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.

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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!

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[ There are a few things other than photos—for example, this letter. Next to that singular letter is an entire round of their correspondence, placed in a way that Ellis can flip through it like a little book so that it doesn't take up too much space on the wall. There's a similar little letter book next to it too. Following that is a photo of flowers on his farm, with the title "flower dance". Unfortunately, he didn't think to take pictures of the dance, so this is the best he can do with that.

Next to that is a whole set of photos. There's a picture of the tavern in the center, the text right underneath it saying "weekend getaway". Several photos fan out over top of it—the clearing overlooking the town that they ate at, a spread of the food Gaku made that day, the exact spot of the beach they went to, and a photo of the fruit they ate next to a deck of cards set up in the formation of the game they played.

Then, there's a photo of the entire spread Gaku made for the four course dinner he served to Ellis. It's titled "dinner date". Next is a picture of a beach ball, simply titled, "you threw this at my face". Gaku also managed to get a picture of a maid outfit similar to the one Ellis found himself stuck in one day. This title is slightly longer—"the day you decided to wish for your existence". There's another photo of a slip-n-slide, simply titled "party". He decided not to expand on his description of that one.

Next is a photo of Ellis' kitchen, titled "where you agreed to be my boyfriend". For the photo after that, Gaku did a little bit of lighting work—in other words, he took a picture of Ellis' living room with the lights out. The light shining in from the windows at least provides enough lighting in the photo so that vague details of the living room are visible. This one is titled "hurricane".

There's one of the Goddess' coins for the auction (that Gaku took from Ellis' stash) taped to a photo of the beach where the Arco Lunar was docked. That one is titled "auction date". As the ship is gone, he doesn't need to include anything else—not like Ellis wouldn't remember all of it well anyway. He does have a small collection of photos of the Dulces Sueños Resort, however—the center photo is the room they rented, entitled with the resort's name, and is surrounded by photos of the restaurant, empty open baths, and some of the greenery around the resort.

There are only a few more photos left, one of them of the karaoke machine, titled "karoke party", and another of the first aid kit in Ellis' bathroom. Underneath the photos are the words "when I told you I loved you".

The last photo is of this entire setup in Ellis' home, and there is only one word on the white space under the photo—"proposal". ]

Edited 2023-03-04 20:04 (UTC)

[ Ellis looks at each photo, thinking back on his memory. He can't believe Gaku kept those letters too and that definitely is not his maid outfit. Ellis wonders how long it took Gaku to find one and he wouldn't have minded if he took a picture of the one he has in his closet, though it's long been modified now so he supposes that would have defeated the purpose. Now that he thinks about it, most of these photos wouldn't mean anything to anyone else, but Gaku and Ellis would understand the meaning of it right away. This is what it means to have things personalized for you, he finds. It warms his heart, but he doesn't get to linger on it for so long as Fluffy nudges him to the door that's slightly ajar. What surprise will be waiting for him here despite the last photo— ]

[ He'll find Gaku on one knee, one of the Goddess' pure white feathers in his hand. The usual air of confidence Gaku gives off is still there, but none of that is really reflected on his face. What's there instead as he looks up at Ellis is pure adoration. ]

Hey. You probably know what this is by now, huh?

[ It's extremely obvious now. ]

Collecting all those memories reminded me of how much we've gone through together in just a few months. I think we've both come out of all of this better, and I know for a fact that you've made me a better man. I think you'll continue pushing me to be better, too, which is why this isn't as scary or hard as I thought it would be when I first got here. This is still a big step, and probably one of the biggest things I've ever done.

All of it feels easy, though, because I love you.

[ He smiles softly. ]

Ellis, will you marry me?

[ Looking at Gaku down on his knee, Ellis's mind blanks out for a second but it comes back in time to hear Gaku's small speech. His first thought is to reject that he's done such good things for him, but he suppresses them. Though when Gaku says that it all feels easy despite everything, Ellis returns the smile and nods, holding his hand out to Gaku. ]

[ The feather transforms into two silver rings that settle into Gaku's palm, and he uses his other hand to help himself up as he takes hold of Ellis'. ]

I guess I put this on you now?

[ He'll go ahead and slide it on Ellis' left ring finger, fumbling just a little bit. Now that the moment is over, the nerves he should have felt before suddenly hit him. ]

[ The silver ring on his ring finger feels nicer than expected. He looks over at the ring, then at Gaku and wraps his arms around him to give him a big hug. ]

[ He slips his own ring ons his finger behind Ellis’ back before hugging him in full. This feels surreal, honestly, but having Ellis in his arms at least makes him feel grounded in reality.

Gaku holds him tight, burying his face in Ellis’ neck. ]

[ Ellis nuzzles the side of Gaku's head a little while gently rubbing his back with a hand. Gaku did it, and Ellis feels a little proud of him for pulling this off. Not only was it truly sentimental in a way that reached Ellis, but it was truly, a one-of-a-kind sort of proposal that Ellis actually really liked. He's very fond of Gaku.

The ring feels cool on his finger, but it'll warm up from his body heat soon enough. ]

[ Gaku pulls away just enough that he can smile at Ellis. ]

I knew you would say yes, but I think I was actually pretty nervous.

[ He laughs. ]

[ Ellis nods. ]

"I know how much this means to you. It was wonderful. Thank you."

[ So he leans in to give him a small kiss on the nose. ]

[ Oh... that little kiss means just about everything to Gaku. He smiles shyly. ]

I'm glad you liked it. I wanted it to be something you would enjoy too, even though all of this means a lot more to me.

"The pictures you stuck on the wall were really cute."

[ Ellis rests his forehead on Gaku's while smiling. ]

"I enjoyed them a lot. The whole process too. Can't believe you trained Fluffy for this."

[ Gaku sneaks a kiss to Ellis' cheek before pulling away. ]

It took a few days, actually. And a lot of treats.

[ Fluffy is trying to look innocent. How can you blame this beautiful fluffy, face? Ellis glances at his dog... you stinker, eating all that food!! Ellis sighs, but smiles a little anyway. ]

"I bet he really liked that."

Of course he did! That's why he's so obedient now.

[ Gaku settles a hand on Ellis' hip. His own smile mirroring Ellis'. ]

I love you.

[ Unfortunately for Ellis, now that Gaku has realized how he feels, he's going to say it whenever he strongly feels it. ]

[ Ellis freezes up a little, but gradually relaxes. It's fine. It'll be fine. It won't be like that again. It's cool. Play it off. Ellis just smiles as if to say "thanks". This is literally that "what is your reaction to 'i love you'" meme. ]

"Maybe I will too, one day."

[ HELP

Gaku laughs softly, shaking his head as he smiles. ]

I know you will. But don't sweat it if it takes a while. I knew what I was getting into by asking you to be with me.

[ And a maybe with Ellis is much better than an absolute no. ]

[ Ellis nods. He's glad that Gaku understands, otherwise this relationship wouldn't have worked at all. He glances down at their rings. ]

"When we go to your world, do we have to take off our rings?"

[ Ellis would understand, and if he had to refashion it some way like into a necklace, he'd do that too. He knows that it would be harder for Gaku though. ]

I think it's okay if you continue to wear yours.

[ Honestly, he'd like for Ellis to, but Gaku won't tell him what to do. ]

I plan on wearing mine whenever I'm home. It's the least I could do.

"That makes it so suspicious. Why not wear it on another finger?"

[ He feels like one of them will get caught, and more of himself than Gaku, really. ]

…I can try, but people will notice that our rings match.

[ Unfortunately, even if Ellis wears it on a different finger too. ]

We can ask my manager what to do. She’s good at this kind of thing.

[ Ellis looks at Gaku and then nods. If the manager has a better idea, then that's fine. In the meantime, he'll keep this on his finger. ]

"It shouldn't matter if I decide to shower or sleep with it on, right? I don't know much about ring quality."

[ Hmmm... what does he know about ring care? ]

You should remove it before showering so that there's no buildup of the soap you use, and you could bend it in your sleep if you get caught in a funny position.

[ ??? ]

"What kind of sleeping position would bend a ring?"

[ Please tell him, Gaku. ]

[ UH. ]

I don’t know! Sleeping on your stomach? If I roll on you in my sleep? There are a lot of possibilities.

(no subject)

framestory - 2023-03-16 01:21 (UTC) - Expand

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