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

[firsteditionbfs]

"Yeah... You would ignore how we were all told not to do exactly that, huh." Gently, softly, his fingers brush up to sweep away hair from the sweat and dirt along his brow. "Funny... This is almost exactly like back there in the sim, too. Learning a lot of things that probably couldn't fit in your head, and even starting to turn into a dragon."

Although less hostile interference to fuck them over.

So that's nice.

There's so much that Angeal wants to ask. Things he wants to know, about Byleth's memories and emotions and what's going on between the two of them now. He even almost opens his mouth to ask... only to rearrange the words before they have a chance to leave his mouth. "Need help getting back home?"

[perfectteatime]

The irony is not lost on Byleth. He has all those layers and yet more now. Even turning into a dragon. It feels strange to welcome the touch so readily. Feels strange that it's familiar to him now.

"Home." He gives a weak huff.

What's the point? Dimitri isn't there. Going to a quiet, empty house seems decidedly unappetizing right now.

"No. I don't want to be alone."

[firsteditionbfs]

"...Yeah. I get it."

If he'd only arrived here on his own, without Seph and Gen and Myth...

Angeal wouldn't want to be alone either. And he's not sure what would happen to him if he were forced to.

So, gently, he pulls Byleth even closer, bundles him up into his arms. "Then you can come to our place," he tells him softly. "We've managed to find a nice little property east of town, right at the orchards. Gen is gonna get it all redone so it suits his fancy little tastes, but it's nice enough right now. Ought to have a spare room, or the couch if you'd like, that you can relax on. I can fix you up some tea, too. Help you sleep."

[perfectteatime]

Lifted as though he's nothing. Every comfort now feels like it's stolen, but he greedily takes this one. To be dropped in the ocean and then suddenly to a desert. Every drop of water feels not enough.

Angeal talks of mundane things, and that is a comfort all it's own. A sense of normality beyond the fog.

"That sounds nice." He's exhausted, but afraid to sleep. Who knows what dreams may come? He leans into Angeal a bit more, craving that familiar scent. "Thank you, Angeal. I... feel so lost." Unlike him really, to admit such a thing. Or it was unlike him, but very much like the other Byleth. Is he losing himself?

[firsteditionbfs]

Byleth weighs a little bit more than he should, at least with Angeal affected by whatever it is in this world which means he can't quite punch through boulders anymore... but he's still a pretty big guy who was in the military. He can manage this much.

He would make himself manage this much, no matter what.

"Is that so surprising?" Angeal asks him quietly as he begins to walk, holding Byleth as close as he wants. "All that information in your head, in this kind of place... You're going to need a good sleep, and a better breakfast, before you can even begin to figure all of that out. I can tell. So just focus on things step by step. And I'll be there with you. To help you out. Alright?"

[perfectteatime]

How is it that Angeal manages to be so perfectly comforting? There's some layer of him that feels flustered for it. Not many can manage that. He knows why of course, but it's still a strange feeling.

"Thank you. I know you would not accept anything less." He also now knows how stubborn Angeal can be. Allow Angeal to take care of him. He's quiet for a few minutes, just enjoying the radiant warmth of the man carrying him, before an idle thought drifts in from the storm.

"Does anyone ever take care of you like this?"

[firsteditionbfs]

Oh goddammit, of course they would get around back to this.

Angeal had been almost sort of enjoying the peace, too. It always feels better for him to be actively taking care of someone, to think ahead of what he needs to do for others. Makes his brain feel a little more settled. And there'd been the other questions he'd needed to ponder as well, like just what exactly this could mean for him and Byleth's relationship, the changes it would go through potentially in an entirely different situation like this.

But some things never change, apparently.

Angeal wrinkles his nose a little bit, not... really into the question. "I mean, being carted around like this? Not since I was little, no, because at some point I grew to the size of a guy who isn't exactly suited to the princess carry just from simple logistics. But I am married, you know. Gen and Seph take care of me plenty in their own ways."

Sometimes. Maybe. Depending on if Angeal lets them know about it.

[perfectteatime]

"I bet I could pick you up." Byleth's weak voice contradicts the statement, but knowing him? He absolutely could. He could lift Dimitri after all.

He breathes out a heavy sigh, relaxing in the hold a bit better now. There are still a million different thoughts swirling, but this gives him something to focus on.

"I'll take care of you. When I'm well again." He knows the man will likely protest of deflect so he continues. "I like taking care of people. When all my students left... it was so quiet. I got used to it without realizing it. People needing me."

He's not the Byleth Angeal knew. Not the man he shared intimacy with. But he can try again. He can try to be someone new, but still worthwhile.

"It would be all right if you needed me, every now and then."

[firsteditionbfs]

Byleth really can nail him down so well. Angeal was going to deny needing anything, almost instantly, but, well. Byleth beats him to the punch, and he falls silent.

He... knows how that feels. The desire to take care of another, the time that comes with such things, getting to know other people. It's always been something that he's enjoyed on a level. Ever since he was a kid, peeking over the fence into an orchard and seeing a redhead with no friends.

Angeal sighs, silent for a second. "...If you ever want to just visit us more, that wouldn't be a bad thing. It's a bit stuffed of a house already, but company is never a bad thing."

[perfectteatime]

"All right. When I am better." He knows his limits right now. You cannot take care of someone else without first tending to yourself. An irritating truth, but a truth nonetheless. He has decided to pay Angeal back in full. He will continue to do so as often as he can.

He won't push him further now. Angeal is stubborn in his ways, despite giving the appearance of someone easygoing.

For now, Byleth relaxes in his arms a little more, following this thread of memory like a lifeline through the storm of everything else addling his mind.

[firsteditionbfs]

It's a long quiet journey back to the orchard. Quiet in contrast to the party, at least, but Angeal has always appreciated the sort of noises which come on a dirt path back home. The bugs still making noises in hopes for company before a long winter, owls hooting off in the distance, wolves crying out to one another.

Not quite like Banora, because nothing could be, but the same shade of it. Cousins enough that it feels like a reunion.

It's not even that strange to be carrying someone back to his house, adjusting his grip so that he can open the door. The couch there is comfortable enough for someone of Byleth's side, he should think, so it's there that he gently lays him down. "I'll get something warm made up for you," he whispers to him. "Should have some bread I can warm up real fast too, although it'll take a minute."

Byleth is always hungry, he thinks, so he thinks he's in the clear for getting these without asking.

[perfectteatime]

The walk falls quiet, and Byleth's mind tries to organize his thoughts. By the time they reach the house, and he's deposited gently on the couch, he feels exhausted. The idea of food right now is actually...unappealing. But he knows he should eat, so he will. Angeal has the right of it. He poses no argument other than a soft;

"Thank you."

It feels good to sink into something soft. He feels an apology rising in his chest, but knowing what he now knows of Angeal, it will be rebuffed. Instead, he waits patiently until Angeal emerges again to ask him a question.

"Will you stay with me? Just for a while?"

[firsteditionbfs]

At least it really doesn't take long for Angeal to come back. Just enough to get a fire going, enough for a small bowl to be warm. Nothing too much, but just a little bit. To help recover from the chill.

He's already sinking back to his knees when Byleth asks the question. It's not even something he has to think about. "Of course. I got some time to kill." It's late as hell and he has to wake up early, sure, but what is that compared to a friend who needs him? He'll survive one day being a little tired.

So Angeal makes himself comfortable on the floor, leaning against the couch while looking to Byleth. "Want me to just talk nonsense for a bit?"

[perfectteatime]

Byleth takes the bowl, looking at the contents. It smells good. It looks good. But he feels his body already protesting. He takes it down anyways, quickly before he can hesitate too much. The bowl is set aside with a soft word of thanks.

He stares at Angeal with a clear sense of desire. He doesn't want him on the floor. Byleth would rather be laying against him. It feels like such an imposing request though. No instead he will just stare awkwardly at him until he realizes he's been asked a question.

"Yes, that would be nice."

[firsteditionbfs]

Shit. It has to be really bad, if Byleth is putting down even a small bowl of soup.

"Alright. So, Mithrun used to really like making creme brulee, and, at the previous bakery, I always made sure he was able to get it out of his system a little bit. However, that's some really nice ingredients I don't want Charlie to feel obligated towards, so I've been trying to work him towards things like pie decoration..."

Angeal keeps going on like that. Just little things, what he's done in his daily life, with the people he knows. Changes he's noticed, goals to have when spring comes around. All sorts. Fortunately, he's always had a skill in small talk that can go on for hours - just one of those little 'small town' things that happens when everyone knows everyone and there's not always a need to rush.

And he keeps an eye on Byleth, watching him to see his reactions. To see if this helps ease him into a sleep without worry.

[perfectteatime]

He listens, quietly moving a hand so the backs of his fingers barely touch Angeal's shoulder. Some kind of connection. At first he nods or hums in acknowledgement of the very one-sided conversation. Eventually though, he falls silent as his eyes slide shut and his breathing deepens.

He's not a complicated man with his needs. This is enough.

He will have fitful dreams, that much goes without saying, but at least he sleeps. At least he's resting. That is worth plenty.