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

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[avanture_time]

Telling Avan about his little accident had earned Popp a strikingly familiar bemused expression, though the effect may have been somewhat lessened on account of Avan also being in a clown outfit at the time. Still, he's generously decided to keep Popp company while he completes his punishment, and rather than fetch any toothpicks, he holds a hand out.

"Let me do it."

[snapp_crackle]

Is Avan not, in spirit, always in a clown outfit?

"Can you really?"

Popp hands over the broken blossom crown and the little blue flowers he's been trying to weave back into it. He's pretty sure it's going to impossible to do anything here without tools or pixie hands, but if anyone can pull off the impossible, it's Avan.

[avanture_time]

"We're going to find out!" Avan pulls off his clown gloves, revealing the sharp claws that his fingernails have been growing into over the past month. How did those not break through the gloves? It's fae magic, obviously.

The point is, the claws are sharp, or, more specifically, pointy, and you know what a thing being pointy means? It means it becomes very thin at the end, perfect for pinching tiny little flower stems.

In theory, at least. This is still the first time Avan's trying this, and he's concentrating very hard on it. Got his tongue stuck out and everything.

[snapp_crackle]

Oh. Ohhhh. He'd been thinking of the claws as a cosmetic hinderance, or maybe a weapon in an emergency. They're just as much of a tool as anything else, if you've got the right mindset.

He looks down at his own for a moment and then looks up quickly so he does not miss a moment of whatever neat crafting technique Avan is doubtlessly going to invent on the spot. Look, just because he can't fight doesn't mean Popp is going to miss out on any chances to be impressed!

[avanture_time]

Today Avan has failed in his daily goal of being the least cool person in the room at all times. Honestly kind of impressive, given how hard the deck was stacked in his favor today, but then again, Popp is much more inclined to think he's cool than most.

It's probably a bit much to call it a new crafting technique, though, when it's basically the same method as a normal sized crown, it's just. Tinier. More delicate pinching. An absolutely insane feat of manual dexterity.

So, like, of course Avan pulls it off successfully.

"Phew!" He wipes the back of his hand against his forehead. "How's that?"

[snapp_crackle]

Popp has seen so much of Master Avan being uncool and did not appreciate it enough at the time. He's fully prepared to burn another year of another Avan being a prime dweebo right into his eyeballs.

"Amazing!"

He's not the only one watching. The audience has expanded by several pixies, who are clapping and cheering and clearly having a great time watching this massive five foot plus giant clown working at their normal scale.

[avanture_time]

Avan is surprised to find himself with such a large small audience and laughs with nervous embarrassment, hand behind his head.

"I'm just glad it worked!"

The pixies would like to see more, though, it seems, and several of them swarm Avan, trying to get him to take more tiny flower crowns to repair. Did that one just damage their own on purpose?

Avan, for his part, is clearly not prepared to deal with this. "Huh? Huh?"

[snapp_crackle]

Well, on one hand Popp is off the hook for his crimes now, on the other hand he sure would like it if his efforts were appreciated this much, and on the third hand, which some notable monsters have, this is a really, really funny problem to watch someone else having.

"Wowwww, looks like you've got some admirers, Teacher! Lucky you!"

He nudges Avan with his elbow and waggles his eyebrows at him.

[avanture_time]

Wait, why is he getting eyebrows waggled at him??? What's happening???? What about this is supposed to be lucky!!!!!

"O-one at a time, please!"

[snapp_crackle]

The curses, the ominous threats to his shadow, the forced flower labor, they're all worth it. Popp knows that this isn't a skill Avan's destined to master in the next few dozen years, that's for sure! There's a certain poetry to him being both in and out of his element at the same time.

The pixie who ripped a couple key stems on her own crown rams another one out of the way like a stooping falcon to establish the front of the line and introduces herself as Thistledew as Popp rambles on in the background.

"Maybe they admire your crafting skills, maybe it's the clown suit, maybe it's the onion cologne..."

[avanture_time]

Even as he accepts Thistledew's crown for repairs because apparently this is just what he's doing now, he shoots Popp a brief horrified look. Does he really still smell that much like onions???

It gives way to a resigned sigh as he sets to work. "Hmm? Oh, I don't need any payment, thank you~" This is addressed to Thistledew because he is IGNORING POPP RIGHT NOW.

[snapp_crackle]

Avan's face!! Popp is openly laughing in the background at this point. Sort of in the background; he's leaning on Avan's shoulder for support. It's fine, Avan is a fellow of many skills and can doubtlessly keep ignoring him at close range.

Thistledew lands on his other shoulder and bats her eyes and offers some more theoretical trades. Is he sure he wouldn't like any owl teeth or daisy whispers?

[avanture_time]

Avan continues giving Popp the cold-yet-physically-supportive shoulder as he so carefully weaves the tiny stems back into place. Instead he turns his attention to directing Thistledown away from the subject of trades and onto more inconsequential matters. Does she like the color of the flowers on her garland? What are her favorite games on offer? Any foods she would recommend they try while they're here?

When he's done, she repays him with a kiss to the cheek before fluttering off, leaving him looking rather befuddled and some of the other pixies rather cross.

[snapp_crackle]

"Soooo, is she the type of girl you're into?"

The laughter has subsided but if Popp's grin were any wider he'd have to grow a dragon snout to fit it on his face. Obviously she's not, but like. He wants to know who is! Master Avan isn't the type of person who talks about ~girls~, but this isn't Master Avan. This is the young, relatable version.

[avanture_time]

If Avan hears Popp's question (he does), he doesn't give any indication of it, because he is intently watching the pixies that were swarming him as they fall into infighting. This is an opportunity that cannot be allowed to go to waste! No time to explain!

He hooks his arm around Popp's, slaps the other hand over his mouth to keep him quiet, and then absolutely books the both of them out of there before the pixies can notice. Once they're safely out of sight, he releases Popp and lets out a laugh that's somewhere between nervous and carefree.

"Haaahhh, they're an enthusiastic bunch, aren't they?"

[snapp_crackle]

"-Mmph?"

Popp is shamefully great at running away, and this is a more than acceptable time to use that skill. He peeks around the side of a lit-up glowworm tree - they're not being followed, nice. He's not even out of breath despite having his mouth covered, because he can run for quite some time while screaming constantly.

"Huh... I guess there's some downsides to having a lot of talent."

[avanture_time]

Ahahaha, oh, Popp, you have no idea.

"I really wasn't expecting them to act like that! Was it really that impressive?"

[snapp_crackle]

"Yeah, but I bet I could do it now that I've seen you pull it off."

Avan figured it out, which is half of the hard part, and they both have claws. He clicks them together thoughtfully. The other hard part, of course, is being bold enough to think you can measure up to it.

"My face might not get all the swooning yours does, though."

[avanture_time]

"My face?" Avan gawks at Popp and points at his own face as if he had some other face at his disposal he could be talking about instead. "This face?"

He's still got his glasses on, right? They haven't been magicked away without him noticing? Yeah, he can still see the frames in his peripheral vision, dweeb aesthetic is still firmly in place.

[snapp_crackle]

"Yeah, yeah, that exact face! They're bug people, right? Normal butterflies and dragonflies have those huuuuge shiny eyes..."

He chortles again and holds his fingers up in big circles around his eyes, like glasses. It's possible that he's spent some time looking at bugs close up because he's a lazy village boy who likes dozing around in the grass on a nice summer day. It's also possible that he apprenticed under some dweeb who could and would snag a cool dragonfly out of the air to make a point about instincts and reaction time. It is a mystery, who's to say.

[avanture_time]

Dammit, Popp, you got him. He looks stunned for a moment, and then bursts out laughing. "They're not bugs, Popp!"

They're small and have wings, but that's about it!

[snapp_crackle]

Heh he heh, ~got him~!

"They sure were bugging you, though!"

[avanture_time]

Avan snickers and points towards the top of Popp's head.

"By that logic, you must be growing antennae instead of horns!"

[snapp_crackle]

He reflexively touches his horns to make sure they haven't been cursed into antennae before what Avan said actually sinks in.

"Hey!"

[avanture_time]

Avan laughs, bright and clear, and takes a few steps away. If he happens to surreptitiously step on Popp's shadow in the process, then, hey, don't worry about it.

"Have you tried all the games yet?"