isleofavalon | EVENT ✨ Finding Kymbyr

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EVENT ✨ Finding Kymbyr

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SUMMARY: Celliwig asks for volunteers to go to the Ash Mountains and find a necromancer in a magical sleep. There is a sale on magical coats and a camping trip where you can tell stories by the fire.

It's around the 20th, somehow or other, that Celliwig manages to find the information it's been looking for for some time: a solution to how to clear out the Forest of the Felled and release all the trapped souls of fae, witches and wizards, and other magical beings that had been condemned to that labyrinth of wards and curses centuries ago. It wasn't something they had the power to do on their own or they might've ages ago, but with all the otherworlders around here.. it may just be possible. That is what they tell the local Camelot news when they put out a bulletin recruiting volunteers to go to a small village, hidden away in the Ash Mountains and find and awaken the great sleeping necromancer, Kymbyr (with two y's. It used to be Kimber, but they decided to rebrand themself.) The TV spot follows with an old magically recorded interview with Kymbyr explaining how they were totally the life of the party for more than one reason, but when things got super uncool toward magic in their world, they asked the fae queen to move to Avalon so they could take the most crazemazing nap for like a billion years in this way zen town built into the side of a mountain that this cute little monk told them about. They then proceed to ask the interviewer if she happens to know the way there and invite them to be co-nap buddies. The TV spot ends up snapping back to the present-day interview with the Celliwig representative who invites anyone interested to meet them at the northernmost part of Camelot's farmland for the trek there. They will bring some horses, but unless you want to share a stallion with a partner, you should secure your own ride.

Across Camelot, there seems to be some kind of huge rush to sell camping supplies for the journey, since you're bound to be outside for a few days and the Ash Mountains are known to have some... strange weather. It doesn't always fit the season, and thus far people have really only had a reason to go to the base of it so they haven't really experienced the range's strange weather. So throughout Camelot, there's sales on camping equipment, but none so cool as the (Item) Prismatic Coat that goes on sale for 100,000G ($1,000USD). It's a lot of money for a coat for sure, and it looks magical. It has special enchantments to go the opposite of whatever weather you're having internally. If it's hot, it'll feel like you're sitting in front of the AC. If it's rainy, you can feel the toastiness of a fireplace keeping you dry anywhere the fabric touches. There are some side effects, like your spells also casting with opposite effects (healing will cause pain, fire will come out as water, growing an orange will grow an apple, and so on-- please make up the effects yourself for your specific spells). What's more, if you manage to find and bring back ann egg of one of the Administrative Assistant Birds (more info- cw: snake stepping) that live in the mountains, they'll give you a 50% back rebate.

If you're done shopping, you can head out and meet the party at the farmland and discussed and around 2pm the first day, they'll leave to slip through the space between the Dusklight Woods and the Lands of Rot. The wards are back up and working, so there shouldn't be too many disturbances unless you disturb the undead first. After the first day, they stop at a plateau far enough into the first Ash Mountain that the denizens of the Lands of Rot are no longer a threat. It's around 11pm by the time everyone is settled, and the participants from Celliwig invite everyone to tell stories from their land over s'mores and hot cocoa or tea, be they scary or heroic or heart-wrenching. One of the Celliwig light mages uses a spell that they will teach to fellow light mages called (Recipe) Storyteller, which causes the light created by the fires to create miniature holograms of the story as it is being told. How artistic or realistic the light is depends on the caster, as it will present in an art style that matches their personality.

SUMMARY: A blizzard hits in the mountains and characters are forced to hide in a dragon's cave until morning. The journey continues in the slush until they reach a door that requires a riddle solved for entry, after which characters are able to enter the city of Lestari, a city primarily populated by techno and cognitive mages. Anyone who engages in altered states of mind mentioned in the prompt please use content warnings accordingly. (Not detailed in prompt, but possible.)

The journey into the mountains is mostly quiet up the first mountain. Down below once the party has crossed over to the other side of the mountain, miles down, marshes can be seen but it's too far to really tell any detail beyond that it's a wonderful view. That's when the first bout of strange weather begins-- a blizzard starts up, in the middle of summer. You've entered the realm of the Frost Fairies, who head up to the mountains during most of the year, alongside many other weather-specific fae that live in the mountains, constantly warring for territory. We hope you packed warm, as the blizzard makes conditions too cold to continue, and everyone has to hole up in a nearby cave. Adventurous souls will find that going deeper into the cave leads to a napping, fully grown, vibrant purple dragon with a hoard of treasure beneath it and a lot of skeletons from those who have tried to steal from it. Unless you try to steal, it won't bother you beyond opening an eye to peek at you before going back to sleep. Stop anyone from trying to steal or you'll be chased out of the cave by a blue-fire breathing dragon protecting its stash. Don't forget that dragons are sacred creatures in Avalon-- if you try to kill it, there's a good chance someone is going to kill you back if the dragon doesn't succeed.

For those who do manage to make it through the night without pissing off the dragon, they wake up to the frost fairies having lost territory, instead replaced by Slush Sprites who leave the ground slippery and wet but the sky clear and visible, it's time to move forward. It makes the journey trecherous and it's recommended everyone latch arms with a partner to secure themselves as they move forward, lest they slip. The journey isn't much farther... though it comes to a stop when the party reaches a door that seems unable to be affected by magic, and instead asks a riddle of each person who enters it. If you answer the riddle correctly, the door will disappear from your vision and your vision alone. Try to walk someone through it, and they'll run face-first into a rock door.

Once in, the view at first is odd. Just carved doors into walls, as if the doors were carved out of the mountains themselves. They're offices, like the visitor's center and gift shop, the sheriff's station, and so on. Once you're past the small shops, it opens up into a much more advanced-looking society underground. Welcome to the underground city of Lestari, much more a city now than it had been when Kymbyr had been seeking it out. As players explore Lestari, they'll learn that it's probably more magitechnologically advanced than Camelot-- interactive holograms, video-storing crystals, video games that physically suck your consciousness into the video game until you're done playing, and much more. Deep within the city, there appear to be giant mechanical legs of some kind as well, but it goes far up into the mountainous ceiling, so it's unclear just what they're for. Technomages will find themselves with plenty of inspiration in this town... as will anyone interested in the art of meditation. With technology comes all kinds of connectivity, and a need to relax and destress. They're incredibly into yoga, meditation, spas, massages, crystalized relaxation ranging from a chamomile tea level to a wizard by the name of Zanacks who will sell you mood-altering crystal jewelry. Cognitive mages, for this reason, will also find experts on astral projection and dream walking as a means for therapeutic techniques and inducing altered states of mind in themselves or others using magic. It's a strange, but overall relaxed place. No wonder Kymbyr wanted to come here to get away from it all.

SUMMARY: Get through a rocky maze and complete Survivor-esque challenges to get to Kymbyr's condo. Magic is blocked in this prompt, combat is optional.

Exploring the town and asking around about Kymbyr results in quite the conundrum. Apparently, they got this cute little condo hidden away in a hedge maze carved out into the mountain. Since it's inside the mountain, there's no way over or through, and special crystals placed throughout the mage prevent magic from being used within its walls. No cheating the maze! Furthermore, it seems Kymbyr got really into this show called Survivor a few years ago and renovated it to have challenges that require multiple participants. The first one out of each challenge is teleported back to the start of the maze.

The challenges will vary (and players are welcome to make up their own as well, or go with what's here). Some people may find themselves engaged in combat with giant slime creatures that break into smaller slimes when they're attacked. They won't harm you, but the will try to swallow you up so you're just a head sticking out of a giant slime ball and need to be rescued. Others may find more traditional survivor challenges, like jumping across foam floatation platforms to retrieve puzzle pieces and then assemble a puzzle at the top of a rock climbing wall or standing on a single pole while balancing an egg atop their head. Others may find themselves in a tug-of-war rope pulling contest against a friend through a mudpit. Solve at least three challenges and the exit to the maze will appear-- it's the only way to get through, so you may be lost for a long while if you refuse to participate.

Those who make it through will find Kymbyr asleep in what appears to be a glass coffin, in a very Snow White-esque scene. The place is well decorated and clean (brownies can be thanked for that) and Kymbyr doesn't seem to wake up... Some of the Celliwig people suggest trying traditional ways to break sleeping curses, like true love's kiss.. but ultimately, it's probably best to just kidnap them and take them back to Celliwig to get some professionals to wake her. Help carry the coffin back through the maze if you'd like, or help deal with bureaucratic nonsense at the sheriff's office on their way out.

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[ So after dealing with those angry spirits and whatnot a bit ago, hearing that there is a potential way to dispel them from the forest? Naturally Bakugou is interested. He had sort of exhausted himself that day chasing away spirits and the like... That ice bridge and then going back sometime after. He'll take the chance to find this necromancer. Deal with the actual problem. Bakugou doesn't care about the bullshit that he'll have to deal with...

Until the blizzard. He kind of hates the cold and here they all are, being forced to stay in a cave for the night. While he has no interest in the treasure, it doesn't surprise him that some assholes are all about it and getting chased out. Katsuki is restless, just wanting to get a move on, but understands that climbing up a mountain in a snowstorm isn't very smart. The blonde's favorite sort of recreational activity is hiking and mountain climbing. There's no way that he's going to risk putting himself out there just because he's impatient.

Which brings him to the morning when the storm has cleared and a different sort of fae replaces the previous ones. What should be soft, fresh powder is kind of icy and and starting to turn into slush in some places. That doesn't make for ideal climbing conditions at all. Not at this is going to hold him back but he's not going to just go it alone in this instance. So he looks around to find someone to actually snatch as a partner when his eyes fall on that Tifa girl from before. ]

Oi. Since you're actually somewhat capable, you and me are gonna go.

[Tifa really should have dressed more appropriately for the climb. While she's decked out in a thick sweater and pants, her shoes leave much to be desired. She opted for the red sneakers that she always wears, but there are probably better options for camping and hiking up a mountain. Boots, perhaps... She's not so worried about her shoes being ruined but getting snow and slush in them isn't her idea of fun.

She has no room to complain, though. Some people have it much worse than she does. She's experienced in mountain climbing and hiking, hailing from Nibelheim—a small town tucked between so many of them, and her tour guide days gave her plenty of practice. So here she is, ready to conquer this thing no matter what. If it means helping in any way that she can, then she's going to do it.

And she'd been ready to do it on her own when she hears a familiar voice calling out to her from behind. It catches her off-guard, and she tilts her head back at him.]

O-okay...! [She's careful as she turns on a thin sheet of ice and stretches a hand out to him.] It's really slippery here, be careful...

[ No hesitation whatsoever. He just snatches up that hand of hers for her to help balance herself with. ]

Yeah, kinda figured that out.

[ The moment that he had heard that they were going up a mountain, Bakugou had actually packed things. Not full out climbing gear, but now he wonders if that's what he probably should have done. His boots are definitely made for this though. This is what one gets when a hobby combines with a "mission." ]

I know you got elemental magic, but you figure out what your secondary is?

[ Because he is definitely pulling a rope out of his bag while they are on stable ground. ]

[The extra anchor helps, and Tifa's able to straighten out, linking her arm around his for further stability. Whatever he plans to use the rope for, she has no doubt it'll be helpful, and assists him in untangling it from the other end as he pulls it from his bag.]

Light. [Her answer comes simply, but it's laced with some doubt.] Haven't had the chance to practice it yet. Or use it at all.

[She's tried on numerous occasions with zero success, so she's mostly spent her time focusing on mastering what she can use for now...]

There some sort of secret to unlocking it?

What a coincidence.

[ Since that happens to be the same two types of magic that he has been given. Just in reverse. Right now he's tying the rope around them both. About their waists. That way they won't get separated and since he intends to lead the way? It means that Tifa can just use him as support.]

Can help you figure it out later, if you want. You any good with earth as an element?

[ Because he has an idea... ]

Haven't tried it much, but I could give it a go. Thought about melting some of the ice, but...

[That could also be a bad idea...

There is some doubt laced into her voice, but not enough to make her sound unconfident in her abilities. She's had to use it before, but when she did, it hadn't gone exactly as she planned, and the landslide was a much bigger problem than she anticipated... But it's been a while since and she's learned how to master fire. How hard could it be?

She lifts her arms up to give him easier access to her waist, and even tugs on it to tighten the rope when he's finished.]

What do you have in mind?

Melting the ice crossed my mind too. But we'd have to maintain a certain level of heat and shit all the way up the mountain. The question with that is can you do that.

[ Can you do that and hike safely? He gives a few tugs on the hope himself. Satisfied. ]

More like thinking to make a walking stick out of the ground.

[ For stability purposes. ]

Decided against melting... Didn't want to run the risk. Melted ice can be just as dangerous as solid.

[It's slippery in its own away, and just as hard to recover from should one of them fall, so... they'll go with his idea instead.

Her lips press together thoughtfully while she looks at the ground around them, searching for any opening between the snow and the ice for something to use to turn into a walking stick of sorts, but... the ground is covered in white and silver as far as she can see, so...]

How about this?

[Fingers glowing a low, blue light, she focuses her magic on the ice instead. In front of him, it begins to grow upwards, crackling as it shapes itself into something usable, high enough that he'll be able to stretch his hand out and grab it.]

It should move along with us for as long as I can focus.

That too. Mud ain't really the best thing to have either. All that slick shit makes it hard to find traction.

[ So at least they are on the same page about this over all. Bakugou watches her perform her act with her match. Seems like she must have practiced her magic a bit more from the way that she's using it now. If Bakugou remembers correctly, Tifa hadn't really been too accustomed to her ice magic? At least that's an improvement.

He gives a nod and a snort. ]

Don't worry about me.

[ Because he does something similar - but with light. Katsuki makes a hard light pole that will last for as long as he can hold its shape. ]

All right. Let's get going.

[She has been practicing, thank you for noticing! Fire and ice being the opposites of each other, she figured it would be the most logical next step to honing her magic, so here she is.

Her only response to his light pillar is a smile back, and she'll gladly take hold of the ice one, preparing her hands for the cold when she grabs on. Thankfully, her leather gloves do most of the work keeping it from biting her skin too much, but she might feel it later...

It makes a low scraping noise when it moves along with her, dragging her upwards next to Bakugou.]

It's been a while since I've climbed...

[ It's actually a good thought process. One has to be able to use the opposite element because what happens if you come up against the one that you are "stronger" with? So good. He'd backhandedly complement her on that if she were to share it.

But of course he'd notice, even if he doesn't say anything. Just like he's looking at those hands. She might have to pause to warm them up. Or Bakugou might demand it. ]

Used to do it a lot. Then shit went sideways and I was too busy.

[ He misses his extra hobby though. Maybe Bakugou will engage in it more here? ]

[Boy, does she know what it's like to have to put things aside while being too busy... Even if her "hobbies" were working, taking care of the others, and meditation. Could one really call those "extracurricular"?

She offers him a crooked smile, leaning her head to get a better look at him.]

Why not try doing it more here? I'm sure there're plenty of safe hiking paths and summits you could climb.

[Looks like their minds went the exact same direction.]

[ Isn't it funny that things are similar in Bakugou's case? "Hobbies" being training, running, schoolwork... Etc. Though cooking and cleaning fall into there too. So are any of those really "extracurricular" either? ]

Tch. I don't wanna play it safe. Personally, I like a good challenge.

[ His light stick does hit down for a moment and he nods. ]

Hey watch it. Uneven ground.

I know plenty of places where there's a challenge, too—whoops!

[Tifa gets a little ahead of herself and her feet slip, but with the rope and the icy pole, she manages to keep herself upright without too much trouble. She's used to mountains and climbing them, but not even Nibelheim's were this bad... And when they were, well... that's a story for another time.

She takes it slow from here on out, her steps closer together and more careful. Sometimes, the ground threatens to swallow up their feet and other times, it gives out under them and they fall back a few inches, but nothing too treacherous.

What is curious, however, is what she sees up ahead. Squinting the sunlight out of her eyes, Tifa grabs Bakugou by the arm, stopping him in his path.]

Hey. Do you see that too?

[Up against a low, rocky wall... is a door?]

Oi!

[ See the moment that he hears that "oops?" Katsuki is turning and placing a hand to stabilize. Be that under her elbow to help Tifa catch her balance or by catching her other hand, Bakugou isn't going to let her slip and fall anyway. That's kind of the point of partnering with someone. If he goes, she goes. If Tifa slips, then he'll slip.

He's pretty good at this though, testing the terrain of where they are going before actually making a choice to press forward. Warning Tifa of places to avoid. That's what he's in the process of doing still when Tifa brings up something ahead of them.

Bakugou pauses and looks up. ]

Guess that's where we're supposed to be. Hard to tell without a proper fucking guide.

[ So he'll bring them up towards the door. The ground seems pretty stable enough so he starts to untie them from each other. ]

Does it look like there's some trick to it? 'Cause I bet it's like that since this is a magical bullshit quest and all.

[With the ground evening out again, she breathes a sigh of relief, freeing herself from the constraints of the rope and letting that magic fade, her ice pillar already starting to melt away as she leaves it behind, approaching the door with slow, careful footsteps.

She isn't about to reach out and try to open it lest the pair be cursed to oblivion with some strange spell that turns them into frogs or something, but she does let her fingers brush against it. It's nothing intricate or decorative compared to the other things that she's run into in the past, but this most definitely is a door that leads to somewhere.

Rather than attempt to open it, she lets a tiny ball of fire go from her fingertips to see what will happen and lo and behold, it dissipates the moment it touches an invisible barrier.

...]

Looks like.

[But then, the door speaks?]

"Suppose you're on a game show, and you're given the choice of three doors: Behind one door is a car; behind the others, goats. You pick a door, say No. 1, and the host, who knows what's behind the doors, opens another door, say No. 3, which has a goat. He then says to you, "Do you want to pick door No. 2?" Is it to your advantage to switch your choice?"

[Ah, the good ol' Monty Hall problem.]

[ While the ice melts away, Bakugou shakes his hand to dissipate his own magic. It had still been a little tiring to maintain it, but it had been the best option for him. Good thing that Tifa at least thinks better of opening the door. Katsuki is off the same opinion - don't touch unless you are sure of what the thing will actually do. ]

This the entrance we're supposed to find or some shit?

[ He watches carefully as Tifa uses her own magic to test things out. As soon as the little bit of fire fizzles out, they have the answer. And, apparently, a riddle. ]

Hah? The fuck does this have to do with getting inside?

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EVENT ✨ Finding Kymbyr

Tifa

so sorry for the delay 😭🙏

Naw. Bless you for waiting on my slow ass 💕💕👏

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