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

Medic B

[badlypoisoned]

[He actually hadn't been in any of the combat competitions. But he was being dragged into the medic's tent all the same by his familiar which looks like a white swan but with a long tail like a phoenix. It had his wide sleeves in its beak and was dragging him forward.]

I really am fine, Bai Niao.

[He says it pretty calmly but his face is unhealthily pale.

He smiles when someone approaches.]

I apologize, I'll get out of your way once I get my familiar to let go.

[agentlewish]

Oh, yes! It's wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves so much. And, it's so good to hear that you are, too.

I'm entering in curry today. Would you like to try?

( She knows that there's a chance that Mona hasn't tried this before. She just hopes that if she does try it, she doesn't mind the taste. She'll understand if she doesn't like it. )

[sereneadherent]

"It's me. I'm here, Flayn."

The use of her name feels important in this moment, although Marianne can't quite pinpoint why or how. She doesn't actually know anything, only working with what she can piece together based on the evidence, and is working entirely on instinct.

When Saint Cethleann speaks again, Marianne pulls Flayn in close and wraps her arms around her, pivoting her body slightly so that she is the one closest to the mirror. The sad, sympathetic tone of the mirror is too similar to how Marianne's own reflection had first spoken to her, so she knows full well how deeply that cuts. It's not something she'd wish on her worst enemy, let alone someone as dear to her as Flayn.

"She's mistaken. You are awake. I swear to you, I'm real."

Marianne pulls her in a bit more tightly, offering equal parts protection and comfort.

"Please, don't listen to her. Just focus on me, and on what you know to be true."

[badlypoisoned]

Ah, yes. I believe I have met him here.

[Hm...the voice sounds familiar? But then, if you put him in the middle of a bunch of normal ducks they would all sound the same to him too. Perhaps it's like that?

...was that a rude thing to think?]

I hadn't wanted to assume but are you from the same world as him?

[sereneadherent]

Then I will resolve to call you Byleth. [Marianne knows more than most how much simple gestures like this can matter.] I will try and get my classmates to do the same.

[They continue in silence for a bit, and then Byleth brings up something that literally stops her in her tracks. Marianne suddenly halts, blinking a few times as she runs over the statement a few times to make sure she's heard it correctly.]

No heartbeat?

[Marianne's hand goes to her own chest, a subconscious gesture as she considers the implications.]

How is that possible? Does it have to do with what Lady-- [She just barely catches herself before the name is out.] ... with what was done to you?

[babygotbackstroke]

Heh, yeah, that’s true.

[He was grateful for the assistance and took a moment to think about the question.]

We don’t really know if we’re even from different worlds. He’s from Canada and I’m from Japan, no magic and all that as far as either of us are aware. We’re from a pretty normal Earth so we think we might be from the exact same one. Our only concern was really trying to figure out how to meet since we’re from different countries.

[But he was certain that if they really were from different Earth’s that they’d figure something out.]

[verytired]

[ He moves towards her easily, leaning in towards her. Her reflection is still polite, so Hypnos decides to address it, too. ]

You're then, she's now~

[ A hum, and then his attention is back on Medea. ]

Ignore her. She's rude. I mean, who likes everything they did in the past, huh? Not everyone like who they were and prefers who they are.

[beaumains]

[ Taxing as it might have been to her King, Gareth found herself barely able to strike back, much less see what it was she could strike. The array of light flashing forth and burning out just as quickly on every strike was making her dizzy. She couldn't turtle through this, and really refused to. Her shield wasn't meant to simply become a wall, that was more Galahad's tactics.

A wolf bared its fangs in a fight, always.

So even if she was blind... she could feel where the strike were coming from against her shield. One, two, and on the third, feeling she could predict where it would come from, she finally lunged again, using a Mana shell charge to give her even more force, launching herself forward like a rocket at point blank. ]

[ladyemperor]

[But did ignoring them mean that they didn't bother him?

Behind them Meiniang's voice chimes up from another mirror:]

Look at that, bringing misfortune once again. They were right, you should have died.

[She doesn't let herself pause, hands clenching as she takes a step forward. In her heart she knows that's wrong. She refused to bring misfortune. She wouldn't.]

[verytired]

[ In a was sad to think about, he realizes, when she says her mom died. But that's the way for mortals - a life well lived ends. Death isn't scary to him, but maybe it's because of Thanatos. She seems... warm? He guesses. Like she's kind and easy to talk to and honest. Gods are complicated beings, hard to always read and understand. It was probably why he enjoyed humans as much as he did.

But that name sparked a memory for him, and he smiled towards her. ]

Oh! Jane - J. Porter! We talked before.

[ He turned on the bench, leaning a little towards her, then offering his hand. ]

Hypnos. It looks like we get to meet in person this time, huh? Isn't that just lucky!

[sereneadherent]

[Marianne pulls out a handkerchief and starts gently dabbing at her face with it. The fresh air is helping her calm down, as is Juzo's presence. He's serving as an anchor, empathetic and encouraging but lacking in fuss or fanfare that would likely only fluster her further. It's exactly what she needs right now.

After she wipes away the remaining tears, she speaks up quietly.]

I'm sorry, too. That you understand how it feels.

[He hasn't told her his whole story, but he's told her more than enough. While her lot is the result of bad luck and, arguably, fate, his seems much more terrible to her. He said he was built to be as he is. Made into the monster he sees in the mirror. Someone else had done this to him, and with ill intent. It causes her stomach to tighten uncomfortably just thinking about it.

She knows what it's like to feel like a monster. She can't imagine how it must be to feel like nothing more than a weapon. An object.

Marianne turns to look over at Juzo. Her eyes are red and swollen, but her expression is no longer clouded by the demons that had been flung into her face back there.]

For what it's worth, I don't see you as anything other than a person.

[Might as well get that out there. He may not need to hear it now, or perhaps he does. Either way, at least he'll have her opinion on the matter clearly spelled out for when he does need the reminder.]

[emet_sulk]

[ He expects the sudden attack - how could he not when he deliberately sets off the obvious trap? - but the form of the of Izuku's weapon changing from broadsword to bat is a pleasant surprise. He had toyed with the idea himself, eventually concluding that such a style is not for him.

Instead, he has chosen a different approach.

Poised to bring up his own sword to defend against a strike, he quickly switches to evasion instead and pivots away from Izuku's swing. Several large spikes immediately shoot up between them in response to one of many minuscule alchemy runes etched on his blade, aiming to drive the boy back. It's followed up with several shots from his weapon - and this time the bullets do aim squarely for the arms and legs. ]

[sereneadherent]

I-it's not flattery! I'm being honest!

[Now she's blushing. Thanks, Darin.]

Oh, Crests? They're what we call a certain type of power people have back in Fódlan. The power is a gift from the Goddess, and it's passed on through bloodlines.

[She shrugs, her expression a bit sad.] The Crest I carry is considered cursed. That's what the monster in the mirror was getting at.

[wuf]

[ Razor, who already has some things hanging from his belt - decoration - things he'd found - thinks this would be a perfect fit here. He shifts, lifting up a string that hangs as this is a perfect place to tie it on. It will always be at his side, then, which is just how he wants it to be. Especially if it's meant to give good luck. ]

Yes, here. Always with me.

[ He's still pretty flattered by the gift. He wants to keep it safe, too. ]

Will be good luck.

[ He's sure of it. ]

[gunmettle]

[ They’re supposed to be talking about her, here, but then she turns right around and offers him sympathy in return, encouragement that he hadn’t asked for or thought he needed.

He turns to look at her, quiet and unmoving, and at first he’s not sure what to say. It’s strange to hear such a sentiment from someone he barely knows, but it strikes something in him. Something deep in his core, the part of him that’s decided to live.

A light, breathless little chuckle escapes him. ]

You’re good people, Marianne, no matter what that mirror had to say.

[agentlewish]

I'd be happy to. But please, don't think you owe me anything.

( She steps over to Della's station then. She was fine if she didn't win before, so being able to help a friend sounds just fine to her. )

Let's start with how spicy you'd like to make it. What would you prefer?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Wait...why is yours considered cursed? What makes yours different than anyone else's?

[This...sound sketchy. Something doesn't add up.]

[sereneadherent]

[The compliment earns Juzo a few surprised blinks, and then--improbably, given Marianne's general disposition and the situation they've just been through--a small smile.]

Thank you. As are you.

[She could go on, elaborating how in the short time she's known him he's gone out of his way to help her twice or giving some variation of the blueberries metaphor she and Darin are fond of swapping, but that feels superfluous in this moment somehow. And not his style, anyway. So she leaves it at that.]

Speaking of which: I'd like to do something for you, as thanks for this and the other day on the beach. Do you like tea? I can make some and bring it by.

[kokuryuu]

[Souma does exactly as told. It helps that this voice is different from his, with different inflections-- a kindly voice. He breathes and listens only to it, meditating on anything that doesn't sound like his own voice twisted with hatred.

It's easy once there is a distraction, and he gathers his resolve again. Coming back to himself, he focuses his eyes on the snow-white robe directly in front of him. That color reminds him of the snows of his village, and his beloved childhood dog Yasu, and Jongdae's hair, and tofu, and milk, and many good, nice things.

Thinking of all of those positive associations helps greatly, and Souma straightens and squares his shoulders, setting his jaw with determination.]

Yes. These are... not real. Not me, anymore.

[Now he looks to the gentleman who helped him and bows quickly. A more elaborate thanks will come later, but right now-- it's time to fight. He places his hand on his left sword hilt.]

These foul mirrors... will continue to lead the others astray, or hurt them. Can we stop them, Sir?

[sereneadherent]

[Luckily(?), the numbers do add up for Marianne.]

All of the Crests were given by the Goddess to the Ten Elites, whose deeds and bloodlines have been passed down through the ages.

But there were originally eleven. The eleventh, Maurice, allowed himself to become corrupted by his Crest until he became a mindless, suffering beast. For that, he was all but written out of history and his bloodline was considered cursed.

Maurice was my ancestor. And I bear his Crest, the same power that corrupted him.

[Her tone is remarkably even, given the subject matter. With each consecutive retelling, the story becomes easier to get through.]

Does that makes sense?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

It does...

[So far, that tracks but...there's still one more thing he needs to know.]

So...what exactly is that power? What power does the Crest bestow that corrupted Maurice?

[inemeraldfaith]

[She can't disagree with him. Cramped and not fun is the very epitome of that. She wears a frown for just a moment, but it disappears the moment he continues.]

What other kinds of training do you do?

[Aerith gives him a look over thoughtfully, wondering what kinds of skills he has hidden away in his arsenal. He has weapons. She knows that. She didn't get a real good look at them, but she knows they're there. So probably those...

His acting probably comes in handy here, too.]

[inemeraldfaith]

[Aerith tips her head and she spends a decent amount of time looking at his current work in progress. He's saying a bird, but...]

Hm. I don't see it.

[It's very straight forward out of her, unabashed, and after a moment, she decides to rephrase herself. Even if the damage is done already.] I mean. I don't see it, yet. Have you ever done something like this before?

[tantailizing]

A little something here and there with Moguo. It helps me move heavier things around.

[Specifics? What specifics? She'll just have to catch him at the training grounds again.]

[His acting would come in handy, but he wants to play fair - he'll stick to his weapons and magic for this and save any dirty tactics for elsewhere.]

[tantailizing]

[Zidane nods. He gets it; plenty of events he wouldn't be in either, but one he signed Moguo up for at least.]

Cheer for everyone! I don't think anyone will notice once they in the thick of it.