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

[yesdoubt]

To be fair, with study groups you probably have more one-on-one opportunities. Classes aren't gonna work for everyone since you don't have so much of a personalised experience...

[They're almost back to the trees now, and while Momo is replenishing the barrier against the continued cracking and weakening the Shade is doing, it's obvious it's starting to wear on him a bit doing all this in a short period of time. His physical stamina has always been fantastic, but he's still working on magical stamina since he hasn't been here all that long.]

I think it might be time to just deal with this guy...get ready with a spell and I'll open the barrier up a bit?

[Not completely, because he doesn't want to just let it fly when it's this pissed, but enough for Sougo to have a relatively easy hit.]

[timenace]

[ The more he thinks about it, the more a study group does sound nice too. Sougo doesn't mind trying to learn things on his own, because he's spent most of his life doing things that way, but to have friends to spend time with as he tries to navigate his newfound magic just sounds... nice!

He'd had some help when learning to use the powers of his suit and belt back home, even if a lot of it had also been done on the fly. Even just having someone to angrily yell at him to do an obvious thing would be a help.

Or politely suggest it the way that Momo is.

Sougo nods sharply, but because he's not expecting the man to be watching him he offers a quick-- ]

Got it.

[ As he moves into a stance to charge forward at this thing the minute he's got a shot at it. He's muttering something under his breath as a glow starts around his hands as something purple seems to expand just slightly out from them. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo makes sure Sougo is prepared before he makes his own move - he might be burning through a lot of magic, but he still keeps the resealing of the barrier up as the Shade continues to lash out anywhere it can. At the very least, it means he might be able to pack it in for the evening after dealing with this, since he can rationalise to himself that it's okay to not be helping to the point of exhaustion if there's so many other people who need to help themselves by flattening Shades.

Once the purple aura comes up, Momo lets the Shade keep landing hits until it makes a serious crack in the shield, then sort of reshapes using that crack - opening it up further, but consolidating the rest of the shield, expanding the hole but strengthening the rest. It's large and about a metre wide, plenty enough for a clean hit, but since he's opened it up diagonally, the Shade doesn't have an easy way through. It almost immediately starts trying to shove itself out through the gap, but it's having trouble figuring out the logistics and Sougo will have a good few seconds to roast it before its escape is imminent.]

Before he figures it out, then! [The last thing they need is an angry escaped Shade instead of a destroyed one, though Momo's tone is encouraging and upbeat as ever.]

[timenace]

[ It's just enough, as long as Momo isn't the type to snap his barrier shut on someone's hand. Sougo is still working on the long distance thing himself, and doesn't trust his ability to aim with Momo standing so close.

What he can absolutely do, however, is smack the hell out of that Shade at close range with something pretty nasty. It's why Sougo charges in to close the gap, his right arm pulling back before slamming through that diagonal barrier that's just big enough for his fist and arm while an eruption of lavender and violet surrounding his fist flares up around the shade in turn.

It's a little hard to tell if it's meant to be fire or plasma, but it's pretty obvious how Sougo got all those burns on his hand now as he jerks his hand back and stumbles back a few steps shield, the monster trapped by it still burning. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo doesn't close the bubble on Sougo's hand, but he does shrink the crack in the shield a bit after the other man withdraws, just to make sure the Shade can't somehow worm out in its dramatics. He leaves enough for air to get in in case it acts like normal fire, though, because he doesn't want to accidentally snuff it for lack of oxygen.

It definitely makes the reason for the burns clear, though Momo can't do much about that until the Shade is done burning. Perhaps thankfully, the fire seems to take to its body - probably something to do with the husk-like state Shades end up in after a certain period of time.

Once the creature's body fails it, Momo releases the bubble and lets the remains fall to the ground. He tends not to linger on Shade kills unnecessarily, so he turns his attention to Sougo quite quickly.] Alright, show me your hands and I'll see what I can do about them. Though I hope you're planning to hone your long range skills eventually!

[While he can figure aiming would be an issue, he'd be very concerned if the other man was planning to keep burning up his hands like that whenever he uses this magic.]

[timenace]

[ Sougo rolls back his shoulders as he watches the shade burn, frown on his face. This is one thing he doesn't enjoy much about this particular world, or the ways in which he's most effectively found to combat the "enemies" here. In his own world things are swift, and rarely result in death at all, but there's something unpleasant about having to watch the creature burn to death.

He's keeping that in mind for the future. It's effective, but he needs to find a better way to do this as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Speaking of pain...

His eyebrows raise at Momo's comment, suddenly remembering that yes, his hands are in fact covered in burns. Finishing off the Shade distracted him from that, and he's quick to at least hold his hands up and out. ]

Ah, I should, right? I've always been a little better at close range fights though.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo inspects the hands visually before finger-drawing something quickly on each of his own wrists, essentially using writing and the motions of it as a focus similar to people who use runes. His hands take on a soft white glow, and he takes one of Sougo's hands between the two. The contact immediately helps with the pain, and there might be an unusual, almost itchy feeling as the skin starts to heal.]

So was I, but I can't exactly go at a Shade with my fists and feet without risking catching Cwyld. Long range is really the safer option here, unless you've got a weapon between you and whatever you're fighting.

[It's not exactly a scolding tone, since it takes exceptional circumstances for Momo to be extremely serious about anything, but there's definitely a firmness about it reminiscent of something parental. Momo's too used to chasing around his juniors to not take that kind of position a little bit with younger people.]

[timenace]

[ A little itchy, but it's not intolerable. It's certainly an interesting feeling, because Sougo has always done his healing the old fashioned way, or with time manipulation, but that's another matter entirely. He doesn't exactly have access to that anymore.

Momo is making a pretty decent point. Though Sougo is using a barrier of magic to not come into direct contact it's still risky what he's doing. One wrong move, or the Shade getting a good grab on him...

He laughs a little, seeming to take the chiding in stride. ]

I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a sword again.

[ It sure came in handy in his fights back home. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo nods encouragingly, still with his hands on the first hand for a few moments longer, until he's sure the wounds have closed up. He has a knife himself, but it's long enough to almost breach shortsword classification.]

I know there's a Mirrorbound-owned forge just outside the Wall that can enchant weapons, so if you want something with magic to it you can ask them. The owner will let you pay it off with work if you don't have the money.

[He got his knife from Hiccup in his first month when he hadn't really established himself, and was more than willing to lend hard labour to pay off the cost. But Sougo's had a few more months to set up, in theory, so Momo figures he might have the option of just paying outright.

He switches hands not long after saying that, the first one returned to a healthy and unblemished state.]

[timenace]

[ It's not half-bad work! Sougo is holding up his hand now to take a look over, admiring the work Momo has done, and taking notes that not only does he need a weapon, but he really should learn some healing magic. He's been a bit slow to learn anything practical, and he's got some catching up to do now.

Momo isn't entirely wrong in that Sougo has had time to collect some money, but a little wrong in that Sougo also keeps doing jobs for free. It's not an ideal way to live, but it is for some reason what Sougo has opted to do. Instead of just going through the proper channels he jumps at the chance to help when he sees someone struggling with something.

This is what he did back home, but he doesn't have an uncle here to foot the bills for his technically unemployed ass. ]

Even if it's just a regular sword, as long as it can hold up to any magic I use on it, then it should be fine.

[yesdoubt]

[His hands move across the remaining burns in the same sort of methodical way, a sign that he's been practicing hard but it hasn't reached the point of being a very natural sort of maneuver yet.]

Well, it's worth going to even just for that. The guy who runs it was a blacksmith back home too, I'm pretty sure, so you're not losing out on experience compared to ones in the city.

[Also, Hiccup just generally seems nice from what encounters they've had so far, and easy to deal with in terms of a business transaction. He doesn't know what kind of position Sougo might be in where work is concerned, so suggesting someone he knows is flexible about things like method of payment is his way of trying to be helpful while not presuming too much.]

Most swords can probably handle being on fire for at least a little bit, though, if that was your plan.

[timenace]

[ It's a thoughtful suggestion on all fronts to both of his fellow mirrorbound, and Sougo genuinely appreciates it. He'll appreciate it more when he later really does have to get some contaminated blood off of his arm in order to avoid infection, and when things are calm and he's not busy... dying in the upcoming month. Well, maybe then he'll actually go and seek out a sword.

It's probably for the best the future becomes clear and he doesn't get one in the immediate, because it would have been a waste of money considering how Sougo will be going out.

He does nod thoughtfully at the comment though. ]

I could probably do some other kind of magic on them too. I remember burning the plants that were infected, but other things can take out Shades too, right?

[yesdoubt]

I think so? I've heard of particular enchantments the Wilders put on weapons to deal with them, but enchantment isn't my thing so I've never really looked into it any further.

[He's largely been sticking with defensive magic to start, and even his plants to expand into Evocation at some point are more about the major healing magic part. The elemental magic that can be used for offense is more of a bonus to that particular path as far as he's concerned.

After a few more moments, he lets go of Sougo's other hand, also returned to a healthy condition.] Alright, you should be good. Just don't go set them on fire again as soon as my back's turned, okay?

[timenace]

[ Defensive magic is probably smart, but Sougo's always been the sort to toss himself into the thick of things, hence all the fire actually. He really should consider some other things as well, but his main skill seems to be that he's surprisingly good at hitting monsters and bashing them with a broadsword.

Which is why he is taking note of everything Momo is telling him. A broadsword would be a big boon to him right now.

With his second hand free Sougo holds it up, flexing his fingers as he marvels at his now burn-free skin. ]

Mm! You did a really good job with them! I'll try not to ruin it so soon.

[ He makes no promises not to burn his hands again at all. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo barely even needs to read into that, because that's the kind of weasel wording he uses when it suits him. It does make him sigh in a rather put-upon manner, though.]

Right, so you'll just ruin it after I leave...I've got your number, you know! [He points accusingly at Sougo, but the whole thing is also overly dramatic enough it's probably easy to tell he's playing it up.] Remember what I said about long-distance stuff. I'll check up on you another time to see if you've learnt it.

[Momo just slipping into parent mode over here.]

[timenace]

[ Sougo clearly doesn't expect to get called out like this, and the nervous laugh that bubbles out of him is a pretty genuine and unprompted reaction. ]

Was it that obvious?

[ He offers Momo a sheepish grin. ]

Though I really don't plan to try and hurt myself.

[ But he will be continuing to practice with fire, so... ]

Something like that would probably be better to try some other time though. If I start spending fireballs everywhere right now, it might not end too well.

[ He glances around the very tree covered area around them to make his point. ]

[yesdoubt]

I've seen the type before. [In the mirror, but also some of his juniors are a bit like that too, so Momo has plausible deniability. Sougo does have a point about the heavily forested area, though, and he's at least confident the guy wouldn't be risking other's lives even if he's willing to risk his own.]

But that's fair. Try to keep your hands intact for a little longer than when you get out of here, though, or I'll know.

[Somehow. Not really. But he'll point at his eyes and point and Sougo regardless, like he has some way of knowing.]

[timenace]

[ He laughs a little at that, and holds up his freshly healed hands to flex his fingers and show off what good shape they're in. ]

I guess that would be pretty obvious too, wouldn't it?

[ Unless he found someone else to heal him before come across Momo again. ]

Okay! I promise to do my best not to injure myself. And you'll do the same, right? Be careful when fighting Shades.

[yesdoubt]

Yeah, I'm not out here to get myself hurt, I've got stuff to do. [He offers a cheery wink at that. While he did come out to burn off magic, he did also partially come to find a certain hideaway octopus, so getting himself hurt would just make Yuki worry more if he manages to find him.]

So I'll go parent someone else now, since I think you got the point of your scolding okay. [For now, at least. Momo's not sure it'll stick, but either way, he gives a wry little wink along with the remark.]

[timenace]

[ It does at least make Sougo smile, so that's something. He's a bit reckless, but he's not actively trying to get himself killed for the most part. He's not really trying to get himself injured either, but he does very little to concern himself with avoiding minor injuries.

With a small bow of the head Sougo teases back. ]

I got it, uncle.

[ Not dad? After Momo made a parenting joke? No, because Sougo was raised by his uncle.

That's a conversation for another time if it ever comes up. Right now he'll be jogging into the gloom, strangely cheerful for the setting and the fact that he just killed a monster. ]

[yesdoubt]

My kids usually use "mother", so maybe aunt for you? [Momo returns that with a cheery grin - his "kids" are usually his juniors from home, who are familiar with his couple act and the role he usually takes. But with Sougo's departure, he goes his own way too, further out into the area. He's still looking for someone, after all.]