Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[zewu_jun]

Having his curious look called attention to makes La Xichen startle slightly, then lower his eyes with self-conscious apology. He smiles softly, embarrassed but still risking a few short, echoing glances despite what Xingchen says. He doesn't see any signs of transformation on what open skin is there, but he can't help the few awkward looks anyway.

The news does get him to raise his head, because that was something he might have heard about in passing, but it was older news and Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had certainly not been there. The last time those two had encountered Xue Yang, the encounter had been fatal and very tragic. Did he misunderstand something? Perhaps. It was possible. But it is also a great deal of difference to misunderstand.

"Ah, Xue Yang was a criminal, I believe? That does sound familiar."

Familiar and yet completely baffling. What is he missing exactly?

"Well, I am glad at least that you were not brought here during anything urgent. I would not want you to feel too pressured by being pulled away without warning. Have Wangji and Wei-gongzi been treating you kindly? It can be difficult to take everything in at once."

[zewu_jun]

[That is really one of the greater benefits of coming to Aefenglom. The food is always new and a bit exciting, especially for people who aren't used to having such luxuries so easily obtained. And even Lan Xichen, who had the wealth of the sect to use, never really ate many rare or rich dishes like other people. This is a treat. But on that same token, Sae deserves it. He smiles as she takes the stick of fruit covered with the hard sugar.]

Just enjoy it. You don't have to worry about any of that. This is a gift that I want you to have.

A!

[sparkstrikes]

[One could call it a stroll. It isn't leisurely by any means, and not one that Lightning can say she's enjoying, but a stroll nonetheless. She's in the middle of trying to recall where the temporary residences are, as a place to stay until the situation blows over when a sword has the audacity to pierce through the wall next to her an inch from her face, and the tip of her nose bumps it just as she tries to come to a full and sudden stop.]

The hell—!?

[It's spat as her reflexes immediately kick in and she draws her own sword from its sheath, lifting the barrel of its gun to eye level and waiting to see if someone – or something – comes out from the other side to explain to her what in the world just happened.]

Watch where you're shoving that thing.

[People are walking!!!]

[trulygifted]

Me, I don't need anything fancy ...

( Nico's grin widens. )

Just cash. It's what I dealt in before, and it's what I'm gonna deal in here.

( She knows her worth, after all, and it's much harder for people to scam her out of her work when she's simply asking for cold, hard cash. Fewer grey areas, too, which is always a plus. )

What's the Temple? That where you work?

[afoolshope]

Funny. [A small smile, not at all offended by the assumption. He shook his head though, cupping the water to splash his face with a rub for a few moments. It really felt nice and relaxing.] But I’m not sure. Last I actually remember was sleeping in Aegis lap. I know more happened after but I wasn’t exactly able to do much. Let alone sleepwalk.

[A cursory awareness while he remained a seal. Not exactly of things around him, but it was like his mind wandered and floated. Not entirely unpleasant if he had to guess, but even this memory was beginning to flee. Almost like a fading dream.]

Wouldn’t being a witch be better than a monster? What other things can fauns be?

[He nodded.]

A witch. So I guess you’re doing okay, all things considered?

[ex_pathway290]

"All right." At least it was a starting point. Although.. he wasn't particularly fond of either option. They both sounded equally as fantastical. "And where is this 'Coven' located?"

[devilyouknew]

[The ghoul watches her, frown deepening as he does. Then he exhales slowly and crosses his arms over his chest.

What is he doing? Half the people here are transformed in some way. Surely they know exactly what's in the food and what they're doing and he looks foolish for standing here and trying to get them to do anything else.

That's fine. He's not guiltless. As long as they know what it is and aren't being fooled by it what's he supposed to say?]

Do what you want, then. I'm sure you all have a system.

[But he won't be eating anything yet. He has to know where his food comes from.]

[thelittlequeen]

Something must have happened then, for I have seen many arrive in a similar fashion today. [She doesn't want to sound irritated, but this entire ordeal is frustrating. To be pulled from Westeros into this strange place without a word or explanation, it was aggravating and frightening, neither she wished to show to anyone.] I was alone when I came through the mirror.

[She nodded to the offer, following Daenerys as her eyes traveled over their surroundings. With someone else at her side and the promise of information, she felt better able to absorb where she was.]

How long have you been here, my lady?

[For what else was this woman but noble in some way?]

[thelittlequeen]

The wedding was not a grand affair, not when wars were being waged.

[As though that were the simple reason and not that they had to hurry with such things to establish Renly's claim and gain the advantage. There was less of a chance of the Lannisters trying to intercept him as her family's resources greatly outweighed theirs. It was all a matter of timing and Renly wanted to waste no time. This was perhaps the first time that pageantry was outweighed by practicality.

It was unfortunate that he didn't keep such things in mind, but it wasn't her place to criticize the dead. Such thoughts, along with her motivations, would remain secreted away.]

I believe justice can be found. [She had to believe that and her father fully intended to see it served.] It must be for the sake of the smallfolk who rely on us so much.

[thelittlequeen]

Queens are not above the accusation of adultery. It seems that no matter the precautions I take to ensure my chastity and reputation, unfounded rumors and tortured confessions hold weight.

[Osney Kettleback had been ridiculous in his attempts at seduction. Even if she sound him attractive, he was far too full of himself and blustering for her to ever consider him. A lover was too great a risk. Men could loosen their tongues through drink or bravado. Just as she preferred to trust her thoughts to herself, she would not trust a lover.

It was a sweet show of concern and compassion, what she expected from Sansa. There was something endearing about Sansa's sincere kindness. She might intrigue in her own ways, but it was entirely without political motivation. It was fascinating to Margaery and charming.]

The High Septon has at the very least released me from my cell. I cannot say what happened, but many of my accusers have recanted or denied the affair. Instead, Cersei has enclosed the net around herself and she has been arrested as well.

I cannot trust a trial by combat. I will rely on the judges to see what is true and what is not.

[shinkunochou]

[Her brow furrows and she thins her mouth in a firm line as she wiggles one of the strawberries off the stick and holds it out to him. Her jaw is set rather stubbornly.] Then, I’ll at least share one.

[Take! The! Strawberry!!]

[voktys]

⟪ 'cash' brings no understanding to those red eyes, but she swallows the question for a moment, if only to answer nico's own: ⟫

I am a priestess. As such, I belong with the Red Temples. ⟪ her head tilts lightly as she thinks. ⟫ I suppose if I had to name a mortal man I work for, it would be His Grace, the King.

⟪ that thought seems to strike her as oddly amusing, but unfortunately, there's still a question up for the asking: ⟫

What... is it that you mean by 'cash'? My thoughts were with gold, or coin... ⟪ ... or pleasure, all told. is there something wrong with the translating magic? ⟫

[hoboagogo]

[He won't comment on sleeping in Aigis's lap, but his first thought is that it sounds like hell on your neck. She's made of metal. How is that comfortable at all? Then again, Minato seemed to have the ability to sleep nearly anywhere, so he'll just shrug again.]

I dunno, seems easier to me this way. I don't gotta go to witch-classes or whatever and learn how to do magic. Don't gotta worry about exploding, either.

[Going feral, sure. But that fear has long since passed.]

Most the ones I know are deer of some kind. But I've seen sheep and moose around, too. A couple look like centaurs or something, so I'm just glad I didn't grow more legs.

[A witch. Not a vampire. That's interesting, but really... probably easier. He doesn't have to go through the feeling of having to hurt people just to survive anymore.]

Yeah. It's been nine or ten months for me here. [Longer away than he ever spent in SEES, really. And it probably shows in just how much more relaxed he is, compared to being constantly cagey and surly back home. He's even to the point of coming to terms with his next admission:]

Really... it's been better here than it ever was back home. And not having a Persona definitely helps.

[trulygifted]

Hey, wait—!

( But the guy's already gesturing to the vendor and asking if they can properly inspect the sword. Nico can't help but laugh: it's nice that the guy believes in her? She guesses?? Because in truth she's not at all used to huge, scary-looking dudes thinking she's all that capable right from the off. Usually there's a period where she has to prove herself, and that always involves her intellect.

... And maybe a few well-placed punches, but that's just life, isn't it? )

I already said I won't be able to lift it!

( She chuckles, eyeing the sword as it's brought over. The vendor doesn't seem to know who to hand it to so Nico quickly gestures towards her new companion, her own palms raised in an indication of innocence before she sets her hands on her hips. )

You're gonna have to help me here, otherwise I'll end up droppin' it right on somebody.

[afoolshope]

[Rude, she was surprisingly comfortable. Also, you tend to not notice your own comfort when you’re struggle is real on keeping awake just long enough to see your friends.]

Hm. You never were one for school, studying isn’t so bad. But I guess the fear of exploding is a downside. [Not that Minato sounded all that concerned. He wondered about all those other fauns though. So it wasn’t limited to purely one animal, huh? Convenient, he supposed.

He looked at Shinjiro and his smile widened a touch.]

You look like you’re enjoying yourself, so I believe it. I’m glad.

[He supposed for Shinjiro it was better. The lack of the personas was a but startling for Minato. But he would get used to it in time, just like he did with most things.]

[freeing]

[ It was never her God to worship. It was Drogo's. The most she did was honor his beliefs, the ones that saw no harm to innocents at the very least... The remembrance was long ago, the pyre lost in her haze of the night – when dragons were brought to the world once more.

She was lost for a moment, enough for Melisandre's hand to take her clawed embrace. She tenses up – it's clear she still has not grown use to such casual and tender moments. Her heart nearly found itself to the floor when the word Dothraki eloquently spills past her lips. ]

How – [ How? That wasn't what she wanted to know. She knew how – the mirrors, but – ] Who are you, really?

[ Her hand tugs, not defensive as much as she is in a state of shock. Her eyes plead and she wants to reach back out to the woman despite her own closed off move seconds before. Before her was a tether, something only Jorah Mormont knew of in this world. A tether back home. ]

Are you from Essos?

[waswrongtoo]

Summer immediately brightens upon hearing that rather simple solution. "Oh, I can feed from animals? In that case, you're absolutely right. There won't be a problem at all. It'll be just like a regular hunt... except I suppose someone else will use the meat instead of myself."

She chuckles a bit as a thought occurs to her. "Though, I say a regular hunt, but I'd say I've hunted creatures like the Cwyld much more often than ordinary animals. Well, I suppose that's just a hazard of the job!"

And it occurs to her that she has been a little rude to her benefactor. Extending her hand, she gives her a smile. "Thanks for your help. My name is Summer Rose. I'm a huntress."

1.

[trulygifted]

( Nico backs up a step, her eyebrows shooting up towards her hairline in response to the man's abrasive rudeness. Shit, she's met her fair share of assholes in her time, but this guy? Boy, she already know he's going to be something else. Her eyes narrow just a little as he sets her hands on her hips. )

Hey, you're the one who bumped into—

( But no, he's still talking, something about ... waking a dragon? Nico just stares at him for a moment before bursting out laughing, caught somewhere between incredulous, dumbfounded, and actually kind of pissed off. )

Oh, I'm gonna "wake the dragon", am I? ( She scoffs, looking him up and down. ) C'mon now, Scarecrow, you look like you'd weigh eighty pounds after I dunked you in that fountain.

( She jerks her thumb towards a nearby water feature as a grin settles on her lips. )

Now how about you apologise for walkin' into me?

[gale_arc]

[ Figures Kor wouldn't exactly have the most in-depth explanation for this. Still, some information is still better than none, and what little Kor does have to tell him is still helpful to know.

Helpful...but far from reassuring. It's one thing to know that arrivals to this place can be transformed. Knowing that Hisui himself might be one of them is downright frightening. ]

So we're both gonna end up turning into some sort of freakish thing like them? [ He'd make some remark about how for Kor that might actually be an improvement, but he's really not in the mood right now. ] What're we sticking around for, then? We gotta get out of here!

[ Sure, he might be fine for now...but who knows whether or not he'll luck out if he stays here for too long? And if he doesn't, how long he'll last? What if Kohaku shows up at some point and finds some hideous beast in place of her brother? On top of all that, he really can't fathom why all these monsters walking around are just...acting so casual about it. Kor acting so calm about the whole ordeal as well isn't doing him any favors, either.

Also...were his canine teeth always that pointy? Nah, it must be some trick of the light. Surely. ]

[hallucinogem]

"I came in through a mirror. Again," she said, her voice coming out with effort at all in the first place. She couldn't even bring herself to sound bitter about it; fighting back the instincts and not freezing up was hard enough. "Get off me," she added, her feet wriggling underneath the pin.

She probably could've kicked Ruby off, but that prey brain was really difficult to fight back against. And she hadn't been able to use her Semblance since she got here (and came back? why'd she get brought back?) that she couldn't even pretend she was about to.

"Before I throw you against something that actually breaks when you go through it." Didn't mean she couldn't threaten, though.

[zewu_jun]

Ah- [But it was his gift to her! Xichen hesitates a little, because he's trying to make sure Sae gets everything she needs. And she looks like she needs to eat as much as she can manage for now. Still, if she's that determined, he doesn't want to upset her either.]

Well... If you are certain. I would like you to enjoy them, though.

[He does take the single strawberry, bowing to her in thanks.]

[poisontippedcure]

[She’s not going to argue that the shopkeeper didn’t have it coming—he absolutely did. Still, that doesn’t make her any less angry, especially with how nonchalant Amal seems to be about this.]

An apology would be a good start.

[Rose sighs. She’s so difficult herself, she’s not used to dealing with difficult people.]

And try not to involve any innocents in your prank next time.

[voktys]

Yes.

⟪ her smile is faint, yet unwavering, even as she lets go so that it may be up to the younger woman to touch, should she wish to do so, or withdraw further if it offers more comfort. she strikes her as torn, there's a plea in her eyes and then shock, and she wonders at once how little the girl beneath must have had in this life, to be so rattled by the hint of a kinship.

at any rate, the questions seem to inspire some degree of open honesty in her – not that she habitually conceals these things. ⟫

Born a slave and raised beyond by R'hllor, He who reigns over Light and Shadow. ⟪ this is, to her, a personal explanation of 'who' she is – what more can one expect of god's own instrument? now, she has mentioned her priesthood before, and she cannot name the place she was born. there are red temples aplenty in essos, the most famous one in volantis, so she seeks to give some shape of a precise answer here: ⟫ The Red Temple in Asshai is the one I hail from.

⟪ and then: ⟫ What of you?

⟪ she does not look dothraki by birth, daenerys, and if anything, the name is valyrian by nature. there's a nagging thought at the back of her mind, but she silences it – too ostentatious. ⟫

[poisontippedcure]

Good, I’m glad you understand.

[She smiles and nods. Aymeric has never been as resistant to change his manner of dress as he has to change how much he works, but it feels like a small step. It’s always difficult to get him to wear something that isn’t his armor, which is probably for the best given how many enemies he has in Ishgard.]

[Once they’re in the shop, she immediately gets to work, grabbing shirts off the shelf. She knows Aymeric’s style well enough to immediately gravitate to the blues and the golds, and soon hands him a small collection of shirts that fit his color palette.]

[The fact that most of them are short sleeved and show off the forearm, that’s just a coincidence.]

Here, try these.

[lucubrates]

[ Time away from Hyrule must have done something for Zelda, for she walks with her back straight and her head held high as they travel through the brush. Urbosa shows interest in the clearing and Zelda notes it is a detour, but not one that would lead them deeper into the wood. Her cabin is a short walk away still, hidden near a cliff. ]

This particular forest, [ she begins with a strong tone of familiarity, of understanding. ] It has quite a way with the beasts inside it. One must also take care not to spend wholly too much time within it... The infection spreads to us, as well.

[ She does work, so she has her time way from the Cwyld when it gets to her, paranoia seeping into her mind in the form of overthinking. ] I see. I shall have to research this, then. [ There's a quirk to her voice, a little like excitement— a puzzle to be solved was a pastime of her's she greatly enjoyed. ]

I live 'round here. [ She offers softly, dipping into the clearing. The other side of the cliff is there, the rush of water and the bank of the river she trained in. Fish swim in it's waters, sunshine bounding back and reflecting white against the surface as they flit away quickly. ] It is only a short walk. I had found it abandoned, and the spot...

[ She turns, walking backwards for a moment. Urbosa can see it, the tentative smile on her lips. ] Was perfect for what I was looking for at the time. Though if the forest does not suit you, Parliament would likely be happy to allow you to pick anything you wish from the residential area.

[ The roof of her cabin comes into view, dark wood and and a small balcony with a rocking chair out front. A chimney sits unused for the moment. Quaint, homely, secretive. ]