The Birth of the Holy City

( To say that the snowstorm dampened Sigyn's spirits would be an understatement, negative emotion compounded by her impatience and impulse in reacting to it. What's done is done, however, and she hasn't ever made sitting in thoughts of the past a habit. The present and future hold much more importance, which begs the question: what can she do to make today as good a day as it can be? What adventure can she set forth for others in order to truly amplify her spirits and rejuvenate her confidence in who she is -- more aptly, who she would like to be?

The idea that springs forth requires quite a bit of magic and some quick decision-making, but once she completes one project, the next seem to roll out much more easily. She'd discovered something interesting about some Wanderers: this holiday tradition they have of decorating and merriment. She's not solidly aware of the details, which make explain the wild magic that seeps accidentally into each thing she creates.

What are they exactly? Large trees -- some more...well, trees, than others; attached are baubles and gifts that she thinks fall in line with the spirit of what this day is supposed to be (as far as she knows). )

❧ curse descriptions.

❧ ODIN

( Outside Raven's Garðr now stands a 20 foot tall lemon tree. The scent of it is very pungent, magically so, but perhaps that's to be expected from the sheer volume of lemons hanging from its boughs. While some are real lemons, others are clear and shining, made of a yellow quartz that only makes the limbs bend lower. Interspersed are Wanderer ornaments, that when picked will contain yellow marigolds. )

CURSE: Interacting with this tree will immediately leave an unbearable taste of lemon in your mouth. Not just the flavor, but the sour feeling as well. No matter what you eat or how many times you scrape at your tongue, the sour feeling of the fruit refuses to leave.

❧ NJORD

( Instead of being a traditional tree, the offering left outside of Finnalaun is basically nothing more than a 4 foot wide log sticking out of the ground and extending upwards of 40 feet into the sky. With no branches, the adornments are inserted into hollowed out holes in the side of the "tree," covered with sliding slats that can move up to reveal what's inside. In those without Wanderer ornaments, filled with blue hydrangeas upon being plucked, exist blue orbs that feel solid to the touch but that have no obvious permanence. When their doors are opened, the orbs are quick to try and float away into the air, so they must be caught quickly! )

CURSE: Anything you say is rhythmic, perhaps even in a melody or rhythm that you aren’t familiar with. The more you talk, the more theatrical and loud your conversations become.

❧ SKADI

( Steina Lysa's Wanderer ornaments will be filled with large canna lily's, with other decorative baubles adoring the tree. These are spiked, but hollow and contain a wispy coloured smoke that changes based on the person whose possession it's currently in; on the tree, they remain a dazzling orange until removed. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this holiday setup, though, is Skadi's tree type. Instead of being something natural, it's been pulled directly from a child's drawing; a physical manifestation of juvenile art in 3D, large black lines included. )

CURSE: Your whole body changes shade based on your current emotion; you’re basically a human mood ring. This curse lasts one day.

❧ SIGYN

( Sigyn has saved the more traditional looking tree for herself, and thus Teitr Morginn gets a large fir, typical and basically bland in every way -- except. Instead of traditional ornaments (though her Wanderer ornaments are still there, containing large sprigs of holly when taken), this fir tree is covered in orbs of corn. They can be cooked and eaten, but otherwise are eternal and impossible to damage. As an aside, there's also the smell of fresh baked cake emanating from the tree, mysteriously. )

CURSE: Every half hour you're awake, you randomly blurt out one random fact about yourself or a true feeling that you hold.

❧ TYR

( Fagna Heima receives a smaller version of an angel oak tree. Wanderer ornaments (filled with poinsettias) hang from wreathes places around thinner branches. These wreathes are made from shocking red flames, though they contain no heat. They can be removed from the tree if you're patient enough to walk them forward to the ends of the winding branches they hang from. )

CURSE: Your throat immediately feels hoarse, and you lose the ability to speak. Communication is still possible via the network, but any attempt to talk physically damages your throat (may require healing if many attempts are made).

❧ HEIMDALL

( A large mushroom-like tree stands outside of Hlíf Drengr, and it spins quickly despite its roots being housed comfortably in the ground. Hanging from the clustered branches are various long objects, or collections of long objects: paper clip chains, popcorn strings, jump ropes, belts so long they'd basically be impossible to be worn. The important magical item is a strand of holiday lights made from an unbelievably strong vine, blinking lights made with an incredibly glistening rock material. They blink and change colour periodically, from soft pastels to more vibrant holiday colours. All swinging tendrils operate as if they have a mind of their own, though they don't act maliciously. Attached to the end of some swinging strands are the Wanderer ornaments, containing ranunculus when removed. )

CURSE: Once you're out of reach of the tree, all objects touched by your hands for one day immediately fall to ash OR explode into flower petals (of your choice). Humans, plants and magical objects are exempt.

❧ MIMIR

( Taka Ráðs' tree, at a distance, appears to be a typical cherry blossom tree. Upon further inspection, one will notice that instead of flower petals, the blossoms on this tree are made up of hundreds of small spheres, floating around the tree without any sort of attachment. Occasionally, the small spheres detach and burst upon coming into contact with the ground, or perhaps even you!, leaving a cloud of pink haze and strong cherry scent. Tied to smaller branches are small purses, made with shimmering fabric. Inside are small chocolates, though whether or not they taste good is a roulette game. Some may be sweet, with a few that are indescribably decadent. Others may taste like something much more unsavory -- from sweaty socks, to dumpster sludge. Wanderer ornaments on this tree are filled with clematis flowers when retrieved. )

CURSE: You forget everything about one other Wanderer (OOC choice) for one day (feel free to pick an acquaintance CR to escape something too traumatic or just play something awkward).

❧ HONIR

( The tree outside of Flakkaheim is a medium-sized wisteria, though the tendrils strobe and blink, especially in the light of the setting sun when the whole tree is illuminated in a purple glow. The ambient lighting is accompanied by melodic tinkling and clinking, made possible by the ornate pens attached to the ends of the wisteria strands, gradating to a crystal clear, icicle point. They offer a much clunkier noise when they bang against the Wanderer ornaments, which bloom into a china aster when plucked. )

CURSE: Your touch leaves a glowing imprint, and can include objects, the ground, even people. Clothes/shoes do not mitigate this. Lasts for one day.

❧ FRIGG

( In Frigg, Báðum Hǫndum has received a large tree that would otherwise look like any other that could be found in Asgard. The distinctive feature of this tree is that the outer branches are wrapped in a protective, thick shroud of spider silk, though the originating bugs are mysteriously missing. The silk is very fibrous, not easily broken though simple to move. Once you breach the wrapping, you'll find an ecosystem of movement flitting about. Small green butterflies blend in with the bright leaves, moving and flying about in between the Wanderer ornaments, which will bloom with white lotus flowers once retrieved. When touched, the butterflies freeze and fall, transforming into bejewelled pins. )

CURSE: Your hands shrink to a fourth of their typical size. Otherwise, they’re fully functional.