♥ December Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

December (Ranir) Event Log
The city of Havenwell is recovering very well thanks to your efforts, offworlders. The hole in the wall is sealed up and, while maybe not looking like new, it certainly looks sturdy and safe. The city itself has removed much of the rubble from the battles you fought, and the people are back to their regularly scheduled lives. They're eternally grateful that you continue to put in the time to rebuild this final bastion of civilization and are pleased to see that you enjoyed their festivals so far. As the weather of Ranir turns colder and the nights longer, some may even see snow dust the cobblestone and paved streets in the morning. The time of Rawna has come and with it...

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❥ PROMPT I: At Least It's Not a Sweater

Normally when a new season belonging to a god rolls around, the temple priests gear up and start with temple festivities. Seeing how this is Rawna's month, however, nothing much of the sort seems to be happening. In fact, it's almost as if Rawna's priests don't even care that their god's season has started. Rawna is, after all, chiefly the god of Apathy, so is it all that surprising?

What might be surprising is the sight of Ainea's priests in pairs out around the city in their stead. Each pair carries with them a single bright silver sash and they alternatively stand in broad daylight or hide in the shadows of the buildings. Walk by on your own and you'll be left alone, but when the priests spot two people walking even remotely near each other, they spring into action.

The two robotic priests zip around you and another person with surprising speed, tying the sash off around you - either around your wrists, your waists, your legs, whatever it takes to tie you to another person. With a triumphant buzz of excitement, they declare "Happy Ranir! Kindness comes in many forms!" and depart to find a new pair of victims patrons. As they leave, one of the pair calls out an additional clue for you: "Be kind to unwind!"

Good luck, everyone, you're now stuck with this other person. You can either wait until the sash naturally falls off in a few hours, or you can take the direction of the priests and be kind to the other person to encourage the magical knot to come undone. Each compliment, word of encouragement, or other act of kindness directed at your new partner seems to loosen the sash a little each time, so get to winning the Niceness War.

Oh, and in case you were thinking of blasting, teleporting, or cutting your way out? No amount of magic or physical force seems capable of cutting or removing the sash. Hopefully you went to the bathroom before they got you.

❥ PROMPT II: A Delicious Delight

After a long hard day of dodging Ainea's priests or just slogging through the colder weather around the city, what could be better than imbibing a seasonally festive drink? Well, the scientists in charge of Experiment 73 certainly think so! They've added a limited edition drink selection to all of the replicators and have some delightfully festive booths spread about the city staffed by a few robots wearing Rawna's colors in their sashes and hats. There are five drinks in total to choose from and you should certainly try them! They're only here until the end of the month and then the scientists say they'll be gone! The best things in life are fleeting, aren't they? The best things in life are also surprises, so when you take a sip of these exquisitely delicious (honest! For once they're good) beverages, prepare yourself for a little trick with your treat.

• Ginger and Honey Tea: A hot, thoroughly warming drink with the bite of ginger and the sweetness of honey. Drink this and you'll be shored up against the cold, but also feel compelled to tell or blurt out the truth. Whether you're asked a question or trying to tell a little white lie, you find you can't say anything but the truth. This effect lasts for up to an hour after drinking the tea.
  
• Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie: A cold sweet treat of vanilla smoothie topped with sweet strawberry pieces and whipped cream. At the bottom, you'll find a layer of sweet sponge cake cut up into pieces. Drink this with its own special thick straw and enjoy the taste of cake; and the effect of a personal miniature snow cloud that appears over your head. The cloud dusts you and your immediate area within a foot of you with beautiful multicolored snow - and that snow leaves splotches of color behind that last for up to an hour after drinking the smoothie.
  
• Hot Cinnamon Apple Cider: A deliciously steamy beverage that tastes of apple and cinnamon and comes with a cinnamon stick stirrer for effect. This beverage smells as delicious as it tastes and the aroma wafts around the area more strongly than the others. Drink this penultimate holiday drink and you'll find yourself heating up so much that you'll want to stay cold by giving your heat away via holding someone else. You'll want to be everyone's personal heater for up to an hour after drinking the cider.
  
• Gingerbread Latte: A nice piping hot latte with the hint of gingerbread threaded through the coffee, topped with whipped cream and dusted with gingerbread spice. Served in a tall red cup that seems to transfer the heat uncannily well through its thin walls, sip this and you'll find yourself painlessly sprouting an animal's appendage at random. You can have one functioning or non-functioning, cosmetic animal appendage like a cat's ears, a dog's tail, a duck's beak or whatever else you can think of for up to an hour after drinking the latte. They can replace your original body part (e.g. your ears become cat ears) or grow superfluously (e.g. you have regular ears AND cat ears). You can move the appendages or talk with them as if they are your own, but they don't confer any special magical powers with them. So you can fly with those griffin wings, sure, but you're going to need to put the effort into it.
  
• Hot Mulled Wine (alcoholic): This one isn't for children - and in fact, under 18 people might find it hard (but not impossible, be industrious, little ones!) to get their hands on this drink. Red wine is heated with spices and citrus fruit over low heat for several hours - or it would if it wasn't all synthetically created. The effect is the same though, a delicious adult beverage that's a nice way to spend an evening with someone special. And you'll want them to be someone special because drinking the hot wine makes you inclined to get a little steamy with people. Kisses, both chaste and passionate, seem to alleviate the urge which you'll be under for up to an hour after drinking the wine.

❥ PROMPT III: Winter (VR) Wonderland

There isn't quite enough snow on the ground to allow it in reality, but in the VR Cafes anything is possible. This month, the VR Cafes are decorated with snowflakes in odd patterns and designs - holograms, naturally - that spin and change shape and color in a timed routine. Plug into the games and you'll find a new selection among the usual offerings: Winter Wonderland.

There are two modes to Winter Wonderland and each are fun in their own ways.

Snow Fight! Head out into the powdery snow where fantastic snow forts await and battle it out with snowballs to claim the most territory or just see who can hit the other side the most. You can choose Team Battle, Solo 1vs1, or Battle Royale. All magic, skills, and cunning are at your disposal. While the snow might not be falling outside, it's definitely going to be raining down on you here, so bundle up and have some fun. You earned it!

Ski Lodge But maybe you don't want to go flinging snow down someone's shirt and would rather cuddle up on a couch in front of a big warm fire, huh? Sure, we understand that. Welcome to the Ski Lodge, a cozy getaway up in the mountains where you can relax with a hot chocolate (or cider, or glass of wine even) and curl up on the couches and experience a lazy afternoon in thick fluffy sweaters. It's even better with a friend, they say, so why not create this private little getaway for the two (or three or four, we're not judging) of you? For people wanting a romantic lean, you can always slip out the back (and out of your clothes if you prefer) into the private jacuzzi on the wooden deck, too.

For people who want to have some fun tearing it up on the mountain-side though, we suggest trying Ski-venture! A year-round game that lets you ski or snowboard your way down the mountain.

❥ PROMPT IV: A Mysterious Gift [REGAIN EVENT]

Toward the end of the month starting from the 20th and on, some people may find themselves drawn to Rawna's temple late at night, when most of the priests are offline or elsewhere. The only native creatures you can see here are the fledgling rainbow dragons which watch you from their various perches all around the sanctum. As you approach the temple's altar, you realize someone else has been drawn here as well. In the quiet, dim lighting, the barest of candles still burning and the watchful eyes of the dragons, you feel compelled to unburden yourself to the other person. Tell your tale of woe or sorrow, relieve yourself of a secret you've kept hidden for too long, and listen to your companion as well. They say a burden shared is a burden halved after all.

Once you've both shared something, a pair of dragonlings crawl up into the altar's clawed hands. They wind around each other until an iridescent light shines from their scales. The light is blinding and you must look away as it reaches its pinnacle and releases a burst of rainbow light. When you look back, the dragonlings are slithering away and in their places are two objects - one familiar to you and one to your partner - so long as both of you have shared. It seems your tithe has been rewarded with something from home.

OOC: These items from home must be approved by a mod. They cannot exceed the Medium Item regain limit. It cannot be a power or other ability. It cannot be something your character did not own or have knowledge of in their canon or their CRAU. Please post your regain request in the Regain Request thread before threading out the receipt of the item.

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This event will run from December 6th to December 31st. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. You are welcome to use this log, or create entries of your own! If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread.

Comments

[necromanswers]

Don't-!!

[Lup's response to being grabbed a second time is visceral, her tone practically a snarl, whirling on Pyra with eyes sharp and that same fire flaring up around her irises. She tries to pull her hand free, not at all gently, and her skin is burning hot to the touch. It isn't enough to damage but enough to warn that what she's attempting is most unwelcome in this moment.]

[iustaegis]

[ ---Yep, not trying that again. Her hand instantly retreats from Lup's wrist, keeping it close to her chest instead.

She's never seen Lup like this, although she does reminder herself that she's only known her for a month. A ferocity burns within her eyes-- anger and... fear?-- whatever it is, it's new, and so unlike the kind, wise eyes she had seen in her before. ] --I'm sorry. [ She says quickly, then attempts to think of what else she might do. ]

But... wait. Please wait. We'll get out of this-- together.

[necromanswers]

[Something about Pyra's response - her tone, or the look in her eyes - causes Lup to halt despite being released. She glances down at their bound arms, and the fire flares once more as she jerks her head back to where the priests had headed, but... of course, they're long gone. The distraction was exactly what they'd needed to escape her view. And since so many of their forms look the same, and she hadn't gotten so much as a name out of them, there's no way to track them, either.

Her expression is hidden as she stares in that direction, tempted to go on a hunt for them anyway, but... after a long moment of strained silence, the flames around her sputter and shrink down into nothing, and her shoulders slump, still trembling a little with now-impotent fury. So much for the easy escape. Why is it always the hard way?]

...Fine. Fine! Whatever, I'll get 'em next time.

[iustaegis]

[ It seems a crisis has been averted, but she hears the tension in Lup's tone linger still, just as easily as it is to feel the tremble...

Get them-- with fire? Surely she's joking. ] H-how about we focus on getting out of these bonds, first?

[necromanswers]

[Lup mumbles something noncommittal and reaches between them, tugging at the bow, though of course it doesn't budge. Trying to set it on fire with a finger doesn't work, either.]

Gods, what the hell do they coat this stuff with? I gotta learn that secret.

[She could probably do with a few more sets of fireproof clothing.]

[iustaegis]

[ Pyra doesn't need to know that Lup will remain disturbed the longer they remain like this. She attempts to wiggle her own arm out of the grip of the ribbon, but to no avail.

Be kind to unwind, the priests had said.

Her head snaps up, and she turns to look at Lup. Goodness, she sounds silly just even suggesting it in the face of Lup's discomfort and anger, as if simply speaking the words might belittle her feelings. Still, if it will get them on the right track to figure out a way to break this thread: ] Magical....Kindness... glue....?

[necromanswers]

What?

[Lup is only half listening, still fussing with no small amount of irritation with the sash. Breaking it doesn't seem to be working... ugh... oh.]

Actually, hold that thought. I got this-

[With her free hand she seems to trace a shape in the air, muttering under her breath, and within a few seconds her body is consumed by a swirl of arcane energy. She seems to shrink, pull away from Pyra--

--suddenly the magic fades, and there is a red-furred, fluffy-tailed mongoose tied to Pyra's arm, writhing and chittering in a panic while tangled up in rows and rows of the sash, the same way Lup had been bound by the arm.]

1/2

[iustaegis]

[ Poof, there is that burst of magic from here, arcane in a way that it seems to carry all sorts of histories, both epic and heartfelt with it, and then--

And then...... ] You...

[iustaegis]

You.... are so cute!

[ Would you look at that, the binding seems to loose. Not that Pyra is paying it much attention anymore, because there is an adorable animal tied to her. It's Lup, and rationally she knows that it's the same wise, magical woman with such intense and incredible and joyous power attached to her...

But she's too adorable! She wants to cuddle her, she's already so soft against her arm.

Then she remembers that she hadn't taken too kindly to her reaching for her wrist just moments ago, and so, with a great effort to restrain herself: ]

Can I-- can I hug you?

[necromanswers]

[The mongoose wriggles and writhes in futility for a long moment, but it seems that the sash is just as constricting as before, so finally she just deflates and goes limp, reluctantly nodding her head. Fine, fine... someone might as well enjoy this, considering she just wasted a spell slot for nothing.]

[iustaegis]

[ AND SO SHE IS HUGGED....

Kind of. Since she's bound to her arm, it's like she' s hugging her own arm to chest with the mongoose!Lup tied to her. Pyra is mindful of her smaller size, of course, so the embrace will not be terribly uncomfortable. ] And your fur.... it's so soft! Almost like velvet. [ Pew pew, two more compliments fired! ] I didn't even know that you had the power to transform like this. That's incredible! You don't even need to drink one of those gingerbread lattes to obtain animal features, you're that talented on your own!  [ Double kill!

If the binding has not come undone yet, it's just about to. ]

[necromanswers]

[....

Nope, nope, nooooope this is worse. This is actually worse. Well before Pyra is ready to let go she starts wriggling and writhing, scrambling free and clinging back on the side of the other woman's arm. When she's loose enough to not end up in a collision, the arcane spark returns, and her body phases back into its true form. Restraint on top of restraint! What was she thinking.]

So... yeah, I thought that would work. Did not work. Kinda shitty. [She exhales heavily, resting her free hand against her chest as if that will somehow make anything better. Is it coming loose? She should probably help with that. Um.] You're... good at compliments! And hugs, apparently. Lots of enthusiasm, wow.

[iustaegis]

[ ...Oh. It looks like she had misread how uncomfortable Lup had been, even as an adorable animal. Not even a warm hug helped, it had only made her squirm.

Be kind, and the embrace had not been kind, she had not been kind, for failing to realize Lup's discomfort when she had been so caught up in the woman's ability to transform (and become something cute).

And so, she realizes that it is not just a compliment she might give here. Be kind; an apology would be kind. ] ...I am sorry. [ Drawing a breath, she bows her head. ] For embracing you, when it is something that did not help you.

[necromanswers]

What? Whatever, that's fine. [Or it isn't, but not for a reason more simple to explain than just saying it is.] It's this- [She gestures to the sash binding them.] So maybe let's work on that first, yeah?

[She considers Pyra thoughtfully for a moment, from her expression to her body language to the features on display, before she twirls her finger around. Turn, turn!]

I like your hair. Can I touch it? I'm better at this shit when I'm hands-on.

[iustaegis]

[ She wants to apologize more. This entire time, Pyra hasn't minded actually being tied to her, when clearly it has upset Lup.

Her... hair? Pyra blinks, and then does as instructed. With the compliment, the knot loosens some. ]

Er... like this?

[ Ss she turns, she replies idly: ] Er, [ At the risk of just sounding that she's parroting Lup's words, she gives another compliment in return. ] I like your hair, although you already know that. [ Cheerfully, if a bit awkwardly as if she's trying to make up for her previous error, she continues. ] But today I also like your hair too!

[necromanswers]

Yep, just like that.

[She lifts her free hand to brush it over Pyra's hair, fingers deftly dodging around the hairband and whistling quietly. Yep, this is a good distraction. Hair is always fun to play with.]

Aww, it's soft! And as fluffy as it looks. I'd ask what you do for hair care, but options in town are still pretty limited, huh?

[What with the majority of residents not actually having any.]

[iustaegis]

[ ....Ahhhh that feels good, someone playing with her hair. Lup must have done this multiple times with others' hair before. ] You're too kind. [ She replies with a laugh, feeling more of the sash loosening. In response, she gives her thanks as another compliment: ]

Your touch feels nice. [ She's never had someone's hands run through her hair before. It's fun! ]

[necromanswers]

Yeah? I've heard that. Must be the magic fingers.

[Too bad she only has one free hand, can't do much more than light brushing this way.]

It's short, but I bet it'd look good with a whole bunch of little braids woven all through it. Ever tried that?

[iustaegis]

[ She wouldn't be surprised if Lup means that in a literal sense.

But, braids? ] Mm....? Oh, no. Not even when I had long hair.

[ In the meantime, though, what Lup is doing remains distracting enough that she closes her eyes and forgets to respond with a compliment in kind. ] It sounds as if that would be an elaborate style... Maybe if there is an event to style it that way, I would.

[necromanswers]

Don't need an event for this sort of thing. Just do it for the hell of it! That's how I roll.

[If she and Taako had a last name, "Elaborate Style" would surely be it. They live and breathe it whenever the mood strikes them, which is usually.]

[iustaegis]

[ Pyra leans into the touch of her hands upon her head. ] But how much time do you spend on your hair in the morning? 

[necromanswers]

Mm, depends on how self-indulgent I'm feeling. Could be five or ten minutes, just a quick brush and a ponytail. Could be an hour, if I'm dressed to impress or Taako's willing to put the time in and style it for me.

[She could do that herself, probably, but he's always been better at handling it than she. There's just so much of it, long and thick and curling.]

[iustaegis]

[ ...And she has heard that Taako has quite the style. One day, she will meet him. One day. ] I can't imagine how you style yourself could be any more impressive and magical.

[ Another compliment!! Meanwhile, Pyra just wears the same thing every day and has the same hair every day...

She cranes her neck a bit as if to look back at her, but then recalling that Lup has asked for this, her head quickly snaps back. ]

[necromanswers]

That's because you've never seen him work. It's definitely magic- a lot of the styles he can do my hair in requires three hands.

[Thankfully there is a spell for that! Meanwhile her fingers twist little curly-cues in Pyra's hair, humming her approval.]

Is this your natural colour? It looks amazing. You don't see hair this vibrant very often.

[iustaegis]

[ She gives her a little nod. ] Is it so surprising? There is a young [ Flower? Plant? ] girl here with an even rosier color than my own.

[ And with cropped hair, too! Pyra is biased. ]