open | a merry meri mingle

[sterngaze]

Who: Meridians new & old!
What: Cookout mingle
Where: Alenroux
When: Mid-March, after Vander's rescue
Warnings: Potentially alcohol consumption and violence, for the rowdy

After the initiation of Springstar's invasion plans for Alenroux, tensions among the Meridian-aligned might be a bit strained. The move comes as a surprise even for many of the shard-bearers within the faction itself, to say nothing of those whose livelihoods depend on the farms here. It's not yet clear what Highstorm's response will be, but one will certainly be coming; when that happens, someone is going to come out on the bottom, and their blood will be at least partially on Meridian's hands.

At times like this, the importance of maintaining morale can't be understated. A call goes out to the newest generation of those harmonized with Meridian's light: it's time to have a party!

PREPARATION:

Those who can are invited to help with the set-up. There are drinks to procure, foodstuffs to acquire and prepare, canopies to erect for shade, entertainments to organize. It's not meant to be a grand affair — the gathering is private, intended to foster camaraderie among the shard-bearers after long days and nights of work — but it will be a comfortable one, with edibles and enjoyments to offer to those taking solace in the company of their fellows.

It takes one of Alenroux's long days to make all the necessary arrangements — and then, late the following morning, after the night's monsters have slunk back into the woods, things are made ready. All that's left is for the guests to arrive.

THE EVENT:

Spring is still in the midst of taking hold over Alenroux, so a tall bonfire at the centre of the gathering place offers a toasty place to linger and chat throughout the day. Hot drinks and a variety of fire-roasted foods are on offer, including an entire deer helpfully supplied and prepared by Liem. Logs and stumps provide simple seating, and nearby canopies provide shade around the tables of food and drink. A little further away, sturdy tents provide more private gathering places for those wishing for a break from the hubbub.

And there will be hubbub. To break the ice between unfamiliar faces, a variety of contests have been set up over the course of the gathering. These range from simple arm-wrestling competitions, to three-legged races, to friendly sparring matches for those so-inclined. Gathered Meris are encouraged to spectate and bet amongst themselves on contest outcomes — and better yet, to volunteer to participate themselves during the next round.

For those who have already had a chance to relax and let off some steam, the gathering is a perfect opportunity to get to know one's fellow sect-mates a little better, and to reaffirm why Meridian called to them in the first place. Those gathered are encouraged to take the chance to tell a few tales about the place they came from, and to share the visions inside their Sunbeam with those from other worlds. A favourite place, a cherished person, an unkept promise, even an old enemy: all could be worth revisiting for a moment with new comrades in arms.

Comments

[bakedapple]

[ That's the funny thing... Link doesn't know where he's from. Not really, not specifically. His earliest memory is waking up naked in a tub of glowing blue liquid. But he would not describe the Shrine of Resurrection as being "where you're from," and if the people seating here knew the full story, he doubts they would describe it that way either.

Link knows that the man's suggestion came from a place of wanting to help and reassure, so he tries his hardest not to let his trepidation show through. Maybe something else, something less... weighty, something without such a clear label.

So he focuses on the shining bead. It is easier than he expected. Within just a few seconds, it's as if he's standing in the Lost Woods, looking up at the Great Deku Tree, like he'd suddenly grown not just a second pair of eyes but an entire second body and is now in two places at once. The experience is bizarre, but awe-inspiring at the same time.

Seeming to realize the awkward pause that's settling into the silence, Link blinks and clears his throat. He's hoping that he's sharing this correctly, and not just looking at it himself, but he had sees what the others had shared so far, so hopefully it's equally simple. ]

...This is a forest in my world. A very dense and remote forest, said to be haunted by the spirits of the wood. It's not really "haunted," though... the spirits are just mischevious. They're pretty nice, if you can get to know them.

[ A dozen little Koroks bound through the dense tree cover and underbrush. Link is not standing on grass or dirt, though, but on an ancient-looking stone platform decorated with geometric carvings. ]

I remember first coming here a few months ago, but apparently, I'd been here before then when I was a kid. I don't remember that visit anymore, though.

[leicesters]

[Claude hasn't done this with other person's Sunbeam before, and the experience is both jarring and intriguing, being able to see another world and everything Link sees. It's a beautiful forest, though, and the kind of place Claude would would to explore for himself if he could, unrestrained by just observing via communion.]

A friend from my world says all trees have spirits. I guess some are just easier to see than others... given everything trees do for us, I can't imagine any of them being bad.

[He probably shouldn't pry when someone is near enough a stranger and already showing him a personal memory, but he can't help but ask nonetheless--]

Why don't you remember coming here as a kid? Were you really little back then?

[bakedapple]

I don't know. I don't think so.

[ He stares at his sunbeam with a near-neutral expression, tainted by only the slightest tension in his brow. The topic of his amnesia has not come up with anyone before now. What meaning does it have anymore, in this completely foreign world? To either himself or anyone else? But... it was bound to come up eventually, especially now, as he starts to walk through the knee-high vegetation in the sunbeam vision. In front of the stone platform is a massive tree, not dissimilar in size to the Tree of Life, although its branches have a clear, finite height that Kenos' mother tree doesn't have.

Link takes a breath and continues. ]

A while ago... about a year ago at this point, I think... I lost all of my memories. I've managed to recall a few important things from right before I lost them, but everything else is still a blank. So that occasion... like everything from when I was a child, I can't remember it anymore.