Hosted by Sallowschade
lifemend 𖦹 rite
Mateus, Lifemend Stump
Central Shroud @ x23, y23
Friday, August 28th
6PM-10PM EST
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
ABOUT
THE RITE
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, or so the stories say, all manner of strange magi gather under the boughs of the Twelveswood. It starts with a cleansing, of sorts—rather, of a sort most mobile and agitated. If you look out your window on a clear Autumn day, you might catch a mawful of rarefied pointed hats marching down the pebbled lane in a predawn haze, each clutching the tiffany light of a candle and waving smoldering sticks of rosemary until a thin line of smoke wends all the way across the ivies.If you’re interested in peculiar things, you might notice a group of gloved arcanists sifting through piles of pinecones or acorns on a windy morning; or you might catch a hedge-witch inspecting apples in the orchards south of Quarrymill under the light of a full moon; or even find a thaumaturge, ankle-deep in the clouded waters at Rootslake’s edge, cutting flax with a sickle etched along the blade with runes that firm each of the little blue flowers to gold as they fall from the branch.This is all preparatory, of course—and while the witchfolk seem to work with an invigorated purpose, these things are not so far from the usual peculiarities; nearly normal activities for people in hats and robes. But when all the tasks of industry (the cleansing, and gathering, and lulling of elementals) are finished, the time comes to weave together the fruits of their labor and the busy magicians gather for conclave at Lifemend Stump to ring in a season of abundance with a merry ritual.
TIMELINE:
6:00PM EST - rite begins
6:30-7:00PM EST - magical mini event #1
7:00-7:15PM EST - performance #1
8:00-8:15PM EST - performance #2
8:30-9:00PM EST - magical mini event #2
9:30PM EST - lifemend ritual
Post-festival, ritegoers are heartily invited to submit related drabbles and other pieces of writing that we'll display here on the carrd!
ABOUT THE RITUAL
WITCHFOLK ALWAYS COME PREPARED. Your intuition tells you that you’ll need to bring an offering with you to the stump. You’ve scoured the Twelveswood (or maybe raided your private stocks or your kitchen in advance,) and you now have one of the below in your possession.ANOTHER THING YOU KNOW: The magic is in the exchange—an untraded item has almost no worth in this spellcraft; but all swaps are equally valuable. The more times you trade your item for another's, the stronger both your offerings will be (no matter what item you end up with.)
AN UNBENT PINECONE - for intuition, protection; symbolizes the treant.
A VIAL OF BLESSED WATER - for the passing of time; symbolizes the water sprite.
A HANDFUL OF MUN-TUY BEANS - for potential; symbolizes the opo-opo.
YOUR “PERFECT” AUTUMN APPLE - for abundance, and for autumn.
A VIAL OF FIREFLIES - for insight, the growing night of winter; symbolizes the wisp.
A PIECE OF IRIDESCENT FLINT - for strength; symbolizes the golem.
A RAPTOR'S CLAW - for speed; symbolizes the raptor.
A SATCHET OF DRIED ORANGE SLICES - for the waning light of summer.
A SATCHET OF CINNAMON & CLOVE - for prosperity and protection.
A SPOOL OF WEBBING - for memory; symbolizes the diremite.
A GEMSTONE - for clarity; symbolizes the spriggan.
A SEASHELL - for hope; symbolizes the otter.
A PEARL - for innocence, purity.
A SECTION OF CORAL - for luck, health; symbolizes the crab.
SOMETHING ELSE - a personal symbol; only you know its meaning.
*ritual items are IC-only; no need to trade ingame items with another player, unless you really want to!
RITUAL
TEXT
PARDON MY DUST!
I'm still working on this! I'll try to get the macro up with enough time before the rite so folks can see context and pre-write or partially pre-write responses in advance if they want to! There will also be 3-4 minutes between each section of macro post so folks can write back and respond accordingly.
MINI-EVENT:
FLOWER
POWER
OVERVIEW:
A CURLING BREEZE CARRIES A SWEET SCENT
into the grove, thickening the stagnant autumn air. Suddenly (and with the thunderspark of wild magic) the clearing before you unfurls in a carpet of pansy-like blooms of all sizes and colors!As you watch each blossom lift and open its petals to the moon, a firework bursts somewhere in the clearing. Then another. But this isn't the magic of pyrotechnics; the explosions are coming from the flowers themselves.
OBJECTIVE:
PICK FLOWERS & THROW THEM IN THE CAULDRON ON THE STUMP!
Quick, pick as many flowers as you can before the whole grove explodes into fireworks! Toss them into the cauldron on the stump & let's find out what kind of potion we can make!
POST-EVENT REWARDS:
The in-character [or IC] loot below will become available at the mini-event's conclusion.
Roll 1d20 when directed by the Lifemend staff and use the table to see what item your character gets!
| # | YOU GOT: | WHAT IT DOES: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potion of Water Breathing | A thin, tealy blue potion that fizzes if shaken. Allows the user to breathe underwater for up to one bell. |
| 2 | Potion of Invisibility | This looks like an empty phial, but makes a faint sloshing sound when shaken. Grants the user invisibility from the five senses for 1 hour. |
| 4 | Beaker of Hoppy Ale | Hey, this isn't a potion at all... it's just low-quality ale in a beaker. User has high confidence and lowered inhibitions for the next 2 bells. |
| 5 | Bacchus' Wine | A richly foliage-scented, deep azure vintage. Fae-aligned. Causes the user to mindlessly attack whatever's nearby. |
| 6 | Potion of Whossa Small One? | A clear liquid in a laughably small bottle. User shrinks to the size of a pinecone for one bell. |
| 7 | Potion of Speak to Frogs | A wiggly gelatinous potion; the color of an old booger. Allows the user to ask up to three questions to a nearby frog. Yes, the frog will answer. |
| 8 | Potion of Feather Fall | This glowing green potion is light as a feather in your hand. If the user falls, this potion greatly slows their descent. Lasts 12 bells. |
| 9 | Potion of Fire Breathing | A gritty red potion, swirled with yellow petals. User can expel a breath of fire at a target within 30 feet. Lasts 1 bell or 3 fire breaths. |
| 10 | Potion of Ruin Dinner | An earthen-toned, watery mix of spices with a subtle but distinctly icky scent. Add to any meal to instantly putrefy its flavor profile. |
MINI-EVENT:
FROGGY
FRENZY
OVERVIEW:
AS THE MOON APPROACHES ITS HEIGHT a lance of bright magic forks the air, and a rumble from below sends the trees of the Lifemend Grove into a shiver. The forest stills; the ground shifts, and all falls silent... until the first croak!Frogs? Frogs. Hundreds of them, pouring into the clearing from two craggy tunnels that have cracked open in the mossy earth. Confused, the two frarmies charge at one another across the open space, weaving tactlessly among the ritegoers' feet.
OBJECTIVE:
SMUSH FROGS TOGETHER!
When two frogs get close to one another, they both seem to vanish in a puff of colorful smoke. Partner with your fellow magi to catch as many frogs as possible and smush them together to make them disappear.
POST-EVENT REWARDS:
The in-character [or IC] loot below will become available at the mini-event's conclusion.
Roll 1d20 when directed by the Lifemend staff and use the table to see what item your character gets!
| # | YOU GOT: | WHAT IT DOES: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Froggy's Footstool | A small toadstool. It has a brown, spotted top. Throw this item at the ground to produce a (people-sized) mush stool. It's even movable! |
| 2 | Froggy's Sewing Kit | A miniscule star-spangled drawstring pouch, made of some sort of waxed cotton. Contains a spool of thread that perfectly matches the color of any item it's stitched into. |
| 3 | Froggy's Sweetmeats | A clear pouch full of 30 chigoe-flavored gummy chigoes. Despite their small size, one gummy is enough to keep you full for a whole day. |
| 4 | Froggy's Starter Wand | A tiny, twirly stick. Use to cast Return on small things. An Arcanist can help you find out where they return to. |
| 5 | Froggy's Lucky Headwear | An orange pointy cap. This hat is so small it could fit on the tip of your finger. Wear to greatly reduce the chance of a magical accident when casting advanced spells. |
| 6 | Froggy's Old Headwear | A blurple pointy cap. Is it blue or purple? You decide! Either way, it's out of frogue. This hat guarantees pleasant dreams. Wear on your head or keep under your pillow! |
| 7 | Froggy's Figurine | A wooden figurine of a frog; about 2 ilms tall. Focus on this idol to summon your very own poroggo familiar. |
| 8 | Froggy's Fortune | Nice! Looks like you found a piece of gil on the ground. You can summon this coin back to your hand as long as it’s within 20 feet. |
| 9 | Froggy's Torch | A tiny glass bottle containing what looks to be a single firefly. Release the firefly to cast a sizable ring of light that follows you until you catch it again. |
| 10 | Froggy's Ring-Dinger | The kind of charm-sized silver bell you'd put on a pet's collar. The longer you ring this bell, the louder it gets—until the sound becomes unbearable. |
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
LIFEMEND MAP
interactive map tba as vendors are finalized
Food
Vendors
##: THE SMALT CART
VENDORS: Tilly TwigA bright blue cart, which smells an awful lot like the ocean... The Smalt Cart is a small family business run by Tilly Twig and her chocobo, Tuesday. You want fish pies? Oh, we've got fish pies!
⋆ late arrival - vending 7PM-10PM EST!
##: HAPPY
HINTERLANDS HONEY
VENDORS: Elouan SauveterreHoney, teas, and sweet treats made from the Bee Club's apiary in the Hinterlands. All proceeds go toward maintaining the Bee Club and continuing its efforts to reintroduce bees in Coerthas.
##: Placeholder
VENDORS: Vendor 1 Name, Vendor 2 NameThis is a little blurb about your stall. Lore and history can go here, but remember to give the reader the general vibe for what you're selling. Try to keep it to 2-3 sentences so that it's a quick read for folks who are browsing.
WARES
Vendors
⋆ wandering vendor
THE CHARNEL HOUSE
VENDORS: Kytto MortiseBehind a willowy, robed wanderer drifts a pack of macabre wares for sale or for trade, held aloft by a fathomless, churning mass of hypnotic purple-black magic that seems to swallow the light filtering into the clearing. Though his smile never quite reaches the eyes, he can be waved down or approached.
##: Placeholder
VENDORS: Vendor 1 Name, Vendor 2 NameThis is a little blurb about your stall. Lore and history can go here, but remember to give the reader the general vibe for what you're selling. Try to keep it to 2-3 sentences so that it's a quick read for folks who are browsing.
WITCHY
SERVICES
##: CARRIN MEADERY
& PADJAL SERVICES
VENDORS: Tab-I CarrinNeed a blessing from the forest or some woodsin cleansed? Come get it done by the Twelveswood's very own meadery owning Padjal!
##: Placeholder
VENDORS: Vendor 1 Name, Vendor 2 NameThis is a little blurb about your stall. Lore and history can go here, but remember to give the reader the general vibe for what you're selling. Try to keep it to 2-3 sentences so that it's a quick read for folks who are browsing.
MUSIC
& ARTS
Placeholder (7PM EST)
You can use this space to talk about your character as a performer, or use it to talk about the specifics of the performance. Try to keep it short and sweet - kinda like those author snapshot things at the backs of books.
ALASTOR (8PM EST)
A radio show host from a city in the southern part of the Republic of Garlemald who has been on the air ten years and counting, gathering a following for his black comedy and satirical focused program with the usual music and live performances.
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
LIFEMEND
HOOKS
Below is a non-exhaustive list of HOOKS for the Lifemend Rite. These are intended to help spark ideas for folks struggling with "why" their character would attend. Just like normal hooks, choosing from the list is not mandatory by any means—you decide what's right for your character and their motivations!
| YOU'RE A TWELVESWOOD DEVOTEE | This is an important event for you. As a resident or patron of the forest, you're frequently called to attend the rite. Thus when Menphina's eye winks open in the fourth umbral moon you devotedly arrive at the glade, come hells or high water. You are a naturalist / a spiritualist / a druid / and it's your duty to help the forest thrive. As always, you appear at the appointed time. |
| YOU’VE BEEN CALLED | Mayhap you're a Hearer. Mayhap you're a wildling. No matter your origin story, the Twelveswood speaks to you—through thistle and stone, cloud, condor, and carrot-stalk. Today, the forest has called you to the glade, so here you are (carrying the item you somehow knew to bring.) Time to find out why. |
| NETWORKING IS IMPORTANT FOR A MAGUS | You're an academic, nose buried so far in a book that you hardly notice anything else; or mayhap you're a battlemage engrossed in the perils your adventures. Either way, lately you've come to an unfortunate conclusion: it's hard to practice magic in a bubble. You don't know about all this forest-y stuff, but it's time you made some real connections in the magical community, and this rite (if it's anything like what you've heard about in whispers) sounds like the perfect place to start. |
| YOU SENSED A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE | You're different. And when you say that, you don't mean that you dance the tango in clown shoes in your free time. Mayhap you're a magical creature in disguise—sylph, fae, kami, elemental—or mayhap you're a padjal or wizard innately attuned to the flow of natural (or nearby) magics. Or mayhap you're cursed! Who knows! In any case, you felt big magic brewing, so you followed it here. Naturally, you know what it wants, and you came prepared. Time to trade. |
| YOU STAYED FOR THE VIBES | You sneaky thing; you followed the trickle of magical fellows down the winding road to its source. Or mayhap you're the type who likes a midnight stroll, and happened to stumble upon all this activity in the glade. You're a smart or otherwise reasonably observant person—you can pretty much guess what's happening here from the bustlings of the witchfolk, and honestly? It's a good time. So you figure out something to trade, and stay for the party. |
LIFEMEND
CHALLENGES
This section includes some festival CHALLENGES. AKA little prompts to help folks looking to break out of their shell. Again, totally not mandatory! You don't get anything if you complete these (except maybe the undying love of a sentient forest. Only one way to find out!)
| THE MAGIC OF COMMUNITY | By the look of things, the act of exchange is a huge part of what makes this magic work—ritual casting is weird like that; always tons of moving parts. Exchange the ritual item you brought with at least one other person to complete this challenge. |
| THE EMPTY CUPBOARD | Uh oh, your inventory is looking kindaaa... empty? And honestly, specialty items can be hard to find. Now might be the perfect chance to restock... or even add something new to your collection! Purchase an item or service from 2 different stalls to complete this challenge. |
| THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE | There are quite a few witchfolk here, and the turnout is diverse! It's a great opportunity to learn, especially with the magic of the full moon beaming down into the glade. Learn a new skill (magical or otherwise) from another ritegoer to complete this challenge. |
| THE HARVEST HERALD | The hour grows long. Soon a cabal of ritegoers will gather at the stump and make their offerings to ring in a bountiful harvest season. Participate in the ritual to complete this challenge. |
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
LIFEMEND
GUIDELINES
MINGLE. IC, the magic for this seasonal rite requires you to trade whatever ritual item you chose to bring with another ritegoer. This premise is designed to help people build connections—the mini-events and vendor stalls are there to give folks something to do during or between interactions with others, but I want to super encourage every attendee to challenge themselves to acknowledge and converse with the other characters around them!
WRITING IS A HOBBY. In line with Sallowschade’s rules, we welcome all characters, ideas, & storylines regardless of lore. There will be NO policing or criticism of others’ characters or concepts allowed at this rite. Magic is complicated! If you run into OOC headcanon or lore incompatibility, try not to get defensive or argue. Instead, be kind and do your best to chat around it. Put fun first.
CONTENT & THEMES. We ask that attendees be 18+. Keep in mind this is an open-world event. The rite is lighthearted, but due to the nature of witchcraft, dark/mature themes may be present.
NO FIGHTING. The elementals told me that fighting in the glade is ten thousand years’ bad luck. This is a place of peace and connection; take any IC beef outside the event area, or deal with it another time.
GIL IS IC ONLY. No ‘actual’ gil is needed to make a purchase.
SYNCSHELL
GUIDELINES
KEEP IT SFW. Please no nudity or overly-revealing clothing (ie. no visible naughty bits.) No NSFW emotes or animations or anything like that, either.
COMPRESS YOUR MODS. Please aim for your RAM usage to be a max of around 375~ MiB. For more information on how to compress your mods in Lightless, check out the guide in Sallow’s visitor’s center here.
SYNC NAME:
PASSWORD:
design © me. please don't use as a template, I'll cry.
no wizards were harmed (& no ai was used) in the making of this carrd.
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
VENDOR
GUIDELINES
Signups are "first come, first serve" and will be handled via the Sallowschade discord. Look for the #applications channel and create a vendor application ticket (the top one) using the below template.
Vendor & Performer Application:
Stall Name:
Type of Stall (Food, Wares, Services, or Performer?):
Carrd Link/s:
This will be added to the "vendors" section of the lifemend carrd. Non-performers, please have a page dedicated to wares or services that we can link directly so people can browse!Goods You Would Sell at the Event:
Vendors, list items or services here, with basic descriptions. A good rule of thumb is to start with approx. 10 items or 3 services (including variations.)
Performers, please us give a rough sketch of what you want to perform (this doesn't have to be fancy) or a blurb about your character that we can add to the carrd.Discord Handle(s) Involved:
Character Name(s) Involved:
Waitlist Okay? (Yes/No):
In the event that all the vendor slots are full, can we contact you to backfill if another vendor cancels? No commitment!Icon:
Attach an image of your group or shop's logo! For performers, a preferred headshot would be great instead!
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
COLLECT
BADGES
Do you love keepsakes? I love keepsakes. Participate in mini-events to earn OOC badges that you can stuff in your digital pockets or add to places like your carrd's OOC page or RPhub character profile! You can click the image to expand and then right click to save it. Make sure to check the discord server too—some badges also come with a Sallowschade vanity role! Show me the badges, or it didn't happen.
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
YOU're
AWESOME
Below is your Colby badge. Make sure to keep him fed!
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
The Smalt
Cart
VENDORS: Tilly TwigA bright blue cart, which smells an awful lot like the ocean... The Smalt Cart is a small family business run by Tilly Twig and her chocobo, Tuesday. You want fish pies? Oh, we've got fish pies!
By the Bay, get 'em by the dozen!
Mudcrabs
Crayfish
Acorn Snails
Razor Clams
Pebble Crabs
Rothlyt Oysters
Sun Lemons are also available by the bag!
Herring & Apple Hand Pies
Mirror apples, Harbor Herring, and raisins swimming in a tangy white cream sauce. An old Twig family recipe!
Creyfish & Tomato Egg Pies
Crayfish, tomato, basil, garlic & twice-beaten egg in a fancy lil pie crust. Can't be beat, for a meal on the go!
Elevenses Eel Pie
Pie made out of eel. What more could a fishwife ask for?! Chock full o' thavnairian onions, parsley and cracked pepper.
Salmon & Blood Currant Pie
Bluebell Salmon, blood currants, balsamic vinegar and basil. A jarring combination, but it just works!
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
Happy
Hinterlands
Honey
⋆ late arrival - vending 7PM-10PM EST!
VENDORS: Elouan SauveterreSupport your local apiary and its endeavors! This stall's proceeds go to the Bee Club, a group of bee-adoring folks who want to make Coerthas a better place. They currently take care of eleven hives and three different species of bees.All items sold are made from the Bee Club's apiary in the Hinterlands.
Raw Honeycombs
Fancy yourself a crunchy treat to start the day? Why not try the apiary's honeycombs, made with love and dedication like no other! Each bag contains enough for four servings. (2 gil/bag)
Jar of Honey
Locally sourced and lovingly jarred, this honey comes from the Bee Club's apiary in the Dravanian Hinterlands. Each jar weighs one ponze and comes with a green ribbon neatly tied around its side. Go bees! (20 gil/jar)
Honey Muffin
Simple and sweet, a perfect snack or side for a drink! Complimentary warm-up included.
(2 gil/muffin)
Lemon Tarts
Creamy lemon curd with a soft, flaky crust ripe for the eating. Each one's wrapped in paper and given a little lemon motif at the top. (2 gil/tart)
Coffee Biscuits
For those that want a little bitterness to their treats! Buttery biscuits with chocolate chips sprinkled in, they come wrapped in paper and a neat little bow.
(3 gil/bundle)
Lemon Bread
Courtesy of a Sauveterre recipe, fresh loaves of lemon bread are assembled each morning. The loaves are sold with a drizzle of icing on top, warmed to perfection. (10 gil/loaf)
Honey Water
Try something a little sweet yet so simple! Made with the apiary's own honey, this drink is sure to be palatable for even the most sensitive of stomachs!
(2 gil/bottle)
Dandelion Tea
Make a wish--just not in your drink! This tea box includes bagged dandelion tea, a recipe for pea soup, and a list of the tea's medicinal qualities. (5 gil/box)
Galago Mint Tea
A refreshing taste to hone in the senses, the galago mint box comes with a list of its various uses and a little recipe for making a Shroud stew: lentils and chestnuts. (5 gil/box)
Lavender Tea
When relaxing's the name of the game, lavender is the way to go! It's boxed in a similar manner as the others, though comes with a suggestion and small vial of honey for servings. (5 gil/box)
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
Carrin Meadery &
Padjal Services
VENDORS: Tab-I-CarrinNeed a blessing from the forest or some woodsin cleansed?Come get it done by the Twelveswood's very own meadery owning Padjal!
Samples of Carrin Mead
Sample of honey mead
Sample of apple-flavored mead
Sample of mun-tuy-flavored mead
Padjal Blessings:
Padjal Blessings on people
Padjal Blessings on objects
Removal of Woodsin:
Woodsin is a form of bad karma that non-Gridanians tend to accumulate when their lifestyle is out of sync with nature.
Mateus, Lifemend Stump ⋆ Friday, AUG 28th ⋆ 6PM EST
The Charnel
House
⋆ wandering vendor
VENDORS: Kytto MortiseBehind a willowy, robed wanderer drifts a pack of macabre wares for sale or for trade, held aloft by a fathomless, churning mass of hypnotic purple-black magic that seems to swallow the light filtering into the clearing. Though his smile never quite reaches the eyes, he can be waved down or approached.
Bone Throwing
Come with a question on your tongue, and perhaps a token you would not miss. It will be added to the lot and the lot will be cast; what lies ahead may be shown—whether it comes as blessing or weighs as a burden.Fate rarely speaks plainly, however, so do not expect clarity or interpretation from the diviner himself. He's not full of shit, but he's not going to tell you what anything means, either.ooc note: if your character has a plot or arc that needs nudging along and a fortune can be told that assists this, let me know! i can come up with something for you.
Bones, Jewelry, & Decor
Bones of all kinds—all kinds. jewelry made of bones. Decor made of bones.But also jewelry and decor made of other things, too; of feather, of moss, of tooth and claw.A limited stock of handmade, spelled dreamcatchers to keep you safe in the night. Ask about those that induce nightmares or vivid dreams.
Smudging Sticks
Bundles of dried herbs, tightly bound and intended to be lit to cleanse the energies of any space. All naturally sourced and pure.
Black River Rocks
Black stones plucked from the riverbeds, worn smooth over time by the natural movement of the water. at first glance, they seem innocuous, but each is etched with a one-time-use rune and imbued with a curse that activates whenever magic flows/is cast through it:
Hallucination-Inducing
Lethargy-Inducing
Blindness-Inducing
Aether-Sapping
Silence-Inducing
(preventing speech and spellcasting)