WALPURGISNACHT BALL

[thewatchers]

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.
code bases by tricklet

Comments

[silksoul]

[ Hornet glances at it dismissively, before removing one hand to smash the crystal with the butt of her needle. She drops the mage, letting him go.

Whatever happens happens. ]

[trademark_skull]

[The crystal shatters and the mages scatter like ants, not wanting to be anywhere near when the circle deactivates. And they have good reason to fear, knowing what had exactly been unleashed.]

[Emizel stepped forward with some magic gathering around him, ready to launch it at any one of them that fell behind, but then it fizzled out as he wobbled and dropped to the floor. The circle had knocked out quite a bit of strength out of him; had he just been a little bit stronger in general none of this might've happened.]

[silksoul]

[ Hornet isn't one to help people up, especially people she doesn't know, but he was just captured, so she feels a little empathy for him, at least. It's never a pleasant sensation.

She kneels to pull him up by an arm; if Emizel doesn't resist, she'll pull him to his feet. ]

Are you injured?

[trademark_skull]

[He doesn't resist, but there was a nervous reflective twitch the moment Hornet grabbed him. He was rather easy to pull up.]

I'm fine... [The shocks did not really do any severe damage, but he did appear pained for some reason. And full of anger.]

I should have gotten them too... [A little extra payback would have been worth it.]

[silksoul]

[ These mages are soft and cowardly, unable to fight unless backed into a corner. They're not worth even hunting. But even she can tell that it seems to be a matter of pride, more than injury. ]

They're weak. They wouldn't be good opponents anyway. [ She lets go of his arm, before glancing at him. ]

You should learn to break traps such as that. No prison would hold you then.

[trademark_skull]

[That seems way easier said than done. Whatever magic they used directly called for him.] If I could do that I wouldn't even be here.

[There's a tinge of anger, but mostly, a tinge of hurt. Of course he would rather have these humans just leave him alone.]

[silksoul]

Then will you protest and kick your feet and wait for an enemy to catch you unawares, or will you learn from it?

[ The question is blunt and without any softness, but her tone isn't disdainful or mocking. There's a genuine curiosity there.

Sit and wait, and then strike when the time was right...that was the way of a hunter. At least, it was her way, learned through painful trial and error. ] You've not been harmed, save in your pride, it seems. It could have gone worse for you.