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

[notemergencyfood]

Oh! Are taking part on the assassin game?

[Only a hint of curiosity from Paimon after that little stunt. Clearly this individual isn't out to get the Paimon, so Paimon floats from her hiding spot, the bunny still in her arms like a stuffed toy.]

Well, nothing happened, so let bye gones be bye goes.

[She nods to that. But wait. Another most importantly. She looks down at the cute bunny.]

You used this bunny as bait?!

1A

[crimsongirl]

[Caster being active in at least one of these tournaments was good. Homura wanted her mom to be more up and about, though she never expected her creating talents extended into sculpting as well. Though considering the deep concentration she was in, the shinobi couldn't just shout in support from the sidelines.

But she will still be showing, constructing a grand sign reading GO CASTER GO and holding it up. Well, it was the only idea she had. Maybe the encouragement will help?]

Lorenz Hellman Gloucester | FE:3H

[silky_bearing]

I. Tourney
[Lorenz isn't fool enough to enter into the fights with no magic to his name. Still he watches them eagerly, curious about the abilities of people here. Surely it will be educational. And largely it is, fascinating, really.... though there are certainly a few people that he finds himself wrinkling his nose at.]

Come now, it's a sword not a mace. [Muttered to himself as he shakes his head in disgust.] No finesse, I swear.

II. Hall of Mirrors
[The entire idea of coming here was foolish. His magic that has always been so much a part of him is gone and in the short days since his arrival he hasn't discovered what magics this place has decided to bestow on him. Going into a battle with people that all have magic with only the sword of Begalta on his hip was... well foolish might be too kind. Especially when Claude slips into shadows and vanishes from his line of sight. The others are here somewhere he knows but in the chaos he'd been keeping half an eye on their leader as a reference point.]

Idiot. [His own voice sneers at him from a nearby mirror.] You should know by now, he'll always leave. Why would anyone want to stay with you, Count?

[For a moment Lorenz is simply bewildered, looking from the reflection that speaks to him to the other mirrors, surfaces now oddly blank.]

What...?

Oh dear. Tsktsktsk He doesn't understand. I know the confidence is all for show but are you truly that inept? [A cold, cruel huff of laughter.] No wonder Father wanted to keep you locked up in the Estate. Save himself the embarrassment.

How dare you?!

Oh how dare I? No, no, Lorenz. How dare you. Struting around as though they don't all know you're just like Father in the end. Craven and cruel and driven only by greed. You do know there's no place for men like you in His dream, don't you? Her Grace can only coddle you for so long.

Surely it would be better to simply stay here, tucked away like our dear cousin, safe and sequestered and never having to face your own failings.

[Getting a reaction out of Lorenz is hardly difficult. Reacting is... all he ever seems to do. Never taking action only reacting to what those around him do. It seems his reflection wants to play with him a bit before it pulls him in. Drive him to admit to even one of the things it mocks him about.]

[peninhand]

[ He was right, she knew as much. The real difficulty was putting into practice this line of thought. If simply knowing something was all it took, anxiety and stress would be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, brains were pretty terrible computers that took a lot of effort to reprogram. ]

That's very sound advice.

[ She beamed at him. ]

You're sure to win this, you're like, so much more prepared than me, ahaha!

[peninhand]

[ She had no clue as to what the reflection's words meant. But she could say it was trying to force her into either remaining miserable or breaking an... Order? She stepped forward, between Mukuro and the reflection. ]

You don't have to say anything. You exist, I can attest to it.

[ Was she hiding her real self? A different name, perhaps? Or possibly she was just like her, unable to speak the truth about herself out of fear. What would others think, if they knew? The thought was so painfully unbearable... Perhaps the best option was to say what she, herself, would like to hear. ]

Just because you have secrets doesn't make your existence any less valid. [A pause.] Even if the real you is hidden beneath a mask, it's still you people have befriended, not the mask.

[leicesters]

[Claude's reflection regards the stranger with a raised eyebrow, and laughs.]

"A decent kind of person", she says! More like a reckless idiot who leads others into danger with one half-baked scheme after another, gambling with people's lives like they're just chips to win or lose. [Then the reflection addresses Claude:] Dirty tricks may have won your war, but will they really fix things here? Or are you just the blind leading the blind?

[The real Claude just runs his hands through his hair, annoyed that his reflection has just the same tendency to run his mouth as he does. He glances at Maya.]

I appreciate you defending a stranger's honour and all, but it's better to just ignore him. It's a trick to distract us.

i

[silvergarden]

Hello, Razor!

[Rinea discovers her young friend in a grassy spot near the coliseum. Obviously she's going to go greet him!]

Are you participating in the matches? [She knows that sword arm of his, so it would make sense.]

[leicesters]

Lorenz? [Claude hears the click of heels, the familiar voice, and is looking around the hall to try to figure out where he's wandered off to. He's startled when he instead steps into view right in front of him-- inside the mirror.]

Lorenz! [He has to double take next to and behind him, just to make sure he wasn't actually standing beside him. Sure enough, it's just a reflection without its owner.] Wait... Is this another trick?

[He supposes if anyone would appear to throw more shade at him, it would be Lorenz, of all people.]

[peninhand]

I'm Monika, it's nice meeting you! And yeah, I arrived a few weeks ago. It's so strange, but all so spectacular, too!

[peninhand]

Ahaha, nope.

[ She shook her head, smiling at him reassuringly. Nooo, she doesn't want the child to be worried! ]

But I met your brother and saw his message on the network about you.

[leicesters]

Claude had been so caught up in his reflection that he's startled when Edelgard speaks up behind him. "Oh-- Edelgard!" He's definitely not spooked, don't mind him.

He does pause to give thought to her question, odd as it is to hear her refer to herself in that way. "No, she didn't," he says. The closest he could have guessed that she had doubts of their success was Hubert's letter, but even then, that could have been penned in secret behind Edelgard's back, lest he appear disloyal. And it still wasn't the same as doubting that their course was the correct and just one.

"Even when it was clear she wouldn't win, even when I asked her to stand down, she refused. She said... someone like me was unfit to lead Fódlan, because I didn't understand its suffering like she did."

He didn't understand it then, and he still doesn't now. Right or wrong, why do so many people in Fódlan insist on dying out of sheer stubbornness, rather than simply accepting defeat?

[silky_bearing]

[Lorenz tsks him ever so slightly.]

I hardly want to be in here. No, it's not a trick but it seems-

[He stops abruptly, frowning, glancing aside, shame beginning to darken his cheeks already.]

It seems if you allow yourself to interact with... them [A nasty glare sent at the mirror beside his.] You will end up on the other side of the mirror... in a far more disconcerting version of the maze.

2A

[hitokiri]

[ izō isn't entirely sure what he's looking for in here, but his wandering about the hall of mirrors eventually finds him (unintentionally) eavesdropping. really... he has more than enough issues of his own for one person; he's not out here volunteering to take on any more.

that being said, two things keep him from just turning around and walking away. first, he's sure he's seen that cloak before. secondly, the particular choice of remarks out of the mirror irritates him. ]

Sounds like a load of horseshit.

[ so eloquent. ]

People change. Shit happens. People get older an' do shit all the time ya wouldn't expect 'cause the world probably ain't the same place it used t'be.

[ there's a pause in this great offering of wisdom as he peers at her. ]

Y'know what? Think I figured it out. Ya sold me some kinda weird porridge once.

I'm going to break rank here and choose the happier option!

[sereneadherent]

From the way he's holding it, I think this might be his first day wielding a blade.

[Her critique is delivered with less derision, but it's no less judgmental.

Marianne may not look it, but she's an experienced swordsman. Her training came at the insistence of the Professor, and surprisingly she had taken a shine to it. Given her frame and physical limitations, her sword technique depends much more on finesse than raw strength.

All this to say: Marianne knows what she's talking about, and Lorenz knows it.

As they continue to watch the tournament, Marianne holds out the small bucket that's been sitting in her lap.]

Would you like to try some of this popped corn? It's quite good.

[leicesters]

[He wonders just what doubts or fears might have been powerful enough to lure Lorenz into the mirror, but this isn't the time for such curiosity. He frowns, worried.]

Merlin's trapped in one of these mirrors too... I haven't figured out where he is or how to rescue him yet. Maybe you can help me look, and we'll get you both out at once?

[Which is when his reflection decides to chime in again, smirking at them both:] Very reassuring, Mr Leader Man. Just admit you have no idea how to get him out and save us all the false show of confidence. It's your fault this happened in the first place.

[Claude takes a deep breath to stop himself snapping back at the reflection -- Lorenz warned him against interacting with it, after all -- and he focuses on Lorenz. If he wanted a constant, annoying barrage of criticism, he'd attend another roundtable conference back in Leicester.]

Ignore that guy, and just listen to me, all right, Lorenz? We'll figure it out.

ccc

[conciliant]

Humans fighting other humans... Why?

[The cool voice comes from behind Izuku, and when he turns around, he'll find 2B with a giant foam #1 on her hand, and a ball cap on, embroidered with a happy goldfish. In her other hand is a small cone of shaved ice that she pauses to taste. She doesn't have a verdict right away, but after another taste and smacking her lips together, she decides that... huh, it's not that bad.]

It looks like a waste of time and energy.

[Having fun? Who does that???

says the android waving a large foam hand around.

She doesn't understand the meaning or reasoning behind any of this, but is still curious enough to want to watch.]

[peninhand]

[ Indeed, Monika already knows this game. Kind of ironic when you thought about it, a sentient video game character being aware of another game. Would that be called "gameception?" Ehehe. Well, better not linger on such thoughts. Instead she wants to try and be a good sport.

If you're trying too hard to downplay your victories, it makes it seem as though you're pitying your opponent and nobody likes that. If you're overplaying your victories though, you're just a douche. She leans towards the former, but she's still gonna try to walk that thin line between both. ]

I'm sure you can do it~ But if you don't, I'm not gonna show you any mercy, ahaha!

[ Does that work? It sounds maybe a tad too mean... Urgh, it's hard striking a good balance. Well, she waits to see his roll. ]

[peninhand]

Mhm, alrighty then!

[ Monika was good at feeding ego. But she only did it with people she felt deserved or needed the boost. Drake seemed to be a pretty good friend, after all. ]

So, what do you think I should do to prepare?

[peninhand]

[ She nodded at his question. Truth to be told, she knew absolutely nothing about this masked duck, so there were no certainties. But she preferred to give people the benefit of the doubt and believe they were trying to be good. That's what she hoped people would for for her, after all. ]

Of course I believe it.

[ She smiled genuinely at him but... Gosh, she had to ask him, didn't she? But if that wasn't him, that would be so rude! And maybe he didn't want people to know it was him? But even so— ]

... Drake?

Downtime!

[candyapplechild]

Deku-san!

[ Seeing as how he's not in a match anymore, Eri will be running up to him witha worried look on her face. Of course, she gets that this is just sparring... even if it isn't appealing to her, but even then she's here because she's a healer and she doesn't want her friends staying hurt! ]

Are you hurting anywhere still? I-I've practiced a lot, so...

[leicesters]

[That only twists the knife already lodged in his gut. Claude's hold on Baiken's shoulder tightens.]

I can't. I'm sorry. [Harsh as his tone is, he knows there's little time for showing pity for an illusion. It's only here to slow them down.

He tugs on the real thing's shoulder, now more insistent.] Let's move.

hall of mirrors

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi has been having his own hard time in this hall of mirrors. It isn't easy but he's spent the last four years of his life fighting his own intense anxiety and self-doubt.

And when he sees Izumi, hears the things these reflections are telling her, he springs into action. She's too nice and well, he should help her. When people are being bullied, even from themselves, something should be done!

So he steps in front Izumi, posing with his hand on his forehead and pointing to the reflection.] Silence, reflection of doubt! Your words are as empty as they are fictitious!

[flapsin]

Well, what better place to start than with some simple vocal exercises? Here's a simple one: just hum. Hum and work your way through the major scale while keeping your mouth closed. That should be a good start?

[flapsin]

[Tired, he answers her without thinking.]

Yes?

[But then he blinks and goes on more nervously.]

I- I mean, what? Drake who? That's... definitely not a name I've answered to!

Hall of Mirrors

[phoenixwiz]

(The hallway is getting increasingly creepier the further he goes into the hall. He could have stayed outside and don’t do a thing, but Harry still made the decision to go in and find the people who went inside. It didn’t took long before he hears two voices that sound so similar: Hedwig lets out a nervous hoot upon hearing that too.

Curious where it comes from, he rushes to find Tsuna getting lectured by his reflection. Now the question in his mind is: who was responsible for corrupting the mirrors and the hall? The young wizard steps in to break up the scene as he cautiously approaches Tsuna and grasps onto his hand for support.)

Hey um, Tsuna. Why is the mirror saying such horrible words to you?