Olympic Start
Tenebrae - Wednesday, May 15, 2013, 7:05 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshippers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagestones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.
At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.
Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.
Munch perches upon the edge of the fountain near the plaza center, stubby little wings stretched out to enjoy the last of the sunlight. A vaugely annoyed cleric of Eluna wanders away. "...nothing personal. I met my makers. Wasn't too impressed. So I've no real intrest in meeting yours."
It is the start of the Tournament Paramount and the competitive atmosphere of that week is evident all over the city. It is ESPECIALLY active in front of the Temple of Angoron itself and that is where Jessa and a few friends are stationed, watching the various competitors and faithful mill about calling cheerful challenges. After a bit of time and laughter, the Muse excuses herself and starts to meander toward the fountain. She watches the Eluna cleric after she acquires a bag of nuts, chewing slowly. And then she drifts toward Munch. "What'd you say to her?"
Munch hrrms absently and stretches, magicite eyes flicking a moment before turning to Jessa... and her bag of munchies. "Just that I wasn't intrested in meeting her God. Goddess. Whatever. I'm sure they're very nice and all, but just not my thing."
"They can be rather wonderful but I find it works /best/ when one /wants/ to meet them." Jessa then pauses. "Though admittedly, meeting them usually is through means most people would prefer to avoid."
Munch nods, and stretches once more before stepping dwon from the fountain, joints popping in a way that may or may not be healthy for a golem. "Do they meet them even then? Seems there's only a few gods, all considered, and a lot of people dying. Doesn't seem like they're really have time to meet all of them."
"I don't know. Haven't died. I would like to think that since the Gods can have ties to lots of clerics, at a minimum, they can meet lots of their faithful." But then, Jessa /is/ a cleric. "Maybe if I die and decide to come back, I can find out."
Munch nods, and shrugs, peering over towards the Angoron crowd. "Maybe. What's that all about? Heard some sort of contest, but not the details. I havn't been around the Arena lately. They've been... kinda weird."
"Well. They do this festival for a whole week that has all sorts of tournaments and gladitorial things in Angoron's honor." Jessa taps her finger against her lips. "Not the safest thing, really, given everything lately but that may well add to the atmosphere."
Munch stands straighter and his eyes light up. Literally. "Oh, hey, that's now? Thought that wasn't 'till the weather got really hot, or sometime." The golem peers a moment longer before looking to Jessa again. "What part are you competeing in?"
"No, I just watch. That's far more entertaining. I'm a lover, not a fighter." Jessa mostly pulls off a straight face as she says that.
Munch blinks. ...not... compete? The concept takes a moment to sink in. "....so? There's skill challenges and stuff too, I think. Not just fighting and brawls." Though those are obviously the best part.
"I know. I have been around these before." Jessa likes people watching.
Munch stll doesn't really have a handel on the concept. Just not his world view. "So you already know it's not really about being better than everyone else. It's enjoying how good you already are. I'm sure there's something you could put in a good showing at."
"There are many things I could. However. I know I am magnificent. I shall less those who are less sure of that fact about themselves find out how -they- are." Jessa says that with a straight face. For serious.
Munch blinks with a soft click. "Without a standard to measure by? Besides, if you're not offering proof, isn't that just bravado?"
"My paintings are in many places around the city. My singing is known to all. I am often sought out for council by those who need the advice of a Muse or a Priestess." Jessa feels her points are made.
Munch starts to object, hesitates, starts again, and sighs, shoulders slumping. "Yeah, okay. Doesn't seem right without some rubble, or something. What do you paint?" Paint thinner is delicious.
"Whatever I am inspired by. It really varies depending on the day. My mood. That sort of thing." Jessa smiles brightly.
Munch ponders a moment, still intrested, but lacking information by which to proceed. "Whatdo you usually use to paint with? I mean, oils, water color, acrylic, wood, canvas, parchment?"
"Yes. All of that. Sometimes walls. Sometimes I've painted people but that generally gets a bit more involved." Jessa looks innocent as she says that.
Munch blinks, ponders, blinks again. "....tell me more about painting people."
"/Generally/," says She of No Shame, "there is a great deal of liquor involved."
Munch nods slowly. "Consumed, or as a solvent?" Munch really is sorta smart. He just has a very narrow world view. And when your thoughts are based in metal and crystal, expanding them can take a bit of effort.
Jessa just eyes him thoughtfully, starting to say something. Then she pauses and, patiently, says, "Consumed."
Munch nods. "Why? I mean, if it's something fun anyway, why do you need booze to get started?"
"Dont you worry. What are you going to be competing in?" Jessa asks thoughtfully.
Munch hesitates, not sure he wants to change topics, then shrugs. "Not sure yet. I like combat, but I can't take my armor off, so they get funny about that. Mid-distance runs and obstical course, most likely. Depends on what they let me in."
"I'm sure theres a challenge category or something for war golems," Jessa says hesitantly. She isn't sure.
Munch nods. "There usually is. But it's usually a kinda lame aftertought. The swimming thing last year was just kinda sad. Though I guess the year before was even worse?"
"Was it?" Jessa asks with a cheerful sort of curiosity. "Did you have to climb a tree or something?"
Munch says, "Nah. Last year was just this long string of rules written about specific golems. No build in snorkles, no chemical flotation device, no turbines. That sorta thing. All make sence, really, but sorta suck the fun out of it all."
Jessa just sits there blinking as she chews a handful of the nuts. "Goodness. Something I hadn't even considered."
Abrahil has arrived.
Munch nods, chatting with Jessa near the fountain. A small host of Angoron Tournament hopefulls near the temple. "Yeah, with specialized build types can get unfair pretty fast. I know they all mean well, but can get awkward."
"Well. Maybe one of you should take over organizing a golem-specific competition." Jessa has a bag of nuts and is munching slwoly.
"It's such a nice...oh! Do you SEE those banners?" Abrahil says as he chatters away with the elderly gentleman beside him. The two of them wander through the district from the west, a study in similarities and contrasts. One round, the other thin, one in a decadent pinstripe and the other in all the colors of the world.
"Oh, I did! And I quite agree...did you see the..."
And on and on it goes.
The artifical barbarian ponders, stubby little wings shifting and fluttering a moment as a warm breeze rolls past. "Maybe. Might be too late for this year. And doesn't matter who does it, still hard to make everything fair when some are built from stratch for a specific task. Still, worth thinking about."
Jessa's head raises as she hears certain voices and she raises an arm. "Cooo-eeeee, Abrahil!" She is /attracting/ the attention of the gnomes. Is this on purpose? Then she nods toward Munch. "I can see how that would be difficult."
"Oh! Oh my...why, it's the dear young one I was telling you about..."
"Oh, goodness! Well, it's quite nice to meet you, my dear, and er...you, tooooo, uhm...yes, er. Oh, yes," says the thinner, pinstriped and less-outrageous'd outfit of the two. The two elderly gentlemen beam up at Munch and across at Jessa. And perhaps take a step away from Munch, and perhaps look at him a little bit. Ahem.
Munch has that sort of effect on.... well, pretty much everyone, really. "Munch." he offers 'helpfully'. "You two here to join the events?" He nods towards the Tournament gathering.
Smiling sweetly, Jessa just watches the gnomes with a sort of bemused tolerance as they settle in near the fountain as well. "This is Munch. I say, Abrahil. I have /two/ things that I do so need to talk to you about."
"Oh, ye--"
"Touring," more modestly.
A bit, yes," come the replies. And the two gentlemen beam up at the golem and the pinstripes one grips his cane a bit more tightly.
"Oh! What what was that, my dear?" asks Abrahil. He smiles benignly.
"I have heard that there is this way of enchanting this," Jessa gestures toward the delicate little band around her forehead, "to make my healing and undead destruction more effective. Is this true?"
Abrahil blinks a bit behind his lenses, and leans forward. And he blinks a few more times before... "Oh! Well, my goodness yes. It could be done," he says.
Munch is about 5, in pretty much every standard but size and combat ability. 'Old' just means you're strong enough to have not yet fallen in battle. So 'old men' must be very strong fighters. "There's lots of diffrent stuff. Do you fence?" He inquires of the cane weilding gnome, glancing at the magical conversation with little intrest.
Jessa's in her thirties as a halfling which probably is like late twenties? Either way, she is kicking her legs cheerfully. "Do you think you would be up to the challenge of trying it?"
"Goodness! Why...in my youth, my goodness! I was quite the fencer..." says the thinner gnome. He looks pleased as punch at the mention, and glances at his round friend.
"We do swimming mostly, these days. Easier on the bones, you know. And oh! Oh! Design! It's so DELIGHTFUL!" says the round of the pair. And he seems to be about to say something else, but looks at Munch's VERY SCARY TEETH and sort of shuffles his hands together and coughs a few times.
And clears his throat. STILL looking at Munch, much as one might regard a dog who you are uncertain may leap at any moment. "Oh, yes. Of course, of course! I er--"
And the thinner, equally elderly, of the pair nudges him. "Ahem! He would be delighted, I do believe," he says to Jessa. And just beams. And much more quietly, "/Do/ thank you for escorting him the other day. ...I...I do worry, you know..."
Munch nods, used to weird looks. Enough so that doesn't really think of them as weird looks. So far as he knows, everyone looks at everyone like that. "We were just talking about the swimming compititions. Mostly how difficult can be to make a level playing field when some have armor they can't really take off, and others turbines for hands."
"He is great fun." Jessa seems sincere. "And yes, excellent. I /do/ think you should be able to do it and I do think it will be ever so useful while fighting because, frankly, my companions tend to take a great deal of damage. It is a lot of work." She jerks her thumb at Munch. "He has the .... OH! ABRAHIL!" The Muse claps her hands. "I am going to be producing a grand performance with the major theatres to bring about hope and to stop them trynig to burn each other down! I will need your help!"
"Well, if course, I..."
And then.
Then Jessa says MAGIC words.
There is silence. The world, slowly comes to a halt before restarting and as it does, rainbows arc over the sky, the bird begin to sing in perfect harmony, and Jessa's words take on the ringing sounds of angels in heav...
"OH!" says one gnome.
And "OH!" says the other.
... ... ... uh. Oh.
"Oh!" says Munch, who is trying to fit in. "They're burning things?" And suddenly the golem has an intrest in theater.
"I am the /director/." Jessa is serious.
"How delightful! Oh, my dear...I'm sure you'll do SO wonderfully..."
"And the props! I have the most magnificient ideas..."
"The dragon, do you think?
"Qh, possibly. Or the, or the..."
And then both sets of eyes turn to the lucht and just BEAM. There are ponies. There are rainbows. And the world is alight with...with...
Well, yes. Yes it is.
"'Dragon'?" The golem is lost, but he's trying.
"It's the most magnificent thing!" supplies Abrahil.
"We were working on the armature just the other day," supplies the other one.
And then they beam at Jessa again.
"Yes. We'll talk. It will be....challenging." Jessa has plans.
- BEAM* go the gnomes.
Munch says, "...the talking? You seemed pretty good at it before."
"The production. I have a feeling it -- " Jessa stops and studies Munch. "Do you think you could put on an intermission show? Maybe 'What Will He Eat?'"
"Er..."
"Oh, yes. It would be interesting, wouldn't it?" says Abrahil. He and his friend smile at Munch. And are probably wishing for one of those handy-dandy fields of force right no...
"Oh goodness. ...Do you eat wood?" Abrahil asks, suddenly. He seems to straighten his shoulders a bit, as much as he can, anyway, and looks to Munch. "We have all these leftover er, props from time to time..."
"When they're worn out," supplies his friend.
Munch blinks, ponders a moment, and blinks again. "...might attract more attention with 'What Won't He Eat?'"
Munch nods to the gnomes. "Pretty much anything softer than my teeth." The golem 'smiles', showing off his adamantine maw.
One of them takes a step back, then the other one does! "Er..."
"Oh dear..." says Abrahil.
"Oh my..." says the pinstripes.
Ahem. "Well, it might be--er, useful, you know."
"Sort of a public service!"
"Yes, my goodness. We never know what to do with...them..." Eyeing Munch's teeth.
"Well, it's been quite good meeting you both!"
"Do get in touch!"
"Bye!"
Goodbye!"
And then the elderly gentlemen bobble and hobble away!
Abrahil has left.
Jessa shakes her head. "Half my prop work will get done by those two, I bet."
Munch hesitates. "...that's good, right?"
"Well. I can deal with glitter." Jessa sounds thoughtful
Munch nods. "Glitter's okay. It's like sprinkles, for the eyes."
"...I rather like that summary of what it is. Yes. I may use that again." Jessa is laughing.
Munch does food metaphors. He sticks to what he knows. "Glad you like it. When's this production likely to be?"
"That is an excellent question. I'm still working on the Flamewrights." Jessa frowns. "I am sure it won't be TOO terribly longer. Probably."
Munch nods, and shrugs, having no idea. "Anyway, I'd best get going. The bar's are starting their Happy Hours."
"So many things to eat, so little time. I've heard there is going to be a breath-holding contest a bit later. That will be hilarious!" Jessa is laughing again. She is going to -love- this week.
Munch nods, and sighs. "Another one not suited for golems. Ah well, be plenty of great stuff too. I'm sure I'll see you around again before too long."
"Undoubtedly!" Jessa slides to her feet and starts to dart off into the crowd.