"Silk?" Roxana replies. She has to admit that material really does have an elegant look and feel to it.  It's just so impractical. "Leather though. Mabe you could find something fancy in leather for you? I don't think that's going to work for me though. I'll need a dress."  

Jumping into thinking something leather for Gaer had been more of an attempt to avoid the issue of what she would wear. And then Ruby brings her earrings, providing yet another distraction. "Well! Ruby does have quite fabulous taste!" she says as she examines them. "I do like earrings, though these are far fancier than anything I usually wear."  She is clearly interested them as she keeps inspecting them. "Perhaps I should try them on?"  

Once she has tries them and finds a mirror with which to look at them, she is convinced. Although she tries to suppress her excitement at this, there is clearly a smile to her face. "Well, this should make things easier as now we simply have to match a dress to these earrings. Perhaps a blue?"  Given some time to look, she would likely gravitate towards the fine woolen dresses with embroidery. Finding one in blue with a pattern suggesting grains, she turns to Gaer. "I think this one. Or... is blue really the proper color? I suppose I should see how it fits too. I'm not sure if it will be flattering."  She looks at Gaer a bit nervously. "Maybe it's a bit too much." 

"Do not worry!" Gaer smiles "You'll look great! Try it! And if blue doesn't convince you completely, try the effect of something yellow. I like yellow combined with blue. Have you ever tried to look at a yellow begonia against the background of the sky when this Is it an intense blue? In my opinion, these are two colors that go well together..."

The tiefling ranger, meanwhile, focuses on leather, having had the approval of his lady love... and begins to try to match shiny black leather boots, gloves and jackets with brown or white shirts.

"Yellow..." Roxana muses. "Hmm... what an idea."  Having Gaer's suggestion in mind, she renews her search once again.  Finally, she settles on a yellowish gold kirtle (dress) with the same blue short-sleeved cotehardie (surcoat/petticoat) she had seen before. As it obviously would need to be fitted, she speaks the tailor about perhaps using gold buttons the kirtle sleeves as well as on the front of the cotehardie.  "Just a little bit of decoration, but at least it will be something fancy."  (Essentially, the yellow sleeves of the kirtle would show, while otherwise you would see the blue cotehardie. Gold buttons would run down the middle of the torso on the outer garment creating contrast.) 

Satisfied with the choices, she turns to the attire Gaer is looking for. She approves of the dark leathers and suggests perhaps a lighter brown for his shirt. "Although it's entirely up to you. I'm sure you will cut an amazingly handsome figure no matter what you choose."

Gaer is very positively impressed by the idea of gold buttons: "Really an elegant touch. Even if you, like me, don't seek ostentation at all costs, you certainly have good taste, Roxana!" he willingly takes advice and chooses a light brown for his shirt.

[[ Spira already has a wonderful dress, so I imagine she won't go shopping - she was foresighted and thought about it beforehand! I'll go on... ]]

And finally the day of the Wedding comes... Like all the numerous guests, you reach the courtyard in front of the Sharnshield Mansion, a courtyard which has been filled with comfortable chairs for the occasion. With the onset of spring, the first flowers are blooming, but they would have been a little sparse, yet... so others were plucked from the nearby meadows and concentrated there, where the ceremony and celebration will be held.

Under a sun that seems to smile from above a clear blue sky decorated with a few white clouds here and there, practically the entire population of Hamlet has gathered. Many representatives of the important families are there to honor the Sharnshield family, one of the most powerful in Longsaddle. But the vast majority of attendees are there to see a dream come true, to witness what everyone has already informally christened 'the miracle wedding', the one in which the well-liked Martha 'Shoeless' Sharnshield marries the man she loves (and by whom she is loved) despite all the past vicissitudes - the doubts of her family, first, and his mocking and tragic passing, after.

It is known to all that none of this could have happened without you - and that is why you are guests of honour, sitting in the front row, the one reserved for the closest relatives (including Maureen Sharnshield, the elderly woman, with short gray hair and hard icy eyes, who had acted as judge at the trial of Kunnari and Kenzo) and to the most important people of all in the community (such as Dowell Harpell, a man with a thick beard and thick brown hair - who took the Harpell name following his marriage to Penelope Harpell - and acting as Longsaddle's representative on the council of the Lords' Alliance).

So, pointed out by everyone and acclaimed by many, the heroes enter the scene... Not to enter a dark dungeon, this time, but to reach their place, since soon Martha and Dobbian will come out and the ceremony will begin! An elegant priest of Sune, in glittering brocade vestments, is waiting for them smiling...

[[ OOC: If you want to interact with some NPC in particular, you can assume that any Longsaddle NPC is present... in a more or less advanced position depending on their rank and connection to the Sharnshield family (excluding just Martha, Dobbian and Colin). Otherwise, in the next post I will bring the couple into the scene. ]]

The day of the wedding, Roxana enlists her sister Olivia to help her prepare.  She had avoided bringing her along to shop, as her sister was very much not into such things as dresses and fancy attire.  Not that Roxana was all that much concerned with fashion either.  It was their older sister Samira that would have been interested in such things.  Unfortunately, she was living in Neverwinter, pursuing studies there. 

Roxana was getting rather excited though about dressing up for this event. And Olivia was happy to step in as maid for the day. Well, for a little bit of the morning at least. Her hair is neatly brushed and then pulled back into a single tight braid that hang down her back. A distinctly different look than usual for her. She braids her sister's hair as well, as she and the rest of the family hope to attend the wedding as well, though certainly not as VIPs like Roxana. Olivia has a simple green dress she will wear, much to her disappointment.  She would have far rather worn pant and a fine coat like their brother Quinn.  But their mother would not hear of it. 

Once ready, and making sure she has her new earrings, Roxana left with Gaer to the Sharnshield Mansion.  She happily chats with everyone - from the likes of Maureen Sharnshield and Dowell Harpell to Thia. She especially stops to talk with Erath and Mallie from the Guilded Horseshoe.  She is very happy to see them and inquire about their adopted children. Otherwise, she is just simply content to make small talk with everyone. 

Gaer enjoys Roxana's company and takes the opportunity to get to know Erath and Mallie better - who in turn question both of them about their new recent adventures, since word had spread in Longsaddle that the group of heroes had gathered to escort the condemned man to the place where he would pay his debt to justice. When you talk to Thia, she too, despite running from one part of the Mansion to the other with her usual enthusiastic energy to make sure that Lady Martha is completely ready, is very curious about your latest trip and finds a few moments to force you to summarize the most compelling moments.

When the married couple makes their appearance, the noise of the crowd is reduced to a low buzz and exclamations of wonder and surprise at seeing them, dressed in long and elegant robes of velvety zetani, embellished with gems and gold and silver finishes. The sun's rays make the couple shine... but nothing compares to their smile, when in the end they sanction their union in front of everyone and kiss, beaming.

"Maybe..." Gaer admits, in a whisper "Maybe I underestimated Dobbian. He really seems like a different person, compared to the egocentric troublemaker I once met. Maybe the right encounters are able to drastically change the lives of people" and his hand reaches for Roxana's.

"Hey, Spira," Darvin murmurs in the meantime, who perhaps wasn't expecting such a grand ceremony "you've made important friends, eh? If those empty heads who say you shouldn't even have joined the City Watch saw you now.. I'm glad that the rest of the world, however, recognizes your value".

"How wonderful..." Anita is enchanted by the surrounding magnificence "But I'm sure that when it's our turn, you'll be able to do better!" she winks at Rash, nudging him slightly "After all, you are a great magician - surely our ceremony will be full of special effects!"

In the meantime, once the formalities have been concluded, the celebrations begin, with Martha and Dobbian coming first to thank and congratulate you once again, while long tables are set up in the courtyard and the servants bring an endless quantity of delicacies and a group of minstrels perform, taking turns, so that for the rest of the day all may the vast prairie resonate with the joy of two souls who have met, recognized... and finally united.

[[ OOC: OK, if you want to role-play some more at the party, go ahead... When you're done, I'll close the wedding day... and the campaign too. ]]

Standing in her place, next to the rest of the heroes, Aidwyn was wearing a, simple, silvery grey dress, and even her companions had to admit that they haven't notice before the real figure of the young warrior for she usually wears her armor.And the fine silver garments that she wore were in juction with the belt that she had in her waist, marking even more her figure. She wore the white cloak of her Order too, clearly cleaned for the ocasion. To her side was Hope, wearing a golden dress, with a fine silk white cloak covering her shoulders. The pair somehow remembered the moon and the sun. 
When the weeding couple entered the room Aidwyn smiled at them and she grabbed her loved one hand too. 

"Since I met you, a new dawn has truly dawned..." Dawnborn smiles at Aidwyn, as she continues to look around, not exactly uncomfortable but... in disbelief "It's the first time I've been in a built-up area. .. among so many people... and I don't feel despised, unwanted or in danger. All these people are looking at me as if I were one of you! I will never be able to thank you and Spira for all the trust you have given me from the first moment you met me..."

When the minstrels begin to play, the tiefling ex-prisoner, without releasing the young heroine's hand, pulls her slightly towards the center of the party, looking at her expectantly with her solid-gold eyes: "Shall we dance?"

"But you are one of us my love. You helped as any of us to free Zentroyma and help them.." Aidwyn kissed her in the cheek. "Besides.. is hard not to look at someone with your good looks... you are absolutely astonishing today.." she smiled at her. 

Later she tried to follow the tiefling to the dance floor. 

"Dan...dancing? I am not sure I can..." she says blushing.

Rash chuckles.

"Well, I'll do my best," he says. "I may have magic at my disposal, but I'm afraid that I'm not quite as rich as these folks... still, I'm sure we'll make it an event to remember. Speaking of memorable events, I think Blinn would probably like to hear about the resounding success of our spell in my duel with Dench. Shall we go talk to him?"

Rash will go ahead and talk to Blinn if he sees the more experienced orcish wizard, letting his friend know how the Unseen Warrior proved instrumental in defeating the brute Dench in a one-on-one duel to the death.

"But you will try, won't you?" Dawnborn raises an eyebrow questioningly "Since you are in the company of such an absolutely astonishing lady..." and, without letting himself be moved by the blushing, she drags the poor young heroine into one dance after another, trying to get her to allow herself to be carried away by collective joy. Especially since the priorities of most of the dancers seem to be: laughing, looking/pointing/waving at Martha and Dobbian, ditto with the heroes, having a shouting conversation with those dancing nearby, making sure, between one dance step and another , to pass by food and take something... The correctness of the steps or the beauty of the choreography absolutely takes second place (if not third or fourth).

Blinn listens to Rash with great attention, only to then, at the end, launch into one of his rivers of freewheeling questions: "Well, my friend! Don't you think it was a mocking retaliation? The one who wanted the visibility of a leader in battle... defeated by the humble work of invisible soldiers! Don't you think that the essential things are invisible to the eyes? For that matter, can you see the air? No; yet you can't do without it. Oh, well, unless you become a lich. But if you become a lich, then you should hide your phylactery. Once again, what is most important to you would be invisible - or at least hidden. But you could tell me that there are ways to see the air. For example when the air carries something visible, like dust. But no, of course you don't... even then you wouldn't see the air... but the dust! Can you think of any way to actually see the air, Rash? And if we found it… would the air lose some of its value? And if air is invisible, why not even See Invisibility allows you to see it? Is it perhaps invisible of a higher order invisibility?”

In any case, throughout the day of celebration Martha and Dobbian feel the warmth that only a small hamlet where everyone knows each other can give in moments of celebration of joy... and the heroes feel the strong sense of inclusion with which the community gives them welcomes. Even if perhaps in their stories Roxana the Shadow Archer will always have a slightly privileged position, all the other heroes are still now loved as if they were born in Longsaddle - because after all, it is in Longsaddle that they proved themselves heroes...

Completely unexpected, Bemon also takes care to make an appearance, thus also greeting those heroes he had met... without knowing who they were! When he meets Aedion, the mysterious stranger remains speechless for a long time... after which the two look into each other's eyes in that way that... which makes Spira and Darvin (as they know Aedion) understand that there must be a telepathic conversation taking place... "What you did was truly incredible, Spira Sergeant of Arvandor..." Bemon states, with admiration and solemnity "I believe that Aedion has found the best possible family to grow up in and that he will make us all proud".

But the solemn moment does not last long, because Thia notices the stranger and, shouting, comes to claim his attention and drag him into the heart of the celebrations.

As others start to dance, Roxana nudges Gaer, giving a meaningful look out towards the dance floor. She then turns to look at the tiefling with a smile and expectant look on her face. 

"Of course!" Gaer smiles in response to the girl from Longsaddle's silent (but obvious) proposal and is ready to start dancing with her. He was about to invite Rash and Anita too, mindful of the evening spent together days ago, but when he turns he sees that the two have moved away... and when he sees them intent on conversing with Blinn, he decides not to disturb them. If they want to join, they will do it independently!

Roxana's smile widens when he begins to dance with her. "You are such a considerate man Gaer, inviting me to dance like that without me even saying a word."  She gives him a brief wink then turns to enjoying the music and dancing. While willing to talk and socialize with others, she is glad to have this moment with just him.  

...Gaer seems to be quite glad as well!

The celebrations continue until night, bringing joy and lightheartedness to the lives of all the inhabitants of the small hamlet, at least for this day of their lives.

That night the heroes can go to bed proud and serene, after having tasted firsthand all the joy they were able to bring. What awaits them in the near future? They have revealed intrigues, overcome tests, faced battles, formed bonds, started new paths... Only one thing is certain - and they have amply demonstrated it - the future is theirs to write!

The End