The Festival of Wishes!

[indigo_league]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Pewter City!
When: June 24th
Summary: It's time to celebrate the Festival of Wishes!


Pewter City is one of those towns that doesn't draw a lot of attention. It's nice and has that museum, but it never seems to be the scene of much excitement.

But today, that's different. Because today, Pewter City has been doffed up to the nines, with visitors arriving from everywhere to celebrate the Festival of Wishes. The skies are crowded with uBIRDs flying in people from all over Johto and Kanto. The streets are filled with cheerful noises and many in the crowd have come in their finest yukata and kimono, adding splashes of colour to what might otherwise be a drab crowd. And if you'd like to try out one of these beautiful garments yourself, there are plenty of nearby shops offering rentals for the visiting crowds.

Stalls have gone up all over town, most hawking various forms of street food: Takoyaki, Yakisoba, Kaarage and many others! And for those looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, there's plenty of shaved ice, chocolate-covered bananas and Taiyaki to go around. Hopefully, you brought an empty stomach, because it would be a shame to miss out on all these yummy goodies.

But it isn't just food stalls that dot the streets. A wide variety of festival games are also available. From shooting galleries to ring toss to small lottery games -- whatever you might be in the mood for can be found here. Stuffed animals and sweets are the most common prizes to be won, but who knows, perhaps if you get very lucky, you might even win an Evolution Stone.

And, of course, no festival would be complete without a Test of Courage. Are you brave? Is fear something you only know from the dictionary? Then why not prove it? Why not enter Pewter City most haunted dwelling (usually just an office building) and show your mettle to your friends or even that special someone? Who knows, you might even earn a kiss if you protect them from the many horrors that dwell within (AKA, volunteers in costumes, a few ghost pokemon, and so many 'creepy' paper mache props)

There are also various stalls dedicated to traditional arts and crafts. From Calligraphy to Origami, if you have an interest in these matters, you'd do well to check them out. And you can do more than just buy some nice decorative pieces for your home, or a cute little origami figure of your favourite pokemon partner; many of the stalls also offer visitors the chance to try their own hand at these traditional skills. Are you the type of person who is always looking to learn a new skill? Or have you perhaps mastered these skills already and do you want to show off? Why not come over here and spend some time?

(Who knows, you might even impress someone special!)

And once night has fully fallen, the skies will light up, not just with the light of the stars and the moon, but with the many bright colours of fireworks! If you aren't completely tired out yet from all the festival games, why not sit down, relax, (maybe drink a beer if you are old enough) and enjoy the beautiful spectacle happening above you.


---


But all of that cheer doesn't really answer the big question -- what is the Festival of Wishes?

Keen eyes (and not so keen eyes, really, they are everywhere) will be able to spot various decorations shaped like the pokemon Jirachi dotting the stalls everywhere. From small plush toys to folded origami figures, Jirachi's cheerful face can be found everywhere. There even is a theatre performance explaining the whole tale, but for those too busy stuffing their faces to partake in (ugh) culture, it all comes down to this: Jirachi is the Wish Pokemon. During the festival, people write down their wishes, hoping that Jirachi might fulfil them.

Of course, there is never a guarantee Jirachi will be around. It's been known to sleep a lot. But why not give it a try? It can't hurt, right?

Comments

[nevercaught]

"Oh? Would the winner get to receive a forfeit?" Jarlaxle asks, very much in anticipation of the prospect. "I have some thoughts for what I would claim from you--but I would likely have to delay it until the powers of this realm return your psionics for another few days."

[psionicmolotov]

Kimmuriel frowns slightly, which is as close as he usually gets to actively making a face about one of Jarlaxle's off the cuff propositions.

"I feel as if I should ask what you have in mind before I agree to such terms."

He says, like he's not already gearing up to try and beat him anyway regardless of what Jarlaxle feels like he wants to bet with.

[nevercaught]

"Nothing much beyond some bed-sharing, my friend," Jarlaxle says airily. "Truly, you wound me with your distrust!"

Remember how he used to wrap his lanky body around your shrimpy body and then you would use telekinesis to do the same to him with nothing but your mind?

That. He wants that.

[psionicmolotov]

He can't help himself - he has to laugh a little, at that. "You are insatiable," he says, shaking his head. "You have found someone to take to your bed nearly every month we have been here on this plane, and you would ask for that?"

It's...not a no...

[nevercaught]

"There's a difference between bedding and bed-sharing, as well you know," Jarlaxle says. "But if I am insatiable, so what? I am also nearing six-hundred. At my age, it is an achievement."

Jarlaxle... he's only a century, maybe a century-and-a-half younger than you. That doesn't work with people over the age of four-hundred.

Beside, Elminster was twice as old as you, ostensibly human, and we know he's a dirty old man.

[psionicmolotov]

"That works far better on someone who is not merely a century or so behind you in age," Kimmuriel answers, clearly having none of it. "Or someone not nearly so long-lived as a drow....or even someone who merely does not know you very well."

He cracks a slight smile, despite himself, as he checks the rules and steps up to the shooting range. "But I do not find your terms objectionable."

Is he going to say what he wants if he wins? Absolutely not at all.

... i still don't know if they realize the two-year difference yet

[nevercaught]

"I would not force you to remain within my arms the entire night," Jarlaxle adds, mindful of his co-leader's particularities. "Merely long enough for me to find my own sleep. I'd only wish for you to stay in the room regardless."

He watches, thoughtfully, as Kimmuriel steps up to the range. Kimmuriel had been very much enjoying his Lantanese pistol when Jarlaxle had last seen him on their own plane, but a pistol and a rifle were two very differently shaped firearms. Moreover, these were not flintlocks.

they absolutely dont

[psionicmolotov]

"I still recall the terms of our arrangement," Kimmuriel replies. "You need not remind me of them; I am amenable still."

He'd been talking to that human who was busy assembling and reassembling all the guns before, so he gets the gist. He rests the gun against his shoulder and fires a few shots at the targets.

Two hit; the rest miss. He frowns a little, rattling the gun in his hands, but otherwise doesn't comment on it. He's getting in the Zone.

WELP

[nevercaught]

Hm. Jarlaxle would have thought that Kimmuriel would have done better, having experience (or so he thought) with a pistol. Can the two firearms be that different?

"Perhaps the 'recoil' is worse with a gun so much longer?" he suggests. He thinks that is what the Lantanese had called the force that had taken hold of the pistols once fired.

[psionicmolotov]

"The upkeep is poor," he says, shrugging. "They are not very accurate in the first place."

He fires a few more times. He has a marginally better degree of accuracy, but it's certainly not enough to satisfy him.

"Though if you have experience with such a thing, I am surprised you have not taken the opportunity to upstage me."

[nevercaught]

Jarlaxle shrugs. "I was on mission back on our home plane," he says. "And we only just received them. I did not have much time to play with them--certainly no more than you did. As I said, my nephews--and my current lieutenants--are all much better than I am. Fel'rekt the most, I think," he adds after some thought. "But then, he's always preferred to play sniper when possible."

[psionicmolotov]

Kimmuriel pauses, like this is new information to him.

Which it is.

"We did not have access to this kind of equipment," he says, after a moment, "last I checked."

[nevercaught]

"They are pistols, not rifles, and they load by muzzle, but surely you recognize..." Jarlaxle's voice trails off as he realizes something altogether startling. "Kimmuriel?" he asks, concern evident in his voice. "What year was it when you came to this plane?"

He hadn't thought-- but if Vierna came here at not so long after they did, despite being from so long in the past...

[psionicmolotov]

"If I recognised them, we would not be having this conversation, would we," he says acerbically, but there's no bite to it. He crosses his arms, his brow furrowing a little.

"1490 is the year I recall last. Given you know things I do not, then I am certain you will name a year further along than mine."

[nevercaught]

"1492," Jarlaxle confirms, his own arms crossed in front of him, "so only two years later--but they have been busy ones indeed. We had a trading mission in Lantan and brought back smaller versions of these, called pistols--as well as my submersible boat. And Dagult Neverember has been run out of Waterdeep," he adds, "for it turns out that vast fortune he used the sale of Thornhold to wash clean was money he embezzled from the city itself. Alas, but Neverwinter seems perfectly happy to keep him."

[psionicmolotov]

"Well," he says, after a long moment of silence, already unusual, "I suppose that means you come back from your little jaunt unscathed, if you can go and organize something like that afterward."

That's....something of a weight off his mind? Maybe?? Not that he'll directly admit to being worried.

[psionicmolotov]

"--Wait, who let you have a submersible boat?"

[nevercaught]

"The Lantanese," Jarlaxle says, smugly. "We call her the Scarlet Marpenoth and she is most glorious. My younger nephew and Soluun are much enamoured with her, albeit for different reasons. Currently, she is moored beneath the Eyecatcher in Deepwater Harbor."

[psionicmolotov]

"And so you have some new scheme in Waterdeep," Kimmuriel says, with a great sigh. "Every year you must test me, it seems." Not that he's not used to it - Menzoberranzan was much the same - but Jarlaxle seems to be proceeding with things at a breakneck pace as usual.

[nevercaught]

"Of course," Jarlaxle says. "For Neverember hid his ill-gotten gold dragons in a secret vault, the key to which has been lost... although I have it from Nar'l Xibrindas that the Xanathar had it until just now. I plan to get that key and publicly return the money to Waterdeep and use that good deed to pressure Laeral Silverhand to sponsor Luskan to join the Lords Alliance."