The World of Pern(tm) copyright (c) 1967 by Anne McCaffrey.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.
An online session, recorded by permission of the author for the benefit
of members unable to attend.
=======================================================================

May 17, 1998.  PernMUSH.  Kathall's POV.
--
Your location's current time: 14:43 on day 1, month 12, Turn 22, of
the Tenth Pass. It is a winter afternoon.
Cast:  Kathall, Kassima, Solan, Telarin, Reed.

Friends tour the games at Benden's Nut Festival.
=======================================================================
Courtyard, Benden Hold(#555RJM)
To the north, you see the towering cliff face that houses Benden
Hold. A stone wing has been built off of the cliff to the west, and
here you will find the WineCraft Hall. The bulk of the watchwher casts
a shadow on the paving stones beneath your feet.
Traffic between the Hold, Winecraft Hall and outlying areas is brisk,
but many still take time to pause and admire the specially decorated
Courtyard. Residents hurry back and forth through the courtyard,
intent on various errands. The appetizing smell of the dinner being
prepared in the kitchen carries on the air.
The ramp to your south leads out of the courtyard. The doors to the
Great Hall and guards' barracks lead into the Hold, and the doors to
working caverns and the pub open into the WineCraft Hall areas.
Contents:
Kassima
Lysseth
FESTIVAL SIGN (please read)
--

Kathall backs precipitously out of the dragon's way. "--Oh, Lysseth!
Hello to both of you. Sorry, was thinking of something else. You're
back?"

Kassima looks to be in fair spirits as she swings down from her
dragon's neck, landing beside Lysseth with the ease of long
practice. "Duties to Benden, her Lord, and her Lady," she calls by
reflex. Upon spying Kathall, she grins and adds, "And to the
Bakercraft and her Masters as well. G'dafternoon, Kathall! Aye, we
are; much though they may try, nay Hold with a Gather running can get
rid of us that easily."

Kathall grins helplessly back. "Well, I was heading down to take a
look around, now that I'm freed of the kitchens." She drops her
voice. "Did you hear? Master Mirala retired!"

Kassima asks, hooking her thumbs into her pockets, "Mind if'n I
accompnay you? Gather-wandering is an occupation best undertaken by a
group than a single person, I've found, unless you want t'get lost and
confused in the crush! Master Mirala?" She takes a moment to think
about that name. "Oh, I've met her... she's the one who has such a
thing for bubblies, isn't she? Will the Bakercraft be sending down
another Master?"

Kathall shakes her head. "Don't know, but everything's all in a fuss,
since she's -- she was -- our head cook, too. But yes, come along with
me? You can show me the good places you've already found. The
fortune-telling...?"

"And the gaming field," Kassi answers promptly. "M'kla was right;
riders shouldn't be allowed at those games. I have more glassware back
home now than I know what t'do with, though Kay and Khari did love the
pillows I won 'em. The only place I *wouldn't* recommend is
that... Beauty Tent." She shudders lightly. "'Tis a *frightening*
place, I'm telling you."

Kathall's eyes widen. "It is? Why?"

Kassima gestures helplessly, not quite sure how to explain. "There're
so many... *things* in there. Impractical things. Huge, bizarre combs,
bottles of odd-smelling goo, objects I neither know nor *want* t'know
what are used for...." She shivers again, and repeats,
"*Frightening.*"

Kathall ponders in silence for a moment. "They're used to make you
beautiful," she finally says, "which is impractical, I
suppose. Improbable, in my case. How fast did you get out of there?"

Kassima wrinkles her nose in faint distaste. "Why should anyone think
that pouring goop all over themselves and putting strange things in
their hair would make them beautiful? Beauty's highly overrated
anyway. If'n 'tis required t'use strange and probably lethal projects
every day in order t'achieve it, then I'm better off without it,
methinks. Fairly fast--though Lirra, R'ehn, and I were sort of frozen
by horror in there for awhile."

Kathall bites down on a bubble of mirth. "/That's/ an interesting
image; I can just see you there. Well, shall we go? Maybe I can try my
hand at the games, for all that I'm not a rider and don't need
glassware or pillows."

Kassima grins, evidently relieved that Kathall doesn't want to see
this scary tent for herself. "By all means. I may just watch, though I
can always use more prizes--they make good gifts for acquaintances,
y'know, if'n you have enough for yourself."

You say "I'll keep that in mind. My family might like something, since
they didn't come down out of the mountains themselves to see all
this. After you?"

Kassima bows as gracefully as she can to the Baker, then sets off
towards the Gather Grounds.

[Travel deleted:]
--
Gather Grounds, Benden Area(#1506RJ)
The Nut Festival Gather is an opportunity for the members of the
region to relax and enjoy themselves after the hard work of
harvest. Red and purple streamers flutter gaily from poles hung with
decorative bunches of nuts in some places, bright stars in
others. Booths, stalls, and tents of every description sprout from
this flat, somewhat rocky field. A line of sparsely planted trees
borders the western edge of the field, while at the southern end a
small stream trickles by, both hidden from view by the colorful tents.
A well-worn path at the edge of the field continues towards the main
road and the travel wagon.
Contents:
Kassima
FESTIVAL SIGN (please read)
Kissing Booth (kb)
Soothsayer's Tent (ST)(#6984Je$)
Benden Gather Tent (bt)(#15546Je$)
FOOD COURT (fc)(#13182Je$)
CRAFTER'S ROW (cr)(#16041Je$)
GAMES FIELD (gf)(#6836Je$)
--

Kassima remarks as she meanders field-wards, "That Kissing
Booth... something about the very concept is frightening. I'm nay
certain I'm even willing t'go into that one t'see what's in there."

Kathall pauses to absorb the sight and then hurries to catch
up. "Kissing booth? I heard about that from one of the cooks. She kept
giggling, though; I didn't catch much of it."

Kassima shakes her head in absolute bewilderment. "M'only theory is
that mayhaps they give prizes t'people who can go in there and watch
people kissing without losing their dinner." Grimacing in the
direction of the evil booth, she quickens her pace towards the Gaming
Field.

--
GAMES FIELD (gf)(#6836Je$)
This field is filled with people, booths and games of all types. The
clamor and noise is continous, but it is all in a festive theme, with
laughter heard from every direction. The booths are all brightly
colored, almost as much as the people running them. Go ahead, take a
chance at one or all of them!
Games:
  3 Walnut Shuffle              Coin Toss               Hoop Throw
  Knock Over Logs               Strongman Game
  *for playing instructions type: +view 
Contents:
Kassima
Tel da Ferret
Solan(#13224PIJOce)
--

Kathall tags along in Kassima's wake, her eyes wide and bright and all
over the booths and games here.

Solan wanders over to the strength game, notices the others and waves
"Good afternoon"

At the Strongman Game, Solan raises his mallet high, then swiftly
drops it down to the target. He strikes it dead-center, propelling the
ball higher and higher, to the... 9th mark. So close!

Solan poses and struts for a few moments then remembers the others and
grins innocently

Kassima strides into the area a few steps in front of Kathall, waving
back to Solan as she catches sight of him. "Afternoon," she
returns. "Duties t'Benden Hold, and t'your clan as well. Having much
luck with the games?"

Kathall gives Solan a tolerant smile, but hangs back, letting Kassima
do the work.

Solan says "not as much today as yesteday, I could barely carry all my
prizes then:grins"

"I know what you mean," Kassi agrees, eyeing the games. "They really
shouldn't let riders play in here... oh, Kathall, see that shell game?
You'd probably be best off avoiding that one. 'Tis evil."

"Why are riders so good?" Kathall asks the green's one with her and
then orients on the shell game. "It's evil? Like Thread?"

Telarin arrives from the main gather area.
Telarin glances around, smiling.

Solan says "Cause most of the games are throwing, and they practice
with firestone all the time, Hey Tel"
Solan tosses him /another/ pillow

Telarin grins and saunters over. "Heya, Rolan," he says. "You winning
up all the prizes again? Heya, Kathall. And Winecraft's duties," he
adds, with a nod to Kassima.

Kathall murmurs a smiling hello back to the other journeyman from
where she lingers with Kassima, not yet engrossed in a game.

Kassima nods an affirmation of that. "Precisely; we've Turns of
practice at throwing, and at building strength too. 'Tis simply
frustrating enough t'be nefarious... take m'word on it; I won, but
only after several tries. Duties to the Winecraft and her Masters,
Journeyman, and heyla again."

Telear arrives from the main gather area.
Reed arrives from the main gather area.

Reed smiles politely to everyone, still pondering the words of the
soothsayer. With a skip, he's across thr grounds and over looking at
one of the games.

Kathall gives the shell game a longer look. "Well, perhaps I could try
that one. Wha do I have to lose?"

Solan says "Good afternoon Lord Reed, how is you lordship so far?"

Telarin grins. "Enjoying your chess set?" he asks the greenrider. He
looks over the games. "I think everything here beat me," he nods. "In
fact, I'm almost sure of it. Didn't I lose at everything, Solan?"

Solan says "no, you one a star from the hoop game"

Reed chuckles towards Solan. "Hello Solan is it? I am doing quite well
actually." His eyes wander over towards a perticular game.

At the Strongman Game, Reed raises his mallet high, pauses, then drops
it downwards. He misses the target completely, a resounding *whack*
sound his only accomplishment.

Reed hmms softly. "Well that didn't work right, let me try again."

At the Strongman Game, Reed raises his mallet high, then swiftly drops
it down to the target. He strikes it dead-center, propelling the ball
higher and higher, to the... 9th mark. So close!

Kassima grins and replies wryly, "Your patience, more likely than
nay... but go right ahead. 'Twill try the coin toss again m'self." She
fishes a quarter mark from her pocket, handing it over rather ruefully
and accepting her coins. Before throwing, though, she nods to the
various newcomers and flashes Telarin a grin. "Haven't had a chance
t'use it just yet, but I certes plan to as soon as I get ahold of a
suitable opponant."

At the Coin Toss booth, Kassima's marker bounces, then lands in a
pretty bud vase, which she gets as a prize.
At the Coin Toss booth, Kassima's marker bounces, then lands in a
crystal wine glass, which she gets as a prize.
At the Coin Toss booth, Kassima's marker bounces around and falls to
the ground.

Telear applauds Kassima's effort, "Oh, bravo!"

Kassima asks Kathall cheerfully as she accepts the two prizes, "See
what I mean? A nice vace this is, though... methinks I might be able
t'put it t'good use. There are rare occasions when I find m'self with
flowers, and I've never had anywhere t'put 'em ere now."

--
You see a small table with three walnut shells and a small red ball
upon it's smooth surface. Behind the table is Harzin, a man of average
height, with blonde hair and twinkling blue eyes, wearing his new
gather clothes. Beside Harzin is a basket, overflowing with bags of
nuts, to be given away as prizes. The man waves you nearer, speaking
with a toothy smile, "Hey would you like to guess which shell the ball
is under? If so just tell me to 'start shuffle'."
--

Kathall ventures up to the shell game as if it might bite her. "If I
don't win," she says back, "I'll take whatever you don't want. So I
don't walk away empty-handed, I mean."

The tiny red ball is placed under shell one and the shells are moved
around and around faster and faster.
You see a tiny red ball under shell one.
You see a tiny red ball under shell three.

Which shell is the ball under?

        'SHELL ONE'     'SHELL TWO'     'SHELL THREE'

You point to Shell One and the dealer turns it over to reveal.....A
tiny red ball. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Solan says "be right back"

Solan returns to the main gather area.
Tel da Ferret returns to the main gather area.

Kathall blinks. "That was easy. Look, Kassi -- I found the little
ball!"

Solan arrives from the main gather area.

Kassima grins to the Harper, saluting him with her new wine
glass. "Thankee! 'Tis all luck, y'know. Eh, Kathall, you really should
try the coin toss... 'tis the easiest of all the games, methinks. You
did?" She blinks and sprints over to look, incredulous. "Gah! The luck
must be stronger with you than 'twas with me, i'truth!"

Tel da Ferret arrives from the main gather area.

Solan returns and gives Kassima and Kathall a handfull of flowers each

Kathall looks insufferably pleased, enough to tease her companion,
"And me not even a rider! --Oh, thank you, Solan. What's this for?"

Telear returns Kassima's grin, "Of course it's all luck. That's why
I'm watching and applauding instead of trying and failing."

Solan says "Well I didn't want you to feel left out when i gave
Kassima flowers"

Kathall gathers them carefully to her. "Thanks," she says again. "The
last time someone gave me flowers -- What was that smith's name,
Kassima? Grego? At Telgar's aerial show."

Telarin glances around.

Reed has disconnected.

Kassima blinks in surprise again, this time at the flowers. "Faranth,
thankee! They're lovely... you didn't have to, a'course, but I'm
grateful that you did." She tucks them into the vase, and
smiles. "Luck indeed--Kathall, y'don't need t'be a rider t'have luck!
Perish the thought! And aye, his name was Grego. G'har, now. He
Impressed a bronze at Ista nay long gone."

Kathall's eyes go round again. "He did? Oh, I never heard. He just
gave me a flower and..." She considers Solan's gift again. "I wish I'd
known."

Solan grins

Kassima chuckles under her breath. "Aye--he gives flowers to the
lasses, but t'me, he just gives a hard bargain. Figures, eh? Which of
the games were you wishing t'try next?" She lets her eyes wander over
the assemblage of booths. "They've given one plenty of chances t'test
one's luck, Faranth knows... are you certain 'twould nay be better
t'try, Harper? Mayhaps your luck would be in today. I know of few
other ways t'get so many things for so few marks." Ah, that would
explain why the games appeal to her so.

Kathall frowns thoughtfully. "The coin toss, you said? I'll try that
one."

--
This brightly colored booth has a rail around it that people toss
coins from, and in the center is a low table covered and stacked with
different kinds of containers. Everything from simple bowls to nice
wine glasses. Around the table, staying out of the way are several
girls, who when a mark lands in a piece, they empty the mark out and
hand the container to the winner. It's only 1/4 mark for 3 'toss'es.
--

At the Coin Toss booth, Kathall's marker bounces around, almost lands
in something, but eventually falls to the ground.

Kathall mutters, "I liked the shell game better."

Telear smiles, "You may have a point, but I'm not sure I have need of
so pretty a vase as your prize."

Solan grinstoss

At the Coin Toss booth, Kathall's marker bounces, then lands in a nice
drinking mug, which she gets as a prize.

At the Coin Toss booth, Solan's marker bounces around and falls to the
ground.
At the Coin Toss booth, Solan's marker bounces around and falls to the
ground.
At the Coin Toss booth, Solan's marker bounces, then lands in a
beautifully etched crystal wine glass, which he gets as a prize.

Kathall gathers up the mug and scuttles away. "Not as fancy as yours,"
she tells Solan, "but I did get something."

Solan shows the glass to Tel "This ones even nicer then the one i got
yesterday" offers Kathall the glass

Kathall shakes her head. "No, I won this one, so I'm keeping it. You
keep yours; I'm happy."

Solan gives Telarin the glass "here...FOr to taste your icky wine with

Telarin raises his eyebrows, and chuckles. "Still winning, I see,
Solan?" He looks at the prizes everyone's clutching. Taking the glass,
he grins at his friend. "Benden wine? Icky? Never!"

Kassima admits, "True enough, but there're other things--plates, mugs,
pillows, foodstuffs. Nay dragonpoker decks, alas--but one can hardly
be picky when the goods are free. Don't you have one throw left,
Kathall?"

You say "Do I? Oh."

At the Coin Toss booth, Kathall's marker bounces around and falls to
the ground.

Telear leaps to the defence of Benden wine! "Seconded sir!"

You say "--I did. I don't know." She smiles again, slightly. "I think
I'm gamed out, Kassima. I don't have the taste for it."

Solan says "you like gambling Kassima? or just dragon poker?"

Kassima belatedly snorts in agreement, too. "The day Benden wine can
truly be classified as aught less than superb is the day that all
those who know how t'brew it will be long in the final *between*!
Dragonpoker in particular, Solan, but many other games suit me
too... ah, Kathall, 'tis a pity. To each their own, I suppose."

Kathall promises, "I'll go put my mug away and be back to join you for
something else, Kassima. Just a moment."

Solan says "Let me show you this the"

Solan dropped Small Box.
Solan opens the dice box.

Telarin grins as Solan pulls out the dice. "Those the ones from the
Even Odds, Solan?" he asks.

Solan says "yup"

[Lunch called me away.  Log ends.]