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

Belgium | Hetalia

[resistetmords]

I – Pumpkin Alcohol

Come on, step right up and get some seasonal, craft beer! Only 650 gold pieces a bottle~!

[She harked from a small stand that she had set up just a little bit away from her café. There was a menu in front of the stand that showcased the various brews, coffees, teas, and hot chocolate she had available. As well as a number of sweets and pastries (some were honestly probably leftovers that she had made earlier when she’d been over baking. All bordering around a bright sign that proudly showed the name “Trappist Café”.

Belgium herself was dressed up in her little costume and holding a tray of cookies. All shaped like little skulls, spiders, Frankenstein’s monster, and other, similar horror themes. Jello cups had also been arranged up front of various colors, with each having little gummy eyeballs and bugs in them. Next to those were slices of cakes that were also Halloween themed.]

Anyone wearing a costume will also be able to get a free cookie.

[She continued, her two pumpkin golems from the earlier event also flanking either side of the stand. Though they’re much smaller than before, they were still quite big, and were currently occupied with stooping over, jack-o-lantern faces grinning and massive, vine hands reaching out to offer a plate of cookies to any costumed passerby. Her lion also sat nearby, not looking all that happy with his sheet ghost costume that she made for him.]

II – Worrigami

First paper: ”Homesick, feeling incomplete, worried about home, friends, family, and my people.”

Second paper: ”Not quite as lonely? Like someone I care for is with me?”

[This was silly, she felt silly. Also, what sort of form would those thoughts and feelings take shape as? Well she was about to find out as the paper suddenly took the form of a giant, ostritch, bird thing. Only it had a tail and for legs. Not exactly a dragon, more like a really odd chicken. A dinosaur? België didn’t know. What she did know was that watching the thing speed off to find and do… whatever it was going to do, made her suddenly worry even more!]

Ah… what… what just happened!?

[And hopefully whoever it finds doesn’t mind suddenly being hunted down by some weird, paper, monster thing!]

III – Accursed Thanks

So-- so! What should we do first?

[She excitedly rocked along her heels, fully decked out in her costume as she took everything in. It was all a very nice break and distraction from the general stress that had been going on. It was also a nice break from running her little business in general. Almost like attending another festival or parade. The entire mood just simply lifted her own mood up substantially and made her glow with joy.]

[WILDCARD]

[If you don’t see anything you like here let me know, or simply write one up that you’d rather do~. Feel free to also check out the plotting post here if you want~.]

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[troubadamsel]

[ Maribelle, without a costume cause she's a party pooper, stops by to see what new things Belgium has cooked up this time.

...why are these all shaped like bugs and dead things. what the hell. why do people like this. ]

Is this a... custom, in your realm?

[resistetmords]

[Gasp! Maribelle, how could you not dress up!? She was sure that if anyone were to wear a costume, then it'd be her!]

Oh, yes! Sort of, things have kind of... changed over time. And it's a bit different depending on where you are. But the general idea is the same. This is the time when the dead can return to the Earth... and they usually bring along some really sketchy characters too. So! Making snacks used to be kind of a way to make them not cause too much trouble.

[Speaking of snacks! She goes ahead and holds up a plate of jello shots.]

You can also get super creative with your baking too! Aren't these just like, totally cool~!

[Someone was obviously very proud of her little creations.]

[troubadamsel]

Such odd rituals your world has...

[ Ugh. She really doesn't wanna taste this nonsense, but Belgium is really hard to turn down... She reluctantly takes one such shot, holding it up. ]

... These... aren't actual eyeballs, right?

[resistetmords]

Hm? You don't know have any similar festivals?

[Was it really that odd though? To believe that the dead should be venerated, or the idea that they can return in the time between late autumn and early winter.]

Oh, but no! Of course not, they're just little gummies that I made.

[Said shot had a bit of extra jiggle to it, with the gummy eye swishing and moving inside it gently. Yummy.]

[troubadamsel]

Not in my homeland, at least... though I can think of one or two members of the Shepherds who would enjoy this...

[ Henry, Tharja. She even misses you two awful, weird people.

But, after a grimace, she shuts her eyes and downs the entire shot! ]

... Oh! That... was actually all right!

[resistetmords]

Hm? You're not enjoying yourself then?

[Said shot was cherry flavored, while the eyeball was strawberry~. So very sweet, and so very delicious. She even made sure to keep them nice and chilled with an ice chest she had bellow the counter.]

See, everything here might look sketchy, but it's all delicious. Would you like another one? Or perhaps something else?

[troubadamsel]

I'm not sure I could stomach anything else, unless I keep my eyes closed. It tastes delicious, yes, but... this is a far fry from what I'm used to.

[resistetmords]

Ah-- then how about something less Halloween like?

[She's prepared for this dang it!]

[troubadamsel]

Oh? You actually have normal food here today?

[resistetmords]

[Normal food she says....]

But I always make normal food.

[Breakibg her heart here Maribelle! But yeah she'll go ahead and pull out a box of chocolates.

And these aren't just regular, run-of-the-mill chocolates either. These are true, belgian chocolates made by the country herself. Each as decedent, smooth and creamy as the next. Dusted with a light layer of cocoa powder to give that extra, finger licking goodness to them.

They. Are. Chocolate.]

Try one.

[troubadamsel]

[ Oh thank the gods. ]

Thank you, I'd be happy to.

[ She delicately takes one, puts it in her mouth...

CHOIR OF ANGELS SINGING IN HER HEAD. AND HER WORLD DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ANGELS. ]

This... this is wonderful!

[resistetmords]

[LIES, her world has Lissa! Who is an angel in every sense of the word.

Also Belgium is preening once more.]

Well of course it is! That is 100%, pure Belgian chocolate. Made by yours truly. I don't usually like to toot my own horn, but chocolate making is one thing that I excel at.

[She puffs up with pride!]

Want a box~?

[troubadamsel]

[ That is accurate! ]

Please don't tempt me! A lady must watch her figure... even if this is perhaps the best chocolate I've ever had...

[resistetmords]

Hm~? Yes, but one or two chocolate pieces won't do much. So long as you don't eat the whole thin in one sitting.

[Sweet, sweet honeyed words. Slithering out and trying to wrap themselves around the other girl. C'mon, you know you want more Maribelle~.]

[troubadamsel]

I certainly wouldn't do that! ... And I could always share them with Caster...

[ Her roomie deserved all the chocolates. ]

II

[milkmycattle]

[ Crow is used to the idea of putting his thoughts down on paper, sometimes venting helped him write some great songs. So he doesn't think it's weird at all to write down something that has been on his chest for a while. To his surprise, his papers transform into a miniature cow. Soon after its formation, the worrigami runs off. If that wasn't strange enough, when it returns to his side, the paper creature grows to the size of an enormous monster. The paper bovine allows Crow to ride on its back as it rushes back into town.]

Where the hell are we going?!

[ Crow tries to stand up to see where the cow is heading towards, but he only sees another paper monster on the horizon. It seems like the bovine is about to collide with the other monster that Crow almost closes his eyes to brace himself for impact. Instead, his paper monster starts to dissipate in a swarm of butterflies allowing him to land back on the ground. He sees a person in a similar horde of fleeting butterflies. Somehow when the other person is revealed, he gets why his monster brought him to this person.]

I've met you before, haven't I? Guess we have the same things on our minds.

[resistetmords]

Ah-- I think we've talked before?

[Maybe once a while back! It's impressive that he actually remembers. She's huffing and puffing a little bit right now, having only recently healed from a broken leg (for the most part), among other things. And now having to chase after a little, paper monster-thing, well it was kind of tiring!]

Hm? But we do? [Do they? Was that the whole point of the paper things? Find someone similar to what the other person is thinking? Or most similar to what they wrote down?]

I-I suppose we might have some similar things on our minds.

[milkmycattle]

[It was a while back. Honestly, he only remembers because she was pretty good with tending to the land. He was dealing with homesickness, and the farm has always been a place of comfort for him.

Those paper monsters might have some reason by bringing them together.He's not good at expressing his feelings verbally, so he kind of plays it off. ]

I didn't think it was such a big deal. I just wrote that I missed my home. I'm sure everyone thinks like that, right?

[resistetmords]

Ah-- so you're homesick then.

[There was a friendly smile being given! Being homesick was certainly part of her worries! So there was that, she didn't know if she was going to be able to help him out much with that, but would absolutely do her best!]

Well it is pretty common, but it's also still a bit deal too.

[milkmycattle]

Maybe I miss home...just a tiny bit. Like a speck, really.

[More like a fuckton! Though he's not going to admit that, but Belgium's kind smile is encouraging him to open up a little more. Crow doesn't really talk about it, he just suppresses it by keeping himself occupied.

He looks down and kicks at some random rock.]

You think it's a big deal? I mean there's not much anyone can do about it. You just got to cope with it as best as you can, y'know? Still...it'll be nice if my friends were here.

[resistetmords]

Of course, only just a little bit.

[She keeps up that smile, hands clasping themselves behind her back. It was never easy at all for other people to talk about their problems or worries after all.]

Yes, I do know. [Friends, family, there seemed to be a bit of that going around recently. Or with friends leaving suddenly.] But I do think it's still a big deal, especially when it begins to gnaw away at you and nothing seems to help.

[milkmycattle]

Yeah, it's something like that! Not that it bothers me or anything!

[Though, she describes that feeling pretty well. A gnawing with no way to alleviate the symptoms. In the beginning, it wasn't bad, but the closer that approaches being here for a year, it becomes harder to ignore.]

It's just we've been here for so long, and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. I know time is frozen and shit, but I'm just curious how everyone is doing! This world is great, but it's not the same as home!

[The music scene hasn't really gotten off the ground.]

[resistetmords]

It's quite difficult to be separated from people you care for, isn't it? Forced somewhere new and sometimes scary.

[That's something she understands and a little to used to.]

[milkmycattle]

Yeah...

[His ears droop slightly and his tail swings lowly as he stares down at the ground.]

I mean it's totally different from when I left the farm, when I went to Midi City, it was kind of intimidating too. Though, you could always go back home, whenever you wanted. In this situation, it's not like you could leave.

[ He then looks to Belgium.]

I made friends here and we've accomplished things together, but I can only imagine how it might've been if my friends from home were here! Don't you feel like that?