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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yan bingyun | joy of life
[yan bingyun is coming dangerously close to enjoying these challenges, but he feels well-suited for this one in particular. it requires patience and a watchful eye, much like being a spy.
this should be easy.
he finds a clump of the hedges around dusk, which is perfect timing according to what he's been told. bingyun crouches, and there he watches and waits until the first little neeklur makes its appearance. he grips the collar tightly, but reminds himself that this requires a gentle approach.]
Not another step.
[he whispers at the sound of another's approach. maybe it's someone else looking to mark this challenge off their list. or maybe it's the neeklur's parents, siblings, neighbors and cousins, with their beady little eyes set on yan bingyun. either way he might need some help.]
kiss-tletoe redux.
[he's ignoring the encouraging cheers around him. these observers obviously knew about this enchanted sprig and didn't bother to cut it down, or even warn people who innocently stepped underneath it. bingyun will certainly pick up their slack once he's free, but first -
he has to get free. by now he understands what must be done to break the enchantment. he looks at the person that he's trapped with, the corners of his mouth tugging down uncertainly.]
I won't force anything on you. If you choose to stand here until you die, I'll do the same.
snowball fight.
[no one, but no one, needs a snowball upside the head more than yan bingyun. fan xian would happily do the honors if he was here, but since he's not, someone else must take up the challenge.
he stops in his tracks when it hits, eyes widening before he looks down at the snow on his shoulder. yan bingyun spins on his heels and just narrowly avoids taking the next one to the face.]
This...you've declared war!
[he drops to one knee, scooping some of the cold powdery stuff up in his fist. he might be confident in his aim, but snowball fights aren't like archery. some of his throws are sure to go astray...]
wildcard.
[you lead, i'll follow!]
kiss-tletoe
Uh. I mean... I have things I kind of would rather do than just stand here for the rest of forever.
[ Tsutha either didn't hear what the key was to break the enchantment, or she just forgot. So she looks down at Bingyun with an eyebrow raised. ]
So what do we do?
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From what I've gathered, the plant is some form of mild aphrodisiac. Its purpose is to make us kiss.
[he puts it as plainly as he can, waiting to see if that changes her mind.
it also makes him wonder about something else.]
The men on your world, are they also green and tall?
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His question makes her pause, though. ]
Uh... The orcish ones are, yeah. But we have human men, too. Why?
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[...because yan bingyun is just known for his small talk and asking questions for no reason. but certain thoughts linger... he's slender, but still nearly six feet tall himself. and though he's never particularly cared about it outside of how it helps him with his missions, he knows that his looks are above average too.
whatever this sudden strange feeling of inadequacy is, he pushes it aside.]
Whether we find one another attractive or not is beside the point. We only need to do this to be free.
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Wait. Are you calling me ugly?
sorry for the delay!
no worries!
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kiss-tletoe redux.
Thanks, but I'm fine with it as long as we keep it short and simple.
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'It'... [bingyun repeats, lifting his eyes slowly.] Have you ever...with another man?
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I have.
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Do you want to close your eyes or shall I?
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He sighs. ]
You close your eyes.
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sorry for the delay!
It ok!!
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track
[ Hua Cheng will be the first to admit that he may not be taking this whole quest very seriously, but he's run into plenty who are. Whether or not he makes himself useful to them or an absolute pain depends entirely on which option seems funnier at any given moment. Fae instincts have not improved certain aspects of his personality.
But for the moment he seems content to just stand there and wait to see how this particular situation will swing. The fact that he thinks he might recognize both the voice and the figure might sway him just a touch harder. ]
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Or else that! [yan bingyun stands, clearly not amused - but when is he ever.] Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting here? Or did you come from another team for the sole purpose of sabotage?
[and he has a lot more where that came from, except there's movement from within the hedge again, which shakes with the violence of it. bingyun looks back over his shoulder at it, and what he sees in the semi-darkness is more movement than before.
a lot more.]
...Go.
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He begins backing up slowly, eye fixed on the hedge. ]
Get behind me. [ And then, not waiting to see if the command will be followed, reaches out with his free hand to grab Yan Bingyun and yank him back. A second later, a massive tiger appears where the man was standing, teeth bared and snarling. The illusion won't do much good if the smaller creatures aren't sight-based, but it might at least buy them enough time to get more distance. ]
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[which is a larger concern to him than actually harming them. though from the growing sounds just over his shoulder, he probably doesn't need to worry about that in the first place.
any more protests are silenced by the sight of the tiger, so realistic that even yan bingyun is alarmed for a moment. but he reaches for the other man's wrist once he does realize that it's magic, determined to pull hua cheng along after him.]
Hurry, before we're ripped to shreds.
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What exactly this the point of this?
[ Something to perhaps have asked before walking into the woods, but far too late to do anything about that now. He understands that it's some kind of game, but Yan Bingyun seems to be taking it more seriously than it appears to be worth.
That is the sort of thing that gets Hua Cheng's attention very quickly. ]
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snowball fight
The snow drops down in clumps, leaving a very surprised Lan staring at Yan Bingyun, white caking on his shoulders.]
I don't believe I have spoken to you before, but surely if I have I would know if I have offended you this gravely.
sorry for the delay!
he must stay and take responsibility for what he's done. yan bingyun takes a deep breath, exhaling it in a frosty little cloud before he marches closer.]
The only one at fault here is me. [for being careless. for letting his emotions get the better of him. yan bingyun folds his arms behind his back in a gesture of surrender.] Please, return fire until satisfied. I won't resist my punishment.
<3 np!
At first he thinks the stranger is going to give chase, but then Yan Bingyun instead settles into a posture of resignation.]
Ah, should I punish you...?
[The elder Lan brother looks surprised, approaching the gentleman with soft concern.]
What sort of punishment do you expect? I think it would be impolite to hit you with snow. It's very cold.
[Speaking from experience.]
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Manners should play no part in these things. [words like 'please' and 'thank you' are rarely uttered to prisoners. and while he's not exactly a prisoner of this man, his fate is somewhat in his hands.] I would think no less than two snowballs is appropriate. I'll form them for you if you're concerned for your fingers.
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I understand your feelings, but returning violence with violence does not seem appropriate. I would hate to cause more discomfort with hasty retaliation. Perhaps we can compromise instead?
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a friendly competition; tree elk antlers
He's all too aware that his options now are to get comfortable in this world and see it as a second home, or be sent back to a non-existence in the Lifestream, so there's no real reason for him to hold back from partaking in this world's traditions. Others might resist, but he'd rather jump in headfirst and see how it goes.
Which is how he's ended up paired off with a stranger, one Yan Bingyun. They've got a whole list of items to find, each of them being tricky in their own way, but they've opted to start with the antlers of tree elks. Thankfully, they've at least been given a few hints for how to earn their prize.
Zack turns toward Bingyun, now that they've managed to track one of the flighty animals through the woods. They've paused behind the cover of some trees, and when he speaks up it's with a careful whisper. ]
So... are you any good with animals?
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there's something familiar about the young man he's been partnered with too - bright and seemingly capable. almost cheerful. he reminds him of someone from his world, a world he desperately wants to return to - his kingdom especially.
yan bingyun takes the challenges seriously, quiet and focused. that question is the first time he seems even a little bit unsure about something. he glances over at zack.]
I can ride horses.
[that's as close to animals as he's ever gotten.]
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Well, it's something. We're just gonna have to approach really carefully, or we'll probably spook the guy. No sudden movements, let him see we mean no harm.
[ That's about all that he can guess at, as far as how to approach this. The sort of stuff that's more like common sense, rather than from having any exact experience with a mission such as this. ]
Maybe we approach one at a time? You can go first.
[ He gestures forward, indicating that Bingyun can take the lead. ]
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I can be patient.
[he does have that on his side, able to wait weeks or months or even longer to achieve his objection. this shouldn't take nearly as long.
hopefully.
he takes a single step forward, hesitating there before removing his sword to place on the ground. let him see we mean no harm. he can't think of any better way than that, hopefully the elk will get the message too.]
Do we know what they eat?
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