FRIDAY 19TH: Vendors open at 5pm WrA (PT)Performances, free raffle, True Colors Pride Party to follow! *Find Naia at the Succulent Tart Merch booth!* Performing between 7-8pm
SATURDAY 20TH: Vendors open at 4pm WrA (PT) Performances, free raffle, fireworks, and THE Heat Rave to follow! *Find Naia at the Succulent Tart Merch booth*
Fog begins to creep in from the sides of the empty staging area, and a familiar smoke screen rises up in the background. ‘HELLO FIRE FEST’ flickers through the smoke through a trick of reflecting light which adds to the growing anticipation of the oncoming performance. Bright, neon lights soon flicker through the smoke, illuminating the stage with a spectacular array of the full rainbow. Soon the words twitch and replace themselves with pounding font, almost like a countdown. ‘ARE’. ‘YOU’. ‘READY…’.
Spotlights flicker up on either side of the stage, symmetrically swirling around to frantically put on a beautiful display of lights. The smoke screen in the back flickers through the vibrant rainbow of colours, the font changing again in the same countdown sequence. A low rumble vibrates the ground surrounding the performance area as if something huge is coming. ‘....TO’. ‘DANCE?’. As those words fade away, the ever-traditional ‘FIRE FEST 2023’ takes its rightful place on the backdrop, but this time the words fade in and out with the same thing spoken in every language known in Azeroth. A sure-fire welcome to every inhabitant!
“Every year, I sing a song about those I love, so this year, this song is about YOU. Yes, you! So get up and celebrate with me, Fire Fest!”
A noise starts to build up, surrounding the audience with that same, familiar vibrating sensation, something is certainly coming! Without warning, those flailing lights lock onto the center where a pillar erupts from center stage. The loud drop of synth-style music vibrates the ground yet again. From the light rises a familiar, very tiny fox, dressed in glittery whites and golds, absolutely glimmering from the spotlights on him. For those that have never seen Kou, he’s certainly small even compared to his fellow Vulpera, yet his stage presence is larger than life. For once, he’s facing the audience upon his arrival and even offers a wink of greeting, his head equipped with a small microphone that auto-translates his words to every viewer’s personal native language. What a nifty little magic gadget! “YEEAAAAAAAEEEEEAAAAAAAH!”
Kou lifts a paw up to wave to the audience before paws start to clap. “HEY YEAH! FIRE FEST WHERE YOU AT?!” He calls out, beaming with a smile. The pop-lock motions of his arms and feet dance through the light, letting that waving arm be pulled down in motion. “I got myself a notion~ And one, I know that you’ll understand! We set the world in motion~ by reaching out for each other’s hand!” As he sings with fervour, Kou pushes a hand toward the audience, fingers splayed wide with a sweeping motion of his arm from side to side as if offering it to take.
The fox clenches that fist after to bring it back, twirling in a pivot to spin around to let his large, fluffed tail sweep and add in that beautiful dance motion. Gracefully, his feet plant firmly onto the ground after, patting his chest right above his heart. “Maybe we’ll discover what we should have known all alooooong! Yeah!” Bouncing with his knees to the rhythm, one foot kicks up and the other soon follows to glide across the stage in an upbeat walk. “One way or another, together’s where we both belooong~.” He coos out those lyrics, leaning toward the front row while walking back, the other way to sprinkle a bit of glitter as he passes by.
Kou returns to the center of the lights with a small shimmy of his hips but with an energetic jump, the moment he lands on his feet, two purple rockets shoot up on either side of the stage in a glittery explosion! “If we listen to each other’s heart! We’ll fiiind we’re never too faaar apart and maaaaaybe love is the reason why!” He sings with all of his might, bouncing as arms wave up and down to hype the crowd and join him. A shimmer of magic forms from his fingers and with an arching motion of a hand across and over him, a rainbow shoots through the light show above him, cascading down in flecks of glitter paint all over his fur, soaking his clothes in all colours of the rainbow above. “For the first time ever we’re seeing it eye to eye~.”
He smiles brightly and bounces to the edge of the stage from his spot to flop down and sit, kicking a leg up and across the other so that his elbow can rest on the knee. Looking out across the audience, the tiny fox sways to the thunderous synth, drawing in a deep breath. “If a wall, should come between us, too high to climb, too hard to break through…” With a wink, two tall pillars of purple flame erupt behind him, blazing in time with the beat. “I know that looove will lead us, and find a way to bring me to you~.”
With a twist of his midsection, Kou rolls to push off of the stage edge in a playful flip, landing it with a well-timed bounce. A pivot on his heel follows with the momentum, skipping to one edge of the front row. “So don’t be in a hurry, think before you count us out, oh~!” Golden glitter swirls along his feet, lifting the little Vulpera up so the crowd doesn’t tower over them. Cheerfully, he dashes across the front of the audience with his small paw out, high-fiving as many as he can in one graceful swoop. “YOU don’t have to worry! I won’t ever let you dooown!” Kou takes the time to blow a kiss, jumping back toward the stage to stand between the pillars of purple fire.
Kou motions to either side of himself at the fire pillars as two silhouettes that match his form appear dancing within the flames. At the same time, he reaches into the fire to grab the matching paws within to take their hands, igniting the shadows in magic. The fire itself spreads, running up his arms to consume his entire body but without any hint of pain, it seems the theatrics are simply illusionary magic! With a pull of his arms, he conjures the shadowy foxes to join him from the flames that fade away from his own body. Both foxes that step out from the fire may look like Kou, but they’re clearly sporting their own stylish designs of clothing. All three pause to look at each other briefly in confusion and surprise, even glancing at the audience a moment in shock!
The Fox nods to his clones, motioning toward the audience with his head, visually attempting to convince them to dance along. The one on his right side nods in agreement, however, the one on his left seems to look distracted..! Enough that they turn around to watch the light show behind the trio. Kou nods his head, bouncing a few times in place before he finally sings out again, leading into another pop-lock of his arms. “If we listen to each other’s heart, we’ll find we’re never too far apart~!” The three foxes look nearly symmetrical in their dance–! Wait– is Left Fox dancing backward? Their arms just sort of flail about, but they are trying their best. Kou taps their arm to get them to turn back around, which is done with some luck, but they’re certainly too stage-shocked to keep up. ”And maybe love is the reason why, for the first time ever we’re seeing it eye to eye~.”
Kou and the clone to his right pause to watch Left Fox flail around in their own little world until both start to laugh. Kou shakes his head, motioning toward the audience - both clones ignite in a blur of rainbows and sparkles, shooting toward the gathering to weave in between the guests, splattering glitter in their wake. Waving the pair off, Kou claps his hands together to the beat, prancing in a circle of excitement.
“FIRE FEST! HOW WE DOIN’ OUT THERE TONIGHT?!”
“Every year I ask you to sing with me, and you should know the lyrics by now, so are you ready?!”
A hand lifts up into the air to show his pinky outstretched. “We have friends who maybe can’t hear my voice here tonight, so help me sing for them, too! We’re in this together, so lift your pinkies out, then turn your hand to make a two with your fingers, and turn it again for the i!” Demonstrating the swiveling motion of his wrist to spell I-2-I, stairs begin to rise up on the shifting stage behind him.
“I think we’re seein’ it–!”
“SEEIN’ IT!–”
“Yeah, everybody’s seein’ it–!”
“Love is why we’re seein’ it–!”
Kou cheers loudly, letting out a sharp whistle for his clones to return from their running amok. Swirling around his form, it’s almost as if the power of the cheering and singing has ignited the fox’s magic even further! Golden sparkles swirl around his body, lighting up in flame once more while his arms lift up to form his own silhouette in the dancing flames. Both Left and Right Fox return to the stage to flank the swirling flames, both seeming far more in sync than previously before. They watch with an intent gaze, both lifting their hands out toward the fire to reach for the same paws that brought them to life.
Kou‘s paws are pulled from the flame, revealing shimmering black latex gloves accented with gold claws. As the fire swirls down off of him and retreats to his feet, Kou emerges in a new set of clothes. The tight dark booty shorts and thigh highs are on full display as the once gold and white outfit is replaced with deep reds, golds, and black with fiery motifs. The tight corset annunciates his body to a curvy, softened look to it, even the boldened makeup around his eyes is darker and more pronounced.
He takes the time to spin both of his clones, drawing in a deep breath to hit out a bellowing set of notes, it’s a bit of a surprise such vocals can come out of such a tiny creature. “IF YOU’RE EVER LOOONELLLLY! STOP!” He commands, causing all three foxes to pause in mid-movement, each paused in a unique pose. “You don’t have to be! After all, it’s only a beat away from you to meee~.” As he sings, the trio walks forward to the front of the stage, each step in perfect sync with one another and still hand-in-hand.
“Take a look insiiiide and see!”
All three foxes raise their right hand up, letting them slowly fall down as they begin to sing in harmony together. “If we listen to each other’s heart! We’ll find we’re never too far apart!” Just as the words are sung, an eruption of fireworks ignites across the stage, accenting the key shift and unison of the dancers on stage. Bouncing with their knees, one arm from each mimics the motion before they snap-kick a leg out in the rather whimsical choreography. All three jump again to click their heels in the air! With a graceful landing, the trio follows up the footwork with an arching swing of their arms, reaching across themselves before following through with a large circular motion. “And maybe love is the reason why! For the first time ever we’re seein’ it–!” All three point out to the audience in search of the answer, bobbing their heads to the beat!
Kou lifts his arms, popping his hips from side to side to the beat, audibly laughing from enjoying himself on the stage with the pair of clones who playfully dance with him on the stage. “Whoaaah, for the first time!” Chirping out the lyrics, the small set of foxes all spin together, feeding off the shared energy, as well as the crowd vibe. “For the first time, we’re seeing it–!” Once more, the trio points toward the crowd, cheering them on to join in. “Eye to eye!!” A hand reaches up all the while, once more spelling out I-2-I in the hand choreography.
“YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH we’re seein’ it–!”
Kou spins around in his spot, the pivot is followed through with a graceful shimmy of his hips and a jump that is landed by dropping down to his knees. A last set of fireworks shoot off, causing the ‘FIRE FEST 2023’ in the smoke screen to switch to ‘LOVE IS LOVE’. The final note of the synth hits and fades away, rendering the three to strike their final dynamic posing together with Kou pushing his arms upward and both Right and Left Fox arching their limbs to form a heart between them.
“THANK YOU FIRE FEST! WE LOVE YOU!!”
Kou stands, taking Right Fox and Left Fox’s paws with his own, guiding the three to bow together as one. In the midst of the bow, flames erupt around them, swirling across the stage to help them vanish, leaving the sparkly mess clean once again!
Kael'thas reappears in his past form for a couple of moments. With that first step out of the illusion of the image, he steps into the light and color in reds and golds. His slow, sly smile spreads over his lips as he outstretches his hands on either side to present. He moves his finger out in front of him to waggle in front in Sin'dorei fashion, to time with the song to not look away with a reforged Silvermoon in the background.
Kael'thas produces a much smaller embodiment of M'uru and hovers his hands over it, siphoning the entity for its life energy. He concentrates on the n’aaru for a while with a maniacal grin before gestures as if to hand it over to others with glorious intent in his eyes! He begins to channel the energy before everyone swelling with more and more power! There is a portal being made before everyone’s very eyes!
The summon completes and the Prince bursts into the air and seems to disappear!
The thuds of the music are in timing with the feel of an earthquake at the audience's feet. The swelling pool of light and power has a ghostly Eredar of massive proportion pulling itself up pulsing in flames! Wings extend up and umbrella out smashing apart the echo image into vibrant color. The rumble of his voice rolls over everyone while his eyes pierce over all the heroes that dare to show themselves to him! The slow-motion of this gives chills up your spine.
"The expendable have perished... So be it! Now I shall succeed where Sargeras could not! I will bleed this wretched world and secure my place as the true master of the Burning Legion. The end has come! Let the unraveling of this world commence!"
The entire stage is bombarded with explosive effects! Waves and bursts of fire and arcane are everywhere! Kil'jaeden opens shadow portals and sends darkened spells over the crowd. Rains of fire keep coming as those wings flare out to make everyone feel that doom was upon them! As his hands keep lashing wave after wave!
Suddenly it looks like the Eredar is being electrocuted! Snarls fill the air as he yells. "Aggghh! The powers of the Sunwell... turn... against me! What have you done? What have you done???" The ground swallows the demon right back up and seals the portal to this world!
As the illusion dust washes this part of the Sunwell battle away, in the background is the image of Silvermoon, and more come into view once again. Talthorn speaks as the narrator to highlight everyone. "Lady Liadrin stands strong as the Blood Knight Matriarch. No longer does her faith in the light falter since the revitalization of the Sunwell. She leads her order with strength and conviction, ready to defend her people and the world from external threats."
"Grand Magister Rommath remains one of the Regent Lord's trusted personal advisors. Dedicating himself to ensure that history shall not be repeated with the betrayal of the last Prince, this leader of the Magisters continues to offer his unfaltering loyalty to Silvermoon and her people."
"Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing remains military leader of Silvermoon, high commander of its defenses, and leader of the Farstiders. He is Lor'themar's most loyal and trusted comrade and friend, serving with unwavering courage and integrity. No matter the peril, no matter the war, he will be there to help reforge a new future for the Sin’dorei."
"Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron is the appointed ruler of Sin'dorei people of Azeroth. He has never wished for a royal title and has always insisted that there be a council among his people where issues are concerned. Despite all of the wars he has been a part of and still continues to support in, he remains ever strong for the people of Silvermoon, knowing that they will endure and overcome any obstacle. They will always rebuild for anything! Even…..from dust." He salutes to signal the end of the show!
(( This performance has been indeed been my most intricate yet! I adored putting it together and giving the beautiful people at Fire Fest a visual story I hope they would not forget. I poured passion and love into this and I am every soooo elated it was well received! I have so much happiness and gratitude for everyone that was able to be a part of this, then and now.
A big thank you to @succulent-tart for always supporting my character and giving him a stage to work his magic on! And the most huge thank you to @konietzko-lumenstone for being my anchor. In the WoW and in the supportive sense! This would not have been successful without them as they were so kind to help with fire effects too! All these beautiful screenshots are from them and I am so grateful. ))
@succulent-tart @tartfirefest
(It was amazing to see everyone get up and dance along to this performance and I got so many compliments afterwards. Thank you for making this one of my best performances yet, it wouldn’t have been the same without all of you dancing with me!)
Perchedon steps out onto the stage where two braziers sit on either side of him, though he is almost unrecognisable tonight. His normally vibrant green tattoos that spiral down his body have been glammered into a fiery red glow. The only thing he wears on his chest, a red coaker with draping gold chains, shimmers with the source of this illusion. A red scarf with metal sequin adorns his hips over black leggings, finished off with black leather boots and red gloves. Another new, unusual addition tonight were two long scimitars sheathed under his hip scarf, polished and reflecting the firelight.
Perchedon signals for the start of the music and flashes a brilliant smile out into the audience as he places a hand on his hip and shifts his weight to cause the sequin on the scarf to jingle. “Anyone who’s seen one of my performances knows I love people to get up and dance with me. Normally I’d come out there and join you, but for your safety, I’m going to have to stay up here tonight.” He gestures to the braziers beside him with a sly smirk. “But I don’t want to see any butts on the ground tonight, you all hear me?!”
Perchedon’s next words purr out in a smooth, sultry singing voice. A sound that can ensnare or break hearts. “Don't think about it, just move your body. Listen to the music, sing, oh, ey, oh!” He moves his shoulders and hips to the rhythm, the later causes jingles from the metal sequin. Truly he enjoys the beat even with the swords that bump against his legs. “Just move those left feet. Go ahead, get crazy. Anyone can do it, sing, oh, ey, oh!”
Perchedon beams as he takes a few springy steps forward and slightly to the side of the stage. “Show the world you've got that fire~” He holds out his hands and the fires in the braziers grow higher as if at his command. “Feel the rhythm getting louder!” Long black hair bounces on his shoulders with his fun, excited movements. “Show the room what you can do, prove to them you got the moves.” One hand grips the scimitar on his left. “I don't know about you..”
Perchedon pulls one of the scimitars from his hip in a lightning fast arch in front of him that ends with the blade straight out to his right over the brazier. Fire catches on the steel and licks up the blade until it is entire consumed. “But I feel better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah. Better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah.” He brings the sword over his head in a fast arch around himself, leaving a ring of fire around himself for a moment before it burns out. “And we can do this together, I bet you feel better when you're dancing, yeah, yeah.”
Perchedon rolls his hips from side to side to cause the metal sequin at his waist to jingle as he twirls the sword in his hands to accentuate his movements. The fire sparks and flares around him, as if dancing with the Illidari. “When you finally let go, and you slay that solo. 'Cause you listen to the music, sing, oh, ey, oh!” His body twists around, one arm behind his back as he twirls the blade about on either side of him in a movement reminiscent of nunchucks while his hips move with the beat. “'Cause you're confident, babe, and you make your hips sway~ We knew that you could do it, sing, oh, ey, oh!”
Perchedon draws the other curvy sword from his hip and holds it over the nearby brazier, this blade catches on fire the same as the first. He now wields two fiery swords, one in each hand. “Show the world you've got that fire~ Feel the rhythm getting louder!” With the flick of his wrist, he twirls the swords on either side of him fast enough to create wheels of fire as he continues to sing. “Show the room what you can do, prove to them you got the moves. I don't know about you…”
Perchedon raises the swords over his head and spins while holding them stationary. The movement of his body creates the illusion of a fire halo over his head. “But I feel better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah. Better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah.” He then brings the swords downwards while he still spins, creating an almost double helix design around himself. “And we can do this together, I bet you feel better when you're dancing, yeah, yeah.”
Perchedon holds both of the scimitars out at arm’s length and takes a wider stance. He crosses one foot over the other, then uses to the twist to spin himself around. The fire along the blades creates a beautiful bent disk shape around the Illidari as the small metal disks that adorn his hips create beautiful, light sounds. “I feel better when I'm dancing.I'm better when I'm dancing, aye, oh ey oh. Feel better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah. Better when I'm dancing, yeah, yeah.”
“Don't you know, we can do this together. Bet you feel better when you're dancing, yeah, yeah.” Perchedon twirls his scimitars at his sides one more time before he crosses them behind his back. The swords make a fiery X behind him as he bends at the waist in a deep bow. “I feel better when I'm dancing.~”
Talthorn walks out in a confident saunter across the floor and smiles warmly into the audience at the Fest Fest! He takes the time to breathe in this moment and then addresses everyone with a naturally projective warm voice for all to hear despite the cover. “Ladies and gentlemen! Fellow appreciators of theater and show! Passionate people here to embrace their inner fire! I welcome you to my display of the night filled with illusionary wonder in visual storytelling with some of the best effects I can offer!”
“And what better way to end the evening of performances than with a legendary historic element with music that will hit you right in your spirit.” He hits his hand on his chest just over his heart being as dramatic as ever with a wide grin quickly after. “This is a dedication piece featuring a chapter in Sin’dorei struggle and how they overcame such dire odds! But it is also for those undying spirits and burning souls that refuse to back down or give up no matter the circumstance. I call it? Reforging your Destiny!” he snaps his finger to allow the illusion to start forming over the stage leaving the audience in anticipation a bit longer.
2WEI feat. Edda Hayes - Warriors Extended
The song begins in a sad tone and the ghost of the younger Kael'thas Sunstrider looks over the audience with slightly chattering teeth and a distraught expression. As indicated by the illusion behind him, the Prince only sees the devastation of what was once Silvermoon in the Aftermath of the Third War. His head slowly rises with a slow drag of air through his nose into his lungs as he holds it there with balled-up fists. He takes up a silhouette of an iconic sword and a couple of steps before he takes a weighted stride off the stage.
The younger image of Rommath shimmers into being and slams up a book of spells. He takes up his staff from times lost and burns with pure will. Shedding the ghost with his next strong steps he turns into the Archmage revealing his Sin'dorei colors that flare as bright as the determination within his eyes. The Grand Magister raises his chin as if to cast his silent judgment over to the crowd while he radiates power.
The younger image of Halduron Brightwing appears with the echo of what he once was. He is conflicted but also determined. The ghostly image disperses the moment he takes a step forward to show the Ranger-General, resembling what he looks like as part of the council now. In more of his blues and silvers, he looks much stronger, more resolute.
The younger image of Liadrin appears before the audience in her echo of the past of being a High Priestess. In this form, she is frustrated, upset. She looks about as if searching for answers in confusion before staring down at her hand and curling it up as if she wants to curse. Her step forward out of the ghost of self, she emerges as the Lady of Light clad in her plate armor with that hand wrapped around a heavy blade having being born anew. The aura around her swells with divinity and strength.
The past image of Lor'themar Theron is almost unrecognizable to most with no top knot, nor gash over his eye. He was the Chief Commander back then, he stands proud as the ghost of the past with one of his trusted blades in hand. Leaving the ghostly image as he steps forward, he reveals the image of the Regent Lord with his armor and scars. Wearing the appointed armor of a champion, he raises his chin up to show his unwavering resolve.
(( Part two to come! So much love for everyone! Ahh, I loved this project and performance! More gushing in the next chapter I promise!
All screenshots by @konietzko-lumenstone ! ❤️🔥 ))
Perchedon’s outfit for the Firefest this Friday and Saturday hosted by the @succulent-tart! He’ll be hanging around, checking out booths, flirting, and performing on Saturday night!
Check out THIS LINK to see more information on the Firefest!
Hope to see you there~