Solo or RP Format Counts as 5 RP growth Points Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
With so many inhabitants of Tendaji still working the lands, it's common that a festival or party is held to celebrate the transition to a new season. With summer in swing, it's about time to celebrate again. This transition goes from cultivating the land to full-harvest, so many hold celebrations to thank the gods for rain, earth, and successful growth of their plants.
Be it on Tendaji where the Earthlings celebrate thanks for their crops and land, or the Aishans thank their great mothers for prosperous hunts, or even Kahikinan where they celebrate a transition from the heavy rain season, all of Tendaji has reason to gather during the summer months.
[1/7]
Siel loved festivals! He also loved that he was at an age to enjoy them without being on a lead. For once in his life he was allowed to be in a public area and not be tied to one of his fathers for fear of running off. Instead he had to stick with his brother and if he got lost then they were both going to get in trouble so Siel had promised to behave. Granted, it wasn’t as if their fathers were that far away. The little Matori celebration may have brought in a crowd, but it was still more subdued than many of the larger cities. With its minimal size it was easy to spot Baba over the crowd, giving him that extra bit of security.
“What do you want to do first? They’ve got games and contests and look! What is that thing?!” Siel pointed to a large blob of a fish some fisherman was boasting about. If it weren’t for the help of several others she wouldn’t be able to hold it up! He’d never seen anything so ugly in his entire life. “It looks like Lutana when she gets up in the morning.” He lifted his hands around his head, making a big halo, demonstrating wayward curls.
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:18 pm
Painted Moose
(1/7)
Morain was excited to spend time with his brother, one on one. Because it was the three of them, a lot of the time Lutana was involved in anything they did, and while he adored his sister it was still nice to be with his brother for once, without the guilt of leaving her out. But big sis Ygraine was here and had taken her out on a girl's only tour of the festival, so...! Hurray!
With a bag of coins given to each boy to pay for their games, Morain's head swiveled to and fro, looking for things to play - only to stutter to a stop when Siel pointed, his face wrinkling immediately. "Ugh!!" He said, on instinct- only to slap his hands over his mouth when his brother continued, giggling in horror. "Oh no!! Shh! She's gonna hear and come kill us!" He ordered, through a round of giggles, reaching to try and slap his hands over Siel's mouth playfully.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:16 am
Scarlett Arbuckle
(2/7)
Siel just laughed and tried to push Morain's hand away. "It's true and you know it!" Somehow even though her curls were shorter than papa's they tended to collect more 'omph', or whatever the word was. When he'd ducked away from his brother's censorship, Siel instead took his hand and tugged him towards the games.
The crowd seemed to condense around the food stalls for the moment, perhaps because of the time of day, leaving this area a little easier to maneuver. His eyes traveled over each of the offered activities with growing interest. Of course some were tailored to older kids, like the trident range, but that didn't stop Siel from gawking. Seeing a young woman heft one of the heavy weapons over her shoulder then launch it at impressive speeds straight at her target was a sight to behold!
"Let's do that one."
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:51 am
Painted Moose
(2/7)
Nooo! Morain, however, was laughing helplessly, and even if he tried to deny it it was clear. He let his brother drag him along to the games, his eyes lighting up (even if most wouldn't be able to tell, given the nature of his eyes). Morain had been eyeballing a cute little game, in which carved and brightly colored wooden animals were floating in a large bucket, but he paused and canted his head to the side to look at what his brother was motioning towards.
"What? We can't even pick that thing up...!" Morain whined, although he did amble closer, along with his brother, hugging his arm. It was so cool, watching the older people at play... their baba would've killed this game! But...
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:04 am
Scarlett Arbuckle
(3/7)
"I bet I could! And look at the prizes! They're the best out here." Siel pointed to the prize shelf where several trinkets lay. Most were rather mundane, but some on the upper levels were nicer objects. A hand mirror, a fancy hair pin some bracers among other goodies.
Even as they talked the same woman was readying herself for round two. It was fascinating watching the way her back muscles shifted under her skin, flexing and pulling, as she readied herself. One moment she was taking a slow inhale and the next she flung the trident with such speed Siel swore he could feel the wind. Another perfect shot! And this time she got to pick whichever prize she wanted!
"Sol said he could throw a spear when he was a kid and Ygraine can break boulders! She didn't say it, but I know she can!" He flexed his free arm, trying his best to look as impressive and assuring as he could in front of Morain. "We can totally do this."
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:11 am
Painted Moose
(3/7)
Doubt painted across the youngling's face, but he wasn't one to call his brother a liar (most of the time). Instead, he watched the woman make her second throw, giving a little cry and clapping his hands demurely once it hit. That seemed to gain her attention, though she didn't look back at them her head tilted, as if in instinctual reaction to the sound.
To Morain, she seemed so serious and dangerous, with those muscles and hefting a weapon... he failed to consider that an adult playing games at a festival couldn't be the type to take themselves too seriously.
... And... he really did like the look of that hair pin... "Okay... we can both try!" He finally conceded, his eyes lighting up. A child's imagination insisted that the spear would fly, and they'd win ALL those neat prizes--!!
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:18 am
Scarlett Arbuckle
(4/7)
Siel's encouraging smile brightened to the point of giddiness. "We won't just try, we'll win!" He was so sure of it that there was no doubt in his heart. So long as they tried hard enough then anything could happen! He led his brother up to the stall, stood toe to toe with the muscular matori and looked up at the game vendor. It was almost like the older man hadn't seen him at first, so Siel made sure to clear his throat extra loud and get his attention.
"How much is it for my brother and I to play?"
The older man looked at the two of them, almost as if he were about to tell them to pick another game, when he finally sighed. "Two bits a piece. When you're ready go over there and pick up a trident." He motioned to a barrel with several sticking out of it.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 5:22 pm
Painted Moose
(4/7)
Right!! Morain beamed happily at his brother's faith, and bounced after him, hands reaching to grip the edge of the stall counter, barely able to look over it at the vendor. Two bits? That was-- a lot for a little kid... but their dads had given them some extra, since Lutana was getting to hog Ygraine to herself so-
Morain was quick to pull the currency out of his little bag, biting his lip in concentration as he slid the coins across the counter. There were no smaller trident for kids, of course - but Morain still felt himself wilt a little when it was passed over. It was so long - while the trident itself wasn't terribly heavy, the fact the front of so heavy meant it was far off balance for a little kid.
His confidence shaken, Morain picked the trident up and, with his brother, wobbled to the line where the woman had been throwing from, staring down at the target. "Sielll... this totally isn't gonna work..."
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:34 pm
Scarlett Arbuckle
(5/7)
If Siel had been a little smarter he would have saved their money for a game they actually stood a chance at winning. However, the prospect of showing his physical prowess to his younger brother was just too tempting to pass up. Wasn't that what 'older' brothers were supposed to do anyway? Flash their muscles and make things interesting? Sol never did any of that. Well, maybe if he wasn't blind he would have.
He stepped up to the starting line and lifted his end of the trident. In all honesty the awkward length would have made it hard enough to lift were it not for Morain, but trying to aim it...The child felt his confidence waning. Maybe they really couldn't do this...
"N-no, we can totally do this. I've got an idea." Siel let go of the trident and walked over to pick up a nearby stone. With great difficulty he dragged it over, then stood knelt ontop of it. Once he was settled the child took the shaft of the trident and laid it against his shoulder, applying just enough pressure to keep it steady but not to stop it from moving. "Okay, so now all you have to do is hit the end really hard and make it hit the target."
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:24 pm
Painted Moose
(5/7)
It was enough of a 'cheat' that they were allowed to do this together at all, but the vendor clearly knew how little a chance they held of winning, and they'd both paid regardless. Morain had wilted under the growing certainty they would fail, but perked up at his brother's plan. Oh...! So they wouldn't have to throw it, they could just hit it! He could do that! Morain waited until his brother was in position, puffing himself up as he prepared himself. "Okay! Three... two...! One--!" And he hit the end of the trident with all his might.
The trident flew proudly and powerfully - for all of a foot. Then, immediately, its weighted front tipped downward. It didn't even stab into the ground in any sort of impressive way - merely fell with a clatter, where both boys stared at it, mouths open and aghast.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 1:31 pm
Scarlett Arbuckle
(6/7)
Siel wasn't sure how to feel. He'd been so sure that his plan would work that his childish heart hadn't thought of anything else. It hadn't even occurred to him that they weren't aimed properly, that the trident simply didn't have the height to reach the target, or that they didn't have enough momentum to carry it.
So when the mighty weapon clattered uselessly on the ground his confidence shattered.
It didn't help that the vendor outright laughed at them. He may have allowed them to try, but it wasn't as if he'd expected anything else! The condescending tone made Siel's cheeks burn in shame, and he may have just left had it not been for a kind hand on his shoulder. The same matori woman from earlier, the 'Champion', placed her hand on each of their shoulders and smiled kindly to them both. "That was some really amazing teamwork."
"But we didn't win...we didn't even hit it." Siel groused.
"No, but you tried. I'm sure if the two of you practice you'll never miss again." She crouched so that she could better look at the boys. "So...can you do me a favor? I'm supposed to pick out a couple prizes, but there's not really anything I like other there. I did pay to play, though, so it would be a waste not to take anything, but if you two were to take a prize a piece then it would even out. What do you say?"
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 2:09 pm
Painted Moose
(6/7)
Disappointment clouded heavily on the 'younger' brother's face, and he might have whined if he was with Lutana or his parents. But... somehow, Siel seemed so much more upset than he was. Then again, Morain knew he wasn't powerful like their baba, or graceful like their papa. Not yet, anyway. But Siel had been so confident and sure, and the reality of how small and weak they were seemed to hit him hard. Morain frowned, his hands tugging a bit at the front of his top, pouting fiercely and coloring, just like his brother did, when the vendor laughed at them.
But--
He hadn't noticed how close the Matori lady had come until she was kneeling beside them, hands on their shoulders. His own eyes went wide, but... there was a spark of warmth in his chest at the praise. He wasn't sure he cared to throw a trident, but... she was right. Doing with with Siel had been... really cool, and fun -- and... and distantly, he hoped that his brother would let him keep trying with him.
As deep and sentimental as the moment was, he was still a child though, so the moment the woman suggested she would let them pick prizes, he gasped in delight, his dark eyes glittering. "Yes, yes, yes!! Thank you! We're gonna work so hard, right Siel?" He grinned at him, then bounced to the counter, waiting for his brother.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 2:18 pm
Scarlett Arbuckle
(7/7)
As much as Siel hated the thought of losing he also couldn't help being distracted by the praise. It didn't completely take away the sting, but her kind words were enough to make him cheery again. It was also pretty fun just to see her frilled ears puff up when she smiled.
It was also gratifying to see how happy Morain was now, and Siel thought that, for once, he could accept not being the most amazing person around. "That's right! I'll practice every day!" Of course he wouldn't; neither of his fathers carried anything close to a trident, but maybe if he was lucky they would at least let him help set up camp! That was close, right?
There were so many goodies at the counter, and a lot of beautiful pieces. Jewelry, hair bobbles, some native silks, but the thing that caught his eye was near the back. "That one! I want that one!" Siel wouldn't stop bouncing until the vendor handed him a lump of malformed sea glass. To most it was a waste, but he knew that Baba would at least appreciate it. "What do you want, Morain?"
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 2:31 pm
Painted Moose
(7/7)
To Morain, his brother would always be one of the most amazing people around regardless. After all, it was his idea to try in the first place, and his instructions on how to try to throw the trident that had led to this moment, right? The clouds seemed to have lifted from his brother's face, so Morain let himself be pleased as well, following the matori lady to the counter where she confirmed that the kids could have her prizes.
His first impulse was to ask for the hair pin he'd been eyeing before, but - when he saw what Siel was doing he changed his mind. He bit on his lip, but then pointed for a silk scarf, with small glass beads sewn into it. This was something dad would like... right? And, even if Callum didn't, it would make such a pretty shawl for the tiny youngling. He accepted the gift, then turned to the lady and thanked her profusely, reaching to hook arms with his brother again.
