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

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He follows after Kirei without hesitation. As uncomfortable as he's getting, he's still far too interested in the priest to listen to his better instincts. ]

Ciarán Cú. [ He doesn't want to be called Berserker any longer, nor does he want to be called Cú Chulainn. The name given to him by Caster is the only one that matters. ] And why do you feel sorry for me?

[ Now he gets a bit cagey. He's...satisfied with the life he has here. His Bonded mean the world to him, especially Diarmuid (he owed pretty much all of it to their Bond). ]

I finally have something worth protecting and not just because I was told to do it. I want...I want something for myself. If you feel sorry for me because of that, I don't care.

[livingimpaired]

Do you truly want it for yourself?

[ Kirei pauses to look towards Ciarán Cú. He did smile a little when he heard the name given to him. So, you have cast away your True Name because you do not consider yourself even that Celtic Dog? ]

I feel sorry for you, because you do not know how to live. You have accepted the answers that others have given to you, and believe that they are the way to light your path. [ His gaze no longer settles on the once Servant at his side but fixed in front of him. He tilts his head up slightly to look toward the sky. ]

What life are you living for yourself? You're living it for other people. Indeed... I suppose empty people like ourselves cannot find happiness alone. We have to take it from others in order to feel whole. [ His shoulders shrug. ] I don't want to return to a live where I am blind to the fact I am living for others and saying that it is for myself.

That is all.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker doesn't want to listen to what he's saying, if only because it rings true. Does he want what he has for himself or is he only doing it because that's what he should be doing? He will never question his feelings of devotion for Diarmuid, that much can never be shaken, but everything else...? ]

An Alter is never given the choice to live their life for themselves. I will always be nothing more than a shadow of who I should be. Of course I don't know how to live for myself...I was never given the chance. [ His tone becomes increasingly bitter. ] I was wished into existence for the needs of a selfish woman. I was forced to give up so much in the name of strength...all to be an apathetic killing machine and a mad king.

[ And now he has emotions he can't handle complicating matters. An unpleasant torrent of emotions ties his stomach into knots, making him stiffen. ]

Don't pity me. I don't want it.

[livingimpaired]

Is that so?

[ His tone is equally apathetic. He is not moved from the story that Ciarán Cú tells him. If anything, he smiles more at hearing about the wretched existence of the Servant. Ah, so that is why you are a Berserker. I had thought in some other world and some other time... you had been swallowed up by the Grail and morphed into something else. But no, it is from a wish, huh? ]

Why shouldn't I pity you? You may not want it, but it's mine to give.

[ But he supposes that he no longer pities him. No, he thinks that his existence is amusing, at best. ] Don't give excuses, Ciarán Cú. You are better than that, or so I should hope. You didn't know how to live for yourself because you were wished into existence by a selfish woman... she made you destroy yourself for her.

Did you not feel anger? Hatred? Did you not revile her? You killed yourself off so that you could survive, so that you would not go anymore mad than you had to. An effective strategy to say the least. [ He still does not break his stride. ] You had a chance to cling onto something, but chose to survive instead.

And now you seek it out within other people... I take back what I said about us being similar. I fear that it isn't quite the same.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Ah, now he snaps. Something about the way Kirei digs at him is far too effective. Berserker growls, baring his teeth for a moment. Now his words are bitter and angry, laying bare how he truly feels about the Queen of Connacht. ]

I felt nothing because I couldn't feel anything. The Grail twisted her wish for a perfect version of Cú Chulainn for herself and took away any warmth or joy. I felt nothing but brief flashes of anger or irritation. [ An acrid scent fills the air for a moment as he spits something sticky and black on the ground. He'd gotten so worked up, his poison rose up in his throat as if there were a real threat. ] I resent her now for what she created, for ruining me...but no. I felt nothing but indifference. I knew what I had to do, nothing more and nothing less. Medb meant nothing to me...and she means nothing to me now.

[ As quickly as the anger and hatred burned, it faded away to apathy once again. The tension leaves the dragon as he stares at the ground. ]

I will kill her if I ever see her again for what she did to me. The life I live now is to spite her.

[livingimpaired]

That's quite the contradiction, don't you think, Ciarán Cú?

[ He can smell it in the air. He can smell the poison and can only be happy that it seems like it is something that can only cause harm if it touches the skin. His gaze shifts to look toward the black muck that has been spit upon the street. He drifts his eyes up -- there is something like disappointment that briefly shows before it fades away.

A dog is a dog no matter what he does to try to hide it. ]

"She means nothing to me. I want to kill her. She still means nothing to me. The life I live is to spite her." [ His shoulders lift and fall. Truly, a mad dog that is snarling and barking at an old, abusive master. ] Yet now you can feel and don't even know how to do with those feelings.

You should attempt to be more honest. [ He huffs out something like a laugh. Indeed, if the person before him was not trying to "live," he may have been a little concerned for himself. But no, the person that walks beside him is someone that has taken on the morals of others. He may end up badly beaten, but he won't be killed.

There is solace in that, because it means that Ciarán Cú could and has been properly muzzled to keep himself from doing so. A muzzle and chain of his own making -- and all in order to live a life for himself. ]

She's still your entire world. You don't know how to live your life without thinking of how it will hurt her. Even if you don't realize it, you compare every moment to what has happened to you. You think if it is something that would upset or anger her... that you've won. [ He stops. ] You didn't choose that name for yourself, did you?

No, you wouldn't even know what to call yourself. You're still nothing more than a wish a selfish woman made. I don't know what life you are living, but I can only say... it's still for her that you live it.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Ah, now there is a fatal miscalculation on Kirei's part. While he is somewhat less awful, he will still kill someone if the mood strikes him. Killing is boring, but sometimes it is justified -- now feels like one of those times. Few things inspire such a murderous rage in him; one of those things happens to be implying that Medb still has control over him.

Berserker suddenly steps in front of Kirei and stops. He doesn't have much height on him, though it is enough for him to menace. Teeth bared in a snarl, he grabs for the front of his coat. That acrid smell rises up again. ]

Choose your words carefully, Kirei Kotomine, or they will be your last. You know nothing of what you speak of... [ He growls louder than before, claws digging into the cloth in his hands. ] My name was given to me...and I might live my life for someone else, but it is not for her.

[livingimpaired]

Hm?

[ He does pause to glance at the hands that are gripping onto his coat. He can actually hear how the material of his clothes are ripping under Ciarán Cú's hands. His gaze lifts to the other's face -- he can smell the poison once more in the other's mouth.

His fingers flex as he wonders if a strike from Bajiquan is strong enough to injure a person in this world. Indeed, the fire that burned into his back at seeing the Servant faded, because Ciarán Cú is no longer a Servant. He's flesh and blood and mortal. It is enough to ease some of his concerns of immediate death. He might still die, but, well...

He supposes that if push comes to shove ... he'll find that out himself if an ex-Executor can challenge an ex-Servant. ]

She means nothing to you, right? [ He shakes out his wrist as he prepares for a close-counter strike. ] Your actions say otherwise. As a priest, I have no intention of lying in order to soothe your heart. But also on principle, I have no desire to play along with your fantasy.

[curruid_coinchenn]

And I have no desire to listen to you talk any longer.

[ The only choice now is how to escalate this. A headbutt to disorient or to give him a poisoned bite. The former is faster, more direct, but the latter is more entertaining. His poison causes intense pain for a few moments, followed by localized numbness, then the panic and frightening hallucinations start.

Berserker swiftly moves in to bite down on Kirei's shoulder' Clothing in the way doesn't matter -- his teeth are sharp enough to puncture it. ]

[livingimpaired]

[ As before, he can smell it -- the poison that is building in Berserker's mouth. This sort of close quarters is troublesome when he does not know what weaknesses or strengths either one of them has. However, he does know one thing.

He violently steps backwards with enough force to let his clothes rip. The sound of the cloth tearing signals his next action. Which is, Kirei notes that he is about to be bitten. His hand snaps out to grab onto the ex-Servant's horn to jerk his head away from his shoulder.

So what is the thing he knows? That Berserker should be more aware of his own appendages.

Kirei grabs onto the other horn before twisting his hold to fling the other as far as he could away from him. It may not even be that much, but the important part is that he keeps the beast's mouth away from him. ]

A dog is a dog no matter what, it seems. [ This much he bites out before he twists his body and -- takes off running in the opposite direction of where he threw Berserker. Like he is suicidal. He can only challenge an ex-Servant so far, but he knows his limitations. He doesn't know what the other's limitations are, so it is best to retreat. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Poison drips out of the sides of his mouth as he lets out a less than dignified noise. What the hell? No one has ever done that to him before...It's not far, but he is thrown with enough force to land with a dull thud on the ground a short distance away. The sudden motion was quite disorientating, enough that he loses track of where Kirei is. All he has now are shreds of cloth in his claws and burning self-doubt about how he's chosen to live in his time in Aefenglom.

Berserker gets to his feet, wipes his mouth on his sleeve, and growls. ]

Bastard...

4th wall. FUCK IT.

[npc_admin]

[ Humming to himself, he is fascinated by the sound of hums. Oh, he could have hummed any time as an Administrator and he is certain that it would upset quite a few people to hear it, but it was best to act like an NPC rather than one that had become sentient. Because it'd be quite troublesome to have people actually bother him rather than come for some set dialogue options and leave him to enjoy their ever growing misery. ]

Ha-ha.

[ He turns a corner before pausing to look to someone looking rather monstrous. Well. Everyone is a little monstrous in this place. I wonder if I am going to grow horns soon. ]

Good evening. [ The AI chirps in greeting before he starts to walk by. He is getting used to the area, and wondering when he'll be deleted off this plane of existence. Of course, he does pause for a second and shifts his stance to get a better look at the individual. ]

Well... How about that? [ He turns his head and laughs. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ What.

Berserker's rage fades away to pure confusion. The shreds of cloth still in his grip are not missing from the Kirei in front of him. Illusion magic...? It had to be -- there's no other explanation. He immediately closes the distance between himself and the AI and grabs for him, teeth bared in a snarl. ]

Don't act like nothing just happened...

[npc_admin]

[ Huh? ]

Of course, something happened. I came into this world suddenly. [ The AI lifts his hands up to lightly pat the top of the Servant's that is gripping into his cassock. ]

However, it seems like you're talking about some other event that has transpired. But I don't recall doing anything to you. [ He holds his chin with one of the hands that had just been patting the top of the other's. ] Really... I only ever see this face after I've bullied Lancer a little.

[ If the situation didn't feel so dire, he may have mocked the expression a little more. ]

But it never looks quite so grim. [ HA-HA. It's more exasperated annoyance than actually murderous. ] Anyway... my protocol usually tells me to protect myself if in danger, but at the moment, I'm flesh and blood so the choice is up to me. I'm afraid I don't care one way or the other, but fighting does sound kind of thrilling.

[ His head cocks to the side. ]

Still... I'm under the impression that I'm not the one you want to fight, which is a bit of a pity, I won't deny it. [ His tone is the same smugly dour one as the one that he is created after. He doesn't sound particularly rushed or attempting to explain the situation away. If anything, he's acting like the situation only kind of involves him. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He is so frustrated and baffled that he doesn't know what to do. His grip doesn't loosen, though -- he's not interested in letting this one go just yet. ]

Kirei Kotomine. Don't lie to me and say nothing happened between us. [ Berserker snarls as he leans closer to the AI's face. ] You won't get a fight so much as a swift end.

[npc_admin]

If you need to call me something, Father Kotomine is best.

[ He corrects, and feels it is an important correction. ]

Nothing has happened between us. [ Another important point. ] Ah, perhaps, I will end up deleted, then. I'm coming to be aware that someone truly annoying is in this world and death is much more preferred than running into them.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ The frustration reaches a breaking point. Berserker chooses to headbutt Kotomine instead of trying to reason through this utterly baffling situation. No warning is given and he's fast. Sure, it's not the most diplomatic solution, but when has he ever been a diplomat? Violence is a first resort. ]

[npc_admin]

[ Ack!

The word blasts itself across his mind versus coming out of his mouth. He falls backwards and slams onto his back. His hands reach up to lightly touch his forehead and he's fairly certain there is a small bit of blood dripping down. ]

Oh. So, this is pain. [ He sits on the street. ] Hmm, I can see why humans attempt to avoid it. [ The AI slurs his words and he finds that equally fascinating. ]

Hm, ouch.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Well, at least that made him feel better. Sort of, anyway. If this really wasn't the one who made him so angry, he looks enough like him that it satisfies him. Berserker isn't done, though -- he still has questions. He plants a boot against Kotomine's chest to push him back on the ground. ]

If you're not the one I was looking for, who are you, then? [ He narrows his eyes. ] Unless you want to experience more pain, you'll answer me.

[npc_admin]

Oof.

[ The sound comes out involuntary as he is back down on the ground. He looks up at Berserker and continues to lightly rub his forehead. ]

Ah, that does partially make it feel better. [ He muses aloud as he rubs his fingers faster across the skin, but that ends up irritating it. Hm.

And he returns to focusing on the questions being asked of him -- well, question being asked of him. ]

I'm not. [ He lifts his hand up to point to his own face. ] I am like you. I am nothing more than a memory of someone who existed centuries ago. [ He would shrug if he could. ] My image was based after him. My personality molded after him. My memory bank used to be able to see his life. But I am not him.

I am nothing more than a shadow that exists in what is my present, and his future.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Actually...That answered any further questions he had, too. Berserker can't see any reason he's lying, mostly because that's all way too specific to be a lie. He steps back and actually offers a hand up to him. ]

...Then you were simply in the way. [ He shakes his head. ] You got stuck with a shitty personality.

[npc_admin]

[ He reaches to take Berserker's hand and pulls himself up to stand. ]

Oof. [ The AI says again; his hand presses against his head. ] Ah, dizziness. Very good.

[ He soon shrugs. ] And, yes, I did.

[curruid_coinchenn]

You probably have a concussion.[ It's said without much feeling as he appraises the AI. ] ...You're not used to having a living body, are you?

[npc_admin]

Not at all.

[ He wobbles side-to-side. ]

My original body was just ones-and-zeroes. I suppose you could relate it to your own Spirit Forms? Forms? Bodies? [ Ugh. Having regular memory is awful, he has had to hold tutorial information in his head before, but it's gotten a little scrambled. ]

How unfortunate for me.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Maybe...he feels a little guilty for the AI being collateral damage. Just a little. Developing empathy has been quite a nuisance to Berserker -- now he cares about his actions having consequences, at least to some degree and for certain people. Kotomine's unfortunate role in life means he falls into one of those categories...annoying. ]

...You should go to the infirmary, at least to let them look you over. Or don't. See what life is like with a concussion. It's a new experience for you.

[ Anyway... ]

Getting used to a mortal body is annoying. Scars and healing time...I can't just use my Rune Magic to heal wounds as they happen anymore. The healing magic here isn't anywhere near that level.