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

[killuwatt]

Can you even understand most of these books? A bunch of them are textbooks and treatises on magic and alchemy and shit.

[ This time, Killua does sigh, rolling his eyes and gesturing Gon away from the ladder. ]

Just tell me what you're looking for and I'll find it.

[freecshow]

Can you?!

[Gon huffs, discarding the ladder to sassily cross his arms.]

You know, stuff about monsters! Like—I dunno, stuff about what different kinds there are? Or... more stuff about the timeline? They said it takes...a little while to fully change, right? [Gon already forgot the exact figures.]

Damn... I wanted to be a Witch.

[killuwatt]

Better than you can!

[ Killua moves forward to grab the ladder instead, rolling it over to another section as he scans the backs of the books and the section labels. ]

Okay, okay, hang on. I'll see what I can find...

[ Ah. The confession makes his chest squeeze tight. Good thing he's facing the books and not Gon; Gon won't see the look in his eyes.

Slowly, he starts climbing the ladder to reach one of the higher shelves. ]

Yeah... that would've been cool, huh?

[freecshow]

Yeah...

[Gon's leaning against a shelf, scuffing the bottom of his boot against the floor in a childish sulk.]

But, I actually had a feeling it would turn out this way as soon as you mentioned it... Cuz it makes sense? You were really amazing with how quickly you came up with your Hatsu and stuff, but my techniques were kinda more basic in comparison. And I spent so much time in nature growing up and stuff, and that's how I'm happiest.

[Gon lifts his head, curiously watching Killua as he looks around.]

Assuming the monsters are all even alike to animals like that, I guess.

[killuwatt]

I don't think it has anything to do with what we like or what 'makes sense,' Gon.

[ Killua sounds like he's chiding him, but it's meant to be encouraging, really. ]

Whatever mechanism brings us to this world forces us to fit within its parameters. It's far more likely to be luck of the draw.

[ He has 0 proof of this, of course. But even if Gon doesn't say it... well, it somehow seems cruel to tell him he makes sense as a Monster. Killua's starting to dislike the terminology more and more. ]

Aha. Here's a history of the Monster races and a natural encyclopedia. That might just be... regular animals but... worth checking out, just in case!

Catch!

[ Mostly to distract him, Killua drops both heavy tomes straight down on top of Gon, trusting his reflexes. Good thing no Coven Witches are around to kick them out for this. ]

[freecshow]

Really...?

[Gon chews the inside of his cheek, a little. Killua really seemed more like a Witch, and Gon really seemed more like a Monster. people had been calling him one so often, ever since he left Whale Island. ever since he met Killua. it never bothered him, until he finally saw what they meant.

but Killua's probably right; he sounds certain.

Gon snaps out of his pensive boot-gazing, snatching up both of those books.]

Wah!! Killua! Jeez, be careful!

[of course, Gon knows he would have probably done the same.]

—Whoa! These books are heavy...

[Gon grins. that's promising for information! ...and for headaches. that's gonna suck. but. still. LEADS]

[killuwatt]

Pfft. If you think that's heavy, you'd better ramp up your training, stat!

[ Killua calls down to him, faintly smiling to see Gon successfully distracted, and returns to searching the books. He ends up with a couple more, just in case, and eventually climbs down to join Gon. ]

We can take these to the dorm I'm using for now. I don't think they can leave the building... But I can read through enough of them to figure out what'll be useful to us.

But-- oh. I was actually going to go check out the hunt thing they've set up outside the wall, remember I mentioned it?

Since tomorrow is the full moon and all, I thought I could learn more about the way this place affects newcomers like us -- like... well, like you, I guess. We can talk to people there who are in a similar situation, just like you said.

What do you think?

[freecshow]

I mean they're heavy for books, Killua! [Gon huffs back brattishly, furrowing his eyebrows in a scowl up at his friend.

Gon nods, leaning forward on his toes to peer curiously at what other books Killua's found. the alphabet looks weird, but somehow, Gon can read it. he's about to say something about it, but then Killua's talking again, and has Gon's attention.]

Oh! Yeah. That's a great idea!

[or maybe the worst idea! Gon's not thinking about it hard enough to consider that, though. either way, it's definitely more Gon's style of learning, anyway...]

Maybe...we can drop these off at your place, then get ready for that, and maybe study after?

[wow big surprise look who suddenly doesn't want to read 4 ultra dense books that smell like 40 year old mildew]

[killuwatt]

No. We should study first.

And by we, I mean you. They're preparing tonight and it's barely even dark. We can go after. C'mon. Dorm's this way.

Luckily, they haven't crammed anyone else in my room... yet. Apparently that's a thing that happens sometimes. Miss Nessie said it used to be crammed full of Mirrorbound at first, before they cleared out the Haven as a whole district for them.

[ Killua lets Gon carry the books he'd dropped earlier, bringing his along, and leads the way back out and through the old, winding corridors. ]

[freecshow]

Aw...

[well, it was worth a try! hopefully the Hunt would at least be a little bit fun. Gon lugs the books after Killua, though there doesn't appear to be any apparent strain. that part is yet to come. and it'll be Gon's brain.]

Maybe you can move out before that happens, [Gon suggests, watching the back of Killua's head as he walks. Killua hasn't really lived alone in a while, has he? Gon wonders if he prefers to live with someone, but he doesn't seem like the type who could tolerate a stranger. Gon's also sure Killua will make new friends...

it's...really surreal, that they're just spending time together like nothing's amiss. Gon can feel it's amiss, and he knows Killua can too, but it...mostly just feels really nice.]

Would you wanna be employed as a Witch, Killua?

[moving out would require money, right? but it's not like their Hunter licenses mean anything, here—were people accustomed to charging minors rent or similar?]

[killuwatt]

...employed?

[ That question actually catches Killua off-guard. He glances back at Gon, slightly wide-eyed in his surprise. It's not something he'd considered. After all, so far, he's just been focused on figuring out what's going on and how he can as quickly as possible undo it.

He hasn't yet come to terms with the possibility he really might be here -- they both might be -- long enough for something like that to matter. ]

I don't know. The ones around here seem so stuffy and professorial and boring. But I don't know what other kinda jobs there are...

I haven't really thought about it.

[freecshow]

Heheh, yeah! It's hard to imagine you doing that kinda thing...

Maybe there's tournaments to show off your magic? Oh! Or people who use magic offensively, kind of like Nen? There'd have to be, right?

[well, Gon seems like he's having a good time thinking about it. but he tends to just roll with the punches anyway. he'd think it was maybe a chance at a nice reprieve from studying, but here he is.]

People like to fight, no matter what kind of tools they have!

[killuwatt]

I guess so. It'd make sense, especially with the whole... infected wilderlands threatening the city or whatever thing they keep talking about. I heard that people have to go out there and study it and clear out infected monsters and stuff so...

Oh, but not that kind of Monster. Ugh, what a confusing thing to call people. There's apparently actual monsters out there.

So when I learn offensive magic, I can look into that.

[ He's about to ask Gon what he'd want to do, but stops, realizing Gon's future is even more up in the air than his own. ]

It's not like I'm gonna do that right away, though.

The Coven's been really generous with the people who come from other worlds, so there's no need for a job right away. Someone even told me houses at the Haven are rent-free, and some of the apartments are already furnished. I'd say it's suspicious for being so convenient, but in this case, who cares?

We could--

[ ... ]

I mean, if you wanted to stay somewhere that wasn't that inn, I'm sure you can find an apartment there too.

[freecshow]

Hmmm. Just infected ones, right...? I wonder if only Witches do that kinda work... I think you'd be good at that, though.

[—ah. that's jilting. but it's not as icy or painful as Gon had expected, and he just blinks. of course, it still hurts a little bit, but not because of Killua. every awkward little pain is of Gon's own making. you can't get mad that stepping on a limb you broke foolishly causes you physical pain. it's like that. this situation is just the splint they've put themselves into.

but, it still—a little bit...]

Yeah! I was thinking I might. Like you said, it'd be good to be close to a bunch of other Mirrorbound people. I do kinda wonder why the Coven is so generous, though. They were really nice about our questions, too, and I don't think it's just cuz we're kids...

[killuwatt]

[ Killua half-expected Gon to protest. At least to say something, point out what he'd just done.

Does Gon realize? Will he have to explain? Will his conviction hold if Gon really is so clueless he expects them to move in together as if nothing had happened?

Killua focuses instead on the other points, as they near the door-lined hall that houses some other Mirrorbound and perhaps students, he's not sure. ]

You're right, I don't think it's that. But apparently people have been arriving from all sorts of places for a year now, so maybe they just figured if that's the situation and they have the resources to integrate the newcomers into their population...

No, it still seems suspiciously generous, but I suppose it's at least more convenient than the alternative.

[ Even as he says it aloud though, Killua's throat feels tight at the confession that he knows others like them have been stuck here a whole year. ]

For now-- here we are. My humble abode.

[ It really is humble. It's just a small room with a single bed, a small desk and chair, and a chest for items and clothes. It's also pristine; Killua clearly hasn't spent much time in here. ]

[freecshow]

Hmm... I guess that's true. I guess we can't complain for now.

[this, however, as Gon steps in, is where he decides to rudely point out some Killua nuance, laughing.]

Wo—w! It's so clean! You really haven't been spending a lot of time here, huh?

[a gleeful laugh bubbles from Gon's throat, and he happily steps in, dropping the books on the desk. it's small, and Killua hasn't spent a lot of time in here, probably—but his scent lingers, and it's comforting.]

I guess cuz there's not much to do, huh?

[Gon plops himself onto the chair, swinging his legs once he's sat.]

No video-games or TV...

[is Gon teasing Killua. maybe]

[killuwatt]

Hey! What are you implying, huh? [ Killua huffs, dropping his books on the desk as well. He flops on the bed when Gon takes up the desk, kicking his shoes off the edge. ]

...but I mean, yeah, obviously, nothing fun to do in here. It's basically just a bed. No point hanging around unless I'm sleeping or whatever.

[freecshow]

Heheheh.

[Gon watches Killua get comfortable, then...... ugh, remembers why he's here. studying...

Gon deflates with a sigh, then dramatically throws his shoulders to the books, propping his ankle up on his knee as he stares at one of the covers.]

Okay, so... History of Monsters...

[Gon's back bows as he sighs. throwing the cover open.]

I wonder if I can just skim the index... Like if there's a history "per monster" or something...

[Gon straightens up, seeming to try to get his head on straight to examine the index.]

[killuwatt]

Gon.

[ Killua stares at him, from where he's lain down on his belly, chin propped in his palms. ]

Do you even know what the index is? It just tells you were to find certain information. But then you have to go and read it, you know.

Even if there's a guide to the mention of every type of Monster, how will that even help you get through it faster unless you already knew what you were looking for?

[freecshow]

I know that!! [Gon whines back, having half a mind to whip a boot off his foot into Killua's face. that's more or less exactly what he was insinuating!]

Like, if there's a history of ...Monster A, and Monster B, maybe if the introduction to each of those monster types will give like, information of those certain types without having to read the entire history!!

Am I wrong?!

[Gon hasn't even started, and he's already frustrated.]

[killuwatt]

[ Huh. Actually, not badly thought-out. Killua grunts. ]

No. That all tracks.

Knock yourself out. I'm taking a nap.

[ So much for helping Gon research... ]

[freecshow]

[Gon huffs LOUDLY. fine! fine... like he really deserves to demand anything of Killua, as is certainly his natural instinct, which he suppresses.]

Fine. Do that.

[Gon slumps onto his palm, elbow on the table as he angrily pours over the index, trying to will himself to focus. even aside from being pettily irritated, the last thing he wants to do is study—by himself!—besides!!

studying is always hard, but—! Killua's right! there!! how is he supposed to focus?! and maybe Gon's not in the mood to nap, but it seems like such a waste of lost time... maybe Killua doesn't think so, and that's fine. that's fine. jesus. he needs to focus...]

[killuwatt]

[ Killua doesn't answer. He grabs the pillow instead, burying his face in it and blocking out the light.

The truth is, he's barely slept at all for several days, too anxious about being stuck here, too worried about his sister, desperate to learn as much as possible to improve his situation in this place as quickly as he could. He's still coming to terms that maybe he really will be stuck here for months, possibly even a whole year, and he can't exactly spend the whole of it awake and chasing after the entirety of the Coven for answers.

But even though he doesn't feel like sleeping here on his own puts him in danger, there's something a lot more comfortable about being in the same room as someone else again.

...in the same room as Gon.

He still can't believe Gon is here. He still doesn't know what to think of it, or how to feel, and even the relief seems complicated. But if he tries not to think about it too much, if all he focuses on are the sounds of Gon's breathing and occasional frustrated huff and page-turning, then at least for a few minutes, everything feels like it might just be okay.

Gon will give up on the books in half an hour, maybe a whole hour if he's stubborn enough. Killua will take over then. For now, he lets his eyes close and does exactly as he announced he would, curling up around the pillow and falling asleep. ]

[freecshow]

[Gon manages about 45 minutes. and this is only because he's distracted by things like Killua's scent, being hyper aware of his breathing, every little shift of fabric, and it arises within him a frustrated yearning for a thing he can't figure out how to describe. he thinks he just wants to be goofing off with Killua, not doing all this stuff. relaxing, resting his body beside Killua's, chatting about what he was up to before all this stuff...

but that's not how it is anymore. the desire mixed with that reality is what makes it hard to focus. and eventually certain that Killua is either asleep or sufficiently subdued to his task of rest, Gon huffs through his nostrils, folding his arms to rest his forehead in their cradle.

he's learned about a few different types of monsters. his coming reality. but who cares? he's been a beast this whole time. he just wants to be Killua's friend. Gon knows he's just frustrated—with studying, with the situation, with the unexpected, sudden over-stimulation of Killua's company... so while he rests, Gon decides he's just gonna breathe. five minutes.

because it's fine. he's fine. it's just different, and that's his fault anyway. he can recoup. it's just a weird curveball. it's not that he's suddenly been really left to think about it when he needs to be reading about the horrible bodily transformations he may be pushed through.]

[killuwatt]

[ The grumbling and louder huffing and complaining that Killua expected to start up any time now don't come. The silence gives him a longer rest than he'd bargained for-- and Gon a longer time to stew in his own thoughts.

But Killua rarely sleeps very deeply at all, and eventually, he becomes aware of the fact he's been dozing longer than an hour.

With an exaggerated yawn, he turns over onto his back, spread eagle, and tips his head back to look over at Gon and check if he's still reading. ]