[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

[rinwell]

[ Handing out flowers is proving remarkably easy; people have a hard time saying no to a cute girl smiling brightly, especially when accompanied by a tiny bird dressed like the party's music host.

Her first basket is almost in need of refilling with fresh blooms, so she's hung back for a little bit, swaying to the current set of music, and she jumps slightly when addressed; one would think she'd have noticed Alucard approaching, but there's just so many people to watch here tonight! ]

Oh! [She blinks up at him, then smiles widely.] Alucard! Hi! Yes, I am. I really am. And so's Hootle. ('fufuuu~!') What about you?

[cryptsleeper]

I think my ears will have some opinions when all is over, admittedly.

[Over sensitive dhampir hearing and all. Still, the lull is welcome and so is the chance for conversation. Alucard's eyes go up, and he gives Hootle a polite nod.]

I've never met a bird so tolerant of costume, you know.

[rinwell]

There's not much music back home. Ever, actually. So I don't have a lot to compare it to. Is it very different to what you're used to?

[ The nod gets a happy burble, before the owlet gently touches down on Rinwell's shoulder, getting a little scratch above his beak for his troubles. ]

He got so excited about Jaskier's hat, the whole costume thing kind of...snowballed. But Dahnan Owls tend to like this sort of thing.

[ Not usually full costumes mind you. Usually just pieces, like sunglasses. And cat ears. And devil horns. ...Dahnan Owls are just a little bit weird. ]

[cryptsleeper]

I'm afraid we're in the same boat when it comes to having no basis for comparison.

[Dracula going to town on the overdramatic organ does not count.

Alucard doesn't make an attempt to pet or otherwise disturb Hootle. The little friend seems comfortable enough, and he's never quite sure how animals with react to sensing either vampire! or sometimes a wolf!]

It's a trait of the entire species?

[Forgive him for looking genuinely taken aback, Rinwell. The concept of animals wearing clothing is new, never mind animals who like to do it. It's weird. It's so weird.]

Also, would you like to get a little closer to the stage?

[rinwell]

I'm not sure if we should be happy or sad about that.

[ A hand lifts to hide her smile as she says that, however, gold-brown eyes dancing.

As for Hootle: both girl and bird nod in response to his surprise. ]

I didn't expect it either, but it's true! They're very rare, and capable of staying hidden from anyone's sight if they don't want to be seen. Babies like Hootle need a lot of care, but the adults are lot more aware and smarter than the average animal.

[ She blinks at the question, then glances stage-ward. ]

That could be fun. If noisier? But it's a pretty big crowd between us and there..

[cryptsleeper]

I think it is value neutral myself.

[Rinwell, y'all got some weird and funky birds. Alucard lets out a soft noise of acknowledgement at the information. He's not inclined to try and pet Hootle, but he can picture trying to fit fabric over fluffy feathers.]

That's fascinating. Totally unexpected, I can't imagine any creature behaving in a similar way back home.

[No matter. Alucard tilts his head just a little.] It'll be noiser. But if you stay to my immediate right, I don't imagine the size or thickness of the crowd will be an issue.

[rinwell]

I suppose. There's a lot more string instruments than I was expecting.

[ She'd only ever seen, not heard, a violin before arriving here.

They are very strange birds, ruled by a King and Queen Owl, who like to award those who help them with gifts. She does not question it, who doesn't like free stuff from enchanted creatures who clearly like you?

(Don't answer that.) ]

They are pretty unique. But a lot of our native fauna have...well, they've been edged out of their territories by invasive species. [zeugles. ugh.] And I don't really know what other worlds have to compare them to.

[ The feathers fluff out happily as Hootle settles against her neck, and she smiles fondly at him, before nodding agreeably. ]

I think I can do that, I'm pretty quick on my feet. And I can cope with a bit more noise!

[cryptsleeper]

I was surprised there was a band at all.

[Usually Jaskier is a solo act, after all. Alucard makes a quiet note to suggest that the bard keep with this group though. They do well together, and Alucard suspects that there will be more performance opportunities in the near future anyway.]

The may be wholly unique.

[Alucard pauses, taking a look back at the crowd to chart a potential course. He sees one, then looks down to Rinwell.]

Very well. We're going to go to the far left here and skirt the crowd first, then cut through. That means going under the second floor balconies. [His head nods in the general direction and then? Then he's on the move, careful to keep one eye to his immediate right.

Alucard's natural gravitas helps in these moments. He moves and people move to accommodate him. It is wonderfully useful in these kinds of situations, especially since he moves with purpose.]

[rinwell]

Really? [there's a curious headtilt] What did you think there'd be instead?

[ A good recommendation, that. And with a renovated hall, they'll have plenty of eager attendees to various performances! A good way to leverage some fame and build it further, really! ]

Hear that, Hootle?

[ There's a happy burble; it was a compliment, right? ..right? Well, he's a baby bird, and easily pleased, and he bobs his head happily at Alucard again.

Then: a course is set and there's a determined nod in reply, before Rinwell steps lively - if not beside him exactly, then close enough in his wake that it won't matter. No one is about to stand in his way, and that means no one is about to impede the flower girl. Who does at least pass out a few blooms in the rare event there is a dawdler who stepps in too soon.

Still, they arrive at the second floor balconies soon enough, and there's a soft huff as Rinwell catches her breath. ]

Well. You made that easy!

[cryptsleeper]

I expected just a solo act. Not for the band to be as involved as it is.

[That was always the impression Alucard got from the bard, at least.

Never mind that. They move forward and the right path opens up. Alucard looks down, offering Rinwell a small smile.]

It helps to be tall, but also walk with purpose. Is here okay, or should we press on?