(( A huge thankyou to my beloved Cass for this lovely setting for our Ball ))
As you make your way towards the tavern, you'll reach the entrance to a dense forest where a stony path is broken up with a mix of dirt and cracked stones. The forest here is dense, and often dark in places, though these days it is much quieter than it used to be. Almost hidden completely within, is a rich and very large deep lake. The area around this lake is a great contrast to the rest of the forest. It is here that the first signs show, of the grand time about to be had. As you pick your way among the trees, you can begin to notice little spots of coloured lights ahead of you, flickering slightly. As you move closer towards the lake, you can see that these lights are in fact candles, sitting in coloured glass holders and strung up in the tree branches as decoration. Coming out of the forest, you can see the great lake now frozen solid to serve as an extensive dancing area. Around the lake is festooned with candles in holders on sticks and flickering torches, making the area bright and vibrant with colour. Overhead, ribbons of all shades have been strung in the trees as streamers, some stretching between the branches and weaving in and out of them. Even scraps of brightly coloured fabrics have been used to adorn these usually dull and drab looking trees. Somehow, perhaps by magic, there is an enormous bonfire in the direct centre of the lake. How it doesn't melt the ice is any ones guess, but the wood is piled high, with rich flames rising up with soft crackles and pops. The the light from the flames is and warmth from the fire is enough to light the entire lake up, even without the addition of the other lighted adornments.
Several large wooden poles have been set up around the outside of the lake, and from those poles, string has been hung. The strings stretch over the lake, from pole to pole in a seemingly random fashion. More streams of ribbon and coloured glass candle holders have been strung from these poles, the candles flickering softly inside. Off to one side is a small wooden dais set up and adorned in much the same manner. A group of musicians are seen to be set up on this dais, though they change throughout the night, there is usually always some sort of music coming from the dais. Over near another edge of the lake several large tables have been set up in a long line, with coloured cloths spread over them. On these tables are a small assortment of drinks and food, to keep people going during the festivities, if they don't want to trek back to the tavern and miss out on the dancing.
The night is clear and crisp, though a tough cold, is is not unbearably so. The sky is cloudless and the moon is at its fullest, sitting slightly lower in the sky so that it appears a little larger than usual. The light from the full moon shines even more light onto the lake below, making the ice seem to glisten under its glare. As you leave the lake, should that be your desire, you find a winding pathway leading back through the forest. This path, usually so dark and hidden, is now line with small flickering candles in glass jars and balls. More of them hang in the trees to guide your way and ensure you don't get lost. The path winds around and twists so that eventually you lose sight of the lake, but the sounds still drift over on the clear air. The light of the bonfire can still barely be seen, though the trees make it hard to see.
Suddenly you round another corner and the trees break away to reveal a tavern seemingly in the middle of nowhere. There are boxes with flowers in bloom around the windows, perhaps enchanted to grow for this occasion by magic, who could say. The building itself is a traditional wooden tavern, with great oaken beams crossing this way and that. Strips of coloured cloth and ribbon have been hung all around this great building, candles being hung from the eaves. Nothing is overdone, it's all decorated very tastefully but designed to liven the spirits during this time of celebration.
Pushing past the heavy oak doors, with their many years of wear, you enter the tavern at last. Inside there are round tables, square tables, triangle tables, and oblong tables galore. Each filled with stools and chairs and lit with more candles or lanterns on the tables and set into sconces on the walls. In the centre of the large main room is a great open fireplace, which warms both halves of the room, as well as adding a cheerful glow to the place. Several tables have been pushed together, more from some store room somewhere, as they never used to be here before. Mis-matched cloths have been draped over them, and more food has been set out for people to help themselves to. There is a friendly looking innkeeper behind the bar, ready to take any order for any drink, for he carries more drinks than can be listed. Serving girls weave their way through the people, dressed in their very best on this night.
The festivities spill over into other rooms, much like this main one but smaller in side. There are two staircases that go from the main room. One leads up into a large balcony and more seating areas, the other leads up to the rooms the tavern has for the many travellers who wander by. The balcony looks over the main common room below, but also has a section which opens into a balcony on the outside of the tavern. This balcony has been expertly placed, so that it overlooks a dip in the treeline. From this spot, you can get an excellent view of the ongoing celebrations by the lake, with the lake itself being completely visible, courtesy of the bonfire. The other stairs leading to the rooms above is quiet now, but will see more traffic as the night draws to a close. The rooms vary in comfort, as well as size. All the ones with the best views have already been booked up in preparation for this grand celebration.
Welcome tonight, to the Mystic Tavern Ball – “Mystic Magic”, where we celebrate new beginnings, remember the days of old; old friends, old times and breathe life back into this most mystic of places.
As you make your way towards the tavern, you'll reach the entrance to a dense forest where a stony path is broken up with a mix of dirt and cracked stones. The forest here is dense, and often dark in places, though these days it is much quieter than it used to be. Almost hidden completely within, is a rich and very large deep lake. The area around this lake is a great contrast to the rest of the forest. It is here that the first signs show, of the grand time about to be had. As you pick your way among the trees, you can begin to notice little spots of coloured lights ahead of you, flickering slightly. As you move closer towards the lake, you can see that these lights are in fact candles, sitting in coloured glass holders and strung up in the tree branches as decoration. Coming out of the forest, you can see the great lake now frozen solid to serve as an extensive dancing area. Around the lake is festooned with candles in holders on sticks and flickering torches, making the area bright and vibrant with colour. Overhead, ribbons of all shades have been strung in the trees as streamers, some stretching between the branches and weaving in and out of them. Even scraps of brightly coloured fabrics have been used to adorn these usually dull and drab looking trees. Somehow, perhaps by magic, there is an enormous bonfire in the direct centre of the lake. How it doesn't melt the ice is any ones guess, but the wood is piled high, with rich flames rising up with soft crackles and pops. The the light from the flames is and warmth from the fire is enough to light the entire lake up, even without the addition of the other lighted adornments.
Several large wooden poles have been set up around the outside of the lake, and from those poles, string has been hung. The strings stretch over the lake, from pole to pole in a seemingly random fashion. More streams of ribbon and coloured glass candle holders have been strung from these poles, the candles flickering softly inside. Off to one side is a small wooden dais set up and adorned in much the same manner. A group of musicians are seen to be set up on this dais, though they change throughout the night, there is usually always some sort of music coming from the dais. Over near another edge of the lake several large tables have been set up in a long line, with coloured cloths spread over them. On these tables are a small assortment of drinks and food, to keep people going during the festivities, if they don't want to trek back to the tavern and miss out on the dancing.
The night is clear and crisp, though a tough cold, is is not unbearably so. The sky is cloudless and the moon is at its fullest, sitting slightly lower in the sky so that it appears a little larger than usual. The light from the full moon shines even more light onto the lake below, making the ice seem to glisten under its glare. As you leave the lake, should that be your desire, you find a winding pathway leading back through the forest. This path, usually so dark and hidden, is now line with small flickering candles in glass jars and balls. More of them hang in the trees to guide your way and ensure you don't get lost. The path winds around and twists so that eventually you lose sight of the lake, but the sounds still drift over on the clear air. The light of the bonfire can still barely be seen, though the trees make it hard to see.
Suddenly you round another corner and the trees break away to reveal a tavern seemingly in the middle of nowhere. There are boxes with flowers in bloom around the windows, perhaps enchanted to grow for this occasion by magic, who could say. The building itself is a traditional wooden tavern, with great oaken beams crossing this way and that. Strips of coloured cloth and ribbon have been hung all around this great building, candles being hung from the eaves. Nothing is overdone, it's all decorated very tastefully but designed to liven the spirits during this time of celebration.
Pushing past the heavy oak doors, with their many years of wear, you enter the tavern at last. Inside there are round tables, square tables, triangle tables, and oblong tables galore. Each filled with stools and chairs and lit with more candles or lanterns on the tables and set into sconces on the walls. In the centre of the large main room is a great open fireplace, which warms both halves of the room, as well as adding a cheerful glow to the place. Several tables have been pushed together, more from some store room somewhere, as they never used to be here before. Mis-matched cloths have been draped over them, and more food has been set out for people to help themselves to. There is a friendly looking innkeeper behind the bar, ready to take any order for any drink, for he carries more drinks than can be listed. Serving girls weave their way through the people, dressed in their very best on this night.
The festivities spill over into other rooms, much like this main one but smaller in side. There are two staircases that go from the main room. One leads up into a large balcony and more seating areas, the other leads up to the rooms the tavern has for the many travellers who wander by. The balcony looks over the main common room below, but also has a section which opens into a balcony on the outside of the tavern. This balcony has been expertly placed, so that it overlooks a dip in the treeline. From this spot, you can get an excellent view of the ongoing celebrations by the lake, with the lake itself being completely visible, courtesy of the bonfire. The other stairs leading to the rooms above is quiet now, but will see more traffic as the night draws to a close. The rooms vary in comfort, as well as size. All the ones with the best views have already been booked up in preparation for this grand celebration.
Welcome tonight, to the Mystic Tavern Ball – “Mystic Magic”, where we celebrate new beginnings, remember the days of old; old friends, old times and breathe life back into this most mystic of places.
Moderators: Circe