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Who: Everyone!
What: January's welcome log. Oh also part one of the Ghost log.
When: Jan 1st-7th
Where: All over the place.
Warnings:
Notes: This is your January welcome log with Sphere New Year Traditions. Come in, go nuts.
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A New Year A New You

A new day has come.

So unlike many other places, the Sphere doesn’t celebrate New Years on New Year’s Eve. Instead they celebrate it in s three day festival commencing on January first to the third. The festival starts on the first at dawn with people waking up early to watch the first unofficial sunrise in the Sphere. Unlike most other days, this sunrise is universal, moving into each of the domes and filling them with such a bright light that it looks like an idealized version of a bright summer’s day. Groups of people join together to watch it in the dormitory dorms as well as in several public areas. The agriculture dome and the recreational domes are popular places for such activities and there are several places where there appear to be flowers blooming and almost the sound of birdsong.

Also in the more public places, there are large tables filled up with what seems to be a standard light breakfast of fruit, cheese and various loaves of bread, including a particular loaf of bread that everyone is given either in their attendance or in the dome itself. It’s a circular loaf with nuts on it that’s perfect for sharing. Indeed people keep trying to share a piece with the characters around them.

One thing that’s missing though? None of the places seem to have any sort of caffeine in any form. If questioned about it, someone knowledgeable will respond: “you can’t have caffeine until the sun sets!” The words come with a good natured laugh and characters are then handed a glass of fruit juice.

Out with the old and in with the new

As the sun is about to set on the first day, crowds gather in the rec dome. There in the middle of the area there’s a large bonfire set up. The smoke billows up towards the top of the dome before it disappears. People gathered around the fires are throwing old possessions into it, some of which are their own and some of them are the possessions of the people who had left. The idea is to unburden yourself of things to face the new year with a clean slate.

There are smaller fires around, and they burn different colors with the smoke being sweet smelling and light. Some people show the newcomers how to gather the smoke in their hands and release it over their heads, in order to clear out dark thoughts and whatever is troubling people. The smoke gives people a slight feeling of euphoria, and makes them feel as if whatever is happening isn’t quite as bad as they think it is.

And we’re dancing through life

On the second day, the public domes are fairly dead. The merchant dome is closed and only a few restaurants are open, and only those are for delivery. The entire city almost seems to be holding their breath and waiting for something. When the clock turns to eight pm, it’s almost as if the entire city is lit in a combination of stars and candlelight. In the gardens in the Rec dome, a large ball has been set up. Everyone in the city has been given their ideal fancy dress outfit, including mask in order to wear to it. The idea behind it is that the characters are in the middle of their transitional state. Day one was the day they put their old life behind them, and day three will be the day that they form their new selves for the year ahead. Which is why at the ball, people wear masks and have the option to give into some of the things that they wouldn’t normally do.

Wanna eat that there whole pint of ice cream? Go nuts. Wanna drink a bottle of vodka? Hey it’s your liver and it’s not like you can die! Wanna hook up in a dark corner with a stranger. It’s your life and there’s some nice velvet couches over there; out of sight and out of mind.

Dinner is in the form of an elaborate meal, sort of along the idea of Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, no expense is spared and everything is extremely well done and extravagant. Rich food, insane desserts, open bar, everything this night is too excess. At various points in the evening, the sky which has been showing stars shifts into things like fireworks, and glowy nebuleuses, causing people to burst into spontaneous bouts of applause.

All the while, there are various and shifting dance floors with an assortment of music to dance to, including classical, swing, fiddles, big band, pop, R&B, and basically anything that you can think of. The dances that people do there are as varied as the population, the drunkenness level and of course the all important dances of people's native Caucasia.

The party goes until dawn, at which point, the drunken revelries spill onto the streets, and people return to their personal domes singing loudly and off key.

A new day a new you

So despite however much you may have done the night before, or whatever else you may have engaged in, and however long you may have stayed awake for, when your head hits the pillow, you wake up feeling well great for lack of a better word. You have no hangover, you're not tired, you're not in pain, and any heavy or dark thoughts will suddenly seem not at all so bad. It may be better than you've felt in your entire time in the Sphere, or better than a long time depending on how things are at home.

Either way, when you wake up, day is late (even if your character doesn't normally sleep) and there is a crowd of people in the agriculture dome. People are there working together in order to plant new things in the greenhouse. They're planting baby plants that will grow to feed people in the new year, according to Annie, and it's all about breathing new life into the world.

Afterwards, there are different things like yoga and meditation classes, and people just spread out smiling among the flowers. No one is as pushy as normal, it's just kind of there. They're just kind of there, stretching, enjoying the sunshine and just kind of chilling.

Later, people set up a large sort of barbecue and outdoor kitchen. Food is cooked communally, and people will ask your character to come and cook. Even if you can't cook, passing out food or cleaning up. This is a community building activity people tell ya, so you can go with it or not. But the rest of the city is, so please enjoy some delicious food your characters may or may not have a hand in cooking or giving out. Wine and fruit juice is in a wide abundance here, as is water and caffeinated drinks. A few people can even be found having some harder stuff (vodka and whiskey) if your character looks to be in need of it.

And the end of the night, the sky above the dome lights up with aurora borealis, in brilliant lights and hues, and there are what appear to be a smattering of actual, living fireflies buzzing lazily around. People who are here longer than the characters seem puzzled, and more than a few children and adults are out catching them between their palms.

Ghosts of years ago.

So, for the past three months or so now, there have been ghosts intermittently showing up in the Sphere. Some ghosts are ones you know, some ghosts aren't, but for the most part there has been very little lasting interaction. Until now. As there's introspection happening, the ghosts are more and more drawn to it, but only now there's something less intelligent in their eyes: there's a hunger. Ghosts are trying to leech off the life forces of everyone in the Sphere, and the best way to stop them is not to be alone. But either way, death is stalking the feast, and it's haunting you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh dear. She's taken the wrong meaning of it. He listens patiently and nods.

"Thank you. But I meant standard as in flag. Your heraldry. I'll save that for my next question, though. Tell me, my lady, what you'd ask of me."

Sansa blushes beneath her mask.

"Pardon- no, I'll happily answer that all the same. The Stark sigil is a grey direwolf upon a white field. When I became Queen, I added a crown atop the wolf's head, for me." Goodness, how could she be so stupid? But, there was time to scold herself later.

"As for you, my lord, what is your kingdom like? The weather, most generally, I suppose, and the lands."

"A direwolf? Pray tell what is that? Is it alike a wolf? And a crown is good. Suited. House Maresh is a scarlet field, a golden chalice, and a golden coin rising above it."

They've got a money thing going on clearly.

"It is- a large wolf thought once to just be creatures of legends. But they live, usually North of the Wall. It's truly rare to see them in my kingdom. But I know of at least two that remain. The crown was just added, before I came here."

She nods, imagining the sigil before her. "Wine and coin-- Fitting for a king."

Creatures of legends. How interesting. Not that there were a lot of creatures of legend in his world.

"The cup holds the waters of the Isle, a river that is a source of magic in our world. Thus the scarlet. The coin is the power and wealth of our nation."

"And your world has magic!" There was some in Westeros, she had learned, after all her sister could change her face at will, her brother had come back from the dead, and the other was a weird magic bird.

Also, dragons.

"Do you yourself have any sort of magic? Or is it your turn to ask a question?"

Well of course it held magic, why would it not?

"Find me some oil and I will show you fires, my dear. But I am hardly a talented elemental mage. I'm better with weaving words than spells."

"I shall have to locate some, then. I would like to see what you can do."

She wanted to see everything. She had no cool magical powers of her own, but hearing Rhy praise language abilities made her feel just a bit lighter. "Words can be just as deadly as any fire. Too many seem to forget this."

No doubt she will not be much impressed. Rhy is about as useful as a match. Maybe.

"I speak eleven languages, including both of the two of my people."

The royal tongue is English. Arnesian was the language of the common folk. And they loved him for knowing it.

She will be impressed. Matches are a handy thing to have.

"Eleven!" She laughs at that, mightily impressed. "I only speak the Common Tongue.I've only recently met people that do not speak it." Even then it had only been in passing. She hadn't spoken with the Dothraki or Unsullied on her own, and had had no reason to.

"Eleven. I have a gift for tongues, my brother tells me. Which is nice, because I have hardly a gift for anything else, save carousing."

What? He knew how to party.

"Sometimes all a man needs is the gift for tongues."

She smiles as innocently as she can beneath her mask.

Oh dear, was that something along the lines of flirtatious? Oh Rhy can't help the smile she provokes at that comment.

"Oh, quick fingers can also be very valuable. Among other things. Bu a quick tongue ensures one makes peace and encourages others to be excited to want to be around them."

Yeah. She's flirting. She does that.

"So they can," she agrees. "But I find quick fingers means faster to draw their sword." Though words could be just as deadly. People needed to remember that.

"Though I've yet to find a man who does not speak as though he believes he possesses such a tongue."

"Ah, but my lady? I've no skill with martial prowess. My accomplishment in that manner is to have loyal guards to watch over me."

ANd there you have it. He believes in having people to protect you, but he doesn't want war. He's not a war leader.

"You have that in common with my brother. The Captain of the King's Guard is a loyal knight, and there is hardly a better sword in Westeros than her." She'd been sad to see Brienne go to King's Landing, but she could think of no higher honor. She deserved the best.

"My own Queens Guard is still growing, at home."

"I am certain you provoke loyalty, my lady," Rhy answers as he sweeps her into a spin. Tell him this isn't fun. He dares you.

Sansa steps through the spin with grace and care. She loves the way her dress and hair twirl out. Finishing the spin, she steps back into Rhy's arms.

"My whole family does. Look to the people, treat them with respect and they will love you."

"Respect, mercy, and kindness," Rhy agrees. Because anything less and they could overthrow you. What was the point of angering the people who don't truly have to obey you. "So, next question my dear: If you are the North, what else is there?"

"Why, there is the South, of course," she says. "Westeros was made up of the Seven Kingdoms. The North is one of them. My younger brother, Bran, is King of the Six Kingdoms now that we have claimed our independence."

Westros. Rhy tries not to snicker. She's from the north and her country sounds like West. Quite interesting.

"Your family is quite spread out then? Are you all in charge of kingdoms? Oh wait, it's your turn to ask."

There's also an Essos and a Southos. Look, she didn't come up with the names and lots of places have a North.

"No. Just Bran and I, and that suits us fine. My family has only ever ruled in the North previously. Before this last war it was the Lannisters that ruled, before that Baratheons and before that the Targaryens. Now there are so few of those left and those that are do not wish to rule. So the title of King of the Six Kingdoms fell to Bran, decided by the last of the Great Houses. I probably bore you with details- much has changed in Westeros even over the course of my life time."

She looks down, blushing just slightly. "I don't mind answering as many questions as you have, really! Do you have any siblings, then?"

Well, that's just hilariously silly, isn't it?

"Someone must live during the times of great change, so why not you. I just feel that it is sad that the whole of the Kingdoms won't have the grace of your rule."

She would clearly be a good queen.

"I have no siblings by blood. When I was young my parents adopted a boy a year older than me. Kell is a wonderful sibling to have. EVerything I am not."

She laughs at that, ducking her head just slightly. He was funny, and incredibly charming. Idly, she wondered why his Kingdom wasn't anywhere near hers. He would be a good match. "Thank you. The Six Kingdoms are in good hands with my brother."

She nods. "My house was teeming with children, growing up. My brother Robb was older than me, Jon, who was raised as my half-brother, and Theon, who was raised as good as. Younger than me is Arya, my only sister, then Bran and Rickon. Both youngest and oldest are no longer with us. Arya and I are much like that. When we were children, I hated her for it. I wish I had seen it like you do, earlier."

Like he did? Oh, that didn't mean he always thought the guy was wonderful. He's just... He envied his brother so much.

"There are... scales of magic in my world. My brother is gifted in them all, and can walk between worlds. I can barely call and hold a flame."

And that is his failing.