Event Log: September, The Price of Revolution p1

[faileas]

Event Log: September, The Price of Revolution Part 1

I. The Freedom Festivities Behind the fortress-like walls of Dorchacht, what was once a gloomy, imposing city is lit up for the festivities to come. Septeril brings with it many mixed emotions for the citizens of what used to be called The Black City, though the overwhelming atmosphere is positive - this is a celebration of freedom hard-earned and prosperity hard-fought-for. The triple stars of the Resistance, now the current reigning party, feature heavily in decorations and in clothing: in pins, on hats, golden stars enchanted into fabric to dance merrily across skirts and cloaks. Stars light up the streets in decorative strings hung from lamppost to lamppost, flickering gently over the cobblestones. Mirrors, as well, feature into the decor, tiny round ones hung in multitudes from awnings and in windows like ornaments, catching the light and playing it across the otherwise-utilitarian architecture, lending it a sort of understated beauty. Much of Dorchacht has been rebuilt and repurposed by necessity since the uprising last year, and many new small businesses and restaurants are being featured at the festival - their goods or their foods on display in markets of street-side stalls or on the feast tables. Local handmade wares and crafts are out for sale for modest prices, and every sale helps out both the small business, many of which are started by former slaves, and helps the local economy, which is better these days but still recovering. The festivities go for six days, almost a full week, with feasting and bonfires every evening, and tours and tales of the city by day, as they display the changes for the better they have all made. And then, on the final evening, all are invited to watch a grand fireworks show that will be put on in the skies over Dorchacht, presided over by the Circle of Three themselves. Mirrorbound are welcomed warmly, whether they were present last year or not, and treated much like family - get ready to be pulled into activities and plied with food left and right. a. Join the Fun The children of Dorchacht are out by the dozens during the festivities, excited by all the freely-offered, special sweet treats and the magical sparklers and poppers being handed out by the fistful. The poppers explode when thrown to the ground in bursts of bright colors, completely harmless, and the sparklers are enchanted not to burn little (or big) hands if mishandled. Mirrorbound passing through may find themselves roped into elaborate pretend games of revolution by eager faces: the children name themselves either Resistance members or Mirrorbound, and 'do battle' with their magic fireworks against scarecrow-like constructions cloaked in dark bed sheets as 'the bad guys'. Depending on one's perspective, it may seem dark, but this is what these children have known very recently in their lives, and their caretakers or parents (there are more of the former than the latter, especially for the young Monsters) let them play as they will. If asked, they'll just explain that some of those kids even remember the fighting when it happened; this is just another way that they try to understand how the city has changed. More organized, family-friendly reenactment performances are also common, with several of the orphanage groups putting on small plays about the uprising, or moral plays about kindness and togetherness between Witches and Monsters. This includes a prominent set of performances by the Mirrored Hearts Home for Children - maybe you're helping out with their sets or costumes, or maybe you assisted with their scripts and songs. Those Mirrorbound volunteers will want to see the kids do well, right? They'll be heartbroken if you don't show. Of course, kids aren't the only ones doing reenactments. The newly formed Dorchacht Historical Society, dedicated to protecting Dorchacht's history going forward, puts on several - and may drag in passers-by to play different roles! Only the luckiest are begged to play the role of The Dragon, who valiantly rose up against their cruel former master, Morgana, and helped lead Dorchacht to where they are today. b. Forget-Me-Not While the overall air is celebratory, among the adults who are old enough to understand just what was lost as well as gained, there is an undercurrent of sombre remembrance. Many visit the burned-out Old Coven, left as damaged as it was when the fighting ceased, as a monument to how freedom fighters suffered and fought. Plaques dot the grounds and buildings there seemingly at random, until you realize that each metal plate bearing names is laid where someone died. To decorate these plaques, and homes and businesses as well, there are tables set up in the yard of the New Coven, heavy with a rainbow of small magical flowers called Forget-Me-Nots, and the supplies to make remembrance wreaths. In this new tradition, the flowers are chosen with a dead, missing, or simply absent loved one in mind, and woven together with glass beads, small wooden charms, and a spell written on a slip of paper. The enchanted fragrance of the Forget-Me-Nots allows whoever smells them to witness short, happy memories of the person the wreath was made for - whether they knew that person or not. The memories come from the wreath-maker, and are only short flashes (less than a minute long) or mere impressions, but all are pleasant or warming. With the spell woven in, they'll last for an entire year without wilting or losing their effects, a souvenir from the festival to take home. Mirrorbound are encouraged to join in, and make wreaths of their own, whether or not they lost someone in Dorchacht's uprising. It can be for someone who has disappeared from Geardagas, someone who died long ago, someone living they miss from home, anyone who is not currently with them.

II. The Uninvited Guests On the 25th, the final day of the celebrations, the partying lasts all day. Food and drink are abundant on every corner, upbeat music is played by street performers and over the radios that can be found in nearly every household and shop, and the bonfires have been enchanted to let the flames take fanciful shapes. Drinking games and dancing, storytelling and general partying all last clear into the evening, but once dusk falls, everyone gathers in the center square of the city for the fireworks show. The Three are there - the Witches Bryn and Hilda, and the Monster known as The Dragon, Starlight, or formerly Fafnir - with Nessie and Mhairi as guests of honor, and Hilda is the one to set off the first enchanted fireworks, after a brief speech thanking everyone for coming out to celebrate a year of freedom and independence with them. It's with bursts of colorful light in the night sky behind her that she seems to appear from nowhere: tall, dark and imposing, a sharp-eyed Witch that exudes power. Morgana Drummond is not alone, either, flanked by a dozen rough-worn Witches and a host of others. The chaos that ensues is immediate and violent. "All of this for me?" Drummond sneers. Attacks bounce off her, no matter how powerful - even Nessie's considerable spells. Witches will be able to sense the strong barrier spell close-fit around her body, and the others around her will not let Monsters get close. It's The Dragon who speaks, voice rough from disuse but loud enough: "How dare you return here-" "I built this city in all the ways that matter. I was never going to let you have it. You burned away my Dorchacht, so now I will make sure there is nothing left of yours but ashes." a. To Sleep, Perchance Unreachable, Morgana Drummond's form limns in a sickly violet light, the circle of a spell forming beneath her feet, steadily growing as her power gathers. So much magic gathered in one spot is bound to be felt by all the Mirrorbound, Witch and Monster alike, oppressive in nature as if it could steal the breath from your lungs. Perhaps it truly was a fluke that she was driven from Dorchacht, a happy accident caused by a timely distraction. The spell circle spreads, glowing, until it envelops the entire city, and it pulses once, blinding, before it sears itself across Dorchacht's streets and buildings in burnt lines and symbols. The fireworks continue to pop and burst overhead, casting shadows that seem suddenly sinister. Nothing happens for just a moment - and then all the people of Dorchacht collapse in waves. Next to a stunned Nessie and furious Mhairi, Bryn, Hilda, and the Dragon fall into a heap as well, the final three bodies to hit the ground. Mirrorbound and citizens of Aefenglom do not fall prey to the sleeping spell despite being in its area of effect. It happens in the span of just a few minutes, and then Morgana is gone in the blink of an eye, leaving her people to sow terror on the sleeping city. b. Battle on the Streets While she brought with her only a dozen Witches from her former Coven, she's collected a force in the Wilde. Blank-eyed rogue necromancers, mind controlled the way the Monsters of Dorchacht used to be, storm the streets controlling in turn their dead Monsters and creatures. A few even have with them dead Nuckelavee, which will require multiple fighters to take out. Wilders from Dorchacht gone missing on expeditions in the last year bear the signs of mind control as well - the ones who aren't dead, shambling around the necromancers. Maybe you recognize them, maybe you don't. Maybe you can help them, or maybe you can't. The mind control enchantments can be dispelled with a lot of effort or with the specific spells used often by the Resistance a while ago, for those who still remember it. In the slums of Dorchacht, the people who were convinced of Morgana's return, those who want to return to the days of slavery and terror, break free from the now-sleeping guards and failing wards that kept them contained and join the fighting, manic in their glee. The spell that put the rest of Dorchacht to sleep seems to slip right off them, perhaps sensing their loyalty to terrible causes. It is chaos, as the insurgents set fires and attack at will with magic, claws, weapons, anything they have. Mirrorbound will soon realize that they and the visitors from Aefenglom are not the only targets. The sleeping people of Dorchacht are ripe for the killing, unable to react or defend themselves. The fighting will continue into the night until the invaders are all dead or captured.

III. The Aftermath When the fighting ends, the work begins. An entire city deep in the throes of an enchanted sleep is a worst-case scenario that none of them could have predicted, even those who had a hunch Morgana didn't die out in the unexplored Wilde. Miss Nessie and Mhairi will remain on the scene helping to direct the aid efforts in the aftermath of the battle. Fires must be put out, corpses must be rounded up to be buried or burned, captured attackers must be secured and questioned, sleeping citizens must be whisked from the streets to safety and shelter, and buildings ensured to be safe in the meantime. Aefenglom's Coven are called in to assist, anyone who is available, and Mirrorbound help is more than welcomed. They will need everyone they can get to make sure not all is lost in this tragic attack. Nessie herself will ensure the Three are taken to safety in Aefenglom until the people of Dorchacht can be woken. Action needs to be taken quickly. Morgana needs to be found as soon as possible, and capable hands will be needed to search the Wilde far outside Dorchacht, the most likely place for her to go. More urgently, however, are the sleeping citizens. Nessie announces late the next evening, the normally-bubbly woman gone solemn and serious: "I believe I've found a counter-ritual for the spell that nasty woman used, I have. I will need your help, though, Mirrorbound. Volunteers only, of course, of course, as it's likely to be quite dangerous, though the Dreamers and I will take every precaution we can. Discuss among yourselves, decide if you're willing. Those who are, meet at the Coven at midnight on the 27th. It's not right to just leave them all like that, not right at all..."

Welcome to September's event log, Part 1 of The Price of Revolution! This event will continue in the TDM posted on the 21st, with a foray into purposeful dreamwalking. It will be a hybrid test drive and event that current characters will be allowed to top level on as well. Quests into the Wilde to search for Morgana will currently bear no fruit beyond small clues, but Part 2 in early October will deal with her whereabouts and her final fate. As always, direct your questions about the event HERE! And finally, for those who are wondering what's up with Dorchacht, we have a Setting update for you.

Comments

[peacewithouttyranny]

[The question gets a couple of blinks from him, thinking for a moment, because he never gave much thought about the chosen form.]

... I went with the first thing that fits? I'm not naturally... skilled at choosing [He admits sheepishly] The device that created this projection... It automatically generated this image for me and I went with it.

[Honestly, he just let the holomatter generator programming do its thing and make the choices for him]

Lmao! I'm so glad - I saw his toplevel and knew I just had to do it ... 8')

[trulygifted]

( Nico just laughs — not at him, mind you, but at their situation. He isn't the first person she's met who's seemed less than enthused by her workplace, but she's hoping this guy will respond positively to a little gentle encouragement too. )

C'mon, you gotta know what I'm talkin' about. A shop that sells stuff to help you get freaky — if freaky's your thing. We've also got plenty stuff if you like it more vanilla; there's no judgement at Worse Dragon.

( She smiles warmly. )

It's a real nice establishment, I promise. Nothin's gonna jump out and bite you.

( Besides, she put a lot of effort into the refurbishment and she's proud of what it looks like now. )

Whaddya think? You gonna come take a look?

[bloodypath]

[He does not, in fact, know what she's talking about. Or at least, only vaguely; that tends to happen when a conservative church maintains a thousand-year deathgrip on your society's cultural and technological advancements.]

[Hubert just clears his throat, politely tucking his hands behind his back. Regardless of what he thought, money is money.]

That depends if it will be worth my time. How many cunes were you to offer for this "Halloween" display of yours?

[oathkeeper]

[The connections that Sora has mean the world to him. It makes Sora who he is. So the sting if one of those connections gets distance hurts. But he hangs on either way and is reminded that maybe somewhere out there his friends are watching the same colourful night sky.

He can feel some of Vanitas' wonder and he can't help but grin, casting a glance at the other boy.]

What's better, meteor showers or this?

[darkcharge]

[ Just like Vanitas can feel the sting, he can also feel that grin. For whatever reason, the brat takes delight in seeing Van experience new things. Sora especially seems to enjoy it if it is the first time that Vanitas has really witnessed something. The Puca likes being a part of so many firsts. He would feel embarrassed about it, but as the explosions light up the sky in various ways? He can't be bothered. ]

I think they're both fine.

[ Like he could choose one over the other. The shooting stars might be silent, but they dance across the darkening skies so beautifully. Then the fireworks take on so many shapes and forms. Van doesn't care for how loud they are though. ]

Does that mean you're going to try to kiss me here too?

[sparkstrikes]

[Lightning scoffs.]

Yeah, unfortunately. Third time's a charm, right?

[She rushes past Edelgard to take down another she spots hiding next to one of the crumbling buildings, the only thing making them obvious being the red fire that grows at their fingers in preparation of a spell, likely aimed at the two of them for when they've let their guard down.

Her sword swings upwards, taking off the witch's hand in a single swipe and a piercing shriek rings from under her hood. Lightning won't kill her, but she won't stop Edelgard from dealing that blow if she chooses. She will, however, knock her down with the blunt edge of her gunblade smacking the side of her head.]

Got some unfinished business with the witches in this place.

[sparkstrikes]

[She accepts it, after some hesitation, and unceremoniously wipes the sweat and blood from her temple. It's dried to her hair now, and not much has come off, but she appreciates the gesture anyway. But when she tries to get up, there's an ache in her leg that's been throbbing dully since she slumped to the ground, tired, and only now she's moving it is she feeling the real pain.]

Tch. They really did a number on the city.

[Her hand reaches for his arm, gripping it tight, hoping that he'll have the strength to anchor her as she tries to rise.]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo drives his fist straight into the fire-throwing Witch's face the moment he gets near, so at least they won't get a chance to try and hit Mikasa considering they crumple under the impact and Momo gives them a few extra cracks in the head on the way down just to be sure. The second isn't aiming their spell at Mikasa, apparently - but Momo realises what it is the second it's sent at him and the back of his neck starts to burn before it even strikes.

He doesn't bother to shield, and the enemy Witch laughs victoriously, making a gesture as if pulling strings. "You're mine--!"

And then they scream as Momo lunges at them too fast to react and beats them as bloody as their friend. Shaking the red off his knuckles, he moves to catch up with Mikasa.]

I knew mind control wards would come in handy eventually. [Guess who got an anti-mind control magic tattoo literally the month he arrived. Mikasa clearly isn't going anywhere fast, which is not going to help, but maybe he can mitigate that. He's prioritising it over asking how the hell she ended up in this condition in the first place.] Do you want me to carry you or something? It'll be faster. Or I can try to disguise you as something else, they've got no fae on their side to see through it. Or both.

[The old Coven members might be experienced enough to counter an illusion, but they'd still have to cast a counter and that would mean identifying something off about her in the first place.]

[yesdoubt]

More in this world than mine, but I've been here for over half a year and getting into it where I've gotten the chance. Needed to catch up some of the experience gap I had against most people here.

[At least he's honest, and while he admits the lack of combat experience, he's powerfully built and holds himself with a certain lightness that speaks of agility. He's evidently done a lot of something that requires strength and speed, and Momo's been only too ready to adapt that for combat purposes.]

I can promise I won't back down from the fight until it's over or someone takes me out, though.

[yesdoubt]

I'm fine. [It comes easily and naturally, with no apparent indication that Momo is anything other than what he says. He's always been extremely good at concealing his negative feelings - one day is nothing after years and years of it.] What about you? I'm sure this has been rough on everyone, nobody would've expected this to happen in the middle of a celebration.

[He's not sure what the opinions of the older Mirrorbound might've been on whether Drummond would come back at all, but this is a hell of a time to do it.]

[wordsinthesoul]

[He tilts his head, but- well, the truth is that there are still enough people in trouble that he thinks if they can manage, they should.] As well as can be expected, I suppose. Most of us thought Drummond had likely died out there, so it certainly wasn't expected.

[Perhaps- given the skills she had shown, they shouldn't have expected her to go so simply. Returning on the anniversary, too…]

It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. We can't afford to leave her a second time.

[sparkstrikes]

[Lightning only has a few minor cuts and some sore spots that will bruise later, but nothing she can't handle.]

I'm fine, but...

[The kids, now that they're safe, have gathered into a circle around two that have sat on the ground, sobbing into their hands. One of them had been clipped in the arm with some cracked stone, and the other had fallen on her hands and knees, scraping them up. It's nothing too major, but between that and the fear, Lightning can only imagine that it's a lot worse for them than that.

She has no idea where to even begin with comforting these kids, so she nods to Ursula. Her hands find the tiny shoulders of some of them to push them aside.]

Think you can help them?

[fabrications]

[ Edelgard gives Akechi that look and he meets it with an arched brow and an expression of mild amusement. But despite that... ]

If I couldn't accept that, I wouldn't be following you.

[ Akechi prefers flying solo, but if he's not he doesn't like being in charge. Besides, while Edelgard and Akira don't really have much in common, Akechi's starting to see some similarities between the two. And hey, speaking of which... ]

I have worked alongside a vampire before, and most of my experience fighting humans has been here - so by all means, I'll follow your lead.

[deadvotional]

[ His eye flicks back in the dragon's direction as most of the children vanish off to whatever interest to find next. With no reason to keep a low profile any longer, Hua Cheng straightens to his--sadly diminished--full height, amusement flickering across his expression. ]

As I understand it, entertainment is part of the point of the festival. [ Which isn't really an answer, but Hua Cheng seems unconcerned. ] Why come otherwise?

[weatherscience]

[ well.... a gun will do! definitely better than nothing. ]

Mm, let's hope so!

[ sure enough, the dead nuckelavee tries to gallop on top of the crates, but underneath its weight they give and collapse in on themselves, leaving the nuckelavee in a mess of splinters on the ground. ]

Yes! [ jumping up a little in excitement, nami holds out her hand for a high-five, because why not. ]

[clickclickbang]

[Aw yeah, hi fives! Prompto grins.]

Now, let's maybe get to another roof before it tries to follow us up some other way.

[stopfen]

[She hums.] That's good, that you let them do that... [Like how Eren had taken those kids in by buying the orphanage. Though it did make her wonder how he'd gained these children.

But at the question, she shrugs. Her wooden crutches creaking at the attempt.]

I don't know if they'll let us. I didn't exactly try to join to begin with. [Not that she was mad about it. It was cute, if there wasn't explosives about.]

[crowsfeat]

A bullet's still a bullet.

[ Which meant if she found the right place to hit, she could at least still stun the beast. The right aim, the right timing. It was the way of Hunters, after all. And he was right that injuring the wing should be their priority.

Her other hand moved to her hip, drawing the same blade she had before, and keeping low to dash in on the attack. ]

Try to distract it for me, lad!

[wylderrant]

Why, the oppressors of course - slavers and other assorted riff-raff who so long held this city under their unpleasant heel. We are the heroic revolutionaries, off to free people!

[ She flourishes her invisible weapon with relish. ]

Romantic and dashing, isn't it?

[beariot]

[ Ursula realized what was going on as soon as her attention moved back to the children. They were terrified. Shaking. Trauma re-emerging in their minds. It had only been a year of relative peace, of healing, for them and it had all but been undone completely in a single night...

There was no spell that could help here. Only the presence of love, and assurance. Ursula set her wand aside, handing it towards Lightning, even, to approach the young ones, kneeling down with them and drawing one chimera girl into an embrace, the girl crying even more loudly into Chariot's shoulder. The other children quickly gathered around as well.

It was too much... well too much... ]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard sniffs, giving him a quick look up and down.]

I don't doubt your sincerity, nor your drive. I merely need to know who I'm working with.

[She, conversely, is no stranger to warfare.]

I am the ruler of an empire at home, and I have experience in warfare both against mages and in urban environments. If I give you an order, know that I do it with years of experience and with the intention of making the coming conflict go as smoothly as possible.

I would ask for you to commit to following instruction, if we are to work together.

[unyieldingmarch]

And I have an objection to their insistence on slavery.

[Edelgard doesn't finish off the fallen witch. She does, however, stomp down hard enough to break the woman's hands. And then another. She can't come back and start casting, that way.]

I saw two others fleeing down another alley. I'm going to go up and over the roof, if you can go around.

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard's been wrestling with it too, and...struggling to keep her head clear, but she's been quite bad about reaching out to anyone.]

Good evening, Azura.

[Offering a smile, she walks over.]

It's good to see you.

[unyieldingmarch]

Oh. Well it certainly provides a disguise.

[A young girl for an ancient, giant robot?]

A curious bit of technology. Almost like an illusory magic. But you aren't inside there are you, right?

[unyieldingmarch]

Good. That's all that I need to know.

[Her pace quickens, her jaw serious. She's not in any mood for glibness, not when there's a battle to be fought. That doesn't win fights. Cooperation and teamwork do, as far as she's concerned.

It doesn't take long to get within earshot of the foe, the sounds of people discussing plans and the groans of thralls.

Edelgard starts moving to circle behind them, sticking close but slipping around a building.]

When they attack, we jump them from behind.