pumpkinhollow: (Default)
pumpkinhollow ([personal profile] pumpkinhollow) wrote in [community profile] ph_logs2023-12-27 04:07 pm

December Event - To All a Good Night

To All a Good Night
Givingstide
Winter is hard for everyone, but none more so than the residents of an island that has been isolated by the cruel hands of fate. Where the rest of the Emerald Isles is able to rely on imports from other nations in warmer places, Marrow Isle has no resources but her own. All the while, her mettle continues to be tested against the horrors brought on by the curse.

It is for this reason that among all the holidays celebrated by the Mothers' children, Givingstide is particularly beloved. A warm and cozy festival based around wishing each other prosperity and love in the new year, the lengthening of days, embracing generosity even in the lean times, and celebrating the fact that the darkest part of the year is coming to an end.

The fireplace is lit at the Oak & Iron. A wreath of pine boughs hangs over the merry blaze, paper horses and snowflakes decorate the walls, and a table in the center of the room has been done up to look like a silver sleigh. As people file in, hot food and warm drinks begin coming out of the kitchen and bar, and gifts begin piling up on the sleigh table. (Ultimately, a fair amount of them end up on the floor around it.) Everyone greets each other warmly with hearty handshakes, firm hugs, and wishes of a blessed Givingstide. Perhaps if you have a clever eye, you may even see a horned figure drinking hot cocoa in the corner harmlessly, enjoying the atmosphere of good will and keeping watch over the party to prevent any troublemakers. And for once, just once, for the first time in so long on this frightful, forsaken island, there is true peace.

[ Enter the Tavern. ] The tavern is warm. Orange firelight flickers, as if dancing with the shadows. Decorations of shimmering silver and hunter green, the colors of Givingstide, adorn the dark wood decor of the Oak & Iron. The stucco and timber walls of the dining hall safeguard those within from the bitter wind and snow. It's no Leeds gala--- the food is simple, but it is beautifully made. Roasted chicken, potatoes, onion soup, and fresh-baked bread. Slices of pumpkin pie are passed around for dessert. Hot cider with or without alcohol, mulled wine, coffee, and spiced tea are served with the meal. It isn't glamorous, but it's made with love and tastes like coming home somehow.

As dinner carries on, music begins to be played from the tavern stage, and Mayor Poe has Yorick assist her in doling out the gifts from the table. They read the tags and summon the recipients to the table to recieve them. You can open yours right there or at your table, and decide for yourself whether you care to announce the name of the giver to the room.

Once the gifts are distributed, the partygoers are left to their own devices, allowed time to laugh with friends, dance to music, drink to their hearts' content, sneak off to while away a private moment in one of the inn's sitting rooms, or head home for an early night. Regardless of your choice, let it be with a loved one. A friend, a partner, a member of your newfound family. Blessed Givingstide, and may your lantern ever stay lit.

gifts and vouchers
Some important information regarding gift-giving and vouchers can be found below.
[ Review. ] Gifts can be purchased using your own Brass, or via the holiday bazaar vouchers found in our December TDM. If you haven't taken the trivia quiz on the TDM, you still can! You can take it for each character or just once and give all your characters the same voucher.

For simplicity's sake for both our mods and our players, we will allow you to decide for yourselves the prices of your items so long as they are reasonable. You can use other purchase requests in the bank as a reference or simply decide on a price you believe is fair based on your experience. You do not have to list prices. We will trust you to make fair decisions! If you're still unsure how much an item ought to cost, feel free to ask us in the question thread on this post, but in the spirit of the holiday season (both real and fictional) we would rather allow your characters to get gifts for all their loved ones than worry too much about financials. Perhaps your character is simply a very good bargain hunter!

As a slight aside, we would love to thank each and every one of you for being a part of making Pumpkin Hollow amazing this year. We truly could not ask for a better group of players and are extremely grateful to have met all of you delightful, creative, talented, funny, incredible people. We hope you had a great holiday season, whatever that looks like for you, and we're so honored to greet the new year with this fantastic community!
Hand in hand, we put the darkness to our backs and step into the light. Rejoice, spring cometh.
thethirteenthchild: (Default)

[personal profile] thethirteenthchild 2023-12-28 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Dahlia greets him with a warm smile. "I'm just glad you like it! I think it will look beautiful on you, and I hope it provides a bit of moral support. You and I went through something... harrowing together, and I hope it can at least bring us closer. I think we could both use more friends we can count on."
maltesefalcon: (crested)

[personal profile] maltesefalcon 2023-12-29 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, we certainly can. I know you probably don't need me bringing you meat, but I haven't really figured out what other presents to get people here yet." Except that one box that Cerrit gives a hawkward glance, feathers floofing a little.
thethirteenthchild: (happy: is that so?)

[personal profile] thethirteenthchild 2023-12-29 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
Dahlia raises an eyebrow, following his gaze to the box in question. She sees nothing untoward about it, but can tell Cerrit has it on his mind. Maybe she'll ask later.

"Trust me, I don't need anything," she assures him. "I much prefer giving gifts to getting them. If you have a portion for me, give it to someone who's struggling. But, if you'd like to visit for a proper dinner sometime that isn't evil or terrifying, or just go out for a pint, that'd be gift enough for me."
maltesefalcon: (pinch)

[personal profile] maltesefalcon 2023-12-29 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
"A pint for you, a pitcher for me. Pint glasses don't work very well with the beak, I'm afraid. It looks rather silly when I drink--you won't laugh at me too much, will you?"
thethirteenthchild: (happy: trying not to laugh)

[personal profile] thethirteenthchild 2024-01-02 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
Dahlia breathes a laugh. "I'm sure you'll just look like a bird when you drink. I won't laugh."