Season Turning Festival

[graveyounglady]

season turning festival

winter turns to spring

The Oval Playground, just south of the Old Bridge Street Burying Ground had seemed the perfect place to set up for the Winter to Spring Turning Festival that this get-together has become. It's a grander affair than Mercy had first envisioned, but she's glad for the shift given Rue's help. The air is brisk, the day clear, and colorful tents have been erected on the open green up against the northern edge of the park… not terribly far from the graveyard, if one were to hop a fence. It's no grand city festival, but there are more than a few activities and foodstuffs to catch the eye of those who might deign to drop in for the fun.

Everyone who does stop by will be immediately directed to a table where winter-themed flower crowns can be picked up. Each one is unique and there seem to be enough crowns for any who might want them.

A photo area has been set up with a tasteful background and a variety of Seasonal Props (and just cute or interesting things Mercy and Rue have come across) one may wear or hold: cornucopias, bouquets of flowers, heart pillows, a skull with antlers, and all other manner of odds and ends that seem seasonal to winter or the coming spring. Some of them are a bit more macabre than others.

There is food and drink aplenty to be found within the tents. Nothing excessively grand (or too alcoholic), but set out in a very pleasing array with a chocolate fountain at the heart of the display. A variety of unique and wintry centerpieces are dotted about to add some additional flair.

There are also sign-ups for a Blanket-wrapped Race and Campball with promised prizes for the winners. These come along with another sign-up for a Fashion Show to be judged by Rue and Mercy at the end of the afternoon's festivities. Wear your seasonal best to the festival or step into the Fashion Tent where you'll find an offering of clothes and accessories to help pull your winning design together!

sampling the season

celebration in style

Introduction
Mercy isn't usually nervous about giving speeches. She's spoken to all kinds of people for her work both as an undertaker and as a healer… even as a rebel, after a fashion. But this is particularly important, sharing something with others that's part of her homeland, something that's not technically her right to do. She adjusts the flower crown atop her head, steps up onto a makeshift little platform, and raises her hands for attention.

"Thank you, kindly, friends, for coming out. Me'n- The Honorable Rue and I have been working to put together a little shindig we thought folk might enjoy, something to liven the spirits while we're coming out of this long stretch of dark and cold. Where I'm from, Evergreen Abbey, we got a tradition of celebrating the changing of the seasons. Spring to summer, summer to fall, fall to winter, and winter again into spring. The world is cycles. A deep breath in and another out as the earth, hisself, breathes.

"With a season turning comes a naming. We honor the time we've spent with the past and present even while we look to the future. It's the right of the Abbot or Abbess of Evergreen to name the season, but seeing as we ain't got one of them on hand…" She manages a crooked grin. "I name this the Winter of Kindled Flames. Whether that's warmth in fire or in friendships, both'll see us through to what's ahead." She looks to Rue and steps aside in case the owlbear would like to say their own words.

Of course crowned in their own set of vibrant flowers, Rue’s glamoured countenance beams down at Mercy before they turn their charming smile on the crowd. They wave an arm out - and for any familiar with Rue’s true form, it would be easy enough to imagine the grand flourish their feathery wing would make - directing the attention to them. “My friends, we only ask that you open yourselves up to the true beauty of the changing seasons. It must be said, that although the aim of this festival is to bring some lighthearted reprieve into our lives, it would not behoove of us to simply ignore the fear we have all been faced with as well. But as a wise woman once spoke -” And though it’s quite subtle, Mercy would feel a gentle, feathery paw at her elbow. “‘Fear falls when it's faced with bonds it can not break.’ So please, we welcome you to enjoy the grand festivities planned, while you engage with friends, both old and new.”

I. Flower Crowns and Photographs
A table is set up and regularly replenished with a variety of unique flower crowns that seem to have been handmade. Each is different, featuring little touches of interest here and there, whether in an unusual color combination or arrangement. There are even some supplies in a nearby box and some basic instructions laid out should one want to fashion their own flower crown or add to an existing one. A small sign accompanies the table of crowns, written in Mercy's neat and very old-fashioned looking handwriting:

We weave the world together
And place each blossom bright
To find ourselves the vigor
To carry on our fight
And with each crown we place
Our hearts alight with yearning
We name ourselves the vessels
For joy and season's turning

- Mercy Summermist, Hero of Evergreen Abbey

Not far beyond the flower crown station is a photo point. This place seems to have been set up specifically to provide an excellent opportunity for any person (or persons) to pose for a picture. There are rich cloths draped artfully over some branches of a tree and little lanterns and faerie lights that twinkle in the shade. There are a few logs and stumps that have been rolled over to provide seating or something to stand on for those who might wish to be a bit taller than usual. Off to one side of the photo area, there is a cardboard box filled with all manner of eclectic items. Some of them are sensible and seasonal. Others are just a bit odd. You might be surprised what you find in that box to join you in your photo. The stranger things undoubtedly came from a certain gravedigger, but it's best not to ask where she might have acquired them.

II. Food, Mingling, and a Grave Path
Tables have been set up in some of the tents and out on the green of the park that sport an assortment of foods and beverages. They're mostly the standard platters of fruits, cheeses, veggies, and meats one might be able to purchase at the local grocery store, but they've been arranged on nicer plates. There's one table set up as the central and most prominent display. In the center is a chocolate fountain and assorted dipping items. There are also whimsical candies here from the newest shop in Gloucester that's making an invertebrate splash!

In addition to the tables for food, there are little seating areas that are a combination of chairs and whatever else could be found at Bonnie's and on short notice to serve as seating. These more… eclectic sitting locations are covered by comfy-looking blankets and set up around small fire pits where they're available. Enjoy a plate filled with food or a big cup of hot chocolate or coffee from a nearby drinks station.

For those who are less keen on mingling with others or who just need a moment to themselves, there is a gate leading out of the park to the north and directly into the copse of trees that surround the Old Bridge Street Burying Ground. The graves here date back to the 1700s and some of them look… strangely fresh considering their headstones. Has something been digging here? Have zombies been clawing their way from the earth, itself? Who can really say? There does seem to be a pattern to the graves with turned earth. They appear to be the grandest and most well-preserved headstones in the yard. What curious times we live in!

III. Campball Lessons
"Campball's the easiest thing you ever played," Mercy tells those assembled on the pitch. She has a soccer ball in hand as the closest equivalent to a campball that she could find. "No touching the ball with your hands." She drops the ball down and dribbles it briefly between her feet. "But anything else goes so long as you ain't drawing blood or breaking bones." Her enthusiastic grin might be just a bit too much for the faint of heart. "We got goals set up on either end of the pitch. You can take turns kicking and guarding to start, then move on to running the pitch with the ball. Got some cones set up for you there. Practicing stealing the ball from each other'll be next. Don't be afraid to get a little rough. Or getting sneaky. I seen one team win a match using tricks to keep the other team guessing where the ball actually was."

"The first team to score 5 points is the winner, and we'll take breaks every 20 minutes. We'll try to make the teams even on numbers, and I'll be watching off to the side while you do drills so's we can even the skill out, too."

Those assembled will be unleashed upon the practice pitch in pairs to test their mettle. Occasional encouraging words will be thrown out over the course of the 30-minute practice before everyone is dismissed for refreshments and preparation for the battle game to come. Perhaps you've been lured by the game itself or some curiosity. Perhaps you've been lured by the promise of a free, tailored outfit for each member of the winning team. Either way, there's practice to get to and a campball championship title to be won!

((OOC: Sign-ups for the campball teams are below. Terri will RNG the winning team on March 1st.))

IV. Blanket-wrapped Race Strategizing
The Blanket-wrapped Race is a curious sort of affair. People are asked to pair up in teams of two, one to wrap their partner in the blanket and the other hop, waddle, or roll their way to victory while cocooned. The blankets provided come in a range of sizes to accommodate competitors of different builds, but they're all thick and stiff. There are colorful bungee cords available, as well, a nod to these modern times. Mercy would usually use standard rope, but she doesn't want to make anyone suffer having to figure out knots on the fly.

Instructions are provided that the one being wrapped must have the blanket bungeed to them at the ankles, waist, and shoulders, at a minimum. They'll be checked before they're let off the starting line. Once on the move, the pitch isn't the longest in the world, but to someone wrapped in a blanket, it might seem quite the distance… especially considering the hazards laid out before them. There are down tree branches, patches of ball bearings, and well-hidden trip-wires.

Attentive partners to the blanket-wrapped will run ahead of them to warn of hazards or maybe even move them into the way of competitors who might be behind or ahead of their racing companion. Work with your companion to test different wraps and strategize for your run down the track before the starting bell.

((OOC: Sign-ups for the Blanket-wrapped Race are below. Terri will RNG the winning pair on March 1st.))

V. Fashion Show Prep
“Now remember,” Rue is thrilled to remind those eager to participate in the festival’s impromptu fashion show. “Half of a fashionable presentation is simply being confident. Whatever you end up wearing, as long as you feel most glamorous, you’re certain to leave the judges panel in absolute awe. But having said that, sticking to the seasonal theme will certainly net you a few bonus points in the final tally.”

Those wanting to participate are welcome to use from their own collection or to peruse the clothing racks provided in the changing tents. There’s a little something for everyone in every shape and size, Rue has made certain of that, so no non-humans should be feeling left out if they want their chance to strut down the improvised runway.

The esteemed panel - Mercy Graves, Delloso de la Rue, and Neal Caffery - will be sitting on as the judges this afternoon, each scoring every participant separately only for Rue to round up all of the points at the end of the festivities. Come and show off your own special brand of fashion, dance your way down the catwalk, or maybe come give a friend a hand in the hopes they’ll walk away with the top prize of the evening.

((OOC: Sign-ups for the Fashion Show are below. Mey will RNG the winning pair on March 1st.))

♡

Comments

[graveyounglady]

"I'd love that. And it's more than I'd planned for, honestly. I'm not..." She trails off for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I've always been the one supporting other folk. Don't mind it. But I listen to them and I do what they say. When I was younger, there was some trouble in my home. Our abbot turned out to be a terrible man, one who was trying to wipe out people like me and propping up lies that'd been passed down through the ages.

"I had a friend, Ciaran, who led us in overthrowing him, along with some other folks. We lost... a lot of people. And it's what inspired me to go into healing. I always felt like there's more I could've done if I'd known what I needed to do." Could she have saved Hereward? Mr. Thomas? Ms. Berend? ...Crystal?

"Point being, I followed him. And then when he went off to save his own homeland, I ended up following the healing folk, doing what I was told. First choice I really made against the grain was leaving home to go and learn how to be a cleric for another god, the Springtide. That's when I got brought here. We'd just set out. So, having this go well, something I had a major hand in planning? It's nice. Feels nice to have it go right.

"How about you? Every thing you were hoping for?"

[ruevealing]

It's new insight into their darling friend, a look into the past that helps to flesh out the full of why Mercy is the person they are today. To hear that anyone would be cruel enough to want to simply take her out, to wipe such generous, warmth from the world, it's absolutely horrifying.

But Rue reaches out to gently take Mercy's much tinier hand into their feathery, taloned paw, squeezing carefully, as they listen through all that the girl has to say. Her journey, her turn to the healing arts, the decision to finally leave home - all through the retelling, Rue holds her hand and simply listens.

"Let me promise you, no matter what comes next, this is the first of many, dear. The first time is the hardest, but after this, it will only continue to get easier. You'll have dozens of successes like these in just a few years, I'm certain of it. You shine too brilliantly to stay behind in the shadows as support your whole life. You deserve this."

And no one else can take that away from her.

"Oh certainly! I'm most impressed with the turnout and just how much participation we got from the crowd! Speaking plainly, events for humans seem to be much less a magnet for chaos than any I've thrown with the fey! It was quite easy to watch it unfold all on it's own, without any drama or mischief."

[graveyounglady]

Mercy squeezes back on the paw holding her hand. There is that ever-present uncanny strangeness when Rue is in their human guise and she's feeling something entirely different... but Mercy tries to set that aside. Or maybe the instinctive unease will give Rue a tiny burst of fear to feed on. That... wouldn't be for a bad cause. No. She certainly owes the owlbear that much and more.

"We get our own types of mischief and drama. You seen Mr. Martin shoving the bug sweets into the plants?" There's a fond smile on her lips, rather than reproach. "I know he's got a powerful fear of anything crawling or squirming, but I got to tease him something terrible, pretending I didn't understand what he was doing. Tried convincing me he was giving the plant sugar."

[ruevealing]

Oh, feeding into that fear is still something that Rue struggles to fully accept, but from Mercy especially? Something about a little taste of her fear sends shivers up the owlbear's spine.

Thank goodness for Rue's unflappable composure.

"I certainly did!" But just like Mercy, there's no horror in Rue's tone, just a posh chuckle at the very thought. "I suppose there's no pleasing everyone, though I thought including the new sweets shop was a perfect idea. Besides, I saw more than one person going back for more."

[graveyounglady]

"Oh, I think it was a good idea in the end. There's a part of me hoping that taking the fear out of that place and the food it's selling might help in keeping bad things away. This place has a way of manifesting the ills people got in their heads. If you think it's gonna be something terrible and part of the Corruption hard enough, it might just become that."

Mercy shakes her head slightly. "Seems like the folk running food shops around Gloucester got enough problems without us adding to them. That man with the bakery." She makes a vague gesture. "I want this new place to succeed. And bugs are good to eat! People get awful squeamish about the strangest things here."

[ruevealing]

If only everyone that was brought in came with such generous love in their heart. Maybe ADI would approach their mission a little bit differently.

"And that's exactly what you've done here. Look at all of the joy you've brought, the togetherness I've seen among both our group and the rest of the city. It's a truly beautiful thing you've done, my dear. And no matter what we must face next, this is exactly the reprieve that everyone so desperately needed."

A gentle bump of Rue's shoulder to Mercy's. "And you've also opened up enough eyes to numerous delightful shops around town. I imagine they'll be quite busy the upcoming days."

[graveyounglady]

There's a blush that touches her cheeks for the compliments. Mercy can't help dropping her gaze to smile down at her hands. "You're awful kind, Rue. And you got words that feel like a the warm breath of a summer night on cold ears." Maybe not... the most eloquent compliment. "I-I just mean you got a way about you and talking. I'm pretty good at it, but you got a proper gift to build folk up, don't you?"

There's no reproach or upset, just... appreciation for her friend's talents. "That's something we been missing a bit of here before you came. And I like listening to how you say things. It's kind. You're kind, Rue. And that's a kindness to everyone here, having you."

[ruevealing]

Eloquent or not, the sentiment behind Mercy's words is felt and cherished.

"Thank you, dear one." Rue has been called many things their long life, but being kind easily ranks as one of the most flatteringly sweet. They may not blush and preen beneath the complimentary words, but their expression brightens with soft happiness.

"That is such a lovely thing to say. I hardly feel worthy of it, but if that is how you feel, then the weight behind your beautiful words must be true. I think that if I was to work on spreading anything now, kindness would be something I could absolutely be proud of. The people here deserve more of it, you especially."

Think we can ftb on this one!

[graveyounglady]

"Well, here's to more parties and spreading cheer, kindness, and a whole mess of good this place needs." Mercy raises her drink to Rue with a lopsided grin. "'Tween the two of us and other folk who've said they wanna help with the next one, I think we'll manage something real special."