Introduction

For the fourth year in a row, Salvador Delahada is hosting a small gathering at his place of residence on Christmas for family and friends, and those people he has met and likes whom he knows otherwise have no family to spend the holidays with. This event will be taking place December 25, 2017, actually on Christmas day. Since we are all well aware that nobody is actually going to be role-playing that day, and due to the fact that it is likely relatively impossible to get us all together for one large RP event, we have opted to make this a forum play-by-post sort of thing.


The Rules Both In and Out

1. Characters participating in this event are by invitation only. Was your character invited? You will know this either through live play or through a private message from Delahada (yes me) that might be waiting in your inbox to be read.

2. Please note that if your character was not invited to this event that it is absolutely impossible for your character to enter the grounds of Matadero. There are layers upon layers of protections in place on the property that keep out anyone Salvador does not wish to be there. Any posts to this thread made by anyone not on the guest list will be removed, and subject to public ridicule. Therefore it is suggested that if you want your character to have brought a date along, it might be a good idea to get Salvador?s permission first. Just saying.

3. In the past guests were asked to prepare a single dish that reminded them of home and bring it along to share with the other guests during a grand feast. Should your character decide to follow tradition and bring a dish to add to the potluck, it is suggested you post pictures and include a recipe in any potential descriptions.

4. Additional story bits such as collaborated writings, edited live play logs, or personal character reflections of the event are strongly encouraged to be posted to this thread.

5. Images and hyperlinks to videos or other relative imagery that you think might additionally reflect interactions at this event are also encouraged to be posted to this thread.

6. Did your character bring any gifts for anyone? Feel free to post about that here too! Bear in mind that gift giving or exchanging while not frowned upon is never expected nor required.

7. If you do not post something to this thread, we will assume your character was not present for this event. A placeholder post stating something as simple as ?my character was there? is acceptable, so long as you pinky swear promise to edit it at a later date into something more substantial.

8. There is no deadline to post, though it is suggested that you post something by midnight December 25th going into the 26th, because trust that half of us have no lives and will be playing anyway. Characters are likely to talk about who was and was not present for this event in follow-up live play and collaborative writing sessions.

The Setting

Just like every year before, this dinner party thingamagjig will be taking place at Salvador?s apartment on the second floor of the Matadero Meat Company?s main facility on the outskirts of the city through the east gate. A wordy description of the place can be found HERE AT THIS LINK with an additional description of the rooftop paradise that will be open to guests that was designed and built by Sal's good friend Thorn directly above it. Further information on the Grounds of Matadero themselves can be found in our locations thread labeled ?All the Dens!? There?s also a direct link right here in the previous sentence. If that doesn't do it for you...

Here is an amazing image Sabine?s player whipped up for me three years ago that is still pretty much entirely accurate to this day. A few new details of interest may include the enormous sunken tub in the middle of the guest bath on the main floor and the fact that the first guest room is unoccupied.

https://31.media.tumblr.com/5f8272161f17b72c9c19866872c032ec/tumblr_nh0j60k5rf1u228rdo1_1280.jpg

The tree this year is a live, potted evergreen that is sparsely decorated only with biodegradable bits and baubles. The garland is made of real popcorn threaded on a string, for old time?s sake, and because it?s edible. Living vines of ivy line the catwalks, threading in through the cracked open upper windows on the second level. The whole of the apartment smells like fresh foliage, life, and growth, with just that extra bite of first of winter chill.

These rules and other storyline information are subject to change at any time.

--And the every next day, I ate it away.

https://i.imgur.com/azKjzMR.jpg
WHAT WAS BLACK AND GREEN AND RED ALL OVER? Satan's favorite elf, of course.

It was easy to assume such a creature as she would forget a key given to her years ago. Would perhaps, even forget what it was for, as she wasn't exactly known for always being ...in the here and now. But nothing damaged stays that way forever. Sometimes, the cracks can be filled with gold. Or souls. Or blood. Whichever one prefers. (Let us say that the only thing golden in Suliss'urn was within eye sockets.) She appeared along the route to the front door. There were no sparks, no fanfare, no screaming, and certainly no indication that she had been there before. She simply, as all things Suliss: was. A pair of deep green suede leggings was not paired with the usual leather vest. Instead, it was a sleeveless red top with the words: B**** better have my cookies written in white text across chest. As she knew Salvador, Matadero, and had an idea of some whom may be arriving or already here, her arms appeared bare of strapped weaponry as a courtesy to seem less intimidating. If possible.

Her arms were also, though not straining, displaying an impressive set of musculature as they held several packages in elven dexterity as well as strength, for if it wasn't for the color and scarring of said arms; one would naut have been able to see the person behind carrying everything.

She did lift her right foot and rattle the door with her toes, which were not bare this time either, but covered in a ridiculous pair of human-thought-up curl toed 'elf' shoes in green and red.

"Ho, ho, holy shit. It's me. Merry yulemass. Open the door," rasped imperiously.

https://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/E4MuNZxvNz9tIOoOjisIGA/cid/232726471/id/jA4pkuHo5xG-CF_5oDbrPw/size/c600x563.jpg

Sabine hadn't been planning on celebrating Christmas or anything about this season until the morning of Christmas Eve. Finally after biting her nails down to bloody nubs, much anxious rambling, and a cry that she had nothing to wear, Josiah managed to assure Sabine that things would be fine.

The couple arrived at Matadero on Christmas day with food in hand. Sabine had made Empanadas, Arroz Con Gandules (Puerto Rican rice with pidgeon peas,) and Tres Leches Cake. Cooking too much food had taken some of her anxiety away, so despite being asked to bring only a dish, there she was with three.

For the most part she was quiet through the day. She had retreated into herself sometime this fall and had yet to come out of it. When there was music though, it was hard for her to remain quiet and she was no doubt caught softly singing along while tucked against Josiah's side. Occasionally she'd break away from him to attempt a normal conversation with others or to go exploring if Sal would allow it. She had missed the rooftop where she and Aoife had spent so much time.

She hadn't seen Suliss in a very long time but remained as hesitant and easily spooked around her as ever, maybe warming up towards the end of the night because she realized she was actually more funny than scary.

https://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/9YoWeJmfK11R6Eifaqjuzw/cid/232769761/id/TlTinsLp5xGYmvcFmQc2pA/size/c600x545.jpg

Salvador had dressed up for the occasion, in a sense. He had thrown on a black and white sweater with Christmas-y print on it, at the very least. His jeans were clean and possibly even new, lacking any tears, rips, or stains. Though because it was his house he didn?t bother putting on any shoes. Instead, he could be seen roaming around in a pair of comfortable slippers.

Through most of the day and evening, he manned the kitchen. For a main dish, he prepared cochinillo asado, or roast suckling pig. As an optional choice, or addition to, he also prepared a platter of lobster tails with garlic lemon butter. There is plenty to go around.

http://www.robinfoodtv.com/documentos/recetas/1732.jpg https://natashaskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Lobster-Tails-with-Garlic-Lemon-Butter-7-600x900.jpg

Dinner at Salvador?s would not be authentic if it did not include some vegetarian options, so of course he prepared a large ensalada mixta, enough to eat alone or with the main meal. If that?s not enough, he also prepared a large amount of his favorite escalivada and roasted potatoes.

https://www.spain-recipes.com/images/xensalada.jpg.pagespeed.ic.lBtzjRzInK.jpg https://blog.williams-sonoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/june-30-Escalivada.jpg https://78.media.tumblr.com/81ea046449bb2d60d570d80a60683f08/tumblr_p1jhrbQdup1u1krdoo1_500.jpg

There was plenty of drink to go around thanks to guests who brought wine. Sal also has a fully stocked liquor cabinet and a fridge full of various beers, most especially Silvermark and Badsider brands. The kitchen island is arrayed with glassware and dinnerware, set up buffet style for guests to help themselves to anything they like, including those dishes they brought themselves.

Salvador himself was, as usual, averse to mingling. However, he did greet each of his guests in their own unique ways. It was not he who answered the door for Suliss?urn. Strangely, it seemed to open itself. A potted plant by the door may have whispered suspiciously, its leaves rustling. However, the fae-child did greet the drow in their usual fashion, and even laughed in brief but joyful surprise at her appearance. She was warmly welcomed, as were all his guests (yes, even Sabine).

He did not participate in any of the musical performances, but he did watch, from a lofty perch on the catwalk that stretched over the heads of all those in the great room above. He sat cross-legged and sometimes reclined on his back, lounging with his eyes on the ceiling and just allowing the music to peacefully wash over him. It?s quite possible he covertly engaged his guests in a communal game of chess, if they were paying attention to the board and happened to notice how a piece had moved any time he chanced to wander by.

There may have been an ominous sense of otherwise being watched throughout the evening, for Salvador?s ?pet? dryad was watching unseen from the sidelines. She?s a shy creature and would have vanished the moment any heads turned to try to catch a glimpse of her peering in through the wide windows or down the darkened hall. And every so often a strange, half mechanical catlike creature might have been seen darting between legs and under furniture. Salvador was certain to shoo it from the main room whenever he caught sight of it.

Of course he gave no physical gifts, citing that his gift was his company, fine friends and good food. All were welcome to stay the evening, if they wished. One spare bedroom with a double bed was available. The u-shaped couch had enough space for three to five people to sprawl across it and pass out. An abundance of hand knit and crocheted blankets were available. Salvador even offered up his own king-sized bed on the second level. When he retired for the evening himself, it was to the roof and the hammock in the company of his Cajun.

At some point during the night after Sal had laid out his feast, a few dishes were added to the already groaning table. Roasted mushrooms (of course) in browned butter garlic and thyme sauce, stuffed baby bellas, and sauteed wild mushrooms over cheesy polenta. Of course, there were also gingerbread men in various states of duress with what appeared to be limbs or heads 'chewed' off (they were made that way. Promise. Suliss'urn did not take a bite out of each one.)

There appeared to have been gifts scattered around the house after the drow, like a very big, stabby cat, had touched most surfaces with a brush of fingertips. Sometimes she stopped to outright sniff various things and people that would let her, doing the very odd flehmen reaction to certain scents. And people. She nabbed random drinks and random food and ate it at times standing up like the little barbarian she was, or perched on various pieces of furniture the queen of this house (so she thought) found to be the most comfortable.

Some of the tags on these surprisingly well wrapped gifts read:


Gifts:
To Cane - This bag appears to be made out of fabric, one that is iridescent in a deep black that shimmers a verdant green. Surprisingly reminiscent of something that the drow should not have seen or known about. One bag of holding with flames down the side (so it goes faster) - Interior space larger inside than outside dimensions. Outside dimensions roughly 2 feet diameter at mouth, 4 feet deep. Bag remains 15lbs in weight even if container is filled to maximum weight of 500lbs. If bag is overloaded, pierced, torn, will rupture scattering goods across Astral plane. Breathing creatures survive up to one minute maximum before beginning to suffocate.

To Sal: A pair of shackles that gleam like cloudy silver, eldritch runes seem to shift, run and chase each other across the metal, never appearing in the same spot twice. Experimenting with these shackles will reveal that they adjust to fit from small to gargantuan in size on their own. In addition to serving as mundane shackles, this particular set prevents the bound creature from using any method of extra-dimensional movement, including teleportation and travel to other planes of existence. They do not prevent movement through interdimensional portals. These shackled respond to Sal currently, a thumb print sized oval on the right shackle is in perfect replica to Sal's. There is a blank thumbprint beside it, giving the impression that Sal could command the shackles to respond to one other person.

To Sabine: Taking a page out of the wave of modern influx in Rhy'Din, and considering Sabine herself, her gift seems to be not so terribly unusual, though exceedingly comfortable. It appears to be made out of Italian cashmere in a delightful purple so dark as to seem almost black. If one where to squint at the 'tag' on the back of the neck inside the hoodie, they might be able to read the text: With this hoodie's hood up, you become much more difficult to see and you have advantages to hiding as the hoodie's color will shift to camouflage you wherever you may be. Pulling the hood down ends the effect. (AKA: Hoodie of Elvenkind)

To Jewell: A ring that is literally made of air. The nearly transparent ring has the most minuscule little fat, fluffy clouds lazily circling the air-shaped ring. Occasionally these clouds appear to become darkened and storm a tiny rain storm that the wearer does not feel. This ring appears to strengthen defense if the wearer is attacked against any elemental from any plane, in addition to the fact this ring appears to be linked and can summon an actual Air Elemental to do the wearer's bidding 5 times a day. Two of the charges can be used at once to attempt to dominate another Air Elemental. Lastly, should the bearer of this ring fall, a charge is used to cast feather fall, ensuring the wearer floats safely to the ground.