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Post by PookaWitch on Nov 29, 2019 15:06:42 GMT -5
Yuletide Calendar 2019! (Image without the numbers) It was a lovely day in Ahket. It was currently Peret , the growing season, and the banks of the Nile were starting to look green and fresh. Things had been quiet since the time twisting Heb-Bastet had happened and all seemed calm and good in the world.
In the town square, near the cat decorated public fountain, a portal opened in the air. Light flakes of snow gently danced upon the cold wind that gusted from somewhere on the other side. Stepping through was a pale, blonde and runic marked nordic sphinx.  Aldis: Hello and greetings all. What is is that you say here, hey-hekenmess? Yes, hello friends. My family is holding our yearly Yule celebration, and since you have been so warm and welcoming towards my own family in Ahket, we thought that we would return the favour. So I have opened up a portal to the city of Katterheim, far, far to the north of Khemet so you may join us for Yule. Through the blessings of the Aesir my teleportation gate will stay open throughout the Yuletide season, so you may easily travel back and forth if you wish. We plan on having some sort of gift giving every day of the month of December until Yule itself and it should be a lovely time. So please, come join my sisters and I in Katterheim. There is a nice warm place for all of you in the longhouse where we can feast, drink mead and celebrate the season. (OOC)A daily Yuletide calendar! Yay! Each day, from Dec 1rst until the 21rst, we will have some sort of prize/giveaway. We will hold games, or raffles, or other such means to hand out the present for that day. |
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Post by PookaWitch on Nov 29, 2019 15:06:59 GMT -5
Katterheim  Calm inner fjord waters gently lapped at the icy pebble-stone shore of Katterheim. While some of the wooden docks had been pulled up for the winter a few were left out to welcome guests and would not be brought in unless a freeze was imminent. Once you had sailed past the humbling ice-capped cliff-sides and entered this sheltered bay these docks were the first thing most travelers saw of Katterheim and they beckoned travelers and guests to the vast settlement of Sphinxes in the north. Beyond the shore, which was cluttered with fishing shacks, a log yard, shipbuilding rig and several dragon ships, was a warm and welcoming city of wooden homes and longhouses with a broad main thoroughfare. A magnificent Grand Hall could clearly be seen in the center of town being the tallest building in the whole city. Each house was made with pride that was clearly showing in both function and form. Entrances were carved with runes, knotwork or pictographs and nearly every building was decorated with greenery for the Yuletide season. Wood-smoke promised warm shelter and delicious foods while livestock, mostly goats and chickens, wandered the city undisturbed. A few larger creatures were penned in on the far side of the city and even had their own longhouse which all of the local owners shared to keep them healthy and warm throughout the long and cold winters. Runestones could be found everywhere. Some were functional, marking streets or special areas, many were personal statements or religious proclamations placed near personal homes or longhouses. Curiously a few were written in unreadable older types of runes or had become to worn to read but were left where they were planted out of reverence and respect for the past. While most of the pantheon was represented with at least a few worshipers, Freya was the patron deity of Katterheim and her image was often seen carved into lodgepoles, entrance-ways, decorative shields and runestones all around the city. While her main temple was a short walk from the city, many shrines to the goddess could be found in homes and longhouses and she was the patron of several warbands. Her Priestess and Volva could be found in all parts of Katterheim sharing wisdom or visions for the benefit of all. Craftspeople of all types were well regarded in Katterheim and even the most hardened of warriors were likely to pick up a extra skill or two, especially when the winters were long and the world outside became cut off. During this time of year even the sun begins to tire and sleeps more and more, sometimes for days at a time. Skalds, musicians and storytellers were also always in demand and any decent longhouse was filled with song, sagas and music especially during the darkest days as well as any of the cities plentiful festivals! Yule was one of the major religious festivals of the city and at this time of year all of city was decorated with evergreens of all types from pine to holly and it was nearly impossible to not be drawn into the spirit of the season. Most halls were opened and and an almost competitive series of feasts and parties were thrown by the various warbands, guilds and wealthy families. Festive food was free and everywhere and specially crafted Yule mead flowed like the river to the ocean. Several parts of the festival took place over the weeks leading up to the day itself, each building the excitement of Yule! Boar hunting for Yule Hams, the great Yule Log competition, building the massive Yule Goat and the fun tradition of hiding is smaller cousins in other peoples houses were just a few. Julebukking was also very popular for a few days after the Yule as the festival winded down. Singing the traditional Yule songs was one of the most magical events of the city when occasionally the harmony flows throughout the whole city creating a a song that the gods themselves must stop their otherworldly duties to smile and listen.
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Post by PookaWitch on Nov 29, 2019 15:07:11 GMT -5
prizes and winners?
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Post by PookaWitch on Nov 29, 2019 15:39:44 GMT -5
One more, just in case.
Feel free to post whenever you wish.
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Nov 29, 2019 17:57:29 GMT -5
 Tove was so excited when she heard about the invitation! She only barely remembered Katterheim from her youth and began to pack for the visit right away! |
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Post by Angel_of_Music on Nov 30, 2019 8:56:33 GMT -5
 Sugarbelle came bounding in with her chest and smiled. "Oh wonder of wonders, joy of joys!! It's that time of year again?! Happy days!!"  Noelleen chuckled as she watched the other. "I look forward to these coming days."  Balthazar makes sure all is tuned. "I'll provide music." he grins Oh this'll be fun!! I just hope I don't miss too much of the days with my work schedule. Fun times!! OMG... Mr. Pooka your avatar is so freaking cute!! |
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Nov 30, 2019 12:36:57 GMT -5
Byleiptr's life was getting right back on track... years lost in a different world where no one knew the old ways weighed on him. Practicing his crafts kept him grounded but the increasingly elaborate woodworking projects and the growing army of runestones marching around his homestead may have indicated his need for something more... When Thoril and her sisters showed up his world changed again and skyrocketed to new heights of adventure and culture and love! Raiding impossible giant strongholds, sailing icy seas, battling armies of mad dragon cults and seeing sights unimaginable where now his daily bread and he was truly happy!  Katterheim may not have been where he was born but the longhouses, sea air, dragonships and the songs in the name his gods all warmed his heart and he knew that spiritually he was home. Thor's blessed lightning crackled from his eyes and around his paws as he wandered the earthen streets with nostalgic joy!Byleiptr: Ah, more Sphinxes from Ahket, welcome! Sugarbelle, Noelleen and Balthazar I wish you a hearty and merry Yule!
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Post by Mr. Pooka on Nov 30, 2019 12:37:48 GMT -5
(-8
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Post by melodysangel on Nov 30, 2019 13:05:03 GMT -5
 Aeion nearly jumped when her heard a crackling portal tear open behind him. He browraised before promptly being tumbled over by a familiar female--her natural warmth keeping out the cold wind ruffling Aeions hair.  'Oh, come ON Aeion! That's the first one in awhile--lets go check it out and see if you can connect with your ability there.' The male sighed and tried to nudge his younger sister off his shoulder. 'I just want to be back to normal. I HATE being unable to do anything.' 'Well? Oh, Come on!' The female nudged her big brother a few times before attempting to drag him up to his feet. Aeion growled before putting a paw on her shoulder. 'FINE! Stay close to me. I don't trust anyone and im not about to see you get hurt.' The female rolled her eyes. 'Right. so says the one that got ruffed up form a fall. Didn't Xeon go to poke dad?' Aeion shrugged and stayed close to his little sister 'I cant use my mind like him. How the heck am I supposed to know?' He paused, thinking about it. 'I..would welcome the sight this time though. I think the first thing id want to see is him the second im able to.' 'Maybe its on the other side. Come on.' Aeion blinked as he saw his sister leap out from under his arm towards the portal, her log hair blazing through the wind, uncaring about the cold. He groaned and tried to teleport by her then shook his head when he was met but a headache instead. 'Get back here!' With that, the male began to dart after her, trying to keep up. |
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Post by PookaWitch on Nov 30, 2019 13:56:00 GMT -5
 Thoril was quite enjoying the sound of the fresh, crisp snow crunch under her paws. Already the longhouses and smaller homes of Katterheim were being decorated for the season. The Yule tree, large and impressive, had been chosen for this year, it wouldn't be long before it was being decorated. Even through the cold air she could pick up that delicate scent of electricity as she turned to see where her husband-to-be was pacing the roads and looking at the buildings with nostalgia. She was about to head in his direction when a pair of sphinxes came darting before her which made the dark sphinx pause in her tracks. She smiled at the antics of the male rushing after the firey female who was yelling for her to stop. Thoril smiled and shook her head calling out a 'Merry Yule!' before pacing towards her fiancee. |
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Post by melodysangel on Nov 30, 2019 14:41:31 GMT -5
Kielana giggled as she hopped through the gate then abruptly stopped not too far past it. The snow under her flew, displaced from the sudden halt in movement. Her eyes widened at the scene in front of her and the mission of seeing if her brother could teleport again vanished from her mind.
'Woo--oah! Its soo pretty!!'
~~~
Aeions ears twitched as a voice flew past him. He could not stop to contemplate what the voice was or who it belonged to--or he may loose track of his sister. He was..almost embarrassed to have nearly collided with the owner of that voice but the feeling quickly dissipated as he started to loose ground to the one he was chasing after.
~~~
As the fiery female stared in wonder of the gigantic (as of now undecorated) tree by her, her brother was just stopping--caught up. He nimbly darted to the side to avoid being plastered with displaced snow and the hood of his shirt flew up and over his head in response to the sudden jerk in movement. Before he could scold her, his eyes met that of the object his sister was gawking at.
'Oh. Yule already?! Wasn't that just here last week?' He shook his head. 'How long HAVE I been here?'
Kielanas ears twitched and she gazed over at her brother. 'Y-ule? OH! Snow and Dark season!!! Can we go and make cookies? I love making cookies! Eeek! I need to find someone to help make cookies!!!'
The female grabbed Aeions arm and started to run forward...unsure of where she was going.
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Post by PookaWitch on Nov 30, 2019 15:23:09 GMT -5
 Sigird was leaning against one of the posts and sipping some nice, hot mead when she caught a glance at the two sphinxes. When the excited female asked about cookies, Sigrid took a large swig of mead from her horn before mentioning in her thick nordic accent. "Cookies? There should be lots of snacks in the main hall already if that's what you're looking for. If you want to make them though, I would be happy to help with the baking. " She tipped back her head and drank one long chug of mead to empty her horn. She stopped to wipe her mouth with the back of her paw. "There, all done my drink. I can show you the way if you like." ((Heh, I actually dug through my Sigurdsdoitters character sheets to see who had cooking. XD A bunch of them can brew, but Sigrid and Aesa are good at cooking as well. ^_^ )) |
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Post by melodysangel on Nov 30, 2019 15:44:38 GMT -5
Kielana stopped as she noticed the (I assume) tall Nordic female. Her eyes were wide with wonder and happiness.. the male behind her unable to really do much of anything. He eyed the local female and sighed before looking back down at his sister. 'Do you even know....?'
The fiery female quickly made a look of displeasure at her brothers comments. 'The cookies from here? No..I don't think the recipe will be the same. Actually..it will be fun to learn it..and share ours!! Dad DID say I make really good cookies at home! Don't blame me if mine are better ((then her brothers--shes taunting him slightly))!'
She stuck her tongue out playfully and then smiled towards the local female. 'Kay! I love baking!!' She happily padded by the other female, dragging her brother behind her.
Aeion sighed softly, defeated by his sisters happiness. Nooone could fight with that..not even him!
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Post by PookaWitch on Nov 30, 2019 15:56:12 GMT -5
Sigrid smiled at the girl's enthusiasm.
"Ya, okay. Let's go to the main hall, I'm sure that we can make some oat and honey cakes for the general feasting. The others will appreciate it I'm sure."
She moved her drinking horn from her right paw to her left before thrusting out her now free paw. "I am Sigrid, it's nice to meet you...'
((I keep holding back from trying to type out a nordic accent. lol 'I yam Sigrid. Nice too meet yoo.' etc. XD ))
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Post by melodysangel on Nov 30, 2019 16:17:54 GMT -5
((Ya, no problem there. I should probably mention these guys have a bit of an English type accent. its not heavy and should be understandable))
Kielana listened intently, the happiness and joy probably now contagious to anyone passing by ((you know what I mean, ya?)) 'Oh! Oat and honey, that sounds like a beautiful combination! Im soo excited!' She noticed the streets getting a bit busier and then looked up towards the local female 'Oh! Need to make sure there is enough for everyone for days to come. Noone should have to go looking for cookies during the season to find an empty plate.' She felt a warm nudge from her brother then smiled again looking up as the paw of the local was extended. Hi! Im called Kielana...and mr grumps is my brother.' She giggled. It was her job around this time of year to tease Aeion..it was her from of love to him.
She extended out her paw to meet the other. It was warm to the touch, like a cozy blanket to skin. 'This is great. Lead the way'
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