First Task: The Introduction
You all arrive in the city by different means. Those of you who have never been to the capital are overwhelmed by the sheer size and the number of people. Nowhere else in Iande is anywhere near as large or populous as Bascalin.
But even more impressive than the city is the Sherra Palace. You are ( )ought by carriage late in the day, so that they gold-capped towers catch the sunlight. Twisting pinnacles reach up to the sky, all surrounding a high dome made of ( )ight marble. Large arched windows almost glow with ( )ightly colored glass—surely the best from Zyle. You are greeted at the carriage door by a liveried footman who leads you into the main throne room. The floors are made of tiled mosaic, all in ( )ight colors shot through with gold. The stained glass windows give the room a surreal glow in the late afternoon. The ceiling is painted with sweeping murals that depict the greatest legends of Iande. The throne itself is glittering dias of gold and delicately carved wood. It is calculated to overwhelm.
The footman announces your presence, stating your name, your family, and your home region. Emperor Nixus is seated. His gaze is appraising and stern. He nods at you, but you get the distinct feeling he is sizing you up, weighing whether you are worthy of his sons. The princes are a little to the side.
Prince Prar looks cool and unaffected. He nods politely at you and then quickly looks away. If you are perceptive, you might notice that he looks anxious under his cool demeanor. Perhaps you can even guess that he is against this entire idea. At any rate, he shows you no warmth. Prince Delt looks amused. He grins at you (either politely, friendly, or lasciviously, depending on how attractive he finds you). Even if you are perceptive, he betrays none of his older ( )other’s misgivings. Prince Tamd is less collected than his ( )others. He taps his foot nervously, fidgets, and plays with the edge of his tunic. But for all that, he doesn’t look upset. He laughs and smiles, and looks at you almost hopefully.
You are expected to introduce yourself to the Emperor and his sons. Emperor Nixus asks why you are here. (Obviously to try to marry one of his sons, but you might throw in something about honoring your region or pleasing the empire or doing your duty…whatever you think is most appropriate.) Then you are led to a seat on the side where you can watch the other young ladies enter and introduce themselves.
Tasks:
1. Create a doll of your character in her arrival clothes. Her arrival clothes should be her “Sunday best.” That is to say, not a ball gown or amazing dress (with the possible exceptions of Cyrilla and Corasara). It is the best dress that your character already owns. For some of you this will be fancier than for others.
2. Describe (in as little or as much detail as you want, but at least a sentence) your character’s reaction to the city, palace, and royal family.
3. Give your introduction to the Emperor and princes and your answer to the Emperor’s question.
4. (OPTIONAL): You can give your reactions to the other girls as they enter and give their answers. You can also respond to each other. But this is by no means necessary.
Second Task: The Tea Party
You spend the night in your own room with a luxurious four post bed. If you sleep poorly, it is certainly not because of the quality of the accommodations. The next morning you are ( )ought outside to the expansive gardens. A well dressed, voluptuous woman welcomes you and the other girls.
“Welcome. My name is Madam Issera. I am the head of the royal household. I have been employed here since the princes were quite young, and I am entrusted with all the major tasks of the household. That includes preparing for all parties and other special occasions. This afternoon there will be a tea party for all of the major courtiers. This will be your first chance to impress the nobility beyond the royal family.
“As part of the event, I am asking each of you to create a flower arrangement to be the centerpiece of one table. All of the royal gardens are at your disposal, as well as the greenhouses, which contain some of the more tropical of flowers. Your arrangement must be beautiful and unique, but it must be something else as well. It must be meaningful. I will be asking each of you why you made the arrangement you made, and I will expect an intelligent response. You have until noon to complete your arrangements. Begin.”
You are given free reign over the garden for several hours to craft your arrangement before Madam Issera reappears and asks each of you to give an account of your bouquet. You are then sent to your rooms to get dressed for the tea party.
When you reemerge, the garden has been transformed. Tables dot the landscape, covered in rich clothes in light colors, each one with a beautiful floral centerpiece. Pale ribbons flutter in the wind. Many of you have never been at anything so fancy as a tea party, but those of you who have are still surprised. This is nothing as simple as a tea party. It is much too lavish.
You are assigned a seat at a table with many courtiers of the city. Each contestant has become the centerpiece of her own table. You are expected to make polite small talk while maintaining impeccable etiquette. Part way through the meal the lord next to you leans over to ask, “And how do you find our city so far?”
Tasks:
1. Create a doll of/with a flower arrangement. This can be done in two manners. First, you can create your character holding an arrangement, using small drag and drop pieces to create it. Or, you can create a doll of jus the floral arrangement (the Pixie maker springs immediately to mind).
2. Create doll of your character in a tea party dress. This may be separate from or combined with the above doll. The dress should be relatively simple (though of course pretty and elegant ;) ) and in light colors.
3. Explain to Madam Issera why you created your flower arrangement. Don’t stress this part too much! You can explain why you chose the central flower, why you chose the color, why you juxtaposed the large and small blossoms… pretty much anything. It doesn’t have to be a great explanation. Not all of your characters are geared to thinking this way. And they will all have different ideas of what makes something “meaningful” (personal? regional pride? pride for the empire? royal?).
4. Give a reaction (one sentence is fine) to the tea party, and answer the lord’s question.
Third Task: Going Hunting
Prince Delt is a fan of hunting. One day he requests that all the contestants join his hunting party. So first, you need a riding outfit. Some regions allow or even encourage women to wear pants in practical situations such as horseback riding. Other regions do not. Bascalin allows women of lower birth to wear pants, but women of higher status are generally expected to always wear skirts or dresses. It is up to you whether you wear a riding outfit or dress.
Some of you are familiar with riding. Others of you have never been on a horse. Some of you might have never even seen a horse. But if you don’t want to be left at the palace, you are expected to learn fast. Happily, they give you a horse to match your skill. Luckily, royal hunting parties are as much about companionship as they are about actually capturing anything. Especially for the women. So the fact that most of you have never shot an arrow shouldn’t make too much of a difference.
The day is a little cooler than it has been, and the air is crisp. The forest is to the south east. It is not large; it’s main purpose is to allow hunting for the people (and royalty) of Basclin. It is kept well stocked with prey. The horns and howling beagles make the whole thing rather cacophonous. Throughout the day, Prince Delt takes the time to ride up to each girl individually and talk to them for a little while before riding off to rejoin the hunt. First, he comments on your riding ability with friendly mirth. He then asks you what sort of things you do for fun. After you answer he asks where your favorite place is. He then rides off again, leaving you to enjoy or hate the rest of the hunt as you will.
Tasks:
1. Create a doll of a riding outfit.
2. Describe your level of riding ability.
3. Mention whether you will succeed in or event attempt to participate in the hunting part of the hunt.
4. Answer Prince Delt’s questions. (What do you do for fun, and where is your favorite place?)
Fourth Task: The Menagerie
One day you are invited to explore the royal menagerie. It is filled with all sorts of creatures from around the Iande Empire and even beyond the empire’s borders. They are kept in cages, but it looks like every attempt has been made to keep them comfortable. The area around the cages is a essentially a botanical garden. The paths twist through all sorts of plants. The ceiling of small glass panes helps to keep heat in the room. It also allows for birds to remain without cages, flying free within the large enclosure.
You stop for a long time in front of your favorite animal that you have seen so far in the menagerie. While you are looking at it, Prince Tamd walks up to you. He waits until you notice him in an attempt not to startle him. When you do, he smiles sweetly and nods to the animal in front of you. “You like this animal?” You answer something in the affirmative, making Prince Tamd smile wider. “Tell me, why exactly do you like it?” Tamd reacts appropriately to your words and stays silent for some time, contemplating the animal. Finally he says quietly, “I wish I could let it go free. It seems so unfair to keep it locked up here for our amusement. But, of course, I’m not supposed to do that. And then, it’s been here in the palace so long, I don’t know if it even could survive on its own.”
After a moment he shakes himself and gives a small laugh. “Anyway, I would miss it if it were gone.” He turns to you fully. “What do you miss most about your home?” When you have finished, he responds and leaves you to enjoy the animals on your own.
Tasks:
1. Create a ‘doll’ of your character’s favorite animal in the menagerie. This can include your character or not, your choice. It can be a real animal or a made-up animal. Don’t stress about this! Don’t take hours on it! It can be terrible. I don’t mind. (For an example of just how bad it can be, see my imaginary animals doll, here: http://www.dolldivine.com/Pixie/GypsyMoth-1846680 .) Or you can hand draw it.
2. Really, the animal can be awful ;)
3. Respond to Tamd and answer his questions. (Why do you like this animal, and what do you miss about your home?)
Fifth Task: The Boating Luncheon
You are ( )ought to the royal docks for a boating outing. The boat is long and sleek, clearly not meant for long over-sea journeys. Bright red paint contrasts with gilded spirals and banisters. The top deck is covered by an awning with seats in clusters. Emperor Nixus is not present, but the princes are. Delt and Tamd make the rounds, chatting with various people as the boat glides north along the shore. Prince Prar mostly keeps to himself, reading a book near the stern of the boat. But if anyone attempts to engage him in conversation, he is polite and well spoken. Madam Issera is also present, trying to facilitate conversation between the girls.
The boat winds its way along the coast slowly. By noon you reach a lovely pavilion in the middle of a flower-filled meadow. The pavilion is incongruously grand, sitting here in the middle of nowhere. But despite its isolated location, there are already servants preparing food. You are ( )ought to a single long table where you are served a light meal of fruit and sandwiches. Once the meal has been served, Madam Issera clears her throat and makes an announcement.
“You might have noticed that there is no entertainment here. That is because you will be telling us stories. We would like each of you to tell a legend that is unique to your region. Would anyone like to begin?”
Tasks:
1. Come up with some sort of legend from your region. This can be as simple as describing a mystical creature unique to your region. It can be as complicated as an entire legend or story. Try to keep your region in mind when you come up with it.
2. Make a doll that somehow reflects your legend.
3. Ideas for legends: mystical creatures and cryptids (fairies, a yeti, werewolves…), origin stories (why the sun rises, where a certain flower comes from, why this bird makes this sound…), fairy tales (a story with magic), tall tales (exaggerated humorous stories), fables (short stories with a moral), or anything else that comes to mind. If you want to go the short route, just describe an animal said to haunt your woods/mountains/wherever.
Sixth Task: The Festival of Flowers
Spring weather came to Bascalin early this year, but the Festival of Flowers arrives when it always does. Most regions in the empire celebrate the coming of spring in one form or another, but the Bascalin Festival of Flowers is unique to the city. People of all ranks decorate their homes and shops with flowers and plant life. Young girls spend several days stitching together garlands of blooms, which they sell on festival day for a coin or two. The festival is a non-work day for almost everyone. The citizens of Bascalin gather in city squares wearing flowers in their clothes and hair. They celebrate with song and dance, good drink and better food.
In Sherra Palace the celebrations are of course a bit more subdued. The celebration begins when a flock of colorful birds is released to fly over the city. The rest of the day mostly involves strolls through the palace gardens to the accompaniment of skilled musicians who are arranged in groups of three to five in strategic places around the ground. The less guarded and younger of the courtiers may venture to dance along to the music. There is an egg painting contest, for those who wish to try their hand at the delicate art. The painted egg tradition comes from the north-west part of the empire, where a special few spend years perfecting the art. Here in Bascalin, it is more of a game to see who can create the prettiest designs during the festival. Another tradition is the weaving of small friendship bracelets from pale green and blue yarn. This is a tradition that began in Joltan, but quickly spread to the surrounding areas. In Joltan, different patterns dignify different things. There is a pattern for family members, a different one for friends, one for lovers, another for crushes, one for mentors and people you respect, and several other patterns. Outside of Joltan, people weave whatever pattern they can without meaning, and they are given to anyone, even strangers, as a sign of goodwill.
Prince Prar spends a long time at the egg painting tables, carefully working on his own design. When he leaves the tables, he becomes rather elusive, wandering around the gardens. Prince Delt is much easier to find. He happily dances with any young lady who is willing to join him. He has a wreath of bright yellow flowers on his head and a bright right bloom pinned to his chest. He does not look particularly princely, but he is laughing and clearly having fun. Prince Tamd spends most of the day wandering the grounds while weaving the colored yarn into a plethora of bracelets. He is also happily chatting with anyone who approaches him, and anyone he feels does not seem to be enjoying themselves enough.
On this day of celebration, there are no tasks, merely the opportunity to enjoy yourself in the festivities.
Tasks:
Complete one, any, or even all of the following options:
1. Create a doll of your festival dress. The dress itself can be almost anything (although dark colors would not be exceptionally appropriate), but there should be elements of flowers involved. Flower garlands, flower crowns, flower pins… Leaves and vines are also appropriate decorative choices. You can also add some of the blue and green yarn designs.
2. Create a painted egg using the Pasanky maker (http://www.dolldivine.com/pysanky-maker.php ). No guidelines, just have fun with it!
3. Approach one or more prince(s). Say something to them. Remark on the weather. Ask them a question. Comment on their painting/dancing/weaving abilities. Whatever you want. They will respond :) .
4. Describe how your character spends the day. Does she dance? Chat? A little bit of everything? Hide in her room with a book? |
