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

[boneofsword]

It's enchanted.

[Archer informs him calmly from up above.]

Most likely a spell to make you lose all sense of direction. A neat trick.

[minogame]

( His expression drops immediately. )

A spell?! ( He's so offended right now, ) That's not fair either!

( What is with this maze and why can't it just play by fair rules? )

So there's no way to win?!

[boneofsword]

[Archer jumps down to land next to him.]

No, it's simply meant to make the maze harder to get through. I suppose it's a mischievous goddess. Who knows, maybe even Kaguya-hime herself.

[he doesn't sound too worried though.]

[minogame]

( Oh, no. He hadn't considered that at all and he looks up at Archer, absolutely awestruck, )

Do you think it's Kaguya-hime? ( He sounds particularly interested by this, ) ... Is it her ribbon?!

[boneofsword]

[Well, just look at that. Archer would never guess that his suggestion will be met with starry eyes.]

Who knows? After all, we're in Heavens right now.

[minogame]

( He's pleasantly surprised. He's aware they're in Heaven and that they could meet the people from legends-- Orihime and Amaterasu herself, even! But the idea that this could be Princess Kaguya's lost ribbon excites him, )

Then let's go! ( He's ready! ) Maybe we can meet her if we win!

[boneofsword]

[Someone definitely looks happy. Archer just grins.]

Lead the way.

[minogame]

( He's already dashing ahead up until they get to a split. He stops and looks up at the sky. Since they can't get anywhere by looking over the hedges, maybe the trick is in the sky...? )

What if... we followed the moon?

( Ah, that doesn't really help here but he takes a step towards the path on the right, )

This one.

( He sounds certain for someone who has no idea where they're going. )

[boneofsword]

[Archer follows at a slower pace. He's not in a hurry and he can keep up with Urashima with no problem.]

Sure.

[While he's quite sure the maze isn't dangerous and just meant to be irritating Archer prefers to keep an eye on the sword spirit.]

[minogame]

( If it's only meant to be irritating, there won't be a problem for Urashima. He's a laidback spirit and used to taking things at whatever pace. As he leads the way, it might look like he's just charging ahead but whenever they come to a split, he stops and seems to really think about where to go. At this particular spot, he stops to bury his heel into the ground, leaving a small mark, )

Let's try this... It's really confusing so maybe if we leave clues...

( Unless the maze tries to erase them. )

[boneofsword]

[Archer thinks it's a good idea and tries to tie some of the grass blades on the corner into a knot. Its edges are sharp and he has to be careful, but he manages.]

That should work.

[minogame]

( He nods! It should work and he dashes ahead. He'll slow down to let Archer catch up with him and also to mark another spot, )

Hey, hey, what do you think the prize is?

[boneofsword]

[Archer can keep up with him easily, he's tall and fast.]

Who knows, with how capricious the gods are? It can be anything - a favour granted, some kind of blessing, or even a mochi.

[he's only half serious, not being aware how close to truth his guess is.]

[minogame]

Well~ Hopefully it isn't a treasure box. That could be really scary...

( With a name like Urashima, it's probably easy to figure out why he'd be wary of mysterious treasure boxes if Archer is familiar with Japanese folklore. )

A mochi might be nice, though. Hopefully it's more than one.

[boneofsword]

I'd keep away from treasure boxes if I were you.

[Archer is way too familiar with Japanese folklore and legends, so he gets that.]

[minogame]

( He nods. He can definitely stay away from treasure boxes but he mutters, )

I wouldn't mind if it was, though... ( Because he's a curious spirit. He stops in front of a fork in the path and glances around... ah, right there. A mark in the grass. ) Let's try this way, then.

( The path they didn't take. )

Hey, do you think there are other people in this maze?

[boneofsword]

I'm sure we're not the only ones here.

[Good, looks like the marks they made don't vanish, Archer was worried the maze itself could erase it. Looks like it's bespelled merely to confuse anyone taking the challenge.]

[minogame]

It must be really big if we haven't seen anyone else yet... you're the first person I've seen in awhile.

[boneofsword]

Perhaps, or the enchantment is preventing us from meeting too many.