Alayna shook her head.  "If I like you, then Angel will too.  We're brother in sister in many ways."  She patted his big arm.  "Talk to your friends.  I'll go say hi."

She smiled at the two owners, then picked up the Perry that (it is assumed) they brought first.  She took a sip, her eyes growing wide at the taste and kick, then stood to walk over to the two elves.

"Good evening," she stated shyly, putting on her best smile, which was second nature to the girl.  "I thought I'd say hello.  Um... Are you from here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:31, Tue 25 Sept 2018.

Alayna talks to the two Elves.  They are travelers, from the Black Forest, a rugged land of dense forest, hills and mountains, called in the old language Myrkvidr  (This is actually what ancient Germans called this place.  Tolkien.. umm... borrowed it for his Elves.).  Of all the Elven Kingdoms, the Black Forest Elves have a fierce warrior tradition, having managed to keep their home to themselves even when surrounded by enemies. They are known for their wearing of dark stripes on their shields, clothing, and even face paint, to help them blend into the shadows of their forest.

Most of them are reclusive, but quite a few have contact with the world beyond their forest, and some can be found sprinkled throughout many Human lands.

The Elves here are Oziryan Windspire, a cleric who seems to be an older experienced Elf with some lines around his eyes (it can be so hard to tell age with Elves, though!), and his companion, a young Elven woman named Thaina.  They've been traveling between the scattered Elves living in Burgundy and nearby, and even here, sort of like roving cultural ambassadors, keeping them in touch with Elven ways, Elven heritage, and maintaining respect for the ancient gods of the Black Forest.  They are on their way home, now, but... all this hubub has got their curiosity up, and now they want to stay to see the troupe.

Oziryan says he's seen it before,  in fact, since he travels a lot, three times over the last decade.  Thaina has never seen it, this is her first time out of the Black Forest area.

Alayna almost visibly breathed a sigh of relief at the fact they did not reject her.  She had been afraid that as full bloods, they might look down on her.  As it was, she sat down and told them of the current show, some of the stars, and of course, her own participation.

"I am so happy to be with them, with the troupe, and to get to ride and such.  I could have simply stayed alone with Angel, but I would have been lonely and it is so much fun to get out in front of people and..."

She blushed.  "Forgive me, I forget to stop talking sometimes."

Dielda explains about the Orcs here to Og.

"Oh, they don't treat us at all.  They don't like to talk to those formerly under their authority.  You see, the truth of it is... they don't really have any, here.  They have titles, and formal roles as 'Lord of the Bridge' and 'Chief of the Riders of Cambete' but they have no real authority over Humans anymore.  That all belongs to the Magistrate and the Prefect.  It's all like a big show, everyone acts like Pugnant is the lord of the town and treats him like that, but... he doesn't give anyone any orders.  They say that's the deal they made.

"The thing is... he's starting to like life, being like that.  And there are other Orcs, some even coming here now and then from elsewhere, who think they might like it too.  But some aren't happy about it.  They think Pugnant and Orcs like him will get soft and weak.  It's... it's not a subject you should talk about with Orcs around.  Really."

Before dusk, Esher heads back to his wagon and packs up the large dragon puppet. and then heads to get some food from the troupe kitchen wagon. he then revies the cues and marks for the shows tomorrow (with those that are there).

Is there anyone else that needs my assistance tomorrow with your performances.

---

things that I am aware that I am scheduled to do.

• my puppet show

things I can do when requested

• exotic animal show
• boost str/dex/con for strongman expo
• interactive scenery for any show
• stage lighting for night shows
• sound effects for any show

DRAFT

Consider that this post comes after Og's post just below.

Tahra has attracted some customers who wish to have their palms read. Her fees are variable, depending on her estimate of the client's wealth. If any ask, she explains that the higher fee is normal but she offers discounts. "After all, those who can not afford so much should feel content...helps make Cambrete more peaceful."

She brings the take to the Argentos to split 50-50.

She closes up shop to help prepare for the show, ready to sing as directed. She also is to be in a position to survey the crowd in order to deal with any unruliness.

There's time, she walks around, sees the Dog and Bunny, enters, espies Alayna and Og, goes to them, and asks if she may share the table.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Tue 25 Sept 2018.

Og nods, piecing together the brief history of orc and human authorities. "Well, while I'm in town you let me know if you need anythin', but I'm glad that they ain't troublin' ya. How much for the food? And the girl's?"

When he returns to Alayna (hopefully with food...how long you gonna make me wait?) he tells her what he learned and his concerns about a strong man show. "I was worried my strongman act may be wasted on orc, most are just as strong as I am without all the work I put into it. Turns out most are growing used to the easy life. Might be a way to rile them up! But it also might rile them up? I don't want a challenge of strength putting ideas in their thoughts of their strength over man..." Og's intelligence buffets against his wisdom and he just doesn't know what to do. He wishes he would have followed Phileas after all. But the sausages are much better than what cookie serves.

After Ssasha, Nwofia will go and have a chat with Escher.  "I've been learning a little bit about Engineering," she says, "And I would love to learn more from you, so if you ever need an assistant, putting together any of your projects, do please think of me."

OOC: I think you posted before I did, and of course join our table and I'd like your 2 cents on what I just said as well. :)

In the Dog and Bunny...

The Elves are curious about one thing:  Alayna is clearly a half-breed, which has become more acceptable in recent days than it used to be (but it still implies a somewhat scandalous origin!)  But:

"If you don't mind, among whom were you raised?  Culturally, I mean, were you brought up with Elven ways, or Human?"

As Alayna and most others are aware, there is more to things than "Human" and "Elven".  There are several fairly different Elven cultures, with on the Wild Forest Tribes to Advanced Civilization scale, Black Forest and Savoy Elves are on the opposite end, with Ardennes, Veluwe and Atlantic Elves falling in the middle.

They discover that the food is quite good.  The sausages are, to Og, home cooking.  In the forest tribe he grew up in, when you killed an animal you didn't waste it.  He is certain very little goose was wasted in the making of the goose sausages.  They didn't leave out the liver, a delicacy which gives it an creamy rich consistency.

esher sits upright and hurriedly chokes down the rest of his food and sprints back to his wagon and digs through bags and chests and then comes up with a large sturdy and dusty tome written in a vaguely runic language that looks like it may have spent a great deal of time in the dirt.

I forgot Og asked me to translate and transcribe this I hope he is not mad I am getting it to him at the very last second.

he then pulls out a much smaller book written in common


he then runs into the Dog and Bunny carrying this enormous book over his head so that it does not obstruct his view, in his mouth he is bitting the smaller book.

he pauses for a moment and then heads directly toward Og almost running into a serving girl. luckily she had an empty tray and had nothing to spill.

Esher rushes over to Og and pushes the book in front of him (pushing his food and dring away from him)

I finished translating it for you.... perhaps you can use this to expand your strongman competition, maybe even make it more interactive. you may need to gather and make some of the supplies...but ...having the rule book for some of their games may be something you can work with...oh and here are the translations in case you can't read the original Kol ga.

Esher places a smaller book on top of the larger book

To Og: "I think a big strong man throwing and catching a little girl will be a hit, especially if I play having to jump and you're there!  Let's practice in the morning and try it."

When the elves asked the question, she blushed, then focused on her food a moment.

"I was left at the door of a human, an old woman, and she was all I had.  I don't know who my mother and father were.  Things were good until she got too old, and then her son tried to get to know me in a way I didn't want."  She drank down her Perry and asked for another.  "So I ran away, got lost in the forests.  A lovely Elven woman found me and took me in, and I stayed with her a few years, learning Elvish and stuff.  But if I had to answer... I would say, I'm not elf or human.  I'm nobody.  Or I was, until found Angel, and then started riding.  She's my family now."

She thanked them both in very fluent Elvish, then smiled as another drink came.  She wanted another drink.  And since she didn't drink, it felt really good.

Og motions for Tahra to join his (their, when Alayna returns) table as he tears into two full plates of home cooking. He is quite sure he will be spending his weeks wages here and avoiding the free (and taste free) meals at camp.

"Thank you, Marcos." Og simply slides his food back in front of one hand, book and notes in the other and chews while chewing on the information Esher has brought him. How Og wished he were a goliath. He would really be something. As it was, he was just trying, trying, trying to be something more than human.

"Well, this sort of answers my question, but what I'm afraid of is riling up the orc with any challenge of strength at all. You've basically just handed me three more contests. I appreciate it, but I need to talk to Phileas about my act, I fear any reminder of the orc ways may stir up controversy over their current...authority?" Og had just spoken more big words than he liked to in one breath, and needed a long moment with his mug. Putting it down and wiping the side of his mouth he asks Alayna, Escher and Tahra about his concern, "What do you all think?"

Tahra sits and studies Og. Three questions: How did you come to be strong? What do you want your audience to feel as you perform? And what do you want them, at lest some of them, to do after...how will they be changed?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:12, Wed 26 Sept 2018.

Og rolls his eyes. He doesn't need his fortune told. He doesn't want to know that it gets worse. "Hahaha. You don't have to read my palm, Tahra. We're talking about upsetting the establishment by providing too much 'harmless' entertainment. I don't want anyone to be changed...if anything to be content with their current situation. Or maybe the simple barbarian was overthinking a conversation he just had.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:24, Wed 26 Sept 2018.

Tahra tries to explain herself. "One thing a person  could do after experiencing your show is to exercise to get stronger. Or with Alayna to become more agile, supple. If that's what you like, your show could have one theme of how you gained strength according to your body's nature. Or they could just wonder at your abilities compared to theirs. As for comparison with orcs, almost all of them just naturally can be stronger than almost all humans. It's not so much how strong yo are compared to others, but how strong you are compared to how strong you can or want to be. Who, orc or anybody, would be opposed to persons improving their abilities?

"If your purpose is to amuse or awe, then do amusing and awesome things."

She pauses in thought. "But maybe the one thing you should avoid is making fun of being strong."

Nwofia eats among the wagons.  Maybe she'll go out tomorrow but today, she is simply relaxing with the non-stars, enjoying their company, eating the food that's prepared, having a good time.  When the time comes to show off, why then she will show off, in the meantime.  These are colleagues, not an audience and she relaxes among her dear comrades.

Og scratches his marred chin and tries to piece together Tahra's explanation with his current thought process involving the suppressed orcs in Cambete. Humans had dominated them with politics, but it would only take a mere suggestion that the orcs are stronger than humans to possibly cause an uprising. This society was doomed to begin with, to try and meld life with the orcs. They should all be slain.

"Yeah, don't make fun of being strong, that's a solid. Be all you can be? I could preach that, but I think it's Cambete's best interest to tell them to stay how they are."

Alayna took a big gulp of her drink, watching the elves to see what their reaction to what she told them would be, a little afraid of that reaction too.  She never planned to be born, it just happened.

Then, she half heard what Og and Tahra were saying.  Without looking at them, she interjected softly.  "Don't make them want to be you, make them like you or admire you.  Nobody wants to be me, but many like me, and some want to be with me.  Funny but true."

Tahra turns to Alayna. When people watch you or are near you, many will wish to be like you: Comely, lithe, talented, and young. Please be assured of that, and be assured that your performance will be even better.

She thinks more about Og's situation and shakes her head. Cambrete is changing and will change more. Peace and security brings prosperity. The orcs at least mostly rule here, but they rule under Burgundy...for instance, no slaves. And orcs can get better at things just like everybody else.. She spreads her hands out. I doubt I can offer more without knowing your repertoire.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Wed 26 Sept 2018.

Og, you don't have to be the strongest when doing a strongman show.  You serve to demonstrate your proficiency, not superiority at all the challenges.

yeah, the orcs may be able to outdo you in a few of the events. but it is not about you winning, it is about putting on a good show. What else makes a town proud of its members more than one of its members being able to do something better then you.

make it a competition...you demonstrate how to do a thing. but you don't compete.

demonstrate form and proper grip


think California muscle beach

Tahra utters a small hmmmh and gives Marcos A fingertips-off-the-eyebrow salute.

Alayna heard Tahra's words, and they were a comfort.  But she looked at Og, so strong and uncertain, and then the two elves, so certain, so... belonging.  And then she thought of her own words, and what Tahra said.  'Many will wish to be like you: Comely, lithe, talented, and young.'  And was that all she was?

She drank another huge sip of her pear cider, her glass now half full.  And softly began to cry.

Tahra looks at Alayna in puzzled shock. She rises and attempts to lightly grasp Alayna's elbow. If she's successful, she says Excuse us, please. Alayna and I shall repair to [the equivalent of] the ladies' room.

If Alayna is willing, the two make their way there.

Horrified that she was crying, Alayna made no protest as she was escorted away from the table.  "Forgive me, I... I don't know what I... why I..." she stammered, trying to stop her tears but failing to do so.