One by one, the delegation arrives the next morning to the appointed spot, and all have arrived before the clock tolls ten bells. Barrow nods in begrudging approval. Good, good, he says before waving to the statue. May all thother delegations be so on point so we can deliver this monstrosity and go home.
Over the night, Barrows humble wagon has sprouted platforms and scaffolding that surrounds the base of the now-upright statue and extends about a meter over the edges of the wagon itself. Barrow makes a show of demonstrating the quality of the craftsmanship (particularly to Ludwig) and pointing out the balance of the wooden latticework before making some comment about how it will all be covered by textile material to make it a presentable float before they join the parade.
And it is indeed a parade that is forming up in this plaza as the delegations from towns, cities, and other institutions prepare their own floats. Barrow goes over the plan; The tributes are to make a circuit through the streets of Telmur before entering through the gates of the palace to present their gifts to the king, one at a time. The delegates arent expected to do anything but stand--or sit, so long as theyre standing when theyre before the king--on the float and wave. Or not. Barrow doesnt particularly care. Keranos neednt present himself as a member of the delegation, but hes still welcome to ride in the seat next to Barrows at the front of the wagon instead of fighting for a vantage spot in the masses of people.
Shortly after the scaffolding is draped in unembellished green linen, the floats at the head of the procession begins to move. The delegates mount the platform--Ludwig with little choice but to stride alongside it--as Barrow cracks the reins and sets the draft horses in motion.
The Remdormo float appears to be about average for the parade, being simple and uncomplicated despite having clearly indulged in the commissioning of the statue. There are some floats that are far more elaborate; the float immediately in front of them, for instance, looks to be some sort of ebony layer cake chased with silver, its sides lined with warped mirrors that distort the reflections of the crowd into amusing contortions as they pass by. On the top of the float, a short clown dances a mad jig as he plays a set of pipes while a series of figures wearing stilts on all four of their limbs cartwheel in time with the rolling float. The stilt characters wear masks and what appears to be a false head that makes it near impossible to tell whether they are standing right side up or upside down at each rotation. All the players wear black and white checked motley to match the monochromatic color scheme of the float.
The float behind them, by contrast, is decidedly less opulent. Indeed, they can hardly be said to have put in any expense at all: It is nothing but a wagon with some bales of hay in the bed to serve as seating, drawn by a single, scraggly-looking mare. All but one of the passengers remain seated with the hoods of their cloaks drawn tight over their heads. From this distance, it is impossible for them to hide their identities as tieflings. A red-skinned tiefling woman stands in the center, her shoulders thrown back and her chin held high in defiance. Banners reading TELMUR TRUTH painted in thick letters hang on either side of the wagon. The crowd is not kind to their passing, hurling invectives and garbage at them as they go by, though its difficult to tell if this is a response to their cryptic slogan or unrestrained disdain for their heritage. Perhaps a combination of both.
The woman withstands the gauntlet unflinching, her golden eyes blazing in the sunlight.
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