A busling of activity, soquili and familiars working together as they set up tents and strange wood and rope structures in the nearby field, strange wheeled vehicles pulled by bison and Soquili unloaded, their pullers taking a quick break as they laughed merrily together as they stretched their muscles and worked out the kinks and sores in their bodies.
Musicians warmed up as tents were set up in the early morning light, and one of the raccoons spot you from their set up booth, motioning you toward them eagerly with a bright sparkle in their eyes.
"What's going on?" You'd been traveling through this area before, the spot a neutral spot between two local herds, whom now you recognize are helping with the 'invasion'.
"The Great Lapsang War!" The Raccoon laughed at your confusion, "its a faire and marketplace, only here for this month for all who know -- I'm surprised you haven't heard the advertisements. We're the Traveling Reenactment Faire, a place of history, fairytales, and goods from far away lands. You should start gathering some valuables for barter. We'll be gone when the month is up, and wont return for at least four years..." They smiled softly, stroking the elaborately embroidered silks under their fingers, "Though We have a map of our schedule if you can't make it to this one -- if you start now you might catch us in our next spot...."
Looking closer at the booths, watching the jugglers practice and the merchants already starting to flash their wares at new arrivals, your heart soars as your eyes sparkle. Soquili and familiars, venturing out and meeting new people, selling their fortunes. You'd always been a wanderer, but before you had always been alone, unsure of where to go. But this... This place felt strangely like a place you could call home.
"All I have to barter is my services." You take a deep breath, turning your attention back to the seamstress, "How can I be of help?"
The Seamstress laughs merrily, gesturing one of the soquili taking a break from hauling over, "Here, they'll show you around and give you a job if you want it. If you enjoy yourself and prove yourself good of heart, perhaps you'll earn your fortunes and see the world with us.. If it is in your wishes to do so."
Joining the smoke haired soquili, you beam excitedly as venture into the wonderful chaos that was the heart of The Traveling Reenactment Faire.
If you wish to be added to the mailing list, please post the following
[align=center][size=18][b][color=tan]MIND: I wanna be part of the Mailing list![/color][/b][/size][/align] [quote="Mindsend"][/quote]
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 4:19 pm
Recent Meta and Announcements
Quote:
11/16/15: Sending a Ping to all existing members/even if part time so you guys can help post ideas and look this over so we can get this set up for officially turning into an IT! If you have a way you wish to help out, please tell me how!
Have news to add to the announcement or a Group Meta you'd like to add? Please use the form for it in the posts below.
Rules for Joining •Familiars and Soquili are Equal in this herd: Both are just as viable of an RP character here and are welcome to join! And this includes all soquili (excluding Skinwalkers (For obvious reasons), from Usdia to Angeni, and most Familiars. Mers, Seathi, and fully aquatic familiar species such as Dolphins and seals Cannot be part of the nomadic group due to transportation issues. However These aquatic breeds may join in the 'home base' area, due to their winter home being by a small lake, and they could be members who collect or even farm fish for the fair and are met up by the transportation scouts to take it back to be fed upon by fish eating members of the troupe and guests. • Ponies that join do not need to be Lapsang • No Openly Evil Characters may join, and they will be eventually found out. • Your character does not need to necessarily have a job in the fair: they can be part of a family, or simply only help with transportation between fairs or with claiming and restoring land before and after.
Visiting Character Rules • Herds who are currently hosting them get free entry, even during the set up, and get to go to the behind the scenes areas and see how the magic is done if they so desire! • No predation: No hunting of any sort is allowed on the grounds except by members of the troupe, and even then it is only on non-spirit touched non-familiar creatures. There is free, basic food provided, and one can trade/use the in Faire Currency gained by trading for it at specific booths to purchase more exotic prepared foods. • There are Latrines. Use it, not the walkways, booths, or battleground. • Confirmed thieves will be stripped of any valuables found on them and escorted out of the faire. No, We don't care if you claim you came with it, since we can't identify what you may have taken from other patrons as well as the shops, anything not literally pierced into you will be claimed for the lost and found until the end of the event. Only then, if you can describe the lost items well enough and they haven't been claimed by the actual owners, will you have a chance to get them back.
Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 4:49 pm
The Backstory/Origin
The "Lapsang Valley" was in the Eastern mountain range, up in one of the valley's shielded off before the Crisis in Gigage Awoyeni Opened up the Hippogryph and Ulun'suti lands, is a valley Kingdom dominated by Suti mixes, so bred out of the elemental blood that they no longer hold the actual powers and will often have a secondary elemental trait(typically Wood scales similar to pinecones, though other types of scales do show up, like rock/gem, different types of wood, etc.), and all had Either Water manes that taste and scent faintly like tea/other lightly flavored beverages (Admittedly, its considered poor taste to go around drinking a tea mane, especially since it depletes it much like a hair cut would and takes time to grow back much like actual hair would, unlike the wind/water mists, shadow, and light ones.) or roll like fog, Wispy smokey licks of 'smoke' for wind (can also leave a faint taste on the tongue), or smokey shadows, light, or even on rare occasions fire. Smoke, water, and shadow are the most common, while fire and light are a bit on the rarer side.
Centuries ago, the widowed king of the time died before he could choose which one of his two twin sons, Lapsang and Souchong, would be his heir. While they first lead together, the new kings had different ideas and ideals for their people, and sides were taken until war broke out between them for the right to rule.
The Great Lapsang/Souchong civil war split the kingdom in half for decades, sometimes entire families splitting in the rift. Eventually a truce was called, and the kingdom was no more, gaining instead a council, with the two brothers, now older and tired and horrified about what their rivalry had done, sitting at either side of the council, more figureheads than leaders.
The majority of the "Lapsang Souchong" soquili in the Reenactment troupe come from this kingdom, centuries after: Now the territory is peaceful, but reenactment groups still common to keep the history alive. However since venturing out into the now open world, they adapted more, and were soon joined up with merchants , creating alliances that wished to send people out with their group since their reenactments drew soquili and familiars from the near by to watch, and thus created locations for barter with for their wares, and soon it became a full on renfair, reenacting stories from the history of the world beyond the great barriers and from the home land, of fairy tales and stories of their own creation, a mixing of cultures creating an eclectic and fun location for people to come and enjoy themselves: the exotic food, the entertaining shows, the lively marketplace, or even just the atmosphere and sites that only last a few weeks before they move on to the next show during the show season.
What is a Lapsang? What counts as a Lapsang? Thats Easy!
Smoke, Tea/water, Shadow and Mist are the most common, while light and fire are less common.
This is all that's required to be considered a Full blooded "Lapsang". They're relatively easy to get in customs, and any other trait is just icing, and hybriding is incredibly common amongst them so usually its just flowing elemental manes used as a reference.
Secondary Optional Traits
Scales that look as if they are made out of pinecones/pineneedles, woodbark, paper, Gemstones, wood, leaves.
Tertiary Optional Traits
Sometimes hybriding can take the form of the element as well, such as wings or fetlocks made out of the same element they own (Such as Smoke wings)
Hand claws are also fairly common.
Additional notes
Familiars with similar traits are lovingly dubbed "Souchongs", and are often considered related in spirit.
And of course, as a reminder, many members who are not lapsangs OR Souchongs joined the troupe OR part of the Lapsang original culture, so its a mixed group with few limitations on species, and mixed breeding is highly common -- Many Lapsangs are shown to have Kirin tails, Wind wings, Unicorn Horns, Cerynei traits, feathered-elemental manes etc.
Leadership The troupe is small enough that they can vote on a small council each year to act as managers for the troupe, as well as plan the themes for the next few years, and which Host herds to visit and whether or not a host herd is worth a second visit.
Kings, Queens, and Nobility While not actually leaders, and there are quite a few, Kings and Queens hold an important Role.
A King is male ( who takes turns with other "king of the day" stallions so they can take breaks: Though actually sometimes its kng of the festival or king of the week, sometimes they rotate daily so king of the day is often the term used since they can switch out when needed) that is given a regal looking garb when in character that watches over tournaments, knights guests (usually foals), announces the championship tournement along side the Queen of the day (as Queens are the female equivalent of Kings - Character actors with the same roles) as well as gives the rewards to the tournament winners, has a daily tea party with the Queen of the Day and guests who had signed up and paid to join the tea party, and mostly just wanders around with the Queen of the day greeting guests or having a tent they hang out with for simple portrait paintings with guests. They tend to be pretty jovial and friendly but also need to be pretty stately looking as well. DFAB Kings and DMAB Queens are 100% viable in their role, and not all Kings and Queens are Soquili. At Home base, Aquatics can also be visiting kings and queens, while on coastal faires they can act as the 'host'.
As the role rotates, and they often have it so the theme of the faire has multiple 'kingdoms', Kings and Queens can often take on other characters and roles, and sometimes for those who usually do more athletic shows get a minor injuries that prevent their more athletic performances but don't require them to go back to home base, they will often be dressed up as nobility. Some members will do this between shows as well to keep visitors entertained.
Kings, Queens, and the rest of the court Nobility do various things: Often times there is one set of King and Queen that act as the Primary host, while the other queens and Kings are from "other kingdoms" and have come to have their champions compete, or even fight in the 'war'. Some may host feasts, others tea parties and etiquette classes, others may visit with guests to sign signature books or have their portraits painted with guests or simply greet children who's birthday it is.
Often times areas will be scheduled to host a particular individual for however many hours to make any child who wishes it a knight, lord or lady of the land, and it's common practice to ask the child which they wish to be. Knight is considered Unisex, while lord and lady are gendered but it isn't second guessed when marked. A simple Woven Vine Crown is put on the heads of ladies, a kerchief around the neck of a Lord with the knot in the front to make it a sort of miniature caplet, and a flimsy sword made of dried grapevines given to knights. Children can return the next day and get another item, or can purchase more elaborate toys and accessories, so it is not uncommon to see a Lady Knight or a Lady who is also a Lord.
Security, safety, and management Security teams, fire management, and refilling tends to be strong, fast, and big enough to handle issues, and trained in forms of martial arts to allow them to stop individuals without physically harming them beyond bruises.
Some of the most important members of the troupe are "Spotters", members of the security team that are specifically sharp eyed flying familiars, primarily raptors -- they both fly around and rest on perches set high in centralized areas, keeping an eye on activity, and wear pouches with balls made out of powdered dyes inside they can carefully pluck out with their beaks and place in their hands, along with boxes built into the perches run up by familiars such as Raccoon and Squirrels that keep them dry and allow them to refill. When they spot an issue, they ring the warning bell and shout a coded message known by members of the security team to prevent from worrying visitors, and, if its an issue with an individual, before they ring the bell and shout the warning they will swoop down and smack the intruder on the rump with the highly metallic powdered dyes, staining their rump with the brilliant red, and black if the thief is red. The dyes shine bright in the sun, filled with mica to make it sparkle like glitter, and is difficult to get out of the fur, so makes a thief easy to spot.
The messages start with a phrase meaning the issue, and the location -- sometimes also coded.
A few of the most common examples of issues. "Sun resting on" Means there is an unexpected Fire. "painted Lady/Sir thinks us a Fool In" means a thief has actively taken something "Dawning of a New Day at" Means a someone has gone into labor "Long Day at the Tavern for" Means that one of the Drink stalls is running low on supplies "The feast runs thin for" Means a food vendor is running out of supplies "A Green River Flows in" means someone is visibly ill "A Foul mistake at" means someone didn't quite make it to the latrines "The Duel starts at midday" means there a fight broke out "Mud on the ground" Means someone is bleeding. "The Winds Whistle" means a bad storm has been spotted in the distance "The Queen/Nation Weeps for" Means someone has either past out (queen) or seems to have died (nation) and are in need of immediate medical attention. "Baby In" means someone fell asleep in the open
Entertainment
Minor entertainments are like jugglers, characters in the main streets, street musicians, entertainment booths, games,and activities, etc.
Major entertainment tends to be stage shows (Musical, storytelling, plays, stunt shows, etc) that may happen either a couple times per day, once per day, once every other day, or only on certain days of the week
Because of this teachers for crafts, barkers for games, singers, musicians, actors, stunt performers, acrobats etc are very important roles
Merchants
Sales people for finished goods
Vendors
Cooks and drink makers, waitstaff and those who can sell ready to eat or drink beverages.
Craftsmen and Artisans
People who make the things to sell
Medical
Doctors, midwives, healers, shamans
Scouts/Advertisers
As titled. these members look for new herds to host them in future years and advertise current and future fairs.
Rides
Strong individuals that work well with childen and groups can work with powering the rides.
Stagecraft
Building sets and costumes!
Behind the Scenes
Repair, food prep, daycare, sanitation, management, etc.
Transportation and Delivery
Quick individuals capable of carrying loads either by wing, foot, or by raft
Reenactors
Historians, actors, and warriors, reenactors retell stories and recreate old battles and wars for educational and entertainment purposes, and explain the history of an event so history is not lost or repeated.
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 11:41 am
Additional Information Home Base
A better map with a zoomed in section to show details to come
After about a full year of traveling, the herd will often take a year off to head back to "Home Base" -- an area to the north of the Kawani village, where they can restock, think of the next years theme, and practice new routines. Some members stay here year round, and because of that there tends to be a permanent, if lighter faire here as they try out new ideas and do dry runs to gauge audience reactions and get feedback on how to improve themselves. Here they have extensive farm lands, and can spend time with their aquatic members.
Members with injuries that prevent them from acting in the faire or helping out will often be sent back to home base so they can rest and recover without injuring themselves further, as the nomadic lifestyle can be hard on the body.
Host Herds As the herd is primarily nomadic in nature, they are highly dependent on sending scouts out to find herds that have plenty of land and access to fresh water near by that they can set up at. These host herds are not only given free and unfettered access to the faire (except where their presence might be a danger to them), but are offered their own trading booths and spots in the fair to let others learn about them.
Location Limitations
As they have some Kelpi members, and it is difficult to transport their items over sands, they are limited to areas outside the desert (Though the badlands are perfectly accessible) and tend to stay out of the rougher terrain of the higher mountains. They additionally need a location with at least a moderate amount of cleared space for a full fair (the campgrounds and marketplace can be in the woods, shows and rides need small clearings, the tournaments require a slightly larger clearing to host it and allow individuals to watch it and the battlegrounds requires a mostly cleared field with only a few smattering of trees at most)
Smaller faires without the Reenactment fields can be hosted however.
Preparations The first wave of the troupe arrive up to three months before the rest of the group arrives, Most often with their hippogryph members, River otter, and Raccoon members. This team will, with the guidance of the Host herd, clear out scrub. brambles, poisonous weeds and, when allowed, take down what trees the herd will allow them to take, cutting them down and even digging up their roots to not only create space for the fair, but provide wood for the cooking fires and for the wood workers to have to repair wooden things damaged in the time and have wood to whittle and carve into various forms of artwork.
They are conservative with what they tear up and dig out and have ways to renew the land afterwards.
This is also the time they start digging latrines for the faire.
Transportation to and from With such a large and mixed group, transportation is just as varied!
The most common transportation is by foot or wing, while carrying large packs to transport items.
The second most common is that of the native american Travois, with the assistance of Raccoon allowing Soquili, bison, Wolves, pronghorns and other descent sized four legged members to pack some tent fabric and materials while using the poles used to hold the tents up as a way to drag it safely behind them and even provide a place to rest for smaller familiars. This is usually coupled with the larger saddlebags and packs.
The least common, but often times most iconic, form of transportation comes from the words of soquili who came on the "big Ships" to crafty familiars striving to recreate the common figure of their ancestral home: Wagons. Simple covered Wagons and the more heavily decorated Vardo style wagons, despite only being few in number and coming from the Raccoons of the tribe (though some wagons have been traded for by soquili and bison to own themselves, have become something of a symbol of the faire, drawing curious soquili in, as well as one of the best ways for them to transport the heavier items for some of their members.
The Faire itself
Map of the basic faire layout will go here -- they aren't exactly the same in each location but they do tend to set them up to have a similar layout whenever possible.
The Faire tends to take about five weeks
The first week they set up and have a soft start as they advertise. The marketplace is opened first, as well as some of the food vendors, and local merchants are able to purchase spots during this time and locals can begin to figure out what they wish to buy. Entry is free during this time period, as it is only the market place and not the full fair (the Marketplace remains open to the public throughout the fair). Smaller 'pay per use' or busking (Street Performance style, often with a tip jar) entertainments may be available at this time, such as fortune telling and juggling acts. During this time the Maypole is erected, but not woven.
The faire opens with the weaving of the Maypole, the first official show of the fair involving music, singing, whooping cries, and dancing.
Then for three weeks the full fair goes on, with the Rides, Full shows, major venues and, when available, either the Reenactment War or a massive LARP (Live Action Role Play) campaign.
After that, a week is used to take everything down all at once, the fair officially closed, though some merchants will take down their booths and still barter and trade items from blankets if they're local merchants.
Fair well Ceremony
After getting all packed up and ready to go, the troupe will host a fair well ceremony between them and members of the host herd and any visitors that volunteered to help with the packing or might be planning on joining the troupe.
Everyone is passed out a basket of a size they can manage filled with seeds of barley, Grass, Chia, oats, non-poisonous wildflowers, and alfalfa, and will sprinkle the land with it to help encourage regrowth after all the foot traffic, and provide their hosts land with fresh food to eat in the coming years, together as a group. They will also plant saplings to replace any cut down by them. Fruiting plants, such as apples, are preferred for planting to continue to help their host flourish afterwards.
If a host herd had a particularly good location, and wishes for the troupe to return, they will do so after at least four years time, and will plant the trees accordingly, as well as send members regularly to help with the upkeep of the area, as well as the harvesting of the foods. This way they don't strain the grounds for their allies, and gives the troupe more exposure to different locations. Some herds may send a member to join them as an ambassador or merchant and send their trade goods to them. Because of this, the Reenactment Faire Troupe is in many ways an alliance of many herds
The Kingdoms The number of Kingdoms differ depending on the fair: Usually tend to be a minimum of two Kingdom, and a Maximum of Ten.
The tale of Warring Brothers: Lapsang And Souchong connected heavily with their history. This was how the fair started out back when it was just reenacting their history as a historical group. These are heavier themed, and tend to be a lot more serious in nature.
Battle of the Trinity: Air, Land, and Sea. Description to come soon
Gathering of the Cardinal Kingdoms : North, South, East and West Description to come soon
The Kingdoms of Wu Xing:(Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) Also known as the Wu Xing Kingdoms, the five kingdoms are as follows: the Forested Kingdom of Mu who dress in Greens and browns and woodsy fairyland themes with their court decorated almost as if the visitor has been shrunken (with the use of prop giant mushrooms, grass, and oversized props), the Desert Kingdom of Hui who dress in Reds and golds with fiery desert themes and silks and a court full of pillows and stained glass lights, The Mountainous Kingdom Tu who dress in cool greys and furs accented with a rainbow of colors, gems and polished stone work decorating them and their court, the Industrious Jin Kingdom who distinguish themselves with metallic hues and armor and elaborate metalwork, and the Coastal Kingdom of Shui who dress in Bright blues, blue greens, and sandy browns, their people and court adorned in flowers, shells, pearls, with wispy aqua fabrics and faux tidepools, coral reef, and tropical fish decorations.
Improvements are done to shows, construction and repairs are made, farming intensifies, trade and stockpiling of material increases, and life, in general, goes on like a normal herd would. Some may wander the lands looking for inspiration for their trade or to advertise, others may host stores in other parts of the land. Some may go back to their home herd to visit family.
During the rest years, they often spend time with their aquatic members who were gathering materials and trading while they were gone, letting them rest and be involved in the merriment, as well as making sure to give them important roles in the harvest season fair hosted every year, even during the active years where part of the troupe is off in other parts of the Kawani lands.
On the Road
Wagons, travois, and packs put on those that can carry or pull, while others walk, and some may even ride to the next location. Focus is mostly on getting there as quick and safe as possible to keep up with the schedule but have members safe. Warriors and bodyguards scatter throughout the caravan to keep it safe from bandit or skinwalker attack. Before sunfall, the wagons are circled and packs unloaded within the circle, and members rest and graze. The next day, fresh individuals take the loads to keep from overworking the muscle..
During fairs
In the public eye
Just read everything else in this thread and you'll have a good idea!
behind the scenes
Behind the scenes, parents raise children, food is provided for workers, people take their shifts, children play, actors practice their line, lovers court, children are born, carpenters do repairs, quarrels occur, and life goes on as it would in any herd.
A few differences to most herds:
Free meals are provided for members of the troupe from a series of tents -- usually leftovers from earlier in the day or the night to allow those who do not work in the feast business as actors to be able to enjoy the same sort of faire as their customers, but for free.
Bets are placed in pools based on common events during the fair: Comments asking if unrelated individuals are siblings, individuals offering kisses and "other things" more for their own benefit as payment for items to attractive merchants, people asking if untagged things are for free, whether or not and how many groupies certain popular and attractive actors might gain during a fair or follow them around like lovesick puppies as they travel from place to place, etc. Depending on the pool, they might be daily, weekly, or fair long.
In general
Life can be fairly normal life as a herd... As least as normal as a closely knit herd full of historians, actors, stunt performers, singers, muscians, merchants, craftsmen, and those who simply live with them without any sort of useful trait other than love and support can be.
Life is a renfair! A mixture of cultures, and adding new members, the troupe culture is slowly evolving over time into new forms.
Cultural origins of different majorities of the Troupe.
Lapsang Souchong Kingdom May eventually develop an actual Kingdom and will link to its IT thread
Until then, information of Modern Kingdom will go here.
As-gi-ti-s-di A-i-sv (Dream Walk) Village (Prounounced Roughly as "Aski-steesdee Ah-eesav") Despite being a small Eastern familiar village in the foothills (compared to some larger entirely familiar populated villages), Dreamwalk Village is prosperous, filled with artisans, farmers, and merchants. They are named due to their naming traditions: When parents are trying to have children or the mother is pregnant, the parents keep track of their dreams during this time period, and name their children based on the dreams they had.
Some may go to a Dreamwalker (A Shaman trained in lucid dreaming) instead, either because they prefer the shaman's aide, wish to have the names narrowed down, or simply because neither parent can remember their dreams.
Because of this, majority of members of the village tend to have atypical names compared to many of the Kawani names, given names such as "The Sun Never Sets", "Can't See the Forest", "Running River", etc. They often go by shortened nicknames (Sunny, Forest, River). Though dreaming about an individual can result in the child gaining their name -- so a friend of Yilmaz may dream of him, and then name their son after him, but often times they will ask for the meaning of their friends name and name them after the translation (Example : A dream of Yilmaz Duman could result in a child either named Yilmaz, Duman, or Unshakable Smoke)
Members of the village hold dreams to high importance, and will frequently have their dreams interpreted by the Dreamwalkers. Otherwise, they're a fairly standard group.
Badieh Badawie Some members of the troupe were picked up from Badawie trade groups that discovered them when they rested on a trading post on the inside inside of the eastern mountains between the mountains and the desert, and eventually members joined them to act as representatives and merchants for the different herds and businesses.
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:59 pm
Main Venues Currency You can Barter for the different coins at many currency exchange booths with items. Even though the coins are designed specifically for the fair, they can be used elsewhere since they are actual coins. They are given out in strings and have holes built into them when minted.
Bit: are the most common currency, and are copper coins. 29 Bits in a Brand Brand: Smaller coins made out of silver with a symbol of smoke branded on to it. 17 Brands to a Spade Spade: A larger coin made in the shape of a spade made out of silver.
Many (though not all) merchants also accept Bells as currency, since some members of herd come from the Badieh Badawie culture of the desert.
Marketplace
The Marketplace is open to all, and where you can your entry bands to venture around the rest of the fair. This is where most of the vendors are located, though the workshops tend to be within the faire itself
Rides and Large Activities
Most Rides are pay to use, but some things are free. Most rides are limited to Soquili foals, Usdia, and pronghorn and smaller familiars. The larger you are, the more the ride costs.
Saddleriders:1 bit for small familiars/Usdia Foal, 3 Bit for grown Usdia/mid sized familiars/fullsized foals- Bison and Large Draft soquili wear basket shaped saddles that the smaller members can sit on and be ridden around through the fair, and then set out on full speed in the areas reserved for them.
Wagon tales:3 bit for small familiars/Usdia Foal, 6 Bit for grown Usdia/mid sized familiars/fullsized foals, 1Brand for single average sized fullsize/Bison foal. - A team of soquili and/or bison pull one of the large covered wagons (now sans cover) used for transporting to and from the fair as a ride for a number of smaller members or a handful of mid sized members down a slow path pathway while a smaller familiar guide tells stories. During the day the tales are of fantastic fairy tales, but after dark stories of ghosts and wicked spirits are told by lantern light.
Dragonfire:3 bit for small familiars/Usdia Foal, 6 Bit for grown Usdia/mid sized familiars/fullsized foals - A large wooden 'bucket' sculpted and painted to look like a dragon that can be ridden down a zipline. Individuals with the ability to sit up and throw things can lob red and orange bean bags at targets as 'fireballs' at the flat wooden scene to knock them over for additional fun.
The Wilde Boar:3 bit for small familiars/Usdia Foal, 6 Bit for grown Usdia/mid sized familiars/fullsized foals, 1Brand for single average sized fullsize/Bison foal. - Set up much like a massive swing, the ropes across the massive wooden pole meet in the middle then go down as one before spreading out once more at four sides of a massive wooden 'bucket' sculpted to look like an angry boar. After the four foals (or single average sized fullsized adult at four times the cost) settle in, a team swings the boar back and forth, getting it up to speed, then set it spinning wildly as it swings back and forth.
Carousel:3 bit for small familiars/Usdia Foal, 6 Bit for grown Usdia/mid sized familiars/fullsized foals, 1Brand for single average sized fullsize/Bison foal. Set up on a big wheel on a 'track', with each seat (bucket seats similar to many other rides, sculpted into things like dragons, phoenixes, big ships, gryphons, boars etc) Attached to a post in the center holeover the middle most track, which has bumps on it specifically to make the seat bump up and down. Guests sit in it and then the team running the ride shoulder the poles that make the big wheel spin and make the riders rotate around the central post, making the ride spin slowly as the musician raccoon on the center post plays a merry song on their instrument.
The Marvelous Maze/Maize:Free! - While it is not officially a "ride", when space is available a Free fabric maze is made to guests to venture through with paintings of fantastic scenes and monsters painted through out to navigate through should they desire. At home base, their field of corn is actually grown to allow for a maze in the maize, and thus the name is adjusted to allow for the pun.
Pirates Cove:Free! - While it is not officially a "ride", when space and resources are available a pool is created using the local water source to allow individuals to cool off in the water and play with pirate themed items, as well as buckets and sponges used for throwing ''water' at each other, specifically set aside to keep individuals from spoiling the water supply.
Castle Raid:Free! Smaller members only - A playground built up for the young (and smaller members who are young at heart) to explore and play in.
Games and Small Activities
Games are usually payed for, while activities are usually free unless otherwise stated
Vegetable Justice:3 bit per over ripe tomato: As supplies last - Either chucking by paw or placing them in a sling and pulling the flexable wood its attached to back with your teeth, try to hit the heckling 'criminal' in the stockade with an over ripe tomato!
Shatter the platter: 7 Bits per plate or 1 Brand for Five: As supplies last - Cast aways and failures from the potters (and broken pieces from some of the finer meals) Are offered to be fully smashed by guests in this location.
Creativity Corner:Free! - Aimed mostly at children, though adults are also welcome, this both has art supplies available for anyone to make, often times with some example projects and individuals to help one get used to the tools or assist with creation. Sometimes they host themed crafts, such as making
Signature Hunt:Simple book is free. Designer books differ per design - Children are given a free 'book' of paper loosely bound for costumed characters to sign. Children can either keep the books as a souvenir, or they can turn them in at the booths where the scavenger hunt list is. The more signatures you get from the characters, the more 'tickets' you get for one of the prizes.
The completed signature books turned in are bound up like one of the designer books and sold as completed as a souvenir for those who wish to have the signatures to take home, but couldn't find everyone. These versions also have sketches of the characters added to them.
Try on Armor:Free! - Try on Real types of different armor, as well as some costumes. You can't leave with them, but there is a mirror set up to allow you to see how you look in them.
Knighting Ceremony:Free for children! - One of the Queens or Kings Will give the child an option to be dubbed a knight, a lord, or a lady, and will knight them. A vine crown is given to ladies, a Kerchief tied in front to make a little cape for lords, and a Dried Grapevine Braided to create a "Sword" for knights will be given to them..
Knock Over the Bottles:3 bits per play -- three tries per play! - Either chucking with your paws or putting in the sling, try to knock over the wooden bottles to win a prize!
Ball cups:3 bits per play! - Try to get one of your balls into the cups -- The color of the cup dictates your prize!
Duck Dunking:3 bits per play! - Dunk your head into the bucket and pull out one of the floating duck toys inside. The color on the bottom of the duck dictates what prize you get! Unmarked ducks are prizes in themselves.
Services
Many services are made available for purchase throughout the faire and marketplace, and prices vary.
Fortune Teller(s):Depends on reading - Fortune telling can be as elaborate as a full tent with full services from a dedicated fortune teller, to simple readings given by a few of the merchants or witches. There are a few small booths dedicated soully to palm reading for those with palms (such as Raccoon, Otters, birds, and soquili with 'hands' on their wings or tails) and some to hoofprint and pawprint reading, where its covered in paint and put on paper to read the markings it leaves.
Spells, Charms, and Blessings:Depends on service required - Witches, priests, and shamans may have their services purchased, and some may sell charms and spells pre-made, such as spell bottles, blessed amulets, the Ward for Evil eyes, etc. Black Magic is forbidden however, so no curses or hexxes cast (though they may be lifted and it can be offered to send them back to their originator)
Apothecary, Curandera, herbalists, and Midwives:Depends on service required - these areas sell remedies and cures to take back, and may even try and see if they can remedy diseases from their booth for preexisting illnesses. Sometimes these individuals travel outside of the faire as well, leaving assistants to run the booth as they go off to help people in the local area for free or a low cost.
Rose Water Wash:3 bits for hands/feet of small individuals (Usdia down), 7 bits for hooves/paws of larger individuals, 14 bits for a feet, head, and back of smaller individuals, 1 Brand for feet, head and back of average sized larger individuals, 2 brand for Larger members feet, heads, and back - Cool water scented with Rose petals is used to wash the dust and grime from ones hooves, hands, and lower legs for the lower prices, and head and back/sides for a higher cost, to help one cool off and get rid of the grime kicked up by the traffic in the faire, before being lightly pat and rubbed dry with warmed towels. Several of these stations are set up in multiple points of the faire.
Shows/Entertainment
Most of the shows are free but within the area one must pay to go into, while minor entertainments may venture in the areas open to all such as the marketplace
Shows
Opening Ceremony: The first true show is also the one used to open up the main part of the faire up, the official start of the faire in all its Glory. Music, singing and dancing around the maypole symbolizing the four groups that make up the Traveling Reenactment Faire (The original symbol a Spear with a pennant with the logo of the lapsang war, the flowers of clearspring Valley, the bells of the the desert, and the tradition of Dreamwalk Village to weave maypoles for important events as a sign of welcome), leading up to the final act, where Familiars -- traditionally raccoons -- take the ribbons and ride on the backs of soquili companions, weaving between each other rapidly. About half way down the pole they slow to a stop. At which point, the Raccoon Riders hold the ribbons tight with the help of the soquili they are riding on, and other raccoons climb the ribbons about mid way, looping the ribbon under their tail before they're lowered to the poles. The dance continues then from up high, the Acrobats leaping over and under each other in the air until they touch the ground ,the ribbons secured with bows. Flowers are then piled up at the base of the pole.
As a safety precaution during the acrobat scene, aerial members large and quick enough to catch them stay close by: this tends to be a team of eagles that 'dance' with the acrobats, able to stay close enough to catch them without blocking the view. Originally it was just a standard maypole dance, and some faires will do that to end it instead, but the adrenaline driven stunt show eventually became a tradition after the Acrobats and Stunt Team got the proposal approved.
Londyn's Aeral Acrobatic Arena: A short airshow performed by Londyn demonstrating Aeral Acrobatics and Airborn combat maneuvers.
Duman the Undefeated: Yilmaz's plays "Duman the Undefeated" in Stunt Show of choreographed fighting and humor. There is always at least one plant in the audience who challenges him and gets defeated easily. Then, a member of the audience -- usually a foal or smaller member, gets challenged to a feat of strength - something rigged specifically so the audience member wins and 'defeats' Duman, thus taking his role as championship.
Heroes of the Eight Kingdoms: Even during faires not set in "the Eight Kingdoms", Heroes of the Eight kingdoms is the big show that has a chapter told every day near the end of the faire, with the grand finale on the last night of the faire before its closed down for being taken down. It's a massive show and acts as something to bring people each day.
An overarching tale the kingdoms calling forth their greatest knights to fight the minor villains of the story, and each finding out about their attempts to summon a monstrous demon known as "The Nightmare" as the knights tales get more intertwined as they begin to join forces against this growing darkness. In the grand Finale, the final villain sacrifices himself to let The Nightmare take their body to give themselves life in the mortal realm, and the fight between its, its minions, and the knights ends the faire with its epilogue.
Smaller Entertainments
Jugglers, Musicians, firedancers, storytellers, stilt walkers, and costumed characters wander the marketplace and the faire proper. Many carry tip jars, but their entertainment is free. Some individuals with mutations or elemental powers or, in the case of domained angeni, domains, may simply use their powers or physical traits to aide in their performances.
Food and Drink Vendors Most food and drink is cheap, and some is even free, but there are some pricier meals available
Open most of Day
Grazing Fields (food):Free - The Grazing field is set up directly against the river and is mostly just that -- a field for grazing. However dried hay and oats are also piled out, and left over meats from the day before not used in stews and soups are made available at request for carnivores to prevent them from being tempted to predate on other guests or hunt in their hosts land.
Drinking stations (Drink):Free - Buckets of water are scattered throughout the fair and filled with water regularly from the nearby river to allow for thirsty guests to rehydrate.
Dragons-breath BBQ (Food): Prices Vary between 5 bits to a little over a brand - A carnivores delight! Roast Turkey, Pulled Pork, Pork Ribs, beef (from Wild, non-spirit touched bison), sausages, and even fish all cooked either over wood fires or in adobe ovens. A variety of optional sauces and spices available. Each meal comes with a square of corn bread.
Wildfire BBQ (Food): Prices Vary between 5 bits to a little over a brand - For the herbivore looking for a little spice in their life. Roast corn, grilled vegetables mixes, mushrooms, peppers, and more are cooked up much like the Dragons-breath for those who cannot stomach meat. A variety of optional sauces and spices available. Each meal comes with a square of corn bread.
Bunnies Bakery (Food): Prices Vary between 3 bits to several brand - from Simple honey oat Crisps (three for three bits! A fantastic treat for your little ones, or a snack for you) to Breads and cakes, Bunnies Bakery serves a variety of sweet goods.
The Eternal Tea Party Cafe (Drink): Prices Vary between 3 bits to three Brand. - This Cafe is open all day for tea, coffee, flavored waters, juices, hot chocolates, and other beverages.
Valhalla Meadery (Drink): Prices Vary between 10 bits to a little over a Spade. - Not for children! There at the Valhalla Meadery, you can get drinks with a little more punch. Wines, beers and Meads flow here. Just don't over indulge, or you may end up at Vegetable Justice as a target!
Scheduled with Limited space
The Fools tea party (Snacks):Limited Space. Two Brand - A tea party with the bards and jesters full of puns and jokes and music for entertainment as you are served several types of tea and snacks.
Royal tea party (Snacks):Limited Space. Four Brands - A tea party with one of the Kings and Queens of the land, music and stories of far away lands are your entertainment as you eat fine snacks and sample exotic teas
The Grand Feast (Meal):Limited Space. Two brands for smaller familiars and Usdia foals, Five brands for Foals, Usdia, and other midsized members, Ten Brands for larger. Extra cost for sitting with the feastmaster. Hosted nightly Hosted by Feastmaster Shay, the Grand feast is a Show and a meal in one! A buffet with some of the finest food offered in the faire, acrobats, and stories, and guests can share meals with their favorite characters from the faire as they eat along side these heroes as juice, tea, flavored waters, and mead are passed about. Guests are encouraged in sharing their stories with the heroes at their tables.
Merchants
Ece stained glass works:prices vary - A stained glass booth that mostly specializes in stained glass lanterns, oil lamps, candle holders, and suncatchers selling the work of Ece Studio, a stained glass studio owned by a lapsang mare by the name of Feriha. The pieces featured are made by master stained glass worker Feriha and her apprentices. Often sharing a set of three booths with a lantern and oil lamp artist by the name of Elentari who specializes in other materials, with Elentari often running the booth when Feriha is called upon for her role as a 'queen' in the fair.
Tea Time Traders:prices vary - a shop that sells loose leaf tea and tea paraphernalia owned and manned by a Raccoon by the name of Banded Rose. Tea Time Traders is also one the main provider of teas for the fairs vendors.
A Stitch in Time:prices vary - Yarns, toys, blankets, pillows, bags, and fabric accessories for sale by the lovely raccoon Seamstress Can't See the Forest. She also sells the wheeled wagon trunks her mate, For The Trees, makes, as well as other wooden accessories. Custom accessories can also be ordered as spots are available, and modifications to existing pieces available.
The Mailing list For updates and plot hunting. Some forms request you use this!
[spoiler][quote="Mindsend"][/quote][quote="LydaLynn"][/quote][quote="Yumitoko II"][/quote][quote="~Latonia de la Courtel~"][/quote][quote="Miss Cherie"][/quote][quote="FitzRoyal"][/quote][quote="Kitsune mistress nyoko"][/quote][quote="lunadriel"][/quote][quote="lolternative"][/quote][quote=""][/quote] [/spoiler]
New member joining CAN be an existing pet (Soquili or Familiar) or an approved NPC!
[size=20][b][i]Request To Join[/i][/b][/size]
[size=14][b]Pet Name:[/b][/size] [size=14][b]Pet Image:[/b][/size] (Please post cert)
[size=14][b]Background Info:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]Born at the Faire?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Born elsewhere?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]If so, from where?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]Were /Are they in another Herd?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]Why did they decide to join the Troupe?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Lifemated or living relatives?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]If so, would they be interested in joining currently or in the future?:[/b] (Please list with linked images if interested) [color=white]______[/color][b]Other Info?:[/b]
[size=14][b]Faire Info:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]What role would they be interested in?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Skills they have?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Skills that you would like them to see them develop?[/b]
[size=14][b]Timeline:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]Currently, do you intend them to stay with the herd for their full lifespan?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]If not, what plans do you have in store for them?:[/b]
[quote="Mindsend"][/quote]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Host Volunteering We're not asking for a permanent home, just groups to RP with
[size=20][b][i]Our Herd Wishes To Host[/i][/b][/size]
[size=14][b]Herd Name (s):[/b][/size] [size=14][b]Link to Herd Thread / Guild if applicable:[/b][/size]
[size=14][b]Background Info:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]Currently how many members in the herd?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]What Beliefs does the herd follow?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Other Info?:[/b]
[size=14][b]Territory Info:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]Size?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Environmental Region / Climate?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Other Info?:[/b]
[size=14][b]Neighboring Herds:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]Any herds bordering Hosting Herd's lands?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]Are they Allies, Neutral or Aggressive?:[/b]
[size=14][b]Hosting Info:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]Are there any customs that the Troupe would need to follow?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Would there be any Ceremonies / Festivals during the Troupe's stay?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Would the herd be interested in Solo or Group RP's?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Can the herd provide any assistance to the Troupe?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Would the herd be interested in a future alliance?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b] If yes, would they like a return visit from the Troupe?[/b] [quote="Mindsend"][/quote]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Out of Character Help Wanna help us with the Behind the scenes stuff? Post here (use mailing list to alert)
[size=20][b][i]I want to Help OOC![/i][/b][/size]
[size=14][b]Username:[/b][/size]
[size=14][b]What you want to assist with:[/b][/size] [color=white]______[/color][b]Graphics?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]If yes, for what?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Map / Route Mockups?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Write Ups?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]Guild?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]Front Page?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]Other?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]RP Related?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]Making Speech Bubbles?:[/b] [color=white]____________[/color][b]DMing a scene?:[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Directing or explaining for host herds / new members?[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Other?:[/b]
[size=14][b]One Time or ongoing assistance?[/b][/size]
This is TOTALLY Meta... Have an idea to discuss? Post it with this! (Please use Mailing list)
[size=20][b][i]I have a Meta-idea[/i][/b][/size]
[size=14][b]Username:[/b][/size]
[color=white]______[/color][b]Do you currently own a Troupe member?[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Would this event include the host herd or solely the Troupe?[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]If a host, which herd?[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Would you be interested in helping set up the event?[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]How long would the event last?[/b] [color=white]______[/color][b]Would this be a Troupe altering Meta-idea?[/b]
[size=14][b]Description of event?:[/b][/size]
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Character News/changes Is your character leaving? Having kids? You've started an in herd rp? This goes here!
[size=20][b][i]I have news from my characters[/i][/b][/size]
[b]Usernames of those involved:[/b] [b]Names of Pet(s) involved:[/b] [b]Current place in the group timeline:[/b] [b]The news:[/b] [quote="Mindsend"][/quote]
