Winter Starlight Celebration (341 views)

[Raichi]

Neopets from all over Neopia have gathered around in the Happy Valley to enjoy the Winter Starlight Celebration. Chance the grey Gelert takes the stage to make his daily announcements to the new visitors who came to Terror Mountain for the seasonal holiday fun.

"Welcome Neop-"
An Acara at the side of the stage calls him to get his attention, and gestures for him to hold the microphone closer to his mouth so that people wearing hats can also hear what he has to say.

*ahum* "Welcome Neopets from all over the world, the Winter Starlight Celebration has begun! As have plenty of festivities. I'm sure you're all familiar with the all year round activities, so I'll keep it short and focus on the December exclusive activities."

Chance tries to be charismatic but can't help but sound bored out of his wits, he turns around and points at one of the largest houses "In that house over there is the advent Calendar, you can pick up a special gift there on a daily basis."

He then turns back and points forward "Across the ice-skating rink you see a smaller shop, for December they released all sorts of Christmas outfits, from sweaters to costumes."

"There's various parades throughout the month, concerts, and much more, you can read all about it in the Christmas Holiday guide" he points to the side "which you can get for free in the Gift Shop. For winter fun activities just look around, but for those who want it there's a Winter Holiday guide for sale at the gift shop which lists and explains all fun activities you can do here all year round"

Chance smiles at everyone but it doesn't look very cheery "That finalizes my opening speech, have a Happy Holiday everyone!"

With that said he exits the stage and the crowd starts spreading through the wintry wonder land.

[Jazilyn]

"This is by far the most demeaning thing I've ever done" a scarlet Darigan warrior grumbled under his breath, but no sooner had the words escaped him, his jaws snapped shut and he straightened his spine as stiff as a board, painfully aware his Lord had overheard him.

"Quiet!" Lord Darigan commanded, jaundice crimson eyes narrowing disdainfully. "They're making an announcement." His almost completely flattened snout turned to the gray gelert on stage, snake-like nostrils breathing out a long, impatient breath. Excessively large bat-like ears twitching, he glanced over his shoulder at the bored soldier that accompanied him, making sure the man behaved himself. The Darigan zafara at his side was only one of several guards that surrounded him, and a few more had strategically placed themselves throughout the crowd, keeping a careful eye on their Lord.

If you asked any one of them, chances were they'd all say they would rather be home, on Darigan or within the warm Citadel; anything but out here in the snow, surrounded by... happy people. Oh so many happy people. But, the Lord had insisted. The truce between Darigan and Meridell was still rather shaky, and the Lord felt it was necessary to make an appearance, to prove he wasn't the evil monster he'd been portrayed to be. So far, things weren't boding well for him.

He looked like the monster everyone thought he was, wearing a yellowing mask made of bone, covered head to toe in a heavy black robe. His mask did little to hide the hideous scarring on the lower half of his face, and one look at his deformed and mangled arms sent most people running in the opposite direction. Now mostly bone and exposed muscle, he had very little flesh left on his frame; the only thing keeping him standing, breathing even, was magic- a dark magic he'd learned to control.

If he were completely honest with himself, he'd admit he didn't want to be there either; he'd much rather be hiding out in his chambers, planning and plotting. But, this seemed... necessary. To those brave enough to approach him, he was giving away autographs; he even posed for a few pictures. He was doing his best to force a smile; not that it really mattered, it was impossible to tell his emotions through his mask. He had at least convinced a few of his people to sing later, an authentic Darigan carol, even though he wouldn't be joining them. He even offered to give away prizes for the Advent Calendar, but it was his little secret what the prizes would be.

[Princezz]

From behind a few Neopets in the crowd, a faint giggle can be heard. As if from out of nowhere, the ghost of a(n) Usual appears, and smiles malevolently. Juiser Extume loves big events like this - it means she can get up to all kinds of trouble. As it is currently night time as well, it means she has no trouble interacting with various things.
As she wanders through the crowds, hardly being noticed, she sees people reciving prizes from the Advent Calendar as usual, and gives a huff. Once again, the prizes seem worthless to her. Still, might as well not let her plans go to waste. For a moment, she seems to fade away, and then, as a random neopet walks off, suddenly, Neopoints spill everywhere!! In hte distance, laughter can be heard as tne per tried to pick up all those separate coins.
Appearing again, Juiser says to herself "Oh, that was a good one!! They won't know what hit them!! Hahahahahaha!!" Suddenly aware that people can hear her, she hopes no one was paying attention to her at that moment.

[Raichi]

A small group of kids huddles closely around their teacher. Narwo's class had a school trip to Terror Mountain to celebrate the holidays, though they picked a peculiar day to do so. Darigans, Ghosts, there was even a zombie within the crowd, and was that massive figure... Lord Darigan? The children moaned and complained, not wanting to listen to a speech in such an unattractive crowd.

Some of the teens even tried to sneak away to the skating rink, but the teacher wouldn't let them. "You will listen to what the nice Gelert has to say, now stay close together and be quiet"

Narwo didn't see the problem, sure their paintjob was imposing, but they weren't misbehaving or anything. Though when she heard an evil cackling she did push herself a little closer into the group, not feeling as at ease as she did before. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed as well, she had hoped there would have been a visitor fom Shenkuu that she could go up and talk to but she didn't see any. Of course any such person would be difficult to recognise in a winter outfit.

Of course the teens had little interest in what the gelert had to say and very quietly started playing truth or dare. Narwo didn't think about her decision very long and went with dare, to which one of the boys dared her to throw a snow ball at Lord Darigan.

She gulped, regretting having picked dare, and couldn't allow herself to back off because then she would be regarded a coward. Being smaller than most of the students and not even half Lord Darigan's size she could separate herself from the group unnoticed, picked up whatever snow could fit in her hand and formed a small snowball. She neared the gigantic Korbat hiding the snowball behind her back, the children unable to see her in the crowd but they payed close attention to Lord Darigan to see his reaction.

Nerves piled up in her body, but she had no choice, she had to prove herself to her peers. Using what little strength she had she threw the snowball at his shoulder, frozen with fear for what his reaction could be.

[Creeperpants]

Alex amused herself in the snow while her parents admired the decorations and complained about how heavy their holiday shopping was. She built a little castle in the snow, imagining it was her school, and smashed it. Alex's mother frowned.


"We're off to do a little Day of Giving shipping, dear. Why don't you go amuse yourself? Those kids over there look about your age." She gestured at a school group, and then noticed something. "Oh my! They're having a sale at the snowflake shop! Meet us at the Advent Calendar at sunset and don't get into too much trouble!" Alex's parents bustled off, leaving her with a little smashed snow castle.

"Meh, why not," she muttered, and sidled up to the group. She prepared for the 'pizzafur' and 'oil-slick' comments that usually came when she was around kids her own age. Alex much preferred preschoolers. She would have been a babysitter, but no one wanted a babysitter who might teach their kids that soap is bad.

[Jazilyn]

The Lord's giant bat-like ears swiveled in the direction of someone giggling, and he glanced over just in time to watch some poor neopet scurrying to collect their fallen neopoints. One of his guards cracked a mischievous grin, "Looks like that ghost over there's causing some trouble."

Lord Darigan watched apathetically, neither amused nor disappointed. His staff seemed to find it more entertaining than he did. He was more curious as to why there was a ghost here at the Starlight Celebration; it was unusual, perhaps as unusual as a group of Darigans joining in the celebration.

He didn't have time to dwell on the thought before something cold and wet hit him in the back. He and all his guards whirled around. His guards had their fangs bared, furious red eyes staring down the aisha menacingly. They were just about to gang up on the aisha when the Lord ordered them all back.

He had cracked a slight grin beneath his mask. It was difficult not to take her assault personally, and yet there was something rather amusing in the way she was standing there, staring. And something rather admirable about how she hadn't simply run away.

"Having fun?" he asked derisively.

[Creeperpants]

Alex gaped at the Aisha who was stupid enough to actually throw a snowball at Lord Darigan. She may not have learned much from Meridell High, but she had had it drilled into her that Darigan was bad and dangerous and the sworn enemy of Meridell. The guards began to close in on the Aisha, but some Ogrin got in her way, so she couldn't see how it turned out.

"Don't touch her, you ugly purple brutes," she yelled over the crowd, hoping that maybe her anonymity would protect her. Because you definitely wanted protection from Lord Darigan. Hopefully, she could get it blamed on some random teen who would suffer Darigan's wrath, while she sipped coffee with her parents all the way on the other side of Terror Mountain.

[Princezz]

"Snowballs!! That's a great idea!! Jusier laughs to herself as people skid past down a slope of flat, hard, forzen snow that she's made for people's "amusement," that is to say, her own. Wouldn't it be fun if she turned invisible, threw a load of snowballs at people, and then watched from a distance as they all started accusing each other and getting their icy revenge by throwing even more?
The plan is perfect. How she loves to cause such mischeif. Soon everyone will be fighting each other, until the older Neopets have to go out and stop them. She just loves watching other people's misfortune.
As she leans down to pick up some snow, she jumps slightly as her hands touch the ground. It is a lot colder than she thought.
"But that's not fair!!" she says to herself, "Ghosts aren't supposed to feel things, are they? So why can I still feel the cold." Sighing, she wanders off to see if she can find some gloves.

[Raichi]

The small Aisha found herself speechless, the other so imposing and tall even the kindest of words sounded questionable.

"Having fun?"
"I....... Uhm......"
"Don't touch her, you ugly purple brutes,"

Narwo's four ears twitched at the yelling that came from afar, a voice she certainly didn't recognise but it clearly hadn't completed the transformation of puberty yet. Those words did put her in a bad spot, she didn't want to have beef with the Darigans but it made it sound like she already had.

"I.. don't know who that was, really... I was just.."

She was in a pickle now! If she confessed she threw a snowball for a truth or dare game it seemed more likely for them to get angry at her than understanding. Perhaps fun was indeed the best way to go. "G-goofing around, hehe"

With a nervous smile and a stance that gave away her fear she looked at the Darigans and their Lord, noticing strangely enough their posture was a lot more threatening than their Lord. Nevertheless it seemed like a bad idea to stick around.

"I should... probably regroup with my class.."

[Creeperpants]

Alex edged away from the group. Blaming it on another person wasn't such a great idea. Lord Darigan would probably instantly recognise her Meridellian accent. Her foot slipped on something that felt like hard packed ice, and she toppled face down in the snow.

I won't cry. I WON'T CRY. I. WILL. NOT. CRY

Despite her self-pleas, hot tears welled up in Alex's eyes, melting little streaks in her snow-covered face.

How pathetic. Fourteen and I still cry over slipping on ice.

[Jazilyn]

The Lord narrowed his eyes, staring down the aisha suspiciously. He really had no proof she was the one that threw the snow ball, even though it seemed unlikely it could have been anyone else. Perhaps the wocky, though he doubted it. Even if he had proof, there wasn't anything he could do about it; any action he took would look threatening and risk hurting his image. He was here to make people less fearful of him, not make them worry about having their children around him.

"Just goofing around," he repeated begrudgingly. He supposed he could have tried scaring her straight by telling her something about how she could have been arrested for assault, but kids would be kids, and he would have been lying anyway. "Yes I suppose you should."

He glanced over at the wocky who'd fallen on the ice, almost in disbelief when she started to cry. He had mixed feelings about children; he loved Darigan children, but he'd never seen a Darigan child cry after they fell on the ice.

"Looks like your classmate needs your help, anyway," he said to the aisha.

[Raichi]

Lord Darigan was tall enough to overlook the crowd and see the Wocky fall, but Narwo on the other hand couldn't see beyond the people that surrounded her and had little clue what he was talking about. Carefully she took steps back "Okay, well, it was.. nice.. meeting you"

She then slipped through the crowd and made her way back to her class, her classmates very impressed that she pulled it off. The teacher hadn't even noticed the small Aisha slipping away, but the way she was suddenly received was a dead give-away that she had not obeyed the rules. "Narwo!" The Lenny screeched, not pleased with her students disobeying. "Strike one! Two more and you'll be sent home. Have I made myself clear!"

"Yes 'mam"
"Very well, now what was so important that you had to leave the group. Explain yourself"
"I uhm.."
"We dared her to throw a snowball at Lord Darigan" one of the students said.

The teacher had a bedazzled look on her face, a little astounded a girl like Narwo would do it, though she did recall her being rather present in class. "Well, leave that poor man alone from now on, all of you."

Narwo looked at her classmates to see if anyone was missing, but the group was complete. She could swear Lord Darigan told her one of her classmates was in need of help, but everyone seemed find. It was odd, though with her length it was hard to see anyone but the ones surrounding her.

[Jazilyn]

The Lord crossed his arms, watching the little aisha leave as his mostly skeletal tail twitched. He didn't have time to see if she'd found her 'classmate' who'd fallen on the ice before one of his soldiers tapped him on the shoulder, stealing his attention.

"It's getting to be about /that/ time, My Lord. Would you prefer to make the announcement, or shall I?"

The Lord eyed the eager ixi almost suspiciously before finally nodding, "You may...but..." he added quickly as the ixi had started walking away, "be tactful."

The much shorter, thinner ixi beamed, "Tactful I always am, My Lord." And with that, he slipped through the crowd toward the stage. He was nimble and swift, and able to maneuver the throng without hardly touching anyone. He wasn't adorned in heavy armor like most of his comrades, but rather light leather trappings and comfortable leggings. A quiver was secured to his belt, and a bow slung over his back.

He bound onto the stage without using the steps, landing with an acrobatic somersault that quickly got him back to his feet, and hurried over to where the gray gelert was standing, his hooves clicking softly on the wooden stage. He came to an abrupt halt right beside the gelert.

Beaming a smile that flashed his sharp incisors, he practically ripped the microphone from the gelert's hands; but wrapped his arm around the other man's shoulders as if they were old buddies, giving a wink that was so quick it might have been missed. "Listen to this guy drone on and on, right guys?" he addressed the crowd boisterously, smile never fading. "On to good stuff, aye? The ever-formidable, heroic, and generous Lord Darigan would like to announce-" The ixi released his virtual death-grip on the gelert, and pointed through the crowd straight at Lord Darigan, whose eyes had narrowed with disapproval. "-That he is providing dinner, free of charge, from now until nine tonight, to all who wish to attend. Dinner will be hosted in party room of The Lodge, where I imagine most of you have booked an overnight room anyway. It'll be the only opportunity to see a Darigan in a santa hat, and guaranteed to be a blast. And if that's not enough fun for you, after dinner entertainment will be provided by myself and my fellow Darigans!"

His confidence never wavered as he pulled a shiny red apple from a pouch strapped to his belt, shoved the microphone back into the hands of the gelert, and tossed the apple high into the air above the crowd. Then, with reflexes fast as lightning, he pulled his bow from over his shoulders, withdrew a single arrow from his quiver, readied his bow, pulled back the string, and fired; the whole process taking less than two seconds. The arrow embedded into the apple while it was still in the air, and landed neatly in the hands of a random lupe in the crowd. The ixi gave a single deep bow before running to the end of the stage and exiting the same way he'd entered, with a leap and a somersault into the snow; then took off running in the direction of the Lodge.

Lord Darigan's jaws were grinding furiously at this point, his tail lashing wildly behind him. He leaned over to another Darigan on his right and whispered, "Did you know he was going to do that?"

The other Darigan shook their head, "No, Sir, I did not."

"Tell him he's fired," the Lord replied. His soldiers were under strict orders not to draw their weapons; the last thing he needed was to cause a mass panic under his name. If he made it through a single day of this damned 'celebration', it would be a bloody miracle.

[Creeperpants]

Alex wiped her face clear of the muddy snow, just in time to hear the announcement.


"It's probably poisoned! Don't attend!" she yelled with a fake Shenkese accent. She mentally checked Shenkuu off her list of accents mimics she'd used. Alex heard a thwip, and an apple with an arrow straight through the center landed in the paws of a surprised Silver Lupe. The message was clear. We know you're out there.

[Princezz]

Juiser decides that she will try to get some company first. It't not like anyone will easily judge her on appearances if she TRIES to be nice. So she stands by a tree for a moment, waiting for someone to run past an notice her.