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

m!byleth | fe3h | dragon | ota

[unsacrificing]

i. boaltinn

he seems to almost blend into the crowds with the dark color scheme of his attire, if only his hair were not a bright eye-catching mint. he wanders through the food stalls and various entertainment booths, blank face not betraying a single emotion.

--that is, until he sees a booth where an attendant is advertising that attendees may catch a fish to take home as a pet.

he makes a beeline for the booth, takes the offered paddle (which he stares at curiously, more used to fishing poles), and squats down to try and scoop some fish into a net -- and is immediately shocked when the thin paper of the paddle breaks. oh.... oh no. he's crestfallen.

maybe you'll catch him wandering around the festivities - perhaps he reminds you of someone, perhaps the bright mint hair brings someone else to mind. but it's probably not the best time to question him on such things. he has a fish to catch!!

ii. an unusual arrival (closed to dimitri)

in his line of work as a mercenary and as a professor, byleth has certainly endured many things, some surprising, some irrational, some otherworldly. so he's not entirely surprised when he walks through what appears to be a mirror. he looks back at it, puzzled. was this a power he's always had--?

well, might as well try to figure out what's going on. he looks around the room - it's not much, really. barely bigger than his room at the monastery. but what's the most surprising so far is that he seems to be in someone's room, as there is most definitely someone sleeping.

he steps forward, moving closer to the bed until he can get a good look at the occupant's sleeping face. and--

--his eyes widen, unable to really grasp the fact that it's dimitri looking young and well. not--

he takes a steadying breath, then shakes the other gently. he needs to find out what's going on, and a familiar face is as good a starting point as any.

iii. goblin market

you think anyone in the market is there to browse its various wares. but this man? no, he is picking up things that look out of place, things that are certainly not items being sold by the vendor.

and he will ask anyone - literally anyone - if the item in question belongs to them. a broken button? a tarnished coin? an old sock? he WILL ask. might be a little startling if you take a closer look at him and his pointed teeth, or the hint of scales under his collar.

iv. wildcard

[ooc | some notes - post time-skip, verdant wind route. dragon monster with scaling similar to au ra in ffxiv!]

Market

[bravelyathome]

[From a distance she knows him. Even with the scales, she knows him. It's been so long since she's seen him and with everything going on here it's such a relief that her Fae instincts kick in. She wants to hug him. And when a Fae wants something they simply go for it without a second thought.

So she forgets all about flying and runs right to him, throwing her arms around him. He'll notice quickly her differences but this is definitely Bernadetta.]

P-Professor!

[She'll be embarrassed about her forwardness in a moment. Until then just let her have this.]

[unsacrificing]

[he may have heard the footsteps coming his way, certainly, but he didn't expect to be the one those footsteps were running toward. bernie's small, so he doesn't fall over, and he recognizes her voice, even if it's a bit muffled into his back.

he turns as best as he can in her embrace, places a calming, steadying hand on her back and just lets her be. he might be -- rather happy to see her, too, not on the battlefield, looking, well, frantic as always, but healthy. a bit different, but so is he.]

Are you all right, Bernie?

[bravelyathome]

[He'll feel her wings right away as well as notice that she's a foot shorter. Her little antennae wiggle and when she looks up her eyes are a solid color now. This close those it's easy to see the patterns in them that almost look like little hexagons.]

Bernie's okay! I just haven't seen you in so long. And I was scared I wouldn't ever again!

[unsacrificing]

[he has to take a second to just. take in her appearance. it's really quite cool! she looks like a sweet little bug.]

It has been a while. [and it wasn't the best...situation, either. there's a whisper of guilt in his tone, but now is not the time for regrets.]

I assume you didn't just arrive here as I have.

spider-man pointing (boaltinn)

[hegemonwings]

[ well. byleth knows what her male self apparently looks like, rather unwillingly, thanks to her glimpses into dimitri's memory. and she of course remembers that pale green shade that she's more than happy to be rid of. more than that, the dragon scales set her teeth on edge. this place has a cruel sense of humor, doesn't it?

she should leave him well enough alone. she'd already decided she didn't wish to know of other worlds than her own.

but... here she is, dressed differently than she'd favored in fódlan: a dark grey starched shirt, black trousers and boots, and a dark cloak marked in silver with the adrestian eagle on its chest and back. a pin marked with the crest of flames holds her cravat in place, and the same dagger and medallion hang from her belt along with a saber. ]

Professor. [ byleth forces that out, as neutrally as possible, holding a few skewers of some grilled meat in one hand and a cup of mead in the other. ]

[unsacrificing]

[byleth gets a little frustrated when yet another paddle breaks. why can't he use a fishing pole? why does he have to use a paddle? this isn't relaxing like real fishing at all!!

amidst the clamor of the festivities, byleth has developed a somewhat Pavlovian response to "professor." he looks up, not recognizing the voice, and -- (shocked pikachu.gif)

there's some ping of familiarity, though he's definitely not met her before, not that he remembers. judging by her clothing, she's with the adrestian empire. so either they met on the battlefield or in the monastery.

but something is telling him it's neither of those things.

he stands, putting the broken paddle aside. she has his full attention and his curiosity.]

Hello. I apologize...have we met?

[hegemonwings]

[ ... fuck it. she'll roll with this. there's something almost satisfying in the idea, she thinks. ]

In a manner of speaking.

[ she draws an arm over her chest, bowing slightly in greeting. ]

General Byleth Eisner of the Imperial Adrestian Army, at your service, Professor.

[unsacrificing]

[--hmm, well, that's surprising. but in his yet to happen conversation with dimitri, he recalls the other mentioning something like this among many, many other things. at the time, he wasn't sure what to make of that information, and now he stands before the very woman herself without any mental preparation whatsoever.

he doesn't know whether to be more amazed that she's with the adrestian empire or that she's quite beautiful. the former is surely more shocking, but the latter makes him wonder if he's as handsome as she is beautiful? hmmm he's never thought about it before...but now is probably not the time to start, either.

he bows back.]

A pleasure. I fight for the Leicester Alliance.

[his expression betrays nothing, as usual, but he's -- conflicted? normally running into a general of the imperial army while alone is not the greatest situation to be in, but she's... him, but not. a byleth who has made very, very different choices. but he hopes, at the center of it all, their similarities remain.]

Dimitri has mentioned you.

Boaltinn

[kingofunification]

[There was something about a festival that were calming to Claude. The parties he had to be subjected to as Duke Riegan were insufferable, the nobles of Fodlan too worried about propriety and politics to host a proper celebration.

But this--this reminded him of home, of better times when he was younger and the world seemed less cruel. When his extended family would gather around a bonfire and dance till dawn, and eat and drink until they passed out. It was enough of a homey feeling that the stress of being displaced in a strange world eased from his shoulders.

And maybe...he could just let himself pretend things were all right for a moment.

It's with this mindset that he wanders the field, checking out the food provided and the games the locals have set up, becoming curious about the mechanics. And it's with this investigation that his eyes set on someone so very familiar--that for a moment he chokes on his spit.

He coughs, trying to reign himself in--trying to remind himself that this place was strange, with familiar faces that weren't actually so familiar. He attempts a cautious approach, all smiles as he leans over the man's shoulder.]

Not having any luck with that game, huh Teach?

[unsacrificing]

[he's a bit startled out of his own irritation at the game, but quickly calms. it's claude, and byleth allows the slightest hint of a smile to quirk. he looks up to see the man's ever-present grin, and to see his right hand man - or was he claude's right hand man? - is a balm on the chaos of this entire situation (fishing game included.)]

No. They won't provide fishing rods. I don't understand this method of fishing. It's inefficient.

[the tiniest head tilt as he takes a look at claude. he seems simultaneously wistful and wary at the same time?]

It's good to see you, Claude.

[kingofunification]

I don't think it's about efficiency as it is about skill. These fish aren't stocked here to feed an army, after all--just a challenge to see if you can catch them with faulty tools [His posture relaxes--just a hair, barely noticeable aside from someone who knew his tells. There's a familiarity in the way Byleth addresses him, and a part of him hopes that the familiarity is one that's shared.

Claude kneels down, the easy smile falling into something a little more unsure.] I hope it it's not presumptuous of me to say that it's good to see you as well, Teach.

[unsacrificing]

[well this is a dumb challenge!!! real skill involves a rod!!! he could probably catch 1092381 fish in the time it takes him to catch one with this paddle!

the tiniest scrunch between his eyebrows form as he considers the game, and he glares oh-so-subtly at the broken paddle.

but when claude kneels down beside him, the mild irritation melts. maybe claude can help him catch a fish.]

It's not presumptuous. I'm glad to see a familiar face, and that you're safe.

Goblin Market

[unyieldingmarch]

Edelgard, unlike Byleth, is simply down in the market to pick up a few things. Mostly presents for Hubert, little alchemical gifts, a clockwork toy or two for Leslie, and a few bones and treats for her dog...and so she's strolling along merry with a basket under her arm, looking surprisingly normal. Heavy trousers, a starched white shirt and gloves that reveal no skin at all, with a red cloak to offset things. She's a good bit paler, and carrying a sword at her hip, something simple.

She pauses at the sight of that hair...but it's the outfit that sells it. She can't help but speak up. She steps into his line of sight, but does not get too close. There's no hostility in her stance or voice, just a kind of curious wariness.]

Byleth Eisner, is that you?

[Not Professor. This isn't the one she's familiar with. The one from her timeline.]

[unsacrificing]

[he's just finishing up speaking with a random local, asking if this broken belt buckle is theirs, when she addresses him.

he blinks at her, taking in her very, very different appearance, her lack of hostility, very different from what he last remembers.

she's not one to pull a ruse and dirty tricks to gain an advantage, so he can rest knowing that this isn't some kind of trap.]

Edelgard.

[there is just. so much. to process.]

Yes, it's me. Ah- [a hand to his chin] -though perhaps not as you know me.

[unyieldingmarch]

I'm aware.

[Hand on her hip, Edelgard looks him up and down, but her grip never goes towards the hilt of her blade.

She's not smiling, exactly, but her face is smoothly neutral.]

The Byleth Eisner I know is a woman. And her hair changed back to it's normal color when Seiros died.

[She won't hold that fact back. She has no reason to deny the man these scraps of information, at least.]

[boarddyd]

Sleep does not come easily to Dimitri. His slumber is a heavy thing - not restful, but the body's desperate need to recover before its inhabitant wakes and grinds himself raw once again. With a sheen of sweat over his skin and eyes twitching wildly beneath their lids, Dimitri sleeps with taut muscles and thin breaths.

Woken too easily by weight on his shoulders.

He bolts upright, tangling his legs uselessly in the sheets. At the same time, he grabs the intruder's wrist, grip tight. Like a threat. Like clinging to a lifeline.

Recognition dawns quickly, and he lets go as if Byleth's skin had burnt him.

"Professor!

I. I apologize. Are you alright?"

[unsacrificing]

Byleth isn't too surprised by the sudden, admittedly painful grip on his wrist. He isn't blind to the man Dimitri will become, and he's known about the other's strength. In fact, he's proud that Dimitri has such good reflexes and is so alert!

Now with the other sitting up, he takes a moment to look at him: hair disheveled, shirt crumpled and open, blanket pooled around his hips.

He looks sleepy, but most importantly, oh-so-alive. Byleth can't help but actually smile, setting a hand on the other's shoulder, just so happy to see him.

"I am. I'm sorry to wake you, but I appeared here suddenly."

[boarddyd]

Dimitri simply watches as Byleth appraises him - a mess, in a sheer sleeping shirt left open and little else. He must look ridiculous, hardly the princely figure he's supposed to embody, yet the Professor wears no judgement.

If anything, he looks happy.

The smile spreads to Dimitri's face as well, and when Byleth initiates a connection, tension drains from Dimitri's shoulders. He slumps forward, head lulling far enough to brush Byleth's shirt before he reorients himself.

"...it's really you, then." Whispered, to himself, at the onset of a moment he's yearned for. Then, he looks up. "Please, there is no reason to apologize.

Regardless of the reason or method of your arrival, I... am glad you're here, Professor." He leans his head to the side, brushing cheek against gloved hand. Which was probably inappropriate-

Dimitri shifts, scooting aside on his bed to leave space for Byleth. "Please, sit if you'd like."

iii. goblin market (I couldn't resist Byleth in his natural habit of returning Lost Items...)

[silentsavant]

Soren has, in fact, misplaced an item of his. Normally, it wouldn't be such a loss, but this one in particular holds some sentimental value — a part of his hoard he will wear on his person from time to time. He's currently in the process of retracing his steps, eyes scanning the dull stone streets for a brilliant pop of color. As his chest tightens down on the diminishing hope of ever finding it, another dragon approaches him to ask if he'd misplaced...

...a harlequin doll?

Soren scowls, vertical pupils constricting.

"Why would you think that belongs to me? Ugh..." He crosses his arms, twitches his tail, and tilts his head away in rejection of the sad, silly doll, ready to turn and walk away. "I don't have time to clown around with you. I'm looking for something—"

And then, he stops to give Byleth a double-take. There, poking out of one of his pockets... a flash of cobalt blue. His eyes widen back in extreme interest.

"Wait. What is that?" He points to it, ready to spring upon the other dragon if he has to. If it's a feather, then it might be his ~lost item~...

soren!!!!! and as a dragon...oh how the turns have tabled

[unsacrificing]

Byleth seems to droop in disappointment when the other denies that the doll is his. He'd been looking for the owner of the doll for quite some time, but it truly does not seem to belong to anyone! He's spent so much time on it, he hasn't had the chance to ask about the other items filling his pockets.

So when the other points to his stuffed pocket, his eyes widen in surprise. He'd nearly forgetting himself that he had more than one item.

He pulls out the bright blue feather, handling it delicately between his now scaled, clawed hands. "A feather. Does this belong to you?"

time to... tip... the scalies...?!

[silentsavant]

It takes everything he has not to grab it like it will vanish into thin air if he doesn't. But he manages to restrain himself, extending his arm out like a normal person to pluck it from Byleth's fingers with surgical care. They're both rather scaly, Soren's the color of pitch with burning red at the membranes.

"Yes." He affixes it back to his bow tie, ensuring that it is securely in place. It occurs to him that he might look strange, having shown signs of caring so much about losing a trifle like a feather, but his relief for having been reunited with one of his treasures outweighs any concern for first impressions — not that it was any of the other dragon's business what his belongings meant to him. "I was about ready to concede defeat until you showed up. So thank you."

But it's rather strange, isn't it? A mysterious dragon — an unimaginably rare creature, so it's safe to say this one probably fell out of a mirror — with the serendipity to come to him not only with the item he'd been seeking, but presenting him with another oddball piece of junk? There are more things in his pockets where that came from. Are they also discarded or misplaced belongings? It's enough to make Soren wonder what else he's looking for out of him. He crosses his arms and scrutinizes him further.

"What are you doing, anyway? Collecting people's missing things off the streets for them? If you expect that I'm going to pay you for a job I didn't hire you to do, I would rethink that notion."

Market

[prophexy]

[Urianger is an attentive person - while his living space may end up disorganized from things being put down at random, he's not usually the kind of person to be carelessly dropping things out of his pockets without noticing. But this bustling marketplace has him visibly out of sorts: although he's tall enough to hold steady and keep from getting shoved around, he's having trouble navigating the crowds as they distract him by pushing their way through his personal space. It takes a moment for Byleth to even get his attention to ask.

At least the teeth and scales don't seem to be putting him off any. Is this what the offspring of an Au Ra and a Hyur would look like? How interesting.]

Indeed, 'tis my possession. [He carefully accepts the return of a notebook half-filled with experimental spellwork.] I should have missed it dearly in short order; thou hast my deepest gratitude for returning it.

[unsacrificing]

[byleth blinks a little, mind having to slow down to process the particular way of speaking. but he takes it in stride, nodding.]

Of course, no gratitude is necessary. I found it by the potions booth.

[byleth feels their support rising!]

Are you missing anything else? I've found quite a bit.

[prophexy]

I carry few enough possessions upon my person; 'tis difficult to imagine...

[but he's already checking his pockets and his coin purse, just in case, giving everything he is carrying a good once-over]

...All seems quite in order.

[But what an odd thing to say.]

Well can I imagine that others have misplaced their belongings in such a crowd, yet ne'er have I witnessed such a proactive service even for their collection, let alone their return. Art thou in the employ of the city?