2021 Holiday Party

[BardGallant]

Introduction

This annual tradition started as a small gathering of friends, and those people of favorable acquaintance, who otherwise had no family to spend the holidays with. Over the years it has grown to include a large number of individuals who have found a special place in many varying hearts. Now celebrating its eighth year, Sheridan “Dris” Driscol is continuing the tradition after having been passed on the torch the year previous. This event takes place on December 25, 2021, actually on Christmas day like every year before. Being well aware that the vast majority of us have holiday traditions that keep us offline on this day, this is a board only event in which participation is encouraged but not required.


The Rules Both In and Out

1. Everyone is invited because Dris is a crazy social butterfly who adores all of Rhydin. No invitation necessary. With the venue having changed, feel free to assume word of mouth gets around to find out the new arrangements for 2021.

2. Please only participate if your character is attending with good will. Damage to the property or harm to any characters attending will not be tolerated. The Gloaming properties are under cosmic protection.

3. Guests have historically been asked to prepare or purchase a single dish that reminds them of home to bring along and share with the other guests in a grand potluck. Should your character decide to follow tradition and bring a dish to add to the table, it is suggested you post pictures and include a recipe in any potential descriptions.

4. Additional story bits such as collaborated writings, edited live play logs, or personal character reflections of the event are encouraged to be posted to this thread.

5. Images and hyperlinks to videos or other relative imagery that you think might additionally reflect interactions at this event are also encouraged to be posted to this thread.

6. Did your character bring any gifts for anyone? Feel free to post about that here too! Bear in mind that gift giving or exchanging while not frowned upon is never expected nor required.

7. Posting to this thread is not required for your participation, though it is highly encouraged. A placeholder post stating something as simple as “my character was there” is acceptable. Any mentions of participation made in live play are also valid, but not monitored.


Please note that these rules and other storyline information are subject to change at any time. Thank you for your participation! Happy holidays!

[BardGallant]

The Setting

Sheridan Driscol and his committed life partner Rhys Germain are welcoming all of Rhydin to come celebrate the holidays with them this December 25th! Rumors get around by word of mouth. If a personal invitation was not extended, rest assured you’ll be warmly welcomed anyway.

Realizing their house in the Dragon’s Gate district is just too small for the bard’s ever-expanding guest list, the Double Dukes Drhys will be hosting this year’s party at their rented mansion on Twilight Isle, #11 Twilight Lagoon in the Gloaming District. This three-story mansion has recently become a staple of Rhydin’s social scene and is likely well-known to most visitors. Nonetheless, guests are welcome and encouraged to explore all its rooms. The only part of the property that is off-limits is the guest house, which is warded accordingly to repel trespassers.

Guests can arrive two ways: traditionally via the portal to Twilight Isle and walking to the Gloaming District, or by coming to the Old Pub in Dragon’s Gate, where they’ll be greeted by Dugh the house brownie and ushered to the coat closet, now marked “Gloaming District.” On the other side of this doorway is a small coat room within the Isle mansion. To make it easier for guests to find their way back to Rhydin, this door is marked “Dragon’s Gate” from the opposite side.

An enormous and elegantly decorated twenty foot tall live spruce tree is the focal point of the three-story great room. At its base rests a trove of small, wrapped parcels for guests to take and enjoy. The gifts inside are all musical or mechanical in nature. Most other rooms in the house have also been decorated to reflect the season, with some of them hosting a much smaller, but no less elegantly decorated, tree.

Just like last year, most rooms have strategically-placed games to encourage guests to engage one another and stay longer. Among the games you might find are chess and checker boards, a dreidel with a basket of chocolate coins (inspired by a friend), classic decks of cards, mind bender puzzles, and more. One can even find a variety of modern video games set out and ready to play on a big screen television. The lounge comes fully-equipped with a pool table and dart board, and there is a baby grand piano in the great room that Dris himself will periodically play. Any musically-inclined guests are encouraged to join in and put on their own performances, as well. There will be plenty of musical engagement in the form of impromptu concerts and singalongs all day long.

The third floor gallery has been transformed into a winter wonderland with trees, a running model train, and crafting stations, where children and families can make wreaths, ornaments, and other keepsakes to take home with them. There is also a cookie decorating station for those who prefer edible art, and a cocoa bar to go with it. An assortment of family friendly holiday films will be playing in this room throughout the day. Stacks of leftover pajamas from the final fall Friday party are available as gifts to guests (big or small) who want to get cozier.

The Double Dukes’ menagerie of pets have been set loose upon the mansion on this day, as well. Guests can expect to encounter doggie kisses from the friendliest Irish wolfhound, Gussie. Song performances by the mechanical living barn owl, Pelia, and a croaking chorus of crows. Swooping fly-by mistletoe sprigs carried by the foxmoths, Frankie and Lenny. Dancing performances by the tiny wooly snowman, Fred. One might even have their lap warmed by their newly-acquired catalope, Pyotr.

Outside, the entire property (and only this property, on their own personal mini-island) has been blanketed with fresh snow, and overhead enchantments ensure the snow continues to fall. The tennis court has been iced over and transformed into a skating rink, with plenty of loaner skates available, in every conceivable size. Lights decorate the tropical flora and a surfer Santa dressed in board shorts is parked out front among the trees. Another enchantment makes these trees look like there is a snowy forest bordering the lagoon.

(( Tremendous thanks to Rhys Germain for helping me write all of this again this year! :D ))

[Rhys Germain]

Though the party is traditionally a potluck, Rhys has again, with the help of friends, put together a menu for the day. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether or not they can bring a dish.

The festivities begin a little later this year with brunch starting at ten a.m.

Savor
eggs, however you like them
sausage links and bacon (vegetarian substitutes available)
roasted breakfast potatoes and vegetables
thick-cut sourdough toast with a variety of spreads, including locally-made jams and smashed avocado
burst tomato frittata with fontina and basil
chocolate french toast
fresh fruit

Sip
fresh coffee and tea
hot chocolate
fruit juices
Bloody Marys
Christmas mimosas (made with champagne or sparkling grape juice)

Dinner starts at four p.m. and continues until well after sundown.

Eat
brown sugar glazed ham
mushroom wellington with rosemary and pecans
parmesan and gruyère potato gratin
roasted carrots, onion, and fennel
green beans with garlic and parmesan
winter salad with candied walnuts and fig balsamic dressing
brioche dinner rolls


Drink
smoky harvest apple cider margaritas
spiced cranberry hot toddies
non-alcoholic winter sangria (topped with sparkling grape juice)
regular and peppermint hot chocolate
hot tea and coffee
just about anything else you could want from a well-stocked wet bar!


Be Merry
bûche de noël with cocoa-hazelnut cream, garnished with meringue mushrooms and sugared cranberries
Christmas tree Rice Krispies treats
a wide variety of cookies, bars, and homemade candies

In addition to the above menus, Dris and Rhys have also assembled several snack boards and set them throughout the house so their guests can graze in between meal times. These boards feature a variety of cheeses and charcuterie, fresh and pickled vegetables, olives, nuts, crackers and crispbreads, a variety of dips and spreads, and fresh and dried fruit.

[BardGallant]

[More from Dris to come.]

[Rhys Germain]

[Placeholder for Rhys.]

[Delahada]

(Sal was definitely there and I'll write about it eventually.)

[Partly Cloudy]

The gatito was there early to help the dukes cook brunch.

(More coming.)