tushanshu_logs | [EVENT | TAVIMBI] HAPOYELA'S BLESSINGS

[EVENT | TAVIMBI] HAPOYELA'S BLESSINGS

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.)

Edited 2016-03-05 10:46 (UTC)

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.

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.

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."

Zuko was just minding his own business, not really taking much notice of those around him until he hears someone next to him. He blinks. Was that guy talking to him?

"Yeah, I guess so," he agrees.

The apology though just results in a shrug. He doesn't mind talking to someone. Kinda beats standing around trying to avoid Tavimbians wanting him to get naked.

"I haven't been to a festival this big in awhile. Other than the... uh, you know, it definitely beats Yang Chen's festival."

Sorry Aang, but tofu, vegetables, and fruit pies can't beat this.

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.

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.

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.

"We don't really have festivals like this back where I come from at all." Well, if that's not including how lively it was on Halloween. Exploding zombie-like creatures and a possessed friend trying to end the world? Five gold stars and two enthusiastic thumbs up.

With a somewhat thoughtful expression, he continues as he fills up another guests' bowl, "I guess I just like that these people are having a good time-- and that there's no blood or destruction or...well yeah." He stops himself right there, hoping that this winged stranger hasn't already filed him under a list of 'weirdo freaks' or something.

"What's that Yang Chen festival you mentioned about though?"

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.

Zuko passed another bowl of soup to one of the Kin'nal, his brows raising a little bit at the blood and destruction part.

"You must come from a rough place." It wasn't really all that surprising, he's known weirder types. And plus Zuko knows all about having it rough.

"It's an Air Nomad festival. To celebrate and honor the Avatar Yang Chen. A friend of mine decided to share it with us once." In Luceti that is. He wasn't there when Aang celebrated it back home.

"I wouldn't say rough..." Leo comments, filling up various plates for those in line to take. Part of him hoped that there would be enough leftovers at the end to take some home with him- the smell was just too good for his stomach to ignore. "You just have to be careful where you step, sometimes."

And that, was the biggest understatement of the century. It's just what comes with getting used to the hell that is, was, his home back on Earth. That, suddenly, being in a place where the norm is a never-ending brush with death was normal.

Though, what this guy is saying...he can barely understand it. "I'm guessing the Avatar is a very important person where you're from. Are they some sort of deity?" Though Leo couldn't deny that he was curious about learning the customs of other Foreigners like him. It helped him feel a bit less alone.

There were a few things sorcerers stopped caring about after a few hundred years, though casual nudity could be argued to be a result of cultural phenomenons. In some ways, modernity was far more prudish than communities three centuries ago.

Besides, Solomon's blind. While there are some people he might prefer not to see, he doesn't have that particular problem.

Dancing isn't his field these days, so he's lounging in one of the story-telling corners, weaving a lyrical Irish tale with the use of shadows. They flicker three-dimensionally along the stone floor, changing shape in accordance to the story's changes.

Along with a growing crowd of Tavimbians, Obi-Wan is rather fascinated by this particular style of storytelling. He sits down next to a few particularly enamored Muin as they all watch the shadows dance.

He was just as interested in learning about his fellow foreigners as he was the local people. So he sits in polite silence as the story unfolds. Bending over slightly while brushing his fingers along his chin to give Solomon his undivided attention.

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.

"Oh..." Zuko will just leave it at that cause he has a feeling he might not what to know. He doesn't mind the questions though, he got used to explaining his world a while ago.

"No, we don't have anything like that except for spirits. The Avatar is a person, and he's the bridge between humans and the spirits."

Leo nods, taking a few seconds to process the information. "So this Avatar keeps things in control between the spirits and the humans, right?" The smile and tone of his voice denotes his interest in the topic, hoping to learn more from the stranger next to him. "And it's a title that's passed down, correct? Is it like...um, how the children of kings are the next in succession of the throne or is it different?"

Before the other is able to answer though, Leo chuckles in embarrassment, "I'm sorry.." he apologizes shyly. "I haven't really talked to another Foreigner about where they come from so I'm a little curious. If I'm being intrusive, just tell me, okay?"

"It's okay, I'm used to it." Zuko gives Leo a little bit of a reassuring smile as he passed more soup to waiting hands.

"But yeah, the Avatar's duty is to keep the world in balance. Not just between humans and the spirits, but the four nations."

It's ironic really how Aang had been here not long before he arrived, but had disappeared. He was used to having his friends around him, even in Luceti. He's been feeling a little lonely here without them.

"Actually, it's passed down through reincarnation. When the Avatar dies, the next one is born in another nation."

Tony's not all that great at reading people, but even he can read 'intense discomfort' radiating off of the young woman standing stiffly in the corner with an untouched glass in her hand. He wanders over and gives her a wry, sympathetic smile.

"Not crazy about the naked dance party, huh?"

Well, at least he wasn't annoying his current volunteer-mate. The last thing he wanted was for an awkward silence to envelop them.

"So he's a political figure too..." Leo muttered, pouring a ladle-full of soup for another visitor. And he thought that he had had it tough back at home- fighting monsters for a secret organization and whatever other job came his way. "No wonder only one person is chosen for such a job. I don't think that anyone else would want that position."

A quiet, innocent laugh falls from his lips- though his comment was one hundred percent serious. He would never want a position as important as that...he already had enough with his current life. "Reincarnation sounds interesting though...I don't think we have that in our place. Maybe."

Though there is one question that he's wanted to ask for a few minutes now..."Do the wings come where you're from, too?"

The glass in hand keeps her from fidgeting as she at least attempts to keep a calm demeanor while her body language warns against trying to pry her from the wall. At the sound of the vaguely familiar voice, she looks to the young man joining her and offering sympathy. As much as she wants to leave, having company even for a few moments will be of some relief.

Cracking a hint of a smile she replies, "After spending over an hour getting dressed? Not so much." A tilt of her head, and she asks, "Is it safe to assume you've also decided to abstain?" He does have his pants on still after all.

"Yeah, kind of. More like a spiritual leader, really."

But yeah, he would kind of have to agree about the one person thing. Zuko wouldn't want that job either really. He's seen how it's put such a burden on Aang. But somehow he manages to get through it. For as gentle and kind as he is, he's a strong guy.

"No, the wings came from another place that I was brought to. Kind of like how we were brought here. Instead of soul gems, you got wings."

Now he's got both.

Edited 2016-03-07 03:40 (UTC)

"An hour?" Not to enforce gender stereotypes or anything, but it took Tony, like, ten minutes to get ready, tops. He doesn't know what it is girls do when they get ready, but whatever it is, he's definitely intimidated by it. "I don't think I'd ever want to get undressed if it took me an hour to get into my clothes."

He chuckles at her question, and replies, "I can think of a lot of good reasons to take off your pants in public. Dancing's not on the list."

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[EVENT | TAVIMBI] HAPOYELA'S BLESSINGS

PRAYERS AND OFFERINGS

THE GRAND FEAST AND FEEDING THE NEEDY

WHY ARE YOU GETTING NAKED

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