Let the Festival Begin [Day 143 | Day 144]

[bastionmods]

Who: EVERYONE
Open: Open
When: Day 143 & 144
Where: All over the Bastion
What: The first two days of the Harvest Festival
Format Any
Warnings: None

For the past week or so, it may feel like to some that the Bastion is gearing up for something. And not anything bad, either. Something good and oh so needed. It's not just the people, the Caels and the Ura that are aware of what the coming days would mean if the world was still intact. It's like the very Bastion itself has suddenly gained new life, and there's a power over it that's greater than any person, creature or Core.

Anyone who is still awake as dawn breaks over the Bastion may find themselves inexplicably tired for no reason at all, and unable to give in to an intense need to close their eyes, just for a moment.

When everyone wakes, and I do mean everyone, the Bastion will be transformed. Decorations, lights strung across every angle, wreaths, tables with colorful cloths over them, streamers and banners and so much stuff just seemingly out of nowhere! The entire Bastion, suddenly a vibrant, beautiful place for a celebration. And not just any celebration.

The Harvest Festival!

Comments

LATER EVENING - BET ON PYTH

[bastionmods]

[fuckthemancers]

[Sorry, contestants, but you'll all probably notice that Zulf will always bet on the Bull. Every single time.]

[Anyone else betting, or just sitting by to watch the chaos... They'll probably notice that once the clouds have settled over the Bastion, Zulf will take out some red string from his pockets. He'll undo the string tied around his shirt collar in exchange for a red one, and then tie another on the ring finger of his right hand. He does it quietly and simply, not really drawing any attention to it.]

[Feel free to talk with him about the bull matches, or his change of accessories.]

[hellpyre]

So what happens if I actually win this thing?

[That would be Rin, getting ready to go in to the pit. Hell yes she's gonna challenge this thing. After the run it gave her just trying to GET HERE she's got a score to settle.]

[fuckthemancers]

You earn a reward from Pyth for passing his trial.

[Said simply as he looks her over. He can guess what you did this morning, Rin, and it involves going with Colin to get a bull.]

You'll have five chances throughout the festival.

[hellpyre]

[Yeah it's pretty obvious, isn't it?

She's rolling up the sleeves of her button down and taking her vest off, stretching her arms and legs out after that.]

Yeah? Might as well give it a shot. I already saw what this thing can do.

[fuckthemancers]

May Olak give you some of his luck, then. I hope you don't take offense if I put my bet on Pyth. It isn't anything personal, I can assure you.

[hellpyre]

None taken! Ain't gonna fault you for sidin' with a god!

[Just don't be surprised if a demon wins against it]

[fuckthemancers]

I'll still cheer for you.

[Not in a very cheery way, but he'll still hope you don't get seriously injured. Same thing, right?]

[forhyrule]

[ Out of curiosity, Zelda has been milling around watching people get their asses kicked by Pyth. Not betting though, as she has no shards to her name (and probably wouldn't bet them even if she had them). While there, she does notice when the man next to her changes the tie on his shirt. ]

Is there significance to the red? [ She ventures curiously. ]

[fuckthemancers]

Hm? [Oh... He admittedly wasn't expecting anyone to notice that. Zulf folds his hands in front of him politely, and holds himself up straight.]

There is, although I'm afraid it is a more Ura custom than Caelondian. Has anyone told you what the festival is about?

[forhyrule]

[ Zelda's pretty attentive. She shook her head in answer. ]

No, I know very little of the customs here. I am recently arrived.

[fuckthemancers]

Well, it's both a Harvest Festival, and one that's considered the end of the current year. Thus, it is considered Micia's festival- and Pyth's as well, but he doesn't have anything to do with the color red.

Micia is considered the Mother of all Gods here along with all of us, and she is considered the God of Loss and Longing. She welcomes all the dead to her when they leave the land of the living.

Unlike the Caelondians, we don't like to keep the dead here for too long. We burn the bodies and keep our mourning somewhat quiet after the funeral. If you bother the dead, after all, then they might find themselves too attached to this world to move on. The one exception to this is Micia's festival. For these next five days, her light burns brightest and the dead can travel freely between here and there without losing their way. If they wish to check on those they care for in the living world, they look for the color red on that of their loved ones.

It is the funerary color in the Tazal Terminals, you see.

[forhyrule]

I see. [ Beyond the names of the gods and the two peoples who shared this world before the Calamity, Zelda knew nothing of what Zulf told her. ]

In Hyrule, we also celebrated the conclusion of the harvest season, but as a time of plenty rather than of mourning. [ She made the observation without any sort of judgment, more interested in the differences between their traditions than anything else. ]

Would the dead take offense of nonbelievers participated in this tradition? [ Perhaps wearing red would be a nice way to commemorate the loss of her kingdom. ]

[fuckthemancers]

Well, the harvest season is also the sign of colder times coming and of the new year, of endings. It should also be kept in mind that Micia and Pyth have always been closer related, just as Lemaign and Yudrig have been. I could explain more about the days of the Festival and their original meanings, if you would like to.

[The question about partaking in the tradition makes him pause and think. Caelondians never really did so, and it's even stranger to have to deal with someone from another world. Still, he shakes his head soon.]

I don't believe they would. I'm certain that Micia would be understanding, Mother of us all as she is. Do you need help finding something appropriate?

[notduchess]

... The bull is tied into the decorating a bit.

[ Don't mind the knight. Duke just stops nearby, watching that chaos. ]

That's why you're betting the bull wins?

[ SPolite curiosity. Duke is from a sad, sad world without gods, okay? ]

[fuckthemancers]

[Such a sad world.]

[Zulf shakes his head somewhat, a flicker of a dry smile appearing for a second.]

The bull is in the decorations because this is Micia and Pyth's festival, however much the other Gods are part of it. I'm simply siding with him because Pyth is the God of Commotion- it will take someone very talented to stand up against him.

I suppose you don't know much about the Gods here?

[notduchess]

What the shrine had to say, and that's just about it.

[ A little bit of a sheepish smile. ]

My world didn't exactly have anything in the way of the religion beyond "Do bad things, you wind up in a bad place." There's a nameless goddess, but my twin studied her a bit and found nothing that indicated she was around more than a couple generations ago.

[fuckthemancers]

Interesting. [He can't imagine a life without the presence of the Gods to comfort him in some strange way.] Well, the Festival is meant to honor Micia the Lorn Mother and Pyth the Wakeful Bull. They govern over the entire festival, with the other Gods attending with different ones on different days. The daytime has them and Pyth ruling. Micia's presence becomes stronger during the night.

[notduchess]

This is probably a really rude question, but this looks a lot like eating and playing games.

[ The knight indicates the chaos before them and the giant table behind with a head motion. ]

Trying strength against something meant to depict one, I can see that as a sort of honoring - showing you can give a good fight, I think - and I'll assume the provided food wasn't from our kitchens, so eating what they provide makes sense, but the gambling doesn't to me.

[ Its a waste of shards, unless the shards being "lost" go to the gods. Do the gods like shards?

Thinking on that is going to give Duke a headache, though.... ]

And so we meet again old friend

[followsthevoice]

[Needless to say, despite Zulf's words having calmed him down, The Kid was still feeling a great deal of pent up aggression that felt the need to come out in great force; and would you look at that, a nice target for him to aim at. With no preamble, the Kid hopped the fence to the arena where Pyth was; his hammer being idly spun in his hands while his Carbine was firmly strapped to his back. Needless to say, this was likely going to turn into something messy one way or the other.]

I'm ready, let's get this goin'.

[fuckthemancers]

[And Zulf was suddenly the most worried he had felt all day. After a moment of just marinading in that slight alarm bell feeling of dread, he finally brings it in himself to call down from where he's watching up on the sidelines.]

Please don't destroy it! That's not the aim!

[Because Gods knew the Kid very well could. For the first time the whole night, Zulf bets on someone besides Pyth.]

[followsthevoice]

No promises.

[Without warning, the cranky bull flew towards The Kid, probably expecting him to roll out of the way; unfortunately, that wasn't what happened, at least not entirely. When it was within reach, the bull would receive a sharp blow to the side of the head from a very sturdy hammer; the force of which sent a loud, metallic ringing throughout the arena as it threw The Kid to the side, out of harm's way. He landed on his shoulder and rolled back up onto his feet, his eyes sharp and his hammer held firmly. If this Bull wanted a piece of the Kid, it was going to have to take it the hard way.]

[fuckthemancers]

[Oh gods help them.]

[Zulf just sinks into his seat, eyes wide. This is going about exactly as he thought it might, and he gets himself to call out again.]

Calm down and don't attack it! Dodge! This isn't like when you've had to face them before!

[followsthevoice]

[So that was the game, eh? The Kid clicked his tongue and reluctantly lowered his grip on his hammer to something more defensive...he couldn't attack, but that didn't mean he couldn't use his weapons for other purposes. He put his back near the wall and stared down the cranky bull; a few puffs of steam coming from its nose until it finally charged him. Just what he'd been waiting for; he slammed his hammer against the ground with tremendous force, enough to propel his light frame up and over the mechanical menace as it slammed into the arena wall, shaking it violently as he landed on his feet and spun around. Hopefully Zulf wouldn't find himself off balance after that little stunt.]

[fuckthemancers]

[Zulf manages to relax a little as he sees Kid lower his hammer, placing a hand against his chest as he breathes a sigh of relief. That's one battle they won't have to see for today, then. He has an idea of what the Kid has planned, leaning a bit over the edge so he can see that tuff of white hair below him and pressed up against the wall. When he sees Pyth charge, Zulf immediately pushes himself back so that he's not so close to the edge.]

[Doesn't much help his balance, however, and he ends up on the ground for a brief moment although, thankfully, not in the ring.]