open ♔ march castle socialization

[shootfirst]

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, etc!
WHEN || Any time during the second half of March
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of this half of the month.

You are encouraged to start your own threads and tag around, and feel free to threadjack into any on-going threads that aren't specified as 'closed' in the subject lines since people can enter into rooms even in the middle of what's going on. You can also specify 'single thread', meaning you want only one response for all participants, rather than multi-thread, where a number of different scenes/threads can be done as replies to the top prompt. ]

Comments

[bancroft]

Oh, I am excellent. Nothing like a festival day to get the blood running, don't you think?

[socialgraces]

[She begins to nod in polite agreement before raising a questioning eyebrow.] What festival is being celebrated today?

[bancroft]

Not just today: all week, dear. The Festival of the Pride. [ if she rolls a knowledge (theology) of 15+ you can google it + forgotten realms, OTHERWISE NO PEEKIN ]

[socialgraces]

[She seems to be searching her memory for any sort of stray detail about the festival but nothing comes to mind.] And this festival means something special to you? [There's a tenderness to her curiosity, like she wants it to mean something to her too, if he's so excited about it.]

[bancroft]

Well, naturally!

Except, regrettably, for the bit about taking this time to choose out a mate. [ he tosses her a merry wink ] Sorry to disappoint there.

[socialgraces]

[She smiles a little wider.] Which of the celebrations do you partake in? We can walk and talk, if you'd like. You seem to be headed somewhere.

[bancroft]

[ he nods across the hall ] Just to the chapel, dear. Doing my ancestral duty, all that. You're welcome to join me.

After that, it's drinking and feasting and dancing and frolicking wherever I can find it. [ a pause ] Not that different from every day, but I've a better excuse for it.

[socialgraces]

[The chapel huh...? Well, she'll only hesitate a moment before nodding.] Are you sure you don't mind if I join you? I wouldn't want to upset any prayer or meditation or whatever it is you're going to be doing.

[bancroft]

I like to call it "my yearly rite of driving Solace up the wall."

[socialgraces]

Oh, well that I'm definitely on board with.

[bancroft]

Knew I could count on you. [ he throws open the doors and strides in to the chapel grandly. it's organized with one end available for services, and then a number of various statues and holy symbols around the walls on the other side. at the moment, the place is entirely empty. ]

The Festival of the Pride is one of the only two celebrations of Nobanion. One for mating time in the spring... and one to celebrate the newborns nine months later.

But it's about more than just making babes, of course.

It's about celebrating life. And the strength of the community.

[socialgraces]

Those seem worthy causes of celebration. [She moves to his side in the doorway, replacing any latent discomfort with curiosity.] And what sort of homage is paid in a chapel for such a holiday?

[bancroft]

Oh, none, really. But Solace doesn't have to know that. [ he tosses her a wink and marches up towards one of the altars... before throwing his head back and letting out a loud howl at the top of his lungs, so loud that it resounds off the curved ceilings of the room, echoing off into the halls through the open doors and through the castle. Looking around, he listens, pleased, to the echo, and then adds a second howl, an almost perfect replication of a wild wolf. ]

[socialgraces]

[Francesca crosses her arms, unable to hide the amusement on her face. That was certain to get someone's attention.]

[sirsolace]

[ after a moment of reverb, he throws his head back, ready for a second volley... when the doors are thrown open and solace stamps in looking pissed off ]

What is the meaning of this?!

[socialgraces]

[She does her best to disguise her mirth (acting check 19) and casually turns to Solace.] A commencement of the Festival of the Pride. [She raises an eyebrow at him, as if he's the ridiculous one in this situation.]

1/2

[sirsolace]

[ solace looks actually put off for a moment, as if she's made him feel like a fool, but something seems to strike him ] I've never heard of such a custom in conjunction with the Festival.

[bancroft]

[ thomas slams a 'friendly' hand against solace's back and the old man stiffens angrily ] Isn't it a wonderful great big world we live in then that even a scholar of faith like yourself can learn something new after all this time?

[socialgraces]

And it would be unreasonable to expect you to recognize any and all religious customs you encounter. [Ok, she does feel a little guilty ganging up on him.]

[bancroft]

Lucky for you then, that we're such reasonable people, isn't it? [ he winks at francesca over solace's shoulder ]

[sirsolace]

[ 8| ] What other surprises should I expect from this festival?

[bancroft]

Well, there is also the yearly hunting of the balding man... After all, losing one's fur is a sign of great shame to those who follow the Lion Lord...