[EVENT | TAVIMBI] HAPOYELA'S BLESSINGS

[ironwood]

Characters: Come one, come all!
Date: March 5th
Location: The Sabonile Temple, in Hatal
Situation: The Foreigners, as well as many prominent kedan, have been invited to the great Temple of Hapoyela in Hatal, where the Sabonile priest class wishes them to participate in a celebration!
Warnings/Rating: Character nudity in the after-feast comment. Indicate content warnings in subject headers as applicable.

---

According to the Sabonile priests, Hapoyela wishes to properly welcome the Foreigners and the kedan to the full scope of Tavimbi's hospitality, and has instructed the clergy to organize a suitably impressive celebration for the citizens of the oldest living Great Turtle. All Foreigners, as well as many notable kedan including the Family heads, are invited to attend a grand feast and celebration at the Sabonile Temple, one of the largest buildings in all of Hatal.

The clergy has promised an evening of good food, lively entertainment, and the magnificent blessings of Hapoyela. At the same time, the Sabonile will be hosting a soup kitchen in the Temple's courtyard, feeding the hungry and the poor, as dictated by their religious tenets and beliefs.

While those who receive an invitation to the event, which the Sabonile consider a sacred charge from Hapoyela, are not required to attend... it could be seen as a disrespect to their deity.

MOD NOTE: For the naked after party section, soul gems are still allowed to be worn. If your character isn't up for stripping down, they can excuse themselves from that segment of the evening, which will have no negative repercussions with the Sabonile. In this case, they will simply do a wave-over blessing from Hapoyela around the person, and bid them a pleasant evening before they go.

Comments

PRAYERS AND OFFERINGS

[ironwood]

The Sabonile will open the ceremony with a lengthy and emphatic retelling of how Hapoyela's descent to this world split the deity into four forms, which provide the basis for their belief system. The elements of earth, sky, water and ether make up Hapoyela, and each represents different aspects and traits. Several high ranking priests will speak to the group at large, and at the end of the sermon, will announce that offerings will now be collected.

No one mentioned offerings in the invitations to the Foreigners or the kedan.

These generous donations will ensure that Hapoyela understands their desires are pure and honest, the priests will say. Members of the clergy will come around to all the seating areas, bearing forged metal trays, and will stand serenely in front of people waiting for them to donate. Refusal doesn't even seem to be a consideration in their minds, and more than one person is left to scrounge in their pockets for something to put in the tray.

OTA

[edgeoftheknife]

Just because Erskine isn't religious himself doesn't mean that he can't enjoy learning about other people's beliefs--so long as those beliefs don't come with giant, murderously powerful creatures hell-bent on destroying or enslaving everybody. Thankfully this religion seems a hell of a lot more peaceful than the one worshipping the Faceless Ones. This one even deals with the elements, which actually piques his interest a little (being an Elemental and all), so he'll sit quietly in one of the seating areas (as close to the edge as possible because he still hasn't gotten over his dislike of crowds) and listen attentively.

The donation part doesn't worry him. Back in December he hit the gambling halls of Keeliai and made a small fortune, and he hardly ever spends it on anything except his work with the kedan and presents for other people. His own donation is... rather generous.

If there are any other Foreigners nearby who seem to be strapped for a donation at the moment, Erskine will casually sidle up to them and offer some money to help them out. Stealthily.

OTA

[shroudofgray]

She listened quietly and patiently to the sermon, but with a level of skepticism that was very unusual for her. The priests' words did nothing to assuage the doubts roiling around in her head.

What was Hapoyela going to do with what was given? If Hapoyela was so wise and great, wouldn't she know already if the people here were pure and honest? What did it even mean to be pure?

The priest was looking a bit uncomfortable as Yorda assaulted him with these questions.

OTA

[pompous_today]

Simon listened to the sermon with interest, curious at how the belief systems of this place had developed. Though he was not religious himself, he was finding himself fascinated by how other worlds differed from his own, including this one.

However, when the subject of offerings came up, he was a little taken aback.

"I, ah... I'd love to, really, but I don't have much money yet..." he stumbled.

[angelofnaboo]

Religion has never been a big part of life on Naboo, but she's a big believer in respecting another person's belief. The sermon was nice, but a little overly long. Definitely enjoyable.

When they ask for offerings, she isn't too terribly surprised and looks in her pockets for something she can give. When she hears the man fumble with trying to decline, she pulls the gold bracelets from her wrists before dropping them onto the collection tray.

"This is for both of us. It's all we have."

Enjolras | Open

[solo_patria]

Enjolras doesn't have much of anything in the way of money just yet, but he does have a bit of gold in the form of the newer one of his earrings, the replacement for the one he left with Taraja when he went into the Dreaming, and he's content enough in the moment to reach up to remove that earring, smiling a little awkwardly as he makes his intentions clear by quickly giving it a bit of polish.

"I can only do this one." He explains, his tones serious. "The other represents a promise made in good faith to one of Asti's Children. But this should at least help, I think."

OTA

[lasergrenades]

While Pepper isn't particularly interested in religion, she's curious enough about the proceedings. They're going to be at Tavimbi for a while, so she may as well learn a little bit more about their neighbors. Plus, if it helped keep relations friendly, that was a bonus.

The donations are a surprise; it's a very Catholic sort of expectation, and something about it is unsettling. Whether that's actually a sign of something sinister or simply a strict frame of mind about the world, the Sabonile generally seem like a decent group. And given that part of this feast is about feeding the poor, she hands over a small amount of money without too much hesitation.

Still, this isn't her comfort zone, and it shows throughout the proceedings.

THE GRAND FEAST AND FEEDING THE NEEDY

[ironwood]

Given the rareness of meat in Tavimbian diet, the grand feast has a treat for everyone involved -- roast rakenga on a spit. To do this requires big spits. Ginormous ones, in fact, which are turned via a pulley system and attended regularly by numerous residents. (The wings and hide have already been removed, as they're used for other purposes and are best left unroasted.)

This kind of cooking is decadent, but it essentially allows attendees to walk right up and cut choicest parts off the carcass at will, and -- the Xojan will assure anyone who asks -- nothing goes to waste. Once the evening is over the rest of the carcass will be stripped, unroasted meat smoked or dried, and even the bones cracked for marrow or turned into tools.

While certainly a banquet, the feast is not considered the focus of the occasion, and most Tavimbian attendees wander in and out, picking up 'finger food' on the way through to some entertainment or another.

The rakenga provide the base for most of the soup offered in the courtyard, particularly the bone-marrow, and for many Kin'nal is the richest and most nutritious meal they'll eat in their lives. For that reason, many go back for seconds, or bring large containers to fill and reheat later.

Those who don't wish to have roast rakenga are quite welcome to partake in the soup, and for those who -- for whatever reason -- cannot eat meat there are several cauldrons of vegetable-only soups provided.

OTA

[lordhotman]

MEAT. This is definitely Zuko's hang out of choice. He had only just started exploring Hatal since his arrival and the Rakenga hunts had particularly caught his interest. So he is indulging himself in the delicacy and it's pretty darn tasty. Though it does bother him a little that they look like dragons. But surely this isn't the same kind of mess like back home right? They are using every bit of the carcass like responsible hunters and not just doing it for glory.

He is also actively avoiding the entertainments areas since he found out the requirements for entering. Because uh... that's kind of embarrassing. Zuko isn't exactly eager to have his royal parts showing where everyone can see them. So pardon him as he becomes a meat eating wallflower over there.

Though when he sees the soup being given out to the Kin'nal, that definitely tugs at him a bit. Thus he eventually goes over to help.

[omnivident]

Once discovered the requirements to join the entertainment part of the festivities, Leo decided that he wanted very little part of it. Plus, neither dancing or racing were his things either- especially in front of hundreds of strangers.

So, what's left to enjoy? Meat, of course. Meat and volunteering to pass out dishes of soup for those who come by for some. It was a bit sad to see the inhabitants in so much need, but Leo also happened to enjoy the atmosphere in the festival. So much cheer and happiness- the celebration for deity that was so important for these people. He hoped that this small amount of help would show his appreciation for being invited to such an amazing event.

"It's pretty neat, to see all of this liveliness..." The brunet speaks to himself, unaware that someone happened to be right there next to him. "O-oh, haha sorry..." Leo apologizes with a sheepish laugh, cheeks hinting at a bit of red with embarrassment. "I don't usually talk to myself out loud."

[angelofnaboo]

Charity. That's something that Padmé has been doing since she was eight. So, when she notices that the Kin'nal are being given soup from stock made from the feast food, she skips the decadent meal out on display to join others in helping the less fortunate.

She is happy to pick up a bowl and fill it with the delicious broth and addings before handing it over to a person that looks so grateful for any sort of help. When the young man with the noticeable facial scar comes over to she happily gives him a ladle.

"It's good that you've come to help. They all look so hungry."

OTA

[edgeoftheknife]

The soup kitchen is the part that draws him in. For several months now Erskine has been working with the poorer kedan of Keeliai, helping out at the few shelters and soup kitchens that exist on the turtle. He hasn't done a lot of poking around on the new continent, short of the shops that he's visited as Rue, and seeing this side of things is a bit of an eye opener.

He volunteers to help almost immediately, and as he works he'll be trying to chat with some of the Kin'nal who come through the courtyard, keeping his tone light and friendly but trying subtly to find out more about their race and the dynamics of Hatal.

[purrns]

Chat may be used to the big battles and saving the day, but he's more than aware that this is an important part too; reaching out to those who need it, offering help that doesn't involve superhero antics. He honestly treasures it, it's rare he can stick around much post-battle to do what he'd much prefer. Be with the people, help them.

He recognises Erskine from the hotel, of course, but that's as Adrien. So, he keeps up the charade, acting as if he's never seen this guy before in his life. Just people. Helping other people. Nothing special.

"It's pretty great this is being help for the people here. Got to love giving something back, right?"

OTA

[portal_refugee]

Upon arriving at Hatal, Abigail had been in high spirits. Wearing a new outfit bought with assistance specifically for the event, she realized Pepper had been right. She felt fantastic, and every extra bit of work she had put into getting ready had been worth it in anticipation of enjoying the celebration. Moreover, she could not deny the pride that came with being at her father's arm for the special event. She had to be at her best to accompany him, and tonight she would be.

Politely and with curiosity, she had listened attentively to the telling of the beliefs regarding Hapoyela and the elements. It gave a little more data to help her better understand the culture of Hatal, yet so too did what followed. The request for offerings is not a unique concept, though it had caught the Callaghans by surprise. At the very least it seemed to catch others off guard as well given the looks she could spot worn by those around them. A warning of some kind would have been nice, but parting with her new ankle bracelet was not going to spoil things.

Of all her greatest hopes for the celebration, Abigail had been silently and eagerly hoping for a chance to dance. Hearing talk about dancing had led her focus towards the entertainment courtyards only for her bright mood to be snuffed with the realization that in order to participate in any of the entertainment, even to watch, one had to be completely and utterly...stark...naked.

Abigail had walked away from the exit to the courtyard without a word and a mad blush of color turning her cheeks vividly red. With no appetite to speak of left from the notion of stripping down in front of others, she would instead gladly stick herself out of the way at the wall with an untouched drink in her hands to observe. There she would stay until her father was ready to leave or someone else were to engage her.

This party is so much worse than any business conference she had sat through at Krei Tech Industries.

WHY ARE YOU GETTING NAKED

[ironwood]

Past the banquet sections are the entertainment courtyards. For the Sabonile and most Tavimbians, these courtyards should be the focus of the event, an opportunity to mingle and learn about one another on equal terms; the Foreigners and kedan will find themselves engaged by Tavimbians wanting to know how they enjoyed this or that, or encouraged to come along and give the dance or races a try.

Most of these comprise of dancing, stories, even some playful physical competitions. One string of steamy courtyards has a spa, primarily natural but funnelled from heat deep in the city. (It is not gender-segregated.)

All of these courtyards are also no-clothing zones.

Yes, everyone who goes into them -- everyone -- will be expected to strip and hang up their clothes on provided hooks, or leave them lying in small provided baskets. These courtyards are places of purity, and no one will be allowed inside while wearing clothes, even shoes or undergarments; the Sabonile feel there is nothing to hide before Hapoyela, and -- given that the inhabitants of Keeliai were marked by Hapoyela via honesty -- they see no reason why their guests should take issue with this custom. Especially given what they heard the Foreigners got up to the night before.

Those who refuse … well, nothing will happen to them. But they will find the Sabonile less friendly, as though they had been lied to their faces and caught the liar in the act, and yet the liar insists they did nothing wrong. As far as they're concerned, it's not dissimilar.

(Of course, 'purity' is the key word. Anyone who sullies these areas with amorous intimacy will be banned from the feast wholesale. Most Tavimbians prefer to avoid this, as it results in being named in the 'Scroll of Shame' preached throughout the Causeway every morning for the next week.)

OTA

[hadthehighground]

Well this is certainly one of the more interesting customs he's come across, and while Obi-Wan had been a bit hesitant to participate, it didn't take that much coaxing. Several Tavimbians having insisted that Grasshopper come and enjoy the fun with them. Of course he's not one to turn down promoting good relations with the locals and he hardly wants to offend anyone. So the Jedi Master finds himself stripping down and entering the courtyards. Of course this leaves a problem with his soul gem, since it's an earring that requires a piercing. Which he doesn't have. So he will just be carrying it around in his hand.

Obi-Wan can be seen in various areas of the courtyards. At the spa, a few of the physical competitions, but most of all he can be found listening to or telling stories. A few Tavimbians asking how he had gotten this or that scar, and thus leading to more stories about his various adventures. It would take a bit more coaxing to get him to participate in the dances though.

He seemed to be enjoying himself. The fact that he, and everyone else around him, were naked have gone mostly forgotten.

EVERYONE ELSE WAS DOING IT (ota)

[edgeoftheknife]

After the service and helping out for a while at the soup kitchen, Erskine eventually wanders over to the other areas of the event. The nudity is a bit surprising... for all of about five seconds. When you've traveled the world over for hundreds of years, things like this stop being quite so shocking. And really, none of the Dead Men have ever been terribly worried about nudity.

Once he's stripped down, aside from being far more fit than the suit he usually wears would seem to indicate, the only other things to note are that his soul gem is a golden tear-drop pendant, and there is a mass of scars running down the right side of his neck and onto his right shoulder. The scars are obviously old and have faded but are still clearly visible, particularly if you happen to be standing anywhere close. They look like ragged tears in the skin, like something chewed on him. Repeatedly.

He'll hang out in the spa for a while, relaxing off to one side by himself, and if there's any sort of sparring to go along with the physical competitions he'll hover along the edge, debating whether or not to join in.

BECAUSE I'M GODDAMNED BEAUTIFUL? [Arno Open!]

[stubbornlittleshit]

Arno's not exactly USED to running around naked, though he's been known for various states of half dressed around here, where people aren't as inclined toward wearing as many layers as he would at home. This concept is still one that's new to him, and it does feel odd to hang up his final articles of clothing, carrying his soul gem ring in his hand, leaving his assassin brand, and all of his scars open for public consumption.

Thankfully, Arno's also confident enough in his own skin, and has spent enough time among brother assassins, bathing after missions and the like, or having to swap clothing in the middle of a planned execution, that he's hardly too concerned about what anyone might see. It means that, odd feeling though it is, he's wandering through, fairly confidently, taking in the dancing, pausing to hear a story, and then wandering on through to the spa, happy to sink into the warm water for a while. He's looking quite relaxed and open to meeting new people, glancing up as the water splashes and he hears someone else likely ready to come through.

"Bon soir " he greets the newcomer. "Come in, the water's fine."

OTA (Insert some Anakin screeches somewhere)

[angelofnaboo]

Being a diplomat and politician nearly her entire life, Padmé only lifts a eye at the mention of a clothes-free zone. She's still getting her bearings around this strange world, and what better way than to embrace the local traditions. She's already given up the bracelet she wore to the feast as an offering to the god and helped to feed those in need of aid. This is just another step in the night's proceedings as far as she's concerned.

With a bit of a laugh, she starts to remove her clothes, thinking back to the time when she'd go swimming across the lakes on her home planet as a teen with her friends. It's the first time in years, she's done something quite so...unexpected. She turns to the person on her right and shrugs as she pulls the pins holding her hair up down. It falls in soft ringlets down to bottom of her breastbone, giving her some modest covering, but still allowing her to be naked.

"I hope they're not offended that I took my hair down."

OTA

[clonekiller]

Galen was trying. He really was. While he wasn't so diplomatic as to give to the needy, or even really socialize, he was forcing himself to partake of at least some parts of the native culture. As he strips down, the years of physical abuse he suffered become apparent, as his body is a maze of long, thin burn scars, and given his occupation, it's easy to figure out where they came from.

Not wanting to give into the temptation of his anger, Galen avoids the physical competitions, but he'll enjoy the spa, allowing the heated atmosphere relax his otherwise tense musculature, while simultaneously being reminded of his time on Felucia. Have fun with that.

Klaus | OTA

[purered]

There was a big difference, Klaus thought, between dressing in drag, and not dressing in anything at all. But at the same time, he wanted to keep relations with Hatal's denizens as amicable as possible.

So, stripping in the name of good diplomacy it was then.

Klaus sticks largely to the spa where he can at least partially hide himself in the water. Still, it's not enough to hide the mess of scars around his throat, or the strange tattoo winding from his jugular to just to the right of his heart. He may come out occasionally to listen to stories or partake in the physical competitions, though even his love of dancing will not see him frolicking naked.

Balthier | OTA

[flybyshooting]

Balthier could commit acts of lewd indecency by sitting quietly, fully clothed in the middle of an empty room. Balthier would constitute an entire roll of parchment being added to the scroll of shame just by walking into the courtyard. And then he'd steal it. And have it framed and hung above his bed where he could look at it every night and relish in a deep feeling of satisfaction.

In essence, Balthier was the personification of indecency and the last person you'd ever want in a place of 'purity'.

"You'd think," he said as he tugged his cravat off, and tossed it unceremoniously into a basket, "any god worth its salt wouldn't need anyone to strip off their small clothes."

He began deftly working the laces of his shirt. "But here we are. I expect its more for the priests' benefit."

OTA

[mrsarcastic003]

...Well. Tim is definitely regretting his decision to come to this little party. He doesn't hold any religious beliefs personally, but it had seemed rude to ignore a direct invitation, so he'd decided to go--he needs to get out more anyway. He's spent a lot of time to himself these days, relearning the city, and getting used to the absence of his friends and family. It's surprising, really, how much of a difference their absence has made in his adjustment to being here.

But this is definitely not what he'd had in mind. Party and mingling--yes. Naked time? Not so much. Apparently it's the custom, though, and--well. He had promised himself he'd get out more. He just hadn't expected to get out of his clothing while he was at it.

Tim starts off at the edge of things, but he gradually lets himself be drawn in by the questions of the curious Tavimbians. The questions about his various scars prove a little awkward--he's not really sure how vigilantism plays here, but eventually, he begins to relax, and actually start enjoying himself. He hasn't really forgotten about the whole naked thing, but everyone else is, too, so the awkwardness isn't as bad as it could be.

He can be found throughout the courtyards--though probably not dancing. There's only so silly he's willing to feel.

ota

[looksfine]

There had been some...initial confusion as to what, precisely, counted as clothing. Aya attempted to explain that, no, there was nothing on her that could have been labeled as fabric in any fashion, but those managing the event were insistent. Metal or Cloth, Flesh or Construct, the white pieces of her armour gave the illusion of cover and needed to be removed.

So Aya did the only thing she could: she collapsed right in front of them, her construct form fading and the pile of metal pieces falling to the ground in heaps.

The initial panic last all of five seconds before a glow reemerged from the depths of that pile. It twisted and warped itself until Aya appeared once more...this time, fully Construct. With every white piece now "replaced" by limbs and a mostly sexless torso that gave the vague appearance of a female shape. As for her head...there was a small gathering of addition green atop that gave the illusion of "hair", styled extremely similar to her helmet.

"Will this suffice?" the fully construct Aya asked.

Apparently, it did.

careful with the link

[phoenixstrut]

It was odd, yes, the sudden shock of it all, but Dove had quickly adjusted, her curiosity piqued by the purity surrounding the event. So, with somewhat clear hesitation, she had stripped down carefully, her wings folding loosely behind her to help keep her half covered. A soft golden glow radiated from her near flawless skin, marred only by the jagged scar across her lower hip. Her hair cascaded in dark waves over her shoulders, barely long enough to keep her somewhat modest, and her soul gem rested between her breast on a long, delicate chain.

With a deep breath, she made her way into the party, gleaning what she could from those around her and intrigued by this new form of spirituality. Nakedness, in this form, despite the awkwardness of seeing fellow foreigners, was entirely acceptable... maybe.

One would be able to find her just about anywhere in the court yard, socializing, listening to the locals explain their religion, and relaxing near (and in) the spa.

If one is lucky enough, they might just see her dance.