rekindleme | A Festival of Lights

A Festival of Lights

Who: Everyone
Where: The stable areas of Saeng Seong - mostly in the third district
When: 24th July to 31st July
Summary: The residents of Saeng Seong are celebrating their annual summer festival, and the offworlders are invited to take part!
Warnings: Inbox death may occur. System overload at own risk. SOME NPC RESPONSES WILL BE SLOW UNTIL THE ONE WHO PLAYS THEM IS PRESENT.

It's time to celebrate, to celebrate, to celebrate...

There's been a general sense of excitement among the natives of Saeng Seong for the past week or so, now; anyone who's stopped to question them about it (or has been close enough to hear them discussing it amongst themselves) will hear mentions of "the festival." On the 24th, what they're talking about becomes clear.

Each year, the residents of the city come together to celebrate the summer. Setting the festival up is an all-day affair; taking part in the festival's events will make for an entertaining week; and tearing down the booths and decorations is another extensive process. But in the end, the residents usually agree that it's worth it, and this year they would like for their would-be saviors to take part.

July 24th
On the 24th, the characters will notice that most of the city natives are moving about with a general purpose; they will find that in the Second District, in the very plaza where they all arrived, a committee of sorts is organizing volunteers and assigning them to different tasks in different parts of the open districts.

The committee needs people to help with preparing and placing decorations all over the city; paper lanterns, twinkling strands of lights, and garlands of flowers, though they'll note that the flora is fake. They also need people to set up tables, chairs, and makeshift stages at the riverbanks in the first and second districts, as well as to help redo the outdoor marketplace to make it more accommodating for booths hosting festival foods, games, and trinkets for purchase. Physically stronger characters may be asked to assist with setting up carnival rides in the free spaces - everything from a towering Ferris wheel to a carousel to bumper cars, and many others besides.

During this time, characters can also volunteer to man the booths on certain days, if they have anything they would like to contribute or would like to assist with anything.

Characters who take part in the setup will be awarded with five vouchers, good for use during the festival. These vouchers can be used for the purchase of food, admittance to rides, or to allow them to play some of the games for free.

July 25th
The festival begins early morning on the 25th - that is, the booths are open and ready for business, selling all manner of street food - crepes, kabobs, funnel cake, shaved ice, almost anything you can imagine - along with a wide variety of other things for purchase, like one-of-a-kind clothing, hats, scarves, and the like, as well as jewelry and other trinkets. There are also booths where you can get your face painted, where you can have your fortune told, and all sorts of other activities.

There are also the games. Standard festival stuff: Knock down a milk bottle, win a prize. Throw a dart and pop the right balloon, get a prize. You can play a game to catch and take home a goldfish, if you like, or try your luck at any of the other games that are interspersed with the other booths.

These booths will be operating all throughout the festival, until the closing ceremony on the 30th.

The opening ceremony doesn't actually take place until sunset, despite the fact that the booths have been operating all day. It's a simple ceremony, set at the riverside, with a speech about how summertime begets togetherness and how everyone should be thankful for the opportunities they've been given. All in all, it may be a little boring for characters with shorter attention spans. However, at the end of it, everyone lights a candle, makes a wish, and sets it adrift on the river once the sun has gone down entirely; the flickering candles will drift around the river all throughout the festival, and they never seem to burn down.

July 26th
The rides and games are going on full-force outside from the time the sun comes up, but in the afternoon characters will find that it's not as crowded as the day before. That's because there's dancing going on in the convention center - the afternoon is full of traditional group dances, the kind that are easy to learn the steps for and join in on; the natives will be especially delighted if their visitors teach them some of the dances from their home.

In the evening, it is not quite so energetic, though the dancing doesn't end. The songs slowly fade into slower, perhaps more romantic tunes, and the final dance will end precisely at midnight.

There will be refreshments available for free in the convention center during the dances, though not anything so filling as what characters will be able to purchase from the booths outside - mostly water, lemonade, cheese, and crackers. There is also a bar where specialty drinks and foods may be purchased.

July 27th
This day's special event happens after dark, though it's easy to see the preparations for it happening in the plaza where all the characters arrived - when the sun sets, a massive bonfire is lit, and many people gather, some with benches, to bask in the firelight. Some even write down the things they'd like to accomplish during the rest of the year onto slips of paper and cast them into the flames, in the hopes that the smoke will carry their wishes into the heavens.

Others gather around to toast s'mores and chat. Still others continue the dancing from the night before - off to the side to begin with, though as the night wears on they may expand into a bigger dance that will involve large groups of people circling around the fire in spirals.

Even away from the plaza, there are blazing lanterns throughout the city, and some smaller bonfires crop up in areas where it's not likely that anything important will catch fire.

July 28th
This day's festivities begin early on. The morning and early afternoon are devoted to a cooking contest - there are categories for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, and a winner for each - that both residents and visitors alike can take part in. Characters who cook delicacies from their own worlds may find the natives crowding them and asking for information about the dishes, and recipes to try on their own.

The late afternoon also has to do with food, and the characters are once again invited to take part in a variety of eating contests. There are your standard hot dog, watermelon, and pie-eating contests, as well as many others - the more daring may find themselves taking part in a contest where contestants are blindfolded and made to eat as much of rather... interesting concoctions as they can.

Characters who take part are given a voucher for use at any of the booths or rides in the festival; winners are given additional prizes. The winners of the cooking contest are determined ICly by character vote, so if there's a dish they especially love, make sure to mention that they'd vote for it so a tally can be kept! Winners of the eating contests are determined by RNG after all participants have been confirmed, with characters that have a canonical advantage (IE Maya Fey and her "separate stomachs") having more than one number that would lead to their win. Be sure to note such advantages while having your character take part.

July 29th
The extra activities on this day include showing off your physical prowess and your ability to cooperate with others.

On foot, there are three-legged races; pick a partner and try not to fall as you make your way to the finish line! There are also relay races - in teams of four - and you'll want to pick your teammates' positions well to ensure maximum speed. These races will take place multiple times during the day.

There are some other events to take part in as well: Thumb-wrestling tournaments, arm-wrestling tournaments, and outright wrestling tournaments.

At the end of the day, there will be a massive tug-of-war. Everyone who's mingling around and wants to take part will be sorted into one team or another, and then the two teams will face off.

Participants will receive festival vouchers; winners will receive additional prizes.

July 30th
The last day of the festival continues on like normal - the rides and booths are all operating, at least until the start of the closing ceremony that begins midafternoon and continues until the sun goes down. Winners of the various contests are once again recognized, the people who made the events a success are thanked, and the speech ends with a wish for pleasant experiences throughout the rest of the year.

The ceremony is timed such that there will be about twenty minutes for everyone to position themselves where they would like to be by the time fireworks begin being set off from a barge floating on the river between the second and third districts. There will be spaces on the riverbanks for people to watch from, though they can most certainly be seen from any other vantage point a character might like to try watching from, should they want to avoid the crowds.

July 31st
This day is a blur of activity as well, though not as fun as the past few days. The residents of the city are packing everything away and taking down the decorations, and they could use a little help if the characters are so inclined.

Characters who assist with the teardown will be rewarded with leftovers from the festival - plush prizes, food, maybe even some little trinkets characters have had their eyes on that haven't sold. No one's getting any fireworks, however.

Feel free to put up your own top-level comments, but be sure to put when and where the action is happening in the subject line!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What sort of training were you doing? [The thought crossed her mind that she wasn't able to aid her people despite her best efforts, but she would keep such thinking to herself. Effort was important, even if it didn't always mean you could succeed...]

[She nods.] I am. I may have a few stories... I will have to think.

Yay! Thank you! I really love stories. They are my favorite things along with songs. My father tells them to me and sings to me all the time.

[Diarmuid runs a few steps forward and starts putting the lanterns carefully into a box. As he works, he keeps talking excitedly.]

I just started learning how to use a sword, Lady Freya. And once I learn how to use a sword, I am going to learn how to use a spear! I have a pair of magical swords and spears waiting for me to become great enough to use them. They are my partners so I can't let them down!

I am certain that as long as you put yourself into your training, your partners will be glad to work with you. If you find someone to train you in the sword here, I may be able to assist you with spears; they are my specialty.

[She follows Diarmuid to the boxes and steps a bit behind them to put the beam down with the others.]

Now, for a story... I believe it would be appropriate to tell you of another festival I have attended recently. It's known as the Festival of the Hunt, and it has taken place in a city called Lindblum since its founding. Would you be interested in hearing it?

Edited 2013-07-30 02:52 (UTC)

Suzaku is helping me with my sword skills. A couple of others have offered too. Would you really help me learn how to use a spear?

[Diarmuid gives her a wide-eyed, hopeful look.]

Father said I was too small to learn the spear right now. Do you think I'm too small? If so, can I at least watch you practice? I won't get in the way. I promise!

[When she mentions the Festival of the Hunt, he bounces up and down on his feet excitedly.]

Hunting is fun! And so are festivals! This will be a good story, I can tell already!

Hmm... [That was a good point, considering the length of the spears she had used.] Perhaps you are too small now to handle a full spear. Even if you had the strength to wield it, it may be too cumbersome for you right now. But certainly, I would have no problems if you wanted to watch me train.

[She smiles and begins her story with a nod.] There were several competitors other than myself, including two friends and the previous year's champion. People were ushered onto the walls of the city to watch, and they released monsters into the city for the hunters to defeat. I began in the Industrial District.

[Diarmuid nods, understanding her views because they are some of the same things his Father has said.]

I have a small practice sword my father made for me so that I can start practicing with swords now. The big swords are too...big!

[He giggles.]

But I will be happy to just watch. You can't learn without watching someone first!

[As she starts to tell her story, Diarmuid watches her with rapt attention. While he doesn't say anything when she pauses, his expression makes it clear he wants her to continue.]

I see. I wonder if we might be able to find a training spear of proper size... [She's no good at making weapons herself, but they might be able to find something...

She moves to sit nearby in order to continue her story.]

The first monster I faced was a large bird with a bony face known as a Trick Sparrow. Though it could fly, I was able to take it down from the ground with a single strike as it attacked. I defeated a few more as I made my way through the district, though a wolf-like Fang nearly caught me off guard when I attempted to leave the district.

Maybe there is a store or shop in the Third District? I think there is a shop for everything else there!

[Diarmuid giggles and then follows her, watching as she sits down. He doesn't sit, however. Instead, he gets an almost torn look on his face. He would like to sit on her lap, but he doesn't know if she would like that or not...]

Did you teach the bad dog a lesson? That it is bad to attack good people!

We shall have to look and see.

[Noticing his hesitation, she pats her leg briefly to gesture that he's welcome to sit with her if he likes.]

Yes. Its claws could not do the same damage as my spear, and with it defeated, I left for the Theater District. There, I fought more of those same monsters, and according to the announcers, I was in the running for first place. There were only 5 minutes left as I headed for the third and final district, and I wondered if I might take the year's title. However...

[Diarmuid's expression brightens when she invites him to sit in her lap and he wastes no time doing so. He then looks up at her with a wide grin.]

Thank you Lady Freya! It sounds like you are a very skilled fighter to beat so many monsters so quickly! You deserve to win!

[A look of concern crosses his face at her last words.]

Is something bad going to happen? Did a big, scary monster find you?

Thank you. [He certainly was very endearing...]

What I found in the Business District was my friend Zidane, fighting the most ferocious beast of the Festival, bred specifically to test the skills of the strongest warriors. It was truly a frightening sight, with two sets of horns and a pair of tusks to tear its enemies apart and large hooves that trampled the ground.

I saw my friend defend two children the monster had nearly attacked and decided to come to his aid; this time, lives were at stake, not just the prize.

Oh no!

[The boy's eyes grow wide and a little frightened at, not only her description of such a terrible beast, but also because of the fact there are children in danger.]

Were you able to help your friend save them? They are more important than the prize! That is a knight's job. To help the innocent who are in danger!

[She nods, continuing her story as she placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.] The beast was tougher than we initially thought, as it had powerful lightning magic at its disposal as well as its physical strength. However... after a tough battle, and mere seconds left in the Hunt, we toppled the monster and saved them.

I was certainly more glad of that than I was of landing the final blow, which would have given nearly anyone the victory in the Hunt. With the monsters defeated and everyone safe, we departed for the castle for the annual feast after the Festival with the King of Lindblum himself, Cid Fabool IX. That year, I was declared Master Hunter.

Yay! You saved them!

[Diarmuid claps his hands happily and seems relieved at the same time.]

Everyone ended up okay except that monster! That is how the best stories go. And you even got your title!

[The boy pauses a moment and gives her a curious look as he realizes something.]

Was your friend mad you beat him? And why were the kids down there? Didn't you say the area was cleared out?

I am certain he was disappointed in some way, but he did not express any anger to me. The children were friends of his from a theater troupe known for its tricksters. If I had to guess, I would say they were likely trying to get a closer look.

[Freya gives him a gentle smile.]

Yes, I finally took the title this year. I also received this. [She reaches into her jacket and pulls out a small ring affixed with a piece of coral. It's not difficult to tell it's no ordinary ring.]

Oh!

[The boy's eyes grow wide.]

It's even better you were able to save them! It would have been so sad for friends to be hurt just because they were curious!

[Diarmuid understands being curious. He is very curious himself, which is why, when she pulls out the ring, his eyes somehow grow even bigger.]

That is magic, isn't it?

[As Diarmuid asks the question, there is a small movement in his hair. Moments later, a tiny blue and green butterfly will appear on his shoulder fluttering its wings as if it is...watching?]

I am glad everything turned out for the best.

[Freya nodded, taking note of the butterfly's appearance. It certainly didn't seem like a normal insect, but it wasn't really threatening, either...]

It is. This coral ring can absorb lightning magic and convert it to energy to replenish any that you have lost.

[Freya is right. The butterfly is no danger. The small magical creature has just been drawn from its hiding spot by the magic in her ring. Since is it part pet and part guardian, it is just making sure there is no danger to its owner from the ring.]

Because the monster used lightning, right?

[The boy glances up at her for a moment before returning his gaze to the ring. He starts to reach out to touch it, but stops thinking better of it.]

Since you defeated lightning when you defeated the monster, control of lightning was your prize!

[Okay, so not quite control, but...]

I suppose you might be right about that. [She hadn't had much time to think on it, considering the events immediately following the Hunt.]

You are welcome to look at it more closely, if you like. [Freya offers the ring to him; letting him wear it would do no harm. ~~Considering it granted her the ability Lancer, one might even say it's appropriate for him.~~]

Can I really?

[Diarmuid cups his hands and holds them up so Freya can set the ring into them. He looks at it for a moment before picking it up and sliding it over one of his fingers. He then giggles.]

It's too big for me! But it's still pretty!

[She gives a chuckle, herself.] I suppose there are a lot of things that are too big for you right now. I'm certain you will grow into them before you know it.

Well, Diarmuid, shall we continue to help putting things away?

[Diarmuid plays with the loose ring on his hand for a moment longer before nodding and handing it back to Freya.]

Yes! I want to help more. What else do you think I can do? Are there more lanterns to put away?

[Freya takes the ring, returning it to its place in her jacket.]

I'm certain we can find other things to help with if there are no more lanterns.

[It would be a shame for all of Diarmuid's energy to go to waste, after all.]

Yay!

[Diarmuid slips off Freya's lap to his feet and then claps excitedly.]

Where should we go next, Lady Freya? Did you have some place in mind? Who were you helping when we met? Do they need us to do more?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A Festival of Lights

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