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

[desertbloomed]

A. Midnight Airship

[ Ashelia stands on the outdoor viewing platform at the front of the ship, wine glass in hand and a fur draped ever so precisely around her shoulders. It may be the summer festival, but this high up, it's necessary. There's also, of course, the fact that it's hamster fur, a conversation piece that's already helped her secure several mercantile contracts. It was doing its job. ]

[ Of course, once the business is taken care of, there's still a good amount of time to enjoy the fireworks and look over the city, so that's what she does. She knew that Sen Riqeaux was Aqures Ixen as soon as she stepped off the transport from the Curti Center, but she'd kept the thoughts at bay for the most part, focusing on the job at hand. Now, though, looking over the city and seeing all the landmarks, it's impossible to ignore. Her eyes glisten, but she doesn't cry. In a way, she's happy to be back. ]

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja didn't find any particular magic in fireworks (they're just explosions, people, honestly), but the opportunity to go on an airship ride that would almost certainly prove illuminating to his concerns about this city that he can't help but go. He'd spent a not-inconsiderate amount of time mindlessly exchanging pleasantries with people who clearly didn't have any of the answers he wanted, and was just beginning to contemplate taking a swan dive off the side if this Hypello would not cease its prattling this instant when he spots a familiar face. An escape!
"Goodness just look at the time I'm late for a meeting so sorry to cut and run goodbye."
He joins Ashe by the railing, having eschewed his bolero for a more formal affair. "You know, this is the second time I've stumbled across you, next to a balcony and clearly in need of a means to vent. What's troubling you this time, Alma?"

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia looks up, surprised. Of course, she shouldn't have assumed that every single person on the network had seen her video. Regardless, she laughed lightly, shaking her head. ] No need for venting. It's simply...seeing this place, all the memories flooding back. Some good. Mostly bad, but some good.

[ She sighs, shaking her head. She has to do it sometime, it may as well be now. ] Kuja, I owe you an apology. I am not Alma Beoulve - that name, that person is naught but a wish, a dream. My name is Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. [ She gives an almost playful shrug. ] You were right.

[acapriciousreaper]

That does give him pause. "Ah. Well, that is a relief. The only alternative is that I made a mistake, and obviously we can't have that. Not that I can fault you for... wanting to re-create yourself, so to speak. A new world, full of opportunity... I can empathize."
He leans on the railing, gazing out over the city. "Frankly, if you wish to be 'Alma Beoulve', what is there to stop you from being such? I'm hazarding a guess that the name means something to you."

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia simply nods. ] 'Tis the name of the sister of a dead friend of mine. A steadfast comrade during my time as a Hero of Light on Crystallis, and a true knight. In the best sense of the word.

Alas, I was approached not long ago by a young woman whom I recognized as Princess Sarah of Aqures Ixen. [ She shrugs, sipping her wine. ] She requested I look after everyone. The Offworlders. I gave her my word.

[acapriciousreaper]

That piques Kuja's interest. "Look after everyone? Is there some reason to think that we're in danger, then?"
Aqures Ixen, Aqures Ixen... Something about that name seems... off.
"Aqures Ixen. A kingdom on Crystallis, which I suppose is your homeworld. I-" he stops, a look of contemplation on his face. His iMog slate is produced, the notepad pulled up.
S E N R I Q E A U X
He has to check.
S E N R I Q E A U X
A ? U R E S I X E N
"Is 'Aqures Ixen' spelt with a 'Q', incidentally?" comes the slightly icy question.

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia looks on, first in amusement and then in genuine interest. She bites her lip when Kuja finishes with his anagram. Of course. How could she not have realized? ]

It is. [ She kisses her teeth, swishing her wine glass around anxiously. ] I originally hail from the land of Ivalice. I was taken to Crystallis to become a Hero of Light. With Princess Sarah being taken by someone who, in her words, "has forgotten what happiness is and wishes to see the world end," yes, I would say we are all in danger more grave than one would expect.

[ Biiiig gulp of wine here. ] This is no coincidence. Sen Riqeaux is more or less a carbon copy of Aqures Ixen. The very house I lived in yet stands.

[eternitynpcs]

A-are you alright, kupo?

[The young apprentice postmoogle hesitantly holds out a clean handkerchief he pulled out from his satchel to the young lady, a concerned look in his eyes. Even in the dim light, he couldn't help but notice her eyes beginning to water up.]

[desertbloomed]

Hm?

[ Ashelia looks over and sees the moogle. She chuckles softly, shaking her head. ] I'm all right. [ She gives her wine glass a swirl as if to say, "see?" She takes the handkerchief regardless though, as refusing would just be rude, and dabs at the corner of her eyes.] Thank you, sir.

[ She holds the handkerchief out for him to take back. ] I do hope I haven't tarnished an otherwise enjoyable evening with my feminine weakness. [ It's tongue in cheek, as she takes a sip of her wine. ]

[eternitynpcs]

Kupoto, ma'am! [He introduces himself, bowing slightly.] And no trouble. You just seemed lonely, kupo.

[Kupoto reaches to take the handkerchief back, but fumbles. The little cloth sails off into the wind.]

Oh...

[desertbloomed]

Oh! [ Ashelia makes a grab for the kerchief, but it's long gone. She sighs heavily, shaking her head. ] Alas. Who know where it will end up. On its own little adventure, I suppose. I do hope you'll allow me to buy you a drink, as repayment. One cannot put a price on a good kerchief, but I can attempt to match the price with good company.

[ What? The whole point of attending the party is to be charming and gracious to as many people as possible. ]

[eternitynpcs]

It's okay, kupo. [If nothing else, he appreciates the attempt.] Happens all the time! I have plenty of spares because of it, ku-

[Kupoto flushes, embarrassed and surprised.] Ah- n-no need, kupo. It was my own fault, kupo...

[desertbloomed]

It's not repayment for the kerchief. It's repayment for your kindness. [ Honestly, she's about a second away from saying "I insist." ]

[garyoutensei]

-A woman standing near her, pipe at her lips letting out gentle wafts of sweet smelling pipe-grass smoke, eventually pulled out what appeared to be a kerchief, handing it over to Ashe without a single word, or even turning to regard her.-

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia turns to the the kerchief and takes it wordlessly, nodding in thanks. She dabs at the corners her eyes, chuckling lightly. She hadn't cried, let alone almost-cried, for a long time before coming to Vaikuntha, and here she was, for the second time in a month. ]

You've my thanks. [ She holds the kerchief out for the woman to take. ] Do allow me the pleasure of buying you a drink.

[garyoutensei]

Keep it. -Baiken waved off the attempt to return the kerchief. It wasn't as if it was particularly special after all, but her eyebrow cocked up at the other offer.-

If that's what gives you pleasure, don't let me stop you.

[desertbloomed]

[ Alllllllllllrighty then. Without another word, Ashelia nods at a passing server. As if reading her mind, they bring over a small bottle of sake and a shot glass. With another nod from the young queen, the server sets it all on a nearby chest-high table and leaves. ]

To the Festival, then. [ Ashelia raises her own glass and takes a sip. ]

[garyoutensei]

Sake of the Empire, huh? -Baiken mused, staring at the bottle for a moment before she let out a sigh, removing her pipe and dashing it against the rail she'd been standing near before setting it on the table and taking up the glass.

Baiken seemed to take the drink a bit more seriously than most would, taking in its bouquet first, rolling it in the glass before taking a small sip, letting it sit in her mouth for a moment before finally swallowing.-

Not bad. Either you have good taste, or whoever picked this our for this ship's menu did. Feel free to take credit for it, since I'm not gonna question you. -She took a much larger gulp after that, the entire glass actually, before setting it down.-

[desertbloomed]

I intend to. [ It's said with good humor. ]

[ She looks back out at the city, comfortable with their silence. ]

[transect]

( in order to get a better feeling for how this new city was mapped, rutile had thought that sizing up the place from the airship was as good a place as any to start.

there's a quirk of a brow as they notice the hamster-fur draped woman— and the glisten in her eyes. )

A sentimental occasion, perhaps? ( or just the cool chill on the winds ahead? )

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia looked over at the other woman, nodding. ] This city holds many memories for me. It's quite bittersweet.

[transect]

( memories? in a city closed off until only recently? could that mean... )

I was under the impression outsiders weren't permitted in this place, are you... from this world?

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia shakes her head. ] No, but I was called to Crystallis previously. This city...it's an exact copy of our home there.

[transect]

( their brow hoists upwards at that revelation. )

I see— I'd heard tell of this world being connected with another, verified by several eye witness accounts.

( there's a glance back to the empire's ever-approaching skyline, returning to a more neutral expression. ) Does the architecture give you any clue as to how long it's been since then?

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia shakes her head. ] As far as I've been able to tell, 'tis an almost exact copy. I...also was not present, at the end. The Calamity took me into Crystal Stasis sometime before events came to a head.