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]

"Do you know what they'd want to see? Or what their interests are?" Shiro ventures as he tosses an apologetic look to the passer-by. He's sorry, she's just angry. It will be alright. "That's a good way to narrow things down. And if they've done this before."

Shiro glances around and adds, "We should move to the side to prevent blocking traffic. If they come back they'll see both of us." At the very least, him. He's a tall man.

[chatwithdeath]

I see... Well, where I would normally be from, the worse monster is just human and everything else is fictional.

[What do you mean? She'll want to hear about it... but later.]

Legault... I'm Naomi.

[spaceforged]

[It’s a lot harder to check for bugs when you only have one hand. Shiro does his best. He goes through each room and carefully checks the areas most likely to have them. He checks the least likely areas as well.

Nothing turns up. Shiro enters their room to find Keith eyeing his iMog. He shuts the door again and leans against it. He mouths,]

iMog ?

[spaceforged]

What has interested you here? [It’s a safe topic. Not that Baiken would ask why he looks like shit. Even with the healing he received he feels weak. Weak and tired for most of the time.]

[spaceforged]

[He can’t help but smile a little. The joke lands and he laughs softly.] You know he’d ask how you managed to convince me to bother with breaks. Then offer to buy you lunch to celebrate.

[He hasn’t been terrible about pacing himself. He does it quite well. The issue is he so rarely steps away from duty and what needs done. Or as he was told, ‘you don’t give yourself time to breathe’. He never saw the point in that when his time to live had been.

He cuts the thought off and shifts his feet to stabilize himself.]

Speaking of that farm. Are you enjoying it? But yes for a while I’ll be the cat of my team. For at least a week according to the healers art the Center.

[balancingedge]

[Henods before turning off his iMog, opting to write down on a slip of paper he thoroughly intends to use as kindling later for a fire (along with the page below it) when they are back in Arito:]

Been worried they're bugged since CC tried contacting the weird name on LS.

[Because, if it were him or the Blades, they would plant listening malware and compromise not just the network, but the devices using it as well.]

[spaceforged]

As in the mythical creature associated with the cycle of life and rebirth. But, maybe the chemist guild got their original idea from its feathers.

[He asks as he turns his head to look at Takeshi. His body still tingles from the wash of healing magic. It’s no surprise that he looks so bad off healers will be reaching out to heal him. At least this one he knows he can trust. Shiro nods once and finally addresses the first part.

He breathes in.]

All the same, you’re here and I’m glad for that.

[warpstriking]

[H u z z a h. Still, that smirk crossing his lips turns just a tiny bit more smug.] Before or after he got on my case for not taking a couple myself?

Besides, this implies I'll be seeing the ol' Zora any time soon. [He'd show off his license, but.... cats. They demand pets.] Took that final test the day you got back.

[A pause, and he blinks.]

Oh sure, I just love getting woken up at five in the morning on days after late shifts. [Yet the snark softens at the loud purring. He just can't maintain it in the face of these little guys and girls.] But otherwise, yeah. How's Arito treating you?

[He tried to ignore the thought in the back of his head and the feelings associated with it that if only I had my powers, I could help... The balls of fluff help.]

[spaceforged]

Trust me. If it exists there are fans for it. There always is.

[Considering they thought Ultros was a god... He sighs. Futaba has a point. A valid one. He sets his hand on his hip and laments he can’t cross his arms.]

And since they thought he was a god...there are likely followers who never gave up their fairh. Not everyone will accept the true goddess of the waters.

[acceptedlife]

Wouldn't be surprised. Then again, Crystallis had-

[Had the same thing. Far rarer, but he remember selling some to a couple people with the gil to spare. He would have said that aloud but Shiro's next comments cause him to stop. He blinks, stunned into silence.

No one's ever told him they're glad he exists. Encouraged him to be his own person, sure, but.

... Congratulations are in order, because someone just earned themselves a very salty pocket healer.]

[spaceforged]

[By now the post moogle has come and gone. Shiro turns to the stranger and listens to their point. He nods once.]

Yes, hopefully they can. And it might be a still loyal followers did it. Either way, it can be fixed. Which of these do you recognize and have names for? I heard some names earlier. Maybe we could compare what we know.

[He recognizes the face of the other man and there’s never been time to have a chat. Well, now they can. That’s something at least.]

[chocobosnap]

"I think so. I mean they're not my birds, but chocobos usually don't mind. They like people." He gushed lightly.

"And if they don't want you to pet them, they'll tell you." Prompto chuckled.

[mech_and_mutt]

A monster arena...?

[Okay, that actually sounded really cool; even the thought of being able to recreate-- simulate, maybe?-- monster battles for practice was getting him a little bit excited.

But, while Red was hardly an expert, there did seem to be a step or two missing there...]

How's that work? I don't hafta catch and take 'em in alive, do I?

[witchwithoutacause]

Amanda didn't have much information. Just a cool word. "Those Biggs and Wedge guys. They oversee a lot of the rescuing people stuff. Just two dudes, easier to pick out when they've got those orange flightsuits on. I dunno, maybe your buddy has a picture of 'em."

Nodding over at Bobble and an increasingly flustered Morag.

[eternitynpcs]

[She walks on ahead without looking back, using her tall statue and stern expression to drive a clear route across the city. No time to pause and look at shops, she has someone to deliver.

A few fedora vendors call out to the pair, which Claire promptly ignore.]

[sassafrisk]

Frisk shudders, the times that they fucked up while actually fighting back replaying in their heads with some rather unfortunate embellishments. "Yeah. Um, a fair few, actually. The problem lies in keeping my head while I'm on the right end of the pointy or bludgeony instrument, not when I'm on the wrong end. Trust me, I can handle myself just fine as long as I'm the defensive, but as soon as you put a weapon in my hands or even if I just start swinging back," they hiss through their teeth, wincing, "it isn't pretty. I can generally pull through if the situation's really bad, but half the time while training out in the fields I lose my nerve and run the hell away. The other half I spend ten minutes trying to calm down with Papyrus awkwardly patting my back after everything's over and there's monster blood all over my ninjatos and my uniform."

[sassafrisk]

"Imagine it. Convergence of the Santas." Frisk says dryly, smiling with Ganeshan. It's been awhile since they've had a nice, silly conversation. It's all been angst and bleagh lately, although that's their own fault with all their slowly being resolved issues from Camp Curtisy. "Everybody bringing their Starlight or Starlight-equivalent legends from their homeworlds and mashing it up into one big celebration." Oh. Wait. They'd suggested that almost sarcastically, but that was actually a really good idea. They could definitely get behind that.

[4got10]

[Violence isn't unknown to Chara, but even then they're slightly thankful Vanitas bothers to turn when they eat the cat. They don't have that much of an interest in seeing the animal get devoured.

They put on a fake smile and shrug when Vanitas asks them their question.]

Don't really have any chaperones. Well, except for Mogore here.

[And Chara nods to their moogle, who has so far been rather quiet. The moogle clearly would rather be away from the cat-eater, but they're not going to leave Chara's side. At being noticed, they wave a bit, hesitantly, towards Vanitas.]

Er, yes...well, hello, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, kupo.

[Chara softly puts a hand on the moogle's head, smiling a bit more.]

It's kind of nice. I'm never really alone with him around.

[keymemory]

The sound of someone else in the home brought Sora up out from the discarded luggage. He looked around the foyer and stood from the baggage and sought out the other. The hair was something he had noticed almost immediately! He had a soft grin curving his lips. “Hey! I’m Sora.. and uh.. I mean.. I guess?” He looked at Nunumu, his moogle, who just looked up at him with a blank expression. The moogle had appeared to find something of a treasure in those bags. A pair of pumpkin decorated socks.

Sora swallowed and nodded toward the other, “was this your house? Or.. I mean, I just sort of wandered in here!” Truth be told, he definitely was not where he was suppose to be, but when was that ever not the case with Sora in his idle time?

[4got10]

That's to be expected. Chara's pretty sure Frisk has avoiding and running if need be down pat if they're like Shifty, but probably little knowledge of actually putting up a fight.

That'll be a problem. ...It isn't fair to expect Frisk to have to put up a fight, but it does mean Chara might have to keep an eye out a bit more during fights to make sure Frisk is doing alright, at least until they get more used to it. Which, god, that's something they don't really want. Chara hesitates for a moment. Offering what they're about to could go really badly.

"There's a couple of things you could use, partner," they say, looking off to the side before looking back to Frisk. "First, you need to learn to...detach a bit more."

"Second? You could use a frequent sparring partner. I know you'd probably be hesitant to with Papyrus since you could hurt him, but I don't think you could hurt me partner."

[sonoftenebrae]

[When the dog growls, Ravus growls back, furious. This ugly, hulking beast and his daemonic master think they can ruin his afternoon? Absolutely not!

He throws up his magitek arm as a shield against those snapping jaws, seeking to Counter the attack with a punch from his right hand. As it circles, he is not above kicking it too. It will be hard to kill without a blade or the enhanced strength Verstael's limb had given him, but he can at least keep it from interfering with the fight between Gladio and the swordsman.]

[einspine]

[Oh! He knows that voice, and so he turns around, frowning for a moment. That's not a good sign.]

OH! ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THESE DEVICES?

[How interesting. Though she doesn't look happy about it...]

[einspine]

NYEH HEH HEH!!! WHY THANK YOU!

[Oh, he's practically glowing now. Such sincere praise! Admiration for his genius! It makes him all warm and tingly inside.]

HMM... SHOES ARE IMPORTANT, YES. BUT WHAT SHOES CAPTURE THAT PROPER FEEL? SNEAKERS ARE PROBABLY TOO CASUAL. BOOTS COULD WORK, BUT WHAT KIND? AH, IF ONLY THE FASHION WIZARD WERE HERE TO IMPART HIS WISDOM UPON US!

[einspine]

[He'll tentatively take the small piece he's offered and bite down.

And then chew, very carefully, so not to appear rude.

It's... actually not that bad. Intriguing. Very intriguing.]

HMMM... IT DOES TASTE PRETTY GOOD FOR A SUGARY SNACK. BUT WHAT QUANTITY UNLOCKS ITS TRUE POTENTIAL? HOW MUCH TO UNLOCK ITS RAW, CHOCOLATEY POWER?

[einspine]

GOOD! I DO WANT TO APPEAR DISTINGUISHED WHEN THAT DINNER COMES AROUND, BUT I'D JUST FEEL SO NAKED WITHOUT MY GOGGLES.

[Despite being fully clothed otherwise. Yes, it's silly, but this is Papyrus.]

OH! BUT HOW RUDE OF ME. I NEVER EVEN INTRODUCED MYSELF. SO! I'M THE GREAT PAPYRUS, SCIENTIFIC GENIUS AND PUZZLE MASTER. AND YOU?