Fireworks Finale, SmithFest Day 2

Annik - Saturday, May 17, 2003

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Public announcement: Taria announces "The Smithcraft Festival is winding down for the evening and as usual we're about to go out with a bang... The grande fireworks finale is about to begin in a few minutes, so come join us (+go Smi-meadow) and watch the show!"

 

Main Meadow(#700RJ)

The expansive meadow ends here in a cluster of buildings. The structures are dominated by a huge grey slate edifice to the south, where a stream of crafters and almost constant sounds of craftwork indicate it as the main work hall for the Smiths. Otherwise, the main meadow is relatively bare - simple footpaths breaking up the broad, flat area, and a few clusters of trees at the fringes. The air blooms with the smells of fresh vegetation and pure sunshine. Dotted along the ground, small flowers peek out through the greenery, vivid purples, yellows, and whites. Blue sky is broken only by the occasional tree, but otherwise, not a cloud looms on the horizon. Whispy puffs of breeze stir the calm occasionally, but very little disrupts the lazy summer day.

Glancing around, you note several paths through the meadow leading to various buildings. The Dining Hall, partially connected to the Business Hall, is to the east, with the Apprentice Hall conveniently close in the northeast. The smaller Journeyman's Hall is directly to the north, the Resident's Hall is to the northwest, and the Chemistry Building is to the northeast.

Contents:

Tarien

Kiani

Fireworks

Ceryca

Jaadun

Taria

Pheneth

Healer Hall Gather Tent(#12753Jes$)

Falan's Wagon (FW)(#7496Jae$)

WeaverCraft Tent <WCT>(#2588JOe$)

Jaereth

Harper Hall Pavilion(#8117JOe)

Woodsmith Gather Tent(#3617JOe)

Smithcraft Building <SB>

Schedule of Events

Nail Estimate Jar

SmithCraft Tent <ST>(#15345Jem$)

BakerCraft Tent

Obvious exits:

Chemistry Building  Work Hall  Dining Hall  Business Hall  Residence Hall  Journeyman Hall  Apprentice Dorm  Lower Meadow

 

Ceryca moves over towards the Istan Smith, saying in a low voice, "That suncatcher is just the prettiest thing. They said you made it?"

 

Taria smiles and waves. as people start to emerge from the tents and further around the festival area. Nervously, she adds. "Smithcrafts's duties, to first Kiani, and Tarien, before inviting them to find a comfortable seat for the show.

 

Annik stands to one side, watching as people arrive.

 

Taria starts to greet Ceryca as well, and then smiles at her. "Oh, yes, yes ma'am, I did. I'm glad you liked it." she adds smiling with a faint blush.

 

"Fort's duties," Kiani offers cheerfully, once she's dismounted. Two children follow her--a tall girl, who makes a beeline for Tarien, and a young boy with a cap of wild red hair, whom the bluerider swings effortlessly into her arms before following the first child.

 

Jaadun frowns as the area starts to fill up with more people, moving his large form to one side and trying ot stay out of the way.

 

Tarien tucks gloves into her pockets as she makes her way through the meadow, with a smile and a bob of her head to Taria. "Telgar's duties to Smithcraft -- and to Fort," is added, the smile growing wider upon spotting the Fortian bluerider and the children. The girl's given a noisy kiss, the boy's hair is ruffled, she smiles at Kiani, then offers a polite but warm nod to Annik. "I hope we're not too late."

 

Annik smiles at Tarien and shakes her head. "Not at all. We're just getting set up."

 

Several Smith apprentices run around, checking the line of pipes which must be where the fireworks are.

 

Ceryca blinks, then hastily demures. "I'm no Ma'am," she says, though the girl also seems somewhat gratified by the polite term of address.

 

Taria giggles. "Can never be too polite when the Craftmaster is keeping tabs on us." she notes with a wink. "Will you be staying for the displays?"

 

Tarien grins at Annik, "Thanks." She takes Rani's hand in her own and wends her way through the crowd, finds a seat, and sits, waving Kiani over to join her.

 

Ceryca nods quickly. "Yes! Absolutely," she says, eyes automatically turning towards the fireworks being set up. "It's been /ages/ since I've seen fireworks. Griere's going to be jealous."

 

Taria recognises the name. "Istan?" she queries, keeping an eye on the incoming folks in case she needs to go make her duties again.

 

Kiani has little to do but follow in the wake of her younger sister and her eldest daughter, so with a bit of a shrug, and a sheepish smile, she heads in their direction and sits, settling the boy in her lap.

 

Ceryca mm-hmms, nodding. "My sister," she adds. "I don't know where she is. I thought she was going to come, but I haven't seen her anywhere. Maybe she's off kissing boys behind the tents."

 

Taria catches Annik's nod and grins back. "Probably." she says, with another warm grin. "Excuse me, I have to go do this." she notes quietly, stepping across to the centre and lifting her voice to say "Welcome everyone, we're so glad you can join us tonight. And I know those of you with little's will appreciate us getting the show started quickly, now that it's properly dark." she pauses and grins. "So without much further ado, our finest chemists have been working very hard to put together this simply amazing display for your viewing pleasure." and she grins and steps down moving to the first of the fireworks needing to be lit, with proper ceremonial posturings.

 

Jaadun crosses his arms as he leans against one of the tables, watching quietly.

 

Annik nods approvingly as she watches her apprentice.

 

Taria carefully lights the first fuse of the line of rockets, then quickly backs away as it sputters to life.

 

With a faint whistling noise, a tiny point of light streaks upwards. High above, it explodes, displaying a bright flash. A loud BOOM follows immediately after.

 

Wisps of smoke drift lazily through the air until the sky is clear again.

Ceryca folds her arms over her chest, watching closely until the first one goes off, her body flinching in reaction to the sound as she watches, wide-eyed.

 

Taria grins, giving the craftmaster the thumbs up as she backs away from the first of the fireworks safely.

 

Annik smiles and tilts her head up to watch the fireworks as they go off.

 

Kiani grins at Taria, and covers Brian's ears as the booms start, while the girl in Tarien's lap does the same. She leans companionably against Tarien's shoulder, and looks up, content to sit and watch.

 

Taria lights the second fuse, backing away and peering upwards.

 

From above, Indrath slowly wings downwards from the sky high above.

 

Splitter, splatter. A vivid bloom in scarlet opens its petals to the sky suddenly, followed by a sharp fizz of daisy white petals scattering outwards from its yellow heart.

 

Jaadun lifts his head to watch the fireworks, now and again looking around to see other's reactions to the explosions and colors.

 

From above, Indrath spirals down to a landing on the main meadow.

Indrath spirals down and lands carefully on the meadow.

Indrath has arrived.

 

Tarien leans down to murmur something soft in Rani's ear, smiles at Kiani, and tilts her head up to watch. "Last time I saw this," she comments, between booms, "it was at our winter festival, and I haven't ever forgotten."

 

Ceryca moves over to find a place out of the way where she can sit down, heedless of her pretty blue dress on the grass. She tilts her head up, leaning on her hands.

 

Annik recognizes the Telgar Weyrleader and waves welcomingly, motioning for him to join the crowd.

 

Wide, wide of the airborne display, Indrath approaches along the earth's nape rather than end up the target of Smith creations. He settles to an inobtrusive landing at the meadow's edge, near the treeline, and his rider dismounts there -- already shaking his head and muttering, with amused incredulity, "You'd be just as happy playing dodge-the-fireball up there, wouldn't you? No. I didn't Impress you just to make you a target in some kind giant flaming knife throw. Stay put, hm? Autumn's on us, there'll be storms soon."

 

K'ran eases down from Indrath's back.

K'ran has arrived.

 

Taria grins as she spies another of the Telgar leaders arriving, though she's moving about towards the third set of fuses. "Here we go." she mutters as she finds it and strikes.

 

Taria lights the third fuse and moves away from the rocket.

 

A Neratian wildflower arcs across the sky now, trailing drooping petals groundwards in a flash of white light. Each petal dissolves into a haze of shimmering sparks that fade in the night sky.

 

On Tarien's lap, Rani squirms around upon hearing that voice--one she'd know anywhere--and beams a wide smile at K'ran. Kiani takes a hand off Brian's ear long enough to wave to the arriving bronzerider, and clamps it back down again as the latest fuse is lit. "Ooh...pretty, that one."

 

"Whoa!" exclaims K'ran for that blazing blossom, for all that he's greeting Annik with a broad grin, a wave, and a lusty, "Duties, Annik, duties!" as he crosses toward the crowd. Tarien and Kiani both get a smile, too, as do the little ones; but he makes to mingle briefly before joining them, and confesses to Craftmaster, "I just got word. This is even better than last time, I think, and I've only seen a bit, yet. Looks like you've all the way recovered from that fire."

 

Annik nods at K'ran, grinning. "Yes, we did. And yes, I do hope we've been improving our skills since last time."

 

Jaadun rubs his neck as if it's stiffening from looking upward.

 

Tarien murmurs a quiet, "Lovely," in agreement with Kiani, and only then does she look up. Her smile's as wide as the girl's upon spotting the Weyrleader, but she stays put, resting her head on Kiani's shoulder to watch the spectacle.

 

Ceryca's lips part and she stares up into the sky, silent in her enjoyment of the beautiful patterns in the sky.

 

Taria quickly lights the fourth fuse and backs away.

 

Two rockets shoot up into the sky at the same time. They explode simultaneously, one into a huge red circle, and the other into a slightly smaller disk of bright white.

 

The colors intermingle as they descend and gradually fade away.

 

Annik ooohs softly at the latest explosion.

 

"Now if I could just have persuaded more of the weyrfolk to come out and enjoy this," chuckles K'ran. "I'll leave you to it -- let me find a place to watch quietly..." He trails off as he steps into the meadow, and long strides carry him to where Kiani, Tarien, and the youngsters sit. "Hey," he whispers, to them, and stretches out among them. "Rani, sweetling, what d'you make of that last one? Brian, where's your da -- is he busy at home?" For the womenn, he has no words, just a beaming smile.

 

Kiani's eyes widen. "Wow." Not exactly eloquent, but it's a sincere statement of reaction. "Pretty!" Rani says to K'ran, and she clings to Tarien for a moment longer before she scrambles forward to settle in next to him. Brian, protesting the arrangement of his mother's hands over his ears, starts to squirm. The bluerider sighs a bit, but relents and smiles. "Unfortunately. He wanted to come, but something came up last minute, and since we'd promised Rani..." She trails off and shrugs.

 

Taria lights the fuse, scooting back to let it do its damage.

 

There's a soft *fzzt* as another rocket launches into the sky and then screams into action.

 

For a moment there is blackness in the air and then the sky lights up with a brilliant green starburst. Another follows, and another, filling the spot where the others are showering green raindrops gently to the ground.

 

Jaadun raises his eyebrows. "Nice," is his one word comment at that spectacular display.

 

Ceryca twitches in startlement at this first burst, then relaxes as she watches the rest sparkling down out of the sky.

 

"So beautiful," Tarien murmurs, without offering a protest as Rani moves, though she does make an attempt to ruffle the girl's hair first. K'ran's smile is returned, eyes sparkling, then she leans back on her hands to watch the remainder of the display.

 

K'ran reaches an arm around behind Rani -- and not coincidentally offering a hand to Tarien. "You should stick with your aunt," he tells the nine-year-old in a faux-stern whisper, for all that he gives her a quick kiss on the forehead. "She'll get lonely if you don't;" and, "Hey!" he exclaims, again, as those rings of emerald light the sky. "Wow."

 

Taria sighs happily. "There's something pretty magical about watching a rocket zoom off into the air and shower everyone with brilliant colours. For a moment now her face is lit up with green light as the latest of the crackers goes off. , and she seems almost reluctant to set off another too quickly. One big bang and they're gone forever. Still there's lots of reassuring ooohs and aaaahs behind her as the contingent of smith apprentices have arrived, even those that are standing peeking at the edge of the tent.

 

Annik is still standing by the edge of the crowd, head tilted up as she watches contentedly.

 

Taria grins in anticipation as her lights the final fuse.

 

Several rockets burst forth into the sky in quick succession. One by one, they detonate and expand: first a shower of purple, then green, and finally red. Meanwhile, more of the fireworks have ascended, and before the first volley has faded, shimmering gold, blue, and white grace the sky. Again, before the colors have disappeared, three silvery showers crackle to life at once, creating a shimmering curtain in the sky.

 

The rainbow of color gently falls, each point of light winking out as it fades away.

 

Rani plants a noisy kiss on her papa's cheek and settles for a compromise, lying on her back between the pair of Telgari riders. Kiani spares a moment to watch this and simply shakes her head, amused. "Seen greens that color," she comments, then falls silent again quickly, watchful.

 

Ceryca gasps, drawing in a quick, sharp breath, licking her lips and staring up at the finale. "Oh, look," she hisses to no one in particular. "Beautiful."

 

Jaadun looks impressed by that final display. "Nice show," he tells a group of nearby apprentices.

 

Tarien links her fingers with K'ran's, a brief flash of wistfulness in her smile. Shaking her head rapidly, she looks Kiani's way, then skyward, the finale drawing a quietly breathed sigh. "Wow..."

 

Annik walks closer to the crowd and smiles. "That was our finale, but the tents will be here for the rest of the night, and there is still plenty of food in our dining hall. Thank you all for coming, and I hope you've enjoyed - and will continue to enjoy - our festival."

 

K'ran's left speechless by the finale, shaking his head and clapping an open hand on his knee 'til the lights fade. When Annik speaks up, he calls back, "Congratulations, Annik, on that fine display!"

 

Ceryca brings her hands up and joins the Weyrleader's applause, enthusiastically, sitting still for the moment, and peering up at the sky as though more might appear.

 

Annik chuckles at K'ran. "Thanks. We're always proud of our chemists for their skill."

 

Kiani takes her hands off Brian's ears--just in time, the quick fade of his pout might suggest. "What'd you think, hmm?" She looks up as Annik speaks, and grins, with a speculative look the way of the tents.

 

Rosmyn has arrived.

 

Unable to clap, Tarien lets out an appreciative whistle instead, grinning widely. "We really should have another display back at the Weyr sometime -- perhaps next time we have a Gather...?" Though it seems largely an idle question, a thoughtful gleam has appeared in the young Weyrwoman's eyes.

 

Annik smiles and quietly excuses herself.

 

Rosmyn grins saucily and shakes her head, laughing at the young rider who gave her a lift. "In your dreams, you think I have a spare sixteenth mark to spend on the likes of you?" With a bounce, she lands on the ground and looks about the gather grounds, her eyes wide as she takes it all in.

 

SmithCraft Tent <ST>(#15345Jem$)

You stand inside this airy tent. There are benches and tables showing the various wares that the Smiths have today. One table on the left has an arrangement of knives, ranging from plain hunting, to jewel-pommeled, non-functional knives, and even some eating knives. On the right, at the glasscrafters table, are an array of goblets, chalices and glass dragons which sit below a dangling array's of suncatchers that scatter the light around in a pleasing manner. A few machines sit in the center, mostly attracting a few confused looks from the majority of people, they would be VERY impressive if anyone other than the smiths knew what they were. In the far back hang some wind-chimes in both glass and metal, twisting and tinkling softly in the breeeze.

Standing next to each table is a helpful young apprentice, ready to find things for you and take your marks.

NOTE: +view-able things are available. Have a look, you'll like it.

Contents:

Silver(#3014p)

 

You slip into the SmithCraft Tent to have a look around.

 

Smith Meadow> Jaadun watches as another familiar Igenite puts in an appearance, commenting to her from where he's standing, "You just missed the fireworks."

 

Smith Meadow> Ceryca rises from her seat on the grass, dusting stray blades fro her skirt. She glances over towards the young woman from Igen just arriving.

 

Smith Meadow> Taria sneaks away back to the tent.

 

Smith Meadow> Several of the apprentices begin cleaning up the remains of the fireworks.

 

Smith Meadow> Rosmyn smirks and shakes her head, gesturing up and to the west. "We were watchin up there. It was really great." She heads over to the stablemaster. "Anything good bargains around here still? Couldn't get back from the 'Reaches until today." She nods friendly enough to Ceryca when she passes.

 

Smith Meadow> Taria smiles, and quietly slips away as well, back to her post at the gather tent.

 

Taria comes into the SmithCraft Tent <ST>

Taria has arrived.

 

Smith Meadow> "We could," agrees K'ran, thoughtfully -- though prompts Kiani, with a look toward her and Brian, "Would the two of you come? I know your mother would enjoy seeing you." His tone's held somewhat neutral, there; he's not fuelling any disputes.

 

Smith Meadow> Ceryca turns to head off into the Smith Craft tent, returning after a little bit with a wrapped bundle. She meets up with an Istan greenrider, and the two walk off towards the lower meadow where his dragon waits.