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

[miniroth]

If looks could kill, Avan would be a smoldering pile of ash. As they CAN'T, the glare he's fixed with is merely unpleasant and thoroughly unwelcoming. "I owe you no obedience. Look at your own actions if you wish to complain about rudeness."

It's very deliberate, the way Sephiroth turns his back on the other teenager, readjusting his hold on his dinner and apparently fully intending to just walk away, that growl returning, but much much quieter, little more than a surly grumble. Just for that when he finishes this he's going to go get more meat!

[avanture_time]

"It's not about obedience! I'm telling you this for your own good! Vegetables! Fruit! Grains! Meat! You need to eat all of these things, not just one! If you don't, your body will regret it!"

Sephiroth you're going to get dragon scurvy!!!

[miniroth]

"Do you know what I eat on a daily basis?"

What looks like a chicken wing is picked up and waggled a little, his expression dark. "Do you know anything at all about me or about my dietary requirements, how many calories I burn a day, and what I normally consume, or are you basing this around a five second at most guess? Are you chasing around the people bobbing for onions because they're not getting enough protein? Are you hassling the people eating candy apples because it's not a grain OR a protein?"

He's willing to bet the answer is no. "Start thinking very carefully before your incredible ignorance earns you consequences."

[avanture_time]

Avan will not be swayed by these distractions. He's deeply familiar with how sixteen-year-old boys eat, he is one and so are most of his friends.

"They aren't on their third plate of only meat!" There's that lecturing finger again. "That's not good for your stomach! You'll make yourself sick eating like that!"

[miniroth]

"I will not, protein, raw or cooked, is one of the few things I can reliably eat large quantities of without becoming ill. I can't say the same for many of the other offerings available." He knows! Because he's experimented!

Granted, not here and now, but he's learned to touch anything fried with extreme caution, and be wary of anything most people would generally find very rich.

[avanture_time]

Avan's face twists into a comical grimace as his shoulders slump. "You're not supposed to eat large quantities of any of it." Large quantities overall, sure, yeah, we're both growing boys here, but not of any one thing!

[miniroth]

This earns another one of those long, unblinking stares.

"I don't think I'm ever going to reach my daily required caloric intake if I don't." His tone is flat. "It's not as if I have access to nutrient loaf here."

Nutrient what. "You obviously are well intentioned, but my requirements are likely very different from yours. I have been informed that the point of these 'festivals' is to indulge. I am indulging."

[avanture_time]

Avan can do a long, unblinking stare, too!

Which he holds as he dumps a spoonful of green beans onto Sephiroth's plate.

[miniroth]

Immediately the offending beans are herded off to one side in their own little circle, out of the juices and gravies already on the dish.

And then everything the greenbeans touched right after it, in a second little section, all on their own.

"That's disgusting." His voice is utterly level. "What makes you think I want your spoon germs on anything of mine?"

[avanture_time]

"They're not germs, they're green beans." What's next to the green beans on the table? Asparagus? Have some asparagus, too, Sephiroth.

[miniroth]

It isn't that Sephiroth has not or would not under other situations, eat vegetables. They're fine.

That is NOT the point to this.

The second time Avan moves to put anything even NEAR his person, his free hand moves to intercept the offending counterpart hand, and if he can catch hold, tighten his grip to viselike- but only to stop forward motion. Back is fine.

[avanture_time]

"Oh? Not a fan of asparagus? It's a strong flavor, I understand~"

[miniroth]

"I will be perfectly clear, so there can be no 'misunderstandings'." Sephiroth liked to think he was patient with civilians. But most of them knew when to back off, and would have by now. Killing Avan was out of the question. He's killed one civilian in the past, and preferred not to again.

He lets go.

"If you touch anything of mine, including myself, or attempt to put anything on my dish, or remove anything, I will hurt you. You have reached the limits of my patience. Test it no further."

[silver_soldier]

Sephiroth has been keeping an eye on his younger self over the course of the evening. He hasn't wanted to stifle him or interfere with his being forced to adjust to an obviously uncomfortable social situation; while he sympathizes with how his younger self must be feeling, he also appreciates that it's only by exposing themselves to things like this that they can become accustomed to it.

(He, himself, is still not accustomed, but...moreso than his younger self, that's clear. While the boy is actively on edge, the man is simply resigned.)

And he's been watching very closely, ever since that first shove. If his younger self is being moved to actually take a disagreement to a physical level, either he's truly under an unmanageable level of stress, or he's being extremely provoked. From Sephiroth's admittedly distant observation...it looks as though it might be a bit of both.

Well, maybe a lot of both.

Either way, Sephiroth intimately recognizes the sort of dangerous calm that comes over his younger self after the offense of the vegetables. He's already moving through the crowd by the time Avan is grabbed, and reaches the two of them just about at the moment when Avan is released.

"Excuse me." He's already 6'6", but somehow, right now, he seems taller. This is because, while in most cases Sephiroth doesn't want or try to be intimidating, he's carefully adjusting his body language to project all the remote chilliness of a glacier. There are times when he can indulge his wish to be normal, and times in which the menace and unapproachability of being the most powerful and dangerous man alive has its advantages.

Usually, those advantages are avoiding fights rather than starting them, because what Sephiroth is good at and what Sephiroth wants don't necessarily have anything to do with each other. Today is no different. He doesn't want an argument, and he certainly doesn't want a fight(with either version of himself); he simply wants Avan to leave.

"You're upsetting my brother. I ask that you leave him alone." His tone is perfectly even; the words are perfectly polite. The atmosphere, however, is that of a thunderstorm rolling in. While he does not actively indicate this in any way, there is still an implication that the request he's making is a consideration he's offering. And that he may not offer such consideration a second time.

He does, in fact, think both boys are at fault here. Avan clearly didn't take any of his younger self's warnings - and, while Sephiroth knows that their emotions and body language can be subtle at times, there has been very little that was subtle about his younger self's communication here. The shove alone should have been a massive red flag to anyone. But also...his younger self is reacting far too strongly to what is indeed rudeness, though of a quite mild variety. (Certainly compared to some of the genuine misery they've been subjected to.) But he's not going to lecture his younger self in front of someone else...and, obviously, the most important thing to do right now is separate these two before he has to actively restrain his younger self from further violence. So sending this other boy away - and making it clear that what was indeed rudeness on his part was not acceptable, or will be permitted to continue - is the obvious solution. Then he can deal with...himself.

[avanture_time]

Avan looks up at the older Sephiroth, easily a foot taller than he is, and smiles pleasantly, apparently completely unbothered. If he even notices all the intimidating vibes that Sephiroth's giving off, there's no sign of it. Is he just that dense...?

"Oh, there is someone to look after him here, how nice! Do you know that he's refusing to eat any vegetables?"

[miniroth]

By the way the smallest of the three stiffens a little, the appearance of the older Sephiroth may not necessarily be in his favor. He shouldn't have to step in, that's something that should be completely handleable on his own! That Avan pretty much instantly proves why there's a problem by not taking yet another blatant 'hint', he breathes out a slow measured breath between clenched teeth. A faint acrid smell of something chemical follows.

The despoiled dish is set on the table. He won't be eating any of that now, and will just have to start with a new one. "He has no say in my diet. Nor do you."

[silver_soldier]

"It is rude to lecture strangers on their habits," Sephiroth says flatly. He's not thrilled that intimidation didn't work, but also not surprised; Avan certainly isn't the only one who's ever ignored such things. Some of the people Sephiroth is closest to have been similarly unbothered. "It is also rude to continue to inflict your presence and advice on others after they have made it clear they wish to be left alone. And while eating vegetables may be important, one night without them isn't going to harm him unduly." A little memory from Angeal unwinds. "There are such a thing as 'cheat days'." You can practically hear him handling the unfamiliar slang with tongs. "It is common for people to eat unhealthily at festivals, as they are special occasions. So his refusing to eat vegetables tonight is not a problem that requires a solution, much less forced intervention.

"I ask that you go elsewhere." There is no 'please' this time. "If you do not, we will. Your presence and help are not required, and unwelcome."

[avanture_time]

Being uptight sure does run in the family, huh? But okay, Avan can tell he's not going to make any more headway here, inasmuch as he's made any headway in the first place.

"Alright, alright," he lilts in his usual carefree manner, "I'll be going now. Enjoy the rest of the festival!"

He even bows politely before he takes his leave, like he didn't instigate this whole thing. Little shit.

[miniroth]

Still being hungry wars with irritation and the desire to simply leave the entire festival. Surely by now their fae hosts have been satisfied with his presence and he'd fulfilled the obligation the invitation caused!

Avan's little bow and words of parting earn another dark look. "I wasn't going to kill him."

Probably not to the blue haired teenager. Killing people at a party is not how it's done in most societies, and as frustrating as all of this had been, even he wouldn't go that far.

[silver_soldier]

Sephiroth sighs as he watches Avan leave - both in some relief at his finally departing, and with a bit of weariness for the argument he knows is about to ensue. "I am aware. But escalating to violence against a civilian, even for the most persistent of annoyances, is not acceptable. You know it would have reflected poorly upon both you and ShinRa, from a public relations perspective."

Which isn't something that matters to Sephiroth at all anymore, but he knows that his younger self still operates by ShinRa's rules, still conducts himself by the company's standards. He suspects that this argument might be the most persuasive at his disposal.

He certainly doesn't have full confidence that a morality or personal responsibility argument is likely to gain traction. Not yet. While those matter a great deal to him, they're also largely incompatible - if not downright incomprehensible - concepts to someone who's still working from ShinRa's playbook.

"While his own behavior was also unacceptable, your own conduct is your only responsibility. And there were other, better options to explore if he continued not to listen to you."

[miniroth]

There might not be as much of an argument as anticipated, because as aggravating as it is, he also knows it's true. There is a higher standard he's expected to meet, not just from his instructors and the Professor, but his own. "... I know." He does, which is why he exercised what he felt was almost saintly patience! "But there is also something to be said for teaching someone the value of respecting another's personal space and possessions in a situation that doesn't leave them maimed or dead."

Like biting, a helpful whisper in the back of his thoughts suggests. One good bite and he'll never get in biting range again.

The thought made his teeth itch and that chemical bitterness return across his tongue, but as soon as it's suggested the interest in doing so is replaced by disgust. He wasn't interested in touching anyone more than necessary, never mind biting. He's not as strong as he was, and Avan simply not being part of a military Sephiroth knows doesn't mean he's not part of some other one. Or skilled in some other fashion that would be suddenly and unexpectedly trouble in a murder attempt. "..Coming here was a bad idea."

[silver_soldier]

"Unwise to assume that you can teach others things. Some refuse to learn; some are incapable of learning." Sephiroth glances off in the direction Avan left. "Considering how he seemed unable to recognize how unwelcome and unpleasant his presence was for you...that boy likely falls in the latter category." He shakes his head slightly. "But in any case, never deviate from what you know is correct for the sake of a gamble. And you cannot control what other people do or don't learn from interacting with you, so 'teaching someone' not to do something is always a gamble."

He cocks an eyebrow at his younger self. "Besides...there are other ways of inflicting punishments than the physical. If you had, for instance, complained to our fae hosts, they may have taken offense at his being so rude to their guests, and exacted their own revenge. At the very least, they likely would have taken action to ensure you could continue to enjoy their party without interference. By viewing this is a problem you have to deal with yourself, you've overlooked valuable resources."

He pauses, then reaches out to lightly touch his younger self's shoulder. "That said...you were considerably provoked, and are clearly stressed. Your restraint may not have been perfect, but you didn't harm him, or cause an incident. I am proud you held back. I stepped in only when I saw he was refusing to understand when he should leave, and upsetting you too much in the process." Another pause. "And I am proud of you for coming to this party at all. I know neither of us have ever been comfortable at such events, but...to push one's comfort zones in an effort to improve our handling of unfamiliar situations is always admirable."

[miniroth]

The smaller of the two draws a slow breath. Everything he did here was a gamble, and that sets the tone for what he hears out of the rest. Every move he made, from where he slept to what he ate and what he did with his day was a constant, endless gamble, cobbled together with guesswork at best. Very little of it was what he was taught, what he knew. "If I cannot handle my own difficulties I do not deserve to have them solved for me. I will not trouble our hosts with something so petty as this."

He's not going to go any further - not in public, not with so many around. Especially not when Avan might suddenly reappear with a broccoli head, or something equally inappropriate to the meat parade he'd had going earlier. And he's keeping watch in case the other teenager DOES suddenly reappear with something offendingly green in hand. It's going to be an ongoing concern.

It's also strange, to hear anyone at all (though it might be cheating when it's himself, just older, the same way such casual contact would be unwelcome were it anyone else--) say they're proud of him. Not unwanted, though it doesn't feel deserved. Especially since.. "..I think I'm going to leave for a while." So much for being willing to stay here, outside his comfort zone; the apologetic tone is at least genuine; no sooner is someone proud of him for dealing with it all, that he wants to leave. "I don't think it'll offend the King at this point."

[silver_soldier]

"The point is not to offload responsibilities. The point is to take the most effective steps towards achieving your goals, whatever they may be. In this case, your goals of being left alone, of not disrupting the party and offending the fae, and in seeing the offender punished for his transgressions could all three potentially been served through one action. You have been taught to practice self-reliance to the point where it actually hinders your performance and limits your tactical options by blinding you to many of them." Sephiroth shakes his head slightly. "They're lessons you should unlearn, if you seek the best outcome in any given situation. Being flexible and able to both recognize and make use of your best available options will serve you far better than a rigid adherence to self-sufficience regardless of circumstance."

He squeezes his younger self's shoulder briefly before letting his hand fall away. "...but I wished to help you while you were in distress, not lecture you. And if there is pride to be taken in pushing out of one's comfort zone, there is also pride to be taken in recognizing when it is best to disengage. Overwhelming yourself isn't going to help you. If anything, it would only make you want to avoid the source of that discomfort more, and undo any acclimatization you've achieved. If you feel you need to leave, that is the correct call to make, and there is no judgment."

[miniroth]

There is a point where he is very obviously going to say something and thinks better of it, frowning. He'll sort out the conflict of instructions later, and whether or not he'd earned being proud of, when it's quieter and fewer people around as unwanted distractions.

Part of him wants to linger, with the certain difficulty others would have in bothering him unduly with his older self nearby. It would be a little easier then, to take a risk--

.. No. Maybe Sephiroth really was enjoying something about all of this and babysitting would hardly be conductive to it. "...Then I will see you later." Either somewhere at the festival, or much later all the way back in Town.

One day maybe he'll learn the art of goodbyes. Today is not that day, and he has much to think about to distract him.