Quests & Challenges

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/EBHBmxz.png[/img][/center] Where are you? Everything is dark. To your left, there are brambles. To your right, there are even thicker thorns. Behind you, vines have snuck across the path you must have taken— there’s no way out, even if you could see to find one. A little light bobs faintly somewhere ahead of you. There are no thorns in your way, but with each step you take, thick, spiked vines curl in behind you, encouraging you onwards. The light is faint but welcoming. Somehow, it’s so beautiful you can’t help but want to follow it. Or is it that it’s guiding you along the only path there seems to be? If you strain your eyes, you think you can see more lights, almost. Beautiful white points of light in the darkness. Or are they purple? Or are they points of light at all? Are they [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3340168/1#post_3340168]familiar[/url]? Are they stars? They swirl enchantingly amidst the darkness and the light you’d been following goes right into them. You take another step and there are still more lights ahead of you. Another step, and they resolve into lanterns. A third step, and you stumble into a clearing dotted with beautifully glowing mushrooms and a vast building that you hadn’t seen at all until it melted out of the darkness. Lanterns are hung around the edges of the roof. Moths swirl around them dizzyingly. “Welcome.” The stars resolve into… a Fae? A little, seemingly still young, Fae with a pure white mask fixed in a smile that covers her entire face. Something that resembles a firefly— the light you’d been following all this time— hovers at her side, obedient. She blends too well into the darkness save for the dizzying patterns of light and stars that swirl across her body and wings. Only the mask stays still, smiling, always. “Honoured guest. We’ve been waiting.” She extends a card to you. An invitation, written in elegant, looping handwriting in a shade of faintly iridescent purple. [i]You are hereby invited to a celebration of the rediscovery of Veilspuns in this world.[/i] As you take the card, the doors swing open, seemingly on their own, inviting you to proceed further into the building you’ve never so much as heard of before. Trees, thorns, and an unusually deep darkness surround the clearing without a sign of any exit being present. It seems there is no other choice but to go in. … (“Are you sure this is allowed?” the little Fae whispers as she watches the doors close behind you. “It’s in the service of the Shadowbinder and her precious children,” a Pearlcatcher assures her. “And you do want to serve the Shadowbinder, don’t you, Aster?”) … The lights inside are hardly better. Blue candles sway through the air seemingly wherever they feel like being— though they do light the place. You’re standing inside what certainly looks like a vast ballroom with the most luxurious plush carpet you could ever dream of (save for where it gives way to the black marble of the dance floor, of course). And that’s… it. A place so grandiose it would make the perfect stage if only there was much of anything happening in it at all. Perfectly, eerily still save for the bobbing of the shadows and… the crumpling of paper at one far end…? [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/933088/93308783_350.png[/img][/url] A Pearlcatcher with a white mask far more expressionless than the Fae’s is the source of the disturbance. She’s standing at one end, looking up at the candles, and flipping through several pieces of paper she’s holding. A more grandiose mask without a dragon occupying it flutters at her side. “I know, I know, red accents would be striking,” she’s muttering… to the mask? Is there something else there? “But this is a [i]Shadow[/i] celebration, so it’s all about where to put them…” The mask seems to take note of your presence before she does, or else it’s certainly it nudging her shoulder with a little beak that gets her to look up at you. “Oh! Oh, you must be one of our guests. Damien was [i]really[/i] supposed to tell me when they started to arrive. Agh.” “Well.” She swishes the papers away in the same sort of gesture one might use to fold up a fan, her full attention shifting over to you. “I suppose you’re wondering why I called you all here today. To get straight into it, we wanted to host a birthday party for my little brother. Also all the other Veilspuns, probably. Problem is, we have no idea what Veilspuns like. And this has to be the best party in existence. The best surprise party in existence-- so naturally, a masquerade ball, and we're not telling the Veilspuns about it beforehand so of course we can't just go [i]ask.[/i] So, what do you say? The best suggestions might just get some tokens of our appreciation from the event's funding, and since it has to be the best event, we've got a [i]lot[/i] of funding..." [pinglist=39766] [url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MMUe9jah-bJYTcFCF7dkCva6affa6Jfsk7dw2QH0YiI/edit?usp=sharing]ticket tracker for this event[/url]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lbSHvkR.png[/img][/center] [LIST] [*] Every day, a new prompt will be posted. To respond to it, please send in 20g/kt. If you respond without sending in the entry fee, your response will not be counted. You may pay for multiple days/responses in advance. [LIST] [*] Please respond from the perspective of one of your dragons in-universe. [*] Veilspun dragons are strictly prohibited from entering as this is a surprise party. If you’re responding as a Veilspun, please add some description of how you snuck in and how you are Totally Not A Veilspun. This does not have to be serious. In fact, the less serious the better! [*] Each individual player is not alone— this is a setting where all respondents and hosts are in the same building! This means you can see/hear each other in-universe. If you want to take advantage of this or acknowledge it, feel free! [/LIST] [*] Each prompt you respond to will earn you one (1) ticket to the raffle. [*] A guest judge will be picking which idea he likes the best out of each day’s responses. [LIST] [*] This does not mean it is the objectively best idea. It is the idea the guest judge likes best. [*] You do not win anything. [*] It [i]will[/i] be relevant for the ending post that describes the finalised ball all of you are helping put together. [*] Ideas that other hosts particularly like will also likely be included in the ending post. [/LIST] [*] The deadline for all entries will be 00:00 November 17th, FR time. Just to make this clear-- you can respond to any prompt until the deadline. It doesn't have to just be that specific day's. [LIST] [*] [i]However,[/i] entries that are posted after rollover of the day the prompt was posted will not be reviewed by the guest judge. [/LIST] [*] Writing quality or length is not being judged. This event is purely written in-character/in a roleplay style, but the important part is to take the time to think about and appreciate Shadow’s ancient breed, the Veilspun. If you have no established lore or characterisation for your dragons, it’s perfectly fine to use one as a mouthpiece for your own thoughts. [*] After the event ends, there will be a long post written up describing the final ball in as much detail as the event runner can manage through untold levels of exhaustion. [*] Since this is primarily a roleplay/writing event, I’ll include this as an advance notice: The seventh prompt will be primarily a dress-up prompt. [LIST] [*] The theme will be “dress like a Veilspun”— anything goes as long as you can explain in-universe why this is what a Veilspun looks like. Literally. Anything. Absolutely make your writing carry your entry if you want. [*] If you’re using a modern dragon, it would be super cool if you submitted a dressing room link to an outfit, but if you don’t want to, describe it well, please. [*] If you’re using an ancient dragon, describing it well is fine. The limitations on apparel don’t exist in our hearts. [*] Any skins/accents, site or UMA, may be used. [*] No best outfit will be chosen. There isn’t a winner. This is for fun. [*] [i]Please[/i] warn for shadow/plague primal eyes or horror skin/accents. Spoiler them if possible. [/LIST] [/LIST]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/SF1AcnX.png[/img][/center] We're going to be doing things a little differently this time around. In order to reward those who put more time and energy into the event, you will only become eligible to be drawn for certain prizes in the raffle after responding to a specified number of prompts. After responding to [i]one[/i] prompt, you will be eligible to be drawn for: [quote=Paper Faces On Parade] [item=Paper Fae Masque][item=Paper Guardian Masque][item=Paper Tundra Masque][item=Paper Mirror Masque][item=Paper Pearlcatcher Masque][item=Paper Ridgeback Masque][item=Paper Spiral Masque][item=Paper Snapper Masque][item=Paper Skydancer Masque][item=Paper Imperial Masque][item=Paper Wildclaw Masque][item=Paper Coatl Masque][item=Paper Nocturne Masque][item=Paper Bogsneak Masque] [/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: It wouldn't be much of a masquerade without masks. Pick your favourite. Pick all fourteen and change which one you're wearing every half hour. Who knows what will transpire? [quote=Let The Spectacle Astound You] [item=Ghost Flame Candles][item=Haunted Flame Candles][item=Gossamer Flame Candles][item=Ethereal Flame Candles][item=Solar Flame Candles][item=Candle Cascade][item=Black Candle Cascade] [/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: Candles have a very elegant feeling to them. There could be no better lighting for this ball. [i]That[/i] was decided on early-- Veilspuns have an ancient, elegant aesthetic as well. While discussing plans for this building, I asked a vendor to bring me every single enchanted candle they could. But we don't need [i]all[/i] of them... [quote=Ghoul And Goose] 99 of each: [item=Fire Flower][item=Marsh Stalker][item=Heartred Croaker Leg][item=Olympia Oyster][item=Wildwood Owlet][item=Overflowing Fishbasket][item=Teeming Loghive][item=Bundle Of Haunchmeat][item=Horn Of Plenty][item=Acid Ant Pupae][item=Inky Baby][item=Fiddle Puff] [/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: It was my little brother's suggestion. A bit of a to-go bag from the buffet. "Veilspuns are omnivorous", he said, and insisted on quite the variety. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Yxhls9V.png[/img][/center] After responding to [i]four[/i] prompts, you will be eligible to be drawn for all of the above, as well as: [quote=Seething Shadows Breathing Lies] [item=Darkfaerie Wings] [/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: A beautiful form of shadow, similar to the dragons we're celebrating. [quote=The World Will Never Find You] [item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Arm Tangle][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Banner][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Collar][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Crown][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Gloves][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Stockings][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Leg Tangle][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Wing Tangle][item=Poisonous Rose Thorn Tail Tangle] [/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: Roses are beautiful, aren't they? Thorns and vines are lovely in their own way. A terribly beautiful plant that can nonetheless lure someone and trap them. [quote=There's Another Mask Behind You] [item=Marva's Expressive Craft Kit] [/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: I'll admit I really don't know anything about this one. Palrayth-- ah, my clan's treasurer-- heard about this all and gave me this while saying "I think it's related to these paper masks. Aren't arts and crafts fun?" [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Yxhls9V.png[/img][/center] After responding to [i]all seven[/i] prompts, you will be eligible to be drawn for all of the above, as well as: [quote=Fool And King] [item=Luminax Plushie][item=Light's Charm][item=Luminous Halo] and 28x [item=Sunbeam Fig] [/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: It was very kind of Light to provide such a gracious donation. Sourced through one of our [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/drs/3345055#post_3345055]favourite trading partners,[/url] of course. We're all very delighted that a flight who could be seen as a home for us and a rival for my little brother could find it within them to be so supportive at this time. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: Ah, and don't let [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/95742511]Clam[/url] fool you. He plays off his contributions as if he only happened to donate a little fruit, but that is personally sourced and acquired high-end luxury produce you're looking at. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Yxhls9V.png[/img][/center] As well, all participants will get: [item=Vial of Hypnotic Sight] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url]: And every participant will be walking away with... a little token of our appreciation. Of course. Mm, don't think too hard on it. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Yxhls9V.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tQt4ROT.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6C0WZnc.png[/img][/center] [code][img]https://i.imgur.com/6C0WZnc.png[/img][/code] All participants who respond to at least one prompt over the course of the week are eligible to claim this badge. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/fwvz0pm.png[/img][/center] [code][img]https://i.imgur.com/fwvz0pm.png[/img][/code] All participants who respond to all seven prompts are eligible to claim this badge. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Yxhls9V.png[/img][/center] Thank you to the amazing artists who have contributed to this push! @/polkydots especially for turning my scribbled badge concepts into actual badges <3 And to SomaJean for having the little brother this event is all about, and for gifting me his older sister and parents. It [i]was[/i] a breeding project for her fandragon. I added lore. And children. A lot of both.

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url] “We might as well begin with the fundamentals. Namely, introductions. I’m Lenore.” The Pearlcatcher— Lenore— doesn’t wait for a response before continuing on. “I’m the main organizer of this event. My family will be [i]helping[/i], of course, but some of them are less than reliable, and others less than social… so in the end, I’m handling things. Again.” She appears to think that’s enough about herself since she turns her attention back to surveying the hall around them. Slowly, dragons have arrived, all of them carrying the same card. You aren’t alone. “Now that our honoured guests are here, we can begin planning in earnest. The first thing we need to figure out should be obvious: decorations. My little brother and I were able to secure a venue of this size and splendour, but it’s so… empty. It won’t do to have a party somewhere so plain.” “We’ll need tables, chairs, curtains, things like that, but before we can even start moving furniture in here, we have to decide on what the best sort of decorations would be. The Veilspuns are children of the Shadowbinder, so I don’t think it would be good for things to get overly bright— in terms of colour [i]or[/i] light— but what do you think they might like? Black seemed like a solid choice for the base, especially since just about anything goes with it. But, what kind of accents to the room, what kind of decor, shapes and colours of decorations… It’s difficult to figure out what would be best when we don’t know what Veilspuns in general like. So we’ve called you all here today to give your collective wisdom on the topic.” “… If you could, please speak one at a time,” she adds, nearly as an afterthought. Wrangling all of her siblings takes enough of her energy. Planning all of this takes more. She doesn’t need their guests contributing to any of it. “And if you’d like to leave, it’s simple enough— merely find someone else to take your place. There, shall we begin?” Discussion Topic: What should the decorations for the ballroom/party venue be like? Be as vague or specific as you please.

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92112099][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/921121/92112099p.png[/img][/url] “Oh, my!” You’d been busy with discussion about and the beginnings of implementation of the decorations, not to mention getting a bit of an idea of why Lenore had defaulted to dramatic, ostentatious presentation, but a woman’s voice shakes you out of it. Lenore had been standing alone with only the mask by her side this entire time, scribbling instructions and listening to suggestions. Even the rabbit had been shooed back outside with a promise of more carrots, and the melodramatic Veilspun guest of honour disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared. Now, a Pearlcatcher who looks like she could be her sister sweeps in. She’s wearing the same type of white mask the Fae and Lenore have. Hers is back to smiling, an expression of genuine delight as she looks around at all the people gathered in the ballroom, guests and contractors alike. “Honey, you didn’t tell me our guests had started to arrive!” “Welcome, welcome, all of you, it’s so kind of you to take time out of your busy lives to come and help with planning the most wonderful birthday party for my beautiful son. He’ll be so pleased. He’ll have to be. Ah, you’ll all help us make that happen, won’t you? Of course, you’re all so sweet for stopping by—“ It looks like she could go on in that vein for a while longer if Lenore didn’t cut her off. “Yes, Mother, I’m sure it will all go splendidly.” She glances around the room until her gaze settles on the boxes of cookies stacked neatly over by one wall. “How convenient you’ve stopped by just now, I wanted to get your opinion on the food?” … The tone of voice being used here says something like “she can’t possibly screw this one up”. It’s… not promising. Lenore seems to realise this after a moment because as quickly as she realises anyone else has noticed, her tone falls back to one of carefully schooled neutrality. “Yes, and the rest of yours as well,” she goes on to say after a moment. “Veilspuns appear to be able to eat anything, so it’s down to specific preferences as to what might make good food to be served at a surprise masquerade ball for them. Eating familiars is strictly prohibited in this territory, incidentally, so the buffet will be consisting only of prepared dishes. And a generous donor has already supplied us with more than enough Sunbeam Figs.” Discussion Topic: What kind of foods would Veilspuns like the best or would be the most fitting at a birthday party for them? Familiars do not count as food, no matter what the Veilspuns think. To avoid wondering about where the line between pets/familiars and living creatures that are okay to eat is, Lenore’s vetoing anything that isn’t dead when you start cooking it.

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92112099][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/921121/92112099p.png[/img][/url] You learn a lot as things are discussed. That the newest Pearlcatcher’s name is Pandora. That there are more of them— quite a few, judging from the names thrown around in idle chatter to Lenore. That it’s [i]impossible[/i] to get a moment of silence when Pandora is excited about something. Once a sufficient number of suggestions are given and discussed, Lenore trades the sheaf of papers she was holding for a different sheaf the floating mask flew in. “Moving on, if we could— we do have to cover [i]quite[/i] a lot in an increasingly shorter amount of time— there’s another matter to cover I’d consider more fundamental. This is a masquerade ball, so we must figure out what music there will be. This affects the sort of performers we’ll have and equipment we’ll need to bring in, so I’d like to get it dealt with quickly.” She flicks the papers she’s holding towards the dance floor at the other end of the hall. Smooth black marble takes up quite a bit of the available floorspace, as well it should if they’re going to have a ball with any proper dancing. Some dragons can be quite big. “There’s a lot I’ve wondered about. Musical preferences can vary so wildly between different breeds of dragon that I can’t make any definitive judgements— after all, Coatls and Fae are perhaps the most drastic example, but there’s always [i]quite[/i] a difference there. Or, since Veilspuns are very small, how do they react to a proliferation of lower sound waves? My familiar complains about those buffeting it around from time to time.” “Do they like an elegant atmosphere? A dramatic one? A joyful one, or perhaps with an energetic beat that encourages dancing. Music with lyrics, or at the very least singers? I’d think a mix of [i]those[/i] would be good— but then how many singers, what sort of musicians? Ah, there’s so much to think about.” Especially for Lenore, it seems, who sounds just a [i]bit[/i] more excited about this subject than anything else she’s said. “Guests getting a chance to sing or show off their own musical talents might be fun,” Pandora chimes in, after a marked few seconds of making sure her daughter is done talking about this (for now, anyway). “It’ll be impossible to suit everyone’s tastes, I’m afraid, but… we should try to make arrangements so as many people as possible will be happy, don’t you think? But then we really just don’t know what those would even be…!” A flash of motion in the shadows along the edges of the room draws your gaze for a moment. There’s nothing there. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, or one of the candles floating around? The shadows [i]are[/i] quite deep with black carpet ending where black walls begin, and it’s not like there isn’t some motion going on anyway from everything in here... When you look back towards the dance floor, two elegantly crafted harps are sitting to one side of it. You may not be the only one with opinions here. Discussion Topic: What music do you think Veilspuns like, or would be good for a masquerade ball? This can include actual songs or pieces that make you think of Veilspuns, in-universe bands and music you’ve invented, or thoughts on how the breed would interact with music in general (if that makes any sense…) Really, if it’s even tangentially music-related, talk about it today!

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92112099][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/921121/92112099p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/97246174][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/972462/97246174p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/97246175][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/972462/97246175p.png[/img][/url] “Sister!” Two voices that could blend into one if it weren’t for a difference in pitch call out as two Pearlcatchers slide in through an unseen door and bound over to Lenore. “Sister, Damien sent us in to give you our report on party games!” one is saying at the same time the other starts off with “Sister, Damien told us we were being loud and should go bother you!” It’s the same tone of voice, cadence of speech, and intonation… but not the same words. Not quite. Beyond the smiling white masks they’re wearing, you can see the mischief glimmering in their eyes. Lenore sighs. “Dante, Lilith, if the honoured guests need to speak only one at a time, so do you. If this is how you were talking to Damien, I’m not surprised he decided Mom and I should deal with you.” “We’re sorry, Sister,” the one with jagged pink patches across her wings and body says, bowing her head in an imitation of contrition. “We only wanted to help-“ “And we really did find out a lot about party games,” the one who gleams a much less visually striking shade of blue continues as if he’d been the one talking all along. “Childish ones, ones that end up focusing unduly on private love lives-“ “Ones that require specialised equipment that can be as simple as cards and as complex as vast mechanisms, ones that rely heavily on trust and deduction, ones that get people moving-“ “- or paying attention to their surroundings, and ones that really seem like people found a way to turn pranks into games, but nice ones, our sources assured us. Given what we know so far about the Veilspun, we think the last sort would be nice. The social deduction sort might be really fun too.” “Thank you for your hard work, dears,” Pandora says, coming over to pat the twins on the head. “You’ve really learned a lot, how wonderful. I’m sure our honoured guests can help us figure out the specifics of what Veilspuns might like, and you’ve done so much on your own!” Lenore picks up the sheaf of papers the mask at her side is offering her. “And there are of course activities beyond games at a party, but those do sound fun. Dancing should be a given since this is a masquerade ball. I think the masks and efforts to disguise one’s identity would also be [i]quite[/i] interesting for the deductive ones you mentioned…” She flips through the papers quickly as she speaks, then stops, staring at one page in particular. “Ah, staging an elaborate murder mystery is likely beyond the scope of what we can plan with the time we have available, but… we’ll… keep it in mind?” “Hm… contests of all sorts of things… and this last one just says ‘playing fetch.’ Well. I’m sure we’ll keep that in mind.” Lenore gives the mask a sharper look at that one. “Were you taking suggestions from the mimics? What [i]have[/i] they been up to… well, playing fetch, clearly. Mhm. Thank you for your helpful suggestions, since you’ll of course be part of this.” Though it’s not entirely clear who exactly she’s talking to, since nothing in the room gives any sort of response. “We know about a lot of activities to do, now, even if they’re mostly games.” Pandora sounds like she’s being encouraging, even if she also very clearly has no idea what Veilspuns [i]do[/i]. “That’s good. It gives us a base to start from. Games are good for a birthday party, aren’t they? Still… do you think we should hire entertainers… or…” Ah, she wouldn’t know. She doesn’t go to enough parties to know. That’s really worrying, right about now. “Prepare food in fun ways,” Lilith suggests. “Like setting it on fire. Let the guests set their food on fire, or something.” “Let them set [i]other guests’[/i] food on fire,” Dante suggests with just as much enthusiasm. Lenore vetoes [i]that[/i] one with alacrity. “Activities will be limited to anything that doesn’t hurt other guests or cause structural damage…” She sounds incredibly tired by the fact that she has to put this guideline out there at all and gives those of you who are gathered here a sharp look. You wouldn’t make suggestions that require creating new guidelines on what you are and are not allowed to do at the ball, right? Not again? Discussion Topic: What sort of activities would be the best for this ball? What sort of activities do you think Veilspuns would like at a party? Why?

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92112099][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/921121/92112099p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/97853302][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/978534/97853302p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/97246174][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/972462/97246174p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/97246175][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/972462/97246175p.png[/img][/url] “Sister, I really think we should talk about what might be viewed as suitable presents to offer…” Yet another Pearlcatcher, one who looks hardly enough to be organising anything, peeks into the room. “Presents?” Lenore stops what she was doing and turns to look at her little sister. “Damien and Lucien should be finalising things with vendors now. The rest of our brothers are around if they run into complications, and you know how to reach Pythia if [i]they[/i] run into complications—“ “Oh. No…” The younger Pearlcatcher peeks her head fully through the door, then slips through and closes it behind her, whereupon it fades back away to look like just another part of the wall. Unlike everyone you’ve met so far, she’s wearing a delicate white butterfly-shaped mask that only covers her eyes. It doesn’t hide how nervous she is as she steals glances around the room before quickly looking away again at all. She’s practically trembling. “It’s only, just… well, you’re… you’re making such a grand thing out of it, Sister, but it is a birthday party, isn’t it? And, well, you should bring presents to birthday parties you’re invited to, even someone as young and lacking as myself knows that, um…” Her voice trails off as a barely audible squeak and Pandora hurries over to her side. She sweeps her daughter up in both wing and arm and hugs her close to her side. “Isadora, sweetheart, how [i]thoughtful[/i] of your brother you’re being! What a good girl you are! And you’re absolutely right, too, people [i]do[/i] bring gifts to birthday parties! What have you thought about, dear?” Isadora seems to feel safer in her mother’s arms, or at least she’s gone and buried her face against her. “Um… ummm… I know Sister didn’t think to talk about this, but I… I-I didn’t want our guests to be rude, that’s all, with the presents they’d bring… Veilspuns are so new to the world, so mysterious, that… well, we should think about it a little? Shouldn’t we?” You’re… not quite sure about this, somehow. Hadn’t [i]they[/i] been the ones mentioning tokens of their appreciation? And Lenore, for a moment, anyway, hadn’t seemed to be expecting this one-- “Wow, that’s right!” Lilith’s voice, exuberant with praise and far too loud, breaks through your thoughts. “Look at our baby sister being so smart and thoughtful! Right, it’s right, isn’t it, we totally don’t know anything about what Veilspun might like for presents!” “Or what they might not like!” Dante chimes in the exact instant Lilith stops talking. “It’s the Veilspun who are really behind some of the scary stories here in the Tangled Wood, right? So who knows what they might do if they got offended!” “Right, and we know they like pranking people, totally, but, what else? A lot of it would be individual but we can totally think of things that would go well overall!” “Cake, it’s gotta be cake. We know they can eat anything, so as long as it’s delicious you can be really creative with cake! Flowers are nice ways to say congratulations on being alive! Around here, maybe pretty brambles and mushrooms are too!” “Recording devices? Confetti? Fun, silly little party things?” “Or shiny things? Valuable ones! Everyone likes stuff they can sell—“ “— to get items they like better, or barring that, money itself—“ “— so they can be the ones to buy everything they want in the first place! If you ever—“ “— worry about what to get someone, you should totally get them money! And if—“ “— you wrap it up really prettily, they’ll know it’s you being thoughtful and not just you not caring!” Dante and Lilith’s voices blend into each other more and more as they keep up an incessant stream of chatter. You never get a chance to get your thoughts in order because there’s nothing resembling [i]silence.[/i] Every time you think there might be, that this might [i]end,[/i] one of the twins picks up a new conversation thread and they’re off again. The ballroom begins feeling like it’s spinning around you, and the dizzying movements of the candles through the air don’t help with that… Discussion Topic: To save your sanity, talk about what kind of present you’ll be bringing the Veilspuns! Or what kind of present the entire breed of Veilspuns might, hypothetically, like, if, theoretically, there was a birthday party being thrown for them, and someone who is certainly not you about to attend…?

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92112099][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/921121/92112099p.png[/img][/url] The chaos has… calmed. You can hear yourself think. You can hear [i]anything.[/i] At some point, Isadora disappeared. The twins less ‘disappeared’ and more ‘were chased out of the hall for causing such a fuss’. Pandora peers over Lenore’s shoulder at the papers her daughter is holding. There’s significantly fewer of them than there were when this meeting of sorts began, even accounting for how Lenore keeps using her familiar to swap them in and out for her. Looking around the ballroom, too, things seem to be going well. A lot has been done and even now dragons continue to fuss with details from earlier. “I don’t think we have much left to cover,” Pandora opines optimistically. “You’ve all been very helpful so far! I hadn’t dared dream we’d get such an enthusiastic response or such marvelous suggestions, and yet! Maybe just, hm… something like the dress code?” Though she sounds a bit unsure as to whether or not that actually [i]needs[/i] going over. Might as well, though, right? “Most of the rest is going over things with contractors, securing all necessary vendors and staff, and actually getting all of it implemented,” Lenore nods. “We’ll need everyone out of the venue for that, but… there’s a bit of time while my siblings get all of that together. Dress code, why not. Or any miscellaneous suggestions anyone has thought of and would now like to add in. We’ll take this time to hear what everyone has to say.” “Now, it’s a formal event— or we’re sincerely trying to get it to be— but I don’t think we need to be too strict on what anyone wears. Try to look nice. Tidy scales or fur. And, it’s a masquerade ball, so really more important than anything would be the masks. We’ll start sending out formal invitations and posting notices and I think that really will be the important one…” “Yes.” Pandora tilts her head and looks out at the variety of dragons in front of them. “Oh, there’s not too much to [i]say[/i] on this one, is there? Or, I hope there isn’t. Tidying yourself up and looking nice shouldn’t be too much to ask for. The masks are the whole point. Let’s talk about masks instead! Do you all know where to get masks? Do you have them already? If not, should we put out supplies to make them? I don’t think selling them would be nice, since it’s a party, it’s supposed to be fun, we’re not making money. Yes, that wouldn’t be nice at all.” The mask that’s been dutifully floating at Lenore’s side now floats higher, up in front of her eyes, and… it almost [i]looks[/i] like it’s talking. Certainly it seems to be opinionated. Except how would a mask know how to speak…? Discussion Topic: [s]Dress code[/s] Masks! It’s also a day for last-minute suggestions or catching up on the prompts, but what would a masquerade ball be without masks?

[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/93308783][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/933088/93308783p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92112099][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/921121/92112099p.png[/img][/url] “Thank you all for coming here. Genuinely. You’ve contributed so much. We need to begin setting up for the party now, so we’re going to need everyone to clear out of here temporarily. Those of you who will be directly assisting with the contractors can come out back, if you would. As well as anyone who wants access to on-site cooking facilities. Otherwise, it’s a good time to return to your clan, perhaps invite others, and prepare for the ball.” And, of course, her little brother’s clanmates can stay here. Mina’s been given a dais and shelter already. Lenore nods to everyone assembled and looks past them at the door they’d entered through, which slowly swings open as if of its own volition. A bright light is visible dancing some way through it. “You’ll find the path will lead you to where you were before coming here. If you keep the invitations you were issued with you, you’ll be able to use them to find your way back here when it’s time.” “And, for those who are so inclined— not just you, of course, but everyone who happens to stumble across word of this event, we’ll be holding a special contest at the ball itself,” Pandora adds. “We want participants to really get into the celebratory spirit! Disguising themselves so their identity is hidden to play tricks with! Yes, that’s right, we’ll be holding a costume contest!” She beams out at the crowd. Her mask hides too little for her genuine enthusiasm and attempt at support not to shine through. “The theme will be ‘dress like a Veilspun’! Please try your absolute best!” “Yes. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy,” Lenore is quick to reassure them. “We’re of course not asking for anything homemade here, and of course it’s still… more difficult to find a lot of costume pieces that fit the breeds rediscovered more recently. Even if it’s something little and quickly handmade, all effort will be appreciated. And we say contest, but it’s really just for fun, due to how inherently unfair it would be to expect dragons who have missed a lot of recent developments in apparel to actually compete. Dragons like the Veilspun themself.” “And Veilspun can enter, of course!” Pandora’s quick to reassure them of that. Even if there’s no Veilspun here. “With that, we’ll see you all later, okay?” She heads over to the opposite side of the ballroom from the front entrance and pushes open a door that otherwise blends in perfectly with the wall and doesn’t show anything of what’s beyond it. “Everyone who’d like to provide contracted services may come through here.” Everyone else… well, the front door is open to show a thicket of roses and brambles with a light bobbing along a clear path that certainly hadn’t been there before. Not since you got on the path to come here. … ‘Out back’ is a bustling hive of activity. Looking at the banquet hall from the entrance you’d all come in, the thick hedge of roses that encircled it had seemed to extend to the back and circle it just as closely. Instead, there’s practically a small town, if one without a single permanent structure. Carts, booths, and tents sprawl out freely. Rose hedges can be seen bordering it all, much further away. “Damien, Lucien.” Lenore doesn’t raise her voice at all, but two Pearlcatchers are nearly instantly by her side. Both are wearing the same expressionless white mask she is. “Sister,” Lucien greets her. His voice is soft and lacks emotion completely. “We’ve finished the negotiations with anyone who still required them. Everyone here is now agreeable. They will give you no trouble.” “Good work.” Lenore glances behind her to see who had ended up following her out here. “Those two have plans for the design for the interior. Tell everyone useful for that to give them anything they ask for and to follow the design to the letter. If anyone has questions or suggestions, that’s fine, as long as those two are obeyed. As you’ve heard, they’ll also be designing one of the main activities and blending it into the rest of the venue’s theming. I don’t care what orders they give. Make sure they’re followed. It shouldn’t be hard.” “That one is our choreographer. Take her to where the musicians and performers are. You should have already gotten orders on what we’ll require for performers. Have Cain get that settled, and quickly. Dancers for the collaborative piece should follow her instructions. Ah, she wants hatchlings, as well. Once Alistair and Aster are done sorting things out out there and making sure guests get home, ask Aster to call Bathyal to get her to see if any of our hatchlings are down for it. Some of them should be.” “That one’s a caterer. Show them and the rest to that section. Give them access to the ingredients and cooking areas.” Lenore doesn’t so much as gesture at the dragons she’s talking about, yet both her brothers nod in understanding. “Please come with me.” Lucien gestures to Alecinne, Uru'kaet, and Glare. Damien indicates for the others to follow him far more silently. It quickly becomes clear why Lenore has never considered the vast majority of suggestions impossible nor spoken as if money was a concern. There’s such a wide variety of materials, supplies, performers, and contractors of every other variety that it seems it might be possible to find absolutely anything or everything. All for the purpose of this masquerade ball. The other dragons there are helpful, friendly, and cooperative— almost to a fault. Almost unnaturally. Lenore’s been relaying ideas back to here as someone decides on them, so quite a bit is prepared already. Things here, at least, will go smoothly as they prepare for the ball. … Those who received an invitation already can almost [i]feel[/i] it when it’s time for the ball to begin. There’s a soft tug from the invitation guiding them back to a path that will surely open up for them and lead the way back to the venue… … [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=97853304&skin=0&apparel=26280,6948,7842,7840,7289,6966,6978,6957,25929,21310,22673,22671,588&xt=dressing.png[/img] “Are you sure we have to do this?” Victor whispers to his brother, far more nervously than usual. [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=97853303&skin=0&apparel=22686,26279,21304,22684,30835,20844,22688,22683,22822,22820,20854,22691,22690,588&xt=dressing.png[/img] “Yes,” Marius says more decisively. “We… of all of us, we should show support for our brother. So I think it has to be us, this time, and has to be something we do…” Discussion Topic: It’s not a discussion this time. It’s a dress up contest! Describe your character/characters getting ready for the ball and returning to the dress up contest! Please use images if possible, and describe as much as you can if Flight Rising doesn’t have all the pieces/clothes you want to use, or you want to personalise it. Or if you’re using an Ancient breed.