isleofavalon | EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot

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EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot

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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.

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[as far as she's concerned, her affiliation with rabbits begins and ends with that stupid Sir Floppykins or whatever the hell its name was back in the springtime...but Cecelia has a feeling were she to make such a bold claim aloud, Avalon would, in some way, conspire to prove her wrong.

such is the fickle way with magic.

so she drops it, letting a more comfortable silence settle in to accompany them with their work. this seems to be a thing between them, isn't it? just indeterminate amounts of time quietly and dutifully seeing to a task. that's actually quite rare to find here, considering how hectic Avalon can be and how impatient most mortals are; it's rare to find someone who can match pace and not have it dissolve into impatience or boredom.

egads, it's almost...nice? another thing she'll dare not vocalize for fear of some unexpected consequence.

eventually:] Your independent study...has it borne any fruit?

[Hijikata was torn between silently mourning his pack of smokes and recovering from the surge of mana his unnecessarily big and flashy attack sapped him of, but Caster's remark riles him right back up.]

Who the hell said that I'm giving you one?! On what grounds would you deserve that after siccing them on me?!

[He turns towards her ~~as a new battle theme picks up in the background~~, sword still in hand and sparks crackling in the other. Is he really going to battle her over three roasted geese? In public? Believe it!]

It doesn't stay quiet that long.

[She's not the only examiner typically. And there are days where the phone rings more or someone decides to join her... and she wishes they wouldn't...]

Not really. In most cases, the deceased aren't secretive of who killed them. What can be frustrating is when they want to argue the cause of death.

Good. I expect there's a lot to salvage from here.

[He doesn't know how much or how useful it's going to be but if he can find something, that might be enough. There's more wreckage here than there was with the Crest.]

Let's get started.

Right. And if there's anything worth finding, my nose will sniff it out.

[Be it supplies or survivors.]

Right.

Well, yes. Not every Rider is good on horseback -- I am, though. [ He laughs. ] I was really good back home. I'll probably manage fine, even if the horses are a little...taller than what I'm used to.

[ The horses native to Tosa were considerably smaller than the ones around here, but it's fine. Compared to what he normally rode, a horse is easy. ]

It'll be awhile before I can afford one, I'm sure.

[ He notices, of course, and gently places a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. ]

You've got nothing to worry about. No one will pay you any mind. There's probably no one here this time of day -- can't say this place is too popular.

[ Which could be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. ]

If anyone does give you a hard time, I'll get them to leave you alone, alright?

And "really early on," I thought that if the fate of the universe rested on the shoulders of these humans, then our cause was truly hopeless. If I had listened to those sorts of doubts, so many worlds would still be suffering under the rule of the Galra. I likely wouldn't have escaped them, either...

Everyone has their failures, sooner or later. Greatness isn't found by avoiding it — but by whether or not you have the will to continue on after.

Maybe I don't...

[He's so tired and it's clear in his voice. Everything that's happened has been such a drastic blow to what little faith in himself that he had...and the fact that he's run himself into the ground isn't helping.]

[He stops eating the jerky as it's grown tasteless in his mouth. He'd a disappointment. Now even his girlfriend knows it.]

[She could never forget about Claude's dream, not if she lives to be a hundred thousand years old. And he's right, of course - there have been plenty of humans who have made terrible mistakes and caused countless tragedies. Still...

She finds herself unable to laugh with him, because she can guess who he's talking about, and that is an entirely different conversation altogether.

Her voice turns sad and wistful.]

Seiros was kind and gentle once, as well. Once, my father smiled often and did not look at me with such desperation in his eyes. All that they have done, all these many years, has been an attempt to heal wounds that refuse to close, no matter how much time passes. I believe our final defeat of Nemesis and the Agarthan menace may have helped them a bit, but...even I sometimes yearn terribly for those I shall never see again.

[She finds a small smile, then, for him.]

But perhaps it is as you say. They spent centuries with only each other to turn to. I fear they may have forgotten what it was like to reach beyond what they had known for so long. They have lived so very much longer than I have, and lost so much. Someday, I too may grow weary of losing friends and loved ones to the passing ages, and perhaps then I shall think differently on things.

[She has never quite thought about it in these terms before, but maybe one reason she longs so much for love is that she never wants to end up like Seiros and Father.]

But that day is not today. And I am so very grateful to have you here, Claude, to pull me back from that path of sorrow.

[Byleth's movement out of the corner of her eye prompts Flayn to look up at her, if cautiously. She listens, and the tension slowly drains out of her shoulders.]

Ah...your understanding means so very much to me. I am grateful, truly, and it gladdens me to know that perhaps, someday, you and my father may come to understand each other as well.

Still, I feel...such shame, and such horror, at the part I have played in so terrible a catastrophe. I fear that my lapse in judgment may have been only the beginning of a path that will lead me to the same monstrous excesses as Seiros. Is it truly such a leap from...from what I have done, to the deeds she performed in the name of avenging those long gone?

"You...you wish to talk, with me?" Flayn takes a breath and nods. "Very well."

She moves closer to sit nearby to Edelgard, but not too near - not near enough to be presumptuous about where they may stand with each other. She gazes into the fire and remembers the swaths of burning buildings, the smell of burnt flesh and char, the haze of the smoke.

She tries to shake herself out of that firmly, and only partially succeeds.

"I am ready to listen."

... Come here. [ she says that at last, reaching out to pull flayn into a hug. ]

There is a world of difference. And... even if there weren't, you are not alone. You care far, far more for others than she did, you... [ byleth's quiet for a long moment. ] I truly don't believe you're anything like her. But if you're afraid, then... I and the others will be here. That distance, that separation from others... it isn't just the Nabateans. It can happen to anyone. And connection can stop it.

[There's plenty of time for Zidane's guardian to reap souls and he even has enough time to leap onto the Giant and begin peeling away a few himself. Where they go and how he can, Zidane isn't asking questions right now, but he'll assume they're going where he knows best: to the crystal tattoo on his back. Meanwhile, Moguo is attempting to buy some time, putting on pressure to stagger the Giant a little bit longer.]

I don't know how many times we can do that, but we can keep using it for now!

Flayn... [His expression softens, and if she'll let him, he'll pull her into a gentle hug.]

No matter what happens, don't ever forget how much I care for you. Whatever dark place you find yourself in, I'll always shine a light on it for you. If you're ever all alone again, I'd come and find you.

[Then he pulls back just enough to regard her expression with a smile.]

I may not be able to predict what the future ultimately has in store for any of us. But I know I'd do all I could to save you from a fate like hers.

"No, no, I got this." Hands out a little for balance, he managed to stand up. "How about we go sleep together?"

It's not much of a joke, considering the state both of them are in.

Such a poor joke that it goes over Steph's tired head. She nods briefly, stopping when she realizes it's making her dizzy. Was she this tired half an hour ago?

"Sounds good."

[Hah! The stranger's ploy worked. Barbara doesn't doubt that the goose is still dangerous equipped with a bell, but it is slightly less likely to draw blood from the unwary citizens now. They have Belled the Goose.]

Need get to farm.

[hmmm. how to tempt goose to follow...

She hisses at it again, making half a lunge forward. The goose, challenged, lunges forward itself as Barbara backpedals quickly.]

[ Venting a soft 'argh' at having to haul his tired bones up, he scrambles forward and makes a grab for the pouch. This time he's successful, snatching it out of the waving beak and quickly cinching the mouth of it shut. ]

I have it. Let it go!

[She allows the hug, and wraps her arms around him in turn. It is so very nice and warm, here in Claude's arms...

Her eyes widen slowly as he speaks. What is he saying? He...he cares for her? Yes, of course, he cares for all of their companions, but...if Claude would truly always bring light to the darkness, then perhaps she wouldn't be so afraid of sleeping. If he would truly find her whenever she felt alone - well, he's here, isn't he? He came to find her, just as he said, and he chased away the fearful shadows in her heart. He reminded her how to be her best self.

If only she could hold onto him for longer than this.

When he pulls back, she looks up at him with a kind of bewildered wonder, and beneath it, a subtle yearning.]

Claude, I...you cannot know how much of a comfort it is to hear you say these things, and how much it means to me that you care for me so. But I...I must ask, because...

[Her face flushes pink.]

Well, what does it all mean? What am I to you, Claude? I...I do not wish to misunderstand.

Edelgard glances towards Flayn as she sits, farther away than she'd expected. She's starting to have an inkling as to what might be going through the other woman's head, and why she and Ferdinand ran off into the woods.

She doesn't move closer, but the wolf does, rising up with a huff and then padding over to where Flayn sits, sitting down on her haunches and watching her with an air of...expectation.

"Her favourite area is around her neck." Edelgard offers with a small smile. "And behind her ears." Shaggydog huffs again. "And while you're working on that, perhaps you can explain your reasoning behind all this." That it's a response to the dragon is obvious, but this seems an extreme reaction. "People are worried about you, Flayn. Myself included." She looks back at the fire, and warms her hands. "I know Marianne is worried as well."

The Edmund heir had caught Flayn's attention by her own admission, and it did seem as though they had spent more time together of late. It's not meant as a low or cheap blow, but simply to illustrate that there are connections, people that matter to her.

For a moment, Edelgard doesn't say anything. She's invested more time in her blood magic, but even her field is reaching its limits. She strains to push it just a few feet further in every direction, gritting her teeth and...

She find something. Instantly, the field constricts, honing in on the concentration of blood she picks up, like red strings extending from her fingertips, snaking through rubble to attach to the source.

Weak pulse. Blood spilled around suggests open wounds, significant injuries. Alive, but weak, growing weaker by the second. Edelgard's eyes open. "There." She points down the street and begins to take off. "Two hundred metres, fading fast. They've lost a lot of blood. Come on!"

Didn't I say that you ought to be more fair to yourself?

[She's now assembling the base for the campfire. It doesn't come together easily, since she's gathered a lot of odd pieces, whatever was left by the dragon's breath. But eventually it does come together. Now, she just needs some way to light it.]

You don't have to be ready immediately, you know. Give yourself a chance to rest and recover your strength, and you might change your mind.

I'm not trying to push you, you know. All I wanted was to motivate you before this consumed you too far.

I know what you're trying to do. I know you're not being...malicious or...or demanding.

I know you're not trying to force me or groom me into something else. But...you have to understand, Allura...

I've spent the last two decades of my life not only believing myself to be some sort of...mistake or monster. But being told by those around me I was too cursed to be loved. I lost...everything...to forces I could not control. And my crime? My only crime? Was being born.

My mother died giving birth to my brother and me. My father and brother died when angels tried to literally murder me as a child because they found out what I was and couldn't be suffered to live. My home? Burned to the ground around me. For at least a year, no one wanted me. They were afraid they'd meet the same end as my family. Kids would tell me that I didn't have a mom because of me. As an adult, people would hide their children or put their hands on their weapons when they saw me walk down the street.

It didn't matter how good I was. It didn't matter how much I tried to help or offered to do the right thing. I was a deceiver. I was compensating. I was doing everything and anything but trying to be a genuinely good person in their minds. How many times had I helped someone, only to overhear someone approach them after and tell them to 'watch out for that one, he hides his wickedness behind good deeds.'

Even here, I became a monster and hurt innocent people. And now, when I tried to do the right thing, to save who I thought I had the power to save, there's just...this. Ash and destruction.

This...This isn't just some...one time set back. This isn't just one thing. This is a lifetime of being told I would do nothing but bring pain and suffering to everything and everyone around me.

I'm tired...

Edited 2021-10-16 10:15 (UTC)

With renewed energy and without a single word, Darin springs to life, using strength buffs to hasten his strides much like how he'd escaped Edelgard previously.

Once he's a little closer, he picks up the pulse himself, skidding to a stop and frantically tearing trough rubble with enhanced strength. He hoists and pitches large sections of toppled building, sending them aside with crashes as he seeks to uncover the body. Any body. The pulse is weakening, but with the rubble being moved, the sense is sharper now.

"Come on...come on...! Where are you, dammit...!"

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EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot

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