Róisín continues to weave her way through the crowd, trying to look like she knew where she was going.  After a moment to make her ruse seem more accurate, she slowly works her way back over to where Orunmila had gone.  Hopefully far enough to not be immediately spotted by the person she had spoken to, she rejoins her. 

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Róisín continues to weave her way through the crowd, trying to look like she knew where she was going.  After a moment to make her ruse seem more accurate, she slowly works her way back over to where Orunmila had gone.  Hopefully far enough to not be immediately spotted by the person she had spoken to, she rejoins her. 

Roisin steps past the guard and trails her elder companion and the wizard. She tries to blend in with the crowd while also getting close enough to hear the two talking. She manages to hear Ludvige's response to the other bards question. "Orunmila! A lovely name. Tresmudian, isn't it? Or at least something of that nature? As for where I'm off to, I'm just an old man going about his day, making sure everything is ready for the festival. This town relies on me more than even it knows, after all!" He chuckles at that.

" Something like that."

" More than it even knows?  A curious twist of phrase."

" So....here we are two old folks just going about their day.......is there anything that needs particular attention in regards to readiness?", Orunmila says breezily.

Zeymira tries to recall anything she can about arcane tentacles, but the only ones she can think of is the spell by that one creepy archmage who visited the tower last spring to discuss something with Ludvige. He gave her creepy vibes, crimson robes with chains of black iron draped over them. This was definitely something different, but she wasn't quite sure what. She'd probably have to examine it closer to get a good read on its arcane properties.

Meanwhile, as the sorceress thinks, the tentacles keep creeping forward, until they reach Braggus, who stands at the ready with his shield. Slowly, and without any trace of danger, the tentacle gently caresses the shield boss, leaving a swipe of crimson paint on it, the sight reminding the warrior of blood and death.

The mayor, looking frightened, scrambles back away from the thing, then notices the two warriors at the ready, as well as the guards, who both look alert, palming the pommels of their shortblades nervously.

With a squeak, she scampers off, calling back "I have duties to do! You seem to have this under control!" Before disappearing into the crowd, who look miffed at the myseriously fleeing mayor but seem to take no notice of the four warriors ready for danger.

As Roisin approaches the two elder adventurers (though one's days of adventure were long over), Ludvige looks curiously at the new arrival, before seeing that she was with his conversation partner, and nodding, both at Roisin and the words of her companion. After a moment of silence, in which he ponders the bard's question, he answers:

"Curiosity is the key to many wonders, so if something is curious, it must be good, is it not? As for preparations, I think things are complete. Now all that's left is for the 'heroes' to come and test their mettle against the games, eh? Speaking of which, shouldn't you be preparing for the games, the mayor is soon to make an announcement." He says, smiling, a look that is both kind but commanding, the face of someone who is a gentle soul at heart but given authority and who knows how to wield it.

Róisín tilts her head slightly and gives Ludvige a grin. "We really had no idea what the games are all about. Even your apprentice seemed a touch empty brained about it all. Didn't know there were preparations needed. You are right though, we should probably catch up with the others. And maybe find out what we're supposed to be doing."  She looks at Orunmila, "Shall we, then?" 

Even as she speaks, she studies the old adventurer - Ludvige - a moment, trying to get an idea if he's just being helpful, if he's really just trying to get rid of the two women. (Insight: 9) 

Zeymira comments, "I'm begging to think this may be more of a prank than a menace. I can try different magics to see if I can neutralize it. Or if it has a limited reach, maybe just keep people away to keep them from getting their clothes ruined."

“A distraction perhaps?”

{Are the paint tentacles attached to the wall? Or are they free flying serpents of paint?}

"Lets see if this paint can be cleaned off." Zeymira tries to clean paint of the elf guard with Prestidigitation.

Quote from Culuril >>

Róisín tilts her head slightly and gives Ludvige a grin. "We really had no idea what the games are all about. Even your apprentice seemed a touch empty brained about it all. Didn't know there were preparations needed. You are right though, we should probably catch up with the others. And maybe find out what we're supposed to be doing."  She looks at Orunmila, "Shall we, then?" 

Even as she speaks, she studies the old adventurer - Ludvige - a moment, trying to get an idea if he's just being helpful, if he's really just trying to get rid of the two women. (Insight: 9) 

Orunmila nodded.......unsure if she was acting the fool or being taken for one.......regardless she turned and followed Róisín.

As Roisin gives her answer, Ludvige remains thoughtful "Well, all the information you need for each of the games will be given out there, so I imagine, yes, catching up with the others would be most wise." As she studies him, Roisin tries to get a read on his face, but his visage remains annoyingly unreadable, a simple smile painting his lips. 

As they turn to leave, Ludvige reaches out softly and touches Orunmila's arm, pulling her close to whisper in her ear "I think we both recognize wisdom when we see it. Please make sure my apprentice does not open the box she has. It is not meant to be opened. With discreetness if you so could, there are some who might try to take it if attention is drawn to it." With that, he lets her go, and turns, heading for his tower, humming softly, as if he hadn't said anything at all.

Zeymira reaches out a clawed hand, and summoning the simple power of one of her frankly most useful cantrips, she swipes away the paint upon the elf with her magic. Eyeing the tentacles, which are still connected to the wall, and the oozing mass of rainbow paint upon it, she reaches out the magic to try to wipe a bit away, severing the current link it has between Braggus's shield and it.

The paint is wiped clean, the shield boss sparkling in the morning sun, and the tentacles recoil just a touch, the only sudden movement it's made so far. After a second of pause, as if considering, it moves closer to Braggus, slowly, leaving another splatter of red paint on the shield, this time curling up and down along the shields length, covering the wood and iron with a crimson coloring.

As this all happens, a horn is sounded, as Mayor Tyna appears back on stage "Well! I hope you all have your parties together, ready to set of for adventure! You'll find the different games at the tavern, the docks, the guard house, the temple, the orchard, and the windmill. Good luck!" She says, before hurrying off stage. Through her whole spiel, she seemed incredibly nervous. Typical for her, it would seem.

“These paint tentacles are super weird, Braggus, but they don’t seem dangerous. Let’s leave them to the officials and head to the stage.”

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“These paint tentacles are super weird, Braggus, but they don’t seem dangerous. Let’s leave them to the officials and head to the stage.”

 Watching the paint appendage brush the surface of his readied shield, Braggus stepped back away from its reach, frowning. He was still suspicious of its purpose and reason for seemingly reaching out to probe the area - not to mention the spell's origin - but he was losing his patience with the oddity.

"I am agreeing, it is time we triumph in these games!" Braggus said with a grin, content to leave the painted alley to the town guard. The hooded man Branor described still hung in the back of his mind, though, and he made a note to keep an eye out for anyone suiting that description.

"Honored one, if you are being able, I do not wish this stain to remain," he said to Zeymira, motioning to the second smear on his shield. Whatever the paint was, benign or otherwise, he distrusted it.

"Of course." It just took a moment for Zeymira to erase the paint from the shield. 

Róisín now walks back towards where she had left the others, trying to locate them.  She keeps an eye on Orunmila, making sure the other woman is with her.  After they've gotten a ways from Ludvige she asks her, "What did he have to say? Find out anything interesting?" 

She makes it back to the town center and just manages to catch the last of what the mayor is saying. Tyna is practically leaving by the time she gets a good enough vantage point to see. "Hmm, I heard 'the temple, the orchard, and the windmill'," she says to Orunmila. "Sounded like I missed a few though. Hope the others caught 'em. Do you see them?" 

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Róisín now walks back towards where she had left the others, trying to locate them.  She keeps an eye on Orunmila, making sure the other woman is with her.  After they've gotten a ways from Ludvige she asks her, "What did he have to say? Find out anything interesting?" 

She makes it back to the town center and just manages to catch the last of what the mayor is saying. Tyna is practically leaving by the time she gets a good enough vantage point to see. "Hmm, I heard 'the temple, the orchard, and the windmill'," she says to Orunmila. "Sounded like I missed a few though. Hope the others caught 'em. Do you see them?" 

 " Not really, I might have been mistaken, maybe....I don't know."

" He asked me to watch over his apprentice.......so I suppose I should get to that."

" They can't have gone far.  Lets head to the alley and work our way back."

Orunmila scanned the crowd for familiar faces.

Perception- 18

As the speech wraps up, Orunmila and Roisin arrive, the two bards talking softly over what they saw. With a glance around, Orunmila's keen gaze catches on the tall, proud stature of Braggus, alongside the crested horns of Zemyira. She can't see Branor, due to the throng, but she assumes the dwarf has stayed with their other companions.

As the crowd disperses, the 'investigator' crew approaches the town square, seeing their two companions approach. The two splinter groups meet in the middle, and after some more concerned looks at the two guards who are currently poking the still gentle tentacles with their spears, you have the chance to convene.

"Welcome back, my friends!" Braggus calls with a grin to the returning pair, waving a broad hand above passersby as the two groups rendezvoused. "I am hoping you learned more than we did, though it is appearing the tentacled magic is not...directly dangerous," he reported with another glance over his shoulder to the colorful appendages extending from the wall.

Looking back to his assembled teammates, Braggus claps his hands together.

"I was hearing from the little mayor there are games at this tavern, and I believe we are having all the skills necessary to outcharm," he said, with a quick glance to Róisín, before turning to Branor, "and outwit anyone we are coming across."

He pauses briefly, his cheery grin becoming one more of mischief, placing a hand to his chest. "It is being all the better if this is where we may outeat, outdrink and outfight them. Men of the mountains are being superior to all others in this. But perhaps we are wanting to try elsewhere first? Victory is assured either way!"

Zeymira replies, "If it is a drinking game, I'll definitely lose. But there are different games at the docks, the guard house, the temple, the orchard, and the windmill. We should complete as many as we can. Perhaps the game at the tavern is simply throwing darts."

"Oh, good! I only heard a few of the locations. Guess we go to each and see what we're supposed to do," Róisín replies after rejoining the others. "Might as well start at thetavern since it's right here."

She is rather curious what Braggus is talking about. "Did you say tentacle magic?" She looks a bit perplexed. 

“Perhaps they’ll make us cook for the drunkards! If that’s the challenge I’ve got this in the bag; I even brought my own cook’s utensils! Even still, darts or knife throwing are within my wheelhouse as well.”

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She is rather curious what Braggus is talking about. "Did you say tentacle magic?" She looks a bit perplexed. 

 Braggus shakes his head, clearly over the perplexing magical effect. "Bah, it is being some mystic nonsense - even our honored Zeymira is not being able to understand. You can see it there," he says, turning to motion toward the alleyway.

"It is not hurting the bystanders, but...I am not trusting it." He looks back to his bright-haired companion. "You are being fire-touched, perhaps your luck would be helping destroy the spell. But it is being needed much more for our contests, eh? If Madame Orunmila is being agreeable, we will check the tavern first."

Quote from scorch19 >>

“Perhaps they’ll make us cook for the drunkards! If that’s the challenge I’ve got this in the bag; I even brought my own cook’s utensils! Even still, darts or knife throwing are within my wheelhouse as well.”

 "So it is seeming after we are victorious, Branor will be making us a good meal!" Braggus laughs, rubbing his palms together with glee, his flower-woven braids shaking across his shoulders. "I am looking forward to your Dwarven foods, in this case."