It’s a special time of year and the sword army is invited to come down from their citadels and celebrate. What? A summer festival, an offering to the gods, or perhaps a special ceremony of sorts. The normally quiet, rural village at the foot of the mountains will transform for the night with lanterns, fireworks, and music all around but first! Some preparations need to be done. Did you really think you would be invited down here without having to do some work? Prepare to dance, prepare to sing, prepare for a night of fun.
1. CEREMONY PRACTICE
At the citadel, a new chore has been added to the list: ceremonial practice! The swords selected to perform at the festival will have to practice their song and dance or else they'll risk embarrassment in front of the crowds. Or maybe this entire thing is embarrassing... either way, this is your duty! Saniwa's orders! Where and when is up to you but you better be ready.
2. PREPARING THE OFFERINGS
Those who aren’t practicing have been going on a lot of expeditions lately, haven’t they? Some of the materials brought back from missions has been set aside to take to the festival and offer later. The same can be said for the crops in the field, the alcohol that is suddenly off limits, and ah… do you smell that food from the kitchen? Yeah, that isn’t for you either. These are offerings to the gods though so don’t you dare try to get greedy! Are you listening?!
3. SPECIAL CLOTHES
You can’t wear those same old clothes. They’re all torn and worn or just not appropriate at all for the type of festival you’re going to. The organization has all of your measurements and has sent special robes for the spirits and saniwa to wear. It even comes complete with accessories! What’s taking you so long? We should have left twenty minutes ago. Do you need help? Or are you trying to perfect your appearances for your big debut?
4. PERFORMANCE
Everyone is dancing and everyone is singing. Are you one of the performers? Or are they dancing to you? What kind of songs are you hearing? What dances are you watching? Did you see the ceremonial sword dance? Or maybe you were invited to dance in a special performance with your saniwa! When the performance is over, make sure to congratulate the performers on a job well done… or tease your friend.
5. PAY RESPECTS
After the festive ceremonies, a more somber moment takes place. Remember, we are fighting a war and it’s important to remember those that have fallen. The swords that were broken and damaged beyond repair are gathered up and taken to a sacred fire so that their spirits can be purified and reborn. Later, all of those offerings you have been saving are offered up to the gods for their blessings. One by one, you can come up to the shrine or fire and say your prayers.
6. SPECIAL SUMMONING
What better day to summon a sword spirit on the day you’ve made offerings to the gods and have prayed for good fortune? Maybe it’s a first-time saniwa summoning their first spirit or a veteran saniwa trying their luck. Maybe a saniwa has tried to purify a particularly corrupt sword tonight... Either way, a special spirit is going to be born tonight. Are you the spirit? Happy summoning day to you all.
7. FESTIVITIES
The ceremonies are finally over! Wow, that sure took up a lot of time, huh? There are still a couple of more hours left in the night so enjoy the festivities. Try the food, play the shooting games, win a couple of prizes. How many goldfish can you catch? Or maybe the important question is: How are you going to take care of this goldfish? At the end of the night, you can catch the fireworks before the night ends.
8. WILDCARD
Pick your own adventure.
This is a meme inspired by this plurk. What if the saniwa had to perform other duties besides just summoning swords to fight? What if they had to take part in special ceremonies? What if they had to invite their swords to perform with them? Feel free to get as creative as you want with this prompt as far as things like: Why are they celebrating? How often do they get to leave the citadel? Etc.
[He's so focused on his practice, Yamanbagiri almost didn't notice Ookurikara. It's when he turns around during one of the steps - it looks almost graceful, even - that he finally sees him. Yamanbagiri suddenly stops and stares, and he can feel himself getting self conscious yet again.]
[He hadn't been there for too long. Ookurikara did't mean to startle the other sword, but Yamanbagiri without his cloak was a rare sight, so he had paused a little to watch was he was doing. He didn't take it off even at the battlefield, after all.]
[It say something about Yamanbagiri's skill if he can fight effectively with his cloak and hood on. There are very few situations where he would take it off, and the upcoming ceremony turns out to be one of them.]
Yes. I'm chosen for it. [Who knows what the master was thinking, selecting Yamanbagiri. There are other swords who would be more qualified for this role.] At the moment, I'm in the middle of practice.
[Ookurikara is probably one of the swords who doesn't care about his status as a replica, but Yamanbagiri still feel a little awkward. It's because of the idea of being watched during his practice.]
[Yamanbagiri is right, Ookurikara doesn't care about his status, being a mumeitou himself. It's the skill in battle that he respects, and that the other sword has.
Another good thing about Yamanbagiri is that he isn't nosy and loud like most words in the citadel. He understands the need for some privacy, and Ookurikara realizes he might not want to be watched.]
Go on, I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll practice at the courtyard.
[He nods, waiting for Ookurikara to leave. But then, he have a thought and he pauses, looking at the other sword. A thought that leads to another one, so it would be better to have them together, so...]
However... I don't mind if you practice here as well. [Ookurikara's presence is probably one of the handful Yamanbagiri doesn't mind, because he's not judgemental or annoying.] And...
[The urge to look away and hide himself is still strong, but he stand his ground and look at Ookurikara.]
... If you don't mind pointing out any mistakes I may make.
[He had already turned to go somewhere else when Yamanbagiri spoke again. Ookurikara usually preferred to practice on his own, but as everyone was practicing their dances at every corner of the citadel, the dojo was probably the only not-crowded place. And Yamanbagiri was a company he didn't mind, to be honest.
Ookurikara got back inside the dojo and stood at some distance from the blonde, leaving enough room for them both to move without risking to bump into each other.]
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130bladeworks2015-08-14 04:05 pm
Re: 1
... Ookurikara-san.
[How long have he been watching?]
no subject
You are performing at the ceremony.
no subject
Yes. I'm chosen for it. [Who knows what the master was thinking, selecting Yamanbagiri. There are other swords who would be more qualified for this role.] At the moment, I'm in the middle of practice.
[Ookurikara is probably one of the swords who doesn't care about his status as a replica, but Yamanbagiri still feel a little awkward. It's because of the idea of being watched during his practice.]
no subject
Another good thing about Yamanbagiri is that he isn't nosy and loud like most words in the citadel. He understands the need for some privacy, and Ookurikara realizes he might not want to be watched.]
Go on, I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll practice at the courtyard.
no subject
[He nods, waiting for Ookurikara to leave. But then, he have a thought and he pauses, looking at the other sword. A thought that leads to another one, so it would be better to have them together, so...]
However... I don't mind if you practice here as well. [Ookurikara's presence is probably one of the handful Yamanbagiri doesn't mind, because he's not judgemental or annoying.] And...
[The urge to look away and hide himself is still strong, but he stand his ground and look at Ookurikara.]
... If you don't mind pointing out any mistakes I may make.
no subject
Ookurikara got back inside the dojo and stood at some distance from the blonde, leaving enough room for them both to move without risking to bump into each other.]
Fine. I'll tell you if I see something wrong.