Jauhar The shifters have come together in an annual celebration of Serin, honoring their goddess as the day turns to night. Gathering in their tree-top canopies, they spend the evening crafting paper lanterns. This time is meant to be full of contemplation, as the lanterns represent their hopes and prayers. As the moon rises, the shifters also hang paper lanterns throughout the trees around their settlements, releasing them when the moon is at the highest point in the night sky. frozen.
Sol
Sol was bustling in the early morning. Even though the real celebration started that night, there was so much prepping to be done before anything was ready. Everyone volunteered to help out. Their goddess Serin was waiting for them and they only had until the sun began to dip out of sight before they had to be ready. The paper for the lanterns had to be dried, the wick for the candles needed readying, the food for the many many people in Jauhar needed making, and there was just too much to do.
Everyone in Sol was already halfway through preparations when the others of Jauhar began to funnel into the massive treetop village. It was only a matter of time before the people would be ready to make their owner lanterns, but in the meantime there would be feasting! The food vendors had prepared for the rush of people, the smells mixing in with the slight breeze high up in the trees as they opened up their stalls to anyone with coin to trade.
|| OOC || ||. Mini-Chapter 2: Festivals starts Tuesday, July 5th and will continue for approximately 3 weeks. ||. If your character is not signed up for their thread, they may not participate. You can PM Suhuba for late entries. ||. 7 posts will count as a req for growth as with all Metas, even with the open-ended style of this chapter. ||. Please limit to up to 3 posts between NPC posts (these should be spaced out by responses from others to your post, no needless posting just to get more points). In this meta, NPCs will post once a week. ||. Growths and character quests will be closed until the time the Meta ends. ||. If you have any questions, please post them in Meta FAQ thread.
Rishima's antennae gave a little twitch as he readied himself for an upcoming festival... though it wasn't the one that he'd been considering going to this year. He'd been thinking about going home to the Chibale Isles, to spend time with Aisha, among his sisters. The only thing that kept him from going was that it was the sort of festival that was only for those closely devoted to Aisha, those who followed the way of the Alkidike, which didn't include Gerraden who was more in touch with his Shifter side.
He didn't mind though, not when he'd heard about the Festival of Light and what it entailed. It was something that he wanted to be a part of. Helping to craft the lanterns that meant so much to not only the festival but to those who were crafting them. It was said that they were meant to fill the lanterns with their hopes and prayers, something that Rishima was only too happy to do. Here was to hoping that the festival went swimmingly and the lanterns brought the prayers of those gathering for the festival to Serin.
Once he was ready he moved to find Gerraden, wondering if he was ready to go as well.
Orpheus Solon
Stellar Dragon
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Orpheus Solon
Stellar Dragon
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:35 am
Lixes - Post 1
Lixes was scrambling to find his brother, excited to drag Drexl off to the festival even if it wasn't quite the 'right' festival per say. The two of them were a mix of a lot of different tribes and yet they were going to be celebrating a festival that didn't involve any of those tribes. It was actually rather funny to the blond boy. He could only hope that Drexl found the same sort of amusement in it that he did.
Upon spotting his dark haired brother Lixes quickened his steps, rushing over to his side. As he got close he did his best to come to a sliding halt next to him... only to fail and completely crash into him. It was something that caused him to give a little chuckle before he said, "Oops! Sorry about that Drexl." He said, giving a grin, before he took a step back, looking from side to side, "No sign of any other members of our Adventure Group, huh? Well we will keep an eye out for them while we go make lanterns! It's going to be so much fun!"
He took a couple steps forward before he turned around again and gave a grin, "Come on! It will be a ton of fun to be Shifters for a festival, I promise."
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:51 am
Kalliope Post 1
Talk of the festival from those within the small bandit group made the dancer suddenly realize the time of year. Kalli had thought about simply crossing the border to return to her own lands to watch the spectacle that she was used to. However, Zyan had convinced her to go with the rest of them to see the Shifter's display of lights. Had such a thing been suggested to her before then she would have asked why lights were so interesting but since she had spent more time in Jauhar she now understood. The natives worshiped Serin. Lights in the night were somehow symbolic to her.
So she ended up in Sol with some members of the group. Kalliope stood out like a sore thumb since she was an Oban among a crowd of mostly shifters. It made her a bit self conscious but the girl wasn't about to let that put a hamper on her experience. She wanted to see what it was that her friend claimed was so magical.
Ikuri was forced take a break from work-- her boss encouraged her to go out and relax and what better way to relax than traveling out of Zena? Sure the creeping heat felt lovely, but she had other plans in mind. She had decided to go to Jauhar after hearing some shifter customers talk about a celebration and whenever the occasional shifter stopped by the tavern and talked about their misadventures and what not, they described the forest she saw in her foggy memory-- it resembled Jauhar's flora. So she dared to go there, she dared to see if it helped satisfy her curiosity and if it didn't, well... she'd go back to the life she'd been building up on her own. She looked around her new environment with curious eyes. Compared to Zena, it was different-- the smells, the environment, their way of living, their features (with the exception of her crystals) which matched with hers. Of course she didn't expect it to be the same but… She really didn't expect to be so shocked because of them. Maybe it was the lack of snow? Oh well, she was excited for the event and couldn’t hide away such glee.
Ikuri was excited to partake in the festivities, from what she's heard so far it seemed fun and important-- more important than fun but it didn't mean she couldn't enjoy herself, or enjoy her stay with an empty stomach! While she aimlessly navigated through the treetop village, Ikuri looked through the stalls to see what the sellers were offering. Good thing she had proposed herself to spend the money on important things first and later on things she wanted.
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Open to any interaction with this bundle of sunshine emotion_kirakira
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:04 pm
Xilarn Post: 1
"...Why am I not surprised," Xilarn grunted passively as he watched a young, grey-skinned woman hang long sheets of a thin, papery cloth from a low-hanging branch. She dusted the ends of it, before turning to collect another strand. As she did, she caught him staring (glowering), and her work ceased in its entirety. She flushed, then scurried quickly back into her nearby cottage. Not as much could be said for the great array of other Shifters that continued to go about their festival chores as Xil maneuvered through the canopy branches of Sol.
Out of an Oban festival and almost immediately into a Shifter one. Or it felt as such, anyway. It had been a few weeks and several hundred miles, anyway. At least the Shifters here weren't as ostentatious with their get-togethers as Obans were. There was only the dull hum of muted chatter at this hour, with the quiet whisper of wind through leaves and the chirp of insects that nested lower in the trees. Despite Xilarn's deep disinterest in fairs of any kind, this didn't actually seem to be the worst celebration he'd ever attended.
There wasn't as much yelling going on. That was always a plus.
And he did expects Sol's residents to have a reason for this particular festival. He wasn't especially familiar with it, himself, but that seemed like something that could be remedied if he only bothered to ask. Which he didn't. No one bothering anyone else was likely the best way to go about the whole process.
The bigger of the two youths stumbled slightly. He chuckled when he heard his brother, turning he smiled brightly. He was looking forward to the festival even if they weren't even 1/5 Shifter. It was a welcoming community when they got there. He nodded. "You think we would of seen at least Jerami. He is back in town with his family..."
Not that Drexl was hunting for information...maybe. He started to walk with his brother. "I know. You've never failed in your promises before."
Orpheus Solon
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:31 pm
Ruelash (Post 1) ~~~~~~~~~~
Ruelash was not comfortable here, amidst so many people. Too many people, not enough rows - without the element of the tournament, he would much rather have been padding around the jungle hunting massive, fangy beasts than sit around here amidst all this... this. But he couldn't get out of it now - he couldn't leave Volkarosh alone in this place. It just wouldn't be right.
He watched her, partially envious but mostly confused at how easily the girl took in the festival around her and maneuvered through the crowds. She was always so confident in these sorts of situations. "Hey Volka," he said to her, managing a grin even though he felt like his skin was prickling and tensing like meat over a fire. "So What do ya wanna do here?" She could lead the way.
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Ruelash (And Volkarosh) are up for interaction and would love to start a fight, especially.
Volka's father was in Chibale. Volka's mother and brother were doing their own thing. This left Volkarosh only one choice of companion to take her to the festival, and that was who she was with. Uncle Lashy would never be her first choice of companion - for hunting or bandit-slaying, maybe, but not for a big festival. She could see how on-edge he was, his nerves frayed by the amiable chaos around him. Volka wished she could tell the scarred assassin that there was no danger here, but she wasn't sure herself. Danger, after all, lurked in the unlikeliest of places.
"Hmm?" she looked at him, assessing. To be honest, the young hybrid wasn't sure where to go first - the food stalls? The games? The merchant stands? Just sitting back and watching the people? In truth, though, she had to think about what he, the ice man, would like too. She had to take care of him. "How about we just walk around a little more?" she offered, "I want to see all that they have before I pick something..."
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Again, open for interaction. Ruelash is with her so expect some growliness!
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:46 pm
Biroki (Post 1) ~~~~~~~~~~
Biroki, as befitted his higher rank in the tribe, was busy managing people amidst the busy festival. He'd volunteered to help with the other volunteers, and that job did not simply end when the festivities began. If anything, it became more hectic.
He lit a few guttered-out lanterns with a flick of his wrist and a whisper of magic before turning to the latest urgent task... "Is that stall open yet?!" he asked, glaring at an empty stall claiming to sell headresses, "Find someone to man it! We can't have it stay empty!" That would not look good at all, not when the festival bustled all around them and foreigners were in their midst.
For the moment, he was the only one free to man it. Thus, did the short-haired, modest Biroki come to man a headdress stall in the midst of the chaotic festival. Donning something too outrageous to even really consider and praying to Serin that this would only be temporary, he sent a volunteer off to rouse the actual owner of the stall and got ready to try his best at selling... these things. The look on his face spoke volumes.
Ikkio generally loved this festival - it was so bright and well lit, all the better for nefarious things in the shadows. No one expected such things to happen in the light.
Not that she was actually up to anything. There wasn't anything to be up to really, just healing and feasting and wandering around, watching people. That was it. It wasn't nothing, certainly, with all the outlanders and hybrids walking around, and it was interesting to a degree. But Ikkio needed more than degrees. She needed fun. She'd helped with the planning of the festival to an extent, had toyed with a few people on the planning and construction committees, but now there was little to amuse her.
"Well, Zumurundi, It looks like father's put up his little lanterns, hmm?" she said scornfully, stroking the radaku that paced by her side. He was alert but relaxed; not as bored as she was, that was for sure. That gave her hope - Zumurundi, clever beast that he was, was sure to find something interesting in this festival. Or at least someone she could amuse herself with for a time.
And she had nothing against the lanterns themselves. But they had been such a pain to dry and make, and her father had made such a fuss over them. Such pains in the bum. "I hope that they aren't all there is to the..." she paused in her murmured monologue to the radaku. "What is it?"
He had perked up, his whole body at attention, before he suddenly Whuffed and trotted off nimbly into the crowd. Intrigued, Ikkio followed him...
imaginationsparadise
On my way to you for our grand reunion thing, but giving other ppl a chance to talk to ikuri instead...
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:55 pm
SwordOfTheDarkOnes
Lixes - Post 2
Giving a thoughtful sound Lixes said, "Well, I guess it depends, right? I mean it's up to his family huh? You said something about him running off with his sisters, right? He might be in trouble... I mean just imagine what might have happened if the two of us had run off to Oba? Can you imagine what our fathers would have done?" Just the thought of it was enough to scare Lixes a bit, not wanting to be a part of anything that would anger their fathers... especially the smaller of the two.
Giving his brother a pat on the back he said, "Come on! Perk up and let's get moving. I'm sure if he gets himself permission to come to the celebration that we will find him. I mean he does stand out a bit with those looks of his." He was always in fancy, fluffy clothing from what he'd seen of him so surely they would spot him if he showed up?
"Come on! Let's go, let's go!" He took hold of his brother's hand, dragging him forward along toward where others were gathered, "We should help with making the laterns! Let's make lots of them, enough for all of our family members, even those that are... you know, no longer with us. Let's send wishes and prayers up for everyone, Drexl!"
Orpheus Solon
Stellar Dragon
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Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:09 pm
Talisia - 1
It was such a beautiful day. Since coming back to Jauhar Talisia had found herself getting back into the swing of the rainforest life. No more desert sand to sting at her face, but instead a gentle rain to wake her up most mornings and evenings. They were fortunate - today was the festival and it seemed that even the weather was being obedient to the wishes of the gods.
She had only seen the lanterns once before and this time she felt a bit nervous. What did one hope and pray for? A better future? The hybrid glanced shyly over towards where her twin was browsing through a merchant's stall. The food there smelled delicious, but the girl was hesitant. Was it truly alright to enjoy today just like this? It still felt so odd knowing that she had her twin back at her side...and not only that he was a mage. Two mages... She sighed quietly under her breath. Who would have ever thought that her anti-magic feelings would become ensnared not only by her twin, but also by their childhood friend?
Speaking of Eresin...Talisia frowned as she glanced around. Was he not here yet?
Sin of Qurupeco
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:14 pm
Kian - 1
Life was definitely an unexpected journey. Kian still couldn't believe that his twin was so accepting of him - of course he had received several bruises on their first meeting - but now it seemed that he could even walk next to her without a problem. Still, his past actions did haunt him at times and the male had to wonder exactly how long this peaceful charade would keep up. Training to become a mystic had it's perks, but even Kian wondered how much his mentor would handle should his side activities ever come to light. Not that Nerio didn't realize his past...
"Food, foood." Murmuring such a thing like a spell under his breath Kian began to browse through the stalls. It was time to find something delicious! As if to attest to the thought his stomach let out a soft rumble. "Time to eat..." Now what would Tally enjoy the most? Peeking over his shoulder, Kian grinned at the sight of his twin shifting around the crowd. Talk about looking out of place. The thought both saddened and amused him. Was it truly so weird for her to be in such a crowd?
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
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Miss Chief aka Uke
Rainbow Fairy
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 7:32 pm
Fluffesu
Damissan | 1
Damissan couldn’t have asked for better.
He hadn’t been expecting it, of course. Of all the things he might have anticipated from the wild savages of a jungle landscape, food and festivities were not exactly among them. Well, food perhaps. But not quite like this. And not so appetizing in aroma. Mud huts plastered into the trees and scantily clad women who smelled of jungle oil. That had been expected.
This was something else altogether, and he didn’t waste the opportunity. His eyes darted everywhere, and his mouth wasn’t far behind where applicable: “What’s this?” and “Where are these from?” and “Did you make that? How?”
Oba’s festivals were grander, to be certain, and he felt a pinch of nostalgia for the great parade that might soon be underway in his own homeland—but, having just come from an Oban tournament, he didn’t feel he was missing too terribly much. And this was a new experience.
After having pestered at least half again as many locals as he had fingers with his questions, Damis took it upon himself to buy the nearest edible that both looked and smelled the part—and then proceeded immediately to seek out and promptly drape half of himself over his ‘guardian’s’ back. “You look as warm and pleased with it all as you generally do—perhaps even more pleased than normal. Have you been to one of these before?”
