HAPPY HOLI | OPEN TO ALL

[shri]

WHO: EVERYONE, A BIG OLD OPEN PARTY LOG
WHAT: Happy Holi! The Festival of Colours, and Lakshmi's open invite to the whole Inquisition to come drink and have fun as part of her on going "see, rifter's aren't scary, we're great."
WHEN: A bright sunny afternoon now that winter is staring to come to an end.
WHERE: A open storage building on the Kirkwall docks that has been dressed up to the nines.
NOTES: This is one big open party log for anyone to come in. Everyone is getting very publicly invited, but with understanding you aren't going to start nothing. Some of the food is laced with weed elfroot, and there is booze. But people will be warned ahead of time ( unless your character would eat it by accident. )

HAPPY HOLI

Lakshmi's invitation is not strictly formal outside from a few certain higher ups, but regardless of whether it's a delivered letter with gold lettering, or Lakshmi's voice chattering over the network, it amounts to the same: Lakshmi is holding a party, a big one this time. The dress code is comfortable, white clothing, or another light colour as suited. Then the time of arrival, around lunch time. An afternoon affair to make the best of the first warm spring days, and remember that after all, the dawn will come, even after winter's as miserable as those spent in the aftermath Ghislain.

The hall, when they arrive, is decked out, not like Orlais neat curling filigree, or Fereldon's sturdy brick and block shapes. No, there is colour everywhere. Rich swaths of fabric that are perhaps not expensive silk, but they seem to have been dyed many colours and strung across the walls, tapestries where the point is in the boldness. Tables against the walls with food on them, and strewn with petals. Heaped up in piles as if to ensure no amount of food went unadorned by them. On another table, is stacked trays of powder, in every colour, that smell faintly sweet.

It even looks, for the moment, neat. Like a bride done up for her wedding day.

Lakshmibai herself is dressed no different at the door, and graciously meets anyone, whether she knows them or not, exactly the same way.

She lifts a silver plate, adorned with petals, coloured powder, a small cone of incense and an oil wick burning, balanced in one hand. Her smile is glad to see whoever it is that comes up, and - regardless of their position, station, friend or foe, those white clothes don't last long. After greetings are said and done, she lifts up that coloured powder, and tosses it over them, one loose flick and then lifting her hand to rub it against their cheek, with a peal of brilliant laughter to go with it, welcoming them in.

No one is going to survive the day unscathed from an infectiously good mood if she has anything to do with it.

Additionally, Lakshmi's many helpers can be seen already in the room - doing just that, helping. With food, drink, music, pointing out to what certain things are for and so on. They're a motley bunch, themselves. Mages, Rifters, Nobles, Commoners, Vints, Orlesians, Soldiers, Elves, Humans. There is even, amongst the first to arrive, and clearly Lakshmi's special guest, a Chantry Mother herself, and with her Lakshmi hopes, the assurance that everything is above board.

Hiranyakashyap

Once enough people have arrived and clothes on their way to being ruined - Lakshmi finds the small stand set up to give her brief speech. Few words today, at least. Why this holiday, in particular - could not be better. Welcomes given, not only to her guests but especially to her helpers who pitched in, as well as the thanks to the Inquisition for allowing her to do this. There is then a brief explanation of what people are to do - simple really, eat, drink, dance, and throw the coloured powder at each other. Have a good time, with no expectations but being kind to each other in that.

The story is brief, what it is that Holi itself celebrates and it could not be more pertinent. Of the Demon King, Hiranyakashyap, who had grown conceited. He demanded everyone worship him and become their new God. But his son was faithful. His son refused to worship a tyrant. Even when he was tricked to step into the fire by his wicked Aunt, the sister of the Demon King, his faith protected him, and instead, his Aunt perished. Then the Demon King Hiranyakashyap was slain by Lord Krishna, and Holi was first celebrated in the triumph of Good over Evil. That they all, no matter how different, wished to fight evil beings like Corypheus and see their downfall.

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN

- And with the sombreness of it done, Lakshmi declares the celebration to have begun with a cheer, and in the most obvious way possible to everyone present. She takes her plate of powder, and throws the entire tray of it with the help of Myr's glyphs, it explodes into the air, and showers down over everyone in a shower of bright magenta and blue. Coating everyone in the fine, brightly coloured powder. With it, the music strikes up, loud, echoing in the small room. Nothing genteel, but heavy with drums, fiddles and bold singing.



time to get into the mood

It starts off slowly, and Lakshmi at least knows that people are shy the first time at anything. So performers dance amongst guests, tossing coloured powder, acrobats that perform tricks, bending and twisting and flipping through the audience. Petals that are tossed about as freely as the powder, until the air is sweet with it and the food and drink do their job on the guests and it becomes a far louder, boisterous affair.

Around the edges of the room are plates with the powder on it, and it's very clear what to do with it. Take a handful, and throw it at someone. Per Lakshmi's explanation, that everything is done in good faith. Old fights are put aside in the name of some harmless fun. ( But don't get too rowdy, Lakshmi herself will be after you like a mother after wayward children if anyone turns it to violence. ) There is also at given points, a brief bit of organisation for a colour toss, where everyone throws handfuls into the air of the same colour at the same time.

Soon enough, people are throwing handfuls of the powder. Younger more boisterous ones chasing after each other to mash it into each others hair, clothes, leaving brilliant handprints on each other's clothes that are as quickly mattered into another colour that they might catch. It's not as it turns out, a very hard celebration to get into the hang of. The music drowns out anyone but the most determined, and as the afternoon wears on, it spills out into the front of the street. Another important part of Holi is what is called Playing Holi, which is a very informal way of saying flirting and teasing with someone you might have had your eye on for awhile. This is a very good excuse to get your hands all over someone you like and play around with them in an open way. But oh my, nothing too forward, there are children present. Maybe you can find someone for the night in this mess.

Infectiously happy, singing drinking songs loudly, couples dancing. Perhaps with friends, or with the acrobats or just by themselves. Something grand to be happy with. Whether it's out inside the room proper, or outside on the street where...

WATER FIGHT

There are barrels of clean water, with bowls on it, and maybe it's Lakshmi that starts it, or someone else, but it quickly devolves into its true purpose. Throwing water at each other. With people filling into the hall, the dancing, the stickiness of the powder that might have gotten in your mouth, and you wanted to splash yourself at least a little clean or cool down. Maybe a friend tips it on you, maybe you're caught in the crossfire, or you're just dunking your head into the water first.

For all the dancing, it's a good relief, and a fun way to get back at someone who might have gotten you with a particularly unflattering shade of powder.

WHAT'S IN THIS DRINK...?

Maybe after all that dancing and running around, you might want to have something to eat.

There is a lot to chose from. Some of it is familiar Thedosian fair. Plates of common street food, wine, beer & spirits, all available. Stacked up high, for all members of the Inquisition to have. It's not grand, but it's hearty, and it's fresh, and - whoever turned down free food. Or for those interested in trying something new, Lakshmi has cooked as well, a huge amount of her homelands dishes. To a similar vein, street dishes that are quick to eat and are rich in taste. They smell just as good as they look, stuff full of vegetables and spices.

But that's not all, for those that are brave enough, or just looking for a good time, a certain section of drinks, milky, frothy and spicey as well, there is certain substances mixed into it. A healthy amount of elfroot (thanks Medicine Seller) has been mixed in per tradition. Whilst not quite Bhaang, but it's enough to give you a buzz and make those colours seem extra fun. Just... be careful how much you drink.

THE KING OF HOLI

One of the organised activities is the person crowned as the King of Holi.

Far up high, strung between two pillars, with a pot of milk hung in the middle. The mission, should you and your inebriated friends chose to accept, is to form a human ladder, pyramid, oblong, or however it works for you, and climb to get the pot. When someone gets up, they have to bang the pot with their head to get it down.

The person who does this - gets a special prize: A crown of leaves, and one of Lakshmi's solid gold and jewelled bangles, and are crowned the informal King of Holi to the cheering crowd.

BURN, BABY, BURN

Usually, it is the wicked Aunt, Holika, that has her image burned the night before Holi.

But this time, there is someone far more pertinent to make the image and then throw into the fires that burn in the braziers around the room. There are stuffed straw dolls of Corypheus available for you to make and then decorate to your heart's content to be as hideous as you want.

Then gleefully throw into the fire.

It is meant for an activity more of children to enjoy, a simple, light-hearted activity - or as can be expected in wartime. But there is no one stopping anyone venting some of their frustration's post-Ghislain at the little figure.

ALL GOOD THINGS

Eventually, the party winds down towards the end of the evening, and it's time to go wash up. Clean your now ruined clothes and scrub it out of your hair. If asked, Lakshmi gives the helpful tip of a making sure to scrub all the way down to your scalp with a oil to help stop the staining.

But there is every chance tomorrow when you roll out of your bed, probably some bit of you is still stained. Hopefully, all in good fun.