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

[bnw_mari_npcs]

I want to go through the house with you. [ He's still facing backwards. ]

[untalented]

Well, you're not going to enjoy it if you're facing backwards like that.

[Another sigh. He really didn't know what to do with kids.]

Besides, why do you want to go with a stranger? That can't be very fun.

[bnw_mari_npcs]

Will you take me? [ If he turns around? Like a good boy? ]

[untalented]

Uhm. I can? But what about your relatives?

[Seriously. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a Union native accusing him of abducting their adorably sweet little child.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

It's okay. Can we go in now?

[ He adjusts his Litwick plushie beneath his free arm. ]

[untalented]

As long as you're sure it will be okay...

[He was worried, both for the safety of this small child and about the horrors that lurked inside the haunted house.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ The boy nods, holding Waver's hand tightly. ] I want to see.

[ And he takes the first step towards that most dreaded of abodes. ]

[untalented]

Okay....just, stay close.

[Waver's grasp on the boy's hand tightened as well, and under his breath he prepared a Flash spell for the both of them in case the frightful mansion became too much for either of them to bear.

He could also teleport; he had a feeling that skill alone would be a boon for the two of them.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ As instructed, the boy stays close. He also doesn't turn around and walk backwards again, though he does keep pivoting his head to take in everything around them.

In they go!! The boy shivers. Whether from excitement or if the temperature just dropped might be up to each guest's perceptions... ]

[untalented]

[Waver, for his part, is staying stubbornly on alert for anyone and anything that might seem like a big enough threat to require a retreat. He didn't want to disappoint the kid...but he wanted to keep the kid safe as well.]

take turns writing the spoopy?

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ Said kid does not appear daunted or aware of any danger, even with Waver's earlier warning. His glances about are eager, as if he can't wait to see what's going to happen next.

A sudden gust shuts the door behind them, and all the lights flicker. The boy jumps. In a good way. ]

So long as you don't mind my crappy DMing!

[untalented]

[Waver jumped as well, in a startled way. His hand gripped the young boy's tighter, in an effort to keep the kid close-- just in case.]

What was that? [he asked, looking around in alarm. The room around them suddenly lit up, as if by a dozen candle flames...

...The sound of someone giggling echoed in the shadows.]

pfff it's all good

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ The boy has no qualms about clinging to Waver, but rather than looking frightened, he seems curious. He tugs on Waver's pant leg. ] I think they're over there.

[ And over he tries to go to say hello to whatever's giggling. Attempting, in the process, to take Waver with him. ]

yay!

[untalented]

[And thus Waver is dragged along, only by the grace of the boy's curiosity, although his instincts were already telling him to flee. The two of them get closer to the giggling-- and out pops a Litwick from one of the corners with a mischievous squeak!

--It's enough to earn a startled yelp from Waver.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ The child, however, could not be more delighted. He holds up his Litwick plushie so the real thing can see it. ] You're like him!! Are there more of you around??

[ There certainly do seem to be slithery spooky sounds surrounding them, getting louder... ]

[untalented]

[Two more Litwicks pop up, and start to crowd around the duo as if to push them along...]

Ah, I'm not sure this is a good idea.... [Waver was looking around frantically. Was it realy just his imagination, or was he hearing something?]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ So many Litwicks. Amazing. The boy is happy to be pushed towards the next room, floorboards creaking ominously as he walks. ] Is something wrong?

[ A chill passes through the room, temperature suddenly plunging the closer they get to the door. ]

[untalented]

[The very same door that the Litwicks were pushing them toward, as if they were eager for more innocent people to see the spectacles that awaited within.]

I'm just getting a bad feeling, that's all. [Waver blustered, stubbornly trying to hide his own discomfort. The lingering chill in the air was enough of a clue that spirits abounded within this building.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

Because you don't like ghosts? [ Be subtle, why don't you, kid.

Watch your step in the next room, Waver. There's frost on the floor - and ice hanging from the ceiling, reflections off the icicles creating a funhouse mirror effect.

Something murmurs "Froslass..." in the shadows. ]

[untalented]

Y-yeah....

[He looked around warily at the sound of the ghostly murmur, wondering where it was coming from.

With a little giggle, the Litwicks pushed them further in.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ Whoa, the floor's slippery! ] Whee!!

[ Letting go of Waver's hand so as not to pull him down too, the boy slips, falls...

...and vanishes into the shadows. Waver might have to go looking for him...if he dares. ]

[untalented]

Hey-- hey!

[Waver tried to catch the kid before he disappeared, but it was too late-- the kid was gone. Balling his hands into fists, he threw them out at his sides and bit out a curse before looking around the room frantically one last time.

He could just leave.....

But, no. He couldn't. Not really-- he'd hate himself for doing so.]

Why does this crap always need to happen~?

[Whining now, he closed his eyes and stepped into the chute--

And screamed all the way down.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ Waver will land on something soft, fortunately. Something soft and bouncy. If he turns his head to the left, he will be confronted with -

The blank, staring eyes of a Magikarp...mask, worn by a small child. And if he looks down....

Something snickers "gengar, gengar".

It is probably in Waver's best interest not to look down. ]

[untalented]

Wha-- Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?!

[Too late.

Clearly.]

[bnw_mari_npcs]

[ The pair of Gengar supporting Waver's body chuckle to each other again. They begin carrying him to the doorway out of this room, intent on moving him through the haunted house, but can't resist the urge to tickle him while they move.

The small boy, on his own ghosty ride, giggles like a good sport. He's having all kinds of fun. ]