dec event overflow.

[crescentviewmods]

prologue

You awake to find yourself in a bed that creaks with your every movement, motes of dust flitting about the sparsely lit room. Whether you wake alone or with another by your side, you exit the worn-down building to find yourself on an old, abandoned farm. It isn’t long before a familiar voice lilts in your ears, carried to you on the breeze—

“Hurry over to the town square. Chop chop!”

Whether you go willingly or find your feet inexplicably compelled to trudge into town makes no difference. Once you arrive, you find yourself surrounded by a small ocean of new faces— some confused, some angered, and others quite chipper. At the center of the crowd is a bright-eyed woman with an otherworldly allure, her white hair tied up neatly in a bun, pamphlets and assorted papers tucked in her grasp.

“Welcome to Crescentview, farmers!”

Spreading her arms out wide — as much as she can without her papers blowing away — she eagerly regales the crowd with some fun facts about the island and the town while also reminding everyone of one very important fact:

“Remember, you’ve been brought here to tend the earth, fall in love, and begin your new lives together. You’re not leaving until you do. It will be quite the experience for you, I’m sure.”

Complain, grouse, or rejoice if you like, but don’t expect the Goddess to budge. Oh, right, there’s that too: she, the Harvest Goddess, is the one presiding over this land. Don’t get on my bad side, she gently warns as she stuffs pamphlets into the hands of Crescentview’s aspiring farmers.

spring breeze

While you’re here, you may as well check out the pamphlet the Goddess insistently pressed into your hands. Within it, you’ll find a handy infographic on each of your neighbors detailing their likes, dislikes, and... ideal dates? Even the Goddess’ profile is there. How invasive! Each farmer’s picture is hand-drawn by crayon into simple stick figures with the only difference being how the hair looks on top of their heads… if it can be called hair with the mess of crayons, that is. Every single stick figure is smiling. In front of each personalized pamphlet, there’s a stick figure on the cover with the same style as the photo. It’s definitely yours with how the hair color seamlessly matches yours. For the ones who have multicolor hair, you might notice the goddess seems a little more huffy with you.

The pamphlet also includes a map of Crescentview and lists the services available in town. There aren’t many on this small, remote island. Learning how to fend for yourself seems like the best course of action. Finally, a hand-printed bingo card has been made up for each new island resident. The Goddess must have spent quite a bit of time making these...

The Goddess gives her new questionably loyal followers a chance to mingle and mix before speaking up with another announcement. A small group of haggard-looking fairies appear at her feet, and clapping her hands, a notice board springs into existence. When the fairies fail to react, she gives one a nudge with her foot, prompting them all to burst into the world’s smallest round of applause. It’s a little... pathetic.

“Ta-da! Behold: the task board. Every season, I’ll give you new tasks to complete, and in exchange, you’ll be richly blessed by me, the Harvest Goddess. Spring is the season of new beginnings, so let’s take a look at what we’ve got cooking, hm?”

task board

The task board is located in Town Square and changes from season to season. In real time, a season is one month long. The following tasks are available from December 1st to January 1st and more tasks may be added mid-month.

Certain rewards are only available through event participation, so please keep this in mind when planning your threads. Multiple tasks may be completed within a single thread, but when turning in, please link to the individual tags in which each task was completed.

Finally, rewards are per character, not per farm, so those with housemates may want to coordinate with one another with regard to what animals you’re bringing home to your farm.

1. Greet your neighbors. For every person you meet, you will be given a random bag of spring seeds. Potato, cabbage, turnip, strawberry, and cucumber seeds are available at this time. Alternatively, random mushroom spores are also available. These include morel, matsutake, and common white mushroom spores. This task can be completed a total of 10 times for rewards. Please specify how much of each you would like when submitting your threads, i.e. “I’d like 5 random spring seed bags and 5 random mushroom bags, please!”

2. Exchange names. Start learning some names and faces: you’ll be seeing a lot of these folks! For each name you learn, you’ll earn a random bag of spring flower seeds. Daffodil, tulip, forget-me-not, primrose, and hyacinth are available this season. This task can be completed a total of 10 times for rewards, and yes, you can cheat the system and introduce yourself to someone you already know, but the Goddess won’t like it.

3. Check out your new farm. Take a look around and settle in! After a bit of wandering, you’ll notice a small cat or dog following you around and looking up at you with them big ol’ eyes. Looks like it wants to stay with you, but will you adopt it? This task can be completed once.

4. Till your field and begin planting. Find the beat up farming tools in your beat up house and begin beating your farmland into submission. Plant some seeds and be rewarded by the Goddess with a single chicken or rabbit to keep in your coop. This task can be completed once.

5. Visit another farm. Pay one of your neighbors a visit to receive a stationary set blessed by the Goddess herself. There are no cell phones or Internet on the island, so get used to sending all your “LOL”s and “XDDDD”s by hand. This task can be completed once.

6. Make a new friend. Isn’t friendship wonderful? For each person you proclaim to be your friend, you will receive two random gacha items. This task can be completed 3 times.

7. Pray to the Goddess. Whether you do so grudgingly or willingly doesn’t matter much to her so long as you’re doing it! Clasp your hands together and bow your head or throw an offering into her pond— she’ll hear you either way. Praying to the Goddess will net you a barn animal of your choosing: a cow, sheep, alpaca, or goat. This task may be completed once.

Caution: throwing certain items into her pond may have consequences. Choose your offerings wisely.

mod notes

⬥ Welcome to the game's opening and our first event!
⬥ A second event post will go up in mid-Dec.
⬥ Please plot over at the Dec Plotting Post.
⬥ As a reminder, please keep all plotting on the OOC post as not everyone has Discord or Plurk.
⬥ Please submit your completed tasks at the top-level below.
⬥ Have fun!

navigation

Comments

[sluice]

And if I tell you that I seek it for its own sake?

[ Does strength always have to be used for something noble and good? His devotion lies with the Tsaritsa alone, but none of it has kept him from self-sabotage, thrilled by the heat of battle and pushing up against any savagery that others can greet him with. In troubling relation to the things that bring him the closest and furthest from what he really wants, Childe's either seeking out new heights of greatness or confirmation that he's alive— that he didn't die when he should have, that he still continues to draw air. No clue which one it really is. He never thinks much on it anymore. ]

Is there no better pleasure than pushing one's capacity as a warrior to its utmost limits? That's the path I've chosen to pursue.

[ Actually, isn't it just the absence of weakness that he craves? Something to think about, as he's putting away the art supplies surrounding their clumsily-made pictures. ]

He Xuan. [ Did he say that right? It's a name that reminds him so much of Liyue Harbor; it sounds distantly familiar in a way that he can't quite grasp. ] Supposing I asked for it, would you turn a blade upon me and fight?

[esurientabyss]

[ He Xuan never even wanted to be here, and yet here they are. Forced to endure such a disgusting role by a conceited goddess. A Calamity reduced to this, for all of the success he had obtained in enacting his vengeance before the kidnapping. Hua Cheng would be ridiculing him if he knew that he was being expected to play out the role of a farmer searching for someone to wed. ]

...A path made solely for the sake of cultivating power because you can. Honest. But can you sustain it?

[ Will Childe lose himself trying to achieve his goal? He Xuan thinks that, more than anything, is something he might want to see. No matter how twisted the thought is. So, as Childe challenges him, the waters nearby the shore begin to stir, rushing a bit inwards, and the ugly resentment that He Xuan possess, for being brought here, and for existing as a ghost of terrible power, begins to emanate from him.

When Childe speaks his name, the ghost king's eyes flash golden. Despite Childe already knowing his name by now, when he speaks again, He Xuan introduces himself properly— ]

I will humor you. I am He Xuan, the Great Calamity known as Black Water Sinks Ships.

[ He Xuan doesn't bother to say that Childe may turn away at any point in time. Childe asked, and he accepted. Not to mention, by the end of the fight, their portraits ought to be dry.

After that moment, he rushes forward towards the other man, moving quicker than most people would or could, and decides to try to punch the other man in the stomach. There's not much warning, but he suspects that as a fighter, Childe is prepared to at least act accordingly, so it is fair in his book. ]

[sluice]

[ Can't get out from under it, can't cut it out of himself, that tendency towards violence that's always reined over him since he fell into the Abyss. In polite company, Childe can tamp it down, suppress these homicidal urges coming over him like an unruly wave. Sometimes, he can even ignore it. He answers to the Tsaritsa first, before anything. There exists no goodness in a dog that can't obey.

Now, it's cluttering him, every which way he can feel, this senseless pursuit of power. His eyes aren't in corrupted in gold at all but he's meeting He Xuan's stare the same way, hands thrown out to curb the relentlessness, falling just short of getting punched in the solar plexus. Struggling to even restrain him, the soles of his boots are sinking heavily into the sand.

Sedated by nothing, Childe's twisting his hands sharply, so sharply, where he's wrapped his fingers over He Xuan's fists. Damn it, he can't hold him back anymore. ]

I can. [ Sustain it, let it sustain him, what does it matter? ] I'll even let you watch as I conquer the world, Great Calamity.

[ Releasing his grip, he calls forth his daggers on behalf of his Hydro Vision, the blades water-sodden and glistening. Another twist and he's flung them together to form a spear, radiating cold and blue with power. No hesitation in him at all when he goes for the pushback, whirling the spearpoint as close to He Xuan as he can get it, closer to his throat than further away, forcing him back.

Is that unfair? Maybe. But the world's unfair. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ Once upon a time, He Xuan saw the need to pursue power himself. Moments after everything came to a head, and the last he had seen of his surroundings was an environment dyed in a haunting crimson. But when all truly came to an abrupt end, a creature had been poised to consume what remained of him ... he overtook it by sheer will, with an indomitable will to consume it, to 'survive'. To become stronger.

He watches this man who seems to hold a great hunger that would overtake most creatures, and as apparently the warrior indeed is able to react in time to his initial strike. ]

...Conquer the world? Amusing, to think you can manage that.

[ Yet, He Xuan's voice contains an undercurrent of interest. Little is worth him truly watching these days. But this young man who doesn't shrink away from him, may lose himself in his quest for power, and dares to meet him head on...

Either way, He Xuan finds himself taking a step back, then around the sudden, skilled thrusting maneuvers of the conjured, arcane spear. But, it appears Childe has momentarily succeeded in creating some bit of distance, even as the ghost king has moved so that his back is to the water moving. Without any sort of hand movement, a portion of that water rises, some of it now dyed black, and then suddenly shoots forward, towards Childe. This part of the water? Is heavier than it appears despite the fact it certainly isn't a proper wave, and his intention with it is going to be trying hit him with it so he can knock him down. ]

[sluice]

[ Caught up in this messed-up tango, Childe's splitting the difference in experience, trying to slice through the sloe-black ripple of what should be water that he can't seem to displace. Faltering to evade the waves cutting across the floor to meet him, sand's kicked up even as he's whirling away from its heavy trajectory. Another second and he'd crumple. Who knows what'll happen if he lets it suffocate him? Best to avoid that, if he can.

In any case, he just needs to land a single hit to apply Riptide, some mark that'll ensure Childe hits the target. Right now, he's on the defensive, jabbing anywhere that he can reach— He Xuan's upper forearm, along his ribs, jabbed down as low as his shin. Does it reach him? ]

It isn't a thought. Only a matter of dedication— because I am certainly growing stronger all the time.

[ Having only begun fighting at the tender age of fourteen, he's so unpracticed, a late bloomer in every respect. Even so, Childe's consciously correcting his stance as soon as it elicits his notice, twirling the polearm until it's leaving red grooves in his palms from how viciously he's gripping it. ]

Although it might not be now, I will overcome everything that stands in my path.

[ Think fast. Here comes Childe with that spear, sea-cold and reflecting so much light, as he aims for He Xuan's shoulder with the intent to run him through with it. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ To be quite frank, no one usually holds sparring matches with Calamities, for what are obvious reasons — they are dangerous creatures, who rival the strength of even gods who have passed their own Heavenly Calamity to ascend in the first place. If one can, they would evade a direct fight, and He Xuan rarely has anyone traverse to his lair. As such, one would assume He Xuan doesn't see much face to face battle, but that isn't quite true either.

Due to over hundreds of years in being dragged along to missions, well. Martial arts skill has been cultivated decent enough, enough that even in the long, black robes he's wearing, he easily dodges around each strike once more, like a slippery fish flopping around and slipping irritatingly through a desperate fisherman's hands. It does not reach him. ]

Everything? Even if gods dare stand in your path?

[ ...Yet, this isn't the domain of Black Water Island, nor is it Nether Water mansion. Childe isn't an enemy who is chained up either.

The spear makes its first mark tonight ironically in that piercing motion. But He Xuan never stated it would end when first blood has been spilt. And despite the fact it goes through the ghost king's shoulder, he doesn't cry out in pain, though it's something he certainly registers. Instead, he raises one hand to daringly grip onto the summoned spear, tugging on it with a inhumanly powerful motion, the intention being to further bridge the gap between them...so he can try to knee the other man, hard as he can, in the stomach. ]

[sluice]

[ Something awful: he doesn't retreat, curiosity betraying him even when completely out of his own depth, the spear's tip piercing He Xuan with a wet splash but connecting with nothing solid. Forcibly dragged forward, his breath locks up in his throat, concentration sliced to nothing. ]

I'll pull even the gods out of their heaven. Overthrowing their dominion... if I'm capable of that, then I'll surpass them!

[ Though it's hardly convincing when Childe's shocked out of any elaborating any further, pain-struck and crumpling to the floor when he's dealt that blow. His powers haven't come all the way back; his Delusion makes for little more than a convincing paperweight, and Foul Legacy has been suppressed.

But on his knees, socked out of air, he's full of ferocious laughter. ]

How badly I'd like to see it... what you must look like when nothing's holding you back. Don't you think it'd make quite the view?

[ Better than these paintings and better than even the sun glossing the sea in colors; Childe calls for his bow, and it responds to him in kind. Wrenching himself up, his boots go sliding back across the sand dunes as he lobs a few charged shots. The form's all wrong; he hasn't yet mastered this weapon, and even arrows stained by his power leave plenty to be desired, but every one of them will hit as long as the Riptide mark remains on He Xuan's shoulder. Only in the proximity of fire will that curse he's left burn away any sooner. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ The moment where Childe's concentration is shaken is evident, his startled reaction committed to memory, as well as the arrogant words that pass through his lips. There are many who have boasted to one day match the strength of gods, but to throw them out of their own place where they rule from up high?

Just trying to imagine that is entertaining enough. Though, it's also more likely the man will be torn apart before he even succeeds. Or, he would be made to kneel before them, as he is now... ]

One most would run away from. But some have been unable to. And you? You wouldn't even last long enough to appreciate it.

[ He Xuan is fairly used to being cursed, but it's been awhile since he's had an inability to do anything about it. Indeed, per Childe's technique, nothing misses, and he can't call on a simple fire spell like he might've picked up awhile ago. But, he's sturdier than most people. Even without access to his powers, and given Childe's own lack of power behind each strike, well...it doesn't take him much to move forward, braving the solid hits against his frame.

Now his intention is unleash a barrage with his own fists, and feet, directing mercilessly towards Childe's front, all the while also pulling in some of that heavy, black colored water, aiming it lower, at the other man's feet. A complex maneuver, but designed with the intention of overwhelming the other man. ]

[sluice]

[ Resonating in him is so much instinct— three months of treating himself as dead and years afterwards of honing himself as a weapon first and a person second— ensures that Childe is so loathe to flee. Fear isn't the closest thing to his heart, it's madness, and without being bidden, he heeds it. Longing, so much longing is inside of him— he's trapped in it, sick with it— and that obsession swallows him up, carving out anything kinder he could've shown He Xuan. ]

I'll test that theory now.

[ The pain that hits him is so familiar and Childe's coming home to it, pausing only to call upon the water so it'll surge up below his feet even from beneath the sand, propelling him upward. Briefly, he's airborne, his bow shattering into knives, mist around his fingers until he curls his hands tight around the pair of blades.

Here's how it is: he goes in the plunge, coming down on He Xuan like absolute death. ]

Who'll prevail? You, or I?

[ Battling his master, Childe could never triumph over her. And yet, he's casting around for the advantage, to sink those glinting blades into He Xuan until he has to acknowledge that it may be possible yet for him to overcome even a god. ]

[esurientabyss]

[ He Xuan never has considered someone as one who held much interest in battles. By the time enemies reached him, they were broken, and those who called themselves gods...he could take their power from them, drain their spiritual energy to dust when they dared infiltrate or find themselves in his domain. They were nothing.

He felt nothing when they died, and even simply a dull sense of satisfaction when he beheaded one, his hands a veritable crimson red when done.

But here he is, fighting, and Childe, in his crazed movements, still dares to press forward instead of retreat. How could he feel nothing against that?

Indeed, Childe has managed to do one thing for certain—he's impressed him. ]

I will.

[ Yet, He Xuan's words are uttered with a tone that may be mistaken for a dull flatness, but those who are familiar with the tone of people who have irrefutable confidence in their tone will find it present, without a doubt—an ancient, stubborn indication of pride.

After all, one thing He Xuan has learnt over the centuries is the value of patience, to know when to strike, to know which part to play, to know when to speak, to act, to react. A battle is no different, and so as he watches Childe fall down towards him swiftly, he moves quickly, so swiftly, so that when the man has fallen far enough, He Xuan will be at his side.

And with one, cold hand he reaches out to, mercilessly and quickly, with the intention to grab a hold of Childe by the throat. Should he be successful, his next move would be to slam him into the ground... ]

[sluice]

[ Keep imposing, then. His caprice is gone, and so is what's left of his humor, but Childe doesn't give, even when that hand's rearing callously for his jugular. It connects. Airlessness fills his windpipe as he struggles to loosen that vice-grip on him. Panic doesn't find him even then, taking the path of least resistance to stab He Xuan once, twice in the arm, until he's abruptly flung to the ground.

No point gathering his bearings, either. Breathlessly, Childe slams his palm against the sand, gloved fingertips abrading the ground from every conceivable angle, so the Celestial Voyager can burst in from below and swallow them both up.

It's a narwhal, by the way. A gigantic one, some facsimile of the real thing, comprised entirely of water. Drowning He Xuan or depriving him of oxygen is probably an impossibility, but it doesn't stop Childe from making the attempt. Can't hurt, after everything. There's nothing left for him to do.

When it dives back into the floor, he's left water-riddled and profusely wet, coughs guttering down his throat. ]

... You will.

[ That's the end of it, then. Defeat always comes with humiliation, and this occasion isn't any different, as his knives flicker and shatter at once, splashing back into mist. ]

Almost had you. I was close. Another second... though, it doesn't matter.

[ Rolling onto his back, he glances sidelong, inspecting what's balled up in his other hand. Part of He Xuan's sleeve, some scrap of clothing he'd ripped away in his attempt to regain the advantage, apparently. Childe holds it aloft. ]

Here. Take it back.

[esurientabyss]

[ Of all the things Childe has done, what he pulled there for a moment would be something he'd hardly anticipated, enough that his body goes tense momentarily until he realizes the element behind the maneuver. Truly, it's correct that drowning He Xuan is, in fact, a literal impossibility considering who and what he is. He doesn't even need to breathe.

What it does ensure is that he's as drenched as Childe is, looking everything like what some have pictured in dreadful paintings. A devastation-level wraith drenched in black water, emerging from the sea to drown those who would dare intrude on his domain.

...Well, it ensures one thing for certain as well. That when he returns home, he will very likely make a mess on the floorboards, unless he calls some of the water from him...which he does. His black clothing has also sustained a credible amount of damage thanks to Childe's manuevers, particularly the scrap of clothing. ]

Were you close? [ Rude, He Xuan. ] But, your efforts have been acknowledged.

[ He will just solemnly take the piece of ripped sleeve, and then pocket it. Maybe he can find a tailor or something to fix it. Or some degree of his own capability might be enough. Not right now, though.

After that, he heads over to the painting Childe has put together of him, and takes it within his hands. It's probably decently dry by now. Or...getting there. Painting does take awhile to do so, after all. ]

We'll see each other again.

[ He Xuan states frankly, and then begins to leave the other man to recover. ]