EVENT ✨ Something (Celli)Wigged This Way Comes

[avalonmods]

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Autumn, despite the chillier weather, is a season of warmth and gathering. Perhaps moreso this year than normal, given the rather unplanned gathering of Celliwig and Lestari underneath Camelot's roofs. Though significant contributions from otherworlders have made food, shelter, clothes and other productions and donations, medical care, security and protection, and childcare an amazing group effort, typical individual celebrations for the departure of the dead from Avalon aren't being held, like Lestari's Death Ball. After looking at all the support they've been given, Lestari and Celliwig have looked at what they have to offer to help both their own people and the people of Camelot and other worlds.

The people of Lestari excel in cognitive magic, and while there are those who use it for mind-altering magics, there is a good portion who dedicate their studies to emotional and psychological support. One such method is the enchantment of origami paper into something affectionately called Worry Monsters: an specialized counseling technique used to help form support bonds between people with negative emotions. Having spent a portion of the month enchanting paper, two square sheets of paper are handed out to anyone the encounter. The first paper says: "Personifying your emotions can give them a tangible form and make them easier to face. Write down something that causes you worry, stress, fear, or sadness. This is your Worry Monster." The second paper says: "When your Worry Monster is present, how does it make you feel? Any reaction is valid."
When both papers are written on, the writing on both will disappear as if absorbed by the paper, then the pages will animate and fuse, then begin to fold into a monster! Halloween is this month, is it not? There is no sense in not having a little fun. These little Worry Monsters will stomp off and begin roaming Camelot until they find a match-- someone who shares those feelings. Once they find an emotional matching Worry Monster, the monsters will return to their creator and grow to the size of kaiju. They are very light, enchanted paper, so even if someone or something gets stepped on, they won't be hurt or damaged. However, they are strong enough to pick their makers up and carry them to the matching monster who will do the same. Don't worry-- characters will be invisible while being carried by their monster, so their identities will be protected until they are brought to their match. The paper monster will turn to butterflies and fly away once their task is complete. What matches do after they are brought to each other is up to them-- but they will know, undoubtedly, that they share the same worries-- they are with someone who understands. Do it as many times as you'd like, for as many negative emotions as your character wants. For finding something to do, Celliwig offers a solution. While Lestari's people have spent their efforts this month enchanting papers, the people of Celliwig are less apt to share so openly. Instead, they take their time learning about a variety of holidays from other worlds, and come to find one they can apply their particular talents to. While most of their showcase in the past has been on light magic, a holiday such as Halloween plays in particular to their talents in dark magic. A number of locations that have opted in and won't interfere with other relief efforts have been enchanted with dark magics for brave souls to venture into and test their courage! What's more, each of these locations will yield tokens for the victors that can be used to gain prizes. All courage tests must be performed with partners. Costumes are encouraged but not required.
	The library has been converted into a haunted art gallery, many of which have had their paints and other implements enchanted. Some paintings will seem like they're watching you, others will seem like a small figure in the background is following you throughout the library in different paintings. A painting of fruit may start throwing the fruit at you and materializing it into real fruit, so you may find yourself pelted with tomatoes if you don't run fast! A single painting filled with black paint might start leaking and filling the room you're in, pulling you into shadow until you're stuck in the library's underground labyrinth. (Reference monthly quests here and here for more info about the labyrinth.)
There are a variety of paintings with different curses applied. Navigate through the library and escape the haunted paintings-- pairs who make it through without turning back will gain a Celliwig Token.
Another token can be gained via scavenger hunt in the Broceliande. Find cursed dolls from within tree hollows. The dolls will giggle and try to run away, may move when they're only visible in the corner of your eye if you set them down. What's perhaps a little spookier is that they take on the appearance of the first person to touch them, though they will never exceed three inches in height. Beware during your search, however, as there are a good many trees that have been transfigured into mimics. Though the mimics are not going to attack anyone, they do have giant hidden, wriggling tongues that will reach up and wrap the unalert up above the ground for capture. The only way down is if a partner fights the mimic, so don't go alone! Find a doll of both you and a partner and make it back to Camelot to obtain your token. The curse will break once they're exchanged for a token, so you can keep the cute little doll for yourself if you'd like.

The last test of courage invokes a temporary blindness hex on one of the partners. Both partners are walked into a soundproofed room, entirely silent in a way that truly seems to mess with one's head. The unblinded partner is only allowed to answer "yes" or "no" questions, though no one will fault them for giggling as long as they give no clues otherwise. The blind partner is to stick their hands into a tank of water with mystery items hidden within. These items may be mere objects like peeled grapes in soggy noodles, or perhaps the tank is filled with chicken bones and those tiny garra that eat dead cells and are sometimes used for pedicures. All the items are set up to feel spooky, but ultimately are unharmful. As long as the partner who can give clues doesn't break the yes/no rules and the item is guessed within 3 guesses, a token will be rewarded!

Bring tokens to the inn where a stall has been set up, with Gwion working the booth to exchange tokens for the following prizes: 1 Token: Celliwig glasswork glass set of 4-- spooky themed! It's filled with candy upon receiving, so they are friendly for everyone. 2 Tokens: Recipe: Smokescreen - Cast this spell on any liquid to make it billow plumes of fog. The smaller the water surface, the smaller the billow. A shot glass might just create a small whisp, but two mop buckets would be enough to fill up a medium room. Will not effect the contents of the liquid. Cannot be used on water bodies larger than a swimming pool (could screen about half a block). 3 Tokens: Recipe: From the Void - Summons a disembodied tentacle from the shadows. It takes a lot of energy, so you could probably manage up to three casts a day at most before becoming exhausted. Great for binding enemies, sneaking in small spaces, and reaching places you might not be able to otherwise. The tentacle will follow whatever command you have in mind upon summoning, so be sure to concentrate on the task at hand!

Comments

[doctorintern]

[ Fenton is honestly a little relieved, since they didn't know what they'd encounter in here. But he thinks better than to mention it. ]

Well, uh...a-at least this means we have more time to check out the other challenges?

[phoenixwiz]

Yeah, that is quite the relief that I was able to catch it after it finished running around. I’m pretty sure that the other doll has to be hiding somewhere in another tree.

(While he is speaking, he begins to notice that his cursed doll begins to take after his appearance slowly but surely: when the changes ended, the doll is now a three inches Harry before he had ditched his glasses the month before, even down to the lightning bolt scar on the right side of the forehead.)

Whoa! Amy, check this out: this doll now has taken after my appearance, but it also has my glasses even after my eyes got their vision fixed. So, which tree should we go for next?

[doctorintern]

Yeah... [ Though it doesn't look like the painting is done yet, as it prepares to lob something else at them. And this time it's joined by the one that had been staring at them, since it was no longer just trying to distract them. ]

We should, uh...leave, probably.

[phoenixwiz]

Good idea, we just need to find a path that can lead us out of here as safely and quickly as we can.

(He then channels his kinetic magic to send the objects away from him and Fenton onto opposite directions while he searches around for a path that they can use to escape this maze.

As he looks around for an exit, he soon sees one with no nearby enchanted paintings that might lead them to the right direction.)

Hey, we can take this one over here: maybe it can take us out of the paintings’ line of sight.

[bakudan_bambino]

I’ve really no use for them. I just kind of showed up here to get out of my apartment for once.

[Gokudera has a bit of a knack for destroying things and attracting trouble. He’s something of a harbinger of misfortune.

This activity seems relatively harmless, and he wants to get to know the Celliwig refugees better.]

[trueltning_fury]

You say that like I haven't camped in far worse conditions than this.

[and knowing him, probably enjoyed it. The offer makes him snort audibly.]

With you? Not on your life. Any deals between us haven't suddenly made me amenable to your company.

[eightfoldfiend]

[Yuber tips his visor up slightly with one claw and looks Geddoe over.]

I am rarely home unless I am sleeping and there is plenty of space to keep away from each other. The company you would have to worry about is the dead.

[He lowers the visor again.]

But whatever.

If the freezing winter is more agreeable to you then so be it.

[chatwithdeath]

Oh? So neither recipe being offered today interested you?

[She wouldn't mind getting either of them personally. She had enough glasswork from enchanting glass bells and the flowers inside.]

[sos_pilot]

I guess so... but they actually better be scary! I wanna be so terrified, I start to molt early!

[ #lifegoals ]

[bakudan_bambino]

Neither. Now, if someone else needs them, I’ll give them my tokens.

[He shrugs. Gokudera is ‘Smoking Bomb Hayato’ and with his elemental magic, he can make steam, has smoke bombs he fashions, and his lungs occasionally gush smoke. He has no need for any kind of smokescreen. As far as the glass goes, Gokudera isn’t interested. So maybe he’ll see if anyone else needs tokens, or help obtaining more.]

[chatwithdeath]

I see. Well, I do need one more token for the 'From the Void' recipe.

[Which she finds would come in handy either used directly or in other ways. Now, she didn't mind possibly trying another one of these... 'games' being hosted, but if he was willing to share a token, might as well see.]

[bakudan_bambino]

Oh. Here.

[Gokudera holds out his token for her, more than happy to share so she can obtain the recipe she needs.]

[chatwithdeath]

[She accepts, nodding to him.]

We can still play another if you would like.

[fujimaru]

Sounds good. Call me dense or whatever, but I don't really know what I'm supposed to get out of these blank canvases.

[ She's always been more into sports than studies; even if Ritsuka doesn't strongly identify as either a jock or a nerd in the battle of high school society, she knows she leans more in one direction than the other. There's probably some deep artistic meaning to having an entire hall of these blank canvases, but she doesn't really get it.

So instead, she grabs Monika's sleeve and tugs. ]

C'mon, let's get out of here and get coffee or something. You can tell me more about horror tropes or something. I'd be happy to listen.

[unhappy]

That's my point, that those movies are crap. It's sort of like if you watched a movie about magic and they kept using magic wrong for no reason because the real thing is way more impressive. Someone immortal can accomplish things no one else can because they don't fear death. If they choose that to be to kill a lot of people, they could do way better than harassing a bunch of teenagers.

[ She starts approaching a tree to check for dolls in it, leaning onto her tiptoes to try to peek inside of it as she keeps talking. It's just a normal tree, but no dolls. She's gesturing with her hands while she talks. ]

The best way to do it is to use theatrics to psych them out. Make someone commit a murder themselves so they're on the verge of a mental breakdown, or turn the people they care about against them. Or you can always just come in on them alone and have your partner dim the lights, slam books or whatever looks like a normal but exaggerated action that makes people jump, while you have a casual, friendly conversation and slowly build up to them telling you what you're there for. Then you can ask them if they're even going to fight back. Or make them see ghosts while they're alone and don't even know you're there, then come for their blindspot.

sorry about wait, work exhausted me @_@

[emet_sulk]

The tiny figure pops back down again, apparently satisfied that it hasn't been seen. It isn't clear whether it's Zidane's or Emet-Selch's doll double.

The real Emet-Selch meanwhile hits his makeshift weapon too hard against the mimic. The sword shatters and the tongue takes the chance to lash out, sweeping the Ascian off his feet. With a yell, he's sent flying towards Zidane.

[unfalteringwall]

[Honestly the lack of any sort of Poe representation across the Fate/ franchise is frankly criminal. There's so much potential there!!]

N-no, that's not what... [Mash shakes her head, color rushing to her cheeks at what a misunderstanding this whole ordeal had been. Was this really him? The real Edgar Allen Poe? How was that possible?] Never mind, it's not important.

But yes, of course I have: you're one of America's most famous poets! Um, my name is Mash Kyrielight and it's an honor to meet you, sir!

[unfalteringwall]

[Don't worry, Kyo. Mash is a pro at exposition - she'll get to the answer behind this mysterious encounter. She nods, thinking it through.]

Yes, it was rather sudden for me as well. One moment I was writing my notes and the next they'd turned into that hand and scooped me up to carry me here.

That's why I thought they must've had something to do with this. Perhaps... we had a common worry?

[peninhand]

Maybe it's meant to evoke the emptiness of life. The dreams and aspirations of countless that are never fulfilled. The void that awaits all living beings after death...

[ Monika said those words without really thinking about it. First thing that came to her mind when it came to blank canvases... Maybe yet another remnant of her existence in a horror game. Hopefully that wouldn't come off as creepy.

No matter, she nodded. ]

Let's go~!

[trueltning_fury]

Given your complaints about them, doubly-no thanks.

[they're surely exaggerated complaints, but it's a handy excuse]

If I manage to somehow freeze to death after decades of living in the wild, you're free to say 'I told you so' all you want. [points to eye points to Yuber's armor-clad ass] I'll remember what you did. Next time I may not be so patient and understanding about it.

you're all good

[tantailizing]

Creeping towards the doll now, Zidane's so close to catch it. However, while he does hear something shattering behind him, it doesn't occur to him that it might be the other guy's sword.

"Gotcha!"

And before the doll can scurry away, Zidane snags it... only to feel a body land on top of him.

"... Ow."

[floatsaway]

[Perhaps it's for the best. Ochako would have words for them all, no doubt. For the time being, however, she's trying to be on her best behavior during...all of this weirdness. It's odd enough she has to deal with her worries - let alone share them with a stranger who seems to be Not In The Mood™.]

Mm, yes, those two are very close. [She sighs a little, unable to really hide the sound, or the droop of her shoulders, but is quick to move on.] What sorts of things were you teaching De--eh, I mean... M-Midoriya, sir? Can you use Alchemy magic, too?

[mithrarin]

I'm a little surprised you're having trouble.

[Not that he's qualified to speak on the subject.]

[mithrarin]

"Let's just keep walking, then," Dust said, for lack of a better plan.

[milkmycattle]

[He stops when Ritsuka yells something out. At first, he doesn't see what she does, but she becomes even more insistent. Tugging at his shirt and points in the direction of what she sees. Finally, he sees the illuminated outline. Is this where the loop starts?]

I can try to see if I can dispel...whatever it is.

[ Instead of taking on a defensive stance, he's all offensive. He takes his guitar off of his shoulder and imbues it with his dark magic. He aims for that fissure on the wall and widely swings down to pierce through the magic. At first, he faces some resistance as the blade of his guitar hits something, but it can't cleanly cut through it. It feels like a powerful spell.]

Damn, it's stubborn!

[ The paintings on the walls seem to react. The frames shudder as if threatening to come off the walls. Some portraits are even spinning wildly around in circles. The whole corridor rumbles from the impact. Something is definitely happening!]