MINI EVENT: SHINE ON

[sticksandbonesmods]

SHINE ON

!

WISHING LANTERNS

Approximately one week after the volcano game ends, a waning crescent rises over Aldric’s Grove. With it comes a rather comforting feeling of warmth and love, permeating the air like incense, and negative effects from everyone seem to disappear for the night, too — like Felicity’s bad luck aura, for example. No longer does the Grove feel foreboding, as if something awful could happen at any moment. For once, it almost feels like home — if you can get past the fact that, a week ago, you were stuck in a volcano. Despite this, you overall feel a bit happier, a bit lighter, like you could float away any second — metaphorically. You aren’t actually going to float away.

Other things, however, will. Namely, the thousands of lanterns that are filling the night sky, coming from both within the Grove itself and outside of it, beyond the inaccessible fog-wall keeping you all trapped within. They glow brightly in the dark as they rise into the skies, up and up and gone. More quickly replace them, and the Grove will remain lit-up like this throughout the night and into the following morning.

As you take in the sight, the Shopkeeper and Trader wave you over. There are several wooden tables set out, most of which contain a feast to be devoured — help yourself! — and one of which has supplies for making your own lanterns, or pre-constructed ones if that isn’t your forte, alongside candles and markers. "Write a wish on the lantern, light the candle, and release it into the sky," the Trader instructs, "one day, it might be granted."

!

LITTLE GUYS

An hour into nightfall, small animals rush into the Grove from beyond the fog wall, bringing with them various objects in their little mouths. Some bring food foraged from the forest, such as mushrooms and fruits. Some bring fish from the river. Some are carrying items, and will seek out the owner of said item to plop it into their laps or hands or even directly into their pockets. Everybody will receive one small (no larger than your hand), non-magical, sentimental object from home from the animals.

They’ll stick around to play, too. Some of them might even try to run the Shopkeeper and Trader’s stalls, since those two are so busy. Others can be found doing basic chores around the Grove, like picking up debris and other garbage and throwing them away. The animals don’t entirely understand what is trash and what isn’t, though — some might take your pen from your hand while you’re writing a wish and chuck it into the can. Not all of the animals will be calm company, either; the foxes in particular love to play games of "chase", and the moth-winged rodents like to bury themselves in people’s hair to keep warm. They will try to eat your food if you leave it unguarded.

As the dawn breaks and the sun rises, the lanterns in the sky all disappear, and the animals head back into the fog with cheerful yips and chirps. Should you choose to go back to your rooms, you’ll find something special waiting for you on your pillow.

!

OOC

Hello hi if you have not told us what your character would wish for yet, you are free to do so so that we may give you A Thing. Due to Caoimhe’s wish, everyone will get a glass-encased lotus flower, a symbol of hope, as well.

List of Granted Wishes (CLICK TO EXPAND!)

Fel: A framed photo of her cat with a pawprint "autograph" in the corner

Gnosis: A handwritten letter with familiar-looking calligraphy

Elsword: A robotics textbook with a note on it reading, "This isn’t FOR you. FIGURE IT OUT."

Chung: A nice blanket

Mizuki: A self-help book detailing how to make people happy

BB: A dress and the matching shoes and socks

Caoimhe: A book of fables, provided by the Shopkeeper when he realizes she didn’t wish for anything herself

Add: A small scroll of paper dropped into his hand by one of the little creatures- it looks as if something had tried to destroy it before it was retrieved. It reads, "Holiness can cure impurities." But nothing else remains

Toge: A plush panda. Size: A bit too big.

Irene: A tree branch reaches out to Irene and hands her a crumpled-up piece of paper reading "SECRET! GO TO UR ROOM :)" If she goes to her room, there's another crumpled-up piece of paper that says, "Secret!! I'm closer than you think! :)"

Rennuid:

Natsuno: A book titled How To Leave: Quitting the City and Coping with a New Reality, which has a sticky note on the inner cover reading "I don't think I can send you back alive since you're legally dead :O"

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Comments

[succiduous]

[Shut up girl you do not perceive him!]

I merely think that banking on wishing instead of trying to attain one's goals themselves is wasted effort.

[...]

The lanterns are nice, at least. [He's getting ready to light his now.] I'm glad to see you back in one piece, by the way.

[amethystic]

( she totally perceives him. is he going to take the apple rose or not? terrible bird (affectionate).

felicity does chuckle a little though. )

Yeah. I like them. This isn't the first time the Shopkeeper- Heimr- had us make lanterns, too. The first time was to guide the Tr- Ydalir back to the Grove from within the fog. He had us hang them around the Grove.

( some might still be up, even. )

... Thanks, Gnosis. It wasn't fun, but... it's over with.

[succiduous]

[He harumphs.]

I hardly imagine it would be pleasant.

[But, he isn't the type to dwell on subjects that are clearly uncomfortable, so he's quick to move on. And yes he's taking the apple rose... sets it on the table next to him.]

Lanterns are a distinctly Higashian thing, where I'm from. I believe such practices are done in Yan as well, but don't quote me on that. We never did such things in Kjerag or Victoria, and my knowledge from there is particularly sparse.

[amethystic]

There's a lantern festival in a few different countries - different methods, too. It's interesting.

( were gnosis anyone else, she may drape herself over his shoulder by now, dangling like an amused cat. and for a moment, she is amused, ignoring the talk of her accident...

but then she frowns. )

Do you believe the journal?

[succiduous]

I'd prefer not to, but I don't think I have a choice in the matter. [He flips his wrist about.] There are too many coincidences, and I am not someone who believes entirely in "too many coincidences". At that point, a coincidence becomes mere fact, and the fact seems to be that at a certain point in the past, all of us were here.

Of course, whatever past life I lived here, I still somehow managed to grow up alongside Enciodes. [Eyeroll... he will never be free of that cat.] Is it a repeat of history, or merely someone knowing my own to write cryptic statements about the two of us? I'm more inclined to the former.

[amethystic]

Mm...

Honestly the lava game and the journal inspire the same amount of hate in me.

( ... that bad? but then, surely he can understand. the life she's described to him, verses one where she was beloved and saved... and in the end she has to lead the life of suffering instead. it wasn't fair.


and that is definitely, absolutely comparable to fucking the floor is lava but real. totes. )

... Some people are just meant to be with each other. That's not a bad thing, you know. Why... ( don't mind the devious grin- ) Some might even consider it romantic.

[succiduous]

[No, yeah, he gets it. He really does. —and then she says that and the feathers on his head fluff up. Gnosis immediately tries to save face and brushes them down.]

Some might. I am not that man.

[yes u r.]

I prefer to put stock more in the realistic and scientific, and not the cosmic, grand design of fate so often portrayed in fiction.

[Bro you personally know God. Shut up.]

[amethystic]

Fate's totally a thing, though! Not the same way it's portrayed but like, you gotta remember you are talking to a witch.

( she'd probably be more convincing if not for the shit-eating grin right now. but she does mean it! )

[succiduous]

That may be how it works where you're from, but it certainly doesn't apply to any Terran superstition — at least in a certifiably scientific method.

[See Fel you flustered him so he doesn't like fate anymore—]

[amethystic]

Ah, am I teasing too much...?