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

[eightfoldfiend]

I have.

Wretched humans have been skulking around my home lately.

[He frowns.]

Hm. Maybe they all wish to die?

Why the sudden interest in this place?

[He genuinely doesn't know, he doesn't keep track of holiday activities in New Camelot.]

[trueltning_fury]

[neither does Geddoe really but at least he knows the value of keeping an eye on his phone for information]

Some sort of harvest festival coming up. I don't know all the details but a lot of the emphasis seems to be on...ghosts, and things. [dryly and full of sarcasm] People are probably looking for some around here.

[he's really really not interested in tipping Yuber off about the overall hunt for his murdering ass but prevention is better than cleaning up bodies]

I strongly suggest you not actually kill them. I'm sure it's tempting but you would be suspect number one.

[eightfoldfiend]

Tsk!

[Yuber sneers unpleasantly.]

I won't attack but if they draw weapons on me I won't hesitate to have a bit of fun.

[trueltning_fury]

[it's the best he can hope for, really. Anyone stupid enough to draw a weapon on this armored mass deserves what they get. Geddoe has no choice but to shrug it off.]

And if they come crying back to town about the big scary fellow who kicked their asses, it'll mean even more people might come to bother you. Make the right choices if you would prefer to exist quietly.

[all he's got is logic; someday it'll come back to bite him but not today?]

[eightfoldfiend]

I want to exist in chaos.

[He walks towards Geddoe, his armor rattling in the darkness. Once upon a time he could walk in total silence, but this world has taken even that from him.

He hates it.

For a moment he hangs on to that hatred and anger, lets it fill his heart, then he lets it go. There is nothing for him to channel his rage into.]

I'd hoped that all of these disparate cultures and refugees descending on New Camelot would spark conflict. But so far? Nothing...Odious silence.

How disappointing.

[trueltning_fury]

[Geddoe twitches a bit but doesn't go for his sword. So far, it's just talking. He can handle that]

That's because a disturbingly high number of people here are just civilians. Children. Artists. People who like people and are happy to live in harmony with them. They know nothing of war. I could hold the number of skilled fighters in my fist.

[he's not completely judging, since after all, peace is a good thing and lack of conflict is better for everyone, but he knows why there's no chaos. At least, not yet.]

But the dragon that awoke didn't attack us, it attacked Celliwig. I can't help but feel there's a reason and that reason, when it comes to life, will bring you all the chaos you want.

[eightfoldfiend]

I hope you are right.

But I doubt it.

[He sneers.]

Someone will try to stop the chaos before it can even start. Someone always does.

...And what if they succeed?

Where will I drink my fill of discord then?

[trueltning_fury]

[WELL...Yuber is not wrong. Someone always does]

Come for me, then. If I'm wrong, come at me and I'll give you all the discord you could possibly want.

[that's what it's come to, has it? Attack me please I will gladly fight you. Geddoe sighs to himself even as he says it, but he also doesn't take it back. Someone or something fucking fight him, please.]

I still think enough of them are so stupid that they won't understand what's going on until it's already bitten them in the ass. But if one person stands up to stop it before it goes too far, you're free to attempt to take it out on me. I won't hold back.

[eightfoldfiend]

[Yuber tilts his head and stares curiously at Geddoe.]

You would submit yourself to my blades just to spare some other human their worthless life?

You are....peculiar.

[trueltning_fury]

[he's starting to understand Yuber's constant complaint of boredom, and that's the real problem]

I can take you. What are we, now, one to one, technically?

[he's droll but god, underlying his sarcasm is the sort of annoyed boredom that could really start affecting him if he's not careful. Over 100 years and he's done almost everything, why not pit himself against the only foe to make him break a sweat?]

[eightfoldfiend]

[Yuber's broad shoulders rise up in a shrug with a metallic clatter.]

I don't keep track.

But you do.

....Interesting.

[trueltning_fury]

Old habit.

[says the man stupidly capable of carrying grudges for decades. Dryly, at that.]

Gotta keep things interesting as the years stretch on.

Well. You've answered my question, at least. I'll trade you a warning: at some point, entertaining yourself is going to bite you in the ass. Our pact will mean nothing if someone else gets bothered by your actions and comes after you.

[someone else meaning not Chris; it's pretty obvious the regular old knights are slow to act but someone, somewhere, might not be. And Geddoe itching for a chance to end this entanglement or at least stand by and say I told you so means he won't rush to interfere. Fair warning given, and it'll be his last one. He hopes.]

[eightfoldfiend]

[There is a long silence as Yuber considers this, then...]

And do you know who that someone might be?

So far the little king and his guard have not moved against me.

Perhaps a few of the night guilds have, but they're nothing more than annoying insects.

[trueltning_fury]

Yes, I found a couple of your night guild remnants...

[fortunately, the only kills he could reasonably trace back to Yuber, literally no one of consequence. Except that they were alive once.]

I have my eye on a couple of the fighters with both the moral compunction and the sword skills to challenge you. So far they're distracted by more crucial matters, what with everything going to hell in the past month.

[not naming names so Yuber doesn't preemptively seek them out; Hawke and the other two or three knightly types may not even be an issue, if Geddoe can slyly talk them down.]

So far, none of them have even tried to sniff out your trail. So far.

[eightfoldfiend]

Feh!

So many so-called heroes trying to stop the discord. I don't know why. I think this city needs some shaking up.

[He says all of that out loud, mostly to himself. The visor tilts towards Geddoe then.]

What about you? What have you been up to during all of this? Since coming back from playing with my skeletons, I mean.

[trueltning_fury]

[at least the truthful answer is not "plottting against you" this week]

Laying low. The city is overrun with refugees, I gave up my room in order to camp outside instead.

Most of what I do is entirely uninteresting to the likes of you, but I can say quite honestly I'm doing absolutely nothing at the moment.

[eightfoldfiend]

Camping?

[Yuber looks back over his shoulder and brushes a lock of golden hair away from his gorget.]

How selfless of you to surrender your room when winter is nearly upon us.

Hm.

[Then he looks back at Geddoe.]

Why camp when you could just live here with me until the warmer weather returns?

[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.

[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.