theunrivaled | Mid-Autumn Festival (OPEN)

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cao pi

Mid-Autumn Festival (OPEN)

Who: everybody! who wants to, that is
What: celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival. Cao Pi is hosting a noble-level celebration at the palace of Xuchang, and will escort anyone who wants to join in safely to the location. Soldiers in the main camp are celebrating, too. The Teahouse is offering free moon cakes, and there is a lantern-decorated shrine to Lady Kaguya even if no one knows where she's gone. In Xuchang there is a huge feast on the eve of the Equinox, and Cao Pi has gone all out to show everyone how great a host he is.
When: anytime Sept. 5 - 22 (shhh date fudging with a lunar calendar)
Where: in Xuchang, as well as the main camp
Warnings: not likely
Notes: rather than post two logs, the Main Camp may use this log for open threads taking place there, even though the bulk of the prompts are set in Xuchang. Feel free to wildcard anything you want.

[Having announced his intention to host a celebration at Xuchang to mark the second most important holiday in the Han calendar, Cao Pi has opened up the capital city to everyone, especially newcomers, so they can have a real roof over their heads and a real feast to mark the occasion. It should be a time to fete the Lady Kaguya who has been physically among them in the past year, but she has disappeared along with the other missing officers. You'll just have to offer up your sacrifices in spirit rather than load her down with more moon cakes than she could ever eat.]

A On the Way

[open to anyone! Chat with the Lord of Wei as he leads a large contingent back to Xuchang - his soldiers, and anyone who wants to come along. It's a good time for shenanigans on horseback, shenanigans in camp, or on a more serious note, the realization that in the near distance on either side of the path, there is definitely a miasma preventing anyone from straying too far. Like a haze of purple fog, anyone who steps into it will find their strength waning and begin to grow faint and sickly.]

B Xuchang, capital of Wei

[In Orochi's world, there isn't much of Xuchang to see - only the immense palace with at least three layers of walls protecting it from the outside, sitting in the middle of otherwise empty farm fields and forests. Beyond the huge gates of the inner wall is the main palace, a tall flight of broad stairs leading up to the main buildings Cao Pi and his retainers call home. Everything is made of stout stone, and though the outer courtyard is full of twisted lava formations, inside the palace is pure opulence.

Upon arrival there is a small feast, where Cao Pi can welcome his visitors properly, and then everyone is turned loose to enjoy the peace and quiet, the fine low-framed beds, and plenty of views of the changing phases of the moon. Have some moon cakes, play games, wrestle with the soldiers, or simply sit and have a cup of wine with the lord of the kingdom. He has plenty of clear millet as well as his favorite grape wine on hand. Wei is, after all, not poor.]

C: Equinox Festival

[Whether at Xuchang or in the Main Camp, the night before the autumnal equinox puts a cap on the festivities, with the best food the land can provide and so many moon cakes. It's your last chance to lift up a cake in sacrifice to thoughts of loved ones far away from you now. There may even be a dragon dance at Xuchang, if the handmaidens can be coaxed to perform even without Lady Zhenji's flute to dance to.]

D: Wildcard

[anything else that doesn't fit, or anything in the main camp!]

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A

[do you want Cao Pi's attention in-transit? Here's where you get his attention in-transit. Don't mind the soldiers side-eyeing you when you approach, they're just looking after his safety. He's a mighty lord, after all.]

B

[after the opening-night feast, Cao Pi spends his days idly roaming his palace, feeling the great emptiness with the loss of his retainers and family. It used to be his habit to hold a briefing in the war room behind the throne every morning, but there's no one to brief even if scouting reports are still coming in. He may be inclined to share what he knows, if someone catches him in the throne room or one of the parlors. That goes for everything from "what is this holiday" to "have you heard anything of strangers appearing?" Pick a day, any day.]

C

[The fall feast is Cao Pi's time to shine. He's in rare form, actually smiling as he holds court with his visitors, making sure the wine gets passed around and everyone has enough to eat. Of course, being the lord of the castle, it's up to him to make a speech]

On this evening with the wane of autumn on our doorstep, I raise my cup to those missing from our number. I vow on my honor as the Lord of Wei to spare no expense and waste no opportunity to locate our comrades. As for those who have come to us from other worlds, if you will assist me in this endeavor, I will in turn champion your causes, and perhaps together we will solve all mysteries and finally bring about that which we all desire. Until then, think well of your own friends and family far away and raise a toast to the harvest that will keep us well through the winter.

...send the wine around again. And call the musicians! Should anyone like to perform a dance, the floor is yours.

[not him, he's going to sit up here at the head table and entertain anyone who wants to come chat with him.]

A

[Is this Zoro's first time on a horse? Well he's ridden a duck...and a large crab...but that doesn't really prepare you for horseback. Whenever you look he's doing something wrong. Either the horse is trying to throw him, or it's prancing off in the wrong direction from the column fighting his attempts to control it, or it's just standing there munching grass while he squeezes it with his knees like he was told back in the camp. This journey is not at all going well from his standpoint.]

C'mon, you stupid thing! Get! Go! Do it! Asshole. You're gonna get us both lost, you idiot!

[no, it's not the horse's fault if he ends up lost]

B

[Zoro is literally just here for the booze. Oh, sure, he did his best to make himself look like a capable warrior on the ride here (to no avail), and was prepared to defend should any of the rumored demons come at them, but his end goal from the very beginning was booze.

Whether up on a parapet overlooking the courtyard under the afternoon sun, or on the top of the palace steps at twilight, or at the actual party among stuffy Wei retainers, Zoro has a jar of wine all to himself and he is not sharing. No matter how nicely you ask. Try it, he dares you.]

[B-1]

[It wasn't the first time Lavellan had been invited to an elaborate party by nobility, nor was it the first time he stuck out like a big sore thumb at such a party. While he did love to revel in the chance to rub every noble this side of the hills the wrong way, it was nowhere near as entertaining when none of them knew what an elf was, let alone met one. All that was left was politics and gossip, and while he did keep an ear out for any rumors flying about, all the courtly niceties had him gravitating towards the impressive collection of spirits being offered.

Gaspard may have been a hell of a bastard, but his plan to get increasingly drunk the more he had to play politics was pretty solid.

So emulating the king of Orlais, he found the wine and was making good use of it while casually eavesdropping on anyone that seemed important. Feel free to rescue him from his drudgery.]

[B-2]

[After he had a few drinks in him, he thought it might be a good idea to relive his night at the Winter Palace. There were plenty of places that guests were apparently not allowed to go, and were guarded as such. Unfortunately (or fortunately) there no halla statues for opening locked doors, or that handly thatched siding that he could climb up on.

No matter, he would find other creative methods of getting around.

Which was how he wound up multiple places he did not belong. People might stumble upon him up on some ledge or beam he had absolutely no business being on since he was short an arm, or they might find him sitting around, reading some scroll or book (or trying to read anyway) from some part of the castle he shouldn't have been able to get to. Or for those who had the access, they might find him casually wandering the halls or gardens outside the designated celebration area.]

[did someone say rescue? Or, no, maybe it was 'drunk.'

Not that Zoro's drunk, far from it. But he's in a supremely good mood thanks to all that wine, and sidles right on up to a familiar face]

Oi! How's it been? Trip over anything interesting lately?

[that's right, he will just invite himself into Lavellan's space and even lean on him if he can]

I would like to think that everything I trip over is interesting- however I'm surrounded by the upper class, and gossip about who slept with who is only exciting for so long.

[He raises his glass of wine in cheers in spite of his self-induced torture listening to this garbage.]

But I found the wine! It's a nice consolation prize.

Me too! [raising his cup in turn] It makes a lot of this much better.

...seriously, though. [leaning in a bit] That's what nobles talk about? They're in the middle of a war, I would've thought they'd be way more concerned about that.

[it hasn't occurred to Zoro that maybe people in the middle of a lengthy war might get tired of talking about war and want to talk about other things]

Oh that's not even the worst of it. I could tell you some stories about the pettiness and backstabbing that went on in Orlais. One noblewoman had nine husbands, all of which died in "mysterious" and "unfortunate" tragedies.

[Ladanelan tips back his glass, ironic to be bitching about the gossiping while gossiping himself, however there had to be someone here that could appreciate how insane these people could be.]

War comes up every so often, but it's like the weather. Chat about it a little, express polite discontent, move on to the garish shoes someone is wearing.

[Zoro leans on the wall in order to gossip, all the better since neither of them are from here so they can make fun of the locals together.]

Guess I should consider myself lucky that all the kings I've ever met knew how to throw better parties.

[all of, what, two of them?]

Most of these guys don't even look like they're all that important, they probably don't have anything better to do. Not a one of 'em knows how to hold a weapon, I can tell.

[Well color him envious, the last royal ball he went to was terrible. If just for what he had to wear to it. Apparently "Dress me as offensively Dalish as you can get away with" translated to "Your face is offensively Dalish enough".]

Well, the only queen I kind of let get assassinated so... that was a party.

[He felt poorly for it, at least somewhat. At the same time he didn't. Such was politics in Orlais, and the elves were far better off for it. At least the ones that were left.]

Don't underestimate them just because they probably couldn't wield a sword to save their lives, I'd bet they've got a body count as high as any soldier. If they're anything like the nobles of Orlais anyway.

[ask him about it sometime, mermaids are involved!]

If they're anything like the world nobles where I come from...I get you.

[and he doesn't even know about Han-era politics, he'd be shocked at the duplicity. Some of these sycophants attending their lord's son were responsible for every attempt on the emperor's seat, after all.]

Ah well. Ain't nothing I have to worry about, so long as they're gonna treat us like guests and give us all the good stuff.

[He laughed at that. He may not have been able to speak on the nobility this man knew, but he was almost positive that Orlesians were in a league of their own.]

Oh you have no idea.

[He tipped his glass back, mulling over the taste of a moment before shrugging it off in satisfaction. Not bad.]

I will drink to that. Actually I will drink to just about anything about now.

Heh! I hear that. [tipping back his cup to drain it and then hunting for refills for them both]

Other than politics, how's this place compare to where you come from?

[He takes a sip from his glass as he mulls over his answer.]

It's... surprisingly tame almost? It's certainly not as diverse as Thedas. No Qunari, no elves, I haven't even heard about single dragon or wyvern tearing up the countryside. No bizarre cultists, no Darkspawn, no blood mages, or even crazy Templars- there's just so few things here trying to kill me I don't know what to make of it.

Then there's the humans. Of course there's that typical animosity between the lower and upper classes, squabbling between nations, but nothing else. I'd have expected there to be more honestly. I would even bet that not a single bottle of wine is poisoned.

Poisoned wine? Shit. I think I'll stick with pirates - at least we deal with each other face to face with our swords, not sneaky like that.

[well. usually.]

I haven't really been looking for that kind of stuff, so it's nice to know. I'm more of the, point me at the thing you want me to cut type. If the worst we have to deal with is this demon guy and his army, I'm not too worried. [he gestures with his cup to the confines of the royal hall] Nice place to be holed up, if you ask me.

Personally how I prefer it too, but when things get messy someone's got to go convince the wealthy to share their gold and resources for the greater good.

[He tipped his glass back, oh how nice it was to just be another party drunk.]

It is literally the worst job. But kind of exciting nosing through a queen's personal chambers. Oh the things you will find...

[A laugh as he took another sip, a more modest sip this time.]

I, for one, have seen more than enough demons to last me a lifetime, but if it's demons I've got to kill, then it's demons I'll be killing I suppose.

[As quiet as things have been lately, Cao Pi has gotten in the habit of expecting the war room to be deserted in the late morning when he wanders in to contemplate his map and his scouting reports all by his lonesome. So imagine his surprise when he strolls in, reading the topmost missive in his stack, and suddenly has to look up to acknowledge that there's someone in his war room.]

...excuse me?

[Ladanelan was casually looking over the map on the table, honestly being in a war room was oddly comforting and familiar... even if he could barely make heads or tails of one this foreign.

He wasn't expecting company so soon though, oops. Oh well he's gotten himself into enough trouble to talk himself out of it more often than not. Sadly he couldn't bust out the "lost servant" card this time.

He looked up at Cao Pi, masking his surprise with a pleasant smile before looking back down at the map.]

Oh hello, fancy meeting you here. [And after a chuckle and casual greeting, he pointed to an area on the map.] I take it this is your kingdom here?

[These newcomers...

Cao Pi blinks slowly and then shakes himself out of it, putting on his usual regal air.]

Inquisitor.

[oh well, no sense getting into it now. He's already in the room. He drifts over to see what the elf is pointing at]

Kingdom, hardly. Wei's holdings are unfortunately scattered. But...yes, that is Luoyang. My father has been reigning from there as of lately, until we lost contact.

I suppose, now that you've seen my master map, I can hardly withhold it from you. If you wish to learn as much as you can about this dimension, this is the place to start.

[He took a sip from the wine glass he brought with him. Probably a bit early, but everyone was celebrating and throwing it around, a glass or two wouldn't hurt... at least not more than inviting himself into someone else's war room.]

So then that would put the camp we awoke in right about here...

[He looked over the map, even a touch lightheaded as he was, he was well practiced in navigating such things. His years with his advisors had granted him more wisdom in such matters, and while he'd rather have them here to confer with, he'd just have to rely on what they taught him instead.]

As much as I'm not exactly fond of land-grabbing, given that the lack of presence of most leaders these other lands could quickly fall into chaos without some sort of government. Do you have enough forces to branch out to the nearby areas? Or the holdings that sit inbetween yours?

There would be no organized forces to oppose you, and if we want to get to the bottom of this, we'll need more resources to draw from.

[Cao Pi smirks, though not at the wine. He can't judge. It's the astute assessment that brings him the slightest amusement]

Were we anywhere else but Orochi's dimension, that would be exactly as I would expect my strategists to advise. Moreover, it would be exactly what my father would do.

[he sets down the stack of morning scouting reports and traces a finger in a wide sweep along the path between the main camp and their present location]

I don't know if you noticed, while we rode here, but all of this area is currently covered in a miasma. My scouts report being unable to handle it for long before they begin to feel ill and weak, all of them have retreated back to clear areas after no more than a few hours. It goes only a small way toward explaining why we can't reach some of our holdings, but it's something we know now that we didn't know before.

That said, the situation is something alike to what it was when we all first arrived here. Nothing is what it should be, no one is where we expect them to be, and our old conflicts mean nothing here. Land isn't important, strength is. If we cannot locate our own officers... [his gaze clearly drifts to Lavellan] ...others will have to do.

Well, I wasn't about to comment on what was normal or not in an odd world without elves. I'm glad the teachings of my former advisors can still come in handy though.

[A bit unsettling, the voices from the Vir'abelasan didn't have anything to remark about it then. It must be because it was something utterly alien to them as well. Wonderful. Event he dead ancient elves are stumped.

He's going to take another sip of his wine, and frown as he mulled over the newest bit of information.]

The implications of that do not bode well for us then. It would mean one of two things, if the miasma is lethal then it would be possible that those in these other holdings have all been killed by it.

The other, is that the miasma is only cutting off roads and paths, and isolating us from the outside. I've seen something like this employed against the Elven alienages in cities when they tried to protest their living conditions. They would seal it off and wait for starvation to set in so that it could be easily purged.

[Given the opulence of the festivities he suspected that this particular kingdom was fine, though it could simply be posturing to keep spirits up.]

If your holdings here are self sufficient enough to provide for itself, then you're likely not the designated target for such a tactic. Are there other nations that rely heavily on trade that would fall victim to this?

[his icy eyes darken; he's definitely had that same thought]

It will take someone made of stronger stuff to make an attempt to see just how lethal the miasma is. I don't wish to badmouth my scouts, but they aren't as hardy as my missing officers. [half to himself] What I wouldn't give for Zhang Liao right about now...

But before I come to that conclusion, your theory bears merit. It isn't that we trade with one another, but that we are each other's allies against Orochi's army. I can easily believe that they would use sorcery and other means to cut us off from one another in order to move against us and conquer. [he gives Lavellan a dead-serious look. This fellow understands plenty, he can be given the honest truth] This is why I have so many scouts deployed. I don't care how quiet the roads are in the clear areas, I anticipate an attack.

I could give it a try myself as well, not being human may make me more resistant to it... or more susceptible, but a little optimism never killed anyone. [Except him if this goes badly.] At the very least I can see if I could try to dispel some of it. Not exactly my field of expertise but I can try to figure something out.

[Hopefully now that the voices from the Vir'abelasan knew it was magic, they would be more forthcoming in ways to... unmagic it or something. Also hopefully he would be able to understand it.

His concern made sense, and there were many possibilities as to just how to strike. He may have learned well from his advisors, but he did not yet have their insight.]

Well, the last time I was in a situation like this, party and all, a queen got assassinated in hopes of throwing the lands into chaos. So I would be very careful if I were you.

[The slightest eyebrow-raise] I may be without the fine company of Wenyuan and Kongming at the moment, but I believe I am in no danger. The politics of the imperial court are a world away. An attack now would surface as demons racing across the hillsides toward Xuchang - eyes must be kept to the land beyond our walls, not within them.

[still, he can appreciate that Lavellan knows exactly how that political intrigue goes. Were there an emperor in this land with them, he has no doubts that his father would be subverting and assassinating left and right to make sure no one but himself had favor. Ah, how the nature of danger changes when there's no one around with whom to curry favor...]

Not being a human may indeed be useful, here. But I wouldn't send you out alone, in case the less optimistic route turns out to be true. This seems to be one of those cases where otherworld magic can be far more useful than our own old standbys. [gesturing at the map again] If a party can be found to serve as escort, would you be interested?

A little extra caution never hurt. Your regular political opponents may be cut off, but that miasma is out there for a reason. I would think the greatest threat to whoever went through all the effort, would be the leader with a collection of of strange foreigners with unique abilities.

We have to act with the assumption that you are the only one with access to otherworlders, and the only one organized enough to potentially undo this. [He took another sip from his glass of wine.] I mean, I certainly wasn't snooping around this place for my health. Your rooftops are something treacherous... I mean, preferable to eavesdropping on nobility, but still.

[And it was anyone's guess how he managed to even get on the roof in the first place, but it might explain how he had gone about snooping.]

I'd be more than willing, and I won't turn down any help you could offer. I might have been able to handle it on my own once, but I'm a little short handed now. My spells have been a little lopsided, and I would rather not die to something too foolish if I can help it.

[he gets the super eyebrow-raise this time. What are you doing on the roof?]

Do try not to slip on the tiles. As skilled as my healers can be, they can do little about a broken neck.

[he huffs and picks up his reports again, paging through them to find something besides 'no sign of Orochi army.']

Lord Zhao Yun is also around, I saw him in the camp leading the men of Shu on some errand. If I know him as well as I think I do, if Lord Liu Bei is among the missing again, he will take up command and be fairly good at it. [his expression lightens; Zhao Yun earned his respect during the first phase of the war against Orochi, and still has it now.] But he is undoubtedly more of a field commander and tends to put himself in the thick of it. If I can get in touch with him, I may request an honoring of our alliance and send him out with you rather than risk myself. As you say... [the smartest of smartass looks] ...caution is warranted, if I end up some kind of leader.

My neck as proven to be surprisingly resilient! I have fallen off countless buildings, trees, rifts in reality, and even a mountain once and survived. I mean, I cheat but still, I like to think that's impressive.

[The only thing impressive about that was how he managed to fall so often really. He'd blame being forced to wear shoes. Not that that was the actual reason, but it was his excuse.]

I believe I've met Zhao Yun, he seems a good sort. [Then again so had Solas, and that ended rather poorly. But at this point the situation was pretty much a case of "how could it possibly get any worse?" He shouldn't have even thought that. It would probably get worse now just for that.] I'm more than willing to work with him if he has your trust, I've never been one for sitting back and letting others have all the fun myself.

[He laughs at the smugness and sets down his glass to give the other a few amicable pats on the back.]

Well, if leadership is in your future all I can say is... better you than me.

[Then he took up his wine glass and tipped it back, finishing it off. His liver wouldn't last another bout of leadership. Just once he'd like to go back to the forest where everything made sense without the world breaking itself apart at the seams... again.]

[Cao Pi gives him a slight eyebrow-raise at the contact, but dismisses it as just something he's probably used to. Right, then.]

Have you? That will make things much easier. I'll send a message to the main camp in the morning, assuming he hasn't returned to Chengdu. Have no worries. [dryly, with a somewhat envious glance at the glass of wine] I am prepared to take on that kind of responsibility. It is my lot in life.

[at that moment, he is distracted by something in a missive from recent scouting, setting aside all the boring stuff to get a better read on this report] ...hm. It seems the miasma has open paths through it, here and there. One scouting party reached Chi'bi, there are new ships there. And... [frowning to himself] ...claims to have seen a dragon in flight?

[He nodded in regards to the man Zao Yun, with any luck they could be on their way in due time. It would be preferable to sitting idly by at camp, particularly when that camp completely muted his magic. It always made him paranoid he was going to wind up half-Tranquil if he lingered there too long.

He was about to make another smart remark about the burdens of leadership, and the wonderful position he was in... in that he got to retire- but that all went down the drain at the mention of a dragon. Part of him hoped he wouldn't have to kill the beast, rare as they were, but if it was flying so close to a city, that may be inevitable if it began causing trouble.]

A dragon? Well I hope no one was hurt, what did it look like? I've taken down a few in my day.

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Mid-Autumn Festival (OPEN)

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