A Knight: Since you're here, please take a seat. Someone could use a more ... enthusiastic audience for this tale.
Just as Ms. Sotheby's room is filled with collector's edition Typhon dolls, and Ms. Eternity's TV plays "The Night Show" all night ...
In this room, there are various items that highlight their owner's tastes.
Weapons in their scabbards and a yellowed book on the desk—recognizable from the cover as a collection of very old jokes.
In the corner stands a large pot of lard, and, next to it, the fireplace is burning low.
An-an Lee: Sir Knight! You can't put fat next to a flame! It'll catch fire!
A Knight: Don't worry, Ms. An-an. This flame is only a memory. It is constant, gentle, and does not produce heat nor possess a desire to burn anything.
A Knight touches the flames with his hand, and they nuzzle his fingers like a tame colt.
An-an Lee: Well, that proves little, Sir Knight. Of course you aren't afraid of being burned. You're only a suit of armor!
On one side of the room, there is a pile of assorted trumpets; the desk is covered with colorful flags—too many perhaps, rendering a messy scene.
A nimble hand grasps a carving of a green bird, gently adjusting its orientation.
An-an Lee: What are all these ornaments for? Have you considered rearranging them? The Feng Shui of this room has a lot to be desired.
A Knight: These are all things Someone has prepared in anticipation of the Comic Knight Festival.
Oliver Fog : The Comic Knight Festival?
A Knight: An event inspired by an old friend.
A Knight: Simply put, this is a joke-telling festival—everyone sits around together, drawing lots to take turns telling their jokes.
A Knight: If you can't come up with a joke, then you must tell an interesting story instead.
A Knight: As for this wooden carving, there is a mechanism one can find on the bottom.
A Knight stretches out a finger and lightly fiddles with the tail feathers.
Resplendent Quetzal Carving: click, clack
The small bird begins to move, rocking backwards and forwards. After a moment, the yellowish beak stops in front of Oliver Fog.
A Knight: If this were the Comic Knight Festival, the next speaker would be Oliver Fog.
Oliver Fog : It sounds as if it wouldn't be a half-bad event.
Oliver Fog : But everyone here has so many of their own matters to attend to.
Oliver Fog : Ms. Vertin almost never has time off because of the "Storm."
Oliver Fog : I can't imagine most people will have time to attend a comedy festival.
Oliver Fog : Though, certainly, this place could use a little levity.
A Knight: It is precisely because of the present state of things that Someone felt inspired to recreate this old festival.
A Knight: It has not gone unnoticed to anyone, let alone Someone, that the laughter and smiles that once frequented this hall have now all but disappeared.
A Knight: Someone was recounting to Mr. APPLe one's recollection of the tales of ancient knights and the origins of the festival.
A Knight: Someone hoped that these stories could be shared to help everyone regain a sense of humor in the face of great danger—or, if nothing less, provide some momentary distraction.
An-an Lee: Wow! So not just jokes but story-telling too?
APPLe: Another event to add to the Comic Knight Festival!
APPLe: This APPLe certainly hopes it will inspire our friends to hear these tales of knightly heroics.
A Knight: Undoubtedly so. Someone recalls a story that was recounted to Mr. X some short while ago.
A Knight: In that story, a slightly reckless knight, Sir Roland, along with his good friend Oliver, paid a visit to Bramimonde, Queen of the Moors …
A Knight: The journey was fraught with difficulty, but, fortunately, came to a happy ending.
A Knight: Hmm …
Sunlight scatters against the floor as a breeze blows through the treetops.
A Knight: Such fine weather makes Someone think of ancient times past, on a sunny day in the south of Provence.
A Knight: Back then, Someone would often share a drink with old friends, whiling away the afternoon.
A Knight: One of them was a very heroic woman, one whom Someone greatly admired.
A Knight: Among her greatest feats was when she fought a battle against a giant named Felgert.
A Knight: Though the records of history did not record much of her story, a travesty most deeply unfair.
A Knight: In fact, Sir Roland was involved in the battle as well. Someone recalls it vividly. A dramatic tale, which Ms. Charlie herself suggested, may make a fine piece of theater.
A Knight: If you would, Someone would very much like to perform it with you.
