#bergen_county

Kerri and Connor continue their path...

It should be said, Tove and Jaymes were holding up signs to show support... Tove holds up a poster that says 'STRIKE goes the HAMMA!' and Jaymes holds up one that says 'MY DAUGHTER CAN YEET YOUR HONOR ROLE STUDENT'

Soon, Kerri has sampled the best, the worst, and all points in between of the various food entries. With Connor's help.

Indeed, the Silverwolf contribution was one of the better desserts and definitely in the running

(GM Character Nepotism is an ugly thing 😉 )

(Ha!)

But there was also Gerd's own contribution... Witch Cauldron Fudge Cookies, complete with Hershey kiss hat!

A definite success!

On the regular meal side, three stand outs were samgyeopsal (Korean BBQ) , Shrimp Corn Dogs with Blueberry Sauce, and a pasta medly to die for.

Connor drools at the barbecue…

But then he gets a terribly guilty look and proclaims that he’s not hungry at all. “My lunch is missing, see?” He pats his stomach.

As for Kealan, helped up, deal made, he moves a bit stiffly off the field, but folks cheer him anyway, including Siv "Good sport, Baron!"

Dagmar hangs back, letting the Baron get his due.

The Baron smiles at Dagmar from the other side of the field, as if seeing what she's doing, gives a nod of gratitude, but soon is back in his seat where the Count will tease him no doubt

An Announcer speaks up "We are near the finals of the Joust... but an announcement for those curious, Axe throwing contest is over, and has gone to OLGAR of Rivervale!"

Lavender splashed water on her face, "Getting close to the end game. She's gotten stronger. How the hell does she get stronger?" She's pondering her technique "Dip and lift is a good move , she might try it on me like she did that Baron, but I have a better leg grip than him and Dagmar knows it so she may pass on that. But then, anyone can have an off night"

Dagmar cheers for Olgar, of course! But she has another match to rest & prep for.

Rochallor assures Dee "The Baron PROBABLY won't replace you for a better jouster if you get yeeted and cost him a horse.. and fail to win a horse, and bring shame and dishonor"

"Thank you," D'lavender eyes the boy "Thank you SO much."

"You get that overgrown Gwyd! Feh, big ol' tin pot. You got speed on your side." Helpful nocker!

"Only by a notch, and Star maybe the fastest thing on hooves, but I do have her on response time.. or at least I did" A jaw set on the satyress, "And I think I have a bit more nimbleness. May have to go for the points rather than a dismount of her. She's almost as tough as Gwen and a whole lot stronger."

Gwen NODS to that "I ain't gonna pretend I can hit as hard as the hammerstrike..." She knows that in her cause her 'tougher than' has to do with stone skin, otherwise, she's not sure she beats Dagmar in that either "Just don't let doubt get into your head. You're the underdog in this, and even the Baron knows that so don't beat yourself up worrying about failing him or anyone else. Just.. do your best."

Dee rolls her eyes, Gwen is SUCH a sap sometimes, but she does look over across the field she'll soon meet Dagmar on that field "Well, Joust Club is a success, we're BOTH a lot better than we were when we started this."

"She's a 'The'? How pretentious."

Dee Smiles at that "You're all right, Thistle. Thanks. To be fair, I don't think she gave herself the prefix. Maybe I need another name?"

"Don't you have like ..seven of them Lavender D'Lorean dee etc?" Madern says helpfully

"And that ain't even counting the nicknames." Thistle smirks.

"Fine fine," Dee answers both, afraid to ASK what nicknames she hasn't heard of, "I do get overboard. Mmm... I think I'll put a lavender in my gauntlet for luck. No bunks or nothing. I don't cheat." Even with the Unseelie pull of samhain on all, Dee is no balor cheat. Then a thought "Hey, Gwen, when is your contest?"

Gladiola shrugs "I entered the general melee but I'm thinking of passing on the spear toss."

Dagmar has a young pooka pup handing her gear and stuff and a dr. Pepper... wait, that's not Connor, it's OTTO, the other pooka pup

Dagmar frowns.

"Connor is on a crucial mission but would not leave you squire less and will be here before the big match or his name isn't jumping jingles pawpaw " Otto assures the lies hard to sort

"...Oh."

She's not very good at hiding her disappointment. Having Connor around for the day had been the highlight of the holiday. She'd missed the kid.

Otto sees the distress, and pats her arm or leg or whatever he can reach that won't annoy her, "There there. There there" A beat, "Want me to find Connor with my butterfly net? "

She shrugs.

Otto makes a scratching motion, "wait here, don't leave.. STAY... STAY... good knight" And he races out

Exactly how, five minutes later, the pavilion tent had a skunk , not a pooka, a real skunk, dropped in it is unknown... the nobles had not thought to protocal animals to behaving, so the... results were spectacular... soon a weary announcer is declaring "There will be an hour recess before the final joust while the Counts box seats are fumigated. Thank you for your patience."

Looks like Connor to talk to Kerri, and Dagmar and Dee get a longer break!

Somewhere, Lavender hears the delay and thumps her horn against a post "I just screwed my confidence back up, and there's a delay? ARGH"

(TBC)