riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL

Entry tags:

introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and River Festival
when: The month of August; the bulk of celebration will be in week 1, but there is a party and fireworks display on August 14th.
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

river festival

In the days leading up to August 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: The River Festival. This holiday is in celebration of the river and the life that it gives to the city, as well as the heat of summer and forming bonds with friends, family, and romantic partners. The celebrations are marked by a community-wide cleanup of the docks and beaches along the river - particularly important considering the recent acid rain - as well as beachfront cookouts and parties (both private and city sponsored) and beach sports tournaments happening on either open stretches of beach or in special clothing-optional beaches, all capped off with fireworks displays on the evenings of August 7th and 14th.

a celebration of the river and togetherness

Following the hedonism of Carnivale, it's time for something a little more low-key and relaxing. The River Festival happens every year in August, and is geared toward community building through cleaning up the beaches and docks along the river and then using all that freshly cleaned beach to gather on. During the first week of August, there are various lightly-themed government-sponsored beach cookouts and parties geared toward family, romantic dates, or casual all-ages get-togethers for meeting new friends; there are also a few more racy parties at clothing-optional beaches around the city. Many private residents also take this time to gather together friends and family, and have cookouts on the beach with all the typical trappings of the beach barbecue. There are also various casual sports tournaments sponsored by community centers, gyms, and sports teams in the city, featuring prizes ranging from notoriety to sports equipment to big bucks. Finally, there are two fireworks displays, one on August 7th and one on August 14th, with free food, and various live performers beforehand.

i. cleaning up

The holiday starts off on a note that is just a bit more sombre than the rest of the season, with the cleanup efforts following late July's strange fog and acid rain blending into the usual tradition of cleaning up beaches and docks along the river. The cleanup is a group effort, with every citizen who is physically able pitching in to comb the beaches, where they pick up fallen tree limbs, garbage, and anything else that's accumulated during the winter and spring, and then raking the beaches to make them clean and ready to use. The cleanup of the docks is similar, with residents sweeping and hosing them down where necessary. This year, there are a lot of repairs to be made to beachfront structures that might've been damaged by the acid rain, so if anyone has some carpentry or building skills, those would definitely come in handy.

This is meant to be a community building effort, so many businesses in the area, more well-to-do private citizens, and the government have pitched in funding to provide lunches, cold drinks, coffee or tea, and snacks to anyone who's helping out with the cleanup efforts. All in all, the cleanup has a very friendly, welcoming vibe.

ii. cookouts and parties

The main traditions of the River Festival involve cookouts and beach parties. On August 7th and August 14th, the government as well as various corporations and businesses in the city, will be providing funds for large beach gatherings. On these days, there will be booths set up offering wares and freebies from various businesses around the city that have helped fund the party, large swaths of cleared beach where residents can don a swimsuit and catch some rays or swim in the river, massive barbecue setups to provide partygoers with all the standard barbecue fare, beach sports tournaments, dancing and musical performances, and fireworks displays (see prompts below).

The holiday isn't just about these big parties, though - many residents arrange their own barbecues, cookouts, beach camping trips, beach bonfires, and other riverside gatherings and outings. Many riverfront businesses offer discounts on services such as canoe or kayak rentals to go out paddling on the river, jetski or motorboat rentals for tubing, wakeboarding, or waterskiing, or mounts to take romantic rides in the surf. Additionally, there is an adults-only section of the beach where any of these activities can be done in the nude in a clothing-optional setting, including the big city-sponsored parties.

iii. sportsball tournaments

Is your character good at playing a particular sport that could, conceivably, be played on a beach? Chances are that during the month of August, a tournament will be set up for them to participate in. The tournaments are pretty standard, generally sponsored by community centers, sports clubs and teams, gyms, and other organizations and businesses in the city, with various levels of specialization, and levels of skill or competitiveness. The prizes also vary, with everything from plain old bragging rights to sports equipment or passes to gyms and community centers, to large lump sums of cash money. Definitely worth it, for characters with a love for sport.

Oh, and a lot of these tournaments are happening on the adults-only clothing-optional beaches, for those grown-up sports fans who like a bit of an extra challenge.

iv. performances and fireworks

On August 7th and August 14th at the end of the large city-sponsored beach parties, there will be evening performances all along the beach. Not as extensive as the musical performances during Carnivale, there are two large-name performers per night, with various lesser-known groups performing at random off and on throughout the day and night. Areas of the beach are cleared for residents to watch and dance to the music, both on the regular and adults-only clothing-optional beaches (acts will switch off between the two areas so both areas get both performances).

Player-characters who are musical artists, DJs, or otherwise perform are free to set up shop around this party and panhandle or put on free performances for publicity.

After the sun goes down, boats will head out into the water carrying a variety of fireworks, and there will be a beautiful display of exploding color in the sky for residents to watch and enjoy. The fireworks are highly advanced, incorporating old-fashioned gunpowder as well as modern technology that result in really beautiful displays that can take the breath away!

v. roommates or wildcard

Feel free to use this prompt to meet new roommates, for the purpose of getting to know each other, or hit up one of the mod-posted prompts for each Communal Floor. Or if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during the River Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: credit unknown; image ii: Albert Ramon Puig; image iii: Claudio Pilia; image iv: Alan Philips

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dorian has to admit, at least to himself, he's never seen an elf quite like this man. Granted, his experiences with elves are fairly limited, but even still, this one seems singular. Maybe it was just the environment. Even still, he nods as though he's following quite well (even though he isn't, really) and runs a hand thoughtfully over his goatee.

"That does seem rather difficult." And he looks back to the elf again. "What is surfing? I do, after all, know what surf is, but I've never heard the term used in such a way."

"Oh, it's like, uh, actually lemme just--" That's a very good explanation right there, but really what he's about to do is cast minor illusion, since he figures that's an easier way to do it.

Taako holds one of his hands out, palm up, and casts the spell to bring up a little illusory version of a surfboard, fin and all, "A real one's usually bigger than you are, and you stand on it to ride waves. It's pretty fucking rad."

He's a big fan of surfing, even if he hasn't done it for decades.

"Oh!" His exclamation is delighted, certainly. "Very clever!" But whether he's talking about the surf board or the illusion spell is up in the air, that is until he elaborates.

"I'm partial to sailing, myself, but I've never been overly fond of the ocean. It plays hell with my stomach, really. Now, then, about that glamor. Is it a construct or a play of light? Is it very solid?"

"Surfing's not as bad as sailing, since you're moving with the waves more," Or at least, that's his experience, he's never gotten sea sick on a surfboard while he definitely has on a boat.

But! Magic is a much cooler topic. He closes his hand over the illusion, to answer the question about whether it's solid, "Just an illusion, I could conjure up a board but that's always a little trickier and not really worth it if I can't use it, you know?"

Dorian chuckles at that, shaking his head. "Honestly, that sounds worse by leaps and bounds, but I may be wrong." He was pretty sure he wasn't, though.

"You can manifest this item? Or is it you're moving one from elsewhere? Either way, I'd love to know the theorems behind the application. At least the algorithms. I could handle the proper calculations, but..." Yeah, he was going off on his own little tangent, here.

"I mean, I've got a spell book but it's not like, uh, I don't really put a whole lot of stock in algorithms," Magic is a lot more instinctual, for Taako, much to the frustration of anyone who ever wants to get a straight answer out of him, about how his magic works, "But yeah, I can manifest stuff, that's conjuration. You want a demo?"

He's trying to get better about burning spell slots on stupid shit, but... showing off.........

Dorian too had a spellbook, or at least a list of calculations, more a journal than anything. He wore it on a belt at all times, and some would even sink so far as to call it a fashion accessory, he wore it with such frequency. Being a magic researcher, and inventor in a respect, Dorian never knew when an idea may occur to him. It was nice to have a journal with him. He couldn't conceive of a magic that didn't require careful calculation, though, even on an instinctual level. A mage had a feel for the art, how much energy would be required for what effect, but it was measurable, quantifiable, and finite.

It also didn't involve creating a chair, and this he had to see. "I'm fully aware of conjuration, but I'd never be able to create a sofa, save out of ice." He looked thoughtful for a moment at the thought but shook his head. That was hardly the point at the moment. He'd need to give it a shot at some point, though. In short, he waved a hand as though urging Taako to proceed. "Do go on."

"Lets start a little smaller than a sofa, huh?" And Taako makes a gesture in the air, quick and simple, and suddenly there's a mongoose perched on his shoulder, looking curiously at Taako, ensuring there's no threat, before it eyes Dorian.

This is, technically, cheating. The mongoose was already chilling in it's pocket dimension, but he did conjure it, just... months ago. He figures it still counts.

Taako holds out his arm towards Dorian, letting the mongoose run down the length of it, where it sits within reach; he kind of figures this sort of thing warrants an inspection.

Dorian is, of course, two-fold fascinated by the mongoose Taako has summoned. He's never seen a mongoose before, though he's read about them along with several other idle curiosities over the years, also that he just witnessed what he can only attribute to teleportation. If time travel was recently theoretical, teleportation magic had yet to even be theorized. His mind began to race quickly over power levels required, concentration, and formulae, even while his keen olive gaze watched the clever little creature currently perched on Taako's outstretched arm with interest.

He didn't ask for permission before he reached out to touch the thing, taking note of its warmth and the softness of its fur. For all intents and purposes, the mongoose was real, but how...?

"And where have you pulled this clever little beast from?"

Having spent its first day of existence at a party, the mongoose (who really needs a name) is familiar with being treated a bit like a pet, so it doesn't protest at being touched.

"He's kind of a spirit? But it's a conjuration spell, and he hangs out in a little pocket dimension when I don't need him," Which would be cruel if it was a real animal, but Taako's pretty sure summoned spirits don't have a concept of boredom. "I can change his shape, too, but I'm kinda fond of these guys."

"Ah! Very clever!" And not nearly as confusing a situation as the studied mage had first thought. "So it isn't that you've created this little creature from seemingly nothing, but that you've pulled this spirit here, granted it a form, and keep it elsewhere for parlor tricks." He chuckles, watching the mongoose for a bit longer before smirking.

"There is something adorable about the creature, isn't there?"

"Sure, let's go with that!" Lucretia would probably be the person to ask about the general specifics of the spell, but Taako is nothing if not agreeable, most of the time.

When Dorian makes a comment about them being adorable, though, Taako hums a little laugh, setting the mongoose back on his shoulder, "They're vicious little shits when they wanna be, I nearly lost a couple fingers to a family of 'em we met, before we convinced them we weren't dangerous."

For all his pomp and circumstance, Dorian has always had a hint of darkness about him, a sort of fascination with the macabre. It was, after all, why he'd chosen to study necromancy, and had so long dreamed of visit a Navarran City of the Dead. He smiled with a little more fondness at the creature, an appreciation glinting in his eye.

"I think that makes them more adorable, really. One need not look vicious to be so."

He looked then to the mage, rather than the creature on his shoulder. "I know some magic, myself, actually."

One need not look vicious to be so isn't an entirely inaccurate summary of Taako, either, which is part of the reason why his familiar is a mongoose rather than any of the other options at his disposal. He doesn't exactly cut a threatening figure, but he can fight when he needs to.

"I had a feeling you did," The way Dorian was talking about magic made it seem like he had more than just a passing familiarity, "What's your specialty?"

Everyone's got one, even if they don't categorize magic the same way Taako is used to.

Ah, now he was asking questions Dorian could answer quickly and seamlessly. He could talk for hours on magical theory, differences of use, specialties, and the like. "I've studied the Inferno and the subtle art of Necromancy extensively. One plays very well into the other, after all. It's easier to bend the recently fallen to your side if you've had a hand in their swift demise, you see, and what better way to quicken one's grasp on life than fire?"

He smiled with, and something akin to mischief sparkled in his eyes.

"That, and I really like making things explode."

There are a lot of people here who aren't down with the whole necromancy thing, but luckily Taako isn't one of them. Still, he looks kind of caught between amused and playfully horrified as he listens to all that.

"Oh god, you're the dude version of my sister," That's a bit of an overstatement, Lup doesn't do undead armies or anything, but she is an undead being, so he figures it balances out. And she really does like making stuff explode, "Fair warning, necromancy is kinda frowned upon by a lot of dipshits, you might wanna keep that one on the down low. Also just general killing, they're not big on that? It's weird."

Taako is aware that his fantasy bullshit world has a more relaxed approach to morals.

He laughed at Taako's reaction, smiling mischievously at his comment. "Then your sister must be a beautiful woman, indeed." Dorian didn't do undead armies, himself, and they bound didn't remain indefinitely, but it was necromancy nonetheless.

"Necromancy is frowned upon by most...'dipshits' the multiverse over, Taako. I can be discreet."

He breathes a sigh, nodding. "Murder is murder, certainly. I don't go looking for a fight, of course. I'll not hesitate to defend myself with all my Maker-given gifts, though."

"Well, we are twins," So he'll take that compliment for himself, thank you very much.

But it's good that Dorian can do subtle, unlike poor Letha, who has no concept of the topic and got in a lot of shit for using a corpse as a personal servant.

"As for the uh, defending yourself, might wanna keep that non-lethal cause they're not big fans of that one either," It is, in Taako's opinion, absolutely ridiculous, "They've got like, cops and shit, I guess?"

"Certainly." He nods, smiling. "That sort of barbarism is for use in the wilderness, of course." Dorian chuckles, shaking his head.

"Why, in my homeland, we even have a judicial system and prisons! We commonly leave the murderous theatrics to the southerners."

"There's always southerners, huh?" It always seems to come up, regardless of what world someone comes from; there's always a south and usually it's full of interesting sorts of people.

Still, Taako grins, "Sounds like you should be fine, but I am kinda curious, do you have elves where you're from? Most humans tend to keep glancing at the ears, if they're not used to us."

It's about ninety percent self interest, that particular question, but he likes to know there are more realities out there with elves, since they seem to be a lot rarer than humans.

If by 'interesting sorts', Taako means the sort of people who smell of peat moss, have very little knowledge of personal hygiene, and an abysmal climate, then yes. They were interesting.

He chuckles at Taako's question, nodding. "Oh yes, elves are certainly known to me, though none with skin quite the tone of yours. Of course, I assume it's a species difference and nothing odd in your nature?"

Though he doesn't seem overly oppressed, so Dorian is going to leave out the bit about the elven enslavement and the part his people still play in it.

"Oh, a witch kissed me and cursed me," He says it without missing a beat, but quickly winks to show that he's just messing around, which is like, his default state, "Do you have other races as well?"

There's a few places that seem to have some but not all the races, so he's curious.

He chuckles at Taako's response, shaking his head. "Very clever. A witch, indeed."

But he nods, his head bobbing with interest. Dorian is, first and foremost, an academic, so learning things about a new world gets him excited.

"We have the elves, obviously, but then there are also Dwarves and Qunari. The elves have elongated ears, little to no curvature of the nasal bridge," which he indicates by placing the edge of his hand with fingers outstretched against the bridge of his own nose momentarily, "larger eyes than other species, and lithe form. They also typically are of shorter stature than humans, but nothing near the height of dwarves."

"Do you have dwarves or Qunari?"

"Huh," Those are more physical differences than what he's used to, and he sort of idly touches his nose at Dorian's comment about them, wondering if that meant the elf he ran into here was from Dorian's world. She fits the description, but he'd originally chalked it up to just her face, rather than a species thing. "We've got like, a lot. No Qunari, but dwarves, halflings, orcs, tieflings, gnomes... Not to mention shit like centaurs and giants. And our elves - well, I'm a lot longer lived than humans, plus I can see in the dark and I don't sleep."

There's a couple other minor things - resistance to charm spells, better affinity for magic, but that's not worth mentioning.

"Ah, truly? You see, history tells us the elves were once longer lived than humans. Some even claimed they were immortal, but over the centuries they have what they refer to as 'quickened'. They are born, the age, they die, just as we humans do."

He frowns slightly at the explanation. "They also blame that on us. You see, historically, my people conquered their homelands and enslaved them. They maintain this caused their decline. How true that is is anyone's guess, really."

And there are so many topics to address he doesn't want to spend time on just the one. "What are orcs? Tieflings? Gnomes?"

introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL

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