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

[ex_pathway290]

Markus' eyes faintly narrowed. That was strange. Connor had never denied being a machine. He had never looked distressed over words - and Markus caught that flicker of red as well. It was enough to capture his interest, but not quite enough to prove his intentions weren't hostile. Not yet, anyway. He needed to see more.

"The past year?" He repeated, throwing a glance at Hank. "But.. I just saw him a few hours ago." His look shifted to Connor, "How could you have been here for a year...? And how could you have experienced the memories that you showed me when I don't remember them happening? It doesn't make sense."

[plasticasshole]

"We... could have come from different timelines..."

Which likely sounds absurd to Markus.

"I know it doesn't make any sense. Even after a year, this place still finds ways of confusing me. Nobody has ever come out of our bathroom mirror before, for example."

He gestures to Hank.

"Maybe we should talk about this in another room? So Hank can get dressed? I promise I won't try anything."

[ex_pathway290]

Timelines. "...Right."

Discussing it somewhere else was the best course of action. Markus slowly gestured to the doorway with one hand. "Lead the way." It was acceptance to the terms on one level, and refusal to turn his back to him still in one fell swoop. 

[plasticasshole]

Connor doesn't want to turn his own back on Markus, but he knows he wouldn't just execute him for no reason... or at least, the Markus he knew wouldn't have. So he frowns slightly before turning to lead Markus into the hallway, stepping over the three-legged grey cat that meows loudly when Connor doesn't stop to pet him like he usually does.

The cottage is tidy for the most part, but the living room has a few dog chews scattered over the floor. Sumo is napping on the couch, because he's still not a great guard dog.

Connor leads Markus to the garden, which is large and mostly home to a giant pool. He figures Markus might feel safer if he has the option to leave whenever he likes. He stands with his scaled hands clasped loosely in front of him, a relaxed posture, but his face betrays that he's not feeling great about the situation still.

"So... as you can see, this isn't Detroit. You arrived through our mirror, which should normally be impossible. So I'm sure you can open your mind to the possibility of different timelines and worlds, right?"

[ex_pathway290]

Markus took stock of what he saw when he passed through the house. The place looked lived in, and the animals acted friendly--or in the dog's case indifferent--to Connor as he passed by. The animals didn't see him as a threat. Hm.

The house eventually opened to a bright garden. It was definitely more preferable to be in an open area. He came to a stop some distance away from Connor. Not too far away, but very obviously keeping his distance still. 

He waved a hand through the air and shook his head in dismay. "The day starts like any other. Now I'm being told I have to accept different timelines..?" A breathy laugh followed, "I can't explain what you showed me, but I'm sure you can understand how that's a lot to accept all at once."

[plasticasshole]

"It is. I had to accept it, too."

He smiles, just a little. He gets it. It's hard to accept.

"But that's the world I've been living in for the past year. It's also the only way I can explain how I've been here for that long when you apparently only saw me a few hours ago. And it's the only way I can explain those memories, too. Those were real."

He wants Markus to believe him. He needs him to.

[ex_pathway290]

Markus folded his arms. It was quite a leap in logic, sure, but he couldn't shake those memories either. There were distinct parts that Connor shouldn't have known about which he clearly did. But on the other hand...timelines...?

He flicked his eyes back towards Connor, eyes falling on the one minor physical difference on his forearm. "Okay." Markus shrugged one shoulder, "Say that I believed all this and took you at your word. What would that mean?"

[plasticasshole]

“It would mean I’m not your enemy. We were friends where I come from. You... opened my eyes, Markus. You made me realise I could be more than just a tool for CyberLife.”

He looks around them briefly, at the unfamiliar (to Markus) surroundings.

“I suppose it would also mean you’re going to either gain magic powers and become a Witch, or change and turn into a Monster. Which isn’t as bad as it sounds... or it wasn’t for me, at least.”

He eyes Markus as though he would be able to tell which he is so soon after his arrival.

[ex_pathway290]

"Witch.. or...Monster..." Markus repeated slowly as if saying the words would help him make sense of their meaning. It didn't.
 
He brought a hand to his face and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers. As hard as he was trying to be reasonable about this, there was so much unreasonable information being thrown in his direction. 

...All right. He needed to focus on what he knew and the task at hand. "You understand that I can't just stay here and forget about our people, Connor."

[plasticasshole]

“I know, but... we can’t leave here willingly.”

He looks apologetic as he says it.

“Once you’re here, you’re stuck until the world decides to spit you back out again. It’s happened to some of the people I’ve grown close to, but I’m still here and so is Hank. You could be here for a while.”

[ex_pathway290]

Markus glanced around with his eyes. Speaking of that. "And where is 'here'? You mentioned a name, but never said where that was." That place had to be located somewhere vaguely familiar, surely. 

[plasticasshole]

“Aefenglom. Located on the continent of Geardagas, I believe. We’re nowhere near Detroit now.”

He moves closer to the pool, and lifts his hand to hover over the water. A stream of it lifts towards his palm, and he uses the water to start wetting down his arms and face. As a Merrow, he needs to keep hydrated and this is a good opportunity to do so. It’s not enough to trigger his transformation but it does make him feel better.

“As for where that is, we’re in the middle of the Undern Ocean. None of this sounds familiar, right? I don’t think we’re even on our Earth anymore.”

[ex_pathway290]

There wasn't even one familiar name out of that list of locations, but the hardest pill to swallow was not being on Earth anymore. How...?

He looked for somewhere nearby to sit. After all this he just needed to sit down. There was a chair nearby, to which he walked to and sat down on with his hands clasped together in his lap.

"No. None of it sounds familiar." Was all he could come up with.

[plasticasshole]

“I’m sorry, Markus. I know you don’t want to leave our people, but for now you don’t have a choice.”

And part of Connor doesn’t want Markus to leave again anyway. Not just because it’s nice to have another android around, but because if he goes back they’ll be enemies again.

“For now I suggest you find somewhere to stay... the cottage next door is empty.”

It’s been empty because Connor made it look lived in, because that was Justine’s house and he couldn’t bear to have anyone else stay there. But for Markus? He’s perhaps one of the only people Connor would offer it to.

“It’s clean... I kept it nice, just incase the person it once belonged to came back. But it’s been months now. I don’t think she will.”

There’s a sad note to his voice as he says that.

[ex_pathway290]

Markus glanced ahead, narrowing his eyes at Connor's particular use of the phrase 'our people'. It wasn't something he had used before when referencing deviants. Connor was definitely speaking differently, acting a little differently, but nothing had quite crossed the line to prove definitively deviant behavior. But he could definitely see the earmarks of it.

"You're offering me a place to stay?" There was a tinge of confusion to his voice. One, because it was Connor who was offering, and two, he had never heard of an android having the authority to offer someone else a house, even to borrow. It was welcome but.. unexpected.

[plasticasshole]

“Well, it’s not really like it’s my house to be offering... but newcomers here always get to choose a house free of charge. I just thought it’d be nice if you lived next door. Then we’d be neighbours.”

It’s a small thing to suddenly want, but Connor finds he’d like to call Markus neighbour even if he can’t call him friend anymore. They could talk in their gardens and visit each other... maybe on the full moons he wouldn’t have to be alone even, because Markus could talk to him.

“I know it’s not like you to sit idly by, so I don’t expect you’ll spend all your time there... but a place to retreat and think isn’t a bad idea. And don’t worry, nobody here cares that we’re androids. We’re treated the same as everyone else.”

[ex_pathway290]

So he was offering the house next door as well as asking, in a roundabout way. He didn't agree right away but he didn't disagree either.

"Others should treat us the same as anyone else, regardless of where we are." Whether Connor was a machine or deviant didn't matter in that respect, Markus would still fight on his behalf without question when it came to others treating him fairly. It just made it easier if he didn't have to. 

"But you've been treated well in the past year?" 

[plasticasshole]

"Well..."

He looks uncomfortable for a moment, shifting on the spot. How much should he tell Markus?

"Not everyone here approves of the Mirrorbound- that is, those of us who come in through the mirrors. I guess I always just shrugged off the looks I used to get sometimes. I was used to it, as I'm sure you are. It was easy enough to keep my head down and go about my own business."

He doesn't want to put Markus off this place if he's going to be staying here for a while, but he has to know, right? Withholding information wouldn't help him.

"But a few months back, a family called the Rathmores took things further. They kidnapped some of us and held us in cells where they tortured us. Ultimately we were freed and the Rathmores were executed, but I sometimes wonder if it isn't a sign of things to come."

Connor paces a little, LED flashing yellow. He hates having to recount even the smallest of details when it comes to the Rathmores, but he knows he can't avoid it.

"Things have calmed down a lot since then, but... I think it's something you should know anyway."

He should be cautious.

"Other Mirrorbound, for what it's worth, have been very kind. A lot of them are from worlds where androids don't exist, but they're still very open minded."

[ex_pathway290]

"...I see." In other words, they were still not looked on entirely positively. It was just different because it wasn't specific to androids in this place - distrust and hatred based on something entirely different. Seemed as though he'd have to get to work, then. 

He stood up from his chair. "Would you mind showing me the place next door?"

[plasticasshole]

“Sure.”

He moves to open the gate out of the garden, circling around to the front of the cottages. Opening Justine’s old cottage isn’t as painful anymore— she’s been gone long enough that the ache has subsided somewhat. He opens the door and heads inside, looking around.

True to his word it’s clean in here, though the air is still and it’s obviously not lived in. He decides he’ll let Markus move around and answer any questions he has, but he does give him the run down of the place first.

“It has three bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room and a basement. It’s laid out similar to my cottage. The garden is very large, though it lacks a pool. Hank made the one in our garden for me.”

Markus can do what he likes with the garden, but Justine’s flowers have been kept nice for now.

[ex_pathway290]

Markus followed from a fair distance behind, still wary of Connor and what he could potentially do.
 
The house was larger than expected for one person, definitely not what he pictured from the 'cottage' description he was given. It seemed nice though. Definitely more hospitable than the conditions he had become more recently accustomed to. 

He glanced out the window toward the back yard. "There's a roof over my head. That's good enough for me." 

[plasticasshole]

Connor nods, following Markus' gaze towards the window. He's a little relieved that he didn't insist on somewhere else to stay just to keep away from Connor. Maybe there's a chance for them to mend their relationship after all.

"You should find out if you're a Witch or a Monster as soon as you can. Go to the Coven, they can tell you. If you're a Monster, you should make preparations for the full moons. I won't be able to help you... I'm bound to the water on those nights."

Which is a pain... he gets lonely stuck in his pool.

"If you're a Witch, Hank can help you better than I can."

[ex_pathway290]

"All right." At least it was a starting point. Although.. he wasn't particularly fond of either option. They both sounded equally as fantastical. "And where is this 'Coven' located?"

[plasticasshole]

He starts to give Markus an address, then realises it won't mean much to him. So he switches to directions there from the cottage instead, knowing Markus will remember.

"If you happen to get lost I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction, but... I doubt you'll lose your way."

Markus is more competent than that.

[ex_pathway290]

"Thank you." Markus offered a nod. It was a strange place, but he was certain he could find his way somehow. "I'll pay them a visit later."

It couldn't hurt to take a look around, at the very least.