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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.
    leicesters: (017)

    [personal profile] leicesters 2021-10-29 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Time truly has seemed to stand still in this moment, and he's not sure how long has passed when he feels Flayn's hand twined in his hair and he emerges to take a breath, tenderly cupping her cheek and smiling.]

    You're pretty into this, huh? [He whispers it with a quiet laugh, flippant as ever, as though he hadn't been the one to... you know, pin her up against a tree. But teasing aside, it's also his way of checking on her, to make sure he's not overwhelming her with too much too quickly, given how new she is to all this.]
    notcethleann: (romance)

    [personal profile] notcethleann 2021-10-29 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Her eyes blink open when he pulls back, and then she mirrors his laugh with a soft giggle of her own as she catches her breath, looking up at him through her lashes.]

    Claude, I have been anticipating this for such a very long time. If you believed I would be shy and retreating about physical intimacy, then I shall very much enjoy proving you wrong.
    leicesters: (094)

    [personal profile] leicesters 2021-10-29 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
    [He brushes his thumb across her cheek. Truthfully, it can be easy to forget just how old she is at times. At other times like this, it seems as though she contains multitudes.]

    True. Come to think of it, I don't think you've ever been shy with me at all. [He grins, thinking back to when she suggested outright they should get married until he changed the subject.] I admire that about you. You always know what you want.
    notcethleann: (the merciful)

    [personal profile] notcethleann 2021-10-29 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
    Nor with anyone. I see no reason to hesitate in reaching out to people when doing so is only doing me and them a disservice.

    [Her tone is matter-of-fact, as though this is a plainly obvious conclusion to draw.

    She smiles, pleased to hear his admiration spoken in such a way.]


    I am glad. And does it please you that in this case, what I want happens to be you?

    [Is she teasing or totally serious? You decide.]
    leicesters: (023)

    [personal profile] leicesters 2021-10-29 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
    Hmmm. I wonder? [Claude teases right back, capturing her mouth in another kiss, shifting one hand to lean against the tree. This kiss is brief, and when he draws back, there's a thoughtful expression on his face. Yes, he'd allowed himself to get swept up in the moment, but before they go further, he knows there's something he should be up front about.]

    Flayn... If I told you that I wanted you, but also someone else... Would you be okay with that?
    notcethleann: (how amusing)

    [personal profile] notcethleann 2021-10-29 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
    [She sighs into the kiss, a smile on her lips.

    The question, perhaps unexpectedly, makes her brighten.]


    Ah, you mean Lorenz! I had hoped that you might wish to pursue such an arrangement once again. Of course, I am perfectly all right with it. I confess that I harbor similar feelings for a few others, as well, and…ah, Marianne has expressed her interest in return.

    [The faintest bit of pink rises in her cheeks.]
    leicesters: (111)

    [personal profile] leicesters 2021-10-29 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Claude had been holding his breath for her response, so he's relieved that she isn't upset, and that she was even able to guess who he was alluding to. Of course, she'd met Blaze and Lizzie, but he had no idea if she'd be comfortable in a situation like that for herself.

    But more surprisingly...]


    Marianne? Really? [He grins, casting his mind back to her birthday.] I can see that. I'm glad for you both-- and I hope Marianne will be okay with us...?
    notcethleann: (satisfied)

    [personal profile] notcethleann 2021-10-30 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
    Thank you. I shall speak with her on the matter, of course, but I anticipate that she will understand and accept it. She is so compassionate, and she certainly thinks the world of you, as do we all.

    [The 'we' is, of course, the Golden Deer.]
    Edited 2021-10-30 19:08 (UTC)
    mayoninofukucho: (Satisfied)

    [personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2021-10-30 07:50 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Half-hearted of a support as it may be, Hijikata seems grateful (maybe because other people generally vocally shoot his investment in the matter down).]

    Yeah! Maybe I really just overlooked something... and if it turns out that no one has really bothered to research them until now - which would be scientific neglect, if you ask me -, then I'll become the first pioneer in the field.

    [Godspeed, Hijikata... for now, though, he's content to use up his totem ingredients working alongside Cecelia.]
    themogget: (031)

    [personal profile] themogget 2021-10-30 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
    Oh, I didn't dodge it, I just didn't answer it yet.

    [Because he's thinking about it, but since the man is going to be insistent about the matter...

    Mogget closes the rest of the distance between them and hops up onto the piece of debris Darin is sitting on. He sits down beside him, curling his tail around his front paws.
    ]

    I saw what you did.
    mayoninofukucho: (Smoke)

    [personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2021-10-30 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Hijikata really stepped up his game ever since he first shrieked and shuddered his way through Loch Manor - which isn't to say that he won't still get scared out of his mind if a ghost spooks him on purpose, but his sense of responsibility for the dead has increased significantly over the last months.]

    I feel unsure, to be honest. But they needed the extra volunteers, and I've got a decent enough pain tolerance, so I raised my hand for it. I don't want things to go south somehow because they didn't have enough spirit guardians... whatever those really are. I got the gist of it - that they guide the spirits to the afterlife -, but I've got no clue what they look like or how I'm supposed to get it out of my body.

    [Hopefully that won't involve any mortifying procedures like it probably would back home...]
    colchismagecraft: (Unimpressed)

    [personal profile] colchismagecraft 2021-10-31 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
    "The Forest of the Felled has always been like this- at least since I arrived. Full of spirits...." she trailed off, then, giving a raised eyebrow at the caterpillar eyebrowed man. "He sounds a strange individual."

    Caster knew she'd ruined people's lives with her actions- but Jason had ruined her's, originally. She'd been condemned as a Witch, so it was what they deserved for it.

    "Minamoto treated you well, I hope?"

    A glance around, and Caster gestured to some rocks nearby. She needed somewhere to sit down after a battle like that.
    cantgetanyworse: (051)

    [personal profile] cantgetanyworse 2021-10-31 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
    [She picks up her own glass and tries not to examine it too closely, then looks over to her companion with a weariness in her smile that matches his. Jane lifts her glass in turn and nods.]

    To surviving.

    [As far as she's concerned, it's worth a good deal.

    She swallows the vodka in one and coughs as it burns on the way down, making a face and shaking her head quickly.
    ]

    Wow. I'll have another.
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13647126)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-11-01 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
    "In these times, we should do our best to support each other, should we not?"

    His shoulders are broad and steady: a comfortable spot to rest on as he begins to walk towards the temporary shelter that had been set up.
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13647103)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-11-01 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
    I'm not sure how it differentiates between objects but I have yet to pull out the wrong thing.

    [Because Magic, he supposed was the reason for that.]
    kiss_it_better: (pic#13630883)

    [personal profile] kiss_it_better 2021-11-01 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
    Once she was back in the little tunnel he cast the magic over both of them. It wouldn't block the animal's sight but will keep them from being discoverable by smell or other senses. If they're lucky that would be enough.

    "As well as can be expected." He replies. Which, considering the situation, was the best anyone could hope for.

    There's the sound of footsteps on the rubble and Li Min, looks up. The space is narrow enough that shooting a bow would be tricky but he had more options than just that. He slid a small knife out but instead of pointing it outwards he pressed the blade lightly against his palm. Waiting.
    amakakeru: (it will come anyway)

    [personal profile] amakakeru 2021-11-01 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
    [ He'd intended to just sip is, but...bottoms up. One down, a shudder, and he makes a sign to make that two. ]

    Didn't think you'd just down it like that. [ A laugh. He's impressed, really! Jane is full of surprises and he likes that. His mind is a little more at ease already. Another round is placed in front of them and he toys with his shot glass for a moment. ] Do you mind telling me a little bit more about yourself? What did you do before you ended up here?
    morganknight: (grin)

    [personal profile] morganknight 2021-11-01 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
    Boy, they sure are a pair. Morgan shivered slightly, more from the exertion than any real sense of temperature, then huffed out a breath like if he could just get his breathing back on track, everything would fall into place.. "Hey, uh. Do you mind if I say something really stupid?"
    ichoosefight: (sneaky ninja stuff... in a dress)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-11-02 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
    "Never stopped you before."

    She eyes him critically. If she looks half as bad as he does, they're in real trouble.
    morganknight: (ha ha no)

    [personal profile] morganknight 2021-11-02 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
    Ironically...

    "You're gorgeous." Normally not one to hesitate at firing off a compliment, Morgan rubbed the back of his head a bit awkwardly. It was a strange compliment, after all... "Like, it isn't hard to be pretty when things are good and you're athletic and cute naturally, but right now? There's that spark in you. You know the one, that drives you to do things ordinary people never would? And it's beautiful. You're beautiful."
    ichoosefight: (what does Gotham harvest exactly?)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-11-02 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
    She blinks at him, dumbfounded, turning steadily more pink. It's the kind of odd, backwards compliment that can only be genuine, and unlike anything anyone has ever said to her. It's still a surprise when she gets encouragement as Batgirl. She gets even less of it in her normal life.

    How does she even respond to that?

    "...Oh. ...Thanks...?"
    friendsallover: (Default)

    [personal profile] friendsallover 2021-11-02 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
    [Magic is very much beyond him.]

    It's useful if it can do that. Better than emptying the bag every time to find what you're looking for.
    feralhumanity: (Now it is time for another journey)

    [personal profile] feralhumanity 2021-11-02 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
    Hmm... that could work. I have kinetic magic as well... perhaps if we try together?
    morganknight: (nervous?)

    [personal profile] morganknight 2021-11-02 01:12 pm (UTC)(link)
    "I told you it was stupid," Morgan said, actually blushing himself for the first time in... a very, very long time, as it happened. "But, you know... a lot of guys I've known don't go for that sort of thing? Or just accept it? And I figured you wouldn't mind knowing that I'm totally into it."

    And saying it was important to him, too. He figured she could stand to hear some vigorous enthusiasm for who and how she was, instead of just... tolerance, maybe. That even though he was gonna try to make her take care of herself, that didn't mean he didn't want her to do stuff like this.

    Morgan hadn't had trouble expressing himself like this in quite a while, and he found that strangely thrilling.

    "Also so when I shamelessly hit on you, you understand where I'm coming from and don't think I'm crazy because you're battered and bruised and tired and dirty. Still totally A-plus in my book," he added, with a grin.
    ichoosefight: (ohgodisaidthatoutloud)

    [personal profile] ichoosefight 2021-11-02 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
    "Oh, no, it's-!" She turns pinker, her expression a shifting mess of embarassment, delight, confusion, sympathy, and a million other emotions she can't quite name. She doesn't want him to think she doesn't appreciate the compliment, but she's not sure how to properly express what she's feeling without sounding sort of... pathetic.

    "I mean-- ah." She struggles with the words, gesticulating mostly meaninglessly for a moment before sighing, dropping her hands and looking away, still blushing ferociously. Her heart is pounding so hard she can barely breathe. Food would probably help with that though.

    "It's just... nobody ever really wanted me to Batgirl. Or Spoiler. Or Robin." Or around to begin with, she almost adds. It doesn't help that the guys she's dated have all been assholes to her at some point or another. Just hearing it is more important to her than he can possibly know, even if it is overwhelming. She's so used to having to fight tooth and nail just to be who she chooses to be. It's staggering to be told that not only is she already that person, but she's admired for it.

    She can't say any of that. It's too close to self-pity, or fishing for compliments, not at all the confident façade she likes to put on. It's too weak. So she falls back on her usual response to too much real emotion: flippancy.

    "Hah. A lot of my friends are real jerks."