(2603) Spring Equinox

[Sonnie Wu]

Another crack of the door, another peeking eye. Everyone was here... almost! Where was Jasper, and Circe, for that matter? She wanted to wait for the entire freehold, but she couldn't keep her guests hanging for too long. The ceremony couldn't be delayed any longer. The door closed.

A minute later, it reopened, and the Monkey Queen of Verdant Spring emerged! Floating atop her cloud mount Nimbus, Sonnie sat cross-legged and straight-backed.

Fulko, noticing the Beast's entrance, waved at his band, stopping their current music. "Queen time! Royal intro time! Now now now!"

The hobgoblins expertly shifted tunes, (Halandor pulling a keyboard from under his coat for this) and playing music that made one think of winter passing into spring: https://youtu.be/m3TxZ7qwUkU?si=PFJRo2Jv7LSpwHoJ

Sonja was decked out in her hedgespun regalia and carrying her hedgespun staff like a scepter of office. Full Sun Wukong mode!

"Salutations!" She waved to the small group. "Welcome to the Spring Tavern, and the beginning of the new season! I am Sonnie Wu, your Queen for the next few months! Also the Director, for reasons."

Golden irises in black sclera looked over the gathering of Lost, "Good to see so many familiar faces! I'm pleased that we have a returning face as well! Welcome back, Jasp..." she paused, remembering the canine Beast hadn't arrived yet. It was clear she had her speech practiced and Jasper's lateness was unexpected. "Way to put a kink in my entrance, dog boy..." She cleared her throat and continued. "He'll be here soon, I'm sure. Um... anyway, I see we also have a new face! And a pretty one! Oh my... very pretty! Uh, welcome!" She gestured towards Ellaria. No, she wasn't blushing. Shut up.

"Tonight, we begin the Season of Renewel. The Funderland Freehold has endured for another year, protecting us all from the Gentry. Now we refresh our hearts to face the year to come, and recharge our alliance!"

Nimbus floated over to the central table, carrying the Queen to the Wyrdstone. She touched it, imbuing a bit of her Glamour into the mystical object. "Let the renewel begin! Please, if you are here to join us, add your Glamour to the stone!" she said to the new Succubus, trying not to stare.... too long. "That means you too, Jasper. Any year now," she muttered.

Sonnie imparts 1 Glamour to the Wyrdstone. Saber Sloth

"Now that the business is out of the way, let's do what the Antlered Crown does best... CELEBRATE! Please enjoy all the food and drink we have to offer! Thanks to my lovely Courtier Mina for the help! Also, dance the night away to the musical stylings of Cap'n Fulko's Funtime Faerie Band!" She waved at the hobgoblins, and the cricketman leader took a bow. "We's available for more parties! Business cards is on bar!"

"Advertise later! Play now!"

"Yes yes yes," the hob grumbled and directed his band to start Sonnie's playlist. This time, the flower woman actually sang! https://youtu.be/mW1dbiD_zDk?si=m1fxc6t2F8HgXBvl

[Jasper]

Jasper definitely doesn't have a wizard's sense of timing. He's notoriously late. Rarely on purpose but that doesn't change the fact that he's just hearing the end of Sonnie's speech as he makes his way through the doorway and into Tavern. He's dressed (if you could call it that) for the festivities, clad in what looks like a loincloth over a pair of denim shorts, the legs cut fairly high on the hip to allow him a bit of decency if there's a wardrobe malfunction. His torso is largely unclad showing off his underfed skinny frame, nicely muscled but also sporting a number of scars. The dirty sheen to his skin might be added for the costume or it might not. He's got a backpack hanging over one shoulder as he walks in, setting it down behind the bar.

"Hey, Mina!" he says, looking over to the Manikin and grinning and taking in her outfit. "Lovely to see ya again.." he says.

He gives a nod of a greeting over to the two Autumns, "Hey, King Kray. How's it going?" he asks before glancing from one Gristlegrinder to the other, his ears perked up. "Hey there. I'm Jasper.." he says, offering out a long-fingered giant hand for shaking. He knows how to shake.

He blinks over at the other new face, this one sporting a Summer mantle. He cocks his very canine head in a very canine fashion, one ear flopping slightly as he looks the other Beast over. "Howdy."

He smiles and nods over to the Winter monarch. "Long time no see, King Sven. Glad to see you.."

He flashes a grin over at Sonnie, moving over towards her. "Hey, Queenie.. I just missed your speech but what I heard sounded lovely." He says, moving up to the Wyrdstone after Sonnie does what she needs to with it and the Coyote stretches out a hand to brush his fingers along the once-and-still heart of a dragon, pushing a bit of his own essence into it, letting out a soft sigh as that familiar sensation of safety slips into him.

[Saber Sloth]

Sonnie's wild Glamour full of Spring Verve falls into the Wyrdstone, Sven's steady heartbeat, is replaced by Sonnie's as it dances and gallops.

The area is filled with first the echoing scent-taste of fruits and flowers, as the reverberation of Knowing flows out, first from Sonnie, to her Courtiers, to the other Monarchs and their Courtiers. The Knowing is a Wyrd given sense that those who are connected to the Wyrdstone is not an agent of the Others. No Loyalist or Privateer exist within the realm of the Freehold. The Knowing doesn't not make you like, nor even truly trust the other, beyond knowledge that they will not Betray you to one of Them.

Any new (or returning) arrivals, can now spend 1 Glamour to Bind themselves to the Wyrdstone and gain Freehold Status 1 (please remember to edit you minisheet and to use Power Icons to show Glamour expendature)

[Ellaria Undertow]

"I did indeed, thank you for the directions." ducking her head once again in thanks, hair floating after her, in a practiced elegant arc.

"Aww shucks," she murmurers, sharing a look with King Kray when Miss Mina says that the performers are not a part of the buffet. Clicking her tongue in disappointment, the provided ribs of indeterminate origin will have to suffice for tonight, cooked and seasoned, wet with sauce and not blood. At least that is her assumption, unless...but she shakes her head, her hair following in a lazy arc, she considers how to respond to Mina's offer of a beverage, while she would like to keep her head, this was a Spring event and abstaining might stand out in a more negative context. "Whiskey, neat." she finally settles on, it was something she did enjoy, though usually when she was alone and with more than a few fingers, here it could act as a sufficient prop.

Frowning as the wet, mossy forest fox of a Summer(?) arrived, speaking to a Queen who hadn't even made her entrance, quite daft, or just not paying attention. Though King Kray voiced her unstated statements, as questions far more politely then she would have.

Though this Lost - King Kray called him Jack (Be Nimble, Sprat, and Jill, and the Beanstalk (and that was only a few moments thought)) - quickly looses her attention as a Darkling enters, and King Kray addresses him. Her focus sharpens, King Sven.

"King Sven, greetings. I am called Ellaria Undertow." she ducks her chin, in greeting though not as deeply as she had of Kray.

Then -

- Verdant Queen makes her entrance.

And it was an Entrance. The raiment, the weapon, the song. She catches the looks sent her way and smirks, lips closed, teeth pressing, and offers the Queen a light bow, deference to the Season. Admiring the entirety of the ensemble, but climbing to catch the gold-on-blacks, with her own wet black-on-blacks.

After witnessing the Wyrdstone ceremony, and offering her own Glamour to claim her right to live and be protected by the Freehold, tilting her head as the feeling settles over her, she allows herself to take note of the giant Wolfhound in a loin cloth (and she does give him a more than a simple once over, a little lust. a little hunger) "Hello, Jasper. I am called Ellaria Undertow." she introduces, taking the offered hand, enjoying the feel of it, and the voice that proceeded it.

[Mina]

She gives her attention to Jack as he enters, then frowns and looks around, not seeing Sonnie yet, looking a bit confused for a moment.

“I don’t think I missed Queen Sonnie’s entrance..” her voice trailing off as her eyes take one last look around. Nope, no Sonnie.

Huh.

Maybe Jack was just eager.

“Anyways, hi Jack, good to see you, welcome to the Spring Coronation!” figuring as the only Spring currently present, she could greet people as they came in.

She then spots Sven, who she actually hadn’t seen in a couple months, and smiles warmly, “Good evening, King Sven.” And offers him a curtsy. “Welcome!”

Back to Kray, “Thank you! We went with a jungle theme.” she hoped this fit the theme. And when he mentions not eating the entertainment, a smile, “And thank you for not eating them, I’m sure Queen Sonnie, and they,” a nod to the hobs, “will appreciate it.” Then, remembering something, “Oh, I brought an assortment of games to see where everyones interests were.” He mentioned her throwing a game night, this was her way of seeing which games were popular and which were not.

But then, the time had arrived and her Queen arrives!

And it was just as spectacular as last year!

Mina claps excitedly after Sonnie gives her speech, clearly loving the speech!

Finally Jasper arrived, and she eagerly waves to him, “There you are!” smiling, “Looking good!” giving him a once over with a wink. At his compliment, she places a hand on her hip and offers a little pose.

Looking back to Ellaria, “You got it!” gracefully moving over to the bar to make it. A whiskey neat wasn’t a complicated drink to make, so it didn’t take her long. Just whiskey at room temperature with no ice and nothing else added. And after a few minutes she was back over and holding it out to the new girl, “Here you go.” Smile on her face.

[Jack Violet]

Jack skulked bit embarrassed he did notice that there was an additional newcomer, and another Spring it seemed. Jack decided to wait a moment before going and introducing himself to the other two.

Jack bowed and waited as Sonnie entered and imbued the Wyrdstone. He just stood back and listened in as the incoming Queen said what she needed to. He felt a bit embarrassed as he had thought she was around when she was still in the back. I should have known she would make an entrance like last time.

[Circe]

The gate opens with a crash as somebody enters with more force than needed. Circe is quite late, though with some reason. The fact that the Summer Queen arrives with a lack of breath and quite disheveled could lead to some conclusions of a Spring nature. Quite wrong, to her disappointment given the truth. Circe his visible oil streaks in her hair. The odd, for her, combination of a Hawaiian shirt and shorts show that there are additional stains on her arms and legs. Looking like some oil, dirt, and possibly grass stains.


Two gym bags thud on the floor, noisily clattering something, as the Groundskeeper and Summer Queen doubles over to heave in air. "Cazzo," she pants out and looks around. "Uuuugh, cazzo, sono in ritardo. Maledetti poliziotti." And looks up to the top of the Hollow, squinting as a question of the reason for later to the change of the season comes to mind.


If Sonja answers a certain way, she has another plan. Ask Sonja Wu to literally kick her ass for being stupid. Though she is still panting as she lifts her left arm and waves to her double boss. "Hah, hah. Hail Queen...Sonja. I...I...Gonna need a minute..."


Anyone who decides to inspect the bags will find the left has stands and reloads for a trio of spinning pinwheel firework blooms. The right? Has a plethora of firework rockets that'd do Gandalf proud.

ooc: PLAYER failed perception rolls to notice the Eternal Seasons. So...Circe has a story now thanks to that.

[Svelte Sven]

She knows how to make an entrance. Sven thought to himself, genuinely impressed by the level of planning and coordination that Sonnie had put into her Seasonal Coronation. Of course, there were still limits on how the Darkling chose to express himself, so he opted for a slightly-wider-than-usual smile and a polite clap. There was something like relief in his eyes as the snowy wreath over his head seemed to fade and disappear with a final fall of snow. Finally... someone else's problem, now.

The Winter King nodded back at Kray, returning the Leaden King's greeting. "Oh, you know." He said nonchalantly. "Keeping a low profile. Practicing the art of 'not being seen.'" There was a touch of mischievous mirth in his expression as he turned his gaze towards Ellaria. "And I see your own Court continues to grow. Welcome." The Darkling dipped his head in acknowledgement of the new face. More pretty women, of course. Must you torment me forevermore?

"I am Svelte Sven." He said with a general gesture towards his thin physique. No titles, no embellishments, for the moment. "What brings you to our humble Freehold, miss Ellaria?" Without prompting, his focused shifted again. "What happened to your other Courtier?" He asked vaguely, turning back to the Ogre. "You know, the other one... did you get too hungry, my King?"

He offered a wave and a thin smile to Jasper. "I thought disappearing was supposed to be my bit, sir." And then a polite bow to Mina. "Thank you for your hospitality, miss Mina." Oh, it was lovely to no longer bear the burden of the Seasonal crown. Spring was more than welcome to it, as far as Sven was concerned.

[Kray]

And then things were happening. The spring queen made her entrance and in a show of respect for the ascendant monarch the giant removes his fedora entirely entirely holding it to his barrel of a chest, until the words were spoken and the ceremony part of things said and done. The band seemed to know what they were doing as well, good thing he hadn't eaten them. The feeling of the wyrd stone refreshed, useful oh yes, but still there was something about that the Ashen king resented. Immaterial its what was needed, how things were done here. Placing his hat back upon his head, nestling it a little till his horn nubbins found their spots. "Huh. Now that was quite the entrance indeed Queen Sonnie, a spot up on last years I think." So what would next year bring?

Ellaria gets a toothy grin as part of the shared look. "Ah. Well always another night." He made a concerned effort to not eat freeholders but hobs well they had no such good grace with the giant cannibal. But still the topic had not got them removed or shunned, which in some freeholds it most certainly could. The drifting of her hair draws his eyes and indeed he follows it absently for a few moments.

Mina comment about dress and theme do give him a shift towards concern. "Oh. I didn't see anything about a theme. Seems I haven't dressed appropriately." Not that his options would all that many. And no one wanted to see his ugly discolored body stripped down wild man style. Games however, games were good. "Oh. Yes good, games will go down well. Just as soon as I 've wrapped up a spot of business." Better to get that done before festivities got to far underway.

Jack had gone taciturn, his choice.

And then Circe burst and clattered in. Looking a little worse for wear, well worse for the exotic beauty so still leagues above most. Given how often she had shown up having recently been shot of late the giants brow furrows. "Uh. Queen Circe." And yes he does tip the brim of his hat to the fairest. "Uh. You Alright?" How many morons would need to shoot at the summer, or so he assumed, before the message got out it was a bad idea.

Waiting for the summer queen to regain breath, composure or whatever else she needed a minute for, it's King Sven to whom he speaks next. "Uh? Continues? The other one?" He had to think himself for a handful of heartbeats. "Oh. Gearsogod. No I haven't seen him since last Summer." The small freehold had it's quirks and wasn't for everyone he got that, or the fairest had been to put off by the king he would have been serving under. "Ha. Not in his case. If I ate him, I'd have enacted a cover up of some kind." But the giant seems amused by the notion that the possibility existed.

Speaking of eating, he had been waiting to see if the recently arrived Jasper was going to lose the hand he had so willing offered to Ellaria, but it would seem not. "Ah. Jasper, looked like you weren't going to make it for a second there." A courtier stumbling in after his monarch did all the official stuff had left the ogre wondering if the beast had gone off again already. "Hm. Mind if I borrow you briefly, we have that little bit of business to settle up you and I. Best to do before the party gets into full swing." And the great Ogre will move off with lengthy stride to find a section of the food table that could sit the two giants.

Continued in A deal with Jasper...

[Sonnie Wu]

As Sven's crown faded away, Sonnie's blossomed. A cap appeared upon her head, bearing the icon of the Spring Court, with two long phoenix feathers trailing back behind her. The transfer of power between seasons was complete.

The Vernal Queen stopped playing with the feathers after a moment to grin and nod at Jasper. "There you are... All of you. Are we streaking?"

Circe's sudden, breathless arrival clearly surprised Sonnie. "Um, hey... you okay?"

"Thank you, King Kray! I know it's not too much of a departure from last year, but I think the band makes up for it!" She nodded to the massive Ogre and floated over towards him upon Nimbus. "Who's your new friend? An Autumn?" Golden irises shifted towards Ellaria, meaningfully.

The Hobgoblins continued to playtheir cover song, the simple instruments somehow managing to recreate the tune effectively. Might be Hegdespun. Their flowery singer was doing a spot on mimicry of P!nk.