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The Friendship Summit
Nov. 12th, 2016 11:48 pmSpike and I got back this afternoon from the two day Friendship Summit that was held in Griffonston.
On arriving on day one we met Gabby at the Griffonstone train station. We chose to take the scenic route and walk up Griffon Gorge to Griffonstone. We could have flown, with Gabby there to help carry our bags, but I wanted to savor the thrill of finally getting to see the fabled Griffonstone with my own eyes. Gabby said that griffons have been getting along better recently and that many have tidied up their nests, but I think Rainbow Dash was right, Griffonstone does look run down.
First we went to the old Griffonstone Palace, which is mostly in ruins. Spike and I left our bags in the room set aside for us and went to have breakfast with Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood. After breakfast, Spike and Gabby ran off to take care of my workshop business while I went with the others on a pre-summit guided tour of Griffonstone. That cost me five bits, plus the bit for the fresh baked griffon scone. There were dilapidated buildings everywhere we went and the view of the Griffonstone Library books scattered about, unloved, caused me to forget to taste the scone. If I could just slip away from the tour for a while, I could sort those books and maybe straighten the shelves... Some other time. Then it was time for Princess Celestia to inaugurate the summit and for Prince Blueblood to make the opening remarks. A few more speeches and it was time for lunch. It was a buffet, so ponies and griffons could mingle while we ate, but all the griffons I met were more interested in eating than talking.
After lunch, I spent the afternoon sitting at a conference table between two bored griffons while further down the table both Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood each appeared to be negotiating something with the griffons in their vicinity. I guess Ponyville and Friendship didn't hold much worth with those griffons. I didn't feel like paying for chitchat. So we sat in silence and waited for the next meal. I thought often of the Daring Do convention I was missing.
During supper, Spike and Gabby joined me at my table and brought me up to date on the state of my workshop. Gabby had already made a deal with Gilda and mailed an announcement advertising the workshop to every griffon household in Griffonstone. The deal was a joint venture: Gilda would sell the workshop tickets, keep twenty percent of the bits and honor the coupon for a discount on a scone for each ticket sold. That worked really well. Griffons apparently are attracted to discounts and Gilda sold a lot of scones, and a lot of tickets. So many tickets that the workshop is sold out. Gabby told me not to worry, all the sales are final, so, since the griffons can't get their money back for the tickets, they'll be at the workshop.
After supper, Prince Blueblood gave another speech, but nearly all of the griffons had gone home. Then I went to my room and reviewed my preparations for my workshop, but quietly, so Spike could sleep.
The workshop had a rough start. The griffons, not used to sitting so close together in an amphitheater, were squabbling so loudly I had trouble getting their attention. That was until I explained that there would be a quiz, that right answers were worth a bit, and wrong answers get you eliminated, which means you lose the chance at making any more bits. That got their attention. I gave my presentation, explained theory, cooperation, supply chain dynamics, mutualism, trust and friendship. The whole eight furlongs. Then I made them work for their bits. They had to get the theory right. They had to demonstrate their understanding by providing examples or hypothetical situations in which cooperation and friendship builds strength, opportunity and stability. When I finally "ran out of bits", the workshop was over. Class dismissed! It was a lot of fun, and I think the griffons got their money's worth.
Then it was back mingling, or in my case, being a wallflower, at the summit. Hopefully Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood achieved something concrete.
There was one final summit dinner, during which Prince Blueblood made a prepared speech underlying the mutual benefit of friendship to Griffonstone and Equestria. Then dessert was served and five minutes later every griffon had left the hall. After saying goodbye to Princess Celestia and goodnight to Prince Blueblood, I went out for a walk to indulge in star gazing. I found an open space away from the braziers and candles of the palace. The constellations are a bit of a different mix here, but just after midnight several constellations scattered to make way as Taurus came galloping through, several meteors and a fireball in hot pursuit. That made my night.
On arriving on day one we met Gabby at the Griffonstone train station. We chose to take the scenic route and walk up Griffon Gorge to Griffonstone. We could have flown, with Gabby there to help carry our bags, but I wanted to savor the thrill of finally getting to see the fabled Griffonstone with my own eyes. Gabby said that griffons have been getting along better recently and that many have tidied up their nests, but I think Rainbow Dash was right, Griffonstone does look run down.
First we went to the old Griffonstone Palace, which is mostly in ruins. Spike and I left our bags in the room set aside for us and went to have breakfast with Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood. After breakfast, Spike and Gabby ran off to take care of my workshop business while I went with the others on a pre-summit guided tour of Griffonstone. That cost me five bits, plus the bit for the fresh baked griffon scone. There were dilapidated buildings everywhere we went and the view of the Griffonstone Library books scattered about, unloved, caused me to forget to taste the scone. If I could just slip away from the tour for a while, I could sort those books and maybe straighten the shelves... Some other time. Then it was time for Princess Celestia to inaugurate the summit and for Prince Blueblood to make the opening remarks. A few more speeches and it was time for lunch. It was a buffet, so ponies and griffons could mingle while we ate, but all the griffons I met were more interested in eating than talking.
After lunch, I spent the afternoon sitting at a conference table between two bored griffons while further down the table both Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood each appeared to be negotiating something with the griffons in their vicinity. I guess Ponyville and Friendship didn't hold much worth with those griffons. I didn't feel like paying for chitchat. So we sat in silence and waited for the next meal. I thought often of the Daring Do convention I was missing.
During supper, Spike and Gabby joined me at my table and brought me up to date on the state of my workshop. Gabby had already made a deal with Gilda and mailed an announcement advertising the workshop to every griffon household in Griffonstone. The deal was a joint venture: Gilda would sell the workshop tickets, keep twenty percent of the bits and honor the coupon for a discount on a scone for each ticket sold. That worked really well. Griffons apparently are attracted to discounts and Gilda sold a lot of scones, and a lot of tickets. So many tickets that the workshop is sold out. Gabby told me not to worry, all the sales are final, so, since the griffons can't get their money back for the tickets, they'll be at the workshop.
After supper, Prince Blueblood gave another speech, but nearly all of the griffons had gone home. Then I went to my room and reviewed my preparations for my workshop, but quietly, so Spike could sleep.
The workshop had a rough start. The griffons, not used to sitting so close together in an amphitheater, were squabbling so loudly I had trouble getting their attention. That was until I explained that there would be a quiz, that right answers were worth a bit, and wrong answers get you eliminated, which means you lose the chance at making any more bits. That got their attention. I gave my presentation, explained theory, cooperation, supply chain dynamics, mutualism, trust and friendship. The whole eight furlongs. Then I made them work for their bits. They had to get the theory right. They had to demonstrate their understanding by providing examples or hypothetical situations in which cooperation and friendship builds strength, opportunity and stability. When I finally "ran out of bits", the workshop was over. Class dismissed! It was a lot of fun, and I think the griffons got their money's worth.
Then it was back mingling, or in my case, being a wallflower, at the summit. Hopefully Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood achieved something concrete.
There was one final summit dinner, during which Prince Blueblood made a prepared speech underlying the mutual benefit of friendship to Griffonstone and Equestria. Then dessert was served and five minutes later every griffon had left the hall. After saying goodbye to Princess Celestia and goodnight to Prince Blueblood, I went out for a walk to indulge in star gazing. I found an open space away from the braziers and candles of the palace. The constellations are a bit of a different mix here, but just after midnight several constellations scattered to make way as Taurus came galloping through, several meteors and a fireball in hot pursuit. That made my night.
