EVENT #13: FEYWILDS - OOC POST

[abraxasmods]

Event #13 - OOC Plotting

IC event log

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Following the mysterious lights last month, the VERMILION COURT has invited the Summoned to visit THE FEYWILDS between JUNE 19 - 25 (in-game)!

Throughout this event, characters will have the chance to attend a masquerade, speak to mysterious NPCs, and gather information about the Fey to bring home to their factions - if they want.

Invitations are ICly on JUNE 10, a week before the portals open. The invitation involves three things:

◎ A request for the Summoned to attend the Masquerade, the Fey's largest annual event.

◎ Assurance that the Fey wish no harm. They're simply curious. Other than the Summoned, the Fey are the only ones known to be capable of accessing an alternate realm, called Faerie. Rumors of the Summoned's ability to enter the Horizon, as well as their frequent visits to Nocwich, have garnered attention from the Vermilion Court.

◎ A portal stone will be given to each attendee, meant to be used in an emergency. The portal stone can return each character to their home faction one time. Officials have made sure the portal stone is secure and cannot be tampered with.

Only the Summoned have been invited. Native Abraxans, including officials, are barred from entering the Feywilds. However, they have agreed to let the Summoned go in hopes that the Summoned can return with information and insight about the Fey - a people that has not been seen for centuries.

Additionally, the officials acknowledge that the Fey have in the past been known to hold grudges and be easily insulted. They believe the best course of action is for the Summoned to accept the invitation. While a few missing numbers are acceptable, to decline the invitation in great numbers could prove diplomatically disastrous.

The Fey

The Fey are a species unto their own, similar to the werewolves and vampires. Originally divided between the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court, Thorne's conquest across Abraxas drove members of both courts to near-extinction. In response, the Fey went underground into hiding before reemerging as the united Vermilion Court. Having claimed parts of the land that was once covered by eternal darkness, the Fey have had vicious conflicts with Nocwich in past centuries.

While in the Feywilds, characters will be able to explore most of the region, including the Duskwoods where massive and dangerous creatures roam. This is where the Fey hunt, and characters can do so, as well! Unlike Nocwich, personal weapons are allowed into the Feywilds.

Read more about the Feywilds here.

The Vermilion Court

The most heavily populated region, the City of the Vermilion Court has been moderately cleared of foliage and flora to make room for a variety of buildings. Here, residential dwellings, stores, workshops, eateries, and more can be found. Fey architecture is created for the Fey, who are short and slight in stature. Anyone on the taller side may need to duck when entering doorways.

Accommodations

The Court's isolated nature means there are no inns or any services dedicated to visitors. Nonetheless, for this special occasion, the Fey have set aside The Cascading Boughs to temporarily house their guests.

It's safe to assume there are comfortable (but communal) bathing areas, places to relax, and soft beds to sleep in. Food and drink will be available - and though characters will have heard the adage not to take food from the Fey, it's all perfectly safe, if occasionally unusual.

Finding Your Room

What will be tricky are the rooms. Each room houses 2-3 guests and the entrance door will open randomly into a room upon a character's arrival. If they want to stay with someone in particular, all characters must step through the initial door together. Otherwise, they'll be spat out into a room through a whirling portal door and whoever else it spits out with them is their roommate. Hope everyone gets along!

Once the room has been decided, the door will always take a character to that specific room. Unfortunately, this means switching rooms isn't possible - but they can visit plenty of communal spaces to spend time and even the nights together.

Currency

The Fey don't take Abraxan gold or silver. Instead, characters can obtain specific items as currency that the Fey will accept in exchange for goods: candied honey pellets from the hives of a giant bee, sparkling pearls that might cause a unique side effect until you spend them, and finally, a trade that only the characters themselves can make - perhaps a lock of hair or a kiss.

Characters can try to obtain some of this currency, assist each other with the task, or try to bargain with the merchants. After all, is it really their currency? The Summoned might notice none of the other natives exchange the same, but the Fey insist it's what they accept in the shops and the merchants all seem happy to take them.

Ceremonies

The formal welcoming will consist of two ceremonies: a demonstration from the Fey's archery force and a religious rite that involves a colorful display of lights, dancing, and music. The King and Queen will also be present to address the Summoned.

Though attendance is not technically required, the Fey will be very insulted if anyone tries to leave or prefers to be elsewhere while the formal welcome is ongoing. Additionally, anyone who wants to provide insight into the Fey for the factions at home may want to take the opportunity to observe what's on display.

After the welcoming, characters will have the opportunity to meet one of two NPCs: High Priestess Lady Cospraila, who is devoted to the Faerie ways, and Mestr Lord Kythros, who has a thorough knowledge of the Vermilion Court tracing back several kings.

There will be no influence requirement to participate in this aspect.

The Masquerade

The Vermilion Court is particularly noted for its lavish, ethereal masquerades, which take place twice a year, coinciding with the full moon in summer and the new moon in winter. Each masquerade is an affair that takes several weeks to prepare for. Nearly all members of the Vermilion Court attend the masquerades, regardless of role or status.

The Summoned have been invited to this summer's Masquerade, and are expected to put in the effort it requires. This means coming up with an outfit that fully disguises them. The Fey are expecting more than a simple mask and pretty clothes! The purpose of the masquerade is to truly hide who you are. Activities during the masquerade will reflect this, including identity reveals.

Not to worry - characters will get the chance to earn items that will help them with their task!

Characters will be informed of the Masquerade in the invitation, so they can prepare and bring an outfit prior to arriving, as the Fey are unlikely to have anything that fits them well. They can embellish and enchant their clothes further while in the Feywilds using glamour items (see below) and their own magic (or magic from others).

Earning Favor

Earning favor by impressing the Fey is how characters will receive an item that can help with their final look for the Masquerade. It will also contribute to the Fey's overall impression of the Summoned, which will affect access to the region in the future.

In general, characters will be ICly judged for their behavior and presentation throughout their stay in the Feywilds. They won't be told specifics, though perceptive individuals will be able to guess what might offend or please the Fey. For example, it stands to reason they might not like it if you reject an offered drink.

However, for OOC mechanics, we have a list of things the Fey will be making note of. We'll add more details on the IC Event Log, but as a broad overview the list includes: physical uniqueness (bright hair or eye colors, unusual markings), mount handling and taming, magical demonstration, hunting skill, sociability (how friendly you are), and consuming all food and drink (no matter how strange).

During the IC Event Log, you can submit a thread of your character demonstrating one of the listed qualities. In return, your character will get a glamour item from one of the Fey that they've impressed.

We'll RNG between 3 set items for each favor a character earns and assign you the result. Once you've earned an item, you won't get it again, so you can earn all 3 items by demonstrating 3 listed qualities.

Items will help a character temporarily disguise themselves for the upcoming masquerade - including even adding (or removing!) an additional body part like horns or tails. The better their costume and disguise, the more the Fey will approve.

Night of the Masquerade

Disguise is the keyword for the Masquerade. More than dressing up, the Masquerade combines the Fey's enjoyment of trickery and the union of their small population. When the outfits are on, it should be near-impossible to distinguish between a member of the royal family and a foot soldier, allowing every part of the Vermilion Court to socialize and engage on an equal footing.

Everyone will get ready in private rooms. Characters can help each other out here and there, but overall, there should be some level of secrecy amongst the general Summoned population as to who will appear as what!

Costumes & Disguises

The Fey won't bar anyone from entering due to their appearance unless a character has truly made no effort. However, the Masquerade is a deeply important aspect of their people. The more characters thoroughly and genuinely engage with the spirit of the Masquerade, the more impressed the Fey will be - something that may come into play in the future as both major and smaller nations across Abraxas make their moves.

◎ A mask is a must. Characters can bring masks from home or they can obtain one from any of the Fey shops. Artistically-inclined characters can paint and make their designs. Fey masks are elaborate. They tend to cover most of the face if not all of the face.

◎ Outfits are closer to costumes than standard ballroom attire. Creative embellishments and cohesive themes are applauded. Some are inspired by the insect life in the Feywilds while others use Seelie magic to create an illusion of floating or giant petals.

◎ The Fey will not be basing their attire on the traditional gender norms seen throughout other parts of Abraxas. As part of the Masquerade, they may dress as their opposite gender or in a way that offers no identifiable gender at all. All those attending are encouraged to do the same. Additionally, appearances that emphasize the inhuman and the strange will draw the most positive attention.

Revealing Identities

Part of the Masquerade is trying to identify who you're with! Characters will be given 3 butterfly pins. For each person they correctly identify during a dance or interaction, they can pin a butterfly on that person.

When meeting at the Masquerade or on the dance floor, interactions and conversations between both characters will have to walk the line between trying to find out who the other person is, while concealing their own identity.

◎ Masquerade attendees usually use pseudonyms or made-up titles to introduce themselves.

◎ Some of the fun also comes in providing clues to see what your partner picks up on. In other words, treat it like a bit of a game!

The goal is to get rid of all 3 pins. Doing so will earn your character a small prize from the Fey.

This aspect is just for fun and to encourage characters to interact with each other, so there's no need to thread out all 3 discoveries or formally submit anything!

Meeting Mysterious NPCs

Important members of the Vermilion Court will be attending the Masquerade in disguise, including members of the royal family and their advisors. This means characters will have the chance to dance and interact with NPCs whose identity they won't know. They might not even realize they're dancing with an important NPC.

As part of the identity game, they can engage in some questions and answers, which the NPC will provide. Though it may not lead to them correctly guessing who the NPC is, they'll get some interesting details or information... and maybe even a hint of a curious presence.

During the IC Event Log, we'll have a section where characters can sign up to dance with a mysterious NPC. Players will not know who they're speaking to OOCly - though you can of course take a guess!

You'll have the chance to ask some questions about the Feywilds and the Fey themselves for the duration of the dance. This translates to roughly 2-3 questions before the NPC will move on to the next dance.

Other Information

Feywilds Bestiary Contributions

To make things interactive, we're asking players to contribute details to creatures we'll be adding to the Feywilds. Some of you might remember doing a similar thing during the Nocwich event!

We will provide the image, its name, and a few key facts, but everything else is a blank slate. As a guideline to help your ideas along, the Feywilds has an emphasis on trickery, ethereal qualities, and venoms/poisons. The woods are also dense, heavily shaded, and many plants are toxic.

Add as much or as little as you want. If you want to simply post a comment that says "has sticky antlers," that's perfectly acceptable. We'll do our best to gather up everyone's contribution and use it to create a starting set of creatures roaming the Feywilds.

To contribute, comment here under the creature you want to add fun facts to. You can comment as many times as you want to as many creatures as you like. Building on others' ideas is encouraged!

Please submit your ideas before June 18th so they can be included in the Bestiary! We'll try to include last-minute suggestions, but we can't guarantee it.

Event Schedule

To allow for a bit of room for players to get things started, the event post will be going up a little before the actual in-game date the event occurs.

The IN-GAME EVENT will ICly take place June 19 - 25
The EVENT POST will go up June 18 for players to participate in.
The WRAP-UP POST will go up June 30 for players to view.

Plotting Form

Due to the nature of this event, we recommend everyone use the plotting form below!

<b>Character Name:</b> <b>Arcana:</b> <b>Faction:</b> <b>Activities:</b> (What will your character be doing? Do you want a hunting partner for the Duskwoods? Are you seeking a randomized roommate for your character? Will you be taking notes on everything you see? Do you need a friend to help you earn favors?) <b>Disguise:</b> (Describe your character's planned outfit and identity. What will they wear? What pseudonym or made-up title will they use? Don't feel like you're committed to what you outline here. You can brainstorm a few options you're considering or change your mind completely later!) <b>Masquerade Plans:</b> (What are your plans for the Masquerade? Do you need help with your outfit? Will you be willing to help the fashion-challenged? How well will your character disguise themselves? How likely are they to be identified?) <b>General plans:</b> (Anything else!)

Questions and Answers

If after reading these you're still unsure about anything, or your question wasn't covered, please feel free to hit up our Questions thread below!

When exchanging an earned favor for a glamour item, can I choose to have the chance to receive a duplicate?

Sure! If you'd like the chance to receive a duplicate, just let us know and we'll RNG from the list of 3 again without removing the previous item you got.

What if there's a specific glamour item from the list I really want?

Exchanging a favor for an item is just one method! Characters can also purchase many types of glamour spells and other accessories for the Masquerade through the shops by obtaining the unique currency accepted by shops in the Feywilds.

So this means regular money has no use in the Feywilds?

Precisely. Characters will need to make their purchases using the unique system that's in place for the Feywilds during this event. The Fey will not accept Abraxan currency. Food and basic necessities are provided at the Cascading Boughs, so the Summoned will only need to spend money to buy personal items.

Can characters hunt in the Duskwoods?

Yes, hunting is one of the skills being assessed and the best place to demonstrate that will be in the Duskwoods. Any creature in the Duskwoods is available for hunt. For creatures that will be listed as domesticated mounts on the IC Event Log, while they may also appear in the wilds, it's best not to hunt those or the Fey might be upset.

What if my character has passive senses? Will that interfere with the game of identity?

The Fey have plenty of distorting and obscuring potions for characters to use as part of their costume, to offset enhanced senses. For example, one could buy a special perfume to mask their scent. Someone who chooses not to utilize similar tools as part of their disguise can be identified, however. Just make sure you have permission from each player!

What about voices? Can we disguise those, too?

Certainly! The Fey take the Masquerade seriously and have all manner of enchantments available to make sure your disguise is the best it can be. You need only obtain the right currency to buy the items.

What about abilities like mindreading?

For mindreading or other deliberate power uses, this is fine with permission from individual players. However, the Fey are interested in the spirit of the game. If a character seems to be cheating, the Fey will consider them as having poor manners and it will affect their reputation. It will not be possible to use psychic abilities on the Fey themselves.

Will the Feywilds be open regularly afterwards like Nocwich?

At this time, not yet! The Fey are much more isolated and suspicious of outsiders, so their doors will not be open like Nocwich. If the Summoned make a good impression, though, then there's a chance they'll allow the Summoned to enter again under set circumstances, either as part of a mod plot or through Plot Engagement.

What if my character needs help getting ready? Would their identity be revealed to the people helping them?

Yes, but that's perfectly acceptable! There's no need to conceal your identity from every single person (though you can if you wish). It's expected that anyone who knows another person well may recognize them much more easily. Characters can avoid engaging in the guessing game with each other if they already know or even pretend to be strangers for fun!

Comments

wanda maximoff · mcu · solvunn

[carmesi]

Character Name: wanda maximoff
Arcana: the hanged man
Faction: solvunn

Activities:

wanda for one is curious about this world's creatures of lore, as it were; werewolves and vampires are already so similar to what she was told growing up, how different are the fey to the bannik and the leshy? so, definitely some lowkey, curious investigating, shopping, and demonstrating magic.

Disguise:

wanda will be drawing from folk creatures of a slavic nature to introduce herself as 'rusalje', her language's pronunciation of rusalka. her dress for the evening will not hold any real shape of its own. instead, with every movement of her body, it stirs like smoke around her, (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5), changing colors from white to grey to black. it will neither feel nor smell like smoke, though, just a delicate glamour that disorients those who behold it as it holds no real tangible form. her hands will be coated in black to give length to the 'smoke' of her dress, chains and rings decorating her fingers. her hair will not be the usual orange, but a more natural-looking, darker brunette, hidden under a veil. half her face will be covered by a mask, really making it look like a skull is coming out of the smoke. her lips, painted black, will have a curtain of crucifixes in front of them. she will be disguising her voice to sound like it's three voice speaking as one. upon closer inspection, there are not eyeholes or mesh on the mask where her eyes would be.

Masquerade Plans:

wanda is okay with her own outfit, but she would be willing to help out others in glamouring themselves up or just thinking of something for them. she will be a strong advocate of #KeepSolvunnCreepy, but, otherwise, it's whatever the other character wants. she is going hard difficulty on disguising herself, knowing that a grudge from creatures like the fey can be quite shit. she will also dance with anyone interested.

General plans:

willing to give everything a whirl! so just hit me up with specifics or general ideas, it's all good by me.

[theidlemaiden]

Hilda has been practicing her enchantment but maybe Wanda can help her with some finishing touches?

[carmesi]

sure thing! wanda would also love to wear hilda's jewelry to complete her ensemble. do you think she would do something similar to what is on the hand picture? girlfriends.......

[theidlemaiden]

omg hilda could absolutely get her something and she would be honored if wanda thought it was good enough to go with her costume! I'll toss some options your way on discord

[boltaction]

wanda darling will you help vash achieve something biblically accurate.

[carmesi]

oh... of course! she'll even make them realistic feathers! moving about and fluttering, etc.

[boltaction]

wanda you're the best!!!

he'd also be down for investigating, though not explicitly to report back to solvunn. really he's just insatiably curious

[yoke]

love how everyone is going all out and keeping solvunn creepy and here nick is going as a slutty nun

anyway if wanda has time to spare pls help... but mostly i would love to do a thing... maybe they can lowkey investigate together?? nick has never danced before but he would for her if she wanted as thanks ok

[carmesi]

but can we make the slutty nun creepy? please think about this, ame.

they could and should investigate together! more bonding time!! another opportunity for her to try and figure out his first name, but she can also help him be a little delicate regarding the fey and their currency methods..

[yoke]

he probably looks creepy enough as a slutty nun to begin with but why stop there tbh. maybe he can wear like a faceless mask? like those resident evil nurses?? 🤔 or a skull one to match her... idk im spitballing

but yes im down for more bonding time always! they can get into trouble together... or more like wolfwood will get into trouble and wanda can just judge him for being an idiot... u know big sis lil bro stuff

[familysucks]

Wanda please badger him into getting into the spirit of dressing up and pulling together a proper outfit.

[carmesi]

would he like to be a creepy woods creature? also mike, you know that feys aren't to be fucked with!!

[familysucks]

The easiest way for him to not fuck with them would be to not go!!

Michael doesn't want to be anything but I, personally, would love it if he were a creepy forest beast. Maybe a lion. There's options, here.

[thedevilwhorose]

crucifixes, rude, Wanda

[carmesi]

it's not meant to be a personal dig at you, lucifer!!

[widows_kiss]

i require some wanda time! they havent gotten to hang out in too long. ;) Maybe we could send them investigating or shopping before the masquerade?

[carmesi]

of course! i'm sorry i couldn't get to them having a moment in nocwich, but maybe they can make use of the bathing areas? relaxing spaces? in the feywilds for them to catch up?

[widows_kiss]

life has been cray, don't worry about it boo! <3 I would love for them to take some time and relax or catch up, and she DOES want to poke around the feywilds.