The Watchers of Night (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thewatchers) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
daybreakacademy2020-04-26 01:16 pm
thewatchers) wrote in daybreakacademy2020-04-26 01:16 pm
Entry tags:
WALPURGISNACHT BALL
Walpurgisnacht Ball
Log Comm | Network Comm | OOC Comm | Navigation
There are, of course, several large social events for the supernatural community; the exclusive Masque de Chasseur by the “Elites” of vampiric society held in hours suitable only for the dead, the Mondruf for the shifters that changes dates with the cycle of the moon, and the most relevant: the Walpurgisnacht Ball, on the 30th of April. Arising from the legends of witch’s sabbats, the Magus of European society hold a grand fete to make social calls and present the heirs to their lineage as well as making suitable matches. And of course, this was an occasion to flaunt one’s wealth and power, with a dizzyingly array of impossible fashion created by spellcraft and enough gemstones to make any thief’s mouth water. For reasons lost to history, Daybreak Academy had been blackballed from the celebrations for a long time, and tonight it is the 300th anniversary of the disinvitation. And every year since then, representatives official and unofficial have made it a habit of ruffling the feathers of the Mages with tricks and pranks. While there has been a rule to ‘annoy, confuse - don’t infuriate’ for the pranks, as the idea always has been to make the Mages regret their snubbing not to anger them enough to lose their support completely. The upcoming date made it quite palatable to pull out all the stops to make it an absolutely memorable ball.
The host, Lord Carolmon zu Bechtel, is well aware of the tradition, and has stationed additional security, wanting to be the first to completely thwart the mischief of the Academy. This year, Lord zu Bechtel has set the party located in a vast crystal cavern system that lay hidden inside the Herz mountain range where it is completely inaccessible to mortals. The caverns are lit only by firelight to cast a dazzling array of colors and shimmer over the guests as they dance and walk across glass-clear surfaces of subterranean lakes to give the ball a truly otherworldly feeling.
One of the most popular “games” for the party-goers is Seances, thought unlike their mundane counterparts, the specters brought forth are real - but not in the name of closure for the living or rest for the departed, but for elaborate guessing games and prying into secrets that is not theirs to ask.
A. Planning + Entry
For a proper plan, everyone needs to know what everyone’s doing and where - it would be mortifying to get caught in someone else’s prank, after all! And for those who get tired of the preliminary preparations, there’s all sorts of interesting things to cause havoc with, in the crystalline caverns that lead to the main event - indoor weather, summoned spirits acting as servants, and all sorts of dazzling magical effects meant to entertain and amuse. All of these things can be edited and outright seized for your own purposes, with the right combination of magic.
Or, for those more subtle, you could always dress up and walk in like you were meant to be there...
B. Schmooze and Dash
Since you’re here, might as well take advantage of the lavish spread - but don’t get caught by the guards installed specifically to stop any troublemakers. But while you’re there, why not have a little food-related fun? As long as nobody gets hurt, there’s nothing stopping you from making food look and behave in some interesting, unexpected ways.
C. Illusory Ballroom
Mages spare no expense when it comes to showing off in front of their peers, and tonight is no exception. Due to expected interference, however, the grand crystalline cave reserved for dancing has been armed to the metaphorical teeth with all sorts of illusions and traps, meant to make it incredibly difficult for those who aren’t approved to enter from any angle. Such traps can be disarmed or turned to more nefarious purposes, however…
And for those wanting to mess with mages more directly, there’s no end of powerful figures with lavish displays of magical fashion and jewellery, including the host himself. There’s plenty of chaos for a clever prankster to get up to.
D. Call in the Spirits, Wherever they are!
There are seances scattered all over in little alcoves where the lights are only just enough to not trip over one’s feet. Crystal balls, bell, book, and candle are laid out on velvet-draped tables. Laughter and hushed whispers fill the air until someone hushes the group, to start calling down whatever spirit they could reach - famous names, even familiar ones can be heard passing the summoner’s lips. These mages are so focused on their mischief that they don't notice anyone coming in - if the intruder is quiet enough.
These seances have other effects that might prove irritating; those who are linked to the undead might feel pulling and whispers from one circle to the next. Those who are spiritually sensitive are more than capable of sensing such disruptions. And for the more notable among you, you could even find yourself abruptly summoned into a circle yourself, provided the mages are careless enough to cast their net wide - or particularly specific.
Though one little alcove is different, full of younger mages that are barely in their twenties, fidgeting and whispering, constantly searching around and the reason soon becomes clear - instead of a crystal ball, there was a magic circle laid out in semi-precious stones and inside was a hunched over creature that looked like a hairless rabbit with a wide, toad-like mouth and spindly human-like hands. It scampers from one part of the circle to the other, unable to cross the line, while the young mages seem to take sport in teasing the small daemon.
E. Wildcard
Have some other mischief in mind? Just for tonight, you’re free to prank as many mages as you can find.
no subject
[ This might not be a birthday gift specifically for him, but he'll certainly consider it one. Ekkehardt can be found in multiple places over the course of the night, but whether he looks like himself is a different thing entirely.
He has several different disguises - a severe, dark-haired personage in a shimmering suit, a woman with a raven-feathered mask and a dress that billows like smoke, a kaleidoscopic performer in a horned, faceless mask - and he flits between all of them as the night goes on.
He might be among the guests in the ballroom, lounging in the caverns that make up the entrance to such a grand affair, or taking feigned interest in the seances hidden away in little pockets. And wherever he goes, things seem to go wrong in increasingly spectacular ways.
The biggest clue to his true identity is the red glow that dances around him; not just in his eyes, but on the illusion of bare skin, briefly outlining bones moving beneath in flashes of light.
He also tends to give a nod to any Daybreak people he recognises - especially if they're in the middle of causing mischief - which is the most obvious tell, really.
It's clear to see that he's certainly having fun, no matter where he is. ]
E
[ Occasionally, Ekkehardt is just himself again, rummaging through a bag of personal effects and looking quite pleased with himself. He seems in a pleasant mood, and will wave and smile to any Daybreak staff or students he sees passing by. ]
no subject
So she makes her way over to the other mages as they set things up and gives them a bright smile.]
My, my, I see the entertainment is droll enough that you must resort to making your own fun. A pity.
[As a waiter walks by, she casually takes the plate holding several glasses of champagne away from him and overs it to the group.]
But, perhaps a some drinks might put you all in better spirits?
[The illusive double pun.]
no subject
The mages titter among themselves and agree that the entertainment is lacking, though seeing others come to misfortune is more amusing than it ought to be.
They agree, readily and without suspicion, to the drinks; they all take one. Ekkehardt, under his current glamour, declines.
Surely nothing bad will happen as a result of this! ]
no subject
After a few minutes of conversation, though, Urtz looks somewhat embarrassed.]
Oh, dear me. I hadn't meant to take up this much of your time. You have my sincerest apologizes. If I am recalling this correctly...the lot of you were getting ready to activate this magic circle. The one each of you so skillfully crafted. Please, by all means, do continue.
[Her expression is full of excitement, almost that of a child's seeing the inside of a candy store for the first time. It's genuine, too. After all, why wouldn't she want to see what the mages before her have cooked up?]
E
[V's making his way over, Shadow at his side. The tattoos that can be seen are particularly faded, suggesting that Griffon is off somewhere else at the ball.]
no subject
Of course. [ He holds up a blank mask, considers it, and then shuffles it back into his bag. ] What of you? I can't help but notice that one of your companions might be occupied elsewhere.
no subject
["As they very well deserve" goes unsaid. But it's definitely implied.]
no subject
Where is he, right now? [ His voice is inquisitive. He's not terribly familiar with...well, familiars. And everyone seems to have different rules for them, too. ]