[Moonrise Festival] [Open/Event] Year of the Ox

[Deleted]

To welcome in the coming New Year, everyone is being invited to attend the Moonrise Festival being held in Moon Dance Forest. Come and join Landers and Adventurers alike in this celebration of the previous year and the coming one, reminiscing over days gone by while also looking forward to the ones yet to come.

The entire village is celebrating, with the various shops decorated with bright twinkle lights. Booths have been set up for games and food. A dance floor has been temporarily laid at the heart of the village, under the glowing Moon Spirit, for those who wish to express their joy for the coming days in a more flashy way.

One of the biggest traditions is receiving your fortune from the coming year from the Sakura Tree Spirit. To ensure a plentiful and beautiful new year, all are asked to present an offering to the Sakura Tree when they first arrive at the festival. To do so, place an item from your inventory at the base of the tree. The items disappear, believed to be distributed across the world to those in need. In return, the tree will offer you your fortune for the coming year. It is said these fortunes are often quite accurate and many take the words of the Spirit very seriously, sometimes to the point that they become self-fulling prophecies, in a sense. The area around the tree is beautiful and elaborately decorated with a path way specifically to wait in line and have your turn at the base of the giant tree. Whether in season or not, the tree blooms fully on this night, casting a warming glow over everyone who comes near it.

After you've made your offering and accepted your fortune (good or bad), you may decide to venture down the winding pathway to the small stream. The forested path is lighted with lanterns every so often. A booth has been set up at the end of the path, just before the waters edge. Pieces of paper, a writing implement, and small boats have been left here. A tiny note explains that you can write two things down, one on each side of the paper. On one side, you write a wish for the coming year. On the other, you write down a negative feeling/regret or an apology to someone which you wish to let go of or resolve before the year ends. After that, you fold it up, place it in the tiny boat and put it into the water. The current takes it and it is said to be sent to the spirits, hopefully to grant your wish and give you the forgiveness you need for the bad parts of the year.

Your other choices are in the main part of the village and include the dance floor, which is mostly hosting up-beat and cheerful tunes. The occasional slower, romantic song is thrown in but the celebration is meant to be full of energy. If you are not feeling the music, you can head over to the gaming booths and try your luck at the Goldfish Bowl Ball Toss, Darts, Ring Toss, and other common festival style games.

Food is plentiful, with various booths selling candies and other portable food (lots of stuff on sticks) as well as some selling sit down style food. A few picnic-type tables have been set up for those with choose the not-on-the-go style. In theme with the Asian-aspects of the village, the town is also celebrating the coming year being the Year of the Ox. As such, various decorations featuring oxen decorate the town. Trinkets are also available which feature the likeness of an Ox.

Oddly, some have commented that they have seen a cheerful young girl, giggling and smiling while handing out Red Envelopes to those that are kind to her. No one recognizes her but some believe she is one of the spirits of the forest, come to enjoy the festivities. Should you see her, perhaps it would be beneficial to speak with her?

All are asked to stay and celebrate until the year switches and even after. However, a special display is planned for the moment 2020 becomes 2021.

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When you make your post visiting the tree to leave an offering, please also roll a 24 sided die at the end of your post, preferably not hidden inside a template so it is easy to see. You may leave an item from your inventory which is not a non-tradable item or you may craft a new one for this purpose specifically. Please be very specific which item you are offering from your inventory as it WILL be removed from your inventory permanently. If you are crafting a new item and it has not yet been approved and added to your inventory, link to the crafting claim. Do not include what the Spirit's fortune is in your post, this will be given to you by a mod in a separate post.

If you would like to interact with the giggling young girl, please tag me at @sugar in your post, however I do plan to periodically have her appear in front of you guys at random, anyhow. I will control her actions though, if you do wish to interact.

All posts in this thread will be 1.1x AP for the entire month of January. Bonuses other than Mentor (ex: guild/alliance) may stack, up to a max of 1.5x AP.

[Deleted]

The village was bustling with activity, and everyone seemed rather excited for the festival. For the past few days that Sayha had been in the village, everyone had been talking about the Moonrise Festival. The biggest talk, though, was about the fortunes from the Sakura Tree Spirit. Sayha wasn’t sure whether she believed them or not, but she was definitely curious. Thanks to her time in the Forest, she figured it would be better to check it out for herself than to just wave it off as a superstition. After all, most superstitions had some form of truth in them… even the most cryptic ones.

Sayha made her way through the bustling village. It hadn’t taken long for her to reach the village since her home was just on the outskirts of the forest. There was a lot of music going on, most of it was upbeat. There were also plenty of lander booths selling traditional Japanese food and candy. It would be something Sayha would check out later, most definitely. For the time being, she made her way towards the center of the village. There was a line of people waiting to stop by the tree to offer an item to get their fortune. From what Sayha head, the items disappear and went to those who needed them the most. Whether that was true or not, Sayha didn’t know, but it most certainly was an interesting theory. Hiro would probably know more about it that she, but he wasn’t around at that point in time.

The line moves slowly, but eventually it was Sayha’s turn. Sayha opened up her inventory and pulled out the grimoire she made so long ago back when she was still a scribe. It was called the Tome of the Night Sky. Sayha carefully placed the grimoire at the base of the tree along with the other offerings. Then, she waited for her fortune to be given to her.

Words: 324

Coding by Sayha of LH

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Item Offered: Tome of the Night Sky: A black book with gold designs covering the outside. It has the ability to shoot a non-elemental magic bolt within 2 meters with a cooldown of 2 seconds.
sEEhtMt_1-241-24

[Deleted]

Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100%

---

Happy, Happy New Year!

We wish you all the best,

Great work to reach your fondest goals,

And when you're done, sweet rest.

We hope for your fulfillment,

Contentment, peace and more,

A brighter, better new year than

You've ever had before.

---

Currently stuck within the Moon Dance area for now, at least until his house was finished being set up by the lake, Dorian was excited to notice the celebrations going on in the heart of the village; from what he could gather off the villagers, it was the Moonrise Festival, a time for celebration and remembering the year that had just gone by. It reminded the Shaman of New Years at his family home, the Abernaths setting up fireworks on the roof and watching them go off from the front porch. Releasing a sigh, he shook his head, returning to the present as he moved into the celebration area.

While to other Adventurers and Landers, this was simply a high-spirited and joyful event, Dorian could feel the spirits themselves pressing on the world; no doubt that amount of emotion flowing through the air here was drawing them in, their curiosity of the mortal realm irresistible. Stopping for a moment, the Shaman glanced up at the Moon Spirit, hovering high within the sky above the village; the light it gave off seemed to flicker and glow, as well as turn on it's axis, giving off a fanciful light show for the dance floor beneath it. Spotting the dazzling area sectioned off for the jovial movements of celebration, Dorian noted to himself to give the dancing a go later.

What drew his attention most was the Great Sakura itself; it had only been a week or two since he had encountered and conversed with Sakura, the spirit that lay within the tree. Rumours and stories of the season and celebration today spoke of the spirit bestowing fortunes upon those who gave up items of value to the tree; these fortunes were no doubt genuine and as real as the spirit who gave them, and with a sense of trust for the Sakura Tree Spirit, Dorian was unable to avoid moving into the line that had formed, slowly approaching the base of the tree. While he doubted the spirit saw him as anything more than a student, passing through it's immortal, spiritual life, the Shaman saw Sakura as a friend, and he would be lying if he did not have small hope to see her again.

As he slowly got closer and closer to the tree, the line slowly dwindling out in front of him, Dorian glanced through his inventory to find something that would be worthy of a gift to the Sakura Tree Spirit. It was said the gift was distributed throughout the world, passed on to those who need it, and the Shaman didn't doubt it; Sakura was the kind of person not to bother with material things, but with the passing on of gifts, she could help the world as she always tried to do. A smile graced Dorian's palette as he spotted a familiar item in his inventory; the Cheesecake he had made back when he was a fledgling Chef in Londinium. Releasing a sigh, he removed the item from his inventory and held it aloft in his hands, reminiscing over times gone by in the recent end months of the year. He had only started adventuring around Halloween, and yet he had already collected a bounty of experiences and a great many friends.

With the line finishing off in front of him, Dorian made his way to the tree, stepping forward and gently placing his hand on the trunk. "I haven't forgotten you, Sakura Tree Spirit; I'm glad to see you're doing good for the people," he whispered softly under his breath, trying his best to communicate with the tree. Setting down the Cheesecake at the base of the tree, the Shaman stepped back slightly, tentatively closing his eyes as he awaited the fortune that Sakura had in store for him. "Let's see what else you have to teach me, old friend."

---

Notes: Item Given - Cheesecake
Word Count: 644
Tags: None

Coded by @serenityspace of LH

Ki_NxjO41-24

1-24

[Deleted]

Tonight was an odd night, for many reasons. At midnight, the previous year would become history and, with one single click of the clock, she and all the others of this world would enter into the beginnings of an entire years worth of new adventures, a complete blank slate which could be filled with countless things. Would it be good things? Bad things? A mix of both? Most of her memories of the past year were pleasant ones but the passage of time, the coming of yet another year in this world, a world she still didn't totally understand, what did that mean for her and everyone else? Most, including herself, had come to terms with their new life and accepted the world as their own. She liked it here and very rarely did she ever wonder about her previous life. But, on momentous days such as tonight, the thought creeped up on her and pawed at her subconscious... was time passing in the real world, as well? Was she really several years older than she once was? She still thought of herself as the twenty-two year old who first arrived here, she was pretty sure she even told people that was her age, if anyone ever bothered to ask. She hadn't celebrated any birthdays but what was the truth? Was she really twenty-four now? Her appearance hadn't really changed from the day she had arrived but... would it ever? If, by some chance, they did find themselves returned to their previous lives... would she even recognize herself anymore? To think that an entire year had gone by was definitely something to reflect on.

“Hey,” She heard a whisper from behind her and felt a light tap on her shoulder. “You're next,” Someone spoke up, indicating the line had moved forward while she was lost in her thoughts and she was next to present her offerings to the Sakura Tree Spirit. Artemisia blinked rapidly and flushed lightly with embarrassment. Nodding in thanks to the stranger, she stepped forward, out of the line and towards the beautiful tree. It was in full bloom, with dozens upon dozens of light pink petals reflecting the moon light. Here and there, a stray one drifted slowly back to the earth, resting quietly on the soil. The fox tail looked up at the tree and smiled, feeling comforted. She would face this year as she had every other – with a positive outlook. Whether this world was real or a fantasy she was here now and she would continue to enjoy it. Whatever would come her way, she would handle it. She knew she couldn't entirely control what would happen to her but she could control how she reacted to those events.

The blonde opened her inventory and scrolled through it. She didn't carry a lot of extra items but she knew what she wanted to offer to the tree spirit. There, at the very end of the list, was her old starter gear, her cloth armor. Taking the item into her hand, she couldn't help but smile again. So many battles and adventures in this armor but she had grown past it a long time ago. Somewhere out there, she believed, someone could make use of it and start their own adventure. Since it was said the spirit redistributed the items to those who could use it most, she hoped her offering would support someone else hoping to realize their dreams.

Artemisia bent her back and gently set the cloth armor down at the base of the tree, just as the others before her had done with their offerings. As if encased in a magical barrier, the sounds of the festivities underway not that far from where she was seemed to be drowned out, creating a calming and quiet atmosphere around the tree. She, like the other Adventurers, were following the traditions of the Landers who can come before them. Before one could enter the party, they were expected to make an offering and receive their fortune from the tree. It was considered extremely bad luck to skip this step and no one, including the Sorceress, wanted to bring about bad luck.

She wasn't entirely sure what happened next, as most just said “you'll see” when she asked about it but she was both excited and nervous to see what the Spirit had in store for her. She also was, honestly, a little eager to be done with this portion and move onto the festival itself. Her stomach grumbled as she thought about it... no party existed without food and certainly there was going to be plenty. Artemisia turned her green eyes up to the tree again and waited. She also hoped the others she had messaged would be here as well. When she had heard about the party, she had sent off 'Let's meet up!' invitations to most of the people on her, admittedly short, friends list. Her guild leader, Hiro, along with the co-leader, Midori were sent messages asking for them to join her. Oxford and Dorian, who were not of her guild, also got the message.

C90tWOtm1-24

---
Notes: Item offered is "starter cloth armor" from my inventory.
Words: 855
Tags: Hirosame , Midori , @serenityspace , @0x1dea 1-24

[Kaos]

Each Day Is an adventure in  its  own  right 569x1.1= 626 Words

Kaos trekked through the forest after hearing many rumors of a village hidden withing from the Landers in Londinium. A village that, around this time of year, should be lit up with various colored lights as they hold their New Year Festival. A concept that Kaos had not been able to enjoy as of yet, having spent his time during the Winter Festival in Londinium cleaning up his house and laboratory, and continuing his research. A fact that caused him to decide to take a break and go explore for a while to try an find the village hidden in the woods. After several long hours walking through the woods his senses were greeting with the lights, sounds, and smells of the bustling festival ahead. Rejuvenated, Kaos picked up his pace and soon found himself standing on a small road leading through the open wooden arch of the village.

Kaos slowly entered the village and walked between the booths, listening to the gossip of the Landers and adventures around. Several children ran around him; passing quickly as they hurried towards the gaming booths, chattering excitedly to each other. A smile crept across the Summoner's face as the energy in the air penetrated into his weary mind. A festival huh? It reminds me of the fairs I used to take my wife, and even some of the more able patients, to. It was often very therapeutic for them, perhaps it will be for me as well. He smiled and looked around, his attention was caught by a line forming in front of a large Sakura tree in the middle of the village. He turned to a Lander near by and asked them why there was a line. The Lander informed him of a tradition where people were submit offerings to the tree for various fortunes as well as guidance. He thanked the man and proceeded to the line of people.

As Kaos stood in line he thought of the old world, his experiments, and the world they were in now. I should join a Guild... I have put it off long enough and it might come in handy to have a network of individuals that I can rely on. Besides, they might be able to help me progress my research. Ahead of him he saw Sayha, an assassin who looked oddly familiar to him, and Dorian who did not although there was something nagging at the back of his mind that he knew the two from somewhere. He shook it off as the line progressed and he soon stood in front of the tree. He placed his hand on the tree, his fingers caressing the ancient bark. "I offer unto you my first long sword to help you protect these people. I ask of you no more than to continue inspiring the people around you and to keep them happy." He smiles at the thought of speaking to a tree but if this world and his role in it has taught him anything it was to respect the Spirits of the Land just as much, if not more than, the People of the Land. He took out his [Starter Long Sword] and pushes the tip of it down into the soul at the base of the great tree so it can stand on its own. He then bows to the tree and leaves the tree in peace to await his fortune.

Template By: OWL

|cxj2HWR1-24%1-24%

[Hirosame]

[attr="class","capsol"]

It was, for lack of better words, a mystical time of year for the people of Moon Dance Forest, and nobody knew that better than Hiro. Having spent more time here than any other Adventurer, having effectively been one of the few people to have even found the place, long ago, and then taking up a residence as well, he had been witness to this festival once before. And he knew just how important it was to the people of this village, as well as how much of an attraction it is to everybody else. As such, Hiro had joined a line of people who had begun waiting to bring a gift to the tree, as was the custom of the season. Bringing good fortune to one's life for the next year, as well as to bring about a good harvest, safety, and all other things that people would wish for, for the coming year. Last year, Hiro only watched as the festivities took place, deciding it wasn't his place to take part in a tradition that he knew nothing about. But, as the year churned on, he learned more and more, to the point where he felt that he would be accepted in taking part. But, still, he did something different.

Within the confines of his inventory lay a new thing that he had created for this occasion. A small figurine of one of the spirits of the forest; the Amaterasu. Though this one was specifically made in reverence to the one that he had known. He knew that there was something about the spirit that kept bringing itself back into his mind, but he just couldn't figure out what it was yet. Granted, given the incident that happened here not too long ago, he had a feeling that he knew what it could possibly be. Either way, though, he wanted to bring this statue to give to the tree, and hopefully send a message of thanks to the spirit in particular. Pulling the object out of his inventory, he held it in his hands for a moment, looking at it. Amaterasu was pictured, looking over two of the other Kitsune spirits. The Myobu and Nogitsune stood at either side, as the one in the middle lead on. He smiled just a bit, thinking of how much it had actually been like a guardian spirit, all this time. He looked up as the line moved on, and saw that he hadn't much time left before he would bring his gift to the tree. Instead of putting the figure away in his inventory, he kept it out.

Soon enough, it was the Monk's turn. Stepping forward, he looked up into the boughs of the great tree, one that he had become accustomed to seeing, and marveled in the beauty of its blooming limbs. A soft smile crept across his face, as he looked down to the base of the tree, where all the gifts had been placed beforehand. He knelt down, placing the statue at the base, and then clapped his hands together a few times. He closed his eyes, and made a silent prayer. Once that was done, he stood up, and started to walk away from the tree, down a long, winding path, that would lead to the nearby stream. Since he had taken a bit longer than most other people, the trail was silent and still. He stopped where he was, to look back up at the tree for just a moment. As he turned back around, he heard something crunch, like a twig or some leaves. Snapping his attention to that side, a small Myobu had appeared, and looked at him. Since they were docile, and didn't attack people, he felt no danger. The two of them looked at one another for a few seconds, before the spirit began to turn and bound away, back into the forestry. Hiro stood for a moment longer, before turning back to the path, and continuing along. The same smile had stayed on his face, as he moved along, towards the stream.

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[attr="class","bbar"]

[newclass=.bbar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","bbar"]

∝: 682
♫: Fi's Farewell
✏: Presumably at the stream now.
@: @sugarygiggles

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[newclass=.capsol ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

Item given: Crafting thread.

azVT1sOm1-241-24

[Deleted]

@shadowsaiph

“An item to bring power to the powerless, I thank you,” A gentle voice replies as you offer your gift. Before you, you see an unquestionably beautiful woman. She has long, flowing locks of light pink hair and deep, thoughtful amber eyes. Her entire presence radiates warmth and welcoming, from her posture to the gentle smile gracing her features. “I see mixed days ahead for you, young Assassin,” She says, her head tilting to the side as she examines you. “You will have many obstacles to face but...” She ponders again, “I believe you will rise to the occasion, so long as you are true to yourself. Always remember that you must protect yourself before you can protect others,” She smiles again, nodding. “I also wish to share with you the Story of the Ox, as I believe it will come to have meaning for you. It is a simple story in which the gentle ox spends his time eating grass all day. The Lunar Records say that one day, the ox ate the living grass demon and saved the farmers' harvest. An interesting story, don't you think?” She smiles at you once more and vanishes. It appears that no one else saw or heard what the young woman said to you.

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@serenityspace

“A delicious treat to fill the stomachs of the hungry, a worthy offering,” A kind voice reaches your ears. Before you, you see an unquestionably beautiful woman. She has long, flowing locks of light pink hair and deep, thoughtful amber eyes. Her entire presence radiates warmth and welcoming, from her posture to the gentle smile gracing her features. “Dear Shaman, I see great strength in your eyes, which I believe will guide you in your journey. You will easily determine your friend from your foe and know where to align your trust when the time is right.” She looks at you, her face soft but wise. "But remember, do not neglect yourself in your quest to support others," She adds on. “I leave with you the Story of the Monkey, which perhaps you may take some time to reflect upon. The Lunar Records mention a notorious Monkey King who set on his goal to prank the world. Once, the Monkey King requested a young chef to make him a pie, only for him to give it back to the maker - right in their face.” She laughs very softly, “What a silly little monkey, don't you agree?” With this, she nods her head gracefully at you and vanishes back into the tree where she came from. It appears that no one else saw or heard what the young woman said to you.

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@sugarygiggles

“I accept your offering to cloth the weak,” The soft words fill the air around you. Before you, you see an unquestionably beautiful woman. She has long, flowing locks of light pink hair and deep, thoughtful amber eyes. Her entire presence radiates warmth and welcoming, from her posture to the gentle smile gracing her features. “A tiny but powerful Sorceress I see before me,” She looks you over, up and down, nodding her head as if assessing you. “One which will face a dark, painful trial in the near future. You will find yourself lost in the darkness, without knowing where to turn. But, if you look, you will find there is always light to guide you,” She smiles at you reassuringly. “For you, I leave the Story of the Horse, as one day you will come to understand the tale. The wise words of old tell that you can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. The Lunar Records illustrates this saying in the form of a horse and his master who stopped by a mountainside lake. Due to the animal's refusal to take a rest, the two continued onward until they reached the nearest settlement. It was a good thing they did, because some nearby boulders were said to move and fall on their own, crushing another traveler hours later.” She appears thoughtful for a moment, “Fate is such an unpredictable thing, is it not?” She questions you but does not linger for the answer, vanishing as soon as her sentence fades away. It appears that no one else saw or heard what the young woman said to you.

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Kaos

“The power to defend, protect and defeat... an offering which will give the receiver many choices. I will accept it,” You hear a calm and gentle voice. Before you, you see an unquestionably beautiful woman. She has long, flowing locks of light pink hair and deep, thoughtful amber eyes. Her entire presence radiates warmth and welcoming, from her posture to the gentle smile gracing her features. “Oh Summoner, I see you seek what you have lost. I know not if you will find what you are searching for but I see happiness for you,” She smiles at you. “But know this, happiness comes in many forms and is often subtle. Remember to be ready to see the good times as they come and do not shy away from the unknown.” She looks at you with her wise eyes. “I wish to share with you the Story of the Boar. Recall it when the time is right and may it guide you when you need it. This is a tragic tale in the Lunar Records which describes the boar who was orphaned by a cruel hunter. Though he may have called down a company of his kin to take revenge, a kindly human came forward to warm the hardened pig's old heart.” She smiles again, seemingly pondering the story. “A happy ending, so it seems?” Her voice seems questioning as she vanishes. It appears that no one else saw or heard what the young woman said to you.

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Hirosame

“A thoughtful and meaningful offering, I will accept it.” The voice of the Spirit is kind and seems to appear from no where. Before you, you see an unquestionably beautiful woman. She has long, flowing locks of light pink hair and deep, thoughtful amber eyes. Her entire presence radiates warmth and welcoming, from her posture to the gentle smile gracing her features. “You are one who tends to see the glass half full, brave Monk, always wishing to see the positive in life and others." She regards you, as if examining you. "For you, I see many tiring days ahead, with many things to be done. But, remember, do not neglect those who mean the most to you, as you will need them in the coming days. Always return to the place which you find comfort when the days become long as many smiling faces will await you, bringing you joys upon joys.” She pauses a moment, letting you process her words. “I wish for you to hear the Story of the Snake. It is a tale of the sinister snake who hides under a bed of flowers. A story in the Lunar Records mentions a snake who attacked a maiden, when a brave warrior came to her aid. Knowing that it was only a misunderstanding, the warrior spared the reptile and returned it to its home.” She nods as her story finishes. “Was he kind or foolish, do you think?” She leaves the question unanswered as she disappears. It appears that no one else saw or heard what the young woman said to you.

[Lamenta]

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

SKILL USED: N/A

LAMENTA

bard

Oh boy.. it is new years isn't it. One year has passed in a blink of an eye, happiness and sadness goes along with individuals and form their identity. Lamenta hopping around the moon dance forest, at the time of this year, Moon Dance Forest held a new year festival called Moonrise Festival where they celebrate the previous year and the upcoming one, reminiscing over days gone by while also looking forward to the next one. How does he know about it? Well easy Lamenta got that information from the pamphlet he got from the guard when he first arrive to the village. Prior these, he was notified there was a festival happening in this village, it took his curiosity to make him go a journey to the village.

As he arrive, his eyes feast with a variety of decoration which decorated all over the village and the shops, he could see a dance floor at the heart of the village, that's the place he should go next after he browse over all of the shops there.

He enter a small cafe' with a big shiny logo of cup of tea with a face of an ox becomes the background of the tea, he could smell a nice aroma of herb tea from there. He shove away the curtain which separate between the visitor and the nice aroma. The table are separate nicely there are one seat table, two seat table and group seat table. Since he comes alone he takes the one seat table.

A waiter with neat black and white uniform approach him with a note and pen ready on his hand for writing my order.
'Good evening sir~ What would you like for your order?' The waiter gives a polite smile while giving out the menu to the young bard.
'I'll have a cup of hot sencha please, and a warm toast thank you' Lamenta gives back the menu and the waiter bow politely and walk away to register his order.

What would he do now, a couple sit next to him talking about some stuffs, they seems know more about this festival.
'Boo~ Ladies and gentleman, what does this festival offers?' Lamenta interrupt their conversation for a while. They look startled, especially the girls, maybe the girl are wondering why with the 'boo~' well..it doesn't matter for Lamenta, it just his way greeting someone. The man regain his composure.

'Oh you must be the first timer here, you should offer something on the tree and you will get a nice fortune' the man explain some stuff about the festival and the offering. The girl seems uneasy with Lamenta, he decide to ask the man to finished early their dinner and went outside.

Fortune telling and offering heh... Oh well he has spare stuff to gives and see what will he got for his fortune or sort of like that. He never believe in fortune telling, it feels like superficial, he just want to take it as a token and memory that he has been on that festival. His order arrive, a hot steamy green tea served on his table, he take a sip of the tea he could feel the vegetal flavor of sencha.

It took him roughly around fifteen minutes to finish his small dinner, he thanks for the tea to the waiter and gives him a little tip to him as he went outside the small cafe and advancing his pace to the tree and ready to listen what a make up fortune telling he would get as he offer them a nice beginner flute he loves.

'Offering here i go~~"

TAG: N/A| WORDS: 607;| BGM:N/A
QUOTE: "The bunny camouflage themselves on the snow.. That's one of a hell cute ninja " --Lamenta

Made by kyou of Log Horizon

|gDJOeU91-24
The item i am offering is:


[b]Dizi Prototype[/b]: “Do you enjoy music?” - [a href="http://log-horizon.proboards.com/post/32991"]Bailin[/a]

Level 1 musical instrument. A musical [a href="http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v10/527907503_2/Foldable-Bamboo-Flute-Dizi-Kit-Imitation-OX-Horns-at-both-ends-High-quality-Chinese-Flute.jpg"]instrument[/a] crafted by Laelia, a Person of the Land. When the girl asked just what kind of music was traditional for China, her magician friend was temporarily lost for words. Her only words were that it was a land where music was said to invoke harmony and peace of mind within nature. Taking that concept into mind, the crafter created this flute from a hollowed-out bamboo shaft. The resulting [i]dizi[/i] is an instrument that is blown to the side, its design easy to handle and its shape effective in generating soft sounds. This particular instrument was made as a system-crafted prototype.




P.S. after you take the Dizi level one from my left hand, replace it with the level 4 from my inventory thank you


1-24

[Deleted]

Once Sayha placed the Tome as an offering, she heard a voice which made her look up. Before her was a woman which could only be the Sakura Tree Spirit as she had long pink hair and amber yellow eyes. The Spirit told Sayha her fortune… and it was one she would definitely have in her mind for a while. She had many obstacles that she would have to face which Sayha wasn’t entirely surprised by with how things had been going for her. She also said that in order to protect others, she must first protect herself. Those were the words that stuck to her the most. Then the Spirit told her of a story… a slightly strange one. It was a story about the ox and that it ate a grass demon and saved a farmer’s land. She questioned whether it was interesting but vanished right after… Sayha glanced around, but it seemed that she was the only one who saw or heard the Spirit… which was probably a good thing.

Sayha took her leave from the tree and made her way down the winding path towards the stream. The Spirit’s words echoed in her mind as she made her way down… and she ended up pulling out her notebook from her inventory and writing down the fortune… it would be something to think about later.

After she walked down the path, there was a booth right before the streambed. Sayha made her way over to the booth and read the instructions. On a piece of paper, she was to write her wish for the year and on the other write a negative feeling or apology to someone.

After some thinking, Sayha wrote down her wish as well as her apology. She wished to get closer to Hiro that year and she wrote an apology to her mother… though she wasn’t sure how good the latter would be. After, she followed the instructions to make the piece of paper an origami boat. Then, Sayha set the boat on the stream and watched as it floated downstream.

When Sayha turned towards the path, she saw a familiar face… and one she had hoped to see. “Fancy seeing you here, Hiro,” Sayha smiled, waving at him as he made his way down the path.

---

((Personal Note: AP to here Claimed))

Words: 384
Hirosame
Coding by Sayha of LH

[Deleted]

Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100%

---

Surprise graced the Shaman's features as he heard the familiar voice of the spirit he had met before reach his ears, it's words already giving off the wisdom of a long, immortalised life. He stepped back slightly as the graceful beauty of Sakura emerged from the tree, fading into existence, her appearance more detailed here in the tangible, mortal world; her hair a flowing strands of pink, the same colour as her bountiful cherry blossoms that dotted the branches above, her eyes a striking yet warm and tender amber colour. "It is good to see you again," he murmured, making sure none of the people in the line behind him could hear as he gazed into the eyes of the Sakura Tree Spirit.

Even now, after he had already experienced first hand the wisdom of the spirits, Dorian was amazed by the mystical words that fell from Sakura's lips. She spoke of strength within him, to which he could only smile and bow his head in thanks; but of course, she was not one for mere compliments. Words of trust and knowledge were spoken, Dorian tossing the ideas within his mind; perhaps a time would come in the future when he would be faced with friends and foes, and he would know to follow his instincts on who to trust. What intrigued him more, however, was the story the spirit told. The Story of the Monkey, as she called it, detailing the mischievous Monkey King and his adventures of... pie-throwing? An odd tale, but perhaps there was a meaning hidden within it that was lost to the Shaman; for now, he was content to simply thank the spirit for it's wisdom as it faded back into the tree. Perhaps he would solve that riddle another time.

Moving away from the Great Sakura, Dorian took a moment to breath in the fresh air; from all the commotion of the day, he hadn't taken the time to check his bearings. Opening his interface, he saw the notification of a message, one which he assumed he had missed in all the cacophony of activity earlier today. To his surprise, he found the message to be from Artemisia, asking - or, more like exclaiming - that they meet up during the festivities. From the generic invitation, Dorian hazarded a guess that he wasn't the only one meeting up with her, to which he could only smile; it was always good to meet new people, and perhaps there would be familiar faces. In any case, with nothing else on his agenda for the time being, he decided upon giving an attempt at finding the fox tail Sorceress within the growing crowd.

Thankfully, it seemed she had gathered the same plan to start the festivities here, as he quickly picked out the familiar blonde hair of the Sorceress just leaving the tree after having no doubt received her fortune. Looking down at himself, he hoped his current outfit - his favourite casual attire - was not too lacking in festive appearance. Giving himself a habitual dust off, he stepped forward, making his way over to catch Artemisia as she wandered away from the Great Sakura. "It's quite the pleasure meeting you here, Artemisia," he spoke, alerting her to his presence, his naturally calmed voice giving off a soothing tone as he approached the fox tail with his hands formally clasped behind his back. Like the gentleman he was raised to be, he gave a gentle bow forward towards her, lifting himself back up with a smile across his palette.

---

Notes: None
Word Count: 589
Tags: @sugarygiggles

Coded by @serenityspace of LH

[Deleted]

Lamenta

“I accept your offering to bring music to the world,” You hear a kind and gentle voice respond as you place your offering. Before you, you see an unquestionably beautiful woman. She has long, flowing locks of light pink hair and deep, thoughtful amber eyes. Her entire presence radiates warmth and welcoming, from her posture to the gentle smile gracing her features. “I see many adventures await in the future for you, aspiring Bard.” She smiles at you, her expression soft. “But adventure does not come without it's trials. However difficult it may seem, find the ones you can trust in to support you when you need them.” Her expression is reassuring. “I wish for you to hear the Story of the Dog. It is a story about man's best friend, content to run about and fetch bones. The Lunar Records tell of a boy who trained hard beside his pet dog on the beach, where he encountered a ghostly sailor. The boy, inspired by friendship, defeated the skeleton and went on to become a great hero.” She looks at you again. “I wonder what happened to the dog when the man became a hero...?” She asks as she disappears back into the distance, leaving you alone. It appears that no one else saw or heard what the young woman said to you.

----

Hirosame, @shadowsaiph

You hear the sound of something in the woods not far from you. It sounds like several things moving through the tree tops. If you listen closely, you may hear something close to chattering, almost like human language but clearly not. Should you attempt to investigate, you will find nothing. It's quite strange, really. Hm, wonder what it was.

[Hirosame]

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Shortly after the Myobu had disappeared, and the Monk had begun along the trail, he felt his vision blur. A voice started to speak softly into his mind, though he didn't try to look around and see where it was coming from. He felt like it was something that couldn't be explained. Either that, or the Elder was playing tricks on him again. However, given that the Elder's voice was much different than the one he was hearing, it served to reason that it wasn't her. Who could it have been? As his curiosity began to rise, he heard the voice begin to speak further. Something about an old story, concerning a snake and a warrior. The voice finished it off with a question, though he wasn't able to quite understand what she said, until the voice disappeared, and his vision began to fix itself. Now, he looked around, to see if anybody else was there to see. When he confirmed that nobody else was around, a confused look began to fix upon his face. After a few more moments, Hiro decided that he would just continue along the path, since the stream was just a short distance away by now.

His mind was filled with all sorts of questions, pertaining to what he had heard. The voice seemed almost as though it were a prophecy, being told to him. What exactly it was, Hiro had no idea. But, as the sounds of children laughing in the nearby distance began to ring out, he started to get out of his mindset, focusing a bit more on the festivities at hand. As he continued down along the path, he saw the face of someone whom he held dear. Sayha had waved to him, speaking a little bit. A bright smile made its way across his face. He hastened his pace just a bit more, to get near her. "Hey there!" He said, instinctively reaching out and around her. He brought his arms closer to himself, embracing her in a tender hug. He did this without thinking much about it, but felt that it would be a nice thing to start the year off with. Or, well, something that would bring a smile to both of their faces. A light blush was across his face, though, since he wasn't quite used to hugging the girl yet. Either way, after a moment, he let go of her, and took a step back. "Of course I'd be here." Hiro began. "Yamamoto would have my ass on a platter if I didn't show up, after all."

The Monk chuckled slightly at the thought, as it was mostly correct. The Elder wasn't one to let one of her students skip out on an important event for the village. Besides, it brought more money to the village, which helped their upcoming year for sure. Most Adventurers seemed to be interested in the place, which was very nice to see. However, Hiro's train of thought skidded to a halt, as he very quickly realized he was staring directly into Sayha's eyes. A warmer blush formed across his face, as he turned a little bit. Yeah, he still wasn't completely used to being in a relationship yet, but he was getting there. "So, anyways..." Hiro started, only to be cut off by a sound in the trees nearby. It was very faint, but he caught the sound somehow. He looked up to the trees, wondering what it was. It sounded like laughing, and rustling in the trees. However, it soon began to fade away, and he couldn't hear it anymore outside of the people that were already there. Confused slightly, he decided not to think too much on it, and returned his attention to Sayha. A smile reformed on his face. "You enjoying the festival so far?" He asked. Judging by the number of people that were here, it was safe to assume that most everybody was enjoying the festivities, though it didn't hurt to ask his girlfriend directly.

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∝: 670
♫: Outset Island
✏: Strange noises from above.
@: @shadowsaiph

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[Deleted]

It wasn't long after her offering had been placed when the voice responded. It was such a beautiful tone, the kind that reassured and comforted you just by the sound of it. Artemisia turned her vision to the giant tree and saw a woman had appeared at the base. She was standing next to the trunk, smiling. She was gorgeous, refined and somehow enchanting. She spoke in a clear manner, although her words were much more cryptic in nature. The blonde listened closely, although she didn't exactly like what she was hearing. It seemed as if she had some rough days ahead, which made sense. She had recently had her heart inadvertently broken by her good friend and guild leader. While she subconsciously was aware of what had happened, she had yet to fully face the reality of what it meant. She was definitely in denial, not entirely ready to accept it. It was slightly reassuring to know that there was a light at the end of everything, although she couldn't imagine what it was. She had come to this festival to keep up appearances and to keep the facade going that everything was okay. She had even invited the very same person she wanted to see least of all, because that's what she would usually do. Artemisia's brow furrowed as she listened to the story of the horse, not quite getting that part. It seemed random.

As silently as she appeared, the woman faded, having spoken her bit. The Sorceress blinked rapidly several times, wondering what she was supposed to get from that. A little lost in her own thoughts, she stepped away from the tree to allow the next person in like their time. She hadn't gotten very far when a familiar voice grabbed her attention. Artemisia looked up, her green eyes falling on the form of Dorian, a Shaman she had gotten to know recently. She smiled when he bowed at her and returned the gesture with a slightly awkward curtsy of her own. For him, it was probably natural to greet people that way but for her, it was mostly because she thought it was amusing and, perhaps a bit cute. “Hello, Dorian,” She greeted him warmly, the words of the spirit quickly leaving her mind for now.

“I take it you got my message, thank you for coming,” She spoke to him, moving forward towards the center of the festival. She had no particular destination in mind, although she figured something would eventually pop up to catch her interest. She walked slowly, focused on the conversation. It was nice to have someone to talk to, someone to take her mind off of things. Since their last meeting in the frozen caverns, Artemisia had taken the time to outfit herself with some cold weather appropriate clothing. Although Moon Dance was no where near as chilly as Snowdonia, it was still winter-time. As such, she was wearing her new clothes, an outfit known as Victorian Winter. "Notice anything different about me?” She asked, stopping in her tracks and giving a quick spin on her heel in front of him. Her blonde locks spun around her, twirling around her frame as the momentum continued even after she had stopped. She turned to look up at him, waiting for his answer.

---
Notes: Current outfit: Victorian Winter
Words: 552
Tags: @serenityspace

[Deleted]

Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100%

---

Many would not bother with the idle pleasantries of the bow and curtsy, but it brought a smile to the Shaman's face to see Artemisia sharing in the gentle fancy of greeting with a flourish; it was second nature to Dorian, but he knew how awkward it could be for others to do the same. Nevertheless, it was good to see the Sorceress again, after several adventures they had shared together, the most recent of which being their time together in the Labyrinth during Snowfell, though that had been a roller-coaster of emotions and events that perhaps the fox tail would prefer not to talk about just yet.

Having already given his greetings to her, Dorian simply replied to her hello with a gentle dip of his head in a soft bow, holding the warm, yet calmed demeanour on his visage. "I did indeed get your message," he spoke, gesturing in front of him as if indicating towards his interface. "It was a bit of a rush here in the village this morning, so I didn't get it until I arrived at the festival." The Sorceress seemed to begin moving off towards the centre of the festival; no doubt she wished for a distraction. The celebrations were a good way to keep one's spirits high, and as the new year approached, perhaps - like the cherry blossoms that flourished even in the cold of winter - there would be hope that they would continue moving forward.

As the Shaman began to follow, keeping in pace with Artemisia as they moved towards the festivities, his mind moved back to think on the words that the spirit had spoken; not today, but a week past, when he had come in search of the knowledge she possessed on the protection of others. She had called him a beacon then, a light... Perhaps that is what he was here for; a solidifying pledge that he would go into the new year with his head held high, ready to help others see light and life and happiness where normally all they could see was darkness. But now, here, Sakura spoke of himself; she had told him not to neglect his own needs, his own happiness. All his life he had been taught meticulously by his father and step-mother to rid himself of selfishness, to instead focus on serving and bringing happiness to others. Were they wrong? Or was there a happiness in the future that affect him as well? So many questions, so little answers.

Dorian was brought back to reality from his short reverie by the voice of Artemisia, who indicated towards herself, asking if the Shaman noticed a change. Turning his gaze towards her, he quickly picked up on the change of attire, a much more winter-ready set of clothes; and they were a well-made, gorgeous design as well. "Indeed! I'm glad to see I can keep my coat," he mused, smirking at his own humour as he gave a gentle tug at the edges of his jacket; he remembered back when he had given it to the fox tail during their previous adventure together, and it seemed she learned her lesson when it came to cold temperatures. Moving back to his warm yet calm demeanour, he simply gave the Sorceress a smile. "Though, I also notice one thing that hasn't changed; you still look as lovely as ever, Artemisia." No blush formed within his skin from his words, they were merely a gentleman's observation, but they were no less true. Here, amongst the festive decorations, with a smile upon her face, the fox tail was indeed beautiful.

---

Notes: None
Word Count: 603
Tags: @sugarygiggles

Coded by @serenityspace of LH

[Lamenta]

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

SKILL USED: N/A

LAMENTA

bard

As the young bard toss his first ever musical instrument which accompany him on his first journey, Dizi flute, to the tree with a hope to pass on the joyful of music with that flute, he heard a voice of a girl from behind him and caught him off guard almost make him shout. The woman who appear behind him was stunning, her complexion is like a kindred spirit that radiates a peaceful though. Her beautiful curly lips to talk that resembles of a fortune and a mysterious story to make him wonders. If it wasn't for his bunny hood, the woman in front of him might run away (truly, you don't want to see a blushed man who has a piercing mean look). As the woman finished with her fortune telling, Lamenta has regain his composure, the red blushes under the mask slowly fade away, however, at the same time the woman disappear to a distance.

Lamenta let out a disappoint sigh, he was going to say thank you for the fortune telling and the interesting story that she gives him. He take out his other dizi flute ( I never said that i only have one, didn't i?) and twirl it around playfully while wondering what the woman told him. He can't shake the feeling how there is something off with the story. What about the fortune you say? He absolutely don't care no trust that fortune, of course he will meet many adventurer and face many trials, who doesn't. In the old world this is called as cold reading, where the fortune teller told something vague and make the other party think they can actually foretell their future. 'put a trust on someone' that sentence rings again and again on the bard's ear,

'trust is not something you give, it is something that someone should earn from me' he mumbled in a low voice to make sure no one notice it. He definitely can't put trust on someone, the one who he can trust now is his sister and himself.

He closed his eyes tightly, forcing him to back to the main point, that interesting story.
'A story of a dog and a hero... Why it always be a dog not a bunny? Bunny can be men best friend too' He shook his head to regain his focused that he just lost it a moment ago

'That woman is right, what happen to the dog after the man become a hero?'
He grabs a nearby stick and draw on a soft ground an awful stick figures which resembles a man wielding crappy sword and a round circle that supposed to be a shield with a barely pass figure as a dog next to him.

'the last time the dog got mention was before the skeleton appear, and then the dog poof away until the end of the short story. She says that the friendship inspire him to slaughtered the skeleton, what makes him inspire? what is the trigger?' he write "trigger" with a question mark on it with the sticks 'Let see if i was him and i love the dog so much, what does actually happen there. I believe there is double meaning in the word somewhere' He ruffled his bunny ear frustrated, he need more info, as far it is a bit hopeless for him to figure it out.

He stood up and stretch his back. There is quite number of adventurer who came by to the tree to offer something. Yet, he can't found the woman again... That is weird? who is she actually. He had a hunch that the story may lead him somewhere interesting. Does everyone get the same story or they got different stories.

Suddenly he notice a familiar figure near the tree, someone who share the same guild as him, Noihara, and the one who is on that fenrir event. That was Kaos the summoner, well he guess he can ask the story he get from that woman.

He approach Kaos and greet him casually like it was an all day work 'Hello buddy. how have you been'

TAG: Kaos  | WORDS: 688 | BGM: N/A

[Deleted]

Hiro noticed Sayha as she waived, and he smiled at her sight. He moved over to where she was and gave her a gentle hug. It made Sayha blush, but she returned his hug. After a brief moment, the two released the hug, and Hiro took a step back, saying he was required to be there or else Yamamoto would not be pleased to say the least. Sayha chuckled at the comment, thinking back to when she had first met Yamamoto in person where she had thrown a soup ladle and pan at him. And that was just for opening her front door before she said they could enter. She didn’t really want to know what she could use as an encore if he were to miss a rather important event to Moon Dance Village.

Just as Hiro was about to begin to speak, there were noises, and Hiro heard them as well. Sayha didn’t have <Hearing Aptitude> or <Tongue of Nature> on at that time since she had simply planned on relaxing that day. However even if she wanted to turn on the abilities, the noises had already disappeared just as quickly as they had appeared. Sayha wasn’t sure what to think of it, but it was rather strange. She didn’t recall hearing anything like that before, and it would be something to check out… later.

Hiro asked how she was enjoying the festival, and Sayha returned her attention to Hiro who was smiling again. “So far, I’m enjoying it,” Sayha nodded, “Though the only thing I’ve really done was get my fortune from the Sakura Spirit and then do one of the origami boats.” Sayha gestured to the booth that she had been at when she did the boat. “I’m not sure about the dance, but I am definitely going to try out the food. Who knows, maybe we’ll run into some people we know. The festival seems to be rather popular so it wouldn’t be surprising if we did. Shall we go check out the rest of the festival after you’re done with your boat?” Sayha wasn’t particularly sure if Hiro was going to do one, but it was a safe thing to assume since he had made his way down here. If he did, she had no problem waiting for him so they could enjoy the festival together. The idea of them dating was finally settling in for her, and now that she found him, she wanted to enjoy the festival with her boyfriend.

---

((Personal Note: AP to here Claimed))

Words: 418
Hirosame
Coding by Sayha of LH

[Kaos]

Each Day Is an adventure in  its  own  right 593 Words

Kaos looked at the woman who appeared before him as it out of nowhere. As she told him the tale of the hunter and the bore, he drank in each word, searching for the meaning behind her story. She was gone as quickly as she appeared, leaving him with a sense of curiousity and wonder. No doubt about it, she was a Spirit of the Land. What does her story mean though... A hunter orphans a boar which then seeks revenge, but it is calmed by a kind person. She said I should take heed and remember this story when the time is right... I also needed to be aware of any subtle things that may bring me happiness. He readjusted his glasses as he thought about his philosophy studies through school, probably just an aftereffect of the story and his want to solve the riddle. He sighed and looked up towards the sky, smiling softly to himself as memories of his wife at the fair came to him as the breeze rolled by.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Flashback}Noelle laughed at me as she entered the gates to the fair. I had just tripped over an extension cord and knocked a small child's cotton candy to the ground. No amount of apologizing seemed to work on the little brat, so I ended up running through the crowd and buying the little boy a new cotton candy, TWICE! The first time I came back with more and it was Pink - oh no, that wouldn't do, he was a young boy after all. Pink was for girls, as the young kid pointed out to me. My second attempt seemed to appease him though, because this time I gave him an 'offering' of BLUE cotton candy. Damn Kids. Noelle somehow ended up with the pink cotton candy during the chaos. Ah yes, that's part of the reason I ended up with this nickname. I still can't believe she told the other patients about that... but I digress. As we walked around the fair, Noelle kept begging me to play a dart throwing game for her. Finally I caved in and played it. The stall worker was less than happy when the first thing I did was feel the tip and toss it down at the board in front of me. The dart was dull and, of course, bounced off the wood. I looked at the guy and tested the other darts he had. They all did the same, so I asked him to throw one for me and show me how it was done - with the stipulation that he use the darts he handed me. The man obliged and popped a balloon with no issue. It seemed the backing was cork-board so the darts would easily stick in, even if dull. I smiled ad Noelle and asked for a kiss for luck then threw my three darts, arching them slightly so they could put the most pressure possible on the balloons. I successfully popped three out of three and the man relinquished the stuffed bear my then girlfriend wanted. I smiled at the worker and thanked him for the demonstration and took Noelle to the Petting Zoo. I swear that girl has always been just a big kid - 20 and still wanting to go to a Petting Zoo!

He was brought back to reality by the young bard, Lamenta's sudden hello. "Oh! Hello Lamenta, I regretably did not see you there. I am doing quite well, though to be honest this festival is making me miss my wife. How about yourself?"

Template By: OWL

[Deleted]

The festival was lively, with upbeat music playing in the background. The sun had set not all that long ago, although the town was still well illuminated by both the moon spirit and the various lanterns hung around. They had been heading vaguely in the direction of a set of shops, mostly selling trinkets and food, before the fox tail had stopped them to point out her new attire. He noticed the outfit immediately, hardly needing any further prompting, and commented that he would be allowed to keep his coat this time. Artemisia laughed quietly at the comment, remembering how thankful she had been for the coat. As she remembered, her thoughts threatened to wander, to pull her back to that moment, a place where she refused to allow her mind to go. Her heart rate quickened and she felt her chest tighten but Dorian's next comment pulled her back to reality. Completely caught off guard by the sentiment, the blonde's cheeks warmed. Startled and flattered, she quickly looked away. “T-Thank you...” She muttered, stammering over the words slightly while pulling the white collar of her sweater up over her face part way to cover her embarrassment. She wasn't expecting him to say that, especially with such a straight forward tone. He truly seemed like he meant it.

Whether he meant to or not, he had so easily kept her from slipping into the dark place her fortune had warned her about. Surely, she would have to face the reality eventually and come to terms with what she now knew to be the truth but she wasn't ready yet. She couldn't let her mind go there, not now. Artemisia turned her head ever so slightly and peeked up at the Shaman from the corner of her eye. As the blush faded, it was replaced by a smile, although still hidden behind her the puffy fabric of her clothing. It was at that moment that a completely new thought struck the Sorceress. Right there, as she was sneaking a peek at her companion for the evening, a very important realization hit her.

Something smelled absolutely delicious.

A look of excitement mixed with curiosity crossed the petite girls features, the fabric of her collar slipping back into place as she looked around, sniffing the air. Her long blonde tail swished back and forth energetically as she tried to locate the source of the aroma. “Mmm~” She couldn't help the audible reaction. Her eyes turned up to Dorian, shining with brightness and desire... for food. “Do you smell that?” She questioned him. “I'm not sure what it is but I really want it,” Artemisia barely waited to hear what he had to say before she started walking in the direction she thought the smell was coming from. She managed to keep her composure as she passed through the crowd of people and politely and calmly moved until she was standing in front of a food stand. This was the source, she knew it. “Are you hungry?” She asked the Shaman who she was sure was behind her, peeking over her shoulder mid-sentence with a smile. Whether he wanted any or not, she stepped up to the man behind the counter and ordered two servings. One for him if he wanted it or two for her if he didn't. It only took a moment before the blonde was handed two sticks with some sort of delicious smelling glazed meat on the end. Artemisia paid for the food and turned back around to face Dorian. “My treat,” She held her arm out and offered him one, her face practically glowing as she looked forward to eating her portion. She had enough restraint, however, for him to decide if he wanted some and for them to perhaps go somewhere less in the way, since they were still standing in front of the booth and probably in the way. But just barely.

----
Notes: Current outfit: Victorian Winter
Words: 655
Tags: @serenityspace

[Deleted]

Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100%

---

It was an odd mix of emotions that resulted from their brief exchanging of pleasantries. The Shaman could feel the fox tail's spirit waver somewhat, even after enjoying a chuckle from his rather ill-placed humour. And yet, she seemed to reel back in to a more lively expression at his last few words, a curious tinge of red peeking out from her cheeks before being hidden hastily beneath the puffy white ruff around her neck. Content to simply smile it off dismissively, Dorian let her be for the time being as they moved further into the village; sometimes a bit of quiet to enjoy one's surroundings was better than trying to fill the silence with white noise in the form of wrongly timed references to the past.

The music that seemed to emanate from all sides became a foreground in his concentration as they walked, the lively changes in notes sparking happy thoughts within his mind. In years past, before the Catastrophe, one could often base their next year's experience on the last day of the year before, and the first of the new; a strange and rather out of place superstition, but as has been proven time and time again in this new world, superstitions and fables are often more of a reality than one might initially think. So far, the evening was becoming one to remember, and with the Sorceress walking beside him, thinking back on what she was no doubt going through after recent events, perhaps it was time for him to take up on the promise he made to the Tree Spirit. Artemisia was perhaps in need of happiness more than most.

His mind having wandered once again, he felt himself tugged back into reality a second time by the fox tail's voice; or, more accurately, her rather audible hum of satisfaction. It wasn't long after he had returned to the here and now, that Dorian realised what she was reacting to. A heavy, gorgeous smell wafted through the air, gracing his nose with the delicious scent of cooked meat. Turning to Artemisia, he gave a nod in acknowledgement, closing his eyes to savour the sensation once more, the aroma vivid and strong without the distraction of vision to misguide him. The blonde fox tail seemed to have the same idea as him in that moment, and it didn't take long for him to follow her lead, both of them being directed towards the source.

"I could go for something to eat, sure..." While the answer in his mind was a lot more direct - more like an 'Oh god yes' - he kept his calm as best he could, as he used his height to his advantage to peek over the top of the Sorceress' shoulder, inspecting the stall they had both found themselves in front of. Before he could be the gentleman and offer to pay for the food, she had already managed to purchase two servings; they seemed to be skewers, the meat cooked and marinated while being strung down the stick. "For me?" He questioned humorously, smirking contently as he delicately took the offered meat from her hand. "Remind me to go out with you more often," he finally remarked, immediately moving in to bite at the first piece of meat and tug it off the stick.

After chewing through and swallowing down the juicy morsel - while doing his best not to drool all over himself from the incredible taste - Dorian gestured for the Sorceress to follow. "Let's see if we can find somewhere less crowded; it's been a while since I've gotten to speak with you." Hoping she would take him up on his suggestion, he turned slightly towards the rest of the festival, scanning the shops and stalls for a quiet place to rest and enjoy their treats. Stepping forward, he began moving off and away from the front of the stall, parting from the crowds and glancing over his shoulder to check that he hadn't lost the fox tail behind him.

---

Notes: None
Word Count: 670
Tags: @sugarygiggles

Coded by @serenityspace of LH

[Tobin]

WC:714

A gentle rumble erupted from his throat as the village came into view, it was easy to see why from his cynical, sarcastic mind. After all it was an oriental Japanese village lain smack bang in the middle of a steampunk England, complete with great magical orb that radiated like a second moon and an immense Sakura tree that rose up like a silent giant, disgorging a steady stream of eco-friendly littering upon the setting, thus naturally it wasn't too hard for a resident of the old UK to find amusement in the clash of cultures. At least that was what he once felt, yet as boar driven cart transferred from dirt to a smooth cut surface the Dwarf pushed back the scepticism as cast his eyes gaze around the multed environment. In the many shopping runs here the villages varied inhabitants and welcoming, if foreign culture had made this one of his more favoured stops.

The Dwarf blew the condensed vapour out of his nose as the cart and scratched the stubble of his chin. The place was brightly coloured with markets and events all around, having not been here before during the season this sceptical seemed overwhelming.

<<Alright sw- Iron Gerald, wer’ ‘ere. Gotta say, wasn’t expectin’ it ta be this easy.>>

<<Anything easy compared to snow dome. Hoof don’t grip ice.>>

<<Oh, Snowdonia. It’s already been a year since then, it feels longer.>>

<<Since pack left?>>

The dwarf’s eyebrow arched, A flicker of a grimace.

<<Yeah.>>

<<Hmph. Pinkskins, so fickle.>>

The Dwarf blew a sigh out another steam trail as he guided in the cart to rest at the edge of the market. There was a moments pause as he took a slow, methodical swig of the hip flask as with a casual swing he dropped down to the side of the cart. There he advanced to pat great beast, his stride carried him to the village proper.

<<Now ya gettin’ it, keep an eye, NO, watch the cart for me. I’ll be a few minutes.>>


That much was true. Back then life was different that time of year, a family once known across the land as one of the greatest guilds among the land, known both for its heroism and collective insanity. Once was the key word however as time acted in mysterious ways, people stage left and spread across the land to seek new ventures as those days faded into antiquity with new adventurers rising to the challenge in their absence. Even he, with his beard shaved to stubble only looked familiar to those who knew him.

Yet strangely Dwarf enjoyed the peace that accompanied this period of obscurity as he drifted through the crowds of shoppers in his rough hemmed cloak. Past brightly blurs of stands and past the oriental bustle, yet even here smells of ciminon mixed with the scent of turkey, bacon. All the smells of home at the festive season. A slight tug of the cheek curled his lip upwards as his merry step guided him along the trail of smells, past the stores

Only to find his way blocked. The Dwarf turned his gaze up as he stopped just shy, at 4 foot 9 the muscular biped was significantly shorter then both @serenityspace  and @sugarygiggles, so likely the first thing they would see would be the great poles boar upon his back, though sheathed in a rucksack it was apparent that each was half as tall as he again. He recalled both almost immediately as he threw his broad arms open and patted bot at the smalls of the backs. Willing or no, he had found his tour guides!

“’Ello parteh people! Which ya fine laddes gonna tell me wha’s gonna on ‘ere? I’mma new ta tis festive business so were’s tis wishin’ tree I kep on ‘erein’ ‘bout?”

Yes, he was acutely aware that Dorian wasn’t a lass. Look, just don’t question Dwarf. Though as they told the directions, already a business opportunity clicked into place within his opportunistic mind.

Ah t’ank ya, Oh, ya wanna drink? I’ve coma packin’ if ya hav’ ta coin! Bahaha!

One thing that was mentioning that the Dwarf did have some of his wares stored in his inventory. Seriously, ask him for a drink, he’s a dispenser.