The Sunset Show

Writers: Duskdog, Heather
Date Posted: 27th July 2024

Characters: Thayde, Cazavin
Description: Dolphin Hall Turns End festivities!
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 11
Notes: This is the control post for the Dolphin Hall Turns end party!
:) Feel free to have your dragonrider/crafter/whomever reference these events!

Thayde

It was a big day and it started early for the Hallmaster. He was up at dawn conferring with the workers in the kitchens to make sure that everything was on schedule. Without Jayala, or a new Headwoman, some other ladies in the kitchens and lower hold had been stepping into the gap, but he would feel better when they had a permanent person in the position.

The day passed by in a blur between dawn and noon, when Thayde slipped back to his quarters and freshened up his appearance, changing into something nicer for the upcoming tablewalking ceremony.

When he stepped into the Dining Hall, it was decorated, with a bit of a heavy hand, he thought, but it was certainly festive. "As long as there's not a fire, I think we're on track," he said to his Hallsecond as he took his seat at the head table.

"Don't worry, I checked off 'no fires' on my preparation list for the day," Cazavin answered drily. "The apprentices really had fun with this, at least... it's a little _much_, but hey, it's made with love. I hope."

It was nice to see everyone so happy. Even those who didn't expect to walk the tables seemed excited -- if not for their peers, then at least for the upcoming festivities. Everyone would have some way to take part, and, of course, enjoy the celebration for themselves, too.

Once all of the dolphineers and guests were settled, Thayde stood, signaling the beginning of the table walking ceremonies.

"Thank you for coming today, everyone. To the apprentices and journeymen that will be walking the tables today, it makes a new stage of your journey here at the Hall. We're thankful for all of the hard work you have put in, and especially the work that has been put into the rebuilding of the lighthouse."

There was some light applause.

"Let's proceed with the apprentices who will be walking the table to journeyman status. If I call your name, please come forward and collect your journeyman knots from Master Cazavin."

"Chalzie, Maveux, Rikpen, and Ederic."

Cazavin couldn't keep the smile from his face as he passed the new knots to each of the apprentices in turn, taking a brief moment to shake their hands as he did so. It was impossible not to be proud of them for the achievement, and impossible not to feel joy at the pride that they exhibited in this, the moment they've worked so hard for. He gave Chalzie an extra little nod -- he liked her, and thought she had a bright future in the craft.

Once the new journeymen had a chance to join their new tables and be seated, it was time to promote the new masters. There were only two -- Armos and Wallandis -- but that in itself was quite a lot, considering that not every journeyman ultimately achieved their mastery. His handshake lingered a bit as he presented them with their new knots, and he gave them each a significant incline of his head in respectful welcome to the pinnacle of their craft. Above all, this was their moment.

"A toast," he proposed, raising his glass, "to our new journeymen and masters! May they continue to enrich the craft in their new roles. And may the rest of you have a productive turn working towards your own new knots when we stand here again come next Turn's End!"

~*~

After much feasting and drinking of wine, the celebration moved out onto the beach where temporary bleachers had been constructed for the visitors. Out near the pier, Thayde could see the dolphins and their partners waiting for the start of the show. He'd watched their dress rehearsal and had to admit that it was a very exciting show. Hopefully exciting enough to leave an impression on the visiting families with craft-age children.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Thayde addressed the crowd, pleased to see visiting dragonriders among the guests. "The Dolphin Hall would like to present to you our fine crafters and their amazing dolphin partners." He gave a wave to the waiting dolphineers and stepped out of the way so the show could begin.

The handful of local harpers that the Hall had borrowed just for the occasion began to play the exciting background music picked out for the show. The dolphins all surged out as one, in near-perfect synchronization, sans partners for this introductory part of the show. It was fortunate that so many of them seemed to enjoy performing -- they were just as aware as their human partners that this show was important for the Hall, but they were also playful creatures who enjoyed having fun, and being admired, and knew very well the impression they had on new an unsuspecting people ("The rascals," Cazavin thought fondly). Just seeing what the dolphins themselves could do would leave an impression on anyone with any appreciation for beauty, precision, or showmanship.

They ducked under the water and then came up abruptly together, jumping straight up out of the water all in a line, arcing together back down with barely a splash. Then they split off, half going to one side and half to the other, clicking to one another to coordinate as they turned and tail-walked back towards the center from each side, earning a gasp and cheer from the audience. Then half of them spun in place in the water as the other half disappeared beneath the waves again, surging upward to jump higher than before, flipping in mid-air and earning more cheers than before. They traded off, with the "flippers" now spinning/dancing in place while the others took their turn to jump and flip. Cazavin recognized each dolphin, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he thought which ones were probably enjoying this the most, eating up the attention and praise. Even some of those dolphins who weren't participating in the show were swimming around at the edges of their improvised "arena" area, watching the show themselves and cheering in their own dolphin way.

One of the younger dolphins in the show did a quick pass as close to the shore as he dared, turning sideways and skimming his tail at an angle that splashed water up, drenching the handful of children that had wandered up to the water's edge for a better look. The children squealed -- most in delight, only a couple in surprise and dismay, but a soft ripple of laughter went through most of the crowd even so.

One by one, each of the performing dolphins took a turn going back to the pier, where their partners waited lined up along the edge. As each dolphin in turn touched the pier with their nose beneath the feet of his or her dolphineer, the dolphineer dove into the water over them -- a deliberate show of skill and grace on the part of the craftsman, too -- and the dolphin turned and swam under, emerging just in front so that their partner could grab onto their dorsal fin. Then each dolphin pulled their partner along towards the shore, and took a moment to introduce themselves and their human.

It was good, Cazavin thought, to give the dolphins a moment to speak to the audience. While it was common knowledge that dolphins were intelligent and could speak, he often got the feeling that people who weren't familiar with them didn't quite fully believe what they were capable of.

Introductions over, the dolphins got to work again, this time demonstrating tricks and tasks with their partners. They worked together to lift humans up into the air on the tips of their snouts, pulled them around the water, swam races against each other. They demonstrated how they would push or pull an unconscious drowning victim to safety, or provide a place for a stranded and struggling victim to cling to until help could arrive. The dolphineers showcased how quickly they could tie knots or untangle lines or cut troublesome nets even while in the water in rough seas (rough seas improvised by dolphins swimming and splashing around them). With the help of their dolphins, they gathered up fake "cargo" into nets and towed them safely to shore. And in between the more technical (but performed in an entertaining way) demonstrations, they did more tricks to keep the excitement going. They even played a short little sports game together, catching and tossing and nose-or-tail-bumping a ball around, trying to score points by knocking it into a net set up on either side -- though some of the dolphins seemed to prefer turning it into a game of keep-away, instead.

In the end, they all went through one last spectacular burst of tricks to the swell of climactic music, jumping and flipping and twisting out of the water, tail-walking or swimming in patterns that would look best to those seated up higher in the bleachers. Finally, the dolphins and dolphineers both flipped backwards, the dolphins swimming on their backs, and the dolphineers backstroking back to the pier, where they climbed out and bowed. The dolphins spun in place in the water happily, soaking up the applause from the audience.

Thayde was filled with pride by the end of the dolphins' water performance. The dolphineers at the Hall worked tirelessly and rarely got to show off their skills. It was easy for people to look into the sky and see a dragon flame Thread, but only a scant few ever got to see a dolphinn streaking like a silver arrow through the water to rescue a drowning person. Or stand by and witness a dolphin diagnose medical malignities. Dragons ruled the sky, but dolphins commanded the ocean.

"Thank you everyone!" Thayde said as he gathered the crowd's attention one final time. The glowing orb of the sun had began to sink beneath the watery horizon, casting a warm glow over the beach. "Please stay and enjoy dancing and refreshments!" Glow baskets and torches dotted the beach, providing a dance floor of soft, white powder. The harpers who had supplied the water show with its exciting tunes, struck up a merry jig as dancers made their way out onto the beach.

Cazavin surveyed the crowd as people began to get up and move. "I think that went over well," he commented to Thayde. "I'm sure a few of those apprentice-aged youngsters are babbling to their parents about it right now. I think I'm going to make the rounds and greet folks, see if anyone has any questions or shows any interest. I'm sure you have some Lords and Ladies to hobnob with... but if you look like you need an out, I'll come in with an excuse to rescue you."

"Good luck yourself," Thayde chuckled. "There are plenty of single women out there who will be clamoring for a dance with the Hallscond."

Cazavin grinned. "Here's hoping, eh?"

Last updated on the July 31st 2024

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The Sunset Show