Google Translate.

[Tegannie]

Unable to sneak away before the ceremony, Camilla, sitting next to her parents, watches grudgingly.

When the elf attacks and drags the bride away, Camilla pretty much just sits there watching. She wants to help but knows that 1) it's not her job, that's what bodyguards are for, 2) her parents wouldn't let her go, and 3) she'd probably be no help anyway.

Aujir, sitting on her shoulder quietly through the ordeal, looks at Camilla quizzically, then crawls to her lap, across the laps of a few of the guests, and down to the ground. He then heads to where the elf had taken the bride. Surprised (and a little relieved for the excuse to go) Camilla stands up and follows her lizard.

[smashbro]

The first person to move is a man, many recognize him as one of the singers from earlier.

"Ummm, my lady? I can completely understand you wanting to have a private conversation with this cad... but perhaps I might be of some service? We men can be dense at times, and I might be able to help you make sure he understands what a grave mistake he has made."

Looking around at the startled guests, the knife, he smiles kindly saying, "Besides, it's not like I'll make things more tense, right?"



"Fine. You'll come with us on my terms though," says the woman as Gamble stands up and offers to help with the "negotiations" between the elven woman, and Eugene.

The man finds a knife to his throat, and he is brought away with the bride.




When most of the guards are gone, and everyone has relaxed, Camilla gets up, and tries to get away as silently as possible, but hears a loud, stern voice from behind her.

"Where do you think you're going?" asks her father, gripping her shoulder tightly. "You're not to leave this seat!"

[Tegannie]

Both Camilla and Aujir stop in their tracks at the sound of Camilla's father. Aujir turns and gives Camilla a look that pretty much says Are you coming or are you going to stay and be stuck here the rest of your life? And then continues his on his way to the hedges.

After a moment Camilla responds to her father, "I'm going after my lizard.". With that, she breaks free from her father's grip and runs off after Aujir.

[smashbro]

"CAMILLA! YOU ARE NOT TO LEAVE YOUR SEAT, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!" her father yells. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, STAY PUT!" He begins to follow you, and as you continue to walk away, you see him talking to some of the guards.

[Tegannie]

"Well, I don't care!" Camilla tells as she follows Aujir as a run.

[StandardBC]

Asha walks past the busy streets as he makes his way into town. Not knowing what to expect, he continues on into the city. He notices where the majority of people tend to be going and follows the crowd.

[smashbro]

As Ahsa enters the once peaceful wedding, he sees a warforged attacking a woman, appearing to wield a sword made out of... apples, of all things. Distracted by this, he barely notices the girl until he walks into her.

Asha and Camilla fall to the ground, unhurt but startled. The two shocker lizards walk up to each other, and seem to talk to one another, or at least look at one another.

[Tegannie]

Camilla quickly stands up from her fall. "Sorry, sir, we're in a hurry. Come on, Aujir, I don't want to let my dad catch up to us."

She grabs Aujir and continues on.

[StandardBC]

It's fine. Asha says back to the figure that knocked him over. He ignores the disturbance and keeps walking towards the center of the crowd.

[smashbro]

Apparently I'm blind and didn't seem my original post here. Feel free to ignore this one, and just read the one below.

OOC: Tegannie, not sure exactly where you want to go, the edge of the maze? otherwise, it's up to you.




Asha gets to this crowd, now all yelling at one another. In the center of the crowd is the Duke, his brother, and the bride's parents. The wedding's guards are holding off the other guests from them.

You overhear the words, "save", "our daughter", "your fault", "not dying".

[Tegannie]

OCC: I'm assuming I see the warforged attack with the apple sword.

Seeing the warforged attack with his strange weapon as she hurries to the maze opening, Camilla pulls out her sling and lets Aujir down to run along-side her.

Stopping next to him, she takes a second to consider her next action. Yes, she'd trained a little bit in combat and knew how to use the three weapons she brought with her. But could she attack and hurt a person? And what if someone attacked her? Sure, she had thick leather on, but she had had as little training in defending herself as she had had in attacking. At least she had one weapon she could use at a distance, even if she wasn't at good with it as her others.

Still, fear crept over her. She collaspes to a sitting position, with Aujir crawling up to her, with his front paws in her lap, looking up at her expectantly.

"I'm sorry, Aujir. I can't do this. I want to help, but I don't think I can."

Aujir crawls completely in her lap, doing what he can to comfort her. Camilla sighs. "Let's just go, I'm sure the guards can help the bride."

Sitting there, she tries to decide what to do.
[thinking]Maybe I should just go back to my parents...NO! I'll never be like the dragons if I just stay home, warm and safe! I should just leave. Head over to the next town, maybe find a group of adventures willing to take on a new girl. But not many people went in there to help. I can't just leave without knowing if they'll be safe in there. But what good can I do? I can barely hit a still target with this thing. I'll leave!

Camilla stands up, gently lifts Aujir off her lap and onto her shoulder, and starts heading away from the maze and the wedding.

"Wait...no, I have to help! But can I? Arrg! Aujir, what do you think?"

The lizard looks at her with an expression that says "Really?" and crawls down her arm and on to the ground. And then takes off at a full run toward and into the maze.

"Um, okay. Aujir, wait up!" Camilla says as she takes off running after her lizard.

OCC: Apparently, Camilla is very indecisive...

[smashbro]

OOC: first, sorry, I had a post all written up, then my computer decided to restart. :smallfurious: Also, Tegannie, you can have Cmilla enter the maze if you'd like, you don't have to wait too much on me. Just give her some direction, or idea of where to go, and I'll add more from there.


Asha walks up to a crowd of people; in the center he sees the Duke, the duke's brother, and the bride's parents. They seem to be yelling, and you catch the words, "not my fault" "our daughter" "crazy" "save her" "I'm not dying". Guards hold back a crowd of people, mostly the bride's family who are upset with the Duke.

A voice in the background calls out, "Don't worry, I'll save her!" And you see the man run back toward the city. No one pays him any mind, as he is barely heard over the yelling.

[Tegannie]

Looking at the map, I pictured Camilla having her little "OMG what am going to do?" freak-out moment next to Lydim...but at BW47 if fine too.

Aujir trots through the maze, listen for any voices and following them. Camilla follows him, sling out, both terrified and thrilled at the same time.

Aujir, stops when he sees a group of people (probably at BA29), then scurries back around the corner, waiting for Camilla to catch up. (at BC29)

Camilla catches up with him, stopping before turning the corner. (so she's also at BC29). With Aujir between her feet, she peeks around the corner, trying not to be seen.

Hide for Camilla, if needed: [roll0]

[smashbro]

Sorry about that, I've been trying to keep the threads a bit separate, so didn't think of you near Lydrim at first, my bad. :smallredface:

You peek around the corner to see the two who stood up, the singer and nun with one of the wedding crashers. The Wedding Crasher seems to be bored, and habitually looks toward a pathway in the north end of the clearing, while talking to her "captives".

Thanks for the hide, they're entitled to a spot check. Also, feel free to look at Tomo and Trace's thread, since you're there, Camilla heard the end of Wedding Crasher's speech (last two paragraphs).

[Tegannie]

[thinking:] A nun and...is that one of the musicians from earlier? That's who came to this girl's rescue? I wonder where the bride is anyway, probably further ahead. Well, the musician seems to know how to talk to people at least. Hopefully he's got this covered.

Camilla continues to watch the scene, wondering if she should just let the singer and the nun take of it.

After a few minutes, she turns to leave, but Aujir hisses quietly and snaps at her feet, so she stays where she is. [thinking:]Why does this lizard want me to stay here so badly?

[smashbro]

OOC: really don't have anything new for you, but if you'd like to try to find a way around the maze, you probably could, at the expense of not watching these guys. Really up to you right now. If you're fine there, sit tight and read their thread for a bit.

[Tegannie]

OOC: the way I'm playing Aujir, he's not going to let her move unless it's toward the group :smallbiggrin: so Camilla will stay put. I'll watch the other thread.

[Tegannie]

After watching the scene and noticing the elves coming toward her, Camilla grabs her protesting lizard and heads, panicking, the way she came. Aujir tries to get down from her arms, but Camilla ignores the bites, scratches, and light electrical shocks. Having not paid attention to the maze as she came in, she tries to hide at the first turn from what she see as the main path (BC 37).

[Tegannie]

OOC:
hide: [roll0]

[smashbro]

Camilla slowly backs into the hedges, and finds a nice opening to hide in. As everyone passes, you are not noticed.

[Tegannie]

Well what now? I suppose I can leave. That bard and nun seem to have everything under control. Camilla thinks to herself. Heading out of the maze, she says to Aujir, "Come on, little one, let's head out. I wonder if we can make it to the next town by nightfall."

Finally having her chance to leave, Camilla leaves the party and makes her way out of the city. Aujir sits on her shoulder, apparently content with how the bard and nun are handling the kidnapping situation.

[smashbro]

OOC: Yeah, feel free to do whatever you'd like, if the wedding isn't doing anything for you. Once you're safely out (without your parents noticing you), I'll give you some experience points for what you were doing, and from there you can go on wherever.


As you re-enter where the wedding was being held, you see confusion, and many people yelling at one another. The guards from the wedding seem to be holding back the bride's family from the maze, and/or the Duke. There is also one woman, running around frantically... your mother.

You see multiple places you can run... the plains on the other side of the hedge maze, where most couldn't see you behind the hedges. The city could be used to slip away.

You're on your own now. Where do you go?

[Tegannie]

Finally, I'm almost free! Camilla thinks to herself. Seeing her mom, however, makes her feel guilty about the whole thing, and she starts to second guess her choices. Fighting the guilt and second guessing, she heads to the city.

Before long, however, she feels some waves of electricity at her shoulder. Heavy ones that bring her to her knees. Aujir climbs down and looks at her. "Why'd ya do that, ya stupid lizard?[more electricity] "What, do you want me to go back? That bard seems to have everything handled. I just don't think I can do anything! Aujir shakes his head. And nods as best he can to Camillia's mother. "What?! My mom? You don't want to run away?" Aujir nods. "And you're not going to let me leave are you?" Aujir, almost smiling, nods again. "Fine, then. I can't believe I'm taking orders from a lizard I just got today. You're the one who's supposed to obey me!"

Shaking her head, Camilla stands up and reluctantly heads back toward the party. Aujir follows smugly.

Halfway there, Camilla stops in her tracks. "NO! I'm not going back, never!" Knowing Aujir would never let her leave, Camilla heads back to the hedge maze, hiding at CB45 while she thinks things through.


OOC: So, Aujir is apparently Camilla's conscience. Also, out of character, I don't really want to just run off without a party :smalltongue:

[smashbro]

OOC: If you'd like to join up with Chivalry and Vixsor for a while, I'll let you post in that thread, at least until Standard and peacenlove show up. Or, if you'd like to do stuff on your own, that's fine too.

As you hide, you overhear the Duke yelling.

The Duke gets more and more frustrated, as more and more people start yelling. "FINE! Singer boy! Nun! You come with me, if... what's her name wants to see me so badly! But you better be ready to protect me!

Lydrim! You take this new lady... Did you cook for us? Ooh, you didn't happen to make the mini weenies, did you? The ones on the toothpicks, rolledi n dough? Those were..." He catches himself. "alright. If you want to help, go take care of the women with knifes, there's nothing worse than having to deal with angry women."