seasonsrpg | Event #8: Fairytale Gone Live

Event #8: Fairytale Gone Live

Fairytale Gone Live
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Knowledge is Magic

Part 1

Fairies have managed to uncover something in the Amberfall Library. Powerful magic had kept it covered, but with the help of their queen they managed to reveal what was hidden: an entrance to an ancient library. No one has recollection of a library being hidden there, but the fairies claim it feels 'familiar'. They started exploring the library in earnest and identified it as the Magical Library of Knowledge. As it's a magical library, it's completely possible that it teleported itself into safety when Darkness came and found its way here.

This ancient library is known to be good willed in nature. However, it does have some quirks and sometimes pulls pranks on unsuspecting visitors. Fairies are immune to such things, but there's a reason for it: fairies aren't able to pick up the books in the library, not even with their magic. Only those with the ability to touch the books will be affected by the magics that happen in the library.

The books contain important information about the world that has been lost, so a request has been sent to otherworlders to make a trip to the library and find important seeming information. Everyone who volunteers will be given a bag that helps carry any books (will keep the books safe and the bag remains light no matter how many books it has inside - only works on books) and an amulet that has a one-time magic that will teleport someone to safety if necessary.

Of course anyone is also welcome to just bring back books that interest them personally. The bag does have limitless space, after all. It was developed for people who want to loan a lot of books at the same time - good thing the invention will now have other uses!

Part 2

After descending down a long spiral staircase, people will find a huge library that has more books than eyes can see. They're all on shelves, at least, instead of being scattered around. There are various sections and all of them have been put in an alphabetical order by the book's name, as most of them lack the name of an author. The place has three floors, all with various staircases leading up and down.

The ambience in the library is dark, making reading there seem a little bit unpleasant. However, anytime someone opens a book, a small lantern will float above them, making the surrounding perfect for reading a book without disturbing anyone nearby. Once the book closes, the lantern will float away to find someone else to help.

Floating lanterns aren't the only things moving around the library. Occasionally one may notice movement from the corner of their eye and if they turn around they might see an owl sitting on top of a clothes rack or a table. These are library owls - intelligent owls that oversee the library and just live there because they enjoy being there. If someone offers them a snack, they will perch on the person's arm or shoulder.

Even if the library seems extremely organized, the sad truth is that all of the important knowledge containing books have been hidden among normal books. But the library owls will know where the look, as long as someone is nice to them and will give them snacks. Those who are mean to the owls will be guided towards useless places - like the section filled with just empty books or one that has magical traps.

Immersed in Books

Part 1

Some of the sections of the library behave differently than others. There are odd magical effects (like making someone act like they're in love when reading a romance book) or traps that have been made to surprise people (mostly harmless 'chalk dropping from above' or 'water sprouting from a fake flower' type of traps). Some sections even have guardian books that are floating books that will push people out of the section if they're being loud or otherwise disturb others. Attacking one of them will make the books reflect the attack back to the person.

Some of the rooms containing books take being magical to another level. Whoever opens a book will change the whole look of the room. All of the shelves and the surrounding area is replaced with a scenery from the book. If two or more books are opened at the same time, the scenery will be a mix of all of the opened books. Fortunately, none of it is actually real so if someone happens to open an informative books on sharks, they will just get a very realistic illusion of being in an ocean with sharks.

Sometimes these sceneries will also change the clothes of the people to fit the book characters' clothes. Wearing these clothes might make the people talk like the characters do in the books (in accents or elven languages) or act out a dramatic death scene in the middle of the room. Usually this passes after the scene is played out or once the book in question is found and closed.

Part 2

Another weird phenomena happens in the aisles that have books on fairytales. Anyone who opens a book in one of these aisles might find themselves become a fairytale character. The change is visual at least, but some might even go through a complete change. In other words, someone could just look like the Prince from Snow White, but another might even believe they are him. Someone who starts off as just looking like a character might later end up acting like them as well, but not the other way around.

The longer someone 'stays in the fairytale' the more likely it is they will be taken over by the character they've become. It will be harder and harder for them to remember their real name or react to someone calling them by it. They will share the goals of the fairytale character and think they're in a strange trials set up by someone that they need to get out of.

A way to break free of a fairytale is to either receive a kiss (preferably of true love, but just a normal kiss will do) or by having a key item destroyed. The key item will depend on the fairytale character in question (so for a princess it might be a crown or for a fairy godmother it might be their wand). Destroying the book that started it all isn't possible, as the book is 'inside the person' until they snap out of the fairytale.

Part 3
CW/TW: horror, gore, paranoia, murder (attempts)

In the lowest floor of the library exists the horror sections. These aisles are full of different thriller and horror books. Unfortunately, upon escaping the darkness this particular section was partially corrupted. For that reason there's a high change of running into danger here.

The further in you go to these sections, the creepier the ambience becomes. Is that blood on the floor? Is that floating lantern flickering ominously? Some may even start seeing things that aren't even there or just generally feel paranoid.

If someone happens to open a book under these circumstances, they might summon a shadow of a killer from the stories who will attempt to murder the reader to break free. Some might become possessed by character from the books and do their bidding. The fastest way to break any of these is to destroy the book. This is the only time that doing so is encouraged. Other ways include destroying or capturing the shadow or knocking out the person possessed.

Perhaps the safest option is to just open a book and witness a gory scene being laid out on the ground beneath them, just like described in the books. It's not pleasant, but it won't hurt anyone. The scene will disappear once the book is put away.

Destroying books here also helps deal with the partial corruption, as it will slowly disappear and the aisles start feeling a little bit more "normal".

The Cold Case

Part 1

To those not keen on diving into a strange library, there are other things to do. Of course, anyone who went to the library can later also join the events happening in the city.

A public announcement is made that the next big mission would happen in the Winter Segment. More specifically, the Research Center and the four Power Holders are making preparations to tackle the mystery of the Frozen Falls. With the new information gathered from exploring, it's now a known fact that the storm preventing their access is actually the souls of the previous power holders keeping anyone from entering the place. However, with the right preparations, gaining access to and exploring the falls will be made possible.

The first set of preparations happen in the Frostreign District. Anyone is welcome to join the project in one of the big houses near the Sauna Spa area. The place is filled with materials for making winter gear for the mission. There's almost every imaginable colored fabrics, different accessories and even yarn for those who'd rather knit. The main goal is to make gear for themselves, but any extra is also appreciated.

Those who don't feel so confident in making gear can also choose from pre-made ones and edit them with the enhancements needed to keep the cold away. Even the most basic summer clothes can be made to be perfect for the cold weather, as long as the enhancements are made right. People are at least encouraged to enchant any metallic parts of their weapons (or even jewelry!) to prevent them from becoming too cold to handle.

Participants are taught a spell that will let them enhance the gear or clothes of their choosing into ones that resist cold. This spell needs to be chanted in a freezing temperature, which is why the event is held in Frostreign. Once the enchanted item starts glowing in an a warm, orange color, the spell has worked.

The spell has to include 'With the warmth I draw from' and 'I protect this', but otherwise it's up to the person how the spell goes. Popular phrases are 'from within' or 'from the earth'. Saying the spell wrong, such as 'With fire I protect this' will result in a burning item instead. It won't damage the item, but it will be impossible to use unless the fire is put out.

Part 2

Frostreign also offers other ways to prepare for the coming mission. A challenge has been posted on the billboard outside the Sauna Spa area; The Ice Hole Swim Challenge. The goal is to first go into the sauna and then walk through the snow in just their swimwear to the ice hole at the center of the district and dip in. Those brave enough to enter the water will get a reward. After the swim everyone is encouraged to run back into the sauna to warm up.

Another challenge is starting to heat up in the sauna, which isn't really related to withstanding the cold. Some Sauna Fanatics are challenging people to stay in the sauna as long as possible while the heat rises higher. Those who manage to stay inside the longest and in the highest temperature will get a reward! However, those who cheat using seasonal powers will be subjected to the ice bucket challenge, which is basically having a bucket full of ice water dumped on them.

One of the more traditional challenges is the snowball fight where the goal is to hit as many people as possible with a snowball. Those who manage to hit at least ten other players will receive a rewards. Those who don't manage to hit anyone at all will received a star that said 'You tried' with a sad snowflake drawn on it.

The fourth and final challenge is a speed contest that's run on a rink made of ice. No one is allowed to use skates; just normal shoes (or no shoes at all if they prefer). There are multiple races and multiple winners in this contest - as well as a lot of medicine for the pain caused by falls.

But what are all these rewards that someone can earn? It's a choice between various things: one free item from Riki's Rewards (max. 30 comments price), a set of five different gift cards for five different restaurants (of characters' choice), a collection of useful potions (one that fixes any status effect, one that creates a substitute to take damage for the user, a five hour invisibility potion and a potion to revive someone from a fatal hit) or a giant teddy bear that feels like hugging someone the person loves. All rewards can be taken once, but someone can do multiple challenges to get more than one reward.

Just participating in any of the ongoing challenges will get someone a five star gourmet meal in the Frostreign's famous Northern Cuisine Restaurant*. Currently staying in the Sauna Spa hotel rooms is also free for the duration of the events.

* As long as the food is from "somewhere north", like even 'northern part of country in the south', it's likely a dish can be found in this restaurant.

OOC TIPS

• Ask event related questions here.

• In this event, gathering information is the main goal. If you wish to participate, please see this comment for OOC mechanics. The more people participate, the better! All requests are OOCly open until June 9th, 23:59 PST!

• Information gathered may not match the section explored.

• Feel free to come up with new fairytales, use existing ones (with changes, if a character of that fairytale exists in the game) or even use mythologies as fairytale stories. Have fun!

• Any types of books can be found from the library, even those that come from characters' worlds, as long as they're not straight up a manga or diary of someone's life from home. Feel free to come up with the weirdest cookbooks or a "X thing for Dummies".

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a separate entry (like to your musebox or characters' journal).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• Reminder to players that this month is Activity Check-in month and check-in ends on May 31st, at 23:59 PST.

code bases by tricklet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It is the horror section," Cole pointed out, gesturing around them. They were too close to the entrance. He needed to draw MK away, at least far enough that no one would easily hear. "I did find something useful a few aisles over, but I could only reach one book I saw for sure. I was...looking for a ladder or step stool, but do you think you could help?" he asked. "We could maybe find a few to check together where there's more light."

MK smiled and looked back down. He still didn't suspect anything. He would never expect Cole to have anything nefarious in mind.

"Sure thing. Lead the way," MK said and closed his book fully. He would follow Cole deeper into the darkness of the horror section, toward that spot Cole indicated.

"Thanks MK."

At least he could always count on the trust the hero had in his friends. Cole almost felt bad, because this was really just too easy. "So what made you check out this section?" he asked, making small talk as the only other noises were the ambient creepiness of the floor, wet drips, creaking floorboards as they walked, the haunting hoots of the nervous owls that dared to come down here.

"Were you hoping I'd be here?"

MK chuckled as they walked. He felt his cheeks warm from the question. He could try to play it off but he didn't want to.

"Kinda? I was hoping you might be down here. But I really was looking for books I thought you might like. I was gonna bring some back to the house so you could read them up in the tree house. Maybe even read them to me and Macaque. Make a whole thing of it. You know, to help you feel better."

"That's a nice thought. I don't know if my reading skills are up to reading a novel out loud, but I'd give it a shot."

How MK was such a wholesome softie was beyond Cole. Down here in a dank dark space in the library just to find more ways for them to spend time together. Shame that wasn't going to happen though.

Sidestepping a puddle of blood, which definitely couldn't be real, he stopped at the end of an aisle. "This is the one. See the thicker books there?" he asked, pointing to a shelf he was just too short to reach. "They look important."

"What better way to practice though, right? And Macaque can help you if you need it. He'd love to tell us scary stories in the dark."

MK followed and made sure to sidestep the same puddle. It had to be an illusion. Yeah. It had to be. Though MK made a note to poke it on the way back. Just to make sure. If someone needed help down here, he'd try to find them. He looked up at the books and nodded.

"Can do," MK said as he stood up on his toes. He reached for the thick books with both hands. He was open and defenseless completely now. "Almost there~"

Edited 2024-05-18 03:28 (UTC)

And that was the moment Cole readied himself. He pulled the iron dagger from his pocket and casually stepped up beside MK. It was a smooth motion, slipping the knife under his ribs as deep as it would go. He didn't speak, didn't falter, and didn't immediately pull the knife out.

The pain was sharp and sudden. It hit deep in a way MK had never felt before. His entire body went still. He yelped on instinct and looked down. The dagger's hilt was there. No blade. His shirt was slowly training red. His eyes slowly moved over the hand holding it, the arm it was attached to, the shoulder, and finally Cole's face. Cole stabbed him?

"What...did I do?" MK asked softly, confusion and pain clear in his eyes and on his face.

Cole met his eyes and smiled, not unlike when MK jumped during movie night, or after a particularly good batch of jam. And he twisted the knife. "You chose me," he said simply, yanking the knife out roughly to examine it. The look on MK's face brightens his day, pain and confusion. The wound staining his shirt and that bright yellow fabric of his jacket. More people should be so all around bright.

Out of seemingly nowhere, shadows engulf MK like billowing smoke, and then he's gone... seemingly. In fact, Macaque just moved him far enough away to be out of the immediate line of fire, and Macaque puts himself between MK and Cole as he tries to help MK down to the floor before he falls.

He looks at Cole with fear badly covering his hurt betrayal. He knows this isn't Cole, it's something else. This place, probably, coated with magic and secrets.

"Put it down or I'm taking it from you."

MK's hand moved to his stomach as the shadows took him. His legs gave out easily and he was sitting only thanks to Macaque. He shook as he felt the tears falling down his face. The pain and the betrayal. He watched Cole as Macaque gave him the ultimatum.

"It's...not Cole. Something down here is...Cole wouldn't..." He shook as his eyes flashed gold. The shadow! It had a trail leading into the dark nearby. MK was having a hard time breathing now. It was hard to form words.

Edited 2024-05-18 04:06 (UTC)

"You'll take it? Alright then. I guess I should put this one away," Cole sighed dramatically. "You took that long to figure it out, MK? Which part gave me away finally? Because it wasn't me leading you into the dark and stabbing you. Is it because I twisted the knife?"

He looked between the two, both hands sliding into his jacket pockets as he took a few measured steps away from Macaque. He would need to be careful here. "I'll admit to forgetting that you'd obviously be here too though. Literal shadow you are."

Macaque supports MK with one arm and tries not to calculate how much blood he might be losing. That way lies panic.

"This isn't you," he says to Cole. "And I know you're going to hate yourself for this later, but you'll hate yourself more if I let you hurt him worse." He's not saying this for the benefit of the Cole standing in front of him, but the Cole who will be stuck with this memory when he wakes up from this nightmare.

"I'm not a shadow, Cole. I just control them. And you can't beat me, so walk away." It won't be that simple, but Macaque pleads with whatever gods might be listening to give him a break for once.

MK flinched from the words. It did take him so long to figure it out. Like with Macaque and the brain surgery. He was too slow. Too oblivious. He kept pressure on his stomach and looked from Cole to Macaque. The dark monkey was right. Cole would hate himself for this if he remembered. Part of MK hoped Cole wouldn't remember anything. He wouldn't bring it up. He would keep it secret.

"You can't let him go. He'll hurt someone else," MK said softly. "You have to stop him. Please, Macaque."

"I might not be able to beat you, but I don't think I need to."

Cole smirked at MK's words. "Are you hoping I haven't already?" he asked. He kept his hands in his pockets for now, one still holding the iron dagger, and the other crafting a knife from the shadows in his pocket. "Because you're both pretty slow." That said, he vanished, using his favorite contract to erase himself from their senses. He just needed to get close to Macaque, and try to debilitate him. He wasn't dumb enough to think he could kill him.

A glance at MK as Macaque debates whether to argue the point, knowing that there's no way he could. He can't deny MK anything, and if what he wants is Cole stopped, then okay. It'll kill Macaque, but he'll do it. For both their sake.

Macaque can feel that shadow knife forming, but then Cole -- vanishes. But Macaque isn't that stupid, so he makes two solid walls of shadow, layers upon layers of them, so thick that nothing will get through. One of these he puts around MK, to protect him. The second, around the whole area, effectively trapping Cole in with him.

And then he unleashes a torrent of lightning throughout the entire area, except for MK's shadow bubble. Not enough to kill, just enough to stun. It'll hit himself too, but that's fine...

The lightning makes Macaque grit his teeth against a yelp, and he focuses on looking around, extending his senses, trying to find Cole.

MK knew it was a big ask. Huge. But right now, Cole needed to be stopped for his sake and everyone else's. He thought back to the blood on the floor. It hadn't been an illusion. Cole hurt someone else too. And he walked right on by. He was not the Smarty Kid he wished he was. He felt the cold sinking into his fingers and toes. Then came the shadow wall.

MK opened his mouth but it was around him in no time. He touched it and could feel how thick it was. He couldn't force his way out of this. It was strong. Too strong. And he was still bleeding. He curled up against the side of the bubble and started to just try and feel it out. Remembering the training from Macaque. Just see the patterns of light within the darkness and feel them out. Nothing else. Not yet. It would take him a while, he knew it would. Macaque might need help. Cole definitely did. Gold Vision and Xray vision turned on as he worked on his mental map. He was scanning every inch of the shelves around them, trying to see where that shadow connected back to.

Well that was going to complicate things a bit. Escape wasn't impossible, not for a changeling...it would just mean he would have to out-stubborn Macaque. And that would be easier if he stuck to the current plan of weakening him first. But also he would need to be close before striking. So Cole walked casually over to Macaque so as not to reveal himself, and he waited a moment to see what he would do.

He wasn't prepared for the blast of lightning though, and had no chance to react and avoid. The current rushed through him and he bit his tongue, falling to his knees. The contract remained intact, and and knelt there as he tried to shake off the daze from the blast. That hurt, but it enough to take him down.

Edited 2024-05-18 05:15 (UTC)

Macaque goes still after the lightning hits, irked that nothing seemed to happen. But he knows that something happened, just not something he can see. Or hear, which is the true handicap.

He doesn't want to hurt Cole, of course he doesn't. But MK made him promise, and so here they are.

Deciding to shift strategies, Macaque forms an intense blast of light and showers the entire area, except where MK is hidden away. He closes his eyes and looks away, but even then it's like being in the room with a flashbang. Hopefully Cole won't have been ready and it'll stun him, maybe get him to reveal himself somehow.

If not, Macaque has other tricks he could use. The trouble is, most of them would hurt.

The crackling and booms of lighting and thunder echo through the shadow bubble. He winced and was sure whatever was going on was painful. He didn't like that but hopefully it would be okay. Cole would be okay. Macaque wouldn't do anything that would permanently hurt Cole. MK tried to focus on what he was looking for. He swallowed and pressed harder on the wound. Just a little more. There. He could see it. The book!

Now he just had to find a way to get there. Without being hit by lightning raining down over everything. Much easier said than done.

Unfortunately, Macaque's pause allowed Cole to recover his wits and reposition himself, and he lashed out with the shadow blade just as the monkey's eyes closed. The attack broke the contract of course, because the invisibility didn't conceal blatant attacks. He just needed to connect anywhere to have it count. One slash and Macaque wouldn't be able to see for awhile.

But then there was also the sudden flash of light and he was too close to close his eyes before it sent him reeling as one sleeve covered his eyes with a yelp of pain. Spots danced behind his eyelids and he cursed loudly.

Macaque hissed as he felt something sharp dig into his shoulder, then the light goes off and he takes advantage of the moment to make a grab for where he heard that curse come from, trying to get Cole controlled while he has the chance.

Of course he has no idea what that stab will do to him.

Edited 2024-05-18 22:16 (UTC)

MK heard the swear and the hiss from Macaque. Now. They were both distracted. He pushed and tried to focus. He pooled the light together into the wall of the bubble and turned it into a portal. He fell through it and landed by the bookshelf outside. He grunted as he hit the floor. Oh that hurt. He panted as he looked up at the shelf. He dragged himself toward the book and pulled it off the shelf.

Now he had to figure out what to do from here. MK didn't think this far ahead. It was getting harder to think. The blood was draining from him and his heart rate was slowing down. Think MK. Think.

Feeling the blade hit home, Cole grinned. No visible wound was left, but the blindness effect was immediate and affected both eyes to render Macaque blind. Cole felt the grab and he reacted on instinct. He slipped away easily, stumbling back and feeling his reserves dipping as he spent glamour. "Don't TOUCH ME."

He didn't notice MK making a move yet, putting distance between himself and Macaque so he could clear the spots from his own vision. He was halfway to where he could actually finish off MK.

Macaque blinks as the world goes dark, but he doesn't spend more time than that. He still has his hearing, and he can hear Cole's heartbeat-- and MK's, which is weak. Damn it all.

Macaque throws up a shadow portal between Cole and MK, fairly sure that he can approximate where they each are even in the screwy rules of this place. If Cole tries to get to MK, he'll end up dropped on his ass right back where he started.

"Stop this, Cole. I'm not going to let you get to him."

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