[SWE] Festival of Lights - 313 PC

Festival of Lights This year's festival arrives without pomp and circumstance. Perhaps it's the coming war, or maybe it's the turbulence that has rippled through so many of the regions since the season's beginning. It does not appear to be a good time for Ludo's favourite party. Fuck that though, we're doing it anyway. News about the festivities will arrive on whispers and rumours; a sweet scent coming from the (usually fragrant, but in a different way) Feverlands; dancing lights; music and laughter. And when you get there as well, it will be to a veritable feast. Granted, if you look too closely, you'll notice that all of the items are sweets or candies or desserts, and some of them seem familiar. At least, they are if you left anything on your doorsteps for the spirits. Eat, drink, be merry. But above all, remember why you're here. Welcome to this year's Festival of Lights! This SWE is open to Naturals and Outlanders alike, and for the first time, is being held in the Feverlands! Please come and hang your lanterns to remember those your characters have lost. This thread will remain open until the end of the month, at which time perhaps Ludo will appear to choose its favourite lantern, and to bestow a gift. This is the main lantern-hanging thread. Feel free to have off-shoot threads for other activities if you like!

AMUN

When Amun heard the news that the Festival of Lights was still going to happen, he'd gathered up his lantern for Sam, which was shaped like an open book with a candle as the spine. Then the potter had placed his illusory cloth over his face. Disguising his features just in case someone tried to make trouble, he'd put on his most durable boots and clothes.

Picking his way through the muck of the swamp, he grimaced. Following the scent of sweets that his Ascended nose could just barely make out. When he arrived at the festival grounds, he eyed the assorted sweet before snorting. Finding a nearby tree, he reached up to hang his lantern on the outskirts of the party, before going to lean against the trunk he'd chosen.

Call it all my mistake
Long as you let me go

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD & SKYLARK <3

Maea

And it feels like fear
Like I'll disappear

Maea had no such disguise to shield herself with. Only her ratty old coat with its fraying cuffs and deep hood, that did a decent job of hiding the pallor of her skin in shadow. She kept her hands tucked into the sleeves as she trudged up to the Festival, following in her brother's wake but keeping enough distance between them that anyone who recognized her might overlook any connections between them.

She still followed him to his tree, though, carrying her own seashell lantern in the crook of an arm. It had been created in the memory of herself, of who she used to be before death had claimed her. No ghosts would likely come to pay her a visit anyway, save perhaps the ghosts of memories past. But that was as it should be; this year, it was time to mourn herself, so that she might put the old to rest and move on.

"Care for company, or would you rather be alone for a bit?" she asked Amun softly, and hovered in indecision until she knew whether to settle in more comfortably, or perhaps leave for another shady tree to hide beneath. There were plenty of them, and she wouldn't mind.

Gets so hard to steer
Yet I go on

Lilliane

I know I'm just a girl, but can I change lives?

Guided by rumors and the sweet smell, Lilliane was on her way to the Festival of Lights as well. Misplaced within a swamp like this, the scent was easy to follow. As were the lights. Although she wished she had shoes better suited to the environment.

Once she arrived, Lilliane took a look at the feast laid out for them. Noticing a few familiar ones, she smiled slightly. It was nice to know they were used for a good thing.

Then she headed over to one of the trees with her lantern. Simple, with a wood frame and thin paper spun around, painted with blue flowers. But it fit its purpose. Even though it was not meant to shine for a dead person. The one she made it for was still alive. Far away, in a place she could not return to. Maybe it was the death of their bond which she mourned. It had died long before she got whisked away to Caido. But maybe this was needed to put it to rest.

If I am nothing, if I am trying, I think I can

Coding base by Sky

A party, the winds and waves seemed to whisper. A remembrance. A wake.

The currents drew Hadama and his young friend away from the familiar coast of Torchline and around the southern horn to the swampy eastern shore, and the mermanta was glad of the company to lighten the journey.

His lantern trailed in the water behind him as they arrived; the glass squid's airbladder filled with glowing plankton and enough air to help it float. He tied it off to an underwater log and swam closer to shore, emerald eyes alight with interest at the delicious smells that wafted from the tables set frustratingly out of reach of the water. And... were those some of the pastries that Melita had helped him procure? But there were so many other fascinating treats besides that he was soon distracted by trying to guess what some of the confections were.

Chrys

Swimming all the way around Stormbreak and to the Feverlands had been quite the task. It was rare for Chrys to head so far away from the Underwater City, but watching the festival would hopefully be worth the effort. And at least she didn't have to do the whole thing alone.

When they arrived, Chrys tied her lantern to an underwater root, not too far from Hadama's lantern. Then she headed closer to the shore as well, watching the people on the shore with curiosity. Of course the treats were intriguing as well, and she would definitely get someone to bring a few over to them at a later point.

Then she got a good look at the lanterns hung in the trees. "Look, that one is made from wood! And it's not burning away." she said, to Hadama, pointing at one of the lanterns in the tree. Even among the lanterns made by the landpeople, there were big differences. This was bound to be an interesting evening.

Code base by Sky