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

[freecshow]

Huh? No way! I'm not that bad... [but he fell asleep anyway either way, didn't he? dang...

when Killua tosses the orange, Gon catches it, then narrows his eyes with a little frown. when is Killua gonna stop PITCHING THINGS AT HIS FACE

but also: blessed orange. Gon's irritated expression fades through a yawn, then he mindfully begins to pick the peel, smiling pleasantly towards Killua.]

Anyway, I finished reading about what kinds of monster types there are. [even if he didn't go super into depth about their actual histories, since he and Killua were skimming for traits.] Doesn't seem to be that many.

[Gon's unpeeled the entire orange in one spiral, and he pulls the orange in half, resting one of them against the little coil of citrus rind.]

I think I'd most wanna be a Turnskin. Seems the least inconvenient in a lot of ways... Plus, being able to turn into an animal would be kind of fun.

[ever adaptable. Gon pops an orange slice into his mouth.]

[killuwatt]

You finished it? [ Finished skimming it, anyway. Killua wonders if he saw that picture... he needs to stop thinking about it too much before he starts blushing again, dammit. ]

Hmm. I guess.

It's so annoying that they can't just tell you. If people have been coming over from other places randomly and turning into stuff here, they should have better ways of monitoring it by now.

[ He huffs, as if he knows a damn thing about the research and methods that would go into something like that. But still! This is inconvenient and dumb! And... nerve-wracking.

Killua chomps down on a grape with extra vigor. ]

[freecshow]

I didn't finish the chapter, [Gon laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head.] I just finished reading about the different kinds of Monsters there are...

[Gon blinks when Killua huffs about the Coven as he continues to snack.]

Hmmm... I guess they already do all this nice stuff. Maybe they're still working on fine tuning their divinations or whatever because they've probably been working on making the Haven district and stuff?

[Gon also has no idea how any of that nonsense works, though part of him feels like Killua's right...]

But it would be smart if they worked on that, you're right... Some of those Monster types seem like they could be a little dangerous. Especially if people from different places are being brought here so suddenly. Who knows what kind of people you get, sometimes! Imagine if Hisoka came here instead of us...

[killuwatt]

...or whatever, [ Killua echoes with a grunt. He looks faintly alarmed at the notion of Hisoka appearing, but covers it up with another grape. ]

Yeah, they've gotta have some way to make sure random people from different dimensions don't run around destroying the place or killing people. Maybe they assume they can overcome anyone with their magic?

Maybe they're just stupidly naive.

[freecshow]

Both sound possible...

[Gon thoughtfully finishes the first half of his orange, then plucks up the second half, looking entirely too concentrating as he pulls apart a little piece.]

I guess there's nothing I can really do, either way...

But—

[Gon lifts his head, like he's suddenly just thought of something.]

Ah! Killua, you saw, right? It mentioned full moons, a couple times? [in both books.] Do you think that affects people who don't have magical potential before they even develop any Monster stuff??

[killuwatt]

[ Killua's eyes widen a fraction. ]

...huh.

[ He hadn't considered that. The stuff about the moons, their effect on Monsters of all types, and the dangers of pushing them into more animalistic forms or behaviors, even ferality.

He'd also read some of the information on Bonds between Witches and Monsters. Killua wonders if Gon had seen any of that. ]

I have no idea. And I don't think these books are gonna help with a question like that.

[ He stares at Gon, the corners of his mouth tight, focusing intently. ]

Do you feel like... it might?

[freecshow]

Hmmm...

[hands cupped over the knobs of his ankles, Gon leans back with a thoughtful frown, closing his eyes, like he's searching his feelings. physical and mental.]

Not—really, but...

[he straightens up, blinking back towards his friend.]

This circumstance is also so unusual, I of course already feel kinda crazy, you know? Coming to a new world and stuff. It's a little hard to differentiate!

[killuwatt]

Yeah. That makes sense.

[ Killua agrees, charitably. He doesn't even tease Gon for it; he feels the same way, and he's not even the one who's going to become goodness-knows-what type of creature. ]

Well... if you ask me, I think it's unlikely, right? The beings who reside in this world already and area being affected by it are different from those who come here as humans, originally. Or as anything else, I suppose.

If you're not one of them yet, why should the effects be the same?

But that's just my hunch. Maybe you should ask someone who's been here longer in your position. Like when we go to that hunting thing. Though I have no idea what we're supposed to be hunting.

Anyway. Even though there's still a bunch of questions, I think we've made good progress.

There's no point in sitting around hemming and hawing over what-ifs at this point.

[freecshow]

Yeah, [Gon agrees, tension deflating from his body as he goes slack, leaning backwards onto his palms with a big sigh. he seems relieved that their looking into it has reached Killua's standards of being adequate; especially with how long it takes to transform, Gon wasn't actually super worried about finding out a ton right away...

but it's for Killua. both so there's a reason for him to stay around (that feeling still lingers), and possibly for Killua's nerves.

that is, if he worries like that, still. feeling his stomach squirm a little, Gon forces himself to immediately switch tracks.]

Jee—z, today ended up kind of busy after all... Ah.

[Gon smiles, righting his posture again.]

Oh yeah, what other snacks did you get?

[killuwatt]

Man, they really didn't have anything good.

[ Killua complains, though secretly he's a bit relieved at the change in subject too. There's only so much of the uncertainty around this research he can handle, and focusing on it for so long has increased his worry more than lessened it. He'll hold onto the books and do more reading later, when he can concentrate. Having Gon nearby used to feel relaxing, but now--

It's not that it makes him uncomfortable, exactly, but it takes so much more effort to make it feel... normal. And that makes it a lot harder to find it relaxing, even if he still feels comforted by Gon's presence here just as much as he's worried by it. The constant push and pull of conflicting emotions is exhausting.

Killua shoves the books away and grabs the plates, scooting his chair closer to the bed and resting them on the edge of it so Gon can reach more easily. ]

Some fruit, cheese and bread. Boring stuff. And when I asked if there's anything good to drink, I got milk.

Not even juice! I need to get some money real soon or I'm gonna die. Who can eat nothing but this stuff every day?

[ By 'this stuff' he means mostly healthy things, too often. Gross. ]

[freecshow]

I was wondering why you seemed to get such healthy stuff, [Gon observes through a fond, bright smile. he's not even teasing Killua intentionally, that time; it's said with fondness, but of course it sounds like a drag. that's what it's like when you're close with someone, right?]

It's easy! I could. You could probably adjust to it. Besides, this fruit's actually pretty good!

[Gon has a palette for quality in produce, unsurprisingly... Gon walks up on his knees on the bed, getting himself a piece of bread and a couple pieces of cheese. even just that much proximity to get a bit more food makes Gon feel strangely on edge. not in a bad way, but in a way where he similarly has to sort of force himself to seem like he feels normal.

it's so mundane. and it's kind of nice, that way. that they're just resuming, for now, however complicated that was in and of itself. but the truth is, Gon's entire body is tense, stifling himself from throwing himself at Killua and crushing him in a sore, emotionally bruised hug, desperate to soak his body in that long-missed proximity.

but you know, snacks.]

I'll bet their cheese is good too. It seems like the local culture is pretty simple, but in terms of food and farming, that means the quality's usually good.

[killuwatt]

I shouldn't have to adjust to it! [ Killua counters, mortally offended. ]

They definitely have pastries and candy, and even milkshakes! I've seen them. It's not fair.

[ He sighs, petulantly munching on an orange slice. It's definitely not bad, as Gon said. He's not even that upset, but it feels kind of natural, like something they could argue about in the... old days. ]

You're calling this culture simple? Big words from an island boy.

[freecshow]

I mean compared to some places we've gone, Killua! Sheesh!

Whale Island has better food than a lot of places we've been to, for example... Isolated cultures kinda perfect their resources, you know?

[that's definitely his small-town island boy bias talking...but there might be some truth to it. Gon scowls, a nagging expression set gloweringly on Killua as Gon has another thought.]

Killua, you haven't just been eating pastries and milkshakes this whole time, have you?

[killuwatt]

I wish!

[ He huffs, glaring at the cheese. ]

They had some at some festival the other day... I stumbled into it and got a bunch of samples. But no milkshakes here. The old Witches are way too stingy!

[ A lot of the Witches they've seen aren't even old... Killua's just being a petty jerk. ]

[freecshow]

[Gon smiles, plucking the piece of cheese Killua was previously so dumbly glaring at.]

Or maybe that's just another way they're trying to look out for you?

[that time, Gon's teasing, and he pops the cheese into his mouth—and seeming pleased, his posture straightens, eyes and smile brightening.]

—Oh! This is pretty good...

Oh yeah, when's this Hunt thing you were talking about?

[killuwatt]

Oh. It's... uh. Tonight? Someone said after sundown tonight, to be ready for when the moons are fullest tomorrow night. I didn't understand if that means Monsters are affected tonight too or just tomorrow, but we can go check it out.

[ Grudgingly, Killua takes some of the bread and cheese too, even though he likes the grapes better. Gon's right, though he won't admit it. ]

[freecshow]

[Gon gives Killua a sidelong glance as he continues snacking, because he knew it was tonight! but relative to that...

Gon leans forward to pick a couple of grape sprigs before settling back on his heels.]

Right... I guess that's kinda soon, huh? I don't even know what to expect...

[killuwatt]

Only one way to find out!

[ Gon leaned in... so close. Ah. Killua leans back in response almost without meaning to, taking a drink to hide behind. ]

So you wanna go tonight or wait until tomorrow?

[freecshow]

Let's go tonight!

[Gon pops a grape, talking around it a bit as he chews. it's as flavorful as he'd hoped.]

If they're doing it both nights in a row, maybe if it's fun, we can do it again! Or if we learn something we wanna try and find out more about?

Or...if it's really horrible, then we can just stay away from it.

[killuwatt]

Yep. Those are the options, obviously.

[ Killua shrugs. ]

Sounds fine to me. I want to see what it's all about, and maybe there you can talk to more Mirrorbound people in a similar predicament as you.

I'm fine to leave whenever we're done eating. Sun's been down a couple hours so it should be open, right?

[freecshow]

[Gon frowns, hawking his grape stem at Killua's head for his rude response.]

Like I'd know; I'm just following your lead! But I'm okay to go whenever, [Gon adds, scooting to the edge of the bed. incidentally, his knee brushes Killua's, with how he's scooted so close to the bed. Gon pretends not to notice, bending to reach for his boots.]

[killuwatt]

[ Killua definitely notices.

Their legs barely touch, but the skin to skin contact, however brief, sends a tiny jolt tingling all the way through Killua's body. The casual contact is such a surprise, he almost forgets to answer.

Killua stays very still. ]

All right. Then if you've had enough to eat for now, we can just... go. Or whatever. Who knows if it'll even be fun?

Either way, there's lots of the city I still haven't seen. We can look around and compare notes.

[freecshow]

[Gon isn't sure what he feels well in his chest, but it isn't anxiety—something pleasant that makes Gon sit up a little straighter, his smile growing and eyes softening. the hunt sounded fun, but...

exploring the city with Killua was appealing for ways Gon doesn't bother to look at hard enough to quantify off cuff. maybe because it proves there doesn't have to be some hard purpose to them spending time together. there's a healing sense of hope in that sort of sentiment.]

Mm! Actually, that sounds really fun. We can always do the Hunt when it's an actual full moon, instead. Maybe it's better we just relax a little before that, since we have no idea what that's even gonna be like.

[killuwatt]

Hmm. [ Killua seems to consider this. When Gon sits up, it's easier to move his knee away very slightly without seeming like he's doing it on purpose, since he doesn't want to alert Gon to it. Gon probably didn't even notice. This is so stupid.

Focus, Killua.

He shrugs. ]

Yeah, sure. I don't care. If you wanna see how things are tomorrow night, it'll still be there.

You've spent some time exploring around here, right? Where should we start?

[freecshow]

Yeah!

But... Hmmm...

Some of the stuff I thought was pretty cool I'll probably have to show you some other time, cuz they might be closed by now...

[Gon's never thought about it before; something like touring Killua around, or entertaining him... it used to be that Killua seemed to have fun just because he was with Gon, and less because he was specifically being shown anything. the only time Gon can remember it vividly being that way was when Gon took Killua to Whale Island. a stunning tour of mundanity, which Killua really liked...

but it's tricky, cuz he's also easily lead to boredom.

either way, Gon's not particularly anxious about it. he steps into his boots.]

But there's a couple things I can show you.