"Of course!" Vesper heads over to Lumen and throws an arm over his shoulder. "Hey, don't be so down. I thought that the stuff you did with your magic was real cool! Especially that thing with the sword."

"thanks! And dont worry... I bit that silver piece a couple times already so I know it's real." He would say excitedly as he put the coins back in his bag and tied it tightly to his bbelt. At the mention of Pie Pals, A wide toothy smile would spread across the kobolds thin face. "Pie Pals stick together!" He would reply eagerly before turning and bouncing off towards the arena. He would then bounce his way towards where silver would be competing and once close to the ring, he would rake the end of his wand along the dirt while casting mold earth. A moment later, the earth would churn and rise until it formed into a 5ft tall replica of Silver. As the figure materialized, the dirt would even change color, turning a sparkly silver. Krackle would then scramble up the back of his new dirt and stone statue and sit on its shoulder. "Go Silver!" The kobold would shout from his new perch. "I Know you can win!"

Lumen has to laugh quietly to himself, eyes downcast and squinting a bit, as Vesper does her best to ease his (mildly) injured ego. "Thanks, friend. Kind of you to say. Your performance wasn't the kind of thing I would have tried, but it was beautiful, and really quite amazing. I bet you'll take the whole competition."

He shifts over to watch his new companions ready their next contests, ready to inspire them.

Silver

Stepping in the ring with his opponent, a very heavy human with a thick dark beard and a mane of long, straggly hair, Silver lets out his roar to try and intimate the man. It appears to have some effect, as the man flinches and recoils a tiny bit before coming back to the middle to start the match.

The signal is given and the powerful dragonborn rushes the man and slams his right shoulder into the shoulder of his opponent, immediately causing him to lose balance. He starts to tip backwards, and as he fights to remain upright, Silver quickly grabs his leg, spins him around and then drops his own scaled body to the platform with his opponent underneath him. 

They land with a booming crash on the lightly padded wood platform. Silver attempts to hold him in a grapple, but the man gets a knee up and pushes back with his elbow, breaking the hold. He quickly climbs back to his feet and spins back around to come face to face with Silver once gain. 

The two stand squared off for a brief few seconds, throwing feints and dodges, and slapping each other's hand away, until finally Silver makes another move. This time, he drives with his other shoulder and trips the man with his leg, and once again, the entangled pair goes crashing down to the ground with a boom. This time, the man is on his back, though, and Silver is able to hold him in a tight grapple. The man tries to squirm, but with no leverage, he has no way to make any effective defensive moves. 

The five seconds pass quickly, and the referee slams his hand down on the mat, singling the win for Silver the dragonborn. 

------------------

Arine

Arine steps into the agility ring, displaying her outward, cocky attitude. She elicits a response, but perhaps not one as big as the one she'd hoped. Her opponent is a slender forest gnome with brown skin and dark brown hair. The both make they way over to the start and build their first stack of one mug and one plate, and then when the signal is given, they both begin walking quickly, but smoothly around the ring. 

The gnome is steady as a hundred year old tree in the wind, and he moves with quick deftness as he prances around the circuit. Arine is right behind him, showing equal amounts of agility, and she has no trouble finishing the first lap. 

Both contestants pile on their second mug on top of the plate and begin their second lap. Again the gnome moves with such impressive smoothness, smiling the entire way, as if his stack is held together with glue. 

Arine follows close behind, trying to keep up with the gnome, but halfway around, the gnome stumbles. Whether it's the pressure of seeing her opponent move so effortlessly, or her own cockiness getting the better of her, Arine's foot catches the edge of a cobble, and she nearly goes down. However, she hears Lumen's voice booming out with some truly awful drunken singing cutting though the crowd noise, and the humorous nature of his voice seems to inspire her, which allows her to regain her balance. She keeps the tower from toppling and finishes the second lap. 

Stacking her tower ever higher, the halfling stays neck and neck with the gnome, finishing a third lap, fourth and even a fifth. At the beginning of her sixth lap, her tower consists of a mug, plate, mug, plate, mug, plate, mug. It's starting to get pretty tipsy, but she's able to hold it upright around the first corner. Then, a third of the way around the lap, the gnome stumbles, hitting his toe on the same cobble that made her trip last time. 

However, with much less room for error now, the gnome is unable to hold his tower steady, and as he trips and falls to the ground, the mugs and plates come crashing down all around him with a clattering jangle. Arine keeps walking steadily, and without missing a beat or looking back, she finishes her lap and claims victory.

OOC: Having seen Wreckzors post below, I edited this post to reflect the fact that Arine actually emerges as the winner. I made a mistaken assumption about the re-rolled 1s.

(ooc: I think the re-rolling 1's is because of her halfling racial trait. I could be wrong)

When the match was over, Krackle would leap from the Silver statue as it sunk down into the soil. "You were amazing!" He would shout to the silver dragonborn. "Here, take this..." Krackle would say as he handed Silver a small crude friendship bracelet. A small iron pendant in the shape of half a shield would hang from a thin leather strap, as the kobold help the outstretched gift. "I think it should fit around your wrist. I have one that matches, see!" He would say pointing to the other half shield pendant hanging around his chest. "It kept slipping from my wrist but it makes a nice necklace for me. He would say smiling. "They are friendship bracelets and I hope it gives you luck in your next match!" He would add with a beaming smile looking up to Silver. He would then turn and congratulate Arine when she finished her competition. "Wow! You were real good too. I bet you will win the stacking contest for sure!". 

Krackle would then prepare for his next challenge.

acrobatics rolls! (Add 2 if I should use slight of hand) 

17 14 18 20 12 14 19 

"While spinnin' plates ta boot!" Arine called out to Chrys before the match even started, but the edge of her grin sharpened like a knife-point as she caught wind of the whispers that were trailing after the bard. Funny. She could've sworn a few of the same had been throwing themselves at Lumen's feet during his last set. Yeah. Funny.

That smile stayed in place for the remainder of her challenge, even as beads of sweat dotted her brow, and her jaw throbbed from clenching too hard. It was worth it in the end. The cheers of an easily entertained, slightly inebriated crowd were almost as sweet as the gold. She jogged up to Chrys after collecting her winnings, roped an arm through the dwarf's elbow and said, "You looked like hot shite out there, dragged that ugly mug through the dirt. Er- mat?"

And in full view of Chrys, eyes just a little too wide like a kid begging for treats they knew they weren't supposed to have, Arine reached out and casually cut the belt of one of the audience members she'd heard whispering nastiness at the half-orc. Their half-orc now, she'd decided idly. Useful bugger, potentially. Hopefully flashing the world his knickers would teach that person a thing or two about running his mouth.

(Sleight of hand? 11 )

And immediately, she scampered away, taking a roundabout path to Krackle's other side. (Stealth? 27 )

"Y'all give me a run for my money, I'm sure. 'Specially now that we've gotten some pie in ya. And your boy looked pretty sharp out there, too. Didn't catch his match, but heard the screams. Crowd loved 'em. Hay, walk with me wouldja?" She said, eager to drag him towards the next challenge, with a final wink in Vesper and Lumen's direction.

(Acrobatics? 20 7 19 8 17 )

"Oh, OK!" Krackle would say with a smile, reaching to take Arine's hand. "I was gonna get ready for the next contest" He would say as the small shield necklace hanging around his neck glinted in the sunlight. "Where we going? You want me to help with something?" He would ask tilting his head 

Vesper laughs when Arine messes with the man's belt, although she tries not to draw Chrys' notice when she does so. (Stealth: 22) 

And despite being drunk, she's able to be subtle. She goes over to wherever the next contest is, ready to make some more money.

Arine glanced at that scaled palm. Briefly. Then slipped her hand into Krackle's. She tugged him through the crowd, all too familiar with using her height and a well-placed elbow to cut through. "Nah, we're goin' to the same place. You just looked like you could use some company."

Sort of.

She sized up the, admittedly, little kobold, clicking her tongue as the pendant drew her gaze. "You're a funny little one, aren't'ya? Not like the rest of 'em."

"I don't know, I haven't met many kobolds" Krackle would say as he tried his best not to be dragged by the halfling. "Vesper kind if reminds me of my sister... except for more drinking and the wrong colored hair" He would say as he ducked under a villagers leg. "Lots of people don't seem to like kobolds" he would say in a somber tone as he weaved with Arine through the masses. "So I guess being different is good? He would reply in a time that made it sound like a question as the kobold tilted his brass scaled head and glanced to his halfling companion.

Lumen, hanging around the edge of the group as they move to the next contest, leans in a bit when the kobold speaks. "Different is good, little one," he half-whispers, placing the hand not clutching his half-full tankard on the kobold's shoulder in what he hopes is a comforting manner. "Same is boring. Same means we're predictable, just like any other of our kind. Different is a whole playground of possibility. Lots of room for mistakes, lots of room for triumphs. 'Least, that's what I found among my time with my tribe, and then out."

(DM: Lumen is still ready to help inspire any of the still-competing members of the group before they start their next rounds, should they need it. Leaving the color and details up to you since I won't know them till after the bouts happen.)

"Adopted, huh?" And probably sheltered to an unfortunate degree. "Prolly for the better. Let's just say kobolds are a unique sorta headache. You'll be fine as long as you don't take a bite out of anyone."

If the way he was flaunting his wealth was any indication, he would've been exactly the sort of person Arine hoped to find on the road. Unfortunately, he came attached to a gruff mega lizard that Chrys seemed rather fond of, and for better or worse, Arine had grown attached to the dwarf's company.

(Bruklin would've noticed it, too. Gods damn it all.)

"What brings you out into the wild? Don't tell me ya just wanted to get your feet wet."

(Vesper would accept some inspiration)

"I want to buy a house for my ma and pa!" Krackle would say with a smile. "Do you think I have enough yet? I have never had more than a handful of silver coins before..." He would add locking eyes with Arine. "Our family was always very poor. We lived above a stables. Sometimes I could hear the animals talking after everyone was asleep." He would mention casually. "I would help Pa dig ditches and work as a farm hand. Ma waited tables. All the money went towards my sisters schooling" He would say with a smile. "When my sister left, Ma and Pa thought it might be for the best but I don't think so. Maybe if ma and pa have a nice house and money.. Hellen will leave that bad guy and come back home" Krackle would add looking to the ground. "Ma and pa deserve a nice house... and sister deserves better too... She saved me." He would mutter under his breath. Just loud enough for those nearby to hear.

When the kobold felt the half-orcs hand on his shoulder, he would shrink for a moment but then relax at the sight of Lumen. "I hope people will like me like they like you some day." He would say looking up to the tall muscular figure.

"Well, they were cheerin' for him, so it made winnin' all the sweeter," she admits to Arine.  "An' lookit you, cool as a cucumber that entire time!"  Chrys's grin drops into a knowing eyeroll as she watches the halfling cut the purse of one of the more boisterous members of the audience -- someone who'd been bad-mouthing Lumen, apparently.  Well, as much as the man might have deserved a good kick in the pants, taking an eye for an eye would simply leave the whole world blind.  Here we go again, she thinks, preparing herself for the inevitable dust-up that would follow.

As Arine scampers off, slipping into the crowds in a flash, Chrys reaches out towards the man with the stolen purse.  "'Scuse me, mister, but--"  Before she can finish her sentence, Vesper is suddenly right there, giggling and whirling her long hair in a cloud as she spins an unwilling Chrys around in an impromptu dance reminiscent of her earlier performance.  "Aye, aye, yes, congratulations again!  Vesper!  C'mon--" She grunts as she and the half-elf make one last twirl together before she's released, stumbling a few paces.  "Never let that girl get too deep in her cups," she mumbles to herself, shaking her head a few times. 

Straightening, she looks around for the man Arine stole from, determined to put things right. 

[SCENARIO 1 - the victim doesn't notice]

However, the crush of the festival crowd has swallowed the person in question, and try as she might, Chrys can no longer find him.  With an aggravated sigh, she turns and stomps back towards her ring, in order to prepare for her next match.

Grumbling under her breath, Chrys approaches her ring and stretches a few times to prepare for the next match, popping a few joints.

Silver would accept the gift, and then move over to cheer his friends ¨I need to sleep, i really need to sleep¨  As he does he will try look around to see if he can spot the next participants of the strength challenge (( perception  17 )) if he can spot them he will  move over to see them compete i f he cannot, he will continue to cheer his friends

Vesper takes the stage once again, still drunk and dancing. (Performance check for her dance moves: 20)

She once again casts Prestidigitation, forming some fireworks as she finishes the dance. 8

This time she does something a little different, calling Arine up to the stage, or at least as close as she can get. "And for my next trick, I will change the color of my lovely assistant's skin, right before your very eyes!" Once the she tells Vesper what her favorite color is, she'll cast Prestidigitation again, changing her skin to that color. 13

And to finish off her performance, she turns towards her opponent, blows a kiss at them, and then uses Prestidigitation to make it place a mark on their cheek that looks like lipstick, as if she had actually walked over and given them a kiss. 12

Regardless of whether she actually wins, Vesper is beside herself, having had a very good time.

Arine deftly slashes the belt of one of the audience members and quickly scampers to the other side of Chrys. However, being quite visibly drunk, the overweight man doens’t even notice as his pants suddenly drop down to his ankles and reveal his woolen undergarments. He keep cheering and yelling loudly, even if his audience participation doens’t match the action that’s going on inside the three contest rings.

You all keep up your banter as you continue to enjoy the mostly joyful and often exciting festival atmosphere and pass the time until your next contest. Next up in the agility ring is Krackle. Squaring off with a slender human female with raven black hair, who appears to be in her early twenties, the little kobold begins by building his first stack. This time, to make it harder, the wide mugs have been replaced with even taller, more narrow mugs. 

Both contestants place a plate on top of their cup and start walking around the ring. Many people cheer, but there’s a scattered number of people who jeer and make disparaging remarks at the kobold. Of course, the pretty girl gets many more cheers.

they finish their first lap and pile ano another cup before starting their second. Both walk steadily and have no trouble balancing their increasingly taller towers as two laps become three, four then five. Krackle can hear Luren’s inspirational words creeping into his ears, but he almost doesn’t need them, as his technique and balance are both perfect.

Anticipation increases into the fifth lap as the audience gets even louder with both cheers and a number of boos. Halfway around, both contestants are walking side by side, looking as even matched as they could be. 

Then on the final turm, the girl’s tower begins to sway. She tries to hold it steady as she approaches the end of the lap, but is unable to keep the top cup from falling. It comes off and she catches it in her other hand, accepting defeat to the little kobold, who wins 25 gp and a place in the final round. There are some cheers, but a large contingent of the audience let’s out a loud array of hisses as they ridicule the kobold. As she walks out of the ring, the girl offers her hand in congratulations to Krackle and says,

”Pay them no mind, little one. You did well. Enjoy your well earned victory and don’t spend all your winnings in one place!” She laughs and disappears into the crowd. 

As Krackle exits, Arine enters the ring for her semi final round. Her competitor is a tall, graceful looking elf with long blonde hair and a brown leather vest. After a bit of cocky banter between the two contestants begin. Stacking their first cup and plate, they begin walking their first lap, almost racing each other in a game of one-upsnmanship.

Adding a second cup, they spruce off on their second lap, walking as fast as they can, partly because it makes for a good show, and partly out of pure challenge. The audience reacts accordingly with increasing cheers. 

By the third lap, the two contestants are now running, which of course brings even more tension as the two struggle to keep up with the other without losing control of their tower. Of course, this pace is only attainable for so long, and on the third corner, the elf loses control of his tower. He fumbles for a bit trying to keep it from falling, but in the end, his cups and plates come crashing down to the ground. He gives a nod to Arine as the crowd goes wild with enthusiasm and cheers Arine’s victory. She earns 25gp and a place in the final round, which is set to begin shortly. 

The announcer says with excitement, “Please welcome our final two contestants in the Agility Contest, the fast and capable Arine against the nimble little reptilian contestant, Krackle!”