EVENT #1: FAE FESTIVITIES

[diceofthegods]

INTO THE WOODS

Click Clock Wood (Spring) by Grant Kirkhope

2:05 / 4:59

▶︎

Click here to listen.

Grant Kirkhope is a Scottish composer and voice actor for video games and film. Some of his notable works include GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark, among many others.

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After making your way through the tiny farming town of Ich and out towards the rim of a massive raised crater, you will find yourself being led through a narrow split in the canyon wall. Inside, glow worms cling to the ceiling and create the illusion of a thousand twinkling stars above the moistened rocks.

When you finally emerge, it is into an impossibly lush landscape of massive, redwood-sized tangling trees and a soft moss carpet. Life abounds here. It feels like an oasis of birdsong and animal activity.

A short walk leads you to the prepared party-grounds. A large clearing with quaint huts all around decorated with strange flowers for partygoers to rest or otherwise entertain themselves.

There appear to be several games and stalls set up, the sweet and savory scents of delicious food fills the air, and so do the patrons of the forest. Seemingly hundreds of Fae folk zip around and greet the newcomers excitedly by placing garlands of vines and crowns of flowers atop their heads.

Glowing flowers and toadstools light your way here. It also seems that even the animals get in on the festivities! Really, just about everything talks here. Almost everything, anyways! Talking to a tree stump might not yield many results but you're welcome to try.

Each entrant is also provided upon arrival a copy of The Rules. A rolled parchment that resists water or any other damage. It also prevents you from writing on it so you can't just do what you want.

The rules read as follows:

DO:
⁂ Accept gifts from the Fae.
⁂ Sample the food provided at the party ONLY.
⁂ Play games with the Fae.
⁂ Feel at ease to rest in the provided huts.
⁂ Keep tabs on your shadow lest it wander.
DO NOT:
⁂ Make a TRADE with the Fae.
⁂ Provide any personal items as gifts or otherwise to the Fae.
⁂ Provide your true name to the Fae.
⁂ Wander away from the designated party area.
⁂ Ascend any staircases you find in the woods.
OTHER ITEMS TO NOTE:
⁂ If you see an old woman hiking through the area, feel free to stop her and lie to her. The more brazen and obvious the lie the better. She appreciates this!

GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT

Amongst the games and attractions are a variety of fun possibilities!

GAMES

⁂ Battleship! (Fae Style!) A number of Fae will be hiding on a large grid of flowers. You guess the locations and if you are correct then you will win a small prize! It is a cup of nectar that refills endlessly, and numbs any pains you may have. This works even outside of the forest and can be taken home.

Every time you miss though, you receive a small 'curse.' Nothing harmful! Maybe you’re just rotating in place for the next hour, your ears become daisies, or you grow a tree out of your head? (Feel free to come up with your own silly ideas!) All of the curses will dissipate after a time or upon leaving the forest and none will do any harm or cause pain. The Fae are all about fun tricks, not hurting anyone!

⁂ Dress Up Darlings! You enter a booth and allow the Fae to decide your outfit! Upon the agreement that you'll wear it the rest of the party, of course, no matter how silly or ridiculous it is.

⁂ Bobbing For Onions! Yes, you read that right. Bobbing for onions. There are onions floating around... in water. You have to catch them with your teeth. The prize for success is a Bag of Onions. This bag never runs out of onions. They are always fresh and always onions. Not always the same kind of onion, but always onions nonetheless. This bag works outside of the forest and can be taken home.

⁂ What's In The Box? There is a box. There is something in it. Maybe it's frogs. Maybe it's slugs. Possibly bugs? Maybe apples. We don’t know. Stick your hand in the box and take a guess at what you’re touching! If you’re right, you win the contents of the box!

We'll let players decide via coin flip, rolls, or however they want if their guess is correct! Any items won though will be common, every day items like mentioned and nothing especially exciting. Unless you're really into frogs. Then it's your lucky day, apparently!

ENTERTAINMENT

⁂ Slayd & The Possums! Slayd is here and he’s throwing down the banjo tunes with his possum pals. Feel free to join him if you are musically inclined! The Fae will provide any instrument your heart desires! They can't grant you the ability to play it though if you don't know how.

⁂ The Crowning of the King of Misrule! Randomly chosen by the Fae, enter a lottery to be chosen as the King of Misrule for the evening. You will be dressed in a stupid outfit and granted Fae wings for the night! You also have the insatiable urge to play harmless pranks on people. The Fae will also give you a "Special Gift" at the end of the party...

FOR THE FOOLISH

Ahh, but there are rule breakers amongst us aren't there? If you choose to sneak away from the party, chances are nobody will stop you; however, you are now on your own in the Talahee Forest.

FIRST LAYER

Rak'tika Greatwood Theme ( Civilizations ) by Masayoshi Soken

4:34 / 5:15

▶︎

Click here to listen.

"Civilizations" prominently features a female vocalist. The lyrics are in the Ronkan language, and has not been officially translated.

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The first layer of the forest is very much similar to what you have already seen. Everything is coated in a thick mat of moss and trees wind away like a massive birds nest to form the canopy above. The faint sounds of animals can still be heard. Up here, you may encounter Fae who did not attend the party. They'll ask you your name and other personal details.

Best that you lie.

SECOND LAYER

Click Clock Wood (Autumn) by Grant Kirkhope

1:12 / 4:11

▶︎

Click here to listen.

Grant Kirkhope is a Scottish composer and voice actor for video games and film. Some of his notable works include GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark, among many others.

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The further in that you head, the darker the forest gets. It seems you are following a downward slope. The trees get bigger here, as do the insects and toadstools. Bioluminescence rules down here it seems. You may encounter stranger creatures here. Ones that will try to make very tempting trades for your personal belongings. Things that will seem like an amazing deal to you. They offer magical items of great power, or even personal effects from home.

Don't be fooled though. These objects are cursed, and are not at all what they seem. You have the distinct feeling of being watched at all times here.

⁂ Possible Encounters: Owlbear, Displacer Beast, Giant Badger

THIRD LAYER

Saint Mocianne's Arboretum (Hard) by Masayoshi Soken

2:50 / 5:10

▶︎

Click here to listen.

...hordes of aggressive plant life exposed to the strange substance stand between you and the information you seek.

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Are you getting smaller or is everything else getting bigger? Were Slayd here, he would have told you about the concept of Deep Forest Gigantism. The deeper you go - just like the ocean - the larger that the flora and fauna get.

You are dwarfed by the mushrooms here in the pitch darkness and only guided by the latent glow of the creatures and fungi that dwell here. Bugs the size of house-cats skitter in your wake. Are you sure you want to be here? Should you encounter anything larger, you’d best stay silent. Or run!

⁂ Possible Encounters: Giant predatory Elk (RUN), Rodents of Unusual Size, Extra Large Bugs

FOURTH LAYER

Poison Tree by Grouper

0:30 / 3:16

▶︎

Click here to listen.

'Poison Tree' is a meditation on the complexities of anger and the internal conflict it causes. It draws inspiration from William Blake's poem of the same name.

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The trees seem to clear out here as you reach the bottom of the forest. There is no light here so hope you brought a match. The landscape down here is a blanket of moss dotted with countless shallow pools. Looking into one of these pools, you will see your reflection... though it may look different in some way.

You will feel extremely compelled to reach down and touch the reflection in the water. Should you give in, you feel as though your world is turning upside down. You could receive memories not quite your own. Memories of a different version of you, even! (CRAU, Canon Update, or Canon AU!)

Yet, you will be experiencing them as your own. A long time could pass in your mind while only seconds have only elapsed in reality. Upon waking, you will find that you have been ejected from the party and the forest entirely. You find yourself at the entrance to the crater. Disoriented, and compelled not to re-enter, you have only yourself to blame as you must shamble your way home with this burdensome knowledge.

Notes

⁂ For the game prizes, we're using the honor system here! So long as you clear the roll then you can receive a prize with no mod permission needed.

- Battleship: If you roll a d20 above a 13, you can receive one of the nectar cups.
- Bobbing For Onions: If you roll a d20 above a 10, you can receive one of the bag of onions. En...joy...?

⁂ To sign up for The Crowning of the King of Misrule, comment here! We'll RNG the winner likely within a few days to a week to give folks time to participate if they want!

⁂ The plotting post for this event/November is up!

⁂ Additionally, we have a state of the game post available to people read about updates, clarifications, and a poll to participate in!

⁂ If you have any further questions or feedback about this event specifically, please comment here!

⁂ Full Navigation ⁂

Comments

[berriedmemories]

"No one can heal like the Oracle." That's the point. But even as he says it he's eyeing the man in front of him. Weighing what he says, the likelihood that he's lying, what purpose it could possibly serve to make something like that up.

He's still wary, not entirely sure he believes it... but in the moment the best he can think of to test it is to simply call his bluff. So, after a few more steps he draws up short. "Fine. If you really can..." Noct trails off, stuffs the bundle of his cloak under the opposite arm, and holds out the one he'd raised to block his face from Ardyn's breath. It's not a lot of damage, mind. A patch that is a bright, angry red on the edges and unsettlingly pale in the center, small blisters from the needling frost peppering the skin.

"Prove it."

[hasitsthorns]

Rosie's own coming of age was, well, a bit different than mortals'. While she did develop gradually over the course of a couple of decades due to slower physical aging, her first heat was a near intolerable and mildly terrifying experience to navigate alone.

Thankfully, it was more acceptable as a demon than person to threaten to tear out the throat of any male who tried to force her into anything she didn't want. Eventually, she found safe parties to relieve need with and how to handle it all. Comparatively? This was a lot better to weather if it was just the awkward, physical changes.

"You and me both," she has to agree. "I know I'm going to be green, at least, I guess? Which is a nice color."

[firsteditionbfs]

Another wheezed out laugh from Angeal. "Hey, don't be mean about poor quality mustard. You can manage with that if you know what you're doing." Or, you know, don't have any choice, because the crud mustard is the best you can afford because that asshole trader raised the prices again, and your mom can't cuss him out if she still wants to get decent things-

Anyway. "But I guess if it's stuck in your nose all this time, the better the quality, the better the time." Angeal brushes some of Themis's hair aside with a grin. "Want me to find you something that can go with the taste?"

[firsteditionbfs]

Honestly, considering one of Angeal's boyfriends was also vaguely canid-shaped and simply didn't make the pull to this area... He wholly understands the distinction.

Just like he understands what he's touching, and he makes a small hum. "Pretty sure I do. It's a fruit that seems similar to what would grow in Banora - not as popular as dumbapples and parents always told their kids not to eat it. Said it'd knock us out. We called it casimiroa back home, but I think that was a local name."

He's squinted at by the fae managing the booth. "...It's called sapote here, but the idea seems similar..."

Which is all Angeal needs to pull out a pale green fruit with a little hum, satisfied. "Knew it." He grins at Themis. "And it was just an old wives tale in the end. Problem was the seeds could turn to poison real quick if you were dumb with 'em."

[zodiheart]

"Green is indeed a lovely color."

He moves to draw up a sleeve and brush back his hair, showing the gradient of steely scales. Nearly black to shimmering moondust.

"I believe I am meant to be of the 'steel' variety, though it appears that I am influencing the details quite a bit."

[fatedfinality]

"Not anymore, they can't." It was the point, wasn't it? Sometimes, Ardyn wonders if his own healing was simply an oversight always meant to be eradicated along with him. For beings that claimed to know everything and how it was all preordained, it was strange to designate a bloodline of 'true' healers when he'd already been gifted the ability himself.

When he's given permission - or rather, told to 'prove' his claims - he does step up to inspect that wound. Not as bad as the claw marks, of course, but there is still a flicker of something behind his eyes briefly. It isn't entirely remorse; he does feel bad about losing his temper, sure, but there's also an unfortunate sick satisfaction deep down he can't deny seeing Noctis in pain.

He doesn't dwell on it though. Instead, he gives a small hum of a sound to signal his starting the healing process. There is no light or indication that it's happening. Rather, Noctis will simply feel as if the pain of that frostbite is being pulled from him. And that's because it is. Beneath the sheer fabric of his sleeves and even over other scars, the same wound will be reflected onto Ardyn's arm. It 'heals' after almost immediately after appearing on his body.

"There," he says, giving his own arm a small shake from the brief discomfort, "like it never happened."

[hasitsthorns]

Ah. She wishes she could be so brave. He makes it look so easy.

"Oh, huh," she notes, tilting her head and inspecting it. "Steel can come in different colors, I guess, but... That's still kind of cool." She wonders then what influence she might have on her own transformation. All that she knew was green dragons were associated more with nature, but considering how broad a scope that was- Who could say?

"Hopefully, I at least get some floral motifs. I'd be disappointed if I didn't." Considering, well, her namesake and everything.

[parer]

Really. Ignis pulls away, carefully making sure not to smile too much. All that messing about he and Prompto have done, and yet he still gets a little embarrassed at some teasing words. It makes him so terribly fond, it really does.

"Hm, well, first of all, I think you may want to tell me what you think the difference is between the two," he says fondly, taking their dance a bit more to the outskirts again. Just in case they need a moment to break away from the rest of the party, you know. And besides, just dancing this long with Noct is enough to make him happy.

[parer]

"Indeed... It makes the most sense to me. And as well, while he is quite determined to look after us considering the situation which has occurred, the fact of the matter is that we are still strangers to one another, and so Charlie has no reason to trust us with such details."

Something maybe not helped by Ignis killing a man, but, in his defense: fuck Ardyn Izunia.

"Perhaps in time and with patience, we might learn more. I suspect we will have to rely on such regardless, with the situation being what it is."

[berriedmemories]

Noctis watches him carefully, cautious and ready to warp at the slightest indication that Ardyn means to use the opportunity to get close to him to do more damage rather than fix it. But he doesn't. He actually does heal the blistered skin, draw away the lingering sting.

And if not for those absurd fairies he'd never know the price of that healing. Blue eyes narrow, suspicion shifting to confusion as he watches Ardyn shake out his arm as though he isn't wearing a completely sheer top so that Noctis can see exactly what just happened there. "I dunno that it really counts as healing when you're just.... transferring it." The wound changes places but no actual healing of the wound happened. Someone else just has to suffer it for him.

Story of his life, really.

[zodiheart]

"Yes, it appears there is a baseline for colors that is molded and altered for the individual. Not unlike hair or eye color, now that that thought occurs to me - blue eyes, for instance, are not nearly all merely 'blue' after all."

Details, patterns, colors, tint, tones... A thousand colors all titled 'blue.'

His thoughts turn to Rosie covered in flora, and he cannot help but smile. "Indeed. I hope you bloom well - quite literally, I might add." He grins at his own statement.

[zodiheart]

"That is the truth. I hope to become friends with Charlie given enough time - he reminds me of myself in certain ways, and I would assist him where I am able." Becoming part of a deity is a sort of singular experience, after all.

Elidibus has no idea that Ignis has, in fact, killed Ardyn. Not that he would take offense to the act having occurred - he knows several details that would spur Ignis into such a thing - it is not his business to do so in the first place.

"It is unfortunate, but the truth. That does not stop my desire to do something in the meantime, however. I suppose all we may do is take care of ours and remain ready for any future events."

[rhapscdos]

"Oh, you're asking instead of just sweeping me away? How very gentlemanly of you." Genesis' gaze follows Angeal's to the decorated, fanciful sort of tents all around. They do look rather inviting, don't they?

When his gaze flicks back to Angeal, it's brimming with delighted mischief. There's only a split second warning before he bounces on the balls of his feet to hop into Angeal's hold. His forearms rest over his mate's broad shoulders, and his powerful thighs wrap around his middle. Leaning over him with the now slight height advantage, he kisses amidst Angeal's hair, and purrs a low, "shall we, darling?"

[fatedfinality]

He wasn't really trying to hide it. The ability isn't something he likes people to know about these days. Like mentioned- It's been a long, long time since he truly healed anyone.

"Semantics, I suppose," he offers, with a half-hearted shrug. "I am able to heal it from myself," or rather The Scourge is, "but it needs to get to me first. I can suffer far worse than most people can due to my unique circumstances so- Why not? I don't make a habit of it though. Too charitable and people would take advantage of it, so! Better it was kept secret."

While there is some truth to that, it was also just giving away too much to both The Empire and Insomnia. He needed to remain as unconnected, unattached as possible for things to work out right. And even if he doesn't need to be here, well- Old habits die hard. Also difficult to adjust to still is reverting back to a Noctis who barely knew him versus the one he was ready to face at the final hour.

[recreator]

That's the glorious thing about music, is it not? Always in flux and forever open to interpretation. The melody itself provides emotion a place to dwell, and a means to soar to higher heights. If he is feeling nostalgic, a simple tune is enough to lend it an escape.

Indeed. How often in his youth had he been admonished for becoming too "sentimental", too hopelessly attached? Eventually he had learned to shroud such feelings behind a gruff outer facade. Yet no matter how he tried to deny them, there were those who had always possessed the ability to see through that wall, to disregard his stern words and sharper barbs and bask in the wellspring hidden beneath. What a salve that had been for his loneliness as a boy.

A double-edged sword, always, yet one which has endured all these long millennia. An unshakeable devotion even at the end of it all.

Mayhap that is part of the reason Emet-Selch had been one of the first to pledge his support of their new Elidibus all those years ago. In all its many forms, 'tis a language they both understand, and one to which he continues to lend his voice via the lush and emotive timbre of the violin.

[hasitsthorns]

He does have a point. Even within the color 'green,' there were a multitude of hues and shades that could present themselves. Hers, for example, were a rich and natural colored green. Not quite emerald like a gem, but like the canopy of fully grown trees in summertime.

"Pft," she snorts, giving a wave of her hand. "I guess we'll see! I know sometimes it takes time to bloom, but... Hopefully, when I do, it'll be a sight." That's all she can hope for in all of this, honestly.

[firsteditionbfs]

Really. Genesis is lucky that they're soulmates, and that Angeal is built like a military tank. He knows exactly what is on his husband's mind when he looks at him like that, and so there's only a small huff of amusement when he's suddenly leapt upon.

"I know you like it when I pretend to have a little bit of class," he says, stepping off the dance floor entirely. No need to accidentally smack someone with his new carry-on.

"But it's fine. I'll be getting rid of all that class in a minute anyway."

And he disappears into one of the tents with his lips already along his husband's jaw.

[zodiheart]

"Of course - we have always done what we can with what we have."

Then wide, bright eyes turn towards Angeal, pleading. It's all very exaggerated, bordering on the theatrical. "Would you please? It would be a relief to smell and taste something that works with what I am experiencing, rather than clashing against it."

His lip does not stick out or tremble in the pleading, but it's close.

[zodiheart]

"Perhaps if the seeds were to be eaten in quantities greater than advised, they would make one ill?" That would be a logical evolution from 'do not consume the seeds' to 'do not consume this fruit' and finally into 'do not touch.' Ever curious, Themis wonders at how such a fruit may taste.

He'd not tried them before.

"Shall we taste it? It would be, quite literally, forbidden fruit," he cannot help cracking a grin at his own joke.

This is probably about to get NSFW...

[rhapscdos]

"Sometimes even you can be an A-list actor," Genesis teases right back, a throaty purr starting up in earnest instead of just chasing his drawl. Something Angeal will be able to feel while he's at his mate's jawline, if not for the way it rumbles through his whole body. "But only for a single act, clearly."

Genesis curls his hands, the early hints of his draconic claws raking along the curve of Angeal's shoulder blades. Much as he purrs like a strange cat, he also arches those claws to dig and knead into thick muscle, nimbly avoiding the more sensitive spots like where his wings emerge.

When he actually sees the inside of the tent, it's met mostly with approval. Certainly better than the leaf-mold of the forests surrounding Banora, even if they were fond memories shared a moment ago.

"Oh lovely, there's pillows and cushions. I won't have to pick twigs from my hair this time you've carried me off."

[zodiheart]

"Then my excitement for the coming of spring shall be for an additional reason."

Not to mention that their dragon transformations will be almost complete by the start of the blooming season. Whatever flowers Rosie will bear will surely appear by then. He wonders, for a brief moment, at which species will appear. No doubt they will be lovely.

Like the flowers strung around them as decorations. His eyes scan the party once more, taking in the surroundings and revelry.

"Did you have other plans for this festival?"

[hasitsthorns]

"Not really," she admits, looking back amongst the crowd of Fae and offworlders alike. "Probably just going to watch some more performances, see about getting something to eat that's safe, and then heading home." There might be some dancing and merriment in the middle there, but overall? She was more keen to get back to her little house in Town than anything.

[firsteditionbfs]

Angeal's kisses curve into a smile. "An A-list actor for the one scene that matters," he teases, even as he tugs the tent flaps closed behind him. This isn't the simulation anymore; no need to give anyone a show for what they're about to do.

Even if it's tame, just for the moment, as Angeal guides Genesis along, kissing and marking along his neck.

"I always thought you looked cutest when you've had a little bit of foliage fashion," he says, pushing Genesis down towards the pile of cushions. May as well make themselves comfortable, right? "Made a guy feel pretty special, knowing I was allowed to get your nice lil' refined self all messy." Leaning over Genesis, he grins up against his lips again for another kiss. "Aren't I allowed?"

[zodiheart]

Upon hearing that, Elidibus turns and bows deeply to her. At the deepest part he cants his head up to flash her a charming smile before straightening.

"I will not steal any more of your time this evening, then. I do hope the merriment treats you well, my dear."

He had his own merriment to attend to, and others he still wished to find and spend time with.

"A suggestion? The pies are excellent. And not simply because I had a hand in baking a number of them."

[firsteditionbfs]

"Well, I take it this is mine now, so we might as well." With a small wave to the fae with the hand still holding onto the fruit, Angeal walks off. May as well find somewhere nice to settle, right?

"But that makes sense. Little wives tale like that always start from somewhere." A seed of truth, ha. Finding a patch beneath a tree, roots bulging out just enough to provide some handy seats, Angeal sprawls his legs out in front of him. "It's kind of interesting to dig into them, honestly. Anyway, have a knife handy? Or do you just want a straight bite?"