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

Is it jarring if I reply in brackets? Please feel free to keep using prose, I just wanna try this

[amaratha]

Yeah, it's at the food table!

[Absinthe seems happy to accommodate- she's usually not so altruistic as to show people around, but the party and free food has put her into a friendly, charitable mood. The food spread is not very far out of the way besides. She waves for Elidibus to follow and weaves through the crowd back towards the food table, talking as she goes.]

It's supposed to be the drink with no alcohol in it. I thought it would be better not to get wasted at a fae party, you know? But this is still very nice, it's got this sweet planty taste to it.

[It's the taste of barley, because it's barley water. Which is tasty, though!]

It's perfectly fine! I love me some brackets

[zodiheart]

[He follows readily as they make their way through the party. Elidibus is no stranger to the food table - he had helped unload the bakery's pies earlier, after all - but had not had the chance just yet to sample everything.

Though he does keep most of his attentions on Absinthe, his observant eyes are always taking in the sights around them. His gaze is drawn to the drinks at the table when they stop, however, and he nods.]

I am no stranger to floral beverages. They can be quite delicious if prepared properly, though, that may perhaps be said about many things. This barley drink will be a new experience for me, and I am looking forward to its sampling.

[He sounds curious. It's beginning to make sense how the bathtub moonshine incident was able to take place.]

[amaratha]

[What big words you use, magic man. A look of mild bemusement shows on Absinthe’s face as she hears his words, but she’s in a socialising mood, so it’s no harm done beyond taking a little longer to get the gist of things.]

That’s a lot of fancy words… [non-judgementally, just pointing out her surprise:] Well, try it, try it!

[She plucks a cup from the table and hands it to him, letting him decide how much to take himself. There’s always the option of mixing a cocktail of the barley water and the other alcohols being served next to it, all the drinks labeled… ah, maybe that’s not a good idea, now that she thinks of the bathtub moonshine incident.]

[zodiheart]

[He's no stranger to mortals finding his manner of speech strange.]

If my manner of speech is difficult, I request your pardon. As old as I am, it is difficult to alter my natural linguistics.

[Though he can do it if it's needed. It does sounds strange each time, though. He prefers to speak as comes natural to him.

He takes a decently-sized portion for himself and does not hesitate in taking a long draught of it. Rolling the flavors over his tongue, he promptly decides he enjoys it, taking a second, smaller sip.]

You were correct, this tastes wonderful.

[amaratha]

Oh, it's okay. Are you very old?

[He does have white hair, but sometimes people just have white hair, you know? She didn't clock him as particularly old like she did with Regis, but she's also not an expert on people's ages, so she's innocently curious if nothing else.

Elidibus’ enjoyment of the drink does remind her to refill her own, which she does.]

Yeah, it's nice, isn't it! I'm drinking my fill now because I dunno if anyone can make it in town. [Beat. She glances around and lowers her voice.] There's Ardyn, but I think better to leave him to finish his existing experiments, yeah?

[She believes Elidibus seems to like the guy, so she kind of wants to warn him for his own wellbeing.]

[zodiheart]

It is difficult to give you an exact year. I was, by the standards of mortals, ancient by the time a significant event happened upon my world. Since that even it has been well over twelve thousand years. Thus, I am quite old indeed despite my appearance. As it is with all of my people - our appearance is deceiving.

[The implication that his people are immortal is there, unstated.]

It is quite enjoyable. I may be able to replicate the recipe, given enough exposure to the drink, so you need not depend on Ardyn and his callous disregard for sanitary procedures.

[He smiles impishly as he says so.]

[amaratha]

Twelve thousand… that's a thousand… twelve of that…

[This is clearly pushing the boundaries of her limited education, as she tries to wrap her head around the number.]

… yeah, that's really old.

Why do you still share the form of a human? Or were you made like this also?

[In her mind, it strikes her as odd that Elidibus looks very much like a human- a race that lives nothing like the lifespan of a human should be like the Faerunian dragons, looking wholly different to fit their different lives. Or does this mean everything starts like a human and the long-lived monsters of folktales were the exception?]

[zodiheart]

My people appear as I do now, which appears to be quite similar to humans. There is a certain elegance we possess in our limbs and movements, however, that many humans appear to lack. In addition our eyes, you may notice, are different. Those differences are natural and not caused by any changes we may be going through.

[What with the pattern within the iris and the glow.]

We do, however, typically stand at a might taller height. I do believe my current height is five feet and six inches, by that form of measurement. Without adjustment to a mortal scale, I would stand at fourteen feet tall - and I am one of the shorter individuals you may meet of my kind.

[He is happy to explain, and talks with his hands as he does so in aimless gestures.]

The ability to adjust ones size is an easily learned enchantment we have learned. And a convenient one.

[amaratha]

You're big. Oooh. I see.

[Being big seems to tie things together for her, though it should be noted that as someone who didn't spend very long in school, her understanding of biology is entirely vibes-based. But to her credit, fourteen feet is a measurement she seems very comfortable with compared to the number twelve thousand.]

Since you've lived so long, is being in this new place interesting to you, or have you seen things like these already?

[zodiheart]

I am indeed 'big' compared to most mortals.

[Despite being obviously very learned himself, Elidibus seems to not mind Absinthe's level of education. He does not comment on it nor draws assumptions. That is her business, as far as he's concerned.

Instead, he starts to talk animatedly, eagerness clear in his voice.]

This place is fascinating to me, to answer your question. An entirely new world, with its own history, peoples, and magic? There is much to learn and experience, and it is difficult to communicate how much I am looking forward to this knowledge.

[amaratha]

[Absinthe usually doesn't give a hoot about these sorts of things, but she likes people, and she's swayed by Edilibus’ infectious passion. So she listens, and nods thoughtfully at it.]

Is there a library in Town? [She doesn't remember seeing one in Town, but she hasn't been paying attention to if there were any libraries.] Or a- in the big cities where I come from, there are big fancy schools where they store all the knowledge and history and stuff. You could ask Charlie if they've got that here.

Or if they don't, you could be this world’s first… uh… fuck, what's the word for it… … wizard!

[She means “scholar”. But adventurers only really know wizards, or if they're thinking of a very cool and application-focused engineer-type scholar, an artificer.]

[zodiheart]

I do not believe that we have a library here in our Town. But you are brilliant, dear Absinthe, for that suggestion.

[He turns a bright grin to her, clapping his hands together.]

There must needs be a place to place the accumulation of what we learn within this place. Whether that be of culinary arts or of catalogues regarding our newfound transformations. I will have to ask Charlie whether they are in possession of a wizard.

[He understands what she means, but chooses to use the word she had. They both know the concept they're talking about, why would he point out that she's wrong? That would be an undue insult.]

I do plan to include illustrations for them as well. Not all have had access to the time or depth of learning or knowledge that I have - few will, until they reach my age - so to provide a picture would be worthwhile. Should I establish such a place, would you contribute?

[amaratha]

Am I? [She giggles, very pleased at being called “brilliant”; sure, she calls herself awesome often, but the gathering of knowledge isn't her forte.]

Well- there's another word for it, but I'm not familiar.

[As if Elidibus wasn't aware of this. Well, she doesn't know if he does or not, and his praise has put her in a confident mood. Dare she say, even a wizardly one. So she explains a bit more than she really needs to.]

And nah, it's not really my thing. I didn't go to school very much and I'm not a very bookish person. I was thinking, if we were to start some things here, maybe a tavern where people can hang out together and make more of those bonds that give Charlie power.

[zodiheart]

There are several words one may use for those invested in scholarly pursuits. Be they researcher or librarian, all seek to achieve that goal through differing paths.

[He does nod along to her suggestion.]

A place of learning, a place for gathering and relaxation - all good things to strive for. There are needs which may be met in this way.

Would you involve yourself in the tavern, then?

[amaratha]

My old party, we were opening up a tavern before I came here. It was fun, so maybe I might try again, but with my own place this time.

[Though she uses the word “fun”, her tone is more thoughtful than when she speaks of having fun at this fae party. Opening a place is a pretty major undertaking.]

It’s hard to have too many taverns, and with us offworlders being a group, I think it’ll be nice to have another place that’s not the Town Hall. You could do some, um, book readings, for example! If you can find people who want to do that too.

[zodiheart]

You will not be alone in your undertaking if that is what you wish to do. I can name several individuals who would enjoy helping, myself included.

[Construction or the general setting up of a business, theirs is a varied group.]

Book readings indeed! Or perhaps musical entertainment? Pianos are rather versatile instruments, after all. I have quite the number of bar songs in my repertoire. But I need not play alone, surely there are some number of us with bardic tendencies.

And the drinking, of course. It would be good to have a variety of alcohol from a source that will not immediately make one ill.