the night of wonders.

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players the night of wonders. QUICK LINKS COMMENT SECTION: MOD QUESTIONS | EXPLORATION | WORK SUBMISSIONS WORLD INFO: WHEN YOU WAKE UP | LOCALITIES | JUMP SUMMARY EVENT INFO: NIGHT OF WONDERS | FESTIVAL EVENTS | THE FIRES | FOURTH WALL INFO AU INFO: AU QUESTIONS, CLASSES, RACES, STEP BY STEP CHARACTER BUILD GUIDE Seemingly overnight, the Guild Hall owned and operated by the Silver Blade is decked to the nines Long streamers and banners are draped and a massive banner has been unfurled across the front of the building. It hails the events of the coming two weeks: The Night of Wonders Murmurs abound through the city; a thrill of excitement is in the air, and the locals are delighted to finally have cause to celebrate. The theme of The Night of Wonders is one of rebirth. The people of Mirabar are celebrating the continued survival of their home, the success of taming the Giant Rebellions across Faerun, and their resident adventurers! You are all thanked, profusely, for helping reinvigorate Mirabar with your hard work, and the people of Mirabar want to celebrate with you! Booths have sprung up everywhere, full of food, music, laughter, and joy. Take a trip around the city over the next few weeks or so, and see what you find: there is no shortage of things to do in the riverside city of Mirabar. Especially, it seems, because there are a plethora of new people. Not members of the Circle, but others? It seems that Astoria's grip on the Rift has slipped and other Travelers have found their way to Mirabar, just in time for the festival in question. You have no idea how they got here, but hey -- they're here, right? We may as well enjoy the party. YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT. Like any good festival, there are a ton of street games and vendors to choose from! Try your hand at an archery contest, where a bullseye nets you 1 GP, but playing at all gets you a weird-looking stuffed rabbit. There are also your classic "throw a ball at a bottle" games where they seem awfully rigged. Are those bottles glued down? What a rip-off! There is also a jousting tournament, which really means sticking a broom between your legs and running at someone with a padded sword. Whoever gets hit first loses! It's mostly meant for children, but the local children will definitely encourage adult Travelers to give it a shot. Finally, there's no shortage of food to buy -- turkey legs, meat pies, popcorn, sweet cakes, and cotton candy are abound throughout the festival. And of course, plenty of mead. Explore, have fun, and have a blast! ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT; PUNCH, PUNCH, PUNCH YOUR THROAT One of the highlights of the festival is the infamous kayak race -- a hallmark of Mirabar culture and sport. The leather kayaks, handmade by the locals in Mirabar, are beloved and much bragged about, and after a month or so of testing, they are finally ready for the tournament. Many sign up -- locals, members of the Circle, travelers that have wandered from distant lands . . . but only one team can conquer! So, congratulations to TEAM 1! You have won 100 GP each, a set of three trophies, and and all-you-can-drink voucher at the Dusty Coffer for the duration of the festival! Cheers! Alternatively, you can also enter in the fighting tournament, set up by a local bunch of rowdy Guild members that just like to punch each other. The fighting tournament is a bit less prestigious than the kayak tournament, but you've still got a bunch of folk who turn up to see who is the best around. Are you a winner, or a loser? Either way, much praise to RUBY ROSE who winds up winning the whole lot! You win 300 GP, and a championship belt that looks like it is made out of gold, but it is definitely not. Feel free to play out races, match-ups, scuffles, or observation! The winners may be set in stone, but you can feel free to thread out whatever rows or punches to your heart's content. 🡆 Prior to the tournament, you might hear what some of the betting rings have to say...who has their eyes on you? Or is it a friend of yours, by any chance? Looks like word goes around, it could go in any direction. 🡆 The crowd around you is roaring with passion and excitement. They may even get as heated as you do, so try not to let their zealous reactions get the better of you. 🡆 The most you'll get after the tournament is a towel to wipe off your blood, sweat, and potentially tears. If you've been injured, it could be in your best interest to seek medical hel and rest. Or not. THE CEREMONY OF LIGHTS. Every night of the festival, the people of Mirabar go down to the river's edge with paper lanterns. You can get them by the boatload, for free, provided to every single person who wishes to have one. On these lanterns are tags which you can write whatever you would like. Should you ask the locals, they say that they write down their hopes, their dreams, and their wishes. Once they do that, they set out into the boats and push them out into the air, to send them to the gods, and pray for proper fortune. You may take out a boat (which are on the river a plenty) if you wish to do so, and participate in the ceremony to your heart's content. But there is something almost solemn, about the ceremony. These people, clearly, are hoping for an end to conflict, and a continued prosperity to their city. What do you wish for? PAPER FACES ON PARADE. Finally, at the end of the Festival, there is a massive masquerade in the Guild hall. Everyone is wearing a mask, ranging from basic black to brightly colored with a lot of feathers and jewels. It seems everyone has gotten into the spirit of the Festival, and the locals are intent on partying until the sun comes up. There is a live band, a lot of dancing, laughter, and joy. There is a massive table of food of every type you can think of, a plethora of wine and ale, and endless merrymaking to be had. Feel free to dance, eat, drink, and celebrate for as long as you desire! But be sure to go outside at around 11:00 PM, to watch the beautiful fireworks display over the river. You can run out to grab a boat, to watch it on the river proper, or you can watch it from outside the Guild hall. It's a lovely, romantic end to your hard work in Faerun . . . enjoy it, and each other. 🡆 In the heat of the dance, it's likely that you'll be passed from one partner to another. Try to make do with the foreign — or perhaps unexpectedly familiar face that will be greeting you. And try not to get caught in the middle of a slow dance... 🡆 Some of the food and drink offered will serve as a bit of a pick-me-up: the people of Faerun have decided to use their magic to ensure that the party is as enjoyable as can be. So for those who are a bit more on the antisocial, troubled or moodier side, perhaps an enchanted dinner will make the night easier on you? 🡆 Take the boat a tad too far out and you run the risk of getting stranded in the river. The current grows stronger the further down along you go, so do be careful. MOD NOTES. 🡆 This is a fourth wall event! Please feel free to tag around and have fun in the festival log! We have a list of reference links at the top of the event post for your reference, if you need help. This log is free for everyone to play on, even characters who are currently not in game. 🡆 A separate log for those investigating the fires referenced in the OOC post will be posted. This log is purely for entertainment and fun for the fourth wall! The fire investigation will be limited to those who showed interest. 🡆 If you have any questions, please ask them on the original OOC post here! This includes fourth wall participants!

Comments

wanda ☇ open

[whatchoice]

you'll shoot your eye out ☇

[ you'd think she would have learned from the little festival at the temple, but now. wanda is out here still trying to play a dumb carnival game and succeed. all she succeeds in doing is collecting a small warren of stuffed bunnies which she gives out to the children in town.

hopefully they won't come alive like her floral bears did.

eventually she forgoes the carnival games and picks up the bow. time to see what clint has been able to teach her. shoulders down, exhale, release... another bunny gets set in front of her. ]

I'm fighting a losing battle here, aren't I?

the ceremony of lights ☇

[ she lingers with her lantern, little tag unwritten, sitting on the edge of the shore and watching the boats moving across the still water. she doesn't know what to wish for and not in part because she's an adult that doesn't really put much stock in wishes.

is she supposed to wish for herself? for the people of the town? is she allowed to use a lifeline and phone a friend? she looks up at a person nearby. ]

What did you wish for?

paper faces on parade ☇

[ wanda hasn't been the revelry type for a while now, but when in rome... her mask is a delicate red and black to match her muted red dress, and she is happy enough to hide behind the mask. it's the food that really got her to attend and she spends most of her time milling by the food and nibbling on all the different treats. there is such a variety, she can't help herself.

maybe she can be swayed to dance, but probably only by one of the children in town. give it a shot anyway. ]

wildcard ☇

( do yo thang. )

watch where you're pointing that!!

[moneytwin]

Yes, that's quite possible.

[ That was likely a rhetorical question, but Vex has been watching for a bit and. Yeah. Your form could use some work. ]

Try widening your stance a bit, and turn your elbow out. That'll keep your arm straight, less likely to catch on the drawstring.

[whatchoice]

[ wanda knows her strengths are not in actual fighting and weaponry, at least not without her powers. she accepts the critique at face value, huffing a soft breath of a laugh. ]

Thanks, [ she says dryly, even as she follows the instructions, shifting her elbow and inching her legs a bit apart. she tries again, face scrunched up in concentration.

and misses.

but this time! her arrow hits the target. the very very edge of the target, but it hit and wanda's face lights up excitedly, not fussed by how badly she succeeded. ]

I did it!

[moneytwin]

[ A hit's a hit, in Vex'ahlia's book. And she wasn't expecting you to be hitting bulls eyes right away. That shot right there is already 100% improvement on Wanda's earlier attempts, and she claps her hands together in approval. ]

You did! Nice job!

Now, think you can do it again? [the dark haired woman hums a moment] Don't stare at the point of your arrow. Look right ahead and look at that target. Keep your hand level, and release once you're ready.

[whatchoice]

[ with a nod, wanda raises the bow again, and looks past the arrow to the target. and has a bit of a disney prince moment where the arrow sort of... runs away briefly before she tilts it back into place.

but by then she is staring at the arrow again and while her form remains adequate, at best, the arrow goes wide and the brunette woman groans. ]

Not my best work.

[moneytwin]

Perhaps not, but your form was better that time. Just a little too fixated on the arrow.

[ vex pats her shoulder lightly. she can't give you guidance the same way a cleric can, but you can do it! ]

It's really very good progress for a beginner. Why not give it one more shot?

[whatchoice]

[ she may not be a cleric but her enthusiasm and encouragement are as inspiring. wanda would have given up already without the other woman nudging her on, too defeated by her continued mostly failures.

but she straightens up and starts again, running through all the instructions and advice and looking at the target and not losing her arrow this time. she fires and... still misses the center ring, but she hits the target and again that is Good Enough.

she breathes out into a smile, turning to look at the half-elf. ] You're a very good teacher.

ceremony of lights }

[hackedhistory]

I haven't decided yet.

[The lantern is still sitting in her lap, tag blank, and she's trying to determine which option is her best option.]

Trying to decide what feels the least ... fruitless, I guess?

[whatchoice]

[ wanda breathes out a a sigh as she nods. ]

Me too.

[ she turns the tag over and over in her hand, twisting the twine that holds it to the lantern until she has to untwist it to do it all again. ]

Magic is real so wishes are real, but how real? How far reaching? Is it like the Aladdin movie, are there rules? If we all wish for the same thing does that give it more power or are we just wasting wishes on something that could have been achieved with only one wish?

[ wanda may have been overthinking this for a while now. ]

[hackedhistory]

[Zari smirks a bit at that, before shaking her head.]

In my world, magic always comes with a catch. So for me, it's more what's worth wishing for when there's probably going to be some kind of catch.

[whatchoice]

[ wanda nods, adding that to her list of concerns. it needs to be worded correctly. ]

I'm probably giving it too much thought.

[ struck by inspiration, she quickly scribbles her wish on the paper and carefully folds it so zari can't see it because wanda doesn't want to admit she gave up on trying to figure out the perfect wish and made her wish for zari.

hopefully consistency doesn't translate to another gopher day for zari. ]

[hackedhistory]

[Wanda ;; she'd appreciate the thought regardless, because stability is important, no matter what. Instead, since she knows nothing, she just laughs, because Wanda isn't wrong.]

Probably I am too. It's just hard when you come to expect the worst.

you'll shoot your eye out

[valuedstrength]

[He's watching with pride since Clint isn't here to do it. Steve is definitely getting a kick out of all this. Who could blame him? Wanda is having fun, a bunch of kids are happy so life must be good, right? He smiles at her question.] We're gonna have to switch your codename to Game Witch if you keep this up.

[whatchoice]

[ wanda snorts a soft laugh, shaking her head as she holds her hand up to the vendor and gives up another rabbit. she doesn't need any more, now she is just keeping hold of the bow for actual practice. it would be funny to see clint's face when she could suddenly shoot bull's eye after bull's eye.

she'll need more practice but the idea of making clint speechless has it's appeal. ]

Why not the Scarlet Gamer?

[ maybe take out the witch part, it's the scary part the news doesn't like anyway. ]

[valuedstrength]

[Steve makes a show of considering it before nodding in approval.] I like it. It really is your color.

[whatchoice]

It was always my favorite color. Before...

[ her hand waves idly. before it became her signature color. who knows, maybe that is why it became her signature color. admittedly she wears black more often than not but that's just because she's an emo baby. ]

[valuedstrength]

[Steve grins.] Before it started coming out of you like magic? [A beat.] Is it magic? Hill said it was science, but it always looked like magic to me.

the ceremony of lights

[annalist]

[nate has always had a certain amount of wonderment to him, so while he doesn't necessarily believes in wishes, he thinks the ritual of things like this can be fun, and sometimes fun is the point in things. he lets his own lantern lift into the sky before hearing her question.]

You know they say if you tell someone your wish, it won't come true.

[whatchoice]

They say that to children blowing out their birthday candles, [ wanda counters. that is a sentiment that transcends borders if wanda's accent has anything to say about it. ]

I was only wondering if you'd wished for yourself or something else.

[annalist]

Fair enough.

[he concedes to her point easily -- while also trying to mentally place her accent.]

A little of both, but mostly for myself.

[whatchoice]

When I was small, I used to wish I was a mermaid. [ IN HER LANDLOCKED COUNTRY. she was a dummy when she was five. ]

That seemed a dangerous wish here.

[annalist]

When I was a kid I wanted to open up a theme park filled with magical creatures like dragons and unicorns.

[and someday he'll see that come to a reality, but that's for future nate to enjoy.]

Not that I'd need to wish for that, here.

ceremony of lights.

[wraithes]

[ the question surprises her, but inej considers it, as she holds her own lantern. curious, weighing out the question in her mind . . . but she murmurs something to herself in her own native tongue, and gently places it on a boat, to be sent off to saints knows where.

and, eventually, she answers wanda's question: ]

To be free.

[ easily enough, as she glances over at wanda, with half a shrug. ]

Yourself?

[whatchoice]

[ THAT IS A GOOD WISH and wanda's expression softens. it hadn't occurred to her to wish to be free of the threat of the accords, but now it seems so obvious. ]

For one of my friends to have... [ she licks her lips, trying to translate the right word. ] Stability.

[wraithes]

Stability is good.

[ if inej finds anything weird about wanda's particular wish, she doesn't point it out. rather, she offers wanda a faint smile, seeming to understand the complexities of the word, and the struggle to find it. ]

There's a certain freedom, in stability. Being able to live without worrying about something disappearing. I hope you, and your friends, find that, when you return to your world. Or even here.