Handicrafts Festival - RPLOG
Participants
Date
26/10/476
Log
A fine afternoon in downtown Firmament this equally fine late autumn day, in the square right in front of the Academy. Someone's made a genuine effort to pretty up the place with colourful streamers, but judging from the way it's been done whoever did it doesn't really have that much of a sense of design.
But that's not important today. What is are the numerous beings that mill about in the square, looking up and down at stands and booths displaying all sorts of wares from the Craft School and independent artisans and craftsmen. A banner flaps in the wind, letters broadly spelling out "handicrafts festival", with signs directing those who would enter the competition to the registration booths. Others could just browse the various crafts and materials on sale, or simply enjoy the festivities.
A crafting competition? Sounds like a perfect excuse for a certain fox to get his mind off the most recent events. Angus leans over to the left, wondering just how long it would take for him to be able to Register as he waits in line. He didn't expect to actually win, but he thought he would at least try his hand at the competition as he hefts the folded cloth held under his right arm.
Kurzon is present on a whim having heard about the fair on his way back into town after a long ardrous day in the quarry. His armor dusty and the weight of his hammer tangible to him, he browses with the joyous intent of finding something interesting to buy to use as a base for future efforts to craft, afterall, that nice Svetlana bird made it clear he should try.
Alef smiles lightly, approaching from the guild, having just finished refreshing herself. nodding lightly as she looks at the various crafts on display, looking curious at the home made knicknacks and professional made goods on display.
The line gradually shortens, Angus coming to the fore where a clever-clanned vulture is taking down names and notes alike. Not even batting an eye at Angus' appearance, she hands him a small form to be filled out, as well as a copy of the rules for all contestants. "Please," she says. "Fill in these particulars, and make your way to the appropriate judging category to await the start of events."
Kurzon and Alef, on the other hand, are treated to a medley of sights and sounds - for some reason, probably more mercenary than anything else - it seems that food's being considered a handicraft for the purposes of this festival, but all sorts of goods are on display today - from the expected weapons and armour to clothing, toys, trade goods, and even the materials for one to have a hand at making their own, if they felt inclined to do so.
Angus takes the form and starts filling it out, his tail flicking a little as he was actually rather nervous. He wasn't one of the best crafters, but his skills have managed to help him get by so far so he was curious as to if it could stand up against other crafters. Standing back up he hands the form back to the Vulture and slips out of the way of the person behind him to find his way to the spot that he was directed to.
Kurzon can hardly pass up a chance to try new foods so he spends crowns here and there wanting to sample it all and having a large body to make the space. Be it baubles or food he had to see it all. Spotting Alef amidst the wandering crowd, he makes his way over, only checking his notes briefly before saying "Miss Alef, it is a pleasure to see you, have you been sampling the food here as well?"
Alef smiles softly, picking up some jewelry curiously, eyeing the worksmanship, looking at Kurzon. "Hey there Kurzon, how are you?" Smiling gently, looking at him snacking "not yet, I was getting down that way." Smiling happly. "It smells delicious though." nodding happly.
Things can hardly wait to begin! Since his submission is a piece of clothing, Angus is directed towards the a small stage closer towards the academy building, where a number of serious-looking professionals have already gathered under the watchful eye of a trio of judges hailing from both the craft school and academy alike. He's assigned a small stand, a mannequin if need be, and instructed to set out his entry in the most appealing fashion he can think of. Hopefully it'll be good.
All around Alef and Kurzon, the various craftsmen call out their wares. It might be a good chance to try and get something they fancied at a discount - the works here are definitely of higher quality make than the second-hand 'salvaged' stuff one often finds in the marketplace.
Angus blinks, most appealing fashion? ....And he's supposed to do that with his cloak? Well, this should at least be an intresting ordeal as the fox draped the cloak over the mannequins shoulders and tied it in place, then he had another thought and he pulled the cloaks hood up before standing back. Turning around he clasped his hands behind his back and stood at attention, watching the other crafters out of the corner of his eye as he waits for the judges.
Kurzon offers up his platter of food to Alef, his gaze lingering on her briefly before averting in a mixture of embarassment and distraction as a new crier caught his attention. "Please...feel free to share with me then, I would be honored if you allowed me to accompany you, it is all a bit overwhelming, I feel like a child on my first outing."
Alef smiles softly, "Thank you." Smiling lightly as she misses the look. just nodding gently as she samples. "So are you competing? im thinking about putting some of my mended robes up for judging, im not sure. probobly not." Smiling weakly.
Angus' fears are realised as the trio of judges finish appraising the last bit of clothing - a particularly fancy pair of pants - and move on to his cloak. "Let's have a look at this, then...the practicality, the usefulness, its appearance..." Although there's no clipboard in view, there might as well be one as the judges poke and prod at Angus' entry, examining the materials, design and weave alike, clearly taking notes and adding - or perhaps subtracting points. At last, they pull away, and one of them addresses him. "Tell me, young fellow. What was going through your mind when you were making this?"
Angus tries to keep his ears from drooping, tried to keep himself from showing any outward appearance that he was nervous. "Practicality within a combat situation, I need something that could conceal my movements within a wooded area. Something that could also double as a makeshift guard in a pinch, while at the same time be able to conceal my actions....It...it wasn't made to be fancy, just practical." He answers, his tail flicking a bit as the grip on his own hands tightened.
Kurzon tears himself away from the protective distraction, his golden gaze returning to Alef's features before he replies. "Me? I have no talent for creating this sort of thing,though it is somewhat expected by elders that I shall indulge in studying golems at some point. But if you have something you think may be worthy, you should hurry and try and enter. Even to try and fail is better than to never make an effort. I will cheer for you no matter what the outcome."
Alef blushes and looks embaroussed as shes encouraged to join in, "This is true." Smiling weakly. "I wish I had something more then clothing. but... maybe." Smiling gently, watching Angus, waiting for the verdict by the judges, looking impressed by the various objects on display, snacking from the samples again.
Kurzon doe eventually notice the judgiung having begun with the items already entered in the show and even more importantly notices Angus involved. This is reason enough for an outburst and as result he points out "Miss Alef look, Sir Angus is being judged now, look to his example, surely you can do the same as he, no?"
Indeed, there're still a few more entries to go before the results for the clothing category are announced. It would be a bit of a stretch, but a late entry's not impossible, as Kurzon pointed out. The judges move up and down, currently particularly engrossed with the cut and shape of a broad-brimmed hat. In any case, it seems that a number of folks are walking away with armfuls of merchandise, or simply enjoying the atmosphere.
Angus breaths a sigh of relief when the judges depart from his table, finally able to turn and give Kurzon and Alef a wave in greeting. Well, the hard part is done at least. Now all he had to do was soldier it out until they announced the winner, see how far down on the ladder he was placed for his skills.
Kurzon waves to Angus in return, his free hand gesturing gallantly to guide the way For Alef that he may follow her and go see what it is Angus put up for show, knowing it is likely nothing that would be suitable for his ilk, but surely must be interesting and likely quite sneaky. Of course Kurzon is soon side tracked by a wide brimmed hat on show.
Alef smiles weakly, swallowing audiably as she slowly appreaches the judges, sighing in a pair of robes, smiling weakly as she quickly takes a chance to set up a mannequin slowly slipping her padded armor and the thick, cotton and wool robes over the mannequin. positioning the hood just so as she takes a step back and stands beside her display with her staff trying to not look like a spooked rabbit up infront of the bystanders. giving Angus a riendly return wave as she watches.
Eventually, the judges eventually catch up to Alef's late entry and look over her robes. "Hmm, the trim, the hem..." there's some considerable muttering, but eventually the judges pull away. "And what do you believe is the most important, defining feature of your work, miss?"
Alef smiles weakly. "Well I... im not sure, I think it would be the effort put into them. I was up a good portion of the last night or three working on them in bits and pieces." nodding and tapping her chin in thought.
Angus taking a step out of his booth he moves over to watch Alef be jduged, curious as to how her creation what her creation was. When he notices that he wasn't the only one that didn't bring something fancy that was just for show he smiles. "So Kurzon, enjoying the festival so far?" He asks of the Bear as he moves over to his side.
Kurzon offers up what remains of his platter of food, already pondering seeking more, his eyes tearing away from the magical beauty of the hat to drift to Alef and her robes before calling out.
"I've seen her smite evil in robes just like those, those are the robes of a brave soul!"
That said he turns to Angus and grins toothily for once. "I am as happy as a child, surely this is a bad thing, but i shall offer my confessions later."
At last, the judges are done looking over all the entries. With a small flourish, the rests are tallied, and the results announced! "In first place is Belinda Hearthheart, with her entry of her mathemagical robes! The main deciding factor in her scoring were the materials used, and the patterns involved...second place, Aaron Littlepaw with his entry of..." the list goes goes on for the top five contestants, after which the results are more privately disclosed. Angus and Alef come within the top twenty of a total of forty-five contestants, with Angus placing slightly higher than Alef. There isn't much in the way of consolation prizes as opposed to the large coin purses the ranking contestants came away with, but at least all contestants are invited to join in a private buffet behind the stage later on. "And that ends the clothing category of today's event. Now, to move onto the metalworks..." it seems to spotlight's off our friends for now, and the various contestant are already taking down their displays, some a bit more defeated than others.
Angus takes the offered platter and picks out the things that seem to intrest him. "Oh good, can't go to confession without something to confess to. I find fun the easiest thing to help fix that." He teases as he waits for the announcment. Hearing that someone else won...didn't actually bother the fox that much, at least he didn't get dead last, he felt bad for whoever did to be honest. Either way, he felt kind of happy that he actually made it in the top twenty rankings, he was even smiling a little bit as he started taking down his display before heading to the buffett.
Like a descending meteor, Kurzon pats Angus on the back in consolation. "You did well, I couldn't even begin to enter! But at least I know for the future what to expect should I decide I wish to try my hand at such things."
Then he turns to the real source of his future confessions: Alef, between her and a few other encounters lately he'd felt a bit...masculine and that was new and embarassing. "Alef, I'm proud of you, not only did you got through with it, but you beat several other people!"
Alef smiles weakly, coming in behind angus isnt anything bad. considering she isnt in the dead last place, standing by the two as she puts her robes back in her pack. "I... was so embaroussed. but... it was" mumbling "fun" nodding weakly as she stretches. "So shall we see the other goods for sale?" Smiling gently, though, she wont deny the runner up buffet after the losing that contest does sound nice.
