EVENT DURATION: OCT 13 - NOV 4
Without warning, your muses find themselves thrust into the heart of an elaborate, haunting gala. One moment they were where their story last left them; the next, they awaken at the entrance of a grand ballroom—dressed in opulent costumes, a mask resting in their hands. There was no journey to this place, no memory of arriving. It was as if they were caught in a blip, their worlds fading to black, only to open their eyes in the midst of an enchanted evening.
The air feels thick, almost charged with magic, as if the very fabric of reality has shifted. The soft rustle of silk and velvet moves in time with the eerie, ethereal music that seems to drift from everywhere and nowhere at once. Faint, glowing runes flicker briefly on the edges of the mirrors, only to vanish as if a child has scribbled magic into the air. Candles flicker in their sconces, casting long, dancing shadows that move as though alive. The scent of old books, roses on the edge of decay, and something sweet yet unsettling—perhaps opium or incense—lingers in the air. It’s intoxicating, disorienting.
Looking around, the room itself seems too grand, too ancient, to exist in any known world. High, vaulted ceilings loom overhead, adorned with delicate carvings of strange creatures, some familiar, others from dreams or nightmares. Dozens of jack-o’-lanterns sit perched in alcoves, their flickering faces twisted into eerie grins, casting an orange glow across the room. Above, floating candles hover in mid-air, their soft light swaying with an unseen breeze, illuminating the darkness like spectral stars trapped in a Halloween dream.
Your muses are not alone. Others, too, have been drawn here—strangers and familiar faces alike, all elegantly dressed, all clutching their own masks. A soft giggle echoes from nowhere, sending a chill down your spine as if someone is watching… and playing. A strange sense of unity and foreboding hums beneath the surface. Where are they? Why have they been brought here? And most of all, who—or what—waits behind the shadowed curtains of this grand, spectral masquerade?
Each muse finds themselves holding a mask in their hand, each one unique and beautifully crafted. Some masks resemble beasts—wolves, ravens, serpents, and other strange, mythical creatures or symbolic figures. Others are more ethereal—silver veils shimmering with unnatural light or dark, cracked porcelain faces. A few are more abstract, with swirling patterns, fragmented designs, or strange, shifting shapes that seem to defy explanation, like reflections of emotions or inner turmoil rather than physical forms.
Upon waking, they hear a voice, deep and melodic, that speaks in their mind:
“Wear the mask, and the night will reveal what lies beneath.”
✧ Regardless of what your muse was doing, All threads will temporarily pause as your muse awakens at the mysterious gala, fully dressed in elegant costumes with no memory of how they arrived.
✧ Pick a mask for your muse and feel free to share it in the event chat.
✧ After writing your muse donning their mask in-character in the event threads channel, roll a d8 in the dice box to determine the mask’s effects.
To roll a dice and participate in this event, you reply to one of three threads first to engage in the event.
(The Silent Host - ballroom, The Gambler’s Parlour (game room), The Midnight Overlook -Garden/Balcony)
No dice rolls without first writing will be accepted.
✧ Effects gained from this event will last until the end of the event (perhaps!), but how your muse handles the effects is up to you.
✧ Your muse can interact with others, explore the eerie ballroom and mansion grounds, or investigate the mysterious figure hosting the event. Characters may uncover hidden clues or simply revel in the strange atmosphere.
✧ No one can leave the gala. Just as the thought of escaping crosses your mind, a shimmering spell weaves around your thoughts, pulling you deeper into the masquerade.
✧No cell phones or technology are present on anyone’s person. Upon arrival at the gala, all devices vanish without explanation, leaving your muses disconnected from the outside world.
✧ The host remains a mystery, but the night will grow darker as the event unfolds. There may be consequences for those who delve too deeply into the truth behind the masks.
