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

[reloves]

Yes, she's most certainly never going to let that go. Part of her is forever going to think it's true, no matter how much he denies it!

But other than that.. well, it's not like she's got any reason to say no to his question, so Minako just shrugs and moves to sit down with them.

"Are you sure you need more help?" Minako glances at the woman, and the way she's putting all those flowers in his hair. "It looks like you're already getting plenty done here."

[beewulf]

How stubborn! Ine day Minako, you will accept the truth!

But for now though his familiar gives her a smile. "I think so... here do you think should we use a bit more yellow, or try for something else?"

Said flowers she already weaved included various shades of yellow, reds, and a few whites. Beowulf Sighs in turn and shakes his head. "I'm not sure if getting plenty done is what I'd called it."

[reloves]

"Isn't there any orange?" At least it seems that Minako is immediately taking to this task, now she's being involved in it. She's even starting to look through the flowers in all sorts of different colours, hoping to find something fitting. "Then you have a nice flow from the yellow ones to the red ones.. And it kind of makes it look all cool, like fire!"

That's something that suits the guy, Minako thinks. Even if - apparently - he also enjoys flower crafts. Who knew.

But it's at the protest that she glances back at said guy, blinking for a moment before speaking up. "But.. you look like you're enjoying this though."

Even if they might not be getting a whole lot done here.

[beewulf]

His familiar nodded. "There's some very lovely tulips here and chrysanthemums "

She gives Minako a gently smile in return. Before plucking some of the flowers in question, which seem to almost glow even brighter at her touch. Interesting.

"Suppose I am. This isn't the first time I've done something like this." He plucks another flower and places it in a jar. "Best enjoy the small moments, little miss. Even if it doesn't involve a giant bowl of alcohol."

He shoots her a grin.

[reloves]

Minako is picking up one of the chrysanthemums, holding it up to her face so she can smell it for a moment, and then looking at it. It is a rather pretty flower.. Though as she glances over at the woman, she does notice that the flowers seem to glow under her touch. It is odd...

It's with that thought in the back of her mind that she turns to look towards Beowulf instead, blinking for a moment before slowly nodding.

"Oh, I agree." Please, enjoying every moment is basically what Minako preaches to other people all the time, especially the party pooper types. Even if that means Beowulf doesn't need the preaching in the first place, since he seems to understand it very well. "But there are a lot of guys out there who worry that liking this sort of stuff makes them less manly, you know? Even though I think that's a really dumb idea!"

[beewulf]

The woman in question, though she certainly carried herself as a human and appeared to be one. Had something about her that marked her as being more than what she appeared.

Bute yes, Beowulf understands it all too well. There's no party like a Norse party, because a Norse party don't stop! Not until everyone is half-dead from alcohol poisoning anyway. "Heh, it is dumb. If you like something, and it doesn't harm anyone, then do it and be open about it."

There was a small smile directed at her before he starts to pluck some flowers himself and start weaving them into a crown; casting a glance here and there at Minako. "Preserving herbs and flowers, drawing them and taking notes on them. I don't see anything that's not "manly" about it. Or not enjoyable about it."

[reloves]

"Well, you'd be surprised what some guys think.."

Though Minako sighs as she says it, indicating that she also thinks it's pretty dumb to let stuff like that guide you. After all, the physically strongest of her friends is also really into flowers and baking and stuff like that. Who cares about stereotypes?

"They get all worked up about it. But honestly, I think the flowers look nice on you!" They just add something, even if it's hard to put into words. Minako looks over at the woman - or, well, whatever the woman is - and smiles. "You think so too, right?"

Otherwise the woman wouldn't be there to put all these flowers into Beowulf's hair in the first place.

[beewulf]

"Suppose a few here might get worked up over something like this."

Others might not, it didn't matter to him, so long as everyone was simply enjoying themselves. He will, however, more than likely find something super manly and testosterones poisoned after this though like chasing a dragon.

His familiar, one day Minako you'll finally accept that she's his familiar, smiles back at her nods her head. "Oh yes, the flowers help bring out his natural beauty quite nicely."

There was probably something to be said about a giant, muscular guy having flowers braided in his hair. Especially when said giant was Beowulf, of all people. But he just sort of sits there and lets them do what they'd like. In the meantime he starts to finish his weave. "Do they now? I'll have to keep them in for a moment longer."

With that he holds up the crown he'd been working on. Various shades of pinks, blues, and yellows. "Here, made one for you too."

[reloves]

Beowulf.

Oh, Beowulf. Do you not see the trap you are springing on yourself? Because there he is, holding up that crown, and Minako's eyes grow wider with surprise and joy. That part isn't the trap yet, oh no. The true trap is her obliviousness as she speaks up with:

"You made that for your girlfriend? That's so sweet!"

Minako sounds so genuine about it, too.. So very innocently genuine.

[beewulf]

Reveals his reverse Uno card!

"Mm, no. For you to be my "girlfriend" I'd need to know you better."

A joke, he was joking. Just look at that smile as he goes ahead and moves to plop that crown on Minako's... well, crown. Also, you might be a touch too young missy!

"But hey, glad you like it all the same."

[reloves]

"W-wait, hold on a sec--"

But before Minako can finish that sentence, the flowers are already dropped onto her head. She makes no movement to try and remove the crown, but she's still sputtering, her cheeks faintly red.

"I was talking about her!" You know. The person she's assuming is your girlfriend, Beowulf! Don't fluster her by flipping this table around and making it a joke about Minako instead! That's not allowed! "You can't make her jealous by looking at other girls!"

.. even if it's not in a romantic way.

[beewulf]

To late Minako! He brings in a sledgehammer and destroys the table! Still, that was an adorable reaction. Also his familiar was now laughing and going to join the fun. "Yes, Beowulf dear. You know what might happen if you make me jealous~."

There was a torrent of giggles following that. "But goodness look at how red she's getting. Don't go breaking hearts either."

Another laugh from her, with him rolling his eyes, though his grin was still there. He was still obviously tickled. "Yeah, yeah. I don't think anyone here's getting jealous."

[reloves]

"R-Right!"

Her face is still definitely red though. There's no way it's going to fade that easily when she's still getting teased over here - even though Minako does try and shove the embarrassment down, shaking her head, as if that might get rid of the redness.

(It doesn't.)

"It's just like he said, he's way too old for me! Besides, I'm not a homewrecker!"

Because there's clearly a relationship going on here.

Obviously.

This theory will never be abandoned.