isleofavalon | EVENT ✨ The Winter Solstice

EVENT ✨ The Winter Solstice

QUICK NAV: LOGS ⚔️️ NETWORK ⚔️️ MEMES ⚔️️ OOC ⚔️️ NAVIGATION

This is the event log. Reply with your character's top-level response using the prompts below, or come up with your own related scenario! Totally up to you. You're also welcome to make your own network posts, but we encourage you to keep logs in one place. If you have trouble loading, please click here to view top-level comments only. Please check the plotting post here for more details and questions. The event itself takes place on Dec. 21st.

As the moon rises on the 21st, all non-emergency businesses will be closing early as the Winter Solstice celebrations are of the utmost importance. Those who participated in the ritual will feel the night is different in their very being. Anyone who participated in the Winter Ritual preparations will be immortal for the next 24 hours. No harm may come to them, they will not be affected by the cold, and their magic will be amplified significantly as they are currently a conduit for the world's magic. Everyone, regardless of whether they participated in the preparations or not, is welcome to partake in tonight's festivities as there are many ways in which the Winter Solstice is celebrated.

The most significant event of the night is the Solstice Night Run. If you didn't participate in the ritual, you may be able to get a hit off of someone's Everwarm to participate. At the edge of the City of Camelot, heading into the Brocéliande, characters will be asked to remove their clothing (or if they aren't comfortable with that, change into very light robes provided by local donations) to return as close to a natural state as possible, then run through the forest. As characters run through the forest, despite everything being covered in ice and snow, the woods will begin to come alive. Will-o-wisps sprout out of the snow and shake the frost off, floating in the air to provide lights throughout the forest. The trees seem to move and dance as you pass by, flurries pick up, and even some animals will start running alongside you. It's a celebration for all, as magic flows through your body as becomes part of the forest.

Inevitably, somehow, someway, those participating in the run all end up reaching what seems to be a crack in the ground, slabs of rock surrounding a stream of water flowing through the crack. This is the fairy fountain of Barenton, a crack in the fabric of Avalon that connects its waters to other worlds. Though it's currently unable to connect now due to the time freeze, some of the fairy folk running with you will happily let you know that some of its powers are still in tact-- try sprinkling some water on the stone slab nearby. As the waters trail down the slab and form a puddle on the floor, the drops from your hand will open a vision of a treasured memory. Anyone near you will be able to see it, so only do it if you're willing to share. There are many other uses, but since you're still very new, this is the only one they're willing to share for the moment. Regardless of whether you choose to use that form of magic or not, as you approach the fountain, it will begin to bubble and glow, and lights like an aurora borealis will begin to glow around you as your connection to Avalon deepens. You'll be able to feel the life of the forest, a connectedness to the world you've likely never felt before. Every leaf, the wind, every living being, the magic in the fabric of the world, is a part of you and you are a part of it.

As the night presses on, a large number of fairies begin to form fairy circles, both in the forest and back in the City-- so you needn't have participated in the run to find one. Toadstools and flowers sprout up through the snow that hadn't been there before, forming near-perfect circles in nature. Stepping into one, whether on purpose or on accident, will shrink you down to the pixies' size so you can dance with them, if you promise to keep going for the whole dance. The dance lasts about 20 minutes straight and there don't seem to be any rules besides keep moving around the fairy circle, even if you bump into someone. In the last minute of the dance, pixies will fly above the circle and sprinkle dust over the whole party. Anyone who completed the dance will be returned to their normal size and granted the ability to fly for the duration of the witching hour of 2-3am. You'll be invited to drink with them afterward, if that's your thing, but will not be offended if it isn't.

Not completing the dance despite stepping into their circle, being rude to the pixies, or attempting to stop anyone who is dancing will anger the pixies. Pixies are a tricksy bunch, so you'd be better off avoiding this, but if a character happens to get on their bad side, there are a few different types of pixie curses they may be inflicted with:

Small Soul:

Pixy-led:

Bellbark:

As the night winds down, anyone who had participated in the ritual will find themselves rather suddenly sleepy regardless of where they are and may fall asleep as if under a spell right there out in the snow. They'll wake up normally in the morning, the land having used their slumber as time to finish off its work using you as a conduit. Don't worry, those under the influence of the ritual's effects won't catch cold or anything... though, we can't guarantee anything with those pixie effects-- they weren't really harmful, after all, just irritating. Anyone who fell asleep outside will find that the snow has melted in their area for about 5 feet and bright green plants have started sprouting around them on the ground, some vines growing around their limbs but ultimately nothing that can't be brushed off easily.

It would appear that while it was a permitted act during the Winter Solstice, the fae who may have told you about that little trick with the fountain and the pedestal may not have shared the whole story. As it turns out, the slab that everyone was trickling water onto is a stone known as Merlin's Step. Merlin's Step, when a little bit of water is sprinkled upon it, summons rain. When a lot of people put water on it, it summons a huge thunder storm. It is certain to, as many of the fairies are happy to attest, wash away the freezing snow so they can move about freely during the winter again. Fae often have ulterior motives, even if they're often coupled with good intentions. This may have gone a little beyond their expectations, however, as enough people have done it that the storm has brought about torrential rains and hail, frequent zaps of lightning, and strong winds. Most people are being urged and ushered into cellars throughout the city as the hail has been causing injuries, breaking windows, and the lightning is strong enough that it's been striking the ground frequently. You may end up crammed together in a small, dark room while a storm rages outside with little to do except what's in the cellar-- eat canned foods, play old board games, dust of a.. uh oh, is that a Ouija board? Get creative and have fun with what you think could be in the cellar you end up in.

After what seems like most of the day, the storm is still raging on, but the next moment you find still water, the Lady of the Lake's face shows up, with another woman beside her. The Lady of the Lake's ability to communicate via water is being used to reach everyone at once. The Lady doesn't say anything, once she's got it live, well aware that they're short on time as the lake surface is choppy and dangerous right now. They have a limited time above the surface to speak, so she leaves it to the woman with her.

”"It would seem my brethren have gotten carried away treating you all for helping with the ritual. I can put an end to this storm, but there is a cost. You'd do well to learn all magic has one sooner than later. The stronger the magic, the harder it is to stop. Your first lesson in breaking spells follows: In using Merlin's Step, you've awoken his Black Knight. Bring me his sword. Don't bother trying to kill him, he's already beyond that.

Don't be alarmed if you see more than one, dears. The Brocéliande is known to play with its guests when it's in a bad mood."

She smiles as she says it, and the image disappears out of the water. A small whorl forms in the water and a small vial pops out. An attached slip says "Pour me out and drop the sword into the water." for how to deliver the sword to her, as she certainly didn't say who she was. In order to obtain the Black Knight's sword, characters will have to find creative ways to fight an unkillable knight and distract him long enough to steal his sword. Using magic and teamwork is your best bet. Multiple groups of characters can obtain the Black Knight's sword and Morganna won't tell which one is real, as she won't be able to tell until she receives it and is always pleased to see those doing her bidding anyway. As a thanks and an apology, anyone who dares to fight the Black Knight and bring the sword to her will find a pile of fresh, edible mushrooms and herbs wrapped in a cloth on their doorstep the next day. The cloth they're wrapped in has a culinary recipe on it for a lovely mushroom soup. These are from the fairies who encouraged everyone to use the water, not Morganna. Her gift was to stop the storm, leaving the realm glistening as the sun comes out and sparkles against the rain on the ground and small remaining clumps of slush.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mm, I suppose that makes sense. Most Magi in recent times will hide their power from outsiders. A world like this where everyone uses magic is unusual.

[Even in the Age of Gods, where magic was accepted, it wasn't something everyone could do - and her powers were also treated with suspicion back then.]

[And like that, Morgan has another piece of the puzzle. He's guessing that she had magic before (c'mon, Caster) and had been influenced to some degree by the need to keep it hidden.]

But it feels great, though, to just -- not hide, to be yourself. [The thought makes him stretch his arms high and out, with a pleased grunt. It only seems like a bizarre segue; his magic is, or rather was, very physical in nature in many respects.] And it's no bad thing to be thought of as a possible savior here, I'll admit.

[Clue's in the name.]

Mm, it makes things more convenient that we can be somewhat open, doesn't it? And they seem to have extended that 'saviour' logic to all of us, regardless of the sort of magic we have been granted.

It seems farcical, to think someone like me can save their world. You at least seem to have the demeanour for it.

Everything and everyone has their place. And you have as much capacity for heroism as anyone else. Especially considering whatever was in your past, for good or bad, is gone. Choose where you go without regrets!

[But then he waves a hand.] Metaphorically speaking. I'm really not encouraging you to go out in the storm. That cloak looks like it weighs seventy pounds already, I just keep imagining it getting soaked and splat.

[Twisting away from the wall, he sprawls backwards, miming struggling against a heavy fabric weight covering him.]

Then you're saying regardless of any horrific or noble acts someone has done in their history, that has no meaning, here? What was that saying... "Don't let your past define you"?

[Okay that impression was needlessly dramatic, but hey, it got another chuckle out of her.]

...It is a little impractical, I admit, but I am not so eager to shed it as you were your shirt earlier.

If your past covered a chest as hot as mine is, you might. ['Course that comment gets him wondering about why she keeps herself almost in hiding. He kind of doubted she was in some way hideous, so, why then?]

[He sits back up, like it's no big thing (and yeah, he does crunches and all).] Don't have to give up your past. I'm not shedding mine. But I think everyone has a lesson they learned or a history they recall that they wish didn't have a grip on them any more.

[It certainly seems unusual. What could be seen of the lower half of her face and her general physique didn't seem conventionally unattractive, and her movements didn't suggest to anything unusual.

Caster grew quiet for a little while as she thought on his words. Of course she wished her past didn't have such a tight hold on her heart, but was it that simple. Servants, after all, were in many ways defined by their past by definition - and that was before she considered that people knew of their legends.

In his case, she couldn't help but wonder if he was referring to the story he told her about that sword, or whether there were more layers to unpick.]

...

[Finally, she sighed, her voice a little heavier.]

It never is that simple, is it?

...

Did you ever shake its grip?

[She's just -- absolutely wonderful at making him curious, possibly because he's certain he won't get a direct answer if he asks, and also partly because asking seems like it would be terribly rude.]

I'm not going to pretend I wasn't a total prong for a while. But there's a huge difference between me telling you and you having experienced it, so I'm honestly a little glad no one here has.

[Does that suffice for an answer?]

Part of learning not to be a prong, a huge part, was acceptance. I've accepted so many things, and it's helped a hell of a lot.

[It was a 50/50 with her - whether she'd answer directly out of spite or snap at the question to start with. When Archer had questioned her about figuring out her true name, she had answered his questions relatively calmly. On the other hand, when her original Master did, she revealed her truth in such a way as to traumatise him with illusions before burning him. She was, by her nature, a very volatile woman.]

...Mm, I suppose so. People's actions speak far larger than their words, after all. It's easy for people to lie, or to make false promises.

But I suppose we're going to end up circling back around to acceptance versus revenge, at this rate.

It's entirely possible. [What can he do but shrug and grin? Their philosophies are very, very different, but that doesn't bother him too much. A dear, dear friend of his holds diametrically-opposed viewpoints to him on some key issues like killing, after all, and it doesn't come between them.] But it's certainly true you don't have any reason to trust me. I can say I'd rather see you smile than hurt, but you don't know me well enough to know if I mean that. But I will say I hope you let me stick around so you can find out!

...You absolutely can't mean that.

[The comment about wanting to see her smile, she means, and that honestly was enough to make her smile, at least a little.]

Well. I am enjoying your company, I'll give you that.

I do and I did! [He's an adult male, but he claps his hands together with glee that just didn't fit his image.] And now I'm gonna keep doing it! Even opening the door just a crack is enough to let me in, you're doomed!

You're awful. Absolutely awful.

[That childish glee was something else, that was for sure, and in kind she played up the whole mysterious act a little more.]

And if you think you can get through my defences that easily, you really are underestimating me.

Water wears away the stone in time, my dear. [He sweeps her as elegant a bow as one can while sitting.] I'd never underestimate you, though. In fact, I thought I had a couple weeks of effort ahead before I cracked a smile out of you.

[And he was bowing to her? How long had it been...]

...

Well, so long as you do not believe the rest of my secrets will be exposed that easily. You aren't the first persistent being I've dealt with, after all.

[Oh, he has to chuckle at that.] Considering I still don't even know what you look like, I'm not particularly convinced you won't be a hard nut to crack still.

That is something, I suppose.

...What magic has this world seen fit to give you? Does it resemble the magic you had before coming here, at all?

Kinetics. [Kinesis is the proper term, but damned if he can ever remember to keep the two straight.] It's part of a scope of a much larger ability -- I knew how to manipulate forces in general, to a certain extent, and kinetic energy was just one of them.

Ah. That has the potential to be rather useful.

I was given Dark Magic, which...well, is one of the fields I was practiced in back then.

What does that involve, exactly? Curses, or something?

[His mild annoyance isn't for her, but for the name.]

Hm? Now what's that look for? Disappointed I was a sorceress of dark arts in my lifetime? After everything you've already heard, I thought that wouldn't be highest on your list of concerns.

[A shrug, before she continued. Even if the annoyance wasn't for her, she saw the worst in people's feelings toward her.]

Curses, mostly, yes. I'm still exploring what exactly I can call upon it to do.

[Morgan shakes his head.] Naw, I'm irritated at the name. Why is manipulating probability 'dark'? A curse of clumsiness, I could do just by kinesis someone every time they tried to move. It's just a general term, they might as well have called it 'curses' at worse. Unless it involves summoning actual darkness...

I could call upon shadows to conceal my form and protect me with the power I held before, I'm hoping to be able to replicate it here.

[A pause, before she added: ]

What would you rather it called, then? Most people would call a master of curses evil, no?

It's not what you have, it's how you use it. Curse an invading army, and you're a hero to the people who would have been their victims, right? So just call it curse magic, I say.

no subject

no subject

I'm really liking these two's CR so far, it's interesting

What a coincidence, me too!

Glad to hear it :)

no subject

1/2

2/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject