The laughing game. The point of the game was to get people to laugh. BUT, it had to be laughter that was in good taste and kindness, not cruelty. For each person to gain an honest laugh was one point. Insults and hurt feelings meant losing points. Winner got a very nice prize, but most important was the fun! -- BKF
People assume that the followers of Loki are as evil as they think the god is. People assume wrong. Loki is the god of clever-clogs, smartasses, and the protector of children. He is the patron of ever wily soul who uses clever deception to get around their problems.
Nobody loves a good joke like the Temple of the Trickster.
Especially on the Festival of Fools. Which, despite being about a god of chaos and chaotic things, has definitive rules. The devotees of Loki are not allowed to mock people for their appearance, nor make them feel ashamed. Laughter is the goal, and all pranks must be harmless. Many agree that the Hellkin have already been through enough and therefore only get jokes thrown their way.
The Festival of Fools involve illusions, spectacle, and horrible, horrible puns.
Horizon, just passing through, had a tangential awareness that this particular day was that particular festival. She fully intended to hang back from the festivities, buy some supplies, and get out with her tail intact. Preferably without getting the Teufel Tax on top of all her expenses.
The fools entertaining the town spotted Horizon's attitude in a cold second. They did not swarm, as that would go against the rules. They did confer in whispers with a lot of them stealing glances at Horizon.
She walked a little quicker. Praying that the Watch wouldn't arrest her for hurrying whilst Hellkin.
What she got was a jester in a cat costume with a net overskirt. Because of course they had to show they belonged to Loki by wearing the net in one way or another. They rubbed up against Horizon in an exaggerated display of feline affection. Trilling a purr before acting like the most pitiful creature in existence. The meow of a feline virtuoso at playing the starving creature was too eerily accurate.
"I don't have any food," said Horizon. "I barely have enough money to buy some for my next journey."
This earned her a withering, if momentary glare. As if to say, That's not part of this script. The 'cat' meowed piteously once more.
"I'm... not familiar with this game," said Horizon. "We-- My kind... We don't get to play very often." And when they did, the devilborn were often the target.
"Poor poor pussy," whispered the 'cat'. "You have to say, poor poor pussy." Then they went straight back into the act.
Baffled and confused, Horizon risked, "Poor poor pussy?"
Which only elicited more piteous meows.
It took five rounds of such before the utter ridiculousness of it hit Horizon like a snowball, and her words came out garbled with laughter.
That was what the 'cat' had been looking for, and welcomed it with a smile and an embrace. Thereafter off to meow at some other fool.
Horizon found her steps oddly lighter as she moved along. She even stopped to watch the comedy routine on the improvised stage in the market square.
That day, the houses echoed with the sound of a Hellkin laughing.
[Photo by Spenser Sembrat on Unsplash]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends! Or visit my hub site to see what else I'm up to.
My Prompt Forum is currently down, but if you want to send me a prompt, post it on my Discord's emergency prompt supply.