In late Miraman of the year 916 AF, six competitors gathered in Lord Adryn's banquet room to participate in a contest for the position of chef in that illustrious home.

The competitors were Fineo from Hashan, Sissassa from Cyrene, Jehen from Mhaldor, Sharie from the Aalen, Samel from Targossas, and Valfierno from Ashtan.

These six souls assembled in the prescribed meeting place to participate in a contest to demonstrate their culinary skills. One adventurer was allowed to act as support for each.

Lif assisted Valfierno, Aekei assisted Samel, Finnegan assisted Sharie, Fanten assisted Jehen, Badriyah assisted Fineo, and Faerum assisted Sissassa.

Thus gathered, the chefs took on the challenges laid out by Lord Adryn.

They began by peeling, chopping, and presenting vegetables for a stew. Jehen and Sharie excelled at this challenge. Yet when it came to filleting and skinning a fresh-caught salmon, it was Samel and Fineo who took centre stage. Lastly, for the final task they were asked to prepare an omelette for the judges to taste.

Radlar, Denod, and Lord Adryn himself all tasted the offerings from the competitors. Sissassa's moonshine omelette and Valfierno's spicy brown sauce were both deemed interesting and unorthodox. Sharie's use of dandelion root and Fineo's addition of fried potato skins were described as tasty, if uninspiring, and Jehen's use of mushrooms and bacon was well-received by Denod in particular.

It was Samel's unique presentation of his own omelette that would prove decisive. Though no winner was announced, Lord Adryn commended him for his culinary efforts in the contest.

That high point was short-lived.

-

Two months later, following the announcement of the next leg of the competition, tragedy struck the server of the Radiant Shore.

Dorienne's cries drew Alyzar, Myrddin, and the other Targossian warriors, who arrived just in time to find Samel lying unconscious and convulsing upon the ground. The would-be assassin took one last look at their victim and dove off the terraces before anyone could stop them, leaving nothing but the scent of strong liquor on the wind.

It was Hartley who swiftly administered a drink of immunity and a Rite of Healing, ensuring the chef's survival. With death thus averted, the Targossians remanded Samel to Sister Terice's care.

While Finnegan of Eleusis brought Sharie to Sir Cwincan for protection in the wake of Samel's poisoning, Kog found Sissassa sleeping off a large quantity of liquor in the Taproom of the Dancing Boar. It took some effort to rouse the normally gregarious dwarf, who then admitted that he lost his temper when he saw that one of his bottles of liquor was stolen. The same was not the case for the rest of his precious hooch, consumed to the last drop to ensure it would never be taken from him.

Following that explanation, Sissassa slid back into his stupor and was left to sleep it off in the famous inn.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Summary: Adryn's competition to select a new chef is underway. The six competitors met at the Keep and participated in a live cooking challenge, in which Samel's professionalism and courtesy set him apart from his competitors. For this success, seemingly, the server was poisoned in the restaurant he worked at, only surviving thanks to the timely intervention of his Targossian companions.


Penned by My hand on the 9th of Phaestian, in the year 916 AF.