event pt 1 | full moon & litha

[moustre]

Event Log: June, A Midsummer Night's Dream

I. IUNERIL 17TH - THE FULL MOONS The days leading up to the full moons are the same as last month: Monsters are a little itchier and a little easier to agitate, whether they mean to be or not, which becomes increasingly noticeable the day before the full moons. But of particular note is that this may be the second full moons that some arrivals have experienced, and with that comes greater risks, greater agitation, and further reminders to take care of themselves. Weather fair, despite the worries of the city, Monsters will find that the Sisters aren't blocked away by clouds this night. The moons cast their light down on the city, and the pull is strong for even the veteran natives that call the city home. The Coven is offering potions and charms, in an attempt to encourage those without a Bond to ensure that they will be able to keep their wits about them throughout the entire stretch of the Sisters' time in the sky at their fullest. They're always allowed to reject the offer, but it's with a warning: if they let their newfound instincts overtake them, then they might find themselves back in the Coven under worse conditions. But the Sisters rise framed in stark red skies, even as evening falls across Aefenglom, much to the discontent of the city. Streets that are rarely dim are lit up even moreso, now, in the face of this omen, lanterns and candles leading all the way to the Harbor District. Their colors flicker with shades of blue, green, violet - anything to offset the red. Boats that come and go along the river also carry a lantern or two with the same intent, and ships in the harbor are decorated with magical faerylights, strung across hulls, masts, the works. There's no place in the Harbor District untouched by light, with nary a sign of red in the midst of their goods. Tensions are already high, between the humans and Monsters of Aefenglom. It's especially noticeable on this night: full moons already cause everyone to be a little jumpy, but with the red tidings for Litha, they're more on edge than ever. Some blame the new arrivals, though never directly to their face, especially when they don't know who, or what, someone might be. It's always a there-and-gone whisper, it seems like. Gossip. Distrust. Unease. It doesn't lend well to the full moons, but there are still those that want to help. Many will notice that there's already activities and decorations up for Litha, some of them still under construction despite the fast approaching festival. The most notable of all are the hedge mazes that have been constructed, both by hand and with magic to encourage their growth. Behind the festival organizers' backs, a group of people - both man and beast - are offering Monsters a chance to burn off some of their energy by embracing their instincts in a more... constructive manner, with native Witches and Monsters alike prepared to intervene if things get a little too violent. In a sort of mockery of Litha's traditions, they're partnering Monsters up with a willing participant to run the mazes, with a variety of options that they will list. The partner - or partners, if there is a party looking to go in together - can be either Witch or Monster, and the people organizing this won't judge as they inform the interested individuals of their options: a. A-HUNTING WE WILL GO, allowing the Monster to either hunt a small livestock or game animal (a piglet, fowls, rabbits, the like) or to hunt down their partner through the maze they've chosen. This need not end violently, and can become more of a game of hide and seek meets tag. b. EVERYBODY WAS FIGHTING, where one maze in particular has been devoted to a makeshift fight ring at the very heart of it. The organizers hope, somewhat, that by making the Monster(s) in question run the maze first they'll be a little tired out already when reaching the ring. c. UNDER THE PALE MOONLIGHT, because instincts don't always call for violence, the organizers offer a more intimate experience here, whether it's sexual or nonsexual. Maybe you just want a good cuddle..? The organizers emphasize the idea of consent, and will not force anyone against their will into the hedge mazes, no matter which one it is. They also want to make sure that they will step in to help if called upon, in case someone gets a little too overeager. Witches looking to use magic this night will, peculiarly, find that their magic is a little less... cooperative. Many of the Coven Witches speak of how they specifically wait to cast powerful spells on the night of the full moons, to ensure that they have the greatest chances of success with the help of the Sisters. However, Witches of the new arrival persuasion are much weaker on full moons. Their magic is still there, and they can still draw upon it for spells, but they'll have to put greater effort if they want to cast a spell with any significant amount of power. Overexerting oneself while doing this is entirely possible, so it's best to try and find some sort of balance, lest you find yourself exhausted and without a means to defend yourself. We ask that any and all NSFW threads be marked accordingly, or otherwise moved to a locked post on the log community or an entry/inbox on a character journal. Remember to please be excellent to each other, and respect all limits that your threadmates might have, if you explore the more sexual or violent aspects of the offered prompts. If things get OOCly out of hand, please let us know; if things get ICly out of hand, please let Nessie and Mhairi know.

II. LITHA - IUNERIL 21ST TO 23RD Despite what chaos there might have been on the night of the full moons, and the subsequent day after as things began to calm, Litha still arrives as scheduled on Iuneril 21st, as the sun begins to set. The summer solstice reaches its peak the following night, and the festivities wind down the third dusk. While certainly still lively, it isn't as completely festive as Boaltinn, most certainly because of the red skies, and the natives are obviously trying to make the best they can of what they perceive as a poor situation. To say that the natives are on edge would certainly be an understatement. Whatever happened in those hedge mazes is untraceable, now, and everything looks pristine. Faerylights decorate every awning, overhang, and eave, magical and twinkling with colors to offset the red skies. There are no bonfires, this go around, but much like the fires it seems that the lights all lead to the primary area of celebration: in contrast to Boaltinn, Litha is celebrated in the Entertainment, Shopping, and Harbor Districts. Doors to businesses are wide open (with many even having large signs indicating VAMPIRES WELCOME HERE - those that don't make a clear statement), and stalls offering wares and foods and activities alike are set up at nearly every corner alongside preestablished businesses in the market. The harbor is especially lively, with many sailors coming and going as they prepare for setting sail. While ships themselves are always coming and going in the port, Litha is an important time for the more longterm voyages and those meant to carry some significance, and each ship departing is bid farewell with equal fanfare. Fireworks and celebration that is, at least in some part, genuine, but does carry a certain level of enthusiasm that borders on force of will. a. ASKING FOR A LITTLE COMPANY Though all businesses in the Entertainment District open their doors for the festivals of Aefenglom, the brothels of the city in particular are offering a warm welcome this Litha to anyone who might be interested in spending some time with someone - or, multiple someones. They have open rooms for mingling, lounges with floor pillows and low tables where customers can partake in spiced and unspiced drinks alike, where the unspiced are lacking in the potions and near-aphrodisiacs of the spiced drinks. Private rooms are also available for those seeking a more... intimate experience, however one may take that to mean. The brothel workers are more than happy to attend to any interested parties, but also aren't against randomly pairing individuals up, based on their specifications. And, after a little misunderstanding regarding their classes, the Head Madame of the guild has decided that they will be offering chances for individuals to perform at their establishments. She was rather charmed by the mishap, bless your souls, as were the rest of the guild, so the new arrivals have endeared themselves to the brothel workers. Dances, conversation, assorted busking - whatever skills that their quest-takers learned, whether it be of the more sexual nature or not, they'll provide whatever they might need to put on a show and attract or entertain clientele. b. I'M WISHING FOR THE ONE I LOVE Anyone interested in making their way into the Shopping District will find just as many open doors, as well as numerous stalls interspersed where they weren't before. Vendors hawking their wares and goods like always call out with Litha specials, and businesses set up temporary stalls to draw attention to themselves, with promise of greater bargains and products to be found at their main establishment. There are many that sell spiced foods and drinks, with varying degrees of strength depending on how one wants to feel. Others are selling candles and lanterns, offering a magitech version of a lighter at a steal, depending on how much you purchase otherwise. The largest stalls, and the biggest displays at storefronts, are the flowers though. Every single flower shop in Aefenglom has come out full force, practically painting the district in a myriad of non-red colors as they put their stock on full display. They offer deals for those who wish to buy bouquets for a sweetheart or someone they admire, as well as anyone wanting to make flower crowns for those they care for. Each of the seven largest shops are also handing out a single flower for those partaking in festivities to place under their pillow to dream of future partners, the flower they're typically most well known for; this varies from shop to shop, but the up and coming Rose Bush certainly isn't going to let superstition stop them, and are handing out red roses. It's a bold move, but one that causes the tizzy that they were intending it to. And if one is feeling particularly whimsical, they can go to any well at night, looking into the depths in a bid to see their future spouse and true love within. Perhaps making an offering of a flower would bring good luck..? Just don't linger for too long, as there's a rumor that someone is pushing unfamiliar faces into the well, likely targeting those they think are new arrivals. c. GET LOST WITH ME Though the Harbor District has some bleedover from the Shopping District in terms of festivities, their streets and warehouses are where the most room is available for the hedge mazes. Some are sprawling as they fill the streets and alleys, spilling into the towering buildings that have been empty to load the contents onto waiting ships. They create their own environments, with flowers from the flower shops blooming in the rows and creating archways at entrances and exits. Some are enchanted to seem neverending, although there always is an exit, if one can only figure out the puzzle. Each maze has a different method to its madness, and arrangements that those running them have decided on. (Some faces may seem familiar, to those that encountered them on the full moons; they'll feign otherwise, focused only on the now and refusing to draw attention to any recognition.) Some mazes send in the partners together, randomly selected and tasked with figuring out how to reach the end of the maze together. Others will send the partners in from different ends, with the instructions to find one another, whether in the center of the maze or in its winding path. Another variety offers something reminiscent of the hide and seek meets tag game, tasking one as the hunter and the other as the hunted, a game of pursuit meant to replicate the "playing hard to get" variety of courtship. There's no restrictions on how many times one can enter the maze, as it allows one to forge many bonds - and possibly Bonds - and replicates the process of finding your true love. Or, loves; no one here is going to judge anyone. They certainly won't judge, either, if participants opt to take a swig of something for luck in love before they go in. However, some mazes have been tampered with: rather than opening out into somewhere safe on the street or in a building, they empty out unaware participants into the port itself. Hopefully you know how to swim. Once again, we ask that if any threads take on a NSFW nature that they be marked as such, or otherwise moved to a locked post in the log community or an entry/inbox in a character journal.

Welcome to the event log, part I! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs; take the prompts offered and go wild, go crazy, go stupid, have fun. As ever, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans, let the mods know, and if you have any questions about the log, ask them here!

Comments

[mislike]

She kept herself poised when he greeted her, smiling lightly when he offered to join her in the mazes. The hunt was different to this, more active. She planned on taking her time, getting to explore more of it. It had been a long time since a more adventurous side of her was able to come out.

"I would like that," she told him as they entered the maze together. "How have you been, Harry?"

[iminthebook]

"I've been okay. Mostly studying. I am thinking of trying to specialize in healing magics, and in herbalism to see if I can bring some medical help to others. When i was young, I was mostly very... blunt force, very fire and force magic in people's faces. I think i want to... use my abilities to instead help."

Which is more than she asked, but... there you go.

"How have you been, Sansa? I am sorry I have not been around as much."

[mislike]

"That is impressive. I have been given the opportunity to work with Lady Denholm, a witch in Parliament. She mostly sees to daily needs, but I think I will manage that well," she told him. So far she liked what she did, though it did not give her a lot of time to practice magic.

"Do not worry. We all seem to be busy here."

[iminthebook]

Harry flushes some. "It'll be more impressive if it works and I am any good at it."

He cocks his head to the side. "That sounds like a very cool job, very interesting."

He smiles at her, warmly, as they walk, looking around them, and hmming as the hedges lead them onward.

"Perhaps we could study together sometime. I would be interesting in your opinion on some of the magic I've encountered."

[mislike]

She walked along, something that she was used to and liked. Walking the grounds was a habitual event; it calmed her, and there was not a lot to do back home. At least before the preparations for the coming battle.

"My opinion?" She asked, a little shocked that Harry would want her opinion. "I do not know magic. Not like you or the other witches of this place. But I would like that, to learn more."

She was coming along, but she still felt like a novice, like a fish out of water. She still needed to practice spells and learn more.

[iminthebook]

"Yes, please. I am relearning magic, and in truth, somewhat more interested in learning how it would apply to healing and medicine than any other applications."

He walks with her, smiling a little.

"I think your opinions could eb valuable, and I would enjoy helping you, as well, in turn."

[mislike]

"I have been mostly learning defensive spells, to keep myself and others safe. We would likely work well together," Sansa replied. They would be the ones that would come to people's aid should something befell them. There are those like her brother and sister who would readily charge in, protecting people with more attack style strategies, but Sansa has never been that type. She would protect in other ways.

"We should meet soon then. If you are free evenings."

[iminthebook]

"Truly? I would like that. You and I, working together to aid those in need."

He smiled at the idea.

"We have people like that in my world, called paramedics, those who go into the fires and into danger to help people, bringing them out and protecting them or treating them right there and then."

Harry nodded, smiling.

"That sounds good to me, and yes, yes I am." He smiled warmly, eyes alight with the idea.

[mislike]

"We do not have anything like that. It is usually men of the different villages that help when they can. Sometimes a Maester will assist if someone is injured or sick, but I am not nearly as qualified," she told him. Maesters were also only assigned to a Great House or if the House was deemed big enough to warrant one.

"Good. It will be good to practice with someone else," she said lightly, offering a gentle smile in return. It was hard to trust people, especially men. But Harry was always offering to help her, and Sansa would cautiously take what help she could get.

[iminthebook]

"I think we are all not qualified here, but we can learn to be, maybe." He thinks she is as capable as any, and he is definitely looking forward to seeing what she will do.

"I look forward to it. I need a lot more practice." He chuckles, smiling wryly, trying to find his own way in this world.

The maze bent ahead, and he cocked his head.

"This maze seems an odd thing, going on far more than I thought it should."

[mislike]

"I think many of us do. There are not many here that have previous experience, and like you the magic here seems to be different in some ways," Sansa commented, learning more about the others that have been brought here.

She walked on and nodded. "I think that is the point, though I do not know why they seem to like labyrinths." After all during the full moon they also had one.

[iminthebook]

Harry nodded, listening to her, smiling. Her words made him glad he was talking to her. She reassured him.

"I have not seen or known them before, I guess I was occupied when they showed up last. " He waved around them.

"Were they like this one?"

[mislike]

"It was meant tire the monsters out. One had a fighting pit-- one was more cozier like this. I was told it was for a more intimate experience," she told him, unsure on exactly what the would mean since a maze was not something she personally would want to get closer to someone in.

[iminthebook]

"Ah. Very different than this one, then." He heard a soft sound, almost like water as they walk ahead and glanced around.

"Did you hear that?"

[mislike]

Sansa stilled in the middle of the greenery, poised in case it was something else coming. But when she started to hear the rushing water, she paused and smiled.

"Water. They must have placed a stream in here," she said as she started to walk, turning a corner where a small cove seemed to open up to them.

[iminthebook]

"That would be a nice change." Harry followed her and he found his steps hurrying, and then he moved to look into the cove, feeling the ground slant in that way.

"Feels like it slants down toward the water, so, be careful." No sooner had he said that than he felt his footing slip and he was sliding downward toward the water.

"Hell's Bells."

[mislike]

She tried to hold onto him, catch him if she could, but it all happened so fast. Even if she was a tall girl, she still wouldn't have been able to stop him careening down into the cove itself. The ground shook, and she got pulled down with him, still scrambling to try and stop it from happening.

But a moment later, they were down in the water itself.

[iminthebook]

He had a chance to yell for her to take a breath, and then he was plunging into the water, cold but not freezing, and shuddering as he fought with great sweeps of his arms to make it back to the surface and to see where she was.

Popping back up, he called her name. "Sansa! Where are you?" If he did not see her above water, he would dive again to find her.

[mislike]

She was dropped into the water with no warning, plunging down into it. Her dress almost has her sinking, flailing as she tried to get to the top of the water. She had to grab onto him for help. It was all the heavy sleeves and skirts she had on.

"Harry," she exclaimed, frantic now.

[iminthebook]

"I've got you! Hang on to me. I won't let you drown." Harry reached for her and pulled her close with one arm, then the other, using his legs to try to push them toward... toward the docks, since it looked like somehow they had gotten out that far.

The wet clothing on both of them was ragging them down and back, but he fought it, trying to get them to the safety that lay not too far away.

"It's not far!

[mislike]

She could feel the fabric trying to weigh her down, but his arm was around her securely as he made for the shoreline. Sansa coughed as she tried to tread some water. She was not afraid of swimming, growing up with the hot springs, but swimming like this was different.

She pulled the hair away from her face, trying to just hold on as Harry got them closer to land. This was a terrible idea to put this here, but she just tried to survive.

[iminthebook]

Harry concentrated, muttering words, and the water itself started to push them forward some, as he tried to help her stay afloat and move them toward the dock. When one hand grasped the wood of it, He used that as a grip to lift Sansa one armed, and push her onto the dock. Most days, he didn't show off how strong he was, but this seemed the time to use it. "Up you go!"

He bobbed in the water for a moment after, gathering his strength, and then heaved himself onto the dock as well. He lay there, panting, as he considered finding the people who made that trick and hitting them with things. Sharp things.

"Are you--- are you okay?" He managed to the words, despite feeling rather winded.

[mislike]

She fell onto the dock and tried to pick herself up, coughing up water for a moment. Hunched over, she let herself adjust before she felt him get up on the dock with her. Eyes looked over at her, breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath.

"I-- I think so. Thank you, Harry," she gave a solemn nod before checking to see if he was well. She tried to stand, though her robes and dress still weighed a lot. She tried to pull it off for a moment just to be able to walk.

[iminthebook]

He struggled up as well, and shook his clothing, shaking his head as he looked down at the now clinging clothing that was very wet, and getting a little cool. "We should get into insides somewhere and out of these wet things, before we catch a cold."

He smiled at her, only then realizing she was taking off the outer robes. He blinked for a moment then offered. "Ah, do you need any help?" His cheeks were perhaps a little red, but he understood the urgency of this situation.

[mislike]

She had her dress ripped off of her in public, and it wasn't easy to forget that, but she was guarded by the tall, canopying hedges and of course by Harry himself. She's wearing a tight bodice beneath and underskirts though the impropriety was still there, and she felt it.

Sansa cleared her throat and bundled herself. "I would not be able to drag these robes all the way back," she explained, holding up the wet, sopping mess that was the heavy robes she previously had on.