EVENT #6: PEACE ON THE HORIZON

[abraxasmods]

Event #6 - EVENT INFO

go to the OOC event info and plotting post

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Those that agree to attend the Summit will travel via portals to the designated location, which is out in the open in neutral territory. Plenty of pretty mountains and flowers. A magic field is erected over this area. Characters can only enter and exit at designated portals. It is not possible to leave this encircled area, which will also negate teleportation and portal spells. Plus, you don't want to embarrass your faction by sneaking out of bounds!

Before entering, all will be given a pin that designates what faction they belong to. This pin is not only color-coded but enchanted so that even should the appearance change, mages from any faction can identify who is who. The Summoned will be required to wear this pin at all times during the Summit.

The Summoned will be offered a comfortable tent to stay in during the 3-day Summit period! There's also a communal bath and a lounge to enjoy. A simple but tasty complimentary breakfast is provided for everyone, and additional meals can be bought from the faction booths or at the lounge. See the Neutral Section detailed below for more.

As noted, CHARACTERS MAY CHANGE FACTIONS USING THIS EVENT. To switch factions, please reply to the comment here. See the OOC post (link above) for details or questions!

The "Peace" Summit

An open plain flanked by mountains to the north and south, a large circular area has been fenced off. Large poles embedded into the earth are connected with magical rings, drooping heavy in the middle as if the ethereal chains have real weight. The area is divided into thirds, each section a mass of colorful tents and booths. In the center is a large wooden stage. All attendees must sit through this keynote speech. It's only polite.

The Prime Minister of the Free Cities begins the opening address. In formal military regalia she's the first to address the crowd, raising her arms high to command attention. She's smiling.

+ Marlo's Speech

"We'd like to start by welcoming all of you. For those that don't know me, I'm Marlo Renier, Prime Minister of the Free Cities. With me are Councilwoman Winifred Bordeaux of the Solvunn Communities and Queen Ellya Gladwin of the Kingdom of Thorne. We come together today in the spirit of good will. We may be divided by borders but we're all neighbors. We all share this continent. We may not always share the same opinions or agree on everything but who does? There's one thing we do agree on though - nobody is looking to start trouble. That's about the last thing anybody needs right now. That's why we're all here today. A show of good faith, a display of trust, and hopefully the first step on a long road of diplomacy and mutual understanding. And we all expect everybody on their best behavior and to conduct themselves in the spirit of this Summit.

I'm going to turn things over to Councilwoman Bordeaux now. Thank you, and you all should come check out what the Free Cities has to offer! Councilwoman?"

Marlo steps aside for the representative of Solvunn to take center stage.

+ Winifred's Speech

Winifred steps forward, nodding hear head to Marlo before turning her attention to the gathered crowd. Her own attire is modest, a dress of ivory and forest green adorned with hundreds of embroidered flowers and a velvet bodice in a deep wine red.

"Thank you, Prime Minister. Some of you are likely only to know of Solvunn due to the terrible circumstances surrounding Eifstide, for which we must humbly apologize. It was not our intention to cause such pain and happened merely by accident. While that does not take away what has occurred, we do hope that we can move forward together to create a brighter, more connected continent. All of us has something to share with each other, and it is my sincerest hope that we may learn from you, as well.

The Gods smile upon the unification of our mighty communities! May we be blessed with a friendship of longevity and prosperity!. For those of you curious as to what Solvunn can do for you, look no further than this Summit's festivities. It is my pleasure to let Queen Ellya of Thorne conclude todays formalities."

+ Queen Ellya's Speech

When it's Queen Ellya's turn to speak, she addresses the crowd with hands folded. For this occassion she's worn an elaborate gown of bright blue shot through with silver that seems to shift and move through the fabric.

"Such inspiring words, truly. I can only echo the sentiments put forth before me. I hope that this Summit shows to one and all that Thorne intends no aggression toward our fellow kingdoms. Certainly, through collaborative efforts such as this, understanding can be found. Tensions can be resolved. Even between such opposite minded cultures. I am confident that these few days will be very illuminating for each and every one of you. I urge you to go forth with eyes and ears open, to ensure all that can be learned is. Enjoy yourselves. Indulge yourselves. Educate yourselves. The festivities will now commence!"

Spreading her hands towards the audience, Queen Ellya slowly steps back to her place with the others.

From here on out, the festivities commence! Characters are encouraged to freely explore each faction's section as they please - and of course, to be respectful of their neighbors. They're all friends here, after all.

Mingle & Activities

Every faction has their own setup of booths and displays that feature a variety of activities and items. Booths open in the morning and close a couple hours after sundown in the evenings. Attendants at each place will be friendly, although some may notice that while the Summoned wander more freely, there is very little intermingling among the locals of each faction. The occasional dirty look may be exchanged when no one's looking and those with keen eyes might find evidence of petty bits of vandalism.

Click to expand the sections below for a description of each area.

Thorne Section

Each booth in Thorne's section are adorned with opulent fabrics in the same blues and silvers of the Queen's dress. Magically lit lanterns are strewn on the fronts and within tents and will change colors throughout the day and over the course of the weekend. Regardless of the weather, being beneath the awnings is always pleasant as if indoors in a properly warmed and ventilated room. Nothing is left wanting. Luxury and ease through the use of magic is emphasized.

Though not calling out any who wander the aisle, any who approach a booth will be greeted with a pleasant smile. Mages are eager to show off their magicks by the use of spells, staves, wands, and magical enchantments from ancient tomes. A booth from Hayle University gives demonstrations and short lectures on the hour every hour, letting the Summoned know that with enough practice they, too, can become a Master of Magicks.

For those who came with a full coin purse, there are fine wines, expensive tapestries and fabrics, sparkling accessories and more available for purchase. If you're feeling hungry, it is highly suggested that you try the decadent and delicately dressed dishes comparable to what's served in Castle Thorne itself.

Along with magic shows, the most popular booth is that of the Pondering Orb. Form an orderly line and wait for your turn to approach the orb. All will be allotted five whole minutes to think their deepest thoughts as they lay their hands upon the orb and ponder. The little bit of tingling that you feel and the faint glow that grows the longer you touch it just means that it's working.

Free Cities Section

The Free Cities area can be heard from nearly all the other sections, alive with sound and activity. There's a state of carefully balanced chaos between the different booths and lanterns are connected by long wires, powered by generators placed proudly out in front - in almost direct competition to the magical light show that Thorne has been putting on. It's just a bit of friendly rivalry, of course. There's nothing wrong with having such a strong reliance on magic, even if it seems rather outdated.

Attendants are eager to show off all their grand innovations, including meals in a can (main course and dessert all in one dubious goop can!) and a small variety of old-style guns. They are the only faction displaying these weapons. In addition, they'll talk about the impressive level of productivity their workers provide in the name of progress. Naturally, no one is forced to work overtime. It's only that their people are so dedicated to their work, even a common factory worker will go out of their way to help science and innovation. The Summoned are encouraged to consider joining a nation with such a high level of ambition, and there's always room for everyone in their powerful military.

To commemorate the event, those participating can stamp their bronze with a fancy gear pattern. It takes about fifteen seconds to press and renders the bronze worthless to spend, but what's more valuable than a souvenir? There is a sign that says No refunds if you aren't happy with the result, although if the machine happens to swallow your coin, you will be given a new bronze to stamp free of charge. Isn't that generous?

Solvunn Section

Solvunn's booths are covered with handmade tablecloths in various styles - quilted, patchwork, crochet, and intricate embroidery. Enchanted candles of all shapes and sizes float and illuminate the area, some changing color as the day goes on. When the sun sets, all the candles take on a shade that imitates moonlight.

Those who are running booths will call out to anyone who approaches, ushering them to the booths in order to ply them with friendly conversation and small samples of their wares. For the right price, there are specialty honeys, cheeses, candies, and all other manner of goat-based products. A few booths also have goat's milk soaps, lotions, and candles. Ask a Solvunnite about what good a goat is and they'll tell you everything. The mages are equally more than happy to show off their mastery, though not just in flashy elemental magic. Mages fond of divination, tealeaf readings, and interpreting tarot will offer one-on-one demonstrations, especially if you've some coin to spare.

This year, Solvunn has decided to extend its Spring Equinox celebration to the other Abraxans at the Summit! Everyone is encouraged to join in the festivities as now is the time for observing the balance of day and night. This celebration is devoted to new life - new community members, additions to their flocks, and the bringing of goodwill for the year's crops. A maypole is erected at the center of the celebration and if it stays upright until the following festival, it's taken as a sign that the community's harvest will be bountiful.

Additionally, the shrine of Lyfbringr has been erected with paintings and several small statues depicting an androgynous god that appears as an amalgamation of man, flora, and fauna. The shrine is enclosed in a tent that is half bright cheery colors and darker monochromatic shades.

Representatives of Solvunn stand by to weave colorful ribbons or rings of flowers into people's hair or tie small bells onto their wrists. There are many baby goats frolicking in a temporary paddock that guests are free to mill about in. The Summoned are invited to consider a life among a peaceful neighborly commune where help and friendship are right at your doorstep!

Neutral Section

This area is meant for everyone to mingle, but the Summoned will find they're mostly the only ones here as the locals prefer to stay within their factions. It's lightly decorated with no particular colors or emblems of any one faction. Ample ambient lighting gives the place a warm glow once the sun goes down. Wooden benches are placed sporadically between the different designated areas, making sure that no one has to go far to find a place to rest their feet.

The Lounge Tavern is open at noon for 2 hours for lunch, and then again at sunset in the evenings, where anyone can come to have a drink or a meal. Beneath the protection of a large, open air tent, seating is provided in the form of more wooden benches and long shared tables, as well as a few stools. Vintages, ales, and meads from each of the factions are available to enjoy. A few recreational activities are available, as well, such as darts and dice games. The tables and seats are placed close together, to encourage mingling and talk among each other. Though the bar is staffed by NPC volunteers, all are expected to bus their own tables when they leave.

The Sleeping Tents are where the Summoned will return to for the night to sleep. Each tent has large number of pillows, throws, and a few large mats that can be arranged as desired for optimal comfort. The ground itself is lined in animal pelts, mostly sheep and goat, making it soft and inviting. They are indeed shared, but there's plenty of room for everyone. Each tent can fit about 8-10 people - or more, if you cozy up.

The Communal Baths open in both the evenings and in the mornings for a few hours each, which is effectively an open bathhouse pool. The pool is dug into the ground itself and lined with special tile manufactured from the Free Cities, hailed for its ability to hold water without the use of special sealant. The waters are magically warmed to the ideal temperature using enchanted stones from Thorne that create a natural border around the edges, and soap (made of goat's milk, courtesy of Solvunn) and towels are provided. Here, those attending can bathe as well as use it as a mingle.

Summit Events

Meant to be a "collaboration" between the factions, the Summit also offers activities that take place on the main stage where the speeches were initially given.

Raffle

The Summoned will be provided a single courtesy raffle ticket, which they can use to enter the raffle contest. Additional tickets will cost an extra 5 bronze coins. To enter the raffle contest, fill out the comment here and we will RNG your prizes!

Regardless of luck, all those who enter will receive all 3 (one of each) of the following consolation prizes:

• Inkless Quill: Provided by Thorne, this is a magical quill that never runs out of ink...sort of. It'll work for about a month of heavy use before it runs out of juice. The Thorne sigil will automatically watermark any pages that this quill is used to write on.
• Tote Bag & Charm: Provided by Solvunn, this soft woven tote bag comes with a small handmade charm depicting a sigil of one of the old gods. If asked what the god or sigil means, the only answer is that you will know when your time comes.
• Glow Ring: Provided by the Free Cities, this ring will adjust to fit any finger size. It comes with a round orb instead of a jewel that can light up on command and act as a powerful torch or flashlight. Very powerful. People have gone blind by looking directly into it for too long.

An Escaped Creature

On the second day of the event, rumor has it a small creature has gone loose! The offender in question is this little fellow, who is the size of a small poodle. The Summoned are asked to help find and catch him, if at all possible. He's noted to be harmless if mischievous, but all those in the area are warned to be careful for if he's startled, the animal will eject a magical plume from his quills that can cause one of the following temporary effects: excessive sneezing, a change in hair color, glitter bombed, or to emit a constant glowing aura.

No one knows where he came from or who brought him, but ask any of the faction attendants and they'll be liable to start pointing fingers at the other side. Nonetheless, all those who make an effort to help catch him will be thanked and available mages may attempt to help with the side effects.

If you want your character to make a real attempt at catching him, reply to the comment here by Feb 20th and we'll RNG who eventually catches him. If your character fails, however, they must take one of its side effects for the rest of the day. The choice as to which one is yours! The winner will be rewarded with a token bottle of wine for their troubles or a very fancy dessert if they don't drink.

Comments

sorry about the delay on this! I needed to research old greek instruments ;;

[lackingtalent]

[Not illusion magick, then. Creation magick, or this world's approximation of it. What can be said? Hythlodaeus is surprised- unabashedly so, and his hand does falter ever so slightly before it finally accepts the pretty little gift.
Really. He'd much prefer the plant rooted and within the ground, performing a purpose greater than being given out for the sake of how pretty its flowers were- but Jaskier's charm has him take it, curiously, without voicing that opinion.

And as he focuses upon it- (Yes. The petals were perfect. Yet beyond aesthetics, the functional parts of the flowers, both male and female parts, are created with just as much attention to detail...) he answers. With a faint laugh.]

Oh, we had instruments! Psaltrys, synrinxes, kitharas, the aulos, hydraulos organs... Yet I would imagine the closest to your lute would be the lyre. And variations thereupon. A classical lyre would be shaped similarly to this- [The hand holding the flower traces around Jaskier's lute's rather... rotund and very pear-shaped body, yet does not touch it.] yet in place of this long neck, there would be two, spreading outward from the body in a fan shape. The strings would be fixed at the base to a tailpiece precisely like yours, but between these two necks. Affixed to a crossbar at the head.

...Yet really, there were a number of variations. Strings, mostly! Some lyres have three, or four. Others have seven, or even twelve! And the names. Really, every time someone decided to make a lyre variation- be it adding more strings, changing the shape or size, or even adding novel elements such as tuning pegs or two yokes- of course a new name was granted to their creation. ...Therefore, it became rather difficult to ascertain what sounded like it was being played by what in the end.

[A small, almost fond laugh leaves him then. For that was their kind in a nutshell. So many ideas, and not enough time.

...But ah, was that too much of an explanation? He glances to Jaskier as if to determine whether or not the bard's eyes had glazed over, yet (happily) he finds him still quite attentive. ...And even more happily, it appears the other man has been fit to give him a practical showing.

He blinks at the explanation, his eyes falling to the fingerboard and Jaskier's example. And oh, it's odd. While his explanation of the lyre compared to the lute sounded like they had similarities, watching it shows quite the opposite. While yes, both are instruments with differently tuned strings, the fact he is not preventing unwanted notes by damping the other strings as well is...

Unique.

To him, anyway. Gingerly, he does as asked. And...]

Oh. I see now. The shape of the body allows the sound to echo!

[He seems rather taken, indeed. And as he looks up, his tone is warm.]

It's quite amazing. How do you remember all of your songs?

no worries!!

[cointosser]

[My, that is quite the list. His brows slowly raise higher with every very unfamiliar word, only imagining the sorts of instruments -- the sounds! -- other worlds coule offer. And though they are all mostly unfamiliar, among all of them is one he does recognize. He latches onto the word as one he knows well.]

Yes, I actually know the lyre! I had a dear friend who specialized in it. Perhaps the shape differed a bit, but I imagine it must be something similar. The songs she could play were like a dream. Of course, I have my own proclivities in strings, but there was no doubting what it was capable of.

[Oh, a man after his own heart. Light-toned, with a soft laugh, a pretty face, and a voice he could listen to talk of music for hours. What a refreshing occurrence at this summit.]

Did you know these people, then, who so personally so personally crafted the variations? I can only imagine! Did they play them all together at once? Some sort of... lyre orchestra?

[It is simply the nature of his world that a bard must so often be a solo act -- and their egos hardly allow the sharing of fame, more often than not, especially when it means the sharing of coin.

Jaskier has moved towards the idea of sharing, honestly. He is a perfectly excellent musician on his own, but with the right accompaniment, the music can only improve.]

How do I remember? Hah. I'm not sure how to answer that. I simply... do. They are my creations, after all. I hardly need to think to recall the words or the notes. When I need them, they're there. That's all.

[lackingtalent]

You do? Ah, then fair butchering the description matters not.

[A brief smile accompanies that statement, and his head tilts just so as Jaskier speaks of this other person. If, by the by, he's surprised that the instrument endured beyond the world that he thinks to have birthed it, he does not show it. The mention of this woman and her lyre could very well be formed into an enchanting story, and the last thing he would want is to cut it off prematurely.

Yet regardless of his care, it does not form anything of the sort. Instead a question is posited, and it brings his hand to his chin.]

Hm... I imagine so! The variations, I imagine, could very well be used in combination. For really, there's rather a lot of variety to be had.

[As for knowing those who made the variations...]

Well. Where I am from, there was a number of offices, you see. Each dedicated to improving the star for all who called it home, present and future. One office of such was dedicated to the arts- and thus hosted a number of remarkable individuals who then produced masterpiece after masterpiece- Dance, drama, writing, architecture, painting, sculpture... and so much more. Such as the development of instruments. One might consider that an artform unto itself.

...I've known a few creators, most certainly. Yet not all, more's the pity.

[But. He listens as Jaskier speaks casually, easily, of something which is both casual and easy to him. And he can't help but allow himself another laugh.]

You speak of it as if it is nothing! I, on the other hand, would be trembling fingers and thumbs, mind utterly blank. You have a skill, and I'll admit, I'm rather envious.

ah my last tag decided not to go through... my apologies

[cointosser]

[Perhaps to anyone else the very mention of offices alone could be a boring topic, yet Jaskier looks captivated. Finding anyone to speak of about music was rare enough; the variations between instruments even more so. It is not to say the people of the Free Cities are uneducated -- indeed, they're more educated than a vast majority of those dwelling on the Continent -- but music is not a priority here when the military soaks up so much coin and attention.

All those masters in one place. The art, the poetry, the theatrics...]

Gods. How I would love to walk among such a group.

[His voice gone soft, wistful. He smiles, and his heart flutters in such a lovely way.] I think only because it comes so naturally. A skill that has received its fair share of practice, I suspect, though it was all unconscious. [He can't help but think he might not be so sad to see this man attempt. Trembling fingers and thumbs.] Surely you have something similar that comes easily to you? Something I should envy in turn.

No problem! apologies for my own delay too ;;

[lackingtalent]

Oh, you'd have been more than welcome amongst their number. A talent such as yours would have been revered among my people, I'm quite certain.

[It's with a faint sadness that he answers, but it is a fleeting kind of it. For how can he be (visibly) downcast when the echo of Jaskier's song still plays in his mind? When he's talking with the man behind such an earworm, must less be permitted to learn how the song is formed?

The thought of the Words of Altima, what became of them, what became of every living soul upon their star is a sadness that plays at the edge of his tone, most certainly. Yet it is not the breadth of it. Still. At the question, he tilts his head ever so faintly, turning his gaze down to the entwined flowers safe within his keeping.]

Well...

[No, would be his answer. Some quip about uselessness (an old joke. But one still very dear to him.) would follow. But perhaps, if only for the fondness of that song...]

There is something. Yet it is not something I would show you with an audience present.

[His hand then withdraws from the lute- A gesture of it around the tent follows. There are those that still linger, either too deep in their cups to move without being told to or those that linger close by, hoping to speak with Jaskier themselves.]

Would you accompany me on a walk? ...Of course, if you'd rather speak with the rest of those that wish to speak with you, I'll not take offense.