crescentview | mar event.

mar event.

a quaint winter wonderland

What few leaves remain on Crescentview’s trees have fallen away to return to the soil beneath a blanket of powdery white snow. Winter has arrived and with it comes sweater weather and the occasional snowstorm. Stock up on fire wood to keep your fireplace roaring all winter long and settle in for colder days to come!

While Fall is the season of many festivals on Crescentview Isle, winter is a much quieter time. There is, however, the matter of one very important ceremony: the Sacred Unity ceremony.

What is this ceremony, you ask? If your character is looking to get engaged, married or otherwise promise to share a future together with their partner (or partners!), participating in the Sacred Unity is the only way to have your partnership recognized in the eyes of the townsfolk and the Goddess herself. With winter comes the opportunity to have your bond recognized and richly blessed by the Goddess, but perhaps more importantly, it's an opportunity to throw a grand party and celebrate with everyone you've come to love and care for on the island.

Very few crops can withstand winter's unrelenting chill and consistent snowfall. This is the season to clear out your field and turn the soil in preparation for the upcoming spring.

the sacred unity checklist

The Sacred Unity is, well, sacred! As such, there are customs that must be honored in order to hold a ceremony of your own. Luckily for you, the steps have been neatly outlined by the townsfolk and pinned to the task board for your consideration.

1. Pray to the Goddess to honor your union. You will be granted a pure white feather with which to propose to your partner (or partners) which will then take the form of silver rings.

2. After a successful engagement, partners will be mailed an application to fill and submit by Winter 10th (March 10th OOCly). Through this application, characters and their partner(s) will be able to specify various details of their engagement or marriage party.

3. After submitting your application, you will receive a bundle of invitations to invite your friends and neighbors to your ceremony.

After characters are prepared to go forward with their Sacred Union, players will be assigned an IC day for their ceremony to take place during the final two weeks of winter. OOCly, you may set up your Sacred Union toplevel, log, etc. any time during event 4.5., but please do not set up your posts in advance of our final event.

Submit your applications here.

task board

The task board is located in Town Square and changes from season to season. In real time, a season is one month long. The following tasks are available from March 1st to March 31st and more tasks may be added mid-month.

Certain rewards are only available through event participation, so please keep this in mind when planning your threads. Multiple tasks may be completed within a single thread, but when turning in, please link to the individual tags in which each task was completed.

Finally, rewards are per character, not per farm, so those with housemates may want to coordinate with one another with regard to what animals you’re bringing home to your farm.

---

This month’s task board reflects the rewards you’ll receive for completing the Sacred Unity checklist along with a few more additions. The Sacred Unities themselves will also have their own unique set of tasks to complete, the details of which will be included in event 4.5.

In addition, many farmers are ahead of curb and may have already proposed to their chosen partner(s), so for this event, several of these tasks may be completed retroactively. Just link us the relevant threads or, if need be, provide us a summary.

1. Receive the Goddess’ blessing. Approach her pond with an offering and express your intent to marry or engage. Reward: one pure white feather. This task may be completed retroactively.

2. Formally propose to your partner(s) and present them with the Goddess' feather. Reward: one fairy priest and one fairy ringbearer. This task may be completed retroactively.

3. Submit your Sacred Unity application. Reward: bundle of Sacred Unity invitations.

4. Share news of your engagement with your friends and neighbors. Take the opportunity to hand out those invitations! Reward: a traveling tailor’s coupon for each ceremony attendee invited.

5. Try on your Sacred Unity attire and show it off to your ceremony attendees and friends. Alternatively, present your attendees with their special attire if your Sacred Unity has a dress code. Reward: one gaggle of musical fairies who can be instructed to perform live orchestral arrangements of your favorite tunes during your Sacred Unity.

6. Decide with your partner(s) whether you’ll stay or remain on the island after getting hitched. Reward: those staying will have their homes and farms fully upgraded. Those leaving will be granted a return ticket to return to their previous homes or to that of their partner.

7. Prepare for winter. Chop down wood, clear your farmland, prepare hearty stews! Help out your friends and neighbors by getting ready for colder days to come. Reward: three magical heated blankets that make you feel safe, comfortable, and more honest than usual. Gift one to someone who needs a little help opening up!

8. Build a snowperson. With winter comes snowfall! Grab a few friends and head up to the mountains to build some snowfolks, but don't be surprised if they come to life! Crescentview's soil is humming with magical energy and any snowfolk made with this magic-dense snow will spring to life with a serious attitude problem. Reward: one box of the Goddess' special Lovey Dovey hot chocolate. Consuming even a sip of this hot chocolate will compell you to snuggle up with someone nearby.

finely tailored and freshly prepared

Every winter, a tailor from the mainland arrives on the island to take custom dress and suit orders from islanders looking to engage or marry their sweethearts. This tailor is highly skilled and specializes in crafting attire for Sacred Unions, weddings, and other formal events. Whether you’re looking to have a very specific style of garb made or want to leave your fate in the tailor’s hands, you’re guaranteed to leave with Sacred Unity attire you'll love.

In addition to the tailor is a world-renowned chef that ventures to the island every winter to cater meals for those participating in the Sacred Union. Bring him your own recipes or request that he craft you a feast fit for a king. Either way, with his catering prowess on your side, every guest will be leaving full and satisfied.

local happenings

The Crescentview Times newspaper has chronicled the latest happenings around the island. A physical copy of the paper will arrive on your doorstep early in the morning on Winter 1st.

What pirates remain alive have scurried back off to their ship and departed the island. On the way out, they scream and shout, vowing to return to reclaim what is rightfully theirs... whatever that means.

The end of the year is swiftly approaching! Every year, a massive new year's celebration is thrown in town square. The resident farmers have all been invited to attend and participate in the local favorite: king's game. Leave your shame at the door!

mod notes

⬥ Welcome to winter and the final month of Crescentview! Thank you all for engaging with our little project and making Crescentview the warm, friendly, and active game that it is. We hope that you enjoy plotting out your endgame plans!
⬥ Our final event will go live on March 15th.
⬥ Please plot over at the Event 4.0 Plotting Post.
⬥ As a reminder, please keep all plotting on the OOC post as not everyone uses Discord or Plurk.
⬥ Please submit your completed tasks at the top-level below.
⬥ Have fun!

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Breathing wasn't even something that Lovecraft had to do before all of this. Becoming keenly aware of a need for air when he descended below the waves was alarming, to say the least. It was as if the place he called home had quite literally rejected him. He didn't know what to make of it at the time, but he knew that he didn't want to experience the burning sensation in his lungs anymore, so he forced himself back onto land for the time being.

When Steinbeck mentions Abilities being taken, Lovecraft's form shifts in the dark as he holds a hand to his chest. While his tone doesn't rise, it's now tinged by anxiety.]

Abilities? But...

[That's not an Ability. That's just how he is. What power managed to alter him on such a level?]

Can we get them back? I don't...want this. I don't like this.

[To a regular person, feeling worried over something as eldritch as Lovecraft might be foolish. To Steinbeck, it comes naturally. Lovecraft might be a whole bunch of tentacles in a human suit, but he's never seen him as more than something simple, indeed: his friend. And to hear that waver in his voice makes his own expression melt into something sincerely concerned.]

[He reaches out to gently press his fingers over the other's shoulder, as if to anchor him.]

I don't like it that much, either. [He had expressed it to Ori, before, though. That conflicted feeling of losing something that had been such a large part of who he was, gone in an instant. His situation is different from Lovecraft, of course. Losing the ability to breathe underwater...that would be like losing the keys to one's home for good.] I haven't gotten back mine, yet. I guess you could...ask the goddess. Since she's sort of the one behind this whole mess.

[That shoulder sags under Steinbeck's touch. Either Lovecraft feels comforted by the gesture or he's simply succumbing to resignation.]

The goddess. [He repeats, wary. So she is who he has to blame for this string of inconveniences.] I don't recall forming a contract with any goddess.

[What would a goddess even be like? He's been referred to as a god before. Surely her existence isn't similar to his, is it? He's never met another...

Well. Whatever.]

I'm not excited by the idea, but...I'll do what I have to. We can get your Ability back too.

[He speaks as though it will happen. Lovecraft is used to forcing his way through obstacles- it's what he tends to be contracted for. Surely it will be no different with this goddess.]

[He would hope that he didn't form a contract with the goddess. He would hope he didn't form a contract with anyone, honestly. Lovecraft should be taking a good nap, not be forced to play farm with a bunch of people here.]

Don't get overeager, now. [Classic Lovecraft, the brawn to his brains. He offers a little pat to the shoulder, now.] We don't know how many abilities were taken from you. You could be flattened like a pancake.

[Not to say he wouldn't survive that, somehow.]

Honestly, the best way to get things back would be to get out of this place and go home. So working on that is best, I think.

[Though with what he was told was specifically the thing to let them be able to go home is....uh. Uh. Maybe he shouldn't say that to Lovecraft yet.]

She woke me up and kicked me out of my home.

[Lovecraft grumbles in defense. He thinks he's pretty well within his rights to take care of this injustice right away!

But he also can't argue with Steinbeck's good point. He does feel weirdly...human, and he doesn't care for it. What if he's just as squishy and defenseless as a regular mortal now?

So after a moment of contemplation...]

...this is so unfair.

[A childish conclusion, perhaps, but no less true.]

So...how do we leave, then?

I know, I know.

[Poor, poor Lovecraft. Even if the expression is childish, he really has to agree. It IS unfair. Everything is unfair. Even if the farming is nice and the people are okay!]

[The question makes him pause, though, gaze sliding off the man and shifting away.]

Uh. Well. [How does he...put this. He doesn't want to lie to him, but...] You...may not like it. So perhaps there's another way...

I didn't expect to like it...

[But Steinbeck knows him better than anyone else, so that apprehension puts him a little on edge.

He tips his head slightly and repeats:]

How do we leave?

...

[Haha. Um. Dodging that look hahaha don't look at him.]

It's...like...a contract thing? Sort of.

...

[Right back at you, Steinbeck.]

Of course it's a contract... It's always a contract.

[At least it's not just him?

...eh, that's not much of a consolation.]

What is she forcing us into?

Suuuuure is.

[Sure is a contract! He clears his throat, glancing back at Lovecraft. God, why is he embarrassed over this? Not like the guy is going to run to the altar with someone the second he hears it.]

......Marriage. She wants people who she brings here to get married.

Edited (i need to add periods sometimes) 2023-03-03 22:31 (UTC)

[manblinking.gif]

[Flatly:]

I need to...marry...to go home.

[This is such a human construct, why does a goddess care so much--]

[Whatever. He's not going to waste potential sleeping time pondering over this.]

Mmngh. That is an awfully long contract to commit to.

Yep.

[He pops the "p" on that one.]

But that's the deal. So far, no other options...it's a whole headache. At least we got a farm. No work, either.

My head is aching already.

[But it's hard to tell if that headache is coming from frustration or his weakened body being subjected to being wet in these conditions. Oh well, that's probably whatever.

His head noticeably perks up at the mention of a farm and no work.]

Oh, a farm... You like farming.

[Lovecraft imagines it's not the same as the stories Steinbeck has told him about his family's farm, but it's something familiar at least.]

[Poor guy. He of all people doesn't deserve this.]

I sure do. I've been here for a while. It's not a lot, but what I have is nice.

[Now his hand moves to tug at the other's sleeve.]

Let's get you over there. It's nice and warm, and I think I have some apple pie left over you're going to enjoy.

[Oh, nice and warm sounds good...

Wait.

Did Steinbeck say-]

Apple pie...

[Gone are his concerns over his situation. He has Steinbeck. He has potential pie. He can tolerate being awake for the time being.

Steinbeck now has one (1) Cthulhu dutifully following alongside him.]

[Who need nuclear weapons and powerful armies to bring down one (1) eldritch horror when you have a farmer boy with some pie?]

Haha, I knew you'd be hungry.

[Classic Lovecraft. Now that the surprise of the situation has worn off, he feels happy - sucks that the man isn't getting his rest, but its nice to see him. He thought he'd never see him for a good long while if ever.]

[He moves along back to the direction of the farm.]

Did you at least get some nice sleep while you could?

[Really! It's that simple!]

Mm. I'm starving.

[When isn't he? It feels particularly gnawing right now, though... Probably a mixture of waking up from a long sleep and being more human than he'd like to be.

When asked about his sleep, he has to think about it. It's hard for him to tell just how long he's been asleep. But if Steinbeck is still around and doesn't look any older, it can't have been for very long. Not even long enough to be considered a power nap for a being like Lovecraft.

So he ends up shaking his head.]

I was sore when I went to sleep...but now I just feel exhausted. It's never enough.

[...]

What did you end up doing after Fitzgerald was defeated?

[He never even asked what Steinbeck's plans were before leaving, now that he thinks about it.]

I see.

[Not surprising. The man looks like he could still be exhausted even after a year of sleeping. He lets out a hum, before giving a shrug at the question, though his expression is a little distant.]

It might surprise you, but...I stuck around. Gathered what was left of the Guild. [....] And...Fitzgerald survive, you know.

[He falls into silence, something dark overshadowing his eyes.]

So that's a whole thing.

[After he sensed that the contract had been fulfilled, Lovecraft could not care less whether Fitzgerald lived or not in the end. It wasn't his problem anymore.

But hearing that Steinbeck actually kept the Guild's remnants going...now that is worth raising his eyebrows over.]

Why did you stay?

[Steinbeck always seemed eager to be done with the Guild once he'd gotten what he needed out of it. So why bother?]

...

[Another shrug.]

Felt like I had to clean up a mess. [But its not like he had to. And yet....] Fitzgerald and I...aren't so different, you know. Not in the way that he controlled people, but more like...we both used money for the sake of our family. So...I dunno.

[It's a vague answer, but perhaps the word he's looking for is "penance".]

[While Lovecraft doesn't completely understand this moral dilemma, it's hard to miss the shift in the air. This is something that troubles Steinbeck.

Lovecraft shrugs right back.]

The way he used his money and his failings are not your burden to bear.

[Not in his opinion, anyway.]

Yeah, I know.

[And yet, here he is, carrying on the load. He knows its idiotic. And yet...]

Anyways, that's all waiting for me when I get out of here. They must be antsy without their leader.

[Steinbeck knows it's not his problem, but he's making it his problem anyway. It's not an unfamiliar thing for humans to do, and from what Lovecraft understands, it could be considered a good quality.

Hm. Well, he's not going to force the issue if this is what Steinbeck has chosen.]

I see. [...] If they were under you for even a short while, then they probably know how to manage while you're away.

[Steinbeck is a good survivalist, after all.]

cw drowning mention

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/3

2/3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject