EVENT ✨ Sugar and Siege

[avalonmods]

QUICK NAV: LOGS ⚔️️ NETWORK ⚔️️ MEMES ⚔️️ OOC ⚔️️ NAVIGATION This is the event log. If you have questions about y event, reply to this comment HERE. Click here to view top-level comments only.

 

 

The fairy queen is less than pleased, but not angry, with how her quest went. She has Princess Bluebell of the Guinea Pig Nation speak, and Princess Bluebell also has a favor to ask... which seems to be the calm before the storm, as an unknown third party who made off with the Fisher King earlier this month have performed a ritual to resurrect him and left the veil open, letting in untold forces that have engaged in a Wild Hunt... and the prey is Camelot.

CONTENT WARNINGS:

• 1st Prompt: --
• 2nd Prompt: Active: Battle, disease, famine, living death, rage; Historical/Not active in prompt: mentions of serial killers, murder, biological warfare, god/human love affair
  
• 3rd Prompt: --

This prompt is backdated slightly and takes place on February 18th.

A live broadcast comes to everyone's devices, featuring a rather peculiar speaker. "Attenchun, kindly o-otherwowders! Tis I, Pwincess Guacachia Bluebell of the Guinea Pig Nation of Nowth Elphame. Though our home is too small to be noted on the Laage Neighbow's maps, I asschuwe you I am caulified as Ambassadow for Chween Elphame. Though you had failed her chwuest, many of you have shown the twust she asked fow even if not the bwains. Those who have will be shown gweat gwatichude, but she does feel [squeaking sound of dismay that cannot be translated out of guinea pig adequately] as the Fishaa King's body was pawt of hew pwans to dishmanchle the Cawamidy and didn' want to speach chuday because of it. Evewyone send good wibes and wikes, she won't speak when she's not
[again: squeaking sound of dismay that cannot be translated out of guinea pig adequately]... the Cawamichy won't be ended if you all don't wowk with the Chween, King Awfur's gwaces or notch, you know! But that's none of myyy busy-ness! Elphame offews a rewawd fow the Fishaa King's body now, much to keep you "fat and happy" for many yeaws!    I also have a favew to ask on behaaf of my people. Our Festiva of Life is next week and the usuaw souwce of one of the chey ingwediench of our festiva cakes was a Leschawian, bwessings to them!" As it turns out, the Guinea Pig Nation (all talking guinea pigs who like to dress up in various outfits- in style now in particular is old western themed outfits, but the Princess must always wear her crown) are in a pinch because their Lestari hook-up for the feathers died in the fall of Lestari. They need help to pluck feathers from a bird called the Prism Tweeter! Their people love to decorate the outside of their Festival of Life cakes with their feathers, which are made of finely spun sugar in a variety of colors. These birds are typically found in the first Ash Mountain, but upon its fall, migrated to live in the Forest of the Felled as one of its new, more colorful residents. It only takes one feather to cover a cake, so pluck no more than one feather per bird and the whole flock will go unharmed... the only trick is catching these delectably sweet aviators: The birds can magically phase through physical, non-enchanted objects, so you have to surprise them to grab them. The plus side is, they really love vanilla beans, so they're easy to lure out of the trees.. you don't have to be George of the Jungle to help out the pigs.   More of a stay-at-home kind of helper? That's fine too. They need bakers to make as many tiny cakes as they need for the festival since it's so last minute this year! Hurry up and grab a friend to get to baking 3-layer 1 inch cakes wrapped in rainbow feathers to help these little guys out. The Elphame Traders will make a special trip to Camelot to pick up all of these cakes as a favor to the Guinea Pig Nation, so you can stay at home and bake with your friends no matter where you live. This prompt takes place on February 22nd and February 23rd.
	A few days after the fun and fancy-free stylings of the Guinea Pig Nation ahead of their Festival of Life (you weren't invited, sorry, too big you would destroy their homes- but they appreciate the help!) things are going pretty mundanely. That is, until what sounds like a battle cry is heard approaching New Camelot. On the horizon, what appears to be a massive cavalcade of demon horse-riding wraiths lead by four knights in what appears to be ancient armor rush toward the city. A few of the locals who hear the sound and come out to see what all the fuss is about immediately seem to spook, shouting something about the Wild Hunt. Usually it's something preserved for earth and those who find it will be taken along and dumped either in Avalon itself or taken straight to the underworld, but their presence here in Avalon.. well, that can't be good. The shouting seems to alert the castle, which seems to alert more people, and within a matter of minutes people are being rushed to take cover within the castle walls for siege.
All of Camelot's gates are closed and people are directed to a couple of different places: knights and those who wish to fight are to prepare for battle at each of the gates. Healers who wish to stay and help the wounded are to gather in the citadel, where the injured will be taken. Those who wish to battle and heal will act as field medics to get people into a state enough fit to be taken to the citadel. Those who wish to offer other support may be asked to hand out food and water within the citadel or fetch supplies around the city, or to rush to the library to try to figure out what the hell is leading this hunting party toward them. King Arthur will lead the knights into battle. Merlin will also be assisting in battle, using a variety of magic from atop the castle. If your character gets into a pinch and you aren't sure how to get them out, feel free to have him send a magic spell to block an enemy. Knights given the authority to direct other fighting characters as they see fit (though your non-knight fighter's compliance is, as always, depending on your choice as a player).  Those who wish to opt out of this event entirely will be whisked away by some of the Fairy Queen's spies to Nicnevin for safekeeping. If you do not want your character to remember or acknowledge any portion of this event, we can handwave that the Fairy Queen arbitrarily found your character annoying and put them under a sleeping spell for the duration of their stay. This will be done before the outer city gates are broken through, so your character can be safe the whole time and just chill in a hotel room in Nicnevin. Those who stay will be fighting wraiths (unkillable enemies) lead by four beings called the Knights of the Veil. Those who have rushed to the library to find answers will be able to spread the following information regarding the enemies, though first-hand experience may also be how your character finds out some of it: The Knights of the Veil live in the void between the world of the living and the dead and escaped when the veil was not closed during a ritual to raise a heavily cursed and protected corpse back to life. Though there's no way to know which corpse, recent news of the Fisher King's body going missing leaves some speculation and fear about who it was that was raised, but no one has any idea who did it. The Knights of the Veil have touch-based magic in addition to weaponry which you may have your character afflicted by at your behest. The four knights are as follows: Carlea: Once a proud Queen, she sold her soul to the darkness after her husband was killed by enemies and the prince of the enemy nation forced her to marry him. She used this ability to brutally murder every last citizen of her enemy's kingdom over time in secret and feed them to a pet bear she was gifted by her new husband, saving him for last. Carlea's touch will invoke a curse of famine, causing all food and drink to turn to ash in the touched individual's mouth. Rubion: Rubion was a serial killer in his world known for killing over a hundred people, though the exact number is not known. Who he was before that isn't particularly known, but as a killer, he was known for brutally killing anyone who crossed him in a fit of rage. He was from a time before forensics and tended to kill witnesses, so he was never caught. That is, until he missed seeing a small child hiding under his bed during one of his rampages. The child's grandfather took him in and killed Rubion himself after he found out why the child would not speak for a month straight. It is thought that his own god cursed Rubion to stay in the void where he could not torment his victims in the afterlife too. Rubion's touch will invoke uncontrollable, violent rage and turn even the smallest slight into a mountainous anger. Augusto: Augusto was the general of an army who used the blood of his people's sickly to spread disease in conquering nations. He did not choose to become one of the Knights, instead being cursed to eternal damnation by a priestess in one of the villages he wrought destruction upon. Augusto's touch will inflict a disease of the player's choosing upon their character, at full height of symptoms within 30 minutes of touch.  Pien: Pien is a god of an older religion who was banished from the heavenly kingdoms for loving a human so much she attempted to give her eternal life despite that it was forbidden to grant eternity to mortals. She has a high-and-mighty attitude, and if disrespected will disrespect you right back with dignity-obliterating consequences. Her followers tended to be on the M side of things. Her touch will invoke conscious zombieism, meaning that your body will die and begin to rot despite still being able to move, and you will be aware and able to communicate and feel during this experience.    The Knights and Wraiths cannot be killed by any means as long as the ritual remains in effect and their tie to the underworld is stable, so for the time being this is a heavily unwinnable battle. Thankfully, wraiths are not very coordinated even if they are aggressive in battle so it's easy to dodge, flee, or take cover.

On the second day of the Siege, devices will flicker with a face we haven't seen in some time. She is this world's mother goddess, after all, so if threatened she will come to offer reprieve. Morganna looks almost amused at how much destruction had been wrought by the actions of, truly, one man and those he had strung along. Morganna will not punish nor reveal them, but she will speak on the matter: "Those wishing for this to end, rejoice. I have birthed verbena upon your doorsteps. Take another's hand, light a candle and burn the flowers. Whisper 'lights out' three times together, and pray to send some of your magic to me. I need as many of you to do it as possible, or else I will not be able to freeze time fast enough to stop the calamity from engulfing this place afterward when I complete the ritual shutter."
That is all she says. The ritual won't do much if only one person does it outside of today as Morganna is keeping secret what she does on her end to complete it. If your character's name is possessed by the fairy queen, they will be forced to participate in this ritual so they may notice something odd if they weren't intending to do it. After the ritual is complete, all personal rituals will be voided and need to be recast. (This includes things like brownie summoning spells or the banishing of lesser frost fairies if your character was doing that from last year to keep their house warm.) This will also cause both the sun and moon to black out for about a day afterward, so you may want to get on board with artificial lighting or spells until a party heading to Celliwig to repair that ritual can get out there in about a day's time. The most dangerous ritual that has been broken will be the time freeze. Morganna uses everyone's magic to give herself superspeed to recomplete the ritual to recast it, along with a significant portion of the Isle of Avalon's itself that had been built up in surplus having everyone here for so long. However, there are still 2 seconds in which the massive event that threatens the multiverse can move forward. It is now visible in the sky to the north during the night even without being at the End of the World, and will stay that way for the duration of isleofavalon until the multiverse is saved. It is outright terrifying if you travel to the End of the World now, taking up the majority of the sky. For a month afterward, those who participated may find themselves fatigued without clear cause... but in general, magic will be misbehaving and causing accidents for everyone for about the next month.

Comments

Taichi Nanao 🐶 A3!

[arf]

A. Guinea Up, Pawner - Closed to Azul!
[ It's toward closing that Taichi comes to Azul's restaurant, Golden Silence. He has a favor to ask but he knows that at least for him, brownies take care of the cleaning at night, so obviously whatever restaurant fairies exist, they'll also come at night so he doesn't want to pester Azul before opening when they won't come.

(Believe him, he's tried to get them to clean during the day, and brownies weren't having it.)

So he pops into the restaurant probably about 15 minutes before it's time to close and finds Azul, pressing his hands together to plead and bending over in at least a 60 degree bow. He's got a cooler with him full of ingredients (including feathers) already collected, so at least he's not making Azul foot the bill. ]

I need to use your kitchen please!

B. The Wild Hunt - OTA, free healing! (Camelot)
[ Taichi is not a fighter. Not in a way that counts when it comes to a siege against the dead, anyway. Which is why it's probably surprising to anyone he knows that he's choosing to stay behind in Camelot. He can heal, which means he can help. Maybe this place isn't where he's from, but he's been here long enough that it's his home, so he's going to do what he can to help the people that he wants to protect out. He can't do much, but he can do this.

He fires off small healing spells via DM toward everyone he knows who works at Kaika Theater- the text with it simply says Open attachment if you're hurt! Call if you need more! It's not strong- but if someone takes a non-fatal hit, it'll definitely at least close at least one wound.

Anyone Taichi runs into, he'll ask if they need to be healed or if they're okay. But he didn't see Hikaru in the Citadel, so he's for sure not leaving until he finds him and hears or sees that all of his friends are safe. Even if he's so scared right now he's definitely cried judging by the redness and slight wet around his eyes. ]

C. Unideal Solutions - In the Dark, OTA! (Nicnevin)
[ At some point, Taichi did manage to make it to the safety of Nicnevin after prioritizing Hikaru, who wouldn't leave without him. That doesn't stop him from screaming when the lights go out. ]

I'M BLIND!! HELP!

[ ...Look, he did the candle ritual, but he blew it out after he was done so he's just kinda standing there thinking he can't see anything now. Help him. ]

D. Wildcard
[ Have another idea? Hmu tartetatin or taylotjelly#4556 on discord. ]

[dottedline]

[Azul sits behind his desk, having been going over the books for the day as they finish up, and just stares at Taichi and the cooler.]

Why?

[They can discuss the subject of payment in a moment.]

[arf]

The guinea pigs are in dire need of tiny cakes, didn't you hear!? I was talking to this one who has like, space cowboy vibes... anyway! He was saying they didn't have enough bakers to get it done in time, so he asked for my help! And I wanted to help them, but I'm not great at baking so I thought supervision would be nice and you've got way bigger ovens than my little one at the apartment so we can bake way more at once if you let me use your kitchen!

[dottedline]

[Well, at least he was smart enough to realize he needs supervision. Azul sighs.]

And how will you pay for use of my kitchens? Those take time and effort to clean, you know.

[arf]

Um... um...

[ He blinks a couple of times. Wait something doesn't add up here. ]

They don't just clean themselves!?

[dottedline]

[. . .

No, no, Azul isn't going to hide his utter shock at how dumb Taichi is this time. Just some mild open mouth staring for a moment before he shakes his head.]

No? Why would they? I'm not going to enchant anything to clean itself, that is one of the first things we learn not to do at NRC.

[arf]

But you cook so much stuff, how is it not a disaster zone!?

[ Shocking.. ]

Th-Then! I'll cast a brownie summoning spell! All you do is leave a little piece of cake in the circle every night and they'll come clean everything for you!

[ That's a good price to pay, right!? ]

b

[schmisse]

[ Weiss is going to need to go back to the frontlines soon. Having escorted a lost kid who got left behind by his family in the midst of the evacuation, though, she had to detach herself from fighting to ensure the kid got to safety as soon as possible.

With that taken care of, she's on her way back. 'til she spots a familiar face across the street, and she's quick to rush to him. ]

Taichi! [ They don't talk to each other often, but this is still very surprising. She would have expected him to be in a safe space already! But... ] What are you doing out here? Are you hurt?

[arf]

Weiss-chan!

[ He definitely sounds shaky but he's at least not visibly shaking, he's managed that much. Ahhh.. this is so scary. ]

I don't think so? I'm just trying to help out any way I can. There aren't enough healers, right? I thought, I at least need to make sure my friends are okay and do everything I can. This is really scary though... Are you okay, Weiss-chan?

[schmisse]

It is. [ Scary, she means. There's no need to act tough right now, so she agrees without hesitation. ] But... I don't think this is the worst that could happen.

[ If anything? This just feels like the start of something. At this time, they all seem to be aligned and focused. There's panic, but the fact that there are people in the frontlines right away means that they all still have a fighting chance. That's hope, and a positive thought to hold onto. ]

I'm okay, just... this is really stressful.

[ She'd hoped to not have to get involved in this capacity here, let alone have to fight for her life here, but... it seems she has to. ]

There are so many people who need to get to safety.

[arf]

Stressful.. haha, yeah..! That's one way to put it.

[ Taichi's just proud he hasn't peed himself in fear yet. ]

Do you need any healing? I can't do much, but I can at least do that before you get back into battle with anything.

[schmisse]

No injuries here, [ So far, anyway. Weiss has gotten lucky. ] My energy is running low, though. Is there anything you can do about that?

[arf]

I can.. umm...

[ He holds his hands up, then pauses. ]

I only know how to touch-cast with my healing, is that ok?

[ Weiss will yell at him if he touches without asking. But she's also yelled at him enough he's the only one he even hesitates before touching...... ]

heals!

[currysseur]

( Izumi might have been learning to use the sword strapped to her hip, but she's not a fighter by nature. not in the most literal sense, anyway. but sitting back like she did with Celliwig and Lestari makes her gut twist with guilt.

when Taichi decides to go, her decision is made. she can't let any of her boys go out into this and stay behind. she was given magic for a reason, wasn't she?

which is why, as Taichi stops to heal people, Izumi is using light magic to cloak them in illusions, her eyes twitching back and forth to monitor the situation around them. )

Are they healed?

( because there's a group of wraiths getting too close for comfort, even with her magic camouflaging them. )

[arf]

I-I'm working on it!

[ He tries to keep his voice hushed, it takin everything in his power not to whimper like a kicked puppy right now. He's healing, but there's only one of him and a couple of them, and he can't help but want to keep an eye on Izumi too... he's got something of an offense trick up his sleeve if worse come to worst, but he hasn't practiced it yet, so he isn't sure how reliable it will be...

Luckily, the couple they're working on now don't seem to be too badly injured, so Taichi is able to get them mobile. ]

I think they can finish up at the Citadel, but this way you can at least...

[ He comes to tap Izumi on the shoulder when he's done since he wraiths are pretty close, and even he knows not to speak at this point. ]

[currysseur]

( she feels terrible pushing Taichi in a moment like this, but light illusions can only do so much. it's not like she's contracted any creatures with healing abilities, either, or she'd have called upon them to help.

even after all her training with Red Wine, she can only do this much...

but she doesn't have time to get discouraged, looking back at Taichi and nodding before she gestures in the opposite direction. the wraiths are heading the same way, but they can turn off soon enough.

and it's not like they really have another option. so sticking as close to the wall as possible and shuffling to the corner, holding their breath and hoping they're not caught, it is. )

[arf]

[ It took Taichi a long time to get to where he is with healing, but he thinks he's pretty good about it now. He's not going to be bringing anyone back from the brink of death anytime soon, but he's gotten to a decent level. Whenever Taichi puts his efforts into learning something, it may take him a little longer than most people but he will get there eventually. And quite thankfully, he's got Autumn Troupe toughness (even if his isn't on the same level as everyone else, he's still got a much better chance of surviving fights). At the very least, he's chosen to be out here same as Izumi, though he knows Hikaru is out here and doesn't want to be because of it, so he doesn't know how long this is going to last for other reasons than the ones Izumi is worried about.

When the wraiths pass and they're far enough down the line that they won't hear him, Taichi puffs out a breath he'd been holding. ]

S-Safe...

[currysseur]

( they're going to do this, together. her fingers smooth against the hilt of her sword, secured against her waist. they can make it, she doesn't have to fight yet.

(there'll come a day, of that she's sure, but please don't let it be now).

it's a quiet exhale, a loosening of her shoulders, the dropping of her hand from her sword, that signals her relief, the barest shadow of a smile on her lips.

this isn't the end of it, but every second they're out here, unharmed, is a victory. )

That was close. Are you still okay?

( how's Taichi's stamina? and this person's general condition? )

[arf]

[ Thankfully, stamina and energy levels have never been an issue for Taichi. Hunger and self-esteem and academics, definitely, but this is none of those (except maybe hungry, but he's too stressed and scared to feel it). ]

I'm good. I think they can make it to the Citadel... should we go with them?

[ Izumi being out here is scary, but Taichi knows he doesn't have any right to say anything. He's out here too, after all. But they can escort these people and take a break if they make it.. ]

C

[kiss_it_better]

[He didn't laugh or judge the person who was shouting, he only spoke calmly.]

I don't think we've gone blind. [He's fairly certain about that, at least. After all, Morganna had only wanted their magic not their senses.]

Though it is oddly dark, isn't it?

[He says it with the same sort of feeling someone may have when remarking about how the door hinges squeaks more than they should.]

[arf]

That's such an understatement! You really think we're okay though? Let me find you!

[ Taichi is just outstretching his arms now and wandering around to find whoever's talking to him. ]

[kiss_it_better]

I am not sure I trust Morgana fully but in this she had nothing to gain by lying about the efficacy of the ritual.

[Though there's no light to see by there's something else useful, maybe. Because the thing is, Li Min always smells like a particular sort of Chinese medicine that is used for calming the mind and aiding in sleep. He'd managed to find the plants here after some searching and these calming herbs have a distinct smell when put together.

But maybe that's not as useful for someone who doesn't have a dog's nose.

Still, he reaches out, following the voice and his fingers brushes against an arm.]

Ah, is that you?

[arf]

Yeah, if we all die, she dies too right? It's not like she'd just go off and start her own new universe! Things are definitely going to be ok!

[ ...Right? Taichi doesn't know the lore behind Morganna but he's heard her referred to as a goddess and that's enough for him that she must be a benevolent hottie. ]

AHH! Oh that's you. [ He breathes loudly as if he's catchign the breath he just screamed out in surprise. ]

[kiss_it_better]

Mm. I don't doubt things won't be perfectly fine but it will still be better than the alternative.

[He doesn't so much as flinch at the screaming. Rather, he just pats the arm he'd come into contact with.]

Yes. We should find our way back to others and see what's to be done next.

[arf]

[ Once they've agreed upon that it is a friendly hand, Taichi latches fully onto his arm to hang on so they don't get separated. ]

I think the door was... to our left? Maybe?