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rosavelle2025-11-30 12:08 pm
royaldecreemods) wrote in rosavelle2025-11-30 12:08 pm
Entry tags:
Event: The Wilting Festival
PREPARATION
It's been a long month of settling in (for all of you) and hard work (for… some of you), and while Nadeshiko has done her level best to mold everyone into something resembling presentable nobility, even she must finally concede that the time has come for your first official venture down into Rosavelle proper. (She says, while giving certain individuals a very pointed look. You know who you are.)
Despite Nadeshiko's, um. Exacting standards, the castle tailors have prepared attire that is on the surprisingly casual side - soft, cozy layers in dusky pastels and warm creams, trimmed with embroidered blossoms and lined with plush fabrics. Nadeshiko insists it is all "strategically understated," whatever that means.
Once everyone has bundled themselves accordingly, attendants guide you across the Castle Grounds toward the waterway that links the castle to Rosavelle. Moored along the stone steps are several slender boats, each polished to a mirror shine and waiting waiting at the landing, dressed just as warmly as the rest of you, is Callie.
They're coming along on this excursion too, they announce - which makes you sort of wonder how exactly they're going to blend in…? They offer no explanation for this, merely smiling with the serene confidence of someone who absolutely knows what they're doing. You hope.
Callie clears their throat once everyone has gathered. "Before we set off," they begin, "I want to thank you all for your efforts this past month. I know it hasn't been easy. This trip is a test - Nadeshiko insists I remind you - but I hope you'll spend these next few days discovering what makes this kingdom so dear to me. I hope you fall in love with it, even just a little."
And with that, attendants gesture everyone aboard. The boats push off from the landing, gliding down the canal toward the vibrant city beyond. Ahead, you can hear the distant sounds of music, laughter, and the unmistakable bustle of festival preparations drifting across the water.
Rosavelle awaits!
Despite Nadeshiko's, um. Exacting standards, the castle tailors have prepared attire that is on the surprisingly casual side - soft, cozy layers in dusky pastels and warm creams, trimmed with embroidered blossoms and lined with plush fabrics. Nadeshiko insists it is all "strategically understated," whatever that means.
Once everyone has bundled themselves accordingly, attendants guide you across the Castle Grounds toward the waterway that links the castle to Rosavelle. Moored along the stone steps are several slender boats, each polished to a mirror shine and waiting waiting at the landing, dressed just as warmly as the rest of you, is Callie.
They're coming along on this excursion too, they announce - which makes you sort of wonder how exactly they're going to blend in…? They offer no explanation for this, merely smiling with the serene confidence of someone who absolutely knows what they're doing. You hope.
Callie clears their throat once everyone has gathered. "Before we set off," they begin, "I want to thank you all for your efforts this past month. I know it hasn't been easy. This trip is a test - Nadeshiko insists I remind you - but I hope you'll spend these next few days discovering what makes this kingdom so dear to me. I hope you fall in love with it, even just a little."
And with that, attendants gesture everyone aboard. The boats push off from the landing, gliding down the canal toward the vibrant city beyond. Ahead, you can hear the distant sounds of music, laughter, and the unmistakable bustle of festival preparations drifting across the water.
Rosavelle awaits!
THE WILTING FESTIVAL
The boats drift smoothly along the canal, the castle receding behind you as the waterways widen and the distant hum of the city grows louder. Soon, the canal bends - and bursts open into a riot of color and sound.
Nadeshiko rises from her seat just enough to hold out a hand as if presenting the kingdom to everyone. "Welcome," she announces, "to Rosavelle. Do try not to gawk. …Or at least, do it discreetly."
Gawking, however, feels almost unavoidable. Bridges arch over the waterway, draped with trailing garlands enchanted to glow in shifting hues. Bloomcraft lanterns hover in clusters, bobbing gently overhead like luminous petals caught in an intangible breeze. The buildings lining the canals are painted in cheerful colors, their balconies overflowing with winter-hardy blossoms charmed to shimmer with faint starlight. Everywhere you turn, there are stalls and floating market boats laden with food: sugared fruit skewers, steaming seafood pies, warm spiced drinks, flower-shaped pastries dusted with edible glitter.
Music drifts from every corner - bright string melodies, lively flutes, the rhythmic clapping of dancers gathered in impromptu circles. Children dart between vendors, adults laugh over shared drinks and the whole district feels like it's pulsing with festival magic.
"The Wilting Festival," Callie explains from their spot near the bow of the lead boat, "is how we honor the year behind us - and give our sleeping flowers enough joy and energy to bloom again once the seasons turn." Their eyes shine with unmistakable fondness. "So the more fun you have, the better for Rosavelle."
"Within reason," Nadeshiko adds very sharply.
The boats glide toward a decorated landing and attendants help everyone disembark. Callie continues, "The festival runs nearly nonstop for two days. If at any point you need a break - or if Nadeshiko feels compelled to… re-straighten your etiquette - the boats will take you back to the castle at any hour."
Nadeshiko folds her hands neatly. "Yes. I will, in fact, be checking."
And then your escorts step aside and you're officially let loose! There’s all sorts to do in almost every corner you can find around the kingdom and players are encouraged to have fun and come up with festival acitivies of their own for their characters to enjoy. But if you need some ideas to get you started, here's what you can find going on around Rosavelle!
- ❆ The Lantern Cascade Parade happens twice daily. Rowboats decorated in glowing flowers drift down the canal, musicians playing as children toss enchanted petals that float upward instead of falling. Advisors are welcome to ride along if they help row.
❆ Food and drinks galore! Try snow sugar fritters, savory herb pasties, candied citrus peel, roasted chestnuts, and flower-shaped steamed buns filled with spiced cream. There's also the "Wilting Platter Challenge," which involves finishing a sampler of six festival specialties before the enchanted hourglass runs out. Stalls also offer mulled wine, spiced berry cider, rosehip toddy, and frothy lavender cocoa. For the brave (or foolish), certain taverns host informal drinking contests.
❆ Musicians from across Rosavelle gather all over the festival, providing a constant stream of lively fiddles, soft waltzes, upbeat folk songs, and the occasional heartfelt ballad. Citizens often pull strangers into spontaneous dance circles - consider it part of blending in. Of course, if you've already got a partner, then you have an excuse to politely decline…
❆ Horse-drawn carriage rides wind through the district's canalside streets. Each small carriage takes two passengers with no option to solo ride, making it a cozy (or awkward) experience depending on your company. The horses wear garlands woven from winter blooms, and the drivers love pointing out bits of Rosavellan lore along the route, which makes it a good way to learn about the kingdom, at least.
❆ A wide plaza near the center of Menthward has been converted into a Bloomcraft-frozen skating rink. Teams of mages keep the ice perfectly smooth, and skates can be borrowed for free. While it's all just intended for good fun for the most part, every other hour sees exhibitions by local skaters from the Marquess Lyric Academy.
❆ A row of artisans offers winter charm-making workshops. You can weave winter blossom bracelets, assemble protective charms, or paint tiny glass lanterns with personalized colors. They're said to help carry warmth into Fallow. In addition, a stretch of the riverside is devoted to paper lanter painting, where guests decorate small floating lanterns with wishes for the coming months. At sunset each day, they're released out into the canal.
❆ The "Wilting Games" are a set of friendly competitions held throughout Menthward: snowball toss accuracy challenges, team relay races with sleds enchanted to glide on cobblestones, flower-identification quizzes hosted by excitable botanists, and a particularly silly scarf-tying speed contest.
❆ A number of cafes have dedicated themselves to being ‘quiet spaces' for locals to duck into if they need to take a little break from the noise and activity of the festival. Ideal for recharging or hiding from Nadeshiko for exactly ten minutes before she inevitably finds you.
THE FINALE
By the end of the second day, Menthward glows with the contented warmth of a celebration that has wrung every last drop of energy from its participants. Festivalgoers - locals and advisors alike - gather in the largest plaza for the final event of the Wilting Festival.
As the crowd settles, the first firework bursts overhead in a cascade of rose-gold petals, scattering sparks that drift like falling blossoms before dissolving into the night. More follow: spirals of blue and silver, twin bursts that curl into heart-shapes, a shimmering waterfall of white light that earns a collective gasp from the crowd. Bloomcraft enchants every explosion to swirl, bloom, and dance in impossible patterns.
The finale erupts in a storm of gold and crimson, lighting the plaza like daylight. When the final burst fades and the echo rolls away across the city, the crowd breaks into applause so loud it rattles the garlands overhead. Just like that - the Wilting Festival comes to a close.
Callie and Nadeshiko gather the advisors once the crowd begins to disperse. Callie looks like they’ve had a whale of a time, practically glowing with pride and Nadeshiko… well. She doesn't look more displeased than usual.
The group makes its way back to the docks, where the boats await with lanterns softly flickering. Once everyone is aboard, they push off from the city's edge, gliding through dark, glass-still waters back toward the castle. After all of that, how well did you really do? Did you blend in? Impress? Make a fool of yourself?
The answer will come soon enough.
For now, all you can do is rest - and wait for the results of your test.
As the crowd settles, the first firework bursts overhead in a cascade of rose-gold petals, scattering sparks that drift like falling blossoms before dissolving into the night. More follow: spirals of blue and silver, twin bursts that curl into heart-shapes, a shimmering waterfall of white light that earns a collective gasp from the crowd. Bloomcraft enchants every explosion to swirl, bloom, and dance in impossible patterns.
The finale erupts in a storm of gold and crimson, lighting the plaza like daylight. When the final burst fades and the echo rolls away across the city, the crowd breaks into applause so loud it rattles the garlands overhead. Just like that - the Wilting Festival comes to a close.
Callie and Nadeshiko gather the advisors once the crowd begins to disperse. Callie looks like they’ve had a whale of a time, practically glowing with pride and Nadeshiko… well. She doesn't look more displeased than usual.
The group makes its way back to the docks, where the boats await with lanterns softly flickering. Once everyone is aboard, they push off from the city's edge, gliding through dark, glass-still waters back toward the castle. After all of that, how well did you really do? Did you blend in? Impress? Make a fool of yourself?
The answer will come soon enough.
For now, all you can do is rest - and wait for the results of your test.
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