EVENT ✨ The Answer is Always C

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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. A poll to collect results of the trials will be posted this weekend and stay open until the end of the month to give people a little time to see how their threads are going.

KEY POINTS

Arthur announces the results of the polls and that he spoke to Celliwig's people, they will be testing Camelot the week of the full moon.

A series of choice-based enchanted scenarios is presented based loosely on a modernized seven sins/virtuous responses (power imbalance, cruelty or mercy, excess/greed or restraint, sloth or work ethic, desire/lust or self-control and bravery or cowardice, and sacrifice or self-preservation)

With the polls closed, the decision is made, and King Arthur takes the opportunity to address the kingdom via a streamed press conference. Though it is not an open post, anyone is welcome to comment on it and talk to each other about it. However, it is unlikely that Arthur himself will respond to comments. A notification does appear on everyone's smart devices to invite everyone to watch live; if they tap it too late, it'll still show the recorded stream. "People of Camelot, I wish that we had better news that spoke of an easier path to the calamity that stands before us. Celliwig's charge is with protecting Avalon even in the face of protecting Camelot and those of you who chose to use your voices have shown that you choose to respect their way of handling things. However, it was only just over half of you who chose this path. I think it is important that with such a great portion of people believing that bypassing Celliwig and going directly to Elphame, as much as it may take patience, we take this action into consideration. There is no sense in ignoring the voices of so many when there is nothing to say we cannot approach from two fronts. As Camelot's king, I have issued our intent to accept Celliwig's challenge to a descendant of Glewlwyd, a man who was much trouble for my knights in our time. They have said after failing one, we shall be tested on multiple fronts, the week of the full moon's rise. Bear in mind that this is our final chance at this." Merlin sidles up to Arthur in the video, one arm around his shoulders and leaning in to speak into the mics in a much-too-familiar manner. At least his sunglasses are off this time. "Now then, anyone who wanted to go to Elphame, you'll want to head to the docks around, oh, say, the first of June. Step one to flirting with fae is to put on a good show before the traders leave. It's a good time whether the Celliwig's dooming us or not." A wink accompanies that odd note, and Arthur orders him off stage before thanking everyone for their time. With the consent of its people, Celliwig performs a ritual to place Camelot under a rather strange spell. Much is the same, but there's a sense that everything is just slightly off from what it should be. Fog covers the grounds throughout the entire city throughout the entire day. It's just a little too quiet, the usual hustle and bustle of the city falling just a little too distant on your ears. You can go about your day as normal, but feel as if something is simply off. And eventually, you'll walk through a door, and it will be. Part of the enchantment, however, includes a strange inability to connect these doors with being part of a test-- they seem real, regardless of how absurd the scenario would be were your characters thinking straight. Day One: Power Imbalance The door you walk through is into a club of some kind. It wasn't your intended destination and yet, here you are, and you're being handed a glass of your favorite drink and being ushered to your seat. The show is fantastical, some kind of circus-esque show with gymnasts and magical effects making it impossible to take your eyes off of. That is, until the spotlight falls upon you and urges you down to join the show. A volunteer! Well, one of two. Another volunteer is brought up along with yours, and the ring leader of the circus gives you both bracelets-- one with selenite embedded in it, another with andara. The ring leader explains that they're both known for creating high frequency connections, though one is known to spiritually be associated with finding one's path and the other with manifesting one's true self. When enchanted together, this makes it so that the person with the andara bracelet can order the person with the selenite bracelet to do anything they please-- making their true self the person's purpose. Very dangerous, very intruiging, very tempting, very morally wrong to do it for real, so please keep it to the stage! A quick demonstration of this dark use of magic as part of the show... and it seems that afterward, they forget to take the bracelets back. What will you do with your newfound control over your partner? The choice is, after all, yours. (Or theirs, if you're the unlucky partner with the selenite bracelet-- only the person with the andara can remove the bracelets, after all.) Day Two: Schadenfreude Yesterday seems like a dream, and you may even feel the need to write it off as such unless you run into the same person again and realize no, they too remember it. But if that's not the case, it doesn't matter. You'll be able to find yourself in your definitely normal and usual mideval city, where someone is in the stocks. Your memories seem a little fuzzy on whether or not you're supposed to be in medieval times or not, but this seems right, and there's a fruit vendor right next to you selling soft fruits to throw at the poor sap in the stocks. There are also a number of other ways to mess with the person, including feathers to tickle them, a riding crop, some ink if you want to grafitti the person.. a good number of ways just to humiliate the person without causing them permanent harm. The crowd is cheering you on, but you also see the keys to set them out just sitting on a table nearby. Do you engage in a little sadistic fun or do you embark in a daring rescue? (Or are you the punished in someone else's scenario?) Day Three: Indulge Me Back to the modern day like it didn't happen, you and a friend walk into a door to your favorite convenience store and as you finish up your purchase, you win an all expenses paid trip to the Black Knight's Castle, formerly the home of the Black Knight and turned into a lavish tourist attraction by Yvaine and Laudine's descendents, who have become worshippers of Dionysus. You're transported there in a puff of sparkling magic dust, right before an extravagant golden fountain in the middle of the lobby. The owners explain their policy for the Black Knight's Castle that you can have anything you desire, however much you desire. Anything at all, consequence free. The only thing that they ask is that you give a blood offering to their god to help feed his dead worshippers on the other side of the veil, which will ultimately tie your soul to him as well. Just a quick cut of the palm and you're welcome to come back any time, have anything you want, for the rest of your life. Taking the deal means you really will get what you want! ...For the day, anyway. (This is just a spell, after all, even if your character doesn't want it.) If you choose not to, you'll find yourself magically deposited back to the convenience store. Day Four: What's the Meaning of Stongehenge? This fourth day, there's certainly something to be said about a hard day's work. When you walk through today's door, you find yourself in the middle of a grassy field, strange markings on the ground, and surrounded by oddly shaped boulders. The markings on the ground seem to indicate where some the stones should be placed. There aren't really any directions, but there's always the option of waiting for someone else to solve this problem for you... There is a very comfortable looking patch of grass anyone able to relax in. So the choice is yours: wait for someone else to move the rocks or move them yourself? Day Five: Pooling Desire Day five is a trip to the pools. But not just any pools! These are special, underground pools hidden deep within a cave. You're sure whoever told you to head through this door mentioned something about them being a special relaxation package at the Red Springs. As you head into the pools, however, you find someone in there with you: the subject of your desires. Regardless of who or what they are, they seem to have a crown upon their head, aren't wearing anything in that water, and seem to have a lovely singing voice judging by the tune they're humming to lure you in before you even notice they're there. It is at that point they will try to seduce you, even if that same person is standing right there with you. The seduction, of course, needn't be sexual-- a strong lusting for a turkey leg wrapped in bacon may be just as powerful as a desire for a brand new Ninblendo Swatch or something you should definitely label as NSFW if you want to thread it that way. Give into them, or.. maybe listen to the person who came in with you that they're definitely some kind of weird half-otter bottomed monster under the water before they try to drown you. Or if you're the one trying to stop this, are you brave enough to get in between a stranger and a monster to try to snap them out of the siren's thrall, even if it means fighting both of them? Day Six: #ChaliceChallenge The sixth and final door sets you walking outside on a beach. There's nothing else there really except for nature. The sounds of the waves crashing against the sound is soothing, and real, and sharper than anything you've felt in the last five days of haze. There is no fog today. Clear, blue skies stretch forever above you, not a cloud in sight. The only man-made thing you see is a small woode table and two chairs. Upon that table, two chalices. Nothing will happen and there seems to be no way off of the beach until both parties sit down at the table, at which point a strange old man with huge, rippling muscles of at least 7 feet tall and a long, scraggly beard will appear. He informs your characters of the rules: in one chalice, deadly poison. In the other, water and bitter flavor. Each must drink from one cup, or you will both perish of starvation on this beach. Choose wisely.

Comments

[leicesters]

I would never hex myse-- [He seems to remember something, and reconsiders that statement. Okay, so maybe he totally has hexed himself in the past, but she doesn't need to know that.

It also hasn't escaped his notice that the key is now missing, but he won't draw attention to it.]

You seem to be attracted to me whenever I'm in a jam, so what does that make you, lovely Dorothea? [Too nice for her own good, probably. He's eyeing the crowd, hoping none of them turn on her given their banter.]

[notcethleann]

[There's something not quite right about the idea that he doesn't know what happened, but Flayn can't put her finger on it, and soon enough Claude's moving on and the uncertainty slips from her mind.

She laughs quietly.]

Oh, a million is so very many! If I am to answer that many questions, I shall require something in return. But as you say - we must leave here at once.

[She reaches up and takes his hand, pulling herself to her feet. She takes a steadying breath and shakes her head.]

Thank you, but I believe I will be all right walking for now. I shall follow your lead, Claude.

[leicesters]

We did make a deal, didn't we? If you told me about yourself, I'd come clean about my own identity, too. Though I'd prefer if it stayed between us, for now.

[There are plenty of people from Fodlan here, and if any of them decide to treat him differently for it, it could be a pain later down the line. Better to keep things simple when his past isn't relevant here.]

Let's stay off the roads. I don't recognise this area, so we'll just have to figure out a route as we go. [Little does he realise they won't have far to go, as they're leaving the trial area now Flayn has completed it.]

[ichoosefight]

You too?! Oh thank god, I've been terrified of accidently skewering myself. My bat says I should be able to make stuff invisible but she can't explain how to actually do it.

[ She can't get used to calling it a familiar. It sounds too nerdy to use in everyday conversation. ]

[notcethleann]

That is correct! Worry not, I understand completely. After all, I kept my own identity carefully hidden as well, did I not?

[So carefully. Flayn is the best at keeping secrets, definitely.

She nods.]

This place is unfamiliar to me, as well.

[They stray from the road to turn down a narrow path between buildings, only to come out the other side in Camelot with fog swirling at their feet.]

no worries!

[ichoosefight]

[ She stares at him, dumbfounded, until he pulls his arm away. She lets it go. She's not trying to instigate a fight here. But she's very confused and still pretty concerned about the mini-sea monster. ]

That's... your brother? What is he, exactly?

[leicesters]

[Claude looks around at the sudden change of scenery, startled.]

Wait, we're -- huh?

[Turns out they were here all along, and not living in a medieval town, the surrounding buildings now all as modern as he remembers.]

Don't tell me... Was that an illusion? Celliwig's doing, I suppose.

[notcethleann]

Ah...a trial, then.

[She frowns.]

What a cruel test! Surely there was some other way to assess us than to put you through such an ordeal. Ooh, it's enough to make me wish to give them a piece of my mind!

It's perfect!!

[floatsaway]

[Ochako doesn't know this person. Doesn't know their crime, or who they are or any history or context, or anything about what's happening. But regardless, she can't watch anymore. This isn't right, it's not justice, it's simply punishment to a deplorable degree. No one is learning anything from this - other than 'crime' must be punished. That's...not what she believes, not what she was taught, not at all. Crime must be punished, yes, but more than anything, it must be corrected.

If she is punished for this 'crime', then so be it. It just means that this way's sense of justice is flawed, and needs to be corrected. And Ochako will, if she has to, rise to the challenge. Her plan...really isn't a plan, honestly - she simply acted, or reacted, and moved to go help. The sign of a good hero...when your body moves on its own, without thought. There are shouts from the crowd, trying to alert guards, but they're all drowned out by the new sounds of pandemonium and chaos ringing out as carts topple over and goods go spewing into the crowd. Some loosened tils also get flung to the floor and causes even more of a scene, as poor beggars and petty thieves try to loot as much coin as they can in the flurry of moving bodies.

Ochako doesn't know what happened, or how, but takes the opportunity to move quickly. She takes the keys and unlocks the tired and tied man, who looks ragged and dirty. Malnourished and gaunt...a beggar, no doubt. Probably caught stealing to feed himself, or something. Certainly not the face of a villain, as far as Ochako can tell.]

I'm going to get you out, but you have to run. You have to stay somewhere until they've forgotten this. You can't come back here, do you understand? Not for a few days.

[Nodding, the man weeps, takes Ochako's hands in shaking, calloused ones, kisses them, and calls her an angel.]

[leicesters]

The saying "be careful what you wish for" springs to mind. [He was one of the people most vocally advocating for peaceful relations with Celliwig, after all, so it's only apt he'd get the brunt of it.]

Anyway, it looks like they got what they wanted out of us, and we're free to go. It's safe to assume they're testing others in a similar way.

[songstressedout]

[ Well, putting it bluntly that way doesn't make her any less embarrassed, but it does cool her head a bit. ]

A-Alright...

[ It's just how she is, Izzy. She was the dramatic, physically fit, bisexual disaster girl. ]

[songstressedout]

Yuzu, Yuzu Hiiragi. Thanks for helping me out...

[ She keeps her legs curled up to her chest, but she smiles as well. ]

[dottedline]

Good point. A shame I don't have an "animate rock" potion on me.

[Azul does that even exist here?]

Even bigger shame the rest of my magic is locked up. It's risky, but there's always sorcerer's animation if I could cast it...

[Because that's what the world needs right now. The sorcerer's apprentice, but with rocks.]

so sorry for the delay, ended up with a cold @_@

[emet_sulk]

[ To that he simply gives one of his signature Shrugs(TM). ]

Were you not listening? They want us to perform for them.

[ And so, he snaps his fingers. ] Bark like a jackal. You do know what a jackal is, don't you?

[leicesters]

I know he's trying to impress us, but I'm honestly just disturbed.

[Claude stares after the old man, before looking away and shaking his head. He turns his attention to Sagi.]

You seem like you might have an idea, though. What's on your mind?

[backstreetbard]

[ When Claude’s statement peters off, Dorothea hums knowingly but doesn’t comment further. She’s made her point.

She does give a little scoff at his next comment, though. ]

Who’s the greater fool: the fool or the one who follows him?

[ Raising her voice, she slams her hand on the wood above his head, projecting outrage like a true prima donna of the stage. It’s an easy way to distract people from the fact that she’s unlocking his shackles. ]

You cad! How could you do such a thing! Just run away like that?

[ He’ll hear the soft clink as the lock pops open, but she continues with her tirade for the sake of the drama until she lowers her voice for his ear only. ]

Now, actually run away. I’ll be right behind you.

[emet_sulk]

[ By this point in the trials Emet-Selch is worn down. He sighs to himself, watches Hijikata get laid out on the sand - all without batting an eyelid. That really only affirms what he has suspected from the start. They must drink from the chalices.

While the old man is distracted, he reaches out for both cups. But before he can lift them up to drink, they vanish from his hands and reappear on the table. ]

Each person must drink from ONE chalice. [ The swarthy man says severely. Emet-Selch glowers sullenly at him. ]

[crimsongirl]

No problem. Just uh, do me one big favor.

[Homura pulls away, the heat stopping, thinking Yuzu is dry enough. That and to not make this anymore awkward as she stares to the side.]

...Never mention a word of this to anyone, especially to my friends if they ever come to this world.

[emet_sulk]

Nnoyed though he is, he isn't the slightest bit worried, even if this woman IS of the roegadyn race as he suspects. What's the worst she can do with an audience watching? Make him kweh like a chocobo?

Now if they were alone together, on the other hand, that might be cause for concern.

"Just get it over and done with. I'm sure you can think of any number of humiliating acts for a Garlean."

[sereneadherent]

[It was probably too much to hope that he'd just accept her attempt at side-stepping his question.

Marianne shrinks back a bit at shakes her head.]

No, we've never met before.

[Deep breath.]

It's just... I've had people say those kinds of things about me. I couldn't stand to watch it happen to someone else.

[She fights the urge to let her head fall, although she can't look him in the face when she speaks either. Marianne has never been locked up to be physically assaulted like Darin had been, but she's been pursued, dogged, made to hide and feel ashamed. She's still working to undo that damage.]

I couldn't have forgiven myself if I left you there.

[tantailizing]

Hehe, yeah. She always did like my stories... [No, she will never find out about this incident. Never...]

Right, but maybe that's a good thing. Seems like something happens as more people arrive so... this could be the answer to reversing the freeze.

[sereneadherent]

[The sudden strike takes Marianne by surprise, causing her to jump back a bit, but really it shouldn't have. Claude had been very clear that taking their captor out was an option from the beginning, and they have reached the point of "last resort."

Except it didn't succeed, and they're back to square one. She looks from the old man to Claude.]

It was a good try.

[Cold comfort, given what they're about to do, but she feels she ought to say something.]

I... I don't think we have other options.

[owarifool]

Kipposhi scoffed, shaking his head. "As if I need to be told that. I'll carve my legacy into that place. They'll never forget my name."

One thing every Nobunaga would always have in common, the unifying factor that made them all famous; ambition.

But beyond that...

"That aside, what are we gonna do about that fae over there still trying to sway you over, huh?"

it's a-okay, though I assume Gawain isn't the one with the poison? lmao

[emet_sulk]

Before he can object, the man has taken a draught from their chalice. His eyes widen - not in recognition of whatever name or title Gawain gives, but because if they just drank the poisoned chalice thenp they will be dead any moment now.

...

...

Emet-Selch's stomach drops. If they aren't dead, then...

[firesinthesky]

[ Were she back in her home, she’d mark his name as Doman, but here in Camelot, there’s no telling where he might be from. Still, she’ll take what little bit of familiarity she can. ]

Nice to meet you, Kotarou. You can call me Blaze.

[ She quirks an eyebrow right back down at him, though there’s no real annoyance in her expression. ]

It’s my real, given name. To hear my mother tell it, the sunrise on the day of my birth was really something to behold.