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

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[He nods (apparently willing to accept Lyney's Vision as a part of him).]

Oh, yeah. Where I'm from, we get really hot summers and cold winters. Having to stick to the same routine no matter the season is tough!

[Is he talking about Japan or Inazuma now... but then again, the only real difference is the alleviation methods - using a traditional paper fan or a battery-powered electric mini fan, that sort of thing. In winter, they can only bundle up no matter what.]

But that's what we're samurai for. We steel our bodies so we can endure anything.

[Can he endure this heat form much longer, though? He really is sweating a lot by now. Maybe he should try to use his temperature control magic, just a little..? But no, being caught and thrown out in front of Lyney is out of the question! After they pulled through in the obstacle course with their combined grit and wit, he won't disappoint him by cheating now!]

I assume the seasons don't affect your stage shows much?

[ Visions are Special Exceptions, them's the rules. And it's thanks to his that Lyney's feeling nice and toasty but still comfortable, sweeping back his bangs once more. ]

I hadn't realized a samurai was such an impressive being.

[ He'd likened it more or less to a knight, and still thought there were a large number of similarities there, but discovering the differences between the two made them each all the more interesting. ]

Hm... not really in a negative way. We do have some tricks we like to do in one type of weather or another, just to match the season. But most of our larger tricks are performed indoors anyway, so variables of the outdoors aren't a factor there.

[Since Hijikata's been a knight too - on Avalon -, he'd be able to tell Lyney all about the similarities and differences! Again he briefly grins at the praise, then nods at the explanation regarding the twins' performances. He figured as much!]

You know, I've never really been to a magic show. After this, can you show me a trick? I don't assume you can do one in here, can you?

[Even if Lyney may not need the entire stage set-up, doing anything in a sauna is probably too much to ask for!]

[ Hijikata's expanse of life experience would just be more and more impressive the more Lyney learns of it. ]

[ At the request for a trick though he laughs brightly, holding up an empty hand to start. ]

I'd be a terrible magician if I didn't always have a trick or two to do... but at this level of disrobe, I'm afraid they're mostly tricks that rely on my pyro abilities.

[ With a flick of his fingers, small fireworks begin to appear above his open palm, forming into various cat-shaped faces. ]

[Oh, this is cute! Even Hijikata, who's been a bit more sullen that usual lately, can't help but smile at the tiny spectacle.]

Hah... my summer magic can't measure up to this, I'll give you that.

[Sure, he can cause a lot of damage, but he can't make something endearing like this! Somehow, it feels like it got even hotter in here... whether it's only his imagination or not, he wipes his forehead.]

Are you sure you can still hold out? I wouldn't want you to faint on me!

Perhaps you just need a bit of practice. I had to put in quite a few hours to get the shapes right myself.

[ An understatement given just how much practice Lyney had put in, but it'd be better not to sound discouraging from the start. ]

[ At the challenging words though, he grins wider, making a show out of leisurely rolling his neck even as sweat rolls down the back of it. ]

Oh, but it's so pleasantly warm, Monsieur. I wouldn't call it hot though.

[ Someone is going to have to fish these dumb boys out of here aren't they. ]

[Damn Vision holders with their (super)natural advantages..! Hijikata closes his eyes for a moment and exhales, hard-pressed to keep playing it cool. (Someone will have to drag them out of here, and it's up in the air if they'll still be conscious at that point.)]

Hm... I'll give it a try. So, are you and Lynette going to set up shop in Nightwake City? Or are you reorienting yourselves?

[ If he keeps talking, he probably won't pass out right, that's how it works? Staying conscious is the most important part! ]

For now, we're earning most of our money from quests, but it's probably better if we got more stable jobs for a stable money flow. The main problem though is we also need ample time to work on our magic act, so working part time is likely the most we can do.

[ Add onto that their personal project and life was somehow even busier here than it was back home. ]

That sounds like you've got your hands full. Depending on what sort of part-time work you're looking for, I can perhaps ask around. I know a couple of otherworlder-run places that are looking for staff, a café and a karaoke bar.

[Of course, there's more, but maybe the twins have something else altogether in mind!]

On the other hand, quests tend to pay quite well, but the risk rises along with the reward.

[ The most ideal job would be something he and Lynette could work at together, but he suspects she wouldn't be inclined toward anything with so much social interaction. Maybe he could take up one of those and keep looking to find her something less social... ]

If they truly are, do let me know. I can't guarantee it'll be a fit for our schedules, but I certainly won't turn away any part-time prospects without taking a look at them first.

But I certainly won't turn away any high paying quests as well.

[Hijikata nods - though unbeknownst to him, Ren will actually turn out to be called home before long, so who knows what'll become of his karaoke bar! Nothing ever stays the same for long in these worlds.]

You two already come in a pair, but if you ever need a swordsman to quest with you..!

[He hasn't met Lynette yet at this point, but if she resembles her brother, she probably isn't exactly tank material either! He wouldn't mind backing either or both of the siblings up.

Again he closes his eyes for a bit. Damn, his head is swimming... but Lyney doesn't look like he's about to give up, so he won't either!]

I may just take you up on that! Lynette's willing to go on quests with me, but too many will wear her out and I couldn't stand for that.

[ Lyney's just too full of energy for her to keep up with sometimes, and he feels bad dragging her along at his pace all the time. ]

[ He does catch the way Hijikata's eyes flutter closed for a moment though and frowns to himself. He may be quite stubborn, but he doesn't feel all that inclined to risk someone else's health for it. ]

Whew... I think I'm about ready to call it quits. Anymore and I might just catch on fire myself!

[It's fortunate for Hijikata that Lyney already had an idea of how stubborn he is from their first quest together, even if they were competing together rather than against each other there! He perks up somewhat as the magician announces his surrender.]

Huh. So your Vision resistance has its limits too, hm?

[But Lyney doesn't look half as close to keeling over as he feels. Could it be..? Is he just trying to be gracious and forego his win?]

...

You know what, let me go out first. I've already bought everything I wanted from Riki's shop, and if you were aiming for the restaurant vouchers, you and Lynette will have more use for those too. I usually eat on the go or at home.

[There are also the potion set and giant teddy bear options, but he's pretty covered even on those fronts, having bought at least a stand-alone invisibility potion and been gifted a huge frosh plush for Christmas!]

I can't risk damaging my delicate skin, after all. A stage performer has to look his best for an audience.

[ An exaggeration, though his appearance is an important part of a number of different parts of their act, but Hijikata doesn't need to know that much. ]

[ But when Hijikata volunteers himself to leave the bath first, Lyney does startle a bit in surprise. ]

Eh- really? But the vouchers sound like they could be really useful.

[Hijikata lets out a small amused snort at that - and here he thought that the magic tricks were the main draw, but admittedly, a pretty pair of performers can't hurt the business! At Lyney's objection, he gives a wave of his hand as he gets up and steps past him (kind of having to hold on to the sauna's pillar and walls for balance).]

They'll be more useful to the two of you. I tell you, I've got my bases covered.

[And he exits, making Lyney the winner, without feeling even more like a weak aging loser about it - it's remarkable, really, how Lyney pulled that off by simply being kind and considerate. Maybe that was the real magic trick here.]

[ He sees that Hijikata!! You can't hide overheating from him!! But he also recognizes when a man is trying to look cool, and as someone who often gets stuck in exactly that sort of situation and fails, he can't help but give a little smile. ]

[ Alright Hijikata, you can be cool. ]

Haah... thanks then.

[Hijikata hasn't yet realised that Lyney is a kindred spirit - why would a young, naturally charming and pretty boy also need to look cool? -, but even so, should he struggle the next time, he'll have his back, too!!

For now, he just smiles a little as he leaves for a much-needed cold shower. Helping (relative) newcomers, even in such a small way, feels good... and he wasn't even making stuff up; the twins will surely enjoy their restaurant meals much more than his food-stall-frequenting self. They're from the land of gourmets, after all!]

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Event #8: Fairytale Gone Live

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