Event || The Festival of Light

[eternitymods]

Who: Everyone!
When: August 18th - 25th
Where: The Empire
What: The Festival of Light is here! Feel free to use any of these prompts. NPCs tag will come sometimes this week. Please mention it in your top-level if you'd rather not be tagged by a random NPC.
Warnings/Notes: N/A

EXPOSITION OF THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
— Third District || August 18th – August 25th || 10:00 to 23:00 —
The museums in the 03rd District are open to visitors and are home to many relics predating written history. A lot of those old relics are items of archaeological interest or look like they could be really advanced technologies if they weren't broken beyond repair. Prototypes for Magitek Armor of a new age are exposed, alongside fragments of what are believed to belong to the legendary WEAPONs, machines that belong to the same category than Ultima WEAPON.

The section for Eidolons has all the Eidolons the characters have met so far as well as others yet undiscovered displaying on a gigantic wall-covering painting. The largest Eidolon on the painting appears to be a dragon some characters may recognize as Bahamut, he is so big he dwarves the other Eidolons and should one pay attention, his wings are actually the background of the painting.

Interestingly, someone has doodled something that looks like Ultros over Leviathan on the painting...


SUNNY STARLIGHT
— Ninth District || August 22nd – August 25th || 07:00 to 19:00 —
Do you really believe because it’s summer, you can escape the beauty and magnificence of Christmas? Think again. There is one thing all the nations on Vaikuntha are of one mind on: the wait from the December 26th of a year to the December 24th of the next is too long. This is why a band of Moogles, Lalafells, Bangaas and Zoras from all across the Empire have occupied half of the Ninth District. Decorated trees, Christmas music, people dressed as Santa Claus (and probably dying because of the heat), fake gift boxes as well as a very large and pretty box for donations all await you!

Kids below the age of 15 will all receive a gift if they come: plushies made in the likeness of the main villains of numbered Final Fantasy games! And when you press the button hidden on their stomach, they speak a random line. Who doesn't want a Sephiroth plushie saying "You are a puppet" or a Jecht one repeating "Cry, cry, cry" all day long?

It's like a dream come true!


MIDNIGHT AIRSHIP
— Twelfth District || August 20th – August 24th || 23:00 to 06:00 —
For the late sleepers, it is possible to board a special airship prepared by Hypellos to party up in the sky. The Airship flies all around the Imperial Territories and should characters so desire, they can ask to stop by one of the two other cities. Whether they want to dance, to eat or to enjoy the view, it might be a very fun and relaxing activity. It is also a very good place from where to watch the fireworks… Or to scout for an incoming Tarutaru and her weapon toy.

Note that all the personnel onboard are Hypellos. They are very serviceable and nice, but can try the patience of those not used to their accent. Of note, one Hypello is green and appears to be angrily stalking anyone heading for the "Sunny Starlight" event. He is quite sneaky though and will always manage to get away before being approached.


MOGNET EXPOSITION
— Ninth District || August 22nd – August August 25th || 07:00 to 19:00 —
The half of the Ninth District not occupied by Christmas fanatics is occupied by the Moogles working for the Imperial section of Mognet. Split for the regular Mognet for a decade, Imperial Mognet has managed to thrive. Imperial iMog Slates have all sorts of functions other iMog Slates could only dream of, such as games, grammar check and that kind of stuff. All of those things can be visited at the exposition! Not only that, but the Moogles are also putting on display things that have nothing to do with Mognet but more to do with Moogles themselves.

Come and visit the exposition to discover the rich and amazing culture of the Moogles! Kupo Nuts, Fur Dye, Fake Kupo Nuts, Pom Shiner, Carved Kupo Nuts, booklets titled "How to Use Your Cuteness to Exploit People," Mognet Bags, Deluxe Kupo Nuts, Sheets to Prepare Future Strikes, Mog Beds, Explosive Kupo Nuts, Kupo Champagne—

There is no end to what might be learned from Moogles!


CHOCOBO RACES
— Sen Riqeaux || August 23rd || 15:00 to 20:00 —
A Chocobo Race will be held all around the city! Will you compete? Shall you win? There are no prizes as all the money earned through the race is given to the Safety of Sparks Golsaucia movement. Those participating can bring their own Chocobo or get a temporary one from the people organizing the race. It will be a very bad Chocobo though, so they shouldn’t expect to win… Beware the Hamsters and Marlboro during the race though. It’d be a real shame to end up getting eaten while racing.


SHOPPING
— City's Outskirts || August 18th – August 25th || 07:00 - 20:00 —
On the city's outskirts are all manners of stalls by shoppers eager to make some money. You can find everything there: plushies, food, clothes, souvenirs, books and even cosmetics. Why, one of the merchant is even selling contact lenses covering nearly all of the rainbow's spectrum aside from green while another sells all kind of swords, even the supposed legendary Excalibur! This might be the perfect place to take on O'aka's Quest if you so wish!


MINI SPARKS GOLSAUCIA
— Eleventh District || August 19th – August 24th || Anytime —
Specially for the festival, stallholders from Sparks Golsaucia were invited and brought a few attractions to display what they can do. Noticeably, there is a shooting stand—Once again, a treasure chest game where characters are presented with ten chests and can open only one-- Prizes range from one Gils to gigantic plushies. The novelty this year is something called the "Kupo Boxes," Boxes you punch open and you get something: perhaps something wonderful like a 1 million gil ticket, more often than not though absolutely nothing. Will you try your chance? Be careful, your wallet might not survive it.


TOURNAMENTS
— Tenth District || August 19th – August 23rd || 10:00/15:00/20:00 —
There is a Blitzball Competition taking place during the Festival of Light! Characters are free to go and watch the matches, so long as they can pay for the tickets. At the same time, a Triple Triad competition is taking place. Characters are free to enter the Triple Triad tournament if they so wish. Characters who know Triple Triads have decent chances to win. And even if your characters lose, what matters is trying, right? There are no prizes to be won, as all money goes to the Triple Triad For Everyone associations.


CULINARY ATTRACTIONS
— Second District || August 18th – August 25th || 12:00 to 13:30 / 19:00 to 21:00 —
What would a festival be without free food and banquets? Not really a festival. In the fourteenth district, there is a banquet and many stands held by people from all over the Empire. All kind of food can be found here-- Refined food, pastries, cakes, cooked meals, etc. It's virtually impossible not to find something to like in all of this, and it's all free! There are, however, guards standing around on the lookout for Gourmands who would be tempted to ruin the fun for everyone. After what happened two years ago, better be careful.


THE OPERA
— Ninth District || August 18th - August 24th || 22:00 —
There is an opera every day for all to see for free, titled "A Goddess's Tears." It is a retelling of the creation myth, but shown from the (presumed) perspective of the Goddess of Death. The play depicts the Goddess as someone who started out as a rather sweet person, but whose life took such terrible turns she wished to die and resented life. Yet, death was too scary of a prospect for her and she couldn't choose what was better, Life or Death. As the play progresses, she decides both are equally terrible and resolves to create a world where those very notions shall no longer exist.

As the play unfolds, toward the ends the story becomes what people are more familiar with. However, rather than letting her die wordlessly, the four heroes appease the Goddess's soul by singing. As the four heroes sing, the Goddess smiles and sheds a single tear before passing away. It is said the play is very emotional, sensible people might want to pass on it.


HOUSING
— Fourteenth District || August 17th - August 27th || Anytime —
Before, after and during the Festival of Light, the characters will all need a place where they can rest. Thankfully for them, people coming with the Curti Center delegation are all given the keys to stay in one of the abandoned houses in the 14th District. Truth to be told however, those house look anything but abandoned. Why, it's as if people had been living in them up until very recently, given how either clean and ordered they are for some, or chaotic and neglected they are for others (Characters who were present in Melodies of Life will be able to notice the houses are nearly identical to what they were just before the time skip during endgame, though there are a few eerie differences).

At least, it's a good place to sleep!


ARDYNIAN DISCOVERY
— Fifteenth District || August 18th – August 25th || 10:00, 15:00, 20:00 —
Everyday, it will be possible to get wheeled motor vehicle driven by imperial soldiers and go visit one of the other cities, case in point, Ardynia! Not much is done over there for the Festival of Light, but it is worth checking out, if only for the Wizard and Jester Jobs. It is a thriving city with people from all over the Empire, and it appears to be something of a shopping center for the imperial region.

And most importantly, discover the official headwear of Ardynia: the Fedora! It is said Archaeologists have imported this fashion trend to Ardynia when they pass by, but none know whether this is true or not. While most citizens have enough senses not to actually wear this dreaded hat, those who do wear it really look dumb doing so. And those who don't look dumb look like they'd make jokes about your pet's untimely demise while you're still crying about it.

Perhaps is is best to stay away.


PARASRAYA DISCOVERY
— Fifteenth District || August 18th – August 25th || 10:00, 15:00, 20:00 —
Everyday, it will be possible to get wheeled motor vehicle driven by imperial soldiers and go visit one of the other cities, case in point, Parasraya! Not much is done over there for the Festival of Light, but it is worth checking out, if only for the Archaeologist and Catmancer Jobs, as well as the Weapon Master Association. It is a technologically advanced yet small and cozy city...

... If it wasn't for a tragedy plaguing the city: cats, cats everywhere. If the meowing doesn't kill you, the constant flow of cats asking to be pet, fed and to sit on your lap might. You may even encounter a few tired citizens paying you money to take care of the cat infestation around their house. Others however are really defensive of the cats and will hunt anyone trying to bring harm to them. Of course, the source of all these cat-related troubles can be traced back to the origins of the Catmancer guild.

But, perhaps it is a story best left for another day.


FIREWORKS
— First District || August 18th – August 24th || Midnight —
Fireworks will be launched from the Castle starting 00:00 and will end at 01:00, everyday of the Festival. No matter where you are in the city, anyone should be able to watch them with ease if they so wish. Unfortunately, it means falling asleep before midnight may be a bit hard with all the noise. On the 25th, characters will be with dining with the Empress as the fireworks happen.

Comments

[spaceforged]

I guess they just like really tall guys. [He murmurs and a thought occurs to him. Maybe if he went down lower? He slowly kneels down and immediately regrets it. The cats surge up and over him like an ocean tide. They purr and curl up on his back or spread out until he’s even more coveted in cats.

Shiro laughs tiredly. Compared to the last time they talked his all white hair and missing arm make him look a little younger. As if some of the weight on him has been lifted.]

I guess I’m stuck here for a little while. It’s not too terrible. At least they’re enjoying it.

[warpstriking]

[What a pretty little feline. He'd pet them, but he has his own horde to deal with. By which he doesn't do anything, only close the distance before kneeling down beside the other. The purring intensifies, indeed.]

I don't doubt it. You already look better than when you got back. [Less pale, at least. He sits down instead and two automatically perch themselves on his left knee and calf.] 'Course, that could also be our little horde blocking the view...

[He chuckles, and there's a light in his eyes at that statement.]

Same, really. [His unguarded right hand reaches out to pet a black cat with a white belly and legs. She almost looks... familiar. The reason why hits him seconds later.]

... I wasn't allowed many pets, if at all. After the attack, Ignis couldn't handle seeing me alone and bedridden or wheelchair bound. So, he sneaked in a little furball. They threw the little girl out, of course, but... [He smiles.] She was tenacious. Always sneaking back in through an open part of the royal gardens' greenhouse room. Even after I was taken elsewhere for healing. She waited until I came back.

[And it was the same cat that helped him meet and help a lost Iris months later. Little troublemaker.]

[regisrex]

Well. He didn't evade - he answered the question. But also, well. He could give better answers. Just not here.

Her answer, on the other hand, made him blink. "The name..." Selphie, as far as he was aware, was not from Eos. Which meant...

"You were on Crystallis." Quietly, and not with the tone of a huge or all-important revelation. Merely the click of another piece in a huge puzzle.

"He's from our world, you know." She would know which 'he' Regis was referring to.

[regisrex]

[ And she gets a small laugh. ]

Hats, as almost any other item, are harmless without a specific use or a specific context. But, no, I am far from overwhelmed by the hats.

As to the reason, why might you wish to know?

[ Regis's tone is light and easy, and he's pretty much all right. But his curiosity over her concern is also genuine. (Or, perhaps he is a little bit off-balance. He's working on it, if so, however.) ]

[keymemory]

"Yeah, .. Selphie and Kairi.." Sora's eyes lowered to his hands then they lifted to look over to Tidus, he gave a small smile. "It's alright.. It's getting .. easier, I think, to accept the difference between you and ... you. Riku too, I mean, Riku... who isn't Riku... It's complicated." He shrugged. "But you all are still my friends!"

[eternitynpc]

Not quite, we simply needed a model and picked one of these. As you may have noticed, the statues in the thirteenth districts have been vandalized.

[ A pause. ]

Though I am not quite certain why this statue in particular was picked, you may have to ask the Empress.

[keymemory]

Yeah!

[ Sora bounces on his heels, obviously quite excited for the task presented to him. He looks forward again and his eyes race over all the colors and patterns to the necklaces. They’re all so lovely, so pretty, man Kairi would just love it here! He feels a warmth with just the thought of her enjoying this vendor and his smile brightens even more! ]

Maybe I’ll find one for my friend too! [ Just in case she came! Boy, that’d be a great welcoming gift! Sora bounces again on his feet. ]

Hey! Do you know your friend’s favorite colors? You can pick that way?

[eternitynpc]

[ The woman remained silent a moment. ]

What would you wager is the comfort she found?

[keymemory]

[ Sora had to do a double take as he saw the snake tail suddenly before him, moving in a … well … snake-y way! It sure was a surprise. Sora’s eyes were wide and he had a soft gasp. ]

What? Uh.. what… are you doing?

[ He was unsure about what this snake-guy was up to with this poor little chocochic! ]

[regisrex]

"Of course." Just a little dry. Because 'no part could be left to chance' was only the argument of someone with things to hide. There could be very good reasons to hide, but a ruler who loved his or her people, in his view, let actions and that people speak for themselves. Not... whatever had been done to the people who lived in the houses they were staying at.

... and then his eyebrow twitched up at Ashe.

"I would say the former would require more than a few days' worth of trust buildup, anyway. Respecting and learning about them, like any decent neighbor."

They were that, he hoped. Whether the Empire would prove do so, as well, well. A Prince could hope.

[keymemory]

“No—nu… they’re fine! I jus… ne’r been ar.. h.. ah.. ah..” Nunumu, Sora’s moogle, followed behind Sora and the stranger, every so often there was a soft chirping noise from the moogle. Though, with Sora’s obnoxious sneezing and the plethora of cats meowing around them, the moogle’s noise may not be heard.

“I didn’t know.. I just.. showed up.. uhh,” Sora was gratefully guided by the other as he barely could function upright by himself. “So many cats! I.. never been … around so many!” He explained. “Have.. ha.. haaa… you!?” Chuu~

[keymemory]

[ Gosh! What a complicated answer! However, at the core of that answer was a most definite: ] Yes! I sure did! … Though, it’s kind of a weird situation.. but I found my friends all the same! … Well, not the same really as to when I left them… and I’m not the same as when they left me! But… yes! Just yes!

[ He chuckles, he’s conveying all the complicated feelings with his answer! He should have just said ‘yes’ but.. sometimes it was hard to stop talking! ]

Hey! Shiro here?! [ Sora hadn’t quite stuck long enough by Keith’s side to see if his friend found his best friend, but he was confident they had reunited, just like he did with his friends! ]

[regalblaze]

Apparently not as alright as Ignis thought he is. Physically and mentally.

"Here, let's take a seat." Shiro looked a bit pale and Ignis didn't want to keep him on his legs more than needed.

There was a bench nearby, plush seating and low backrest, for people that want to sit down and enjoy the paintings. When Shiro's seated down, Ignis sits as well.

So... he was in Noct's memory. He saw things that had transpired, the Astral that revealed the horrible destiny that awaited their King. Ignis leans forward, fingers entwined as his arms rest on his knees, looking back at the picture of Leviathan.

"The Astrals are... responsible for a lot of things. The good and... the bad. The heaviness of the bad things, however, make good things pale in comparison." If the history of Astrals holds any truth.

He is silent for a while, then continues:"The truth of his destiny was kept a secret. I still do not understand why. I, for one, found out about it by accident. In a fight," he nods towards the painting of Leviathan, "where Noctis was fighting Hydraean for her blessing." He is more than up for discussing this with Shiro, considering Noct has his trust.

"And it is destiny I am not willing to accept sitting down," Ignis admits, his the clasp of his hands tightening.

He finally tears the gaze away from Leviathan to look at Shiro:"What other differences have you noticed aside from your appearance?"

[keymemory]

[ What, is… Sora lifted his hands to catch whatever it was that was going to be thrown at him. ] I’m ready! [ Or as ready as he’ll ever be and he tried his best to focus his blurred vision toward the movement. He, however, was confident he’d be able to catch whatever it was that was being tossed his way. ]

Ready! Ready!

[eternitynpc]

The cycle of death spoken of in legends... When a world dies, sometimes an entity rises from its husk. Souls, memories, atoms. All broken beyond repair, yet sustained in the form of a powerful creatures. Such creatures, unaware of their own origins, instinctively seek worship to fill in the gap of their own broken existences. They are what you know as Eidolons. Not all dead worlds of course become as such. Only a negligible fractions of dead worlds become Eidolons.

In a way, you could say Summoners practice an alternative form of worship. Through their practices, Summoners help Eidolons. And in return, Eidolons lend them their powers.

[ A pause. ]

Bahamut was one such Eidolon, powerful, but not unique. Until the Goddess of Death infused it with her very own power. Power born not from one dead world, but from countless. Thousands? Millions? There is no saying. But Bahamut's very nature changed. He was no longer a mere Eidolon, but a Calamity.

[keymemory]

The coffee was received with a gracious and eager retrieval of the cup which instantly lifted to Sora’s lips. He took a gulp and sighed before he settled the cup down. “Thanks! … Hm. Well, you’ll all be just fine! Sticking together is definitely going to get you through!” If there was one thing Sora was sure about in this life, in this world and across any other world he might fall into, it was friends carried a lot of weight in strength, endurance, and resilience. Friends could make all the difference.

“Through and through!” He cheered before he had himself another sip.

[eternitynpc]

Why don't you spend the night here?

I think you'll understand soon enough.

[eternitynpc]

One think which gave her joy...

Is it enough to make up for the multitude of pains and sorrows life gives?

[eternitynpc]

I think there is one constant: all that lives will one day dies, and that realization is what drives the life of all sentient beings.

[regalblaze]

Ignis wants to not think about that man, wants to be free of his name following them everywhere, but it is not possible. So much for wanting to give Noctis a bit of room to breathe.

"We will, as always, keep our eyes on the King. If he does show up, we will undertake necessary measures and inform you. You will have your slate with you at all times, correct?"

the truth is out!

[eternitynpc]

Oh, I forgot the introductions, didn't I?

[ H'e smiled and extended a hand for Finn to shake. ]

Meghamaal, a pleasure meeting you.

1/2

[mech_and_mutt]

There were some things that Red most often was left oblivious too. Kuja's halting concern wasn't one of them. And his contemplation may have been left all the more concerning from having the dog's suddenly-scrutinizing glare upon him.

"...I think I know what's goin' on here."

[eternitynpc]

Stole the body of a friend...?

[ The woman looks down at the Moogle. ]

There is no such things written in the legends.

2/2

[mech_and_mutt]

"You want your cut, right?

Sorry, but I couldn't even find a maker on the label, so I wouldn't even be able to tell ya whose door to kick down."

[eternitynpc]

How about a tie, a suit, and hrm, no hat?

[ The despair is absolute. ]