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.

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[long_live_the_queen]

[Its head was still attached! And it was still twitching. But there wasn't much the undead Monster could do with its body crumpled up like a soda can.

The necromancer turned to the shadows, irritation rather than fear on their controlled features; their Orders didn't include fear, only to sow as much chaos and ruin as possible. One of the Witch's thralls jumped in front of the blast, this one so rotted it was unclear who or what it used to be, barely held together by wires of sinew. It scattered into crumbling bones, its destruction splitting the necromancer's attention back to Chariot again.

Kaede didn't waste the opportunity; the shadows gathered and coalesced into a solid shape, four-legged and hastily thrown together. She lunged, a bit too far out of range--but it didn't matter, as the necromancer threw up a barrier. The Chimera all but bounced off of it in a burst of erratic light, her claws dragging sparks down the crackling surface before the field repulsed her away.

The light burned away the shadows wholesale, but rather than a weakened Kaede dropping out of it, the shadows changed--adapted, and what fell from the dark landed on its feet. It resembled a tiger--a full one, more red than orange, but with traces of feathering edging the legs and the tail that lashed behind the creature. It was Kaede's antlers that branched from the tiger's head, though, and the same intense anger that burned through the Bond.]

[beariot]

[ Chariot didn't resist Kaede's anger within the Bond. She fused with it, shaped it, blended it with her own. Fury born of pain, of a desire for justice, tempered those flames and made them burn hotter.

She drew back another arrow, eyes narrow and focused. The Necromancer was out of cannon fodder and had two targets to worry about, one that was already taking aim at him, and another that would definitely tear him to pieces if he dodged the magic missile.

So he did the only thing he could do, and ran away screaming. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[He turned--and ran, and Monstrous instincts seized Kaede's mind, skipping right over sluggish thoughts to act. Animals never brought out the instinct to chase, even when they darted away. Flying objects that didn't need chasing sometimes did.

But this was a person, showing their back--showing a weakness, and with a crackling snarl the Chimera tore after him, the bunched cords of muscle and tiger's claws propelling her like a sprinter.]

[beariot]

[ Normally, Chariot would have stopped her outright...

Not now. Not this time. The only urging within the bond was to not kill the man. Stop him, but do not kill. Do not be that person you once were, but let your anger still bring justice.

She helped Kaede to that end, firing her arrow off ahead of the Necromancer, striking a nearby wall and creating a blinding flash. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[The Necromancer staggered; Kaede flinched from the light too, but didn't stop. The tiger gathered herself, and lashed out with her claws to snag the back of his leg. Already off-balance, it bowled the man off his feet with a screech, and the beast pounced. Her paws slammed into his torso, and the tiger's fangs lunged for his throat.

Something stopped her. A thought that had caught up with her steps? Whatever it was, it brought her mind back from where it had been.

Her jaws clamped but didn't tear, squeezing the Necromancer's throat until the beginnings of a spell died to a wheezing rasp. She could still feel his chest heave beneath her paws, heard the maddening pulse so close yet unattainable. Just a bit more pressure, and the windpipe would crush like a straw, blood would pour forth and sate the beast in iron-salt-and-magic. But she couldn't. She shouldn't. Kaede growled in frustration, tail lashing with the energy she couldn't use to shake the man until his neck snapped.]

[beariot]

[ Chariot was quick to ride the sphinx over towards where Kaede had incapacitated the necromancer and dismounted. She dismissed her bow as well, the mana dissipating into ether to leave behind her wand, while her free hand moved to Kaede herself, brushing along her shoulder, and placing just as much mana there as had been maintaining her bow, to calm and sooth... ]

He won't be getting up... His arm and jaw are both broken. No speaking, no gesturing. That's all we needed...

[ He didn't need to be killed. It was enough that he was defeated by a Bond. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[The tiger flinched when a touch brushed over her shoulder, pulling the necromancer's neck and torso with her. She snarled, the man squawked, and--the creature's ears lifted, listening.

...ugh.

The snarl dimmed to a growl, and then to nothing. Contemptuously, the Chimera released the necromancer's throat. While the man gasped, a wide paw on his chest, a rumble started in Kaede's and she leaned against her Witch. The words filtered slowly through the Monster's brain, but the Bond cut through it far more neatly.

The tiger turned her gaze upwards at Chariot, chuffing as if the last few moments' violence had never occurred.]

[beariot]

[ Chariot flicked her wand, pulling part of the stone pavement up to form over the Necromancer's chest to pin him there. That was one down for the count, but there were still plenty more throughout the city. Chariot's sphinx walked up beside the pair, regarding Kaede with calm measure, ready to start up the charge again. ]

You ready to find another?

[ She... didn't want Kaede to be out on her own again, but she didn't say it. She wanted to show faith that she'd be alright. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[At first, the Chimera tensed the instant she spotted another predator's silhouette. But it didn't have the features of one--its face was full of stars, and the sight was dissonant enough that the defensive instinct didn't fully take root. The tiger huffed a breath through her nose, and leaned against Chariot's side.

She glanced down at the necromancer--the stone bindings kept him in place, yes, but also kept her from trying to bite him a second time, to silence his annoying squawking for good. The Chimera rumbled again, bending to fastidiously clean a paw--

A much more solid one than she expected, striped in black and orange with white fur on the inside of the arm. And the same for the other, and the rest of her form she glimpsed after a glance over her shoulder. No wonder she just came up to Chariot's waist.

But. Kaede could walk in the light like this. The lack of thumbs was a bit annoying, but, well. Not very many delicate tasks to do right now, were there? And Chariot was here to help, anyway.

Her mind still focused in sharply when her Bonded suggested finding another target, another hunt. The soft eyes and gentle rumbles sharpened to a laser focus, and Kaede rubbed past Chariot's side as she loped ahead without hesitation. After a few strides, the antlered tiger stopped and turned, waiting.]

[beariot]

[ Chariot nodded, hopping back onto the Divine Beast, a small push of her heels to get them moving again to follow close behind Kaede. ]

Find us another target, love. We've got plenty more before this city's safe again...