kingdomcomes | The Harvest Faire: October Catch-All!

[ As the sun rises at the start of the month, a forest of colorful tents arises outside the city gates. It is not an enemy encampment, though, unless you hate fun. Then yes, it is an enemy encampment. Fun is assaulting the Kingdom in full force, as Harvest Faire fever sweeps across the nation. ]

[ You may join crowds of eager people on the initial days, or wait until the mania has died down to a more casual flow—but either way, there’s a lot to see and do at the faire. It all has to do with people trying to sell you on their religions by showing you their October Best in holidays, but the people of the Kingdom know that if they’re boring or too hard with their sales, no one will come back. So expect a fun, full immersion experience into this or that cult! Food, beverage, and substances will be provided, along with any props you may need to participate. ]

[ Or, I guess, find opportunities to get paid to be a carny, if money is more your speed than fun. ]

[ Cults are on a rotating schedule, so they won’t be the same every day, but eager acolytes will be glad to tell you when they’ll be back in the tent again, so you’ll be welcome to come back again. Maybe even bring a friend along with you? They’re often all smiles on the advertising side, no matter how macabre or dark their faith may be. ]

[ And hey, look, on some days, there’s empty tents... ]

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OOC Event Information | NPC Threads

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Today, one medium-small tent has a particularly intriguing smell coming forth from it. It's a floral scent, yet there's nothing cloying about it. It's subtle, and pleasant. There's the soft chattering of voices within, and a soft stringed instrument playing. It's the very definition of alluring, which gets reflected on the decor within: it's wall to wall pillows, very intentionally sized and designed and laid out in a specific way to be utterly comfortable for any position you could think of. And there certainly are people doing just that.]

[Nude.]

[Or, mostly nude—if Kaph can bring himself to look, each person in a pair is wearing an amulet, and a few of those pairs are still wearing loincloths (though nothing else, so there are bared breasts abound). But they're all enjoying long drags off hookahs, which are the source of that delightful smell. Everyone present has a very dreamy look.]

[There is, amazingly, nothing sexual about this scene. And the vaguely demihuman young man who greets Kaph at the tent opening is wearing a loincloth, along with an amulet. He gracefully raises his arms in a sweeping motion from the elbow.]

Welcome, weary one, to our oasis in this battered and violent world; Sihenta, Goddess of Rest, bids you to join us in her Autumnal Refuge. I am Brom, and I will be your guide.

[Well then. Kaph can't help having KIND of mixed thoughts about his decision to enter this tent - on one hand, he could sure use some of whatever these people are on, and he's never one to say no to the sight of naked ~~people~~ ladies, especially in a place with no internet; on the other hand...]

Hey. You aren't about to hook me into a cult, are you?

[He's just gotta make sure.]

[The young man smiles—it's a bit of a half-smile, really—and clasps his hands in a very formal Pious Looking Way. His voice is liquid smooth as he speaks a bit more candidly but no less faithfully.]

You're one of the Mistress' summoned folk, aren't you? We're a fully licenced and accredited cult; the paperwork is available if you need to see it. We don't want anyone to worry about being taken in by one of those back-alley cults, least of all someone of your standing.

[A woman near the back moans once in ecstasy for apparently no reason. She rolls over onto her side and smiles, eyes closed.]

... You know what? Alright. I'll bite.

[He smirks, failing to hold back a snicker. If this guy didn't sound so subservient, Kaph might not believe him, but as it stands, he sees no reason to even doubt the concept of licenced cults.

Plus, it's nice to get something resembling respect around these parts.]

So! Sell me on your goddess. What's this all about?

[Gesturing inward toward the rest of the tent, Brom the cultist launches into a very well-practiced speech.]

Sihenta takes pity on the suffering of we weak creatures of the flesh. But frankly, she has never been very good at it. This is the third cult she's founded- her first, her followers got carried away with their restful meditations, and stopped breathing. Her second, her followers rallied and rioted at the God of the Calendar's temple demanding he add more vacation days. He responded by removing their birthdays.

And now, us; a mild, modern take on a cult. We make the most of our periods of rest, communing with the goddess as we partake of her sacred smoke. And for the Autumnal Refuge, it is especially potent—we take the time to reflect on the hard work of summer, before the hard work of winter begins.

[After seemingly taking a moment to take all that in... Kaph shakes his head in clear disapproval.]

You seriously need to work on your pitch, my man. [He leans just a little bit closer - this is a Private Conversation now.] The present bit is fine, but you need to focus on that! What are you telling me about your goddess's failures for? You're just reducing her credibility by doing that!

Come on. Give it another shot.

[He blushes furiously, all the way up to the tips of his ambiguously shaped ears. But instead of cowering in his embarrassment, he sets his brows, stammering out in a way that suggests he's more buying time to think than actually having trouble speaking.]

It is- part of her story-... [And then he rallies himself, speaking forcefully at first before returning to that flowing cadence.]

Sihenta is the Goddess of Rest, she who takes pity on us mortals as we toil and slave. In she we find respite, making the most of our periods of rest, and communing with her as we partake of her sacred smoke—and for the Autumnal Refuge, we take the time to reflect on the hard work of the summer... before the hard work of winter begins.

[And he looks to Kaph for approval, his face still ever-so-slightly pink-cheeked.]

[Aww, isn't that adorable? Almost makes him want to pinch those rosy little cheeks.

... But hey, the kid's willing to learn, and as far as Kaph's concerned, that's worth some respect. He gives the cultist a hearty pat on the shoulder to show it.]

There you go! Could use a little touching up, maybe, but that's the biggest issue taken care of!

[Feeling simultaneously glad for the praise and maybe a bit annoyed that this rando couldn't just roll with it, the cultist decides to just let it go. Besides, now that that's over...]

Anyway. Are you interested in joining us in our celebrations? I am trained to guide you in finding and enjoying your own Autumnal Refuge.

Sure, why not! I could use a break.

[Plus, if the Goddess is real - and he sees no reason why she couldn't be - Kaph figures playing along can only be a good move.]

The Harvest Faire: October Catch-All!

CLOSED | KAPH

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whoops i got attacked by a vicious pop-up, ignore any nnon-tag notifs

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