isleofavalon | EVENT ✨ Tournaments & Trust

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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.

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[The brush of her fingers is sort of calming, but then she's lifting his chin and that stretches his neck and he shudders. There's new blood and he grits his teeth, staring at her as if this is an offer he's never been given. There's confusion, pain, and apprehension in his expression.]

This is more than I... it's too much...

[Regularly, he'd be stubborn and angry at the offer for help. Right not it's just confusion and doubt.]

Sweet boy, who said you had to do any of this alone?

[She moved her hands to rest on his elbows, her arms strong.]

Whatever is too much, we will face together. You don't need to do this alone. Come out of here with me, Gokudera. Let me show you I will not leave.

It's... my burden... you shouldn't...

[He's been alone for so long, since he ran away from home as a child. Dealing with his problems has always been something he's handled by himself. Whether it's a matter of pride or just habit, or from having too many people abandon him, he's not eager to rely on a friend.

But he is eager to keep one, and Aurora is nice.]

Everyone does.

[Of that, he sounds certain. Gokudera is moving with her, though, accepting the help even though he's uncertain about most everything.]

It is a burden you've been carrying alone long enough. [She gets them both to stand, surprisingly strong but then, living in the woods for sixteen years did not make you THAT delicate and frail, for all her appearances. She keeps her grip on his elbows.]

Mayhaps. [She offered honestly.] I cannot foresee the future any more than you. But I will not leave willingly. Have faith in that.

Here, put your arm around my shoulders. [She moved his arm around her shoulder, her other hand moving to hold onto him around his middle. She looked over to the cracked mirror, the Gokudera within it silent, at least for now.] I do not have healing magic, we must find someone to look at your neck, my dear.

[Hearing her say she won't leave willingly hurts. Takeshi said that to him, too. He swore on his sword, even. Gokudera makes a soft whimpering noise as he tries to nod. The wound on his neck still hurts, but not as badly as when it was commanding pain.]

They'll try to remove it, though... [He says softly, apprehension obvious in his voice.]

[She knows it is likely what he does not want to hear, but she said herself that she would not lie to him, and she wouldn't. At the mention of the collar, she reached out.]

And what does removing it mean?

[He watches her reach out and does not flinch away. Allowing her to touch if she so chooses, though she'll see that it's not loosened any. Gokudera has no idea how long it will stay like this.]

Death.

[What a hero you are, Aurora. She stepped in at just the right time.]

[Her hands are gentle on his throat and she remembers him pulling and tugging at it. He was trying to kill himself?

She takes a deep breath as she leans forward and rips a strip from her skirt, moving to wrap it around his throat.]

We'll just have to work around it then. We need to get away from these things so we can treat your wounds. We can't let this get infected.

[She bit her lip. She knew it could be dangerous but... he was in pain. She held out her hand and winced as she encouraged lavender to sprout from her palm with her green magic. She immediately let it bloom and pulled multiple flowers off of her, a few drops of blood spilling from her palm as she did. She crushed the lavender with her other hand, grasping what little oil she had created as best she could, without olive oil, and letting it boil and simmer, this could all very well be a useless endeavor.]

Here, hopefully, this will help with the pain and inflammation.

[What little oil she had produced from crushing all the flowers, she reached up and spread it along his neck, careful to avoid the wound itself.]

Smell these. [She held up the petals.] It will help calm you down as well.

[Or at least to pass out from the pain and be free of it for a while. Were he to successfully remove the collar, he'd also remove his own head, and having her hands against the injury only makes him more aware of the damage he's caused himself.

He watches in amazement as Aurora grows lavender from her own palm, then spreads oil from the flowers against his neck. Gokudera can't not smell it, but accepts the petals.]

I used to have healing powers.

[He used to heal the damage beneath his collar regularly from habitually tugging at in reaction to the pain it caused him randomly. It still does, from time to time, just jolt him with pain or pleasure.]

I need...

[He really should talk to Yamamoto, but then... it's not really a possibility anymore. This person would help him, but he'd hate the collar. Gokudera has plenty reason why he should, but the bigger issues are with himself. If he'd never tugged at the pet ring in the first place, he'd be in much better shape.]

ice

[And he's holding out a hand and watching water trickle off his fingers. C'mon... freeze! He waves his hand, frowns at it, then keeps walking. It's easier the further from the mirrors they get.]

Or maybe just a first-aid kit.

Well, focusing on what we used to have will not fix the present problem at hand. [They DO need to get him some real medical assistance, however.]

Sit, rest for a bit. You've been through so much that may be why you're having a hard time concentrating to make ice.

[She stops them, not willing to sit on the floor lest the reflections act up again and it leaves them scrambling, but they can at least stop walking.]

Am I able to move it, the collar? So I can get a better look at the damage?

Right. Nothing will, so I was just... trying to feel better. [Looking back on all the good he's done helps him value himself a little more. He used to heal people, and then when he showed up on a new world last time, he used his healing magic to combat the pain in his neck.

Gokudera sits as she instructs him and looks down at his hands. It's just fire and cold sweat and not much in the way of ice. Plus, the fire scares him. He doesn't have the heart to tell Aurora that he's not good at elemental magic. He's an absolute failure at it, and especially so while he's stuck in this mindset.]

You can try, but I'm not sure.

[He knows it's strangled him a great deal and the worst of the damage isn't even visible, but it's... a regular occurrence for him. His skin is swollen, the leather dried with blood to his skin. There is a metal clasp, where the collar should be pulled apart, but there is nothing engraved, nothing to indicate that it actually does anything.]

Oh... my apologies. [She presses her lips together, not having meant to bring him down further than he already felt.] Why is this collar even on you, Gokudera? Who put this on you?

[Was it something from this world?

She isn't sure she can risk growing willow from her palm, though she knows how well the bark would help him with his pain. Now more than ever she wished she was gifted with healing magic. At the very least, perhaps she could transform into a horse and get him out of here to a healer? When he said she wasn't sure, she shook her head.]

Let's not chance it then. I will carry you out of here.

[He gives an accepting little hum and is quiet as he mulls over how he should answer that question.]

I’ve been to two other worlds aside from this one. It was put on me in the first world so that I could be recognized as property. As for who put this on me, I’d prefer not to say.

It’s to train me. It was never a problem until I left that world.

[Gokudera watches her, then shakes his head gently.]

I don’t need to be carried. I can walk.

And it still works here? Can it be removed without killing you?

[She couldn't believe there was such cruelty, to call another being with a mind and spirit property.]

You have a serious injury on your neck, Gokudera, which neither of us can heal properly and can only slow the injury. I don't have honey or willow bark or any salves or creams for that wound or healing magic to stave off infection. Neither do you.

[Was this about pride?] You are hurt and these mirrors are dangerous.

No. It’s malfunctioning. On the world it came from, it would only issue pain or pleasure with commands from my owner. It cannot be removed without removing what it is attached to. The only reason the damage is this bad is because I was attempting to take it off.

[Gokudera frowns and stands up.]

I can still breathe. We can get to help faster if we both go. You don’t need to carry me. This is

[It is a matter of pride.]

If it is malfunctioning, then perhaps its consequences of removal are not intact?

[She holds out her hand to help him stand back up and sighs at his insistence he walk of all things through the mirrors. She can't believe that he's willing to just bleed all over himself because he can't stand the idea of being carried.]

No one need know I carried you. I am able to fully transform into a horse. [It's her last attempt to simultaneously compromise regarding his pride and get him to someone who can heal him safely and quickly.]

Considering it’s already trying to destroy my neck for trying to tug it off, I would say they are. Do you honestly think I should risk finding out?

[He doesn’t want to tell Aurora that that is such a horrible idea, but he’s certain any medical professional would not want to attempt removal given how reactive to tampering his pet ring is.]

Oh… if you were a horse, I suppose that would be different.

[Then he would not be as much a hindrance as he thought he’d be. He is willing to bleed all over himself if it means they could see a medic sooner, but… he hadn’t considered her animal magic.]

No, but I also cannot stand the idea of it staying where it is. [She whispers. But he knows the situation on the collar better than she does. It does not, however, make seeing her friend suffer any easier.]

A moment, then.

[She took several steps back before she used her animal magic to transform into a horse. Bright purple eyes stared at Gokudera before she shifted to bare her flank for him to get on. She hoped he'd be able to get onto her without a saddle or step ladder, she couldn't exactly provide either at the moment.]

It will loosen over time. I’m not useful to my owner if I’m dead. [He’s not useful to his owner at all, anyways, and his owner is oblivious.

He watches her transform and approaches her easily, putting a hand on her back and moving to swing himself up. This would not be the first horse he’s ridden bareback, and even while injured, this isn’t too difficult.]

Thank you, Aurora.

[He settles on her, weight not very significant.]

[Aurora has practiced turning into animals before. But this was honestly the first time she's ever had someone not only see it, but then immediately use her animal form. It is an interesting sensation to feel him get up onto her back, she barely feels his extra weight. She waits for him to settle.

But Aurora does not answer, in truth, she can't. Or at least, she's not sure she can. She's never tried. She starts at a walk before she moves into a trot and then a gallop as she runs through the hall to try and get back to the tournament arenas. She slows down and even pauses as she hears fighting as people are still trying to get through to the Hall of Mirrors. She wants to warn them of the dangers but instead she backs up and then sets to a gallop once more.

The sight of a galloping horse coming right towards them made several guards and even some Camelot denizens get out of the way as Aurora headed out.

She slowed again to look around, people letting out a cry of alarm at the sight of a boy covered in blood atop a horse. She reads the various signs that point this way and that before she takes up speed once more, people rushing out of her way and if they do not see her, she whinnies in warning, but she makes her way towards the medical tent near the Melee arena.

They arrive and she lets out a loud whinny to help from the healers, not that she needed to considering the sight she made with Gokudera on her back.]

Quick! Someone get this boy to a cot!

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EVENT ✨ Tournaments & Trust

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