#bergen_county

(Pennons)

Pennons is a multi split event and not in Rivervale proper, It is clear, with the departure of his friend, Any favoritism the Count had towards Rivervale is no longer in play when it comes to holidays.

But then, Brekke never asked for such, and indeed might have been offended at any suggestion of cronyism.

So to Caer Falken we turn, with festive fields and vendor/craft tents, with jousting lanes and melee grounds awaiting.

And Dagmar is near Star, while a certain Satyress of Silverwolf waves to her

Joust Club Salute!

(Elsewhere, a nocker with Black & Silver hair is carefully setting out a display of pottery. She usually goes more vibrant, but today it is Ailil colors.)

Joust Club Salute, and Dee calls out "No offense, Dame, but I'm SO going to win the prize this time"

"You're welcome to try!"

Dagmar may already know, or may not, that the prize this year is a horse from the Count's stables, oh, from three specific steeds, but anyone would be happy to have one even if only to sell or trade themselves

Sylvi has temporarily shut down her face-painting stall in order to watch the jousting!

Sylvi has a lot of happy childlings out there with facepaint, wilders too, and Grumps with a sense of humor or patriotism for their holds

There've definitely been a lot of hold-symbol designs, or other group-loyalty symbols. Plenty of butterfly wings and starscapes and leafy visages as well!

Of course, there have also been some "bad-ass" scars for would-be warriors.

Basil gives her a kiss, "Hey, wish a brother luck for the grand melee"

She returns the kiss, then swats his butt. "That's for luck." A wink.

"I'll take it" He nods

Dagmar sees Olgar getting ready to go to his event which happens at the same time but he says "Knock em hard, Hammerstrike"

Across the festival grounds, Kerri briefly regrets not being able to watch the martial competitions, but there are baked goods to be judged!

And she notices something, some folks who never participate give it a shot

Both Olgar and Dagmar would have found small care packages of their favorite treats slipped into their gear. Kerri made sure of it.

She does notice this. Interesting. I guess the intimidation factor is a little lessened, now? Or maybe it's something else.

The pup-kin cookies are for her Squire, of course.

Of course!

(Conor may have been slightly squashed with how tightly she hugged him.)

(They have healers to unsquish folks 😉 )

(Now I'm picturing Connor as a re-inflatable squeaky toy.)

Anne Marie puts out her own food, sees Kerri's speculative look and gives a mature dignfied giggle

Kerri blinks and looks over at Anne Marie. "What?" she says with a smile.

"The intimidation factor IS down a bit... and yet up too" she smiles "You'll owe me some good gossip if I snitch" A wink

A bit stunned. "Was I talking out loud, or are you just that good?"

"I could say your lips moved" She says smugly, "So, deal?"

Dagmar does not see Symon... yet, she might 'feel' him watching

"Hmm...deal. Dish it, Dame." She leans in for the news.

"Well, I admit, some folks who are worried they'd normally barely place feel that everything got bumped up chance wise, so you're right the intimidation factor is down there, the opportunity fact is up. Also, your husband has been pushing folks to show up with food if they ever want him to deliver anything by trod again, he got Siv in it too, and Gerd. Olgar basically said year after year his wife has cooked at every event, every fair, every charity to help out... and it wouldn't kill ANY of them to pay it forward this once, and that if you ended up judging a 'whole lot of nothing' he'd not feel very generous with his skills... like giving other rovers non emergency messages"

Kerri's jaw drops. "He didn't. He threatened them??" She looks around at some of the entries with this new information in mind.

"More guilt tripped with a calling in of IOUs" She says "Least that's how i would look at it. He DOES do somethings that are not part of his rover code OR Storm duties"

"I guess guilt-trips aren't that terrible," she allows, especially considering the excellent contest turnout.

Also, some folks have submitted that she didn't even know could cook

That part is a delight.

Symon is, in fact, watching the joust. Somehow he has bought, bartered, threatened or snuck his way into a raised box seat generally reserved for nobility, and is a shadow in a corner with a great view.

Dagmar may not have seen him, but when she scanned the crowd, the little bird who perches in her shoulder even moments before the action shifts and gives scratchy chirps until she zeroes in on the sluagh.

Symon is at the perfect angle to catch the blush-adorned grin that breaks out when she spots him.

For the first time, Dagmar wears a favor - a plain-seeming black scarf tied around her bicep.

Siv waves a flag, House FIona symbol on one side, and Rivervale's logo on the other. When she sees the favor, she calls out to Dagmar "Go girl!"

From her neighboring spot, Sylvi leans over to Siv to say, "She looks so happy."

Then echoes Siv's cheer with one of her own. "Woooo! Go get 'em, Hammerstrike!"

A sheepish wave at her friends, too!

"She does" Siv nods

"JOUSTERS, PLEASE APPROACH THE LANCING LANES!" A voice calls "BRING YOUR HORSES AND APPROACH THE LANCING LANES!"

And horses and their riders begin to gather for the contest