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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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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.
    mayoninofukucho: (Again?)

    [personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2021-10-18 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
    Unbelievable. Even death doesn't stop people from being morons!

    [He's being harsh, but really?! Luckily he usually doesn't work with the newly dead (never mind that that's about to change for a bit).]

    You've got to have the patience of a saint!
    mayoninofukucho: (Idle)

    [personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2021-10-18 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
    I didn't know that, but it makes sense. I mean, if those curses and hexes were put up by people who lived hundreds or thousands of years ago it's like trying to decipher an older language form, right?

    [He sets another finished totem aside and starts the next one. It's odd how practiced he has gotten at this in a short time, but ultimately they're less finicky than certain other spell items.]

    Then again most of the books I used for reference are pretty old too, but regional differences probably play a role as well, both between the local cultures and those who've been coming in from outside across the ages.
    sighsheavily: (pic#14281459)

    [personal profile] sighsheavily 2021-10-18 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
    [with a faint, grim smile:] So therein lies some of the many facets of complication in navigating one's self through all of this successfully. To say nothing of how success may be so differently defined, depending on whose answer you seek!

    [even with a frozen-yet-imminent apocalypse looming, nothing is ever so clear-cut. that's just the irritating truth.]
    friendsallover: (Default)

    [personal profile] friendsallover 2021-10-18 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
    That's useful. Does it have a limit?

    [There's a part of him that wants to ask how it works, but he's been here long enough that the answer is likely magic. And therefore beyond him.
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13647111)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-10-18 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
    He nods and picks up the child, letting her know what he was doing before actually committing to the action.

    "You're being very brave." He says this to the little girl in his arms as he stood. Before he started walking though, he turned to the cat. "I haven't introduced myself. I am Li Min."
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13630871)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-10-18 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
    He stops at the order. Ah, truly, disasters do not travel alone.

    "If you need help, let me know." He crouches low, both for better balance and in case he had to leave the man temporarily for any reason.

    It isn't long before a creature lumbers out from the direction of the noise. It moves low to the ground, threatening. It lifts its head only to scent the air, as if searching for something.
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13647103)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-10-18 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
    If there is one, I have yet to find it.

    [He reaches out to pluck a gold coin and placed it inside the bag. Coins are good and so is gold!]

    Truly, magic can be awfully convenient.
    amakakeru: (i trip the merry-go-round)

    [personal profile] amakakeru 2021-10-18 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
    [ That's a problem for him in the future. For now, Ryouma just nods. ]

    I'm...sure I'll manage. I always did before. [ Through the power of sheer dumb luck and inexplicably perfect timing. ] I don't want to take up anymore of your time, but thank you again for helping me out and for the information, as well.

    [ He gives a polite bow. ]

    I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again. I owe you for this, after all.
    feralhumanity: (Humans only look at appearances)

    [personal profile] feralhumanity 2021-10-18 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
    [Nanaki follows after Din, sniffing at the ground as he carefully pads through the wreckage. His ears flick and he lets out a small snort as he does.]

    The scent of death is thick... be glad you do not have a nose as keen as mine.
    feralhumanity: (I'll tell you all that I know)

    [personal profile] feralhumanity 2021-10-18 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
    "Hmm... is there room for us to squeeze through? Or will only one of us be able to?"

    Nanaki could squeeze through a lot of spaces, but was it safe for them to go through? And should one of them remain outside here?
    chatwithdeath: (So that's it...)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-18 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
    "... It's not safe for my size, but she believes you have a chance of fitting through."

    Which might actually be fine. Kids wouldn't mind a dog... cat? Hm, seeing a creature like him come to their rescue.
    angel_of_death: (Busy)

    [personal profile] angel_of_death 2021-10-18 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
    No. Mostly it's your name and what you plan on doing there. The third question gets changed up, though.

    [Being all alone out here, he wouldn't be surprised if it turned out it was because the Archivist was bored.]
    angel_of_death: (Night patrol)

    [personal profile] angel_of_death 2021-10-18 08:21 am (UTC)(link)
    "Perhaps we can trade stories some other time." Just not now. What with cities collapsing and burning and all.

    Fortunately, their journey to the river does not take too long. Yet, they're still north of where they need to be; the bridge lies to the south.
    absentconstellation: (squint)

    [personal profile] absentconstellation 2021-10-18 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
    The Cat pads along, following to see that they both make it there without any additional trouble. Besides, he could use a rest after all that magic.

    He nods to acknowledge the introduction.

    "I have had many names. You may call me what you like."
    themogget: (020)

    [personal profile] themogget 2021-10-18 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
    True.

    [Mogget walks closer. He looks for all the world like nothing more than a cat, until he starts to speak.]

    But you can decide how you're going to 'cope'.

    [And hadn't he given this kind of advice before? The cat pauses in apparent thought, his body growing quite still. Then he makes a soft noise of dismissal and shakes his head.]

    Are you going to move forward, or let it consume you.
    ichoosefight: (how freakin' awkward is THIS?)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-10-18 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
    Steph curses under her breath. It just had to be another wild animal, didn't it? At least with weird monsters she can tell herself they're evil, not just creatures trying to survive the only way they know how.

    "It's a bobcat," she calls quietly back to Li Min, crouching a little lower. "It hasn't caught our scent yet, but it won't take long. Do you have anything more lethal than a staff?"

    The creature seems to have caught a sniff of something, but it hasn't looked their way yet.
    morganknight: (ladies)

    [personal profile] morganknight 2021-10-18 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
    He dropped down much like a cannonball plunking to earth, wasting no time in splaying himself out vigorously. "C'mere," he said, more as a warning than a suggestion as he started wiggling an arm underneath her to tug her on over.
    ichoosefight: (sleepy smile)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-10-18 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
    Steph is happy to make his job easier, rolling back into him and nestling in close. She sighs contentedly, already drifting off.

    "Thanks," she manages to murmur, "for being here."
    trueltning_fury: (weight of the world)

    [personal profile] trueltning_fury 2021-10-18 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
    [hmm, he can't argue that. Private magic advice is always welcome.]

    ...can there be a dialogue if it doesn't have a mouth?
    trueltning_fury: (plain talk)

    [personal profile] trueltning_fury 2021-10-18 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
    He barely catches it without dropping it, bobbling it a bit, and sighs hard. Right, might as well let her get it out of her system before he takes his own tactic. No sassback this time, Geddoe hefts it and gives it a fairly good lob.

    Out of the corner of his good eye he catches movement, and glances to see whether it's someone else coming to help. Unfortunately, it might not be, but animated skeletons are not something worth concerning himself with at a distance. After all, bones don't conduct electricity as nicely as stone and the giant is a much bigger problem at the moment.
    emet_sulk: (37 fond of them are you?)

    [personal profile] emet_sulk 2021-10-18 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Hmm, he starts to wonder whether the local butcher should carve up the goose for him or not. ]

    No. More likely they will simply kill you. But as you have yet to start gasping for breath or suffering other ill effects, I thank you for confirming some of its properties or lack thereof.
    Edited 2021-10-18 17:08 (UTC)
    feralhumanity: (A legacy to protect)

    [personal profile] feralhumanity 2021-10-18 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
    "Hmm... alright. I will go. Just tell me where it is."

    Nanaki nods, taking a few steps forward towards the rubble. Around the back, right..? Hmm...
    chatwithdeath: YouTube: babygirl91580 (What to do?)

    [personal profile] chatwithdeath 2021-10-18 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
    Why would it? Most worlds, we're lucky to not interact beyond death... it may complicate other legal matters.

    [Like, be very concerned about getting married then. Death would not do you part so easily.]

    Not really. It's more having the experience from dealing with those... unique clients, too many times before.
    sighsheavily: (pic#14667795)

    [personal profile] sighsheavily 2021-10-18 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
    Have you no acquaintance with conversations of other natures, sir? Meetings of the minds don't always need words. [a touch airy:] I'd have assumed such things already understood, given your years and your own, withdrawn disposition.
    bakudan_bambino: (question mark)

    [personal profile] bakudan_bambino 2021-10-18 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
    What's the third question like? Or if it's different for every person, what was your third question?

    [Gokudera doesn't mean to pry, but is trying to be prepared. Is it something super personal? Embarrassing? A secret?]