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

[politicsss]

[Only Randy would think "bar" when asked to come up with a quiet place to talk. But Elie's not surprised. It's not terrible and it is certainly away from that store.

She also feels a bit more comfortable once she's inside for some reason. But there are more important things to examine right now.]

...you said you've been here for a year now. Is that really true?

Lan Wangji - The Untamed - Dragon

[cultivatingrabbits]

[an unusual arrival]

[ he barely remembers staggering into the Cold Springs of the Cloud Recesses after his punishment, foregoing removing his robes and mind still clouded by visions of what had happened. even regarding his own reflection in the icy waters had seemed far away.

so it's not without a slightly bewildered expression (for Lan Wangji, that is) that he breaks the surface of a pond somewhere in the city, head swimming, robes heavy and dripping with water and blood as he stumbles to his feet, fingers curling around air as if he's trying to grip something that isn't there. ]


[wilde hunt]

[ even before being given an explanation of what's going on, he's felt the change of flow of energies inside himself. how it's been keeping him on edge, giving him a hard time to focus, and that's not counting his already harried state of mind. so when iridescent white scales start appearing on his hands, quickly spreading up his arms and his chest, and the feeling of control slowly starting to slip through his fingers, he takes the invitation for what it is.

the idea resembles a night hunt, familiar, something he knows, and perhaps it can serve as a distraction from his racing mind. of course, he chooses to go deeper into the woods, not interested in playing games. ]


[wildcard]

[ anything else you might want to play out! either PM or find me at clockworks / Cesia#7939 (discord is easiest tbh) ]

Floyd Leech | Twisted Wonderland | (softly) of course he's a merrow

[thatsamoray]

II. Unusual Arrival

[There's an absolute ruckus going on, what with the unusual arrivals popping up in weird places. It makes the air feel alive. Some people are even panicking a little and that's just fun to watch. So, Floyd watches. He watches from exactly where he landed which happens to be in the branches of a tree.]

Haaa hehe... [Someone who happens to look up can spot him. He's not exactly hiding. He's laying flat on a branch with one long, gangly arm and the opposite long, gangly leg dangling down without a care. He smiles widely, displaying an array of sharp, pointed teeth.]

What are you so worked up about?

[says the guy who thought he was heading through a mirror to his dorm and ended up in a tree. He's taking it in stride, though, even with the leaves stuck in his hair.]

III. The Goblin Market (featuring Jade)

[No, you're not seeing double, there are twins afoot. A pair of 6-foot twins are looking over one of the stalls. The more serious one is perusing a variety of mushrooms, listening to the merchant discuss their properties. The other, though,]

Gross. [Floyd is making an absolutely horrified face. He's being ignored by his sibling so he has to reach out and briefly shake his shoulder.]

Jade, let's get the potion for the bond and go. [his brother turns to him, says something firm but reassuring, then turns back.]

Jaaaaaaaaaaa~de! [it looks like a 17 year old is about to have a tantrum in the market]

IV-1. The Hunt is On

[Now, this was what he liked. He wouldn't like to be ordered or forced to go into some quarantine area. Given the choice, though, of course he's going to go full feral. That, combined with the fact he nearly-immediately made an ill-informed monster-monster bond with his brother, means he's even more volatile.]

[So, in one of the rivers of the Wilde, there is a monster waiting. He's not his affable self, though, he's a sea monster waiting to happen. He would love to hunt in the depths- but most of the others who came along are near the surface. If your character gets near the water, they may notice something very long beneath the surface.]

[If they linger too long, that darting shadow will get closer, and breath from the surface with fins and claws, to try and grab onto the unlucky passerby and drag them into the water.]

[So, uh, roll initiative?]

IV-2. The Hunt is Off, Actually, Boring

[Huh, he couldn't get his legs back. The potion had always worked before, letting him assume the role of a "normal human" on land. Now, though, despite all the power in the air, it wasn't working. And he's bored of this all. He's bored of being gone from home, bored from hunting, his mood has done a complete 180 turn.]

[Well, time to find a nook and sleep it off.]

[Normally he would find a deep, underwater nook to hide in but that doesn't make for a good open prompt there wasn't anything quite right. Instead, he found himself a nice ditch in the forest and curled himself up. A quick look might have someone mistake him for a huge, gross slug-man with the mucus on his lower fin. Even with the battle royale atmosphere, he's content to just sleep in a ditch.]

[The big problem being the fact that the Shades are being drawn closer and closer to the city proper. It was adding even more chaos to the sealed-off zone. Isn't he just way too vulnerable there?...]

(ooc: The Goblin Market prompt will feature replies from both Floyd and Jade (mementomoray). The hunting prompt may lead to violence (duh) and attempts to severely injure so let me know if you're down for that. If there's anything you're interested in that isn't covered in the above, hit me up!)

takashi shirogane | voltron | witch | ota

[galrarm]

an unusual arrival.

[ The man who emerges from the mirror might be familiar to some, quite frankly; his hair is not white save for a tuft at the front, but that scar is undeniably characteristic. Luckily, he appears not in any kind of house or closed business, but from a fountain...

But suddenly appearing an in unfamiliar place, when he should be elsewhere preparing for an important battle--that's enough to be startling. He has things to do--he can't afford to be anywhere but at the Castle. So... Shiro decides to collect information. If he comes across someone who looks just as confused as he-- ]

Sorry to bother you. I'm guessing you're about as lost as I am, though.

[ He looks friendly, at least! If you look more familiar with your surroundings, though-- ]

Excuse me. If you've been here a while, I'd appreciate it if you could answer a few questions.

[ Again, friendly enough, but he's certainly wary of this place. It's not the first time he's been kidnapped, but he sure is getting sick of it. ]

goblin market.

[ By now, he's got his feet underneath him, but he's still... troubled. He knows the basics of this place, knows he's a witch, but he's not sure how he feels about the place. It's fine, though. Everything is fine.

What is less than fine, however, is the market. Shiro finds himself here, arms crossed, surveying it with a not-insignificant amount of suspicion. He'll turn to you, though, and gestures toward the stalls. ]

What do you think? I'm not so sure about any of this, quite frankly.

wildcard.

[ hmu through pm or at sweetstacks if you would like to do something else! ]

Yuki | IDOLiSH7 | Merrow

[gekijou]

I. Arrival

[Yuki isn't really having any of this. He was in the middle of looking through props for their stage show, set to start in minutes, when a little mirror caught his eye. Fussing with a stray strand of hair, he was about to call over staff for a quick splash of hairspray when the world lurched.

The next step he took forward had him hitting a shiny metal pole at full force with his forehead, all while charmingly attired. He doubles over beside the pole, a hand on his head, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. There wasn't a pole there a moment ago.

That's when he looks around and realizes... This is no dome, no arena. He's in the middle of something like a town square, surrounded by other confused people, too.]

...Mm. That's not good.


II. Wilde

[Having settled in only a tiny bit and having been informed he is, of all things, a Monster, Yuki is... well, less thrilled than he wants to be. Right now, for example? He's hanging out in a pond. Koi swirl around his billowing silver hair, which is doing so because he's in the water up to his chin. And he is looking mighty unamused. Every once in a great while, the color of his gently mottled skin will shift slightly, a little orange, a little bluish...

The poor guy, much to his dismay, is a cephalopod Merrow. In the clear water, color-shifting tentacles can be seen swaying with vague irritation. It looks like he's waiting for someone. Also, do not even think of sharing his pond. Get out. Even if his siren song draws you in...]

...This pond's taken.


III. Wildcard

[Hit me up on Discord at Nini#5820 for plotting or custom starters!]

lightning farron | final fantasy xiii | witch

[sparkstrikes]

an unusual arrival.

[One second, she's floating through the empty, dark shell of Cocoon, body transforming to crystal, hand joined with Hope and the next—SPLASH!

Cold, dirty water was not what she was expecting to feel at that moment. Her eyes immediately shut tight to shield them, but snap open when she feels it soaking into her clothes and in her boots as she rises from the depths of a very deep puddle on the side of the road.

It takes a moment for her vision to adjust, but she immediately gets to her feet, bending over with hands on her knees as she sputters and coughs the water out of her lungs. It tastes like dirt. Shivers roll up and down her spine, and she can feel the cold right down to her bones, but she's able to power through it.

But when she lifts her head, she wonders why this place looks so familiar, and why she's so acquainted with the tingling sensation in her hands and arms... almost like she never left. Straightening, she heaves in a deep breath and peers around, looking for someone – anyone – who can answer the burning question she's pretty sure she needs to ask.]

[And the first person she sees will get an aggressive and frustrated] Hey! [followed by a very upset looking woman stomping your way.

OR, perhaps you stumble upon her later, while she's clearly shivering now and trying to find a warmer place to stay, although stubbornly won't admit it. Someone please save her.]

wilde hunt.

[She remembers now. The fight against her own magic here wasn't easy, but she'd left this world before it had completely consumed her. Her veins had turned to lightning and burned under her skin, and the headaches she suffered through were the worst she's ever felt. Immovable as her ideals are, not only has she learned from the past, but she's grown a lot since she was here.

Lightning refused to accept the new kind of magic, by virtue of already having mastered another magic forced on her against her will. It felt the same as being a l'Cie, and even though she wasn't one here, it was like she was back at square one again. Which is why she's taken up the offer to find an outlet for the magic building up, after (hesitantly) accepting a temporary potion from the Coven, who have yet to earn her trust or respect a second time around. Half a point to them for letting her sidestep that bonding bullshit again.

Games aren't really her thing, so hearing that there was something physical she could hunt while lending a hand and protecting the city while she's here and can drew her attention.

And it's alone in the Wilde where she comes face to face with something resembling a bear, its white eyes bearing down on her as it peels itself off the ground and onto its two hind legs, standing at a whopping eight feet tall with paws bigger than her head.]

On the plus side, at least I didn't have to go looking for you.

[Is she being smug at the bear???

Maybe it's from a twig snapping under your feet, or the rustling of a bush, but anyone who comes close will receive a stern warning from her.]

Hope you know how to clean these things up.

[She doesn't mind the help, as long as it's not a waste of her time or energy...]

wildcard.

[ Feel free to leave something else below if you'd rather! I'm open to anything, except Lightning will be staying very far away from the Goblin Market! If you'd like to contact me, you can PM me, or I'm over on plurk @ sheilubby. ]

[currysseur]

[ Uh, friend? She's curious but she's not going to press him on it just yet. Partially because there's still so many questions rolling around in her head, and partially because Juza is, well, Juza. ]

So Omi's here too? [ That's something, but... ] Is it just you and him?

[ She would have thought her brain would have dreamed up more of the boys. ]

b

[resetto]

[ A kind chuckle, from a Xaela-turned-Naga - though she was clearly staying still because movement was hard. She gave a smile, with her hollow blue eyes, and moved forward with bandages. ]

Pray, take a little rest if you feel you can. That looks painful.

[currysseur]

[ >| Better to be trusting than stingy! ]

Uh... last night. [ In a fashion she refuses to explain because it is embarrassing. ] You too?

[ After all, Juza didn't seem to mention him when they spoke. ]

b

[ua_duibhne]

I wouldn't trust a lot of what they're selling, no.

[Diarmuid stands a little way from him, head tilted curiously to the side as he surveys the man in front of him. At a glance, he's a waking contradiction; taller and broader than most humans and towering over the goblins, he has the build of a fighter, not a man of the cloth. Ultimately, unusual it may be but it's more a curiosity than anything to be concerned about.

And so, the witch's smile is easy, his voice congenial and warmed by the lilt of his accent. Gripped in one hand is a parcel wrapped in brown paper- nothing exciting, merely a collection of interesting potion ingredients- leaving the other free to brush back his curl as he nods at the potion.]

... but... you can find some interesting deals if you know where to look. [And then, acutely aware of the merchant's reproachful glare over Kirei's shoulder, he adds with a small laugh-] Likely, that's one of them.

Markus - Detroit Become Human - Witch

[ex_pathway290]

II. An Unusual Arrival  (Closed to Connor and Hank)

The sun would be rise soon and it would be a new dawn for androids everywhere. They would no longer have to run, hide, or pretend to be something they were not in order to survive. It would be a new beginning.

Markus had worked with the others all through the night to quell their worries about the future as much as he could. But after a while, he needed to steal away in order to have a moment to be with his own thoughts. A lot would change and he would have to figure it all out. He would have help, of course, but it was a new experience he wasn't sure he was completely prepared for.

And so he walked away from the crowd of androids. And he walked. Until he finally paused at an unsalted stretch of sidewalk covered in ice and snow. Markus looked down at his own reflection in the icy surface. "...They're all counting on me." He muttered as he looked sternly at his own reflection.  

After a few moments, the snow began to swirl and the ice began to glow a bright white. Everything grew white. And then...

Thwunk!

Markus landed with an 'oof' in a strange room. A bathroom, from the looks of it. There was a mirror at his back and a sink under him holding up all of his weight. He looked around with an expression of utter confusion on his face. "....?" What in the world had happened?

III. The Goblin Market - OTA

It was his first time exploring the new area. And he had to admit, it was quite an...adjustment to see others who were so accustomed it all. A market filled with all manner of magical items passed off as real without others questioning their legitimacy. In fact, it seemed like everyone was proud of the wares that they sold and its effectiveness, judging from the street vendor's occasional claims.

Markus stopped at one of the stands, visually examined one of the 'potions', and gave a quizzical look. "Increases magical ability..." He muttered to himself. It almost seemed preposterous that anyone could even have a magical ability. And yet here they were with items claiming to enhance it. 

Yet, it was hard to ignore the nearby stalls who were giving open demonstrations on the 'potions' and exactly what they could do.

What was all of this...?

Wild Card

[ Want something else? PM me and we can figure out a thing! ]

[lucubrates]

[ The Wilde, certainly, has it's beauty. It's an untamed place, where nature has rooted itself deep and refuses to let go. The infestation thrives here, a constant reminder that danger is around the corner. Still, Zelda is no stranger to this place. In fact, she'd daresay that she has come to know the way from the city into the path that leads her home like the back of her hand. She travels it at night and at day frequently, and rarely has issue.

Today is not one of those days. She had caught the eye of a Shade, and without her bonded to toss her away from it, she has to run. It is, she thinks, like a tiger, or some wild cat that seems to have died twice over, revived by the plague that has it's claws embedded deep into this land. The eyes are so white they are blinding, and she narrowly escapes, bailing deeper into the wood. If she can make it to her cabin, it is enchanted and a lock will suffice... she need only warn her bonded of the encounter, to let him know she might be stalked afterwards so perhaps it would be best to wait a day or perhaps two before traveling.

Goddess, she needs to slow her heartbeat. He'll come running with that alone baring down his neck.

She turns a corner, the Shade wails—

And a familiar sight strikes her. ]

U...

[ She falls, collapsing with surprise and fear, chest heaving and long golden hair in the dirt. The wild beast has halted, and Zelda stares at the Gerudo chief with wide, green eyes. ]

Urbosa?

mitsuri kanroji | kimetsu no yaiba | harpy | ota

[lovesword]

ARRIVAL

[ Steam curls up around her, the smoky tendrils wrapping around her shoulders and wafting up past the crown of her forehead. She sighs, a sound warm with bliss, and settles even deeper into the water.

It's been a long day, and an even longer week, and while Mitsuri has always done her best to keep a smile on her face and encouragement in her voice,

Light flickers across her eyelids and she opens them in search for the source. All she sees in front of her is the surfaces of the hot springs, shimmering in a strange way that draws her in, her face leaning in until the tip of her nose touches the water—

—and then she's landing on the ground, knees scraping against something and decidedly not the warm waters of the springs she was just in. ]

Ow!

[ Being a Pillar comes with many advantages but sharp night vision sure isn't one of them, and as she stumbles forward and up, hands fumbling across the nearest surface, her fingers knock something heavy askew.

Whatever it is shatters next to her, and she yelps out reflexively before stumbling backwards, only to bump into yet another unidentified object and knock that over. The unfortunate game of pitch-black dominos continues on for some more minutes before a door finally opens and light fills the room.

A normal person would probably take stock of the situation, maybe politely ask for an explanation of what the hell is going on here. Mitsuri instead runs forward to her would-be savior, arms outstretched and eyes closed as she wails: ]

I'm sooo sorryyyyyyyy!! I think I broke something!

[ She's naked, by the way, water dripping off her in small rivulets. ]

MARKET - A

[ After she's apologized - profusely, loudly, and repeatedly - and found a set of clothes (and also finally gotten a night of sleep followed by an oversized breakfast) she finds her nerves much more soothed. There'd been the explanation too, something about witches and the like, but it had been a lot and she'd been quite tired and so not too much of it lingers in her mind.

The best plan of action, she decides, is to explore the place for herself. Get a feel for the roads, the atmosphere, the people that mill about and give this place its life. It's a lazy exploration, her feet carrying her in whatever direction seems the most interesting - a cute toddler doing its best to walk, a stray cat that winds itself around her ankles, a stall tucked halfway behind a quiet house. ]

Can I interest you in a potion, my dear?

[ Her attention's caught immediately and she steps forward, eyes round and shining. ]

A potion? For what?

[ The seller curls back her lips, teeth glinting white and sharp in the sunlight. ]

Why, anything you want! How about this one, to make your skin milk-white and beautifully smooth? All the boys will fall over themselves for you!

[ Someone stop this poor girl from being ripped off. Alternatively, take this opportunity for yourself and rip her off instead! ]

MARKET - B

[ They get to her regardless, rumors quickly circulating amongst the vendors of the short pink-haired girl with a brain significantly smaller than her—ahem. She's presented with a potion, which she chugs with unbound enthusiasm, and not five minutes later are the changes kicking in. One change, specifically, that being her sudden inability to keep her feet planted on the ground. Not that she notices right away, too entranced by the wares on sale, and it's not until her hand brushes something soft and silky that she looks down to see...another person's head.

Oh dear. ]

Wait!

[ Who's she shouting to? Doesn't really matter, because she's reached out to grasp a fistful of this poor person's shirt, determined to prevent herself from floating off into the air like a dandelion puff. ]

Sorry, I'm—this has never happened to me before. Do you know how to stop it?

[ Otherwise, she's going to be living out the rest of her life as a balloon. Please save her, she has dreams she still has to fulfill! So many cute guys to date!!!!!! ]

WILDCARD

[ go wild, i'm happy to roll with it! ]

[poisontippedcure]

[The room certainly does belong to the woman staring at her. And staring Rose is, because she just gets more confused the more she thinks about it. The person standing in front of her is clearly an Au Ra, and not a dragon.]

[She also didn’t appear at the House of Mirrors, but in Rose’s bedroom. Hadn’t they said something about trying to summon more Mirrorbound? Perhaps this is an extension of that.]

You’ve been spirited away to another realm. Welcome to Aefenglom.

[Rose pauses. Maybe ‘spirited away’ is the wrong turn of phrase to use when she’s actually fae.]

You’re from Eorzea, correct?

arrival!

[bolstafir]

[Some days, Qrow is not completely convinced that his Semblance is deactivated. Days like today, when he was innocently walking through the street only to be confronted with his sister popping out of a store window and menacing a local. He'd gotten the message about the new Mirrorbound, of course, but somehow he hadn't expected Raven, of all people. Should he be grateful it's her and not someone like Cinder, or worse, Salem herself? He doesn't know, but right now he's feeling especially uncharitable toward the whims of fate.

He sighs to himself before he walks over there, putting himself between her and the local. He'd rather be anywhere else, but he can't just leave this poor sap to deal with Raven, who's dangerous on a good day. It really sucks to be an adult, sometimes!!!]

This place is called Aefenglom. The how is still a big, fun mystery. Welcome to the party, sis.

[His voice absolutely drips with sarcasm and bitterness.]

bolormaa (oc) | final fantasy xiv | naga

[resetto]

arrival ) [ Her arrival was-- scary, honestly. As the Au Ra slipped out of a mirror, she did not move - instead, she curled up, letting out a little whine. ]

...this isn't home.

[ She said quietly, whispering - to those who knew her, her voice was hauntingly like that of one Minfilia Warde. She usually didn't show her sadness, but...

Later that day, she'd be asking so many questions of the Coven - some serious, some silly. Will you answer her questions? ]

goblin market) Oh, what does this one do?

[ Bolormaa was an oddly innocent lady, as she looked though potions. The sellers were a little put off, to be honest - because what kind of kid was this? She did not listen to the lies they peddled, and pointed to every potion as if she wanted to try them all.

Of course, this innocence came with a cost... that being that she realised a little too late she did not have the money to pay for such goods. Help her? ]

the hunt) [ Her shift was near-instant, painful - but she hid away during it. She had found somewhere to hide... and came out more snake then lizard. Instead of tending to her own pain, however, she had instead moved to gather first aid supplies - even if they were not magical - nor could she tap into her own magic - she could at least find those who got hurt as they changed.

Bolormaa, though, would ask for one thing in payment. For those new here, or those who had been here for a while. ]

May I please have a story from your home? Or from here?

[ It was a simple request. But she seemed to have a book by her side. ]

wild card

[ Want something else? Contact me! ]

[sneaksweet]

Far as I know. Haven't seen anybody else yet.

[ He's not desperate enough to wish for Banri or anything, but he does miss the rest of the company. It's not the same without them. ]

Yonah | NieR Gestalt | witch

[bookofyonah]

an unusual arrival

[ Dazed, Yonah reaches up to rub away the bleariness from her eyes. Moments ago, her father had tucked her into bed. Her coughing had subsided for the time being and she was sleeping soundly. Next, she finds herself stumbling out from a mirror. Did she just wake up? Or is this one of Yonah's weird dreams again? Except it feels much more vivid, life-like. Nothing like the ones where she meets pink animals and riding around on clouds.

Blinking a few times, her eyes slowly adjust to the light. She's still a bit groggy. This doesn't look like her small room or anywhere in the village. Give her a moment to realize that she's not alone either. ]

...Dad?

[ Is the first name she calls out. He likely went out for another job. He doesn't stick around for more than a few seconds very often. But she can't help search for him. ]

the goblin market

[ It would be for the best if Yonah stayed in one place to rest. Yet here she is, poking around the markets. By now, she has realized wherever she is, this is not a dream. Should she even be out here? She doesn't look much older than seven.

The shadiness of some of these businesses is unknown to someone as young as her. With how openly they've set up in the residential districts, she suspects nothing. Her sickness hasn't completely gone away, so maybe one of these potions can help. If not, maybe she can find a nice gift for her father. He's always working so hard for her... and he always deserves something nice! Or something to help with her new magic?

But she doesn't approach any of the vendors herself, standing off to the side. A small form nearly hidden by the shadows. A few weak sickly coughs are enough to give away her presence. She stares longingly at the stalls. ]

Uh...

[ If you're nearby, she makes a small noise to get your attention. While she doesn't outright say anything, it's obvious she wants something. ]

wildcard

[ Feel free to hit me up with something else! ]

arrival

[loverboi]

Shiro?

[ he'd been wondering where shiro went these past few weeks. home, he hopes, and hopefully not back to wherever he disappeared to. lance sees that familiar floof of white hair though -- and the rest of his hair, which is thankfully black -- and his eyes widen when he sees the other man, wandering around with confusion on his face. lance doesn't hesitate to call out to him -- ] Shiro! [ before he runs towards him. lance is notably looking...different. he's got a shark fin protruding from his back, sharp teeth and gills on his neck. ]

Hey! You made it back!

1/2

[livingimpaired]

... Lancer?

[ The voice alone sounded familiar, but it is only when he turns to see who is speaking does his eyes widen. Naturally, he calls the other's "name" upon recognizing his face.

It isn't fear that grips him in that moment. It is honest surprise. Why is a Servant here? His fingers curl a little at his side. All the Command Seals that he had etched into his flesh and soul no longer are upon his arm. But, it is not like he could have used those, anyway. He never was this Lancer's Master, after all.

The way the other speak, however, clicks for him. The way he speaks is not the way that a warrior would greet another. It's casual; it's friendly. His eyes drift to look at the clothes that the other is wearing. Indeed, suddenly arriving in another world was one thing that only caused mild discomfort and confusion for him, but seeing a Servant is another matter entirely.

Of course, this isn't out of the ordinary, either. He recalls the casual manner in which Saber conducted herself with Shirou Emiya. Yet he did not think that this Lancer would be able to be so casual. The pieces that he picked up; the inferences that he made; he isn't certain what it all means yet. ]

SNICKERS HI LWJ I'M LWJ || ARRIVAL

[taciturnly]

( lan wangji really did think that nothing else could possibly ever faze him. wei wuxian’s resurrection, his love, and nie mingjue’s unlikely resurgence. jin guangyao. aefenglom is a microcosm of impossible possibilities, he knows that much now, and if he had to face his demons a lifetime ago, he never expected the ghost of a time long gone to resurface.

literally.

it’s him, and it isn’t. younger. clad in white and in blood, and what an odd coincidence, that lan wangji should walk by the river now, a reflection of himself. he stills, vision blurred on the sight of him; all over his back, old scars itch, and the thud against his ribcage echoes somewhere in his throat, closed tight.

what the ever loving fuck, and lan wangji stares, mildly horrified, mostly curious, torn between the urge to help, an ache he’s never forgotten, and the need to wait, knowing full well that not everything here’s as harmless or tangible as it might seem. )

the goblin market........

[extirpator]

[ he would recognize that presence even if he were blind.

when he sees her, his blood runs cold; nier blinks, as though the sight of her will wink out of existence.

it doesn't.

when she looks towards him, there isn't an inkling of familiarity. he would expect as much. it's liberating, in a way, but the surge of pain that runs through him tells him otherwise, too.

in a panic, he rushes to her — quick to extend a hand, as always. ]

Are you alright? Does it hurt? Let's get you somewhere inside, Yonah—...!

[ shit— ]

I, um...

Sae Kurosawa | Fatal Frame 2 | fae

[shinkunochou]

[A. Arrival]

[Sae’s never been one for public spectacle. She’s kept to herself, either secluded away or in the company of her sister or the other set of twins in the village. Why would she bother getting close to people when she knows her destiny is to die?

So of course her arrival happens to be where it’d be most inconvenient. A shop closed up for the night has an unfortunate break-in, and it takes quite a bit of fiddling before she can get the door open with minimal damages to flee into the night.

Not that she gets far. She’s a barefoot, terrified looking girl with blood splattered all over her hands, feet, and the once-white kimono she wears. There’s even an ugly red rope burn mark around her throat. She looks rather like a specter wandering the streets in the dead of night and nothing is familiar—but while she might seem a fright to anyone who stumbles across her, it’s clear she’s way more frightened of them.

Sae, powerless now, is not the terrifying monster she used to be back home, so she can do nothing to stop people from speaking to her, but she has no idea how to really talk to anyone else either.]

A-ah... W-wait, please... [Please don’t run!]

[B. Marketplace]

[She didn’t often go into the marketplace back home, and when she had it had been accompanied by her sister. So despite her curiosity, she’s quick to be overwhelmed by the sights and the sounds, looking startled and confused when vendors call out to her and address her directly.]

I don’t... I don’t want— [She stammers, but the seller is being particularly pushy, promising up and down that his potion will definitely give her access to her ‘deepest desire’ and that’s what seems to get her interest.]

I could...see my sister again? [Please stop her from making a big mistake thanks.]

[C. Wild Hunt] [mild body horror]

[Sae is not handling the changes very well.

While she’s ushered out to the sectioned off area, she runs immediately for the familiar safety of trees, feeling a little better once she’s got the tree canopies overhead. It’s all fun and games, wandering aimlessly through the trees, until she feels an itching, burning sensation at her back. Eventually it becomes too much to take and she falls to her knees, scratching at her clothes until a pair of blood-red butterfly wings eventually erupt through her clothes and spread out on her back.

The pain dizzies her and she crawls on hands and knees to a nearby pond to catch a glimpse of the wings. There’s a beat and then she screams.

It’s not one of terror, however, but heart-wrenching anguish and she curls in on herself, covering her head as she sobs. When she finally quiets down, she splashes some water on her face and huddles there, her wings gently fluttering as she gets used to their presence, before she turns and seems to be trying to grab for them.]

I’ll rip— rip them off...! I don’t deserve these...!

[D. Wildcard!]

[For everything else! You can PM me or hit me up at ovals for working anything out!]

2/2

[livingimpaired]

[ And he carefully, meticulously pulls himself back.

The knowledge that I was a Master during that Holy Grail War is not so common of knowledge. He straightens his posture and shifts his body toward the Servant. The surprise fades from his face as he lightly shakes his head. ]

Forgive me. That was rude. [ A beat. ] I was one who assisted the Overseer and I later took up his post, and so... you are known to me. [ Indeed, what he says isn't untrue.

His chin drops as he smiles in an amused way. ] To think that I would have one such as yourself offer to help me find deals... I can't say that I was not shocked by it.

wilde hunt

[ua_duibhne]

[Unlike some of the others running around the forest tonight, Diarmuid is neither suffering from some lunar overexcitement or without a Bond; rather, he's here of his own choosing to keep an eye on some of the more dangerous beasts lurking in the dark. Spear in hand, he's been picking his way through the trees with the experience of a year's stay in this world and a lifetime of hunting- but even then, he's still a little startled by this particular quarry.

Not that the woman standing directly in front of it seems too concerned. Diarmuid picks up on her body language immediately; she's unafraid, confident- even a touch overconfident if he's not mistaken- and has the stern look of a fighter about her. Even without her invitation, though, he would have offered his aid- it would be an affront to his sense of duty to leave her to fight this thing alone.

... and partly because he's never been one to turn down the thrill of the hunt. But still.]

I pride myself on it, my lady. [The corner of his lips quirks up in a proud smile as he spins his spear like a baton.] Shall I follow your lead?