2020-05-24 Market Day!

Market Day!

Participants: Diana_(Gadget) Clairine Nasrin

Storyteller: Victoria

Location: Santa Victoria, Duchy of the Emerald Star

Date and Time: June 23, 2021- 5:14 pm

Summary: The Kraken ruins market day!

It is Market Day! The bustling town of Santa Victoria is just a fragment of the homes located around the keep but it is still thirty changelings strong, working together to rebuild homes and ply their wares. The blusterberries have ripened, which brings everyone in from miles around. Even out in the rolling mountains to the north of the town. The gates are wide open. Sofia is at the gate, directing people back and forth in her sharp Spanish commander's voice.

Nasrin isn't horribly far from the gate, over by a boggin and nocker-couple's stall. They sell little chimerical knick-knacks and toys... nothing TOO impressive, but as the Lady-wife of the Baroness, the Elegbara is expected to help with the festivities. "Yes, Joh-shin, I think you'll sell these quickly enough," she assures. "There's a school field trip to the historical museum near the Lighthouse... surely some childlings or little dreamers looking for a souvenier shop will be by." A pause, as she frowns. "Or is the field trip scheduled for next week?" She shakes her head, the specific timing unimportant.

A blue-skinned siren with light green hair that is currently damp and remarkable, emerald-green eyes moves among the outskirts of the crowd. Clairine is dressed in a crisp white blouse that is tied at the waist with the sleeves rolled to her forearms. A light blue wrap around sarong is worn around her slender waist. She works her way through the crowd with a curious gaze... at least until she finds herself near Nasrin, then that gaze is turning sour. "Bonjour. Hello." She greets cordially enough.

Hair cut sharp into a flat top mohawk, Diana rides her giant bristle boar by standing on the saddle with her bare feet. Green skin reflecting light calmly as she eyes the common folk, a fruit kebab in her left hand as gobbles up some pineapple. "Sniff out the royalty, Porkchop.", she commands her chimera who happily goes about sniffing poor innocent Fae and getting close to them. His face buried beneath the back of a woman's dress as she screams. Diana laughs, "Oh for f*cks sakes, I'll do it.", jumping off her mount and looking for Victoria and Nasrin.

The various Changelings smile sheepishly at Porkchop and ply the boar with fruits and pats to keep him from getting too far into their business. Victoria, for her part, has not yet made an appearance, allowing Nasrin to act in her stead. The crowd will gladly direct Diana that way - the inhumanly beautiful Eshu is always the center of any gathering, after all.

Standing to Clairine's left and a step behind is a diminutive young woman in the livery of a knight of House Leanhaun, still armed. She looks Victoria's spitting image save for size and the fact she is wearing a collar with an emerald setting around her neck. SHe offers Nasrin a warm smile as well and is about to speak when-

"Eugh! ... Oh, *hi*, giant boar..." There's a sheepish smile from the petite Spaniard.

Nasrin smiles in a not-entirely healthy way at the Kinain, and begins to greet her, herself, when suddenly! "Porkchop!" The Elegbara smiles... warmly at the arrival of the boar. It's kind of weird to see genuine mirth, and not some variation of cruel smirking or the like.

"If you're here, that means our good Goblin Knight must be here somewhere?" She looks around trying to spot a mowhawk moving through the crowd like a shark fin parting the water.

Clairine has no smile of her own when she looks upon Nasrin though one does threaten to appear when she follows the Elegbara's gaze toward the bristleback boar. "Oh my, what a clever animal!" She exclaims in her French accent. The siren glances over her shoulder to Ana, Victoria's smaller and younger mirror image, "Do you see it? How adorably brutal, isn't it?" Her good spirits have returned.

Diana is drinking ale and greeting commoners left and right, lost beneath the crowd at her short height. Till she runs into Nasrin, "Milady Nasrin, good day. I see you've made it safely home. You are looking ravishing today and I have invitations, yes...", checking herself before running over to the boar. Plucking black envelopes which looked fancy from a saddle and making sure they weren't bent at all. "Here you go, from Mrs. DuMourne to you and Lady Victoria. Read them at your leisure, playmates most likely.", winking after she delivered the letters. Diana being a little networker. Eyeing Clairine, "Oh, who is this?", she asks waving the woman over. "All the beautiful people live on this island?"

Victoria's Mini-Me follows just behind Clairine when she is taken by the boar. There's a soft laugh from the Spaniard, who wipes her leather gloves off on the bristly hide of the bristleboar before turning slightly to get the Siren a nod.

"I do. It's a lovely creature, truly," Ana replies in her thick but intelligible southern Spanish accent. "Perhaps he would slobber on me less...?" That rueful comment is lost soon after, with Ana turning to face Diana as the messages are set out. "Most of them," the also ridiculously beautiful mini-Sidhe replies.

Just then there's a shout in the distance. The ground rumbles slighty, and people start looking up, clearly confused. More shouts follow, then the sound of stone cracking against stone.

Nasrin gives the Goblin Knight a nod in greeting. "Yes, of course, we did make it to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams with no unsavory encounters, thanks to you... ser Gadget? I don't believe you told my Wife or I how you prefer to be addressed," she says. "Invitations?" She steps out of the way and lets Diana dig out the missives. "Oh! Yes, we have been busy since our arrival," she explains, before glancing to Clairine. She's sure she has heard the other woman's proper name and title at some point, but she cannot quite recall it presently.

"We do so enjoy surrounding ourselves with beautiful things," she admits to the Goblin, JUST AS THE GROUND BEGINS TO QUAKE! "Tell me, Lady-Knight... have your eyes ever gazed upon a Kraken?" she inquires, turning and holding an arm out to gesture over that-a-way, towards a cliffside overlooking the sea.

Clairine's emerald-green gaze hones in on Diana when the short goblin emerges from behind the much taller (re: normal height) crowd around her. "Oh, but of course..." She replies with a growing smile and a small hint of vanity and arrogance, "...I've yet to spot an ugly ogre or warted troll in my time here. I am Clairine Archambeau, la fille du Kingdom of Neustria, but now here. No fancy titles like this one here." An absent gesture toward Nasrin who she won't look at.

The ground rumbling and cracking stone has her eyes flashing bright, "What was that? Has the Kraken been fed?"

"His slobbering is claimed to have mystical medicinal benefits. A tongue so powerful it could turn a grump into a childling, a heterosexual gay, and make a cripple un-crippled.", patting Porkchop on the snout with some love. Diana was likely exaggerating a bit, but the pigs healing properties were explained. Eyeing the tall folk and bracing as the rumbling noise echoed throughout the barony.

"I've seen a few kraken in my day, but that was just names for merfolk booty holes. It wasn't the true monster of the depths!", hugging Porkchop for emotional support, he was a registered service animal after all. "By jebus! Think of its caviar!", purring and climbing aboard Porkchop.

"Um, goblins don't really have names like that. We often have silly ones or mockeries, like... I get called Gadget. But we don't put stock in that Royalty business, names are meant for breaking, for twisting and bending. To use as a f*cking weapon and make your opponents ears bleed and heart runneth dry!", growling with a froth in her throat. Spitting vileness on that ground. *Pfttttchooooie* "There's a name, good as dirt.", her left eye twitching. Words and Names and Knocker and Goblins... all had a intricate history, for they created the first insults and breaking of things.

"The Kraken was fed earlier this week. It came to town so we gave it today's haul from the nets, but now it won't leave!" A littl eBoggan is shouting this animatedly. Ana, for her part, is facepalming quite literally. "Mierda," the girl whispers.

"The rules! Posted in the town square. Did no one see that rule #1 is Don't Feed the Kraken?!" Ana is now flailing animatedly while the Boggan shrinks away.

"I would try to charm it with my beauty..." Clairine begins to no-one in particular, "...but I suspect it would just eat me, too. Need we go take a look, Lady Nasrin?" The blue-skinned siren snatches out with one hand to grab Ana by the shoulder. 'Shhhh!'

"Most Goblins may not put stock in those names and titles, but most Goblins do not wish to be Knights, either," Nasrin points out to the little creature. Not that she expects the logic to appeal, but it's there! A glance to Clairine, before she nods. "It very well might. It seems safe enough from those who often bathe in the light of the Thorpe's Balefire... but it is also not, strictly, house-broken." A pause. "It has not left these waters because it believes we will continue to feed it. But it is safe enough to watch swim, if anyone wishes to see?"

"Well, maybe it's smart enough to train or keep. I'm not fish expert, but squids are typically smart. Hell, they re-write their own RNA in order to evolve and survive. No bones and three hearts. Taste great in soup. They can watch tv and can camouflage their skin and recognize shapes and colors; indicating a self awareness!", ok, maybe the goblin did know a little about 'fishes' as she went back to her kebab and ale. "Yeah, never give a stray animal food or drink. It will come back for more.", giving a wink to no one in particular as she ate and drank. Diana was happy, she liked food.

Clairine lets go of Ana's shoulder again and holds her hands up, palms facing outward toward Nasin. "I am not foolish enough to try, though it intrigues me so. And, oui, I would love to see it." Her emerald-green eyes, strangely so similar to Victoria's and Ana's, settle back on the goblin and the siren lets out a musical laugh before she leans in toward Nasrin, "I like that one very much." She smiles radiantly for a moment before her face fills with some realization, then she is wiping the smile away and quickly stepping away from and turning her back to Nasrin.

Topic Change! "What is your beautiful pig's name, ma ami?"

Ana colours a little when Clairine stops her, but she is all smiles as the "I'm this form, I call him Sir Porkchop. He can shapeshift like any mighty and noble steed.", flexing on top of the warboar, Diana was such a peacock. "If he transforms, I can fly you over the Kraken.", looking down at the huge swine. "You want to go flying?", the goblin asks.

"I think so! Gullinbursti, reveal yourself to these nobles and we shall sail above the waters. Revealing the name of the legendary boar from myth!", Porkchop then oinks.

The incredible pig swelling like a balloon as he transformed himself into a luxury goblin zeppelin. The chimera changing and unfolding until it was done. The creature large enough to carry a small group of people like a hot air balloon. Pointed leathery wings flapping, as the vehicle looked quite Victorian, as if imagined by DaVinci.Siren turns to speak to the others gathered. The Knight's hand is on her word but she looks to Clairine and Nasrin for direction, ultimately settling for a relaxed posture as she turns toward the beach.

"It is not, I think, terribly far to reach the cliffs where we can, ah... Look down safely upon the Kraken," Ana suggests, her eyes flitting toward the nearby keep. "The beach would not be nearly so safe, I'm afraid."

"I'm this form, I call him Sir Porkchop. He can shapeshift like any mighty and noble steed.", flexing on top of the warboar, Diana was such a peacock. "If he transforms, I can fly you over the Kraken.", looking down at the huge swine. "You want to go flying?", the goblin asks.

"I think so! Gullinbursti, reveal yourself to these nobles and we shall sail above the waters. Revealing the name of the legendary boar from myth!", Porkchop then oinks.

The incredible pig swelling like a balloon as he transformed himself into a luxury goblin zeppelin. The chimera changing and unfolding until it was done. The creature large enough to carry a small group of people like a hot air balloon. Pointed leathery wings flapping, as the vehicle looked quite Victorian, as if imagined by DaVinci.

Nasrin smiles just-so. "A fish expert and a mount expert, it seems," she says, almost conspiratorially to Clairine, whomst has turned away from her completely! Such a scandal! It seems not to bother the Elegbara, though, who looks over the transformed Chimera for some time. "So long as... Gullinbursti... is suited to such tours. And that we fly high enough that the Kraken cannot reach us, should it mistake us for a potential snack..."

"Even I dare not say if a Kraken would eat Pork." Clairine calls over her shoulder to Nasrin. Even still, the siren is pressing a hand to Ana's lower back and gently nudging her toward the chimerical zeppigelin. "Still... what say we see for ourselves, er, for science?"

The blue-skinned beauty favors Diana with a radiant smile and a warm gaze, "May we?"

"Let's," Ana agrees with a nod. "After you, mi Senoras." The Knight bows to those gathered. Even the Goblin. "That is truly a marvelous shapeshifting boar," she adds. "Thank you for sharing it with us."

Diana opens the wooden looking gate so that Nasrin, Ana and Clairine may board as she hops in behind them. Most the saddle bags were now interior cabinets, and while their are controls to fly the zeppelin, the goblin is focused on making drinks. "Anyone want a martini or gimlet?"

The riding mount was still sentient as it flew off, on its own accord. Gaining altitude and avoiding the reach of the Kraken. "Oh, I have telescopes!", Diana offers but her ride was more a luxury sky yacht than war steed. The view was amazing, as Diana tried to compete by showing the pull out bed and various gizmos within her zeppelin.

The waves below are choppy but the sun is bright, the seafoam mostly a distant fancy on cresting the surf. The first thing that seems unusual as the airship sails past the cliffs are the shards of wood that are strewn about within the water. A few bananas float past, each the typical rainbow pastel in color showing they are ripened. A crate of cigars is next, no doubt made of goblin tobacco from the Mountains of Blarg.

The Kraken is visible only to Clairine, a shadow beneath the waves. A very, very large one.

Clairine's voice is a whisper in Ana's ear as she leans in and whispers, "I need one of these, ma bijou, but as a boat on the sea." And now louder so the goblin can hear, "A gimlet, s'il te plait! You truly are a person of charm and significance!" The siren cringes when she makes the mistake of looking over the rail as the simple height makes her anxious. Her fear is fleeting, however.

"I see it! There he is! Or is it a she?! The wreckage, look below!"

Nasrin steps aboard the Goblin Zepplin... thing. "It's certainly larger than the flying carpets and cloud-drawn palanquins of Al-Hilal al-Khaseeb," she says. Not... strictly a compliment, but she also doesn't want to hurt Porkchop's feelings. the War-Boar is too adorable for insults.

She does stay away from the railing, though. Not inclined to get vertigo or get pushed over the rail above a hungry Kraken.

"If I can ever acquire one for you I shall," Ana whispers back to Clairine, nodding. She leans against the Siren as they stand beside the rails, watching the water below. She chatters animatedly at Clairine under her breath. They seem to tend to speak different languages: mostly spanish from Ana, and mostly French from Clairine. Someow, it is mutually intelligible.

Diana makes a gimlet for everyone; Nasrin gets a gimlet, Clairine gets a gimlet, Ana gets a gimlet and Diana makes one for herself. "Holy f*ckballs, are those cigars. I need one. I can feel the tobacco oil in my lungs.", grumbling as she looked around for a harpoon or fishing net.

"Damn it! As the foster care director used to say; Good things come to those that wait. But better things come to those that work for it!", chucking her drink and glass over her shoulder and peering off the railing. "Yo, water-homies. I need them cigars, send them up red River style. I got a drink coming your way!", putting her hands out to catch the cigars. "Come to moma!"

A spout of water shoots the box of cigars up to where Diana is able to snatch them onto the airship without any trouble. The water forms a top hat, which it tips, before dropping back to the ocean below.