Post by Markas Virnala on Jun 19, 2019 13:42:22 GMT
"Playing Cat and Mouse…. And Apes"
10th entry in the journal of Markas Virnala
What a Rush!
The latest Round of the Amaranthiad was a team event I managed to get involved in, this time in the main arena! The rush of performing in front of SO many people! My hands are still shaking a little from the excitement!!!
I'll start with the game:
4x teams of two, each had to compete to capture flags in the arena and a Cat, bring them back to our 'base' to score points, whoever scores the most, wins the round. Each team had a chosen Fey they were representing and earning points for in the Amaranthiad.
We had a few days in the arena training before hand and trying to learn some of the rules but things where a little vague for us, not surprising with how the fey can be… The main hints we were getting was the flags were heavier than we should expect and the cat could be…. Tricky. The arena was quite volatile for magic users as well, which, I turned out to be the only one not using magic! There were rumours going around about the cat changing shape sometimes too so everyone was on edge to get started.
We were paired up into our teams and led to our starting positions to in the arena and Swans in Bow-ties (I'm amazed that details like this are just starting to feel normal to me now) introduced us to the crowds;
Our team, Crystal Jack's (neither of us have actually met Jack so we went with our only real connection to him between us, the crystal figure I got for Hoop), was made up of myself and another Half-Elf called Sperren. He seems new to Kantas but seems to have found his way into the games anyway. He is kind of sneaky like Bogg but is a Bard too! I never expected Bards to get so involved in things like this but the music he was playing had almost a supernatural feel to it! I'm glad I had him on my team.
The next team was called Flaming Nights, who ended up being our main contest in this round. Rama is the Tiefling I've had a few bouts with in the Fighting pits in Port Ffirst so I know he can handle himself pretty well, this was my first time meeting Nix though. The two of them seemed to work well together so I assume they have met before this event.
They were running for Sarastra.
Third to be introduced was a team called The Half-Scrubs, (not sure if that meant something. I know Rama has a flaming sword and the other teams names were pretty obvious but I didn’t get this one). This was another 2x people I've not seen around before. Rodor and Igrainne (a half-Drow!) were quick to get involved in the rounds but I mainly saw them giving the Pieni and laurel grief rather than having our own run-ins with them
during the game. They were supporting Titania, the Summer Queen
Lastly, Jack's Fools was Pieni and Laurel, the team of Druids! We joked around a little that we should work together since both our teams were supporting Jack, but in the second round we actually did! They were a BIG help for me and Sperren… It was really cool seeing them working together as well, bringing all kinds of animals into the game!
(Supporting Jack, obviously!)
The arena itself was set out as a large square with our respective 'bases' in the centre of each edge, with a large flag on each. In the centre was a large wicker basket, where we were told the cat would be. Leading out from here to each corner where lines of coloured flags representing each of the teams. Finally, in each corner and on each side of the basket where Portals, 4x large ones in the centre, 4x small ones at each corner. No one had explained what these actually did before the game started though.
With the introductions out of the way, the Game began!
ROUND 1
Every moved off at the same time so things got chaotic pretty quick. A cloud of Fog appeared around Jack's Fools main flag, while a black sphere of darkness appeared around the Flaming nights own. Rama and Igrainne both bolted through the portals in front of them, both reappearing at different corners, now HALF THE SIZE OF WHAT THEY WENT IN AS! I rushed out and grabbed a Flaming Nights Flag before bolting it back to our base while Sperren played a song he called it the best song in the world that filled me with some strange energy! As I got back, I could see Rodor and Pieni had moved as well, with Pieni now flying over the basket in the middle. The flag was MUCH heavier than it had any right to be but luckily the one I grabbed wasn’t too much of a problem.
Now things were getting exciting! Laurel rushed towards the basket and shifted into a mouse shape, I think trying to entice the cat away. Rodor did something (Some kind of spell) and the basket started to shake…. And we saw tentacles start flailing around!? Igrainne jumped back through the portal and appeared near the basket and tried casting a spell but as she did another 4 copies of herself appeared around her! Seeing the corner Portal bring her back to normal size and in the middle of the arena, I decided to take a chance and bolted for one of the corners and jumped through. When I came out the other side, I was in the centre and HUGE! I must've been over 10ft now! The cat I could now see was not a normal cat. It was a kitten, with 6 legs and 2x tentacles on its back. It caught sight of me and FREAKED OUT, bolting from the basket and dashing around the arena like lightning!
Sperren started shouting at the dark sphere around Flaming Nights base. Apparently he had seen the Ape they summoned drag a flag in there and was trying to convince it to stop helping them but I don't think it bought it. Meanwhile I gave chase of the cat with a few others, luckily I managed to catch it before it could get away again and learned why it's actually called a 'Displacer Beast'. As I grabbed it, it just wasn't there anymore…. Apparently it can use illusion magic to hide its real location from would be attackers, but I was quick enough to grab at the next one that popped up and actually caught it. Being so huge made it easy to nab and reach back to our base, scoring a win for the round!
Now I had a chance to look around at what had been going on, Laurel had apparently gave up on the mouse idea and instead was busy stopping Rodor running off with one of their flags. Rama and Nix, I didn't see for much of the rest of this round… They had been busy collecting flags, even summoning a massive Ape to help them. The only thing was…. They were collecting their own flags for some reason? It must have dawned on them as when I looked over he was looking pretty pissed. Pieni had also summoned 4 large apes that took to guarding their flags… The arena by this point was close to just being a magical zoo!
ROUND 2
This ended up being the last round of the match but was much more intense as well.
Sperren and me had a chance to speak with Laurel and Pieni during half time, who was saying they just wanted Jack to win. Since we were both running for Jack, they offered to help us. I was happy to team up, Rama seemed like he wasn’t going to make this round as easy as the last, plus we were both supporting Jack.
The cat had been recaptured and calmed down before being returned to its bed in the middle. The arena was reset and I was returned to normal size before we were all ushered back to our starting points.
The round kicked off much like the last, with a mad rush.
Sperren started his song, I started sprinting for the Cat, The Half-Scrubs both bolt for the flags, along with Nix and the ape Rama summoned. Pieni transformed into a giant eagle and Rama bolted for one of the corners.
As I bolted across the ground, I saw Rama appear out of one of the Portals and try to grab the cat, falling for the same trick I did, only he wasn’t quick enough to get it. I started closing the gap as Laurel tried to stop Rama from moving but the wild magic in the area backfired, causing a huge explosion right where she was standing. I was worried about her but thankfully Sperren helped her out. As Rama missed the cat, I managed to make my way in and grab hold of it! The only problem was the now huge Rama who just picked me up off the floor! Just as he got me, Rodor cast a huge fog cloud on us and we were lost in the fog.
I could hear noise outside but the fog was so thick I couldn’t see anything. The cat was struggling like crazy, scratching my arms while I struggled in Rama's Grip, then I felt him starting to move, trying to drag me out of the fog. Rather than let him take us both, I dropped the cat to let it get away. A few seconds later we emerged out of the fog, having passed through a portal. he was pissed the cat was gone and now I was about as tall as Bogg (very strange feeling). He stepped back through and appeared large again, next to Sperren who was stealing one of flaming Nights flag… there was also these strange floating jellyfish looking creatures around the place now I didn't see before and they all seemed to be terrified of Sperren??? Laurel was back on her feet and trying to stop the Half-Scrubs from taking their flags (now defenceless without the apes Pieni had summoned before). Frustrated, I ran back into the portal, appearing near the centre and dashed for the basket in the fog, just glancing in time to see Laurel shift into the shape of a Bear now! (I'm glad they were helping us…. All the shape shifting and giant apes might have been too much to handle if they focused on us.)
I spent a little time looking for the cat but I couldn't find it, even after I found the basket wandering around in the dense fog. I grabbed around a few times then noticed the basket start to be dragged away? I decided the cat couldn’t be there so bolted out to see what was going on. It turned out Sperren had collected a flag, dumped it in the basket and was dragging it back to our base for some reason. Rama had caught him and was man-handling him in his huge form, while a mass brawl seemed to be going on in the corner between Bear-Laurel, Eagle-Pieni, Rama's huge ape and Nix, all surrounding and grabbing for the cat! I had come out just in time to see the ape grab the cat and start running back!
I wasn’t going to reach them in time so I sprinted to cut him off and tried to stop him but he managed to slip past in time, delivering the cat and ending the round, scoring for the Flaming Nights.
Everyone changed back to normal again and we were sent back to our starting points one last time as they made the announcements on scores. With the flag and our capture of the cat in the first round, Sperren and me scored 108 points. Sperren almost got us another flag this round but Rama's interference stopped him. The half-Scrubs got a few flags back and ended with 10 points, while Flaming Nights managed to grab 2x flags AND the cat. THANKFULLY we agreed to work with Pieni and Laurel at the start of this round and Laurel managed to knock one of their collected flags out the score zone, meaning they finished with 106 points…
WE WON!!!
The crowd was going crazy, a mix of cheers and boos as some weren't happy Jack's team won. The cat came back to our base where Sperren had left its bed so I got distracted playing with the kitten until I heard a noise from him and Rama in a fight being broken up by centaurs and the Swans in Bow-ties… Apparently, while Rama had been holding onto Sperren during the game, He tried to steal from Rama! It ended ok though, the Swans ordered that Sperren owed Rama a debt which he just asked for some help moving something or other. I like Sperren, he's a Brave Bard!
I left Pieni and Laurel with the cat to get Hoop back (I thought it was too dangerous having them in the middle of this so had them hanging out at the side of the arena where they could get a good view), when Rama approached and challenged me to a fight to tip the scales on the score, loud enough for everyone to hear. He is a fiery character! I pointed out that we had already won but he wasn't having any of it, pushing me for a fight to take the win… but the his plan backfired and most of the crowds watching started shouting at him…. Between it not being part of the game and everyone who was there not supporting the Queen of Night and Magic, he was somewhat outvoted! I laughed it off and promised to meet him at the fight pits in Port Ffirst again instead!
The swans came to us with our prizes for taking part in the game;
Laurel & Pieni were gifted some smoking pipes that seem to always produce smoke even when not actually lit! I thought that was pretty cool…
The Half-Scrubs and Flaming Nights got given a potion each, not sure what they all did though.
For winning the match, Sperren and me were given a magic ring each with a picture of displace beast carved into it, letting us mimic the effect the kitten was doing during the match!
That being the end of the game was not an indication of things settling down though…. We heard a gasp among the crowds and turned to see Igrainne firing an arrow off, into the crowds, straight for Titania, the Summer Queen and Fey Lady she was running for! We watched this arrow sail straight for her when it suddenly slowed down as if it was going through some kind of Jelly. She ended up just picking it out of the air in front of her, gave it a funny look before I burst into dust…. The air was tangibly tense as everyone waited to see how she'd retaliate…. I've been in the Feywild long enough to now the lords and ladies can be pretty unforgiving if they feel wronged… but nothing happened. She just looked at Igrainne, who was now waving excitedly to her. Apparently she just wanted to be noticed! Eitherway, I don't think I'd try something like that myself
Hoop is having a blast in these games. It's been a lot of excitement since this all started. Normally when we are travelling and doing things, it's too dangerous to have Hoop out to see what's going on in the moment but today they had a front row seat for a change! The seemed to like the Displacer kitten but as soon as I jokingly mentioned getting one they got in a mood, thinking it would make a mess inside the room…. Ignoring the inherent danger of having a magical, 6-legged, tentacle Panther!
10th entry in the journal of Markas Virnala
What a Rush!
The latest Round of the Amaranthiad was a team event I managed to get involved in, this time in the main arena! The rush of performing in front of SO many people! My hands are still shaking a little from the excitement!!!
I'll start with the game:
4x teams of two, each had to compete to capture flags in the arena and a Cat, bring them back to our 'base' to score points, whoever scores the most, wins the round. Each team had a chosen Fey they were representing and earning points for in the Amaranthiad.
We had a few days in the arena training before hand and trying to learn some of the rules but things where a little vague for us, not surprising with how the fey can be… The main hints we were getting was the flags were heavier than we should expect and the cat could be…. Tricky. The arena was quite volatile for magic users as well, which, I turned out to be the only one not using magic! There were rumours going around about the cat changing shape sometimes too so everyone was on edge to get started.
We were paired up into our teams and led to our starting positions to in the arena and Swans in Bow-ties (I'm amazed that details like this are just starting to feel normal to me now) introduced us to the crowds;
Our team, Crystal Jack's (neither of us have actually met Jack so we went with our only real connection to him between us, the crystal figure I got for Hoop), was made up of myself and another Half-Elf called Sperren. He seems new to Kantas but seems to have found his way into the games anyway. He is kind of sneaky like Bogg but is a Bard too! I never expected Bards to get so involved in things like this but the music he was playing had almost a supernatural feel to it! I'm glad I had him on my team.
The next team was called Flaming Nights, who ended up being our main contest in this round. Rama is the Tiefling I've had a few bouts with in the Fighting pits in Port Ffirst so I know he can handle himself pretty well, this was my first time meeting Nix though. The two of them seemed to work well together so I assume they have met before this event.
They were running for Sarastra.
Third to be introduced was a team called The Half-Scrubs, (not sure if that meant something. I know Rama has a flaming sword and the other teams names were pretty obvious but I didn’t get this one). This was another 2x people I've not seen around before. Rodor and Igrainne (a half-Drow!) were quick to get involved in the rounds but I mainly saw them giving the Pieni and laurel grief rather than having our own run-ins with them
during the game. They were supporting Titania, the Summer Queen
Lastly, Jack's Fools was Pieni and Laurel, the team of Druids! We joked around a little that we should work together since both our teams were supporting Jack, but in the second round we actually did! They were a BIG help for me and Sperren… It was really cool seeing them working together as well, bringing all kinds of animals into the game!
(Supporting Jack, obviously!)
The arena itself was set out as a large square with our respective 'bases' in the centre of each edge, with a large flag on each. In the centre was a large wicker basket, where we were told the cat would be. Leading out from here to each corner where lines of coloured flags representing each of the teams. Finally, in each corner and on each side of the basket where Portals, 4x large ones in the centre, 4x small ones at each corner. No one had explained what these actually did before the game started though.
With the introductions out of the way, the Game began!
ROUND 1
Every moved off at the same time so things got chaotic pretty quick. A cloud of Fog appeared around Jack's Fools main flag, while a black sphere of darkness appeared around the Flaming nights own. Rama and Igrainne both bolted through the portals in front of them, both reappearing at different corners, now HALF THE SIZE OF WHAT THEY WENT IN AS! I rushed out and grabbed a Flaming Nights Flag before bolting it back to our base while Sperren played a song he called it the best song in the world that filled me with some strange energy! As I got back, I could see Rodor and Pieni had moved as well, with Pieni now flying over the basket in the middle. The flag was MUCH heavier than it had any right to be but luckily the one I grabbed wasn’t too much of a problem.
Now things were getting exciting! Laurel rushed towards the basket and shifted into a mouse shape, I think trying to entice the cat away. Rodor did something (Some kind of spell) and the basket started to shake…. And we saw tentacles start flailing around!? Igrainne jumped back through the portal and appeared near the basket and tried casting a spell but as she did another 4 copies of herself appeared around her! Seeing the corner Portal bring her back to normal size and in the middle of the arena, I decided to take a chance and bolted for one of the corners and jumped through. When I came out the other side, I was in the centre and HUGE! I must've been over 10ft now! The cat I could now see was not a normal cat. It was a kitten, with 6 legs and 2x tentacles on its back. It caught sight of me and FREAKED OUT, bolting from the basket and dashing around the arena like lightning!
Sperren started shouting at the dark sphere around Flaming Nights base. Apparently he had seen the Ape they summoned drag a flag in there and was trying to convince it to stop helping them but I don't think it bought it. Meanwhile I gave chase of the cat with a few others, luckily I managed to catch it before it could get away again and learned why it's actually called a 'Displacer Beast'. As I grabbed it, it just wasn't there anymore…. Apparently it can use illusion magic to hide its real location from would be attackers, but I was quick enough to grab at the next one that popped up and actually caught it. Being so huge made it easy to nab and reach back to our base, scoring a win for the round!
Now I had a chance to look around at what had been going on, Laurel had apparently gave up on the mouse idea and instead was busy stopping Rodor running off with one of their flags. Rama and Nix, I didn't see for much of the rest of this round… They had been busy collecting flags, even summoning a massive Ape to help them. The only thing was…. They were collecting their own flags for some reason? It must have dawned on them as when I looked over he was looking pretty pissed. Pieni had also summoned 4 large apes that took to guarding their flags… The arena by this point was close to just being a magical zoo!
ROUND 2
This ended up being the last round of the match but was much more intense as well.
Sperren and me had a chance to speak with Laurel and Pieni during half time, who was saying they just wanted Jack to win. Since we were both running for Jack, they offered to help us. I was happy to team up, Rama seemed like he wasn’t going to make this round as easy as the last, plus we were both supporting Jack.
The cat had been recaptured and calmed down before being returned to its bed in the middle. The arena was reset and I was returned to normal size before we were all ushered back to our starting points.
The round kicked off much like the last, with a mad rush.
Sperren started his song, I started sprinting for the Cat, The Half-Scrubs both bolt for the flags, along with Nix and the ape Rama summoned. Pieni transformed into a giant eagle and Rama bolted for one of the corners.
As I bolted across the ground, I saw Rama appear out of one of the Portals and try to grab the cat, falling for the same trick I did, only he wasn’t quick enough to get it. I started closing the gap as Laurel tried to stop Rama from moving but the wild magic in the area backfired, causing a huge explosion right where she was standing. I was worried about her but thankfully Sperren helped her out. As Rama missed the cat, I managed to make my way in and grab hold of it! The only problem was the now huge Rama who just picked me up off the floor! Just as he got me, Rodor cast a huge fog cloud on us and we were lost in the fog.
I could hear noise outside but the fog was so thick I couldn’t see anything. The cat was struggling like crazy, scratching my arms while I struggled in Rama's Grip, then I felt him starting to move, trying to drag me out of the fog. Rather than let him take us both, I dropped the cat to let it get away. A few seconds later we emerged out of the fog, having passed through a portal. he was pissed the cat was gone and now I was about as tall as Bogg (very strange feeling). He stepped back through and appeared large again, next to Sperren who was stealing one of flaming Nights flag… there was also these strange floating jellyfish looking creatures around the place now I didn't see before and they all seemed to be terrified of Sperren??? Laurel was back on her feet and trying to stop the Half-Scrubs from taking their flags (now defenceless without the apes Pieni had summoned before). Frustrated, I ran back into the portal, appearing near the centre and dashed for the basket in the fog, just glancing in time to see Laurel shift into the shape of a Bear now! (I'm glad they were helping us…. All the shape shifting and giant apes might have been too much to handle if they focused on us.)
I spent a little time looking for the cat but I couldn't find it, even after I found the basket wandering around in the dense fog. I grabbed around a few times then noticed the basket start to be dragged away? I decided the cat couldn’t be there so bolted out to see what was going on. It turned out Sperren had collected a flag, dumped it in the basket and was dragging it back to our base for some reason. Rama had caught him and was man-handling him in his huge form, while a mass brawl seemed to be going on in the corner between Bear-Laurel, Eagle-Pieni, Rama's huge ape and Nix, all surrounding and grabbing for the cat! I had come out just in time to see the ape grab the cat and start running back!
I wasn’t going to reach them in time so I sprinted to cut him off and tried to stop him but he managed to slip past in time, delivering the cat and ending the round, scoring for the Flaming Nights.
Everyone changed back to normal again and we were sent back to our starting points one last time as they made the announcements on scores. With the flag and our capture of the cat in the first round, Sperren and me scored 108 points. Sperren almost got us another flag this round but Rama's interference stopped him. The half-Scrubs got a few flags back and ended with 10 points, while Flaming Nights managed to grab 2x flags AND the cat. THANKFULLY we agreed to work with Pieni and Laurel at the start of this round and Laurel managed to knock one of their collected flags out the score zone, meaning they finished with 106 points…
WE WON!!!
The crowd was going crazy, a mix of cheers and boos as some weren't happy Jack's team won. The cat came back to our base where Sperren had left its bed so I got distracted playing with the kitten until I heard a noise from him and Rama in a fight being broken up by centaurs and the Swans in Bow-ties… Apparently, while Rama had been holding onto Sperren during the game, He tried to steal from Rama! It ended ok though, the Swans ordered that Sperren owed Rama a debt which he just asked for some help moving something or other. I like Sperren, he's a Brave Bard!
I left Pieni and Laurel with the cat to get Hoop back (I thought it was too dangerous having them in the middle of this so had them hanging out at the side of the arena where they could get a good view), when Rama approached and challenged me to a fight to tip the scales on the score, loud enough for everyone to hear. He is a fiery character! I pointed out that we had already won but he wasn't having any of it, pushing me for a fight to take the win… but the his plan backfired and most of the crowds watching started shouting at him…. Between it not being part of the game and everyone who was there not supporting the Queen of Night and Magic, he was somewhat outvoted! I laughed it off and promised to meet him at the fight pits in Port Ffirst again instead!
The swans came to us with our prizes for taking part in the game;
Laurel & Pieni were gifted some smoking pipes that seem to always produce smoke even when not actually lit! I thought that was pretty cool…
The Half-Scrubs and Flaming Nights got given a potion each, not sure what they all did though.
For winning the match, Sperren and me were given a magic ring each with a picture of displace beast carved into it, letting us mimic the effect the kitten was doing during the match!
That being the end of the game was not an indication of things settling down though…. We heard a gasp among the crowds and turned to see Igrainne firing an arrow off, into the crowds, straight for Titania, the Summer Queen and Fey Lady she was running for! We watched this arrow sail straight for her when it suddenly slowed down as if it was going through some kind of Jelly. She ended up just picking it out of the air in front of her, gave it a funny look before I burst into dust…. The air was tangibly tense as everyone waited to see how she'd retaliate…. I've been in the Feywild long enough to now the lords and ladies can be pretty unforgiving if they feel wronged… but nothing happened. She just looked at Igrainne, who was now waving excitedly to her. Apparently she just wanted to be noticed! Eitherway, I don't think I'd try something like that myself
Hoop is having a blast in these games. It's been a lot of excitement since this all started. Normally when we are travelling and doing things, it's too dangerous to have Hoop out to see what's going on in the moment but today they had a front row seat for a change! The seemed to like the Displacer kitten but as soon as I jokingly mentioned getting one they got in a mood, thinking it would make a mess inside the room…. Ignoring the inherent danger of having a magical, 6-legged, tentacle Panther!
