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

IV: A Wilde Hunt

[bravers]

[It's not been a good month. (Permanent) changes-wise, it was actually a pretty good one. Nothing new to speak of, anyway. That counts as good. Everything else? Not really. He'd spent since the beginning of it agitated.

Hadn't really known why, either. But as the Sisters grow to prominence within the day and the night sky, it's easy to assume it's that. That's the way it normally went for Turnskins. Especially those of his persuasion. They... were the moon's creatures here. Far more than how human they were.

So that made the offer of going on the hunt tempting.
Still, he'd refused. There... were people here. Newer people, some of which from his world. Going out and spending a night or... three letting off steam sure as hell wasn't going to help them.

So.
He'd not bothered.

...Except something changed his minds. A few nights into the Hunt, he'd heard about the Shades. That... changed things, to be frank. Significantly. So, a few days into the Hunt, there's a late entrant.

One that's bolting off into the deeper parts of the Wilde as soon as he's let in.
Follow, or not follow? Your call.]

arrival

[supersoldier]

[The city’s been thrown into an anxious sort of chaos, skewing off-kilter the daily routine of many. Mirrorbound individuals spring up from quicksilver surfaces — glassy mirrors, shimmering reflections of still water — and all of them are confused, disoriented, some even agitated, seeking answers from those who cannot provide them satisfactorily.

Sephiroth knows it’s going to happen before it does. That this woman, who is breaking the surface of a roadside puddle in a way that shouldn’t be possible, is going to ensnare the nearest person for explanation — reasonable, of course, for he might do the same in her position.

But he prepares himself all the same, pausing as she approaches while dripping the whole way, shoring up a stolid look to meet her irritation. His cat’s eyes fix on her, and though his physical changes might not be immediately apparent, upon further inspection they are more difficult to miss — black feathers interwoven in long, silver hair and the tips of elongated, pointed ears.]

...

[Hey! she calls out, and yes, here we go.]

...It’s reasonable for you to have questions, but you’d benefit from drying off, first.

takame kesi | ffxiv (non-wol oc) | harpy

[hoshikiri]

a. Unusual arrival

[Given the frequency of adventurer’s work found in La Noscea, puddles of water and shorelines were a regular sight for Takame. Especially given the region received a lot of rainfall. So when one rippled strangely he was bound to take notice. His eyes never deceived him.

And indeed, they haven’t this time either as just as quickly as he went to investigate, he felt himself dragged into it. A split second that felt like hours sixty fulms under before he was unceremoniously thrown back out like a geyser, but in the middle of Aefenglom, not La Noscea.]

What in the hells…? [Muttered silently to himself as immediately his hand hovered over the hilt of his katana out of habit. The view of unfamiliar surroundings put him on edge and the less than pleasant or smooth landing did not help matters. Eventually he moved forward, looking for the closest person he could find to explain what just happened. Despite that, the shade of hostility in his voice couldn’t be hidden.] Is someone there?

b. Goblin market

[Despite being appraised of the situation, Takame did not feel quite content at what little he knew. Perhaps he did for a moment but then he thought back to his small family. What would his sister do in this situation, he wondered?

She was a charismatic soul and he certainly… wasn’t. But if there was a place he could learn a lot it was a marketplace. All merchants, be they benevolent or ill intended, let slip precious information in the wide open. At times he would use his stealth to eavesdrop, lean against a nearby wall and feign conversation with passerbys (maybe you) as he listened in. But sometimes he did not even need to. But all the while the scales on his arms itched terribly and he kept pulling feathers from what he assumed to be his clothes.

And sometimes a particularly pushy vendor almost literally pulled him to their stall to view their wares. Though less “pulled” and more “pathetically begged him to” to which he followed if only to not be rude. And they claimed to offer an anti-itch remedy among a slew of other concoctions.]

Ah, you’ve… quite the selection of wares… [Said loud enough for anyone close by to hear. The occasional scratch at his wrist or face could easily be mistaken as nervous jittering. And honestly that’s not all that inaccurate.]

c. Wilde Hunt (mild body horror cw)

[The transformation didn’t hurt. So long as Takame told himself that, it did not hurt. It was mental, it was all mental. The burning at his back as a pair of sprawling wings began to spring forward, the way his skin turned red from how much he scratched but more and more feathers sprouted from his arms. And eventually he could scratch no more as his nails grew longer, more pointed. A fact he learned the hard way as he broke skin more than once, forcing him to bandage his wrists.

All mental. All concealed behind an emotional wall not even he knew how to break.

The physical changes were not fought against as much as this relentless surge of aggressive energy was. It was lucky for him that the city, unfamiliar as it was, required assistance in mushing a mob of monsters back. Good people helped others. His sister always said that. He was in the forest fighting against them, cutting them down with either blade or talon because the people needed help.

As much as fighting them back quelled some urge, though, if all was quiet for a while he could get restless again and fall to one knee, shaking his head with clenched, razor sharp teeth. Maybe he was the one who needed help.]

d. wildcard

[[ something else, whatever is wanted!! Feel free to come at him while he’s eavesdropping or being made to shop in b. or while he’s fighting or needing some help in c. or hit me up at bonpuns! ]]

Orihime Inoue | Bleach | Merrow | OTA

[lastcomfort]

TWO ✽ An Unusual Arrival

[ It wouldn't be the first time she's come flying down from the sky, but usually she knows what's causing it. The last thing that she remembers was catching her reflection and feeling a strange sense of dizziness. It had been disorienting, like she was losing sense of focus and footing. If she'd hit her head on something, she would have come to on the ground. But--

Well.

Right now she's suddenly popped out the shine on a third story window, which makes it a very unfortunate portal when the person incidentally traversing it isn't expecting there to suddenly not be ground under their feet. ]

Ahhh!

[ If there's someone passing underneath, maybe they can help? Or maybe they're just the unfortunate landing point as she flails and then crashes butt first onto the unsuspecting bystander. ]

THREE ✽ The Goblin Market

[ The market is an absolutely fascinating place. To be fair, most of the city is a fascinating place, it makes her feel like she's fallen into some sort of fairy tale...if poorly timed and unwarranted. But there's not much she can do about that for the moment, not without a better understanding of all these magicks and portals and...it's a lot. It's quite a lot.

The market is a lot as well, but it's impossible not to get caught up in the energy of the place. People shout across the crowded aisles, half of the sales pitches getting lost in their neighbors. Orihime tries to peek over the shoulders of others perusing the stalls. ]

Why not try this wonderful concoction. Miss!

[ Orihime perks up, looking back and forth as a vendor points at her. ]

Me?

Yes! I can tell by the look on your face that you are just the one this potion was made for!

[ She tilts her head to the side and takes a step closer as he holds out a bottle that has some suspicious looking tentacles fermenting inside of it. ]

Just one drop of this and you'll feel better than you have in ages! Full of energy, inspiration, and no need for sleep! With minimal side effects. All for the very low price of 10,000 cunes!

[ That...sounds suspect. Even to her. ]

Erm...

[ She laughs a little awkwardly before turning her attention to someone conveniently standing near her. ]

Is...that a lot?

[ It sounds like a lot! And is easily 10x the value of the actual item. ]

FOUR ✽ A Wilde Hunt

[ She had been feeling anxious since she woke that day, sensing that there's something just over the horizon waiting. Unable to put a name to it or the source, she continues on as one might. That is until as the night drew closer, the more parched she started to feel. Downing several liters of water has done nothing to alleviate her thirst or the itchiness to her skin.

If only that were the extent of her problems. They only just began.

Now Orihime finds herself standing at the apex of the sectioned off Wilde, iridescent scales lining her cheeks with a large bandage on one side of her face were some had grown in. Her ears have grown long and webbed, fin-like in appearance. She looks down at her shaking hands, watching her nails extend further bit by bit.

She isn't the only one seeing this, right?

There are several others around her, perhaps also instructed to the same place. ]

Th-They said to come here...but...where is here?

WILDCARD ✽ Playing it fast and loose

[ Anything you don't see above! Hit me up here or plot on PLURK at doggystyle ]

Rena Ryuuguu | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni | witch

[fortakeout]

I-a. Arrival (monstery monsters)

[Perhaps you're a monster, minding your own business as you go about your day. Perhaps you have some unusual animal features; fur or scales where they don't belong, horns, wings, anything of the sort. Things you can't just hide willy-nilly.

Well, you appear to have an admirer now.]

Ha... Hauuuuu~

[A very enthused admirer, with her hands drawn up by her cheeks and looking starry-eyed at damn near every recognizable monster that passes.]

Everyone here... is so cuuuuuute!!

I-b. Arrival (everyone else)

[Of course, not everyone is subject to the cute treatment. If you're a perfectly normal-looking person, either a witch or a witch-passing monster, you'll be more likely to get some regular conversation out of her. She seems a little anxious, even, like just the thought of being somewhere she shouldn't is putting her on edge.]

Um, excuse me... What's going on? Is there a way back to Hinamizawa from here? I really have to get home...

[Or Oyashiro-sama might not like it...]

II. Goblin Market

[Oh, sure, there are potions galore. But that's not what Rena is busy browsing. Among other things, some goblins also have enchanted trinkets, and even pieces of straight-up junk and broken equipment they claim can be put to good use. It's these that catch her eye rather than the shady concoctions, and she's busy looking starry-eyed at what looks like a bunch of lovingly used voodoo dolls; faces worn off, eyes torn out or mismatching, bodies bleeding stuffing at the seams.]

They're so cute! How much for these?

[She frowns at the answer, which is a little high for objects in such desperate need of TLC.]

Aww... But I don't have any money...

III. The Hunt

[If there's anything Rena enjoys, it's a good competition, and running around the Wilde in a giant game of tag, as it amounts to, is right up her alley.

If your back is ever turned to her, even for a second, you might find yourself pelted in the back of the head with a bullet of water, her finger as the gun. It's so easy, maybe even more so than the games they play with actual water guns... though she'll have to come up with some new strategies to account for the lack of guns and the broad spectrum of new abilities people can employ here.

Whether caught in the act or not, she says nothing, just grins and darts behind a shrub for cover before she can get fired back at or charged.]

((OOC: Go easy, this is a first-time voice test! If you have any other wildcard ideas, you're free to comment with them, or hit me up at crystalzero if you want to plot!))

Wildcard!

[bravers]

[ooc; Nothing looking good? Feel free to drop your own prompt here! You're more than welcome to contact me on genmon if you'd like!]

IV-2

[mementomoray]

[Huh. That's... weird. Jade wasn't quite as unlucky as Floyd - he got his legs back just fine (for now), but... that was all he got back, which is infinitely more confusing than not changing at all, honestly. His skin is still tinted green, he's still got webbed fingers (and toes, now, if the discomfort in his shoes is any indication), and claws, and cute little ear-fins...

And that eel slime-coat that makes clothing feel gross and sticky.

So maybe Floyd was the lucky one.

It is tempting to go find somewhere in the deep waters to hide out, to take his natural form fully until the potion decides to work properly again, but...

He's got a twin to look after.

A twin who didn't even have the sense to curl up in the shallows to keep from drying out.]

Floyd...

[Cue an annoyed flick of his ear-fins in 3...]

Pyra/Mythra | Xenoblade Chronicles 2 | Witch | OTA

[iustaegis]

Poles and Ribbons
[ It's a disorienting arrival, and it feels as if this strange new world remains spinning around her. She's away from her world, away from the tomb into which she had been placed and sunken below the Cloud-Sea... She shouldn't be here, but she is. She shouldn't be interacting with others, yet she is. She shouldn't have this opportunity-- but here, here she is. Shock and puzzlement aside, she feels both grateful and guilty for this experience.

This doesn't deter her from joining in the festivities, and it's you who she addresses regardless you are witch or monster. With a shy smile that comes along with starting a conversation with a stranger, she speaks in a gentle tone. ] Seems like fun, doesn't it? It's to welcome in the summer, I've heard.

Goblin Market- Wares
[ She's eyeing one item among the various trinkets the locals have on display. It could be a hair ornament or perhaps a watch, a pendant, or a bracelet; whatever it may be, it comes with a vendor saying that is bestows good luck onto whomever dons it.

She doesn't need it, but should you be with her, she'll be holding it up to you with a smile and with a gaze bright with wonder. ] Oh... It matches your eyes.

Around Town
Ah... bonds between witches and monsters?

[ She's been trying to take all of this in, but sometimes a few lingering questions remain. Witches, monsters: she notes these with a curious raise of her brow, bringing a finger to her chin in thought. ] As in, friendship?

Wildcard
[ HMU with a wildcard of your own or alter any of these prompts to fit your character! That, or PM/PP me! ]

[shinkunochou]

[At first she doesn’t recognize him, her eyes wild with fear as she recoils from him] Don’t—!

[But she stares at him, wide-eyed and trembling, before recognition comes to her eyes and she blinks slowly. Finally she stops fighting him entirely.]

...W... Wei Wuxian...? [Her shoulders slump and she bows her head a little, trying to breathe.] I don’t know...what’s happening...

[bookofyonah]

He said all that?

[ She asks, in awe. Whoever this is, she's beginning to feel at ease. Also uplifting for her to hear, to know that her father's still thinking about her, talking about her while he's away. Just as much as she thinks about him.

Again, her father would likely warn her the same. She knows she shouldn't be off on her lonesome. She frowns apologetically. ]

I'm sorry... I just... I wanted to find something for Dad. Do you know where he is?

Claude von Riegan | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | Witch

[kingofunification]

{Unusual Arrival}

[This was not how Claude expected to spend his evening, by a long shot.

He expected to be awake until the rays of dawn began peeking through his curtains, already burning his third candle of the night as he fussed over formations and contingency plans for their march on Enbarr.

He had not expected--nor could he have ever even imagined--that a glint from his pauldron, long abandoned in a chair at the corner of the room, would catch his attention so intensely. He blamed the distraction on the exhaustion of war and the little sleep he had gotten in the weeks since Fort Merceus fell, blaming the way his feet seemed to move on their own on his body begging him for a break.

What he hadn’t expected was the glint to become rippling, blinding, a ringing in his ears before--]

SPLASH

[It feels like Claude is thrown upwards into the air before he comes splashing back down in an ungraceful flail, suddenly consumed by lakewater.

He very quickly comes to the surface, sputtering obsenticies to himself as he drags himself ashore. He stumbles to his feet, slicking water from his hair as he scans the area, now very aware that this is nothing like he’s seen before. His fingers itch for a weapon he doesn’t possess, not liking the feeling of being caught unawares.]

{Goblin Market}

[The best place to collect intel, Claude had always found, was in a city’s underbelly. And when he heard whispers of a market that seemingly popped up out of nowhere to avoid clashing with the law of this land, on top of being a hub of untraditional potions--

--well, to say he was intrigued was putting it lightly.

Beyond picking up rumors, he was especially interested in getting his hand on one of these potions. Not because he believed their use would bring about the benefits they claim, but more for the interest of what components made up such things. Were they similar to the plants and minerals he used back home?

There was only one way to find out.

He strolls down the lane, a smile on his face as he puts on an air of perusing wares.]

{Wildcard}

[Hit me with your best shot!]

Izumo Kusanagi | K | Vampire

[toremainbehind]

[A. Unusual Arrival]

[He was expecting to enter his bar when he opened the door. But then the next thing he knew, he was being pulled in by something, yanking him into something that didn’t quite feel real. It made him tense a bit even as he ends up—

Going through a mirror? No, perhaps it’d be more accurate to say he ended up coming from a window, perhaps one where a person was trying to see their own reflection in the glass panes. He blinks once—twice—and then dusts off his pants as if he hadn’t just come from a window of all things.

Looking up, Izumo gives a smile to whomever ended up seeing him come through.]

Hi there. Don’t mind helping me out, do you?

[A.k.a please tell him where he is and if he can go back. He has a child (children) to take care of as soon as possible.]

[B. A Wilde Hunt]

[One of the few things he had begun to notice was a strange and unsettling sense of unease beginning to creep into his stomach. After the feeling came a strange desire for—

Blood.

Those who decide to hunt in the Wilde will find a large, rather monstrous bat flying around. It screeches, its large wings spreading out as it crashes down into the woods. It shakes out its fur in a way a canine almost would. But it also seems to have taken an animal of some sort into its claws, snacking on it.

The moment you approach, its ear twitches and he looks over, blood dripping from its snout, hissing.]

[C. Wildcard]

[Feel free to start a starter of your own or PM this journal!]

GOBLIN MARKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[taciturnly]

( he might have been less than pleased just a few weeks ago, to see him here, unaware of all the truths that he’s recently learned. they worked together, once. they are allies, but the circumstances of wei wuxian’s death left a bitter aftertaste in the back of his throat, one he can still taste, however faint. it’s the thought of his bonded, ultimately, that soothes his nerves; wei wuxian has already suffered plenty, enough, jiang cheng his only family here, and he won’t stand in the way of potential reconciliation.

not so close to a wedding, of all things.

lan wangji stops behind him, a few feet away. jiang cheng’s suspicion isn’t exactly misplaced; a potion could help, but it could also backfire quickly. here’s a witch for you, sandu shengshou, and lan wangji’s voice is just loud enough for him alone to hear. ) It won’t. ( flat and sure, and he’ll wait for him to turn around and face him, a polite nod in lieu of a bow. ) Jiang Wanyin.

Nashu Mhakaracca | Final Fantasy XIV | Puca

[catterbrain]

GOBLIN MARKET

[Everyone in this market looks so sketchy—it's absolutely where the inspector would have gone looking for a case! Such is Nashu's thinking as she goes wandering betwixt the stalls. The very last thing she expects is to suddenly be struck by a dastardly urge of her own.

One of the merchants calls her attention to a vial in his hand by stepping in front of her, blocking her passage. Instead of responding like a gentle(wo)man, her hand whips out, batting the brightly colored tincture straight out of the salesman's clutches. He instantly recoils in pain, grabbing fingers that have flushed red from how hard she happened to hit him. It takes a moment for her face to shed the impish grin she's utterly unaware it was wearing.

Then, she blinks.

Then, she yells: ]

Everyone watch out! My hand's been possessed by an evil spirit!

[ ...and fails to aptly describe the imminent danger to the crowd around her, spinning wildly above them. By now, the vial has soared to a ridiculous height, so high that Nashu is afforded a moment to point up at it, hopping on her toes in an effort to draw the attention of bystanders. ]

WILDCARD

[Nashu is liable to be found just about anywhere, solving your conundrums by pure accident and/or trying to fix trouble she caused herself due to puca instincts. As you may have also guessed due to the FFXIV cast being at cap, she's just here for fun! And to ask the real questions like "Has your WoL canonly experienced the Manderville questline?"]

[extirpator]

Mmhm.

[ said with another nod, the glint in his eyes more assured than before. ]

It's alright. I don't know where he is. But we can take a trip through the market and buy him a gift before we go look for him. Does that sound okay, Yonah?

[ their dad had been dead for over 10 years. why in the world would she be speaking of him now, he wonders? ]

goblin market

[weiward]

[well, it is a goblin market, so does wei wuxian really need any other excuse to be there?

he is legitimately browsing though, looking for something a little hotter than the last peppers lan zhan brought home from market. the pit of hell that is his stomach can handle far worse than those, but maybe he'll find something with a little more flavor here.

the corners of his mouth turn down as he overhears the bits and pieces of deals and promises going on all around him. but it's one in particular that makes wei wuxian stop in his tracks. it's not the subject matter of the conversation, even if he knows what it's like to not be thrilled by one's own changes. it's the voice. he turns around slowly, and jiang cheng could have gills or tentacles or a damn clam shell clamped around his head, he would still know his brother anywhere.

he runs over to the stall, pushing the tonic away so he can take a long look at jiang cheng. his heart is racing, and every beat of it hurts. it reminds him of how much he's missed him, how much he's wanted to see him again. he could form a hundred new families, but yunmeng jiang will always own a piece of his heart.

and then the surreal moment is broken by aefenglom's brightest smile.]

Don't tell me you're still following after me.

[he does a little hop, trying to get his arms around the sect leader's shoulders.]

i hit post too early whoops

[ua_duibhne]

[The smile freezes in place.

Lancer. Overseer.

The change in Diarmuid is immediate, subtle and yet painfully revealing. Eyes harden, his jaw tenses, the grip on his parcel become tight enough to make the paper scrunch and his knuckles whiten. It isn't discourtesy that has him so on edge, though, it's being face to face with another reminder of Fuyuki. His face might be unfamiliar but his title isn't and neither are the deep implications of what that means.

Everything that once seemed an intriguing novelty about this man has become unsettling and he makes no move to hide his wariness. There's a stiffness to him now that isn't entirely new; he wears it like an old, familiar cloak, one that he thought he might have been able to abandon after arriving here. Not so, it seems.]

... I...

[He hesitates, unsure what to say. As uncomfortable as he is, he has no desire to uncivil; as far as he knows, he has no quarrel with him beyond his own, private bitterness at the Grail War.]

You needn't apologise. [Diarmuid's gaze flickers to the side, betraying even more of his unease even as he tries to push through it.] We may as well be strangers- and I'd almost prefer to think of it that way. I'm sure you understand why given what you know of our shared... circumstances.

[Has the word "circumstances" ever sounded so ominous?]

hey bb hey bb hey (arrival)

[crestfallenfor]

[The pulse of magic washing over the city at such a late hour was... strange, certainly, but Sylvain chalked it up to the coven doing something strange, or to some witch trying some new spell, only to have it go wildly out of control.

Or, he'd like to brush it off as that, anyway.

There's a commotion outside, as the neighbors chase multiple newcomers from their homes with spells and claws, and something tells him to go investigate... elsewhere.

Maybe not unarmed, though, so he grabs his lance on the way out the door, because if this is how new faces were showing up this month... Well. He'd be remiss if he didn't look for familiar faces in the chaos, right? Right.

And that's what takes him to the edge of the lake just when there's a particularly ungraceful splashing and flailing by a particularly familiar someone.]

Claude?

Hisui Hearts | Tales Of Hearts | Turnskin | OTA!

[gale_arc]

[ The Goblin Market ]

[ Does Hisui trust any of these vendors? Nope. He was actually looking for something at first (unaware that this fur problem isn't something that's just going to go away), but some of these particularly wild claims are giving him second thoughts. So is some of the recklessness he's seeing on display.

Especially when some of that nearly lands on him. ]

HEY! Watch where you're slinging that stuff!


[ Wilde Hunt - A ]

[ Given how poorly the goblin market went (and also just his time here in general...he really hopes Kor didn't catch him napping in that box the other day), he's reluctant to trust the offer for the Hunt. But...well, given how restless he's feeling, and the warnings he's heard...what's the harm in giving it a try? He could use the opportunity to stretch his legs a bit. It sounds like he won't be alone, at least. Which is really appealing, for some reason.

Hunting is normally one of Hisui's strengths. He knows his way around a bow and arrow, and has even fought his fair share of monsters with the dual crossbows strapped to his arms (which, sadly, haven't worked ever since he arrived). Hunting with claws and fangs, though? That's. Different. But for some reason, this new form of "hunting" comes a lot more naturally to him than he was ready for. Look closely on the full moon, and you might see a monstrous feline turnskin prowling about, thick black fur accented by streaks of ash grey. Maybe he's after a bear shade. Maybe he's after you. He doesn't have the best handle on this whole turnskin thing just yet, but he at least has enough of his senses not to harm any actual people. For now. ]


[ Wilde Hunt - B ]

[ Of course, after the full moon, Hisui is back to being a lot less feline than before...safe for several traits that (unfortunately) decided to stick around. He's never going to hear the end of it with these cat ears...

But he's still got some energy to work off, so he can still be found here trying to get a handle on things. Gruff as he can be, he's not interested in being a danger to others. Not that that helps much if he accidentally pounces on you. ]

HAH! That was easier than I-

[ And his triumphant smile vanishes as quickly as it appears when he realizes just who he's pounced at. Whoops.

...in his defense, he thought you were a wolf or something. ]


[ Wildcard ]

[ You do you! \o/ PM this journal or hit me up at AnimatorZee#9267 if you'd like to plot! ]

goblins abound

[boarddyd]

[Dimitri returns yet another potion - gently, gently... - and politely turns down an offer. He has no reliable method of determining real tonics from fake concoctions, and his simple search for something akin to a vulnerary is beginning to seem grim.

The street is littered with vendor after vendor, each eager to peddle their wares. Maybe if he finds a weapon's dealer, the trip won't be completely for naught. There's always something worth finding in their collection of rusted blades.

A nearby harpy sings the praises of his new, heart racing potion, and opens a vial to splash it over passers by - Dimitri steps away in time to avoid the spray, but the street smells so strongly of vinegar...

He quickens his step, and soon the acrid bite fades, replaced not by the myriad of market scents but another familiar smell.

Weaving through a small crowd, Dimitri sets eyes on a face he almost recognizes.] Claude? [He damn near barrels for him, barely keeping his pace in the realm of 'walking'. Nostrils flaring when he nears, Dimitri's recognition is confirmed by increased senses he hasn't yet acknowledged.]

[meteodrives]

[ Her hand brushes the back of her neck, looking over the wares on display while the sellers see about entertaining other customers. It's when she hears the voice nearby that she happens to glance over, a reactionary smile, polite, already starting to set in over her features.

The voice sinks in. It's not one she recognizes, though that's hardly the point. The moment she makes eye contact with the man, there's a jolt of uncertainty that signals an uncomfortable familiarity.

She doesn't know his name. She doesn't need to. The eyes unsettle her enough. ]

I--

[ Her hand falls, coming to rest at her side. She doesn't quite turn towards Kadaj, though every instinct rings alarm in her frame. Silver hair, those bright green eyes. You're seeing things, the rational mind says, but she can't pretend it isn't uncanny. ]

I don't think we've met before. [ That's what she says first. ] But you--

[ You remind me of someone else. ]

Who are you?

the hunt — testing

[supersoldier]

[The Wilde provides spacious room for practicing a new, potentially clumsy art. The arcing lances of lightning cast wide and ferociously, but have ample targets to choose from — the trees encircling this particular clearing are scored with the dark lines of similar magic having struck them, likely from even before Tifa had chosen this spot for practice.

Sephiroth is drawn by the bursts of light casting long, temporary shadows along the ground as each burst fires off. His harpy’s instincts balk at the very idea of lightning and such associated magic, but curiosity drives him near enough to spot a woman training these abilities at a distance. However, it is the sudden dawning of a distant familiarity that makes him linger, that prevents him from leaving her he once his question is satisfied.

He knows her, doesn’t he? From her profile, he can tell that age has subtly changed the lines of her face, years departed, perhaps, from where he might recognize her — that would be nothing new, given this place. But Sephiroth’s recollection is not wrong, surely; she’s their guide from Nibelheim. And beyond that, glimpses of what he had gleaned from Aerith’s memory, labeling her as an acquaintance of those here, at the very least.

Whether or not he chooses to interrupt is a different matter, but the decision is soon made for him. An errant bolt of lightning careens in his direction, and his instincts flare — oh, how the distant mind of a harpy utterly writhes at the thought of being struck by it — and Sephiroth back-steps just in time to avoid it striking him squarely in chest. Instead, it slams into the ground near his boots, leaving its mark, and scenting the air of burnt ozone.

This does cause him to pipe up — dry, edged in disapproval.]

Careful. I’m not a willing target.

Vex'ahlia | Critical Role (Campaign 1) | Dragon | { OTA }

[moneytwin]

II. Arrival
[ Vox Machina had seen some pretty crazy things and been unexpected places in its time. But none of that could prepare Vex'ahlia for falling through a mirror and landing arse over tea kettle in the middle of someone else's armory.

At least she assumes it is. Or somewhere attached to a smithy hall. The heat of a dulled forge still warms the room, and she rolls onto one side with a wince, shaking her head. Instinct has her moving quietly, rather than swearing up a storm, but it does not take long to recognise that this is not the airship, nor is she in Whitestone. Peering out the window doesn't reveal much aside from darkened streets beyond murky glass.

And of course the doors are locked.

Well. Nothing for it. She roots around in her pockets, seeking the picks her brother had given her, all the while raising her voice into a lilting tone. ]

Vax? Percy? Pike? ...Anyone? [she raps knuckles as loudly as she can on the wood] Hellloo? Is anyone home? I could use a little help..!


III. Market Time
[ Grog might have the bag of holding, but Vex'ahlia is the one best left to manage the purse strings. Unfortunately, the dragon's share of the party gold was in said bag, and Vex would have to make do with what she had on her: not much.

But she'd always been very very good at haggling. A knack for it that might almost be considered magic in and of itself.

Which is why, one very bewildered vendor and less than half the price he was originally asking for later, Vex is smugly pocketing her purchases and turning to go. Right into you, in face. ]

Oh! [she sidesteps, but only just] I do beg your pardon, darling.


IV. A Wilde Hunt Time

[ The wings had been the first surprise. Without her beloved broom, getting these had been slightly painful (and slightly annoying - it wasn't like she had many spare changes in clothes or armor to accommodate them) but ultimately delightful, even if she couldn't do much more than fly.

Dark red scales, scattered across her skin, had been less exciting to find, and the closer to the moons it got, the more furious she became at being confined indoors--though good manners at least ensured she didn't take that out on her fellow mirror-folk.

So the prospect of a hunt was too much of a draw to ignore. A chance to stretch legs, to stretch wings, and a chance to show off her ranger prowess somewhere new...Who could resist the opportunity? (No bears, however. Vex had a hard line about hunting bears.)

Of course, there was the risk of becoming the hunted...But who was going to mess with a red dragon? Right? ]


V. Wildecard - Hit meh!

CLOSED to Kor

[gale_arc]

[ He's been separated from his sister, he's got sand in places he didn't even know sand could get in, the sandstorm is so bad he can barely see his hand in front of his face... Could today possibly get any worse?

He can't argue that they need to rest once it gets dark out, though. Well, he could, but any attempts he makes get shut down fairly quickly, so he reluctantly picks a spot and tries to get some sleep. He's worried about Kohaku. Quite frankly, he's not into the idea of her being stuck alone in the desert with Kor. Who knows what could end up happening? Kor might be genuine in his desire to help put her Spiria back together, but-... But...

His thoughts trail off as something catches his attention out of the corner of his eye, illuminated by the small campfire everyone is gathered around. You'd think he wouldn't be so drawn to his own reflection, but something about this time is. Different. Before he knows it, he's reaching out and-

-tumbles head-first into god-knows-where with a startled yelp.

It happens so quickly he only barely catches sight of what just happened or where he is, the sudden shift in light doing him no favors. Even his yell is cut short when he lands face-first in what appears to be more water...but definitely not the kind he's eager to drink, even after wandering through a desert.

What follows is a frantic attempt to disentangle himself from whatever position he's landed himself in, interlaced with varying flavors of "WHAT THE HELL?!", some a bit easier to make out than others.

Could today possibly get any worse? Yes. Yes, it could. ]

Yusuke Kitagawa | Persona 5 | Vampire

[heartsy]

( very unusual arrival )

[For those who have monster changes that show or even perhaps if you are a witch with non-human traits, you may be one of many who are called out to in the midst of all this chaos.]

Please wait just a moment!

[A short-haired young man will catch up with you and proceed to observe those changes with a sharp eye-- and perhaps a slight disregard for the personal space typically offered between strangers. His eyes and his voice are filled with wonder as he hums thoughtfully, before chuckling with delight.]

Yes. Yes... this bone structure, this stance-- it's wild, it's peculiar... but it has a breathtaking beauty to it. This is art.

[If you attempt to move, he will stop you.]

Stand still. I haven't finished. I shouldn't just commit it to memory, I need-- yes...

[He appears to be digging for some paper and a utensil.]

( the goblin market )

[In his explorations, it's only natural that at some point, Yusuke would come face to face with the Goblin Market in all it's shady glory. Curiosity easily gets the better of him and he inquires about the odd wares for sale. Having them explained feeds his curiosity-- but only makes it worse. He has seen some unnatural things, but this kind of magic was different... mysterious... And that helps keep the strange tiredness and ill feelings at bay.]

I see, I see... and what is this?

[Yusuke nods and continues to browse the unique items to the seller's delight. There are so many strange things, he's curious to see them all-- there could be items that would prove to be useful to his art.

...perhaps someone should stop him from spending all the money he just got on questionable merchandise...]

( wildcard )

[Any other crazy thing...........]