The trial of the Magekiller ends, and last season's snow disappears without a trace, leading Lhavitians confused and uncertain into the new season and the new year. Regardless, citizens try to make the best of it; there are festivals to be had, and the flowers and plants that seemingly died out during the impromptu winter are regrowing as the weather turns warm and balmy. Communities have begun to rebuild starting last season after the ongoing magic feuds and the crisis of the Magekiller, and it's a time for new beginnings and letting go of the unpleasantness of the past.
Overview of Season Events
☼ Daytime Event - ☾ Nighttime Event
☆ Moderated/Prompted Event
☆ Moderated/Prompted Event
1st: The Watchtowers flare green, announcing the coming of spring and a new year. By the time the first of the season arrives, people are stripping their warm clothes in the streets as the weather warms considerably and the snow begins to melt, flooding the streets. Despite the sudden drastic change in weather, parties are still held all across the city to celebrate the new year in typical Lhavitian fashion.
2nd: Come morning, all of the flooding caused by the melting snow has vanished, with no consequences on the land or any buildings, and the weather is warm and balmy; it's as if the snow was never there to begin with. Mixed feelings run through the city as it becomes obvious that the snow was not a sign of Morwen's return.
☆ ☼ 5th: A trial is held at the Twuele for the Magekiller, and a select few citizens are sent handwritten invitations from Aysel and Talora to attend and testify. There are three suspects; at the end of the trial, based on what various people have to say, one of these suspects will be branded the Magekiller and executed. Parties are thrown all across Lhavit as the city breathes a sigh of relief, finally feeling safe at last, though there are some arguments among people on the choice of the accused. Whether or not the correct suspect was executed will remain to be seen...
Note: This event is only available to those of you who participated in the murder plotline last season by investigating on your own. This event was supposed to occur last season but was postponed to this season.
15th: Despite having stayed open year round recently due to the lack of winter, the Star's Shadow was forced to close last season due to the sudden onslaught of snow; they celebrate their reopening with drinks that are 25% off and plenty of entertainment.
22nd: The Heart's Festival begins, lasting all day and night; a mysterious dark-haired stranger is the talk of the festival, wearing a mask covered in flower petals and ambiguously gendered but lovely silk clothing. They're seen all across the city, handing out single flowers and often taking the time to converse or dance with anyone who looks even a little bit lonely. If asked for a name, they introduce themselves as 'Briar'; the stranger captures the heart of many over the course of the festival, men and women alike.
☼ 36th: The mysterious stranger who goes by Briar shows up in the Surya Plaza, having exchanged their floral mask for a simple black one. They claim that they are seeking their true love, and as such, will be holding auditions. Many men and women put themselves forward in an attempt to impress the masked stranger.
☾ 40th: The mysterious stranger marries a wealthy merchant's daughter in the night in a public ceremony set outside the Koten Temple before whisking her away, and the two are seen fleeing on a small Svefra vessel; the woman's father is furious, but the tale spreads quickly through the city as a dreamy and hopeful romance.
☆ ☼ 52nd: Talora holds what she dubs as the Gardening Festival; in an attempt to encourage more Lhavitians to get involved with growing plants and food and to make good use of the gardens in the Okomo Estate, she invites people to come on a walk with her through the Park, and organizes a gardening party in a clearing in the Park to plant various flowers and fruit bushes. Equipment is supplied for those who attend, and all of those who participate leave with a bag of assorted seeds as a gift from Talora herself.
Note: Please contact me either via PM or through my office if you're interested in this event, as if there is enough interest it may turn into a moderated event.
70th: The Star Festival is held, and Lhavitians flood the streets in their finest attire, sparkling in shades of white, silver, and gold. Zintila, as she often is during this festival, is seen wandering the crowds and mingling with Lhavitians. When it comes time to release the lanterns near the end of the festival, Zintila herself encourages those participating to release any regrets they have along with them.
90th: As the season approaches its end, an intense meteor shower begins in the morning; it continues for the next few days until the season ends, and the Constellations collect many of the fallen stars. Zintila can be seen on her balcony of the Twuele watching the show, and a lucky few even claim they heard the Alvina singing the song of the stars.
Note: Please remember that PCs cannot use Zintila as an NPC; only DSes can control deities. If you're interested in a brief sighting or interaction with Zintila at the festival or on the 90th, PM me or post in my office.
Theme of the Season: Out With the Old, In With the New
A new season, a new year; spring brings new life, new love, and a fresh perspective. It's important to usher in new, positive people, things, and experiences, and to air out the dusty unpleasant things from the past; that is the focused theme of this season.
The theme of this challenge is to do with trying and doing new things, meeting new people, starting fresh, letting things go, and moving on from the past; I'm aware that this is a broader theme, but I'm hoping that will encourage all of you to be creative with it. I'm not particularly fond of this phrase, but 'new year, new me' is an apt way to describe the theme, as is the title I gave it of 'out with the old, in with the new'.
I'm trying another themed challenge this season (despite the fact that last season's didn't go very well) as the Magekiller plot finally wraps up, and things are being taken a little bit easy this season. As always, there are other calendar events and challenges for you to participate in if this theme doesn't interest you; and of course, if you ever wish to request a modded thread outside of the one(s) listed on the calendar, just ask.
Seasonal challenges listed below can be included in threads that also count towards the season's theme challenge. This season, I'll be lowering the required wordcount slightly, since I realize that you all do also have your own personal plots going on, and I want you to be able to participate in this without sacrificing too much focus on those. You'll have to write 15,000 words over the course of the season to complete the challenge; that's 5,000 words a month, or about 1,250 words a week.
Please post below if you plan on participating and keep track of relevant threads, including links and word count. As always, there will be prizes for those of you who complete the challenge, and there may also be prizes for those of you who put in a valiant effort.
Happy writing!
The Heart's Festival
A celebration of new life and new love every spring, the Heart's Festival sees the city decked out in lanterns, ribbons, and an extensive amount of flowers. Sweets, baked goods, tea, and spiced wine are traditional foods served during the festival, and impromptu dances occur all over the city, some bigger than others. Proposals and marriages also commonly take place during the festival, resulting in a busy day for Cheva.
During the festival, it is traditional to give flowers to your loved ones. White flowers are given to family, yellow to friends, and red to the one whose heart you wish to (or have already) won. The flowers are often given in bouquets with different types meaning different things, but it's not uncommon for more elaborate wreaths to be given to those you wish to court. If a red bouquet is given and accepted, it is traditional for the couple to bind their left arms together with red ribbon for the remainder of the day.
As most festivals in Lhavit, the Heart's Festival reigns all day and all night. During the day it is cheerful and everyone participates, but at night it turns into a much more romantic and sensual festival. Large gatherings are forgone for intimate dinners instead, and couples often enjoy the nights together; it is not unusual to spot at least one couple who are a little bit too eager with each other in the streets.
The Star Festival
The Star Festival, held on the 70th of spring every year, is one of the largest annual celebrations in Lhavit; it marks the day that Zintila bestowed the gift of being able to craft and mold skyglass, and thus allowing for the creation of Lhavit. For the duration of the festival, it is customary to dress finely and all in white with gold and silver accents. Even those without much money to their names often save up for or borrow fine clothing and jewelry.
Music, dancing, and various other sorts of performances occur throughout the streets for the duration of the day. People give thanks to Zintila, as well as Syna and Leth. The Constellations and resident Ethaefal often find themselves subject to more attention and affection than they usually are. At night, the Star Lady herself makes an appearance, and usually says a few words to the people of Lhavit.
Finally, to mark the ending of the festival, lanterns are released into the sky, often along with wishes for the future year.
Weather Throughout the Season
The weather warms considerably starting on the first of the season as the snow melts, and will remain that way throughout the rest of spring. The air is warm and balmy, and the weather is just shy of being unpleasantly hot, though it is rather on the humid side. There are periodic warm showers throughout the season, but no intense rainfall.
Seasonal Challenges
Complete 6 of these challenges to earn Lhavit's Seasonal Medal. A maximum of 3 challenges can be completed in a single thread, and if doing multiple challenges in a thread each one should consist of at least 800 words; that is, threads containing 2 challenges should be a minimum of 1,600 words, and threads containing 3 challenges should be a minimum of 2,400 words. Single challenge threads should be a minimum of 1,000 words. If you have completed the challenges, then post them to my office with links to the threads.
✧Earn 5 XP in a new skill, or try 5 new things that aren't skills (food, clothing style, language, etc.)
✧Do some spring cleaning
✧Interact with the mysterious stranger during the Heart's Festival
✧Release a lantern at the Star Festival, and a past regret along with it
✧Have a dream (or nightmare) about something from the past
✧Teach your highest level skill to someone else (With another PC; they must gain at least 2 XP in the skill being taught)
✧Earn 5 XP in a skill that has to do with plants/flowers (Gardening, Herbalism, Botany, Floristry, Foraging, etc.)
✧Write a letter to someone from the past, even if it doesn't get sent
✧Give or receive a bouquet of flowers (With another PC)
✧Meet someone new by going to the Outpost (With another PC)
✧Do some spring cleaning
✧Interact with the mysterious stranger during the Heart's Festival
✧Release a lantern at the Star Festival, and a past regret along with it
✧Have a dream (or nightmare) about something from the past
✧Teach your highest level skill to someone else (With another PC; they must gain at least 2 XP in the skill being taught)
✧Earn 5 XP in a skill that has to do with plants/flowers (Gardening, Herbalism, Botany, Floristry, Foraging, etc.)
✧Write a letter to someone from the past, even if it doesn't get sent
✧Give or receive a bouquet of flowers (With another PC)
✧Meet someone new by going to the Outpost (With another PC)
