Harvest Festival

[undergroundmods]

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Harvest Festival, 19th September 2015
Welcome to the Ealing Harvest Festival! Sponsored by Sylvia Redbright, this event takes place on a bright autumn day in Elthorne Park, Hanwell.

(Images for reference: One. Two. Three.)

FESTIVAL
The park has been transformed into a hub of colourful tents and stalls, a country-style fair selling wood carvings, paintings, baubles, baskets, plant pots and flowers, pretty tin boxes and knick-knacks of all kinds. Of course, this is all to give it an air of legitimacy should the general public wander by. The real wares on offer are those sold by witches: stalls crowded with incense, candles, precious stones, herbs, good-luck charms, spelled trinkets and magical jewellery. Gain entry to one of the small tents and you may be able to buy yourself a low-level spell or potion. It's all there if you know where to look.

Meanwhile, the centrepiece of the festival is the harvest altar: five large bales of hay, stacked around each other, where the festival-goers are encouraged to donate food and other gifts in thanks for the harvest. Tinned food is typically offered. Children attending can make a corn dolly and offer it to the harvest altar. There's food and drink to buy too, of course: vegetable and pumpkin soup, baskets of fruit and seasonal vegetables, home-made bread and jam, tea cakes, fruit cakes, seed cakes, scones and apple pie. Drinks include coffee, tea, cider and fruit juice. In short, it's all very wholesome. And decidedly not vampire-friendly.

A COMMUNITY IN MOURNING
It's not all about giving thanks. Following the hostile takeover by the fae in Croydon and the hard-fought conflict in Barnet, many witches have been displaced and are in desperate need of aid. The poster by the harvest altar says that all donations will be given to the homeless and vulnerable communities in London.

Meanwhile the entrance to the summer house has been disguised by a glamour to prevent the general public from entering. Only supernatural types may climb the steps to pay their respects at the memorial that has been set up to mourn the Daybreak witches and their allies who have recently passed. There are candles, flowers, wreaths and cards jostling for space with pictures of the fallen witches.

RITUAL AT SUNSET
The general public have disappeared but the witches have an important ritual to perform. As the sun sets, they gather up all the donations from the harvest and join hands around the altar. One witch will light a flame. Sylvia herself will invite volunteers of different species to step forward and offer their blood, as a symbol of unity between supernatural communities.

As the hay burns, the witches dance around the altar, their last ritual of the evening.

NB. Sunset is at 18:51.

Comments

[acrookedchild]

"We all are."

It's not as sympathetic or accepting as she usually tries to be, but Abby has little energy for strangers. Only the day before, she was in Sylvia's office being threatened with a vampire and forced to drink a truth potion. Anyone who isn't a trusted friend is a possible enemy, lurking on the borders of her Circle, ready to strike at any moment.

Even if the girl looks so young and so fragile.

She has no tears to spend today, not in public. After crying herself to sleep last night, she can face most of today with a weary numbness. All she's really felt so far was a pique of hatred when Sylvia had spoken of her desire for peace and unity. They both knew that was a lie, but they would both pretend for now.

Then, she shakes her head a little.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude. Thank you for your condolences."

[digophelia]

Alice found herself almost perturbed by her disposition. Sucking in a breath, Alice had to remind herself to be a little civil. She was here largely to find other witches in Circle Midnight and attempt to familiarize herself with the others, in an effort to get to know them. She felt like an outsider already, amongst her own kind, and at that moment, Abby's words don't help. Chewing the inside of her mouth thoughtfully, Alice gives a curt nod, "I understand."

She understood a little, her reaction had been similar with the death of her family. There's a degree of hesitation to Alice before she speaks to Abby again, in a low voice, "I just wanted to lend my support."

[acrookedchild]

"Lend your support," Abigail repeats in a low voice, as if considering those words. Her pale eyes shift to the side to take in Alice a little closer. She presses her lips together a little, and her tone is just a little off kilter when she speaks again. "To whom?"

She sounds, she realises, not unlike Sylvia. But, right now, she can't care. There's too much at stake. Everything is at risk now.

And a new player? Has to be regarded very, very carefully.

[digophelia]

"To others like me," Scrutiny of a newcomer was a little expected, but it didn't make it any less irritating for Alice. Her irritation seemed to be compounded by touch; she stiffs as she's pulled away, almost tempted to jerk her shoulder away from her. Despite having limited politics, Alice knew that wouldn't play over well. She settles herself, crossing her arms firmly, and glances off to the side to make sure no one can see either oen of them.

"Circle Midnight." Alice adds softly, "Circle Daybreak turned their back on my family -- why should I sit and watch it happen again?"