taxfest log | open

[sterngaze]

Who: Alenroux residents and visitors!
What: It's Taxfest: an Abadaran holy day celebrating the local community on the day taxes are collected
Where: The settlement in Alenroux
When: Mid April (Pelu)
Warnings: None expected (Warn as appropriate in headers!)

A HOLY DAY FOR TAXES

Every spring, after last year’s profits have been tallied and Alenroux’s snowy winter has melted away, the time comes for the local citizens to bequeath a portion of their earnings back to the growing little town; it’s tax season.

Over the past century, a tradition has grown in the quaint little settlement, influenced by the local church of Abadar: the holy celebration of Taxfest. On this special day, citizens celebrate the town, each other, and the future they hope to build together. It is a day for business, but also for contemplation, as priests cite the public works the citizens’ past contributions have funded and speak on those planned in coming years.

The business of the day is conducted in person. Rather than mailing cheques, residents hand theirs directly to collectors who go door to door all throughout the day, each accompanied by one of the temple priests or acolytes, who observe to ensure the proceedings are respectful and just. Abadar’s clergy thank each citizen for their contributions, offer comfort to the poor, and hear any concerns or suggestions about how the money should be best used.

Throughout the day, tax collectors from the town can be seen accompanied by white-robed acolytes, or priests in yellow-trimmed raiment. Aside from these busy individuals, most of the town’s folk spend their day on leisure, having earned a respite from the last year’s labours.

EVENING AFTERNOON FESTIVITIES

Traditionally, the festivities of Taxfest would begin with sunset. Due to Alenroux’s 48-hour day–night cycles, however, business is typically concluded well before noon, and the day’s celebrations begin when the sun is still high in the sky. Just as the morning had been dedicated to reflection on the year’s efforts, so the rest of the day is spent in celebration. Local tradition dictates that partying hard on Taxfest both honours the work of the past year and brings good luck in the one to come, so locals and visitors alike are encouraged to let their hair down and enjoy themselves thoroughly.

Throughout the town, entertainment and refreshments are on offer, organized by the Abadar’s temple and provided by local businesses. Offerings vary by neighbourhood, and over the years different parts of town have become a little competitive over who can throw the best festival celebration. Priests officially begin the festivities with a brief dedication to Abadar, to Alenroux’s town and to its people, and the rest of the day is devoted solely to merriment.

On the town’s eastern side, a spacious park hosts a cheerful, whirling mass of dancers in groups or in pairs, dancing to the tunes of talented musicians from around town. Food and drink stalls line the perimeter, luring people from their revels with sweet and savoury scents.

One of the stalls, selling little sweet buns with coins stamped on them, swears it’s good luck to find someone bearing a coloured token matching one you find inside your own bun. (Not all the buns have tokens, of course, so better buy a few!) Those with matching tokens will feel more trust and closeness with their matched person for the rest of the festival.

A broad plaza on the town’s west side sports a slightly more carnival air, with entertainers and game stalls taking up much of the available space, some offering rather strange prizes. One of the games, involving a spinning wheel covered with paper balloons, advertises a free drink at the associated tavern for anyone who can hit five balloons without hitting any “bad” ones. Bad balloons will burst in a puff of coloured smoke, causing a minor magic effect lasting for the next hour:

• Higher or lower voice
• Slight intoxication
• Ability to blow smoke or bubbles
• Small objects you hold float away (for a while) if released
• Small objects you touch stick to you as though magnetic
• Other harmless, temporary effects (Pick your own!)

In front of Abadar’s church, the clergy themselves host a cheerful (if quite obviously religious) celebration with tables of food and a hearty ration of wine for everyone in attendance. This year, it seems the clergy member to bless the wine was over-zealous, as partaking may instill feelings of contemplation even in those disinclined to melancholy. Hymns to Abadar are sung, and everyone who attends is given a token for an extra wine ration, which can be traded in by those who attend a church service within the next month.

Comments

Liem Talbott | Meridian | Harbinger

[sterngaze]

[It’s good that Liem has had a long, long sleep, because he’s had scarcely a moment to rest since he first opened his eyes in the glass case within his church’s inner sanctum. Not only has the new state of the world demanded his attention, but there was the matter of Taxfest preparations. It quickly became obvious to Liem that if he allowed it, Father Thengill would take care of everything—and that it would be a mistake to let him shoulder all the responsibility himself.

Fortunately, once he gets past Father Thengill’s kindly objections, the rest of the church seems delighted to have his participation. When the big day finally arrives, Liem can be seen walking the streets in the gold-trimmed robes he’d used to wear in Springstar, now solemnly thanking the Alenroux townsfolk as they hand the local tax collector her dues, earnestly celebrating past and future public works that he’d spent the scant weeks since his awakening educating himself about.]

I. LUCKY BUNS / DRINKING PROBLEM

[When it is time for the festivities to begin, Liem leads the brief ceremony in the park in the town’s eastern side. It is a delight to see all the ways in which the settlement has grown over the last century and more; once the celebrations are begun, he wants nothing more than to mingle in good spirits, amidst the festival that reminds him so dearly of home.

But inevitably, he finds himself distracted. The little coin bun in his hand, barely eaten, seems to have the taste and consistency of chalk once he takes a modest bite. It’s not the baker’s skill, he knows; it is only that his thirst has bothered him so doggedly since he woke from his century-long sleep. Even when he attempts to slake it, it returns so quickly, and with such force. He wonders if he’ll need to drink a hundred years worth of blood to be rid of it, and sincerely hopes that isn’t the case.

So lost in his musings is he that he nearly walks right into someone who steps in front of him, and he has to jerk back to avoid a collision. His flustered apology is sincere and immediate.]

Oh— Pardon me.

II. RIGHT ON THE CHEEK…!

[Back home in Taldor, Liem had a bit of a mixed relationship with Taxfest celebrations, owing mainly to the widespread belief that kissing a priest of Abadar during the festivities was said to be good luck. Though he never mentioned such a thing to anyone in Kenos, some leftover wariness still remains at the back of his mind as he explores the plaza on the west end, eyeballing games booths and entertainers. It’s not that he necessarily objects to being kissed; he would just prefer not to be startled by it, if a similar tradition happens to exist here.

As he’s watching, a pair of jugglers run afoul of each other’s coloured balls, which go everywhere as onlookers in various stages of intoxication laugh uproariously. A red-and-yellow ball rolls his way, and Liem bends to pick it up, almost at the same moment that a young festival-goer slides nearer and reaches out to give him a pinch from behind. If they’re not stopped, they’ll slip back into the milling crowd as Liem jumps and spins around, leaving you to field his indignation.]

III. FANDOM-ASSIGNED BEARD

[After the rowdy celebrations of the town proper, the relative calm of the celebrations held in front of the Church of the Key is a relief. Liem has found a perch on a bench set up in the shade of a large tree, and seems to be resting his feet as he listens to church hymns he doesn’t recognize, sung in front of the church he founded. It’s a strange feeling, and one he seems more inclined to linger on as he sips the goblet of wine in his hand.

Though perhaps there’s another reason for his pensive mood, as he gazes frowningly at the acolytes and clergy gathered on the church steps. He doesn’t remember beards being so in-fashion when he’d been setting his church up, only weeks ago from his perspective. As he regards the singing celebrants, he lifts his free hand and strokes pensively at the full beard he woke up with, apparently not realizing what he’s doing.]

IV. WILDCARD

[Liem will be around all throughout the day. For the most part he’ll be too busy to socialize during the morning, but he can be found in any part of town throughout the rest of the day!]

II

[a_noble_flame]

[Alice has been flitting around the whole of Kenos for much of the month. A lot of her time is certainly concentrated to Old Springstar, it's "veterans" and it's orphanage but she does like to visit Alenroux now and then. They have the monsters far more under control nowadays but she still volunteers for some of the night time hunts and just generally likes to keep an eye on things as is her way.

Today she's tripped upon this settlement having their festivities. She never got to enjoy the ones back home surrounding the Nebulo Peace Conference so it feels like a waste not to allow herself some free time to mill around at this one. She might be something of a workaholic but she's slowly learning the value of quiet moments and downtime.

This moment of downtime puts her right in line with the whole incident of Liem's backside. She's innocently beginning to nibble at one of her buns, a sack of them in the same hand she's eating with and an ankle-length braid of hair draped over her left shoulder so as not to obstruct her sword. For a moment her attention is more directed to the person who did the deed slipping away into the crowds.

Then it's back Liem's way, her brows raised gently and mouth still occupied by that bun.]

[sterngaze]

[If Alice has one thing going for her, it’s that despite being directly in Liem’s sights when he whirls around with colour high in his cheeks, she looks a bit too guileless with that bun in her mouth and the surprise on her face for him to just assume she’s the guilty party. His eyes (hidden behind his customary dark lenses) snap to her, then sweep around to catch sight of anyone suspicious who might be trying to slip away. Unfortunately for him, nobody seems to immediately stand out.

His gaze flicks back to her.]

Did you see who did that? [he demands, a little breathlessly. Indignation makes his tone a little sharper than he’d meant it to sound, but in fairness to him, he’s been working his butt off preparing for this holy day, and now someone’s gone and pinched it. In front of witnesses, to boot.]

[a_noble_flame]

[Here Alice stands trying to chew that mouthful of bun in double time so she can at least give him some kind of eye witness report. By the time she swallows it back down Liem is breathlessly indignant and she's under his sharp stare.]

A little taller than myself, dark hair and dark eyes. I believe they might have had a horn?

[Then again she's seen so many people with horns and scales and the like as of late that almost seems like a given.]

[sterngaze]

[The description Alice gives Liem is actually more detailed than he expected. He’d been prepared to receive an answer along the lines of “it was a man,” or “they were short.” Even if the descriptors he receives aren’t exactly enough to identify a specific person out of everyone who’s currently in this plaza, it suggests a sharper eye than many people tipsily enjoying the waning afternoon normally would employ.

He also cannot help but note the tell-tale feeling of familiarity that he always encounters around other Harbingers, though he has not yet met this one in person before.]

Just one? [he asks, less because he’s invested in finding the culprit and more because he wants to distract himself from the embarrassment he’s just suffered. He’s still holding the little red-and-yellow ball in one of his hands; in a moment he’ll probably need to turn round again and toss it back to the jugglers, but he’s not quite ready to stop pretending that he still has at least a chance of salving his dignity in some tangible way.]

i, but honestly almost did the butt pinch one too

[damnpire]

[D has the wherewithal to pull up a bit short when Liem comes in hot. They still almost collide, but mostly because D decided to stop rather than sidestep.

He does not look a day older than -114, not when he's wearing the same stupid leather body suit he had been in before. The difference is he's without the shoulder armor and the long cape, though the hat is still thankfully there. It's currently shielding his face, and helping to obscure the haunting red ring of a subtle glow to his eyes somewhere hidden in the lashes and hair.

Oh yeah, his hair spills all the way down to the tops of his thighs because he still needs a trim.]

It's alright.

[His voice is... darker? Actually, there is a very heady, oppressive energy which rolls off of him and down over Liem. Maybe familiar to Liem. Something seductive and carnal. Invisible fingers pulling expectantly at Liem's core through the middle, almost like they are trying to pick open Liem's buttons somehow.

Liem isn't the only one who might be drinking for a hundred more years to satiate the annoying thirst.]

😳

[sterngaze]

[Even after nearly running into him, Liem stares at D for a moment longer than he probably should. He’s seen him without that ridiculous cloak before, more than once even, and yet on this particular occasion the tall “young” man’s beauty assaults him almost physically, stealing his breath as though they actually had collided after all.

On some level, he registers the erotic energy pulling at him; Liem’s heritage makes such things a little easier to ignore than they would be for ordinary humans, but unfortunately Liem is also very much not immune to tall, handsome men in general, so he can’t help but be intrigued. The tasteless bun in his hand is instantly forgotten in favour of whatever new thing D has going on.]

Oh, Dee. [I deal myself psychic damage every time I type “D” and remember I have to add “ee” onto it. For his part, Liem valiantly resists the urge glance down at D’s leather-clad body, though this unfortunately means he elects to stare directly into his eyes instead.] Did you come for the festival?

[damnpire]

[Not Liem forgetting the bun immediately.

Staring into D's eyes is perhaps the worst evil of the two: they glow a dim shade of carnelian, like a burning ring of a crescent moon. The gaze D returns is an intrinsic tug at Liem's core, a pull that is both alluring and commanding. A beg and an order. It's easy to get lost in them if Liem stares for too long.

They watch Liem's face without wavering away.]

I just came to watch for a while.

[Though the only person he seems to be watching right this minute with the most intensity is little Liem Talbott.

Where there had not usually been any before that Liem could tell, there are now a pair of protruding fangs barely visible when he speaks. He really shouldn't be out here probably, but he thinks his strict fortitude makes it alright for him to wander around hungrily.]

[sterngaze]

[D is really out here inflicting his ero vampire presence on everyone at this festival, huh.

The last time Liem felt any kind of ominous vampire aura coming from D, he’d thought there was a chance he might be about to get murdered in his own home. Now, while D’s presence unquestionably feels dangerous, he finds himself intrigued despite his better judgment. The appearance of the long fangs and deep red glow of his eyes captures Liem’s attention, making him wonder if the usually-reserved dhampir might actually be tempted to prey on him—and the thought doesn’t inspire the kind of horror he might have liked to think it would.]

Only to watch?

[I shouldn’t be alone with him, comes a sensible thought, which is promptly overridden by the also plausibly sensible and much more enthusiastic I should get him away from all these people.

D’s eyes are like deep, beautiful red jewels. Though he’s already standing about as close as is socially acceptable, he still takes a half-step forward, lowering his voice as though to keep it from the crowd.]

You seem different today. Hungry.

iii.

[appeale]

[ more and more of Rudbeckia's time these days is spent in Alenroux, given that it seems to be the only place left where her friends might be able to live – and while she has no desire to become part of any community, it isn't a bad idea to make herself known to the people there, if she wants to make her residency more permanent. attending a celebration is easier, more detached than taking part in the day to day lives of others.

she still doesn't want to actually socialise, though. certainly not with strangers. for that purpose, it's better to position herself in a conversation than to stand alone where she might be approached, which makes Liem a convenient excuse for her.

as the wind shifts the leaves of the tree and casts dappled sunlight over Liem, Ruby stretches one of her large, white-feathered wings out to preserve his shade. keeping her Discord high has proved more advantageous than not, lately. ]

Has Set complained yet?

[ she waits until his attention turns to her, and then taps her own cheek to indicate Liem's fashionable new look. ]

It doesn't really suit you.

[ he's always seemed a prim and proper character type; the more rugged appearance is handsome, sure, but makes for a very different impression. ]

[sterngaze]

[Even beneath the dappled shade of the broad, spreading tree, the added shadow of Rudbeckia’s wing is far from unwelcome when she comes to stand next to Liem. He glances up at her, his hand falling as his reverie is interrupted, and takes in her appearance with some surprise. Somehow he hadn’t realized big, feathery wings could be a symptom of discord.]

Oh—my lady. Hello.

[The smile he offers up at her is wry and a little cautious. He’s seen Rudbeckia refer to Set as her husband, and while it’s not as though this would be Liem’s first time being intimate with a married man, generally he prefers to make sure everybody’s on the same page first. Given that he would optimistically describe his relationship with Rudbeckia as “politely cordial,” this topic inevitably feels a bit awkward to him.]

He expressed his displeasure immediately, actually. Perhaps you are right; I have been told unflattering things about the way it makes me look.

[Liem seems amused, if a bit rueful, as he confesses this. His beard is quite noticeably more silvered than his hair, and he still hasn’t forgotten the time Hayame said it made him look like “an ageing barbarian.” Brutal…]

Are you enjoying the festival? You seemed a bit cross, earlier.

[When she’d made that communion, he means.]

[appeale]

[ a bit cross. it's such a diplomatic way of phrasing the change in her personality that she laughs unexpectedly; the sound is still clear as birdsong, the way it always has been, but somehow, all warmth is gone from it. something about her bitter, tired smile seems more genuine than any expression she's shown before. ]

I'm just an unpleasant person. [ it's a light and airy statement, which she moves on from with casual disregard to answer his question: ] The festival seems lovely, though I haven't been taking part myself.

[ she's never been the type who can throw herself into fun in order to forget her own misery. the best she can do is grit her teeth and endure it, but it never leaves her, and she can't pretend otherwise. she can act the part, perform for others; if she isn't putting on a show, though, what's the point in pretending to feel it? she'll only do what she wants to do, now. and because she is an empty corpse of a girl, what she wants is... nothing.

none of that is Liem's concern. she turns her gaze back out towards the festival. ]

And you? I'm surprised they haven't dragged you up to give a speech.

[sterngaze]

[Perhaps Rudbeckia’s mental and emotional state should be none of Liem’s concern, but he’s unable to completely ignore the change in her manner compared to how she’d seemed prior to disappearing back to her world. Tact requires him to pretend not to notice, because she seems not to wish to dwell on it, but the difference compared to the pleasant demeanour he’d seen her wear before is plain to him.]

Oh? That seems subjective. Clearly Set finds much about you to love.

[This is entirely inference on Liem’s part, though he feels confident in his conclusion. He cannot imagine the god agreeing to be the “husband” of a woman he did not love, and he is not shy about admitting his connection to her—claiming her as his own.

Looking away from her, Liem follows her gaze with his own, taking in the banquet tables and milling, celebrating people. It’s a tamer scene than some other parts of town, to be sure, but nonetheless a cheerful one. And, at the moment, it’s more cheer than Liem feels inclined to partake in.]

Don’t worry—I already gave a speech today, back when the festivities started. And in any case, the clergy are obliged to lean on breviloquence more during Taxfest than on other days. Festivals aren’t meant to be boring.

iii

[cutlery]

[ Ever curious, Sebastian had headed to Alenroux as soon as he’d heard about a festival there. And honestly? It’s decidedly not what he would have expected. He watches the festivities and the traditions politely, and he’s more than a little amused that it all centers around taxes. Considering how very contentious they were in his world, it’s delightfully novel to see them almost celebrated.

Though eventually, his curiosity leads him to the Church. It’s a bit stereotypical, he knows, but when it comes to religion… Well. He has quite a bit of interest there too. It’s nothing nefarious, really, but considering how human religion had created most of the delightful misconceptions about his kind, he found it fascinating. Though he’s not sure how much of that sort of fun this particular one would have, considering.

It's the hymns that draw him over. He hears the singing and approaches from behind the tree, and thus, he’s a bit surprised when he rounds it and sees someone on the bench. ]

Oh, do pardon—

[ He starts to politely excuse himself as he would to a stranger, but it’s partway through the apology that he realizes that he does recognize this well-bearded stranger, in fact. Sebastian laughs pleasantly at the realization and bows his head lightly. ]

Goodness, even more so than I thought. I almost did not recognize you, Mr. Talbott.

[sterngaze]

[The demon who goes by Sebastian does not make a lot of noise, and Liem is surprised when he’s pulled from his thoughts to find another person stopping right next to his seat. He looks up at him with a confusion of emotions that fortunately registers on his face simply as faint surprise, which is a normal enough thing to be feeling as one suddenly spots someone talking to them when they’d thought themselves somewhat alone.

He is not sure he wants to broach any of the prickly difficulties surrounding certain Meris who wish for the demon’s demise, and he certainly doesn’t want to bring up the ancient (but for Sebastian still somewhat recent) break-in and subsequent destruction of a certain treasured object.]

More so than you thought? [Liem echoes, not immediately understanding what it is Sebastian means. But he does add, dryly,] Are you perhaps referring to my clerical beard? I’m given to understand that it confers an air of wisdom and paternal authority.

[That hadn’t stopped him from trimming his beard from the quite full state it had been in upon his awakening, but he has to admit he still looks quite different than before.]

[cutlery]

Oh, simply for my rudeness… First that I intruded, then second for not recognizing you.

[ So far as rudeness goes, it’s incredibly slight, but that’s Sebastian for you. He’s polite to extreme, at least when he’s playing nice. Though how much of that is “playing” is kind of the point that people find perplexing about him…

He laughs warmly to Liem’s sarcasm and dips his head lightly as if accepting it. His smile turns playful too, but his teasing is a light touch especially compared to tezca good lord ]

Ah, does it? I suppose I can see that… There is something about facial hair that does imply experience, at least. They hardly grow overnight, after all. [ just over a century, you know, ] It looks good on you, though. Not all are lucky enough to wear it well.

[ He’d include himself, honestly, at least in this human form. He’s rather glad that it’s not something he has to worry about in the first place… But that thought aside, he gestures lightly to the bench. ]

May I join you for a bit? I heard the hymns and was curious, but I imagine you are a better teacher than observation alone.

[sterngaze]

You think so, do you?

[Although Liem doesn’t necessarily put that much stock in Sebastian’s purported opinions about facial hair, the demon is still quite literally the first person Liem actually knows to tell him his beard looks good on him, and his dry expression does twitch briefly closer to a smile. Whether this is because he’s pleased or just amused by the irony remains a mystery.]

Certainly, you may. [Just the first of probably many times Liem will say this while squashing lowkey anxiety over the demon’s company. He already knows he can’t just avoid him forever, though, especially given Sebastian’s new faction leanings, so he may as well be civil.] I might not be entirely familiar with the hymns themselves, but as far as context goes, I’m well-supplied.

[Even if Sebastian might not have visited or heard of the Church of the Key before, it should be obvious that he works there. If his clerical robes weren’t enough of a hint, the fact that the dwarf on the church steps is wearing almost identical vestments should make it obvious.]

Though, I should mention, it would be more appropriate to call me Father Talbott, at least while I’m on duty.

HAYAME 🏹 ICONOCLAST (MERIDIAN)

[warmare]

01 ↣ BACK FROM THE DEAD NAP ↣ 金魚の糞

[Compared to Spingstar and Highstorm, Alenroux had only a few Shardbearers who found their "rest" within its borders... and for better or for worse, that has made them particularly recognizable to the populace. In the wake of the Harbinger Oracle broadcast and all it had shown of her actions, it had felt to Hayame as if she could not go anywhere without being whispered about or pointed at, something that the rather private centaur had found trying, but this... This was even more intense, coming from eyes and voices she did not truly recognize. Not anymore.

At first, she does not even know why there are more people out celebrating than usual, but she catches on soon enough. "Tax Fest"... "Tax Fest", why did that sound so familiar? She finally places it as something Liem Talbott had explained to her after it was mentioned in his reading of The Order of Numbers... But since when had Alenroux celebrated Tax Fest?

Since sometime in the past hundred years, apparently.

Refusing to think of that disconcerting reminder and feeling uncomfortable with the attention newly awakened shard-bearers are attracting, especially one who has been in Alenroux and associated with the island this whole time, Hayame thinks to try and head back towards her own home... but there are gawkers on the right, awkwardly approaching citizens on the left, and a ditch in front of her, which leaves... a shard-bearer there behind her when she turns around.

One that, if they belong to Meridian, she greets with an awkward,]

... Happy Tax Fest.

[Is that what one said at this sort of thing? Who knows! If they are a Zenite or affiliation unknown to her... They just get looked at, brow furrowed as if to ask what they think they are doing there.]

02 ↣ TOKEN BUNS ↣ 緑色の目印

[She cannot hole up in her home forever, though. Not when she still had actual business in town, and also... her house isn't actually that far from the Church of Abadar Liem had set up on the island. Eventually, she has to venture back out... and she does her best to remember what she had promised Claude she would do, attempting to make of herself some sort of... model figure. And such figures do not shun kindness and respect being shown them, even if it came in weird and cloying ways.

She accepts a bun from a vendor, and she is not about to waste food... But one of her sharp teeth clicks into something that is decidedly not food. She almost accidentally cracks it, but when pulled from her mouth in confusion...

Is that a green... chip? (Is yours green, too? Or did you get one at all?)]

03 ↣ FUN AND GAMES ↣ 捨てるんじゃない

[Her attempts to be a good sport have led to several things she had not planned to do when she left the relative safety of her sanctuary behind that morning. Like handing over money to a priest, for one thing, and then arguing with a priest over whether he could accept it or not. But there was also...]

A. [... Dancing. Hayame had not danced since... No, she had not been asked to dance at the ball held on The World's Edge, over one year and then one hundred and fourteen years past now. So she had not danced since she had asked Liem Talbott to teach her how, anticipating that at that ball she might surely require the skill. It was too long ago, and that... That had been for the sake of a potential Oracle, on guard to possibly need to fight or investigate the place for Meridian's sake. She surely would not do anything that shameless or childish in public, in front of others.

But she is watching, nonetheless, lingering on the edges with a somewhat unreadable expression.]

B. [... Games. After being cajoled by some children she had played along with one, applying her expert marksmanship to darts and not just archery until enough balloons had popped that she received a prize, an ornately carved wooden ink pen. The problem being... it was far too fancy seeming for her, who had just begun to learn to read and write, and the children insisted it was hers, so what...

She offers it to the next (Meridian or Unharmonized) Shard-bearer she sees, with a simple,]

Here. Would you be able to make use of this?

wildcardin

[sterngaze]

[For much of the day itself, Liem is busy: accompanying the tax-collectors during their business, organizing final preparations, overseeing and blessing the festivities themselves. Even during the festival, he makes sure to be present and visible, knowing that most of the church-goers know him better as an unmoving idol than as a priest, and many of the townsfolk do not know him at all. He uses the day as a means to introduce himself to the community as it is now, and that keeps him occupied as Alenroux’s sun begins its long descent from its zenith.

Nonetheless, he finds time for his own activities. As long as he lingers somewhere in the town itself, there is no harm in catching his breath for an hour now and then to get away from the crowds. Alenroux’s day is too long to manage any other way, after all.

He is quitting the church grounds for a little while when he spies a familiar face on the adjoining land; two familiar faces, given Hayame seems to be in intent discussion with one of Liem’s subordinates. Given the familiar hint of a scowl on her face, he opts to alter course and see what difficulties his friend, colleague and tenant might be fielding.]

Good afternoon Hayame; Brother Markus. I hope I’m not interrupting?

[warmare]

[Hayame is experiencing difficulties, and Liem is interrupting... But his presence is actually welcome, and when she notices his approach, first as a familiar scent on the wind and then with her one uncovered eye...

Well, she does not smile, because even with the good things that have come into her life it is still not the most natural expression for her face, but. ... Actually, no, the frustrated look on her face doesn't ease in the slightest, either. (Her tail, though, flicks happily.) The other priest greets him before,]

Liem. You have arrived at the perfect time.

[Now that he has come closer, it will become obvious that the item in her hand is actually a coin purse, half-open so that her fingers can root through the contents.]

Would you kindly tell this man that I am allowed to celebrate your "Tax Fest"?

[... That wording does not seem to please Brother Markus, mind. He has protests.]

[sterngaze]

[Liem takes in Hayame’s open coin purse, her words, the brother’s attempts to both protest this version of events and explain the situation. Brother Markus seems caught between relief at no-longer needing to field Hayame all by himself, and nervousness about his boss suddenly showing up to look over his shoulder. In the couple weeks since he awoke in the church’s inner sanctum, Liem hasn’t had a wealth of time to get to know his new brothers (and the occasional sister) very well.

After a moment, he raises a hand to silence the man’s protestations. Brother Markus falls quiet immediately.]

I will handle this, Brother Markus. Return to your other duties.

[With the palpable relief of a low-level employee released from the clutches of a difficult customer, the man makes his farewells and beats a hasty retreat. Liem returns his attention to Hayame, craning his neck up even further than Brother Markus had needed to (though not nearly as much as the stout Father Thengill would have to, if she spoke with him).]

So—you’re dissatisfied with not being expected to pay taxes this year? My apologies if that’s not correct; as you heard, Brother Markus’s version of events was somewhat truncated.

Matt Jamison | Zenith | Stargazer

[semicharmed]

i. unless you got buns, hon
[ Matt's been meaning to come to Alenroux to start work on Ruby's monster sanctuary. It just so happens that when he arrives, they're in the middle of a festival of some kind. And unlike in Skysong, his now-extremely-vintage Highstorm shirt and trousers aren't enough to get him dirty looks. He can just … mingle. So Matt dawdles for a little while, watching the festivities unfurl.

Can joy defeat Oblivion? He wishes. But even if it can't, he reasons he'll need to keep up his strength if he wants to actually go into the woods today. And the food at these stalls smells really good.

This is how he winds up with his arms full of sweet buns. There's a small purple token held between his forefinger and thumb, and a look on his face that says I've made mistakes. ]

Um. Do you want one? [ he offers the first person to pass by, with an air that is both pleasant and slightly desperate. ] Or maybe two. I definitely bought more than I can eat.

ii. I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VOLUME OF THIS PROMPT
[ Astonishing no one more than Matt, he was a single balloon away from winning that free drink. He hit four in a row! He was like, this close to mind-texting Link to be like you might be the greatest combat instructor who's ever lived.

Tragically, the last balloon he hits erupts into chartreuse smoke. Matt sighs, but promises to buy a drink from the tavern later anyway. He takes a moment to examine the prize he won from another booth: a copper, hexagonal coin. On one side is a smiling face and the words “remember to live." On the other is a skull and the words “remember you will die."

Wow, that's hardcore, Matt is about to say. Except the volume at which the first word comes out is, ] WOW–

[ Have you ever seen a dog scare itself by sneezing? Matt reacts kind of like that, startling and dropping the coin. He bends to pick it up; when he straightens, he realizes there's another person right in front of him. ]

UH.

SORRY, AM I SHOUTING?

iii. land survey
[ At some point in the festivities, Matt decides he's got a great opportunity to head for the forests undetected. He may not strictly need to be so sneaky, but for Ruby's sake, he'll assume more caution is better than less. And the sun still looks reasonably high in the sky. So he finds a Cornerstone that'll take him north.

In the woods, Matt starts up a process. He finds a spot that seems auspicious. He scatters crumbs from his uneaten buns. And when curious forest creatures come sniffing, he casts Speak With Animals and starts grilling them: ]

Hey, is it peaceful around here? Do people come through a lot? Do you feel safe around here?

[ The answers he gets are … variable. A gigantic bird says screw you! and flies away. Another, slightly less gigantic bird hovers around for ten minutes, enthusiastically regaling Matt with tales of everything shiny it's seen in the past 24 hours.

No way, monsters come through here all the time, a fox tells him. They're incredibly fast and they have giant round paws that grind up the dirt. They make this sound like– And then the fox screams, which makes Matt jump. From this, he concludes he hasn't gone deep enough into the forest.

By the time you come across Matt, he's sitting by a babbling stream, deep in conversation with a rabbit. ]

I'm so sorry about what Cottoncoat did to you. That sounds really hard. I do think … I mean, not to invalidate your feelings here, but doesn't Legleg bear some responsibility? It takes two to steal a mate, you know?

iv. wildcard/pwm
[ Find Matt at some other point in Taxfest! Or plan some other Alenroux shenanajinks with me.

Also, I found this d100 table of minor wild magic effects and I just picked the first one that made me laugh out loud. ]

I | i gotta get matt introduced to akua and this is how its happening

[wolof]

Hm?

[ She asked, her tone curious as she half turned to see the man with his arms filled with sweet buns. It was somewhat endearing, the way he tried to balance them all, and the way he tried to hold them together, all while trying to grip the token between his fingers.

She eyed him, tipping her head slightly to regard him. ]

Oh, you look about to lose a few, aren't you?

[ she reached out to snatch one just as it was about to fall, and held it in her fingers. ]

These are not poisoned, are they?

[ You can take the Praesi out of Praes, but some habits die hard. ]

tbqh this strikes me as perfect

[semicharmed]

[ Matt sucks in an abrupt breath as he feels the delicate, cyclopean balance of the loose buns start to shift--

And sighs in relief when the stranger snags the most endangered one. He could've caught it with levitation, and arguably could be safeguarding the whole baker's dozen the same way, but he's trying to keep his spellcasting to a minimum until he gets out into the woods.

At the question, he blinks. Opens his mouth to say no. But he realizes he doesn't actually know, which probably wouldn't be all that reassuring to the kind of person who wants to know if things have been poisoned. ]

I can't think why they would be, [ he answers. ] I already ate a couple, though, so if you want to wait and see, be my guest.

[ Matt casts a guilty glance to the sweet buns stall, but they're a little too far away to have heard, and doing a brisk trade besides. ]

As far as I can gather, this is a festival for commerce and city planning? Seems out of step to poison me with something I paid for.

hehehe

[wolof]

[ She held it delicately between her fingers, and looked at it suspiciously, even though it was really just a sweetbun. ]

Do you think that a festival for commerce and city planning would be exempt from serving poisoned sweets?

[ Sighs. ]

I suppose here it might be.

[ Which. Probably said a lot about the type of person he was talking to. It isn't that she thought that the event itself would be an exemption to such a thing, but instead, that this place would make it so. After all, a celebration for commerce in city planning in Praes would likely come with an entire gamut of horrors for most here. From the expression of offering treats to bureaucrats, and seeing who is foolish enough to eat them without precautions, to slaughtering debtors in a blood sacrifice for protection over merchant caravans... Praes was...

Unique.

Still, she didn't eat it quite yet. ]

Perhaps I will have to see if you react to it for a bit, before I enjoy your treat, hm?