Willowtree Grove - May 3rd

The happenings of Beltane and a wild night for the weres and witches!

(Slight issues with recording - sorry about that)

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

It's the end of the week here in Willow Tree Grove, and it's time for our weekly catch up. Happy May, my dear listeners, and what a wild start to a new month it was. Grab a drink? Gods know I have my own, and let's jump right into the happenings of the past week, and most importantly, the Bell Tame celebrations. Preparations for the celebrations took a rocky start when there was a kerfuffle with installations of the Maypoles. Instead of the usual lifting of the pole by either magic or wear, Ranger Russell thought that it would be a good bonding experience for the fledgling scout work. The scout leaders were pitted against a much larger group of young scouts to set up two of the pole street. And well, let's just say that balance was a universal problem across both teams. What resulted from this loss of control was what looked like a jumbo jousting match along Main Street. Suffice it to say, the elders took over to set up the rest of the polls. However, this was not in time to save the living room window of the Bellamy residence. Ranger Russell was beside himself, apologizing so profusely that the elders granted a reversal spell just to get him to stop it. Well done, Russell. Now Beltane itself started off successfully. The stalls were a hit, the riddles were, I must assume, a bit easy or well known, because those May bushes were being absolutely inundated in decorations. It was like a maximalist Christmas tree out there, and I could not be more proud of everyone's efforts. For anyone who missed them, pictures have been posted on the Community Center message board, and I can send them in an email by request. The May poles were won by Fiona Everdrop in the youngest group, Chessie Brand in the Teen Group, and Lily Potts on the main pole. Good job, girls. All three of them have added their own new pattern or drawing to the polls. The main pole is getting quite full. When it is completed, it will be retired and added to the other poles in the community center. Perhaps no longer spun around, but definitely still appreciated for the art that it is. Our winners had flowers braided into their hair so that they can dream of their future tonight, and of past, present, and future loved ones. Delphine and Aiden managed to completely sell out of their allowance of plucked wildflowers. Now I have no doubt that these were bought out by the youngsters who were also hoping for their own dreams of foresight, getting ready to pack their pillows with the May flowers. There was always a chance, even if you are not the Maypole winner, that you will dream of your future. Now there were already starting to be a few let's call them incidents as the afternoon came around. A couple younger teen wares became a little too excited by all the shared bannocks being passed around, and snatched a few of them before running off into the forest. Luckily they were found and rounded back to the community center basement. Another ware became enraged at the flower stalls, the intense smell sending him into a frenzy, and was about to destroy it, but managed to contain his anger, and instead leapt onto a building to punch one of the dummies that had been hidden there for later. Now their identity was not revealed, but I commend this ware, so well done. Soon enough after this, the small bouts of energy did prompt the elders to send all those who would not take part in the evening festivities home. This is, however, when all hell broke loose. Just as everyone thankfully had managed to exit Main Street, and the wares were starting to turn, who should appear but the wandering pub? Fueled by what I can only imagine was the energy of the blue moon month and the full flower moon that was above, the wandering pub started chasing wares all around Main Street. Its natural fitting magic that allows it to squeeze between buildings was causing houses and plant life to jump to and fro out of its way and towards the poor wares. Renoblossom's tail was crushed by Cal Smith's house, and Jules had to break one of the thicker branches off the big old oak that's at the peak of Hummingbird Lane to save a few of her pack, who had tripped over the pavers. The Brackenpack leader then started throwing items at the pub to try to attract it away from the town center. Luckily this did work, but the wandering pub then careened into the woods following the scent track that Elder Mildred had set out for the wares. Now the entry of the pub into the forest set off some of the magical restrictions that bind it to Willow Tree Grove, and the building's chimney started falling apart. Bricks were sent flying and almost hit some of the witches, making their way to the Maypole in the clearing. Luckily, this immediately got the attention of the elder accompanying that group, and Elder Pepper chased the pub back to town, into the waiting arms of the Midnight Coven. The witches managed to stabilize the wandering pub and settle it down just on the outskirts of town, at the start of the path towards the clearing. The chimney was also fixed today by myself and our lovely town brickie, Isla Colt. After that absolute frenzy, most of the wares had been chased into the woods away from the rampaging pub, so on a positive side of this, the witches were free to start the Maypole dance without any fear of random ware intrusions. Ashling and Maybell Wren, as the most accomplished healers, volunteered to leave the pole and evening bonfire to go help the wounded wares. Elder Pepper and I joined them to perform any shielding or restriction magic needed to keep the wares from snapping at the healers. As such, the events of the bonfire are second-hand retellings from the attendants and witnesses of revelry. In the facts that were positively corroborated by all attendants, apparently, the contact high of the pub Rampage and Wolf Stampede raised the levels of revelry quite early on in the night, and part way through the Maypole, everyone had already ridded themselves of their clothes. Now the truth of this next little fact is wobbly, but a few girls said that the fire had had some let's say herbs thrown upon it that were aiding in the loss of inhibitions. Now for the Maypole winner, though she may be recently seventy-nine years old, happy birthday again, Adelaide, our prophetic witch danced with seemingly no end and overtook all the dancers by a whole ten minutes. She seamlessly sprang over to the bonfire and entered into the worship of Bellinus. Now three different sources affirm that the flames jumped at her voice, and they swore that they saw a shape reach out and kiss the old witch's hands in a return reverence. The emotions were high, and all presents have present have reported that they were brought to tears by Adelaide's beautiful song. Now, after this the reports are a bit jumbled, no one knows when it happened or how it happened, but at some point the wares were turned from the woods, attracted no doubt by the potent energy of the bonfire. And walking straight through the barriers, as they had no ill intent, they allegedly joined in with the dancing witches. They were running, springing, howling, and the next day they all awoke in a pile of wares and witches happily snuggling by the still warm and soft flames of the fire. Those present say that it was an experience they will always remember. I can only say that I am very pleased for you all. Such moments are what makes life so worthwhile, and I can only hope that we will live such things again. And on that warm note, that's all for now, my dear listeners. As always, have a soft and safe week. See you next time, here in Willowtreat Mills.