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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So, you're just going to run? Again? Like you did back then? With both of them?

That -- I....

[Well. It's true. He had run. Literally fled to the mountains in dealing with what happened with Kyoko. But also when Tohru had found out his secret, about his True Form in what it meant to be the Cat. Why he wears those beads. But he tries to focus on the other instead of the mirror, tries to ignore that smirk, that knowing look. Kyo shakes his head.]

We can't just leave this here. What if someone else comes across it?

[Some others might face worse insecurities or whatever than Kyo deals with. And even Kyo has. A Lot. Even in the middle of all this he doesn't want - say, Tohru to deal with this if he can help it.]

[For a moment he feels he's thrown back in time.

He still remembers being fourteen, that day when Yanhui Town had been attacked, the way he'd told Shen Yi to stop because Ge Chen was going to die. He remembered the bitter realization that to someone like General Shen, winning the battle and securing the objective came first. For a soldier, it was more important to focus on the overall battle not necessarily on saving a single life.

He understood now but back then he hadn't understood at all and as a result he'd run off to fight a fully trained soldier like an idiot.]

What sort of magic do you have?

Tohru's mentioned the magic. I only recently got here so I'm still figuring all that yet.

[Which. Might lead to others understandably questioning exactly how he thinks he might be able to help here but. He can still fight. Hand to hand. Kyo wouldn't run. Not anymore. Especially where Tohru was concerned. He's just still figuring this place out in what his deal is and what he wants to do here exactly.]

[He wouldn't ask that. He did wonder but it didn't seem like the sort of question that would lead anywhere useful.]

Then, there's probably not much we can do. Unfortunately, the magic I have isn't suited for this sort of thing and trying to resolve this through physical means could cause more harm than good.

[He looked at the mirror a little longer.]

What we can do is try to get to the bottom of what's happening and stop it at the source.

I'm still figuring mine since I only recently arrived and all. But I still wanted to try and help.

[Somehow. If he can. Kyo ignores the jibe from the mirror reminding him 'like you helped with finding Tohru all those years ago?' He might grit his teeth and his fingernails cut deeper into his palms at his fists. For as much as he has matured and grown up since back then, he is still a kid. Still learning. Still figuring himself out and learning his place in the world.]

Physical is probably my usual go to but. I dunno. If there is something I can do.

There's nothing wrong with trying to help.

[Because it's true and also because.]

I ran at a soldier when I was fourteen with no weapon or real fighting experience. It turned out well, but it could have gone very poorly.

[It could have gone, very, very poorly indeed.]

We should move on. If we can find the source of what is affecting the mirrors, then we can figure out the correct way to deal with them so that no one else will be hurt by them. [He reached out to place a hand on the boy's head.] Doing so isn't the same as running away.

When you were fourteen? That -- yeah. Could have gone pretty badly if they were armed and all. That they were trained when you weren't. I'm not sure if whatever this is -- the mirrors, if that's something we can fight.

[But he can at least be another set of eyes. Another pair of hands. Do something hopefully, to be able to help. He blinks, closing one eye briefly for a second at the other placing a hand to his head. It reminds him of Kazuma.]

I broke my leg terribly.

[He said it mildly, without humour or embarrassment. It was in the past and he can't change that it happened.]

Well, I doubt these mirrors became like this on their own. At the root of it, there might be a culprit and that, if they exist, we can certainly fight. And if not, perhaps there will be some other way to deal with this.

[He draws his hand back.]

I am Li Min. What is your name?

Not surprised. But ah, I'm Kyo. I guess we will see if we keep going then. If there is someone responsible here.

[Kyo's willing to help if he can. If he is able to with whatever this is given he is newer and still figuring things out. If it turns out he is in over his head he could always turn back around and leave it to those that had more experience, a better chance at dealing with this.]

Then, please stay close.

[Because as the one who found you he feels he has a responsibility. So he turned to head off...but not before another mirror nearby fogged up and revealed a reflection of Li Min.]

You will never protect anyone. You are the little monster Hu Ge Er raised. You will bring nothing but destruction.

[Which Li Min is going to ignore, thanks.]

The little monster.....?

[Monster. How many times had he been called that? Because of being the Cat. Because of his True Form? Kyo is aware it doesn't seem to be talking about him but at the same time that definitely seems to get a reaction to him. What was that supposed to mean, exactly? He frowns, glancing from the mirror to the other confusedly. Not scared, just. Wondering what was meant exactly.]

[...ah, if only they could just ignore all this, but he could understand if that might need a little explanation.]

They parting words of the woman who raised me before she died.

[His expression and voice don't change much. He can't say he's over what she said but he's also not prone to reacting to things. All his feelings are moderated by necessity.]

Edited 2021-08-14 03:32 (UTC)

That was what she last said to you?

[For all that he knew his mother was terrified of his True Form. She had never outright said that. Not to his face at least. It was his father that hated him and thus blamed him for what happened to his mother. And he had enough issues regarding what happened to her, and to Kyoko later on.]

That's.....now probably isn't the time to explain though. Unless you do while we keep moving, right?

[If the other even wanted to talk about it. Kyo knows there's a lot he's keeping closer to the chest here himself.]

Yes.

[Among other things.]

There's not really much more to say. [He said it so mildly they could be talking about the weather instead of childhood trauma. He keeps talking though because it seems like it'd be a good distraction.] You can guess the sort of relationship the two of us had. She certainly had reasons for her hatred and perhaps she isn't even wrong about some things...but even though she cursed me, another person who I care about told me I could choose to be who I want. Between those two, I choose to believe the latter.

[The reflection hissed,]

No one will ever love you. No one will ever treat you with sincerity. You will become a madman with only hatred and suspicion in your heart.

[He keeps moving as if he never even heard it (or perhaps had heard echoes of it so much over the years in his nightmares that he's used to it).]

She cursed you? But....yeah. I get that. It's such a difference in how some people treat you. It can be hard. After having parents like that. To accept and believe other people that really do care about you.

[But oh. Oh how many times had he told himself that? That nobody, let alone Tohru, could actually really, genuinely, love him? He was the Cat. He wasn't supposed to have anyone love him in that way. Kyo had thus been more inclined in pushing her away initially than actually opening himself to the idea, to begin to accept she had her own judgement and feelings on him as they got to know each other. At the least, he did follow.]

[The cursing was both figurative and literal...though he didn't plan to really talk about the latter. So he only answers with,]

Something like that.

[He listens and thinks, yeah, it can be hard.]

And yet, even if it's hard to believe it is true anyway. It took me a while to realize it. [He smiles a little. It is as calm and mild as his entire demeanour but also looks sincere.] Do you have someone like that as well?

Shishou. He's the one that took me in after my mother died and my father blamed me and wanted nothing to do with me. But Shishou and Tohru.....they care.

[Maybe it had started as pity or atonement on Kazuma's end but. It ended up that he did genuinely come to care about Kyo over the years of raising him. Kyo does acknowledge that. He wasn't entirely without people that cared about him. Kyo was just unsure, was in denial on Tohru's feelings towards him. Kyo knew she did care about him though, given she ran after him back then in having his True Form revealed to her.]

Then, I'd suggest you give more weight to their words than that of your reflection.

[Certainly, he knows all about being harder and more cruel to yourself than others would be.]

Maybe I should. You too. With what yours said.

[That Chang Geng should also try focus on the people that really mattered. The ones that did care about and support him. Not those like his mother that would say something like that to her kid. Given the Sohma though and how some parents reacted to those kids. He can't say he's that surprised to hear it.]

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EVENT ✨ Tournaments & Trust

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