Without many ties to earth culture, the Mess lacks time for built in holiday celebrations. Several of us had fun with Tanksgiving in November, and I'd like to do something similar in late December, a festival in the style of Yule, Saturnalia, Chanukah... etc.
The main idea I've had so far is that for one night (or maybe more) the power goes out in Downwarp. No light, and no heat. Everyone gathers together, keeping close and making their own light, as dingy snow falls all around. Also, it seems to me, any solstice celebration shoud include an effort, symbolic or not, to help the in its return to the world.
So, there's some issued to resolve here:
- When should it be? It seems wise not to use any of the real busy holidays, since people will likely be off doing other things. But, close to the Solstice? Sometime between the 25th and the 31st?
- How long should it last? We let Tanksgiving spread out over five days, so it would be easier for people to get in on it regardless of RL plans. The could be done agaoin, perhaps. Not sure if several days of darkness would be interesting, or just tedious, though. Also, there'd likely still need to be a 'climax' day, for when the light comes (or is brought) back. So, it's still back to question 1.
- Some sort of legend for why it goes dark would be fun. This would be better than a real 'explanation', in my opinion, but I suppose that could be dealt with too, if someone wants to.
- More festival specifics, like most importantly, what's done to bring the light back.
I'd love to hear any ideas on all of this.
--Indi
- I'd suggest from Dec 26th to Jan 6 (the 11 days of darkness), so that the climax comes on Eleventh Night, and for some the celebrations continue through the next evening (like some people take all their Christmas decorations down the very next morning and others leave 'em up for a while). This would allow me to enjoy a proper Twelfth Night (which I never have) as spiritually-inclined types tell tales of ancient cycles to mark the passing of another power failure and let the rest of Downwarp just get on with business. I'd also suggest holding the main celebration in the Cyclotron Forest or Darkunder, so that power returning would be particularly impressive.
- I'd also suggest that the dates change if we do this from year to year, implying that the power fails on a somewhat irregular basis rather than just being shut off by Functional fiat. But an arbitrary rule like that probably oughta feature in at least one story.
-- Echo
- Re: date change - That's an interesting idea. :o) I'll hae to consider it some. I do feel that "The functions say so!" is a lousy reason for it to happen anyway. ;o) I'm just at a loss for a myth for it right now. -- Indi
- Piiish! If you're going to be bringing back the
sunlight, I'm going to eat it. Maybe I ate it in the first place. Maybe they tell big scary legends about big bad me consuming all the electricity in Down. Maybe they just be scared of me. Or maybe I just be cranky. ;)
-- Gamma
- Downwarp seems too self-sufficient for random Functional command to feel right on something as important to a tech-oriented area as the electricity. Could be just me, though. Tentative idea at Lies/Downwarp Solstice - Volarian
Zoe: |The Gift Taking: sentients huzzah at this time of the Now when other sentients offer up gifts of themselves to others, when the technobabble lies quiet. Oh, to remember the time when Mel gave his colour away. That was a hoot| OR/YET |When the tools wane and the blips and bloops of technology fade comes the Quiet Festival, when Parsefone and her consort the Hyades Cluster come forth from their H.E.L.L. Cartouche, with Sissy Fuss in tow, and give of themselves to you all.|
Incidentally, have any Topwarpers considered doing anything along the lines of a Traditional Victorian Christmas? --I
- I know this sounds weird but...how about no snow? How about obscene heat instead as air conditioners fail? Or even alternating, vast, strange weather patterns of chill or heat both? It may sound ridiculous, but...being an Australian, I get kind of tired of constantly RPing cold during a heatwave iRL for me! -- Silverblue
- I might consider random unpredictable weather, but, well.. three people independently mentioned heater-failure-snow when I discussed the initial idea of lights going out, so I have a feeling it'd get emphasized anyway. Personally, well, I'm stuck somewhere snowless for the first time this winter, so I'm rather looking forward to RPing some cold. But this doesn't have to be the only celebration, as I mentioned right up there--Maybe the Victorians can have a tropical Christmas for some reason? ;o) -- Indi
- Hee. Casting my mind back to the last summer's massive blackout across eastern North America, I wonder... with all the lights out, would there be anything visible in the sky, through all the smog? Would we be able to see the "Ceiling" of Downwarp? Also, digital critters might be affected, in whatever way their players deem interesting... corrupted backups, homelessness (the bank mainframe Mirq lives on would probably go down, for example), strange behaviour... --Amanita
"Aw, what the fuck? Can't get any fuckin' 2-4 if there's no power. This holiday sucks!" -- Godge
- "Just 'cause the powergrid's down doesn't mean that generators don't work. You'll get your fix somehow." -- Kayle
- "And, hey, I can provide some again. Maybe with other people around this time..." --Indi