[EVENT] Bonfire Night

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: February 21st
Location: Various.
Situation: It’s cold. Time to cuddle up and make bonfires for the warmth.
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings as needed.

As night falls the city’s lights take something of a unique turn. Instead of being lit by millions of paper lanterns, Keeliai is tonight lit by the flames and warmth of dozens if not hundreds of fires. Some of them are small, not much more than warming hearths in a barrel on a street, but others encompass squares and boulevards.

The fire lighting procession winds through the city’s streets, beginning at the first bonfire in Fire Sector. By the time full night has arrived, that procession is a snake illuminated by dozens of torches, parting from the main parade to light smaller fires in smaller streets. It ends, finally, in Central, in the Courtyard of Public Opinion, whose bonfire is second only to the initiating one in Fire Sector.

In some areas an exchange of goods arises, mostly in terms of woollens and other warm clothes and blankets. Though food is considered a public resource on this occasion, bartering small knickknacks, songs, stories and even other woollen items is not uncommon an exchange.

Meals are shared among kedan and Foreigners, commoners and emissaries--primarily stews, soups and other foods easily baked in the coals of the fires. Everyone brings food, and what isn’t contributed to the pot is nevertheless shared around after preparation. Although some bonfires are markedly wealthier than others, food and shelter is spread around to make sure everyone is safe and warm. No one goes cold and alone on this night.

---

LINKS
Fire Sector (main bonfire) | Water Sector | Metal Sector | Earth Sector | Wood Sector | Central Keeliai

OOC Notes
The five Bresilykian emissary NPC can be found moving from Sector to Sector and partaking in the various traditions of each, and so can be engaged anywhere, while the Keeliai NPCs generally are staying in their respective areas as detailed below. Please put the name of the NPC you're requesting in the subject line of your tag if you want to interact with them. Thank you!

Comments

[merb]

Central. Some place called the... Welcome Center?

[ His voice wavers a little bit when he says the name, although it's hard to tell whether it's in uncertainty or incredulity. Either way, it's accompanied by a noticeable twitching of his left eye. ]

But if I could skip the whole welcome part and just get back to my ship, that... would be great.

[backwordscompatible]

What a coincidence. You're standing in it right now.

[A generalized wave of her hand emphasized her point, while inwardly, she wondered if maybe she and/or Jack should look into getting a sign above the doorway...]

No ships here, unfortunately.

Except for maybe those kinds you keep in glass bottles. I could've sworn I saw one of those at some point.

[merb]

[ A sign would definitely have helped! But Stork just looks relieved to have found the right place. ]

Those aren't bad, but I was talking about real ships. Why build a model when you can just build one full size?

... I'm not kidding, I really need to get back to the Condor. Pretty much... now.

[backwordscompatible]

[/adds to the suggestion box for future reference.]

There's lots of reasons to go with the model version. Saves on space, for one. And you'd be hard pressed to find a lifesized bottle big enough to fit a whole ship inside...

[One would think she was just that fixated on the ship-in-a-bottle idea. But, after a moment, she simply shrugged. Her expression turned slightly sheepish. Almost apologetic.]

That's probably not going to happen. Now, or anytime soon.

Although, if it's any consolation, I can pretty much guarantee it'll be exactly where and how you left it when you eventually do go back.

[merb]

[ To be honest, Stork actually has built a remote control version of the Condor, and he's rather pleased that it's 100% accurate to scale, even if he used it for sabotaging Cyclonian supplies. But he doesn't want that in place of his ship, just in addition too. Zatanna's words are causing his heart rate to speed up exponentially, as if it's only just now sinking in that he really is cut off from his ship, his squad, and his world. Regardless of the fact that they'd been on the Far Side of Atmos-- that was even worse! ]

No, no, I need my ship, I just got her back, thi-this is-- Master Cyclonis is still out there--

[ As he continues to speak, his voice keeps ratcheting up in level of insistence and panic, and his shoulders are beginning to rock in barely-contained heaves. ]

--I'll build you something in payment, if that's what it takes, just reverse whatever-- it was a Warp crystal, wasn't it?! This--this is just part of the Far Side!

[ his voice breaks slightly, quavering ]

Okay, okay</i., I can fix this. I need a rotocalibrator, a pair of Polar crystals, and a spanner wrench.

[backwordscompatible]

Whoa, whoa, calm down.

[She held up both hands defensively, resisting the urge to take a step back.]

First of all, I wasn't the one who brought you here. And believe me, if I had the slightest hint of how to help you get back, I'd do it.

Second...what's a Warp Crystal?

[merb]

I am calm! You wouldn't be much better if you were in another another world. One world removed was enough!

[ Stork's eye is twitching fast, like a lightbulb filament about to go. ]

It's a rare type of crystal capable of teleporting people or objects, but if you don't have a destination specified, it can throw you anywhere! Anywhere at all!

[backwordscompatible]

...you'd be surprised.

[There was more than a touch of irony there; she had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Another another world. Been there, done that. And then some.]

I'll say this much, though: you're probably the first person I've met here who had a legit theory. I mean, it's wrong, but...good for you. I'd buy it.

[merb]

[ The Merb makes a strange sort of wheezy sound, and plunks himself down right on the street, folding his arms tentlike over his head and evidently refusing to move and farther until he can make sense of all of this. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[...]

[Should...she poke him?]

[She didn't really know what else to do. Poking seemed like a good answer, if it didn't run the incredibly high risk of either breaking the poor guy further, or getting her (or both of them) hurt.]

You are still breathing down there, right? Please tell me you're at least still breathing.

[merb]

[ Although each word is still punctuated by a strangled sounding gulp of air, he does answer her. ]

Fine... I'm fine... just need... a minute!

[ His voice drops, and he starts muttering long series of numbers under his breath. After a few minutes, he seems to be calming down, and finally lowers his arms, though he doesn't get up from the ground. ]

Warp Crystal would have been less trouble.

[backwordscompatible]

[Well, then.]

Do you want me to leave? I've got a room in the back I can stay in until you're ready.

[merb]

[ Stork weakly waves a hand at her, although it could equally mean stay or go, whichever she wants to interpret it. With herculean effort, he appears to get himself under control again, if only to ask a question. ]

What exactly... is the Welcome Center supposed to do.

[backwordscompatible]

[The hand could have meant anything, but the question...she took that as a tentative offer to stay.]

Exactly what it sounds like.

We're here to welcome any people who arrive here in Keelai for the first time. Answer questions. That sort of thing.

[merb]

And what kind of questions normally get asked?

[ He sounds faintly incredulous, like how could people possibly want to stand there and calmly ask questions, but it's better than having a mental meltdown. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[Ironically, that one made for a pretty good start.]

Well, there are the basics. I mean, you've already covered the whole "Where's my X?" and accepting that no, this isn't a hoax or a dream or anything like that--

[At least, she hoped. She wasn't sure she could deal with another fetal position-level freakout so soon.]

--which leaves us with the Keelai startup essentials. A place to stay. Where to find food. How to pick up some of the local currency. A job. That sort of thing.

It's all a lot easier than it sounds at first, I promise.

[merb]

[ Stork quivered a little as she recounted the "where's my X" question, but kept listening. ]

The first two are... probably important. [ glumly: ] I don't suppose anyone needs a carrier pilot around here?

[backwordscompatible]

It's possible, actually. Or at least somebody who can manage transporting items.

[Though she highly doubted the guy had his plane(?) with him, which might complicate his pitch to any potential employers.]

You should try asking a few of the bigger business in the area. Just play nice, and be willing to accept any orders they give you.

[merb]

[ He doesn't need one with him, he's perfectly capable of replicating it from spare parts with the right incentive. In this case, the incentive is currently not having it. ]

What if the order is likely to result in dangerous bodily harm though?

[backwordscompatible]

...I said 'play nice'. Not blindly obey.

If you're that scared, just politely decline. You'll lose out on the business, but it's better than doing something you're too scared to do right.

[merb]

I'm not scared. Knowing just how many things can go badly is being prepared, not scared.

[ Not that such insistence helped shed the Merbian reputation of all being cowards, but... ]

[backwordscompatible]

[He seemed scared to her. But if that's what he was going to insist, she wasn't going to argue.]

Well, in that case, if it's something you're worried will go badly...same rules apply.

Do it nicely, but still say 'no'. The worst you'll get it attitude, and sometimes we all get that for simply existing.

[merb]

[ The Merb considered that for a moment, before his bony shoulders raised in a shrug. ]

Well, we've had that before.

[backwordscompatible]

Preaching to the choir here.

So...feel a little better now?

[Please say 'yes']

[merb]

[ Stork heaves a put-upon sigh. ]

No, but it'll do. What do I do from here?