♥ January (Lasra) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

January (Lasra) Event Log
Are you feeling free of last year's burdens, offworlders? The natives certainly are after spending the final month of the year at Rawna's temples. Now it's time for a new beginning even as the cold deepens, leaving snow drifts piled along Havenwell's streets. Industrious robots are hard at work keeping the city clean and removing any ice from the stone roads, leaving only beautiful winter scenery behind. The city sparkles under the snow and the silvery white decor brings out of their temples the priests not only for Rawna, but all of the gods.

---

❥ PROMPT I: The Temple Celebrations

As noted in the Intro Log, the residents of Havenwell have been invited to help with the decorations in order to incorporate your worlds' cultures with their own, and to assist in celebrating the new year's coming. Residents are encouraged to visit any temple at their convenience or pleasure and join in the design process. There are craft tables, ranging from basic (for the younger or less skilled, such as kites or papercraft) to intricate and advanced designs (like glass lanterns or embroidery). Those less creatively-inclined are welcome to use their various skills, magics, or just ladder-balancing talents to help with the decoration installations around town. Many hands make light the work, after all.

Each temple has music playing and all of them have their associated animals not inside the temple like normal, but spread all over the temple grounds and surrounding areas. They aren't lost for once, but seem to be beckoning people toward their respective homes which are bedecked with holograms of dark green leafy boughs, ribbons, and ornaments all in the temple's colors. Diacht has red and white striped ornaments, Ohma has blue and gold, and Ainea is bringing up the cute factor with pink and purple. But Rawna is looking especially resplendent with rainbow sheened silver ornaments hung in the air, mixed in with real ones that are suspended from wires so thin they look as if they're hanging in midair. The dragonlings fly through the air, trailing silver ribbons behind them that make the temple really seem to shine this month. At each temple, simply by showing up, you can receive a small gift from the priests regardless of whether or not you're an adherent. And they invite you to play the temple games or dance along to the festive music playing from speakers. Each temple has something different to offer, so grab a friend and make your first visit of the year a special one!

• Ainea:
Ainea's temple offers a soft fluffy pink and purple-swirled scarf that's long enough for you and a friend to wear at the same time if you so wish. The temple's game is called "The Best Of." You and a partner step upon a small silver platform and each pull a card from a pile. Tell your partner about the prompt on the card in order to clear it. Only honest answers count and you'll know when the other person is being honest because the platform sings a little jingle and counts a point for your pair. The more cards you can get through, the higher your points! Some examples of the prompts are things like: the most embarrassing moment of the last year, most exciting moment of the last year, hardest you laughed last year, most beautiful thing you saw last year, most memorable trip from the last year, favorite song of the year, etc.

• Rawna:
Rawna's temple has an offering of beautiful gloves, threaded with rainbow thread at the wrists in an intricate and abstract pattern that somewhat resembles dragons in flight. Their game is one of flying kites. For a small Dora donation, priests will give you a thin slip of paper to write a wish upon. Tie your wish, or wishes if you're here with someone else, to your kite and get help from someone to make it fly the highest in the hopes that the gods will hear and answer you. As you deepen your relationship with the person you're flying your kite with by talking or sharing the meaning of your wishes, the kite seems to fly higher and higher.

• Ohma:
Ohma's offering is a tasteful blue, wide-brimmed hat with a gold ribbon and flower accents. Their game is a card matching one. For those read up on Havenwell's poets, try your hand at this game where you match the beginning of the poem with the next line. A robot judge reads the first line and then you have to find the corresponding card among a field of brightly colored cards. Grab the card first and win points! For those not familiar with Havenwell's poetry, you can try the game with more simple themes like colors and fruits (not that they make much sense - why is an apple blue??) or facts about the other people in Havenwell. ....when did that game become so popular?

• Diacht:
Diacht's offering is a white and red feather pendant necklace on a thin white-gold chain. Their game seems to be something like Earth's game of badminton, but minus a net. Grab a pair of large white and red wooden paddles and a multicolored shuttlecock and try batting away the year's bad luck by keeping the shuttlecock aloft. If you're the one to drop it, your opponent gets to draw on your face with a special ink-brush that has the ink contained in its handle. For the non-athletically inclined, you can watch the professionals play the game as the robotic natives most renowned for the art of this game are trying to break a Havenwell record for a single continuous game: 22 days.

❥ PROMPT II: Your Yearly (Mis)Fortunes

At each temple along all the other celebrations and games, you can also find a separate booth that has a strange and unreadable Aellyn script on it. The robot sitting behind the booth has their face covered with a strip of fabric that obscures it completely, but it calls out to you when you walk by. It offers you an ancient-looking wooden container with a single small hole at the top. If you take it, it mimes shaking the container and tipping it over. Do as they say and a wooden stick pops out of the top with that same strange script on it. The robot takes a look at what you got and takes the container back, passing you a single strip of paper with reverence. "Keep your fortune close or learn to let it go," it says, and then looks to find another patron. Turn your paper over and discover what your fortune holds for you.

• Big Luck:
"The world shall become your limitless bounty, until you choose to rely on others." After reading your fortune, the world does indeed seem limitless. Or maybe it's just large? Everything around you has suddenly gained in size. The fortune-teller's booth seems like a mountain. The stones under your feet like a massive raft. Has the world suddenly grown? Nope, you've just shrunk down to about 5 to 6 inches tall. Everything you were holding and on your person is also proportional to your new size. Hopefully you can find someone to carry you around for a bit because only by being carried will you return to your natural size. As an option, this can happen to you again randomly at any time during the month so long as you keep the paper fortune on you.

• Medium Luck:
"All that glitters is gold for you until another helps you out." After reading your fortune, nothing much seems to have overtly changed. And you probably won't notice anything until the next time you try to eat something. Any time your hands touch any food or anything that can be used to feed yourself, it explodes into glitter and your communicator rings as a deposit of Dora is made into your bank account. This seems pretty awesome at first, until you realize you can't eat anything and you're getting hungry. You may need to get someone else to feed you your next meal, after which the curse seems to have been broken. However, you have the option to have this effect happen again randomly at any time during the month so long as you keep the paper fortune on you.

• Small Luck:
"The smallest things can bring the biggest rewards." After reading your fortune, nothing much seems to have changed until you return home and find all of your pillows, blankets, and bedding have turned much, much too small for you. If you're an adult, the bedding is now the size suitable for a baby. If you are a child, you're looking at something small enough for a large doll. Any bedding you try to borrow changes its size as well, and it seems the only thing that can change them back is to share your bed or a blanket with someone else for a night. When you wake up from your nap or your slumber, everything will be back to normal. As an option, you can have this effect happen again randomly any time during the month so long as you keep the paper fortune on you.

• Bad Luck:
"The love of an animal is almost as strong as the love of your fellow people." After reading this fortune, all the temple animals turn and look at you in unison. They seem to be drawn toward you, literally, as they begin to converge and run toward you like a tidal hoard in an attempt to cuddle you. You best run or they threaten to bury you under their mass, and they'll keep chasing you until you find comfort in the arms of another - whether that's climbing on top of them to get away or jumping into their arms to avoid the tidal wave of mice - as soon as you cling to someone else, the animals seem to lose interest. You can optionally have this effect activate again at any time during the month so long as you keep the paper fortune on you, creating a new stampede of animals of any variety that try to love you just a liiiittle too much.

• Terrible Luck:
"Even bad luck can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." After reading this fortune, you don't immediately feel any different. In fact, nothing much seems to have changed at all. You decide to walk away from the booth though, and that's when it hits you - or rather you hit it. You're overcome with a clumsy streak the size of a meteor belt as you bump, trip, and fall into just about everything in your path be it inanimate or animate. If it's inanimate, hopefully you don't mind a few bruises. If they're another person, maybe they'll catch you because only by being caught by someone can you break your clumsy streak. As an option, you can have this effect come back at any time so long as you keep the paper fortune on you.

OOC: If you wish to roll for a random fortune, leave an comment with your character's name in the Request Thread. The mods will randomize for you and give you your fortune. Your character can only claim 1 fortune, no matter how many times they attempt the fortune-teller's game. Feel free to choose your own fortune instead, if you would prefer a set result.

❥ PROMPT III: Memories of the Sun (VR)

This seasonal VR simulation is especially popular with the natives for the fact that it lets them see their world as it used to be. Load into the simulation "Memories of the Sun" and you'll be transported along with all others who are currently logged in to make a pilgrimage up Aellyn's most sacred mountain. Although its peak is rocky and somewhat barren, it has a serene beauty as it reaches up through the cloud layer and you climb upwards through the dark. The path is clearly lit by small lamps embedded into the ground, but you might find it easier to take the climb if you hang onto someone else. Once you reach the peak, whether you're alone or with someone else, you'll be treated to the sight of a gorgeous sunrise peeking over the thinning clouds. It's a sight to remember, and a sight that brings memories. As you watch you're overcome with a very real vision of your home, a place you remember, or people you know. This vision is typically of a better time in your life, something to bring you hope and peace as the new year dawns - but not always. Is this a vision of your past? Your future? Of your present? If you came here with someone else, they can also choose to share in your vision and you in theirs. Are you brave enough to face what the mountain has to show you?

❥ PROMPT IV: All the Ups and Downs

And while the celebrations continue, there seems to be something a little awry with Havenwell. Here and there throughout the month, gravity has gone utterly haywire. You can be walking from temple to temple or going about your everyday life when suddenly you feel yourself lifted off the ground or heavier than you have any right to be. Havenwell's natives aren't immune to this effect either, and you might see a robot go shooting up into the sky suddenly to hover a good five to ten feet in the air. Or they might take a step and suddenly fall flat on their faces, their gears whirring with the strain as they try to pick themselves up. Thankfully the other natives are quick to jump up and grab their companions if they're flying overhead or pull their friends out of the well if they're stuck to the ground. If you find yourself caught up in these gravity wells, you'll need someone's help to do the same. Be sure to pay it forward because you'll never know when it could be you in this awkward position.

---

This event will run from January 15 to January 31. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread below.

This post is meant to act as a catch-all for convenience, but feel free to make your own posts if you prefer!

Comments

[daikonrose]

[ Oh no, she's got him worried enough to think he has to babysit her now. Straightening into her usual proper posture as the dizziness finally fades, Kyoko lets go of the signpost to hold up her hands in protest. ]

You really don't have to! I'm just going to Rawna's temple, it won't be exciting at all. And I'm sure seeing the dragons will totally revitalize me!

[zapdope]

No worries about me! If I'm able to keep talking to you, it'd be super fun!

[ He's now acting very giddy. He takes a quick look around his surroundings to figure out where Rawna's temple is, but stays by Kyoko's side so he can be close by. ]

Say, are a lot of people going with Rawna here? [ Shinji seems to be hanging around there a lot, along with his friend Kaito. And now Kyoko too! ]

[daikonrose]

[ Gosh, what an outgoing person. Has anyone ever said anything like that to her before? Zenitsu must be used to making friends wherever he goes, to be so easygoing about it. ]

Well, if you're really free right now anyway, I guess.... [ Waiting for Zenitsu to draw even with her, she leads the way to the temple. ]

A lot? I don't think I'd say that... I guess it's more popular this time of year because of the season, so there are more natives visiting the temple than usual.

[zapdope]

[ Only with girls!! If you're a scary and mean person, then Zenitsu will avoid into the oblivion. Not that Kyoko needs to know!

Zenitsu follows Kyoko's slight lead as they both walk towards the temple. ]

Well, even without counting the natives? When I was wandering around, I met at least two people who'd hang out at the temple a lot.

[daikonrose]

Is that so? [ Kyoko taps her lip, thinking. ] I mean, I do know a couple other people who've aligned themselves with him, but I don't know if that really means there's a lot of us.... It's not like I know who most of the people I've met are following, now that I think about it.

[ She tips her head towards Zenitsu, curious. ] Which one did you choose, Zenitsu-san?

[zapdope]

Huh. I guess people don't really hang around the temples that often?

[ Zenitsu blinks, mimicking Kyoko's gesture right before he hears her question. ]

Me? I chose Diacht...

[ He pauses, remembering what the robots talked about when they explained about the gods. ] ...But I think I might have picked Rawna too, if I came here any earlier.

[daikonrose]

Huh? [ Kyoko had been about to answer his question, but she has to pause at that assertion. She can't imagine any possible circumstances that would have made her choose any god besides the one that dealt with negativity. ] What does timing have to do with it?

[zapdope]

Well... [ Having zero family and no friends will put you in a very good spot for Rawna.

Zenitsu falters for a moment, reconsidering blurting that out. ]

A lot of things happening, I guess? But Diacht suits me just fine right now, I think!

[ Zenitsu says instead as he puts his hands to his hips, proud of himself.

There's a part of him that wishes he could do more to help Kyoko out, but he just can't take the one step further to have the conversation similar to last time. He didn't think he'd have been of any help during the last time, so he's going to tread carefully not to dip into that darkness again so soon. ]

Oh yeah! Each of the temples are doing some fun activity, right? I haven't been to Rawna's but I'll bet there's something there aside from the dragon viewing!

[daikonrose]

[ Watching him pause, Kyoko blinks. Ah, now that she thinks about it, that's pretty likely to be a sensitive topic, isn't it? Everyone has things they don't want to talk about. It's not like she can call herself close to Zenitsu, either, even if she ended up oversharing a little last time they met. Better to leave this alone.

Letting the topic go without protest, Kyoko nods. ]

Are they all doing it? I haven't actually visited any of the others recently.... But you're right. There are kites at Rawna's! Do you like that kind of thing?

[zapdope]

[ He picks up the sound that she's worried, but he's also thankful that she chose to brush it off. ]

Yeah! Diacht was doing a badminton game. But oohhh, kite flying! I've never did that kind of stuff before, actually! I'd like to try!

[ He's at least seen little kids being helped by their dad. It was a little envious, since he's never had a father to teach him how to fly a kite. Even when he was taken in by his teacher, every day was busy with training, too. ]

[daikonrose]

Badminton, huh? So they even have that here.

[ The only sport she's competent at! But it's hard to get enthused enough to want to try it, considering her clumsy streak. Instead she just gives Zenitsu a chipper nod. ]

Then as a follower of Rawna, it's my duty to help you! Probably.

[zapdope]

That'd be great! [ Spending time flying a kite with a girl sounds super fun, really. And even if Kyoko seems to being strangely clumsy today, it shouldn't be that dangerous, right? He just needs to be aware of the sounds!

All he needs to do is not get scared of the sounds of wind flapping through the kite when they raise it... He's most definitely will freak out about it but that's for when they get to it.

In the meantime, he'll enjoy the walk he's having with Kyoko to the temple! ]

[daikonrose]

Then let's do it! I'll show you how to write down a wish to send up with it, too!

[ She is here to help!! Kyoko knods firmly and flashes a bright grin, giving a thumbs up. And then her foot gets caught in a gutter. ]

[zapdope]

[ He's about to answer in glee but when the foot in gutter happens, Zenitsu freaks out because he was completely unprepared for it.

Here's some screeching for a moment: ] EEEEK!!!!!

A-Are you okay, Kyoko-chan!? Here, let me help you!! [ It's like he's the one that fell into the gutter or something with how panicked he is, but he goes to reach to help the other out. ]

[daikonrose]

[ Whoa, what was that sound? Kyoko had been about to clamber up on her own, but she has to pause and stare dully at Zenitsu instead. Did that noise... really come from this boy? ]

No... I mean, yes, I'm fine... but I'm the one who wants to ask if you're okay.

[zapdope]

Th-that's good...! [ He lets out a breath of relief, she definitely seems to be fine. ]

Sorry... It was all of the sudden, so I got scared... [ He certainly would love to get some kind of warning before accidents happen, but then it wouldn't be called accidents. ]

A-anyways... Let's try flying a kite...? [ His main goal is not to freak out at the loud flapping sounds the kites will make but that's not as bad as demons.

But first, a wish needed to be written down. ]

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko had gingerly extricated her foot from the gutter and gotten to her feet, brushing her pants off. Jeez, to think she could make such a mess of herself just walking around. ]

Yes...! Let's try it. But considering my track record today, maybe it's better if I just stay out of the way....

[zapdope]

[ Track record... As far as Zenitsu can tell from his sounds, there's nothing out of the ordinary for Kyoko. The only thing that might be different is that this place was having the luck drawing. He himself had drawn small luck and since then his bed were getting shrunk until a certain point... ]

Say, did you do a luck drawing earlier today? [ He's not 100% positive about it, since he's never confirmed it, but with the drinks that were offered earlier in the month having some weird side effects, it might not be something to ignore. ]

Would you mind telling me what luck you drew, if you did?

[daikonrose]

Hm? Not today, but I did do it recently.

[ She's not sure where he's going with this? All kinds of weird stuff has been going on lately, but nobody she's talked to has connected it to luck, yet. But it's not like she minds sharing.

Tipping her head to the side, she grins sheepishly. ]

Actually, I got Terrible Luck. Just getting it is kind of amazing, right?

[zapdope]

Sorry if it sounded like a question out of nowhere... I did luck drawing too, and ever since I got the Small Luck drawing, my bed was shrinking and stuff. It stopped after I shared one with someone, so I was wondering if your luck thing was related to that?

[ Not that he knew how else the effect would wear off. ] I might be thinking too much about the luck drawing thing being super weird, though...

[daikonrose]

Your... your bed was... shrinking?!

[ To think something like that was going on, and this is the first she's heard of it! Blaming a clumsy streak on the supernatural would have been childish, but Zenitsu's problem was obviously some kind of magical. ]

And you're sure it was the luck drawing? --Associating that problem with "small" luck does make sense, though....

[zapdope]

Y...Yeah... It shrunk so much, it was pretty much perfect for my sparrow buddy? [ It really was scary at first, but once he realized nothing else happened, it wasn't so bad. ]

Then again, it's been a week or so, so now I'm not so sure...

[ What's having self confidence with determining things when he's only partly decent with demon slaying... ]

[daikonrose]

No... if it happened right after that, and it hasn't happened again since it was solved.... It probably was the drawing! That would make the most sense, right?

I had no idea something so outlandish was going on!

[zapdope]

That's... scary... [ The more they talk about it, the more scary the drawing was for Zenitsu. He knew at least the other types of luck, but what kind of effect did those have? ]

...I'm glad I didn't get any other luck, really. I got away with just the bed shrinking...

[ He can already feel his soul shriveling up at the thought of worse lucks. ]

Are the temples able to purify bad luck for you? I mean, temples back at home would let you leave bad luck so you can greet new year with good ones...

[daikonrose]

[ She nods fiercely. ] It's really scary! I knew the gods were gonna punish me eventually, but to think I walked right into it like this...!

[ If anything, she shouldn't have been silly enough to get a drawing in the first place! She should have known something like this would happen. But Zenitsu brings up an interesting possibility. ]

... I don't know. The drawings themselves were a surprise--I'm not sure they would have all the same traditions we do at home.