Winter has closed in, the first snows came weeks ago, days are short and nights are long - and it is time to reflect.  It is also the holiday season with  Longnight, Winter Solstice and New Year holidays all ready to celebrate.

With a roaring fire burning in the grate, Henry and Bai hold an open house, for  friends and associates, at their estate just outside Tusk.

The hall is decked out in winter greenery, to acknowledge that life goes on even in the midst of winter, and as a reminder that the days will start getting longer and the sun will return to heat the land.   A pair of servants stand ready to hand out wine, cider or ale, spiced and then heated with a poker straight from the fire.  There are minor savouries  on a side table.  Biscuits in the shape of a man and slightly spiced, small pies filled with preserved fruits, and Dwarven sausages in a pastry tube.

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OOC - seeing as we are getting close to the Holiday Season when everything slows down, I thought we should have an open thread for some general RP.  You may use any of your characters in this thread - although please note that it out of time and can't affect group threads.  That doesn't stop you talking about things that have happened, so far, in your group threads.  It not a Kingdom Round.

I'll open up other threads as people want them.

https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Holidays_and_festivals
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:10, Sun 29 Dec 2019.

In honor of the festivities, and to celebrate a successful year, Cass thought it was appropriate to purchase a new set of clothing and matching jewelry suitable for any gathering of nobles across the continent. After all, Midmarch was gaining a reputation, and Cass wanted it to be a favorable one.

The reach of Henry's own merchant ventures were expanding, and one never knew who might be in attendance at such functions from this point onward. But even if Cass did not have anyone that he needed to impress socially, it was fun to dress up and celebrate with his friends and colleagues.

Lifting a glass of peeler sparkling wine, Cass quietly and unofficially toasted them all. "To Midmarch, and the future!"

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"Ahh!  Cass.  What a ..  err .. marvellous new suit.  All summer sunshine in the middle of winter."   Henry raises his glass to Cass as the Mayor of Tusk joins the festivities.

"Have you met Mia here?  She was a duelling student in Restov for a while, but now  we have asked her to take over running Henryhall for us.  Give Bai more time for maternal duties."  Henry introduces a young woman dressed in a simply cut  traditional  gown.  A necklace with a blowing wind pendant lies against her breast.

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http://rp.baileymail.net/doku....eral:formal_clothing

Zelona sat at the back of the gathering with a glass of mulled wine and hid a smile behind her glass as Henry reacted to Cass' resplendent outfit.

She herself had styled her hair a bit and wore a simple but well spun green dress of fine materials. she wasn't one for ostentation, though her successes with the group had afforded her the freedom to have more finely made clothing tailored to her simple tastes.

She walked up to Henry and this Mia and gave a slight curtsey. "Welcome to our festivities Mia. How is it that Lord Henry roped you into coming down to run Henryhall?"

"Oh, I brought a message down from Restov, and Bai invited me to stay on for a bit and keep her company.  And it went from there ..."   Mia replies with a smile.

How about you?

Adoven is dressed in a somber suit but with a resplendent dark blue cape, one still functional to keep the harsh winter cold at bay. He tips his glass in Zelona's direction, saying "good to see you again, milady." He ventures closer to Lord Henry and says "a happy Winterfest to you. I don't know if Vik told you, but you and I will be neighbors soon. She convinced me that our successes warrant a country estate and the next rise over was available. I believe groundbreaking will commence next month."

"Excellent." Henry replies.  "We intend to expand the hall and Bai will move in.  She will enjoy having Vik as a neighbour, and I imagine the children will see a lot of each other."

"When Mia moves up there, we  will change the name of the town we founded, perhaps to East Gate, and rename this as our primary home."  Henry pauses for a moment, "Anyway,   how is the family?"

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I have this horrendous vision of  full-blown play-dates and a creche for Noble children  (and their adventuring friends)
This message was last updated by the player at 19:29, Mon 16 Dec 2019.

Adoven sighs and admits "well enough, I suppose. Our daughter is getting stronger. Yesterday she stood up briefly while holding a table leg. Once she figures out her coordination she'll be able to stand unassisted. Vik is moody, though. I don't think it's due to displeasure with me, even though I keep pestering her to marry me. I don't think she has an objection to it; I think it is more likely 'family expectations'. They don't want her marrying a Nobody. But I'm an ambitious man. Between a Fortified villa in the countryside, and my sword school in Tusk, I'm working my way towards a title of Lord-Dominus. If I can secure that title, then Vik could marry me and become a Lady, which would be a social advancement in her family's eyes. And I think she'd also like it if her Three Ladies project was in fact backed by three women with the title 'Lady'. She hasn't said it aloud, but I know it troubles her that she doesn't hold that title yet."

Zelona returned Adoven's greeting those she chided him with a mocking *tsk*. "Now now, I'm no noblewoman who gets a m'lady. Zelona will do fine Adoven and you know it."

She turned back to Mia, "well mine reason for being here is altogether more political than that. I was originally sent down by the druidic circles in old Iobaria to check on this newly developing state and ensure that the wilderness down here isn't unduly harmed." A tip of the glass to Lord Henry, "I have been pleased to find that so far, Lord Henry and the other Charter signatories are all quite mindful of their place and role in maintaining the resources down here and not plundering them to ash as are most human settlements. It is refreshing, thus I stay to help Lord Henry and continue to be an advocate for the wildlands."

While she did not own anything that would be considered fancy aside from her armor, Marceline had found an outfit she liked that was both functional and (to her) rather nice - a thick winter dress reminiscent of the kind worn in Irrisen with the subtle coloring similar to Pharasman robes. Her only complaint is that she couldn't stop feeling overdressed; she chalked it up to nerves and the fact that she couldn't remember the last time she'd really warn a dress.

Thanking a server and taking some wine Marceline wanders the hall and gives polite smiles and nods and attempts to put many names to faces, not always being successful. She spies Adoven and Zelona and is grateful that there were some people she recognized and mentally chided herself for not being more aware of who was who. She'd have to change that in the coming months.

”Adoven.” smiles as she recognises her occasional sparring partner, ”I am pleased to hear that you are doing well.  How is Robert, by the way?  I haven’t had a chance to pop in to see him yet.”

Turning back to Zelona, Mia continues the conversation seamlessly.  ”That sounds fascinating.  I have always been a city girl myself, my family have a magic business in New Steven and   Life in the countryside is something completely new to me.”

Mia nods a polite greeting to Marceline, as she enters the room.

”I am glad you approve.” Henry grins across at Zelona, although he snorts slightly as Mia describes her family as ‘running a magic business’.

However, he  grins broadly as Adoven outlines his plans ”I am sure that Vik would appreciate the effort that you are putting in to win her over.  I’ll see if I can get Bai to have a word …” he closes with a conspiratorial wink.

"Ahh!  Cass.  What a ..  err .. marvellous new suit.  All summer sunshine in the middle of winter."   Henry raises his glass to Cass as the Mayor of Tusk joins the festivities.

"Have you met Mia here?  She was a duelling student in Restov for a while, but now  we have asked her to take over running Henryhall for us.  Give Bai more time for maternal duties."

“Thank you. I thought it was time for something better than my traveling clothes.”

Cass gave Mia a gentlemanly bow. “Welcome to Midmarch, Mia. It is a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully you will find it the ideal location to fulfill your aspirations for the future.”
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:12, Thu 26 Dec 2019.

Kendrick Winters was announced at the entrance to the hall. He was in military dress but not in the recognizable colors associated with the Restov Guard or its Sword Schools. Instead, Kendrick was dressed in white shirt and jacket with black trousers and sash. The short-waist military jacket was trimmed with gold thread on the cuffs, sleeves and collar. A wolf head was embroidered over his left chest and right shoulder. He seemed very much at ease with only a dagger at his belt. He stepped inside and accepted a glass of wine. He toasted with Cass and the others.

He offered a smile to several that wished him well during these holidays. But his mind seemed occupied with some other thoughts...

"I am going to be helping Henry and Bai run their estates here in Midmarch, relieving Bai of some of her duties, and giving her more time to enjoy motherhood.  It's good.  It will let me get into Tusk regularly, and to develop sword skills.  I understand that a friend of mine, Robert, runs a sword school for Adoven, so it will be good to catch up with him." Mia responds to Cass's comments.

"And you?  What are your plans?  When you aren't off adventuring or being Mayor of Tusk, of course."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:32, Fri 03 Jan 2020.

“I am sure that they are very appreciative of the help.”  Cass said sincerely.  “Those two have been entirely too busy working to establish the region. It will be good for them to have some time for themselves.”

Cass was nearly startled when she inquired of his own plans. As mayor, he was more accustomed to people telling him what they wanted instead of asking him what he wanted. Thankfully, it wasn’t startling enough to make him truly flinch or break into an unseemly facial expression. ”My formative years were a bit on the lean side at times. So my hope is to provide places where anyone can enjoy a soft bed, a tasty meal, a refreshing drink, and a memorable song. Regardless if they have traveled from across the world or only across the street. I think of it as being in the hospitality business.”
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Fri 03 Jan 2020.

At the end of the day, Henry wishes everyone  a Happy Winterfest and wishes you all good luck for the forthcoming year.