#lethe event

[lethe-rpg]

Welcome to the Spring Equinox Gala!

When: May 30, 2021 Where: Katherine and Patrick Antrim’s Manor From: 5 pm to 10 pm

Despite protests, democracy is democracy in Lethe, and so May 30th dawns to reveal gala preparations commencing as planned. Though the day comes equipped with blustering winds and hesitation lingers in the air, spirits around town seem to be relatively high as the day continues on into evening. It is at three o’clock that the gates to Katherine Antrim’s formidable manor are opened, giving any especially curious visitors access to the grounds. The last chime of the town’s bell tower has rung to signal the five o’clock hour when the doors to the ball room are thrown open and guests bearing invitations are welcomed inside. Those who enter the ballroom are awed by its beauty and impressed by the amenities –  a stage at the very front houses cheery musicians and some Lethean artists may even request to borrow the microphone, if so inclined. An exit on the left leads to an open bar, though food is not provided. Guests are encouraged by security to stay within the domains of the ballroom, but of course, the outdoor property still beckons. The especially adventurous sort may even venture to other rooms within the home at their own risk. Selections among the property other than the ballroom seem to be as follows:

The garden: Opened at three o’clock, Katherine Antrim’s pleasant garden houses many enchanting flora. As the sun sets, they may even reveal special, more ethereal qualities. Guests are welcome to tread these grounds as they please, though please, don’t step on the flowers.

The balcony: Serving as a respite from the noise, the balcony is just off of the ballroom. Guests are welcome to come and go as they please, sitting on marble benches overlooking the rolling gardens and getting a well deserved breath of fresh air. Smoking is not allowed.

The maze: Found deep within the garden, the entrance of the maze is well hidden as to discourage any adventures into its depths. But such discoveries aren’t impossible, though they are not entirely pleasant either. Guests who manage to touch the hedges that mark the bounds of this maze will discover that they are not especially keen on being touched and will react to indicate as much. If not grievously injured, however, skilled solvers will find a lovely courtyard in the center of this maze, equipped with a bubbling fountain and dreamlike, rare blooms abound.

The library: This is not a destination that will be reached with ease. Those who manage to charm open the doors will find bookshelves of towering heights and glowering portraits upon the walls. If they search the right places, lucky adventurers may even happen upon town records, some dating back to the town’s 19th century founding. Visitors who intend to try their odds here should work with haste – security will likely descend upon them in no time.

For the Muns

The Spring Equinox Gala event begins now! It will be a dashboard event and will last at least two weeks. When the time comes, we will ask in the Discord if people are interested in continuing or wrapping up the event.

Any details about plot drops during the event will be posted about here, via a Lethe News post or an event post.

We encourage the posting of open starters for the event, but also ask that if you post a starter, please reply to one as well. That way we’ll keep the dash moving!

If you’re willing, show us what your character is wearing! Whether through edits or through Tumblr-made photosets, we’d love to see the look your character is sporting to this black-tie event.

You are welcome to continue writing regular threads alongside the event! To differentiate between the two, please tag all event-related posts with ‘lethe: gala 2021′.

Most of all: have fun! We cannot wait to see the gorgeous ensembles and interesting encounters you come up with.

[lethe-rpg]

The Spring Equinox itself came and went with little fanfare from the town, distracted as they are by the earthly apparition appearing in town some months prior. Discussions of the gala were limited to hushed whispers, average townspeople and council members alike wondering about the wisdom of another town sanctioned event on the heels of their previous failures. Gaps in the council seats left room for a stalemate, and the fate of the gala was eventually left in the town’s hands. The people of Lethe spoke, with a majority voting in favor of the celebration carrying on as planned. Though it meant putting themselves in the mercy of the council once more, most townspeople seemed confident in their optimistic decision and preparations for the gala began in earnest when the motion passed on April 30th.

Dawn rose on the morning of May 5th and every Lethean over the age of eighteen found their name handwritten on a golden envelope within their respective mail receptacle. Each invitation begins with a cordial invite to the 2021 Spring Equinox Gala, set to begin on the 30th of May at precisely 5PM. Beneath the first page lies a letter detailing the gala’s history and the security measures in place to guarantee the town’s safety. In the hope of granting some peace of mind, no detail is withheld, from the efforts of the people working for Lethe’s Police Department to the individuals hired specifically for the gala. Trained witches find a trace of magic on the invitation and a note at the end explains the requirement of their invitation to attend, though it offers no more explanation.

With the old opera house torn down after the disaster of the 2019 Spring Equinox Gala, the council found themselves digging into their history in search of a proper venue. Thanks to generous permission granted from town founder Katherine Antrim (née Irving) the gala is set to take place in one of the oldest buildings in Lethe: Katherine’s manor located on the edge of town. Letheans who dare can peer through the wrought iron fence can see the movements inside the historic home in preparation for the gala. Those who are perhaps even more daring pluck up the arguably foolish courage to hope that this event will end better than those of recent past. Despite the council’s reassurances, every Lethean surely knows that at this rate, they attend at their own risk.

For the Muns

The 2021 Spring Equniox Gala is set to begin May 30th. It will be a dashboard event. As all of our events go, it will last a minimum of two weeks with a plot drop done at the one week mark. 

More information on the details of the event will be available when the gala approaches, either through further Lethe News posts or further posts in the lethe: gala 2021 tag on the main.

Just like with the Lethe News posts, everything listed above is common knowledge and may be used for roleplaying purposes for your characters.

[lethe-rpg]

Welcome to the 2020 Winter Festival!

When: December 31, 2020 Where: Irving Plaza From: 1PM to 1AM.

With the storm passing, and the ice slowly thawing, Lethe welcomes the year end celebration. The annual Winter Festival has arrived, though this year the council has voted for an event much smaller than the previous years -- and with security rivaling any other event. Once Letheans pass the small security check-point at the entrance, they are issued a wristband, color coded for their species, and released into the festival. It features a winter market, where civilians can purchase goods from vendors, or participate in small games and events hosted by local volunteers. The eye-catcher this year being the large ice-skating rink in the back, and the five hundred dollar prize for whoever wins the ice-skating tournament set to begin at 10PM.

light blue for selkie

dark blue for nymph

red for vampire

black for lich

light purple for witch

yellow for shifter

green for werewolf

white for lamia

dark purple for fae

For all its grandeur and fun, no one can miss the presence of Lethe PD patrolling, nor can they miss the way the council keeps its guard up. Every event has ended in chaos, and the council will do everything in their power to ensure this event doesn‘t end like the others. Only time will tell if they succeed...

For the muns

This event will take place from now until we announce a date later on.

It will feature a plot drop in a couple days -- and possible wildcards (one per person) if people are interested in them.

Please tag your posts lethe: winter 2020 as non-event replies and writing are welcome alongside this.

[lethe-rpg]

When: September 22, 2020 ( 1PM through Midnight ) Where: Irving Plaza & Downtown Lethe

From the Lethean Times:

Lethe has weathered more changes in the last year than any other year in its two centuries of existence. Some will point at Lethe’s council, the foundation of their small town, for not adapting to the changing times, or others will point to the Riverborn, who arrived in town and swept the town into a paranoia for a year and then vanished without a trace. Council seats have changed, previous events have cancelled, and with the Autumn Equinox rapidly approaching, the citizens of Lethe question the council’s plan. Every year has been different, from picnics, to festivals, to parties and balls, and its only on September 6, 2020 that vampire council woman Delilah Sarkissian invites the town to prepare for Lethe’s first ever Autumn Equinox Parade.

Set to take place on September 22, the Autumn Equinox Parade will be an all day event celebrating Lethe’s unity and its ongoing march into the safe, stable future of their dreams. Irving Plaza will be open from 1PM till Midnight with live music, booths, and small games. The parade itself is set to begin after 6PM, opened with the musical talents from Lethe’s local schools, followed by floats from local businesses and sponsors, and ending with a firework show at Irving Plaza.

The council promised a safe event, but only time will tell if they can keep their promises…

Admin Note

This event is an open-ended event that will not feature any pre-planned plot drops and any chaos will be player driven. If something eventful happens that will interfere with multiple threads, send the admins a message so it can be posted for other members to include in theirs (like, say, if a float gets lit on fire, or a person starts a fist fight that gathers the eyes of bystanders, or etc possibilities). We only ask that if you have murder (we’re looking at you, Sokolovs and Emira), spontaneous marriage (we’re watching those ships, too), or death (we know all of you, we know what you’re capable of) in your threads that you send a message to the admins beforehand! Enjoy the parade!

Player Information

When: September 20th-October 4th  — This event starts September 19th and an end post for it will be posted on October 4th, but threads may end whenever player’s are comfortable with it and there is no deadline for completing threads/starting after threads.

Tag: lethe: parade —  Please tag your starters with lethe parade, in order to differentiate between regular threads and event ones. It also allows us to summarize the event late

This is a dashboard only event via gif and/or para threads.

[lethe-rpg]

The ending we all expected...

All is quiet in Lethe after the Autumn Equinox Parade, a stark contrast to the previous night’s climatic ending. If one were to wander past Irving Plaza, they would see the burnt out remains of several booths whose fire could not be quenched by ordinary means. Magic, some say, and suspicious to boot. In response, the council has only released a warning to keep an eye out for an arsonist whose work can be marked via the shops torched in the days following the parade.

Dotting along the roads are the remaining floats, the cleaning halted halfway and only finished much later. Its unknown whether the damage to the floats was malicious, or the results of a panicking crowd seeking refuge from the distant blast, but the blood bath at the storage area was almost certainly from a fight. The area is closed-off from public view while authorities investigate and citizens are urged to report any suspicious activity to the Lethe Police Department.

But these pale in comparison to the Asmodean Autoshop. A layer of debris lines the street, interrupted only by the footsteps of emergency responders who trudge through the wreckage for individuals trapped in the auto shop’s remains. Numerous were injured in the blast, from bystanders walking along the road, to the shops nearby when it went off, but worst among them are those inside. Swift as Lethe’s emergency responders are, they did not make it in time to save Clark Segen. The police have deemed it too early to release details on it, but their preliminary investigation hints to an accident from someone among the auto-shop's staff.

Timeline of the Evening...

The parade itself ran from 6pm to 8:45pm.

The first explosion was reported at 9:05pm.

A fire of unknown causes sparks among the booths in Irving Plaza at 9:05pm.

Police close off the streets directly near Asmodean Autoshop at 9:15pm.

After deeming the blasts over, emergency response enters the scene at 9:25pm. Citizens are urged to return home, but a select few volunteers -- or those too stubborn to leave -- return to the scene to help victims leave.

By 9:35pm the first reports of injuries and possible deaths start trickling into the crowds in the streets. 

Through the evening, the Lethean Times updates periodically on new discoveries, and the council releases an official statement the following morning at 6:00am.

For the players...

This is the official ending for the event! However, don’t let this stop you from creating threads during this time still, we don’t have a hard limit on this event and you are allowed to continue using it as you see fit. This post is to allow people to begin follow-up threads if they wish, or to plot out threads that happen in the parade’s immediate aftermath that they wouldn’t be able to do without more information.

Given the potential enemies listed in this (an arsonist, random blood baths, and an explosion, oh my), you are welcome to use these worries in your own threads outside the event. Further information about culprits and the like will be released in Lethe News posts down the line.

If something further happens that the public would know about (like, say, someone else dying, or another fight that someone will inevitably come across later), just let us know and we can update things as necessary.

Thank you everyone for your participation, and we hope you enjoyed it!

[lethe-rpg]

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE LETHEAN TIMES:

In the beginning the parade was exactly what the council promised: a peaceful, laughter filled afternoon where the people of Lethe could feel their worries drifting away with every puff of the soft breeze. The parade’s official start drew the crowd from the plethora of games, shops open houses, and food trucks as expected. People began to line the edge of the Plaza after 6pm, the parade beginning its slow jaunt through Lethe’s closed off streets. Despite an obvious police presence that did not exist in the previous year’s parade, none remark on the police lining the street corners, watchful and ready. A collective sigh seemed to ripple through the crowd when the floats reach the plaza without incident, a rare thing in Lethe these days. Perhaps the council’s promise was not in vain.

But perhaps that thought was voiced too soon. The parade, alas, was far from the only event of note at the autumn equinox celebration. After the floats slid out of view, several fires popped up around the settled floats that quickly spread through the colorful booths lining the streets surrounding the plaza. Lethe’s fire department and several brave citizens volunteered to halt the advance of the flames and the only reported casualties are charred souvenirs and damaged booth. Councilwoman Delilah Sarkissian promised reparations for the owners.

Shortly after the beginning of the annual fireworks display, several citizens reported hearing the sound of gunshots, but at this time no gunshot wounds have been reported to Lethe General. Lethe PD is reporting that there is no evidence of an altercation or the discharging of a firearm. When questioned further, the police representative confirmed the other rumor of the night: there was an active fire in progress after a mysterious explosion at Asmodean Autos. At this time they do not have an accurate count of injuries or casualties, though they did confirm that the fire has grown to a four alarm event and that at least one person is known to have been in the building at the time of the explosion.

The fireworks attendees reportedly only heard a loud noise and a shaking of the ground early in the event, though moments later smoke became visible from  the north end of town. Residents that were closer to the explosion reported a variety of explosions coming from the Asmodean Autos building once the fire grew in size, causing multiple injuries to bystanders watching the event. At this time the Lethe PD is refusing to comment further on the identities of those injured or the suspected cause of the fire itself. No press release from the Lethe Council has been scheduled at this time either, leaving many residents distraught and angry.

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For the players:

For timeline reference: The parade itself ran from 6pm to 8:45pm. The first explosion was reported at 9:05pm. By 9:35pm the first reports of injuries and possible deaths start trickling into the crowds in the streets.

For this wildcard, pick ONE thread per character to integrate the wildcard into, it will make timelines easier to figure out later on.

[lethe-rpg]

Guests can’t help noticing the evening is nearing its close without incident, a situation unprecedented in the last few years. Some begin to relax, some notice the council are huddling together in pairs or groups, murmuring among each other and disappearing from view. Fifteen minutes to the strike of ten, a bell rings through the gala and a voice murmurs quietly from every corner of the grounds announcing the gala’s last dance and last call. Some return to the ballroom, eager to see the grand finale from the gala’s orchestra, or celebrating what seems to be an almost lackluster evening.

The music swells in a crescendo, and when the last note fades, the lights flicker out like candles in a wind. Applause meets this ending, and a sigh of relief echoes from most, until the lights continue to stay off. Murmurs start, and then cries of worry as the darkness continues. The only light, guests soon learn, is provided by a fire that somehow began in the library and has begun its venture down the hall and into the ballroom. Delilah Sarkissian’s voice echoes through the ballroom, urging a calm that is felt by none. Guests are encouraged to follow their council person to safety, each species separated and tucked into a separate areas of the ballroom far from the expanding flames as a safe exit is sought out. Security combs the ballroom for the arsonist suspects who have, finally, made their move. Those who find themselves outside of the ballroom at this time will find themselves trapped in whatever area they lingered in when the candles turned on. Those inside the ballroom find the doors locked, unable to leave until security can verify no arsonist hides among them. 

Those stuck in the ballroom: There is a palpable worry in the air that peaks to panic at the sight and smell of smoke. Some fight among themselves, and find themselves silenced by their council member or security. The council and security are conducting a headcount of their people, using the list of invitations activated to determine everyone’s location. Those unchecked off from the list will face further scrutiny until their whereabouts are confirmed. Throughout the room, you see security leaving and entering, the only ones capable of exiting the room.

Those stuck in the maze: You find the exit mysteriously gone. You are positive it was there before, but perhaps you made a wrong turn. Faintly, you can hear an announcement from the ballroom, but you hear and see nothing to tell you what is wrong, only a sense of foreboding as the hedges shiver with worry. Proceed with caution in the maze, for those who try to hurt the hedges in their attempts to leave might find themselves swallowed whole.

Those stuck in the gardens: You see the lights of the manor flicker out from the gardens, and if you stare at the building long enough, you see figuring darting in some of the windows. Delilah’s voice hits you, trying to ensure tranquility, but any attempts at entering the ballroom once more are met with a small jolt of electricity, enough to thwart any attempts to try again. Worse, the gates to leave the manor are shut tight, and you cannot touch the bars to hoist yourself free, as though a barrier is coating the perimeter.

Those stuck on the balconies: You see the lights go out behind you, and the doors for the balcony close with a wave of magic. Opening them hits you with a jolt, stronger the harder you hold on. Your options include waiting here, listening to the events occurring inside, or finding a way over the railings into the garden below. The air quickly begins to reek of smoke.

Those who have left the gala already: They may be none the wiser to what occurs, but if they attempt to approach again, they find themselves touching a barrier around the perimeter. Attempts to break it are meant with a magical backlash. 

For the muns:

It is up to each of you where you would like your character to be when this occurs, but please read each of the options as the dynamic for each is different. If you play a council character, please have a reason for why your character might not be in their station during this time. As stated above, characters are unable to leave the area they were in when this occurred (the only exception is people on the balconies, who may either stay on the balconies or drop into the gardens) except those who are daring enough to try an escape from the ballroom on their own terms. If your characters have left the grounds, they will be unable to return.

This will be our final admin post regarding the event – it is up to you as to how your characters escape. As a reminder, please tag all your posts with lethe: gala 2021. 

[lethe-rpg]

The streets of Lethe are quiet and empty by sunset, a curious happenstance at the best of times, but an eerie thing given recent events. At least until you reached Irving Square and the disused opera house now rented out for large scale events when it isn’t sitting empty. By 7PM the streets begin fill with muted chatter and cautious groups in formal wear, as all Lethe citizens over the age of twenty-one follow the sound of music and the lights filtering through the high windows to the Spring Equinox Gala. It has a strict dress code and a masquerade theme that has caused much stress to the few tailors and costumers in town, but it is a tradition, and Letheans do cling to their traditions. Dancing, socializing, and an open bar is on offer, which is nearly enough to make the most vocal dissenters believe the town’s unrest is soon to be a distant memory. But only nearly. Only time will tell if the Spring Equinox Gala will fare better than the disastrous Winter Festival, but hope springs...

This is a dash only event via gif and/or para threads.

The end date is yet to be determined, but roughly two weeks are alotted.

Please tag your threads with lethe: gala to differentiate, as non-event threads are also welcome at this time.

Have fun, and ask questions if you have ‘em!