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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe once the influx of refugees find new homes! Then they can find a better place to live. Xingchen does want to keep an eye on Xue Yang, after all. So finding ways to trick him will be simple!

He finds himself smiling a little at the barb and turns to leave again. "Mm. I'm going. I won't be long." So don't leave!

And no he's not going to watch, he's too polite and formal for that!

Boooo. Xue Yang laughs at Xingchen's retreating back and strips off the rest of his clothes. He hops into the shower and scrubs himself clean, amazed at the amount of dirt and ash that turns the water...grey. Gross.

By the time a certain up~~tight~~right cultivator returns, he has dried off his lower half and wrapped a towel around his waist. What? His clothes need to be washed! He's working on it!

"I'm ready~"

All the better to get all that ash and dirt off him! Xingchen has even brought two buckets when he steps back into their room, one with warm water, one cool.

"Good. Did you find other injuries beside your arm?"

He sets both buckets within reach, stepping up behind Xue Yang, and rolls his sleeves up to get started on gently washing, untangling, then rinsing that thick hair.

Stop being so thoughtful! He's beginning to think Xingchen isn't human. That must be the answer, right? He's some kind of perfect spirit. Or a fairy!

"My lower back." he grumbles, shifting his hair enough so Xingchen can see the shallow gash, "I think I'll live."

He blinks as he feels the care he is given. Like a wild animal, it makes him want to curl in on himself and bite or claw. But he's not an animal, so he stays still, holding onto his towel with one hand.

"I have a lot of hair, huh."

Xingchen makes a soft sound of acknowledgement, then rests a hand gently on Xue Yang's back, just over the shallow gash, and focuses to push warm healing energy to help speed the healing along.

He doesn't pull or yank on the hair - he sees this as an attempt to let him show who he is. That he won't hurt Xue Yang unless he sees he must. That he's sincere in wanting to help rehabilitate this man who has clearly lost his way - or never been shown how he could live without the constant pain and attacks.

The comments tug a little smile from him - first that Xue Yang thinks he'll live, and then that he has a lot of hair! This man is honestly funny!

"It isn't too much."

The warmth feels as good as when Xiao Xingchen held his hand. His eyelids almost fall shut, but he forces himself to stay on guard. This is the man who tied him up and imprisoned him. It might seem dramatic to other people, however Xue Yang is always prepared to be hit or stabbed or dragged off.

That's just his life. Feeling good rarely factors into it and yet Xiao Xingchen has brought him relief twice now.

"So you like a lot of hair?"

It would be so easy to turn that into something kinky, but he refrains. For once.

"I'd like to wash yours too."

Tied up in answer to a massacre. Xingchen had only wanted him stopped and brought to justice. Not killed.

He gently encourages Xue Yang to lean back so he can rinse that hair off with the fresh bucket then sets to towel-drying the strands in a way he has a sad feeling this man has never been treated to.

"I have a lot too," he answers serenely. He's too focused on his task to even think of how anything this man says could be taken. Then he wraps it all up and drapes it over one of Xue Yang's shoulders.

"Would you sit? I would like to finish tending the gash on your back first. Then your arm."

But Xue Yang has expressed a wish too, hasn't he? That has his cheeks pink a little as he shyly turns away to fetch his medical supplies.

"You may. When you are all healed up."

Justice likely will end with a death sentence if no one interferes. But someone will. Xue Yang knows he is needed and as long as he is needed, his life is safe.

His guard might stay raised, yet his body has something else in mind. He feels himself relax. Physically. Xingchen has nice hands and it doesn't take him long to decide to enjoy this pampering.

"I noticed. But your hair shines." like silk. Running his fingers through it won't be so bad at all - and he'll show Xingchen that he's not all sharp edges. Maybe.

Sitting on a stool, making sure his towel doesn't slip, he bends forward to make Xingchen's task easier.

"You're making such a fuss!" not that he minds, "Then I'll have to heal, won't I."

A cat with nine lives. That's Xue Yang.

"I have led an easier life than what I have heard of yours," he answers quietly. Not pity. But sorrow. He wishes it were otherwise, that he could protect more people from such a hard life.

Xingchen can't help the smile at how Xue Yang shifts to make his task simpler. Someone with no hope of being better wouldn't bother. He's just as careful in tending the wound with a medicinal powder, then wrapping it as he'd been with that long hair.

"Yes, you will." Heal quickly Xue Yang, your reward awaits~

"How does that feel now?"

A cat with plenty of scars, a maimed paw and an attitude of "I'll get them before they get me!" - that's Xue Yang. His nine lives have never done him much good. Living like he does isn't truly living.

"What have you heard?" his tone is suddenly hard and he clearly tries to ignore his emotions by shrugging a shoulder, "Everyone has it hard eventually."

He is very still under those hands, instinctively understanding - just like a cat would - that these hands won't hurt him unless he does something bad. And he's tired. Chasing a dragon is hard work!

"Better." he mutters and sits up, glancing over his shoulder as he holds out his burned arm, "Here I though Daozhang Zichen was the healer between you two." his lips twitch, amused at himself.

Zichen is scary! Healers shouldn't be scary.

Most people would jerk away at that abrupt change in tone. Not Xingchen. He just keeps working, making sure the bandage isn't too tight or too loose.

"You'll think me silly," he muses. "Or stupid, perhaps. To believe rumors. But I heard you have always been...alone. That couldn't have been easy. I'm not that surprised you worked for anyone who would help you." It makes him sad.

No. He won't hurt this already wounded man. Not unless Xue Yang bites harder than instinct can wave away. And maybe as his hands shift, he gives those shoulders a bit of a rub. He hums at the answer, nodding in satisfaction.

"Zichen is a very good healer," he agrees with a soft smile and moves on to tending the burn, first with more healing energy, then burn cream. He can't help it when speaking of his soulmate. "But he has taught me some things, and my master made sure every disciple of hers had some skill with it."

"So?" he focuses on Xingchen without judgement, "Everyone is silly sometimes." he won't pretend he hasn't done some asinine things in the past. Men who claim they're flawless make him sick.

"I guess that's true." his brow furrows as he thinks it over, "I went where I was needed. Like anyone else. I've never been in a position to judge anyone except..." he glances at his hand, lips tight, expression grim, "If I saw someone torturing a little kid like that, it would bother me."

It would bother him so much that he would torture the one responsible. He jumps a little at the hand on his shoulder, but that attention is nice too and soon he is arching into it.

"Is he? Does he scare the diseases away?" he snickers, "Why did you leave her? Your mountain sounds like paradise to me."

Kindness. That's what he sees in that lack of judgement. In this man, someone believed so evil and wicked. He smiles, growing more certain of himself and his task when it concerns Xue Yang by the day.

The smile fades as he listens, and nods in understanding. Only to frown, noting that glance down. It reminds him of another promise he'd made, to make a better glove for that poor mangled hand.

Feeling how the other responds to the massage has him pause just to give those shoulders a longer one. But his hands shake when he giggles at the snickered question. "Maybe that makes him even better a healer! Anything that might think of lingering would run away!"

As for why he'd left...his mirth fades, though settles more to a soft expression. "To try and do good. To help out in the world. It's not fair that there is so much misery, so if I can bring even a little bit of the peace of my master's mountain, then I will be content."

Kindness isn't something he knows or understands. But here it is right in front of him and Xue Yang finds himself responding strangely. None of his responses are an act, either - he's not that skilled. It's like the bad, hurt part of him has retreated to a tiny corner, allowing another side of him to come forward.

Whether he gets a new glove or not, Xingchen has had an effect on him. He grins helplessly at that laughter and he tips his head back to see the daozhang's handsome face.

"He scared me with that sword of his! And he was very protective of you, daozhang." he feels some of his old bitterness rising to the surface again and he swallows it. Why should he care about the connection between Song Zichen and Xiao Xingchen?

"It could kill you." Xue Yang's eyes are unfocused now as he imagines what future awaits such a pure man, "It probably will if you don't have help."

Lies don't make sense to him. He sees no purpose for them, and so they go right over his head.

Xingchen smiles at that grin, unguarded and warm. A breath, and he moves to fuss over the burn, pressing more healing energy into it. Then reaches, slower, for the mangled hand - giving Xue Yang the chance to pull away if he doesn't want it check on again.

"Fuxue is a strong sword and just as protective as Zichen. I am not surprised they alarmed you." Though warmth settles in his chest at being told his Zichen is protective of him.

Even being told his resolve could kill him doesn't remove his smile completely. "Maybe," he allows. "But I can never return, as you heard me tell Wei Wuxian. And I'm not alone. You said it yourself, Zichen is protective of me."

But Zichen isn't here.

"I'm not Daozhang Zichen." as if there is any question on that point! However, as he lets his hand be taken - the brace was removed for his shower, Xue Yang sits a little straighter, his dark gaze darting nervously.

What is he about to do? What is he about to say? To offer? His heart races and he's scared, but that fear draws him in too. If he's afraid of something, he should face it and defeat it.

"But until he turns up, I can be protective of you."

Gods above - if they exist - his face feels so hot! Xue Yang isn't a virgin or innocent in any way except when it comes to the purer ideals. Yet telling Xiao Xingchen, the man holding his disgusting hand, that he will protect him makes his stomach do funny things. It's no big deal, surely?

Since the daozhang will be keeping an eye on him anyway.

He doesn't laugh at the statement. No. This feels extremely important - has his heart oddly starting to race in anticipation of whatever Xue Yang has to say.

His hands fold around the mangled hand as gently as the first time the other had let him touch it. More soothing energy pulses into damaged nerves, fingers rub carefully at the scars to coax them into softening, more salve is rubbed into rough skin.

Then the promise of protection. From Xue Yang. He sucks in a startled breath, blinking quickly and looks up from what he'd been doing to study this man's face with obvious wonder.

He sees the flush over pale cheeks and realizes his face feels perhaps just as hot. He drops his gaze quickly, lips helplessly curling into another shy smile as he ducks his head a little.

"Thank you, Xue Yang," he murmurs. "I...You have my protection too." Maybe he can't cultivate as he's used to here. But already he's turning what he knew into what Xiu has shown him he can do here. And they're fairly well matched in terms of swordsmanship.

Laughter would have had him immediately retracting the offer. He's lucky that Xingchen is smarter than that and it helps, infinitely, that, somehow, the daozhang calms him enough to think this way. If Song Zichen isn't here, Xiao Xingchen could fall prey to anyone anywhere. Xue Yang tells himself that he only wants the revenge (for imprisoning him) to come from him, but lies like that only taste sweet for a little while.

It's just a cover. The truth is: he likes being around Xiao Xingchen. And what else does he have to offer, really? At least his blood-stained hands can tear Xingchen's enemies down.

"Mm don't go that far. I have a lot more enemies than you do." so the offer isn't a fair trade, "Look after yourself, daozhang, and I'll find a way to keep close by."

Edited 2021-09-22 16:21 (UTC)

If he can help Xue Yang to think and to be calm, then it's enough. Xingchen believes he can see the kind of person Xue Yang could be, should be. And he wants to help that person grow stronger and be seen by more people.

That means encouragement and support, showing the way. Things he already likes doing. Xingchen shakes his head a little, smile remaining as he keeps that poor hand warm.

"Then it is fortunate we are to share a room here."

And...silently, he's glad to not be alone. He'll never say it out loud. Never complain.

The path Xingchen wants him to take is so unknown to him that he is blind to what he should do - where he should place his next step. He has to depend on the other man and that's...a lot to ask from someone who has been betrayed more times than he can count.

But those hands around his hand are warm and soft. He can feel the calluses caused by Shuanghua too and eventually he sighs, leaning in closer.

"Do you get lonely?"

It's not phrased as a taunt; he wonders if that is one of Xingchen's weaknesses. Loneliness plagues him too. It always has.

They'll walk it together. It's not always easy even for Xingchen, but it's not supposed to be. He keeps his attention on the niggle of healing energy he's learned to use and is working to strengthen it, Xiu appears on Xingchen's shoulders to peer at Xue Yang, nose twitching at him. Supervising.

She's watching you, Xue Yang.

Xingchen blinks at him, wondering at that sigh and how the other leans closer. But doesn't protest, only studies him a moment. Not distrustful. Not expecting a strike or for any answer to be used against him.

"...I chose to leave...but yes." He draws in a little breath, smile faint. "It is better to find someone to walk with when it gets too much."

"Oh." Xue Yang exhales and then grins at Xiu's little face, "Hello, lady. Are you keeping Daozhang Xingchen's shoulder nice and warm?"

Her fur must be soft and he is tempted to touch, but sacrificing his good hand doesn't seem smart. Ying meanwhile appears in the shower, splashing at the water puddles. She's almost as wild as Xue Yang - but she definitely has better sense and a kinder heart.

"Choosing to leave doesn't make you invulnerable." he peers up into those sweet dark eyes, "Am I awful company?"

Edited 2021-09-23 01:19 (UTC)

Xingchen smiles and rests his cheek briefly against Xiu's warm side and she nuzzles him, making him giggle. "She is very warm," he agrees.

Ying's appearance and play makes him smile - he doesn't mind the wildness of this pair. Just as long as kindness is there too.

And Xue Yang keeps showing him there is kindness in him. He blinks at that question and shakes his head. "No. You have been very good company here."

Edited 2021-09-23 12:49 (UTC)

"I bet she's ferocious too." Xue Yang can spot a fighter no matter their size. Xiu might be little, but she won't go down without tearing a hunk out of her opponent.

Much like Xiao Xingchen! He knows better than to underestimate the daozhang.

Ying peeks up, whiskers dripping and she hops out of the shower, toddling up to Xue Yang's feet. Then she sits on one.

"Oh thank you. That's just what I needed!" he snickers and ruffles her ears. It takes him a moment to register the compliment and he frowns.

"How good are you at braids?"

Yes, he will change the subject. He doesn't know how to respond to compliments.

Xiu bares her teeth and raises a paw, pointedly brandishing viscous claws. Fierce! Xingchen only smiles at her display and nods in agreement.

"As I am sure A-Ying is a fierce defender. I am glad you have her by your side." And her flopping wetly on Xue Yang's foot only makes him draw in a quick breath in an attempt not to laugh.

He doesn't push the compliment - accepting the abrupt change in topic easily. "Do you want help braiding your hair?" Even if that means releasing the mangled hand, he'll happily do it to help.

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