[open] a fantastic public charity event!

[cointosser]

Who: Jaskier, open to all of the Free Cities!
What: The bard is holding a concert at Cadens's Old Public Hall in order to raise money for its renovation!
Where: Cadens
When: The end of March, a bit after the eclipse/Singularity event shenanigans
Warnings: None. This is a family-friendly event. :)

The Event

[Flyers hand-written and posted around the city of Cadens promise many a thing: a lovely night of community and belonging, beautiful decorations, a precious place to bring your bonnie sweet (the most important.) Jaskier fully intends on this being the perfect date night; the more lovers who become closer thanks to him, the better. The hall will see a larger audience than it ever has before! And hopefully more money will be thrown at it than ever before.

Of course, that’s what this is: a charity concert being held to raise funds for the old Cadens speaking hall, a large hall that has long fallen into disrepair. Through the efforts of Jaskier (and mostly) Alucard, restoration of the hall has begun. However, it has far more renovations ahead of it, and coin will be needed.

The concert is meant to be a grand time, but, it is about the money. This is a charity event, technically. But there's no reason he can't have fun with it.

And since Jaskier does nothing by halves, he has gone fully all-out. At the concert, any goers will be free to partake in:

+ free food (courtesy of himself, Alucard, and Sam's cooking, generally fresh bread, rolls, sweets, cheeses, and various finger foods and slices of roasts)
+ free wine and local juices (mostly paid out of Jaskier's pocket)
+ flowers will be given out, though it is STRONGLY IMPLIED a donation is expected (bouquets can be purchased for your honey, as well)
+ Nadine will be going around the crowd and providing small samples of tonics and potions

There will also be a small raffle that Jaskier will be running. Tickets can be bought for a small fee, and ticket holders can win small prizes of bouquets (courtesy of yours truly), a box of fresh pastries from the local bakery, an array of prized feathers from his pet toy gryphon, or a slightly fancier bottle of wine. The ultimate prize will be a free song written personally for you by Jaskier, all topics and requests accepted. Yes, it is a grand prize. For the small prizes, you can decide whether your ticket is a winner or a loser!

Please, remember to keep your behaviors amenable, fair citizens of Cadens. This concert is for charity, and no roughhousing, fighting, or generally ill tempers will be suffered. And as an event on city property, it is meant to remain completely neutral. No politics or you'll be kindly escorted outside the event!]

The Old Public Hall



[The Cadens Public Hall is an old, large speaking hall hosting distinctive architectural features that are strongly Thornean in influence. Like the old days, the concert is mostly meant to be standing-room only; the second floor mezzanine has been blocked off due to unsafe conditions (mostly old, rotting floorboards.) There's a slight musty smell that lingers despite Jaskier's best efforts to hide it.

His attempts to hide it are vast in number: every where one looks are richly colorful groupings of flowers, tied to pillars, hanging from strings of semi-magical lights that have been criss-crossed over the main concert area to mimic the sight of stars, and growing from pots meant to hide dusty corners. Illusionary birds fly and flutter about, adding spots of color and life to the old hall.

Small tables and chairs have been set out the entrance for folks to eat and relax at while music fills the hall and spills out.

Jaskier himself headlines the music, accompanied by a flautist, a drummer and a cellist. Songs that he performed at the Summit are part of his set: a song that venerates the magical accomplishments of Thorne (which may earn some grumbles from local Cadenites, but that same magic flows through the hall itself, amplifying the music and preventing echoing and regulating temperature.) His ballad about Lyfbringr, one of the gods of Solvunn, features, with a slightly baudy edge to it. But most prominent are several songs about the Free Cities themselves: bastions of hope for those who have lost their home, rich mixing pots of culture and people, with fantastic advances in technology.

Peppered among the songs are general fun, upbeat songs. As the night draws to a close, the songs become slower and softer, meant for dances between lovers.

Between sets of songs, Jaskier can be see moving through the crowd, shaking hands, dancing, and showing off his precious new pet toy gryphon named Mog, with black fur and feathers and an owlish face. (Yes, you can pet him.) Mog accompanies him on stage as well, flicking his tail and sleeping inside his lute case.]

Speech, Speech, Speech

[Like all good events, it must begin with a speech.

At the beginning of the concert, while his band behind him plays quiet music, Jaskier takes the head of the dais that is acting at the stage, giving the concert-goers a hearty bow with a sweep of his large, feathered hat.]

Hello and greetings, my fellow citizens of Cadens! While you may not know me -- though I highly doubt that, if you've ever stepped foot into a local tavern -- I have been dwelling in your city in some time now as the conveniently-dubbed Summoned. I am the Master Bard Jaskier, and tonight we have gathered for a few hours of good will and merriment.

I have been welcomed into your city ever since I came here by chance, and have long wanted to give back in what ways I can. This concert is being held for the good of the very hall we stand in, long having fallen to disrepair in lieu of other pursuits -- important ones, I'm sure! -- by the city. However, as a musician, I have high respect for any such beautiful place, and I have recently began working tirelessly with an anonymous patron and friend to restore this grand old beauty for the use of all Cadens citizens.

Please, peruse the first floor of the hall to see our recent work in restoring and preserving historical Cadens architecture. There is free food and drink for all -- though, if you're a known glutton, learn a bit of restraint for the sake of the children. [Laugh track.] There are small gifts available in return for donations at the stands just ousdie. There will be collection plates placed around the tables, and by the door -- you'll see that lovely young man there, yes? He'll be glad to take your coin off your hands! [Another laugh track. He's hilarious, he knows.] All donations will go straight to the restoration of this historic hall.

By your leave, lovely gents and beautiful dames, I bid you a wonderful night. May your hearts be light, and your coin purses even lighter!

For ideas about the general mood of the music:

Youtube Bardcore Playlist

Comments

Here for the Booze

[itookashot]

Considering Jesper is an absolute troll at times to people, it would seem smart to stay away from anyone he may have joked about, but while he is intelligent, he is unwise. And cocky. And he's rarely spiteful about his joking, it usually is meant to be taken lightly, like everything else about him. So though Goro comes in and is a terrifying giant dragon-person, possibly not someone to directly approach after mocking them, Jesper does it anyway.

He's wearing bright green clothes himself, always a stark contrast to his brown skin and pale gray eyes, he likes the spectacle. And here's someone who also enjoys spectacle or at least doesn't mind standing out, and he respects that! Jesper picks up a drink and crosses over to him when he goes ahead and summons a throne (????), sitting in it like the prince he proclaimed himself to be. How fascinating!

"You know, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with Julie on one front." He approaches with a smile and a playful spark in his eyes. "You are clearly a handsome specimen of your kind." Sure he isn't attractive necessarily by their terms, but Jesper thinks he can see it. He personally doesn't like giant muscular men, and he can still be reasonably minded and see their value to others. "I'm Jesper, is that a crown?"

[fourarmedandangerous]

No sooner has Goro made himself comfortable than he finds Jesper speaking to him. He blinks; okay this is honestly new for him, humans actually labeling him as attractive. If this isn't the first time in over 4,000 years of life that's actually happened, the last incident happened so long ago Goro has long since forgotten it.

"You are referring to the network." He states finally. "Ah...the one who was speaking to the Lawry woman." He takes a drink. Another one of those kinds. Fandaniel was a necessary evil to see his plans come to fruition, but why did he seem to keep attracting more of them? Either way, he's going to need alcohol, and once again he curses the weakness of what passes for human liquor.

"It is a circlet, not a crown. I am not yet king." He replies once he's wet his whistle.

[itookashot]

Jesper said before that he was very open-minded about attractiveness when making his proclamation, and he meant it. Goro's likely good-looking at home, and that should be acknowledged. Especially if he can't really find anyone interested here and has to rely on Horizon fantasy women. Although who knows, he may find curious individuals here.

"I was talking to everyone, actually. I'm just considering you another check in my favor." He is going to make the argument about other world aesthetics and win. In this ridiculous challenge he accepted from Viktor to meet every Summoned and confirm their collective beauty. Jesper has a sip of his own drink, curious as can be. He's never spoken to a dragon-person before, what could be better?

"You did say Prince. Is your world a monarchy then? That's more Thorne-like than here, do you hate being one of the common folk now?"

[fourarmedandangerous]

Oh. Questions. Always questions. Jesper's sip is mirrored by one from Goro, who, having fortified himself, settles back in his throne. Okay.

"Outworld has many nations. Many peoples. My father rules one such nation, as I will after him." He says finally. "I do not "hate" being part of the commonfolk. I understand in the Free Cities there is no distinction between noble and commoner anyway." Class lines among the Shokan are largely divided by bloodline anyway; the Draco clans rule, the Tigrar serve. "What we respect most is martial prowess, not circumstances of birth. I doubt Thorne would find us to their particular tastes."

[itookashot]

Jesper is full of questions. He finds people and the world generally interesting, and that's in his world, let alone in this new one with the multiverse concept happening. Although in Ketterdam you learn when to not ask questions, except Jesper usually does anyway. He listens attentively to Goro's response. "Eh, it seems more the distinction is between usefulness as opposed to bloodline."

And that is a different version of power. It's the type Ketterdam exists on, which is why the merchants run the city, and no noble ranks would really matter outside of cold hard cash. A pauper king would get nothing out of his city. A rich nobody could. "Oh so you joined the military here? I know a few people leaned that way." Sephiroth, for example, who is somewhere in here. "Thorne has their own kind of military, from what I hear. A mageocrity."