The Festival Continues [Day 144]

[bastionmods]

Who: Everyone
Open: Open
When: Day 144
Where: all over the Bastion
What: Day 2 of the festival because that other post filled up fast
Format: any
Warnings: none

Day 2 - Day of Hope and Bravery

Once again, at midnight, another torch arrives - this time with a horse along with the gear and bullshead. As before, they are list by Zulf. Some of the other decorations fade out, to be replaced by Yudrig or Lemaign-specific decorations like horseshoes, saddles, hammers and plants made of colored metal. This will continue to happen throughout the festival, with new decorations overshadowing old ones, but the old ones still remaining here and there.

During the previous day, conversations with a any of the NPCs (or the recently arrived Uras) will bring up the topic of the second day of the festival. Should you care to listen, you'll learn that they use the very early morning of this day to make wishes, wishes that you must think in to a horseshoe that will be left on the side of your home that faces where the "sun" would be rising (the closest approximation to "east").

Speaking of horses! There seems to be a pen with stallions! Unlike Pyth, one must ride one of these stallions and try to stay on it as long as they can while it bucks and jumps about wildly. Good luck to whoever can manage this, it is not an easy task at all! Only one person can win Yudrig's favor, because at the end of the day the stallions will all take off back to... wherever they came from. The person that manages to stay the longest, though, will win a lovely pair of Yudrig boots, and will gain a single very fast horse for the Bastion to keep.

Along with the horses, there will also be races! Three legged races, races while balancing odd objects on spoons, so many races! Most of these are for the kids to make up for the lack of kid-focused things from the day before, but adults are encouraged to help and participate.

Incidentally, respect is also given to those considered soldiers. Be it by their own mental thinking ("I am a soldier for justice/I am a protector, etc") or by their actual title (this includes exorcists, exorcists in training, rebel leaders, etc) but they will be honored on this day for their bravery, comittment and efforts. The same goes for masons. There will be a table set up with charms for the bracelets, specifically hammer shaped ones - everyone is welcome to take one, but anyone who isn't of this persausion may find them too heavy to wear. The charm can be removed, though, but remember to keep the bracelet!

With that in mind, about midday the center of the Bastion will be cleared and people will be asked if they would like to participate in a game of "Defend Lemaign". It's basically Capture the Flag, but with a singular goal in mind - only one team has a "flag" (actually a small hammer statue) and that team must defend it from the other team. Teams can be any size, but once that statue is grabbed and brought to the other side, OR the timer runs out with Lemaign still within his "temple" the game is over. This will continue throughout the afternoon.

When evening falls again, the second torch for the day will appear to be lit, this one decorated with hammers as well as the standard gear and bull. The day begins to wind down, though there are once again other things to do - this time an entire area dedicated to various sizes of building blocks ranging from small to huge. Go nuts, build what you want, show off your creations! And keep them, they will come in handy later! This is not just for kids, even if it seems like it.

There's also jousting taking place. Nothing as dangerous as true jousting - just wooden horses on tracks that have to be manually pushed along (so be sure to take a willing friend with yout) and padded poles that strike padded armor. Winners will find more charms for those bracelets that were given out as their prize, and five shards per win.

Also, something to keep in mind: Since the day is focused around bravery quite a bit, anyone who shows off a particularly awesome show of bravery (be it personal like asking someone out that you like, facing a mild fear and not running away from it, or something even more spectacular) you will inexplicably find your entire room decorated with horseshoes. Horseshoes everywhere. Why? Yudrig, that's why.

And anyone who visits Lemagin's shrine, for whatever reason, will find themselves inexplicably hit with a wave of optimism. Just for the day, though.

This night winds down much the same as before, and again the children are encouraged to sleep outside while lulled to sleep by tales of Yudrig and Lemagin's adventures.

Comments

[wayofvoice]

It is dear to you. [Obviously.] Something of your home, then?

[hellpyre]

[She nodded with that, standing as she rubbed at her face with one hand. Once her tears were somewhat cleared, she held the jacket out, the pin shining in the light.]

It's an Exorcist jacket. Y'only get these when you're certified. I never got to take my test... and this is exactly like the one Yuki used to wear.

[wayofvoice]

[Paarthurnax inspects it carefully, nostrils flaring to take in the scent of it.]

Then congratulations must be given, Exorcist Rin.

[hellpyre]

[Ohgod she's going to cry again. She had planned on being so cool about this when it actually happened and now she's blubbering like a baby.]

I-I wish Yuki coulda seen this... e-even if I didn't pass the test to get it...

[wayofvoice]

You have proven your worth here well enough. I cannot speak for the souls of others, but I know in Skyrim, many spirits were aware of when things of such importance happened.

[hellpyre]

Heh... kinda like a trial by fire, yeah?

[She hesitates a bit, looking at the jacket again]

Should... should I put it on?

[wayofvoice]

It would only be proper.

[hellpyre]

[There's a nod from her, however uncertain it may be, and she unzips it so she can tug her arm through the first sleeve, and then the second. It fits well over her vest and undershirt, as well as the simple black skirt she has on currently. Buttoning it up, she smooths down the folds a bit, turning around once.]

How do I look?

[wayofvoice]

[As she pulls it on and adjusts it, Paarthurnax settles down. He gives her an approving nod once she is finished.]

It fits you well.

[hellpyre]

[Rin smiles at that, brightly. Even if she's still sad, still longing for things she can't have, this is a comfort she wasn't expecting and it brings her joy regardless of that.]

Thank you...

[wayofvoice]

It is good to see you filled with such gladness. To give praise is little if it is exchanged for that.

[hellpyre]

I'm just... really happy to have this. To know what it feels like on me.

[wayofvoice]

This festival seems as though it will be good to many.

[hellpyre]

Have you gotten anythin' yet?

[wayofvoice]

[A shake of his head.]

Not as of yet. Perhaps this is to do with the choices we had made.

[hellpyre]

Oh, yeah. The shrine thing? I guess each day of the festival is for two of the gods, at least that's how Zulf made it sound.

[wayofvoice]

If these gifts align with the Gods, then I have some time before anything will be left for myself... if there is anything to leave.

[Dragons are hard to get gifts for. Besides... Mammoths.]

[hellpyre]

[Mammoths are a good gift for dragons, though.]

Maybe you'll get more mammoths!

[She's joking, of course. But hey, it could happen.]

[wayofvoice]

That would be satisfying...

[Whoops taking it seriously]

[hellpyre]

Hehe. See? But if not that, is there anythin' else you'd want?

[wayofvoice]

Not many things come to my mind. I have lived much of my life with little.

[hellpyre]

Yeah but you gotta have somethin' in there.

[He did say 'not many', not 'none at all'.]

[wayofvoice]

I believe a mountain would be... difficult.

[Yes, he does want a mountain for Christmas Harvest Festival.]

Similarly so with a... Word Wall.

[hellpyre]

I'unno... this place is gettin' pretty big. Maybe a small one?

[Aw Paar she wants to see you get a mountain :c ]

What's a Word Wall?

[wayofvoice]

They are walls of stone, carved with the writing of Nords who long ago knew the words of dovahzul. They used it for themselves- fear and respect combined, I suspect. They marked the burials of those valued.. and could teach part of the Thu'um to those who knew such things. It was clever. Such things would be... valuable for my lessons.