[piosenniel]

piosenniel checks in at the party site. the gates are still closed, but in the field outside them, a small pre-party festival has sprung up. there are bright banners and ribbons flying in the warm breeze, and music and poetry fill the air intermingling with the scents of foods and spirits. on the gates themselves, she notices that ancalagon's fire has set up a game of darts featuring a very unusual target - a dual centered target: one bullseye reading 'nature', the other reading 'choice'. a large group has gathered about to watch the two most recent competitors throw their missiles - stone of vision and kalessin . . . shouts of 'good shot' trail after her as she wanders toward the booth run by nufaciel and avarrogion. smiling, she stops to make smalltalk with the other beanfans and barters for a small silver necklace with a tree of gondor and seven stars finely engraved on the pendant. moving on, she waves to joy, busy with her young cousins writing a small playlet to present at the party. finally, to pass the time - she settles down with susan d and tigerlilly to share some riddles, and drink some miruvor . . . a pleasant way to pass the time until the long expected party . . .