Intro Log: July

[faileas]

Intro Log: July

I. ARRIVAL 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. A moment later, you feel a tug, and you find yourself stumbling into a dark, musty room. Behind you, a mirror stands ornately decorated with reminders of home wrought in brass and wood: the faces of people you know, and symbols important to you; all things that send a pang through your chest with the desire to return to them. Touching the mirror's surface does nothing but leave the stain of your fingerprints. When you turn to survey the room, you find there are hundreds of other mirrors. None of them are as decorated as yours - they're plain and dusty, speckled with age. Then you realize a second thing: You're not alone. Distantly, the ringing bell of a clocktower can be heard. But no matter its distance, the time is clear to make out: it chimes three times, stark, resonating like a pulse of something in this mirrored hall that you and many others have found yourselves in. For those familiar with magic, they might feel the power of the witching hour upon them, though it will feel different from what they're used to - in fact, everything does. You're certainly not the only ones here, however. On the first floor, with the doors wide open behind them in the foyer, is a small group headed by two individuals. As people begin to arrive, to come from the higher floor, they're waiting - and they're waiting for you, and your questions. Explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in, or proceed to the foyer? Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is faintly cloudy, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, even so close to the new moon as it is. The Looking-Glass House is rather nondescript two-story cottage made of grey brick, sitting at the edge of The Coven's courtyard; stones which glow as you step on them mark the path to and from the two buildings. While fairly small and plain on the outside, the inside has been enchanted to be the size of a large library, with hundreds upon hundreds of mirrors hanging, standing, and resting inside its walls. Some are broken, some are cracked, and some seem completely uninjured - but all of them are just as plain as the cottage itself, showing age in the silver beneath their glass and in the greening of their metals... Well, all except a character's personal mirror; to characters, one mirror - the one they came through - will be decorated lavishly with metal-and-wood-wrought reminders of home, and the surface will be as clear as a brand-new mirror.

II. THE WELCOME PARTY Whether you've decided to find a way out of the building you've arrived in, or decided to explore the rest of the Looking-Glass House - and perhaps finding a few familiar faces among the crowd - you feel a pull towards the foyer of the first floor. It's like a firm suggestion, as if to take you by the hand and draw you to where it begins, and the source of it becomes quite apparent upon finding one's way to the front room: a tall, comfortably-dressed older woman and her even taller wolfish companion, along with those which feel to resemble yourselves in a world-traversing sense: Mirrorbound, they're called. "I think this is the most of you there's ever been at once! And all of you properly bound this time, it seems." The woman sets her hands on her hips, with her Bonded casting a glance at those looking confused - newly arrived - and those who may have followed them in to talk to the newest addition of their Mirrorbound bunch. "About time for introductions though- this here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament and my Bonded, and I'm Nerissa Bell, Head Witch of the Coven - but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds, winking. "The lot of you must be as tired and confused as the last batch - hullo to those who've joined us, too! - so just a moment, dearests, I'll set all you right up—" With nothing more than a wave of her hand, rows of seats are summoned; despite their wooden nature, they're all sturdy and comfortable, filling the foyer and spreading out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch. After all, they'll find this just as interesting. The Witches and Monsters that accompanied Nessie and Mhairi move to make room, and some disperse into the building itself to see if there's anyone who needs tending to. Mhairi steps forward as the chairs materialize. "Please, those who are able, join us for a moment. There are many questions that I'm sure you have - we will do our utmost best to answer them, and you may take any that we can't as a promise to find some sort of solution or answer." NOTE: If you wish to handwave interaction with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. All responses will be summarized answers rather than an IC thread. For those that'd like a more player-based interaction, Aefenglom has its own Welcome Wagon! These are players who've volunteered for the role, and those that didn't sign up may assist as well if they'd feel their character would -- have fun, and make friends. Additionally, those with notable injuries or sickness will be attended to ASAP by Coven-based witches, and should anyone be curious about what they are - if they have magic potential, or if they swing a different way - then this can be done during this and the general hour or so the new arrivals are within the Coven's grounds. There are ongoing classes on magic, monsters, and Bonding as well, though they take place more during the day than at night - feel free to have your characters attend them at any time!

III. THE HAVEN After an hour or two of general chaos, questions that the natives attempt to help with, and injuries tended to for those who arrive in poor condition, it's time to make a trek to where you'll be staying while Nessie and Mhairi continue to search for a solution to the situation. As you're leaving with a few Bonded for guides, peculiar-looking devices - watches, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament - are passed around to all the new arrivals; they're given a quick rundown on their functions and bid to test them out when they can. They can even do it as they make their way out of the Coven's courtyard and to the Haven. Formerly part of the Aristocratic District, The Haven is just as well-kept and brightly-lit as the district it hails from. The houses err on the tall and ornamental-side, large enough to fit several families (or, according to the upper class, their one family, several dozen servants, and guests), especially closest to the Aristocratic District. They become a little more modest and smaller as one gets away from the realm of high society and nearer to the Residential District proper. Newcomers are shuffled here and invited to find somewhere to live - the Coven is currently handling expenses for the houses themselves in a program implemented by the Parliament, though if your character wishes to have anything extra - like maids, chefs, and so on - they'll have to pay for them themselves with their own earned money. Much of the landscape and fixtures are the same as in the Aristocratic Districts, though it lacks formal emergency services due to its roots as part of a district that already did. Much of the housing already has furnishing due to the speed at which homeowners were relocated; they were given enough time to collect their valuables, but standard furniture such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind for those moving in. Other houses appear the same, but the dust on the floors suggest these houses were left before the new arrivals even showed up - a reminder that the Cwyld can strike just about anyone, regardless of standing. Another portion of this district has been opened up to the new arrivals: the barracks, the row of buildings pressed against the very edge of the Bright Wall. As the city's military force no longer has the same presence it previously did, the barracks have gone into disuse, and a cleanup effort has been in place since before the new arrivals came through the Looking-Glass House. For those who desire something a little less opulent, the barracks might just be the answer. The barracks can also be used for business, for a welcome center, a communal space, for anything that the residents of the Haven see fit to use it for - so long as the legality isn't questionable, on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses - and even some of the smaller ones, and the shared rooms in the barracks - the Witches put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven. For those who aren't entirely sure who they want to shack up with, they have a small survey for them to fill out and post on the board they've magicked up in the center of The Haven. The board also very helpfully reads aloud each form for everyone to hear in a cheerful, monotone voice. It isn't able to be shut up, nor is it easy to ignore, being imbued with a kind of amplification magic. It reads simply the information you've offered up yourself, or that someone might have written up for you, should that be their idea of fun.

IV. THE CIRQUE MYSTIQUE (3rd-5th) It drifts into the Bright Bay early in the morning of the 2nd - a painted ship, garishly bright, with billowing night-sky sails that sends the Harbor District, and then most of the rest of the city, into a flurry of interested activity, putting the rumor mill into overdrive. Onlookers can witness a mess of equally ostentatious people - Witches dressed in brightly colored clothing, Monsters with fantastical coloring and embellishments the likes of which are rarely seen on Geardagas - deboarding with supplies. (Just a few curiously are what seem to be fox-like Monsters with multiple tails and mischievous expressions - they're also the least likely to want to bother talking.) Parliament offers the use of a little-visited park, temporarily enchanted to be somehow bigger than it should be, and the new people work quite quickly, setting up decorated pavilions and stands in a style quite different from Aefenglom's usual, utilizing many paper decorations and fluttering fabrics. Those who try to talk to the workers are often rebuffed - they're quite busy, don't you see? Despite being foreign, they speak in the common tongue of Geardagas with different degrees of fluency and accents. Many will pretend they don't speak the common tongue at all if they don't want to talk, however. They finish within the day. Enchanted fliers go out overnight proclaiming "The Cirque Mystique is Open!" Explained to be a traveling circus from a land far away (the name of said land not offered to "preserve the mystique") they proclaim to offer a unique experience to the people of Aefenglom. a. Come On Down All throughout the days, a mini marketplace is open, selling goods and foods from another land. Unlike the more western Victorian-style fare in Aefenglom, the treats boast new flavors and textures. Elaborate little cakes made with exotic fruits and teas, egg tarts, cold shaved ices with floral or fruit syrups, dumplings and mochi can all be found along with savory foods with new flavor profiles, and exciting new alcoholic drinks. The styles of clothing offered are more elaborate and made with fine embroidered fabrics; the cloth is available on bolts as well. Trinkets such as small enchanted figures of the performers, cheap jewelry, and souvenirs are available at every stand for likely inflated prices. Other stands run enchanted carnival games: ring-toss (where you always seem to miss), guess the number of candies in the jar (you're always wrong), a wheel of prizes (that always seems to land on the duds), bobbing for fruits (this one seems fine, but the prize for winning is the fruit that's already been in your mouth), and a game to knock over milk bottles (which seem firmly planted). Well, you know what they say about carnival games, right? It's fun to try, at least! Or maybe you quietly break their enchantments in order to win the toys and cheap jewelry they offer as prizes. Those running the games will grumble and grouse, but you'll get your due. The main draw, however, is the performances. Smaller ones happen periodically all day, in small staging areas around the newly set-up fairgrounds: knife-throwers, fire-eaters, tight-rope walkers, magicians, acrobats and contortionists displaying feats of strength and flexibility, jovial Monsters with painted faces telling jokes. The Cirque Mystique has it all. The most elaborate, put-together performances happen after the sun sets, though, an astonishing display with all of the above and music, woven through with storytelling and fireworks, and even more flashy magic. It's hard not to feel awed by it all at the end... b. The Lunar Eclipse The major performance on the night of the 5th coincides with the lunar eclipse, when the Sisters darken in the sky above. It goes as the other performances do. It's flashy and elaborate, inspiring plenty of awe. The Diviner Witches' predictions apparently come to pass, however, and the light enchantment placed over the audience at end of the performance to subtly better their moods and perception of the show reacts... unexpectedly to the surge in magic. All around the city, natives and Mirrorbound alike might find themselves feeling... good. Uninhibited. Brain-to-mouth filters fail and loosen lips, or they may find their fingers stickier, feeling inclined to simply take whatever items or foods please them at the time. It doesn't necessarily cause violent thoughts, but if a person is so inclined already, it isn't out of the realm of possibility. The backfired spell simply makes one seek whatever delights they might desire, even if they haven't admitted those desires to themselves. It's quite possible to resist the spell still, and many do, just not enough - no doubt there will be some joyous chaos to contend with as excitement and revelry spread through the streets. Luckily it wears off by sunrise, or before in some cases, probably leaving many embarrassed about their uninhibited behavior. After the night of the eclipse, the Cirque packs up with practiced efficiency, and by the afternoon on the 6th, their ship has departed, heading on to their next location, leaving most of Parliament quite irritated at having to clean up after the mishap. A traveling circus like this, sailors from the Harbor District explain, never stays long. They stay as long as the cash flows and then they head on to the next city or the next continent. The rogues conveniently timed their departure to miss any potential fines from Parliament.

Welcome to the intro log! 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. The network system is free to use once characters have their watches as well; information on that can be found at the bottom of the Setting page, while any extra questions about it can be found in the FAQ index. Quests can be picked up now as well! While new characters will have to get settled in, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the July's Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, 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

[quintessent]

Bilberries? I’m not sure, but I am also not always familiar with what is normal here.

[She smiled, enjoying the way he chatterboxed his way from one topic to the other. It reminded her of her flightmaster Coran, in the way she could quietly listen while he filled up the space. That and the exaggeration and relentless positivity. Really, she was already enjoying talking to him.

They’re approaching one of the ice cream vendors when he introduces himself – there’s a line, so they have a little time to chat before they need to make any decisions.]

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Reynir. My name is Princess Allura.

[braidmage]

P...rincess?

[ Reynir repeats it back to her, voice full of uncertainty, trailing off in hopes of an explanation. He is still getting used to the unusual naming conventions outside Iceland; the concept of family surnames are odd to him, but he's pretty much got a handle on it. However, it's still very difficult for him to tell what sorts of things might be likely first names and surnames for non-Icelanders.

Or is there some small, crazy chance... ]

Is that, um. That's your name, right, I mean, you're not- um.

[quintessent]

[Oh dear.]

That would be an interesting name. [Honestly, she didn't think about the possibility of it being interpreted in that way.]

But no, that is my title. I am the Princess of a kingdom called Altea.

[Said casually, like she's discussing the weather or the flavors of ice cream they get to choose.]

[braidmage]

[ Oh dear, indeed. ]

Ah! You, you are!

[ There is clearly nothing at all casual about meeting royalty, for Reynir. Monarchies really aren't a thing anymore, in his world, so the only exposure he's had to royalty is from old myths and sagas. And, considering that's his only reference point, perhaps his round eyes and suddenly pale face are a bit more reasonable.

He had talked to her like she was just a regular person! He had probably been rude in a thousand ways without realizing it. He had taken her scone! ]

I - didn't realize, I didn't - I've never met royalty before, um, your highness, so I'm sorry if I - should I have bowed?

[ Should he bow now?! Better do it, just in case. Late is better than never. Reynir dips into a bow that is swift and deep enough that it leaves his head spinning when he straightens up again, managing to thwack himself in the face with his own braid. ]

[quintessent]

[Some of the people in line around them start to turn their heads when Reynir starts making a big fuss of it, and Allura feels heat in her cheeks. She clasps her hands in front of her,]

Please- [Oh no, he's bowing. Resigned to this scene, she just sighs and tries to ignore the stares of the people around them. The twack of his braid does make her laugh, and she lifts a hand to cover her mouth.]

There's no need for that Reynir. I'm just the same as you and everyone else here. Just that I live in a castle back home.

[Totally the same!]

[braidmage]

[ Reynir might not know that much about royalty, but he knows what an embarrassed person looks like when he sees one, and Allura is clearly mortified at him now. How had he managed to just make things even worse? Reynir smiles, all nerves and misery, wishing that the ground would just open up and swallow him whole. ]

Isn't that... what people do? Oh no.

[ His words are coming out in a quick, anxious jumble, and the fact that he's noticed people looking now, too, certainly isn't helping. He at least speaks quietly, so none of them can hear and hopefully will lose interest soon: ]

I'm really sorry, I don't know anything about princesses except from old myths and I didn't want to be rude. Sorry. I'm an idiot.

[ He hears what she says about being the same as everyone else, but it's hard to really believe that. She had a whole kingdom she looked after. That's a big fucking deal! And so is living in a castle... ]

What. Um. Sorry, what's the right name or title for me to call you, exactly? Princess Allura? Just Princess?

[quintessent]

[She smiles kindly, tipping her head. This poor boy.]

Just Allura is fine. [Reassuringly,] And there's no reason to apologize, you did nothing wrong. I don't have any domain while I'm here, I even have a job, to pay for my food!

[See, just like everyone else! Luckily some of the crowd seems to have lost interest, and the line is quickly moving forward, which is a great time for a topic change.]

Oh, and look! It's almost our turn for the iced cream! What kind do you like best?

[braidmage]

[ Allura is being very patient and forgiving, and Reynir smiles, trying to shake it off. His cheeks stay flushed pink even as he happily seizes on ice cream as a distraction from his awkwardness. ]

Well, I have to see what kinds they have here, hmm..

[ He makes a big show of looking over the flavors, trying to figure out what the flavors he doesn't recognize might be, and what is familiar to him. He gives a sudden little gasp and points: ]

There's even a tea flavored one!

[ But he'd just had tea, and he isn't sure how well it would go with ice cream, all things considered, so a moment later he says: ]

This kind says it's berries, and even if I've never heard of this kind before, you can't go wrong with a berry. But actuallyyyyy I think I'll try this one. I've never had honey before, it's even more expensive than tea, in my world.

[ The ice cream vendor starts scooping Reynir some of the honey ice cream, then looks to Allura for her choice. ]

I'm sure they're all good.

[quintessent]

[Ice cream is always a welcome distraction from being embarrassed.]

You should be cautious around some berries here. [She squints at the listing, not recognizing the name either.] There are some that have some... chemical effects. Like an alcohol.

[And her Altean physiology didn't always process certain chemicals at the same rate as a human. Specifically, the iunerberry got her very drunk very fast.

She looks at the rest of the offerings while the vendor serves up the honey flavored one. Oh, choices, choices. She eventually settles on one with a lovely purple color - whatever Aefenglom's equivalent to ube ice cream is - ordering several scoops that make the cone she's given look top heavy. The girl loves her ice cream.

Belatedly, she remembers that Reynir had offered to pay, and, as she's being handed the cone, she looks over at him.]

Oh. Is this okay?

[braidmage]

[ When Allura mentioned being careful of some berries, Reynir was definitely expecting the end of that explanation to be 'they are poisonous' or 'they make you susceptible to the Cwyld'. Is getting drunk all that bad of a side-effect? Still, good to know about in advance, he supposes, and gives a nod to show he understands.

But he still orders the berry flavor, anyway.

By the time Allura has thought to worry about the size of her ice cream, Reynir is already paying, without any sign of concern over price. He has some money saved up, from his first visit to this place - it was still stashed away in just the same place when he returned through the mirror. ]

Of course! C'mon, let's sit over there to eat them.

[ He nods to a small bench nearby that has just been vacated, making his way to it with Allura before any other carnival-goers can snap it up. ]

So, what is Altea like? Does everyone there have super cool ears like you?

[ ...maybe not the most tactful direction for the conversation, but he can't help being curious. ]

[quintessent]

[He doesn't balk at the price, so she won't worry about it too much, not having much concept of how much is a lot or a little money, when it came to frozen goods.

The ice cream is tall enough that she has to take care as she hurries over - letting Reynir rush ahead to secure the spot as she carefully joins him. Licking on one side of the tower of ice cream makes it lean the other way, and she has to switch sides, lest it all fall onto the ground.]

Altea? [Boy that's a can of worms. There's just a flicker of apprehension on her face to suggest this might be a touchy subject to venture down, but it disappears soon enough. She does like talking about her homeland, and the ear question gets a laugh out of her.]

Everyone has ears like mine where I come from, even beyond Altea.

[Humans, it seems, are the odd ones out.]

But you think they look 'super cool'?

[braidmage]

[ Reynir, fortunately or unfortunately, misses that flicker of complicated emotion when he asks Allura about her kingdom. His focus is, at that moment, mostly fixed on the ice cream. It's different than the sort he's used to; probably had been made with a different recipe, different tools, different type of milk and cream. But he is enjoying it all the more for the novelty.

It does seem, though, that he's taking her suggestion about treating her like anybody else to heart; he offers her his cone, on the side that he hasn't touched, and offers: ]

Want to try it?

[ Because that's the friendly thing to do, right?

He grins at her question about her ears. ]

Yeah, they really do!

[quintessent]

[It's fine. Talking about her kingdom is usually a recipe for everyone having a bad time. In the meantime, she beams about the compliment to her ears. A silly thing to be proud of but she smiles nonetheless, tucking a strand of hair behind them.

When he offers out the ice cream, she blinks at him, then looks at the ice cream.]

I do but... [Ah, torn between politeness and propriety,] If I lick that side then you won't be able to eat from that side after.

[Germs, Reynir.]

[braidmage]

[ Reynir feels a rush of warmth seeing that smile; sometimes people didn't take comments about their appearance all that well, even if they are neutral-to-extremely-complimentary. But apparently, Allura did, in this instance, and that's awesome. It's always great, being able to make someone smile.

Her point about the ice cream does give him pause, and a furrow forms between his brows as he considers. ]

Ah, hm.

[ Then, shrugging, he says: ]

I can just scrape that bit off with my finger, and it will be fine!

[ Such elegant table manners... ]

[quintessent]

[Ah. Hmm. Reynir is certainly a country bumpkin. She smiles, waving a hand.]

I think... I will just wait until the next time I try some ice cream. Thank you, though, Reynir.

[Problem solved!

Speaking of, despite all of her propriety, she doesn't have any trouble going to town on her own cone, licking big sections off all at once. She may have lost all of her other powers, but her ability to withstand ice cream headaches remained.]