epidemiology | EVENT ★ WINTER WONDERLAND

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EVENT ★ WINTER WONDERLAND

HOLIDAY PREPWORK

The sun might still be AWOL, but that doesn't mean it's time for a vacation! The goblin community seems even more motivated to get their holiday preparations together, working tirelessly to brighten up the grim atmosphere.

To that end, they've enlisted the help of the ALASTAIR recruits that've been bumming around. Characters that signed up will be invited or roped into the goblins' various holiday traditions and events. Though they may refuse or fail these tasks, for every one that isn't accomplished, characters will suffer one effect from the curses list for upsetting the holiday balance.

Note that those that didn't sign up can still help with tasks out of the goodness of their hearts, they just won't be assigned anything themselves or suffer any curses. Additionally, though PCs are magically bound to work with some partners, they may team up with others as well.

GREETINGS FROM LLOYD

ALASTAIR sends their holiday tidings! Some characters will find special deliveries addressed to them by name from the mysterious Lloyd of HR. The packaging might be messy and overtaped, and some of the gifts are less nice than others, but it's the thought that counts.

MISTLESNOW

The first snowfall of the year arrives, and though this may not bode well when there's no sun to melt it away, for now it's pristine and beautiful. Flurries and gentle snowstorms continue for days, blanketing all of Chantes and the outskirts.

With it comes a uniquely magical weed epidemic. Mistletoe grows off every surface it can, stems and shrubs of it creeping off of anything it can cling to, including trees, archways, lanterns and buildings. This parasitic plant is a notorious holiday tradition, but in Chantes it packs an extra punch: when two characters step under it together, they'll find themselves magically rooted in place. Mistletoe's spell can only be broken by a kiss, and while chaste exchanges usually work (kisses to the hand, butterfly or eskimo kisses, etc.), more stubborn weeds do exist.

This effect lasts until characters smooch or the weed dies from lack of sustenance, which could be anywhere between several hours to a full day. Mistletoe can be destroyed by a third party in a pinch, but be careful not to get stuck under the plant as well!

As an OOC note, feel free to be creative on the range and strength of the mistletoe, but please respect other players' boundaries! If you would like to break the mistletoe with a hearty handshake or have your character be immune, be our guest.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

All the hustle and bustle aside, the festivities themselves are peaceful and joyous -- and thanks to the ALASTAIR recruits, not punctuated with death or ominous Chimera motifs this time. A large bonfire continues all night with food and mulled wine aplenty. It's time to kick back, make some snow angels, and relax.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes I...[Well, that certainly catches her attention now. Fingers tap against the command seals idly.]

You know about them. [She says as she looks back down at her dough. Trying to keep her hands busy, she moves to start rolling out the dough.]

...Are you from Gilgamesh's world?

[ It was deliberate phrasing, that much is true. At least, he seems to have her attention.

Still at work, Archer starts working on the shapes of his cookies. ]

I'm a Servant.

[ That explains fairly succinctly how he knows what those markings are, doesn't it? ]

I knew him during what we call the Fifth Holy Grail War.

Edited 2015-12-20 01:20 (UTC)

[So this is someone in which Gilgamesh fought, in one of these Holy Grail Wars, she assumes. Her lips purse into a thin line as she works to thin out the dough. Gilgamesh hadn't mentioned any other Servants being here. Not yet, anyways. She's grateful that this Holy Grail was no where within this realm. Otherwise, this would be a serious situation.

As she works, her eyes are focused on the command seals.]

You must have fought against him. [A beat.] I assume you must be in a similar situation he was in. Needing a source of magic to stay alive?

We did.

[ Another statement of fact, without embellishment. Though he didn't enter into a proper battle with Gilgamesh during the War, they were on opposing sides, in the end. Given what they were, they could be nothing else. ]

I contracted with a Master shortly after I arrived here. For the moment, my needs are met.

[ There's no need to bring Rin's name into it so he doesn't. ]

I likely would have resorted to something like this if I hadn't found one quickly.

[ AKA cooking. He looks so domestic with his sleeves rolled up and an apron on, it's almost hard to believe he's a weaponized ghost. ]

Ah good. I'm glad you found one!

[A smile makes its way to Pearl's lips as she starts to cut out cookies herself, trying to draw them in the shapes of fellow recruits. Her shoulders become much more relaxed as she continues her work.]

At least you won't have to fight here against other servants, should any more arrive. There's no need for another War atop what's been going on here.

I know Gilgamesh can be rather... brash. But... [She glances to her hand again.] this will help him stay alive. And he won't have to worry.

[ She really does have it bad, doesn't she?

Archer doesn't stop what he's doing, but he sighs internally. Whatever Pearl is (she certainly isn't human), Gilgamesh must have chosen her for her mana and her kindness. Whether he truly is fond of her or not, she obviously doesn't the full story or know exactly what she's dealing with. ]

There is no Holy Grail War to compel us to fight here, no.

[ Which is just as well, really. However: ]

Not all of us see eye to eye.

[That causes her to pause. A small frown tugs at her lips as she looks over her shoulder at Archer.]

You all fought for the same thing. The Holy Grail. It was against your will, for the most part. Sure, you were all made to fight, but you couldn't help it. It was for your Masters.

...Did something else happen between you and Gilgamesh during the Holy Grail War?

[ So Gilgamesh did tell her something -- or perhaps, she deduced part of the truth for herself, it's hard to say.

Either way, she isn't really wrong. Servants don't choose their Masters or the battles they are summoned to participate in. They are the tools of humans and no more.

He scoffs softly. ]

We fought at the behest of our Masters and the Holy Grail, that much is true.

[ As for himself and Gilgamesh... ]

The Fifth Holy Grail War was a different affair from the rest. Seven Servants were summoned, but there was one who remained in the world after the Fourth Holy Grail War was over.

[ There's only one to whom he could be referring. ]

In the time from which I came, Gilgamesh sought to use the Holy Grail to cleanse the world by purging it of humanity.

[Pearl turns to face Archer then, her eyes wide with disbelief. He... he wanted to wipe out humanity?]

Th-That makes no sense! [She says as she balls her hands into loose fists.] Why would he want to purge humanity? He's a king. He wants to rule over everything. The king of everything. That would defeat the purpose of what he stands for, wouldn't it? What king in their right mind would want to rule over something in which had no population?

[Pearl knew of his big ego. His aspirations. While they weren't of the best intentions, she could see the passion behind his motives. At least, on the surface she could see.]

[ It makes no sense, and yet it makes absolute sense. While he may fight against it, his very being an instrument to avert the destruction of humanity at all costs, he still understands the mechanics of it, the purpose of a cleansing fire. The world was born thus, and so it would also end. He realizes this, understands the hierarchies of existence established in the beginning, and Gilgamesh is just as much their agent as he is.

It's the reason why they will always be opposed. ]

Gilgamesh is the first Heroic Spirit to ever exist. He stands above the rest of us, not only as a Servant, but also as a force of nature -- as a member of the hierarchy that governs the fate of the world.

As he considers himself the king of everything, so too he considers it is his right to decide who lives and who dies. Upon receiving incarnation at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War, he considered humanity too populous and too corrupt in the modern era to exist so he decided to cull the herd by unleashing the power of the Holy Grail.

Those who managed to survive would be his subjects. The rest would simply be considered collateral damage.

Edited 2015-12-20 03:46 (UTC)

[This... this was insane. Gilgamesh had not mentioned any of this to her. If anything, he was full of himself. An ego large enough to fill an entire room. But Pearl looked past that. He had been nothing but kind to her. Apologetic whenever he did wrong by her. But then Kida's words from just a few days ago ring out in her head.

He is a lair, a rat.

The Gem purses her lips, lacing her fingers together in front of herself.]

...He never went through with that plan of action, did he?

[ Archer wouldn't expect him to. So long as he could have what he wanted, why trouble his Master with all the details of what made him himself.

She could turn a blind eye, of course, but that wasn't good for anyone. As his Master, the one providing him with life and power, the responsibility for his actions would inevitably fall on her shoulders, and it wouldn't do for her to be unprepared. ]

He made the attempt and was unsuccessful.

[ Because of the efforts of a handful of determined individuals.

He pauses for a moment, gauging her reaction before he continues. ]

To be fair to the Gilgamesh who is here, as far as I'm aware, that series of events hasn't taken place yet for him, though he has expressed thoughts along the same lines to me.

Considering that you are now his Master and the responsibility for his actions rests on your shoulders, I didn't think you should be unaware in the event he decides to walk such a path while he's here.

[It's a relief that the Gilgamesh here wasn't the one in which Archer was familiar with in his timeline. The very thought of him considering the idea, though... it causes Pearl to sink into herself, lowering her gaze with wide eyes. Would he ever think to do something like that here? Under ALASTAIR?

Suddenly, the Seals on her hand feel considerably heavier. She jaw sets as she looks up at him once more.]

Thank you for that information. I truly appreciate it. You could have withheld that information from me, but... you didn't.

I will do my best to keep him in line. [As well as she can with three Seals.]

[ It's a lot. He realizes that, and perhaps, the situation is made all the worse by the simple fact that she does seem to be a kind person. Rin is too, in her own way, but her mindset is that of a mage. She was prepared for the Holy Grail War since she was young, and this is all new to Pearl. ]

I expect you will.

[ Whether she can handle Gilgamesh or not remains to be seen, but he'll give her the benefit of the doubt for now. ]

I realize it's a lot to take in.

Yes it is.

[Pearl clears her throat and offers him a small smile.]

But! It's no use mulling about it now. We have some cookies to make, right? [She says that mostly to reassure herself and focus on the task at hand. She'd talk to Gilgamesh about this later. The Gem turns and focuses on her cookies.]

Let's get to work!

[ Cookie-making, it is, then. Archer scoffs lightly. ]

As you wish.

[ There's still plenty to do before the celebrations start. ]

You'll have to work hard to catch up to me.

[ He has a lot of cookies under his belt already. ]

[Pearl quirks a brow at him. Is that how he's playing it? She smiles then as she readjusts her falling sleeves and gets right to work, cutting out shapes, reworking the dough, rinse and repeat... she places the cookies on a cookie sheet, and soon onto a second sheet.]

I wasn't aware it was a competition! [Pearl says as she steals a glance up at the Servant. Not that she minds it.] You have a head start on me!

[ That most certainly is how he's playing it. She seems determined to lighten the mood, and he has no issue with going along with it. ]

Consider it a challenge, then.

[ Do or die, Pearl. What will it be? ]

[Pearl puffs up her chest a little. The dread she felt before seems to have disappeared completely. She quickly tugs off her sweater, and hangs it up on a nearby coat rack, with her original top underneath. She reties her apron back on around her waist and grins.]

Challenge accepted!

[And she gets right to work, cutting out what cookies she can, and places them onto cookie sheets. When she put her mind to it, she could make quite the show.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ★ WINTER WONDERLAND

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