Llinos

[align=center]Come lovers of story and song, of beauty and passion[/align] [align=center] To a special preview of a romance told across the heavens A re-telling of the classic Yanxian legend, only at the Moon Viewing. https://78.media.tumblr.com/b0428da82fe4d9a11683ced4bf12247b/tumblr_inline_ozu2i7YK961ujspou_540.png[/img] Written and Directed by Dylan Thorne Produced by the Genko Chaya Featuring the singing talents of The lovely ladies of WYNG - Wendy, Daliqara and Gwen and Willow Martell of the Genko Chaya and the captivating dancing of X’inay Tia and Kitani Tayuun, LuckySparrow Entertainment Lexy Clarke, the Golden Saucer and Sela Wyssrael, Palazzo Aldenard The Fallen Star will be coming to the Heated Hearth Stage in Ul’dah thisSpring.[/align]

Updated the post - there is now a deadline for entering the contest. Please poke myself or Kuzhuk with information about who is in your team (doesn't have to be three people, can be less if one of you is doubling up on your role as poet, designer or model). I just don't want to run into too much last minute madness as I'd like to be able to plan a rehearsal prior to the event. People planning to sign on as entertainers or vendors have a bit longer to contact us for signing up.

[align=center][/align] (DEADLINE FOR ENTERING CONTEST 11/24) Otsukimi refers to the celebration of honoring the autumn moon. Aristocrats would gather to recite poetry under the full moon, usually on boats or by the waterside to observe the moon's reflection. While observing her beauty, It is also traditionally a ceremony of thankfulness for the heaven's bounty and hope for a good harvest, and even when the moon is not shining bright over the proceedings, the ceremony still takes place. We will be celebrating the heaven's bounty in a night of appreciation of her serenity and beauty. As the moon inspires such virtues, so shall we revel... Opening Ceremony __________________________ The celebration will open with prayers, thanking the heavens for their bounty and prayers for a good harvest for the next year. Entertainment & Food _________________________ Throughout the event we will have entertainers to charm and delight. Vendors may also choose to cater to this event, serving sake and sweet rice treats for revelers or other offerings for the occasion. Poetry in Motion: Fashion & Poetry Contest ________________________________________________ Take a poem and breathe life into it through the soft billows of fabric and the shimmer of bead-work... Designers may pair with a poet or they may make a poem themselves and from that poem they design a creation to match. Poems and designs will be judged together based on composition (of the poem and the design) and how well the poem and creation match each other. The contest's theme shall be 'Under the Veil of Night.' This is to keep the subject matter broad for the designers and their poems, the subject can be about anything from nature, emotion, or imagination that uses imagery relating to the night. Poems will be written in the genre known as tanka, as is the popular custom for Moon Viewing celebrations. Tanka consists of five lines, following the pattern of 5-7-5-7-7 for how many syllables for each line. Example: In gray silk brocade, (5 syllables) The moon eagerly lingers (7 syllables) Straining to listen (5 syllables) To the revelry below (7 syllables) The first notes of heart's desire. (7 syllables) The contest will consist of the poet reading their work, the model walking the design for all to see, and the designer then speaking on their creation and the inspiration behind its details. The top three winners will have their poem and design published in The Crystal Chronicle, along with 500,000 gil to first place, 250,000 to second and 100,000 to third. The first place winner will also get to design a costume for the Genko Chaya's upcoming play! If you are interested in volunteering for the opening ceremony, entertainment, vendor or entering the competition please post your intent in the topic or feel free to contact Llinos Silvernail (Discord: Llinos#2108 ) or Kuzhuk Anchin (Discord: Wemrys#7268).

And all spots are filled for archery. Sign-ups are now closed.

Everything has been updated! If you are volunteering at this event as a vendor, entertainer or priest - please use the 'Looking to Meld' sign so people may easily identify you! There is only ONE slot left for Kyudo, then we will be closing it.

And added! Ten more slots left, though I may shorten that to five.

And added! To let people be aware: 1) Performers: You will not be required to perform on a schedule. Rather, you will be wandering the festival freely. 2) You may sign up for more than one thing if you can manage it! If you want to compete and perform, vendor or do priestly things/fortune-tell, you may certainly do so! 3) Archery competition will likely start an hour into the festival. Still need more archers and priests!

[align=center][/align] [align=center]Presented by Genko Chaya & Khokanchin Mercantile [map of festivities] Bentbranch Meadows, Central Shroud 25th Sun of Nald'thal (10/25), 7 PM (EST)[/align] Also known as the Hungry Ghost festival in some of the villages of Yanxia, this time of year is one to be wary of hungry and wandering spirits who have been forgotten in tributes or died in anguish. It is said that at a certain time each year the realm of the hungry ghosts opens briefly and they are free to roam our world where they seek food, drink and entertainment. Sacred Altar An altar will be placed where food and drink may be placed as offerings. Festival goers may also offer paper money and paper objects depicting real life luxuries and goods – such as paper houses – to burn to send to the afterlife for any ancestors to enjoy. Incense may also be lit for prayers of prosperity. Diviners or priests will be stationed around the altar to give advice on questions of the unknown as well as help you send your offerings with prayer. [align=center]Chrysanthemum Festival Priests & Diviners[/align] [align=center]Tendou no Osunagashi, Trained Doman Priestess[/align] [align=center]Chae-Rin, Shaman-Priestess of Shenlang[/align] [align=center]Sunsgerel, Udgan of the Monsaran[/align] [align=center]Nobuaux Zantou, Hingan Onmoyji[/align] Entertainment and Apparel To protect festival-goers from the mischief of wandering and hungry spirits, they are urged to wear a mask to confuse spirits or to wear a chrysanthemum, the flower of purity. Entertainment will be available to provide amusement for all, as well as provide distraction to the spirits, keeping their greed and jealousy of the living at bay. [align=center]Chrysanthemum Festival Entertainment[/align] [align=center]Kasumi Gakunin (Traditional Eastern Folk)[/align] [align=center]Lady Hiensou (Doman Musician and Performer)[/align] [align=center]Wenn Dh'i (Performer)[/align] Merchant Stalls Chrysanthemum wine, food to enjoy as well as to offer to the dead, and any other festive treats and trinkets may be sold to add to the celebrations and ceremony. [align=center]Chrysanthemum Festival Vendors[/align] [align=center] Midnight Pearl - Trinkets and Treasures Golden Fox Trade House - Eastern Luxuries and Festival Goods (joss/hell money, masks, Eastern papercraft)[/align] Kyudo – Competition and Ceremony The art of the bow is important to spiritual and moral growth. It is the goal of kyudo to reach the state of shin-zen-bi, or “truth-goodness-beauty” which roughly translates to “when archers shoot correctly (truthfully) with a virtuous attitude towards all persons and all things which relate to kyudo (goodness), beautiful shooting is realized naturally.” Many kyudo practitioners believe that competition, examination and any opportunity that places the archer in an uncompromising situation is important to fostering this growth. Competitors will use sacred birch longbows provided by Khokanchin Mercantile. It is said the plucking of the sacred bow’s strings alone will help dispel evil, but it is also said that the sound of the arrow hitting its target transmits the courage of the archer to the audience, protecting them. The archer that shoots their target the truest will be awarded the title of High Priest of the Festival and given a crown dyed in the auspicious colors of red and gold to mark their achievement. Second place and their place will respectively get to choose from offerings of auspicious animal companions: A road sparrow whose tune is so pure it is said to bring good luck to the owner, or a cat, affectionately called Momiji, with a rare pattern on its coat shaped like maple leaves, a symbol of elegance and beauty. End of Ceremony At the end of the evening, lanterns are lit and sent out on the water or up in the air to guide the wandering spirits back to their realm. Legend states that when the light goes out, the spirit has found their way home. (Players are welcome to use their sun minion to indicate lantern-lighting.) SEEKING All volunteers are able to volunteer for more than one thing if you think you can manage it - you can entertain, vendor, act as a priest and compete if you are able (or any combination of roles). So don't hesitate to sign up for more than one thing if you feel you can and want to! Diviners & Priests – Scryers, palm or card readers, or priests - any who can be present to help make sense of the unknown are wanted. Diviners/priests will be stationed around the altar and help people send their offerings with prayer and/or give curious festival-goers a reading. Those with the ability may offer to read their fortune or scry messages, whatever skills you may have. If you are simply just a devout person who wishes to offer assistance with sending prayers and advice, this is perfectly acceptable too! Entertainment – Singers, Dancers, Performers. All entertainment will float around the event, entertaining the festival-goers. We will not be requiring performers to come prepared with an act to fill in any sort of 'time slot.' However, we can make arrangements if you desire to put on a scheduled performance, just be sure to ask and let us know! Merchant Stalls – Want to offer sacred chrysanthemum wine or chrysanthemums for wearing? Food and drink for the altar or festival goers? Or paper offerings? Or perhaps you have other trinkets and baubles to sell? We would love to have you at the festival to provide these interactions for folks! All volunteers may, of course, take breaks to enjoy the festival yourself. If you’re interested in offering something to the event, please contact either Kuzhuk Anchin (Discord: Wemrys#7268) or Llinos Silvernail (Discord: Llinos#2108). KYUDO RULES & SIGN UPS Competitors will compete in groups of five until we have one winner from each group. One group will compete after the other. In each group, the DM will call out a number and the competitors will roll a number that either meets or exceeds the number called out to gain a point. In the event ALL competitors fail to meet or exceed the number, the highest roll of the bunch wins the point. There will be three rounds (or more if a tie breaker is needed, but only the tying parties will compete), after which the winner is the one with the most points. The three finalists will compete by having a single roll off and the winning order is decided by who has the highest roll, the second highest roll and the third highest roll. First place will be awarded a Taoist Cap of red and gold (original color) to wear throughout the festival if they desire. Second place will get their choice between a Road Sparrow minion or a Fat Cat (each with their own flavor of how auspicious they are). Third place will take what's left. Please post in the topic or contact Llinos Silvernail or Kuzhuk Anchin if you desire to compete. Once all spots are filled we will close sign ups. [align=center]Group 1[/align] [align=center]Dylan Thorne[/align] [align=center]Chae-Rin[/align] [align=center]Obsidian[/align] [align=center]O'piqoi Tenbe[/align] [align=center]Garret Khard[/align] [align=center]Akemi Yuzuka[/align] [align=center]Group 2[/align] [align=center]Keiho Jizutsu[/align] [align=center]Harai Jhune[/align] [align=center]Aisha Nejem[/align] [align=center]Seye Qhesu[/align] [align=center]Ellmida Westrose[/align] [align=center]Group 3[/align] [align=center]Kitsuno Ishida Yui Kato[/align] [align=center]Tuyaa Dataq[/align] [align=center]Nobuaux Zantou Aysa Farland [/align]

[align=center]Next Auction Will Be On . . . 10/12 @ 7 PM EST[/align] The ledger linked in the items post will keep track of how much gil was spent the last time. So those of you that blew all your 100k, you'll be starting the auction week with just 100k (or less, according to your character's means), while all others who saved some gil will get an additional 100k on top of what they didn't spend (or less if you feel they would not have the means). Please be responsible about this as we will be relying on faith during the auction for what people spend (and what we know of previous spenders from what's recorded on the ledger). We don't want to have to babysit people's RP, this is all just for fun and connections after all. [align=center]_________________________________________________________[/align] Market Report (9/18): Last auction saw a trend towards luxury items (jewels and gems), custom gifts, and intimate dinners as well as curios with the promise of adventure and fortune. [align=center]♦ ♦ ♦[/align] Suggestions: We're still feeling out the market, but as we've seen, gifts are a good way to go - trinkets, baubles, custom goods. Dinner for two also seemed to be a treat people desired to indulge in, but it may be because the item itself can be offered either as a romantic gesture or an opportunity to simply get to know a person better. The real trend seems to be about gestures and opportunities. But there's no harm in throwing a few curve balls to see what sticks - commodities, services, anything from potions to botany or mining resources. And, of course, the offer of an adventure. We'll definitely want to showcase a few more of those this next auction. It's also a good way to get your Free Company, business or organization some good publicity and notice. People would have the opportunity to work with you and/or your group through such a venture and may lend itself in turn to new connections. It may also present a good opportunity to give potential recruits a test-run. Remember to give us your suggested starting bid! However, if you are uncertain, feel free to leave it blank and we will offer one for you.

A Sales Ledger has been added to the list of auction items for people to peruse. A market trend report will go up after each auction and before the next to alert potential tradesman and craftsman as to what sold particularly well to help them decide what items or services to put up for the next auction. New rules have been added for the next auction: 1) While the limit on winning bids will still be two for the most part, on bigger purchases (100k+), please limit yourself to just the one. While you may have the financial backing of several FC-mates, please be courteous to others who would like to have a shot at obtaining an item for themselves or their FC. 2) Please do not jump the shark on bids. Let us keep the starting bid where it is and let the competition take its course naturally. While it may seem more efficient to go ahead and throw out as much as you can right off the bat, part of the fun for others is getting to participate in helping build the momentum. After analyzing last night, we will keep the item list down to six items maximum for the sake of time to help with keeping bids from jumping too high too fast. Any extra items we get as submissions will be saved for the next auction. Also, be sure to give us a starting bid suggestion when sending us your item! Otherwise, we can name a starting bid for you. We are now accepting new items to offer for bid and any other interested entertainment!

Next, we have our next commission with live instruments, this one featuring cello and violin and I looooove that we got to work with cello, it's one of my favorite instruments! This theme is for the FFXIV character Rosalin Menoly. The theme was meant to explore her story. When the Calamity took her life, her family, her home, that should have been that. But it wasn't. Shards that pierced her, embedded in her, pulsed with energy, awakening her...and this is the aftermath and after. The cello pulses erratically, simulating the unstable energies bringing her back to life, the violin is the devastation of realizing that everything she knew and loved is gone and she's alone. Rosalin Menoly moves about as if not part of the realm, she's a ghost, lingering when she feels she shouldn't be. The theme goes on to explore her trying to discover what her second chance means, the slow and steady appreciation that there is still beauty left, and the shame and guilt of feeling she doesn't deserve it. The song resolves when she finally determines she is not a ghost, but a guardian and if she must go on it will be for selfless purposes, protecting what beauty and life is left after the Calamity. We wanted to convey a melancholy and haunted feeling in the sound yet keep elements of refinement and grace. Rosalin comes from a distinguished background and even though it's gone, that pride in her past lingers in her bearing, how she gracefully shoulders on despite how difficult it can be when she barely feels human or connected to the world around her. But there's warmth there, in what connections and beauty she finds. 1Kzp1NiX0s8

Thanks so much to the kind responses we got! Sorry it took me a while to get to updating this. I'm really excited to share this one, our first commissioned piece using LIVE violin! We finally have an example to show those that are interested in going with this route. It took a while, between getting ourselves familiar with how to write for a live string instrument and then our violinist had to relocate from Vietnam back to Europe and then in-between all that, too, he also won a composing award and had to travel to California... But it was such an amazing opportunity to hear what our music sounds like with live instruments and we really have to thank Shay for that awesome opportunity. This song was commissioned for a SWTOR character, the next one will be Final Fantasy and will utilize live violin again AND live cello and we're already in the process of mixing it and it's amaaaazing. Here's what the song sounds like without the live violin and just our mock-up: https://app.box.com/s/gb1zb4yic60s0uuu5hr9t6km0xjrov7r And here it is with the live violin! OwertpFFFL0

Our first anime-styled commission! Eeee! I've been excited about THIS commission for a while. Book commissioned us for a few songs, but two of them presented us with a genre we've been wanting to dip our feet into for a while --- 90's Anime! The commission was for a theme for a Sailor Moon themed guild. I've only recently gotten my husband into anime over the last few years but one thing that always drew him in was the vastly different style of music not just in their pop and rock genres but even their classical style of arrangement. There's something very whimsical and emotional in each and we wanted to see if we could capture some of that with both a retro anime and modern pop anime sound. We used a few synthy instruments (synth choir, for instance), piano percussion and even a Victorian music box on top of some weaving of classical and pop-style violin bowing. Mat describes it best in his description below - feel free to give it a read for a peak behind our process! For those curious, a few inspirations for the piece were definitely watching Evangelion, Re:Zero, Madoka, to name just a few... Qh-KTX_bgFQ

And TOR Wemrys' song is finished, just in time for his birthday! Next up will be Shay's and featuring live violin performance! Ah, this was an experience. Mat and I have delved into a new style for our orchestral pieces, sticking to a cohesive sound rather than having the song change up mid-piece. We've improved on our writing for the music, a lot more complex techniques to make the most out of a more intimate sound. We didn't use a full orchestra - that is, we used strings, percussion, woodwinds and the like but for the brass? Only one. French horn. This is done to kind of make it into an inner voice or feeling for the character and to give a sense of loneliness, longing, nobility... The song was for the character I originally met Wem's RPer on, his Star Wars version of Wemrys. And as such I wanted the song to sound very Star Warsy. Here's an excerpt from my Enjin wall explaining that process: That was when posting the WIP, which you can hear right here: https://app.box.com/s/adg7j9p9ykleqgv0mttmuckmp11mjkky But here's the full, complete deal and a detailed analysis of the process/thoughts/inspirations. Happy birthday, Wem!

Updated the list on the first post for who's pieces get done when and in what order for those wanting to know - also, added the note that we're finishing up a deadline on a project, so we will be free to work on the commissions after April 8th (here's to hoping there's no delays). Also, slots are still open and wil remain open until we just can't.