Calling of the Puzzler - RPLOG
Participants
Date
21/3/477
Log
Noon in Eastbank Forest, when most of the woodland's more dangerous creatures hide from the heat of day. In the distance, the bells of noon mass can be faintly heard from the nearest village, and yet beings can be seen walking down the road to the as yet undisturbed sections of the forest, heeding some strange call that beckons them forward and away from their social obligations. Under the canopy, the air is cool and fresh, and one gets the impression of a presence, waiting, watching for all those who will step into the clearing.
Fenris recognizes this feeling. He had it when Ser'Ther called out for audience. There was a spirit tugging at the minds and hearts of Firmament's people. He saunters along the path under the canopy of trees. "Maybe I can learn something new this time," the tiger mutters to himself.
Flora wanders in silently, her tail flicking. There was that odd feeling again, and she had an idea what it meant. Within her bag is a little surprise, just in case her suspicions prove correct...
Cedric had felt an odd tugging at his mind, piquing his curiosity. And so he'd decided to travel, following the other beings down the path to the forest. He's not sure how much of his journey is made of his own free will and how much is based on the mysterious lure. Anyhow, the badger approaches the clearing behind a few others.
Asher isn't sure why he is out here. There was work to be done and a new shop to finish setting up, but he felt the strangest urge to go for a walk to the woods. The corgi is surprised to see so many other beings walking out in the same direction.
A rustling emerges from the woods...followed by a host of sticks and leaves swirling about on eddies inthe forest. A heavy thumping follows these gusts of debris, and the ever-ridiculously attired Dupree emerges, chasing the winds--until she notices everyone else standing about. Jingling slightly as she dusts herself off, she gives a friendly wave. "Oh, hello, all you good folk!"
As the stream of beings filters down to a trickle, the impending presence grows stronger - until the moment the air is torn apart with a sound not too different from that of wet paper. From this hole, out steps a rather familiar vulpine fellow, clad impeccably in his suit and broad-brimmed hat, cane striking the ground as the hole closes up behind him.
"Of today's turnout, I will say
That I'm quite pleased of it this day.
Tall beings, short beings, thin beings, stout,
Those who have plenty and those who are without.
Time is short, so let us make haste
Of today's proceedings, without dither or waste."
Fenris smirks, ah, this one. Catching sight of some familiar faces, he winds his way toward his friends. He looks to Flora and raises an eyebrow. He can't wait to see what she has planned.
Cedric just sighs at the appearance of the familiar vulpine and shakes his head. He stays put before the clearing and listens to the rhyme quietly, looking around at the other beings for any familiar faces but none really stick out to him.
Asher has never seen anything so outlandish. How on Promise did the fox DO that? It looked like no magic he had ever seen! Though something about the being seems vaguely familiar. Where could he have heard that voice before? "Oh! Hello Fenris!" the little dog says as the tiger comes closer, then he gives a friendly nod to Flora and to Dupree as everyone comes together in the clearing.
Flora raises a brow and looks towards the puzzler, her tail twitching and her ears flicking as she flashes a wide grin. "Mister puzzlefox! That means Flora can ask her riddle and get a prize, yes?" she rumbles with a smirk on her snout, tail flicking behind her.
Dupree whinnies in absolute delight, her echoing winds zipping about the gathered folk in frantic excitement. She claps her hands and stomps her hooves eagerly, virtually quivering with excitment and making all sorts of incomprehensible noises. After a few seconds of this ecstatic frenzy, coherence finally emerges, in the form of a pinched, squeaking whine--"It's hiiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIM!"
The Puzzler looks at everyone's reactions and doffs his hat.
"Some here may not favour me And to that, 'tis just fine. All did rebuff the marvellous path The last time I announced mine. Wit and charm can save a life Or be used to play a game It can set one to laughing or crying Or save one lucky dame. Days ago i was the talk of the town My work many did see. Yet today's proceedings shall begin" With the customary riddles three.
To Flora, he turns, steps forward and reaches out with a genuine fondness, about to tousle the fur on her head.
"A little lady wishes to best me at my game,
A favour does she seek.
Well then, later she may try
But she may not find me so meek."
Fenris grins, riddles and rhyming, what was there not to love. The tiger shoves his hands in his pockets, and waits for the Puzzler to ask his question. A frown of worry creases his brow for only a moment as he sees the fox reaching out to touch Flora, but if a Spirit calling itself the Puzzler can't figure out Flora, maybe it wasn't worth talking to.
The badger is still standing among the others, seeming unpreturbed by the words and presence of the puzzler. He doesn't seem particularly hostile or suspicious. Just... hesitant to do much of anything except watch for a while. Cedric finds a nice shady tree to sit under, resting his spear against its side before sliding down to sit at the base and watch the scene.
Asher's jaw drops and he dodges behind Fenris as the fox in the strange clothes reaches out toward Flora. And the little corgi had rather been looking forward to a game of riddles.
Flora jumps back a tad as the Puzzler tries to touch her, letting a soft hiss out from between her teeth. "No touching Flora," she mumbles, fur puffed up and her tail swishing agitatedly as she looks back up at the puzzler. "Flora will wait, yes. Ask Flora the riddles, yes yes."
Dupree stands off in her own little world, fists clenched and shaking in excitement, focus flitting from one eye to the other, keeping the backup eye on the sky at all times. She doesn't want to interrupt her idol, but patience was difficult. She was trying, though, bless her heart. Failing to have caught the fox's attention thus far, though, she can no longer contain herself, and waving her arms wildly, she blurts out, "Ooh! Ooh! Me next, Mister Puzzler, sir! Please please please!"
Seeing Flora agitated, the Puzzler withdraws his hand, perhaps a little more skulky that would be appropriate for someone appearing to be a full-grown fox. "A forceful rebuff, that will be enough. To avoid chagrin, let us then begin." The spirit's sour mood appears to disappear almost instantly, though, what with his fickle self, and at Dupree's outburst he draws the brim of his hat over his eyes and grins, but says nothing. Seeing that all is prepared, The Puzzler leans his cane by a tree and begins.
"My voice is tender, my waist is slender,
And petite me is often called to play.
Yet wherever I go I must take a bow
Or else I have nothing to say."
Fenris laughs happily, drawing his violin and bow from his pack and playing a quick run of notes. "A Violin!" he cries.
Flora grins broadly, her tail swaying as she looks at the puzzlefox. "Flora has it. Violin!" she adds with a smirk, frowning lightly as Fenris just barely beats her to it.
Asher looks up at Fenris and comes out from his hiding place. "Yes," he agrees, "It must be a fiddle." The little dog is just glad that Flora didn't explode when the strange fox tried to touch her.
