[PQ] [SE] The Running of the Crabs

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

Melita, suitably impressed by Remi’s kraken tactics, and equally nonplussed by the idiotic farmer, opted to give the Bastion a round of applause for his use of diabolical means. “Nice work,” she offered, before looking back at the assemblage of crabs again and sighing.

She also wasn’t sure what Hadama and whomever were talking about, and shrugged at the next task, something with bets or paint or whatever, and opted to skitter around, snagging at tables. Utilizing her invisibility, and unbothered if people stared openly at surfaces, benches, and boards seemingly being moved and floating of their own accord, the Honeybee strived to grab as many as she could while avoiding any nearby pincers.

--

Melita uses her invisibility and goes to steal/snag some tables nearby.

Magic: You Didn't See Anything | Melita is rendered invisible, and doesn't leave footprints/fingerprints, but can still be detected via other senses.
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent

REMI

Waiting until he could no longer feel the bump and scuttle of crabs along his tentacles—a sensation he was quite keen to be done with, as it happened—Remi shifted back as soon as he was able, ruffling his hand through his curls and resisting the urge to itch at his arms and back. Snorting under his breath at Melita 's applause, he sketches a small bow before glancing toward Hadama and Nova and listening to their next round of tasks.

He'd assumed things would be over and done with now that the crabs were on their way, though as he was want to remind Ronin often, he'd never really been the brains of any operation and so merely shrugged in agreement at the tasks set out.

Unlike his counterpart, Remi relied not on invisibility, but on what notoriety he held as former governor and resident Krakken. Waving a hand at those he passed and doing his best to channel his inner Ronin, Remi gestured at the stands being set up (once Melita was visible again, so as not to give her away), explaining what it was they'd have to look forward to and what they'd potentially stand to win with the right bet.

---

Remi spreads the word!

There's a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours

Code stolen from Queen Sky

Seeing that the paint was in good hands and that tables were mysteriously appearing at the appointed places, wafted into place by ghostly hands, Hadama joined Remi in drumming up interest. People tended to listen to Kings, and he shamelessly used his position to full advantage. As the crabs continued their inexorably march to the sea the Tidebreaker informed those grumbling at the difficulty in crossing the main avenue that a winning bet could gain them a three day, two night stay in the palace of the Underwater City during Longheat. There would be several winners chosen from among the painted crabs, one for each station that the other half of their team was setting up. And for the runners up? Well, second place would receive a drink ticket at the Hanged Man, paid for by Hadama himself.

Between the celebrity status of a former and current ruler, Remi and Hadama between them managed to turn the tide of public sentiment from frustrated grumbles to reluctant - or even enthusiastic - interest, and the more people who flocked to the tables the more people heard about the migration and the contest now underway. The migration was taking on the air of an impromptu festival, and the colorful paints provided by Nova only helped to reinforce the ambience. The tables that Melita had sourced were soon mobbed with eager gamblers, each vying to reach over the barriers and pluck up a crab to paint with a dash of color and their name before setting it back on its way.

There were quite a few very confused crabs now sporting a dizzying rainbow of colors among the pale blue shells of their brethren, and with the professional bookies now firmly ensconced at the tables to track additional betting and ensure the odds, Hadama looked around for his original volunteers.

"Thank you," he intoned, inclining his head to each of them with a sparkle in his emerald eyes. "There is only one task left. Someone trustworthy must go to the beach and judge the winners. I will arrange for drinks and food for us."

Drinks, snacks, and comfortable chairs, as it turned out. Hopefully not too difficult a way to end their day of public service!

---

Round 4: Final round - Crab race judging!

Find a good spot on the beach, climb into a tall chair to avoid getting swarmed, and pick out the winning crabs as they cross out of the city and onto the sand! The gamblers of Torchline are counting on your keen eyes and whether or not you'll accept bribes to determine the winners!

When it came to judging, Remi knew immediately he shouldn't be trusted. He was as easy to bribe as any of the criminals who spent their time in the Fingers; over and above that, he was as likely to pick the crab equivalent of an underdog as he was to select the one with the best (or worst) paint job. So it was that the Bastion merely shrugged his shoulders, and, before shifting, shot the Tidebreaker a crooked and vaguely apologetic smile.

Trading arms and legs for brightly burning feathers, the raróg took to the skies. Though the heat from his feathers warmed his little body against the chill, it was the euphoric aura that the flapping of his wings provided that he was most interested in bathing the participants of the crab race in.

If he couldn't (wouldn't) judge, at least he could try to keep any fights from breaking out.

---

Remi uses his Raróg ability:

Raróg Ability | Causes an aura of happiness

the bastion

Without passion you don't have energy,

While people painted, Nova walked around blathering on about how amazing all their art was, providing unwanted input and suggestions about how to brighten their crab. Some people seemed to completely ignore her (not that it stopped her) while others nodded politely, not able to get a word in otherwise. However, once they were all done, she quickly sped off to the finish line, eager to see how events played out. 

Nova quickly found one of the chairs, settling her small form into it with barely contained excitement. "Isn't this great?! I'm so glad everyone like the idea, and all the crabs look so colorful and unique! Maybe I'll paint my own next year. We could even offer glow in the dark paint next time, so that they glow until the sun comes up!" She continued a stream of thought while the first line of crabs approached. Amongst the speeding crustaceans, Nova picked out a particularly magnificent paint job, announcing her selection to the eagerly awaiting crowd. 

---

Nova picks a magnificently painted rainbow crab that sprints over the finish line!

Without energy you have nothing.

Nova

I've done nothing wrong
Except for all the atrocities

Melita, also prone to bribing but indifferent towards public opinion, found a large stepping stool and began to gather hordes of the crowds to her. Some flocked as they’d done within the duck hunting game in the Grounds, some avoided and went more towards other individuals, but between her yelling and calling out, broad, Cheshire grin emboldening her features, gesturing to a variety of crustaceans to select from. “You should always put your money on the fastest, and gods, you should’ve seen this one running away from us this morning! Truly athletic!” Whether or not she pointed to the same crab each time was one of those not important things, and by the end, she judged away – to her own contentment, of course.

--

Melita tries to get several to select certain crabs.

the honeybee

Besides that
I'm innocent

And so in the end it all came together.

Hadama deflected the handful of attempted bribes that came his way, much to the annoyance of several newer Torchers. The King settled into one of the beach chairs and stoically ignored the crabs scuttling over his bare feet in the cool sand as sharp eyes picked out the colorful individuals that made it to the shore. He noted them - and the order they arrived in his section - with due diligence onto a pad of paper. Proving that he could multitask, he listened to the chatter of a nearby caffeinated Nova with calm patience, simply inclining his head in acknowledgment of the glowing paint idea.

More chaos may have been caused by the decisions meted out by Melita and Nova, each following their own chaotic hearts to determine winners, but luckily for all of them Remi was hard at work above, soothing the emotions of the gamblers who had made their way to the beach to see if their investment would pay off. What could have been grumbles turned instead to good-natured laughter as each winner was announced (for whatever reason it was chosen) and it wasn't long before an impromptu party began to take shape - well out of the way of the migration route, thanks to some redirecting towards the Hanged Man.

And as for the crabs?

Though not all of them made it safely through the city, the vast majority of them did, and soon they were having a party of their own up and down the beach. While the rest of Caido attended the Feast of Bells a few weeks later the crabs would be releasing their eggs into the ocean to start a new cycle of life for Torchline and the Ahi Coast.

~Fin