Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Official event: Winter Masquerade 2023

For most of the year, there is nothing on the bluffs overlooking the Bay of Ice. But by now, some knew the secret, and it wasn't as much of a surprise when the gold-embossed invitations began to appear on bedside tables, on trays of morning correspondence, in the pockets of pajamas, and tucked all manner of places where they might be "coincidentally" discovered by the brush of a finger while groping for some other lost item.

There is no address, but those who receive the invitation feel they know how to get there, even if the instruction in their heart is as nonsensical as "close your eyes and step through the wardrobe" or "turn left instead of right on your walk back home tonight." These knowings are fortified with the surety of dream logic, true as the foundation of the Earth and needing no justification.

And for those that follow these directions on the appointed evening, they find themselves in a field amid the pine trees. A wooden dance floor has been laid down in the center of the open space, and surrounded by laden banquet tables, seats, and cloth tents embroidered with holly. A band plays beside the dance floor, their music intermingling with the sound of crashing waves far below. The whole is bathed in the hushed blue light of a full moon. This year, the manor house has not appeared, but that too seems easily accepted as a normal thing to happen.

In the midst of it all is the Grand Duchess de L'hiver, a coy smile on her lips below her elegant mask. Before her, she gently holds aloft a white rose.

She proceeds to a small table to the left of the dance floor, and gently places the rose into the air above it -- it hangs there, suspended by some invisible force, and then there is a shimmer and a glass dome has formed over the rose, and a crisp white light begins to emanate from each of the petals.

Her voice rings out clear, heard by the potential guests even though they have yet to arrive, might be hours distant. "Welcome, one and all! So long as this rose remains in bloom, this glade is enchanted to attract the best of everything one could want at a party -- the best interlocuters, the best dancers, the best comedians, musicians, chefs, wits, beauties, sweethearts -- They will come from all over, perhaps even from other planes, to bask in the light of our little winter masquerade! But be warned - this enchantment is powerful, and there may be other forces attracted to it with less noble aims. If you wish the party to continue, make sure our rose remains until its bloom is spent!"

With that, she claps her hands, the band strikes up an energetic waltz, and a sudden warmth descends on the bluffs despite the biting winter wind that flows from the ocean below. She turns, her smile growing to a grin, as she waits to greet the first arrivals.

Faye did not belong in this time period, but she certainly had no complaints about being here. She was dressed in her finest wintery attire: a long, elegantly flowing dress, pale blue silk embroidered with glittering silver snowflakes. Her naturally unruly curls were as well-brushed as they could be, and dozens of snowdrops, the flowers picked fresh only minutes ago, were woven throughout the honey-coloured locks. A pair of flat slip-on shoes, almost more like slippers, matched her dress in colour and pattern, with the addition of tiny silver bells at each ankle that jingled softly with every step. These bells announced her presence now, to those listening carefully, as she stepped into the vicinity of the event. A mossy green backpack, comparatively much shabbier than the rest of her appearance, was carried upon her back, the zipper partially open though at a glance the contents could not be seen. Faye offered a little wave to any who might look her way, though her attention was focused on taking in the sights, sounds, and smells around her. This was hindered, just a bit, by the mask she wore, carefully sewn from pale silk to resemble a much larger version of the flowers in her hair. She peered out from between the faux petals, and was able to see just fine... well, for the most part.

As soon as Faye appears, the Duchess is beckoning to her, as if she had known that she would be there. Her grin hasn't faltered, a hand extending for Faye to come join her and take it.

What looks to be a lonely star in the sky begins to descend unto the floor.

A closer look reveals it's not a star. The being's lithe figure slowly becomes more visible beyond the glittering dust, revealing a fairy wearing a plain, black mask.

The fairy stops mid-air to look around, before a sudden burst of pixie dust causes the fairy to seamlessly grow in size. While still short, their figure was much easier to examine now- much easier to interface with the other, bigger entities here.

The Nameless One has arrived.

A wily smirk creeps up her face, yellow eyes peering behind the mask. "Mmmm, what a lovely little get-together we have here!~"

Faye moved forward, delicately taking the offered hand and giving it a polite shake. Then, her attention was caught by something a little ways off- the descending star, taking on a corporeal form... the way every little speck of light twinkled on the glossy pine needles... her gaze flickered this way and that; she was truly in awe at the beauty around her.

Of course it's the fae who are the first to arrive at a magical soiree! "I must agree," the Duchess laughingly responds to The Nameless One's statement, even as she clasps Faye's hand warmly. "You must make yourself welcome." She reaches out toward The Nameless One as well, drawing them toward a table that positively groans under the weight of candied nuts and pastries.

Out of the many social events that she attended on a daily basis, the Masquerade Galas of the Duchess de L'hiver were by far some of the few that Cris found herself earnestly looking foward to. So the invitation not only came as no surprise, but was welcomed gladly.

As the appointed time rolled by, she directed herself in the direction that semeed to beckon - like a lighthouse in the blackness of a night-clad ocean. Amusingly enough, while her orientating skills were usually not so keen (especially for a vigilante!), this time she didn't held the faintest doubt that they'd reach their destination in due time.

Yes - they. Because this time the fox-masked woman in her long, flowing kimono was not alone; she was accompanied by her youngest child, an antropomorphic baby fox-girl with the dark brown and black markings of a marble fox on snow-white fur, and large innocent eyes - one fire-red, the other the same warm chocolate brown as her mother's - that peered with curiosity at the dance floor and the decorations. Her ears perked up hearing the music played by the band, as her mother went to greet the Duchess.

"Good evening, your Highness! Your events are always something outstanding to behold" Cris said, her eyes smiling behind the mask.

Emerging from the dark sky came a figure who was not only masked but cloaked, their method of flight concealed just as much as their face as they landed at the entrance.

"Hello, really hope I'm in the right place!" Tairloth chuckled, shifting a bit under her cloak as she looked around.

"Thank you for inviting us!" Faye said. Her remark was genuine; she was grateful to be here, even as she seemed unable to focus on one thing for more than a moment. "This is such a beautiful place..." She added, barely above a whisper.

The Duchess' golden eyes dance over the little fox girl at the edge of the dance floor, smiling at her even as the mother, Cris, comes to greet her. Bold to bring one's children into the domain of a fae. But then again, this was a peaceful event, and the Duchess wasn't normally those sorts of fae. "The best of evenings," she replies, her tones softly jubilant. "The best night of the entire year. I'm glad you could join us once again. And who is this that you've brought with you?"

She waves to Tairloth, beckoning her to join the little group that was forming near the table of pasties and candied nuts. "There could be no place more right for you to be right now. Join us, my friend!"

He walked into the building, eyes wide at this place. How had he never discovered it while exploring? It's beautiful! Like something he'd find at the academy. But his wide, bright blue eyes swiftly gained a glimmer of confusion to them... Huh? Why is everyone here lacking any fur?

Where he's from, there are no humans. He hasn't even heard of one! So he looked at all the elegantly dressed people in a mix of confusion and amazement, like one would have seeing a unicorn.

The Nameless One happily takes the Duchess' hand, smile as cunning as ever. "How kind of you to invite me here tonight. It's not often folk invite the fae over for their little parties. I truly am grateful!"

The Nameless One's gaze shifts to Light Raygun and Tairloth, grinning before glancing over at Faye with great interest. Her interest was interrupted at the sight of a table that was absolutely stocked full with candied nuts and various pastries.

"Oh my, and what have we here?" With a flutter of her wings, The Nameless One began to investigate. "A lovely banquet for a lovely gala, I see. You've gone above and beyond for this haven't you? You're so sweet...~"

The Duchess bears the calling of her event a "little party" without a dimming of her smile, though there might have been a momentary narrowing of the eyes. Even if there were, it is gone in a heartbeat, as she is already turning toward a feline explorer approaching the clearing. "Come, dear traveler, join us and feast. Perhaps you'd like something more pescatarian than pastries?" She looks to the other tables until she locates a platter of salmon, but instead of leading Aggles to it, she gestures for a servant - dressed in the shimmering blue-white of her service - to bring the platter over to the group so that he does not have to eat alone, drawing him too to the knot of arrivals she is creating.

Faye's constantly-shifting attention was caught, finally, by the table of delightful looking treats. She studied what was available for some time before carefully selecting a pastry that appeared to be filled with some kind of fruit medley. She nibbled it experimentally, a grin tugging at her lips at the delicious flavours. As she continued to enjoy the pastry, she took in the appearances of the other guests, noting that the one who had descended from the stars seemed to be some kind of faerie, a bit like herself. Faye wondered if her own status as a faerie was obvious; those with magical properties could probably sense it, while to others she might only appear to be a human.

"Don't mind if I do!" Tairloth replied as she followed the Duchess' gesture to the loaded table; any bird will tell you that flying is very energy intensive, so she'd already worked up an appetite on the trip.

As she did so, she caught a familiar mask in the corner of her eye. "Hey there, pal!" She called out with a wave, not wanting to ruin the instructions of the invitation by calling out Cris' name.

The Nameless One was happily helping herself to various kinds of candied nuts, all the while shuffling closer to Faye. A fae like her could easily sniff out another one like her. Even if they looked different, the magic radiating off the girl was a dead giveaway. The Nameless One's antennae twitched.

"So it appears I'm not the only fae here tonight?~" The Nameless One whispered quietly, not giving Faye any warning that she was right next to her. "How delightful."

The Nameless One turned to gaze at the brass dragon that had joined them at the banquet table, still smirking mischievously.

"Yes please!" He starts to run on over, but decides that that wouldn't be elegant enough for an event such as this, so he speed walks instead. Once he is there, he plops himself in a seat and piles his plate high with fishes, meats, pastries, really whatever his paws could grab. A big, mischievous grin on his face.

The sound of flapping signified the arrival of a newcomer to the party--a BIG newcomer. Large wings cast a shadow against the stars, followed by a THUD-thump as the dragon touched down in the snow beyond the dance floor. He looked down at the array of creatures already gathered, and the spade on the end of his tail wagged in delight. His mask was crafted specifically for his draconian face, and resembled frost-touched pink flower petals. He even wore gloves and footies to match. He set down his burden in the snow--a large sack. "Greetings to the one called the duchess!" he spoke over the crowd. "Thank you humbly for your invitation!"

Faye jumped, just a little startled, accidentally biting her tongue and nearly dropping her pastry in the process. "Wh-what?" She asked, maybe a tiny bit too loud. Then, lowering her voice, "Hehe, you caught me." She offered the Nameless One a little grin, an attempt to disguise her embarrassment at being so easily caught off guard. She was trying to play it off, all casual-like, and at least partially succeeding.

His eyes go even wider and his mouth opens in amazement as he looks up to see the newest arrival. "A DRAGON?!"
He has seen dragons before, but its still amazing to him every time he sees one! And this one can TALK?!