Event | Summer Jubilee | June 22nd-28th

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL! With special guest appearance by Asti
Date: June 22nd-28th, 2014
Location: Keeliai, all sectors
Situation: To celebrate the six month hatching days of the baby turtles that coincides with the arrival of summer, the kedan are throwing a city wide party! And Asti gifts everyone with a happy dream to make up for the badness plaguing Keeliai lately.
Warnings/Rating: TBA

While the kedan have a complicated and extensive system of writing, a good portion of their folklore is oral tradition and there's one prominent tale that's being told over and over this week. Small variances in the tale do occur from telling to telling but the core of the story goes like this:

Long ago before there were any people in the world, the First Family was made in the sky. Sun, the Mother and Moon, the Father were happy but desired children of their own. They watched all the creatures in the oceans, on the land and in the air and wished they could also have a family but they could not, for they didn't know how and so they were sad. They drifted apart, with Mother the Sun only coming out for part of the time and Father the Moon sometimes disappearing from the sky. Not wanting to see them so saddened, the creatures in all the lands and seas and air gathered together and searched their respective domains for children to give into the sky. From the four corners of the world they came with four children: one for the Dawn, one for the Midday, one for the Dusk and one for the Night. Mother the Sun and Father the Moon were overjoyed! They thanked the creatures of the world and promised they would never again abandon their places in the sky and became the First Family. And for a time, all was well. But Dawn and Midday and Dusk and Night grew older and, as children are wont to do, started asking when they could leave their home in the sky to begin their own families. Their parents were afraid of feeling so alone again if that happened so each year they said, "next year, next year". Eventually the children grew tired of this answer and so, sneaking into the place of the Stars where everything that was known was kept and they cut the end off of Time. The next time that their mother and father went to deny then, the children cried "You cannot say next year, for next year does not exist anymore!" And the Sun and Moon were afraid that if the children went away, then Time would indeed run out and so they agreed that their children could have families of their own, if they stayed and became the Second Family. The children agreed and even today, it is said that they are still waiting for the end of Time to grow back so they can visit other places without everything ending.

OOC INFO & LINKS
Subheaders are for various parts of the event and the rest of the post (not in sub headers) is for general mingling and tagging! Questions relating to the event go HERE.

Adopt-A-Foreigner | The Ritual | Dream A Little Dream | Asti's Blessings | Barbecue | OOC Post

Comments

The Ritual

[ironwood]

Because so much of their past was lost, the kedan also find it extremely important to reconnect with those who have gone from their lives. For them it is a sort of spiritual and moral realignment, not unlike the way that the ritual in the previous year did the same for their shapeshifting abilities.

The fountain in the Water Sector, otherwise unassuming when not in use, is readied to receive scores of hopeful kedan and Foreigners, all dipping trinkets that hold personal value to them into its waters. There's something of a rumour going around that if you do so at certain key times of day -- Dawn, Midday and Dusk, as in the story -- then it will be Night who brings you a special dream.

Enjolras: Open, maybe?

[solo_patria]

While Enjolras has never been too certain on matters of spirituality, even those from home, he has felt a need to reconnect a little, with who he was once, and come to terms with who he is now, so at least attempting the ritual is something he finds very important.

It's easy enough to choose something to dip into the water, rather early in the morning, and as the sun is just beginning to rise, he's taking the gold hoops that he's worn in the moments when he needs strength, and a reminder of who he is, and very carefully moving them back and forth through the fountain. What he hopes the Night will bring, he is not certain, but with any luck, it will be valuable, somehow, and he's certainly making a note to return each time, as indicated.

Jack Frost | ota

[wintershepherd]

After being reassured by the kedan that there was nothing in the water that would harm it, that it was for all intents and purposes just normal water, Jack was crouched on the edge of the fountain and passing the wooden painted doll beneath the surface of the water. He felt a little silly, especially when nothing happened other than getting it and his hand wet (he froze the droplets and flicked them off idly, leaving his skin dry once more) before looking around to see if anyone else nearby was having a more profound experience with it.

[backwordscompatible]

Profound might have been an overstatement, but Zatanna certainly didn't feel quite so silly. Even if she was completely soaked from the knees, downward, along with a few random patches of water on her shirt, pants, and in her hair. A certain locket Jack might recognize was in one hand.

"At least the water's refreshing?"

[wintershepherd]

Given how the ritual had been described, specifically the part about the object having to represent something that had made a large impact on them, Jack flushed to see that she was holding the locket.

"It is!" Even without his touch, the water was surprisingly cool for the ambient temperature; it felt good against his skin.

"The kedan talked me into this," he added, feeling a bit self conscious about going through with this, even though Zatanna was doing the same.

Zatanna; ota

[backwordscompatible]

She had never been one to doubt local customs. And this wouldn't be the first she had partaken in. It wouldn't even be the first in water she had taken part in; the corners of her lips twitched upward as memories of the last one flooded her mind's eye. How Jack and Kaldur had aided her by each giving parts of themselves.

(Not to mention, how Kaldur had obviously seen something she had yet to realize at the time.)

This time, however, she was by herself. Mostly. Clutched in her hands was a certain locket she'd received for her fifteenth birthday. One of her most prized posessions here in the city. Not just because of who had given it to her, but because of what it represented.]

Knee-deep in the water, she took a moment to pry the small clasp open. Music rang out into the air. Soft. Melodic. A lullaby. She hummed along, closing her eyes and thinking of her father. She was hesitant to submerge it in water, but had been promised that the locket would surface unharmed.

It was a risk she would just have to take.

Closing the clasp with one hand, she bend down and gently swiped it over the surface of the water. Barely submerging it before bringing it up and to her chest once more.

And she waited to see what would happen.

[andaway]

Kal hadn't dared bother her while she held he locket, and even less while she listened to the song as she hummed along. It was obviously a private moment, not to be intruded, and he wasn't going to spoil that for her. He waited until she brought it up and held it close to her chest, the ritual done.

"I was hesitant to do it, myself." He finally spoke, hovering by the edge of the fountain to avoid touching the water. "The last time we were invited to something half the population did disappear."

[backwordscompatible]

His hesitation was understandable, even without taking into consideration his aversion to magic. Present company apparently excluded.

"Actually, if you'll recall...the last time we were invited to a ritual like this one, it fixed the whole invisibility problem. Unless my shirt is suddenly see-through?"

Midii Une | ota

[unetrustworthy]

It had been so long since she'd even looked at it, Midii had nearly forgotten the tiny, golden crucifix was still in her possession.

Once upon a time, she'd worn it around her neck daily. Her literal cross to bear, carrying with it the memories of her old life and the lives lost because of her. These days, it sat in a small drawer by her bedside. Out of sight, and mostly out of mind.

But not today.

Something close to her heart. That's what was required for this ritual of theirs. Something for her to hold under the water, as if purifying it. Almost like a Baptism. The parallel was too strong for her not to recognize as Midii clasped the crucifix in both hands and held it under.

[peacefullywreathed]

Solomon didn't have anything to bathe. He'd heard he could make some kind of substitute, but as yet he hadn't been given any reason to put in the effort. Every kedan to whom he spoke insisted it was worthwhile, and there was one particularly persistent cultist who seemed determined to spread festival-related joy and happiness, but thus far Solomon had resisted.

Until he saw the woman with the small crucifix in her hands, plunging it into the water. Without quite meaning it, he stopped and watched until she had withdrawn it. The action was altogether too much like a baptism for him to escape wondering whether it was for the woman's sake, or someone to whom the cross had belonged before.

A cross. Of all things to purify. Or drown.

"For whose benefit is that?" he asked neutrally. Once upon a time he'd owned a cross like that, when he'd been a boy. Several lifetimes ago.

[unetrustworthy]

She glanced upward, unfamiliar with the voice. The face didn't help much either.

"It's for the ritual." Not quite the answer he might have been looking for, but it was the truth. "They asked me to dip something in water that held meaning. So I did."

Aya - ota

[looksfine]

[Well.]

[This was awkward.]

[Aya had no physical possession more valuable than her form. Which, according to the rules, was supposed to be submerged in water for an indeterminate amount of time.]

[So she did.]

[Stepping into the water, step by step, until she was completely under. There were no bubbles of air. She did not need to breathe. Only a faint glow from her construct components would hint at her exact location.]

[burnseternal]

[There is a green glow coming from the water of ritual. That is... interesting, and not altogether expected. Saint Walker himself submerges his fingers in the water - predictably using his ring as his one and only precious possession - and stares down at the glow.

Hm.

Curious, he dips his face into the water. Above her, Aya will see Saint Walker's face, large black eyes blinking down at her before he lifts his face again, shaking his head slightly to rid himself of the water.]

Hello, Aya. Are you well?

Armin, ota

[strategisch]

Yesterday, the Kedan man who owned the Kirin barn that Armin had worked at before it burned down, offered to take him in for a few, explaining that it was custom for this particular celebration. Armin was hesitant to accept at first; not that he disliked the man or his company, but... It has been so long since he has experienced the closeness of family. To sit at their table caused him pains of nostalgia for his own kin, long dead. He was 16, a man grown with gravely important responsibilities, strong ideals, and yet still a boy, wishing for the carefree days of childhood. For a mother and father to watch over him.

The night before, his "family" informed him of the legend, and encouraged him to take part in the tradition in the Water Sector. If it meant he might see something helpful, couldn't help but do so. In the misty pre-dawn he set off on the back of a Kirin to this so called fountain. By the time he got there, the sun had risen into the sky.

He tied his beast up and approached the water, with the most important thing he owned; his Recon Corps cape. He rarely wore it anymore, especially not in the summer, but... With what little he had to his name, he couldn't think of anything more apt. Made of a material meant to repel moisture, the water of the fountain slid right off after he dipped it in, but hopefully that would be enough.

[denyamenti]

Bakura didn't look like he was participating in the ritual but had instead taken up an observational post near the fountain that allowed him to see who came but also, what objects they were passing beneath the surface of the water. Even if he weren't a thief, it said a lot about people, what they treasured.

And of course, he was a thief.

"That's an interesting cloak."

Garrett Hawke | Open

[iwannabeadragon]

If someone asked if Hawke were spiritual he'd laugh in their face and then make some lewd comment about the Maker's undergarments. So in Hawke's eyes this whole ritual feels like one big waste of time. After all there was no grand godly figure watching his back and Hawke was just fine with that. Only the near constant pestering of his newly adopted 'little brother' drove Hawke to come here. At least it took place close to his suite.

As he stood near the fountain, Hawke found himself faced with another problem. What item did he own that held any real personal value to him? He stared at the fountain before looking to Notch standing at his side.

"So, fancy a bath?" Hawked asked the hound with a grin. Notch responded with a whine and took a few steps away from Hawke.

"Oh fine you big baby." Hawke returned his focus to the fountain again deliberating on what to use for this. Eventually he drew his axes and looked upon the weapons. They saw him through countless troubles and saved his life more times he could count. If that wasn't personal value then Hawke didn't know what was. No one said he couldn't use weapons anyway.

Kneeling by the fountain's edge, he dunked them into the water and waited. Nothing happened. No glow, no heavenly music, not even a fizzle and a puff of smoke. When he removed the axes he looked at them warily. "Honestly I was expecting something a little more."

after asti's blessing

[akito]

Akito doesn't have much of personal value to him, aside from his Air Trecks and cell phone; neither of which he's entirely comfortable putting in the fountain. Eventually his curiosity outweighs his hesitance and he dips his A-T in the water as he's wearing them. A dream could mean any number of things, but given the way the festival has gone so far, Akito thinks it means something good.

He sticks around for a while after his latest dip, watching all the people participating in the ritual; looking for anyone he knows. It's Notch that Akito spots first, causing him to smile when he notes the canine's posture.

It only takes him a second to decide on forgoing his usual greeting in favour of a new one - a small motion of his hand that shoots a spray of water in Hawke's face as he dips his axes in the fountain.

[animosus]

No matter how out of place it made him look, Hal still refused to give up his bomber jacket. There was too much daddy issues invested into it to ever give it up. So it's someone who would fit right in today's society, but dressed very differently to the kedan here that approaches Hawke.

"What'd you expect? Fireworks and mystical chanting? Forget it, this sort of thing is always a load of rubbish."

Clearly someone didn't bother to participate at all.

annabeth chase | ota

[sophos]

[It's a familiar object to those who might have even seen Annabeth in passing - a bronze knife, now cradled in her hands preciously.]

[She wasn't so sure about it at first, but she's been a little uncertain about so many things that it couldn't hurt to try. So she hovers at the fountain, gently dunking her knife into the water.]

[Between the knife and the water, she's feeling a little overwhelmed by possibilities, the combination significant in far too many ways. But uncertainty has never stopped her before, so when she pulls the knife back out, she's determined to come back and repeat the process. Nothing's happened so far, but three is a magical number.]

[iguanasolution]

[Frank has been hesitating ever since he'd been told about the ritual. On one hand, he could use a little advice right now- even though the Kedan had been really cryptic on what would that advice be. On the other hand- well, Kedan magic. He'd always trusted Milyn, and the only time he'd ever used Kedan magic since the fiasco where he'd been without voice for months had been under her advice... but she was a woman of science. If he asked her about this she'd probably share the legends, but not the magic behind it.

But then, while checking the people who do use the fountain, he finds someone else whose opinion he trusts.]

Annabeth? You... did the ritual thing?

Michaelangelo | OTA

[michaeljangelo]

"Okay. No problem, I'll just...do this thing. Like you asked. Yup. Totally not weird or anything."

Mike says all of this through a frozen smile while waving to a rather large collection of awaiting Kedan off to one side. It's almost as if every child from his self defense class brought their entire family to escort him to the fountain.

To do what...he's not entirely sure.

[wintershepherd]

"It's not as bad as it looks," Jack commented with a grin, perched on the edge of the fountain as Mike approached. "It's not like we all don't look the same doing this. Think of it like a theme party, like where everyone dresses in togas. Everyone looks equally silly."

Gene Khan | OTA

[wrathfulkhan]

Really, there was only one thing Gene could think of that had any sort of intense personal value to him. All of the rings were important to him, of course, but the purple one - the one that had been his mother's - was the most vital.

Rather than risk dropping it, he had put it on his finger - just that ring, none of the others - and opted to run his hand through the water in what he thought was an appropriately subtle manner. If anyone asks, he's going to claim the ring is a family heirloom. It's not a lie, but not really truth enough.

Open

[raavashing]

Wan isn't actually interested in the benefits of the ritual. He'd only arrived the day before and was mostly participating because of all the kedan around who insisted he try it. The problem being that he had nothing really personal to put in the water. All he had were the clothes on his back, which weren't that person. And himself. And Raava inside him.

With nothing else to put in and not wanting to offend the kedan who had been so very kind to him from the moment he woke up, Wan politely took his sandals off then climbed into the fountain and laid himself out. He only ducked his head under briefly to make sure all of himself was submerged for a moment. He didn't take long at any of the three times he did this.

Immediately after he stepped out, the water soaking him was lifted out of his clothes with a smooth, fluid motion of his hands and sent right back where it came from.

[duelkatana]

Leonardo hadn't been sure whether or not he wanted to participate in this ritual from the very beginning. The family of kedan that had brought him over for dinner the night before had been very insistent - we've all lost people along the way, they said, smiling softly; but they're not always gone in the way you think they are. It had been cryptic, and it had spurred Leonardo's curiosity enough to at least attend the ritual. It took some time and a decent amount of spectating for him to work up the nerve to actually participate himself, for the worry that the ritual would damage his precious belonging. But seeing person after person lower their items into the water, it began to feel like silly concern, and a rude one besides.

So, holding his twin katana in both hands, he weaved through the crowd to find the fountain... only to see it was currently occupied. By a whole person. He halts in place, blinking as the guy lies down and dips his head underwater, then stands up and steps out of the fountain.

He can't help but stare. That guy... is he his own special belonging? What's up with that?

Then the man seems to - wait, those hand motions are instantly recognizable. He's seen Korra do that plenty of times. Regaining a bit of his composure, he takes a few steps forward. "Excuse me, but - is that waterbending?"