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abraxaslogs2021-12-11 04:23 pm
The Dimming - Thorne
Throughout the Kingdom of Thorne, the Dimming is begun. This festival, held in harmony with the annual cycle of the seasons and the slide of the Singularity into temporary dormancy, is a celebration of two halves. The mood is generally somber and reflective in the days leading to the winter solstice itself, with the promise of a fantastic explosion of life, light and renewal waiting on the other side.
The Festival begins with song. As the sun goes down across the Kingdom, a many-layered hymn the Summoned have never heard begins to rise up from the streets. The words are strange and arcane, but everyone in Thorne seems to know them. Young, old, rich and poor alike all watch the darkness fall together, each holding the flickering light of a candle as they sing an ancient promise to be light for one another.
In distant Hayle, the bitter cold has the congregants gathering in the tunnels built into the mountainside.
Borrel sees the farmhouses scattered among the fields linked to the central barracks with military processions.
Lamplight scatters on the water as a flotilla of fishing vessels line up along the lakeshore of Nott.
And in Castle Thorne, the King and Queen step out onto the royal balcony to join the ceremony with a heavily gilded lantern each.
For the week to come as the days continue to grow shorter and dimmer, all of Thorne makes the lofty pledge to rely not on the convenience of magic, but on the kindness of others. Enchantments providing light, heat and many other necessities are dispelled, replaced for the season with their mundane counterparts. Many households bring out heirloom lanterns from storage, blow the dust from tools ordinarily rendered obsolete with the simplest word of a spell and get ready for a week of wholesome back-to-basics contemplation.
Street vendors set up stalls with intricate votives and lanterns for sale alongside strengthening mugs of richly spiced mulled wine and baskets of sweetbread. Shadow puppet storytellers delight children with tales of brave Thornean heroes of old, knights accompanying a temporarily weakened mage as she carries the hope of light returning back to its source of the Singularity, fending off attack from monstrous creatures wreathed in darkness. And as midnight falls, a procession of volunteers carry candles to ring the city walls themselves in light: a hundred flickering flames to guard against the night until dawn.
The following morning, anyone who listened carefully to the words of the song will realize the Thread the Thorneans made reference to wasn't strictly metaphorical. Symbolising interconnectedness, a long, continuous cord has been strung in a winding path through the labyrinth of each city’s streets— and it isn’t long before each begins gathering colourful ribbons tied like fluttering bunting all along its length. During the Dimming, Thorneans write their wishes on these strips of fabric and affix them to the Thread... while others choose to take a ribbon from it as a vow to make that wish come true by the season’s end.
Few in Thorne believe in gods these days, but according to tradition there is unusual and bountiful luck to be found in answering another’s prayer. Should any of the Summoned ask at any of the streetside vendors for a ribbon of their own, they will be invited to write a wish and tie it to the Thread wherever they like (Don’t forget to sign it so anyone inspired to generosity knows how to find you, though!). They are also welcome to claim any already hanging there if they would like to do a little good for others in the spirit of the season.
Every community across the Kingdom has its own Thread, but the courtyard of Castle Thorne itself is the true focal point of the season’s festivities. Set up on a raised platform is a richly gilded throne, notably empty, and as the Dimmest Day approaches the courtyard begins to fill with offerings.
Laid before the throne is an ever-growing carpet of gifts. Candles in decorative lanterns, wreaths and garlands, hampers of food, bottles of wine, some with carefully written cards nestled beside them while others are accompanied by a child’s drawing. These gifts come not only from the residents of the castle and the surrounding town, but also from settlements further afield. Each of the great cities has sent something in tribute— but not to the King, the Queen, or even the High Mage. The throne is not for them.
Any of the Summoned curious enough to peek at a card or ask one of their hosts about the ceremony will discover the gifts are all intended for a mage selected to carry an impossible burden, sacrificing their life to restore magic to the world.
(Coming soon! The events of December 21st and beyond will depend on player actions...)
no subject
Panic sets in. Wall behind her as it is, she has nowhere to go. Everything happens very quickly. In the moment she's certain she's made the wrong choice, and things are about to go very bad for her. There's nowhere to easily run to, she's barely armed, her Thornean magic is essentially useless right now. But the desire for self preservation is strong and some deep instinct takes over. Something inside of Nadine seems to twist and suddenly the world is blurry and there's a peculiarly electric sort of sensation coiling and twisting inside of her. There's the thought that some magic is being worked on her and vision fades...but quickly reasserts itself and Nadine finds herself looking at an entirely different perspective.
Everything feels different. Even her physical sense of self. What the hell just happened?
To the outside viewer, Nadine has seemingly vanished, and the head of a very upset looking white wolf is sticking out of the bundle of her cloak.]
no subject
[Well. Kylo wasn't expecting that. He blinks, looming even taller now that Nadine has shrunk down, but he doesn't make any sudden movements.
In fact, the bulk of him may be shielding her from sight— though it's possible residents of the capital are used to people suddenly shifting shapes anyway. Kylo's not certain how common this kind of magic is. He is certain she's still in there, however. His senses aren't so easily fooled by outward appearances.]
I'm not going to harm you. No-one here is.
no subject
She does, at least, recognize Kylo. Who looks impossibly large from this particular angle. That's one thing dealt with - he may be imposing and odd, but he's not a threat to her. The rest of the situation, however...
How had this happened? While she'd talked to Flagg about learning to do the things he could, and he'd awakened that ability in her...he'd never actually taught her anything. And this is one of the things he could do. But...
Apparently, with the danger seemingly passed, whatever dim and distant part of her brain controls these things has decided there's no need for such extreme defense, either. Just as she's starting to work out her new shape, she feels that electrical sensation again. It isn't painful, but it's hardly pleasant. Nor is finding herself regular-shaped again, wrapped in her cloak...with her kirtle and dress puddled at her feet.]
Uh....sorry. About that. Oh wow, you still look too big.
no subject
[Ah. Awkward. Once Kylo realises Nadine's not really wearing her clothes anymore he glances away, still providing something of a screening effect by virtue of being... yeah. Too big. He won't be staring at her while she wriggles under the cloak to get back into her dress, and nor will anyone else.]
I startled you.
[Statement. Not apology. But... about as close to one as anyone gets from Kylo Ren.]
I take it you're... visiting?
[You know, the disguise of it all. Not generally what someone wears when planning a more permanent return, though he supposes it's possible she's here to scout out the possibility.]
no subject
[Nadine sighs as she awkwardly gets her clothing back on under cover of her cloak, already feeling rather done with the night. She's going to need to examine what happened later, hard as it is to focus on anything else right now. How had she done it?
Later. She'll figure that out later.]
Uh, yeah. Not a lot of news makes it down to where we are, so...
[She stands back up, adjusting her kirtle, and realizing...Kylo doesn't seem huge, he is huge. That's new.]
no subject
[Being a gigantic hulk of lurking menace by default, Kylo isn't very good at looking amused, or pleased, or relieved— but he is pleased to see Nadine is well, if a little flustered and jumpy enough to slip into some kind of animal form on reflex. His mouth tugs like it's attempting a smile but doesn't quite remember how.]
So you thought you should take advantage of the festival to check in on us. Clever. It is unlikely you'll be noticed, and there's a lot of traffic. I don't think I've seen so many people visiting the capital since we were brought here.
[Hm. She is looking at him a little... strangely. Isn't she. His eyes narrow a little, then he cracks an actually recognisable smile.]
Ah. Yes. I am.
[You know. Taller.]
no subject
[At least someone thinks it's a good idea. Nadine can't imagine this kind of opportunity comes often, best to seize.]
I wanted to find out how things are going, and see Ronan. And...uh...is that a magic thing, or have you just been eating a lot of veggies?
[She assumes it's the former. Physical alterations can happen, as she well knows. Still. The added height only makes him come off as more threatening and intimidating. He really hadn't needed any help in that department.
But it's nice to see him smile. She can't remember if she's ever seen Kylo smile before.]