#rivervale_lodge

This might count as one of Olgar's most sensible moments.

The afternoon party winds on to evening, and as darkness falls (earlier and earlier -- Autumn approaches), fireflies decorate the yard and tree line with their sparkling dance. Eventually, Kerri gives Vali a nod -- it's time to light the bonfire and start the Beot, the time of stories and boasts.

Vali gives his wife a kiss, and hands over his son, then heads ,lifting a torch, "Let your stories flow if you wish, and let your boast roar without shame, for yourself or another you wish to name"

The bonfire is soon roaring

As the flames catch and grow, people start bringing benches and chairs and blankets to place in an arc that partially circles the bonfire (if they sat all the way around, people on one side would have no chance of hearing people on the other, across the crackle of the flames). A keg of mead has been obtained, along with a keg of ale, for people to fill their drinking vessels (plenty of soda options nearby as well).

Dagmar plants herself near Symon and Sylvi and Gerd. Siv likely with her spouses and babies?

Sylvi smiles and gives Dagmar a shoulder jostle.

Siv is, and seems not offended, but sends a smile

She provides a nice shadow for Symon to hide in.

A small smile back.

A pause as everybody is settled, and Kerri steps forward with a full tankard of mead. "My family, my friends, and always, my Chieftain," a solemn nod to Brekke, who shakes her head and waves the title back at her with a half-grin. "I wish to tell you of a loss that very nearly befell our home and barony this year. This would have been a hurt to all of us, but a tragedy for some, especially Peacekeeper Dirk. I speak, of course, of the Depleted Cauldron of Plenty."

Dirk actually winces, those were hard times.

Kerri continues, telling the tale of finding the cauldron not functioning, of the quest that the Mountain determined would solve the problem...how she had to travel to holds in four different directions, and bring back a signature food from each. "The journey to the mer-realm was especially...well, wet."

OThers listen intently

Siv ahems "Don't forget my ship helped"

Kerri salutes Siv with her tankard. "Due credit to Lady Captain Siv Waveborne!" and takes a large drink.

"Hear Hear" Jonas agrees

Finally, she tells of the ritual needed to bind the essence of all these influences together and reenergize the cauldron. At first, it seemed nothing would happen...and Kerri pauses....

Vali nods softly

"....and then food started spilling from it in all directions! Roast lamb here, lasagna there...!" She gestures broadly as she continues listing the bounty, spilling some of her mead in the telling. "And then came the final great act, for there was no way we could manage all of that food without help. Peacekeeper Dirk came to the Lodge's rescue once again, and took care of all that we could not, down to the very last crumb! Skol!" she says to end the tale, and takes another big drink.

Folks cheer, some clap Dirk on the back. Dirk says "Yeah, I rocked that one! "

A grin to Dirk, and then she takes her seat with Olgar.

Brekke calls back, "Skol!" and also drinks.

Sylvi applauds and almost gives a sharp whistle, but remembers in time that Symon's only a few seats away.

From her seat, Kerri calls out, "Come! Who will boast next?"

Dagmar toasts her Dr. Pepper.

"If you've ears that know how to listen, if you've a heart to hear, if you've a mind to comprehend; I have a story O young ones. I speak of an island, where Giants did rule, but did they rule wisely or well?" Torad's voice speaks over the bonfire's crackle with expert skill, "I was as broken, as broken as flotsom from a longboat no longer of use. And well do I remember, the arrival of the Shacklebreaker and The Longrider, who would help me be whole again."

Tove speaks up "Well did I know that Island, where greatness towered, but those caught in the shadow could see the injustice. I grew up there, and a part of me will always resent it. Yet twas Brekke and Frank who saw what was good in it, and helped them remove the infection of vanity left to swelter and swell"

And they swap back and fourth, of the things faced, of speeches given to stir the crowd, of wrestling matches and tests, of the enemy uncovered, and of Jaymes trapped in the mines and freed Oddly, Torad seems kinder to those that treated him badly while he was Oathbroken than Tove is. But both finish up with a shared line "And they sailed away with us, leaving our old home better, while giving us a better home"

Brekke listens with a distant expression, remembering much and being reminded of more as the story is spun. When it is done, she toasts and drinks with her right hand while her left thumps out a thunder of approval on the bench.

Siv looks so proud at the tale she is fit to BURST ,and claps along "Here here, you did get a better home! Thanks to me folk! And you've been wonderful additions sense, and really, Dagmar would be cross if they'd not gotten you out of there"

Jaymes looks to Frank "My Brother from another life has my gratitude for that and more" A loving look at his family members, TOve and Dagmar especially

"Oh, it worked out well for me, for sure."

"It was not us alone," Brekke says, her voice low and clear. "Many helped that quest succeed, and many have made this Lodge and its lands what it is."

"I would tell an older tale - for the Shackles broken by our Chieftain are not only on those with two feet. She also has rescued those with four feet, and no voices..."

Brekke is about to protest -- Dagmar has her own actions to be proud of and boast -- but she decides not to interrupt.

Dagmar plays a part in her tales - of Stormwake the Proud and Star the Graceful, each rescued from those who saw not their worth, and in a place that treated them poorly.

Torad looks positively pleased as Dagmar takes up the storytelling role

"She gets it from me" he pushes softly to his daughter.

She rolls her eyes "Sure dad, now shhhush"

The paddock is not far, and both Star and Stormwake snort and whicker their approval at appropriate points of the story.

"So, too, has the Chief found so many of us, yeah? Seen us, and given us a place where we can be safe, and happy, and maybe even learn to fly." She looks down at her folded hands, and then over at Brekke. "And shown us how, so we can keep doing it."

That gets applause

Brekke looks like she doesn't believe she deserves all the credit for this, but isn't going to contradict somebody's boast. She raises her tankard to Dagmar and then drinks deeply, but doesn't seem ready to speak (without her voice cracking).

Siv gets up and gives Dagmar a hug "That was lovely. " And whispers "She's really touched, but hiding behind her drink"

When Dagmar eventually retakes her seat, Sylvi echoes Siv's praise. "That was both cool and poetic." Then she leans in and whispers, "The best and most recent boast should be about you and Symon and...all that. But I don't know if you two want that tale shared." She glances at the little heart-bird perched on Dagmar's right horn.

Symon looks up at Dagmar, a question in his gaze.

She looks back, brows lifted. So much of that story she thinks would be private...

"I... don't feel ready to shout that story."

"I like the end, of course."

Symon nods to her. Then, he steps forward, into the light, and raises a hand.

Sylvi is about to respond to Dagmar, then her jaw drops when Symon steps forward.