Fireworks Festival - RPLOG
Participants
Date
1/11/476
Log
A fine evening in Shralesta, the desert sky cloudless, the stars peering down on the festivities amidst the light of the shattered moon. The desert night is cold, as expected, but beings here and there are moving about to keep themselves warm, pinpricks of light in the open land beyond the city, stretching as far as folk will go. Most carry bundles and boxes, and the smell of gunpowder pervades the air, amongst other things.
It's not just the locals who're participating, either. With an event of this scope, it's a perfect opportunity for other nations to show their goodwill to the jewel of the desert, for folk to have a bit of fun, or simply an excuse for travel. While handcrafted fireworks are the order of the day, there are always those willing to sell to the foreigners who haven't been able to bring their own.
Angus rubs at his arms, the cold night air starting to get to him as he stamps his feet. "Geeze, freezing my tail off." The young noble complains as he waist for the fireworks show to start.
Kurzon lurks, a looming object amongst the others of his size and ilk. Having traveled here to understand the local customs and the people that indulge them. As such he calmly walks about taking an interest in the setups that others have prepared. He was curious about how this would turn out and whom he would meet.
Selena stretches out, settling down in the comparatively cool air - after all, it's not midday, so the sun certainly isn't at its hottest point in the sky. It'd seem she's taking a little time off for whichever reason; waving over to familiar faces. "The wait isn't that bad, Angus. Well, not as bad as some I've put up with in past." She chuckles. "What exactly brought you here?"
Ashley comes off the ship that braught her here, simply looking about a moment. A celibration of sorts, is what she had heard, but she didn't honestly see the point in such. Rather, she had just followed Angus, and now seemed like a good time to talk to him, "Kitsune. It has been a while. This one hopes you are well." She says, then, looks over to Selena, a slight nod, "This one has heard that one of the creators chose to stay behind. It is this one's hope that she will cause no trouble."
Alef walks quietly along the gathering, having followed a group of marketplace workers out here. having heard there will be a celebration tonight and having moved several boxes marked "Flamable" for some of the merchent's today. looking through the gathered Beings as she sips from a potion bottle, looking for a good place to sit and relax for now. hood down as she walks among the group.
With this sort of event, there's no official start or stop the the festivities. Although there are some local gatherings, especially with the local arm of the Creator Church stopping to give their blessing upon the general proceedings, by and large the action continues at the beings' own pace - even at this hour, there are still would-be revelers landing at the docks and streaming out of the city into the desert, where there's more space. Already, the first fireworks are being launched into the sky - simple affairs that rise into the air to explode with a loud bang into colourful fire blossoms. One could wonder - no, it's almost certain that there's a little fire math involved. It is a once a year thing, after all. Might as well make it good.
Angus nearly jumps as Ashley starts speaking to him. "I have been well, thank you for asking." He comments as he turns around to face her. Stamping his feet he finally starts to warm up a bit. "As for what brought me here well, who would want to miss the fireworks?" He asks, giving Selena a smile as he crouches the rummage through the small bag of fireworks he had bought from one of the vendors.
Selena chuckles as the first few fireworks go off, pulling a few small cylinders from her bag. "You know, these things are surprisingly hard to make. I'm surprised they cost as little as they do." She comments back to the fox - though she doesn't set them up quite yet, rather biding her time for a little while to address Alef; "You... Certainly brought a lot with you, for that matter."
Ashley gives her blank eye'd stare to Angus for a while, "This one cannot see the point in this, would it not go to better use to spend the time and resources combating my misguided kin, or the beasts of this land that seem intent on goring you at a moment's notice." she says. Looking to Selena, "Surely one as practical as yourself would see the folly of this?" She continues before noticing Alef. She gives an almost acceptable curtsey, "This one hopes you are well, and is called Ashley." If one doesn't notice the oddness of her Soul Pendent, then her completely black eyes would be the next give away, that she is a shadow.
Kurzon soon hears voices both strange and familiar, blending into the crowd and with a bit of searching, found. Angus is easy, no mistaking the little battle hardened noble, then there was Selena and Alef, all of which brought a smile to his face, though hidden by a scarf and a high collar beneath his wide brimmed hat, he was simply a dark tower moving to meet them. Of course for those that know him, his silver trimmed armor and cloth were give aways...but to him there were beings that were not so easy to identify and that made him pause and reach for his notebook.
Now that the ice's been broken, the locals don't hold back, leading the way by letting off a veritable menangerie of lights up into the sky, almost as if they were intending to restore the shattered moon with all that colour and noise. Every reasonable inch of land has been occupied by some enterprising folk or the other, every reasonable inch of sky is occupied with fireworks, all of them competing with each other for flamboyance. It's a chaotic mess, perhaps, but that's the point. Strange for a festival that's supposed to mark the coming of the cooler season - something everyone can feel under their fur - but there it is. The hubbub of so many massed voices is punctuated by the faint, distant ringing of the Shralestan Cathedral's bell, adding their official blessings to the festivities.
Angus picks out a few choice fireworks from his bag, a smile starting to alight on his muzzle. "You see Ashley that's the thing. This celebration is being held partially because of them." Standing up he walks a few feet away and starts setting up the fireworks. "As people celebrate they tend to forget such hardships and just enjoy themselfs, it's a good way for people to unwind. It makes the hardships of tomorrow just a little bit easier....or at least, that's how I see it."
Kurzon listens carefully as Angus speaks, his hands working swiftly to take notes on this 'Ashley, his curiosity and obsessive notation warring with his urge to stride forward and offer proper greeting to those he knew and had some sort of bonding with. He himself had bought some larger fireworks as well as a few smaller ones to sacrifice for an experimental setup and decides to retire back to that rather than greet yet, he'd make a flashy display to please his friends and then speak up. Jogging back to his point a ways out from the rest for the sake of safety he ensures that all of the fuses are together in a well of powdered stone and some small earth and fire maths he knows before he raises his rifle and fires at the math plate and allows the flaring sparks of impact to ignite the whole thing setting off a flaring flash of fire before the fireworks rocket into the sky in a fierce sequence, their point of ignition reduced to smoking splinters as they add their light to the nigh celestial show.
Selena makes a dismissive gesture with her hands at the shadow - "I think you need to learn what 'fun' is. Perhaps also 'morale' and the concept of 'practical experience'. It's not the best use of resources, but if you insist on taking that route of conversation, why are you even here? Evidently you must have something more productive to do." That said, she glances back to Angus. "Well, this should be interesting..."
Ashley gives her emotionless look to Selena next, before continuing with Angus, "You beings still do not see the point, so this one's mission is unfinished. Do you think you have enough clout to make the others see?" She asks the fox. Pondering a moment, "You beings seem to rest more then needed, take time away to do 'fun'. This one is shocked you were able to best my kin as long as you have, but, so be it, if these flashes of light and sound is what makes your lives worth it, then you should enjoy." She says. She looks up Kurzon, working over his pile of fireworks. Blinking a moment, an act that the shadow rarely does, and even more rarely more then once in a row. She moves a bit closer to Angus, "Tell this one about... 'morale.'" She says, giving a look to Selena, "And the most productive thing this one can do is ensure it's Kitsune is still working toward his part of it's mission. But, please if you could, give this one your take on 'fun.'"
Alef stands watching the fireworks in awe, leaning against her staff as she watches skyward. the booms drowning out nearby sounds as she looks up, sighing softly and relaxing, as she watches. tail swaying behind her happly.
Angus stops, eyeing Ashley over his shoulder. "Well...Morale's are what help define what we believe to be right or wrong, more or less." He mutters before he turns back to his task. Striking a spark for the fuse he grabs hold of Ashley's arm and tries to move her away from the fireworks. "Come on, just watch." He comments to her as he turns and watche the rocket shoot off into the sky, before it burst in the air. Bathing them in a bright light for a few seconds before it flickered out of existance.
The rockets fired off by Kurzon burst again as the imbedded math fuses finally run out a ring of fire spreading outwards like a starburst flings out a cluster of smaller fireworks whichsoiral off on wild tangents of their own, rockets without rhyme or reason, burning coloured trails where they may until they too burst into clouds of self incenerating particles, some perhaps a bit lower than should be approved of considering the less than expert rigging of the setup, but in the und it was a minor desert rose: a nova of flame casting its star seeds about to paint the sky.
Already looking forward to a way to use this again without celebration, Kurzon tightens his scarf against the smell of the dust and ash so that he may incenerate the remainder of his mess for the sake of environment and cleanup. Completed he turns in time to See Angus' show rise to the sky, striding up behind the pair. to add his piece. "Morale is the level of satisfaction and cheer we collectively hold as a group, that which gives us the strength to believe in hope and carry on even when things are difficult and bleak. Morale is the words of our leaders.." A hand is clasp upon Angus' shoulder. " The smiles of our friends" He points off toward Alef's expression of wonder. " And the bonds that bring people like you two together."
Selena simply shakes her head as she's probed for more from the shadow, setting up the few she'd brought. No fuses, oddly enough, though a little fire magic easily solves such problems as ignition. "Angus - That's a moral. Morale is... Well, Kurzon's mostly right but it doesn't have to be a leader's words either." She points out, leaning back.
The fireworks the wolfess prepared are chrysanthemums - large, circular bursts of colored magic that leave some kind of shimmering effect in their wake with bright white centers and colder reds and blues on the outside.
Ashley gives a churr as she is pulled over by Angus, stumbling slightly and falling into the noble fox's lap. Blinking yet a few more times, she looks up and actually blushes. She scrambles to pick herself up and dust off her armor, "That, does not sound quite right, this one is aware of morals, but," then the other being chimes in for her, "Thank you... Kurzon was it?" she asks before looking to the light show. She stares at it til her form complains about the brightness, making her look away, "And it is displays like this, that give you te strangth to go out and fight again. A curious way, but if it works as well as it has seemed to." she says before looking to Angus again. Each explosion of light gives enough to see the growing pink under the black and white fur of her face. "This one wonders, is it like music in that way?" she asks.
Alef pulls her eyes from the sky and walks slowly toward the group of Beings she recognizes in the light of the exploding fireworks. its slow going, dodging around the beings watching the show without blocking there view or interupting them. but she eventually manages to reach the group. "Sir Angus? Kurzon? Selena?" Smiling gently, a loud boom and a particularly impressive display making her look up for a moment then back to them, Giving Ashley a nod "Hello." Smiling at Ashley "My names Alef, pleasure." standing abit off from the group. "Im not intruding am i?"
An interesting discussion indeed amidst such cheer. With Kurzon's fireworks let off to join the rest, the festivities continue, now with more exotic fireworks being let off, seemingly bringing warmth to the increasing chill of night. Seems like more and more foreigners are arriving...there'll certainly be much to do over the next few days and nights. Although most don't linger for the full length of the festival, those who do can certainly expect to see a different display each night.
Angus blinks as Ashley ends up in his lap, staring at her for a few seconds...before he smacks his forehead when he is correct. "Ah, where is my head today. My apologizes Ashley." He does not move from his spot on the ground, instead he just enjoys the fireworks for now as he gives Ashley a nod. "It is like music in a way I do believe yes." He mutters as he tips his hat to Alef in greeting. "Hello to you to, intruding. What do you mean?"
Kurzon bows his head backing away seeing as his piece had been said and he got the impression that the situation was developing nicely for the friendly noble to pursue. He bows more humbly when Selena speaks, backing up a bit and then pivoting on his heels when Alef speaks up.
"Ah, no...it is I who did so, greetings belatedly Miss Alef, Selena, Angus and to you as well 'Ashley' And for my part I find music is the greatest influence on my morale and since of well being aside from the touch of a friend or a good meal!"
And further he shifts, feeling akward and wanting to take more notes on what he believes to be a budding union between a noble and a shadow.
Selena stretches out a little as the other fireworks go off, looking somewhere between confused and amused at the bear's formal bow. "You really don't have to be so polite, Kurzon." she comments, leaning back a little. "And yes, since you seem to understand that better. Music has a similar effect, certainly. There's a time and place for both. I find it more surprising you imply shadows have no concept of morale, but supposedly understand music well enough."
Ashley looks up to the flashing lights and sound again, giving a slight 'huh' at them before looking around again, "Alef, this one is Ashley, it is a pleasure to meet you." She says to the next fox, "You wouldn't happen to also be a kitsune?" She asks rather bluntly. "Like Music, this one thinks you misunderstand its facination with it. Though it would be wrong to say shadows have no morale it is.... differen then what you have discribed." she says, "Though... music is different after this one got its shell." she admits. "Kurzon, perhaps this one could play for you sometime?" she asks. Another glance to Angus, and Ashley chooses to take a few side steps away from him, not liking what her shell is feeling.
Alef blinks at the odd way Ashley speeks, not putting 2 and 2 together as she nods "Its a pleasure." Nodding and shaking her head "I was just worryed you all were in the middle of something and I might be interupting." Nodding and taking a seat if offered. "The fireworks are impressive this year, I wonder if such a show is going on back home?" Curious as she flicks her tail. "Huh? Oh no no im not a kitsune." Smiling and letting out a chuckle at the thought.
Alef's concerns are unlikely, though - the passing of the worst of the year's heat is uniquely a Shralestan custom, not quite needed back in Firmament's milder climate. After an hour or so, the fireworks begin to die down a little, although many more will be set off, both tonight and in the next few to come. Locals begin heading back to their homes to get some rest for the next day's festivities, while visitors no doubt have arranged suitable accommodation - if all fails, there's always resting in the vehicle that brought them or the impromptu camp out in the desert, which is quite safe this close to the city proper. The chill of the desert night sets in proper, and the remaining revelers bring out what warm clothing they have to ward it off.
Angus gives Ashley a curious glance as she steps away from him, shaking his head at her as he stands up. "That was a rather nice display, might have to stay to see tomorrows show as well." He comments aloud as he dusts off his armor and looks around. Picking up the bag of fireworks that he still had he looks at the group around him. "So, what are you four going to do now?"
Kurzon raps his almost always armored gauntlets upon his breastplate under the sand cloak he is wearing. "I am not certain if I'd feel comfortable addressing those of high esteem in any other manner, I'd feel like...a masher or something of the sort."
Honestly next she'd be telling him to be honest with his feelings, less reckless and to abandon his notebook and just rely on faith and self confidence! "Play for me? I'd be delighted at any time to listen, no weather nor bulwark shall stay my feet from such a performance."
Serenaded by a shadow? What comely dirge or dire requiem would he get to hear? It was almost too much for his anticipatory heart to handle, if he were to know lust, this would surely be the researcher version of it gripping his chest right now. "Now? I considered a bit of hunting to ward off the chill of my inexperience, but certainly more time with friends wouldn't be rejected."
Selena shrugs, picking herself up and looking back over to the others. "I was going to head back to Firmament, myself. You know I'm not fond of Shralesta already." She replies to the fox. As for Ashley... "Really, now? So it's a needless curiousity? What purpose does learning music serve to your more important goals? I've heard some interesting rumors through the grapevine."
Ashley brushes herself off a bit more, wiggling her tail to get the sand at least partly out, "A shame then Alef, this one is in need of some kitsunes of note within your societies, but, alas, it seems to have been stuck with this one and his cousin.. brother... do you beings have as hard a time keeping up with the Solacious family tree as this one does?" she asks. "Beside the point, this one thinks it would be a pleasure to play for you Kurzon, and-" Selena's question cuts her off, but she again without emotion says, "It was a hobby of this one, something that interested it, it serves no purpose beyond a distraction when waiting for its kitsunes to be ready again." she says, "As for this one's plans, it must admit a lack of preperation, so, it is either sleeping when this shell needs it out in the open, or joining with one of you." she says, gazing around, though her gaze sticks to Angus a bit longer, before, "Rumors? If you have information to share, please go ahead, this one would like to listen."
Alef blinks "This one?" Looking at angus and Selena curiously. "Well, honistly I was going to go back to Firmament with the market workers too, but I might go with Selena now, get back sooner. more crown if im back early to work." Smiling lightly at everyone, the poor girl obviously out of her depth.
Angus blinks scratching his head a bit as listens to Ashleys perdiciment. "Well um...I can probably rent a few rooms at the nearest Inn if that's okay with you?" He offers, shrugging a bit as he shoulders his bag and loks to the others. "You guys heading back then? Alright, take care!" He waves, tiping his hat in farewell to everyone.
Kurzon remains silent as he listens, he was leaving for firmament and it sounded like he'd not be spending much time with the others. Almost by reflex hisright hand drifts tot he hanlde of his hammer, the thing calling to his digits like a long lost compannion. %"
Ah, well I'll be in the area for hunting, I wont keep you from your rest or travel."
Selena rummages about in her bag for a moment before passing Angus a handful of crown, leaning over for a moment to murmur something to the fox. "Ashley's a shadow, Alef. Of all the ones I've met they usually have quirks in speech like that." She explains before pulling herself to her feet. "Take care of yourselves.
Ashley watches silently as Selena departs, if there was one thing that she had it was a curiosity about being, that one in particular. She turns to Alef though, "Well, it was still a pleasure for this one to meet you." she says then looking again to Kurzon, "This one thinks it will spend some time playing for Angus, as payment for the room, if you wish to come listen." She says before walking up to Angus. She didn't like how she made him feel, but at the same time, it wasn't unpleasent. "Kitsune, lead this one if you would." She says.
Alef blinks at Selena's reveal, looking at Ashley curiously. "A shadow? A friendly shadow? I heard but havent met one..." Blinking as Selena starts off toward firmament again. "OH! Uh. Sorry Ashley maybe il see you again! Angus, Kurzon!" Nodding and quickly getting up, "Seleeeena! Wait!" Running after Selena to catch up before shes left behind in the desert!
