acatalepsy_logs | SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

It’s something like summer here at the Temple of Beginnings, or close enough to it. The weather’s been rainy and hazy for the past little while, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find some way to enjoy ourselves, right?

The day dawns cloudy and drizzly, but people seem determined to carry on anyway. The space slowly takes recognizable shape as a festival, even if a small one. There are tents set up outside, some of which are transformed into game opportunities, complete with prizes (some of an...interesting nature), surprisingly sophisticated target shooting games, ring toss, and other activities of skill and chance. A few more become stations for the food and drink that had been prepared, and the rest consist of chairs under canopies for people to sit and talk in case the rain continues.

Luckily, as the day goes on, the rain stops and the clouds move on, until the blue of the sky is visible once again. By early afternoon, there are only a few scattered clouds still remaining, and it seems likely that the weather will hold true for the evening. Strings of paper lanterns and other decorations are brought out and hung between the different stalls, around the makeshift stage, and placed at the tables. Some pots of bamboo are brought out and set in two clusters at either end of the line of tents. Each cluster has a corresponding table with strips of colorful paper and pens laid out carefully on a table and weighted down with rocks to prevent them from flying off.

A handful of figures come out and inspect the set-up, focusing especially on a shallow ditch that had been dug earlier, now drained and lined with weighted down tarp and rocks, running parallel to the tents and curving to end abruptly just beyond the fire pit and the stage at both ends. After some discussion between them, there is a flash of flame, as though something were burning, and then the strangest thing happens. The ditch fills with fresh, clear water. Even after a few hours, the water doesn't drain away or grow stagnant, still flowing somehow despite having nowhere to come from or go to.

The sunset that day is a brilliant, auspicious red, and evening sets in with a cooling breeze refreshing everyone outside. As the first stars appear, the lanterns are set alight, the music starts, and the first performer steps out onto the stage, surrounded by floating light.

SUMMER FESTIVAL
Welcome to the summer(ish) festival for Astoria’s Circle! We hope you have a wonderful time.

Layout
Even from the buildings that are actually being lived in, the lights of the festival are visible. If you strain your ears just a bit, you may even hear some music being played in the distance, muffled by the stone walls. Why don’t you come join in?

Once arriving at the festival itself, you may be struck first by how bright it is. Light seems to be a theme, from the bonfire set up in one of the firepits closest to the rest of the complex, the lanterns strung up between the tents and stalls that are set up in a line leading from the other buildings towards the gated sparring area that you may already have availed yourself of. Just in front of that area is a makeshift stage, little more than a raised platform of wood and stone, also lit up well by additional lanterns.

Opposite the tents is the river.

It might not seem that exciting at first. It’s hardly a river, really, just a shallow trench of water about seven feet wide and one foot deep, lined with rocks along the bank closest to the tents, stretching in a not quite parallel path opposite the stalls and tents that have been set up, beginning at the stage and ending near the bonfire. The water is crystal clear and clean, and murmurs as if it is flowing from some unseen source, but it’s not clear where it is coming from at all. As the night goes on, and more people take the opportunity to make floating paper lanterns at the station located close by, the little stream itself lights up, the water reflecting the lights, and just beyond, the stars in the sky.

EVENTS:

Sign-in
While definitely not mandatory, in the direct path from the living quarters to the festival itself, there’s a table set up with sheets of paper and writing utensils where you can sign-in. Let us know (ICly!) who you are. Maybe add a fun fact about yourself. Or draw doodles all over the pages. Whatever floats your boat.

Wishes

As is traditional in the home countries of some members of the Circle, there are some bamboo trees in pots set up on either side of the little river, and tables close by with colored strips on loops of string and pens. Write down a wish, or anything you’d like, really, and hang it from the bamboo. Or, browse the bamboo yourself and see if you find anything interesting. Later on after midnight, they’ll be burned for luck!

Games
You’ll find the usual games in the various stalls, some with a decidedly cobbled together look, using what materials were available at the temple, and some with a little more sophistication, thanks to the particular gifts of those within the Circle. Try your hand at shooting a target, a game of chance, or take over a stall yourself and introduce your fellow Circle members to something you used to play at home. There may or may not be prizes involved, depending on which stall you find yourself at.

Food
You’ll find your usual fair fare, though with a decidedly cosmopolitan flair. The foods themselves are somewhat limited by what was easily obtainable within the Temple itself (or improvised), and some Circle members may have contributed decidedly experimental dishes. It really is a potluck, so take a look and see what interests you! Strike up a conversation with your fellow diners as you pick up your food and then find a table to sit at, but keep in mind that most of these are home made by others here, so the cook may be close by, listening…

Performance
What’s a festival without any entertainment? In addition to the music being played on speakers in the background by our very capable DJ, there is also a stage where you can show off your gifts. In addition to singing or other traditional performances, this is an opportunity to demonstrate any interesting abilities or gifts you might have, including new ones you may have gained upon arriving at the Temple! There is an additional sign-up sheet near the stage, so write your name down and what you plan to perform, and we look forward to seeing what you can do.

Bonfire

It’s a really big fire. Enough said (hopefully). Sit and relax, or chat with those around you. If you’re lucky, there may even be some additional entertainment. At a little after midnight, the bamboo bearing the wishes will be burned here and the festival closed for the night.

Lanterns
If you’d like to give it a try, there’s a small station set up where you can make your own lantern out of paper! You can choose from one that floats in the air or on the water (or both, no one’s policing this). Make your own design, and let it fly aloft or float on the water with the other lanterns, chat with others who are working, or just settle down by the water and watch the lanterns and the stars.

**If your character (even if you were just accepted!) would like to participate in the set-up for the impromptu festival at any point, or just wander around and ask what’s going on, please feel free! All the set-up would have been occurring in the space between the TDM and this post. If your character would like to handwave having helped set up, this post is also an option!

(( Set Up: Outdoors ✧ Set Up: Indoors ✧ Sign-In ✧ Bamboo Wishes ✧ Games ✧ Food ✧ Tables ✧ Performances ✧ Bonfire ✧ Lanterns ✧ Clean-Up ✧ or your own!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Konoha is more than glad to give him that moment, eager for a (hopefully positive) response. Since her arrival, she's been trying to focus on tasks. Find shelter. Find Mikuni. Find work to do. Find a purpose.

And her current purpose, now that all the construction was done, was to feed people.]

That's a relief! I make it all the time when it's the right season, but-

[Despite herself there's a small hiccup, which she tries to hide with a wider smile.]

It's my first time making it alone, so. I was a bit worried.

You shouldn't be!

[ With a very earnest nod, as though her being worried is the worst possible thing and needs to be avoided at all costs. ]

There's a very comforting warmth to this dish.

[Oh, that was- That was good.]

You think so?

[She shuffles a bit self consciously, back hoof sliding up and down the other leg just like a human woman might move.]

It's a lot more fun to make by the river outside, all together, but. Maybe next time?

[It seemed like... she was going to be here a while.]

It's good to have plans for the future.

[ A sage nod. ]

And I know I'd love to have this again. Thank you so much, miss!

... The future. Right.

[Despite herself, despite the fact that she was the one to say it in the first place... Konoha's smile slips. Just a second, just a moment, but.]

After all, we don't know how long we might have to stay here, so. We might as well have some good food while we're here...

[ ... Ah. He's not entirely sure what he said wrong, but he'd seen that smile slip.

So Soujirou pauses, before resting a hand on her shoulder. ]

It's all right, miss. With all of us working at it, we're bound to find a way home sooner rather than later.

[Though she's hardly unused to touch, Konoha still startled slightly when he reaches up to pat her shoulder, awkwardly brushing wayward bits of hair out of her face in an effort to pretend like she hadn't let her smile slip. That she totally believed him, and everyone else.]

That's right! Of course! I'm probably not going to be much help myself with that kind of smart stuff, but I'll cook and haul and make it easier for everyone else to figure it out! Then we'll head home, easy!

Don't worry, I'm also kind of an idiot.

[ it's not even said self-deprecatingly. This is really just how he is. ]

But I think there's value in people being able to do different things.

I don't know, you look pretty smart to me!

[Based on her... many seconds of experience with him so far. (He knew good food when he saw it, at least?)]

I don't mind being the one to do the heavy loads.

Eh-- really? Nazuna's always saying that she needs to look out for me or someone's going to take advantage...

[ Whatever that means. ]

But I'm also great with heavy loads and combat, so--!

Your friend is here with you?

[Nazuna, that's a nice name.]

Are you a guard?

No, unfortunately... it seems like it's just me here. But I'm a samurai!

[ He's sparkling. ]

Eh- really?

[Not that... she doubted he was capable of it or anything, but it's just such an illustrious position, and she didn't think there were any familiar job type people here, and-]

Which lord do you serve? Oh- I should have bowed-

Oh no, please don't worry about bowing here!

[ He's just going to wave his hands in front of him. ]

Currently I only protect the people. [ Mostly his guild, but he's so tickled at the thought of actually serving a lord you don't even know-- ]

But what about in your world? Maybe it's someone I know-

[Or maybe it's not, but.

The possibility of something even remotely familiar has her somewhat more desperate to know than she'd thought.]

SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

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