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

Regis - Open

[regisrex]

I. Midnight Airship

Regis was leaning against one of the windows, eyes out into the starry night... or, rather, the ground. The darkness concealed much, but not all. One of his own personal missions for himself during this trip was reconnaissance, and seeing the ground from the air - even at night - seemed like a start in one direction, on that.

However, the moment anyone approached him, his eyes would alight on them, and his smile widen, ready and easy and innocent.

"Good evening. How are you enjoying the flight?"

II. Chocobo Races

Some people who had still mostly known Regis in his later years may be quite surprised, but those who'd gotten to meet him here (introduction by Gauntlet fame, in particular) or had known him at twenty probably weren't. Because Regis raced as many times as he was permitted. Different chocobos, too, making sure none of them got too exhausted by the strain.

He, himself, on the other hand, could be seen bright-eyed and flushed between the runs, whether he'd won or not. The race itself was too good, too much of a high, for the victory to matter. Or... the lack of it to be upsetting, at least.

III. Housing - arrival (For housemates)

Regis frowned a little as he made his way around the common areas of the house they had been assigned to. There was... a feeling of the house being lived-in, not new or long-abandoned. Or at least he thought so.

"Do you think they displaced people from these houses just so we would have a place to stay?" That... sounded very dictatorial. "Think they'll be all right?"

Because that mattered the most.

IV. Housing: General.

It wasn't something Regis explicated a lot, but anyone who seemed like they were lost for what to do might get a hint that they were welcome at Regis's housing, a couple of hours every evening. Apologies, Clarus and Cor, but it was a way for people to have a place that was at least marginally seemingly safe to mingle and to rest, without having to stay alone in one's house, locked with thoughts that might not be always welcome.

Anyway. He was going to manage to provide food, and if anyone was willing to discuss findings, well, he was going to listen and share his own, in turn.

And, after his visit to Parasraya, there may be at least one kitten, small and clumsy, around the house, as well. Safe, too.

V. Ardynia.

Have one (1) Prince Regis Lucis Caelum, already arriving in the city in suspense, just trying not to stare at all the fedoras.

It was a losing battle. He found a relatively private space to groan and bury his face in his hand.

"Oh, Six. Really?"

With all that he had learn about Ardyn Izunia...

Astrals, he hoped Noctis had won against his own curiosity. Or something along those lines.

VI. Wildcard.

Choose your own adventure, or poke at me at kikibug13. I'll match format.

III

[lordshield]

The state of the houses certainly was suspect. As much as Clarus was uncomfortable coming into this event in the first place, now he was doubly uncomfortable and on edge.

"We can only hope and remain cautious," Clarus said solemnly. More than likely, he and Cor would not be sleeping much this trip, which wasn't really an issue. They'd pulled maneuvers like this before, taking shifts to see their king safe. In this case Clarus had resolved to do his best to keep as many safe as possible, should the need arise. Regardless, a long week was ahead of them.

"Perhaps we'll find out," he suggested, opening a cupboard to snoop a bit into the lives of whoever had lived here before. "Discreetly, of course."

[regisrex]

"Perhaps." Regis leaned against a door-frame, letting his guard down just a little. Enough to close his eyes - a sign that he was processing, not that he was tired.

"Clar. Include me in the watch rotation." Yes, he knew that Clarus and Cor were going to have one. If they were at least marginally thinking about this strategically. "I want you both as fresh as days and days here can keep you, and giving you each an hour, hour half more of sleep is as much as I can do, to make that happen."

It was not an order. But more than a request, too. Insistence, perhaps, born out of logic mixed with trying to keep his closest people safe. Just as they wanted to keep him safe.

"And all night ventures, both discreet and open, will be known to all of us. Just in case." Perhaps he was not as good at paranoia as he would one day get. But he wasn't careless, and he wasn't going to start being so now.

[eternitynpcs]

[Claire has little patience for these vendors, judging by her brisk, tall walk down the street and the glare that can kill. It's not the most effective armor, but she thankfully is not pleased about the popular fashion.

She gives pause when she passes Regis, recognizing him.]

If you're tired already, go back to the station.

[regisrex]

Tired?

[ Regis glances up, and the green eyes are definitely too bright to be that. ]

No, I was just... Processing. A lot about this city is surprising me.

Is that a problem that you're running into a lot? People getting overwhelmed?

[eternitynpcs]

[Claire tilts her head to the side.]

Not by the hats. [Regis is a very strange man.] Or is there some other reason that you won't tell me?

[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.) ]

[eternitynpcs]

I don't. Some reasons aren't meant to be shared and I won't get anywhere by asking. Let's go.

[She crosses her arms and jerks her head to the back, in the direction of the transport station.]

Else I'll risk leaving you behind for the night.

[regisrex]

Sometimes you get places by asking. Sometimes, the answers are a bit complicated and incomplete, so there's not much use giving them.

Still. Let's go - and where to?

I.

[desertbloomed]

"A deal is struck, then," Ashelia could be heard from not very far away. She extended a hand to shake on their agreement, but the handsome man she stood across from grabbed it and turned it palm down, bringing the back of the hand to his lips.

"Until next time," he purred.

"Charmed, I'm sure," was the answer. As soon as the man left, Ashelia downed the rest of her wine glass and went to pick up another one from the bar, wiping her hand on her hamster pelt.

It didn't take her long to make her way over to Regis once she saw him. At least he was a gentleman. She opened her mouth to greet him, but was headed off at the pass. She nodded in return. "I've certainly had worse flights." Parachuting out of a crashing Imperial dreadnought while riding a motorcycle would be a tough one to beat. Still, she took a noticeably large gulp of wine. There, that helped.

"How have you enjoyed the festival?"

[regisrex]

Regis blinked very slowly at the gulp, then gave a small smile. An actual smile, not an insinuating one.

"There's that. And yes, I have. It's been... interesting, even if reasonably pre-arranged."

As in, they were probably being corralled very carefully.

[desertbloomed]

"I don't doubt it. After ten years of seclusion, however, no part of their grand unveiling could be left to chance." She looked around at the other guests and then out at the night sky. "Every part of this celebration has been carefully curated, from the artifacts on display to the opera company's program, right down to the guests present here at this very fete."

She shrugged, adjusting the hamster pelt around her shoulder. "Thus are the rules of the game set before us. It is my opinion that, in this case, subverting them would do us more ill than respecting them."

[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.

[desertbloomed]

"I would tend to agree, depending upon what is revealed to us during the meeting with the Empress." It was a bit too early to tell for sure, but Ashelia was clearly prepared for the worst.

"In the grand scale of Calamities and Heroes and Goddesses and Fiends, they will carry out their plans and we will react and, more often than not, triumph," Ashelia said, tone a little more flippant than what might be appropriate for the subject matter. "However, there are more immediate gains to be made here. Ways we can make the coming months, perhaps years, more bearable. Extend our reach. Expand our bases of operation. Gain clout. Accrue what influence we can, that we may have the resources necessary to weather the rising tide. That starts now. Here."

V

[boomchucka]

Ardynia. The name enough was plenty to put Selphie on edge as she warily wandered through the town. The fedoras were gaudy and terrible and looked plain awful as she walked past every vendor attempting to sell her one. She wanted to get a lay of the land if only for the sake of information gathering. She didn't have much reason to come to a town named after Crystallis's Archfiend of Fire for any other reason.

When she heard the groan from nearby however, she followed it to find Regis standing nearby. She debated about giving the man some space but wanted to make sure that he was okay. Selphie made her way over to the Prince but kept a safe distance just in case.

"Are you okay, Regis?" she asked loud enough for him to hear but not for anyone else that was milling around.

[regisrex]

"Hm?" Instantly, he was back at attention, and whatever the full emotion was that got him to react, it was blinked away, so the green eyes alighted at her bright and clear.

"Hi, Selphie. I'm okay, yes. The city just made me think of someone from our world, that's all. How're you finding this fair city?"

Fair... ish. But close enough, he thought.

[boomchucka]

She noted the evasion of her question but let it slide as she moved on to answer the question that had been posed to her. How did she really feel about Ardynia? Was it even safe to admit that she was acquainted with the person that this place was named after? There were too many unknown variables to play any kind of hand or strategy effectively.

"Honestly?" she began carefully, uncertain how much she could reveal without being overheard. "I'm not sure what to think of this place. The name alone makes me nervous."

Among other things, the Pyramid in the background was more than a tad on the familiar side to her. It seemed that the longer she was living on the world of Vaikuntha that the more things she found were eerily familiar to Crystallis. She'd have to confirm with the others what they were observing but there were just too many similarities that the brunette couldn't simply ignore.

[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.

[boomchucka]

Selphie nodded her confirmation that they were indeed talking about the same person and that she was indeed from Crystallis before arriving in their current location. She still didn't understand Ardyn's motives for what he'd done on Crystallis and had never really asked about his star in great detail before things had gone south. The fact that there were others who knew about him here made things slightly better but only added to the uneasy feeling that was growing in her belly.

"I had a feeling that was the case," she admitted before pulling out her iMog and quickly writing something on it before showing it to Regis.

"You can't tell the others," she wrote on the slate. "I already know that I'm not on everyone's good side lately so it's better to keep this quiet for now."

III

[immortalmarshal]

"I doubt it," Cor answers quietly. There's an air of alertness around him - has been since they first entered these lands. Suspicious eyes took note of all the windows and exits...and how easy it might be to break in or spy on anyone thru them.

Needless to say, he won't be sleeping lightly during this trip.

"Even if they weren't, we shouldn't stay any longer than we need to."

[regisrex]

Slowly, Regis's eyebrows rise a bit.

"I'm not sure how much time we spend here or not, for the duration of our stay, will make too much of a difference - so long as we take care of the place."

Oh, yes, and he is aware that the place is probably bugged and none of them have the this-world technical know-how to be sure how that would look or work.

But, on information less than sensitive or dangerous, they could probably just keep on talking, here. Their most important things are not the same as the Empire's, after all.

[immortalmarshal]

"Well, at least they won't have to worry about that with the three of us." He can take the subtle cues, but he's not stepping down his alertness (read: low-key paranoia) one bit.

"At least, so long as we're not foolish enough to invite certain guests back to this place." It's a half-hearted attempt at a joke, but it bears some truth...and a touch of a warning. Not to Regis, of course...but still...

[regisrex]

Oh, so very innocently. "Now which guests would that be?"

He's actually curious. And also if Cor has warnings for him, he'll listen.

[immortalmarshal]

"Oh, you know...the unbearable types that like to barge in whenever they feel like it, after accepting the initial invitation. Almost as if they own the place...unless they're the original owners, of course." Cor isn't ruling out the idea that some of the people who used to live here would want their homes back.

Meanwhile, Tommy's been exploring the kitchen, and he stumbles upon a beautifully wrought carving knife. "Ooooo..." It's the same kind of cooing he reserves whenever he catches Noct's Tonberry doll in a cute or otherwise interesting pose.

I

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie froze as Regis called out to her, clinging onto the pipe she was trying to climb up to reach a higher perch. She remained still, trying maybe to shake the man's impression that he saw anyone there....but she didn't keep herself with the illusion that she hadn't been caught for long.

"Ah...yes kupo...it's very nice..."