The small, independent city called Moonhaven is as lively as ever, having been rebuilt after a powerful earthquake struck the region nearly a year ago. The city is notable for its unusual cleanliness, prosperity, and the diversity of its visitors and inhabitants. The lord of Moonhaven, a half-elven man named Julipus Oun'dalla, is rumored to be an eccentric and reclusive scholar, and a mage of notable prowess. It is said that his estate boasts an impressive personal library, filled with a rare selection of obscure literature, and a large tower designed and stocked for various experiments and for the observation of the heavens. Rumours abound of Lord Oun'dalla's increased isolation in the past year; it is said that he remains in his tower for days at a time, and has not left his estate for months, instead relying on servants to fetch whatever he needs from the city's markets.<br/><strong>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br/><br/>Gossip fills the streets of Moonhaven this afternoon of strange and disturbing dreams, of monsters and savages prowling the roads, and of the foul taste and the unnatural, oily sheen in the water lately. Despite all the worrying gossip going around though, the city feels exceptionally lively, and people both from the city itself and from distant lands flock to the market district of Moonhaven for the annual Summer Festival. Anyone walking through the city streets finds nearly every breath greeted with the sweet and savory smells of fresh bread, roasted meat, ripe fruit, flowers, desserts, exotic perfumes, and other scents that can't be so easily identified. It's a simple matter to follow one's nose or the sound of music, laughter, and conversation to the festival itself.<br/><br/>The streets of the market district are filled with merchants with all manner of booths and stalls set up and heaped with their wares; fine clothing, materials, jewelry, food, medicines, alcoholic beverages, perfumes, and even weapons, armor, and tools of various sorts can be found. In one intersection a crowd seems to be gathered, circled around some sort of street performance. Anyone squeezing through the crowd to get closer sees:<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(Something like that.)<br/>(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee505/Kickinpantsss/Gymnastics.jpg)<br/>a young Elven girl with striking, sky-blue hair dressed rather flatteringly in an ornate, frilled leotard and leggings. She appears to be performing a gymnastics demonstration of some sort- leaping, flipping, rolling, and rhythmically, gracefully twirling a long ribbon attached to a baton through the air and around herself. The crowd, for the most part, appears enchanted by the girl's poise, energy, and flexibility, and her fair-skinned face flushes a rosy pink every time her audience applauds or cheers. After she completes her routine, she bows deeply, a wide grin on her face, and exchanges the ribbon-baton for a slender sword. After catching her breath, she asks the crowd to spread out a bit more and begins a second demonstration, this time displaying the same balance and fluidity with the ornate rapier. For several minutes she exhibits nimble footwork and swift, controlled strokes and thrusts with the sword.</div></div>