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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no subject
I can hear you, you know! Both of you! At least have the audacity to whisper!
[He huffs, walking away from the dead-end he's now found himself in. A hedge maze, indeed. It would be terribly just if he was the one to find the creatures' nest and collar it himself. And then reap all the reward. Which... all right, with his history, predictably not happening, and also he did not want to be alone in a hedge maze if only because it was begging something new to find an interest in eating him. It'd been a good, what, full month since the last time it'd happened? He was overdue according to Destiny herself.
He plucks at his strings, staring up at the hedges around him. He considers climbing. It's not the most perilous thing he's done -- nothing compared to that fucking dwarf bridge. But the branches, upon moving some leaves, appear a bit too delicate for that, and yet so thick he couldn't move directly through, either.]
If you both leave me in here, I will never, ever forgive you. I will begin dreamwalking again and I will haunt you both in your sleep with visions of my bare ass. Every single night.
no subject
Wait. That's the sound of footsteps heading away. Did they not tell him to fucking stay put a second ago? ]
Jaskier, do not move.
[ It's too late. Of course. He stops just short of throwing his hands in the air. Whether Jaskier is wandering about or not, they still have these things to find. And no matter how good they are at rearranging shrubbery, the hedges can't hide the tracks they leave on the ground. He steps lightly, avoiding putting his feet forward too quickly as he searches for a trail.
He can't help his own remark, if only because the truth of it remains absurd when he considers it. ] How did we both end up bonded to him before all else?
no subject
To her credit, her steps don't falter, expression still mostly neutral as they continue on. If they could find the creature and collar it before reuniting with Jaskier, they stood a chance of getting out of here before shit got dangerous and their magic got worse.
When it's clear that the bard has no intentions of listening to them, she continues to mark the ground, a shrub swinging closed behind her - forcing her to jump forward slightly to remain unpinned in an uncomfortable position. Though, being physically uncomfortable might've been a welcome respite from what was coming. ]
Technically, untrue. Though, what we arrived with was far more unconventional than the bonds of this world.
[ The temporary bonds after the broken Wish were of necessity... mostly. A few more pieces of the foggy night become clearer, fairly certain another temporary bond had taken place that night as well. And, if memory serves, it hadn't been an awful enhancement and-- oh Gods.
Give her a moment. No, they didn't-- Did they? ]
no subject
I'd say it applies to any world.
[ It's gone now. Hopefully. There's no precedent that says it won't return if they wind up back in their world -- a farfetched concept itself -- but that's no point in dwelling on what's yet to come.
He's got a thought on his tongue when he notices an expression cross Yennefer's face. Geralt tilts his head. ] Something the matter?
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It's nothing-- [ No, not nothing. Definitely not nothing. She draws another X on the ground to break the eye contact for a moment. He knew her so well and she didn't feel like getting into it. Not with limited time and waning daylight. But, she also had no expectations of Geralt letting it go and that would only make it worse. ]
How much of the enchanted log evening do you remember?
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Suddenly, it's his turn to regret asking. He looks away under the guise of tracking the ground. ]
Which parts, you mean. [ He takes his time before answering. It's hard to distinguish between what was in his head and what'd occurred. Jaskier, to no one's surprise, seems unbothered by that night. He can presume that means nothing awful happened by the bard's standards, which tells him that whatever transpired was...not hostile. Which fits. Most of the blurry images involve an inexplicable amount of good cheer. ]
I recall a significant amount of singing. [ He turns to look over his shoulder. ] You giggled. A few times. And we... [ Fuck. It's coming back, the more he reaches into his memories. ] Had an exchange. Of vows.
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[ She's still in denial about that part. But, the mention of vows clears up another part of her fog -- a soft groan escaping as she continues on. Well, this needed to be discussed. Like ripping off a bandage, better to just get it all done. ]
Right. The vows. For our apparent practice before the real thing. And then we all... [ Look. Yennefer isn't the bashful type. She often is blunt and doesn't have an issue saying what needs to be said, but she was lacking in some confidence with what the truth was and what was imagined. When the words don't come, she waves the stick she's been using to make Xs somewhat dismissively, trying to change the topic. ]
Some of it's still hazy.
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He crouches down to examine a set of small paw prints, thin and long. They lead right into a wall of hedges -- which means at some point, this spot was open. He inches forward, waiting for them to shuffle just the right way to go through. ]
Clothes were lost. That much I know. [ Exactly what resulted or how many articles of clothing were lost remains unknown. This isn't the part that concerns him. It's actually the least concerning part. What concerns him is...what was said during it. Or after or before.
The last time he suggested bonding, it hadn't gone well. To say the least. But things have changed since. Besides, they've danced around the topic long enough. It's time to lay it out. ] And what if there is a real thing?
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She lets the question hang in the air as she waits for the hedge to shift. It feels as though the fucking glorified bush is also waiting for an answer from her and damnit. Fine. She didn't want to be vulnerable in a maze, but it seemed unavoidable. The temporary bonds had been fine, nothing earth shattering in terms of changes. There was no shift of her will or desires, no changing of her fate or gut-wrenching pain when it faded. She wasn't afraid, just cautious. Yennefer doesn't bother asking him how he feels about it, that much clear from the last few months. Since the fight in her garden. ]
It would be the next logical step since we're both already bonded to Jaskier.
[ Just... let her have a moment to process this. It's not an outright no, which is something. ]
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Which means it's been more difficult for him to hide behind the idea of her safety as the reason why he...wants to bond. Which he does. He'll acknowledge that, even if the real reasons behind it haven't been spoken out loud.
It's not a no. He pauses, moving forward to slide between the hedges that part. ]
It would strengthen it. And stabilize it. [ Just in case. That Jaskier mightn't be there one day is not a pleasant thought. But the reality is, anything could happen. It would leave both of them without a bond, abruptly. ]
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She doesn't answer for a few moments, just trying to wrap her mind around being in another bond -- tied once again to Geralt.
Before she agrees though, they might as well get everything out there. She moves up so she's next to him after getting through the parted hedges, pausing to make sure she catches his gaze. ]
And is that the only reason you want to make the Bond permanent? Strength and stability?
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No such luck. ]
No. [ His reply is honest, but nor does he elaborate. It's as close as he'll come to saying it, though. ] I suspect it's not the only reason why you haven't turned the idea away, either.
[ Look, talking about it is...he's made it known before. When he'd insisted what was between them was real. Since the wish has broken, things haven't changed. Neither has how he feels.
It's ironic, in a way, that without the wish as a barrier, it almost feels more complicated. Now it's only them; their own tangled thoughts, with nothing he can claim is clouding the skies. And he remembers most clearly that night that his thoughts hadn't been clouded at all. Just a sense that they were right where they should be. ]
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The fact that it felt like nothing much had changed since the wish had broken was unnerving. There was nothing to blame anymore, no easy scapegoat she could burden with the weight of her fears and insecurities. It was inconvenient in a way, truthfully. It meant that she had to face her shit and that just wasn't ideal right now.
Rather than just saying what she'd never admit she wanted to hear, he shifts it back and she has no reason to get frustrated that he won't say the thing she's not ready to say herself. But, still... ]
Geralt.
[ His name is almost whispered, with the reverence of a prayer. It's as close to her own admission of any emotions without actually vocalizing them. Yennefer isn't the type to open up about anything. To this day, she'd never confided some of herself to him, but he knew more than most and in any other iteration of her life that would make him a risk. A liability.
Yet, here she was in a hedge maze with him having this discussion at the most inopportune time. But, when were any of their serious conversations were at perfect times. Fuck.
Reaching out, she takes hold of his arm, keeping him in their little section of the maze with the illusion of privacy. Nothing else escapes her lips, just searching his gaze, looking for something unspecified. ]
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She does answer. Not openly, but she doesn't need to say much more. He hears what lies beneath his name. Thinks he does, at least.
The hunt and bard rescue can wait. He reaches out, touching her cheek. After a second, he leans in slowly to kiss her. Between everything that's gone on, they haven't had much time to breathe. Not unusual for their lives but --
He looks forward to every bit of quiet they can manage. ]
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He knows, or at least has some hint, that the two of them have ceased speaking for something important. Noticable because Geralt and Yennefer are so easily found by their shouting matches, especially when done in front of their neighbors. He gives them a moment, spying a large pair of spherical green eyes staring at him through a bush.
Jaskier sings to it, giving it a quiet little song. Perhaps he can comfort the creatures with their presence before he collars one. Even though the sun is... rapidly descending.
After a couple of minutes, Jaskier clears his throat.] Helloooo? Are you two done? I think I found one! No thanks to your terrible efforts. The good news is at least the Neeklur recognizes talent when it hears it.
no subject
She lets him kiss her, the conversation shifting to something far more familiar, her hand instinctively moving up to cup his jaw. She ignores the bard as he strums and sings somewhere nearby. Which registers in the back of her mind as a good thing. He sounds near enough that a few more shifts of the hedges should do it. Hopefully. The sooner she was out of this maze, the better. She certainly didn't think being trapped in here while hunting for a Neeklur would lead to the mostly unspoken decision about bonding.
She breaks the kiss as the hedge next to them shifts, her hand gripping Geralt's shirt to pull him with her if he'll come. ]
It sounds like you have it under control, Jaskier. [ Though, they should probably get this completed sooner rather than later so they can be gone by nightfall. So, help might be necessary if it's distracted by Jaskier's music. Since, apparently, she and Geralt had some details and plans to discuss this evening. ]
no subject
In fairness, the sun is beginning to sink on the horizon. He sighs as Yennefer breaks the kiss, but follows along. Right. They need to rescue the bard before he loses a finger to a nighttime Neeklur. Besides. Jaskier's evidently close enough to eavesdrop. Geralt has zero desire to broadcast a conversation about bonding with y
Yennefer. (He's already gone through that once.)
Another hedge shuffles apart. Geralt slips through, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Yennefer's made it, too. He can tell from the direction of the setting sun they're on the right track. ]
Stay there. If you move again, you're on your own.
no subject
[If he wasn't trying to not scare the creature off, he would swear that was the first time anyone, especially Yennefer, assumed he had something under control. How nice that things change after you seduce your bonded friends with magic logs.
That's very nice. Perhaps, in time, he may even earn a smidgeon of respect. (But he was being realistic about it.)]
Yes, yes, Geralt, I'm not moving any more. I would point out that this is the second hunt in which I'm doing all of the work, apparently. Please kiss each other, and possibly me, after we've gotten home? [He couldn't help the small dig about their special little night. Look, he can't let anyone forget it.] And be nice. I fear it's a bit skittish.
no subject
She moves quickly with Geralt, genuinely surprised to find Jaskier actually stayed true to his word. He didn't move and she's not commenting on the kissing comment. Though it throws her for a bit of a loop, her face barely showing a reaction. Barely. She's happy to barrel through that and focus on the last thing he says. ]
When are we not nice?
[ Keeping her distance, her eyes settle on the glowing eyes in the hedge. Alright, well. ] You said it reacted to your music?
no subject
It might be awhile.
He's equally content to barrel past Jaskier's comments. The creature is here. He's willing to encourage Jaskier's musical talents if it'll draw the conversation away from past events and also let them finish up this damn task. Night is coming soon.
He hands Jaskier the netting to capture it. You know what? Maybe the bard does have it under control. They'll find out. If Jaskier insists he's done all the work, he can certainly finish it up and capture it.
Though he's prepared to pounce on the thing if it escapes. ]
Sing it a song, then.
no subject
[That was the polite way, yes. He carefully lifted his lute and strummed a gentle chord, the eyes still blinking out at him.]
I did. You know, I think out here, it hasn't heard much.
[His voice is quieter, nearer to a whisper. It's definitely skittish; it looks at both Yennefer and Geralt as they approach, but they're wise to keep some distance. He does give Geralt a look, though; how is he supposed to play and use a net.
He takes it, gently hanging it off the end of the lute. As he plays, swaying gently, he sings that quiet, lovely little song he'd played for the two of them during their night together. Not, actually, to bother them, but it was because it was soft and sweet and, perhaps, the little creature could feel their bond through it.
He does almost scream as the neeklur hops out of the hedge and sits on the neck of his lute, staring down and touching the strings, as if mesmerized by the echoing sound that thrums through it.
He swallows the sound and it only comes like a strangled, scared moan. The sky around them is darkening.] Er. Help. Please.
no subject
At least until Jaskier chooses the only song that could possibly make everything worse. Alright, there was going to be a discussion once they got the fuck out of this maze since he was apparently feeling like continuing to pepper them with reminders.
As Jaskier plays, Yennefer decides she's done with this. Fishing the enchanted collar out of the bag, she's been slowly moving towards it as it becomes more and more enraptured by the strings. She uses the distraction of Jaskier's strangled sound to slip the collar on, fastening it into place as the tiny creature screeches and scampers on.
The screech is echoed deeper into the maze, a reminder that they often moved in hordes for defenses at night. She had no interest in seeing them fully transformed after the sun finished setting. ]
There. Now let's get the fuck out of here.
no subject
Catching this thing is simpler. Geralt ignores Jaskier's sad noise of suffering and plucks the creature from Yennefer's hands as soon as the collar is on.
He doesn't need to be told twice. He grips it in his hands, in case it has any ideas of squirming free before sunrise, and gestures for them to follow him back through the maze. He needs a drink. ]