Can you believe it's almost 2022 already!? What even is time??
Another wild year of wtfery is quick drawing to a close, and y'all know what that means! Time to start the ball rolling for the biggest balls in the land! That's right, we're talkin the annual all-night Longest Night extravaganza that is Midwinter!~
Per usual, we'll be waiting until after the rl holidays and opening party threads in early January. But there are lots of details to arrange and decisions to make before we get there - so, let's get to planning and kick another year of the trashfire twenties out the door in style!
Main Events
The Palace's Midwinter Ball - Annual Midwinter fête of the crème de la crème of D'Angeline society, and those that rub elbows with them. Rulers and royals, domestic and foreign, nobles and notables of all stripe welcome. Get your fill of intrigue, court politics, fashion, and more, all wrapped up in the utmost opulence~
The Night Court's Midwinter Masque - Famed Longest Night masquerade bash of the Thirteen Houses of Mont Nuit. Decadent, sensual, unforgettable. Open to adepts, current and former, and those lucky few guests. And just maybe a stray royal or two, showing off their wilder side ^___~
Longest Night Street Party - Bringing the festivities to the City of Elua's streets for all and sundry! Everyone from any walk of life is welcome to join the merriment. Open air celebrations on near every corner, inns and taverns and other establishments to duck into for warmth and seasonal spirit(s), a city-wide fête for the masses. (Do we want to do like last year and concentrate on a single venue/area or go back to the free-for-all style of previous years?)
Unless there's high demand, I'll be sidelining the fête at Pride's Fall this year. But not to worry, for those looking for a little bite in their Midwinter festivities, one can assume the soiree is going ahead IC as usual. So, references to it and individual threads that take place there are absolutely welcome.
Have ideas for the Big Three? A suggestion for a change of line-up or event to add to the list? Maybe a notion for décor or different setting than the standard? Let us know! We're always open to new ways to make merry and spice things up.
Post your thoughts below in this thread or join the conversation on discord (PM Janet or myself for an invitation)
Masks, Costumes, Themes
Midwinter wouldn't be Midwinter without a masquerade (or three =P). And what's a masquerade without masks and costumes? Whether one is looking to make a statement or just catch someone's eye, the question on the minds of many in the days before the Longest Night is what to wear (and where!). Will it be high fashion or fashion faux pas?
For those who dwell in the Night Court, costume planning can't truly begin in earnest until themes are named by the powers that be - that's us! In annual tradition, we're asking everyone to help us brainstorm theme ideas for the Thirteen Houses. Bear in mind, these themes should be over-arching concepts that can be split distinctly between each NC House.
Examples of past themes: Sins & Virtues, Environments, House Swap, Gemstones, the Occult, Professions
It's the reason for the season~
A tale older than time - the return of the Sun Prince and rejuvenation of the Winter Queen. Light overcoming darkness. Winter making way for Spring. Who will play these iconic roles in the depth of the Longest Night? The adepts chosen to do so in the Night Court pageant bring luck to their houses in the new year, so it is said. Speculation abounds! Especially after the delightfully shocking turn of events the previous year which saw a true prince playing the part of the celestial one.
Nominations and voting will be handled discreetly, in order to leave an aura of mystery to the proceedings, and winners will be notified ahead of time so they can get the party started.
Please send to me via PM:
- Two noms for Winter Queen + one backup (3)
- Two noms for Sun Prince + one backup (3)
- SIX names total
Nominees must be:
- adepts actively serving in the NC
- not on hiatus
- not your own chars
- haven't been WQ or SP
In addition to adept nominees, you may include one (1) wildcard nomination for Sun Prince from amongst the royalty and highest nobility. For a chance of a rare non-adept SP (like Prince Baudoin or last year's Prince Ambrus).
- Nominee must be a royal or titled noble (or heir to a title)
- If two or more people nom the same wildcard, they will be included in the poll
Previous winners from recent years who are not eligible for nomming:
Ambrus Komanesti and Sybille no Gentian
Trystan Oriol and Anne no Valerian
Thibault no Mandrake and Delilah no Eglantine
Libertin no Balm and Bryna no Valerian
Sebastien no Valerian and Eris no Mandrake
Ionas no Valerian and Morgana no Heliotrope
Eligible Adepts
As always, if for any reason you do not wish your adept(s) to be on the eligible list, please let Janet or I know asap.
(click House for adept list & names for specific bios)
Alyssum
Jasper nó Alyssum
Filibert Pittard
Maika nó Alyssum
Balm
Vivien Dufresne
Bonnie Noyer
Olivier nó Balm
Bryony
Dorji
Oleysa nó Bryony
Camellia
Arabella nó Camellia
Lilith nó Camellia
Cereus
Caine nó Cereus
Nicodème nó Cereus
Therese Fronsac
Reine d'Hiver
Electra nó Cereus
Dahlia
Bastien Orielle
Ellette nó Dahlia
Noemi Bousquet
Eglantine
Aaliyah nó Eglantine
Evariste nó Eglantine
Kiew nó Eglantine
Anatase Marchand
Hadrien nó Eglantine
Thayet nó Eglantine
Enzo nó Eglantine
Orianne nó Eglantine
Goto Satoru
Gentian
Nathanael Fauvel
Auri nó Gentian
Leopold LaFont
Heliotrope
Kelan nó Heliotrope
Lynette nó Heliotrope
Jasmine
Chanda de Souverain
Nadia nó Jasmine
Gunaratna Das
Mara nó Jasmine
Mandrake
Oceane Marchand
Danae nó Mandrake
Sacheverell "Sacha" Jeune nó Mandrake
Maximilien nó Mandrake
Orchis
Cosette nó Orchis
Rhiannon Mordrake
Valerian
Carine nó Valerian
Henne nó Valerian
Ysabelle Janvier
Driss Vertefeuille
Didier nó Valerian
Dates
End of Nominations: December 26, 2021
Voting up: December 27, 2021
Voting Ends: January 5, 2022
Parties start: January 8/9, 2022
All dates subject to adjustment as needed during planning stages.
