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

[holybeasts]

[At the mention of parents Maria can't help but be conflicted. It hadn't seemed like a sore topic to him but she had her doubts. As it is though she can only tell as much as she knows, yes?]

I do know your father. That was the dire circumstance, you see. Part of it anyway.

[She doesn't mean to beat about the bush but there did need to be a bit of set up. Should she even be telling him? He's so far in the past... it seems unreasonable to bring on possible discomfort he could do nothing about. Just staying quiet wouldn't really change things though.]

I was taken in by Richter Belmont and his wife Annette when I was a child. My own parents... there was a raid on our village, you see. That was how Annette and I met -- she comforted me while we were held captive after.

[Honestly the captivity hadn't been so bad remembering it now. That was likely because of Annette though. Maria's spirit had plucked up hearing stories of Annette's fiance Richter and Maria had been determined to protect the older woman, finding a purpose in it that lent her strength.

She sighs out a little, brow furrowed.]

Richter disappeared and I've spent the last year looking for him. When I finally found him it was within your father's castle. I didn't know what was wrong exactly at first. He was obviously under some form of enchantment or curse because he called himself the lord of the castle. I wasn't certain how to release him and I feared if I fought him I might not be strong enough to release him from whatever bound him.

[That much said the name Trevor brings about a displeased grumble from the blonde. It's strikingly different from the usual good mood she always seems to be in so far. Or even from her deeper, more thoughtful moments. Hell she looks outright put out.]

That man is a pain to deal with.

[Blunt and harsh.]

[braidmage]

[ Reynir recognizes that uncomfortable body language, and he knows even before Onni opens his mouth that he's going to turn down the offer. It's just his way. He'd spent so long being the only one looking after his sister and his cousin that now he turns down help from others before he even considers accepting it.

He has no intention of letting Onni get away with it so easily. ]

Are you sure?

[ The look on Reynir's face is resolute, full of concern and stubbornness in equal measure. ]

I hear things, you know. About what it's like for people who come here and - and go through changes, like you're doing. It's not just wings. You said it was an instinct, that brought you out here. What if - instincts show up and you find yourself wanting to do other stuff. Stuff you'd normally never even consider? Wouldn't it be better if - if you had somebody to talk to about this stuff. Someone to watch your back?

[stopfen]

[That gets her interest to intensify. It was impossible to tell with the compound eye, but the pupil in the other was now encompassing her whole eye as she peered up.

You might want to stay up there Mogget.]

That's good. You weren't turn into a naked person if I hold you.

[And she was jumping the gun the just a bit. Given the cat was on the stall and she was on the ground below, she didn't even have wings. But she does tilt her head to follow any movements he makes. He has gained an admirer.]

[barbeardian]

Ain't nothin wrong with my hearing, puppy! Jus' cause I ain't heard of your clan doesn't mean I can't hear. I could hear you splashing around and I didn't even need to look up.

[ Yes, he does look proud of that statement. ]

Well, you're in a pool. [ Genius. ] And, in this city place, wherever this is.

[Truly a masterful assessment there.]

Where were you before? Like, what were you in?

[barbeardian]

[ Having put the fancy hat on his new friend and the fancy speaking on for himself, Grog has decided they make a pretty impressive pair. ]

The sun hurts your face?

[ That's suspicious. Hm... wait a minute. ]

Are you, like, some kind of monster?

[ He gives Wen Ning a hard look. Then grins. ]

Cause I heard that when people come here they become super terrifying monsters and transform during the full moon!

[barbeardian]

[ Grog has never seen a half-Draconian before and logic might tell a different person that this is not how such a pairing would end up, but this is a new place, so you just never know. Anyway, this seems like a nice guy! He might be a bit quiet, but he probably just needs a hand in getting comfortable with the whole battle game thing.

When Ryuu stands and makes his confession, Grog gives him a hearty pat on the back. ]

Oh, don't worry about that! You've got Grog Strongjaw here, and if I knows anything, it's how to fight. I can show you how to beat up anybody!

[ Should he really sound so proud about that? No, but here he is. ]

[barbeardian]

Die? [ Say what now? ] From a bunch of sparkly paint? That can't hurt me! Paint ain't even sharp.

[ Who's the smart one now, eh? Clearly it is Grog. He's frankly astounded Percy doesn't know that gold isn't dangerous. One day he totally has to teach him things. ]

That would be too much cloth. You gonna walk around wearin' all that all day?

[ You know, clothes? No way. ]

[stopfen]

[Excuse her, she just slowly turns her head. Still walking but just looking at him.]

...Black pointy hats? [She doesn't get the reference. Witches weren't really a thing where she was from. At least not the variation that existed here or in most other worlds. But then after another moment she snorts.] These people her dress up too much to just wear a black hat.

[Sure it was Victorian-esque fashion(not that she knew that) but the clothes had a lot more going on that they'd normally would. Small enchantments and spells that made things change colour. But then they start to approach something not at all colourful. With the only colour being the nice green grass, with the occasional scorch mark, leading up to the Coven's grey bricks.

Though, Mikasa stops at the grass. Gesturing with her arms to keep going. Without her.]

[sunspark]

[ Jude is a pretty conscientious, considerate person, so Kor's sudden yelp has him letting out a strangled, startled sound of his own and snatching his hand away. ]

Oh-- sorry!

[ He takes a step back, holding up his hands awkwardly. ]

I'm not used to having these yet... are you okay?

[ He might not have his healing artes anymore, but it's not that easy for him to fall out of the 'doctor' mindset. ]

[shinkunochou]

It sounds nice... She sounds a little like my sister. [Sae giggles and her expression is light, smile a bit easier]

She was so smart. She taught me how to read and write more than anyone else and never gave up on me. She was always thinking of me and caring about everyone. She would’ve made a really good leader for our village... But I know that’s not what she wanted.

[Sae sighs a little, as if disappointed in that, but then smiles] But I’m sure she can do whatever she sets her mind to! I hope— Maybe...She’ll come here... You’d really like her too.

[sunspark]

[ The sight of Yata teetering on the branch like that is a little concerning, but his complete lack of concern just piques Jude's curiosity. Does that come with being part bird, or is he normally like that?

Though apparently being a bird doesn't give him any better sense of existing in the wild. ]

Really? I don't think it's too bad.

[ Jude may have spent the past few years living in various cities, but 13 years of living in the boonies is hard to shake. ]

I can show you the way, if you want.

[wylderrant]

Well, it tends to infect animals and other living creatures and make them very hostile to us. So a lot of what we do is make sure such infected creatures don't get too close. Not to mention burning back the infection when we can...

[ Look, she's not an expert in the Cwyld, she just works here. ]

So being a doctor doesn't come into it.

[sunspark]

[ Well, at least now Jude knows that suddenly showing up somewhere he's never been before isn't unprecedented, even if showing up in someone's bathroom is. ]

No, nothing like that. It really was just one and then then other. I wasn't even asleep.

[ Though... there is one thing Sougo's said that really does need addressing. ]

So this isn't Rieze Maxia or Elympios?

[ Concern is finally starting to enter his voice, though not as much as might normally be merited for this sort of thing. ]

[prophexy]

I carry few enough possessions upon my person; 'tis difficult to imagine...

[but he's already checking his pockets and his coin purse, just in case, giving everything he is carrying a good once-over]

...All seems quite in order.

[But what an odd thing to say.]

Well can I imagine that others have misplaced their belongings in such a crowd, yet ne'er have I witnessed such a proactive service even for their collection, let alone their return. Art thou in the employ of the city?

[prophexy]

I cannot well imagine that such was thine intended destination, nay.

[He steps forward, ever gentlemanly, and leans down, offering an open hand to help her up. It seems odd that she doesn't know how she got here, but then again, perhaps not:]

If 'twas not a spell of thine own making which missed its mark, perhaps thou wert caught in the effects of one cast by another? Magic upon this star can be quite unpredictable, I should not be astonished if the currents of a wayward spell had swept up a passerby.

[stopfen]

[Mikasa had some money. Enough that she could have gotten something from here. But they didn't have anything substantial enough for a rapidly growing fae. And she didn't want to go into the building. Her antenna flattening back, into her hair at the smell of the coffee.

But then he comments, and she sighs. Looking at him intently.]

That's how it normally is here... I've heard some people have stayed here a year, and some of disappeared after less than a week. [They had nothing on how that worked.]

[omnicrafter]

"I know."

She smiles sadly, but nods to him after a moment in acknowledgment. "I'm afraid that's how this place works for me. You don't remember me, even if I remember you."

It is a most peculiar phenomenon, but one she could do without even if she enjoys talking to her counterparts. They likely feel the same way, though, and it's not any of their faults this has happened to them.

"Ah, I'm Irhya. I apologize if that seems a bit sudden to throw at you like that. It's always made things terribly awkward in the past..."

[prophexy]

And as the distribution of such potions is largely the purview of the Coven, I imagine the local authorities must take quite a dim view of such misrepresentation, particularly as it doth relate to matters of public health. To forsake Bonding is hazardous for more than oneself alone.

[Urianger smiles back at Alphinaud.]

Thou art looking well. I had not heard news of thine arrival; hast thou been long in the city?

[stopfen]

I've never been cheered on for something good before... [She'd gotten glory. Too much, that horrible heroes' glory that seemed so grand and she'd once been proud of her strength and ability to protect. Then it just became sad.]

Oh...I'd ask why but a lot of places have more words than they needed. [She might have been more taciturn in her youth, but she still wasn't the most talkative.] I liked the other sport though.

[cryptsleeper]

[--Belmont?

It's good to know the line doesn't end with Trevor. There are questions though, ones he doesn't want to probe at. His own fate. If he, Trevor, and Sypha remain on pleasant terms even if romance does not work in the long run. But Maria probably doesn't have the answers to that, and he would be unwise to ask. That path only has haertbreak.

But the castle. Someone else being lured to it, then manipulated and--

--Alucard's face is naturally pale, and it is dark, so no changes can be made to it. He only nods to show that he's heard.]

Belmonts being a pain seems to be genetic then.

[He never heard of Leon's relationship with the man his father was before he was Dracula. It'd check out at any rate.

They were looking for food, weren't they?]

I can see how the circumstances would allow precious little time for explanation then. I think I will trust myself to explain in due course, if that is indeed what happens in the future.

[trulygifted]

( Nico offers a low whistle. )

A priestess, huh? Well, I never heard of a cult—uh, religion, that ain't flush with money.

( Which certainly isn't intended as an insult, just a statement of fact. Granted, her experience is largely limited to the Order of the Sword, but they had all the bells and whistles so she's going to assume the Red Temple does too. Funny how it sounds equally as foreboding, just in a slightly different way.

Still, she doesn't let herself get too hung up on that. There are more pressing matters at hand, like the fact that the woman doesn't seem to have heard the word "cash" before. )

... You really ain't having me on, are you?

( Nico chuckles. )

You got a real old-timey vibe, you know that? Cash, coin, gold, all that good stuff—it's all the same.

( She rubs her thumb against her index and middle finger, that universal (but possibly unknown to Melisandre) gesture of dolla dolla bills. )

Money.

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

[ That does sound really nice. Wen Ning can't help but want something like that. He thought maybe he could find a close relationship like that again, when he found A-Yuan all grown up. But now he's here, separated from A-Yuan even farther than he was before. ]

I'm really glad you have a strong connection like that. That's important.

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

[ Wen Ning can't help but think back to last night, sitting in Wei-gongzi's cottage, trying futilely to set a book on fire with his mind. ]

Super terrifying monsters?

[ He isn't sure about that. Isn't he already a pretty terrifying presence? ]

I don't know... What kind of monsters can't be in sunlight?

[lookslikeacinnamonroll]

Oh-- Okay...

[ More staring at the book. Deeeeeep, deep staring at the book. If there were beams of light coming out from Wen Ning's eyes, they just might burn a hole through the cover of the book. Unfortunately, there are no beams of light coming out of Wen Ning's eyes. So the book stays the way it is, whole and unburnt. ]

I don't think this is working.

[sparkstrikes]

Lightning.

[She'll follow when he starts to move, falling in step with him easily, but keeping herself at least one behind. He can lead the way, and she doesn't want to presume she knows where she's going. It'll give her a chance to take a gander around while they walk, too... see if she can pick out some old memories, and maybe even find her way back to where she used to live.

Will all of her things still be there, she wonders? Or maybe the Coven will have kept it... Ugh. Well, she'll have to get there eventually, she figures.]

Your place far?