22 - Harvest Moon Viewing

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Harvest Moon Viewing
When: September 10, 6 PM
Where: The Meeting Hall grounds
Summary: The Heavens are throwing a moon-viewing party!







Party Games

Children are dashing all over the moon-viewing grounds in the early evening, flying kites or playing tag and other games. Many of them are wearing cute seasonal rabbit masks made of paper, or sporting ink curlicues and scribbles drawn over their faces, if they've lost too many games.

Card games and spinning top battles, a few practice archery butts towards the edge of the park, poetry-composing competitions, and even badminton: there's something for everyone, and anyone who doesn't look too busy may find themselves offered a rabbit mask and a game to play. Or perhaps you'd like to try your hand at drawing people into your own game?

Moon Viewing

The moon rises not long after sunset, looming over the garden in hazy golden and red splendor thanks to the volcanic fumes in the atmosphere. The games are winding down as darkness falls, and the faint scent of burning incense fills the air as people settle to view the moon rise. Shinki in their festival best, adorned with Amaterasu's golden chrysanthemum, are serving the guests. They set out trays of fresh seasonal fruit (Japanese pears, persimmons, and chestnuts) and plates of mochi, serve sake, and light portable grills to cook sweet potatoes and skewers of meat.

Mazed & Confused

Part of the grounds have been rearranged into a hedge-maze made of tall, plumed grasses packed close together. A sign at the entrance reads, "Bring back my ribbon from the center of the maze,
and I'll give you a special prize!"

Unfortunately, that's harder than it sounds. The maze is full of dead ends, confusing turns, and twisty little passages, which all look alike. It's almost magical how easy it is to lose your way inside, and the tufted grass will prove to have painfully sharp edges if anyone tries to cheat by pushing their way through the "walls" of the maze.

Those who successfully find their way to the center will find a white ribbon fluttering from the top of a tall pole. If they can climb the pole, pull the ribbon free, and make it back to the entrance, they will hear the sound of a child's laughter, and the ribbon in their hand will disappear to be replaced by a round cake of mochi. Enjoy the prize!

Wild Moon

One of the children participating most energetically in the games of tag and dashing around the party is wearing an oversized gray hoodie with the hood pulled up right to the edges of his happy rabbit mask. He's not being very careful, either: he keeps bumping into other party attendees and barely taking the time to mutter an apology before he sprints away.

Although nothing noticeable happens at the time, anyone who's been tagged or bumped into by that particular child will begin to feel more emotional, quicker to react, and less self-controlled as the night wears on. Those who he only brushed by won't be too powerfully affected, but the more times that he has run into someone, the stronger the effect will grow.

(Note: This won't cause anyone to have emotions that they wouldn't feel otherwise, but both ongoing moods and temporary reactions could be amplified.)

In Summary:

• Play party games
• Relax with snacks
• Try to solve the hedge maze
• Go wild
• Have fun~

Comments

2B

[futhark]

[ That slightly confused Caster, being rather not well versed in the local lore. Something, something, go read a book! ]

You mean... rabbit princesses? [ What rabbits and princesses have in common? The grand question ] Why would the rabbit royalty attend the festival?

[ Maybe because it's in Heavens..? ]

[minogame]

(That actually gets a small laugh out of him. A rabbit princess? That's silly. But not as silly as turtle princesses.)

Heh heh, no, no. Kaguya-hime! The princess from the moon.

(He points up at the moon,)

There are two famous stories about the moon. The first one is the Rabbit in the Moon. And the second one is the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter which is about Princess Kaguya.

(And a glance at Caster,)

You don't know them, do you...

[futhark]

Yeah, I don't know them- [ But he's absolutely willing to listen and there is clear interest showing. ] I'm from far away and my land has set of different stories.

[ He looks at the moon squinting as if he tried to seriously look for a rabbit or a princess ]

Princess sounds interesting, but I want to know what a rabbit is doing on the moon first. [ For science ]

[minogame]

You should tell me sometime! Since this will make three stories from me now.

( Really! Share a little! But he doesn't seem to mind. On the contrary, he seems to love these stories. So he begins to tell his first story gladly, )

One night, an old man appeared before the fox, monkey, and rabbit and begged them for food. The monkey climbed a tree and brought him some fruit. The fox went to a nearby village and stole food. The rabbit had only grass to give so he asked the hold man to build a fire. After the fire started, he threw himself into the fire for the man to eat.

As soon as he jumped in, the man transformed into the King of the Moon and pulled the rabbit from the fire. He said, "Do not hurt yourself for me, Rabbit. Since you were the most generous to me, I will take you to the moon to live with me."

The King carried the rabbit back in his arms. If you look at the moon, you can see the rabbit living happily.

[futhark]

Sure thing, druids are supposed to be storytellers, I've got few up my sleeve.

[ He sits down more comfortably and falls silent when the story starts- questions can be left for later. He did not expect the plot-twist with rabbit though, so he's eyes open a little wider at the mention of him being so ready to throw himself into the fire. Of course, the intent is rewarded and everything ends on happy note

He hums thoughtfully ]

So a tale that self-sacrifice is going to be rewarded. [ He clicks his tongue ] Don't know about that, but can't deny that rabbit was hardcore.

[ A sentence he never expected to say, wow ]

[minogame]

Even if you have nothing else to give, you always have yourself.

( You could interpret any lesson from these stories. Urashima seems to go for a more metaphorical interpretation than a literal one. )

The next story is about the moon princess. It's a little longer.

( Ready? )

[futhark]

[ That's a nice interpretation too. ]

Don't keep me waiting! [ Learning the stories of this land is a way to understand the Heavens better. And he's been always more of a fan of telling stories than reading them - probably because the lore was forbidden in being written down in his times ]

[minogame]

A long time ago, a bamboo cutter found a glowing stalk of bamboo. He cut it open and discovered a baby the size of his thumb. He took the baby home to his wife and they named her Kaguya.

After that, whenever the bamboo cutter went to cut bamboo, he would discover a gold nugget. As the years passed, the couple grew older as did Kaguya who became a beautiful, normal sized and beautiful woman. She was so beautiful, the couple tried to hide her from the world but news spread.

Five princes came to see her and compared her beauty to five great treasures. Not wanting to marry them, she told them she would marry the prince who could obtain the treasure they compared her to. Realizing the treasures were impossible to achieve, they brought fakes to deceive her. She saw through them and turned them away.

After this, the emperor soon heard of her. He fell in love with her the moment he saw her and asked for her hand. Though she didn't give him an impossible task, she refused and said she could not marry him because she couldn't trust men. Respecting her wishes, he asked if he could still write to her. She agreed and the two became good friends. Soon, she came to love the emperor asked her to marry him again. Uncertain, she asked the moon for advice.

The moon, hearing her prayer, told her the truth about her. Upon learning the secret, she rejected the emperor again, saying they could not be together because she was not from his country, and became inconsolable. Her family worried for her and demanded to know what was wrong. Unable to keep the secret, she explained she was from the moon and had been sent to earth as punishment for breaking a law she could no longer remember. As punishment, she would form earthly attachments that could never last because she would have to return to the moon the next time it was full. Also, the gold the old man had found was a stipend for being burdened by her.

The couple grieved and asked the emperor for help. He sent an army to protect Kaguya. The night of the full moon, celestial warriors appeared and blinded the guards. They approached Kaguya and presented her with the elixir of immortality and celestial robes, both which would erase her memories and compassion for earth. She asked to write letters to her loved ones before she left, confessing her love for her family and the emperor. She drank the elixir of life, becoming immortal again and cried. As she cried, the being draped her in the robes and her sadness and compassion were forgotten. With the celestial guide, she returned to the moon, leaving behind her loved ones who cried for her.

The couple became sick with grief and the emperor refused to marry. He collected all of his letters from her and went to the highest mountain in the land to burn them, hoping his feelings would reach her but she never responded.

( This is the opposite of a happy ending but he seems to like the story all the same. A lot of stories end sadly or vaguely, including his favorite. )

[futhark]

[ Caster can be an attentive listener, comes with being a grandson of a druid. As fun as the hardcore rabbit was he likes this one better. It's not an adventure, it's closer to a romance if anything. He's both disappointed it came to an end and satisfied with its conclusion. Sure, it's not a happy ending, but nonetheless beautiful. ]

You're good, kid. [ He taps his chin thoughtfully, suddenly offering praise ] This was a really good legend, but your storytelling was also pretty spectacular.

[ It's an important skill that can make or break the story ] I guess it will be my turn next time.
[ If there's an occasion ]

[minogame]

( He beams, looking absolutely proud of himself. He's always been a sucker for praise so when he gets it,
he can't help but glow a bit. )

Heh heh, thanks! I'll remember it. You owe me stories next time!

What do you think, though? It's a little sad but it's really good, right? Ah, maybe she can meet the rabbit and he'll teach her how to care again...

( Maybe. He can dream! It would be a nice way to tie the stories together. )

[futhark]

I really liked it! [ You earned all the praise kid, good job. ]

They could be moon-friends forever. She does sound like someone who would need more time to get to know, though. But I'm sure a cute, fluffy bunny with tons of determination will win her over.

[ And here they are, composing moon bunny and princess fix-fic together. What a time to be alive ]

What's your favourite type of stories? I'll prepare something in advance.

[minogame]

( Nodding. He definitely believes the rabbit is up there teaching Kaguya-hime to love again. Ah, but his favorite story? He has to think, )

I like... stories with good people. ( Nodding, ) People who protect the weak. ( Hmm... ) And princesses and treasure too.

( He's easy to please, really. )

[futhark]

Alright... sounds easy enough. [ Most stories he knows are a tad bit murderous, and their definition of "good people" might vary, but aside from that - no problem.

Aside for just one bit ]

Can't guarantee the treasure. That part sounds hard. [ Unless you consider a prized bull people fought over to be a treasure, but then he was there, so that doesn't count as a story to tell. ]

[minogame]

( The stories will be fine. Urashima's a good kid and pretends to be squishy but he's a lot tougher than he looks. Honestly, he's just a bit off at times... )

That's okay. My favorite story doesn't have treasure in it... at least, not a good one. ( A box that turned a young man into an old one after he'd lost everything isn't really treasure. ) Mm! I'm sure it'll be a good story, though so take your time.