♥ 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

[daikonrose]

"No, but you were the one who came up with the solution." Or, well, close enough to it. He'd gotten them on the right track! "Who knows how much time we would have wasted on skinship, if you hadn't said anything. --Ah, hold on." Kyoko was taking advantage of her own restored freedom to wiggle back and pull her foot down from the bench. When she pushed herself back up to take a proper seat on it, it was with enough space between them to rest her swollen foot, if she kept her leg bent.

[whenyouneedme]

Ah, there we go. Much comfier for everyone. Kai hummed his approval, taking a moment to assess how the swelling was doing.

"I'm sure we'd get there eventually." P...robably. Here came the ice again, ginger as could be. "But I'm glad, it'll be a lot easier to help you home."

[daikonrose]

And here came her hands, darting over to take that sweet strawberry ice away, briskly pressing it to her ankle herself. There was no hiss of pain this time, but her relieved sigh did have something like a quiet shudder in it. There was no comment on any of this as she gave Kaito a stern look. "Shouldn't you be going straight home, now that you can? Get some real ice and lie down."

[whenyouneedme]

Helper Dog blinked, confused by this sudden turn of events. "Huh? Yeah, probably, after we get you home?"

Obviously??

[daikonrose]

"No, I said now," she corrected. "Now that you can. That's what I said. You don't need to be my crutch." He had obviously already done his time, and then some. "You hit your head, so it's better if you don't wander around more than necessary. Just go directly home."

[whenyouneedme]

Kai blinked again, this time to look at her deadpan. "Don't be stupid. You're not hobbling home by yourself, and I'm not going to argue about it."

[daikonrose]

Her head tilted back sharply, face pinching a bit as she stared at him. "Stu--it's not stupid! Why are you so dead set on this? You've already done a lot!"

[whenyouneedme]

"Why are you so dead set on this?" He shot back in measured firmness. "What benefit is there to toughing it out?"

[daikonrose]

"All I'm trying to do is let you off! There's no reason for this to still be your problem!" It would be cool if she could be all firm like he was, but she was falling into more of a pout. "What benefit is there for you?"

[whenyouneedme]

"I like knowing I'm not an asshole that walks away and let's someone make the problem worse."

He will absolutely pick you up if you push it, Kyoko. There are at least two people in Havenwell that will vouch for this turn of events.

[daikonrose]

Pout intensifying, Kyoko leaned forward, hands curling into fists on the bench. "What? So why are you the only one who gets to be that way? Just because your injuries are harder to see right now, you're allowed to shrug them off, but I can't deal with a twisted ankle by myself?" Maybe she was unreasonable, okay! But this wasn't fair!

"If you have to help me back to my place, then--then you're banned from leaving it for six hours, minimum! You have to rest there before you get up again! I'll make sure you do it!"

[whenyouneedme]

That was a threat, probably? Maybe. Definitely something she expected him to refuse. Kai stared at her pouting for a moment in that same impassive way. Then he lifted his hand, taking advantage of her lean to gently poke that impressive crease between her brows.

"Sure."

[daikonrose]

Definitely something she expected him to refuse.

Snapping back sharply, she slapped a hand over her forehead. "... I'm serious!" A beat, and she snatched up the fallen sash. "I'll tie your hands and feet together if I have to! I won't hesitate!"

[whenyouneedme]

What, did she mishear him somehow? Why were there more threats??

"I said 'sure'? You don't really gotta tie up a willing participant."

Yet.

[daikonrose]

"I'm saying I won't let you wriggle out early!" No taking her home and then breaking the deal! But she paused. One more chance to be sensible and refuse. "You're really fine with this? You're not gonna start asking to leave at the four hour mark?"

[whenyouneedme]

He shrugged.

"It's more likely you'll get bored of looking at my dumb mug in your house first."

Maybe if he'd been the only one that had gotten any kind of scuff, he'd be the one fighting more here. He was compromising to make sure she benefited though. Camping out wasn't that big a deal.

[daikonrose]

"No," she said flatly, as her fighting spirit slipped away, since it wasn't actually needed for anything this time. "You'll definitely be the most exciting thing to enter my house since I moved in." This was a true fact, delivered simply.

And since they'd reached this accord, unexpected though it was, Kyoko didn't see too much reason in staying all cramped up on a hard bench when there were soft, spacious couches and beds waiting for them. Slipping the sash under her ankle, she wordlessly set about tying the bag o' smoothie to it.

[whenyouneedme]

Content now that he won, or something, Kai eased into a quiet grin. "Maybe for the first hour." Six was practically a sleepover.

He sat right there till he was sure she was looking ready to go. Then he was up, holding his hands out to her. This was another part of the helping, and the look he gave her suggested as much.

[daikonrose]

Glancing up between pulling loops of ribbon around, Kyoko huffed. "I told you already, I'm not negotiating on the time. Please just accept it."

But everything was tight and secure in short order, a neat bow to keep it all in place. Time to look up at Kai with a small frown, bite her lip, and grasp his hands.

[whenyouneedme]

"No worries, I'm committed." Committed to sleepovers.

He held on fast, lest she try to change her mind. There were a lot of things going on here, some that he understood and some that he didn't, so if there had been a better way he would have opted for it but... there weren't a lot of options for a regular old dude. They were going to have to make do with this.

"Ready? Heave-- ho--" With a firm grip, Kai helped pull her up to her good foot. One hand was let go of quick after, but only so he could make sure she was good and steady.

"You'll have to lead the way though."

[daikonrose]

Kai didn't need to worry; Kyoko wasn't going to fakeout on any handholds. Reluctant though she might be to accept them, once she'd committed, it would happen. Might as well get it over with, or something.

She even quietly took his arm without prompting, able to link hers through it properly now that they didn't have to deal with awkward bound wrists. But her gaze strayed down and away from him. "Yes... do you live in the Marshes, too? That's where we're going."

[whenyouneedme]

That took Kai a second. The last time he'd heard the name of the district actually spoken was probably when he'd moved in, so he had to remember what that even was. So after an approximate moment of squinting, his face relaxed with an, "Oh! Yeah, yeah, that's the place."

Which meant there wasn't going to have to be a lot of direction until they actually got there and looked for her specific townhouse.

[daikonrose]

Look, Kyoko had no friends here, she didn't know what the hip slang was for all the hoods. She had dutifully taken note of the name when she arrived, and that was that. There was no reason to think she was out of the loop on this!

She narrowed her eyes at Kai. "What... so do you actually know where it is? Don't fib."

[whenyouneedme]

"What? Yeah, I do. I just haven't heard the name in a while."

Or, wait, was this an issue with the directions? Kai hummed. "I dunno which one is yours though, they all kinda look the same."

[daikonrose]

There's a suspicious little hrm, but then she more or less lets it go. "I was afraid you might be the kind of guy who has to act like he already knows everything. But if you're just forgetful, that's fine. I'll guide you carefully."