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

[detonatability]

He— what?

[ Whether or not Deidara was actually going to follow Itachi or not, the point becomes moot with that little anecdote. Deidara pauses for a moment, staring into the empty spot Itachi had just been standing for a beat longer. Sasuke survived?

With a stop-start, Deidara lurches after the other man, running a few beats to catch up with him. The darkness of the house casts Itachi into periodic shadow, he slips through them like he belongs in them. Itachi, even here where Deidara assumes that he's dead just like him, is still irritatingly graceful. ]

How the hell did he survive? That little bastard...

[ He mutters this mostly to himself, completely heedless to the idea that Itachi would feel anything but disregard toward his brother. He believes the same story that everyone else has been told, after all. ]

Well did he find you? That's all he would talk about, nn!

AN UNUSUAL ARRIVAL

[trulygifted]

( Nico's still getting her bearings in the city. There's a lot to learn about the place that snatched her up from her van and spit her here, but something that doesn't take much understanding? Is that when there's a scared looking woman locked in a store's display window, you do what you've gotta do to get her out. Startled by her sudden appearance, Nico takes a moment to glance around for backup as she jogs over to the other side of the glass.

Okay. No backup. It's not a big deal, she's sorted out worse situations before. )

Hey! Hey, c'mon now, I'm gonna help you get outta there.

( Her tone is soothing and her expression relaxed, if only because her first priority is getting the poor woman looking a little less like she's on the verge of a breakdown. )

How'd you end up in there?

( There's a beat as she moves to rattle the shop's doorhandle. No suck luck, unfortunately, but then that'd be too easy. )

Wait, you didn't fall through a mirror, did you? 'Cause that's happenin' all over the place—happened to me, even.

[voktys]

Melisandre.

⟪ habit near makes her use the title the queen selyse had granted her some time ago, but the trappings of power only hold up when one isn't trapped with a few dozen people under the same dire circumstances. by herself, she has no desire for titles –– even if the whispers at the wall say something different of her.

the girl's name, though, the girl's name gives her pause. by itself, it is not so remarkable, but there are other things – the fine way of speech, the way alayne holds herself – which offer her idea some foundation. ah, what's to be lost in guessing? with daenerys targaryen, she had been more careful, but it's a more risky thing to guess at a royal claimant than it is to guess at a bastard girl. ⟫

In mine own world, there is a region called the Vale where your surname would not be so rare.

[lapapesse]

As I understand it, yes. A few months, at least.

[Though it seemed like Akechi had been here longer than Akira, and that... brought its own source of problems, having to go to him for information.]

Um. Akira Kurusu, and... Goro Akechi, are the people I've met here that I know from home. [Just a couple of Phantom Thieves, nbd.]

Though, I guess if nothing else, you would learn about yourself in a place like this. Like how you deal with homesickness and culture shock... [More psychology-based observations, but Makoto is curious, if nothing else.] I wonder how I'll take to being a Witch. It's... a strange concept to even think about, though I suppose less strange than the transformation side of things.

[weiward]

Ah-

[wei wuxian's smile drops at the sharpness of nie huaisang's reaction. right. he's gotten used to more than just monsters and witches in this place, but also the fact that the dead can make an appearance. not the way that notes from his flute can return them either, but whole and truly alive.]

Yes. [his voice is more sober now.] Chifeng-zun is here. You probably want to see him right away, but before you do, I should warn you that he has gone through some changes.

[like a tail...he thinks. nei mingjue seems to be made out of a lot of parts these days.]

[plasticasshole]

[He seems to perk up at the names.]

Oh, I do know them! Akechi is a friend of mine and Akira is my Bonded.

[Very recently Bonded, but Bonded nonetheless.]

I’ll admit to not feeling too homesick... my kind weren’t treated fairly where I’m from, whereas here we’re just like anybody else. But yes, I wonder how you’ll fare too. If you’re anything like your friends, you’re capable enough to make for a good Witch.

[detonatability]

[ He doesn't actually understand most of what Stiles is talking about. A number of what he cites are terms he isn't familiar with, even though they are things his world shares. Slowly, Deidara tilts his head. He can't actually tell if this guy is trying to understand, or if he's trying to meet common ground, or just running with the concept. Either way, he hasn't met very many people that have even attempted to understand his art. Usually calling his sculptures things, or something so crass as just a bomb, or worse — disregard it completely. It's enough to diffuse some of his tension, despite the shit circumstances. Deidara turns his eyes down to his wings, flicking the feathers out. ]

You can never understand how beautiful something is until you witness it's destruction, mm.

[ In that lens, he can almost abstractly appreciate the fact that his arms have been turned into wings — though not enough that he can't wait for the spell to disappear. Then, kind of abruptly, he looks back at Stiles, as though just thinking of something. ]

You aren't dead?

[detonatability]

[ Knives. Perfect — this can work in their favor, if they're going to work together. Deidara backs up, puts himself behind the other guy. Although he can fight hand-to-hand, Deidara is more suited to ranged battle if he can help it.

Assuming this guy can actually fight at all, because that first little stunt didn't put a lot of faith into him. ]

If you can't actually fight, nn, I'm going to let it get you first.

[ He's grinning though, and puts a little more distance between them as the monster lunges. ]

[jeanboy]

[ Oh, he heard you mutter 'moron', Eren. Jean lets out a displeased huff. This would usually be where he shoots back his retort, but Eren then calls his attention to a person in the crowd, and he turns his gaze to them in keen interest. Could it be one of their group?

No. That's clearly not right. There's both disappointment and confusion in his tone when he finally speaks. Jean crosses his arms. ]

What am I looking at ...? [ Who is that? To think this moron called him a moron! ]

Is that someone you know -- [ Eren? Making friends within the few days he's been here? No, that sounds fake. ] Or do you finally need glasses from hitting your head too much?

[ As fun as it is to be mean to Eren, Jean did pick up on his apparent visual impairment since coming here, how he's been squinting more and sometimes need a little tug to walk in the right way. It's actually a little concerning. ]

[detonatability]

[ There are a few things there that catch his attention, not the least of which is what a human can create. It's such an unusual turn of phrase, even for the people Deidara has associates with over his life, that it makes him look at Enkidu with renewed, shrewd interest.

He is, successfully, somewhat diverted by that question though. The stranger starts to lead, and Deidara follows along without resistance. ]

My art is in the beauty of a single moment. I create sculptures out of clay and watch them transcend into masterpieces as they explode.

[shatteredbravery]

[Alphinaud had been resisting the urge to give Tataru a pat on the head himself, and is caught somewhat off-guard when she embraces him. He responds with a solid pat on her back and a genuine smile.]

[It’s good to be among friends again.]

That you do. Although, I must say, I am curious: How have you been amusing yourself here?

[He remembers their days in Ishgard passes in the Forgotten Knight, and leaving Tataru in Kugane. Given her track record, he doubts anything could surprise him.]

[shatteredbravery]

It comes with the trade, I’m afraid.

[He would be an incredibly poor diplomat if he couldn’t remember faces or names, especially for those allied with the Scions.]

[He shoots her a curious glare. ‘His friends?’]

Alphinaud Leveilleur.

[shatteredbravery]

[It’s true, Alphinaud doesn’t recognize her. But when Moni steps up next to him, he can’t help but feel that he’s beside a friend. He usually has a knack for remembering names and faces, and he doubts he’s met her before. Still, the feeling persists.]

[He picks up a bottle of the potion, examining it more closely. Moni’s words confirm his fears.]

I imagine, then, that it would be unfortunate should someone take it and not know of the side effects. I trust you’ve been transparent with your clients?

[He shoots the shopkeeper a look. Alphinaud may not know the people of this world, but the idea of someone getting hurt doesn’t sit well with him regardless.]

[boarddyd]

Warmth blossoms on his back, so much closer than any touch would usually be - it's only through the threadbare fabric of his shirt. Clinging to his back with sweat, the garment is a barrier only in name; Dimitri feels as if Byleth is truly touching him.

And he sinks into it, spine curling into Byleth's palm.

"You have always listened to me, Professor - I do not see what more you could have done. Every time I sought you out, and in some moments where I didn't even know I needed you until you arrived...

You've been there.

For that, I do thank you.

Right now, I can hardly compose my thoughts, but I know one thing-

I will not allow Edelgard to start her war."

[crowsfeat]

No need. Put the next one on me. I owe you that much.

[ She didn't... know from what point in time this man had come. He didn't seem particularly jovial... something that tugged at her worries. She really hoped this wasn't the last he'd been. He didn't deserve that. ]

I don't really think I'll be drinking... [ Because that required taking off her mask. Which, yeah. Not in public. Old habits died hard. ]

wilde

[trost]

[ As much as he wants to be the selfish guy, there's no way Jean can ignore the cries of a lost and confused girl going through some changes she doesn't understand. This is how he ended up in this situation in the first place, sitting alongside Lottie as she holds herself and shivers. He's not the most affectionate person - more awkward in the way he regards others than anything - so he actually has no idea what to do in this situation. If she were a guy, he could give her a pat on the back as reassurance, tell her to keep her head up. He's just a lot more awkward dealing with a woman he had just met. ]

I can't say for sure, but ... it probably is. [ Always this bad, he means. The Coven wouldn't be stressing the value of letting off some steam if the changes were easy. While he probably should have tried to frame his answer in a more reassuring way, it's usually his first instinct to be blunt. ]

I could put more wood in the fireplace. Do you need anything else? [ A blanket, some coffee ... All he can do right now is keep her comfortable. ]

[crowsfeat]

The extended hand was regarded but... ignored. Her own remained beneath her cloak, close to her hips. Old habits...

"A huntress, are you? And may I ask what your prey is?"

She didn't have the smell of Blood or Beasts about her, but it was never a question that was wasted, in her experience. Particularly given what Hunters meant to her.

[oomfies]

[ For a split second she's positive this woman is going to leave her, feels her heart seize in her chest until she jogs over. Lottie lets out a crazed laugh, full of relief, before realizing how terrible this situation really is. She knows without her even voicing it that she was right - she really is trapped. A fresh wave of tears spill down her cheeks, ]

I-I was looking at one before..

[ While reluctant to tear her eyes away from Nico's (because what if she looks away and then she's gone without a trace, disappears, leaving her stuck here until the cops are called), Lottie figures she'll only really know for sure if she looks back. So, she does - sends a quick, panicked, glance over her shoulder to the barely there silhouettes of mannequins and clothing. And while she can't catch the reflection of any mirror in the store.. ]

I definitely was.

[ Lottie sounds like she's trying hard to recall something anything, to be a little less useless.]

But I.. I'm just confused. What's going on?? What do you mean falling through mirrors?

[clickclickbloom]

Ruby blinks. Absolutely confused by that comment.

"Again? You've been here before?" She manages to shake off the dumbfounded feeling, but she's a little slow to break the pin. Emerald wasn't exactly her friend back home. She didn't have any reason to believe that letting her go wouldn't end up meaning bad news for her or someone else.

So instead of listening to her, Ruby moved to roll her onto her back and pulled her hands behind her. She had no problem taking advantage of Emerald not playing with her mind or fighting back at the moment.

"Or you could nicely tell me what's been going on here AND THEN I'll let you go."

this took so long ...........

[trost]

[ 'Ryuunosuke' is a first name that's longer than what he's used to and it sounds like something you would find in the land of Hizuru (not that he knows that much about it, really). It's easy to assume Ryuu is from something that's the equivalent. ]

We're in the same boat on that. I know what to do in the woods, at least. [ He grew up in the city, but the Survey Corps have had to camp out in the woods countless times, and he's also gone through survival training in his rookie days. Though, when it comes to surviving in the wilderness, Sasha was far, far better than he will ever be. ]

But you know what we're actually doing to blow off that steam, right? [ Unfortunately, just roaming around in the woods isn't going to do much for the moon's effects. Rather, the Coven had told him the best way to do that is to ... kill monsters. ] This is a hunt.

[weiward]

Jin Ling, I'm telling you that I wasn't because I haven't lived through that yet.

[he doesn't blame him for being upset. he's going through a lot of different things all at once. but he does hope that he will listen to him.]

The last time I remember seeing your father, he and Shijie - he and your mother weren't even married yet.

[oomfies]

[ Damn.. That was savage as hell. Yet, despite how hearing his words spreads nothing but dread through her, she knows he's probably right. Knew that already even having asked him the question. Lottie can barely move around during the day anymore, much less stay awake for it. Can't even enter places without permission or try and stay in a store past their hours. Who knew being a vampire would be way less sexy than it looked? This blows. ]

More wood's fine. [ Although at this point she can't really feel heat (Lottie's learned that she's just as cold as she is lethargic, all the time, and it sucks), making the blanket she holds so tight fairly useless. But she wants to pretend a little longer that brighter flames might solve her problem, ] And coffee, please.

[ She scratches at her cheek, barely making eye contact with him. ]

..Do you have anything I can snack on? Like without garlic?

[evanescent]

You're both okay, in my time, anyway. [She's quick to reassure Tifa of this.] I'm further along than everyone else here.

[Which came with a bountiful set of problems.] I can't explain how time works here, since I'm not sure I understand it myself. My only guess is that everyone is getting pulled from different points without the people around them knowing about it. That's why I can exist here, and Cloud can still be with you in your time without anything strange going on. But I can't say I know how it works... or what will happen when everyone's put back where they're supposed to be.

[trost]

I don't exactly come from a place where everything's cushy and nice.

[ Or at least, he comes from a place where only the most privileged get to live in that kind of safety. He could have been one of those people, but he ... gave it up, like a damned fool. So yes, when he goes home, he's going to keep struggling and he can definitely see more failures (of which he hopes are non-fatal) in his future. Thanks for the reminder, Kirei. ]

So did you really come over here just to give me shit? Why don't you go away? [ Jean could move but why should he have to move for Kirei's sake when he actually liked his spot? ]

[kingofunification]

[Claude smiles, a small thing that crinkles the corners of his eyes and allows the tension to ease from his shoulders. Of course Byleth would take his hesitation in stride. Allowing him comfort without questioning his past, his secrets, his heritage.

He knew he had nothing to fear by letting Byleth in, but somehow it was always a pleasant surprise when he was reminded how dear Byleth could be to him.]

Perhaps after we eat we can try that fishing game again. I think I know a trick or two to make it work. [A chuckle, before he pats Byleth's shoulder, letting his hand linger for a moment.]

...but in all seriousness. I can't thank you enough for understanding, my friend. It means a lot to me. [He gives the man a squeeze before reluctantly releasing his shoulder.] We can figure out how to make a bond work for us.