isleofavalon | EVENT ✨ The Answer is Always C

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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Of course it is. Through the water, the Siren could be heard giggling as it continued to taunt it's captive- and at least, that might give some indication on which direction to swim to find the cavern's entrance.

At least- at least help was coming. At least someone knew to come and find her. That was a small comfort at the end of an awful day.]

[ Maribelle can see the Siren, can see the friend in a cage...

... Now what? If that thing attacks, she's not sure she can defend herself, and when that will happen to Caster??? ... It's time to use her light magic in a way she's heard of, but hasn't quite tried yet - illusions and glamour. She's not wholly confident, but all she needs is to get this monster away...

She puts her hands in her face, and after a struggle, tries to put a spell that would make her head look like the siren's. Please, please, please work...

And so, she pops her head, and only her head, out of the water. ]

... A-hem! A-hem, hem! You think THOSE ears are pointy? I saw someone with MUCH pointier ears!

[ ... this. feels so silly. ]

[Wonderful. Another Siren. Caster watched this one closely with sore, red eyes- it didn't seem like it was interested in coming by her, but Caster stayed huddled in the middle of the cage regardless.

...Perhaps she imagined it when she heard Maribelle's voice? No, it was probably a prank from the Siren, posing as someone she knew once again to taunt her and give her false hope.

Caster's shoulders sunk- her entire posture was tired, defeated, miserable.

Something about this new Siren's words seemed...odd, though. But right now she just couldn't think. Her thoughts were too much of a mess.

The Siren on the other hand, turned its attention to Maribelle.]

"Ohh, really now? You've been able to capture a corrupt little human pet with even pointier ears than this one??"

Oh, no! I couldn't capture them at all... I'm nowhere near as good at... erm... "capturing pets"... as you are.

[ oooohhhh her gooooods she haaaaates this ]

But I bet you could do it without batting an eye! If you don't believe me, go take a look at the entrance... why, those... pointy ears... are just ripe for the poking!

[ her pride... ripped to shreds... Lissa, may you never know what she had to do... and caster better appreciate the fuck out of this. ]

"Hmmm that is a tempting thought...They are so much fun to play with, after all."

[Reaching through the bars of the cage again to pinch one of Caster's ears- much to the exhausted anger of the captured mage.]

...If I hadn't dropped Rule Breaker on my way in here, I would remove your hand, siren-!

[...It wasn't phased by her threat either way, as it turned its attention back to Maribelle.]

"And no one's claimed that one for the trial yet? I wonder if it will give me more of a challenge- this one simply ran right to me and started bawling, you know?"

[ Oh, if only she had her elemental tomes of home! Or even her staff in her room, she'd love to give this beast a solid thrashing! She grinds her teeth - but, no! She has to focus, what if losing concentration gets rid of the glamour? She's not even sure how long she can keep this up... ]

... There... is only one way to find out! Surely, our... brethren ... will admire you all the more for being able to... fool more pets...

[ ACK. SAYING THAT MAKES HER FEEL ICKY. Despite being in water, she feels she'll need a hot bath after all this. ]

I'll keep an eye on this one! She's not nearly worth your time!

[The compliment made the Siren giggle gleefully, eager for this new challenge!]

"Mmm... Oh, I just have to go and look- then I'll have two corrupt, pointy-eared pets to play with! Do keep an eye on this one, won't you? I won't forgive you if you try stealing this one for yourself."

[With that, the Siren escaped off into the water, swimming at speed to try and catch a new pet.]

...Good riddance.

Finally! That idiot was taking forever to get the hint!

[ Maribelle shakes her head hard - which undoes the last of the magic, showing her true form! She then frantically gets to the cage, trying to find a way to open it.]

I hope that fool left behind the key... Caster, are you hurt?

Maribelle...? It- it is really you, isn't it?

[Not a doppelgänger, or an illusion, or a siren playing games?

...Did it matter? She couldn't just stay sat in a cage.

So once Maribelle rushed over, she shifted over to the bars and rested a shaking, gloved hand there. A couple of scrapes and bruises aside from being manhandled into the cage, physically Caster looked fine.

The tear-tracks down her cheeks and red, sore looking eyes told a different story, though.]

...I- I'm not wounded, no. I think it was hiding the key behind those rocks- I wasn't watching closely-

[She was too exhausted for that.]

[ Maribelle looks over at Caster's face. Remembering the Siren's words, how he had not only tricked her but mocked her so cruelly... she almost wishes the damned thing came back so she could strangle it.

But, no. Focus on what's important now. ]

Behind the rocks... behind the rocks...

[ Searching... searching... ah-ha! She triumphantly pulls it out! ]

There! Let's get you out, and then get out of here, before it realizes it's looking for nothing.

[ She unlocks the cage, and offers her hand to her friend. ]

[Caster stared at the outstretched hand- she felt hopeless. This could easily be another trap, couldn't it? And even if it wasn't, what was there to go back to?

...It wouldn't be fair to Maribelle to just stay here, would it? Not after she'd come all this way.

Even if her body felt so, painfully heavy from grief, she had to try and will herself to move. Finally, she was able to put her hand in Maribelle's and let her friend help her out the cage.]

[ Why is Caster hesitating? ... Is it because of what's been revealed? Or does she still suspect this is not the real Maribelle?

Maribelle, gently, squeezes her hand. ]

... Medea. What I heard... I don't judge you any less for what happened. If I had seen someone I wished for so deeply, so terribly, before you did... it would very well have been me in that cage. I will never judge you for missing someone you love. I will never judge you for having a heart.

You've saved my life. I owe you everything - and that includes benefit of the doubt.

Let's go home... together.

[Caster squeezed onto Maribelle's hand, eyes not entirely focused- but her words seemed to sink in.

It was some reassurance, at last, that Maribelle didn't judge her for what happened.]

...I'm so, so tired of this world treating me like this- these ridiculous trials, what are they trying to prove?

But- thank you- let's get out of this wretched place.

... I think they're proving more about Celliwig than us, if you ask me.

[ But this isn't the time for debate and questioning. They need to hurry before the Siren comes back.

With a nod, Maribelle heads back into the water, holding her breath. ]

Agreed.

[Caster followed her, holding her breath and heading into the water to swim back to safety- thankfully, the Siren was nowhere in sight.

But she did spot her dagger, gleaming with a purplish light, discarded near the bottom of the pool. Perfect. At least she was able to swim down and grab it.]

[ They make it back to the entrance, and Maribelle swims up to the surface, taking a few hard, heavy breaths. Doing all that kind of labor is clearly very new for her. ]

Ugh... I'm freezing...

[The heavy, drenched robes were not doing her any favours- and it didn't look like Maribelle was fairing much better. Tucking the dagger away, she turned back to her friend.]

Let's get back and warm up. There's...nothing here for us, is there?

Certainly not for me. And I can imagine you'd like to put this behind us as soon as possible.

Yes, I would.

...I don't know how much more of these wretched trials I can take.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ✨ The Answer is Always C

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This is beautiful hahaha poor Maribelle

thank you thank you

Her pride will never recover LOL

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