A Dance with Dragons

[strongworld]

Who: You!
Where: Li Yu Tiao
When: May 24th - 31st
What: The Festival of Dragons!
Status: Open!

That special time of year has arrived when the Typhoon Grips allow safe passage to the Sky Islands. Here on Li Yu Tiao, the Festival of Dragons is about to begin. During this time, the villagers celebrate the koi that pass through their island to spawn and the great dragon that guards their land with its powerful magic.

From the opening, the streets will be filled with music, dancing, and indulgence. Grab some incredible local food and sample the fine alcohol brewed on the island. The hot springs are open to adults in the evenings and offer both separate and communal baths.

From May 25th until the 27th, the Dragon's Judgement Tournament will take place. The tournament is single-elimination, in which combatants can win either by amassing points by connecting with their hits, or by submission. Only nonfatal weapons are allowed and killing is strictly forbidden. The winner of the tournament will gain the title of the "Dragon's Hand" for the next year, and will be gifted with a crimson robe and a golden dragon statue.

On the 30th, a large stage is erected in front of the Dragon Gate. At sundown, the woman decided to be the most beautiful on the island will perform a dance on the stage. She will be dressed in a robe of glittering gold and a headpiece resembling a koi's whiskers. The dance is said to entice the koi into the next stage of their lives. During the dance, a single koi will leap through the gate and be transformed into a great dragon with impressive rainbow-colored scales. It is said this dragon's magic keeps the island tethered to the Dragon Gate and is the source of its wonderful weather. As the dance completes, the dancer's dress transforms into a pair of brilliant wings, and she takes into the air to live as the dragon's bride and protector. The two will then depart together for the mountain's summit. While the dancer is almost exclusively a local villager, it is not unheard of for an outsider to be selected for the role.

Comments

[judgementscythe]

[She's content to just sit here. Sit here and cuddle. It's strange being able to relax like this. She hasn't done it in a long time. At least since Tetsu's baths in North Window all those years back. She gives a big sigh of relief sinks her head back underwater with Kiemi still snuggled against her]

[seakingbait]

[Under the water, Keimi was all the more at home. She nestled herself against Lorelai's chest, closing her eyes and letting the warm water wash over them both.]

[judgementscythe]

[she surfaces again and takes a breath]

These springs are incredible.

[seakingbait]

This is the best I've felt in weeks. [She coos.]

[judgementscythe]

[she rests her chin on Kiemi's head]

I know how you feel.

[seakingbait]

I'd like to stay here a while, but I'm worried Lori-chin will go crazy from the lack of adventure.

[She smiles into her neck.]

[judgementscythe]

I've got more fighting to do. I'm sure I'll be fine.

[seakingbait]

If you're sure. The last thing I'd ever want to do is bore you.

[Though the warmth is beginning to sap her strength and her eyelids are becoming heavy.]

[judgementscythe]

[she notices Kiemi kind of nodding off]

You want to get out of here and go get dinner and head back home?

[seakingbait]

Uh huh.

[Hnng but that means getting out of the water and her body just does not want to move right now.]

Can you help me out?

[judgementscythe]

Of course!

[she picks Kiemi up over her shoulder and hoists her up onto the bank of the spring.]

Want to try that Takoyaki place you said you saw?

[seakingbait]

[Oof that was fast, guess she needs to actually move her body now. She bends down to collect her backpack and retrieves her coral. She blows herself a new bubble and settles down in it.]

Mhm! It's not far from here, I think it's still open.

[judgementscythe]

I hope so. I'm really hungry.

[she dries off quick and puts back on her clothes and starts walking next to Kiemi towards the town]

[seakingbait]

[Keimi quickly pats herself down with a towel and puts her top back on. Once back in town, she orders two orders of takoyaki from the stand and offers one basket to Lorelai.]

It smells really yummy, I'm excited.

[judgementscythe]

[she grabs the basket as they make their way to sit down.]

It really does. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.

[seakingbait]

[She gives her meal some time to cool before popping one into her mouth.]

Oh wow...

[judgementscythe]

That good?

[she pops one into her mouth and chews it down.]

Oh wow, that is good.

[seakingbait]

[She touches her cheek.]

It's like little balls of heaven. [Quick! She needs to eat more!]

[judgementscythe]

[they really were good. Leaving the bath was definitely the right idea.]

They are incredible.

[she smiles across at Kiemi scarfing them down and giggles a little.]

[seakingbait]

[She lifts her head up from her basket.]

What's so funny?

[judgementscythe]

You are so adorable right now K.

[seakingbait]

[!! She blushes, turning away.]

I don't know what you're talking about, L-Lori-chin is cuter...

[judgementscythe]

You know that's not true.

[seakingbait]

Lori-chin is always so pretty. I'm a little jealous sometimes.

[She pops another takoyaki in her mouth. These are just too damn good.]

[judgementscythe]

[she blushes and pops a takoyaki into her mouth. She really has nothing to say. She can't think back to a day she's had where she's ended up this content with her situation]