A Summer's Journey (Event)

[Royal]

Event Duration: July 18th through the end of August 31st.

"That's.. odd."

The oddity in question sat within the lagoon of Twilight Isle as if it had always been there. A small island shrouded low soaring clouds.



The word "Odd" was spoken more than once after boats were taken and investigations begun.. Memories of the past appeared before some, while glimpses of the future came to other visitors of the island now called: The Mirage Island

These visions into the past and future weren't the only strange occurrences.. Some even said they saw visions of a past that never was, or the smiling faces and waving arms of those long gone.. The conclusion is — this Mirage Island is connected to Twilight Isle's of other universes, where the fabric of what is and what could have been coalesce.

It is only a simple boat ride to the Mirage Island.. will you embark on a Summer Journey?


Mirage Seashells


Mirage Seashells have begun to appear!
The sounds of gentle waves and echoes of distant memories can be heard from them.
During your first journey to Mirage Island you will find one nearby that calls out to you. Perhaps it's with words of a long lost friend, or your own voice that sparks a pleasant memory.

It has also been discovered that Mirage Seashells appear after the end of Duel of Magic matches. A winner of a match will find 3 seashells near them waiting to be collected, while the defeated will find 1.

Mirage Seashells also appear at the end of Tournaments, with the tournament winner finding 3 near them while other participants will find 1. Elemental Keeper Matches will also create Mirage Seashells — with the overall winner of the challenge being rewarded 3 while the defeated finds 1.

Turning in Mirage Seashells will reward you prizes.

15 Seashells — 5 Wins over Losses added to your record (1 purchase per character)
3 Seashells — Special Event Icon
2 Seashells — Mirage Dodo Hatching (RP Prize)

These little birds appear randomly on Mirage Island.. but always disappear whenever anyone gets close. It seems by giving a Mirage Dodo two Mirage Seashells you can earn their trust. With trust gained they will go anywhere with you!

Travelers Shop



A special souvenir shop sits vacant near the docks of the Mirage Island.
When an item is taken another appears, ready for the next visitor. Keep your coins, as there is no need to pay.



A glass ring or necklace with a memory of rolling waves, a parasol of cranes that you may have seen briefly during your visit.
Or perhaps the shop has something more? A childhood teddy bear, a locket from a father that had gone missing long ago..

Your journey is only a rowboat away.


((OOC: What will you find on the Mirage Island.. or who may come from it? Maybe another version of your character from the past, the future, or another timeline? Are they only a visitor of the summer or will they stay longer? Long lost friends or family? Or the vision of a summer memory that had been forgotten? There's many possibilities! The Mirage Island event starts tomorrow, July 18th and will last until the end of August 31st then the Mirage Island will fade away. Please enjoy and have fun!

Duelists looking to collect Mirage Seashells. Post your duel results in this thread and request your prizes! The one-time gained visiting Mirage Island seashell can be gained from posts written on the forum and linked to this thread or logs from the #twilight_isle channel mentioning a visit to or scenes from the Mirage Isle itself!))

[Kira Adia]

”Upon a Twilight Shore”

[Royal]

(( OOC: Mirage Seashells updated to add Seashell gaining for Tournaments and Keeper Challenges:

Mirage Seashells also appear at the end of Tournaments, with the tournament winner finding 3 near them while other participants will find 1. Elemental Keeper Matches will also create Mirage Seashells — with the overall winner of the challenge being rewarded 3 while the defeated finds 1.

))

[Alasdair Galloway]

((=== Twilight Isle: 2022-07-29 @ 21 ===
[21:32:51] Nexus Guide: **Ring Fistmelda 12: XanthVanBokkelen scores! (FMW / FT | 5 - 2.5, XanthVanBokkelen leads.)***FINAL: XanthVanBokkelen def. Alasdair Galloway, 5 - 2.5 in 12 rounds. - dom*

- 1 seashell for loss

[21:40:10] Alasdair Galloway: "I think I might head over to the Mirage Island now and take a look around. See if I can maybe pick up another one over there." He nodded to himself while he pocketed the one mirage seashell.

- 1 seashell for mentioning a trip to the island in play

One Mirage Dodo Hatchling for 2 seashells please! ))

[Royal]

((=== Twilight Isle: 2022-07-29 @ 21 ===
[21:32:51] Nexus Guide: **Ring Fistmelda 12: XanthVanBokkelen scores! (FMW / FT | 5 - 2.5, XanthVanBokkelen leads.)***FINAL: XanthVanBokkelen def. Alasdair Galloway, 5 - 2.5 in 12 rounds. - dom*

- 1 seashell for loss

[21:40:10] Alasdair Galloway: "I think I might head over to the Mirage Island now and take a look around. See if I can maybe pick up another one over there." He nodded to himself while he pocketed the one mirage seashell.

- 1 seashell for mentioning a trip to the island in play

One Mirage Dodo Hatchling for 2 seashells please! ))

A Mirage Dodo follows you home..

[Tippletoe]

Tippletoe — Today at 11:04 PM
"Thanks for attending everyone, but I must be off to check out this very peculiar island!!" She gestured to the Mirage Island.

Tippletoe would hear the voice of her long-since-passed great-great-great grandmother and see an alternate past where she never left adventuring! Once the visions cease, she spends the rest of her visit trying to speak with Mirage Dodo's!

[Royal]

Nako's going to be pissed..

It came to mind when Royal found herself once more on the Mirage Island. It isn't as if Nako would be upset for her visiting here, but the fact that she chose to do so - constantly that is - instead of going home.. that could have very well been a problem. Then again, there's most likely an understanding as for the reason why.

Royal was searching for someone, no, someone's who no longer were there.

A silly little thought. If this island connected time and space — different worlds and possibilities.. then maybe she could see her family again. It's why she found herself sitting near a few of those swaying palm trees while watching frolicking dodo's in the distance. Every trip to this island of mirages had been one of silence for her.. until the humming.

A soft tune, one she wasn't sure of as the first few seconds passed, but when it clicked - it clicked. When she turned in the direction the humming came from she saw the image of a scarlet haired woman looking across the open waters. Royal slowly stood but found herself pausing when wisps of the mirage took shape and formed the vision of two younger girls dashing for the taller woman.

"Come play! Come play!" — "Come play with us! Look!" both exclaimed with excitement and begun to cut one another off, but the younger girl with brown skin much like her own hoisted up a beach ball; though it is quickly snatched away by the other girl. A small shouting match begun, which brought a nostalgic smile to Royal's face.

".. She can't." Royal said. The smile she wore shifting softly.

"Sorry," said the woman with red-hair to the two younger girls. "I'm a little busy right now, so how about we play later?"

It's then another voice came. A voice Royal hadn't heard in the longest time.

"What'd I tell you two about runnin' off like that?! I'm so sorry about this." another wisp born of the mirage took shape. This one of the person Royal knew as Terry Farron — not the Terry King known of this world. Her curly hair worn long and in a ponytail, the expression with a twinge of annoyance - even though most of it had been once of worry that was then replaced with a smile.

"Yeah.. you told us never to leave your side when we went out.. We didn't like to listen." Royal muttered quietly.

The conversation that played in front of her was one she knew. She hung on each word spoken by her mother, the sound of her laugh, her posture, everything. She looked to real. Everything looked so real.. until, with a gust of wind, it all faded away.

All except for the song. In the end the red-haired woman promise she would play with them later, but the Royal and Reign of the past refused to leave until she sung the song they both enjoyed.. but even that faded.

"You're smarter than you think you are.." Royal then heard from behind and as she turned she saw the departing mirage of a woman with pink hair.

There in the sand sat a gunblade. Broken and in need of repair.. but it was much like the one Royal had gifted her sister, one of the two last items left to them by their parents. Royal stared at the broken weapon while part of her wondered if it would fade away too.

After minutes passed she finally bent down to pick it up. It was real, its weight - though light - told her so. She knew what this was, she even recalled the moment of frustration when she slammed her fist against the metal table and had to be sent to a healer because it was so bad. Royal had been so upset back then, brought to tears saying she wasn't smart enough to figure it out and getting more and more frustrated with her other mother, Claire. This was going to be her first gunblade, one she never finished and left broken in a box.

You're smarter than you think you are.. — that's what she told her when they waited for the healer. Royal at that time didn't believe her.

"Don't worry," Royal said as she brushed aside tears. "I'll finish it. I promise."

[Izumi Takamine]

Izumi had felt restless on one of the Takamine family's stays at their vacation home in the Gloaming District and so she had gone for a walk down the shore of the lagoon. She wasn't in any hurry, and the twilight air felt nice as she strolled along the path by the shoreline. She didn't really know she meant to take the boat ride out to Mirage Island until she impulsively boarded and a short time later arrived on the shore. A curious feeling came over her as she strolled, glancing with some distracted amusement at the distant and busy dodos.

"This doesn't feel quite real" she murmured, pressing fingertips to her temples. I am a busy person. I am not the sort of person to become ruminative. It was a true statement. Izumi was big on the carpe diem philosophy. In the eight years since she arrived in RhyDin she had not been homesick in the least, embracing her new home almost at once. There was little to feel nostalgic for in her life before the onryou haunting and accidental cross-dimensional relocation. And of the haunting that had made her something more than her human self, those were memories she certainly didn't wish to examine. Still, there must be something less obvious she wished to remember to explain this impulsive trip and a not entirely comfortable sensation of butterflies in her stomach. Ahead she spotted a shell in the sand and her sandal clad feet halted in the sand.

You're not going to pick that up are you?
No way! Not me, boss. Why would I want to do a thing like that?
Great. You had me worried for a minute there, Zumi. Looks like a good way to get some kind of magic Isle curse, doesn't it?
Sure does! Also, it's getting late. Lisa will be wanting a story before bed.

Certain that she was all together and in total agreement with herself, Izumi knelt to pick up the shell and stood up again, placing it slowly to her ear. Whatever she had expected to hear it was not a steadily building drumbeat, music. Though she only had one ear to the shell, the words of verse singing seemed to envelop her completely.

"Higher than mountains - of cavernous people -
Searching for a lighthouse in the fog."

Izumi shivered, taking the shell away from her ear, mouth drawn down into a frown. She expected the song to continue to haunt her, the price to be paid for picking up the shell against her best instincts. To her surprise it did cease, but when she put it down on the sand and stood she was looking ahead into a forming mirage, indistinct at first but becoming clearer by the moment.

"It's the middle of the summer term. Are you sure you really want to leave us now? Your grades have slipped some since spring, it's true... but it's not irreparable." the nun seated at the desk in the headmistress's office was saying. An older woman, looking with kindly concern at the teenager seated in the chair ahead of her desk. A girl not in the uniform, but instead in street clothes, jeans and a black tee shirt, a bright orange sweatshirt in spite of the warmth of the day. The hood was back, showing the long black hair gathered in half-up twintails.

The kindly voice seemed to only add to the girls discomfort at this interview, lips trembling for a moment before she nodded. The headmistress studied her for a moment longer, and asked in the same kindly tone. Are you certain you're alright? You don't look well at all.

The day had been a kind of fog to the younger Izumi, even though it had been a sort of turning point. She couldn't remember exactly what she had said, and watched, bemused as the memory unfolded. The younger Izumi shook her head, hands clasped together on her lap and replied. "I don't belong here. I shouldn't stay." The older woman sighed and nodded, opening a folder and taking a pen to sign a few forms. "I can only return a part of your tuition. I hope you understand. I wish you good luck."

Izumi shook her head as the mirage faded from view, frowning and shuddering for a moment at the sense of deja vu. "Pointless to think about that time. I like my job, and I don't need any diploma to do it" she said reflectively. She turned away decisively, thinking of how the younger Izumi on that day couldn't have known all the fun and happy times that were ahead. Now I am going. Lisa will want a story before bed.

She blinked in surprise when she strode back toward the landing, and saw another woman on the island with her. Just looking at her gave her a strange feeling. About her own height, she noticed. In fact, she looked a great deal like Izumi herself. Right down to the tiny birthmark just underneath her right eye, she observed with some disquiet. The only remarkable difference was that her hair was longer than Izumi's own. She was looking at Izumi as curiously as she must be looking at her. Damn odd. Must be another mirage, that's all. She thought as she pulled her gaze away with a nod, decisively heading back for the waiting boat without speaking.

[Mairead Harker]

Maggie wandered the island a few times, both on her own and with others. Her cousin, Limelenath, a half-elf, could speak to the plant life. A flower or two offered blossoms to the treesinger. They would give the blossoms to Mayflower to nurture in what Maggie had come to think of as the Keeper's Garden. As they were getting ready to leave, they offered some shells they found to one of the island's dodos. They were skittish little beasties, hiding from people!

---------------------------------------
Turning in two shells for a dodo
Participated in AMT - 1 shell
Seeding
1. Droet the Bold
2. Rachael Blackthorne
3. Dris (BardGallant)
4. XanthVanBokkelen
5. Mairead Harker
6. Matt Simon (Goldglo)
2022-07-21 Duel Bot XanthVanBokkelen .def. Mairead Harker 5 3.5 13 - 1 shell


Three for an icon.
2022-07-29 Mairead Harker .def. Caleb Feren 5 3 9 - 3 shells

[Royal]

The Mirage Island has begun to fade away.. bits and pieces at a time, though much of the island still remains — but not for long. There is still time to use the Mirage Seashells collected throughout your summer journey within the Duel of Magic sport.

Mirage Seashells have begun to appear!
The sounds of gentle waves and echoes of distant memories can be heard from them.
During your first journey to Mirage Island you will find one nearby that calls out to you. Perhaps it's with words of a long lost friend, or your own voice that sparks a pleasant memory.

It has also been discovered that Mirage Seashells appear after the end of Duel of Magic matches. A winner of a match will find 3 seashells near them waiting to be collected, while the defeated will find 1.

Mirage Seashells also appear at the end of Tournaments, with the tournament winner finding 3 near them while other participants will find 1. Elemental Keeper Matches will also create Mirage Seashells — with the overall winner of the challenge being rewarded 3 while the defeated finds 1.

Turning in Mirage Seashells will reward you prizes.

15 Seashells — 5 Wins over Losses added to your record (1 purchase per character)
3 Seashells — Special Event Icon
2 Seashells — Mirage Dodo Hatching (RP Prize)

These little birds appear randomly on Mirage Island.. but always disappear whenever anyone gets close. It seems by giving a Mirage Dodo two Mirage Seashells you can earn their trust. With trust gained they will go anywhere with you!

(( The Summer's Journey event will be ending after August 31st regulation. Please be sure to turn your prize requests by Saturday, September the 3rd! ))

[BardGallant]

1 Shell for participating in the July 2022 Archmage Tournament.

1 Shell for being a defeated Elemental Keeper in the Challenge for the Tower of Water.

3 Shells for winning a duel during regulation hours in the Outback. FINAL: BardGallant def. Amaris, 5 - 1.5 in 7 rounds. - dom

1 Shell for Dris, Rhys, Gatito, and Sal embarking on a journey to the mysterious Mirage Island. ( Link to start of #twilight_isle scene. ) What Dris discovered there is a story yet to come.

--------------------------------------------------
I would like to exchange 2 shells for 1 dodo friend, and 3 shells for the special event icon, please and thank you.

[Delahada]

7/29: FINAL: Partly Cloudy def. Delahada, 5.5 - 4.5 in 10 rounds. - dom - 1 Shell

8/9: FINAL: Delahada def. Mairead Harker, 5 - 2.5 in 9 rounds. - dom = 3 Shells

8/12: FINAL: Partly Cloudy def. Delahada, 6 - 4.5 in 10 rounds. - dom = 1 Shell

8/30: One time visit to Mirage Island scene mentioned on #twilight_isle. = 1 Shell


Only want the event icon for 3 shells. Thank you.

[XanthVanBokkelen]

Xanth won the July 2022 ArchMage Tournament according to this post: viewtopic.php?t=35009 - 3 shells

2022-07-21 Duel Bot XanthVanBokkelen .def. Mairead Harker 5 3.5 13 - 3 shells
2022-07-21 Duel Bot XanthVanBokkelen .def. Rhys Germain 5 1 6 - 3 shells
2022-07-23 Duel Bot Anya de la Rose .def. XanthVanBokkelen 5 1.5 7 - 1 shell
2022-07-29 Duel Bot XanthVanBokkelen .def. Alasdair Galloway 5 2.5 12 - 3 shells
2022-08-16 Duel Bot XanthVanBokkelen .def. Morgan LaFey 5 4 9 - 3 shells

Total of 16 Shells to use towards 15 Seashells — 5 Wins over Losses added to your record

[Gren Blockman]

2022-07-31 DUEL Bot Reign .def. Gren Blockman 4 3 15 - 1 shell
2022-08-06 DUEL Bot Eregor .def. Gren Blockman 5 1 7 - 1 shell
2022-08-07 Duel Bot Gren Blockman .def. Mew 5 3 9 - 3 shells
2022-08-08 Duel Bot Partly Cloudy .def. Gren Blockman 5 3 10 - 1 shell
2022-08-08 Duel Bot Spell .def. Gren Blockman 5 2.5 8 - 1 shell
2022-08-10 Duel Bot Gren Blockman .def. Partly Cloudy 5 3 10 - 3 shells
2022-08-10 Duel Bot Gren Blockman .def. Droet the Bold 5 3 9 - 3 shells
2022-08-11 Duel Bot Gren Blockman .def. Mairead Harker 5 0.5 6 - 3 shells

Total of 16 Shells to use towards 15 Seashells — 5 Wins over Losses added to your record

[Mairead Harker]

"Rachael, would you like to check out that island? Maybe there are plants we could get cuttings from for the garden."
She headed for lagoon where a boat awaited. - 1 shell

2022-08-04 DUEL Bot Mairead Harker .def. Rachael Blackthorne 5 3 10 - 3 shells
2022-08-05 DUEL Bot Mairead Harker .def. Tasslehofl Momus 5.5 4.5 9 - 3 shells
2022-08-09 Duel Bot Morgan LaFey .def. Mairead Harker 5 3.5 8 - 1 shell
2022-08-09 Duel Bot Delahada .def. Mairead Harker 5 2.5 9 - 1 shell
2022-08-09 Duel Bot Lydia Everleigh .def. Mairead Harker 5 3 10 - 1 shell
2022-08-11 Duel Bot Gren Blockman .def. Mairead Harker 5 0.5 6 - 1 shell
2022-08-11 Duel Bot Partly Cloudy .def. Mairead Harker 5 1.5 7 - 1 shell
Nexus Guide
BOT
30 Aug — Today at 9:09 PM
Ring Angels 7: Everybody scores! (FMB / MB | 3 - 5, Rachael Blackthorne leads.)
FINAL: Rachael Blackthorne def. Mairead Harker, 5 - 3 in 7 rounds. - dom - 1 shell
31 Aug — Today at 9:11 PM
Ring Loki 8: Mairead Harker scores! (MB / AB | 5 - 2, Mairead Harker leads.)
FINAL: Mairead Harker def. Amaris, 5 - 2 in 8 rounds. - dom - 3 shells.

15 shells plus 1 for the 5 Wins over Losses added to my record