TANABATA ⟶ July Sanctuary Log

[likethelight]

 

Sanctuary - TANABATA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"SEE YOU AGAIN, MOM"

The "star festival", celebrating the one time of the year when star-crossed lovers could cross over a sea of stars to meet again. One based on hopes, wishes, and the fervent desire to see each other again. Following the departure of Amaterasu back to the sea, wolf momgod of all who is responsible for the Guardian Saplings including the one Sanctuary has been founded around, Sanctuary is hosting the best approximation to a Tanabata celebration as the Trench will allow. Why? Because hope keeps the trees alive and strong, and Tanabata is about people having hope -- and would have been happening around the same time.

And because people miss dogmom and she would have liked it.

The festival is taking place at Sanctuary, but all Guardian Saplings can be paid visits. Paper for wishes and decorations have been set up at each/given to the other caretakers.

A Sea of Stars
The main hall has been transformed into a living night sky, with jars of hope from the moonlit butterflies back in April hung with care high up, each repacked with a single orb of hope per small vial with care, creating a river of starlike glowing lights overhead. The windows have been covered to aid with the nighttime effect, in addition to helping to keep out the light of the Beast Moon after dark. The gentle glow, as they are literally the tactile hopes and dreams of people, provides a small purifying, uplifting effect to everyone underneath. The light ebbs and flows calmly. The hall is cool as well, thanks to the pale/cold bloodstone cooling system that glows like moonstone along the walls and keeps the indoor areas regulated.

In the evening, as the sun sets, the new choir bell will ring out as well, cleansing corruption entirely from all who hear it. The lights gently pulse in time with it.

Wishes and the Guardian Sapling
The sapling is no longer in bloom, but despite the sweltering heat in full glory. Paper wishes are hung in its branches, along with origami streamers in colorful paper of cranes and other shapes. A bustle of activity is in the cloisters around it in particular, with most tables set up there to keep the courtyard itself clear. Origami streamers are hung in all the doorways leading out to it as well, creating the effect of string curtains, and there are paper lanterns as well.

A life-size stone statue of a wolf bearing a striking resemblance to Amaterasu has been erected next to the sapling, with her most radiantly happy canine expression she could sometimes get. There is room to place offerings for her, and people are encouraged that she would like "all the foods."

Colorful strips of paper (tanzaku) have been cut and placed out on a table in the cloisters surrounding the courtyard, where one can write their wishes for the next year down on them and hang them on the guardian sapling. They come in the following colors with a helpful, but... somewhat hard to read note with arcane handwritten note:

Red will help with wishes relating to ancestors and family, and giving thanks.
Yellow is the color of friendship and is the best choice for wishes about relationships.
White is the color for determination and responsibility, and for making personal resolutions.
Blue represents tranquility and trust and will aid wishes aimed at self-improvement.
Purple is the color to choose if you want to improve your brainpower and skills.

Food and Activities
Following all of the best creative recreation methods available to them in Trench, the cooks in the kitchens have been trained by Megumi Fushiguro, among others, on how to best serve culturally appropriate dishes. These foods are served free at little vendor booths in the main hall (with people encouraged to help out and help serve!) and include pawprint mochi (the inside is either chocolate or strawberry), pickled sakura mochi, mitarashi and tricolor dango, chilled somen with a yuzu-soy dipping sauce, various types of filled onigiri, and cut watermelon in a variety of shapes including stars, sunbursts, and pawprints. Many have been made with small amounts of the Paleblood jam from June and have mild corruption cleansing effects as well. Various kinds of tea made from the dried or pickled cherry blossoms and/or leaves of the guardian sapling are being served as well, and they have a corruption-cleansing effect and have been noted as tasting "heavenly". Some of the jams have been cut with fruit juice/lemonade and frozen into popsicles as well... you're welcome, CorruptionPops are now a thing.

Various demonstration and activity tables have been set up including origami, with... questionably penned instructions from Palamedes in an arcane style for several shapes including cranes, sunbursts, stars, and wolves. Various Sleepers familiar with the practice have also been encouraged to set up there and help teach people how, and everyone is encouraged to hang their completed crafts in the guardian sapling. Most of the paper is red, white, pink, and gold. Paper lanterns have been made as well and light up various parts of the whole festivities.

A few vendor booths are set up, including one "selling" white yukata, trimmed in red and gold and bearing a distinctive star pattern on the back of it and intricate embroidery. Most Sanctuary members would receive one for free if they expressed interest, and anyone else can receive one for volunteering their time and helping out. People are encouraged to wear them for the celebration if they didn't have their own; these are styled in honor of Amaterasu.

Koz Orphanage has been specially invited as well, and children from it can be found running around during much of the event and given various activities to do or items to play with.

Sparklers are available for individuals as well, also courtesy of Viktor. Perhaps there might even be glowsticks from someone... :)

Fireworks and Closing Celebrations
On the final night, all the wishes will be gathered from the trees and collected in a ceremonial firepit. The wishes are burnt in order to release them to the heavens to be heard—and perhaps by Amaterasu still at sea—and will be ignited by several Sleepers with fire abilities (Shouto Todoroki, Megumi Fushiguro).

As they're burnt a fireworks display will begin overhead, launched from the steeple up high, courtesy of Viktor and anyone else assisting him in the matter. Anyone outside watching them in the courtyard will have the effects of the Beast Moon diminished by the blessing in effect from Moon Presence. The choir bell will toll a final time at the end, to clear the effects of any lingering corruption, and signal an end to the festivities.

WHAT

Sanctuary is about humane beast purification efforts and corruption relief. Renovations began in May 2022 and room clearing and rebuilding is still in progress. Beast patrol efforts and purification started more in earnest in June-July.

All roles are volunteer on an as-you-can basis up to full time, with time reimbursed by food, shelter, care, and community support. And because it's run by people who BLEED SENTIMENTALITY EVERYWHERE in addition to being founded on discovery of a Guardian Sapling, it's hosting a Tanabata celebration in conjunction with honoring the memory of Amaterasu.

WHEN

Starting July 7, ending after a few days in a final celebration and ceremonial burning of the wishes.

THINGS OF NOTE

Tanabata
➢ Please feel free to presume your character could have helped out with setup if they have any ties to Sanctuary or characters here! If they would provide a food, service, or game they are free to have a table set up.

➢ This event is open to the whole of Trench and would have been freely advertised as such, including as a safe place to treat effects from the Beast Moon and corruption.

General / Member Update
➢ Sanctuary has been blessed by Moon Presence for the month of July, thanks to the efforts of Luna and Sansa. All negative effects of July and the Beast Moon are lessened within its walls, and anyone meaning Sanctuary or the people in it will be physically repelled. Lunar flowers have begun growing up the sides of the monastery in earnest like morning glories as a result.

➢ as of June, coordinated efforts to patrol Trench on their own and save Beasts and people both have begun. Members will be on a group chat in order to coordinate with each other and reach out to purification Sleepers when encountering Beasts. Everyone is encouraged to work in teams, especially to partner with someone who can purify Beasts or corruption.

➢ a training facility has opened up, with currently self-defense hand-to-hand combat classes being taught by Jason and others willing to train others encouraged to come forward. Fighters on patrol and wardens will be contacted to let them know about open sparring times so members can coordinate better in fights. There is an indoor room with training dummies (that fight back courtesy of Viktor) that opens up into an outdoor space between two of the long halls that can also be used.

➢ with the hidden archives now unlocked, scholarly members of Sanctuary are encouraged to help study them and uncover other artifacts—and especially the strange new locked door discovered within.

➢ there is a family of batcat kittens old enough to be crawling everywhere throughout the building now. They might still be learning manners and latch onto you in an overexcitement to taste your blood from time to time.

➢ the large communal baths have been cleared out and renovated, thank god. They run on being open to male-identifying characters for one set of hours, female-identifying for another, and the rest of the time operate on "nobody cares". Privacy screens are hung between the tubs though—one side is regularly cooled down with ice for the hot months.

➢ with more people needing safe harbor during the Beast Moon and rising violence from natives during July, more actual rooms have been cleared out and are free to use for anyone who will also help work to maintain the place (chores, grounds keeping, etc.). There are always spare beds in the infirmary wing as well.

➢ members who patrol or purify beasts/fight in some way now have access to various relic items that have been donated for use for when they are actively on patrol. These will eventually be tracked in the member spreadsheet... eventually. Just give them back when you're done.

➢ Viktor and K's efforts have resulted in the lunar generator coming online and bringing lunar lighting and cooling throughout the building via a cold-pale bloodstone network. Rejoice!

➢ There is now a small, hidden stash of coffee bartered from Dabi. Someone might have to pry it from Viktor's jittery fingers.

 

This log is WIDE OPEN for Tanabata festivities and serves as the general log for Sanctuary for the month. Go wild and do whatever you want, have fun with your top levels, etc. :)

Comments

[mehanizovati]

Well... if we are being honest I do not. I've never been a big believer in gods and the like. [he admits, offering a smile in greeting. rio also crawls out to bop her head against jason's leg, happy to see him.]

It's a sentimental gesture, but a nice one. Even if I don't really understand what I'm supposed to say. I'm glad you could make it, though.

[hearuthinking]

Hey, there, Rio. Good to see ya, girl. [He gives her a friendly scratch on her head]

[To Viktor, he nods] 'Course I came. With all the bullshit this place throws at us, it's nice to celebrate good things now and then. Can't say I really know a damn thing about this festival, though.

[mehanizovati]

[rio trills, happy to get her attention before settling again, probably playing with a piece of paper that fell. viktor, meanwhile, nods to that.]

Precisely, especially lately. What a mess things have been. [he sighs, then offers his pen over.] Wishes, food and fireworks so far. Why not try making one of those wishes?

[hearuthinking]

[He shoots an amused look at Rio's playing before focusing on the little strips of paper. Jason may not believe in this, but he sees no harm in participating. He takes one of the papers without consulting what the colors might mean and writes down a wish]

We hang it on the tree, right? Guess that ain't any stranger than wishing on a star or blowin' out candles.

[mehanizovati]

Yes, apparently they're all burned at the end and that eh... releases them into the sky? In truth I am not sure.

[he picks up a yellow one, scratches something on with his pen.] One for you then, I am wishing you luck and safety on your patrols. That must be in the spirit, yes?

[hearuthinking]

Thanks, man, I appreciate it. Though, you supposed to say your wishes? I thought that made 'em not come true.

[Or maybe that's just when you blow out birthday candles or wish on stars. Either way, he's not saying his wish. Look, just because he doesn't believe it'll actually work doesn't mean he'll take chances]

[mehanizovati]

Hm, that is true. Then again we're hanging these up for everyone to see, so perhaps they are meant to be seen?

[a mystery.] I'll have to ask one of the people who knows better.

[hearuthinking]

Guess it don't matter.

[Subtly starts scribbling over his wish and trying to rewrite it]

[mehanizovati]

[he is resisting the urge to peek. barely. just barely. he'll probably give in.

but he does remember,] Oh, there's someone I wanted to introduce you to while you're here. Her name is Chizuru, she's interested in learning to defend herself but she is a very nervous girl. I think the big schools are eh... a little too dramatic.

[hearuthinking]

[It may possibly have something to do with him seeing Salim again. Maybe. Perhaps. He glances up at the words]

Yeah, no shit. Those guys are intense. I'll be happy to teach her.

[mehanizovati]

[he might catch that name, and honestly he does sometimes wonder if jason and salim had something going on. will he ask? probably, one day.]

Incredibly so. Frankly I'm thankful you offered a less extreme option in matters of training. [he glances around, hoping to see chizuru but alas.] I invited her as well, so hopefully we'll run across her.

[hearuthinking]

I'll keep an eye out for her.

[He pauses, glancing at Viktor and tilting his head to one side]

I can hear you thinkin'. Not literally, but you got that look on your face.

[mehanizovati]

Ah, you know me well. [he snorts, then after a moment he decides why not? at worse jason will tell him to drop it, which is fair.] I was wondering about Salim. Were you and he involved?

[he wonders if this is gossipy- frankly he's not used to having friendships like this, unsure if it's a normal sort of thing to ask or intrusive. ah well.]

[hearuthinking]

[Now, if Viktor had asked him that a few months ago, Jason would've either acted like he didn't know what kind of "involved" was meant, or given a very aggressive answer. But after talking with Sharon and admitting his feelings (anonymously), he responds differently]

No. We only knew each other for a few hours. But meetin' him... guess you could say it changed a lot for me. And I just... I wanna know for myself he's okay. It's like you said: gettin' some closure.

[mehanizovati]

[viktor nods, glad it wasn't an unwelcome question as he considers,] Sometimes people have that impact on you.

Maybe if there is another instance of those portals we can go looking again. There is a chance you could see how he's doing.

[hearuthinking]

Yeah, I'd like that.

[He's quiet for a moment. Then takes another paper, and writes out his wish without censoring anything]

You ain't the first to... notice, you know. Guess I ain't been too subtle about it.

[mehanizovati]

About Salim? No, I suppose not. At the very least it is obvious he is very important to you, more than most you mention.

Anything else is just guesswork.

[hearuthinking]

[He's quiet for a moment. Then sighs and shakes his head]

It ain't like he's the first guy I ever... But it was different with him. I told him shit I never told anyone. Not even Nick, and he was probably my best friend.

Thirty fuckin' years, man. Tryin' to deny and pretend. And all it took was a divorced dad on the other side of the war. So... so yeah, he's important.

[mehanizovati]

In a way I can understand that. When you spend your whole life in something of an act there are people who manage to effortlessly find their way through it, intentionally or not.

It probably helped he was from a different side of it all.

[hearuthinking]

Guess so. It don't hurt that he's a bad-ass who kills fuckin' vampires.

[He gets briefly dreamy-eyed before sobering]

I'm workin' on being more okay with... all that. You're probably the first person I talked to about it, ever.

[mehanizovati]

[ok that has viktor chuckling, sitting back with,] Hm, very true. The one perk to meeting someone during such drama, plenty of chances to be dashing.

[he sobers a little too with that, regarding jason a moment.] With being interested in men? I know in some places that is... frowned upon. [a glance back to the wishes and he says,] I was at least somewhat lucky there, where I'm from it isn't reviled. Much easier to accept I was only interested in other men when I didn't feel the pressing need to hide it.

[hearuthinking]

["Dashing" is not the word Jason would use, but it makes him chuckle. He ducks his head when Viktor says "interested in men". Again, the instinct is to deny it. Jason has to take a moment to remind himself it's okay]

Little bit more than "frowned upon". I could be discharged from service if anyone ever found out. Hell, I probably will be anyway for sidin' with the "enemy". [He's quiet a moment] "Discharged" means I'd get fired. If it's bad enough, I lose benefits and I'll have trouble gettin' a civilian job.

[mehanizovati]

[yup, quite the grimace for that] That is absurd. I'd ask why should it matter but I suppose worlds always find something pointless to attack and make themselves feel superior.

[a sigh.] I suppose there are some silver linings to this place. Oddly accepting usually is one.

[hearuthinking]

[He's full of emotions. It's a little strange talking about this so openly. Stranger still to be accepted for it, and for it treated as something wrong being called "absurd"]

Thanks, Viktor. Maybe I'll put in a wish that I'll find someone special here.

[mehanizovati]

[viktor offers a smile, just a quirk of the lips but sincere. then hums as he considers that.]

Not a bad plan. You know, I always wondered what people actually do to get dates. Go to bars? Parties? [sounds fake but okay.]