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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This kind of thing is a lot more difficult when he's trying not to kill any of them. Still, the swordsman moves with an unnatural grace while he wields sword and elemental magic both, occasionally getting physical (a kick, or a shove, whatever he needs to do) with any of them that get too close.

When Hijikata turns to check on him he's dealt with over half a dozen already. A few are unconscious on the ground with blooming welts on their heads, some are dealing with various elemental effects that are holding them in place, but gods they just keep coming.

Red Wine looks back when the mirror makes that sound, catching Hijikata's eye and the unspoken question in it.]

Don't worry about me. Just do what you need to do. [He moves his sword quickly from one hand to the other as he lets his long coat drop to the floor to give him better range of movement, and there's a certain vicious light in his eyes when he turns back to the mirror creatures closing in.]

What a headache. Very well, who's next?

Good work!

[It's gratifying to see that Red Wine doesn't need support (though if that changes, which wouldn't come as a shock with the sheer number of Mirror Arthurs filling the hall, Hijikata will be right at his side, regardless of his request to the contrary). For the time being he gets on the malicious spirits' case all the more mercilessly.]

Out! I compel you--

[He increases the pull of his magic, and there goes another spectre! He still feels rather miscast as a spellcaster, being so used to physical combat and decidedly unused to invocations, but his success emboldens him. Amidst his focus he makes a tiny mental note to hit Red Wine up for some elemental magic sparring at some later point when the king is (hopefully) safe and they're all back in Camelot.]

[It's just lucky they aren't alone. Red Wine hasn't missed the other death mages, nor the combatants working around him towards the same goal - to keep the mirror clear of these damned clones. Good thing, since while Red Wine is proud of his skill he would definitely be overwhelmed by this if no one else was here.

Another of the clones is immobilised, pinned to the ground with both hands and a leg encased in ice. Red Wine makes a soft sound, a 'tch' of mixed annoyance and triumph, and looks over to where the mirror is slowly being cleansed of its corrupting influence.

If this goes on much longer... there's a good chance that the real king is going to come to harm.]

This is going to get complicated.

[Ugh. He hates complicated fights.]

[For a while Hijikata loses all sight of the battle, focusing single-mindedly on the exorcism. About a dozen death mages have assembled and are giving the mirror all they've got, with several dozen others keeping the Mirror Arthurs occupied. With each spirit that gets forced from the mirror the number of new doubles decreases, until eventually the last eerie glow is ripped from the crystals and the battle noise ceases.

Hijikata is breathing hard, more exhausted than he realised. He scans the hall, now lit up by light- and fire magic... many wounded people are being tended to, and one of the fallen figures is the only remaining King Arthur.]

Oh, no! Come on!

[He tries to head over to him, but a dizzy spell makes him lean against a pillar for support. Maybe he should stay where he is. He's done what he could; now it's the healers' time to shine (once again; they're always vital). He scans the room for those who kept the Mirror Arthurs at bay from him during the battle, and he's glad to see Red Wine still standing. He gives him an weary nod to signal that he's okay.]

[He's out of breath and sporting a few cuts and bruises once the mirror is finally cleansed and the battle stops all at once. Red Wine lowers his sword slowly, closes his eyes for a moment then quickly cleans it with a burst of elemental magic and sheathes it.]

If I'd known I was going to ruin so many of my clothes over the past two days, I would have dressed differently. [He mutters, shaking his head. Seeming entirely at ease, he ignores the blood slowly spreading across the white cloth of his shirt from the shallow nicks on his arms and carefully fixes his hair as he makes his way to where Hijikata is standing.

Or, leaning.]

He's alive. [He tells him in response to his outcry. Briefly, he glances over his shoulder to where those more capable of helping are already crowding about the king. Blood magic is at least useful for one thing - he can sense the king isn't dead yet.] And we should all leave, in case something foul still lingers to catch us while we're distracted.

[Hijikata takes a small mental note... he's never thought of using his elemental magic to clean his sword, but it's a good idea for sure. Upon hearing that the king is still alive he exhales in relief and lights himself a cigarette. It's probably rude to smoke in the Hall of Mirrors, but damn it, he needs one right now.]

I'll stick around until everyone else is outside. If the damn ghosts come back and try anything at least I'll be able to see them and kick their asses.

[He doubts that the spectres will return before long, but there may be all sorts of other repercussions to what happened. Queen Elphame was probably not impressed to see King Arthur get possessed right before her eyes, and the people of Celliwig may just close up their gates to the off-worlders again in response to this incident. But for what it's worth, those Celliwig denizens who are present right now, somewhat easy to distinguish by their dress code, seem to primarily be relieved that the Pure of Heart and Brave of Soul Mirror wasn't shattered.]

[The way Red Wine wrinkles his nose at the smell of the smoke is not something he attempt to hide, though it seems more a reaction to the smell itself than Hijikata's choice of habit. The pale young man moves to place himself in the best spot to not have the smoke drifting towards him and observes those still in the room who are collecting the wounded, or hurrying around to attend to the king.

He makes a faintly annoyed sound at the man's stubbornness, but folds his arms and shakes his head.]

Very well. It would be remiss of me to not see this through. [That is, his decision to watch the death mage's back whilst he worked.]

I'll stay here with you.

[Hijikata's smile is tired, but sincere. If he's noticing Red Wine's displeasure at him stinking up the place he doesn't seem to care (ever the gentleman...).]

That's the spirit.

[It's a given for seasoned comrades-in-arms to have each other's back, but for this being their first meeting they did a damn good job at trusting each other to do their respective part in the battle. Red Wine's capability certainly made it easier for Hijikata to fully concentrate on the exorcism.]

Give me your name so I can call you up for a spar or an elemental duel one of these days.

[It won't be any time soon, not with the king being in such a precarious state, but Hijikata is deliberately trying to lighten the mood and distract himself from his rampant worries.]

[He glances the man's way, studying him for a moment. Appraising him.]

My name is Red Wine, and you assume a great deal to think I'd accept sparring with you.

[Though he doesn't sound insulted by the implication. Amused, perhaps. When he chuckles there's a clear flash of elongated, sharp canines. He adjusts the placement of his sword, letting his hand rest atop the sabre's pommel.]

But I will, if you're as capable in battle as you were with that exorcism.

Don't take me lightly! I've got quite the reputation back home.

[That's what he gets for his spellcasting, immediately people take him for a frail mage type!]

Is 'Red Wine' a code name?

[He has to problem with unusual names, having gotten to know personified countries and people named after animals back on Prismatica, he's just mildly curious. Red Wine's sharp teeth make him wonder if it might be a hint at a more iron-heavy diet...]

No, it's my only name.

[He lowers his wine-red eyes to his hands, noticing a tear in one of his gloves and making another of those soft sounds of annoyance. A moment of thought later and he chooses to take them off, folding them neatly and pushing them into his pocket.]

I'm not human.

[At least, outside of this place he isn't human (though he'd still say he isn't 'human', merely 'mortal' in a way he isn't ordinarily.]

Some people take to calling me Red, and I'll accept that if you find my full name to be too peculiar.

No, it's fine.

[Hell, he's just going to ask outright. With Red Wine's pallor, pointy canines and ears, and dresscode it's not a far-fetched assumption, right?]

Are you a vampire?

[The way Red Wine sighs indicates very clearly that this is a question he has been asked before. Many times before.]

No, I am not.

[It isn't that he isn't aware of the way he looks, but being asked that question... it's a sore spot for a myriad of different reasons.]

This is just what I look like.

[Oh, that expression and body language speaks volumes.]

I see you get that often. Sorry to add to the pile.

[If nothing else the conversation lifted his mood a little, and the call of a healer pronouncing Arthur stable enough for transport does its part to ease his mind. He starts to slowly follow the procession carrying and supporting the injured out of the hall, turning around himself several times to make sure no lurking spirits might launch another attack.]

I hope the local investigators can get to the bottom of what the hell prompted this attack... I should offer them my services, come to think.

I'm used to it.

[Still grouchy about it, but very used to it. The fact he actually was a vampire for over a year in his previous non-home world only adds to his bitterness about the question, but he doesn't elaborate on that.

He leans his back against a nearby pillar, loosely folds his arms and closes his eyes.]

They can have mine too, should anything need a sword putting to it.

[Hijikata would be able to relate to that. It's not his first time at the multiverse melting pot rodeo either, only that his previous world turned him into something more like a werebull.]

Good to have you on board. I hope those ghost have had enough for the time being, but if not...

[He trails off, having to stifle a yawn. Damn, this exorcism really took the strength out of him.]

If there are any more spirits, I'll have to leave them to you.

[Steel cuts through flesh and blood only, and Red Wine is going to be of little use if any ghosts decide to make an attack. Still, the last few hours have shown these spirits to be capable of far more than incorporeal flailing.]

I dislike fighting enemies I can't dispatch. [Though, would he want to have death magic? No, probably not...

He observes Hijikata for a few moments, quietly appraising his condition.]

I'm going to suggest once more that we leave. You don't look in any state to battle anything.

[Hijikata nods. He resented his own helplessness in the face of the ghost attack last month, so he's all the more pleased at being able to counter them now. Given that pretty much everyone else has gotten moving at this point and the last few stragglers are being supported by friends he gets going too. He finds that he has to walk at a measured pace rather than his usual stride. He's so dizzy!]

I didn't expect an exorcism to pack such a punch... but I guess using any kind of magic is exhausting in a way I'm still getting used to.

[Much as he knows his body's capabilities, he's still struggling to gauge how much magical energy he can expend before reaching his limit. As they exit the hall he shields his eyes against the daylight.]

I'll finish this cigarette, then I'll see who's going to lead the investigation. I guess there's not much we can do for King Arthur right now. If you want to check on your friends or anything you don't have to wait for me.

[Red Wine keeps an eye on the man while they walk, ready to brace him with a hand to his arm or shoulder if need be. His own limits hadn't been tested in the same way that those of the death mages must have been, and he can rely on his sword far more easily than the new magic afforded to him here.

Outside, he winces against the sudden sunlight and does the same as his companion - raising his hand to shield his eyes from it.]

Mm. My partner will wonder where I've got to. [As much as he needed to involve himself here he's loath to worry Bailey again - they'd been separated he really ought to find them now.] If you're sure you're fine from here, I'll be off.

[He nods, feeling sincerely confident that he'll recover just fine as long as he gets to rest for a while now. A more exuberant person would expressly thank Red Wine for his support during the battle before parting ways, but Hijikata is more on the ~~emotionally constipated~~ reserved side, and he's sure the other man knows that his help is appreciated.]

I'll see you around.

[Certainly they'll run into each other in Camelot City or at the training grounds, or else on the next expedition or whatever other occasion... Avalon is an island, after all.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ✨ Tournaments & Trust

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We can move it forward a lil if you like so they can talk? :> Your call.

Heck yep, all the more now that the outcome's been announced!

yee

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