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avalonmods ([personal profile] avalonmods) wrote in [community profile] isleofavalon2021-09-22 01:13 am

EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot


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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: In the days leading up to the fall equinox, geese intended for eating escape and cause havoc around town, people share techniques to preserve plants for the winter, and Camelot's citizens compete to make the best light shows with traditional wax candles to draw spirits peacefully into Camelot.


With all the harder preparations gathered for the Fall Equinox, throughout the month people will notice that decorations start going up around town. The colors of fall seem to seep throughout Camelot, but more than that, so do more traditional sights and smells. In the days leading up to the equinox, traditional acts such as the sacrifice and consuming of flesh are performed. Well.. normally they would be. The fattened geese that are normally eaten in preparation for the equinox have escaped and are causing havoc around town. Geese are running around causing trouble for everyone-- stealing glasses, opening gates, putting up toilet seats when people try to sit down so they fall in the bowl... all kinds of madness! Even if you weren't intent on eating geese and were going to settle for the vegetarian option (pumpkin and nut soups are frequently served using the gourd itself as a bowl), you have to agree the general public needs to be rescued from these menaces. If you have the stomach for it, you are welcome to keep one of the geese you capture for your own table... but otherwise, please return the birds to the farm where they can be handled accordingly.

Birds are not the only sacrifice made to the autumnal equinox. As the flowers begin to reach the end of their life, there is a strong tradition of gathering flowers and herbs and preserving them for the upcoming winter, either to protect their beauty, scent, edibility, and sometimes magical properties. The simplest form of preservation is, of course, drying and pressing-- a technique you don't need magic for, but some of the locals will happily teach you. A more advanced technique can be learned to enchant glass bell jars to suspend the lifeforce of any living thing within its grasp for up to a year, if no one opens it. It's a technique used to preserve important or rare plants that may otherwise die out during the winter, such as herbs used in your favorite spell.. or dish. The glass bell jar will protect the plant, but each time it is picked up, a single petal or leaf will fall off of the plant. If all the leaves fall off, the plant becomes unrecoverable, and come spring the caster will find themselves cursed with a touch that wilts any plant they come in contact with. So if you choose to use this, be warned that there are consequences for misuse and a wide number of horror stories from people who have tried to use this spell for anything other than plants. Any type of mage can pour their magic into a bell jar to enchant it, and the type of magic will be reflected in a glass design that forms around the rim and handle. (An elemental mage may have glass flames form, or frosted etchings of your favorite animal may appear if you're an animal mage, and so on. Feel free to get creative.) Green mages may find this magic a little useless, since they can just replenish plants with their own magic, but it's still a good technique to know.. just in case!

Perhaps the most beautiful tradition that takes form leading up to the autumnal equinox is the candle pathway. Every street in Camelot will be lit up with thousands of candles for two nights leading up to the autumnal equinox, as a guiding light to help the spirits find their way to Avalon. The way the streets in Camelot are mapped out, the lights will form a path to the square where the fairy coins are being held until their release on September 22nd, the same area where the guardian egg ceremony had been performed. Some people get very creative with their lighting displays, which can sometimes result in beautifully lit streets and magnificent structures of flames. Accidents are quickly quelled by volunteer elemental mages throughout the city to prevent any structural damage. Some people might be compelled to make their own light display the most outstanding on the block, and it becomes a bit of a game to compete with your neighbors to see whose section of the candle pathway is the most extravagant.


SUMMARY: The autumn equinox ritual is interrupted by a huge earthquake caused by a Stone Giant bursting out of the Ash Mountains, bringing the closest Ash Mountain and Lestari to the ground. The purple dragon erupts from the ruins to attack Celliwig. The survivors of the collapse need help desperately. Characters must choose where they go to determine the fate of Avalon.


Calm and mundane preparations are a nice break from the sometimes stressful lives of Camelot's citizens and otherworlders, who often are asked to embark on life-threatening adventures and tasks. It's probably a good thing most of the month has been relatively peaceful, as things need to go a little bit differently this year on the fall equinox itself... but not as differently as they actually do.

In the town square, elaborate celtic-similar symbols are carved out into the ground and filled with mysterious glowing liquids. All of those who gained guardian tattoos and their attendants were asked to attend a ritual to release them on the night of the 22nd, along with anyone else who would like to witness. Everything is ready and as the witching hour approaches, several individuals dressed in flowing robes with their faces painted like skeletons approach. As the leader raises his voice to explain why they've come and what to do to make this night a success, a sudden shock-- Avalon itself shakes with the might of an earthquake... or at least, that's what it seems like for the first few minutes as everyone gathers themselves until they hear mass screaming in the distance. Though it's hard to see what's going on... there are still some very, very obvious problems.

A stone giant rises from the first of the Ash Mountains, crumbling the mountain around it as if the ancient being were holding the very mountain itself up... and it was. Those who visited Lestari will have seen its giant feet within the underground city. The former city. Lestari is now buried beneath the mountain, along with many of the other creatures living on and around the mountain. A huge storm of mixed weather forms above the giant's head, blizzard and lightning raging around it to no avail. As the people of Camelot watch what's only visible at a macro distance, they may not be as quick to notice that all of the fairy coins have begun glowing vibrantly, then suddenly burst out of the jars they've been held in, shattering right through them to fly off en-masse toward the stone giant. They embed themselves in it, fueling the giant with enough power to both begin to walk away from the rubble and for the spirits that have begun gathering in Avalon to head toward it, rather than where they had been intended.

As if that were not enough, after the Stone Giant takes two large steps through the Land of Rot, the gargantuan cloud of dust covering the ruins of the first of the Ash Mountain range rather suddenly lights up with a vibrant, ultra-violet burst of flames that illuminates the smoke. The gargantuan purple dragon that once took up residence in the mountain clambors out of the dust and shoots straight into the sky, enraged and furious, and able to sense where the magic came from that raised the stone giant. The reason it immediately begins flying toward Celliwig with the intent to raze it to the ground is likely not immediately apparent, but it is quite odd that it bypasses the much closer target of Camelot with its rage. As does the Stone Giant, though it does not head toward Celliwig and instead seems to absorb the souls of the dead that were intended to be guided by the fall equinox's rituals as it lumbers through the land. If someone does not stop it, it is headed for the Forest of the Felled.

King Arthur is immediately on the emergency broadcast system to implore people to join one of three groups:
  • Investigate and stop the Stone Giant

  • Slay the dragon and save Celliwig

  • Rescue survivors of Lestari and the Ash Mountain


  • The success of each of these missions is dependent on character participation. See the poll for details about how certain character types may affect the outcome of the missions.

    Please refer to Event Poll Notes for information about aftermath of this event and additional event info > Event Outcomes.
    beewulf: (11)

    [personal profile] beewulf 2021-09-24 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
    Ah, it was that Minako girl! Best not think about it too much, Minako. Even a big, burly guy like him can enjoy spending time preserving flowers and herbs, and probably did so a few times in the past.

    Ah, but--

    "...You really won't let that go."

    He sighs, of course she was still on that. His familiar broke into another fit of laughter though. And... was that a tuft of fur that just moved under her skirts? Couldn't be... could it?

    "We're not, but if you're here were you wanting to help out?"
    beefaroni: (Caged He By The Corpses)

    [personal profile] beefaroni 2021-09-24 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
    Yup, that had done nothing. Less than nothing - it really was like Asterios' hadn't said anything at all. He growls, but has one more trick up his sleeve - again, no guarantee of it working, but...

    "... Master. Master is here, Master may want to stop it another way...!"
    troubadamsel: (Look At This Weakling!)

    [personal profile] troubadamsel 2021-09-24 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ She begins trying to get up... ]

    I'll catch them and FRY them and break their bones for curses!
    troubadamsel: (Lowborn Filth!)

    [personal profile] troubadamsel 2021-09-24 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
    ... YEEEEEK!

    [ She slaps her hands on her face to cover her virgin eyes! Yes, he's technically still clothed, but - ! ]

    Darin! Redress yourself immediately! THIS IS EMBARRASSING BEYOND BELIEF!
    resistetmords: (Zorg)

    [personal profile] resistetmords 2021-09-24 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
    [At the very least Belgium's going to help her get back up on her feet. That anger can't be good for her skin!]

    Don't fry, bake them!

    [Oh no, what was she saying?]

    And make sure you keep the grease...!
    Edited 2021-09-24 20:04 (UTC)
    reloves: (♀ we talked about the future)

    B

    [personal profile] reloves 2021-09-24 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
    Minako isn't sure what's going on at first. She's just trying to move the rubble here, but then she hears the sound of clashing, like there's fighting going on. It makes her turn her head away from all the rocks and debris and instead over towards Steph, gasping a little when she realises what exactly the other girl is dealing with at the moment.

    "Hold on!"

    It's not like she can just keep moving rocks and not help with that, after all. And while Minako still isn't too used to this place's magic, she's been trying to practice. At least enough to try and mimic her magic from back home, though it takes a moment to get there.

    But once that moment passes, Steph will find the cougar being blown off her by a beam of light, knocking the animal back and seeming to stun it for a moment.

    "There, now's our chance..!"
    chatwithdeath: YouTube: babygirl91580 (How peculiar)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-09-24 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
    Naomi herself doesn't do anything, but at Allura's call, Eve lets go.

    It doesn't take long for the skeleton to start trying to move again, Allura grabs its just in time before it can swing around. Down it goes, and once it's drained, it ceases movement. Naomi remains a distance to avoid accidentally drawn by the magic herself, but she doesn't think - since Allura's in contact with the skeleton - that it would be an issue.

    Only when Allura seems to be finished does Naomi approach, raising an eyebrow. The other woman had shuddered. "Are you alright?"
    chatwithdeath: Official Art (Consider the facts)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-09-24 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Good, it's still effective.]

    [Though, oh good, wordplay.]
    Less talking, more digging.

    [They have a way to go and some large boulders that need to be removed.]
    sapphirecontess: (013)

    [personal profile] sapphirecontess 2021-09-24 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
    Musse laughs, although it's oddly muted from how it might normally be.

    "Water Arts were my specialty, so I'm looking forward to being able to use my Magic in the same way.

    She looks over the candlelit streets, her expression a bit more pensive than she likely intends it to be.

    "We don't have things exactly like that, but we have many festivals, some with their own similarities. I've never seen this festival, but it feels familiar if that makes sense."
    sapphirecontess: (025)

    [personal profile] sapphirecontess 2021-09-24 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
    Hearing the knock and knowing who it must be, Musse jumps to her feet, perhaps a bit more enthusiastically than she may have intended.

    "I can get it!"

    She opens the door with a bit of a sly smile as she spots Robin.

    "My my, how unexpected to see you here~"
    feisticuffs: (068)

    B3

    [personal profile] feisticuffs 2021-09-24 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
    With every passing moment, the situation grows more and more severe. Jade now finds herself unable to ignore the tight feeling in her chest that's been mounting since their arrival; the further into the city they go, the more she feels they should have found a way to get here sooner, but there's no changing what's already been done— or not done.

    They'll save who they can. They have to.

    She swallows thickly, Allura's voice drawing her attention as she, too, scans the rubble for signs of life.

    "Coming!" She has to think about those they can save, rather than those they have already failed to help. Otherwise, she thinks her legs may cease working entirely. She's quick to join Allura where she stands, eyes searching the immediate area. "Which way?!"
    ichoosefight: (oh noes!)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-09-24 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
    "Our chance to what?" There's a hint of desperation in her voice as she throws out a hand, causing a cage of light to materialize around the animal. She doesn't know what else to do. They don't have cougars in Gotham. She doesn't want to kill an animal unless she has absolutely no other choice, and she definitely doesn't want to kill it with a blunt weapon.

    She turns to Minako, hoping the girl has another plan in mind.

    "I don't-- I can't--" She doesn't even want to say it out loud.
    ichoosefight: (oh ugh)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-09-24 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
    Steph huffs, then wraps her arms around the man's middle and drags him upright. She can only hold onto him with one arm, but she uses the other to help keep her balance as she wedges a foot in a crack in the slope a foot up from her current position.
    grimaoire: (113)

    [personal profile] grimaoire 2021-09-24 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
    "It does."

    There's that nagging feeling again, growing stronger as Musse chuckles lightly. Robin shouldn't make assumptions, but something about this feels off, and as the other girl looks out toward the candlelit streets, her own expression dim in comparison, she can only assume that Musse's mind is elsewhere. And given what the tactician knows about her world and its obligations, ad the weight it likely places squarely on her shoulders, is it really her place to pry? She should probably give her some space.

    ...But she can't do that. "Care to walk with me?" She may be completely off base, but if there is something bothering her, it's probably best to find somewhere quiet to talk.
    Edited 2021-09-24 21:01 (UTC)
    peninhand: (gab 001)

    [personal profile] peninhand 2021-09-24 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
    Monika eyed the sword when she spoke, then rested her eyes back on her. She didn't think anything she'd say would help her, not right away at any rate. But it didn't feel right to remain silent and leave, either.

    "That doesn't mean it's not your best. A man who lost his arm... He may never fight as well as he once did, but does that mean he is no longer doing his best?"

    She hoped that was a good analogy. It was easier to picture with a physical limb, rather than with abstract things such as the soul, magic and the likes. If you lost an arm, your best was obviously going to be less in battle than it had once been, but... It's still your best. You still gave it your all.

    "What you've lost isn't a limb. But it's as important to you... You need to tailor your new best around that phantom pain."
    tantailizing: Final Fantasy IX (What's this?)

    [personal profile] tantailizing 2021-09-24 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
    "Oookay... if you're sure. Mind if I watch you work?"

    He wanted to see him work, and also make sure his skills did work on geese.
    sapphirecontess: (059)

    [personal profile] sapphirecontess 2021-09-24 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
    There's a brief pause before Musse smiles, and more genuinely this time.

    "I'd like that."
    crimsongirl: (tired smile; wink)

    [personal profile] crimsongirl 2021-09-24 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
    Oddly enough, it was probably the best analogy she could have given, forcing Homura to think. Right, she had made it a point to master these abilities, and improve her body. And even if she did lose an arm, while she would grieve, she'd like to think that maybe there'd be a way to keep improving herself and go beyond. Just...this world made it feel like such a long journey compared to back home.

    Even if her mood hadn't recovered, she was at least able to look at Monika with a tired smile. For as bad as her mood was, she was glad to at least see someone who cared. "Sure you were just in a romance visual novel? You kinda knew what just to say."
    bakudan_bambino: (orange)

    Gokudera Hayato | Katekyo Hitman Reborn! | Closed to Walter

    [personal profile] bakudan_bambino 2021-09-24 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Gokudera had never been to or through the Forest of the Fisher King. He's pretty sure he'd been occupied with something else, or time-traveling, locked away and gone to a different world. He knows of this place, though, and has heard of the Archivist.

    He traveled on the back of his familiar on the sea, pulled upon the beach, and is wandering the outskirts of the forest, tempted to walk through them. He honestly has no idea where or how to find the Archivist's home. He sends a message out and adjusts the bag on his back.

    It's not dark out, yet. The travel had taken time, certainly, but he hopes that his travel companion has faired well considering the terrain would likely be less forgiving.

    He sends out a text:]


    I'm by the water, Southeastern edge of the forest. Are we going through? I'm heading around. You should see me coming from the South.

    [The only good thing about everyone being so preoccupied in Lestari, Celliwig, and Camelot means that he didn't have to worry about anyone trying to stop him from this journey.]
    amakakeru: (it may brighten)

    [personal profile] amakakeru 2021-09-24 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ 1. What’s Good For The Goose ]

    [ Geese. There are geese everywhere. He only has a vague idea of what’s going on -- regardless of the reason, he would like these animals to kindly stop stealing his hat. Thankfully, he’s used to dealing with … difficult individuals, so he has more patience than most for goose mischief. ]

    Hey, stop that. [ He snatches his hat back and sets it firmly back on his head. ] Why don’t you go bother someone else for awhile? Surely I’m not that interesting.

    [ The goose stares at him and, for a moment, he swears he hears it say "I want your hat." This place must be getting to him. He turns and walks away, but the goose continues to follow him.

    "Get back here!"

    Okay, he definitely heard that. Ryouma stops and whips around, suddenly scooping the goose off the ground. It’s understandably upset, honking and squirming.

    "Put me down, jackass!" ]


    Hey, did you hear that? Is this goose talking?

    [ Everyone is going to think he’s insane. ]


    [ 2. Consequences ]

    [ Being in Lestari was difficult for him. He’d been here less than a month and seen such destruction already...It weighs on his conscience more heavily than he’d like to admit. Returning to Camelot to see all of the displaced people whose homes had been destroyed certainly isn’t helping things.

    He’d done all he could and it still doesn’t feel like he did enough -- it never did. These feelings are quickly internalized so he can manage himself. For now, he keeps his head low. He looks about as much of a mess as he feels, his normally pristine white suit stained with dust and ash; he hadn’t bothered to clean himself up after making the trip back. The idea of going to a room provided to him while others had their homes destroyed just doesn’t sit right with him at the moment. He doesn’t have much in the resources and spending what little he has on a distraction doesn’t seem like the best idea, but...

    Sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind. A drink, or maybe some company...The idea of choosing is just too much right now, so he just ends up standing in the middle of the path, lost in his own thoughts. Of course that means someone’s going to run into him and he reflexively apologizes. ]


    Ah, sorry about that. Seems like I need to get my head on right...Are you alright?


    [ 3. Wildcard ]

    [ Got an idea? Did we plot something out? Drop me a starter or PM me here or on discord glitzkrieg#0673 and we can work something out! ]
    colchismagecraft: (Raised hand)

    Caster | Fate/Stay Night (UBW)

    [personal profile] colchismagecraft 2021-09-24 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
    A) Untitled Fall Game: Preserving Herbs
    Things had settled down for Caster as the month began to draw to a close- she was no longer her embarrassing younger self, and she’d finally caught up on her sleep after making peace with Hypnos.

    So now, she’d taken the chance to study a more peaceful ritual- and one that would be useful for preserving her potion ingredients as well! For the time being, she’ll turn to whoever else is working on a jar of their own.

    "Hm, so if I’m right, we just pour our magic into the bell jars?"


    B) Triage: Summoning Assassin
    Caster had begun the ritual in earnest- she wasn’t sure what she expected her Spirit Guardian to look like, even if she had eventually recognised that tattoo for what it really was. Typical, for one who hadn’t let go of the idea they were out the War.

    But it was only when it came to the summoning that she realised how accurate that assessment was. After all, who else would it be, who would answer her summons?

    "Use my life to strengthen yours... Return to me, Assassin!"

    And with that, a Shadowy figure who resembled a samurai manifested at her side.


    C1) Aftermath: Stone Giant Failure
    Despite calling on the Spirit Guardian, and despite even calling on her familiar fusion when things started to look dire, it still wasn’t enough. The stone giant’s power was- it was too much.

    Even someone like her grew quiet as she saw the spirits consumed by the Stone Giant. Not too unlike the way she devoured Spirits in the past for her own power. A haunting sight, seeing it happen from the outside, and her skeletal wings folded tight against her back.

    "...So it’s using those spirits to fuel it’s power, just like I-"


    C2) Aftermath: Thoughts on Celliwig (tw Caster’s sadism)
    By the time she’d had the chance to recover from the exhaustion caused by her familiar fusion, the news reached Caster of what had become of Celliwig.

    ...And Caster couldn’t help but laugh. A pure, cruel, sadistic laugh.

    "Ha... you mean to tell me that Celliwig was burned to the ground by that dragon?" Her face twisted into a nasty smirk as spite continued to pour out. “So, they finally got what they deserved... hahahahaha! Hahaha! That’s what they get for their wretched trials, and their petty attempts to humiliate me!"

    To say that she was delighted would be an understatement. It certainly helped ease the sting of their own loss.


    [ooc: Feel free to hit up my plotting post or ping me on Discord ArchangelAmy#4540 if you want to plan anything specific!]
    grimaoire: (092)

    [personal profile] grimaoire 2021-09-24 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
    Seeing her smile like that makes Robin feel a little more confident with her decision, as she begins to lead them away from the square and the crowds gathering there. Following one of the luminated paths, heading toward a quiet side street, she stays silent for a moment, giving Musse some space to breathe.

    When she does decide to break the silence, she does so gingerly, looking up toward the starry sky. "Are you all right? Something seems to be troubling you." She pauses, before adding; "You don't need to tell me what it is, if there is anything bothering you. We can just walk and talk, if you would like."
    amakakeru: (anyway)

    [personal profile] amakakeru 2021-09-24 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
    "I'm afraid I'm still learning as far as healing goes, so I'll let you take the lead on that."

    Digging and digging...If she said there were survivors, he'd make damn sure they found them before it was too late. The looming threat of attacked weighed on him; splitting his attention was not what he wanted to do right now.

    "I can at least keep you safe while you do your work."
    sapphirecontess: (029)

    [personal profile] sapphirecontess 2021-09-24 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
    "Thank you for asking. I'm fine, really. A bit homesick, maybe..." she trails off a bit as she makes a game attempt at smiling and comes up short.

    "I'm perhaps not dealing as well with the circumstances as I had hoped. I had things to do at home, vitally important things and to leave them hanging like this is difficult."
    crimsongirl: (shouting)

    C2

    [personal profile] crimsongirl 2021-09-24 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
    They had lost and she could hardly do much. Even after the familiar fusion, she was tired as all hell. Just wanted to get some more sleep without dragging down the team. And then, just as they finally returned, the news hit like a truck.

    All the destruction held in the report just reminded her of seeing Hebijo burn to the ground. Though her team left with a smile, it still hurt seeing a home she knew of and was thankful for, just suddenly vanish. It was of course mitigated when it was rebuilt as if nothing happened in mere months, but she could only imagine how others felt at this tragedy.

    Then her mom seemed to sap all the remaining good vibes Homura ever had about coming here. Enraged, she held up her hand, a sphere of water forming. In the next second, she hurled it at the back of Caster's head, and was not gentle either. Mother or not, that wasn't cool to do.

    "Read the fucking room and knock it off!"
    Edited 2021-09-24 23:30 (UTC)