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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.
    chatwithdeath: Official Art (Consider the facts)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-04 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
    Mmm, in a world without superheroes? Not really.

    [Waiting for him to scatter the first one, she looks in his direction.]

    If you wouldn't mind? I can't command them to remain still forever.
    chatwithdeath: YouTube: babygirl91580 (What to do?)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-04 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
    The father accepted the help without hesitation, grimacing only slightly on the descent. Whether from his aching chest, or just having the ground rattle and shift that he's wary about falling, it's uncertain.

    "R-Right..."

    By the time they would reach even ground, Naomi had flagged down further help: one person to help transport the son while he rested, and a second hurried over to help the father move to a safer location.

    "Thank you," the father says, nodding to Ryouma.
    ichoosefight: (okay concussion let's make some noise)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-10-04 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
    You'd think the lack of resources and overall atmosphere of doom would discourage baby-making, but alas, that is not the way of things. She sighs, starting to get too tired to think straight.

    "We should have been, Claire. It's the end of the fricken' multiverse. We should have been ready."
    absentconstellation: (squint)

    [personal profile] absentconstellation 2021-10-05 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
    "A cat has ways of managing," he assures her, "magic or no." In fact, he could use a nap between spurts of big magic like this. Perhaps with practice it will become easier. A strange feeling for someone who's been alive 7 billion years.
    wherethewindtakesme: (Default)

    [personal profile] wherethewindtakesme 2021-10-05 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
    You wouldn't happen to need any help at all, would you? I know a few things but just basic first aid, really.
    beaumains: art by taitaip (nightmares but we're still marching)

    [personal profile] beaumains 2021-10-05 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
    ... I've been through this before, seeing places, people's homes, destroyed. The aftermath of great and terrible things. My King tried as they might, but we were in times of war... Britain was under constant threat of invasion by foreign powers, and even my service under my King was part of a shaky alliance with my father...

    But... nothing really makes it less impactful, when you see the results of war, whether it's against man of monster...
    fujimaru: (22)

    [personal profile] fujimaru 2021-10-05 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
    I don't think that's how it works...

    [ On the other hand, maybe it does? Even back home, some of the most unexpected Servants had healing abilities. Just because Beowulf has never displayed them before doesn't mean that this place might not have had a sense of humor about things.

    She points at his ribs, though she doesn't actually make contact; she might be willing to play this joke out, but she's not going to do something that might aggravate injuries he's downplaying. ]


    Do I gotta make you promise me to take it easy?
    friendsallover: (Default)

    [personal profile] friendsallover 2021-10-05 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
    No kidding. And it's not really a crater you can walk away from.

    [Not like the Razor Crest. But then, he had a more important matter to attend to.]
    feralhumanity: (Is it impossible for us to carry on?)

    [personal profile] feralhumanity 2021-10-05 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
    No, it is not.

    [So much work would need to be done, by both those native to the world and the Otherworlders.]

    Are you... going to be okay?
    feralhumanity: (You could use a nose like mine)

    [personal profile] feralhumanity 2021-10-05 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
    "Hmm. Sometimes, that is necessary. Sometimes, one needs to close off their emotions to do what's needed." It was like when he hunted; he knew he was taking a life, but he also knew he needed to eat. Maybe it was because he wasn't human, but he just saw things differently sometimes.

    "But, so long as you still have your heart, that's not always a bad thing. Not all doctors work with their heart."
    flapsin: (sheepish)

    [personal profile] flapsin 2021-10-05 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
    O-oh right! Sorry, I didn't realize it was my cue!

    [He wasn't completely sure if that's what she was going for at first, but now he gets it! With that, he uses some more light blasts to shatter and scatter those frozen skeletons.]

    Sorry guys, but we need some time apart!
    cameprepared: <user name=letmelive> (Unsure)

    [personal profile] cameprepared 2021-10-05 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
    Claire jerks her head up at that, giving it a negative shake and gesturing off somewhere to the north. There's no heat in her reply, though she certainly feels strongly about it.

    "Steph, I don't think anyone can ever really be ready for the end of the fucking world. It's a scale that's so far beyond anything I've ever even imagined that I don't know if I even fully comprehend it."

    Her shoulders sag and she leans back against a barrel.

    "I'm just a dumbass that managed to survive a single night in a zombie infested hellhole. I don't even know how to begin preparing to fight a goddamn dragon."
    chatwithdeath: (So that's it...)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-05 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
    It's fine now. The most recent incident that came up was consequence of those being branded for the equinox, but they've since healed.
    chatwithdeath: (Just another corpse.)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-05 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
    "Hm... You may have a point. Though, there are some doctors who could work less with their heart."

    And maybe take a break because he got an infection in his heart, but that's neither here nor there. "... Are you ready to try moving again?" Since their talk was a good time to rest for a moment.
    patchricide: (285)

    [personal profile] patchricide 2021-10-05 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
    [It does, and it answers one question, at least.]

    And no one had brought word? ... I suppose the site of Lestari was further removed from the other two... but you had nothing to fear. We were able to save many people and recover quite a lot, without being overwhelmed by the monsters there.

    [And there's something there to be hopeful about. Because even if they've lost two major battles, they've proven that they can keep moving forward and rebuild in the wake of defeat. But she keeps that thought to herself, since he likely won't see it the same way — more a thought to placate the sting of defeat, if anything.]

    Honestly, based on our own results, I had hoped that the other teams would fare better. That if nothing else, one team would retreat and support the efforts of the other. When I found out what happened, I was shocked...
    resistetmords: (Few will fight for all)

    [personal profile] resistetmords 2021-10-05 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
    Oh yes, I remember some of that time.... [Though most of it was vague now, more like a fleeting dream for her and much of it was focused elsewhere rather than what was going on at England's house. But she listens all the same, that's really all she can do for the moment.

    At least it was something, she figured.]


    Mm, you can be used to somethings, but that doesn't make any of it less hurtful. [She gives a sigh.] Is there anything you'd like to talk about?
    forgeabettertomorrow: (my story is long)

    [personal profile] forgeabettertomorrow 2021-10-05 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
    [Darin doesn't really say much to that. He just kinda...sits there.]

    [Like he has a guilty conscience.]

    [Finally, he mutters.]


    No cohesive defense. Multiple agendas.
    patchricide: (183)

    [personal profile] patchricide 2021-10-05 08:05 am (UTC)(link)
    [There's a strange sort of sigh from Allura, the kind that's slow and drawn out. It expresses disappointment, but not in the people involved, not in her expectations not being met — but in a familiarity with this sort of situation, that had fed the more cynical expectations that she would rather starve out.]

    ... it was an emergency. None of this was organized the way it should have been. Honestly, splitting the forces down to a third, and then sending them to take on their enemies head-on, it was...

    [Not his fault.]

    [Not anyone's fault.]

    [But nonetheless, it was a mistake.]
    forgeabettertomorrow: (Face tomorrow)

    [personal profile] forgeabettertomorrow 2021-10-05 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
    Split into fourths.

    ...Not everyone was trying to kill the dragon.
    patchricide: (86)

    [personal profile] patchricide 2021-10-05 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
    That's just it, though: No one's objective should have been to kill the dragon. The main goal should have only been to save Celliwig — to stop the dragon!

    I heard the plans to reason with the dragon, and that would have accomplished the same without requiring nearly as much force. So would have trapping the dragon, luring it away, finding a way to repel its attack...

    [She looks over at him, to see if he understands what she's getting at.]
    forgeabettertomorrow: (Don't fail me now beautiful wings)

    [personal profile] forgeabettertomorrow 2021-10-05 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
    Mn...

    [He merely nods. He's not looking at her. More looking at the smouldering ruins that splay out before them.]

    [He wants to say more, how there's a snooty, warmongering Empress out there who would argue for stupid, contrived reasons, but he doesn't feel like getting into that at the moment.]

    [So, he just says nothing...but the grim, mirthless look on his face says more than he likely would want.]
    patchricide: (237)

    [personal profile] patchricide 2021-10-05 08:34 am (UTC)(link)
    [She understands it in an instance.] ... hearing it never helps, does it?

    [So instead, she looks out the same way he's looking, letting their lines of sight cross and meet somewhere in what was once Celliwig.]

    So, then... may I ask what you've gotten done for them? ['Them'. The countless ones surrounding them, silent and unknown.]
    forgeabettertomorrow: (But what does 'being anime' even mean?)

    [personal profile] forgeabettertomorrow 2021-10-05 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
    ...There's nothing I can do that can make up for what I had a hand in taking from them...
    notquitetamed: (Monstrum form 045)

    [personal profile] notquitetamed 2021-10-05 10:07 am (UTC)(link)
    Don't bother. You won't understand. No one ever does.

    [How could he even explain it? No one seems to get that failing doesn't make him worthless. He already was worthless. What was taken away was his chance to give his life meaning because the only way he seems to be able to do so is to find a worthy opponent to die to. This was even better because in the process he could have saved many innocents rather than being responsible for the deaths of yet more innocents.]

    Why don't you go save people who actually need and want it and leave me alone?
    sighsheavily: (pic#14667795)

    [personal profile] sighsheavily 2021-10-05 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
    [now that the initial alarm has subsided, Cecelia quirks an eyebrow and peers sidelong Geddoe's way.]

    Familiars are tied to things related to ourselves in broader or more detailed ways...what does it say that you've found yourself with one you find so distasteful?