Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Official event: Winter Masquerade 2023

The smashed, lasered and burning galleon, now at a permanent 45 degree angle, is pushed from its hover place just above the party through the dragon's heroic efforts. It is pushed just far enough that as it comes crashing down, it does not crush any of the tents, instead smashing down among the evergreens on the edge of the clearing.

As the remaining sailors flee, the ice over the Duchess and her two charges melts, and the holly branches shift to create an arch to let them out of their protected enclosure. She nods poliltely to the new guest as Nergal makes his appearance right in a particularly exciting part of the party, and then calls out to have marshmallows on sticks distributed to the guests in case they would like to make some use of the burning masts.

"Well done, everyone," she calls brightly, standing amid the smashed wreckage of her buffet tables, fruit and nuts and pastries and meat dishes strewn absolutely everywhere.

Throughout all this, the band has been steadily playing, though the poor musicians do appear to sweating prodigously.

Lord Lucius is not usually one to attend such events as a winter masquerade party, but after many years alone and held up in his drab dusty mansion, he decides to attend just this once. Dressed in all black with a ruffling collar and golden details, he sports a raven-like mask and a stoic posture. He seems to have arrived during quite the commotion, and immediately searches for the nearest drink.

With the galleon pushed aside, the dragon angles himself back towards the ground. "Coming in for a landing! Hold fast, dear passengers!" The ground rushes up towards them before he swiftly evens out, trying to make it a gentle touchdown, though there's only so gentle a big beast like himself can be. His claws touch the dance floor and he hops a few awkward steps, trying not to knock down any of the decorations. Once landed, he crouches down so his passengers can dismount. "Jolly good, friends!" he says enthusiastically. His eyes dart over to his cauldron of eggnog, hoping that it's still intact ...

He hops off the dragon. "You are all welcome!" He declares proudly, his fists on his hips, standing like a superhero.

"Run run run like the gingerbread man!" Cris cackled, chasing off the retreating pirate and its pals as they scattered and fled. After they disappeared from sight, she holstered back her katana, shaking her head. "Tsk... greenbranches. Where do they come from, some thrift store for bumbling wannabe criminals?" Not even her old crew but pretty much every outlaw she had come across in the crime underworld would laugh for ages at the defeat of these amateurs!

Turning back to see the Duchess emerge with the kids, her eyes smiled. "Ah, it was just good sport and exercise", she reassured her, before reaching out to take Rosy back in her arms. "How's my little girl? You weren't scared, were you?"

Rosy's only reaction was to nuzzle her mother. No, she wasn't scared, mostly because she was too young to understand the concept of danger.... but being able to see her mum again pretty much comforted her!

Na'aiyah rather elegantly jumped off her bear-ferret companion, letting him shrink back down into his usual little white ferret form. As she went to grab a stick with marshmallows, he'd climb back up into her hood for a nap. "I'm not gonna pass on a roasted marshmallow." She said, taking the stick with her to the flames.

(I'm back for a bit)

Vardarianna had stayed back from all the ruckus and had quietly moved around to stand before the pot of mulled wine and spiced mead. The wind gusts and the pirates and chickens made for quite the stage-play, and she was sure her brother would have been put out by it all. Still, it was fun to watch all the interactions.

Trouble was, she was getting a bit drunk and would still have to find her way back home before it was noticed she had left... maybe a few roasted marshmallows will go down a treat!

He walked over and joined the group at the fire, grabbing his own to roast. "Neither am I!"

"Wonder what all that was about." Tairloth muttered as she flew down to rejoin the others.

"Probably just a whole bunch of meanies that like ruining fun!"

as Scholar rushes to deviate the trajectiory of the air-sinking ship, Umbra uses again her gravity magic to grant stability to herself and her fellow dragon-riders. Once the galleon is successfully pushed away, she hopps off the dragon after he lands. It takes her few breaths to regain her calm composure "phew... that was... different to what I'm used to" she admits, walking towards the group by the fire, grabbing a couple sticks with marshmellows, leading back to the dragon "would you like one, Scholar? I think you deserve it~" Umbra states with a warm, gentle smile.

The Duchess applauds for the returning heroes, though she casts a concerned eye toward her dragon guest, mentally calculating how many marshmallows they're going to need to try to stick together to allow him to participate in the marshmallow roasting.

"Things kind of got a little warlike." Vardarianna said to the elven lady with the ferret. "I'm Vardarianna." She of course was talking and set fire to her marshmallow. She blew it out with ease, and would enjoy the slightly carboned sugar.

"Hi Vadarianna! I'm J-" He paused. "... Aggles!"

"Hi Jaggles! I'm Vardarianna... nice meeting..." *burp* "ya ... Oh my!"

Na'aiyah turned her head and chuckled. "It sure did.." She nearly laughed as the womans marshmallow caught fire. "How much did you drink?" Her eyebrow lifted at her.

"Not Jaggles, its Aggles!" He exclaimed somewhat angrily.

"Oh, yes!" the dragon said contentedly, accepting the marshmallow from Umbra. "I could roast it myself, but did you know? All fire tastes different." He scooped a protective claw around his cauldron of eggnog and takes another sip, letting out a happy rumble.

"Ah, sorry, I misheard you." Vardarianna apologizes to the cat and turns her head.

She looked to the stunning blue eyes of the elf woman and giggled some ... "I'm not sure... I kept dipping into the mulled wine pot..."

Marshmallows roasted on a galleon were something an ex-pirate surely wouldn't miss for dear life. Smiling bemusedly, Cris gracefully accepted a stick and pierced a couple marshmallows with it, then moved closer to the improptu bonfire, cooing at Rosy: "Look, sweetie, mum's making pirate marshmallows!"