festivals and mur--ahem, investigations 🎊🔍

[beleos]

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

Comments

[subsist]

[ Seeing Gray as she is now does remind Kaeya of just how young he is. At least it looks like she's doing well, perhaps much better compared to before. That's a relief. ]

A bakery, hm? You'll have to tell me where so I can drop by and buy a few things.

[ The mention of Eustace and Gen's names doesn't really surprise him. He remembers Eustace saying that he wasn't planning on staying at Yima's manor, so he must have taken Gen and Gray along with him. Another relieving discovery, because at least this way, none of them are alone.

His smile softens. ]

I do hope they aren't giving you too much trouble.

[ Because he's sure Gray is the one looking after the two. ]

[gravings]

[ She briefly describes the location of the bakery, a little open-air corner shop on a moderately busy street in Highstorm. ]

It's called BREAD. Um... Just BREAD. [ She isn't yelling, it's just spelled like that. Catchy names with calm capitalization are for businesses that can't confidently stand on the strength of their product. ] But I can guarantee that it's very good bread. Please do come by.

[ She'll sneak him an extra brioche or something. With regard to her two dogboys, she is literally the breadwinner of the group. ]

They're no trouble. I can tell that Mr. Eustace likes being away from the city. Gen is... um, still Gen, but I think he's under less pressure than he used to be.

[ But aren't they all (for now). ]

Are you staying at Miss Yima's manor?

[subsist]

It's called BREAD? [ Kaeya repeats it like he didn't hear it properly the first time, but when he realizes that Gray is serious, he just... laughs. What an odd name for a bakery. Well, perhaps it's more appropriate than odd, but it's certainly lacking in creativity. ] I'll be sure to say hello sometime.

[ Moving on, it makes him happy to hear that both Eustace and Gen are doing well. He knows the atmosphere back at Horos wasn't kind to anyone who was formerly Kenoma, so... this is the best outcome anyone could hope for.

He falls silent when Gray asks him her next question, and then he shakes his head. ]

And no, I left as soon as I could. I'm not part of the Zenith so it felt rude to continue to impose on their hospitality. I've been staying at inns around the city for the time being.

[ When he smiles, it's unreadable this time, but it remains soft. ]

What about you? You didn't stay at the manor either. Are you considering Meridian, perhaps?

[ Is that why she's here? ]

[gravings]

[ Now that she herself has settled down a bit, she realizes she can feel his emotions — the biggest clue being his quiet happiness when she speaks of Gen and Eustace. His happiness makes her glad as well to know that her two campmates have other people who care about them. Well, she knows Eustace is generally well-regarded, but she worries about Gen.

Still, she has to wonder why she can only feel certain people's emotions so vividly, first Ciel's and now Kaeya's. It's strange but in a way she likes it; it eliminates the mystery and guesswork that so often sparks her anxiety when she speaks to people. Perhaps in turn, Kaeya can feel the complicated wisp that goes up in her when he asks about her plans. ]

I've been thinking about it. Being Kenoma before felt easy... but I think that's why it wasn't good for me. I think Zenith would be the same. I've found that taking the easy route has never made me happier.

[ Only more cowardly and more pathetic — those things she's naturally good at, so of course if she lets herself relax, she'll slide away from what little progress she's made. She shakes her head as if to clear those black thoughts from her head. ]

But I'm not here because of that in particular. I heard...

[ She lowers her voice a little, hides her mouth on one side with her hand, and stretches up a bit so that Kaeya can hear her better. ]

... that people can buy Shards here.

[subsist]

[ This is new. Well, not entirely, but getting to experience Gray's happiness is new at the very least. He figures that whatever connected him to people like Amos, Gen, or Misa has been completely severed and yet here it is again, proving to him that it never went away. Maybe it just shifted, and now it's Gray he has to be careful around.

No matter. At least he doesn't think she'll pry, even if there are emotions other than happiness filtering through the link. What she just tells him causes him to narrow his eye, but then he swiftly recovers, smiling casually as if she's shared a funny secret.

(It's a dangerous one, he knows.) ]

Oh? Funny you should say that.

[ He turns to face her, reaching with one hand to pet her head gently. His voice is lowered to a quieter volume. ]

I came here for the exact reason. Shall we take this elsewhere?

[ Better to be safe and away from curious ears, just in case. ]

[gravings]

[ She makes no complaint about his hand on her head. She recognizes that he's keeping up a facade to make their conversation look casual (though she wouldn't have minded if it was a headpat just because). Acting of that sort is largely beyond her own capabilities, but he's already done the bulk of it; all she has to do is nod and not look too shifty as she starts them toward the exit of the church.

When it looks like they're sufficiently away from prying ears and the sporadic chore-flavored noises of monastery life give way to distant festival-flavored revelry, she'll cautiously speak up again. ]

What have you heard?

[subsist]

[ No one appears to be paying them any mind when they exit the Church, and that's probably for the best. It's only when Gray has taken them to a decently isolated location that Kaeya feels okay with sharing what he's learned.

Sadly, the meat of Kaeya's investigations won't manifest itself until after he meets with Gray, but... ]

Nothing outlandish quite yet. It's no surprise they wouldn't let unharmonized folks into their Church, but someone was kind enough to show me what was inside.

[ He goes ahead to describe what Cecilia had shown him: a beautifully ornate structure with many tree motifs decorating the stained walls. Even the altar has a small tree that seems to be grown by pure magic. He shakes his head once he's done describing. ]

I'm not entirely sure if it's related just yet, but the Tree of Life means a whole lot to the people of Kenos. It is where one's soul starts and ends, as they say. They could be growing Shards out of the Tree in Heliopolis, perhaps.

[ Okay, he has no proof that's the case, but he's been thinking about what Cecilia told him since he left her. ]

[gravings]

[ There's probably some deep symbolism to be gleaned here with regards to trees, maybe in regards to the Dryad too. But Gray won't attempt to unravel all that; that's not her lane by a long shot. ]

Even if that's true... it still seems odd. Our Shards are like our souls. So what are these people being given if they already have their own souls? I've been worried that the Shards are being harvested in a way they shouldn't.

[ Of course, she doesn't have any more proof than Kaeya does, but she does know that nothing is taboo. In the name of money or power, it wouldn't surprise her at all if someone was going around and ripping Shards from their Bearers. ]

I did meet someone who said he found a Shard from among the Tree's roots. He said it was a blessing upon him, but from the way he acted, he seemed to know something was wrong about it.

[subsist]

[ It's one of the downsides to being the new kids on the block. They have no knowledge with regards to the Tree's importance. All Kaeya knows is that it's precious, and that it's tied to Shards one way or another. How that's meant to help them with the current predicament at hand, well...

He still has yet to make a trip to the Tree of Life so he could ask it some questions.

His eyes narrow when Gray mentions that there's a possibility that Shards are being harvested, but he lets her keep going before he comments with his own thoughts. ]

Because it wasn't the real deal, perhaps?

[ Fake Shards... Harvested ones... Both options are pretty bad. ]

I did consider that these could be stolen Shards, if they've managed to figure out how to extract one's soul from it before giving the Shard to someone else. Is that even possible? Who knows. Fake shards, however...

[ More probable, perhaps. If the Fatui can make fake Delusions, then surely someone out here will have found a way to create artificial Shards. ]

Did having this Shard bless him with the same traits as a usual Shard-bearer?

[gravings]

[ She frowns a little. ]

I tried to ask him about that. I was curious if he would be able to come back from death the way we can, but asking made him upset and he changed the topic. I'm pretty sure that meant no.

[ She glances around a bit, sees it's still clear around them, and continues. ]

There's someone I wanted to speak more about this with. If you like, I can tell you what I find out... Oh — if you stop by the bakery later, I can tell you and share some bread too.

[ Might as well move some inventory while she's at it!! ]

[subsist]

[ Now that makes Kaeya's lone eye narrow. What an interesting find— if these "Shard-bearers" can't be revived in the same way the rest of them do, then why are people so desperate to obtain these Shards?

He nods at Gray, smiling. ]

As it turns out, there's also somewhere else I need to look into so it's fine if we part ways here. I look forward to trying out the bread that's from... Well, BREAD.

[ That will never stop being so funny to him.

Time for one last headpat. ]

Do be careful, Gray.

[ And then Kaeya is the one who ends up missing for who knows how long... Smh. ]