Yes, I did, and my goodness, aren't they adorable? Look at all these lovely colors! [center][img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event_item/thumbnail/29341/PlushieStarGifts_PastelRed.png[/img] [img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event_item/thumbnail/29342/PlushieStarGifts_Yellow.png[/img] [img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event_item/thumbnail/29343/PlushieStarGifts_PastelGreen.png[/img] [img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event_item/thumbnail/29344/PlushieStarGifts_PastelBlue.png[/img] [img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event_item/thumbnail/29345/PlushieStarGifts_PastelPurple.png[/img] [img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event_item/thumbnail/29346/PlushieStarGifts_Rainbow.png[/img][/center] Why, I just want to cozy up with them. Did Quintina teach you how to sew these cute fluffy pillows?

THEY ARE [u]NOT[/u] CUTE FLUFFY PILLOWS! THESE ARE [u]CLEARLY[/u] SACRED AND METICULOUSLY-RESEARCHED RECREATIONS OF HISTORICAL RITUAL OBJECTS THAT WILL PROTECT OUR ENTIRE REMNANT COLLECTIVE!

O-Oh! Yes, of course, I see that now. My goodness, very meticulous. I apologize for being mistaken. So… Now that we've gathered all the supplies, can you tell me a little more about this protective ritual and how it's going to help the Kith? Will it truly all be powered by granting wishes? At first, I found that hard to imagine - but Hope [i]does[/i] have a great fondness for generosity, and we do strongly associate wishes with stars. And … Well, I've had such complicated feelings ever since hearing the Lucky Venture’s final song, feelings that I can't quite describe. But if what they said is true, and Hope is defined by our willingness to help others and fulfill their needs… Then that certainly makes it seem like our wishes could be powerful enough to substitute for the beliefs that power all of your magic here in the Golden Colosseum…

Precisely! Menodora taught me how to cast a simpler version of this ritual, but I combined it with a much older version that should summon special protectors sent by the winter constellations themselves - and if we power this with the beliefs of Hope, that should help protect you! Which means that for the next month we should all focus on [u]making and granting wishes[/u]! But obviously, it's very important that the heroes of Hope know how their generosity and kindness is being quantified in exact measurements, so I've prepared an itemized list of proposals for 73 separate Achievement titles, each with its own rigorous set of qualifications -

[i]SEVENTY-THREE?![/i] Ohhh deary me! Kosmas, I [i]really[/i] am not sure that's necessary! In fact, couldn't it be a bit… counterproductive? After all, it's been a very tiring few months, and resting is one of the most important ways to bolster your health! What if instead we just have one achievement: [u]Wished Upon A Star[/u]! That way, it's a fun acknowledgment of participation without putting pressure on anyone who might be too busy to join in? And as a delightful extra for those who want to go above and beyond, we could always offer them some additional pillo- ahem, sacred historical ritual objects. …I know that you're probably worried about your ritual going well, but I promise, quite a few students will be happy to help us. And there's no shame if some of them would prefer to take a break instead! It's like I tell the littlest Kith, fresh out of the Tatters and desperate to find an alliance - trying to force things isn't the answer! You don't need to overwork yourself for someone to see how wonderful you are… Here, I'll prove it to you myself! I'm ready to summon those guardians of the winter constellations, so they can channel all those wishes into a protective barrier! What was it you told me to do - that's right, a powerful memory! Thinking back to one of the very first moments I recall… leading the Kith out of the Tatters to Hope, for the very first time…

Wh- [i]ow![/i] The power of that memory - it's - it's so much stronger than when I practiced with Sophos! No, I just need to focus - concentrate harder - I can do this! Channeling the recollections… s-strengthening them… [i]By the preservation of Winter![/i] [center][img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/npc_character_image/image/182/NPC_WINTER_devoted1.png[/img][/center] O Constellation Elementhian, scrape the sky with your mighty tusks! [center][img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/kiths/kith/theme/image/255/GC-Kith-Constellation-Elementhian.png[/img][/center] O Constellation Trimerus, sprint ahead with your fleet feet! [center][img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/kiths/kith/theme/image/256/GC-Kith-Constellation-Trimerus.png[/img][/center] O Constellation Delphydra, harness the memories of the past and the future! [center][img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/kiths/kith/theme/image/253/GC-Kith-Constellation-Delphydra.png[/img][/center] O Constellation Ugling… Wait. Where's the Ugling? There's no Ugling! How?! Why?! Did I… [size=10]mess something up?[/size] [center][img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/kiths/kith/color/stage4_image/303/kith_uglyswan-kith-Blue4.png[/img][/center] Sophos: [highlight=white][color=darkblue]No, Kosmas… You have done well. Well enough, it seems, that this prayer of constellations has been heard, and this blessing of memory extended to one who cares for you; one who will always fight by your side…[/color][/highlight] [center][img]https://tatteredweave.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/kiths/kith/theme/image/254/GC-Kith-Constellation-Ugling.png[/img][/center] SOPHOS! You - you've received the transformation of a winter guardian?! That's incredible! Am I really worthy of having such an alliance?! Wait, what am I saying, if the God of Winter wills it, to question it would be blasphemy! Especially when… Oh. That pattern of stars in your feathers, it's… [size=10]Sniffle…[/size] O Constellation Ugling! Sophos! Stretch out the wings that bear the markings of Menodora and Timaios, fallen Mystic of Winter and fallen Armorer! Let them shine bright in memory! I reach out to through my alliance to you, in perfect synchronicity… Now, Iris! Make your wish!

What I wish for… What I want most…! A way for all of the Kith to be safe! Prepared for battle or for peace, raised easily and lovingly alongside their allies! Ready to safely battle against the Snarls with all the strength that they wish they could have, no matter how great or small… It's forming! A twinkling protective barrier of shooting stars, filling the night sky! How breathtaking! And… oh! What's happening?! All of the statues around the temple… They're glowing! And the [b][item]Beta Divine Offering[/item]s[/b] and [b][item]Beta Divine Token[/item]s[/b], they're melting together… Not to mention the chests of [b][item]Tattered Battle Reward[/item]s[/b], sparkling like gold and overspilling with… [b][item]Kith Coin[/item]s[/b]! Why, that's incredible! This will make it so much easier for everyone to raise their Kith - and let so many little ones charge safely into the fray! Even those who prefer not to seek the battlefield will be able to grow bigger and stronger with ease!

What? How did [i]that[/i] happen? That [i]completely[/i] contradicts the- Um, I mean - wait, can’t investigate until I finish the - And thus we conclude this mighty memorial ritual of Winter Himself! We thank you for your gifts, O Keeper of Divine Records! May the Gods of Bright Seasons watch over us and send us Their guidance, now and always. Ph..phew… De…transforming…. N-need to… r…rest…. Zzz….

Oh my! Kosmas! Kosmas? Why, he's sound asleep, poor dear. Heh… how fortunate that this temple is currently full of so many cute fluffy pillows…

Welcome an exciting addition to our December Event: [b][url=/events/18]Wish Upon A Star![/url][/b] Heroes like you can make wishes upon these shooting stars for [u]the full month of December, beginning now and ending on December 31st at 12:00PM CHT[/u]. For [u]every 100 wishes you grant on others' Wishlists[/u] - up to 1,000 total wishes - you will earn a [b][item]Wishing Star Plush Selection[/item][/b] made of all the happiness you brought to others! You'll also earn a [b][item]Wishing Star Plush Selection[/item][/b] for [u]every 10 unique users whose wishes you grant[/u], without limit. Completing either one of these tasks will also earn you the [i][u]Wished Upon A Star[/u][/i] title. Remember not to abuse the multi-account rules here, though! That's one way to turn your account into nothing [i]but[/i] a memory. These wishes will be overseen by the new Constellation Kith, which your Golden Colosseum Kith can learn by using a [b][premium_item]Constellation Scepter[/premium_item][/b]. You'll find these for sale in the [b][url=/npcs/7]Headmaster's Office[/url][/b], where Nicholas now has a Featured tab to showcase the most recent items for sale! Additionally, Estella now offers some special exchanges in the [b][url=/npcs/69/exchange]Bank of Hope Exchange[/url][/b] tab, where you can trade items earned from battle for Kith Coins! Each Kith Coin can add one point to a Kith's ability stats - and if you have a lot of them, you can even use them to train up many abilities all at once! They're an easy way to make sure that your Kith have the exact stats you want, either for battle, or just for fun! Please note that we are working on a bulk exchange feature that will be coming soon, for anyone who wishes to save on clicking through the same exchanges over and over. Thankfully, Iris and Kosmas have bought us some time with this ritual, so while we won't escape complications forever, [u]we won't face any more challenges until after the new year[/u]. Take this time to rest, enjoy, and gather up as many adorable star pillows - I mean, meticulously-researched ritual objects - as your hearts desire! And don't forget to go to Account > Wishlist to keep your list of wishes nice and full <3