♥ 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

[iustaegis]

If that is what you choose, then that is what you must believe in.

[ He will only have his belief, that faith in his choice, if he does not wish to delve into knowing the future. She gives him a smile, but it's far more reserved than before... both in happiness and something else. ]

Your fate of helping others [ By bringing that light, as it were. ] and your choice align.

[ Very few could ever be so fortunate. Softly, ] That want to help others... keep it close to your heart. It will guide you, in what you should do for your world.

[carbungle]

[He doesn't respond for a long moment, brows furrowed, allowing those words to sink in. Of course he wants to help. He wants to help everyone- all the people of Lucis, those waiting in Altissia, Accordo, Tenebrae, hell even the innocent citizens of Niflheim who have no say in the war their rulers have waged for centuries. How many people has he met across the country during his travels so far? Dozens, hundreds maybe. Too many to count. There's an entire city still under Imperial rule, and with his father dead and the wall broken, they're now just as much at risk from daemon attacks as anyone else out in the wild. It's been over a hundred years since Insomnia has had to worry about keeping the lights on at night. What'll happen to them? With Luna all the way across the sea, in hiding from the Niffs and waiting for him, how far will the scourge continue to spread?

The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes he can't. He can't risk it. Unless they come up with some kind of sure thing, that won't damage the world as they know it, he has to see this through to its end- whatever that end is.

Luna, he can save. Maybe Iggy's eyes. Prompto. Ardyn. They're still alive.

He wants to save the world that's still alive.]

...God. Goddammit.

[He groans, suddenly, leaning back in his chair, head tilting, and looks absolutely miserable. What a horrid choice.]

They're gonna haaaaate this.

[iustaegis]

[ With him leaning back in his chair, they no longer have their hands held. For a moment or two longer, her own remains on the table between them. She looks at her empty palm and then to Noctis. Slowly, her fingers curl back into palm, and she withdraws her hand.

Her answer... is not the easy answer, or the answer he might have wanted to hear. She knows this; but, she will not contribute to the echo-chamber that was the post to openly defy a destiny that is set to bring back the light to his ailing world, shrouded in disease and darkness-- to save the world. To carelessly throw away so many lives.... She cannot fathom it.

She, too, knows what she must do in order to save her own world. For her, there is no other way; she loves her word, the people in it. Creation. All. She will do what she must to see that it has a future. ] ...Your family, you mean?

[carbungle]

Uh-huh. I don't know what they're going to end up doing.

[She'd seen the network post that Cor made. A few people had accepted the offer. Some have not, he knows, but he doesn't know how deep that rabbit hole goes. It can't possibly just be Cor, he'd spoken of collaboration, of needing more info. They're at the starting position of something big, if they can only get to it.

He's just not sure how much involvement he's allowed to have in this. The Astrals can't touch him here, apparently, but going back means he's irrevocably linked to them again, and they have plans of their own. Even if he wanted to rebel, experience has demonstrated that when they don't get their way, he can't even function properly.]

[iustaegis]

[ At this, she stands. She comes around the table to him. She sits on the adjacent chair. There, she lifts a hand, placing it upon his shoulder. ]

....They need to know your feelings on this. What-- what.... autonomy you have left, Noct, [ Because this all seems to be very heavily laced in the illusion that is the machinations of destiny. ] should be in your say about your want to-- [ A pause, and the waver in her tone begets a deep sorrow. ] help your world, in the manner in which you choose to do so. You need to let them know how you feel.

[ And, hopefully, they will respect it.

If someone took that choice from her to save her world... the anguish would be very real. She would lose everything, all that she loves. ]

[carbungle]

[He glances away, uncomfortable by this rather than comforted. It reminds him of leaving home. A hand on his shoulder, solemn words, a push in the direction of his chosen path - no, his Chosen path - before he even knew that's what it was.

Walk tall.

And then all their dreams died. He can't take it from them here, too.]

I'm not gonna fight my family, Pyra.

[His tone is reluctant, unsure. Between her expression and the way she'd said it. This feels personal, to some degree; usually, when she says similar things to him about fate or world-saving or whatever, she's smiling. Does she understand?]

[iustaegis]

[ She shakes her head; fighting his family, this she did not suggest. ]

I mentioned before...[ Both to Noctis when they first met and to Cor in the network. ] The power to change fate exists. [ He's sitting next to that literal power, right now. Yet when that power to change the future ended up in the hands of humanity in her world, an unprecedented amount of chaos and death ensued. There are consequences, lives at stake, and everything else to consider. When he knows not the future, can he effectively make the best decision for the world?

Her reassurance for him to save the world comes from experience in her own, her despair; she remains blind to a future where all are saved, unable see past it for herself. Yet while she does not know hope, she will encourage it in others as feeble as it is, if it means that he may believe this is not futile. Thus she repeats, ] It exists.

But there are consequences. [ What she considers most important is where that love for the world lies. She would give everything for her own. All of herself and more, so that it might have a future. But Noctis-- ] Even knowing if it exists, or that there is a means, ....defying fate is not the power of a king. It is of a god. Are you prepared to become one?

[carbungle]

[That makes him scowl.]

Come on. I told you already, I'm not.

[Taking those lives in his hands, becoming a god- same means to a similar end. Defying fate means defying the gods themselves, probably fighting them instead. And it's not as if he'd back down from the challenge - he's reckless that way, can't really help that - but the goal has to be worth it. And if it would only be trading some lives for others, with no guarantee the end result would be better, then it isn't.]

I think... it'll depend on how they want to play it out. If there's something we can do in the future that'll prevent more sacrifices, and still save the world? I'm okay with that. Or a way to save the people here without screwing things up back home, and to reverse what's been done to...

[A pause, as every one of his own conditions begin to sink in.]

....Geez.

[He exhales heavily at the end of it, lips curving into a weak half-smile, and just looks tired.]

That's... asking for a lot, huh.

[iustaegis]

[ She watches him as his expression shifts. A scowl-- something she's never seen upon his lips before, much less directed towards her; she flinches. Then, he deflates. He appears tired. Finally, a weak, defeated smile lifts the corner of his lips. He has realized how many things he must consider, how complicated this must be.

As painful as it is, this is good, for this isn't a choice he should make lightly; he will run into those who will lose something in whatever path he takes. If he wishes to change fate, it's going to take effort and more sacrifice; if not those he wishes to save, then the timeline that will fall to ruin itself. For these lost lives, she will weep. ]

Noct.... I am so sorry.

[ For her words, for what she is trying to say. If he appears in turmoil over this or what to do, it will only stall him for what he must, or eventually have to choose to do. For others, for the world, for that future, for the sunrise. The world is too precious and important to abandon. ] This... [ Even though he has asked for her opinion. ] is not what you want to hear, is it?

[ Do everything for the world. Give everything for the world. She would fight for him, if she could, but she is not in his world, and she, too, does not know of how best to save it when his world already has a fate to which he must adhere. She would not help him, either, until he is certain. As much as he has impressed her, dazzled her, amazed her at all that he is, all that he can do-- she will not lend aide or blessing.

She can only say this, as solemnly as it is, knowing what it could mean, if the world demands all of him: ]

Whatever will bring the most righteous path, guided by your want to help others... you must make your peace with it.

[carbungle]

I don't know what I wanted.

[It's a mumbled response, and he brushes his hands through his hair, fingers clenching slightly as if it'll pull the answers out of his own head somehow. The choice is his, he knows. That's probably what makes it so much more difficult. Who the hell is he, to be deciding this sort of thing for Lucis- no, the whole world? He's not even a king, he was never crowned, no matter what Luna or the gods might say. It's true that sometimes he hated being dragged down a path with no other option, born a prince, handpicked as the chosen while still just a child, all because of the bloodline and not through any merit of his own making. Even the Marilith attack had changed no minds; a broken Chosen is as good as any. Choice hasn't factored into much of his life until recently- not the big choices, anyway, not the ones that actually matter in the grand scheme of things. He's thoroughly unqualified to be picking which path the world should take, or which of the thousands of lives existing past or present deserves to endure in the future they're trying to rewrite here.

This whole thing is a mess, and trying to unravel it is becoming a nightmare. He doesn't like not knowing. He doesn't like not getting to choose. But he doesn't like the frightening prospects of their future, he doesn't like the idea of being the one to make any of these decisions.

What she says is true, though. Eventually he's going to have to make peace with one or the other... and that, perhaps, is the most frightful realization.

Slowly he straightens up, poking at the remnants of his half-eaten lunch and gathering what's left of it.]

I should head back... I told Luna I'd meet with her later.

[A flimsy excuse, since it isn't that much later yet, but she doesn't have to know that he's attempting an escape here. Even if he's vaguely transparent about it.]

[iustaegis]

[ Her eyes widen briefly before softening, closing. He had asked for her thoughts. She had dared to share them. Now, he will go.

It is as good an indication as any that while he says he does not know what he wants to hear, he does not enjoy hearing these particular words. She has said something wrong. It is not a matter of readiness; anyone might be distressed at being warned they should make peace with the future, whatever it may bring. She should have known better than to caution him, for he is young. Perhaps it would have been better to remain silent—

The gods’ voices are not meant for mortal ears, one of his family had told her. Having forgotten this warning, she has overstepped her bounds with Noctis, causing this grief.

At the very least, he will have others in this world who will tell him more comforting words to hear. More hopeful words, more encouraging words. Words that will not tell him to make peace, but that they will value him more than the future instead, that they love him that much. The words of his family. Family that he will hopefully embrace in return and tell them he loves them in return. Hopefully, Luna will cheer him up. Hopefully he will speak with her, and she will tell him what he would rather hear.

What else can she do but apologize again? ] ...I am sorry.

[ Realizing her mistake of giving her opinion on knowing or not knowing the future... she regrets the sever it has made, the way it seems to have made him feel. But she cannot take any of it back now.

Pyra releases her touch upon his shoulder, gaze lowering as she folds her hands upon her lap. He is free to go. ]

[carbungle]

[As she pulls away, even he, socially awkward fumbler that he is, can see the flaw in what's happened here. Her answer hadn't been what he wanted. His reaction hadn't been what she wanted, either. And neither can really help with what each feels, so what's to be done about it? He doesn't know, so he does the usual: he dodges, he runs. If he could phase through words as they're spoken he'd have done it, but magic offers no such luxury.

He does feel terrible that she's standing there, unhappy and apologizing for her own damned opinion, so when he stands up he thumps a hand lightly on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze that he hopes might in some way be comforting.]

You don't have to apologize, I'm the one who asked.

[It isn't her fault that she can't give him the answer he wants. He's not sure who could, if anyone. Given the situation, he probably shouldn't get the answer from another person. That's no different from home, following the tether of his fate like a dog. Leaving the decisions up to other people - or blindly following their advice without thinking about the pros and cons - is no way to lead. And like it or not, he's been forced into a position where he has to.

The touch is brief, and he doesn't smile, but beneath the lingering discomfort his voice is honest as he says, while he passes her to leave,]

Thanks... for the dance.

[It'd been nostalgic, a taste of home when he's so far away and unlikely to return for a very long time. That feeling is bittersweet, and in that sense, it echoes their following conversation. In the moment, though? That, he does not regret. And he's grateful for the feeling she'd given him, the kindness of her outstretched hand. The circle they'd drawn together in the snow.

That's what he'd rather take away from this, and given time, surely he can get there.]

[iustaegis]

[ His hand upon her shoulder, while warm and comforting, feels unwarranted. It is he who should be reassured in this moment.... But any words beyond apologies would be unwise, prolonging his departure. To acknowledge the touch, however, her hand comes up just as he squeezes her shoulder. By gently resting upon her fingers over his, she accepts this gesture nonetheless, and takes it for what it is worth.

That he says she needn’t apologize for giving her opinion means more to her than he may ever know. The reason behind her words regarding the future had come from despair, guilt, and ruin; none of this, he will know if she can help it, for he must focus on his own burdens, the light he must bring, and there is too much at stake in his world to distract him from it. Thus she gives him a smile to express her gratitude, eyes sorrowful with regret for hurting him. ] No... Thank you, Noct.

[ Privately, Pyra hopes to share a dance with him again, that this will not be the last of their meetings. But she sees no smile from him, and then he walks away.

Here lies another error: should she speak like this again to him, he will surely leave, the touch between them will fade, and she will have nothing to offer the gods of Havenwell. Knowing this, she will attempt be more careful in the future unless he should explicitly consult her once more. Whether or not he values a contrary or outside opinion, though, lies with him.

A part of her is glad that he’s chosen to leave. No touch given to the gods is worth hurting him. His family will preserve his smile, dazzling and bright. ]