EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot

[avalonmods]

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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.

Comments

[sapphirecontess]

"Ah but didn't you know? We nobles aren't only human, that's what makes us nobles and gives us the right to collect taxes and behead dissidents."

Sounds like her mood may be affecting her sense of humor a bit.

what the hell are taxes, our prince is too much of a himbo to have those (lucky girl)

[grimaoire]

Ah. Robin might have relented if Musse hadn't immediately made that joke. But thankfully for her (and Musse, even if she probably wouldn't see it that way), she gave a perfect opening for her to take advantage of. Turning her head to look at Musse, she offers her a cheerful smile.

"I'm sorry, but I don't believe you."

For once, it's Robin invading Musse's personal space. Metaphorically.

[sapphirecontess]

The smile stops Musse short and she returns it with a markedly pained smile of her own.

"I do believe I am reaping what I sowed."

[grimaoire]

"I wouldn't put it that way." But yes, she is. Turning around to face her, Robin sighs, her expression slipping into something more quiet and subdued. Drawing this out any longer isn't benefitting anyone here, and it isn't her intent to belabor Musse for trying to deflect.

"You... haven't had many opportunities to say how you truly feel, have you Musse?"

[sapphirecontess]

"Of course not. One does not exist honestly being the daughter of a dead Duke, especially when so many others would love to sit upon his seat."

Musse's response is rather flippant, although again her attempts at humor don't really have much life in them.

[grimaoire]

Flippant and forced, which makes Robin wonder if it's a defense mechanism or empty words from a girl who genuinely wants someone to push past all of that. She is going to hope it's the latter.

"I'm sorry you have had to live that way. No one should feel they need to shoulder so much so young."

She has some misgivings about this place Musse calls home, if that's the life she's been made to live. It isn't fair, and it's hard for Robin to keep herself from seeing similarities to a certain nation from her world. Honestly, she isn't impressed.

"But you're more than just a dead Duke's daughter," She continues, taking a small step forward. "You're more than the unfair expectations that have been placed upon you. I firmly believe that--and if you do not, I hope the fact that someone believes in this will help you see it as well."

[sapphirecontess]

Musse stands silently for a moment, quaking despite her best intentions.

"There was one, but he is gone now. And all I have left is a terrible duty to fulfill."

ToCS 3 + 4 spoilers past this point

[grimaoire]

Robin has already come to the conclusion that she's lost something, that she's no stranger to sacrifice. She isn't going to bring that up here.

"A terrible duty..?" She asks quietly, her brows furrowed in concern.

[sapphirecontess]

Musse's tone remains soft, but there's an edge of self-recrimination within it, even if her next question seems perhaps a bit unrelated.

"How many people would you say live within the Halidom of Ylisse?"

[grimaoire]

Robin pauses, giving this question some thought.

"I'm not sure of the exact amount, but I would guess tens of thousands."

[sapphirecontess]

Musse sighs.

"I had a feeling that might be the case from what you described. This may be hard, but imagine one million soldiers are marching on you. What would you do?"

[grimaoire]

Robin's eyes widen slightly at the question. Even with the Plegians besieging them, their might was a drop of water in the vast ocean Musse is suggesting. It takes her a moment before she manages to respond.

"Evacuate the smaller villages in their path, and attempt to defend from the capital."

But with their small numbers, contending with an overwhelming force like this, there was little they could do to defend against it.

[sapphirecontess]

"And when the capitol falls and the enemies cries out for more blood and continues the march? What then?"

[grimaoire]

She isn't asking for an answer at this point, but attempting to help Robin grasp the weight of her situation and the duty she holds to her people.

She pauses briefly, a deep frown on her face. "Your nation is at war, then." And the dukedom is responsible for such decisions? That doesn't make sense.

[sapphirecontess]

"It's unfortunately more complicated than that. A terrible curse lies at the heart of Erebonia, and it sweeps our people into a fervor. A conscription notice has been issued, all men aged 18 to 45 will ultimately join the army and the entire might of our nation will be brought to bear against the continent. And with it, spread the curse to the furthest reaches. I seek to stop the tide, but to do so will requiring meeting these forces man for man. A war of two million soldiers will be unaccountably bloody."

[grimaoire]

Suddenly a few things that Musse has said or hinted at make sense, but Robin is left with even more questions. How could a curse of that magnitude befall a world without magic? What could have caused it in the first place, and if it spread from person to person like that, how could anyone hope to stop it through conventional means? For once she's at a loss, pressing her lips together tightly.

There is one question she has to ask, even if she believes she knows the answer; "And you plan to do that on your own, don't you?"

[sapphirecontess]

Musse's tone is hollow in her response.

"Of course. I'm the only one who can. The wheels are already set in motion - Operation Mille Mirage, as I've named it. The instigators of the curse's return have framed the Republic of Calvard as behind an assassination attempt of our emperor. I am coordinating with members of the Republic, as well as a number of forces from our allied nations and from rebel fighters from conquered Erebonian territories. As well as my own rebel army, of course. If all goes well, we might just have enough forces to match the Empire, although I fear their war technology far outstrips our own."

[grimaoire]

Robin isn't sure what's worse, the fact that she had to ask, or that she knew this was exactly what she expected to hear. Turning to face her completely, she takes a step forward before placing both hands squarely on Musse's shoulders.

"That shouldn't be your responsibility, not completely. You don't have to do all of this alone, you shouldn't have to do it alone." With a quiet huff of a sigh, Robin offers her a warm smile. "But telling you that won't change your mind--I think you and I both know that."

Looking away briefly, she casts her gaze toward the candles burning around them. "Has anyone explained to you how time works in this world?"

[sapphirecontess]

"They have, and that's part of the problem. Knowing what this plan will entail, I could throw myself into its execution. Frozen in time as I am, I have no choice but to dwell on it. It's... not pleasant."

[grimaoire]

"It gives you time to dwell, but it also gives you time to try to work out a way to prevent such widespread tragedy." And if anyone could do that... "You were able to come up with a plan by yourself knowing that time was limited. Think of what that might have been if you didn't have that restriction."

[sapphirecontess]

Musse sighs.

"There are immeasurable unknowns, but I suppose it's something. I'd love to believe there is a better way, but it's difficult to imagine something could truly stop the Erebonian war machine once it's moving."

[grimaoire]

"We believed the same about the Plegian forces. While nowhere near the numbers of Erebonia, we were able to change the course of history. I have faith that someone with as brilliant a mind as yours could do much the same with enough time and resources."

Giving Musse a bit of space again, Robin lets her hands fall back to her sides. "Can I ask you a question? You mentioned a curse... I thought that magic didn't exist in your world." Or was that just a turn of phrase?

[sapphirecontess]

Musse's laugh is actually a bit sheepish this time.

"Ah right I did say that didn't I? Officially, Magic does not exist. However, there is a whole clan of witches working behind the scenes in opposition of the Gnomes, technologists who are supporting the curse's activation. I've actually spent some time training under one of them."

[grimaoire]

Musse why are you like this. Robin can't help but laugh before bringing a hand up to her forehead.

"Well, now I know why you were so interested in spell books. You could have told me that was the case. At least now I know to question when you start acting curious or cagey at any time."

Busted.

[sapphirecontess]

"Cagey? Me? I'm wounded~"

Her demeanor at least seems a bit more genuine now, at any rate.