⇨ THE LUNAR SOLSTICE

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Winter Breaks: Day 6 - Day 25
Where: THE MOON
What: The carnival journeys to one of its moons to celebrate the Lunar Solstice. More information here.
Warnings: Winter fun.

MOON WALKING↴ The journey to the moon only takes a blink of an eye, but it leaves the carnival far away beneath you. The second moon can be seen on the peripheral, massive compared to its usual view. At least when the holidays start out, there will be no notable wildlife on the moon, though this is something you can talk to the Ringmaster about if you think it needs a change. It sounds like this is the first time she's used it in quite a while - it probably needs some dusting off! Claim your cabins, and proceed to... well, do whatever you want! There is no rush and little obligation, besides to enjoy yourself. For real, this time. She promises there will be no vampires. Or, at least, none that don't already work for the carnival. ► CABINS: Living arrangements are character choice for this event, and there are a variety of cabins of various sizes, mostly built to house 2-6 people, though you can fit more in if you squish. They are all made of wood and of a rustic design - no fancy modern furniture, here! Each building is housed with a fireplace and the needed amenities. You can pick up materials to cook with the private kitchens if you like. Theoretically, you could spend the whole holiday sequestered away, watching the snow fall. Some of them also have outdoor hot tubs available! ► ACTIVITIES: Activities are mostly going to be character driven, though there will be some large group games like bingo and maybe a poker tournament happening at some point in one of the festival halls. Otherwise, there is a lot to offer: skiing, snowboarding, hiking, ice sculpting, snowball fights - it goes on! If you'd like to run a winter activity, just let the mods know, and we will get the word out there for you. ► FEASTING: Every day isn't a full-out feast because that would get a bit unhealthy, but there will be a number of specific feast events over the holidays where everyone is encouraged to let out their inner hedonist and stuff themselves. There will be one big feast per week, with smaller but also delicious meals offered in between. The feast dates will be B12, B18, and B24. There's also plenty of alcohol available for anyone who wants it. ► SHOPPING: As mentioned in the planning post, there is a massive market being run by the World Walker Caravan! The Ringmaster has given everyone 1250 credits to spend on items, but there is a caveat - must spend at least 500 of those credits on gifts for other people. And it better be a good one, if you only buy one! (She will ask that you do not buy her presents, however. She appreciates the sentiment, but it seems sort of silly buying her things with her own money! If you'd like to gift her, please have it be something more personal or handmade, but you are not obligated to get her anything at all.) ► TREATMENTS: The beginning of the holidays will also be about the time that the emergency Medical Team will have finalized their treatments for the Prince's poisoning. Watch out for further information on that - and make sure to get treated if you are suffering from petrification or poison induced illness! The holidays will be a lot more fun that way.

Comments

[reflash]

Yukio nods. He gets the Constant Vigilance thing, to the point that he would be more surprised if someone wasn't always on high alert (Yukio this is why you're stressed).

"If you never need my assistance, I am always willing to assist."

Which... might be odd for a medic to say, but Yukio's just as much a Dragoon as a Doctor, and if he doesn't fight things he'll get bored.

[otoko]

Maybe, just maybe, both of them should Try To Chill (they won't).

"Aauh, I, the man Gongenzaka, would be glad to have the assistance as well-naturally, I offer the same in turn! Though, it would not do well if it were for medical matters..!" he admits, laughing.

[reflash]

"Oh, I'm sure I can find a use for you." Do you feel it Gon? The feeling of being added to a list of potentially useful people? Yukio will use you if he needs to.

[betheman]

Why does he keep making friends like this. "Hmn! Watch yourself, or the Warden my question my wearabouts," he jokes, albeit half-heartedly.

Honestly he has a feeling it would make him laugh, if he was suddenly helping to bandage someone's arm or something....

[reflash]

"Don't worry. I won't take you away from your job." Unless he needs to.

"I'm sorry if I disturbed you today, I didn't realize there was anyone nearby."

[betheman]

"Not a problem, really," Marishi hums, Gongenzaka nodding in agreement.

"Indeed, if anything, it was no disturbance at all! In fact, our conversation has proven that current training is going quite well!" he laughs, tapping at the snow.

Which, somehow, neither hoof nor paw have sunk down into...at all. Where Yukio is no doubt creating some sort of impression in the white fluff, the snow beneath Gongenzaka is quite pristine.

Because he's cheating. "Indeed...seamlessly moving from tree to ground, we're making some considerable progress when it comes to focus with this spell~!"

[reflash]

"What exactly does the spell do?" Yukio asks, glancing down at Gongenzaka's feet and seeing... nothing. No prints, no indentations, no sign that Gongenzaka is even standing there at all.

[betheman]

"It is a focus of energy," Marishi explains. "....It is likely tricky to see, but we can't keep from displaying that, while the spell is in action, actually..."

It's daylight, after all-but squint and he'll see it-an icy blue aura filtering through the red of Gongenzaka's bush mane. "Aside from concentrating our spiritual energy, it is a focus which can help to emphasize the connection to what lays around us-a true harmony with the surfaces of the ground, water, trees..."

"In other words, we won't actually push it away, or push through... ...or fall off, as we've been working on..~"

[reflash]

"Impressive. Is this something you've always been able to do or did you learn it here?"

[betheman]

"Mnh-! Here, of course..!"

"Ahh, well, maybe not 'of course', at least..." the cheetah hums.

Gongenzaka coughs, accepting the mental correction- "W-Well... ...to explain, magic does not...properly exist, within my world."

"Technically, this is 'our magic'... ...but without the guidance from the Ringmaster herself, it would never have been tapped into like this..."

[reflash]

Yukio glances between Gongenzaka and the cheetah, listening and observing. A pause, so he makes a comment. Time to see what information he can get from this.

"It makes sense for the Ringmaster to encourage her workers."

[betheman]

"Encourage is one thing...."

"Mmmm, she has very particular ideas of what people should be doing, which is the tricky part in requesting guidance in anything...."

"For the most part we merely asked if she could help us with magic...so things worked out rather well in this case."

"It certainly....varies, suffice to say, what 'encouraging' is, to her."

[reflash]

"From what I know of the fae, working with them requires very specific language." Yukio's own contract was carefully chosen, an attempt at avoiding loopholes while not insulting the Ringmaster. He doesn't know how well he did, but he hasn't been possessed by anything yet, so it didn't completely backfire.

[betheman]

"Aaauh, you would be correct-and it's often quite specific to Them as well-one fae will not so much as consider what yet another would, in many cases... ...Truthfully, the Ringmaster herself could be considered an incredibly lenient one, when it comes to most matters. There are those who would take one for slavery just over an insult..."

[reflash]

Yukio nods.

"I doubt the Ringmaster will let another fae enslave any of us, regardless of how insulted they are."

Fae, demons, different words for the same concept in his world, and demons don't give up their human possessions so easily.

[betheman]

"She does not necessarily have an option, in some cases," he warns grimly. "Faerie operate through very strict 'laws'... ...if the pieces are in place, it becomes quite tense indeed..."

Case in point, where they Just came from.

[reflash]

"I see." Laws and rules, and the Ringmaster bumbling into the middle of them. "How well has the Ringmaster been able to protect the people in her Carnival?"

[betheman]

"Hmnnnn.... ...considering the risks.... ....I, the man Gongenzaka should say that for every incident where danger came upon us, she protected us phenomenally. She could have easily abandoned us within the realm of her uncle, when she needed his cooperation despite his own cruelty.

"Instead, she found a method with which to end his life, when the alternative was allowing some of us to suffer at his hands."

So.

That's a thing.

[reflash]

"Good." Yukio is used to killing things, like, all the time. The idea of a dead fae doesn't rattle him at all. "It would cause me more concern if she were unable to protect us."

this seems like a good spot to wind down if you want? :0a

[betheman]

Well...it's a good reason to be concerned, after all. So Gongenzaka merely nods.

...And... "Aaah. Just make certain you, as well, are able to protect yourself."

That, at the end, is the most important point to bring away for oneself.