Event Log: August, Lunasa Celebration

[faileas]

Event Log: Aguril, Lùnasa Celebration

Lùnasa From dusk of Aguril 1st to the dusk of Aguril 3rd, Aefenglom celebrates something fairly special: Lùnasa. Traditionally, Lùnasa celebrates all kinds of traditional marriages sanctioned by Parliament, generally of the arranged kind, and handfastings, a ceremony based more on love and how long it lasts. The Coven's Bonds err on this side of things, though some Witches do have official spouses - Miss Nessie and Mhairi, and Theodore and Sowilo, are examples of this, though not everyone marries their Bonded, either. Many of them are made during this festival, prompting the city to dress for the occasion just in case they find themselves in the middle of a ceremony, and just as many of them are formally renewed. Like during Litha, shops offer lovemaking potions, but only to those renewing vows or taking them; smaller fireworks, like sparklers and fountains, are also a common sight. Lùnasa is also home to the city's largest fashion show, showcasing fun and upcoming trends in the city. No experience is required to sign up to show off designs or to model them, and hundreds of tailors and needlework experts come together to quickly make dreams into reality for the end of the festival, when the show happens in genuine. The clothing is often wild and sorted into three categories: children, where those 14 and younger can submit their designs and model them as well; popular, where those 15 and older can do the same to try and vie for the judges' vote on what's in and what's out; and bonding, where all ages aspire to modify and make personal the traditional garbs of marriage and handfasting.

I. Poppin' Parties With Lùnasa beating bright from day one, there's already a need for celebrations and celebrators alike across the city! Citizens are dressed to the nines just in case the occasion calls for it (and, in true spirit, it usually does) and anything that seems worth celebrating, be it the holiday's weddings and bonding ceremonies or something else, is absolutely celebrated with appropriate noise and fanfare! If you're in a good mood, they are too–– And if you're not, well. All it takes is a wildin' party to bring the mood back up! That means you, yes you, and you and you are all invited! Maybe if you smile a bit and have a good time they'll let you go, but others be prepared to be part of a comedy routine, sung around as you're swung around, and to be cuddled by various furry creatures who're more than happy to be pet and scritched all you'd like. Turn that frown upside down, this is a joyous occasion! They're taking willing volunteers too, of course, as the more the merrier, so whether you're the harasser or harassed it's sure to be a ball! Perhaps you can even earn some tips by joining in to these impromptu parties as needed. It's considered good luck to have as many people as possible celebrating your marriage or Bonding around this time of year, and several natives want to encourage participation in their own little celebrations.

II. Say Yes To The Dress Some of the fashion shows that pop up around the city during and after Lunasa have taken on a new, interesting bent. With many of them having large categories for wedding and handfasting wear anyway, some groups have gone the full mile and set up "mock marriages" to show off a variety of themed outfits or collections all at once. Appropriate wedding guest attire, dresses and suits for brides and grooms, designer robes for those who want to be a little extra with their Bonding ceremonies, they're showing them all, in a variety of patterns and eye-catching colors, from the simple to the overly-embellished. It's not unusual to stumble into one of these 'show' weddings, which usually have the officiant talking about the merits of the collection of clothes and their designer, rather than the usual vows and the like. It's also not unusual to get roped into one of these mock weddings if you aren't careful! Watch out you're not grabbed off the street and manhandled nicely into a changing tent with an array of outfits, and told to play a bride or a groom or some other role at a traditional wedding. At least they're happy to let you keep the clothes you modeled when you're done! The biggest trend this year is a special fabric that magically fits itself to the wearer, draping and tucking in and falling just right, no matter how tall or short you are, no matter if you're human or have pesky Monster parts getting in the way. Most designers are using this fabric now, dyed in a rainbow of colors and embroidered with a whole catalogue of patterns. It means any outfit you get thrust into in the name of impromptu modeling will fit you perfectly, at least. Some designers may also take requests and throw something together at the last minute that's more to your style! Thanks to efforts last month, though, many of the fashion designers are currently really into shoulder-pads and glitter, so maybe keep an eye out that they don't take any liberties with your request... Even if you aren't in the wedding spirit (come on, at least pretend), Lunasa is a good time to fill your closet with the latest and best, so make sure to take advantage!

III. Red-String Strung Along With love in the air, a gaggle of single Witches at the Coven decided it's high time they stop being single! The group of them managed to cast a Red String spell together to find their true loves, wherever they may be - but with the Sisters full in the sky during much of Lunasa, they vastly overestimated the amount of power needed, spreading the effects of their spell city-wide and skewing the results. In such a large area, the accuracy of this Red String spell... may be called into question. A Red String spell, often used by silly Witches searching for their True Love, does exactly that: it causes a softly glowing, semi-tangible red string to appear, tied from your finger to the finger of someone else. The string can be felt by the other party when tugged on, but otherwise will be unobtrusive in the day to day. While normally this spell is only visible to the user and the person their string is tied to, with the spell going a bit out of control, these strings can be seen by everyone, creating quite a chaotic sight in the streets. Luckily, only the strings you yourself are tied to will be tangible. Yes, strings. Another malfunction of the miscast! It's possible for one person to have multiple strings tied to their fingers at once, tying them to multiple people, which is certainly not the norm! What in Geardagas could that mean? Which one is your true love, if any of them? If you wish to make your string disappear, the only way is to track the other person down and state your feelings for them - even if those feelings are only "you're a stranger to me", or "you're just my good friend". Once a mutual admission of feelings has occurred, the string tying the two together will dissolve into a lovely little show of red sparkles. Sadly or not, this isn't necessarily the end, because you might find another string, tied to another person, forming on your finger at any point! Or maybe you're one of those who never find a string tied to their finger; some may look at you with pity in that case, thinking you utterly alone in the world. Regardless, the effects of the spell fade completely one week after Lunasa ends, and any remaining strings will disappear by that point. Your character can have their red string broken and reformed as many times as you'd like, with as many people as you'd like, and it's possible to have multiple strings at once. They'll all disappear when the enchantment fades in a week, but you can play with it as much as you want until then.

Welcome to August's holiday log for Lunasa! As always, please direct your questions here! And as a reminder, this will be the only mod-posted event log this month, as the next events this month are all very exciting player plots that we're happy to give a chance to shine!

Comments

[grandspark]

[Awkward, yet convenient.]

That...seems ridiculous given we've never met. [And why would he want to talk about first impressions? They were generally never all that great. He was, after all, an operative that kept in mind the worse case scenario at most times just to be prepared.] I understand.

[Just because he didn't agree with it didn't mean he didn't understand though of course. Honestly, it was about that time of announcing they were strangers that the red string had disappeared last time... he decided to give it a testing tug.]

[islandhuntress]

No! Not ridiculous. [She smiles.] It is giving the task easiness. [She glances down when he tugs at the string but knows this will be quick.]

I can be going first.

[She clears her throat almost playfully, still smiling at him.] You are a stranger to me.

[Ah, these really were the easiest ones. Strangers and random townsfolk.]

[grandspark]

Ok.

[He shook his head at the ridiculousness of it truth be told. But as soon as she said the words he felt the string loosen--he'd already said it but maybe if he clarified it a bit more it'd disappear quicker.]

And you're a stranger to me as well. I have no feelings one way or the other.

[To which he was extremely thankful that the string finally disappeared and he had the freedom to flex his hand without any red strings getting in the way. For now.]

[islandhuntress]

[She wiggles her fingers as the string going to him disappears, smiling. There are a few more to go but perhaps they would all be as simple as this one.]

You are having my gratitude.

I am Petra. [She gives him a shallow bow with her introduction.] A mirrorbound... Like you? [She's guessing but there's something about the way he looks and dresses that makes her think he's not a native.] This circumstance of meeting has strangeness but I am still having pleasure to meet you.

[grandspark]

You can call me Rude.

[Strange name, he knew, but it was his. He nodded at her in lieu of a bow.]

A Mirrorbound, yes. Relatively new here. I guess I'll get used to this sort of thing eventually, hmm?

[islandhuntress]

... What? But you have not had any rudeness. [She sounds genuinely confused, fearing that, maybe, she's misunderstood something.] I am not having understanding.

Hm. [She looks down at the other strings on her fingers.] This has newness but magic is common. There is much that has strangeness here, you are right.

[grandspark]

That depends on who you are. [Though he seemed vaguely amused by her confusion and his words were not said with any force to them. But it was the truth. He'd been called worse for the things he's done. Was willing to do. She, however, was rather cute with the confused look on her face (if he overlooked the snake bits; just something to get used to) and he had no intention of being rude to her. Quite the opposite.] It's just a name. Don't worry about it.

[Perhaps it was a nickname, perhaps not. He wasn't telling.]

Last month was the same. I'll try to be prepared for next month's surprise.

[islandhuntress]

It... does? [For a moment, she's doubly confused but then he reiterates that it is, indeed, his name.] Is that a truth? Your name is having a rareness, I think.

[It honestly makes her curious about where he's from. Did most people have names like his? Were people named after attributes in his world or if it was simply a surname like the ones in her world? Maybe she'll get to learn in time.]

Hm, yes, strangeness happens often here.

Are you a witch or a monster, Rude?

[grandspark]

[He didn't offer any more insight to his name, just smiled faintly at her confusion. It was endearing.]

A monster. [He started to shift his stance but repressed the subtle fidget through force of will. It was time to get over this nonsense. It wasn't even that bad--so far.] Slow going.

[He was referring to the fact that the only obvious trait(s) he had so far were still just the feathers sprouting around his ears and elbows, and a few scattered along the back of his neck and shoulders as if they couldn't make up their mind whether to grow there or not. Most weren't visible with his clothes on over them.]

[islandhuntress]

[She gives him a nod, lips pressing into a thin line.]

It is not easy. I was not finding it easy. [She looks down at her hands, the hard black talons that had replaced her nails weeks ago. Looking up at him again, she offers Rude a smile.]

Yes, my changes were also starting slow.

It is... a lot. But there is nothing to be doing except accepting it.

[She slithers a little closer, looking at the few sparse feathers she could see.] Are you knowing what kind of monster? It is looking like... like a... [She turns her head, trying to remember the name of the monster.] Harpy? A bird.

[grandspark]

[His hands clenched loosely and unclenched in idle gesture as he watched her move closer to peer at him. He remained impassive though a part of him was reminded of the fearsome Migard Zolom that roamed the marshlands back home. One large, powerful muscle that could easily crush a person. His eyes remained on her face as he watched her. That was simpler, and less insulting he thought.]

...It looks like. [He had to admit it was odd to think he might sprout wings one day and turn into some sort of bird monster. Of course, it was only a guess based on the feathers that so far were the only clue to what he was going to become. He had done his research to know there was more than one possibility but the most likely was either a harpy or chimera. He barely considered the third.] It seems the most obvious choice for feathers.

[And Reno was growing them two. Funny. Birds of a feather, flock together. He supposed it could be worse but he was worried they might fight if they were both harpies... it seemed to be a thing with them.]

[islandhuntress]

[Although maybe she could constrict him, Rude should honestly be more worried about her venom than anything else at her disposal.]

There is a... another one. The one that is more than one animal mixed together.

If you are becoming a harpy, you will be able to fly. I am feeling some jealousy. [She gives him a soft smile. Petra isn't aware that there might be more monsters with feathers.] I would be missing swimming too much. But maybe flying is like swimming but in the air.

[grandspark]

[And then there was that. Poison was never fun to deal with, especially when one no longer had personal magic to simply fire off an Esuna spell whenever needed.]

Chimera? That's a possibility. Not really enough to go on with just the feathers.

[He could become some strange mix of various animals. Wouldn't that be interesting? No, interesting wasn't really the word he would use but it would do. Better than what he was really thinking.

He gave a small smile in return.] I'm used to being in the air. Helicopter pilot. It would certainly be useful.

[islandhuntress]

Yes! Chimera. [Not being able to remember the name for the monster would have bothered her until she found it so she felt a degree of gratitude that he'd remembered it.

She tilts her head slightly, curious.] Helicopterpilot? I am not knowing the meaning of that word. You were having the ability to fly in your home world?

Then becoming a monster with flight will be giving you some relief.

[grandspark]

[He took a silent moment to keep a non-reaction on his face from her words. Cute.]

Two words. Helicopter is a type of vehicle that achieves lift with rotary wings. A pilot is someone that drives a vehicle, typically used when referring to helicopter or plane operators. [beat] A plane is another flying vehicle. Fixed wing lift.

I flew in a vehicle made for flight, in other words. Not having a craft is...very different. [He had no idea how that would feel. Like parachuting perhaps? He'd done that before, he wasn't so bad. Exhilarating actually. He loved that sort of thrill.]

[islandhuntress]

[It takes her a moment to piece it all together since the word 'vehicle' wasn't familiar to her either but then he gives her a definition that it is some kind of craft. The mental image she has would likely also tickle him, a craft, something like a boat but with wings, first like a bird's but when he mentioned they rotated somehow, she imagines the fine, wide wings of an insect.]

I think I am having understanding. I was having a wyvern where I am from and I could be riding it to move quickly. It... are you knowing what a wyvern is? They are like big lizards with wings and they can be used as mounts.

Having a mount, or a craft, it is giving convenience and quickness. I am understanding why you are missing your helicopter. But if you are getting flight, maybe you will not be missing your craft so much.

[grandspark]

[Well, at least airships were a thing in his world. This was just not one of them. The image in her head would have indeed amused him.]

Yeah. Related to dragons.

[He wondered if this world had them. It wouldn't be amiss of it, would it. Dragons were a thing and other similar monsters. Strange way of creating them but they existed.]

Might miss the speed of it though. Don't know any monster than can travel across the land as fast as an aircraft. [At least not yet.]