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

Or, perhaps, its eye? [the one periodically rolling back to glare at them while it flies?] Blinding it may be advantageous in the long run - it may decide to give up the fight!

I cannot reach the eye on my own. Even were I to teleport to it, there's not much to grip on to.

[He lowers his hand.]

I would need something to keep me aloft... A gust of wind, perhaps?

[she huffs, taking a moment to brace herself, gather what bearings she can on such unstable terrain, and looks back to this sharp-eyed man and nod.]

...I'll do what I can. But find purchase along the brow quickly! Wind is finicky without moving at this speed!

[Yuber teleports forward again, heading first for the shoulder then the back of the head.

He gives Cecelia a meaningful glance before leaping from his perch and teleporting towards the eye with his swords ready.]

[just to be safe, Cecelia gets to her hands and knees before sitting up and lifting her hands, bracing herself and waiting for that signal. when she sees it, she sucks in a fast breath, exhaling in a huff in an effort to replicate the force she wishes to impose.

a gust of wind shoves at Yuber's back to bring him the rest of the way before Cecelia curls her fingers, trying to keep a leash on that air and coil it back into something of a whirling, pulsing cushion to bounce back on should he lose purchase.]

[Yuber thrusts his blades into the eye and hears a satisfying roar of anger. He's about to strike again when he sees the beast's eyelids reflexively slam shut.

With a second, bellowing roar, the dragon thrashes violently, bucks its head from side to side and sends Yuber sailing into the sky.

The demon's limbs go still as he watches the burning city below rush upwards to meet him.]

No-!

[that cushion of air dispels as Cecelia's heart leaps to her throat. she can't catch him from here, and he's getting farther away by the second. it means she has to close the distance herself.

gods strike her down already, spare her from this madness because she's really going to just go ahead and leap off a flying dragon...!

well, gods don't feel like striking anything, so the half-elf leaps, skirts and curls all fluttering wildly as she goes. she spins herself around to get her back to the ground and blast herself further along with another short bursts of wind until she can reach Yuber's falling form. she turns, gets him under herself as though she means to use him as a landing pad, and then shoves her arms out in front of them both and forces the wind to swirl and encompass them, drastically slowing their descent to something far, far more manageable.]

[Yuber's eyes widen as a strong wind swirls up around him. For a moment he's not sure what is happening, then he sense Cecelia above him and reaches up to grasp her wrist in a tight grip.

When his mad descent slows he is able to focus enough to summon another burst of magic. Kinetic energy crackles around them and with a flash they teleport the remaining distant to the ash-covered ground.

Yuber immediately drops to his hands and knees, jaw tightening in frustration.]

My... my power is again inadequate.

[that much power that quickly is quite the drain; thank goodness Yuber was able to take them the rest of the way, for she wasn't likely able to do it herself. the lack of warning means she has no time to get her feet under her. she drops with a wheeze, just barely catching herself with her forearms to spare her face from eating the dirt.

overhead, the beast rumbles and roars, accosted now by other outworlders.

trembling, trying to catch her breath, to feel like something other than one of those jiggling slimes in the librarynth, her head lifts to see the blurry shape of Yuber nearby. she clenches her own jaw, forcing herself to get her knees under her and push herself up a bit more.]

Yh...Yuber-- [she braces against the bellowing noise above.] Get up. Move.

[it's as much an order for herself as it is for him; they can't just stay here.]

[He remains on his hands and knees, head bowed, eyes slowly closing. For a while he stays in this position, then he sits back on his legs, eyes still closed and head hanging.

Silently, he slides into a meditative state. He's not shutting out the din around him, however; he's drinking it in. He focuses on the roar of the dragon, on the crackling of fire, the sounds of people shrieking in fear, the smell of spilled blood and charred flesh.

After a minute he stands and opens his arms as if embracing the disorder around them. When he looks back at Cecelia there is determination in his gaze. This is chaos, this is his element.]

...I think your attempt at negotiating peace has failed. Any other clever ideas?

Edited 2021-09-27 23:04 (UTC)

Clever? [she strains, grasping about for something she can hang onto to get to her feet.] No. No, cleverness...comes with study...and time...

[she huffs, pushing hair out of her face as she lifts her head to the sky.]

And I...don't have my whole bag of tricks here... [she takes a moment to breathe. focus. calm down! fear catches her too swiftly in this realm, leaves her feeling more frail and toothless than she is.

her eyes follow the dragon's path and dart past him, out over the forest of souls and toward Celliwig.]

...But I suppose, if I can get there fast enough...something more can still be done.

[Yuber holds out an arm, offering to let her cling to him for as long as it takes to steady herself.

His eyes follow the dragon, watch it incinerate a building and he smiles.]

Don't chase it away, now, our you'll ruin my fun!

[she scoffs, catching his arm all the same.]

Don't...don't give me that much credit, now...! [especially in light of that spectacular failure.

no...no, she won't be the one stopping this rampage. that'll come either by sword or the exhaustion of the beast itself, she wagers. for now, her mind is focused on damage control.]

I need one last favor of you. [she nods in the direction she means.]

The bridge. The one leading into the city. Can you get me there?

The bridge?

[He tilts his head to one side.]

Yes.

What are you thinking?

I'm thinking the fair citizens...need a fighting chance. So, please. Get me there. And you'll be free of me.

Hah! A fighting chance or a fleeing chance?

Whatever.

[He turns his shoulder to her.]

Grab hold of me and hang on tight. The trip will be ...unpleasant.

[in a resigned sigh:] Wonderful.

[indeed, this whole situation. just bloody wonderful, right? but it won't change much at all if she stands there grousing, so she takes hold of Yuber yet again, squeezing her eyes shut, bracing herself, quietly praying...]

[Yuber races forward, using his magic to speed up his movements as he bounds through the streets and leaps up to parkour between charred walls, some of which collapse moments after.

He jumps over the heads of confused, screaming families and makes his way to the bridge, not stopping until he's landed on top of the stone parapet.]

We're here.

[at here, Cecelia lets go, needing only a second to stabilize on her feet. she draws a deep, bracing breath as she scans the area around her, her familiar flickering back into form, glimmering in anticipation of supporting her intentions.]

First layer...

[she needs a strong foundation. she reaches out to the land ahead of her, and topsoil shudders as giant, invisible fingers crack into the firmer sediment below. as she gestures the form she wants, stone rumbles and rolls up and over the length of the bridge - an impromptu covered bridge.

while that's happening, Cecelia trudges out of the mouth of the bridge and turns to face it, shuddering and exhaling once the stone has settled.]

Second...

[another couple breaths, and then she and her familiar set their focus on conjuring water. she has no intention of taming or drying the river; her own source is far better.

she blows a crisp, freezing wind along with it, draping the stone in a canopy of ice. she strongly doubts such a thing can withstand dragonfire, but then, neither can a singular rock formation, right? so--]

And...third...

[more stone. it won't be a permanent fixture, but it could buy time for those evacuating - a temporary reprieve. maybe one, two blasts of fire before its undone and she must clear it? maybe.

she huffs, sagging.]

D...Decent...

[Yuber watches her spells churn across the bridge and clicks his tongue.]

Impressive.

[He turns his gaze towards Cecelia.]

The extra shielding should hold as long as the dragon doesn't decide to throw its own bulk into the bridge instead of its flame.

I won't...put money on it. [oh, gads, it's like teleporting to the edge twice. she resigns herself to kneeling to keep from pitching forward or just losing her lunch outright.

she lifts her head only to try and chase the sight of the dragon still in flight.]

But if it's...quite a bit too busy...with those others taking their shots, then perhaps.

[she side eyes Yuber.]

Your pride...it's not too bruised...to give it another go yourself, is it?

My pride is not bruised.

[He tilts his head and watches her a moment, eyes sparkling with fondness. It's not the fondness someone might have for a potential friend or lover, it's the fondness a wild animal might have for a person who has come to feed it in the dead of winter. It is alien and distant but genuine.]

You want me to draw its ire while you see to evacuations, hm? I'm to be bait.

Very well, I'll do it. I owe that old lizard a death anyway.

Good. [that's something of a relief. she nods.] Good. Go, then. Have your fun. Take...take your time.

[she needs all the time she can get to catch her breath.]

Don't die. If we're to rescue the Excalibur we'll need you yet.

[Yuber lifts his gloved hand in a half wave, turns, and disappears into the churning smoke and ash of Celliwig.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ✨ Fall Equinot

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cw: eye violence

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