【MINGLE】 Spirit Day Festival

[starrystorytellers]

Spirit Day Festival

Shrines Lore Drop Starnet Info NPC Contact FAQ Claims List

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oct intro

It's October the 31st. And after a month of hard work and preparations, Spirit Day is here!


For the past month, natives and Fallen Stars alike have been working hard to decorate the city for the festival. Once painted in pastel colours, the majority of the buildings are now shades of black, red, orange, purple and green. The spooky vibe includes decorations that resemble bats, skeletons, and pumpkins, accented with glow-in-the-dark paint and strings of lights between the buildings. Once the sun goes down and the festivities begin, the entire city comes to life with lanterns and glowing decor. But the party only lasts until midnight!

Spirit Day is a festival organized and produced by the non-spirit population of Starsand City. The goal is to give thanks to the spirits (and kami) with a night of fun that doesn't rely on their magic. As a result, the majority of the stalls and attractions are run the 'old fashioned way.' Food stalls feature snacks cooked by hand, game stalls are crafted and played without magic, and all of the attractions are made by human hands. There are art galleries, street musicians, sidewalk chalk art, handcrafted candies, and much more. Fallen Stars have also been encouraged to participate and are welcome to assist with or start their own stalls.

All night long, spirits will benefit from a boost in faith. They will have more solid forms than before and be able to communicate their feelings with a limited telepathic vocabulary. At midnight, this magic will wear off. However, spirits in contracts will come away from Spirit Day with a boost in power!

(A) SUNSET START


As the sun begins to set over the horizon, the people of Starsand City rush into action. Last minute preparations cause a flurry of activity around town. You might find yourself drafted to paint a wall or help construct a stall, or even asked to taste test snacks or arrange a display. Everyone is pitching in for the final touches.

For those that aren't helping with prep, there is also the matter of dressing up. In order to help the spirits and kami blend into the crowds, everyone wears extravagant costumes and masks are highly encouraged. There are people on standby who help fit costumes and give suggestions.

The moment that the last drop of sunlight disappears, the entire city will light up and the festivities will begin. Party poppers and loud cheering will make this moment obvious, if the brightly lit decorations and change of atmosphere wasn't enough already.

(B) GENERAL STALLS & GAMES


It's customary for shop owners to run stalls and games. Those that run restaurants typically have stalls that give away a specialized sample, while stores that sell trinkets are giving away their wares as game prizes. There is everything from ring toss to shooting games, goldfish scooping to batting cages. Games will give away small prizes, like stuffed animals or simple clothing or jewelry, all of which can be handwaved in threads.

Food and games aren't the only ways to spend your time. There are plenty of other attractions to visit. There are fashion booths where you can dress up for pictures, art galleries, book exchanges, poetry workshops, haunted houses, dramatic theatre shows, and much more.

In general, it is safe to handwave any sort of attraction being NPC run.

(C) GIVING THANKS


The central focus of Spirit Day is, of course, giving thanks for all that the spirits have done for Starsand City. There are a couple of ways that this is accomplished. The simplest of which is dropping off pieces of Starling at the various shrines around the city. Most city streets have a small shrine where the local spirits can collect Starling, so you don't have to look far to find a donation spot. Even a simple 'thank you' goes a long way for the spirits.

Other ways include hanging written words of thanks on trees, drawing on the sidewalks with chalk, or joining in impromptu music jams. There is also a large canvas in the center of the city, where everyone is encouraged to write something that they're grateful for and maybe doodle a picture.

(D) PLAYER RUN ATTRACTIONS


Fallen Stars are also very welcome to run their own attractions!

Feel free to continue using the planning post to plot out any last minute stall ideas!

When you do a top-level for your character's contribution, please comment here with a link: This way, everyone can quickly find your attraction and tag into your threads!



If you need anything, please direct questions here.

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Comments

【SHRINE OF SIN】

[aupologizes]

The Shrine of Sin sits atop a hill--going past a large set of stone steps right next to an actively running waterfall. There is no signs that point out the location and people are instead greeted with a torii.

You may be told by any tour guides to bow respectfully once, as is custom to greet the deity and ask proper permission to enter.

The temple itself is one you might expect from a Japanese temple: a temizuya by the entrance used for purification, the honden at the main hall with a bell.

On the left side of the shrine itself seems to be a little small cottage, one that is currently off limits.

And if you're looking for the kami herself, she is here, sitting atop the torii watching everyone go by. But instead of her usual garb, she dons the outfit of a witch with a bright red oni mask as if that would help her stand out less.

[fifthdomonion]

[Not only was Kevin helping out and enjoying himself, he was also keeping an eye out for anything bizarre or harmful going on. He never forgot his duties as a part of the Gralsritter. Visiting Hanyuu's shrine comes to him without a second thought as he approaches the torii and sees someone up there. He doesn't recognize who it is in that outfit or the mask on...

That's a lot of skin that she's showing off, though. Damn. He has to take a second to reply--]

Uh, hey there! Did you follow the rules before entering? The kami here is a sweetheart, but I can't just let anyone mingle 'round here.

[aupologizes]

Au...?

[ There's definitely a confused note that rings out. Does he really not recognize her or is this another one of those games? Then again, she's also fairly high up. She doesn't know how good eyesight is, either.

In the end, she plays along. ]

I didn't know that witches had to follow the rules for the kami.

[fifthdomonion]

Oh boy... I've really met up with a troublesome lady, haven't I?

[Kevin rubs the back of his head with a sigh. It didn't look like she was causing trouble, but would he able to sleep well if someone scandalous looking was hanging around Hanyuu's shrine?]

It's probably for the best that you do. Today's supposed to be the day where we're showin' our respect for the spirits. And the kami are the top dogs 'round here.

[aupologizes]

[ He.

He's really being serious, isn't he............ ]

Sooooo. Are you going to show respect to the kami here today?

[fifthdomonion]

AH! Of course! I'm a humble wandering priest who's here to sing you the songs of the Kami of Sin! You can bask in all of her cuteness as much as you'd like~! ♥

[He sounds very enthusiastic about that! Maybe a bit TOO enthusiastic here...]

Oh yeah, you oughta come down here and we can meet her together. The two of us go quite a ways back!

[aupologizes]

Geez...

[ She sounds embarrassed as she then eventually hops off the torii and floats down, probably making it more obvious as to who she is with her flowing purple hair and the horns that can be seen at the sides of her head. ]

I truly did not think I was unrecognizable like this. Perhaps I should wear things like this much more often when I'm going shopping.

[fallmushrooms]

Wait, we had to dress up?

[Velda gulps, wearing her regular work uniform.]

I. Kind of spent my weekly budget on stall prizes instead. --I can fix it!

[aupologizes]

Yeah, it's meant to keep the kami hidden amongst the normal people -- ah, but you don't have to buy the costumes, they've been giving them out for the occasion.

[fallmushrooms]

Wait, really? I guess that takes care of that. I'll try and see some... Your outfit looks great! Kinda reminds me of someone.

[aupologizes]

Yes.

[ ... ]

Does it?

[fallmushrooms]

Is it that weird? I mean, I am a witch, I know other witches...

[aupologizes]

No, it's not strange at all. What kind of person were they?

[popsometags]

[ Naturally, Rinne was putting a lot of effort into Spirit Day. He often took up part time jobs acting as an activity supervisor for wayward spirits, giving them a little fun before they're off to the circle of reincarnation. He's fond of the spirits here, and he's been making sure the Shrine was nice and presentable for anyone touring today.

Of course, he took his role as tour guide seriously too. He'd keep everyone on task, up to the torii, where a group looked up to see... ]

Right! Keep your eyes forward. The Shrine of Sin's not that kind of place. Witch-san is simply into the day's spirit.

[ Please laugh. ]

--

[ Later, he does go back to clear his throat, addressing said "Witch-san". ]

...I didn't recognize you for a second. I was starting to think you were a succubus hanging around here.

[aupologizes]

A-A succubus...!? Auauau... I am definitely not that kind of kami!

[popsometags]

I believe you! That may put a different spin on what "Shrine of Sin" means, though...!

[aupologizes]

. . . it would?

[popsometags]

Well... it would... inspire sin, more than anything.

[aupologizes]

I do get more power from that but... that doesn't mean I should encourage it.

[glyphwitch]

[ Luz is doing her own due part, managing the donation box and keeping a close eye on it - just in case any mischievous spirits try to sneak off with a piece of starling. She's been told it's unlikely, but she's guarding the box with her life anyway.

She's dressed in a jumper with a hoodie, along with a pair of bat wings strapped to her back. She's chosen to wear a mask as well, one made of paper-mache, resembling... some sort of dog skull with horns? It doesn't seem to match the bat theme, but she clearly put a lot of care into making it anyways.

As for her advertising? She's... enthusiastic, to say the least. ]

Step right up ladies, gents, and everybody in-between! Now's your chance to donate to the illustrious Shrine of Sin! Quick, for every starling you donate, you get to commit one free sin - whatever you please!

[ Someone pray she doesn't get fired for this. ]

[aupologizes]

And what do you think you're doing, child of man?

[ And right behind her is a booming voice - it's familiar, but there's a clear edge to it. Uh-oh. ]

[glyphwitch]

[ Here's the thing about Luz: her first boss was an old crime lady who sold stolen goods from the human realm to easy-to-scam witches and demons. So when Hanyuu comes at her with anger, she freezes, having earnestly expected a pat on the back instead. When she turns around, she looks as sheepish as she does confused. ]

...Interactive marketing?

[ They'll get more customers this way, right? People sin, they come to Hanyuu for forgiveness... This is just them doing the forgiveness part in advance! So now they'll know where to go if it ever happens again! ]

[aupologizes]

...

[ Hanyuu lets out a big, heavy sigh as her expression shifts, the red color of her eyes fading back into its natural violet hues. ]

You shouldn't be encouraging people like that. Just because this is the Shrine of Sin doesn't mean people should be committing them. What will happen if the locals get the wrong idea and think that I believe that just simply because I can forgive them that they can go off and do whatever they wanted?

Even worse if someone heard that and was so awful enough to murder someone on my doorstep?

I don't know what I'd do with myself. So I will ask nicely: please stop.

[glyphwitch]

Murder?! I wasn't thinking about - ugh, stupid Luz!

[ She grasps her head in both hands for a moment before bringing it down on top of the donation box in despair. She gives herself a moment before turning her head to look back up at Hanyuu. ]

...You're right. I wasn't thinking about it like that.

[ Her eyes go glassy for a moment, like she's looking straight through Hanyuu instead of at her. Her voice lowers a little now, hardly louder than the noise of the October winds. ]

Eda always said sinning's fair game as long as you don't get caught, but she never meant anything like that... She'd probably think it's ridiculous that I'm even here in the first place...

[aupologizes]

[ As sad as it is, Hanyuu is absolutely used to not being seen; of being looked through like she wasn't even there. She's spent hundreds, even thousands of years not being looked at properly, after all.

Of course, that doesn't mean that she should be too cruel, or harsh.

With the way Luz says those words - that "sinning is fair game" - Hanyuu can't help but think of how hilariously naive it is to believe in such a thing. Maybe she just needs to steer the path, chide a little bit. ]

When it comes to sin... I don't think it's right to do any of that sort of thing. Regardless of whether one gets caught or not. A sin is an act that is wrong: that is why there needs to be someone who can understand them and take them all in. That is my duty. But just because my duty is as such does not mean that people should take advantage of it. I will not be here forever. And my forgiveness is not unyielding.