|  Author | Announcement: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome] (Read 98 times) |
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|  | Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Thread Started on Oct 30, 2009, 12:06pm » | |
Autumn had draped her burnished veil across the lands, and though it was already snowing in the highlands of Ardor, in Talor the colors of the season were just sweeping the land, touching every leaf with red, gold, or orange. It was nearly the time for honoring the dead spirits, and also honoring the Grey Lord, god of death.
And so the kingdom was preparing in fine style to celebrate such a night, the holiday of Hallowed Midnight, when they would drink the toast of the Grey Lord, and celebrate the honored dead.
Invitations were sent, runners were dashing to and fro. Was your invitation received? Will you be attending?
-------------------------------
The Grand Hall of Stars was chosen for this year's event. It had been built close to the Shimmerspire to provide a venue for events such as this, with extensive ornate gardens and a marble pavilion open to the night air. The great dome of the main hall was carved like delicate lace, allowing the night sky beyond to be visible.
Archaeon the Twilight Bard had arrived early. Several of his colleagues had invited him to attend the decorating, and they were just putting on the finishing touches. The walls were lined with tabled of food and drink. One corner held a minstrel band, positioned so their music would reverberate through the hall and into the gardens. Grey and silver cloth was draped around the hall, enchanted with small glimmering lights. The Grey Lord's symbol, a circle bisected by an arc, was prevalent in all of the decor. Just as the sprigs of shadeleaf represented gentle death, the silver and black spirals of ribbon and glass represented the ever turning Life Spiral.
The Twilight Bard was dressed for the occasion, wearing a tunic of soft white embroidered with silver and a shoulder cape that draped off one shoulder, of gauzy grey. His mask also matched his outfit, made of white and silver filigree. His familiar, Ilinriet the snow leopard, was freshly groomed, already matching the attire with her magnificent coat.
I wonder what familiar faces we shall see here? She mused as they reached the group of mages finishing the decorations. The ball was about to start!
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Thera
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #1 on Nov 2, 2009, 12:55pm » | |
Thera had thought about attending the Masque, but wasn't entirely sure if she was going. Besides, she didn't have a costume she could wear. She knew her adopted parents were going to attend; seeing how they already had their costumes from the tailor. It had seemed that they had taken in consideration for her as well, a costume all set out for her as well.
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Straighting her costume, and making sure that her mask was on properly, Thera waited for her parents to arrive.
"Where are they? They said they'd be here before a lotta people arrive," Thera asked outloud. Dressed in a silver court type dress, tailored for her Juna body of course, Thera wore a matching silver mask. The stitching was a shade or two darker than the material, which matched the mask.
Finally giving up waiting for them outside, Thera walked inside to see what it looked like.
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Harabec Bryn Rualdin
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #2 on Nov 6, 2009, 9:20am » | |
Harabec wasn't terribly fond of fancy, high-to-do events, but he'd invited Mirai and her friends to come along, and also wanted the others to just enjoy themselves. He hoped they'd all come. He had arrived the night before with the others, but had spent much of the day outside the city walls on a hike in the nearby mountains. But this evening it had finally come time to dress up and go to the ball.
Wearing a knee-length tunic of dark green embroidered with silver thread, he certainly looked dressed for the occasion. This outfit had been gathering dust in his closet for a long time. A dark green sash was secured around his waist, with a single silver band around his lower left leg. The tunic's sleeves were long and full, with slits from elbow to wrist, showing the light grey shirt he wore underneath.
Upon arriving, the burly Kahl looked about for any familiar faces. Ah, there was one. He remembered her as part of the group.
"Weel lass, yer lookin' fine t'night, an' that's for sure!" He boomed out, stepping up to Thera.
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~` we be in joor realms - dansen in joor story '~
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Thera
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #3 on Nov 7, 2009, 11:24am » | |
Thera nearly jumped when she heard Harabec. She wasn't expecting it, that's for sure. She turned with a smile, slightly red from the compliment.
"Thank you, Harabec," she said. "You look good as well."
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Mirai
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #4 on Nov 8, 2009, 11:57pm » | |
Mirai had been relieved to receive Harabec's invitation. Of course, Archaeon's apprentice was welcome wherever he went, so she had already planned on attending (one did not refuse invitations from royalty, after all), but it was truly terrifying to think about the whole thing. There would be kings and queens and powerful mages and warriors and hundreds and hundreds of other people, and she would have to dress up and dance with all of them.
Well, if she were being honest, Mirai had to admit that she didn't really mind the dressing-up part. She loved to look beautiful and fine, so there was no problem there, but...dancing? With hundreds of strangers? And no friendly face in all of that crowd except for Archaeon and Illinriet, who of course could not stay by her side the entire night. Just thinking about it was enough to make the shy young woman shudder! Even worse, this celebration was for the Grey Lord. Everyone else at this celebration would honor Death, yes; and honor their dead---but who had as many dead to remember as Mirai? She knew already that all her fallen patients would be haunting her this night, and while she had taken some comfort in her master's merciful vision of the joy that waited after death, it wasn't quite enough to make her able to celebrate on this night of nights.
So Harabec's invitation arrived, and with it, a flood of relief. She would not have to be alone after all, and for the first time Mirai began to feel some excitement about the Masque.
Now that the night was actually here, the healer had to admit that her heart beat a little faster looking at all the grandeur of the ballroom and the glory of the midnight sky. She liked very much that the stars were visible through the lattice of the roof, and liked even more the way silver light infused the entire Masque with a glow a little more than moonlight. This place was beautiful, and something deep within stirred to say that the Grey Lord thought so too.
Mirai passed the hours before the ball watching with interest as Archaeon and the other bards decorated the beautiful marble building, noting the various weaves that went into making such beauty. She would have to learn some of these soon, oh yes; at the moment the girl could think of nothing she would like better than a room all silver and starlight. What a peaceful place to be!
Rifka, too, was enjoying herself--although not the tiny silver collar her mistress had fastened around her as means of dressing the hedgehog up, nor the fact that she was confined to a special hip pocket for the night. Mirai did not like to keep her familiar so cooped up, but even worse was the thought of a heavy foot coming down and crushing her beloved friend. So she promised Rifka plenty of cheese and milk, and the hedgehog agreed to attend with much groaning and gnashing of teeth. Still, that was that. They were both there, and night was falling, and there was nothing else to do but wait with baited breath for the ball to begin.
The maid waited anxiously in a corner as people began to trickle in, bouncing a little in her anxiety. Where was Harabec? What if he'd changed his mind; what if he didn't come after all?
There were no words for the relief that swept over the shy little lass when the massive Juna came through the door, and she flew to him with arms outstretched. "Harabec!"
She didn't care if this was a Masque, there was no way anyone could possibly mistake the enormous Kahl for anyone else. Mirai moved as if to embrace her friend, halting herself at the very last moment as she remembered about her dress. "Oh dear...I'm sorry."
The healer lowered her arms, embarrassed. "I can't get fur on my dress tonight; this silly thing is so fine I don't know if I'll ever be able to get it out. But here, stoop down and I shall kiss you on the cheek. I'm so happy to see you."
Although it wasn't at all like Mirai to refrain from getting her dress dirty, anyone could see that she had a point. Her gown was beautiful---lavender satin, layered over with black gauze and spangled crystals that caught the light like stars, with a mask to match. More tiny crystals studded her hair (twisted elegantly up off her throat), and silver vines and moonstones adorned her ears. She was an elegant Lady tonight, and that was certain; but her smile was just the same as she greeted her friend with a kiss. "You look so handsome tonight."
(( Mirai's dress: http://img.alibaba.com/photo/51308236/Formal_Ball_Gown.jpg
Except Mirai would never show that much chest, lol. So try to imagine it off-the-shoulder and covering what would make her blush. 
aaaaand the ear cuffs, because they are cool and I want them:
http://www.1000markets.com/users/sunnysk..../products/54561 ))
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Thera
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #5 on Nov 9, 2009, 12:48pm » | |
A regal looking carriage pulled up to the entrance. It bore greens and browns, and on the doors was the symbol of Lorriena. The footman, a Juna, in fact the driver was one as well, stepped down and around to open the door nearest the entrance. Out stepped an old friend of Acheon's; then another dear friend.
Yanyar would not dare refuse an invitation to this; nor would Nako. Both wore clothing suitable to their stations as High Matriarch and her husband. The footman bowed as the two passed by and walked up the stairs and entered the grand hall. Already, they saw that some have already begun to show.
Thera was the first to spot her adopted parents and smiled. She was relieved to see that they actually showed up for the masque.
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Nuriko Elswyth
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #6 on Nov 12, 2009, 10:54am » | |
“Hey!” Nuriko said, spinning around with paws outstretched as her brother jabbed his fingers into her sides. “Jamie!” She took chase, threatening her brother with retribution as he laughed and ran.
“Nuriko! James!” It was their mother, side-stepping her running children with the ease of practice. They slowed, returning to face her. “We’re guests in Cousin Aldar’s house, remember that.” She reprimanded her children, looking them over. “Now, we’re leaving for the Masque Ball soon, so go get dressed, Jamie. I laid your clothes out on your bed. Jemmy is already dressed. Go!” She dismissed her eldest son and turned to Nuri, tugging on a hem here, a seam there. “That looks nice. Here.” She handed off one of the masks she held in paw and turned, pulling Nuri in her wake as she gathered the remainder of her family.
Two carriages pulled up to the entrance, driven by juna. The doors were opened from inside, and out poured a very loud, large group. Eight in the first carriage (Nuri’s family and one young cousin, insisting on riding with her big cousins) and five in the other, Cousin Aldar’s family. They met between the two carriages, and formed into some semblance of sobriety by the two mothers, they entered the ball.
“Come on, Nuri, lets get some food!”Lyr said, tugging on his favorite cousin’s tunic sleeve. At nine years of age, he was always hungry. “Food!” Nuriko agreed, spotting the grilled fowl in sauce on toothpicks. Her favorite! She allowed Lyr to lead her across the room, tying the ribbons of her half-face mask behind her head as she walked.
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Azure Nider
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #7 on Nov 15, 2009, 6:07pm » | |
How unexpected! Azure's spectacles had practically dropped off his nose at the sight of the exquisitely embossed invitation. Fancy that! Even though he had not seen his estate for over a year, barely even paying it lip service (which after the actions of its townsfolk he scarcely thought it deserved,) the Court of Talor still saw fit to 'cordially invite' him to their Masquerade Ball, a melting pot of noble intrigue and mystery, fine wine, beautiful women... all wrapped in the celestial embrace of the Hall of Stars. The invitation was delicately rolled up, gold edges glinting in the firelight.
"Inform their Majesties that it would be my utmost pleasure to attend their ball. I shall start towards Talor immediately."
The sweaty messenger bowed deeply. Azure smiled.
"Oh, and I must commend you. Taking the trouble to find me, all the way out here... you certainly are dedicated to your job."
The messenger, a fit young human astride a weary bay mare, smiled uneasily. Lord Nider was pleasant enough, but... his campfire threw weird shadows against the rock walls of the cave he had chosen for his campsite, reflecting eerily off his host's half-moons, and the echoing atmosphere twisted the yells of the children playing in the background into something...animalistic. Around the edges of the camp, shadows lurked, waiting. Watching.
All he wanted to do was run away.
"Very well. Run along." The Jester watched, smiling slightly, as the spooked boy whipped his mare into a headlong gallop, vanishing into the eager darkness. His sudden laughter boomed off the surrounding rocks, halting a surprised Tia in mid-spring and startling Vincent out of his defensive crouch.
"Come, my children! We have a long way to go, and much to do! We must ride over hill and dale, to a hall where stars glitter just out of reach! We must work on our manners, our speech, our bearing, We must prepare..." his arm snapped out dramatically, "... to dance the night away! But more importantly," A sapphire eye winked.
"We must decide what we are going to wear."
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Tonight is a night for dancing!
No carriage drew up to the hall's grand entrance, no footman arrived before them to announce their imminent arrival. But Lord Nider and his wards still managed to make a spectacular entrance. The Jester was clad in his habitual white, a simple silken jacket with matching trousers and felt dancing shoes, but his costume was trimmed with shining clasps in the shape of starbursts, his right arm covered in intricate, angular designs and his entire jacket bisected by a feather-like collage of interlocking precious stones that slashed diagonally downwards from his left shoulder, all of it trimmed with silver and mother-of-pearl. A silver cloak, thin as spiderweb, fluid as water, flowed from his left shoulder, matching the celestial splendour of his unbound hair. And his mask! A featureless silver shield that concealed the whole of his face, save the twin crescents that allowed his blue eyes to shine through. Vincent strode at his left, dressed all in white in homage to his uncle, his young face covered by a golden mask carved into the likeness of the sun, while Tia strode forth in an ethereal, though simply cut gown of jet black, a silver crescent moon coyly revealing only a slice of her young features to the packed hall.
All in all, the effect was rather striking.
Behind his faceless mask, Azure could not keep the smile off his face. As he bowed to noble after noble, he strung and played the instrument of social intrigue with all the skill of a master, his wards adding a background chime with their piping voices and innocent (or in the case of Tia, innocuously pointed,) questions. His heart pounded with excitement: Azure was in his element. So when he saw the lavender sylph talking so animatedly to two Juna, one the largest he had ever seen, the other easily recognisable despite her mask as the adopted daughter of the High Matriarch, he almost fell over his own cloak.
Is that who I think it is...?
The mask made it hard to tell, but her shape was the same, her hair glimmering in exactly the same way it had under the sunlight at the fair...
The Jester realised he had halted in order to stare: Tia and Vincent were staring at him curiously.
Azure! This a ball! Where is your composure? This is your arena, your home! You have no need to be frightened.
It was true, of course. How could he fail in such a place. And even if he was mistaken, was it not a masquerade? Such mistakes were a part of the fun! Gently waving aside a duke who had stopped to exchange pleasantries, Azure swept over to the small group, the children bobbing bemusedly at his heels.
"My Ladies, My Lord... might I interject? The very nature of this event makes it hard to tell, but..." he bowed to the lady in lavender. "... I believe I might have made your acquaintance at some point in the past. Do you know me?"
Behind him, the children stared unashamedly: Vincent at Harabec, shocked by his sheer size, Tia at Thera, stunned by the presence of royalty. Unusually, Vincent was the first to get his voice back.
"I thought there was no-one taller then my uncle until I met you, sir. I am Vincent, and this is my sister Tia. It is a pleasure to meet you."
((Azure is wearing Zoisite's costume from PGSM: http://www.soul-hunter.com/sailormoon/images/p_zoisite.jpg
((Oh, and I'm sorry if I'm assuming too much, Thera: I just thought there would be something in Thera's costume that would identify her royal position.))
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Thera
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #8 on Nov 15, 2009, 10:22pm » | |
((Azure, it's a semi-royal dress. Just enough regal in it.))
Thera turned at the new voice. She didn't recognize it, and surely not the masked face. She did her best to compose her face as not to give the thought that she was judging the man before her, or let him think that she was even glaring at him mentally for interrupting her conversation between her and Harabec. Then the young boy spoke and brought the Juna's gaze down to him. Thera had to laugh, politely of course, at the comment about Harabec.
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Mirai
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #9 on Nov 15, 2009, 11:19pm » | |
"Do you know me?"
The voice made Mirai's breath stop, and the girl turned around with her heart in her throat. Sometimes, very rarely, she could stop a moment and Know, and the Knowing happened then. It was not usually a pleasant feeling, for it almost always meant that she had grown a little older in the moment when it happened, and tonight was no exception to the rule. She knew the voice, and when she turned she knew the face, and when he looked at her she knew without a doubt that she would be dancing with him this night. Mirai did not, however, know where the dancing led, and that part was what had her terrified. Azure's gaze was of a very man-and-woman sort, and coming of age or not she did not feel like a woman. She felt like a girl; a lost and frightened child wandering in a wood of silver trees. Mirai could see very clearly that Lord Nider stood right in the center of the only path that led through the forest, waiting for her just before the path twisted around a hilly bend and disappeared into the mist. It seemed that one step forward would send her hurtling into an unknown future, and she did not want to take the step.
The misty woods vanished, and Mirai found herself back in the starlit ballroom with her eyes locked on a pair of deepest blue. No, she did not want to take the step, for she liked to be safe; but Lord Azure looked so handsome and lordly that the pulse froze in her throat. The healer curtsied, sweeping out her skirts and inclining her head to him in obeisance. "Lord Nider."
There was nothing else to say. Mirai felt strongly that she ought to have said something witty or flirtatious or warm, but regardless of what she felt she was quivering with nerves and the words had fled. Just his name, and then she rose. With that, the moment shattered.
She could smile again, and did so, shoving aside a few nagging thoughts (he was a real lord; what would he think of her playing at Lady?) in favor of making introductions. "Or should I say majordomo Nider? I forget." Mirai laughed and bent to press kisses to Tia and Vincent both, smiling around the circle as her mind returned. "Vincent, this is my very good friend Harabec Bryn Rualdin, and you made Tia and yourself a lovely introduction. Tia, this is the Lady Thera. Harabec, this is Lord Azure Nider---I met him at the Autumn Festival. Azure, Harabec and Lady Thera. Oh, and--"
A little brown head popped out of her skirt, studying the new arrivals keenly with a set of beady and disapproving eyes. "Azure, Tia, Vincent; this is my familiar Rifka. Rifka, Lord Nider; Tia, Vincent."
Mirai smiled, but her eyes strayed to the man in silver and she could not hide her blush.
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Harabec Bryn Rualdin
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| | Re: Hallowed Midnight Masque Ball - [ All Welcome]
« Reply #10 on Nov 16, 2009, 9:14pm » | |
[[ That's funny Wing, Zoi's outfit was Archaeon's outfit inspiration too! ]]
Harabec smiled widely, his eyes crinkling up in delight at Mirai's first words. He bent his large frame over so she could kiss his cheek fondly, but he was very careful not to shed on her.
"Weel lassie, ye'll pardon me sayin' it, but yer lookin' more beautiful than all these fancy lords 'n ladies aroond tonight."
He planted himself firmly at her side, determined to be her escort. She looked as though she felt out of place, though personally he felt rather proud of her for coming, and she did look quite lovely. Like a big brother, he felt that any young suitor interested in her would have to go by him first. Leaning over again, he whispered in her ear.
"Ye'll have t' dance with me at least once lassie. Ah feel like a lump on polished marble among all these fancy people, ye ken!" He chuckled, the sound a rumble in his broad chest.
But they never got a chance, before they became surrounded by people, faces both familiar and unfamiliar. Recognizing first the Juna royalty among them, he bowed deeply in the Juna way.
"I thought there was no-one taller then my uncle until I met you, sir. I am Vincent, and this is my sister Tia. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Harabec laughed brightly, kneeling down beside the two children. "Weel noo, Ah'd love t' introduce ye to mah good frien' Mitsu, who's even taller than me! Is this yer uncle then?"
But Mirai spared him by beginning introductions. Harabec nodded to each face in turn, but suddenly noticed that the young woman was acting...odd. Was she flustered? A blush of rose had colored her cheeks, and she noticed her stare was caught by the man in white and silver. Harabec brought his attention to rest on the man, and to his surprise, and suspicion, felt an odd and immediate disliking for the man. There was something about his expression that did not seem quite...right. It was like there was a slight curl to his lip, or a strange glint in his eye. Maybe it was Harabec's overprotectiveness of Mirai that had brought it up. He held out a massive hand to the man, Azure.
"Weel, Ah've noo met ye before, but mayhap ye met th' lass at th' fair. She's noo told me aboot you."
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~` we be in joor realms - dansen in joor story '~
[dabadee dabadie]
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