Garden Festival day three

[wrnpcs]

On the third day, the Festival comes to an end.
The GFC hopes that you've made some new friends!

Afternoon, quad: Storytelling circle

Dinner, cafeteria: Feast

Evening, beach: Fireworks and candles

Comments

AFTERNOON, QUAD: Storytelling circle

[wrnpcs]

Sit 'round the campfire and share a tale
Of adventure, or something on a smaller scale.

[Just before the stage is a circle of cushions around a small campfire, and the GFC is selling (halal) marshmallows and sausages on sticks at a low price for people to toast on the fire. There's a microphone dangling off the stage for any storytellers to take, should they choose.]

[plotdeviceturk]

[While Tseng's been missing for a few days, he's shown up for the final day of the festival. He's wearing a black turtleneck instead of his usual white shirt beneath his jacket.

He's oddly up to storytime though, and when there's enough people gathered around he'll start one. It's a very very old story, older than him and older than probably most anything that's been built by people anywhere near here and the tone he delivers it in says as much.]

Long ago, long enough that the stars sat in different places in the sky and the language people spoke was one that nobody today could hope to remember, there were none of the beings you call guardian Forces that could walk about the earth.

These were sad, dark times and people would ask the planet itself for help against the massive monsters that stalked the land. The planet loved her children and gave them the gift of magic. With this magic and the skills they learned from others they fought the monsters off and raised a great city where magic and technology went hand in hand.

However, in time as people are wont to do, mankind became lazy and overconfident. Most had lost the knowledge of how to speak with the planet and in her sadness over their ignorance of her the planet raised a new monster to teach her children that nothing is safe forever.

Mankind scattered with the wind when the great city fell, those who could still understand the pain of the planet became the leaders of great temples where they asked daily for the planet to once again help it's children. At first the planet gave no reply, for decades the monster raged across the planet. Soon the children of those who begged daily joined their parents in the plea for aid.

Eventually the planet took pity on her children and replied that she would give those who'd kept faith in her the power to fight the monster but it would come at a great price. Eight agreed, for they saw that their own lives did not matter so much as the lives of those they loved and cared for. Their names have long since forgotten but they were a child, an inventor King, a wiseman, a fistfighter, a warrior, a healer of great skill, a swimmer of great skill and a priestess.

Deep within their temples these people went, as close to the heart of the planet as they could and that is where the planet changed them. Their bodies twisted and changed, fusing with the very stone that surrounded them as their souls left to join the planet's embrace and dream within her arms.

They became the first of the guardians. The child's fierce protectiveness gave him the wings and voice of a dragon and he became Bahamut. The King's inventions and technologies became a part of his very flesh and he became Alexander. The wiseman changed the least as he was already close to returning to the planet though his skill with thunder magic became truly terrifying and he became Ramuah. The fistfighter's strength and passions lent itself well to the fires of the earth and he became Ifrit. The warrior, already known as a formidable opponent became the undefeatable Odin. The healer for so great was his skill that it is said he could raise the dead became the immortal Phoenix who rises from ash. The swimmer became Leviathin, no longer needed to leave his beloved sea to protect those in his charge. The priestess, for her home was one of never ending ice became Shiva.

These guardians were at first trapped within their temples but soon those they'd taught learned that they could form a mental connection with them and call their presence back to fight at their behest. These summoners, for that is what their fellow man called those who could call these new gods in to battle, went forth to the other temples to forge connections with the spirits there and then ride to battle against the great monster.

As the centuries wore on the monster grew weaker and weaker and eventually died, and mankind moved on from needing the summons for a time and the temples that housed their old forms fell. The summons visited mankind of course, sometimes disguised as the humans they had once been and other times not bothering to mask their power.

More guardian were born either of man like the first had been or created by the planet to protect herself. These guardians still listen within the soul of the planet, arriving to help when asked because they know that we still need them even if the planet itself can no longer act to protect her children.

[There's a long silence when he's done, and it's a rather edited version of what he'd been told growing up but these people don't have a lifestream they believe in so telling them about that part of the story might not have been met too well.]

[gunbladegrrl]

[At least one person had heard a bit more in what he said than his actual words, but she doesn't have the knowledge to guess at the full version beyond one or two things. So once the crowd has drifted away, she drifts over.]

I liked the story, but that was one from your world, wasn't it? It sounded like the word 'lifestream' should have showed up in it a time or two.

[She flashes a grin to demonstrate that she understands the omission.]

[plotdeviceturk]

[He nods, leaning back and watching the sky for a long moment before replying.]

Yeah, there's more but that's the beginning anyway. I know most of the ones about Shiva, considering.

[gunbladegrrl]

I'd like to hear the whole thing, if you're willing to tell it. I mean, not now, it's a festival, but someday.

[selphie_t]

[The minute that Tseng had begun his tale, Selphie's attention had locked on him. She listened to his every word with rapt attentiveness before he ended the tale.]

Is there more? I'm not sure about others but I wanna hear more.

[plotdeviceturk]

Of couse there's more, that's simply the first story.

Which do you want to hear one about?

[selphie_t]

Everything obviously! Have you got stories about Ifrit too? What about Odin and Leviathan?

[weddingcrasher]

[Nena sits through the whole story, and speaks up when it's done.]

I did not listen to a word you said, all I was focused on was that sexy voice you were saying 'em in!

C'mon, say more stuff! Pleeease?

[plotdeviceturk]

[Have a very very tired sigh Nena.]

Only if you request a story.

[earthlychild]

[Aerith slips into the back of the crowd listening to this story. She absorbs the enduring messages of hurt, bonding, and sacrifice---familiar and unfamiliar all at once. When he's finished, she approaches quietly.]

Being a guardian is quite the burden, isn't it.

[plotdeviceturk]

[The fact that Tseng's still in the emotionally numb stage of being drunk is probably the reason he's able to talk actually.]

It's not that bad, especially if you have a reason to do it.

[earthlychild]

Yeah. There's a future worth protecting.

[She sees her chance now and continues her approach.]

Hey. I just...I wanted to apologize when we came back to ourselves, but I know you needed to get away for a while.

DINNER, CAFETERIA: Feast

[wrnpcs]

Deliciousness for every child, woman, and homme.
Om nom nom nom nom nom nom.

[The cafeteria has been decorated with tinsel and other bright shiny things for the occasion, and even the workers have been forced into holiday sweaters and hats. Many tables have been pushed together in the center of the room with a huge tablecloth draped on top, and the food resting on top of that is worthy of a holiday movie.]

EVENING, BEACH: Fireworks and candles

[wrnpcs]

Finally, fill the sky and the sea with light.
To all a good Festival, and to all a good night!

[Isn't being like ten minutes' walk from the beach rad? It's pretty cold out, but at least since it's high tide, the Fastitocalon-F are hiding rather than attacking everyone.

[Since no one volunteered to make things go boom, the fireworks display is all storebought stuff and the odd EXPL 101 product, nothing too exciting. (Of course, people are encouraged free to jump in and hijack the display.) The GFC is also selling smaller fireworks, glowsticks, and candles.

[Some time after the fireworks, when people are a bit quieter, Russell intones:] To Shiva, and to the New Year. [And then he leads the release of floating candles onto the waves. Unfortunately, since it's high tide (good planning, guys), many candles will probably be swept away rather than floating prettily, but it's the thought that counts, right?]

[elementofloyalty]

[In the middle of all this tumult, a rainbow pony swoops into the sky, racing circles around the explosions until she performs --]

[Well, it's hard to tell exactly what she's doing in the darkness and the contrast, but the end result is an awe-inspiring burst of brilliant light with crackling lightning bolts shuddering off every which way!]

[TOP THAT, EXPL101 folks!]

[selphie_t]

[If impressed had a colour, Selphie would be it at the present moment. She's gotta give the pony props though for pulling off something awesome like that.]

WOOHOO! GO RD!!!!

[elementofloyalty]

That was nothing. Just a little trick I whipped up a long time ago.

[selphie_t]

Well it's still cool!

[marearcana]

[No doubt that will be the highlight of the night. Out of courtesy she's going to watch the rest of the fireworks anyway, though. And be silent.]

[elementofloyalty]

[And that makes one pony. Only a couple of minutes later, Rainbow drops out of the sky into Twilight's field of vision, upside-down.]

Best Buccaneer Blaze ever, or best Buccaneer Blaze ever?

[marearcana]

While neither of those are really options, I'd have to say that yes, that was the best Buccaneer Blaze ever.

[laughafterme]

[Pinkie is sitting on the beach quietly with Gummy, looking up at the wonderful display in the sky. She has a few glowsticks around her (about ten...) since she just loves them! There are a couple in her hair, too, since her pockets are full of candy...]

[kitchenfistfirechaosstyle]

Pardon me, lovely lady -- is this seat taken?

[Champloo lowers himself to the ground next to her. Quite close, as it happens.]

[laughafterme]

It is now! [Pinkie grins, not making room for him because well...he made his own room! Right next to her!] You're just in time!

[She reaches into her bag that's set a few inches from her and pulls out a rectangular box, wrapped in yellow paper with a blue ribbon around it. She hands it to Chammy happily.] Happy Hearths Warming!

[Inside he'll find a photo album of them of the year gone by. Everything from their baking rivalries, to candid pics Pinkie took of Champloo while teaching (complete with commentary), to various pics of them together. How they were taken isn't a mystery, save a few of them.]