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Various Festival Guests Get Sacked


Date:  March 29, 1997
Place:  Benden Weyr South Bowl
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Woo!  Nothing's quite as therapeutic as throwing 
firestone sacks--unless it's throwing knives, or throwing spears, or
throwing sixteen-ton safes... okay, bad example.  But several Festival
attendees did have the dubious pleasure of earning themselves sore
muscles in this wonderfully fun contest that was run by Tinya and Ursa.
All foo except relevant knot stuff has been clipped.

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The Log:

You walk south.

Mirala chuckles. "You could always wear Savran's hand-me-downs," she 
grins. "But perhaps the Benden Weaver won't kill you..."

R'val smiles, "Sonya! It's been a while! how are you?"

Tinya ducks under the ropes setting off the contest area and clears her 
throat. She raises her voice and calls, "Okay, everyone who's here for the 
contest, please take a look at the rules and then step into the area!" 
(And OOCly, page me if you're going to participate.)

Sonya smiles, sipping her drink. "I've been fine. Our weyrlings 
graduated." she looks around. "Hmm, I may join in."

K'tel walks here from the north.

R'val grins, "It's good to see you. How's your blue?"

Thamon walks here from the north.

Zera smiles as she looks up and sees Sonya busy chatting to a bluerider. 
She turns back to the sign. She reads the rules a final time and with a 
barely perceptable shrug moves forward towards the contest area.

Siboan walks here from the north.

Ethelwyn walks here from the north.

Siboan wanders over, following the crowd.

Kindre walks here from the north.

Mercy walks here from the north.

Sonya pulls R'val along to talk to him while she scans over the rules. 
"Pryth? Oh he's great. He's caught three greens in a row now, so he's 
still acting pretty smug. How's your blue?"

Ethelwyn looks at the firestone tossing and walks over, rolling her sleevs 
up with a grin.

Thamon traipses a bit behind K'tel, then catches up, looking around. 
"Hmm."

Firwen eyes the firestone tossing area with hands on her ample hips for a 
long, considering moment then deliberately steps up to the contestant's 
line with a humph. "Doesn't look too hard."

R'val gets pulled along, bemusedly, glancing over to Tinya and smiling at 
her as he sees she's busy. He nods to Sonya with a grin, "Three greens? 
What three greens? Oh, he's fine. Hasn't caught in a while."

Mirala looks over to the crowd. "Heh, another contest. Well, for once, I 
think I'll /not/ try my hand." She grins at her brother. "Yea, let's go, 
and make room for everyone else." She heads off to the north.

K'tel peers up at the sign, "Doesn't sound too bad..Think I should try 
it?"

Mirala walks north.

Kindre moves through several groups of people towards the collection she 
recognizes. Holding up a wineskin, she smiles, "Couln't leave the cavern 
without this, o'course, Kassi. Hey, any of you going to give it a try," 
she wonders before peering around at the gathering competitors.

Sonya nods at the sign. "I'm going to try." she looks up at R'val. "Are 
you? What three greens?" she thinks for a moments. "Carissea from High 
Reaches...and two others from Ista."

Thamon grins and shrugs. "Sure! I'm not, it'd be hopeless, but I think 
you'd have a good chance..."

Kassima grins and waves Kin over, eyes flying up in pleased surprise as 
she sees the 'skin. "Wine! Faranth bless you, Kin...."

Zera steps forward to join the gathering contestants.

Siboan hangs back, watching the crowd.

Ethelwyn looks around for anyone she knows and comes up short untill she 
sees the Istans. Hmmm maybe they know....

K'tel nods, "I think I will. All that practice has to be good for 
something." He eyes Thamon, "I don't know, you could try the beginners 
line just for fun." He smiles innocently, "I'd never tell, honest!"

Tinya smiles a welcome at the folks who've already stepped up to try their 
hands at the contest, and cajoles the others. "Come on now, fabulous 
prizes up for grabs! Kassi, aren't you going to try? Purge the 
mortification of being auctioned, and all that? And you, we could use 
some Igenites in this contest!"

R'val nods his head to Sonya with a grin, "Definitely going to try, aye."

Kindre grins, "Would I ever forget wine," she queries the greenrider 
almost incredulously. Giggling, then, she gauges the sacks. "Shells, I 
wasn't very good at this as a weyrling, though it does look fun..."

Thamon eyes K'tel dubiously. "Suuuuuuure."

Kassima arches an eyebrow, and peers down at her Festival dress. 
Chuckling, she asks, "You want me to throw firestone in a skirt?" She 
glances at Kin, and shrugs, grinning. "I'll do it if you will, 
queenrider."

Ursa steps up alongside Tinya to help cheer people to enter. "Aye, Kassi, 
c'mon. You can make that those firestone sacks are your auctioneers..." 
she suggests.

Sonya chuckles at R'val, draining her glass and handing to an drudge. She 
pulls R'val over to the line. "Well then lets get in line."

Tinya grins at Kindre. "We'll give you a bit of a move-up, Kin, make up 
for the fact it's been a while since goldriders don't use the stuff. 
C'mon!"

Kassima oohs, "Now *there's* a thought for you!" She smiles, enjoying the 
mental image of slinging said auctioneers as far as humanly possible quite 
a bit.

K'tel chuckles and walks over and gets in line behind R'val.

R'val nods and allows himself to be pulled, grinning crookedly, "Coming, 
coming...."

Emne folds her arms over her chest firm in the decision to watch only

Thamon watches his cousin a moment and debates, then finally rolls up his 
sleeves and shrugs. "Good thing I didn't opt for Gather best..." he 
mutters as he makes his way to the line marked 'Beginners'.

Ursa rubs her arm absently. "I'm disappointed my old competitor at this 
sport isn't here," she comments, glancing around.

Ethelwyn slids up to the throwing lines and then stands at 'sort of 
experienced.' Hey, can't be harder than hefting that stupid plow. Or 
hurling hay.

Zera smiles at the banter, as she patiently waits the start of the 
contest. Suddenly she realises that shes probably the only one competing 
that hasn't ever thrown a sack of firestone before and wonders what she's 
gotten herself into this time.

Kindre takes a long sip from her 'skin before shrugging, "Why in Faranth's 
name not?! Oh," she adds while moving closer to the sacks, "That's 
alright...the flamethrower is comparable in weight..."

R'val bends and hauls a firestone sack up with an /oof/.

Firwen strides up to Tinya and indicates the signs with a curt nod of her 
head. "Beginners, bluerider? For those who haven't tossed firestone 
before, or those who haven't tossed anything before? And how does that 
compare to 'sort of experienced'?" she demands.

Zera joins the 'beginners' group with a 'might-as-well-try' smile.

K'tel grins over at Thamon then looks up his line, "This is the some 
experience line, right?"

Kassima sets her cider mug down in a safe place, and steps up to the sack. 
Peering at the signs, she hmmms. "I'd say I'm experienced at throwing 
stones, but nay for throwing them for *competition*," she remarks while 
she scrutinizes the sacks.

Tinya says "Beginners for those who haven't thrown firestone sacks _or_ 
something roughly comparable. Some experience is those who've done it but 
don't do it every day like weyrlings and fighting riders."

Siboan continues to lurk around, commenting to a nearby rider that this 
looks like a sport that might eventually require a healer.

K'tel blinks, overhearing Tinya. He mutters, "Oops." And moves over to the 
experienced line with a sheepish grin.

Dalad emerges from the passage to the entrance cavern.

OOC: Tinya has Zera, Firwen, Sonya, R'val, Kassi, K'tel, Thamon, and 
Kindre participating. Anyone else, or any of those who shouldn't be on the 
list?

Zera wonders how the weight of the sacks compares to an ovine...

Thamon looks over at K'tel. "Yeah, 'n what do you think you're... ah! 
That's better!" he calls, laughing.

Ethelwyn grins, "Now what's comparable?" She says, "Cam I join in?"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Where's the party?"

K'tel wrinkles his nose at Thamon, chuckling.

Kassima steps into place in the experienced line, stretching her arms out 
a bit to warm up. "I've never thrown 'stone in a Gather dress before. This 
should prove interesting, eh Kin?"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "South Bowl with firestone-throwing, T! :)"

Firwen taps her foot as she looks at the lines. "I've tossed a sack or two 
of grain in my time," she replies. "I'll go for the 'sort of 
experienced'." She shakes her head with a cross between a snort and a 
smile.

Sonya has been a rider for nearly five turns, so she would have the 
experience. She waits, watching the crowd.

"But you throw bags, Kassi at least," Kindre smiles over to the 
greenrider. "Ursa? Tinya? Some experience fits me better, doesn't it? Now 
that I think on it and such..."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, ".oO Sounds like fun. NOT! Sounds like weyrling 
training. :)"

Thamon leans around someone in the next line over and grins at K'tel. 
"Good luck."

Jalimax walks here from the north.

Sisirye comes out of the weyrling barracks.

Ursa turns to Kindre, considering. "Just how often do you -toss- a 
flamthrower, Kindre?" she asks good naturedly.

Tinya regards Kindre speculatively, then slowly nods. "I s'pose, seeing as 
it's been a while since weyrling training."

R'val waits with Sonya, glancing over at Tinya to smile at her, as he 
waits.

Sisirye meanders in, rubbing her eyes a bit in the light before saluting 
all the riders present...sure are a lot of 'em.

Ethelwyn mutters to another Smith about it. "Well it can't be THAT hard. I 
mean my cousins do it."

Kindre laughs, "Good point, Ursa...true, Tinya. Carrying and tossing not 
quite the same, 'eh?" Chuckling at Kassima, she peers over her own Gather 
garb. "True enough...thankfully this is mostly black, though, so mayhap 
splotches of stone won't be noticed."

Kassima eyes her own emerald-green and silver gown ruefully, and shakes 
her head. "Well, if Aph and I can run in a three-legged race in Gather 
gowns, then surely this can't be too much harder! Remember that, Kin?"

Ethelwyn listens to the riders and grins.

Sisirye looks about, quickly sizing up the situation. Dashing to Tinya she 
asks "You haven't started yet have you?"

K'tel looks over at the women riders and grins, "It's only fair, I'd say. 
Otherwise you'd beat the pants off us poor men."

Kindre's eyes blink a few times before wrinkling a bit with her mirthful 
laughter. "I do indeed, Kassi! You both won that, too. Shells...Asrai and 
I just made it across the line on our rumps!" Spotting the weyrling, she 
waves over, "Eve, Sisirye!"

Tinya claps her hands for attention, then calls loudly, "Alright, then, 
let's begin! Everyone line up for their first toss, and any last minute 
entrants get in line right quick now! We'll let everyone have a go, then 
we'll clear the bags off the target -- or wherever they end up -- for the 
second round!"

Sonya chats casually with R'val while she waits. "So how have you been, 
bluerider?"

Tinya waves Sisi into line with a grin.

Dalad starts to walk to a tent before his curiousity gets the best of him 
and he stops to listen.

Ethelwyn straightens up and brushes her arms a bit. She grins broadly.

Sisirye takes that as a no and reads the signs quick before choosing the 
'some experience', and waves back to Kindre!

Kylee walks here from the north.

Kadel walks here from the north.

Firwen shuffles into the line behind the 'Some experience' tee line, and 
waits with arms folded across her chest.

Emne reaches into a pocket for a meatroll to munch on

Kassima stretches arms and fingers one last time, then steps forward into 
line with the other folk in the 'experienced' section. She glances around 
at the competitors with a faint smile.

Thamon bounces on his feet, standing near the end of the beginners' line. 
He grins at his cousin's comment, but doesn't comment.
Ursa winks at the folks standing in line closest to her, and drawls with a 
grin, "Count your lucky firestone sacks I'm not competing today."
Sonya is allready in line in the 'experienced' section and stands tall, 
well as tall as she can.

Kylee finds a convenient vantage point to watch the contest.

F'nar walks here from the north.

R'val grunts as he steps back slightly, and then up to the line. His 
shoulders ripple under his shirt as he tenses, lifting the sack, and 
grunts loudly as he flings himself and his arms forward, sending the sack 
sailling a good distance.

Alyssa walks here from the north.

Merla walks here from the north.

Meli climbs down off the bed reluctantly.

F'nar says "Ooh, a sack toss? May I join?"

Kassima picks up a sack, shifting it in her grasp until she finds a grip 
that she's comfortable with. Once that balance has been attained, she 
focuses on the target, keeping her legs perfectly still and letting her 
arms do all the work. She gives it a heave, eyes *still* on the target 
rather than on the flying sack.

Dalad approaches the line, stretching out his arms he stands there for a 
moment looking at the area in fromt of him. He reaches for the sack and as 
he does begins to hum the miner song, "Yo..he..yo...." he lifts the sack 
and after rocking back and forth on his feet with a heave and a 
exaspirated grunt he lets the sack go sailing into the air.

Kindre waves Sisirye over, "Hi there...I'm out of practice at tossing 
myself. Haven't done it since weyrlinghood." Stretching her arms out and 
circling them around her torso in an attempt to stretch, she retrieves one 
of the bags near the 'some experience' sign. "Let's hope I do better with 
this than with the knives." Cryptic reference out of the way, she leans 
back, then forward, heaving the sack with all the might in her diminuitive 
form.

Rolan walks here from the north.

Mirala walks here from the north.

Merla grins at F'nar, "Think you can best me?" she flexes her muscles 
under her gather frock.

Ethelwyn stands at the 'some experiance' line and picks up a sack. She 
huhs, "Not as heavy as I'd have thought..." she murmers and swings it a 
bit, back and forth, getting teh feel of it. Then her tounge pops out of 
the side of her mouth, she frowns, lisghtly, and brings the sack back. 
Momentum carries her arms back till her top arm is level, and then, with 
her smith's muscles, she adds shoulder power to gravity, and gives the 
sack a good hurl to the landing area. That done, she staggers a half step 
and hehs. "Wow..."

K'tel picks up a sack and hefts it experimentally. He looks towards the 
target area then down at the ground. He tenses, swings the sack forward, 
and releases it halfway through the upswing.

F'nar laughs. I won't get into that.

Tinya rolls her eyes at F'nar, since he _was_ in the LC when she accounced 
it was about to start, but waves him towards the end of the line. "Get in 
line, hurry. The first round isn't over _quite_ yet."

Kylee waves at Mirala and a vaguely familiar Rolan.

Alyssa doffs her riding jacket and lays it somewhere safe. "Let's hope 
I've a modicum of strength remaining."

Merla grins at F'nar, and settles back to watch.

Zera takes a few strides back from the throwing line, and watches the 
first few throwers intensely, hoping to glimpse some special technique. 
She pulls off her tunic tossing it out of the way as she shakes out her 
arm muscles and rolls up her shirt sleeves. Keeping her back straight, she 
hefts up a sack with a slight groan. She bounces the sack a couple of 
times as she staggers towards the line and then throws it forward with all 
the strength she can muster and a loud shout.

F'nar does so, with his weyrmate and the retired Weyrwoman first.

Dalad watches the other contestants flexing his arms loosening them up 
from his first toss.

Thamon watches several people ahead of him in the beginner line make their 
attempts, and sighs. "I'll never get it..." he mutters. With some suprise 
he notes his turn has arrived, and he steps forward slowly. Planting his 
toes just behind the line he flexes his knees, crouching down to grab one 
of the sacks. Trying to straighten, he oofs in surprise, then gets a 
better grip on the sack and heaves it up, using the momentum to hurl it as 
hard as he can.

Sonya lifts a sack and hefts it to get the weight.She steadies herself,
swinging her arm back then forward, letting go of the sack suddenly. She 
watches the sack fly, takeing a step backwords.

Sisirye steps up to one of the tee lines and grabs a sack. Grabbing the 
sack, hands closing on the corners instinctively, as if she's done this 
recently. Lifting with her shoulders she steps back, swinging the sack and 
releases on the upswing, using its momentum to hurl it across the tossing 
area.

Mirala grins and waves at Kylee, watching her brother. "Heyla."

R'val grins and pats Sonya's shoulder, "Good shot, Sonya."

Ethelwyn dusts her legs a bit and smiles at another crafter, "Well now...
tell me Farmcraft can do THAT. Hah." she grins.

Firwen moves forward when it's her turn and, reaching down, she swings a 
firestone sack up and rests it against her broad hips in exactly the same 
manner as she lifts a five turn old little boy. Planting her two feet 
firmly into the ground in a solid base, she swings her arms back and then 
forward in a strong overarm toss, a movement exactly like a farmer's wife 
tossing a heavy sack of grain into a pile.

Rolan looks at Kylee, then at Mirala and back, waves

Sonya looks up at R'val and grins. "Thanks. I could have done better, but 
i'm alittle out of practice.

Emne gives Alyssa a cheerful wave across the crowd

R'val smiles, "Looked fine to me!"

Firwen watches her sack land with a judicious eye, and merely hmphs as she 
moves away for others to take their turn.

K'tel waves over to Thamon, "Good one!"

Mirala shakes her head as Rolan wanders off, waves again at Kylee, and 
chases after him.

Mirala walks north.

Kylee watches Mirala and Rolan and waves to both as they wander off.

Meli hops up onto the fence to the feeding grounds, so she can get a 
better view.

F'nar steps up to the experienced line, mentally running over his process. 
He takes the bag handed to him, and judges the weight carefully. He 
doubles the shoulder strap, carefully setting his grip, and begins to 
swing the bag in an underhanded circle, a bit more difficult on the ground 
than in the air. After about five loops, he lets go, sending the bag in a 
graceful arc with hardly any rotation, the strap billowing behind it to 
make it an easier catch if there were a live target. Traveling a fair 
distance, it lands on the ground with a solid crunch, a small cloud of 
dust coming out from under its flaps.

Siboan continues to watch quietly.

Merla teases F'nar, "You need more Weyrling training, F'nar!"

Ethelwyn looks at all the riders, "Well...they practice...A lot.

Sonya grins at R'val. "I'vehad two days off, if I get another try, i'm 
sure it'll go farther.

Alyssa giggles at Merla before readying herself for her own throw.

F'nar laughs, and rolls his shoulder. "Well, do ya think you coulda caught 
that in the air?"

Thamon grins at K'tel. "Uh-huh," he calls back, unconvinced as he watches 
the other throws.

K'tel chuckles and turns back to watch techniques.

Jecharra walks here from the north.

Merla grins at F'nar, "I don't know...I haven't tossed those things, or 
caught them since I was a weyrling. When would I have to?"

F'nar laughs. "You might wanna relearn, in case someone misses a catch!"

Kylee looks away from the action briefly and spots a familiar face. She 
stands up and waves frantically at Jecharra.

Alyssa collects a firestone bag, the weight making visible the delicate 
yet sturdy musculature of her slender arms even through her shirtsleeves. 
She steps to the line marked "experienced" and with practiced ease swings 
the bag in concentric circles that increase exponentially the speed at 
which the bad whistles in the air. When she has judged the firestone 
properly readied for the toss, her wrist and sinewy arm carry back the 
dusty bag one last time before she releases it. The bag sketches a 
slightly arcing and fairly expedient flight through the bowl before coming 
to a rest a considerable distance away. "Whew," is all Alyssa says to 
follow up this toss.

Zera sighs quietly as she watches the experienced riders.

Merla chuckles at F'nar, "It'd only happen if you were tossin' to 'em!"

Ethelwyn shakes ehr head, "Glad I'm not in THAt line..."

Merla winks at F"nar to show she's teasing.

Jecharra waves back from across the way, brightening as she spots her 
friend.

"Good toss, 'lys!" Meli calls from her perch on the fence.

Alyssa rubs her left shoulder and smiles back at Meli. "Thank you...bit 
off, I thought. Shells. Remember when we two couldn't even pick those up 
without puffing up a storm?"

F'nar smiles. "Excellent toss, love. And even you coulda caught that one 

Merla, if your old eyes woulda seen it coming!" He winks as well.

Kindre concurs with Meli, calling over, "Great throw, 'Lys!"

Meli laughs, her eyes twinkling. "Yeh. Wasn't tha' just last week?"

Dalad steps back and nods as the experienced riders show how it is done.

Kylee sits back down and waits for Jecharra to join her, turning her 
attention back to the contest.

White teeth show in Alyssa's laughing smile. "It surely feels that way. 
Thank you," she adds to F'nar and Kindre, the former getting another kiss 
on the cheek, the latter a small and affectionate salute.

Jecharra looks for the least intrusive route and makes her way over to 
Kylee's seat. "Hi, there! I finally made it!"

Ethelwyn grins and talks to some of teh crafters and then nod.

Merla grins broadly at F'nar's comment. She also claps for Alyssa.

Kassima laughs as she watches Alyssa's throw, "Good shot, Lys, right 
enough! Shards... makes me feel like a shirker in need of practice." She 
shakes her head, a smile curving the corners of her mouth upwards.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Where is everyone?"

Kindre returns Alyssa's salute with a small curtsy and bright smile. 
Stepping back a pace to stand beside Sisirye, she wonders conspiratorily, 
"You think you could give me some pointers? It's been nearly three turns 
since I've had the pleasure of performing this particular task." Grin 
nearly splitting her face, Kindre's words are obviously somewhat teasing.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "South Bowl, T'lar. :)"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Avoiding bronzeriders?"

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "South bowl"

Benden Weyr> T'lar looks at Alyssa and snorts.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa :)

Benden Weyr> Alyssa smooches T'lar.

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "I'm just sitting here perched on this fence 
waiting for some hunky bronzerider to come along and rescue me."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Not in front of Meli."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "But Meli...what if you get T'lar instead?"

Sonya watches the other throws and chuckles. "Everyone looks pretty 
good." she comments.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "That is definately my cue."

Benden Weyr> T'lar whacks alyssa.

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Oh, gosh, 'lys, hadn't thought of that."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Ow."

T'lar walks here from the north.

Ethelwyn loks at all of the people and waits, grinning.

R'val nods to Sonya with a grin, "I'll say. I'm outclassed."

Alyssa waves to her wingmate and calls to T'lar in a fairly outspoken way 
for her, "Good even, bronzerider. Come join us?"

Sonya nods, chuckling. "Aye, I was thinking the same. But, it's all in 
fun. DO you know what the prizes are?"

T'lar waves and threads his way through the press over to where his 
weyrmate is sitting.

Dalad shakes his head as he watches, smiles over to some of the miners who 
have set up camp to watch and cheer/heckle thier craftmaster.

<judges> Most of the sacks land in a smattering _fairly_ near to the 
target chalked out on the far end, although one of the Benden riders got a 
bad hold on his and barely cleared the far tee lines. Ethelwyn's sack 
unfortunately goes a bit _too_ far, hitting the ropes at the far end 
before it falls back to the ground with a plop. Zera's sack lands nicely 
straddling the boundary of the innermost circle and the one next to it, 
Thamon's is quite close to that, and Firwen's takes a bounce off a 
previous sack and lands three-quarters of the way into the center ring. 
(Those not named may assume they're within the target but not that close 
to the center.)

Meli catches sight of T'lar through the crowd and waves, nearly losing her 
balance on the fence.

Merla smiles to T'lar.

Sisirye grins back at Kindre, with mock seriousness she nods, studying the 
field "I think we could do something. I've thrown enough of these this 
sevenday to give lessons to the weyr."

Alyssa watches the others and their tosses, waiting for her turn again, 
her hand tucked neatly about F'nar's arm.

Ethelwyn looks over at her sack witha chuckle..."Whoops. Don't know my own 
strength..."

Kylee gives a cheer when she spots where Zera's sack landed.

"Good thing Sionelle didn't hear ya say that, Sisi!" another weyrling 
shouts.

T'lar leans back against the fence next to Meli, waving to Merla. "Now 
that looks like weryling practice instead of a contest."

Several residents enlisted for hte purpose run out and clear the sacks off 
the target area. The judges confer, making notes about whose sack landed 
where, and then Tinya looks up and calls, "Well thrown, everyone! Round 
two!"

Zera looks at little astonished and hearing Kylee's cheer, grins broadly 
at her.

F'nar cranes his neck to see where his landed, then turns to Alyssa. 
"Maybe I shouldn't go for distance."

Thamon blinks at where his sack landed. Never do for a Harper to be caught 
speechless, so he manages a rather strangled-sounding "Ah, well, better 
than I thought..."

K'tel gives a thumbs up to Thamon then turns to locate anothre sack..

Kindre grins, "Of that I've no doubt," she says to Sisirye before the 
remark concerning Sionelle causes her to chuckle. "Good indeed," is agreed 
in a quieter voice.

Raising her voice enough to be heard at the lines, Meli replies to T'lar's 
comment. "Neh, if it was weyrlin' practice, they'd be WORKIN' UP A SWEAT!" 
ending in a near yell through her grin.

Thamon blinks a couple more times and then grins across the lines at his 
cousin.

Alyssa laughs, hugging F'nar's arm to her. "No, love...you forget your own 
strength. Oh! Meli...they don't sweat these days...now when WE were 
weyrlings, we knew what sweat was. We had it far harder, did we not?"

K'tel looks over at Meli and laughs then picks up his sack.

Zera grins at the Harper and then winks at him. "Ready for another 
attempt? Please, go first."

R'val picks up the second sack he intends to throw an straightens with it 
in his arms, grunting with the effort. He steps carefully up to the 
'experienced' line and straightens fully, throwing h is arms out and 
sending his sack sailing quietly through the air.

T'lar chuckles. "True enough." He pushes up onto the fence. "Of course, 
weyrlings can't throw worth anything. They're just weyrlings after all." 
His smile lights up his eyes.

F'nar laughs. "Selene wouldn't let us out till we could hit a bullseye 
half this size at twice this distance nine out of ten times!"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa hmmms and wonders about killing an innocent bystander 
with an errant toss. ;)

Dalad starts to hum again this time he begins to actually sing the Miner's 
song, he walks back to the 'some experienced' line and bends down to 
procure another sack. He stays crouched down for a moment with his hands 
on the sack in thought but still singing, then with a slight grunt the 
sack is lifted and the rocking of his wieght begins, one, two, three, 
four, all the while singing...and then around he goes, around and around 
then....release! The sack is propelled away from Dalad. He watches the 
sack takes flight, breathing hard.

F'nar is, of course, exaggerating.

Emne disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Benden Caldera.

Meli snuggles next to T'lar, resting her hand around his waist. "Tha's 
right, F'nar!" she calls. "Cept you forgot to mention bein' upwind in 
th'galestorm!"

A rider from the back calls out, "That was the last Pass, though, wasn't 
it, F'nar??"

Ethelwyn chuckles and rubs her arms a bit before hefting another sack. 
"Not so far this time, Wyn..." she says to herself and rollsher shoulders 
back before stepping up to the line. A firm grip, she eyes her target and 
nods. That frown again, and she swings back. Once, twice, thrice and 
again, she uses her muscles for turns at the forge to send the stone sack 
flying. THIS time with a heck of a lot more eforrt put into controll, and 
a bit less into getting teh sack out there. Once the sack is out of her 
hands, she teters or a moment and then gets her ballance. "Hah! It's not 
that hard." She rugbs her shoulders. OWWWW

K'tel watches R'val then steps up to the line. This time he keeps his eye 
on the target as he swings the sack around. He swings twice then releases 
it. His arm stays outstretched pointing towards the target as he watches 
to see where this one lands. Satisfied, he drops his arm and steps back.

Siboan walks north.

Sonya picks up another sack, grinning as she watches the judges clear the 
other sacks. She hefts is, testing this one's weight compared to her 
strength. After a few other people throw before her she again steps up to 
the experinced line and prepares to throw. The muscles in her arm tighten 
as she swings the sack about and gives it a good throw. The arc is high as 
the sack goes flying through the air. She takes a step back, watching 
happily as this throw is alittle better than the last.

Dalad watches the sack fall and with a nod takes a step back to watch.

While the attention of most people is on the tossing, T'lar sneaks an arm 
around Meli's waist and pulls her into a kiss.

Alyssa applauds enthusiastically for the others' tosses. "Well thrown."
R'val grins and pats Sonya's shoulder, "Good shot, you!"

Thamon waits for his turn to come up again, and takes a deep breath as he 
crouches down and takes a firm grip on a sack, prepared for the weight of 
it this time. His knees flexed and his back carefully curved to avoid 
straining something, he stands as he heaves the sack off the ground, using 
its own weight and the leverage his knees give him to heave the sack 
toward the target.

A bread roll hits T'lar in the back of the head mid-kiss.

Kassima selects a bag of medium size and heft, picking it up seemingly 
without effort--though the tensing of the wiry muscles of her arms, easily 
visible as her sleeves are short, give the lie to that. She sights the 
target, and begins to swing the bag in circles as she steps forward. The 
whistling in the air grows in pitch and intensity as she speeds it up as 
much as she can. "I've always thought of this part of throwing as the 
Whistling One-Handed Circles for some reason," she comments absently to no 
one in particular as she steps to the line. "Either that, or the Doom 
Loops." On the word 'doom', the sack goes flying, passing through a swarm 
of bugs and narrowly missing a fire-lizard that was busily dodging out of 
the way of someone else's bag. The outraged squawks of the creature cause 
Kassi to wince, just a bit.

Ethelwyn was at teh 'some experiance' line still.

Kindre bobs her shoulders up and down several times in turn before rolling 
them in their sockets. Her elbows bent and drawing little circles in the 
air, she looks quite humorous to onlookers, though she'd swear this helps 
her toss. Looking to the weyrling for last moment words of advise, she 
swings the sack back, leaning her body with it before whipping the bag 
forward with all the strength she can manage to muster. Wobbling through 
the air like a wounded, one-winged wherry, the sack does manage a slight 
arc before dropping rather unceremoniously to the ground. "Whew..." is all 
the goldrider can seem to manage in the way of words.

Jaessa walks here from the north.

T'lar says "Heh!" He puts a hand to his head and looks around for the 
culprit.

Sonya returns to R'val's side, smileing brightly. "Aye, I think that one 
was better than the last. Your toss was as good as well." she watches the 
other tosses. "Good toss!" she comments for all of them.

F'nar takes another sack, and, from the experienced line, attemts to 
correct the error of his last throw. Standing catty-cornered from the 
length of the safe area, he swings the sack in circles once more, but at 
half a right angle from any sort of perpendicular. Letting go at the right 
moment, the sack once more sails downrange, but with a bit of rotation, 
making it more difficult if it were supposed to be caught. A bit lower 
than he perhaps intended, but still a good distance later, it lands, but 
this time on the opening flap, and several of the smaller gray stones are 
forced out of both ends of the sack, leaving a starlike pattern on the 
ground around it.

Sisirye looks at the newest sack with a sigh and steps up to the line, 
hefting it with practiced ease she tests the weight and demonstrates her 
perfect Sionelle induced form for Kindre. "See..." she uses her sternest 
voice "You have to pick it up by the corners and use just your shoulders, 
since when you're adragonback you can't use your legs and back." Then with 
a grin and a swing she sends the next sack hurltling toward its 
destination.

Jaessa waves at Kylee.

Taira walks here from the north.

R'val grins and shakes his head, "Oh, it was nothing special."

Kylee grins and waves at Jaessa.

K'tel waves over at Thamon, "Not so bad is it?"

Firwen wipes her hands efficiently on her apron before hefting another 
sack into her meaty arms, much in the same manner as before. Again, she 
shifts herself into a good balancing stance and regards the target with a 
fierce eye before getting ready to throw. This toss is smoother than her 
first and her face flushes with the effort of throwing strongly. She 
watches it land with not much expression, merely coughs and waves residual 
firestone dust away from her face.

Zera swings her arms around in circles as she waits for the Harper to 
complete his second throw. As soon as he steps back from the line she 
heaves the second sack up with a large exhalation of air. As a trickle of 
sweat runs down her cheek, she decides to try the same style of throw 
again. Her forehead creases in concentration as she bounces the sack 
again, unaware that she's counting aloud. On the third mark she launches 
the sack forward with a most unladylike grunt.

F'nar calls out to his tormenter, "Nah, 'twas the one before, lad. Back 
when all the thread came at night, during windstorms."

Kylee watches Zera's preparation intently.

Emlyn comes out of the weyrling barracks.

Pleiath comes out of the weyrling barracks.

Jaessa moves along the edge of the crowd, craning her neck to see pat all 
the taller people.

F'nar walks back to Alyssa, rubbing his shoulder. "I'm gonna feel this in 
the morning."

Jaessa disappears into the prize tent.

"I will be certain," the bluerider/dragonhealer says back to F'nar, "to 
tell Lily to rub your back for you."

Thamon grins at K'tel, swinging his arms. "Not too bad, I guess... the 
question is, will I be able to lift anything tomorrow?"

Taira tries to move through ht crowd, the task somewhat easier being 
small.

F'nar rolls his shoulder. "Am I sleeping on the ledge tonight, love?"

Merla grins at F'nar's comment.

Kindre's eyes widen after Sisirye reminds her of the proper technique for 
tossing. "Ah. Indeed I seem to have grown soft in my turns," she muses 
before winking. Pleiath's lumbering into the area draws her attention just 
before she seeks to pair the rider with her. "Emlyn," she calls to the 
weyrling and waves.

Ethelwyn puts one hand on her right shoulder and rolls it slowly, "Ow....
How do they do that all teh time?"

K'tel chuckles, "Probably not!"

Sisirye watches Kindre's sack "Good toss!" then looking around at all the 
other competitors with a chuckle "I hope the weyr is stocked up on 
linement for the rest of the festival."

"I think," Meli calls "We have weyrlin's down for numbweed duty, right?"

Zera steps away to one side, so she can view the remaining throws.

Ethelwyn grins and says, "Numbweed. the Healer Tent's going to make a 
killing."

Emlyn returns Kindre's wave with a crisp salute, "Afternoon, Ma'am." 
Pleiath warbles in her sweet voice to the crowd of people who've so 
thoughtfully come here for her amusement.

Alyssa chuckles as she moves closer, waiting her turn. "Numbweed duty 
indeed, Meli. But only downwind from the infirmary."

T'lar gives up looking for the roll thrower and settles in next to Meli. 
"Numbweed? When? I think I need a vacation at Southern Boll that week."

Taira finally finds a spot near the front of the ranks, looking towards 
the competitors with a keen eye... searching out a familiar splahs of 
color.

F'nar says "Numbweed? This hurts inside, not outside, Though I think I can 
do one more throw."

Sisirye follows Kindre's gaze and waves to Emlyn as well. "Heyla Emlyn! 
Pleiath!"

R'val smiles, waving as he spots Emlyn, warmly.

Benden Weyr> Merla guesses she doesn't have to worry about no one coming, 
anymore :)

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Looks like we got a great turnout and a lot of 
displays. Hope I have time to check them all out."

A light dusting of her hands removes the first bag's residue from Alyssa's 
palms, something of a futile gesture considering that her next movement is 
to lift the second bag. A fine mist of firestone dust and a smattering of 
dirt cascades over her fingers as she strides to the "experienced" line 
and gauges the distance between said line and the target, eyes slightly 
squinting in concentration. Then, with a deep breath to collect strength, 
she hefts the firestone to a level above her knee where swings of her arm 
can prepare it for release. Faster and faster spins the bag until it is 
judged ready for the toss; "ooof" says Alyssa as she lets fly the weighty 
sack and squares herself to watch it traverse the bowl toward the target.

Emlyn is so used to saluting people that catch her attention that she 
salutes R'val with a smile, then does the same to Sisirye, her fellow 
weyrling.

Sisirye chuckles and salutes back teasingly, knowing exactly how Emlyn 
feels.

Merla smiles in return of Emlyn's salute.

"Faranth...this is not so easy after a long day and sweeps riding," Alyssa 
sighs with a smile.

F'nar claps! "Nice toss, love!"

Jaessa heads into the South Bowl area from the lake shore to the 
southwest.

K'tel is concentrating on the other contestant's again. Smiling and 
cheering at especially good tosses.

Merla grins at Alyssa.

Ethelwyn looks at the sigh. "Oh shells...one more toos too.." she cringes 
and waits to see how this rounds' scores come oue.

Jaessa slips next to Kylee. "Who's winning?

Meli tickles T'lar playfully along his ribs. "So, why aren't y'out there 
showin' off those well-turned muscles?"

Alyssa thanks F'nar and whispers conspiratorially to Merla (in a good 
stage whisper), "My mate is not the only one getting older, hmm?"

Benden Weyr> <Kindre> Weyrling Hell: Festival-Riders from all the Weyrs 
causing salute-spasms ;)

Taira leans forward, eyes bright with excitement as she listens.. not 
distracting her family yet.

F'nar calls out, "Maybe, but you're the only one getting cuter!"

T'lar chuckles and half-heartedly tries to stop the tickling. "I wanted 
the contest to be fair."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa laughs at T'lar. You cocky bronzerider. ;)

T'lar smiles impishly.

Zera applauds the various competitors as the hurtling sacks hit the dust.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Like, I wasn't serious you know."

Meli chuckles, reaching up to pull a piece of T'lar's hair down in a 
cowlick on his forehead. "You look so cute that way."

Kassima grins and quips sweetly to T'lar, "Wouldn't be fair if folk were 
too busy laughing at *your* throws to concentrate on theirs, now would 
it?"

Kylee frowns a little. "To be honest, I haven't a clue."

Sisirye stretches her arms behind her a bit and sighs, she doesn't seem to 
be feeling this a bit. Though its not really that suprising....she's been 
doing it for a fortnight now.

Kylee adds. "I know JR Zera made it through a round though." She grins at 
that.

T'lar bats the curl out of his eyes. "Now, Kassi. I can see you're not 
throwing. Good thing 'cause we wouldn't want to kill off the spectators."

Jaessa nods, and jumps up, trying to see above the heads in front of her.

Kylee looks down at Jaessa with a grin. "Having trouble?"

Emlyn and Pleiath fill an open gap in the line of spectators watching the 
sack-tossing. The green is still small enough for Emlyn (who is no giant) 
to put an arm comfortably around the dragon's neck. She does, watching the 
event with a lazy smile. Pleiath, on the other hand, fancies herself an 
expert and goes between crooning approval and honking advice at each 
throw.

Ethelwyn grins and sits down on a pair od stone sacks for a moment.

Jaessa chuckles. "I need to grow a few inches, I think.

Kassima snorts, putting her hands on her hips. "I'll have you know that 
I'm throwing along with everyone else, and haven't killed anyone yet!" Is 
there the tiniest of emphasises on *yet* there?

Dalad chuckles as he overhears T'lar, he then walks over to chat with some 
of the other contestants.

Taira shoves over a few precious inches to make room for some of the 
others. "Come along up here then," she calls back. "Goodness, you'd think 
these lads hadn't heard of shorter folks before."

Taira gives a goodnatured grin at one of the taller folks near her.
<judges> The scattering is a bit looser this time, as some folks manage to 
zero in better on the target, but others, muscles tiring, do less well. 
One unfortunate Harper, while he gets good distance, is badly off-center, 
causing a knot of spectators to have to scramble frantically out of the 
way. Firwen and Zera both once again come close to the center, each 
landing toward the inner edge of the inside-but-one section, and Ethelwyn 
has judged the distance better this time, landing hers partially inside 
the middle circle. Kassima's throw is the best, however, landing all but 
one corner in the center ring. Finally, F'nar does manage to get _part_ of 
his firestone inside the center, even if the bag itself is considerably 
outside, but the judges don't appear to think that counts. (Once again, 
if not named, you landed on the outer parts of the target).

Meli spots Emlyn, and leans forward a bit, using T'lar as balast so she 
doesn't tumble off "Weyrling, I'd like t'see how you're doin' on your 
tossin'!"

Zera watches the green with a grin and then turns back to watch the second 
round judging.

<judges> Oops. Dalad also landed straddling the line between the center 
circle and the ring outside it.

Alyssa cheers the other contestants and their fine tosses, though she 
murmurs, "I suppose I need more practice..."

"I've the perfect thing to cure soon-to-be aching muscles. Mayhap more 
numbing than the weed itself," Kindre exclaims light-heartedly before 
walking just out of line to take a sip of wine from the skin she brought. 
"Though," she admits once the swallow is gone, "the ache of my head will 
surely be worse come tomorrow."

Thamon still looks chagrined at the path his sack took and calls an 
apology to those spectators that were forced to flee.

Ethelwyn looks as the dust settels and whoops! "Hah! I got it closer!"

Sonya frowns, spotting her sack. "Well, looks like some of us riders are 
getting beat by some crafters." she says good naturedly.

R'val grins over at Kindre teasingly, "A drunken junior weyrwoman? For 
shame!" He tsks teasingly.

F'nar shrugs. "Well, at least I got a rock in there."

Kylee leans over to Jecharra excitedly. "Look. Zera's made it to the next 
round."

R'val grins at Sonya, "Enh, it happens."

Alyssa gives F'nar a gentle kiss. "It's easier for us on dragonback, my 
love."

Benden Weyr> Sisirye says, "Will be back!! Someone grab my last turn!! :)"

T'lar lets Meli trust him with her weight until she is fully compromised 
in the forward position, then he lets her slip a few inches forward. He 
makes sure she doesn't fall.

Taira cluckes her tongue lightly, then waves excitedly to Thamon. "Better 
luck at the next one, cousin... "

It's hard to hide in a crowd when you've got a dragon bugling her 
opinions. Emlyn smiles good-naturedly at Meli, tosses her a knee-jerk 
salute, and goes to join the line of 'experienced' tossers. Pleiath trots 
along beside Emlyn, carrying her tail and muzzle high. She peers around 
with eyes tinged by excitement.

Kindre calls, "Good show," to those who landed their sacks closest to the 
marks. Sticking her tongue out at R'val, she grins, "Better than a grumpy, 
sore junior, hmm?"

R'val grins at Kindre, "I can't imagine you grumpy, Kindre dear."

Jecharra glances over to Kylee and nods, still concentrating on the game. 
She looks a bit puzzled as she trys to figure out who is who.

Thamon looks around and spots Taira. Looking distinctly sheepish, he 
grins. "Thanks!"

K'tel laughs over to Thamon, "Don't worry, I have to work on aiming 
myself!"

As the bags are cleared once again, the judges huddle together over their 
notes. Tinya looks up with a grin to note, "You've got to get the whole 
thing, F'nar," before going back to her consultation with Ursa. Finally, 
she looks up and calls, "Round three!"

Alyssa smiles fondly at Kindre and remarks with a wink, "Forgotten when 
Herath rose, Uri?"

Kassima grins and remarks to Kin, "You'd just best be sure you stick to 
Benden for that numbing quality; Tillek would just *deaden* the muscles as 
it poisoned you!"

Emlyn says to R'val as she passes him, "I hope Meli isn't too disappointed 
by this."

R'val chortles at Alyssa, with a grimace, "How could I?" he ruefully 
remarks, with a wink at Kindre.

F'nar smiles. "You're right.. Maybe if I could get Pavanth to lay his neck 
down here? I'll bet he'd just LOVE that." He blinks, and looks north. "And 
after fifteen turns, you'd think you'd know what sarcasm, was, love."

Sonya chuckles, nodding. "Aye. Course, I am used to tossing them atop 
Pryth. We get one more toss, so I canat least try to get near the circle." 
she picks up a medium size sack, hefting it again.

Dalad nods to where he finished and congratulates the other throwers as he 
wanders over to chat with a few journeyman miners who are cheering him on.

R'val grins and pats Emlyn's shoulder in passing, "Meli won't be, I am 
sure!"

The Smith's cheer on Ethelwyn, seeing as she's the only Smith left, and 
clap her on the back, as she's made it to the Thrid round. For her part, 
Wyn smiles and listens to sage and sound advice from people who don't know 
any more than she does about all this.

"Careful, luv!" Meli says over her shoulder, as she finds herself hanging 
far enough forward not to be able to right herself alone.

Kindre laughs at R'val, Alyssa, and Kassima's comments before attempting 
to feign ignorance. "When Hera rose I was a perfectly kind woman."

R'val snorts teasingly, "You? Kindre, you were a monster." He teases.

Taira looks tempted to dart past the spectating line to leap at K'tel and 
Thamon, but remains where she is... training at the crafts seems to have 
calmed her. A little. "And all those turns practicing back at Far Cry... 
for both of you!"

T'lar pulls Meli back up securely on the fence. "Sorry, sweeting." He 
watches the tossing for a bit. "Hmmm I wonder if I could be any good at 
that."

Alyssa giggles, clearly in a good mood tonight. "At least she has an 
excuse of proddiness for her behaviour, Uri, dear!"

R'val bends to pick up his third and final sack of stone. He steps up to 
the experienced mark and heaves it forward, arms shooting forward, sending 
the sack sailing.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Alyssa!!!! Good one."

Merla grins at Kindre's statement, and R'val's response.

Dalad leaves the group of miners he was chatting with and exhales as he 
steps up once again to the line. No singing this time he stands in thought 
eyeing the target in front of him. The miner crouches down tho lay his 
hands on his last sack, he rearranges his grasp till he feels it is as 
balenced of a hold he will get, and rises back to a standing position. 
Once straight he adjust his hold on the bag once again to a grasp more 
suited for a sack of cromcoal than the sack used for firestone, he he 
takes a step back and brethes hard for a moment before he rocks his feet 
and jumps. Dalad moves to the line in a quick assault. His foot planted 
just behind the line he throws the sack as he did in his younger days 
stacking cromcoal at the hall, he grunts loudly sending the sack in the 
air with a good amount of arc and little to no spin. Once gone he watches 
it fall, and nodding he quickly turn to walk from the line, shruging over 
to the miner cheering section that is watching.

Meli just grins, leaning back against T'lar. "I'm sure you'd be great. But 
y'make a nicer pillor right now."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Hey, at least something I did was on target 
tonight. ;)"

R'val regards Alyssa innocently, "I can't imagine what you are implying."

Benden Weyr> R'val smirks.

Merla looks impressed with Dalad's throw. "Someone hire that man..." she 
says with a grin.

Nataly walks here from the north.

T'lar shifts slightly and puts both arms around his weyrmate. Pulling her 
against his chest, he leans back against a fence post for better 
stability. "I'd be your pillow any day, luv."

Emlyn watches Dalad's toss and bites her lip. Pleiath warbles at the 
minecrafter with one of her approving sounds. Her voice rises and falls 
as it floats toward the young man.

Alyssa whistles long and low. "Most excellent toss!"

Kassima takes a deep breath, centering her focus for a moment... and 
muttering can be heard, if you're close enough. "The target," she is 
telling herself, "is a giant pool of Watered-soaked Tillek swill with 
chunks of tubers in it. Broilingly hot, nay less. The sack is the 
auctioneer. For revenge, I have to land the auctioneer in the Death Dip. 
I can do this. I can do this." With all the intensity that she ever 
displays while bent on revenge--which is to say, a lot--she picks up the 
sack and concentrates on her imagery. Woosh, woosh, woosh--the air starts 
to scream as the sack whistles through it, at a very audible intensity by 
the time Kassi finally lets the thing go. And this time, it *does* hit 
that same fire-lizard, though just enough to wing him so that he drops to 
the ground with a squawk of astonishment. He scolds Kassima at the top of 
his small lungs as he launches and vanishes *between*, away from all these 
terrible non-winged flying things!

K'tel grins to himself and takes off his riding jacket. Setting it to one 
side, he picks up his last sack of firestone. Trying to follow the more 
experienced throwers examples, he swings quickly and forcefully, sending 
the sack sailing towards the target. He chuckles and shakes his head, 
watching it land, then makes his way away from the line to watch the rest.

T'lar laughs at Kassima's throw. "Okay, Kassi. No killing of firelizards 
unless they're yours. And Faranth knows, you got enough."

Jaessa walks north.

Alyssa rolls her shoulders forward and back thrice in each direction, then 
stretches her neck muscles, before approaching the experienced line for 
the last toss. Her amethyst eyes glisten briefly as she regards the target 
calculatingly, then her fingers curl around the upper portion of her bag. 
Deep breath in, deep breath out, and she is ready to commence swinging. 
Her entire arm goes into action to achieve wider circles than she utilised 
before; her cheeks grow both mottled and dewy from the intensity of this 
final effort. Round and round and higher and higher sails the bag as the 
bluerider cranks her arm like the churning of a well's handle to raise 
water but, just seconds before she releases the bag, the dust collected 
from all of these throws tickles her slightly pointed nose, and she 
sneezes. Faranth knows where the bag might land.

Sonya once again waits for a few others to throw before stepping up to the 
line. She steps up and readies her stance, useing the old stance she would 
take when she was a weyrling, tossing the sacks. With her weigth evenly 
proportioned between her feet. She swings the sack, her muscles straning 
and at the count of three she lets it go, the arc of the sack still high, 
this throw being the best of the three throws.

F'nar mutters. "I wonder if my arm will come off with this one? It's 
certainly starting to feel it." He once more steps to the pile of sacks, 
and picks a medium-heavy one. Grabbing the strap once more, he 
concentrates on the target, and his sack, trying to bring them together. 
Looking at the wind, coming from the left, he tries once more. Spinning 
the bag five times, he releases on the sixth turn, this one sailing a bit 
higher than the optimum for distance, but a nicely formed toss with the 
strap held out like a piece of stone behind the bag by the air rushing by. 
Landing once more with a solid crunch, there's no spillage from this one 
aside from the usual cloud of dust.

Ethelwyn dusts her hands off on her pants and takes a drink of water. 
Okay. She's worked for hours at a forge before. She can muster up ONE more 
toss. Taking a slow, deep breath, she picks up a sack. Shifting it in her 
arms, she gets a comfortable position and stands facing the line sideways. 
"For the Smiths." she grins, and swings her arms back again. Once back, a 
small swing; twice back, her arm holding steady;thrice back, eyes locked 
on the target, front foot pointing there; and the fourth time back, she 
remains silent, face in her frowning thinking look, the muscles forged 
from turns of apprentice work, lifting polws, the aim that lets her shoe 
a runner with out smashing her finger. She uses that now with one final 
mighty, tired, toss, sending the bag sailing on wings of luck.

Firwen smiles at the target with a certain grim satisfaction as she 
stretches her arms out prepatory to choosing a firestone sack for her 
third and final toss. "Aye, these arms remember a thing or two," she 
comments as she toes the tee line. Once she's arranged herself to her 
pleasure, she hefts the sack with the same lack of flourish and ceremony 
that's characterised her first two tosses, leans back and swings the 
firestone bag in a wide overarm circle, calculated to gather the right 
amount of momentum to carry it towards the target. She watches the sack 
land with a curt nod, then steps back.

Emlyn watches more people toss, frowning a bit. She asks Meli, "Ma'am, 
Sionelle's been breathing fire on us when we move our legs in the weyrling 
drills. Is it alright for this exercise to use a little leg?"

Meli chuckles. She mutters to herself, "...next...y'know... Kassi'll...
burnin' 'em... " 

Kindre affords R'val with a playfully snide look before reclaiming another 
bag and preparing to toss. The sack nearly falls to crush her toes when 

Alyssa speaks. "Good one, dearheart," she calls between chuckling. Finally 
concentrating on the task at hand, she bobbles the sack in her arms. 
Watching several others who have been hitting the target, she tries to 
copy their motions. Squawking interupts her supposedly careful 
concentration and the bag flies wildly into the air. Ugly the only word to 
truly describe its flight, the bag wavers a crooked path before skidding 
to a halt along the dirt.

Meli waves her hand at Emlyn. "Prolly be ok, jus' don't get in th'habit!"

Kylee watches Ethelwyn's throw with bated breath, following the sack's 
flight...and landing.

Alyssa sniffles and, fetching her kerchief from her pouch, dabs at her 
nose and sighs, sneezing again three times. "Silly dust..."

Sonya steps back, complimenting R'val's toss and the others as well. 
"Well, at least I had fun." she rubs her arms ruefully.

Pleiath offers Kindre a bit of advice. It comes out in the form of a 
series of rumbles and tilted muzzle gesturings toward the target.

Thamon sighs as his turn comes up again, and he grins lopsidedly at the 
spectators that back up nervously a couple of paces when they see who is 
reaching for a sack. "I'll be more careful this time.." he calls, in an 
attempt to reassure. He swings his arms slightly before crouching down, 
and frowns as he grabs ahold of the sack. "Got to /aim/...." he mutters 
as he takes a deep breath- just about properly, one of his Masters might 
be pleased to note, if there were any about watching, and if they weren't 
dragging him off by the ear instead. With an effort of tired shoulders 
and arms, he heaves the sack up- watching where it's going this time as he 
hurls it toward the target.

Ethelwyn whews at that and after stepping away from the "some experiance" 
line, flops back onto a seat, "Shells! That was just heavey!"

Dalad as he watches some of the contestants throw, "Aye, tough compitition 
here...." he chuckles and sits himself down rubbing his hands.

F'nar grunts at his release, and walks off holding his shoulder. "I should 
NOT have done this," he announces to no one in particular.

Merla grins over at F'nar, hearing his complaint.

Alyssa puts away her kerchief and rests her hands on F'nar's shoulders. 
"It's all right, love...here." And she begins to massage the tense muscles 
in her weyrmate's shoulders, murmuring softly to him.

T'lar applauds even the worst throws, shouting encouragement to all.

Zera frowns as she stands behind the final sack and contemplates the 
target with a fixed stare. She brushes a stray strand of hair back behind 
her ear, unaware of the streak of dirt left across the side of her face. 
She briefly thinks about trying to swing this last one round, but recalls 
the scattering of the spectators during the last round. She settles on 
safely first and tugs the sack into the air. This time she bounces it five 
times to gain as much momentum as possible to compensate for her tiring 
arms. With a loud yell she looses the sack and encourages it towards the 
target.

Merla says, "Perhaps I should have P'tran institute mandatory sack toss 
training, F'nar...." she chuckles.

Kassima wrinkles her nose at T'lar, wiping away a smudge of 'stone dust. 
"Feh! I didn't *mean* to wing the 'lizard, you know--nay like he *was* one 
of mine." She winks, then turns to watch the last few throws.

"Oh, -oh-," Kindre grins over to Pleiath after she's through warbling to 
her, "-That's- how it's done, hmm," she inquiries to the dragon as a 
mirthful smirk tugs her lips upwards.

Nataly laughs

Taira chuckles at the various comments, watching the actions intently, but 
more curious towards the people.

T'lar Loki is shooed from his current perch.

Thamon dusts himself off and wanders over towards Taira, having completed 
his last throw.

Zera steps back from the line, watching the throws intently, nodding at 
the easy movemnets of the riders.

F'nar cringes at his weyrmate's touch. "Ow.. Ow.. Thanks, love, but I 
think a sling would help more.."

Ethelwyn grins and nods at the other Smiths and crafters around her, 
milling and rubbing her arms, "Yeah, it's lighter than that plow, but it's 
being throw. it's like...Throwing Master Webston or something..."

Emlyn nods at Meli's answer. Judging from the way Pleiath goes from 
lecturing Kindre to silence, one might assume the weyrling sent some 
silent message to the little green. Emlyn stretches her head one side to 
another, then hefts one of the sacks. Considering her dimimutive frame, 
the fact she can do this is cause for astonishment. Taking a long look at 
the target, she uses her favorite technique: swinging the sack high, then 
using its weight and a bit of a spin to hurl it toward its destination. 
The sack sails through the air, turning slowly end over end, and lands 
with a crunching thump. The weyrling grins and turns back to the others, 
wiping her hands together.

R'val claps, beaming, 'Wonderful shot, Emlyn!@"

Taira grins up at her cousin as he approaches. She then gives a sly look 
towards Kassima. "At least the firelizard could go between... my cousin 
seems to take aim at those of us more helpless." She then looks up at 
Thamon again and grins.

K'tel shrugs back into his jacket, then claps for the weyrling's throw.
Sonya cheers for all the throws.

Pleiath agrees with R'val, apparently. Her sweet-pitched voice warbles 
over the hum of ccnversation. Emlyn grins at R'val, saying, "Thank you, 
Sir."

F'nar hooks his fingers in a loop about his collar to rest his arms.

Thamon mock-scowls at his younger cousin. "Carful or I'll write you 
something scandalous and get you in big trouble with those older sibs of 
yours," he teases.

R'val smiles at Emlyn.

Dalad nods and shouts, "Good throw." to the weyrling.

"Shells, Emlyn," Kindre remarks after following the sacks avenue through 
the air, "Remind me to have Pleiath bespeak Hera with advise should this 
contest emerge again!"

Jaessa walks here from the north.

K'tel looks around for Thamon. Spotting him finally, he walks over then 
blinks in surprise, "Taira! You made it here too! HI!"

"How many rounds is th'contest?" Meli asks T'lar.

Alyssa removes her fingers from F'nar's shoulders with a little sigh and 
apology, then gives him a small hug about the waist and steps away to 
watch for the final judging.

T'lar blows at the tendrils of copper hair that hang in front of his face. 
"I think it's only three. But I'm not sure."

Thamon whistles innocently as K'tel wanders over, rocking slightly on his 
feet with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

F'nar says "Merla, I don't think it's that, I think its too many sacks 
thrown."

Emlyn blushes with pleasure at the comments on her throw. She lifts her 
hand in that fending off motion people use to hush something they're 
enjoying hearing. To Kindre, she says, "Oh, Ma'am, I dare not encourage 
her."

Taira leans up and ruffles her cousin's hair. "I'm too young to be 
scandalous, even if the whole clan of us did end up at weyrs." She then 
bounces to capture K'tel in a hug. "Zmeth greeted me for you, K'tel!"

F'nar says "Seventeen Turns of being in a pass makes for a lot of sacks 
tossed."

Jalimax walks north.

K'tel chuckles, "He did?" He shoots a look down the bowl, "He didn't tell 
me but I was distracted." He grins at Thamon, "With a little practice, 
you'll be tossing sacks with the best of us."

Merla chuckles at F'nar's statement.

T'bin walks here from the north.

Sonya stays beside R'val, watching the judges. She lifts her head to scan 
the crowd for a moment then shrugs, not seeing anyone she was looking for.

Dalad gets up and walks over mumbling jokingly to a another miner 
something about a big glass of ale in his future.

T'bin slips in from the north.

Kylee looks around and spots her brown flit winging towards her. "Oh 
Shells." She lifts her skirts and starts running across the bowl.

Kylee walks north.

Thamon laughs. "If I get posted to a Weyr, it might even come in handy, 
hmmm?"

Sonya pokes R'val. "Your quiet." she comments.

K'tel grins, "Exactly!"
Ethelwyn sits down and leans back for a moment to ask Tepper something. 
"Well then give me my mark! I designed the knife for you!"

Kindre chuckles a bit, "I suppose it would at that, F'nar." Watching the 
dust clear from the last few tosses, she peers to see where that crooked 
attempt at a toss of her landed the sack.

Taira wrinkles her nose, remembering seeing all the tossing at the 
different weys she's frequented. "I'll stick to flinging bags of flour, 
thank you..."

Nataly laughs

Thamon grins. "I'll have to remember that- and get posted to Boll!" he 
retorts. "Much of this and I wouldn't be able to finger a gitar for a 
sevenday or more..."

Emlyn has saluting riders down to a truly reflexive action now. She 
manages to salute arriving riders like T'bin without interrupting 
conversations, chores, or meals. At the moment, she's watching the judges 
and chatting with the riders about tosses.

T'lar keeps blowing at Meli's coppery hair. It catches the light in little 
red-gold twinkles.

Rilsa walks here from the north.

K'tel chuckles, "Boll seems to be popular with our family these days. I'm 
sure Dione would love to have you posted with her."

Meli reaches her hand up to scratch at her neck. "Hmm. Need a haircut 
again. Think you'll have time later, luv?"

Taira lets herself be remotely serious for a moment. "And more would be 
the shame for all of us, Thamon."

R'val grins at Sonya, "Just examining the crowd. Looking about. I hope 
the announce the winner soon.

F'nar says "Merla, not a month ago was Pavanth's twentieth turnday."

T'bin moves lithely through the crowd, a ripple of salutes from scattered 
weyrling who should know better ;-) marking his course. He makes his way 
over towards Sonya and R'val.

Alyssa's head turns as she regards F'nar in surprise.

Nataly hmmms

Rilsa nods a greeting, "'reaches duty ..."

T'lar pouts. "Aw, I like your hair longish. But sure, I'll have time 
later."

Ethelwyn chuckles along with the other Smiths.

K'tel nods agreement with Taira, "Yep."

F'nar hmms?

Thamon reaches down and ruffles Taira's hair with a grin. "Thanks... I 
think," he replies.

Taira slings an arm around each of her cousins' waists, then chuckles. "So 
when do I get to see if Benden's bakers are doing right by the craft, 
hmm?"

Merla says, "And Kimbrith is on her way to seventeen. Are you saying we're 
old, F'nar?"

Taira winks, eyes glittering.

Sonya's isn't hard to pick out in the crowd, she's the one with shorts and 
no jacket. She doesn't see T'bin yet, as her attention is on the judges, 
waiting for the descion.

Rilsa waves to Emlyn and grins.

Alyssa says as she takes F'nar's arm, "If my mate is getting old, he's not 
aware of it, Merla...and I should say the same about you."

Kassima chuckles and comments, "Only a month and a sevenday since Lyss, 
Jul, and the rest turned six, aye, Meli?"

Emlyn hears a familiar voice, and seeks the source. When she spies Rilsa's 
knot, she grins broadly. "Rilsa!" Her reflex-action salute rises and 
falls, of course. She probably didn't notice she did it.

F'nar scratches his head with his left arm, as his right is apparently 
unusable for the next few sevendays. I don't know. I don't feel that old, 
Merla."

T'bin sits down behind Sonya and R'val. "Hi."

Alyssa adds fond smiles to both bluerider and goldrider.

K'tel chuckles, "I could stop for a quick bite before heading back."

Ethelwyn looks over to teh riders and then says, "Like I'll beat out them. 
No."

R'val looks up , spots T'bin, and nods with a smile, "Hello T'bin. Long 
time no see."

Thamon rolls his eyes. "Incorrigible, you! When we find out the results 
of the contest, is when.. oh, K'tel! I nearly forgot. Kenai's over at the 
Far Cry display, with Kery. She said he was too fussy to come watch the 
contest."

Meli grins. "Ayep, Kassi. An' every day a joy."

Alyssa mutters to F'nar, "... last night,... you certainly... any... I..."

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Woo woo, lys!"

F'nar turns a deep, dark shade of red.

Benden Weyr> Kindre quirks brows Lyswards....? ;)

T'bin looks down, remembering the /last/ time he saw R'val. "Well, you 
know. Things are sort of busy."

Taira beams. "My neice! That's _almost_ good enough to skip finding out 
the results... "

K'tel ahs! "I was wondering where she ran off to. I'll visit her before I 
go."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa has no idea who @emitting that. I certainly would -- 
ahem -- never say such a thing.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa O:-)

T'lar nods to Kassima. "Hard to believe. And I'm not so sure about 
everyday." A dragon bugle can be heard from above. "Okay. Every day."

Merla grins at the exchange between F'nar and Alyssa.

Benden Weyr> Kassima wolf-whistles at Lys and F'nar! ;)

Rilsa walks over toward Emlyn and grins, "Well, I see they've brainwashed 
your arm already. How've you bee and Pleiath?

<judges> The scattering is even wider this time, as tired muscles take a 
greater toll. Alyssa and Kindre, in particular, had trouble, Alyssa's 
falling far short and Kindre's, while it goes farther, landing nearly on 
the side ropes. Zera's sack lands in the inside-but-one circle again, as 
does Dalad's. Thamon has gotten his aim back this time, not only not 
endangering anyone but lapping one corner of the sack into the inner 
circle. Firwen, also, straddles the boundary of the inner circle, hers 
landing almost halfway across. Kassi's throw might have been perfect, had 
it not been very _slightly_ deflected by that 'lizard. As it is, it lands 
with one corner outside the circle, and another hitched up atop Ethelwyn's 
bag, which this time landed squarely in the center. Emlyn's bag also lands 
in the middle, one corner out, though she's not eligible for a prize since 
she missed the first two rounds -- too bad, with a toss like that. 
(Everyone else hit the target, but not as close.)

F'nar manages a weak smile at his weyrmate. "Uh.. Thank you."

Benden Weyr> Merla Laughs at Alyssa!

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "What's that easter egg doing on your head, 'lys?"

Sonya looks over and smiles brightly as she hears T'bin's voice. Leaning 
over she gives him a quick kiss. "Heya hon, all done with sweeps." she 
looks between R'val and T'bin with a quizical look.

Ethelwyn blinks and peers, "I hit the center....I hit dead on center..." 
she says, shocked.

R'val smiles at T'bin, "Especially around here."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Um...the bunny hop, Meli?"

T'bin says "Sort of. I was filling in for K'relk who came up here, but he 
got in early and so I could come."

Benden Weyr> T'lar brings his hand down onto Alyssa's head. The egg was 
not hard boiled.

T'bin adds, glancing again at R'val, "I came cause K'relk said you were in 
one of the contests?"

Emlyn impulsively gives Rilsa a quick hug, she's so pleased to see a 
Reaches rider. "Pleiath and I are well, thank you. How are you getting 
along? You look well."

Tinya and Ursa note down the results of this final round, as the resident 
helpers gather up the sacks and restack them all at the end of the contest 
area. This particular consultation goes on a long while, with numerous 
frowns and gesticulations as the judges attempt to settle on the final 
winners.

R'val Smiles, "The contest's over."

T'bin grimaces. "Oh?"

Kassima grins as she listens to Lys and F'nar, then laughs agreement with 
T'lar. "Every day a joy in some ways, if nay in others! Very little can be 
unrestricted joy in life, after all...." She scrutinizes where the sacks 
landed, then asks of Kin, "D'you still have that wine, perchance?"

Thamon bounces just slightly on his feet, watching the judges.

Nataly walks here from the north.

T'lar says "There's the answer to your question, sweeting. Three rounds."

Sonya nods to R'val. "Aye, looks like we didn't do so hot, eh?"

Emlyn looks over at the bowl, adding to Rilsa, "I didn't see Corineth 
arrive. I assume he's well, too."

Bronia walks here from the north.

Zera moves away from the competition area towards the main crowd, while 
listening to the judging. She smiles as she shakes out her tired 
shoulders, offering congratulations to the smith as she makes her way 
past.

Alyssa of course blushes just as F'nar does and glances toward the lake 
shore. "I'm going to wash up...I'll be right back."

Lavinia walks here from the north.

Alyssa heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the South 
Bowl area of the Weyr.

K'tel shakes his head as he examines the target, "Definitely need more 
practice." He looks around, "Good thing Irina wasn't around to see that."

A miner apprentice overhearing Dalad's words earlier arrives with a mug a 
ale for his craftmaster, after Dalad thanks the boy mentioning something 
about going very far in the craft he turns to see the results.

Nataly heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the South 
Bowl area of the Weyr.

T'bin says "Sack tossing?"

Rilsa returns the hug and grins, "I'm fine, fine. Keepin' the 'Reaches 
males in line as usual." She grins, "Cori's doing very well. He's at the 
northen bowl right now, trying to get snacks from people."

Taira grins. "She would have you in practice the rest of your days..."

Sonya nods, rotateing her shoulders around. "Aye, and I am sore allready." 
she rubs at tired muscles in her arm.

R'val nods, "Aye, it was sack tossing." He glances at his weyrmate and 
Ursa speculatively, "They must be nearly done judging now."

Bronia waves to the other Istan riders and then moves over towards Zera. 
"Good to see you again, journeyman."

"But of course," Kindre says quickly to Kassima as she moves through 
those still straggling in the 'some experience' line. Plucking the 'skin 
from its resting places, she strides over to the greenrider. "My ability 
to toss is comparable to that of knives: I've no aim," she notes and 
chuckles. "Here you go."

K'tel nods and cringes in mock terror, "So would Sayra for that matter. 
Good thing she isn't here either."

Jecharra stands and brushes herself off, heading back to the tents now 
that the games have finished.

Jecharra walks north.

Ethelwyn stares at her sack for a long time, "I can't believe that!"

Lavinia heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the South 
Bowl area of the Weyr.

T'bin draws his knife, and runs his fingers across the hilt. "WellI'm 
pretty awful at sack tossing too."

Taira clucks, lightly hitting K'tel on the shoulder. "It's never a good 
thing when family isn't here!" Though with the size of the Far Cry 
hoarde...

Jaessa disappears into the prize tent.

Emlyn laughs at what Rilsa said about Corineth. "Getting snacks? As if 
somebody could hand a brown his size enough food for him even to notice 
he'd had it."q

K'tel chuckles at Taira, "Okay, okay! Are we ready to go get food? All 
that tossing made me hungry?"

Jaessa emerges from the prize tent.

Kassima grins and takes a long drink of the wine, before returning it to 
Kin with a grateful smile. "Thankee. I'm going to have to wash up, too, 
when I find out the results."

Thamon smothers a snicker at that. "Least I don't have to worry about 
/that/... now, if Shirana finds out I've been away from duty /this 
long..." he trails off a trifle anxiously, peering around before looking 
back at his cousins.

The judges have evidently finished their deliberations, for Tinya puts 
down her writing materials and claps her hands for attention. She calls, 
in a firm clear voice, "First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for 
participating; you all did a marvelous job! It was a difficult decision 
to reach, and quite close, but we've decided: The winner is Ethelwyn! 
First runner up goes to Kassima, and second runner up to Firwen! 
Congratulations to our winners, and thank you all for coming!"

Jaessa walks north.

R'val applauds politely, smiling at the contest.

Rilsa grins at Emlyn, "I know that and you know that." She looks around, 
"Guess I missed the contest?"

Meli also applauds, then scooches forward to hop down from the fence.

Firwen finds one of the benches scattered among the bowl for weary 
festival goers and settles her generous person on it with a sigh. Her two 
brown eyes alight with some amusement as she hears her name called as a 
second runner up; it elicits a rich chuckle from her.

Thamon applauds for the winners with a rueful grin. "See?" he asks K'tel.

T'lar says "Where you going, luv?"

Kindre bobs her head as she looks over her smudged hands and dress. "Me 
as well," she notes while taking the skin and a long sip, too.

K'tel grins and claps for the winners, "See what?"

Sonya grins, her attention more on T'bin now then the judges. "I heard 
there was a knife throwing contest, but I missed that one. I'm sure you 
would have won that on." the hilt of a knife is seen in Sonya's own boot 
"I know I would have lost that one worse.

Taira pauses a few seconds before answering, then grins at her cousins 
after applauding the victors. "NOW we can go. Stomach before curiousity, 
K'tel? You must be getting older."

F'nar says "Congratulations!"

Meli turns, smiling up at T'lar. "Thought I'd take a turn 'round th'bowl 
again. Haven't seen all th'displays."

K'tel heys! He shoots Taira a look, "Just you wait, young 'un."

Zera comes to a standstill next to Bronia. "You too, Bronia." Her eyes 
take in the new patch on Bronia's jacket and she smiles. "You've 
graduated? Congratulations!" She warmly pats Bronia's arm, wincing 
slightly as she does so.

R'val chuckles at Sonya, "I did badly at it, m'self."

Ursa adds her voice to Tinya's, calling, "Well thrown, all of you. Thanks 
for participating!"

Emlyn applauds the results. She says to Rilsa, "You missed it, yes. I did, 
too, actually. One of the weyrlingmasters had me throw a sack, I think 
just to remind me not to get soft over the two day festival." Emlyn's grin 
flashes for a second, before she adds, "It was fun to watch."

T'lar says "Have you seen the Bayhead Hold tent? The map is up."

Dalad applauds the winners and with his already drained mug of ale starts 
to wander away with the other miners toward the winecraft pavillion.

Thamon grins at K'tel as he turns to head north toward food. "See, I 
really don't know anything about it," he clarifies.

"Oh," Kindre says quickly after swallowing, "Congrats! The tosses were 
all fine!"

Meli shakes her head. "Nope, not yet. I'd like t'see how it turned out!"

Taira laughs, then darts off ahead of her cousins. "Come on along now!"

Ethelwyn blinks and erfs and she's thumped on the back a few times, "i 
won?"

Taira walks north.

K'tel walks north.

Sonya pokes R'val "but your a bendenite, so it's forgivable." she teases 
the bluerider.

Bronia grins. "Yep" She indicates the patch. "Belior Wing."

R'val thpts Sonya teasingly and pokes her back, with a grin

Ethelwyn looks in shock and gets nudges north.

Ethelwyn walks north.

F'nar grumbles. "Honorary white ribbon in the form of a sling goes to me."

T'lar hops down. "Think I'll go check out the other tents as well."

Thamon walks north.

Kassima blinks in surprise, then breaks into a grin. "Me? Thank Faranth--
y'know, you two were right about the mental imaging thing!"

T'lar walks north.

Dalad walks north.

Mercy walks north.

Zera smiles at Bronia as she applauds the winners of the throwing contest. 
"I'm sure you'll make them proud of you."

T'bin frowns. "I was stupid enough to show off with a knife this 
afternoon. I think it's probably better I didn't make it too public."

Rilsa grins at Emlyn, "Aye, I can see that. Oh, well. That's what I get 
for having sweeps." She looks around, "What's the next thing coming up?"

Bronia chuckles slightly. "Did you ever see the letter Master Tria sent me 
when I impressed?"

Ethelwyn walks here from the north.

Tinya grins at Kassi and nods. "Looks like. 'Course, runner-up prizes are 
firelizard eggs, which you need like a hole in the head."

Sonya laughs, pokeing back in the blueriders side. "Hey now, I come from 
Ista, we're expected to be better than you Benden people." she flashes a 
warm smile to T'bin. "You didn't hurt anyone did you?"

Zera frowns at Bronia. "Letter? No, I don't believe I did."

R'val oofs, and tickles Sonya, "Better? Hah!"

Kassima chuckles and quips wryly, "There are those who'd certes say I 
could use a hole in the head, y'know."

Merla grins at Tinya, "She could always use another green!"

Ethelwyn gets back with a mug of somthing in her hands and is lost but 
smiling. "Okay, whats this mean now..."

An anonymous bluerider calls, "I'm sure some woodcrafters would be glad to 
help with that hole in the head, Kassima!"

T'bin shakes his head. "No. S'cred still has both thumbs."

Kindre chuckles quietly, her head shaking as she listens to the quips 
filtering about.

Emlyn looks embarrassed at Rilsa's question. "To be honest, I have no 
idea. I've spent most of the time this was being prepared working in the 
weyrling wing. I've simply been following the crowd from event to event." 
She grins. "Sort of like a herdbeast when the manger's filled."

Bronia smiles mischievously. "Oh, it was a very nice letter. Congratulating
me on the impression and saying she was sure I'd do Ista proud as I did the
Beastcraft proud throughout my career there" She winks. "I was never quite
sure whether the irony was intentional or she was just trying to be nice
and the wording was unfortunate"

Kassima yells to the anonymous bluerider, "I'm sure they'd *rather* help
you drill some sense into your skull!" She grins, winks, and turns her
attention back to the prior coversation. "A'course, Merlath! Who says
twenty small ones--and one very *large* one--are enough?"

Rilsa laughs, "Sounds like a plan." She looks around at the turnout, "Is
M'kla around? Haven't seen her since the Bitran fiasco."

T'bin looks up at the word 'Bitra', and frowns at Sonya.

Sonya heys! and pokes at R'val again before makeing a mistake and turning
her back on the Benden rider to talk to T'bin. She grins. "Well, that's
good. He's a...Belior rider right?"

Merla grins at Kassima, "Exactly!"

Ethelwyn disappears into the prize tent.

T'lar walks here from the north.

Sonya hears the word bitra as well, but doesn't turn her head. She smiles
warmly again at T'bin, trying to keep the subkect light. "So exactly what
did you do?"

Firwen heaves herself to her feet and weaves her way around various
residents to follow the bluerider in charge of the contest into the prize
tent.

Emlyn hasn't heard of the 'Bitran fiasco' Rilsa referenced, so has no idea
how long it's been since the visiting rider saw M'kla last. She considers,
then says, "I've not seen her in a while. Maybe she's visiting people in
the infirmary. I hear a pot of her klah was accidentally served at
breakfast this morning." Emlyn says this with a straight face.

T'lar stands with his arms around Meli from behind as they watch the
going-ons around them.

T'bin's lips twist in a sly grin. "Naturally. He was concerned...that
certain High Reaches greenriders were a threat to certain Timor wingmen.
I....let him know Timor riders are capable of looking out for themselves.
That's all."

Warm air greets you as you step inside the prize tent.