The Vintners Ball

Writers: Jane
Date Posted: 31st December 2008

Characters: Zandreu
Description: Zandreu opens the doors of the Tavern for the Vintner's Ball.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 4
Notes: Control Post for the Vintners Ball. Happy New Year everybody!

It was time to start welcoming people. The tavern was as primped and
polished as it could be; decorated with extra draperies in the cool hues
of blues and silvers as befitted a celebration held in summer in the
Southern Continent. The fans were going, and the room was almost
chilly, though that would change as the crowd arrived - and danced.

Zandreu took a moment as he headed across the great room toward the
Tavern's main doors to stop and survey his domain. Lofty ceilings had
always given the main room an elegant look, rather than a cosy one, and
with the addition of the flowing fabrics around the walls the place had
been transformed into something less like a serviceable tavern and more
suitable to host a formal Ball on behalf of the Vintner Hall.

The lighting had been temporarily altered, too, to give a softer glow
throughout, mimicking the dusk that had gathered in beyond the tavern
doors. And behind the platform where the harpers had already clustered
and were tuning up their extensive array of instruments were light
pictures of grapes and vines, cleverly projected from lovely coloured
glass pictures suspended over lights and mirrors and lenses in an
arrangement the local technicians had supplied. As the night beyond the
Tavern windows darkened the light pictures would become more and more of
a feature.

The Tavern Master continued his walk across to the main doors.

He would open them and greet each guest on behalf of the Hall and the
Tavern. He was the host, something that wasn't completely out of the
scope of his duties as Tavern Master, though he was seldom called upon
to act as host for a Hall-wide celebration, and had never had to deal
with one so formal.

And it might be one of his last duties as Tavern Master at the Vintner
Hall if Bhervehan was back. Whether Zandreu would move on to another
Tavern somewhere, or on to another role within this Hall he didn't know.
A Turn ending with uncertainty for him, though nothing like the
uncertainty he had caused for himself in former Turns.

There was no need to dwell on his personal circumstances this particular
evening. There would be more than enough to distract him - his duties,
the large assembly of harpers providing music for dancing all evening,
snacks served with all the various drinks the Hall was showcasing, and
the meal that would be served at midnight to welcome the New Turn in.

He pulled open the two oversized main doors of the Tavern and latched
them back, smiling as the harpers struck up their first tune of the evening.

This Ball was for vintners and their partners only and while it had
seemed sensible in theory Zandreu was hearing that the practical results
might include some amusing arrangements as people had negotiated to
ensure they got themselves to the most formal event held in the area.
Suddenly vintners were in great demand as partners and some unlikely
alliances had apparently developed - at least temporarily. That
couldn't help but flatter craftsmen who had been working so hard since
the loss of their former Hall.

This was it, then.

The doors were open; Vintners Ball had begun.

Last updated on the January 10th 2009

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The Vintners Ball