Event: The Hearts Aflame Faire

[royaldecreemods]

THE HEARTS AFLAME FAIRE

The moment the Hearts Aflame Faire begins, Rosavelle is set to ignite! … in spirit, of course. From the canals of Menthward to the breezy terraces of Bellvine Hill, the entire kingdom bursts into color and warmth. Silken banners ripple overhead like tongues of flame, their edges enchanted to flicker without ever burning. Lanterns shaped like blooming hearts drift through the air in slow, buoyant currents, casting a warm, honeyed light that softens every corner of the city. Flower garlands spill from every railing in rich shades of scarlet, coral and gold. Even the canals shimmer with festival magic: enchanted petals drift across the water like glowing embers, while gondolas trail ribbons of light behind them as they pass.

For a kingdom as preoccupied with love as Rosavelle is, it's probably no surprise to see the festival celebrating it so lavishly. The streets are alive - no, alight - with celebration and everywhere you look, it seems like there's some kind of spectacle. A troupe of acrobats in flame-colored silk spins through the square, while bards pluck at heart-shaped lutes and sing tall tales of love stories long since past. Stalls crowd every walkway and canal edge, selling just about every festival good you can imagine: trinkets galore, bouquets and flower arrangements of every shape and color, carnival games and challenges and a truly unholy amount of spicy food - sugared fruits glazed in chili syrup, fire-roasted seafood skewers, molten chocolate tarts infused with warming herbs and the like. Thankfully, there's plenty of cooler drinks to wash it down with and non-spicy options for the less adventurous eaters.

Stages bloom across the districts in all shapes and sizes. Musicians, poets and performers take turns beneath garlands of glowing flowers, offering serenades that range from tender to bold. Some performances are… less conventional - a puppet show reenacting famous famous love stories, a dramatic monologue delivered by a knight claiming to have died (and returned) for love, a group of Meramancers weaving together spells that pulse to the rhythm of a love ballad.

Of course, the Faire being what it is, surely you're not just here to gawk. The Courtship Games are all about celebrating the courage and excitement of sharing your feelings with a special someone(s) and the Hearts Aflame Faire is filled to the brim with chances to do just that! While there will be certain events taking place across different days of the festival, here's a primer of the permanent installations you can find across all days of the festival

❁ The Trial of Embers: Perhaps the Faire's most infamous tradition. Rows of challengers gather before long tables lined with escalating dishes of heat - spiced fruits, peppered pastries, searing broths and, at the end, the dreaded flamefruit peppers that have been known to cause the faint of heart to spew real flames! It's considered perfectly acceptable - encouraged, even - to challenge someone mid-confession - after all, if your love burns so brightly, you should be able to prove it, right?

❁ Azalea Way: A transformed alleyway nestled between two buildings, marked with a heart shaped arch on both ends. Azalea shrubs line the entire path, enjoying the shade the buildings provide them, and blooming in warm tones of pink, red and purple, broken up with the occasional white. The path is surprisingly narrow though, with just enough room for two people to walk through side by side. In some spots though it almost feels as if the flowers themselves are conspiring to make you and your partner squeeze together. The first of the Faire’s “four roads”, where it’s said that completing all four with the same partner will bless your relationship. (Bellvine Hill)

❁ Camellia Cafe: An outdoor cafe set up under an open tent between several camellia trees. The tent is set up with the intent of disturbing the trees as little as possible so many of the branches slip under it, providing a lovely atmosphere. Each round garden table sits two people (with room for a third if you don’t mind being a little cramped!) and while there are a variety of small treats on offer (including tiered trays for sharing) the real must try is the tea, made from the very trees the cafe is set up around. Every piece of dishware is even styled after the camellias themselves! (Maerlys)

❁ Carnation Station: A large, circular gazebo painted red and white with plenty of space to sit. The architecture has hearts and flowers carved into the wood, but the real draw is the giant heart centerpiece of the middle of the space, made entirely of red and white carnations. Surrounding the perimeter of the gazebo are piles of empty pots, each with pairs of names written on them and made clearly visible. Several feet away from the structure are rows of shelves with even more pots, all filled with fresh dirt - when visitors are done with the gazebo they are encouraged to plant a carnation seed together with a loved one (romantic or platonic!) and write their own names on the pot. The intention is to leave a symbol of their bond which will flourish and then be used for next year’s display. (Primavain)

❁ Across The Cosmos: A smaller canal off the main ones decorated on both sides with massive arrangements of cosmos flowers. Boats decorated with the flower as well are stationed at each end, offering rides to couples up and down the canal for free… but only couples. (Or pairs of people who look like couples, they’re not going to question it if you found a stranger just to get a free ride.) Some of the flowers have broken off and fallen into the water themselves, floating serenely on the surface with whatever stray petals have also found their way there. At night a little meramancy makes the water’s surface look like a starry sky, making it really feel like you are travelling across the cosmos. The second of the Faire’s “four roads”. (Menthward)

❁ Daffodil Reflections: A large shallow pool with four daffodil shaped fountains in the middle - one large and three smaller ones surrounding it. The edge can be sat on… if you can find the space to do so anyway. Several daffodil arrangements line the edges, all staring at their own reflections in the water. More notable though is that people are free to wade into the pool as they wish. At two feet deep it’s quite common to see excited children playing in it and splashing each other, or adults in their swim suits sitting in it to enjoy the nice, cool water. Magic keeps it from feeling too cold and also always nice and clean. Watch out for splashing though. (Menthward)

❁ Fuchsia Lane: Another pathway nestled between buildings, this one is completely shaded thanks to the abundance of fuchsia pots hanging overhead. The flowers range from pink and purple, white and red, and any other combination of those colours you could think of. Hanging with the flowers are also heart shaped lanterns to light your way, giving the path a very warm and dim ambience even in the middle of day. Unlike Azalea Way there’s much more space in this path, so there’s plenty of room to take a breather if you need it. Just be sure to keep against the walls so others can pass. The third of the Faire’s “four roads”. (Primavain)

❁ Iris Rest: Speaking of breathers - tucked away in a little out of the way corner is Iris Rest. A small shaded garden of irises with a handful of benches where people are encouraged to take a break from the festivities and love confessions to just relax. A small iris shaped fountain in the center is enchanted to always cast a rainbow over its spray no matter the time of day or weather conditions and music is being played nearby… wait, does this song sound familiar to anyone? Listen, sometimes you just don’t want the world to see you. What if they don’t understand? (Maerlys)

❁ Magnolia Point: A large viewing deck set up on the cliffside facing the ocean, underneath some magnolia trees in full bloom. Originally set up just for the amazing view, each festival return of this attraction saw it become more and more of a peak “date night” spot and so several tables are set up for a fine dining experience. While daytime will give you a fantastic view of the ocean and less traffic, and dinner by candlelight at night is very romantic, the most popular time to go is dusk by far. And if dinner isn’t of interest to you, there’s still a part of the deck only for viewing, with a waiter nearby to order drinks from should you wish to partake. (Bellvine Hill)

❁ Morning Glory Rise: Marked with an arching trellis of blue, purple, pink and white morning glories, going through here reveals the road to actually be a dimly lit tunnel that splits into two different paths - one marked as more challenging and the other as more accessible. While the latter is a nice little walk uphill with more light and a bench to rest on at the mid way point, the former is as it advertised: a challenging hike up a steep incline of stairs. Both reward you with the same sight at the end though: a breathtaking view of the ocean, with benches propped up against even more morning glory trellises as you take it all in and catch your breath. This is the last of the Faire’s “four roads” and considered the most rewarding. (Maerlys)

❁ Orchid Swings: A roof top garden that, while it’s a little out of the way to get to, gives you a spectacular view of Rosavelle. Several swinging benches have been set up, all adorned with hanging orchids in soft shades of pink and white. A stall selling snacks and drinks has also set up shop on the roof, with its big star being orchid shaped buns made just for the Faire. Every petal has a different filling, and you’re meant to share it with whoever you’re sitting with on your swing, pulling each petal off from the base. The fillings are a mystery and no two buns are the same… there may even be a surprise spicy filling here and there! (Maerlys)

❁ Peony Picnics: A grassy garden area with several picnic blankets set up among a plethora of peony shrubs. People are encouraged to bring whatever food and drink they want and sit with friends or partners on the blankets, enjoying the warm sun and the fragrant flowers. A wide range of food stalls have taken advantage of the easy business opportunity to set up right along the edges of the area, so you have plenty of options, but locals insist that there’s nothing better than preparing your own homemade food to bring here for your loved ones. At darker hours it’s kept lit with floating lanterns. (Primavain)

❁ Primrose Hall: A large, dusty pink tent set up as a dance hall. Live music is played nonstop at all waking hours, with different bands rotating in and out to play different types of music. Chairs and tables are set up along the walls of the tent if you need a break, or if you aren’t much for dancing and just want to enjoy the atmosphere. Primrose bouquets decorate every table, as well as the tent entrance and music stage. But what stands out more are all the images of the namesake flower painted on the stone dance floor. At night the stage opens up for visitors to try their hand at singing along to whatever song they can get the current band to play. (Menthward)

❁ Snapdragon Stage: While several stages are set up around the festival, Snapdragon Stage stands out in particular. Despite not being the main stage for the festival, it is the most decorated, adorned with hundreds of blooming snapdragons. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to get up on stage for whatever they’d like, ranging from singing, poetry readings, or even one man shows if you’re so inclined. And even if no one stops to pay you any mind at least you’ll always have an audience: an adorable dragon shaped flower arrangement lays in front of the stage, designed to look like it is always watching the performers. (Primavain)

DAY ONE

The Faire opens with all the usual fanfare one would expect from a kingdom that has collectively decided it's time for love. Stalls line the streets, stages fill with performers, and every district hums with activity as festivalgoers throw themselves into games, food, and the general atmosphere of it all. Couples' challenges are in full swing, the Trial of Embers sees its first brave (and often overconfident) participants, and garland weaving stations along the canals are already seeing steady use.

This is also the day when certain festivalgoers will be approached and offered the chance to take on the role of a Laurel-Bound Beloved, a central figure in one of the Faire's most popular traditions. Participation is entirely voluntary, of course… though the offer is often framed in a way that makes declining feel like missing out on something very interesting. Those who accept are given a time and place to meet the next day so they can be briefed on their role in the festival… and dressed appropriately of course.

A brief rainshower passes over Rosavelle in the afternoon that leaves the streets gleaming, the air fresh and the lanternlight that much softer as evening falls.

DAYS TWO & THREE

The second day of the Faire is much the same as the first for most people, with all the usual stalls, games, and performances still running. But for the Laurel-Bound Beloveds, today is when their role begins in earnest! They're instructed to meet at the Town Hall at around eight in the morning, where they'll spend the next few hours being instructed on what to expect in their roles and dressed to the nines in flowers and floaty, regal-looking attire to look the part. They're encouraged to not let their role in the Faire keep them from having fun and to not worry about taking things too seriously.

The Laurel-Bound Beloved debut at the Faire at around noon, where they'll be paraded through the streets with a small entourage of handlers, each one seated in an open-topped gondola adorned in flowers and ribbons. The gondolas drift through the canals and make their way through the city to a central pavilion in the festival square where they're each granted a tiny bouquet of five flowers. From there, one of the Faire's most beloved traditions gets started; the Trial of the Laurel!

The Trial of the Laurel is a Faire-wide game of pursuit, where suitors - anyone and everyone is free to try - are encouraged to win the favor of one (or more!) of the Laurel-Bound Beloveds through grand gestures, impressive performances, or whatever method they think will best capture their attention. The goal is not to claim a Beloved, but rather to catch their attention and, ideally, earn the privilege of being given one of the five flowers from their bouquet. It's all in good fun, of course though the competition can get… spirited.

By Day Three, the competition for their favor has reached a fever pitch. The Laurel-Bound Beloveds become the center of public spectacle, as suitors - some earnest, some performing for the crowd - present grand gestures, ridiculous feats and anything they think has a shot of succeeding. The tradition is as much about the performance as it is about the love itself, and the people of Rosavelle love a good show. Suitors who fail are showered with petals and good cheer; the successful ones earn one of the Beloved's flowers and the adoration of the crowd.

The third day of the Faire ends with good cheer all around, though some of you may catch whispers of a nefarious plot brewing… or perhaps that's just the spicy food talking.

DAY FOUR

At first, it seems like the fourth day of the Faire will be much the same as what came before - the same stalls, the same games, the same lively atmosphere of a kingdom in full celebration. But then, around midday, everything changes...!

A sudden coordinated effort by a mysterious group of mischief-makers turns the festival on its head. A wave of prankish chaos sweeps through the streets: love letters are swapped for grocery lists, spicy foods are secretly replaced with shockingly bland alternatives and some festivalgoers find themselves briefly (and harmlessly) ensnared in harmless traps that spring from the cobblestones. The pranksters, who call themselves the "Broken-Heart Bandits", seem harmless as well, if a little annoying and after an hour or so of this nonsense their antics begin to wind down.

But just as the dust begins to settle, a great outcry rises from the festival square. The Laurel-Bound Beloveds have been... k-k-k-kidnapped! (Carefully escorted away to their previously communicated hiding spots, but, you know. kayfabe and all.) A single, ornate calling card has been left behind my the nefarious pranksters, written in a flamboyant, looping script:

"Greetings, Rosavelle
Our hearts are broken! Shattered! Crushed! For not a single one of you thought to offer us a token of your affection. And so, we have taken matters into our own hands. We now hold your precious Laurels captive, hidden somewhere within Rosavelle's embrace. Only those who have proven their devotion and earned a flower from one of the Beloveds are worthy of this quest. The rest of you... well, you can watch from the sidelines.
Find them, if you dare.
- The Broken-Heart Bandits"

Despite the sudden and shocking turn of events, Rosavelle seems remarkably organized when it rallies to respond to the crisis. Those who received a flower from a Laurel-Bound Beloved's bouquet are invited to go and rescue them, with the help of a number of riddles (that we will not be writing or making you solve, thank us later) left behind by the Bandits that will reveal the location of its associated Beloved. As the flower-bearers set off on their quest, they'll have to contend with the Broken-Heart Bandits' remaining members, who are still causing harmless trouble along the way to slow them down.

And from there, the quest is on! The streets and canals are still teeming with Broken-Heart Bandits, who now seem to be taking their roles a bit more seriously. They set up a series of harmless but annoying obstacles along the way, determined to slow down the rescuers. They might swap the signs on the canals to lead you astray, offer you "helpful" riddles that are deliberately misleading, or even challenge you to another round of the Trial of Embers - with the peppers, of course - as a toll to pass.

Eventually, the riddle will lead the flower-bearers to the location where the Laurel-Bound Beloved is being held. And there, they'll be greeted by one of the Broken-Heart Bandits, who will demand that the rescuer declare their devotion and prove their worth. The Bandit will be the sole judge of whether the declaration is moving enough to warrant the release of the Beloved. If your declaration moves their (admittedly theatrical) heart, they'll step aside and let you pass. If not... well, you'll have to try again, or find another way to convince them.

And for those who didn't receive a flower? They're encouraged to enjoy the rest of the Faire! The stalls are still open, the food is still delicious and the performances are still going strong. In fact, the kidnapping has added a new layer of excitement(?) to the festival and the crowd is loving it. They're cheering on the rescuers, placing bets on who will succeed and generally having a wonderful time.

Once all the Laurel-Bound Beloved have been rescued, they'll be paraded back to the festival square in a triumphant procession, where everyone who helped rescue them - and everyone who cheered them on from the sidelines - will be celebrated. This was one of the best Trials of Devotion in a good few years! Sorry, what? You, er, thought this was all a real kidnapping? Perish the thought! This is Rosavelle, after all! Who would be nasty enough to do something like that? You have to admit, though, that was a rather convincing performance from the Bandits, no?

THE FINAL DAY

The final day of the Faire is here and the atmosphere is electric. Yesterday's "crisis" has only fueled the festival's fervor, turning the final celebration into a truly explosive send-off. The streets are more crowded than ever, the music more vibrant and the food stalls seem to have doubled down on the spice. Even the Broken-Heart Bandits have joined in the revelry, now acting as roving entertainers, their "crimes" forgiven in the spirit of the festival. The Laurel-Bound Beloveds and their rescuers are encouraged to treat the final day of the festival as a date to celebrate their successful courtship and find themselves toasted and celebrated throughout the day, their stories retold and embellished with each telling.

This is also the day of the Faire's grand finale: The Burning Hearts Ceremony. As dusk settles over Rosavelle, the entire city grows quiet for a moment and then, in a coordinated wave, lanterns shaped like hearts are released from every district. They float up into the twilight sky, a sea of glowing crimson and gold, their light reflecting in the canals and in the eyes of the festivalgoers below. It's a breathtaking sight!

From there, the party continues late into the night, with the Faire's final fireworks display - a spectacular show of light and sound that paints the sky in a thousand brilliant colors. The revelry is at its peak, with laughter, music and the clinking of glasses filling the air until the early hours of the morning. It's a fitting end to a festival that has been, by all accounts, one for the history books.

(CODE)

Comments

[uncommonsense]

[ oho! she didn't know what to expect, a potential overreaction or no reaction at all maybe. to get an interesting answer like that's pretty good! ]

Right? It's just spicy enough to be comfortable, and the flavors mix together pretty well!

[ pretending to be a gourmet now, it seems. ]

Faires like this are the best for just trying out new things. Foods, games, there's new experiences to hit up everywhere!

[tas]

[He's just gonna take that plate of fruit for himself now, don't mind him everyone. Metal balances it on one arm the way a server at a restaurant would while plucking a fruit to eat every so often.]

It is primarily for socializing, correct? I have spent the faire thus far observing attendees in order to record examples of "bonding". It has provided ample observational records.

[It's all he's done, actually. Just sorta. Stalking couples around the place.]