...a pirate's life for me // King Kilvas

Midsommar 2022 : Prompts and Memes Part 2

In for a treat, or just getting tricked?

[ COSTUME ] Forgot your demon costume? Vendors have set up stalls in town offering all sorts of accessories to get customers in the Midsommar spirit. Pointed wax teeth are subtle but expensive, but you don’t need a heavy purse to rent out a glittering cape or a fancy hat. With the damage fines this high, you better be careful not to get them dirty!

[ FORTUNE ] An old witch sits in the shadows of the alley, claiming that she can speak to the dead. She beckons all who pass by to visit her.

[ PERFORMANCE ] This is a festival for street performers! Everywhere you go in Garreg Mach, you’re bound to find some sort of show - from puppet theater to firebreathing and tests of strength and skill. Stop to marvel at Fódlan’s talent, or maybe try showing off your own!

[ SCARE ] Many of the children that run past you are dressed in strange costumes, pretending to be all sorts of characters. Witches, animals, scarecrows… even some of your classmates are showing off sharp false teeth and glittering capes. Costumes like these are part of the festival spirit this time of year!

[ SECRET ] While the festival is supposed to be family-friendly, and indeed more children than usual run through the streets, you catch wind of a tavern in some forgotten alley of the town where one can go for some “adult” entertainment. Like wine tasting. Just wine tasting. (don’t tell the clergy).

[ CARVING ] With the spring harvest comes an abundance of turnips. So many that merchants have brought them to Garreg Mach by the bushel to sell them for Midsommar. Once believed to ward demons and other monsters away if one carved a face into them, the turnip carving tradition is now little more than a fun activity for children to do with their parents.

Food stalls crowd the town square, visitors hawking sweet and savory snacks…

[ PIES ] Spiced meat pies or delicate strawberry pies? Pick one and dig in at this bustling pie stall! The owners have a special challenge, if you choose to accept: any brave soul that can scarf down twenty of these delicious pies will receive a very special prize! 

[ JELLYBEAN ] One particular stall catches your eye: piles of little bean-shaped gummies shine in the lantern’s light, all too colorful to ignore. Clover honey, strawberry, peaches… With so many choices, you can’t help but take your time looking over the vendor’s selection. Strangely, he nods and gives you a knowing look. “Ah, I see. We have the same… interests, do we?” From below the table, the vendor pulls out a heavy wooden box, opening it to reveal an array of jellybeans. While they are as colorful and delectable as the ones on the table, their labels are more than a little troubling. Sweaty socks? Essence of skunk? “Excellent for tricks… though you didn’t get these from me.”

The return of the Magic Club’s special haunted corridors!

[ SHOW OFF ] You, of course, are a brave soul, keen of eye, and have some people to impress. Friends? Crushes? Rivals? You scoff at the mere idea that someone could scare you with some cheap parlor trick and roam about the hallways with crossed arms and plenty of skepticism.

Midsommar 2022 : Prompts and Memes Part 2

In for a treat, or just getting tricked?

[ COSTUME ] Forgot your demon costume? Vendors have set up stalls in town offering all sorts of accessories to get customers in the Midsommar spirit. Pointed wax teeth are subtle but expensive, but you don’t need a heavy purse to rent out a glittering cape or a fancy hat. With the damage fines this high, you better be careful not to get them dirty!

[ FORTUNE ] An old witch sits in the shadows of the alley, claiming that she can speak to the dead. She beckons all who pass by to visit her.

[ PERFORMANCE ] This is a festival for street performers! Everywhere you go in Garreg Mach, you’re bound to find some sort of show - from puppet theater to firebreathing and tests of strength and skill. Stop to marvel at Fódlan’s talent, or maybe try showing off your own!

[ SCARE ] Many of the children that run past you are dressed in strange costumes, pretending to be all sorts of characters. Witches, animals, scarecrows… even some of your classmates are showing off sharp false teeth and glittering capes. Costumes like these are part of the festival spirit this time of year!

[ SECRET ] While the festival is supposed to be family-friendly, and indeed more children than usual run through the streets, you catch wind of a tavern in some forgotten alley of the town where one can go for some “adult” entertainment. Like wine tasting. Just wine tasting. (don’t tell the clergy).

[ CARVING ] With the spring harvest comes an abundance of turnips. So many that merchants have brought them to Garreg Mach by the bushel to sell them for Midsommar. Once believed to ward demons and other monsters away if one carved a face into them, the turnip carving tradition is now little more than a fun activity for children to do with their parents.

Food stalls crowd the town square, visitors hawking sweet and savory snacks…

[ PIES ] Spiced meat pies or delicate strawberry pies? Pick one and dig in at this bustling pie stall! The owners have a special challenge, if you choose to accept: any brave soul that can scarf down twenty of these delicious pies will receive a very special prize! 

[ JELLYBEAN ] One particular stall catches your eye: piles of little bean-shaped gummies shine in the lantern’s light, all too colorful to ignore. Clover honey, strawberry, peaches… With so many choices, you can’t help but take your time looking over the vendor’s selection. Strangely, he nods and gives you a knowing look. “Ah, I see. We have the same… interests, do we?” From below the table, the vendor pulls out a heavy wooden box, opening it to reveal an array of jellybeans. While they are as colorful and delectable as the ones on the table, their labels are more than a little troubling. Sweaty socks? Essence of skunk? “Excellent for tricks… though you didn’t get these from me.”

The return of the Magic Club’s special haunted corridors!

[ SHOW OFF ] You, of course, are a brave soul, keen of eye, and have some people to impress. Friends? Crushes? Rivals? You scoff at the mere idea that someone could scare you with some cheap parlor trick and roam about the hallways with crossed arms and plenty of skepticism.

Midsommar 2022 : Prompts and Memes Part 1

The sun begins its evening descent, bathing the sky in hues of pale yellow and gold. After a long day of collecting firewood and arranging the burning piles, your hard work is finally rewarded with the sight of a festival truly coming together. Merchants set up their wares and prepare their treats, filling the air with fragrant smoke and the warm scent of fried sweets.

Priests strike matches over each of your wood piles. Fires burns brightly. ‘tis the beginning of Midsommar!

The bonfires are burning….

[ ROAST ] Food over the fires, from meats to marshmallows. Each house has their own representative bonfire, and each fire has a large pot with their representative soup. Add something to it or try out what your classmates have been cooking.

[ EAGLES SOUP ] Black Eagles: Thick goulash, hearty, enough to feed a thousand soldiers. “Thousand Soldiers’ Soup” made with dried ingredients and reconstituted on the roads

[ LIONS SOUP ] Blue Lions: White fish, leeks, potatoes, heavy cream, keeps you nice and warm.

[ DEER SOUP ] Golden Deer: Broad beans, spiced sausages, seasonal vegetables, red hot with paprika imported from Dagda.

[ DANCE ] While Midsommar traditions began in the Empire and spread gradually across Fódlan, each country has its own Midsommar song and dance around the fire. Follow your house’s traditions, or bring in a little something from home.

[ BURN ] Burn different plants as offerings to the Goddess. Herbs and powders are sold by local vendors to change the scent and color of the smoke.

[ LEAP ] All around the hills outside of town, the people of Fódlan light bonfires to scare away evil spirits. Leaping over them is said to bring good luck, and many challenge each other to see who can jump the highest. Young couples link hands and try to jump together, hoping for prosperity in the year to come.

[ TELL ] Share stories around the fire. Lately, children have made a game out of whispering a story into their friend’s ear, who has to retell the story to the best of their ability to their friend, and so on. When the story finally reaches the end of the “convoy,” it’s often a completely new story.

[ TASTE ] Away from the noise of the festivities, the Chefs of the Round Table (the cooking club) has set up a mostly-private bonfire to test out some of their new creations. Their latest masterpiece? Something called a “marsh mallow,” a recipe from the Sreng region sweetened with vanilla and sugar. It’s supposedly delicious when toasted over a fire…

The Garland Moon begins…

[ CROWN ] Make a flower crown, or bestow one upon another.

[ GARLAND ] The Garland Moon is upon Fódlan, and garlands are being strung up all around Garreg Mach. Among the shop stalls selling handmade trinkets and knickknacks are florists with the last of the spring flowers, already woven and made into garlands and corsages. This may be your last chance to confess to your special someone before the season changes!

[ PAIR UP ] Single people get dressed up and paired off with other single people, this is the season of love and baby animals and the older adults won’t tolerate a humbug Singleton. If you already have a special someone, then dive right into the singing and dancing together!

[ SHOP ] The festivities draw merchants from all across the world to sell their wares, but beware: the crowds are ripe for pickpockets, and unscrupulous potion sellers take advantage of anyone who looks confused and gullible.

pridelessdaydreamer​:

Above them…

Linn had certainly shouted the warning knowing it was full well a possibility, but for it to have actually been true—

She hears the sound of shattering glass distinctly. The shadow of a beast — something akin to a large raven — descending on the heirloom and making its own path to it. The ballroom fills with screams almost immediately, with lords and ladies and all other persons ducking to avoid the creature (and it seems as though not everyone succeeded).

When Linn makes it outdoors, all she can see is the raven’s silhouette before it vanishes out of sight.

Failure.

Well, it’s not like Lin had any other reason to stay. At this point, he could just head back to the Academy, say something about how the thief had moved too quickly for him to stop them (and with the Duke’s affirmation), that’d be the end of the mission. He was getting tired after all. After all that ballroom stuff, he’d certainly earned a break, hadn’t he?

Ah, but he’s with a professor… An assistant one, sure, and Velouria didn’t seem too caught up with making Linhardt do anything more than he’d like, but maybe it was in her job description or something? It’s not like Lin would know — he’s probably the only unemployed person involved in this (if being a Duke or thief counted as a profession, of course).

Yes, there was a good chance that the two would have to go hunt down the relic anyway (or a clue to its whereabouts, at least). Say, how does one hunt down a shape-shifting—

That’s right.

Part of the whole reason Linhardt had agreed to do this one mission was because he wanted a chance to see it up close (just imagine what kind of magic it possesses!), and he hadn’t even gotten the chance.

It was a nuisance, but if he hadn’t yet wasted too much time contemplating following the thief, he’d like to try and catch up.

Velouria startles as the large raven crashes in and steals the trinket, suddenly realizing what exactly she had been smelling. Hmph, now she felt rather foolish, that she hadn’t recognized the scent before. It was so similar to Professor Kurth’s, yet distinctly different in its own way. What a fool she was indeed! Hmph, she was better than this!

She pouts as she darts outside, following her student closely. She isn’t going to let this stupid thief get away so easily, not when he had just put her in a bad mood by making realize her own foolishness!

“I hope you’re up for chasing after that guy Linhardt…” Her tail is fluffed up angrily, as it twhaps against the back of her leg in agitation. She’s tempted to turn into her wolfskin form, but knows that a lack of control right now - as she is without her beaststone for the moment - would not be the best idea. A stressed hand weaves it way through her short hair as she groans audibly.

“We should have never let him get it away with it in the first place! So obviously we have to go after him! We came here with a purpose and we are going to achieve; got that!?“

The rod at his hip told him of greed— greedy hands reminiscent of those of that damn Duke Tanas, putrid and vile even to someone who once dwelled in slums. Those people really did exist, didn’t they? Greedy, putrid, pudgy hands clawing for more. Naesala had never fancied himself cut from that cloth— what he did, he did as a survivor. What they did? They already had clothes on their backs and food at their fronts, cutlery to kill for and trinkets a thief would love to pawn off in a backalley. What more could they need? 

The huff of a scoff fell from toying lips, and a second chuckle at the ridiculous thought slipped by, the sole sound in silent woods. 

Shadows drew near to the woods— his keen eyes could discern that much. And was that...? 

Naesala crept forward, eyes narrowing, arched brow quirking. Certainly not! Ears and a tail... Not one of the Wolf Tribe, hm? No, those ears weren’t shaped like those of the eldest Heron prince’s spouse, and the girl hardly invoked the stoicism of the Wolf Tribe. Nimble feet carried him to the edge of the branch, and a smirk split his face. 

For reasons unknown to anyone else, a mother wyvern has rejected her newborn wyvern and refuses to care for it. The task is now up to some brave volunteers to acquire a friend for life… or the scars. [Grants Flying +1]

Elincia carefully dismounts from her pegasus and approaches the abandoned wyvern nest. Gusts of wind threaten to blow her off course as she carefully navigates the rocky ledge of the mountain. Almost there, she shoots a triumphant smile towards Leanne, and Naesala, who the heron princess had managed to drag along into their escapades for the day. Shuffling across the outcrop, their target finally comes into sight.

It’s hard to believe, that this tiny, vulnerable little thing will one day be large enough to carry men into battle. Daring and proud, unwilling to back down. An instrument of war. For right now, it’s scales gleam in the sunlight, it’s wings too fragile and underdeveloped to lift even it’s petite body from the nest. Large, round eyes stare up at her in trepidation, and Elincia can physically feel the way the feeble creature tugs on her heartstrings like a harp. There was no turning back now. If the wyvern’s draconic mother would not care for it, then she’d just have to be enough, somehow.

Tentatively, Elincia makes her way closer still. Her footsteps are light, delicate so as to not startle the infant. Once within arm’s reach, she stretches out cupped hands, gently lifting it from the ground into her embrace.

It doesn’t stay there very long.

Fire gushes from the dragon’s nostrils, racing up her arms. It’s all she can do to pull her face away just in time, to avoid it too being engulfed in the raging flames. Instinctively, she let’s go of the baby wyvern, sending it arcing into the air as she tries to summon a spell to put out the fire, licking it’s way up her arms.

They’d been taking a stroll when a frantic Elincia burst onto the scene, requesting help from Leanne–and while she hated to compromise time spent with a friend, priorities certainly favor another friend in crisis. Elincia is not the type to impose upon others without a good reason, especially.

Thankfully, there’s always a third option. A stroll becomes a rescue expedition as Leanne now has both Naesala and Elincia by her side! Naesala is a grumpy sort, but she knows he has a heart of gold, and he and Elincia surely will find each other’s appeal in time. The Crimean queen is a beautiful, devoted sort who would do anything for her people–much like Naesala!

Really, they have more in common than they’d think! It’s a perfect opportunity!

…that will have to wait until Elincia is not on fire, though.

“Oh dear, oh dear!” Leanne swerves, transforming into humanoid form as the baby wyvern hurtles in her direction. It hits her chest with considerable force–those scales are heavy! She barely keeps hold of it, her wings struggling to keep them both airborne. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Do not worry.”

Leanne is too winded to properly sing a soothing lullaby, so what comes out is a little rhyme her mother often sang to her and her siblings as chicks. It’s a little silly, basically a story of three little herons who get into varying types of trouble, and how they barely escape each time and come home to their mother. In this case, is Leanne the wyvern child’s mother?

The responsibility is grand…but if Claude can do it, so can Leanne! And truly, Elincia deserves first motherhood–she is the one who risked her life multiply to save them, after all.

She settles on a wide ledge, cradling the wyvernling in her lap. Here is no place to stay, but they need a rest.

“You are quite the handful, you know?” Leanne’s probing finger is met with a toothless snap. It doesn’t hurt badly, but it will certainly sting and the babe’s mouth is still cooling from its previous outburst. “Come now. We will care for you.”

“Naesala!” Leanne waves to the raven king, holding the wyvernling up in his direction. “Perhaps the child will like you better?”

Nonetheless, she was adamant, and who was he to deny her? One of two friends, unbothered by past squabbles― the other much less appreciative of questionable means. Leanne was... well, she was earnest, sincere above much else, but was she aware? Aware of the things he’d done? Had she, regardless of flaws, elected to renew their friendship with adamancy about his company? 

It was one of life’s great mysteries, he supposed. 

Oh, but an outing turned to an evening of struggle and flame― crawling flame that could have been avoided had Queen Crimea lacked compassion, stowed away her heart and carried on with a fair day. But no― she simply had to mingle in the coop of a wyvern. And obligated cameraderie ushered Leanne to the woman’s side, thus did Naesala find himself accompanying in caring for a creature he hadn’t a single want for. 

When Leanne― frail by Heron stature― attempted to carry the nestling, Naesala assisted with a scoff, arms tucked beneath Leanne’s, coddling an infant he’d rather not have encountered. And when she offered the newborn to him? He only took it to avoid her bones splintering beneath the toddler’s weight... not that he had the strength of a Hawk, but his was certainly better off than that of a Heron or a Beorc. 

In his arms, the creature wriggled and writhed, snorting smoke and clawing at his bicep, snagging cloth and tearing it. Only because he was in the presence of two compassionate women did he not drop the child to plummet to its doom for its expensive havoc. How was he to afford a second attire when coin was a rarity?

🌈- A memory about when they first fell in love

🌋- A memory about their first heartbreak

🏠- A memory about their childhood home/where they used to live

📷- A memory that comes with a picture they have

💡- A memory that comes with an object or keepsake they have

🔪- A memory about a dangerous situation

🎈- A memory about a time they were safe and relaxed

📔- A memory from a journal/diary entry

📝- A memory of them getting to know/meeting my muse

🔗- A memory about their proposal/wedding

🐥- A memory about their children (past, present, or future)

👘- A memory associated with an article of clothing they have

⚔️- A memory about war

🌅- A memory associated with a certain location

🏚- A memory about exploration

🛤- A memory about traveling

🌠- A time they wished upon a falling star

🐕-A memory of teamwork

🐺- A memory about being alone

🌟- WILDCARD