I. A Friendly Competition (14th - 16th)
To those who spend their time with Aefenglom's Wilders, they'll notice them quite excited as the day of the Not-So-Annual Grand Scavenger Hunt approaches. It's set to be Wilders vs Mirrorbound, and even those who aren't participating are discussing it like a spectator sport and placing bets on one side or the other, based on whose wilderness skills they think will win out.
At noon on the 14th, participants meet at a small outpost just outside the city to check in, where those without partners are paired up, and each duo or trio is given a bundle of items: a list -- on a paper enchanted against moisture and tearing -- of the challenges to be completed, in no particular order; a map of this area of the Wilde marked with general locations for where each challenge can be found - not small area by any means!; three emergency flares, should they find trouble; a small med-kit with basic first aid supplies; and a bag to hold their retrieved items in, which can be turned in at the same outpost at any point during the 48 hours of the competition. You are responsible for your own camping gear if you stay out overnight. At least it's summer out there!
Once everyone has been given their kits, the event begins, setting participants scattering off into the woods to track down and complete any of the listed challenges. The Wilders are highly competitive, wanting to bring a win to their side in the first Scavenger Hunt in a few years, and some of them will do anything (short of murder or grievous injury - they don't mean anyone true harm) to nab more points or sabotage the other side. Watch out for your opponents trying to thieve your item bags, trick you into getting lost, or setting off natural obstacles that will slow you down! All's fair in love and scavenger hunts though - it's not against the rules for you to sabotage them back!
Mirrorbound Witches need to watch out as well - the competition takes place during the new moon, and this month, it's going to be difficult for even experienced Witches to control their super-charged magic. Backfires, fizzling out of spells, etc. are all expected - from you, but not from the native Witches on the other team, whose magic is only weaker on the new moons.
a. Challenge 1: Pearl of Wisdom A broad lake can be found some miles to the east, the water glittering and inviting, if dark enough that you can't see the bottom of it even on a clear day. The brief outlines a species of clam found at the bottom of this lake, numerous, big as dinner plates, and bearing massive, iridescent black pearls, prized for beauty and their properties in illusion spells when ground into dust. One of these pearls is your target. The clams are uninfected and generally safe to handle, protected by their hard shells. The brief does not warn, however, about the troupe of white-eyed Merrow Shades that live in the lake and jealously guard this treasure. They use their shrill singing voices to muddle minds and urge trespassers to drown themselves, and they're viciously adept at fighting both on land and in the water.
b. Challenge 2: Willow Bark The bark of a willow tree, infused with magic, has some fair pain relief properties. The maps are marked with the location of a willow grove, largely untouched by Cwyld, where participants in this challenge are required to collect at least a hand's length worth of bark. The main problem, not mentioned in the brief, is that the real willow trees are interspersed through a grove of numerous toxic Impostor Willows, which look exactly alike, but whose bark has opposing properties - it causes horrible pain when prepared and consumed, and causes ugly rashes when you peel it from the tree. Find the bark of the real willows using observations of the area - insects and small creatures tend to avoid the impostors - or, less recommended, by... testing them yourself...
c. Challenge 3: Track & Observe You have been given an enchanted tracking collar in your item bag for this one. Without harming the creature, place the collar on a Neeklur; these will be used for tracking purposes to study their movements and behaviors. The Neeklur is a breed of small, nocturnal marsupial. They have developed a unique relationship with a type of bush that grows into tall hedges, which spread across sparse, open areas where there are few trees and plenty of sunlight for these aggressively spreading plants. Neeklurs make their nests in the heart of such natural hedge mazes, where they can sleep safely during the day, when the hedges quite literally move around on their own, rearranging the paths between them in, it seems, no discernible pattern, making it quite difficult to find your way around if you aren't careful to mark your path. Without direct sunlight, the hedges are dormant, but be warned that the timid, sleepy Neeklurs transform into long-clawed, screeching little beasts at night. They are extremely territorial, and defend their home as a horde.
d. Challenge 4: Tree Elk Antlers Tree Elk, found in the lush woods, are sporting flourishing green-leaved antlers during the Wilde summer. Retrieve a branch from a Tree Elk's antlers with the leaves still lush and intact to win this challenge. Hurting the beast in any way, even emotionally (they're easily traumatized by a small fright) will cause the leaves to shrivel up, turn brown and/or fall right off. You'll have to figure out how to gain its trust and get close enough to it to take a small branch as a willing gift. Don't worry, breaking off a small branch of antler won't hurt it, and these intelligent, if timid, creatures are happy to bestow them as gifts upon those who have earned them.
e. Challenge 5: Singing Shrooms At the base of an old, sprawling oak, deep in the forest, is a symphony of mushrooms. Literally. These fungi come in all shapes, sizes, colors... and keys. They sing. In fact, they never shut up. You may find them easily enough by their eerie, discordant song, but finding the right one in that cacophony is a difficult task. Many different types of singing mushrooms cluster together, and may or may not be infected. Cwyld doesn't affect their outward appearance, but it does change their tune - we're only looking for the uninfected ones that sing a particular song in a particular key. Pick the right type of mushroom off the tree and bring it back. Though, watch out for the ones with teeth. And the ones that emit poison spores. Or hallucinogens. There are so many mushrooms on that tree.
All retrieved items must be stashed in the given bags and turned in to the small outpost where the event started by Deceuer 16th at noon. From there, Rilla Sparks and her organizers will count each team's contributions and tally up points. There will be back-slaps and congratulations for a job well done, and drinks to celebrate! Prizes will be mailed out to the winners within a couple of weeks.
The prize list will go up on January 1st and each participant who submits an in-progress or completed thread tackling at least one challenge will get to pick what they want for their character! |
II. Modranicht (21st - 23rd)
Modranicht proper begins on the 21st, and the days leading up to it are a frenzy of festivity. Homes are often decorated with sprigs of greenery and, less traditional, ribbons, and many shops begin holding sales on their giftable wares. This holiday is celebrated as a time spent with family and other loved ones; traditionally, all meals should be taken with others, and those who eat alone are said to find bad luck in the coming months. Those who can are delighted to pull strangers in to have lunch or dinner with them, should they seem like they're a little lonely around this time of year.
Especially in the neighborhood adjacent to the Haven, those people who came over from Dorchacht over a year ago, who are doing fairly well for themselves these days, are thrilled to have their Mirrorbound neighbors over for a hot drink or a meal and a spot of catching up. They heard what happened with Morgana a couple months back, nasty business, horrible woman, that, and for the most part, they seem quite comfortable with the idea that she's dead now. "I wouldn't move back," most say, "but it's good to know they're really free of her."
The ones most in need this season are those orphans in the Harbor District, though efforts by the Mirrorbound Council and others to better care for many of the parentless kids there have improved spirits, making kids playing and laughing a more common sight. Still, many of those rascals haven't lost their mischievous streaks: some little ones are quite likely to try and pickpocket you as you pass through, or pelt you with snowballs, but gifts or candy can perhaps soften their demeanor. They're just kids, after all.
a. Kiss-tletoe Redux While many of the decorations adorning shopfronts and houses are simple wreaths and garlands of pine, holly, and ivy, enchanted mistletoe is absolutely littered around the city, dangling in doorways, hung up on walls, hanging from the eaves of rooftops. Strings of it zigzag over the streets, hung from lampposts. This is a festive tradition that will be familiar to some. When two people pass under a sprig of mistletoe together, they're supposed to kiss, and the enchantments on many of those sprigs encourage it. Some will stick the pair's feet to the ground until they do so, some will just very lightly compel a smooch, whether it's on the mouth, the hand, the cheek, the forehead, or anywhere else. It's all in good fun, though - none of the enchantments are difficult to break, should one really not want to lock lips: you just have to destroy the mistletoe sprig you're under.
Careful about getting stuck in public, unless you enjoy being the center of attention in a crowd! Other passers-by will loudly cheer or jeer you and your mistletoe-mate on until a kiss is had! Be wary too, of pranksters who will actively push two people under a sprig, laughing all the while.
b. Craft Fair Gift-giving is an important tradition during Modranicht. It's considered only proper to present something to each of your loved ones, as a token of your care and affection for them. Handmade gifts are still widely regarded as the best, because it shows your effort in creating something just for them, so while shops may be having sales for purchased gifts, they're also trying to drum up more business again in the form of crafting lessons. Most businesses will set up tables in their shops, and for a small fee at the door (to cover materials), an instructor will show a group of people how to make something related to whatever the shop offers for sale. All materials are provided, and attendees get to take home what they make to give to friends or loved ones. Some of these even include small enchantments, such as carved wooden birds that actually fly, or timepieces that announce the time in funny voices. Witches are encouraged to learn the spell and help their Monster friends by enchanting their creation for them, but the instructors will do it as well if needed.
If you have a crafty talent of your own, it's easy to make some good money this season by setting up your own lessons on how to make whatever you're good at. Space is available, though it's up to you to source your materials and decide your fee. All the rage in the Western Residential District, where Mirrorbound are generally regarded as friends and neighbors, is objects and styles that come from other worlds. They absolutely want to learn from you and be able to give their loved ones something new and exciting.
c. Eat, Drink & Be Merry All meals during Modranicht should be eaten with another person, according to tradition. Many families and groups of friends have their own feasts during the holiday, but all are invited to a city-wide feast as well, on the 23rd. Located in a park enchanted to be more spacious than normal, long tables piled with food rest beneath festively-decorated, open tents, and every resident of Aefenglom is welcome to come and have a plate, from the richest to the poorest - all except those often-infected residents of the Outer City. It begins at noon and goes well into the evening, and people come and go as they please, enjoying the food and the holiday cheer.
It isn't required, but many citizens bring a dish to add to the tables, meant to be shared - usually a special family recipe. Mirrorbound are encouraged to share traditional food from their own homes (or close approximations of it), if they want to - many are highly interested in customs from other worlds, and some challenge each other (or you!) to try every single dish on the massive tables.
The festivities don't extend past the Bright Wall, unfortunately, but the people of the Outer City, who don't have much to begin with, can be found having their own feast on hunted game and pilfered vegetables, trying to scrape up some cheer for themselves. Most groups won't turn Mirrorbound away as long as you've brought a big enough dish to share, welcoming you into the fold to bad-mouth those hoity-toity inner city folks, but some rare clusters of residents can be hateful at this time of year, made somewhat bitter by your privilege and their lack.
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Vanitas | Kingdom Hearts
[ If there is really one thing that Vanitas doesn't have issues with, it is attracting animals. Though his attempts to become proficient at the healing arts - something he had severely lacked back "home" - it has given him a rather calm aura despite his nature. By now he's gotten used to the fact that all he has to really do is be patient and animals usually find his way towards him and doesn't bother to question it anymore.
Thus what he does is simply find the tracks of these elk and wait. Vanitas is far milder than he once was, his bonds making the necessary repairs to his heart has calmed him down drastically. He's not as volatile. Thus one of the elk does take notice and seems to be approaching...
Please don't interrupt. Or do and make his like difficult. Your choice! ]
( Kisstletoe )
[ For the most part, Vanitas had avoided all contact with the festivities of the holidays last year. That's why he has no idea what is happening with all of the little plants being strung up all over the place. Honestly, he's just trying to inspect them when someone happens to come across him. ]
What are these stupid little plants?
[ One of the natives also happens to be there. They gasp and chide Vanitas and whoever happens to be with them about not adhering to a much beloved tradition. Then they shove both poor souls - Vanitas and you - right under the sprig! ]
Wha -
[ Now kiss is what they say and Vanitas? Well he doesn't really look too pleased depending upon who has been suckered into this with him ]
( ooc: all smooches will be either on the cheek or forehead! )
( Craft Fair )
[ Van is never one to pass up the opportunity to learn to do something. This time it doesn't seem like it's really something that would be useful in the future, but fun. He's working on learning how to cut loose and allow himself to have a bit of fun. Thus he can be found making little wooden birds that, at first, don't resemble birds very well. It takes practice!
Or perhaps one can find Vanitas meandering about the shops. Perhaps he is trying to find those last couple of gifts. ]
( Snowballs )
[ No one should be surprised that Vanitas does not take well to children. He's never really been a child himself. So when the orphaned kids think to start throwing snowballs at him, he turns around and does it right back! Of course the kids don't seem to mind, since they think that Vanitas is playing with them in return. Anyone who knows Van must realize that he's just trying to get them back at starting this mess!
At least... Until one stray snowball sees fit to hit a passerby in the back of the head. The kids seems to want to scatter, but Vanitas? He stands there with a snowball in hand. Caught red-handed.
Oops? ]
( Wildcard )
[ Hit me up with anything! You know what to do! ]
kisstletoe
Geeze, Vanitas!!
[But when he's shoved right into Vanitas he grabs onto him with a huff.]
It's not stupid, you know. It's a really important tradition.
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What? I'm allowed to have an opinion.
[ There's a puff of air as Sora pretty much collides into his chest. His hands rest at Sora's sides. ]
Why would something like this be important?
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[Sora is just going to blow a raspberry right on Vanitas' cheek like the annoying puca he can be.]
It's how you get a bunch of Christmas kisses from people! It's a tradition!!
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[ That gets a little shove! Then Vanitas is wiping his cheek. Now unbeknownst to them, a small group of people have gathered around. Apparently they are waiting on a real kiss to happen. A few comment on how cute they look.
Though does Vanitas really need compelled to kiss Sora? Not really. In front of people though? He eyes them all warily. ]
I don't want them from a bunch of people.
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craft fair
maybe it's the same for vanitas, who seems to be holding the very thing that the puca was reaching for. he chuckles awkwardly when the other doesn't let it go, eventually withdrawing his hand.]
Ah...you have good taste. I was just looking at that.
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What he holds in his hand is a little glass-blown rabbit. One of his Bondates had given him a rabbit keychain earlier this year. It seems like this could be an ongoing thing. A joke but also something more sentimental? ]
It's just an ongoing thing between one of my Bondmates and I.
[ He's going to put it back though, ears burning a little. Just because he's been caught red-handed. ]
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[lan wangji certainly does, and did long before they came here. more than once wei wuxian has playfully blamed him as the reason he turned into a puca.
he smiles before trying to stop him.]
You should buy it if it's for your Bonded. I'm sure they'd treasure it.
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[ Though the ongoing joke here is that Vanitas has a thing for rabbits. Both of his Monster bondmates are Puca. Several of his Unversed resemble rabbits. One is actually a rabbit.
His hand stills though. So this guy isn't going to throw a fit about not getting it first? Well okay then. ]
What are you looking for?
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Mistletoe
It's called a mistletoe, Vanitas. You've really never seen one before?
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[ That should answer Lavi's question about that. Vanitas has no idea what the other is referring to. ]
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[He repeats it.]
A special little plant specifically used for the holidays to make two people kiss under it.
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...I don't want to kiss anyone.
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snowballs!
...well. She doesn't move for a moment. Freeze or flee instincts have kicked in since she's been caught off-guard, and it looks like it's time to freeze up. It's odd, seeing the puca standing completely still in the snow. What do, Vanitas? ]
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But he has another snowball in hand as the girl freezes. The kids immediately shout HIDE, leaving Vanitas just standing there. ]
What!? Don't leave me here to clean up after you!
[ Maybe he can also just slip away? ]
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Then, she turns back -- towards Vanitas -- and smirks. ]
Oh, it's on!
[ She's not even questioning whether or not he was the one who threw that snowball at her; she's just gonna throw that snowball his way. This is happening!! ]
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But her snowball hits him in the back of the head. The snow slips into the back of his jacket and he yelps. Then Van whirls around. ]
Oh yeah?
[ HE'S GOING TO SCOOP UP ANOTHER SNOWBALL AND THROW ONE BACK ]
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Tree Elk Antlers
[It's by chance he stumbles upon Vanitas, and his eyes widen when he sees the witch not only holding still, but having an elk approaching him. After hearing how skittish the creatures are, it's definitely a surprise.]
[He doesn't interrupt the moment, watching with wide eyes and ears upright. Last thing he wants to do is accidentally spook the elk and draw Vanitas's ire.]
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Instead, the creature continues to draw closer and closer to Vanitas. It probably is odd, seeing him interact with nature in this way. He's usually always so destructive or ready for a fight, right? But he's just using what he can to get what he needs - and if being calm and using his aura is how he'll do it then he will.
Eventually, slowly, Vanitas raises a hand for the elk to decide what to do. ]
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[So Roxas watches, waiting for Vanitas to make his move, and waiting for the elk to make its decision. It's actually a surprisingly tense moment, and even Roxas finds himself holding his breath as he watches.]
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You can keep this just between us, right? I do have a reputation to maintain.
[ It snorts and strikes its hooves against the ground, as if agreeing to Van's terms. No one needs to know what's going on here other than themselves right. ]
Look. All I need is a couple of branches and then you can be on your way.
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SNOWBALL FIGHT
[Rikku looks around for the culprit, spying Vanitas in the epicenter of a gaggle of retreating children. While she's (probably) smart enough to realize that the snowball hitting her wasn't on purpose, she's not about to let it go without a fight.
With a grin and a gleam in her eye, Rikku quickly scoops up some snow, packs it into a ball, and hurls it back at Vanitas.]
Think fast!!
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And thankfully he can dodge that snowball! ]
Hey! I'm not the one that threw it!
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[Given the way the retreated children are behaving, that should have been obvious from the jump. Whoops.]
Well, I didn't hit you with it, so we're even still? Unless you want to have a snowball fight--that'd be fine too.
[Look, snow is fun to play in okay.]
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So you're not really all that upset?
[ Which sounds strange to Vanitas. ]
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