Topic: Beltane 2018: The Fires of Beltane

The Druid

Date: 2018-04-23 09:35 EST
Date: Saturday, April 28th Time: 9:00pm RST Location: The Isle ((RDI—Southern Glen)) ((Should prochat not work for this event, I have created a discord channel to use for the night.))

”Sometimes, what?s left behind can grow better than the generation before....if given the chance.”

https://i.imgur.com/SZM1p7m.jpg

There is hope in the air wafting through the streets of Rhy'Din, this night. Hope that feels like longer reprieves between each of Winter's stubborn breezes. Hope that smells like warm, wet earth, freshly broken and tilled in readiness for the season ahead. Hope that sounds like the terse, airy report of pan flutes in the distance, the strums of lute strings, whines of fiddles, and the clap of buckskin drums. Hope that while Winter's breath still lingers in every shadow, in every nook, cranny, and down every narrow, hidden alley, Spring is indeed on its way.

A small band of Druids bid the city's populace to join them in sloughing off the ashes of the year past. Follow the ribbons of beguiling zephyrs, with notes of ripe fruit and salted meat, far beyond the gates where civilization reaches, peppers, then ultimately relents to Nature's undisturbed sprawl. A lively verdant and cyan glow limns the horizon in the distance, growing stronger on one's approach. Gradually sloping terrain leads to the shores of a vast lake, dominated by a dense wealth of trees and natural rock formations, ringed in a border of cone shaped bonfires of oak, ash, and birch limbs.

Networks of crushed, metallic Autumn leaves form footpaths across the water, bridges to the Isle’s shores, remarkably sure and solid underfoot. More of the same blazing pyramids light smaller pockets between tree trunks along the way, the perfect height for jumping. Bioluminescent moss and mushrooms source the wealth of ethereal light reaching from woods to heavens, a galaxy of petite, turquoise lights, smattering wood bark and sprouting free of rousing underbrush. Their twinkling current sways further in toward a massive clearing at the island's center.

Far-reaching, much more so than first glances suggest, for the lake water is no longer visible through the thicket of trees, the clearing itself is a swath of soft grass pressed flat by the passage of centuries of dancing feet. Mammoth limestone structures reminiscent of innumerable prehistoric religions line part of the clearing's northwestern edge. Four meters in height, they form the disjointed stage for the group of bark- and green skinned musicians providing the gathering's vivacious pulse. Adorned in strips of suede and supple leather, their long hair matted, decorated with stones, acorns, feathers and all manner of flora and fauna, they leap, twirl, and dive from platform to platform, encouraging the crowd below to join them in buoyant abandon.

The Queen's throne, shaped of sun bleached driftwood, sits atop a natural, risen mound. Garlands of multi-colored ribbon, wisteria, and lilies of the valley circle the throne's ears and stiles. Cushions and poufs of wildflowers grace throne's seat and footstool. To her left, a sparse sculpture of the same driftwood arcs over a waist high altar hewn from oak. Three ivory candles stand on their own wood round atop an ivy runner, a fat pillar between two tapers, affording any couple the opportunity to spend their first united moments surrounded by love and life. A stone's throw behind her stands the mountainous pallet of nine ceremonial woods stacked together in a neatly thatched cube, awaiting the touch of the scepter torch burning steadily near her right hand.

https://i.imgur.com/2wRRykj.jpg

Numerous tables stand just inside the treeline, a series of roughly hewn slats bound together by cord, situated atop pairs of wood barrel kegs that hold the evening's libations. Each tabletop is laden with food displayed on tiered stands fashioned of broad slices of tree trunks. Fresh vegetable and fruit slices mingle with sandwiches and bite sized wraps, skewers of seared meat, scones, cupcakes, cookies and tarts: finger food meant to be eaten on the go, or as one dances.

For those looking to get away from the pressing vitality of the gathered crowd, the Isle’s wood affords a wide array of distractions. Take your lover by the hand and steal away into the dark where teepees of birch bark limbs are bound together, wreathed in sentient moss enchanted to sense the impending need of privacy. Explore the ruins of a once proud castle now collapsed and overgrown, buried beneath history and Nature's greedy clutch. Or try your hand at hunting the Isle's own elusive white stag, for legend tells that if one bests the beast at its own game of hide-and-seek, it will grant the heart's deepest desire.

But beware, adventurers, it is not all pleasure and thrilling challenge to be had in the wood. A number of bulbous growths among the army of slender trunks closely resemble faces frozen in horror and woe. Sluiced by the right angle of moonlight, they are said to even come alive and traverse the land in search of the lives they have been denied. For under the cover of darkness, Mother Nature's children are stirring from their long rest, and hot-blooded, fleeting mortality has proven in eons past to melt the last vestiges of thaw.

And there is only so much time to play before She awakens to the ferocity of drums beaten in Her honor.

((List to the Event Playlist HERE!

Many thanks to Crispin’s player for writing another amazing description! Place images of your fine feathers below.))

Clara Wyatt

Date: 2018-04-25 01:10 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c7/b6/9a/c7b69a292c948bce2b929b387355134d.jpghttps://dtpmhvbsmffsz.cloudfront.net/posts/2015/04/12/552a8c71c7dcbf115500c7fe/m_552a8c71c7dcbf115500c800.jpg

Liyun Takamine

Date: 2018-04-25 01:18 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/34/e0/59/34e059318c7caf07a9f8142d0eec48b4.jpghttps://www.luckdresses.com/image/cache/data/products/dance-shoes/01/02/018-1-239x358.jpg

Elena Ravenlock

Date: 2018-04-25 09:08 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/56/9a/72/569a72e59cac86c31426b831f61b79a0.jpghttps://www.shoecarnival.com/dw/image/v2/BBSZ_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-scvl-master-catalog/default/dwfeb5a677/93917_180754_1.jpg

JewellRavenlock

Date: 2018-04-25 10:06 EST
https://i.imgur.com/3yuRbmX.jpg

Jewell was present and barefoot, her dress putting the multi-pointed star of a scar over her heart on display for the evening.

NorseLady

Date: 2018-04-25 11:59 EST
Shy's hairstyle for The Fires of Beltane: http://cdn8.staztic.com/app/a/437/437073/face-db-460063-1-s-307x512.jpg

Shy's dress for The Fires of Beltane: https://images.fairyseason.com/2017/06/02/132445_271219.jpg

(click on image to enlarge)

Snow

Date: 2018-04-25 18:18 EST
https://78.media.tumblr.com/ce7ac7c9fb049a1bf6e4f2876d1fb5eb/tumblr_p7rhvsw4LC1turks6o1_1280.jpghttps://i.pinimg.com/originals/d6/da/6a/d6da6a715b2d7565128d4070453151d0.jpg

Claire Gallows

Date: 2018-04-25 18:23 EST
https://i.imgur.com/wXhHxSm.png

Addie MacKenzie

Date: 2018-04-25 18:42 EST
Dress: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4e/03/03/4e030357f28c1e695274af3af8bf0ee3.jpg Hair/Makeup: https://i.imgur.com/up3As5K.jpg Shoes: No shoes!

Strawberry

Date: 2018-04-26 01:33 EST
She may have taken the fire thing a little literally... https://i.imgur.com/hmI0i3E.png It was harmless though. Mostly.

KhaoticBliss

Date: 2018-04-28 00:17 EST
https://78.media.tumblr.com/c4054f21f860ee44e9bcee8374d3538e/tumblr_p7vmr0BPae1v05l6no1_540.jpghttps://78.media.tumblr.com/b024d67729fd38697dd189bbd50afb7d/tumblr_p7vm0tYbQA1v05l6no1_400.jpg

The sequin-like detailing on the dress carried a phosphorescent glow that was magnified a dozen-fold by the flames of the Beltane fire.

Mallory

Date: 2018-04-28 13:52 EST
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2774/0192/products/product-image-538989385_1024x1024@2x.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3628/3435749846_e17e4c930a_z.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ce/68/fb/ce68fb555cde0d0bb32dad5c8a48e277.jpg https://www.lulus.com/images/product/xlarge/2578592_491222.jpg

Mallory picked out a short summer dress for Beltane, baring enough skin to show off the tattoos on her chest and her shoulders, arms and legs. She wore a crown of star-shaped blackthorn flowers atop her head, and more stars appeared in her glass rings and pendants, and winding around her sandaled feet.

Eden

Date: 2018-04-28 15:45 EST
The tomboy dressed casually for the occasion: gauzy dress, suede lace up boots, and her wedding ring. No matter how many ways she adjusted the material, there was no way to hide the subtle protrusion of her belly.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bb/be/59/bbbe59e4fbfccc6431748016159dbf93.jpg http://img.shein.com/images/shein.com/201701/0f/14843849444067159053_thumbnail_600x.jpg

Ransom

Date: 2018-04-28 16:01 EST
Like his wife, Ransom dressed casually for the evening, wearing shades of chambray, silver, and gray—and a smug, little smile each time she adjusted her dress.

https://78.media.tumblr.com/63078776318046f768404aafc5ad4c67/tumblr_p7wvgeWQyy1qboc0to1_540.jpg

Eri Maeda

Date: 2018-04-28 16:16 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/ba/cf/5ebacfe71c7cef58b2fc3679f153fca3.jpg

Eri fancied herself quite spring-like in blue. She even selected some jewelry to go with the outfit.

Mist Gul

Date: 2018-04-28 16:29 EST
https://i.imgur.com/iccTzPG.jpg

Mist, of course, wore as little as he could manage and still be decently clothed.

Grace Low

Date: 2018-04-28 19:20 EST
https://i.imgur.com/axDQcsb.jpg https://i.imgur.com/xIpIxCN.jpg

Her hair still a vibrant shade of purple, Grace and her husband stayed long enough to watch Saila light the Fires of Beltane before slipping away to celebrate their anniversary.

Sylva

Date: 2018-04-28 19:25 EST
https://i.imgur.com/Sn2PvUD.jpg

Elessaria

Date: 2018-04-28 19:40 EST
The Dress:

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/43/f2/a5/43f2a5cb753f0218fcefcb3d9a55fea2.jpghttps://i.pinimg.com/564x/fa/72/22/fa7222310b196740dbdea15252381a18.jpg

The Hair (Similar to this, but with freesia blossoms instead): https://i.pinimg.com/564x/dc/26/cb/dc26cb232c1e161dd8c96bc786ea387a.jpg

And no shoes!

Jezebel Calient

Date: 2018-04-28 20:12 EST
Flowers in her hair to celebrate the occasion, Jezebel wore the colors of fire and smoke, a nod both to the newborn fires of the season, and to the Dark Man beside her.

https://i.imgur.com/oX63RDw.pnghttps://i.pinimg.com/564x/30/eb/6e/30eb6ef4ca93e93380ba726b97bb6d8b.jpg

Shae Stormchild

Date: 2018-04-28 20:42 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1d/53/64/1d5364aa4263c0430a0bc132add568cd.jpg

https://www.mccaskillandcompany.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/800x800/6f54caf8e613593910e6cb23db7d93c2/P/F/PFE-ER1260PF_Dancing_Flame_Earrings_18K_Yellow_Gold_with_30.10tcw_Matrix_Fire_Opal_Briolettes_and_Diamonds_0.44tcw.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/23/66/39/236639cee0117e7c4f4356232b4b422a—summer-trends-french-girls.jpg

Ancelin Aya

Date: 2018-04-28 21:00 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/32/b6/da/32b6da84810bf470f286daa69e43e135.jpg

A notoriously hard man to keep track of, it was difficult to say just when Ancelin had arrived, how long he'd stayed, when or where he'd disappeared to. One thing, however, was certain: while he was there, he snagged at least one dance with a certain gorgeous, death proof faerie.

Hex

Date: 2018-04-28 21:35 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/52/b0/0d/52b00dcd976b9252dc971b821a3e4315.jpg

Senka

Date: 2018-04-28 21:40 EST
https://78.media.tumblr.com/c4e2bd3f19f47cadf130b93ad7bd539e/tumblr_p7xba30cht1w76p3mo1_1280.png

Roni

Date: 2018-04-28 23:38 EST
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fc/7c/12/fc7c1266a04b1248126733e147d9bd39.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zJBtILaT9YU/maxresdefault.jpg

Her feet were bare, and her eyes rimmed in heavy kohl.

Peaches

Date: 2018-04-30 21:16 EST
https://i.imgur.com/xhxtrzN.jpg

The city siren took a moment to break her hibernation and make a physical appearance at the fires.