View From Valehaven: What You Missed

by Cal "Syruss" Marsden

For the second year in a row, Lord Nymbous has opened up the halls to his friends and family across the realms.

The hall was decorated with all the Green and Black grandeur that one comes to expect from visiting Neden. With the tables decorated for the upcoming feast and the Banner strung among the hall with precision by Priest Z, the people of the Realms were immediately hit with the smell of fresh popping popcorn as they entered the halls, followed by the soft sounds of carnival music. Siff had transformed part of the feast Hall into a miniature Carnival complete with Games, Prizes, Attractions and Pinatas and Popcorn. Adventurers competed for fragments of the Magic Ribbon the lands of Neden is being known to produce.

Soups were cooking in the main hall for all to smell and anticipate, there were plenty of finger foods to keep everyone satiated while waiting for the main course. There were four different kinds of soup including an authentic gumbo from our Newest Full member Gumbo, but the Broccoli Soup stole the show in this Duke's humble opinion.

For those not interested in Carnival Games but still interested in pageantry and wonder there was the return of Nymbous's SmithNEDian Museum which featured new artifacts all with unique stories and magical properties. After last year's heist of certain items, Nymbous was determined to have even more artifacts. This year he found Ancient Portraits of our more colorful O'Leary Clan, these portraits were embedded with magical properties that allowed them to speak as if they were alive. Nymbous was feeling so good about his Museum this year he even allowed some of his private artifacts to be purchased. With the magic CoP's power waning under stress from too many visitors Nymbous will be looking into a new way to protect the integrity of the museum.

If you wanted a chance at some coin then you were in luck because the New Eden Casino was up and operational, and when you were done making your money you were free to spend it at Vandoria's Vestments or with Neden's newest merchant to the New Eden Emporium running an Anthem Outlet in Neden, Xabi one of Priest Z's monks.

For those who wanted to get tickets without the risk of the Carnival games, there were multiple ways to do so. For starters, adventurers could test their mettle in the various someone comical tournaments. Each contestant had a chance at glory as well as tickets to gain special artifacts. IF fighting wasn't your desire there were magical roaming treasure chests that kept spawning throughout the hall. Miniature versions of the chest found during Neden's Monster roundup, filled with tickets and gold as well as items of wonder. But the most important way one could get tickets is by bringing a can tribute to the lord, which he donated to a very noble cause.

The food was amazing with ham, turkey, all your favorite holiday side dishes and four different pasta courses. All of which left players full, but not too full they couldn't raid Neden's dessert table.

While the players ate they also performed in many different styles of bardics as well as the first-ever Why I Am Thankful contest. They sang, played music, told stories but most importantly gave thanks for the past year's bounties.

With all the food and games done it was time for the Auction. We here in Neden have an aptitude for finding magical artifacts. Some more powerful than others but all with a rich history. It had seemed like the most popular item was an Ax forged by our very own Razmith, and enhance in magic by Priest Z, Sir Naj and myself.

All in all it was an amazing time spent with friends from all over the lands. We hope you enjoyed the atmosphere, we hope you left full on delicious food, we hope you didn't take too much of our money at the Casino and we hope you tell tales to your friends about the amazing time they missed.

With all that said it is time for one more Why I Am Thankful.

I am so thankful to our friends and family who showed up this past weekend to make this the most successful Neden feast to date and in doing so helped us nearly double our donations from last year. The charitable nature of this community never fails to impress.

I know this wasn't a Noir Mystery nor was this an Ask Syruss but allow me to leave you with wise words from my lord all the same.

"It is the giving nature of this community that is the true lifeblood. Their ability to set aside all personal difference for a greater cause is why I will always call the realms my home." -Lord Sir Nymbous O'Leary, First of his Name

I love you all and hope to see you all again next year.

Love and Respect,

Sir Duke Syruss O'Leary
Knight of the Potentium
Knight of the Blue Rose
Detective extraordinaire

Look for the return of Detective Syruss in the upcoming mystery..."The Case of the Missing leftovers..."