Mini-Event: Skywhale + Day of Lefkokó

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The Skywhale & Day of Lefkokó
🜙 The Skywhale
	After fierce retaliation and an increase in city-wide defensive power and measures, it seems as if the orc attacks have, at least for the moment, begun to subside. Along with the lessened threat of orc ambushes, the first storms of winter have died down to a gentle and occasional snow flurry, leaving the world peacefully blanketed in powder snow and a calm stillness. The City of the Free Peoples take this time to celebrate the final repairs of the airship, the Skywhale. With sail balloon once more filled and the engines working hard to keep the air within it warm, easier and safer travel is once more available. The Skywhale leaves once a day in the early morning to head for Didymos, and today is its maiden voyage since the repairs. Thalassa has changed greatly in the last century, blossoming into a massive port and military city, with resources and opportunities unavailable in the more eclectic Cty of the Free Peoples. Restless legs may find their chance to stretch to a new experience. Sail the skies aboard the Skywhale and see Thalassa's grand transformation to Didymos for yourself. Catch the voyage back before nightfall, or remain in Didymos until the ship's return the following day. There is plenty to see and do in the city by the sea. You can even see Logistykon's reef from aboard the Skywhale's deck as it swings around to dock. It is a grim but beautiful sight in the clear blue waters. While the threat of fire and orc ambush has diminished greatly, the City of the Free Peoples is filled with a sense of unease and discomfort as repairs on the city and attempts to put lives back together continue. Murmurs of discontent slip through the city streets, along with rumors that this is all Lykos' fault or accusations that the Captain might be hiding something. For every murmur of distrust, however, there are counters of the heroics and quick action that helped keep the city strong and beat the orcs back. There has still been no word from Krimnos or the airship, Valiant, that usually hails from the cliff city daily. Messengers have not made their wing from the city and those sent to the cliffs have not returned. It's not unusual for this time of year, but the absence is felt keenly by traveling merchants who need to get their wares to or from the city. A journey by horse or on foot would be risky, but the potential rewards for escorting a company up to the cliffs could prove significant.
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🜙 Day of Lefkokó
	No matter what city you find yourself in, the dawn of the 17th sees a change in mood and atmosphere across Idan. Snow has stopped falling and the sky is a bright, clear blue. The weather warms enough to cause water to drip softly from the icicles hanging off every awning and outcrop. Decorations of magical or crafted snowflake art and blue ice flames line city streets and building windows, and jovial merriment spills out into the streets. A sweet wine made from frostberries, warm honey-mead, and spiced apple drinks are offered in taverns, inns, and small shops or homes, a free offering to be had with sweet or spiced cheeses and spiced or candied nuts and fruits. It's a celebration that is far from unfamiliar, one that has been celebrated for centuries across Idan's towns and cities, though the methods and particulars of the celebration have always varied from place to place and people to people. December is the month of the White Raven, and in particular, this day is a day to honor him. Lefkokó, the deity of dance, freedom, madness, and cunning sits at the head of the cause of these festivities and his domains are the focus of the celebrations. Today is a day of dance, drinking, and games of skill and chance. A day to test your bluffing skills, show off, and take deep joy and pride in the liberties and opportunities available to all. Few work on this day, beyond the essentials, and everyone who is able to takes part in this moment of freedom and relaxed expectations or responsibilities. The cities are alive with music and dancing, and the taverns are a swirl of chaos amidst high stake games of cunning and chance. Clever minds clash over riddles, old and new, and as the day progresses a lack of sobriety becomes increasingly evident in the streets and establishments alike. As the sun reaches the highest point in the sky and the shadows dwindle to near nothingness, the aviaries of all three cities release the newest flock of rare juvenile snow ravens to their freedom, letting them take wing to the skies for their first ever flights. The flocks of snow ravens, the most coveted of magic familiars, fly off to the wildlands after practicing their acrobatic feats and visiting various areas of the city in search of food to give them energy for the journey ahead. Once they take their leave of the city, many begin to seek out hidden trinkets, magical herbs, and small, rare items across Idan with a precise and dedicated focus. Those who honor Lefkokó by celebrating in his name may be visited by his rare and clever emissaries later in the month with an offering of thanks from Lefkokó himself.
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🜙 A Warning.
	By the 18th the orc camp has been abandoned, the animals freed and the orcs, whatever was left of them, appear to have fled. Retreat is unusual, even more so for them to cut their creatures loose and flee without triumph or trophy, but this is something different. Many of the weapons, trinkets, and armors coveted by the warring orcs have been left behind, and the fires trampled and stamped out with apparent urgency. Tracks lead to the south a few miles and then vanish into snow in the direction of Lake Atéleio. It and the land south and west of it are consumed in a blizzard blown over from the sea, and tracking beyond that point becomes nearly impossible, though by this point it is assumed the Orcs have retreated to Spear Valley. Whether or not they will return is unclear. Those in the City of the Free Peoples on the 18th will receive another message, this one from a less mysterious source, addressing the coming dangers. Though the attacks have set preparations back a few weeks I would like to quell any worries. The Long Night approaches, but you are a city of strong, brave folk. The threats on the horizon will not be the end of this city any more than these raucous attacks have been. Supplies can be claimed from the defender's camp for any struggling to make the necessary preparations. Those who have lost their homes will be provided shelter and supplies. When the Long Night comes, keep your children indoors, your fires stoked, and your buildings shuttered. There is nothing to fear. Your defenders will keep you safe. -Captain Lykos Several hours later a second and then a third message is received across all kingdoms. It comes only to the couriers of the awakened. The first comes as an audio message: A dull scraping sound followed by the click and whine of metal dragging across stone and the dripping of thick, viscous liquid somewhere distant. It ends abruptly and a simple thought message, short and uncomfortable, follows it. silarclupes irom otnemem The message has no signature.

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Comments

shura | ota

[exaomori]

skywhale

The troublesome atmosphere brewing in the City of the Free Peoples is excuses enough to take a trip on the repaired Skywhale. If nothing else, it was a new experience, and honestly, it might have stood out if she never traveled by air before. It's stunning, the view of the world from so far up. And cold. It doesn't take more than a second for Shura to think about how Rin and Yukio would do on a voyage like this.

She doesn't want to think about them. Someone standing close by might notice the way her expression changes, her brow furrowing and her lips pressing together for just the briefest second. This isn't the kind of thing she handles well, so she'll overcompensate with a joke.

"Heheh, I wonder how many bad poems people have made about this view~?"

Lefkokó

a) Shura could care less about Lefkokó, but she'll readily take the chance to play around and drink more than she should. Cards, dice, anything to distract her. Dancing gets her heart rate up and gets her laughing, so she'll be quite happy to drag someone out of the crowd to dance with her. It doesn't matter if said someone might seem less than enthused about the prospect of dancing with her, she'll be tugging at them anyway. "C'mon, c'mon! Don't be shy~"

b) Later, there's the release of the snow ravens. It's a neat sight and all, but what's more fun is teasing some poor raven who spotted her food and decided to see if she'd give in to his croaking demands for a sausage. At first, Shura seemed to give in to his demands, but just as hes about to get his sweet sausage, she yanks it back out of his reach. And then she does it again. The raven is clearly getting annoyed with this game, and he lets out a squawk.

"What a funny face, nyeheh." Was it bad form to tease these guys? Probably, but Shura's tipsy and this is fun.

lefkoko, a

[kingsroads]

Strange is trying to get in the festivities. But honestly, he needs a liiiittle more alcohol that he thinks. He's about halfway through his second drink, looking around, trying to decide what to do next when Shura reaches over, grabs his hand, and starts tugging him towards the dancing area.

"Give me a moment! Let me finish this!" And then, with the ease of someone who's gotten used to knocking back very disgusting beverages, Strange just starts to chug his drink.

He'll happily dance, but he owns like four shirts! He doesn't want to spill booze on this one!

[exaomori]

"My kind of guy~" Shura teases, having known him a whole two seconds. But finishing his drink is very important, Shura can give him a few seconds to chug that booze down. Besides, if he spilled his drink on her, she'll have to find somewhere to go and clean up since she barely has anything on, and that would just be a pain. But as soon as he's downed his drink, Shura will pull him out to join the rest of the dancers.

The music is fast and lively. Shura recognizes the beat as an old one, but the steps aren't familiar. It was only natural that the trendy and popular dances would change over the last hundred years, after all. But Shura has the confidence of a drunk party girl. She saw this dance a bit ago, it couldn't that hard, surely. Besides, they aren't the only drunks in the crowd trying to get this polka-type thing right. Quick, quick, slow! And a lot of spinning.

"It's so lively~" Which is as it should be.

[kingsroads]

He happily lets himself get yanked over by Shura. Surprising no one, Strange doesn't know this dance either. But the music is just as infectious as Shura's good mood and Strange has enough confidence in his dancing ability to hopefully catch up with what everyone's doing. Maybe. He hopes. Even if he doesn't, he just chugged a drink: he'll stop caring sooner or later.

"Well then! Since you're the one who dragged me into this, you get to lead the dance." No pressure, Shura. "How do we start?"

[exaomori]

"Oho~, you better be ready to keep up!" How is she not supposed to take that as a challenge? She'll take the lead, taking his hand in hers and placing her hand on his shoulder, waiting a moment for the right beat before joining in the dance proper. The steps aren't hard, but trying to keep up with the rest of the dancers as they turn is a little more difficult, enough so that Shura will have to keep quiet for a moment. It's fine to miss a step or two, but she's just sober enough that she does care about not knocking into their neighbors.

But hey, at least she's not stepping on Strange's toes! Give her another go or two, and she'll have this down pat!

[kingsroads]

Strange is also paying close attention to his fellow dancers, partly to see if he can copy any of their moves, partly because he also doesn't want to step on toes. He's doing a good job not stepping on Shura's toes, though he does hesitate a little at certain points and has to be yanked around the room.

Not that he minds it, of course. Strange is perfectly fine being yanked and moved as much as needed. He's also keeping up pretty well.

"This is easier than I thought!" he exclaims, more proud of himself than anything else.

[exaomori]

If he was stepping on her toes, Shura might have taken an issue sooner rather than later. But since he's doing about as well as she could expect from a drunk stranger, so she'll haul him with her. And then, of course, he has to open his mouth.

"Easier? I'm the one leading, hotshot!" And just for that, she'll add an extra little fast spin, an extra step he probably saw the other couples do. And then maybe another one, just for funsies.

lefkoko, a

[forswore]

If Daud is annoyed by the tugging, he doesn’t show it much. Shura isn’t the first tipsy reveler who’s tugged him into festivities, and she won’t be the last. He lets himself be pulled away from his card game, nodding at his fellow players — he wasn’t playing for anything more substantial than sweet rolls of bread and another cup of wine.

“If you insist.” Just for that ‘shy’ crack, though ... in a smooth motion, he twists in her hold, aiming to tug at her instead and smoothly dip her backward, one hand firmly planted at her back to support her weight.

[exaomori]

She does insist. What was better, some sweets or dancing with a beautiful and very tipsy young woman? Well, both at the same time would probably be better, provided one could do both without choking.

Shura's pleased when Daud parts from his game with little complaint. She's thrilled when he takes the lead and dips her. Her head falls back as she laughs, taking advantage the way he's supporting her weight for a moment before she pulls herself back up.

"Ha! I didn't know I picked such a suave guy~"

Here's hoping the rest of his moves aren't lacking.

[forswore]

What's best is being left alone to his own devices, but Daud's realizing he doesn't have much of a choice in that. Not here, in this familiar-yet-not world. As Shura straightens, so does he, adopting a more conventional dance position and clasping her fingers with his.

It is, if nothing else, an excellent opportunity to practice how well he's picked up the largely unfamiliar dance steps from just watching the celebrants.

"Just honoring the occasion," he answers, stoically. While he doesn't pull the same trick as before, he's quick on his feet, leading her through a lively reel with unwavering confidence.

[exaomori]

Some things things haven't changed much. The steps aren't familiar, but the rhythm is. It helps that he seems to have a decent idea of what he's doing. It will only take a couple repetitions before she mostly has the steps down.

"I can't lie, I don't usually expect men who say that kind of thing to dance well so well." Sounding so serious! But he was a tiefling, and maybe she should have expected him to be light on his hooves.

[forswore]

As she gains confidence in her own steps, Daud silently offers the option for her to lead in turn, still moving confidently, but more in response to where she goes than prompting her to fall into step with him.

“No point in doing something if you won’t try to do it well,” is his response, hooves tapping out a rapid staccato beat in time with the music as they step and spin through. That’s probably going to get him another jibe about being serious, so he’ll continue:

“Are you in the habit of pulling strangers in to dance, then, or just for tonight?”

[exaomori]

It's nice, dancing with someone who seems to have a good idea of what he's doing. Shura doesn't mind being led in this sort of thing and she's buzzed enough that the spinning makes her light-headed. It's fine to let him lead until he gets boring.

"The habit? You make it sound like a bad thing!" She replies, pursing her lips in an entirely fake pout before they take another turn. "What else is a girl supposed to do in a new city, huh?" Wait around and hope someone not-sleazy saw her and liked her? Way too boring. Better to pick her own prey partners and give her control of the situation.

skywhale

[genice]

Victor glances toward the woman when she speaks, lifting his eyebrows and then looking down again, watching the landscape passing below. At his side, a white wolf is trying to do the same, peering over the railing with her paws tucked up on either side of her face. He quirks a half smile when he speaks.

"I stand on this ship that sails land like the sea, holding tight to a railing to see what might be. Is the sky here as blue as the waters below? All I see are the clouds, and what might be snow. Oh love, were you with me, this sight would be warm. As it is, all alone, cold descends like a storm."

Makka adds in her own rumbling wuu at the end, and Victor reaches over, ruffling the fur on her head with a chuckle. "I'm sure there's a fair share, though I can't fault people for trying to capture something of this feeling."

[exaomori]

She snickers at the improvised poetry, raising a hand to cover her her grin.

"Not bad~ I'm sure you could make sell a book if you did a few more of 'em." It's more than she could do, she can admit that much. But he's right, the view was incredible, more than she could have imagined possible. Shura shrugs, leaning her elbows on the railing.

"Lotta people seem pretty used to it, but I guess that comes with time." Meanwhile, Shura's vaguely jealous of the fact that this guy had a nice and cute dog, unlike the grumpy lion half-sitting on her feet. Why did she end up with this mess?? because she's a mess, that's why

[genice]

It doesn't necessarily mean he's less of a mess, only a cute, friendly, self-contained mess. The fact he and his animas are often coming into contact is a reassurance measure for them both.

He glances her way, half smiling after that comment about making a book he'd never write, then lifts his shoulder in a small shrug. His eyes turn back toward the ground far below. What a view. "People get used to near anything if they have to." Like living in encampments, following the stench of blood and offal in a war that has no functional purpose but to prove that three giants cannot pull a decisive win over each other. Makka sighs, resting her chin on the railing. "How often do we appreciate the things in our lives that have been there since we were born until they're no longer there?"

[exaomori]

Self-contained being the key word right there. But really, Shura only has herself to blame for her animas's personality, so she really deserves the trouble.

"Mm, guess that's a way to look at it." She clasps her fingers together, resting her chin on her fingers and trying not to let the agitation running under her skin show. He's not being rude, but his words agitate her, remind her of the things she's trying not to think about. "Better than what we were getting used to, I guess."

[genice]

"I guess." He hums, a noncommittal sound, and says nothing more for several beats of his heart. His and Makka's hearts, really; that's one more phenomena he's witnessed, considering how he and Makka share a bed most nights. Which wasn't so different than his life with Makkachin, a century before, but infinitely more strange.

"I wonder what the dragons would have made of all this. Can't imagine they would have been willing to share the skies, at least no easily. Not with such freedom for the three cities."

[exaomori]

To go so very suddenly from a world where the dragons weren't far gods to a world where the dragons were hushed nightmares took more adjustment than Shura would have anticipated. What would any of them have thought of this world? But seeing as the survivors of the war seemed to have done decently for themselves over the last century, Shura can only wonder if they were better off without the dragon's protection.

"Might have been okay if only one of them had control of them. It beats having to climb those cliffs to get to Krimnos."

lefkoko, b

[redwhaling]

"That's a good way to get yourself cursed," is the faintly singsong sort of warning Billie gives from nearby. She ended up hanging out in the same spot to watch the ravens get released, seeing how pretty much all the partying migrated this way to watch the exact same spectacle.

Of course, Billie isn't the only one here with an opinion but the other one is less about curses and more about also wanting a sausage. Not really what a tern should be eating but that doesn't drop her animas from landing next to the raven and making a racket for that same bit of food. Now Shura has two birds scolding her loudly; one raven and one equally obnoxious seabird.

[exaomori]

"Get cursed?" Shura echoes, still refusing to give in to the raven's demands, even as another bird joins the fray. Honestly, it make it even more fun, though it'll be much easier for one of the birds to snatch the sausage from her if she's having to split her attention three ways. Four ways, if you count the lion hanging a few feet behind her. He's eyeing the birds with some mild interest, his tail flicking behind him. "That kind of curse ain't gonna bother me."

But she did mean to give the raven its sausage eventually, so after another lunge from the bird, she'll let the raven have its treat. Now, should she mess with the other bird? Important decisions.

"Besides, he needs to know that not everythin' is going to come easy"

[redwhaling]

"Pretty sure madness is one of his domains so, you know, a curse might bother you," Billie points out but it's not like she's being serious about it here, either. She does eye the lion briefly, though her own animas is now too busy complaining at the raven dancing away with its prize now to care about any other animals or even Shura.

"But hey, I guess if it's all in good fun, that kind of stuff gets overlooked, yeah?"

[exaomori]

"Honestly, a little bit of lunacy might help make sense of things," Shura replies flatly. Like the entire 'Why am I somehow not dead anymore?' question that's been nagging at her.

Maybe to make up for teasing the raven, Shura tosses another chunk of sausage towards the tern to distract it from the raven, currently choking down the too-big chunk of sausage like its little life depended on it. Meanwhile, the lion looks even more interested. If those guys got sausages, then surely his turn to get something to eat would be next, right??

[redwhaling]

The tern immediately snatches up the sausage before the raven or the lion can get any ideas about trying for it themselves. Once it's in her beak, she takes off again, landing up on a lamp post and tearing into it up there. Billie's attention follows the bird until she lands, then it wanders back to Shura, and then, finally, the lion.

"Depends on what things you mean," she says, shrugging. "Is your pet meant to be a lion? Isn't he a little small?"

[exaomori]

"Eh? A little small? If he was any bigger, it'd be impossible to feed him!" This is probably not the only time Shura's heard that, and it probably won't be the last. Shishi doesn't seem to mind the comment about his size, instead moving to Shura's side and rubbing against her as she crouches, not minding the way he pushes just a little too hard. He can smell the bit of meat still in her hands, and he wanted a taste for himself since everyone else got some.

"You! You didn't want this a second ago, I'm not giving it to you now!" Shishi rumbles in reply, nudding her hand with his head. And then, the raven, having finished the bite Shura gave him, turns his attentions back to her, seeming to debate whether or not it was worth the trouble of getting teased for a bite to eat.