EVENT ✨ Tournaments & Trust

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This is the event log for IC comments only! Ask OOC questions/plot/view event notes HERE or use the FAQ for general questions. Click here to view top-level comments only.

SUMMARY: King Arthur needs to go meet with Queen Elphame. Celliwig holds a tournament to invite other people to come with during the communication and celebrate their newfound friendship. A temporary barrier was put up so the river is currently mostly impassible. After the departure from Celliwig last month, the people of Celliwig have been working hard to make the area around their town safe again from the angered specters. For now, there are makeshift barriers that are preventing anything from crossing the river, dead or alive, except over the Pure of Heart bridge. It will, at the very least, prevent more from coming over and overwhelming the land surrounding Celliwig again. The city is open and, while the Elphame traders have stuck around to help train people in the proper use and treatment of mounts, the safest way to speak to Elphame is through Celliwig's hall of mirrors. King Arthur, Merlin, and a couple of other members of the royal court entered to speak to Queen Elphame directly in order to find out what information she knew about the Calamity and to begin discussion of what it would take to reclaim Excalibur. With the magics of Avalon having recovered significantly enough to not be at risk of falling apart if some of the otherworlders leave while still maintaining the barrier to keep Avalon safe, they need to begin discussing action. At the same time, in celebration of King Arthur's arrival and a royal wedding within Celliwig, a tournament is underway! Celliwig's tournaments work a little differently, however, and focus on a little more than just combat skills-- a modern tournament for the modern person. (Though there is fighting as well, of course.) Celliwig's Top Talents Tourney hasn't been held in a good many years since it's been closed off, so everyone is invited to participate. Invitations have been sent to all of Camelot's residents. The tournament categories are as follows: Cutthroat Cooking - For the chef's out there! Compete against other chefs to show off who has the best culinary skills. All contestants start with 2,500,000G which will be theirs to lose through the course of the tournament. This money can be used to purchase sabotages to use on other chefs throughout the course of the competition. Vicious Vocals - Singing competition. Anyone may participate, there are no auditions. Each contestant will compete solo first, then have to do a competitive duet with another person who moved onto the second round. The final round involves performing and singing at the same time, so you may want to go find friends to give you tips between each round and help you come up with an awesome set-up that will wow the judges! Speed Sculpting - This one's for the artists! Celliwig is really big on art, in particular sculpture. Any decent sculpture can be sold whether it wins or loses. Sculpture form can be made with anything you want-- glass, sugar, and ice are popular choices in Celliwig because of the city's aesthetic, but any materials are possible-- plants, stones, clay, chocolate, fabric, whatever you want as long as it stands on its own after you're done creating. (You can use your magic to sculpt if that's what you want.) Melee Mania - Fight your fellow competitors one-on-one. Weapons and magic are both allowed. Healers will be paid generously for assisting after combat is finished. Familiar Feud - Let your familiar have a little fun and combat each other! They're the star of the show here and otherworlders are only there in a support role. Mario Party - It's literally a series of Mario Party games. If you win your block, you move onto the next round and so on. 4 max players per game. If you don't rage quit at any point, you get free energy drinks throughout the day because this party isn't stopping. Silent Assassin - This competition will take place throughout the course of the tournament. All competitors are kept confidential, but required to wear a hidden body cam so that the experience can be shared online for audience viewing later. All competitors are given fake weapons (paintball guns, rubber knives, and so on) with sensors in them and have to find and "kill" the other competitors throughout the tournament period. Anyone who shows up to either participate in or watch the tournament will receive 50% off a hotel room and a single (Potion) Counter-curse. How the tournament will be run is a little different from an OOC standpoint. Any characters can participate, but in order to determine a winner, we will need anyone who thinks their characters skill is great enough to win to comment to the name of the tournament they are entering HERE! If your character would have canon advantages in a category, write +1 advantage in your comment. (So if you are from an idol series, you'll have a leg up on singing, or if your character is a skilled assassin in their canon, they could gain a +1. It won't guarantee they win, but it will give them a leg up so we're not ignoring their skill!) If you do not think your character has any chance at winning, please do not comment. (Someone who's never cooked a day in their life isn't going to magically win the cooking competition, you know?) If you think/want your character to lose even if they may have skills, we do not need your information. This is only an RNG for potential winners. We will RNG the winners from those who comment for each competition as linked. ICly, anyone who wants to thread any part of it out, go for it! You can thread out watching, you can thread out participating, interfering, anything you want! Thread out having an intimate moment with a healer after a battle, a tearful failure and hurt/comfort consolation, buying a round of vodka flashes for your fellow losers. Whatever you want! Just have fun. SUMMARY: King Arthur & Co. are still in chambers. A woman shows up and claims they're in danger, argues with Glwelwyd that she saw it despite that those abilities are not possible right now. Players voted to determine the next course of this prompt. (This section may be skipped for prompts now, but is still posted for reference.) The day after the end of the tournament days, all seems well and peaceful as usual within the city of Celliwig. The mirror hall that King Arthur's party had gone into is still closed shut. The Hall is guarded by a 7 foot tall man with a long, scraggly beard and huge rippling muscles named Glewlwyd IV. (You may have seen him around at past events.) None may enter until negotiations are completed, and it is his sacred duty passed down by his ancestors to ensure that none shall pass his guard. Most in Celliwig won't even try, knowing the futility of such an action, which is why it is particularly peculiar that Gwion can be found yelling outside of the halls that they need to be let in. After an argument and a call to action, some other worlders chose to find Gwion and ask questions. "Listen to me, there's something wrong, you need to let someone in there! Look for yourself! I saw it!" "Time is frozen, the future cannot be seen. A dream is but a dream, not a prophecy. Disrespect from the people of Celliwig interrupting a meeting of the fae and King Arthur's party would spell much more certain fate. After one more failed attempt to get past him, the woman stomps off to a nearby bar to blow off some steam, and ends up posting to the AOL Network instead. The King's party is in danger. No one is allowed in or out, but they're going to die if you don't work together to get past Glewlwyd. You can ask how I know, but it's a real long story and we're real short on time, so I'm kind of going out on a limb here. I'll be at Celliwig's bar if anyone wants more details. SUMMARY: A very close battle ensues in front of the Hall of Mirrors, with the doors eventually being forced open to reveal a dark, possessed hall. Reflects prey on characters' deepest insecurities and anyone who falls victim to them are trapped within the reflections. King Arthur and the Pure of Heart and Brave of Soul Mirror used to communicate with Elphame are possessed by angry specters trapped on Celliwig's side after the river barrier was put up. After the drama caused by Gwion's warning, the city of Celliwig is rather unsettled. There's an air of tension thick enough that you could hear a pin drop, and enough people who thought it was more important to protect the integrity and wishes of the fae than to worry about the unlikely chance that a seer had a vision while time was stopped. A large number of people have shown up to stand by Glewlwyd's side and defend the Hall of Mirrors, a show which will not be forgotten by the people of Celliwig... However, the strength in both numbers and battle goes to those wishing to enter the Hall of Mirrors. The battle is strenuous, a mixture of both Celliwig citizens and Camelot's otherworlders, and anyone wishing to play out part of it should put either defense or offense indicators in their prompt title to clearly attract those wishing to play out the fight. Those who manage to break through the line will make it into the Hall of Mirrors. The first and most notable thing once the door is open is that it's as dark as night. Not at all conditions for a meeting. And it's cold, condensation and fog forming at the door where the freezing night of the hall and the summer heat outside. It is not at all like it was the first time visitors were allowed in to place their Pure of Heart and Brave of Soul crystals in the mirror to communicate with Elphame. There is absolutely something going on, and those on either side of the battle may want to redirect their attention to the Hall. None of the party seems to be seen. Those who dare to venture forward into the hall will find themselves rather quickly at a loss for where the door went. There is a dim light still visible from it, highlighting the other people in the room and the edges of glass and mirrors throughout the hall. An eerie blue glow reflects through the number of the mirrors, but it seems to move about as if passing impermenantly. Those who try to chase it will find themselves further lost from the entrance, until they find themselves face to face with a reflection that doesn't seem to follow their own movements. This reflection will begin to speak with the character's voice, then immediately target the character's deepest insecurities. Every bad thought that they've thought of themself is fair game. If the character can remain calm and keep moving forward, then they will not fall victim to the trap. However, should they react with a burst of emotion, argue, or be unable to move forward when faced with their own insecurities, they will find themselves trapped in the mirror, replacing the reflection. Those who manage to pass the mirrors will find themselves at the Pure of Heart and Brave of Soul Mirror. The communication is still open to what appears to be an ornately decorated, natural throne. The Queen is long since gone, having been escorted to safety to keep her safe from the cursed mirrors. Notably, every crystal lining the edge of this mirror seems to have been infected by the blue, almost spectral color. Approached, a chilling laughter echoes from the possessed mirror, but the laughter is finished by King Arthur himself, back turned and facing the mirror. He turns around and wields his sword, ready to defend the mirror, eyes filled with the same blue as the mirror. As more people approach, reflections of Arthur seem to walk out of the mirrors as well to fight more and more people. It's hard to tell which is the real one, so can you really kill him to get him out of the way and get to the mirror? Fight the small army of King Arthurs and gather enough death mages to exorcise the spirits out of the mirror.. or maybe just smash it. Did you think this was the last choice you'd make this week? Please refer to the plotting post for any additional plotting needs and to check added notes for the third prompt. Timeline-wise, the new/third prompt doesn't start until the 23rd. The poll for it is here.

Comments

[heavenlyskies]

"Who knows, it might make all the other maidens so jealous they decide to just give up. Or they might get fired up and try to win my approval as well."

Haruka was teasing putting on a princely smile and even winking at one young lady that happened to be listening in at the moment. It seems that there are some things that don't change no matter the world or place that you found yourself.

"You won't bore anyone, but if you're not sure just look out into the audience. Their expressions and faces will tell you everything. But there's a reason more people are interested in the concerts than the fights, music is an amazing thing."

[fullgauntlet]

[It's hard to tell exactly what is happening to both the arena and to Gokudera through all the smoke and fog. But as the explosions go off Izuku is at a standstill, blocking any of the shrapnel or fallout. The barrier helps but Izuku is still steadfast.

... If Gokudera is thinking Izuku will take a sucker punch right now, he's wrong! Instead, he turns to the other and his shield vanishes. His hand goes to Gokudera's shoulder.]

Gokudera-san?! Are you alright?!

[It's not a fair fight if it's Gokudera's own items that are taking him out. As far as Izuku is concerned, this tournament fight is over.]

The collar...!?

[But what can Izuku do to help?]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...So, you're saying that elves don't see themselves as the protagonists of their own story? Is that just...overly-romanticized?

[heavenlyskies]

It had been pretty intense at times, and the fights had all been pretty close. There were a lot of impressive fighters here with and without a sword. So for this person to have taken an interest in Haruka among all the combatants was a little flattering, though it wasn't something that the Senshi wasn't accustomed to given the fame racing had brought.

"It would be an honor to share some of your time and help with your work?"

Haruka grinned a moment, leaning in slightly closer as Mona played with the lock of hair.

"Though what is it that your working on that you would need help from someone like me?"

[fullgauntlet]

[Shinsou has always been the type to keep his distance in a fight. Izuku understands that much. But here Izuku doesn't have to worry about accidentally answering a question or comment. Here he can charge forward to try and close that gap and put the pressure on the other.

He hasn't fought many people with kinetic magic before. It seems to manipulate the stones with psychic energy. Izuku can't do anything like that. And without being able to touch the stone Shinsou is able to take it as his ride.]

Ah!?

[He lifts his weapon. What can he do to get closer to Shinsou? For now, Izuku seems to spark his alchemy magic again. His sword changing shape into what appears to be... a gun of some sort?! And what's this... He's shooting-- a net??]

[sighsheavily]

Mm-- [she clicks her tongue, shaking her head a little.] No, no: Elves are very interested in their roles as prominent figures just as much as they are in being simply...fixtures of the historical environment in the progression of time. It comes with the conceit of long life. You see it more pronounced in gnomes, honestly, given their incredible longevity by comparison. Yet even gnomes are keen to be quite the primary players in their own lives.

It's in any given person's nature to want to impress their worth upon the world in some way, even when at times it seems they do not. That's the struggle. [she glances over.] And that's the very thing I'm working to ensure can continue on.

I'm something of the ultimate busybody, in a sense. The scope is just broader than the gossip down the street.

[worldsokayestdad]

I doubt that killing Arthur is the only goal, just look at what's happening outside. Whoever is responsible for this has successfully gotten us to turn on each other. A direct attack obviously wasn't necessary.

As for their reasoning, that is irrelevant at this time.

[tantailizing]

Yeah! Eustace is a great guy, right? He's not big on saying 'friend', but he's reliable to work with too on quests.

[Be good friends with him, k, Izuku??]

No one has said you shouldn't. I mean, I guess they said your familiar is supposed to look out for you well-being, it'd make sense not to spar with them, but it's a few bumps and bruises, and hey, it gives people with Healing magic something to work on.

[loyalbreed]

[ After some time passes, Gawain manages to lose - horrible. Having little understanding of the controls but invested in wanting to win. ]

To think this was a battle I could not win...

[reresurrected]

2 PM. Does that mean I can expect to see you there, then?

[Well, now he's even more excited to compete!]

[apshot]

I don't see how... Not if you use them as part of a counter attack.

[ Save for throwing them at heads, of course. Can't she just pass that shit along? To someone that isn't Bakugou, of course. Then it's not ignoring. It's "sharing." ]

[pureyang]

Yes, that is my occupation. I come from a long line of respected exorcists.

[He's quite proud of his heritage! He would continue, but then the giant snake interrupts them with such a loud burp that it even surprises him.]

A-Ah... Well, I suppose it's alright... I am not offended, at least.

[If Changsheng was anything to go by, snakes in general seemed to have... unique views on manners.]

Is that your familiar? It will not be harmed by eating all that chilli, will it..?

[pureyang]

[Chongyun looks up at Xiao, and nods. He takes a slow breath. The adeptus is right. He needs to be calm... he needs to prove himself here...]

Come on. Show that fabled exorcist's self-control. Or is even that beyond your grasp?

[Chongyun lets out a huff, his fists clenching as he turns to the mirror.]

I'm not--!!

[That was all it took. One brief moment of a loss of self-control, the single flash of irritation. The mirror before Chongyun flashed, and before he had any idea of what had happened, he found himself looking on the scene, bewildered for a moment before realizing he was looking from within the mirror.]

[He panics, pounds on the glass of the mirror with his fist, but no sound comes out. His reflection, which takes on a slightly paled shade of colour from the real Chongyun, looks to Xiao with a smirk on his face.]

One down. One to go.

[loyalbreed]

[ Not that he's opposed, the two stepping forward into an opening. His sword readied for any to strike - he manages to say. ]

Doust thou Madness Enchantment still work within this realm?

[apshot]

[ They don't know that though. What if there's no threat and they insult Celliwig? Then it had all been for nothing. All of those goddamn trials... Useless. NEARLY DYING. It would have no meaning. ]

Tch. If you were gonna do that, you should've from the start instead of taking me -

[ He grabs two grenades off of his belt and tosses them out! ]

LIGHTLY!

[ They're flashbangs, more than anything else. Light is still light - even with illusions. Too much light should saturate the area and make them fade - if Darkwing's focus is shattered. ]

[blackabyss]

Agreed.

[At her instruction, he looks down at his arm, moving it around a little. He lets out a hum.]

Not even a hint of pain..!

[He turns back to her and nods.]

Thank you for your help.

[blackabyss]

It is called Dark Shadow. I have a shadowy being connected to me that I can manipulate and control. The less light there is, the stronger he becomes.

[He pauses, frowning.]

At least, that's how it should work. But Dark Shadow... He is here, in Avalon, but he has none of his abilities that he once possessed, nor am I connected to him anymore.

[blackabyss]

[That... actually all sounds really good. The giant apple galette sounds delicious, really. His eyes widen a bit.]

I... I see. Is there any left?

[He wants to try some!]

[blackabyss]

Neither did I.

[It's good that Lenore looks only disoriented, but he doesn't feel comfortable letting her continue fighting the way she was. Looking to Machi, he shakes his head.]

Perhaps not. I will concede victory to you and your familiar.

[apshot]

That goes without saying doesn't it? Like you have to tell me that shit.

[ Bakugou drops his barrier. It's clear to move now. ]

If you're wrong, I reserve the right to kick your ass.

[fullgauntlet]

[Fast-! The toss is successful but Katsuki twists like a cat ready to land on its feet!]

Ack-!!

[The tackle hits but Izuku grapples him quickly again. Not letting himself get thrown from it! Desperate, he... headbutts Katsuki! ...!!]

[yunxiguang]

"It's contradictory?" he tries again. "Or... not what you expected from a city that seemed so isolated?" It seems to be bothering her, and he doesn't want to leave her struggling for the right words. In truth, it's something that had surprised Sizhui as well, after everything he'd heard about the place. They'd gone through so much just to gain access to this place, only to find it so open and vibrant. The expectations didn't quite match reality.

But if she's intent on leaving it alone, then he'll let it lie as well. There are more pleasant topics to ask about, and the brightness comes back to his expression at being able to share something he thinks they'll mutually enjoy.

"Have you been to the gardens here? There are musicians there as well, if you're interested in hearing more."

[fullgauntlet]

[She's so bright and precious, Izuku is so glad she seems excited about something new and she makes him smile.]

It's a great start to becoming a hero, Eri-chan.

[tantailizing]

... You mean that Dark Shadow!?

[The tiny shadow that fights with his familiar??]

Geez! It turned him into his own person? Or a kid I guess...

[apshot]

[ Okay so is he expecting a headbutt? Hell now. It's enough to make him jerk away and rub at his head because - ]

Did you seriously fucking headbutt me? With your damn thick skull!? I don't need you trying to give me brain damage or infect me with your stupidity, Deku!