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

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard is all set to respond to the comment about philosophy, but the air between himself and the young woman changes in an instant. He can only think of barometers dropping, and he isn't sure why. All he knows is that it happens and the result is no where near what he'd ever expect.

His eyes meet hers, but there's no glimmer of recognition there. Instead his head tilts slightly, more wolf like than man, confused.]

I'm sorry?

[holybeasts]

[She doesn't exactly seem surprised that he is confused. After all she hadn't given him any indication she had wanted to talk to him further when he left her and Richter so it's natural for him to be confused.

Give her a moment, the lack of recognition ought to hit her. For now she just seems pleased to see him and can't help but ramble thanks to that.]

I'm just happy to see you! Ah, I was so worried!

[A hand against her chest she can't help but breathe out that relief.]

The last time I was here was so sudden and I hadn't had a chance to say anything. I was so afraid I would be too late and you'd already be gone and I definitely didn't have any idea where you would be. And after spending a year hunting down Richter I'd hate to have to do it all over again!

[She pauses there in her rambling stream of emotions to look him in the eyes again and, well... yeah, now is when the lack of recognition is clear. And it brings a mighty furrow to her brow.]

What's with that look.

[She hadn't expected him to be overjoyed to see her or any such but goodness, he's looking at her like she's a positive stranger!]

[cryptsleeper]

[The more the young woman talks, the more confused the dhampir becomes. His eyebrows arch with deeper questions. His head remains tilted, and--

Richter?

It isn't a name he recognizes at all, but this woman seems so sure that she knows him.

There's no easy way to ask this.]

I'm not sure I have ever met you.

[holybeasts]

[There's a moment where she just sort of blinks at the man.]

... Never?

[While Maria can't say she knows Alucard that well, she certainly knows enough not to expect him to be the sort who would pretend not to know someone. He was cold, yes, but he was polite about it if nothing else.

She now presses the hand formerly against her chest to her cheek and studies him like some sort of specimen. His expression is as serious as ever though she thinks in some ways he doesn't look quite as cool and collected, particularly not tilting his head like a curious dog.

Perhaps he had gone to sleep and forgotten everything? That wouldn't make sense since he did recall the Belmont family when she had asked him and she was certain he has either been asleep before that. Maybe? Actually that was just a guess, she didn't know what had occurred to him before meeting him in that castle after all.

Now she tilts her own hand in kind, hand still against her cheek. The examining expression mulls into something softer and a touch worried.]

I assume you don't recall Richter either? Or Shaft?

[cryptsleeper]

[She says all of these things like they're obvious and known. It makes Alucard's lips thin further, starting to develop into a deep frown. This young woman knows him. But his ignorance is causing her distress, her body language has made that much screamingly obvious.

Maybe there's an easier way.]

I can't say that I do, miss. [He's apologetic about the simple fact.]

My nature is to be long lived, even though I'm not even at a quarter century in years. Perhaps you know me before I know you?

[holybeasts]

[Before he knows her? What, from the future? She seems surprised by that idea, worried dashed off as her brows rise.]

What, would I be from the future then? How interesting.

[She doesn't dispute the idea because goodness knew he must be accurate about being long-lived if he was the same Alucard. Once one stood in a castle that shifted based on it's own whims and the whims of it's master, the notion of a lot of other bizzarre things really didn't seem so far-fetched.

Shortly enough she huffs out a breath. It fits well with the amused tinge of the smile she gives. She just can't help it because, well.]

You're certainly far easier to talk to, I will say that!

[Seriously, he had sounded apologetic. Alucard wasn't exactly brusque or harsh with her but he was hardly the apologetic sort. Or didn't seem to be at least. She realizes once more how precious little she really did know about him.

With a nod she finally tucks her hands behind her back and seems to accept the idea fully.]

Very well then, let's start over. I'm Maria Renard.

[cryptsleeper]

The easiest way to confirm that is to ask what year it is for you.

[Alucard doesn't smile back, because the statement about being easier to talk to? That worries him, as it implies oncoming hardships. There's no comfort to be found there, only concern that colors his features.

He isn't sure how much of his confusion radiates outward, brushing against Trevor and Sypha. He hopes that the answer is not terribly much because he isn't sure how he'd even begin to go about explaining this.

Starting over then. He nods, polite and respectful.]

I am Adrian Tepes. You've only been here a few days, I presume?

[holybeasts]

[Maybe she seems a touch too naive but Maria is perfectly willing to go along with the first unasked question, rattling off the year without a second thought.]

1797.

[There's no need to go into how she almost forgets it's not '96 constantly. That year was eaten up in her travels after all.

His name though brings a slight look of surprise though.]

Oh! Adrian, you say?

[Hm. Her brow furrows some. This isn't the first moment where she's questioned if she hasn't made a mistake. He certainly looks like Alucard but his voice is somewhat different, yes?

Cheek in her hand once more her tone of voice turns thoughtful and serious for a change.]

Mm, just a day or two. Forgive me, it could be that I let the relief I felt overtake me. Or... do you go by Alucard as well?

[cryptsleeper]

[1797.

He winces, because that explains absolutely everything. The difference in memory, how Maria understands his personality. That is a lot to take in, as is the idea of outliving both Trevor and Sypha. He knows logically that will come to pass, but they've barely done anything together right now.

Not the time or the place.]

I am also called Alucard by my fellow Wallachians. It is the 1470s for me, Maria. I'm unsure where that places us in relation to each other.

[holybeasts]

[Ah, that explained things, both the time and the name. She can't help but catch the wince and naturally feel sorry for it. Was she delivering him some bad news? This is quickly becoming a long string of her considering all the things she had yet to learn about the stoic and rather lonely looking man who she had been so determined to chase down.

The question of relation to one another brings about a new consideration. What had she hoped to be to him? She had never thought of that, not even when she bid Richter goodbye. No, like always she had just gone off chasing her instincts and her heart without trying to shape some sort of end goal out of it.

She gives a faint little smile, something vaguely solemn about it.]

Some three hundred years or so apart, so it sounds.

[Then she flicks her gaze to the fire for the simple purpose of having somewhere else to direct her eyes as she muddles through her thoughts.]

I don't know if I would call us friends exactly. I would have liked that, yes. The you I was following though --

[Well that sounds rather stalkerish, doesn't it. She seems cognizant of that at least as the solemn smile drops for something momentarily uncomfortable.]

I -- what I mean is. You were going to go somewhere, I'm not sure where. And I just didn't want you to disappear completely.

[Is that too blunt? It's the truth at any rate. Whether he would be her friend or even talk to her was the big question. And she hadn't even gotten to the point of tackling that mountain.]

[cryptsleeper]

Give or take a decade, from the sounds of it.

[Do decades matter in time that long? Alucard had never given the matter thought before, and yet here and now? He clearly must, and that he doesn't like at all. The world is still a thing he's learning, yet he'll be experiencing it not by years, but other measures.

It isn't something he wants to focus on. Maria is right in finding the fire far easier to deal with, but it also leads to other memories. Worse ones. So Alucard closes his eyes, focusing on Maria's words and tone alone.]

Knowing myself, this all seems right.

[That had been the plan after Dracula's death after all. Go to sleep and remain there, tucked safe under Gresit and free from the world. The grief. All the horrible nasty bits, and yet again, it seems humans are the ones that prevent him from doing so.

That the world denies him that release says so much. As does the fact that Maria doesn't want him to do it. There is affection there then, or at least the potential for it.]

Then I cannot possibly disappear from you now. That much seems obvious.

[holybeasts]

[She blinks a time or two. He's certainly not wrong, is he.]

You do have a point! Neither of us would get very far away at this rate, hm?

[On one hand she's quite glad for that. If he can't just up and disappear then he certainly can't just lock himself away wherever, at least not for the long term. So in a way without her even trying or having to convince him her somewhat selfish wish has been granted.

This Alucard is certainly different though. A bit of conversation in and he already seems a great deal more relaxed and friendly than the other. It's such a change that she finds it rather difficult to call them the same person and that notion somehow makes it a little more heartbreaking that she won't catch up to the other as long as she's here.

She muses on the fire that prickles dueling senses of fear and comfort for a moment or so more, glancing over a brief moment to note the man's closed eyes. Does he not like the bonfire any more than she does? She's not thoroughly sure but she reasons it's a decent enough guess if nothing else.

So Maria turns abruptly on her feet to announce as breezily as someone without a care in the world might:]

If I remember correctly, there is supposed to be quite a bit of food around. How much of an appetite do you have, Adrian?

[The name is still foreign on her tongue but it's a good way to differentiate the two of them in her mind, this Alucard and the one she knows. ... Or doesn't know to be completely honest.]

[cryptsleeper]

Not at all.

[The city is not that large and what lies beyond it is hardly safe. So there's no point in trying, there is only working to make sense of this particular situation.

Alucard can't hear as he used to. He misses that in moments like this, when closing off one sense did't seem to mute the others as well. He misses a lot suddenly, something he thought he had gotten over to a certain extent.

But no. One surprise is all that it takes to send him down a thoughtful and particular path. He opens his eyes, and turns to meet Maria's gaze. Hunger is not at the forefront of his mind, but getting away from the fire right now?

That'd be nice.]

Enough to consider what's being offered. Shall we?

[He'll let Maria pick a direction, but the way he tenses makes it clear he'd really, really love to get moving sooner rather than later.]

[holybeasts]

[She wouldn't claim it's on the forefront of her mind either but honestly anything is better than lingering near the fire that suddenly (or not so suddenly?) gives her the creeps.

There's no hesitation as she moves then and she talks as she does so, par her usual.]

I was here for a month or so quite some time ago. There was a festival going on then too actually. I ended up eating something...

[What was it again? The passage of time might have seemed non-existent but some things felt blurry.]

I can't quite recall actually. It had fruit, I think?

[cryptsleeper]

Well, I'm sure that there will be some of that now.

[Alucard's happy to turn his back on the fire. To start walking, suspecting (and part of him hoping) that Maria will follow. He doesn't do anything that he might with Sypha or Trevor, like offer his arm or try to lean against her, but a part of him wants to.

Whatever this centuries-long divide is, Alucard can understand the point clear enough. Maria matters. Not yet. He'll have a long time to wait, but at the very least, he can know her a little better now.]

If you were here before, may I ask what designation you fell under?

[Witch or Monster? Alucard is sure Maria must have made her assumptions already and taken him for the former.]

[holybeasts]

[Hands tucked together behind her back the blonde seems quite willing to follow.]

Ah, I believe I was a Witch then? I had managed to find a few of my abilities again, albeit it in a new form.

[Tilting her head she recalls the feeling last time, the way the energy flowed and the like.]

It was very different from home. I'm not sure if the difference was the energy coming from this world versus it coming from me or what precisely. There were still things I couldn't do unfortunately.

[cryptsleeper]

Then?

[That's strange, and Alucard doesn't like the implication that comes with it.]

That part at least makes sense. One of my companions and her natural magic are in a similar state, but she's been more than skillful at fixing the problem and ensuring that there are other paths available to her for spell casting.

[holybeasts]

[Ah, so he does have companions at least. She's pleased by that knowledge.]

Mm, I say then because I'm not quite sure what I am at the moment. When I was last here it seemed transformations took some time. I could have been some form of Monster then too but I rather think by the way I figured out how to adapt some of my abilities, I must have been more of a Witch.

[She brings a hand forward and it's... nothing really. Not a thing happens. She doesn't seem upset by that fact more than she is the next. Her voice is gentle and soft, sorrowful perhaps? Wistful?]

I can never hear the voices of my Guardians here, neither this time nor last. I can't feel them either. I do recall last time I was told I could possibly learn more about the magic here and I did take a lesson or two so maybe it's much the same this time in that regard.

[She buoys up a bit, not jovial but gently pleased.]

I had fun with that the last time. I've never taken classes when it came to magic at home or had any training of that sort.

[cryptsleeper]

Did you go so far as to form any connections in your short time here, or was there simply no time to attend to the matter?

[He means Bonds, but rarely says the word out loud. Alucard's yet to determine why he won't do so, only that there is a mild discomfort for no reason other than it seems to make things far more form and heavy than he'd prefer. Bullshit reasons, really.

Guardians, that's curious. He's inclined to ask more, but perhaps a little later.]

I suppose you found it effective then, if you remember it that well and enjoyed it. I've...[well.]

You know me and why some words employed might weigh heavy on me.

[holybeasts]

[Maria can only give a somewhat faint laugh.]

I'm afraid I don't know much about you at all.

[It's blunt, yes, but she doesn't say it unkindly. The smile she gives if noticed is soft and slight, even a little sheepish.]

We hadn't talked all that much. There was far too much happening. I had hoped to rectify that in time.

[That said she shakes her head just a little.]

I didn't have the time to bond with anyone I'm afraid. I did make several friends here... Alex, Lady Maria...

[At that she can't help but laugh a little brighter.]

The other Maria did remind me of you though. She was quite stoic but I didn't think she seemed like a bad person.

[cryptsleeper]

--I've said nothing of my parents?

[Alucard's surprised at his future self. What circumstances were there that not even the utmost basics are known to this young woman? It's...

He doesn't like it. At all.]

How dire were circumstances?

[He could be distant, yes. That much made sense. The rest does put Alucard ill at ease and--

--at the mention of Lady Maria, there's a very soft laugh.]

And to me, she's far closer to Trevor in temperament. Funny, that.

[holybeasts]

[At the mention of parents Maria can't help but be conflicted. It hadn't seemed like a sore topic to him but she had her doubts. As it is though she can only tell as much as she knows, yes?]

I do know your father. That was the dire circumstance, you see. Part of it anyway.

[She doesn't mean to beat about the bush but there did need to be a bit of set up. Should she even be telling him? He's so far in the past... it seems unreasonable to bring on possible discomfort he could do nothing about. Just staying quiet wouldn't really change things though.]

I was taken in by Richter Belmont and his wife Annette when I was a child. My own parents... there was a raid on our village, you see. That was how Annette and I met -- she comforted me while we were held captive after.

[Honestly the captivity hadn't been so bad remembering it now. That was likely because of Annette though. Maria's spirit had plucked up hearing stories of Annette's fiance Richter and Maria had been determined to protect the older woman, finding a purpose in it that lent her strength.

She sighs out a little, brow furrowed.]

Richter disappeared and I've spent the last year looking for him. When I finally found him it was within your father's castle. I didn't know what was wrong exactly at first. He was obviously under some form of enchantment or curse because he called himself the lord of the castle. I wasn't certain how to release him and I feared if I fought him I might not be strong enough to release him from whatever bound him.

[That much said the name Trevor brings about a displeased grumble from the blonde. It's strikingly different from the usual good mood she always seems to be in so far. Or even from her deeper, more thoughtful moments. Hell she looks outright put out.]

That man is a pain to deal with.

[Blunt and harsh.]

[cryptsleeper]

[--Belmont?

It's good to know the line doesn't end with Trevor. There are questions though, ones he doesn't want to probe at. His own fate. If he, Trevor, and Sypha remain on pleasant terms even if romance does not work in the long run. But Maria probably doesn't have the answers to that, and he would be unwise to ask. That path only has haertbreak.

But the castle. Someone else being lured to it, then manipulated and--

--Alucard's face is naturally pale, and it is dark, so no changes can be made to it. He only nods to show that he's heard.]

Belmonts being a pain seems to be genetic then.

[He never heard of Leon's relationship with the man his father was before he was Dracula. It'd check out at any rate.

They were looking for food, weren't they?]

I can see how the circumstances would allow precious little time for explanation then. I think I will trust myself to explain in due course, if that is indeed what happens in the future.

[holybeasts]

[That reply is enough to draw an amused sound out of Maria. He doesn't exactly look surprised or anything but that isn't so unusual. It really is dark enough where she can make out little beyond his natural pallor.]

I'm glad to see that on that point we can both agree. I told him he was at least stubborn enough to be a Belmont if nothing else.

[That said they're coming across the food stalls now and Maria seems keen to peep into every one. And she can't help her crow of delight when she finds what she was looking for. Heck, it might be the self-same crepe stand from last year but either way she seems vastly pleased.]

This is it!

[cryptsleeper]

Oh, he's a Belmont alright. [There's fondness even if his tone is dry. Trevor is a great many things these days, and they always bounce between a Belmont and a total pain in the ass.] Mind, this place decided to go the ironic route and make him into a vampire.

[She may well know that, and well, it doesn't matter. The food stalls come into view, and the mix of fried dough, bonfire air, and spring breeze melt into something absolutely divine.

He follows behind, never more than one or two steps away.]

--Which crepe then?