EVENT #17: EPULUM - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #17 - Epulum

OOC Plotting Post ⦁ Coordination Post ⦁ Nocwich

Nocwich is familiar territory, having invited the Summoned over a year ago. While Luna and the werewolves are a prominent presence, Ikorr has chosen to keep to itself. That is, until now.

Stamped with Ikorr's signature wax seal, the red-enveloped letters invite you to a grand street festival called Epulum. While the Carnivale itself will take place on FEBRUARY 25, you'll be asked to come one day beforehand to enjoy the sights and prepare for a fantastic night. Food, accommodations, and clothes will be provided. All you have to do is show up.

As the night goes on, however, you'll notice something is afoot. Do you ignore it and continue partying? Or will you find yourself swept up in this unusual mystery?

Players are encouraged to incorporate aspects of the celebration into their investigation threads. Explore the mirror hall while looking for clues or wear a mask to blend in! And if someone's a bit tipsy? Well, let's hope they won't mess up the investigation too terribly.

Please note that the confrontation and choice at the end may temporarily impact the state of Nocwich. Nocwich is not guaranteed to be open in March.

The Carnivale

Each Epulum, Ikorr draws from the Major Arcana to determine what direction the world will take. This year, Epulum is represented by The Tower. Indicating change through chaos, Ikorr believes that The Tower is a sign that it's time for the city to open its doors to the Summoned - even if the decision might cause some strife with Luna.

Shops and stalls will sell accessories with the symbol of The Tower on them, from necklaces to embroidered shawls to hand-inked cards. If you happen to be a Tower yourself, you might be given a small trinket or two for free!

The main celebration will take place on the night of FEBRUARY 25, but characters can explore Ikorr's main streets the evening prior.

Arrival

You'll enter Nocwich as usual, wearing the pendant that allows you through the portal at Oleuni Square. Once there, you'll be given a warming potion to keep out the cold, and a second portal will take you into Ikorr.

Unlike Luna, Ikorr's architecture favors height, stone, and stained glass. Pointed arches stretch towards the stars. You can explore a variety of taverns and shops around the Carnivale area, which has been blocked off for the celebrations. Leaving the checkpoint is possible, but you'll be patted down and examined each time you reenter, so you may not want to come and go too often. Ikorr is taking a bit more care ever since the attacks on the delegates and given the scale of this event, security is fairly tight.

Nonetheless, there's no shortage of things to look at: street vendors, eateries, taverns, art galleries, and more. You'll have a few hours to look around before you retire to your tent.

Getting Ready

Since your stay will only be overnight, Ikorr has set aside one of the massive tents near the Sanguine Promenade for you and your friends. There are no rooms. Every Summoned will be piled under the same tent. You'll have plenty of space, though not much privacy. Maybe you can take the opportunity to make new friends and help each other dress up.

On that note, you must find the right attire. You can bring an outfit or purchase something from the shops, but if you don't want to spend the gold, the tent will have several wardrobe trunks and closets filled with clothes and accessories. You can borrow anything you want for the Carnivale.

You'll have a pretty good idea of what you're expected to wear to blend in since natives around the Promenade will be getting ready at the same time. Outfits are eye-catching , and bolder guests tend to cover very little. Men in particular will forgo a top in favor of wearing little more than strings of beads and crystals. Ikorrans are more lenient with foreigners who don't want to go all-in, but you should make an effort. You've taken the warming potion, haven't you? So the chilly weather is no excuse!

Carnivale Night

Extravagant and over-the-top, the Carnivale is all about excess. Shops and buildings are decorated with colorful flags to match the tents that line the streets. Even the Sentinel Guards have made the effort to add decorations to their uniforms. If your clothes are too understated, someone will come by to drape you with beads and feathers.

The main display is the parade. Competition is fierce for participants, who spend months planning the float, costumes, and magical displays, including pyrotechnics. Some floats have up to a dozen performers while others utilize intense spells to create an unforgettable show. The parade is typically led off with a float dedicated to the chosen Arcana - the Tower for this year.

During the parade, you'll be given some flowers to throw onto your favorite float. At the end of the night, the float covered with the most flowers is crowned the Golden Petal, a title that guarantees them a slot in the next celebration's parade. While Ikorr does its best to keep the competition in good spirits, sabotage has occurred in the past.

Attending Guests

The majority of Ikorr's population are vampires, or Ikorrans. While Oleuni Square sees werewolves and vampires mingle in small degrees, werewolves and vampires don't enter each other's borders, with rare political exceptions. The Draconae from the Nether are frequent visitors to Ikorr. Some settle in Ikorr for years or decades.

A handful of humans are also in attendance since Ikorr extended the invitation to natives of Thorne, the Free Cities, and Solvunn as a courtesy. Lesser-known but notable representatives will observe the event in a diplomatic capacity. They'll stand out a little more, as their outfits won't be as bright or revealing.

Sights & Sounds

As you enter the block, small pieces of glimmering confetti float down from above. Don't try to brush them off - there's no escaping the glitter and shine. You'll quickly realize the only taboo at the Carnivale is to have taboos in the first place. Partiers are here to let loose, and won't take to it kindly if you've come to bring down the mood. If you're shy, the locals are encouraging and will direct you to one of the main festival sections.

◎ Sanguine Promenade

Here, large tents in bright colors fill the walkway. Each tent hosts a different activity: drinking, bathing, gambling, and more intimate desires. The Promenade is illuminated with floating candles that shift colors to match the surroundings. Aphrodisiacs can be obtained upon request. They offer a range of effects from heightened sensitivity to relaxation. Avoid unlabeled foods - you might accidentally take something you didn't want.

A few of the tents will have a wall of colorful masks, each one featuring a different animal: a mouse, a rabbit, a wolf, a bear, a snake. Donning the mask will cause you to take on the physical traits of those animals. Scales emerge along your skin, ears sprout from your head, your nails become claws. You won't gain any special senses or strength. The transformation is strictly visual. It'll fade the moment you take off the mask.

Designed for anonymity so that guests can indulge in more extravagant behaviors without attaching their name, they make for a fairly quick and easy disguise if you need to remain unidentified. Or, you can just have fun with them.

◎ Feasting Quarter

The Feasting Quarter is a glutton's paradise, especially for the Summoned who can dine and drink for free. Enticing smells from vibrant stalls beckon you forward. While typical Ikorran dishes are dainty and petite, the Carnivale brings rich flavors, thick slices of meat and fruit, and overflowing plates. And one can't forget the wines! Blood-free varieties are available. All attendants will receive a special chalice decorated with the Tower. With the chalice, you can go up to any stall and fill your cup as much as you like. You can also buy trinkets and flowers to add to your costume.

As is tradition, samples from a small eatery called Thought For Food are placed on tables around the Quarter. These small candies feature different flavors: spicy, sweet, and sour. The flavors give the effect one might expect (spicy enhances passion, sweet delivers euphoria, and sour induces clarity)...except for you, the effects are reversed. Does it have something to do with being a Summoned? Nobody can say, but the result is the same:

• a spicy morsel will dull all your emotions
• a sweet treat will make you irritable and moody
• a sour candy will cloud your judgment, thereby increasing impulsivity

To your relief, the effects wear off within the hour. Be careful you don't eat one of these while investigating. These candies are also dissolvable. Maybe you can slip a witness a candy to change their mood? Just remember that as native Abraxans, witnesses will experience the proper effects, not the reverse ones!

◎ Blood Moon Ring

The Blood Moon Ring is an arena lit with floating red orbs. No seats are available, so you'll have to crowd around if you want to watch. Sword swallowers, fire jugglers, and other extravagant displays are here to entertain you. Most of it uses illusory magic, but the Ikorrans are hardier than your average human, so some of their stunts are quite real.

At the far end is a hall full of mirrors titled The Unending Face of Madness. The plaque explains an Ikorran artist designed it as a tongue-in-cheek reference to rumors that vampires lack a reflection. It isn't meant to have any mystical properties. Indeed, none of the natives will experience anything unusual - but that isn't so for you. As you navigate the maze of mirrors, your reflections begin to move independently.

When you lean closer, you notice your image bears your Arcana across its chest. Then it begins to transform into the very thing that defines your Arcana Sign as you. Are you an outcast? Too unyielding in your judgement or foolishly hasty with your decisions? Was there an event that shaped who you became? Maybe your features will shift into another individual, or you'll face a past version of yourself at that defining moment in your life. Or, you see yourself as the person you're afraid you might become: a monster or a corrupted ruler. Whatever it is, the mirror will reveal a piece of your soul - not only to you but to anyone else who's in the maze with you.

The Crime

On FEBRUARY 25, the night of the Carnivale Epulum, you notice some oddities afoot a few hours in. Are the guests behaving strangely? Is it a strong instinct you possess? Did somebody tell you that they saw something weird? You should probably investigate in case things go south.

If you think you've solved the mystery, don't be hasty about chasing down the accused! Instead, bring your suspicions to Celeste. She'll decide who to apprehend based on all sets of accusations. Her temporary office is near the celebrations. You can't meet with her directly, but you can drop off the details with her secretary.

Characters should REPORT to Celeste rather than pursuing the suspect themselves. This is to avoid conflicting scenarios as to how and when the culprit is caught. The culprit will be one of the four Witnesses described under Investigating.

Rising Suspicions

Your suspicions might arise from one of the three scenarios below. Each scenario will lead you to the same information outlined under The Missing Artifact. You might be on your own, or you may be with a friend. Of course, you can also learn the details secondhand from someone you know.

Players can incorporate the information provided to flavor their threads and are welcome to take control (within reason) of the NPCs involved in these scenarios. If you have any questions about specific responses or behaviors, use the MOD CONTACT section.

If your character is inclined to announce the full details to everyone immediately, we recommend delaying their in-game discovery time a little. This will allow other player characters to engage in the discovery scenarios before they learn everything over the Network!

Scenario #1: Sentinel Guards

There's been a sudden increase in Sentinels, Ikorr's guarding force, around the perimeter of the street party. Approaching them, you learn that they won't let you leave. It's a matter of safety, you understand. They promise you everything should be sorted by morning. If you're polite and question them further, they'll admit that a thief has struck the vaults. Though they can't disclose anything else, they'll direct you to their Deputy Sentinel, Soraya Moran. Speaking to her, the deputy will tell you it's unorthodox to involve an outsider, but due to the emergency, she'll make an exception.

Scenario #2: Angry Guest

A distressed woman wanders the promenade in tears. She declares she's barricaded from retrieving her jewels in the vault and that her costume for the parade is now ruined. If you can calm her long enough to talk to her, she'll tell you that the Vault Guardians have sealed off the vaults to everyone, even esteemed patrons. Visiting the Vault Guardians, you learn that there's been a theft in the area. While they don't usually divulge the vault's precious contents, they admit they could use the help from a Summoned, given the potential consequences.

Scenario #3: Abandoned Skulls

Throughout the street festival, you can find several lost skulls from someone's costume. You might recognize it from the Drowning Maiden who went by during the parade...except the float and its massive tank never finished the circuit. When you locate the prop's owner (it is just a prop, right?), you realize why: the soaking wet maiden, now out of her costume, sits beside the defunct float with its cracked tank. Upset, she insists that someone must've tampered with the tank. Have you heard of the theft in the vaults? She's sure the thief did something to her tank to cause the distraction. She directs you to Ikorr's Deputy Sentinel, Soraya Moran. Speaking to her, the deputy will confirm the theft. While it's unorthodox to involve an outsider, due to the emergency, she'll make an exception.

The Missing Artifact

Whether you speak to the Deputy Sentinel or the Vault Guardians, they'll tell you the same thing: that the item stolen is of critical importance and extremely dangerous if not contained. Historically, Ikorr's secured vaults have never been broken into, so this is an unprecedented situation. Officials suspect more nefarious forces are at play.

Ikorr will stress that the goal is to recover the artifact undamaged so that it can be safely locked away again. While characters will be faced with the decision to destroy or preserve it at the end of the night, they will not know that this is a potential option until after the artifact is recovered and Luna has made its stand.

Further questioning will reveal the following details:

◎ While the item itself is, of course, gone, you can take a look at a painting of it located in the public art gallery directly above where the vaults are secured. Called the Twin Latchkeys, its origins are unknown, but its appearance is unlike other artifacts in Abraxas. The vivid paint is well-preserved despite the passing of time. When the blades taste blood, the user becomes a conduit for great power.

◎ Inside the vault, next to the missing artifact, is an ancient headless torso fossilized in stone. Its chest has been split open and folded back - like two doors opening. The Sentinels explain that this is the last known user of the daggers. While the specimen holds no relevant clues, seeing the consequences for yourself might spur you to action.

◎ The vault shows no signs of forced entry. The powerful wards aren't broken at all. The Sentinels claim this can only be possible if the ward were taken down, then erected back up, something that would require an unusual amount of magic.

◎ From the Sentinels, you can learn the names of key Witnesses as outlined below. They'll also point out that the Vaults and the gallery above are a good place to start. The dressing room at the Blood Moon Ring may have experts in lesser-known magic, as well as somebody who might know what really happened with the tank and the Drowning Maiden. The Sanguine Promenade is ideal for eavesdropping, where talk flows freely. Finally, the Feasting Quarter has shopkeepers who're privy to all manner of gossip.

Investigating

The Sentinels can suggest some key names (Witnesses) or locations (Scenes) to help you get started. Examining a witness or scene will lead you to Evidence that you can investigate further or add to your notes. You won't find evidence unless you look around first. There are no strict limitations on how much you can do or examine at a time, but keep in mind you'll be working with others - so it might be a good idea to delegate and share the load!

Keep your focus on the noted evidence and witnesses. You're welcome to go off track, but you're unlikely to uncover anything useful. Ikorr officials will suggest you take a partner in case you run into any danger. Try your best to be discreet. While you can use the authority Ikorr bestowed on you to get information, making it known you're investigating may result in witnesses being less cooperative. The choice is yours!

Characters can investigate or interact with any of the points provided below. Interactions can be accidental if your character wouldn't get involved on their own. Further, the Horizon is available for coordinating evidence, recreating crime scenes, and more.

Images are purely references for visualization. All necessary information will be in the text. You can explore what you like for CR purposes, but only the items listed below will help you solve the mystery. Forms are available in the body of the Coordination Post itself.

Witnesses

Each witness has an assigned location. They won't stray from there, so they'll be easy to find if you need to see them again. You can either talk to or spy on an individual. The higher your rank, the more trouble you'll have spying. Try your abilities or look to the Carnivale Night Sights & Sounds to see what you can use. Any one of these witnesses can become a suspect. Be careful! Delivering unsubstantiated accusations to Celeste can lead the real culprit to escape.

Babis ◎ Interact
Sanguine Promenade

Bright-eyed and earnest, Babis has traveled to Ikorr to celebrate his 20th birthday. Despite his youth, he's a talented blacksmith seeking to hone his craft and expand his horizons outside the Nether. He has a record of theft for stealing an expensive wine, demonstrating his impressive lock-picking skills. Security claim they saw him in the gallery above the vault at the time of the theft - unusual, since most of the crowd would've gathered outside for the parade by then. They'll also note that he viewed the painting of the Twin Latchkeys frequently, returning to it over and over. The other witnesses may know more about him...or you might want to follow him first to see what he's up to.

Retha Zelpha (Firewing) ◎ Interact
Blood Moon Ring

Retha Zelpha is an Ikorran performer for the Blood Moon Ring. A well-respected figurehead for the event, Retha knows anyone and everyone who takes part in the performances - both past and present. A skilled ventriloquist, she sometimes speaks through her bird, named Firewing. Confusingly, "Firewing" is also Retha's stage name, leading to rumors that Retha and the bird are the same individual. You can find her looking after the performers or resting in her dressing room. Or, if you have good timing, you can catch her after one of her impressive acrobatic displays, where she soars nearly as high as Firewing (the bird). As with many in the entertainment business, she has a fair number of rivals...and a history of being vengeful.

Soraya Moran ◎ Interact
The Vault

Soraya Moran has been a Sentinel her entire life. Young by Ikorran standards, she was promoted to Deputy six years ago. Soraya is most informed about the vaults: its history, access records, information about the wards, and security protocols. While she was once a common sight during late nights, the past year has seen her take more time to herself ever since she began dating Marcellus Ver, the famous chef. Or, that was the case. In the month leading up to the festival, Soraya began taking extra shifts guarding the vault, which her colleagues find odd. What happened to all her talk of finally settling down? Gossip around the blood cooler is that her relationship with Marcellus was growing turbulent, causing her to avoid her home life by throwing herself back into work - but it's equally possible there's more to it.

Marcellus Ver ◎ Interact
Feasting Quarter

Marcellus Ver is a talented chef who's become a wealthy businessman and landowner. He made his name on his signature wine, the coveted Dusk Rose, an expensive vintage that uses a secret ingredient. The wine isn't available to the public. Marcellus sells it to an exclusive clientele list. He has a hand in nearly every shop established in the Feasting Quarter. Despite his considerable riches, his generosity is well-known, as well as his support for the arts. Coupled with his charms, Marcellus is a popular figure in Ikorr. He can often be found sampling the food and wine around the Feasting Quarter to make sure they're up to standard for the guests - and his name. If you need to know who to talk to for information on a particular subject, he can likely point you to the right shopkeeper. Of course, you may have to wonder, is his reputation just a little too spotless?

Scenes

You can investigate these locations below for any reason. Maybe you think it's a good idea to begin somewhere, or you spoke to someone who gave you the lead. While you can explore the broader area, it's best to narrow your focus to one of the key aspects (denoted with an underline). Any one of these scenes can contain evidence, which you can pursue further in the Evidence section below.

The Vaults ◎ Interact
Vault/Gallery

Underneath the art gallery, you can find the vaults, now sealed off by a team of Vault Guardians. Supervising them is Deputy Sentinel Soraya Moran, who'll guide you around the crime scene. There are two key sections you might want to examine: the warding that surrounds the vaults and the blood signature used to seal the artifact inside its (now empty) case. You can also look upstairs and speak to the gallery security guards, who keep an eye on the public artworks. Many of Ikorr's important figures keep their valuables in these vaults, too, but you'll need a good reason first to go through someone else's private vault.

Dressing Room ◎ Interact
Blood Moon Ring

You can find several dressing rooms at the Blood Moon Ring, but one locked door stands out: while the area is busy with performers coming and going, no one seems to be using this particular room. To gain access, you'll need to bypass the lock using your magic or skills. Having a special lockpick may help. If you've heard of a certain Draconae thief, you can try seeing if he'll lend you a hand. Or, you can go at it yourself. Sneaking risks getting caught, but it'll get you in and out much quicker. However, should you get on Retha Zepha's good side, she'll let you in to look around without trouble. Once inside, you can examine one of the following: the closets and dressers, the vanity table, and a wall decorated with paintings.

Merchant Stalls ◎ Interact
Feasting Quarter

The Feasting Quarter includes the famous Sun Petal, a flower stall run by an expert botanist who could know a thing or two about unusual plants. Another wine merchant is rumored to possess a bottle or two of the Dusk Rose vintage. They aren't advertising this fact, though, so you'll need to eavesdrop or ask a witness who might know about wines. Of course, it'll help if you can explain why you're so interested in either information. If you'd rather look around, you can examine one of the following: the storage area behind the merchant stalls and the carts of food samples.

Bathing Tent ◎ Interact
Sanguine Promenade

This is where the Ikorrans go to have a dip in the heated pool. If you want to talk to anyone discreetly, you'll also have to strip down and don one of the disguising masks to blend in. If you show up fully clothed or unmasked, you'll draw more attention to the investigation. There's no right or wrong way to do it! Being upfront will give you the authority to look where you want, but folks will be unhappy. Discretion will keep everyone none the wiser. Once inside, you can examine one of the following: a series of locked trunks where people store their belongings (located behind a curtain), a sauna that's mysteriously out of commission, and the lost and found barrels. If you've chosen to go undercover, make sure you use a distraction or keep watch so no one catches you rummaging where you shouldn't.

Evidence

Evidence can only be examined after it's found. You can find a piece of evidence by investigating a Scene or a Witness above. For simplicity, there are three "types" of evidence. However, there are multiple items of each type - so don't worry if someone else has already "taken" one of the evidence items. Keep investigating, and you might find something of your own. For example, you may find a third or fourth letter that previous others didn't.

Letters & Records ◎ Interact
Unknown

Important letters and other records can be found in the various scenes you explore. Once you have one, you can examine it in detail, cross-reference it with other letters or records, or use the information you learn to return to a Witness to pursue a new line of questioning.

Leather Sachets ◎ Interact
Unknown

These unusual leather sachets will surface around the Carnivale area. You're likely to find one hidden in an unexpected place, though it's possible one of the locals will have found one, too. Be sure to examine its contents closely, and compare what you find inside to other sachets that show up. There doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason as to where one is located. In fact, you might not even be investigating on purpose when you stumble across it.

Blood Signature ◎ Interact
Unknown

You'll be informed that of the authorized personnel who have access to the Twin Latchkeys, none of them match the blood signature used. As a result, it'll be up to you to search for a match. You'll have the best luck if you focus on one of the four Witnesses. To find a match, you'll need to obtain the person's hair, saliva, or blood. How you accomplish this is up to you! If you're positive someone's innocent, you can request they hand a sample over to clear their name. However, you'll risk alerting the culprit if you target the wrong person or are caught stealing a sample.

The Confrontation

Fortunately, whether or not the culprit is identified, Ikorr will recover the missing artifact. The Sentinels will notify all of the Summoned about the news, even if they weren't involved in the investigation, and will request everyone gather in Celeste's office.

There appears to be a small hiccup, however: due to the Twin Latchkeys going missing, Luna has caught wind that Ikorr possesses the object, and they've come to do something about it.

Brewing Tensions

Luna is demanding the artifact be destroyed rather than returned to the vaults. They've sent one of their own, though the werewolf who arrives is not the one some may have grown familiar with. Accompanied by only two guards, Thyra, a member of the Circle, is here to deliver a message that if Ikorr won't give up the artifact, the vampires could very well disrupt the tenuous peace built over the past two years. Naturally, Ikorr holds similar sentiments should the Lunae refuse to leave Ikorr's borders.

◎ IKORR claims that destroying the artifact will risk unleashing a dangerous unknown power. Keeping it contained is the only surefire way to keep everyone safe. Ikorr's vaults haven't been breached in thousands of years, and they don't foresee this happening again.

◎ LUNA claims that containing the artifact will risk that power escaping in the future. Destroying it is the only surefire way to keep everyone safe. It only takes one misstep for something to go wrong, as tonight demonstrated.

With how involved the Summoned have been in Nocwich and the measure of respect some of you have gained, a few eyes turn to you for answers. Most of Ikorr's Sentinels want to go home without starting a war. Other Summoned may feel the same. Thyra and her guards don't appear interested in conflict, either, but they firmly believe the world is threatened by the existence of this object and will do what it takes.

Tensions aren't just between Ikorr and Luna. There are the other Summoned to consider. With so many of you gathered together, and emotions running high, you might find yourself in the middle of more than one conflict or arguing with your friends.

Taking Action (or Not)

For some of you, the choice is easy. For others, you might feel conflicted. Do you help? If so, whose side do you take, if anyone's? You won't have a lot of time to decide while tensions rapidly mount. Either option poses a risk: you can't take it back if you accidentally release the dark force inside the artifact, but nor can you predict if or when that force could escape on its own somehow.

And if you don't want to get involved? Nobody could blame you for stepping aside to let Ikorr and Luna resolve their centuries-old conflict. In fact, neither Luna nor Ikorr will explicitly ask you to intervene. They're more than ready to take matters into their own hands, and they understand you aren't responsible for Nocwich's politics. But they are willing to hear you out if you have something to say. You get the sense that you're the only person they'll listen to.

Still, you wonder if you're letting all the importance bestowed on you as a Summoned get to your head. Or maybe you don't wonder anything. Maybe you're acting just to keep things from spiraling out of control, or you're positive you have to save these people from themselves - and protect your friends, too. You've seen firsthand the kind of havoc that can occur with untested powers. What if this artifact disturbs the Singularity or worse? You certainly don't want a war (do you?)

No matter what you do next, you'll leave your mark behind. Will your meddling make things worse? Or will you walk away only to discover you should've made a stand?

No vote will take place in-game, but OOC, players will SUBMIT THEIR DECISION as a vote. The deadline is March 3 at 11:59 ET.

Each character can have a vote as long as you can link a thread of them participating in the event. You can side with Ikorr, Luna, or Abstain. All three choices will carry consequences. You can also use the Coordination Post to play out any rapid IC exchanges while everyone is gathered together.

---

Comments

(frozen comment) INVESTIGATIONS

[abraxasmods]

For all submissions pertaining to the crime and investigation, see the COORDINATION POST.

CONFRONTATION

[abraxasmods]

Reply to this comment using the template below to submit your decision. The deadline is MARCH 3 at 11:59 ET.

All characters taking part in the event should make a choice regardless of if they participated in the investigation, even if that choice is to refuse involvement (abstain). Read the scenario carefully before deciding. Any questions can be directed to the OOC Plotting post!

Characters must participate in the event to have their vote counted. While we won't implement a minimum comment count, we do ask that the thread linked demonstrates genuine engagement with the setting and other players.

Character Name <b>Preserve (Ikorr)/Destroy (Luna)/Abstain (Neutral)</b> (Keep your choice and delete the other two options) <i>(Optional IC response. If your character will have a reaction or say something to either Nocwich representative, you can note it here. Anything that necessitates a mod response (i.e. an aggressive act) should be run by us first!)</i> <a href="urlhere">Participation Link</a> (Please link a thread or top level of your character participating in the event!)

[nomnoms]

Nanaue
Abstain (Neutral)
He has no idea what's going on but he'll offer to eat the relic ??

Participation Link

Julia Wicker | Solvunn | The Tower | Open + Closed starters

[divinityfrompain]

[OOC: Message me on Plurk or on Discord @ theskyisnew for specific ideas!]

The Carnivale - OTA

[divinityfrompain]

Julia's been one of the first people to go to Nocwich each month from Solvunn, so excited to see something different from farms, and Ikorr is a breath of fresh air to see the least. She shakes her head at the warming potion, saying she doesn't need it, and to save it for someone else. She immediately gets to exploring the area. She might be spotted being given special trinkets over the course of the day due to the Tower being her arcana, which is a delightful surprise. She then displays them, wearing a Tower pendant for the rest of the celebration.

It's difficult not to feel the warm excitement of a new place and a celebration. She immediately goes to check out the open wardrobe trunks to see all of the clothes that they're offering new people to wear. Her eyes are bright, enthusiasm high, as she starts pulling dresses off and looking at herself in a mirror. Picking the right costume is important. "This is soooo Mardi Gras vibes," she says to herself, pulling beads to put around her neck.

If your character needs help picking an outfit, Julia has a sense of fashion, she'd be happy to help. "Here," she'll say, throwing a feathered hat on their head. "You have to take in the aesthetic!"

Julia steps out of the tent in her chosen dress, with that cut of cleavage truly going down to her stomach. While she rarely shows of like this, it's a very 'tis the season' energy for her. Once the parade starts Julia is going to full party girl mode, and it's been awhile so she feels like it's owed. The last time was Bacchus' party. She dances to the music and wille encourage other people although she notably does not dance directly with them touching unless she knows them.

"I haven't decided on my favorite parade float yet. Thoughts?" she asks someone nearby as she holds onto the flowers in her hands, not ready to throw them yet. Someone could notice her Tower pendant is the same as on the floats, this is her festival apparently. She doesn't stop the glitter and confetti from covering her nor tries to brush it off. There seems to be an unnatural glow to her skin when she's having a good time, like she's radiating a little from the inside.

Julia is enjoying all the food greatly, sampling whatever is offered and will offer it to others. "Try this, it's great." She nurses one glass of wine the entire evening though, not inclined to getting tipsy while in this strange place. She doesn't try the candies as the heightened emotions sounds like a bad idea. Mostly she's here to have a good time dancing and cheering on the event.

Blood Moon Rising and Mirrors
*** [Content warning for blood and gruesome image. Read below too.)

To take a break from the heat and excitement, after enjoying the fire jugglers, Julia wanders down to the The Unending Face of Madness hall of mirrors. While the name does seem to be a warning of a kind, she's too curious to avoid it. She sees other natives in here just chatting and enjoying the space so has no reason to doubt it is a strange art exhibit. She is walking along when she notices her reflection move not to follow her and pauses, looking closer. The Tower burns into her image.

The Julia in the mirror has large gold-orange eyes and a wicked smile. She has blood dripping from her mouth and onto her pure white clothes. The blood soaks through until it completely covers her body all the while the image smirks, looking straight at her. Julia stumbles back several steps, whirling around to see her way out, but it only circles her in all the mirrors. She starts to panic but can't seem to find an escape, stumbling into anyone else there with tears in her eyes and heavy breathing.

[*** This prompt is open to ONLY ESTABLISHED CR and people who feel comfortable with Julia's extensive content warnings. She may likely talk about what happened to her in this prompt, or it will be referenced in metatalk, be prepared for that if you wish to reply.]

Nanaue | Solvunn | The Fool

[nomnoms]

( Open and closed starters below! Plotting comment here. Drive-by tags are very welcome! )

arrival; wardrobe help (open!)

[nomnoms]

[ After wandering around their communal tent, Nanaue settles in front of the wardrobe trunks supplied by Ikorr. Anyone who also approaches will have him turn to them: ]

Help pick?

[ Do you need assistance and/or encouragement to get ready for the festivities? Nanaue himself has a... distinct sense of style. He may be wearing:

( a ) a pair of mouse ears and a rainbow cloth as a skirt
( b ) head to toe glitter and a chain skirt
( c ) 8 hats, all piled on top of his head, and his regular kilt ]

Jesper Fahey | Free Cities | The Wheel of Fortune

[itookashot]

[Open prompts below, feel free to message me on theskyisnew either on discord or on plurk if you have a scene in mind.]

General OTA

[itookashot]

Jesper is here to have a good time, plain and simple. The moment he steps into Ikorr he sees that they're setting up a party of some kind, and his face lights up. "Saints, the vamps are more fun than I expected." He knew their party was very class during the first Nocwich visit, which isn't really his thing, so he thought it'd be something similar. This is the opposite, this is his kind of party. The more colors and pizzazz it displays, the more he's smiling.

Jesper runs right for the wardrobe trunks. He can make clothes out of a whole lot of things so he wasn't worried about coming up with something flashy for himself, he killed it in the Feywilds after all, but this is more than he expected. He gasps in delight and starts pulling up clothes. He finds a rod he can morph and sticks it to the wall, so he can hang clothes onto it and they all can take a standard look at what is to offer.

"Step right up and I'll make you look fabulous." Jesper's dead serious. He'll get people to fit the theme and dress them in whatever they prefer. It's only after everyone else is set up and the event starts to begin that he dresses up in his outrageous look to stand out. He's always someone who shows up to impress. The heat is good enough that he's not even a little cold with so much nudity.

Jesper is draped in beads and feathers as well, he encourages the glitter bombing on him, and he dances around during the parade. He even gets on one of them to dance with the people running it, and then jumps down. If he sees a Summoned, whether he knows them or not, he may reach out and pull them into a dance. As the night goes on he gets steadily drunk on all the wine and doesn't seem to care at all.

In the SANGUINE PROMENADE he ignores the gambling, luckily, but he takes an aphrodisiac when offered because why the hell not, he might want to use it later. Jesper tries out the masks and keeps the rabbit one off, kind of his signature at this point. It even leads him to look cute and fluffy, with rabbit ears stretching up over his head and twitching left and right.

Jesper eats and drinks whatever, especially drinks, but he makes a face once he's in the FEASTING QUARTER and eats a sweet candy only for it to make him immediately annoyed. He's usually so laid back that it's a surprising turn of events and he makes a face. Talking to him then might get a sharper tongued Jesper than usual, more prone to snapping. He tries to counter this with a sour candy only to have that make him head right toward the gambling den. Help.

When the investigations start, Jesper is already drunk and still in the background having a good time. It's possible he can stumble into a situation, given the chance, but overall stays out of it. Too bad, as he'd be very helpful!

Jonathan Crane | Free Cities | The Magician

[restingstitchface]

[Starters below! Contact me on Discord or Plurk for anything specific.]

Mirrors | OTA

[restingstitchface]

[Madness. No great mind exists without a touch of madness. This exhibit misleadingly calls it a face: but one can wear a mask and look sane. Or lose their mind but be considered sane because they have a pretty face.

Madness. The word weaves his mind. Nature and nurture are stitched together, lessons on life embroidered with life experiences. The knowledge one sometimes cannot overcome with words. Some people can be deterrred - but bullies you need to confine and control so they cannot oppress you.

It makes him bristle.

Annoyance crosses his arms. Irritation creases the corners of his eyes. He faces his reflection - a vigilante in costume - and begins staring him down.]

geralt of rivia — ◈ the hanged man

[gynvael]

— starters below —
plot comment | discontinued | quantifies @ discord

— ◈ attire.

[gynvael]

— ◈ hair pin
— ◈ jacket / no shirt, it's been swiped
— ◈ he'll periodically try to ditch any beaded necklaces but someone always drapes him again
— ◈ medallion, as always
again
— ◈ a light dusting of glitter somebody threw on him

(( Geralt will begin the night dressed as himself, but various incidents will result in him in the attire above. ))

Istredd | Thorne | The High Priestess

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Open prompts below, feel free to message me on theskyisnew either on discord or on plurk if you have a scene in mind.

Clothing and he will have his long hair.]

The Carnivale OTA

[magicalarchaeologist]

When arriving somewhere new, Istredd is always interested in taking in the new space and admiring whatever is on view. He spends the time before the party doing exactly that, walking where allowed, looking at the architecture, the sights and sounds of Ikorr that they're being allowed to enjoy. He admires the stained glass in particular.

Going into the tent, Istredd will say hello and smile to anyone he already knows, although he's shy with anyone new. He brought his party clothes since it's his most formal wear, but ends up looking through the wardrobe to see what they recommend. He does like to respect cultures but he seems a little hesitant about trying looks that aren't his usual style. Encourage him to dress up or suggest styles, he's not very good at any of this.

Eventually he does step out of the tent in appropriate clothes for Ikorr and his dark hair is grown out long, one of his stranger gifts from the Singularity. It goes to his shoulders and not the short and simple look most people are used to seeing him in. He's favoring golds and blacks in clothes for once, as opposed to his typical blues, and while a little uncomfortable, he's shirtless and has dark chest hair.

Istredd steps a little out of his comfort zone by having more food and drink than usual, and he might even hesitantly start a conversation with a stranger. "Have you seen anything like this before?" The party is for certain more than he's used to. The Feywilds wasn't to this extent, not in the streets like this at least. While he does not dance or react too extremely to what's going on, he seems like he is having a nice time and watches the parade.

He does stop by the SANGUINE PROMENADE to try on all of the animal masks, admiring how it changes the skin into scales or hair; the illusions are impressive in Ikorr. Find him admiring them. He does seem to favor the snake over anything else, likely because of his significant other's affinity for them. Istredd doesn't use it as a disguise, just for fun.

He decides to try out a variety of foods and drinks at the FEASTING QUARTER although he doesn't have the best stomach for things that seem off the beaten path too much. Istredd is content in his own company but happy to engage with someone else if they want. He tries a sour candy as a rare treat after being told it's supposed to inspire clarity ... only to find out that's not how he feels afterward.

"Well that's odd. Isn't it odd? I rarely eat candy so maybe that's the problem. This place is something." Istredd shows a rare semblance of impulsively talking, when he's usually a quiet person, less nervous around strangers, chattering at them.

Alucard | Free Cities | Hierophant

[cryptsleeper]

[Given the opportunity to explore Ikorr is welcome, although Alucard will be the first to admit that he'd rather see it from a daily perspective rather than a festival one. But he isn't inclined to look a gift horse in the mouth here, and so when it comes time to go to Ikorr, he goes.

His outfit choice is more subdued than that of the locals, opting for a short blazer with lace sleeves and further decorative lace in place of a proper shirt and black trousers that likewise feature lace going up the sides. His boots are knee high and practical, dressed up by the rest of the outfit. The monotone works well for him. Best to lean in to what works. His hair is pulled back just a little with a unique hair pin that seems to watch the viewer.]

Feasting Quarter | OTA

[cryptsleeper]

[Amongst the feasting, Alucard can be found in a space that provides a remarkable viewpoint of the whole tent. Content to watch for a little while, he sits with blood wine in his cup and a sketchbook on his lap, taking notes and drawing quick, fleeting images of all he sees. For the moment, his eyes rest on a live feeding, looking not especially bothered by what he is seeing.

He turns the page, then realizes someone is beside him.]

Sorry, did you need the seat?


[The food draws Alucard's attention. It always does. He's taken his fill and then some, happy to indulge and appreciate that the vampires of Ikorr can make food a part of their culture. But the night grows long and there are other things to see. So he takes one of the soured candies, and--

--goes back for the last little blackberry mousse cakes that he had been debating with himself about taking. Alucard pauses, frowning at the action.]

That's very unusual. There's an undercurrent of something--

Dean Winchester | Free Cities | The Lovers

[righteously]

( open and closed starters to follow; hit me at paingravy or righteously for any questions. )

OPEN TO ALL.

[righteously]

◎ CARNIVALE NIGHT

( Tonight started out as date night. As it so happens, this is also the night Dean Winchester learns that he's god damn terrible at Date Night. How it came to this is completely beyond him; once upon a time he was a master of the one-night stand, the met-in-a-bar hookup. He had something at least adjacent to charisma.

Tonight... sitting across from Castiel, trying and failing to make awkward small talk, all he'd been able to think about was how a root canal might actually be a less uncomfortable experience than a regular ass apple-pie date. Not that he's willing to admit it out loud, but having the whole thing upended and interrupted by a full-on theft mystery crime was actually a relief.

After him and Cas split up to look for clues or whatever other Scooby-Doo bullshit they get into, Dean can be found wandering the Sanguine Promenade or the Feasting Quarter. You can catch him popping food into his mouth from passing trays — seemingly without realizing their potential effects. Maybe warn him before he swallows?

He also spends a few stupid seconds curiously trying on a mask — only to realize he's sprouting wolf ears and claws. Almost immediately, he rips the mask off his head, chanting a very appalled nope, nope, no, nope, no thank you, no furry business. )

◎ MIRROR HALL

( Later, he can be seen very tentatively edging into the hall of mirrors. He'd heard through the grapevine that people were seeing things in them, with implications varying between disturbing and insightful. Frankly, he's a little afraid of what he'll find — he's half convinced himself his reflection will stare back with black eyes, with a dagger made of jagged teeth clenched in one hand. He's afraid he'll see himself covered in blood, or wielding a gun, or on the edge of murder. He's afraid he'll see a weapon looking back at him.

But he doesn't.

A soft shudder of an exhale escapes him without his notice as he looks at his own arm slung over the shoulders of an imaginary Sam Winchester. The other reels in an imaginary Castiel. Arms crossed before them, nearly a head shorter, a bossy-looking blonde fondly punches his reflection in the chest.

It's full blown Mirror of Erised over here, and he's Feeling An Emotion about it. )

◎ BED TIME

( At the end of the day, when everything winds down and the majority of the summoned head back to their big communal tent to get some shut-eye, Dean can be found pointedly dragging a bedroll away from the center population. Anybody that he doesn't know particularly well who tries too kip in a nearby spot will get a shake of the head and a pleasantly stern: )

Nuh-uh. Keep it moving, man. This ain't Woodstock. Some of us need a little breathing room.

◎ WILDCARD

( Hit me with anything! )

Jack Townsend | Thorne | The Moon

[stations]

( open and closed starters to follow; hit me at paingravy or righteously for any questions. )

OPEN TO ALL.

[stations]

◎ GETTING READY

( Fun fact about Jack Townsend: he actually really, really hates the carnival. His first ever experience with one wound up with him getting separated from his foster family and wandering through the woods lost for several hours, before finally finding someone kind enough to let him hitchhike back to town. He'd been eight or nine at the time. Every single experience he's had at one ever since has been equally bad or worse. The last one he went to wound up with him stumbling into an active murder scene, so that was... something.

All this to say, he starts off the night in kind of a bad mood. He's here for Sabine, and for his friends, and because it's expected of him, but he's not exactly happy about it. He's especially not happy when he gets steered into a changing room by an overly enthusiastic, somehow familiar-looking vampire that seems Very Insistent on helping him pick out an outfit.

He cannot stress enough how much he does not want to pick out an outfit. Not one single article of clothing Aggressively Pushy Vampire holds up is appropriate. When Vampire Dave (Jack doesn't know his actual name, so he picks Dave at random) has the audacity to hold up what looks like a lingerie set with a banana hammock, Jack feels himself die a little more inside. )

Please understand that I mean this with every ounce of my being when I tell you I would rather chew off my other leg and walk back to Thorne on my hands than wear that. Sincerely. I'm not kidding.

◎ HALL OF MIRRORS

( He doesn't remember how he found himself here. That's not entirely uncommon; he has a tendency to space out on good days, or slip into a sleepwalking fit on bad ones. It could be either case. The world is a blur of color, and music, and anxiety, and vaguely unsettling masks, and he can taste alcohol at the back of his throat. His teeth are sticky with it. The roof of his mouth tastes like copper.

It isn't his own reflection Jack sees in the mirror. He doesn't even realize it is a mirror, not at first, because an entirely different man stares back at him. He's roughly the same age as Jack, but far healthier. Better looking, in an attractive suit with the sleeves rolled up, and bright red blood staining the crisp white button-up beneath the suit jacket. The blonde man in the mirror grins manically, smoothing his hair back with one hand, and holding a gun with the other.

He doesn't know if he hears it out loud or only in his head, but either way, Spencer Middleton greets him with a low and unsettling, "Hiya, Jack."

And Jack promptly launches headfirst into a panic attack. )

◎ WILDCARD

( Hit me with anything, anywhere in the event! )

Sandor Clegane | Solvunn | Strength

[dogmeats]

( open and closed starters to follow; hit me at paingravy or righteously for any questions. )

OPEN TO ALL.

[dogmeats]

◎ GUARD DUTY

( There aren't very many people among the summoned that know Sandor well — at least, not well enough to be surprised by changes in his behavior. The ones that do, however, will find an interesting turn of events unfolding during this little holiday. Sandor Clegane does not wander this event alone. Instead, donned in his full armor regalia, he spends much of the night shadowing a red haired young woman as she wanders through the carnivale.

He refuses to wear any foolish get-up, he refuses to drink, he does little else for the first half of the night but stand just beyond Sansa Stark's shoulder as her large, menacing shadow, glaring down anyone who dares get too close to her. It would seem Sandor has a job.

At some point in the night, however, after Sansa has had a little too much to drink or eat, he'll have carted her back to the tent to sleep it off under the protection of her brother. It's at this point he'll wander out, seeking familiar faces he elects to protect when not otherwise devoted to his pledged charge. They might not have let him carry his sword through the portal, but make no mistake, he's discreetly armed enough to anybody with a keen eye.

If you're somebody he knows, somebody he concerns himself with, you may find him slipping discreetly into your peripheral vision, warily eyeing any treats you elect to eat or vampires who look too interested in you. )

◎ MIRROR MIRROR

( At some point, something draws Sandor to the mirrored hall. It is certainly not out of any great desire to look at himself; he's hated his own reflection since he was a boy.

Except... perhaps that might change. It catches him off guard entirely, seeing that figure that moves in time with him but isn't quite. He finds himself stopping, blinking, staring uncomprehending at who looks back.

The man in the mirror is his stature. His height, his hair. His face — half of it, anyway. The other half carries no burns, no scars, no scowl. The armor is a clean silver, the cape in his reflection a somber but flattering grey, bearing the sigil not of a dire wolf or hound or lion, but of strength.

He looks like a knight. He looks whole, and healthy, and to a certain eye, perhaps even handsome.

He stares for a long moment, silent. )

◎ WILDCARD

( Hit me with anything! )

Astarion Ancunín | Free Cities | Wheel of Fortune

[ancunin]

( Open and closed starters! General CONTENT WARNINGS can be found here. )

i don't know what i expected ; blood moon ring (open)

[ancunin]

[ Astarion arrives at the parade scene in a white feathered suit, with a hint of flesh and dripping in red crystals. Not the flashiest of outfits, nor the most scandalous, perhaps a surprise for those who haven't gotten to know him all that well yet. Another surprise might be the way he tends to avoid the attentions of his 'fellow' creatures of the night.

He's quick to grab a glass of bloodwine, though, and can scarcely be found without one through the night. Those with a good perception and insight might notice an anxiety roiling just beneath his skin, or in the way his sharp eyes move across the crowd, his expression often obscured by the drink lifted to his lips.

There's no particular intent that leads him to the arena lit for performances, his gaze lingers only briefly on the acrobats and sword swallowers, he's quick to keep moving when the crowd gets too packed. This sends him to the Unending Face of Madness, which turns out to be a hall of mirrors. And, well, he doesn't read the plaque - walking right by it with some assumption that these vampires may have spellwork to fix their image to the glass. What a treat that would be!

He stands in front of them, a hand on his hip and his drink in hand, scowling. ]

Oh for the love of - really?!

[ Every mirror is empty of his reflection.

(Maybe you'll give him something to look at instead) ]

cassian andor | thorne | the tower

[diametrically]

( open & closed starters below; hit me up at cardialloyed @ discord or timescars for plotting | plotting comment )

— the fit

[diametrically]

• OUTFIT - Tits out isn't really Cassian's thing and neither is flashy. Instead he's shed his outer layers for what he normally wears beneath it - albeit with a couple more buttons undone than usual.
• ACCESSORIES - Someone has gotten to him however and made sure his accessory makes up for his understated clothing in spades. One thing's for sure, he's probably got some really strong neck muscles to be able to hold up that hat. Various necklaces and beads hang from around his neck.

claude von riegan | free cities | the wheel of fortune

[godshattering]

( open + closed starters below | action, prose, and wildcards all welcome | plotting comment or find me at indech! )

— claude's festival attire

[godshattering]

▪ OUTFIT — the silhouette in one + two + three / cloak in different shades of vibrant green feathers / shirt + pants in dark green / boots in black

▪ ACCESSORIES — necklace / moon, heart, and sun earring with the heart lightly tinted pink and the sun lightly tinted blue / nails

▪ MISC — eye makeup / hair / beard (top left)

Jon Snow ⚔️ Thorne ⚔️ The Emperor

[northerndragon]

[Mostly open below; closed available. HMU: plotting comment, detectivefiction, Discord DM, it's all good!

Jon is wearing something like this, but the first prompt below is about getting him there. Thanks to Jay for the great sketch!]

TENT - DRESSING - OTA

[northerndragon]

[Feasts at Winterfell had put nearly the entire North to shame, with little to equal them. And that sort of feast, a warm thing he remembers from his boyhood... that was nothing to this.

Still, he is a Northman, sober in his dress, preferring dark colors and relatively simple clothing. He had hardly dressed like a king at home, other than the cloaks Sansa had made for him; in Thorne, his attire is even more modest. This festival is not modest, and it demands immodesty from its participants -- that doesn't come naturally to him, and he thinks it might not come at all to his sister. He doubts she wants to be here, and in all honesty, he would rest easier if she was not. The vampires are kind enough, he knows, but this sort of feast seems wild to him.

Just at the moment, his sister is nowhere in sight, as he tries to sort through the finery on offer to find something that will suit the vampires and himself all at the same time. It's no trouble to leave his shirt open: even then, you can't see too much of the scarring. But he won't go without a shirt, no matter the custom here. He mislikes the scars being on any sort of display and mislikes even more the feeling that his chest is not protected.

He picks up an affair of straps and chains and feathers, frowns at it, and sets it aside. "Don't even know how you'd put that on," he mutters, then tugs at another strap: a codpiece in leather that's purple one way, green another, studded over in gold. That is also discarded, with a grim expression, and he looks about to see if anyone can and will advise him.]

Will it really trouble them if I don't...?

[His tone is extremely dubious.]

[OOC: YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT: get Jon to wear these shoulder feathers and these cuffs... or maybe commiserate about how your character also isn't a flashy dresser?]

Julie Lawry | Free Cities | The Wheel of Fortune

[princessvegas]

[ for plotting:
plotting post / bitchcraft / bitchcrafty @ discord
all prompts & links should be considered 18+ for this event but thread content may vary ]

⇀ dressed

[princessvegas]

⇀ costume
⇀ headpiece
⇀ face

Kyle | Thorne | The Hanged Man

[ushiri]

GENERAL CHARACTER CONTENT WARNINGS: here

CARNIVALE OUTFIT: black robes and gold adornments

wille.

[ushiri]

Kahlil draws looks as he walks through the marketplace, and while he didn't mind it an hour or two earlier, the attention is something of an annoyance now that he's here hoping to do a bit of eavesdropping.

This situation should have nothing to do with them, except that the culprit purposely planned their heist for this specific night. Kahlil is tense. The last time he was at a party in Ikorr things also went awry, with disastrous result. The vampires are still a relatively unknown quantity to them, and though he'd been curious enough to look over the scene of the crime, he doesn't know how much the Summoned should be inserting themselves in any of this mess.

Although the market is buzzing with the spreading news, there are still merchants trying to sell things - and one very annoyingly calls out to Kahlil as he's trying to walk by - he forces a smile and shakes his head, beelining for the first familiar face he sees.

"Been a strange night," he says, approaching Wilhelm from the side. Kahlil feels a small sense of relief at finding him, maybe again reminded of that summer party.

"What are you up to?"

haelva lueltar (dark urge) | solvunn | the magician

[durge]

for plotting: tsarcasm or menphina @ discord
general content warnings: here, please be advised that these are likely to come up during the mirror prompt
carnivale outfit: dress with a removable skirt and mask in red and silver

→ carnivale (mirror); ota

[durge]

( One day, Haelva thinks, her curiosity will not lead her to this.

She can be found in the mirrors, staring at her reflection with narrowed eyes: it's her, of course, but dressed in an outfit she's certain is unlike any she can recall wearing. A skintight suit made of plates of bones, a gold and red knife at her hip. That's unexpected. What isn't, however, is the fact that the arms and legs of her mirror self seem to be covered in blood up to the elbow and knee, bright red and gleaming.

Lovely. )

What would your first impression be? ( She says, with a gesture to her reflection. ) Ah. Including the blood.

yennefer of vengerberg | chariot | thorne

[vixening]

[ feel free to message me at disarmingly ort disarmingly @ disco to chat plans. ]


THE FIT
— yennefer is going to be adorned in a very raven-esque theme for the festivities, including an immense amount of feathers on her clothes, hair, and drifting from her as she moves about. there's a high chance she might even end up in a raven mask, but at that point, you won't really be able to tell it's her, will you? her outfit will be primarily made up of lace and sheer cloth. ravens will be the loudest/most primary theme, with some interspersed stars/moon/celestial additions. she has no problem showing skin, so you can expect her to either be shedding layers through the event or simply changing outfits. she may even end up almost entirely nude, if that's the vibe of the tent she's wandered into. gods know it wouldn't be the first time.

nadine.

[vixening]

[ yennefer has already spent a good amount of time among the crows in the feasting quarter by this point, and feels a kind of familiarity as she moves about them even now. unlike before, yennefer is here with a purpose - having gathered just enough information from the other summoned who have already started looking into the vaults and the robbery to feel that perhaps there is somewhere else she could be more useful.

she's heard rumors of the dusk rose vintage during her time out in the stalls, about the famous ikorran behind it and his relationship with the sentinal on guard, and now... well. yennefer can't help but wonder if there's some sort of connection between the blood signature and ikorr's well-known blood wine. so she decides to look into it herself, heading out into the stalls with the intent to start charming her way through the various merchants, when she catches sight of a familiar face. now that is someone who could be useful here, so yennefer adjusts her course briefly.

be it the more indulgent nature of the party, or perhaps yennefer is still playing into the image itself, but with very little warning she walks up next to nadine and slips her arm through the other woman's and leans in close - looking all the part to an outsider to be whispering something secretive and juicy, but also much more lighthearted. ]

Are you otherwise occupied right now? or would you be interested in accompanying me?

Koby | Free Cities | Death

[kobes]

[ooc: open to multiple tags for the same prompt, wildcards, your character running into Koby wandering aimlessly around the carnivale, etc. feel free to pm or hit me up on plurk @ ceedawkes~]

carnival | arrival, dress-up

[kobes]

[The cold air takes Koby's breath away when he first arrives, and the general splendor of Ikorr keeps it like that, the sweeping architecture that makes everything in the East Blue feel like a backwater port without a scrap of class or prestige. He knows he looks like exactly what he is -- a fish out of water, a newly-Summoned who barely looks where he's going because he's too busy gazing at the buildings, the floats, the clothes. For someone whose idea of high fashion is a military uniform, the scandalous, scanty outfits all around Koby soon have his face the same hue as his hair.

But eventually he realizes that he's standing out far, far more in his plain, unadorned clothes, so he reluctantly starts looking through the racks of clothes in the big, open tent. They're all filmy and sparkly and revealing, and Koby's serious frown grows more and more severe as he moves hanger after hanger aside, shaking his head slightly.] No...no...definitely not...this is just beads. This is just fewer beads.

[Exhaling in frustration, Koby glances over at another Summoned who's in the process of changing (after making sure with a quick, sideways peek that they're decent).] Have you found anything?

thancred waters | thorne | strength

[funbreaker]

[ Find open and closed starters below! The open stuff will be for festival stuff prior to the theft of the artifact, with closed starters for any investigations. If you're interested in an investigation thread, feel free to contact me via PM / demonology / demonology@discord so that we can discuss the details.

Thancred's outfit consists of a feathered vest over a beaded "top", with tight leather pants and boots. Oh, and he always wears a choker, probably a dark leather one in this case to match the rest of the ensemble. ]

dressing up (open)

[funbreaker]

[ It's the day of the Carnivale, and given that they were allowed to travel here the evening before to get their bearings and understand what the celebration is all about, Thancred is confident that he'll be able to blend in with little issue. The vampires are going all out with this one, and while at first the revealing attire had surprised him, if only because it feels as if they still know so little of the people of Ikorr, who is he to deny their traditions?

The night spent in the tent had been rather uneventful. He's had to sleep in worse conditions, and to be honest, it would be hard to imagine a safer place than a large tent filled with Summoned, many of them quite capable combatants.

As expected, the night passed without issue. They're here as guests, after all.

Of course, the last Ikorr-based celebration didn't end well. Thancred has that in the back of his mind, but that's all the more reason to head out and experience what Epulum has to offer. If there does end up being another attack, he wants to be ready for the first sign of something amiss.

All that to say, it will be easier to do that if he blends in. He's started to sort through the wardrobes in the tent which are packed with different costume pieces, and after a moment of consideration, situates a beaded shawl of sorts over his bare chest.

He turns to the nearest Summoned. If they don't seem too bothered, he'll ask (with a small smirk): ] What do you think? [ If he can sense unease from them, he'll forgo asking their opinion to instead try to help them loosen up. ] Did you need some help picking an outfit?

Jaskier | Free Cities | The Sun

[cointosser]

[Closed starters included below. If you have any ideas and want a closed starter of your own, please ping me at scathefire, PM, or scathefire on Discord!]

The Outfit

Jaskier is decked out in head to toe white and gold, his dress with the intentional silhouette of a peacock, and he is surprisingly nimble on his extended heels. However, the cravat meant to go with the coat has at some point been lost, leaving a very open window of hairy, built chest with a dangling necklace containing a tuning fork, and another with a plain gold band on it. Nearly every finger has a bejewelled ring on it, and Jaskier is constantly accompanied by a white raven that perches upon his shoulder.

He can be spotted often wearing a golden snake mask, which has covered his bare chest and exposed hands and forearms with white, pearlescent scales.

jaskier ☼ istredd.

[cointosser]

[In the middle of the Sanguine Promenade stands a certain tent -- as colorful as the rest, and surrounded by others thriving with vampires, Draconae, and visitors alike -- yet offset by the sheer amount of plumed, colorful birds perched upon its roof and that seem to fly in and out like splashes of enticing colors. Inside is a grouping of pillows and cushions that surrounds a man dressed like an albino peacock, with feathers tied into his hair and with an abnormal sheen to his skin where it flashes under magical candlelight.

Anyone who has ever heard Jaskier sing cannot mistake the man under the mask for anyone else, and certainly not for anyone who is attempting to be the least bit coy about his flashiness. At some point, he appears to have lost his coat, with his bare chest open to the room along with the splashes of scales, and his train drags behind him as he sings, strumming so hard on his lute the tips of his fingers turn pink.

When he stops to drink and rest between songs, the raven that has been flying about the tent lands on his shoulder, seemingly whispering into his ear. Jaskier removes his mask, a smile coming to his face when he spots the familiar mage, making his way over as he leaves his lute laying comfortably on a cushion.]

Istredd! Aren't you looking lovely? My, your hair grows fast, doesn't it? [With those little ringlets, too! How could one resist pulling on one? (Jaskier does not. His resolve is strong.)] I wouldn't have taken you to be one so... [His eyes make a slow road down Istredd's naked chest.] Loud.

Zagreus | Solvunn | The Chariot

[inthenameofhades]

[Open and closed prompts below - blueflowers or PM for plotting]

Zagreus's outfit: Zagreus is wearing a fancy silk black chlamys, bordered with a metallic red design resembling what you might see on ancient Greek pottery. On his arms are several golden bands, and the Ancient Greek-style cloak is pinned at the shoulder by a large, fancy looking metal skull.

At first look it might seem like the chlamys doesn't fit the theme - at least, not until you realise he isn't wearing anything underneath it.

Open: Sanguine promenade

[inthenameofhades]

The collection of tents, naturally, attracts Zagreus's attention.

"Hel-lo," he says softly, upon discovering the stall of aphrodisiacs. "Lady Aphrodite herself would be very impressed." He picks up one of the bottles, inspecting it.

However, in the end rather than purchasing, Zagreus sighs, and places the bottle back down. "I would be tempted, but...I'm afraid neither of my partners are here," he tells the shopkeeper. "Though I'm sure someone else will enjoy these very much."

matt murdock — the tower — free cities

[catholica]

( open and closed starters found below. plotting comment is here )

( — SANGUINE PROMENADE, OTA )

[catholica]

( the clothing that wanda's helped him with is revealing enough but not so much that he's uncomfortable. the shirt hands open and loose, scars on display, and matt tries his best to distract himself from that by wandering around. he mostly stays away from the tents but he does find himself standing in front of the aphrodisiacs. and while there's only one person that he'd use them with, he still takes his time picking one out before pocketing it.

he can't see the masks but the vendors are kind enough to tell him what they are and, curious, matt picks up the snake one and holds i it in his hands, fingers running over it.

he hasn't put it on yet but that's what you do with a mask, isn't it? )