Event #1: Welcome, Adventurers

[seasonsmods]

Welcome, Adventurers
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Guild Playing Games With my Heart

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Part 1

A new message on everyone's smartphones says that all the Guilds are finally open for business! Instructions on how to get to each one of them are sent with the message.

Each Season has their own Guild (Winter in Frostreign, Spring in Blossomcrown, Summer in Solarpeak and Autumn in Amberfall). Originally they were formed when the world was thriving and the natives were power holders, now they serve a purpose for aiding Otherworlders.

Although there are some aesthetic differences, all of the guilds have the same basic layout, which the newcomers are given a tour of:

The main floor is for information, containing computers that are connected between all guilds. Using them brings up holographic boards which contain information on each of the segments, with a focus on their home segment. You can find out here what the weather is like in each segment, what quests are available, an explanation on how the Flower Yards work, and even a list of powers that have been discovered and how to practice them.

The second floor is a place to go for combat practice, or just practice using your powers. There are simulators here that can be used to create a space to test your skills against virtual monster opponents or against other power holders, all with safety precautions to keep anyone from being injured.

The third and final floor is meant for relaxation and provides a temporary place to nap when necessary. Those who do quests on a regular basis will receive a key that opens their own, personal room for relaxation that can be customized as much as they want. It's void pocket space that doesn't appear unless the specific key is used or the owner invites someone in from the inside.

It's also the floor where the leaders of the guild have their own private space in that's a restricted area. They have their public office there as well.

However, the power holders are expecting everyone outside, in the backyard of the Guilds...

Part 2

The main event of the opening day of the guilds is a lesson on how to become more attuned with your new elemental magic. Some characters may already feel comfortable with them, but the Power Holders wish to help anyone who might still feel like they're struggling.

Behind the guilds there is big open space. A yard meant for lessons like this. Each of the power holders is own their own stage (even Sawyer, who seems rather reluctant to be there) and announces the name of the lesson: Elemental Dancing.

They explain each in their own way that dancing while focusing on their basic element is a way to start properly feeling the element. The dance can be anything, as long as their bodies are moving and they can feel their magical energy align with the element.

To demonstrate, they dance:

Olwen dances a slow dance that looks a little like ballet, with water flowing naturally around him and increasing in quantity as he goes.

Jade has a much quicker dance method, like she's dancing at a party and is surrounded by wind that sometimes helps her even jump higher.

Dawn's dance is a passionate belly dance accompanied by rings of fire around her that turns into a pink fire so she doesn't burn herself as the flames come closer to herself.

Sawyer, as reluctant as he, goes full breakdance with each of his tricks forming pillars of earth that he can use to dance even more.

Once their demonstration is over, they encourage new power holders to give it a try themselves and remind them that they can dance however they please. They also advise that the dances can be attempted with a partner, as long as they can learn to trust one another. Sometimes magic is far stronger when done together... but it may also backfire.

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I Came In Like a Questboard

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Anyone interested is encouraged to join their guild. The staff explains that it's very beneficial, as they would get access to the upper floors that just today were shown to them, and that nearby stores would give guild members discounts for potions and other such adventuring necessities.

Even without joining, all of the first floors services are available for everyone. That includes the questboard that is now on display, though it only shows four quests for now.

There are some necessary preparations still going on with the questboard itself, but the staff assures that later there will be more of them, with some permanent ones added to the mix that would help with making the Segments safer for those without powers to explore as well.

Why not find a friend and go out on an adventure together? The guild does recommend doing quests together with someone, rather than alone.

Well, except Sawyer of Autumn, if he's around. He will always encourage people to go on their own and claims it's an act of bravery. Oh, and make sure to check the Beastiary before heading out, once you've picked your targets!

The Quests [ Click to Expand ]

Quests

CW/TW: possible nudity, possible death

Name: Skeletal Mischief
Rewards: 100 Moon Coins per 2 Snowskeletons vanquished
Location: Winter Segment
Description: For some time Snowskeletons have bothered natives who visit the Flower Yard. Usually the only nearby place of peace has now become a nuisance to visit. Those who attempt it usually return to the city in just their underwear (if they’re lucky). A request has come for the guilds to get rid of the Snowskeletons near the Flower Yard in whatever means necessary.
OOC notes: Snowskeletons have two types: either they're snowmen made from bone or they're skeletons made of snow. Either way they're definitely not friendly and often disguise themselves among the snow to surprise their prey. They're not really out to kill anyone, but may sometimes accidentally do it. Instead they're looking to steal clothes and wear them. Basically they're notorious bandits.

CW/TW: mind altering

Name: That Very Big Tree
Rewards: 500 Moon Coins, Loot you find
Location: Spring Segment
Description: The researchers are curious about the “One Very Big Tree”. They want to know what the tree does and are asking people to take a look and report back what they find.
OOC notes: One Very Big Tree is hollow on the inside and looks like a big tree house. The higher someone climbs it the less they feel like they’re themselves. In fact, they will turn into the exact opposite of themselves. There are also dangerous Gale Squirrels living inside that use wind magic of their own to attack!

Reaching the top, however, will reward them with feathers of a mighty monstrous bird that can be used to enhance any weapon so that they fly back to the user's hand. Only one feather per character, magic stops them from taking more than one.

CW/TW: possible death, possible mind altering

Name: Treasure Ship
Rewards: 500 Moon Coins, any treasure they find
Location: Summer Segment
Description: “The abandoned ship in the Great Ocean Lake used to be a treasure ship! So why not go fetch the treasure? I’m sure it can be used to make some neat weapons or armor. I’d love to help do that, I’m an expert in using treasure for enhancements! But I’m not strong enough to go get them myself. The fastest route there is from the Airship Station!”
OOC notes: The ship is full of Octokitties that are cats with six to eight limbs. They’re territorial and won’t appreciate anyone coming to their ship for any reason and will attack viciously. They can also spit ink that includes side effects of going into a berserker mode and not caring who is an ally and who is an enemy. But the treasure is real.

CW/TW: eaten alive, death

Name: The Blue Flash
Rewards: 700 Moon Coins for finding a lost one*
Location: Autumn Segment
Description: “Help, my friend disappeared on our trip to visit the old lady of Autumn Airship Station. We walked outside to stretch our legs after our airship journey and then there was a blue flash in the corner of my eye and he was gone! Nothing at all remained and I was too scared to go look for him so I ran back inside. I’ve heard this isn’t the first time a blue flash has abducted someone!”
OOC notes: The reason for disappearances is the Angler Will-o'-the-wisps: Most will-o'-the-wisps are harmless, but there are types that act like anglerfish. They take the form of other monsters and toss a "fishing line" out of a dark bush to make it look like a normal will-o'-the-wisp was trying to get their attention. When the prey gets too close, they will attempt to devour them to get more soul energy. They have left their normal place in the forests and invaded some bushes around the Segment.

*Reward stays the same even for just figuring out the mystery behind disappearances.

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Enhanced to Meet You

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Part 1

Enhancing items is a magical specialty in Ellipsa. The power of words determines how your item of choice gets enchanted. If you're trying to make an armor stronger, it would be wise to use kind and encouraging words but a weapon might need violent and determined words. Enhancement include defense boosts, attack boosts, health stealing and even adding status effects. All of these effects aren't permanent, but they should last for at least a month before fading away.

The workshops around districts will offer teaching to anyone who is interested in learning the basics of basic item enhancement. For more advanced things (like learning to make the enhancements permanent) the natives suggests taking an apprenticeship in the Magical Manor of Amberfall or Tower of Potions of Coldreach. Especially with potions, as those are more advanced than what they are showing.

Of course, armor and weapons aren't the only things that can be enhanced anything is possible as long as it's a non-living thing.

Part 2

A group of mischievous Imps are causing trouble. They're doing everything they can to make people angry (like dropping items on people's toes) as they try their magic. This could happen to anyone, even otherworlders testing their new magic.

Due to their mischief, a group of magical performers who were meant to enhance some animal statues to make them move around in a show ended up cursing a lot while the magic was happening. Because of that the animal statues did come to life, but they're angry and started running around, ramming into people left and right. It's especially alarming when one of the statues enhanced is a giant elephant, and some of the statues were meant to be used in a bullfighting show. Those are some very, very angry stone bulls coming at people in high speeds!

The natives don't want to break the statues, but they would like the statues to be stopped. With kind and loving words the effects of the curses will vanish and the statues will calm down and act like they were supposed to.

Of course they would appreciate catching as many Imps as possible so they could be returned back outside into the Summer Segment.

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OOC TIPS

- Ask Questions here

- Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a private entry of your own (your own entry or a new locked post on the comms).

- Remember to content warn as necessary!

- Event starting date is March 17th, but the opening day of the guilds and the elemental dance lessons happen for a week so everyone who wants to attend them can have a chance to do so.

- NPC Power Holders can be interacted with, but it will all be handwaved. Feel free to ask questions on the questions thread if you're unsure of how the interactions would go.

- Starting in April, quests will be posted bimonthly and there will be a Quest Mingle available for people to use to thread out the quests! This format is just here because it's the first event where they're introduced.

- These particular quests are canonically open until end of month.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[at_heart]

[ salute ]

Well, it's my second time, but I'm not the only one here who's been drawn worse places.

[ Thinking of what he's heard about Trench. ]

Wouldn't be surprised if there're at least a few of us for whom this is more like kidnapping number four.

[essenceborn]

Four?! That's too much! Once is hard enough to get used to...!

[ Seriously do you know how much magic there is to get used to?? And that the world is bigger than a single city?? Nen can't imagine what four times as much as Ellipsa would be like. ]

[at_heart]

[ An apologetic smile. ]

I'd be pretty sick of it if it were me, yeah.

Maybe also a little bit like "okay, but seriously".

[ There's a noticeable lack of actual complaint in his words and tone, though. He made a token effort to say something about it being someone else's turn, but then couldn't even make himself finish the sentence. It's always his turn. That's fine. That's part of the point. ]

[essenceborn]

I have no idea what that means.

[ what is this slang

The first part carries over though, even if something about Yuri's expression looks different compared to the times they've seen other people try to smile. It's small. Nen's not quite sure what it is, but decides to file that away for later reflection. ]

The magic is hard, but... I am happy I'm here. I was stuck in my world.

[at_heart]

[ What... what means? Genuinely puzzled, but the next thing they say is distracting. ]

Stuck in what way?

[essenceborn]

Stuck as in...stuck.

[ Nen can see two angles from which to view their situation, but they both filter down to the same essential thing. ]

I was in a research tower I couldn't get out of, and the same thirteen days kept happening over and over.

[at_heart]

[ ... ]

You know, it's definitely an improvement to have literally any idea why something doesn't seem as weird to me as it probably should, but that's awful and I'm sorry.

[essenceborn]

...Thank you?

[ Is that what you say to someone when they sympathize with your horrid plight back home? Not that Nen thinks of that place as 'home' at all mind you ]

I am very, very glad to be here. I never want to go back.

[at_heart]

[ Drawing in a breath. ]

Hopefully they'll let us stay here even if we fix everything for them.

[essenceborn]

What about if we can't fix it? Do we still get to stay?

[at_heart]

[ Opens his mouth, then closes it again. After a beat, reluctantly, ]

I'm not sure. But we can ask. See if they've got... any plan for after.

[ The tree looms, though, and he pauses to get the door open for Nen. ]

[essenceborn]

[ Nen gives him a small thanks and steps on through...and immediately gets distracted by how incredible it looks inside. They'll catch themself after a moment, but their eyes are markedly keener after that as they finally move so Yuri can come in too. ]

I don't want to go back to my world. I want to stay here.

[at_heart]

[ He'd find that kind of cute, if not for the conversation that is currently happening. Following them on through... ]

Well.

[ No, he can't just keep saying maybe and if. It's not the biggest thing he's agreed to make reality, anyway. ]

—We'll figure something out. Promise.

[essenceborn]

[ Nen gives Yuri and sidelong glance, not having expected him to make such a declaration. They've only just met, after all. But Nen's learning that what they expect from people and what they're seeing from people are two very different realities.

This isn't Yuri's first world-hop, after all. If anyone's uniquely qualified to comment on the topic, Nen imagine sit must be him. ]

...Thank you. I would like that.

[at_heart]

[ The first time it was a surprise, the second time it was sad, the third time he couldn't take it anymore. ] [ But yeah, he's got... an unusual idea of what's possible. ]

What're acquaintances for?

[ See, he can be self-deprecating about it. ]

Though I guess I should've introduced myself before I made any sweeping declarations. Sorry about that. I'm Yuri.

[ Gonna start the climb now. ]

[essenceborn]

[ Nen is right behind him!! staring at his...well. butt. Because it's the only thing the can see when they're climbing after him.

sorry Yuri ]

Hello Yuri! I am Nenonen. It is nice to meet you.

[at_heart]

[ It's a nice butt?? There's all of one costume in his game where you can actually see it, though. Lots of A-line silhouettes on this boy. ]

Nice to meet you, Nen.

[ Just, immediate nickname. Though he could've also gone with Nenny. ]

[essenceborn]

[ Nenny.... ]

Nen? ...Oh! A nickname?

[ Nen's gotten two of those from two different people at this point in time, so while they're still adjusting to it...they still perk up. Friends give each other nicknames. Does that make them friends already? ]

[at_heart]

If you don't mind, yeah. Nenonen is a little long.

[essenceborn]

I don't mind. Do you have a nickname? "Yuri" is already very short...

[at_heart]

Heh. I've been — called things. Nothing consistent. Because yeah, 'Yuri' is short enough for most people.

You might hear one or two people call me 'Lupine' sometimes. Kind of a long story, but it's not common.

[essenceborn]

But isn't "Lupine" longer...? It doesn't sound anything like your name, either. Why is that a nickname?

[at_heart]

What did I just say. [ An amused glance. ] Okay, let's start with:

Nicknames aren't always shorter. It depends on the person, it depends on why you're giving them a nickname... Some nicknames are — old jokes between you and the other person. Like you might call a friend "Scotch" if that's his drink of choice and you first met in a bar. Maybe you talked a lot before you actually exchanged names, and by then you were just used to thinking of him as "Scotch".

[ Climbiiiiing climbing... ]

[essenceborn]

[ Nen is suffering from tired Dolly syndrome, pls forgive 8') ]

There are more conditions to the creation of a nickname than I thought...

[ Nen murmurs that thoughtfully, pulling themself up onto the next platform after Yuri and definitely panting a little after. Physical fitness is not Nen's strength. ]

It's an interesting, if confusing concept. Where did "Lupine" come from?

1/2

[at_heart]

[ hugs for tired Dolly FTR IF YOU EVER WANNA EDIT JUST LEMME KNOW ❤️ I do not mind retagging

Yeah, sorry. People don't always make sense.

[ And he is. Adjusting his expectations just a little, given a few things Nen's said so far. It's not a huge audible shift, or anything, but he is definitely planning on being more literal going forward. Communication is important and you've gotta meet people where they're at. ]