Moon Cycle 45: 12/03 - 12/18
❖ MOON CYCLE 45 ❂ 12/13/10 - 12/18/10
Phase: Full moon; the moon continues to shine brilliantly in the night sky, and continues to be fully visible during the daytime. Some may notice it flickering for a few seconds at night.
Weather: Despite the setting change, temperatures are increasingly getting colder, ranging from a high of mid-30s °F to lows in the mid-20s °F. As usual, there are slippery patches. All smaller lakes are frozen over, making it perfect for ice skating. The lake, however, is warm like a hot spring.
Effects: Sugar rush. Along with the effects carrying over from last month, some characters may suddenly find themselves on a sugar rush. They become more hyper and energetic than usual. However, this can and mostly likely will lead to a crash at some point either in the day or later in the week. Some may only experience brief spells while others may suffer longer lasting effects. Some may not be affected at all, or even suffer the opposite. It's all optional, so whichever works for you.
Notes: The second setting change: Candyland.
The event tag for this week is: !moon: cycle 45. Please use it for any logs made this week!
If this week may seem a little too sweet for you, don't worry. Next week will be a lot more fun, engaging, and a little darker. We'll give a hint:
No present will be safe!
Some may be wondering when we'll be getting back to the plot-focused events, and we just wanted to give everyone a quick heads up that while this month is rather festive and seasonal in nature, it also has some plot relevance. It's more subtle this month, and also, although the timing does fit nicely, we're also conscious of the fact that a lot of the players have exams and holiday obligations, so we're trying to keep it a little bit more toned down for these first few weeks. However, come January things will fall back into the normal schedule.
We'll just say this: Enjoy the good times while it lasts!
And that should be everything! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to comment to this post or contact either of us mods.
Phase: Full moon; the moon continues to shine brilliantly in the night sky, and continues to be fully visible during the daytime. Some may notice it flickering for a few seconds at night.
Weather: Despite the setting change, temperatures are increasingly getting colder, ranging from a high of mid-30s °F to lows in the mid-20s °F. As usual, there are slippery patches. All smaller lakes are frozen over, making it perfect for ice skating. The lake, however, is warm like a hot spring.
Effects: Sugar rush. Along with the effects carrying over from last month, some characters may suddenly find themselves on a sugar rush. They become more hyper and energetic than usual. However, this can and mostly likely will lead to a crash at some point either in the day or later in the week. Some may only experience brief spells while others may suffer longer lasting effects. Some may not be affected at all, or even suffer the opposite. It's all optional, so whichever works for you.
Notes: The second setting change: Candyland.
- Winter effects still in place. All the previous winter effects from the last moon cycle are still in place. This includes the mistletoe, the snowmen, and the floating ornaments.
- Secret Santa. This is a quick reminder that the Secret Santa sign-up is still going, so feel free to sign up. **IMPORTANT** We're continually updating the lists to remove any characters who drop, but we would also like to know about any who signed up and then had to go on hiatus. If you'll still be able to make a comment on the large Secret Santa gift post later, then that's perfectly fine! We just want to be sure everyone will have a fair chance at giving and receiving a gift. Actual interaction is not required.
- Candyland. As mentioned above, everything has turned to resemble something like Candyland. However, this is mostly in setting only, and your characters will not suddenly find themselves trapped in a board game-this time. As you can imagine, almost everything will have changed into some sort of candy and sweet food. It's also possible to eat any of it, though we're not sure if that would really be healthy-and not because of the high sugar content. Here are the more notable ones:
- Snow...!? The snow has been turned to any of the following: powdered sugar, sprinkles, white mousse, vanilla ice cream, vanilla pudding, and white icing. The most fascinating about this is one field could be covered in vanilla ice cream, but the next field over could be covered in powdered sugar. This "snow" not only has its food properties, but also has snow properties. It's possible to form "snowballs" out of it, and best of all, the food won't stick to a character's clothing like normal. It will fall or slide off just like normal snow, so feel free to roll around in it.
When there is snow fall, instead of normal snowflakes, characters will be hit by snowflake shaped sprinkles or powdered sugar. Some of them may accidentally clump together, so having an umbrella out may be wise...
- Gingerbread houses. All of the houses in Somarium-normal houses, cottages, mansions-have been turned into gingerbread houses, with the design of your own choosing. Even the furniture inside has been turned into candy.
- Chocolate buildings. All of the larger buildings-shopping centers, skyscrapers, apartments, other buildings-are made of chocolate and wafers. Don't worry about it melting, this chocolate is made of magical stuff. It's still edible, of course.
- Flora. All the trees and any type of plant are also changed to have candy-like properties. Some trees may look like bundles of lollipops, the flowers may look like artificial cake decorations, and the leaves may have turned into gum drops. This includes the giant Christmas tree. Really it's up to your imagination, so anything can go!
- Bodies of water. Some of the smaller bodies of water may still be water, but others may be made of any of the following: pudding, chocolate syrup, maple syrup, or sugar water.
- Hot chocolate fountain. The fountain in Espoir will no longer be spewing water, but chocolate instead. Hot chocolate! Also, the rabbit statue on top is made of white chocolate.
- Exceptions. The following are not candy-fied:
- People & Animals. All people, including NPCs, and animals will stay the same.
- Clothing. Don't try to eat your clothes, they're still normal. This also includes all fabric to make clothes.
- Vehicles. Unless you want it, all vehicles will also retain their usual physical properties.
- Water system. Though it was mentioned above that some of the water in Somarium has changed, anything coming from the tap will be normal water. However, it may taste just a little sweeter than usual.
- People & Animals. All people, including NPCs, and animals will stay the same.
- Snow...!? The snow has been turned to any of the following: powdered sugar, sprinkles, white mousse, vanilla ice cream, vanilla pudding, and white icing. The most fascinating about this is one field could be covered in vanilla ice cream, but the next field over could be covered in powdered sugar. This "snow" not only has its food properties, but also has snow properties. It's possible to form "snowballs" out of it, and best of all, the food won't stick to a character's clothing like normal. It will fall or slide off just like normal snow, so feel free to roll around in it.
- Candy effects. If a character does eat any part of Candyland!Somarium, or any candy in general, they will feel a bit more chipper and have a spring in their step.
- Giant Nutcrackers. In addition to the snowmen, giant, hopping nutcrackers will be around. Some may consider these "creatures" worse than the snowmen. Some nutcrackers may attempt to shoot or even crack a character's head! They also seem to be at odds with the snowmen, as they can usually be seen fighting each other. But no worries, they can't really run very well. They're hopping for a reason: they can't walk! So it's easy to outrun them. Also, if you give them a large nut, they'll gladly leave you alone for a while out of thanks.
- School's Out. HOORAY. Exams are over and schools are officially over. Rejoice!
- Children everywhere! Characters may have noticed the children first arriving in Somarium a few months ago, but if they hadn't noticed before, they will now. With school out, all the NPC children are out frolicking and having fun. Perhaps this merrymaking is amped up by the current setting effects, but the children will also try to pull in anyone to play in their games. All innocent fun, of course.
- No work, all play. Even adults will feel like going out and having fun, and some businesses may close because of it. Characters may feel like doing nothing but just enjoy themselves and act like kids again. Of course, this is optional.
The event tag for this week is: !moon: cycle 45. Please use it for any logs made this week!
If this week may seem a little too sweet for you, don't worry. Next week will be a lot more fun, engaging, and a little darker. We'll give a hint:
No present will be safe!
Some may be wondering when we'll be getting back to the plot-focused events, and we just wanted to give everyone a quick heads up that while this month is rather festive and seasonal in nature, it also has some plot relevance. It's more subtle this month, and also, although the timing does fit nicely, we're also conscious of the fact that a lot of the players have exams and holiday obligations, so we're trying to keep it a little bit more toned down for these first few weeks. However, come January things will fall back into the normal schedule.
We'll just say this: Enjoy the good times while it lasts!
And that should be everything! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to comment to this post or contact either of us mods.