kenoslogs | festivals and mur--ahem, investigations 🎊🔍

COMMUNION WITH YIMA

After given some time for recovery and for Yima to hear reports of what transpired at the Tree of Life last month, a Communion message gently flows through the minds of each Shard-Bearer. They will have to choose to accept this message, and once they do, they will be greeted by Yima’s voice resonating pleasantly in their heads. She first apologizes for their harrowing experience with the Dryad, and that she hadn’t anticipated such a violent reaction from the Tree; she believes that their experiences point to an imbalance within the Tree itself, most likely brought about by the soon-to-come arrival of the Oracles.

She has spoken with Cyrus, and they have jointly decided that an investigation into the matter - and potentially the destruction of the Dryad - may be required to purge its influence from the Tree. Yima requests that any who would willingly seek out the Dryad volunteer to do so and will be outfitted with a ward against any tampering to prevent them from falling into the creature’s clutches a second time. It will take her a bit to fashion enough of these wards - but she anticipates being ready toward the end of the month.

She concludes her message with another heartfelt apology for your suffering, that she would not have sent any into such a situation she believed were truly dangerous. That being said, she takes responsibility for your ordeal and asks that if there is anything she can do in recompense, you have but to ask.

Yima will be available for Communion chatter here!

FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE - HIGHSTORM

Takiltu is a month cycle the natives of Kenos regard with some amount of reverence and a hearty helping of excitement: the first part of the month (November) is spent reflecting on and celebrating the differing cultures and worlds each Kenosian represents. The second part of the month (December) is spent celebrating unity and togetherness, to come together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in one’s wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and one’s time.

Each city celebrates differently, the flavor of their festivals a reflection of their people.

In Highstorm, the first thirty days of Takiltu are spent in Remembrance. The city is decorated with string lights, paper lanterns, candles, and torches to illuminate the streets in beautiful colors and shimmering magical illusory shapes. The focal point of the festival takes place in The Court, where the reflecting pool has been especially decorated with arrangements of flowers and lights. Festival stands erected around the Courtyard peddle paper lanterns as well as refreshments, fanciful decorative items, and enchanted jewelry that is said to make one’s recollections of the past temporarily clearer.

The pool itself is the main attraction, here; citizens who approach its waters and gaze into its depths will find its normal abilities to reflect memories enhanced. The images are surreal for their clarity, vivid - and normally, one is requested to look into the eyes of those most precious to them whose souls remain lost, to pay homage to their memory and sacrifices, and to wish them rebirth in the new world to come. A purchased lantern is then lit and sent skyward where it floats into the moonlight, joining the others hovering above.

But this year, there is an addition to the usual fanfare. Emet-Selch has been asked to assist with the festival; as long as he is given permission, he can recreate the memory displayed in the reflecting pool. Yima has granted him a temporary blessing which enhances his natural creation abilities - a gift for their people she is grateful for. Your character can choose what it is they see in the water - whether it’s a place, a person, or the feelings of a certain point and time, he will temporarily recreate it around you. Everyone will be able to see this conjuring and interact with it while it is functional. It will last between 15 to 30 minutes before dissolving into beads of light that slowly trickle skyward before disappearing. You’ll be told to light a lantern, send it adrift, and that this will give peace to the part of you and your Shard that surely aches. But does it…?

Elsewhere in Highstorm, the High Theater has been painstakingly decorated and aglow with magical floating motes of light; the interior has been transformed into something of an Art Gallery. The pieces within are dedications to parts of worlds long gone, as well as the people in them; some are beautifully painted landscapes of exquisite, far-away places beyond the imagination. Some are more mundane and familiar snapshots of life in a home world not too different from your own. There are portraits of families, loved ones, and those the Zenites long for most. This is their time to mourn, to grieve, and to appreciate their pasts - the pasts that will lead them to a brighter future, one day. They must move on into the future, but treasuring that which came before is equally important to them.

Should you touch any of the motes of light that are around the art pieces decorating the Gallery, you will find yourself able to feel, hear, see, and taste a piece of the world the piece represents. Some of these are warm gatherings over a dinner table with family; others are heart-wrenching expressions of loss and bitterness and pain. Be cautious which you choose. Oh, and do be careful not to stand too closely with someone else when you touch one, or one accidentally touches you - the experience is absolutely contagious through Communion.

CELEBRATION OF CHERISHMENT - SPRINGSTAR

While Highstorm’s Festival of Remembrance is a more demure and reflective time, Springstar takes a much different approach to the season. In true Meri nature, the Celebration of Cherishment encapsulates celebrating life in all forms - and that means parties! The Psychagogía is the main hub of excitement considering, but festivities can be found in almost every single district of Springstar. Wherever you go, something is happening and someone is trying to rope you into having a good time.

The city has been decorated with bright and colorful multi-purpose magical ivy-like vines that sprouts buds that bloom over the course of the month into gorgeous flowers. These flowers are considered sacred, and their blooming is a momentous time of joy and good fortune. Each flower is left intact; disturbing one is tantamount to a war crime by the natives, so don’t get observed if you try to pluck one!

The Psychagogía is incredibly lively, teeming with people and events; almost every venue is peddling some kind of ‘Cherishment’ celebratory sale or discount. The first portion of the month includes what the locals call “the meri-ment” (and seem quite chuffed about that pun), in which Kenosians are encouraged to go bar hopping and taste the wide variety of specialty ales and liquor unkegged only around this time of year. Participants are highly encouraged to share stories of their worlds and cultures, to tell those they mingle with tales of the worlds they will one day return to and why they’re special, unique - to celebrate their one-day return.

Alongside this comes a great deal of outdoor grilling, fresh meats and vegetables sending tantalizing scents everywhere you go once the evening hours arrive. Some of these food and drinks can cause… interesting… effects if you consume them in excess, especially at the Emotional Damage - so try to show restraint. It would be a bit embarrassing to find yourself strangely infatuated with the first person you lay eyes on after your fifth night out on the town, or feeling compelled to express warm feelings aloud you wouldn’t normally commit to another. Luckily, it only lasts a short period of time - but beware the wicked hangover afterward. Strangely enough, if you’re suffering, you feel oddly compelled to seek out a little TLC from someone else - someone with whom you might have some unresolved feelings toward, positive or negative. Is it longing? Anger? Jealousy? Unspoken affections? Love? Whatever it is, you're more likely to seek them out for some care.

At the Coliseum, nightly brawls between Meris take place and the usual assortment of monsters are temporarily taken out of offer. This part of the festivities is one where each Kenosian is encouraged to settle any differences or misgivings with others and to get it out of their system, cleansing them of bad mojo - “leave it in the ring,” as it were. Despite beating each other bloody at times, most combatants willingly stop before it gets too serious and fighting to the death is not permitted. You must embrace your adversary before you leave, and your ‘bad blood’ will be considered purged and settled so you can start anew.

The Empório district is celebrating consumerism, because of course it is! All the usual goods are on a considerable discount, and for a brief time, gardening tools and supplies are free! The reason for this is that Springstar’s citizens are encouraged to plant one seedling in the gardens in Katoikitikós once the flowers lining the city have gone into full bloom. It is said this honors gods across cultures and time as well as invites good fortune. You are encouraged to plant a seedling in a group or pairing, as space is limited - and there are superstitions regarding this togetherness resulting in more favorable results. Should you plant a seedling with someone else, you might indeed find that something is beginning to blossom between you… Based on your Aspects, you might find yourselves feeling closer and more connected - or repulsed depending on your compatibility. This effect will last through the month after planting. Should you check on the seedling later, its health will be reflected in the state of your relationship. Friends will find the little plant thriving; enemies will find it is sickly and dying.

For those Shard-Bearers who have already harmonized with the Meridian or who have quarters in Heliopolis, you will find the communal meals much more lavish and indulgent than usual. There may even be a taste of home waiting for you among the spreads on offer, or some comfort food you haven’t had in a while. It is encouraged to share anything to your taste - or even to share why it is meaningful to you via Communion. Or you can just eat. You do you, man.

Once the flowers have bloomed and the festivities reach their peak, one might find the city loud and boisterous and sleep a little more difficult to come by. Springstar is absolutely thriving and alive - and you, too, feel more invigorated and energetic despite any lack of zzz’s. Should you leave the city, however, this effect will vanish and you might find yourself unnaturally fatigued and in need of more rest than is customary. Returning to Springstar will slowly build up your stamina again. This effect lasts until the end of the month.

THE MYSTERY OF ALENROUX

Once celebrations are in full-swing in the cities, some characters (i.e., any characters that choose to participate in this prompt) will be contacted by Cyrus or Yima, depending on their faction or whichever they feel a stronger inclination towards if they are currently Unharmonized. Both will explain that there’s something that they’d like you to investigate, but also to prepare and be careful, since this request doesn’t come without danger… A Shard has been lost in Alenroux, and they both hope you’ll be able to retrieve it.

MERIDIAN

“I’ve gotten word that a Zenith Shard-Bearer was sent to Alenroux a little bit before you arrived, and they haven’t come back yet. Normally, none of our business, but based on what some of the farmers have been saying, I think they’ve gotten hit by Discord. If it gets high enough, well… You don’t really have your mind anymore. We can help them through Purification. Even if it’s just for long enough to calm them down, it’s better than them being trapped in madness. It might be easier to dissipate them first, though, then Purify their Shard. They were last seen heading to the Northern forests. Let me know what I can give you to help, and make sure to help each other. Good luck.”

ZENITH

"Please heed my request, though I do not ask this of you lightly... One of the Zenith's children has been lost among the fields of Alenroux come nightfall and I fear the worst has befallen them. There are dangerous elements attracted to the presence of a soul, and the likelihood our brethren has been lost... it is great. Seek out the Shard - and if you are able to retrieve it, please do so. If it has suffered corruption too great to be saved or would place you in too great a danger to take back, then... I trust you to make the merciful choice. I place this in your hands and will give you whatever you require to see it through. Look out for your fellow Zenith and work together, as I do not want to lose more of you. Be well."

Both factions will offer their recruits access to standard weaponry and armor/protective clothing. If a character asks for more, they’ll be given a weapon or a piece of armor with minor magical properties which would normally cost 1 AC token to purchase. Magical weapons are on loan however. If your character takes these and/or chooses to keep it, please note this in your Committed Actions! If they choose to keep standard weaponry, Cyrus/Yima will just be disappointed in your dishonesty. :(

When you arrive during the day cycle, you’ll also find horses and magic hoverboards to use (they go the same speed tbh), because heading North to the forests is a bit of a trek, and you might not make it there in time on foot! As the sun starts to set, you’ll see the people in Alenroux start to leave, going clearly your opposite direction. Once night falls (Nov. 9th OOC), it doesn’t take long for things to change.

There’s just a sliver of a crescent moon in the sky, which makes the rolling hills and forests much more ominous than they were during the day. And as the stories say, it only takes an hour or two before you start to run into strange creatures. Closer to the Cornerstone, there are indeed strange creatures, and while they may not all look scary, they might present different kinds of dangers such as…

A light in the dark looks like a fairy, but stare at it too long and you’ll find yourself hypnotized by a ghastly fish will lead you to a body of water to drown you.
An innocuous puddle may form up into a mass of corrosive goo, complete with the bones and items of the last person it came across. When you slice it, it simply creates a copy of itself, so hopefully you realize this before you’re surrounded.
A strange straw poppet (sans pins, of course) that possesses you once you touch it and will use your body to try and fight anyone else while your consciousness is trapped inside the doll. To be freed, you only have to destroy the doll, but you’ll feel the pain of how its destroyed even if you don’t bear any injuries from it.

However, as you get closer to the Northern forests, they become significantly more fearsome…

With a roar, a massive, multiheaded beast descends, and each of its mouths is perfectly capable of taking a bite out of you. Watch out for the snake’s head in particular, since its venom will cause you to hallucinate your worst fears.
As you come face to face with an odd creature, bioluminescence lights up on its skin, and the spins on its back quiver with a sound like a rattlesnake’s. As the spines quiver, you find it exceptionally difficult to take your eyes off them and move as it stalks closer slowly. You can fight blind, right?
Diving in and out of larger shadows like its water is a slimy beast that’s incredibly fast. Its teeth may be small, but its tail is a razor-sharp whip that could remove a limb if you’re not careful.

These are just examples, however. There are many creatures lurking the wilds of Alenroux, so feel free to create your own monsters with unique effects.

It's a difficult trek North, and you may be tired from hours of running, fighting, or both… But eventually, a few people do find what they were looking for. They might have even missed it, if not for how their Shards suddenly felt like they were burning. From the shadows, a twisted creature of roots and lights which what looks like many crystals in a glowing mass appears and one of its eyes locks on you. It looks like now is your chance.

NOTES

Weather summary for the first 30 days of Takiltu (NOV & DEC):

Highstorm is in late fall, early winter season. Some flurries may occasionally fall and it is getting considerably cold out there! Bundle up!

Springstar is in the throes of early summer; the weather is climate and pleasantly warm for outdoor celebrations (but not sweltering). There are occasional afternoon showers, but they don’t last very long.

Notable city changes:

If you wander the Markets in Highstorm, you might notice some of the peddlers seem a bit wary of you. Hm, guess something happened around here! Probably totally unrelated, but Silco and Vander (or anyone with them) will be treated with nervous suspicion.

Similarly, if you're traveling with Set (or you're Set) in Springstar, you might occasionally find yourself getting strange looks. Ask Set why.

Faction updates:

There are no explicit changes in faction behavior at this time. This will be a staple in all future event write-ups to catalogue the fluidity of the conflict as it progresses, though, so we're including it here for posterity!

Event Notes:

The Reflecting Pool in the Courts of Highstorm can be observed normally with no addtional effects or can bring your memory to vivid life thanks to the help of Emet-Selch (and Yima). If you grant him permission (which can be handwaved), he will breathe life into whichever memory you have chosen to view! If this includes any NPC’s or interactive elements, you will be responsible for playing them out in any tags until they disappear. Please see Emet’s toplevel for any interactions you’d like to thread out with him as a part of this.

For the Gallery in Highstorm, the art depicted in and scenes experienced through the pieces are up to you to create! Feel free to go wild with any associated NPC's in the scene and worldbuild as you see fit. Highstorm holds a variety of citizens from across the multiverse, so you could feasibly go fantastical places, or experience something distinctly profound and beyond your imagination...

The drinks and refreshments in Springstar can be enchanted in just about any way you’d like, including bringing upon minor physical changes of the cute, fun, and flirty variety! Feel free to get creative (as long as you get permission from your thread partner), the Meris would also merrily insist growing extra fluffy, scaly, etc bits during the celebration will only help you party harder! 🥳

As reminders for Alenroux, once night falls, a character is not able to leave until sunrise, which is 24 hours later. If your character is dissipated, you can have a PC retrieve their Shard or the respective Faction they're allied with will send out a search party to find it. Remember to report character deaths!

CODING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Silco felt that tell-tale itch that reminded him of the new mark on the back of his hand. The gloves obscured the mark Sebastian had left on him, but he knows its there all the same. The insurance policy, a promise of a revenge so sweet, so carefully crafted, that Vander would be left in misery for the rest of his time here, until the destruction of everything.

Until an oblivion so perfect and complete that there would be nothing left.

Silco's lip curled, at the vague offer from Gen. That was not out of the kindness of his heart, of course, but...what would the boy want in return, he wondered.

His eye watched him, soothed down to that usual cool, but ever-orange gaze. He considered, what to tell him and how. ]

Do you? Oh, then I'm sure you'll meet Vander soon enough. [ A pause. ] It's difficult to miss him, after all.

[ He's six foot fucking seven, Gen. If you want to know why it's that Silco got killed, well. Just look at him. ]

I suppose he wanted to settle a very, very old grudge.

[ That at least he didn't mind sharing, that they were from the same world. It was no "we were like brothers", but Silco didn't share anything about his personal life, down to the fact that his daughter existed. He certainly wasn't going to share that the man had already tried to kill him once, and that Silco paid him back in turn years later. ]

[ To be fair, Gen had heard that the culprit was 'really really big,' and he's already encountered Vander once, but 'really really big' doesn't narrow things down that decisively. Not like the way hearing 'a scrawny looking guy with some fucked-up scars and a mismatched eye got killed' had led him straight to Silco. So the dots have yet to be connected in his head, and he instead focuses on what little crumb of information Silco does let slip. ]

A grudge?

[ A 'very, very old' one, to boot. Gen raises an eyebrow. ]

What, s'he from the same place that you're originally from? [ Then the corner of his lip rises in the start of a sardonic smile. ] Sucks to be you, huh.

[ It's easy laughing at the thought only because he isn't the one stuck dealing with it. He can only imagine the stress that he'd be under if his own shitty hometown were to come chasing him down even in this ridiculous place. It's not exactly like he's been having the time of his life scrambling for survival in this ridiculous place, but he'd at least been glad to be free of the shackles of his hometown, in many ways.

He's marinated in Silco's second-hand smoke for long enough now that he can't hold back the itch any more, and Gen rifles through his pockets to withdraw a cigarette himself. His next words come muffled from around it as he searches for his lighter next. ]

Sounds like you're not gonna be satisfied with just killing him back then, huh?

[ Silco's lip twitched, and he said: ]

Of course not, I've already killed him once.

[ Just in case Gen assumed that he wouldn't be capable, was so easily done in by this big man who'd strangled him in the streets, he'll be happy to know that Silco did have bite, and he wasn't about to let this insult stand for long. Certainly, he'd already taken steps -- had already done plenty, but Silco wasn't idle in any fashion.

After all, for all that he trusted that his new deal would lead to the revenge he craved...

He wanted something more hands on. He wanted to make sure that it was known who did it.

He flicked that scarred, normally two-toned gaze to Gen, two black sclera looked at him, evaluated. ]

He and I had something of a...philosophical disagreement. He decided to try and kill me, I killed him... and now he's finished the job.

Too bad it didn't Stick.

[ There's something grimly funny about the way Silco feels the need to clarify that he's killed Vander before. It's not even like Gen had really expected Silco to have gone down without a fight, having taunted the man mostly just to be a petulant shit, and he can't help thinking -- this is really something personal for Silco, huh.

Somewhere at the back of his mind, he idly wonders if maybe he can leverage this information for himself in the future, somehow.

But in the meantime, he suppresses the urge to smirk by lighting up his cigarette and taking a long drag, holding the smoke in his lungs for a moment before exhaling slowly. His boots scuff against the pavement as he idly shifts his weight on his feet, as if thinking, before he meets Silco's gaze evenly. ]

So -- what. You just gonna kill him back and make sure it sticks this time?

[ He still personally considers killing in and of itself a serious act, whether they come back or not. But he'd hazard a guess that Silco's attitude is much different from his own. Is 'just' killing the guy going to be enough? ]

Sounds pretty straightforward. Shouldn't take you long, huh.

[ Silco scoffed, his tone almost derisive. Sure, that had worked at home, when he could permanently kill the man, and steal the fruits of his labor -- only to turn it into a warped shade of what it had been. Silco had once mentioned to Gen that he'd inherited a bar, hadn't he? Maybe he would put it together at some point.

He smiled, almost serene, with one eye closed.

Almost -- except for the fact that his smile was like a dagger's edge, sharp and almost feral. ]

Oh no. Death doesn't stick here, now does it? Not really.

No, I think I'd prefer something much worse than death, don't you? Why bother with an endless cycle of dying over, and over? Why keep playing the same game with new rules?

[ A puff of that cigar again, he blew a ring upward. ] I don't intend to crumple, but neither do I intend to be predictable. [ Last words enunciated, almost furious at the thought. ]

[ A part of him wants to laugh at how Hollywood this all sounds. Silco's whole speech brings to mind the villain of a B-tier Hollywood movie, something cheesy where the bad guy gets mulched in an airplane jet in the end. But at the same time, he can tell Silco's being serious. Nobody smiles like that over a bluff.

Gen watches that ring of smoke slowly break apart in the air, mulling over his own cigarette for a moment before finally giving a half-shrug. Feigning casual, even if there's a lingering chill running down his back. ]

M'not so much into a drawn-out, dramatic revenge. Prefer to get shit over with fast. But s'not like I don't see where you're coming from.

[ In the end, it's probably safest to play neutral. Getting involved too deep with people like Silco is dangerous, he knows, but he also can't pick and choose his allies(?) too much, given his circumstances. So. ]

Guess I don't mind lending you a hand if things work out. Since it seems whatever you've got planned will be interesting, at least.

[ There's a quirk of his lips. ]

If things work out? [ He lifted an eyebrow. ] Well, I'll keep that in mind, in case things... "Work out".

[ He expected them to, after all. He'd been lurking, about to slip back down to where he'd spent most of his time in the past few months. He had been putting the pieces into place, made the deals, talked to people, he knew who to approach, and had started working his way toward this. Gen doesn't know that, of course, and Silco isn't exactly talking about the secret city beneath Springstar, not willing to give up his advantage so soon.

Mostly because he didn't trust anyone yet. ]

I'll be sure to let you know, if there's something interesting I think you'll want to get involved with, how about that?

festivals and mur--ahem, investigations 🎊🔍

MERIDIAN

ZENITH

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noooo i thought i already tagged this but i guess dw ate the tag 😩

dw!!!!!

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