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

[galrarm]

You're probably right.

[ Have to make a living somehow, but scamming people... ]

In any case, I'm not nearly so willing to play roulette on what's harmless and what'll result in unfortunate side effects.

wow this sure took a long time

[trost]

[ More wood, coffee, and a snack. That's all doable. Jean stands up and gets to work, gathering some wood he had gathered earlier and placing it with the other burning logs. ]

I have, uh ... bread and cheese. [ You know, what peasants ate in the medieval times ... A roll of bread and a block of cheese. This is what he's used to, okay. Jean gets to work on the coffee, bringing some water to a boil. The concept of being able to cook something without having to gather and place firewood is still odd to him, but he's learned the basics of using a stove quickly. ]

Are you allergic to garlic? [ He has no concept of what a vampire is. There aren't many tales of lore back in his world. There never was any need for them, because reality was frightening enough. ]

[trost]

[ It's true. He's wasting a lot of time in this world, wandering around devoid of much purpose. He's not at all surprised that Kirei's revealing now he does have some experience with magic. It seemed like he did, from the way he felt justified in his criticisms of Jean's inexperience (though, he was probably also just being an asshole for the fun of it).

The advice is something he considers. While it's annoying receiving help from someone who clearly takes joy in watching the struggles of others, Jean also wants to improve. If he's going to be staying here, he ought to learn about how the world works. ]

And how would I know you aren't just trying to make a fool out of me?

[trost]

That's a pain in the ass. But I guess we should be used to knowing nothing by now. Just when it looks like we've learned something ...

[ They get transported to another world, where nothing makes sense again. ]

At least it's somewhat calm here. [ From what he notices, anyway. People can walk around, hang out in coffee shops and go about their daily lives. It looks like a safe place for the most part. Of course, he's definitely still going to stay on guard. Living in a place like where the both of them come from, it's hard not to be expecting the worst at all times. ]

[voktys]

⟪ faces, clear faces in the flames, are so rare a thing. the fire shows symbols, approximations, a god's attempts to make his followers understand a language that cannot be spoken in the natural sense by any mortal. it takes years to distinguish between past, present, and future – it takes decades more to understand what one is seeing. they are mays and maynots, those visions, malleable in some ways and unshakeable in others.

and faces are rare. why would r'hllor have shown her stannis, over and over for years, only to confront her with doubts now? it's a stretched now, too, a worry nagging with increasing desperation since stannis and his men rode for deepwood motte and her flames, suddenly, left her to see everything and all but him, no matter how far beyond her limits she pushed, now matter how much her eyes burnt and she bled. ⟫

It was no whisper.

⟪ but if stannis is dead, has died, will die – what was it? what was the point in leading thousands astray? what does it mean for the blood on her own hands? she cannot afford to have been so wrong – and she reminds herself that the girl has offered her no proof beyond her own hunger for the throne.

melisandre's expression remains calm and pleasant, her voice even. if the warmth is gone, it could be anything. maybe it was never there at all. ⟫

Is this was you seek in Westeros? The throne? Your birthright?

[fordola]

Her eyes closed. "Yeah. My bonded - uh, somebody who's close to me? He's part of the welcoming committee. So I've picked up a little."

But she had to pause, tail swishing as she thought. "Usually it's though one particular place, so it's not this chaotic. But it's been goin' on for about a year.

...Almost exactly a year, actually." She paused, giving a little sigh. "I was one of th'first, before ya ask."

[trost]

[ Well, he's been stern enough on the guy and all Ryuu's been doing is accepting what he says without much argument, so Jean doesn't see much point keeping that up. He exhales in a sigh and tries to let some of his tension roll off his shoulders. Of course, he's always going to be on guard, given that they're in a dangerous place, but when you've been facing danger for most of your life you learn to kind of let your more cautious senses run in the background. It's possible to be on the alert and also have a chat with someone. Heck, he's even had fun while outside the Walls once or twice. ]

So, you probably didn't do much fighting back home, huh? What did you do then? I'm a soldier.

[fordola]

Right. Alphinaud. Th'boy Thancred's brought up sometimes. [ There's a little smile to herself. He'll be pleased, won't he?

...he deserves it. ] Me an' him... well, guess you're learnin' somethin' about here. Time's fucked.

[prophexy]

[Urianger lights up slightly more at that comment: he hasn't met many others here who come from an academic background.]

Indeed? Then surely it is a rare and commendable degree of attention to thy students' needs that thou dost demonstrate with such gestures.

If I may inquire, what manner of classes didst thou oversee? In truth, there was once a time I had considered taking up such a vocation for myself. [before he left home with his mentor and went interfering in other countries' politics. they definitely wouldn't let him teach anymore even if he went back.]

[brushworkmother]

[This definitely sounds like a plan to her, and she lifts her head, scanning the area before she looks at him, ready to follow.]

[eyeforaneye]

"Littlest"...?

[ The word trails off, a smoothly spoken insult whose true weight is only felt when he lowers his eyes to Deidara, all the unspoken commentary in the world doing his work for him. What does that make you, then? ]

I've grown since you saw me last.

Now, turn around and walk properly. Or do you really think you're any safer facing me than not? [ Usually with an Uchiha it's exactly the opposite, though Sasuke would have to credit Deidara for his forward-thinking in devising a plan against the sharingan unlike so many similar and overly cocky opponents. Not that it helped, he might add. ]

[ranyaulf]

( oh no. he should've seen this coming; surely soren was more graceful without the various dragon accoutrements, but in this current state? it's probably a lot more difficult to control the weight (does he look heavier, ranulf doesn't think so but appearances can be deceiving). and as much as he wants to reach out and catch soren, something in the back of his mind slips. it feels like, if anything, there's a blip of concentration that makes that ice suddenly feel very unsafe.

and then, completely gone.

plunging into the water, ranulf forces himself to power through and back to dry land, but this time instead of laying out? he shakes his body quickly, getting the water to fling off his fur and clothes at an incredibly effective but also careless manner. )

Eh? Soren! Soren, are you okay?

[wordsinthesoul]

"The concept?" That seems… distinct, and Thancred cocks his head, curious. "Well- if you've any ideas for how this might be constructed, I'm sure we'd be open to hearing about it. I fear much of it is still a mystery, even to the Coven." So- it probably is a mess in that respect, yes.

[brushworkmother]

[Oh- something she'd maybe like to take a look at, when she's not doing her best to speed by. It's certainly not somewhere she knows, at least.

The people around makes darting around more challenging, but also interesting! She cuts it close to one woman, causing the woman to jump and stifle a curse, but she's keeping up. She gives Momo a wolfish grin when he glances back- she's still in this! Don't worry about that!

team dumb but not stupid!

[honorbends]

[ zuko honestly is willing to just let the whole thing go and escape back into anonymity when soren says . . . that. ]

You spilled it?

[ he doesn't sound, like, super pissed over it BUT DEFINITELY ANNOYED LOOK AT THIS MESS YOU CREATED SOREN

and zuko holds out the gold washcloth, ACCUSINGLY: ]

Undo it.

[ because obviously you can reverse whatever you just did to him, fiend. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo is the last person who's ever going to care about being naked around someone he knows, really, considering the number of questionable photos he has on his phone. As solid as Momo's build is, Riku definitely gets a good squeezing in return, because what's the point of muscles if you can't use them to squeeze your juniors within an inch of their life?

Hopefully not literally, considering Riku's condition, but he's not entirely thinking about that right now.]

Of course I'm warm, you're warm too, you've been sitting in the bath, silly! [He's into joking mother mode already at the sight of one of his actual younger juniors.] Now you've made me worry. If I missed one of my youngest juniors showing up, who else could I have missed out on...are there more of you wandering around with only the Coven's explanation...?

[It's clear from his vaguely pouting tone that he's not that serious, but still, he would've liked to help people be Less Confused considering he had a confusing enough arrival himself.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona blinks as shr glances over at the girl and then realizes what must have happened. ]

Oh, no. You really are new, aren't you? Did you not arrive through a mirror in the Looking Glass House?

[ They'd been very thorough in telling her most of what she needed to know when she'd arrived a few weeks ago. Or had that been who this girl was running from? This just got very complicated... ]

You're in a city called Aefenglom. Many people tend to show up here unexpectedly, although usually it's a fair bit more organized than this. [ She offers the girl a sheepish smile and a small bow in greeting. ] My name is Yona - I only arrived here a few weeks ago myself.

[darkestbefore]

[ She'd expected an argument, so the easy agreement catches her off-guard, blinking at the other woman for a moment. ]

Oh, I... yes. Yes, the Cwyld infection is very dangerous. Don't worry, I will keep my distance. [ She gestures with her bow, because that's why Hak had chosen to teach her this weapon in the first place - and why he'd been so opposed to her taking up the sword. ]

My name is Yona, by the way.

[thevanguard]

I'm not so sure we actually got jacked into a game, and if we did, it's the weirdest intro I've ever seen.

[ He wishes the explanation were that simple, but he's skeptical. While he believes JUNGLE could do something like this... Well. This still feels different.

But he can't help but grin back, because he'd felt the same relief when he'd heard her speak. ]

Yeah, it seems pretty rare, huh? Everyone here seems much more into the wacky magic and monsters shit. I don't do a lot of RPG's... [ He's definitely more of an FPS kind of guy. ]

[thevanguard]

[ He yelps, startled when the tree he's perched in suddenly gives a violent shudder when she kicks it. The talons he'd grown that had totally shredded his favorite pair of sneakers bite into the bark of the branch he's on, even as he gives an indignant protest. Wings flare out for balance, even as he shoots a glare down at her. ]

Hey, what the hell! What the fuck was that for?!

you know that he is

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo grunts a bit.

Yata isn't exactly the lightest, but Izumo is stronger than he looks, too.]

Quite an entrance, don't you think?

[After a quick once over to make sure Yata isn't actually hurt, he sets him down to his feet.]

[thevanguard]

[ Yata stops short at that, sure he hadn't just heard that right. ]

Wait, what? You've got magic?

[toremainbehind]

[Even if she's not trying to show it, he can hear it.

A little pick up pace of the heart.

Still, he watches her before he finally moves to step closer to her.]

Re: you know that he is

[thevanguard]

[ Yata just grunts in annoyance. ]

I wasn't even trying! Where the hell did that building even come from? Where are we?

[ At least he's back on his feet now and not draped over Izumo's arms like some weird damsel or something. He straightens his clothes - still dirty and torn from the fight he'd been in before this - and looks around in confusion. ]

Is this another JUNGLE trick?

[thevanguard]

[ A little bit of both is likely. Although the new bid-balancing is definitely a plus. Even if he had shredded his favorite pair of sneakers in the process of getting these crazy bird feet.

But his expression brightens when the other guy offers to show the way. ]

Sure, that would probably help. The trees all look the same out here, I don't know how anyone can tell where they're going.