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

[shinkunochou]

[She’s used to the darkness, and the light of the moon(s?? She’s not thinking about) makes it not as daunting as it could be. She tentatively picks up pieces, and squints at their outlines, but nothing in here seems like the kind of clothes she can even really identify. Pants? Sure, got that, but she can’t really wear those. She’s not a man, first of all, so wouldn't that be too weird?

She glances up though and stares at him, thinking that through.] Mm... [A small noise of understanding and agreement, fingers curling into the fabric. It doesn’t even feel familiar.]

Did you... [Sae begins, then hesitates, knowing it sounds strange, before continuing:] Did you come through a mirror too?

[honesthearts]

[ he keeps his eyes to the side, suspicious of any passing shadows in the light and on edge in the event someone catches them. highly unlikely, but he won't take any chances. he still has his dagger if things escalate.

her question, however, jerks his head in shock. ]

What? [ how... ] You came here through a mirror as well?

[ he thought she was just a girl who got into a bad altercation in the streets at late night. perhaps she is still that, but now there is an extra complication added to it. isaac frowns and gives a point to one of the long full-body mirrors with a wooden frame. ]

I emerged through that one there. Where did you come out of?

[shinkunochou]

[She turns her head to look at the mirror, her eyes mostly adjusted to the gloom now and she makes an ‘mm’ noise of affirmation.]

Down the street a little way’s. There’s some kind of... [She doesn’t actually have a name for the store it was.] It sells bread and things like that, I think. I just suddenly came through a mirror in the back...

[Had she been looking at a mirror at home? Her brow furrows a little as she holds up what appears to be a dress. Not perfect, but it might do for now.] It wasn’t as long as that one though. It was just big enough that I could fit through. One moment I was...at home, and I was running...?

[Had she been fleeing something? Impossible, really, because who would’ve dared been chasing her? Maybe she’d been reenacting something in the past. Sae shakes her head to clear it and holds the dress to her, deciding that would be the best she could probably get.]

I ran to a mirror, and then I was here. But no matter how much I touched the mirror, I couldn’t go back through.

[honesthearts]

[ it sounds like a baker's shop. how very odd. transmission mirrors are rare enough and the probability of one being in a tailor and baker shop in the same town is slim. is something else afoot to why they are here then, pulled into the same town around the same time? ]

I could not go back through that mirror either. I remember touching a mirror back where I was, though why I cannot recall. Now I am here.

[ it's frustrating to speak so vaguely but she is not as certain either, so perhaps that is something they share in common with this experience. ]

Tell me, do you know where you came from? Which town, or even country?

[shinkunochou]

Mm, I didn’t have any reason to look into any mirrors, so I don’t know why... [She trails off, staring at a spot on the wall as she tries to think. But her mind had been foggy anyhow—in fact, this was the first time she could remember in a very long time that her thoughts were clear.

The question makes her blink and she looks at him, nodding once.] Minakami Village, in the mountains of Japan. I... I don’t know much more beyond that. I wasn’t taught... [She trails off, shifting her gaze, partly guilty and partly apologetic.]

But this— This definitely isn’t Japan anymore... Where are you from?

[honesthearts]

[ japan - far east from where he was. ]

I was traveling to Styria, in Austria. [ it isn't where he's from, but it answers what she is asking all the same. ] I cannot say where we are, but the look of the town makes me believe somewhere in Europe. Certainly a long way from Japan, miss.

[ europe is large and vague, but he doesn't think he can narrow it down further than that. ]

[shinkunochou]

[Sae looks away a moment as if trying to draw up a map in her mind, but she’s barely glanced at a map of Japan, let alone the world. ‘Austria’ might as well be the moon. She understands what ‘Europe’ is at least, having heard some of the adults grumbling enough about it and foreigners coming from the general undefined land of ‘Europe’.

She also knows that if this is somewhere in Europe, she certainly is a long way from home.]

But... How come we can understand each other...? This is so strange. It can’t be just us this happened to too... [Probably, right? Oh. Actually, speaking of...

She turns towards him, bowing low.] I’m sorry. Please forgive my lack of manners. I’m Kurosawa Sae. Please treat me kindly.

[honesthearts]

You're not speaking... hm.

[ that is a very good question then. he knows bits and pieces of some languages, picked up from his travels and masters, but none from the asian continent. how can they understand each other? ]

No matter. Better we can communicate than not. [ between all the problems they're having, this is a blessing in disguise. ] I am Isaac. You will be treated as you treat me in kind.

[ how can he deny such a humble request? if only other people were so respectful. ]

You should pick something so that we can go. Perhaps there is a safe place outside of town to camp out the night... if you are willing.

[ ooc: sorry for the delay, feel free to drop if it's been too long. ]

[shinkunochou]

((OOC: it’s okay! I’m okay with continuing still if you are!))

Oh! [Right! She was on A Mission here. With a renewed determination she nods and goes back to pursuing the tables.

The offer does make her pause, however. She should be a bit more wary, perhaps, but he’s been nice so far, so she doesn’t particularly see any reason not to trust him.] If it’s alright, I wouldn’t mind. I’ll try not to be a burden.

[She finally settles on a plain-looking dress in dark brown and steps away from the table, looking around until she sees a changing area.] I’ll be back. [She bows again to him before disappearing into the back room.

When she re-emerges a few minutes later, she looks decidedly uncomfortable, her bloodied kimono carefully shoved into a bag she found, which she clutches to her like a shield.]

...These clothes are a bit... [Sae trails off, uncomfortable. It’s not that she has it on wrong or anything, but the dress is a bit thinner and has way fewer layers than her kimono. It feels...odd.] Is this the type of things people in the west wear...?

[honesthearts]

[ he waits, checking out the window every so often to make sure no one is wandering or realizing there are people in the closed shop. there is only a light startle when she comes out, a little on edge and paranoid of being caught, but calming quickly and never letting it slip to his face. ]

It is. Believe me, you would draw attention even without the blood on your clothes. Though I'm certain you could wash it at a river. [ if there are any nearby that is. he should not assure her when he has no sense where they are. ] Sometimes, appearances are important.

[shinkunochou]

[She holds the bag close to her and shivers, but it’s not really all that cold. She’d just been used to the relative warmth and weight of her kimono compared to this, but... If he says she’ll stick out less like this, she believes him. It’s not like she has anything to compare and contrast it to.]

Mm, if I can find something to wash it in, I’m sure I could get it out. [It’s not the first time she’s had to wash blood out of her clothes, and even though it’d be better to ditch the kimono entirely, the sentimental value of it means a lot to her.]

Mm... That’s true. It’s the first thing people use to judge you, after all. Unfortunately. [She sighs a little, but then adds:] Though, I guess that can be useful too. [After all, no one had suspected Sae and her sister capable of escape.

Sae straightens up and looks to him as she walks over.] Okay, we can leave now. Thank you again for being so patient with me, Isaac-san. [Using the western name with the honorific is a bit of for her, but she won’t be impolite, dammit.]