EVENT ✨ Wolf's Moon

[avalonmods]

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The Fairy Queen sends out an invitation for all otherworlders to an eccentric party with ulterior motives that aren't necessarily bad.. after all, they're protecting players from a ritualistic curse cast by escaped convicts from the Elphame prison. But that doesn't mean it's the party's entirely safe either.

CONTENT WARNINGS:

• 1st Prompt: Mild elements of body horror in the fairy queen's description (paragraph starting with "Opening the message"); this paragraph is description only and may be skipped without loss of content.
• 2nd Prompt: Ball prompts include reference to drugs, alcohol, smooching, and fake murder.
  
• 3rd Prompt: May have potential for mild body horror depending on player preference, as it features cynanthropy/lycanthropy.

The night before the full moon, a message is sent out to all the otherworlders in the land. In each person's inbox, the message sender reads simply "ELPHAME" and appears to have a verified account, despite that looking into it doesn't seem to reveal much content. The profile pic is simply a picture of a mushroom. Opening the message will reveal a video recording. For the first full minute, a woman simply stares into the video through one pure white eye and one wholly black eye. Her hair is white and fair and longer than can be seen in the video of her torso. Her skin is sallow, gray more than any other color, and her décolleté is peppered with what seems to be shells of mushrooms growing out of her flesh like they would on a tree, patches of bleeding tooth mushroom creeping down the side of her neck.
Atop her head, a headpiece made of platinum formed into the tiniest branches, filled with leaves of precious stones- diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and moldavite trailing down in long chains that keep her hair out of her face. Her lips are just slightly parted, painted in what seems to be an enchanted design that shifts patterns as she moves, as if they were a green screened galaxy in real life. There is a stud in the bow of her lips, and the top of her clothing appears to be colorful, but is only visible toward the top of her frame, as her top is low-cut to account for the fungi. A number of small stitched scars are visible, but largely healed. She tilts her head slightly. Even though it's only a video recording, it feels as though she is looking directly at your character. "You are busy bees..." A soft voice speaks, almost as if the wind itself is whispering in your ear and not from a recorded video. "Busy bees could barely bother, but bother is basically all you do. I bequeath you busy bees a bidding. Bother blithely, busy bees, in Elphame as bristling beauties are bound to do. A ball before you, beneath the Wolf's Moon big and bright, betwixt burgeoning fae blooms. Do not baa, do not bray, bruin nor boar will keep big bad wolf at bay. Bop and bounce, ballet you may, or brawl your basest behaviors in my ballroom before break of day. Broadcast not your boorish bumf, though, or busy bees will be broken brisker than bats banished from Beelzebub's borders and bound. Bless my bestowal and with bated breath I shall bade you betokened truth, if truth be told." Whether or not your character understood what was actually said or their brain shut down in the middle of those barely benign instructions, they may additionally notice fairy circles made of tiny mushrooms start to crop up regardless of where they are in Avalon.
	Once night falls, if a character dances in them they will be transported to a costume party within the ballroom of the fairy queen in Nicnevin. Costumes will be magically applied upon arrival, based on a favorite childhood fantasy. (Did they want to be an astronaut? A dinosaur? A cowboy? A cat? That's what they'll appear as.) You can choose from any age of childhood for your character, depending on whether you want to go funny or more serious about their later childhood dreams. Whatever your character chooses to do as part of the party, the following party happenings should be noted:
1. If your character or anyone they know uses your character's name or reveals enough information about themself, they will become unable to disobey the fairy queen in future events. They've technically been warned about this in the fairy queen's message, even if it wasn't easy to understand. B. Alternately, you can have your character's name be captured by a more mischievous party guest fae and play with that as you will. You can be released either by someone else killing your captured fae for you, or the fae saying your name backward. So if your character's name is Stevie, they would have to trick the fairy into saying Eivets. This option to NPC your own fae captor is endable on your own terms, but 1a will be on the fae queen's terms down the line. 2. The party itself is a protected area; refusal to attend or leaving the party before sunset will subject characters to the Wolf's Moon, which has been put under a ritual by a prisoner group released from the fae prison during the previous dark web quest, Banyanished. This ball is being held as a gift to otherworlders to protect them from the second part of this event. (See below for details.) Characters will be told that they are in a protective area if they try to leave and to trust the fairy queen, but will not be forced to stay against their will by the fae. The only people who may try to stop your character from leaving beyond telling them this information are other player characters. 3. Dancing, food (fairy food*), psychedelics and drink will be provided to those of age who want them throughout the night. If the partygoers don't seem to be having a good time or the party grows dull, the fairy queen (dressed in the award-winning submission to the Elphame Trader's contest some time ago) will make a demand participation in a party game. If your character is standing around and not participating in the general activities, they may be coerced to participate. Anyone may join willingly as well, of course. The following party games will be played throughout the night:

Spin the Bottle, Elphame Rules: Fairies are quite randy creatures at times, and the first game played is none other than spin the bottle. The rules are as such: when it is your turn, you are blinded by fairy magic and must spin the bottle. Once the bottle stops spinning, the person the bottle lands on will kiss them. The person who is kissed must guess who from the circle kissed them; a correct guess will mean they stay in and the blindness spell will be lifted. An incorrect guess will eject them from the circle and they will wander around blind for the duration of the game until a winner is declared. Feel free to play out gameplay or your character needing assistance after being ejected from the game circle.

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Truth or Dare: The standard game of truth or dare. Don't forget to be very careful, as certain truths may have dire consequences. (See point 1, be very careful.) You can play issuing and completing dares or asking and answering truths with other player characters or receive dares from NPC'd fairies, which may escalate to dangerous and magical lengths. The only solid rule is that no dares are permitted to require exiting the party to complete, and lying during a truth gives permission to fairies to steal your tongue from you if they discover your lie at any point, even after the party is over.

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Balloon Game: Everyone loves a good murder game! Everyone is outfitted with a single balloon. You may secure the balloon to yourself for 2 minutes before the start of the game. In the center of the game circle is a pile of close-range weapons varying in usefulness from binoculars and pots to knives, slingshots, axes and more. Magic is also permitted. If your balloon "pops" you are "dead" and will float to the ceiling to fly around until the end of the game, out of harm's way. Do not commit any actual murder or the balloon of the deceased will immediately wrap around you in a full rubber bodysuit and imprison you until the fairy queen can deal judgment. (If this happens, notify a mod so we can discuss Queen Elphame's judgment with you OOC.)

Helping to empower otherworlders to improve their chances of saving the world is the kind of task that can be a little.. subjective. A little questionable when it comes to consent, at times. After all, no one is here with their consent and no one was bonded with their familiar or given magic with their consent. What's a little more empowerment? Certainly, a group of imprisoned lycanthrope wizards seem to think they have something of a solution to increasing other worlders' potentials: a ritual using the Wolf Moon of January's full moon cycle to transform unprotected otherworlders into fellow cynanthropes or, in layman's terms, werewolves and other types of weredogs. Anyone not protected (at the party) will be affected by the curse ritual.
Cynanthropes in Avalon have the following characteristics: Character is now able to transform into a humanoid dog or wolf form to the extent the player chooses (go ears/tail or full-furry) Experiences enhanced strength, enhanced sense of smell, night vision, blood lust, and characteristics similar to the character's dog or wolf breed. These effects are only applicable the day before, the day of, and the day after the full moon from sundown to sunrise on each day. Note that new weredogs/wolves do not have control over their instincts for the first few months of transformations and will behave aggressively. If in an emotional state, they can lose control of their transformed form regardless of how long they have been cursed. Though characters can be killed by normal means throughout the month, they can only be killed by silver bullets during the 3-day full moon cycle Full-time side effects include cravings for meat, animal mages having mild influence over them, being able to eat food from Elphame without being bound to the land, and the occasional hair ball. It is up to players how painful they want the transformation to be/not to be; you can play this how you want and chalk it up to ritual reaction variation. Cynanthrope ritual curses are particularly strong and require at least two siphoners working together to break the curse, a counter-curse potion (only available through events), or a deal with a powerful being such as the fairy queen or Morganna. If your character did not attend the party, left the fairy queen's party, or wasn't at the Red Springs (protected by the mysterious crystals that turn it red during the full moon-- conveniently for your excuse not to participate in either prompt if you want to opt out!) they will become a werewolf or weredog.

Comments

Venat | FFXIV

[heartofthestar]

(ooc: Endwalker spoilers abound! Please refer to her permission post if you want to avoid them!)

Costume Ball, or That Wacky Ancient Society

[What had Venat aspired to be, before she grew up? Before she woke up to light and life and the wonderful world that stretched on for miles, that forever after would hold her heart? Why, the answer might surprise you.]

[...though her costume shall share no secrets. For in her time, one could not discern professions from dress. Venat wears her accustomed robes, save in black rather than white. Though she'd appeared with hood up and mask on, swiftly she'd doffed both, so rather than some aspiration of childhood wonder she more looks to be going through what some societies might term a goth phase.]

[And rather than participate in the festivities, this moment finds Venat looking up at a chandelier, her expression struggling to be firm and frowning much the way a mother might struggle to respond to a naughty child who had done something incredibly humorous.]

This is no way to comport yourself at a formal ball. Do come down from there!

[The creature to whom this statement is addressed -- a lizardlike being which some might name an axolotl, but Venat calls an 'ambystoma' -- looks down from its perch on the chandelier in perfect contentment. Formality shmormality, it's warm up here!]

Truth or Dare, or What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

So we choose, and then are bound to answer any question truthfully or perform any dare required.

[Restating the terms for herself, out loud but not meant to draw attention, Venat steps forward into the party area the rather pushy faerie had insisted she come to. Apparently, one was hardly allowed to linger and watch, never mind if they had been apart from society for so long they'd dearly and truly missed the chance to watch people without pressure or guilt!]

[Said fae instructs her in no uncertain terms to wait, not move, not leave, and not do ANYTHING until they get back with a partner or two for her. They then zip off, leaving Venat awaiting someone to play with.]

Balloon Game, or Dance Dance Convocation

[Everything for a very, very long time has been careful, cautious, planned, prepared. A grand design to be pushed this way and that as best she can, requiring contingency and countermeasure in numbers to deal with the vagaries of fate, the actions of her enemies, and the sheer peopleness of mankind. Is it so surprising, then, that Venat might wish to cut loose once in a while? To simply sink into the moment without a care for the future, and let herself laugh and live in the world?]

[Well, whatever you may think on the subject, she is doing it anyway. A balloon tucked into the hood of her robes where it hangs behind her, she rocks on the balls of her feet, a pair of blood chakrams gripped in her hands and a brilliant smile on her face. Not the gentle smile of a motherly ancient, but the vibrant energy worthy of the seat of Azem, mischief and eagerness in a luminous mix.]

Strike me down if you can, for I shan't fall easily!

Costume Ball

[fujimaru]

[ Ritsuka hears the scolding before she sees the creature itself, wandering over to peer up. She has one hand lifted to shield her eyes a bit from the chandelier's glare. She's dressed in a combination of this and this--there's not quite as much skin showing, but really, the important part (in her own opinion) are the chunky mechanical cat ears.

Some girls dream about being princesses, and some girls dream about being mech pilots, through the lens being aware of fanservice.

Never mind that, though. She takes a few seconds of scanning until she sees the little lizardlike thing, and blinks. ]

...aren't those supposed to be aquatic? How'd it get up there?

[ She wouldn't be able to name an axolotl precisely, but she knows her Pokemon. Wooper is definitely a water-type, and it looks similar enough. ]

[heartofthestar]

Ambystoma were birthed in a period where giving creatures the ability to fly was popular. For what reasons, I cannot say -- I was merely helping in that time, not administering nor approving.

[How long has it been since she saw a little one get up to such mischief? Even her familiar's naughtiness brings warmth to her heart, and a bright gleam to her eyes.]

[fujimaru]

Helping?

[ Maybe she's a breeder of exotic lizards? Can you even breed that into them? Who knows what magic is capable of? It feels like it's not outside of the realm of possibility, and Ritsuka certainly doesn't know enough to even do a fake it till you make it thing.

So she just hums, and when the little familiar looks at her, she lifts her other hand, wiggling her fingers in a greeting gesture. Whether or not it recognizes it as such, she's trying. ]

It's cute, though... I assume it's a friend of yours?

[heartofthestar]

And my familiar.

[Not her first choice, she must admit. Not her second, nor her third. Yet here the familiar bonds to the mage, rather than the creator shaping their familiar, and so her choices matter little. That is not the familiar's fault, although why this particular beast...]

[Speaking of, the abystoma bobs its head in bright acknowledgement of that little wave.]

At the time the abystoma were being researched for viability, I was assisting the researchers of Elpis in their work. Though I can take no credit for its creation or design!

[fujimaru]

You could tell me that, and I'd believe you.

[ She grins a little as she says it, watching the little thing's head bob. Why not? At this point in her career, Ritsuka's both seen and heard stranger. ]

It's definitely cute, though. Kind of reminds me of a friend of mine.

[ One who is decidedly less cute, but the resemblance is still there. ]

[heartofthestar]

A friend of yours? This sounds like a tale I must hear.

[After all, how often does one hear someone compare a friend to an abystoma?]

[fujimaru]

He's kind of... uh, I guess you could say that he's the kind of guy who's sort of a huge pain most of the time, but he'll still come through in a pinch.

[ As she says this, she's already fishing her phone out. Sometimes, being a child of the digital age is useful; there's a possibility she's breaking all sorts of NDAs, taking the photos she does, but this is her private phone! What the Mage's Association doesn't know won't hurt her. Time to go sorting through her photo galleries. ]

There's definitely a split between people who look at him and think, "yeah, I can trust that guy" and "I don't know why, but I kind of want to punch him in the face."

[heartofthestar]

[Venat considers this phrasing, then looks up at her familiar -- who, cheerfully and without remorse, remains up on the chandelier.]

Do you know, I think I understand exactly what you are saying.

[But all in good humor; she laughs gently, fingers curled before her as if to catch the laughter.]

Dance Dance Convocation

[sandinmyhair]

[A Miqo'te-sized fellow in a dinosaur costume and wielding a wooden spoon will answer your challenge! Despite... the hood drawn so far over his head that it hides his eyes.]

Then I shall, for I am not afraid of anything!

[He's quick and dances about with a lot of energy, but clearly has zero combat training....]

[heartofthestar]

[Oh. Oh dear. Is he trying to sharp her, convince her that he's unskilled, then strike without fear when her guard is lowered? Venat considers this for a mere heartbeat before choosing to act.]

[Both hands flick forward as she turns, hurling her chakrams in wide arcs that twist and converge on her erstwhile opponent. But she threw them to miss quite deliberately, one set to pass before him and one behind. And though she might be in graceful mid-spin, she still minds him well, the better to judge his reaction.]

[sandinmyhair]

[Bruno's combat ability begins and ends with dodging. He's really good at that. So good at it, in fact, that he realises it'll take minimal movement to avoid the blades.
However, when he goes to strike, his swing goes wide. Y'see that air? That air could have been his target. Yeah. It was lucky this time....]

Whups....

[heartofthestar]

[Well then. That accurate reading of her throws has her all the more suspicious and curious, particularly as his blow strikes so wide she doesn't feel so much as a twitch of defensive reflex in her nerves. As her chakrams whirl back through the air, she catches them neatly, completes her graceful pirouette, then tosses both underhand at him vertically.]

[Thanks to the spin on them and her skill, they'll curve straight upwards just before striking him, but with luck he'll not realize that and offer a reaction that lets her appraise him better.]

[sandinmyhair]

[He'd taken a step backward at that point, and as the blades come flying toward him he bends backward. It looks pretty impressive until he goes a little too far, loses his balance, and flails his arms. He ends up hopping randomly, still managing to avoid getting hit. Either he is a master of the drunken style or he really is that unskilled and ridiculously lucky.

His next swing looks as though it might hit, though one really wonders how he expects to pop a balloon with a blunt object....]

[heartofthestar]

[Well, she doesn't intend to permit him the chance to demonstrate! Venat skips slightly back, catching her chakrams as they spin back through the air into her hands.]

You're certainly a perplexing opponent! Perhaps I should try something different!

[sandinmyhair]

[He strikes a theatrical en garde pose.]

Whatever it is, I shall not fear it!

[Brave, isn't he? He circles to his left, and he moves like something out of an adventure play, all broad motions and seemingly boundless energy.]

[heartofthestar]

[The chakrams wash away, twisting into a rope that congeals as a sword in her hand. At the same time, a plane of light grows from her other arm, shaping itself into a shield.]

Now then. A more direct clash!

Truth or Dare

[tantailizing]

[It's one thing to be approached by a faerie that insists he follows to play a game, but another when it's also interrupting a conversation he's in. But thinking about the Queen's invitation again, they really don't have the same formalities so he guesses his conversation is over.]

[Walking over, he raises his hand when he sees someone just... standing. Why is she standing? But this is who the faerie is bringing him to.]

Yo! So, playing Truth or Dare, huh?

[heartofthestar]

I have been told such, in no uncertain terms. [She extends a hand and offers half a shrug -- bemused, it must be said, that she has been put in this situation, and thus willing to overlook the rather forceful nature of it all. Why get angry, when anger serves nothing?] May I presume you too have encountered the same diplomatic request?

[But then Venat smiles, curling her fingers in front of her lips.] Though if you answer that truthfully, we may have already begun.

[tantailizing]

Not really a diplomatic request, was it? Sounded more like a demand, but yeah, I'm here to play.

[Meanwhile, he chuckles and shakes his head.]

Not yet. You gotta ask Truth or Dare. [Which he seems all too eager to begin playing. Hey, the less talk about some things, the better really.]

[heartofthestar]

Certainly then. [She lifts one hand gently, the mildest of half-shrugs.] Truth? Or Dare?

[tantailizing]

[He makes a big deal thinking about it. Hand on his chin, eyes narrowing a bit as he tilts his head, contemplating which one... but he already knows what he wants to start with.]

How abooout... truth!

[heartofthestar]

Very well. What is the most terrified you have ever felt?

[That seems like a revealing question, without being one of the worst she could offer -- or far too mild, which she wonders if she runs too close to achieving.]

[tantailizing]

The most terrified? Hm...

[Placing his hands on his waist, he has to think about it.]

... I think it's when I found the answer to a question I had for the longest time. Almost to the point I wish I didn't find out, but it's better I did.

[Which is a vague, but true answer. And since it doesn't seem like any fairies are coming over to get his tongue, he's safe.]

Alright, truth or dare?

[heartofthestar]

[Thou must live, die, and know... That response hits very, very close to home. But as he seems to have taken his answer much better than some people she could name, she lets it go.]

Truth for truth.