fandomhigh | Fandom High Welcome Picnic, Front Lawn of the School, All Day: Part I

With all the rain the island had seen during the week, everyone had been hoping for a sudden turn to nice weather for the welcome picnic. But as the crew from the school started to set up for the picnic, the sky got darker and darker, and by the time everything was ready, it had started to steadily rain. As tempting as it was to move everything inside, there just wasn't anywhere in the school for so many people to gather at once, and since it was still comfortably warm outside, extra measures were taken to ensure that the picnic could go on as scheduled. Tents were set up to cover the information tables, the food, and most of the tables and chairs, and umbrellas had been gathered, ready for use by anyone who wanted more personal protection against the weather. It didn't look like the rain would be letting up any time soon.

[OCD is up! This is part one of the picnic, specifically for meeting siblings, roommates, and teachers. The rest of the picnic is happening here and here, in an effort to keep browsers from breaking for as long as possible. Since it's outside, the picnic is open to all students, teachers, and townies!]

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"Yeah, actually that first one sounds pretty much like something he'd say," Cindy said. She smiled at his evident confusion, reaching to take his hand and give it a shake--even though for a moment she gave serious thought to letting him kiss it. It reminded her of old times.

"A handshake is the modern equivalent," she explained with a smile. "You'll get fewer funny looks this way."

"Really?" Alistair said. Trying, mostly, to cover up for that bit of... awkwardness by shaking her hand and going, "Awww, and here I was racking up such a number of them, too. Well, if it's the fashion."

"I can lie to you about something else," Cindy suggested impishly. "Later, so you're not expecting it. I'm sure we'll get your tally back up in no time."

"I look forward to it," Alistair said, grinning. "...I mean, as long as it isn't about something terrible, like monsters in the woods, or witches flying over periodically to turn everyone into frogs. I'm highly allergic to frogs."

"There are creatures in the woods, but I don't think they count as monsters," Cindy promised. "I don't think the school's witches spend much time flying over the school. And, lucky for you, the frog graduated this past May, so I don't think he's on the island anymore."

He... blinked. "Right, the frog," he said, dubiously. "Like the pony, no doubt."

"You mean the pony that's right there?" Cindy asked, pointing. You know, in case he needed the reminder. "The pink one, that talked to you? Yep, much like that. Only smaller, green, and made out of a weird fabric."

"A fabric frog," he said. "Wow, you must have some mages walking around here. Ones with senses of humor, no less."

"He was convinced that he was meant to be that way," Cindy said, shrugging. "As were the various friends and family that visited him on Parents' Weekends. Takes all types."

"Far be it from me to challenge an absent fabric frog on existential issues," Alistair said, waving it off. "At the very least it means there's some excitement around here." His voice dropped a little on the last sentence, as if he was afraid that the Grand Cleric was here, and trying to listen in.

"Exitement? Is one of the things we are not lacking for on this island," Cindy said with a laugh. "I promise you that. There will be invasions aplenty--as well as plenty of other entertaining, ahem, I mean exciting experiences for you."

"Invasions?" Alistair asked. "These wouldn't happen to start in 'dark' and end in 'spawn', would they? There is a Blight coming."

It was good to know this kind of thing.

"Dark-something-spawn?" Cindy asked, shaking her head. "A Blight? Like...some kind of a farm trouble?"

"No, a Blight," Alistair said, slowly. "I know it's been a long time since the last one, but-- giant Archdemon, leading mindless darkspawn up from the Deep Roads to kill everything? Ring any bells?"

Cindy shook her head. "Not a clue. But then, no one's walking around in armor, either. And most people have never met a talking pony, either. You're in a dimensional nexus. Bunch of different worlds colliding in one spot."

"Well, that doesn't sound like a recipe for trouble at all," Alistair said, dubiously. But, Maker's breath-- the Magi had their Fade, and it wasn't such a weird jump to think of there being more of those kind of things. "Sorry. The only invasion I'm aware of happening any time soon where I come from is the darkspawn. Unless the Orlesians wind up thinking the Blight is the perfect time to try their hand at Fer-- my country again, but I think they're still licking their wounds."

"What are darkspawn?" Cindy asked. It sounded like yet another thing for her to research and send a report to Bigby about. "Funny how Archdemons sound less than friendly. Maybe it was that bit about the 'killing everything' you mentioned before."

"No one knows exactly where they come from," Alistair said, philosophically. "But since before our calendar began, they've been in Thedas, underground, digging. Basically, picture large slavering mindless hordes of angry ugly demonic creatures and you're getting the rough idea. Usually they keep underground, but with an Archdemon awake, they're starting to find their way back to the surface. And then woohoo, it's Blight time!"

False enthusiasm, ahoy!

"Sounds like superfun!" Cindy said with equally false cheer. "Slavering mindless hordes pairing up with something called an Archdemon? How can you say no to that?!"

The bounciness faded after a second. "And you said one is coming?" she asked. "Will you be able to...stop it, I guess? Before it starts?"

"Hopefully," Alistair said. He sounded serious now, the joking tone gone. "That's what we're here for, us Grey Wardens. To stop Blights and slay Archdemons."

Fandom High Welcome Picnic, Front Lawn of the School, All Day: Part I

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