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

Stallion Pen

[bastionmods]

[forhyrule]

[ Zelda watched the horses for a long time. A long time, attentively noting every little movement, watching who was thrown and how, what upset the horses. Her riding lessons were extensive and she had helped break horses before, so when she saw the horse pen at the festival, it immediately caught her interest. ]

[ Eventually, she decided she was ready. She climbed into the pen and pulled herself up onto the stallion whose movements she felt she had memorized. Just as soon as she was in the saddle, they were off. ]

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin's going to hang back and watch Zelda as she goes. It's the first time he's seen her out and about, which cheered him up. He was a bit worried about, her hadn't seen her doing much since getting her back from the skyway.]

You can do it!

[forhyrule]

[ Zelda somehow heard the voice amidst the stamping of hooves and snorting of nostrils, but couldn't look to see where it had come from. She gripped the stallion tightly with her legs and one hand on the saddle horn, pulling back tight on the reigns. The stallion yanked his head back and forth, kicking up his front legs. ]

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin watches her, grinning at her skill. He can't imagine that she can tell it's him, but any encouragement is usually welcome in competition.]

That's the way! Keep going!

[forhyrule]

[ She couldn't even be sure that the encouragement was for her; it was surprising how crowded the festival felt, despite the Bastion's small population. ]

[ The stallion threw his head forward and bent his front legs, sending Zelda tipping forward. Good thing she kept hold on the saddle, or the motion would've tossed her right over the horse's head. She yanked back on the reigns and straightened up, trying to stop the stallion from bucking her again. ]

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin never takes his eyes off of Zelda and the horse, watching the display with interest. He's going to do his own ride a little later, and they move so differently from the mounts he's used to. The bucking looks painful, but managable, though.]

You're doing great! You've got this in the bag!

[croceamors]

[You know who's never had to ride a horse in his life? This guy. Not saying he got bucked right off... But that's basically what happened. Saix is trying not to look too awkward and-or even embarrassed as he retreats to the other side of the fence, going back to watching the others as if he can figure out the issue this way.]

[thirdoutofthree]

[ Nice try, but Viola saw that, and she's at the fence laughing her ass off. Saix, you held off Pyth so well, but you get thrown so easily from a horse? Absolutely hilarious. ]

[croceamors]

[Dammit.]

I've never had to ride a horse before!

[thirdoutofthree]

[ She makes a weak attempt to stifle her laughter. ]

You've gotta be kidding me.

[croceamors]

[Saix crosses his arms and tries to look less annoyed at that as he is.]

Not everyone deals with horses. It's not surprising.

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin's usually pretty good with animals. Stallions are somewhat different from Chocobos, but Chocobos are wirey, agile little bastards when they want to be. He's learned plenty about riding by helping with his dad's flock when he was younger. That said, watching some of these horses in action just went to show that he was probably going to get a lot more use out of his zero-gravity training than his other experience.]

Okay... don't let go. Hold on for dear life, unless your life is in more immediate danger by hanging on... Why does it always sound so easy?

[There's no uncertainty to his quiet monologue, just a simple statement of the facts. He approaches a chestnut-colored stallion, and holds a hand out to it in greeting as he draws near.]

Hey there, big guy. You're gonna be my foe this morning. Gimme your best, huh? I'll never learn otherwise.

[The horse eyed him, but it gave no indication of hearing or understanding him. When Colin mounted the horse, there was a quiet moment of tension... and then, the horse was off!]]

[fuckthemancers]

Good luck!

[That's Zulf calling from the sidelines, a little occupied with gently stroking the nose of a pretty black and white horse. No, he hasn't been jumping into this, either.]

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin knows how to ride an animal, but he's no expert. Still, he was right in that his training was going to give him a little bit of a boost in holding on, but it seems to be a wee bit uncomfortable for the stallion. The bucking gets more intense the longer it goes, with Colin holding on for dear life, until after a healthy amount of time, the horse has had enough and sends Colin flying.]

[Colin lands heavily, but to his credit, he is also able to roll and mitigate much of the hit. But still, that did not look pleasant. And it certainly didn't look professional.]

[fuckthemancers]

[Ouch. Zulf gives a shake of his head before reaching over the fence to offer Colin a hand.]

It was a good showing, at least.

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin reaches up to take Zulf's hand, shaking his head clear. That definitely rung his bells.]

Hooo... different beast than I'm used to all together.

[He stands slowly, and he chuckles.]

I think I need to head to the hotspring after that, I woefully underestimated the forces at work there...

[fuckthemancers]

With Yudrig's day and considering these are very likely stallions specifically chosen by him, they certainly will be stronger than most.

Can you walk alright, then?

[freedom_engineer]

Yeah, I didn't get hurt during the fall. My ass and lower back seem to have taken the worst of what the horse had to offer.

[Colin grabs hold of the fence, and turns his body to stretch. He spots the horse, and grins at it.]

Good run, you! I look forward to trying again next year!

[fuckthemancers]

That's good. I already had to help Rin to the hospital yesterday. I'd rather not see anyone else too horribly injured.

[amnesiadragon]

[Ryu is totally up for this. He lifts himself easily into the pen and approaches a horse. Strangely, they seem slightly calmer when he approaches... still wild, though. He reaches out to pat the one he's chosen, a light brown horse, and swings up onto its back.]

[Not so ba - oh man there goes the bucking.]

[Welp. Now he's hanging on tightly.]

[wayofvoice]

[Paarthurnax has been... trying to avoid the stallions. Mostly because he doesn't want to freak them out too much. When he sees Ryu from across the way, however, he calls out his encouragement.]

May you have luck in your endeavor, Volgyol!

[evacuate]

[So, okay, wild and rip-roaring Pyth is too frightening to even think of approaching—but maybe, maaaybe it would be okay to try riding one of the stallions? Zia's been milling by the pens for a while now, her baby pecker sitting on her shoulder, trying to decide if she can do it.

Well, Yudrig is the deity she chose, right? And these are his horses, right? So she should, she definitely should at least try—and this is a day for bravery. So she should be brave!]

Isn't that right? [She turns to ask her pecker, who cannot read her thoughts, but chirps back at her like he approves anyway. Zia nods, scoops him into her hands, lifts them up, and nudges him until he flies above her.] You wait for me. I'll be right back, okay?

[After picking out the smallest stallion, she hops over the fence and goes to pet his muzzle.] Hey there. Go easy on me, all right? [She takes a deep breath, stretches, glances about, takes another deep breath...and, heart pounding, hops up onto the saddle.

For about seven seconds, Zia manages to hold on, and she feels so triumphant that she almost starts to laugh—and then her hands get sweaty and she gets bucked right out of the pen.

Zia screeches right up until she hits the ground. Her pecker flies circles around her head, squawking until she grunts and sits up.] Sssshhhh... Ugh. Worth a try, huh? [The pecker is still wailing, so clearly he must disagree.]

[thirdoutofthree]

[ Ouch, that looked like a painful landing. Viola leans against the fence as she watches the girl get up. ]

Not half bad. [ She comments brightly. ] You looked like you were gonna get the hang of it.

[evacuate]

You think so? [She hasn't actually gotten to her feet. Sitting in the grass is comfy enough and standing up is going to take waaaaay too much effort for her sore self. But Zia brightens at the praise.] Bet I'll get it next time. If I ever walk again, anyway.