The weather continues to obey annual and seasonal averages, obeying the climate that is not, particularly, visible. The fog lets through rain and sun as if it were not there. And in the lower city, by a repaired fountain, a small party has broken out. People are having a ball, although notably the ballroom and half of the orchestra are missing. Still, under a tarpaulin cover, in the main square not far from the hospital, people are dancing, singing, eating... All of those helping at the impromptu feast bear the mark of the Unicorn on their foreheads.

The hospital. It's a big grey building that might have been a hospital before. It's down three blocks and over a hop and a skip from Filinia's Fountain. The doors are propped open, when Amy is there. Like now. The petite blonde is standing by a bunch of boxes, peeling off the tops to see what's in them, because none of them are labelled. She's muttering something about finding good help, and who sends 10 boxes of supplies without labelling any of them. As Amy works, she can't help but hear the sounds of the party, and her gaze goes that way. When she opens the third box to find it contains saw dust and nothing but, she flings up her arms in dispair. "I give up!" she exclaims and then turns on her heel, heading out the door (and closing it on the way). She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and heads towards the sounds-like-a-party she can hear.

Sounds of a party? Well then! Mortimer has a little sly grin upon his face as he wanders along the edges of the lower city. Mostly out for a walk, getting a better view of what's in the area. He's coming up along the street as he watches Amethyst get frustrated at something in the boxes that she's digging through and lets out a small laugh. Holding his hand up in the air, "Hello!" Then the same hand lightly brushing though his brown hair, and back over his neck before giving a little tuck to the frock coat he's wearing. Heading over towards the hospital and trying to catch up with her.

Danielle is always scanning the area these days and is instantly drawn to the sound of commotion. This seems to be commotion of the pleasant variety and not wanting to make any too sudden gestures that might change this, she observes at the edgew but moves close enough that sshe night pick up on some of the conversation

Kynan is making one of his frequent visits to a certain pottery shop, or whatever it might happen to be today. He skirts the crowd around the fountain as he heads to the storefront, and if all looks as it should on the outside, opens the door to peer in.

The pottery is much as it should be, insofar as it is now an abandoned house; a half-thrown clay pot has dried and cracked, the hearth has a brave spider making a web there, and there is the distinct smell of cat poo and rotten fish about.

Vitas lies awake abed in the hospital, on account of having just been stabbed. This is, however, still quite a dramatic, significant and thankful improvement over lying abed in the hospital while comatose. And even being in the coma was still an improvement over feeling giant spider legs rend through your person, thereupon to explode -ily shatter. So. All things considered, then, Vita's week is looking up! Vitas himself looks up as well, slowly and gingerly propping, inching, and elbowing himself up onto his 'good' side as some sort of noise of commotion makes its way on in through the window. Hm. Something seems to be happening? Outside? Vitas closes his eyes and listens.

At the party, it looks like people are celebrating the water running strong, with many hails to the Unicorn for providing this miracle. Danielle, lurking at the edges, is offered food by someone who seems to have been posted to watch for lurkers.

Amy pauses, at the edge of the party, and then turns back to go into the hospital, up to Vitas' room. "Hey," she says from the door. "Are you feeling well enough to go out and get some fresh air?"

In his attempt to catch up with Amethyest, she doubles back on him and apparently runs right past him. A little shake of his head as he is in mid reintroduction, "Hi. I'm Mortimer, we didn't get much of ..." and she's off into the hospital. He breathes into his hand and tries to sniff his own breath. Nope. Gives a a little shrug and heads over to the party. "Hello! What's the party for?"

A pretty young woman looks up, smiles at Mortimer, and says, "The Unicorn brought back the water, thanks to hard work!"

She indicates the fountain, gives Mortimer a brilliant smile, and offers him her hands. "The Brotherhood of the Horn are blessed!"

Danielle takes the offered food with a broad smile "Nice to see it working properly again and nice to have things to celebrate" she offers-taking a nibble of whatever's on her plate provided it's not spider

It seems more like goat curry, warm and slightly oily, and spicy, served with something that is not rice, but has a similar shape and a bit more bounce to the bite. No spiders. The man who offered Danielle her plate says, "Indeed. Welcome, sister. We offer our backs and our hands, as well as our hearts." Definitely goat. Not heart.

Vitas rests on his good elbow a moment. Excellent progress! Halfway there! While gathering himself for the next surge of effort, Vitas pauses to listen a bit to the noises drifting on in from the festival. Vitas closes his eyes and listens, picking up tidbits like 'water' and 'unicorn.' Vitas nods. Vitas' keen ears do -not- pick up any tidbits like 'Help!' 'Fire!" "Thief!" or "Guards!" Vitas smiles. Good. Another set of noises --these from much closer at hand -- bring Vitas out of his reverie. An Amy-shaped face poking in through the doorway is asking about going out for fresh air. Vitas ponders. Likely she can't smell the rancid fish and cat poop from here, as that's all the way at the pottery shop. Perhaps the nearby air is fresher? A sea breeze? One can hope! Vitas asks The Deciding Question: "Will there be Food?" he queries, to Amy.

Amy laughs at Vitas' answer, shrugging. "I am sure we can find you some food, yes." She gets someone to help with a chair, so that they can bring the man out. It might even have some sort of wheels on it. Because creativity. "Shall we go see what's going on at the fountain?"

Mortimer takes the offered hands and heads over to the fountain. Taking some food, giving it a small sniff before digging in. He looks over to see Danielle, and with his little smile and mouth full of goat curry. Attempting to chew while his hand is in front of his mouth, with a good swallow, then waving hello to her. "You seem to have faired well since the..." He waves about using only his hand to mimic the spiders, refusing to say anything about them out loud. "Have you found much more of the city in your explorations?"

How wonderful! This curry has apple in - what a lovely reminder for people.

Danielle presents an easy smile as she continues to eat "It is the hands and backs of many with willing hearts that will set the city to rights" she agrees as she continues to eat listen and watch. Upon seeing mortimer she waves brightly "Nothing yet but the day is young. just hopefully no.." she smirks

"Almost out of curry," someone calls from one of the tables. "Effie, go get the next lot..." It seems like it is a well-planned operation, feeding a lot of people and telling them about the glories of the unicorn.

Kynan considers the interior of the shop for a few minutes, then decides to prop the door open a crack to allow the cat to come and go as it pleases, since it seems it's owner/caretaker is not likely to be around anytime soon. He then turns to see some of his recent acquaintances to be mixing into the party. He considers for a bit, and decides to enter the fray a bit hesitantly. He waves to them all.

Someone offers Kynan a smile and a plate of yellow-green goat-flavoured warm deliciousness, assuming one likes goat curry.

Vitas considers The Chair With Wheels. Vitas doesn't much like The Chair. But, rather than *grrrrrowl* at it, which might be rude, Vitas merely twitches his whiskers which he doesn't have. In lieu of The Chair, Vitas reaches for the reassuring comfort of his friend and good companion: Stick. Stick spent several blissful decades living a solitary and peaceful life off in the forest. Right up until some sodden cretin hacked Stick down -- violently, right in his prime. And threw Stick into this blasted hospital. Vitas and Stick have a bit in common. Vitas and Stick get along pretty well. Working together, Vitas and Stick slowly and gingerly get Vitas up onto his back feet. Wobbly. But that's fine. "Food!" explains Vitas, to Amy. Off they go! Vitas leans on Stick for support. And Stick is there. Reliable. Stoic. Gold 'ole Stick. Don't talk much, Stick won't. But e's always there when you need 'im. Solid.

Effie, who has gone off to get more food, comes back towards the party, hands waving in the air, at something like a heavy trot, as she is a rather large lady and incapable of running fast.

Amy arches a brow, shrugs, and doesn't say anything. Looks like Vitas is getting better fast. She moves to walk along side him, as they head back to where there is maybe-party noises. And the smell of goat curry which is perhaps better than that of cat poo et al. Assuming you like curry. It's not a long walk, even with Vitas and Stick working together in such a great example of teamwork.

After Effie, an irate goat comes. Head-first. There is a moment that is both verb and description; head-butt. Effie goes down.

Mortimer has taken a seat upon the edge of the fountain and is enjoying the goat stew, curry, this messy thing that he's eating. Licking his fingers as he picks out pieces from the bowl. Smiling and laughing along with those around him. "You know, a good gin with some chamomile would go lovely with this." A little pause, "oooh, how about a good red hearty wine?"

Behind Mortimer, behind the fountain, the goat shakes its head over the fallen Effie, then leaps her, and heads towards the party. It does not look like it is coming to dance. At least Mortimer's back is solidly protected by the water. Not many people have yet noticed capricine murder on hoof incoming.

There is a little red wine, although it is in a jug all the way over there, being offered to Kynan.

Danielle smiles and waves to kynan amy, and vitas. As she does not have eyes in the back of her head, she does nt yet note the hurned danger

Kynan takes the plate of curry offered to him, offering his thanks. He then holds out a hand and shakes his head at the glass of wine. He starts to head towards Danielle when he notices the scuffle off to the side, and changes direction towards it.

The goat looks at Kynan, and then instead of charging for him, lowers its head and makes to go for the crowd; the whole crowd, apparently, at once. At about this point, Vitas and Amethyst can see what is about to happen, as they get closer, but it could just be that Stick does not want to move Vitas onwards - or backwards - quickly...

Vitas and Stick shuffle quaintly along, making their way on over to Where The Food Is At. Following along after Amy's lead, Vitas samples the atmosphere outside of the hospital, seeing if he can perhaps pick up on this fresh air scent that Amy had been talking about . . . *sniff sniff?* Vitas detects: fresh apples, ripe humans . . . Vitas walks along a few more paces. *sniff sniff snifffff?* A fresh goat curry! Fresh wine? Cheeses. And . . . a fresh -goat-. (?) Mmmmmm. Fresh goat. Why, that smells . . . completely delicious. Vitas blinks. Vitas does a double - take. Vitas decides it must be the curry. Vitas and Stick stop walking slowly, by means of stopping walking entirely. Vitas and Stick regard Angry Goat. Hm.

Mortimer is oblivious of the angry goat, and is in the middle of some small talk with those of the Unicorn. He's quit trying to explain that they have something on their foreheads. They seem quite happy about the mark. As he finishes the curry and finally gets his hands on some wine, he takes to finding some to dance with. It's a party, dancing makes sense.

Amy pauses when Vitas stops but she is distracted by the goat. "Uhm, excuse me, Vitas, don't fall over, okay?" She heads towards said goat, though what she thinks she's going to do is anyone's guess. "Beware the goat," she calls out, because who wants to be knocked over by a goat, no matter how angry it might be. "I mean, it's a goat, so don't worry too much, but do try to not get head-butted by it."

A few people do hear, and do pull others out of the way, and then...

The goat hits the party. Yelps, thumps, and yowls can be heard. To anyone who has not noticed the goat, they may at first be impossible to tell from the worst of the dancing. Bump. Bounce. Thump!

\What's a party without a rampaging goat? It's possible Kyrie's attended different sorts of parties than many of the others. She joins the others attending the party and moves first towards the liquor. Some of her attention stays on the goat, but unless someone's really in trouble she seems okay with letting it play with the others.

Kynan rolls with advantage 1 at difficulty 15, using combat, sorcery.
The result is a success.

There *is* trouble, as apparently the goat has found someone dangerous. The party is too large to break up fully, but the crowd moves away from the angry animal, and one of the people giving out food hauls a cleaver from his belt, ready to take on the mammalian menace.

Kynan takes his plate of curry and flings it towards the goat, his staff glowing slightly as he murmurs some words. It sails towards it, altering its direction in mid-air to strike at goat, though probably just enough to get its attention.

Splat. Goat curry hits the goat, insult and injury together. Yet it seems to hate the cleaver-man enough that this merely fuels its rage, and it charges hard. Fast. Nasty.

A rather shaky-looking young woman with an admitedly brilliant smile comes out from the centre of the goaty carnage to offer Vitas, "Curry? Wine?" She has them on a tray.

The goat gets splatted with goat curry, and Amy cannot help it. She starts to laugh.

And laugh and laugh. Amy finds this particularly amusing and it shows, as the diminutive daughter of Random has her funny bone entirely tickled by the entire idea. So much for helping folks. "If you do get hurt, come see me. I've bandages and ointments," she calls out loudly.

Kyrie supposes the drinking will have to wait. The lady with the worn leather hat sighs, then takes from her belt the rope she's taken to carrying, one end already fashioned into a lasso. Tips one picks up in travels. It's a real time-saver. Helps to get up into a tree fast when chased. Or, you know, lasso a charging animal. May not be fast enough to help the guy with the cleaver, of course. "Clear!" she calls, in the vain hope that will get some people to give the goat more space for lassoing.

Vitas and Stick watch the goat go at it. Vitas stands still, taking in the burgeoning chaos. Stick 'just stands there,' more or less. *Bump.* *Bounce.* *Thump!* *Yowl.* 'Yowl?' That's . . . not how it's done. Is it? No. No. Not at all. There's a '-Y-,' right there, where a Cap-'H' -should- be, and it's lacking tremolo, volume, and gravitas. Vitas sighs. Vitas turns suddenly. "Curry? Wine?" are incoming questions. MMM. 'Yes please.' thinks Vitas "Yes please," says Vitas, looking around for a table or something to accommodate the incoming -Food.- Vitas is, perhaps understandably, neither willing nor eager to let go of Stick. This does leave him one hand short in the eating and drinking department, alas.

There are several people picking themselves up ruefully, and Effie is on the ground, rubbing at her posterior. The man with the cleaver is not so lucky. He is, and people may wince when they tell this later, facing the wrong way. The goat is a lot faster than he thought, and although it takes a wound to the shoulder, it hits. Cleaver-man folds up, and falls over. The goat STAMPS on him. "BAAAAH!"

The woman says, "There's a barrel over there if you want to have a hand free?" She makes desperate eye contact with Vitas, denying the existence of goat-based trauma behind her with all of her concentration.

There *is* a bit of space for Kyrie to make that shot, although it won't be easy.

Kynan rolls with advantage 1 at difficulty 18, using combat, sorcery.
The result is a success.

Drinking, dancing, more curry, flying curry? Mortimer shrugs. There must have been some reason for the flying curry, a local custom. Yes. That must be it. Then hearing Amethyst call out about needing bandages, now he's looking around. "Was someone hurt?" He asks just anyone that will listen, then as others point towards to the goat wearing the curry, he watches the goat attack and flee through the crowd. He watches the goat for a moment, then loudly, "Stop being so rude little goat." and he snaps his fingers...

Kynan hrmphs. "Cannot take a hint, can you?" His staff glows brightly red for an instance as a small ball of fire is flung at the goat. "Over here, you mangy critter! Oy!"

Kyrie rolls with advantage 0 at difficulty 15, using Survival and spending will.
The result is a failure.

Mortimer rolls with advantage 1 at difficulty 15, using occult,sorcery.
The result is a success.

Then several things happen at once. Mortimer's hopeful, well-aimed anger punches the goat in the side from a distance. Kyrie's well-aimed, skillful lasso drapes over it. Kynan's well-aimed, fiery punishment sets fire to its ear, briefly, and the flash of fire on the side of its head spooks it. And it has Kyrie's well-aimed, skillful lasso over those horns... And it runs. Away from Kynan, away from Mortimer, away from the noise and the glare and the burning... and away from Kyrie, far faster than a goat should accelerate...

A few people are limping towards Amy, but most have stopped to stare. Goat. Fire. Curry.

The rope tightens. The rope that Kyrie is holding.

As the folks come towards Amy, she manages to mostly sober up. And starts applying bandaids to little cuts and handing out small containers of salve for bruises.

Uh oh. That's an interesting acceration, for a goat of that shape and size. There's the briefest look of realization on Kyrie's face that this won't go the way she wanted, and in that briefest moment the decision is made to hang on. She doesn't have time to plant herself better though, and off she goes, dragged behind the goat. Unladylike words spill from her lips as she tries to hang on in hopes that drag will slow it down. Eventually.

Vitas smiles gratefully towards the incoming Food. And, incidentally, to the bearer of same. Vitas nods toward the barrel she'd indicated. "M'thanks. That'd be perfect!" Vitas grins happily. Finally! Food! Somewhere off in the middle distance, a recently - lasso'ed goat catches fire. OK. Well, these things do happen. Priority: Food. Fooooood . . . Vitas's eyes lock to follow the plate. Vitas' head swivels, tracking its progress. Vitas' whole frame shifts, turning to accommodate.

With the snap of his fingers, Mortimer smiles a little to watch the goat almost bounce off of an invisible wall and then there is a chaos of an the goats ear catching fire, and a lasso out of nowhere, no really it just came out... oh, it's attached to Kyrie. Really Mort, pay attention. "Ha! That went better than I could have hoped for. But really, such a rude little goat. If it wanted to have some curry, it should have just..." Mortimer trails off there, shaking his head. No. He realizes that the goat probably was not seeking to have some of the curry. "But why is it on fire?" Mort starts to look around for another that did that.

The lady puts down the food, tells Vitas, "You are a fine lad," and pours him some wine, taking away the tray to go find more people who are at the edges of the crowd. Meanwhile, a goat on fire drags Kyrie under a table, then turns left, so now there is a tablecloth-wrapped Kyrie being dragged along, albeit briefly, as the cloth tears and then the rope tangles against another table, and now there is a seething, smoking, livid goat, bleating out its rage.

Kynan considers adding barbequed goat to the menu, pointing his staff at it. "The food supply seems ample for the nonce," he murmurs as he lowers his staff. "Others are playing with it as well, so it would be a bit of a bother to avoid barbequed people at the same time."

The goat is now tied to a couple of tables and Kyrie, for which the small price was that several other tables have been knocked over or pushed hard enough to spill their contents, and the band is playing on. Whatever else is later said, it will be agreed that they did well in the face of massive distractions.

Amy watches the goat with some bewildered bemusement. "You know, there should be a better way. I mean, apart from the curry, why is this goat so mad? And also, since when are goats like this? Always? And I just didn't - yes, I know you're next in line. I'm not finished here," she adds to the next bruised person, who apparently really wants their salve. "Didn't I already give you some salve? You're not selling it, are you?"

There is a small boy with a bruised forehead who is waiting behind the man who really wants their salve. "I lost my frog," he tells Amy and Vitas. "It hopped out of my pocket." Which is not really about salve, but still, at least the bruising can be helped.

\Well, it wasn't the end Kyrie envisioned when she threw the lasso, but at least now the goat is tangled up and may have a harder time charging. She's kind of tangled up too, but just glad that the dragging seems to have stopped for now. She spends some time trying to extricate herself.

The man with a cleaver is carried towards Amy.

And the goat bites through the lasso, and begins to trot away.

Vitas -is- a 'good boy' . . . er, 'fine lad,' as the nice-lady-with-food said. I mean, how -could- she be wrong? She had The Food! Speaking of: Vitas sets down and Vitas sets to. Vitas pays attention to nothing and no one outside of goat curry until the food has all disappeared to the last crumb. Not to worry -- it won't take long. Vitas, famished, eats like a starving wolf.


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There was a party in town! Down at the lower bit, you know, by that fountain... so yes a goat broke into it and killed a dozen people no I tell you, that young doctor was hysterical with horror, and the mages were unable to stop it... But at least the music was good.
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There are seconds of goat curry for Vitas. It's a happy ending.