God Jól - Nexus Winter Party Post 2018

[pirateangelbaby]

The winter solstice has arrived, and with it, the Nexus has made good on the promise of frost and snow. Soft white banks blanket the streets and buildings, a darkened evening sky curling overhead with brilliant green and yellow auroras, and just off the Plaza proper, a roaring bonfire offers shelter from the chill. An entire oak tree trunk, carved with nordic runes and anointed with spices, blazes with merry heat in the center of a series of open-sided pavilions, their supporting posts wreathed with holly and pine. The entire gathering is ringed by evergreen trees whose boughs are decorated with ribbons of brightly colored cloth, carved wooden runes, cranberries, and small squares of toasted bread. At the back of the grounds, an enormous straw goat overlooks the proceedings, bound into shape with strips of red cloth.

Beneath the shelter of the pavilions sit long communal tables and benches, decked with greenery and candles that smell of warm cinnamon and cedar and bayberry, and tableware laid out to host a grand feast for all. One table is loaded down with food of all sorts, dishes donated by visitors spread out equally amidst those provided by the host, roasted meats and cheeses and breads, bowls of apples and oranges, and an entire boar's head with an apple in its mouth. At the end of the table sits an enormous silver punch bowl of steaming hot wassail, surrounded by bottles of colder brews, some labeled as non-alcoholic while some others warn against excessive consumption by anyone without a godlike constitution. Staff wearing white goathide cloaks and horned helms tend the tables, replenishing food and drink as needed, and handing out honey cakes and small paper-wrapped parcels to all in attendance.

The jólfather himself can be seen wearing a finer goatskin cloak of dark red, his head wreathed with a crown of woven holly and ivy, a gold patch covering his missing eye, and carrying an oaken staff carved in the likeness of Gungnir, with springs of mistletoe entwined around its head. As guests arrive, and fill their plates and cups with the bounty of the feast, Thor raises a horn of mead to the gathering and speaks the traditional Asgardian Yule blessing. "Come those that will, leave those that will, stay those that will, I declare this place a sanctuary. To all that sit at my hearth, today we are family, and I drink to your health. To a good new year, and peace!"

Welcome to Yule, Nexus-goers. Eat, drink, and be merry!



[OOC: As this is a party post, please feel free to threadhop and mingle to your hearts' content! There is a post in the OOC community about Yule gifts here.]

Comments

[courtofmurk]

Natasha's good at moving through a crowd without being noticed more than she chooses. Still, there are some very sharp eyes keeping a lookout. She likely won't be over-surprised when, pausing in the shadows by one of the boundary trees, there's a flapping and the rustle of fir needles near her shoulder.

"Hail, Knight of Brawn! Hail and well met!" Even keeping his voice down, the Knave's voice is never calm.

[red_room]

It always used to be her partner that would stick to the fringes and watch from a distance. Natasha was always the one in the middle of it, blending in but still seen and interacted with. She's doing less of that these days. Now it's her sticking to the edge of the festivities, watching more than she engages.

She frowns visibly at the flapping, though she's already reaching for her plate to toss a bit of seasoned salami toward the noise to cut off the inevitable begging for food. It's not what she gets though. Natasha turns her gaze toward the shadows.

"Well met indeed." What is this avian emissary up to?

[courtofmurk]

Oh. Well, he does want the salami, but she can guess that anyway. The Knave has a greater purpose here.

He's got secrets.

"You were wise to come here, crow-friend. This winter is bitter. Feast and fatten, fatten and feast. We must grow strong!"

[red_room]

"Are you talking about in general, or the spirit in charge of the place?"

Because she can think of several reasons why the Winter Spirit who likes to stick his fingers into everything this time of year might have issue with a bird quite literally shitting all over his creations. Not her problem, really. But if she doesn't share her food she's liable to hear the birds all night.

"I can get you a plate of food but considering how much is here tonight I'm surprised you haven't been gorging yourself on unguarded delicacies already."

[courtofmurk]

"Aha." His response to her question carries a whole weight of suggestion. The little bird cocks his head at her slyly, before her offer distracts him.

"The Knight of Marrow raids the featherless feast even as I speak! He is bold as ever! Undaunted! Fearless! Hardly moping at all! But... I am forbidden from the feast until my message is delivered. So listen well!" He hops closer, head lowered and voice lowered to a harsh whisper.

"The Duke bids all the Court take heed: he has returned! Flown from his nest in the Crow's Wood! Even now he plots and schemes with the most trusted counselors. Hatching plans, gathering shadows. We prepare... for war."

[red_room]

The duke has returned and he's preparing for war? That sounds like either code or something insidious if Natasha's ever heard it but she's not very certain what all that has to do with her. What would war to a bunch of birds even look like?

Swarms, poo projectiles, diving for treats? It sounds like a good day to conveniently be gone form the Nexus, in all honesty.

"And what do you want from me?" Whether Natasha will give it she won't say but it never hurts to ask. Be prepared.

[courtofmurk]

It does sound ominous. But then Natasha has seen the birds in action plenty of times by now. To date their despised enemies have included bats, vending machines, unfortunate mechanics, rival birds and assorted scarecrows. For the birds at the top of the pecking order to stir from their cushy winter roosts might be unusual, but the Court can be roused to a petulant, squawking fury by the strangest things.

There's no reason to think this occasion will be any different to the others.

"You are Knight of Brawn! You owe fealty to the Court! To our liege! When the time is right, we will call on you to join us in battle!"

[red_room]

Definitely sounding like it would be better for Natasha to lay low and not wander around the Nexus too much for a while. The last thing she needs is a murder of crows beating at her window demanding she ride into battle with them. Against a food cart owner or a vending machine or who even knows what.

Of course, what she says is none of that.

"Right. Of course." Playing along means less headaches for everyone involved. Especially Natasha. She nods. "Consider me warned for the months ahead."

[courtofmurk]

"Stand ready! Stand ready!" The Knave bobs his head excitedly. "I will inform the Duke you are prepared! ...Is that sausage?"