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

Wild Moon

[nibelungvalesti]

We do not.

[She asked. And it just so happened a true god had been nearby to answer. The Valkyrie regards the other woman with muted curiosity. She appears to be an elf, which is unusual either in Midgard or here... Does she know nothing of the gods, prior to her coming here?]

[sageprincess]

... I see.

[She might have been shocked, in another world, to get such a swift and concise answer. But not here. Here, she continues to wonder, instead.]

Is it because there are no higher powers to pray to, or do you possess no desires that cannot be fulfilled by yourselves?

[nibelungvalesti]

It is the former. We gods have many desires that we cannot readily fulfill. Many we can accomplish with effort and devotion... as humans can accomplish much of what they seek to obtain from the gods.

[This is one reason the prayers of the Far Shore do not sit well with her at times. Humans are quick to beg for what they could grant themselves...]

[sageprincess]

[She hums thoughtfully-- a half agreement. As one so entangled in the grand designs of destiny, she has a hard time understanding the desire for divine interference in the simple and everyday.]

... And what of the desires you cannot fulfill? What do you do about them?

[nibelungvalesti]

I cannot speak for myself, but... Thor consoles himself with mead.

A great deal of mead.

[sageprincess]

[That earns a huff that could almost be considered a laugh.]

That is not an answer I was expecting. [She turns her head to look at Lenneth.] May I ask what keeps you from speaking for yourself, your grace?

[nibelungvalesti]

There is nothing I can do to face the problems I can overcome but wait. My purpose is straightforward and my duty is clear. I am to Choose the Slain, train my Einherjar, and send them to Valhalla. I cannot do the latter, so I wait until such time as I can.

[The Valkyrie, after a moment, folds her arms and lowers her head slightly -- the only acknowledgment she gives of her profound internal frustration.]

And perform such duties as the Far Shore requires.

[sageprincess]

[She does not know what Einherjar are, or what Valhalla is, but Zelda is very, very familiar with waiting.]

It is frustrating, is it not? To not be able to fulfill your duty. [It's not really a question; she knows it is, even if the goddess isn't allowing herself to show it outright.] I am no goddess, but I am a princess, and the Heavens took me from my people in a time of great turmoil and strife. I wish for nothing more than to return to them, but it seems that power is beyond me. For now, anyway.

[She returns her gaze to the moon.]

I wonder... if the gods of my world would even be able to hear my prayer from here, if I were to make them.

[nibelungvalesti]

Perhaps they would not. Perhaps they would and would not care. [Certainly she cannot remember the last time the pleadings of mortals meant one whit of interest to any of the Aesir.]

Nonetheless, you ought to try. You lose nothing but time if they are heedless. [Practicality is a hallmark of the Valkyrie, who spends little time worrying and as much time as possible doing what she ought.]

[sageprincess]

[Zelda smiles, ruefully.]

You are right, of course, but perhaps it is simply the nature of mortals to desire a degree of certainty. Our time is limited, after all; we do not like to waste it.

[nibelungvalesti]

You have certainty. You are certain that you will receive no response if you do not pray.

[Mortal minds... honestly. She does not understand them.]

[sageprincess]

[She chuckles a bit, softly and under her breath. Fair enough.]

Do all the gods view the world in such a straightforward way?

[nibelungvalesti]

Most gods of Asgard have nothing to do with the Midgard and its dwellers.

[That is not what Zelda particularly wants to hear when questioning if the gods of her world can aid her, but it is nonetheless the truth.]