Cadoras responds, “Weird? Well, you'll see! They're almost glowing with colors! We found them in the grass just outside the café!" He leads you at a hurried pace. You notice many other students, even Piero, heading in the same direction. 

You are able to slip into the cafe, and inside the air buzzes with excitement—and the smell of coffee. As you make your way toward the back of Firejolt Café, Cadoras motions for you to duck into the lounge to witness the scene.

Hidden from the view of the barista station, the lounge’s central table has been pushed toward the wall and its chairs haphazardly tossed out of the way. In the middle of the room hop four unusual frogs. Each is glowing in vibrant colors—red, blue, violet, and orange—and has been outfitted with a tiny costume. One wears a makeshift cape, another has suspenders, a third wears a stylish bow tie, and the fourth has a top hat perched jauntily on its head.

Someone has used chalk to mark lanes on the floor, and multiple students are trying to corral the frogs into a starting position.

Greta, standing near where the frogs are assembled, sees you as you enter. “Knap! Mei! Just look at these critters! You're just in time! Want to race these frogs with us?"  As you glance about the room, you see quite a few students here.  Drazhomir and Quentillius are watching quietly from the back. Aurora and Rubina are standing nearer the action, holding drinks and trying to see what is happening. Javenesh and Shuvadri come in with the crowd, as does Piero. 

Cadoras, nearer to the group, chimes in as well. "Absolutely, you guys really ought to 'jump' into the competition. We need one coach for each frog. Who's game?"  Greta calls out as well to the crowd. "We need one coach per frog! Come on up and volunteer!" 

(OOC - If anyone wishes to volunteer to 'coach' the frogs just reply in RP. I'll take the first 4 that volunteer if there are more than 4.  There will be opportunities to participate as spectators as well, which we'll get to.  This is also an opportunity to interact with NPCs and build relationships - or in other words, get a relationship point.  You can either simply RP approaching/talking with a particular NPC. Or if you want to jump into coaching a frog, let me know OOCly which NPC you'd want to interact with and I'll try to work in their reactions to you.) 

Mei can’t help but gush over the dapper little amphibians as she approaches, even as her father’s warning about letting sleeping frogs lie echoes through her mind. Or was it sleeping dogs?

Balancing textbooks on her hip like a parent might their small child, Mei frees a hand to wave at Greta as they approach. “They’re so cute!” she squeals and crouches to coo at them. To Greta she replies with a little laugh, “I’m, um, not sure how to race a frog,” then looks up at Guardok and Knap, who had seemed particularly interested, “but I could certainly cheer you all on!”

She reaches her hand, palm up, out to the strange critters and cocks her head to one side. “Do you think they’re from the Witherbloom campus?” 

((Can she do a Nature check to try and identify the species of frogs? Or assist our resident druid with one? She’s got a +6 to Nature if that helps!

Edited to add: Nvm, she rolled a 10 lol!))

Knap hears Greta voice and instinctively drops a squat before realising where he was. He correct himself, looking about a little embarrassed. 

“I most certainly do want to coach a frog” he calls to Greta and approaches. 

“hmm yeah I wonder what kind of frog…”Knap begins listing frogs to see if he could help [poc druids aren’t great at nature but I am proficient]  Mei identify them “green frog, tree frog, glass frog, desert rain frog,…ummm”

“Why don’t I just ask?” 

Knap gets on to his hands and knees and casts speak with animals. 

In Froggish he asks something equivalent to who/where are you from? 

"Oooh, yes. Me, I'll be a coach. That orange one in the cape looks perfect for me. I'll call it Magma!", Guardok calls out excitedly.

Spotting Quentillius in the background he calls across to his fellow Playactor, "Hey Quentillius, I bet you'd make an amazing announcer for the race. You could introduce all the frogs and make it all dramatic!".

Mae, not being much of a sporting person, would rather stay to the side and watch and cheer. A faint blush comes to her cheeks as the group rushes inside, carried away by the sudden excitement and eventually finds her way toward Aurora and Rubina and as far from Quentillius as she can be. She looks at the various frogs and the chalk lanes lined out on the floor, thinking about how it was probably a good thing this happened here and not at the tavern--there was usually enough activity there, she thought. "Well this is new!" She says out loud to Aurora and Rubina as she stands near them. "I didn't know they raced frogs. Curious!" She then leaned closer to Aurora and whispered loudly, "Have a favorite?"

Malvyn felt a bit out of place with all the excitement, not sure what to think about having frogs dressed up and used for racing. At least his roomie was about to ask them, maybe they would even consent to being part of this game. Unsure what to do the purple-skinned Tiefling stands back and gives Aurora a small smile across the lounge, not wanting to intrude as she seemed occupied too. He found himself a bit curious over these colourful frogs. It felt just a little odd though that four frogs like these where found on the University grounds, maybe there was a story behind that, a story worth telling in the Star.

Nature to identify species of frogs: 12

"Oh! Ask, yeah that's a great ide--" Mei's reply to Knap trails off, head on a swivel as Guardok calls Quentillius' name. Cheeks flush before she even spots the shock of red hair over by Drazhomir, she gives both student mages a cheerful smile and wave in greeting, not trusting her soft voice to carry over the hubbub and excitement. What was I doing again? she wonders, completely losing the thread of thought. 

Still crouched, the dreamer glances back at Malvyn with a grin--excited that he might have a prospective story here--and puts on airs, "First on the scene of The Amazing Frog Race, Malvyn Darkhold, of the Strixhaven Star, reporting!"

Her grin becomes apologetic--suddenly feeling silly--before she asks him and the others (Greta and Cadoras if they're still near too!) thoughtfully, "Should we should, um... place bets? I've heard that's what people do at the races?" Or, at least, that's what she's read. This would likely be a bit different than Unbridled Love: Racing Rogues. Fewer horses and less kissing, for one.

When Mei comes up to Greta and examines the frog, she really can't place what sort it might be.  It's not like any she has seen recently. 

Greta then gives Knap a smile. "Alright! Which frog do you want?" Just then, Guardok volunteers to take the orange frog. "Yes of course! The orange frog with the cape is yours."  She glances back to Knap. "So which frog do you want - other than the orange one?" she says with a grin. 

Once Guardok has his frog to coach, Quentillius hears him calling and turns.  He seems intrigued as he comes over, clearly flattered at the offer of being the center of attention. "I would be an amazing announcer," he says. Greta gives him a look as though she's not really interested in an announcer, but after a moment she relents. "Fine. You can do the announcing." 

Knap meanwhile has cast his spell and is talking to the frogs.  They all indicate a bit of confusion.  "Wet-grassy-place," is one response. Another says, "Far from this bizarre land."  Yet another frog adds, "muddy" along with "wet-grass."  About all the concept they have of who they are is "Frog" or perhaps "Frog-That-Is-Me".  

Mae makes her way over to talk with Aurora and Rubina.  The two fellow band members give her a smile. "I've never heard of them racing frogs," Aurora says. "Me neither," Rubina adds.  Aurora seems to consider your whispered question for a moment, looking intently back over the frogs again. "You know, the violet one with the bow tie seems to remind me someone..." Aurora says with a half-grin. "If only I could remember who," she continues as her grin widens. 

As Malvyn stays put and observes the brightly colored frogs, it occurs to him that Mina Lee works at the Firejolt and likely would be here somewhere as well.  He realizes though that everything is set up out of sight of the barista stand, so if she was there working, she might not even be fully aware of what the excitement was all about.  

Cadoras has come over with the others to where Greta and the frogs are located.  He nudges Mei. "Are you just going to let those guys have all the glory? I mean, you wouldn't want to leave it up to me would you?"  He starts to laugh.  

Greta then adds, "Two more coaches needed still!  No experience necessary. Don't leave these poor frogs all on their own!" 

The purple-skinned Tiefling smiles briefly at Mei. Admittedly he was a bit excited over possibly having something to report other than what was discussed on Student Council meetings. "If we are to place bets we would need someone to take them don't you think." He says, more dryly than intended. "It is a good idea though." He adds a bit awkwardly hoping to encourage Mei to go ahead with that, then quickly making his way over to the barista stand to see if Mina Lee was there.

(Did Malvyn know anything at all about those colourful frogs?)

Knap looks up at Greta “well, I’m fond of a top hat. we’re matching already. I’ll take the blue cutie.” 

Knap reaches into his pockets, past a few pebbles, seeds, dried fruits and “aha” he finds a crispy cricket saved from the dining hall buffet. he kneels closer to the top hatted hopper, 

“got some grub, yum yum” Knap softly croaks to his chosen champion. “We’ll get you home to the mud, soon.”

Mei eyes crinkle up at Cadoras, his playfulness always contagious. "We could always sneak you into the race," she stage-whispers, then nods at his hair with a cheeky smile. "You're already green." Worried how that might come off, she stammers, "N-Not that I think you're--I'm not saying you look like a fro--you're very handsome!" Inwardly groaning at herself, words rush off her tongue with hardly a thought behind them, bursting in distraction, "Ha! I mean, um, glory, yes! OkayI'llcoachtoo!" She supposes it is to be her "Year of Yes."

"Ah, but... hmmm. Since there's not a green one, how about thheee--" she glances back to ask Malvyn to co-coach the purple frog with her--Team Purple as the pair already are--but finds him gone. Her smile falters for but a second before she adds cheerfully to Cadoras, "--red one? Sir, uh... Siirr... Hops-A-Lot? Earl of Ribbiton."  She giggles at the name, eyes lifting briefly to a different redhead, then leans in to give Sir Hops a little pet on his cheek. "I hope you don't mind racing, Sir. Did they say if they mind, Knap?"

Mae looked back over her shoulder and around at the crowd at Aurora's comment before looking back at her. "Oh? Yes, I wonder who..." She gave Aurora a light smirk before looking at the frogs and the beckoning Greta and then shook her head a little. "No, no I think I'd rather just watch this time!"

"Good question, Mei." Knap scratches his head. "They seem a little bamboozled." He leans in whispering to Mei

 Knap looks around to students with their enthused faces, a wisp of worry passes through his sweet little thoughts but melts away when he looks back to his cute little froggy comrade. 

(Malvyn has no knowledge of any frogs like these.  The colors are just too unusual.) 

Malvyn wanders out of the lounge and over towards the barista stand.  The usually crowded area has only a pair of customers at the moment.  He quickly spots Mina Lee just standing off to one side awaiting more customers. From the commotion you can definitely tell something is happening in the lounge.  But from this spot you really can't see much of anything. 

Greta smiles at Knap. "Alright then, you shall be the coach for the blue cutie." The frog eagerly takes the crispy cricket, swallowing it down. In frog language it relays, "Good food. But want mud soon."  The dwarf then turns to Mei as she seems to be offering to coach. "The red one? Okay, then! Just one more coaching spot left!" she calls out. 

Cadoras also responds to Mei's comment. "Ribbit! Ribbit!" he says in a funny voice. "Are you saying I'm a handsome frog Mei? The stories I remember you have to kiss the frog to get him to turn handsome!"  He gives her a teasing smile.  

About the same time Quintillius comes over, placing a hand on Mei's shoulder. "Do I understand your frog has a name? Sir Hops-a-Lot, the Earl of Ribbiton?"  His attention then goes briefly towards Greta, then the other coaches. "Do all the frogs have a name?" Greta just gives him a shrug. 

Aurora is in agreement with Mae. "Yea, I'm not racing frogs. But might be fun to cheer along others."  

Rosie, the gnome from the Live-Action Roleplaying Guild, calls out loudly to Greta. "Come on! We can't be all day at this! Do we have a fourth coach?"  Finally a large Loxodon, dressed in gilded plate armor, comes forward to Greta. "I shall take on the violet frog to lead him on to victory.  I shall call him The Royal Victor!"  

"Woo hoo!" Rosie says, "Then I guess we're about ready to start!" 

Greta starts to get the coaches -  Guardok, Knap, Mei, and Rampart together with their frogs at one end of the lanes marked with chalk on the floor. The word "Start" is also inscribed there with chalk.  At the other end of the track is Rosie, and you can see the word "Finish" is chalked there.  Quentillius has come over near the group of coaches. "We have Sir Hops-a-Lot, and Royal Victor.  What are the names of the other two?" 

(OOC - The race itself will involve the coaches making an Animal Handling check. Characters not serving as coaches may choose to either Cheer a coach or Heckle a coach.  Essentially, Cheering grants Advantage, while Heckling grants Disadvantage. Feel free to continue with RP. But also clearly indicate your Cheer or Heckle choices if you would.)  

Guardok wanders over to Quentillius, "My frog is called Magma Coulee. Watch him as he breaks free of the starting line and flows toward victory".

He looks across to Knapp, "Or is my frog a she?". Turning back to Quentillius with a shrug he whispers, "It's great you are announcing, this is going to be a race for the history books", he adds excitedly.

"Chaos?" Mei whispers back, considering Sir Hops in a different light. She's not sure she shares their affinity for mud lounging, but agrees with Knap that it would be best if they're returned outdoors after the race. Gently touching his elbow, she quietly assures him with a grin, "Count me in for frog smuggling." 

At Cadoras' teasing, Mei looks a perfect match to her frog: beet red. It's entirely involuntary when her focus lowers to his smiling lips before the hand on her shoulder makes her posture straighten reflexively.

Her gaze traces the arm up to its owner and she blinks in surprise at Quentillius, his hand suddenly very warm through the fabric of her uniform. "Y-Yes! Oh, but that's a bit of a mouth--" don't look at his mouth, don't look at his mouth "--ful, isn't it?" There's a small laugh of contrition as she gives a sheepish tilt of her head, cheek accidentally grazing his hand as she adds, "I know announcers can't be biased, but if you need someone to secretly cheer for..." Gently, Mei scoops up her red racer, "we'll need it to make it to the finish line!"

To both Cadoras and Quentillius she jests, "Maybe the victor should get a kiss?" Spluttering to clarify, she lifts the creature and hurriedly adds, "Th-The frog, I mean! Because the stories say--since they'll turn into a--?" She looks to Cadoras for help before Greta--thank the Dryad--corrals them all towards the start. 

Mae noticed Mei across the way with the two men around her and just sighed some. Her heart inside felt for Mei, as one that had been there before, but not keen on ever being there again. She quietly hoped it turned out well for Mei though and then steeled herself, turning her attention once more to the race, pointing at Knap's frog, clapping her hands and calling out to him. "Come on Knap! Get your frog to go!" She actually wasn't sure what an appropriate cheer for a frog was but she was determined to enjoy herself for the moment regardless!

The purple-skinned Tiefling hurries up to Mina, standing on the side to speak to her quickly. "There is a frog race about to take place i the lounge I believe, can you attend? Or would you want me to observe for the Star? Maybe Mr. Wildemere would appreciate a report for his gossip column?" He says with a hint of excitement in his voice. Malvyn would then swiftly make his way back to the lounge to not miss the start of the race.

(Malvyn intends to be an impartial observer for the impartial Strixhaven Star.)