Fellowship of the Dice

"How wonderful!" Pipkin says with child-like enthusiasm as he looks up at all the kites. "In the Shire we just have the diamond-shaped ones. Well, Old Gaffer Dunston has one shaped like an open box. He says his gaffer got it from dwarves, if you can believe that. But the amazing thing is that it really flies. Up in the air. Of course now that I see these kites, the gaffer's box kite seems almost normal. Do they fly kites where you live?"

Borir watches the kites and enjoys the moment. The young dwarf has seen a few kites, but he had never spent much time to simply watch and enjoy. When he notices the dwarven company with kites, he points saying "Ooooo. Look there, that's some mighty fine kites!"

"I'm afraid kite flying is a pleasure the elves of Mirkwood must forgo," says Varuthil. "The woods are too thick to really permit it. And, given the creatures of Shadow that lurk in the woods, we prefer not to give away our presence in such a fashion." She looks at the kites and sighs. "It is a pity. Perhaps one day the woods may be cleansed of the Shadow and we go up to the heights of hills in Mirkwood and fly kites. But I suspect that day is a long way off."

Aerth has found Varuthil's talk of the Shadow tiring at best. The man knows of the Shadow, and fights it relentlessly across the peoples of the Wilderland. He, however, does not feel the need to sour the mood here speaking of things that should be left to those that know of the lingering Shadow among the hills and trees. There is no reason to spoil the mood.

Watching the trees, the fully packed man pauses for a moment near the others, but says nothing. He simply watches the kits fly with a satisfied grin.

Wren sits and watches the kites with fascination. He had seen them before, but never had the privilege of flying one. When his mind wanders he produces a piece of stock and a small knife from his bag. As he begins to carve into the block he turns to Varuthil, "Forgo? One must simply leave the forest now and again to be presented with such choices." With a grin, "All forests have shadows..."

Varuthil scowls at Wren for making light of the Shadow, then realizes that he is only trying to lighten the mood and enjoy himself. The scowl fades and she says, "Yes, I suppose that's true. So, let's see you try to fly that kite. Do you have any practice with such things?"

The talk of the Shadow always sours the mood and you can see on many faces the displeasure when Varuthil brings it up yet again. The Dragon Smaug was defeated five year ago, this is a celebration of that great victory over the dragon and of the Goblin and Warg army afterwards -- what Shadow is there still to fear?

Wren lightens the mood some, and then you see it. A vendor down on the field not far, selling kites, small ones, they aren't much coin and are brightly colored of all manner, one might finds something pleasing for everyone among his wares.

Wren smiles at Varuthil while putting his unfinished carving away. "Practice with such things...no, but it appears you have thrown down the gauntlet."

He begins to make his way to the vendor, "Come on everyone, what's flying a kite without a little bit of...contest."

Pipkin ambles over to the merchant and looks at the kites, trying to find one that matches the kites he used to fly as a child.

Varuthil follows the others to purchase a kite. Surprisingly, she turns out to be quite choosy, looking closely over the kites before deciding which one to buy and try flying.