EVENT ✨ Something (Celli)Wigged This Way Comes

[avalonmods]

QUICK NAV: LOGS ⚔️️ NETWORK ⚔️️ MEMES ⚔️️ OOC ⚔️️ NAVIGATION This is the event log for IC comments only! Ask OOC questions/plot/view event notes HERE or use the FAQ for general questions. Click here to view top-level comments only.

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

[sos_pilot]

[ She waits as he inspects the painting, mentally counting down from fifteen. Silent. Suspicious.

... Three. Two. One -

She shouts at his ear, gripping his shoulders - ]

BOO!

[prontissimo]

[ Mission accomplished, Della.

Alberto screams and just about jumps out of his skin, dropping his silly harpoon with a loud clatter, which makes it even more scary. Useless — what was he gonna do with it in the first place if he drops it so easily?! He spins around with wide, wild eyes fixed on her, even as he kneels to grasp at his harpoon blindly, hands clambering through his ghostly cloak and all the fishing net draped over himself... It takes him a short second to catch his breath, gazing up at her flabbergasted, and a slightly longer second to find his words, though it's clear in his tone that he's not mad, not actually scared, just... shook up a bit. Exactly as planned, eh? ]

Oh, my— Signora! You scared the scales off me! Oof...!

[ He sighs, deflating as he gets his bearings again, but gets himself right and stands straight again, puffing his chest up as he so often does. All show. Always, but, uh, especially now. He shoots her a funny look, raising a skeptical brow, but he can't disguise a small, crooked amused smirk, shaken as he is. It's about time someone gave Alberto a dose of his own medicine. She's just, uh, a lot better at it than him... ]

[sos_pilot]

[ Della, for her part? Is laughing hysterically. Tears in her eyes, holding her gut, rocking back and forth as her cackles echo throughout the empty museum. Really, it's fitting she's dressed as a devil, the little troll.

Once she gets some semblance of control over her speech... ]

Hahahaha - I'm sorry! Hahahaha - I couldn't resist! Hahahahahaaaaaa - I won't do it again, I promise!

[ She holds up a hand, like a peace offering. She always keeps her word, so she definitely won't spook him again. But yeah, these five minutes have made the whole experience totally worth it. ]

[prontissimo]

[ For all his years alone, for all his time attempting to play ringleader in his tiny friend group (if 1-2 friends can be even called a group) to no avail, either grumping or taking the role of junior prankster himself... he's not used to being the butt of the joke. It takes him a second to kind of register being laughed at, the joke being at his own expense for once...

...but surprisingly, it's actually refreshing. He knows Della — he likes Della. He knows it's in good humor. And it draws a cockeyed, sheepish smile over his face, letting out a breathy little chuckle in spite of himself. After all, the very first word he ever spoke to his best friend back home was "Boo," although far more sarcastic in his delivery... but poor Luca wasn't in on the joke at first, either, even less so than this — Alberto scared the scales off the poor kid, too. He deserved this jump scare, frankly; the "boo" karma was long in coming. He collects himself and pushes forward, resting his harpoon over his shoulder casually. ]

Heh... Okay, Signora. Next! Hah!

[ He points forward enthusiastically. He'll try to think of some payback. It's gotta be well-timed, though... ]

[sos_pilot]

[ After some more copious giggling, Della does manage to walk forward, trying in vain to calm down. ]

Oh, boy, I love this time of year! It was my favorite holiday when I was a kid! And me and my brother, Donald, would wear "opposite" costumes! Like last time, I wore a costume like this, and his was an angel! I'm really amazed he didn't trip on his robe at all that night...

[ As she walks, Alberto may notice Della is taking a wide berth around any paintings that contain oceans, or ones about being underwater. Not looking at them, not acknowledging them, just... making sure to walk as fast and as far away from them as possible. ]

[prontissimo]

[ In fact, he does notice that, because she may notice that his eyes are lingering on all the aquatic paintings... He's smiling faintly at she talks about her brother, rather wistful-like, being an only child of a single parent, himself; but his brow is a little tugged by the paintings of water as they come across what seems to be a short series. He's glancing at them a bit nervously as they walk along, feeling faint flicks of water against his cheeks when he leans in too close to one, which he very quickly wipes dry with the edge of his cloak, taking a wide step farther away. His eyes linger on a strangely mesmerizing painting next as he speaks, leaving his voice a little distant and distracted, but not enough to really take him off-course. ]

We didn't have this holiday where I'm from... All of this is new to me... I never—

[ His train of thought is interrupted, though, as one painting in particular stops him in his tracks, entranced, completely the opposite reaction to Della's avoidance of the aquatic scenes. ]

Woah...~! Look...!

[sos_pilot]

Hm? Why, what's that -

[ The lightning 'flash' illuminating the whale does what she thought would not happen.

It spooks her. ]

GAH! BIG FISH!

[ She then makes sure to stay behind Alberto, gripping his shoulders... before realizing what she just did/said.

Pause.

Awkward throat clear. Nervous laughter. ]

Haaaahahahaha... it's... just a bunch of people walking through the ocean? Toootally normal. Nothing weird or spooky or gross about that! Nope. No sir.

... Let's keep going!

[ someone is not winning an Oscar this year. ]

[prontissimo]

[ Her reaction surprises Alberto, and it's clear on the half of his face that's visible. But a widening smile cracks over his face, and he raises his hands menacingly, putting on a silly voice, harpoon still clutched faithfully in one. ]

Oo~oooh~! Spooooky fish~! Ha!

[ He makes exaggerated chomping noises, biting at the air, before clapping her on the back with his free hand and laughing as they continue. ]

That was a huge shark, right! And those humans were walking, like— through the ocean! Like they're invading! They had fire and everything! Scaaaaary~ People where I'm from would definitely think that's scary, too, ha— don't worry~

[ He grasps her shoulder affectionately. The way he talks about that painting is a bit strange, for someone apparently human, but, y'know, not too strange... Maybe he's just being empathetic. And he is, regardless. But he's also amused. He won't ask questions, but— he kinda gets it, for as much as he absolutely doesn't. ]

[sos_pilot]

[ Oh how the turn tables...

Della's cheeks flush red - and amazingly, yes, it does show through feathers! - and it takes a bit longer for her to get over her embarrassment than the actual child with her. She refuses to make eye-contact with him and grumbles a little, arms crossed. ]

I wasn't scared! I was just... surprised! You don't see that every day... You don't WANT to see that every day.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto loves seeing Della react this way, it's completely sideswiping him, and he can't wipe the growing grin off his face, even as he responds in earnest. ]

Really? Well, I liked it! I thought it was cool! Wouldn't that be cool? If the water could split in half like that? Heh! It was so pretty~! Ha!

[ He may be voicing his honest thoughts about the painting, but just the fact that he's voicing his honest thoughts like this is somehow an act of teasing... ]

[sos_pilot]

[ Enjoy it while you can, Alberto, because it might get uncomfortable real soon. ]

Blehhhh. You'd fit in with the rest of my family, at least... They went underwater and went "oooh" and "aaah" at all the mermaid hippies. You ask me, you can keep all those gross, disgusting sea creatures to yourselves!

[ She shudders and makes a gagging noise. ]

sorry this is like 20 years late rguihlfjks but down to continue if you are!!

[prontissimo]

[ And in a flash, that grin cracks, and Alberto looks absolutely crestfallen... He knows she's a sky monster, so she probably doesn't have much affinity for sea monsters, like land monsters don't... but... somehow... those were the last words he'd expected from her. The over-the-top gag is what really cuts him to the quick for some reason, as his brow knots and quivers. Even down to the fake retching, he can't help but think of Ercole... "Everyone is horrified and disgusted by you! Because you are monsters!"

Alberto turns his face away, hiding his expression beneath his shark-ghost costume's hood, glancing dejectedly down at the ground as he presses on walking, and forces a mirthless chuckle to mask his hurt. ]

H-Heh— yeah... Disgusting... Ha.

[ He skips a beat, worrying his bottom lip, before taking a breath and straightening up again with some bravado, pointing his harpoon sharply forward at arm's length. ]

C'mon! Let's keep going!

[ He doesn't think this is the end for them — he likes Della, Della likes him, and for all she knows, he's tooootally human, even for how little experience she has with humans, too. They'll stay friends. But... all it means is that he's learned a new fun fact about her tonight. That he can never be fully honest with her — or fully himself. What's more, it reassures him that his instinct to hide his true self, even in a magical and wild world like this with all sorts of monsters and all sorts of people, was totally grounded and sound reasoning — you never really know... He's better off lying. Not that he didn't know that already, though, hah. His heart hurts, and he'll laugh that off, too — just like everything else that's ever hurt him. Like water off a... dack's back. ]