(( On an OOC note, this particular area is for not only any preparations that Lilliana might be making, but every and any character planning on attendance.

Much like Jewell's 'Beltane Fashion Crisis' feel free to add similar things here. What your character will be wearing, what they will or will bot be doing that night, any possible SL's you'd like to have go on while there, etc, etc...

I, myself will be posting Lilli's preparations of the event, the arrival of her clan, and possible other things related to the event.

But please, for all party-altering entrances from big bads or the like, please run them by me first via PM? I don't mind a nifty party crashing, but at least give the mun a head's up or the opportunity to keep her event from being torn apart? Lol. There are forces at work amongst the peaceful, partying gypsy folk that one might not take into consideration without first talking to me. ~.^

Here is a link for those unfamiliar with the Summer Solstice/Midsummer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer


With that boring mouthful out of the way.... Enjoy, enjoy!))
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Preparations had been in the works since the day after the Beltane events that the lovely Jewell Ravenlock had hosted. Lilliana was thrilled, to say the least, that RhyDin was a place the observed and still celebrated the old ways. What better way to introduce her family to the realm she'd been haunting lately as well as honor the land from which she drew her power?

Not to mention Midsummer's day was the Fiery Buxom's birthday.... that was a little known fact though. You'd have to literally pry that information from the witch.

Days in the marketplace were spent haggling with local merchants and farmers over the price of fresh corn and stewing vegetables. Suckling pigs and racks of fresh ribs. All was arranged for that special evening in the Glen. Bargains were struck, hands fasted, and that occasional girl-next-door grin that splashed a pretty picture across the witch's face was flashed many a time during the deals.

No need for lights of any sort; that was taken care of. Not only were a few of the locals willing to gather ridiculous sums of fallen wood for the bonfires that'd flare that night, but she'd manage to make use of all this time spent at the Red Dragon. Night after night, patrons came from far and wide to drink the infamous Inn's delicious brews and bottles. But where did all those bottles go, Lilli wondered... And there was her genius.

As for the witchy gypsy's vivacious family, they were en route. Brishen's mysterious late night disappearances were a thing all their own, and his buxom older sibling wouldn't squeak a word of what her lankier half was up to. Not even the delightful Irish Rose, Niamh, could unlock that cheshire grin the fiery gypsy wore so well.

As the passing days would bring RhyDin ever closer to the evening of Midsummer, Lilli could be seen bouncing here and there; though out of all her pre-party haunts the Southern Glen in particular held the witch's interest the most.

She could be seen stretching out her treks across the entire open field that harbored the lakeside, striding in paced motions, hands raised and calculating. This no doubt was a precursor to weeks worth of warding and protection for the impending event. If one found minor difficulty with the Mokk and Fen wedding castings the witch had planted, these new wards she was crafting would be ridiculous.

Like a spider weaving her web, Lilliana spanned out the bulk of her castings slowly, but surly, over the entire month of June. An invisible net, woven over and over, in and out, forming the infallibility of the eternal serpent biting it's tail.

But truly there was one FINE detail the witch was missing....

What to wear?!

The witchy gypsy has been cultivating a very extensive menu for quite some time, all of which is mostly geared towards the summer's natural bounty. Then again, considering RhyDin is a realm like none other, one can find virtually anything and everything if they seek hard enough! Those who have been lucky enough to come upon Lilli while she was tampering with recipes and trials of her choices, you'll know just what kind of savory ride your tongue is in for. Vegetarians and Carnivores alike could find a full belly here easily, for there is no shortage in variety....


Roasted Vegetables

http://archives.buffalorising.com/img/img_entries/w600/20672.jpg

For the less meaty pallet, Lilliana has made sure to prepare a delectable selection of vegetables tossed in olive oil, various fresh herbs, cloves of garlic, and freshly cracked pepper. Onions, red potatoes, carrots, peppers, summer squash, cherry tomatoes, chunks of cobbed corn, and string beans.
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Spitted and Roasted Meats

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/raw-meat-3.jpg

For the ravenous meat eater in you all, various fresh game and farm raised animals will be spitted and roasted throughout the evening. Chickens, racked ribs, fish, suckling pigs, fresh sausages, and lamb.
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Fresh Fruits and Creams

http://www.thedailygreen.com/media/cm/thedailygreen/images/cherries-nectarines-lg.jpg

Fresh and sweetly pickled fruits will be available for dessert, ranging from the bounty of summer's most tasty fruits like pears, peaches, and various wild berries, to spiced apples and roasted cinnamon almonds.
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Ales, Wines, Liquors, and Various Gypsy Specialties!

http://203.86.194.7/Images/cooperage/casks4You.jpg

http://www.diggersdiary.co.uk/Collections/Colletions_images_stoneware/stone_jk_flagons.jpg

What would such a joyous and spirited event be without ample alcohols? No excessive description needed here folks... Save for the special brews of the Garridan Clan in attendance this Midsummer's eve, it's all your favorites and hard to finds. What's a good drink between friends?

"You'll be going to that gypsies' ball, will you, little one?"

Niamh looked up in surprise from her work, startled to be addressed by the doddery old man from whom she was learning the work of healer and herbalist. He usually gave her instructions for the day, and shut himself away in his own private workshop, tinkering with mixtures and potions, perfecting this recipe or that, and dealing with those who needed healing as they passed through.

Now, though, he was leaning in the doorway, watching her as she laid the pans aside to cool, labelling up the tinctures and salves she had already produced in the day's work.

"Aye, t'would like tae go," she nodded, rising from her knees to wipe the dust from her tunic. "Tis a gatherin' of my man's clan, it wouldnae be polite fer me tae be absent."

"Now, now, calm yourself, little one." One withered hand rose to still her increasingly heated reasons for wanting to go. "I'm not telling you you cannot go to the Midsummer party." Green eyes twinkled under his heavy grey brows. "I will be telling you what to wear, though."

Niamh bristled at that, without thinking, and knew the instant the turquoise at her throat had pulsed. This gift from her mother had turned out to be far more than a precious trinket. It tapped into the magic light that resided in her mother's blood, in her blood, and gave her a gods awful headache everytime it did so. Unfortunately, that power was also completely out of her control, and as this particular headache faded, she found herself with an armful of searing hot saucepan, swearing loudly as she replaced it onto the hearth.

"Mind that, let the burn cool before you do anything to it," was her aged master's only reaction to the flying saucepan. He seemed altogether far too calm in the face of uncontrolled magic for Niamh's liking. "Come along with me, little one, I've something to show you."

Clutching her burnt arm and muttering prolific curses under her breath in the Gaelic tongue that came so easily to her lips when she was deeply emotional, Niamh followed him through the shop and into the back rooms, where casks and chests sat untouched. The old man knelt before one such chest, pulling it open with a grunt, and lifted a cloth-wrapped bundle from the depths. This, he placed on a nearby table, only barely glancing at the dark-haired woman watching him.

"This was my dear wife's, many, many years ago," he wheezed, nimble old fingers untying the knot in the cloth to reveal soft slippers laying atop a sky blue gown.

http://www.longtallsally.com/medias/sys_master/8468927498323056.jpg

http://heelcandy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/french-sole-sloop.JPG

"She became healer at about your age, same kind of skills and dedication. This was her first gown; she wanted to keep it for our daughter to wear. Sadly, we never had any children." He sighed, lifting the gown from the soft cloth wrappings. "You should wear it, girl. It'll go nice with your colouring, and ... it's been too long since it saw the light of the torches, or had eyes to admire it."

Niamh stared, amazed and actually quite stunned by this unlooked for generosity. She couldn't help but reach out to touch the gown, awed by its softness. It looked about the right size, too, and she wondered briefly just what her old master's wife had been like.

"And besides," she looked up as he spoke again, blushing a little as those twinkling green eyes lit on the stone at her throat, "it matches that bit of pretty round your neck. I can't see you taking that off so you match your outfit, girl. Wouldn't be safe."

Her hand lifted to wrap about the stone thoughtfully as he chuckled, packing the gown and slippers away once more. No, it wouldn't be safe, she thought. Who knew what damage she might do without the stone to warn her what was coming?

"Pl? ar do theach, ye great lump o'nothin'!"

Anyone passing the little herbalist's shop would be forgiven for thinking that a furious deity of the fire and brimstone type had descended within, for the windows glowed with the hottest fires Niamh could manage, the air turned blue with curses both Gaelic and otherwise.

And all for the irrepressible Lilli's birthday.

A thought had come to Niamh that she really should make an effort to either buy or make something for her fiery friend, to celebrate her birthing day, and that thought had turned into a whirlwind of industry which so far had produced ... nothing.

Even with the tentative application of her magic, which was slowly becoming easier to aim at the very least, she was still staring one very plain pile of sand in the eye. Her master had suggested she attempt to create something personal for her friend, even going so far as to allow her into his precious study, and copying out certain pages from the ancient books he kept there.

What she had been aiming for was a sand sculpture that could then be fired to keep it's shape. What she'd ended up with was a mess. And it was thoroughly irritating her.

Now a Celtic temper is not the best thing to stoke in the first place, but add it to the mischievous magic of the Sidhe, and there is a recipe for disaster. Niamh turned away from the usless pile of sand, caught her hand on a pot and swore in pain and anger as the jagged edge tore open her skin.

Blood dripped onto the sand, and she winced, feeling the magic in her ignite at her furious injury. She closed her eyes, not really wanting to see what was going to happen this time. She felt the fire she'd stoked up flare, almost blinding her through her eyelids, and flinched away from the heat.

Then suddenly, there was darkness, and the slow, quiet plink, plink of cooling glass. Niamh opened her eyes ... and stared. Whatever her magic had done, it was perfect. The perfect gift for her fiery friend.

http://reincarnationclothing.com.au/img/catimg/jewellery04.jpg

Forged of fire, and magic, and blood, who knew what the little firedrop could do when tapped by one who knew how to do so? Niamh grinned to herself cheerfully. Thank goodness for happy accidents.

AJ collapsed backwards onto the sofa with a long, low groan of relief. Shopping was never usually this strenuous. But then, she'd never been ridiculously tired before starting out before. She honestly had no idea how she was going to survive the celebration tonight, but there was no way on earth she was missing it.

"Hear that, sprog? No making me sick or fall over sleepy tonight, okay?"

She smiled to herself, one hand patting her tummy lightly, before leaning over to peer into the bags beside her, reminding herself of her purchases. She'd have to hide them, of course, before Stas got home. She didn't think she was ever going to get bored of the look on his face when she made an effort to dress up.

The dress ... well, it had just screamed, "Buy me, buy me!" to her, and who was she to deny it?

http://www.bridalwave.tv/mother%20dress.JPG

The shoes ... she had no intention of being anything but comfortable, and she knew she could pull these off to contrast with the smart dress.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01202/a1_1202114c.jpg

Hair ... AJ sighed pulling a lock of her hair down in front of her her eyes. What the hell, it would be up. Somehow.

((AJ might not actually make it to the live RP, but she will be there in spirit with y'all. Happy Solstice!))