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daybreakacademy2020-04-26 01:16 pm
thewatchers) wrote in daybreakacademy2020-04-26 01:16 pm
Entry tags:
WALPURGISNACHT BALL
Walpurgisnacht Ball
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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.
OTA
Anand believes that less is more when it comes to infiltration. Her one good black dress looks fine enough in torchlight, a nice mask is expected, and her wings are what magical society probably considers a fashion statement. Actually tying up her hair was the most annoying part, frankly, but it does mean that after briefly tapping into her second sight to be where eyes and wards are not for a minute, she can actually attempt to schmooze and enjoy the ball...
B
...for a few minutes before she starts spiking the punch. The various fairy liquors her father had warned her off of for almost eighteen years before slipping a bottle into her luggage for Daybreak would probably mix poorly with the other enchantments around. Fortunately, good old cheap human alcohol can be just as entertaining, and probably somehow more offensive to these guys.
She does make sure to sample all the punch before she spikes it, though. Doubling up can be dangerous, and you can't embarrass someone who's having their stomach pumped. Also, it's pretty good.
D
Anand wants to mess up the necromantic rituals on principle, namely because these are essentially college kids prank-calling random spirits who don't deserve to be bothered on a holiday, but once she realizes the sheer number of undead who came with the Daybreak contingent she's mostly content to sit back and watch the chaos (and possibly help a few professors out of jams).
However, as the evening goes on, she finds herself, possibly after a couple of nips from her spiking stash, sitting in on one of the more loose-tie summoning circles, somehow as part of the circle rather than a silent observer.
"I think your techniques are outdated, 'swhy you've been having so much trouble," she explains, putting on the patient airs of a young magical scion who's trying very hard not to slur. "Bell, book, and candle is unpredictable compared to channeling the spirit into your own body. I know, I know, it's 'gauche' or whatever, but innovation can yield great results if you're willing to lower yourself to using techniques that don't trace directly back to the druids once in a while."
Anand has no idea how to channel spirits, but it seems a lot easier to fake than the proper ceremony.
B
She can help spike the punch from across the room. Just let one arm sneak out very, very far, spike the punch, withdraw. No one sees anything, and it's fine.]
Having fun?
no subject
[The other benefit to party-crashing is getting to go on a fancy date. Anand keeps her own arm and wing wrapped loosely around Ruadh's back to help cover their shenanigans.]
How about you? I know this party isn't our usual scene.
no subject
It's nice to do something like this once in a while anyway, isn't it? It's not our usual scene, but it has its own fun.