Rekahpalooza 2024

[Delahada]

The time has come once again to celebrate Rhy'Din's very own resident Wildling, who just so happens to also be a former Governor: Rekah Illyriana! This year it's official! Deathcake's darling has a for-real birthday, and it only comes once every four years! Leading up to a grand finale to take place on Thursday, February 29th, Salvador Delahada and the Village of Eastgate are hosting a twelve-day long fun-time extravaganza in Rekah's honor, and they're calling it...

The Twelve Days of Rekmas

From the slums of Eastgate to the sandy shores of Seaside, this dozen-day-long event is certain to be chock full of fun for all ages! Expect only the unexpected, as that's keeping with the theme of a person who spent the entirety of the IFL season camped out under the Deathcake team bench! Honestly! She never left!

This celebration kicks off tomorrow morning, Sunday the 18th of February, right outside the town hall throne room in the stockyard city square in the Village of Eastgate. Come join Mayor Iethi and the citizenry of this independent municipality located out the east gate of Rhy'Din City for a morning parade destined to turn into a town-wide party! More details on this and other events will be listed below. You aren't going to want to miss a thing!

Schedule of Events

Sunday, Feb. 18th : No Pants Parade & Kickoff
Monday, Feb. 19th : Buttons & Bottlecaps Bazaar
Tuesday, Feb. 20th : Splatter Paint War
Wednesday, Feb. 21st : Build-a-Buddy Stuffiepalooza
Thursday, Feb. 22nd : Braids & Buns
Friday, Feb. 23rd : Helpful Heckling Day
Saturday, Feb. 24th: ** The Wildling Rodeo / Mad Mounted Melee **
Sunday, Feb. 25th : Snooze-In Sunday
Monday, Feb. 26th : It's a Surprise???
Tuesday, Feb. 27th : Cephalopod Celebration Day!
Wednesday, Feb. 28th : Seaside Shelltacular!
Thursday, Feb. 29th : The Great Waffle Feast Finale!

Mark your calendars and prepare to exhaust yourselves on twelve days of non-stop action, adventure, and chaotic good fun! Stay tuned to citywide announcements, because we don't want to spoil the surprises before they arrive! Trust us, though. It's going to be a wild ride and you'll enjoy every minute of it. We'd promise you your money back, but this event doesn't cost you anything at all! That's right! It's absolutely FREE! Just like the spirit we're set to celebrate.

Gift Table

(Placeholder for any presents.)

(( Just like last year, this is a mostly board event spanning several days. Absolutely everyone is welcome to participate, and there are multiple ways to do so! Have your characters simply talk about their experiences in live play if you wish, and/or post a little something to this thread. There is at least one live event planned for Saturday, February 24th that I will personally but unofficially host.

If you or your character would like to "host" some other additional celebration on any of the above scheduled days, please feel free to write a little something and add it to this thread! We value the combined creative efforts of the community and hope that you enjoy. Characters may also deliver presents to the birthday girl by posting about it here. I will update the list above and link to them directly so that they do not get lost in the scroll.

Please stay tuned for additional content that will also be added to this thread and linked to directly when available. Happy Leap Year, and happy birthday, Rekah! Have fun, everyone! ))

[Delahada]

The 12 Days of Rekmas kicks off bright and early on the morning of Sunday, February 18th at the Village of Eastgate city square. Residents from all walks of life, varied in species and race, have gathered to listen to Mayor Iethi give a grand speech in which he revises last year's declaration of making Rekahpalooza an official holiday. Henceforth beginning on this 18th day of February, the holiday will span up to eleven days, with a twelfth being added on every four years, like this one!

Mayor Iethi keeps the speech short, knowing that the citizenry is eager to begin celebrating. Several local businesses have put together parade floats. Motor vehicles and horse-drawn wagons alike have been decorated in bright colors, and every participant has dressed themselves appropriately. What does that mean? Well, on this day everyone is encouraged to boycott pants entirely!

( Portrait of Mayor Iethi courtesy of my good friend Gatito Lindo. )

Rest assured that no one is wandering about naked from the waist down. Celebrants of Rekahpalooza get creative every year by trading in their trousers for skirts, shorts, kilts, bathrobes, dresses, togas, and sometimes even towels! The only steadfast rule is to release the lower half of the body from the tyranny of leg prisons! And please, keep it clean.

Everyone is welcome to march, skip, hop, frolic, fly, ride, drive, or otherwise follow the flow of the grand parade that starts in the city square. The parade route winds through the packed earthen streets, passing in front of the Matadero Meat Company, swinging by Shanty Town Stadium, and curving back toward the east gates into the city of Rhy'Din. Traditionally, candy is thrown along with buttons and bottlecaps, which eager children collect in anticipation of another upcoming segment of the dozen-day-long celebration. You'll want to make sure to get your hands on some of them too!

Interlopers and pants-wearers beware! Though it is not a requirement to ditch the leg prisons, those who break tradition are setting themselves up for heckling and harassment. Though no actual physical harm will come to you, the taunting is likely to escalate one's levels of embarrassment tremendously. Have a thick skin or have some fun!

Stick around, though, and sample some of the local fare at the Flying Pig Brewery and Screaming Gopher Tavern. There will be plenty of entertainment from local entrepreneurs: jugglers, puppet shows, buskers, fortune tellers, and more! Spend the day touring the birthday girl's hometown and reveling along with her people. You might get lucky and even catch a glimpse of the Wildling herself!

[Delahada]

Grand Opening: Monday, February 19th!

Come on back to the Village of Eastgate and join Mayor Iethi at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the municipality's latest center of commerce: the Buttons & Bottlecaps Bazaar! Only here can you trade in your trash for treasure, for the only currency accepted at the triple B are the buttons and bottlecaps you hopefully collected during yesterday's parade!

That's right. Your silver nobles, dollar bills, spacer credits, or whatever else are no good here. Not to worry, though. The Village of Eastgate's very own Bank of the Bizarre neighbors this one-of-a-kind flea market. Here you can trade in your cash for the currency of the realm. An even exchange rate guarantees fair prices and any unused buttons or bottlecaps can be traded right back in for your hard-earned otherworld change.

All manner of rare and uncommon commodities can be found here at the Buttons & Bottlecaps Bazaar. From the mundane to the magical, the market stalls contain an endless supply of precisely what you've never been looking for! You never know what kind of unique and must-have bauble you're going to find.

The Buttons & Bottlecaps Bazaar will remain open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for the rest of eternity! Looking for a shopping experience of a lifetime? Look no further than this unique outdoor shopping center. Rain or shine, you're certain to love everything that you find.

~ * ~ * ~

Word to the wise: The Triple B is a faerie market! Just about anything imaginable can be found here, but some items may come with an additional price. Shop at your own risk!

[Delahada]

Tuesday, February 20th!

It's time to get messy at Shantytown Stadium! The Village of Eastgate is proud to present the first annual Splatter Paint War! The battlefield will be the green where the Eastgate Echidnas usually kick around a ball. Visitors from all over the world are invited to flood the stadium on this Tuesday to take part in an epic game of war!

The field will be set up with an extraordinarily huge obstacle course, giving participants plenty of places to hide for ambushes and sneak attacks. Choose from a variety of paint-filled weaponry to douse your enemies in color. Paintball guns, paint brushes, buckets of paint, paint-filled water balloons, paint rollers, and more will all be available, free to use! There is no charge to participate!

This is one party in which you do not want to be dressed your best. Bring a change of clothes in a sealed plastic bag, just in case. The Shantytown Stadium locker rooms will be open to the public for anyone desiring to shower afterward.

Spread throughout the stadium will be canvases aplenty, too. Take home a piece of history when you leave, a souvenir to hang on your wall in memory of the time you battled your friends and family with color! For those who may prefer a more peaceful base of operations, private boxes are available for alternative painting sessions with less violence and mayhem involved.

The chaotic good fun runs all day long, so stop on by when you get tired of shopping at the bazaar. No one will leave empty-handed, and likely escape unscathed from paint!

( Example art piece from Splatter Room. )

[Delahada]

Wednesday, February 21st

Rumor has it that Rekah Illyriana has the largest collection of stuffies in the entire world. Perhaps even more than can fit in all of the multiverse! Further gossip states that she has so many plush pals that one can literally drown in them, and in so doing get sucked into a parallel universe. At least that's what people say. What better way to celebrate the Wildling, though, than to have a day devoted solely to the creation of even more stuffed animals!

Come on out to the Dragon's Gate Baronial Manor this Wednesday, the 21st of February, to assemble your very own personal stuffed buddy! The students of the Dueling Sword will be on hand to assist you in selecting all the materials you need to craft a new plush pal. With a large assortment of materials to choose from, no two buddies can possibly be the same. Choose from a wide variety of base materials to sew your own shapes, or select a pre-made design. No matter what you choose, the amount of stuffing that goes inside is totally up to you. Make them as firm or soft as you like!

All built buddies are free of charge and you get to take them home with you! Every crafted stuffie may be entered into a contest if you so choose, as well. The birthday girl, Rekah Ilyriana herself, will judge them all to decide which plush is the most perfect. Awards will be given out for first, second, and third place prizes. So be sure to showcase your stuffies once you are done!

The Dragon's Gate Dueling Sword will also be collecting monetary donations for the Greater Rhy'Din Help the Homeless Foundation. Item donations may also be left in the care of the school. Any plushies crafted may be added to the collection instead of taking them home. Pillows, blankets, warm coats, gloves, and additional comfort items are welcome as well.

[Delahada]

Thursday, February 22nd

Governor Gatito Lindo invites the citizenry of Rhy'Din to attend a special all-day tea party at the Governor's Mansion! Much like last year's Wonderland experience, but with a more mellow mood to the atmosphere. The good folks at Kitten’s Confections Bakery & Café have prepared a sweet bun feast for all visitors to enjoy while spending the day relaxing under the sun. Treat yourself to some pampering and luxury.

Skilled massage therapists and talented cosmetologists from all over the city (and beyond) will be present to give visitors the make-over of their dreams. Want to have your hair colored, twisted, and tied so that you, too, can look like Deathcake's Darling with warrior braid fashion? We can do it for you! Just need to unwind with a deep tissue massage that will leave you feeling absolutely nothing at all? We've got that covered too!

Choose from hundreds of braided fashions! Throw in a ribbon or get a color treatment. For that extra Rekah experience, ask for strategically arranged random debris to be tucked into the twists. All of these styles and more available to you absolutely free of charge! The massage therapy experiences will cost you nothing, too!

Stick around for a while and take a load off your feet. Catch a cat nap, possibly even under a bench. It's possible you could even run into the rest of the Deathcake crew, and other IFL stars, who might just be willing to gift you with an autograph!

There will be plenty of tasty treats in both savory and sweet varieties, and drinks to wash them down with, available also at no cost to you whatsoever. Governor Lindo's bakery is well known for its deliciously diverse selections. Enjoy them all and some time well spent.

[Delahada]

Friday, February 23rd

How exactly can heckling be helpful, you ask? Why, reverse psychology, of course! It worked fantastically for Eddie Blake during the IFL season, and we think it can work just as well for all of you, too. In honor of the legendary king of Hecklers, a rival to Rekah herself, Harris D'Artainian, the Village of Eastgate invites everyone to engage in some friendly supportive ribbing throughout the day.

Seeing evidence of the work week doldrums bringing your co-workers down? Cheer them up by telling them their fathers smelled like elderberries! They'll be so baffled that they're guaranteed to laugh. What exactly does an elderberry smell like, anyway?

Noticed that your neighbor can't quite get themself motivated to mow the lawn? Threaten to replace the gravel in their drive with freshly molded loose Lego if they don't stop being so lazy! Nobody wants to step on a Lego! Imagine the damage it'll do to the tires of a car!

Just remember that while it's fun to tease, it's not nice to hurt anyone's feelings. Keep it clean, silly, and kind as best you can. We don't recommend heckling strangers. Pay attention to the mood. If it doesn't look like your fellow citizen is entertained, knock it off! Nobody wants a knife in the throat! The Village of Eastgate and Salvador Delahada will not be held responsible for any violent retaliation. Choose your words wisely.

Get out there and do good with your sassiest motivational speeches! Do it for the points, for the cake, and most of all for Rekah!

[Delahada]

Saturday, February 24th
Wildling Rodeo & Mad Mounted Melee!

(See linked to thread for more details.)

[Delahada]

Sunday, February 25th!

Come out today and— No. Scratch that. Stay in today, and do absolutely nothing at all! It's been a busy week so far of Rekahpalooza spectacular adventures! Take the day off and do some much well deserved sleeping in. After last night's dueling extravaganza, that's what Rekah and the rest of her closest loved ones are sure to be doing themselves!

Pull up a pillow and snuggle into a blanket nest. Surround yourself with emergency snacks and plenty of relaxing beverages. There's absolutely nothing that needs to be done today that can't be put off to tomorrow! Relax and recharge. Conserve your energy for the festivities that are yet to come! There are only four more days to go before the birthday girl's big day finale, and so much more to do between then and now!

[Delahada]

Monday, February 26th!

Were you minding your own business enjoying a cuppa on your morning commute when suddenly some young rascal jumped out of nowhere and yelled "SURPRISE!" in your face? Did this random encounter not only make you toss your java up in the air, but then result in a handful of other bizarre experiences happening all at once? Was it just your imagination or did you see a little fairy dressed in a wizard robe and wearing a fake beard pop into existence with a miniature maniacal cackle right before your very eyes? Did they bop you on the head with a sparkly wand and blind you with a blast of glitter right to the eyes?

Well, it's a Monday, all right. The most Mondayest of Mondays that Rhy'Din has ever seen! What's going on here? Anything that could go wrong will quite possibly go very wrong. Everything's shifted a little to the left! Especially doorways. Just when you think your hand's closed on the knob, your knuckles bump into a wall instead! Ugh! Who let all these pesky pixies out of their cages to wreak havoc on the city?

All this Monday Mischief seems to be triggered specifically whenever someone shouts "SURPRISE!" That's when the wizard faeries appear with a blast of Rekah brand chaos magic to make your start of the week work day just a little more interesting. All this wearisome nonsense is one hundred percent temporary. Duration results may vary. Contact your local witch doctor if there are any severe side effects. Rest assured that any curse is reversible! Please celebrate responsibly.

[Delahada]

Tuesday, February 27th!

Squids are friends! So are octupi, mollusks, cuttlefish, and all of the slimy cephalopods of the sea! Rekah Illyriana has been known to swim with them, and depart the ocean wearing one as a hat. They make for the most fashionable of accessories to any wardrobe, sure to compliment anything you could possibly have in your closet. Mostly because they have a tendency to latch on and not let go!

Help celebrate Rekah further on this day of the dozen-long festivities by making a friend with one of your very own local sea creatures down at Seaside Beach. Serenade them with a song or honor them with an on-the-spot poem. Draw, paint, or sculpt something squid-related. Try on a skirt with extra appendages and see how it feels to scuttle about with eight legs of your very own!

We're asking you, the citizens of Rhy'Din, to help make the seas safe for our cephalopod friends, too. Grab a waste bin or other portable trash receptacle and comb the beach for refuse while you're there. Sink your toes into the shallows and see if you can't even get a mollusk friend to assist you in pulling refuse from the waves. Hang onto anything shiny you might find, though, as you're going to need it tomorrow...

[Delahada]

Wednesday, February 28th!

Here's hoping you hung onto some treasures while you were busily combing the beach to dispose of the trash yesterday, because you're going to need those shinies today! The Rathskeller Inn has opened its doors to happily host a day full of crafting and creativity for the celebrants of Rekahpalooza! Bring all your ocean-rescued baubles to the grand lobby and relax as the seafront breezes swirl warmly around you. Spring is in the air, and it's time to accessorize!

Staff will be on hand to pamper and assist you in any way they can. Primarily they will be present to serve drinks and snacks, all generously paid for ahead of time by a mysterious benefactor. But they will also be responsible for keeping the crafting tables clutter-free and stocked full of everything you could possibly need to make your own seashell jewelry or art!

Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, hair clips, tiaras, watch bands, belts, and more! If you can imagine yourself wearing it, then you can make it here at the Seaside Shelltacular Rekahpalooza Celebration! Enjoy a stroll along the beach while you're here. Maybe hit the waves. We hear there's a Surf Shop somewhere nearby. You shouldn't have to worry about any sharks, even baby ones. Dive on in for a swim if you like!

The seashell decorating party goes on all day and all night. Stick around for a bonfire to dance around in the evening, right off the patio of the Rathskeller ballroom. Rooms will be made available at discounted rates for everyone who comes to celebrate Rekah Illyriana, and there will be plenty of space in the sands to sleep under the stars as well, for free!

[Delahada]

Thursday, February 29th!

Today is the day and it has finally arrived! The day that happens once every four years! It's Leap Year! And even more importantly, it's Rekah Illyriana's actual birthday! Hop back over to the Village of Eastgate and Shantytown Stadium where an enormous banquet has been laid out for everyone to enjoy! This delectable breakfast, lunch, and dinner party features all of the birthday girl's favorite foods, primarily waffles!

Engage in an assortment of sweets-related party games, such as sticky bun dodgeball and donut horseshoe tossing. Take a trip down the wildly twisting and turning maple syrup slide, ending with a splash in a pool full of confectioner's sugar. You better expect to get messy at this twenty-four-hour-long nonstop stuff-your-face feeding frenzy!

Governor Gatito Lindo and the good people at Kitten’s Confections Bakery & Café have assembled an extraordinary menu just for this grand finale of the Rekahpalooza celebrations. You aren't going to want to miss out on these never-ending sickening sweet selections! Seriously, though, because this is your very last chance to wish Rekah Illyriana a very happy birthday!

(( Extraordinary menu to follow, with super special thanks to Partly Cloudy! ))

[Partly Cloudy]

REKAHPALOOZA 2024
THE GREAT WAFFLE FEAST
MENU




GRAND WAFFLE BUFFET

All you can eat waffles, plus all your favorite toppings and brunch sides!

Waffle Flavors
buttermilk, birthday cake, blueberry, chocolate chip, chocolate espresso, lemon ricotta, cinnamon, savory cheese and herb, gluten-free, oatmeal (gf), vegan buttermilk, vegan banana bread, vegan chocolate, vegan gluten-free blackberry, and more!

Savory Toppings & Side Dishes
bacon, turkey bacon, vegan bacon, sausage links, chicken sausage, vegan sausage, fried chicken tenders, smoky tempeh, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, tofu scramble, sautéed mushrooms, pan-fried halloumi, cheddar cheese, parmesan, burrata, sliced avocado, tomato-herb salad, breakfast potatoes, and more!

Sweet Toppings & Side Dishes
cinnamon apples, caramelized banana, sliced banana, sliced strawberries, fresh blueberries, fresh blackberries, fresh raspberries, sliced apples, sliced peaches, chopped kiwi, chopped pineapple, chopped mango, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, vegan chocolate chips, cacao nibs, sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, sprinkles, chopped candy bars, and more!

Syrups & Sauces
butter, compound butters, vegan butter, pure maple syrup, honey, hot honey, fudge sauce, caramel sauce, blackberry syrup, blueberry syrup, peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella, whipped cream, whipped coconut cream, vanilla yogurt, vegan coconut yogurt, breakfast gravy, brown gravy, vegan mushroom gravy, and more!

WAFFLEWICHES & OTHER SPECIALTIES

Spicy Waffle BLT
thick-cut bacon, heirloom tomatoes, sliced avocado, and arugula with chipotle aioli on cheddar-jalapeño cornbread waffles

Bubble Waffle Breakfast Burger
two maple-sage pork patties, gouda cheese, bacon, and a fried egg in between two yeast doughnut bubble waffles, with creamy honey mustard, lettuce, tomato, and avocado on the side

Chicken & Waffles Nachos
savory cheddar waffle bites topped with fried popcorn chicken, crispy bacon, chipotle cheddar sauce, diced tomato, scallions, and drizzles of sour cream and sriracha

Pulled Pork Waffle Tacos
tender pulled pork folded into three fluffy waffle “shells” and topped with pineapple barbecue sauce, sweet ’n’ tangy slaw, grilled pineapple and jalapeños, scallions, and fresh cilantro

Waffle Fries Breakfast Poutine
crispy waffle fries topped with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese curds, hollandaise sauce, and scalions

Many of these dishes can be made vegetarian or vegan upon request.

SWEET WAFFLE TREATS

Churro Waffles
buttermilk waffles studded with cinnamon chips, dusted in cinnamon sugar, and topped with cinnamon-brown sugar ice cream, whipped cream, and dark chocolate ganache

Hummingbird Waffles
buttermilk waffles flavored with banana, pineapple, and spices, layered with brown sugar pecan cream cheese frosting, and topped with a rosette of frosting, chopped pecans, chopped pineapple, and rum caramel sauce

Bubble Waffle Banana Split Tacos
confetti cake bubble waffle “shells” filled with scoops of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream and then topped with sliced bananas and strawberries, chopped nuts, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, and maraschino cherries

Waffle Doughnuts
a trio of waffle-pressed yeast doughnuts with blueberry, blood orange-vanilla, or chocolate glaze

And the pièce de résistance …
Rekah’s Birthday Cake!

This multi-tiered confection is made of layers of decadent Liège-style waffles studded with pearl sugar; filled with rich maple-vanilla buttercream, fresh berries, and sliced peaches; decorated with edible flowers, sugar pearls, and sea shell-shaped maple white chocolate truffles; and finished with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. Each slice is served with both maple syrup and chocolate sauce for drizzling.

And finally …




SYRUPY SIPS

Rise ’n’ Shine
Eggo Waffle Sippin’ Cream, Kahlùa, half ’n’ half, maple syrup, and a coffee ice cube
garnished with a mini waffle and a slice of bacon

Morning, Cupcake
Pinnacle Cake Vodka, Kahlùa, DiSaronno Velvet, and espresso
garnished with coffee beans

Maple Apple Crisp
Calvados, apple cider, and maple syrup topped with champagne
garnished with an apple slice

Better Than O.J.
Grand Marnier Quintessence, blood orange juice, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, and cinnamon
garnished with a blood orange wedge and a sprig of rosemary

Brunch Old Fashioned
Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon, barrel-aged maple syrup, vanilla bitters, and a splash of water
garnished with a slice of crispy bacon and an orange twist

Churros for Breakfast
RumChata, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Blue Chair Bay Vanilla Rum, and hot coffee
garnished with a mini churro, whipped cream, and cinnamon

Additionally, there will be plenty of hot Spanish coffee, hot tea, orange juice, milk, lemonade, and other non-alcoholic beverages available.



Except where noted, as in the case with brand name liqueurs, all chocolate items on this menu are made with Celestial Chocolate, which is safe for those who are allergic or otherwise sensitive to regular chocolate.