Greenskeeper Gathering

[azaleafae]

Who: Azalea and anyone who wants to come.
Where: The Shrieking Wilds subarchway in Fayren
When: May 22nd – May 28th.

This month, all of dragonkind come together to participate in the...







The Greenskeeper Gathering is a holiday where the dragons come together to honor the Nature flight and their deity, the Gladekeeper. Azalea has extended the celebration to invite all of Genessia to visit the lush green jungles known as the Shrieking Wilds. She had even called for the assistance of the people to aid with music, food, and games. If one is feeling adventurous, they can even try the dragon's diet of raw meat, seafood, plants, and insects.

Comments

Games

[azaleafae]

One game the clan has devised is a scavenger hunt for Bladed Flatleaves. They are leaves with a distinct shape and size, blended in quite well with the leaves of the jungle. They are scattered all throughout the subarchway, and shouldn't be too difficult to spot.

Any other games can be played in this thread as well.

Re: Games

[ringed_fate]

[After the scavenger hunt, Ryou is sitting under the shade of a tree. He has a bag and some little stones that looks like runes in them. It looks more like fortune telling than a game. Maybe it is. You'll have to pick three stones to find out. Good luck!]

Prizes

[azaleafae]

Here, the party-goers can redeem their Bladed Flatleaves for fabulous Nature-themed prizes. The stand will be run by Amadeus, and he'll have the prizes and the redemption requirements on display for everyone's previewing pleasure.

Tour

[azaleafae]

Would you like a tour of the lair? Azalea will be glad to show you around, from the dens where the dragons sleep, to the nesting grounds, where the dragons breed their offspring. There's also the Burial Grounds, a large graveyard that serves as the final resting place for the dragons who have died.

Azalea will also introduce you to her friends. Check out some of Coco's carved stones, or Orphne's medicine. Or see what mysterious concoctions Percival and Brahm have cooking in their brew.

Re: Tour

[fade_to_black]

[So this was the gathering that Azalea had spoken about. Blake was walking around and taking in the sights more than being social. She wondered if the other dragons were small too. Speaking of that...

Hi, Azalea.

[azaleafae]

[As Blake toured the lair, she would find that the dragons were actually quite varied in size. There were other Faes like her, the males being smaller, while the other females were slightly larger than Azalea herself. Yes, Azalea held the "honor" of being the smallest among the female Faes. Other breeds, such as the three Guardians and the one Imperial, were titans.]

[Azalea smiles when she sees Blake.]

Hello. Are you enjoying the Gathering?

[evenglass]

[Ivina had seen Azalea's public entry on the network a while back. Even if she hadn't replied to it, she has made note to visit the subarchway on the given date, sending Azalea a voice message to express her interest in showing up days later the public feed. Ivina treated this excursion like she would a state visit to another kingdom, paying respects to the locals in the form of slight bows and smiles. However, it wasn't just the living dragons she wished to visit - but the deceased ones especially.

Her powers to sense the aura of death, coupled by her fascination with dragons, is what drew her to this place. She asked Azalea to guide her to the burial grounds of the fallen dragons, asking for a brief moment alone with the deceased to express her sympathies. In a solemn whisper, words in her native tongue escape her lips: "Este nari, este erdu... Eos suna, arundin."

Ivina gives a final pause, lifting her head up high and taking two steps back. She then floats of the ground, turning to face Azalea]

There is much peace in your realms, little one. It has been so long since I've felt such serenity with nature. Has any of those who came before you have fallen in battle?

[In Salimdor in particular, being a warrior culture, to die fighting is among the only honorable deaths. For humans and other races within the empire. So it's been ingrained in Ivina to show respect to people or other sapient entities who have died like that]

[azaleafae]

[Azalea would be glad to show Ivina whatever she would like to see, or whomever she would like to meet. She found it curious that Ivina expressed interest in the Burial Grounds, as she was the first to do so. But she waited just outside the Burial Grounds while Ivina expressed her sympathies.]

[While Azalea waited, Coco approached her and peeked inside the Burial Grounds, also waiting. Azalea smiles as Ivina returns.]

Yes, that is our goal here, to preserve nature. As for the fallen dragons...yes, roughly half of them have died in battle. The other half died in the plague that struck our lair about...two years ago.

[A small hint of surprise can be heard as Azalea realizes just how much time has passed.]

[evenglass]

Is that so?

[Ivina hums thoughtfully after that rhetorical question. Plagues are problematic. She's fortunate that her people are virtually immune to any diseases or massive outbreaks like that, but she knows what sort of pain and destruction plagues can cause, having seen them first-hand on her enemies.]

May they have at least lived a life worth remembering.

[Ivina floats over a couple more steps from the Burial Grounds, seemingly eager to see more of the place]

I shall trust you to show me whichever place in your realm that you choose. Shall we proceed?

[azaleafae]

They sure have...

[Azalea is about to lead the way when she notices that Coco isn't bothering to follow, instead staring at the graves.] Are you coming, Coco?

[Coco gives her a glance.] You go on ahead. I'd like to pay Kladeos a visit.

[Azalea watches him enter the Burial Grounds.] Kladeos was Coco's best friend. They were doing so well in their Passage together until Kladeos fell.

[With that explanation done, Azalea proceeds through the jungles of the Shrieking Wilds.] I'll admit that our lair is rather...plain. Just trees and leaves and the like. We have numerous clearings throughout the lair where we sleep, sharing our dens with either our mates or siblings.

[As she continues to lead, she crosses something that might be out of the ordinary for a jungle...a clearing with a glowing green cauldron in the center. Two Tundra dragons dressed in white lab coats, black rubber gloves, and protective eyewear were tending to it...or rather, just staring at it for the moment. Upon Azalea's entry, the Tundras glance up at her from their brew.]

Azalea. [They speak in unison, nodding their heads in greeting.]

Hello. [Azalea gestures to each of them, introducing them.] Percival and Brahm, this is Ivina.

Azalea's Hatchday (May 26th)

[azaleafae]

This is also an important time for Azalea, as she celebrates the day she was hatched from her egg. Anyone is welcome to bring her presents, or just wish her a Happy Hatchday. Azalea will likely be isolated from the clan, mostly spending the day with Coco, who will shower her with his love and gifts.

[lunarlegionnaire]

[True to his word, Marc had seen to the catering. Azalea's sharing her culture with the rest of them, so he makes sure there's literally something new, as far as human cuisine goes, on the table each day. It won't be unusual to find Indonesian nasi goreng sharing a spot with Italian gelato. Or homebaked French pastries vying for attention against Korean jap chae noodles. There's something for everyone, and then some.]

[On May 26th, he also comes in with a gift wrapped box. He approaches Azalea with it when the time is right.]

Happy Hatchday. This is for you.

[azaleafae]

[Azalea was rather impressed with all the catering that Marc has brought throughout the week. The other dragons were quite curious about it, to be sure, but they did their best to save it for all the humans. The dishes were too small for most of them anyway.]

[Receiving a hatchday gift from Marc was quite the unexpected surprise.]

Oh Marc...you didn't have to get me anything...but thank you.

[Given that Marc was still almost a complete stranger to her, she couldn't imagine what would be inside the box. Coco was quite curious as well, as he watches Azalea begin to open the box...]

[lunarlegionnaire]

[He simply smiles and shakes his head, a bit flattered by her gratitude. One never attends a birthday party without a gift for the celebrant, whether you were close friends or not. It's not long before Azalea finds a small and simple, yet beautiful silver ankh beneath the last layer of wrapping paper. It fits snugly into her palm and comes with a chain, allowing her to wear it like a necklace if she ever wants to.]

The ankh was a symbol of life to the ancient Egyptians. This one's blessed by Khonshu, god of the moon and protector of night travelers.

[He looks at Coco as if for approval, before taking the ankh and holding it up before Azalea.]

May you and your loved ones live your days in peace and prosperity.

[azaleafae]

[Azalea holds the ankh in her talons, examining it.]

It's beautiful... Look, Coco!

[She holds the ankh for her mate to see. Coco studies it for a moment before nodding in approval. It's a beautiful trinket for sure, and Azalea deserves the best, he believes.]

It is lovely.

And thank you, Marc. We'll cherish it.