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

[zewu_jun]

[Lan Xichen is willing to afford the seller some doubt, but not enough to allow poor Sae to be taken advantage of. That is simply inexcusable behavior in his eyes. Even if it is a bit too forward, he can't let Sae be left at the mercy of anyone that might try to mislead her or maybe rob her if they can't convince her to buy whatever is inside the bottles they are selling. The only right answer is to take her away from that potentially disastrous situation. He scoops her up and carries her away, fixedly not turning to look at the "gentleman" that would dare to be so offensive to a young lady.]

It's all right. I'm sure you have walked far enough already just to get here.

[And he remembers how scared she was to be left alone in the dream world. It isn't really improper to carry her if she needs his support. It would be more improper to make her walk around like that when he was capable of preventing it.]

Let's go somewhere with more light. If there is still something you want, I will buy it for you.

[shinkunochou]

[She makes a small noise like she’s abut to protest further, but she doesn’t really have an argument so she just goes quiet, giving in. At least the seller isn’t interested in causing a scene about this—losing one customer is preferable to losing say, a limb, to Xichen’s sword.]

I don’t...I don’t need anything... [If it can’t let her see her sister, what’s the point? Instead she fixes Xichen’s face—for what she can see of it being carried like this—with an intense scrutiny.]

...Why are you being so nice to me...? I’m a twin, you know... [She says that like it’s supposed to mean something.]

[zewu_jun]

[He does actually give the disgruntled vendor a small nod out of courtesy as he takes Sae away, although for anyone who knew him the gesture would be considered uncharacteristically cold. Once they are further away, he shifts his hold slightly so he can look down to her, confused by the question she asks.]

Why should that matter? You deserve kindness as much as anyone. Don't be afraid to ask me for anything. I promise that nothing bad will happen.

[shinkunochou]

[She looks equally as confused back; her world view had been terribly limited and sheltered. The fact that things can work entirely different from outside her village is not a thought she’d ever spent much time on before.]

Because... I’m one of the Twin Shrine Maidens... We’re the guardian deities of the region. The village worshipped us as gods, but... [But they had been awed and terrified in equal turns by them. She was much more used to being feared for just existing.]

...I don’t need anything. Just my sister. [She says that, but then her stomach growls loudly and her face turns pink.] M-...Maybe something to eat...

[zewu_jun]

[If carrying a god like that is disrespectful, Lan Xichen has decided to continue his blasphemous path. Sae might be a god, but she certainly looks like a young god, and he is committed to protecting her.]

If that is so, then please consider this my gesture of worship. I won't allow a god to injure herself on the street or else heaven might punish me for neglect.

[He can feel the sadness of missing a sibling, though. That reflects into his smile even though the expression remains gentle. Some things he cannot give and he can only feel sympathy for her loss. At least there is something he can do for her, however small it is.]

Don't worry. That much I can at least accomplish.

[And if Lan Xichen decides that his destination has to be a vendor selling something resembling strawberry tanghulu, well, that is probably just coincidence, right? He does have to set her down to make the purchase, but he only does so when he finds a nice seat with a proper table.]

Here. If you have something you'd like to eat, just let me know.

[shinkunochou]

That’s... [She can’t really find a reason to argue against that, if only because its so baffling to her that she can’t manage a proper argument.] ...You’re so strange...

[But she doesn’t seem to really mind, especially since she just lays her head against his shoulder and relaxes, trying not to doze off too much there. When was the last time she’d honestly slept too...?

She stirs as they reach a destination though, Sae blinking owlishly and looking around with interest.] Something sweet? Please? [She glances to him with shy hopefulness]

[zewu_jun]

Am I?

[He accepts that rather easily. If he is strange for caring, then it's the kind of flaw he is willing to accept. He just wants to make sure this poor girl can get around without hurting herself--which honestly so far hasn't been very successful! He needs to help her.]

All right. Just sit there.

[Lan Xichen sets Sae on the bench he found and goes to purchase a snack. He returns with the stick of sugar-covered strawberries, holding it out to her with a smile.]

I hope this will do.

[shinkunochou]

[She waits, back straight and hands folded in her lap, the picture of propriety and patience. On the inside she’s buzzing with uncertainty and there’s a visible look of relief as Xichen returns. A look that quickly turns into surprise as she takes the stick of strawberries.]

These are... Strawberries? They’re so rare! Was this expensive? [She looks bewildered and a little uncertain. Strawberries weren’t really a big thing in her time period; they hadn’t reached a point of being easy to find until years after her, but it’s likely she’d had a taste of it once before.]

How much was it? I can— I’ll... [She hesitates and falls silently, suddenly very much aware of how little she actually had with her.]

[zewu_jun]

[That is really one of the greater benefits of coming to Aefenglom. The food is always new and a bit exciting, especially for people who aren't used to having such luxuries so easily obtained. And even Lan Xichen, who had the wealth of the sect to use, never really ate many rare or rich dishes like other people. This is a treat. But on that same token, Sae deserves it. He smiles as she takes the stick of fruit covered with the hard sugar.]

Just enjoy it. You don't have to worry about any of that. This is a gift that I want you to have.

[shinkunochou]

[Her brow furrows and she thins her mouth in a firm line as she wiggles one of the strawberries off the stick and holds it out to him. Her jaw is set rather stubbornly.] Then, I’ll at least share one.

[Take! The! Strawberry!!]

[zewu_jun]

Ah- [But it was his gift to her! Xichen hesitates a little, because he's trying to make sure Sae gets everything she needs. And she looks like she needs to eat as much as she can manage for now. Still, if she's that determined, he doesn't want to upset her either.]

Well... If you are certain. I would like you to enjoy them, though.

[He does take the single strawberry, bowing to her in thanks.]

[shinkunochou]

[he takes the strawberry and she relaxes instantly, smiling lightly.] I’m used to sharing. I’d always share with my sister, so... It feels wrong keeping it all to myself. I couldn’t enjoy it if the people I’m with couldn’t enjoy it too, especially if it’s something good.

[She nibbles on the next strawberry and her eyes light up with delight] And this is really good! Big brother, thank you very much!

[zewu_jun]

[He doesn't really understand the insistence, but seeing how it seems to soothe her, he's happy to share the food. Any comfort that he can offer is important. He takes a small bite of the strawberry she gave him to continue encouraging her to eat, looking at her fondly. Ah, big brother, is it?]

It is good. I am glad we can eat this together. You aren't uncomfortable are you?

[With no shoes again and Lan Xichen not sure if she has eaten or slept properly, he's worried about Sae's comfort.]

[shinkunochou]

[Sae shakes her head at the question, eagerly eating the strawberries until all that remains is the stick they were stuck to. It wasn’t enough to really make her full, but it staves off the hunger for now—which is amazing in and of itself. When was the last time she’d felt hunger or sleepy or anything like that?]

Everything is just... a little overwhelming. There are so many people. Everyone’s so... alive. [That’s such an odd thing to say, really, but considering she’d rarely seen living people anymore where she was from...

She turns her head away to watch people as they come and go, twirling the stick idly around her fingers. After a moment or two she speaks up again as she watches some more obviously monstrous people walking with their witches] They said— They said...I was a monster...

[zewu_jun]

[Once she's eating, Xichen does feel a little better. It definitely doesn't seem like she is getting proper care, so he's decided to make sure she gets food from now own. Someone has to look out for this daughter.

The choice of word, alive, is strange, but if her entire village was lost, then it does make a sad sense. He politely finishes the strawberry she shared with him and stands next to her, following her line of sight.]

It is a word that is used for some of us here, but it should not be taken to mean anything harmful. It's just that some people are given a different form after they arrive. If that is true for you, they don't intend any ill will with the word.

[shinkunochou]

[She chews on her bottom lip for a moment, considering.] But I don’t... [’want a different form,’ she almsot says and then goes quiet. It’s not like she has much of a right to complain about anything when she was here and miraculously alive.]

...Big brother, which are you?

[zewu_jun]

[He can guess what that abandoned sentence would have been. It's one that he had held onto when he first arrived as well, refusing even to be tested at first because he just didn't want to hear the answer. He had not wanted to know. But it hadn't been avoidable then and it wasn't now. Xichen hesitates, trying to delay his response.]

I was made a witch.

[Again it seems like he can't seem to get closer to those he cares about; that fate is pushing him further away.]

[shinkunochou]

A witch... [She trails off and sighs, looking down at the ground, spinning the stick between her fingers.]

I’m glad for you. [She nods, because really, that seems fitting. He should be a witch! Why shouldn’t he be the better type? Being a monster was fitting for her in a depressing way, but if Witches were the better half of all this...] I wonder what decides that sort of thing... If I ask, will they— Will they tell me what type...?

I feel like I don’t understand anything. I was told so much, but none of it feels like it stuck...

[zewu_jun]

[ He feels guilty having to tell Sae about these changes when he himself is not a monster. It sounds cruel to him, saying that he is only a witch. It makes him different, and he doesn't want to be given more than this poor girl. She deserves the kindness. ]

I do not know what decides it. I sometimes think it must be unfair, choosing us to be put in these separate groups. I try to tell myself that it will be for the best and that there is a reason we are meant for them, but... I don't know much about it.

I believe once the changes begin someone will be able to tell us more.

[shinkunochou]

[Her fingers clench the stick so hard it creaks and her entire body shivers, feeling like ice was dropped into her veins.] Changes? Ah... [Her eyes linger over some of the monsters who definitely look more, well, monstrous.

What was going to happen to her? She remembers, vividly, the warping of the repentance and the darkness at her fingertips. She remembers the Kusabi at her beck and call. The ‘monsters’ look happy enough, no one seems to be self-conscious about themselves too much, no one going berserk and attacking anyone in the streets.

Sae tries to tell herself it might not be too bad, but she can’t feel certain.]

...What... do I do...? I mean. What do monsters and witches do?

[zewu_jun]

[Seeing the uneasy way Sae is looking around at everyone, Lan Xichen raises his hand and rests it gently on her back, providing support and a little more shielding in case she feels overwhelmed like she did in the dream. He can be her wall from the world and let it come gradually.]

Well, it is true that monsters do change appearance. It depends on the person, but they all look a little different as far as I have seen. I'm afraid I don't know why it happens. Although most people are very understanding and helpful toward us for being new and not as comfortable with that sort of change. You don't have to do anything. I think while you are here... you should be happy.