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

[zodiheart]

[Offering the taller man a wry smile, Elidibus does suppose it is time to explain.]

Each inhale through my nose is accompanied by a strong scent of fresh mustard. It has not revoked my sense of smell entirely, only added the mustard in to whatever scent there may be.

[He sighs.]

Terribly inconvenient for enjoying new foods.

[abyssalflames]

I can certainly see how it would be so. Though it is nonetheless not inaccurate to call it mild.

[And if nothing else, there is always the option of trying any new foods at a later point. Once the curse has worn off, whenever that should happen to be.]

Enough so that it does not seem unreasonable to make an attempt at the game.

[He doesn't start immediately, lest Elidibus have anything further to say. But it does at least seem unlikely to cause significant harm.]

[zodiheart]

[He huffs a bit of laughter at the response, taking a step closer to Lahabrea.]

Some of the curses produce physical effects. They do appears to be as mild as my own, however. By all means, do not hold yourself back on my own account, I would greatly like to see how you fare.

[Maybe luck would hold for his companion. Elidibus absolutely does not mention that the idea of Lahabrea with something like cat or rabbit ears upon his head is absolutely hilarious to him.

Best to try not to laugh should that happen. Instead he settles in right next to his far taller friend.]

[abyssalflames]

[There's a nod in answer to Elidibus' comment, and then Lahabrea turns his attention back to the game in question.

As Elidibus has suggested might prove fruitful, he is ruthless logically about it. And though he does err a little in some of his guesswork, he recovers well from it. Enough so that it ultimately proves no trouble for him to come out the victor, earning himself the prize offered.]

Simple enough, as you have said.

[zodiheart]

[Watching Lahabrea go through the game as he does provides Elidibus with vast quantities of enjoyment. It was always a treat whenever he got to see the man work, his brilliant mind whirring away with admirable precision. He is unsurprised when Lahabrea is successful.

He offers a polite bit of applause.]

Well done! And with no curses of the visible variety, I see. The nectar will prove valuable in the near future considering our transformations-to-be.

[His nails are looking more sharp than they usually are.]

[abyssalflames]

Nor any of the less visible sort, by my ability to tell.

[He cannot, entirely, rule out the possibility that will only show itself under certain circumstances. But for the time being he will deal with that if and when it should happen to come up. For now, he is content to have managed to win the prize, and sees no further reason to attempt further.]

I cannot deny that it is like to come in handy. Such transformations as we have been asked to tolerate do not appear to be comfortable, even if they should start as no more than a minor inconvenience.

[zodiheart]

That is good. I do not wish any sort of harm to come to you, even temporary.

[The way he says the words reveals an undercurrent. They are light enough, fitting for the conversation the two of them are having. But Lahabrea knows him better than that. He'll know to catch that very specific tone.]

Yes, I have won a cup of nectar myself and plan on utilizing it in that manner. Erichthonios is chief among those I will encourage to partake in my reward, prior to myself doing so.

[abyssalflames]

[And catch it he does, though there's not more than a nod to acknowledge the fact.]

It is well that he has at least one person who will look out for his well-being.

[Not that Lahabrea himself won't, of course. But he knows full well that his relationship with Erichthonios has been more than a little strained until recently. And while he is more than willing to work to repair that relationship, he will not assume that Erichthonios will always wish his assistance.]

[zodiheart]

[They both know that Lahabrea will look out for his son. Elidibus knows how the older man is reticent on saying as such aloud, and knows the reasons why he is that way. Still.]

In addition to yourself, of course. Though I will keep that knowledge tucked away if it is required.

[It's said with a smile.]

And though you may have earned your own cup, I will also endeavor to look out for your own well-being.

[abyssalflames]

Yes.

[It's offered simply and without further explanation.]

Though I believe he is likewise aware of my intent.

[That, at least, they have spoken of, however briefly. Even if Lahabrea has no intent to be overbearing with his attempts.]

As to my own well-being, you may do so if you wish.

[By the tone of his voice, Lahabrea isn't entirely sure it'll be necessary. But he knows, too, that he is unlikely to sway Elidibus in this regard.]

[zodiheart]

He is. It would be welcome, should you express that to him. I would ensure that you know this, however, even if you already do so.

[Lahabrea was never the most forthcoming with his emotions. Still. Elidibus may as well be encouraging. At the second portion, he continues to smile.]

I do wish so. Now that I am possessed of your blessing, however, it will be far easier to do so.

[He absolutely would have done it anyway, and both of them likely understand this.]

[abyssalflames]

I am aware.

[Whether or not he will say as much in any sort of timely matter is another question. But he is at least aware of the fact.

As he is likewise aware that Elidibus would have endeavored to look out for his well-being regardless of whether or not he had given his blessing. Though that he doesn't comment on save to offer a nod of acknowledgement.]

[zodiheart]

[The silence that stretches between them is not uncomfortable. Not to Elidibus, at least. He allows it to settle in and drift before he brings up a different topic entirely.

His voice is soft, when he does. A friend to a friend.]

I would ask after you, if you would permit it. It is a strange thing to be pulled from home so abruptly.

[abyssalflames]

[It's a silence that Lahabrea knows too. One that he, at least, has no objections to.

And if there's a moment before he answers Elidibus' question, it is due to no more than a desire to answer honestly - something that requires he first get his thoughts in order, though the sigh the precedes his comment likely says enough on its own.]

It is... not something I would have wished. Regardless of my feelings with regard to our duty, our very star itself stands in turmoil. That I have instead been called to another reality is not what I would have wished.

[zodiheart]

[What a familiar feeling, Elidibus thinks. He is then torn between the desire to provide Lahabrea with future truths, with reassurances, with his predictions... A middle ground will have to do.]

From my experiences where I had been taken before, should you be returned to our home it will be to the instant you had been taken. This is regardless of how long time would have passed in places such as these. Knowing this, perhaps you may rest easier? That our Star will not suffer in your absence.

[He takes a breath, commits to the action.]

Do you wish to know of our fates beyond your present time? I will not burden you with such knowledge unless you wish it.

[abyssalflames]

It will serve as some small comfort.

[He still isn't sure if the plan to summon Zodiark will even work, but at least the star will not suffer unduly in his absence. Even if there might be other people capable of the spellwork that will need to go into Zodiark's creation.

The question of knowing the future, on the other hand, takes a moment of genuine consideration. He will not deny some curiosity about what is to come. But what has already been is not anything he would consider comforting as it stands. Enough so that with him so newly arrived to this world he ultimately decides against it.]

At a later date, perhaps. Newly arrived as I yet am I would learn more of this world first, if we are meant to remain here.

[zodiheart]

It gladdens me to hear it. Should you change your mind about future events you have only to ask, as well.

[Speaking of this world...]

The fae forest is fascinating at the very least. I have yet to venture there myself, as per the festival rules, but I have heard several fae speak on its woods in detail. I wonder if there are yet other places just as intriguing?

[abyssalflames]

Should I desire, I shall ask.

[And with that, Lahabrea turns instead to the discussion of the world they have found themselves on.]

I have likewise heard the descriptions of the forest. Enough so to wonder at if it is truly all it has been said to be.

[He hasn't gone exploring it, of course. But he is a little curious.]

However, based on what they have said and what we have yet seen of this world, I do not find it beyond possibility there could be other places of similar wonders as the forest is said to be.

[zodiheart]

That was my thoughts as well, though I am curious as to what manner of wonders this world may hold. Particularly considering it is a world in recovery.

[Such calamities leave the world unstable. It is ripe for growth, or for ruin. Perhaps they may see the former while they are present?

He shakes the train of thought to smile at Lahabrea.]

Will you eschew the festival rules to explore the forest yourself?

[abyssalflames]

Recovery, yes. But such ruin as may have come does not appear to have been similar that that which awaits should I return to our own world.

[That or it was longer ago, and just at the moment Lahabrea doesn't have information enough to say one way or the other.]

I have... considered. I do not wish to cause offense to our hosts by ignoring the rules that have been set. But all the same, I cannot say when next we might have a chance to explore the forest here.

[zodiheart]

A different sort of calamity, yes. I do hope our hosts are able to speak more on it at a later time.

[They will, but he doesn't know that just yet. Charlie seems forthcoming enough to do so when he is ready, at the very least.]

Perhaps attempt your explorations towards the end of the night? That way, you will merely be exiting the party on your own terms, and will offend less by your lack of presence.