Soulfasting Mingle

[bravenewmods]

Who: EVERYONE
What: Soul Fast
When: During Soul Fast
Where: All over Ninetails Vale and in people's houses, etc.
Summary: The Celebrations of Soul Fast Begin!


It's that time of year again, and all throughout Union and in particular the Ninetales Vale, celebrations are beginning. A festival celebrating the passage of another year, of remembering and honoring the dead, and of placating particularly violent spirits has begun. Soulfasting, an old Union tradition, is one of the most popular holidays celebrated, with the Ninetales Vale being overrun with people of all ages.

Children scamper through the streets of the Vale in masks and costumes, begging for candy, while surly teenagers do the same and occasionally play pranks, and adults celebrate in a variety of fashions. Elaborate, highly fashionable costumes are all the rage, and even the nobility slips out into the Vale for a bit of fun. It's not exactly a popular destination most of the year, given the high concentrations of Dark and Ghost-types but during the festival it's most definitely in vogue and teeming with people all happy to help revitalize the area for a week.

The sounds of music drift through the air, celebratory tunes, dirges, jigs, and tunes for all ages. From the Kurain school on it's hill overlooking most of the Vale, a pipe organ solemnly plays out traditional tunes, and is surprisingly cheery for a ghost school. Across the neighborhood on another hill, Hikawa Shrine has it's doors wide open to welcome visitors, with decorations of all sorts set out.

Games are set up at both locations, including Apple Bobbing, Ducklett Pond raffles, and Pin the Scroll on the Spiritomb, though there are others set up all over the Vale's plazas. Skeeball, Target Shooting, Bell-and-Hammer games, and perhaps most strangely a “Whack-the-Diglett” that's been possessed by one of the local ghosts to give the little wooden Digletts faces all hideously angry ones. Eating contests, Pokemon Battle Circles, a Haunted House (with real ghosts!) and dozens and dozens of fortune telling stands all further add to a carnival atmosphere that even the dead can enjoy!

Lanterns and faux Spinarak webs hang from every lamppost and awning, and food stalls line the streets as vendors ply their wares. Food from all over is available, and it all seems to come together around a central square between the two hills. A stage has been set up, with musicians from all over the known world called in to show their stuff. There are dance tunes from Caldera, Union Pop and Jazz songs at work, setting crowds on fire. Sanctuary has sent a full orchestra to play various classical pieces, while Citadel's famous woodwinds and tribal drums surprise and delight. And towards the end of the day, a band from Glacier comes on stage. Their music starts out slow and ambient, but after a few sets they set up electric guitars and the gloves come off. A folk metal concert, complete with an armored warrior-woman doing the vocals and several of the soldiers from the battle weeks prior (some still bandaged) backing her up. It might be a bit shocking, but some of the youth are definitely getting into it...

And then night falls, and the party atmosphere becomes a little quieter. Plays, family meals, Ghost-story tellings, and more subdued activities become the norm though there's still a contingent of rowdies at the heart of the celebration. It's then that the ghosts really come out to play, slipping through walls to greet relatives or tease revelers. For the most part they seem friendly but not always. As usual, some specters of ill-repute have slipped in among the friendly ones, and they're making trouble. Good thing you have a Warp Band to call an exorcist, right?

((OOC: This is a general mingle log, feel free to put up your own top levels and tag around! Welcome to Soulfasting, everyone! We hope you enjoy =D ))

Comments

C

[wise_maiden]

[It's yet another mage's first Soulfast. She hadn't exactly planned on dressing up that much for the occasion, but the outfit she has is elegant enough; a dark purple patterned robes over a golden-yellow dress, purple cat ears, and oversized pink shaded cat-eye glasses. Easily recognizable as a Liepard.]

You're starting to look like you've had enough. Isn't this supposed to be the height of the festivities?

C

[untalented]

Maybe? But...

[This wasn't like the Day of Fire in Caldera, where he could hide his discomfort and frustrations by slinging colored powders and mud at anyone who agitated him. Soulfast, though not without it's festivities, was at it's heart an event of rememberance.

He looked around frantically, not sure what to do. He really didn't want to be spooked by any prankster ghosts while in this sort of crowd.]

C

[wise_maiden]

Do you want to find a place with more light?

[It was obvious he was spooked enough at the moment to not even finish his thoughts. She puts a hand ahead of her, sending out a harmless glow of light from her fingertips to send the shadows skittering and light up the sidewalk ahead.] As fascinating as some of these spirits are, getting caught unawares by them is another story.

C

[untalented]

Yes, please! I-if you don't mind!

[He scurried closer to her, glad to have found someone who understood.]

I was tempted to use my Flash spell, but I wasn't sure if that would ruin the fun for the others or not. They seem to like getting spooked.

C

[wise_maiden]

I've noticed that as well. It's probably just for the thrill... to each their own, as long as it isn't being forced on those who want no part of it.

C

[untalented]

For the most part people have been understanding....

I guess it might be my typing. I spook easily.

[A pure psychic type surrounded by ghost and dark types was not a recipe for comfort, especially since he was lacking in many of the offensive psychic techniques.]

C

[wise_maiden]

Typing does have a significant effect on how we react to the world around us...

[She tilts her head at him, considering.] Have you ever had any unsettling encounters? Or is it just the anticipation of them that concerns you?

C

[untalented]

Well, sneaking into the libraries in the Academy was always unsettling, even with my ability to teleport. There was no way to tell if you were going to run into the wrong person, until it was too late...

Otherwise, Ghosts and Bugs always weird me out, unless I know they're there in the first place. The Dark isn't so bad, though anyone would worry about the things hiding in the shadows.

C

[wise_maiden]

I don't think anyone could blame you for feeling like that.

[Her eyes shift to study their shadows with a slight frown, though nothing seems amiss.] We still seem to be clear for now, at least.

C

[untalented]

Right.

[He shifted, so that he was standing behind her.]

Lead the way, where ever you want to go.

C

[wise_maiden]

[She shrugs a little, though starts moving forward, keeping the area lit around them, since those lampposts in the area really are of no help in the ghastly gloom.]

There's probably a shop we can slip into around here that has more light, unless you want to leave the Vale completely.

C

[untalented]

Whichever you'd prefer at this point, honestly. [Waver looked around the scene, thinking.] It'll just be Saber and I at the house tonight, and neither of us know the traditions in Union that well.

C

[wise_maiden]

[She shrugs a little, for now leading them toward one of the nearby buildings.] I can't say I do either. I've studied it, but it seems like some of the older traditions are outdated. The revelry does tend to stay within the Vale at least.

C

[untalented]

That does seem to be the case...

So, we can either leave the Vale and miss the rest of the holiday, or stay and see how Contemporary Unionites celebrate it. So long as there isn't anyone out scaring people, things should be fine.

C

[wise_maiden]

Even if someone tries to bring mischief our way, we'll be fine. [She turns her head back to face him with a smile.] We do have to sleep at some point, but it's not nearly late enough to head back for that. Although... you haven't noticed it getting colder at all, have you?

C

[untalented]

Because of the season, or the holiday?

[It was autumn. The weather was supposed to get a little colder...althought there was a subtle chill in the air that he could only attribute to spooks.]

C

[wise_maiden]

Because of the holiday visitors, yes. It's a good indicator if a spirit is getting too close without them giving a warning. Although given the amount of them in the general area, it might be difficult to tell if an individual is planning on giving trouble...

C

[untalented]

Hm. You're right on that; there's so many in the Vale right now that it's hard to tell.

C

[wise_maiden]

It's just something to keep in mind. Knowing what to prepare yourself for can help against being startled too badly. [She's not trying to make him more nervous; she can just be too practical for her own good sometimes. Even if there's always the realization that some things you really can't prepare for.

The strange little shop building is steps away now, though it's as dimly lit as the outside. There are enough voices around to tell that it isn't closed or abandoned, at least.]

Well, do you want to see what they have here?

C

[untalented]

[Unfortunately, it was easy to frighten Waver...but he nodded in agreement with her suggestion.]

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

[It was lit up-- and, thus, safe.]

C

[wise_maiden]

[Raine nods, and moves forward to pull the door open to lead the way inside. The floor inside is misty, as if someone had purposely altered the terrain for the shop's atmosphere.

There's something almost deceptive about the way it appears to be mostly empty, aside from the large containers of 'free candy for the children' set up on tables not too far away from the entrance. There's another display, with spell tags and some odd trinkets, set a little further back.]

Now this is an odd shop...

C

[untalented]

....I've heard that Ninetales Vale is where the mediums and people who commune with Ghosts in Union reside, so places like this are hardly a surprise.

[He had wandered into a similar shop once before and had always wanted to ask one of the local residents to give him a tour of the neighborhood. Under the light of day.]

C

[wise_maiden]

Still, it seems like they're focused more on the atmosphere than the products themselves. It seems less practical?

[A few more steps into the deceptively empty room would reveal... that the 'emptiness' of the room was a false wall, with a space that led to a maze-like path.]

C

[untalented]

--Oh dear,

[Waver muttered, staring at the winding pathway. He had dealt with such a labyrinth once before...

And, like the last time, here he was without a length of rope.]

I think we have the answer to your question. They were preparing us for something like this. [He shook his head.] They're just like the mediums in the stories-- always fond of unnecessary tricks and shows.

C

[wise_maiden]

So it seems. [She frowns slightly, with a shake of her head.]

Since they've expended the effort, we might as well take a look around. Unless you have reservations.

[There's a slight whooshing noise from behind them. Turning around would only reveal that the opening had vanished.]