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

[rebellionsheart]

[Jazz turns and gives Zulf a once over. He holds up the socks for him to see.]

My name is Jazz. Apparently the gods thought I should wear these to let everyone know that. I think it's pretty amusing.

[fuckthemancers]

[That does earn a slight twitch of a smile.]

The Gods have been known to have a sense of humor, from time to time, just like anyone else. If you prayed to Yudrig in particular, then it's almost to be expected. Lemaign is a bit more light hearted as well, sometimes. 'Hope' is like that.

[rebellionsheart]

[Jazz grins and sticks the socks into his pocket.]

At least these gods seem kinder than the one in my world. EZI isn't the nicest of them. He's more concerned with personal entertainment than anything else.

[fuckthemancers]

Well, it is their festival and the Calamity has made us face most of the more negative aspects of their duality. I imagine we've all earned this.

[rebellionsheart]

That does make sense. Might as well show us their good side while we're resting. Doubt it will last long. Then again, the calm periods of life rarely ever last very long.

[fuckthemancers]

That's simply how it is. [Zulf can't help but sounding a bit weary as he says it, however.] It's for the better. If you don't have those hectic parts of your life, can you really appreciate the times when it's calm and pleasant?

[rebellionsheart]

Perhaps. Though I think most would like the hectic parts to be less...catastrophic than this Calamit. Something like this should never happen.

[fuckthemancers]

No, it shouldn't. Yet... sometimes things of this magnitude is unavoidable and the best we can do is find happiness in the fragments that are left behind while we put them all back together.

[rebellionsheart]

Maybe...

[Jazz goes quiet for a moment. He looks down at a gloved hand before he balls it into a fist.]

All we can do is move on. Dwelling on what should be or what was won't help anyone. We can only live in the world of the living...

[fuckthemancers]

So long as we continue to keep going forward, then at least there's a chance of better things ahead.

Besides, we'll all come to meet the Mother personally in our own time. It's best to enjoy what little time we have here with the gifts she's given us.

[rebellionsheart]

The Mother?

[Jazz asks and looks up at Zulf again.]

What do you mean? As in the afterlife?

[fuckthemancers]

Yes- I apologize, I thought the priestess had properly explained things.

The Lorn Mother, Micia, is the head of the Caelondian and Tazal Pantheon. She's responsible for all of creation. From her, we're born and at the end of our lives we will return to her. Her heart is a brilliantly shining star. Its light guides the soul of the dead to her.

Technically, this is her and Pyth's festival to bring in the harvest and the end of the current year.

[rebellionsheart]

Ah I see. I...maybe have no paid as much attention as I should have. Religion and I have never meshed well for some reasons. I did pray. I thought it would at least be respectful.

So she is the Mother of everyone and everything, right? I guess that isn't such a bad idea. Could create a sense of unity.

[fuckthemancers]

Well, I'll admit it isn't for everyone especially so many foreigners with their own traditions. Respect is all we can ask for.

It certainly did back in the Tazal Terminals- the Ura homeland.

[rebellionsheart]

The Tazal Terminals huh? What is it like in the Ura homeland?

[fuckthemancers]

Well... Would you like the short version or the long version? I'm- I was a speaker before all of this happened. I'm afraid I can speak a rather lot.

[rebellionsheart]

How about we get drinks and we sit down? Then you can tell me everything.

[fuckthemancers]

That sounds wonderful, thank you.

Ah, I'm afraid I never introduced myself. [He crosses one arm across his chest and gives a slight bow.] My name is Zulf.

[rebellionsheart]

It is a pleasure, Zulf.

[Jazz mimics the gesture. Respect and all that, right? He smiles and starts heading toward where the food and drinks are being served. He grabs a large glass of something that smells close to ale and a plate of meat, bread, and cheese for himself. He waits until they are seated before he speaks again.]

Now, please tell me everything.

[fuckthemancers]

[In contrast, Zulf seems to be making an effort to avoid any intoxicating beverages today. He simply takes a cup of what appears to be a kind of pale green juice. There's a kabob of some sort as well, and cornbread. At the request, he laughs quietly.]

If I tell you everything, we'd be here for the entire festival. However, the main thing you need to know about the Ura, my people, is that we don't prefer living on the surface. We actually used to lived underground before all of this. The Tazal Terminals was the main center of trade, religion, housing, and all of that. However, a variety of tunnels were connected to it that lead to other settlements.

You see, a lot of areas you'll find out there on the Skyway once belonged to the Wilds. That was nothing but untamed land full of extremely territorial and aggressive creatures. Beasts such as Lunkheads and Pecker birds, for example. By staying underground, we could avoid such dangerous land like that and still thrive. I don't believe Caelondia truly ever realized how far the Terminals had a reach before the war.

There's also the fact that the earth is considered holy. You see, to create this world and all in it, Micia used her own heart. By thriving underground, in a way we honor the Mother for her sacrifice.

[rebellionsheart]

[Jazz listens quietly. Living underground is something that Jazz can identify with. Though it isn't so much out of respect for a god or any such grander ideal. He wishes it was though. He would be lying saying there isn't some sense of jealousy. He takes a bite of his food before he replies. It give him time to gather his thoughts.]

I see. It does sound fascinating. I've encountered a Lunkhead before. It landed on me when we first arrived here in this world. I'm sure it didn't expect to land on more than me though.

I was a miner in my world. Mt. Rock was the place I called home. Ever since I could pick up a shovel, I worked in the mines. It was the...expected duty of those of us who lived in the mountain.

[Jazz's tone lowers as he speaks about Mt. Rock. His face hardens as well.]

It was not a good place to live.

[fuckthemancers]

Yes, they... have a habit of doing that.

[To put it lightly.]

[As Jazz starts to talk about his own world, however, Zulf falls silent. He takes a drink as he observes the shift in tone. Even before Jazz finishes with that line, Zulf already suspects what he's going to say.]

I see... It's sad to hear that, then. Things were difficult in the Terminals as well after the War, but at least everyone lived there because it was their decision.

[rebellionsheart]

Men in power often think it allows them to make decisions for their own selfish goals and claim it is for the benefit of others. That was what started it all. Abuse of power.

[Jazz takes a hefty drink of his beverage before he speaks again.]

And it is the duty of those with a strong back to do what we can to fight back and make sure those things never happen again.

[fuckthemancers]

[...Well isn't this sounding familiar.]

It sounds as though you were one of those with a strong back.

[rebellionsheart]

I was. There were a lot others too...

[He sighs.] The good don't always win.