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

[oathkeeper]

[As if making a demonstration of it Sora does tug on one of his long rabbit ears with his fingers.]

I think it took about a month and a half for anything to change for me. But from the looks of it you're probably a witch? But it's always good to double-check with the coven just in case.

[Magic has this lingering aura, after all. And since Sora has three bonds with witches he's fairly good at guessing. he is not sniffing her]

I'm just here!

[They round the road to a stone cottage just up ahead. It looks about medium-sized and it's littered with trees and growing shrubs. There's a sizeable garden growing out front with what appears to be a variety of growing vegetables and fragrant herbs. It seems the household likes to keep well-stocked. Or they have a growing rabbit-boy to feed.]

[oathkeeper]

[Squall? ... Where has he head that name before? He's about to ask but then she looks so forlorn and Sora's expression softens. He comes to her and pats a friendly hand on her arm.]

I know it's a weird feeling. When I came here I lost all my powers from back home and then I started to get different ones... The same is probably happening with you?

[And that must be a really big shock for anyone. She must have skills of her own that she suddenly can't use.]

[arturiarex]

I lost control temporarily during my first full moon... but I don't know of anyone who has been permanently lost to the madness. At least not yet.

[spirialink]

Uh-huh. [Kor's got a pensive look on his face. Kor didn't particularly like where it had headed when it actually happened, either.]

Your mom, my mom, and Gramps. Chalcedony's dad too, they were all a team with Lithia the last time they fought against Creed.

[Surprise, Hisui, you're a family friend.]

[loverboi]

I'm okay, I guess? Can't say it's exactly pleasant, but you get used to it after a while. Sort of.

[ ....well, okay, not really. he misses how nice his skin used to be, when his teeth weren't so sharp, being able to walk around without a fin of his back. ]

If you're a Monster, you gotta be careful about full moons, though. They speed up the transformation process and sometimes make you act in ways you don't really want to.

[loverboi]

Lies, huh?

[ after petra's explanation, lance turns to the merchant and narrows his eyes. okay, this makes a lot more sense now. the vendor does not seem to be willing to give an apology, though, despite petra's protests.

but lance isn't really going to help at all. ]

Okay, that's pretty messed up, buddy. You can't just go scamming pretty girls out of their money like that! You really should give her an apology!

[jerichome]

[Trust them. Perhaps he can believe that they will do whatever it takes to grasp freedom for androids, even if sacrifices need to be made. He knows North is ready for that, and Simon has a feeling that Josh wouldn't turn away from the idea if they've made actual progress.

He's not sure how to feel about it.

For the longest time, he just wanted to be safe. Then Markus appeared and for once, hope lit up in Jericho. Even he felt it, perhaps until the bullet went straight through his head.]

...Of course, Markus.

[His tone is mixed with a variety of emotions, but Simon continues to speak, not letting his less than enthusiastic response garner attention.] In the meantime, someone has to keep you out of trouble.

[weiward]

That's all about to change.

[it's funny, because he doesn't think she'll like hearing that. there are so many things in her story that just feel wrong though. the limitations, the way she talks about herself. she clearly loved her sister, but so much of herself is tied up in another person.

he hopes she'll have the chance to be her own person. he'll help, however he can.]

I can teach you archery. Lan Zhan can show you books. I bet Zewu-jun would teach you about music. You can play with rabbits and make friends. And one day, your sister may show up, and you'll be all set to help her.

[purposefulnonsense]

Anger, no. He does not feel anger at her pause, nor her words that follow. What creeps into his thoughts is more akin to horror; a frightful, sorrowful realization that, in her race, it was possible to dislike another of her own kind so much as for the dislike to turn into this thing called hate, and for that hate to in turn give birth to violence.

"Oh, little one... What reason could there be to dislike one another so, for one of a spoken race to seek to harm another?"

[jerichome]

[When he initially took Connor's hand, Simon was expecting something small, but important, like Connor becoming a deviant through Markus' help. What he was not expecting was Markus' revolution succeeding in its goal, giving freedom to androids everywhere. It's not like he doubted Markus' ability, but actually getting the memory of it is still something.

It's comforting, in a way. Even if he personally won't experience it, Simon is happy for the other androids. No longer hiding in a sunken ship, finally walking out in the open like humans, it's truly amazing.

He slowly pulls his hand back, but Simon still looks at Connor with that same astonished expression.]

...We're free.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas chuckles a bit at the whuff, but then looks up.]

Oh, we're actually getting pretty close. Just down the block and around here...

[It's not too far, but soon a little ice cream shop appears at the end of one of the streets!]

[hypomeneo]

Yes. A very unique case. I'm still alive for a start.

[He can practically hear the denial going through his younger self's head, knowing the definition of Servant as he had it then, too narrow for what it actually can mean. He's right in part in that. He's no hero. He's a man who's tried to struggle on doing what's right and known the constant taste of failure and humiliation. Maybe survivor is a closer fit. It's certainly the most complementary he can chose.

The Heroic Spirit is Zhuge Liang.

Not him.

Not the history. Not the means to become one. That was true at the time of the fusion. It will probably be true forever.

Waver starts slightly as he's picked up, obviously not expecting landing in Iskandar's lap, but not protesting this treatment other than a slightly shocked blink and a low sound of surprise. Positive, affectionate physical contact? Hasn't been a thing... really ever... outside Iskandar and Gray brushing his hair. It's not unwelcome... it's not unwelcome at all considering who's holding him - hell, it's been a fantasy on so many lonely nights - even if it does feel overwhelming by turns and stops the sniffs dead by pure shock.]

Have you heard of a place called Chaldea and the events taking place there? I was summoned into that mess after dismantling the Grail.

[It'll be easier if he doesn't have to go over everything and explain the entire clusterfuck there.

... his eyes flick to his younger self. No, they don't like the idea of sharing at all. Not the younger, or the elder. He has no wish to kick his younger self out of what is clearly a relationship that's making him and his King happy... and besides... how the bloody fuck does he himself navigate this now after everything?

Waver has no idea... no idea at all...]

[scowlish]

[Frankly, everything in his life had felt temporary after what had happened in Saimaa, after the loss of his family. For such a long time after that, life had been a sort of blur, moving from one situation to the next in a bid to survive that he'd fallen into the habit of it. He hadn't exactly felt a longing to make his space in Keuruu his own because it simply wasn't his home. Home had long since been lost, along with his parents. For a while, having Tuuri and Lalli had served as a sort of anchor, but with Tuuri gone and Lalli finding other support networks, he's come completely unmoored.

The idea of creating a small home here is both alluring and terrifying. In a way, it feels like giving up on everything he's lost. Letting it go - his home, his parents, his extended family, his community, his sister - to replace it with whatever this place is. It isn't. He knows that in his mind, but he can't help clinging to the past anyhow.

Reynir is telling him that it's a blank canvas here, that it's a world of possibility. Onni has never been drawn to possibility outside the realm of magic, but whether it's the instinct or the genuine kindness and earnest optimism that Reynir offers the space with, Onni finds himself softening to the idea.

It's only for a little while, after all, isn't it?]

Alright. Let's give it a try.

[Taking the brush from Reynir, he stands still for a few moments, looking around at the walls, before striding over to the one that the window is placed in. Reaching out, he paints the first stroke of soft green over the bare wood, and then continues, his head tilted slightly to the side, wings fluttering just a little.]

Though I think I would like your touch in the room too. Your...help.

[He admits the last part hesitantly. But he remembers how eager Reynir had been to help him, and so he gives him that.]

[weiward]

[are you kidding, shijie is even cuter than a three-year-old wei wuxian and he's delighted by it]

It doesn't matter if Shijie grows scales or fangs or anything else, she's still the prettiest girl in Aefenglom!

[anyone say otherwise, he dares them. :|

wei wuxian will make it feel like home for her, the way she makes it feel like home for him.]

Ah, you can save all the pork ribs for Jiang Cheng though. Meat doesn't agree with Xianxian's tummy.

[bottom lip out, chin tucked against his chest, eyes wide and innocent. it's gross, he's gross, throw wei wuxian in the trash.]

[moneytwin]

[ His answer earns the widest of smiles, a soft puff of laughter under her breath. It's the sort of smile she gives when her emotions are at their tightest and most tangled, but--

--he's alive. He's alive. Who else but he could give that sort of answer to her so casually? Or, well, as casually as only Percival can manage.]

Ah, something like two and half, three weeks? Apparently I did not arrive through the traditional method of falling through the right sort of mirror. [mirror magic isn't unknown to her, but there being right and wrong types? Well. She's glad that they can leave it to the mages to puzzle that one out.] What...what about you?

[she steps a little closer, the hand grasping Fenthras tightening around it. Even as she yearns to reach out, unbidden comes the thought that this is some illusion. Maybe she's just seeing what her heart wants to see. ]

You look...well. [..compared to when she saw him last]

[freeing]

[ Myth was not what Daenerys sought out – living, breathing, actual dragons that were never once man. The one she brings from Essos, the child tugged in tow. He's getting older, more hungry and defensive – and she wishes she didn't need to ask a stranger for help locating her child. ]

That is what I'm afraid of. He's moved – quite a bit – since I found traces of him in the woods.

[ However, his offer comes quickly. Enough to make her feel almost foolish if she accepted so readily despite her desperation. ]

You have experience tracking?

[chifeng_zun]

[Nie Mingjue isn't rich, not here in Aefenglom without his Sect's backing, but he has steady, well-paying employment these days. It's a good thing too, between this wedding (he offered, and he doesn't regret it) and spoiling his newly arrived younger brother with paints and brushes and trinkets. Still, it's all put him in a relatively good mood.

Having a purpose has always done that.]

Not that I am aware of. I imagine they will ask for an auspicious date from the diviner, and other preparations still need to be made. After the grocer, would you like to accompany me to check in with the tailor?

[freeing]

[ Daenerys had become so engrossed with retrieving her child. It was almost desperate, foolish in every right. One could never chain or control a dragon – she's seen it herself. Yet, she clings to one of the few things that she has in this world...

And when Drogon looks past Daenerys, she realizes too late what it is.

The Shade screeches what feels like an eternity after Vex's bow shoots true – the creature huddled forward out of the shadows into the clearing. Putrid smells immediately ooze from the wound and Drogon was quick to take flight as Daenerys stumbles to her feet. Dracarys! Her words were just as true, but not as deadly as Vex's aim – Drogon's maw expelling a blast of fire to the treelines behind and towards the Shade. The Shade narrowly dodges, lunges – with Vex and Dany both in the crossfire. ]

[roarspetals]

[ Cat people, more different cat people, lizard people, all sorts of people! Rorik would be happy to explain should it come up but for now he just gives an easy smile, releasing Zack's hand from his. ]

It is no trouble. I am used to the questions by now, and I know most people mean no offense. It is as you say, hard to tell what is new and what is not.

[ He tracks Zack's gaze, though his own lingers on the merchants rather than the people milling around. ]

That was my hope, but I cannot shake the feeling that many of these sellers are... somewhat shady.

[moustre]

Such a device would not provide any data on the Looking-Glass House mirrors - they're a very old and not-well-understood kind of magic that is difficult to get a read on. If you meant the mundane mirrors fourth wall characters are coming out of, it would provide no real readings either, seeming perfectly normal.

[sparkstrikes]

[Yeah. The first thought that Lightning comes to mind when she sees the gardens and shrubs is him and his rabbit ears. Does that mean he takes on the characteristics of them, too? Weird.

She hesitates for a moment as they near the front door, though, and looks down to him, lips twisting into a thin line.]

You sure this is a good idea?

[Inviting a stranger into his home? An older one, no less.]

[freeing]

[ There is a tension between them. Not malicious, not welcoming. Daenerys has had little experience in any Westerosi politics, preparing for years for the moment she would seemingly cross paths with a Baratheon or two – and perhaps a Lannister usurper.

However, Melisandre was neither and she spoke of a Lord she can't quite imagine, not a King. There's one thing Daenerys could pinpoint about the guarded woman – her faith. The way her eyes scream belief when mystery and circumstance may deceive her. She had faith in whatever was told to her.

And it was the question that nearly knocks the wind out of her. ]

No. [ She says quickly before the words were held on her tongue – as if she had always been advised to hold such emotions and honesty to herself. ] I seek home, but not just for myself. My people – for the ones who follow me and know no other life than chains. It is my fate to claim the Iron Throne, but that is what I seek.

[freeing]

We... do not know. The Coven and city itself claims no responsibility of bringing us from the mirrors. It is an abnormality, one they find no urgency to research. [ The infection was certainly their main goal. Daenerys finds herself feeling awkward, her fingertips tapping against her skin – talon-like nails draconic in their own way. ] Some come from worlds that are not mine or yours. Some are in the future, some are filled with magic. Some have monstrous beasts or –

[ She could note the differences in worlds, surely, but King's Landing makes the color wash from her face.

It was not mine or yours. It was ours. Their world – their shared world. She swallows harshly, eyes intense: ]

Where... where did you just say?

arrival;

[rightfoot]

[ Things have been strange the past few days here, but Louis tried to keep things as normal as possible. Attend his classes during the day, and work in the evening at the Sly Seadog. There were more guests coming, so he kept a lot busier on the clock and hadn't had the time to take a break. When the bar cleared out, he made his way back to the house he shared with Shinjiro and Fie... tempted to get a cigarette, which he rarely indulged in.

There was the sound of water shifting and moving and his constant awareness of the world around him made his ears perk and he turned his head towards the sound.

Oh.

It was a person.

...Wait. That's weird, isn't it?

Definitely. He approaches, his steps light as he glides towards the scene - and all he has to offer is: ]

Isn't it a bit late to take a bath?

[afoolshope]

[And this was definitely a deer person. Minato blinked. Well, he had seen weirder. He crawled over to the edge of the fountain.]

I woke up here. Where am I?