Fall into Summer (OPEN)

[kleptofaeniac]

Some witch holidays were meant to be enjoyed by all, regardless of species, alliances or preference to magic. Holidays like Lammas! Think of it as witch Thanksgiving.

An old woman by the name of Agatha Chapman was of the personal opinion that there was just too much infighting between her fellow witches this year. Those Circle Midnight witches were practically children! Agatha had raised enough children to know they were just going through some rebellious phase. It would pass. But this wasn't the time for expressing such things. This was a time of togetherness! Which was why Agatha had, through her daughters and granddaughters, sent a very public invitation to the supernatural community:

~Lammas Day Celebration~

Come celebrate the great tradition of the first harvest and shorter days with a beach party and bonfire!
Food, fun, and sun! No limits on guests, bring your friends!

AUGUST 1^st 2015
12 PM - 2 AM
(public rituals @ 10 PM)

KINGSGATE CASTLE, JOSS GAP ROAD.
BROADSTAIRS.
KENT.

Transportation from the city will be provided from Victoria Station. Present this invitation at the ticket office.

You totally want to go right?


Like the invitation said, all guests transportation will be provided. The train happens to go directly from Victoria Station to the castle, which totals up to a two hour trip - giving plenty of time for people to run into one another on this train-ride. Let's get along everyone.

Upon the guests arrival everyone is greeted by the hostess; a very old, very cheerful lady who insists on being called Ms. Agatha. She introduces her daughters and their daughters. Hit on them at your own peril. After the brief introduction and delicately worded warning that no witch need reveal their coven to others, and no one need attempt to confront them about their choices, everyone is invited down the side of the slow incline of the cliffs to the beach. Time to have fun.

Lammas was traditionally a holiday to celebrate the last day of the wheat harvest. It seems like the witches hosting this party went all out in incorporating that. Golden colored canopies cover the tables that are set out for food. Along with them are large punch bowls filled with different colored liquids and a small bar for anyone who wants something a little stronger than fruit, both of which are abundant - after all this holiday was centered around a community feast. There seems to be a general theme following the decor; apples, cinnamon, and vanilla feature heavily in every dessert of pies, cakes, puddings and ice cream in very creative ways. The more savory foods, less so. But they all fall into the category of typical beach party foods.

There is a changing area towards the face of the cliffs along with bathrooms.

Another fun tradition of Lammas is competitive and athletic games! There are two volleyball nets set up, and what looks like an area for sandcastle building. The team that wins the most games, and the person who builds the best sandcastle wins a prize! The prize is a Maen Magl necklace. The stone is said to bring good luck and good health to the owner. Additionally, they can cure diseases of the eye if rubbed on one's eyelids.

If you're not interested in games, there's always the golden sand to relax and tan on and the water to swim in!

Later, after the sun sets a bonfire is constructed - you can help, but enough driftwood has been collected for the fire itself. As the sun sets, the women hosting the event let everyone know what the purpose of it is. The fire is meant to - while also help people make amazing smores, roasted corn, and apples wrapped in foil - allow the witches and everyone else in attendance to participate in the Lammas rituals. Everyone is encouraged to engage in the rituals, though no one is required to do so.

Nowadays, Lammas is the time to cast off bad habits, thoughts, and what is no longer needed in your life. This spiritual cleansing is represented by fire, and burning things. There are two that will be done tonight, but they won't take longer than thirty minutes when alls said and done. They maybe be performed in any order.

A ritual called 'Winnowing' is meant to cleanse, where everyone writes down negative emotions and bad habits they want to lose on a piece of paper. The witches in the group will all know the chant:

Blessing and curses
Come from the harvest
Return to the earth
To nourish next years

The paper is then thrown into the fire, where it will spark and disintegrate.

The second is highly encouraged for everyone to participate in, as the more people who do so, the more the blessings will be! Everyone is given nine sheaths of wheat, which they are to weave into a braid, and then attach a ribbon to the base of the braid. The witches in the circle around the bonfire should, as the braids are being done, chant:

We weave you and hail you
As queen of the corn
When all's gathered in and
When you are sown.

Once the braids are done, those that weaved them are meant to grab a piece of paper and write what blessing they wish for their friends to have, such as 'Friendship' or 'Mobility'. They must keep the blessing secret and secure it to the ribbon. The ribbons are meant to be kept till Imbolc - another witch holiday - and then be burned, while the ashes are meant to be kept on the individual until the next Lammas. Hope you'll attend that party wherever it is!

After the Ritual, there are plenty of smores to make and some lovely music to listen to while everyone gathers around the bonfire and relaxes until they want to leave. There is no curfew, but the witches hosting the party will be going back up to their flat in the castle around two in the morning.

Happy Lammas!

Comments

[detectiveofthewest]

What a tragedy. Heiji supposed Balem's back was alright, too, though. He set his own towel down, took a bottle of sunscreen out of his bag, and started to rub some of its contents into Balem's shoulders.

"Plus, it helps ya blend in!" he said cheerily. Of course that did still leave the collar, which was decidedly unusual for a human to wear at the beach, but you couldn't have everything. Heiji's hands were warm and seemingly rather practiced at this. He gave a mean massage, too, but that was neither here nor there.

"Didn't expect to see you at the beach. What with the sun favoring us and all."

[entitles]

Not a complete tragedy - he rolled back over after it was done, he just had a particular fondness for back rubs. He was warm as usual, but with the sun beating down on him it didn't seem too abnormal.

"Night will fall eventually," he said, "I didn't feel like being fashionably late today."

[detectiveofthewest]

Balem, you were supposed to let it soak in a little first. Now your space towel was going to have sunscreen all over it.

"Well, that's a long way of thinkin' about things," said Heiji, offering Balem the bottle in case he wanted to do the rest himself. In the exact same tone of voice he'd used to ask if Balem wanted some sunscreen, he continued: "We'll be running out of space in the near future. Sooner or later, there won't be any avoiding more conflict."

[entitles]

He doesn't understand how sunscreen works. He's never needed any. Humans and their UV-ray sensitivity. He took the bottle, and idly rubbed some over his abs and stomach.

"I don't intend on avoiding conflict. I intend on bringing it right to their front door, and showing them who they're really dealing with."

[detectiveofthewest]

There was a mischievous glint in Heiji's eye. "Croyden," he said simply. The key to three other territories. They could take some other path -- Southwark, perhaps. But that would be opening another front before the real festivities began.

[entitles]

"Indeed. I imagine they'll put up quite the fight for that one," he said, "I'd set my own sights on Greenwich, but I admit that's more about my home-away-from-home and it could agitate the wolves and the vampires both. We ought to stick to Daybreak for now, I suppose."

But if anyone put so much as a dent in his beloved Royal Observatory he'd have something to say about it.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Lot been happening in Greenwich recently," he said, looking thoughtful. "First that vampire blows into town. Now it seems like there's a fresh set of rumors cropping up. If one single side took it over, things might calm down a little."

Of course, the problem was that it had been fought over for a while now; the current partisans were rather entrenched. "Given the Pack has a bit of a claim on it, I think we should back them if they go for it."

[entitles]

"As long as they agree to protect the observatory, or at least avoid it," he said, because dangit he had plans for that place and also it was the best place in London, definitely.

"I'd rather see someone lay an official claim to it than have it remain a constant site of battle, at least."

[detectiveofthewest]

He laughed. "You really like that place, huh? But they don't seem like they'd be interested in an observatory. The alternative, I guess, is letting the vampires have the run of the place."

Eww, vampires. Definitely not in favor of that.

[entitles]

"God, no. I don't want those leeches following me around, pining for my blood," he said, rolling his eyes.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji nodded. "And speakin' of which, I had a close encounter with one of 'em the other day. Short fella, looked a little peaked. He was definitely under the effects of drinking fae blood."

Cooper, look at your life. Look at your choices.

[entitles]

And Balem had some pleasant conversations with Cooper, too. How disappointing.

"If he gets addicted he'll starve, I suppose."

Heartless way of solving that problem, but Balem was very blunt.

[detectiveofthewest]

"I don't think that's too likely. He seemed pretty determined to survive." Heiji thought for a second or two.

"First time I ever saw a vampire like that."

[entitles]

"Like what? On our blood?" Balem asked, "I've seen it before. They've never fed on me, but I've seen it."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Well, you have been around a lot longer than I have. It was pretty ugly. If I were one of them, I'd try my best to make sure I didn't end up like that."

The perils of not being picky enough with your food...

[entitles]

"We don't know how they think. Maybe they have terrible impulse control, or don't mind making a terrible brute of themselves," he said, because his opinion of vampires wasn't all that high.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Maybe it's their nature," said Heiji, who didn't really know all that many vampires but was rather familiar with the concept of one's nature. And corresponding willingness to do something about it.

"In any case, they got enough space to roam around and have their bloodletting parties."

[entitles]

"Yes, although I imagine they'd like more, especially if they keep turning others," he said, "Like little parasites, they are."

[detectiveofthewest]

Hmm. Well, one thing was pretty clear -- if the vampires did make a move on Greenwich, they could potentially try and move in, separating the fae-held territories. Not an ideal situation.

"They're supposed to have some rules about who can turn who... but they're not restricted like the wolves are." He sighed. "Anyway. Maybe we should talk about somethin' a little more cheerful. I hear the Perseids are going to be great this year."

[entitles]

"Indeed," he perked up at the mention of the meteor shower, "I'll be watching from home. Too much light pollution here, even if I can see them clearer than most."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Really?" That was a tidbit about Balem that he hadn't been aware of. "I bet an astronomer or two'd like to have that skill. Mind if I come pay you a visit?"

Balem did, after all, had the best observatory in town.

[entitles]

"I can read by starlight, even if there is no moon and everything else is dark," he boasted, puffing out his chest, "And yes, feel free to drop by."

[detectiveofthewest]

...That was weirdly cute. "Great for doing some late-night reading, then," said Heiji admiringly. His own night vision was nothing to sneeze at, but he did enjoy reading mystery novels into the late hours.

"I'll be sure to bring something nice with me, then. Thanks for the invite!"