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

EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot


QUICK NAV: LOGS ⚔️️ NETWORK ⚔️️ MEMES ⚔️️ OOC ⚔️️ NAVIGATION

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.
    sighsheavily: (pic#14667795)

    [personal profile] sighsheavily 2021-10-05 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
    [right. the state of this woman's world...Cecelia recalls some of that discussion. certainly no good place for anyone, let alone a child left to their own devices.

    one of a handful of instances where a full-stop is indeed a relief, yes, but...]


    ...Incentive to not see much movement on the state of fixing things here, then?
    ichoosefight: (sore neck)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-10-05 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
    "Emotionally, maybe not. But I trained with Batman and Oracle. We can be ready for the next thing." There's calm determination in her voice, but her face shows only bitter exhaustion. She props her head on her knees, hands on her forehead.

    "Just... not tonight."
    beaumains: art by sonotamedakeno (you can't be what you were)

    [personal profile] beaumains 2021-10-05 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
    I'm not really sure what to talk about... it's all such a mess, and I have no idea how to fix any of it... if it can be fixed...

    [ She felt... powerless. And she hated it. It made her entire body ache, like her chest was being clutched by her own bones. ]
    reloves: (♀ threatened and cry)

    [personal profile] reloves 2021-10-05 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
    "That sounds about accurate," Minako says. Something in her tone indicates that she's got experience with that sort of thing, like a weird kind of fondness.

    She's been pretty good at suppressing the feeling before, but.. dang, she really misses Artemis at moments like these.

    "I'll move on then. I need to see if there's more people around I can help. Take care, alright? I'm sure we'll see each other again later."
    resistetmords: (We zijn allemaal in zicht.)

    [personal profile] resistetmords 2021-10-05 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
    [For a moment she listened, and a moment more she thought. Before scooting closer to the edge and gave Gareth a warm smile in return, followed by a hand reaching out to gently give her arm a light squeeze.]

    I dont know about fix. There seems to be a lot of talk on fixing. And while some things can be fixed, not everything can be.

    [She pauses for a moment.]

    But, well, the world hasn't stopped spinning. And people are still alive. Things might not be fixed, but that doesn't mean something newer and better can't be made. You can't win everything, some things aren't winnable and one person can't do everything. But you can keep going, and help others.

    [Goodness that was long winded. And she soon found herself breathing deeper.]
    dragongrrl: looking up fearfully (don't like this DON'T LIKE THIS)

    [personal profile] dragongrrl 2021-10-05 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
    [The dragon opens its mouth enough to bare its rows of teeth.]

    Pride? Foolish children! When you disturb the snowpack, does the avalanche fall out of pride?

    [Barbara strains to catch the conversation. It is like the speech of the wind drakes, but not--like someone from America encountering a deep Highlands accent for the first time.

    But even when she's able to parse the gist of the dragon's words, it... doesn't make sense. The metaphor, she understands, but not why.]


    What we do? Say how fix--we fix!
    chatwithdeath: (Quit fooling around...)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-05 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
    I thought it was obvious...

    [Honestly... Still, once the skeletons are destroyed and scattered, she feels her power release. There's still one more skeleton, but the attack at least stunned it temporarily.]
    amakakeru: (what they say)

    [personal profile] amakakeru 2021-10-06 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
    "It was nothing."

    He's grateful for the help, of course. There's still more work to be done, but he needed a moment to rest. He wouldn't do anyone any good if he overworked himself.

    Ryouma looked to Naomi with a tired smile.

    "Holding up alright?"
    trueltning_fury: (telling a long story)

    [personal profile] trueltning_fury 2021-10-06 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
    [oh sure she just had to go there...]

    I don't know. I've killed a lot of them, maybe it's haunting me on behalf of the spirits of its dead brethren?

    [it probably does say a lot beyond mere humorous irony, and the look on his face dares her to try to analyze him to figure out what that might be.

    All the while a purple furball floats around them, as if inspecting the new friend!
    ]
    flapsin: (whoop)

    [personal profile] flapsin 2021-10-06 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
    I'm not sure that extent of what your spells can do, so I wasn't completely sure, but hey... all's well that ends well!

    [He says that he rushes the last skeleton and makes a blast of light right within its ribs, sending its bones flying into different directions!]
    cameprepared: Unsure of Source (Chatting)

    [personal profile] cameprepared 2021-10-06 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
    [Claire's head jerks up, eyes slightly wide.]

    What? No, of course not!

    [She frowns a little, straightening up.]

    Last I knew, Sherry was safe on a train with me, leaving the disaster zone. But even if she wasn't, this needs to be fixed, regardless of the consequences back home. She's good at hiding, and she's immune to the virus, so the danger's pretty minimal.

    [She trusts in the vaccine. Given Sherry's Golgotha strain of the disease, and the insane things she'd seen other Golgotha-infused people do, it's hard to imagine that there's much of anything that can kill her.]
    cameprepared: <user name=axiometric> (Wary)

    [personal profile] cameprepared 2021-10-06 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
    "Definitely not tonight."

    Head down, Claire holds up the flask, offering Steph the last swallow if she wants it.

    "I don't wanna think about anything but bed for at least three days after tonight. Between this and the fucking zombies..."
    beaumains: art by savemenu (scream at me until my ears bleed)

    [personal profile] beaumains 2021-10-06 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
    Maybe... but it feels heavy, you know? [ She leaned back in the chair, eyes drifting upwards, as if to heaven above the tent's canvas. ]

    Like... if we couldn't save the people here, what business do we have trying to save our own worlds? I need to believe it's not that simple, but it's a hard thought to be unchained from, right now...
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13647120)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-10-06 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
    "I think I can carry him on my back. Tying him may give more support." He explains it as he settles the man so he was sitting up. "Once we make it back to the surface, we'll see where to go from there."
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13647120)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-10-06 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
    Kinetic magic.

    He waited for the whole to be opened. When it was large enough, he doesn't hesitate to step through.

    He's quick to spot the child, crouching down to pick her up in his arms, being careful about her arm. He tries not to linger because he knows, based on watching Gu Yun use a similar magic, that it requires energy to continue holding things up. Still, he whispered a soft reassurance to the crying child as he made his way back out.

    He nodded to the cat as he set her down on the ground, away from the opening. "Are there any others?" Even as he asks he's reaching out to see how bad the injury to her arm was.
    kiss_it_better: (pic#14073875)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-10-06 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
    Ah, my housemates would be upset at me if that happened.

    [He says it calmly, but there's also something soft in his eyes for a moment...before it disappears.

    Li Min has never allowed himself to not think of these things. Considering the worst case scenarios help you prepare for them, especially when the worst is still entirely possible.]


    Perhaps now isn't the time...but it may be good to do in case something similar happens in the future.
    resistetmords: (The border is closing in)

    [personal profile] resistetmords 2021-10-06 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
    It is, especially if you have thoughts that your actions, or inactions, caused something.

    [She keeps the hand on Gareth for a moment longer before moving to let go.]

    Those feelings are fine though; and normal. Just don't let 'em take over. And don't think you're alone in feeling those things, or that you can't do anything. No matter how small it is, or if things fall apart. [She should know what it was like to stand alone. To have everything seem to come to an end, even when it all seemed to be going well.]

    ...Things always work out in the end.
    Edited 2021-10-06 03:47 (UTC)
    chatwithdeath: (Calling)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-06 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
    Hm... it was Death Magic. However, it takes more magic to use it than healing does.

    [So hopefully, they wouldn't have anymore skeletons or find another way to deal with them.]
    flapsin: (weighing over)

    [personal profile] flapsin 2021-10-06 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
    Ah, so that's what it was. Good to know! [And it uses more magic, that's something to keep in mind! Now he knows he can't rely it on it so much during any future run-ins.]

    Do you need to take a breather, or - should we get back to it?
    omnicrafter: (peace in your mind)

    [personal profile] omnicrafter 2021-10-06 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
    Do you just enjoy watching people kill each other or what?

    [Not that he's wrong. With how tense things are, the fae will probably be more on edge than ever before. She grimaces.]

    So what happens with you in the meantime while people lick their wounds and try to pick up the pieces?
    omnicrafter: (is that your final answer?)

    [personal profile] omnicrafter 2021-10-06 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
    [Her mouth falls ajar briefly, but she closes it once he changes the topic. A little fishy how he dodges the concern, but... well... a task is a task. She scrutinizes the vial in a little more detail.]

    I didn't think that far ahead, actually. You can owe me a favor or something; it doesn't matter that much to me. Anyway... if the blood is tainted, do you need it cleansed? It looks like it's long congealed... or am I mistaken?
    omnicrafter: (you don't understand anything)

    [personal profile] omnicrafter 2021-10-06 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
    Irhya hisses, kicking the ground ineffectively. "I could've. I just..."

    Didn't do enough, probably. Her lips purse as she lets go of a tense sigh. "I can sort of mimic my original abilities, but they're not the same. If it broke through my shields, I can't dull my sense of pain anymore... so maybe it wouldn't have mattered. A solid punch to the gut and that would've been it."

    Incidentally, looking over Celliwig sparks a similar tightening in her gut. Before anything else, rubble needs to be cleared away and anything salvageable rescued from beneath it. But her tail twitches irritably behind her, as if she wants to take the large hunks of stone and wood and other miscellaneous objects and throw them at someone.

    "...Gods. Maybe it's just that I haven't been humbled like this in a damn long time, but it feels so unfair."
    patchricide: (181)

    [personal profile] patchricide 2021-10-06 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
    That is not what I asked. And besides...

    [She looks back to him, her eyes soft and sympathetic, but sad to see him hurting so acutely.]

    You had no hand in taking this from them. No matter what you think you should have done, what could have done differently — in the end, it was only the dragon who did this.
    flewfromthecage: (eternal gratitude)

    [personal profile] flewfromthecage 2021-10-06 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
    Oh...

    [She clears her throat. That's an awkward place to fall silent...]

    I only ask because I had a friend who commanded fearsome black magic, but he was the sweetest person one could ever hope to find. And he wore a pointy hat, which made some people think of that destructive power, and gave them cause to fear him. It was painful to have to watch...
    flewfromthecage: (even though I can't promise...)

    [personal profile] flewfromthecage 2021-10-06 06:45 am (UTC)(link)
    [Oh, that's-- that's definitely not good. It's funny, but it's not good. But she's caught somewhere between just doubling over laughing and going over to help. In the end, she swallows the laughter threatening to bubble up and puts her hands under the goose's wings, trying to pull it away without getting her fingers near the snapping beak.]

    That's enough, now! Let go!