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

[notcethleann]

Flayn stares up at her for just a moment, before she flings her arms around Marianne and holds on just as tightly, burying her face in the taller woman's shoulder. Marianne wouldn't lie to her. Not even a Marianne in her dreams--which means that this one here must be the real one. She must.

"You...you are real. You are truly here, and...and I am awake." It almost sounds like she's reciting it to herself, convincing herself to believe it. "I am not asleep. This is not a dream."

She clings to Marianne as though without her, she might fall deep into the mirror and never come out.

[sereneadherent]

"You are awake. This is not a dream. Say it as many times as you need to until you believe it." Marianne's voice is warm despite the dark look she's currently giving Saint Cethleann in the mirror. The expression is practically a challenge daring her to snatch Flayn away now. The spectre stares back helplessly, and Marianne decides that the message has been appropriately sent.

That accomplished, she presses her cheek to Flayn's head and rubs her back gently. Though she won't admit it out loud given the implications, Marianne is falling back on techniques she uses to soothe animals. Gentle touch, soft voice, and not forcing her to move until she indicates she's ready to.

"It's all right. You're safe here, Flayn. I have you."

[notcethleann]

"This is not a dream. This is not a dream." A quiet litany, as Marianne's gentle voice and hands serve to slowly calm her. But...yes, of course she's safe here. She knows Marianne to be both kind at peace and fierce at war, the sort of person Flayn herself strives to be. Someone who would never let anything terrible happen to her friends. And someone who might understand the struggle to be free of the person her past has made of her.

After a little while, she takes a few deep breaths and then sighs, pulling away from this wonderful embrace; she can't, after all, keep Marianne here all day. She manages a small, grateful smile. "Thank you ever so much, Marianne. I do not wish to think of what would have happened had you not arrived to save me."

[sereneadherent]

Marianne holds onto Flayn for as long as her friend needs. There's a mission, yes, but Flayn is far more important in this moment. And in time, it has the intended effect--she seems much more calm and secure when she pulls back to thank you.

"You're welcome. I'm glad I was able to help." Marianne gives Flayn a small smile of her own, relieved and gentle. "These mirrors are downright cruel in the tricks they play. If you need to talk about it, I can listen. And if you'd rather not, I understand." Marianne's not quite the most forthcoming with her own secrets and inner feelings; to demand that of Flayn wouldn't be fair, especially after that. "Either way, we should keep walking."

[notcethleann]

"Tricks...yes, of course. Simply a trick." But the mirror had a point. Does Flayn truly have the strength to watch generation after generation of her loved ones perish while she goes on?

She shakes that off for now and shakes her head. "I do not mind speaking of it. And depending on how much of that you heard, I am certain you must have questions for me. I will answer any of them that I can. But yes, let us continue on and leave this...this reflection behind."

She takes Marianne's hand firmly in her own before she turns her back on Mirror-Cethleann and starts off again through the halls.

[sereneadherent]

Marianne holds onto Flayn's hand just as tightly as they walk. The connection helps her feel like Flayn is grounded and present, not in any danger of being pulled into the mirrors that still surrounded them.

"I had no idea you were Saint Cethleann. I suppose I would be more in disbelief if Byleth hadn't told me about Lady Rhea being Saint Seiros." She falls silent for a few moments, deep in thought. "Does that mean your brother is one of the Four Saints as well?"

[notcethleann]

If Marianne feels that is what their connection accomplishes, Flayn feels it even more. The gratitude she feels for her kind and caring classmate surges inside her like the tide. The thought of watching Marianne age and die seems unbearable...but she can distract herself with this conversation.

"Ah, so Byleth has told you of Rhea. Yes, I am Cethleann, but please - I am not a saint. I am simply me. As for Seteth..." She can't help a quiet giggle. "Indeed, his true name is Cichol. And he is not my brother, but my father."

[sereneadherent]

"Oh, sorry. It's habit." The name Cethleann has always had the title "Saint" before it, so Marianne's saying of it came mostly without even thinking. While she could argue that Flayn is saintlike in many, many ways (beautiful and kind and wise and wonderful as she is), it's clear that she's uncomfortable with the idea. So Marianne lets it go.

"Your father?" she parrots, incredulously. The reveal does explain some things, sort of, but it still takes her entirely by surprise. "Why pretend you're brother and sister?"

[notcethleann]

"No need for apologies. I would prefer that you continue to call me Flayn, anyway." She's never minded the statue in the cathedral much before, and indeed it was nice to hear what her classmates felt about the Cethleann they thought they knew whenever they saw it, but she thinks now that she would like to never see it again, thank you very much.

She nods, a mild flash of annoyance passing through her eyes and tone. "I am certain you are familiar with his rather overbearing tendencies. He has made them common enough knowledge with all of his meddling in my affairs." But she sighs, and softens as she does. "I am well aware that he does it all for my safety. Our enemies know what my blood is capable of - that is why the Death Knight captured me. He crafted the fiction that I was his sister so that such enemies might find it more difficult to identify us for who we truly are. Nearly everything that he and Seiros have done was to ensure that we would survive. It is also why he forbids Professor Hanneman from studying our Crests--that is, our blood."

[sereneadherent]

"I had no intention of calling you anything else." Regardless of her "real" identity, she always has been and always will be Flayn to Marianne. That fact is only made more certain by the way in which the stories surrounding her sainthood is largely... well, false, based on what she's heard and is learning now.

Flayn's feelings on many things regarding her true heritage seem complicated, her relationship with Seteth not least among them. Marianne listens dutifully, nodding slightly in understanding as she finishes. "I don't believe you'll find any peer at the Academy who would disagree that Seteth is overbearing when it comes to you, but at least it's from a place of love. And here, at least, you have the chance to spread your wings and fly free." It's something Flayn has embraced wholeheartedly, and Marianne has marveled at her friend's development more than once.

After a pause, she adds: "Also, speaking as someone who tried and failed to avoid Professor Hanneman's attention... it's better that he not be involved when it comes to you two." She remembers what it feels like to be trapped in his office under his ceaseless focus, wanting nothing more to stop talking about her Crest and getting away as quickly as she can. He meant well, she thinks, but it's not a pleasant memory.