childrenofbahamutlogs | EVENT #1: FAE FESTIVITIES

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EVENT #1: FAE FESTIVITIES

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:

ONLY

DO NOT:

TRADE

OTHER ITEMS TO NOTE:

old woman

GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT

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

GAMES

Battleship! (Fae Style!)

a cup of nectar that refills endlessly, and numbs any pains you may have.

curse

dissipate after a time

Dress Up Darlings!

how

Bobbing For Onions!

Bag of Onions

What's In The Box?

ENTERTAINMENT

Slayd & The Possums!

play

The Crowning of the King of Misrule!

a lottery

King of Misrule

Special Gift

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.

code

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.

code

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

above a 13

Bobbing For Onions

above a 10

⁂ 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 ⁂

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Truly, it's been interesting to see the other man clearly in his element as he's dealt with the fae here. Ignis too, of course, has been working on a rough idea on how they work even before getting the list by Slayd, because it helps to have a nerd boyfriend who knows old fae stories. Still, it almost seems as though Elidibus is familiar on a more personal level. For all that sometimes Ignis is wary of the other man ~~like recognizing like~~, he does have to admire that.

By the time he circles around to where the other man has been enjoying his observations, Ignis has already done the most important thing of the night by his estimations. (So long as no one does anything stupid and leaves the party at least. You know, anyone he cares about.) That much is proven by the lovely cup that he carefully keeps inbetween scaled and claws hands - deep green, with the latter in particular seeming to shimmer strangely like gems or crystals.

Ignis has been doing his best to be very careful about them. He doesn't like the developments happening in his shoes, either, but that's more hidden just for now.

Not so hidden? All the pixies hanging off of him, chattering over his head and cross the gaps of his arms as he approaches Elidibus. Some of them even bother to glance over to the Emissary and wave. "Is this a friend of yours, you big jerk?" one of them says, but rather friendly despite the choice of words.

Ignis doesn't half mind it. "Just an acquaintenance," he says dismissively, before nodding to the other man. "It's all been pleasant enough, I suppose. A bit rowdy."

"What! Come on, you had fun at our game!"

"Because I won."

"Well," says that particular pixie. "Obviously that's when you have fun."

Up close, the changes are apparent n Elidibus as well. Dustings of scales can be seen beneath the framing of his hair and bangs, shimmering with the lights of the party. They vary in size, moondust to moonstones. His nails have begun to sharpen, and if Ignis looks carefully, there are the barest start of what appear to be spines hidden within his hair.

Bemused, he watches the exchange between the pixies and Ignis without interjecting. That wouldn't be polite, after all, and he knows the pixies may take offense.

He smiles after they finish, "I have grown to expect a certain level of noise when the fae are in high spirits, though this festival does appear to have them in rare form. It is rather heartwarming to see them enjoy themselves so."

"See? We're heartwarming."

Ignis raises an eyebrow at that, but none of it seems to be particularly serious. Through some way or another, it seems that they've all managed to find a balance of some sort. "So you are familiar with a culture such as this?" he inquires. "While I heard tales of them in storybooks, they never truly existed in my own world. It is interesting to be in a place where those stories are truth."

"I am, beyond that of tales I have read or heard from other worlds," he ignores the pixies verbally, but his eyes flick up to acknowledge them.

Fae truly did seem to be some of the most widespread of mythical beings. There were unicorns, winged horses, dragons, and the like, but the tales of the fae were so varied and wide - many to seem believable.

"Upon at least one of the reflections of my world, fae can be found in rather great numbers. The area they inhabit is their realm entirely, and they are as fun-loving there as they are here. One must be careful of what words one uses, lest they give theirs in a way they had not wished. While many are incredibly friendly, some varieties, however, are more likely than not to attempt to drown you. Their King is named Titania, and they preside over all of the others."

Ignis will take note that that 'drowning' comment, because it seems to be quite literal. Well, he always knew there would be good cause for the list that Slayd wrote out for all of them. It's just more reason to not be particularly daring in exploration today.

For the rest... A glance to his pixie companions, who just grin. "Maaaaaaaaaybe that's true," one of them sings. Well, of course they wouldn't want to make this easy on any of them.

Games, and all.

"I see," he responds for himself. "I had already been following some of that advice pre-emptively, but it is good to know the exact reasons. Was that a... 'reflection' which you visited often?"

Ah, it appears that Ignis is unaware of the state of his home. Considering it is not exactly a topic that will keep a party in high spirits, Elidibus decides to not pursue it further for now. Undoubtedly they will have time that he may explain the details after the festival.

"It was not one I had cause to personally travel to often, no. What I do know comes from recent memory, however, and as far as I am aware still holds true. It is useful to know such things as to not thank the fae - as it implied you owe them a debt. Or other details."

He smiles up at the pixie who had spoken, "Your wings are looking ever so radiant tonight." A small compliment and flattery is an easy way to curry favor, and will keep an individual firmly in the 'polite' category.

Well, that's enough to get someone preening, at least. Ignis takes note of it. For his part, he's been more inclined to complimenting the party itself, decorations, things of that nature. Actions and choices.

He always, personally, thought it meant a little more then.

"I will be sure to keep all of that in mind. It does remind me of some things back home." You know, all the politics. "Still, you seem to be enjoying yourself well enough even when having to keep your words in mind constantly."

Ignis is correct in his observations. Even though one has to always be on guard with regards to the fae, the festival itself does afford them some manner of protection. But it was Elidibus's own skills and experience that allow him to be so at ease.

"I have had enough experience in choosing words that it comes second nature when it is required. There is a part of myself on alert at all times, yes, particularly when checking to ensure my shadow remains in place, but I am able to multitask quite efficiently."

His looks around the party once more, taking everything in. "Particularly if it is only the single night."

"Indeed." One night is more than enough for Ignis as well, especially since he's juggling the watching of three other people at the very least. (And he'll regret not making it four when he finds out what Ravus did.) "But it really is a lovely party. I can tell a great deal of thought was put into it."

The pixies appear to be puffing up proudly. Ignis wonders how much help they actually did. You'd think not a lot, because they're so tiny, but...

Well.

"I'm actually curious about the matter of shadows; are you familiar with their theft?"

The pride of the pixies being stoked puts a smile on his face, a bemused expression settling in. "Indeed, they have outdone themselves."

As for the legends of shadow theft...

"I am afraid that I do not have much experience with that particular legend. In books I have seen its mention, however, and I believe I can draw some conclusions of my own." He looks up and out, taking in the various kinds of fae present. "In places where fae spend great amounts of time, things that do not usually possess energies or consciousness of their own may begin to develop such things. This phenomenon would be exponentially greater within their own homeland - which is where we are presently located. One's shadow, for instance, could potentially develop its own will."

He waves a hand, dismissively.

"Or it could merely be a trick, a prank by one of the fae. An inconvenience for a time, potentially debilitating if not taken care of, but not inherently malicious in nature. Fae are not human, after all. Their understanding of things can be quite different from our own."

"We'd never be mean to guests!" one pixie speaks up. "It's a party!" This does, of course, not negate the difference in understanding.

Another pixie stands on her tiptoes to pat Ignis's glasses frame. "We even know not to play with things away from some people, or else they can't play too," she explains with some grand wisdom, as though this didn't have to be explained to all of them before the party. "And where's the fun in that if they can go seek what we hide?"

Ignis's expression does a very good job of being neutral but, for the emotionally astute such as Elidibus, it is possibly to see a sort of dead-eyed stare quality to it which gives away the tale of a man who has certainly had to struggle for his glasses because of pixies.

"But humans don't use their shadows all that much," another pixie points out, and the others nod. "So it's not bad, really, if they decide to leave on their own, or otherwise!"

Much nodding.

"Well, be that as it may, I think I would prefer to keep my shadow, if only as quick way to check the time," Ignis says matter of factly. "Still, thank you for taking the time to answer the question even if you were not wholly sure."

Edited 2024-12-01 22:14 (UTC)

For the benefit of them both Elidibus also has schooled his face into a generic look of geniality. The pixies have their own logic, their own sets of rules, and to them it makes plenty sense - the way they speak, yes, it can be understood from that point of view. But Ignis and Elidibus would rather not lose their shadows.

"I am of the same mind. It would please me greatly to keep my shadow close, as I am terribly fond of it." He glances up to the pixies, "Ignis is correct, you have been the most gracious of hosts. All others present should only hope to shine as brightly as you."

The fae have always strived to be great hosts, after all. Complimenting such a thing will only get them both into their better graces. Not that Ignis needs it, with the way the pixies are all over him. He goes back to looking up at Ignis.

"Have you been able to sample much of the food? I have yet to taste a dish that has not been sumptuous indeed."

Really, if they get any more prideful, Ignis suspects that the pixies will gain rather swollen heads.

At least with that compliment, it seems enough to sustain them for now, and he can get to his own conversation with Elidibus in peace. Finally. "Ah, yes. I have been doing my best to try a little bit of everything." It would be a shame not to, for multiple reasons. It's always interesting to see just what the fae might have to offer.

Although... "I noticed that the bakery seems to have brought in some things as well, isn't that so? I believe you work there - or you did, in another place." He's not sure if Elidibus would still do so in yet another world.

And thus Elidibus has found his strategy to be entirely effective. With the attention of the pixies away from them for the time being, he takes advantage of the lull to step closer to Ignis. A friendly conversation should not have to include slightly raised voices, after all, even if it is to be heard over the rest of the party. Or pixies.

The Emissary also did not want his flower crown to be stolen by one of Ignis's hangers-on.

"I do work there currently, yes, just as I had during my time in the Simulation." There is pride in his eyes now, and in his voice as he next speaks, "Several of the pies are of my own making. I did, however, allow myself to perhaps go a bit far on the intricacy of the crust, but thankfully Angeal does not seem to mind. I hope you have enjoyed what we have brought to share."

He knows they are as delicious as they look, but it is always good to seek other opinions.

"Ah, so you were the one behind those particular designs?" Ignis stirs with clear interest, posture straightening subtly. He'd noticed them immediately, of course. He's not sure how they wouldn't draw anyone's eyes. The assumption of a pie is pretty simple and clear cut. To go further with that sort of thing... It shows a skill and passion he has to respect.

"They really were quite incredible. I knew that you all had a deft hand when it came to making desserts, as was clear in the simulation, but I had remained uncertain if you would still be able to make anything similar with the situation being what it is - whether in form or taste. I suppose there was no reason to doubt you."

"I was. It is easy for me to find joy in the action, that is, in cooking and baking. The decorative aspect is perhaps more than is needed for the final products, but I have found that the visual spectacle communicates something it otherwise would lack. That is, the sheer pleasure of serving something beautiful as well as delicious and nourishing to one I care for." The smile on his face is small, proud of himself but not egotistical. "Perhaps you may understand?"

Elidibus runs the tips of the fingers of one hand across the palm of the other in slow, delicate circles. How can one explain that his tether to his physical form is something tangible? That being here, being real, allows him to do far greater things than he could within the Simulation?

Instead, he nods and takes the praise for what it is. And resolves to explain simply. "Thank you, it gladdens me to know you believe so. In truth, having a true body serves to make the effort far easier for myself than it otherwise would. Save for sheer power, it has been the same in almost every area."

"Indeed." It's not very open, as Ignis very rarely is when it comes to such positive emotions and to those who are mostly still strangers (in his mind), but he does smile. "The visuals are as important as anything else when it comes to a meal. Of course, to the ultimate goal of survival, there are times when one cannot be fussy... But the best meals feed your eyes and mind as much as your stomach."

It's one of those little things he's always quite liked, as he got better and better with cooking. The appeal of making it come into the proper arrangement on a plate or in a bowl, the colors that went into it....

Baking is an even stronger arena for that idea, in his mind. There's already so much effort put into making sure it all comes out perfectly.... dressing it up only makes sense.

As for everything else... He tilts his head to the side thoughtfully. "That is right... I had always noticed that something was off in relation to my senses when in the simulation. The affect that it had on powers, one's own body in a far deeper way than merely the physical... It had never been a problem I had to deal with."

"Feeding the eyes as well as the stomach." His smile is tilted, and he nods.

Then his smile fades as he thinks about the Simulation. Not in any negative way of feeling, merely of delving into his thoughts. Of how to explain.

"The senses were a more obvious aspect, yes. But the rest... imagine that you are aware of what makes you an individual. You can feel your life, your very soul, and how it inhabits your physical form. Your soul and mind work in perfect sync with your body to create the being that is you." He touches his palm again, small circles.

"To not have a true body throws yourself into dissonance. Imagine that each of your senses is muffled in a way, that there is a lag between when you move your leg with your mind and your leg actually moves. That there is a disconnect within the heart of you. All feels stagnant. You are real, but at times you do not feel it to be so. It diminishes you."

Now he spreads his arms wide in shrug. "That is how it felt, to me, with that false body. Each and every waking moment." It is why he enjoyed going to those other worlds so often. A breath of fresh air."

In some ways, Ignis almost thinks he can grasp on what Elidibus means. While the full depth of it is impossible for him, well, he did experience the simulation in his own way. The muffling of his sense of smell and taste, how something about his sight and hearing were at just the slightest mismatch... If he thinks of that amplified to a hundred times worse, perhaps it is just a step closer to what Elidibus experienced.

"...I see. Then, I am glad for you that you are able to experience things a little more freely in this place, even with certain..." A small frown, and he purposefully keeps his scaled hands still in place. "Strange changes that we are all once again going through."

Ignis would really have rather not had these two nickels, thanks.

"Hopefully it does not get in the way of your regained freedom of sense and spirit."

"It does not, though your well wishes are noted and appreciated. In truth, I am no stranger to transformations. My own transformed state is humanoid, rather than draconic, but there are many individuals among my people whose transformed appearances can hardly be described as 'human.'"

Wings, four arms, feathers... he isn't a stranger to appearing inhuman.

"I much prefer this, with the hope that I am able to control the changes in the future. The process, however, does leave much to be desired."

The itching is terrible.

"I believe I recall you mentioning that, in a prior conversation." One of their first, as a matter of fact - certainly their first that was in person. Ignis finds it somewhat interesting, truth be told... but as something he didn't have to deal with in any capacity personally.

Then again, this is certainly a bit different from what Elidibus described himself.

Ignis resists the urge to touch his own hands in any way, although that urge is certainly there within his chest. Instead, he nods his agreement, frowning just a touch. Always so controlled, or at least trying to be. "I wonder if the strange manner of it has to do with our body adjusting to the presence of something else being contained within, or if this is what all draconic souls would do no matter the container."

"In this world? It is possible that you are correct. There is precedent in this place for draconic souls invoking transformation - though I am unsure how similar the process was to our own."

Elidibus gives a shrug and a smile.

"I speak of those prior champions. Charlie had mentioned them in the past, though I was not personally involved in that conversation. I only know that they, too, were paired with a draconic entity each, and that they, too, underwent transformation. It would be worth investigation."

Their identities had seemed to be something of a secret. Whether that was intentional or not was what drew Elidibus's attention - why omit their names other than to protect them?

"Indeed... If they were particularly legendary and of such note, then surely there would be many tales about them." Whether written down, which Ignis hopes, or whose deeds were passed along orally, which will almost certainly be true either way. People do love to talk, and have since the dawn of time.

It's just that tracking down any oral information would be incredibly annoying.

"Have you inquired with Charlie about their names and the like?"

"I have not done so myself, no. It is my understanding that he has been reticent regarding information concerning them. Why that is so could be due to a number of reasons, but I have my suspicions."

Ignis is as thorough and trustworthy as one could hope for, so Elidibus sees no reason to hide his thoughts.

"Protection, most likely. If Charlie knew them personally it would be akin to protecting his own, though he does strike me as the type to do so even if he had not known them on that level. The world being in the tenuous state that it is - that is what makes the most sense to me."

"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."

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zodiheart - 2025-05-07 08:53 (UTC) - Expand

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EVENT #1: FAE FESTIVITIES

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