I don't suppose anyone remembers last year's Purim RP? It was basically a fun sort of thing where every single resident and affiliate of HQ got an invitation to a Purim party, and was invited to come in costume. It was a lot of fun, as I remember--so why not do it again this year? Today is Purim, after all, and Shushan Purim is tomorrow (or today, if you're Desdendelle/in Desdendelle's timezone or somewhere similar). Why not make it a potentially temporary annual event?
Purim, essentially, is a Jewish holiday that happens once a year, and is full of fun. There is traditionally a feast (or festive meal), we dress up in costumes, there are Purim shpiels (that is, short, funny, amateur performances of the Purim story), drinking is actually encouraged (for those who want to), and we give gifts of food/candy (and often drinks) to our friends. Giving money to charity is also part of the holiday, and the hamantaschen (cookies, yum!) that we eat apparently helped to spawn an annual debate among PhD holders, which is just about the best thing I've ever heard. (The link has some short extracts from the debates, which are pretty funny). In short, it makes for a rather fun RP atmosphere!
So, what do you say? Shall we embark upon a second Purim RP?
The Rules/guidelines are the same as last year:
-Everyone is welcome. That means new agents, old agents, reluctant agents, enthusiastic agents, agents who wandered in by mistake...everyone. It also means minis, kids, and possibly pets. Free-To-Use Agents are also good.
-This is newbie-inclusive! While I know some newbies (often depending on just how new they are) have agents they're thinking about, many other newbies don't--and, well, this is Purim. It's a party. Everyone should be able to come! So...everyone includes Boarders, with the condition that you're incognito! Pretend to be your costumes, pretend to be newly-recruited agents, whatever you like--as long as you remember that the vast majority of PPC HQ's inhabitants don't know the Board exists (and would forget if they found out). Of course, this isn't just for newbies; if you're not a newbie and you really, really want to, write yourself in! The same rules apply, though. (This didn't really happen last time, apart from one exception that I know about, but it's definitely still open!)
-On canon-compliance: this one is up to you. For my part, I consider most of what my agents get up to in this as canon, to the point of working the occasional reference into various works in progress. Referencing without much detail is also a potential thing--for example, "That was quite the party, wasn't it?" "Yeah, I think my mini was organizing an army to annex the food tables at one point." "What, seriously? I didn't even notice." "Neither did I, until I got hungry." ...Anyway, you can call this canon or not (or anything in between) for your agents as you wish. It's entirely up to you.
-Have fun! It is Purim, after all, and Purim is a time for celebration. So let's celebrate!
Fellow Boarders--let's have a party.
/Exits stage right, throwing hamantaschen/.
~DF
PS: And so it begins:
"Sister!" Naergondir, SIELU agent and Noldorin Elf, ducked under a tree branch and grabbed his sword from the response center's floor. "Sister, are you prepared?"
Gurnirel, Naergondir's partner, slipped barefoot through the RC's foliage until she stood in his line of sight. "Meldaner, it is you who insisted on forging gems that glow. If not for that, we should have left long since. The festival will have begun without us."
Naergondir attached the sword to his belt, and straightened his tunic. "Saileldë," he said firmly, "costumes are encouraged. Should I not strive for accuracy?"
Gurnirel pursed reddened lips. "If you wish for accuracy, dear brother," she replied, and shook back the golden curls of her hair, "you should not have made them; for the Silmarilli were taken from Fëanor, and we do not know of anyone who has dressed as one of his foes."
"Indeed," Naergondir said, "but sister, false Silmarilli only add to this pretense. He did wear them upon occasion in Aman."
"This," said Gurnirel quietly, "is not the blessed land. And you are no prince of the Noldor."
Naergondir's mouth twisted briefly. "Indeed not," he said slowly, "and for that I am grateful. But come. We must hasten, if we are to taste the delicacies." And he began to wend his way through to the door.
"And have you your 'Silmarilli'?" Gurnirel asked. She followed him, curled hair bouncing lightly on the shoulders of her Hobbit gown as she moved. "'Twould be a shame to have spent so long making them only to forget them here."
Naergondir shook his dark-haired head. "They are here, sister," he said, and patted a belt pouch. "They are safe." He reached the door, and cast her an amused look. "Saileldë, do not question my costume further. I have elected to dress as a gifted Noldo who came to grief; you, dear one, have dressed yourself as a Halfling. Both of our choices could easily be questioned."
"Aye," said the elleth dryly, and opened the door, "but mine, at least, is the less likely to cause offense." She smiled at him, and stepped out the door with falsely hairy feet. "Come, brother. Let us attend this 'Purim' festival."
Naergondir followed her, and closed the RC door behind them. "Yes," he said quietly. "Let us away to this festival. No doubt there will be much to explore..."
And with that, the Calaquendi burst into the latest on their list of silly songs, and began to walk. Two clear voices bounced off the walls around them as they went:
"Ohhh once there was a wicked, wicked man
"And his name it was Haman!"*
--
*To the tune of "For Tonight We'll Merry, Merry Be". Not my invention.
