jan event.

[crescentviewmods]

summer has arrived

As the last of the sakura blossoms fall away and the leaves on the trees grow into ever more vibrant greens, the familiar buzz of cicadas begins to echo all throughout the isle. Summer is quickly approaching and bringing brighter days and blazing temperatures along with it.

Summer also signals the start of the wine production season. Grapes growing on trellises are a common sight on Crescentview during the summer and a notice on the town memo board from the local barkeep encourages farmers to consider growing some varietal grapes of their own.

Temperatures are rising, so put on a comfortable pair of shorts and head to the Town Plaza to see what’s cooking! While you’re at it, take a look at the calendar for Summer 1st through 15th.

This season’s crops are corn, onion, pumpkin, watermelon, and pineapple. Summer’s seasonal flowers are poppy, rose, sunflower, lily, and hydrangea. As for mushrooms, shimeji, trumpet, and common brown spores are available for the summer.

hot! ...or not

Posted prominently at the top of the Memo Board is a cartoonishly-written advertisement for the first annual Hot or Not hosted by the Goddess herself. Contestants will take to the stage while the audience votes on whether they are as hot as the blazing sun or cooler than a dead fish. Leave your egos at the door! ICly, this event takes place on Summer 8th.

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 January 1st to February 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.

---

This month’s tasks are centered around getting to know your fellow neighbors on a deeper level. As such, the Goddess has put together a small human scavenger hunt to encourage people to learn more about the people they are living with — and hopefully falling in love with.

Find someone who...

1. Was born in the summer
2. Pours milk into their bowl before the cereal
3. Plays a musical instrument
4. Has more than 3 siblings
5. Works out 5 times a week or more
6. Doesn’t like animals
7. Would like to date the Harvest Goddess
8. Has traveled around the world
9. Speaks two or more languages
10. Is wearing socks that aren’t black or white

Each submission will earn you two random bags of summer seeds. Specify whether you want crop, flower, or mushroom spores in your submission. This task can be completed a total of 10 times.

---

Many ingredients used in wine production grow in the summer, but so do a variety of tea plants and grains. Grapes, tea shrubs and grains like wheat and barley can all be grown on your farm or in your greenhouse, if you have one.

Complete the following tasks to earn yourself some nice beverage-producing crops for the farm:

1. Take something from last month’s harvest and gift it to a neighbor. You can give it to them directly, cook it into a meal, etc. Alternatively, craft them a bouquet, flower crown, or another gift from the flowers you grew last season. Complete 3 times for a total of 6 grape starters.

2. Share a piece of hot gossip with a neighbor or exchange secrets with them. It doesn’t have to be your secret! Complete 3 times for a total of 6 tea starters.

3. Exercise with someone. Go on a run, swim in the ocean, help them stretch out! Complete 3 times for a total of 6 grain crops. You may choose from wheat, barley, rye, or rice.

---

Summer is the perfect time to hang out on the beach and splash around in the ocean. Participate in some summer fun at the beach and earn more animals for your barn and coop.

1. Swim in the ocean, build a sandcastle, or bury someone in the sand. Do any of the following for one of the following animals: cow, sheep, alpaca, or goat. This task can be completed once.

2. Participate in Hot or Not. It’s an annual tradition! Submit yourself or comment on someone else for a single chicken or rabbit. This task can be completed once.

local happenings

The Crescentview Times newspaper has chronicled the latest happenings around the island. A physical copy of the paper will arrive on your doorstep early in the morning on Summer 1st.

Recently, a group of townspeople have taken it upon themselves to check out the abandoned mine. They’ve made good headway on opening up the path in the hopes that would-be explorers will be able to take to the mines and find some of Crescentview’s fabled gems and minerals buried in its depths. They expect to be done by Summer 15th.

A strange “gurgling whisper” has been reported by some concerned townsfolk living in the mountains. The concerning sounds are coming from one of the lakes at the foot of the mountain. Supposedly, the voice is asking for offerings of... something. The townsfolk have yet to identify what exactly is being asked for.

A hurricane has been brewing off the southern coast of Crescentview. Meteorologists have yet to determine whether the hurricane will make landfall or not, so stay tuned for more updates.

mod notes

⬥ Welcome to our second event! We want to thank you all for participating in our game and contributing your efforts to it. Thank you for playing!
⬥ A second event post will go up in mid-Jan.
⬥ Please plot over at the Jan 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

[harvestashya]

[ YEAH. Anyway. ]

That was quite an entrance, dear. I can appreciate the efforts. I have some questions for you—feel free to answer them however as you'd like.

[ She clears her throat. ]

What is your morning care routine?

[hypnowhip]

Oh, I'm so glad you asked!

[He proceeds to launch into a long description of his skin care routine, the makeup he puts on for a regular work day vs fancy occasion, the amount of effort he puts into styling his hair... It's so much.]

[harvestashya]

[ Oh, such detail. The goddess seems to be listening in on everything he says with intrigue. ]

You take such pride and care of your beauty. That is admirable. Now, if you could try wooing the audience before you.

[hypnowhip]

[Sylvando beams. it's nice to see his efforts recognized like that.]

Thank you, darling! I have a hard time getting up and out there for the day if I can't take care of myself.

[He can't entertain the masses if he ain't looking his best!

Speaking of entertaining the masses... He doesn't usually do performances aimed at "wooing" an audience, but he certainly doesn't mind giving it a shot. He did hop up on a "hot or not" stage, after all!

After taking in a breath to center himself, he pulls out...a whip. That sure is a whip. Did he bring it here just in case? The world may never know. The audience is then treated to a dance that's on the spicy side with some masterful whip movements added in. He may be a clown, but he likes a little ~passion~ from time to time too.]

[harvestashya]

[ The goddess watches on with fascination gracing her features. ]

Oh, my. How magnificent. Bravo.

[ After Sylvando is finished, she applauds. ]

Beautifully done! What is this dance inspired by? I simply must know.

[hypnowhip]

[He spins on his heel and gives a dramatic bow after receiving the goddess' praise.]

Thank you, thank you!

[It feels really good to do a little performance on stage again. It's been a while!]

It is a combination of techniques honed during my time in the circus and the passionate dance styles of my homeland. Both are very important in shaping who I am today, so I put a little number together to celebrate them!

[harvestashya]

Very hard working and ambitious too. People would be very lucky to have you. What a wonderful display of culture and expression. Truly, magnificent.

[ She really likes this. ]

Would you like to pull someone from the audience to do a little dance with you?

[ She's merely curious. Sylvando doesn't have to, and she'll give him that right for such a splendid performance. ]

[hypnowhip]

O-Oh, goodness! That's very sweet of you to say, honey, thank you!

[Sylvando's not really one to fluster, but those are some comments that knock even him a little off kilter.

When offered a second dance, this time with a potential partner...]

Really? You'd be interested in another dance? I haven't gotten to dance with a partner in quite a while, so I'd love to! Of course, I wouldn't want to force anyone...

[Still, he peers around the audience...and his eyes settle on van Zieks waiting in the wing. He's probably just still here from his scuffle with Diluc, but-]

Yoo-hoo! [He waves in van Zieks' direction.] Ba-- Van Zieks, do you have any dance training?

[winebar]

[In all honesty, van Zieks found the first dance... Distracting? So he's a little caught off guard, which means he's not able to prepare his grumpiest attitude.]

I-Well yes, though nothing like... what you just did.
[WE DO NOT DANCE LIKE THAT IN ENGLAND.]

[harvestashya]

[ The goddess just smiles and watches them. Just as planned.

Let me know when the dance is done, then I'll toss the goddess back into the thread! only sylvan zieks now ]

[hypnowhip]

Oh! [With a laugh,] That's okay, I wasn't expecting you to. I'm guessing something formal of the ballroom variety is what you've been taught? I would be more than happy to perform something like that!

[He offers a bow in van Zieks' direction.]

I know it's a lot to ask. This is a stage and all, but... May I have this dance?

[winebar]

[Honestly he's so relieved that he's being asked to do something he already knows, that he nods and heads out onto the stage, realizing halfway that he absolutely should not have agreed to such a thing??? But now it's too late.]

It has been many years though, so perhaps you'd prefer a different partner...
[He hates this entire event.]

[hypnowhip]

[Sylvando is admittedly a little giddy when he straightens back up and reaches for van Zieks' hand. This is going to be so much fun!

...oh.]

Honey, do I seem like the type who does ballroom dance on the regular either?

[The "honey" slips out, to which he covers his mouth in a silent "oops" to van Zieks.]

But I'm not going to force you if you don't want to! I want this to be fun for both of us.

[winebar]

[Van Zieks doesn't correct him, but maybe it's just because he's still discombobulated. He is, of course, not thrown off by being in front of others. A stage is not really that different from a courtroom. All eyes are on him either way. It's more the activity at hand.]

... To be clear, I only know how to lead.
[He'd assume so would Sylvando??? They are both men, after all.]

[hypnowhip]

[Oh!! It’s happening!!]

That’s fine! I can perform either role.

[It’s true that growing up he was only taught to lead, but after he started performing in earnest he’s tried his best to understand both roles in most couple dances.]

[winebar]

[It's happening.... Van Zieks's posture is so proper he barely has to shift it to get into frame, though he's a bit awkward as he takes Sylvando's hand with one of his own, placing the other at his waist. He needs a minute to fight back the part of his brain screaming at him for ??? dancing with??? another man??? in public???? Everyone can see??? But people don't seem to care much about various matters of propriety here. It's fine. It's fine!!!!

He exhales, a bit heavily.]

Waltz? I'm most familiar with that one.
[He is calm and composed this is normal and he is the unshakeable reaper of the bailey.]

[hypnowhip]

[Van Zieks will have all the time he needs. After placing his free hand on van Zieks' shoulder, Sylvando exhales along with him and tips his head up to offer a confident smile. He figures this isn't an everyday thing in London and truthfully, it's not in Erdrea either. But he's never thought anything of it, and his hope is that van Zieks can find that place of comfort as well.]

A waltz sounds wonderful. I'm right here with you, ready when you are.

[winebar]

[He nods, definitely not nervous. He's just closing his eyes to better imagine the last time he was in a proper ballroom situation. To get the music in his head!!! That's all!!!

But the reason why van Zieks goes quiet all the time is so he can think things over carefully and then do them properly. So when he finally does move, you really wouldn't think he was nervous at all. His steps are smooth and purposeful, his lead is steady and firm, just enough pressure in his hold to guide his partner from one step to the next.

It may not be exciting or spicy, but it's certainly elegant.]

[hypnowhip]

[As many dance routines as Sylvando has done in the years since he went out into the world on his own, it's been such a long time that he's done a waltz with anyone outside of a practice setting. They're not exactly flashy enough for the circus, nor has he had the time to attend a ballroom setting. He can picture it, though: rather than a stage in the middle of town, the pair are the center of attention at some fancy gathering, and he'd pulled van Zieks away from the walls for a little fun.

The moment van Zieks finally takes his first step, Sylvando is right alongside him as promised. Though this is a brand new dance partner, he's pretty keen on figuring out van Zieks' rhythm and intensity. Out of practice? Sylvando certainly couldn't tell from the confidence in these movements!

Sylvando's more of a vocal dancer, but he finds himself completely quiet and concentrated, simply enjoying how in sync the two of them are in this moment. He does give van Zieks' hand a gentle squeeze though as they effortlessly weave through their steps- a vote of confidence that he's doing amazing.]

[winebar]

[It's much appreciated, because while it wouldn't be obvious to anyone not in close physical contact with him, but he is nervous. He feels comfortable being the center of attention in exactly one place and that place is court.

Still, his brother was a perfectly refined gentleman with all the expected skills, and he was nothing if not the sort of little brother who doggedly chased after the elder. So he too, has all the expected skills. And for a moment, after the reassurance, he's almost able to disengage enough to imagine he is really back when he needed these skills, when Klint was alive and there were no vast conspiracies to unravel. It's nice.

But then he remembers where and when he is, and he releases his hold on Sylvando's waist to lead him into a final underarm turn as a final flourish.]

[esurientabyss]

[ ...for some reason, he finds himself still a part of the audience when Sylvando seems to make another performance.

He Xuan doesn't say much of anything, but he's watching the entire routine. He isn't the type of person to go to shows or anything like that, and yet the movements continue to draw his attention—they are lively and full of spirit, of passion.

Only when it ends does he look away. ]

[hypnowhip]

[Since He Xuan was watching the performance closely...

A fleeting moment passed in which Sylvando was most certainly looking right at him.]

[bluminescence]

[ Kaspar is not actually on the stage yet during all of this, but he is here. Drawn forward first to the drawing of swords, his own daggers remaining sheather.

This is here to document the way he stills and watches. If Sylando notices, Kaspar's gaze is openly transfixed on every move, with a certain shamelessness that comes from calm yet undeterred curiosity. His gaze remains even once it ends and once things progress to the waltz.

Beauty on both sides of an axis, the sensual and the elegant. Through both, he can feel the movement in his bones, the music leading his soul across the stage. For someone so deprived of art and a variety of music back home, it is a wonder to him still. Ever since the spring dance, his fascination has bloomed, watered by the many possibilities for self expression.

Not that he plans to do anything like dancing once he's on stage, when he gives it thought later in the wings. Quiet and calm, hoping his throat doesn't close up completely with all of the eyes around here. Pointedly, he keeps his smile directed anywhere except the audience. ]