SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

[tranquilforest]

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!))

Comments

[bleps]

[Arenvald’s personality really is very straightforward, he thinks. Enthusiastic, positive. A good ally to have, and a fair addition to the Circle as a whole.]

Yes, I think so too.

[And that way, if something unexpected truly happens, there’s room enough for either of them to give the other a wide berth.]

As I said, whenever you’re ready. Don’t rush your celebrations on my account.

[paladorable]

[ Connor is still taking some getting used to, if only because the way he deals with things is very different than what Arenvald is used to. If he had to pick someone who was close enough to Connor’s demeanor, it would probably be Alphinaud – logical, analytical, prone to bouts of over-seriousness – and he and Alphinaud are the best of friends, so it’s only a matter of time before he adjusts, really. ]

I appreciate it. I’ve been looking forward to trying some of these things out.

[ There is so much here he’s unfamiliar with! Not that he rushes himself, but he does set to the wide array of treats with gusto. Between whatever idle chatter he and Connor care to make, he tries a bit of everything first, before trying to finish things off. He can sure pack away some food, though, because by the time he finally throws in the towel, there’s not much left. ]

I might regret all that later, but I’d say it was well worth it.

[bleps]

[It is an impressive amount of food that he can eat. Connor wishes he could analyze each and every dish, but just chalk that up to another feature that's been disabled for him.]

You've likely consumed enough calories to hit a four day quota.

[Just so you know.]

If you begin to experience digestive issues later, we can end our trial session early.

[Isn't he nice!]

[paladorable]

[ Do you see this blank look Connor? Do you? ]

I don’t know what “calories” are, but I think I’ll manage just fine.

[ idk man robots are weird, they say weird things. ]

Shall we?

[bleps]

[he's not a robot he's an android!!!!!

But he waits until Arenvald is ready, then stands, walking alongside him. And then-]

A calorie is a unit in measuring the energy value of consumed foods.

[paladorable]

[ What is even the difference???

Oh. He’d been half-expecting an explanation, and he tilts his head to turn the phrase and its meaning over in his head. ]

Nothing wrong with having energy to spare, is there?

[ It sounds like a plus to him!! ]

[bleps]

[Please don't verbally ask this question to Connor because he will Explain It To You.]

Generally speaking, no. But frequently eating more than your body's daily requirement is not recommended.

[He could keep explaining why, but... well. It's Arenvald, a man who is obviously not out of shape. At all. So Connor opts to avoid further explanation until they reach the training area.]

Do you have an idea regarding how to begin? [Connor has a few, but he'll let Arenvald go first.]

[paladorable]

[ He casts Connor an odd look, because clearly things like daily calorie intake are completely foreign to him. He figures mayhap that’s more of a problem for androids than for people, and Connor is just a bit confused. After all, Arenvald feels completely fine.

The topic of healthy eating habits falls by the wayside anyway, once they reach their destination. ]

Not really. Like I said, I’m not much of a hand at magic, myself. Never could get the knack of it.

[ That’s probably thanks to the Garlean in him. Thanks for nothing dad, wherever you are. ]

Do you have any thoughts?

[bleps]

[The training area seems rather empty, at the moment. Preferable, Connor thinks, so that there aren't any distractions while they try to focus on their task.]

You say that you're not experienced with using magic, but do you have an idea how it works? From an outsider's point of view. All we need to know is the actual thought process, and then maybe we can apply the same theory to our own so-called powers.

[What to focus on, how to draw up that power and activate it. He continues.]

A non-musician might not know how to play a sonata on the piano, for instance. But they would be able to tell you that you place your hands on the keys and follow a series of specifically timed notes in order to achieve the desired effect. In that way, they can at least create sound, even if they can't create music. We'll try something similar; does that make sense to you?

[paladorable]

[ It’s a good enough comparison, and it does make the whole thing seem a bit less daunting. ]

Aye, I suppose we can at least do that much. Where I come from, magic comes from the ability to manipulate aether, which is… well, it’s in everything. It’s where life comes from, it’s in the very air, it’s in people.

Magic is still pretty varied. Alphinaud uses it with his book, it’s all channeled through numbers and shapes with him, but Alisaie has a crystal and a sword. Since we weren’t given anything like tools, I’d guess our own bodies are the focus, yeah?

[bleps]

[A very sort of metaphysical explanation, not something that he can easily measure, but Connor understands the concept well enough.]

That seems like the best place to start. Do you just close your eyes and focus, then?

[paladorable]

Sure. Let's take a crack at it.

[ He sure wishes he were better with magic, then he'd have a more solid way to start. As it is, he just has to jump in and hope for the best. Deep breath, and he shuts his eyes. He's hoping it will be obvious, like suddenly there's a button he's supposed to push that says “press here to activate power”, but no such luck.

Uuuugh he's never been good at this... inner focus stuff. ]

This is more difficult than I thought.

[bleps]

[Connor doesn't close his eyes. He observes, first, to see what might happen.]

Are you focusing?

[#helpfulRK800]

[paladorable]

I’m trying.

[ But conversation doesn’t make for good focusing, and he sighs, opening his eyes. ]

You try it, see if you have better luck.

[bleps]

[Only the smallest lift of a brow, but then Connor pauses only long enough to close his eyes.

Strange, going about this. Trying to figure out what to activate within him, between the sea of processes always running in the background. As if there would be a switch to flip if he focused long enough, hard enough-- and not being met with only silence.

After a while, he frowns, opening his eyes again.]

Maybe it'll take practice.

[paladorable]

No doubt. It’s not like I learned how to use a sword in one day.

[ Still, it would help if he knew what it was he was supposed to be practicing. He sighs again, placing his hands on his hips. ]

Mayhap I’ll talk to Alphinaud. He knows much more about magic than I do.

[bleps]

[Connor doesn't sigh, but he does slip a hand inside his pocket and start thumbing the silver quarter hidden there.]

Yes. I'll continue to practice in the meanwhile.

[A beat.]

Are there many of your acquaintances here? From your home, is my meaning.

[paladorable]

At least three that I know about. Two of them are very good friends of mine, but the third…

[ He frowns a bit. ]

It’s complicated. Alphinaud tells me people can be brought here from different points in time, and Minfilia is… well, she hasn’t been around for a very long time. Seeing her here was a shock, but the good kind.

[bleps]

[The faintest hint of a question in his look, but Connor is able to read between the lines despite his often very literal way of taking things. The intonation in Arenvald’s voice is enough to verify it, though he asks evenly, a small note of concern in the question.]

You mean that she is... was deceased?

[paladorable]

[ His brow creases in thought, though he only gives it a moment or two of consideration before shaking his head. ]

Like I said, it's difficult to explain. I wouldn't say she was... dead, exactly, but she no longer existed on our world.

[bleps]

[Well, that's just as baffling. But this is a situation in which multiple planes of existence are intersecting and interacting with each other, so Connor doesn't really question it. He supposes someone not existing any longer is just as valid of an explanation as any of them being here.]

Does she know this? Here, I mean.

[paladorable]

I suspect she does.

[ Something in the way she looked at him. It made him… so very sad to see. ]

But I haven’t brought it up. Suppose she doesn’t know; I shouldn’t be the one to tell her.

[bleps]

That would make for both awkward and difficult conversation; especially if you’re just treading over information she’s already aware of, yes.

[He takes his hand out of his pocket, then clasps them behind his back.]

In my case, there is no one here that I am familiar with. No one from home. But there are many with whom I can imagine their presence here would prove strange if not problematic for me, so I understand.

[paladorable]

You’re all by yourself?

[ Yes, that is his takeaway here. ]

I’m so sorry. I can imagine that’s probably lonely.

[bleps]

[The takeaway isn’t technically wrong.]

“Lonely” may be... too strong of a word. But I would be lying if I said I would prefer to face this new situation on my own.

[A pause, and he shakes his head.] Though I shouldn’t think that way. I have my fellow Circle members. I merely have to put in the effort to get to know them.