This is definitely a first for us. All of us. The entire Linqs population is being celebrated as heroes by Gaveston and Kes Solomas. And by celebrated, we're not just talking a cake and clown here. Just outside his manor is a huge square that they use for such occasions and, as I later found out from Victoria and confirmed by any random citizen, the Baron used any excuse to throw these kinds of events.

People seem to swarm the square, spilling out into smaller, connected lots. Two small gazebos have three piece bands and a larger, covered stage has a five piece band including a singer. Somehow, they're all playing the same song in perfect synchronization and even utilize magical lights and effects to magnify their performances. There are multiple stands for food and drink and entertainers of all sorts, including those showing off rare Spells and Skills. The only things missing are the boardwalk/carnival style games and something batter dipped and deep fried in each hand for the setting to be complete.

It takes Dawn, Richter, Victoria, and Gaveston working in concert to keep my attention long enough for me to put this whole thing into perspective and for me to understand why we are going to stay here for a few more days.

First up, Dawn.

"So, with one major river running west and north and the other running east and south, by basically squeezing Kes Solomas between them it has access to all four corners of the country continent of Regalus while also providing a natural defensive barrier. Right Vic?" Dawn asks and she gets a nod.

Richter's turn, "Okay bro, now the population density of La-- er… our home city… is a little over forty three hundred people per square mile and its about six hundred square miles, even though it's essentially three incorporated cities. Anyway. Kes Solomas is only three square miles and about three thousand people per square mile. That doesn't include the living areas by the farms which are in turn by the rivers's floodzones, but it does count their people.

"There's also farming area past the eastern walls, but they don't get the flooding. Higo is about six square miles with the same population. Kes Rentas is about half the size with a density over seven hundred per square miles."

Back to Dawn, "Now, the reason that it's so amazing, is because of the liberal use of spatial buildings used as living areas. Imagine a parking lot full of vardos, that's essentially what's happening here."

"So," I nod my head, trying to wrap it around their words, "We're going to get a bunch of vardos?" I'm answered by a round of face palming.

Richter takes a long draw of his beer, "Okay, sort of. That's kinda like an 'If money was no object' kind of idea. The living quarters are mostly spatial, everything else doesn't have to be. Plus, Baron Gaveston is willing to share his city planning blueprints as a way of reward. It's worth more to Linqs than anything for when we get to our destination which is only about a few days away without a break."

Apparently, before he got into real estate as a form of full time income and she became a full time cosplayer/model/gamer, both Dawn and Richter pursued careers as civil engineers. Dawn's hobbies and Richter's part-time job took off and they pretty much abandoned that dream in pursuit of another. Of course, a lot of that sort of knowledge rusts over when not in use, but we're in no hurry for them to shake off that rust. Besides, this is a fantasy world. Some rules you can bend and some can be trampled into the dirt by spatial magic.

I gaze out from our table, observing the night time skyline of the city. Magical lights keep the festivities well lit. I'm rolling one of the Essence Cores back and forth on the table as Dawn explains one of the main sources of Gaveston's wealth, items called Andersignettes.

Andersignettes are items with a certain amount of charges to be used on specific Abilities like minor Spells or Skills. Once the charges were used up, the item could be recharged at the place they were purchased. The draw of these items is that there are no prerequisites to use the Abilities and they were fairly inexpensive in comparison to the originals. If a Ring of Embers like Rachel's would cost a hundred or so Gold, a Sparked Ring of Embers, as they would be prefixed, might be worth just a few Gold, have double or triple the amount of charges as the original, and cost a fraction to refill. The main downside is they also had a chance to break during refill and if that happened then the buyer would be out of luck, money, and an item.

Still, most people would never need to recharge such items more than a few times. Having the option to use Spells or Skills when you are just trying to live an everyday life is something anyone, in game or IRL, would give almost anything up for. They're easier to make than the originals, but that doesn't mean the market gets flooded with them. Most are bought for military use or by the different guilds.

The food and drinks available are a wonderful change of pace, not that I could find anything better than the Fried Harpy. Seriously though, we're going to have to find an appopriate substitute. And, with a high enough Cook Class and an Analyze Ability, I might have a few recipes to share with Gorm the next time I see him. Anyway, Gaveston had hired several restaurants to cater the event, including the most hottest place in the city currently. Paying top coin to everyone since it was so last minute, but for him, money really isn't an issue. He was so proud and excited for us to dine on the greatest food to come to Regalus since Carneus, god of the kitchen if I remember correctly, first invented roasted meat.

Imagine his utter shock and disappointment when we all laughed as we recognized our very own kitchen crew working in a very busy stall. Vic had to pull Gaveston aside to explain everything before he broke down in tears. I didn't want to interrupt their work so I just stood to the side as everyone cooked.

"Look at you, Gorm," I beam at him and I can see his face of concentration break into a smile. "I remember when I first came to Linqs and we traded recipes. I think I created a monster that day."

The whole kitchen staff laughs, including Malica, but a quick glare from him got them back to work and smiling to themselves. He gives me a sideways glance, but his smile couldn't be any toothier. "Thank you, Ardacen."

I took a step closer, knowing the distance was a tad too far and he wound up for a swing. Instead of the traditional slap to the ground, he places a hand on my shoulder.

"Thank you."

I snort out a short laugh, "I just gave you some salt and spices, friend. You did the cooking." He laughs along with me and I find myself on the ground. Yep. Wouldn't be the same if I wasn't.

It seems most of our citizens all had the same idea as Dawn and were learning everything they could about the pro's and con's in as many aspects of the city as they could. They asked anyone who was interested in talking, who appeared to be everyone, about the little tips and tricks one could only learn through daily practice. This, in fact, caused a sudden generation of Artisan Classes among our people.

Aside from them, those of us in the main group came to a loose agreement to keep "shop talk" in the box until at least tomorrow. Aside from all the items on our wishlist, we also had a ton of crafting materials we haven't even gotten to since our battle with the Centogre. And although we used quite a bit to craft and sell, along with all the superfluous equipment, we were pretty heavy on stuff. Not literally, since we had the crates Lady Anne gave us and we were able to purchase a few more, at two Plat each, might I add, and that was with a discount!

As the festivities entered full swing, Gaveston conjures up the idea to have an exhibition battle. Using a Spell, he increased the volume of his voice to ask the crowd what they thought. Of course, this brought a round of cheering from the people who were able to either pace themselves or keep pace with the manic drinking that comes from working blue collar and industrial jobs. We let our excitement grow until we discover who he plans to show off their combat prowess.

"No way," Vic says, a stern look on her face as she glares at her cousin. "You twisted my words."

"Come on, Lady Vic. It will all be in good fun." He brings out a chest full of what look like children's toys. "See, we'll even use the dummy weapons. I seem to remember you enjoyed them when we were younger."

She picks up a blunt spear and I grab a dull dagger, reading its description.

[Training Dagger. Advanced Apprentice.

[Durability: 100/100

[Strength, Dexterity/melee, throwable/1

[Base: 1

[Damage dealt by this weapon cannot reduce a target below 1HP.]

This is pretty cool. I look over at Dawn who found a warhammer that looked like it was made from leather and stuffed with straw and then won from some sort of cheap carnival game.

Gaveston grabs the two of us by our shoulders and squeezes us close to him, "Your friends look like they're ready to go. What do you say, you two? A friendly competition between a few of yours and a few of mine?"

After talking with Dawn, we decide that it might make some pretty good footage for the show and we convince Vic to allow us to participate. It wasn't difficult, since this would be a fun way for her to beat her cousin at something. Unfortunately, Gaveston wouldn't allow her to participate as one of the combatants. Something about not proper for royalty, even one that lost her position. Yada yada. Vic became pretty irrate, not about being called out on her title, but because she really did want to fight as well.

It takes mere moments for a clearing to be made for us and for Gaveston and a few of his mages to create a dome shaped barrier to catch stray Spells and weapons. They also cast a magic circle on the ground to prevent Spells and Skills from bringing HP to below one. It wouldn't work on melee weapons otherwise they would've just used that instead of forcing us to use props.

Serenity and Conner were embroiled in a discussion with Misters Gearos and Cogney. Miss Delvina just stood by, drinking a red wine and wearing her lover's set, mask cocked to the side. Kona and Serenity were nowhere to be found. And since they didn't have rubber arrows, Elsbeth and Richter were out. We really wanted to have an all player group so that left three in particular.

On one side of the dome, Dawn, Rachel, and I stand opposite to three of Gaveston's people. Dawn suprises me by adding me to a party and our opponents's levels, classes, and rainbow bars pop up on screen next to their names. I look over at her and she shoots me back a wink and finger guns.

[Gaveston's Knight. Level 16

[200/200HP, 72/72MP, 112/112SP

[Gaveston's Scout. Level 16

[145/145HP, 34/34MP, 132/132SP

[Gaveston's Druid. Level 16

[177/177HP, 152/152MP, 72/72SP

I grip the handles to my dummy daggers, the closest thing in the chest to what I would consider my normal attacks since I couldn't use my claws. We may be much higher in level, but I don't take those kinds of things for granted in this world. Hells, if I stand still long enough a low level creature like a Grey Wolf could kill me eventually.

The energy of the dome swirls like the colors on a soap bubble and we can hear the crowd around us cheering. Another of Gaveston's mages had created bench seating by raising the stone and dirt from the streets, giving us the look of a stadium.

I grin at Dawn, "Welcome to--"

"If you finish that sentence I will kill you myself." She rolls her eyes, but she still smiles. Rachel giggles to herself.

Gaveston announces the rules and there aren't that many. No healing. No consumables. No leaving the bubble. Any infractions and you're considered out of the fight. Last team standing wins.

[Contract Quest: Kes Solomas Mixed Melee Championship

[Be the winning team of the exhibition match.

[Reward: 500*Gold, ???]

We can see that the other team also gets the Quest and I figure that the Baron had something to do with it. We all accept and wait for the figurative bell to ring.

"Rachel, go for the Scout. Ardy, target the Druid. Don't worry about flashy, guys, I'd rather win this than try to look good on camera and chance losing." We both nod at her instructions. She spins her warhammer in her hand and when our opponents's weapons start glowing we take the hint.

I ready my new Spell and choose Shadow Toxin. A little unfair, but hey, it's not against the rules, "I'm gonna cast a Spell, but y'all gotta agree to it, okay?" They both shoot me back the arched eyebrow look, but nod their heads.

Gaveston's voice booms overhead, "Combatants ready?" Having been accustomed to this level of spectacle many times over, the crowd joins in with his countdown.

"Three!

"Two!

"One!

"Melee!"

The other two almost stumble when they receive the notifications and accept blindly. It works in our favor since our opponents actually cast defensive Abilities to protect themselves, assuming we were going to just shoot in and start hacking at them.

Glowing black veins stretch out from all of our hands and we aim for our respective targets. The Druid had actually summoned a wall of rock behind himself, assuming correctly that I was going to target him. Unfortunately, he jumped the gun and got the attack timing all wrong. With no time to cast another Spell, he brings up his staff to protect himself. I get a little cocky and Roundhouse Kick him into his rocky barrier.

[You deal 128 bludgeoning damage!]

[You Poison Gaveston's Druid!]

[You Paralyze Gaveston's Druid!]

Oh, that sucks buddy. I watch him fall over, but I don't get the notification of defeat yet. I manage to catch him and push him against the cracked wall and it suprises me to see the black veins receding on his skin instead of spreading. I'm not sure what trick he's got going for him, but he's still Paralyzed.

[You deal 140 piercing damage!]

[You deal 120 piercing damage!]

[You defeated Unknown Druid!]

A Critical Stab and an Echo Strike later, I finally get my notice. Instead of slumping over dead, his body teleports safely outside of the bubble. I narrowly dodge a thrown dagger meant for my head and see that the Scout, using daggers instead of a more natural choice of a bow, is trying to take on Rachel and me. I applaude her bravada, but I can't have her making us look bad.

"Sorry, Ard. Toxin didn't work on her," Rachel says. The two are fencing each other with dual daggers and if this one scene doesn't make it on her highlight reel I'd file a complaint myself.

Behind her, Dawn managed to get her Poison to stick, but as a Faith build, her Arcane would probably be one and that's what the damage is based on. Damn. Well, it was a good idea at the time.

Still, even without her attuned Thunderstruck, she must have practiced a lot with Vic, because her hand to hand combat has become quite a thing to behold. I actually see some of Vic's moves in there as Dawn uses her shield as well to press the advantage against the Knight. He may also use a shield, but he seems to view it as a purely defensive piece of equipment. Dawn, meanwhile, is lashing out with everything she's got and, though she warned us in the beginning, I can tell she's also putting on a show.

"Feel free to jump in anytime, Ardy," Rachel calls out with a grin. She may be asking, but the grin on her face and her effortless dodging tells me otherwise. I cast Beacon of Alacrity between my teammates and it's wide enough to catch both.

It's like the two of them kick themselves into a higher gear and it doesn't take them long to teleport their targets out of the bubble. The crowd is going crazy for us. Both Dawn and I are a little too shy with the praise, but Rachel is soaking it up, waving her hands like a prom queen and blowing kisses to the crowd.

[Quest Complete: Kes Solomas Mixed Melee Championship

[Be the winning team of the exhibition match.

[Reward: 500*Gold, 3*Pawn Chest]

"Well now, how about we make things a little more interesting?" Gaveston asks the crowd and they respond with more noise. We look around, hoping to catch the next people to enter the bubble.

[Contract Quest: Kes Solomas Mixed Melee Championship

[Be the last one standing in the ring.

[Reward: 1*Champion's Eye Charm]

The three of us look at each other, wondering if any of us are going to accept the Quest. I can hear the crowd goading us on, although I get the feeling that we're all just playing up the drama of the situation. Rachel looks over at the crowd and cups a hand to her ear. The volume and fervor rises over her acting and she accepts, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Dawn looks at me, shrugs her shoulders, and accepts.

Before I get a chance to accept, the color of the bubble changes and the formations of the magic circles change as well. We all look up at the Baron whose arms are spread as wide as his smile, "Don't worry Travelers. We just altered the restrictions a bit. Now, the only rules are no consumables and no stepping out. Feel free to use any weapon you'd like. Your HP will not drop below one."

We all toss our toys to the side. Dawn and Rachel both draw their respective weapons and I hit the accept button with the tip of my claw. We wish each other good luck and give each other an equal amount of distance. I look up and find Vic. Her arms are folded, but she has a smile on her face that's telling all three of us to show her what we've got. With the three of us still in a party, we can see each other's rainbow bars and they're all topped off.

Once again, Gaveston makes his announcement and the crowd joins in with his countdown. "Three!"

Okay, okay. What are they gonna do? Dawn's got her Thunderstuck back so Critical Throws until she's in close range. Shit. Plus she can heal now.

"Two!"

Rachel's going to spam both of us with dagger Skills and keep her distance. Or she might try to pull off an Assassinate, but on who? It'd be embarrassing if we tried to do it at the same time.

"One!"

Too bad we're still in the same party, I could've used Hellbent Roar to great advantage. Zone's not gonna work. Trinity's too slow. Miasma is out.

"Melee!"

Oops. Here we go.