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

[fairyherder]

[ no, he's just sweating from his eyes!!

he's definitely wearing familiar golden robes, and whipping his head up in alarm, on edge, and as soon as he sees who it is, his expression is caught in a mix of a scowl and wide-eyed surprise. ]

Aaaah— y... you!

[ fuck that's not polite but he's too harried to be polite also when was he ever polite anyway. ]

[weiward]

Aaaah!

[you startled him again! wei wuxian hops back, shielding his face with his arms. he lowers them slowly, just peeking over the top at first. it really is just a kid.]

Me? [he points at himself as if to confirm it. and then he gets a good look at those robes. wei wuxian sighs, fear subsiding (almost) completely.] Great. A tiny peacock. What're you doing out here alone?

[fairyherder]

[ he just stares for a moment before he remembers, oh. he's got dog ears... that's... well that's stupid! he doesn't look like an actual dog, does he?! who is scared of someone with dog ears? Wei Wuxian is an idiot. ]

Who are you calling a peacock? I have a name, you know.

[ he's slowly getting to his feet despite his shaky limbs. the transformation kind of aches and he hates it but this is a good distraction at the very least, and he's calming down somewhat. ]

... I was just... ... going to participate in the hunt.

[weiward]

Let me guess - Jin something.

[despite the unimpressed tone, he is pushing some of the foliage aside for him now. even going so far as to offer him a hand.]

What happened? Did you get scared?

[there's no judgment in his tone though.]

Look, kid. I'm guessing you're new here, and you probably don't have a witch. It's okay, you can sit this one out.

[fairyherder]

Did you hit your head? Jin Ling. It's Jin Ling! You've called me by my name more times than I can count by now.

[ didn't Wei Wuxian name him too? he believes he heard something about it at some point, but can't recall right now. he startles slightly as he approaches, though more out of the jittery crawling under his skin and less from fear. he looks down at the hand, and then up at Wei Wuxian, face set in a confused scowl. ]

A witch...?

[ it takes another moment before he carefully sets a clawed hand in Wei Wuxian's, accepting the help. ]

[weiward]

I have?

[hmmm. wei wuxian puts his fist under his chin, studying the boy for a long moment. aha! he holds a finger up suddenly.]

Nope, I don't remember you. I must meet you later in life. I can only imagine what Jin Zixuan tells his juniors about me.

[the last part mumbled. he closes his hand around jin ling's - carefully. his own claws are made more for digging, but he knows how sharp they are.]

Monsters like us are meant to bond with witches. It helps their magic and our minds. That way when you go out on something like this, you've got a partner and you're both stronger.

[fairyherder]

[ he nearly tears his hand out of Wei Wuxian's grip as he speaks, probably cutting himself on his claws by accident, eyes narrowing to slits as soon as he mentions his Jin Zixuan.

what?

Wei Wuxian, if anyone, should be more than aware of that his father is dead. he was there! Jin Ling is still torn between the two realities he's been told, knowing full well which one is the true one, but still dealing with lingering feelings about the false one. but the careless comment floors him a little, and he doesn't know how to react other than the familiar way he already knows. ]

You... you know he's dead and yet—

[ he barely even registers what else Wei Wuxian says because he can feel the familiar flare of anger just threatening to consume all of him. it's not Wei Wuxian's fault, he knows that now. but he speaks as if he doesn't even know... well, it wouldn't be the first time he's spoken without a care, but he didn't know who he was then... right? does he even know now...? it doesn't make sense, and he swallows down thickly, voice tight. ]

How can you pretend as if he isn't?

[weiward]

Aye-aye, be careful!

[wei wuxian turns to face him again, trying to get a better look at his hand for any scratches. he stops at those words though, looking up slowly to meet jin ling's eyes. his expression says that he's not sure if he heard the boy right, even when he knows that he did.]

Jin Zixuan is dead?

[look, the man was an insufferable peacock sometimes, and he wished his sister would get over him once and for all. but wei wuxian didn't want him dead.]

What - how?

[fairyherder]

[ he reaches down to pick up Suihua from the ground, curling his arm around it to hold it close to his chest. facial expression lost between indignation and horror. ]

How... how? You were there, you tell me how!

[ he knows it's not Wei Wuxian's fault, he knows he didn't do it. but he knows he was there, he's been told. he knows he probably saw it, though. ]

[weiward]

Jin Ling, I'm telling you that I wasn't because I haven't lived through that yet.

[he doesn't blame him for being upset. he's going through a lot of different things all at once. but he does hope that he will listen to him.]

The last time I remember seeing your father, he and Shijie - he and your mother weren't even married yet.

[fairyherder]

[ wait a minute, this doesn't add up. he falters slightly ].

Did you... just pretend you didn't know who I am? But you also don't know me?

[ he never mentioned Jin Zixuan being his father. now he's more confused than angry, though he's still frowning. ]

[weiward]

You're hugging his sword.

[he points it out quietly. who else but jin zixuan's son would be in possession of suihua, much less hold it so close, like a source of comfort.]

[fairyherder]

...

[ he squints, now more befuddled than upset, which honestly is an improvement. but Wei Wuxian kind of has that effect on people, and while he... ... ... has mixed feelings towards this uncle, he's actually kind of at peace with it, even if he still thinks he can kind of be an idiot. sometimes. most of the time not.

look, it's complicated. ]

That's way too much information to gleam just from that. If... you somehow lost your memories. Did you lose your memories?

[weiward]

How can I know what I haven't experienced? I don't have those memories to lose.

[wei wuxian sighs before taking a step closer. he's not really a patient man, but he's trying.]

Jin Ling, I'm telling you the truth, but it's up to you if you choose to believe it.

[he's already used to this, but he's been told that it gets worse. that ultimately, people will believe what they want to believe about him.]

[fairyherder]

[ there's only one thing he can deduct from that statement, and it's just baffling. ]

... you're from the past?

[ that makes even less sense!! though Wei Wuxian also came back from the dead and that already doesn't make a lick of sense whatsoever. he crosses his arms, despite his hand smarting a little from the cut earlier, and eyes him carefully. he's a teenager and he's reckless and naive, sure, but he's not stupid. he doesn't move away as Wei Wuxian steps closer, allowing him closer. ]

If you don't know me... then you're from before I was born...?

[weiward]

[the sigh that escapes wei wuxian this time is one of relief. maybe jin ling is catching on. he nods slowly.]

That's right. The last memory that I had before coming here happened a long time ago for everyone else. Maybe I'll catch up at some point. Lan Zhan was gone for a day, but he'd gone back and experienced more years. And you know what I did when he told me about them?

[he stops directly in front of the boy, lifting a hand to place on his head.]

I believed him. You should try it sometime.

[he smirks with the words.]

[fairyherder]

[ he instantly just pouts, making a face. he feels like he's being patronized, but the touch is nice as well and his dog ears betray him in perking up before he tries to force them to flop oh my god. ]

I never said I didn't believe you! I'm just... trying to make it make sense.

[weiward]

[he almost tells him that a man shouldn't pout. except the words would definitely come back to haunt him should jin ling ever see him and lan wangji together. then he'd realize that his uncle is actually a three-year-old.

he does take a little more sympathy on him though. he is, after all, still a kid.]

It takes time. For what it's worth, I'm glad that you're here, and that I get the chance to know you. You have Shijie's nose.

[wei wuxian smiles, brushing his thumb down over it. everything that he knows about pure affection, he learned from her.

his asshole side came from your other uncle.]

[fairyherder]

[ he already knows you're a three-year-old, Wei Wuxian. you can't escape the label, sorry.

he's about to retort, but then he falters as Wei Wuxian mentions his mother and grows quiet, eyes widening at the touch, his dog ears absolutely perking up though he fidgets, flusters, mouth opening and closing, before he pushes the hand away, trying his best not to puff up, but ends up shaking his head anyway. ]

That's... that's not possible to tell just by looking at it. It's just a nose.

[ he's secretly a little pleased though, and steels himself not to let it show on his face because it's not like he appreciates it or anything! ]

[weiward]

[oh, okay. so maybe dog ears aren't so bad after all, as long as they're on his nephew instead of actual dogs. ]

Sure, just a nose. And Hanguang-jun is just a cultivator. [nothing special at all there, nope.] Speaking of Lan Zhan, we should find him. He's definitely still hunting out there.

[and could likely answer anything that wei wuxian can't...like things covered by the welcoming speech when they first arrived. you know, the one that wei wuxian didn't really pay much attention to because it was boring.

wei wuxian looks at him again and smiles.]

Don't forget that I'm with you now. No need to be scared anymore.

[fairyherder]

[ they're just sure indicators of his mood! have fun with it until he turns into an actual dog monster. as it is, he just humphs and crosses his arms as Wei Wuxian babbles away. also sure, you're just super transparent about your love for the esteemed Hanguang-jun, Wei Wuxian. real subtle.

he does look a little off his kilter at the smile though, eyes widening a little and then absolutely has to retort, though he's definitely flustering. ]

What are you trying to say? I... I'm not scared!