[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

[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?

[backwordscompatible]

[He's not in the fetal position. She'll take that as a 'yes']

Whatever you want. Within reason.

[merb]

... that could leave a lot to interpretation.

[backwordscompatible]

And that's half the fun.

[Please don't blow up the City or anything like that. That sort of thing never ends well.]

[merb]

[ What if it was just a little explosion though. ]

Well... thanks, uh--

[ He blanked; he didn't know her name. ]

[backwordscompatible]

Zatanna.

And you're welcome. That's what I'm here for, after all.

[merb]

Stork.

I guess... there could have been worse arrivals.

[ It's a compliment. Really. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[How flattering. Should she make with the swooning now, or wait until after he leaves?]

Thanks. I think.

[merb]

Sorry. I... don't like getting stranded. Away from my team.

[backwordscompatible]

Nobody does.

I haven't seen mine in...probably close to three years now. Not counting the times they've popped in and out of here,

[merb]

What... do you mean, popped in and out of here?

[backwordscompatible]

[Huh. Guess he hadn't heard yet.]

[Oh, well. Better from her, who more or less knew the whole story, than a fellow new person who might not still understand and give the wrong impression.]

It's...a bit difficult to explain, but the short version is that the magic that keeps us here sometimes sends us home, too. Which is good news, if you're into going home. [She was. Eventually. Just not yet.] But magic is kind of a funny thing, and there've been times when people go home, but then come back again later.