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

ii

[chifeng_zun]

[It's late. Nie Mingjue is finding that he's starting to prefer the calm dark of night these days, another Monstrous instinct swimming to the surface, maybe, but regardless, he hasn't fought it too hard. What does it matter when he's up? He has no Sect, no responsibilities, and no one depending on him for anything. Sure, he has a job now, but his employer (it's still a strange thing to think about) usually only wants him in the evenings until a few hours after she's gone to bed for the night. (He still isn't sure what the old aristocratic woman is so paranoid about, but guarding her and her over-large home is easy money.)

On his way back to his single bedroom apartment (also strange, this world is nothing but strange), to say he's surprised when he comes across a somewhat-familiar, soaking wet young man with a furious air about him is a major understatement. He looks about to fight someone right there in the street. It's a feeling Nie Mingjue can understand, but an urge he's had to tamp down himself these days.

He looks a bit different from how Nie Mingjue remembers, but that shouldn't be anything new. Nie Mingjue died years ago, for some of them. Time for another surprise, maybe.

He raises his voice to be heard over the crowd, a battlefield commander's voice,] Sect Leader Jiang. [He was still a fairly new Sect Leader back then, from what he remembers, but he's not holding anyone to any expectations.]

[sandu_shengshou]

[ eventually he stumbles into a city (town? he has no idea, doesn't much care either), and is greeted with strange sight after strange sight. this place is a headache he can feel pulsing behind his eyes making him clench his jaw even tighter because nothing makes sense and everything seems to be in some level of confusion. (he learns through listening that he is not the only one to stumble into this place, by his attempt to garner more information is met with a muted squeak of a noise and the people talking vanishing into the shadows).

needless to say the annoyance in him is only building. he just wants some goddamned answers thank you very much.

what he gets instead, are more fucking questions. because there, before him, looking nothing like the vengeful corpse he last saw, is Nie Mingjue. ]

What the fuck.

[ he spits the words out, disbelief colouring the tone because he should be dead, dead and buried twice over. it is a heartbeat before he remembers himself and, hallucination or not, Nie Mingjue was someone he always respected. so he shakes himself off a little before bowing, better late than never.] Sect Leader Nie, you're alive.

[ that's the best way to start a conversation, right? right. ]

[chifeng_zun]

[What the fuck. That's a fair question, honestly. Nie Mingjue gets it. He's been made aware of at least some of the series of gruesome events after his death and surrounding his death. He knows he's a fierce corpse now sealed in a tomb with the corpse of Jin Guangyao. But that all feels... It's hard to own that image of himself along with the image of how he is now, recovered from the physical effects of his qi deviation, trying to make a new life in a city of Monsters and Witches (because no other options remain to him).

But regardless, it's understandable for Jiang Wanyin to be surprised to see him. He returns the salute when he gets closer, his own expression difficult to read. He's somewhere between amusement at the blunt surprise and general irritation (thinking about the circumstances of his death, not at the other Sect Leader's presence).] Yes, I am. I have been made aware of... most of what happened, after my death. [At least the details that concerned him. So the other man doesn't feel like they need to go over that again.]

Has anyone explained to you where this is yet?

[sandu_shengshou]

[ there are questions. lots of questions. most of them revolving around the general concept of how the fuck in Nie Mingjue alive and well right about now, how does he know about what happened to him? as much as Jiang Cheng is curious, he also knows that this is not the time or place for such things, not in the middle of the street with strange eyes watching. though, Nie Mingjue looks relaxed enough despite the crowds, the strangeness that is milling about them.

he also offers up answers to the more immediate question of where this place is.

with a quirk of his brow, Jiang Cheng straightens and shakes his head.] I just arrived, in a lake of sorts. [ one so very different from the familiar warm waters of Yungmeng. he gestures to his soaked robes. ] I take it this place is not a particularly well-crafted illusion?

[ he has never heard of anyone being able to do something like this, create something so vast and realistic and varied. create something that felt so very real, from the uncomfortable cling of his robes to the smells in the air. ]

[chifeng_zun]

[Yeah that's a fun story. Except it's not, really. It's about as fun as a qi deviation. But they're in public, and Jiang Wanyin is soaking wet and smelling like a river, and he would probably appreciate the chance to dry off while they talk.]

That seems to be happening. [He says with a furrow in his brow. His own arrival hadn't been pleasant, but it had been in the Looking-Glass House, with witches at the ready to deal with the injured.] No, it is no illusion. Improbable magic of some kind. Even the natives don't seem to know how it works.

[He shakes his head, gesturing briefly. His tone is brusque and businesslike despite the strangeness.] Come. We'll find you some towels. I'm sure you have questions. If I cannot answer them, there are others here - Wei Wuxian, Hanguang-jun, Zewu-jun. [His lip curls.] And Jin Guangyao, but I would never trust a word out of that snake's mouth.

[sandu_shengshou]

[ as familiar as he is with death, discussing the circumstances of Nie Mingjue's is not what he considered polite conversation. or even enjoyable conversation for that matter. he is pleased however to see a familiar face amidst all this strangeness, even more so one that he knows he can trust to speak plainly to the truth of the matter. ]

Improbable magic with no rules, why does that unsettle me more than waking in a lake.

[ the words are muttered as he moves to follow Nie Mingjue, the crease between his brows deepening as he considers his questions, but that train of thought is swiftly halted at the sound of his brother's name. he pauses, fingers curling inwards as he tries to reign in the flare of emotion that wells up (anger, relief, worry).

they have parted ways, and he is trying to let the past be buried, but--

Jin Guangyao]

Of course, that fucker wouldn't stay dead. [ wait, shit, that was-- breath Jiang Cheng. ] He is the last person I would seek for truths unless I wished to know how sharp my sword was.

[chifeng_zun]

Because it's unsettling. [He says simply, blunt as ever, seeing no reason to beat around this bush. Nie Mingjue is not terribly fond of magic, or terribly fond of this place yet, and these new developments are even stranger than he thought imaginable.

As he leads the way to a small inn, after he's asked the proprietor for some towels, he sends Jiang Cheng a small, grim smile.] Then we are in agreement. [On the fact that Jin Guangyao should have stayed dead and that he's a lying liar who lies. The woman comes out a few minutes later with an armful of towels for Jiang Cheng, obviously trying and failing not to give them a strange look.] Apparently fate had further plans for the both of us dead men.

At least you are less stuck than some of us. Supposedly you will be able to leave the way you came, at some point. [He breaks again to get them a table in the small dining room and order a pot of tea as well. At this hour, it's basically empty.]

[sandu_shengshou]

While I have no arguments with yourself, fate has surely fucked up with that snake. [ this is why he appreciates Nie Mingjue. there is no need to wonder about the truth of his words or his feelings about a subject. there is just honesty as blunt and well wielded as the blade the man had been known for. Jiang Cheng can respect that far more than he can respect a lot of other things.

taking the towels with a small thanks, he first dries what he can from his face, before wrapping it around the length of his hair before they take a seat. well, first he takes a moment to lay down some towels so that he does not drip everywhere, though thanks to his robes being lighter than many others, they are not retaining as much of the water as they could have been.]

Return? And you-- [ he stops. Chifeng-zun probably does not wish to return, not if it is only to the end which awaited him. Jiang Cheng turns the rest of his words into a cough, having the foresight to think about his words for once in his life. ] Ah, so this place what? Summons people here on the regular then?

[chifeng_zun]

[The small snort that could almost be laughter probably says well enough that Nie Mingjue agrees whole-heartedly. Fate did fuck up with that snake. But boy does he have some gossip on that.] I think he's turning into a snake now. He has the slitted yellow eyes of one. [He hasn't gotten close enough to see the tail he hides, or he'd be crowing about that too.] At least this place has put its own brand on him.

[It's put a brand on Nie Mingjue as well, but the tiger stripes creeping up the sides of his neck from under his collar are easier to stomach. If he has to be a beast, at least he is the king of beasts. ...Part king of beasts. The crocodile skin patches are lower, easier to hide.] If I return I only die again. It's the same for him. [Neither of them have anything to go back to. It doesn't quite seem fair but that's the stark reality of their situation.]

Yes, something like that. Normally we come through mirrors in a cottage on the Coven's grounds. At least, that is how the rest of us arrived.

[sandu_shengshou]

[ Jiang Cheng would like to say that he is not one for gossip, but that would be a bit of a lie. the news that Jing Guangyao is turning into a snake nearly makes him smile, he huffs some laughter at the very least, amusement in the creases around his lips. leaving a brand indeed. a warning perhaps. one that he hopes people heed because he knows first hand how unassuming Jin Guangyao can be when he wishes to be.]

Fitting, does this place usually leave such a mark on those that are brought in, or was he a particularly special case?

[ he has yet to note his own changes, the sharpening of his teeth, patches of scales along his ribs, but that can be a panic for another time. for now, he will dip his head in thanks when the tea arrives and moving to pour some for Nie Mingjue and then himself. ]

So it is not usual to arrive through a lake? How lucky for me. [ he will need a sip of tea to wash down that salt now.]

[chifeng_zun]

If you have none of this world's magic, then you will inevitably change, though I am certain it would be into something less distasteful. I am changing as well. [He reaches up and tugs the collars of his robes aside, just a couple of inches, just enough to bare a patch of soft, orange and black tiger fur growing down his shoulder from the base of his neck.] And Wei Wuxian. The Twin Jades of Lan are both what this place call Witches. Everyone else are what they call Monsters, though apparently it is not meant to be an insult. [He's still doubtful on that one.]

A very unlucky arrival. [He agrees, not without sympathy. His own arrival hadn't been pleasant either, just... more dry.] Besides being wet, are you well?

[sandu_shengshou]

[ of course. nothing could be simple could it. Jiang Cheng narrows his gaze, takes in the fur that has made its mark on Nie Mingjue's skin and feels as if his own skin is suddenly too small for his bones. he does not like that this is one more thing about this place that has made a choice for him, that he will apparently have no choice but to also change, if what he is being told is true. and he sees no reason for it not to be.

he ignores the twinge when he hears that Wei Wuxian is also changing. ]

....monsters. And that is not an insult how? Are they something revered here? [ there is no malic in that, he is curious. even if he cannot quite wrap his head around it. though, with the exception of the fun and a slightly calmer demeanour, Nie Mingjue has not seemed to have changed in any way that really matters.] Mm, I am fine. At the very least, the water was not unbearably cold.

[ a pause while he sips some tea.]

You mentioned witches, what does that entail in this place? Are there changes for them as well?

[chifeng_zun]

[He shrugs one shoulder at that as if to say 'beats me'.] Not revered, so much, but generally they are treated as well as anyone else. I do not understand it either. The word simply does not have the same connotations here as it does elsewhere. [You can usually tell if someone's calling you a monster to be an insult, at least. And he's had an incident before, but that, he figures, is more because he is a Chimera rather than because he is a Monster.]

Good. [He nods when he says he's fine.] Witches are connected to this world's magic. It is the closest thing they have to cultivation, being able to cast these spells. They keep their forms, however.