aterat | A Winter's Ball

Who; Everyone!
What; Christmas Festivities for all!
Where; The Grand Ballroom, Noble District
When; The Week of Midwinter (December 14th-20th)
Warnings; Positive emotional influence; if anything comes up in threads, please warn where appropriate

A Needed Respite

It's been some time since Halcyn has shown herself, let alone put together festivities for those gathered here from other worlds, but this winter, she's pulled out all the stops. While she's also looking forward to the Festival a kind new resident has requested her aid for, she couldn't very well let this festive season pass by without a Ball.

She's assured all those who may wish to attend have the finest clothing available to enjoy the evenings or provides them with a means to obtain finery from Aterat's premiere seamstress. The invitation arrives at their doorsteps, providing directions to the seamstress and a friendly reminder not to forget a complimenting mask. This is a masquerade ball, after all.

On the evenings of the ball, in the square outside the residential buildings, residents there will find a two-meter pylon, its central crystal pulsing like a beacon. Touching one of the hand targets at its top will immediately teleport you to the pylon's twin in the square outside the ballroom. While still present during the day, the crystal sits dull and inoperable during the day. There also exists a similar pylon outside the orphanage.

For those who live away from the community dwellings, each night, the cabs can be found looking for fares seeking to be taken to the noble district.

A Welcoming Gift

The entrance to the Grand Ballroom is covered is tiny bells, glittering lights, and wreathed in holly and evergreen branches. The foyer is equally decorated, its vaulted ceiling carrying easily the lilting music from the ballroom, and at the center of the foyer is a towering and opulently decorated yule tree, with presents gathered beneath it. Halcyn waits beside the tree to greet all attendees to the ball, to thank them, to welcome them, and to wish them a Merry Yuletide.

Everyone who attends will receive a gift, and she'll assure them while the item within the package they are given is not its true image, it is as close an approximation as she could manage to build from their memories. The packages are small, no larger than a foot square, and within is an item they would recognize from home that has a sentimental value to them. If it's a magical item, it will not possess the magic therein, and it is an item that is tied to a fond and caring memory of theirs. Holding it or wearing it (if applicable) or simply having it with them will fill them with a warm sense of whatever emotion is tied to the item. For example, if it is a ring that belonged to a loving parent, having or wearing the ring will make them feel loved and nurtured. The effect will last throughout the ball in an intense state, and after the ball in a more subdued state, but it will always possess that feeling in some regard.

A Serious Spread; feasting and dancing the nights away

The Ballroom beyond the foyer is dazzling in lights, more holly, and evergreen boughs, and enchanting music from the string quartet playing at the far end of the dance floor. Along one wall, near the stairs leading to the upper atriums and the balconies, is set a cornucopia of foods both familiar and alien. If it is a traditional Yuletide or Winter food from somewhere in the known or unknown worlds, it's available here, and nothing seems to run out.

For those old enough to drink, there is a fully stocked bar with refreshments (and non-alcoholic options for those who abstain), and there are also drink options on the food table as well if you want something lighter or less influential with your meal. Those who wish to dine in a semblance of privacy can ascend the stairs with their plates and have a seat at one of the white and gold decorated tables on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. The music here is muted but still present, affording better means of conversation.

From the vaulted ceiling over the dancefloor falls a light snowfall, reflecting all the glittering lights in the decorations, but never touching the floor, disappearing as though it never existed in the first place. Those who try to catch the falling snowflakes, or simply have them fall upon them, will feel a warmth spread through them and will find themselves immediately more relaxed and open to conversation, no matter the sort.

Those who join the dancing on the floor will find they know whatever dance they may begin participating in, as long as they let their feet do the moving and don't think about it too much. They'll also find they don't tire as easily as they normally would and could dance all night long. This impulse can be resisted, though, and someone might want to pull you away before things get out of hand.

Sky Painting; Outdoor Balconies

Those who truly want for solitude need look no further than the balconies off the upper floor. While they do open onto the outside, open-air fire pits along the balcony keep the area warm enough to be inviting. There are refreshments here as well, warm ciders, hot chocolates, and the like, and the sky above is a display all its own.

Every night until midnight, the sky over the Ballroom will be alight with Auroras, though they seem to only be viewable from the upper outdoor balcony of the Ballroom. Those approaching from outside will see only a night sky lit by stars.

Those who seek the refuge of the outdoor balcony will find themselves blanketed in an inner peace they may find foreign. So much so, in fact, that they may even notice its artificial, and if they step far enough away from the glowing fire pits, it fades at the same rate the warmth of the fire does from their limbs, also as though that inner peace were coming from within the flames.

Halcyn certainly wanted everyone to enjoy the evenings without care or concern, didn't she?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The knight listened as the other went on, attempting to picture all of this going on in various worlds. That in itself was a thing that gave him a headache, but for the moment he was able to set it aside. Jasper always gad a better imagination than he did.

As far as the religious part, there were churches of course, and clergy. But Yggdrasil was the root of all life and it was said that when people died, their souls went back to her and when children were born, leaves appeared on the tree to symbolize new souls. The Luminary was the one that Hendrik personally knew of that was granted visions from her roots to be able to see things in the past.

If the Luminary were here, Hendrik might think about a tree to represent Yggdrasil, but then again that would have to be something he'd ask before doing. The churches and priests preached kindness and benevolence. They even mentioned the Goddess, and there were goddess statues at campsites. Of course the party was never attacked so maybe the statues made the sites holy. Certainly the Luminary with all of his power must have something to do with it as well.

"Then something like this is not out of place with all of the things that you describe."

Waver offered a nod, folding his arms lightly as he tried to take his mind off the lingering memories of where he should be right about now thanks to his explanation, instead of here. “Quite, this time of year, there are parties quite regularly. Balls among those who have the means to hold them, or smaller parties if you’re into the sort of thing but don’t have the resources for something on this scale.”

Glancing at the ball in full swing, though, he hummed. “They’ve done a nice job here, I think. Seems more lighthearted as it should be.” At least he hadn’t seen anyone upset or having a bad time. Everyone seemed to be getting into the spirit of it, and enjoying things for the sake of pure enjoyment rather than false cheer and fake smiles to hide other intent.

Hendrik's blue eyes glanced over at couples dancing on the floor, and others simply standing around. There were some passing by with plates piled high with food and it made him briefly recall the feasts back at the castle which had been grand things as he listened.

"So this is a grand scale of a party." It was a question but didn't manage to come out as such.

The knight's head moved to the side as he saw others that were talking excitedly and animatedly amongst themselves. A few pointed to the very tall tree and seemed to simply be enjoying this place and everything in it.

"I have overheard someone passing by earlier that this place will be like this for a few days?"

And if that was so surely this man had other people to spend time with although the knight silently thanked him for the opportunity to explain without getting verbally berated for having to do so.

Waver offered a slight nod to the not quite question, having said as much already. He himself was watching the other guests carefully, out of habit. He was always a bit of a fish out of water at social functions, especially back in his world… So even if he had decided to come as a distraction from what he currently lacked, it was a bit of an uncertain situation.

The follow up question presents a distraction in itself. He doesn’t mind answering questions. After all, he’s used to it. Between Gray’s inexperience with mage society and his being a professor, he actually has patience with this more than other things. It’s one of the few things he rarely gets annoyed with as long as the questions don't get too personal. “It will be. From what I understand, it’s a meant to continue for a while. Suppose it’s to accommodate for people who might not be able to attend one day or another.”

Hendrik himself always tried to excuse himself as early as possible out of royal functions. He always felt uncomfortable and there were so many different things that he could fail at.

So if he had to remain at such functions, the knight kept close to the king or the princess, and hoped he could just sort of melt into the stonework.

However, at the answer, he nodded, satisfied with it. "I have not heard as to whether if someone attends one particular evening, if they are not invited back for the next night."

Waver hadn’t heard anything of that nature either. It was more that he doubted people had every evening free to go every night. “I don’t imagine they’d turn people away for having attended one evening and come back for another, more that I expect not everyone has time to attend every evening.” Some people worked, some people had others to spend time with or time sensitive situations to take care of. He himself had a project that was going to need a little more attention tomorrow evening.

"I see." the knight replied. The man's reasoning sounded solid in his own mind, even if half the time what sounded perfectly reasonable to him, Jasper mocked and slid negative thoughts in from time to time.

"In that case I do not wish to keep you, but I do thank you for enlightening me on the customs and traditions that you are familiar with. Your wisdom and time will indeed assist me when I look at more of the decorations and it will inform my observance of the rituals that people perform here."

It wasn’t like the knight was keeping Waver from much. He was simply here to distract himself, and he wasn’t so good at socializing that he had a wide social circle here as yet. He’d probably try mingling a bit and then find some quiet corner to observe the festivities and read the book that had been given to him.

It was a polite and thoughtful suggestion, though, and Waver also wouldn’t want to keep the man from his evening now that his brief sharing of information was over. That aside, Waver wasn’t necessarily good at being thanked for doing something he would have done for anyone. So he offered an awkward nod. “Don’t mention it. I’m used to explaining or offering information to my students and apprentice, anyway.” With a last glance at the tree and Hendrick, he turned to make that attempt at mingling. “Enjoy your evening, sir.”

A Winter's Ball

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