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

[trost]

Look, no one was hurt, and I learned my lesson. Think you could get off my case a little there?

[ Jean does take responsibility for the mishap, because he had misjudged the danger of the magic he was using, but he has a feeling Kirei is also being critical of him just for the sake of it and that's annoying. ]

... They didn't tell me about any tutorial.

[npc_admin]

[ Kirei did take a second to pretend to think about Jean's request to "get off his case." He pinches his chin between two fingers; he fixes his gaze onto the ceiling; he lets his gaze becomes unfocused like he is truly and honestly thinking it over.

In reality, he is just thinking about what else he can do to be annoying. ]

Mn, no. [ Kirei finally answers and lets his hand drop down to his side. ] Oh. I guess this is a really poorly run world that doesn't even have tutorials, then. [ He tosses in a shrug. ] I guess that means that you'll have to continue to light things on fire as you struggle to gain even amateur levels of control.

[trost]

[ Why is this guy so annoying ......... Jean definitely gets the sense that he's being difficult for the sake of it. Though the best way to combat that would be to not get irritated the way Kirei wants him to, he can't help but bristle. ]

Yeah. Really sucks to be me. I wonder how I'll ever cope. [ The sarcasm is all too evident in his tired voice. Jean would like to get a handle on his new power, but being bad at magic isn't that awful either. He'll just not use it, then. He's always been normal. ]

So with how you're lording over me like this, does that make you an expert?

[npc_admin]

[ He's programmed that way!!! ]

I also wonder how you'll cope. [ Laughter taints every single word. The ex-AI talks in a smug tone like someone that is constantly looking down on someone else. ]

Not at all. [ Again, with a little too much cheer, he responds. ] The powers that I had was situational, at best, but fairly infinite in their capabilities. [ Which is to say as an NPC administrator, he could only ban-hammer people being difficult but only if they were being difficult. If they were skirting the rules, he couldn't do anything. If they found a loophole, he couldn't do anything. His powers were purely based on those breaking the rules in a way that the system recognized. ]

You merely have to be prepared and ready for failure. Are you prepared for those things?

[trost]

Oi. Why're you giving me shit about my magic when you can't do magic yourself? [ Urge to kick an AI in the shin, rising. He doesn't act on the impulse, but he does give Kirei the flattest of looks. Kirei's description of his powers is also so vague and slightly contradictory. It's something he's curious about, so he might ask more later on. ]

And to answer your question -- I've seen more failures than I can count. Of course I'm prepared for something like that. [ For a long time, all they had seen was failure, and so many people lost their lives each time for barely any gain. ]

[npc_admin]

Yes, I was. [ He smiles -- or rather, he continues to smile. The ex-AI seems to be quite pleased with himself. He folds his hands on the table and hums a little happy tune. Ah, that's new. ]

You do seem like a completely desperate individual. [ Father Kotomine nods along that he's certain that Jean has failed his fair share and is more than capable of failing even more. ]

It's nice that your face continues to crumble, though. It means that you still have hope.

[trost]

I don't exactly come from a place where everything's cushy and nice.

[ Or at least, he comes from a place where only the most privileged get to live in that kind of safety. He could have been one of those people, but he ... gave it up, like a damned fool. So yes, when he goes home, he's going to keep struggling and he can definitely see more failures (of which he hopes are non-fatal) in his future. Thanks for the reminder, Kirei. ]

So did you really come over here just to give me shit? Why don't you go away? [ Jean could move but why should he have to move for Kirei's sake when he actually liked his spot? ]

[npc_admin]

Your face makes that quite obvious.

[ Father Kotomine agrees with Jean readily.

The young man looks like someone who has experienced hardship after hardship. There is a haunted look to him that seems like one more bad break will shatter what senses are left in him. As such, the ex-AI cannot help but smile pleasantly at him. ]

I did, and so since I did, I have no intention of leaving. [ He laughs. ] You should also think of this as a test of your own endurance. I'm certain there are going to be quite a few people that are going to make life difficult for you here. Not in the ways that you are used to, but similar.

If you keep running away from them, why even make a grandiose claim of being willing to fail? [ The ex-AI takes this road, but doesn't necessarily believe it. No, he just wants to keep bullying and trying to make it seem like it's a good thing for Jean. Isn't he great? ]

1/2

[trost]

[ This man. This man is so annoying. Jean isn't so naive he's going to believe Kirei is only doing this for his sake, that it's some kind of character-building training. He's had more than enough experience dealing with irritating people and he considers himself quite a veteran at it at this point. ]

Who's running? I'm just trying to get rid of the guy who's clearly here talking incessantly at my ear because he has nothing better to do.

[ He wants to be away from Kirei but he also doesn't want to move from his nice spot, so this is something like a stalemate. ]

I know. I'll just ignore you and drink my coffee then. [ So he does! Jean picks up his cup and brings it to his lips. ]

[trost]

[ He then puts it right back down with a sullen look on his face, because that shit is still cold. ]

'Tch.

[npc_admin]

Do any of us have anything better to do? [ He pointedly asks, then immediately dissolves into chuckles after. ]

You still haven't figured out how to warm that, huh? [ He keeps laughing. ] Good grief. You really are a hopeless person.

[ Father Kotomine is, however, an NPC Admin; he does carry on tutorials and has a general idea of how magic works. It is, however, only in a way that works in his world. ] Well, as fun as it is to watch you struggle, I don't want you to ban us from this establishment by setting the table on fire.

That said, I'll help you. [ He reaches his hand out to tap the side of the cup that Jean is holding. ] Of course, I can only give you assistance that would be befitting of my world so it may end up more disastrous, but at least... I will have had a hand in it rather than be a bystander.

So, do you want my advice?

[trost]

[ It's true. He's wasting a lot of time in this world, wandering around devoid of much purpose. He's not at all surprised that Kirei's revealing now he does have some experience with magic. It seemed like he did, from the way he felt justified in his criticisms of Jean's inexperience (though, he was probably also just being an asshole for the fun of it).

The advice is something he considers. While it's annoying receiving help from someone who clearly takes joy in watching the struggles of others, Jean also wants to improve. If he's going to be staying here, he ought to learn about how the world works. ]

And how would I know you aren't just trying to make a fool out of me?

[npc_admin]

Because it is much more fun to give functional advice and watch someone fail than purposely give faulty advice.

[ He is quick to answer and gives Jean a big, big smile. ]

When you're giving faulty advice, of course you're going to end up failing. [ The ex-AI sits back in his chair and crosses his legs. ] But what's the fun in that for me? It's no better than throwing a pie in your face.

I'd much rather be helpful and see you fail by your own inadequacies.

[trost]

[ please hop over to the overflow! ]