Two hours before the event

Pha scans the area surveying the games and scratches his cheek.

I wonder where she is... not they would say that's cheating... Pha thought to himself looking around for the tall girl and what most thought of as her sister or twin.

"Do you like fish? If not maybe we can try finding something interesting..." Pha stated pointing from one area to the other. He didn't want to be close to the Mayor he always got in trouble for drifting off when the man spoke.

Galen approaches the Fishing Game and need only wait a few moments before getting a turn to chose. The three young children in front of him are all unlucky and pull red baubles. in near unison the 'PAFF' 'PAFF' 'PAFF' rings out and the air is filled with the horrid odor. The children laugh and run away with their noses clamped between their dirty little fingers. Coughing and chuckling the vendor dumps three more red baubles from the bucket next to his feet into the larger tub and stirs them in so that no one can tell one from the other again. Then he indicates to Galen that he may choose.

::This is technically a speed test, difficulty level 4. You may use points to lower the difficulty if you wish, but you also will want that for the next scene, your choice.:::

Pha and Yaru are looked up and down by Aram, the man running the Snitch Catch, "Aye, da Widow done offered up three pies this morning. They ain't done yet, should be de'ivered in an hour'o'so. Three more for tonight too. Runts like you ain't gonna catch the gold s'ip anyway."

"I think these ones are scrappier than they look, Aram." A pleasant voice come up behind Pha and Yaru, [b]"Wouldn't you say, Amburn?"[b] The pair turn to find Amburn and her mother standing a few feet away.

The young woman's cheeks color slightly when Pha makes eye contact, but she maintains her composure well, hesitating only a second before answering, [b]"I suppose you have a point, mother. At least when you can get them to focus and pay attention to the task at hand. Young boys are not unlike herding a group of laak most days." Amburn is wearing her finest clothes today. A dress of deep blue that reminds you of the ocean just before a storm rolls in. Tufts of cream colored cloth accent the garment like cresting waves. Her hair is partially up in braids and held back by a series of gold chains adorned with small pieces of sea glass. ::Sea glass is an uncommon, but not precious, type of stone. It comes in various colors and clarity and is primarily used to make jewelry and accessories.:::

"In fact, Aram," the older woman says, "I will make you a wager. Two to one on each lad, that they win at least...a red level prize."

::So if it is unclear, the red slips are like getting second place. There are a 10 of them among the hundred. so it is still a challenge. She is wagering two shins on each of you to get a red or gold slip. If you do she will be paid on shin by Aram. This is not a large wager for a successful merchant, and it is a festival day, so wagers like this happen often. So like above in the fishing game, this is a Speed Test, difficulty level 5, meaning you need a 15. You can spend points and put in Effort if you choose, but you might want to save it for the next scene, your choice.::


::Oh, for all these tests skills and assets can be used to lower the difficulty per normal rules as well, just to be clear. If you think they apply to these situations that is fine by me.::

Smiling the vendor reaches into a satchel, retrieving a small burgundy object. It is an ojuve husk ocarina. An ojuve is a fruit that grows commonly around the cove. The fruit has a hard outer shell with a pulpy interior. The pulp is what people eat. The husk, if handled carefully can be left mostly intact and dried and is used for various crafts. Bowls are the most common use, but someone discovered that they can be turned into pleasant musical instruments. [b]"Congratulations, and good luck this afternoon." the man says as he replaces your bauble and turns to the next contestant.

Yaru nods and has a go at the game with Pha. His mind isn't really on his task though, hungry though he may be, there are other things to be thought about.

Pha and Yaru step into the chamber and feels the machine kick on. He floats an inch into the air. The slips of paper begin floating as well, but then the fan kicks on and the chaos begins. Though the walls are clear, they are not perfectly formed when viewed from the inside out. Reality seems to warp a bit, it might be unsettling if you weren't used to it from previous years. Different colors fly by their field of vision. They know they could grab any of them, but since they are focused on the grand prize that golden slip is their true goal.

Pha tries to focus on his teaching, Moshen has a lesson on speed and accuracy where Pha sits and waits for small insects to buzz by. The goal is to snatch the bugs between a pair of thin sticks, this task is very similar. Just as the golden slip come into view, Pha catches a glimpse of Amburn and lets his focus waiver. When the time runs out Pha is forced to grab the last slip he can, a red piece of paper, for a second place prize.

Yaru finds the task equally difficult, and with Pha in the chamber he can't move as quickly as he might want to without accidentally striking his friend. He sees the golden slip fly by and bends over backwards to try and catch it. However it eludes him, and when the time expires he manages only a green slip.

When the two youths exit the chamber they see Aram holding out their prize, Pha has earned a small basket of fruit. Several of them are rare and hard to find. Someone put in some effort to put this prize together.

Yaru gets a pair of joined flat discs with a string attached in the middle. It is a common child's toy that teaches manual dexterity as the discs travel up and down.

Aram happily accepts his winning of one shin from the merchant woman. "Well done Pha. Better luck next time Yaru." She turns and moves on to see other festivities. Amburn stays and has slight upturn to the corners of her mouth. She looks at Pha expectantly. When she receives her compliment she smiles broadly. "Thank you Pha. I do like this dress. Are you prepared for the Rite? I think it will start soon."

Triat and Tairt are given the privilege of going next by the smaller children. The gladly back up to give the pair room to get in. They are excited to see the pair work in unison.

When Carrick speaks the older man jumps a bit as though he hadn't realized the young man was standing there. "Oh, sorry son. Ah...er, no no, nothing wrong. Just...shadows of memories is all. It..uh...always happens to me when the Rite comes around. Lots of memories in this ol' gourd of mine." and with that he moves off.