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

Sieg | Fate/ | Dragon

[heartmunculus]

I. Arrival

[Sieg just sleeps. As the evil dragon who looks over the Greater Holy Grail, he has to watch over it, making sure nobody can actually use the thing. It's when he opens his eyes to see the reflection of himself in that golden cup that he ends up crashing through a mirror he doesn't remember into a world he doesn't recognize.

It seems like some sort of apartment, but he can't recognize it as anything he's ever seen before. He sighs, checking himself over. This is... his terminal, isn't it? This isn't quite correct, though, dragon tail lightly squishing in agitation.]

Excuse me. I'm sorry to be a bother but where is this...?

II. The Goblin Market

[He knows he doesn't particularly like any kind of golden cup. But he also has the strongest urge to take every single one of these and pile them together, somewhere no human or monster would ever find them again. It's a strange instinct that he's almost certain he didn't have before. Sure, he'd take any Holy Grails away, but that's very different than trying to take any golden colored cup.

Which is why he's been staring, agitated at this golden chalice that's sitting on one of the tables.]

... How much is it?

III. Wildcard

[ooc: hit me up on aureatian or just reply here!]

a

[npc_admin]

Who's to say?

[ An A.I. now made flesh and blood is sitting in a chair, greeting the person who has appeared suddenly in the room. ]

I cannot access my database and all attempts to do so have been met with silence. [ Father Kotomine lets out a small, annoyed sigh. ] Well, that is only natural since I am actually breathing air right now.

[ As though to prove his point, he takes a deep breath in and then out. ] How troublesome.

[heartmunculus]

Your... database?

[As it is, Sieg has no familiarity with AI. Is it rude to ask if somebody is a computer? If it is rude, maybe he shouldn't...]

This must be uncomfortable for you.

[At least Sieg had a flesh body once upon a time.]

[npc_admin]

Yes.

[ He offers a small nod in return. For someone who is in someone else's house, he certainly has moved in. Which is to say, he sits in a chair with a book propped in his lap. He just needs a scotch or some hard drink in his hand to really make the scene. ]

It is. [ Father Kotomine nods yet again. ] But don't go worrying yourself over me. I'd rather that you have a wretched face over your own predicament.

[heartmunculus]

[Well, it seems like this man is doing... well for himself? Despite being unable to access his database.

Sieg looks even more lost.]

You want me... to have a bad time?

[It's true this isn't ideal, but that seems a bit excessive.]

[npc_admin]

[ The once AI smiles. ]

If you could.

[heartmunculus]

I just arrived.

I don't know how possible that will be.

[And he's not sure he really wants to do as he's been asked either.]

[npc_admin]

Well, think of it like this...

[ The AI closes the book resting in his lap. ]

... you don't know where you are, you don't know how you got here, you are in a strange room with someone who refuses to sympathize with you... I'm surprised you don't feel more wretched, honestly.

[heartmunculus]

[Sieg goes silent for a moment. Is this... supposed to be unusual? That was the first few hours of his life. It didn't get too much better from there either. But he did charge straight back into a war...

He thinks maybe humans don't have such tumultuous lives. But he was never one of them.]

... I am. [Is what he manages, the kind of tone that suggests he's been in this situation enough that he doesn't find it that odd or truly worrying.]

[npc_admin]

Good grief.

[ The book is tossed to the side. What does he care? It isn't his book. The AI rises up out of the chair. ]

You are even more helpless and hopeless than I thought. [ Father Kotomine shakes his head. ] Honestly, the first thing you should have done is attempt to leave here. Neither one of us owns this place. I only wanted to cause a little bit of disturbance for whomever lives here.

[ It's nice he admits these things?? ]

Anyway, let's get going.

[heartmunculus]

[At least he admitted it?? But it seems like whoever lives here isn't in at the moment.

Besides, isn't it more polite to talk to the person who happens to be in the room with him? What's the correct protocol when it comes to spilling out of mirrors? He was never prepared for this.]

Um... alright.

[He'll head towards the door.]

[npc_admin]

What's your name?

[ He opens the door for the helpless, hopeless fool to walk through first before following after. ]

I really need to know the name of someone even more foolish than that Master.

[heartmunculus]

[Uh... hm.

Does he give his name, say he's a nameless dragon, or Fafnir.

He does take a step out into the hallway, trying to decide.]

You can call me Sieg.

[It would be a little bit too weird to be called 'nameless dragon' especially when he doesn't know how long he'll be here.]

[npc_admin]

[ He blinks. ]

Oh. I have no intention of calling you by your name. I just wanted you to know that I know it, foolish person.

[ Isn't it fun to hang out with him? ]

You can call me "Father Kotomine," however.

[heartmunculus]

...

[Sieg completely ignores the first part because it sure doesn't matter if somebody doesn't want to use his name. It's not the first time that's happened either.

The second thing though-]

You're not him.

[npc_admin]

...

[ "Are you okay?"

He almost says that before pausing at Sieg's response. ]

Well, of course, I'm not.

[heartmunculus]

You said to call you that? You don't look anything like him.

[ Don't worry, Sieg is fine (probably). ]

i

[siegfriend]

( perhaps it's fate, or luck has somehow played a massive part in all of this, but someone else busts through another mirror close by. shaking his head to clear the shards out of his hair, he first takes stock of himself before turning to his side and addresses the other...

hm. )

I'm not sure, but...

( he's not... sure what else to say. )

[heartmunculus]

[Oh.

It's very strange to see Siegfried face to face. He never really got a chance to speak to the one who helped him so much.

His tail swishes in even more agitation, unsure what to say to him.]

Should we... look around...?

[That's what people do, right?]

[siegfriend]

( yes, that is certainly what people do. his own tail sweeps along behind him, in contrary motion to sieg's. he doesn't want to look away just yet, quietly reflecting, wondering how this is at all possible?

but after a moment he nods, a gentle smile softening his expression. )

Yes. We should apologize to the owners of these broken mirrors as soon as we can, too.

( ... )

Are you injured?

( they did just got yeeted into existence, after all. )

[heartmunculus]

[If Sieg is here and Siegfried is also here, than is this all just a dream? It's nowhere in the Holy Grail.]

We should.

[That is, if they can find them around. It seems like a very empty apartment.]

I don't think so? What about you?

[He's pretty sure he still knows what an injury feels like.]

[siegfriend]

I'm fine.

( physically. he's still trying to suss out what to say, but in reality there isn't much that comes to mind. the only thing that does worry him are the draconic features. they don't look unnatural on him, though. )

And I'm relieved to see you. Somehow, this feels like destiny. Don't you agree?

( and at least being a servant of chaldea, he's... a little more adjusted. to some things. when his eyes catch some stairs, he gestures toward them. )

After you.

[heartmunculus]

[Maybe this is something else they share, not really knowing what to say. Sieg's tail is a scaled down version of his normal one, black scales contrasting with the paleness of the the rest of him.]

Alright.

[He's still a bit cautious, looking around for others before starting down them. It's been such a long time since he's had to deal with getting around this way.]

... How are you?

[siegfriend]

( he has a feeling that they should be alone, and therefore safe. not that he expects anyone to challenge them, not when he has balmung close at hand. )

Good. ( as good as he can be, but the lack of words... it's not a bad thing that they're together. right? ) And yourself?

( with as much care as possible he keeps his tail from knocking over anything or bumping into the walls. his is admittedly thicker and heavier than he remembers, and he can't attribute it to exhaustion.

and just in case, if sieg is feeling similarly? he keeps a watchful eye on the other. )

[heartmunculus]

[Sieg's used to his body as either the nameless dragon or a homunculus feeling exactly the same. Either way it's still him.

But he doesn't usually have... extras.]

Mm... I don't have anything I should complain about.

[The fact he's here to begin with is already something to treasure. When he has so few memories, the chance to gain more is nice.]