EVENT ✨ SAVE THE LAST DANCE

[avalonmods]

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POST TYPE: Event

DATES: 9/20
PROMPT BRIEFS

• Not-So Death Ball: A party inspired by the Death Ball is planned to send off the Otherworlders before the final mission to try to stop the Calamity. Follow the candles to the Forest of the Felled for the party. Oh, and it's enchanted to be a costume party.
• Dine n' Dash: The food isn't enchanted, but all the dining utensils and dishes are.
• Angry Birds: Harpies perform a sword dance, then offer to teach it to those who wish to learn. Training swords are enchanted- anger will get enhanced if you don't trust your partner, if you do, you'll sync up and learn the dance easily.
• Parting Words: Arthur and Elphame have a brief speech for everyone. A deal for those who save the day is granted. Elphame loves alliteration.
• It's My Party, I'll Cry if I Want To: It's time for one last dance party together! The music is enchanted, so anyone you dance with you'll feel an attraction to until you share something you haven't told them yet.
• Thx fr the Mmrs: Cool candle magic lets you share fond memories of Avalon with others.

NOT-SO-DEATH BALL

Time has been frozen for a year now, so there have been no new dead passing into Avalon from outside of the world, and all of the previous souls were consumed by the Stone Giant. It also makes most of the fall equinox ceremonies unnecessary this year, as the only newly deceased souls are the ones who passed within Avalon and are either hanging around as ghosts or trying to figure out information about this new realm of the dead there have been whispers on the wind about, but none have quite figured out where to find it with it being held within a very peculiar vessel. Because of this, the annual Death Ball is not being held in the traditional sense either... but instead, in collaboration with Camelot and Elphame alike, will
be used as a send-off for those who will soon head into the heart of the Calamity itself to save all universes. Whether or not this is a send-off for the dead-to-be or the heroes of the multiverse.. well, that remains to be seen, but it is a goodbye and a thank you regardless and takes many of the traditions of the annual Death Ball and turns them into celebration of the Otherworlders who have spent this long and tried so hard to make things right.   This year, the candle pathways lead from Nicnevin, The Land of Maidens, Camelot City, and the newly revived Celliwig to the Forest of the Felled. Thousands of candles lead to the Forest for two nights ahead of the Death Ball, as a guiding light to help the Otherworlders find their way to the celebration. As they get closer, they will notice that any rivers in their way have magical bridges built of vines woven together with green magic from the mages of Malous to offer safe passage. As they approach the Forest itself, many candles float in the air, giving the entire forest a warm, magical glow.   As each person enters the forest through an archway of black and dark red flowers illuminated by light magic that floats about it like fireflies, they will find themselves enveloped by sparkles swirling about them like they've been Bibbidi-bobbidi-booed into a costume. The costume is chosen by the fae who cast the magic, so it could be something your character would want to wear or it could be something absolutely unexpected and mischievous. (Player's choice what their character's costume is. Have fun with it.) The Death Ball is traditionally a masked costume ball, but for the sake of Otherworlders being the ones who are being sent off, masks are not required.   DINE N' DASH   Fae were told not to bring food from the faery realm so as to not trap Otherworlders within Avalon, and as such had a little prank to play at the food tables set up near the entryway to the forest party. Every part of the set-up is kinetically enchanted to move about and play games with you: the teapot will pick up a stirrer and try to shoot three-pointers with the sugar-cubes into your tea cup, the tea cups will giggle when you drink out of them because it tickles, the champagne glasses will start floating away like bubbles if you let them sit for too long without drinking, and the dish will run away with the spoon before you try to put food on it... Don't worry, most of the dinnerware will settle down once you catch up so long as you don't let it go again. The food itself seems to have a lot of fusion dishes, like Korean BBQ tacos, Curry Pizza, Hamburger Bao, Chorizo Ravioli, and so on. They were trying to hit everyone’s taste as much as possible, alright? ANGRY BIRDS Combat is as much a dance as it is for a fight. Before the dancing gets underway, while food is being served and drinks are distributed (non-alcoholic for those not old enough by their world’s standards to drink, as always) everyone is treated to watch the Harpies perform a sword dance passed down by their people. The dance itself is enchanting, and casts upon those who watch it a protective spell to help make them less vulnerable in the journey to come. Those who wish to learn afterward may speak to the harpies, but can only learn the dance if they find a partner willing to learn it with them. After all, the sword dance is only as effective as the trust you have in your partner not to cut your throat. What’s more, the training swords are enchanted. While holding the swords, if you do not have trust in your partner, the blades will cause you to behave more violently toward your partner and bring out any underlying issues or anger you may have and multiply it. It’s good for processing anger, but it may go a little overboard if you end up trying to stab someone over leaving the toilet seat up too many times. If you trust in your partner, you’ll find yourself more easily synchronizing and able to sense the other person’s movements while holding the training swords, guiding you through the proper motions so you’ll be able to learn them correctly and replicate it on your own later. PARTING WORDS King Arthur and Queen Elphame are sat together at the royalty table with Queen Mab, Princess Bluebell, the royals of Celliwig, and a couple other unfamiliar faces. Before the dancing and music begin, both have something to say to the Otherworlders, and thus give the following speeches before the music starts:   What a journey it has been. Like many of you, this has been a learning experience for me. There are a good many things that I would do differently, and some things I would not change for anything. I am sure many of you feel the same. This party is normally for the dead, and some are saying that we say our goodbyes with it as we do not expect all of you to come back, but I do not believe that is true. I believe in every one of you. Time and time again, through happiness and hardships, I have seen you rise above. I do not think this mission will fail. I think we will come home, and we will see our loved ones again, and the Calamity will finally be over thanks to all of you. Thank you. Arthur sits down, giving a nod of his head to Elphame, who takes her turn to stand up once he sits. She looks upon the crowd, a small smirk upon her lips as she begins to speak in riddle and rhyme for the final time. Though perhaps with a much more pleasing solution to this puzzle than one might expect from the fairy queen.   Precious people persevering past pernicious precarity, I deprive you no more. People of perilous pasts, I pardon. People profiting, people praying, people preying, people proclaiming "praytell, panacea," I proffer prized passage as payback for perfect performances. Your place in Avalon is preserved, as you please. Arthur looks at her a little tiredly, because keeping up with what she’s trying to say when she gives speeches is, as usual, pretty perturbing. Merlin, who had been standing behind the lot during this, declares the party get started to break the tension and allow people to depart their tables and get moving!   IT'S MY PARTY, I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO
	The music itself is a variety of modern songs and melodies played as if by medieval artists. Think this, but any song or country you'd like from modern times. The band is quite skilled, they can play anything from Airplane pt 2 to Ziggy Stardust and everything beyond and in between. The only thing is, their music is enchanted with special dark magic. Any dance partner you groove with, the next time you speak after you finish dancing, you will feel a special connection to them. It's a form of compelling attraction, though certainly not a love spell, it could be misconstrued as such if your character can’t tell the difference, and cannot be stopped until you tell them something you haven't told them yet. This spell is typically used in the Death Ball to make sure that anything left unsaid to a deceased person is said so that no regrets are left, but in this case… it will certainly help to make sure no one leaves Avalon with personal relationship regrets, either.
THX FR TH MMRS At the end of the night, each person is encouraged to find a candle that speaks to them. Once they do, the candle’s flame will change to a color that matches whatever color you feel best matches your character. They are encouraged to find someone whose color either complements or matches their own. When they get close, the two flames will start to magically swirl around each other and characters will be able to mentally share memories they’ve made in Avalon with the person they’ve found. Though they may not be able to control which memories those are, they will generally be positive ones. Memories of happiness, love, relief, achievement, and more. It’s a way to share good emotions and memories of their time in Avalon, remember those who may no longer be with us in Avalon, and remember that even if the mission to the Calamity soon fails, they will have gained something precious being here in Avalon. Once at least one memory is shared from each person, the flame swirls will surround both characters and will fill them with a warm, fuzzy feeling that will last the whole night and may cause characters to be more amenable to trying things they normally wouldn’t with others.

 

Comments

4

[sighsheavily]

[well, thank goodness for keen hearing.]

It is as you say.

[Cecelia steps up from behind to stand by the tin man's side, her arms folded, draped layers of violet and blue shifting only slightly with how practiced and careful her movements are.]

I imagine it not too taxing a feat, given we are all of us anchored here already. [well:] Unless the task ahead requires something of an untethering, I suppose.

[mayoninofukucho]

[He has to turn to her to see her properly - that's one of the downsides of this armour! -, and while she looks lovely in her outfit (why did she get something so nice?!) he can practically feel the risk of getting into an argument with her again - not about what she just said, though, because they're equally in the dark about the mechanics of the final send-off.]

Yeah... well, we'll find out. I wonder if it'll have something to do with our familiars. After all we get kicked out of here if our bond breaks, right?

[Arashi, who arrived separately from him - it would have been too frustrating for the crow tengu to walk all the way here, and god forbid he ride a mount - is somewhere at this party, mingling with the other familiars. While he and Hijikata had a distant relationship, with Arashi prefering to live in the wilderness, Hijikata will miss his subtle presence, steadiness and reliability.]

[sighsheavily]

So it's said. [she's not risking any absolutes anymore; she's tired.] Will that be your path? Keeping the tether.

[mayoninofukucho]

No, I've got to go home. Once time moves on I can't leave my homeworld to the morons there. I'll visit here, however, if and when I can... though I guess I won't have access to my magic anymore without Arashi.

[He doesn't assume that his familiar will want to stay in touch with him back in their homeworld... but then who knows? Perhaps they can strike up a penpalship!]

[sighsheavily]

All things in their place, and places for all things. [her mouth pulls in a wry smile for a brief moment.]

Luck to you, then; for we will not meet again.

[mayoninofukucho]

[It's rare that he sees her smile... perhaps she's made peace with some of the things that were troubling her? But of course he can't not rib her back!]

You mean: luck to you. But don't be so sure about having seen the last of me; I think the multiverse has taken a liking to me.

[This was already the second time he's bee isekai'd, Cecelia! The second time!]

[sighsheavily]

[rookie numbers, captain.

she lifts her chin, an eyebrow arching.]

Crossing my path once more means there's trouble you ought to be tending to yourself. I pray you need no further pushes from forgotten people, because I have plenty of work waiting for me.

[mayoninofukucho]

I told you, I won't forget you. You'll have to personally mind-wipe me if you want that! Also what pushes have I needed? I've forged my path here all on my own!

[Of course everyone he met here, Cecelia included, had an impact on him and may have steered his decisions on some occasions, but it's not like he needed hand-holding!]

[sighsheavily]

No man is a monolith, but the decisions are your own, indeed. [she strikes ahead to go have a wander about.

airily:] You'll forget, don't worry about it. Simply live your life!

[mayoninofukucho]

[He catches up to her, not intent of being left all puzzled again! They make an odd pair as they walk side by side in their mismatched costumes.]

Hey... at least tell me the reason. Don't always make mysterious allusions and leave me in the dark.

[sighsheavily]

[gads, couldn't he have worn better shoes at least? clomp-clomp-clomp... armor is not befitting a gala; she could be clear across the room and hear him as if he were stomping around on her very feet!

she peers over her shoulder before stopping near the fringes of the dance floor to snatch a passing goblet.]

Didn't I let it slip before? That I'm not someone who is designed to be remembered anymore. [she swirls the cup and gives its contents a look-over and a tentative sniff and testing sip.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Don't blame him, blame the fae!! He uses the opportunity of not having anyone right in their immediate vicinity to light a cigarette.]

I'm not saying you didn't let it slip, but it didn't stick in my memory.

[For what it's worth, he thinks her character design is really memorable... but he has an inkling that that isn't what she meant, and that she wouldn't appreciate him breaking the fourth wall on her.]

You said "anymore", so at some point people remembered you, and that was fine? What happened for that to change? Don't make it so suspenseful!

[sighsheavily]

[she doesn't answer right away...because she kind of wants to needle him with silence. that's rude, she knows, but something about him compels her to press those kinds of boundaries anyway. he ought to get sick of trying soon anyway, and he'll forget, and it'll be fine.

tsk.] What do you mean to do with the information I give you? [what does it matter?]

Continued from above!

[mayoninofukucho]

[Continued from here (I forgot to do this on the TDM and totally page-stretched!>)]

They're giving us a break, huh?

[He finishes his drink as well, following Cecelia's example in letting his glass float off.]

So these are our last weeks - or days, who knows - on Avalon, one way or the other... is there anything you still want to take care off before the final mission?

[This island holds so many mysteries, and not all areas have been thoroughly explored! Granted, Hijikata has no desire to cover the full map on his personal checklist, and there are places he's rather avoid returning to.]

[sighsheavily]

[she arches a brow slowly, not looking at him, her gaze ahead of her at the happenings on the floor.]

What I would wish to do is beyond my power right now. Otherwise I would not idle here as I do, mm? Standing at ceremony does little for matters here.

[what is this ""fun"" you speak of, that doesn't come with her level of clearance.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[She really is making this "small talk" unnecessarily hard for him!!]

Well, what would it have been? Or is that another top-secret thing I'll have to beg to become privy to?

[sighsheavily]

[wryly:] You really enjoy begging, don't you? Gads.

[mayoninofukucho]

Don't even say that. You're giving me home flashbacks here.

[He's not looking forward to being targeted by Okita on a daily basis again!!]

Come on, if it's not an option anymore anyway, then what's the harm in letting me know? I'll tell about you my thing, too.

[sighsheavily]

I'm not entirely sure of what you're looking for me to say, Hijikata. My wish is to undo the Calamity, which I cannot yet do. [she frowns slightly as she looks back his way.] What more ought I to be wishing to do here than that?

[mayoninofukucho]

And here I thought you might've had a side project. You were really all about the main mission the entire time, huh?

[As sensible as her focus is, it baffles him. There were so many months during which they were clueless about how to approach the calamity issue... so many of them filled their time with things they were passionate about, be it businesses, the creation of new townships, quests, or whatever other adventures. It's part of the isekai experience!! But if he told her that she'd only tell him again that everyone else has been playing house.]

What's that interrupted job you want to get back to so badly?

[sighsheavily]

I already told you what I do. [why care about the details? sate an idle curiosity?

she's really bad at this interpersonal communication thing when it's divorced from an overarching objective. hm.

before any interjection:] Speak of what it is you would've done. If you wish, I'll remember it.

That's part of my role, too.

[mayoninofukucho]

[He doesn't even argue - he knows what she's like by now (even though, evidently, he still gets misled by her sometimes semi-cryptic way of expressing things). His face turns a little sombre.]

You don't need to remember this. It's not important in the grand scheme of things. There was a quest, a long time ago... a year and a half, give or take. I'd just gotten my death magic then and wasn't good at using it yet.

[That's an understatement. He was terrified out of his mind.]

According to the quest there is - or was, now - a cave at the foot of the Ash Mountains, in the Lands of Rot, and in that cave a long-slain soul-eating creature had left captured souls behind. After being trapped there for hundreds of years they'd turned into vengeful spectres. The quest asked for one of those souls to be captured and released in a specific location - presumably to wreak havoc on the place in proxy revenge on the quest-giver's behalf -, but I want to see if I can find the place and exorcise the rest of them.

[He lights a cigarette, given that he's finished his drink.]

Chances are that the cave was already destroyed when the southernmost mountain fell, but I want to at least check before I leave.

[It's bad that he forgot about that quest for such a long time... but, to put it cynically, what's one more year for souls gone insane over centuries?]

[sighsheavily]

[hm...]

If our ultimate goal is achieved, I doubt going back at this point in time will add up to much. Especially if Avalon will be restored to some earlier state prior to the calamity.

[mayoninofukucho]

You think that might happen?

[He hadn't considered that possibility at all. Immediately he feels conflicted - they went through so much and accomplished so many things, but there were also serious disasters with casualties that they couldn't prevent, and he does have a couple of personal regrets. In the end he's the type to always move forward, so ultimately he can't shake the discomfort at the prospect despite the obvious benefits it would bring.]

[sighsheavily]

[she shrugs.] There's signs of a world beyond what remains of Avalon, broken away at its edges. If the calamity itself is the cause for its breaking, would not a ring dispelling such a thing also restore what was lost because of it?

[a beat.

dismissing her own thoughts:] But then, what do I know about it? [she risks seeming too knowledgeable about things... or seeming a fool.]