EVENT ✨ The Answer is Always C

[avalonmods]

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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

[eightfoldfiend]

[As the old man speaks Yuber reaches one arm out to the side and flicks his wrist.

A wooden hilt slides into his palm but before he can extend the King Crimson blade Hawk is chugging down the contents of one of the cups and the old man is walking away.]

Tsk.... He looked fun.

[He tucks the hilt back into his sleeve and eyes first Hawk then the chalices.

Whatever the other man had just drank was apparently not very good, which sounds to Yuber like an accurate description of bitter water. Humans don't usually seem fond of "bitter".

That would make the remaining cup the poison.]

I'm not drinking this. I refuse to die here.

[notquitetamed]

[Good, he stopped Yuber from attacking an unarmed old man. It would be one thing if the old man wanted a fight, but it was clear he was just there to explain this shit and leave. No point in attacking someone who isn't willing. He just wouldn't fight at his full capability.

But at Yuber's refusal to drink the other, Hawk is about to bring his chair back to the ground and get up. He wasn't too keen on dying here either and a refusal to drink would kill them both. He know though that the only way he'd be able to force the matter with the demon would be to fight for it.

However, before he can lower the chair he feels strange. What's especially off is that if he was actually dying of poison it should already be showing signs of it, but no weird glowing shit and he's still holding Monstrum form, which clues him in immediately that he's not actually dying. He starts laughing. He gets it, and it's a great joke. Unfortunately he falls back in his chair very soon after he figures it out and doesn't get a good chance to appreciate the joke yet. He's not able to say anything further and ends up on the sand seemingly dead.

Yuber definitely will notice something's off though, because Hawk still remains in Monstrum form when the dream they shared showed he should revert back to his human form once weakened enough to be killed. Of course with Yuber having death magic as well, he should catch on that's no corpse even if the lack of vital signs would make most a non-death mage think otherwise. One thing is clear: Hawk was the one who got the "poison" and the remaining chalice is safe to drink to end this stupid trial.]

cw: Yuber fantasizing about murder. As you do.

[eightfoldfiend]

[Suddenly Hawk is pitching sideways and hitting the sand.

Yuber remains seated for a while, waiting for him to get up. When he doesn't, the demon rises from his chair and circles around the table to stand over Hawk's corpse...

Or, at least, he stands over what this strange magical place wants him to think is Hawk's corpse. The other man remains golden-haired, not reverting to his human body. His heartbeat has gone still but Yuber sees no spirit wandering around...

Somehow, life still clings to this man.

He crouches down and whispers into Hawk's ear.]

You're still alive in there, aren't you?

Don't worry, I will release you from your suffering....

[Again he flicks his wrist and grips the hilt that slides from his sleeve. The blade within extends out to the length of a dagger and he holds its edge against Hawk's throat.

Just as he is about to cut deep something gleams at the corner of his vision and he looks up at the remaining chalice.

If Hawk truly dies what will happen? Will Yuber somehow be trapped here?

...Maybe.

He can't risk that. He'll drink first and then finish off the poor, doubtlessly suffering creature at his feet.

Slowly, he rises again, reaches for the chalice, and drinks down the bitter water in one go.

Ah, so that's what "bitter" tastes like... Humans are right, it's awful.]

[notquitetamed]

[Well, unfortunately for Yuber, it would seem Hawk can hear that and he knows very well that that means. He may not be able to move, but he can definitely give a sign that he's aware of what is going on and otherwise is harmless enough. If needed, he'll get more violent until he can finally move again.

So after Yuber finishes drinking from the other chalice, he'll have the equivalent of a bucket of water falling down on his head. Hmm, wonder where that may have come from?]

[eightfoldfiend]

[Yuber is turning back towards Hawk, brandishing the dagger-lengthed blade when water suddenly is dropped on him from seemingly nowhere.

He goes stiff and grimaces. Someone did this...Which means someone needs to pay.

He peers around him like a soaked cat, searching for anyone else on the beach but the only other person here is the half dead man in the sand...

Or maybe he isn't so half dead. Yuber doesn't know Hawk very well but dumping water over him does seem like the sort of thing the other man would do.]

This doesn't make me feel less like killing you.

[But saying that he does retract the blade back into its hilt.]

[notquitetamed]

[A shame the potion still hasn't worn off, otherwise Yuber would be getting a snarky remark in return. What matters is that the water clearly showed the demon that he's alive, aware, and capable of self-defense, just not movement or communication it seems.

Seriously, it's really boring waiting for this to wear off. Probably shouldn't risk annoying the demon further. Unfortunately he's not quite precise enough with kinetic magic to use it to write something in the sand, but he has an idea to maybe try to get something across. He'll go ahead and make the chalices rise up and float towards the door that had opened once Yuber drank from the second one. Maybe he'll be able to convince Yuber to help him out here, or at least leave him in peace until this shit wears off.]

[eightfoldfiend]

[Yuber watches the floating chalices and his brow furrows when he sees the doorway. He hadn't noticed it amidst the confusion of having water dumped over his head.

Slowly, his eyes drift back towards Hawk and he quietly wonders if he should just leave the other man lying there in the sand. But Hawk had drank the poison and is the one now suffering this indignity. If not for that they'd both still be sitting at the table.

He blows out a snort, roughly lifts Hawk into his arms, and carries him out the door.]

[notquitetamed]

[Lucky for Yuber, it seems they get taken to a quiet part of Camelot. No one seems to be around at the moment to question the "corpse" However, very soon after they show up a black hawk flies in and lands right on hawk's head. It's his annoying as hell familiar that is overly fond of perching on his head, of course and he can't even grumble about it. Of course the stupid bird would take this opportunity to show itself and piss him off.

However, this is a good thing for them because Hawk's annoying familiar can actually speak telepathically and read his annoying human's thoughts to be able to communicate to Yuber. Of course the bird is a troll as well, so that is going to have mixed results.]

Just leave my stupid human here. He'll get himself home and can sleep it off then. It's what he deserves for being a reckless idiot yet again and forcing me to play messenger to whatever you are.