General Gathering

With a few hours of light left to the day, the sun leans into the valley and drenches it in golden light.  The placid lake shines in the late afternoon, and, even from the Sentinels, it’s easy to see the various attractions which have been set up for guests around the shore.  Glowing mushrooms hang from makeshift lamp-posts along designated paths, and prepared, unlit fires wait to illuminate the night; encircling all of the lake and the main valley, disallowing for travel to the Secret Tent, the entire area is well lit, and welcoming.  Patrolling around the perimeter set by the lights and waiting fires are various strong and stern looking individuals, who seem keen to toss out anyone who acts up or causes any trouble, and the Lady, Lord, and other council members not busy with other tasks are meandering among the various individuals already gathered, saying hello.

All around, conversations are already blooming; you overhear whispers that the Time God might show up, too!

A musical sound comes from the left of the lake, where a large area has been cleared away, seemingly for dancing.  Alongside this area, a singing whale, a log-drumming cerndyr, and a violet hinted, black stallion seem to be generating a lovely musical number, and there is a large, flat rock with various foods native to the North strewn across its face not far off.  Behind the dance floor, a soft meadow rolls towards a tree-line, which seems to be as far as the guests will be allowed to venture this evening; still, it’s a suitable distance for couples to wander, and spend time in each other’s company.

Nearer to you at the entrance, a bay mare with a kind expression stands before many cushions comprised of cloth and furs; she promises those who ask that she has stories to tell, if enough come to listen.  Beyond her, to the western mountainside, the lit trail leads curious visitors to the Haruspex Cave, which is sealed to visitors by a stand.  Behind this stand, a somewhat sinister dark stallion with red eyes offers to read your fortune.

Groups already seem to be gathering at the various games, also; an old man offers all who seem fast enough to be contenders to run in a lake lap race, while one of the patrolling mares occasionally pulls off to advertise for a ring toss later in the evening.  A third and final hybrid mare with a feather collared cloak stands nearby a wolf made of pine branches, offering cloth “tails” to passerby, who might try their luck at pinning it in the proper location while blind-folded.

What will you do, at this great gathering of Helovians?  Join in on the fun and see!

[ Welcome to the Festival!  The games and other events will open via threads next week.  For now, meet up with friends and family, eat some food, or get jiggy with it. ;)  All guests are welcome to join the band to play instruments or sing songs, present epic poems, ect.!  New threads will open throughout the rest of the month, so keep checking in for more to do.

Feel free to open side threads to have more private interactions, so long as they take place in the setting described above; please just clearly label them as Festival threads, and please refrain from interacting with any stands that do not currently have an open thread.  ]