Out of the mid-wood's twilight into the meadow's dawn | OTA

[faithlikeaseed]

Who: fauns fauns FAUNS (and their enablers) (and anyone else)
When: Octeuril 31st
Where: The Haven
What: Somebody set up a trap specifically designed for Fauns. Or tried, anyway.
Warnings: F for Faunery; warnings per thread as needed!


It's a lovely day in Aefenglom and you are a horrible beautiful Faun.

Somewhere between the evening of the 30th and the midnight advent of the 31st, a disused corner of the Haven has turned into a patch of cultivated wilderness. Somewhere a little after midnight on the 31st, and the beginning of the full moons, several Fauns (and one or two others, Monsters and Witches alike) received an enthusiastic if slightly garbled written invitation to come see what awaits.

Gourd vines of all descriptions drape an abandoned cottage, its floating terraces, and half of a nearby house. Flowers in a riot of colors decorate them, some glowing softly and others exuding a fragrant perfume. The fruits hanging pendant or nestled on the ground defy description and beg to be tasted: There are tiny pumpkins no larger than grapes, thin-skinned and sweet, while massive savory marrows lurk in the underbrush to trip the unwary. A rare fist-sized specimen glimmers with enchantment and grants a rush of energy when eaten--along with fleeting, unpredictable changes (horns, fur, hooves) that make one a little more faunish for an hour or two.

Cheap furniture, clotheslines, and hanging sheets have been used to roughly shape the vines into an impromptu maze. The design's irregular, wandering, like whoever planned the corridors couldn't see what he was doing. It wanders in and out of the cottage, pouching into dead-ends and cozy little clearings that might fit two comfortably and three if they're familiar. Some of them have benches in them; others, piles of pillows; and still others are carpeted in thick and flowering moss. Heavy quilts in a riot of colors and patterns can be found neatly folded in the buildings, waiting for chilled revelers to find them. There are also covered braziers for the truly cold, though they seem powered by magic and not by flame.

Food and drink are lavishly if haphazardly provided, spread out through the bowers like a treasure hunt. Casks of mead with cups attendant, bowls of honey candy and glazed nuts, fruit both fresh and dried, and a variety of different sorts of cheese provide an ample repast (so long as one's not hungry for blood or meat). Entertainment's on the guests to provide, with simple musical instruments (mostly pipes, an occasional lap-harp) gracing many of the grottos; others have toys and games, of varieties both innocent...and not...strewn about them.

There are also oddities here and there in the maze, like the bower where someone took painstaking care to tie a half-hundred feathers to the low vine ceiling. Another nook teams with stingless bees of all varieties during the day. What else might await someone who's looking?

Comments

[battlebound]

( oh, good, another knight! he shifts slightly as she pulls in closer, a brow raising. she's... very affectionate, isn't she? he doesn't know many women who act like this. it's certainly different.

but he also won't say no to a drink or some company. )

I don't mind a drink! ( said with a grin, because how can anything that involves booze be bad, really? ) Is there a bar here?

( it looks more like a house party, but if he's paying, that's fine too. )

[wylderrant]

[ Look, this is her night. She has the energy of the full moon running in her veins. She wants to run a little wild. Can you blame her? No, of course not. ]

Not a bar per se...

[ She leads him over to one of the little nooks - there's an open cask of ale and some mugs and she offers him one with a grin. ]

This will have to do, no?

[battlebound]

( who could, really? Steak just isn't entirely sure if she's like this in general, or whether he's stumbled into something more.

but there's ale and somewhere to sit. )

It's fantastic. Cheers! ( as long as the ale is good, which, after a sip, he determines it is. ) Mmm, who made this?

( it almost reminds him of the kind of brews Eggnog would have him try when they were part of the same kingdom. )

[wylderrant]

Cheers!

[ She has her own mug and she raises it and drinks deeply. Thankfully, despite already having started in, she's got a bit of an iron constitution. You know, for reasons. ]

I'm not sure who made this. But it's delicious, isn't it?

[ She laughs. ]

I realize you're not a faun yourself - or you don't look like one - but I'm so glad you decided to drop in. What brought you in, Steak?

[battlebound]

( well, maybe she'll outdrink him. it's not unusual to find Steak asleep first when drinking with others. and yes, it's very delicious, otherwise he wouldn't keep drinking it, freely swigging from his mug as she asks that question. )

I noticed this place was decorated. I wanted to make sure there weren't any scoundrels using this place.

( ...weLL... )

[wylderrant]

Scoundrels?

[ Iramaat feigns shock. ]

What sort of scoundrels could you ever be talking about?

[battlebound]

( Steak, however, has a serious answer for that; )

Thieves and bandits. Criminals who would use this place as a headquarters.

( setting everything up to look nice as so many shady businesses on Tierra would. no one could expect the pretty house to be full of scoundrels, right.

but it's a party, so no worries. )

[wylderrant]

Oh, thieves and bandits... well, none of those around here.

[ Iramaat laughs. ]

Enjoy yourself! Don't worry about silly things like that. There's plenty of fun to be had...

[battlebound]

( you never know what sort of scoundrels might be lurking!! but for now, there's booze and the company isn't too bad either. )

There might be! ( he protests, but there's amusement in his tone nonetheless. )

[wylderrant]

If there are, they're enjoying the party and are not threat to anyone, I promise you that.

[ Iramaat pats him on the shoulder. ]

But I admire your diligence.

[battlebound]

( and if they are, he'll fight them off. provided he doesn't drink too much of that beer first. )

Is there a purpose behind this party?

[wylderrant]

I'm not sure. I didn't organize it.

[ Look at her, she's so innocent.

Of this. ]

[battlebound]

( sq u i n t. )

Shouldn't you know if you were invited?!

( he's just gonna. finish his drink while he argues this point. )

[wylderrant]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if I was invited.

[ Iramaat, stop being ridiculous. ]

But I cam all the same, so maybe I was.

[battlebound]

( no, never stop being ridiculous. it gets Steak worked up and worked up Steak is always hilarious. )

What the hell kind of nonsense is that? Wouldn't you know if you're invited?!

[wylderrant]

No. Sometimes you just show up.

[ As if it's the most natural thing in the world. Party-crashing! ]

[battlebound]

( to be wholly fair, that's. exactly what Steak did. but don't let such things as reality get in the way of grumbling. )

That's ridiculous.

[wylderrant]

Why is it ridiculous?

[battlebound]

W-well... ( oh, y'got'em there, Iramaat. he's stammering. ) Nobody goes to a party if they don't know what it's for!

( yes they do. clearly. )

[wylderrant]

You did.

[ She smiles beatifically at him, waiting for a response. ]

[battlebound]

( ghk! )

That's different! ( no it isn't. but if he chugs a drink instead of pushing the point any more, that means he's right, yeah? )

[wylderrant]

Why is it different?

[ Sorry, Steak, she's not letting you get away that easy. ]

[battlebound]

I-I... ( dammit. there goes his drink down the wrong pipe, leaving him coughing and trying to catch his breath. )

I was investigating!

( great investigation skills here, detective. )

[wylderrant]

Investigating what trouble you could get into, most likely.

[ She sounds airily amused. ]

But you've found me, so that will likely be enough.

[battlebound]

I knew you were a scoundrel. ( hmph. but clearly he can't be all that serious about that, given that he's handing her another drink. ) What are you planning?