[Xanth]

Every year on December first, the quadrangle around Xanth's statue changes, disappearing inside an elaborate structure made of real ice. Glittering under the summer sun, the structure weaves a merry maze from entrance to exit. At the heart of the maze sits an ice throne fit for a queen - or even a god.

Over the entrance hangs a large sign hung with icicles that reads XANTH'S GROTTO and is rimmed in white lights that sparkle day or night. Atop the snowy structure are animated snowmen poised to trick or greet with seasonal cheer. One is taking off its hat to anyone who passes by and calling out a jolly Merry Christmas. Another throws snowballs randomly at visitors, chuckling a Ho Ho Ho. Two more cling to purple tinsel garlands either side of the entrance, waving hello as they bob up and down, and a third peeks over the exit, grinning goofily as it showers visitors with glitter and snowflakes.

Around the grotto is a wooden fence, christmas trees placed here and there across the top and around the base, each one decorated with beautiful glass baubles, bushy tinsel and pretty fairy lights. Amid the branches and snow, dozens of tiny imps dash about, popping out of the snow once in a while to blow raspberries at visitors or squeak a greeting before disappearing once more to attend their duties.

Though it's not an Elysian holiday, Christmas is clearly something Xanth likes to celebrate in style and whether they believe in her generosity or assume the Xanth of the Grotto is a fake, all Elysians know of the wonderful gifts to be had from a visit here.

If you'd like to find out more, a signpost at the entrance explains what is going on.

Pay a visit to Xanth every day in the month of December and you could receive awesome Christmas presents!

This thread is out of time so you can post here every day without worrying about your timeline or how many other threads you're in. However, it is still a roleplay thread so you still need to meet the minimum (150) word requirement. It's also in-character so visits should be roleplayed.

So, how does this work? It's very simple: You get to visit Xanth's Grotto once per day to receive a present. The idea is that your character can come in, pay their respects and leave all in the same post. At the end of the day, I'll post a description of all the presents given out that day, and you can add them to your inventory.

You may only receive a gift once per day per member so be sure to spread the love if you have multiple characters.

Xanth and I both wish you a very merry Christmas, and we hope you enjoy your gifts! If you haven't posted your wishlist yet, make sure you do so we can be sure to give you what you want! And don't forget, the more you visit the grotto, the better the prizes are likely to be!

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley

[Dazadi]

Piper's Boutique : Mini Anden : Full Credit

Daz really wasn't into pandering to Xanth's shenanigans and didn't really celebrate any of the festivals, especially ones that hailed from Earth. However, she was rather at a loss this Christmas. Before Kade's resurrection, she'd spend the holidays curled up into a ball with memories and the odd hallucination whispering through her head. Before that, she'd been too focused on being the best soldier, the best assassin... on proving herself worthy of her father's name. Kade didn't go in much for holidays, either, and last year they'd been busy with family life. This year, on the other hand...

Well, she didn't like having all this time on her hands and work just wasn't demanding enough. Piper, the girl who seemed determined to remain a resident of Dazadi's apartment (Daz knew she'd regret hugging the wench), had already begun decorating and... all that girly stuff. It seemed that the Christmas holiday was inescapable this year.

Besides, she was kind of curious about what went on in that ice maze. She'd seen it appear year after year, watched idiots bounce past the mischievous snowmen (it seemed like Xanth had a penchant for mischievous pets, thinking about it), and come back out grinning from ear to ear with a prettily wrapped package tucked under one arm.

And maybe she was a little jealous... But no, mostly curious.

Half expecting to find the whole thing was some kind of trick or sham, Daz landed smoothly at the entrance and ducked a snowball. Folding her wings against her back, she sidestepped through the entrance, eyeing the waving snowmen warily, and only turned her back on them when she turned a corner out of sight. The sound of giggles reverberated off the icy walls, seeming louder and nearer than they probably were, and she eyed the shadows with every expectation of having a million imps leap out of the darkness at her.

The maze wasn't much of a maze at all, really, wending in and out but actually leading the way directly to what even Daz had to admit was a spectacular throne made entirely of ice. A tall fir tree, hung with gleaming, glittering baubles and tinsel and fairy lights, towered over the throne and, beneath it, was a tempting pile of gifts.

"Gee, thanks." She smiled in spite of herself, a smile filled with self-deprecating humour and curiosity. Chuckling quietly, more with disbelief than humour, she held the package to her ear and shook it gently as she turned towards the exit and left.

[Evangeline]

(( Yesterday, Dec. 1 ))

The Anyelos stood in front of an entrance to the maze that enveloped the Quadrangle. She stood there with an eyebrow raised, arms folded, as she examined the maze of ice. How ... extravagant. She, when she was growing up, did not celebrate Earth's holidays. Oh, sure, she had read about them, but thought it was particular to that planet for most of her life. And so, staring at the entrance surrounded by the snowmen, she was taken aback. This much for something we don't even celebrate ... Sighing, and thinking that it might not be as bad as she thought, Evangeline made her way forward ... and was smacked in the face by a snowball. Fuming, she scooped it off of her face and, before it could melt, threw it in some random direction, where it collided with an unfortunate passerby. "Oh ..." she mouthed, then slipped into the maze before the guy could see her. Y'know, just in case he might get mad and start chucking snowballs everywhere.

Evangeline wandered around the ice maze for a bit, cursing her horrid sense of direction. If the maze was any more difficult ( which it really wasn't to start out with ) she would never find her way out. Sighing, she continued making her way through the maze, finally finding the center -- and realizing that she had been going in circles for the past fifteen minutes. "Well." Eva stared at the throne, but, more than that, was the huge tree. Blinking, she examined the decorations. "Hmm. I shall take a present, then," she decided, stepping forward cautiously -- thinking another snowball might end up hitting her again.

Reaching the presents, she bent down and picked one up, unable to keep herself from smiling. Evangeline quickly went out of the maze after that, taking another twenty minutes. Twice she had circled back and ended up in the center of the maze, with the throne and presents. Feeling rather angry, she finally reached the exit, where another snowball hit her -- this time, her arm. Ugh. Quickly exiting the square, she rolled her eyes a bit. Was Christmas all about flying snowballs? Why would anyone want to celebrate that?

[Piper]

Despite her mom's insistence on following Chinese traditions, Christmas had always been Piper's favourite holiday. It was one of many reasons she missed her real father so much: Charlie Kin had embraced American holidays with open arms and done his level best to bring seasonal cheer into their home. He took them carolling, made snowmen and snow angels with them, roasted chestnuts so they could sit nibbling while they watched the Christmas movies, filled their stockings and got up bright and early to open their presents with them on Christmas Day. Since his death, Nancy had forbidden Christmas. Zach, like their mother, refused to celebrate, perhaps thinking that it wasn't the same without Charlie. Piper agreed, to an extent, but she also firmly believed he'd want them to continue enjoying the season anyway.

Since coming to live in Elysia, Piper hadn't really celebrated all that much, though. She'd kept a couple of traditions, like decorating, but she'd been so overwhelmed and distracted by life here that hadn't really done the holidays much justice the last two years, and she felt like she'd let her father down. This year, even though she really had no one to celebrate with, she was determined to enjoy it as much as she possibly could.

She wasn't sure if Xanth's Grotto would reappear this year, not being up on Elysian traditions, but she sought it out anyway. Not for the gifts they promised, although last year she'd received a treasure chest of goodies she still enjoyed - and was wearing the snowflake headband even now! - but because it just seemed like the thing to do.

With the glittery snowballs bouncing atop her head, Piper ruffled Fawn's ears as they paused at the entrance, scoping out the snowmen. She knew from experience how mischievous they were and didn't particularly want a face-full of snow today. Seeing a snowman turn its back, Piper yelled with glee, "Now!" and erupted into a run with her pets following close on her heels. Dashing into the maze, she managed to avoid the inevitable snowball toss, and was instead whumped on the head as she passed between the snowmen hanging at the entrance.

Rubbing her head with a dry grin, Piper ducked around a bend in the maze, following it around until she found the heart. She stood in awe of the throne and its overhanging tree, sighing in wonder. She'd seen it last year, but it never failed to take her breath away. Finally stepping forward to take a gift, she bobbed a clumsy curtsey, wondering if Xanth was watching even now. "Thank you." Smiling brightly, more grateful for the memories of her father than the present, Piper backed out and left the grotto.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Aethereality

[Evangeline]

(( Today, Dec, 2 ))

Again, Evangeline was heading towards the Quadrangle. She was running there, actually -- but not because she was eager. Oh, no, she would much rather drown herself to be eager to celebrate such a ridiculous holiday. But that throne room really was exquisite. But, no. This holiday was not a fun one. After all, she thought to herself as she slowed to a brisk walk, I have already been hit by two snowb -- THUD! She flinched as yet another snowball collided with her head with a dull thud. "What?" she said, nothing more than a single exhale ... and yet still laced with disbelief and her stunned expression. She blinked, feeling the snow melt into her dark amber hair. Raising a hand to feel the wet spot on the side of her face, she turned to look in the direction from which it had come. Her amethyst eyes flashing dangerously, she glared at a particularly arrogant girl who stood giggling and smirking at her from the middle of her little group.

The Anyelos blinked again, then flashed an amazing smile at the girl, leaving her rather taken aback. Then she quickly, with one swift movement, scooped up some snow, packed it into a snowball, and hurled it into the other girl's face. Bowing deeply, mockingly, she apologized to the girl, then turned on her heel and walked away, in a bad mood, and hoping that something -- anything could lighten the atmosphere around her. Due to her increasing anger, the lost Evangeline ended up passing the same place not twice, but three times. She felt like destroying the next thing that so much as moved.

Finally, she once again reached the throne room, and felt herself getting happier at the beautiful sight. She almost skipped to the pile of presents, then picked one up, and sprinted towards the exit, which she -- amazingly -- found on the first try.

[Naava]

"Flit! Flit stop!" Naava screamed as she ran through the town of Alexshire that she had now grown to know like the back of her hand. She'd ventured into the world several times, but Alexshire was one of the few places that she felt like she knew well at all. The Anyeli sanctuary was a bit familiar as well, but the cold was cutting straight through her. She couldn't spend much time outside, really, and the indoors were so... stuffy.

"Fliii-iiit!" She called out, stopping for breath as the Cheefle ran up towards the giant ice maze. "It's beautiful..." Naava muttered under her breath as she ran towards it, half chasing her pet and half wondering what the maze led to. She'd barely made it in the door, however, when she got pelted by a rather large snowball right in the side of the head. ""Oaf!! It's so cold!" she squealed, shaking off the snow and looking up to see... no one there.

Scowling a bit, Naava darted forward again, deciding to find her pet first and her attacker later. Besides, it had just been a snowball. Darting through numerous passages, Naava eventually caught up with her incorrigible pet, and then realized that she was in fact rather lost. After a half an hour or so of searching, not counting the time she'd spent chasing her little rodent, she found the magnificent throne at the center.

"ohhhhhh..." Naava said much like a child as she looked at the large tree and the gifts beneath it. They were truly beautiful and apparently free for the taking as Naava saw a young couple giggle as they picked up a pair of presents wrapped in gorgeous shades of glistening paper. Picking up one wrapped in a bright pearly white sheet of paper, with a smaller red one attatched to it, Naava bowed to the throne gracefully before heading out through the other side of the maze; Flit's leash clenched tightly in her hands.

~~~Credit

Layout from Piper's Boutique.
Texture from Aethereality.
Angelina font from Dafont.
Brushes from and Ca-pris and Aethereality.
Image from Photobucket.

(((OOC: my visits for both dec. 1st and 2nd. {hope my descriptions of the presents are OK, if not, PM me to edit } )))

[Zephyr]

Zephyr eyed the maze suspiciously. He'd not gone into it last year, but he had in years long past. He remembered vaguely receiving gifts here and there, but before he'd set up shop in the area, Zephyr had been unable to even have the opportunity to attend more than once a year--if even that. Still, Zephyr and Xanth had had it out with each other not very long ago in his shop. Who knew how this would end.

Clenching his teeth and tightening his grip on one of the Scimitars attached to his waist, Zephyr walked into the maze, his body a tense lump of muscle and bone. Completely ignoring the various snowmen at the entrance, Zephyr followed the various winding paths to the center throne room. Bowing his head at a slight angle, Zephyr paid his respects to Xanth before bending rigidly and scooping up one of many items on the ground.

Not noticing the color or design of the wrapping paper, Zephyr tucked it under his arm before silently leaving the frozen quadrangle.

Piper's Boutique :: Dafont :: Image 1 :: Owl

[Xanth]

OOC//

Okay, so I know I said I'd post presents every day but if I don't manage to do so, feel free to continue posting once a day anyway. Also, if I happen to post presents mid-day, that doesn't mean you can't continue to post for that day after mine - it just means I'm trying to keep up with you.

Now on with the goodies!

IC//

On the first day of Christmas, Xanth gave with seasonal cheer:

A new pair of boots to the argumentative Dazadi;
A silver beak clip. ornately decorated with pink painted flowers and and blue crystals, to Evangeline;
And an empty box, with a sparkling purple butterfly painted onto the inside, to Naava.

On the second day of Christmas, Xanth gave with seasonal cheer:

$15 to Evangeline;
A black leather collar, embossed with silver butterflies, to Piper;
And a box of gingerbread Anyeli to Naava.

On the third day of Christmas, Xanth gave with seasonal cheer:

Plastic vampire fangs to the embittered Zephyr.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley

[Piper]

Piper was beginning to think that either the goddess could read her mind, or that she shared Piper's own passion for stylised butterflies. On the one hand it was strange that she could even think the word "goddess" without snickering. She'd been raised in a world where most people believed the gods were little more than myths, or omniscient but intangible beings that had little resemblance to humans. Piper had seen Xanth for herself, however. She not only lived with a demigod but had actually quested for Xanth herself in the past. Once she'd gotten her head around the idea that, here in Elysia, the gods were as real and as human-like as she was herself, it had been way easier to accept a lot of the things that set Elysia apart from Earth.

Thinking about it now, she realised that acceptance had actually come pretty quickly for her. She'd never balked at the idea of this place and the other species existing. She'd never questioned her sanity over it. That was probably kind of weird...

It was harder to accept that Xanth could know of Piper's love for butterflies, so last year - when one of the presents she received from goddess had been a bottle containing a smoky butterfly she had yet to release - she simply assumed Xanth shared her passion for the beautiful creatures. It seemed way more than coincidence this year when she opened her first gift to see what was inside.

She was completely stunned by the beautiful collar. She'd sat cross-legged on the wide bed in Wolf's room with Fawn curled up against her leg and Comet at her back. She'd pulled the black leather from the tissue paper and fingered the embossed butterflies, admiring the craftsmanship and trying to picture Fawn in it. Despite the feminine decoration, Piper just couldn't imagine it on Fawn. It just seemed... wrong. Comet, on the other hand...

Now, as she let the canines drag her back into the maze, Piper smiled brightly. It was a good thing wolves didn't have a problem with image, because if they did, Comet would probably be whining that she'd emasculated him by now. Personally, she thought the collar made him look immensely handsome.

As they reached the heart of the maze and stood before the throne, Piper gazed up at the tree with wonder. "He looks absolutely stunning in it, Xanth. Thank you." Smiling gaily, she bobbed into a clumsy curtsey (she could never quite seem to keep her balance like that, darn it) and plucked up another parcel before tugging the curious canines away and heading back to work.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Aethereality

[Eivyonydd]

Sequoia House had be crawling with Nymph younglings when Vyon arrived back there after his long self-imposed exile. It was odd he had never noticed so many of them before, but when he saw what drew their attention he was less than surprised. On the noticeboard was a large poster with a ice grove, a bunch of presents, an elegantly winged girl and a the wording Xanth's Grotto.

Vyon assumed it was kind of like a Santa's Grotto back in the department stores in New York. Kids get to sit on a Xanth lookalikes knee, get a photo taken and maybe even a present. And all these younglings wanted to go, some of them were even giving him owl eyes. Vyon was sure that the allure didn't actually come into affect until one was eighteen or so, but somehow he found himself unable to resist so many imploring looks.

"Okay, okay," he replied, hold up his hands in defense of the onrushing children, "but I can only take a couple of you each day," groans from the children, "so you'll all have to be good and patient and form a line here, no pushing and shoving okay."

As the kids formed a line he found some paper and a pen and pinned the paper to the noticeboard.

"Now one at a time I want you to come up and write you name on the list okay."

When they were done Vyon wrote the dates the children would be allowed to go beside each name and asked the kids to meet him there at this time each day, and with that he was able to get the gaggle of children who wouldn't be accompanying him today to disperse.

And so the three of them toddled off to Xanth's Grotto and the children were filled with ooohs and aaahs about the whole thing.

Vyon picture by me with help from Evie on the nose. Forest background modified from a Leet Software image. Brushes from SS-vector-foliage brush set. Code from Piper's Boutique with help to get it all working from Emma.

[Evangeline]

(( Dec. 4 ))

This girl was quite happy, today. Her hair was tied up into a ponytail, and holding back a few locks of stray hair was a clip she had received on the first day. Not only was it a gift, it was beautiful, shaped like a bird's beak. On it were pink painted flowers, inset with glittering blue crystals. It was just ... so ... pretty! Evangeline was happy with her gift, and designed her outfit for today with the clip as the main focus point.

It was a dark pink on the upper half, and a royal blue for the skirt, with a lavender flower design on the hem and going up the sides. She walked elegantly to the entrance, quickly dodging a snowball thrown from a snowman at the entrance. That couldn't spoil her happy mood -- one that was not unlike a child with a new toy -- and she was determined to make it through the maze snowball-free.

She made her way through the corridors of ice, taking only ten minutes to reach the throne room, and she quickly flitted forward, grabbing a present, then, smiling to herself, made her way out of the maze. Once she reached the exit, the quickly looked around, then grinned, sprinting away.

[Isabel]

Christmas in New Alexandria was very different from what Isabel was used to. Instead of the cold and snow, the weather was warm and bright - Summer. It would take time for Isabel to get used to it, but it wasn't so bad. Just a tad different. As Isabel passed by Xanth's grotto, she didn't notice anything at first. She stopped after a few steps finally noticing that something was different and walked backwards toward the grotto. She stood there for a few minutes staring at the ice sculpture and clearly animated snowmen, debating whether to go in or not. She was curious of what was beyond the entrance, to be sure, but who knew what dangers lurk behind it. She took a few steps closer and one of the snowmen greeted her a jolly "Merry Christmas". She was about to reply in kind when a snowball hit the back of her head. Turning her head, Isabel saw the culprit. One of the snowmen was poised to hit her with another snowball. Without really thinking about it, Isabel escaped towards the entrance to the grotto as another snowman showers her with glitters and snowflakes.

Brushing off the glitters from her hair, Isabel took her time looking at her surroundings. It looked like she was in a maze. Shrugging her shoulders, Isabel started forward; determined to reach the heart of the maze. What better way to pass the time than finding your way through a maze. After several minutes of walking towards dead ends and trying not to panic and think about getting trapped inside, Isabel finally found the heart. And what a heart it was. In the center was a throne made of ice and it was beautiful. Not to mention the magnificent tree beside it with presents underneath. Oooooh... presents. Isabel approached the tree and took one wrapped present underneath. Looking around the room, Isabel thought that this is definitely Xanth's doing. Deciding to stay awhile, Isabel took a seat on the floor in front of the throne with her black skirt circling her and her present on her lap. She admired her surroundings reverently and with awe for a few minutes then stood up deciding that she might have overstayed her welcome. Isabel took one last look and started backtracking towards the exit of the maze.

Iardacil | Yasny-chan | coolwing
Christopher Hansen | et al.
Complete Credits in Journal

[Xanth]

On the fourth day of Christmas, Xanth gave with seasonal cheer:

A beautifully crafted doll of Nymphadora Makani to Piper;
A toy each for Vyon's little friends;
A set of four skateboard wheels painted with purple lightning bolts for Vyon;
10 karma points for Evangeline;
And $15 for Isabel.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley

[Dazadi]

Piper's Boutique : Mini Anden : Full Credit

Dazadi stood on a roof overlooking the quadrangle and Xanth's little Christmas game for two hours, her feet encased in the boots Xanth had given her. She'd actually been joking when she complained that Xanth owed her new boots - even though the old ones were pretty much falling to pieces around her toes, she just didn't think about buying new clothes the way most other people seemed to. She'd have continued wearing those boots for years, or at least until they literally fell off her feet and forced her to go barefoot.

But she had to admit, Xanth had wonderful taste. The boots she'd chosen were perfect for Dazadi, total bad-ass with lots of black leather and silver buckles. It was the flaming decoration - electric blue, Dazadi's favourite colour - that really tipped the boots from good footwear into the realms of totally awesome.

Dazadi had even gasped with surprise and blurted, "Holy gods, I love them!" before she'd remembered she wasn't supposed to get so excited about clothes and had snapped her gaping jaw shut. Man, if she'd realised this kind of footwear was available, she'd have raided the nearest shoe shop way sooner.

But now, she figured she owed Xanth at least a thank you. Wearing the thick boots made her feel, for the first time since Kade left with their son, like the kick-ass assassin she was.

So she shot off the roof and landed in front of the entrance, darting inside before the snowmen could catch her and thumbing her nose at them with giddy laughter. She took a wrong turn or three but it didn't take her long to find the throne and then she stood before it with her arms crossed and a hip jutting out, watching the way the icy light glinted off the buckles of her new boots. "So, um... You know, I mean, thanks. Thank you. Seriously, they're... Yeah, well, you get the point." She hoped Xanth realised how hard it was for her to say those two tiny words, what it meant for Daz to stand there and appreciate the gesture. And she did appreciate the gesture.

She hadn't intended to take another gift, only thank Xanth for the one she'd been given already. Even though she could have just sent Purple Head a note telepathically, it seemed important to come here to do it instead, but now that she was here, Dazadi couldn't help but eye the parcels. She couldn't remember ever coming here, even as a child, so what could it hurt...?

"Thanks, Xanth," she repeated, far more humbly than she'd intended, and winged her way out of the maze and back onto the rooftops to see what she'd got.

[Isabel]

Isabel couldn't stay away. The place was just beautiful. Plus, she also heard from the conversations of other people that this happens every Christmas season and apparently, each person gets to have one present for the whole month. Presents plus surprises equals a very happy and bouncy Isabel. When she opened her present the other day, Isabel couldn't help but thank the goddess for her gift. Coming from a privileged background, money was no problem for Isabel. Now that she left her family and have to find her own way in the world, money was everything. She learned to budget and control her buying impulses.

Nearing the entrance to Xanth's grotto, Isabel warily eyed the snow ball-throwing snowman. She took a deep breath and quickly took a sprint towards the cave, narrowly missing a snow ball. Isabel gave herself a mental pat on the back for a good entrance. Tracing her steps from yesterday's foray, she found the heart of the maze much faster this time. She took a deep breath, this time to calm her excited heart, and once again gazed at the general splendor. She took her time approaching the tree and took another wrapped present that was tied with a neat little bow. Looking at the empty, but lovely throne, Isabel smiled and made an elegant curtsy while whispering "Thank you." to Xanth. Straightening up, Isabel took her leave excited and eager to open her present.

Iardacil | Yasny-chan | coolwing
Christopher Hansen | et al.
Complete Credits in Journal

[Amlai]

Amlai was.. much more cheerful than she usually was. After she had finally found a.. decent-ish place to stay, she'd managed to calm herself down, and generally enjoy life. Amlai was casually strolling through New Alexandria, peering in the frosty windows of the shops, examining every item. She tried not to think that she probably wouldn't be able to afford any of the things she saw, but she triedto keep her head up high.

Until she got hit in the face with a wet, soggy, mushy thing.

Amlai stopped in her tracks, and attempted to wipe away the sogginess, only to spread it more all over her face. Amlai rolled her eyes as best she could, and squinted up to try and pinpoint who, or what, had thrown the snowball. "Jee," Amlai thought to herself, "I hope it /was/ a snowball"

after giving up on finding the culprit, she tilted her head at the giant ice maze in front of her. "That wasn't there before..". Amlai decided it was worth the risk. No-one would really notice if she vanished of the face of the realm anyway. She tightened her scarf's grip around her neck, whilst cautiously entering the ice maze.

After half an hour, she stumbled into the middle of the maze. It certainly was very Christmassy - but why was there no-one else there? There was an ornate purple throne at the back, but there wasn't a soul sitting in it. Not even one of those fake Father Christmas' Amlai sighed. She didn't like Santa. Not one little bit. She hadn't had a joyful encounter with Santa.

Once Amlai had gotten to the centre of the maze, she wasn't really sure what to do. Slowly turning around, Amlai then clocked a Christmas tree near the throne. Underneath the tree was a pile of presents, delicately wrapped in tinsel and ribbon. Amlai slithered up to the tree, blinking at the presents, decided what to do. She bent down and rattled a present. It echoed back with a loud, Bonk bonk bonk. Amlai grinned. Amlai turned round to see if there were any security cameras. "Gosh, if there were cameras, they would've chucked me out by now".

Amlai admired a blue and white box, wrapped with silver tinsel. Amlai picked it up and tucked it snuggly away into her satchel.

[Piper]

Piper hadn't found the time to open her latest gift yet so she felt rather cheeky coming back for another. A sudden rush of Christmas shoppers looking for cute gifts for kids and girlfriends had leeched all her free time, so wouldn't even have visited the grotto today if she hadn't needed to pass the quadrangle on her way to the cafe for lunch.

She had to admit, she was thrilled to be so busy, even if it did mean she didn't have time to herself. She'd begun to worry she'd have to quit making the bears because while the boutique was doing well off the profits from her prints, she'd only sold one or two bears in the last few months.

"I'm so sorry to be rushing about," she told Xanth as if the goddess were seated on the throne in front of her. "I really, really appreciate the gifts you've given me." Even Comet seemed to like his new collar. "Thank you!"

Dashing back out of the maze, Piper returned to her shop clutching a new gift and wondering if she'd have time to open them tonight.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Aethereality

[Eivyonydd]

Vyon had promised to take more Nymphlings to Xanth's Grotto and when he showed up at the noticeboard the the foot of the Sequoia tree that morning they were eagerly awaiting. He asked them their names and on the way to the portal and the grotto they talked about what they had been up to. Vyon let the little Nymphs talk as much as they wanted and they were both excited and animated about the trip.

It was interesting to be with such young Nymphs, who while they had no powers probably knew more about being a Nymph than he did. They had been Nymphs longer than him after all.

It didn't take long to get to the grotto and Vyon was once again overwhelmed by the Christmasness of it all. When he was a kid he had never really felt the magic of Christmas, and as he grew older he found other places that were magical, like the right line on a bench seat, or ten feet up in the air off a half pipe. When he came to Elysia he discovered something even more magical.

As the kids tumbled over to the lookalike Xanth (Vyon had never actually met Xanth though he had heard her talked about a lot, so he assumed she was dressed like Xanth) he gave the girl a smile, grateful for the attentions that she paid to the Nymphlings.

Vyon picture by me with help from Evie on the nose. Forest background modified from a Leet Software image. Brushes from SS-vector-foliage brush set. Code from Piper's Boutique with help to get it all working from Emma.

[Evangeline]

Piper's Boutique x Dafont x Aethereality

Evangeline sighed. She was here ... again. This morning, the Anyelos had woken up just to think she had nothing planned for today. And that was quite boring, wasn't it? The woman had spent quite a while just laying there, in bed, thinking -- something that she does not do every day. And so, when the now-bright sunlight filtered in through her thin curtains, she had decided to get herself out of hed, get changed, do her hair, and do something.

That something was to get a present from Xanth's Grotto. She didn't really mind if somebody saw her here, it was just ... well, the maze. She would spend forever navigating the maze, going around in circles. It would take forever! And the maze wasn't even that big! The Anyelos shuddered when she thought of how her relatives, who all had an impeccable sense of direction, would laugh if they saw her.

But she was here, and that was what mattered the most. Evangeline ducked under a snowball that came flying at her, then carefully made her way into the maze, trying to use her memory and take the correct turns. Not to say that it suceeded, but she finally entered the room with thr throne and presents. Evangeline sighed in wonder. It was just so beautiful ... She picked up a present, then made her way out in a daze, not caring that she got lost a few times. Her mind was still in the throne room ...

[Xanth]

On the sixth day of Christmas, Xanth gave with seasonal cheer:

A black brocade waistcoat with silver buttons to Dazadi.

On the seventh day of Christmas, Xanth gave with seasonal cheer:

A bracelet that matches her grandmother's pendant to Isabel;
$15 to Amlai;
A pair of fluffy, glittery scrunchies to Piper;
A toy each to Vyon's little friends;
10 karma points to Vyon;
And a small bronze shield with a griffin engraved on the front to Evangline.

Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Anime Rain ¤ Aethereality ¤ Keira Knightley