Author: Vibrato, Posted: Tue Aug 8, 2017 9:15 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

His anger had cooled as justice was served. The air's temperature began to climb back up as the stand's contents were confiscated and prepared to be returned to their rightful owners. It was a small comfort that those who couldn't come would at least have their hard work returned into their hands. If he hadn't run into Eden, his casks would have been there with them. As everything was being wrapped up, the judge flirted with him before returning to the guest tents. Still a bit irritated by the turn of events, he gave the firbolg a smile out of courtesy. It was always the saucy ones that seemed to pin their eyes on him.

When the tigerkin yawned, he was aware that night had begun to fall. Time surely had flown in light of their investigation, and soon he would be waking up bright and early the next day to watch his barrels of red wine and hard cider pass through the wine tasting. "It's been a long day. I'm glad it's over." He spent the night in the wagon that had brought him here to the festival, leaning back in the now empty cart that had once held his barrels. Taking a bit of water, he created a curtain of ice over the open sides for protection and privacy. Finally the exhaustion from driving for hours on end and the stress following up his little face-off with the thieving ruffians was setting in, and he fell into a deep sleep. It was tiring getting worked up for such an extended period of time.

The next morning came, just as the ice was beginning to defrost. With a touch, the ice sheet fell away and he stepped out from the back of the wagon. He checked the wheels in case someone had decided to sabotage it, and when it showed no signs of such he went to the fair grounds. The wine-tasting had commenced, and they were introducing each entry before passing samples to the judges. They would all note the details and write down their scores. The order was based on which ones were entered first, all the way to those entered last so his would be near the end. Taking the time to pick up a hearty breakfast from the stalls, he took his time watching the entries being introduced this year. There were many returning entrants, so he'd have stiff competition. But even if he didn't place in the top thirty percent, he wouldn't be bothered. It was his first attempt. The judging took several hours and took a short break at noon for the guest judges to have lunch. The competition lasted until four in the afternoon, after which the scores were tallied and results analyzed. 

This year's winners were a Gewurztraminer from Egjora, a plum-infused sake from Ataiyo, and a honey mead ale from Baltil. The curve was rather steep indeed. The rest of the rankings were posted on a bulletin board for everyone to see, with the type of wine listed by their entrant in ascending order. Waiting for his turn to take a gander, he scanned the list until he found his. Number forty-eight out of seventy. Not too bad, and just above the halfway mark. His wine and cider were traditional, so there wasn't too much at stake here. With the competition concluded, it was time for everyone to wrap up their business and head home. He checked in on Grangier, who was now conscious and bandaged. The people in charge of the Food and Wine Festival this year had offered to send him back home and send a cleric should he need more assistance. Gerard apologized to him for what had happened, but the man told him he didn't have to. They both hadn't known that there were bandits hanging around that stretch this time of year, so it wasn't his fault. With his conscience still nagging at him, he paid Grangier a small handful of silver crescents to compensate him for the accident.

He left Eden to her own devices, as their temporary arrangement was over. She had fulfilled her promise to ensure him a safe escort, and he had delivered his payment in full. Soon he was on the road again heading back home. This year's festival had been a trying experience, but next year would be better. But for now, he'd stick to transporting apples and raisins instead of wine.

Author: Eden, Posted: Tue Aug 8, 2017 8:32 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Everyone seemed frozen solid from the rage Gerard emitted (even if he chose not to actually freeze them in ice). It was not until the firbolg commanded, "Detain them, now!" before the guards snapped out of it, wrapping the brothers in rope before hauling them away To whatever guards remained, she pointed at them and said, "Clean up this stand. We will work to find whose cargo this belonged to and pay them back for the damages. You, make sure whatever remaining goods get investigated carefully. All shipments for the brothers will be detained as well for suspicion of theft.

"And Gerard!" Walking over, she curled her arms around him, whispering, "If you ever need to let out some steam, you are free to come to my room at night. I'm always willing to lend an ear to by beautiful guests." Getting off, she gave a wave to them before taking off, leaving whatever staff hands available to tend to the rest of the chaos.

When Gerard returned to Eden's side, she nodded to his comment before letting out a long yawn. Its amazing how long the day had been with all the commotion and attacks. It was only now did her body realize what the time was starting to look like… Or was she in some way drugged? ….She highly doubted the latter.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Tue Aug 8, 2017 8:12 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Gerard was satisfied to see that his suspicions had been confirmed, as the younger man balked and fled. He was quite enjoying the scene of the thief being caught red-handed when something the man said tipped him off. What did he mean by 'again'? Wait, that couldn't mean… His smirk of satisfaction changed into a scowl, and his eyes flashed with rage. The surrounding air at once became frigid like the first days of Glaciem as he was boiling over with anger. The remaining pineapple wine in the glass began frosting over as the glass started to crack. "So it was you." He began approaching Grex slowly, with a menacing glare. "You're the ones who put a knife in Grangier, and tried to steal my barrels." 

Turning his head back he gave Brigard a death glare. His teeth were clenched and his knuckles were bone white from how hard he was clenching his hands to keep himself from impaling the man with an ice spike. "You'd best cooperate with the guards, because if they won't deal with you–I surely will." If he stayed in the Troy Brothers' presence any longer he'd freeze the fingers off their hands, so he turned on his heel and waved dismissively. "Now they've been proven guilty, do whatever you want with them. We're done here. I'll show myself out, before I do something regrettable." He went over to Eden and tapped her on the shoulder lightly. "Good work catching these two. Now they'll get the attention they duly deserve." 

Author: Eden, Posted: Tue Aug 8, 2017 1:00 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"W-Well what if we were simply inspired by the Navarros? Are you saying its wrong to try and mimic a craft before making it your own? They never used coconut before in their drinks, so what's not to say that is our own touch on it?!" Brigard was steaming furious while trying to mask his nervousness. However, Grex could not handle the pressure and began to run. "Grex!" he called out, though the guards were quick to get in between.

"I say, the most guilty are always the runners," the firbolg chuckled as she watched Eden give chase, leaping over the crowd and in front, causing him to freeze before Eden was quick to turn about, clenching his face in her grip.

"Oh gods, not again… please not again!" Grex's body was frozen solid in her grip as he muttered to himself like he was caught in a deja vu. "My head hasn't recovered from the last time. Please, I surrender, just please do not slam me down again!" She paused for a moment before tightenning her grip a bit, causing him to shrill out. "LOOK! I surrender! See?!" He forced his legs to work jsut to get on his knees in front of her before placing his hands on the back of his head. "Do what you will… as long as it is not that again…"

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Mon Aug 7, 2017 3:47 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

A man was called over to do the tasting. He was someone Gerard had seen every year at the festival, and he had quite the reputation for being persnickety. Just as persnickety as the bard was himself. Percival Reginald Fauntleroy was known as a distinguished connoisseur of strong drink, fine and crude. To say he had good taste would be an understatement. He once was asked if he would like to one of the judges, but he refused stating he did his tastings for the art of fermentation and brewery, not for the public opinion. Sir Fauntleroy was rail thin with a large pointed nose atop a short yet impeccably trimmed mustache. His mouth was concealed by his facial hair, and he was beginning to lose his already-white hair. Pushing the small spectacles up the bridge of his proboscis, he took the glass and inspected it.

"Hrmph." Came his initial reply. Swirling it in the cup he took a deep whiff of the scent. This was to let the wine heat up and thus release its fragrance. He held the glass up to the light to observe its color and clarity. Finally, he tipped the glass and took a sip. The rim disappeared beneath the bushiness of his mustache, and he paused to savor the flavor. "…Hrm!" Nobody else had any idea what that was supposed to mean, but it seemed everything was fine so far. A few more sips and he put the glass back down, dabbing his mustache with a handkerchief. "I do say, that was quite the delightful little glass I've tasted." Gerard and the judge waited for him to continue, but when he didn't Gerard prompted him. "…And? Anything else?"

The man held up a finger as he finished drying his mouth off. "It is as they say, a delicious concoction of the sweet notes of pineapple, with the tinge of cherry wood and a hint of coconut. There's another aroma there…ah yes. Vanilla! A sprinkling of vanilla, likely strained out as to not leave flecks in the drink. It's almost like the sangria by the Navarros that ranked in the top twenty last year. They always strive to blend a bit of their Mamlak heritage in their drinks, as was their motto when they were interviewed." His remark was enough to raise eyebrows, as Gerard inquired further. "And how would you know if a drink was made by the Navarros?" Sir Fauntleroy folded up his handkerchief and tucked it into his breast pocket. "How, you ask? Why it is quite simple. All of their entries in the past have included vanilla. And theirs always has a rich floral fragrance to it when it wafts by. However when chilled that becomes dampened, thus the couple suggest serving it a room temperature for the best results."

"Well there you have it. You heard the man. Mister Percival here pointed out the uncanny similarity of this pineapple wine to the Navarros' passion fruit mango sangria." Gerard stated, motioning to the half-finished glass. "What do you think of this, Lady Judge?" 

Author: Eden, Posted: Mon Aug 7, 2017 2:05 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

There was an air of silence as the men were stunned. "Well?" the firbolg stated, staring down the brothers.

"W-Well, when you have so many types of drinks to offer, it makes it hard to really remember all the fine details. Being our first year, we did not think of it as too important to remember. Please, forgive our ignorance."

There was another break of silence before the Firbolg stated, "Well, I can figure it would be hard to memorize, but most craftsmen, no matter the trade, remember the hard work of their most prized crafts. Why not offer one to our guests here? A third party, so to say. One that has no connection to either party, and yet is fair enough to be able to get the most out what they were offered. I would offer myself, but being a judge, I would have to taste everything blind, and if such ware is in the running, then my opinion would be diminished, and thus ruin my position as a judge. Ah, the world can be cruel at times."

Even as everything proceeded, Eden's eyes watched the pair shake. They were under the spotlight, trying to keep their cools, but it was not enough to be able to smell the fear from them as they headed over to prepare a new glass for whoever they decided to be a judge.

"Here we are then," Grex said, placing out a new glass in front of them. "A pineapple wine fitted in a cherry wood barrel, used to hint at the marriage at the two diverse flavors. Aged for twenty months."

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Mon Aug 7, 2017 1:26 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Sarcasm and quips aside, Gerard got down to business. "There was nothing wrong with the wine you gave me as a sample, it was your barrels. They're uneven, not just one but all of them. As a wine-maker no one would put their stock in barrels like those–especially ones which are meant to be showcased. It's not a matter of appearance, it's about the quality. When you age alcohol in barrels part of the wood cask's flavors enter the drink and vice versa. Even if you had purchased and shipped the wine from a small independent brewery, the casks would have been in better condition!" Taking a pause he let his first point settle in. "If you doubt me, then have the men check all the barrels." Crossing his arms, he looked at the wine casks from where he stood.

He was just getting started, and had more ammunition to use. "If you wish to know the other points in my reasoning, then allow me to present them to you." Turning to look at the Troy Brothers this time, he asked. "By the way, can you name all the varieties of wine you have in those casks? I don't mean just what they were made from, I'm talking about the specific name and date for all the aged alcohol. If you had bought them from someone, you should know these details by asking. The producer would have told you the wine's properties and subtle characteristics before selling them to you." This point was based more on speculation, but it was vital. It could prove just how much these two men knew about what they were advertising. If they didn't know enough, then that would raise the question of how they obtained their stock. And there was no excuse to say they weren't informed even if they didn't make the wines themselves.

Author: Eden, Posted: Mon Aug 7, 2017 11:19 AM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

The firbolg judge listened to her defense while watching the scene, catching the item around her neck, giving Gerard a slight chuckle before commenting, "My, my. I would have expected a man like you to deal in that type of business… Have things gotten bigger since last year? I know hired hands for the job are few and far between, but this?" However, the chuckle she gave off did give off a hint at her more joking about him picking up a slave before calling out, "Alright, boy! At ease! I am sure our dear here thinks she is fighting you in self defense. She means no harm, right?" There was a bit of silence between everyone before the guards stepped back, lowering their guard, though a careful eye just in case. Eden responded the same way, giving them room of trust. "See now? That's a good girl…"

"Claim?" Birgand suddenly spoke up, hearing Gerard. "What claim do you speak of?! Wait… Does this have to do with what I served you, earlier? Me, being a courteous host and in return I am to be accused?! The shame, good sir!"

"Now hold it, Briggs," she told him, quick to stare him down and quiet him up. "He is calling you out upon stealing the goods from other participants who cannot partake this year. Should his defense hold true, your will be detained by the guards here and your barrels forfeit. However, should he fail to prove you guilty, his supply will be disqualified for attempted sabotage against the competition. Being a regular, it places his name at risk for future years, so you can say you both have the same on the line.

"Now then, Gerard, what is your case?"

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Mon Aug 7, 2017 9:39 AM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

When they were out of the guard's range of hearing, he crossed his arms and looked at the firbolg. "I wouldn't be bringing it up if there wasn't any base for it. Besides, I'm not the only one who thinks there has been foul play this year. If I have to step out of the competition, then so be it. My driver almost died on the way here and the same could have been for me. Some of the regulars from last year couldn't come because they were robbed blind. If someone truly has been using stolen goods, there's bound to be something off compared to the rest of the participants."

Hearing the commotion he apologized to the tasting judge before going over to see what was happening. The guards were already trying to take Eden, so as he arrived he called out loudly. "Hold it right there! What is the matter? Why are you putting her under arrest?" One guard spoke up after picking himself off the ground. "We've been told that she's been harassing one of the stalls. When we asked her if it was true she gave no answer. Now if she would just cooperate-" He moved out of the way as another guard was thrown down. "Who reported this to you?" Gerard asked. Though in reality he already knew the answer. "One of the Troy Brothers asked for assistance. Said she's been stalking him and such." Came the reply. The bard sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid the man is mistaken. This woman is my bodyguard. I asked her to help me find the Troy Brothers' stall and come back to me when she did. The fair grounds are quite packed, so by having us both search at once we'd cover more ground that way. She's also mute, so you'll have to excuse her. It's easy to misinterpret her intentions because she can't speak."

 With the group present, he turned to the firbolg judge. "You've asked me to prove my claim from before I believe? Then allow me to present my case. I happened to find something quite interesting at the Troy Brothers' stall today." Once they arrived at the stall, he prepared for the worst. He was sure Grex and Brigard–if that were their real names–wouldn't be too keen on allowing them near the barrels once they knew why they were here.

Author: Eden, Posted: Mon Aug 7, 2017 6:39 AM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

The guards looked at each other questionably as they tried to figure out how to act before a female voice came up, saying, "Let's hear him out," before coming into view. "He is a commoner around these parts and we have become quite acquainted. Though I do wish the dear could simply relax and enjoy himself for once. Maybe then I can call him more than a simple acquaintance." It was a firbolg speaking as she walked around to give Gerard a hug for a greetings. "My, you look exhausted. The trip this year must have been rough. Come now, let's go see what this claim is about, shall we?"

However, the moment they were away from earshot of the guards, her demeanor did drop a bit to a more serious tone. "You do know this is a heavy accusation. If you cannot prove confidently that the goods were stolen, I can easily call this as a move of sabotage and disqualify your batch before any tasting begins. Are you sure you want to continue on with this?"

It did not take them long to return back to the booth… though now with multiple guards trying to pin down the beast girl. She tried her best not to harm any of them, but she was not afraid to break any holds against them. "Stop resisting arrest!" one of them demanded before being quickly tossed to the ground.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sun Aug 6, 2017 6:53 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

They mentioned her weapon. How curious… Unfortunately for them, Gerard heard every word. He acted natural when the elder Troy came over. "Oh, well I don't see why not. Did negotiations fail with the little miss over there? Your brother wasn't pulling any cheeky business, if you know what I mean? Some women don't respond well to winking and smooth words." Of course he was joking, but he couldn't let them know he knew Eden. That would ruin his facade. He patiently waited for Brigard to pour him a sample of the wine he was talking about and watched. Once he was done with the general niceties, he'd slip off and plan his next course of action. Eden wouldn't have acted unless something tipped her off, but he said nothing to her. If they were to talk, they had to go somewhere private and away from others' ears.

He accepted the sample and first swirled it in the glass, taking a whiff. He had done a little reading on wine and tasting etiquette, so it wasn't hard to play the part of an aficionado. Indeed it was quite tart and acidic, however there were notes of something else in there that wasn't orange. Spices perhaps, but he didn't bring it up. "It's tart, but refreshing. I'm surprised that it isn't sweeter. Well that'll be all for me today I'm afraid. I've already broken my promise on holding off on tasting until after the judging." With the courtesies over, he left and returned to the lines of stalls. As much as he wanted to bring Eden along with him, that man would know if they left together. Acting covertly was quite a pain sometimes. After building up the pretense of idly browsing, he casually went over towards one of the tents where the special guests invited to judge this year's wine entries were staying. The guards stopped him and asked what business he had here, and that was when he decided to drop the bomb.

Grex Troy was nowhere to be seen, so Gerard stated boldly: "Sirs, I would like a word with the judges. I believe there is a high possibility that someone has entered this year's competition using stolen goods. Surely you've heard the cases of many contestants being robbed by bandits on the way here. It wouldn't be unlikely that a less scrupulous person would take the opportunity to claim another's credit for themselves." He wasn't naming names just yet, first he had to get them to cooperate in performing an investigation.

Author: Eden, Posted: Sun Aug 6, 2017 4:42 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"I-I don't know. She saw me and all of a sudden gave chase, like she was getting ready to maul me!" the younger man stuttered before the older one shushed him, patting his head, whispering to him, "There there. It is alright. She doesn't have her weapon, so there is little to worry about," before looking back up, talking louder, "And besides, if she gets any more aggressive, we will simply call in the staff to detain her. Under the influence or not, it would still me assault on our poor booth and name. After everything we had gone through, too."

Eden did act as a decent distraction to let Gerard investigate their wares. While nothing seemed off at first glance, a careful eye at the bases would show a slight unevenness in the barrels. Nothing too strange for a single plank, but for multiples next to each other? And not only that, but one of them was showing a bit of ash… but it was deep in the shadows to find.

However, as he spoke up yet again, the older Troy spoke up, "Just a moment!" before sending the younger one off to fetch a guard before heading into the tent. "Forgive my delay. If you don't mind, may you watch the lady outside before we have the staff pick her up? I shall reward you with one of our specialties: an orange wine, carefully taken care of and aged for sixteen months before we brought it here. Its natural acidity gives it a nice punch, if I do say so myself," he told him, scooting him off to Eden before heading through the selection, taking a moment to locate the barrel before pouring the drink.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sat Aug 5, 2017 5:48 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"Hm, quite. Now about your wares…" Gerard gave a smile, albeit one with a sarcastic tinge. He could've sworn he heard the man call himself 'Brigand', if Brigard was his real name. Courtesies aside, this man's slick overeager attitude was a different beast from the other greetings of the previous stands he had browsed. And not to mention his wording was oddly specific. You didn't need to tell someone that you hadn't seen them before, unless you were trying to pull something. He was about ready to test whether or not this man knew his own stock when the screams of a man came towards them. Another man, probably the man's partner in crime was fleeing from a pursuer. A quick glance and he recognized the tell-tale ears and tail. But for the two men here he feigned surprise. "Did you get into a heated discussion with someone? By the looks of her she doesn't look too happy with your brother here. But I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding." 

He knew a keen hunter like her could pick up on the smell of a rat when she found one. While the men were distracted he looked to see if there were any identifying marks or seals on the casks of alcohol here. The bard had no issue with letting Eden do as she pleased, but if things were looking disadvantageous for her he'd step in. There was still time before the judging. It would be ideal if they apprehended the thieves red-handed before it began. Watching the younger brother catch his breath, Gerard tried to think if any of the highwaymen who had attacked them earlier had anything which could prove or disprove the brothers' connection to the string of robberies. "I don't mean to be rude, but whenever you're ready I'd like to have a sample of what you have. I'm not particularly well-read on wines and the like, so if you could introduce each one to me I'd greatly appreciate it." Now, let's see how these two could worm their way out of this one.

Author: Eden, Posted: Sat Aug 5, 2017 12:50 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

There! They were for a brief moment, but her eyes caught a figure quickly moving into the shadows as she turned her gaze over. It was certainly night a simple movement. There was a jolt of panic, enough to peak her curiosity to head into that direction. Certainly enough, a she caught a quick shadow taking a corner. Whoever they were, they were running. And if they were running, so would she. Abandoning the cup of wine in her hands, the tigerkin's eyes slitted sharp as she gave chase to the running figure, making quick scans around to catch her target at each corner, ensuring she would not lose them!

~~~

"Ah, why hello," greeted Gerard as he came up. "Welcome to our booth. Please, make yourself at home and enjoy yourself. I am Brigard Troy, a pleasure to meet you." He seemed eager to greet him with a handshake, but instead he seemed more like he was offering up a business card. "I have not seen you since we have been here, so let me tell you what we have… Although that can be a bit tricky. How about this: Instead, why don't you tell us what you want, and I am sure we can see if that is what we–"

"Help!" a cry suddenly came out as a younger man charged towards the booth.

"Whoa, Grex, calm down," he said, catching his brother's shoulders as he fought for breath. "Catch your breath and tell me what is wrong…"

All he did was point back to the view of a certain tigerkin on a hunt…

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Thu Aug 3, 2017 1:33 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Gerard gave the girl a wry smile, which was the best he could do. It was difficult for him not to look sarcastic or sardonic in general. "You have my condolences. It seems many of us have had a hard time on the way here. It truly is a deplorable thing, these thefts." Looking at the young woman named 'Silkie', he continued. "Luckily for you, I would've stopped by to pick up a few apple blossoms regardless. I'll have a gander at all of the wines you've recommended. I myself am especially curious on sampling the Troy Brothers' wares in particular." Taking his order in hand, he thanked the girls as he moved on. To the average person, the fair was bustling with activity. However for someone with sensitive hearing like him, it was mostly noise. He could tell the girls had been sincere in their chatting, and that the loss of their wines they had intended to showcase bothered the eldest the most.

Leaving the stall he moved on to visit Koolre. As much as it was irritating, he couldn't make his interest and suspicion too obvious. For all he knew, it was possible the culprits could be posing as visitors to the festival. It was open to everyone, and unfortunately that meant anyone could come in. Although the trust of the people to attended was founded on good faith, there was no doubt that someone would abuse it. He kept his ears and eyes open to any tidbits of information relating to the robberies. A little complaint here, a disappointed comment there. Having been an attendee for several years he knew the stalls that were regulars and which ones came and went. There hadn't been any problems until this year, so either the perpetrators had been planning for the long-term or it was a recently devised plan. Ultimately he made his way to the Troy Brothers he had heard so much about today. Most people couldn't afford to carry such a large selection of wines if they were promoting them on the winemaker's behalf, as the cost would be more than the return. Only the idle rich had such time and money to burn, but this too was highly unlikely. Gerard decided he would find out soon enough.

Author: Eden, Posted: Wed Aug 2, 2017 10:57 AM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"Well, you have us," the sister responded, giving him a quick wink. "Why not enjoy what time remains here?"

"How about because we don't have any wines, Silkie," an older sister responded, not afraid to give the other a quick chop. "Sorry for her rude behavior. This is her first time to the event, so we are using this to teach her how to handle customers…"

"Aw, c'mon, Sandy! Are you saying I cannot use my sweet charm to woo everyone in towards us?"

"No!" Another chop was quickly delivered, this time with more force on the same spot, having her hold her head.

"Enough, you two!" Kale stated, walking out from the back. "Now is not the time to present family issues to our guests, now can we? Not only that, but he asked a question, so it would be best we give our opinions. Sandy?"

It took her a brief pause to think things over before saying, "Koolre's hand has a surprisingly sweet drink to those who are interested. Sure, it has a bitter aftertaste, but none of it is overwhelming."

"But what about the Troy Brothers?!" Silkie bursted out suddenly. "They got sooo much to offer! And not just in flavors, but styles as well! You'd think they were made from other people! Not only that, but they said they were expecting some last minute supplies to ship in to fill in what they lost. They got me sold on their brand!"

Kale was the last one to offer. "Kodo would be my recommendation. He had to fly his items in from Ataiyo to display the sake his land is known for. But of course, what you decide to see, we have up to you. I hope this helps you."

~~~~~~~~~~

While Gerard was busy investigating the stalls, Eden was more on the prowl. Her eyes kept shifting around the region, passing by the folks as the sounds of chatter melded together into a massive mess. She knew there were eyes on them while they were eating. They were targets to somebody, yet she had no real way to track them. Her ears caught all the commotion and her nose was filled with the scents of fermented drinks and fruits. All she had were her eyes, having to filter through the movement of everyone else along with her natural feeling, which itched at her.

The feeling was the same as back then… back when they were in the cart…

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:48 AM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"Confound it…" Gerard muttered bitterly. "Things weren't as bad last year. Does that mean next year's festival will have to be moved to a new location? It's always been held here every Ignius. I suppose it was bound to happen in the end, seeing as cutthroats and thieves flock to places of meeting like buzzards." Yet in spite of his words, he wasn't going to take this lightly. The Food and Wine Festival was a long-standing tradition, celebrating the bounty of the season and the fruits of one's labor. While it was open to anyone for sampling and participation, apparently that wasn't enough for these highwaymen. He did find more than what he was looking for however, and made a note to check up on the 'new arrivals' as well as pay a visit to the Troy Brothers before the event was over. Upstarts in his summer festival? Absolutely unacceptable! Not wanting to pry for more from the chef, he nodded as he was given a recommendation to one of the returning vendors.

Finished with his food, Gerard left his used tableware and cutlery in the bins designated for washing. Giving his compliments to the chef, he was back to strolling the festival grounds with his glass in hand. His first stop was Kale and her sisters. Lovely pastries topped with streusel and finely powdered sugar were sitting in baskets waiting for be picked up. Giving a smile, he asked for two apple blossoms started digging into them right away. Washing down the last piece with the remainder of his fruit cocktail, he started making small talk with one of the girls. He wanted to know more about what had been happening to the vendors this year, but he started with a question on who was new here this festival. Word of mouth traveled quickly, and he had learned the painful lesson of the destructive power of gossip in years past. Thus he chose his words more carefully, as to not arouse suspicion from those around and whom he asked. Pretense was the name of the game, and it was one he knew well.

"If you don't mind me asking, are there any newcomers this year? I've missed the first two days of the festival and was running late, so I haven't had the time to browse everything."

Author: Eden, Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 8:59 AM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"Hmmm…" he muttered to himself before shrugging it off. "I must be imagining things, then. The only thing terrifying about her is her eating habits!" Again, he laughed it off, but it was enough for Eden to glare at him, feeling where it was coming from. However, it was not long before yet another glass was placed in front of her. While she was still cautious, her need to drink told her to try anyways and washed down the meat still stuck in her throat. It still had that weird feeling in her throat, but at least it did not attack her as harsh as the other. She could at least handle what bite the drink had.

"New faces, huh?" the chef repeated, as he thought over. "I think the biggest news would be the Troy Brother's stand. They wanted to debut with a highly diverse assortment of goods, but it seemed they, too were unfortunate with bandits as well. At the very least they could salvage what they had… Then again, Crews and Barney did not show up at all because of attacks… Either bandit attacks have been on the rise, or there is something fishy with those new guys…" However, it was not long before the two saw the chef deck himself right in the face suddenly, hearing him mutter to himself, "C'mon, don't think like that! All new participants should be greeted with open arms, not daggers…

"A-Anyways," he forced himself, "if its drinks you are not interested in, I would advise Kale's stand. She and her sisters worked hard on making some grand desserts for the festival. I plan on dropping by myself to try out one of their tarts." The rest was noise to Eden as she laid the steak down and took the glass in hand, taking a sip as her ears flicked around, listening to the noise around her. Something… did not feel right.

There were eyes…

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:25 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"Oh us? She's someone I hired to help me transport my hard cider and red wine to the festivities. Kept those unsavory types off my cargo while it was in transit, if you know what I mean. I didn't expect to have so much company out on the highland plains this time of year. They did a number on my hired driver out in the infirmary tents back there." Gerard motioned towards where the clerics were with a nod. Taking a few more slices, he slowed his chewing to fully savor the taste. The bard considered his own cooking skill to be a bit above average, but this was something else. Not everyone could cook meat past medium rare to perfection, and normally it ended up slightly on the dry side if it wasn't marinated in brine. Taking another sip from the tart currant and lime cocktail in his cup, the citrus acidity renewed his appetite. It was good, sharp and refreshing. If he hadn't picked the highlands to build his home, he most definitely would have chosen a place where he could purchase limes every day.

Soon his plate was cleared, and he was thinking of what else to try. Any alcohol was off limits for today, but there was plenty to sample otherwise. Eating something salty left him wanting something sweet, and he remembered seeing the tent serving baked green apples back from last year. "So, what's new this year in the stalls? I've been so busy in the past months that I haven't had the time to ask around on any news relating to the Food and Wine Festival this Ignius." Striking up a conversation with the chef, Gerard hoped to glean any useful information on the event. Whether it was a new guest, a returning brewer who had been absent in previous years, or a new face advertising their represented eating establishment, all of those things were tidbits he was interested in. If possible, he could find a few new buyers for his fruit that ripened in Venti and sun-dried raisins.

His stock of goods was lower thanks to saving the best grapes for making his wine, but he was always open to finding new ventures. Most of what he produced at his estate were sold to local markets or Arri. He couldn't afford to ship anything further than that. The Sarchu valley and Laeto Rainforest made transporting anything to the south and west difficult, costing more than what he would likely gain.  Also he simply did not trust trading ships to keep his goods in proper and sanitary condition. He absolutely despised rats, those filthy disease-ridden vermin. That was why he would leave snakes alone when he found them, they ate the pests keeping his place tidy and more importantly–clean. He didn't say anything about Eden's lack of table manners. It was probably due to her upbringing, or lack of. Now when civilized folk who had learned how to use utensils ate in such a way, he had plenty to say about them. Ignorance he could tolerate, idiocy not so much.

Author: Eden, Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:54 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Her ears flicked towards the voice that interrupted her stare-down with the mug, recognizing it before turning her head over to see the man before drop by, checking up on her while getting a meal for himself. She paused at her own eating, eyeing the silverware he was using before looking down at her own plate, seeing she had a pair of her won… Was she supposed to use these? It did not stop her from ripping another chunk using her hands and fangs, but she did chew slower than before, thinking about it…

But then her eyes moved back to her drink. She needed it, but it burns her throat so much… The stare-down began again, having the guy behind the grill sigh before waving down one of the sharers walking by. "Hey, can you drop by Cheviz's stand and get one of his lighter drinks for the lady here? She could be a New Blood!" Receiving a thumbs up, he laughed once more before continuing working his station. "Don't worry, we recognize not everyone can drink the strong stuff. But you know… You do remind me of something I heard circling about…"

Eden could feel his eyes upon her, and returned a gaze back as well. It was not a malice upon her, but a curiosity with an overwhelming power. Even when he broke her gaze, she could still feel it. "So pal," the chef said, redirecting himself towards the gentleman, "what's your relation with the missus here? Seems you are on some familiar terms at the very least."

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 10:23 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Watching from a distance, Gerard suppressed a laugh when he saw her reaction to downing the entire cup of ale in a single gulp. She probably accepted the drink without realizing what it was and thought it was some barley water. He wasn't a drinker himself, but it was still amusing to see how other non-drinkers reacted to a surprise. As he came over he discreetly wiped the smile off his face before looking at her, then at the cup she was glaring daggers at. "What's the matter? Oh, I see. That's ale, and a particularly strong spiced one at that. It has a higher proof and concentration than that disgusting, cheap watered-down excuse they serve at Vilpamolan taverns, so it has a bit of bite to it. There's milder drinks around here, but take care not to enjoy them too much. At least for this one the sting'll let you know when you've had enough."

Taking a seat beside Eden, he told the chef: "I'll have those two pieces of strip steak to your left there. I prefer my meat well-done over rare. Hold the ale, I've got a drink already." Lifting his glass to show the man, he waited as his order was plated and served. "There you are, your strip steak sir." The man set the loaded plate before Gerard with silverware. "So are you abstaining, or are you holding off until after the wine judging is over tomorrow?" Taking the knife in hand, the bard carefully sliced through the thickest portion of the pieces of meat, and was satisfied when he saw there was no hint of pink in the center. "I'm waiting for the competition to conclude. If I taste everything now, I'll ruin my appetite. Once the judging is over I intend to sample everything starting from those that ranked last all the way up to first place." Cutting a smaller slice off the tip, he found it to be tender and juicy with a hint of lemon and herbs. "Rosemary, thyme, and…sage is it?" He mused, trying to guess what blend the chef had used to season it. It was very fragrant and very floral, but the lemon's acidity gave it a brightness that he liked. 

He occasionally would glance over at the beast woman to see how she was holding up with her meal. The ale had caught her off guard, but would she put it down or give it another try?

Author: Eden, Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 5:07 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Eden's eyes watched carefully as the crew swarmed around the cart, her hand moving over back to her weapon. However, she paused when she noticed the other man talking with the others casually. Though her eyes followed them carefully, she watched the team unload the giant barrels while also pulling the driver into a stretcher. It seemed they were in a safe haven. This fact was cemented when the man came to her and placed some silver plates into her hands. She eyed them curiously, flipping one in her hand as she examined the design upon them, questioning why she was given such a token. She event went as far as to bite it, but the pain in her fangs only helped confirm they were not edible. Whatever they were, they had some importance, and thus she slipped them into one of the pockets that were sewed into the cloth she wore.

As the driver left, one of the other staff went over to address the woman, noting the cuts and puncture wound that littered her body and the dried up blood from them. "Excuse me," she said, drawing in the tigerkin's attention, "but we would like to take care of your injuries as well. May you please follow me to the medical center?" There was a brief pause before nodding, taking the handle of her weapon in hand before lifting it up. "No, no no!" the staff member suddenly exclaimed. "I am sorry, but we would rather prefer you not to carry your weapon around here. We are here to have fun, not duel. Please, leave it with the cart. I will assure you it will be safe with our staff watching it." While she was hesitant upon the idea of leaving behind her name, she nodded before setting it back down and getting out, joining her to get cleaned and patched up.

With the clerical magic sealing up the cuts, the main issue was the arrow wound on her shoulder, currently patched up with a wrapping and magic to numb down the pain before being sent into the fair to enjoy herself and eat, getting herself drawn towards the smell of cooking meat. "Why hello, miss!" the chef called out as she wandered towards what her nose caught the most: steak. "What will it be?" Her answer was nothing more than a simple point, though the chef did not question it. "Got it. I'll give you some of our brewer's ale and call it a meal. After all, it was brewed to be enjoyed with my meals, after all."

It was nothing but a short moment until she had a plate of steak, a mug of ale, and silverware in front of her, though the thought of courtesy never dropped into her mind as she grabbed the meat by hand and tore through it ruthlessly. This only made the chef laugh. "Either my steak is that good, or you were being starved on the trip here!" he told her, though her mind was elsewhere, hand taking the drink before her and starting to drink it down.

However, what filled her mouth made her eyes grow wide and choked, coughing most of it up. What… what was that fire in her throat?! Her tail was raised high as she found herself glaring at her cup, staring it down as if it was threatening her as the man who hired her came to visit…

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 2:29 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Keeping his eyes on the fight, he grimaced when he saw the woman take a swing with that enormous weapon of hers, sending the man flying onto the ground like a ragdoll. As the wheels clattered to a stop, Gerard had pulled it up a few meters away from her. Glancing at the aftermath, he turned to the beast woman and motioned to the back of the wagon. "…Hm. Very good. Seems you've come out in one piece. If you're done, then seat yourself in the back. We've only gone halfway through our projected route. Now at least half an hour's been wasted all thanks to those bloody scoundrels." Towards the back the wearied voice of the injured wagon driver inquired what had just happened. "It's nothing, Grangier. Just bandits. Our new hired hand cleaned them all up quite nicely. Sorry for the sudden banked turn there. We'll be at the fair grounds before you know it–just sleep." 

Once Eden was on board, they continued on. As the sun was starting to set into early dusk, Gerard saw flags on the horizon. Slowing the horses to a canter, he shaded his eyes and strained his sight to make out the banners. At the checkered red and yellow flapping in the wind, he finally heaved a sigh of relief. All this time he had been keeping a straight face, refusing to show any anxiety to betray his underlying concerns. They had made it. Their destination came into view as the sounds of music and merriment were growing louder as the wagon approached. A large makeshift wooden archway lined with streamers and flags of red and saffron yellow welcomed the three to the Ignius Food and Wine Festival. Bringing the horses to a halt. He stepped down as people came to receive them. "I'm here to contribute to the festivities. Aged Shiraz and hard apple cider, three barrels each." Straight away they started heading to the back of the wagon when he remembered Eden was still there guarding the casks. 

"Hold it! One more thing!" He shouted, running after the men. They stopped and turned. "What is it?" A burly, swarthy looking man asked crossing his arms. Lowering his voice, he continued in a calmer tone. "On the way my driver was injured by bandits. Could you bring him to a healer first? He still has a blade in him." Moving aside the back tarp, he showed Grangier. "Not to worry, we'll make sure he's cared for." One of the other men assured. The wagon driver was taken away on a stretcher while he went to see Eden. Taking out a small handful of silver crescents, he gave them to her. "Your payment, for keeping the wagon safe back there. I know it's not much, but as an added bonus–you're free to eat and drink as much as you want from the tents around here." He pointed to the various tents where tables of food prepared for the attendees were laden with the best of the participants' stock.

Some of the tents had chefs invited to the event preparing dishes using the ingredients brought to the festival. There were casks of ale and strong drink arranged by entry, where connoisseurs tasted them as they were introduced to the brewers and vintners. Later the men came to move the six barrels in the wagon cart to where the rest of the alcohol brought for the festivities were being kept, where they were stacked and laid on their side and had a metal spigot installed into barrel lid. Small signs were affixed to each barrel, labeling their contents and the name of their maker for those who were interested. Clean cups were placed upside-down on a small table beside the casks for those who wished to take a drink. When he was done watching the porters like a hawk as they moved his precious barrels, Gerard took a glass in hand and began to walk down the rows of pitched tents as the savory and sweet aromas of delicacies filled the air. He wasn't taking any strong drinks just yet, starting off with a non-alcoholic fruit punch. Finally he could relax for a few days until it was over. Asking around, he learned the wine judging would be taking place tomorrow. It was a good thing too, as he would need time to unwind from the stress of the past two days. As he surveyed this year's spread, he wondered what his temporary bodyguard was doing.

Author: Eden, Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:19 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

It was clear this man had lost all sense of sanity when left alone. Now driven mad with anger, his swings were suddenly wild, unfocused. His eyes screamed mad as his aim went lost in madness. Even in the arena did gladiators know not to lose their cool. Not only did it reflect on a bad "performance" for those around, but it left them obvious and open, the tigerkin using this to her advantage with carefully guided back steps as she drew him over to her weapon (letting some cuts in to fuel his mad-driven desires) before using the thick metal to block his next swing.

The sound of metal cracking echoed in the area as the sword bounced back, nearly snapped in two from swinging at such a thick, hard object before using the new opening made to ram the beam into his chest, pushing him back and down to the ground. Him being out of breath would be the least of his worries, as getting something like that rammed in could easily break ribs. She even pointed the weapon at his downed body as a threat to what may occur if he tried something like that again before resting the thick steel on her shoulder, turning around and walking back towards the road where she saw the cart parked.

At the very least, she gave the driver a wave to show she was doing alright before pulling the arrow out of her shoulder.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:13 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

With two of the three men down, the last remaining challenger lunged at her with spite and intent to kill. Again he had his broadsword swinging, with a dagger in his other hand. The horses  were almost out of sight on the horizon, while the broken and bloodied forms of the bandit's cohorts were lying on the ground. The man yelled, eyes filled with rage. If it hadn't been for this beastly woman, they would've had the wagon surrounded and sacked its contents for the taking. Now they were suffering losses that would take months to recover, and it was all her fault! His strikes were wild, frenzied. It didn't matter where the blade hit as long as it cut into her. That'd show that animal of a wench to get in the way between him and his prize. Everyone else who did ended up biting the dust.

Bringing the wagon back in a wide circle, Gerard strained his eyes as they adjusted from being out of the noonday sun. He saw two figures standing on the highlands, and he guessed the smaller one was his hired hand. Pulling the reins on the horses he slowed them to a quick gallop. If he brought the wagon in nice and slow, maybe by the time he was there she'd be done with business. From the back Grangier groaned, which made him realize he probably sent the man pushed up against the side of the cart when he made that wide turn. Yelling an apology to the man in back, he returned his focus to the fight between the last remaining armed highwayman and Eden. She should have no trouble dispatching him as she had done with the others, so Gerard wasn't too concerned about her. 

Author: Eden, Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 11:19 AM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

The frantic panic of the horses made it difficult for the mounted swordsman to swing properly, as the buck threw the swing way too high, causing the blade's edge to swing above her. It was enough to force them to focus on calming down their mounts before even proceeding further upon their assaults. When the one horse that got free bolted, Eden was not afraid to abandon her weapon and leap in and onto the floored bandit before he could get up, throwing her weight into his ribs before striking him with a closed fist towards the face.

That was when the sound of the twang rang forth, but no time at such a short distance to dodge. Instead, it had found its way home into her shoulder, piercing into her and filling her with pain. However, it was nothing she was not used to. She was so used to adrenaline and survival instincts numbing it away, it was as if she did not even flinch from the impact. Instead, she merely looked towards the two with her sharp eyes staring them down.

However, it was more like she stared at the horses than their riders. It was an odd sensation, but it.. almost felt like a type of kinship between them. A feeling of understanding. She wanted them to panic more, increasing her presence known to them. Panic… throw off their riders before fleeing and joining the one that had already left. She had no intent on chasing them, just who they had on them.

And it seemed like… the horses complied! Suddenly neighing wildly, they went back into bucking wildly, ignoring any effort the riders placed into calming them down until they were soon tossed off as well, quick to abandon their owners, Eden quick to assault the archer in the same fashion as before, before turning her attention over to the final swordsman. Her eyes locked onto his, as if challenging him to dare fight… or flee for his life!

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:08 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Gerard was driving the horses as hard as he could, when he heard a loud thud of something crashing into the ground behind him. He gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath. If Grangier wasn't injured, he'd be yelling at him to tell him what was going on back there. The shifting of the wagon alerted him that it was lighter, which meant his newly-hired guard wasn't on board. Unable to see behind, he kept going forward. He and the injured wagon driver were the most vulnerable right now, so his priority was getting them out of harm's way. Once the beast woman dealt with the highwaymen he would bring the wagon back around to pick her up.

Eden's act of creating a natural smokescreen blocked off whatever view the bandits' archer had. And her presence spooked the horses as intended, sending them rearing up on their hind legs. One of the men was thrown off in his attempts to regain control of his horse, while the other two were barely hanging on. The other blade-brandishing one of the three attempted to make a swing at her head with his broadsword, while the other two were unable to fight back for the time being. The man who had fallen off his horse was nearly trampled by his own mount as the animals were in a fit of panic. "Bleedin' wench!" One of them shouted over the frantic whinnying of the horses. The horse missing its rider bolted, fleeing into the highlands while the archer finally regained full control over his steed. Squinting out from below his bandanna, he notched an arrow to his shortbow and aimed at Eden, planning to shoot her at short range. The whizzing and twang of the bowstring told the tiger-kin woman that danger was coming her way.

Author: Eden, Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:24 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

There was a bit of a bump when Eden rested her weapon into the back of the cart before sitting back there herself, one leg dangling over the edge as the other pulled close her her stomach, arm resting upon it and eyes staring back as the cart was pushed forward by the strength of the horses. The ride was a simple one, filled with the echoes of the horses' gallop and the rotation of the wheel, and yet no words were spoken between any of them. Eden had none to give out in the first place, and the man in the back had a sword in him, and thus was sleeping to try to hide the pain. This gave the men driving the carriage no one to really converse with to kill time.

However, as time passed, a distant figure started to form on their tail. Her eyes grew sharper, slitting as she took focus on the up-comers. Three men on horseback, it had seemed. The one on the back sat differently as well. But why? It was not before she saw the arrow did she feel the intent. They were like the ones from before. It seemed the man up front understood this as well, as the crack of the reigns encouraged the horses up front to speed up.

Taking her weapon in hand once more, her eyes locked onto the chasers as she worked on getting a footing to stand up before leaping from the back, lighting her small load off of them all while slamming her weapon down into the dirt road, sending a plume of smoke to cast a wall between them, enough dust to prevent the archer from being any more accurate as well as placing her into an attack position as she dashed forward, aiming to scare the horses enough to throw off their riders as her beast-like intent radiated from her.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:38 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

With bated breath Gerard analyzed her response. It seemed his new strategy was proving to be much more effective than meager attempts at sign language. The beast woman walked back to her steel pillar of a weapon and hefted it onto her shoulder like it was a bamboo pole before coming back. She then held out her hand to him, poised for a handshake. He went out on a limb and assumed she was accepting his proposal, and shook her hand to seal the deal. With the mutual agreement settled, she turned to poor Grangier who was taking a well-deserved rest in the back of the wagon and gave a questioning look. He grimaced as he followed where her hand was pointing. Oh yes…that blade was still embedded in the poor man's back. In hindsight, he should have invested in a set of armor for the wagon driver before leaving.

"Oh that. Ah…he's fine–for now I think. Please don't touch it, or he'll die." Gerard still felt guilty for indirectly causing this situation. If he had decided to rain down hail instead of getting involved physically, they'd both be riding towards the festival grounds. He'd learned from his lesson this time: when dealing with enemies, overwhelm and subjugate them without quarter in the shortest time possible. In times like these, showing mercy was not an advantage. He motioned to her that the man lying down was fine–relatively speaking, and not to worry about it. He then made short work of cleaning up the campsite and prepared to take the reins at the front of the wagon. They were burning daylight standing around instead of moving on the road. With the horses bridled and prepared, he called from behind to Eden. "We're leaving now! Take a seat in the back and make yourself comfortable. It's going to be a long ride." The bard waited until she and her massive weapon were on board before whipping the reins, stirring the horses into a fast gallop.

The ride was mostly uneventful as the wagon's wheels rolled over the bumpy pastures. If they had set out shortly after daybreak, it was now nearing noon. The sun was high in the sky as the harsher afternoon rays were beginning to beat down on Gerard as he drove them forward. He was starting to feel some fatigue, but they weren't the only ones out in the hills and dales today. In the distance there was the pounding of hoofbeats  as individual horses mounted with riders were approaching. Something about them didn't seem right, and when an arrow whizzed by him his worst fears were realized–more highwaymen. From the back of the wagon Eden would have a clear view of the encroaching chestnut stallions with their riders bearing bows and blades. There were three pursuers on their tail: two brandishing blades and one armed with a shortbow. The twang of an arrow flying past preceded each shot, and lucky for them the archer had lousy aim. But if the others managed to force them to slow down, then the brigands' poor marksmanship wouldn't matter.

Pushing the horses to run faster, a cold sweat was breaking out on his back as Gerard couldn't take his mind off of the precious liquid cargo in the wagon's storage area. If one of those arrowheads made a puncture in the barrels…no he needed to stop thinking like that. Should he continue down that train of thought he'd be jinxing himself. The barrels were thick-hulled, surely they wouldn't be able to pierce through the walls of the containers. Sweat was beginning to drip from his brow as the noonday sun and his growing anxiety were placing demands on his peace of mind. He'd have to leave the robbers to the beastkin woman, as much as it put him in unease.

Author: Eden, Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:29 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Her eyes moved to watched the rising water as they had taken shape. It was the same ability Rhea had shown her, but instead of taking what she drew, he used them to form miniatures of what he tried to talk about. With them before her, she watched him perform a bit of a skit with the water mannequins as he tried to portray his offer once more. It was clear both of them were having trouble trying to talk to each other, but the main thing was he needed help and would give her something for it.

Walking back to the campfire, she took the massive weapon in hand, uprooting it off of the earth with ease before resting it on her shoulder before heading towards the man, pausing a bit before holding her empty hand out, as if offering a handshake. In team fights, it was a sign she grew accustomed to to being marked as a team, even if it was only more the moment. She had seen others do the same action done with others, but never in a situation she was in, even as far as separating after such action was performed. Still, she felt doing this felt appropriate.

Whether he accepted the offer of her hand or not, she would soon follow up with turning at the man with the sword and pointing at him with a bit of a head tilt. She had never seen a sword be used as a decoration piece like that…

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sat Jul 8, 2017 8:13 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Gerard furrowed his brow as he tried to make out the meaning of her gestures. First she pointed to where he had been, held her arms up, and swung downwards. Was that supposed to mean she was willing to protect the wagon's shipment? Then the next set of motions: pointing towards herself before making another swing towards the ground. The nokken scratched his head letting out a drawn out sigh. What was that supposed to mean? Was she trying to convey her capability to defend herself? If only she could speak, then perhaps he could have another means to confirm what the other understood from his prior questions.

He cleared his mind before contemplating how to do this. Looking at the beast woman, he spoke slowly and clearly. "So…from what you're telling me, you're saying you are willing to protect the casks?" He pointed at her, then the barrels, then nodded with a questioning look on his face as if to ask if that was what she had meant. He paired another set of motions with his words to explain his requests further. "We will be travelling a long way before we reach our destination. When we arrive, then I will pay you for your work." Gerard tried a different approach this time, using the water lying around to form shapes from them. His first set of shapes: a miniature of the wagon and some figures of people. The people went inside the wagon and it began to move for a while before stopping. He then changed the shapes so there was only a wagon and a sign post shaped like an arrow. The wagon stopped at the sign, and the people came out. The last set of shapes were more obvious: he wove shapes resembling himself and Eden where he was giving her an item as payment.

A picture was worth a thousand words, right? Surely this would be better than playing charades and taking shots in the wind on what the other was implying. When he was done using the water as puppets, it returned to the puddle it had came from.

Author: Eden, Posted: Fri Jul 7, 2017 10:54 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Eden blinked when the bowl of slop was passed out in front of her, taking it into her hands and sniffing it as he talked. The steam vented up her nose, yet she still tried to scarf it down. However, it caused an intimidate choke as the boiling temperature filled her throat, causing her to cough up a bit of a storm before having to sit on it for her to cool. Most of the time when she had to eat this slop, it was cold and flat, as if flavor was never a thing, and yet even though this nearly destroyed her mouth by the heat, she wanted to devour it. It had a taste she never had, and it still felt like a rarity to eat a good meal such as this.

Luckily, she only had to wait moments before her sips did not scorch her entire mouth before she began to shovel the contents within, filling her mouth before chewing through the chunky gravy, swallowing it down in a large gulp before repeating the process time and again before its contents were emptied out, resting the bowl next to the campfire and giving a nod towards the one who was icing himself all over. That was when she spoke to him, making motions over to items as he emanated sounds.

It did, however, take a while for her to respond, as if trying to think of how to reply, but what it was was certainly longer than what anyone would expect. In fact, it was more like she wanted to reassure what was being asked as she walked back to where the man from last night tried to intervene. She even pointed down to where he used to lay to try and signify the person before holding her arms up and swinging downwards, hitting the cargo with an imaginary weapon, though quick enough to look back to make sure she was on track. Afterwards, she would point towards herself before doing another imaginary horizontal swing before pointing back at the ground, eyes locked on the man's for a response.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Wed Jul 5, 2017 11:22 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"You're awake. About time you woke up. Did you sleep well? I didn't." Gerard said, stopping his poor example of musical warm-up exercises. His arms fell to his sides stiffly as he set his violin and bow back into their case. No wonder his playing was terrible, the muscles in his arms were stiff and were as heavy as lead. Not being to even play a simple song without his usual range of motion was frustrating, and he sighed loudly. Soon he'd have to use them to drive the wagon, too. The bubbling of the broth told him it was just about done, and he put in the pickles. A few minutes later he used a ladle to scoop out a small bowlful of the hardtack and jerky gruel, and checked the consistency. It resembled a roux, or really mushy gravy. The dried meat had boiled out its flavor and had softened into a less desiccated yet stringy form. The pickles were the only thing that added a bit of color to the otherwise monochrome mixture. 

He set the first bowl down for the beast woman with a clean spoon, and began to scoop another. In this second bowl he was careful to avoid pouring any large pieces of meat or pickle into it. This would be for Grangier. If he had left the meat and pickles in the man might choke while drinking it down. Besides, there wasn't much reason to chew the protein fibers when the flavor was in the broth. Before making his way to the wagon, he spoke loudly towards Eden. "That bowl is yours. It isn't much, but it will have to do. Make sure to skim from the surface–it's still hot." He had no idea whether or not she understood him, but wasn't in any condition to check. The heaviness in his limbs and his lack of sleep made it difficult to focus intently. Shuffling over to where he had laid Grangier down, he set down the bowl and worked to prop the wagon driver up. The blood was now dry around the weapon still embedded in the man, but he was still breathing. His condition seemed stable for now. 

Waking him up Gerard assisted him as he swallowed some food down. The last gulps were washed down with water, and Grangier was laid down again. He had informed the driver that he would be taking over and to sit still while they continued on. Gerard was sure to speak in a reassuring tone to keep the man calm. He was still injured and untreated, and the longer the bard could keep the man's metabolism slowed the better. Triggering a fear response would likely accelerate the bleeding he had worked so hard to slow. With that taken care of, the next issue at hand was their guest. She had aided them in subduing the bandits, though he wouldn't quite consider her in their party as of yet. The woman hadn't uttered a single word since she appeared. Was she mute?

She definitely wasn't deaf, and as he scooped a bowl of broth for himself he looked her over. From her features she seemed to be some kind of feline, with a rather lean build. Her strength was undeniable, as demonstrated by that gargantuan piece of metal of a weapon she had with her there. As much as they were pressed for time and supplies, he needed another pair of eyes and ears to keep the wagon's cargo safe. The question was, would she be willing to do it? Putting his hands together Gerard made his fingers interlock. It was worth a try. Even if she ultimately refused, he had to at least ask.

Waiting for her to finish her food, he took the opportunity to present his proposition. "…You there. You're quite strong by the looks of that weapon you have there. Thanks to those brigands back there, we've come up a man short. How's this: if you're willing to come with us and make sure no one touches those barrels in the wagon until I say so, I can take you to a place where you can eat as much as you want–for free." While he spoke he motioned to her weapon, to himself, and then the wagon. Hopefully he had made his offer clear to her; he didn't have confidence in his sign language.

Author: Eden, Posted: Wed Jul 5, 2017 10:28 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

The smell of the broth hovered near Eden's nose as it wafted around the campfire, slowly bringing her back as her eyes slowly opened in a sideways world of glowing fuzz. What even happened? Did the fire get so comfortable that she fell asleep? No, that wasn't it. Whenever she rested, she still had her senses at alert in case anyone attempted an ambush. It was not the meat, as she was sure she could taste anything fowl, and all that met that description were the black parts of the meat. The rest tasted fine…

Her eyes suddenly grew wide an alert. She fought through the tired daze and pushed herself back to her feet, taking the thick metal blade in hand and holding it out, her eyes scouring the hand before them. However, as she skimmed, the land rested still, aside from the small flame and the man who set it up behind her. However, what she did notie was the light glow coming up from the horizon. Dawn was soon breaking. Did she sleep throughout the night defenseless? Well, maybe not. After all, the person who gave her the meal was still there… so maybe he did?

A sigh was soon to escape her lips as she released the tension out of her shoulders before getting in a long stretch with her arms towards the sky. Even her tail stretched out before she returned to a more natural stance before turning back around to the man next to the fire before giving a minor head tilt.

Why was he still here?

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sun Jul 2, 2017 9:29 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

It was then that Gerard realized the beast woman was…limp. Cautiously he approached, trying to deduce what had caused her current state. He spied the bits of meat she had left on the ground and the bone. Was it food poisoning? No, that couldn't be–she'd be in agony than unconscious. Was she hit over the head? He couldn't find any visible head wounds or concussions. He warily prodded her with the bow of his violin–a great risk as if she were to retaliate he would be at a loss as to how to find a suitable replacement. Nothing. Listening carefully he picked up the faint sound of…snoring. Was she so tired that she immediately took an after-meal nap? As he walked away, then it dawned on him. Oh of course, it was that. "So you were eavesdropping on my little spell then. Now it all makes sense. Well sleep to your heart's content–I've no spell to wake you otherwise." He mused aloud to himself.

Night was falling, and with him being the only one awake he had to create a suitable defense against visitors of the night. Drawing out buckets of water he poured them out onto the ground until large puddles formed around the entire encampment. Then, as the moon began to rise in the sky he pulled the water upwards to converge above the campfire creating a large dome with an aperture in the center. The aperture was right above the fire to allow ventilation, but he doubted anything save for those with flight could climb in easily. With the cool evening air settling in the ice dome could last for hours without additional assistance until sunrise. 

The next morning came too early. Gerard had barely slept, and awoke at least an hour before dawn. The sky was still dark and the fire was out. It was a good thing he had created the ice dome, as he noticed scratches on the outside. Slowly he reapplied the ice to himself, wishing he had time to at least recover from the injuries sustained to his muscles. This time he'd be driving the wagon, and likely wouldn't get much rest until they were at the festival grounds. Checking to see if any smoldering embers remained in the ashes, he started the fire again watching as the ice dome collapsed back into water. He had the foresight to include the wagon in the dome, thus his precious casks of wine and cider were safe. The boiled water from the day before was cooled, so he refilled Grangier's canteen and began heating the rest to make a light broth from the dried meat. The rest of the food was preserved in some way or the other, so they would need the extra water. He couldn't wait to eat fresh vegetables instead of these dried, tasteless, salt-laden excuses of food.

The smell of meat heating in the water with crumbled and soaked hardtack made an odd broth and porridge, but it would have to do. Grangier was still asleep, so he left him be. If the pain wasn't subsiding he might have to dip into one of the casks and inebriate him if his magic wasn't enough to keep him unconscious. The very thought of cracking a barrel open prematurely was reprehensible, but he wasn't entirely selfish. He could always make another batch of wine. When he was done doing the daily checks and routine he took out his violin and played a few slow notes without the magical enchantment. It was hard to play well when his arms were so stiff.

Author: Eden, Posted: Sun Jul 2, 2017 8:01 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

While she did not understand their reasoning why, it seemed they had permitted her to the meat… They did not even bother to try and portion it out, either. They granted her the entire thing! She was so agasped about it, she simply stared back up at them as he worked with the water onto his wound as it…. became solid? She did not really know how, and her stomach reminded her to not care, as it reminded her of her empty belly. Picking the chop off the roast once more, she figured the best she could do was to give the man a nod, even if his attention was on the man with the sword in him before her fangs barged into the rare portion of the meat.

Once she got going, table manners were all but damned as she shred the meat apart, devouring the chop before her like a feral animal than a proper person of society. She was loud, messy, and vicious as she tore into the flesh, chewing down on her morsels, taking the quick moment to swallow her bits before attacking the meat once more. There was no shame in spitting out the portions that did not feel right on her tongue before delving more in. Any comments about her behavior would have been on lost ears as she satisfied her hunger.

Though what did fall upon the ears of the tigerfin was the sound of the violin, something her sharp ears could not easy escape from. As the melody played, she ate her fill, gaining a sense of satisfaction. It was a good feeling… It meant she no longer had to ravage at the bone for every morsel… Her chewing slowed down… as her eyes stayed forward on the flame… it was a comfortable… glow…

… Thud…

While not the intended plan for the violinist, it seemed that Eden was also caught into his spell, her body laying limp to the side as the bone she had chewed upon laid in the dirt. Her body was unnaturally limp, as she was often a person who would sleep with one eye open, ready to act whenever possible, and yet the magic had taken her over into a loose rest, leaving her body open to anything as she lightly breathed her tired breaths.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sun Jul 2, 2017 6:08 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

Gerard held his breath, expecting to bite the dust. He was both relieved and confused when the beast woman walked past him without a word. Turning around he saw her attention was on the poor neglected haunch of pork now being ruined by having been left on one side for too long. She was hungry, which probably explained how she came here. Rubbing his jaw, he used a bit more ice on it. Thank the gods he had knowledge of cryomancy. Slowly limping after her, he watched as she reached for the half-done meat only to stop. Seeing as neither he nor Grangier was in any shape to remedy the meat being ruined, he took a seat by the fire as he checked on the driver's condition. Looking over, he addressed her. "…Go ahead and eat it if you want. The cut's half-ruined anyway." He sighed, using the water from the stream to apply more frost to his bruises. Right now they could forget about cooking. They'd have to make do with hardtack and jerky with water until they made it to the festival grounds. What an awful way to start the trip, he thought to himself. Nearly getting killed wasn't a good sign for anything.

Hobbling over to the pack of supplies, he took out a canteen and some dried food. He would be borrowing Grangier's water for the time being, setting a pot of water from the creek to boil to make up for what he drank. After drinking several gulps he felt rejuvenated, and started to work on moving the injured man into the wagon. Very carefully, he used a stream of water from the creek to flow underneath him. Unfortunately the man would have to put up with being soaked for a short time, but he himself didn't have the strength to move him carefully. The water then lifted him up like a pair of arms, and slid over to the back of the wagon. Keeping his hands high, he used a water tendril to move the barrels around so there was enough space to lay Grangier down flat. When he was set down, he groaned again but the ice was helping him deal with the pain. The tarp that was used to cover the barrels was repurposed as a makeshift blanket, and Gerard extracted the rest of the extra water left in Grangier's clothes. Again, he checked if there was any bleeding. The only thing staunching the flow was the ice and blade still lodged in him. He couldn't do much else for the man, but he had to keep him alive as long as possible until they reached their destination. 

After making sure the wagon driver was hydrated and had some food in him, Gerard pulled out his violin. "Grangier, can you hear me?" The bearded man opened his eyes and replied weakly. "…Yeah, I hear you." Tuning his instrument, he began to pull his bow across the strings. "Good, I just wanted to make sure. Now Grangier, I need you to listen carefully while I talk to you. This is very important. We still have at least a day and a half's time before we arrive, gods willing. I know this will be hard for you but you need to keep still as to prevent the wound from getting worse." As the bard began to play, he told the man to focus intently on the music as it would make the pain more bearable. The wagon driver likely thought he meant it would heal him, but Gerard was actually lulling him to sleep. Once the man was unconscious, Gerard ensured he wouldn't be jostled when they began driving again, and indirectly chilled the boards below him so his body would enter a stupor. When all of this was done, he himself finally ate the rest of the dried food he had take out and sat down to rest. Using such precise methods with magic was a strain on his already-exhausted stamina. He kept an eye on the beast woman, wondering if she was going to stay or leave once her meal was done. 

Author: Eden, Posted: Sun Jul 2, 2017 5:19 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

The sound of scuffle quickly died down, ending off with the splashes of bodies into the nearby creek, through the thud of steel on the treaded dirt was close enough to cause her ears to flicker towards the noise once more, drawing her attention away from her downed victim. There before her stood a man, arms in the air giving the signal of surrender, but why? Did he belong to the man he forced down? No, his air was different. He had no real air of malice to him, and made no effort to even attempt to challenge or intimidate her. IN response, her claws retracted back into the form of nails before uprighting herself and sniffing the air after the pop of the burning wood.

While the smell of the fruit was strong where she was, the smell of smoke began to overpower it, mixing in with the meat itself. As if no longer caring about the other's existence, she walked past him and over to the fire, where yet another person sat with a sword in his back and ice at the wound itself. She could not help but tilt her head in confusion at the sight of this. Why would anyone even choose to live their life with that? However, her nose stole her attention away once more, spotting what she sought for in the first place: A large portion of pork that rested over the flames.

Moving over to the fire, she turned her massive weapon in her hand downward before forcing the flat tip into the earth before sitting down, her tail swaying eagerly as she pulled the chunk of meat off the rack itself. One of the sides was flooded with an earthly burning smell as it had started to blacken while the other looked quite rare. She could feel herself drooling from the smell alone as her arms moved the chunk closer… jaw dropping open with her fangs ready to tear the portion apart and enjoy every drop of it…

But she stopped herself. Inches away from devouring, she forced her arms to stop the progression before placing it back where it was. It was not her kill… It was not her meal… No matter how enticing it was, it was not hers. She was able to drive the echoes of her old owner away, meaning she accepted the fact that it was not hers, and got up and sat on the other side of the fire.

As much as she desired it, it was not hers.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sun Jul 2, 2017 4:48 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

The screams of one of the bandits drew the attention of another, which Gerard proceeded to clobber with the back of a pot. Unfortunately that did little and the man returned the favor by punching him in the jaw. Grangier went to assist, and got the man off of beating him black and blue and the two started to fight. The third man then drew a blade and cut the wagon driver in the back while Gerard was trying to recover. With Grangier down, Gerard was left to deal with the pair. He wasn't a fighter, so the best he could do was protect his head and neck with his arms as they tag-teamed him. They threw him to the ground and were kicking him when one of the bandits began grabbing at his own throat. The nokken weren't called 'drowners' for no reason, as a long tendril of water from the nearby creek was covering the man's face like an over-sized hand. The second bandit was distracted by his cohort's plight, giving Gerard enough time to manipulate the water to sweep both of them up in a single swipe. Though he was still on the ground bruised and injured, he tossed the two men back and forth with the coil of water and flung them into the side of the wagon. 

After they both hit, the water-woven appendage grasped them again and threw them into the creek where they began to drift downstream. Coughing, he struggled to get up and wiped the corner of his mouth to find it was bleeding. Using a bit of ice he stopped the bleeding and helped numb his bruises enough to allow him to get over to Grangier. The driver had been stabbed, but with no clerics of medical assistance within the area he best he could do was to freeze the wound and leave the blade in. With two out of three bandits taken care of, Gerard now heard the scuffling from the back of the wagon and went to investigate. Holding his side, he swore that if any of the thieves had touched a single one of his wine barrels he'd skewer him on a pike of ice. Instead he saw a woman with beast-like features brutalizing the brigand who had thought to sneak a taste of his precious vintage. By the gods, the weapon she was holding might as well have been a house's support beam! A single hit from that and he'd be done for–end of story. He did his best to hold his hands up to show he wasn't intending to attack, dropping his dagger in the dirt. He was hurting too much all over to put up a fight.

Meanwhile, on the grill rack the meat was starting to sizzle and burn for staying in the same spot for too long. Grangier groaned as he had been told by Gerard through a loud whisper in the ear to stay put and not to move.

Author: Eden, Posted: Sun Jul 2, 2017 4:15 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

The moon shined brightly over the landscape, illuminating the grassland that surrounded the dirt road, the stars giving off the additional gleam of tranquility. The was at a near still, with the wind gently flowing by, shifting the grass around and the hair to the sole wanderer, whose footsteps and rattling of the couple chain links breaking the silence that had once dominated the land. Slowly, Eden wandered through the land, taking in the sights as she could while still resting the massive steel beam on her shoulder , a single arm cradling its hilt. The other hand, however, cradled more of her stomach as it, too broke the silence as it roared to life.

It was such an odd thought: Though she lived on mere scraps, she pushed herself to survive on that alone, and yet here, standing in the land as free as any other, her body craved her sustenance, as if it wanted to make up for what it had missed. While mere fruits could hold her off for a bit, her body knew it was not for her. It simply knew it would rather have the red muscle of living prey, as that gave fuel to her strength. The more she thought about it, the more her senses turned up to seek it out… her find losing focus from time and becoming more of a beast herself thinking about how to get her fill.

… Her nose twinged at the sudden catch… while lost in her own thoughts, she caught a smell of it. It was someone else's kill, yes, as it also came with the smell of smoke, but her hunger drew her towards it anyways. Her pace quickened a bit as she followed the road down before seeing a figure coming into shape from a glow behind it. Though, the closer she got, a new smell was swung into the mix… fruit? It had that smell of it, but it was also… somewhat off. There was a strange difference to it, which only became more pronounced and concentrated the closer she got, soon coming towards the wagon itself, tilting her head at the wagon's content before drawing her nose closer for a more direct sniff.

While Eden was distracted, one of the bandits caught sight of the new introduction, who found an interesting way of investigating what was happening. Grinning, he broke off from the other's struggle to deal with the sole newcomer. "Hey lady," he told her with a smug tone, drawing the tigerkin's ears before eyes, "I hate to break it to ya, but this here is our catch. You best be off leaving this behind. I'd hate to hurt such a–" His noises meant nothing to the woman. All she had to do was feel his bit of malice to react. It was small, but threatening enough for her to catch his face in her left hand, nails grown out before slamming it down into the earth, all while making sure her edge never left her shoulder.

Author: Vibrato, Posted: Sun Jul 2, 2017 3:32 PM, Post Subject: Sweet Red on the Rocks [L:2]

"Heave, ho! Come on, put your backs into it!" Gerard shouted as the men loaded up the last cask of red wine into the back of the wagon. Six barrels of his best aged red wine and apple cider, three each, were secured and covered by a tarp. When the men were done, he handed each of them a small portion of silver crescents for their work. "Is that all of them?" The driver shouted from the front. "Yes, that's the last one!" The nokken shouted back, before taking his violin case boarding the wagon. The annual Ignius food and wine festival was a celebrated event in this corner of the Highlands, where even visitors from Parvpora would come to have a taste. He had been a regular at the festival for years now, but this year he would finally be able to play a bigger role than the average casual connoisseur. For five years, he had aged the cream of the crop of the fruit from his vineyards and orchards and now it was time to unveil them to the tasters. He wasn't one to normally make wine, but he had been looking forward to this moment and he wasn't leaving any room for error. 

With the slap of the reins, he and Grangier–the driver he had hired would be traveling across the countryside until they reached the festival grounds. It was a three-day's journey by wagon with a pair of sturdy horses, but by no means did that remove the possibility of danger. The barrels were heavy, making them slow. They'd be a perfect target for bandits. That was why Gerard had taken care to hire a person who was familiar with the local terrain and traveled through the area often. A person who passed through the place often would become aware of common hideouts for highwaymen and robbers. Although he had lived here for several decades, he spent most of his time maintaining his estate. Very rarely did he leave the borders of his house except for urgent business. The first day had been uneventful, and the two set up camp to rest. The weather had been good and with traveling on a downward slope they were making record time. Grangier was starting the evening meal while Gerard went to collect more tinder. On the way to check his barrels, he noticed the tarp he had used to cover them was askew. Before he could readjust the corners, he heard a cry from Grangier back at the campfire and drew his concealed dagger.

Running to the scene he found the wagon driver wrestling with a masked man, and soon three more came slinking out of the brush. While they fended off the bandits, the pork haunch that Grangier had left on the cooking rack was starting to char on the skin. The smell of meat grilling drifted in the air as the two men grappled with the armed robbers.