Cynthia would chuckle along, and make arrangements to test out some of their ideas, as well as run a few practice bouts, to identify problems with it, and work on coming up with an equitable solution to the problem.<br/><br/>The rules for this contest are fairly simple - each contestant has five minutes to tell the audience a story. The topic changes each year, and this year, the topic is 'Local Legends'. This can be anything, from stories about real people, to tales or myths, related to the kingdom the speaker hails from. The contestants are given several hours to prepare, though most don't seem to need it, and then will compete in the evening.<br/><br/>(Mechanically - this consists of four skill checks - the first three may be any combination of Bluff, Intimidate, or Diplomacy, though the speaker might be able to substitute relevant Knowledge rolls, too to spice it up. Each is at DC 25, but takes a -4 penalty if that skill has already been used in their story. At the end, the competitor makes a check with a Perform skill of their choice. Speakers gain one point for each of the first three checks that are successful, and this is multiplied by the result of their Perform check. A tie results in a rematch, until a winner is declared.)<br/><br/>The drawing of lots indicates that Devaguea would perform third, after the current champion, Pitax's head bard, and an infamous scoundrel from Daggermark. The Pitaxan competitor , telling the tale of a fearsome dragon, that lurks in the woods to the east, scores a 78, and is what he will need to take the lead from the current champion.