songerein | { flower festival 2022 }

Entry tags:

{ flower festival 2022 }

FLOWER FESTIVAL 2022

The three day Flower Festival has started and the town is covered in blooming flowers, music, smell of good food, and excited atmosphere. Full details on everything can be found here, but an important reminder that this event log doubles as our Test Drive Meme and information can be found in this section.

This means any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in April and will remain in Songerein for the rest of the month of April. However, outside characters can only thread within this log, so for those seriously considering the game, you are welcome to use non-festival prompts for your toplevels. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count April as their first month in the game, so all content will carry over.

IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.

TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Sunday, April 24th and Applications will open on May 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until July.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view)

Y'shtola (FFXIV)
Kotetsu Kaburagi (Tiger and Bunny)
Aerith Gainsborough (FFVII)
Nene Yashiro (Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun)
Isabela Madrigal (Encanto)
Rinwell (Tales of Arise)
Lumine (Genshin Impact)
Gran (Granblue Fantasy)
Sanji (One Piece)
Meilin "Mei" Lee (Turning Red)
Rob (The Amazing World of Gumball)
Akira Toya (Hikaru no Go)
Zhongli (Genshin Impact)
Yuuki Konno (Sword Art Online)
Kuja (FFIX)
Nice (Hamatora)
Peggy Carter (MCU)
Leo Valdez (Heroes of Olympus)
Snatcher (A Hat in Time)
Roland (Library of Ruina)
Son Gohan (Dragon Ball)
Gracious Skylark (OC)
Faith Lehane (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Thancred Waters (FFXIV)
Izaya Orihara (Durarara!!)

I. FLOWER VIEWING

There are gardens and flowers everywhere, but the main central location for the flower viewing is around the eastern side of town between the treehouses and the outside fields. Here there are plenty of both open and shaded spaces anyone can take to sit back, have a picnic, and enjoy the flowers blooming in the trees and along the ground. Food stalls are stationed by the treehouses for anyone who needs a meal and they provide blankets and picnic baskets as well.

A. Flower Crowns. Can't enjoy a flower viewing without flower crowns! There's an abundance of flowers that can just be taken and used to make them, but there are folks who go around and pass some out for those unable to. Or perhaps flower pixies may "bless" people with special flower crowns, tailor made with flowers that match the individual's personality. Once worn, the flowers will reflect the mood of the wear and may even grow depending on how much positive emotion they soak up from the wearer. That crown may become more of a headdress.

B. Flower Serenade. Although it's meant to be a calm, relaxing affair, the flowers are drinking in the festive atmosphere and now have a tendency to sing their joy. They are especially drawn to any couples and will start to serenade them with…an assortment of "romantic" songs. Some may be persuaded via calm emotions to quiet down to a more melodious hum while others may be a little more obnoxious.

C. Flower Maze. In one of the fields, a special flower maze has been erected made of hedges and questionably large flowers, their petals spanning several feet in length. These flowers will move and shift, using their petals to create sudden dead ends and new openings to alter the paths through the maze. No pushing past! The petals will be resistant. If a couple is being particularly flirtatious, they'll curl out and drop down to form a kind of "flower curtain" with their petals surrounding the pair. Whether it's to give the couple privacy or to shield innocent eyes, who's to say. In this scenario the petals can be easily brushed away and the flower will lift up to return to its position.

II. ENTERTAINMENT

All along the market square and the riverbank, stores and booths line the streets to provide goods, food, and entertainment for all festival goers.

A. Music and Dance. In the Central Plaza near the Tree of Memories is a cleared off area with a stage platform set up. Here anyone is welcome to grab an instrument, the microphone, and start singing or playing music to entertain the crowds. The floor is open for anyone to dance along or even show off a special dance performance of their own. Flower petals will join along as well, swirling through the melodious winds and even taking on the shape of some of the music notes.

B. Game booths. Come one, come all! Try out the various carnival games on offer. The game booths can be found lining around the riverbank and while there are many, here are some of the more popular ones:

Pebble Toss. Use dreamotion to change the color of a pebble and toss it into a bucket of water. The bigger the effect on the water, the more points scored. Earn enough points to win a prize!
Goose Rings. Try to toss a ring around the neck of a goose sculpture. Which is, of course, magically enchanted to move around and dodge the rings. Being a goose, the sculpture is a bit of a jerk; it’s attuned to players’ dreamotion energy and will absolutely move around more as they get frustrated, so keeping one’s cool is important.
Bubble Pop! Use dreamotion darts to pop magical bubbles floating across a board. Can be played alone (score points by popping as many of one color as possible) or competitively (whoever pops the most of their color wins).
Flighty Flowers. Create colorful paper flowers and use them to craft a floating lantern. The higher and further the lantern flies, the bigger the prize earned. Or, if one is especially creative or creates especially colorful flowers, they may just win a big prize regardless of how high it flies. Players can keep their lanterns if they wish.
Smash! Toss balls at a series of bottles to try and knock them over. To keep with the theme of the festival, the bottles are tiny terrariums. Thanks to the magic of the festival,, the plants inside the bottles remain undisturbed no matter how many times they’re knocked over.
Swan Boat Races. Find a boating partner and participate in a timed race where you have to navigate through obstacles and try to post the fastest time with fewest penalties. Use dreamotion to get through obstacles like ramps, slow whirlpools that will cause the boat to spin in place, turbulent waters, etc. If not interested in the races, people are welcome to help paint and decorate the swan boats! They have to match the mood of the festival, after all.

III. TREE OF MEMORIES

At the center of town is a giant tree that is as tall as a clock tower and with giant books about as tall as a person hanging off its branches. There are a few attractions set up here and there are also some small owls that fly around and greet anyone who come by. They serve as the "guardians" of the tree, and should anyone try to harm it, they will converge together to form a giant owl to deal with them.

A. Dream Petals. As the Tree's petals fall, anyone who manages to catch one before it hits the ground will find their secret dream reflected on it. It could be something they are longing for or something they wish to keep from anyone. Once the dream's reflection is complete, it will remain on the petal and can be viewed at any time.

B. Dreamscape Rooms. Selected by the owls, a few of the books can be found lying open on the ground. Everything is blank—there are no titles, no words, no pictures. The owl will beckon anyone who wants a "fun adventure" to dreamwalk into the book and have an adventure through its pages. It could be any established fairy tale, folklore, myth, legend or perhaps something random. The "players" will be thrown into random roles for the story and will need to complete at least three objectives (which can be handwaved). There is a one hour time limit so if anyone is unable to get through the story, the owls will yank them (safely) out and the book will remain on the ground for another group to try their luck. If they succeed, the story will magically appear on its pages and the book will hang proudly on the tree's branches.

C. Soaring Butterflies. Ever wanted to just ride on something huge and enjoy the flight? There are giant butterflies that are large and strong enough to carry up to three people on their backs. These butterflies are actually local to Songerein and brought in by a native Fae. Whether that makes them more or less trustworthy is up to the character, but the butterflies are definitely frisky—and fast.

D. Book Cages. Sometimes something a little weird happens around the Tree. Black wispy energy will seep from the hanging books and they will suddenly drop down on unsuspecting visitors, especially anyone who has a lot of love in them. The book will open and the pages will fly out like walls and trap the victim before it transforms into a cage and hurls them back up high into the tree. Although unharmed, the prisoner will start feeling some of their feelings of love being drained away and making them more irritable and hateful towards things. It will be up to someone else to try and get them out. Fortunately it's not too difficult a task—just need to get up that tree somehow and break through the iron-paper bars. Some fire should do the trick. The problem is, it needs to be fire made from dreamotion and focused on some variant of love or loyalty. It doesn't have to be towards the prisoner at least, so anyone should be able to help. However, the tree seems intent in keeping the prisoner, so thorny vines will try and smack anyone away. The owls will also try to assist, but they're kind of small and useless and can't use their ultimate transformation to harm the tree. Maybe the Giant Butterflies might be useful?

IV. FINAL DAY

On the third and final day of the festival, the winners of the Flower King and Queen contest are announced. However, there's a huge surprise as everyone finds themselves in a costume. While all contest participants have their own "Royal Court" theme, everyone else will find themselves suddenly dressed like a flower. There are a lot of variations from elegant to downright silly. Best(?) of all, the costumes will stay on until sundown. While parts may be loosened, altered, and removed for a short period of time, the costume will refuse to be changed out of and any attempts will be futile.

A. Flower Power. While some may feel very…uncomfortable in their new "wardrobe," others are having a blast with the small powers that come with the costume. With just a wave of their hand flowers will appear and bloom, and they will leave a trail of flowers wherever they go. But most importantly, they have glitter pollen which is to help bring about love and joy to all! However, not everyone is enjoying the glitter all over the place and some are growing more irritable and hateful instead, which is twisting their own pollen to spread negative feelings instead. Help soothe the unhappy ones and clean up the mess!

B. Flowerworks. Once sundown hits and everyone is back to their usual attire, a call is made to announce the "Flowerworks" presentation and for all to gather out into the fields. The moment the sun is completely set and the stars appear in the strange, moonless sky, a light will shoot up and burst into a beautiful, flowery display. It's a fireworks show, but instead of using traditional fireworks, glowing flowers are sent up instead, their petals illuminating brightly as they drift harmlessly down to the crowds.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He looks like he fits right in.

It's the first thing Beatrix notices when she manages to spot Eustace at the tree with no shortage of books. Once upon a time, she suspects, he would have stood out as much as she feels she does, if only from what little she's learned of him. Although in retrospect, she feels as though she learns far more about him than he does of her. Unfair, perhaps, given how prone she is to keeping information about herself to herself.

What's a little more worrying is that she's actually... happy to see him. If she wants to call it that. More like, it's nice to see him, if she has to call it anything.]

Are you looking for something in particular?

[No, she doesn't feel she needs to be properly introducing herself or addressing him any longer. After all, they are... allies of a sort, are they not? She looses a breath as she turns her attention onto whatever he may be getting himself into.]

I was looking at these earlier myself, wondering if they might have a collection or stories or so. Imagine my surprise when I found them to be blank.

[If Eustace knew Beatrix's thoughts, he'd think her crazy. But he's focused on the books, curious as to how they work and if the ones hanging on the branches could actually have any information that would aid them or if they are blank like the rest. He also can't help but wonder if it's a trap of some kind, but given how after this long nothing untoward has happened to anyone who has participated and he himself has seen it fairly safe, he's mostly discarded the idea. Mostly. Can never be took careful. So there's first a small twitch of his ear at the sound of Beatrix's voice before he looks over to her.]

It is intriguing. But the ones here are part of an attraction.

An attraction?

[Is that what he wants to call it? She shakes her head in something that must be akin to disbelief or incredulous. He might be right, but that still sounds like... Well. What kind of attraction can be terribly interesting when it consists of a gaggle of books that don't even have words or pictures?

Well, maybe not all of them are blank. Just the ones that she's looked at so far.]

I am listening. Go on. What sort of attraction do you think this is? Better yet—why?

[Hey, it's what they call it, okok. And he can see that look she's giving him and he just gives one in return.]

You dreamwalk into the books with a partner or group and follow a loose script to create the story. [He gestures to the owls flitting about trying to attract attention to a nearby book.] The owls supervise it all. Should you succeed, the story will appear on the pages and hang on the tree. If you fail, it's reset for someone else to try.

[He seems fairly confident and knowledgeable about this...]

Ah.

[Beatrix looses a sigh, shifting her weight, and she settles a hand atop her hip.]

This sounds like a child's... pastime. [After a breath, she clears her throat.] There is nothing wrong with that. Many of us enjoyed such stories in our youths, did we not. [Well. Maybe not Eustace, but this seems common enough among many.]

I assume then that you were considering indulging in a story yourself.

Not really... [A small sigh.] I've already been through it before, but for some reason I got pushed back here.

Would that not imply that you did not properly complete it previously then?

[Unless she's misunderstanding. Entirely possible.]

If that is the case, perhaps a second pair of hands will rectify that situation. I may not be as I was back home, but I do enjoy a job well done.

Rather than not properly complete...

[He just mutters a little under his breath, not quite looking at Beatrix before clearing his throat.]

I'm more surprised that you'd actually be interested in it.

I do know how to read.

[Beatrix looses a sigh and she shakes her head.] In fact, I am rather fond of books and art and music and other such things. I understand that must be very difficult to imagine. I was more interested in providing assistance. If you do not need it, then consider the offer revoked, Eustace.

[There's just a slight arch of the brow.]

I mean in participating in the game.

But it's not a matter of needing—

["Hoot hooooot!"

As if hearing their difficulties, one of the owls flies in eagerly and hoot hoots away.

"A pair wanting to live through a an adventure! Then please this way, this way—"

It starts to fly behind them both, its wings flapping to produce strangely powerful gusts of winds that will push them towards the nearest blank book...only for it to pause when it finally recognizes Eustace and squints its large owl eyes.

"...Oh, it's you. Don't mess around in this one!"]

...

[Goddammit—]

[Whatever he means to say is interrupted by the 'hoot' that follows. One thing leads to another, it seems, and whether they've agreed on it or not, it seems they'll be undertaking some kind of misadventure together. Truthfully, it could be worse. Beatrix suspects that Eustace is very much reliable, though she'd have difficulty saying as much.

Maybe.

The warning the owl gives to her companion leaves her looking over to him, wondering exactly what he's gotten himself up to.]

A bit of a troublemaker, are you?

[She asks him, contemplating if she's made a mistake with this very kind offer of hers.]

[Priiimmaaaalllssss—]

Forget it, let's just get this over with. Stand on that circle and focus on dreamwalking into the book.

[NO HE IS NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT HE IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.]

[...Forget it. Forget it? Whoever thought Beatrix didn't chase down the leads that interested her clearly has no idea who she is. She'll give him just some moments to recover before she pulls the proverbial rug from beneath his feet.]

You seem to be a in perfectly peachy mood. Must be a good story.

[Is she jabbing him? Just a little. A small... tint of it before she moves at his encouragement. Drawing in a deep breath, she stands on the circle indicated and shuts her eyes, turning thought over in her head. She remains convinced that imagination and creativity are not her strong suits.

She's also not immune to the allure of books and stories and Beatrix has read her fair share of them, expanding a variety of subjects. Maybe all she has to do is... imagine herself in a particular story? Or in any story at all.]

You wouldn't be interested in it.

[He is certain Beatrix would throw the book at him if he showed it to her, unless she's secretly a closet fan of such things. Either way, too personal and he's not going to share nope.

And he is going to shove it out of his mind as he concentrates, and he'll be a little quicker in entering the book, mostly because he has been through it before so it's a little familiar. And when he opens his eyes...

...

..............

WHY IS HE IN SOME PRINCESS OUTFIT??? AND IS HE IN SOME TOWER THING—]

[Debatable, she thinks. Just about everything about you is interesting.

Why words like that are so much more difficult to say than the biting ones she prefers to give is beyond her. Either way, she doesn't bother to say anything further on it. And any intentions she has to do that die when she finds herself in...

Well.

Honestly, she doesn't know what to make of it. A clunky helmet over her hair which she wastes no time in prying off and tossing aside. Over the side of a roped bridge that's in mass disrepair it goes, dropping into a seemingly unending lake of boiling and bubbling lava. Just what kind of story is this?]

You remember what the king said—We gotta slay the dragon and save the princess!

[She turns at the voice, a bit shrill and what she can only describe as annoying and she finds a... Is that a sheep. It's a sheep, isn't it. Tufts of wooly... fur, hair, whatever it is, all over the place. Not quite pristine white, but close enough.]

... [Is it talking to her?? She squints.]

You forgot, didn't you? C'mon, don't you want to get your farm back?

[This is not happening, Beatrix lifts a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose and she takes a moment to eye the castle in question. It's the one just past the end of the bridge, she assumes. There's no other castle in competition, after all. Where the hell is Eustace in all of this? He can't possibly be the sheep. There's no way.

She opts for saying nothing at all and instead with a lifted hand, beckons for the sheep to follow along. In mostly silence, they finish crossing the bridge and on the other side, she pats a hand on her side, almost thankful that she's arrived with sword in hand. It might not be her sword, but it'll do. For now.

Before she makes for the castle, she pauses and turns back to the sheep.]

Stay here.

But we're supposed to—

[Beatrix settles a hand to where her sword lies, using a hand to adjust the way her somewhat clunky armour sits on her. Her regular attire is so much better. She hates this.]

No. You are going to stay here. And if you follow me, I will ensure you end up on a dinner plate.

[The sheep Meeps! in fright as it skitters to a halt, sensing that threat is very real. Which will leave Beatrix to make her way through the castle...

...Where a still flabbergasted Eustace awaits.

Standing before the standing mirror, he only glares at the dress he finds himself in. Really?? REALLY. Of all the—he wants to swear out those owls, fully believing this must be some kind of retribution for what happened last time..... Instead he curses under his breath as he tears off the puffed up sleeves and strips off the tool beneath the skirt. If he could readily see something else he could change into he'd rip the entire thing off, but after rummaging through the drawers and wardrobe with only more garish dresses waiting, he resigns to what he has. If he has to wear a dress, he should at least be able to function and move.

He's grateful it doesn't have a corset.

At least there are some flats instead of heels that he can wear, or he would have chucked it out the lone small window and gone barefoot.

But with the adjustments made, he once again looks around his surroundings. Although decently furnished, the room is clearly made for an imprisoned princess as usually depicted in fairy tales, the door made of steel and immovable. And having looked out the window and seeing how high up he was, he can guess he's in some tower guarded by some menace. An evil lord, a monster, a dragon...

So what role is Beatrix? Not wanting to just stay still, he returns to the window and peers out, clicking his tongue as he sees no feasible way to climb down on his own. ...Granted, maybe he's supposed to stay where he is for the story but he hates this. Last time there was more of an obvious hint or instruction, but it looks like they'll have to figure out the first part before they'll know the full details.

Stupid owls.

Anyway, if Beatrix looks closely she might be able to see a familiar disgruntled face leaning out of the window as he tries to see if he can spot her, assuming she's not already in the castle.]

[What'd that sheep say again? Something, something, dragon and princess. Not that she can't take on a dragon by herself. She could, if she had to. If she felled one hundred knights, then surely one dragon can't be that bad. But it would be easier with Alexandria's military at her command. As it stands, it seems her inventory consists of herself, one set of extremely bulky, smelly, rusty armour, a sword that is horrendously unimpressive, and a talking sheep that she was ready to throw into a lake of cheese pasta coloured lava. Overall, it's not a great advantage.

She's taking in the castle, following the various towers to the one that seems centred in it all, a turret stretching toward a sky that is embraced by slightly ominous looking clouds. And at the top, with a squint, she sees... someone in the window. Furry ears. Is that... a tiara? A head of... white hair? As white as the snow in the ice cavern not far from the Evil Forest.

(These names are a bit on the nose, Beatrix can't help thinking in hindsight.)

Well. Better him than her, honestly. He probably has the sense not to throw himself out the window. She doubts he has enough bedding to get safely down either. Probably. Assuming it's him at all. But if this is a whole stupid knight and princess deal, if she's playing the part of the knight, then he's very obviously the princess. She's never going to let him live this one down.

The castle interior itself is shockingly quiet. Almost could be untouched if it weren't for the skeletal remains that litter along some of cold masonry walls of grey, unwelcoming stone. She's evidently not the first to come this way. Probably won't be the last either, honestly. Everyone loves the idea of saving a glamorous princess, after all.

Beware of dragon—

It's a crudely-made sign that seems pretty self-explanatory. Beatrix stands at it for some moments before she shakes her head. The little arrow it has on display is all the more reason for her to not go in the direction it indicates. No, she's definitely just going to do things her way. No one's here to tell her otherwise and even if they did, Beatrix is not well known for listening.

In the distance, she can hear a subtle clattering, which she can only assume is the dragon in question, assuming there is one at all (she's not sticking around to find out), and she begins the ever-so-long ascension of multiple towers and doorways. Footsteps of poorly-crafted greaves echo as she carries herself up them until at last she finds herself at the long-awaited, fated doorway to Eustace's freedom.

...How the hell is she supposed to get through that? Imagine the damn door away?

She does the obvious thing, of course, and knocks.]

Open up. We need to go.

[Very professional. Very knightly.]

[The thought of throwing himself off the window and make an ice slide did cross his mind once he spots her below. But he just clicks his tongue and goes back inside to wait.

...Is there a weapon he can make so he can have when he's rescued? Anything to make a blade...

When Beatrix, there's a loud CRASH and the sound of glass shattering before it's followed by a dry voice laced with sarcasm.]

If I could, I would have done so by now.

[So lovely. So charming.]

You're the hero, you figure it out.

[The loud collection of sound on the other side catches her off guard and she even jumps, suddenly extremely thankful he's not there to see it. Although she'd argue that it didn't scare her. Merely caught her by surprise.]

How helpful of you. Maybe spend less time breaking things and actually providing me some ideas. This is a dreamscape, right? Or something like it, I suppose. Any dreamotion suggestions?

[Beatrix spreads gloved fingertips against the door in question, as she's examining its make, looking for runes, looking for any kind of hint as to how she might be able to break it down.

Maybe if she just imagines her foot has all the strength of a strong, tall, old tree, that'll actually work. As she drops back a few paces, rolls her shoulders and charges at the door with a strong low kick in an effort to otherwise dislodge it that she might get in, she realises that... no.

That's a terrible idea.

All of this has been a terrible idea.]

Dreamotion... There may be a way to—

[Before he can finish his words, he senses movement outside before there's a resounding CLANG! THUD! against the door.

Staring wide-eyed, he rushes towards.]

What the hell did you do!?

[Did she...did she actually try to kick the door down????]

[She agrees—this, indeed, has been a terrible idea.

Not even a budge. All she's left with is the subtle aching in her foot. No amount of armour is going to stand up against a door of that magnitude. As she's examining where it ordinarily ought to open, she finds that the only thing she's done is come out of this slightly more agitated.

Eustace's voice hits her words and she's composing herself before she addresses him more properly.]

Well, I can tell you I did not open the door.

[Obviously.]

What were you saying about dreamotion? I am not certain I buy that simply imagining the door opening is going to work. Nothing is ever that simple without it being a trap.

[...]

Did you... No, nevermind.

[He's not sure if her confirming that she tried to kick the door would help his patience or not. Instead he just pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs.]

And no, it wouldn't be that easy. But using the elements to our advantage, maybe we can work something else. Melting a part of the door such as the hinges or the handle, for example, or given our affinity, freezing it so that it actually shatters.

[Has she mentioned that she's terrible at being creative? Beatrix still struggles with the concept of imagination and innovation. Sometimes she has just enough desire to make something happen the way she'd like it to, but more often than not, she feels apprehension and hesitance. Still coming up against ideas and situations that render her uncomfortable and against what she considers to be normal.

In listening to him, she splays her fingers against the door, getting another good look at it.]

Ice could work. You and I are both chillingly charming enough to make that happen.

[Is that a joke? Maybe in the way that Beatrix is an entirely too dry and sarcastic woman. Her humour, perhaps, an acquired taste.

Just thinking about it, she feels cold beneath her touch. Talk about an icy reception.]

[If only she can see his deadpan stare.]

Careful. I can feel my frozen heart thawing from your words.

[Such a dry, flat delivery.]

Focus on the edges of the door.

If that works on you, I intend to try that out on others. In no time at all, I will become Reverein's most charming inhabitant.

[Flat. Meet flat.
Birds of a feather, it would seem with these two.

Her attention moves to the edges of the door and she traces fingertips along the perimeter. It's not hard for her to imagine the spread of ice beneath her touch. A wonder that people don't shake her off when she has her rare charitable moments that she doesn't mind touching others.]

Amusingly enough, Eustace, you have had more than a couple of warm moments with me. [That is, today seems to be an exception. Probably something to do with whatever he got into before she arrived on the scene.]

You know what this is. We're doing a fusion of things because I am greedy.

give in to the greed

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GONNA GIVE PRINCESS EUSTACE ONE BEFORE SHE FINDS HIM

LMAO SO MUCH SUFFERING

This is the most awful [wonderful] thing that ever could have happened.

Best thread ever

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