[Xanth]

Awards Ceremony
Today, the theatre has been commandeered by Xanth herself as part of the Grand Opening of the Elysian Underground. As you approach, you see that the sign - usually displaying what film or play is currently on - has also been commandeered and says instead "Awards Ceremony - All Elysians Welcome". Excited, you enter and find the theatre already half full. A purple carpet leads from the stage, down a small set of steps that seem to have grown out of the very stage, across and up the stairs that split the seating tiers right to the opposite wall. Lilies, orchids and other exotic flowers line the stage's lip and as you sit, a child of no more than 8 poofs onto the stage.

Shocked - you thought only the gods could poof that way - you spot her purple hair, complete with lilac streaks, and her lilac outfit. Suspiciously grinning as you wonder if this could be Xanth herself, for some reason manifesting in a different form, you listen to the girl's sweet voice as she steps up to a microphone stand that adjusts itself without the girl even touching it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Elysia's first Awards Ceremony. We will begin shortly but not everyone is here yet. In the meantime, please enjoy a little water show." She gestures behind her and as you watch the stage floor opens up and a platform with a large fountain rises up. As it clicks into place, water begins to spurt across the stage in miraculous formations as coloured spotlights beam through them. The girl poofs away leaving you to gasp in awe and await the real show.

[Xanth]

The lights dim as the water stops and the fountain sinks back into the stage. Silence descends as you realise this must mean the awards ceremony is about to start.

As the theatre is pitched into complete darkness, you wonder if perhaps there has been a power failure - an embarrassing turn of events, if that is the case - but suddenly there is a poof of smoke and a soft spotlight focuses centre stage where Xanth - in the form you are accustomed to - stands. Her wings are fully visible, fluttering gently, purple and white sparks cascading from them before bouncing lazily off the stage floor and drifting through the room.

Xanth smiles and steps up to the microphone. Again, it adjusts itself without ever being touched.

"Thank you for coming," Xanth says gently. Her voice is especially sweet today and fills you with warmth. "I have many awards to give. First of all, this may be delayed, but I wonder if Ryana and Maximus would come up to the stage, please?" As she speaks, two spotlights crack open and focus unflinchingly on the two governors and Xanth tilts her head, waiting.

[Maximus]

Max stood up, surprised he'd been asked to attend the stage. He made his way through the seats and bounced up the steps onto the stage. He walked over to Xanth and stood next to her nervously, wondering what he was here for.

[Xanth]

Xanth watches Max approach the stage, an eyebrow lifting as she realises Ryana is not in the theatre. "Hmm, well, Ryana will have to collect her award first," she says with a wink, and continues as if Ryana were actually there. "For the two of you, I have already given a monetary reward. However, here are two scrolls for you to keep for posterity and display with pride." She smiles and hands one of the scrolls to Max, flipping the other into the air where it disappears with a tiny squeaking poof.

<a href=http://faroah.com/index.php?showtopic=276><img border=0 alt="Awards Records" src=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/freesong_adoptables/awardmap.gif align=left></a>

[Xanth]

"Thank you, Max and Ryana, for your discovery of those areas. And now... for those of you who answered our call for help when the Hind attacked Dazadi and Sylope, I have two awards. First of all, for battling the scorpion, I give $50 and this award to the following people:


Piper
Tom
Elise
Chenoan
Suka
Aekya
Aiden
Kisei
Maximus
Sanura
Ryou
Mahesa
Myrth
Kaethe
Thryn
Aithe
Zephyr
Daoine
Alieh

<a href=http://faroah.com/index.php?showtopic=276><img border=0 alt="Awards Records" src=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/freesong_adoptables/awardscorpy1.gif></a>

[Daoine]

Daoine nodded to Xanth as she handed over the awards to the Questers. She had been honored to be able to help out in this quest, not expecting any kind of reward at all. "Thank you very much."she said to her Goddess; "I'm just glad everyone is safe and sound again."

[Xanth]

"You are quite welcome," Xanth responded kindly, looking at the audience to encompass them also, even if they did not have the courage to speak to her as Daoine had. Waiting for the dragon to be seated, she continued with the awards.

"While Sylope was sick, the following people did their best to take care of and ultimately cure her, so they are awarded their own potion bottle filled with an elixir that will heal any minor and major injuries. Use it wisely, for it will run out after the fifth healing."

Castalia
Nymphadora
Mahesa
Hallie
Tom

They also receive the following for use in their signatures or on their profiles:

<a href=http://faroah.com/index.php?showtopic=276><img border=0 alt="Awards Records" src=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/freesong_adoptables/awardcure.gif></a>

[Sanura]

Sanura was pleased that Xanth thought that the questers had done a good job. Grinning like a... Well, grinning like a cat would be an understatement. "Thank you, Xanth. I'm just glad that no one was hurt, and that Dazadi and Sylope are okay." The 'shifter had no knowledge of Dazadi's current state, onyl that she'd been saved.

[Ryou]

Ryou accepted the award and the fifty dollars with a dreaded heart. He didn't feel like he'd done enough to help in the quest, and yet, Xanth was giving them all something. "Thank you," he said to the goddess.

[Thryn]

Thryn was honored to receive the award and the money, but she did so with some reluctance. She definitely didn't feel like she had contributed enough with the quest. Well, Daz was saved now, and most if not all the questers had recovered, and that was all that mattered.

"Thank you," she said politely with a grateful smile.

[Xanth]

Xanth smiled an acknowledgement. It would seem they did have the guts to speak to her after all.

"Eight of you continued on to Derby to battle the Hind and to rescue Dazadi. As the Fates would have it, you also rescued a young boy who is currently at my Temple with Dazadi where he can heal. To the eight of you, I give the following:

"For Myrth, a bow fashioned from the finest willow as well as twenty arrows that will ignite the instant they are fired.

"For Kisei, hand-crafted daggers with diamond-edged stainless steel blades and rubies in the hilt that will protect you against one attack per battle.

"For Daoine, a golden spear that will never break. It also has a sun charm attached that will blind your enemies for a few seconds upon your first attack.

"For Ryou, a sword much like Kisei's daggers with a diamond-edged steel blade. The onyx entwined around the hilt will allow you to heal your own minor injuries once per battle - but only in battle.

"For Maximus, a stylish belt with a silver dragon buckle. This belt will make you the equal of any race at your level, a handy thing to have as the mayor, eh?" She winked at him before continuing. "It will not give you their powers, only even out the balance."

"For Aiden, a pair of leather gloves that will change colour with your mood. They are decorated with sapphires that will also boost your speed.

"For Suka, a set of ten throwing stars with diamond edges and a small diamond at each point that will boost your accuracy.

"For Zephyr, a great sword, also with a diamond-edged steel blade. The gold handle will boost your confidence and enable you to make decisions without external interference." She smiled gently, fully aware that Zephyr's father was a bully and that Zephyr was not entirely sure he belonged to the Red sept. She did not like bullies, nor did she like the thought of a red dragon training to fight when it was not what he wanted. Accidents happened that way. Evil happened that way. And so she had created a weapon that would enable him to stand up to his father. The only problem with this was that he would have to actually be wielding, or at the very least carrying, the sword in order to do so. Since Reds tended to carry some form of weaponry at all times, that did not seem a problem. And since he was tall, he could strap the sword to his back as Dazadi did hers, hide it under a long coat, and no one would be any the wiser.

"And now, for each of you, a trophy."

<a href=http://faroah.com/index.php?showtopic=276><img border=0 alt="Awards Records" src=http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/freesong_adoptables/dagger.gif></a>

"I thank you all, and I hope that you enjoy the carnival." She bowed slightly, smiling, and poofed away as the fountain reappeared and the light-and-water show began again. Obviously the awards ceremony was over.

(Note: You are not permitted to use any of these weapons in quests or battles you are currently taking part in.)

[Castalia]

Castalia walked up to Xanth and took the bottle of elixir she was offering as an award. She would put it for safekeeping in her Pharmacy, she was sure it would be of good use someday.

"Thank you, my godess." she said softly while bowing her head and stepping back again.

[Daoine]

Daoine walked over to Xanth again, her eyes as big as plates. The spear Xanth presented for her looked just amazing, this was so much more then she had dreamed of. "T..t..thank you so very very much" she stammered at the Deity.

Not that she was a fight-happy type of Dragon but Daoine could hardly wait to test this fantastic weapon out in a battle.

[Myrth]

Myrth walked up to the stage, hardly able to believe what Xanth had given to her and the other questers. They were astonishing, to say the least, and she hadn't expected any thing near this.

"Thank you so..so much," she said thankfully, accepting the willow bow. She could hardly wait to try it out, though she would save the arrows for a more vital time.

[Tom]

Tom sat in awe, before realising that Xanth had moved onto other awards. He rushed onto the stage and grabbed his awards. He looked up at Xanth-the last time they'd met was the night Sylope had been hurt. How appropriate. He remembered how she'd looped her arms round his neck...it felt...odd. Tom moved off the stage slowly, nodding to Xanth as he clutched his potion.

[Maximus]

Max was shocked as he was called up for another award. He strode towards the stage, and took his reward from Xanth, awestruck. A belt like this was not only beautiful, but also had amazing powers. Max grinned. Fashionable AND practical-well, Xanth was a god after his own heart. He looped it through his smart trousers immediately.

"Thanks Xanth. This is amazing." He said honestly, looking into the eyes of the goddess. With a nid, he moved off of the stage and returned to his seat.

[Aiden]

Getting up from his place in the audience, Aiden slowly made his way to the stage after Maximus. Accepting the gloves, Aiden grinned at the goddess. Lifting the gloves slightly to see the shiny sapphires, he said in awe, "Thank you, goddess."

Slowly descending the stairs, Aiden hesitantly put on the gloves. To his surprise, the dark brown leather became a bright orange color. Apparently, Aiden had not yet recovered from shock. A corner of his mouth rose as he smiled lopsidedly. The speed that the gloves provided would be very appreciated, and he appreciated the extra colors.

[Ryou]

Ryou took the sword the goddess had named as his, not finding any words to speak. "Thank... You, dearest Xanth. So much. I expect this will come in handy at some point in time."