(2212) Winter Solstice

[Saber Sloth]

Posting Rate Reminder

Please do not get more than 2 posts 'ahead' of the slowest poster in a Scene. **This '1 ahead' allowance should be the exception and not the rule** -- it should only be used to facilitate things like breaking off scenes or to keep things moving if, say, a character whose turn it isn't has been asked a direct question that everyone else is waiting for the answer on. This should never be done 'just because' or out of impatience or to gain some advantage. Be polite. Be considerate. Wait your turn.

If a player whose turn it is to post has taken more than 48 hours to respond, the other players/characters are free to move on, without IC consequences/repercussions. If someone does not reply for more than 96 hours after their last 'at bat', you may proceed as though they had left.

In times past the Coronation would be held near or within the Mirror Maze, but this Winter there are no kings to crown. In times past this would signal a breaking of the cycle, leaving a their defenses for the Others to take and twist and rend wide open, but that was before the Wyrdstone, before the Directorship. They might have been burned before, but the Lost of Sacramento have learned.

This year after Funderland closes down for the night, the Lost are not lead towards the Mirror Maze, nor are they lead to a more central location but towards Edna's.

Decorated not has it had been for Autumn, there is an austere look to the Haunted House with periodically placed mirrors in a nod to the Maze, with food and drink on tables along the walls, and front and centre is the Wyrdstone. Glowing, and thrumming.

There are none of the Silent Arrow within the Freehold. The Last time this happened the Cycle Broke. The last time this happened there was no Director to step forward and act as a bridge to aid in the Changing of the Seasons.

This year they did. This year the Dread Lord, King Rhodes would hang up his Crown, and act in his capacity as Freehold Director, protect the Freehold, usher in Winter and keep the Cycle whole.

@me after Rhodes puts Glamour into the Wyrdstone. Doing so binds the Courts, and their Courtiers to the Freehold, all of the Courtless Changelings need to place one Glamour into the Wyrdstone as well. You need to do this to keep your current Status, or to gain Status 1 with the Freehold!

[Rhodes]

Winter was never Rhodes' favourite season. He could understand all the others. Fear came naturally. Understanding Desire and Anger was easy - especially the dark undercurrents of both and the Fear that brought out form them. Sorrow was static, internal. It didn't instinctively provide a motivational direction. He had friends who embraced that life, but it was never for him.

However, the Fairest was an expert at concealing his motivations. Social obfuscation and misdirection were as natural as breathing. So, what was that charming phrase? One must fake it until you make it.

One thing he was certain of, he would not permit the failings of the Broken Cycle to happen again. Over a year of living with a Gentry on their door was good for his Court's motivations, and a sharp reminder would be the last chill of Fear before focusing on those no longer with them. The mirrors had been prepared, the rooms swept, the mantles cleaned, the brass gleamed. Not by himself, of curse - hired help was always looking for extra cash this time of year.

The Dread Lord himself wore a cutting black suit, this time with a white shirt. He looked almost attired for a funeral, which was exactly his intent. His evergreen leaves only tipped his whipping dark branches at his ankles, wrists and shoulders, and there was a conspicuous absence of the red blooms that adorned him the rest of the year. Those were carefully preened and left in a case in his home. In the dim light his pale elfin skin, ridged with black like tree roots breaching above ground, all made him look almost ghostly - his Green eyes a shock of vivid colour in his somber attire.

Hopefully tonight would not be the start of a another rampage throguh the town.

[Anatole]

Anatole hovers nearby.

He is in his Hedgespun coat - the one crafted by Seraphina. The high collar is pulled up and his shadowy mantle plays with hem, alternatively dripping and pooling thick strands of shadow around his feet. Like the Dread Lord, the burned dwarf is waring dark colours. His beard has been bound into a braid. The Paladin of Shadow's posture is casual - hands thrust deep into his pockets.

He eyeballs the Director, inclines his head and raises a curious eyebrow.

"Pity they have all gone. It is going to be fascinating to see how this all works."

He spoke in respect of the Onyx Court, yet his voice held no tremor or quaver. For this brief moment, he felt he had leave to drop the honorifics. If the alterations to Rhodes appearance had given him pause, the Wizened did not show it.

[Seraphina]

She hadn’t seen any of the Winter’s in some time. It was upsetting and concerning. The last time this happened, they had the Huntsman to contend with, and that had not been pleasant. If there was truly no Winter within the Freehold, would Rhodes, the Director, be enough to fend off the Cycle being broken again? She could only hope.

But one thing was fir sure in her mind, she would not let the situation, real or not, ruin the chance to dress up for the night. While she did tone it down a bit, forgoing a dress she had put a lot of effort into for one a bit more subdued, it still highlighted her beauty and form. She was a Fairest after all, and that little voice, gaining strength day after day, reminded her of it. And she deserved to still look good and enjoy herself.

Did she like that voice? No. It wasn’t…her. But there were times she gave into it.

The dress was cream in color, and just sheer enough to satisfy that voice, but covered enough to be modest. The long sleeves were unusual for her, but she felt they were appropriate. Her long hair was down and air dried, giving it a messy yet wavy look. She wore no makeup at all, going bare faced. The only jewelry she wore was of course, her wedding ring.

Walking into Edna’s she smiles softly, appreciating the Winter touches Autumn had put on the house. Spotting her husband and Anatole, she walks over, a nod to the Dwarf, and a deeper nod to Rhodes. Who looked…different. She wasn’t too keen on the look, missing the red blooms, and absently touches her ring, knowing the red flower was there.

“The Winter touches are lovely.” Oh, how she hoped a Winter would walk through the door. A look to Rhodes, "You're both looking handsome this evening," to the Dwarf, "I hope you’ve been well.”

[Circe]

Circe's arrival from a side door had some unexpected inclusions. The tan was probably it. Farmer's tan but a tan none the less. Might explain where'd she had been for the last couple of weeks.


Her attire was something that allowed the tan to be seen. Circe had decided to see what she could spin if she was Hedge side of a scrap yard. She got a rather heavy dress and some nice bangles to accompany them. Well, nice after she went back to her forge to use the fires to make dully glowing red gems to add to the bangles. The fur lined red boots she wore were not Hedgespun, but Circe concluding cold feet would suck. She'd dug up her old circlet, dolled up sap gloves, and made a copper clasp to attach the Summer Brooch to said circlet. Testing with other jewelery had shown that chainmail dress and necklaces didn't mix well.


This showed off quite a lot of skin, though as expected the last accessory did cover her right thigh. But as a Summer and the gunbunny Smurfette, Circe had to have a pistol in a thigh holster. She'd also a duffle stuffed nearby, just in case no Winters made things go ploin shaped, she'd have more to fight with.


It may be a faux pass, but Circe's Mantle is active and was certain to stay so with how she was dressed.


The Autumn boys were sharply dressed tonight, getting a whistle of approval from Circe. "Sera, this is why I don't bother ta compete on dresses. I do have ta say, the boys are very fashionable tonight." Circe stops to look around, nodding in approval at the appearance. Impressive, and that carries over into her tone: "Surprised this place could get a Winter décor, but it works! And," she looks to Anatole, "Gotta agree with ya. I'm curious and prepared fer how well the stone works without Winters around." She jerks her thumb back towards the door she'd entered by, not the main entrance. "Got party favors for in case things get badly interesting."


She was Groundskeeper, head of Freehold security. Rather important to be prepared for trouble, or even double. Circe's eyes widen, then she sighs after that thought made her mind recall something annoying. Stupid Team Rocket.

[Molly Knight]

Molly entered the area with a look of mild confusion and a bit of fear. She wasn't sure how it would go, she'd not heard of any Winter courtiers and wasn't sure... if it was even possible to change Courts. She knew her Wyrd was bound to Spring, and as much as she didn't... know if she could make the mental transition it would require, she wanted to make sure everyone was safe and secure. Molly bit her lip as she looked around, looking to see if Seraphina was there. The idea of a broken Cycle was terrifying to her. And if it was terrifying to her, who knew how it felt for everyone else?

Still, Molly took a breath. She was wearing a rather simple white dress with a pair of equally white flats, nothing too fancy. It may be a Coronation but from what she knew of Winter, it felt more in the Season's desires to be dressed down. Though it wasn't like she knew much of it. Molly was really hoping she didn't mess up with her choice of dress.

"Um... has anyone seen Sarah? She sent me a message to come here for the Coronation." Molly asked, though she didn't expect anyone to necessarily hear her.

[Liam Gelt]

Something about tonight feels odd to Liam. A strange sensation of 'not-quite-okay-ness' that lingers in the back of his Ogreish mind behind the hunger and joy and rampant strength that occupies it. He feels it as he slips on his russet-red vest over his white dress shirt. He feels it as he slips on light brown dress pants and slip-on shoes that give just enough flexibility to his toes while protecting from the cold. A tickling sensation that makes him think of Gerrit, and Cass, and James; people he'd gotten to know over the past year but hadn't seen in quite a while.

It's not until he's drawn to Edna's that the feeling draws a new picture into his mind's eye: Gerrit choking on rust poison in the Hedge.

But the Ogre is here to celebrate his home and his friends as only a Spring Ogre can. He ducks into Edna's, pine-needle hair and beard clean trimmed and looks around at those assembled. "Hello Rhodes, Sera. You both look lovely tonight." He nods with a friendly smile to the Freehold's King and Queen, the grim sensation of loss buried under a desire to carry some cheer into the room. Rhodes' attire does draw a bit of a look from Liam, like he's wondering if Rhodes is here for some dire announcement. But the Ogre quickly turns to Anatole and Circe, and his smile is back again. But just before he can greet his friends he notices the spindly-pale figure off to the side. An unfamiliar face.

"Hello, Miss. I don't think I've seen you here before. Name's Liam." He stretches his great frame low in a welcoming bow. "Were you looking for Sera? She's the lady over there in the white dress." He nods towards Sera and Rhodes, though anyone would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb to not notice the dazzling stature of the pair.

[Rhodes]

Anatole was offered a courteous nod. It would certainly be interesting. "It is. There have been contingencies in place - The Directorship always was - but they have rarely been tested... until now. From here we are in the lap of the Wyrd, my dear Paladin." Rhodes did not try to hide the uncertainty. SOmetiems the truth held it's own Fear.

Thank you, darling," he replied sombrely to Sera as she joined them. "You look gorgeous. I'm not sure even Sasha would have worn such a Winter's gown so well." He looks around the room. "This.... is something of a gesture. Those that have never seen this will need to realise that. But people need to know of the risks." All three of them knew what risks this posed.

Circe's entrance was jarring to the mood he had tried to create... almost laughable in her resistance to etiquette. "That's... quite an outfit, Circe," Rhodes offered with a smirk. "I hope the mail doesn't go all the way around." He shrugged lazily at her suggestion. "The Wyrdstone shouldn't be affected, as long as a nominated "head" continues the ritual with it. I'm more concerned with the Courtly protections. I'm sure none of us want another Huntsman incident." he muttered darkly.

He sees the new face and nods to Liam. Before he can move to act, the hulking Spring seems to be pointing her in the right direction. The Autumn King leans to his wife. "Is this... one of yours, darling?"

[Rlyeh]

R'lyeh appears, oil-dark hands flattening and straightening her best and only suit as she approaches Edna's....and over hears the New-Wyrdstone-approved-stranger question and pauses, looking at Liam who points the way to Sera-queen, but how could anyone miss her? There was a lot of Very Pretty People in the Freehold, but Sera-Queen was a step above the rest. Her mantle verdant-strong even as Winter dawns, her presence drawing all eyes in, like metal shavings to a magnet, and that's not taking in how shiny-pretty-beautiful the Fairest was-is. A living embodiment of their epithet.

Stepping lightly around the stranger and Liam, she moves towards Circe-Queen - and-oh-wow-dress-mail? Protection of Pageantry? Both? and the other Monarchs. A glaring absence of Winters, Gerrit and bows. "Hello! Happy Solstice!" a beat, a smile, "You are all very nicely dressed."

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie arrived, humming to herself as she entered the Mirror Maze. She was, as usual for these Coronations, decked out in a seasonally thematic outfit. Often humorous in nature. This year was no exception. The Spring Beast wore a Frosty the Snowman dress! Complete with a little black top hat on her head!

"Whoa," she said, spying the outlandish outfit of Circe , "Slaying dragons? Or just slaying?" The pun was intentional, if groan-worthy.

"My Queen," she greeted Seraphina , "Looking fab as always!"

A smile and a nod was given to Rhodes , as well, "Your Directorship. So... how long has James been gone, then? Anybody have any idea?" She was starting to feel like Winter Courtiers were just entirely unreliable. They couldn't even be counted on to be merely present.

"Yo, Treebeard! Sup, dude?" she waved at Liam Gelt . "Hey Rlyeh !" Somehow she managed to pronounce the Elemental's name correctly. " Anatole , my man!" A salute was thrown towards the dwarf.

The Beast blinked in surprise at the new face, Molly Knight "Who's the new kid in class?" Not a Winter, judging by the newcomer's Mantle. Spring was likely. Maybe Autumn? Hard to tell with rain. "Hi, I'm Sonnie Wu!"